Amelia sat slouched on the couch watching reruns of Friends after failing a series of job interviews. At this rate she might have to beg her sister for work at her design company.

A cautious meow woke her out of her slumber. She couldn't remember dozing off in the first place, but welcomed the cat on her lap with open arms anyway.

Amelia noticed dirt sticking relentlessly on the animal's fur and made a face.

"What have you been up to?"

"WALKER!"

A sudden pounding on the front door made her jump up, frightened. She greeted her neighbor at the door with a small smile. "Is something the matter, Mr. Brown?"

Mr. Brown - Niall. Brown hair, glasses, clad in the usual black turtleneck sweater. He was the kind of sophisticated man who complains about every little thing.

"I took out the trash an hour ago and look what has become of it! Your devil cat ripped it to pieces!" Maybe this time he had the right to complain.

"I'm so sorry Mr. Brown. It won't happen again—"

"We both know that's a lie," he snapped, pushing his glasses back up. "I'll call animal services to claim that cat of yours next time! Surely they'll agree to euthanize the little pest!"

Amelia sighed while Kisses retreated to his bed, dozing off as if he had nothing to do with the incident. He must have been a dog in his past life.

Cleaning the mess and then dragging the bags down the alley, she tossed them in a heavy container. Rushing off to get out of the pouring rain she heard a sharp groan resonate from the container. Her heart beating in her chest, she took a peek inside. A man was buried under the trash; spotting his trademark goatee was all it took for her to recognize the poor fellow.

"Kotetsu?" She gasped.

Helping the half-unconscious man out the container, she kept him steady "God, you're heavy," as she fumbled with the keys to her apartment. Kisses eyed her with a swipe of his tail. "Oh, you have no right to judge me, Mister," she grumbled. "Stop looking at me like I'm a criminal, will you?"

A criminal might have carried him straight off to their lair, something she—uncharacteristically—was doing right now.

"Damn it."

Once he was half-laid on her spacious bed she resisted the urge to roll her eyes; a wasted Kotetsu ruining her freshly made bed wasn't exactly something she was looking forward to.

Amelia focused on the unconscious man. Dark hair, shaggy beard, with a lean body clad in dark slacks and a brown jacket. It was him all right—minus the hat and tie, and is he missing a shoe? Must have been wild in the bar.

Amelia glanced at his closed eyelids, removing his jacket, then unbuttoning his vest. She felt like he would awaken at any moment; judging by his occasional snoring, he was out like a light.

"Relax," she swallowed wearily, "I'm just taking off his clothes so he won't catch a cold, nothing else." Despite her confident words she was blushing like a naïve schoolgirl.

"Pull yourself together, Amelia," she told herself. "You're not doing anything wrong—"

Her jaw dropped; Kotetsu was gorgeously built. His upper chest was a muscular symmetry of…well, muscles! Her stomach fluttered. There was no time to ogle him over as she hurriedly undid his slacks.

— — — — — — — —

It was long after midnight when Kotetsu was suddenly aroused by a satisfied sigh. He had slept heavily, and at first he wasn't fully aware of his surroundings, or what had awakened him. He had just opened his eyes and already felt tired to death—suffering from a splitting headache and loud pulses drumming in his temples had something to do with it.

Then he became conscious of a curious soft breathing.

When he caught sight of Amelia, drowsily pulling him closer—as if using him as an arm pillow wasn't close enough—contently sleeping beside him, that's when he sat up in alarm, his heart pounding furiously.

"What- the hell!" he gasped, hoarsely, then covered his mouth.

Calm down, Kotetsu. It's not as big a deal as you're making it out to be, he thought. But he knew he was wrong. To a heartbroken, unstable woman wanting to believe moving on was for the best, giving up her heart to him, the absolute wrong sort of man who, just a few hours previously had gotten drunk and wasn't thinking straight, had been a big deal.

As the seconds ticked away, it was clear he couldn't face the consequences of his mistake. Kotetsu went gently across the creaking boards, for fear that she might wake. On the couch were his clothes, neatly ironed and folded. The cat was present as well; his wise green eyes peered at the intruder, and he jumped off.

Kotetsu snatched the clothes and got dressed. He put on his jacket and laced his one shoe—feeling more like an idiot, then made his way to the door. The man saw the fiery eyes of the cat and grimaced. "You're a cheek little thing, aren't you?"

Kisses didn't see the joke and sprang at him, spitting and scratching him in the most vigorous manner.

Amelia was startled by the dreadful noise, and thinking a robber had broken in, she rushed down. "What's going on?" Amelia—wearing a pair of shorts and tank top—asked after seeing it was only Kotetsu.

He started with her ankles, which were the nicest ankles he had ever seen, then his eyes traveled slowly to her knees, and beyond. He made a leisurely appraisal of slim hips and a tiny waist, exquisite breasts and red hair. He saved the face until last, and when his gaze reached the huge emerald-blue eyes and pink lips, the shock he experienced at that moment sharpened all his senses.

"Shit." Too late.

He found it difficult to look her in the eye, so he went for the door without a word. Once outside Kotetsu felt a surge of emotions go through him; he wanted to cry, to crawl under a rock, to strangle himself with his own tie for being so stupid! He must have been fortunate to lose it. The poor man went to work hoping it will keep him so busy he can't think anymore.

"Did something happen?" Nathan asked Barnaby at the gym, his finger pressed on his lower lip. Kotetsu's excessive workout certainly picked the interest of his fellow rivals.

Barnaby shrugged.

He had a vague impression something was up with Kotetsu ever since he arrived at the office. He arrived first at work, he seemed eager to tackle the mountain-load of paperwork on his desk, and he also made it clear to stay out of Barnaby's way.

"Whatever it is, he won't talk about it. I've lost interest."

"Do you think Tiger is sick?" A concerned tone resonated in Pao-Lin's voice. She'd never seen Kotetsu so out of character before.

Karina rolled her brown eyes, but she couldn't hide the worried-some frown forming on her forehead. "Like he'd ever get sick. He's facing a midlife crisis, that's all."

"He's probably bringing his A game after Silver Saint got fired. I should do the same..." Antonio sighed heavily, shaking his head with solemn emphasis. His last ranking score needs a boost, that's for sure.

Nathan's eyes shone with interest.

"Whatever it is, I'll get to the bottom of this."

Karina and Pao-Lin had no idea what Nathan was on about but one thing was for sure; they wouldn't trade places with Kotetsu for the world.