Heads Up: This chapter contains depictions of assault and violence.

What happened at Sho's earlier on Sunday...

Akemi slipped over the grounds, avoiding the security cameras on the property, and entered through the one window that could be accessed by someone with a smaller frame. Why do men only calculate other men as risks, she thought in dismay. Not that I'm here to cause harm in the first place, however.

Moving with quick light steps, she made her way in the main room, halting as she heard an unknown male's voice. She peered around the corner and saw one of the most gorgeous men she'd ever laid eyes on. Sho was incredibly attractive, but this man scarcely looked real. It seemed far more likely she was witnessing a being from another realm, though she knew such thoughts were nonsense. What mix of genetics were capable of producing that appearance? She snapped an image and discovered he was a well-known model. Mm, figures.

"Sho!" Kuon Hizuri called. "I got here as quickly as I could." An answering bamboo sword spun in an arc straight for his head, but was deftly plucked from the air, saving the male from collision and the certain splitting headache to follow. "Nice greeting," he said sardonically.

Sho sauntered into view, brandishing a matching kendo katana and flashed his friend a slight smile. "Spar with me."

The model raised his eyebrows, "Without any gear?"

"Yeah, unless you're worried you'll ruin that pretty face of yours." The words were lightly spoken, but held an unmistakable air of challenge. "Let's forgo the usual rules and have a free style spar until one of us taps out–like we used to."

The model shrugged. "If you insist." He took a jōdan stance and Sho positioned himself waki-gamae in response. Kuon quirked a brow, "Going old school eh? You always liked to look flashy."

The shorter male narrowed his eyes, staring Kuon down from across the room. "No, I just like to win!" he cried, attacking his prey.

The first swing was a feint which Kuon, impressively, didn't fall for completely. It left him slightly open, however, and Sho didn't the opportunity pass by. He followed with up downward slash that Kuon just managed to catch on part of his on his shinai, deflecting it's vector, but it still struck the side of his face with force, causing Akemi to wince. That's definitely going to leave a mark.

The model didn't didn't utter a sound beyond a soft grunt. He went on the offensive, stricking at his opponent's face and torso almost faster than Akemi could follow and undeniably faster than Sho could keep up.

Why would Sho pick a fight with a guy he knows is better than him? The only fathomable reason in her mind was self-inflicted punishment. At least Kuon Hizuri is holding back. She could tell he wasn't using his full strength in his strikes, but his blows were still powerful enough that anything Sho failed to block was going to manifest in black and blue later. These two young men, Akemi thought with a sigh, are ruining their handsome looks.

Finally, Sho had had enough and tapped out with his sword. Kuon was silent, staring at his friend who awkwardly ran a hand through his messy spikes. Sho looked up at the vaulted ceiling and closed his eyes, "I know about you and Kyoko."

"I figured that's what this was about, but I'm still puzzled."

The Fuwa heir took a deep breath, "I love her too." Even though Akemi already knew how Sho felt, his words were a knife to her chest. A knife she wished she could rip out, but knew she'd only bleed out faster.

Kuon blinked. "What?"

"I said –I love Kyoko too. And I don't mean the way a brother does." Sho walked over to the bar and began pouring himself drink. "White Russian for you or is that a little too on the nose?" He joked feebly, but Kuon only nodded, contemplating a response as Sho tossed one back.

"You always seemed like you loathed her. I recall having to intervene on her behalf on a few occasions because you were being harsh with her, but then Lin died and you were different. Better. Was that when you realized?" Kuon asked.

Sho swallowed hard, nodding. "Yes. I know I was an absolute bastard to her for so many years, but especially as we grew older. She has this allure to her," he looked up over at his friend and gave a rueful laugh. "You know what I mean. I was jealous and spiteful and hated that part of me that was attracted to her." He looked at Kuon then, squarely in the eyes and it seemed to his friend that he was a man being led to the gallows. "I–I hit her. More than once."

Suddenly Sho was on the ground, wiping blood from a split lip as he stared up at a livid Kuon Hizuri with his remaining good eye.

