A/N: I MADE IT! I MADE IT! TWO CHAPTERS IN A DAY! YEAAYY!!

Chapter 10- A rival.

From: 075-434-8952

Sei-kun, I’ve come to claim you.

    He frowned at the sight of some random numbers texting him, claiming him. He thought quickly; of any possibilities, of any ideas who this very person might be. So he texted Akito.

To: Akito.

Did someone come to my office this evening?

    His heart swirled uncontrollably. What’s with this uneasy feeling. As if on cue, his phone vibrated.

From: Akito.

Wow, how did you know? Yup, someone came. Someone very familiar. Someone you know as well.

Inori Kazumi.

    His heart almost stopped. Suddenly, the dizziness came back. He shut his eyes, then opened it back, trying to make it go away. Inori Kazumi. Kazumi. Kazumi. Well, who haven’t heard of her name? She’s the very person that tried to separate him from Kina. But failed miserably as Kina confessed. His phone vibrated again.

From: Akito.

Watch out for your girl, redhead. Inori’s a predator.

    He sighed and kept his phone, trying to forget all these commotions coming one by one.

    “Akashi, why?” someone asked. He turned his head and his heart softened, anger all disappeared as he saw Kizuna’s worried face.

    “Nothing at all. Just some work due this month.” He answered.

    Kizuna frowned. “You’re not allowed to go to work for three days, do you understand that!?”

    “I do what I want, Kizuna. You don’t order me around.”

    She tch-ed and turned away. Seriously, this girl.... she worries too much.

-w-

Kizuna.

    Sheesh, that guy. Always putting up a brave face, trying to hide the fact that he caught a fever. I bet his head is spinning right now. Just look at the veins surfacing on his temple; that shows he is dizzy. I looked at him. He chuckled.

    “Will you do me a favor, Kizuna?” he asked.

    “What?”

    “Tomorrow morning, you’ll take care of my work.”

    I blinked. “Seriously?”

    “I think someone wants a deal with me. Maybe you could handle that.”

    “Whatever you say. But promise, you’ll stay at home!” I said and pointed my forefinger at him. “Since tomorrow is a Saturday, Yukina will be at home. So I’ll have her to make sure you take your medicines and don’t do reckless thing.” I added.

    “Okay, I promise.” He raised his hands.

    I chuckled. “You can watch Barbie with her tomorrow.”

    “What?” he frowned.

    I burst into laughter. “There’s a Barbie CD in the drawer!”

    “Yukina bought that, ain’t me.”

    “Still.... you must’ve watched it too, no?”

    “No I— fine, I did....”

    I laughed again and tears formed in my eyes.

    “It’s not that funny, Kizuna.” He said. I bit my lip, holding back my laugh. We turned our heads to Yukina, Reo, Kotarou and Eikichi who were happily talking and teasing each other.

    “What a lovely scene, I thought I’ve missed this for years.” I muttered. Eh, what? Akashi turned to me. I looked away.

    “Let’s sleep! We have lots of plans tomorrow!!” Yukina yelled and jiggled out of the kitchen.

    “What plans?” I asked.

    “Shopping, games, shopping and games.” Kotarou answered. I giggled. “Good luck misters!” I waved at them and went to my room.

*  *  *  *

    “SHIT! I’M LAAAAATEEEE!!!!” I screamed and ran into the kitchen, grabing the glass of water whoever had prepared for me.

    “That’s my water.” Akashi, who was sitting on the chair, said.

    I almost choked but swallowed the water anyway then grinned. “There’s a jug of water over there!” I said and took one sandwich.

    “That’s mine too.” He claimed.

    I choked then coughed. “What!?”

    He chuckled. “I was just kidding.”

    I wanted to throw this sandwich on his face but I’m hungry so I’ll let it go this time. “You redhead!” I mumbled then stuffed all of the remaining sandwich, to make it faster.

    He shook his head. “Where is your manners, Kizuna? Sit down properly and don’t stuff it all in.” He lectured.

    I swallowed and drank the water. “I am late, boss.” I said.

    “That water is really mine.” He said.

    I fell silent. “Um.... sorry?”

    “Apology not accepted.”

    “What!? Akashi please, I’m late!”

    “Then do as what I say.”

