A/N: This is unedited, I'm so sorry.

Chapter 8- Not a replacement.

    Next morning, I was having a headache as I saw Akashi’s gone from home and there’s a message from him.

From; ‘I am absolute’ red-haired boss.

Car key in the drawer, send Yukina to school. Thanks.

    I clenched my fists and stormed into Yukina’s room, waking her up. I went down and prepared breakfast. WORK AGAIN! He needs a scolding. That guy just gets on my nerves--!

    “SEIJURO!!!!” I screamed and fell into the chair. I sighed, why am I even stressed about him not getting enough rest!? Ugh! Yukina came in the kitchen with a sleepy face and sat down opposite me.

    “Why are you screaming nii-chan’s name early in the morning? Where is him anyway?” she asked.

    “Your precious lovely nii-chan is having too much work and he refused to get a rest! Not even from yesterday!” I told her.

    “Really? Nii-chan’s that busy?” she asked, concerned then her expression turned grim. “Nee-chan you have to bring him home!”

    I sighed. “I’ll get killed before I do.”

    She pouted and started eating the sandwich I prepared. “Hey hey, what’s the commotion here?” Reo asked. We turned our heads. Reo entered along with Kotarou and Eikichi.

    I’ll tell this to everyone! “Your absolute friend is working from yesterday without any rest! And he’s gone too, now, for work!” I said.

    “Wow,” Reo blinked as he took a bite of the sandwich. “Sei-chan’s working hard.”

    “That’s not working hard!” I said.

    “That’s what you call suicide, Reo-nee.” Kotarou indicated.

    “Exactly!” I exclaimed. “He’ll need a scolding!”

    “Wow,” Reo repeated. “You’re working hard too.”

    I sighed. “Alright, that’s it. You three are going out for the whole day, no?”

    “Yup!”

    “Okay, please send Yukina to school. Akashi asked me to do it but I prefer not to ride his elegant car, like seriously, how do you expect me, a girl who comes from a moderate village to ride his Lamborghini? Plus that I’m clumsy, I won’t be surprised if I suffers an accident.” I babbled.

    “Sei-chan’s richer than me. How saddening.” Reo pouted.

    “That’s not the problem here!” Eikichi said.

    “How are you going to work, Seiki—um, Kizuna?” Kotarou asked and I couldn’t miss out the part where he’d mistaken me as Kina.

    I tried to smile. “What is a cab for, again?” I said.

    “Oh fine.” He rolled his eyes and pouted.

    “Kotarou is embarrassed. Well done, Kizu-chan!” Reo clapped his hands.

    “Okay, so now let’s go,” Eikichi spoke then turned to me. “Make sure you drag that redhead here back home, okay?”

    I saluted him Western-style. “Sir, yes sir!”

*  *  *  *

I entered his office and put my backpack on the couch. It was dark, the aircon was off. Obviously, he’s not here. But since the temperature is quite low, he must’ve just left the office. It’s 8am now.

    “If..” a voice spoke and I recognized it’s Akito. I turned my head, he was leaning on one side against the door frame. “.... You are searching for that brat, he’s on meeting right now.”

    I sighed loudly in exasperation. Took out my straight cabel from the drawer and threw myself on the soft leathered couch. Akito watched me. “Why are you sighing like that?” he asked.

    I turned to him. “Do you know what time he arrived here?” I asked.

    “I don’t know. I arrived around 6.30 and he was already there. Why?”

    “Ugh! I really need to drag him home!”

    “Why?”

    “He’s been awake and working since yesterday night. I’m worried.”

    “You’re worrying too much. He knows what he’s doing.”

    “No he don’t. I know his limits, he don’t.”

    He frowned. “What? How can that be?”

    “Because I’m awesome gaahahahaha!”

    “You’re crazy.”

    “Fine. Because he’s obviously tired, I mean, can’t you see his face?! His eyes?!”

    “I can. And there’s nothing wrong with it.”

    “Ugh, could you take a look closer! His eyes showed a hint of fatigue and his mood isn’t stable!”

    “Puberty.”

    “He’s grown!!”

    “Still undergoing puberty.”

    “You’re the one who’s crazy now.”

    “Because he acts like a child when it comes to this matter!”

    I finally know his problem. “You just can’t accept the fact that Kina’s dead aren’t you?”

    He went closer. “You have no rights to even speak her name.”

    “I am not stealing Akashi away from her. You know, actually, all I wanted is a peaceful life at my ex-company and suddenly on a snowy night he suddenly came and hugged me. Then the next day I was transferred here by force! I don’t want that! I wished I’ve never met him! I wish Kina would still be alive to protect him, to save him from succumbing into world of shits! I don’t want to see him anymore! You know why, it hurts me. So much because he’s suffering. But then I realized, why am I here? Is it not to help him as well? I want to help him, Akito. I just want to help him, that’s all.”

