The Turtle who's Writing

Their first meeting was almost like a cursed. Bound to be meet each other in spite he doesn’t want to. But it was amazed how this man knew where he’s gone. Not many people knew of this place, which, he would always known this place as his ‘secret hiding place’. The place there was really breath-taking and calmed himself down. It's a very nice spot to watch the sun is setting until it reach to the deepest of horizon.

There was a big fight between him and the actors. How they are all envy of him in spite his acting is not as good as the rest of professionals actors, yet his gorgeous looks kept him away from ruining his act. What’s worst, the Director fond of him more than the rest of them.

Feeling very frustrated, Zen ended up riding his motorcycle to cool his head down and avoid them all.

Although his broken leg still hasn’t healed properly from an accident yet, Zen remembered how he’s been warned by V that he shouldn’t ride on the motorcycle anymore after the albino-haired male willingly to join the RFA.

However, he couldn’t helped it somehow. He was rather in a bad mood, thanks to those bastards, and he needs to go someplace where the Director or actors couldn’t find him.

Somewhere he could calm himself down.

And his secret hiding place is the best spot to hide himself away from them.

“Haaa…..” Zen gave a long exhaled before he takes out a box of cigarette to start smoking.

He puffed out the smoke from his lips, having in a deep thought then. He didn’t realized there’s a black, limo car stopped behind him as he was too addicted smoking.

Until a man with a business suit came out from the car and speak to him;

“Are you Hyun Ryu?” A monotone voice startled Zen a bit. Almost dropped his cigarette on the hill.

The very first moment his crimson orbs laid into those cool and collected grey eyes of an unfamiliar man, his heart had almost stop right there.

“I’ve heard a lot about you from Jihyun. You must be a new RFA member, yes?” His presence made him feel something. Something so familiar. Something strange at the same time. Is it good? Is it bad? He couldn’t put a finger somehow.

It took Zen to realized how dazzling his looks is; grey orbs are sharp like a hawk that’s been waiting a naive little rabbit come out from its hole. Shiny, and gorgeous ebony hair. And those lips. Those soft lips of hisㅡ

“Let me introduced myself firstㅡmy name is Jumin Han. I am the son of Chairman Han, the President of C&R International. From what I’ve heard from Jihyun, you seem to be having a difficult life due to living by yourself. I’m doing this for my close friend,” Jumin held out his long and slender arm toward Zen. “would you like to change your life; lived in an easy and better way? You have no need to take a lot of part time jobs anymore. I can take care of everything if you’re very concerned about it.”

And that was it.

The moment the raven said that, there was definitely a very familiar feeling he felt for a long time.

His throat somehow feels a little dry up as if he was lost in words of the other male’s offer. His heart starting to beating fast once again. …Ah. So that’s how it is. He knew and recognized this feeling so well.

There are so many things he wants to say to the ebony-haired male, yet at the same time, he ended up speechless.

However, the first thing he managed to say to him isㅡ

“..Trustfund jerk.” He said with a very disgusted and displeased expression on his gorgeous face.

.

.

.

-.-

The other male's head tilted in confused of the albino’s respond. Zen would’ve expected the older man would be pissed off of how he called him that. But insteadㅡ

“..Is that how commoner’s greeting way?”

Well that made him frustrated even more. Zen could feel his blood is boiling reach to his head at the sight of this jerk. Stuck with him for more than 5 seconds would drivin’ him crazy at this rate. Especially when he came here just to cool himself off.

“Shut up..” Zen let out an exhausted exhale this time, putting his slender hand on his nape. “I just came here to get some fresh air, and now you’ve ruined everything. I’m outta here.”

As soon as Zen passed him close, a strong grip yet gentle came from his wrist then. His crimson eyes flashed into the grey one in annoyed and disgusted.

“What?!”

“What made you refused my offer?” Jumin said with a calm and composed tone. Grey orbs bored deep into the albino’s chest. The way how that jerk look at him feels frustrated and tired.

Zen replied with a scoff and pried his wrist away from the raven’s hold. “Haaa…. I wish I could tell you but I doubt that a stuck-up jerk like you would understand.”

“What is it that I don’t understand about?”

“I was being sarcasm right there, you trustfund kid!”

Zen found himself shocked for a moment there. Never once as he ever raised his voice to anyone before. Not even his brother whom he admired so much. Although it’s true that he can be a hotheaded sometimes, but he rarely yelled to anyone. Probably something about that jerk really get on his nerve.

And just after he turned on his heel close to his motorcycle, there was a gentle touch on his shoulder this time.

“What is it now, you jerk?!” God… he really needs to get out of here so badly.

“Your leg,” Jumin whispered, eyes gazed down on the other male’s bandaged leg.

Zen blinked for a moment and follows where his grey eyes gazed at that filled with… maybe concerned and worried? No, no.. that can’t be. Just ignored it, Zen.

Zen shrugged. “Don’t worry, Trustfund jerk. I can heal like a monster. It should be alright for a couple of days. Nothing to be concerned of.”

And just before he was about to ride on the motorcycle, Jumin’s strong grip pulled him and dragged away from his motorcycle.

“H-Hey! Where are you taking me, you jerk?!”

“Just because you can heal like a monster, doesn’t mean you can ride on whatever you like.”

“I can do whatever I can likeㅡwaaah!” Zen exclaimed when the raven forced him entered into his limo car and shut the door. The other male desperately tries to open it but the door instantly locked.

“Where to, Mr. Han?” the driver asked when the raven had came into the car on the opposite side of Zen’s.

“Where to?” Jumin questioned this time, his calm grey orbs bore deep into the crimson one.

Wh-who? Me?” Zen said flusteredly, in which, the other male nodded. “Uh.. well,” he tells the raven where he works.

“Just as he said, Driver Kim.”

“Understood, Mr. Han.”

“W-wait!? What about my motorcycle? You can’t just leave it like that?!”

“Rest assured you that I’ve already ordered my personal assistant to send it back to your house.”

“..How will you know of my address?"

“Jihyun told me.”

“Make sense…” Zen murmured.

-.-

There was nothing Zen could do after then except stay still in the jerk’s car and distant himself away from him as well until they reached to his work place.

The riding was really uncomfortable for Zen. Because for one; he hated seeking any help from arrogant rich family, especially this Trustfund jerk of course. It reminded him of so much of a memory that he hated to remind of or remember.

He was expected the other male would start a random or awkward conversation to the actor. But so far, he hadn’t speak anything except, sitting right there, eyes full of mask like an expensive porcelain doll.

It didn't take more than 15 minutes later then, Zen could feel his nose started to feel itchy somehow. When he tries to rub his nose, it starting to turn red and sneezing comes then.

Jumin noticed of the actor’s behaviour.

“Are you sick?”

Zen shook his head.

“N-Not really..,” he admittedly. Being an actor and often stays health, he rarely catch a cold or fever.

Unless..

“..hey, Trustfund jerk,” he called. “did you, by any chance brought a cat in this car?”

Jumin tilted his eyebrow of the actor’s random question. With a long pause from deep of thought, he finally answer as if he remember something;

“Now that you mention it, I did brought Elizabeth the 3rd here this morning.”

“..who’s that?”

Jumin takes out his cellphone from his pocket and shows the actor a picture of white, persian cat.

“The most beautiful creature of all.”

“Gaah!! I should’ve known since my allergic triggered of that furball!” Zen exclaimed, hiding his eyes as if he was blinded from the radiant of light.

“Don’t speak rudely about Elizabeth the 3rd.”

“As if I care! -achoo!- Driver! Pull over! -achoo!-”

“Do you even know where you are? I doubt you would be there in time knowing your motorcycle is not with you.”

"Hah! I rather walking until midnight instead of staying of this car with full of freakin furball’s hairㅡ" And just before Zen could finish his sentences, he could feel a warmth embracing close to his body. His allergic has been forgotten there somehow. But it filled with shock and confusion this time.

“Feeling better?” Jumin whispered closed to the actor’s ear. He was very close to his personal space. So close until he could hear the other male’s calm heart-beating. Feel the warmth and feeling secure as well from his well-built body and what’s worst, the cologne he’s wearing now is very suffocating for the actor as he couldn’t even breathe properly.

What..what is he thinking he’s doing?

Zen hates to admit himself but although he appreciate of the other man’s help(in such a weird way), but this doesn’t help him anything at all! Why’s his heart is pumping so hard as if it’s gonna explode by now?

Thankfully everything’s comes to an end when the car started to halt, Zen knows that they finally arrived to his work place, which the albino quickly shoved off the other male away from his personal spaxe and kicked the damn door to leave there as soon as possible.

“Hyun,”

Zen stopped from mid-walking when the trustfund jerk rolled his name with his graceful tongue. The albino took a glanced on him, regretfully not walking away from that bastard.

“Aren’t you suppose to say something to me?”

That smirk.

That damn and snarky smirk!

He knew that he should’ve just pretend not hearing anything!

Goddamn.. just what’s up with this guy anyway? Does he has to treat him that way? He’s a new member of RFA afterall. That jerk should’ve welcomed him properly or treat him like a junior who still needs to learn for the first time.

He should treat the albino in a gentle way.

…Actually, wait, that feels wrong.

Twitching his left eye in annoyance, he took a deep breathe and,

“As if I’m gonna say thank you to a trustfund jerk like you! And fyi, it’s Zen!”

Zen slammed the door as hard as he could do. He could’ve sworn he can just hear that bastard’s chuckle in his head by now.

When the Driver Kim had drove away, the albino goes back to his work place

With a very foul mood; his argument with the other arrogant actors had been forgotten. But instead, it was about that Han fuckin Jumin.

If he had known there’s such a jerk in the RFA sooner, he should haven’t join it by now.

…

Well, then again, the albino did say that he willingly to join it because he wants to change something different in his life.

…

Don’t tellㅡ that jerk’s the one that could actually change his life in a different way?

No, no, no… he shouldn’t have thinking it too much. There’s no fuckin way his life would change soon thanks to that trustfund jerk.

Argh.. goddammit.. Dammit all.. stop, just stop. Enough thinking about him anymore. He would ended up getting too exhausted for the next practice then.

Once he had enough sleep, he would act whatever happened between them nothing’s happened. ..Or so he thought.

The very next day, Zen could feel his phone made a vibration.

He unlocked his screen phone and checked there’s a few messages from an unknown sender. But its profile picture looks like a white, persian furball, which looks familiar.

Gaaah.. just staring at it longer really made his nose feeling slightly itchy again. Out of all picture its has to pick the disgusting furball..

Trying to ignored its profile picture, Zen started to read what’s the messages written;

???: You know, I’ve been thought of this for a while since yesterday.

???: Would you willingly to become a model for a cat commercial.

???: It suits you, meow.

“Achoo!”

What the hell? That’s the first thing this sender say.

..No. Could it be its giving a wrong person.

Maybe he should try..

ZEN: Are you sending a wrong number by any chance?

Send.

Waiting around a few minutes later then, a new message came.

???: I am sure I’m not, Zen.

ZEN: Wait, don’t tell me you’re

???: Yes. I am Jumin Han,

ZEN: Stop! Stop! I’ve heard enough of your introducing yesterday!

???: Then why would you still calls me ‘jerk’?

ZEN: BECAUSE I HAVE REASONS!!

ZEN: And more importantly, how did you even get my number…?

ZEN: Don’t tell me V gives my number to you.

???: Every RFA member have everyone’s number, meow.

ZEN: DON’T MEOW TO ME

ZEN: THAT DOESN’T SUIT YOU AT ALL.

ZEN: Did you actually find my allergic pleasure to you???

???: Hmm.. Maybe?

ZEN: …

???: So, about the cat commercialㅡ

Couldn’t take any longer Zen eventually turn off his phone.

Gaaah… it’s in the middle early morning, yet this stuck-up jerk has a time to tease him.

Dammit.. Dammit all..

Things couldn’t get any worst is it?

Chapter 15

Ever since meeting the red-headed man that day, flashback starting to occur in her dream. There, the little Suzuka watched her friend and Kosuzu played along with the other kids. Knowing that there are boys at the playground, Sen eventually refused to play along with them; rather watching the others having fun without her.

Envy of how fun they're all had, Sen lets her sigh released from her lips.

If it wasn't for that man, she wouldn't…

"Don't you wanna play with them?"

A male voice around possible 14 years spoke to her as he stood next to Sen but not close to her personal space.

"There are boys over there. I hate them."

"Why? I do not remember they have done something terrible to you,"

"Of course they haven't…" she paused. "…yet. Sooner or later, they might pick a fight after this."

With that, the teenager nodded and murmured.

"..I suppose, there's a chance."

Glaring on the other male, Sen began to speak.

"What are you doing here anyway? You didn't come here to talk to me right?"

"In truth, not really. I've come here just to make sure my lord won't do something crazily."

"Oh, pretty sure he already did by now."

Sen said with an uninterested tone on her lips, as she rolled her eyes on elsewhere.

"However, when I saw you sitting here, I just thought you need someone accompany."

"Oh yeah, maybe I do, thank you very much." Sen replied sarcastically.

"I apologized if my presence nuisance to you." The teenager said apologetically. "If you want me to leave, then, I'll leave."

Upon of leaving the Suzuka alone, Sen sighed and replied lowly.

"Your presence is not nuisance or anything." With that, the other person looked at her in a hidden perplexed. "I have my own reasons why I'm being this way toward you and other boys. I won't tell you any further as it doesn't has to do with you."

At that, Sen was expecting that the teenager boy would eventually take a leave after all, but instead…

"Then, if you don't mind, I'll stay here with you until evening then."

"Sure, sure. Only one circumstance though," Sen grabbed a stick and drew a line on the ground about a few millimeter away from hers and the other person. "Don't you dare step into this line, got it?"

With that, the teenager boy gave a soft chuckled as a reply. It wasn't in insult or sarcastic however. Instead, it was more as… amusing.

"As you wish, Miss Sen."

With that, the two watched the other kids having fun at the playground.

Before her flashback began to end, Sen took a time to glance on the other person's amazing red hair.

It was the most beautiful hair color she had ever seen.

…And she would never forget it no matter how many years would come.

As the dream starting to fade away, the older Suzuka began to flutter her eyes opened, took a gaze on the ceiling above her.

A man with an amazing red hair.

It has the same color as the man yesterday.

To think, her past starting to replay back in her at a time like this. …Not that she bothered or something. It's almost as if the dream wanted to know that the man in her past was the most important person in her life. The dream wanted to make sure that there are many male she can trusted of, beside Kazama and Shiranui(?). Although it's hard to say what she sees of the tan-skinned man, but she does finds Shiranui a bit nuisance as he had a similar vibe of being a bad boy or delinquent, in which, Sen did not hesitated distrust him.

Speaking of the red-headed man,

It's complicated to say what kind of feeling she'd felt for him. He's not annoying like Kazama. He's not even a playboy like Shiranui. Despite he had a same age between Kazama and Shiranui, yet, almost everything about him is more like 20 years old or so…? She didn't know.. she can't tell.. but for sure… little by little, she'd starting to open up a little because of his gentle and kindness toward her. The chains that been tied up in her heart slowly starting to loosen up.

She wondered.. is it a good idea to give a chance to open up that red-headed man? What if, he's been playing on her to take a chance to hurt her? …Well, for an older man with a gentle smile, there's a higher doubt that he would break her apart.

Even so…

"Osen-neesan!" Kosuzu's voice brings her back to reality. "Breakfast had prepared!"

As soon as her thought about that man started to disappear because of her sister's cheerful chirp, Sen gave the most beautiful smile on her face, hopped off from her bed as she readying herself to go to school.

Beside she's getting exciting for school, there are another thing she's exciting more;

Serizawa Christmas Party.

To think, she getting invited to someone else's party, and not to mention it, from the red-headed man of course.

Knowing that he'll be her partner to accompany her all the way to Serizawa Christmas Party, he might've wearing a very gorgeous black tuxedo with a blue rose that attached on his right pocket.

She has to admit it though, his hair really needs to fix by at least cut it off reached to his neck or something, combed in neat as well to make sure men and women see him in respectful and polite.

But, of course. She doubted that he would listen her opinion.

Serizawa Christmas Party, huh? Sen thought to herself as she eyed on her highschool uniform in her drawer.

Once she finally grabbed her clothes, her smile began wider than ever.

Let's meet again, Mr. Red-Headed Man.

Meanwhile with Kazama,

after he'd accompanied his beautiful and graceful girlfriend all the way to Hakuou Academy by walking, the couple has to part away at the gate as he needs to finish his paperwork as soon as possible by today. It's disappointed to him however that he didn't get to spend a pleasant times with her as it almost about Christmas after all.

Chizuru's reply, however, that she didn't mind if she wouldn't get accompanied with the President a little longer since she needs to get some things in her locker after all. She highly doubted that the President is going to be amused having around with… commoner friends such as Heisuke and Souji. The part of commoner word is not from Chizuru's lips of course. It's belonged to none other than the richest, yet arrogant President. Who would it be beside him? The brunette would never call her friends that way.

Before parting away, Kazama replied with his famous smirk on his face and giving Chizuru a goodbye kiss(on cheek), which, as usual, the young brunette's face was flushing in red from embarrassment. She's still far from innocent to receive a kiss on the lips. He would be a very patient as he wanted to until she's getting used to kissing on her cheeks.

Every parts of his-soon-to-be-wife often amused him. Knowing that she's not like any other rich girl, she's quite innocent, kind, and often cares and worries of her friends surrounding her than herself. then again, that must be an effect after losing her parent in a very young age. Then again, the President actually prefers this kind of girl he's seeking for.

"Now then, what kind of special Christmas gift should I give her?" Kazama said, scheming onto something, while putting his fingers on his chin. "Since she had a feeling for me after all, this would take an opportunity to give her engagement ring when her graduation has finally come." The President nodded in proudly as he had some more plans that's related to his girlfriend and… trouble.

"But where's the fun would be then?" Kazama smirked at that but soon starting to fade away as he realized giving an engagement ring is a bit too much. ..Well, since Christmas Eve is around the corner, the President has to give her the most perfect Christmas present to make sure Chizuru could only sees him and him only. Not anyone else.

As the President was having a deep thought, he realized he wasn't alone in the office.

Eyeing on a familiar broad shoulders of the red-headed man, Kazama began to break the silent toward the other man.

"So, Amagiri," Kazama began, waiting for his personal servant eyed on him. "In your opinions about girls, what's the best gift would she likes the most?"

"Opinions about girls?" Amagiri blinked. "I assume, you must've referred to Yukimura-dono, yes?"

"Obviously?"

With that, Amagiri starting to have a deep thought for a moment, putting his fingers on his chin. It took a short moment then he finally answer.

"How about flowers?" The red-headed man started. "Maybe some cute things like plushie, and cushions? Girls also like sweet things like ice cream." As he stopped right there, his memory replay back how much he admired the older Suzuka loves sweet things truly, especially parfait.

"It look like you're enjoying sweet things."

"Well yeah. Of course most women likes sweet things. No other female could ever dislikes sweet stuff… unless they're into strange taste."

Amagiri gave the warmest smile on his face as he repeated those moments over and over without feeling bored. Meeting the older Suzuka was like Kami's approving their unexpected fate.

As the President observed the red-headed man very carefully, he noticed for a moment that something's not right about the other man. It wasn't in a bad way. It was more like… very unlike of the red-headed man. Amagiri, the most polite(definitely not Kazama's word) and gentle(and so this) person, gave the gentlest smile on his face right in front of him. Very much unlike him at all. If Shiranui had already seen that, he must've called the ambulance by now.

Well, for whatever it is, it must've related to girls and women since Kazama does talk about Chizuru for a moment. For whoever girl or woman Amagiri thinking of, the President was hoping that it's not his girlfriend knowing that every part of her is belonged to his and his only.

And yes, Kazama Chikage can be quite possessive when it comes to partner or lover.

He's not the kind of person who could share his property to anyone else, especially not to the commoner.

"Flowers? Cushions and plushies? Don't be ridiculous." Kazama spoke confidently. "As if my soon-to-be-wife would like such a cheap gift as that especially when Christmas party is coming."

"That's just my opinion about girls, Kazama-sama. After all, you did tells me my thoughts about girls' gift."

"I guess you're right.." Kazama murmured, in which leaves silent moment formed in the office then.

Until a few seconds or so, Amagiri break the silent.

"Well… what about sweet things? I'm sure that Yukimura-dono would be very glad to have a taste of strawberry parfait." Especially if it's in homemade by you, Amagiri thought at the last part. But he highly doubted that Kazama would made a parfait on his own, knowing that the President had never come to kitchen since he described that place a bit oily, and hot, in which, doesn't suit a rich son to visit such a place like that.

"I would give a gift that could cherish that thing until eternity. Food can't stand last forever." Kazama complaint stubbornly, putting his hand on his chin as his thought filled with the brunette girl, whom wearing such a beautiful, lovely wedding gown. He wondered what kind of reaction would Chizuru made if the President ever gives her a wedding gown…? Then again, he highly doubted that she likes that idea..

I did suggested you some plushies and cushions. Amagiri thought deeply, but decided to slide that part away as no one could ever fought back of the President's argument. …Unless, possible the older Suzuka… "Then… how about something that made by yourself? Beginning from scratch?"

"From scratch?"

Amagiri nodded. "Since flowers can't stand last forever, you can always give her a cloth-made flowers by yourself."

"Now's that complicated."

"Complicated, but worthy."

Kazama groaned in reply as he took a deep thought then.

Several minutes then, Kazama finally had a decision whatever he thought of the red-headed man's recommends for his lover's Christmas gift.

"Almost your opinions for my wife's gift doesn't suits her so well." He sighed. "As I expected, asking you your thought about girls' gift doesn't help me at all."

Amagiri didn't say any word, but groan because how stubborn the blonde-haired man can be.

As the President stood up from his place to leave his office, he stopped in mid-walking then.

"By the way, Amagiri," Kazama began.

"Yes…?"

"When I mentioned you about girl, who are you thinking about?"

"Pardon?"

Turning around to meet the other man's ocean-blue eyes, searching of whatever the person the red-headed man think of a moment ago.

"You have a very strange smile on your face when you were having a deep thought." Kazama narrowed his eyes. "Do you by any chance meet someone in coincidently?"

"That is…" Amagiri mumbled, not knowing what to say. It's quite rare of the President to wanting to know of someone else's personal business beside the Yukimura girl. Despite being self-important and arrogant President, Kazama does capable on observing other people…

"Rest to be assured, Kazama-sama," Amagiri began, averted his eyes by lowering his head down. "for whoever woman or girl I thought of a moment ago doesn't have to do with you or Yukimura-dono."

"Oh…? You're sharp." Kazama commented. "Well, whatever. If your words are honest, then I suppose I shouldn't have to worry about."

When no words the red-headed man intended to speak, the President had finally left the office, leaving Amagiri alone in a quiet Student Council room.

Upon of arriving in the locker room, the young brunette met her childhood friend.

"Good morning, Heisuke-kun."

"Hm? Oh, Chizuru!" Heisuke gave a very wide grin upon of seeing his friend here. "Morning. It's rare to see you here."

"Ah.. well, I forgot to get my things before my homeroom teacher coming."

The younger boy replied with a nod while there's still a wide smile on his face. It was as if his childhood friend was his smile.

Glancing around themselves, the brunette noticed something.. well most likely, someone is missing here.

"Um.. where's Okita-senpai?"

"Souji?"

As the brunette started to bring up a subject about the prankster senior, Heisuke's cheerful smile had disappeared, replacing to a groan/mumble.

"Obviously that Souji still mad about the terrible news about Christmas party." Heisuke began. That damn Souji.. although he told me to call him a senpai, he's still like a brat.. Heisuke finds himself pouting, in which, brings his childhood friend tilted her head in confused as he realized she could see through all over her face.

Not wanting to worry of his childhood friend, Heisuke gave a very wide grin once again.

"B-But don't worry! I'm sure that we can find a way to cheer him up." Heisuke said, hoping being optimistic could make everything's better.

"I hope so…" she murmured softly, hoping that she could at least see his sadistic smirk every once in a while.

Meanwhile in the Hijikata's office

Souji pushed the raven-haired man against the wall harder. There was a hidden anger and frustrating behind on those emerald orbs of Souji's. Although it's normal to see Souji to have despise Hijikata so badly, but never would have thought to see the prankster student finally snapped before. Guess celebrating a Christmas party with Kondou, especially with other students must've been meaning to Souji huh?

"Why didn't you try and stop Serizawa about this? You've known that that Serizawa bastard is scheming onto something, right?! So why can't you stop him?!"

Hijikata didn't spoke a word yet, but replying a quiet groan, tried to find a better word to make the prankster student felt better. But not a single thing came out in his mind. Rather than speaking back, the raven-haired man narrowed his eyes deeper as he lets Souji blaming him only, not Serizawa.

"Go on. Say something." Souji said with a growl. "Why didn't you try and stop Serizawa?!"

Before Hijikata finally speaks, the gentle Principal protected the raven.

"That's enough, Souji.." Kondou whispered gently as if he was speaking to a crying child. "It's my fault after all for planning a Christmas party at a time like this."

Souji faced to Kondou back, but his cold and hatred eyes toward Hijikata melted away when he saw a sad and guilty expression on Kondou's face. One of a thing he couldn't stand on is seeing the Principal look sad and disappointing.

"Rest to be assured that it's not your fault, Kondou-san." Souji said. "We've been done this every year in Hakuou Academy. Why would that Serizawa bastard starts a party in a time like this?"

With that, Kondou didn't spoke anything, not knowing what to say toward the emerald-orbs man.

"You do realized that blaming me wouldn't help anything else, especially bringing Kondou-san's party back." Hijikata finally spoke, as he get tired of Souji's childish side. As Souji continued giving a death-glared on him, Hijikata continued, "if you want it so badly, how about you're celebrating Christmas Eve in Kondou-san's place? That would end this problem."

After a long dark glare between teacher and student, it took more than minutes Souji finally ungripped his hold from Hijikata's.

"It would've been better if everyone in school here celebrating Christmas with Kondou-san…" Souji mumbled like a child.

As the prankster's presence was no longer in the raven's office room, Hijikata felt an urged to massage his forehead somehow. Damn.. ever since that Serizawa bastard visiting this year, things have gotten drivin' him crazy somehow. First, Itou coming back to school. After that, Serizawa cancelling Kondou's Christmas party. And now, that damn brat Souji blames on him for not letting the other students celebrate Christmas Party with Kondou.

It wouldn't get any worse right..?

…

Actually, no. He rather not say it out loud, knowing it would've been much worse than this.

"Say, Toshi…" Kondou began, bringing Hijikata back to reality. "Sorry about this."

"No need." The raven replied simply. "I've gotten used to getting blamed by Souji. He's better than that Serizawa bastard though."

With that, both men started to remain quiet without any word until the Principal intended to enlighten his friend mood by taking a subject about Souji.

"So.. speaking about Souji," Kondou began. "do you remember how we met him?"

"We…? Whoah, there, Kondou-san. Don't you remember?" Hijikata said, lit up his cigarette after he opened the window wider. "Didn't you actually found Souji first?"

"Was.. was I?" Kondou said innocently. "I-I guess so… ahaha..!"

Hijikata finds himself curled his lips upward upon of seeing Kondou's gentle smile. It's unfortunate for Souji that he didn't managed to see the Principal's smile after he left just now. Then again, talking a subject about him would've been embarrassed to Souji in the end.

"So you found Souji in the Shieikan dojo, right?"

"Ahh… that's right." Kondou nodded. "Somehow, I couldn't bring myself to kick him from dojo since he's looks like a poor puppy that needs a shelter so badly."

"It would've been better if you kick him off." Hijikata said sarcastically.

As the raven continued smoking to release his frustration, Kondou gave a melancholy smile as he remembered how he met little Souji back then. It's almost as if he was adopting a new son somehow.

When school has finally over, it was almost about time for the young brunette to take a leave then. As the sky starting to turn red-orange colored, the Sun is almost about to reach at the end of horizon by now. Upon of walking to the school gate, she could've sworn she heard a commotion at the field.

Curiously, the young brunette took a peek on the field and met two familiar men were fighting like a cat and a mouse.

"I told you before, she will come with me for the Serizawa party!"

"Don't be ridiculous." He spat in disgustedly. "Someone like you is not worthy to be her company. As her generous boyfriend, not to mention it; the most handsome one, she would gladly comes with someone like me rather than a commoner like you." The President began to give the most prideful smirk on his gorgeous face.

At those words, Heisuke felt an urged to twitch his left eye in annoyance because of that bastard's self-important attitude.

"J-Just because you two are lovers, that doesn't mean you can take an advantage of being her boyfriend and all!" Heisuke began to yap like a puppy(in Kazama's perspective)

"Ho… and what about you?" Kazama said confidently. "Always barking this and barking that how she's your childhood. Don't you ever get tired of using the same line?"

"That's because she is my childhood friend!"

As the argument goes on and on, it took several moments then they finally aware of the young brunette's presence. Both male students eyed on her at the same time as if she was some kind of food or reward to them, in which, brings the brunette jumped in surprised at the strange feeling of getting a deep glared struck into her chest.

"Chizuru!" Heisuke exclaimed first. "Perfect timing!"

"G-Good evening, Heisuke—" her words soon had been cut off as the other boy started to grab her both shoulders, making sure her eyes gazed into his(and definitely not to Kazama's)

"Tell me, Chizuru," Heisuke said. "who would you prefer of to come to Serizawa party? You're going to choose me, right?"

"S-Serizawa party?" Chizuru blinked in confused at that part.

"Yea!" The younger boy nodded. "After all, you need someone to come with you since letting a lonely woman walk to Serizawa mansion can be quite dangerous." He spoke in a soft and gentle tone, still gripping his small hands on his childhood friend's shoulder tighter than ever, but not in pain.

"…Oi, Toudou boy," Kazama growled in possessively. "Get your filthy hands off from my Princess. Only I can touch her," Chizuru couldn't helped but to flush in red upon of hearing the President called her 'princess'. And not to mention it, his possessive side. As his lover, he must've cherished her truly.

At that, Heisuke gritted his teeth, feeling an urged to give another yap but soon stopped by his childhood friend.

"U-Um… about that, Heisuke-kun," Chizuru said, raised her both hands, gesturing the younger boy to stop whatever he's intending to do.

"..I can't go with you."

Despite her words were pretty soft like a breeze, and yet to Heisuke, it's almost like a thunder jolt struck into him until he was nothing but a black ash. When the rejection appeared right in front of his face, the younger boy couldn't helped but to shot his eyes open, staring at her in disbelief and flabbergasted.

Although it's right for her to refuse him knowing she is going out with Kazama, Heisuke couldn't helped but finds his heart clenched in pain somehow.

With that, there's a proud smug on the President's face.

"See? Haven't I told you?" Kazama said. "Of course, she would not coming with you in Serizawa party. After all, she does have—"

Before Kazama could finish his sentence, Chizuru interrupted him as well, in which, give the most guilty smile on her face.

"I-I'm sorry Kazama-senpai, but, I can't be with you in Serizawa Christmas Party."

With that, the President didn't say anything, his usual smug started to disappear and continued on gazing on her, as if he was gesturing the brunette to explain of whatever reason she has to refuse him.

In which, Chizuru gladly tells them;

"Well…my father, Kodou," she started, " he'll be back when Christmas coming. I would like to celebrate a Christmas with my father for this year since it's been a long time since I last see him."

"Y-Your dad is coming…?" Heisuke murmured.

"That's right." She nodded. "I know it'll be much better celebrating in Serizawa Christmas Party. But, I'd really wanted to spend the Christmas night with my father this year. It would be very appreciate it if you understand my feeling. ..Please!" With that, Chizuru gave the most polite bow the male students had ever seen. But of course, it's actually important for her to celebrate a Christmas party with her father this time as it's been a while since she last seen his face. For once, she wanted to spend a greatest Christmas night with him like a family.

He and Kaoru are the only members of family she had ever have…

It took a moment then, the silent moment had finally break from Heisuke's voice.

"W-Well, if it's about your dad, then I guess I should invite someone else then." Heisuke mumbled, and there was a tinged of sadness behind on his orbs, in which, finds the brunette difficult to figure out of whatever expression he actually used just now.

At that, Heisuke turned on his heels then, leaving the President and the brunette all alone. As silent moments began to form between them once again, Chizuru gazed on the gorgeous President, hoping she could hear his permission for her to have a great celebration with Kodou. Rather than giving a word he'll expressed of, Kazama took a gazed on her deeper as well. It's almost looks like he wanted to say something. But not a single word could form on his lips.

Instead, he shook his head and turning on his heels to leave at the field.

The brunette couldn't helped but to blink in confused. Well, she was hoping that she could get to hear his approving in words. …The President must have better things to do than spending her..

Chizuru shook her head at that part, slapping her soft cheeks in multiple as while scolding herself to leave those thoughts out of her mind.

And so, Christmas Eve has finally come.

Chizuru had finally decorated her house for Christmas all by herself without helping anyone, not even Kaoru. She just thought to proof her older twin brother she can be quite useful no matter how much naïve she can be, especially around Kazama and Souji.

"There," the brunette said happily, as she finally put a golden star for the finishing touch on the top of the Christmas with a stool.

It looked beautiful…, she thought, finding herself closing her eyes as she remembered her past in every Christmas Eve. For the past years, she's usually celebrating the Christmas Eve with her father. Knowing that Kaoru living with Nagumo residents, it's impossible for him to celebrate with her and Kodou without knowing their address.

Now's that everyone's here, this should be one of a greatest Christmas Eve she had ever experienced with family…!

Ring…!

Not so long after this, Chizuru finally returned back to reality as the sound of phone began to ring. Turning on her heels quickly, she started to answer the phone and coincidencely, it was none other than her father..!

"Chizuru…"

"Father!" The brunette called him in excited.

It's been a while since she last heard his voice now. But somehow, she could felt the tone that her father using a moment was a bit… sorrow.

It's almost as if he couldn't save his patient that almost dying and he needs someone to be there with him or at least hear his daughter's sweet voiced. Though, she knew that her father was not the best nor a professional doctor. So having an experienced by watching a patient died right in front must've hurt her father truly knowing that almost all patients were like his children…

Trying to enlighten the mood, the brunette tried her best to cheer her father up;

"S-So, how's everything? You're coming right, Father? There are a lot of things I want to talk about once you're coming. Kaoru might be surprised once he meet you as he hasn't seen you for a long time. And.. and—" aaaah! Honestly, there are so many things she wanted to tell her Father. Especially how's her school life lately.

And most of all—

about Kazama.

She wondered what his reaction would be if he finds out that she's dating with a generous President, who ended up becoming a lover? The thought of that finds her heart fluttering in happiness somehow.

"Chi-Chizuru.." Kodou whispered quietly as if he didn't want to scare his adoptive daughter or something. "There's something I need to tell you."

"Yes..? What is it?"

As the brunette waited of whatever of her father trying to say

this broke her heart completely.

At the Suzuka Manor.

Ding Dong!

"Coming~!" Kosuzu chirped, hopped from the couch and opened the door to see whoever it was. Upon of wondering to know whoever it was, her eyes shot open in shock to see an unfamiliar, tall man right in front of the Suzuka manor.

She couldn't helped but to frightened a little to see how tall he is as if he was a bear, while the bun-haired styled Suzuka, is a frightened, little, small Chihuahua who could do nothing except shaking in fear.

Trying to hide her fear away from her eyes, she tried herself to be brave a moment.

"Um… h-hi. Is there anything business you have here?"

The red-headed man greeted with a polite nod in which, little by little, Kosuzu finds herself a little comfortable around him as she realized that he wasn't really that scary despite he was quite tall than anyone in a member of Suzuka.

"Good evening. I've come here to accompany Lady Sen for Serizawa Christmas Party."

"Serizawa Christmas Party..?" Kosuzu blinked for a moment. "…Oh! Right, Osen-neechan had told me that she decided to go to someone else's party. I'll go and get her. Please, have a sit for a moment." The bun-haired girl said, gesturing the guest to sit on the couch.

"Excuse me, then." Amagiri said, entered the Suzuka Manor, and took a sit on the couch.

As the red-headed man waited for Sen's coming, a familiar, female voiced spoke to him.

"Well, if it isn't Amagiri. It's been a while."

Raising his eyes into the woman figure, she has a same smile as ever.

"It's a pleasure to see you again, Miss Kimigiku. I see that you're well today."

"Yes, and so are you." Kimigiku said, putting a tray of cup and kettle on the table. "How's Kazama has been?"

"Stubborn and troublesome, as ever." Amagiri said with a sigh as he took a sip of tea that Kimigiku recently poured for him. "But.. he's gotten a bit mature somehow." Probably thanks to Yukimura-dono.

Kimigiku replied with a soft giggle.

"So, how's Lady Sen?"

"Well, well, well. I'm impressed you're still remembered her. I was expecting you were no longer remembering her since either of you rarely seeing each other a lot." She spoke with a little amazed.