"I know!" he screamed. His voice bounced around the room, damning him over and over again while the blood continued oozing down his chin.

Then he spoke so softly Akemi had to strain to hear. "Kyoko deserves a better man and I am not it." He looked down at his right hand. "Lin deserved better too."

The young man cleared his throat and stood, brushing his designer clothes off as though they'd been dirtied by the pristine floor somehow and poured yet another drink which he promptly conquered. He disappeared from Akemi's view briefly, returning with two plastic baggies full of ice, one of which he offered to his friend who plucked it from his grasp.

Kuon sat down beside him at the bar to make himself another beverage and with a toss of the head, it too vanished. He made himself a scotch on the rocks.

Both attractive young men slouched over the bar, one hand pressing an ice baggy to their bruised faces while the other nursed a glass of booze and Akemi had to cover her mouth to muffle her laughter. Men are strange creatures.

Sho lowered the ice from his face for a moment. "Kuon," Sho's piercing eyes met Kuon's steely gaze. "I suspected something was going on between you two, but it was my grandfather who sent me confirmation."

Kuon pictured the man. Though in his fifties, Hayate Fuwa was much like his own grandfather in that his genetics had let him keep his youth longer than most others. Only the lines on his face and the graying at his temple betrayed any sign of age. Usually it was the lines around the eyes that told the best story, but for some reason Kuon could not picture any crow's feet on the Fuwa elder's face. "What do you mean sent you confirmation?"

Sho drew his phone from his pocket and forwarded a video file to Kuon's device. "I think my grandfather views Kyoko as a potential threat- he's been keeping an eye on her this entire time too." Is he going to tell this other young man about the CEO? Akemi quickly selected the voice memo app on her phone. "Kuon, Ojii-san isn't just the head of Fuwa Hospitality Group." And then the primary heir to the Fuwa fortune spilled his guts to his only friend.

x=x=x

After her shower, Kyoko had some time left before Kuon was due back and her mind repeatedly drifted to the papers in her purse. Wanting another peek at the alleged assassin, she reached a hand into her bag and discovered a note had been slipped in among the items.

Listen to the full recording. How and why am I supposed to do that? Unless... Kyoko checked her phone- an audio file was received soon after the meeting with attractive woman had ended. Ah, that would be the how. Now for the why. She hit the play button and flinched at the sound of Ojii-san slapping her stepbrother. Oh! no wonder Grandfather was pissed and wary–he'd walked in on them, Kyoko thought, cheeks warming.

She heard the line White Ram played for her earlier- "If Kyoko ever finds out what happened with her mother, she could ruin us," but listened to the rest of Hayate Fuwa's rant. "And you are not allowed to have feelings for are a weakness. Separate yourself from those flaws and refrain from acting rashly as you did in the past. This will be my only warning."

Then Sho's hushed voice asked, "How did you know?" The CEO continued talking, but Kyoko didn't hear another word.

Flabbergasted, the young chef gawked at her phone. There must be a blizzard in hell or I'm dreaming right now. She pinched herself, "Ow!" OK, not dreaming. She flopped down heavily on sofa and the cushion let out a whoosh of air.

Never in a million years would I have imagined Sho having those kind of feelings for me. I'd hoped he'd be like a real sibling when I was little... The very idea of Sho Fuwa being in love with her seemed as likely as the arrogant prince in a Chinese tale falling in love with the poor girl responsible for cleaning his chamber pots. She would have laughed it off save the tone of his voice when he'd asked their grandfather how he knew.

I guess this explains why Sho was less than pleased with his apparent discovery. Did he pick a fight with Kuon? Kyoko didn't want to be the source of any conflict, but if she was being honest, she hadn't minded hearing that Kuon had gotten several good shots in. Any feelings she'd harbored as a young girl were quickly quashed when the Fuwa heir began teasing her, calling her names, and treating her like a dirty snot rag at best later. I care for him solely as a stepbrother and fellow human being. Sho must know I could never reciprocate, which is likely why he'd picked a fight– out of sheer frustration. There was something he wanted, but was being denied. Moreover, his bosom buddy received it instead. Kyoko shook her head slowly. Sho still had a lot of maturing to do.

