At this point, all I can say is, Thanks, to all readers. Readers who have waited for years, the guest that actually took the effort to check this story's update when you're in a different country, readers that taken time out to review, that favourite and follow, and even silent readers, from the bottom of my heart, thank you. I have no excuses for such slow updates.

I hope to finish Oga's and Aki's story someday.

Chapter 22- The Underling

Yamamura Kazuya.

A first-year student at St. Ishiyama , marked the first day of him officially studying the way of the delinquent under the great Oga Tatsumi.

There he stood, right outside of his Aniki's house.

He took in a deep breath, about to ring the doorbell when he noticed the sudden spark from the window on the second floor.

"Wha-?"

"DA!"

"AHHHHHHHHHH"

"I-I knew it," Kazuya stuttered, fear evident on his face from that bloodcurdling scream, "I really got to prepare myself when it comes to Oga." Taking in a deep breath, he finally rang the bell. It'll be cool. He would be respectful and compliant, and he would make him acknowledge him. He can do this! He dyed his hair and pierced his ears for God's sake!

It wasn't long before someone opened the door, and Kazuya's jaw dropped.

Right before him, was the most beautiful, and sexy woman he'd ever seen. The blonde, well-endowed woman was wearing a maid uniform, accentuating all her assets in the right way. He didn't even notice the baby in her arms but was lost in her sweet voice asking who he was.

He was still gapping when the gir- no, the woman before her tilted her head in confusion, and that was when he'd snapped out of it.

"I-It's a pleasure to meet you, miss!" He all but yelled, back to his serious mode, "I would be honoured to get your blessing to become Oga-san's underling! My name is Yamamura Kazuya!"

"You…" He faltered a bit, before shaking the sudden gloominess away, "You must be Oga-san's wife! I look forward to getting to know you!"

"Oh? Oh! Ohh, ohh! An underling!" Hilda cooed in recognition. So that was what Aki was saying last night about Oga getting a puppy!

"You…" Oga chose this time to appear behind of Hilda, checking to see what was the commotion about. "You really came," He muttered, actually surprise.

He didn't expect what this orange head boy really meant what he said yesterday.

"Oga-san!" Kazuya brightened up instantly, "I have arrived to pick you up!"

"Arh?" Oga raised an eyebrow, about to retort when he just let out a sigh, simply giving up, "Wait here, I'll get Aki."

"A…ki?" Now, it was Kazuya who'd tilted his head in confusion. "Shimizudani Aki?"

"Oh?" Hilda piped up, a smirk on her face, "Don't you know? Aki's the wife. I'm just the babysitter, Hilda."

Kazuya was surprised to feel the relief at Hilda's words but quickly shook it away. He had more important things to address! Shimizudani Aki was Oga's wife?!

Sure, he'd heard of Shimizudani Aki, the Screaming Banshee of Ishiyama, but…

How should Kazuya put it? Shimizudani Aki was… meh? The rumours about her weren't exactly impressive nor great, painting her out to be an insignificant sidekick. Well, in this case, a trophy wife, Kazuya would say. It wasn't as if she was ugly per se, just that next to the Ishiyama Queen, Kunieda who was well known for her beauty and strength, and Hilda whom he just met, Shimizudani's boring reddish brown hair and chestnut brown eyes seemed… lacking?

Speak of the devil, there was Oga was with the girl right behind her, the both of them bidding goodbye to Hilda and taking the baby from her. Kazuya took this chance to take a closer look at Aki, determined to see what he was missing. He took in her neat shoulder-length hair, heart-shaped face, high cheekbones and sharp jawline that complimented her eyes that seemed too large for her face, along with her petite build.

Alright, maybe she was just kind of cute, Kazuya begrudgingly acknowledged, though definitely not in a conventional way.

His eyes suddenly lit up. That was why Oga was even more amazing! Of course, someone as awesome as himself would have such an exquisite taste in women! Oga was not like other shallow delinquents who would normally ignore such boring looking woman!

