It's been a long time, since I've updated this story, so let me start with a little summary.

What happened so far:

Lara rescued Kurtis from the catacombs underneath the Strahov. She kissed him, when he lay on the stretcher at the hospital. During the following days Kurtis made no attempt to continue down this path, being too caught up in his thoughts.

Four months later Lara received a letter from Kurtis, telling her that he is coming to visit, following a trail of former Lux Veritatis members who knew his father. But before Kurtis arrived, Kazuya, being on a business trip to England, made his appearance and put Lara in a difficult position. As she thought that she would never see Kazuya again and never get Kurtis attention, she had banned both men from her thoughts. Both men arrived at the same day and met in the evening, after Lara had dinner with Kurtis.

Kazuya had brought Lara a gift and they almost had a moment together, when Kurtis interrupted. From then on there was a lot of hostility between the two men. Kazuya kissed Lara goodnight this evening.

The next day was horrible for Kurtis, starting with the bad news, that his contact had been killed. While Kurtis was at the police station answering questions about his relation with the dead man, a group of goons tried to attack Kazuya, thinking he was Kurtis. Kazuya and Lara questioned one of the attackers and learned that Marten Gunderson was still in business.

When Lara seemed worried about Kurtis, Kazuya showed a little bit of jealousy, although he denied it. When he was questioned by the police about the attack, Kazuya proved uncooperative and almost got arrested. Later in the pool there was some flirting between Kazuya and Lara, till Kurtis arrived and got Lara's attention.

Kazuya and Kurtis had an argument in the hall and were stopped by Lara. Shortly after, when the two men were alone in the hall, Kurtis tried to probe Kazuya's mind, getting into a little conflict with Kazuya's alter ego (Devil) resulting in a massive headache. First Lara yelled at Kazuya, but when she found out what happened, she told Kurtis that it was his own fault.

Later on Lara asked the two men if they wanted to go out with her and her friend Sally in the evening. Kazuya was very charming in Sally's presence, during the whole evening. Lara meanwhile was pretty annoyed with the constant fighting of the two men. When left alone in the restaurant, Kurtis and Kazuya managed to have a friendly conversation.

And now more...

Chapter 10

Lara's eyes opened for the hundredth time. She had trouble getting to sleep. Finally, she turned on the bedside lamp and sat up straight. She needed to talk to someone, but it was three in the morning. Probably even Bryce had gone to bed. Besides Bryce wasn't the perfect company for a girl who was confused about her feelings. She got out of bed and walked towards the door. For a moment, she hesitated, but then she stepped out of her room.Quietly she walked through the halls towards the stairs, and made her way down. She went looking for Bryce but found that he had retreated to his trailer already. She didn't really know where she should be going now, so she walked back upstairs.

There was no use running around like that... she had to talk to Kazuya. She knocked at his door weakly. Everything seemed to be quiet and Lara was arguing with herself if she should try again, this time louder. But she didn't want to wake him, so she turned around and was about to walk back to her own bedroom when the door opened.

"Hey Lara," Kazuya said. "Why aren't you asleep?"

She turned around shocked. She had not expected a reply anymore. "I'm sorry, I didn't want to wake you," she stammered.

"You didn't." he said opening the door further. She could see that he was wearing his pyjamas. "Come in."

Lara slowly stepped into the room. The room was not only equipped with a bed, it also had small table with two couches in the middle of the room, a desk at the wall by the window and a huge wardrobe. On one of the sofas Kazuya's laptop was standing. It was running.

"Don't tell me you are working again?"

"Yes, I know, it is three in the morning. But think about it, for me it's actually the middle of the day..."

Lara made the last step inside and closed the door behind her. She walked over to the other sofa and hesitantly sat down. Kazuya sat down next to her.

"So what is your excuse for being up that late?"

She was quiet. He patiently waited for her to answer and finally she did.

"You have been flirting with Sally!" she said accusingly, looking at him.

"I did not," he replied defensively and a bit surprised.

"Have I lost you?" Lara asked after a moment. She immediately felt how silly and weak this must have sounded but not it was out in the open and there was no taking it back.

