A/N: I don't own Skip Beat! or any of it's characters.
Jude was pleasantly surprised by Shō if she was being honest. He was quite charming. However, his behaviour was quite flirtatious and she was starting to realize the infatuation he had for her.
She subconsciously tucked her hair back with her left-hand several times and started fiddling with utensils, a habit she developed over the years whenever she encountered guys that didn't seem to notice the wedding ring.
She made it a point to subtly shove it up to their face so that they know she is not available. Not that it was often, because her legs would discourage any advance and those who advanced were only looking for temporary amusement.
The only guy who bothered to know her was her husband and she devoted herself to him.
Shō was floored by this literal goddess that graced him with her presence. She was beautiful inside out and he realized very soon into the conversation that he was doomed. He was irrevocably in love and every time she showed off her wedding ring assuming that he hadn't noticed, the innermost part of him, the brat who always got what he wanted, realized that this right there, sitting in front of him, couldn't be his.
He was unworthy.
But it was fine for him, he decided. Jude wasn't a possession, he didn't need to have her. If she allowed he would be there for her in silence, doing whatever needs to be done for her happiness. Talking to Kyoko had its benefits.
"He is a very lucky man", he said with a smile, pointing to her ring.
"I am the one who got lucky, he is everything and more I could have asked for", she beamed.
"I would love to meet him someday. If you don't mind let us have dinner this Sunday? My treat. I would love input about Akatoki's current legal proceedings from Yamada-san", he said politely.
"You do? Oh okay! I would let him know, its been a while where we met with friends for dinner", Jude was pleasantly surprised with Sho's approach and instantly considered him a friend.
"I am glad to be considered a friend, Jude-san", Sho was surprised as well, he just invited the women of his dreams and her husband for dinner. He was definitely going insane or he has a masochistic side.
They finished the meal in comfortable small talk. It was the most fun Jude had in months, she was greatful for her decision of joining Shō for lunch.
For some reason, she felt that this will become a lifelong friendship.
Jude got out of the restaurant intending to walk back to her apartment when she noticed Sebastian waiting for her in front of her Godfather's car.
A sense of foreboding filled her, making her stomach clench. She approached the car as Sebastian opened the door for her.
"Ojou-sama, Good day to you", Sebastian bowed.
"Thank you", she said as she got into the car where a big envelope full of papers awaited her.
She opened them up, and her expression changed into something that only two people had the opportunity to witness. One of which is currently doing is duties as the butler.
"Explain", she stated coldly, all warmth gone from her voice and left with a deathly calm.
"You wanted me to inform you as soon as there was any sign of movement", Sebastian said.
Jude looked into the printout of letters and emails infront of her.
"We have enough evidence to suspect that Mogami is on the move, and he is planning something big", he added.
Jude looked out of the window and clenched her teeth.
"Take me to HTC", she said after a while.
"Understood", Sebastian replied.
She read and re-read the contents of the files, while Sebastian drove her to see Lory.
Kyoko was busy making the shopping list to hand over to Sebastian when he comes with her change of clothes. Kuon was sitting down in the living room going over some paperwork. He politely answered when she asked questions about his weekly diet.
While his behaviour was a bit worrying, she didn't want to think too much. It wasn't any of her business as long as she was able to do the work.
Kuon on the other hand was completely focused on what Kyoko was doing around the kitchen. Making him a snack and making her list of things.
The work was just an excuse, he just needed to watch her. His infatuation with her was getting out of control it seemed.
The doorbell rang and Kyoko got up to greet Sebastian, who wasn't the one at the door.
Instead it was another employee of the estate who politely greeted Kyoko and handed her the supplies.
Kyoko then proceeded to handover the grocery list explaining some things that might not be available in the supermarket and where to get them from.
The poor guy was a bit struck by Kyoko's politeness and beauty and was blushing slightly. Their fingers accidentally touched when she gave him the list.
Suddenly he felt a chill run down his spine. Every instinct he had screamed at him to run, to remove himself from the premises.
He looked behind the beautiful cook of his employer to find the said employer looking at him like the God of Destruction and Death.
He immediately took the paper and bowed so low that Kyoko was startled. He almost ran away immediately.
Kyoko was confused for a second and proceeded to close the door. Then she turned around to find Kuon almost too close for comfort, looking down at her, looking murderous.
"My apologies, we should be more careful with the selection of our employees", his voice was strained.
"Why? I thought Kotaro-san did a good job with the clothes and he understood the directions immediately.", she said, unsure of the sudden mood change.
"Kotaro-san?", Kuon asked in disbelief.
"Yes, Kotaro-san. He is Sebastian-san's deputy. I met when I visited the Takarada mansion. You aren't displeased with him right?", she asked, concerned for the deputy. The guy was good at his job.
"You call him by his first name? Are you two close?", Kuon stepped forward, trapping Kyoko between the entrance and him. He was triggered by the smallest things, he thought in the back of his head. His rational mind was trying to reason with him why his behaviour at the moment was exceptionally inappropriate.