"I'm a bit surprised as well." Amagiri said, eyed on a cup of his tea for a moment and spoke once more, "Though.. of course, I don't think I couldn't forget of her since the first time I found her sitting on the porch." His usual calm and gentle smile started to disappear as he remembered how lonely she was whenever she watched the other female friends play without her. Despite she has gotten used to have a feeling of loneliness, yet, it's still very wrong for her to be alone this way.

A warmth, and gentle hand starting to grip on the red-headed's big hand, eyed on Kimigiku's hand, there was a melancholy smile on her face.

"I'm really happy to see her getting along with a man like you. ..I hope, you and Sen will continue becoming a good friend." Kimigiku said, her hand still laid on Amagiri's one.

Returning to grip hers as well, there was a promising and determined behind of his ocean-blue orbs one.

"I will do whatever I can whenever she needs me."

They both exchanged each other with smile and chuckled.

When their hands started to part away, either of them started any of conversation this time. Amagiri took a sip of his tea until the other woman gave a chirped of 'oh!'. Eyeing on the long, raven-haired woman, Oukiku began to stand up from the couch.

"I remembered that there's something amusing that you would love to see it. I'll be right back."

With that, Kimigiky leaves the red-headed man in the living room then, bringing a silent moment formed around Amagiri.

Enjoyed the taste of Earl Grey tea, Amagiri eyed on the staircase, wondering what the older Suzuka do right now.

"…What taking so long, I wonder?"

In Suzuka room,

The atmosphere around Sen's room was quite peaceful, where she gets all excited to go to Serizawa Christmas party, couldn't decided which dress should she wear. There are many gowns that suitable to her, but of course, she usually prefers of a one-piece dress with many white ribbons.. does that clothes look a bit childish to her…?

However, after she finished wearing accessories and one-piece dress for a short moment, things has gotten a little tense the moment her mother, the heir of Suzuka clan came back from the meeting and started to talk to her of a same subject that related to be an arrangement meeting for the older Suzuka.

"Like I told you, mom," Sen said with a sigh of exhaustion. "I need some times to think."

"And when will this some times, Sen? We've been talked about this since you've entered Shimabara. Shouldn't it be about time for you to accept the arrangement marriage by now?"

"I know, I know.. but I'm not ready yet, somehow."

"Sen," her mother began. "I know this is hard for you. I know this is hard since that man left us. But please, for the sake of our clan, you should focus on your goal as the-soon-to-be-next-heir-Suzuka clan by now."

With that, Sen didn't spoke anything, in which, her mother continued once more.

"Even if there's no man that you're interested in, how about Kazama? You and that man had known each other since you two were very little right? And your relationship have gotten really quite close since you've met him several months ago from what I've heard from Kosuzu."

As this conversation would eventually turned complicated as ever, before Sen could speaks a word, her heroine came at the right time.

"Um.. I'm sorry for intruding.." Kosuzu said timidly after she knocked the door to Sen's room.

Two women eyed on the bun-haired girl as they let her spoke again.

"Osen-neesan, he's here."

Upon of hearing a word of 'he' next to her ear, her exhaustion of speaking with her mother about the arrangement marriage disappeared.

It must be him..!

"He?" Sen's mother raised her eyes in perplexed. "What is she—"

"I'm sorry mom," Sen interrupted her, taking her coat on the bed. "I'm going out with a… friend. We can talk about this later."

Calling that man a friend would be impossible as she didn't got his name yet. But of course, Sen would be gladly to call that man as a friend rather than stranger.

Before her mother could speak, Sen dashed away down to the stairs together with her bun-haired sister to meet the red-headed man.

Has he waited for her that long…?

"Do you remember this?"

As Amagiri took a peek of the album that the long, raven-haired woman intended to show while awaits the older Suzuka's arriving, Amagiri replied with a gentle smile then.

"Yes, I remember this so well." The red-headed man spoke, with a soft laugh on his lips. He doesn't usually laughed but knowing that Kimigiku had known him quite well, she knew what kinds of thing the other man finds amusing, and showing the older Suzuka and Kazama childhood event is one of an amusing one.

"It's unfortunate you didn't get a chance to meet Lady Sen in properly." Kimigiku said with a sigh.

"It's alright. I would rather not wanting her to find out whoever am I for a moment."

"You're starting to be a little secretive when it comes to Sen."

"I have my own reason as to why I am being secretive toward her." Amagiri spoke in a little hesitant one.

"Then I won't forcing you to tell me this. However, I hope whatever you're trying to do will not leads to the worst." Kimigiku used a very rare serious tone, giving her friend a small warning. There are times, the red-headed man can be quite unlikeable reckless.

Amagiri replied with a nod, as if he known whatever he's doing right now is right.

"Rest to be assured, I will tell her the truth of me… soon."

"And when is this soon?" Kimigiku said, closing the album book as they decided to forget whatever subject they had about Sen's/Kazama's childhood album.

"Who knows.." He said. "Maybe after her graduation."

"You knew that she would soon finds out about you later."

"..I know."

Before the raven-haired woman could say some more, the tense of atmosphere between then had disappeared as Kosuzu comes to them on the spiral stair.

"Mr. Amagiri, she's here." The bun-haired Suzuka announced the red-headed man in a rather timid one, probably she doesn't usually talk with boys or men quite often exceptional for Ibuki, of course.

Standing up from the couch then, Amagiri awaits of the older Suzuka's arriving. When the other man gazed the older Suzuka whos walking down on the spiral stairs slow, yet elegant one, he can't helped but widening his eyes open in astounding one.

Although the Christmas party wouldn't be as formal as Kazama or Suzuka famly, yet, Sen looks quite gorgeous in a white, one-piece dress with several beautiful ribbons right there and there. Not to mention it, although she's not a fond of accessories, but the way how she tied her hair in a bun-haired styled with a sakura petals hairpin, it actually suits her so well.

To think, such a beautiful figure could actually still exist here…

It took a moment then Amagiri finally returned back to reality as he heard a similar soft giggled on Sen's lips, as if the red-headed man had never seen her looks feminine and all.

…Well, in almost all men's perspective of course, they would've gapped like a fish to see the older Suzuka looks beautiful in a formal dress.

"Now then, should we go?" Sen's voice brings Amagiri back to reality once again, in which, the red-headed man replied with a polite bow and turned on their heels to leave the manor together.

"Try not to be late." Kimigiku reminded them. "Make sure to come home around 11 o'clock."

"Yes, yes.." Sen said, waved her hand off. "What are you, my second mom?"

Kimigiku could only gave a soft chuckled and averted her eyes on the blue-ocean ones.

"I entrust her safety to you, Amagiri."

The red-headed man reply with a nod and polite bow, as if he known his job.

"Of course."

As Sen eyed on them from Kimigiku to Amagiri, then from Amagiri to Kimigiku, she couldn't helped but to raise her eyebrow in puzzled and curious.

They seemed to be quite close..

Is there any connections between those two? It almost felt like she'd missed something..

Shaking her head to leave those wild thoughts out of her head then, Sen enwrapped her warm coat around her body before they left the manor.

As Kimigiku watched the couple leaves the Suzuka manor from the door, there was a glimpse of intriguing about them behind on her amethyst orbs.

It's quite rare to see the older Suzuka walking close to Amagiri's. Their spaces were even closer than Kazama's.

She couldn't helped but to curl her red lips in upward at the sight of watching the older Suzuka walked with other man besides the blonde-haired man.

Now this is interesting.

As they had walked about a few metres away from the Suzuka manor, Sen couldn't helped but feeling slightly nervous.

Although it's pretty normal for the couple to have walking close together. Sen, on the other hand, feels a greatest urged to feel ancious. However, this kind of anxious wasn't in terrible one or how she experienced some random men touch or grab her without permission. It was more like in opposite one.

But she couldn't described what kind of anxious or this nervousness feeling she felt right now. Is it happiness? Joy? Grateful? Or more than that? She had to admit, it's the first time she has ever going out with a partner and all.

And not to mention it with Amagiri of all the people.

In every Christmas Eve, Sen always spent most of her Christmas days in Suzuka manor as the Suzuka often held a Christmas party. Most guests that's been invited were usually from rich families. But the one's that organized the Christmas party of Suzuka family usually her mother.

Only the heir of Suzuka family would be allow to organize the party in Suzuka manor. There are actually many events they're actually held, but most of them could only be invite of wealthy family or receiving a very high title and all.

Her mother wouldn't even inviting Chizuru no matter how much desperate Sen had tried to.

Just thinking about her family, especially her mother kinda ruins her mood of her exciting for Serizawa party. Shooki her head slightly, she decided to move those subjects away from her mind, and thinks of a certain red-headed man even more.

Took a closer peek of the other man, she couldn't helped but finds the man looks quite fascinating in a black tuxedo with a red flower attacked on his right-chested pocket. Beside that, his scarlet hair looks quite neat. …Probably he wanted to give a very nice vibe around him when they're finally arrived in the party later.

"That's looks good on you."

Sen ended her words leave out from her lips in loud. And yet, she had no reason to feel shy about it.

"Excuse me?" Amagiri blinked in a slight on confuse.

Avoiding answering the question, Sen replied with a shook on her head and turned on her heels without hearing anymore words from the red-headed man.

"It's nothing. We should get going to the party by now."

With that, all Amagiri could by now is leave this mysterious unanswerable question, following after Sen, whom very excitedly about the party.

The brunette sighed in depressingly upon of hearing terrible news from her father.

"There's a snow storming in the airport. So it's impossible to make it to Kyoto. I know.. I promised myself that we will celebrate a Christmas Eve together, but.. it can't be helped Chizuru…"

She wanted so much to cry..

After all she's been waiting for him..

She was getting all excited to celebrate a Christmas with family..

So much for her happiness she hoped for, huh…?

Trying to hide her sadness away from her father, she replied normally though she could felt a warm tears began to fall down on her cheeks.

"Ah.. so that's how it is… It's fine, Father. In fact, the founder of my school invited me to attend his party. So I might go there instead."

Actually, that was a lied. Well, it's true that Serizawa did invited all students of Hakuou to come to his manor for the Christmas Party. But, she doesn't have any power or energy to come to any party after hearing her father couldn't make it to Kyoto.

After all, it's actually the first time she couldn't celebrate a Christmas Eve with Kodou before. Even if she called her brother to come over, he might thought of her a nuisance or something..

She sighed and buried her face with the palm of her hands in depressed and sorrow.

What should she do now…?

Meanwhile with Amagiri and Sen;

The couple had finally arrived in the Serizawa Christmas party. Upon of entering the found of Hakuou manor, Sen felt an urged to gap like a fish from amazed.

"Whoah.. I didn't know there are many guests here." The older Suzuka said in flabbergasted as she eyed on every guest in Serizawa's manor. There are several of guests Sen familiar of as most guests in here are from rich and wealthy families. So this Serizawa person must be a very rich man huh?

Eyeing on a few women with a beautiful dress and expensive accessories, Sen couldn't helped but feeling down on herself as she realized her accessories weren't as many as noble women are, despite the older Suzuka would be a-soon-to-be-heir-of-Suzuka family in the future then…

A sudden, familiar male voiced then began to speak;

"Whichever dresses you wear, accessories or without accessories, your beauty still would no match with them, Miss Sen." Eyeing on the red-headed companion next to him, Sen realized that he must've noticed her sadness in her eyes when she took a glanced to the other women and herself.

No matter what the situation it is between them, the red-headed man always had a clever words to cheer the older Suzuka up. It was like he's a knight who willing to do everything to make the princess smile and happy from sadness or despair.

With that, Sen replied back with her confident smile on her face.

"Well, thank you very much for your cheesy compliment, Mr. Gentleman." She playfully gave a soft punched on his muscular arm. If a feminine girl ever hit the red-headed man's arm, her fragile hand/fist would've broke like a glass by now. Thankfully the older Suzuka has born to be a little tomboy-ish, willing to hitting or kicking someone ass especially weakling men that ever insult her friends, Kosuzu or women.

"We've been together for such a long time that I almost forgot to introduce myself."

"Ah, that's right..!" Sen said foolishly. It was stupid and very rude of her to not have know the red-headed man's name after all he done something generous-ish to the older Suzuka. Just what made her forget to ask his name anyway…? Could spending a time with him forget her pride to despise men? ..Or maybe she has a habit of forgetting to introduce herself and vice versa?

Started with a very polite bow, the red-headed man begin.

"My name—"

"Sen, is that you?!"

A familiar female voice exclaimed in shocked.

Searching whoever it is, Sen flashed her eyes into a very familiar woman. She has a long, straight, dark blue hair. Her skin color is a fair one, and she was born to have an auburn orbs.

"Cornelia-chan! I didn't know you were here!" Sen chirped happily, forgetting of the red-headed man's introducing as she walked straight to her

Both women embraced very tightly in a friendly way. The older Suzuka hold the blunette's hand as if she didn't want to let it go.

"It's been a while. How have you been?"

"Fine, thank you." Cornelia nodded politely. "What about you?"

"Fine, as well. Although there are times that I'm a little worried of Chizuru-chan's idea of going to school that filled with many men," Sen sighed exhaustedly, in which, the blunette replied with a soft giggle.

"You're a worrywart as ever. Just respects her choice. I'm sure she never regrets on choosing an all-boys high school."

"Even so…" Sen stopped in mid-sentence then, feeling herself to pout like a child in which, giving her friend replying another giggle.

As soon as he realized the older Suzuka was having a great conversation with her friend, it'll be better to take a leave as he would rather let the girls have some conversation without his presence:

"I'll go and get some drinks for you, Sen."

Sen nodded. "Sure."

Bowing in politely for the last time, the red-headed man began to leave.

"Who's that man?"

The blunette changed the subject upon of seeing a very large man such as him for the very first time.

"Oh, him?" Sen pointed his broad-back with her thumb. "He's someone I know."

"Well that's rare of you to have a male friend." Almost all Sen's friends knew that Sen hates men the most. Not even a single man Sen has ever calls him a friend. Upon of hearing the older Suzuka said she 'knew' rather than she 'annoys', the blunette couldn't helped but feels in need to show a very perplexed expression on her face.

"Well.. I just thought to try to befriends another man besides Kazama," Sen half-lie. In truth, their meeting was a bit awkward and weird. …Not that she hates his presence or something. The more she gets to know of him better, the more she realized that there's a kind and gentle vibe around the red-headed man.

"Now's that was an unexpected," Cornelia said with a soft laughed. "I was hoping that you would choose a handsome or good-looking men over a weird and unattractive men."

"Well…" Sen said with an awkward laughter.

Did she just said unattractive..?!

Weird…?!

… Well, actually in truth, the red-headed man can be quite strange for the first time she met, so yeah, the older Suzuka probably agreed the part of that man being a little weird. But unattractive?! How can she be so blind about that red-headed man's intrigued figure?

True that by the looks of it he was about 30 years old or so. But having his presence next to her, Cornelia should've known that she would be safe around him knowing that his tall figure helped them to frightened away some men who intended to hurt her.

Trying not to show her rage in front of her friend, Sen decided to slide it away. "Ah, that's right." Sen said, clapping her hand in a one time, as if she's trying to forget of whatever Cornelia referred of to the red-headed man. "How's things in your marriage arrangement? Did it turned out great?"

"Eh..? Oh, yes. It turned out good so far." The blunette replied. "At first, I thought it was actually a bad idea to have a marriage arrangement without knowing my future groom. But it's great to see my groom was actually kind and willing to marry me for the sake of our family."

"That's great." Sen said with a hidden of envy. "I'm happy for that. Don't forget to invite me for your wedding day" As the older Suzuka winked her left eye in playful, her friend replied with a flushed in embarrassment on her soft cheeks.

"What about you?"

"Eh?"

"Don't you think it's about time for you to have a marriage arrangement meeting with the Kazama? I haven't heard any news about you two."

"A-Ah… about that.." Sen murmured awkwardly. "I—postponed the marriage arrangement meeting."

"Again?" Cornelia said in surprised. "You were postponing the meeting again?"

"I-I've got a lot of things to do that's all," Sen tried to find a reason to keep this conversation from tense.

"You've known Kazama for such a long time. And yet, you're still not gonna accept on marrying him when graduate coming? You do realized that at this rate, you will eventually dishonor your family."

"I know, I know." Sen said with a sigh. God, it's almost looks like she was having a tense conversation with her strict mother by now..

As things had gotten awkward as ever, Sen intended to take a leave. At this rate, she might've received another lecture from her friend that relating to arrangement marriage again.

"W-Well, I better get going then." Sen said. "Pretty sure that he is waiting for me by now. B-Bye!"

Ignoring the blunette called her name, Sen turned on her heels as she's searching for the mysterious red-headed man. Geez.. where is he? Sen thought frustratedly. She would've expecting he would get her some drinks pretty quick. She didn't know that it took longer than ever. Giving up herself, she sighed exhaustedly as the older Suzuka stood at the corner of the hall room while the other guests having a great fun in the Christmas party.

"Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to Serizawa residence." Serizawa began to speak. Sen, on the other hand, doesn't seem to have aware of hearing his voice as she's been bothered something. "It is my honor to have spending this holy night with all of you. Merry Christmas."

Ignoring the entire cheerful and joyous atmosphere around in Serizawa's manor, Sen's thought filled with nothing except about her mother and Cornelia's words of the marriage arrangement. Although she had longed knew that she eventually has to marry a certain man from rich family, but marrying a stranger feels a little uncomfortable somehow. There is a higher chance that some men had a dark plan they've been schemed on once she married some random stranger. What if, her fate would leads her like her mother's as well? What if, that man would leaves her just the way that bastard leaves her mother? The thought of it brings Sen feeling confused what she's gonna do…

..What should I do, Chizuru-chan?

It would've been better if her fate leads similar as her best friend, where neither she needs to worry of marrying a rich family or commoner one.

"Well, well, well. Good evening, beautiful maiden."

An unfamiliar male voice brings Sen back to reality, in which, she lifted her honey-brown orbs into the four-eyed man. Compared to other guests, he didn't wear anything formal or a black tuxedo like the red-headed. Instead, he was some kind of… doctor, sort of?

"Uh.. g-good evening," Sen greeted back quietly, not knowing where's this man coming nor why he approaching her.

Upon of waiting any reply from the other man, almost like more than minutes then, the four-eyed man answered with the creepiest smile she had ever seen. Much creepier than the two drunkard she approached a few days ago.

It's almost as if that man in front of her is not a human.

"You look a little down when Serizawa-san is giving a speech. Do you by any chance feeling a cold? Or maybe a fever?"

Although his voice was soft and gentle like a wind, but she could felt something crawling on her body just hearing that kind of tone from him. Not to mention it, that creepy fuckin smile…!

"I-I'm fine. Thank you." Sen said, bowed in a very politely. It best to avoid from this man. She had a feeling that if she had stayed with him longer.. something terrible might gonna happened to her…!

"Why are you trying to run away?" The other man said in a faking-worriedly. "I was trying to help you."

Help in your ass…! "Th-thank you for your hospitality. But I've gotta go now—"

Before she could get away from him, strong hand began to grip on her small wrist, brings her body stopped right there in paralyzed. Eyes filled with frightened, lifting her orbs into the other man once again, there was a very wide smile like a red, crescent moon. His glasses were glowing very brightly like a flash.

Feeling an uncomfortable touch from the four-eyed man's hand, her body was shaking like a leaf. Eyes falls down on the floor as she felt tears were about to burst by now.

…No.

She can't do this.

She can't do this in here.

Not in front of guests and Serizawa.

However, no matter how many times she forced herself to move, the four-eyed man's hand was like a poison, injecting a strange drug deep into her body until he finally able to control her like puppet.

This is bad...!

This is bad…!

What should she do—

"I've just thought to give every guest here my Christmas gift. To make sure everyone is full of health in the future." The other man said, with his usual creepy smile.

Sen did not reply anything nor ask him what kind of gift is he trying to give.

Widening his lips on his face, he dug his other free hand inside his pocket, searching for something. And once he finally found it, he revealed his gift to her; a medicine bottle that contain red liquid like a blood.

"This is my Christmas gift for a beautiful maiden such as you." The other man said. "Ah… rest to be assured that, it's not a poison. It's a very useful medicine. I hope you'll accept it." Putting a bottle medicine on Sen's other hand, without her own will, her hand gripped back, gesturing she'd accepted his Christmas gift.

Feeling a little delighted how the young maiden accepted his gift rather than refused it, he widen his smile again and again.

"Since I have a lot of free time. How about we—"

"Sannan-san!"

A man named Sannan had no time to finish his sentence as a certain man interrupted his conversation with the older Suzuka. Recognizing a male voiced, her eyes laid into the red-headed one. Slowly, the longer she took a gazed on his gentle and calm orbs, some dark spell that the four-eyed man casted has been lift off from her body little by little.

"Oya… Amagiri-kun." Sannan called him. "It is surprised to see you here."

Amagiri..? Is that the red-headed man's name?

"I was about to say the same thing, Sannan." Amagiri spoke.

Eyed on the older Suzuka, he could see how frightened she is as if she was a little girl lost in a deep, dark street where no one can finds her whereabouts anymore. Narrowed his eyes deeper, this would be the second times he had seen this kind of side from her. To think, leaving her alone was a terrible idea. He shouldn't have leaves her when she had a conversation with the other woman just now…

Soon, his eyes gazed back into the nurse teacher. He felt himself in need to grip his hands into a fist by now.

"Sannan-san, I don't remember Serizawa-dono letting you give a sexual harassment on one of guest here before. Explain to me what do you think you're doing."

"Sexual harassment..? Oh no, of course I'm not intending to do that."

"Then what is?" There was a cold growled under his throat. It's the first time the older Suzuka has ever seen the red-headed man looked anger before. But what made him so angry that he has to use a threatening tone on the four-eyed man?

Could it be…

..he was worried of her?

"I saw her looking a little down. I was expecting she was a bit cold or something. So I gave her a medicine as my Christmas gift to make sure she's fine. It would be a little troublesome if a guest falls a sick in a Christmas Eve such as this." Sannan explained, smiling like a Cheshire cat.

"Whether she's sick or not, touching her without permission is still known as sexual harassment." Amagiri continued. In which, brings two man gazed on each other longer than ever. …Until Sannan replied with a small snorted, gesturing he's finally give up.

"I suppose you're right." Ungrip his hold from Sen's hand, his eyes gazed into the frightened honey-brown orbs ones. "I apologized for gripping your hand all of a sudden. I hope you like my Christmas gift. And… merry Christmas too."

With that, Sannan finally takes a leave, leaving the couple all alone. Amagiri replied with a groan. To think, Serizawa invited him in the manor as well. He wasn't expected that before.

Eyeing back into the older Suzuka, there was a blank expression on her face; he had a feeling that Sannan's touches must've frightening her greatly. He felt so bad that he had an urged to hold her hand, ensure that she'll be fine. He will always right next to her from now on. But then again, if he lets his hand touched hers, it would've been more horrifying. The best choice he has to do for now is standing next to her until she's feeling comfortable.

And the drinks that Amagiri was suppose to bring had been left forgotten.

Ding Dong

A door bell starting to ring in her house.

Leaving from the kitchen, Chizuru couldn't helped but to raise her eyebrow in perplexed for receiving an unexpected guest in Christmas party. She doubted that whoever appeared in her house would be Kodou knowing that he had just giving a bad news how he won't be able to make it to Kyoto.

Since Kodou and Kaoru are out of the option in her head, who could it be…?

As whoever it is ringing the bell for a few times, it took a while then Chizuru turned on her heels to reach to the door and opened it.

Eyes gazed into a familiar crimson orbs, Chizuru couldn't helped but to gap like a fish to meet Kazama in Christmas Eve.

"K-Kazama-senpai..?" She murmured in disbelief.

It's not a dream… is it?

"That took a while to open the door," Kazama said, passed over the brunette as she looked at the President in full of perplexed. Too speechless to see him, the other man entered her house as if he owns the place and put a bouquet of flower on the coffee table near him(in the end, he ended up following Amagiri's advise).

"A-ah..! W-wait, Kazama-senpai!" Chizuru called him in which, stopped him from mid-walking, eyeing on her from his back. "Wh-What are you doing here..?!"

"Why, you say…?" Kazama said, raising his eyebrow puzzled this time. "Obviously to celebrate a Christmas party together with your father."

"E-Ehhh…?!" At that, Chizuru's eyes widen open in a saucer one, "Wh-what about the Serizawa Christmas Party?"

"Oh.. that?" Kazama began, eyed on elsewhere. "Choosing between Serizawa Party and yours; of course, I would rather choosing you knowing that this would be a great opportunity for our relationship getting deeper and better," as he spoke that, when the President winked his eye in attractive way, she was pretty sure that she just saw a very small star form next to his eye… or maybe she's just having a hallucination for a moment. "beside that, I would gladly meeting your father eye-to-eye so that he could gave a blessing of our fateful destined."

When the President mentioned of her father, she couldn't helped but sorrow starting to form on her face, eyes looking down on the floor as she could felt tears starting to form.

"So, where's your dad?" Kazama questioned, taking a look around on his-soon-to-be-wife's house, couldn't felt any presence of another person beside the brunette.

"Um…" Chizuru murmured, eyes still laid down on the floor. "He's… not here.."

Raising his eyebrow in reply, Kazama moved closer to the brunette's personal space, but not too close. Waiting her explanation very patiently, his lover managed to answer very clearly without being too much emotional;

"Th-there's a snow storming at the airport where my father works in the overseas. Knowing that the weather is terrible, it's impossible for my father to make it to Kyoto then. So…" With that, Chizuru finds herself in need to cry.

Several moments had passed between them, the brunette was expecting that the President would come closer to her, giving her an embraced, and lets her tears fall down on his shoulder.

But instead…

A deep chuckle formed from Kazama's gorgeous lips.

"And by meaning that," her head began to lift up as she could felt a callous finger on her chin, her brown orbs and the crimson ones began to stare into each other. "this would mean just the two of us celebrating a Christmas Eve together, yes?"

As she realized whatever he's scheming of, she slapped his hand away and pouted in anger.

"Th-this is serious Kazama-senpai! It's the first time I had ever celebrating a Christmas Eve without my father! So—"

"So, falling into depressing or grief wouldn't help your father coming here in a split second." Kazama cut off the brunette's words, in which, leaves her looked at him in a little frustrated. "You should be grateful that you have someone to spend a Christmas even without your father or that damn Nagumo boy. …Beside that," using his thumb to wipe her-soon-dried-tears on her cheek. "seeing you in tears doesn't seem to suit you so well. Why don't you appreciate it, and enjoy this night for once."

She couldn't helped but finds her tears starting to form on her cheeks even more and more. Her tears was falling wasn't because of angry this time. It was more like happiness. Grateful. She was so grateful that she wasn't alone this time. She was so grateful that she wouldn't celebrate the Christmas alone.

Even if her father won't comes.

Kazama's here.

He's there for her.

And this is probably enough to avoid from celebrating the Christmas alone.

"I'm sorry, Kazama-senpai…" Chizuru murmured quietly, letting his warm hand caressed on her cheek tenderly. "…And thank you."

Hearing a familiar satisfied chuckle from the President, Chizuru ended up buried her face on Kazama's broad-chested, leaving them stood there in silent for like forever.

.

.

.

Several moments had passed between them, Amagiri had been sat next on the grand seat together with the older Suzuka.. but, not so close as he knew she needs some space to get some air.

Another more minutes then, somebody needs to break the atmosphere between them now.

"Who.. was that?" Sen finally questioned, thankfully, that creepy man's warmth touches on her hand suddenly cool down slowly.

"That's.. Sannan-sensei. My nurse doctor." Amagiri replied with a little hesitated.

"Your nurse doctor? In school?" Sen said, feeling a little perplexed. She never expected the red-headed man had a very strange, and not to mention it, the creepiest teacher in his school. ..Which, reminds her of Chizuru's suppose-all-boys high school. She often gives Sen and Kosuzu some weird stories of her experienced in her school life.

It's kinda a bit coincidence.. is it?

"I apologized for whatever that man did to you. I shouldn't have leaves you since the beginning."

"No, no, it's fine.." Sen murmured, caressed her other hand gently where the four-eyed man grabbed her. "A-As long you're there, I don't care what happened in the past. It's over."

She could see how guilty the red-headed man is.

Auf… she has to do something.

She needs to stop this awkward atmosphere or else, she might leave him again…

Acting proud, and strong in front of Amagiri, Sen covered her lips on a palm of her hand as she gave a bark of laughter like a selfish rich woman who she can do anything with just money only.

"Honestly, what's with that depressing face you made, Amagiri?"

"Eh?"

Amagiri blinked. He didn't know which part he was blinking of. Either Sen's frightened side disappeared so soon or the way how she calls him was the most pleasant voice he had ever heard from her.

"Come on. That isn't like you." Raising her left eyebrow in jokingly, poking her finger on his broad-chested in every word. "Where's the Mr. Gentleman that I used to know, anyway? Did you let your head hit on the boulder or something?" At that, she gave another laughter as she fought back the thought of the four-eyed man's touches in her head.

"Sen…" the red-headed man murmured her name, not knowing what to say anymore as he watched her smile and laughing at the same time. It's hurt him a little to see how she pretended to be herself, especially in front of him. She must've worried of him as well..

"Honestly.." Sen began, as she turned on her heels to take a short walk around the manor, in which, the red-headed man followed her back. "..ever since meeting you a lot of strange happened to me. First, I've got attracted by men even more, then, they were dared touching me no matter how struggle I fought back on them. I... I had never experienced such as this since he'd disappeared."

With that, sadness started to form on his blue orbs then. Every word she spoke just now is like he is the causes of bad luck. Wouldn't it be better for the two of them can never see each other anymore and—

"But, I'm not saying in bad ways of course." Sen continued, as if she could read the red-headed man's thought. "True, it was quite terrifying getting closer with other men and all. But, it's actually great way to overcome my fear of men."

"Fear of men…?" Androphobia…? ..No. or maybe it's possible she suffered of haphephobia.

"Yup." Sen said, walking all the way to the garden then. "I'll be the next heir clan for Suzuka, after all. So it's about time for me to start overcome this fear even if it's looks cheap to you."

This is the first time Sen has ever talked about her fear toward anyone.

To Amagiri, most of all.

Despite this kind of conversation should've been suitable toward Chizuru or Kosuzu, but her words almost as if it's been sealed off when it comes to them. It's almost as if they were not the right person to know the truth behind of her hatred for men.

But Amagiri..

How could she be able to speak about her own fear toward to the red-headed man?

Was it actually a good idea to speak this subject toward him?

She didn't know..

But she wanted the red-headed man understands about her so well.

"I don't think it's cheap or something." Amagiri broke the older Suzuka's thought, in which, brings her eyes laid into the ocean-blue orbs. Upon of staring deep into the red-headed's gentle orbs one, she finds herself a little ease somehow, in which, brings the older Suzuka curled her lips upward for a moment, but soon faded in sadness. Eyeing on a beautiful garden, she murmured with a very soft tone of hers:

"Shouldn't you disliking me?"

"Pardon?" Amagiri questioned.

"Shouldn't you disliking me for my hatred for men? Don't you think you should be?"

Silent moment passed between them at the beautiful scenery, night garden. It takes some times then Amagiri spoke.

"Hatred… is such a strong word to use especially from you, Lady Sen." The red-headed man gazed on the white roses in admiringly one, moving closer, in which, the older Suzuka followed him as well. "I don't think it's hatred that you've felt for toward men all this time, Sen. It's something different. Maybe.. anger. Or maybe.. frustrated at the same time? You might possible be angry and frustrated at the same time instead to whoever this man had done to you and your family."

At that, Sen couldn't helped but to shot her eyes open like a saucer in horror.

Hold on.. she had—

She had never telling this to anyone.

Not even to Kosuzu—

So how did this man—

"How did.. how did you know about—my family?" Sen questioned in disbelief. This kind of dark secret had never revealed to anyone. Not even to Kazama. So how did, of all person that figures the dark past of Suzuka family, why Amagiri?

"Miss Kimigiku told everything to me." Amagiri explained honestly. "Although she's not a member of Suzuka family nor related in your blood, yet, she knew fully well about your family."

Ahh.. of course.

She learnt from her mother that Kimigiku has been served for Suzuka family since she was a young teenage as her family owe a big debt for the Suzuka family, in which, she has to become Sen's personal servant after she was born. Kimigiku's debt soon finally paid once the older Suzuka has finally become the heir of Suzuka family and marries any man she chose of.

"Then—"

Amagiri held his hand up, gesturing he knew what she intended to say, in which, the red-headed man replied with a shaking his head slightly.

"Rest to be assured, Miss Kimigiku didn't tell me whoever this person you actually despise of."

With that answer, Sen gave a relief sigh, though she couldn't helped but to pout in annoyingly. "That damn Oukiku shouldn't have told everything's about my family to you.." Sen said with a sigh,

As Amagiri replied with a quiet chuckled, his smile started to fade away as he decided to tells her something she should've known about.. this person she despise of truly.

".. Although you may won't forgive this person that had ruining your family, but you knew fully well, whoever this is— would've been felt guilty as well to have destroy your life by accident to be honest."

"How did you know about this." At those words, Sen's usual kind and gentle smile started to disappear, and changed into aggressive mode;

"You don't know anything about that bastard! He had done horribly to my mother..! To my family..! How can you not blaming that old man's done…! How can you sided on him over me?!"

She didn't know why but it's her very first time to have raise her voice to the red-headed man. Although she once telling herself that she couldn't brings herself to raise her voice or being aggressive toward Amagiri. But somehow, it made her really furious to see the other man siding on that bastard than her.

She was expecting the red-headed man would choose her but—oh, she's definitely wrong.

Ever since Sen raised her voice for the first time toward the red-heaed man, Amagiri's expression didn't change into shock or perplexed. It's almost as if he'd known he eventually getting mad by the older Suzuka.

"…How did you know this.. man hurt your family terribly?"

"My mom.." Sen said a little hesitantly while sniffling softly as she finally realized that she was about to cry just raising her voice toward men. "She told me how that man abandoned us all even though everything's what my mother's done was for the good sake of our family. She sacrifice herself to choose him and what he eventually do is running away and vanished without a word. I hate it!"

The red-headed man didn't spoke anything, as he watched the older Suzuka released her own sadness right in front of him. It must have been tough for her to hide this kind of pain about her 'hatred' toward this man from her sister and the Yukimura girl.

That man abandoned her since she was in kindergarten after all.

Speaking this subject quite sadden the older Suzuka truly.

Intending to cheer Sen up, Amagiri took a glanced on the beautiful garden then, finally caught an interesting flower that suits Sen's character truly. He hoped that Serizawa lets anyone, especially Amagiri to pluck one of flower in the garden. Plucking a white daisy in gently, not wanting to let their petals fall down fragilely, Amagiri returned back to Sen whom, staring at him in a little perplexed as to why did he brought a flower all of a sudden.

Slowly, and hesitantly, Amagiri brushed down the older Suzuka's frame right hair to give her a permission to give a light touch. When Sen feeling a little comfortable about his touch, he began to slip a white daisy that he plucked on her earlobe. At that, Amagiri gave a soft sigh on his lips as he finds it suits her with a white flower on her hair.

"My deepest apologized to speak this conversation when I've known you will feel a little uncomfortable about it." Amagiri said with his apologetically bow, being polite as ever. ..Not that Sen's grown tired or something.

"It's fine.. Sen murmured. "After all, I did spoke this kinds of conversation first, not you. I wasn't really expected it could leads to relating to my family and all."

Curling his lips in warmth one, he nodded slightly.

"I guess so."

As their eyes drawn each other and forgetting of the reality for once, the older Suzuka couldn't helped but to grown a little attached toward the red-headed man little by little. She'd always likes this kinds of side from Amagiri; kind, and gentle. Never would've thought she could ended up on opening her heart to a male friend whom they're just met for less than a week.

As they've been staring into the other's eyes in amazingly, a sound of clock bell began to bring them back to reality, which, leads their eyes to the big, old clock in the hall room of Serizawa manor.

It's already 11 pm.

Although the older Suzuka wanted so much to spend more times with the red-headed man, but she knew that returning home very late could bring getting a lecture by her strict mother.

"So it's finally 11 o'clock." Amagiri murmured quietly. "I guess times really does move quite fast between us."

"That's what I said for the first time we met remember?" Sen said with a smirk, in which, the other man replied with another warmth and gentle smile. As she took a very closer look behind of Amagiri's ocean blue orbs, the older Suzuka could've sworn she'd just saw there's a tinge of disappointment and sadness behind on it.

Has he wanted to spend times together with her a little longer as well…?

"We might as well bringing you home by now, Sen." The red-headed man said. "They're probably been waiting for your return."

She replied with a nod then, not knowing what to say, and leave the manor together next to the red-headed man.

Without aware of herself, Sen has starting to enjoy being close to the other man little by little.

"Here," Kazama said, giving his lovely lover a medium present box with an elegant red ribbon on the top of it.

Chizuru blinked in confused at the sudden of receiving a gift.

She wasn't expecting to receive a present from the President. After all, he's been a bit quiet and obedient ever since he finds the young brunette couldn't able to go to the Serizawa Christmas Party. Could it possibly be this is what he's been a in deep thought for a few past days ago?