    “What?”

    He gave me an evil, really evil smirk.

*  *  *  *

I shifted uncomfortably on the driver’s seat when I stopped at the red light. He had told me to use his car and....

GREEN LIGHT!

    Whoa! I pressed the pedal and drove like G6~ okay, not really. I arrived at the office 5 minutes later and literally ran for my life. I barged in.

    “Ow!”

    I turned my head and saw Kisaragi rubbing his nose. “You hit me with the door,” he said, smiling at me.

    “Shit, I’m sorry!” I apologized.

    He waved his hand. “No, no, it’s okay.”

    “Kizuna.” Akito spoke from behind. I turned around. “We need to talk.” He said and I followed him to Akashi’s office. I turned on the light and the aircon then sat on his chair, sighing heavily. Wow, this is so comfortable. I smiled to myself. Akito sat on the couch.

    “What’s wrong?” I asked, quite happy that I made it here.

    “I’m here to warn you, Kizuna.” He said sternly.

    “About....?”

    He stared straight into my eyes. “I’m aware that your feelings are building up. If you really love that redhead, you won’t get faltered by this thing but then again, I just have to warn you. Akashi Seijuurou has a secret admirer since high school. This very admirer, goes with the name Inori Kazumi. She once tried to kiss him but got stopped by Kina. She is very addicted to him. Well, thank God because she had to transfer to United Kingdom after that incident so I figured she must’ve forgotten about Akashi.”

    A rival, huh?

    He continued, “She came here yesterday evening, thankfully, after you’ve gone out with Akashi. I have to tell you, she’s very dangerous, Kizuna. I’m telling you this because I’m so worried about you two.”

    He sounded desperate.

    “When she heard that Kina had died, she was happy I could tell. Akashi will be her target now. You should be careful, Kizuna.”

    “I.... of course, I will, Akito. I’ll be fine.” I smiled.

    “You won’t be fine, I can somehow feel that.” His expression turned grim.

    “D-don’t scare me!”

    He chuckled. “Kidding with you is fun.”

    I pouted. He pinched my nose and went out. I rubbed my nose then smiled. Heh, it seems Akito had opened up to me. I’m glad. Suddenly, Akito opened the door.

    “Be strong.” He muttered then out. I blinked and sat on the chair, spinning it around then looked through the papers. A knock came on the door.

    “Sei-ku~~n!!!!” a high-pitched girl’s voice said from outside. I frowned. I remembered what Akashi had told me this morning, before I came here, the part where my apology wasn’t accepted.

“You have to watch out when she comes. I don’t want you getting hurt so do as I say.” He had said.

“Do what?”

“Pretend; you’re my fiancee, my replacement as the boss. Just do it.”

I blushed. “F-fiancee?!”

“That will somehow work. My plan never fails. And this one will not to.”

“Well, pretending to be the boss is no problem. But what about fiancee? I can’t go out announcing I’m your fiancee.”

He chuckled. “Are you stupid or what?”

“Wha—“

“When she claims me, tell her that you’re mine. Will forever be.” He smiled.

    I blushed at the thought.

    “Sei-ku—“ the door opened and a girl with red ginger wavy hair that reached her chest entered and stopped dead when she saw me. She had hazel eyes and I had to admit, she has nice figure.

    “Who the hell are you, bitch?” she queried. I arched an eyebrow. Bitch? BITCH!? WHAT A NICE INTRO WOMAN!

    “The only bitch I see is no other than you.” I replied.

    She gritted her teeth and slammed the table with her palms, papers flew from the table. I sighed and picked them up.

    “Where is Sei-kun, and who the heck are you!?” she demanded.

    “I am Akari Kizuna. What have brought you here into my office?” I questioned and she flinched.

    “Huh, like Sei-kun would give his title to you so easily! You must’ve seduced him!” she accused.

    I frowned. “Hah! You’re just jealous because I’m prettier than you!” I started to provoke her.

The heck am I doing....

    “Jealous!? Prettier!?” she asked then laughed like a maniac. “Hello~ I certainly think I’m prettier than you! And why would I get jealous over some little shit like you!” she added.

    “Either way, you should be.”

    “And why?”

    I smirked, “I am claimed as Akashi Seijuurou’s wife.”