A/N: Originally, this was supposed to be one massive final chapter - around 14K. But, after some heavy contemplation on my side, I decided to split it. There's just SO MUCH GOING ON! With that being said, consider this part 1 of the grand finale, which will conclude in the next and final chapter. This chapter and the next will tug at your heartstrings and make you worship me (more than you already do) and YASS YOU'RE WELCOME.

As always, to those of you who put in time and effort to review; thank you, thank you, thank you. I appreciate your support so much and the best feeling in the world is when I'm stuck at work and check my phone during break, only to discover a new review and your kind words. I've spent many nights writing this and perfecting it, and getting feedback means so much. Okay, no more crying from me.

In case you missed it, I recently published a one-shot called Till Death Do us Part. It's an alternative ending to the Rido-arc. Check it out if you're interested!

Chapter 18: His Roomie, Not His Secretary

Yuuki stared out the window as snow fell down outside, lathering the darkened landscape in shades of white. She held her own waist, feeling cold despite the heat that emanated from the fireplace.

Despite being Christmas Eve, her mind was filled with thoughts and worries as she stared at the snowflakes fall from the sky outside. Exhausted from chemotherapy, her father had fallen asleep early, leaving her alone with her thoughts on Christmas Eve.

She couldn't help but feel a little lonely as she stood there, gazing out the window. Ever since her mother died, it'd always been only her and her father together on Christmas. That was their tradition; he'd spend all day cooking everything from traditional Japanese meals to western foods, almost burning down the house in the process. Yuuki would try her best to assist him, but eventually she'd give up, realizing that there was no way to salvage the food from her father's eccentric ways.

After they ate together, they would unwrap their presents around the tree and spend the rest of the night watching movies. It didn't sound too spectacular – but it was their special tradition and her favorite time of the year.

This time, Kaien had barely touched his food, trying to put on a front as he shoved some food in his mouth to please her. Her heart had broke in half seeing him so tired and lifeless… it was so completely out of character for him. Having noticed his eyes droop, Yuuki ordered him to go to sleep. He reluctantly complied.

And now, hours later, she was standing by the window in silence, her thoughts spinning around and around. The emptiness and the silence of their home made her feel lonely and anxious, though she did her best to not show it.

Truth be told, Yuuki didn't have a lot of people in her life. She had her father, and some of her extended family, though she didn't get to interact with them very much since they lived far away. Then there were her friends, Yori, Hanabusa, Ruka, Kain…

And then, there was her boss.

Kaname.

She fished her phone out of her pocket, glancing at the screen. Would it be weird to call him on Christmas Eve? After all, he had no problem with calling her in the middle of the night to ask her about what movie he should watch or what suit he should wear the next day. But that was work-related, and this was…. Not.

You're just feeling lonely. That's all, she tried to convince herself as her grip tightened. If she should allow herself to be completely honest, then she would admit that she missed him… a little bit. Delving too deep into it made her uncomfortable, so she chalked it up to the fact that she spent every single day with him and that's why she missed his presence. Really, it was only natural – she'd been his secretary for one and a half year now, which meant that their relationship had deepened. She knew that their work relationship was way different than what others had, but that's just… who they were.

Beyond being her boss, he was her dearest friend and her number one confidante – though she'd never admit that to Yori.

So it would be okay, wouldn't it? To call him, if only just to hear his voice and laugh at his silly jokes… it would be normal, right?

Her fingers found his name before she could stop herself and tapped the "call" button. Anxiously she waited, listening to the beep as her phone dialed him. What if he was at a dinner with his parents? Or some other family? What if she was interrupting him?

Her unease increased as she grew worried. Maybe now was not a good time, maybe–

"Hello? Yuuki?"

She almost let a sigh of relief escape her lips. "Uhh... Hey, Kaname."

"Are you all right? What's going on?" He said worriedly.

"Um, nothing," she said, feeling awkward.

"Oh… I just… well you never really call me unless it's an emergency or something work-related, so I was a little bit worried there. What's up?"

Yuuki exhaled. Of course he'd panic over her calling him on Christmas Eve with no forewarning. Of course he'd think it was work-related or an emergency, and not just her longing for… company.

"I, uh… well I was just wondering how you're doing," she began hesitantly. Now that she'd actually called him, and heard his voice, she was unsure of how to proceed. How did she remain professional without letting him know that she was missing him? How was she supposed to keep things casual?

"Oh, I'm good. I'm actually at the office, hah," he chuckled.

"What?" She gasped, glancing at the snowflakes. "On Christmas Eve? I thought you were having dinner with your parents?"

"I did," he replied, "but something came up so I had to run by the office and check up some documents for the big Sakamaki deal I've been working on. Work never ends," he chuckled.

She frowned. "Even so, Kaname, you shouldn't work on Christmas eve. I know you're a workaholic, but this is just unacceptable. If I were there right now, I'd drag you out of the office by your ankles. No one should be working on Christmas Eve. Certainly not you."

He chuckled in response. "I believe you, Yuuki. There's only one woman who would have the audacity to do that, and that's my fierce secretary. And you know what, if you did, I wouldn't really resist..."