"Umm… what's this, Kazama-senpai?" Chizuru questioned dumbfoundedly.

"My Christmas present, obviously." Kazama replied with a smirk, while putting his knuckles under his cheek as he watched the young brunette being innocent and cute as ever. "Try take a look."

Blinked in confusedly once more, it took a moment then Chizuru has finally decided to open a Christmas box from the President. As she untied the ribbon very carefully, her eyes widen opened in shocked.

Inside the Christmas box gift is a two pair of mittens made from wool. It fits her hands perfectly. The brunette could also felt a little soft and fluffly as she put it on them.

She wasn't expected to have receive such an amazing gift from the President before. At first, she was expecting that her boyfriend would bought her an expensive necklace or accessories from overseas or something.

—But mittens.

She didn't know why but she felt so happy somehow. Although it sadden her a little when her father couldn't able to make it here, but receiving a Christmas present from her lover somehow brings her sadness vanished away.

"They're beautiful, Kazama-senpai. Where did you bought this?" Chizuru said, putting her hands on her cheeks, feeling a pleasant warmth on her face.

"I made it."

"Ahh… so that's how it is. You made—"

As she understood his answer very clearly, the young brunette jolted right there in surprised. It was almost as if the thunder was striking right through her from the window.

"Y-Y-You made it.. Kazama-senpai…?!" Chizuru couldn't helped felt an urged to exclaim.

"What? Don't believe me?" Kazama said with the most proud tone on his lips.

"W-Well…" she mumbled softly, loss in words. Of course, she couldn't believe this. How come, the most arrogant and self-important President such as Kazama Chikage could know a technique of making a handicraft…?!

"Take a look."

As her boyfriend's voice brings her back to reality, Chizuru raised her face to gaze on the President, and soon, her almond-brown orbs began to wide in horror as she saw some light injured from the President's gorgeous hands.

Has he.. has he really made this glove for her?

Is this the reason why he's been quiet for a moment?

"You're.. doing this for me?" The brunette whispered softly, kinda feels a little guilty.

"As long as it could make you happy, I'm willing to do it for you even if it's difficult for me."

Once Kazama finished, Chizuru grabbed his injured hand to take a closer look, caressing it in tender and gentle one as if she didn't want to hurt him worst.

"You shouldn't do this for me, especially since it's complicated for you.." she spoke guiltily.

"Complicated, but worthy."

The President copied the red-headed lines.

After Chizuru had aid him by bandaging his hand up with the help of the first aid kit, Kazama stared at her interestingly as she put the ointment and the cloth in the metal box.

"Now, I'm waiting."

Kazama break the silent moment, in which, brings Chizuru tilted her head in confused.

"Waiting for what?"

"Your Christmas gift." Kazama stated clearly.

With those words, her eyes averted on elsewhere as she replied in a little hesitant. "I… I don't have a Christmas present for you.. I-I'm sorry Kazama-senpai." She couldn't helped but feeling so bad to herself to have forgotten to buy something special for the President despite being his lover.

"Oh, I think you're already have by now."

"Eh?"

As she blinked in confused of his words, the President's face starting to move closer to hers, and, oh she knows what does those words meant about.

Feelings her cheeks burnt up in red from embarrassingly, she pushed his face away to stop him from whatever he's trying to scheme of.

"Wait, wait, wait..! This is..! It's too soon!" She exclaimed in panic, her ears began to flush as well.

He can't do that in here…!

Showing a little frustrating and annoying behind on those crimson orbs of Kazama's, the President grabbed Chizuru's wrists so that he could tilted his head closer to hers easier. The closer the gap between them, the deep the scarlet the young brunette's cheeks are.

"If we can't do it here then when? You do realized almost everyone keep us both apart." The President growled under his breathed in threateningly. He could understand the Yukimura girl can be quite stubborn one. But he never thought that she could be this stubborn.

"Th-that is…" Chizuru murmured softly, not knowing what to say as she tries to find a word to answer him.

Oh, of course she's known that. It took several days then, the brunette noticed how almost everyone disagrees of their relationship. Whenever Kazama tried to kiss, or hug her in school, one of her friend would often pretended to bump into them and starts the usual conversation, and the next thing they knew, they pulled her arm and telling the President that they had some urgent to do with the brunette. She could understand how much caring they are for her, but being a little— no, too much over-protective is kinda getting on her nerve somehow.

If the only there's a way to stop being an over-protective family toward her.

As she was in a deep thought, she hadn't realized until now that there was a soft and warm feeling on her lips. The next thing she knew that she realized that the President had plunged his lips on hers while she was distracting herself from thinking about the others in school.

Slightly stunned from receiving another sudden kiss from Kazama, the brunette wanted so much to parted their lips away but knowing that her strength was no match to the President, it was impossible for her to break a free from him. In which, in the end, she eventually given up on herself, as she enjoys their kisses.

Knowing that they don't usually kissing a lot, Chizuru was pretty much suck on this kinds of stuff. She couldn't helped but feeling a little envy of Kazama's skillful kisses. If they had been kissing quite a lot, would she be as capable as the President's then…?

Feeling a little out of breathed, the brunette put her palm of hands on Kazama's broad chested, gesturing him that she needed some air in which is, Kazama gladly parted their lips her. Watching his beautiful soon-to-be-wife in admiringly, he finds her beautiful even when she was trying to catch some breathe desperately.

When she had enough air to breathe, Kazama began to pin her down on the couch, which brings their eyes gazed into nothing except each other. The perplexed look on her face was amusing the President truly.

He wanted so much to kiss her more and deeper, but he decided to keep the best part later.

Kissing his lover's forehead, cheek, ear and nose, he noticed Chizuru's cheeks began to flush in red once more. He replied with a soft chuckle on his lips. Of course, those kinds of chuckle wasn't meant in sarcasm or sadistic actually. Once he had satisfy kissing her face, Kazama began to move closer to her ear to give a seductive whisper, in which, brings the young brunette flushed in embarrassingly, just as the President predicted of.

"It's too bad you didn't hang a mistletoe in your house. …But if you had it.." a smirk formed into his lips, the President purred at that part, "I wouldn't have stop kissing you by now."

With that, Chizuru couldn't helped, felt an urged to flush in red once again.

"St-stop joking around like that!" The young brunette exclaimed in a slight of embarrassing at the thought of getting devoured by the President's lips.

"What do you mean by that?" Kazama spoke in a serious tone, narrowed his eyes slightly deeper from her words. "Of course, I'm not joking around when it comes to our relationship."

When the brunette didn't know what to speak anymore, the President continued once again;

"Do you actually think I would make a fun of your feeling toward me?"

"Of-Of course not!" Chizuru exclaimed at that. Wasn't expected to hear those lines from the President.

Guess there are times Kazama really known so well about falling in love and all.

"Then, you should be grateful that I'm doing this for you and you only," with that, Kazama's Oni President-ish mode started to disappear, return back to his usual flirty lover mode, giving a chaste kiss on Chizuru's soft cheek.

Ahhh... she couldn't understand about this man at all.

"Somehow.. I'm still not getting used to it on this kinds of thing…" The younger brunette whispered in flustered, hoping that her voice didn't reach to the President's ears. But since their space were pretty quite close, it's obviously that Kazama heard it very well, especially by the looks on his face, there was a wide smirk in which, she had a greatest urged to push the President away from her, turning on her heels to reach to her room and locked it until Christmas Eve finally over.

"Then, how about we should practice from now on?"

Kazama suggested with a very wide and dark smirk on his face. Of course, the part of 'dark' wasn't actually in malicious one.

As she heard those words from her lover, she knew so well that by meaning practice, it must've been more than just a kiss..! …Oh wait, or maybe she was being a little exaggerated.

Too exaggerated.

"W-Wait, what do you mean by that?!" She stuttered in flustered, feeling her cheeks starting to burn up once more from embarrassment.

"Obviously that, I've decided to further our relationship into deeper as soon as possible," Kazama explained clearly. "Although I would like to take our relationship grows slowly, but knowing that your friends and teachers were being too over-protective. So I think it's about time to show them off to know how much you only want me."

"W-Well, they cared for me. So it's normal that there are some people thinking about me."

"Yeah… 9 people being too over-protective like a parent." He muttered under his breathed at that. "Don't you think that they made some kind of plan to part us away?"

"They may be over-protective toward me, they may care for me like a family, they may not approve our relationship, but they would never do such a thing to part us away like this."

Kazama replied with a hum. "Sounds a bit suspicious to me."

"Talk about yourself…" Chizuru mumbled under her breathed, thankfully, this time the President didn't heard it.

After they've been spending times together in Chizuru's house, she was expecting he would eventually gave his usual goodbye kiss to her and leaves the house to make sure she would have a pleasant sleep for this night.

However, it didn't happened… yet.

"Close your eyes."

"E-Eh…?"

"Just close your eyes and trust me. There's something I want to show you"

Tilted her head in a slight of confusion. Knowing that asking more questions would brings a lot of riddles, Chizuru eventually closed her eyes just as the President demanded, waiting for whatever her lover trying to show her.

A moment then, Chizuru could felt a warm hand grabbing hers in gently one and took her to the staircase. The President has been remained quiet since he asked her to close her eyes.

Whatever he's trying to show her must be a surprised one.

Soon, as they finally arrived outside, possibly at the night of balcony, Kazama began to stop walking then.

Is this the place?

She gets a feeling that she's still in her house.

What is he trying to show her?

She couldn't helped but her curiosity is drivin' her crazy now.

"Alright," Kazama finally broke the silent. "now you can open your eyes."

With that, slowly, Chizuru fluttered her eyes opened slowly to prepare of whatever coming then. Her eyes soon lit up in joyous and happiness as she finally knows what her lover trying to show her.

The couple were in the balcony of her father's room. As she took a closer look outside the balcony, the scenery of night city about a few metres away from here looked beautiful with all those various colorful lights here and there. She could even see a big, Christmas tree that lit it up brighter than any lights at the town square. Some couple were enjoying themselves together in the city as well. It has such a great view to watch the city truly.

"It's beautiful, Senpai," Chizuru said with a full of admiringly one.

"I would be expecting you like it as well." Kazama said proudly.

Eyeing to her lover, she raised her eyebrow in curious. "How did you know this place has a great view to watch the city?"

At that question, Chizuru couldn't tell whether it's a good idea to ask or terrible one, but by looking at the other man's mischievous smirk, pretty sure she just ask a very terrible question one.

"Do you remember what happened between us when the car passed us outside your house?"

Just speaking a day when she confessed her feeling for the President kinda flushed her cheeks in embarrassing somehow.

"Y-Yeah.. why?"

"Well," Kazama began. "After I took a bath, I take an opportunity to get to know of yourself by secretly looked around the house, including several rooms." With that, he replied with another smug on his face. "As I went into your father's room, I've realized that the balcony there had such a great view to watch the city here. So I've just thought that it would be great for you to watch it later whenever you're alone and all."

"W-Wait—! Y-You went all over the rooms?!" Chizuru exclaimed in disbelief, finding her cheeks flushed in red at the thought of the President went into her room as well.

Wh-wha.. what if he thought her room looks childish and all?!

But wait, how can he tells which her father's room and hers?

As he could see through her all over it very clearly, Kazama gave a soft chuckle as he finds quite amusing of her side truly.

Damn, no matter whatever she do, the brunette girl would never fails to amuse him.

"Rest to be assured, my love," Kazama began. "I never enter your room yet, as I understand of woman's personal life. I wouldn't barging your room whatever I like unless we're both officially famuly in the future." He smirked at that part.

"A-Ahhh… o-officially family'..?" Chizuru murmured those words in embarrassingly, finding her cheeks burnt up deeper.

Smirking wider, Kazama continued once more to see his lover flushed in red even deeper.

"Ahh well.. even if we're officially family, I highly doubt that you'll be living here anymore."

At those riddles-like words, Chizuru raised her eyebrow in perplexed.

Wh-what does he mean..?

Before Chizuru could say more, Kazama continued then;

"Rather than staying here," the President tilted his head closer to Chizuru's ear to give a soft purred, "you will eventually live in my manor as my wife, the queen heir of Kazama famuly."

"W-Wife..?!" and Queen?! She squeaked at that word. She couldn't tell whether she was supposed to be embarrassed or happy for this. But of course, she's actually feeling too embarrassed about this as speaking about their future is too soon for her. "St-stop speaking something embarrass, senpai.." As she said that, she covered her face with her palm of hands as she realized her ears were joining to flush in red as well.

"Embarrassing? What are you talking about?" Kazama raised his eyebrow in perplexed. "Of course everything I said is the truth; you're belongs to me and me only, our destiny can never change no matter how many times you're try to escape it." He gave a smug at that, watching the poor girl feeling flustered at their 'future' fate.

Too embarrassed to speak a word, Chizuru could only reply with a groan then.

The other man replied with a chuckle, he gripped her chin with his fingers closer to take a good look on his lover, his smirk never faded away from his face.

"Cute."

At that, Kazama moved closer to give another chaste kiss on her lips then.

They stayed right there while feeling fascinating watching down on the beautiful, night, scenery city. Until around midnight then, Kazama bids her farewell before he went into his black limo car.

As soon as Chizuru changed herself into her yellow pajamas with cute brown pattern bears, she laid herself on the soft bed, letting herself having such a sweet dreams.

Although she wanted so much to celebrate a Christmas Eve with her adoptive father and Kaoru together for this year, but she never expected that celebrating with Kazama—her lover, could be fun and enjoyable actually.

But still...

"Embarrassing? What are you talking about?"

"Of course everything I said is the truth; you're belongs to me and me only, our destiny can never change no matter how many times you're try to escape it."

At those words she found herself blushed in happiness. Burying her face on her pillow from embarrassment, she soon falls asleep once she had finally calmed down then..

As the Christmas party in Serizawa's place had finally over, it was almost about time for the red-headed man escorted the young lady to her manor. Silent moment formed between on them, neither of the couple started any conversation. They pretty much enjoyed this peaceful and harmony quiet atmosphere.

While walking all the way to the Suzuka's manor, a soft, and white snow started to fall down on Kyoto.

"Look, it's snowing!" Sen chirped happily as she gazed on the beautiful snowy sky to watch snowflakes fall more.

Amagiri joined as well by raising his head, feeling himself to smile upon of seeing the first snowflakes fall with someone for the first time. As the red-headed watched the older Suzuka danced in beautifully and gracefully one like a gorgeous princess, he lets his lips formed a very small smile when Sen showed one of her cute and childish side by sticking out her tongue to have a taste of snow.

"It looked like you're having some fun." Amagiri began.

"Of course I am! Why wouldn't I? After all, it's the first time I've got inviting in a Christmas party like this." She replied happily. And not to mention it, I managed to get away from my mom just so I could avoid talking about arrangement marriage and stuff like that. Sen mumbled very quietly, hoping the other man didn't hear every single of her mutter.

As the older Suzuka continuedly enjoying watched the beautiful snowy scenery at the Kyoto, Sen noticed that the red-headed man had remained quiet for a moment now. There was a tint of guilty on his face.

Moved forward to the other man, Sen tilted her head in wonder, and taking a closer look on his face, hoping she could see whatever problem he had in mind behind on those ocean-blue orbs of Amagiri's.

"Something bothering you?"

"N-No." the red-headed man replied in a little hesitantly, moved his eyes on elsewhere except the honey-brown orbs one.

"That doesn't look to be fine at all." Sen spoke once more, not wanting to slide it that way. There's a chance that she might able to help his problem.

As the older Suzuka continuedly on staring at the other man for like eternity, it took a while then Amagiri has finally given up on himself, telling her whatever that's been in his head over and over. With a little hesitation, the red-headed man spoke in a very soft tone one like a whisper:

"…I'm sorry."

"For what?" Sen blinked in confused, tilting her head slightly in adorable.

"For.. leaving you alone in Serizawa's Party a moment ago."

"Again with that?" Sen couldn't helped but finds herself rolled her eyes. It's not in annoyance one, however. Though she could understand how much guilty he must has to have not coming to her sooner. After all, he did made a promise toward her personal servant that he would make sure the older Suzuka was definitely saved.

Honestly though, Sen couldn't helped but feeling a little curious as to what kind of relationship both, Amagiri and Kimigiku had. By the looks of it, they seem to have deepen their bonds before the older Suzuka met him first.

..No.

Or maybe even before she's in kindergarten.

Whenever she took a glanced of Amagiri's amazing ocean-blue orbs, there was a hidden of honest and maybe a little joyous as well to have see her personal servant once again.

It's not that their relationship is bothering her or something. Sometimes, the older Suzuka had always has a feeling of loneliness being next to the red-headed man whenever the raven-haired woman's presence exist between them.

It was almost as if the special person that could only fill his heart could only belongs Kimigiku and Kimigiku only—

Whoah, whoah, whoah.. hold the fuckin minutes. Since when Sen could ever envy of this kinds of feeling to someone, and not to mention it, her own personal assistant.

It's not that she was jealous of her or something right?

…Somehow, she couldn't helped but finds herself a bit familiar with her best friend, whom quite jealous to a certain woman, when she thought her feeling for whoever that man is one-sided.

Why should I jealous for Kimigiku? Amagiri?, Sen thought deeper as she took a glanced on the red-headed man whom looked at her in such a clueless expression on his face.

No.. no.. it couldn't be. She shook her head slightly. They've just friends several days ago. Nothing's special, nothing's more. Sure, he's great to be spends time with. But this kind of relationship is nothing but sort of a princess and a knight.

Amagiri, whom, takes a real great role of a protective knight—not over-protective. Just protective is enough. A knight, whom swore himself to the king, the queen, and the lovely princess to protect her at all cost even if it has to sacrifice his own life.

For Sen, a princess from far, far, far away land. In truth, being a wealthy daughter is tough. Very, very tough. Some commoner had always thought being a daughter of rich people has an easy life. But no.

They were absolutely wrong.

Being a rich people is tough.

Terrible.

For she, must marry some random rich man for the sake of their family.

Having an arrangement marriage is terrible one.

As there's no such thing as love between them.

She wanted so much to marry with someone she had a feeling of love, such as to marry Amagiri—

Ack!

Why did his name slip off from her thought?!

..it's not that she hates it or not..

It's just so..

—so complicated to describe of.

She likes Amagiri, that's what her thought.

She likes Amagiri as a friend.. is it…?

She couldn't tell.

At first, she was expecting she was definitely won't falls in love with someone.

And obviously, not to Kazama, as she always sees him as a brother only.

But Amagiri—

He's so—complicated to describe of.

"I suggest that we must return to your manor in haste." Amagiri break Sen's thought of his and Kimigiku's relationship, her eyes lift up into the ocean-blue ones. "Wouldn't want Miss Kimigiku worry of you more."

"Oh.. of course!," with that, Sen hopped on her heels while walking next to the red-headed man a little closer.

She wondered.. would she ever gets an answer about whatever kinds of feeling she had for this man…?

As they finally arrived at the Suzuka manor, Sen stopped right in front of the door and bowed in a very polite manner toward the red-headed man.

"Thank you for inviting me to the party. Really, it's a bit awkward, but I'm having a lot of fun spending times with you," Sen said with a proud grin.

"I am very glad you're enjoying it."

With that, they both could do nothing except smiled each other. Honestly though, somehow, they never get tired of smiling, chuckling and giggling to each other. It was almost as if their presence always makes them feel comfortable.

"Now then, I should take my leave, Lady Sen." Amagiri said with a bow. "Merry Christmas."

Upon of watching the red-headed man's broad back moved further and further, Sen couldn't helped but finds her world starting to turn grey upon of watching the other man's existent vanished in her life.

Would she ever sees him again?

"A-Amagiri—!"

When the red-headed man's name had been called from the older Suzuka in a hidden of desperate and a little grief, Amagiri stopped from mid-walking while took an eyed on Sen whom looks a bit anxious and worried, similar how men tried to touch her.

Why would she being this way…?

"Yes?"

Sen, however, did not speak a word nor reply the red-headed man. Instead, he stood right there, while looking down on the ground. She was too frightened to see him disappeared in her life again.

She was so grateful to him. Very grateful to him. Everything's what he's done had always cherished her truly. The way how he continued to support her like a knight who vow himself to protect his princess, even if it means to risk his own life.

He was the very first person to have needs someone helps her.

She hated to admit, but she obviously dislikes being a damsel in distress especially when it's her job to protect other women, especially Kosuzu and Chizuru from getting a sexual harassment by men. Despite how she was suppose to get angry for being pathetic and useless when Amagiri saved her from the other random men, though, she couldn't helped, rather than getting angry, it was more like she was… happy.

She couldn't described it very well. But for sure, whenever the other man saved her, it was almost as if her life was important to him. He couldn't live without her happiness and smile no matter. The older Suzuka could see right through his face very well; she noticed how sadden he looked whenever she vanished her smile away from her face.

He… must've cherished her as well, huh?

"…Sen."

Lifting her face up upon of hearing the other man called her. The next thing she knew, Sen could felt a very soft and warmth feeling on her forehead. It was the same feeling when she was getting a tight embraced by her personal servant. Reassuring her that it's fine to cry. It's alright to cry on other's shoulder.

It took moments to have Sen realized that this soft and warmth feeling she felt on her forehead was none other than Amagiri's lips.

His lips were soft and gentle.

Sooner or later then, the older Suzuka's heart was starting to pump up really quickly. She knew so well that this isn't anxious or fear she usually felt this time. It was different. Such an unfamiliar feeling she had experienced of in her life. A tinged of soft scarlet color were flushed on her both cheeks and ears at the same time. Although the weather here was suppose to be cold, Sen could felt her face were starting to burn up as if she was about to have a fever by now.

When seconds passed between them then, Amagiri finally moved his face away from Sen's forehead. He gave a very soft sigh of relief, slightly glad to see the older Suzuka was giving him a permission to come closer to their personal space.

As the older Suzuka had been stood there for more than 3 seconds, Amagiri had a feeling that he must be the second man(the first would be Kazama, obviously) to get this close to the older Suzuka since by looking on her expression, she's been stood there without a word, and stared at him in a blank face as if she finally realized Amagiri has been a ghost all this time.

Of course, that kind of reaction weren't mean in bad one. Probably this is the first time Sen has ever getting received an affection of friendship from other man(beside Kazama—oh wait, he didn't think Kazama has ever shown any affection toward Sen.. except maybe concern?).

"Well then," Amagiri finally break the silent moment between them. "I must leave for now." Giving his usual polite bow before the-soon-to-be-heir-of Suzuka, "Once again, merry Christmas, and have a pleasant night."

As the other man had finally leaves his presence at the manor of Suzuka, Sen, on the other hand, still stood there like a statue. Without realizing it, her hand moved to her forehead to give a soft caressed on it where the other man gave a chaste kiss.

Never would she have had ever imagined to have received a kiss from other man, not to mention it, Amagiri of all the men…!

Doki, doki

Soon, something insides her chest suddenly made such a strange loud sound. It took a moment then Sen realized that her heart was pumping even louder than ever. She knew whose fault this is to have made her feel this way.

Amagiri.

Wha—just what did that guy done to her..?!

Peeking outside the window, Kimigiku couldn't helped but feeling a little worry toward the older Suzuka.

It's getting late.

Where is she..?

It's weird how despite she and Sen doesn't have any relation blood, yet she's the only one that worry of Sen the most before Kosuzu and Kazama.

As she took a peek another window once more, she finally saw her outside from the Suzuka manor.

Ah.. there she is.

Narrowed her eyes deeper, there's something's weird going on to Sen.

What's happened to her..?

The next thing she knew, Kimigiku realized she wasn't alone actually.

There was Amagiri.

He stood there right in front of the older Suzuka. There was a very soft smile that Kimigiku rarely seen from the red-headed man. Although it's normal to see the other man was showing a very polite manner, even toward stranger. But this… that smile was the rarest one Kimigiku had ever seen before.

Could it be that smile was meant for the older Suzuka.

As Kimigiku watched whatever going happened between them rather than going outside and thanking the red-headed man for accompanied the older Suzuka, almost like a minute then, Amagiri patted Sen's head like a child, the next thing after then, his face leaned closer to Suzuka's forehead.

At first, Kimigiku had an urged to turn on her heels in a flashing light as if whatever Amagiri did just now was actually a taboo. But something stopped her however that, rather than going outside, there's still a smile on Amagiri's face. Kimigiku had a feeling that whatever the red-headed man did just now it had already been given a permission from Sen.

As soon as Amagiri finally turned on his heels to take a leave, Kimigiku began to take a glanced on Sen's face from the window. Gazing on her very closely then, she soon, finally saw the older Suzuka's expression clearly.

Instead of anxious and horrifying that Sen used to show whenever stranger men come closer to her, the older Suzuka's face was flushing in a deep of ripe tomato color on her cheeks and ears. Her eyes were filled with wondered and a little confused.

By the looking on that kind of expression, it looked like Sen has finally accepted on someone than just Kazama.

She finally accepted Amagiri in oblivious.

So that's how it is.

Kimigiku finds her lips curl upward in approved.

When the rain continuedly poured on them, once the brunette realized what she’s been doing just now, she started to struggle herself to stop their kisses but the Oni President’s hold was too strong for her. No matter how many times she tried to push Kazama’s broad chested away from her, she was too weak to struggle away from his hold as if she was a rabbit who couldn’t able to escape from the hawk’s powerful hold.

But, no…

She can’t do that…

She can’t do something like that…!

Not to her best friend…!

The thought of betraying her best friend by stealing the man Sen was suppose to be love brings Chizuru’s heart shattered pieces by pieces. Sen was the very first friend she ever had. She didn’t want to break their friendship by now…

But how..?

How could Kazama do that to the brunette? How could Kazama do that to his own childhood friend whom once to be close as if they were meant to be? Wasn’t he cared Sen more than the brunette? If so, then why would he do this..?

As her thought about her best friend slowly disappeared, finally focusing on their kisses, Chizuru never expected she eventually gives up her first kiss to Kazama. …Well, to be honest, Chizuru had always wants to kiss the President so much if her feelings has been reciprocated. But receiving a surprise kiss..? Heck no! Of course not. Even if she wanted it, Chizuru actually prefer to have a best kiss on her first one. She wants to make sure the first kiss could remember last forever like a memento.

As their lips finally parted away, the brunette realized she was almost out of breathed already. Their forehead touched each other as they both tried to catch some more air while ignored the rain that pouring them.

Either of them didn’t break the silent moment between them until Kazama finally speak by gritting his teeth tighter first. Was he.. angry?

“Does this show you?”

Eh…?

“Does this show you that I love Sen?! Does this show you that I have a feeling for her? Even if I had a feeling for her, I wouldn’t have done this to you by now?!”

What…?

What.. what does he mean?

Is.. is he trying to tell her that he had never had a romantic feeling for Sen? Is he trying to tell her that the woman he’s been eyed on was Chizuru, and Chizuru only…? Even so, there’s a higher chance that Sen might have a feeling for…

Before Kazama could leaned closer to Chizuru’s face to give another kiss, a random car passed on them, in which a puddle that the car had passed were showering on the couple in wet.

At that, there was an awkward silent moment between them.

Either of them didn’t do anything nor spoke a word.

“Y-You can borrow my father’s clothes.”

Chizuru said timidly after she finally finished on taking a shower. As they both of them were wet, they eventually had to stay the brunette’s house.

Kazama nodded in slightly as he entered the bathroom then.

As the brunette tried to dry her long and beautiful hair with a towel, she started to replay her memory of the President’s words a moment ago.

Does this show you that I love Sen?

Does this show you that I have a feeling for her?

Even if I had a feeling for her, I wouldn’t have do this to you by now?!

Is it true that the President never had a feeling for Sen all this time? She wanted to ask him so badly, but some other parts of her telling her that it’s useless to have a feeling for the President. For someone rich such as Kazama Chikage, would he likes to someone likes her? After all, ever since her parents died, she didn’t have a grand and pleasant life like Kazama anymore. She was living like a commoner where she has to take a part time job to have enough money for the bill and some school fees. Her father hadn’t returned back to Kyoto yet, so…

It didn’t take a long time then Kazama has finally gone out from the bathroom.

As the brunette curiously took a glanced on the blonde-haired President’s figure, Chizuru couldn’t helped but flushed her cheeks and ears deepening in red upon of seeing Kazama in half naked for the second times. Thankfully he wore one of her father’s clothes, a grey-colored pant with darker straight stripes. She couldn’t imagined herself to see him in full-naked. Never would have would’ve thought she eventually able to see him in half-naked once again.

“You’re living alone?” Kazama spoke as he still drying his gorgeous hair with a towel.

“Ah.. y-yes.” Chizuru replied without looking at the President’s crimson eyes. “My father is still in overseas because of his job.”

Kazama replied with a nod then, and there was a silent moment between them.

As several minutes had passed, she finds herself feeling awkward being alone with the President. She has to do something. She has to finds a way to avoid the President a little further away from her. Without thinking no more, Chizuru finally turned on her heels then, intending to leave from the living room to reach to the kitchen.

“I-I’ll go and make some tea for you, Kazama-senpai.”

Before Chizuru could disappeared herself from the living room, her body getting enwrapped by Kazama’s strong arms in which, brings her stopped moving as if she’s been paralyzed.

The President’s chin rested on the brunette’s shoulder. She could felt shivered in all over spine upon of feeling the blonde-haired man purred under his throat.

“U-Um.. Kazama-senpai, what are you—“

“Chizuru.” Kazama called her in unknown tone. “Is it true that you like me?”

“Eh…?”

“Is it true that you fall in love with me?”

“T-That is…”

She wanted so much to hide this from the President. But she knew that she couldn’t kept it longer than ever just as how she hid her identity from him. It could’ve been turned worse if she hid this kind of feeling toward him then…

Bracing herself for the worst, Chizuru gripped her hands tighter as if that could give her an energy to confess her true feelings toward him.

Finally, she did;

“Y-Yes…” The brunette spoke a little hesitantly. When Kazama has no bother to interrupt her, Chizuru continued then, “I’ve told myself that I would rather seeing you just a friend only, nothing’s more. But ever since I found you and Sen closer, I couldn’t helped but envy of your relationship. It was as if my feeling for you was no match for her. So…” Biting her lower lip tighter to keep her away from crying or sniffling. “I—I thought avoiding you would help you from falling in love with me stronger and stronger. I’ve realized that I’ve already fall in love with you because of generosity toward me. Whether I’m from the Yukimura family or not. That’s why..”

Couldn’t take it anymore, Chizuru finally stopped speaking, letting her head dropped down as she lets him embraced her tighter. Didn’t cared how long would she get embraced by him. If this would be the very last she’ll get closed to him, the brunette would always cherish this.

She was expecting that the President would finally lets her go, and leaves. But instead, she received a deep chuckled from the blonde-haired man.

Gazing into the crimson orbs in perplexed, there was a sarcastic smirk on his gorgeous face.

“Oh, I see.” Kazama began. “You do realized what you’re doing just now was the opposite.”

“Eh?”

“Instead of making me falling in love with you less, you’re making me of wanting you more and stronger. Where did you get that idea of trying to avoiding me?”

“W-Well…” It was Sen, of course…! She wanted so much mentioning of her best friend to him, but some parts of her hated when anyone(including her) mentioning of the older Suzuka in front of the President.

“So, the President spoke. “Now’s that our feelings eventually reciprocate, don’t you think it’s about time to start dating?”

.

.

.

.

At those words there was a very awkward silent moment between them until Chizuru exclaimed with ‘EHHHHHH?!!!’

“B-By meaning start a dating.. d-does it mean.. like a c-couple? B-boyfriend and girlfriend?” Chizuru stuttered ever word. She can’t believed what she heard from the President. Despite how she was happy that Kazama eventually had a feeling for her, what about Sen? Who will Sen ended up with?

“Of course it is. What it would be?” Kazama raised his eyebrow.

“W-Well…” She murmured softly, not knowing what to answer.

“…Why are you being hesitated? I thought you love me?”

Ack! How could the President says love or stuff like that so freely?!! …He must’ve truly loves her as well, huh…?

“I-I really am!” She said, her cheeks began to flush in red from embarrassment. “But…”

“But…?”

“Wh-what about Sen?”

“What about her?” Kazama raised his eyebrow in perplexed.

“What’s gonna happened to Sen if we’re dating?”

“Let her be alone then.” He replied straightforwardly.

“K-Kazama…!”

The President gazed into her eyes before spoke:

“Why would you worried of Sen’s feelings more?”

“Th-that’s because you and Sen were pretty close. I thought you’ll eventually likes her sooner…” Chizuru said, poking her fingers together nervously.

“Me and Sen?” Kazama spat in disgustingly. “Haven’t I told you before, I never like Sen. She’s more like a sister to me.”

“E-Even so, you’re the only one that Sen ever opened up to man. You do realized she hates men, and the only person she’s close so far is you.”

“I know.”

“Eh..?”

“Despite that, neither the two of us had a romantic feeling for each other. Like me, Sen has never likes me just the way you thought of. Just because we’re childhood friends, that doesn’t mean we eventually ended up together.”

At that, Chizuru remained quiet and let the other man continued on speaking:

“What about that Toudou boy? I’ve heard you two are childhood friends. And yet, I never seen either of you had a romantic feeling. How’s that it?”

“That’s because… Heisuke-kun has moved to other place. So it’s hard for us to visit each a lot lately..” the brunette mumbled at that.

“And so am I.”

“Eh?”

“My parents have moved to other place before I was in middle school. Which is, makes us barely see each other little by little.”

With that, the brunette girl remained quiet only, not knowing what to say.

“Now’s that this settle already, are you willing to date with me?”

“But…”

Again with Sen, huh…? Kazama felt an urged to dig up his fingers on his scalp.

“Like I said, screw to her,” before his soon-to-be-wife could scream in anger, the President continued, “there are many men she can always find and choose. In fact, whether she hates men or no, she eventually have…”

At those words, Kazama wandered on elsewhere, as he was in a deep thought.

Tilting her head curiously, Chizuru tried to bring him back to reality, “She eventually what..?”

“No.. it’s nothing.”

“Oh… okay.”

It seems that the President was hiding her from something. As much as she really wanted to know what thought he’s thinking of, it best to be slide it away…

“Well..” Chizuru began with a little hesitatedly. “E-Even though it’s too early to dating but… alright. I agree to go out with you!”

Upon of hearing the brunette answer, the President couldn’t helped but felt an urged to wide his crimson orbs opened in surprised. Never thought she wouldn’t hesitated to go out with him. Of course he was very delighted. But as stubborn as his-soon-to-be-wife is, he was expected he would get her answer tomorrow or later.

With that, Kazama replied with a wide smug on his face, holding the brunette’s hand softly and gave a chaste kiss in which, brings the Yukimura flushed in red from embarrassment.

“Rest to be assured my love, I won’t make you disappointing.”

And thus, this is how they’re starting dating… sort of?

After it’s been an officially that the brunette and the President are a couple, things were back to normal now; her feelings for the President has reciprocated, her intending to avoid Kazama is over, Amagiri and Shiranui won’t be an over-protective-ish parents toward the President. Every once in a while, the brunette would eat in the Student Council office.

But there’s one problem.

“U-Um.. Kazama-senpai?”

“Hm? What’s wrong, waga yome?”

“Y-Your hand…”

“And what’s wrong with my hand?” There was a playful smug on his face.

Couldn’t take it anymore, Chizuru finally exploded.

“Y-You’re holding my hands, that’s the problem!” She whined loudly as she could felt some dark stares from other students whom turned out to be feeling jealous. “

“What’s wrong with that?” Kazama questioned confusedly. “Aren’t we dating? This is how most couple should do.”

“I-I know that..! But-but it’s too early for this..!”

“Oh..?” The President smirked wider. “I suppose you’re right. However, you do realized when the time has come, we eventually kissing each other often.”

“K-K-Kissing?!” Chizuru exclaimed at that word, finds herself flushed in red once again.

Smirking in amusingly; Kazama enjoyed the brunette’s adorable side.

“Yes,” gripping her chin tenderly, “..kissing.”

Moving his face closer to his new lover, Chizuru braced herself to whatever gonna happened between them, closing her eyes so that she wouldn’t see other male students were giving another some dark glared and stare between them.

…Until.

There’s a sound of whistle a little distant away from them.

It turned out to be Saitou.

“Rule 236, page 450, and line 9; do not flirt, seduce or kiss in school” the indigo man said. “Kazama, I suppose I’ve already warning you not to break the rules. It looked like you never learn your lesson. Your punishment should be awaits in the laboratory. Hijikata-sensei would be there as well.”

With that, Saitou left between them. Kazama replied with a smirk of disappointment.

“Well, so much for cockblocking.” He sighed. “Well, we can continue this later then.” Looking at the brunette for the last time, he takes a leave, “I’ll be waiting for you in recess, waga yome.”

At that, Chizuru’s face was red as ever. She could felt her heart was beating swiftly in happiness. She might’ve been melted away if Saitou hadn’t stopped them.

Trying to forget whatever happened just now, the brunette went to the locker room as she tried to get some things before going to her classroom

“Chizuru!”

Heisuke exclaimed his childhood friend’s name while running toward her as if he was being chased by a group of wild dogs.

