Kuon Hizuri didn't bother stifling the yawn that formed as he stretched his long limbs and rose from his cushioned seat. The mountain of paperwork he'd begun tackling the day before was now little more than a mound thanks to hours of blissful solitude. People were messy, but leadership, the model had discovered, was akin to the world of fashion in a couple notable ways–handsome looks and a sizable stature gave one an advantage in both. However, those same perks also tended to lead to petty jealousies and unwanted advances.

A file peeking out of a desk drawer drew his eye. Antony S. Rossi's file from Rick, he thought, pulling the paperwork out and running a hand absently over the cover.

Though the GM glanced through it briefly earlier he'd been reluctant to delve into the details, knowing such action would only skew his focus. As such, he'd slipped the papers out of his direct line of sight. Flipping the file open, he slowly thumbed through it, gaze snagging on the picture of a female. The woman was smiling broadly in the photo and though her squinted eyes obscured their color somewhat, there was no mistaking their golden hue. A sense of alarm shot through Kuon's entire being, setting each nerve on fire and he swept through the rest of the information on Sasha Beauchamp, scrambling to find the female's height and build while his erratic heartbeat pulsed in his neck.

Please, please let the similarity end there he pleaded. But it didn't. With a sinking heart, Kuon read the rest of the unknown female's information. Could this be a coincidence or…? he paled at the possibility. Kuon tried to reassure himself, but the prickling sensation on the back of neck urged him to pick up his phone as Rick's words about trusting his gut flared in his memory.

After asking Kyoko where she was via text, he practically ran to the security office of the hotel and requested to review the restaurant footage over the last month. Breathing heavily and not a little disheveled, Kuon arrived a the security hub. Two gentlemen manned the controls and screens, both wearing identical baffled looks at the man's unusual appearance. They'd only ever seen him in his normal, immaculate state.

In the middle of his search, he received a response, I'm at the library. Love you, it read.

Library? Why…? he couldn't shake the anxiety that seemed to creep up his large frame and take him by the throat. Ok, stay safe, he replied. Love you too.

As Kuon watched the footage, he recognized an emerging pattern of behavior. Antony was highly focused on his work and unquestioningly talented in his field, but the chef's eyes were constantly drawn to Kyoko, like a moth to a flame. For those in the kitchen his behavior could easily be explained as the conscientious acts of an attentive senior, but the recordings revealed an increasingly obsessive fixation that unnerved the GM to the point that he dialed his friend's number.

Fortunately for Kuon's nerves, Rick answered immediately. "Yo, what's up? Miss me already?"

"Hey, I need another favor."

The agent sobered at his friend's tone. "Anything you need, man. You know that."

Kuon took a deep, steadying breath before explaining, "Would you please look into female deaths and disappearances in the area surrounding Cranbury, New Jersey. I'm looking for certain matching characteristics. I'll send you the specifics."

"All right. This have something to do with your shady as hell chef?"

"Yes. I need you to correlate the data with known locations for Mr. Rossi."

"All right, we'll dive deeper into his past. My team and I will try to prioritize your request without pissing off the big boss too much. You're going to owe me a drink, though dude. Top shelf."

"Thank you and not a problem. I'll even buy you two."

"I'm gonna hold you to that, so remember those words. Anyway, I'll be in touch," Rick replied and ended the call.

He'd just slipped the phone into his suit pocket when he felt the device vibrate.

From Sho: We need to talk.

Damn, he found out before I had the opportunity to tell him didn't he? Kuon responded- Ok. I'm free for the next couple hours.

Sho immediately responded with- Come to my place, asap.

Sure. I'll be there in about thirty minutes.

=x=x=x=

Akemi Adam's sharp hazel eyes scanned the street as she exited her black Lexus.

Satisfied, the woman pulled her considerable dark tresses back in a pony tail, looping them through the gap above the adjustable closure before fitting the cap securely atop her head. Regardless of the risk, she felt compelled to act because someone needed to interrupt the sinister schemes of the daemon walking amongst them in a human skin.

Hayate Fuwa already ruined at least one innocent girl's life for certain... and severely damaged another's. I wish I knew what Kyoko Mogami looked like. She'd been disappointed in her discovery that Sho kept no photos of his stepsister on his teen also had zero presence on social media and though she had tried obtaining information under the pretense of being a former classmate, the female school administrator had been far too shrewd to offer any knowledge. Of course, her casual question to Sho about where he'd attended may have sent her the wrong direction anyway- the stepsister didn't necessarily attend the same place. In the end, she was forced to leave the ball in Kyoko Mogami's court, which didn't sit well.

