Innocent Seduction

Chapter Seven

was depressed. She was depressed because she was in a dilemma. She found it ironic that being a she was struggling financially. If my father knew… he would have a field day, she thought sadly. "Damnit! I can't even tell Hiroshi," she complained out loud.

At the mention of his name, she blushed. So far, it has been two weeks and they had been going out. They were more relaxed with one another. It was far more than before. He seemed better with her. Although they weren’t that talkative, but his presence helped.

Right now, she stared quietly at her financials. The red circled numbers were increasing and she had no idea how to make them go away. She knew it was a big mistake to move here before finding a stable job. She didn’t know what she was thinking. She didn’t even have proper money to eat anymore. And yet I still can't stop shopping, she thought in agony.

She gathered her thoughts when she heard the doorbell. Quickly, she took her papers and hid them between a magazine. She quickly made sure there were no signs of it and went to the door. She opened it and smiled. "Hey…"

He kissed her cheek and walked in.

"I'm wondering, won't Seiichi think its weird when you keep coming here?"

"He's in Osaka again and Sumi seems to like hanging around Yuuka these days," he explained, sitting down on the sofa.

nodded and walked towards him. 'So, how is my boy?" she asked, sitting on his lap. She put her hands on his shoulders and smiled at him.

'He's actually good for a change."

smiled. "That's good to hear," she said, putting her head on his shoulder. However, the minute she did that she heard a light growl from his stomach. She sat up and grinned. "You're hungry, aren't you?"

'Not really. My stomach's hungry, I couldn’t care less if I ate or not."

She got off him. "We can't have that then. Relax, while I go and make something."

Yagyuu just shook his head, a small smile playing on his lips. If he didn’t know any better, he would have thought she was acting like his wife or something. He paused in his thoughts at that before shaking it off entirely.

Looking around to find something to occupy his mind, he spotted the magazine on the table. Deciding it was better than letting his mind wander; he picked it up and flipped through it. However, he wasn’t expecting to find what he did.

His eyebrows furrowed in questioning as he looked at the documents he stumbled upon. He knew that it wasn’t any of his business but curiosity got the better of him. Quickly scanning over the papers, he realized what they were.

Her financial stability is spiraling downward fast, he thought. Looking over the numbers and making quick calculations in his head, he estimated that she had enough for maybe a few weeks at most, unless she starved herself. I should have confronted her about this.

At that moment, came back with a plate of food. “Hiroshi, I hope you’re okay with…” She drifted off when she noticed what he was looking at. Dropping the plate, she dashed over and quickly grabbed the papers away. “What are you doing?”

“Why didn’t you tell me?” Yagyuu questioned in calm anger that was tinged with disappointment. Although he had an inkling of an idea about her financial troubles, he was hoping that she would have told him about them now that they were closer than before. “Or maybe the question should be why couldn’t you tell me?”

“I wanted to take care of it myself. I don’t want any pity, even from you,” stated firmly, turning her back to him. She didn’t want him to see she was beginning to fall apart.

“, pride is all right to have, but too much will be your downfall,” Yagyuu said. He stepped up behind her and wrapped his arms around her in a tight embrace. “Don’t you trust me enough to help you?”

bit her bottom lip. She did trust him, a lot more than he probably thought. She was having an internal struggle between her pride as an independent woman and her sensible side that knew with his help she would be able to get out of the bind she was in. After a minute of battling with herself, her pride gave way, letting her sensible side rule this time.

turned around and put her arms around his waist.

"?"

"I know you've heard this a million times by now. I just want you to hold me, Hiroshi,' she requested. "I'll talk once I can find my voice again."

------------------------------

sat next to him as he made some phone calls. It took a lot of strength and swallowed pride to tell him that she was struggling. He told her that finding a job was the first thing for her to do and he ordered no shopping on the list.

He asked her to call and Jackal to see if they have anything for her while he called some of his own friends. He hated doing this, but he was going to use his connections to make sure she had something by the end of this week.

He looked at the last number that he had in his phone book. He debated with himself for a second before remembering that he was doing this for . With hardened resolve, he dialed Niou's number. "This is a surprise."

