Karma

Karma has never seen someone as beautiful as her.

She had long hazelnut-brown hair tied into a simple ponytail. Her eyes, cerulean as the sky, bluer than the seas.

"Ayano Akari. First time meeting you, sir."

"I wouldn't call it a first time, though."

He has met her from a distant past. Someone so endearing to him he could never forget no matter how vague her face is in his memory. The moment as he is reunited with her, he loves her even more. He couldn't resist touching her, to feel her warmth, to hear her speak.

He kisses her; the degree of how much he loves her, more than anyone else.

Maybe she is the reason he has been single for so long. Maybe he loves her too much to like anyone else.

Finally meeting her once more is a blessing. A gift.

If only she remembers him. If only.

*****

Electricity shocks him whenever she is close to him. He becomes numb when she kisses him.

But he is shocked—more precisely, terrified when she collapses, blood soaking the ground.

He couldn't do anything. He could only scream her name. He wishes so badly that it is all a nightmare—that she isn't shot. That she is still awake in his arms, safe and protected.

He failed to protect her.

It hurts so badly.

Why, Akari, why? Let it shot me instead of you! I feel like I'm dying right now. I'm being tortured alive in hell on Earth.

Karma's legs don't stop as he carries her to the hospital. The warm blood soaks his fingers. He trembles. He is scared—afraid he would lose her. When her blood won't stop flowing, his blood runs cold. He can die from fear now.

At least, I can die with her.

He can never live in a world without her.

*****

Karma has never slept for days. He doesn't feel the need to do so. He would eat and drink only when Rio or Nagisa shove him some food. But other than that, he would just sit by her bedside, praying that she would wake up from the coma.

"Come back from the darkness," he chants. "Come back to the light where I'm waiting. Please."

There is no response from her. He grows horrified every hour.

She won't wake up.

No! She will!

She's dead.

She's still breathing!

Karma mentally tortures himself for the guilt of endangering her. When he is alone with her, he would sob silently as the pain tears his heart apart gradually.

"Why do you worry too much over her anyway?" Rio asks.

Do you like me? The brunette asked.

"I love her. Is that a satisfying answer for you?"

Yes, I love you. You haven't heard the answer to your question yet so please wake up so that I can tell you myself.

Another night where he silently waits for her. She still showed no signs of waking up. He grabs her hand, holding it tight, as if his message can be transferred to her. "Please don't leave me... Please..." he begs her.

She is the light of his life. She shone love into his lonely heart. If she leaves him, he will forever be encased in darkness—never to receive redemption. As if she had heard his desperate prayers, she wakes up. Her eyes are just as beautiful as the day he met her—cerulean blue, the colour of his light.

"I... I love you."

"I love you too." Akari reciprocates his feelings.

He blushes. Joy. Pleasure. Happiness. Giddiness. All in one. Her awakening; her love for him. His heart thunders in his chest as he realize how blessed he is.

Karma kisses her gently; an acknowledgement of their love. Her lips taste so sweet; she feels so fragile under his touch that he has to be careful.

"Then... can we go out on a date?"

"Yes."

Nothing can stand between them anymore. Not her blab of professionalism. Not their ranks. Not everyone else's judgmental looks.

Karma can never afford to lose her again.

*****

Akari

Even though I said I'd go out on a date with him, but Karma hasn't quite the time to do so. Since he left his office to wait by my bedside for 3 days, Rio has piled up mountains of paperwork on his desk as punishment for over-exerting himself. He slept for the whole day after my recovery, then stuck at work for the next 3 days. Poor him. If only I can help him out.

Anyway, now that I've turned my target/boss into my boyfriend, I'm stuck in a dilemma.

How can I continue my mission when Karma is my boyfriend?! I'll be betraying him for digging up any dirty secrets! Then if I do find any, I'll have to turn in my boyfriend!

But if I quit the mission, I'll bring disgrace to my team. Korosensei will be disappointed—though I believe he will be hungry for the gossip. And sooner later I'll have to confess to Karma that I am a spy along and it'll wreck our relationship and I'll have to leave and I'll never see him again.

God someone kill me!

However, I'll never say loving Karma is a wrong decision.

Karma buries his face into the pile of paperwork. He huffs. "I think Rio hates me."

I stare at the pile of paperwork which Rio can easily handle if she wants to. "Isn't it obvious?"

"I think she is jealous that we'll be going out on a date."

Laughter breaks out as the named blonde steps in, a victorious smug on her face. "Me jealous? PLEEAASSE. I can have any guy I want. Except you."

"I hate you."

"Thank you Karma. I hate you too."

I sigh. Rio sits beside me on the couch. "Feeling better?" she asks.

