J~~~~~~~~~~

I could hear the men in deep conversation before I rounded the corner. I've never been one for eavesdropping, but I couldn't help myself. I stopped on the other side of the wall, but all I caught was Kyoya saying, "If I live two lifetimes, I'll never be as wise as either of you. But, at present, I think this is the best way to do things." Did he tell them?

I stepped into the main dojo and smiled at the boys. "Are you ready, Kyoya?" I caught slight trepidation in his eyes. Does he know I heard? Likely. I haven't found a fact that he isn't already aware of. Pfft. A ray of sunlight reflected off his glasses and caught in my eyes. In the moment it took me to blink, the suspicion on his face was replaced with a welcoming smirk. Or, that's all I can term that look.

"Yes. Shall we go?"

"Sure. Bye, Hani, Mori. I'll see you in a couple of days." I waved to them cheerily. Hani smiled at me, but I felt that he was concealing something behind that smile. What? I wasn't sure.

Kyoya walked me to my car. "Why don't we just take my vehicle, Judy?"

"We'd have to come back here in order to pick up mine after lunch; I still need to stop at the office to get some extra sheets; and I've got to go to my apartment to get ready for this evening." I ticked off the reasons on my fingers.

"I'll send someone to pick up and deliver your car to your apartment. Right now, we need to have a discussion." He removed his glasses and cleaned them while continuing. "I haven't been able to find the right time to tell you, and it needs to be said soon."

"What is it?" It could be about the party music, or it could be infinitely worse.

He took my elbow and ushered me into the passenger seat. "Only when we're on the road." He got into the driver's seat, started the engine, and peeled out of the driveway.

"Now, can you tell me what is wrong?" I turned to face him as much as my seatbelt would allow.

"Hotta told me what happened in the hallway a few days ago."

"I never thought he wouldn't."

"By entering your hall and being seen by you, Sato violated his contract with me." Kyoya's voice was level, and his eyes were trained straight ahead.

I let the implications hit me with full force. "But, that seems to be just a tiny infraction. He does have friends on my hall, you know." I knew what Kyoya was suggesting. What does that mean for me? What did he do to Sato? Suddenly, I was afraid of the man sitting next to me. I'd never had reason to fear Kyoya before, but now I understood that he was dangerous. Dangerous. The thought both terrifies me and elates me. The chill that ran up my spine was a mix of both emotions, and I couldn't be sure which one was stronger.

"He needs to know that violation of the contract in any sense carries stiff consequences. Because he did not approach you directly, the penalty was less than what it would be if he had tried to talk to you." Cold. Calculating. I've forgotten that's what this man is. The last month or so has clouded my judgement concerning him. I need to be more circumspect from here on.

"So, what did you do?" I tried not to let my anxiousness seep into my voice.

"I merely paid him a little visit to remind him of his agreement. I also told him that the next infraction would break all bonds with me. That's all."

"Somehow, I don't think that's all there was to the encounter," I replied.

He smirked in response and said, "Trust me, nothing else happened. Shall we choose a luncheon spot?"

"If you say so, Kyoya," I sighed and turned my head to the window. I wonder if Hotta knows what happened? Would he tell me? Do I want to know?

K~~~~~~~~~~

I knew Judy had heard the end of our conversation. I just wasn't sure how much she'd actually heard. The last sentence was enough to get me into trouble. Although, if all she thinks is that I told Hani and Mori about Sato, then I can handle that well enough. The real problem is whether or not she deduces any part of my plans.

I ushered her into my car. I really didn't care that she had errands to run before the party. I had tied up all the loose ends yesterday for the event, so a few small errands wouldn't hurt my schedule today. Besides, it made me feel more comfortable if she was with me and the guards. Especially, after my little chat with Yoshi Sato.

"Now, can you tell me what is wrong?" She had turned herself to face me, but I refused to look at her.

"Hotta told me what happened in the hallway a few days ago." The idea that Sato would go against my orders infuriated me still.

"I never thought he wouldn't." Her voice was grave but held a tinge of irony I could appreciate.

"By entering your hall and being seen by you, Sato violated his contract with me." I gripped the steering wheel tightly to release some of my anger.

"But, it seems to be just a tiny infraction. He does have friends on my hall, you know." Oh, if only that were true. I hadn't told her yet that I had moved all of his "friends" to the floor below. Sato had few friends on your floor, and now he has none there. It doesn't matter, though. I allowed a silence to envelope us as I could tell Judy was coming to some realizations. I wasn't sure what they were, but I felt positive a few were about me.

When I spoke, it was with the practiced calm of a business shark. "He needs to know that violation of contract in any sense carries stiff consequences. Because he did not approach you directly, the penalty was less than what it would be if he had tried to talk to you." The level of tension in my car rose, but when I looked at Judy, all I saw was her usual calm.

"So, what did you do?"

"I merely paid him a little visit to remind him of his agreement. I also told him that the next infraction would break all bonds with me. That's all."

"Somehow, I don't think that's all there was to the encounter," she replied.

I smirked in response and said, "Trust me, nothing else happened. Shall we choose a luncheon spot?"

"If you say so, Kyoya," she sighed and turned her head to the window. I wonder how she'd react if I told her what really happened?