HONK!
The blast of a horn was punctuated by the screech of rubber against pavement.
Bystanders stopped mid-step, watching with baited breadth as an arm violently threw open the door of a raised Ford F-150. The upper half of a barrel-chested man emerged, followed by the rest of him which executed a surprisingly nimble leap from the considerable height. The male's sculpted muscles bounced like the red sphere of a paddle ball game, straining against the crispness of his tight white button-up shirt as he landed with a heavy thump on the cracked concrete. His neatly pressed clothing contrasted boldly with the backdrop of his mud-splattered vehicle.
The stocky, mullet-sporting male stalked towards his intended target- the driver of a silver Porsche.
"Hey! Hey, moron! I'm talking to you! What the hell do you think you were doing!? Are you blind? That was a stop sign, dumbass! I almost–"
The driver continued his rant unaware that his audience of one was tuned in to another channel entirely.
Normally the towering young man who allegedly ran the stop sign would have taken one glance at the little fellow and chalked up his behavior as a symptom of what he privately referred to as short man syndrome. This time, however, he completely disregarded the irate insect buzzing about his chest as he briskly trotted along the curve of his vehicle to the passenger door. He bent at the knees and leaned forward slightly before emerging with a small, sleeping woman in his arms.
The angry gnat grew silent and still at the sight of the tall handsome prince carrying his delicate Snow White.
Not that the prince noticed in the slightest.
Kyoko looked so fragile in his arms. Like a living porcelain doll. And damned if Kuon didn't want to treat her that way. But Kyoko surely didn't need or want her boyfriend (the word hardly seemed adequate) squirreling her away like a nut for winter. But, oh gods, Kuon was almost tempted to try it.
The young man kicked off his sneakers as he carried Kyoko inside, ensuring silent footfalls on the bloodwood floor. Kuon had opted to decorate his home rather than hire out. He had begun with the expensive flooring and chose complementary soft, warm tones for the walls and darker toned furnishings. The effect was an inviting and luxuriously cozy space. A home he hoped to share with the young woman in his arms. He couldn't help but consider how he'd almost lost her as he placed her on the disheveled bed in his quiet little haven. Concerned emerald eyes rested on inky-black veil covering the face of the woman he adored. He nestled Kyoko under the plush down comforter of his large bed.
Her shivering had ceased, but she still looked too pale.
The EMTs had assured him that she was in stable condition. He needed to keep her warm for the next little while, monitor her breathing, and ice her bruises.
Suddenly she whimpered, uttering a desperate plea as she thrashed under the covers. "No, no!" The sound was a tightening fist on Kuon's heart.
He reached down, brushing aside the silken locks to whisper in her ear, "Shhh. You're safe now love."
Her body relaxed immediately. "Mmm. Kuon," she sighed in a gravelly whisper, rubbing her face against his hand like a cat.
If only I'd- Kuon gritted his teeth and closed his eyes with a grimace. Self-flagellation won't help right now he acknowledged, but he couldn't quite shake his gnawing frustration that the attack could have been avoided or prevented entirely if only he'd told her about his concerns regarding her co-worker and his conversation with Sho.
And just like that his brain shifted to shadowed memories, adding gasoline to an already roaring fire.
The flash of a blade as it caught in the light. A sickening smile.
It had taken Kuon's every last fiber of Kuon's discipline to refrain from doing more damage to Antony Rossi's face and after witnessing Kyoko's mental and physical state, he wished he'd done more, though he knew he shouldn't.
The imposing male took several calming breaths, releasing the tension in his coiled muscles before crawling into the bed. Kyoko was still breathing deeply in the peaceful throes of an exhausted sleep and her body shifted, melting into the heat of his embrace as he wrapped his arms around her.
Kuon mentally kicked himself for agreeing to a meeting so soon before whisking her away. Now that he was snuggled against her petite body, he knew his body would protest any distance between them, but they were due at an interview with Rick in an official capacity in the early afternoon.
Rick deserves a lifetime of top shelf drinks, Kuon thought. If it weren't for that phone call... He couldn't suppress the shudder that ran the length of his long body at the foreboding thought.
Rick had intervened on site too, pacifying the local authorities who'd been so adamant in detaining them to discuss the entirety of matters. Kyoko was in no shape for it and Kuon had been a hair's breadth away from ramming his fist in the sergeant's insistent seventies mustached-face.
And it was still too soon in his opinion. She needed more rest. He needed more time to process and calm himself.
Kuon felt like he was walking a razor's edge, desperately needing a way to vent these feelings, but because he was unwilling to leave Kyoko's side, he was left with no outlets in which to channel the emotions. Instead, the prince focused on the deep, even breaths and consistent lub-dub of his princess's heart, letting her peaceful music eventually lull him to sleep.
Kyoko woke three hours later, fuzzy-brained and feeling abnormally warm and incredibly sore.
Something was poking her backside and an expansive heat eclipsed one of her breasts. She looked down and saw the comforting sight of her boyfriend's hand which meant she was being poked by…
Blushing scarlet, she tried to recall how she'd ended up in bed with Kuon and the events of the morning washed over her in a furious wave.
