R&R, please. You do realize that out of all of my followers only about five of you leave me feedback (And, I love all five of you!). I love the rest of you, too: But, if you like what you read, drop me a line. If you think I could do something better, tell me. I will ALWAYS give your suggestions quite a bit of thought. Usually, you'll see your ideas make an appearance in some shape or form. :)

P.S. I think this story just got a whole lot longer. It was originally only going to be ten chapters: Now it's 'officially' at twenty-five. I made concessions for a nearly forty chapter flick, but I think it's going to be a bit more extensive. Hope that doesn't annoy anyone.

J~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I woke up to a hand over my mouth. I couldn't see the owner of the hand as my eyes were still bleary from sleep. I began flailing in panic, trying to remove the armless appendage from my mouth. Another hand secured my shoulder and held me down. This is it: He's found me. I can't run anymore. I refused to accept my grizzly fate, and grabbed the paw with both my hands and yanked it away. With my new freedom, I tried rolling off the couch; but there was still the other hand on my shoulder. I took the defensive again, and began to fight.

"Shh. Judy, you're not in danger. If you keep fighting me, your attack will get worse."

"Kyoya?" Immediate relief washed over me, and I stilled. "Why didn't you…hih hih… say it was you?!"

"I didn't want to frighten you into a worse attack."

"Are you…hih hih hih…insane?! If you had just said something, I wouldn't have tried to…huh huh…fend off a nonexistent attacker." Geez! For an extremely intelligent man, he certainly is stupid.

"I guess I should know by now that your first reaction is always going to be the worst or least expected one." He chuckled. "I'm sorry. Frightening you is the last thing I wanted to do. You have been having minor attacks since you fell asleep. I put my hand over your mouth to keep you from hyperventilating because this last attack was particularly violent."

"Trust me, if the attack is bad enough, I always wake up. Even if it's only twilight wakefulness, I can still make…huh…a rational decision on whether I should do something about it or go back to sleep."

"You really ignore these, don't you?" He looked baffled and then angry. "You should be taking your medications."

"Inhalers aren't known for their soothing qualities. They stimulate your brain and body. There's no way to go back to sleep after taking a rescue inhaler, so don't get all self-righteous on me."

"Your life is more important than your sleep patterns. If it comes to that, you should call in sick." His dismissive air annoyed me to no end. Not all of us can afford to offhandedly take a day off work. These rich brats have no clue what it means to need to work. It's like he works because he'd get bored otherwise.

"From someone who doesn't take a day off, that's rich. If I were to do that, I'd miss more work than would allow me to keep my job."

We were glaring daggers at each other, which was difficult to do since my head was on Kyoya's lap, when the door flew open.

"Judy, I'll save you!" I didn't turn my head in Tamaki's direction. I was still giving Kyoya the eye and didn't feel inclined to let him off so easily.

"Thank you, Tamaki." Kyoya and I maintained strained eye contact. I noticed Kyoya's arm shoot out for the medication, but I refused to acknowledge him offering it to me. I refuse to lose this battle. I am the one who controls my health and life.

"Did I interrupt something?"

"No," Kyoya and I stated simultaneously.

"Right. Well, my lesson is about to start. Umm. So feel better, Judy. Ummm…Kyoya…good for you." Tamaki's voice had trailed off into almost nothing at the end of his awkward, little speech.

"Tamaki, you shouldn't jump to conclusions. Miss Mooreson…" My eyes widened in anger at my formal name. "-and I were just discussing why she will take her meds when they are necessary." I clamped my mouth shut. Not rising to the bait, you jerk! Tamaki nodded his head and just stared at us.

I assume Kyoya saw my mouth clench because he grabbed my jaw and wedged his fingers between my upper and lower teeth as if I were a child who had popped a foreign object in her mouth. If I hadn't been having an asthma attack for the last hour, I would have had one right then. As it was, my breathing became even more labored; my nostrils flared in anger; and I tried to find a way to bite him through my cheeks.