She put the things back into her purse, locking her new-found knowledge away with them.

Kyoko looked around the living space. Might as well tidy up a little for Kuon for until he's home. Preferring to clean with music, the young woman selected a random playlist from Kuon's Spotify account. A rock song with a catchy meter started playing and a man began rap-singing about the face beneath his skin. Kyoko had never heard the song before, but it felt like the musicians were could be just as easily be singing about her. She wondered what the writers had experienced to have felt the same way she had so many times. It was darker themed though, so Kyoko was pleased to discover the next song was more cheerful. Her body began unconsciously moving to the beat.

The beat from a dance song thrummed through the air as Kuon Hizuri entered his apartment, moving deeper through his home until he spotted the woman he loved.

Kyoko looked like a naiad, gracefully bobbing and flowing with the music as she sang along. She was dusting, but dancing seemed to take precedence and a soft laugh escaped his lips as he watched her. This girl is too adorable. The track changed and Kyoko's body stilled except for her hands which were still working. A slower, softer melody marked the beginning next song and Kuon snuck up from behind, encircling her slight body with his own, singing along with the lyrics; I saw everything I wanted - There in your eyes and I knew then - If you were just here with me - I could fly.

Though Kyoko startled in surprise, she made a quick recovery, pressing herself against him before turning in his arms and practically jumping on him. For half a heartbeat Kuon gazed into her shining, joyous eyes and then they were kissing, lips dancing together to the beat of the song. Their hands roaming feverishly over one another as though starved for each other's touch.

He scooped her up in his arms princess style, eliciting a surprised yelp from Kyoko, and carried her his bed. This time he took his time undressing her, savoring the little sounds she made when he ran his hands over her warm, soft skin. She looked even lovelier with a flush on her cheeks.

"Did you miss me?" he asked, massaging her with his thumb.

"Yes," came Kyoko's breathy reply. "Very much." The flush turned into a full on burn when he advanced lower.

"I couldn't leave the office most of the day because I kept thinking about what we would be doing when I got home. That might be the longest five hours I've ever experienced, but I no longer need to wait." He pulled out a condom from his night stand, but Kyoko shook her head.

"I- I want to feel you, not anything else. I'm on the pill and we're both fine, medically I mean, so...," Kyoko shyly admitted. He hadn't thought she could turn any redder, but her admission somehow managed it.

She's killing me and she has no idea. "Mmm, is that what you want, love?" the model purred into her ear.

"Yes!" Kyoko's answering moan caused left little doubt regarding her sincerity.

He began sucking and kissing his way down her body, beginning with the lobe of her ear, moving down to her neck and perky little breasts. "My gods, I've been wanting to do that."

Kyoko reached a hesitant hand over the broad expanse of his muscled chest. "Me too," she confessed softly.

Then they were lost in that ancient wordless dance, lost in the pure bliss of it.

Some hours later Kuon still felt lost in a glorious haze and Kyoko randomly asked, "How do porcupines make love?"

He raised his brow in silent query, unable to grasp onto coherent speech yet.

"Very carefully," she answered with a snigger.

Kuon gave a low chuckle and she grinned at him. "I read that one in a book a while back. I'm glad you didn't hesitate- I don't think I could have withstood a moment longer, though I was wondering how you'd fit earlier. You're um, not slight there."

"Would you mind if I were?"

She shrugged. "Likely not since I have nothing to compare it to."

"Is it wrong that I love that?"

Kyoko shook her head. "No, I feel the same about you- pleased that I'm the only one."

"You know I finally understand why. Why someone long ago created the idea of the honeymoon. Once you start doing it, you never want to stop."

Kyoko laughed and hummed her agreement, snuggling up closer to him. "I wouldn't say no to round two," she said. "If you can rise to the challenge."