Kyoko's alarm bells rang loud in her head as she recognised the wild look. Kuon was back. it seemed like the other polite version was just an act. This man infront of her was the real deal. Raw, unhinged... almost primitive. His green-blue eyes shone in the dimmed light of the hallway.
She felt like if she even moved an inch he would pounce. A part of her did think this was ridiculous, why would a guy like him behave this way towards her. She wasn't even worth a second glance from him.
"Yes, I guess we are", she replied.
They say jealousy is a vicious beast. The words were out of his mouth before he could even think them over.
"Do you flirt with any man that crosses your path? First Fuwa, then Hikaru and now Kotaro? You even tried your luck on me before... is this a habit I need to watch out for?", he practically snarled the words.
It took Kyoko several seconds to understand what was said.
She blinked and stared at him in disbelief and her anger came like tidal waves.
"What the hell does that suppose to mean?!", she asked.
Kuon decided that his hole was not big enough so he proceeded to dig a bigger hole for himself.
"It means you try to seduce your way around life, and I would like if you at least spared my poor employees. I can only hope Yuki-nii has better luck with his fiance", he knew he should shut up but he was beyond saving now.
Only the sound of Kyoko's hand connecting to his face echoed in the hallway. Angry tears were already running down her cheeks. Her hands throbbed after the impact and she felt like she couldn't breathe.
Kuon felt like he was struck by lightning. He barely registered the slap but seeing her cry did something to him.
He reached out subconsciously, already regretting the words. He insulted Kyoko as well as his future sister-in-law. He wasn't sure how to even begin apologizing.
But Kyoko was out of the apartment before he could even form a sentence.
He reached out to the space that was occupied just a few seconds ago.
Then he grabbed the door before it closed itself and snatched ed Kyoko back into his apartment in record time.
Kyoko felt like some unknown force teleported her back into the house and put her right back in between the door and a furious demon lord.
While she was livid herself, in the back of her mind she registered that an assault took place just a few seconds ago on the heir of the 3rd largest conglomerate in Japan.
She slapped him with enough force that her hand was hurting. A little miffed that he didn't even faze under her attack she decided to give him a piece of her mind.
Kuon slammed his palm against the door and tried to calm down by taking a deep breath. He never lost his cool and he kept losing his cool every waking moment Kyoko was in his line of sight.
" You Conceited, Arrogant, Narcissistic Demon! Let me go this instant before I do something I regret" Kyoko spit out in anger.
Kuon's mind short-circuited and he forgot his anger for a moment. He had never been called by those adjectives before in his life, especially not to his face!
He brought his face as close to her as possible, making sure she was uncomfortable at the proximity. He very quickly realised that his darker side enjoyed her defiance. Why was she so difficult? Women fell into his arms without the slightest provocation. but she continues to make him frustrated. It made him want to monopolize her.
And then what?
Then you get to keep her. Make her happy, provide and protect. She can just be yours, then you don't have to worry about her stupid best friend or Hikaru or even that bastard from earlier.
But she just assaulted you and continued to verbally berate him. Not to mention she left, before he dismissed her! Why was she so frustrating!?
"I will give you one chance to apologise", he muttered. "If you know what's best for you, you will apologise for assaulting me and trying to run away."
"You have been on my face, invading my personal space, insulting me... and everything else I will let go... I will try and understand and move on. But how dare you drag my sister into this?!"
"That was out of line, I will admit it. Nevertheless, your behaviour towards men is nothing less than promiscuous."
"Let's just say for argument's sake that it is... that I did flirt... So What?! Are you my father? Brother? Boyfriend? So What if I did?!"
Kuon was beyond livid at this point. Mostly because he didn't have an answer to her questions. But he didn't like it, not one bit. ..
"Because you are mine and until I say so you will still be mine! I don't f#*king share!"
"I am not cooking for anyone else!! Are you this way towards all your employees?! I am not even your employee, I report to your FATHER!!"
And just like that Kuon came back to his sense. He could not believe how dense this woman is. He might as well have declared his intentions for her. Almost screamed it in her face and she thought it was some weird HR practice.
He slumped down and his head rested on her shoulder. He lost all his energy and was shaking with mirth.
Kyoko realising that Kuon still was sick and was resting before all of this went down instinctively grabbed onto him and was guiding him towards the living room.
He allowed her to do it and once he sat down Kyoko went to get water for him.
This girl was so unpredictable. Every moment with her is like an adventure. He didn't remember the last time he felt so much.
Nobody had this effect on him, ever.
The realisation that he wanted her, truly wanted her, hit him like a tidal wave.
He was trying to ignore his budding feelings because that just meant he admits that Kuu was right. His dad knew before he did that Kyoko made his heart skip.
Satoshi slid the file towards Seijiro Mogami and waited for him to open it. He saw the old man's expression change slowly.
"I believe I have found your grandchild Mogami-sama", Shatoshi said.
He has set the stage. Now he will just wait and watch it crumble. Yukihito will break and take Kuon with him.
"She looks like her mother", the old man whispered.
"But she has the Yashiro eyes... ", he added.