Once inside, the spy wandered towards the corresponding set of stairs and began her ascent, pausing only once to politely move past a young woman blocking her way before entering through the door labeled History and Genealogy Department. Ten minutes still remained before 1:00 PM and Akemi chose a seat with her back facing a book-lined wall. There was only one other soul in the room, an older gentleman gazing absorbedly at a worn newspaper spread out on the table in front of him. Hmm, hopefully he'll leave... or I'll have to do something to make him leave, ugh. Fortunately, he left shortly thereafter, but not before allowing his gaze to linger on her chest and shooting off a creeper remark of, "You sure make that jersey look good." Akemi's scathing retort of, "I hope your wife hears better lines than that," sent the embarrassed man scurrying off like the rat he was.

The door opened and a striking young woman entered the room. She looked visibly shaken at Akemi's presence, but schooled her face into neutrality in flash. "Interesting sense of humor you have," she said, nodding towards the label on the door.

Akemi's only response was a close-lipped smile so the girl, who was obviously Kyoko Mogami, took a seat across the table and glowered at her with gorgeously made-up aureate eyes. The spy realized she had allowed her gaze to linger a little too long when she noted the girl's red-hot face. Composing herself, Sho's stepsister cleared her throat and got right down to business. "Do you truly know anything? Or is this some kind of scheme to try and get money from me because you discovered my family connections." The word family was spoken like a curse.

"I told you I possessed information." Akemi shook her head, "I'm not lying. For both our sakes, I won't tell you who I am, but I can tell you I'm someone well-placed enough in the Fuwa Hospitality Group to bring your grandfather down if I can gather the proper evidence."

She retrieved the audio recording of Hayate and Sho Fuwa's conversation along with photos she'd recently corroborated, though she kept the latter from view.

After playing the recording, Akemi addressed the woman across from her, "From what I've observed, your grandfather's impressive intelligence network is nearly flawless in covering their tracks, but no one is perfect all the time. Some people can still be bought." She pulled out her second piece of evidence, the medical examiner's report on Saena. "You may not know this, but they don't perform autopsies in Japan, which is great," she smiled wryly, "for powerful bastards like Hayate Fuwa. However, any visible inconsistencies should have been reported, and in fact, were, but the examiner was paid to exclude the signs of struggle. Kyoko, your mother had been drinking and died of an overdose, but the bruising on her arms, face, and throat tell a different story than suicide. Saena was forced to take those pills. They wanted to silence her for a reason I unfortunately have yet to discover." Then Akemi flipped over the photo last, revealing the reflected image of a man. She tapped on the photo as she spoke, "The man in this photo is one the CEO's trusted aides, or kuroi inazuma as they are known in certain informed circles. This is proof that one of Hayate Fuwa's men were in the direct vicinity of your home around the time of Saena's death."

Kyoko had remained impassively silent, her trembling body the only betrayal of emotion as the young woman reached a shaky hand towards the photos and medical report. "M-may I take these?"

"Yes, of course." Akemi moved her seat closer and lightly laid a hand on Kyoko's shoulder. "Look, I need your help. I can't get into Hayate Fuwa's office, especially now he's wary of me due to my relationship with the VP."

"Your... relationship with Sho?"

"Yes," she answered, but didn't divulge anything more. "The CEO could not deny seeing you because he has filial obligations to uphold. I need to you to place this device in his office for me."

The teen had a far-away look on her face as she responded, "I'll do it."

x=x=x=

The watcher accepted an incoming call. "Moshi moshi, Stallion-desu." A disapproving scoff sounded through the device, causing the man to smile wickedly.

"You are not Japanese," the voice berated.

"Sì, but I become all things to all people as I have need," the watcher retorted.

An oni can easily quote scripture indeed the caller mused. "I find your games tiresome. Recall that I can end them with as little as a twitch of a finger."

"My apologies, Your Excellency. Please allow me to give you an update. I have their exact location as we speak. It seems you were correct in predicting the little birdie's next move would be to meet. I'm formulating a plan to remove the obstacle. It will be enacted tomorrow." The watcher kept his voice calm, though he felt entirely the opposite. "What of the birdie? I'd be happy to cage it for you."

"No, I shall handle the bird myself. You need only act against the other, with utmost discretion. Remember what we spoke of when I acquired your services."

"I remember."

The voice gave an unnerving low chuckle, "Yes, I'm sure you do." Then call was terminated.

Antony stared down at his phone, a sinister, gleeful smile on his face. Nothing like getting paid for something you planned to do for free. Soon. He unsheathed his precious chef's knife and ran a hand lovingly across the sleek, sharp surface. Soon he'd put that flirtatious little whore in her place.