“Oh, Heisuke-kun. Good morning.”

The younger boy had no time to greet her back. Instead, he gripped her shoulders tighter and moved closer to the brunette girl.

“I-I’ve heard from everyone that you and that Kazama bastard are an officially couple! Are you sure?! Please don’t tell me it’s the truth?!”

Wow. Rumors can be quite fast to spread huh?

“I-In truth, yes. We’re really starting.. d-datng.” Chizuru mumbled at that, feeling slightly embarrassed to admit it, especially toward her childhood friend.

“H-How do you guys hook up each other? I mean.. weren’t you been avoiding him several days ago?”

“A-A lot of things happened between us but everything has finally settle.” Chizuru answered. “It’s because our feelings are eventually reciprocate, Kazama-senpai decided to start a date.” She couldn’t helped but the thought of dating the President is almost like a dream somehow.

At that, Heisuke eventually sighed out loud while falling his head down in depression. So much for unrequited love… He would’ve expected he had a chance to have her when his childhood friend was avoiding that damn bastard several days ago…

“Don’t be sad just because your feeling is one-sided, Heisuke-kun.”

Heisuke faced to a familiar senior male quickly upon of hearing his true feeling about the brunette, there was his usual sadistic smug on his face.

“S-Souji!!! Shuush!” The younger boy put his finger on his lips, gesturing the prankster to stop talking, especially in front of his childhood friend.

Souji, however, continued gave his usual smirk, enjoying watching the younger boy getting torture by him.

“Good morning, Souji-senpai.” Chizuru said with her usual naïve smile on her face.

Okita nodded in reply.

“Good morning, Chizuru-chan. As usual, you’re naïve as ever, no wonder your big bro often being an over-protective, yandere big brother mode.”

“Well…” Chizuru gave an awkward laughed while scratching her cheek softly to cover her embarrassed from the prankster senior. “I’ve realized that you’re pretty cheerful today. Did something happened?”

“You think so?” Souji widen his smile. “No, nothing’s happened… yet. Ja ne.” The older man taking a leave while waving his arm off to the couple.

Watching Souji’s broad back, Chizuru couldn’t helped herself but feeling curious as to what made the older man look so happy like an exciting boy.

“D-Don’t worry. I’m sure you’ll find out soon.” Heisuke grinned widely.

“Eh? You can tell?”

“Of course. We’ve been in the same class since the first time we enroll school together. So pretty much I’ve known Souji better than anyone. …W-Well, not as better as Hajime, Hijikata-sensei or Kondou-sensei in truth.” Heisuke said in sheepishly.

Nodded in understanding they both started their usual conversation then.

When the first bell has finally ring, the Principal of Hakuou Academy gave an announcement for a whole students of Hakuou to come at the field, in which they had finally arrived, standing in front of Kondou, along with other teachers, including Itou and the President of Student Council.

When Chizuru’s eyes let her eyes laid into Kazama’s, the President seduced her by winking of his left eye in which, brings the brunette’s face flushed in embarrassed as she realized she’s been gazing on him longer than she thought she be. Noticing whatever the President doing just now, Hijikata gave a cold glared on the President, punching his back lightly, gesturing him to focus of whatever Kondou is about to announce of.

“Greetings to Hakuou. Today is such a lovely day isn’t it? I hope all of you have a great..’ “

“As expected from Kondou-sensei,” Souji said, taking a snapped of photo of the Principal while starting a speech. “He is an amazing teacher as always, compared to a certain bastard though…” Souji finds himself growled as he noticed Hijikata was there in Kondou’s speech photo. The older senior felt an urged to grip his cellphone tighter in anger by now.

“Th-that’s because you’re admiring Kondou-sensei so highly, Souji.” Heisuke commented, sweat-droppings.

“Anyway, today, I would like to announce to everyone that as you may all know, Christmas is around the corner by now. Which means, there’ll be a Christmas party at the Hakuou Academy.”

At that part, the students chirped in happiness, while the others were clapping for the Principal of Hakuou Academy.

“See? There’s definitely a Christmas party in Hakuou Academy.” Heisuke said with a grin.

“So this is what Okita-senpai is happy all about,” Chizuru joined on clapping as well.

“Exactly.” Souji’s smile began wider and wider. But not the usual sadistic one of course. Instead, it was more as exciting and happy one.

“Finally there’ll be free food…” Ibuki said like a zombie as if his life was starting to end at this rate. Putting his hand on his stomach, he could hears they were making a growl sound like a werewolf.

She couldn’t helped herself, but feeling a little excited when the Christmas party is about to come. She could hardly wait to see Kondou wears a Santa suit. The thought of it must’ve make Souji really, really happy by now.

Before Kondou could ended this, Itou stood up from his place and started to speech;

“While all of you are having excited for the Christmas party, I want all of you to come to my office to make sure whatever clothes you’re wearing it would be perfect on you. That’s all.”

Some male students were gapped like a fish upon of hearing this from Itou.

“Ahh.. lost in words because of exciting to see what suits you would wear for the Christmas party, eh? I like this.” As Itou said that, he returned on his seat.

Several of teachers and workers didn’t like an idea of course.

“Dismissed.”

Sannan said as either of other teachers were too loss in words as well from Itou’s idea.

When recess has come, the brunette has been decided to have lunch in the Student Council office this time. It’s been a while since she last ate her food in the President’s office. She was also miss eating together with Shiranui and Amagiri as well. Having them as a companion was really great and fun, despite Kazama preferred eating lunch with all alone like a romantic date.

“I think I should get going to Kazama-senpai’s office by now.”

Upon of walking all the way to the Student Council office, there was a commotion at the field.

“What is the meaning of this, Inu?!”

An unfamiliar male spoke with an angry tone.

Curiously, Chizuru took a peek on whatever going on at the field. Upon of seeing a familiar blue-haired boy, she recognized him truly.

It’s Ibuki.

“Ow, ow, ow…! It’s hurt, Serizawa-san!” Ibuki said in pain while the man named Serizawa was pulling the blunette’s ears as if he intended to pull it off on purpose.

I-I’ve gotta save him…!

Determined to rescue her friend, Chizuru moved closer to an unknown man but soon stopped by a certain teacher.

“Better don’t get involved in this business, Yukimura.”

He whispered with the softest he ever used as if he didn’t want the other hear him.

Hijikata-sensei

Sensing a few presences in the field, Serizawa faced to Hijikata, along with Kondou.

“Hm? Well if it isn’t Hijikata. Never expected finding this school has gotten lively.”

“Many freshman students had enrolled here for this year. It can’t be helped.”

“Hmm… I suppose you’re right.” Serizawa mumbled then. “I’ve heard that there are a few students dared breaking the rules of Hakuou. Is it true?”

“Ah.. yeah… about that,” Kondou muttered nervously. “several of them have been taken care by the Student Council and the Discipline Committee.”

“Is that so? They’ve done pretty well.” The older man said in amusing. Pushing the blunette away from his sight, Ibuki fell down on the ground.

“Ryuunosuke-kun, are you alright?” Chizuru asked worriedly, as she watching him endured the pain that he’s been received from Serizawa.

“Yeah… somehow..” he muttered under his breathed. His ears were starting to turn red like a numb.

As the brunette could felt an unfamiliar presence moving closer to her, Chizuru gazed above him, whom giving her a dark glared as if he was intending to pierce her chest using several knives now.

“And who’s this?”

“Ah, right. Serizawa,” Kondou began. “this is Yukimura Chizuru. She’s the very first female student in Hakuou Academy for this year.”

“Oh? So this is the girl you’ve been talking about, Kondou”

“Th-that’s right.”

“Yukimura Chizuru, huh?” Serizawa mumbled, gazing back to the nervous brunette.

“Y-Yes. I am Yukimura Chizuru. It’s pleasure to meet you, Serizawa-sensei.” The almond-brown orbs woman bowed in a polite way.

“So how’s the school?”

“Eh…? Ah.. it-it’s great.” The brunette replied with a smile. “I had a lot of fun here.”

“Even you’re the only girl here.” Serizawa mumbled lowly, in which, brings the brunette tilted her head in confusing and innocently. “Well, guess it wouldn’t hurt to have a female student here.”

At those words, Chizuru couldn’t helped but finds herself felt an urged to smile inwardly. By the way how Serizawa spoke, it looked like he’s approving her to study here, even if she’s the only girl here. Despite how she’d heard terrible rumors about Serizawa, it looked like the founder of Hakuou wasn’t actually a half bad person… right?

“Kondou,” Serizawa called him. “better take good care of this school.”

“Of-of course, Serizawa-san.”

The older man nodded then, taking a leave but soon stop as if he was remembering something.

“Ah.. that’s right.” He began. “I’ve heard that there’ll be a Christmas party here, isn’t that right?”

“Ah… yes, Serizawa-san.” Kondou answered. “What’s wrong? Would you like to join a party as well?”

Serizawa’s eyes wandered on elsewhere as he was in a deep thought for a moment. It took a short time after then he returned back to reality with a creepy grin(in Hijikata’s perspective).

“I’ll think about that.”

With that, the founder of the Hakuou Academy was no longer in the field anymore. The only left were Chizuru, Hijikata, Kondou and Ibuki.

“I really hate that fuckin smile.” Hijikata hissed darkly.

Taking a glanced on the raven, by the looking of it, it looked like Hijikata was truly despised of the founder. He must’ve a good reason why he hated Serizawa so much…

“Yukimura-kun, you might as well go to the cafeteria already.”

Ahhh! She almost forgot about eating her lunch at the Student Council office! Kazama and the others must’ve waiting for her by now.

“I-I’ll be taking a leave then,” Chizuru bowed in politely, taking a leave as she hurried all the way to the Student Council.

When the brunette’s presence was no longer there, Hijikata began:

“Oi Ibuki. Is your ears still hurt? You should go to the infirmary and let Sannan check up on you.”

Upon of mentioning of that creepy teacher, Ibuki crossed his arms in front of him, gesturing he won’t, and he meant, never go there.

“I would rather die than drinking that weird, red medicine!”

“E-Excuse me,” the brunette spoke very politely and entered the Student Council office.

Upon of entering the room, she could see Kazama’s-so-called-slaves were a bit shock to see the almond-haired girl entered the office.

The President replied with a smirk, moving closer to the young brunette’s personal space.

“It’s been a while since you’ve last come here. Have fun eating lunch with those commoners?” Kazama said, gripping the brunette’s chin with his long and callous fingers.

“They’re my friends…” She mumbled.

“Well, whatever…”

Tilting his forehead to Chizuru’s, the brunette could see how the two slaves were readying themselves to grab the President once more to keep him away doing whatever she’s against of. However, when Chizuru gestured them by shaking her head, they both knew her answer finally; in which they moved back to where they’ve been stood of.

“Amagiri, Shiranui,” the President called his slaves. “you might as well go and eat elsewhere.” At that, there was an amusing smirk on his face. “I would like to eat with her… alone without any interruptions.”

Disagreed of the other man’s idea, Shiranui eventually leaves them with a sigh of frustrated. And soon, the red-headed man joined as well, but stopped at the door to look at the brunette back, hoping whatever the brunette doing is the right thing;

“I-It’s alright, Amagiri-senpai. I’ll be fine with him.”

Satisfied hearing an answer from the brunette’s lips, Amagiri understood, respected her answer and finally taking a leave after showing a respect manner toward the Yukimura girl and the President.

Once the atmosphere in the Student Council office has finally remained quiet and relax, Chizuru squeak when the blonde-haired man pulled her closer to him in which, lets her hands put on the President’s broad-chested. Raised her head to gaze into her lover’s crimson orbs in admiringly, there was a playful smug on his face.

“Now then, should we begin?”

“Eh…? A-Ahh—!”

Chizuru exclaimed as the President pulled her arm, and ended up on falling each other on the couch.

“K-Kazama-senpai..!” Chizuru squeaked in a slight embarrassingly.  “Wh-what are you doing..?!”

“What am I doing, you say?” Kazama smirked widely. “It’s obviously you can tell here by now.”

“W-Well.. I—“ oh yes, she definitely knew it. The thought of what’s gonna happened then brings her cheeks and ears flushed in a deepen red by now.

“So, should we continue before Saitou interrupt us?” Kazama said, caressed her cheek tenderly in which, brings her flustered more and more.

She wanted so much to let the President do.. whatever he’s intending to do, kissing, hugging, doing almost like other couple do. But some parts of her feeling a little embarrassing to do such a thing. It’s been a while since she last felt a skinship with someone.

When Kazama has finally got the brunette’s answer, he continuedly smirk, letting his other hand stroke on her beautiful brown hair. Slowly, the President began with kissing Chizuru’s eyelashes, her body was began to shake up in nervous and embarrassing. Then, he kissed her ear, nose, forehead…

As his lips was about to reach to hers..

The door opened aggressively, the Nagumo boy entered the office without a permission, and pulled his useless sister’s arm and being a yandere siscon as ever.

“Get away from my sister, you creep!”

…Yup. So much for cockblocking.

Ever since the first time meeting Serizawa, her school days was turned out to be normal as ever. Nothing’s suspicious that she needed to worry about it and all. Her relationship with Kazama continued to grow and grow. There are times the President also asks her a date, which is, mostly he’s taking her a very expensive restaurant. She couldn’t helped but finds herself feeling foreign whenever she’s a grand food such as that. However, there are also some times some students would interrupt their moment such as, her twin brother, Hijikata, Saitou and even Souji as well.

Not that it was annoying or something. She could understand that they were all worried of her especially when it comes to related with the President. Hijikata known the President more than anyone else, so there’s a possibility that there are times the brunette wouldn’t know Kazama’s other side.

A few days had passed however…

When the first bell started to ring, the Principal gave an announcement for a whole students including workers and teachers come to the field, in which, they finally arrived; students standing in a row in front of teachers just as several days ago.

But instead of Kondou gave a speech, it was Serizawa.

“Looks like everyone’s here. Good.”

“Pssst.” Heisuke called his friend. “What’s going on anyway? Why Serizawa called us here?”

“Who knows..” Souji murmured quietly.

As more whisper and murmur started to form all over the male students, Serizawa finally spoke with a clear throat:

“As you may already know, it looked like there’ll be a Christmas party, yes.” He paused for a moment, and his smirk began to grow into wider and… cruel. “Unfortunately, the Christmas party should be cancelled in Hakuou Academy.”

After bringing a horrible news, several students were gasping and mumbling to his other friends. Couldn’t believed hearing whatever Serizawa spoke about, the brunette’s eyes laid into Souji, whom looked shock in horror as well. His emerald orbs were widen as ever and soon turned into furious and anger toward the founder Hakuou Academy.

Enjoying on watching everyone’s reaction, Serizawa continued:

“However, instead a party in Hakuou Academy, there’ll be a Christmas party in my manor. Only a talented student can be invited.”

With that, Serizawa ended his speech with a bark of laughter.

Kondou groaned in a little disappointing, neither had a power or courage to speak anything. While the other teachers joined the feeling of disappointing and depressing as well, didn’t expected Serizawa could ruin the Principal’s joyous moment.

“Yo, there you are Amagiri.”

Amagiri turned around as the tan-skinned man called him with his usual playful grin on his face.

As busy as bees, the red-headed man was carrying some pile of papers and folders to bring them all in the Student Council Office. Knowing that he couldn’t spends together with Shiranui longer, he prayed to Kami that Shiranui’s jokes and pranks wouldn’t last forever.

“What brings you here, Shirnaui?”

“Hmm… nothing in particular, to be honest.” The tan-skinned man said with a whistle as he crossed his muscular arms behind his head while following the red-headed man’s back. “It looked like you’re letting my daughter getting touched by that Kazama bastard now.”

“You should already know by now that Yukimura-dono has finally had a permission for Kazama-sama to do whatever he likes now. And… it’s been officially that they’re couple by now.”

“Wow, so soon.” Shiranui spat with a half disgusted. He was hoping the President wouldn’t getting closer to her for a half year. Guess the blonde-haired man wasn’t that clueless as Shiranui thought of him…

“Ah that’s right. I remember that there’s something important announcement I need to tell ya.”

“Important?”

Amagiri blinked at that part.

Shiranui rarely used ‘important’. Whatever reason he said those words, it must’ve been urgent already.

“Serizawa-sensei is calling you.”

“Serizawa-dono?”

“Yea.” Shiranui nodded while leaning against the wall as they both finally arrived in the Student Council office. “Don’t know what reason he wants to looking for you. …or you must’ve doing something terrible that you need to receive a punishment from Serizawa-sensei.”

At that, Shiranui replied with a sadistic laughter then.

The red-headed man didn’t spoke anymore except gave a hidden groan of the tan-skinned man’s sadistic side. Despite how they’ve been a member of student council for longer by now, and yet, there are times, Amagiri getting a little offended of Shiranui’s sadistic/sarcastic side. Including Kazama as well.

“I’ll be on my way then.” After putting the folders and papers on Kazama’s grand desk, Amagiri began to leave from the office and walked into the hallway to search Serizawa’s office room. Yes, despite Serizawa had retire before the Yukimura girl taking an enrollment of this academy, Serizawa still has his own office room.

Walking at the long hallway, Amagiri’s eyes caught an interesting attention of the familiar couple; Kazama and Chizuru. It was recess, instead of spending themselves eating in the office like they usually do, they both eating lunch together in the garden instead.

There, Kazama enwrapped his broad arm around Chizuru’s shoulder as he gestured her to feed her like most couple do. At that, the brunette could do nothing except flushed her cheeks in a deepen scarlet.

Upon of seeing that, Amagiri noticed there was a Chizuru’s cheeks were a deepen red colored one however, instead of feeling uncomfortable like several past of weeks, it was more like her feeling for him is eventually reciprocated. It doesn’t matter whatever Kazama’s scheming of is childish and crazy, but as long as it doesn’t hurt the brunette’s feeling or if it doesn’t against her will, the red-headed man will let whatever the President to do.

Unless if the circumstance is getting too far, he and Shiranui will have no choice but to stop him.

Once he finally arrived to Serizawa’s office room, he gave a knocked to make sure the ex-principal knew his presence;

“Serizawa-dono, it’s me; Amagiri Kyuuju.”

“…Oh. Come in.”

“Excuse me then.” With that answer, Amagiri entered the room and closed the door back. When the red-headed man stood in front of the ex-principal, he found Serizawa was smoking. To think, a founder of Hakuou Academy could break one of a school rule. …Well of course, even Hijikata got himself a trouble when Saitou found him smoking. “I’ve heard you were looking for me. Is there anything I can do?”

“Yes, that’s right.” Serizawa replied. “I’ve heard that you were working very hard as a member of Student Council. I’m quite admired these kind of students.”

“…Thank you.” Amagiri said, not knowing what to say anymore.

“You must’ve already know by now that there’ll be a Christmas party in my manor instead of this school, yes?”

“Yes, sir.”

Serizawa widen his smile at that. If Souji ever finds that kind of smile, he would have punch his face by now knowing how much the prankster despises this man after he gave an announcement that the Christmas party won’t be held in this school this time.

“It’s because you’ve done your job really well, I would like you to do a favor.”

“A favor?”

“Although there’ll be a students, teachers, including workers of Hakuou Academy, I also invite some other rich families to come to my manor.”

Amagiri didn’t spoke anything, replying with a nod instead.

“Since you’ve been a hardworking, I decided to give you an exceptional for inviting one guest in my manor.”

“Eh…?” Amagiri raised his eyebrow in perplexed.

“It doesn’t matter whether it’ll be man or woman.”

“Wh-why me?”

“Like I said, I admired a hardworking student such as you are. In fact, I believed you will invite someone who has a higher title like Kazama family.”

“I’m not sure whether I like the idea…” Amagiri murmured at that part. Despite there are times the red-headed man disagreed of Kazama’s stupid plan, but choosing him of all people to invite a guest for his party? Can’t he just.. inviting some random rich family?

“Take some times.” Serizawa said as if he didn’t heard the red-headed man’s words a few moments ago. “I’m sure I’ll be very gladly to see whoever person you’re inviting of.”

Knowing that fighting him back is useless, Amagiri eventually bow very politely before taking a leave from Serizawa’s office room.

He gave a soft sigh as he let his eyes wandered elsewhere to the clear, blue sky.

Honestly, who will the red-headed man inviting for Serizawa’s Christmas party then…?

“So you’re finally dating someone?” Kosuzu said with a hidden of disbelief.

After school, as usual, the brunette and the younger Suzuka went to their usual date spot. Their conversation was the usual girls’ gossiping. There are times Kosuzu would talk about a Christmas party at the Suzuka manor. As well as curiously of Ibuki’s life. Of course, having a secret crush on the blunette boy, Kosuzu couldn’t helped but have an urged to know how’s Ibuki and all.

“Y-Yes.. something like that.” The brunette said, gave an awkward giggled. She finds herself feeling embarrassed when someone mentioning her of ‘dating’. Despite she and Kazama have been an officially dating, yet, she’d still couldn’t believed herself what she’s been doing.

“I envy for you, Chizuru-chan…” Kosuzu murmured in melancholy.

When the bun-haired girl finds out the Hakuou Academy has been officially to be a boy and girl school, she had a desired to enroll that school so that she could spent times with Ibuki more than ever. Is it possible for her to enroll that school though…

“Why would you say that way, Kosuzu-chan?” Chizuru tilted her head as she was searching something behind on that sorrow, chestnut brown orbs.

“You looked like you’re having some fun at the Hakuou Academy.” Kosuzu smiled sweetly at that part. As she laid her eyes into elsewhere, she didn’t know she was thinking out loud. “If I’ve been accepted on taking an enroll on Hakuou Academy, I really want to be with Ibuki-kun..”

As the bun-haired girl returned back to see her childhood friend, by the looking of how flabbergasted the brunette is, she can tell that she was speaking without realizing at the part of Ibuki.

“Ahhh! I-I don’t mean it that way of course..!” Kosuzu started exclaimed, her cheeks and ears were burnt in red from embarrassment. “I really am worried about Ibuki-kun, but I’m more worried of his health since I’ve heard he doesn’t usually buy something to eat, so…”

As she started to mumble nonsensely, soon, the brunette replied with a soft laughter, didn’t expected the bun-haired girl was feeling slightly embarrassed whenever the subject Ibuki is come.

“Y-You’re so cruel, Chizuru-chan.” Kosuzu pouted as there was still tinted red colored on her cheeks.

Once Chizuru has satisfied on having a good laughed, they were returning their usual girls’ conversations until…

“Ah that’s right.” Chizuru began. “It looked like Osen-chan is not here. Do you think you knew where she’s gone to?”

“Oh, Osen-neesan couldn’t able to go with us as she was helping one of her friend’s part time job”

“Helping?”

Kosuzu nodded. “The workers in one of her friend’s part time job had made too much Christmas cake, so her friend asked Osen-neesan for a help to give Christmas cake to customers before night’s coming.”

“So.. so that’s how it is.”

Some part of her really like to see the older Suzuka again. But other parts of her really quite relieved knowing that Sen can be quite over-protective; she might ask too much questions about whoever person she’s dating with.

Especially Kazama.

Meanwhile…

“Christmas cakes! Get your Christmas cakes!” Sen exclaimed cheerfully and happily to attract the customers to get Christmas cakes.

Helping one of her friend from Shimabara Girls’ School, the older Suzuka wears a santa suit along with a hat and red mitten. Most men often getting attracted by Sen’s beauty, but knowing that she hates men for a certain reason, one of her friend protected her from them and served the men instead.

“I’m so sorry for relying you in this, Sen. I really am!” Sen’s friend said, feeling a little terrible somehow.

“It’s fine, it’s fine.” Sen waved her hands away. “It won’t take that long since there’s only few boxes left, right?”

“Ah.. y-yes..!”

With that, both girls were continuing attract the customers once again until evening’s coming.

It didn’t take long for Sen changing herself into her usual Shimabara uniform. Once she wore a white coat around her body she returned back to her friend and her manager.

“Thank you for helping us giving Christmas cakes. We hope you’re having a great day when Christmas coming.”

Sen nodded and bowed to the manager and her friend in politely.

“Thank you. And you too, merry Christmas.”

With that, Sen began to turn on her heels to return back to her mansion. Walking on the street, she pulled the sleeve slightly as she’s trying to check on the watch.

“Ahh… it’s already 5:38.. Chizuru-chan must’ve gone home by now,” the older Suzuka said with a disappointing sigh. “Well, it can’t be helped.. but I sure hope Chizuru is fine, that’s what matter..” One of her reason why she would like to see her best friend is because after finding out the brunette girl falls in love with someone, whether it eventually be unrequited or one-sided, no matter what, Sen would always support her whether it take some times to find a perfect man for the young brunette.

“There’s still some times to go home.. maybe I should take a walk around the shops.” She said, stretching her arms as if she was having aerobic.

Upon of laying her eyes to a familiar broad-back, she didn’t know why but her world soon suddenly stopped upon of watching a certain person’s back getting smaller and smaller into the crowd.

Isn’t that…

Couldn’t wait no more, Sen started to turn on her heels to catch on that person.

No..

It couldn’t be…

She—

She can’t leave this chance away…!

Wait…!

At this rate, it’s possible that she won’t be able see him again.

That person…

That person is…!

“Please wait!”

Sen finally exclaimed on the top of her lung, enwrapping her arms around the male’s body unexpectedly. Despite how it frightened her that she wrapped the man’s body for the first time. But she didn’t want to lose sight of him this time.

It’s been a while..

It’s been a while since she last saw him.

She had been waiting for him for such a long time; to give him back his coat.

But no matter how many days and weeks she has waited at the entrance of shopping complex, he never comes neither he intended to retrieve his coat from her. She doesn’t had a chance to get his phone number nor his name.

Upon of feeling someone grabbing his body from the back all of a sudden, Amagiri couldn’t helped but to wide his eyes open to receive an embrace from someone else. Took a glanced on whoever the person that holding him, recognized a very short petite girl, the red-headed man realized it’s Suzuka Sen.

What brings her here..?

“What are you…?”

Before Amagiri could completed his question, he soon heard a familiar bark of laughter. That beautiful laugh was belonging to none other than Sen’s lips. She was beautiful as ever like a princess whenever there was a smile on her face. He wondered how come a lovely woman such as her could smile that way to someone like him…?

“I-I’m sorry for laughing all of a sudden.” Sen tried her best to stop laughing but in the end, she’d failed. “But I couldn’t helped, whenever I think about you, I just remembered just how pathetic you were back then.”

Amagiri watched down on the young lady as she continued to giggle in happy. By looking of it, it looked like she was really happy to meet him again. From what he’d heard from Shiranui, Sen is quite aggressive and very unlady-like towards men. But upon of meeting her for the second, she doesn’t looks to be aggressive or unlady before. She was more like a goddess.

Before Amagiri could speaks a word…

GROWWWWWL

There was a strange groan sounds coming from Sen’s stomach.

At that, there was a very long quiet, awkward moment between them. Gazing down on the young woman, Sen’s cheeks began to tint in deepen scarlet like a ripe tomato in embarrassed.

Crap.. I almost forgot to eat lunch before helping my friends giving Christmas cakes to customers…!

Sen bit her lower lip tighter as she felt an urged to lay her eyes on elsewhere to avoid from looking whatever the red-headed man’s expression made. Oh but she knew what’s he’s gonna do. He’s probably going to laugh at her for sure.

Definitely, for sure—

“Would you like to eat somewhere?”

…

That.. that was an unexpecting one.

She was expecting something better than that. But inviting her to eat somewhere else…? Really, can men always this… kind? No wonder Chizuru finds herself enjoy studying with male students in Hakuou Academy. Not all men were bad, just as she once described of. But still..

Finally raising her head to gaze into the red-headed man’s ocean-orbs, Sen has to make sure there’s no lies behind on it. But so far, all she could see nothing except… kindness, honest, and… gentle.

He has no intention of malice or bad toward her. But…

Should she trust him?

“Wh-why are you being kind to me?” first, he’s letting her borrow his coat. And now, inviting her to eat…? Has he always had a… very polite attitude even toward to a stranger such as her?

“Well, it looked like you’re very hungry. I suppose it would be very unhealthy for letting lovely women such as you are skipping eat food.”

“Lovely woman, huh?” Sen finds herself to smirk. Enwrapping her arms under her chest as she acted her usual self, “For a polite gentleman like you, I didn’t know that you would think someone like me as a lovely.”

At those words, the red-headed man replied with a small smile on his lips, continued: “No other woman can ever surpasses your beauty I have to say.”

“Yeah… most of my friends say that as well..” Sen gave an awkward laughed while scratching her cheeks at the same time. “So,” the older Suzuka clapped her hands in one time, “Mr. Gentleman, if you kindly, take me to the café then.”

The red-headed man replied with a respective bow as if Sen was his new master.

“As you wish, Miss Sen.”

It didn’t take long between them then they’re finally arrived one of Sen’s favourite café to hang out.

“Ah yes… strawberry parfait. How much I loves them.” Sen said after ordering the food and beverage for the couple. Putting her palm of hands on her cheeks together, starting to daydream the thought of strawberry parfait.

“It look like you’re enjoying sweet things.” The red-headed man’s voice brings Sen returned back to the reality.

Usually, whenever men tried to return her back, she often gives them a very hard punch on his face. But when it comes to the red-headed man.. it’s totally… different. She couldn’t brings herself to punch him or hit him in brutally somehow. Those gentle and calm aura was too strong for her from hitting him.

“Well yeah. Of course most women likes sweet things. No other female could ever dislikes sweet stuff… unless they’re into strange taste.” Sen smirked at that part.

The other person could only curled his lips upward upon of watching the lovely woman was being sarcastic.

“Here’s a cup of coffee.”

A random waitress putting a hot cup of coffee on the table for the other man. As polite as the red-headed man is, he bowed slightly and thanking the waitress as she left the couple then. Watching the other man took a sip a black coffee, by looking on his gesture, he looks to be around 30 and above years old. …Or, is it?

“I’ve been wondering to know for a while now…” Sen began. “How old.. are you?”

“Me? I’m 17.” The other man replied simply.

So he’s not really that old… Strange how he had a vibe of being elder man. Sen thought suspiciously as she took a quiet sip of her tea.

“What do you think of me?”

“Excuse me?”

Sen blinked in confused.

“Do you think of me as an old man as well?” The red-headed man said with an… innocent(?) smile on his face. “Because somehow, almost all people believing that I’m around 30 years old.”

“Wh-what?!” Sen couldn’t helped but to exclaim at that part. Without realizing it, she stood up, in which, giving a few people gave an attention on her. “Y-You’re still 17, yet, you’re letting other people thought of you as 30-year-old-man…?! How could you think that way to yourself?!”

“I suppose, I do believing myself that I’m suitable as an old man.” The red-headed man said in melancholy one. “Many people had always lie to me because of my kindness and polite attitude. Of course I do often believe every people’s words, whether those are lies and truth. You could say that I can be quite naïve despite being mature.”

At those words, Sen couldn’t helped but feeling a little disbelief about the red-headed man. To think, someone kind and gentle such as this man could let himself getting fooled by a terrible people. Despite he knew he’s being fooled of him, and yet, he lets it that way like an old man just as he described of himself.

For someone like him…

How could it exists a place like this..?

“What’s wrong?” The red-headed man’s words brings her dark thought of him disappeared instantly. “…Does that bother you?”

In truth, she wanted to confess how much that bothered her truly. It was aslo stupid of him of thinking himself this way. Especially letting everyone tricked him just because of his kind and polite side. It’s frustrating how all he could do nothing except being softy man as ever.

Those words however couldn’t able to reveal it on her lips. Sitting down on her place back, Sen used one of her most soft tone she’d ever spoke to anyone.

“I’m sorry for being a little exaggerated.”

“It’s fine.” The other person replied. “I do hope this conversation didn’t ruined your tea time.”

“It won’t be.” Sen gave a sad-smile, giving her best to be her usual self

…until her strawberry parfait finally comes.

Taking a bite of her dessert, her eyes flashed in exciting and happily, she finds her mind starting to dance like an idiot.

“This. Is. So. GOOOOOD!!!!” Sen exclaimed as she took some more scopes of parfait. She gobbled them up like an adorable child, couldn’t careless to show this kind of side to some random man she met just second times.

The red-headed man remaining silent as he continuing watching every moves and reaction she made. Each and every reaction finds him smile gently. Never in his entire of his life time he had ever spending someone alone such as this before, exceptional for Kazama and Shiranui, however.

When her honey-brown orbs laid into the ocean ones, Sen realized that the other man had been watching him, in which, smiling at him back and moved a spoon of strawberry parfait closer to him.

“Would you like to try it?”

“Eh?” the red-headed man blinked at that part. “Is it alright?”

“It’s fine, it’s fine. It tastes quite good after all.” Sen replied back with her usual biggest grin on her face.

Gazing on Sen’s beautiful face, then to the spoon of strawberry parfait, without thinking no more, the other man finally took a bite of a scoop of parfait, returned her with a gentle smile.

“It’s really good.”

“Isn’t that right—“ Before Sen could completed her sentences, she shot her eyes opened in shocked upon of what she’s doing just now.

Slowly, her world suddenly turned into grey colored, and the other man’s voice couldn’t reached her ears anymore.

Wh-what was… she’s thinking?

Why did she shared her food to someone like him—a man, of all the people!

As her minds starting to turn messy, Sen quickly get up from her seat and grabbed her school bag.

“I-I’m sorry but I have to go!”

Leaving the restaurant without the bill, Sen ran as fast as she could, to make sure she’ll lose sight of him.

How embarrassed..!

How embarrassed of her…!

What did she thinking she’s doing..?!

She can tell the parfait was good and all, but there’s no need to let the other man tasted it on her spoon!

At this rate, it’ll eventually made them having an—

Indirect kiss.

Argh!!!!

This is so frustrating! How could it ended this way toward her?! This kind of thing between man and woman really drivin’ her crazy! How come all couple could stand all this romance and stuff like that!

As she finally realized she’s been far away from the café, Sen lets her eyes gazed into a clear, light-blue sky, finding herself relaxed after all doing some embarrassed thing toward the red-headed man.

She wondered what’s he’s doing by now?

Just thinking about it, Sen felt an urged to give a forehead-slapped as she remembered that she was suppose to retrieve him back his coat.

“I guess I should give him next time…”

Sen sighed; the thought of meeting him again brings her cheeks flushed in red from embarrassment. Praying to Kami that he won’t ever talks any subject about feeding him a parfait.

Before she could turned on her heels to return back to her manor, some disgusting voices spoke to her in which, giving an urged to kick them some asses.

“Hello there, cute lady. What are you doing in a place like this?” A random man said between hiccup. Probably those men are in a drunkard state; his arm was enwrapped on the other of his partner’s shoulder, waving a bottle of sake up and down over and over.

Uwaah… she knew what’s gonna happened after this once she’s getting closer to these disgusting men. If she stayed here longer, there’s a higher chance that something terrible happen to her after then.

Showed her aggressive side in front of the disgusting men, Sen turned her head away as she intended to leave them while ignoring their presences.

“Hey, hey. Don’t ignore us like that.” Second random drunkard said while grabbing Sen’s arm tighter like a steel.

Feeling disgusted upon of feeling other stranger holding her, Sen pried her arm away and glared at them with one of the coldest gazed she had ever used.

“Get your filthy hands off from me you per—“

Splash!

Before she could complete her sentences, a cold water began to drench on her. Lost in words, Sen lets her eyes widen bigger, neither she could moved her body as if she’s been paralyzed from some kind of spell those men.

“Well, well look at that. It looked like you’re all wet as well. That’s makes us together.” The drunkard 1 said with a smirk. Grabbing Sen’s wrist as they started to walk. “Don’t worry, don’t worry. It won’t take long for us to take care of.. you.”

Following them without objected, fear and anxious started to form on her face. She wanted so much to raise her voice calling someone to help. But her lips was too stubborn to make while her body walked on their own as if those men used some kind of marionette to control her body like a puppet.

She wondered this could the end of her horrible fate. The thought of whatever gonna happened to her sooner or later, she wondered what’s gonna happened when she disappeared like that person. Will Kosuzu takes a role as the next heir of Suzuka clan instead of herself? Will Kazama ever be a mature man without her?

And Chizuru—

Chizuru—

Sooner or later, a hand that’s been gripped on her wrist was no longer there anymore. All she could hear a sound of punching men and groaning in pain. The hold of those disgusting men were no longer there anymore. Luck was there all along, her knight in shining armor has finally come to rescue her.

“Oww… what the hell was that for you bastard—“

The drunkard wouldn’t dare to speak anymore as he realized the man that he encountered is a very tall one. His dark and serious glared pierced deep into the drunkards’ chest that they felt an urged to get away from him as soon as possible. How come a tall man such as the red-headed man could exist here..?

“I suggest you to leave and never show your face to her, got that?”

The other man’s voice was so cold that he felt like that longer the drunkards stayed here with him longer, the nearer the Death coming to him.

“We-we’re sorry!”

The red-headed man sighed and put his hand on his forehead. Guess being the tallest in Hakuou Academy(beside Harada) is quite worthy after all. But more importantly, to think those horrible men did something terrible to the older Suzuka.

