" Pick up your blade Akira."  he ordered.

I obeyed without looking him in the eye. How could I? After all the things I could do, I tried to kiss him. I mentally slapped myself.

I decided to keep my head low, throughout practice. 

But I never missed the chance to admire his features. Everytime he looked away, I looked at him. Evening approached and the winter wind got colder and he insisted that we go inside. 

The training soon came to an end.

How I wish it lasted longer? 

I frowned and followed him into the hideout.

He settled himself in the corner of the settee, ready to indulge himself in a bit of reading before the evening was spent.

The binding creaked, its spine aching with age and service, only for there to be little surprise when blossoms fell to his chest. After reading for a while, he leaned his head back and placed the book over his eyes, allowing its knowledge to press gently against his eyelids.

A smile crept and the air grew thick with a tenderness. I realized that I was staring at him without even blinking once. Why did he have to be so perfect?

There was something in those eyes of his that were so beautiful, so safe and warm.In just one look I felt like I was "home." 

I couldn't bring myself to stop thinking about him. Why wasn't he leaving my mind?

I closed my eyes, so that I could at least stop looking at him.

I brought both my hands closer to my face, and placed my palms over my eyes. 

I let out a sigh before making my way to the kitchen so that I could cook something for dinner.

I couldn't get him out of my head. I chopped vegetables one by one quickly. I wanted to get this over with for some weird reason. I quickened my pace, and I let out a strangled scream, when I cut my left hand. The wound was deep. It hurt a lot. I dropped the knife, and took a step back. Blood trickled down my fingers, but I was glad that I didn't chop my fingers off.

The next moment, Seijuro ran into the kitchen. I turned to face him. Tears threatening to fall. He took quick steps towards me, and pulled my hand towards him so that he could have a look. I didn't resist, I let him do whatever he wanted to.

I stared at him, while he examined my wound for a few seconds with a frown on his face. I was so busy admiring him, I didn't notice that he had already washed my wound, and the bleeding had comparatively reduced. But the throbbing pain remained.

He dragged me by my arm out of the kitchen and motioned me to take a seat near the fire place. I sat on the upholstered seat waiting for him to arrive.

He walked towards his chamber, and came out with a piece of white cloth and a glass bottle closed with a cork.

He sat next to me, and pulled my arm onto his lap. I winced in pain when he poured some of the liquid on my palm. I tired to withdraw my hand, but his grip tightened further.

The bleeding had slowed to barely a trickle as he placed a tiny piece of thick cloth over the wound. Then he covered it in another cloth that stretched from the wrist to the finger tips and checked that there was still blood flow by pinching to find out if the blanched finger tips returned to pink.

He let go of my hand.

" Thank you. " I uttered, with a blush on my face.

" Hmm. " was the only response I received from him.

He sat beside me, motionless.

Akashi's POV :

I looked into her eyes once, and it feels like she has cast a spell on me. She is a beautifully sculptured work of art.

Surprisingly I saw a hidden tinkle on the nook of her bright golden eyes, like a dew in early sunshine.

She was just beautiful.

Perfectly placed blade nose, delicately curved thin lips with burrowed cheekbones, slightly out turned ears and clean radiant skin. She was not carved in haste, But with grace and patience like a ritual.

I fail words to describe her.My heart pleasantly melted when she was in my arms. It was hard. It was hard to resist her. I could barely concentrate during her training.

I couldn't get her out of my mind. I've never felt this way before. What is this feeling?

xxx

When she screamed in pain, I felt a sting in my chest. What was it? 

I treated her wounds like they were mine. I sat beside her waiting for her to speak.

Why is this happening? This isn't right.

I'm  Akashi Seijuro . It isn't right for me to have feelings for a normal woman like Akira. I need to get a grip over myself. I closed my eyes, and took a deep breath.

I stood up and walked into the kitchen. I felt a pair of eyes looking at me, but I didn't turn around to look back at her.

She shouldn't have feelings for me either.