"What?" he asked confused. She wondered if this confusion was a good or a bad sign. Maybe he had never though of their relationship that way? Or had he never thought of Sally that way? She had to find out.

"I was hoping that she and Kurtis..." Lara carried on. I dawned on her, that maybe she had made no attempt in any direction, had not shown Kazuya any interest, had not tried to get Sally and Kurtis to talk…. "But instead you were hitting on her," she finally said looking down.

"I was not hitting on her. I just tried to be nice." Kazuya sounded defensive.

"You were a little too nice for my taste." Lara said, sadly.

"Lara... That's not true." He carefully picked up her hand. "You are the only one I care about," he said, pushing a strand of hair out of her face.

She looked up at him. "Are you serious?"

"Of course I am. Your friend Sally isn't half as beautiful as you are."

Lara smiled weakly.

"Cheer up Lara. I don't understand why you are so worried."

Again, Lara was quiet for a moment; then she changed the subject.

"Promise me not to tell Kurtis that I've been here tonight."

"I promise."

"Are you serious? How do I know that you won't tell him?"

He sighed, probably carefully thinking about what he should say; he decided to use a joke. "If I break my promise you can keep my car."

"Now that is a deal." Lara replied smiling slightly. She had to admit that he has managed to cheer her up, at least a little bit.

"But may I ask why I shouldn't tell him?" Kazuya said after a pause.

"If I tell you, don't use it against him..."

"I promised you."

"It might hurt him to learn about this... I think he's in love with me." Frustration crept into her voice. "After 4 months of not showing any interest he finally realised it."

Kazuya didn't say anything; he just continued looking at Lara. She sighed and then looked at his laptop.

"I didn't want to disturb you. Please continue with your work."

Kazuya got up, walked over to the other sofa and sat down at the computer. Lara followed him and peeked onto the display. "So what have you been doing?"

"Reading Richardson's figures."

"How did you get them?"

"How did Downey get ours for you last year?"

Lara shrugged, when suddenly she remembered that she had never told him that. "Hey wait a moment, how did you know he did?"

"I know everything that is going on," he said mysteriously.

Sometimes he was really scary, Lara through.

"No, really, he got them from me."

And sometimes things had a simple solution... This suddenly made sense, since he was the one actually behind the plan from the start.

"And they were forged."

"I had a feeling... So really, how much money does the Mishima Zaibatsu make?"

"You don't expect me to give you an answer to that, do you? I actually might have to kill you, if you found out."

Lara's mood was steadily increasing, the feeling of familiarity return to their relation.

"That's ok, so if you can't show me yours, show me his."

Kazuya turned his laptop towards Lara and moved aside.

Lara studied the numbers in silence. "How correct are they?"

"They should at least come close. However, it is not really that interesting. I just thought it would help me to find out which type of man Richardson is."

"He is not as big as I thought he would be." Lara remarked.

"Indeed, he is not."

"I have a question for you… Why are you interested in this company? What's your business with a scientific research company? And what does Richardson want with it? I don't get it, you were both not into science if I recall correctly."

"You don't. The Mishima Zaibatsu has always had a science department; we just don't let everyone know what we are up to."

"I see." Lara replied. Everyday she learned something more about Kazuya. Maybe it was time to not be surprised anymore, no matter what. "And Richardson?"

"That's a question I cannot answer. Actually I don't care why he wants to buy this company; I'll just make sure he doesn't."

"I still think it's strange."

"You may ask him if you see him." Kazuya said and then shut down his computer and put it onto the table. "But now let us go to bed. You need your sleep, don't forget we wanted to go shopping tomorrow."

"Yes, and the party tomorrow evening." Lara said sounding tired.

"I will go alone if you don't want to come along."

"No, no. I will come with you." Lara said. "I cannot leave you with Richardson."

"He cannot be that bad."

"No, but you can…" she joked.

For a moment it seemed as Kazuya wanted to make a comment, but he obviously thought better of it. Lara was right.

"Is there anything you can tell me about him?"

