A Painful Melody

Chapter 42- Another compromise

3rd person POV

Akashi didn't know where to look. Akagawa was like that blurred memory in a person's mind. He didn't know where to start but he wanted this feeling gone.

This guilt, the heaviness of the thought of her seeing him with Manami, the uncertainty of his thoughts, the reason she was always on his mind.

He walked out of the hotel, not sure where to go but he knew she wasn't in the hotel. After walking for what seemed like hours, he found himself looking at a beautiful sight.

He saw pure white sand, clear blue water, the sunset mixed with orange and purple, and an even more beautiful red head completing that sight.

Her hair seemed to look like flames when lit by the natural sunset. Those godlike eyes of hers were out in the open and she was staring at the horizon trying to calm her head.

Akagawa held her hands near her chest, it was clenching tightly and she didn't know how to feel.

...' Stop talking peasant, you're hurting my ears. '...

...' Leave. I don't want to be within the same room as a peasant. '...

...' I hate agreeing with Harigae, but I will do the match next period. No exceptions. '...

...' You gave us study hall. Silence yourself, you're bothering me peasant. '...

...' You certainly are hard to pin down. '...

...' I'm merely interested, the girl who has the most irritating voice, but the most stunning eyes. '...

...' Harigae is a recommendation from me, so if anything happens... I will punish you all. '...

...' That was due to your misunderstanding based on your hatred towards Harigae. '...

...' Anyhow, would you grant me the pleasure of continuing this as a date? '...

...' What are you doing Shin? '...

...' I don't want you to feel dirty, you're not like any other person Harigae. Tell me what you want me to do. '...

...' Just get on the bed and sleep peasant. '...

...' You're going to be fine now, Harigae. '...

...' Harigae, lets have a compromise. Join the basketball team for a month, as well as the student council and become my second in command. If you don't like the basketball team after that month, you may drop out and I won't bother you about it. As for student council, I don't want an annoying peasant following me around everywhere. '...

"What are you doing here?" Akagawa spoke, not turning back to face the very person she was thinking about.

Akashi slightly hesitated but went towards her and hugged her. It may have been a hug from behind, though that itself made Akagawa's heart tighten.

She turned around, both of their eyes locking. Her angelic orbs. His heterochromatic. "How long have you known?" Akagawa tightened her grip on his shirt as he loosened his hold.

"I'm absolute, even if you were the exception I will always find my ways." Akashi's expression softened.

"You're completely different from the people I've despised. You are the only person I will ever deem worthy to stand by my side. Manami and I was nothing but a foolish arrangement. I harbor no feelings for that peasant and I never will." Akashi's voice rang in her ears. Akagawa didn't like how this was escalating.

"I came to love that familiar difference. I love you. Akagawa Harigae, I demand for you to be by my side for the rest of my life." Akagawa pushed Akashi away, breaking the hug.

She loved him too. She loved him and that's exactly why...

"I lov-I can't. I'm not. You can't." Akagawa's eyes flickered from her god eyes to her black orbs. She didn't want Akashi to become like Nijio. She has never fallen for someone so intensely, this is exactly why she wanted to protect him.

Akashi gave a different feeling, not the warmth that Shuichi held but not the coldness that terrified her. He was completely different. His smirk, his attitude, his voice, she couldn't bring herself to ruin all of it.

Akashi's eyes widened, "I'm not accepting no as an answer, that question you owe me. I'm taking advantage of that now. Answer me, what is the exact reason why you are not allowed to love?" Akashi reached out a hand towards her but Akagawa smacked it away.

"T-The trials may make you go insane. If I admit my feelings, the other will undergo trials to prove their worth." Akagawa eyes finally faded into their golden metallic red mixture and tears filled her eyes.

A smile formed on Akashi's lips and he bursted out laughing. The action shocked Akagawa, he was already out of character and the sight and sound of him laughing crossed the line. Akashi calmed himself and scoffed, "How dare you compare mere peasants to me. If you want me to prove my worth, go ahead. I'm an emperor, how dare there be trials that defy me." His left eye slightly glowed.

Akagawa calmed down, if he had so much confidence then he might have a chance. Though, her urge to savor his assets was greater. "Seijuro-san, this isn't a game. You could actually go mentally insane! I'm not going to risk... I'm not going to lose you on some fake hope!" Akagawa was stopped by Akashi pulling her chin up.

"Try me. What can a mere trial do to me? Let's make another compromise, if I pass these trials then I will personally bring you to my father to become my fiancé." Akashi wrapped his other arm around her waist tightly, she couldn't push him off this time.

"And if you fail the trials?" Akagawa tightly clenched her fists.

Akashi smirked, "That isn't possible, but if for some reason it defies me just like you-"

He grabbed his scissors and placed the handle into her small hands, he pulled her hand and pointed the cold metal against his chest, "-my feelings and my being will completely belong to you.".

Akagawa's eyes teared once more, why was he risking so much? This was much to sudden! What made him snap? Why couldn't they couldn't they go back to the times where he hated her?

Akagawa couldn't go back to those times. She, herself knew it. The empty feeling of his hatred would have burdened her mind and heart. After experiencing so much with him, she could never go back to how it was before.

Though she was too concerned. That three words would barely escape her lips, if Akashi didn't pass the trials...

Akagawa would kill him.