"Good morning, Shimizudani-san! I'm Yamamura Kazuya, Oga-san's underling! We met yesterday! Please take care of me!" Kazuya yelled, just as enthusiastic as he'd greeted Oga just a few minutes ago, only to have his greetings be met with an unimpressive snort from the girl.

Kazuya instantly froze when he met her sharp, piercing gaze. He gulped lightly, suddenly rotted to his spot. It was almost as if this girl before her had read his rude thoughts about her before, and was punishing him for it.

"Underling, huh?" Kazuya snapped out from his thoughts at her voice, and watched as she then turned to Oga, shrugging, "You could do better, but, it's a start." She said before a grin graced her face, "Guess you are moving up in the world. Should I start wearing my kimono and start calling you Tatsumi-sama?"

Much to Kazuya's astonishment, Oga's face flushed a deep red, a sight he never thought Oga would ever allow on his face, "B-Baka! You should have done that a long time ago!"

Unbelievable, Kazuya thought. With just a few words, she'd easily subdued the Oga with her teasing. She was even more dangerous than he initially assumed. Who the fuck started the rumours saying she was useless and weakest?! He's sweating his ass off just being in her presence!

"Come on, we're going to be late!" Oga snapped before grabbing Aki's hand and dragged her along, with Kazuya dutifully trailing behind them. Not before waving Hilda goodbye, of course.

"Maaaan! No less from you, aniki! I never expected your babysitter to be a foreigner, and she's such a hottie!" Kazuya rambled on, trying to salvage the situation after all three of them left the house and away from Hilda's sight.

"Ah! Please! Let me hold your bag!"

"You know," Oga started as he turned around and making a shooing gesture with his free hand at Kazuya, "Didn't I tell you yesterday? I'm not your aniki, and don't follow me arou-" Before he could finish his sentence, the girl already unabashedly tossed her bag towards the boy, "AKI!"

"What?" The girl stared back at him innocently as she shrugged, "He offered."

"Don't enable him!" Oga whispered harshly at Aki, who had raised an elegant eyebrow.

"Why not? I enable you." At this, Aki raised their intertwined hands with another teasing smirk on her face. If it weren't for the fact that Kazuya had witnessed it himself, he wouldn't believe the blush on Oga's face could get darker as he instantly let the girl's hands go.

Kazuya could hear the low grumbling of Oga, muttering about stupid woman who's full of herself. He was pretty sure he heard he used the word 'bitch' too.

He thought so too.

Much to his astonishment, Aki was crackling at his antics, genuinely enjoying Oga's misery. It wasn't a second later when Oga whirled around, pointing an accusing finger at him, "In the first place, what year are you, Kazu?"

"Oh! I'm Kazu!" Kazuya said to himself, realizing that it was his nickname now,

"A first year! First year, class 6, number 15!"

"Man, you're the same age as me," Oga muttered before raising his voice, his stance commanding and authoritative, "So now, my guidance to you is, I'm not your onii-chan!"

"Baka," Aki huffed, "It's aniki. Aa-ni-ki. Not onii-chan."

"Arh? And what do you know anything about that, huh?" Oga challenged, only to have the girl smirked mockingly. Without even saying a thing, she'd successfully pissed Oga off even more so. Kazuya watched their exchange quietly, and couldn't help but felt like he was missing some kind of inside joke between them. Regardless, feeling he had enough of their flirting, he interrupted.

"But, Oga-san, I… I… I really want to be as strong as you!" Kazuya's declared loudly, his voice as unwavering as his goal. "You are so amazing! The best of the best! I have to call you 'Aniki'! No, please let me call you that!" He pleaded.

There was a pregnant pause before Oga turned around, disgustingly smug and content at the same time, "Mannnn", his whine not at all matched his pleased face, "I guess it can't be helped."

Kazuya lit up! Oga was acknowledging him! He accepted him as his underling! His inner celebration abruptly came to a stop when he met Aki's gaze, her eyes so cold they sent shivers down his spine.

"Well, kid, congrats." Kazuya bristled at her condescending tone, snapping him out of his reverie. He did not like Shimizudani.

Sure, she may be aniki's wife, but something about those soulless eyes and that picture perfect smile that didn't reach her eyes just unnerved him,

"Thanks," He muttered, eyes narrowing a smudge, "Aneki."