Perhaps she was imagining things, but she could've sworn his voice had dropped slightly. She giggled nervously. "You know me too well."

"I do," he said, his voice going back to normal. She could practically see his face sobering in front of her as he frowned. "I know you so well that when you call me on Christmas Eve, I know there's something wrong. So fess up, Yuuki. Are you all right? Do you need anything? Tell me."

She silenced as she hesitated, wondering how much she could afford to expose to him. She'd always had difficulties when it came to expressing her feelings, but with him it'd always felt natural and easy.

"Yuuki…"

She pursed her lips. "Ah, no it's… well, my dad fell asleep a few hours ago and… yeah. I'm sort of alone in the house now – well, minus his snoring – but… Yeah."

There. She'd kind of said it. In between her sentences was her loneliness, lingering like a ghost in the background. She just hoped he would catch onto it.

"I see…" He responded. "He's tired from his treatments, isn't he? How's he doing overall?"

"Yeah," she nodded, gazing out the window. "He's doing pretty well for the time being. I mean, he's still sick and still suffering from the side effects, but he's being strong and getting through it. He's always had an iron-will…"

"But…?" Kaname prodded, sensing that there was more to her worries.

"Well… It's just that seeing him forcing down food and fighting to keep his eyes open at the dinner table is so… heartbreaking. That's not my dad at all. He's always so vibrant and crazy eccentric; I've spent so many crazy Christmases with him, doing everything from sleigh riding to crazy home cooking to watching movies. And now, he's become this frail, tiny shell of the man he used to be and it's… it's scaring me. I keep thinking that this might be our last Christmas together… you never know in life, you know?" Tears gathered in her eyes and pooled over, raining down her cheeks. "And… the thought of losing him, combined with the silence of the house makes me…"

"I hate it when you cry," he said softly, somehow sensing her emotional distress. She wiped her eyes as if he was in the room with her, not wanting him to see her cry. "Beautiful women like you should never cry, Yuuki. Even over your dad, though I'll allow you for the time being since I'm not there with you to wipe your tears away," he said sternly, earning a tearful giggle from her.

"I understand how you feel, Yuuki. And there are not a lot of words I can say that can bring you comfort and peace, but… your dad is a fighter. Right now might be a tough time for him, but give him a few months and he'll be up and running in no time. I know this because I know you; you are strong and you are fearless. And that must be because he raised you that way. It has to be the Kurosu bloodline, no? Because I know that hadn't it been for you the past year and a half, my world would've collapsed after Seiren left with all the obstacles at the company. Luckily for me, I had you by my side, organizing my life and keeping me on track even when I felt like giving up. You've lent me your strength so many times; and I'm willing to bet my entire fortune that the same strength runs in your father."

Yuuki laughed breathlessly, wiping her tears as she smiled. His words were so touching and overwhelming; slowly she could feel her sadness and loneliness fade away as hopefulness and tenderness replaced it.

"No matter what happens, you are never alone, Yuuki," her boss whispered softly. "You know, I…"

Kaname stared out the massive windows of his office, his eyes drinking up the sight of Tokyo spread out before him.

He couldn't help but wish that she were out there, right now, coming to him instead of far away at her house. All those millions of people in the streets didn't matter to him; the flashing lights; the glitz and the glamor; it meant absolutely nothing without her at his side.

He stumbled over his words, unsure of how to express himself without revealing himself. He wanted to tell her that he loved her. Truly and deeply. The fact that she'd called her of her own will and told him about her worries and her problems had delighted him beyond rational thought. The fact that she'd reached out to him made him soar above the clouds, only the sad reality of their talk being able to bring him down.

He just wished he could say it for once. Without drama or explanations or clarifications. That he could just tell her that he loved her so she knew that he'd always be there for her. That she wasn't alone in this world, and she never would be.

That he was hers, and hers alone.

"I…" He trailed off.

"You…" His secretary whispered.

"I…" I love you, I love you, I love you. "… care about you. A lot," he admitted. "I know we only work together, but… I've grown accustomed to you and your presence in my life. It's more than just… business to me. I genuinely… care about you, Yuuki. And I always will."

She didn't say anything for a while, which made him feel insecure as he kept his eyes locked on the skyline. Had he said too much? Did he scare her?

Yuuki bit her lip, a weight shifting in her chest as his words registered in her mind. It felt like her chest was about to burst as she realized that that was exactly what she'd needed to hear.

She'd missed him. And he'd said all those wonderful things, ending with admitting that he cared about her more than just as his employee. It was a wonderful feeling, instantly brightening up her sadness.

She couldn't help but smile. "I… care about you, too, Kaname. You are one of the very few people I hold dear, even if you annoy me like crazy sometimes and make me want to tear my hair out. Despite all of this, I consider you to be… not just my boss, but… a true… friend."

It didn't feel right to simply call him friend. But if she delved deeper into that, she would not be able to go to sleep that night. So she chose the cowardly way.

"Well," Kaname breathed, "I'm glad to hear that. I was unsure for a while, you know, with those death threats you gave me the other day when I spilled coffee on your shirt, but… now that I know you care about me, marrying you will be a lot easier."

