The next morning I woke up in a wonderful mood. Cramps subsided, no alarm clock to drag me out of bed, and when I looked out the window the sun was shining over the ocean and the sand- that was almost screaming an invitation to me.

And I'd remembered to put on that anti-zit cream last night, and so my two zits were practically dried off.

I sighed contentedly. I looked at the clock and was surprised to see it was only nine thirty (very early, considering my vacation sleeping habits), which meant that if I had a quick breakfast I could enjoy some sunbathing before lunch. Noel had disappeared to wherever, so I just put his food on his bowl. Then, I changed into the first bikini I found, threw on a pair of shorts and my Pink T-shirt and ran down to the kitchen.

I got a little lost at first, Kyoya's beach house -which is part of the Ootori's villa, and here I thought my Dad was cool because he keeps an apartment in Paris, pfft!—is enormous and beautiful, with high ceilings and long Victorian windows that let the sunshine sift in, pouring into the beautiful rooms and furniture.

Last night it looked like somewhere to kill someone by sucking their blood, but today, it looked like one of the nicest places I'd been in.

When I found the kitchen I also found the house cook, who was about six feet tall and didn't judge me when I said I just wanted a PopTart to go. In fact, and I seriously started to think my good mood was contagious, she even showed me the room where the beach chairs and beach balls and volleyball net were stored.

"And you don't have to worry about Master Kyoya, Kotoku-san," the cook said smiling, "He usually sleeps until lunchtime, and I'll call you when that's ready."

My good mood wavered just a little as she mentioned the guy that had been very rude the night before, but I forced it back into place, "Awesome." I said grinning, not bothering to tell her that Kyoya Ootori and worries were the last things on my mind.

My engagement was something that had been carefully stuffed in the back of my consciousness and wrapped around layers of denial. I knew that even though I could probably reach my goal with my project by the end of the summer vacation, the possibility of having to marry Kyoya was still there.

And I just couldn't deal with it.

I smeared myself with sunblock, took a beach chair, my iPod, towel, hat and sunglasses and before you could say "Your PopTart is ready, Kotoku-san." I was out in the sand listening to the ocean while soaking up the sunlight.

I left my iPod playing smooth tunes on my portable sound-speakers and before I knew it, I'd dozed off.

I woke up again with my cellphone ringing.

"Kotoku here." I sang.

"Hi!" Riko's voice shouted in my ear, "It's Yuriko!"

"I know, Riko-chan, what's up?"

"Chikako is also here!" Chika's voice sounded, "Izumi, too. You're on loudspeaker."

"We just called to, you know, see if you got there okay and all-" Izumi started.

"We want to know how your love retreat is going." Chika said bluntly.

I laughed, "It's not a love retreat, you idiots, it's…" I had to think about it, "more like a fancy kidnapping. But I'm loving it." I said smiling to the sun.

"Kyaah! OmigodOmigodOmigod! Have you guys kissed?" Riko demanded about two octaves higher than her usual tone of voice.

My mood was being dangerously threatened now, "What? No! Of course not!" then an unwelcome memory popped back, the two-second kiss at the Grand Fleur.

"Has he told you he likes you?" Izumi asked.

"Wha-"

"Ugh! What are you waiting for, Risa?" Chika interrupted, "I mean, you're gonna marry this guy, you need to know if he's a good kisser or not so one of us can yell 'I object' at your wedding."

I hadn't had the heart to tell my friends about the deal Kyoya and I had made. They were already bummed that I wasn't acting like happy bride-to-be, I couldn't tell them that I was betting on not being a bride at all. "You guys, I appreciate the concern but there's no way I'm laying my lips on Kyoya." Weeeell… No! Definitely no.

"Why not?" Izumi asked.

"Because he's a big fat jerk." I said, feeling that my mood had definitely been damaged.

"Ooh, so he's not boring anymore…" Chika said.

"I sense evolution." Riko added.

"You guys are hopeless." I sighed, "Listen." I lifted the cellphone from my ear and held it above me for a couple of seconds, "You hear that? That is the beautiful sound of peace and quiet, and the main reason I'm enjoying it, is because Kyoya Ootori is still in his bed unconscious."

"You didn't kill him, did you, Risa-chan?" Izumi asked.