"He's a snob. He played golf with my father… and his daughter Annie went to school with me. She's a nice person by the way, unlike her father. He doesn't like other people very much, especially if he considers them lower class. He won't be seen talking to someone who is not from a noble family…" Lara paused for a moment. She realised that Kazuya would fit the description so far, but she also knew that Richardson would not like him at all, so she continued: "…or not British."

"I can see why Arato had trouble dealing with him. Richardson has to change his attitude tomorrow, because I will not be speaking to him through one of his employees. On the other hand... I don't have to speak to him at all."

Kazuya turned and walked towards the bed. Lara suddenly had this feeling that she couldn't be alone right now, so she had a crazy idea.

"Can I stay here tonight?"

"Of course you can." It seemed that he didn't find it at all strange. He just walked over to the bed and pulled the cover aside. This made Lara become uneasy.

"Maybe I should go back to my own bed... It's not a good idea if I stay here, after these mixed up feelings I had today."

"I thought you felt lonely?"

"Well but..."

"Nothing will happen, I promise. I won't try anything."

Lara looked at him for a moment and then slowly slid into the bed, leaving her slippers on the ground in front. She pulled part of the cover over her body. Kazuya did the same from the other side.

Lara was lying on her back looking up at the ceiling when Kazuya moved closer towards her and placed his hand on her stomach carefully which made Lara a bit nervous.

"Calm down. I am not going to move my hand. However, tell me, what is wrong with you? Why are you suddenly so afraid that I might touch you?"

"I am sorry, I'm not certain about my feelings."

"If that were the case you would not be here," he stated.

"You must think everything is easy."

"Nothing is easy. Nevertheless, you are here now. You are probably just afraid that he finds out, but eventually he will. Even I have to admit, he is not that stupid. But now just close your eyes and stop worrying."

With that he leaned forward and kissed her cheek. "Goodnight, Lara." he said, and leaned his chin on her shoulder.

"Lara, promise me one thing," he said after a few moments of silence.

"What is it?"

"Don't tell anyone that I didn't try anything. That would ruin my bad reputation."

Lara grinned and pushed him lightly. Then she turned to her side and leaned back against him. He laid his arm around her waist. It didn't take her long to fall asleep now that she had talked to Kazuya.

It was two hours later when suddenly Lara woke up und gasped.

"That was a breaking window." Kazuya whispered in her ear confirming that something had happened while she had been sleeping.

"Why can we never get a rest?" Lara sighed.

"What? You and me? Now that would be boring, wouldn't it?" he joked.

Lara got up, out of bed and slid into her slippers. "No guns." she cursed.

Kazuya had gotten up as well. "Any guess where that came from?"

"Don't tell me, you don't know it already! I though you never missed anything that was going on around you."

"Well I know that Kurtis was treating himself an hour ago, but as for the breaking window I am as clueless as you are."

"EXCUSE ME?" Lara wasn't certain if he had really said what she had heard.

"Hey, that was a joke. I think that was your window."

"I meant the part about Kurtis." Sometimes he really made her mad, but she couldn't help but smile a little.

"Oh that..." he said trying to sound innocent, "I made that up."

"You are..." She did not find the right word to describe him.

He sighed, "I know, I am an asshole." He filled in the gap for her. "I'm sorry, it won't happen again."

"I hope so. But now let's hurry and see what is going on out there."

They stepped out into the hall and hurried towards Lara's room. Kurtis arrived as well, but luckily he hadn't seen that Lara had come out of Kazuya's room. However, it made him suspicious that Lara wasn't in her own room.

"Lara... I heard the sound of breaking glass coming from your room, so I hurried here, but why aren't you in there?"

She hesitated for a moment before answering. "I was in the kitchen."

"In the kitchen? In the middle of the night? Don't tell me you are pregnant." Bryce, who had now arrived as well and just overheard the last sentence, said.

"Very funny Bryce. Then tell me who should be the father?" she yelled angry.

Bryce looked at Kurtis and shook his head. Then he looked at Kazuya and shook his head again. At that moment Hilary arrived with a shotgun in his hand and Bryce shook his head wildly.

