A/N: Sasame – I'm glad you like the chapters focusing on different brothers at a time! The Asahinas have so many amazing guys, so I hope I do them justice by trying to give them each their own spotlight.
"Are you ready to go?" Ukyo asked Ema.
"Yep!" She gave him a bright smile, grabbing both their lunches before following him to his car. Ema's internships was only for part of the day, alternating between mornings and evenings, which meant he alternated between giving Ema rides to work or rides home and she took the train the other times.
He loved this extra time with Ema. They didn't see each other much at the law firm, but he got to have her completely to himself with no interruptions for a half hour each day.
He started his car and paused, his eyes catching on Ema smoothing her navy pencil skirt. The skirt was tight, but only professionally so, and ended just above her knees. It was completely modest, but emphasized her slim waist and legs in a way that made his mouth water. Paired with her button-down shirt and make-up, she looked five years older. He was pretty sure all his colleagues thought she was a college student rather than a high school student. She looked incredible.
She gave him a curious look and he realized he'd been staring too long. He cleared his throat, feeling his face heat up, and moved his gaze to the bentos on her lap, as though that had been his focus all along.
"You really don't have to make lunch for me every day." She was three weeks into her internship and had insisted on making his lunch to thank him for helping her with her application and for all the help he gave her at the internship. He'd assured her that it was his job to help out interns and that he was more than happy to do it. Plus, she was his friend. Of course he wanted to encourage and help her with her interests.
Ema smiled. "I don't mind! I'm making my own lunch anyway." She laughed. "And I'm used to making double. I always make mine and Yusuke's lunches for school."
Just like that, Ukyo's mood plummeted. He'd forgotten about that. He'd been feeling so special, having Ema make him lunch every day. It was amazing to be taken care of like this by her and getting to eat food specially prepared for him. But he'd forgotten he wasn't the only brother Ema did that for.
He told himself to get over it. Ema was kind and that was part of what he loved about her. He had an opportunity to try to change her feelings for him and that should be his focus. Along with helping her in her internship, of course. She was already halfway through her internship since it was only six weeks long. He wished it was for the whole summer and was already dreading when it ended.
~.~
Ema snuck into Ukyo's office during lunch, hoping he wouldn't mind. They ate lunch together when he had the time, but he often worked through his lunches. She usually respected that, but today she couldn't stand to stay in the breakroom one more minute. Not when it was just her and that woman.
"Ema?" Ukyo said, his eyes widening when she shut the door behind her, her bento in her hands. "Is something wrong?"
"Um, not really," she half-lied. She was only here for three more weeks. She could handle a rude co-worker. Ema wasn't even an employee, so what right did she have to complain? "But can I eat in here? I promise I won't bother you."
Ukyo frowned, turning from his computer. "What happened?"
"It's not a big deal," she said, staring down at her food.
"Ema, if something or someone is making you uncomfortable, it is a big deal."
She squirmed, not wanting to get anyone in trouble or rock the boat when she was just an intern. She should have just sucked up the abuse and stayed in the breakroom. "It's fine. I just needed some space, that's all."
Ukyo continued frowning at her, but when she refused to look up from her lunch, he sighed and went back to work.
~.~
The next week, Ema was in Ukyo's office helping him research a case when Hinata the secretary stalked in, her high heels clacking on the floor.
She glared at Ema before bending down far more than necessary to place files on his desk. "These are for you, Mr. Asahina," she purred, putting her hands on his desk and staying bent over, giving a clear view down her shirt at her generous chest.
Ema's eyes widened when she realized she could see Hinata's bra.
Ukyo barely spared her a glance. "Yes, thank you, Hinata." She stayed in that position a few more moments before giving Ema another glare and leaving.
Ema breathed a sigh of relief, then, keeping her voice light, asked, "Did the two of you used to date?"
Ukyo gave her a shocked look. "No. Of course not."
"Oh. She just . . . seems really into you." And really seems to hate me Ema mentally added. Being caught alone by Hinata in the breakroom was the worst. She belittled Ema at every opportunity, trying to tear her down. Ema didn't understand why the woman hated her so much, but it would maybe make sense if she used to date Ukyo, so was jealous of all the attention Ukyo was paying to Ema.
Ukyo sighed. "She's good at her job—but she's also clearly trying to catch a rich husband. I happen to be one of the few lawyers not in a relationship, so she focuses her attention on me, unfortunately."