"Heyyyy," Furuichi started, "Aren't there way fewer people here?"

"Huh?" Oga piped up, glancing around the classroom, "You think?" Beelzebub was sitting on Aki's lap, drinking his milk. Since the homeroom teacher was nowhere to be seen, Aki figured it wouldn't hurt to take up Kunieda's seat since she wasn't here for the self-study period.

"Yeah, look. Toujou and the MK5 in the front row are all missing." Furuichi pointed out.

"That's Toujou-san for you," Shouji interrupted, his presence startled Furuichi who hadn't noticed his presence, "He's got back-to-back part-time jobs."

"You don't seem surprised," Oga pointed out. His eyes automatically drifted to Aki whenever Toujou's name was mentioned, or whenever said man was in her vicinity.

"He dragged me along to a few part-time jobs of his. It was troublesome." Oga watched as Aki complained with a hint of a smile, and he frowned, an uncomfortable feeling settling in his chest. He knew that look. It had been the look that she would always have on her face when she was talking about him, not Toujou.

As much as he hated himself for doing so, Aki's friendship with Toujou bothered him. Sure, Toujou had generously offered Aki a place to stay when she had nowhere else to go, but knowing Aki, she wouldn't have accepted that offer if she didn't trust the man on some level. In fact, it was exactly how comfortable she was with the red hair man in such a short time when it had taken him years that left a bad taste in his mouth.

"Uh huh," Oga muttered, turning away from Aki in frustration before huffing under his breath, "Who cares about that stupid battle junkie anyway."

"Anyway," Shouji continued despite enjoying the show before him, "I've been hearing weird rumours. You guys, be careful, too."

"Weird rumours?" Furuichi voiced out.

"Rokkisei (The six knights)," This time, it was Nene who joined in the conversation, "I've heard of them too, that there's a group trying to chase out all of us from Ishiyama."

"Rokkisei's doing that?"

"Are those guys that strong?"

"Do they not have better things to do?" All Furuichi, Oga, and Aki asked respectively.

"W-Well, I don't really know," Nene replied, "Maybe MK5 got taken out by them."

"Hehh," Kanzaki chuckled, "The hell are you scared of? That story just makes me feel ashamed. If those rumours are true, and they'd lose to a group from this lame school, they're ruining Ishiyama's name." As expected, Kanzaki's patronizing words angered Nene, and it didn't take long before they started rousing the whole class up with their possible fight.

"STOP IT!" Kunieda's loud commanding voice suddenly boomed out, garnering everyone's attention in an instant. Everyone fell silent, watching her as she strode towards Oga imposingly, like the queen she was.

"Oga-kun," She started, a light blush dusting her face, "C-c-come, come with me a sec."

Silence.

Stunned silence. Then…

"The Queen asked Oga out!"

"She's finally confessing her feelings?!"

"Whoo Hoo!"

"And with his wife just right there?! Is that a challenge?!"

"Don't be jealous, Shimizudani!"

Various shouting and teasing burst out, all of them getting more and more excited as they eagerly watch the show unfold. Oga, trying to keep a straight face or he'll have a stupid smile, glanced towards Aki, who was still feeding Baby Beel calmly.

"So, uh," Oga started, watching Aki carefully, "You, uh, jealous?"

"Nope," Aki answered almost immediately, giving Oga a tight-lipped smile, "Not one bit. None whatsoever. Have a good trip."

"Ooh! The wife backed away!"

"No way!"

"The Queen has a chance?!"

"A-Anyway!" Kunieda piped out, face flushed as she grabbed Oga's hand and dragged him away from his seat, "We're being called out, so we're going to the teacher's offices together!" Like the guys had said, Shimizudani definitely had backed away, right? She had given the approval, right? That meant, there really was nothing going on, right? So, it was okay to take Oga's hand, right? Right?

Oga barely had time to react, only managed to scoop Baby Beel away from Aki before following the Ishiyama Queen, leaving her behind. He was too over the moon to care about where the black-haired girl was pulling him. Despite the teasing said otherwise, he knew Aki well enough to know that she was annoyed. Yes, Aki was most definitely jealous.