"Yeah. The back doesn't sting that much anymore." I tentatively rub my back, which stings when I touch the bullet wound.

She chuckles evilly. "Let me tell you something. For so long I've known Karma... he has never gone out a date before."

I choke. "Seriously?"

A stack of paperwork abruptly falls to the ground.

Rio grins. "So he's like an innocent little prick who has never tasted love before. No dates, no holding hands, no kisses... he's as innocent as an elementary school kid."

I stare at Karma, whose face is blooming red. I stifle laughter. "But Karma could have got a lot of girls with his looks."

"If only he behaved well," Rio adds. She enjoys mocking her boss. "His notorious fame of pranking people scares any girls away. Well, there are some juniors in school would harbour crushes on him only because they didn't know him well."

A sound of paper crumpling as smoke fumes from Karma's face. It's either he's red from anger or embarrassment. "Nakamura..."

Rio continues. "My team has a crush on him except the sniper Rinka. Apparently they haven't known their boss well. If they did they'd be running off. I'm utterly surprised that you would become his girlfriend. Do you have a boyfriend before?"

I tap my chin. "Hmm... back in high school, I guess. He's the male class rep. He's basically an ikemen and had cute antennas on his head. But we broke up a year later after we graduated."

"Nakamura..." Karma hisses in the background but we ignore him.

Rio laughs. "So Karma is the only inexperienced, innocent human here. I'd bet he's nervous of dating you."

"Everyone does at their first dat—" I am cut off when I suddenly remember something. "Karma." He looks at me. "Don't tell me... that... that was your first kiss?"

The kiss he forces on me when we first met.

Karma's face is the colour of his hair. "N-no! O-of c-course n-not..." he stutters while Rio laughs hard. He grits his teeth.

"Then where did you even got to practice kissing?" Rio asks. "When you don't even have a girlfriend before."

It would be mean to laugh but I still did.

Clicking his tongue, he pulls out tubes of wasabi from his drawer. "Don't make me force these down your throat NAKAMURA."

"I don't care~"says Rio as she leaves. "Good luck with your first date, innocent Karma."

I give him a massage on his shoulders to ease his tension. Embarrassment still paints his face red. "Seriously," I start. "Where did you get to practice anyway?"

He stiffens. "If you're not my girlfriend I'll stuff wasabi down your throat too."

I snicker and plant a kiss on his cheek. He pouts and pretends he doesn't like it. My stomach abruptly grumbles.

Karma grabs my hand. "Let's go out for dinner. Our first date."

*****

"So..."

My eyes are on the dazzling street lights of the city as we stroll along, amidst the buzzing crowd that came out for dinner. It is a cool Autumn night. The temperature dropped drastically after the sunset. Karma's hand kept mine warm as he weaves his fingers through mine. His face is red when he tried to intertwine our fingers smoothly but failed.

"Who's this... ex-boyfriend you talked about?"

I blink. "Why'd you ask?" I stare at him. "Are you jealous?"

"Nooooo." He replies unconfidently.

I raise my eyebrow. "Uh-huh. Jealous."

"Am not."

I giggle as he averts his eyes from me.

We reach a ramen restaurant which Karma claims to be the best in town. The place is packed with people eating and talking away. Some people are still waiting for the arrival of their food. At first sight, this must be a very delicious restaurant since it's packed but it also means there aren't any empty seats for us. Scent of delicious ramen wafting in the air initiates a drum band in my stomach.

The chef working by the bar has a familiar hair colour that I immediately recognize as one of Terasaka's companions. I'd never expect him to be a skillful chef, hands non-stop moving around in the kitchen. He repeats the cooking process like a daily routine as if he is some automation.

"Hey, Muramatsu," Karma calls out. The man stiffens for a while, glances in our direction, sighs in exasperation, almost rolls his eyes and stops his work.

"Oh. You," Muramatsu mutters. He doesn't seem to hate Karma, but doesn't enjoy his presence. He waves to a waiter nearby. "Get this guy a table before he pulls any stunts."

I stare at Karma, who smirks with satisfaction. "What did you do?"

He shrugs. "Nothing really. I'd just feed him wasabi when he purposely delayed my order once to get back revenge for Terasaka."

"And what did you do to Terasaka?"

"Wasabi." Karma replies as if it is something normal to him.

Muramatsu clicks his tongue as Karma reminds him of his painful torture. "The usual?" He asks as we sit at a hastily cleaned up seats by the bar.

"Yeah."

Muramatsu looks at me. "The same for you?"

"Yup," Karma replies before I do.

I watch with intrigue at Muramatsu's adept work. With each bowl of ramen he finishes, I wonder when it will be our turn. My stomach thunders.

"What's his name?"

"Huh?" I absentmindedly mutter as I continue to stare at the bowls of ramen, praying that one of them will be mine.

