"That bastard!! Son of a-How could he even think that??! Damn him!! Cian fucking Edwards needs a brain surgery!! And I'm going to do it!"
Zel stormed to the door, his feet stomping louder than ever and his hands turned in a tight fist. Gosh, the neighbours downstairs are gonna complain again.
Akane ran towards him, her hands darting to stop him. "Zel!!" She shouted his name, wrapping her arms around his shoulders, successful in stopping a murder.
"Leave me Akane!! I'll show him how to think! I am going to rearrange his brain cells completely, so that not only you, but he won't think of any other female like that again." He screamed, trying to get out of her grasp.
She sighed. Guess I have no other choice. She pointed her index and middle finger towards his neck, emitting white glowing light from them. "Ōgama Zel this is my command, Restrain!" She chanted in a loud voice.
His hands had suddenly shifted to his back, the left one over the right and his wrists like they were tied by an invisible rope. Bakudō could be used anytime, anywhere and on anyone. And Ōgamas were no exceptions. To them- the Shinigamis, it was of great advantage as it needs a lot of Spiritual Energy to break its effectiveness. But either way, they only have a temporary effect on the victim.
Zel fell on the floor, hard on his back. Akane walked past him and closed the bedroom door, thankful that it was not the main door, otherwise the neighbours would have been very angry at the commotion.
"What the hell Akane??! You really had to use the Restrain spell??" He screamed, struggling with the bound hands behind him.
She wondered about how he looked like a worm who had fallen on his back and wriggling to get back on his feet. She couldn't help but laugh. He saw this and kicked her leg.
"Oww!!" She quickly pulled her leg up, screaming in pain. He just glared daggers at her but sighed later knowing it was of no use.
"When will the spell break??" He asked, barely sitting up straight. She went near him, putting her hand under his arms and pulling him on top of the bed.
She looked up at the watch which showed 1:20 PM. "Well twenty minutes from now, which means at 1:40."
"Pheww...!! Not so long. All thanks to your sealed powers." He said, feeling relieved. "But" He went back to being Mr.Father.
"That doesn't mean I'm going to overlook the fact that he's gonna have a piece of my mind. Got it??"
She sighed, shaking her head. She really wondered sometimes whether she was the Ōgama and he the wielder.
Zel had always been the protective one. He could never stand something bad happening to her. But it has been seven years after that incident, he never had once shouted.
Well, he had never got a chance to since the people he had met these years were not as bad as Mr Edwards. So this also a kind of surprise. But out of the whole, she was always grateful that she had got him.
"Zel" She stood in front of him, with her hands on her hips, looking sternly at him. "I am your wielder, you should listen to me. I have already given him a knock on his head. It's up to him to feel the pain and realize or choose to stay arrogant forever."
He frowned, like a child but sighed and nodded. She ruffled his long spiky hair, glad that he understood and looked back at the watch."Four minutes more Zel" She told him.
He nodded and propped himself on the bed, waiting for the spell to break its effectiveness. Now the only thing was she did not know from where she would look for a job again.
Because of that good for nothing, the low creature she had lost her job, which had amazing pay.
Yeah, thanks a lot Lucifer.
Suddenly out of nowhere, She heard a sound ringing two times, almost like a chime- which made her jump.
She stood there silently, wondering if she could hear again. And yes she did hear it again. "What's that noise??" Zel asked opening an eye. Yeah, of course, he wouldn't know.
"It's the bell Zel." She said looking towards the door. "And hey it rhymes with your name!!" She exclaimed giving him a small grin.
He just shrugged, indicating the door with his head."Go now. A person is outside ringing it right?? Then go open the door."
Agreeing with him she made her way past the living room couch and reached the front door.
"Who's there??" She asked loudly, grabbing the knob of the door. She did not get any answer so she asked again."I'm asking again, who's there outside??"
After a few seconds, a deep voice answered. "Ms.Hanasaki it's me." Her eyes widened as she quickly recognised to whom that Britsh accent belonged to. What is he doing here??
"Ms.Hanasaki please open the door. I need to speak to you" He said across the door, making her tighten grip on the handle.
"I think we did all the speaking in the office Mr.Edwards, if the message still doesn't reach your brain, then I'll say it again. I refuse to sign the contract."
She said, keeping her voice calm, which was on the edge to burst anytime.
"What I did there was indeed nerve-wracking. But you need to know the truth. So please open up the door, Akane"
And the way he said her name, made her feel a little weight on her heart. His tone did sound a little guilty. "Don't Akane" A voice stopped her from behind.
It was Zel, with his arms which had become free, crossed around his chest, and his face looked strict.
"But Zel, he does sound a little sad. Maybe I should talk to him" She whispered back to him.
He rose his hands in defeat and sighed, "Look if he does anything again, I told you I won't hesitate to kill him" His voice came out deadly, and his eyes were cold.
"I know. That's why I have you" She gave him a smile, before turning the knob and opening the door.
Me. Edwards standing was the definition of posing for a magazine photo shoot.
Like he did not even need to put any efforts. He had to just...just exist. He was wearing a grey short-sleeved tight fitting shirt, which traced his ever-strong definite muscles, and a pair of black- coloured jeans.
