It's been a while. I've been working hard on this, and think I have something presentable to show for it. Just to let you know, I've already prepared the next chapter.

K~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Excuse me, gentlemen." I bowed to my companions and led Judy back to the floor's center.

"Alright, time for take two," she said with a hard set to her mouth. "I suppose you want to know what was just said."

"I already know what my father was doing. He was trying to draw you out and ruffle your feathers. An initial meeting is usually the best time to see your opponent's true colors. If you can strike a chord on first meeting, their personality will come to the forefront and you can easily deduce the rest."

Judy's face took on a distant cast. "Ah, my sister did that to an old boyfriend of mine once." I pulled Judy slightly closer to me at the mention of a boyfriend. She said 'old boyfriend', as in no longer in the picture. Regardless, I should check into that. Can't have former relationships jeopardizing the plan. "Kyoya, are you okay? Did you hear what I just said?"

"I'm sorry. I was planning the next step."

"When my sister backed him into a corner to make him angry, my boyfriend kept perfectly calm. She wasn't able to draw any conclusions, much to my later detriment." Detriment? I'm definitely going to investigate whoever this fellow is.

"So, Father obviously asked you what your intentions were toward the family. Unlike all the other women he has encountered, you have no motive to shame our family or to marry into it. He likely is baffled right now."

"Yes, he did ask what I wanted with the Ohtoris." She puffed at a strand of hair on her face.

"Your answer," I asked as I brushed the hair to the side. I didn't even think of the action, and I could tell that leaning into my hand was a natural reaction for her. The room seemed to disappear, the sound of conversation dissipated, and time froze. I didn't drop my hand, Judy rested her face in it as she said with hushed honesty, "I told him that I had a free will and needed no one to validate or complete me."

I swallowed. Such a strong answer, one my father would appreciate. But, it bothers me just the same. I hovered my face above hers. "Though you need nobody to make you you, would you agree that having someone else can make you more of yourself?" For some odd reason, I felt that her answer to my question was of vital importance.

"I used to think that, Kyoya." Her eyes glistened with a secret she wanted to keep.

"You can tell me, Judy," I whispered, begging her with my eyes.

"No, I can't." She swallowed. "Kyoya, I would like to go home now." The room zoomed back to life around us, conversation roared in my ears, and time began to tick by again. That settles it. Tomorrow, I launch another investigation.

"We have a deal, Judy." I spun her under my hand. "You are my escort for the rest of the evening." We danced the rest of the song in silence.

At the end of the dance, I noticed Tamaki and the rest of the club gathered at the edge of the floor. "I think the boys would like a word, Judy."

"It's only natural, I suppose," she sighed.

"Kyoya, mon ami! You succeeded in your plan."

"Tamaki, keep it down! You know how sensitive this is!" He will forever be an idiot!

"Judy, what would make you want to date this guy," Hikaru asked as he leaned in a little too close for my liking.

"Yeah. He's been known to be shady and indulge in sketchy operations." Koaru whipped behind us and leaned over her shoulder.

"Boys, don't make me use self-defense tonight," Judy deadpanned. "I really don't think you want tomorrow's papers to say, 'H-Twins Head-knocked After Assaulting Woman.'" I snorted at that. She would do it.

"Kyoya, the party is almost over, so why don't we all leave?" Judy and Haruhi's eyes at the mention of leaving lit up. I see that Both Tamaki and I have involved ourselves with antisocial butterflies.

"I would agree with you, Tamaki, if. I. Wasn't. Hosting." Geez.

"Kyo-chan, would you mind if I dance with Judy-chan?" Hani gave me the brightest smile I'd seen since high school.

"You know as well as I do, Hani, that Judy is the best one to ask." Strange behavior from Hani.

Hani turned his eyes to Judy and extended his hand with a small question in his eye. "I'd be delighted, Hani," she said cheerfully. It was the most relaxed I'd seen her all night. Jealous? No room for jealousy when you're trying to trick the family. Calm and collected is the best way to convince the masses.

I watched as Hani and Judy danced on the edge of the floor. "They look cute." I turned to Haruhi. She was giving me a look that said she was trying to figure something out.

"Yes, they do look nice, but you know what tonight was about, Haruhi."

"I believe I do. Is she alright with it?"

"Yes."

"Will you be alright when it's over?"