"If?" he gave her a wicked grin.

x=x=x

Kuon was snoring softly when Kyoko left the bed early Monday morning. She'd woken early due to the heat of their entwined bodies and carefully extricated her sore body before gingerly padding out to the kitchen to inspect the fridge.

Upon opening the door, she clucked her tongue at the barren shelves. It was too early to order from most places and the majority of the breakfast food one could order wasn't anything she'd consider edible. She'd decided to suggest a couples soak in Kuon's luxuriously large bath after he woke and they'd had breakfast, but the lack of food put a damper on those plans. They'd had a long night and Kyoko hoped to make it an equally long morning, but knew they would need calories to continue their new favorite activity. Kyoko applied a light layer of foundation and eyeliner to her face, tied her hair back in a pony tail, and slipped quietly out, leaving a note behind just in case.

The store was open 24/7 and boasted a built-in parking garage with a security booth just large enough for the one officer on shift. There were only a few other vehicles in the complex when she arrived. Eggs, green onions, ham, tomatoes, shallots, bread, bath salts. Kyoko checked items of her list as she quickly made her way through the nearly vacant market.

Finishing her errand in record time, the young chef carried her paper-bagged groceries back to her car. Huh? That's strange, Kyoko mused. The security guard was not in his booth, but neither could she see him anywhere else. Well, I guess everyone takes breaks now and then, she rationalized.

A pointed cough sounded from behind her and Kyoko flinched, almost dropping her sack. She spun around and was confronted by man dressed in all black clothing from his ballcap down to his sneakers. The man's posture was relaxed, hands tucked into the pockets of his dark hoodie and her vision began seeing double, the silhouette of another man clad in darkness overlapping with reality causing her hands to lose their grip on the grocery sack.

The water is running, spilling all over and mommy is splashing around, playing in the water with a man wearing strange black clothes. Oh, I've seen mommy talking to this man before. The man gives her something to drink. It must taste yucky because mommy has tears in her eyes as she swallows. Mommy looks at me, reaching an arm out and I start to go to her, excited that she wants to see me, but the man is there. He stares at me. He shakes his head and now mommy looks like she's sleeping in the bath, but her eyes are open. The man holds up a finger to his lips. I have to be quiet. Then he's gone. I wait, but mommy never wakes up. I begin to cry. The water runs over my feet. It is so cold now. I begin to scream...

"Ciao," a familiar voice called, shattering the repressed memory.

Oh my gods, Kyoko thought, horrified at the realization that she'd witnessed Saena's murder as a small child.

Though now, thanks to the White Ram, she knew what the masked murderer looked like. And who he worked for.

She fought the desire to curl up into a ball and allow herself to fall apart, knowing her focus needed to be on the male physically in front of her, not a specter of the past. The man looked down at the fallen sack, staring at the egg innards that began oozing through the paper. Wait, he said ciao, didn't he? "A-Antony?" Kyoko questioned, caught in disbelief at the appearance of her senior in more than one way.

"Si, il mio piccolo puttàna," his wide malevolent smile was all teeth and Kyoko felt a chill crawl down her spine.

x=x=x

Kuon was roused by the sound of his phone chiming frantically and discovered a note on the empty side of the bed.

Morning handsome,

I reluctantly left to forage for food because you have absolutely NOTHING to eat in here and we can't continue our ministrations unless we have energy–that and I don't want to starve to death. Hopefully, I'll be back before you even see this, but if not, know that I won't be long.

Love,

Your Kyoko

A smile lit up his face as he read her note, but then he recalled what woke him. With a furrowed brow, he checked his phone- three missed calls from Rick and one voice message. His foggy brain caught up with situation; it was too early for Rick to be calling, barely after 5:30 AM and he'd been waiting to hear back from his friend regarding that mu'dak chef...

"B`lyad'!" Last night he'd chosen not to share any of his concerns or what he'd learned from Sho because it was their evening together, the first of many to come if he had anything to say about it, and there was no room for a third party in their bed. However, he hadn't anticipated Kyoko going anywhere by herself either.