Yuuki giggled. "Again with that!? When are you ever going to let it go?"

"Think about it, Yuuki. It would be perfect. I'd get my parents off my back about marriage since my mother adores you, and you'd have someone to spend Christmas with when your father isn't up for it anymore. And besides, the staff at every hotel we've stayed at have referred to us as Mr. and Mrs. Kuran. It's a sign. We're meant to be."

Yuuki giggled, secretly flattered over his apparent desire to marry her. It made her feel good knowing that a man like him would even joke about marrying her. It was a privilege to say the least.

"And who'd you call at 3 AM to ask what tie you should wear in the morning?" She challenged.

"No one," he replied nonchalantly. "I'd just wake you up. Well, I'd try to wake you up, but it wouldn't be easy since you'd be so spent from our sweet, sweet lovemaking a few hours before."

Yuuki's face turned red as his voice became husky and silky, his words painting all kinds of salacious images in her mind. "Y-you pervert! How can you say something like that to your secretary!? Sheesh…" She fanned herself with her hand, trying her best not to think about the pictures in her mind.

Kaname laughed heartily. "You're off duty. So now you're just my friend that I want to marry and make sweet, sweet lo–"

"I'm hanging up!" She threatened.

"Okay, okay," he said, letting it go. "No sweet love-making – got it. Your loss, but… I'll always respect your boundaries."

"Clearly," she snorted.

He laughed again, calming down after a while. "Well, how are you feeling right now? Besides ridiculously turned on, of course."

"Ah! Disgusted!" She bellowed, unable to stop grinning. "A-and embarrassed! And–"

"… And not sad or lonely anymore, right?" He cut her off softly.

She sobered, realizing that their silly banter had actually erased all her past worries and loneliness. "Yes. Not anymore…"

"Good," Kaname quipped, pleased with himself. "Then I've done my job correctly."

Yuuki laughed softly, twirling a lock of hair around her finger as she smiled goofily. "You have. Thank you, Kaname. Not for the sex jokes," she hissed as he chuckled, "but for cheering me up and making me forget."

"Anytime, Yuuki," he responded. "Don't ever hesitate to contact me if you're ever feeling like this again, okay? No matter what, I'll always be there for you."

"Mhm," she nodded.

"And if you ever want to make sweet, sweet love to me, then you can always call–"

"Kaname!" She giggled. "Stop it already!"

He laughed in response, earning a smile from her as she delighted in his laugh. "All right…"

They settled into a comfortable silence, the numbers counting down the time on their phones speeding on as the two of them gazed out their respective windows; he, gazing at the massive sight of the glittering Tokyo skyline, and she, gazing out at the humble landscape outside her home – the two of them secretly yearning to see the other one instead.

"Hey, Yuuki…" Kaname said softly, disturbing the silence.

"Yeah?"

"Everything is going to be all right. We'll be all right," he promised.

She nodded and smiled. "I believe you, Kaname."

The Tokyo skyline glittered in the nighttime; billboards flashed here and there, showering the city with lights and colors. Yuuki watched her favorite skyline with contemplative eyes, her brows furrowing slightly. Brown eyes traced the thousands of people walking down the streets, wondering if one of them were the one she was waiting for. She wrung her hands together, anxiousness crawling up her spine.

His arms came around her waist as he hugged from behind. Nestling his face on her neck, he glanced at the skyline.

"How are you holding up?" Kaname murmured.

"I'm fine," she said, relaxing into his embrace, sighing softly as he placed a light kiss on her neck.

"I love the view from your office," she said, keeping her eyes on the flashing lights. "It's so beautiful. I remember when I first started working here, I was so amazed by the view. Sometimes, when I was delivering something to your office and you weren't here, I'd just stop and stare for a while."

"It's one of the perks of running this company, yes," he said, remembering all those times he'd stared wistfully out of that same window and longed for her. "Do you want to live in the city? I could always sell the mansion and get us an apartment nearby. Then you'll see the view everyday."

She giggled. "I make one comment about the view from your office, and suddenly you want to sell your mansion and get an apartment in the middle of one of the busiest cities in the world."

"I'd do it for you," he quipped, kissing up her neck. "If you wanted to move to Iceland, I'd follow you in a heartbeat."

She sighed. "Well, you won't have to move to Iceland, or the city for that matter. I'm content at your place. It seemed a bit odd for you to have an entire mansion for yourself, but when you told me that it belonged to your grandparents, I understood why you wanted to stay there. It's very… you. The antique feeling of it; the architecture; and the fact that it's located outside of the city… I wouldn't have it any other way. And besides, I practically live there, now."

"How about we remove 'practically' from that sentence?" He asked, his voice briefly quivering.

She turned in his arms and looked up at him. "What are you saying?"

"Move in with me." He held her hands in between them. "I know we've technically only been dating for a few months, but I've wanted this for almost four years now. And with our history, I feel like you have lived with me ever since you started working for me. I know it's sudden, but I wanted to ask you officially. So what do you say?"

Yuuki smiled, reaching up on her tip-toes and kissing him. He reciprocated hesitantly, nervous about her answer even though he knew deep down that he had no reason to be afraid.