"No, I did not." Not yet.

"Is something burning?" Chika asked suddenly.

"My cupcakes!" Riko screeched.

There was a commotion and I was about to hang up and notify the fire department when Izumi stopped me.

"Relax, it's just a joke. Chika just ran after her to take a picture of her face. Riko-chan's been so worried about being a perfect wife for her boyfriend that's she's been experimenting in the kitchen for a while now."

I had to laugh at Chika's mischievousness, "Man, Riko's gonna kill her."

"Hey, Risa-chan?" Izumi started shyly.

"Yeah?"

She hesitated, "Nothing."

"Izumi, I've known you since you were five, I'll drag it out of you, you know I will."

She sighed, "Fine. It's just that I sort of knew Kyoya when I was in high school. And I thought you should know that he's a nice guy."

"Whoa, hang on a minute, Zumi," I sat up, calling her by her childhood nickname, "You're telling me you were in the same class as Ootori?"

"No, we were in different classes."

"So how did you know him? Were you two friends? I mean, you're calling him Kyoya."

"No, no, we weren't friends." She started to sound nervous, "I-I just sort of knew him."

"Zumi, I need dirt on this guy. Was there ever a secret fight? Did he have two girlfriends at the same time?"

"Aaah! I don't know! I don't know! He's just nice, okay?" She was definitely nervous now. And for reasons I couldn't imagine.

"Izumi, what's wrong?"

Then screaming and laughing slowly gained volume on the other line and I could hear Chika's laughter followed by Riko's roaring, "GIVE ME THAT IPHONE, CHIKAKO!"

There was thud.

"Oh, my God. Now they're wrestling. I have to go Risa-chan." I couldn't help but feel she sounded a little relieved at that, "Somebody's gotta be the voice of reason in this group. Bye!"

I stared at the phone a few minutes, digesting what I'd heard.

Izumi never lied. And I considered her a good judge in character. But I couldn't wrap my head around the fact that she thought Kyoya Ootori was nice.

O0o0o0o0o0o0o0ooo0o0

"Your cat was in my bed this morning." Kyoya informed me, obviously irritated by that.

Noel, who was now dancing around my feet hoping for a piece of steak, didn't seem the least bit bothered that he'd betrayed me, with Kyoya, no less.

"He did?" I asked distractedly, not looking at him at all. the minute I'd seen him the whole offensive "I didn't mean to touch you" rushed my anger right back in me.

"This isn't some all-expenses paid vacation, Kotoku." Kyoya told me in his firm velvet voice.

"Mm-hm…" I said, selecting a breadstick from the basket in front of me. I'd had the bad-luck of being fifteen minutes late for lunch. All I'd wanted was to shower and apply lotion to my body before sitting down to eat properly. I didn't count on Kyoya waking up sooner than that and catching me red-handed.

"In case you've forgotten, you're here on business." He adjusted his glasses, "You have a month to finish your program and I suggest you establish a daily routine for full productivity."

My phone beeped and I took it out, I giggled when I saw that Chikako had sent me a picture of Riko's pissed off face.

"Are you listening?" Kyoya demanded.

I finally looked at him. Truth be told, I was a little shocked at what I saw.

"You look like shit." Worse than yesterday, might I add. His hair was badly combed, he was pale and looked exhausted. Actually his cheeks looked a little flushed. But that may be due to the fact that he looked like he was about to kill me.

"You are impossible." He said savagely.

I was surprised at how bothered I was about that, how he looked, not his comment, of course. For the past two years of my life I've been working on distancing myself from people, until then I was always too trusting and eager to make new friends for my own good. Caring about why Kyoya looked like he hadn't slept in three days shouldn't be something to feel. Especially since he was being such a jerk.

Then again, I thought, reasoning, he is my business partner. I don't want him having a nervous breakdown right before we launch the project.

I sighed and extended my hand, "Give me your hand." I ordered.

He frowned, "What for?"

"Just give it!" I grabbed his hand, "This is one of the few worthy tricks I learned in a special class in karate." I said, finding the exact place to pinch in between his thumb and index finger.

I saw his face relax the tiniest bit.

"My headache…" he said.

"Better?" I smiled knowingly.