"Do you want help with that?" Ema asked, the words out before she thought them over.
"What?" Ukyo said, looking confused. "How would you help with that?"
Ema blushed, scratching the back of her head. "Natsume had a girl he wasn't interested in who wouldn't leave him alone, so I pretended to be his girlfriend. I was thinking maybe we could do something like that, but maybe it wouldn't be appropriate for a lawyer to date an intern . . ." She trailed off, feeling silly for making the suggestion. She and Ukyo didn't have the same relationship she and Natsume did, and maybe Ukyo would think faking a relationship was juvenile. Or maybe he was interested in Hinata, but didn't want to say yes to her because she was only looking for a rich husband and not really looking at him.
Jealousy clutched at Ukyo's chest as he wondered what Natsume and Ema had done to pretend to be a couple to scare the other girl off. What right did Natsume have to use Ema that way? Though Ema appeared to have no problem with it since she'd offered to do the same for him.
He suddenly felt possessive of Ema and wanted to say yes just so he could be closer to her, even if for just a moment. He wanted even more to know what Natsume and Ema had done so he and Ema could do more, could be closer. It was a childish thought, but jealousy was a petty emotion.
"It wouldn't be appropriate for a lawyer to date our intern," he said slowly, keeping his eyes on Ema. Her eyes fell before he continued. "But your internship ends next week and then it would be no problem." He smiled. "It would be a relief to have Hinata leave me alone. Her sullen pouts when I don't give her attention make work unpleasant."
Ema beamed at him, and that look alone would have made him say yes. But he couldn't help pushing his luck. "Though Hinata is persistent—it might take a lot to convince her to back off." Guilt pricked him at him trying to take advantage of the situation. But it was a true statement. If Hinata just saw he and Ema holding hands and heard they were dating, she'd probably think that she could steal him from Ema. A ridiculous thought, but that woman was so self-assured of her own appeal even after Ukyo hadn't given into her time and time again. It just seemed to make her more determined to make him give in to her. Which made him even more grateful for his feelings for Ema, or he was sure he would have given in long before now. And that would have been a mistake.
Ema looked worried as she bit her lip, then raised her eyes to Ukyo. "I think that you should lead then. I have some experience with boyfriends, but you'd probably know better than me what would make Hinata back off."
His heart thumped in his chest as he told his mind not to run away with scenarios. She was doing this to help him, that was all. But, for the first time, he found himself looking forward just a little to Ema's last day.
~.~
Ukyo's throat was dry Ema's last day of her internship. He couldn't believe how nervous he felt—or how excited he was. He kept reminding himself that this was just for show, not real. But he wanted to make it good. Not to ensure that Hinata left him alone, thought that would be nice, but in the hopes of making Ema think of him as a prospective love interest.
He cleared his throat and blushed when Ema entered his office near the end of her shift. Hinata would be dropping off documents soon, so they needed to be in the middle of things before that.
"What should I do?" Ema asked, a light blush dusting her cheeks. He was glad he wasn't the only nervous one.
He came around to the front of his desk, leaning against it and holding his hand out for her. Her blush grew as she stopped in front of him, tilting her head up toward him.
"I really appreciate you doing this," he murmured, sliding one hand into her hair to cup the back of her head. Her eye lashes fluttered closed as his lips grazed hers, her hands sliding up his chest. He hoped she couldn't feel how hard his heart was thumping.
He gently coaxed her lips until they parted under his. He pulled her closer as he deepened the kiss, one hand on the small of her back. Her hands fisted in his shirt as she made a mewling noise against his mouth that sent his heart racing.
He tightened his grip on her head, changing the angle of their kiss to deepen it further when a throat cleared. He jerked back, genuinely surprised. He'd lost himself in the kiss and wished Hinata would have taken another minute to arrive. Or five. That would have been fine.
He glanced down at Ema and was pleased to see a stunned look in her eyes as she blinked up at him. He gave her a gentle smile, moving his hand from her hair to her back so she was wrapped in his arms. Then he finally gave the interloper his attention.
"Yes?" he said to Hinata. Her face was red with fury, her eyes shooting daggers at Ema.
