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

"Kyoya, Judy-san, sit." My father's smile was anything but welcoming, and the fact that he'd just been checking his watch reminded me of our tardiness. Darn those two minutes of stop lights.

I noticed Judy heading for a single chair in my peripheral, so I gently encircled her wrist with my hand and led her to the love seat. A bit of careful arranging. I adjusted my body language to Judy's ridge posture, slinging my arm about her shoulders and leaning a bit toward her. She took the hint; and even though she was still sullen, she hid her mood and relaxed against me, all smiles and good nature for my father's sake. Good. He noticed. The old man smirked at the open display and sat across the coffee table from us.

"Let's not have pretense between us, Kyoya," he started gruffly, and my brain started running at killer speeds to assess what might come next. "I know as well as you do that both your brothers married who they chose, even though they chose who I wanted; but it was never my intent to let either of them handle the empire." What are you getting at, old man? Judy's face betrayed none of her thoughts, and I hoped mine was just as impassive. "And, as you know, I had every intention of arranging your marriage; however, you rounded me off, and now we are at a standstill." He stood and approached us, arms behind his back as he came to halt just in front of Judy.

"Father, I think you and I can both agree that I'd hardly have been the son you left to inherit if I didn't have a mind of my own." Oops. I was shocked at my own audacity. Letting something so prideful slip in my father's presence was next to unforgivable.

His gaze never left Judy's face, and I found myself getting angry that he would dare stare at her for so long, father or no. "And, you'd hardly be my son if you didn't realize your own worth, but remember where you are and who I am." Judy, however, did not waver under his open stare. She met his eyes with a frankness and steadiness that even I was surprised at. Defiance is all that keeps me from buckling under his stare, but Judy has nothing to defy as yet. I wonder what she's thinking right now.

Seemingly satisfied with what he saw, my father walked toward one of the large floor to ceiling windows. While I was thankful he hadn't touched upon having suspicions about our relationship, Judy wasn't about to let him get away with that staring contest.

"Sir, may I ask why you aren't pitching a bigger fit about your son's choice? I'm grateful that you aren't, but I'd like to know. Also, I think it in everyone's best interest from here on out if you not try to intimidate your daughter-in-laws, whether present or future, by holding dominance contests like the leading of a dog pack." What the?! To say that little speech and reprimand didn't shock me would be a lie, but to say that I wasn't used to her acting like that would also be lie. Though, sometimes it's best not to speak your mind, especially to my father!

There was a pregnant pause for several seconds, a pause that had Judy rising from her seat and me grabbing her wrist once more as she tried to take a step toward the window. Before she could fully shake me off, the silence was broken with a snigger.

What?

My father turned around and looked at us both. I don't know what we looked like to him, but I imagine I must have been looking at him a bit askance, for he left off sniggering and started howling with laughter.

What kind of weird universe have I fallen into? I hadn't often heard my father laugh. In fact, I was certain he only had laughed openly a few times before my mother died. He may have laughed when he broke the news to the CEO of that American company that we bought him out. Yeah, that's it. Cynical laughter is all I've ever heard from him.

I looked up at Judy's face. She seemed to have drawn her own conclusions about his laughter and decided to join in the merriment, because she looked down at me and burst into a fit of giggles herself. Do I look that bad?

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

Ohmygosh! I can't believe I just said that to Kyoya's father. I mean, I've been wanting to say it so many men for so long, that I guess it just slipped. Oh. My. Gosh! I've got to fix this. I stood from the love seat where Kyoya had done a bang up job of making us look like lovers. As I stood, Kyoya caught my wrist trying to pull me back down. I began tugging against him when I heard a muffled snort, then two. Is that man giggling?

When Mr. Ohtori turned to look at us, he broke into a guffaw. I can only imagine the image that we presented must be interesting: Kyoya trying to tug me back down to the couch, me in a slightly bent backward pose as he was just yanking my arm while I was walking away, and both our faces in equal shock. Just thinking about it made me want to laugh, too. Then I looked down at Kyoya. His glasses were askew, his eyes round, and his mouth hung open like a cellar. It was all so very un-Kyoya-like that I couldn't help my self.

I threw my free hand over my mouth and began snickering. Kyoya's dad walked over to me, unwound Kyoya's fingers from my wrist, and then we became a united force of laughter. This is too weird. I'm laughing with the most serious and dangerous business shark in Japan. Oddly enough, that's funny on it's own. I couldn't control myself and started howling, until I fell on a large chair. Mr. Ohtori was peeling with gales of laughter, doubled over and using my chair to support himself.