Furuichi watched as the air around Aki darkened, one of her hands still holding onto Baby Beel's feeding bottle. He watched as Aki packed away the bottle away quietly, before taking out her phone and began texting, all the while ignoring all the hoots and jeers around her.

Just as the commotion reached its peak, Aki suddenly stood up. She deliberately dragged her chair against the floor. The loud, unwelcome voice effectively shut the whole class up instantly. This time round, all eyes were on her. Not batting an eyelash, she simply picked up all her stuff and head to the door.

"W-Wait! Where are you going?" Furuichi asked in a panic, standing up as well. Aki glanced backwards, now an angelic smile on her face, "I'm meeting Toujou."

"Tou- what? Wait-" Just as Furuichi was about to reach for his own bag, Aki interrupted him, "Furuichi?" Aki called sweetly, her honey-dripped voice startled not just the boy, but everyone else.

"Y-Yes?" Furuichi answered cautiously, only to have the girl's smile widened. It was a smile that had the temperature around them dropped a few degrees.

"Follow me," She chirped, "and I. Will. Break. Your. Legs. Off. Okay?"

Everyone kept their mouth shut, unable to move an inch from that chilling aura the girl seemed to emit out. Both Chiaki and Nene, being females, knew instantly what this was about, and for a moment there, was afraid for their leader.

"O-Okay," Furuichi managed to utter out, the sound of his quickened heartbeat loud in his ears. His instinct was yelling out at him, that if it was this Aki, she would, without a doubt, follow through with her threats.

"Good," With that, Aki left, and everyone in the classroom was able to breathe again.

"What. The. Fuck, was that?!" Kanzaki was the first to voice out. This. This girl. This wasn't the childhood friend he knew! He shot an incredulous look at Furuichi, only to have the boy shook his head.

He too had no proper answer.

"Fuuuuuccccckkkkk, I did it againnnnnn," Aki moaned out pathetically, burying her face in her hands. Without meaning to, she reverted back to her previous self, before she'd her memories erased. She hated the Aki back then, so possessive, so cruel and malicious, and just so… demonic.

When her past memories were gone, she' was just a simple, innocent, and carefree girl. Spending time with Oga and Furuichi, they taught her how to have fun, to care, to be… kind.

Through them, she'd gained… a soul.

Yet here she was, reverting back to her old behaviour. Like the saying, a leopard never changes its spots, even if she tried. She was no longer that happy-go-lucky Aki anymore.

Just… who exactly was she now?

"Oi oi oi, you promised me you'll help out if I let you join me. So, help out."

Aki raised her head up to meet the source of the voice. There, standing proud in a maid costume and frilly apron, was none other than Hidetora Toujou.

"I'm on a break," Aki groused out, "And seriously, a maid café? Really, Toujou? Really?" She deadpanned. When she'd texted Toujou earlier about joining his part-time job, she'd thought it would be like the other time where they were mostly labour heavy jobs, and not… this.

"A maid and butler café," Toujou corrected, though not making the situation any better. As he said, it was a maid and butler café, a cross-dressing maid and butler café.

There she was, looking smart with her hair tied back in a butler uniform. As it turned out, one of their staff had called in sick so they were short-handed. Otherwise, Aki doubted Toujou would entertain her sudden whims.

"So, what were you mumbling about earlier?" Toujou asked as he took a seat next to her in the break room. Guess he was taking a breather too.

"Say," Aki began, eyes glazed, "If someone you think you know, isn't exactly who you think they are, what would you do?"

"Arh?" Toujou spat, "The heck are you going on about?"

"… … Never mind," Aki sighed. What was she expecting? What would these callous men know? Aki was about to resume her work when Toujou ruffled her hair, messing her ponytail up. Aki grumbled under her breath, she had to re-do it again.

"I don't care if they are who I think they are or not. I'll defeat them anyway. It doesn't make a difference!" Toujou beamed, not an ounce of uncertainty in his declaration. His eyes then lit up, his grin widened. "Why? Changed your mind about fighting me?"