"I mean your... ex," Karma spits the last word as if it is lethal to his being.

Oh. I stare at him. "Yuuma." I smirk. "You're so jealous."

He clicks his tongue. Abruptly he develops an interest at watching Muramatsu doing his work. A pale blush dyes his face.

*****

"Just..."

After the sumptuous dinner, we continue to trudge through the crowd. Nightlife has begun and the city glows with liveliness under the carpet of a beautiful night sky. The neon lights have reduced my ability to detect any stars tonight, but I can see the bright moon hanging, a beautiful white circle.

"... just focus on me from now, ok?"

I glance at Karma. He tightens his grip on my hand to tell me he is not ethereal; he is real, walking beside me, my current boyfriend. I giggle at his desperation to get my attention.

"Of course. You are my boyfriend now."

Those simple words make his face a bright shade of red, comparable with the flashing neon lights.

"Dummy," I mutter and tightens my grip on hand to reassure him.

We stay silent as we walk through the streets. There is no exchange between us. We enjoy each other's company with our hearts, the only thing solid that connects us together is the trifling intertwine of our fingers. But even that is enough. Such trivial thing is enough to make me happy.

Karma walks closer to me; our arms glue to each other the moment they come in contact. He glances at me and I would smile at him, then he would turn to the other side, looking embarrassed.

He's so cute when he's shy.

"A... AKARI?!"

I thought I was dreaming when I heard my name called by a familiar voice.

"OKUMURA AKARI!"

Shouting of my real name sends shiver down my spine.

Crap! Someone recognized me?!

Grudgingly I turn around. A lady runs in our direction. I recognize that flail of a ponytail when she moves.

"Akari!" Kataoka Megu grabs me by my collar. "What the heck are you doing here?"

Megu is my best friend since elementary school. We stuck to each other like a pair of twins. After high school graduation we got into the same university as well, but separated when she pursued her career as a Business Major. She now owns a PhD.

And yes, I didn't tell her about my job or my current target has evolved into my boyfriend.

Being protective and all, Karma tries to shove Megu. But she shots him a glare that makes the Yakuza head paralyzes.

"Don't. Interfere. Girls." Megu huffs. I gulp.

"Megu......what are you doing here? I thought you're in the States."

Don't blow my cover don't blow my cover don't blow my cover... I pray to the God of Secret Agents.

"I came back yesterday. I thought you're at Korea for Master in Psychology?"

Karma's eyebrow rises in bewilderment.

"Ehehehehe... Umm I'm on a break!" I wave my hand in dismissal.

Megu stares at me blankly. Doubt creases her eyebrows. Then she smiles. "Whatever. We should hang out some time." I nod. She turns to Karma. "Who is he?"

"He's err... my bos—I mean—"

"I'm her boyfriend," Karma cuts me to it. "Call me Karma." He extends his hand.

Megu eyes him for a while and shakes his hand. "Kataoka Megu. Nice meeting you." Suddenly she drags me aside and whispers. "I didn't know you have a boyfriend."

"It suddenly happens..."

Megu glances at Karma, who leans against a wall, occasionally peeking at us. Girls who pass by would whisper about him obviously to draw his attention. Well, Karma is good-looking, and the way he lazily leans against the wall adds to his coolness aptitude.

"He looks... fairly nice. When are you getting married?"

I choke. "We just begun dating, Megu!"

"What? I would love to be your bridesmaid soon..." She pouts.

That is a farfetched topic. My target ups a level to my husband? I haven't thought about it. Plus, I still haven't solved my job conflicts. If Korosensei ever finds out I'm dating my target, it wouldn't end well.

Because he will grill me for gossip.

"So what does he do?"

I paralyze. Telling Megu Karma's the head of a Yakuza clan? Chances are she will end up massacring the entire clan. I will have to make up something logical to cover up my pile of white lies. "Umm... he's a... a..." I suddenly become word-deficient. "A...chef!"

Megu blinks. Silence.

Oh God of Secret Agents please let me get through this safely.

She pats my shoulder to praise me. "Oh. No wonder. You probably fell for his cooking, right?"

I want to bawl with tears of happiness. "Y-yes..." Frankly, I have no idea if he can actually cook.

"At least you don't have to cook. He'll do the cooking, right?"

"Y-yeah..."

"I wish for your happiness!"

I'm so sorry Megu for lying to you.

Megu glances at the watch on her right wrist. "Look at the time. I wouldn't want to disturb you and your boyfriend. See ya' later." She pauses. "But if he bullies you... I will kill him."

That is real blackmail. She can really do it.

I wave goodbye at her retreating figure. Karma stands next to me. "Your friend... seems scary." He comments.