Speaking of Suzuka—

Amagiri gazed to the lovely woman who’s been stood there like a statue as if she could see a ghost in front of her. Her hair and clothes were still drenched from the sake that those men threw on her.

“A-Are you alright, Miss Sen? You’re not hurt are you?” Amagiri said, tried to take closer on her to make sure she wasn’t injured and all.

The red-headed gave a soft sigh of relief as she’s uninjured.

However, something’s not right; for several minutes now, Sen has been stood there wordlessly like a doll, not even a single word she spoke yet. Until…

—Tears starting to form on her eyes like a waterfall. She started to cry like an innocent child.

“W-What’s wrong?!” Amagiri exclaimed guiltily. Not knowing what to do as he watched the older Suzuka continued to cry.

“You’re late! You should’ve come here sooner. That was so scary!!!” Sen cried and sniffle at the same time, in which, the red-headed man felt an urged to gap like a fish upon of seeing this side of her. To think, a headed-strong girl such as Sen could even shows her weak side to someone like him.

Meanwhile in Chizuru ‘s room, the brunette girl spent her times studying in her room after returning back from having a date with Kosuzu. Since she’s the only one that lives here, the house was pretty quiet. However, there are times Heisuke would visits her whenever he was bored and all.

Continued on studying her subjects back, her cellphone was vibrating, receiving a message.

Taking a peek on it, praying to herself it’s not the President. Don’t get a wrong idea. It’s not that she dislikes being his lover. She absolutely loves it. However, each date spot he’s taking her, it would be someplace that was meant for almost rich people. She actually preferred the normal dating spot such as, café, amusement park, and so on.

As she checked on the message, it was none other than her father.

How many days had passed since she last received his letter.

Curling up her small lips on her face, she started to read;

Dear Chizuru,

How are you? I hope you’re fine in Kyoto. I’m sorry for not able texting you a lot these days. It seems that there are many patients come lately.

Chizuru couldn’t helped but feeling terrible for herself. Her last message must’ve noticed him that she’s been very lonely little by little. Maybe she should’ve pretended that she’s fine and her friends often visit her or something… shaking her head slightly, the young brunette continued on reading her father’s message.

…Ahh, that’s right. It’s almost Christmas, isn’t it? How about the two of us celebrate the party with Kaoru like a family? We don’t usually celebrate like this. It might be fun just the three of us.

At that, Chizuru couldn’t helped but to blink at her father’s new message. Re-reading her father’s message over and over, oh she knew what does it meant. She wanted so much believing this is just a dream but no matter how many times she slapped her face or pinched her cheek for several times, she knew this is reality.

Feeling herself smile in joyous, without hesitated, the brunette replied back as soon as possible that she would gladly celebrate the Christmas party with her father and so as her twin. Once she sent it to her father, she continued smile as if that was one of the bestest Christmas gift she had ever received. Closing her book that she recently studied then, she prepared herself to decorate her house.

This would be the greatest Christmas party she ever imagined!

Back to Sen and Amagiri; also known as in the red-headed man’s apartment,

—No way!!!

Sen exclaimed inwardly while taking a shower in the red-headed man’s place. Not to mention, a man’s bathroom. She could felt tears of childish of falling down on her cheeks once again. She could understand she needs to clean herself after all what happened to her a while ago. But she didn’t want to take a shower on some random man’s house…!

This is the worst!

This is completely the worst!

As much as Sen was really grateful of the red-headed man’s kindness, he doesn’t have to let her borrow his bathroom to shower or something.

Sen sighed after she had finally finishing on taking a bath. She dried her silky brown hair with a towel while she could felt her cheeks were flushing in a deepen scarlet from embarrassment.

Why when it comes to this red-headed man, she eventually has to show her embarrass side all the time?

Shaking her head to leave those thoughts out of her head, she quickly wore one of the other man’s clothes which is, kinda… big for her, in which, she has to fold up the sleeves until it reaches to her wrists.

Once finishing wearing the red-headed man’s clothes, Sen took a glanced around the room to search the other man. When his presence wasn’t in the bedroom, she tip-toed as quietly as she could to reach to the living room. Upon reaching at the exit of the other man’s bedroom, something caught her from attention.

Gazing on the photo frame on the small table next to the man’s bed, Sen took a closer looked to see at the photo even better; she recognized the photo so well. There, the photo showed possible a red-headed man when he was a teenager with an innocent and gentle smile on his face. Instead of having a long pony-tailed, he has a short hair that reached to his nape. He was wearing a black, male uniform school, in which, it’s possibly the picture has been taken before he’s been enroll to a high school. Sen couldn’t helped but finds his teenage figure quite attractive compare now.

Next to the red-headed man in the photo, there was a familiar lovely woman with a beautiful giggle. She has a black as charcoal, long, silky pony-tailed that rested on her right shoulder, it was none other than Kimigiku. Of course Sen recognized Kimigiku so well. Despite she has a strict mother that taken a role as the heir of Suzuka clan, to Sen, Kimigiku is more suitable to call as a mother as she’s always been her side when she’s in trouble or having a difficulty. She has always had a desired to call Kimigiku ‘mother’ when the time has come…

Glancing on the photo frame once again, there are more people in it. Two children. One girl is sitting on the top of the young boy with a not very amusing expression.

Yes..

That’s right.

She remembered.

Those children were her and Chikage.

Despite they bickered quite a lot, both of them were eventually getting along well. People always described their relationship as an old married couple, knowing that they never stopped arguing and quarreling each other whenever one of them encountered coincidence.  

The thing she wondered for a while now—

How did the red-headed man joined in that photo before…?

When she thought about her childhood little by little, she does remembered that there’s a young man who also has to babysit of Sen and Kazama.

Could it be…

That red-headed man known her all this time. Why hadn’t she realized it all this time? It was very rude of her for ignoring his existence despite they eventually finally met each other eye to eye. She wondered this is one of the other man’s reason why he doesn’t want to show his existence to her all the time; to not let himself getting involve into the older Suzuka’s life.

That was.. horrible.

She wanted so much to apologize him for not recognize him back when she was a child. But.. would that man remembers her…?

Finally returned back to the living room, she found the other man was reading a newspaper like a typical old man who’s prefer living in a quiet place than crowded.

Sen couldn’t helped but finds herself smiling at this side of the red-headed man.

When the other man could felt a gentle gaze behind him, Amagiri turned around and found Sen was smiling all of a sudden. When the older Suzuka realized he was gazing her back, she turned her head away in flustered, hiding her flush from him.

“Would you like to have tea, Sen?”

“Sure.” Sen chirped happily, finding herself feeling confident talking to the red-headed man little by little.

Amagiri nodded in understand, went to the kitchen to start on making tea. It didn’t take long after then he brought a tray of teapot, two cups and some sweet food for the older Suzuka.

“Thank you for this. I don’t usually become a guest actually. So it’s kinda feeling a little nervous watching you serving me some food and tea.” Sen said with a giggle as she took a bit of biscuit.

“It’s fine.” The red-headed man said, folded his knees in politely like a seiza styled. “I don’t usually get a lot of guest so you can say that you’re the very first guest that comes to my house.”

“Well you should be proud of yourself then.” Sen said while slapped her chest in cocky.

Continuing on munching the biscuit, Sen took a looked around of the apartment. It’s quite clean she has to say. And there isn’t a lot of furniture or stuff such as that around of his room. She wondered if he rented this room for several months only..

“You’re living alone?”

“Yes,” Amagiri took a sip of his tea. “However, I don’t usually went home everyday as I often sleep in my Master’s manor in the guest room.”

“So you’re some kind of this-so-called-master’s… personal servant?” In truth, she wanted to say a personal guard dog but that would be rude especially when he had shown a lot of kindness to her.

“You can say that.” Amagiri replied at that.

And once again, silent moment started to form between them. It doesn’t feels quite awkward Sen has to say. Being with him is very peaceful. Usually, she couldn’t stand on the silent moment as she has to say something to break some quiet moment right there.

The couple remaining silent without starting any conversation except maybe sipping their tea and eating biscuits and sweet food. There are times Sen seduced him by giving the most lovely smile on her face whenever she gets bored. And the red-headed man could only reply nothing except amazed of the older Suzuka’s beauty.

As they realized they’ve been spending times each other for quite longer than they imagined of, it was about time Sen to leave. It sadden to leave him so early, yes. But somehow, she had a great fun being with him. He was one of a companion that she could stays longer.

“Well, I think it’s about time for me to leave.” Sen said with a hidden of sorrow and a little disappointing tone. But she tried her best to give a very wide grin to keep those thought of sadness from her face. Wouldn’t want to make the red-headed man worry her.

“World’s can be quite cruel to us.”

“That maybe so. But it’s great that it’s our fate to see each other for the second times.” Sen replied back, hitting him playfully.

The other man smiled back then, no word should he expressed to her.

“Ah, that’s right. I almost forgot.” Sen said, digging something into her bag as the red-headed man took a glanced on her as to wonder what is she searching. When her eyes flashed in happily, she took out a familiar coat and moved it closer to him. “Here.”

Amagiri blinked.

It’s his coat.

He remembered how he lets her keep it when she was cold after they both bought something for Christmas presents. Never expected he would eventually retrieve his coat at a time like this.

“I’ve been trying to give your coat back. But knowing that neither I knew your address or your phone number, I eventually waited for you at the entrance of the shopping complex for every. fuckin. evening!”” Sen said those words every single of it in a little of anger.

But her anger was not meant by annoying. It was more like she was so frustrating that she couldn’t able to meet him often.

“O-Oh.. were you?” Amagiri said, feeling a little terrible for letting the older Suzuka waited for him for almost every evening by now. He didn’t know she would wait for him just to retrieve his coat.

“Heck yea.” Sen snorted while enwrapping her arms under her chest. “It’s because of you, I was having a fever for a few weeks ago.”

“I-I’m terribly sorry for this, Sen.” Amagiri said in honest and yet, guilty at the same time. “Do you really think there’s a way to apologize to you?”

“Hmm… I don’t know..” Sen murmured softly, tabbed her finger on her lips as she was in a deep thought. I wanted to see you more…! That’s her thought was. But of course, words were too stubborn to take out from her lips, in which, she continuedly pretended thinking deeper and deeper.

As the red-headed man watched her thinking, his past event starting to replay back in his mind.

I want you to invite another guest from different school. Doesn’t matter whether it’ll be man or woman.

Would Serizawa accept her once he invited Sen to the Christmas party. He finds himself more worry of Sen’s safety. What might happened when the older Suzuka finds herself feeling uncomfortable spending a whole night in Serizawa’s Christmas party? The thought of seeing the lovely Suzuka feeling anxious brings his heart shattered by now.

But.. it might be a little worth to give it a try…

“Would you like to go to a Christmas party?”

“Eh?” Sen blinked at that part. “C-Come again?”

“Christmas party.” Amagiri stated. “There’ll be a Christmas party in my founder academy’s mansion. Do you think you can come?”

As meaning by that, the red-headed man must’ve intended to ask her a date right now.

…Wait.

Ah… of course not. How silly of her. He was only invited her to a party to show his way of apologizing after all she took an effort on waiting for him days by days. Nothing more.

“Are you sure?” Sen said. “Don’t you think you should invite someone else beside me?”

Amagiri gave a very confident smile as if, he was really meant to invite the older Suzuka the party.

“Rest to be assured that, you’re the only person that I could think of to invite the party.”

“Oh really?” Sen raised her eyebrow in a half-disbelief. “Alright then. Apologize accepted… If, you’re escorting me all the way to your principal’s mansion and brings me back to my place in safety like a knight in shining armor.” She smirked at that.

“Then, it’s a promise.”

Sen nodded excitingly. When she bids farewell to the red-headed man and left the his apartment, once again, the older Suzuka gave another forehead-slapped as she forgot something once again.

“W-Wait, you mean I should sleep here?” Chizuru finds herself gappedlike a fish when the Demon of the West suggested her to take a rest in theshack.

“Where else?” Kazama raised hiseyebrow in perplexed. “Would you prefer to sleep outside then?”

“W-Well, no. But..” Chizurumumbled under her breathed as words starting to lose on her lips.

Taking a glanced on the outside world ofthe shack that they rested, she could finds herself shivered in fear just thethought of sleeping outside. Then again, it’s even worst sleeping here with theDemon all alone! There’s a higher chance that he would do something that shedidn’t like!

“Is something wrong?” Kazama’scalm and gentle words bring Chizuru back to reality then. “I thought youwere going to sleep.”

“I—I am…!” She whined.

Of course, she was very tired. And sheneeded to have enough rest to replenish her stamina for tomorrow morning. Whatmight happen if she lets her guard down once she fell asleep? The thought ofthe Demon touching her finds herself in need to go on a journey to findHijikata and the others alone at this rate…

Taking a glanced in the small hut, Chizurustarting to drag her futon at the corner of the shack. She hadn’t noticed untilnow that the Demon had watched her for a while and there was an amusing smirkappeared on his face.

“Ah… I thought you were acting oddly. Now I see.”

“W-Well I think it’s perfectlyjustified!”

His smirk turned wider than before. It’sdrivin her crazy how he finds her every reactions amusing.

“Were you hoping I might pay you avisit?”

“Of course not!”

She can feels her cheeks and ears wereburning in red from embarrassed and anger.

Upon of screaming to the Demon, his amusingsmirk suddenly disappeared and there was a… is that hurt expression she couldsense? She couldn’t tell. ..It’s probably disappointing to put it more simply.

“It was only a joke. Do you take mefor some manner of brute?” Kazama spat in a slightly disgustingly. “Onis respect formality andtradition. You can rest assured that I will not touch you until we arewed.”

“Until we're—what?!”

Before she could screamed more, Kazama gentletone whispered quietly one.

“Just go to sleep. You should restwhile you can.”

Chizuru whined, but eventually nodded inunderstanding.

As Kazama tried to make sure the firelighten up enough to keep the two of them warm, his crimson eyes laid into thebrunette who starting to untie her red band from her beautiful and soft hair.The way how the strand of hair falls were reminding him of the grand curtainsin his manor.

As he finally satisfied on gazinghis-soon-to-be-wife’s gorgeous hair, there’s something he’s taken interest morethan just her appearance.

That band…

When the brunette could felt a creepy starefrom the Demon, she let her guard up.

“Wh-what’s wrong?”

“That string,” Kazama murmured.“Where did you get that?”

Chizuru blinked at his answer. It took awhile then she finally understood as she stared on her red band. He must’vementioned to that…

The night was very beautiful when the Full Moon had risen above of the sky. But it was much more beautiful when there have such elegant buildings at the Kyoto made by humans one.

Kazama couldn’t help but to laugh humorlessly.

He never thought he could admire the humans’ ability of build city and town when they’ll end up destroying and killing everything in the end.

Humans are such a foolish creature.

To think they’ll create some wars just for the sake of money and power. It was a very foolish desire for humans like them.

That’s why he despises of humans creature very much.

As much as he hated them, the blonde-haired Oni needed to ally along with the Satsuma-han for paying their debt after they’ve protected Kazama clan and Amagiri clan when the shogunates need their power. Whether their intending may be foolish and selfish one, Kazama still needed to owe them back.

He was a bit surprised a few couple of days ago that Kodou suddenly side with Satsuma-han as well. Despite how he has a last name of Demon of the East too, Yukimura, yet that bald man do not directly related to the blood much. Kodou, like along with the humans, hated him very much. From what he’d heard from Amagiri, Kodou is the responsible for creating Ochimizu, an elixir that would turn humans into fake demons. That old man is gone too far.

“It seems that you’re still continue on create that medicine, Yukimura Kodou,” Kazama spoke in stern, entered the bald man’s room without knocking where Kodou created Ochimizu most of his life ever since he was siding on Satsuma-han.

When Kodou found out of the Demon of the West’s presence, he faced to his, and gave him such a very innocent expression in which Kazama had an urge to kill that old man.

“With this Ochimizu, I will create demons as many of them as I wanted to,” Kodou said proudly.

Kazama spat out in disgustingly.

“They’re nothing but fake.”

Kodou’s gentle and kind face suddenly turned into grim, sighed knowing that Kazama wouldn’t agree of what he intended to do.

“The Yukimura Village has been destroyed by the humans..” Kodou explained, knowing as well that the blonde-haired Oni knew of the Demon of the East’s demise of fate, yet the bald man still wanting the Lord of the West to sympathy him and the Yukimura clan just how unfortunate they are and his family shouldn’t have been killed. All they ever wanted to live in peace. Why can’t the humans accepted that? “As the Head Demon of the West, you should’ve understood our sufferings too.”

It was for quite awhile then Kazama remained quiet for a moment, then taking leave and could’ve sworn Kazama just heard the bald man chuckled lightly.

Though the main reason he left Kodou wasn’t because he could understood of the Demon of the East’s suffering when their village destroyed. It was opposite one. He knew nothing a word of suffering. He couldn’t even understand of their suffering as well. But Kodou was gone too far. He obviously had lost his pride as a demon already. Though he need to have some patient before he’s ready to kill him.

It may also take a long time for the Demon of the West kills him no matter how much he wanted to take his life away already. Unfortunately, the Satsuma-han still need him and the Ochimizu too in which, he has to wait until his debt finally pay off.

There it was again; another screaming from the abominations at the night of Kyoto. As much as he would rather drinking Sake and taking a nice view of the Full Moon for this night, yet those fake demons were ruining his mood already.

Sighing in frustratedly, putting his katana on his obi, Kazama prepared himself to hunt down the Rasetsus even if they’re one of Satsuma-han. Well the one that needed to blame is none other than the fake demons. They’re the responsible for ruining the Demon of the West’s mood of drinking expensive Sake that one of a member of Satsuma presented him to as a warming-gift.

As he had left from the Satsuma headquarter, as he expected, Amagiri followed Kazama as well as if the red-headed Oni is a very lost little chick who needed its mother very much. ..Not that it bothered him actually. Kazama has getting used to it of getting follow by Amagiri since that loyal man has always been side with him since he was very young.

“It seems that the fake demons were making a ruckus,” Kazama sighed heavily once more as they walked around the night street. Amagiri didn’t spoke anything yet, still following him as if he was waiting for Kazama to have a permission to speak with him, and so, the blonde-haired Oni continued: “If they kept going to do this every night, we’ll erase their existence even if they’re one of Satsuma-han.”

“From the information I found, Kodou had been researched of the Ochimizu since he was once siding with the group of ronins called the Shinsengumi.”

Kazama remained silent for a moment then, continued on walking the night street once more, looking for the abominations to erase their existence.

The Shinsengumi…

He had heard of so much rumors of the group of samurai Shinsengumi. Most of it they were one of the most fearful warriors with a light blue coat, killed down on ronins, including the Rasetsu, as well as fought for their pride.

Pride, huh?

Kazama snorted as he heard that word.

He finds all humans were just the same. They had no pride at all if you ask the Demon of the West. Including the famous of Shinsengumi.

As they heard a maniac screamed somewhere around the corner of street, Kazama and Amagiri went there without hesitated with a fullspeed thanks to their Oni’s ability.

“Yo, don’t mind if I join in as well?”

Kazama faced to a familiar gunslinger after the two Onis had just slaughtered several abominations at the night of Kyoto then.

“Shiranui? What brings you here?”

“Well… just the usual thing I’m doing, visiting an old friend of mine, inviting to drink a Sake with him and as I was on my way to go back to Choshuu Headquarter I accidently found you guys having some fun so now… here I am,” the tan-skinned demon said with a wide grin on his face then.

Kazama didn’t spoke anymore, sheathed his sword back when he had done killing down the rasetsus that’s been bothered him greatly.

“Do it what you like. Just don’t getting my way.”

The Demon of the West replied, turning on his heel as he continued on searching another abominations in the night of Kyoto.

Shiranui replied with another grin then, followed the two Onis.

Kazama didn’t mind at all for having another recruit to help him to erase the fake demons. Knowing that Shiranui doesn’t give any shits about killing Rasetsus though. All what gives him an attention to follow along with Kazama and Amagiri were actually to find something fun. Especially searching an enemy which are stronger than him.

But the rasetsus were very weak like most insects.

“Speaking about your old friend, Shiranui,” Amagiri began. “were you visiting Takasugi Shinsaku-dono?”

“Yup. That’s him alright.” Shiranui said happily, as if he finally got a gift that he’s been wanting so much.

The Demon of the West began to face to the two Onis as he gave them a dark, grim expression on his bored and dull face.

“Amagiri,” Kazama called the red-headed Oni, in which, Amagiri replied with stopped in mid-walking, looking at his Lord in a slightly confused. “I could understand you respect everyone including those abominations very much. But, do you really have to call that damn Takasugi in a very respectful as well?”

Amagiri remained quiet then, a bead of cold sweat starting to form on his face.

“T-That is…”

No words Amagiri could able to form then.

Before Kazama could speak once more, a certain Oni interrupted him:

“…Hey, Kazama.”

Kazama faced to Shiranui then, and there was a cold expression on the gunslinger’s face, which is, it was rare one from the gunslinger.

“I swear I would shot your damn balls if you insult Takasugi that way.”

The Demon of the West was slightly stunned to see this side of Shiranui. From what he knew about Takasugi, Shiranui has always looked up him a lot. He had won several wars in Choshuu-han, in which, bringing the gunslinger admired him more and more.

…Unfortunately, not so long after that, Takasugi died from a very popular illness around the Kyoto, tuberculosis.

Leaving him dying on the bed then.

Despite Takasugi fought everything he had until the very end, the thing that bothers Kazama greatly is about Shiranui, himself.

If the gunslinger truly admired that Takasugi person greatly, doesn’t Takasugi feels a little… bothered to have a demon such as Shiranui himself for looking up on him despite being a human?

Shouldn’t he suppose to see, fear and treat Shiranui like a monster?

This Takasugi person is a very odd man to Kazama…

His thoughts then returned back to reality as soon as he heard another scream from the fake demons. Forgetting his thoughts about Takasugi, using his fullspeed to search the abominations.

Upon of standing on the roof, the three Onis gazed down on the buildings to find the Rasetsus then. It wasn’t long after that then, they finally found them.

Their eyes showed in a hidden of perplexed as they watched the fake demons were chasing around the street in crazily.

“What the hell are they chasing for?” Shiranui asked in confusedly, searching of whatever that gives the Rasetsus attention to chase.

“Take a look.” Amagiri said, pointed on the human with a light-colored male clothes who ran as if his life was very important. “It seems that they were after an innocent human.”

“Oooooh~ it seems that that human is very lucky to approach Rasetsus.” Shiranui whistled. His purple-orbs then faced to the Demon of the West. “So Kazama, what'cha gonna do about it?”

Kazama didn’t spoke any word yet but only gazed on the pathetic human very deeply. He can sense a very strange aura around the boy.

What is it?

He’s just a human.

Nothing special at all.

It took a moment then Kazama finally turned his heel, replied with his usual cold tone on his lips:

“Leave him be. He shouldn’t have approach them at a time like this.”

Shiranui’s reply was a sigh, as if he’s been expecting that from the Demon of the West.

Amagiri, however…

“But he needs our help.” There was a concern expression on his face. “We can’t just turn a blind eye like tht. Didn’t we come here to erase the abominations’ existence?!”

“That maybe so, however..” Kazama sighed. “saving a human is not my job.”

Amagiri’s calm and gentle eyes slowly turned into slightly furious as if he had enough of the Demon of the West’s arrogant attitude.

Before Amagiri started a long lecture to the Demon of the West, the gunslinger stop the red-headed man then:

“Hey, hey, chill out, guys.” Shiranui patted the two Onis’ shoulders to calm them down despite Amagiri’s state getting worse. “How about this, we should finish killing those crazy fake demons first. Then, we can settle this. So? What do you think?”

Kazama and Amagiri giving the gunslinger that look at the same time, if you know what I mean, the Demon of the West speaking with a hidden growled on Kazama’s lips then:

“You’re just trying to play around those abominations, are you, Shiranui?”

“Oh, come on!” Shiranui whined. “It’s not that I always play around with them everyday.”

“Actually,” Amagiri began. “You’ve always didn’t fight seriously each time you’re approaching with someone, especially that’s weaker than you.”

“But this is rasetsus. Pretty sure it’ll be fun to play around with them.” Shiranui said, twirling his gun in playfully.

It took a moment then Kazama thought about it deeper. Sighing in frustrated.

Oh for the Demon Lord…

He despises rescuing a human very, very much.

Never in his entire lifetime he has ever rescue a human before. But even if it was, it was an ordered by the leader of Satsuma-han.

But the fake demons’ laughter drivin’ him crazy so much, in which he has to ending their life once and for all, even if he has to rescue that damn human.

“Fine…” Kazama said in frustratedly. “But as for you, Shiranui,” the Demon of the West glared deep into the gunslinger. “Don’t even think about playing around with them. Kill them in a split second.”

At that, Kazama began to jump off the roof to chase after the fake demons, following along with Amagiri as well.

As for Shiranui though, he’d still stood on the roof, gapped like a fish in disbelief of whatever the Demon of the West demanded him.

Several fake demons had been slaughtered everywhere around him. The smell made him sick to death already. To think, there’s more of fake demons than he ever imagined.

Just how much stubborn they are to create more abominations in the Human World, anyway?

“Ahhhh!”

Kazama’s ears suddenly twitched upon of hearing a human’s screaming.

Crimson-red orbs shot into the young brunette. The almond-brown orbs of his were terrifying. His legs soon shaking up in frightening as he slowly fell down on the hard floor, watching the fake demon kills him as if he was intending to commit suicide after all.

That foolish boy…!

Kazama thought angrily, using his fullspeed demon to launch an attack to the fake demon who’s trying to kill the young brunette. His body slowly turned into ashes then.

“It seems that you have an unfortunate fate today, Human.” Kazama said in lazily, but at the same time, in frustrated. He finds himself disgusted to save a pathetic human such as him.

Upon of gazing the young brunette’s eyes longer, he can see there was a hidden of hope and admire just now. Was those eyes meant for him?

Was this human just gladly to be rescued by him?

Nonsense… there’s no human could ever admired nor look up a monster such as Oni like himself.

…Or maybe it were meant for something else…?

But more importantly, why did he just rescued a human again? He should’ve let that damn Rasetsu ending that brat’s life instead of his or Amagiri and Shiranui.

“Blood… Bloooood…!”

New fake demon appeared himself out from the shadow, looking at them in desperate for blood. “I WANT BLOOD. BLOOD. BLOOD. BLOOD. BLOOD. BLOOD. BLOOD. BLOOOOOOD!”

Kazama grabbed his hilt very tightly, readying himself to kill the abomination without hesitated. Eyes were filled with disgusted upon of meeting some crazy ronins such as them.

“Pathetic.” He snorted lazily, slaughtered the fake demon in a very short time. Blood splattering on the night of Kyoto before it turned into ashes then.

Before he took another new prey of abominations, the Demon of the West could hear a very soft whimpering and sobbing somewhere.

The next thing he knew, it was belonged to the young human.

The brunette pinched his nose very tightly as the smell started getting worse.

By looking of his expression, he doesn’t look like he’s getting used to this kind of situation before.

Where is he came from if he’s not living in Kyoto?

Shaking his head in nonsensely, he has to focus on his job first.

The boy is none of his concern.

After all, he would eventually die by the Onis’ hand then.

Kazama started to turn his heels then, continued on slaughtering the fake demons as he tried to ignore those whimpers and sobs the brunette made.

“So Kazama, what are you gonna do to this guy?” The gunslinger began as his eyes laid down into the young, pathetic human. “He’s definitely not a rasetsu to me.”

Shiranui should’ve known about it.

When Kazama’s crimson-red orbs laid into the almond-brown one, he can see just how much desperate the young human wanted to live. He can see just how much desperate the young human wanted to leave this place and never comes back.

Then again, if he lets the boy alive, fake demons might chase after him once more.

It would be such a waste after all he… r-rescue this damn human.

“Isn’t it obvious?” Kazama finally spoke, eyes laid into the two Onis in dull and bored one. “Just kill him already. He would eventually die like most of pathetic humans.”

Amagiri replied with a sigh of disappointing. For whatever the red-headed man thought in his mind, Kazama doesn’t gives any shit about it. He doesn’t really quite care about human whether they are innocent or not.

Before Shiranui putting new bullets into his gun, the young brunette started stood without hesitatedly, running away as if he finally saw a monster.

“It’s hopeless to run!,”

As the bullet finally released and hit it on the human’s sleeve, something caught Kazama an attention about the boy.

He had watched.

He had watched everything already.

He thought this boy in front of him is just another pathetic human that shouldn’t have seen everything already.

The abominations…

The Shinsengumi…

He thought this boy would be worth to be killing already. In the end, the Demon of the West was wrong.

Very, very wrong.

As usual, Shiranui was being hot-tempered as ever; shooting the boy without thinking at all. Well, even if he or Amagiri trying to stop him, it would be the same already. But what it gives an attention to the Demon of the West is not because the boy was very strong to have survived of Shiranui’s attack. It was because his arm suddenly healed for a few seconds then. Shiranui wasn’t the only shocked to see it. Even Amagiri could felt himself to have a surprise expression on his face.

Just what is that boy anyway?

No, rather than called it as a boy, could it be this young brunette is a female for a whole time? If you look at it very closely, this girl has actually had a feminine gesture, in which that proves that its definitely a she’s. If this woman truly is a demon too, how could she end up lost in the Human World? Demons shouldn’t have involved themselves with a human affair and from what he known, only Kazama clan and Amagiri clan had a debt that needed to pay to the humans.

So who is she? What village she lived? Which clan does this woman belong to?

The moment he laid his eyes on her kodachi, he seemed to have familiar of it somewhere and he remembered now that the kodachi that she bringing on her hip now is belonging to the Demon of the East, Yukimura.

Yukimura…

Is there by any chance that there’s a connection between this woman and Kodou…?

Weren’t all members of the Yukimura died in a burning village?

How could she survived?

When Kazama revealed his true self to the young brunette, her eyes turned very horrifying as she slowly transformed into a demon as well. That’s prove that the young girl was truly one of them; Oni.

As she slowly losing her conscious for not feeling very familiar of this kind of Oni aura, Kazama caught her from falling a very hard ground. His golden orbs took a gazed on her very closely, realizing the Yukimura girl is a very beautiful one compared most demoness he met in his village, which, they’re not pure-blooded one.

There aren’t a lot of female pure-blooded demons anymore.

And as for this Yukimura girl, she might be have a higher chance to be his—

“What are you gonna do with her once she’ll wake up, Kazama-sama?” Amagiri began questioned as they were about to return to the Satsuma headquarter as Kazama carried her by putting her body on his right shoulder.

It wasn’t a gentleman one as Shiranui described it

Kazama faced to Amagiri for a moment, then returned back to the Satsuma-han headquarter, finally spoke then: “There’s a few questions that I want this girl answer whether she likes it or not. And..,” he paused for a few seconds then and continued once again, “I would make sure she’ll be safe with us since she’s obviously a demon like us.”

"So what made my precious son woke up at a time like this. Usually you're having a hard time to wake up," his mother said, wiping her wet hands with pink polka dots apron that she always wore.

"Ngoking(Nothing)" Heisuke said while eating a hot toast at the same time.

Couldn't believe of his words, his mother continued to gaze on him while he's continued on gobbled up a toast and a cup of milk like a hungry Mibu wolf.

It took a moment then she finally figured out, giving a playful smirk on her face. When Heisuke noticed of a familiar smug that reminds him of so much of his prankster friend, Heisuke could felt shivered in spine as if his mother has been reincarnated into Souji by now.

"What's the matter, mom?"

"So that's how it is.."

"That's how what?" Heisuke said dumbfoundedly.

"Don't try to hide already, Heisuke. I know you're trying to impress Chizuru-chan actually."

At that, Heisuke couldn't helped but to gap like a fish. His innocent face was flushed into red as if he had saw his childhood friend in naked for the very first time.

His mother chuckled.

He is as innocent as her husband back in the old days.

Aaah… memories.

Heisuke denied himself and stuttered, "I—It's not that I l-like her or something! I mean, well, yeah, I do like her. But I actually like her as a childhood friend and all, so—"

Heisuke's mind was starting to mess.

He had no idea what is he blurting all about now. The more he blurted out nonsense, the more his secrets about his feeling toward Chizuru has been revealed.

He then gripped his brown hair as if it could help him calm down while yelling at the top of his lungs.

As his mother continuedly giggling, once the younger boy was realized she was making fun of her son, feeling frustrated, the younger boy couldn't take it anymore!

"Aargh! That's it! I have to go now!" Heisuke said, tried to leave the house as fast as he could so that his mother could stopped making fun of him.

"Heisuke, wait!"

What is it now..?

The younger boy stopped in mid-walking, waiting for his mother reached him. She gave him her usual morning kiss on his forehead, praying him to do his very best in school.

"And don't forget to confess your feeling for her once you meet Chizuru-chan."

At that, Heisuke flushed in red the part of 'confessing feelings'. Turning his face away from his mother, he dashed away out from the house.

His mother giggled once more.

He is so much like him.

Her thought wandered off as she remembered her college life with her husband.

You too again?

You guys have been together quite often since childhood now.

Yea, don't tell me you two like each other.

At that, his husband couldn't helped but to flush in embarrassing. Flailing his arms in front of him to deny himself toward his college friends.

"O-Of course not. It's not that I l-like her or something. I mean, I do like her. But I like her as a childhood friend, so—"

It feels so nostalgic just thinking about it. Brown eyes wandered above the ceiling, as if she velieved her love was watching them from the sky.

Oh… hun, I wish you could see our son…

Heisuke released a very loud exhaled from his lips, frustrated of how his mother enjoyed teasing him just because he's the only son she ever had. He neither has big sister/brother not youngest sister/brother. And so as father. From what he heard about his father, he died from cancer. Despite he had lost his father, his mother was as optimistic as ever. If the only he has a normal mom like Saitou and… Chizuru.

His face turned into a slightly grim upon of thinking childhood friend's mother. He was very lucky to have met the brunette's mother. She was so kind, beautiful, and elegant like Goddess Venus.

Being around with her makes him felt like he was floating around in Heaven already. Unfortunately, after he and his mother moved to somewhere else, her childhood friend's parent died in a car accident and the only survived were the twins.

Ever since the Yukimuras parent died, Chizuru has been taken by an adoptive father, Yukimura Kodou, whom been very busy with his career at the overseas. While Kaoru has been taken by Nagumo family in which, they're hardly spending times together like the old days.

If the only….

If the only the drunkard knew where he's going to, she could have live with her family along with Kaoru in happiness and peaceful by now.

Just thinking about Chizuru crying alone when she was in pain from loneliness brings the younger boy hurt him deeply than having an unrequited love about her.

As he realized he's been thinking pessimistic about his own childhood friend, Heisuke slapped his cheeks in multiple until it turned numb, he scolded himself not to thinking the brunette this way.

No…

He shouldn't think this way.

He shouldn't think his childhood friend like that!

He should've been grateful that Chizuru taking an enrollment in here.

"Alright! Try to be cheerful as usual!" Hesuke said, determined to be a happy-go-lucky boy.

Upon of walking to his usual routine, the younger boy recongnized a feminine back and uniform.

It's Chizuru…!

Decided to greet her as usual, Heisuke remember of Chizuru's darken face. What kind of face would she make once he greeted her.

The thought of her forced and pain smile face really broke his small heart little by little.

Shook his head slightly to leave those dark thoughts on elsewhere, turning on his heels to catch the brunette girl.

"Chizuru!" Heisuke chirped.

When the brunette recognized the voice, she turned her face and curled her lips upward upon of meeting her childhood friend in the morning.

"Ah..! Heisuke-kun, good morning." She greeted happily.

When Heisuke heard her sweet and happy tone, he noticed that his childhood friend has no longer hurt or sad adnymore. Instead, it has been exchanged into her usual happy smile like a young child.

What made her back to normal?

Has she forget of her feeling toward the President?

Whatever it is, he was so glad to see Chizuru smile. Her smile had always cheered him up and encouraged him to be a better student.

Grinning widely like an excited little boy, Heisuke crossed his arms at the back of his head as he continued to smirk like an idiot as he is now.

Chizuru blinked, confusedly. Notice that her childhood friend acted… weird. She tilted her face slightly as she tried to finds of whatever behind on that smirk. "Is something wrong, Heisuke-kun?"

"Ahh. No. it's nothing, really." He waved off his hand as if there's a fly around them. " It's been a while since I last saw your smile."

"O-Oh… so that's how it is. I'm sorry Heisuke-kun." She bowed in apologetically, while using her usual timid tone.

"No, no. it's fine. In fact, for several days, you've been like a ghost and I kept wondering whether you're already dead or something."

"Geeze.. Heisuke-kun." Chizuru whined, hitting his arm in playful.

Laughing and giggling together, they astarted to continue walking all the way to reach to school.

Upon of walking to Hakuou Academy at the street, Heisuke started to babble as usual.

"…And Hajime and Souji started to argue just because of that bastard President!"

"Was that really happened?"

Heisuke nodded. "Yea! Ever since then, Hajime-kun has been a bad terms with Souji, hanging out more with Kazama than us all."