Aki was taken aback at first, before chuckling as she got up, her ponytail back in place. "No way in hell, you fighting junkie."

Meanwhile, on the other side of the town, Oga's spirit was in the dumps after his fight with one of the Rokkisei. That guy had proved to be strong and smart enough for Baby Beel, only to have that freaking baby asleep.

"What's wrong? Where'd all your energy go?" Kunieda asked, noticing his lack of usual vigor.

"You," Oga muttered, "Baby Beel is really attached to you. Can't you just be his mother?"

"Huh?!" Kunieda spluttered, "D-Don't say stupid things! W-What about Shimizudani-san?!"

Yes, what about Shimizudani-san? Kunieda thought sadly. At times, they acted like they wanted nothing to do with each other, yet other times, it almost seemed like they can't stay apart. Who exactly is Shimizudani to Oga, and vice verse?

Does she has a chance or not?!

"Mahhhhh," Oga said, once again donning that idiotic expression of trying to hide just how happy he was actually feeling, "I guess, it can't be helped, huh?"

"P-Pull it together!" Kunieda snapped, once again confused and frustrated at his back and forth attitude, "Right now, what we need to do is to be in charge of our class in keep things under control!" She finished as she slid open the classroom door violently, only to be surprised by the grave atmosphere of the class.

"N-Nee-san!" Yuka cried out, both her and Nene quickly approached Kunieda and told her what transpired just a few moments ago, where Kanzaki had gone berserk after hearing the news of Shiroyama getting hurt.

Oga, trailing behind, frowned and asked no one in particular, "Oy, where's Aki?"

There was a tensed silence in the classroom. Knowing Oga and his temperamental temper, none of them willing to reveal Aki's whereabouts. Kunieda, sensing their discomfort, decided to take charge.

"That's not important right now! Shimizudani will be fine! Haven't you heard? Shiroyama is in the hospital and Kanzaki is in trouble! We have to hurry!" Kunieda demanded and rushed out of the class.

"Tsk!" Oga, seemingly having no choice in this matter, decided to join her in helping Kanzaki. It wasn't as if this was the first time Aki suddenly decided to up and go, yet, it still unsettles him.

That baka Aki, Oga thought with a sigh. You better come back soon.

Years from now, Oga would still deny to the fact that there were actually the words 'to me', included in that momentary thought of Aki.

Yup, they were definitely not there.

"First the maid café, and now a construction site?! Just what kind of jobs don't you do?" Aki spat out, the heat getting to her. She'd just spent hours carrying bags of gravel under the hot sun, sweating her ass off.

"I said you could leave," Toujou said in a matter of fact manner, only panting so ever lightly despite carrying three bags of gravel on his shoulder. He must say, even though Aki was only carrying one bag, it was still pretty impressive that she managed to keep up with his pace with no signs of slowing down. He would have never guessed a girl that small and lean would be able to shoulder such weight, for hours even!

He grinned. He really should try and convince her to fight him. It would be-

"For the hundredth time, no." Aki snapped at him with a glare, like she was reprimanding a naughty kid. Ah, guess his bloodlust was leaking out again, and instead of being terrified, the girl only grumbled, looking at him as if he was a pest. Touju only let out a loud bark of laughter, once again thoroughly amused by her antics.

"Stop laughing and answer your phone, it's bothering me," Aki huffed as wiped some sweat off her forehead. As expected of a girl with rich upbringing, Toujou observed, even though she was covered in sweat and dust, she was able to keep her elegance and poise.

"Yes Ojou-sama," Toujou droned drolly, "At your command, Ojou-sama." Ignoring yet another death glare Aki was shooting him, he picked up his phone and answered it.

"Shouji, wassup? … … Huh? Come to school?"

At his words, Aki actually perked up. She knew by now that both Shouji and Kaoru never contact Toujou when he was working. Something must have happened at school, and… she had a reeeeaally bad feeling.

What were those idiots up to again?

As a general rule, I simply don't appreciate cliffhangers, simply because I have no idea if or when I simply give up, and it'll be the last chapter. The lack of cliffhanger is probably the least I can do. Thanks for reading!