"I'll get straight to the point," Yagyuu said firmly. "You once told me you help out in recruiting. Do you think you could find a suitable job for ?"

"Actually I do. If I recall correctly, she wants something to do with kids, right?"

"Yes."

"My sister's looking for a nanny for her brats."

Yagyuu leaned on the sofa and rubbed his jaw. "The evil twins?"

"Yup."

Yagyuu looked at who was looking earnestly at him. "Seriously, Masaharu… would you wish those two kids amongst your worst enemy?"

"That's why my sister is paying a price that makes gold look like dirt."

Yagyuu let out a sigh. "Let me talk to and then I'll let you know, ok?"

"That's fine, but one thing. If she wants it, then she gets it. It saves me time for reference check.'

"Thank you."

"And Hiroshi…"

Yagyuu paused. "Yes?"

"This woman, she's more than a friend?"

"Have a nice day, Masaharu. I'll let you know what she thinks soon." Once he hung up the phone, he let out an annoyed sigh.

“What did Niou say?” questioned. Although she had only heard one side of the conversation, she had a pretty good idea of what they were talking about.

“Masaharu’s sister is looking for a nanny to take care of her kids,” Yagyuu informed her.

“So that’s whom you were referring to when you said the evil twins,” said, understanding dawning on her. “What else did he say?”

“He said that his sister is willing to pay well and that you have the job if you want it,” he finished.

looked at him in astonishment. “Really? Right off the bat?”

“Probably left a good impression on him at the water park,” he said with a slight shrug. When he saw the contemplative look on her face, he asked, “Are you considering it?”

“I don’t see why not,” she replied with a shrug of her shoulders. “Considering the circumstances, it sounds heaven sent even if it’s with the twins.”

Yagyuu looked a bit disturbed. “, are you sure? I know how evil those two are… I mean Seiichi who never complains has voiced his opinion about those two.”

“It’s not like I really have a choice!” she snapped, standing up. “Now, let me prepare you another sandwich.”

“Sit down, . I feel like ordering some Chinese.” He picked up his cell phone again. “What do you want?”

“I want you to call Niou and tell him that I accept the job.”

“…”

“How bad could it be, damnit!”

-----------------

Two Days Later

“I thought he was kidding when he told me to wear jeans and sneakers.” hugged as he helped her walk into her apartment.

“Then just quit.”

“No!” she said, pushing away from him and standing up with a determined voice. After a few seconds, she held her head and almost fainted if Yagyuu hadn’t caught her. “I will turn those two demons into angels!”

and Yagyuu looked at each other. Yagyuu was just returning back home with Sumi when he saw escorting a very tired inside. Now that she was draped over Yagyuu, was able to open her apartment with no trouble.

“I warned you about those two, didn’t I?” Yagyuu mumbled as he helped her inside when the door opened. After fumbling a bit to get their shoes off, he led her to the couch, where she gratefully plopped down on.

Sumi, who had followed her father in, went up to and sat down next to her. “-sensei, are you okay?”

glanced at the look of concern sent her way by the girl. She responded with a reassuring but tired smile. “I’m fine, Sumi-chan. Thank you for asking.”

“Here, this will help you,” said, handing her a cup of freshly made tea. took it with a grateful smile. settled in the adjacent seat. “So how was it? By the way you look; I’d say that they were a lot more trouble than you thought they would be.”

“Well, they sure kept me busy. It’s bad enough that I can’t tell them apart yet, but they are mischievous too,” replied, a sigh escaping her lips. “If I kept my eyes on one, then the other would go off and do something.”

“Probably got it from Masaharu,” Yagyuu commented, not resisting the slight twitch of his lips. “Despite not usually being able to handle them on his own, Masaharu does spend a lot of time with his nieces and nephew. In turn, they practically adore him because of all the stories they heard from when he did all sorts of pranks and stuff back in middle school.”

scowled. “So I have Niou to thank for not only getting me the job but for them being so mischievous as well. Wonderful.”

“There’s still time to back out,” suggested with a grin. However, he knew it was pointless for even suggesting it. She was stubborn to a fault.