I sigh and nod in agreement.

*****

Karma would never let any chances slip pass. Every night before I go to bed, he would lock me in his arms, stroking my hair while kissing me passionately. His touch heats me up, making it hard for me to break away from him.

He rests his head on the nape of my neck, gently kissing it. His hand tickles my lower back.

"Umm Karma..." I start.

Karma trails kisses on my neck and meets my eyes. "Hmm?"

"What if..." I stutter. "What if one day you find out I'm not who I really am?"

He blinks. "What does that mean?"

"Example... what if I'm actually a sp—sadist?!"

He smirks. "I like sadists." He stamps my mouth with his.

"I'm just kidding! I'm not really a sad—" I yelp when he bites my lip.

"Then what are you? What secrets do you have?" He breathes against my lips.

I pull him closer and kiss him so that he could stop talking about the topic. It is stupid of me for almost exposing my true identity. I've been feeling insecure lately, wondering if Karma will leave me if he finds out I'm a spy. The thought is unbearable. I can't fail my mission, yet I cannot lose him. I've set him as my topmost priority because this is how love does to people—messing up my brain's cognitive functionality. The longer I stay here, the more I enjoy being with him, the more I forget of my mission and my true identity.

Because of my job, I've been living a life of lies. I lied to my uncle, my best friend, and my target/boss/boyfriend. Guilt gnaws me from within. I can't live with myself if knowing the truth will hurt them badly, so I have to cover lies with lies.

My life is pathetic.

As if he sees through my predicament, he breaks away from the kiss and kisses my forehead. The warm pressure on my forehead abruptly washes away my worries. His lips remain there for a while until he is sure that I feel better.

Karma looks into my eyes and I'm sucked into his beautiful orbs. "I'd still love you for whoever you are."

Tears brim in my ears. "I'm sorry... I..."

"Idiot, why are you apologizing? It's not fault for doubting. We've just begun dating anyway." He kisses me on the lips and embraces me tight.

Hesitantly, I kiss him back.

I'm sorry for lying to you, Karma.

*****

At nights after Karma kisses me, we would lie on my bed. I'd listen to his heartbeat, a soothing lullaby, as I curl up in his arms. He would express how much he loves me and kisses my forehead and falls asleep from the tedious work.

However, now, my eyes refuse to close. Because everything feels ethereal, I have to open my eyes and try not to fall asleep because I'm scared that if I do, the next morning Karma would vanish, like a dream—nothing is real but my imagination. Karma would never exist. Our love is a fake feeling that my heart sets up to fill my deprivation of love. And I'll wake up one day, realize I'm a lunatic in an asylum, gone crazy because of the absurd stories my mind makes up.

The unperturbed peacefulness here is terrifying. I'm afraid that one day someone would come in and shatter it. Everything would never go back the way it is. I would lose Karma because of my lies. I would lose everything.

I touch Karma's face, who is soundly asleep beside me, and wish that my nightmares are just nightmares—they will never come true.

*****

I had a nightmare last night. It wasn't the fears I possess. Or rather, it was a ridiculous one where Megu ends up shoving wasabi down Karma's throat for making me cry. Why did I cry? I can't remember.

My pillow is wet with tears when I touch it. Maybe I cried till I fell asleep when I thought of my fears. Karma is no longer beside me. He'd always leave me to sleep for another hour or more. And I'd meet him in his office after I have my breakfast in the dining hall with other members of the clan. They don't seem to dislike me, but rather respect me and greet me almost too politely when they see me—it's either because I saved their boss' life or either I'm his girlfriend.

"Has Karma eaten yet?" I ask Nagisa as I sit next to him and Ritsu. Ritsu cheerfully pops cherries into her mouth.

Nagisa swallows his mouthful of noodles. "I didn't see him here."

I turn to Ritsu, who continues to enjoy her cherries. "Umm... I think not. I've been here since the hall is open and I didn't see him."

After eating, I decide to bring a tray of breakfast to Karma's office. The mahogany doors are open wide. Someone is speaking inside the office. I step in with a huge grin on my face. But the moment I see the person in the office I freeze.

It isn't the redhead.

She has long silver hair that gleams like the moon in low-light conditions. Her back faces the door as she sits on the desk, picking up any object on the desk which perks her interests. Her body is tightly wrapped with a tight sleeveless black cocktail dress, emphasizing her curvaceous body and a huge cleavage revealing her buxom. Long legs with white creamy skin don with a pair of red heels. Her image is the entire opposite of mine--a very beautiful woman with the perfect curves. I try not to look at myself and make a mental compare. My skin isn't snowy white and my hair isn't that luminescent. I don't possess such curves either.