She realized she must have gone into shock because she couldn't remember anything after that, but one detail remained crystal clear. After Antony had accused her of sleeping with Sho, he's said, "This job offer makes more sense now," and laughed.
He was hired by someone close to Sho who wanted me out of the way. Only one name fit that description. The same man responsible for murdering her mother.
Hayate Fuwa.
Kyoko wondered what had made him wait all these years to come after her? Was it because Naoki and Yayoi were away managing affairs in Japan? Or because he could write her death off more easily now that she was legally an adult? No, that was assuming he had a conscience to begin with. He'd demonstrated his lack of such a thing long ago.
He must have discovered my meeting the woman at the library.
She longed to write off recent events as a nightmare, but the evidence was staring her in the face. Or rather, just below it. Vicious hands had left her throat feeling like a punching bag.
"I should have put some ice on your bruises while you were sleeping. I'll get you some now," a soothing and apologetic voice spoke from behind her as the hand cupping her breast moved higher, resting lightly on her shoulder a moment before disappearing altogether.
Kyoko rolled over to face the man she loved, burrowing her face into his solid chest and pressing him tightly against her, preventing his exit from the bed.
He stopped and after a moment, pulling back to look her in the eyes. The two stared at each other, a vast canyon's width of emotion and unspoken words lying between them in the suddenly heavy air.
Kuon dropped his gaze and broke the silence.
"K-Kyoko." There was hesitation in his voice, almost like fear and his eyes glistened. "I'm so sorry, love. I should have told you. I should have told you my suspicions about Rossi and what happened with Sho. Then you wouldn't have-"
The young woman stopped him with a sweet kiss, wincing slightly at the movement, and shook her head. "It's not your fault, Kuon." Her voice was akin to shoe being dragged over loose gravel.
Lowering her voice to a whisper, she continued. "There are things I should have told you too. Things I've discovered about my past. About my adopted grandfather."
At the word grandfather, Kuon glanced up sharply and was met with golden, fiery determination.
Kuon's brow drew together in confusion. "How and what did you find out about Hayate Fuwa?"
"A woman contacted me anonymously. That's why I was at the library-to meet with her. And I-," she flinched as she swallowed hard. "I'm positive my grandfather hired him."
As the words finished forming on the young woman's lips, a part of her still refused to believe them- the part that was the Junior to that Senior who'd playfully taught her so many valuable chef's techniques. While she was no stranger to physical confrontations, an attack from someone she knew (or thought she knew) fairly well was a trauma in itself one that would take some time to come to terms with.
At the same time, a hardness settled over Kuon's handsome features and his eyes darkened like the sky when a thunderstorm rolls through.
"I need to warn the woman I met with," Kyoko continued urgently.
He reached over, plucked her phone from the side table and handed it to her.
Kyoko's slender fingers flew over the screen, sending a warning to her benefactor as she said a short, silent prayer to the gods that she wasn't too late.
"And how did you know about Ojii-san?" she asked. The answer came to her in her next breath. "Sho told you."
Kuon nodded with his eyes. "I sparred with Sho and afterwards he told me about his Ojii-san and that he suspected you were in danger."
The young man continued speaking with a tortured expression. "My parents always stressed the importance of communication in a relationship. If only I'd told you…"
Kyoko's reply was rough with emotion. "You need to stop beating yourself up Kuon. We both could have done things differently, but no one's to blame except for Hayate Fuwa and Ant- and Rossi." She still couldn't quite bring herself to say his first name.
"What's important now, is what we do moving forward."
"I feel like I failed you," Kuon admitted in a voice filled with pungent bitterness.
Kyoko took his face in her hands, running her fingers along the soft stubble that sprouted overnight. "You didn't. You were there right when I needed you."
His jaw clenched. "I'll get you some ice," he said through gritted teeth as he swung his legs out from under the covers, leaving Kyoko frowning in the bed.
Kuon strode to his dark cherry gentleman's chest and pulled out a pair of boxers to slip on before making his way to the kitchen.
Kyoko forced herself to relax, sinking back into plush mattress as she reached for the remote to distract herself.
A woman with a mop of unnaturally red curls appeared as the TV came to life. Her makeup was tastefully done, but failed to conceal the dark circles under her eyes, displaying a pronounced lack of sleep.
I'm standing at the site of a brutal attack that occurred just hours ago at the Von's Market off Beverly Boulevard, leaving a security guard hospitalized and the attacker, who police would only say was a local chef working at a reputable restaurant, well on his way to life behind bars.
The victim: a young woman who was innocently returning to her vehicle with a bag of groceries when police say she was confronted by her the assailant.
The man attempted to inject her with a needle, but failed when the victim, whose name the police yet to release, was able to fend off her assaulter. That's when the assailant drew a knife.
Fortunately, a good Samaritan intervened, subduing the knife wielding assailant before the worst outcome.
Violet Evercott witnessed part of the events. Violet, would you please share what you saw with our viewers?
The camera switched to a little grey-haired lady sporting a large pair of bifocals. The wrinkles on the old woman's face grew more pronounced as she began to speak.
I was on an emergency food run for Mittens, she moved a tiny black Pomeranian with white front paws into view, and on the way back to my car.