“There’s no way I’m backing out, ! Just you wait and see. I’m going to have those girls wearing halos over their heads in no time,” declared, determination showing on her face.

shook his head with a smile on his face. He wondered how long that determination would last. He looked over to Yagyuu and saw the hidden amusement; he was probably thinking along the same lines.

“Papa.” Yagyuu looked at his daughter with an expectant look. “Sumi’s hungry.”

Yagyuu nodded. “Let’s go then. I’ll make you something to eat,” he said, holding out his hand for her to take. Once she did, he looked over to and . “What about you two? Would you like to join us if you don’t already have plans?”

“I was supposed to meet with Jackal, but I’m sure he wouldn’t mind coming over if it’s all right with you,” replied with a thoughtful look. When Yagyuu gave him the okay, he took out his cell phone to contact his boyfriend about the change of plans.

Yagyuu glanced over to . “And how about you ?”

“That’s awfully generous of you Yagyuu,” responded with a teasing smile. “But I accept your generous offer wholeheartedly. Just let me freshen up a bit and I’ll be right over.”

“Take your time.” He looked over to who had just finished his conversation. “How’s your end?”

“Jackal’s coming. Says he wouldn’t want to miss how ’s first day with Niou’s twins was,” informed, teasing smirk on his face.

“Someone would have told him any way,” pointed out, slight glare directed toward the European male. She turned back to Yagyuu. “We’ll go when Jackal gets here.”

With a nod, Yagyuu left the apartment and headed to his own with Sumi in tow. When he stepped inside, he noticed that Yukimura’s shoes were in his usual place, which meant that he was actually home. “Sumi, why don’t you go tell Uncle Sei that we’re going to have guests over for dinner?”

“Okay!” She chirped, running off to find Yukimura.

Yagyuu made his way to the kitchen, thoughts occupied with the possibilities of what to make. As he was rummaging through the fridge and cupboards, he took notice that his housemate was leaning against the wall.

“Sumi tells me we’re having guests?” Yukimura inquired with a questioning look that held amusement as well. “Who’s coming?”

“, Jackal, and ,” Yagyuu replied automatically as he just started to pull things out of the fridge only to put them back.

Yukimura raised an eyebrow at that. “Really now? Was there something special that happened that I didn’t know about?”

“Apparently, we had caught supporting to her apartment who was returning from her first day on the job,” Yagyuu explained, still looking in the fridge.

“She found a job?” Yukimura asked with interest. “What is she doing now?”

“Ask her yourself when she gets here,” Yagyuu said, pulling out a pot.

Yukimura let out a sigh. He wondered why there was a slight defensive tone in Yagyuu's voice every time 's name came up. As usual, he decided to let it go. "So what's for dinner?"

Yagyuu looked at him wryly. "At the moment nothing," he admitted. "The fridge is empty!"

"Good, then we can order Sushi," he said with a smile.

"And Chinese!" Sumi yelled.

Yagyuu nodded. He pulled out a notepad and paper and began writing down what to order. In a few minutes, he actually made the call and that was when entered. "She's taking a shower and said she will nap a bit. Do you guys mind if I crash here?"

"Sure,' Yukimura answered.

Yagyuu nodded and picked up his wallet and keys. "I'm going to get some drinks," he suggested. "Sumi, want to come with me."

"Uncle Sei said he will play with me Playstation."

"And too," piped in with a grin.

Yagyuu nodded and walked out. He was going to the elevator, but stopped. He decided to check on because he had been a bit worried when she looked exhausted. Using the key he had, he walked into her apartment. He had it for emergencies, but she had told him to keep it as well. "?"

Silence.

He frowned, for he could not hear any water running. "?"

Silence.

For a second, he panicked and walked to her bedroom. He knocked and looked around, but froze when she walked out of the bathroom. They both actually froze. At any woman's natural instinct, she would normally scream when a man walked in on her naked, but she just froze in her place.

Fortunately for , she had a towel in her hand and quickly held it in front of her. "What are you doing here?"

He turned around and looked down. "I came to check up on you. You looked really tired."

"I'm fine," she said quietly, wrapping the towel around her body. "You can look now."