The young man didn't bother listening to the message. "Rick? What's wrong?"

"Kyoko's not with you?" Rick pressed.

"No, she's not. She apparently left to get some items for breakfast." Kuon closed his eyes, tasting the bitter tang of regret on his tongue - I should have done that earlier, then she wouldn't have felt the need to leave.

His friend's sharp voice rang through the device, "You need to get your ass to where is right now!"

Kuon slipped on his pants and had his car keys in hand by the time Rick began his next sentence. "That bastard has been stalking her," Rick continued and young man gritted his teeth, grip on his keys turning white-knuckle as his jog turned into a full on sprint for the stairs. "I'm en route, but I won't make it time," Rick continued grimly.

"Hold on a minute." The elevator would take too long as would the stairs if he took them the normal way, but he parkoured down the stairs, reaching the garage level in record time.

He threw his Porsche into reverse, screeching out of his designated space. "Are you certain Rossi is with her right now?"

"I've tracked his whereabouts for the last month and he followed Kyoko off and on, but his pattern changed yesterday. He was everywhere she went- her apartment, the gym, the library, even outside your place, man, and right now it shows Kyoko at the grocers and Antony still nearby your apartment, but his signal hasn't moved. Not one inch. My guess? He's being careful now, which means..." Rick let his voice trail off and Kuon didn't need him to finish the thought. Which means he has plans for Kyoko. "A girl from Antony Rossi's middle school went missing one sunny summer day. Stacey Thomson. And when I saw she fit the petit with long dark hair physique you queued in on, though her eyes were more of a bright ochre, I suddenly had this awful feeling, man. That's when I looked into their locations via GPS tracking on their phones."

Kuon squeezed the steering wheel tighter and pressed down on the gas pedal. He couldn't afford to lose any precious time and if a cop began chasing him, all the better as far as the he was concerned.

The silver Porsche skidded to a halt on the side of Von's Market, right in a no parking zone, but Kuon paid little heed to the signs, his long legs tearing across the concrete and down into the parking garage.

He was met with a sight that froze all the blood in his body.

X=x=x

Antony's smile reminded Kyoko of the clown from that Stephen King movie–the one that hunted children–and her body reacted, automatically taking a more defensive position.

Antony's tone was casual, "I gave myself away at the gym, didn't I?" He blew out a long, breathy sigh. "You flirted with me so many times, but all the while you were screwing him. That model turned manager. And maybe the hotel prince too?" He mistook the twitch of Kyoko's face as verification. "This job offer makes more sense now," he chuckled. "My, what an insatiable appetite you possess. Guess you've got a thing for blondes." He removed his hat for a split second, revealing a shoddy dye job and shrugged apologetically. "I was in a bit of a hurry since I didn't know you were going to give me this opportunity quite so soon, but this should be good enough."

He's insane. Kyoko knew anything she said would likely be twisted by his warped perspective so she stayed silent, waiting.

The young woman began slowly inching her hand into her purse to retrieve her taser, but stopped when the crazed male drew a pistol from his pocket. "I really don't want to have to use this. Toss the bag over there." Kyoko complied.

"Good girl," he praised, pulling a syringe from a different pouch. "You're going to come with me somewhere we can enjoy each other's company properly and thoroughly." It was then that Kyoko noticed a wheelchair nearby. Sh-. "You might feel a little pinch," he intoned in his best doctor's voice and moved to jab her with the needle, but Kyoko deflected his arm, knocking the syringe from his hand and kicking the gun away from his other.

The male recovered faster than she anticipated, landing a punch to her gut that doubled the young woman over before causing her to crumple to the ground.

Then he was in her guard, right between her legs, strong hands wrapped firmly around her throat. The same hands that spent hour upon hour helping her hone her craft.

Dancing black spots appeared in her vision. No! Kyoko knew she couldn't let herself lose consciousness. Knew it only took six seconds to choke someone out.