"This is for your own good," he forcefully whispered as he popped the nozzle of the inhaler into my mouth. I tried to spit it out, but he held it to my lips firmly with one hand. Kyoya used his other hand to depress my diaphragm and force me to exhale. Just after I felt all my breath release, he pressed the plunger and the medication entered my mouth as I inhaled for fresh air.

"Now, wait a few seconds and take the second round." How high handed can one man be?! Ever since I met him, I've had my freedom slowly sucked from me. "Oh, and I'm not leaving until you take it."

"You'll be here a while, then." I sat up slowly, calculating my next move. "I hope you like to hear young singers screech, because that's all you'll be witness to." I rose from the sofa and began preparing for my first student.

"I think I will be going now. I'm glad you're doing better, Judy." I saw the look Tamaki shot Kyoya just before Tamaki left and interpreted it as "we need to talk."

"You won't be getting any students today."

I whipped my head toward Kyoya and answered with deadly sting, "Wanna run that by me again."

"I have already notified the department head that you are unwell and need the day to recover." Kyoya slipped his phone into his pocket.

"How dare you do that without my permission? I want to work and must see my students." With lightning speed, the office phone was in my hand, and I began dialing the music office.

"You can go ahead and try to cancel the order, but they won't listen to you. However, if you are trying to go for the brave soldier angle, I imagine they'd respect your gumption." He shrugged at me. His cool, offhanded demeanor is more than its fair share obnoxious.

The phone rang once, twice, thrice.

"Music building."

"Hello, this is Miss Mooreson. I need to cancel the request made on my behalf for a sick day. I am quite well."

"I'm sorry, Miss Mooreson; but the request has been processed and all the necessary paperwork has been completed. You have the rest of the day to relax and recover." I sneered at the receiver.

"I am in my office and never authorized the request. Please, correct the issue."

The bland voice of the secretary tried to sound perky, but only succeeded in sounding annoyed. "The department head sends his regards and wishes you a swift recovery as you are an invaluable member of our faculty." Click. Since when does the department head send his regards and wishes to me? Or anyone? I caught the crooked ghost of a smile on Kyoya's face. Oh, now he's gonna get it!

"I don't appreciate when people go over my head, ignore my wishes, and show obvious disrespect for my autonomy. I will not stand for it. As such, I am staying in my office today to plan for my next concert." I roughly pulled a stack of books from a center shelf. "You can see yourself to the door, Mr. Ohtori." I shot him an icy glare. "I wouldn't suggest you come back until you can show a proper level of respect for the people around you." I then diverted my full attention to the bookshelf.

Kyoya pushed himself from the couch, but I refused to turn around. I reached for another set of music books from my top shelf. When I couldn't reach, I pulled my piano bench over and stood on it. Two hands grasped me firmly around the waist and picked me up. "Put me down, Kyoya! Did you hear absolutely nothing?" He set me on the floor and wouldn't let go of me. I struggled to pry his hands free.

"I don't like to see you do things that could harm you." He had placed his head on top of mine. I stilled, my hands atop his. "It makes me strangely uneasy."

"Then you should just say so. Forcing me to do what you want is the worst kind of repulsive despotism. Learn to let me make my own choices and mistakes. I've been doing both for a long time." He slipped his arms completely around me and gently squeezed my middle.

"I don't want you hurt."

I chose not to acknowledge his admission as anything more than an obligation to protect his assets. I can't go down that road. "Has it crossed your mind that skimming over my wishes may be as hurtful to me as physical pain would be?"

Kyoya reached above me with his right hand and pulled a single book from the shelf. It was one that I had tried to pull a moment ago. I don't want to discuss this now. He released me, put the book on the piano stand, and pulled the bench back into position. Slowly, with measured grace, he extended his hand to me. I hesitated to take it. "Please," his deep voice intoned. With my fingers slipped into his, Kyoya led me to the bench. He sat down next to me and began turning the pages of the book.

I knew what he was looking for, and I wasn't willing to face it with him present.