"Of course I will, Kaname," Yuuki said softly, her maroon eyes melting with love as she looked at him. Elation filled his chest as a rush of happiness spread through his veins. It felt so surreal yet so right to have her finally say those words – in his office. The place where they'd first met and spent three years avoiding their feelings for each other, the very symbol of how their relationship had begun.

The same place that stored some of his most precious memories; the first time they almost kissed; that time she'd fallen asleep on his couch and he'd watched her sleep; when she'd doubled over from laughter from something he'd said; and lastly, it was the place where he'd taken her on his desk several times, almost getting caught by his parents in the process.

His heart swelled with love.

"I love you," he blurted out, unable to suppress his emotions. "I don't know if I've told you today already, but I love you. And I'm so, so, so happy you've agreed to move in with me. Thank you, Yuuki," he said, lifting up her right hand and kissing it.

Yuuki giggled, unable to fight the goofy smile she was currently adorning. "I love you too, silly. I was waiting for you to ask me anyways. Going back and forth between my apartment and your house all the time is so exhausting."

"Really? Then it's a good thing I finally asked you," he murmured, pulling her closer by her waist. "Now that you are officially moving in with me, we can take our sweet, sweet time to remove that self-imposed chastity belt of yours… Oh, lucky me who will come home to you every day…"

She slapped his chest as she giggled, secretly flattered over his apparently never-ending desire for her. "Stop being a pervert," she said, breaking out of his embrace and walking over to his desk so she could check the time on the phone. It was 9 pm, and the office was dark, only lit up by the glow from the outside world shining in through the large glass windows.

"Can't help it," he quipped, sitting down in his chair as he looked at her, his eyes trailing down her body. "That is one… hell of an outfit you've got on," he said speculatively.

"Something wrong with it?" She said, eyeing her short black bodycon dress. It ended mid-thigh, showing off her legs, which she'd meticulously shaved and moisturized. Some parts of the dress were sheer mesh, while the rest was solid black. Her long hair was pinned up in a high ponytail, glossy hair flowing down her back. She'd topped of the outfit with some black heels.

"Not at all," he said lowly, unable to tear his eyes away from her body. "It's just not your… regular style, that's all. I'm not complaining though. Did you dress this way because of Shizuka?"

Yuuki thought back to the countless hours she'd spent shaving, exfoliating and moisturizing any body part she could, and the 45 minutes she'd spent on doing her make-up and debating on which dress she should wear.

Had she done all this because she knew she was going to meet her boyfriend's psychotic yet stunningly attractive ex-heiress ex-girlfriend?

"Whaat? Nooo," she lied smoothly, her eyes flickering away from his inquisitive stare. "This is just… something casual I threw on. Little to no effort."

"Uh huh," he said, clearly not convinced but amused nonetheless. From his point of view, Yuuki didn't have to do anything to prove herself to him, at least. She could show up in a potato sack, and he'd still go weak in the knees at the sight of her. As for impressing Shizuka, there could be a possibility that Yuuki was simply going into Alpha Female mode. One of those women things…

Kaname pursed his lips as he imagined Shizuka and Yuuki fighting over him. Now that would be one hell of a sight… Though I'd prefer it if Yuuki saved some of her frustrations for the bedroom instead.

Ah! What are you doing, you idiot? Stop being horny! Your ex is going to walk through that door any minute right now, and all you can think about is banging your girlfriend?

Have you seen her outfit, though? I mean… this may be the devilish side of me talking, but I'll be damned if I let her take off that outfit alone.

The angel on his shoulder sighed, eyeing Yuuki's creamy thighs. For once, I agree with you. I give you my blessings!

He shook his head to clear his thoughts, annoyed at himself for being so weak when it came to her.

"Why, do you like it?" Yuuki said, her voice dropping an octave as she twirled around in front of him.

Can somebody call an ambulance? I think I'm about to faint.

"Oh, I like it very much," he purred as she walked towards him, her eyes locked on his as a devilish smile tugged at the corners of her lips. The need to touch her and feel her was overwhelming him, his hands itching as he clenched the armrests on his chair.

It was, of course, at this time that Shizuka Hio decided to strut into his office like she owned the damn thing.

"Oh, look at you two," she quipped jovially, taking off her expensive fur coat and hanging it over her arm. Her heels clicked on the floor as she walked towards the desk, her silver eyes narrowed upon Kaname and Yuuki. "Adorable," she drawled.

Her eyes zeroed in on Yuuki, looking her up and down. "So this is the Secretary. And here I was thinking your tastes were a little more refined…"

Yuuki rolled her eyes, cutting off Kaname before he could respond. "Knock off the passive aggressive commentary, grandma. We're here to talk business."

"Feisty," Shizuka purred. "The presence of your lovely girlfriend here suggests you're not accepting my offer of rekindling our… passion?"

Kaname let nothing slip past his mask as he gazed at her, his face neutral and expressionless. "You just didn't seem sincere enough, unfortunately."