The woman glances at me. She wears a sweet smile. But I sense a hint of contempt as she looks at me. If I scrutinize deeper, I might interpret her smile as a contemptuous smirk.

"You must be Karma's new bodyguard." The woman steps down from the desk. She flails her hair. "I'm Leena."

I assume she must know Karma very closely to position her bottom on top of his desk. A tinge of jealousy highlights my face but I hide it with a professional smile.

"Yes. I'm Ayano Akari. Karma's new bodyguard."

She chuckles. "Karma? You call your boss by his first name?" She steps closer to me. "Have you not notice the gap between your ranks?"

Her last sentence does not coincide with her previous question. She is asking about something else.

She is hinting of the current relationship between me and Karma-- a bodyguard should not be dating her boss, the gap of ranks she is talking about.

Maybe I overthink things. But my instincts tell me this woman is going to be a pain in the ass.

"Karma lets everyone call him by first name."

"That's because he is friendly. Doesn't mean you should do it," she retorts.

"Who are you anyway? Why are you in his office? I have the right to know."

She laughs. "You're just a bodyguard. Well, you are just doing your job." She pauses. "I reintroduce myself. I'm Leena Turant, Karma's fiancée."

F-f-f-f-f-fiancée?!

I gape.

Leena, amused by my emotions, chuckles. "Didn't anyone inform you about that before you apply to the job? Or more specifically, before you become his girlfriend?"

My boyfriend, has a fiancee.

A fiancee.

My boyfriend.

I will kill him.

"Leena?" Karma steps in, glancing at her and then at me. He sighs in exasperation. Rio and Nagisa who followed him gape at the current situation where a war is about to ensue.

"Hell no the bitch has arrived," Rio hisses unmercifully.

"Kaaaaaaaarma!" Leena calls him endearingly as she throws herself into him. "I'm baaaaack!"

"Nobody cares," mutters Rio.

Leena points at Rio. "Haven't you fire this rude woman yet?"

"WHO YOU'RE CALLING RUDE, BITCH?!"

"What are you doing here?" Karma hisses as he grits his teeth. He glances at me worryingly.

Leena giggles. "I missed you so I came back! I am your fiancée after all."

Karma sighs. "It's just a business arrangem--"

The revelation has shocked me to my core. I stay paralyzed, watching them like through a television box. It's like my life is one of those dramas in TV. Karma doesn't deny the 'accusations' so what the woman has said is real. I thought my boyfriend having a fiancée who I never knew existed--and thought that I'm going to be his fiancée instead--has been such a shocking revelation nothing else can shock me now.

Until the woman decides to give Karma a huge passionate kiss on the lips.

And hell just broke loose.

My hand moves on its own as it yanks the woman hair, pulling her away from Karma. When she breaks free from my grip, she glares at me venomously, but nonetheless smirks as if she has more hidden in her sleeves.

"What. Do. You. Think. You're. Doing." I spit.

"Kissing him of course." Leena combs her hair. "I am his fiancée.

A volcano of rage erupts. Seething with anger, I glare at her. "I don't care. Touch him again I'll break your face."

She chuckles. "Break my face? I'll break your career."

An intense stare-down between me and Leena sends ripples of tension throughout the room. The onlookers dare not to interfere, afraid they might end up as collateral damage. I am about to strangle her when Karma steps in between us. He grabs my hand tightly.

"Leena, you should leave," Karma suggests. However, his tone sounds more like a command.

Leena clicks her tongue. "You can't make me. My father is the elder of this clan. He won't be pleased."

His grip on my hand tightens. "I don't care. Leave or I'll—"

I yank my hand free from Karma's. He stares at me with bewilderment. Seeing him infuriates me. How dare he hide such a secret from me? I had to find it out in the worst possible way. I feel ashamed now, to be dating a man who already has a fiancée. It feels like I'm the third wheel here.

My ire is also aimed at myself for being too content and too absorbed into this love business that I made a fool out of myself. I almost gave up my mission because of him. His lies, whether intentional or not, hurts badly. My heart is being squeezed by an invisible force. Seeing his face, the look of guilt, sickens me. I fell for a liar. I'm pathetic.

This is karma. I'm supposed to be the only liar here. As Karma's name had already suggested, karmic retribution finds a crueler way to make me suffer. I end up suffering for his lies.

"I don't want to talk to you anymore," I hiss. He tries to grab on to me. I push him away, feeling disgusted. "Don't."

Hurt is evident on Karma's face. I don't look back when I leave.

*****

Karma

Rio and Nagisa had gone off after Akari, who has stomped off in rage.

Leena chuckles at her accomplishment.

Karma remains glued to the floor, watches helplessly as Akari leaves him.

I've lost her again.

