Chereads / Chasing Red / Chapter 5 - Fever

Chapter 5 - Fever

"Akari there you are!" An overly happy voice called out, an arm wrapped around her in a headlock stopping her from running.

"Ms. Hamada!" She said angrily coughing as she felt chocolate milk going up her nose. Glaring at the woman in annoyance, a slight curve on her lips.

"It's good that you still know how to use your voice." Replying sheepishly, ruffling her already mess hair and pausing when she heard her sniffles.

"Were you in the infirmary? No wonder they couldn't find you- you're uncle came, let's go!" Pulling her along like close buddies despite her silent protests and reluctance, a look of uncertainty on her face.

"You smell of cigarettes." She said indifferently, reminding her of her oath of abstinence. Watching her long pony tail sway as she walked.

"Well you smell of loafing and cold medicine." Her cheeky smile making her click her teeth, ignoring everyone else who watched with disdain. Urging her into the conference room next to the principals office.

Stopping before she entered, she looked at the Student Support teacher and said with a little perplexed look on her face. A hint of evil in her eyes.

"Ms. Hamada...There's was a foreign man asleep in the infirmary." Looking at her unsure as to what to do, her hands in her hoodie stroking the sharp edges of her specially modified taser phone case.

Patting her shoulder she said that she'll look into it before pushing her in with a sigh.

*

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A long oval shaped table stood in the middle of the brightly lit room, a white board covered in scribbles regarding the teachers work and upcoming events could be seen. The principle along with her uncle and someone else she'd never seen before were seated in small talk, several documents displayed on the table.

Making her feel uncomfortable, wanting to turn around and leave before they noticed her.

Suddenly jerking she turned to the side and let out a series of cute high pitched sneezes, her reddened eyes and feverish blush ever more apparent.

A scuffling sound could be heard, standing up with a little yawn.

"Akari do you have a cold?" A gentle voice called her, holding out a bunch of tissues and pulling out the chair beside him.

Nodding she looked warily at the other people in the room, her brows furrowed at the fake smile on the principals face.

Nodding she hesitantly sat beside him, unsure of where to look and cleaned her nose. Hearing the soothing sound of water being poured into a glass.

"I took some paracetamol." She whispered sullenly, her voice sounding a little scratchy. Being considerate enough she took a sip.

Being able to somehow guess who the other person might be, she stared at the principal wondering when he was going to leave.

Feeling a burning gaze from the man dressed in an expensive suit, a glum look on his face. The whole thing completely annoying as she hid another yawn behind her small hand, the red mark on her wrist on show.

Shivering a bit as she glanced at the man who's jaw stiffened. His eyes flickering with restrained anger.

***

A sheer layer of sweat appeared on his face, his thick eyebrows buried into a deep frown as bright light and the mumbling of Japanese woke him up.

His eyes dilating and narrowing as he looked at the tall ceiling, a string of cobweb swaying against a water pipe.

Rubbing the back of his neck and under his chin that felt particularly sore,where two harsh indents that were scabbed over could be felt.

As his eyes settled against the bright light, his mind wandered to the red mark he'd left on her wrist. Rubbing his finger and thumb together that touched her small red lips.

Remembering the girls soft skin and beautiful and devilish eyes.

'Fuck.'

Standing up he looked behind him at the messed up bed sheets as he fondled around, looking for something a hint of rose reminding of what conspired here.

"Che raggaza interessante." He mumbled sitting up to look up at the concerned faces of a nurse and a teacher, that were talking in a hushed tone.

Looking at the two women intensely, confusion written on their faces, he looked at them up and down checking if he would have a similar reaction.

However, a cold laugh broke the silence.

His throaty laughter had a husky sexiness to it that could make a woman bend to his will, however his callous nature clearly overrid his sex appeal. Stifling their ability to take a step closer or do anything he wouldn't want.

Green eyes like that of a beast shadowed with locks of brown hair, darkened with lust.