Just as I thought I could contain myself Kyoya said, "Are you both quite through?" That set me off again. Oh, no. I'm cackling. You're not suppose to let anyone hear the witch laughter. My face was hurting so badly, and my sides were starting to cramp, but I couldn't stop. The sight of a newly righted Kyoya, impeccable tie and glasses and perfect composure was just funny. Maybe it's because you've never seen him laugh that his serious face is giving you such merriment. That thought sobered me up fast.

I allowed myself to calm down and adjusted myself as I walked back to Kyoya. His father was still enjoying his hilarity, so I decided I could ask him a question without being over heard.

"Why do you never laugh?" Again, that look. No his eyes weren't saucers, and his glasses weren't crooked, but the shock was still there. He just hides it well.

"My dear, there is a time for everything." That's no answer.

"Well, as you can see. A little joviality is just what the doctor ordered."

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

"Well, as you can see. A little joviality is just what the doctor ordered."

I looked at my father as he got himself under control. He was sitting in the chair Judy had just vacated with his legs spread out and his head leaning against the back of the rather low piece of furniture. I honestly had never seen him like that. He looked so relaxed and happy, emotions we were never allowed to have as children or even adults in the Ohtori household. Peculiar.

I honestly didn't know if he was laughing at me like Judy was, if he was laughing at what she had said, or if he was laughing for his own perverse reasons. Maybe his joke is that his people have found out about this sham of a coupling. It was always a possibility I had to be ready for, and I was prepared for that eventuality, but I didn't want it.

"Forgive me. That was very unlike me." He wiped his eyes. "Kyoya, you seem to have found a woman who can hold her own in most any situation." I maintained my reservations. "Though, I would recommend to both of you that jokes like that never be told to anyone but family." Come again? "Judith Mooreson, you are a welcome addition to this house. Sorry about the wait, but I was checking up on some things as most fathers are want to do when their heir has chosen a bride." He grabbed Judy's hand and bowed over it. Judy went bright red, something she had never done for anyone but me. Wait. Am I jealous of my old man?! My father's face was sly, the look of a business man going in for the kill. He knows!

"As I'm sure my son has told you," he addressed Judy, his business face on, "the expiration date on the marriage clause of the inheritance contract is approaching." I've got to stop him.

I stood and placed my hand about Judy's waist. "Father, I don't want Judy to get the wrong idea," I began.

"Oh, Kyoya," Judy turned her gaze on me and placed a soothing hand on my cheek, effectively shutting me up. Dang, she IS good. "I'm a big girl, and can handle things like this without you needing to worry about how I will react. Please, continue, sir." I stared at her face as she returned her attention to my father, but snapped my attention back to Daddy-dearest fast enough to see an approving but calculating look in his sharp eyes.

"As I was saying," Father continued, "the contract period is drawing to a close. My son must be engaged before his next birthday, and it is now within half a year's time."

"Mr. Ohtori, I think you should consider your son's time table as being his own in this." Is she crazy? I mean, yes, this should be up to me; but she should try to placate him, at least. I moved to interfere again, but Judy continued. "I don't mean any disrespect to your position. I know you want what is best for your son, first and foremost, and that you want the best for the company; and a president with a wife, family, and steady home is the easiest to trust when making business deals." Bravo! Now that is some excellent manipulation; however, knowing her, she's not faking it.

"You understand much for a musician," my father nodded to her.

"Just because I chose music as my field does not mean I am without the powers of observation needed for others. In fact, it means my ability to observe is often heightened in most situations as I am trained to find the subtitles in words, gestures, and facades." Oo, ouch. That hit particularly close to home as I considered how my life was mainly a facade to keep people away.

"Once again, my hat goes off to you. Kyoya, you'd best not let her get away." Wait. What? He knows, but he's not going to do anything besides push us forward? So, he genuinely approves of my choice in women even after he did a background check? Interesting. Of course, Judith Mooreson is worth more than any of the women that have been pushed at me. She has true insight and intelligence.

Judy pulled me out of my reverie. "Kyoya, are you coming? Your father just went into the dining room."

The rest of our lunch went smoothly, with only a few hints as to our impending engagement and marriage, and I spent the majority of it studying my father and my would-be-wife.

R&R. Please! :)