I noticed right away that that nice security guardsman was missing from his booth and then I saw them on the ground. A man with his hands wrapped around some poor girls neck like this- the elderly woman positioned her hands in the imitation of a chokehold.
-Maliciously gleeful eyes bore into her own and her shoulder blades were screaming alongside her throat and lungs as a steel-fingered vise clamped around her neck-
"Kyoko," Kuon's concerned voiced sounded from the across the room, forcing Kyoko out from the murky reverie and back into the bright daylight of the present.
The rest of Violet Evercott's account was cut off by the press of a power button on the front of his flat screen.
"I'm fine Kuon," she replied with a sweet smile that made it impossible for the young man to question the haunted glint that flashed in her eyes moments ago. He returned her smile, but Kyoko could something else simmering under the surface. As he handed her an ice pack, Kyoko noticed his other hand held paper and pencils.
Kuon saw her puzzled expression and said, "I thought we could each write an account of events to share what we know and save your voice."nHe flashed her a charming grin, but despite his cheery demeanor Kyoko was not fooled.
"You can drop the polite mask Kuon. You don't ever have to pretend with me."
His answering smile was slightly sardonic, though Kyoko knew it was aimed at himself. He kissed the top of her head. "I know, love, but you have a lot on your plate already without having to worry about my feelings."
"I don't mind. Isn't that what couples do?" her amber eyes searched his face.
The young man chuckled softly, shrugging in defeat. "Yes, I suppose so."
Kuon let the mask slip from his face.
Wrath brimmed in his eyes like flaming green coals and Kyoko could practically see a miasma of rage radiating from every pore. "I can count on one hand the number of times I've wanted to seriously harm someone. This morning, I wanted to kill Antony Rossi for hurting you," came the shining prince's dark confession. "Then you told me your grandfather," he snarled, "was responsible for unleashing that psychopath on you and-" he closed his eyes, chest heaving as he struggled to calm himself.
"I know," came the raven-haired princess's quiet reply. "Kuon, I'm safe here. In your bed. I'm ok. Please, do whatever you need to do."
Kuon pulled on a pair of navy basketball shorts and a plain white tee. He took a step outside the room, but then pulled back abruptly, coming astride where Kyoko lay in his bed as he leaned over to drop a kiss on the top of her head.
"I love you. I'll be back in about forty minutes babe."
"Love you. I'll work on my assignment, Boss." Kyoko teased with a grin, holding up her paper and pencil.
Kuon gave her a weak smile in return, but she was relieved to see it was genuine. She watched him exit the room, admiring the view of his backside until he turned out of sight, making his way to the room that served as his personal gym.
Forty-five minutes later, fifteen minutes after Kyoko had finished cataloguing events, Kuon walked back into the room, stealing the breath of the young woman resting in his bed. The ice pack fell from her neck onto her stomach and she twitched at the sudden frosty sensation.
He was nude.
Good gods. Kyoko desperately wished for an ounce of artistic talent with which to draw or sculpt or something because words were insufficient to describe Kuon Hizuri in that moment.
Fresh heavy exercise and a shower, hair alluringly slicked back, he strode into the room with easy athletic grace. Kuon looked like he'd walked off the cover of a romance novel- one of those ones featuring a chiseled Viking warlord. He seemed lighter, as though much of the heavy load bearing him down had been alleviated, but also more vivid- that was the only way Kyoko could think to describe it. Something had changed under the surface. Whatever it was, he looked extra gorgeous and not just because the muscles on his gloriously toned body appeared more pronounced from his workout.
Kyoko opened her mouth to comment on how refreshed he looked, but the sound got stuck in her throat as Kuon began to dress in one of his tailored suits.
"You'll catch flies," he chided, gently tapping her chin.
She flushed and her jaw closed with an audible clack of teeth.
He laughed as he finished buttoning his shirt. "I'm taking you somewhere after the interview."
"Um…looking like this?" she gestured to her throat. "I'd be surprised if we got through the meal without someone calling the cops on you."
At least the ice seems to have helped her throat a bit. He smiled confidently. "Don't worry about a thing love. I've made all the proper arrangements."
"And here I thought you were just working out."
"I'm an excellent multi-tasker," he smirked.
Kyoko felt an electric jolt tingle through her body down to her toes. "I wish you could give me a demonstration," she playfully retorted.
"As much as I would dearly love to prove it to you again and again, there'll be plenty of time for that later-when you're more healed up."
Kyoko could only sigh in disappointment. "I know." Mentally, Kyoko understood very well, but the sight of his naked body had started an ignition process that couldn't easily be stopped.
The young man disappeared inside his mammoth closet and returned with a chic black A-line dress featuring mash lace and little white polka dots. It the perfect balance between gorgeous and adorable. He laid it on the foot of his bed and extended an arm out to help her up, which Kyoko gratefully accepted.
Feeling horribly self-conscious, the young women sloughed off her lounge wear. She could feel his heated gaze watching every move she made. She watched him swallow with apparent difficulty, Adam's apple bobbing with effort. It made her feel a little better to know she wasn't the only one struggling under the constraints of their current situation.
The beautiful dress was a perfect fit.