"Didn't I?" She said, uncrossing and re-crossing her legs. "It was worth a shot. I figured you'd be stubborn about the company, so if I offered myself along with it, you'd be a little easier to convince. After all, you could never resist whenever I spread my legs for you in the past…" She purred.

Yuuki fought to keep herself from throwing up. Shizuka and Kaname having sex, Shizuka and Kaname having sex… ew, ew, ew, ew! Stop thinking about it! Stop! Now!

"You always liked spreading your legs," he murmured, "for anyone that wanted entrance. That diminishes the illusion of exclusivity, no?"

"Mm, someone grew bold in my absence. It's quite refreshing. Even fucking your secretary like some big shot… is this the rebellious phase you never went through?"

"Enough," Yuuki cut in, her eyes darkening, "we're here to talk about your demands, not your nasty past."

"I'd say the nasty ones are the two of you," Shizuka sneered. "Sneaking around like you wouldn't get caught… really, you ought to know better. Judging by your tone, it seems like you're not willing to comply with my demands. What a shame…"

"I'm more than his secretary and certainly more than some random fling," Yuuki hissed, walking around Kaname's desk, her hand tracing his chair as she circled around him. She sat down at the end of the desk elegantly, crossing her legs as she narrowed her eyes upon the silver-haired beauty.

"I'm a journalist also. And when Kaname told me about your little blackmailing scheme, I felt compelled to question your motives. You lost your rights to the Hio Hotels in 2009 after a series of scandals. You crashed your car and ruined your mansion in a party you threw; you dated several high-profile men and cheated on them, sullying your family's name. Drugs, alcohol – and a crazy shopping habit that would've left you up to your ears in debt had it not been for your fortune. But your family had had enough of you; you were a loose canon; wild and unpredictable – certainly not fit to rule the empire. So they disowned you, took everything you had and left you with a few lousy millions.

But you wanted to get back in. You missed the fame and the glamour of being the Hio heiress. So you sought out the newly appointed CEO of Kuran Inc. and used him to your benefit. You sold company secrets and leaked information on the stock market behind his back. Sometimes," she paused, glancing over at Kaname, "I want to slap him senseless for ever getting involved with a witch like you. But then I realize," she reached over with her hand and grasped his, "that we all make mistakes. His was trusting you and letting you into his life, but luckily he saw the light and kicked you out. So that left you loverless and irrelevant; your family was not impressed by your little ploy, and the media were no longer interested in you. So you moved to France with the money you had left…"

Kaname watched in wonder as Yuuki dominated the conversation, confidently laying out fact after fact like it was a regular briefing of a terrorist rather than his psychotic ex-girlfriend. She was so assertive and confident; it turned him on like crazy, yet he calmed himself down so he could listen to her give Shizuka the final hit. His eyes briefly flickered over to their linked hands and over to Shizuka, who was pensively eyeing their little union.

Strength in numbers. As long as she is next to me, no one can tear us down.

Yuuki swallowed, trying her best to keep her cool under the scrutinizing stare of Shizuka Hio. Thank goodness they had Ichijou. In a short span of time, he'd managed to dig up all the missing pieces of the Shizuka mystery after Yuuki had found her lover's name.

"What you did there for the most part, I have no clue. Maybe you drank everyday and fucked around, or perhaps you sat in gloomy silence in your room. But, all of that changed one day when you meet sweet, young Hisakawa Kou. You always had a sweet spot for younger men… but he is 16 years younger than you." Yuuki got up from the desk, taking slow steps around the room as she mused out loud, the click of her heels functioning as a soundtrack to her narrative.

"Now, there's only so much digging in the dirt I can do, but my guess is, he made you feel special. He was adventurous and humble; a complete opposite of the bland businessmen you'd dated before. He made you laugh; made you cry; made you smile goofily in the middle of a French market. He was an art student and you had always had a fascination with paintings… did he paint you? Did you inspire him; become his muse? I don't know… But you fell for him without reserve, and here we are today. Your love story is ending rapidly, and now you grow desperate."

Yuuki turned around, her eyes narrowing on Shizuka as she waited for the elder woman to react. Her hands shook on her lap as she clenched them. It was brief, but Yuuki noticed it nonetheless.

"You underestimate me. Look at you, playing detective and shrink at the same time. Almost makes me want to believe that Kaname actually hired you for your skills and not your assets," she sneered, looking Yuuki up and down. "Such a pretty face… I can't wait to watch the media ruin you." She pulled out her phone and began tapping away.

Yuuki narrowed her eyes. "Ah… That nice little article you've got up your sleeve?" Yuuki tsked as Shizuka stilled. "Kasumi is an excellent writer. I was oh so lucky to take a peak at his article… a few grammar mistakes here and there, but overall good. Unfortunately, clumsy old me accidentally deleted all the text. And you know, me being the dumb ex-secretary that I am, had to come up with something, right? I think you'll find his newest edition of the article quite interesting."

Fury bloomed in Shizuka's eyes. "You…"

"A woman of your age shouldn't frown," Kaname drawled, "what with all the wrinkles and all that."