"Was Kazama-senpai really… seduce Saitou-senpai?"

"Yes, it's true! If the only you could see what happened between them." Heisuke sighed. "I can't believed he would do that to Hajime-kun. But Souji— Souji is the worst! He—"

"What about me?"

"Right, Souji. You were kissing Chizuru's twin—" Turning around at the familiar male voiced, "S-Souji..!" Heisuke exclaimed in shocked. "S-Since when have you been here?!"

"Hmm let's see…" Souji said, putting his callous fingers on his chin. "Since you say that Kazama bastard is doing some gay stuff on Hajime-kun."

"I-I nevery said something like that!" Heisuke yelled like a dog. His face swift back ot his childhood friend, "Chziuru! I never said something like that, right?!"

N-Not really…?" Chziuru replied, not knowing what to answer at this. Her almond-brown orbs eyed on the older senpai, being kind and innocent kouhai as she is.

"Good morning, Okita-senpai."

Okita replied with his suual attractive twinkle eye on Chizuru. "Good morning, Chizuru-chan.: Cupping her chin tenderly, he gave her a chaste kiss on her cheek in which, brings her cheeks and ears flushed in red.

Heisuke gazed on them in disbelief and gapped like a fish.

"S-S-Souji!" the younger boy exclaimed. "What did you think you're doing?!"

"…Kissing her? What did you expected?" Souji replied simply.

"I-I know that!" As Heisuke was too lost in words, Souji's smirk grown to wider than ever.

"What? Don't tell me you've never get a first kiss from Chizuru-chan's cute lips before."

"O-Okita-senpai?!"" the brunette squeaked at how the older senior calls her lips cute.

"I-It's not something like that!" Heisuke yelled. "It's just—"

Okita ignored the younger boy denied himself, replying with a 'hmm' on his lips and thought deeper.

"Well, speaking of first kiss, I wouildn't mind taking Chziuru-chan's first kiss before that Kazama bastard takes it first."

Okita's smug widen darkly as he watched every reaction the brunette girl made.

The deeper scarlet her cheeks and ear were, she hid her face with her both palm of hands.

"Oi! What's with the commotions?!" a familiar male voiced yelled at the three students. Their eyes met at the onyx orbs.

"Well, well, well." Souji said with a slight of disappointing tone. "If it isn't the Oni sensei."

"What the hell are you mumbling about Souji?! Shouldn't you three of you suppose to be in school by now..?!"

"Relax, mother rooster." The raven-haired man felt an urged to twitch his left eye on annoyance upon of hearing Souji's new nickname. "It's not that we're gonna get punishment from being late. …Compare to you though.." There was a dark smug on his face as Souji started 'this' subject

At that, Hijikata had the greatest urged to explode by now. Oh yes, he remembered that day, the day he was suppose to force Souji going to school. But when he can't find his hiding place, he had heard from Harada that Souji had already gone to school already. In which, he's got himself a punishment from none other than the strict Saitou Hajime despite he's taking a responsible of the Discipline Committee.

Damn that Souji brat…

If he had known that Souji already gone to school, he wouldn't have ti waste his time by seatching him already.

That brat…!

He was totally making fun of him!

"I have to say, Hijikata-san. Never thought you'll eventually got yourself a trouble despite being a so-called-stern-and-strict teacher. You won't be an amazing teacher as Kondou-sensei."

"You little brat..!" Hijikata hissed. "You sure have no manners to the elders. Hasn't Kondou-san ever teach you how to be polite to your superior?!"

"Well, if I remember correctly, Kondou-sensei has taught me Kendo only. He never said something about being polite toward surperior especially an old man like you."

"O-Old man, you say…?!" It's because their argument has been started the two of them had forgotten of Chizuru and Heisuke presence by now. "Do you have no idea how old I am?!"

"Yes." Souji said confidently. "You're 48 years old and you'll be called a pedophile if you're dating Chizuru-chan at this rate."

The brunette girl gasped upon of finding out Hijikata's true age.

"H-Hijikata-sensei, is it true?"

"What?!" the raven-haired man exclaimed. "Of course not! I'm 23, you little brat!" The 'little brat' part wasn't meant for Chizuru of course. It was meant for Souji.

"Is that so?" Souji replied with a 'hmm' as he thought deeper and noticed something amusing. "Well look at that."

"What now?"

"You've got a strand silver hair already." Souji smirked. "This is what happened for yelling and screming all day, old man."

"S-Souji—!"

As Chizuru watched them bickered like an old married couple with non-stop, Heisuke started to whisper next to her ear.

"Psst Chizuru! Now it's our chance to go to school now."

"Wha..? but what about those two?"

"They're always bickering a lot that they even noticed the two of us. Let's go!"

"Well, um.. okay."

At that, they began to turn on their heels as the brunette girl watched their very last argument before their figures became smaller and smaller.

"Waaahhhh… it's starting to cold lately." Heisuke yawned out loud as he stretched his arms above the cold air.

"It looks like it."

"So how's thing with your dad?"

"Ah..? Well…" Chizuru began. "He's fine at the overseas. However, he won't be home."

"Even almost Christmas?" Heisuke couldn't helped but to gap like a fish.

"S-Something like that." She murmured softly, her eyes filled with sadness in loneliness the thought of her father.

Lately, she hasn't got a message from Kodou quite often now. Usually, her adoptive father often sent her a message once for 2 months now. It was as if, his career has been kept him away from sending a letter for his adoptive daughter. If the only she could confess him how she missed him so much… Then again, she didn't want to bother him knowing that being doctor often busy.

Chizuru's face soon brightened back in happiness when Heisuke suggested something that interests her.

"In that case, you can celebrate Christmas in my house!"

"R-Really….?!" The brunette said in disbelief. She couldn't figured whether she was suppose to be happy or excited or surprised. Maybe three of it..?

Heisuke nodded. "Yeah. After all, it's been a while since we last celebrate Christmas party together. So it's our opportunity to celebrate again..!"

"Ah, inviting your childhood friend to your party while you never invite us. You can be cruel, Heisuke-kun." A familiar male voiced, yet with a dangerous and threat tone spoke. His face was darkened as if he's intending to kill the younger boy here and now.

"S-Souji..?!" Heisuke exclaimed. "I-I thought you— urgh…!" Souji distracted him from speaking by gripping his small neck like an angry crab's took vice-grip on humans' curious finger.

"O-Okita-senpai, stop!" Chizuru put her hands on Souji's arm, gesturing him to stop although the older senior doesn't seem to care at all.

"All childhood friend this and childhood friend that really annoys me, you know."

Heisuke couldn't say any word as he tried to find a way to get some air. But Souji's grip was too powerful that he could felt his neck is going to snap by now.

"If you're trying to say sorry wouldn't help anything."

"O-Okita-senpai…" Chizuru murmured his name softly as she saw something behind on that emerald orbs.

Never in her entire life has she ever sees the older senpai looks frustrated and angry. What made him angry so badly…? She couldn't remember that Heisuke has ever done to him that's unforgivable before. Even if they are, Souji would often take revenge by blackmailing his embarrassed to the whole students of Hakuou Academy.

Okita-senpai…

Could it possibly be… he missed Saitou's presence next to him? Now that she mentioned it, he does often has a wide smirk on his face whenever he's with the indigo-haired man. But now's that they have a bad term, Souji's behavior has gotten weirder and aggressive now.

How can she make him feel better? Even if she begged Saitou and Souji to make-up something, there's no doubted that they would do it.

Urgh… it's her fault..

She shouldn't show that kind of side for the past of weeks ago…

"Let's see…" Souji began, as he was in a deep thought, while his grip was still around Heisuke's neck. "I'll forgive you if you invite all of us to your-so-called-Christmas-party."

"A-Aggh—Is that… i-it..?"

"Hm? Did you say something?"

Heisuke instantly shook his head.

No.

He has to say something that could satisfied Souji. At this rate, he's definitely getting killed by him whether it's crime or no.

"A-Alright, alright..! You can—go to the party as well."

"There." At that, Souji had finally ungrip his hold, giving his usual not-so-innocent smile on his smile.

Feeling weak from not enough air, Heisuke ended up on falling down on the floor, try to get some oxygen as he coughed and hacked at the same time.

"Heisuke-kun, are you alright?" Chizuru said worriedly as she kneeled down next to the younger boy's body who's still trying to catch some air.

"Y-Yeah… somehow." As Souji's eyes went on elsewhere, Heisuke felt an urged to glare on the older senior in frustrated. "What the hell is wrong with you, Souji?!" Heisuke unexpectedly exclaimed. "You could've almost killed me you know that? What? Did you have to release your anger on me just because that Kazama bastard took Hajime away?"

Souji's ears then twitched slightly like a cat upon on hearing a name of the President bastard and the indigo's name at the same sentence.

"I'm sorry. I couldn't hear very well. Could you please repeat again, Heisuke-kun?"

With that dark tone, Heisuke felt an urged to get away from Souji's appearance somehow. But it didn't last longer then, Souji's rare dark face disappeared when a familiar exploded man yelled at him.

Instead of showing a disappointed expression, Souji's face brighten in a little happiness upon of hearing the usual yell, maybe..?

"Souji..!" Hijikata raised his voice, while chasing after his prankster student. "We're not finish yet!"

"Yare, yare… he sure quite energetic in early morning like this." Souji sighed.

Grabbing Chizuru's and Heisuke's hands together, Souji along with the two students turn on their heels while getting chased by an explosive Hijikata Toshizou. The brunette couldn't helped but finds herself feeling a little déjà vu at this moment. Something's familiar is gonna happened between them. Once they're about to reach at the school gate, someone would stop them entering unless—

Before their feet have finally stepped into the Hakuou Academy, the gate instantly closed with a split second.

The person who closed the gate would be none other than—

"You're late." Saitou spoke with his usual monotone voice of his.

"Eeeeehhhh?!"

Heisuke and Chizuru exclaimed at the same time in disbelief.

Her prediction was true.

A certain member of Discipline Committee would definitely stop them.

But…

"Wh-what do you mean by late…?" Chizuru murmured confusedly.

"Yeah." Heisuke agreed from his childhood friend. "I know that we should go to school as early as possible. But coming late on 5:45?! Are you freakin crazy, Hajime?!"

"Oi, Saitou." Hijikata said as he finally arrived at the gate as well, forgetting his reasons why he had to chase Souji. "What's with all this? Having students a little late just because they're arrived on 5:45? Don't you think you're a bit—"

Before the raven-haired man complete his sentences then, Saitou cut his words off, "Hijikata-sensei, with all due respect, sir. What I'm doing now is following rules."

"Hah?!" Hijikata exclaimed. "What kind of damn rule is that?! Who the hell—"

"Rule 333, page 521, and line 4; every students and teachers should not be late in 5:15 from now on. Have you check the new rules yet, Hijikata-sensei?"

"N-New rules..?!" Hijikata gapped like a fish. "What kind of new shitty rules is fuckin that?! I've never heard a new rules before…!"

"Several new rules had already made by Kazama-kaichou. Oh, and Hijikata-sensei." Saitou took out his book to write the raven-haired man's full name. "Another new rule; Rule 333, page 521, and line 8; do not use a swear language."

"K-K-Kazama….?!" Oh that is it! He is so going to cut his guts now! That damn President..! Why the hell did he makes those kind of rules anyway?! "Move, Saitou! I need to see that bastard Kazama!"

"Unfortunately, I cannot do that." Saitou said without hesitatedly.

"And why not?!"

"See?" Souji murmured under his breathed as he along with Heisuke and Chizuru watching them as if they were watching some kind of theatre play. "I knew that Hajime-kun is protecting that damn President."

"I can't let you go unless you've already received the punishment by now."

"Saitou—"

"Or, if you refused to accept the punishment, I report this not just Kazama-kaichou. As well as Kondou-sensei and Serizawa-sensei. Is that what you want?"

Hearing the name of Serizawa gives Hijikata shivered in disgusted. To think, of all someone wanting to report to Serizawa would Saitou— That damn President bastard…! Has he already casted a dark spell on Saitou's naivety already …?!

After several moments, couldn't take it anymore of it, Hijikata finally give up, digging his long and tender fingers on his scalp in frustrated.

"Geez… alright, alright! I accept the punishment already." The raven-haired man took a glanced on the three students, then back to Saitou's. "Also, you should let those three students go as they're innocent actually."

"And how can you give a proof?"

"It was my fault that I let them going to school a little late." At that part, Chizuru couldn't helped, but to wide her eyes opened at that. What..? Why would Hijikata do that..? "If I hadn't met Souji and the others a moment ago, they must've already be in school by now."

Saitou took a glanced Chizuru and the others for quite some times, then to Hijikata. There was a nervous expression behind on his-so-cold-onyx orbs. It took a moment then the indigo had finally replied.

"…Alright. I believe you in this, Hijikata-sensei."

The raven-haired man nodded, secretly sighed out as he could at least protect the students from the President's trap. His onyx orbs eyed on the students.

"Oi, you three." Hijikata called them. "Hurry and go to class already."

"A-Ah..! Y-Yes, Hijikata-sensei!" Heisuke chirped. "Let's go, Chizuru."

"Y-Yes!" The brunette girl replied, letting her childhood friend takes her hand as they both entered the Hakuou Academy to reach to their classroom.

Souji, on the other hand, took a glanced on Saitou, while the indigo ignored of his-so-called-best-friend's stare as his eyes were focused on the raven-haired man's figure. Souji couldn't helped but felt an urged to sigh out loud. To think, Saitou wouldn't talk to him or look at him or acknowledge the emerald-green orbs man's presence since morning.

"Whaaaah… Hijikata-sensei, you're a lifesaver" Heisuke said like a sing-along tone as two students walked into the hallway to get to their classroom. Souji was no longer with them anymore.

"I have to say, Hijikata-sensei can be a very caring teacher, huh?" Chizuru commented, finding her cheeks flushed in red just thinking how amazing he was protecting the students like a shining knight in armor tried to slay a dragon to save a princess who's stuck in the castle.

"Well, duh. Hijikata-sensei has always been a kind teacher actually."

"Really?" Chizuru blinked in disbelief.

Heisuke nodded.

"He may look cold and stern teacher, but deep down, he's actually a very kind sensei. Back then, I remember how Hijikata taking care of Souji who's got himself sick for a few days ago. Since Hijikata-sensei lives alone in the apartment, he took Souji to his room so that he could takes care of him easily."

"Wow… I never expected that kind of side from Hijikata-sensei before…"

Just what the idiom says, don't judge a book by its cover. Hijikata may looked a cold-hearted teacher, the more she observed him, the more she gets to know of Hijikata's true nature.

Her thought about Hijikata soon disappeared as it changed into a man named Serizawa.

Serizawa..

What kind of person Serizawa is he..?

From what she sees how Hijikata reacting when he heard of that man's name, it look like he truly hates this Serizawa. His hatred for that man is deeper than Kazama's one.

"Umm… Heisuke-kun?"

"Yeah?"

"Just what kind of Serizawa-sensei, anyway?"

"What? You never heard of it?!" Heisuke said in a slightly of disbelief.

"W-Well, of course, I'm new in here. But I've always heard that man's name from Ibuki quite a lot so.."

When the brunette took a glanced on her childhood friend, his expression looked grim as if he was forced himself to eat something that he despised so much.

"Umm Hei—"

"Ummm!" Heisuke began. "How about we talk about this when recess coming? We can let everyone tells you everything about Serizawa-sensei and all."

"Oh, umm. Ok."

"Great!" Heisuke chirped. "Well, my classroom is that way, so you better go to yours or else Hajime-kun would definitely giving you a punishment.

"I.. I will." Chizuru gave an awkward laughed.

Nodding in happily then, Heisuke turned on his heels then waving his arm wider to Chizuru until he was no longer.

Intending to return back to her classroom, the breeze started to turn colder. Chizuru puffed her both palm of cold hands to make sure her hands keep her warm. Maybe she should have brought mitten as well..

Taking a glanced on the blue-sky, Chizuru wondered if everyone's behavior had changed because of her…

When lunch coming. At the laboratory room.

"So I've heard that you've become that Kazama bastard's slave right now."

Saitou took a glanced on Nagumo, who started an unexpected conversation. They usually didn't talk a lot of subject, even if they're, it would be relating of being an over-protective Nii-san to Chizuru.

The laboratory room was very quiet between them. There isn't a lot of members Discipline Committee for today as they're prefer eating lunch in the cafeteria or garden. Saitou usually eats at the garden as well, but he decided to skip eating lunch as he would rather not wanting to see Souji and the others.

Sooner or later, Saitou's eyes gazed back to his book.

"I'm doing what he asks for."

"What do you mean by 'he asks for'?" Nagumo narrowed his eyes at that. "You do realized we, the Discipline Committee had never have a good term on the Student Council. Even Hijikata-sensei had a very bad term with that self-important president."

"Having a good term or no, I'd just follow what the rules said."

Nagumo sighed, felt an urged to give a face-slapped on his face.

"It's hard to believe you can be such a naïve one, Saitou."

Saitou remained silent then as he remembered what happened when he was suppose to give the President a punishment.

"So what kind of punishment should I receive, Saitou-kun?" Kazama said with a purr, putting his fist on his chin, while his crimson eyes hadn't laid on elsewhere except the younger senior's ocean-blue orbs.

"Stop calling me that. You're disgusted me." Saitou said coldly.

"Oh? But if I'm not wrong, wasn't I suppose to come here for a punishment?" Kazama smug turned wider than ever.

"That's right. However, I never ask you to seduce me."

"What? I'm just calling your name only. ..Don't tell me I should call you Hajime instead. Don't you think that would make our relationship had grown deeper?" Kazama chuckled at that part.

Before Saitou tried to deny himself, Kazama's was right. If he wouldn't let him call 'Saitou', what would it be then…? Hajime would definitely not in the list as that would make everyone completely shocked how the President could able calls his first name in freely.

"…I won't punish you unless you'll tell me the truth."

"The truth?" Kazama tilted his head slightly in confused.

"What made you seduce me all of a sudden? Shouldn't you suppose to be around with Yukimura-kun?"

He wanted so much to ask him what did the President do to make the Yukimura girl's behavior change all of a sudden. Does this man is the fault that brings the brunette changed?

"My wife is acting strange." Kazama answered simply. His usual smug suddenly disappeared and became quite serious like the-so-called-Oni-President.

Saitou blinked at that.

"You didn't know?"

"Know of what?"

"You didn't know..? Yukimura-kun's behavior had change because of you?"

"Me?" Kazama said in perplexed.

Saitou gazed on the President longer than usually. Sooner or later then, he gave a soft sigh.

Ahh… just as he thought.

Kazama is guilty.

"As I thought. You're not the reason that the Yukimura-kun changed completely." Saitou mumbled.

"What do you mean?"

Saitou had no reason to keep this to the President, in which, he answered the blonde-haired man's question.

"I believed, everyone took a blame on you for Yukimura-kun's behavior."

"Are they?" Kazama smirked in amusingly. Well, what can he say? They were all jealous just because the President had caught the brunette's heart before them.

"And what about you?" Kazama began, in which, brings Saitou's eyes laid into the crimson ones. "Do you blame me as well for my wife's strange behavior?"

There was a long quiet moment between them and it took a moment then Saitou has finally answer.

"I don't see a point to blame you." Saitou started. "Rules 221, page 325, and line 4; never blame on someone unless there's a proof."

"Is that so? I was expecting you'll side on your friends."

"As a member of Discipline Committee, rules are important to me. It could maintain the school whether I have to betray my friends or not. …Even Souji.

"You're pretty quite strict on rules huh? ..Even stricter than Hijikata." Kazama chuckled deeply. "How about this?" The President began as he waited the indigo-haired man gazed on him. "How about I make more rules. To make sure the school is in so-called-balance"

Saitou blinked at that, but follow of whatever the President planned for.

Whether he betrayed his own friends especially Souji just for the sake of the rules, as long as Hakuou Academy is maintain to be a perfect school, Saitou willing do everything to follow whatever kinds of rule, included made by the President.

"You're not going to eat with my sister and the others?" Kaoru's words bring Saitou back to reality. "I've heard from the other classmates that Okita won't eat with them today."

"…No. There are many things I have to do than eating lunch with them." Saitou said, started doing his job as a member of the Disicipline Committee.

And so, Nagumo nodded in agreement as well, returned back to work together with him.

"Chizuru! Over here!" Heisuke called his childhood friend as he waved his arm wider so that the brunette could found him.

The young brunette waved to her childhood friend back and went toward to the others to sit next to Heisuke. The only take a recess on the rooftop is only Heisuke and Yamazaki. Souji and Saitou was nowhere to be found.

"Good day, Yukimura-kun. It look like you're fine now."

"Good day to you to Yamazaki-senpai. Yes, I'm fine. Thank you for your concern."

"It was my pleasure." Yazamaki smiled innocently. "If you ever feel sick or unwell, do visit in the infirmary if you would like. …That is, when Sannan-sensei isn't around in the infirmary."

"R-Right…" Chizuru couldn't helped but to give an awkward laughed at that as she remembered just how much creepy the school nurse is.

"So how's the class?" Heisuke said as they started their usual conversation, Chizuru finally decided to talk about Serizawa.

"I think it's fine…" Chizuru replied. "Ryuunosuke-kun had been fainting for quite a lot for today. According from Harada-sensei, he's been lacking from eating a lot now… I'm actually worried him…"

Heisuke and Yamazaki gave a pathetic sighed about Ibuki, in which, giving Chizuru looked at them in dumbfounded, as if she missed something about Ibuki.

"Well… Ibuki was adopted by the founder of Hakuou Academy, Serizawa Kamo. Despite being a rich family, Serizawa is too selfish to give money for Ibuki…" Yamazaki finally replied.

"The founder of Hakuou Academy? I thought Kondou-sensei is the founder of Hakuou Academy" Chizuru blinked.

"Well… it's more like the two of them make the Hakuou Academy together." Heisuke murmured softly. "Serizawa-sensei had retired since it's been decided to make this school for boys only before you enroll the school. Despite he had retired though, Serizawa-sensei still comes here rarely to make sure the school was perfect as ever."

"Perfect?"

Heisuke nodded then.

"Serizawa-sensei is… you could say he's a bit strict when it comes on Hakuou Academy. He likes to make sure the students follow the rules whether they like it or not… And it was Kazama's job to make sure the school was perfect." Heisuke spoke, eyes looked elsewhere beside his childhood friend then.

"That's horrible.."

"In truth, Yukimura, despite it has been decided that this school should be both for boys and girls from now on, Kondou-sensei still hasn't told Serizawa-sensei about you nor making the school to turn out to be for both gender yet."

Chizuru jumped at that, her face turned into horror then.

"It's difficult to say whether Serizawa-sensei is going to like it or not.. but I sure hope he understands Kondou-sensei's thought, however.."

At that, Chizuru nodded in understanding then, eyes looked down on her bento as the atmosphere looked very gloom upon of hearing a founder Hakuou Academy for the very first time.

"Ne, Hijikata-sensei~" Souji whined and pouted in Hijikata's office room.

"What is it that you want Souji?" Hijikata groaned in frustrated upon of meeting his student in recess. Of all the time he intended to make him explode, why now…?!

"I'm bored~"

"Go elsewhere." The raven-haired man said coldly.

"Uwaah~ you're so cruel, Hijikata-san. You've already broke my heart now."

"So what if if I had broke your heart? Get out from here and eat somewhere else."

"I can't do that."

"And why. The. Fuck. Not?" Hijikata said every word in angrily, couldn't stand on this prankster boy already.

Souji replied with a laughed.

"Well, obviously Hajime-kun and I officially broke up now. So I have no one to date with except you, Hijikata-san."

"Hah? What nonsense are you talking about? Since when you two are dating?!" Hijikata questioned in disgustedly.

"Isn't it obvious?" Souji stated. "We've always eating together, walking together, killing some times together. It's obviously that we're actually dating."

"And does Saitou approve that?"

"Hmm… who knows~" Souji grinned wider at that in which, brings Hijikata felt an urged to twitch his eye at that.

"Honestly Souji.." Hijikata dug his fingers on his strands of hair. Taking a glanced on the clock. The recess is about to end already. He hadn't seen Souji eating something by now. Even if the raven-haired man went to the cafeteria, he doubted that he had enough time to buy something for the prankster boy…

"Geez… really, Souji." Hijikata sighed out loud.

When Souji sees the raven-haired teacher was searching something inside his briefcase, Hijikata threw a packet of red bun on the table.

Souji gazed on the bun in dumbfoundedly then to Hijikata.

"Um… Hijikata-sensei..? What should I do with that?"

"What do you mean what? Of course to eat that." The grumpy teacher sighed.

"Why?"

More questions?!

Once again, Hijikata gave one of the most frustrating sigh on his lips before speaking out of character.

"I've heard from Kondou-san that you haven't eat a lot since you've been a bad terms with Saitou."

At that, Souji feels an urged to wide his eyes in perplexed. Well, that's new. He knew that Hijikata can be a caring teacher. But at a place like this? Doesn't his reputation of being the grumpy and hot-tempered teacher would destroy by now?

Why would he cared for him at a time like this…?

"So…" Hijikata released a soft sigh this time, and Souji could've sworn there was a sakura-colored flushed on his cheeks already. "..even if you can't eat with Saitou and the others for today… you can always eat here whenever you.. like."

"Hijikata-sensei…"

There's so many things Souji had wanted to tell the raven-haired man.

But most of all…

"..Your cheesy words really disgusted me. It's good thing I haven't take a bite of bun yet. If I had though, I would've spit them all to your face by now."

There was a silent moment in Hijikata's office room, except probably Souji's usual sadistic laughed on the room.

After for a moment then, Hijikata had finally exploded once again.

"Get the fuck out from my office!"

At that, Hijikata has finally kicked Souji's ass out of his room.

As recess has finally over, the two childhood friends decided to walk together all the way to their classroom. Yamazaki couldn't able to join along with them however since he has to visit in the infirmary room to treat a few students' injuries.

There was a very awkward quiet between them. Either of them starting any conversation. It's rare to see the childhood friends feeling a little awkward. …Probably Chizuru's still bothered of what they told her about Serizawa.

The younger boy felt so bad keeping about that man from her all this time.

Couldn't stand of this awkward silent moment anymore, Heisuke finally break the quiet moment between them:

"Does that bother you, Chizuru?"

"What is?"

"About Serizawa-sensei, of course. We forgot to tell you about that guy actually. We don't mean to keep it." Heisuke said, feels a little regretful for not telling his childhood about that guy when they've been study in this school for quite longer now.

"Oh, no… that's alright, Heisuke-kun. You've still managed to tell me about him before I meet him.. in the future then." Chizuru replied with an awkward laughed then.

Heisuke's sad expression soon brightened up into a very wide grin then. He crossed his arms behind his head in happily.

"Well then, should we go home together after school? There are a lot of things I would like to show you. I've heard from Shinpachi-sensei that there's a very interesting arcade game somewhere."

"I.. I guess that's fine."

Heisuke replied with another wide grin once more.

"It's decided! I'll be waiting for you at the gate then."

Chizuru replied with a nod as Heisuke then ran on the hallway as fast as he could, very excite and happy to go out with Chizuru somewhere place interesting.

Continuing on returning back to her classroom, she soon stops walking in mid-way upon of hearing a familiar deep-voice.

"Oh, so this is where you've been all this time."

Hesitatedly turned around, Chizuru finds herself feeling nervous looking at those gorgeous crimson orbs of Kazama's. Of all the places they met, why here..?

"K-Kazama-senpai..?"

"It's been a while, my wife. Have you been bored without me?"

Moving closer to the brunette girl, Chizuru continuedly moving backward until she could felt her back was meeting a wall. Once she was nowhere to run, Kazama entrapped her by pinning the brunette on the wall, there was an amusing smirk on his face.

"I guess this is just between you and me." Moving his face closer to her ear that could brings her shivered down on spine already. He purred seductively, "..Alone."

As she finds her body trembled, the brunette began to close her eyes and bit her lower lip tightly, praying to Kami to save her already. Luckily luck is with her this time.

Not long after that, Amagiri and Shiranui started to grab the President's arms to pull him away from the Yukimura girl as they sent him back to their office, ignored the yelled or protested that the President made a moments ago.

Once the President has finally out of her sight, Chizuru finds herself sighed in relief, feeling herself kneeled down on the floor. To think, even getting closer to the President would make her heart beating in swiftly as if it was about to explode inside her body already.

She was also glad that the so-called-Kazama's-followers came to take him away at the right time.

If they hadn't come, what might had happened between them anyway…?

Shaking her head away to leave those thoughts out from her head, Chizuru continuedly turned on her heels to return back to the classroom.

After Amagiri and Shiranui put the President down on the fancy chair, Kazama starting to frustrate.

"What is the meaning of this, Amagiri, Shiranui?!"

"This is for the best for Yukimura-dono's safety, Kazama-sama." Amagiri replied. "You cannot see her unless you'll figure what's wrong with her."

"Figure out..? What happened to her?"

At that words, Shiranui finally snapped. He narrowed his eyes deeply. "What do you mean by that?!" Shiranui unexpectedly exclaimed. "Don't tell me you hadn't figured out what happened to the princess?! You do realize—"

Before Shiranui could blabbered more, Amagiri stopped him by putting his hand on his friend's shoulder.

"I suggest Kazama-sama finds the answer by his own. Let it be."

Shiranui didn't replied after then except some cursed of groan and leaves the Student Council office.

"Kazama-sama," Amagiri began. " Whatever happened, I will protect Yukimura-dono from you. Don't expect me I let you see her unless she gives a permission."

"Amagiri," Kazama muttered in threateningly. "Just who do you think you're talking to?"

"Kazama Chikage, one of the richest family in Kyoto, also known to be a tea ceremony schools. However, just because you have a higher title than I am nor Yukimura-dono, I'm still cannot let you see her no matter what the circumstance it is."

"Ho… you've a good word to say for a commoner."

At that, Amagiri didn't spoke anything. He didn't finds himself feeling offended when the President called him 'commoner' rather than lower title of rich family and all.

"Then tell me how should I find approach my wife if you kept being an over-protective mode."

There was a paused between them as if the red-headed was in a deep thought for a moment. A few seconds or so, he finally replied:

"Before weekend coming, I will let you see her after school. Do not waste that day by forcing Yukimura-dono to ask a date or something that against her will."

With that, the red-headed bowed in respectfully before taking a leave in the office.

Kazama finds himself sighed in frustrated as silent moment appeared in his room.

Ah really… just what did he do to make his wife avoiding him latelty?

If he remembered correctly, he hadn't threatened her anything that would make her frightened of him… right?

Argh.. this is so frustrating.

When school finally over, Chizuru left the classroom quite early this time. Harada noticed the brunette girl could able to smile once again, in which he was glad to see his student looks fine and happy once again. He finds himself feeling calm down and no longer worried of whatever the President scheming on something.

Once Chizuru has arrived at the school gate, she began to wait her childhood friend searching for her. While standing next to the gate, Chizuru often being Chizuru, in which, being a very polite girl as she is, the brunette bowed each student whenever they say goodbye to her. There are a few student boys often greeted her in timid way, and there are a few of them greeted her in a normal way like Ibuki.

"Chizuru!"

A familiar, cheerful younger boy called her as he walked toward to the gate.

"I've-I've heard you've almost got a sexual harassment from Kazama! Is that true?!"

"Uh… well," Chizuru murmured quietly. Sexual harassment is a bit too much to call it but.. where's those weird rumors coming from? It couldn't be from Souji knowing that he often spread some nonsense fake news to everyone especially about Hijikata's being a gay. "N-Not really.. But Amagiri and Shiranui had a time to send him back to his office."

At that, Heisuke gave a very relief sigh on his lips. "That's good.." he murmured softly, his face was filled with guilty like a poor puppy who needs to have a shelter. "I-I'm sorry for leaving you like that, Chizuru. I promise that I won't leave you anymore, alright?"

"No, no. It's alright, Heisuke-kun." Chizuru said with an awkward laughed.

With that, there was a wide grin on his face, as he grabbed her hand to hold her like he usually do.

"So then, let's go to the arcade!"

"Mmm!"

Starting to leave the school together while continued on holding hands, a few students of Hakuou Academy wondered do they by any chance dating…?

Even though there's a higher chance that Chizuru has a secret thing for the President, but it look like the relationship between Heisuke and the brunette seemed quite to be an officially couple by now.

"So you're not going to go home yet, huh?"

Saitou stared on the President in blankly who opened the window outside of the Music room. Although today is not a day to practice a music instrument, but whenever Saitou wants to be alone, he often played violin in the Music room alone. He enjoyed the quiet atmosphere in the Music room. It just felt like he was living such a different world.

"I would like to make sure not to let my violin skills hadn't rusted yet." The indigo replied putting his violin in his violin case the moment the intruder's coming.

"Your technique won't be rusting." Kazama jumped into the window of the Music room and grabbing Saitou's violin with one hand in which, brings the other man being cautious toward the President. "It must've taken some years to capable of playing violin huh?"

"If you concentrate yourself on the violin, you will be able to play it without any trouble." Saitou said, took his violin away from the President's hand in which, he replied with a deep chuckled.

After Saitou had zip his violin case, he could felt someone hold his hand in tenderly. The next thing Saitou knew, the gorgeous, pale hand was belonging to the President's.

The Oni President took a gazed on Saitou's palm hand as if he was examining something. For a moment then, Kazama caressed his long finger on Saitou's palm of hand, noticing just how callous Saitou's skin was. He was expecting the indigo's hand was suppose to be soft and fragile.

"Your hand quite rough I have to say." Kazama murmured, as he continuedly caressing Saitou's hand in tenderly and gently one. "You must have playing the violin everyday."

"Three times a week." Saitou replied simply.

"Ho…?"

"While there are times I'm training with Heisuke and the other in the dojo."

"And by meaning 'other' you must've meant by Okita Souji, huh?"

With that, Saitou remained silent, didn't spoke anything. Pulling his hand away from the President's hold, Saitou decided to take a leave from the Music room.

Upon of arriving at the sliding door, Saitou stopped in mid-walking, turning his head to the President as if there's something he's been wonder for now.

"Kazama, do you… like music?"

The President couldn't helped but to gap like a fish at that. He wasn't expected to hear those words from the stoic's lips. He is one curious guy he has to say.

Giving his usual wide smirk, Kazama replied with confidently.

"Yes."

"What kind of musical instrument do you prefer to play?"

"A piano." Kazama answered simply.

Upon of hearing this, Saitou's eyes wandered to his palm of hand where the President caressed on him elegantly one. He has to admit it, Kazama does has a very beautiful long fingers. He wondered if his fingers born that way because of playing the piano.

Before taking a leave, unlikely, Saitou bids him farewell and started to leave the Music room.

Ever since having a bad term with Souji, Saitou somehow… starting to get along with the President unexpectedly. It's strange how they're both joined a rivalry club-ish, and yet, there are times those two men have a same common such as musics and strict rules.

At the arcade.

"Yes! I've got it!" Heisuke chirped happily.

"You did it, Heisuke-kun." Chizuru said as she clapped her hands for her childhood friend.

Upon of entering the arcade, the younger boy found a very interesting plushie on the gift list, decided to win the shooter game for his childhood friend, Heisuke received a perfect gift for the younger brunette.

"Here you go." The shopkeeper said, giving a very big yet fluffly dog plushie to the younger boy.

Heisuke replied with a grin.

"Thanks!"

Once the couple left from the shooter game, Heisuke moved closer the plushie that he recently received to his childhood friend, in which, giving Chizuru tilted her head in confused.

"Here. You can have it."

"Eh…?"

Chizuru blinked in dumbfoundedly.

"A-are you sure? I mean, you did win in the shooter game so you should've keep it, Heisuke-kun."

"No, no, it's fine at all." Heisuke said. "After all, having a companion with you in arcade is enough for me. So the least I can do is giving you this. You've always wanted a big and fluffly dog plushie right?"

"Th-that was before you move to a new house…" Chizuru mumbled in embarrassing upon of remembering those memories. When the brunette noticed her childhood friend was about to show his sadness and heartbroke expression on his face, the brunette quickly took the plushie. "A-Alright, alright. In fact, I'd still want to find something to cuddle at night.." She lied at the last part.

When Chizuru has finally took the plushie on his hold, Heisuke began to grin once more, feeling himself happy to give something for his childhood friend.

"Now then, let's go to other games."

Chizuru nodded in reply, as she ended herself embracing the plushie so tightly in happily one while following her childhood friend to wherever he goes.

When night's coming, it's almost about time for the couple return back to home.

"Whoah.. it's already dark." Heisuke said in amazing. "Well, I guess staying in the arcade was really bad idea, huh?" Heisuke gave an awkward laughed, bringing Chizuru joined to giggle as well. "Since it's my fault for staying there very late, I'll escort you to your home."

"Thank you, Heisuke-kun."

The younger boy nodded then, started to walk together very quietly all the way to her house. There was a quiet atmosphere between them then. They never walked together while remaining silent before. Usually, Heisuke would often started a conversation and blabbered something stupid. But this time, the younger boy has starting to be a little obedient now.