"I'm sorry," he said quietly.

"It's alright," she said, sitting on the bed. "Thanks for checking up on me." She smiled, patting the space next to her.

Yagyuu sat down and she put her head on his shoulder. "Your hair is still wet," he said, moving his hand through it. "You'll catch a cold."

"Yeah, yeah…" she mumbled, moving away. She stood in front of him and smiled. "I've missed you," she said, bending down and placing her hands on her knees. She looked into his face as he sat down.

Yagyuu realized that he had missed her as well. Even though it had been only a day, but he did miss her. Steadily, he moved his hands and cupped her face. "Show me how much you've missed me."

laughed. "That's so cheesy; did you watch a romance with Seiichi?" She giggled.

"No," he answered seriously.

went serious as well and placed her lips on his. They kissed casually until it turned serious. Not surprised, found herself on the bed with him on top of her, but not suffocating her. Since they started dating, they had kissed more profoundly and were acting accordingly to their body instincts.

Now, with her in a towel, it seemed more serious. His lips had left hers and he had found her collarbone, which seemed to be his favorite place in the last few days, he went lower and lower, the towel almost loosening until she stopped him. "What do you think you're doing?"

Yagyuu froze in place. Snapping out of his haze, he took in the situation they were in. Or more accurately, the position they were in. He immediately sat up so that he was no longer hovering over her. She followed suit, holding on to her towel to make sure it wouldn’t fall.

“I’m sorry,” Yagyuu muttered, burying his face in his hands.

wrapped her arms around him, settling her chin on his shoulder so that she could see him. “You don’t need to apologize.” She wasn’t expecting the response that she got.

Yagyuu quickly stood up, turning his back to her. “Don’t … not when you’re still just in a towel,” he said quietly, but loud enough for her to hear. “Besides, I should be going to get the drinks that I was supposed to be getting.”

“Hiroshi…”

“You get ready and just head over. I’ll see you when I get back.” With that, he swiftly left the room and exited the apartment, leaving to her thoughts.

-----------------

'Is it me or you look sexier without your glasses?"

Yagyuu stared wryly at Jackal. "Please don't," he muttered, placing the food that had just arrived on serving plates. "I don’t think your boyfriend would appreciate you flattering me like that."

Jackal chuckled. "I'm just tying to loosen you up a bit," he said cheerfully, taking a seat across where he stood.

Yagyuu didn’t say anything.

was at the side, fixing some little things like a salad. She had been quiet most of the time, but everyone took it as a sign that she was tired. She busied herself in the kitchen because she didn't really feel like interacting with anyone.

"Say, Hiroshi. Are you seeing anyone?" Jackal asked casually, making stop a bit from chopping tomatoes for the salad.

Yagyuu didn't say anything for five minutes, but finally looked at Jackal. "Why do you ask?" he finally asked, turning his direction to the half-Brazilian.

"One of my clients, she is a very beautiful woman and she had hinted several times that she wants to be set up. Don't get me wrong, for I don't do this normally, but she's a friend and I think you two will suit well." Jackal looked at him.

Yagyuu just finished with the plates and placed them on the table. "That's fine, I guess," he said. "Maybe this will get you people off my back to hook me up with someone."

Jackal smiled genuinely. "Has Seiichi been bothering you as well?"

"He's been mentioning it every week."

They both continued chatting casually. However, none realized that had simply left the kitchen to go sit with and the rest.

During dinner, the healthy munches of four grown man and an excited little girl could be heard. It was clear that everybody was hungry and they were all enjoying the mouth watering feast in front of them.

was trying to enjoy the conversation, but her heart kept shifting. The conversation Yagyuu had with Jackal earlier had bugged her deeply. Why did he say yes to going out with someone else? She thought miserably. Also, how he had left suddenly earlier, hurt her pride. And why the hell did he push me away? She shook her head, thinking.

"?"

looked up when she heard her voice and realized that it was Yukimura. "Yes?"

"Do you want some more salad?"

nodded as he placed some on her plate.

Yukimura smiled at her. "You seem really tired." He observed. "Where do you work now?" he asked, sipping his soft drink.

