Author's Note: It's been a while since I updated, I know. But I found this chapter rather difficult, I was always afraid that it would end up boring - I hope it didn't. I am also trying to be very careful with both characters, they are not what I would call very emotional, but a story without emotions is dead, right? I hope I did it right and they aren't out of character too much.

Chapter 45

Lara informed Bryce of the situation and then hurried back to her room. She dropped her things in a corner and went into the shower. Just when she had washed her hair for the first time someone knocked at the door. She cursed and grabbed the bathing robe, slid into it and made her way to the door.
"What are you doing here already?" Lara said to Kazuya while letting him in.
"Oh sorry, shall I go again?" he replied.
"Didn't you call me 8 minutes ago?"
"Yes. But I've got a Porsche. Besides the office is just four blocks down from here."
"In that case: what took you so long?"
"An elevator and two red traffic lights." he replied grinning.
"Ok, I am not ready as you can see."
"You are trying to put me through a test, right? Forget it, I lose. I don't even want to try to keep my fingers off you."
"Don't even think about it, I am getting dressed right now."
"Oh that's sad." he commented.
Lara threw him an angry look and shook her head. "You are a pig."
"Oh come on, I'm not. I'm just a man."
Lara left him standing and disappeared in the bathroom. Five minutes later she returned completely dressed.
"Since you got dressed, I might as well invite you to dinner. I have to admit, I am regretting that I didn't have any lunch." He took a look at his watch. "Six seems a bit early but at least we might get a table somewhere."
"Ok." Lara said. "But I will pay this time."
"Don't be stupid. Women don't pay."
"That's a silly rule. I can pay for myself."
"That's not a question of 'can' or 'can't'. I just won't accept it."
"Are you afraid of women who can pay for themselves?"
"Terrified." he mocked her. "You are in my country. You can pay when I visit you in England. Besides wherever we will go they know me and they will start talking if you pay for me. And that's something I don't need. Something I cannot afford in my position."
"So you are only afraid of your reputation again." Lara said angry.
"I thought you would understand. Don't forget you are in Japan."
"You are right." she admitted. "It's just so frustrating. I've never had this feeling before... People must think that I'm only going out with you because you are rich."
"You are being really silly. That shouldn't bother you at all. In fact it should bother me. That would leave me pretty stupid." He paused a moment before continuing. "Actually people will think that if I have chosen to go out with a non Japanese girl, I picked her carefully. So I don't understand why you are complaining."
Lara sighed. She knew he was right. She looked at him in silence, the expression on her face showing that she wasn't happy at all.
"What's the matter, Lara?"
"I feel so damned weak. You make me vulnerable." she cursed.
He frowned. "Why do you feel weak? Weak is not a word I'd associate with you. You have a very strong personality. And you always get what you want."
"But..."
"Oh be quiet." Kazuya said and before she could reply he had pressed his lips against hers and kissed her passionately. "Actually you make me feel weak." he said when he released her. "Whenever you are around I have no control over myself. I am a slave to my hormones. It's hard enough to constantly try to control the demon."
Lara rested her head against his shoulder and was quiet. She felt really stupid that she had brought up the subject. How could she feel weak - in this situation, just because she wasn't allowed to pay for herself - it took a lot of courage to meet with Kazuya after finding out the truth? What actually made her feel weak where the feelings she had for him. The fear that she had to leave soon, the fear of returning to her tomb raider life again. The fact that she had allowed herself to fall in love.
"Hey Lara. Stop dreaming."
She was immediately called back to reality. "Sorry."
"Tell me where you want to go for dinner." Kazuya said.
Lara shrugged.
"That's not an answer."
Lara took a moment to think about the answer. "I'd like to have something Italian." she then said. "If that's no problem?!"
"Not at all." Kazuya replied. Then he pulled out his phone. "Let me book a table - just in case."
While Kazuya called the Restaurant to get a table, Lara went to her bed and collected her phone into her bag. Kazuya came over to her just when she grabbed her purse.
"You can leave that here, I'm paying." he said grinning.
"Oh shut up." she replied and hugged him. Then she carefully brought up her face to his and they kissed. She caressed his cheek and then let her hand wander to the back of his head. He caught her hand to stop her.
"No, stop." he whispered. "Don't do that to me when you wanted to have dinner."
"Ooops, sorry." Lara replied grinning. "Ok, I am ready to leave."

