Kimi arrived at the restaurant late, mostly because she was dreading the meeting. Upon entering the doors, she was immediately led to a table in the back corner of the crowded restaurant. She guessed the hostess had been specifically told to keep a look out for her, and he had described her to the efficient and most likely generously tipped restaurant personnel. Apparently, this was a popular place with the elite business types for lunch. All the men in their overpriced business suits watched her with curiosity as she moved through the restaurant. Rich, bored, and lonely; it was a gold digger's paradise. Then, there's him. Her eyes met the cold blue ones that did not hold any genuine sentiment of the smile on his lips. She could not see a spark of anger due to her lateness in those eyes which showed he was in complete control of his emotions. For some reason, she found that disconcerting.

"Ms. Yakuro," he greeted her with a stiff nod.

"Director," she responded, waiting for the male server to pull out her chair.

Ryūken allowed sincerity to creep into his smile. He noted that she could adjust to being an arrogant princess type quite easily. He could give that to her if she wanted it. Instead, she seemed to have chosen love over money. What a stupid thing to do. Money cannot buy happiness but it buys everything else; even people.

"What is your decision, Director Ishida? Director?" Kimi called when he seemed lost in his own thoughts. She visible recoiled as his grin widened even further. What was that man thinking about?

"No," he answered harshly still smiling.

"Well, then, I suppose there is no reason for me to stay," she returned, standing up to leave.

"I am willing to offer you a job," he said, his grin nearly splitting his face when she stopped.

"A job? But I've got a job. Director, I – "

"I want you to be my personal assistant," Ryūken said, holding her questioning gaze.

'How personal?' Kimi almost inquired but kept quiet. She opted for silence to allow him to continue.

"If you work for me, I will fulfill a supply list for the clinic that you turn in weekly. Anything you need, I will give it to you at no cost. I will also pay you twice the amount you make now," he offered, folding his hands and putting them in his lap. He waited patiently while she considered his proposition. He could almost see the wheels turning in her head.

How could she turn it down? Kimi stared at the salad that had been placed in front her. How nice. He had ordered for her. The job offer; how could she not take it? He would give them anything they needed for the clinic and her salary would be doubled. They had a new family member and would have another one in seven months. That's a lot of mouths to feed. The wedding, a honeymoon…

"I'll need a week off in five months. Is that all right?" she asked.

"Of course. May I ask for what?" he queried not expecting her to answer. He picked up his water glass to take a sip.

Kimi waited until he swallowed one mouthful and had just taken in another. "For my honeymoon."

Ryūken's eyes widened, and he promptly choked on his water. Somehow managing to keep his mouth closed, he hurriedly sat down the glass and covered his mouth with his napkin.

Kimi's face wore the weird, self-important grin of a private victory that his lips had sported earlier. So he can experience emotions. Fascinating. She would have to shock him again sometime because that was pretty funny. Her stomach growled reminding her that she had not eaten since dinner last night. Digging into her salad with relish, she savored each bite despite demolishing it rapidly. Today she could have went for one of those gravy covered steaks with potatoes.

"So we have an agreement? You're comfortable with all of those terms?" he asked after recovering finally.

"Except for one." It was hard not to giggle when he visibly winced. "My title. I prefer the title Assistant Director rather than personal assistant."

"Ms. Yakuro, I don't think –"

"You are the Director and I will be your assistant correct?"

"Yes," he hissed through his clenched teeth. His knuckles were turning white as he choked his fork in substitution for her neck. Once again, he had misjudged her craftiness. Well played. He had wanted to play a game with someone; however, he had not intended it to be her. It was supposed to be for her. 'Congratulations, Ninja-Bimbo, you've turned the tables on me. Brilliant,' he thought to himself.

"Just think of it as a play on words. It will give me more credibility. Your colleagues will take me more seriously than if I were your lowly assistant," she responded, managing to sound like a true elitist of his caliber. Raising her eyes to his and fluttering her eyelashes coquettishly, she added, "Besides, it would not be professional to get that personal now would it, Director?"

It was too late for him to back out. At this time there was no way to save face if he back peddled or changed terms. She definitely won the first battle.

"Don't forget the Christmas Ball is tomorrow night. I expect you and your fiancé to be there," he announced pompously.

"Oh, yes we will be there."