She shot up from her seat, clenching her fists as her mouth tightened into a thin line. "Y-you…"

"Now that's the Shizuka I know," Kaname said, amused by her outburst, "petty and petulant when she doesn't get her way. Such a victim of her own madness… your pretty façade crumbling the second you realize you don't have the upper hand anymore."

"I'm going to ruin you," she spat, looking between Kaname and Yuuki, "piece by piece. No one will ever accept you. I'll make sure of it."

She turned to leave, her peony pink heels clicking angrily against the floor.

"We spoke with him today," Kaname announced, watching as she halted. "Kou."

His eyes fixed on her tense back as he spoke. "Yuuki and I… we have something that's beyond any silly affair or scandal or however you want to frame it. It's real. Very real – so real in fact that I risked everything to keep her close, and in turn, she's taken many risks to be with me. We live in a society that openly discriminates against what it deems inappropriate or unnatural. Money and status trumps character and worth; in the eyes of many, a man like me has no business being with a woman like her. Because of our different social standings; because I'm 'rich', and she's not. Moreover, because Yuuki is a woman, the hell you'll unleash upon us will be ten times harder on her. Because she's a woman, she'll be the one that takes the blame; she'll be the one that seduced me; the media will dub her as a gold digger, and not the earnest and loveable woman I know and love. Me? I'll take a small hit, but the media will leave me alone for the most part, even if I'm just as guilty as her."

Yuuki walked over to him and rested her hand on his shoulder, rubbing the spot to show her support. His own hand covered hers on his shoulder, clenching it tightly.

"Now that you know how I feel about her, and how she feels about me, I'm sure you can relate. After all, this is why you're doing all of this, isn't it? Love."

Shizuka shifted on the spot, looking over her shoulder. "What did he tell you?" She said quietly.

"Not much," Kaname said calmly, "but he didn't approve of your plans. Not one bit."

She turned around, her eyes glittering as her brows furrowed. "Of course he didn't. Because he is not like me; he is good; selfless; humble; unable to hurt a fly. And that's why we're in this mess. For once, I just wish he could be selfish and cling to his life… for me. But his selflessness is what I adore, so I have to be selfish for the two of us."

"And if he ends up hating you for your actions?" Yuuki spoke quietly, measuring Shizuka's reaction. She was no longer composed nor collected; her perfectly put-together attire contrasted starkly against her disheveled appearance. Her eyes were no longer guarded; they looked tired and weary. Her shoulders had lowered considerably as she unraveled.

"At least he'll be alive and hating me." Shizuka hissed. Her eyes flickered between the two of them and she softened, recognizing the quiet intimacy shared between Kaname and Yuuki as they faced her together.

She slumped to the floor, her knees bruising from the impact as her breathing picked up. "We had everything. He made the voices in my head silence whenever he was near. I no longer felt like I had to do reckless things to get attention and feel the rush, because he was my rush. He'd paint and I'd watch; we'd go to museums and he'd tell me all about the painters and the paintings, like a walking talking dictionary. It's a cliché, but I knew he was the one. I adored him from day one. But then…" She trailed off, wiping a lone tear.

"He had a heart-attack. 24 years old, and he suffers from a heart-attack. I couldn't believe it as I sat by his bedside and watched over him. Luckily they'd managed to save him, but it was a close call. Turns out… he was born with a genetic defect which hadn't been discovered before. And since he never received treatment for it, he got worse. We were penniless; I'd wasted my settlement on idiotic shit I didn't need, and he was an orphaned nobody with an art degree." She paused, gathering herself.

"He needs a new heart," she said quietly, resting her hands on her knees as she looked up at them. She chuckled humorlessly. "Do you know the cost of a new heart when you have no insurance? The endless wait-list? Wondering if this is it; if today is the day his heart will quit on him while he's waiting for his new one… if this is the last time he opens his eyes and says he loves me while some fat 60-year old fuck is getting the heart Kou deserves? Do you?"

Yuuki fought the urge to cry, the pressure of tears increasing for every word Shizuka spoke. She couldn't help but imagine herself in Shizuka's situation; if Kaname ever got sick, and there was nothing she could do, she'd feel so helpless… She'd cry for days, unable to function properly.

Kaname cleared his throat, sensing Yuuki's discomfort as he raised her hand to his lips and kissed the top of it.

Shizuka eyed the interaction, releasing a frustrated cry. "What you have… why can't I have that too? Why can't I have him next to me? Why… why is he being taken away from me? I know I'm a bad person; I've done terrible things, but he… he doesn't see me like that. He sees the good in me that I never knew existed. He loved the woman who was abandoned by her own family…. What we have means the world to me."

"Then don't take it away from us," Kaname said quietly. "Let us help you."

"H-help?" Shizuka stuttered.

"Releasing those pictures will cause us a lot of grief," Yuuki said, "and while we've decided to stick together no matter what, we'd like it if our relationship was left alone instead of scrutinized by people who have no say in the matter. If you hand over all the material you have, and you assure us one hundred per cent that no one else knows of their existence, then we'll help you get a new heart for Kou."

Shizuka glanced over at Kaname, gaping at the emotionless CEO. "H-how?"

