Life's been…hectic? I guess that's the best word for the last few weeks. Yeesh. Enjoy!

J~~~~~~~~~~

"Let's go, Judy."

I stared blankly at Ohtori Kyoya. "Go where may I ask?"

"To my place. I want you safe." Oh, heck no!

I eased myself from his arms and turned to face him head on. "Mr. Ohtori, tonight may have been harrowing, but I refuse to see the need to accompany you home." I swear! He sees me practically beat a man to death but still won't acknowledge my ability to care for myself. I decided to attempt a distraction. "Just where are your men taking Sato?"

"Redirecting the conversation doesn't work with me, Judy." Darn it! "But, to answer your question, he's going to a holding facility until he is expatriated." His glasses caught the bright glow of the moonlight, and I instinctively shivered at the power the dark man in front of me held in his hands. "Back to the matter at hand…"

"I already told you no." I stamped my foot a little.

Then, just as he had that first day we met, Kyoya closed the space between us and bent down to my ear. "You know as well as I that Sato isn't the only one."

I glared at him.

"Let's go, Judy." He took my hand, and I snapped.

"You're so high and mighty! Have you forgotten dinner?! Have you forgotten what just happened?! Understand this once and for all: I am my own woman. If you can't respect that, you have no right to me." I jerked my wrist from his grasp, turned on my heel, and started the walk home.

K~~~~~~~~~~

Geez! I can't do anything right. I just want her safe. Doesn't she get it? Jackson- I stopped. I didn't want to think of that felon. Instead, I focused on keeping Judy safe and dialed Hotta.

"Sir!"

"Leave Sato to the others. You are to stay with Judy for the rest of the night. Don't leave the apartment complex until I arrive in the morning."

"Yes, Ohtori-sama." I shoved my phone back in my pocket.

J~~~~~~~~~~

I slept little that night and woke up with a pounding headache and little patience. Fumbling my way to the kitchen in my pajamas, I put the coffee on and eased myself to the kitchen floor to wait for it to brew. I listened to the coffee percolate and allowed my mind to do the same. Last night…A heaviness descended at the momentary memory of the dinner. We're both fools to think this could ever work. The sparring lesson with Hani flashed by, and I smiled at his kindness. Hani…If only I'd met you sooner. I dwelt on the if-only's of my life. If only Jackson…then I wouldn't be here. If only Sato…I'd probably still be in a similar situation. I sneered at the thought. No matter whether Sato had chased me or not, I'd still have met the oh-so-mighty Ohtori, King of Shadows, Secrets, and Shades. Hani…My heart ached because I knew that my love belonged to the man who walked unseen, Kyoya Ohtori.

"How'd I get myself caught up in him? How could I walk blindly into his arms?" I threw my own arms into the air for emphasis. You didn't blindly walk in; You knew exactly what you were doing. You thought you could stay guarded, which you've done in the past; but, he broke down your walls brick by brick and then built a new wall that encompassed just you two. Yes, now I was suffering the consequences of love and trust. Those walls that housed Kyoya and I were an echo chamber that amplified everything that was wrong with the scenario. "I'm contracted to him until spring; he knows my most inmate secrets; and I know nothing of him unless he lets it drop." I rose from my crouched position and grabbed my mug and downed the whole, black brew. No, I was in no mood for games.

"Let's go visit Daddy-dearest."

K~~~~~~~~~~

I shifted uncomfortably in the driver's seat. Judy and I were uncharacteristically late. A whole two minutes!

Judy had stayed stoic from the moment I greeted her that morning. My greeting was met with a grimace. Even now that we were approaching my father's mansion, she stared out the window. Tense was the best way to describe her mood, but she seemed a bit melancholy as well. No surprise after last night. I was so ashamed of my behavior that I almost cancelled today's luncheon, but that would never do. Suspicion would have been raised against the validity of our relationship immediately.

Hesitantly, I broke the silence, "Uumm, Judy?"

Nothing.

"I know you're still upset with me."

Nothing.

"I'll never be able to apologize enough for what I did and the way I behaved, but you do know that all I want is your safety? I just want you safe. If anything-"

"Kyoya, I don't want another apology." Her gaze was still directed out the passenger window. "I know you're sincere, and I won't bring supper up ever again after this. I hope you will do the same."

"Please, Judy. Please. I know you are fiercely independent. I should have asked instead of presuming on your autonomy." She turned her head for the first time and looked at me, incredulous, mouth open. I chuckled depreciatingly, "I keep forgetting that we aren't real." Her mouth snapped shut, and she turned away.

"Judy?"

"Yes, Kyoya?" Tears?

"You do know what I mean. Right?"

"I do."

Not another word was said for the rest of the journey.

J~~~~~~~~~~

I bit my tongue the moment Kyoya greeted me. I didn't want to say anything I'd regret. Instead, I stared out the passenger window while Kyoya drove us to the Ohtori mansion. I wish he would have cancelled today. I'm sure we could have found a good reason. But, nooooooo. Father Ohtori is the top priority.

"Uumm, Judy?" Don't talk to me. "I know you're still upset with me." Upset?! Maybe a little.

"I'll never be able to apologize enough for what I did and the way I behaved, but you do know that all I want is your safety?" Oh, heck no is he getting away with ingratiating himself with me! "I just want you safe. If anything-"

"Kyoya, I don't want another apology." I didn't switch my gaze. "I know you're sincere, and I won't bring supper up ever again after this. I hope you will do the same." I meant it too. If I never thought of that horrible incident again, it would be too soon.

"Please, Judy. Please. I know you are fiercely independent. I should have asked instead of presuming on your autonomy." Does he actually get it now? He chuckled depreciatingly, "I keep forgetting that we aren't real." That truth was always at the back of my mind, but I'd never voiced it willingly. The shock of hearing Kyoya say it brought my back to grim reality. I turned away from him to hide my sorrow.

"Judy?"

"Yes, Kyoya?" I could feel the gravel and tears in my throat, and I fought hard against them.

"You do know what I mean. Right?"

"I do." I was wrong when I thought you loved me.