2:28 AM

It was the most unorthodox hour of the winter dawn, and she was camped at the back seat with her back pressing comfortably against leather and her hands behind her head.

Above her, the evening sky was a dark table cloth salted with stars. She brushed the strayed strands of hair away from her eyes and silently admired silvery Luna's graceful waltz with the clouds. It was at these few moments of utter solitude she cherished the most for it happened only too rarely for her liking. Too much things she did not wish to see and too much mental exhaustion kept her mind in constant noise and confusion.

But now, she was finally peaceful for once. Even though she knew it would only be a matter of minutes, she was glad to have had a small wish granted.

Light had long since retired under the warm silken sheets of the hotel with his bimbo nuzzled in his arms. She tried to block the grotesque image of the two Neanderthals smothering and petting each other at the passenger's seat at the front several hours ago (to her sheer horror, they had to it when she was freaking running the traffic). She was half amazed by the blonde woman's versatility, granting she kept on knocking her hard head on the car's ceiling whenever she encountered a bump. Hah.

As for Kurapika, who was comfortably sitting at the back (that lucky bastard), she could not hate him even if she tried.

When her raging hormones finally took a chill pill a few days ago, she realized how inexplicably unprofessional she was acting during the incident and after. Not only was she placing her job at the manor in risk, she was also jeopardizing the future of the entire Nostrade household. It was no wonder why Kurapika became so bitter towards her. If it was not for Senritsu's interference, the irritable man would have thrown her outside the dumpster with his blasted chains and choked her to death with it.

She apologized again and again as he was monstrous as ever. Her salary was even cut into a miserable half and she had to suffer all the 24-hour shit he put her into as punishment. Even so, it was okay.

No matter how much headache her predicament has given her, his line of work was nowhere in comparison of all the employees of the mansion combined.

She was only the driver. Senritsu was Neon's nanny, in a weird sense. Basho did the underground business sweet talks and became Neon's bagboy as well (sometimes, if she felt generous). Linssen was... well, she was not sure what exactly but he kept his face in front of computers so it must be the bank accounts, and Kurapika—

Well, he was the special one and no doubt Light's favourite.

The scraps of his knuckles. The bloodied cuffs. The intensified rigidity. His natural way of intimidating anyone. The frightening intelligence. His obedience.

He was a killing machine.

The thought made her uneasy as she sat up, pulled her jacket closer. Don't, she chastised herself vehemently, don't go there, Clandestine. Dangerous waters.

She diverted her attention by looking out the window. It was covered in mist due to her heat, and she could barely make out the fuzzy lights and distant cars at the distance. She was too lazy to wipe it out.

Then a familiar figure appeared from the back door exit of the hotel. Recognizing immediately, she quickly stepped out, turning autopilot mode. When he was a few meters away, he waved off her attempt to bow sincerely.

"There's no need for that. It's just me." Kurapika sighed as he entered the door which was opened for him. She ignored the heavy, hollow thumping of her head as she moved around the car to get to her seat. She had to fight to keep her eyes open and alert. "Where to, sir?"

The young man took his time rubbing his face with his hands in attempt to rub off the exhaustion before making a beaten off reply. "Nearest twenty-four hour convenience store. I need to grab something to eat. You may purchase something as well if you like."

Curiosity got the best of her as she turned the ignition on. She sneaked a glance at the rearview mirror as the young man stared back blankly at her. She hastily asked, "Aren't there any room services, sir? I hear that Coux La'Reu is the best hotel in this city."

He shook his head in reply. "Actually, the room service was fine. I just.." She noticed the flare in his nostrils as he closed his eyes, the irritated frown setting between his eyebrows. ".. need to get away. From there." He looked away in a huff, muttering something under his breath.

Then she remembered briefly he was staying in Light's two-room suite. So, that means anything loud could be heard in the room next to each other.

Oh. And the bimbo and Nostrade were... they—oh..

It all made sense now.

Migraine and lack of sleep was sucking her sanity like a leech, so coffee and Red Bull sounded like a chorus of angels.

She found one, five minutes later. They drank their coffee and ate their measly sandwiches in silence inside the car, each drowned with thoughts. The food seemed tasteless but it was needed to fill their stomach with something.

"Why didn't you take the offered room?"

She was pulled out of her reverie when he tilted his face slightly, his onyx gaze fixed at her cobalt blue ones. Apparently he took the seat beside her because the cold got worse and the heaters were located at the front. She made a face and took a long swig from her Red Bull. "I don't wish to be rude, but I can't bear the thought of hearing them screw each other senseless."

He pressed his lips together. "Hmm."

She gave him a cursory glance. "You don't mind?"

He raised a brow.

She tried to explain her point. "I mean, him, with all the women he fucked in front of you."

He leaned back as he contemplated with a scowl. Then, he shrugged and watched the gentle falling snow in front of them. "Of course it irks me. But I have no right to comment since it is a part of my job to protect him." She studied him carefully as the frown turned into a mirror of disgust, then it gradually relaxed as he brought the cup of Macchiato in his lips. "It bothers you that much?"

"Yes," she admitted softly, then she looked down on her legs, trying to pick an invisible lint in her pants. "It's disconcerting, being stared at like some kind of toy."

Now she regretted having said that since he promptly faced her fully, his pretty face etching an unreadable expression. "Was this the reason why you assaulted Zenji and his men?"

"I.." The shame burned red on her cheeks and throat, her voice faltering as she tried to avoid his hard gaze. "I'm honestly sorry sir. I swear it won't happen again."

"If you dislike this kind of attention, then you shouldn't have been so naive as to have taken this job in the first place."

"I'll keep myself in check, sir." She was tired and weary and he was being obnoxiously snappy. He had a hard life, she reminded herself, don't let his assholiness get you.

"You better." He coldly rebuffed, staring right ahead. "Your feministic views will not do any good in this business. Whether you like it or not, or no matter how sophisticated you are, men like Light will never regard women's existence more than playthings. You are a sensible girl-I expect you understood the risks. You are merely a tool in his eyes. If there comes a time he asks for you, there's nothing you can do about it."

The tension was starting to build up once again. She struggled to keep her composure and temper in check through gritted teeth and clenched fists. "With all due respect sir, I already know that."

He countered with a cool that equalled her simmering response. "Of course you do."

She decided it was smarter not to speak anything until he ordered something. It was that, or she might totally lose it.

Au/N: i have to be honest with you guys—i have no clue on how i should make progress with my story. I mean, i feel like they're going nowhere. I'm not good with tension flirting and all that shit so.. yeah, that's my predicament. I'm not planning this to be sappy either. Any ideas?

And, thanks to Colorless Butterfly, cvgh, Savalle your reviews motivate me. Ha-hi-hi :D