"You forget," Kaname murmured, "that I'm not just anyone in this country. I know powerful people who know even more powerful people; one call by me can cause a new heart to magically pop up in your life. You ought to know by now that money is not an issue for me, either."

"Why… why are you helping me?" Shizuka whispered as tears streamed down her cheeks.

"You ruined my life and broke my trust," Kaname sighed, "but your betrayal led me to someone greater. In a way, you led me to the love of my life, and for that I'm grateful. I wouldn't be half the man I was today had it not been for Yuuki. I love her. And in your eyes, I see the same love directed towards Kou. In that aspect, you and I are the same; we will do anything for the ones we love, and therefore I respect you and wish to help you. To protect Yuuki and myself, but you and your lover also."

Shizuka released a broken sob, bending her head to the floor, her long hair spilling around her like a silver halo. "Thank you, thank you, thank you… oh thank you. I'm so sorry. I'm so sorry for what I've done, but I… I was so desperate. He… he means the world to me. Thank you, thank you…."

Unable to watch anymore, Yuuki stepped over to Shizuka and bent down, offering her a hand. "Get up," she said softly, watching as Shizuka tentatively accepted her hand and let her pull her up.

"You'll get through this. He'll get through this," Yuuki whispered, brushing some of Shizuka's hair away from her face. "Everything will be all right."

Shizuka nodded. "Thank you… I'm so sorry for what I said earlier, and the article. Truthfully, Kasumi was the only idiot willing to associate with me, so he was my only option. He's not smart enough to make back-ups, and even if he did, I'm sure you deleted all of it. I'll hand over everything I have to you immediately, and whatever else it is you need. I'm sorry for threatening your relationship, but you have to understand… watching your other half dying when there's nothing you can do is the worst feeling in the world. I was so desperate to save him…"

"We don't appreciate what you did, but we understand it. Yuuki and I have done crazy things in the name of love before, so we're no strangers to the desperation you speak of," Kaname said, getting up from his chair and walking towards the two women. He stopped next to Yuuki and placed his left arm around her waist, extending his right one to Shizuka.

She shook his hand, a symbolic action so signalize that they had a deal and that she would back off.

"I think it's time you go home and rest," Kaname said, "or to your beloved. By tomorrow you'll hear back from me, so please put your worries to rest."

Shizuka nodded, gathering her coat. "I won't stop worrying until he is all right, so I'll be returning to his side." She walked over to the door and turned, her silver eyes landing on the couple in front of them.

"Kaname, I'm proud of you," she said softly. "You've come a far way from the insecure boy in a suit that I used to know. And Yuuki…. I underestimated you. The two of you seem like a perfect fit. I wish you all the best…" She trailed off, walking out of the office.

Yuuki released her breath, feeling slightly dizzy from the wave of relief that flooded her. "Oh my god… that was scary."

"You think so?" Kaname said, rubbing her side as he looked down at her.

"Yes!" She hissed. "She was so scary and… overpowering in the beginning, I felt like I was going to stutter a-and just… collapse from nerves!"

"Really? I was actually impressed. You were so calm and collected; you laid down the facts like a true investigator and journalist. To be frank, it was kind of hot…" He trailed off, nuzzling her neck.

She laughed nervously, turning slightly in his embrace. "True journalist, huh…"

He could immediately tell something was off as his face sobered, his brows furrowing as he studied her. "What's wrong, Yuuki?"

"I…" She said, looking away as she figured out how to express herself. She escaped his embrace, walking slowly towards the big windows as she stared at the skyline. He immediately missed her presence, but decided to let her be.

"It's just that… ever since I did my investigation at the newspaper, and I found out that one of my own were willing to betray me for some scoop, it… Well, it's just changed how I feel about journalism. I just… I feel like I've wasted so many years of my life at school, only to find out that it's not what I want. Or well, I want to write, and I want to investigate, but I… not that. I don't want to become some greedy bitch that will backstab anyone just to survive. That's not me. That's not what I want at all…"

"I see," Kaname said quietly, his heart breaking slightly at the sight of her confused expression. "I wish I could shield and protect you for the rest of our lives, but unfortunately, there will always be people that'll want to hurt you. What Kasumi did was unforgivable, and there are probably a lot of journalists like him out there. But…" He walked over to her and stopped, his hand stroking her chin. "Not all of them are like that. And you don't need to be like that. You can do whatever you want, Yuuki – it's in your power to make that choice. And I know you; you're strong and you're passionate about this – you can do anything you set your mind to. Perhaps you can use this experience to shape your ideal of what a journalist should be? Let it scar you, and learn from it so you and others won't repeat this mistake so easily in the future. I know you're probably very conflicted and confused right now, but I'll be here for you and I'll support you no matter what you do."

She smiled and hugged him tightly, burying her head in his chest. "I don't know how you do it, but somehow you always manage to melt all my worries away. Why do I even bother paying for therapy when I have you?"

Kaname chuckled, hugging her back. "It's my job to keep you happy and free of worries, remember? It's what I live for. Besides, isn't your last session coming up soon?"

"Yeah, it is. So from now on, you'll be my personal therapist. And mental coach. And Lifestyle mentor. And Personal Trainer. And… you get the idea," she giggled.