He deserves it—for not telling the truth before it comes to her by a messenger—a devil incarnate, Leena. He wants to tell her the moment they started dating. But seeing how happy she is, the bright smile on her face makes him reconsider. The truth can only hurt her; it will destroy her sweet smile, shatter their relationship.

Karma can't hurt her. But keeping the truth from her will hurt her even more.

What am I thinking? Maybe I should have told her from the beginning myself and she wouldn't be this hurt.

But then, we wouldn't be dating at all.

Whenever he touches her, her skin feels like satin. When he kisses her, she tastes as sweet as honey. He can't tell her at all; the risk of losing her escalates ever so steeply. It is a looming premonition warning him that if she knows the truth she will leave him. He will lose her.

Karma knows he is selfish—to keep her from the truth because he wants to keep her to himself forever.

Idiot. He chides himself. Now you've lost her.

The only woman he ever loves is Akari. Never someone else. She is the only one who has made a stay in his heart—a permanent dwelling that no one can ever replace. He has never liked Leena Turant. She is only the fiancée arranged by his parents and her father to secure the foundation between the families of Akabane and Turant. Both families are important to Ayakawa. If either decides to break away, the clan will crumble.

Leena has never interfered his ways. She rarely comes to visit him. Plus, she has plenty of boyfriends out there swooning over her like pesky flies. Flies are what Rio describes her pack of zombified minions—flies are only attracted to shit and she is one.

Leena must have caught wind of him having a girlfriend and decides to drop by, to show who is boss. To show who owns Akabane Karma.

No one owns Akabane Karma. Not his parents. Not Ayakawa. No one. The only exception: his fragile heart is owned by Akari permanently.

"Karma, she's not worth it. Just settle down with our engagement. My father's probably preparing the marriage soon so you'd just have to—"

"Leave."

Leena looks at him quizzically, to make sure she has not heard it wrong.

"I said LEAVE!"

Karma rarely showed anyone his temper. His temper is the factor to his un-coolness. He always remains impassive against everything in his life.

Unless it involves Akari—his taboo.

Undaunted, Leena blinks. She stops by the exit and turns back to look at him.

"What's mine will always be mine. No one can take it from me."

That is her quote—she gets what she wants. She likes to own everything even though she probably doesn't like them. A possessive, selfish woman. She doesn't like anyone to suddenly step in and steal her play toys. Obviously, she has already claimed Karma as hers.

As if Karma will concede.

"I'm never yours. Never will be," he retorts. "Don't bother coming here again."

Leena lets out a laugh. "As long as you stay bonded to Ayakawa, you can never be a free man. Blame your parents for selling their shares to my father. I practically own you now."

Karma couldn't breathe, as if an invisible collar tightens around his neck. Leena could tug on his leash whenever she feels like it. He couldn't find any solution to break free.

But now is not the time to think of some stupid solutions to free himself.

He has to find the solution to save his relationship with Akari.

*****

Karma decides to leave Akari to her measures. Eventually she has to come back here. Somehow. He leans himself on that tiny hope.

But she could go back to where she used to live.

Then he'll never see her again.

The look of disgust when she looks at him; contempt, hatred, anger all mixed in one. It stings his heart to know how easily love evolves to hatred; the degree of hatred in her is irrefutable. At least she didn't say it into his face. If she did, he can collapse to the floor that instant because his heart wouldn't take in that pain and decide on a suicidal route instead.

Frantically he reaches for the phone on his desk. "Ritsu, can you... track down Akari? I... I need to know where she is. I want to know if she is safe."

Her safety is all that matters now. No matter how much she will hate him, he needs to know she is safe—a desire driven by his love for her.

"I'll hack into her phone. Leave that to me, boss!" Ritsu's chirpy voice assures him. She is one of the best hackers in the world.

Being such an intelligent hacker, Ritsu has finished her job splendidly in a matter of minutes. According to her, she is in one of the drinking places in downtown, an area filled with plenty of other Yazuka clans' members, most of them being delinquents. That area is not under Ayakawa's jurisdiction which worries him. Karma immediately dialed Rio's phone, to see if she is with Akari. Unfortunately, Akari has ditched both Rio and Nagisa a while ago and they had been searching for her since.

His worst fears begin knocking at his door. What if something happens to her?

"Rio, I'm going for Akari." He tells her through his phone.

And without any measures to hide his flaming crown—an obvious trait to be known as the Ayakawa head—Karma leaves for Akari.

*****

Irina

Irina had a bad day today.

She has just retired from her mission a few days earlier. It was a recon mission to grill information from drug dealers with her seduction skills. She has succeeded seamlessly, living up to the name as the Japan Special Forces Team 2 Leader. Her entire team is specialized in reconnaissance, she being the top in the entire force as the best agent in this field. Her team members are the best in disguising themselves while she and her best disciple, Yada, are the only two eligible to enter deeply into the mouth of a tiger with their skills. Irina could easily hand over her position to Yada if she wants to but to leave the Special Forces and stuck with mere office work at another branch is another different matter.