...

"NO!" Isshin exclaimed emphatically.

"What?" Kimi screeched.

"I won't go," he stubbornly pouted.

"But I bought a dress. See!" She unfurled the dress with a flourish that was made of a soft, flowing material and a silvery gray in color. A large, ornate rhinestone brooch decorated the single strip of material that would hold her dress up over one shoulder. The dress drifted to the floor in a smooth cascade of shiny silk that would grace her curves quite nicely.

Kimi had declared a girls' night out earlier and taken all of the girls to the mall with her after work. They had voted for which dress she should buy and picked this one after she had tried on at least a hundred dresses at a dozen different stores. After a fabulous dinner at a restaurant of Yuzu's choosing, they returned home to the men who were eating take out and watching a movie. They were sulking because Yuzu had not cooked for them. Spoiled brats.

"I'm more interested in seeing you out of that than in it," he retorted caustically, watching her as she held the dress against her and flattened her hand across the rich fabric to hold it to her body.

"Oh, come on! I spent a bundle on this dress, and it's a Christmas party!" she begged like a spoiled Daddy's girl.

"It's Ryūken Ishida's yearly 'look at me and all I have and you don't' party," he shot back with venom.

"You're right," she agreed, hanging the dress in her closet before sitting down in his lap.

Isshin was naked and in her bed. She would have thought right after sex was the best time to make her request. Maybe she should have audaciously asked during sex like he had when he proposed. You can't get much more romantic than that, and it makes the chances of refusal slim to none.

"But…this would be your chance to show him what you've got and he can't have," she purred seductively, picking up his hand and pressing it to her breast. She smiled when she heard him groan as his resolve wavered. Moving to her knees, she pulled back the covers and straddled his burgeoning manhood. For a man nearing forty he had an amazing recovery time.

"You're a terrible woman, manipulating me like this," he muttered, gasping when she took his member into her hand.

"I know. I'm awful," she concurred, stroking him gently to bring him to full hardness.

"Minx, seductress…shameless tease," he grunted as she maneuvered him inside of her.

"Oh, yes, but that's some of the things you like about me," she giggled as his eyes rolled back in his head when she impaled herself on him.

"Dammit, Kimi," Isshin moaned, holding her waist as she moved up and down in a delectably provocative and pleasurable manner.

"We can go then? Just say yes and I'll move faster," she whispered coyly, continuing the deliberate and aggravatingly slow movement.

"Yes," he groaned, covering her mouth with his. His fingers dug into her behind, forcing her to move on top of him with more speed. Ichigo had been right about her. She was a schemer, but at least it was in a good way that actually benefited him. "You're a bad girl," he admonished, smacking her playfully on the behind without causing pain.

"Oh!" she squeaked, laughing from the unexpected mischievousness.

The pleasure soon eradicated the friskiness because their approaching orgasm was serious business that required their full attention. Kimi moved her arms around his shoulders, looking into his eyes.

"I do love you," she told him, her body shuddering as she neared her climax.

"I know. I love you too," he returned, kissing her to muffle her shout of ecstasy as she reached the pinnacle. He followed soon after, raining kisses on her neck and chest while they both quaked from the bliss. He wanted to be with her for the rest of his life. The thought of outliving another wife terrified him.

Kimi could barely breathe he was holding her so tightly. "I love you. Everything will be fine," she assured him, kissing him on the lips.

'You don't know that,' he thought to himself, refusing the impulse to argue. Masaki never planned on dying. No one ever plans on those kinds of things but they happen. Isshin loosened his grip without letting go. He would never let her go.

~\..'../~

They walked into the ballroom of the posh hotel where the event was being held. The room was softly lit by chandeliers that must be at least eight feet across and weigh a ton apiece judging by all of the crystals dripping from them like suspended drops of water. The neutral beiges and golds along with the dark wood gave the room a rich, opulent appearance and did not clash with the colorful gowns and glimmering jewels decorating the bodies of the ladies in attendance. They were set against a backdrop of black provided by men dressed in tuxedos who escorted them everywhere by the arm. It was a lovely and affluent sight to behold. Old money and elegance permeated the room and seemed to create a special scent all of its own as it wafted off of the attendees.