Move! she willed her body into action–fast and fluid like liquid lightning, just the way she'd been trained. She gripped his left shoulder at the neck with her left arm in a cross grab while bringing her right leg up to the same shoulder and simultaneously shifting her hips until she was practically perpendicular to him. Then she brought her left leg into alignment with her left arm and flipped the man onto his back in a rolling movement.

Antony let loose a surprised curse and Kyoko didn't dare give him a chance to recover. The junior chef thrust her hips upward in an obscene pantomime of making love and her attacker's arm snapped right at the elbow with a sound reminiscent to breaking a carrot in half.

"AAAHHH!" he screamed, enraged as much as in pain and Kyoko, who had just pictured his arm as a gigantic orange root, let loose a manic cackle, incensing her assaulter further. "You dirty WHORE!" he spat through clenched teeth.

Time seemed to slow, turning dreamlike as Kyoko watched him unsheathe a razor-edged blade from his lower body with his good arm and she scurried back, trying to get out of his range, but her body felt weak, movements sluggish.

"I was planning to pierce you in a different way first, but this will have to-" there was a sudden loud snapping sound and his body spasmed wildly before slackening completely. What...? Silence reigned until the clatter of the flash gun taser dropping to the ground caused Kyoko to startle, though she continued staring at Antony's body.

A couple seconds later a furious fist slammed into her attacker's face, knocking him out cold, and she heard the most reassuring sound she'd ever heard, her boyfriend's voice.

"Kyoko!" Kuon cried, large figure crouching down in front of her. The anxious male tenderly laid his hand on her jaw, gazing into her golden eyes a moment before lifting her gently in a princess carry. The young woman flashed back to the night before, where he'd carried her in the same fashion under wholly different circumstances. The sharp contrasting imagery of events broke through her dam of resolve and tears began freely flowing onto her boyfriend's bare chest. Kyoko realized she must be in some state of shock for his gorgeous naked body to have gone unnoticed before. He continued cradling her to his chest as she shook in his arms and murmured something soothing in Russian while rubbing her back.

"I'm going to put you down for just a moment," he said softly, setting her down in the passenger seat of her car, but she clutched at his wrist just as he was about to go around to the back of the vehicle. "Kyoko, love, I'm just going to get the emergency blanket from the back of the car," he soothed and she let go. Returning shortly, he wrapped the blanket around her shaking body as he lifted her into his lap. He could feel her rapid heartbeat pulsing in her chest. "Focus on breathing-–slow and even," he told her. He clung to her just as much as she clung to him. Kuon thanked the gods, knowing that losing her would have been worse than losing a limb- there would have been a gaping hole deep inside that nothing would ever be able to fill.

With Kyoko warmed and safe he finally allowed himself to dial 9-1-1. The police arrived six minutes later and took Antony Rossi into custody.

Another two minutes later, as Rick arrived on the scene, Hayate Fuwa's private line rang.

"Speak," he ordered.

The caller spoke a mere two words, "He failed."

"I see," came the CEO's reply, deep voice dripping with displeasure. "Then he is no longer an asset, but a liability. Eliminate him."

"Your command is my desire, Your Eminence," the voice replied. Hayate Fuwa replaced the receiver on the port and slammed his hand on his desk, causing the wooden structure to quiver. The kingpin rose from his chair, adjusting his suit as he smoothed his white hair, and, once more, donned his grandfatherly guise for his imminent interview in the press room.

Despite Antony Rossi's transfer into federal custody via Agent Rick Schnee, the man was discovered dead five hours later.

A/N

Jodān stance- sword is raised above the head with the tip pointing back and the blade facing up, in readiness to strike.

Waki-gamae- sword is hidden behind the body with only the pommel (handle) exposed to the opponent. Conceals the orientation of the blade to one's opponent as to give him no hint about your own intention for the next attack.

Naiad- a beautiful water nymph

What Kyoko was listening to (if anyone's curious)- Papercut – Linkin Park and Oh Snap It's Luke! – Strange Days and Starchaser.

The book Kyoko is referring to is Outlander by Diana Gabaldon.