Because it would only meant Irina would be separated from Karasuma.

Everyone admires Karasuma—the handsome, young, intelligent agent who rose to the ranks with his strength. He is revered by those below him and praised by those above him. There are probably a lot of girls who has a crush on him, but Irina doesn't just have a simple puppy love crush on him.

She loves him.

Though, being intelligent and all, the man is dense when it comes to romance.

Even a pervert like Korosensei knows Irina has a huge thing for Karasuma. In fact, almost everyone knows, except him.

With her curves and her beauty, Irina could get any man she wants. But all she wants is Karasuma, yet the God of Love refuses to grant her that.

She slams the jug of beer onto the bar table. Half of the beer is already missing down her throat. Usually, she believes being a beautiful woman like her, only wine or cocktails suit her image. But she felt the urge for a huge jug of beer today because it will wash away her frustrations faster.

Why is it a bad day today? Everyday Karasuma treats her indifferently as a colleague, not as a potential lover.

Because she witnessed Karasuma passing a bouquet of flowers to another female colleague today. Jealousy has rotten her mood ever since.

"Another jug," Irina says after drinking the jug empty.

A splendid idea light bulb lights up over her head. Maybe if she pulls her kissing stunt on him, it might work.

But then again, that idiot would think it as a practice instead.

"I hate you Karasuma!" Irina yells as she drinks from the new jug.

"I hate you Karma!"

Irina is drawn to the familiar, yet sorrowful voice a few seats next to her. She spots a ponytail of brown hair, a woman younger than her dressed in a black suit. She would not have expected to see her here. A few men huddle around her, pretending they know her. From Irina's experience, the woman is being taken advantage of when she is drunk.

As far as Irina knows her, Okumura Akari would never let herself drunk in public alone. If she is a little sober, those men would end up in the hospital by now.

"Ooi." Irina shoves a man out of her way to get a better look at the woman. It is her.

"I haaaaaaaaaaaaaate you..." Akari grumbles as she reaches out for the jug of beer the waiter newly prepared. But Irina peels her fingers from the handle and pushes the jug away.

"Stop drinking," Irina warns. "You're drunk."

Akari glares at her and hiccups. "Leaaave me aloooone..."

The men around Akari glare at Irina. "Yeah. Leave her alone." They begin to shove Irina away which astounds the blonde. These men should be begging on their knees for Irina to bat her eyelashes at them, since she is a beauty and past experience tells her so.

Oh wait. Irina suddenly remembers she is wearing a blouse with no gap to reveal her cleavage. Her hair is tied into a messy ponytail and she wears a dorky red-framed glasses. She smudged her make-up on her way here so she looks like some dorky woman.

Irina clicks her tongue. "You leave or I'll make you."

The men begin to laugh.

Sighing, she fishes out a golden badge. It is a crest with the Police Forces symbol on it. The men, stunned at the glint of the crest and run off—messing with police is never on top of their list. Though, the badge was no longer valid since she had transferred from the Police to the Special Forces. But she decided to keep it as a protection since it has been helpful to her.

Irina shakes Akari's shoulder. The brunette has her face planted on the bar, drooling while muttering incoherently. She can make out a single word, 'Karma', when Akari spits it out spitefully. She has never seen Akari for a while. Even though they are on different teams, sometimes they would cross each other's path. And Korosensei would force her to attend Irina's kissing lessons. Once, Irina pulled one 40-hit kiss on Akari and she fainted. She expected Akari a little faint-hearted against romance, since she is the only one free from any romantic gossip.

Back again to the topic where she hasn't seen Akari for a while. Maybe Akari is on a mission right now. But what decent agent would get herself drunk in public at a place where there are no big fishes swimming around?

The phone on the bar vibrates. Irina sees the face of a person flashing on the screen. She recognizes the face immediately.

Akabane Karma, current head of Ayakawa clan.

Oh. That Karma.

This sounds like a romantic conflict than a professional one. Did Akari fell for a man who is probably her target or is it just a ruse? A woman's intuition would tell Irina: yes, she fell for him.

Somehow, she abstain the desire to give Akari a thumbs-up for getting such a good-looking yet possibly cruel bloodthirsty Yakuza head.

Wait that doesn't sound right. I shouldn't be praising that little Akari has grown up when her boyfriend is a Yakuza head.

But the thought of little Akari truly growing into the state of a mature lady with a certain degree of appeal brings a smile to Irina's face. She suddenly hopes that her kissing lessons are good for Akari.