"I've never considered being anything but perfectly fine." When I win against Father, nothing will upset me ever again.

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

"Judy-chan, are you and Kyoya really dating?" I looked at the man waltzing me around the room. His big eyes were soulful and searching.

"Yes, Hani. Why do you ask?"

"Well, I know you and Kyo-chan have been spending a lot of time together, but it's not really like him to do this." I suppose a man of Kyoya's personality wouldn't typically date someone without money or position. Thoroughly unromantic in all his doings as I have seen tonight. There were times I could swear he really meant some of the things he said and did, but a moment later would always adjust my thinking.

"You've known Kyoya much longer than I have, Hani, a lifetime, in fact; But in all the time I've known him, Kyoya has been nothing but kind to me. Save those first couple of days- those were pretty awful."

"Judy-chan, I know that there is something Kyoya is helping you with." I sucked in my breath. "I still don't know what it is, but I can tell that when you train, your driving force is fear." How can he tell? "Whatever your reason for training, it's a strong one. Let me help you. If I know fully what the problem is, I'll be better equipped to train and protect you. I won't tell anyone, not even Mori." We stopped dancing, and Hani pulled me into a tight hug. "Please, Judy-chan."

I knew Hani and I were making tongues wag. He didn't seem to care, but my deal with Kyoya was at the front of my mind. I loosened Hani's arms from my shoulders and repositioned our dancing pose, signaling him to lead me around the floor once more.

"Thank you for the offer, Hani; but there's nothing really the matter. I train the way I do because it's better to be safe than sorry. I've known too many women who regretted not learning self-defense." The hurt in his eyes cut me to the core. I wanted with all my being to tell him everything, to tell him about Jackson, Sato, the deal with Kyoya, if only to wipe that look off his sweetly handsome face. I'd rather he think I wanted my privacy than to tell him of my shame; Better to seem un-open than to lose his good opinion.

As Hani walked me back to the group, he whispered, "Judy, if you are ever in trouble, I want to know first. Tell Kyoya that if he hurts you in any way, I will not let it go answered."

"Thank you, Hani. I'll tell him." We arrived at the group just as I finished speaking.

"Kyo-chan, I'm returning your date to you safe and sound."

"I never expected anything less, senpai." A return to honorifics? Hani's face hardened, but I wasn't sure if it was because of the senpai or Kyoya's undertone.

"You never do, kohai." The conversation amongst the rest of our friends came to an abrupt stop. The tension was palpable, and after a second or two I heard Hikaru whisper to his brother, "He's never called any of us kohai." Kaoru shushed him before Hikaru could continue.

The rest of the evening I spent with Kyoya, engaging in polite conversation, dodging political barbs, talking to the guys and Haruhi, and putting on a good show. Keeping up a front for an entire party was more difficult than I thought it would be. How does Kyoya manage to do this all the time?

"You were excellent tonight, Judy." I looked up at Kyoya. How is it possible for him to not look in the least tired?

"Thanks, Kyoya. It would have been easier had a few of your bolder investors been better dancers. I thought you said I would only be dancing with you." I slipped my heels off. "At last." I released a heavy sigh as I stood barefoot and stretched my toes on the carpet.

I heard him chuckle above me. "All bets were off when you accepted Hani's offer to dance."

"I danced with your dad before that, you know." I was getting cranky.

"That's a moot point. As the head of the Ohtori family, it's only natural for him to take the opportunity to get to know you. No one else would have dared followed his example."

"So, you're saying it's all my fault that your business partners can't dance," I replied flatly.

Kyoya pulled a chair out for me and leaned on the table next to me. "No. Though, I suggest that at the next get together you be prepared for a dancing onslaught from all parties. Only the bravest came forward tonight."

"I suppose I can't fake a sprained ankle," I pondered with a finger to my cheek.

"I don't think you can reasonably have a sprained ankle all season," he intoned with a sly smirk. "Also, I would be disappointed if I missed my chances, too."

"Highly distressing, I'm sure." I propped my sore feet on the adjacent chair and closed my eyes.

I was tired enough that I fell into twilight sleep as soon as my eyes shut. Just as I was about to abandon consciousness, I thought I heard Kyoya whisper, "Indeed, supremely distressing." Something light and soft brushed my forehead, and to this day I am unsure as to whether he was brushing the flyaways from my eyes or giving me the gentlest kiss I'd ever had.