Kimi felt like a little girl attending her first dance. She felt awkward and out of place, wanting desperately to go home. The understanding of why Isshin hated these types of events was as crystal clear as the ornaments on the chandeliers.

"I told you so," Isshin muttered out of the corner of his mouth. He was not sure if he sensed her self-consciousness or if it was just his own he was feeling.

Kimi raised her chin, taking in a deep breath. Inhaling the arrogance carried on the draft of austerity that blew through the room, she allowed it to fill her and inflate her ego just like that of the other pretentious snobs present. She would not bow to these haughty, self-important people who thought they were better than other human beings.

"Ms. Yakuro," Ryūken called.

"Oooh, that was amazing. You attracted him with your show of vanity. Show me another trick," Isshin prompted, grunting when she elbowed his ribs.

"I'll make it up to you later. I promise," she assured him, kissing him right on the lips as Ryūken neared them.

'How uncivilized and vulgar!' Ryūken thought simultaneously with the musing of what her lips would feel like against his. He gave her a genuine smile of approval as his eyes swiftly skimmed over her bounteous curves that were accentuated by the thin, clingy dress. His smile broadened when he viewed her nipples peeking through the fabric which confirmed his assumption that she must be cold. It was almost comical how women suffered so to be beautiful. She could have worn a thicker, warmer dresser that would have showed off less of her body. Those six inch silver heels could not be comfortable either. Her hair had been straightened and almost hung to her waist with big loose curls at the very bottom. He was glad to see her suffering so he could enjoy her beauty. One would have believed him to be terribly egotistical to think it was all done for him but that was just his way of thinking. Sometimes he honestly presumed that the world and everyone in it existed for his amusement or aggravation alone.

"Ms. Yakuro, Dr. Kurosaki," Ryūken greeted them in an extremely forced polite, proper tone.

"Director," they rejoined in unison, shaking his hand in turn.

"You should be very proud of your fiancée here, Kurosaki," he said, his eyes glittering with devilish delight. He doubted she had told Isshin all of the details of their agreement. By the wide eyed expression on her face, his suspicion was confirmed.

"Oh, I am," he returned, hugging her to his side. Ownership was being flagrantly displayed.

Kimi turned into Isshin, leaning her head on his shoulder to signify she was quite content being his. The ever calm Ryūken responded with a grin instead of allowing the deep scowl to crease his face.

"She is the new Assistant Director of the hospital now," he announced, a genuine smile curling his lips as Isshin's eyes went wide then fastened on the woman clinging to him. "She will be working for me. She will be my immediate subordinate as a matter of fact. We will be spending a great deal of time together."

Kimi could see color seeping into Isshin's face little by little turning him varying shades of pink to red. Her eyes that held a murderous glare moved to Ryūken. Smug bastard. She would not allow him to put any kind of rift between her and Isshin.

"Yes, and I will be working for the best interests of our clinic and others like it as well as making sure the hospital gives its utmost for its patients. Oh, and I won't be needing some big, corporate office with a view to the world I think I own. Just a small, simple office is fine with me. We can talk about that at a more convenient time. You have other guests who require your attention," she advised him, civilly and stealthily dismissing him.

Ryūken's strict code of propriety prevented him from telling her what he thought of her in that moment and where she could stick the agreement they had come to. Keeping his temper in check, he bowed gracefully before bidding them farewell. Turning on his heel sharply, he took his leave. He viewed this debacle of words as a momentary setback and not a defeat.

"You are a scary woman, Sweetheart," Isshin whispered in her ear, kissing her on the cheek.

"I'm sorry about that. The bitch just comes out in me around men like him. The ordeal I went through with my ex-husband has made some good and bad changes in me. I can sense bullshit from a mile away and that man is full of it," she muttered, watching Ryūken's inflexible shoulders as he walked away. Breathing a sigh of relief, she turned to her handsome fiancé and grabbed his hand. "Come on. Dance with me. We need to practice for the wedding."

"But I – " He tried to protest as she lugged him to the dance floor but it was no use. "Okay, you have to lead me. Although you seem to have no problem taking charge, Assistant Director," he chuckled. "I still can't believe you managed to pull that one off. I'm still angry with you though that you did not tell me. Guess I'll have to punish you later."

Kimi bit her lower lip and blushed fiercely. "Oh, you are a naughty one, aren't you?"