She wondered what made him acted this way..

Could it be because of her strange behavior…?

The thought of it brings her felt really guilty.

She has to break this silent.

But what…?

It took a moment then, Heisuke's finally started a conversation.

"So," the younger boy began. "It's almost Christmas huh?"

Chizuru nodded. "It looks like it."

"Are you feeling excited about this?"

"Well.. I haven't got any message for my father. So I'm worried that I can't celebrate your Christmas party with him…"

"Oh, right…"

Dang, he completely forgot!

Her adoptive father is still in the overseas. Not even a single message Kodou has ever talked when would he return back to Japan. He could understand how much important his job is, but the least he can do is he should at least visit and see his daughter every once in a while…

"B-But you know what, we should forget to make a Christmas party in my house."

"What? Why?" Chizuru exclaimed in shock.

"Wouldn't it be better if we celebrate a Christmas party in school?"

"Eh? Is there such a thing…?"

Heisuke nodded.

"Yeah. Once a Christmas day, the Hakuou Academy would always celebrate a Christmas party at there. Beside the banquet is the best, Kondou-sensei is also becoming a Santa when the party starts!"

"K-Kondou-sensei becomes a Santa?!" Chizuru gapped like a fish. She never expected to see the Principal becoming a Santa before. He must've look good in the Christmas costume then..

"Yup. This is one of Souji's favourite event as he adored Kondou-sensei becoming a Santa. He was like a kid, who would accept any kinds of present as long as he get to see Kondou-sensei as a Santa."

"W.. wow…"

She could understand that Okita took a highly admired for Kondou. But even in Christmas party..? Well, there are times the older senior does has a cute and adorable side. Something like Hijikata's.

A few days later, it was the usual same school day of Chizuru's life.

Until…

When recess coming as usual, the brunette noticed that there's a group of male students in front of the school gate.

What's going on..?

"Umm, Ryuunosuke-kun, what's going on?" Chizuru asked her trustworthy classmate as he is one of a friend that they're very closed.

"Oh, that. Well, I think he finally returned from overseas."

"He?"

Chizuru blinked.

When the brunette tried to peek on whatever going on of the ruckus, she finally met a very strange male figure with such a… strange sense of fashion. Each footstep he made was like a catwalk on the paparazzi stage.

"Well hello there, everyone. It's been a while."

"Itou, what brings you here? I never expected you've come"

A familiar male voiced with the usual cold and stern tone spoke.

"Ah, Hijikata-san. It's been a while. You're very rude as usual. Well, it's nothing to be particular most of it." The man named Itou said with a creepy grin. "I've recently quit my job a week ago just to work in here once again. After all, this is where I lived."

Hijikata narrowed at that.

"You do realized no one understand your sense of fashion."

"That's true." Itou murmured. "Which is why I worked in France for the past of several months just to learn more of fashion sense right there. After all, this school really does needs of work with beauty."

Hijikata began to groan something that Itou couldn't understand very well in which, the raven-haired man has finally given up.

"Do it what you like. You better try not to ashamed the Hakuou Academy." Hijikata said with a growl at the last part.

Itou replied with a grin behind his fan.

"Don't worry. I'm sure you won't be regretful for this."

As Itou walked in a catwalk, his eyes laid into an unfamiliar female student.

"Ah.. and who's this?"

Chizuru bowed in a polite one.

"Um.. My name's Yukimura Chizuru. I'm a new student and the only girl in here as well"

"What…?!" Itou exclaimed. His face moved swiftly to the raven-haired man. "H-Hijikata-san! What's the meaning of this? Isn't this school is suppose to be an all-boys only. How come there's a girl here?!"

"Calm the fuckin down, Itou. A lot of things happened while you were in overseas."

"That is the cheapest excuse I ever heard!" Itou raised his voice. "Let me ask you once more—"

As the bicker between Itou and Hijikata began, Ibuki began.

"I think it's about time for us to leave this to Hijikata-sensei. After all, the recess is about to end a moment later."

"Y-You're right…" Chizuru murmured. "But.. who is he anyway?"

"Hm? Well, I don't know quite well about him. But he seems to be some kind of the Head of Fashion/Handicraft club before you've enroll here. After finding out his sense of fashion was terrible, Itou-sensei decided to quit a job here, decided to go overseas to learn more of fashion stuff over there."

"Ah.. so that's how it is."

Even so, in her opinion, his sense of fashion is still terrible as ever…

"Argh…! I can't take it anymore!"

Heisuke released a frustrated sigh on his lips as the two students(Chizuru and Yamazaki) ate their bento box.

"Is something wrong, Heisuke-kun?"

"Of course it is!" The younger boy moaned. "It's about Hajime-kun and Souji!"

"They still hadn't getting along well, huh?" Yamazaki murmured.

Heisuke nodded.

He can't stand it anymore! Just seeing the two men avoiding each other brings the world turned upside-down now! Isn't there a way to see them getting along like it used to be?

"If that's the case," Yamazaki began. "How about we let them staying in a locking room until they finally forgiving each other?"

At that, Chizuru and Heisuke started to gaze him as if he has five arms.

"That's a brilliant idea!" Heisuke chirped.

"W-wait.. that was a half-joking…"

"While the others are half-not, right?" Heisuke grinned.

"The problem is, Kazama's still clinging onto Saitou, while Souji clinging onto Hijikata-sensei." Yamazaki mumbled.

The younger boy's grin then disappeared and showed a very disappointing expression on his face.

"I'm sure there's a way to get them together."

Both male students started to sigh in disappointing one.

Chizuru couldn't helped but only watching her two friends find a way to see Souji and Saitou together, the inseparable partner.

To get Saitou and Okita together back, huh…?

School's finally over.

The droplets of rain started to fall on the Hakuou Academy.

"I didn't know rain's coming." Chizuru mumbled softly as she watched the rain continuedly fall.

Despite winter's about to come, and yet, instead of snow's coming, the rain eventually comes. The breeze around the Hakuou Academy has gotten colder as well, in which, brings the Yukimura girl felt an urged to rub her palm of hands so that she could warm her hands.

Upon of intending to wait the rain stop, an unexpected umbrella appeared above her head out of nowhere.

Meeting whoever held the umbrella, Chizuru couldn't helped but to wide her opened to see him.

"K-Kazama-senpai…"

The President didn't spoke anything, neither there's his usual playful smirk on his face. It was as if, something bothered him greatly and yet, he couldn't figured out what.

"Let's go."

"Eh.. a-ah… Th-that's alright." Chizuru protested. "I can't wait here a little longer. Just leave without me."

There was a very quiet moment between them. Kazama's crimson orbs hadn't wandered on elsewhere except the brunette's almond brown-orbs. As if he was desperately tried to search of whatever she's hiding from him.

"According from the weather forecast, it won't stop until tomorrow morning. Don't tell me you want to wait here until tomorrow..?"

"Ah…"

At that, Chizuru finds herself lost in words.

Even if the weather forecast is true, she didn't want to walk back home with Kazama of all the people.

Even so…

"Stop being hesitated and let's go."

"A-ah.. wait!"

Kazama ignored her protested as she eventually gives up and walked next to the President, but…

While walking all the way to her house, not just there was a very awkward silent between them. Chizuru's also tried to distant herself away from him until she could felt a droplet of rain started to fall on her hair.

"Oi, come closer here. You'll get yourself wet at this rate."

"B-But I.." she started to mumble quietly.

"You should at least stop being stubborn or else you'll catch a cold then."

At that, Chizuru replied in groan as she finally moved closer with him in a bit hesitantly.

It wasn't last long after then that they're finally arrived in front of the gate to her house.

"Well, I guess we should stop here for now." Chizuru said awkwardly while looking on elsewhere beside that gorgeous ruby orbs of Kazama's. "You should go on, Kazama-senpai. I can use my bag to cover from the rain."

…Wait, why hadn't she thought of herself going back home with her bag when she was in school?!

There was a very long quiet moment between them. The President narrowed his eyes deeply while continuedly gazing on her eyes as if this is the only way to find an answer of whatever reason that the brunette avoiding him.

"..Tell me why are you avoiding me?"

"Eh?" Chizuru blinked.

"Lately, you've starting to avoid me more and more. What happened?"

"I-I—"

"I've heard from Amagiri that you're avoiding because of me. What did I do to make you feel uncomfortable?"

"N-Nothing's to worry about.."

"Oh..?" At that, Kazama glared at her threateningly. The brunette couldn't helped but find her heart stopped beating as if those glare had pierced deep into her chest like a sharp knife. "Then why are you no longer comes in my office? Why you've been spending with your other friends than me? Did somebody threatening to you not to come my office anymore? Who is it? I will not hesitated giving them a punishment."

"It-It's not like that…"

"If it's 'not', don't you think it's about time for you to at least come to my office? Relying on me more than them? Spending times with me more than them? What made you acting this way—"

"I have my own reason to avoiding you!"

At those words, Chizuru finds herself moved her hands on her lips. But she couldn't take back those words. No… if she told him everything, would he finally lets her go then..?

"I can't… I can't spend together with you anymore, Kazama-senpai. I just can't.." She lowered her head down to the ground. "It's.. it's too much for me… Every time I'm spending times with you, I've always admired everything's about you. The way how generous of you.. the way how kind you can be toward me. But I—I know that I can't fall in love with you. You.." The next thing she knew, warm tears starting to form on her eyes. "You have Sen. I can't do that to her..!"

At that, Kazama couldn't helped but to wide opened at that part. Was.. was that it? She's been worried of her feeling just because she thought he had a feeling for Sen…?! Damn, he should've known it by earlier. How he hadn't noticed that..?

"Wait.. you—you actually thought I have a feeling for Sen…?!" Kazama asked in perplexed.

The brunette answered then continuedly with a soft sniff despite there was a smile on her face.

"It-It's stupid right? For having a feeling to someone else even though that person already loves another person." She started to blabber stupidly like Heisuke.

"Hold on, Sen and I do known each other. But that doesn't mean that we're both…"

"Please stop.." Chizuru stopped him in mid-sentence. "Please don't feel pity for my one-sided feeling. I know that you like me because of my family's name. But please, you have to love someone who's been childhood since then."

"Like I told you, I don't like Sen. We're just only—"

"I'm okay this way. After all, I've lost my parent since I was very young. Losing a love isn't that hurt. In fact, I can always find another—"

And that was the last straw, Kazama's glare starting to turn cold like an iceberg, and gritted his teeth tighter than ever. Couldn't take it anymore, he has to stop this blabber once and for all.

"Shut up!"

With that, Kazama grabbed the brunette's both small cheeks with his large hands while smashing his lips onto hers.

Once she finally realized what the President doing, she tried so much to struggle but to no avail. The President's hold was stronger than she thought.

She wondered, what might happened if she hadn't revealed the truth about whatever reason she felt for the President?

Will she ever get tasted Kazama's soft lips..?

…No. She didn't think she eventually would.

One night, he's starting to dream.

Saitou Hajime walked to the hallway as silent as he is. Arriving at the destination, the indigo stood there in front of the vice-commander's room like a statue before readying himself to see the Vice-Commander.

Exhaled quietly, Saitou began to speak from outside and the indigo has to make sure that his voice could reach to the Vice-Commander’s room despite he has a quiet and stoic attitude.

"Fukuchou, it's me, Saitou Hajime."

It took several seconds then the left-handed man waiting patiently to hear the Vice-Commander's answer as if he was like a loyal dog who's waiting his master to have a permission to sit on his lap.

"Ah. You can come in, Saitou."

Hijikata finally replied inside his room, his tone was cold like an iceberg that could not melt very easily, however to Saitou's view, his voice was calm and gentle like a soft breeze at the peaceful hill. Oh how Saitou had desired of so much to hear his voiced next to his ear, whispering him of how much he loves him, wanting to kiss him and do stuff like—

..wait, where's that thoughts coming from?!

Shaking his head to leave those thoughts out from his head, Saitou begin to open the shoji door and closed it back once he had entered the raven-haired Vice-Commander's room. The first thing he saw is the strong, broad-back of Hijikata's. It look likes there are more of paperwork he has to finish, as usual. The indigo wondered when would Hijikata takes a break then..?

After he satisfied taking a secretly gazed on the Vice-Commander's back, Saitou took a very polite sit on the purple cushion that Hijikata has been prepared of despite he hasn't looked at the indigo in the eyes yet.

He is one a workaholic Oni no Fukuchou as expected.

..Well, talk about himself..

Even Saitou can be a workaholic especially if it’s an order by Hijikata.

Taking a glanced around the room, the indigo-haired man had noticed that Hijikata hasn't finished eating the sakura mochis that the indigo had prepared before he taking a day off.

He probably should lecture for not taking care of his health.. then again, would that helps him knowing that he has no place to lecture him since he's just a mere Captain of the 3rd Division.. 

For several moments neither of them starts a conversation nor trying to break of this quiet moment.

Of course, as silent as Saitou is, he has always enjoyed this quiet peacefulness. He'd never sense of awkwardness whoever he's being with. He especially enjoyed spending this atmosphere with Hijikata. Despite the raven-haired ronin can be hot-tempered, yet he does enjoy this quiet peacefulness as well.

Compared stucking with the Baka Trio for a whole day..

Just thinking about it, Hijikata would have prepared to dig his grave by now.. 

And now back to Hijikata’s perspective about the quiet atmosphere.. well, the raven-haired man was too focus on his paperwork that he even almost forget of Saitou's presence no matter how much important that indigo-haired man for him.

Knowing that this would take forever, Saitou has finally decided to break this silent moment. It's very unlike him, of course. 

Saitou began to speak first, but knowing that Hijikata was still busy.. he shouldn't stays here longer as he doesn't want to bother the Vice-Commander. "Fukuchou, I've heard from Kondou-san that you've come to see me. Is there anything I can help you with?"

After Saitou had spoken, Hijikata put down his brush on the table and faced to his captain.

Despite being a workaholic.

Ahh... Fukuchou.. Saitou still finds this man so fascinating one. Those beautiful, soft, raven strands of hair of Hijikata's. Eyes were cold like an iceberg, but behind of those orbs, there was a warmth feeling like a ray of sunlight. And those strong and muscular arms that Hijikata was born. He wondered if Saitou would've been safe if he had been embraced by those strong arms of Hijikata's.

Oh how he wished he could be with him every night, snuggling behind his broad-back, believing that everything's would be alright. As long as he could sleep next to him, everything would be—

..Ack! Those thoughts again!

Since when had he started to think this way about him..?!!

..Actually it’s been this way since he’d first joined the Roshigumi.

And yes, ladies and gentlemen, Saitou Hajime has a biggest crush on none other than the Vice-Commander.

Thankfully those thoughts didn't last longer as Hijikata's voice returned him back to reality.

"Yeah.. I've got a new mission for you, Saitou."

Saitou nodded in understanding, waiting for the raven-haired man continued to speak so that he could explain what mission should the indigo man should finish of."You've already heard the rumors about the abandon shop, right?"

That's right. Rumors had been spreading around the Kyoto that the abandon house next to the sweet shop has been haunted night after night. But from what the Shinsengumi found out from Yamazaki, it looks like it has become the members of Satsuma-han secret hideout for a meeting.

Either one of a member of Satsuma-han gave a false rumor to keep everyone away from abandon house, or there's a definitely a ghost in the abandon house.

..Of course to Hijikata, there's no such thing as a ghost. ...Unless he's the ghost.

"According from Yamazaki-san, the abandon house has become the Satsuma-han's meeting base although none of their meeting were scheming onto something dangerous, from what I've heard."

Hijikata nodded.

"Yeah, I've heard that too. However, I don't like this feeling." the Vice-Commander muttered under his breathed as he started to mumble in worriedly. "Whatever they're meeting all about, I want you to spy on them and see what's going on."

"So you want me to arrest them once we've found something like that?"

Hijikata nodded. "Ah. This way we're pretty sure we could find Kodou's whereabouts."

"I understand." Saitou said, stood up from his place as he started to leave then. "I'll be leaving at the dusk then."

"Saitou."

The indigo-haired man stopped from mid-walking when the Vice-Commander called his name. His ocean-blue orbs took a glanced into the beautiful onyx one

"Sorry about this." Hijikata said with a regretful tone. "I always dump the nasty work on you."

"Not at all." Saitou faced away then. "Do not dwell upon it."

With that, the indigo-haired closed the shoji door and walked to the hallway to find his men whom they're taking a break from their morning training.

Upon of walking on a long hallway, Saitou met a familiar captain whom leaning against a wall as if he was waiting for someone to tease.

"Yo, Hajime-kun." There was a wide playful smirk on the Captain of the First Division.

"Souji."

Saitou greeted with calling his friend's name only.

"So what does the mother hen wants from you?" Souji asked curiously, following the indigo-haired man as he tried to search his men at the backyard.

"Just another mission."

"Ehhh~ Don't ya think he's been relying on ya too much?"

"Why does it matter?"

There was a quiet moment between them until Souji broke a silent moment with another grin on his face.

"In that case, that would make this place feeling lonely without ya, Hajime-kun." Souji said, crossing his arms behind his head.

"I don't see any different whether my presence here or not."

"Hmm... Ya may be right.."

Whether Saitou's presence is exists in their dinner time or not, but the Baka Trio would almost do their stupid things as usual, while Souji would drive Hijikata crazy. Mostly in dinner, lunch or breakfast time, Saitou eating his food very quietly and disappeared his presence in the dining room as if he was a dandelion who won't stay one place too long.

Upon of continuing walked all the way to the backyard, when there's no one beside two men, Souji entrapped Saitou on the wall with his muscular arms so that the indigo won't go anywhere else. There was a happily grin on Souji's face. Emerald orbs gazed into the ocean-blue ones in a hidden of lust thankfully Saitou didn't noticed how much Souji loves this quiet man so much.

"What are you doing, Souji?" Saitou said, using his usual monotone voice as he had no time to play around with the playful captain, knowing that it's almost dusk already. But at the same time however, Saitou feels himself feeling uncomfortable entrapping by his friend.

"Mmm.... no way." Souji widen his grin then, in which, brings Saitou gazed on him in puzzled.

"What are you—"

"Hajime-kun," the mischievous captain stopped him from mid-sentence, and there was still a cat-like smirk on his face. Souji leaned to Saitou closer so that their nose were dancing together, and whispered very softly to make sure only the indigo-haired man hears his voiced: "I like you."

"What?" Saitou said stupidily, raising his left eyebrow in confused.

"Like I said," Souji whispered once more. "I like ya. I like ya for along time now." The Captain of the First Division was expecting that his friend would stunned upon of a sudden confession.

However...

Saitou replied with a sigh of... was that disgustingly Souji could sense? When their eyes gazed onto each other, Saitou put his palm of hand on Souji's chest, gesturing to move away as if that's his answer.

"I'm sorry Souji, but I do not quite understand of your words very well." Saitou spoke straightforward. "If you excuse me, I have to leave—"

Before Souji let this happening, the not-so-playful-captain-anymore gripped Saitou's wrist tightly, gesturing his friend that he wasn't joking around about it.

When Saitou noticed how unlike Souji is, Souji began to grip his friend's chin and make sure their eyes didn't turned away on elsewhere. It was very unlike to see Souji this way. His eyes were cold, similar as Hijikata's but way colder than the Vice-Commander's one. His playfully grin disappeared on his face as if he has a split personality.

"Well maybe this could make you understand."

The Captain of 1st Division began to lean to Saitou's face very closely. The indigo was still too dumb to know what does Souji intending to do.

When their lips were about inches away by now, Kami was such a cruel toward to the poor Souji.

A familiar gentle male voice brings Saitou back to himself:

"Oh there you are, Saitou."

The indigo-haired man faced to the gorgeous Vice-Commander quickly that he even forget the presence of Souji.

"I almost forgot that I need you for a moment." Hijikata said with a hidden of smile, not wanting to show his gentle side in front of other men. "Souji, I need to borrow Saitou right now. Shouldn't you suppose to train your men already?"

Souji didn't spoke anything, only groaned with filled of anger and maybe jealously as well? It took quite moment then Souji moved backward from the indigo and started to leave without any words.

Once the indigo began to walk next to Hijikata, Saitou took a glanced on the back of Souji who's still looks in a bad mood.

He wondered what he's trying to do..?

I like ya, Hajime-kun

He doesn't get of Souji's words so well..

Shaking his thoughts from his head then, Saitou began to follow the Vice-Commander and do whatever he can to be a very useful person for Hijikata

...and Hijikata only.

.

.

.

When his dream had finally starting to end, Saitou Hajime had finally regained his conscious back. Eyes fluttering opened like a butterfly, the indigo-haired man sat up and tried to take a looked around the room.

This is...

Eyes wandering the room once more, the left-handed ronin realized he wasn't in the abandon house anymore.

What.. happened to him last night..?

Trying to remember whatever happened to him before he fell into a deep unconscious, it wasn't taking longer after then his memory about yesterday have finally regain back.

Ah.. that's right.

He and his men were suppose to spy on the Satsuma-han who's intending a meeting at the abandon house next to the sweet shop. When they had failed to chase the dark figure, possibly one of a member of Satsuma-han, a certain member of Satsuma-han gave a strange medicine that brings him fall into unconscious. And after then.. he's been... r-rape by a group of Satsuma-han. Thankfully, they're not as many as Saitou has thought to be.

They're quite brutal for an enemy of Shinsengumi...

Not to mention it, he couldn't quite remember for how many rounds they've done so far but it almost look likes to be more than 5 times.

"Urrgh..." Saitou muttered under his breathed as he finds his lower body feeling sore. Untie his clothes, Saitou finds himself a little frightened to see his naked body by now. There are many deep scratches and bit all over the places; arms, hands, chest, and legs.

He wondered what does Hijikata thought once he finds out about this...

The thought of him makes him feel an urged to disappear in Kyoto by now.

Trying to caress some bruises he received on his right arm then. The next thing he knew, he could felt there's a wrapped-cloth on his upperarm.

"Eh...?"

Saitou eyed on it in confusion, didn't noticed until now that several of it it has been bandaging perfectly.

"Who did this..?"

Saitou questioned to the lonely wind.

His eyes then taking a glanced around the room once more, he finally realized that the room was filled with a sweet, and fresh scent that could make Saitou easily to breathe compared to the abandon house one. The room was so quiet that he couldn't even hear a sound of the crickets were singing anymore as if he was the only one that living in this world.

Where could he be—

Not long after then, the shoji door opened automatically, and revealed a familiar presence in the room.

"It's about time for you to awake already."

A male voiced spoke in a deep tone one that could brings Saitou shivered down in all over spine.

He couldn't helped but feels an urged to wide his eyes like a saucer, and gaped like a fish.

Of all the person he met, why here...?

The presence at the shoji door was none other than

Kazama Chikage.

A mysterious, yet powerful ronin whom is also a member of Satsuma-han, an enemy of Shinsengumi. It was revealed that he is also an Oni of the West along with Amagiri and the gunslinger, Shiranui(except he’s not a demon from the West). Kazama’s also the strongest demon in the West clan, if he wasn't mistaking hear it from him. It's already been the third times they've encountered him. The first is in Ikeda Inn, second ones at the Mount Ten'nou, and lastly, at the Nishi Hongwanji Temple.

Whatever reason he'd encountered the Shinsengumi for several times by now it was a little mysterious. However, the Demon does once warned them not to become a fake demon. And by meaning of fake demon, of course, he must have meant by the Rasetsu then...

Trying to be very cautious toward his enemy, Saitou used a defensive stance so that he wouldn't let his guard off.

He won't make a mistake this time..

Kazama gazed the indigo-haired man deeper, wondering what made him changed a posture like that."What are you doing? You do realize you've been very rude to someone who had saved you. You should be grateful."

"Eh...?"

Saitou's cold orbs soon melted away into confusion. Now that the Demon had mentioned it his injured from the last night had been aided by now. But still, don’t tell him that the Demon was the who bandaging his injuries…

Feeling guilty for being quite rude, just as the Demon had describe him of, Saitou lowered his head in apologetically, and speaking in a soft tone, to make sure the Demon accept his apologize.

"I-I'm sorry for being rude just now and... thank you.. for saving me and… aiding me as well."

As he waiting for an answer, Saitou could hear a deep chuckled on the Demon's lips. When the indigo-haired man began to raise his head, he could see just how attractive the Demon is with that wide smirk like a Cheshire cat.

Can a demon such as Kazama Chikage could make this kind expression toward his own enemy..?

"I'm impressed." Kazama began. "For a bakufu dog such as you are, you have such a good manner."

"Eh...?" Blinked in confusion at the sudden of... maybe a compliment? Saitou lowered his face then, not knowing what to do anymore being alone with a demon in the isolate room.

As he let his mind drift off on elsewhere, he hadn't realized until now that the Demon's presence had appeared just inches away of him. Before Saitou could make any movement, the Demon of the West instantly gripped the indigo's wrist very firmly, putting them above the other man's head in which, brings the stoic captain fell on the futon.

Eyes gazed into each other like a human world colliding into a demon world. Either of them hadn't faced on elsewhere as if they were having a staring competition.

The 3rd Captain of the Shinsengumi couldn't helped but to admire those beautiful, ruby orbs of Kazama’s. It reminds him of so much watching a beautiful sunset reaching down onto the horizon with the amazing and attractive Hijikata. It was one of the most cherish day he had ever have. But those eyes looked even more breathtaking than watching the sunset before night's coming.

Despite being an enemy of Shinsengumi, it's funny how Saitou amazed this man's beauty no matter how dangerous the demon is. But at the same time, the indigo couldn't sense any malevolent aura around the other man whether he's a member of Satsuma-han or not.

"I see that humans are quite sensitive one." The Demon began to whisper quietly, eyes went down to the younger man's long and curvy hips. The golden-haired man's hand started to untie Saitou’s obi, half-stripping off his black kimono, in which, the blonde-haired man could see Saitou’s naked hips even better.

Eyes widening opened because of getting stripped by his own enemy, Saitou began to struggle himself to stop at whatever the Demon is scheming of.

“W-Wait. What are you doing—?!”

Kazama ignored Saitou’s exclaimed as he put Saitou’s left hip on his shoulder while the other leave it on the futon. Pulling Saitou’s white fundoshi with his long and callous fingers, the indigo’s manhood began to react a little.

“I haven’t touching you yet but you’ve already reacting. Does getting rape really aroused you?”

The indigo-haired man didn’t spoke anything, too humiliated to think about that night as he buried his face with his muscular arms. Willing rather not to see his enemy’s expression/face.

“Well, whatever..” Kazama muttered quietly, leaning to Saitou’s pre-cum manhood, putting his cavern into it, and sucked in satisfiedly.

“A—Ahhh..!” Saitou moaned in erotically, not knowing where’s that voice coming from. Has he always had that kind of voice…?

What is this..? He had never experienced something like this before.. it’s different than how the members of the Satsuma-han treating him. It wasn’t disgusting he could felt this time. It felt so good. So good that he almost felt like he’s in heaven by now. Could it be..? Can he really say this word—

—pleasure?

“U-Ummmpgh..!” Saitou whined quietly, burying his fingers into Kazama’s gorgeous blonde hair as it doesn’t matter who’s taking a blowjob. Enemy or no, this is too much.

“C-Coming..” Saitou muttered, in which, the Demon’s eyes laid above to the lusty ocean-blue ones. “Something’s.. coming…!”

Understanding Saitou’s words, Kazama continued on taking a blowjob with a fast pace this time, while hearing the indigo’s sweet moaned close to him. When Saitou has finally reached its climax, white liquid released into the Demon’s cavern, in which, he gladly drink it all.

“You came a lot.” The Demon commented, wiping his chin to make sure he drank every last drop from his face.

“M-My deepest apologize.”

“No need. It’s natural for humans to ejaculation.”

While Saitou’s mind was filled with haze in pleasure, he hadn’t realized until now that the Demon was carrying him like a princess-like styled and started to leave the isolate room.

Where is he taking to..?

When the Demon entered to the unknown room, the room was dyed in a white colored like a radiant light. The room was also engulf with a white mist.

Is this.. bathroom…?

Kazama putting Saitou down on the floor and make sure he could stand despite his mind was still hazy. While waiting for his mind back to reality, the indigo noticed that the Demon of the West was pouring a bucket of water.

“What are you—?“

Before Saitou could finished his sentence, Kazama answered his question without hesitated while his eyes were still eyeing on the pipe.

“Cleaning you.”

“Eh..?” Saitou said stupidly, too puzzled of whatever the Demon spoke about.

Kazama sighed.

Humans are quite stupid, huh?

“What? You don’t want to clean yourself after all what happened that night. You’re reek”

…Oh. So that’s what is.

“Then.. take off your clothes.”

“Wh-what?!”

Once again, being slightly stupid, Saitou asked another stupid question. Then again, the indigo was quite surprised at the sudden of command.

“What? You want to take a bath while wearing your clothes? Is that how humans hygiene themselves?”

At that, Saitou remained quiet, not knowing what to say anymore.

Why would the demon treated him this way?

Shouldn’t they suppose to be an enemy?

“I can take a bath on my own, thank you.”

“Don’t be stubborn. With that many rounds you’ve got rape, I doubt that you can hygiene yourself.”

“Shut up…” Saitou hissed. “I’ll be fine. So just leave me—“

Before Saitou could finished it, knowing that he’s been standing up for much longer, his hips starting to shake like a leaf, without realizing it, his body was about to collapse on the floor.

Before his body could landed on the cold floor, Saitou realized that someone had held his body safely. The next thing he knew, his body were enwrapping by a very strong and muscular arms. His chest crashed into the other man’s broad chest that makes him feel an urged to flush in red already.

He eyed on whoever saved him from falling on the cold floor and it was obviously the Demon of the West.

Kazama sighed in annoyingly once again.

“See? Can’t you, human, stop being a stubborn and at least be grateful for this.”

Saitou whined quietly and finally given up himself by letting the Demon taking care of him.

The indigo started to untie his obi, letting his black kimono sliding down on his body to the floor. Still didn’t trusted his enemy, Saitou moved his hand to his private so that the Demon won’t gazed on him in hungrily.

Following the Demon’s demand by sitting on the stool, Saitou began to shiver at the touches of the Demon’s drench, callous palm of hands. He started to clean Saitou by pouring a bucket of cold water above Saitou’s indigo hair before caressing his warm hands on the younger man’s pale and pure-ish naked body.

The golden-haired man had to admit it, this was his very first time touching human’s body before, especially man. Of course, he wouldn’t dare to touch woman’s body except once he and the woman/demoness’ body had court by now.

The human’s body was so soft and fragile that the noble demon had the greatest urged in need to leave some bite marks on his body or even give some scratch marks with his long and sharp fingers. He wondered what kind of sounds would the human make once he pinch his broad back harder until a bead of red liquid started to form…

The Demon’s thought soon went away as he heard a soft whine echoed around the elegant bathroom. The next thing Kazama knew, it was none other than the younger man’s.

I see. So he’s quite sensitive despite being a stoic ronin.

Kazama couldn’t helped but to chuckle at that.

Letting the younger man’s head rested on the Demon’s broad shoulder. Putting a soap liquid on his palm hands and make sure the Demon rubbed his hands together to form a big foam, he caressed the human’s body with his coated-filled palm of hands like an ice rink.

Each reaction the indigo-haired man made brings Kazama’s smirk turned into wider than the Cheshire cat from those nonsense humans fairy-tale. Satisfiedly, the Demon stopped his long and tender fingers on the other man’s attractive right nipple, starting to pinch and rub in teasingly in which, the Shinsengumi ronin released a very sweet moan from his soft lips.

“I see that you’re quite enjoying that.” Kazama chuckled sadistically-ish, licking and biting the human’s cute earlobe.

While continuing on torturing the human’s adorable nipple bud, the other man started to mutter something.

“Y-You’re—“

“Hm? Is there anything you wanted to say?” the Demon teased him, moving on playing his other nipple.

“Y-you’re—“ panted harder. “You’re wrong.”

Slightly stunned at the human’s word. But instead of continuing on gapping like a fish, Kazama’s smug began to twist in wider one, finding amusing to see this kind of side from the member of the Shinsengumi.

“Oh? Is that so? Then, how about if I do this,” Kazama said, stopped his work on the other man’s nipples, instead, moving his hand down on the indigo’s private part, bringing the human flushed in red upon of feeling a hard grip on his manhood.

Each moan the younger man let out made even erotically than ever.

“It looks like your body is being honest to me.” Kazama whispered next to the younger’s red ear, chuckled once more. Continuing on grasping the other man’s private part once more, bobbing it up and down until the other man’s reached its climax.

It wasn’t took last long that a white liquid began to spurt out from the tip of human’s erection, releasing another loud and lewd whine from his lips.

Too hazy to think of anymore, his world started to fall into a pitch of darkness as Saitou realized that he fell into a deep unconscious once again.

Fluttering his eyes opened once he’d regained back, Saitou sat up on the soft futon and tried remember everything’s how did he ended up fainting—

“So you’re finally wake up. I was expecting you won’t be until tomorrow.” A deep male voice spoke with a chuckle.

Searching for the familiar man’s voice, Saitou found him at the windowsill with his right hip and broad-chested exposed that the younger man felt an urged to move his eyes from elsewhere, while cheeks starting to flush in a deep scarlet.

Eyeing on his body, Saitou realized he didn’t wear his usual plain and black kimono. Instead, it was a white and thin yukata.

The Demon must have changed him while he was fall into unconscious a while ago…

“Where is this?” Saitou asked when his cheeks finally turned back to normal, his blue-ocean orbs laid into the crimson’s one while the Demon took out a puff of smoke from his kiseru in elegantly.

“My manor.” Kazama replied shortly. “To put it simply, the Hidden Demon Village.”

When silent falls between Saitou felt an urged to get out of here.

No..

He shouldn’t be here. He shouldn’t be in his own enemy’s… whatever places it is, headquarter, so-called-demon world and all. There’s a higher chance that the Demon might kill without the Shisengumi known.

I have to get out of here. I can’t stay here longer.

Determined to leave this place as soon as possible, Saitou began to break their silent moment.

“Thank you for everything but I must leave now.”

“Why?”

The Demon’s simple question drivin’ the indigo crazy already. Just stuck with an enemy of the Shinsengumi brings atmosphere around here awkward and cold as well. He could felt some dark stares pierced him deep inside of his chest as if they’re watching his every little move.

“I don’t see any point living here longer when it’s obviously that I’m not welcoming here.” Saitou explained. “In fact, I need to report to the Commander and Vice-Commander about whatever news I’ve got at the abandon shop.”

…wait. Why did the indigo told his enemy everything about this? Damn… the younger man bet that the Demon was definitely going to end his life by now. …Well, it’s too late to take it back.

With a long paused, after the Demon had puffed out another smoke from his lips, eyes wandered on the night scenery of Demon Village, replying with a very unlikely quiet tone.

“There’s no point to report whatever last night to the Shinsengumi now.”

“What do you.. mean?”

Saitou narrowed his eyes deeper on the Demon’s gorgeous figure.

What does he meant by that? True that he couldn’t find Kodou’s whereabouts from them and all. The least he knew that the abandon shop was several members of Satsuma-han’s secret meeting.

“I’ve already take care everything of them. They won’t come anymore.”

“What are you trying to—“

Before the younger man could speak more, the longer he stared into the Demon’s crimson orbs, the more he understood of his words.

He killed them all.

Every single member in that place.

Why…?

Saitou wondered.

How could the blonde-haired man managed to kill them all..?

…

No.

For a powerful ronin such as Kazama Chikage, killing those ronins were like stepping on a thousand of small ants with a boot.

But more importantly is

How could he do this…?

How could he—an enemy of Shinsengumi, killed his own allies?

Wasn’t he siding along with Satsuma-han?

“Why…?” Saitou murmured quietly.

Took out another smoke from his elegant lips, Kazama spoke with a very bored and dull tone:

“Stupid humans such as them aren’t worthy to exist here.”

Stupid, huh…?

Was he included in ‘stupid human’ as well…?

“If I’m one of this ‘stupid human’, why won’t you kill me as well?”

“Hmm… who knows.” Kazama’s smirk began to form on his lips as he continuedly put the kiseru back on his lips.

When Saitou lets his head down on the floor, it took a moments then the Demon had started to leave from the windowsill then. The Demon’s figure began to come closer to the younger man. Letting the indigo’s guard down, Saitou didn’t expected received a kiss from the Demon. The indigo was expected that his lips were rough like a bark of wood. Instead, it was very soft like sakura petals that were dancing around him. His enemy’s strong arms enwrapped around Saitou’s small body very slowly as if he wants to give a permission to let his body closed to his. When the Demon licked the younger man’s lower lip, not knowing what he’s doing; Saitou opened his cavern wider and lets the Demon devoured him everything.

“U-Ummmpgh…”

The indigo jumped slightly at a strange liquid poured deep into his cavern from Kazama’s.

Since when he—

Swallowing at whatever his enemy gave him into his throat, the blonde-haired man parting his lips away from Saitou’s. Their saliva began to create a bridge between Saitou’s to the Demon’s.