Kazuya was just about to open Lara's hotel room door when his phone rang.
"Lee?" he asked surprised and answered the call. For a moment he said nothing, listening to what his brother had to say. Then he thanked him and hung up. His face was very serious. "Heihachi has sent his men here. They could arrive any moment."
"Oh no." Lara said and ran to her bags. She started to collect her clothes into them. "We have to get Bryce." she then said.
"Calm down. Bryce is safe here. They are after you, they don't even know about him. Grab only what you need and then let's go."
Lara pulled her notebook out from under her bed and stuffed it into the notebook case. Then she grabbed her bag and ran to the door. "Ok, let's leave."
Kazuya took one bag from her and they stepped into the hall. Lara closed the door behind her and they ran to the elevator. Lara was just about to press the button when Kazuya pulled her hand back and pointed at the display. It showed that the elevator was on it's way up to their floor.
"That's not a good sign. Let's take the other one, down the hall." she suggested and began to run down the corridor. Kazuya followed her. When he arrived Lara had already called the lift.
"Come on, hurry... stupid thing." Lara said impatiently. The lift arrived a few seconds later and the doors opened. They stepped inside and at that moment the lift at the other end of the corridor arrived and three of Heihachi's men came out. Lara and Kazuya both stepped to the side to hide behind the doors but the lift doors closed and they stayed hidden from view. Lara let out a deep breath. Then she got out her phone and informed Bryce of the situation. She told him that she got everything that was important and that he should stay away from her room.
When the lift doors opened on the parking deck Lara had one hand on her gun, just in case. But there was no surprise waiting for them in the garage.
"I parked my car over there." Kazuya said pointing into a direction. Lara followed him, looking around the whole time. Suddenly Kazuya stopped and Lara bumped into him. "What?" she looked at him confused.
"Two of Heihachi's men. By the car." he whispered. He continued looking at them. "They are unarmed. Stay here, I will take care of them" he said and walked up towards the car.
When they saw him approaching they got into fighting stance. Kazuya didn't hesitate but sent the first of them down with a hard punch to the face. The man fell back and against the concrete wall. He sank to his knees. Kazuya spun around quickly to take care of the other, but to his surprise he was already on the ground, Lara standing over him. She smiled innocently.
"How did you do that?" Kazuya asked.
Lara had a hurt look on her face. "Do you think you are the only one who can fight?"
"I am sorry, I meant 'how did you bring him down without me noticing it at all'?"
"That's my secret." Lara grinned.
Kazuya pulled the guy away from his car and then unlocked it. Then he motioned Lara to get it. "Come on, let's leave them."
Lara climbed into the car and closed the door behind her. Kazuya started the engine.
"What do we do now?" Lara asked nervous.
"How about dinner?" Kazuya replied.
"But I have to look for a new hotel."
"No you don't. I'll take you to the boat again."
"But..."
"Don't worry."
"Ok." Lara said and leaned her head back. "I won't worry."
Kazuya then drove the car through the garage, much faster than usual.
"Just because we might be followed doesn't mean you have to kill us with your driving." Lara commented.
"I am sorry, I am an irresponsible driver. I know."

Just when they had reached the normal road outside, a black Mercedes appeared in the rear view mirror. One of the men leaned out of the window and aimed a gun at them.
"Duck." Kazuya called to Lara and a moment later the rear window broke.
Kazuya cursed and looked into the mirror to see the guys who were following them. "Nakazo, I should have known... He will pay for that." he said. "I don't like being messed with."
Kazuya overtook a couple of cars to lose the Mercedes and when the road ahead was clear he gave more gas. "Any sign of them?" he asked Lara.
"Not yet." she replied.
Kazuya drove the car into a side passage and out on the other side just inches in front of another car. The driver of the other car sounded the horn.
"That was close." Lara commented.
"But I think we got rid of them." Kazuya replied.
Lara turned around. "So it seems."
"Ok, let's get to the restaurant."

A quarter of an hour later Kazuya parked the car by the restaurant. He opened the door and got out to inspect the damage. "Shit. The bullet went straight into the leather seat. That's going to be an expensive inspection." He took a closer look at the back of the driver's seat running his fingers over the hole the bullet had left there.
"You should be glad that it missed you" Lara said "that it didn't go right through the seat."
"Maybe you are right..."
"Maybe?"
He laid his arm around her shoulders. "Come on, let's get something to eat. I am starving."