=x=x=x=

Kyoko ended up killing some time at the library in an effort to calm her mind and study up on her upcoming evening with Kuon. Even so, she'd gone back to her apartment, made sure Moko wasn't there, and screamed into her pillow before becoming a teary mess. But once she'd let the emotions out and washed her face, she felt better. Focusing on her meeting with her boyfriend, Kyoko had left her place with a smile on her face.

She swiped her keycard through the reader on the private elevator, nervously fiddling with her hair as she rode the elevator to her boyfriend's residence. The last couple days were a hurricane that was only just beginning to settle down, though a different storm loomed on the horizon due to her discussion with the white ram. One that she had to compartmentalize.

This late afternoon, however, the sole focus was going to be on the conversation she felt some trepidation for, though she knew she needn't feel that way. Upon entering his apartment, Kyoko walked down the short entry hall and froze at the sight before her, blinking rapidly in astonishment. Her boyfriend was slumped over his kitchen table, head resting on a folded arm. Is he asleep?

Sensing her close proximity, the young man raised his head before she had the chance to speak, revealing a dark bruise on an otherwise perfect face.

Is that a black eye!? What in the names of the gods happened?

"Hey, babe. How was your day?" he greeted with a grin, rising from his seat as she moved closer.

"Kuon, what happened to you?" He leaned forward to peck her on the lips, a strong odor of alcohol accompanying his movement. "You- you're drunk?"

Her boyfriend continued speaking as though he hadn't heard her. "Were you a good girl today or do I need to use my," he thrust his hips forward, "rod of discipline?"

Pfft! Note to self: Kuon makes for an incredibly goofy drunk when he's had several too many. Kyoko tried to maintain a stoic mask but a tiny guffaw got lose in spite of herself and when the corner of Kuon's mouth upturned at the sound, she utterly lost it. "Bahahaha!" So, for the second time in the same day, the young woman shed tears of mirth thanks to the male she now gratefully called her boyfriend, although that word seemed an inadequate description of what they were to each other.

"What on earth happened, Kuon? How did you get a black eye?" Kyoko managed to ask when her laughter died down.

"First of all, the same way I do everything. With excellence," he replied with an inebriated smile. He waggled his eyebrows at her and winked. "You should see the other guy. He's nursing a set of shiners, a split lip," he gave her a confident smirk, "and some lovely bruises along his torso that'll match his face perfectly tomorrow. The blue hues will go nicely with his eyes."

"Don't tell me…"

"Yes. Sho found out about us and was less than pleased at first, but I'll tell you more about it later. We've matters to discuss don't we?" he leaned forward and gave her rump a squeeze, causing her to squeak and jump away from him.

"Oh, no," came her stern reply. "That'll have to wait until later. Right now," she walked over to the fridge and removed an ice pack, "we need to try to minimize the damage to your poor face. And you need to sleep it off a little."

Dammit, Sho," Kyoko growled under her breath as she led her man by the hand and got him tucked into his massive bed.

"You'll stay with me, won't you?" he murmured, half asleep.

She stroked his cheek. "Always," she said softly. After removing the majority of her clothing, she snuggled up next to him and drifted off to sleep, setting her alarm to wake them in an hour and a half.

The voice of an angel was speaking her name over and over. The dulcet tones and warmth of the heavenly voice filled her with indescribable pleasure.

"Kyoko, wake up love," Kuon repeated for the tenth time, trying to softly shake her awake. "We still need to talk. I know you have questions for me and I've one for you."

"Hmm?" Kyoko replied groggily. Then she realized who and where she was. "Oh! Um, yes," she rubbed her eyes. "Ask me anything."

They were lying face to face and he idly stroked her thigh, sending shivers along her leg. "Why do you want me?" he asked without preamble.

She waved her hands around to encompass his entire frame. "Oh, the packaging," he said, tone strangely indifferent. She cupped his face in her hands as she spoke into the mystical green eyes she cherished.

"Please don't be self-depricating. Yes, you are sinfully gorgeous, but you are also one of the kindest, funniest, and most generous people I know. I fell in love with what's on the inside. I meant because you're you." Her voice dropped lower, nearly a whisper. "And I can't get enough Kuon. My body- no it's stronger than that- my essence craves your presence, your touch. It's exhilarating and also terrifying," she confessed. "Is- is that normal for people?"

She watched her love shake his head. "I don't think anything about what we have is normal. There's something singular between us- like we were meant for each other all along."