He nodded and closed his eyes.

I kept the light pressure and caught myself being fascinated by his face. He really was very handsome. In a way, the nightmare my life had become was something of a fairy tale (the original, twisted ones, of course), I mean, I was being forced to marry a super rich, cute guy.

I had a better cut in life than most, that's for sure.

Then, just as I was pulling that thought back into its Denial Wrap, my hand (out of its own free will) reached up and touched Kyoya's face.

His eyes shot open.

"What are you doing?"

I pulled my hand back as if I'd been shocked. "You're burning up." I said, a beat too late and trying to ignore my own burning cheeks.

He sighed and shook his head, "I'm fine."

"No, you're not." I said, "You should get back in bed." I was serious, I could still feel his heat on my palm, and his face was still red.

"I'm not letting you out of my sight. Have you done anything on the project today?"

"No." I admitted, "But that's just because someone didn't give me their Wi-fi password."

He leaned ran his fingers through his hair and sighed, "Why didn't you tell me?"

"It's a program that depends on a Wi-fi signal to send personalized messages to mobile 3G and 4G technology." I reminded him, "I didn't think I'd have to spell it out." Again I looked at him worriedly, "You need to put on a fever patch."

"What I need," he said, "Is not to be forced down the aisle a month from now." But his posture wobbled. Damn, I thought, he's so stubborn, he must be feeling worse than he looks.

I sighed and stood up, "I want to get married as much as you do, doke, but I need you in good health to sign our contract. Come on."

"I said, I'm fin-" he was interrupted by his own coughing fit. I placed a hand on his back, patting gently. I couldn't help it, I may have been able to suppress my need to make friends with the world, but helping others in need I just couldn't ignore.

I took Kyoya's arm and made him get up, then placed his arm around my shoulders for support.

The cook came in just then, with a face so pale I was sure that she thought Kyoya had died choking on her breadsticks.

"Hi," I said lamely, guiding Kyoya away from his chair, "He's sick. Do you mind making him a stew and telling me where your medicine cabinet is?"

"Of course! Right away! I'll bring the medicine myself, Kotoku-san." And she efficiently went back into the kitchen.

Kyoya sighed, "You are so meddlesome."

"I'm only trying to help, you ungrateful doke!"

"I never asked you to help me." He said, obviously trying not to put so much weight on me. "I don't know what you expect to gain from this."

"I don't expect anything." I retorted, "Would it really shock you so much to realize that I might just be nice?"

He was quiet for a while so I looked up at him. "Yes." He answered, his dark eyes practically seeing through me.

Ouch! "You know, I think you're taking our honesty clause a bit too seriously."

I was surprised to hear him laughing, his throaty, evil laugh, "You thought that was for your benefit?" he asked.

I said nothing. Clearly, I'd been wrong.

"Where are you taking me?" he asked suddenly, his voice hoarse.

"To your bed, you might stay there for a couple of days." Where you won't pester me all the time.

"Fine, but you're coming with me."

I almost, almost, choked on my own spit. Did he just ask me to go to bed with him? "Beg 'pardon?"

He rolled his eyes, "And take your notebook with you, I want to see you working, toroi."

My face was burning with embarrassment. He'd obviously understood what I'd misunderstood.

We walked in silence after that. With that honesty clause being so faithfully followed it was really hard for me to ignore the possibility of marrying Kyoya. And I just might've started to resent him for that.

I left him in his bed and went to fetch my notebook. When I got back he was already lying down, fever patch in place.

Man, I need that cook.

I sat next to him on the bed (it was king size, I kept a safe distance from His Highness) and started to set everything up. He gave me the password (a mix of numbers and symbols and letters that I couldn't believe he had memorized by heart) and soon enough my program was synching with the Wi-fi.

I programmed it to beep when it was done and jumped out of the bed and headed to the door.

"Excuse me? Where exactly do you think you're going?" Kyoya asked sarcastically.

For a second I felt like lying and saying I was going to the bathroom just to see his self-righteousness puff away. But his bedroom was a suite and that would've made no sense.

"It should take three to five hours for the program to synch with your Wi-fi. I'm going to eat my lunch and take a swim after that, or maybe watch TV. Haven't really decided." I said matter-of factly.