"I am the nanny of Masaharu's twin nieces," she answered, making him almost choke on his soft drink.

Sumi patted his back gently so he could go back to breathing normally.

"What any sane human being would do that?!" Yukimura exclaimed, looking at her.

watched him wryly. "The desperate kind," she answered softly, resuming eating her food. The way she had answered kind of gave it a serious tone, so Yukimura decided to drop the subject and not make any more drama out of it.

They ate while the men conversed. Finally, Jackal took Sumi to play with him while and Yukimura conversed about politics and helped Yagyuu to clean up.

She was busy washing dishes when she felt him near. "You're quiet," he said, moving a strand of hair that was on her eye. He moved it because he knew her hands were too soapy for her to do anything.

moved away. "I'm just tired."

"Okay," he said, taking the dishes she had washed to dry.

washed, but then put her hands down. Her pause made him turn to look at her. "I'm not only tired, but disappointed as well," she whispered, looking away. "How could you say yes to going out with someone else?"

"?"

"How could say yes to Jackal? Aren't we dating? Didn’t you ask me to go out with you? Why do you want to go out with someone else?" she asked, giving him her back. "And why did you say yes in front of me? Are you mad because I stopped you earlier?"

"No, that's not the…"

"I only stopped you because people were waiting! I'm not going to let my first time with you be like a ten minute thing!" she said heatedly.

Yagyuu stopped in his place. He touched his forehead. ", I know it wasn't like that," he said quietly.

"You pushed me away." She jabbed her finger on his chest. "Why did you push me away?"

"Because you were naked," he whispered. "Damnit! You were in a towel! Of course I was going to push you away. At the end of the day, I am still a man!"

's cheeks heated. She bit her lip and looked down. "I'm sorry," she said softly. "I just thought that you didn’t want me."

Yagyuu let out a sigh and took her hand. He pulled her close and held her tight. "You silly woman," he whispered in her ears, hugging her. put her arms around him and held tight.

"Everything alright?"

They jumped apart, looking over to see Yukimura standing there with a grin on his face. glanced to the ground with a light blush on her face while Yagyuu just looked anywhere other than where his housemate was standing. Silence reigned until Yukimura let out a small chuckle.

“I was hoping for when you’d actually tell me rather than finding out this way,” Yukimura stated with a smile.

Both of them turned to him with confused looks on their faces. “What do you mean by that, Seiichi?” asked, no longer blushing.

“I may have not been around all the time, but I’m no idiot, ,” Yukimura replied. “I’ve seen the way Hiroshi’s been acting the past few weeks.” His moved over to said male, a smirk crossing his features. “You’re not slick enough to deceive my eyes, Hiroshi. You should know that by now.”

Yagyuu released a sigh. He had thought that he was doing a pretty good job tricking his friend. Apparently he wasn’t as good as Niou for this round. “So?”

“So what?” Yukimura questioned back in slight confusion. “I approve if that’s what you’re asking about. But it’s not like you really need it from me.”

“Oh? I had the distinct impression that you’d probably give me some sort of interrogation,” Yagyuu responded, sarcasm dripping from his words.

Shrugging his shoulders, Yukimura replied, “Since it’s you, I don’t have a problem with it.”

“Thanks,” Yagyuu said wryly.

“So, what about the others?” Yukimura asked, almost whispering since said others were in the other room. “Are you going to tell them or not?”

Yagyuu and looked at each other as if telepathically communicating with each other. After a few seconds, they both reached the same conclusion. “We won’t tell them just yet. Maybe at a later time,” answered for the both of them.

“Any particular reason for the delay?” Yukimura inquired, questioning gaze shifting between the two of them. When neither said anything, he let out a sigh of his own. “Well, whatever. It’s your decision, just as long as you tell them.”

nodded and looked at Yagyuu. "Well…" she said, moving away from him. "We'll discuss later; I need to go and lie down."

Yagyuu nodded.

grinned. "I guess I can do this now," she said, kissing his lips lightly in front of Yukimura and then walking away.

Yagyuu cleared his throat and continued washing the unfinished dishes that left.