    “Oh really? What about your heart beating faster than usual when he’s close.”

    “Because I can’t stand it! He’s too much! Okay fine, I admit. I love him. No, I fall for him. He’s the reason why I can’t move back to Tokyo even when my parents died and when I think I’ve lost eveything in this world. He keeps on pulling me! Truthfully, I hate him! Why don’t he just die with Kina!? He’ll be resting in peace instead of dealing with these shits in this world of lies! He’s just.... suffering. And I hate it.”

    “That’s why you have to help him.” Akito concluded.

    “I want to get away from him. I don’t want myself to replace anyone in his heart. I don’t want him to even think of me. Because I hate the thought of replacing Kina. I hate the thought that he’s moving on!”

    Akito stared at me. I was avoiding eye contact.

    “I’m not replacing Kina. I’m just putting you next to her. Is that wrong?” a familiar voice interrupted my dramatic confession. I fell silent, like, complete silence, I even stopped breathing. There Akashi was, standing right at the door.

    “You heard him.” Akito murmured.

    OH\MY\FREAKING\SOUL\THIS\IS\SO\EMBARRASSING. I bit my lower lip and shoved Akito aside, literally speed walking outta the door to wherever far from any mortals.

    “Kizuna.” I heard Akashi called out from his office. I ignored it completely and exited the building heading towards the playground not far from here. But far enough to make me suffocate when I arrived. By walking of course.

    There were some kids playing there and I sat on the bench, trying to ease my mind. One approached me. “Eeehh! Nee-chan, we really meet again!” the boy said.

    I blinked. “Wh..at?”

    “Don’t you remember me?” he asked, disappointed. “I’m Kazehiki!”

    W-who?

    He pointed to the other five behind him. “Furuota, Okizaki, Mimi, Yumi!”

    Um....

    “You really don’t remember us?” the girl, Yumi, asked, her sweet face sad.

    “I.... uh, of course I do!” I lied. Seriously, these kids are too cute I can’t say no.

    “Where’s your boyfriend?” Furuota asked.

    I jerked away. “What?! Boyfriend?”

    “I think you are suffering from amnesia, nee-chan,” Mimi said. “You came here a few years ago with your red-haired boyfriend and played snow war with us!”

    I.... did? I mean, of course I didn’t, it’s Kina.

    “Oh err, he’s working, busy right now.” I replied with a smile.

    “Nee-chan, you look sad.” Okizaki spoke. I looked away.

    “N-no. I just got up from a my sweet sleep. That’s why.” I answered.

    “Ah, Mum’s calling!” Furuota exclaimed. “We’ll meet again, nee-chan!”

    “O-of course we will!” I waved them goodbye and waited until they are out of sight. I need to get back to work. Wait, now that I think of it.... what is my role in the company? I mean, when I was working for First Snow Company, I was a programmer. But when I transferred, what do I do all these while?

    Joking around with Akashi. Wow. Just, wow. I decided to walk back to the building as the cloud had gone darker and there’s some lightning flash could be seen. Ugh, bad weather again? This won’t be good. It’s going to rain. When I entered the office, he wasn’t there, AGAIN! I sighed and packed my stuffs and called for a cab. By the time I rode the cab, it was already raining heavily.

    I know this exact place where he would go.

____________

I cursed as the wind blowed so hard it almost made me fall sideways. I struggled hard to climb the small hill. And then I arrived. Akashi’s there, staring at the grave. He was standing like an idiot IN THE MIDDLE OF THE RAIN! HAD HIS MIND GONE WRONG!?

    I knew he’d come here; Kina’s grave. I knew it. “Akashi!” I called out. He didn’t budge. “Akashi!! Akashi Seijuro!!!!” I yelled and then grabbed his hand. He was.... cold.

    “Akashi....” my voice softened and I pulled him into an embrace. He stiffened but then relaxed. I buried my face onto his shoulder. “I’m sorry. I’m so sorry.” I chanted the apologies.

    He didn’t reply but he returned the hug. He’s cold but somehow, he’s emitting heat. I knew this would happen. “Akashi, let’s go home. You caught a fever.” I said and led him out. He didn’t speak whatsoever it’s like walking and talking with a battery-out robot. I had to slip my hand into his jeans’ pocket for the car key or we won’t be getting home. Lamborghini Sesto Elemento.

Gosh, can he just ride a bicycle next time.

    I placed him on the front seat and I held my breath when I sat on the driver’s seat. Whoa. So how do I do this? I glanced at Akashi, to see if he could somehow give me a hint. But he was already passed out. I reached out and touched his forehead.

Okay, he seriously caught a high fever; I could boil an egg.

    “Akashi, you’re handful.” I sighed and drove off.