She pinched her mouth tight as she stomped into his office, throwing his papers, on his desk, then crossing her arms as she glared at the pair of them. "Is this really appropriate office behavior?" she asked despite the fact that Ukyo was quite certain she'd have been willing to go much further inside the office if anyone had been willing.
"Sorry," Ema apologized to Ukyo, linking her arms around his neck and pressing her chest against his. She ran her fingernails along his neck just below his hairline, making him shiver. "We said we'd wait until my internship ended, but we probably should wait until your work day ends too."
"Right," he agreed, his voice deep. He pecked her lips. "I owe you an apology too. I got carried away at finally being able to touch you like this."
She smiled up at him and he smiled back, though Hinata stayed in place, still glaring. "So you two are a couple now?" she asked.
"Yes," Ema said, leaning her cheek against Ukyo's chest as she faced Hinata. "Like we just said, we were waiting until my internship ended. But you already suspected something was going on between us, didn't you?"
Hinata's face turned red again. "Whatever," she said, sticking her nose in the air. "Do whatever you want on your own time, but at least try to act like professionals at work." Then she stomped out, slamming the door behind her.
"What did you mean by that, Ema? That she suspected something was going on between us?"
Ema sighed, pulling back enough to look at Ukyo. "Hinata was . . . cruel when it was just the two of us. I think she was jealous because of how close we are. That's why I wondered if you two had dated."
Ukyo's grip tightened around her as he gave her a severe look. "You should have told me, Ema. Just because you were an intern didn't give Hinata the right to treat you poorly."
"It's fine," Ema said lightly, then her face darkened. "What makes me angry is that a girl would go after you for your money and status when you have so many amazing qualities. That's ridiculous. Someone like that doesn't deserve to be near you." Clearly, everyone needed to be careful with relationships. There were so many people out there who wanted relationships for the wrong reasons. For money and prestige. For power over others. To cheat. To feel better about themselves.
Now she gave Ukyo a severe look as she tightened her grip on his neck. "Don't ever date someone like Hinata, Ukyo. If a woman doesn't appreciate all you have to give, you should stay far away from her."
Ukyo was too stunned to speak. He'd never had a woman get so upset on his behalf. Never had a woman tell him he was amazing. It was a heady thing to have the woman you care for compliment you like this.
Then he wondered if she thought all his brothers were amazing. He had the sinking feeling the answer was probably yes. But that was okay. He just had to make himself bigger in Ema's eyes than all his brothers.
"Thanks again," he said, cupping her face. He hoped the fact that she hadn't pulled away from him meant she was also enjoying being so close. "Hinata really has been a pain. Work will be much nicer if she keeps herself at a distance from now on." He smiled down at her. "Can I take you to dinner to say thank you?" His voice turned dry as he added, "Taking a girl to dinner seems like the proper thing to do after kissing her."
Ema laughed as she gently pulled away. "Yes, let's go to dinner."
~.~
"I'm glad that darn internship is finally over," Juli muttered that night. "I've been worried sick that lawyer might try something with you when he had you all to himself." He gave her a side-eyed glare. "You still haven't come clean about what happened with Subaru where he said all those weird things to you. You'd tell me if something happened, right?"
Ema hoped Juli wouldn't notice her blush. Technically speaking, she had tried something since pretending to be a couple had been her idea. That was now two Asahina brothers that she had arguably put the moves on, Natsume and Ukyo. And she was the one who suggested she and Tsubaki practice kissing, even if it had just been for work. Maybe she was the wolf Juli should be afraid of rather than the Asahina brothers. The thought almost made her laugh, but she turned it into a cough instead.
"Juli, the only time Ukyo and I were alone was in his car." That was almost true. "Even if he had wanted to try something, which I'm sure he didn't, he hardly could have done anything."
Juli grumbled about thanking Heaven for small favors, but now that she'd remembered her alone time earlier that day with Ukyo, she couldn't help blushing. After kissing Natsume she'd wondered if it was only the triplets out of the Asahinas who were good kissers. Now she knew that answer was a definite no.
The only guy she'd kissed was Erik and he definitely hadn't kissed like Ukyo. Thank goodness Hinata hadn't known what a good kisser he was, or she probably would have gone after him even harder.
A/N: I know I've changed Ema up a bit for this story, but maybe this is still too out of character for her? It might be, but I really wanted to write this scene, lol. I want more experience writing kissing/romance scenes, so I'm looking for opportunities to slip more in.