His mind and vision began to blur before he could let his slumber take his control him, the indigo murmured:

“Wh-what was..”

“Medicine.” Kazama answered. “Now sleep.”

Before Saitou could reached him to ask more, the Demon’s figure started to lay down on the futon next to Saitou.

His vision has finally fell into a pitch of darkness then.

Morning came, Saitou fluttering his eyes opened upon of hearing birds tweeting in early morning in sweetly. The wind breeze his soft hair like a dancing tree.

The indigo sat up on his futon and took a glanced around the room to find the Demon’s presence. Not long after taking several glanced around the room, Saitou found him at the corner. He was wearing his usual white kimono with red and blue obi. The Demon wouldn’t forget on wearing his favourite dark-brown haori with his family crest.

When the Demon noticed the younger man has finally woke up, there was a smug on his face as if he was intending to tease the indigo in early morning such as this.

“Having a good sleep?”

“…Something like that.” Saitou murmured at that.

Kazama replied with a nod and started to speak when he lets his eyes wandered off to the door.

“The servant will prepare food for you. Try to be a good Bakufu dog.”

Before the noble demon intended to leave, the younger man stopped him.

“Where are you going?”

“To the Satsuma-han headquarter.” Kazama answered. “You might as well stay here for a few days until your injured heals.”

“Why are you.. doing this to me?”

Kazama didn’t hesitated answer while there was still his usual arrogant smirk on his face.

“Just a… demon’s instinct.”

“Wh…”

Before Saitou speak more, Kazama had already leaves the room.

The younger man sighed.

Just what the Demon is trying to scheme of anyway..? Why would he treated him as if the younger man is… some kind of special guest?

His thought soon drifted away as the servant entered the room with a knock. Despite being a servant, he’s still young, but maybe a bit older than Heisuke. He brought a tray of food with a cup of tea.

“Here’s your food ordered by Lord Kazama.”

“Ah… thank you.” Saitou nodded in politely.

It wasn’t that long after then that the servant jumped slightly at the strange smell he felt around the room. As he lets his eyes laid into Saitou’s, the indigo haired man tilted his head in confused when the servant looked at him in suspicious and maybe… feared as well?

What’s wrong with him—

Once he had finished putting the food down on the tatami, the servant bowed before taking a leave in nervously.

What was that all about…?

Gazing his eyes down on his food, Saitou couldn’t helped but having a bad feeling when the servant looked into his eyes just now.

Could it be…

He’s a bit shocked to see a human’s presence in the Demon’s World?

The younger man knew that staying a stranger place was a very bad idea. Just what the Demon’s thinking anyway?

Well.. it wouldn’t hurt to stay here a little bit longer until the Demon returning home.

Once the sun had almost reached to the horizon, the sky has turned into red-orange colored. Several demons in the village were having their usual peaceful life where they didn’t give any care about what’s gonna happened to the Human’s world.

After taking a warm bath, Saitou wears a light-green kimono with a pattern of sunflower on his lower-right part. The clothes was a little big for him, but at least it didn’t slipped off his body that easily.

Most of his time for a whole day while waiting Kazama, Saitou took a walk around the big manor so that he could remember which rooms he should go and all. The Kazama Mansion was pretty big, he has to say. It’s even bigger than the one he and the Shinsengumi stayed before Nishi Hongwanji Temple. There are several rooms in there. Some of them are guests room, dining, living and even a study room as well.

Well, he must be a noble demon or something.

Also, Saitou has to make sure to avoid from getting closer to the servants’ presence so that he won’t make the mansion turned into chaos just because the Demon of the West brought a human here.

After satisfied walking around the mansion, Saitou returned back to the chamber room where he and the Demon slept on the same futon that night. The room around here was pretty wide he has to say. At the corner of this room, there was a small table with papers and brush along with ink-bottle. Next to the Demon’s table, there’s also a bookshelf. Taking a peek on the bookshelf, most books were about history, swordsmanship and some folklore as well.

Saitou blinked. Somehow, he couldn’t really imagined to see the Demon is the kind of person who enjoyed reading especially folklore before.

Shaking his head out of those thought, Saitou intended to return back to where he usually sit. However, as his eyes laid on Kazama’s table, he noticed how the table was full of mess with papers. He couldn’t helped but reminded him of so much who’d forgot to tidy his table up after finishing his work.

He wondered why the servant didn’t clean his table up? …Or maybe the Demon wouldn’t let any servant enter his room whether they’re dusty or not…

Without realizing it, Saitou began to tidy the small table. Wiping some stain of black ink with a cloth on the table until there isn’t any single black spot on the table.

Done.

Wiping his sweat on his forehead with his back of hand, the clothes that the servant preparing him already dirty. Well, he should take another bath then..

Once he took a second time of bath, Saitou changed into a new clothes, this time, a blue yukata with a wave pattern. Entering to the Demon of the West’s chamber room, Saitou sat on the tatami very quietly while meditating.

It’s a good way to wait the Demon return in patiently then.

“Oh? What’s this?”

The Demon’s words bring Saitou back to the reality.

The indigo eyed on the man behind him as he took a glanced around the room with a hidden of amazed behind on those crimson orbs.

“I never expected you’re quite capable on cleaning up my study room. I’m impressed.”

“It’s just normal.” Saitou stated. “Since we don’t have servants compared to you, each of us has a turn to clean the headquarter.”

“So that’s how it is.” Kazama murmured softly. With that, the noble demon began to take off his dark-brown haori, and grabbed his kiseru.

The indigo was expecting that the Demon was intending to smoke on his favourite spot. However, this time, he sat next to Saitou while the younger man took a short meditating to empty his mind. It was very quiet between them. There isn’t any awkward this time as Saitou has gotten used to be next to the Demon’s presence for the second day by now. Neither Kazama intending to give an ambush attack nor trying to kill him. As for the Demon, he pretty quite enjoyed getting closer to the indigo’s presence little by little. Usually, he would like to experiment the human’s heart by being sarcastic until Saitou snapped and sometimes shows him a little interest and kind toward him.

Once Saitou decided to stop meditating, he let his eyes opened slowly and gazed to the Demon, who’s enjoying staring at the younger man in full of interested. Whatever kind of expression Kazama giving, he had no intention malice on him.

Moving his eyes on elsewhere, Saitou could hear the Demon chuckled lightly and whispered of ‘looks like he won’ from the staring competition.

When he realized he’s been fooling around in this manor, the indigo-haired man had decided it’s almost about time to leave in this village by now.

He shouldn’t be here any longer.

He’s a human.

There’s no such thing as human living in a different world except his own.

He had just break the Kami’s rule where there’s no such thing as humans and demons could live together.

Gripping his hands on his hips tightly, Saitou took out a soft sigh from his lips.

“I need to leave.” Saitou’s words were short, yet his tone was cold and hard like his blade that he often wield. Eyes were cold like an iceberg as well, but a little gentle behind on it.

As Saitou finally laid his eyes into the Demon, Kazama continuedly smoking with his kiseru for a few moments. When more than seconds had passed, the younger man was thought the noble demon didn’t heard it very well so he intended to repeat once more. But before he could open his lips, the Demon finally answered:

“Haven’t I told you that morning?” Kazama said. “You might as well stay here for a few days until your injured heals.”

“My injured already healed since yesterday. I don’t see any point someone like you to worry—“

“And what about that below part?”

“…”

The indigo-haired didn’t reply anything at that in which, brings the Demon chuckled in amusing but soon his usual sarcastic smile disappeared.

“While your body hasn’t… pure yet, you might as well stay here for a few days. I’ll take a responsible for cleaning you after all those worthless insects done to you that night.”

“Why would you do that?”

Kazama curled his lips upward, his usual sarcastic smug is back on his face again.

“Just a… demon’s instinct.”

Saitou blinked at those words. When he tried to speak, his chin getting cupped by a very strong and callous fingers.

It was Kazama’s.

Eyes gazing into each other as if those are the only thing both men could only do in this world. Moving closer to Saitou’s personal space, Kazama gave him a hungry as he dropped his kiseru on elsewhere while pinned the other man down on the futon. The Demon had always a greatest desire to devour Saitou’s lips already. It were so cute and soft that he needed to torture it until it turned red.

While busying himself with kissing the other man, Kazama used his free hand to strip Saitou’s clothes slightly so that he could give a caressed on his muscular arms in tenderly. He admired how strong and hard Saitou’s muscles are. It’s  just shows him how hardworking this man with training in non-stop. Also, he had heard rumors from all over members of Satsuma-han that a certain member of the Shinsengumi was training on waterfall while spending himself fighting a bear if he had encounter. Whoever person that training there must be Saitou then.

When the Demon noticed the indigo was about to fall into conscious, he finally parted his lips away, letting their saliva connected to each of their tongue. Gazing down on him, the younger man’s eyes filled nothing except hazy. Cheeks and ears tinted with a deep scarlet colored. Catching his breathed in erotically, the Demon of the West has the deepest urged to pawn him down on the futon by now. But not wanting to do something without the indigo’s will, Kazama gave his forehead a kiss on Saitou’s small forehead as well. The noble demon whispered quietly:

“Today, I won’t do anything that against your will.” With that, Kazama moved his body next to Saitou, as he intended to go to sleep.

As soon as the noble demon could sense a stare from the younger man, it took several moments then Saitou finally spoke with a hoarse tone.

“…Alright.”

Kazama glanced on Saitou, raising his eyebrow in confusion, in which, Saitou continued once more, “I’ll stay here.. just as you’ve asked for. But I won’t be here longer.”

He didn’t know why did he accept Kazama’s offer. Maybe it’s an opportunity to get to know of his enemy very closely. Maybe if he’d observes him, he would find out at whatever the Satsuma-han is scheming of.

With an unexpected answer, the Demon widen his eyes opened in shock. But it takes more than seconds then he replied with widening his smug.

Moving his strong hand on Saitou’s cheeks, Kazama caressed the other man’s cheek in tenderly, as Saitou looked quite pleasant getting a soft caress on his cheek. And the next thing he knew, he finally falls asleep in comfortably.

.

.

.

Ever since then, the indigo-haired man accepted the Demon’s offer and started to stay in the manor of the Demon of the West for 5 days by now as a… guest. Saitou mostly spends most of his life by following the blonde-hiared demon’s broad back as if he was one of Oni Trio group. After observing the mysteries demon of the West who was supposed to be a threat for the Shinsengumi, the indigo-haired man realized that he’s so-called enemy had no malice intention to destroy the Shinsengumi nor killing them. For 5 days in a row together with the Demon, Saitou would often sees Kazama lazing at the porch of his manor while enjoyed at the peaceful of quiet in the Demon Village despite they can still hear the sound of maniacally laughter from the abominations, that’s what Kazama described of Rasetsu. But at the same time, the blonde-haired Oni would also on continuedly on aiding the indigo like a patient and… ‘clean’ him after a horrible event happened that night at the abandon house.

Funny how the noble demon didn’t relied on his servants to clean him. But it probably because the demon didn’t want his servants to feel suspicious as to why the Demon of the West would bring a mere human such as Saitou in the Hidden Demon Village of the West. That could ruin his reputation as the Head of the Pureblooded Demon of the West by now.

When the moonlight had starting to reach at the above night sky, the indigo wondered deeper. Having living here like a home, Saitou still hasn’t found any answer as to why an enemy of the Shinsengumi such as Kazama Chikage, himself would rescue someone like him; didn’t he finds them all disgusting when they would drink the Ochimizu whether they would lose their sanity or not? So why would the noble demon becomes a savior to him?

He sighed, feeling slightly exhausting just thinking about that. When his eyes wandered to the beautiful full moon, his thought about Kazama soon changed to none other than the Vice-Commander, the gorgeous and charming Hijikata Toshizou.

The indigo-haired man couldn’t helped but to admire his beauty very truly. Everything’s about Hijikata always fascinating one. His soft and gorgeous raven hair like a streaming river. Gentle onyx orbs. And those soft lips like a sakura petal in a spring season. Oh how Saitou wished he wanted to see the Demon Vice-Commander again. Then again, he doubted that the noble demon would let him leave without a permission. But just what does he think he is, anyway? Did he thinks that the indigo is his some kind of prisoner or something? …Well, calling himself as a prisoner looks quite a bit harsh. Then again, Kazama does often see almost all humans as an insect which is, the Demon’s word was pretty much harsher than the indigo’s.

I wonder how’s Fukuchou and the others are…,Saitou thought to himself, wondered how everyone’s in the Nishi Hongwaji Temple are.

It’s already 5 days he hadn’t returned to the headquarter by now. It’s obvious that everyone in the Nishi Hongwaji Temple noticed of his disappearance by now. Especially Hijikata.

What kind of expression would Hijikata makes when he realized that the indigo had disappeared? Would he feels frustrated like a worrywart mother hen? Angry? Irritated? Or what’s worse, disappointing?

The thought of seeing Hijikata disappointing face is one of the biggest fear Saitou has ever had. He had always tried his very best to make the raven so proud so that he won’t see or hear the Vice-Commander upsetting or disappointing mumbling or groaning. Whether it’s his selfishness or not, he had always wanted Hijikata to see him a better captain compared to other captains. Until the very end, he would follow to where Hijikata go and died along next to his body, as long as what he believes is right.

“How long should I stay here?”

He questioned to the lonely wind in frustrated, sighed as loud as he could.

It’s drivin’ him crazy already!

He can’t just stay here for like forever by now.

Sitting on the tatami while waiting the Demon of the West returned back from the Satsuma-han headquarter wouldn’t helped him anything at all. Standing up from his place then, Saitou grabbed his swords at the corner of the Demon’s chamber bedroom and putting on his hips before take on his heels to leave the room.

Coincidently, as Saitou opened the shoji door, the presence of the Lord Demon of the West had appeared in front of him. That’s great.

Kazama eyed on Saitou’s swords on his hips and back to the ocean-blue orbs one, his eyes narrowed deeper onto the younger man’s eyes.

“What’s going on?”

“I need to leave.”

“Why?”

“Obviously I can’t stay here longer. Neither I want any other demons beside you finding out that there’s a living human here.”

With that, Kazama remained quiet while he’s still gazing into Saitou’s cold like an icicle orbs. Both men gazing into each other as they are too stubborn to turn away until the Demon of the West finally opened his lips with a sigh.

“Fine.” He mumbled. “You’ll be leaving by early dawn.” With that, Kazama grabbed his kiseru on the table and sat on the windowsill while watching other demons living in peaceful.

“I have a question for you.”

“And, what is?”

“Why did you saved me?” Saitou asked desperately. If the members of the Satsuma-han that raped him had been killed by the demon’s hand, why wouldn’t he ended his life as well? Wouldn’t it be easier?

“Who knows?” Kazama chuckled lightly as if he was playing the indigo’s heart. He noticed the other man began to turn his knuckle into fist, didn’t cared if Saitou had dug his nails deeper into his fragile skin until a bead of blood started to form. Kazama finds the human amusing seeing him looks frustrated and confused.

“Those kind of humans were pretty worthless and weak. Such as them shouldn’t be in an amazing human world.”

“So why won’t you end of me as well?!” Saitou didn’t realized until now that he had just raised his voice to the demon. Tears slowly began to form on his eyes by now but he tried so much not to show his weakness to his own enemy.

Kazama had been watching him since the indigo accidently raised his voice. There was an expressionless on his face as if he had starting to find the toy that he recently found is bored. Eyes wandered to the elegant window, the Demon spoke:

“Do you describe yourself as a worthless and weak insect then?”

“What..?”

When the younger man murmured that, Kazama’s eyes returned back to the indigo.

“Do you describe the Shinsengumi along with you as a worthless and weak insect, then?” Kazama repeated, but this time, adding with the Shinsengumi.

Saitou couldn’t helped but finding his heart completely shattered just hearing the Shinsengumi is worthless and weak as well.

No..

He wasn’t meant by that..

Stop..!

“I’ve heard a few rumors that you, along with Shinsengumi are one of the most strong and fearful samurai around in the Kyoto. ..I guess the rumors are fake huh?”

Stop that..!

“Who ordered you to come to those pathetic house, Hijikata? He sure has some guts despite having a title as this-so-called Oni no Fukuchou.”

D-Don’t blame Hijikata….!

“Just what is the Shinsengumi is fighting for? Money? Power? Reputation? You do realized those kind of wish are one of the most selfish desire they’ve ever had.” Smoking with his kiseru, Kazama blew out of the smoke on his lips and began to speak once more, “I don’t see a point for the Shinsengumi to spy on Satsuma-han like that. Trying to find a news by eavesdropping at the isolate room is one of the stupidiest thing has human ever done. Doesn’t they have given a better task than this?”

“Don’t blame the Shinsengumi for this! I’m the one to be at fault! I’ll let my guard down!”

At that, the indigo finds himself hard to breathe upon for raising his voice for the second times toward the Demon.

The noble demon hasn’t spoke any word yet. His eyes gazed into the the younger man who looked quite pathetic in the Shinsengumi’s point of view. But to Kazama, he finds this kind of side from Saitou is actually… cute.

“Why do you think of the Shinsengumi and Hijikata so highly?”

The indigo didn’t spoke anything, letting his cold eyes pierced deep into the crimson as he still hasn’t enough oxygen. His cheeks were in a deep scarlet colored. Sweats began to form all over his face, neck, hands and body as well.

“Don’t you think you’ve actually been fooled of yourself?” The Demon started. “You’ve been fooled by those wild dogs. Fooled by the-so-called Oni no Fukuchou. You’re just a dog who’s needs a food to survive. But once you’ve slowly die, they’re no longer needs you and you’ll get thrown away like piece of trash. Like a dying puppy who’ll slowly become a stench corpse on the street. Is that how you want your fate to be?”

“You’re wrong!” Saitou exclaimed unexpectedly. “The Shinsengumi had never wanted any of this. Neither have they fought for money or power. They’re all fighting and protecting everyone for honor.”

“Ho..? I never imagined you could speak that way before. I was expecting you’re the kind of ronin who remained silent and let people insult something terrible from the back.” Kazama said in amusing as he put his callous fingers on his chin, there was his usual smug on his face.

Saitou bit his lower lip to keep his usual stoic and quiet attitude on his mask. He can’t let himself getting so-called-exploding like Hijikata just because of the Demon’s insult and sarcastic.

“I believed the Shinsengumi.” The indigo began. “I believed of whatever they lead to me. They acknowledge of my ability and strength.” Saitou has to say, he isn’t the kind of person who would tell his past to anyone, not even Souji, Hijikata or even his trustful captains. And definitely not his own enemy. Especially Kazama Chikage. However, maybe if he told the Demon about this, he might changed his mind of how he seeing his own enemies, especially the Shinsengumi. “I wield using my left hand. I’ve trained a few dojos but either of them had accepted me for who I am or my ability. But when I met them, they never think of me cheated. Instead, they admired of my ability. They saved me, so… the only I can do to for now is to follow them wherever they go and fight for until the very end. even if it means to throw me away if I dying.”

Even if it has to die as well.

And dying like a bakufu dog just as Kazama had stated a moment ago.

As long as he’d choose the right path of bushido way,

then, he’ll willing to be with them.

“Ho… as I thought.”

Saitou laid his eyes into the Demon when he started to murmur something.

“As I thought the bakufu dogs from Shinsengumi can be quite… intriguing.”

His cold and bored expression had disappeared and soon changed into interesting and amusing back.

Saitou blinked at that part, not knowing what the heck is the Demon mumbled about. Possibly he had known the Shisengumi weren’t an ordinary ronin that the Demon often encountered.. maybe?

“As I expected, examining a quiet, yet obedient bakufu dog is… worthful.”

“What are.. you trying to say…?”

Widening his smug on his face then, Kazama moved closer to the indigo’s figure while leaving his kiseru on the windowsill.

When his enemy started to move slow, yet elegantly, Saitou felt an urged to move backward and so he did, until his back began to lean against the wall, letting himself getting entrapped by Kazama’s gorgeous figure. His strong and hard arm pinned on the wall as well as if the Demon wouldn’t let the younger man leaves him from somewhere else beside the chamber room.

There was a dark smug on the blonde-haired man’s face. But it wasn’t in malice or dangerous way actually. It was most likely to be… taken a deep interested on the younger man more and more. Using his free hand with raising Saitou’s chin to make sure their eyes collided into each other, Saitou finds his body paralyzed upon of seeing a dark expression from his enemy’s face. As if, the Demon had already put him a curse the moment he let the younger man’s eyes laid into the blonde-haired man.

When none of them make any move or speak a word, Kazama started first with tilting his head closer to Saitou so that he could taste the indigo’s soft lips once more. The Demon finds himself quite addicted on the younger man’s lips by now. The first thing Kazama ever wanted to do is obviously devoured the other man’s lips with non-stop. When Saitou finally gave the Demon a permission to deepen their kisses by opening his mouth wider, the blonde-haired man began to put his tongue into Saitou’s cavern then, tasting everything inside of the younger man’s small mouth. While he’s been focusing on kissing Saitou deeper, the indigo’s small hands began to move on his broad while the other was playing his gorgeous golden hair.

To think, a human such as Saitou would dare touch his gorgeous hair..

Parting his lips away from Saitou, hot breathes caressed on their faces each other, eyes filled with desire and lust. Once the Demon got enough air to move, he tilted his face to Saitou’s sensitive ear; lick, nibble, bite, and doing everything he can to torture Saitou’s cute and fragile ear. Each moan and whine that Saitou released often brings the Demon’s quite horny. He doesn’t usual get excited on anyone, not even a mere human or a demon woman. Though it usually depends on how deep interested the Demon of the West has toward to other person.

“K-Kazama…”

The way how the younger man moaned his name really brings Kazama excited even more. He growled under the indigo’s chin. Damn… stop seducing by whining his name as if he wants the Demon to pawn him on the tatami by now.. Reaching his limits, Kazama brings Saitou down on the futon and started to strip his yukata and so as himself. It was big enough for them to sleep together.

While watching the other man giving him a sweet pleasure, the indigo’s eyes wandered on Kazama’s free hand as he searched something in the drawer. After he finally found what he was looking for, Saitou’s eyes still gazed on a small bottle.

..Is that lubricate?

Moving down on Saitou’s private part, the Demon started licking and biting on Saitou’s curvy and attractive hip on seductively. Kissing on the bite mark that he left, in which, brings Saitou felt an urged to flush in red already. Once he has done another work on the other hip, Kazama opened the bottle to coating his fingers with jasmine-flavoured lubricate.

Putting his first finger on Saitou’s cute hole, his eyes gazed on the indigo’s lust face.

“Bakufu dog,” The Demon called. “Do you want to go a little further or not? We can stop right now.”

Stop? Now?

Is that Demon freakin crazy or something? Why at a time like this he has to stop? He should’ve stop before he stripped his clothes already..

Saitou’s answered was nothing except giving the Demon a glared of ‘Stop talking, just do it already’.

Once the blonde-haired man understood the other man’s answer, his smirk began to wide in amusing as he started to insert first finger inside Saitou’s deep hole.

The indigo replied with a soft, yet erotic moan. Not wanting to release more weird sound on his lips, Saitou put his palm of hands on his lips.

Crawling deep inside Saitou’s, Kazama began to add more when the other man has getting used to it until 3. The more fingers the Demon adding, the lewder Saitou’s voice has gotten become. As he continuedly thrusting Saitou’s inside deeper and deeper to find his prostate, not longer after then, the younger man’s mind turned white like a radiant of light, he let his voice slipped from his lips at that.

Feeling slightly confused, Saitou’s lusty eyes gazed on Kazama’s filled with curiousity.

“Wha.. what was…”

“So that’s where your prostate is.” Kazama replied with a wide smirk.

“Pro-prostate…?”

Too hazy to think of, the Demon started to thrust Saitou’s sensitive spot over and over until he can no longer moaned out anymore.

Once Kazama has taken out his fingers, he turned the indigo’s body around to make the position felt better. Exchanging his fingers to his manhood, the Demon began to insert it with a full-speed thrust.

Hearing Saitou’s half-pain and half-pleasure moaned, the Demon played his lips to distract from the pain, make sure the indigo focused on his lips only. As Saitou’s pain started to disappear slowly, Kazama started to pull out and entered it once more in a fast pace. Each thrusted gave Saitou released such a cute and sweet whine and moan.

The indigo wasn’t sure how did it happened between them. They’re meant to be enemies. And yet, this isn’t something kind of angry sex that Saitou has thought of. Instead, it was one of the most sweet and awesome sex that he’d experienced of compared to that night… he was expecting that the Demon was pretty aggressive and brutal in sex as well. But he was wrong. He was quite good on this kind of thing. He’s even a little gentle despite siding along with Satsuma-han.. …Or maybe he had slept with women that’s why he’s quite capable on it.

After several thrusted then, Saitou has finally reached his climax, giving a very last moaned on his lips, white liquid finally released. As soon as everything calmed down, he finds his body getting exhausted and not so long after this, he finds his head rested on the Demon’s muscular arm, in which, it took a right time for the Demon to put the indigo’s head on his.

Dawn’s coming. It took some times Saitou managed to wake himself up. Getting up from the futon, the indigo could hear a soft snore somewhere in the room. Taking a glanced on it, he finally found whoever snoring and it was none other than the Demon. The noble demon was having a good sleep. And Saitou couldn’t helped but finds the Demon’s sleeping look pleasant.

He still can’t believed how it turned out between them that night. There are many Demon’s words that he couldn’t figured out. Either of them doesn’t has to do with being enemies or their hatred to each other.

What could it be he wondered..?

Standing up from the futon, Saitou grabbed the yukata to warp around on his naked body before readying himself to get ready to take a shower and leave the Hidden Demon Village just as they promised.

-/-

And so, Saitou had finally changed himself into his usual black and plain kimono. Thanks to the servants from the Demon of the West’s manor, his clothes had a pleasant fragrance that reminds him of taking a break in the deep forest with a very soft breeze around him. Not wanting to cause the village in chaos, Saitou didn’t wear the Shinsengumi light-blue haori. Instead, he held it along with his headgear.

Once everything’s ready, Saitou searched the noble demon whom still enjoying a peace and quiet atmosphere at the porch while taking a sip a very strong Sake, although Kazama is not lightheaded as Hijikata is.

But still, since when had Kazama taken a shower actually..?

…

Ah… that’s right. This is a manor of course. The Demon probably own 3 or maybe 5 bathrooms actually.

While leaving those thought away, Saitou couldn’t helped but finding the Demon’s strong back quite attractive one. The longer he gazed on the other man’s back, he started realized he’s been wasting his time although he was suppose to return back to the Shinsengumi headquarter as soon as possible.

“I’m done.” Saitou spoke with his usual monotone voiced.

It took a moment then Kazama replied with muttering over something about… maybe the Sake wasn’t strong enough to drunk him? The Demon stood up from the porch and started to wear a haori with a family crest on the back.

“Should we go?”

The indigo replied with a nod as he started to walk at the back of the Demon’s in which, it reminded him of so much of following at the back of the Vice-Commander of the Shinsengumi.

The thought of that man makes him eagerly to see the raven-haired man again.

Then again, what’s gonna happened to this man then…?

As the two men walked all the way to the gate of the Demon’s World, Saitou noticed how the Hidden Demon Village is a very peaceful one despite there’s going to have a war sooner or later. According from Kazama, he has to make sure the demons from the West lived in peaceful and make sure to avoid from joining a war, whether they’re warriors or no.

Beside from that, every time the Demon of the West passed to the other demons, the villagers gave him a bow in full of respected. By looking of it, there are a few villagers were quite admired the Demon, while several of them feared him as well.

So this is how being the Head of the Demon is like…

Almost like forever then, two men had finally arrived at the gate of the Demon World. A familiar red-headed man, Amagiri had been stood there since yesterday, taking a guess that it was his turn to keep an eyed on the village.

“Amagiri, I’m sending him off from this village. Keep an eyed on the village while I’m gone.”

Amagiri didn’t hesitated bowed him in full of respected as well, spoke with a very gentle that Saitou used to hear back when both of them were Hamaguri Gate.

“Of course, Kazama-sama. Saitou-kun, it’s good to see you here.”

“Ah yes… it’s good to see you as well.”

Saitou replied with his usual quiet tone, didn’t expected to speak with the red-headed man once more.

With that, Amagiri leaves the two men alone as they finally arrived at the gate of the Demon World that could reach to the Human’s World.

"Well, I think this is where we should part away by now. Times sure does flies very quickly between us," Kazama chuckled deeply at that.

Saitou nodded quietly, lowering his body slightly to show some manner, despite he is one of the most dangerous enemy in the Shinsengumi. After all, the Demon does saved him from that night. He should be grateful to have a savior such as him. Despite he can be a totally asshole and sarcastic Oni.

"Thank you for your hospitality, Kazama. I owe you for everything."

Despite the indigo spoke that, they eventually greet each other between swords rather than returning the Demon's kindness back.

Would he ever sees this kind of side from his enemy's again the next time?

...No.

There won't be next time anymore.

As much as he had a great desire to stay with the Demon longer, he knew that being someone like him is impossible. He’s a member of Satsuma-han, while the indigo’s belonged to the Shinsengumi. There’s no such thing as getting along with someone who’s from an enemy’s group.

"Your name?"

Saitou raised his face in perplexed at the sudden of question in which the noble Demon repeated once more.

"I suppose that it would be better if we introduce properly. ...Or maybe you won't mind me calling you Bakufu Dog then."

Kazama chuckled at that part. Being a sarcastic Oni as ever.

Saitou remained quiet then, tried to stand properly like an exotic statue, while his eyes were still gazed into the Demon's gorgeous figure. The indigo finally replied the Demon's question with his usual monotone voice yet hidden of gentle and determine one.

"Captain of the 3rd Division from Shinsengumi, Saitou Hajime."

"Saitou, huh?" Kazama whispered the indigo-haired man's name very softly. He couldn't helped but finds himself pleasing just whispering the younger man's name. He wondered what made him feels this way knowing that he had never take an interest on any human before.

But Saitou..

Saitou is different.

"My name is Kazama Chikage. As you may already know, I'm also a Pureblooded Demon from the West."

"You've already told me that."

Kazama replied with a smug on his face. Taking a few stepped in front of the indigo's figure and let his fingers played around Saitou's gorgeous indigo hair.

The quiet ronin couldn't helped but slightly shivered at the feeling of other man's fingers combing down his hair. None of man would ever dare played it before except

Hijikata.

And maybe Souji as well.

"The next time," Kazama began, fingers were still buried on the younger man's hair. "when our swords clash with each other, we won't be enemies from now on."

Slightly perplexed at the Demon's words, Saitou grabbed the Demon's wrist gesturing him to stop playing it, hesitatedly bowed in respectful once again before turning on his heel to leave the Demon's World.

Several steps later, his foot then stopped in stubbornly. It was as if, his selfish thought doesn’t want to leave this world yet. He wanted so much to stay with the Demon’s kind side a little longer. …or maybe forever. How could a strong enemy such as Kazama Chikage could treat him this way as if he was so special? Is there any reason why he would do that to the indigo’s

It wasn’t last long after then the Demon noticed how the younger man suddenly stopped in mid-walking.

"What's wrong?"

Saitou replied with a little hesitate and quite

"…Nothing.”

"That doesn't looks like nothing at all."

With that, the indigo remained quiet, didn't spoke anything else nor answering the Demon's question.

When the Demon’s footstep getting closer to Saitou’s, the indigo jumped slightly when the noble demon held his hand. It was as if his hand had a static.

The blonde-haired man gave his usual smug on his face as if he had read whatever behind on Saitou’s cold mask.

“I’ll take you back to the Shinsengumi headquarter.”

“Eh..?”

“What? This is what you wanted right? You’re going to miss me so much so the least you would like to see for the very last moment is bringing you to the headquarter, yes?”

“…I never said I’m going to miss you.”

“True. But what about your selfish thought?”

“…”

When Saitou didn’t replied anything, remaining silent as usual, Kazama gave a deep chuckled on his elegant lips.

“You know, you should try to be honest every once in a while, especially to me. After all, if our swords we won’t be enemies anymore.”

Being honest, huh…?

“How can you tell? You’re an ally of Satsuma-han, right? Why would you be friendly to your own enemy?”

“I have a certain reason why I’m siding with them. I won’t help the Satsuma-han that longer, however.”

At that, Saitou couldn’t helped but to blink at those words.

What..?

Does he meant, he never wanted to side Satsuma-han all this time?

Then why is he—

“Well, should we go?”

Saitou let his eyes wandered down on their feet. Biting his lower lips, he finally spoke:

“…I can’t.”

Kazama sighed. But before the noble demon could speak, Saitou began first.

“My legs are still sore from last night.”

There was a very long quiet moment between. It wasn’t awkward one actually. But the Demon was gapped like a fish to hear those words from the younger man’s soft lips. It wasn’t long after then, his shock and surprise expression on his face changed into half-wicked and amusing smirk on his gorgeous face.

“Oh? So that’s how it is.” Kazama gave a soft chuckled. “In that case, I have to carry you all the way to the Shinsengumi headquarter huh?”

Saitou replied with a nod. No words he needed to speak.

The Demon continued on smirking. Ah… so this is how Saitou’s being honest, huh?

The blonde-haired man started to carry the younger man in a bridal-styled, Kazama began to turn on his heels with his demon ability of superspeed. Despite how fast and quick the Demon is, to Saitou, it’s almost like the time between them was stop. As if the world was trying to let the indigo stays with him for a little longer whether he eventually kills him and vice versa. Snuggling his head closer on his broad-chested, Saitou couldn’t help but felt envy on him as to how the Demon had such a gorgeous body. Arms were strong and hard like a katana blade. His chest was broad and more muscular compare to himself. If the only he was born to have a same body as Kazama’s… would Hijikata ever finds him attractive by now. The thought of it it brings Saitou flushed in red from thinking the amazing Vice-Commander in his head.

It wasn’t last long after then they finally arrived at the Shinsengumi headquarter. Knowing that several members of the Shinsengumi mostly Fury Corps were taking a night shift, Kazama jumped off of the roof until they found the indigo’s room.

Putting the younger man’s body down on the wooden floor, Saitou could had a greatest desire to be closer with the Demon more and more. However, it’s impossible.

It’s unfair how both of them were meant to be enemies.

But…

“I have a certain reason why I’m siding with them”

Those words bothered Saitou slightly.

It wasn’t that long then the Demon’s voice snapped him back to the reality.

“Well then, this is our last time to see each other for today.”

“What do you mean by.. today?”

Does he meant he’s going to see him again? Here?

Kazama replied with a smirk as if Saitou asked one of a hilarious question he ever hears.

“Sort of..”

When no words express to each other then Saitou let his face gazed down on the floor, willing rather not to see the Demon disappeared in a thin of air in front of his face.

His expectation, however, was wrong. Instead of the Demon disappeared like a wind, Kazama lifted Saitou’s chin up so that their eyes could clashed each other and the next moment, their lips landed on each others.

His kisses were like a poison to him. Each kisses, nibbles and bites he received, he could felt his body, arms and legs are starting to numb. It was as if, the Demon has a special saliva that could make a human’s body weaken for several moments. It’s funny how the indigo loved how dominating the Demon is. Despite getting dominated by a sadistic demon, he enjoyed his lips getting tortured by the Demon’s aggressive lips.

There’s no doubt that Saitou’s definitely a masochist huh?

Each small whine and moan Saitou made brings Kazama excited even more as his kisses began turned into rougher and deeper than usually. His lips moved to Saitou’s sensitive ear, then sucking his chin, reached to adam’s apple. Before Kazama could untie the indigo’s obi, footsteps coming this way.

Kazama gave a growled in threatening to whoever the intruder is. But he let it be as he had satisfied devour Saitou’s fragile lips, and hearing his sweet and erotic moan.

“This world can be quite cruel, huh?” Kazama sighed. “Now then, I should take a leave by now. Let’s meet each other later and… have a sweet dream, Saitou.”

With that, the Demon presence has finally disappeared along with the winds. Although he was no longer here, Saitou could still felt the warmth feeling on his red and swollen lips. Caressed on his lips for the last time, he entered to his room and ignored other members of the Shinsengumi presence whom they gapped like a fish to see Saitou right there after all he had disappeared for almost like a week.

What matters him the most now about none other than Kazama Chikage.

Putting his head down on his pillow, his eyes gazed on the wooden ceiling above. To think, Saitou eventually no longer sees that man as an enemy anymore. Neither ally as well. He was more like… maybe between them? What might happened if Kazama hadn’t been the one that saved him? Would those members of Satsuma-han would locked him into the abandon shop for eternity? The thought of stuck with them brings Saitou’s true nightmare begins already.

“When our swords clashed into each other, we won’t be enemies anymore.”

What are those sentences meant?

Does the Demon doesn’t want to be his enemy as well? Wasn’t he despised of humans and their selfish goal? So why of all the person he chose, why him? Despite he is a mastery of iai, that doesn’t mean he’s one of an amazing soldier in Shinsengumi. The one that meant to be is none other than between Kondou and Hijikata of course. No one is better in samurai beside those two men.

Too tired of thinking too much about this, his eyes slowly fluttering closed as he started to fall into a deep sleep.