"I'll be all those things and more for you, Yuuki. Whatever you need," he promised, pulling back slightly from their embrace as he gazed at her.

She smiled in return, the stress and worry having melted away from her beautiful features. Her skin was flushed and her eyes were glittering in the soft light from outside.

"I told you we'd be all right, didn't I?" He whispered softly, tapping her nose.

"You did," she nodded, reaching up on her tip-toes and kissing him softly. He responded eagerly, cradling her face as he poured all his love into the kiss. When they parted for air, she rested her forehead on his, looking into his eyes. "Do you remember, all those years ago when I called you on Christmas Eve? Do you remember what you said?"

He smiled, closing his eyes. "That I wouldn't mind seeing you in a sexy Santa outfit?"

Yuuki giggled, slapping his arm. "Kaname! I'm being serious here."

"Ah, yes…" He opened his eyes and gazed at her. "I told you we'd be all right and that I'd always be there for you."

"And you've been faithful to that promise ever since," she said softly, stroking his chin. "I used to… when we were separated, I'd think about that conversation. Sometimes I feel like it was the real start of our relationship. A small rupture in our bubble of 'professional relationship' before the big earthquake that was our separation. And then the healing part came, and we got together, healing each other's wounds and re-defining our relationship. We faced the Shizuka problem together, and now we're stronger than ever. That night… those words you said to me saved me. They stayed with me until this very day. Whenever I felt low about my dad or my mom, I'd always think about your promise. Everything would be all right. We'd make it through. And we did… and oh I'm so tired of crying in front of you!" She yelled, wiping her tears angrily.

"I also told you how I hated to see you cry," he chuckled, kissing her closed eyelids. "And that if I'd been with you, I would've wiped them away. Years later, I'm here, with you and I'm doing just that. So don't ever hold back on your emotions in front of me. I'll always be there for you no matter what."

She opened her eyes and gazed at him. "Ohh…" She whined. "You're too perfect! It's exasperating. Can't you at least have one flaw so I won't turn into jelly in front of you?"

"My only flaw is doing impulsive things like hiring the woman I'm in love with – other than that, there's not much you can pick on, unfortunately," he smirked, earning a giggle from her. "And since we're talking about my non-existent flaws, I also remember offering to make sweet, sweet love to you if you wanted it. And I do believe I've followed up that promise… though I'd like to follow it up again. And again. And again."

"There it is!" Yuuki said, pointing a finger at him. "Your flaw! You're a pervert!"

Kaname trailed his hands down her waist, squeezing her ass as he pulled her closer, earning a gasp from her. "Like I've stated many times before, Yuuki – you make me be this way. No one else. And besides, can you blame me? Look at you." His eyes darkened as he licked his lips, his hands running up and down her sides.

She blushed even though she was used to his advances. "Heh, you…"

"So adorable," Kaname whispered, rubbing her reddened cheek with his thumb.

"Ohh, whatever," she huffed, burying her face in his chest. Kaname chuckled in response, rubbing her back as he rested his chin on her head. "Oh don't be like that, Yuuki. We need to get going, you know?" He pulled back.

"Why?" She frowned.

"You have some packing to do," he smiled, all giddy and excited. "Since you're moving in and all."

"That's true," she nodded, releasing him from her grasp so he could gather his coat.

She watched him silently, a million emotions filtering through her body as her thoughts spun around. Finally they'd defeated Shizuka. Finally they were together – like they should've been from the very start – and there were no more obstacles in their path. Finally they could embark on their future together.

Her heart swelled in her chest as she studied him; adoring the way he so elegantly dressed himself like he was a runway model and not a businessman. The tips of his soft mahogany hair; his wonderful mouth that would curl into a smirk whenever he teased her; the width of his shoulders, the strength of his arms whenever he held her in his embrace; his emotive and wonderful eyes that looked at her with so much love and tenderness…. She loved all of it. Loved all of him.

How did I ever get this lucky to have you and call you mine? What did I do to deserve you?

Yes, he was ridiculously rich and unbearably gorgeous – but to her, he was so much more than that. He was her bestfriend and her lover; the one that was always there for her no matter what. No one knew him like she did; and secretly it thrilled her. She was the only one who was able to witness this side to him, and no one else.

"Hey, idiot boss," she said softly, watching as he paused and looked over at her.

"Yes?"

"I love you," she said, and for once he quieted, reading the intensity of her gaze. Somehow this confession meant a little more than the others, though he knew she loved him. It was something about the sincerity in her eyes and her slightly open mouth as she stared at him. She looked at him like he put the stars in the sky. And it felt so good.

"You have no idea how it feels to hear you say that, Yuuki," he said, walking over to her and putting her coat on her shoulders.

She reached up on her tip-toes and kissed him, her soft lips caressing his as he responded. He held her waist, pulling her close as they kissed.

They parted for air and looked at each. Yuuki reached up and stroked his chin lovingly, smiling as he leaned into her touch. "I love you too, Yuuki," he said softly.

She smiled and kissed him one more time. "Let's go home, Kaname."

A/N: Thanks for reading! Reviews are appreciated.