His eyes had black shades on, which were removed when he saw her.
"Thank you so much Akane," He said in his deep voice. Shit, it sounded sexy! Earth had really spoiled her.
She opened the door wide open, and then looked at him, trying hard to look unaffected. He just gave her a weary smile.
"I'll give you three minutes to explain. If you spit bullshit in these three minutes, don't expect me to send you home alive" She threatened him, stepping aside. He chuckled and folded the glasses, attaching to the front neck of the shirt.
Akane closed the door behind them as he walked towards the couch and sat down. Zel just kept glaring at him with his arms crossed the whole time-which is from the time he walked in from the door and to the couch.
He sat across him with a chair with narrow eyes. The room was filled with awkward silence. Zel sitting opposite to Mr.Edwards is not a good sight to see. Zel death stares were sending him daggers, and Mr.Edawards just sat there smirking.
Oh gosh! Have to do something before he pounces on him.
"Um.Zel!! Why don't you make him some tea??" She told him with fake enthusiasm, indicating the door with her eyes.
He got up from the seat, his murderous eyes still on Mr.Edwards and walked away. She sighed, relieved of the tension that had gone.
"You have a tattoo??" His voice suddenly made me snap my head in his direction. He was leaning on his arm, staring intently at the outline of the hexagon star drawn within the circle on her right hand.
She looked at her hand again and pulled it away, pulling the sleeve of the sweater to cover the mark.
"I believe you are not here to talk about my tattoo Mr.Edwards." She pointed to the clock hanging on the wall. "Your time is ticking fast"
"Fine" He mumbled before letting off a long sigh and massaging his eyeballs. "You see Akane..-"
"Ms.Hanasaki for you" She cut him sternly. He put his hands up in defeat. "Ok as I was saying Ms.Hanasaki, firstly I'll apologise properly. For what I did back there and yes I deserved that slap. And I believe every woman like you should have the right. But you see I had a motive behind the whole act."
"Act?" She cut through his sentence, she once crossed arms uncrossed at once and she leaned forward. "You mean you were acting??"
She asked him again, still sounding unbelievable. She never had the thought the guy was acting. The way he did it....was he seriously that good?
"Well yes it was a complete act," He said nodding, confirming the sentence again.
He cleared his throat to speak again that moment Zel entered the room, with a white and pink tray in his hand.
The tray had a colour that matched the two teacups filled with the similar Earl Grey tea he made that morning. He kept it on the table, looking at the back and forth with hard eyes.
Of course, he might have heard from the kitchen. Zel had sharp ears.
He took his place next to her keeping his hand behind his head.
Mr.Edwards looked hesitated, probably thinking whether he should continue about the matter in Zel's presence or no.
She quickly gave him a nod, signalling him to continue.
"As you see Ms.Hanasaki. You realised why I had an interview for a new PA, don't you?? It is obviously for a new PA. But did you know that I had a PA before who was good at work, and was also a beauty just like you" He chuckled, making her give him 'What the hell' look?
"Well you see, she was just like you- unaffected by charms nor money. She had passed out of University with a good degree in business, so I hired her. She became a very good advisor and then she took place in my family as well. My family loved her for her attitude. But... that night when I saw her state, I could not believe she was fake."
His voice came out dry, and his fist was clenching. "She really had to use a cheap trick of putting a sleeping drug in my coffee. Thankfully I did not drink it. But she thought that I did. And the rest you can imagine when her plan did not work on me." He concluded, sipping the last remains of his tea.
She just sat, there blinking at him mindlessly. She did not know what to say when he spoke again.
"It"s not about the drug though, it seems, she had planned all this for money as well. Someone was paying her to do all this. She of my thought as an advantage for money and sex at the same time."
The silence between them was so intense that she thought that she could hear voices down from hell.
Her teacup was just sitting there on the table, waiting for her to take it and drink its contents. Zel just sat there, his hands still behind his head and his eyes closed.
No, he was not sleeping. He was trying to get the man's words through his brains as much as she was trying to do. She did not know whether to believe him or no. What if this whole explanation only was an act?? Her mind was reaching different conclusions, which only made it harder for the final decision.
As for Mr.Edwards, he just sat there, his silver eyes going darting from Zel and the back to her, waiting for their response which seemed to take forever.
"So this was all an act to test Akane??" Zel finally spoke, breaking the silence. His hands left the back of his head and shifted in front, his chin almost resting on them.
Mr.Edwards nodded and shifted his eyes back on her as if he was asking her to answer. She looked at Zel who just gave me an 'I don't know' look.
She sighed. This information was too much for a brain. It was a difficult decision. But to think again, she did not have a job, and she needed a job as fast as possible.
And God knows when she would get the next one. So having no other option, she did what she had to and nodded. "Yes. I'll work again"
His face lit up with happiness, like a dull bulb lighting up brightly again. And when she observed him closely, he looked better with a smile on his face.
Not a smirk or grin, but a smile. A natural true smile, which can brighten up any person's day. Which brightened hers from inside.