"ARGH WHAT AM I THINKING?!" Irina slams her hand to the bar. The alcohol is messing with her cognitive skills. "I'm supposed to think of how to get this drunkard home!" With the main concern at hand finally getting her to her own senses—she have to stop letting romance getting to her head, be it hers or others'—she picks up Akari's vibrating phone. The call is cut off. A few seconds later the same face appears on the screen.

Without hesitance, she picks up the call. "Hello?"

"Akari?"

"No, I'm not her. She's drunk right now."

"Who's this? Where is she?"

"I'm Iri—" She pauses. It's not wise to expose her identity, not when if this is really a mission Akari is carrying now. "Just get to The Drunken Lads to retrieve your girlfriend. IF she is your girlfriend."

Irina waits silently beside the drunken Akari who is now asleep. She wonders what kind of a romantic conflict did the innocent brunette gotten herself into. With a big fish like Akabane is involved into, it wouldn't be a trivial matter.

Her instincts tell her a certain gossipy erotic inhuman boss is involved in this too—probably the instigator.

"I haaaaaaaaaaaaaate yooooooou," mutters Akari. "Whhhhhhyyyyy diiiiiiiiiid I taaaaake thisssss stupid misssssssion anyway? I eeeeeeend up falllling for myyyy taaarget..." A hiccup. "I haaate yooou Kaaaarma."

Irina's assumptions are proven. Akabane Karma is the target, but Akari falls for him still. Love-devoid machine falling in love? This guy must be good.

She nudges Akari. The brunette groggily opens her eyes. "Ehehehehe IRRRRRRRRIIIINAA!" She pulls Irina closer and pokes at her buxom. "Heeey Irrinaaa, doooo guys liiiiike big breeaaasts?" Because hiiisss fiancée has good cuuurves and I ddoooon't. Caaaaan you teaaaach me moooore of yooouur kissing lessssssons? Hahahahaha!"

First, a fiancée. Second, kissing lessons. Akari must be really depressed.

Irritated, Irina grabs Akari's shoulders and shakes her. "Get a grip, idiot. If that Karma doesn't treasure you then just leave him. Who cares about the mission? A woman's happiness is more important." She remembers Karasuma and tightens her grip until Akari yelps. "Don't spoil yourself for an idiot."

"Buuuut I liiiiike hiiiiimmm..."

"Yeah well I like Karasuma too but I don't know if I should give up."

"Karaaasuuuma? He's an idiot too! Hahahahaha!"

"Yeah I know." Irina is depressed why she would fall for an idiot like Karasuma.

"Maaaaaybe yoooou should cooooonfesssssssss for oooonce..."

Irina gasps. "C-confess?!"

"Betttter than juuuuust staaaanding and waaaaaaatch hissss densseenesss. Maaaaybbeee he likes yooou tooo butttt he's too shyyyyyyy." Hiccup. "Dooo something crazy for oooonnnceeee. Better do itttt than regreeeet not dooooing it. Attt leaaast you tried. Then wrrrrinkles won't grow oon your face!"

By reflex Irina touches her face. Luckily she feels no wrinkles. "For a drunken kid you have good advice. Maybe I... err... really should try...."

Akari hiccups as her way of saying 'you're welcome'.

"AKARI!"

Irina turns to the source of the voice. A tall, slim ginger rushes in their direction. Akabane Karma looks more handsome in real life than a lifeless picture on the phone screen. He ignores Irina's presence as he reaches for Akari, who by instinct tries to slap his hands away from her shoulders.

"Why is she this drunk?" Karma asks nobody.

But Irina replies. "Because of you."

Karma turns to her.

"She's been saying stuff like 'I hate Karma' or something. I assume you're Karma." Irina grabs a jug of beer and drinks it, pretending to be just another busybody female alcoholic looking out for other girls.

He lets Akari's arms dangle over his shoulders as he carries her piggyback style. "Thanks," he says to Irina.

"No problem," she replies nonchalantly, not putting weight in her tone. "Girls look out for girls." She pauses and drinks beer. "Anyway, she's a nice kid. Don't break her heart."

Karma doesn't reply. He bites his lips and leaves without turning back. By then, he has a stricken look. Irina just hit his weakness.

You already broke her heart. So don't do it again.

Irina keeps her thoughts to herself and pays for her beer and Akari's. She fishes out a phone, types on it angrily and sends off her message.

"Korosensei, you are dead tomorrow for throwing Akari into this fray. I will kill you."

Before she leaves, she grabs a jug of beer from another customer and drinks it. "All the best to you, kid."

All the best to myself too.

*****

Anyway, I was wondering are any of you guys good in drawing? Can someone draw me Akari and Karma? Pretty please? I really suck at drawing...

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