*

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From what he could understand was that a girl who had been sleeping in the infirmary woke up and found him asleep just before lunch time, telling her mentor because she was scared and worried.

A girl who has learning difficulties and is afraid of strangers, someone who especially is a mute to her classmates.

That girl who her mentor explained was 'currently occupied with familial issues,' had told him to hack into someone's email address to locate them, pressed him down on to a bed after calling him a pervert. Roughed up his million dollar suit in the process of it all and by sexually arousing him, she'd not only stunned him unconscious but also stolen his gun. Wonderful.

What a girl.

A little blush on his cheeks as he drank the glass of water they had given him, his heart stomping around in his chest.

His phone ringing giving an apologetic smile.

"Boss... Someone's hacked into the main bank account stealing around $18,000 plus." He explained a little flustered, considered he was one of the people who helped set up security for the online bank accounts. "At first I didn't think that the account was hacked because a message similar to an invoice came in all written in Japanese."

"Apparently it's a legitimate club/casino talking about owing money lost in a game of poker. Also it mentions that a ring was given in collateral and to retrieve it you have to go back to said place."

"Heh. What's that in yen?" His eyes gleaming with anticipation.

"Two million boss.. This person completely obliterated the encryption and couldn't even be bothered to cover their tracks... I'm sure it's probably a fake address because-"

Looking at the outdated desktop computer with thought "Ueno High-school?", Asking a little probingly.

"How did you know?? What are you thinking of doing?"

A dazzling smile on his face as he chuckled darkly,

"Wondering how I can kid- export a certain Japanese doll back home."

Hanging up and leaving the person on the phone completely freaked out.

'Does he hate me that much that he wants to give me one of those creepy haunted dolls?'

***

"I'm not going to live with him I can look after myself fine." She said coldly, drinking the glass of water in sips.

"Then what's this? Which son of a bitch did this?" Her father, Takashi Asano said the son of a Yakuza Boss and a computer science genius. Holding her small fist gently in his hand.

Apparently he heavily invested in the process of building the Russolini groups 'Red Line,' so he's a very well off and established man. Even before meeting Luca Russo, he was developing his own games and other software.

"Pacifying a pervert." She said to their confusion, having no intention on further explaining.

Hiding her face in her hood she grumbled as she struggled in his grip.

"Didn't you say I could stay in my own place?" She sighed making her appear adorable in his eyes.

"Uncle said that but your dads here now", rubbing her head dotingly. "You know what happened wasn't his fault, he was falsely accused and he spent most of your life in prison. He's not a bad person Akari."

Her father touched and surprised about him defending him, "He's not going to hurt you."

"Daddy wants to treat you well and protect you from all those pesky flies." He reiterated. His hands rubbing against her small one,making her a little shocked.

"If I live with him can I quit school?"She asked carefully.

"No. It's a place where you should enjoy yourself and make friends." He said stubbornly. "Not from the orphanage, internet and from who knows where."

"Tsk... can't you just sign the paperwork already?." She whined, in frustration.

"No,although technically you've had your high-school diploma since middle school, I don't want you to pressure yourself further."

Listening to their conversation his face dropped completely stunned, a smug grin watching him on Daichi's face.

"Tsk." Moving her head away to sneeze.

"I'll be busy next month, I have... work abroad so I won't be able to help you settle in." He said as he felt his arm being nipped.

"Fine." She stood up too quickly, taking back her hand.

Not taking into consideration that she'd barely eaten anything all day and had shrugged it off. Performing as if she was completely fine with her rigorous movements.

Her body staggered as she tripped on the chair that she'd pushed behind her, eyes tearing and rolling to the side.

"Akari!" Her head falling against a muscular chest as she fainted.

Feeling her burning temperature against his cold hands, she sighed unconsciously. Holding onto her so his arm stabilised her position. Adjusting her body in a princess carry, preventing her from falling.