"Good to see you're still alive,"

Kai looked up from his desk covered in paperwork. "Who let you in?"

Tyson took a seat in the chair across from him. "Everybody knows we're friends,"

"Doesn't mean someone's not getting fired today," Kai muttered as he turned back to the work in front of him.

Tyson laughed. Kai often wished he could go back to the days when Tyson was scared of him. Somehow, he'd lost that instinct.

"We should get lunch sometime," Tyson cut into his thoughts. He'd been rambling on for a minute but Kai had tuned him out – a skill he'd developed early in their friendship.

"I have plans,"

"I meant someday, not today,"

"I will probably have plans then too,"

"And we should invite Hilary. She works around here, right?"

Kai stopped scribbling his signature on documents for a moment. It wasn't odd for Tyson to want to get the group together; he talked about it often. But the way he said her name had Kai's attention.

"Somewhere around here,"

Tyson looked out his windows at the skyline Kai's office had. "What do you think of her – Hilary?"

"What do you mean?"

"I mean, do you think she's cute,"

"No," Kai said firmly, "I do not think she's cute,"

Beautiful. Intelligent. Funny. Seductive.

These were the words Kai would use to describe her. 'Cute' was very far down his list.

"Well, since she's been back, I can't help but think," Tyson left off. Turning back to Kai, he tilted his head. "She changed when she was at school, huh?"

"She grew up, Tyson. We all did."

"Right. Right."

Kai waited for a moment while Tyson seemed to be lost in thought. He hated this. He hated not being able to tell Tyson straight to his face that he was too late. That he should have seen Hilary for all her qualities then.

He hated that Hilary didn't want to tell anybody.

Was she ashamed of him? What could she possibly be ashamed of?

He looked at the time on his computer screen. Hilary was due to meet him for lunch in his office soon and he wanted Tyson gone. They were going to work this out, and either he was going to announce to the world that he was not Japan's number one bachelor under 25 or...

Or what? They were going to break up?

Ki refused to even consider it.

Taking a deep breath, Kai stood from his desk and walked around. "Tyson, I am busy with actual work, so don't take this the wrong way, but get out."

"You always had a way with words, Kai," Tyson stood up, rolling his eyes as he followed Kai out.

Kai walked him to the door, reaching to open it when the handle moved. Hilary walked in, her lunch in hand.

"Hilary?" Tyson said while Kai silently panicked.

She looked to him, fear and surprised written on her face – which didn't help him at all. "Tyson, hi," she said, forced happiness coloring her tone. "What are you doing here,"

"Just checking on this grump," Tyson placed a hand on his shoulder, smiling at Hilary. "What about you? Is that food?"

"Yeah. Because I'm so close, sometimes we have lunch together,"

"That's funny, because I was just saying that we should all have lunch together. Can I join you guys?"

"Uh," Hilary paused, looking to Kai for help. But all Kai could see was how Tyson had moved around him and was leaning into Hilary. Had they always stood so close together? They looked comfortable with the lack of distance between them.

"Kai?"

He turned to Hilary. She blinked at him. "What do you think?"

What was he supposed to say? No, I want to eat lunch with my very platonic friend all by myself?

He hated this.

Tyson would find out either way.

"Sure, he can stay" he said, "but he probably won't want to,"

They both responded in confusion, curious eyes meeting him. He reached forward and dragged Hilary closer, bringing her to him. He didn't give her a moment before he attached himself her her lips. Chest to chest, she stood frozen and he was sure she was thinking about Tyson and what this would mean.

Kai refused to let up until he was sure he was the only thing she could think about. Finally, she relaxed in his hold, arms wrapping around his back as she adjusted to stand even closer to him.

He worked against her lips, coaxing her. Once she moaned into the kiss, he knew he had her. Keeping up with her pace, he opened his eyes, making sure that Tyson was watching – that he was seeing.

Hilary was not available.

Hello. Thanks for all the lovely people who have read up to this point. I love seeing it. Any thoughts are welcomed. Next update is on Wednesday - Konix