"Thank you so much, Aka- Ms.Hanasaki. It really means a lot to have a PA like you." He stood up and shook hands, complementing her as his life depended on it.
She just gave him a small smile, really not in a mood to think something else. He gave Zel a glance, and went near him, smiling too brightly. "Well glad to meet you as well, Zel Hanasaki"
The moment he said his name, she felt as if her jaw had gone wide open while looking at Zel. It was one of those silences where you could hear a crow crying in the background- which take place before someone laughs hysterically.
And the that-about-to-be-maniac person was Akane. And the poor sheep who about to be laughed at was Zel.
The moment she started laughing, Zel's whole face turned red, with a very disapproving look. She clenched her stomach hard, while it ached from laughter.
Zel's whole face seemed so priceless. And Mr.Edwards just stood there, his mouth hung open a little with his eyes blinking, utterly confounded by the scene in front of him. And of course, he would be.
"By Zel Hansaki.....how do you relate me with her??" Zel pointed out to Akane, his voice showing clear irritation at his statement.
Mr.Edwards without the knowledge of the situation just replied in a 'duh' tone, "Well I have no clue what you're speaking, but by relation to her, aren't you the younger sibling?"
His reply was enough to roll Akane back to laughter and make Zel fume in anger.
She could practically see the smoke coming out of his ears, while he was murmuring curse words under his breath.
The sight to Akane was terrific.
She looked back at Mr.Edwards who raised an eyebrow towards her, asking for an explanation.
Her laughter died a little, and she was gasping for breath signalling him to wait. Zel just crossed his arms like a small child and went stomping back into the room.
"Well, that was some laugh" He stated, clearly amused. Akane, on the other hand, held her hands on her stomach bending a little. "Well, you see. Zel isn't my younger brother. He isn't related to me at all."
His face turned was surprised, when she confessed out. It was surely something he did not look forward to.
But neither did she looked forward to his next question, which came out is calm almost composed tone."Then is he your lover?"
She frowned, not quite understanding the human nature. Was that the only thing which comes out from their mouth??
Of course, she did not blame Mr.Edwards completely. Everyone has their doubts. That doesn't mean it should be the only next option to ask.
A term called 'friendship' also existed. Zel would definitely comment on what lousy brains they had if he was standing there.
The door was doing a good job of not letting our voices reach the bedroom, which he was sulking in right now.
"You really got lover as the first option than a best friend??" She asked.
He parted his lips, trying to say something but closed his mouth. She crossed her arms, raised an eyebrow challenging him to speak, but of course, he couldn't.
"So you both are just good friends??? No romantic feelings??" He asked again. Either to confirm her statement or not to stay silent.
"Should I repeat the definition of a 'best friend'??" She sighed, annoyed at their assumptions. "And keeping track of my romantic feelings are none of your business."
His partner-in-killer looks a.k.a his smirk, accompanied his face again. But that quickly dropped."But why did he leave angrily??"
Oh yeah, he still doesn't know that."Well Mr.Edwards, we had a bet. A bet to see what others think of us when they see us together after shifting over here. And pretty much he was confident people will not think of us as siblings. You are the first person to comment on us. Others were already giving us 'you both siblings look so cute' look."
She explained to him, remembering the smug Zel had on his face. Poor guy. Maybe if he had just changed those jade green contacts which were similar to hers, he might have saved himself from losing the bet.
"Hmm....you stay with him...where are your parents then??" He asked changing the topic. The mere mention of the word 'parent' made her whole body go still.
Suddenly a picture of a man in a huge blue men's hakama made its way in her hand. He hades raven black hair, little wrinkles at the edge of his eyes.
Next to him was an incredibly beautiful and an elegant lady, who looked like she was in her twenties. She had worn a purple kimono and had her brunette hair was tied up in a bun. They both were standing there looking down with a stern disapproving face like they were disgusted.
And their eyes were stone cold, not a hint of kindness in them as they were looking down.
On Akane.
"Ms.Hanasaki!" Mr.Edwards voice brought her back from her memories.
He was waving his hand left and right in front of her face, trying to get her attention. "Where did you drift to??"
She blinked a few times, trying to register what was going on. When she finally realised that he had asked her about her parents, she laughed, trying to cover the nervousness on her face.
"Well sorry for spacing out. What you were asking me?? Oh yes! You see I'm here alone with Zel. My mother, currently, is in Japan.
"Oh." Was the only response he gave her. He got it not to ask about her father and about Zel's parents anymore.
Minako's husband was also a very nice person- according to Minako-san. He loved her a lot, like any woman other wants her husband too.
He was also kind to her and respected her. And he had died while he was saving a small girl running on a road.
"I should get going Ms.Hanasaki. Have a lot of work. I'll be hoping to see you on Monday?" He asked her making his way toward's the door.
"Yes sure"
She opened the door for him to go out. Just when he stepped outside the room, a thought struck her mind."Mr.Edwards?"
"Yes?" He turned back to him.
"How did you get my address??" She asked with doubt. It was strange since her personal information was supposed to be given out to him only after signing the terms.
"I have ways, Ms.Akane Hanasaki." He smirked and left, leaving Akane's heart do flip-flops within her chest.
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