Lara hit him on the head. "Idiot." Then she turned towards the door and grabbed the handle. Kazuya grabbed her and pulled her aside. "No way, girl, you stay back."

Before she could react, he opened the door and stepped inside. Cold wind greeted him but besides the curtains, which were flapping in the wind, there was nothing. Lara stepped into the doorframe behind him. "Nothing," he commented. "Well except that your window is broken."

"Don't be so damned protective of me," she yelled at him. Then she ran over to the window and stepped out onto the balcony. "I can't see anything."

Kurtis and Kazuya joined her outside.

"I can't see anything either." Kurtis agreed.

"There is someone down there, running towards the front gate." Kazuya stated.

"What?" Kurtis asked looking again. "You are seeing ghosts."

"And you are as blind as a mole." Kazuya shot back at him.

Lara narrowed her eyes and peaked out into the darkness. At that moment, Hilary had turned on the light in the garden and they could clearly see that three men were in the garden outside.

Kazuya threw Kurtis a look that clearly said 'told you so'.

"They are in a real hurry to get away. That is strange. Why did they make such a fuss to immediately leave again? " Bryce asked.

"I guess they wanted to finish Lara quick and silently but since they didn't find her in her bed, they decided to flee. They knew that they had made enough noise to wake the whole mansion." Kazuya said.

"Oh thank you for that accurate assumption, 'finish me quickly' I am feeling very safe now." Her voice was quivering with anger, not at Kazuya but at the situation. Was she glad that she hadn't been there, or did she regret it? She would have given them a run for their money.

"Shall I try to catch them?" Kazuya asked Lara.

They heard how an engine was started.

"No. Till you got your car out of the garage, they are gone."

Kazuya looked after them, then stepped towards the edge of the balcony and looked down. "Lara, get rid of this lattice underneath your balcony. That' a real invitation. "

She looked down as well. She had never though of this as a security risk, but he was right. With this ladder underneath her window she really needed a gun under her pillow. Kurtis interrupted her thoughts.

"But I still don't understand why you weren't in your room. You can be lucky." Kurtis said.

"I am," she simply said.

Hilary returned and joined them on the balcony. He saw that the attackers were gone. "I think we all should go back to bed," he suggested.

"Good idea. But Lara can't stay here." Kurtis said.

"We've got enough rooms in the mansion. It shouldn't be a problem to find another bed." Lara stated. Then she walked over to her bed and collected her pillow.

She marched straight towards a room on the other side. "Goodnight." she said to the four men.

"How can you sleep when someone tried to kill you just now?" Kurtis asked.

"I probably can't. But I'll worry about that when I'm in bed," she replied. She opened the door and disappeared inside. The men saw that it made no sense to stand around so they walked down the hall together.

"Goodnight." Kazuya then said to the rest and was about to step into his room when Kurtis spoke.

"What if they return?"

"They won't." Kazuya replied turning back towards him.

"How do you know that?"

"They will expect that we are prepared now."

"But if we all go back to bed we aren't prepared."

"Listen, my father employed idiots like that... I know how they think. Just go back to bed and forget it!" he said and then disappeared in his room.

Kurtis sighed, but made his way back to his own room.

Thirty minutes later Kazuya and Lara ran into each other in the hall.

"Where are you going?"

"I am just checking that no one tries to kill you while you are sleeping. And you?"

"I was on my way to the kitchen." Lara replied grinning.

"I hope you don't run into Bryce, he would be really worried."

"I guess he would." She grinned and for a moment both were silent. Then Kazuya spoke again.

"I lied. I was looking for you. I don't expect them to come back tonight." He approached Lara. She smiled at him in return.

"There is one thing I've been wanting to do for days." he said and suddenly laid his arms around Lara. He pulled her into a deep kiss. At first, she was surprised, but then she returned the kiss.

He released her. "But now I'll let you get back to your bed. I think it's for the best."

"But..."

"Lara, don't make it difficult for me," he said totally serious.

She nodded. "Then I will see you in the morning. Good night."

"Good night."