She nodded and was silent a moment before hesitatingly asking a question she'd been most reluctant to address. "So, the um- the other women were never like that?"

The powerful male gently grabbed one of her hands as his other lightly adjusted her chin so their eyes met. "If you mean whether it ever felt like an all-consuming fire where you actually want to be burned, no," Kuon said, running his finger-tips over her arm and watching the goose flesh forming in their wake before turning his intense gaze back to her face. "But, Kyoko, I've never been with another woman like I want to be with you."

She looked to be in shock a moment, only blinking at him like an owl, before she loudly stammered, "Wh-wha-what!?"

"Yes, I'm a virgin," he confessed, cheeks turning faintly pink.

"How!?"

"Well, when a boy doesn't insert his-" Kyoko cut him off with a look and he laughed.

His laughter ended in a wince as he recalled the conversation he'd had with his mother and a wry smile took shape on his handsome face. "Let's just say, my mother instilled the fear of the gods in me regarding how women should be treated and the consequences of my actions. And my father gave me quite the talking to after I got my first girlfriend. I fooled around to a point, but never let it go that far mostly because I always felt something was lacking. Of course, often times the girls were only after my looks or family connections. I learned that lesson fairly young and resolved to keep myself busy with work, which left little time for romance as I became older, though it never stopped anyone from trying either."

"You never even came close?"

"Do you really want to know?"

She hesitated a moment before nodding sharply.

"Once, but only due to drinking far too much at a college party and a girl drugging my drink. Her dosage was off fortunately because she didn't account for my size." Kyoko gaped at her boyfriend in astonishment. "Like I said, I never cared for anyone the way I do for you."

A slew in of questions regarding that experience ran through her mind, but she managed to stifle them, unwilling to derail herself. "I see." She bit her lip, lost in thought for a moment and her face melted into grim line, hesitant eyes barely meeting his own as she spoke, "Kuon- w-why me? There are many more appealing women, especially in your line of work and I'm just- just ordinary."

"You are in my line of work, love," he teased, but her persistent frown caused him to sober. "Kyoko, you are far from ordinary," he said, shooting her a leveled look in return. "And I love everything about you–Everything," he gave her backside an emphatic squeeze.

He placed his hand on her cheek, thumb lightly caressing the now reddened face he found so lovely. "What I adore the most is your soul. I have a theory as to why your eyes are that unique amber color- the light of your soul is peeking out for the world to see and you shine so brightly on everyone regardless of the hardships in your life. I admire your tenacity and selflessness." He leaned in to give her a quick kiss, but Kyoko gripped the back of his head, taking him deeper.

He withdrew, shifting his head so it lay closer to her own as his voice turned husky and he fully became king of the night. "Do you remember when you went shopping one weekend and there wasn't enough room for that one cucumber in the fridge? You asked, 'What am I supposed to do with this?' all incredulously in utter seriousness while holding the cucumber just so. Clearly you're a natural," he interjected, grinning delightedly. "Half a breath later your stepbrother, Yayoi, and I were cracking up, but my laughter hid my desire to tell you exactly what you should do with that lengthy vegetable. To help you discover its' creative uses right there on the granite countertop."

"And there was a time you were bent over the table and all I could think about was walking up behind you so I could press against your luscious ass, not to mention the recurring dream. You were traipsing around the kitchen clothed only in that little cupcake apron you used to wear. Mmm," he closed his eyes as though picturing her as described. Never in a thousand years would she have imagined herself being in anyone's dirty fantasies, let alone Kuon Hizuri's.

An errant thought popped into her head. "What about the snow?"

"I thoroughly regret having been such a coward," he smiled wistfully.

She made a dismissive gesture, "You were never a coward Kuon. It simply wasn't the right time then."

He titled his head slightly in acknowledgement, "Perhaps. But I also had to get pretty wasted to make a move later."

"You weren't the only one and have I ever complained? I believe I said yes and several other things," she blushed.

"I'd very much love you make you say several other things right now Mrs. I'm On the Pill," his voice was teasing, but the heat in his eyes had intensified. "However, that will have wait until the evening because I'm due to work in an hour which leaves me with little time to do everything I am desirous to do with you."

The words deepened that slow churning ache in her stomach.

Forty minutes later, Kuon was looking damn fine as always, though slightly more casual without a suit jacket.

"I don't want you to leave," she admitted.

"And I don't want to go, but it's only for five hours. Please wait here for me. I'll be back before you know it." He gave her a thorough kiss and swiftly walked to the door before blowing a parting kiss and exiting.

A/N

kuroi inazuma: black lightning/thunder