He glared at me, I held my stance firm, "Weren't you listening? I said I don't want you out of my sight. From now on I want you working where I can see you."

I crossed my arms, "No. You've been nothing but rude to me ever since we got here. I realize that it's our best interest to be honest with one another, so you can criticize how I act, dress and even think. But you're not going to tell me what to do and when to do it."

Someone cleared her throat quietly. I turned to see the cook at the door holding a tray of what looked like some really tasty soup.

Embarrassedly I made way for her. She placed the tray on Kyoya's lap and left the room with her head down. The silence that followed felt heavy.

"You think I don't trust you." He said suddenly. I looked up and was trapped under his gaze.

I scoffed, "Well yeah-"

"You're wrong." He interrupted calmly, "I don't make decisions lightly, Kotoku. Choosing you and your project was the result of months of research and analyzing. I know that in a month's time that project will be ready to be shown to your board of directors. And consequently, result in a good deal between both our companies."

My face felt hot. Heck, I felt hot all over. I couldn't believe what I was hearing. He trusted me. He wasn't just seeing what he could get from me before he jumped out, he really thought I was capable of holding up my end of the deal.

I was so shocked at that, that I literally had no reaction. Other than turning as red as a tomato.

"I just want to keep an eye on you so I can accompany the process." He pushed up his glasses.

I walked back to the bed, "You're not lying." I asked cautiously.

"No." he said, tiredly.

So like an obedient little puppy, I sat back down on the bed and hugged my legs. I checked my monitor, only 1% had synched.

"Quit smiling so much." Kyoya said next to me. I hadn't even noticed, but yes, I was beaming. No one had any idea how much that trust meant to me.

Maybe because of that trust, or maybe because he and I had made it clear beforehand that our relationship was founded solely on our business interests, or maybe because I was pretty sure he was sick because he'd stayed in the rain looking for my cat—currently snuggled next to him—but I was getting the (somewhat unwelcome) feeling that I would soon consider Kyoya Ootori my friend. The old part of me that loved making friends was rejoicing at this, but mostly I felt that I had to be more cautious with him than ever.

"Thank you." I managed to mumble, however, "For trusting me."

He didn't answer and when I looked at him he'd fallen asleep. I rolled my eyes and took the tray back to the kitchen where I had my own lunch.

Around three o'clock, my CSI marathon (watching on his bed, on notebook, with earphones) was interrupted by a cell phone ringing. Worried that Kyoya would wake up I grabbed the phone from the nightstand and answered it quickly.

"Um, hello?" I said in a hushed tone.

"Kyoya? Where are you? This is ridiculous, we're all worried about you!" the male voice on the other end was yelling.

"Sorry," I said, my voice still low, "This is Risa, Ootori can't come to the phone right now."

Silence.

Then pandemonium settled and there was muffled yelling on the other end. I imagined the guy had his hand over the mouthpiece of his phone. Then he hung up.

I looked at the phone dubiously.

Kyoya sure knew some strange people.

Ha! Little did I know.

A/N: Hi! Am currently sending this on a borrowed notebook with my cell phone exactly 30 degrees north as a portable Wi-fi signal. The only made-up part in that sentence is the degrees.

Extra long chapter since I don't know when I'll have the sweet taste of internet again. I hope you're all enjoying it and that you will also enjoy the way the story will unravel.

Ah, yes, and happy holidays and a happy new year for all of you! ;]

Response to reviews:

Extended Experience:Lol. I actually relate . More than once have I needed something that had more emotion than action. There's a good book called The Smoke Jumper that's pretty angsty if you're interested.

Kamili: Yay! \o/ Will do, don't worry. I've got the rest of the story pretty much all set up in my head, but it's amazing how many changes I've already made from when I started. Thank you very much for your support!

etzelg: You, darling reviewer, have already asked that. I'm positive. Yes, patience. You see, they sort of already showed at the end of this chapter! XP

Guest: Oh, stop it, you! *-* But, seriously, it means a lot. Thank you very much. And, can you believe Noel wasn't in my first ideas for this story? Came in last minute. Well, as to what will go down at the beach house, it's not so much that I can't tell you, so much as I don't want to (personally, I hate spoilers), so just keep reading!