Hello, all, thanks so much for the reviews! Sorry for the absence, as usual. Life is absurd, as usual. Maybe I should watch the Ouran anime for the 32nd time. Sounds like a good idea.

Shigeo kept true to his word. No matter if it was to see her grandparents or her friends, Kosuke was seldom let outside of her cage.

Only when her name was on an invitation would freedom be ensured. It was hardly ever a reprieve, as most of the affair would be spent impressing vaguely-acquainted CEOs and their even more vaguely-acquainted family, but she was bitterly thankful for whatever crumbs she got. Especially since her friends were certain to be there to give her a break from all the impressing with attempts to raise her spirits.

Shigeo was not as strict when it came to the children, logically so. I can't come tonight, I'm sorry; I'm assisting with a business matter would be a strange response for a nine-year-old to give to a sleepover invitation. Their field trips and play dates went untouched, but seeing the Amida heiress and her two half-siblings at the same place become an even greater rarity than it already was.

Kosuke and Kyoya were both pleased, and highly amused, when the birthday party for the nine-turning-ten-year-old son of one of Shigeo's business friends invited the children and Kosuke both. The children because despite them being the scandalous offspring of Shigeo Amida's ex-wife's second marriage with a mere cook, they were also delightfully kind and fun and loved by children across all grades. Kosuke because the birthday boy adored the onigiri she would sometimes send with the children to share with their classmates.

The party would end up being a treat for Kyoya, too. He now watches everyone fawn over the children and admire his fiancee's culinary prowess. He feels as though he's showing them off.

When Kosuke is promoted from cook to party guest, she joins Kyoya on one of the satiny chairs that had been spread out across the lawn. Kyoya had seen the perplexed look on her face when they'd arrived. Half of the Ryos's massive lawn was peppered with bouquet-topped tables and a champagne tower, while the other half was filled with castle spires and horses and actors in real chain-mail. Kosuke is now giving the same look back at the catering tables, where her onigiri is laid out alongside the amuse-bouche.

"Do you know of many ten-years-olds who like escargot?" she asks him.

Kyoya answers, "I was partial to it when I was ten."

"Of course you were." Kosuke shakes her head and watches the children for a bit. Hitsuji is with one group of children, slaying one of the actors with their little swords. Minami is atop a gorgeous painter horse being led by reins around a wide, fenced ring. Then Kosuke asks, with no prelude, "Did you ever have an imaginary friend growing up?"

Kyoya looks over at her and finds a thoughtful expression on her face. "Not that I recall. Did you?"

"I'd throw some tea parties with my stuffed animals. Oh, and I had an imaginary boyfriend when I was ten. His name was Sebastian. He was really tall and buff and was a movie star-slash-veterinarian."

"Are you trying to make me jealous?"

She pretends to hold up her hands in defense then continues a bit more seriously, "Hitsuji has an imaginary friend now."

"Does he?"

"Yep. He—Oh, wait here. Hitsuji! Come here just a second."

Hitsuji had been charging back to the castle, but he reluctantly changes directions. Kosuke has to flip up the little face-guard on his knight's helm to see his eyes. His face is flushed from his hard work as a protector of the pretend kingdom.

"Hey," says Kosuke, "tell Kyoya about your new friend. I know you want to."

Nodding, Hitsuji turns to Kyoya and says very matter-of-fact, "His name is Spike."

"And where is Spike from?" Kosuke coaxes.

"Everywhere. But I met him at the park."

"And what does Spike do?"

"He's a ringleader. He's in charge of the lions."

Kyoya nods and hums. Fascinating. "Spike sounds very impressive."

Hitsuji looks to Kosuke, who explains that 'impressive' means 'cool,' and he replies, "I guess. Can I go play more?"

"Yeah, go on." Just as Hitsuji turns, Kosuke says, "Wait, wait, what do you have on your face?"

"What?"

"Right here." Kosuke points at his nose. Hitsuji tries crossing his eyes to look.. "You have something on your—Pfblt!" She gives his nose a little pinch and blows a raspberry, and Hitsuji cackles. "Alright, ser Hitsuji, back to your kingdom."

He takes off fast enough to tear the grass up. Kosuke's brow furrows. "Huh. Usually I can't get him to stop talking about it."

"How long has Spike been around?"

"About a week, maybe? He won't draw anything but Spike now. He has really big sunglasses and can shoot fire from his hands, apparently."

"Now you sound jealous. Is something wrong?"

"No, I just think it's curious." Kosuke leans closer to him. A lock of her hair falls out from behind her ear and brushes his shoulder. "Airi and Sugimoto brought the kids to the park the other day, and Hitsuji says he 'met' Spike there. I'm thinking maybe some kind told him about imaginary friends? I mean, I can't blame him. I'd love to be friends with a ringleader who's also a wrestler and a spy and a racecar driver who can do magic and has an army of ninjas."

"Spike sounds like a good friend to make up. Better than Sebastian."

"He was my first love, Kyoya. I can't just forget him." Kosuke's eyes rake over the party, and she jumps out of her chair. "Ooh, that must be the caterer who made the mignonette. I have to talk to him—be right back."

She hurries off as fast as her kitten heels will allow. It would mean that Kyoya must return to socializing, but he is saved by a knight in shining armor. Plastic for safety reasons, but still shining.

The little boy tries to flip up the face-guard that won't stay put. Kyoya thinks he's Shusaku Ryo, the birthday boy, based on the bushy brows and round hazel eyes all the Ryos share.

"King Hitsuji is summoning you to the castle."

Who is Kyoya to deny royalty? Shusaku leads him to the castle and knocks on the moat door with the end of his rubber spear. It thunks onto the trimmed grass. Hitsuji stands on the other side with his chin high, plastic helm replaced with a crown that may or may not be real gold.

He says nothing, however, and after a moment Shusaku nudges Kyoya's knee. "You have to kneel and say 'your majesty.'"

He does, not without some worry about his slacks getting dirty. A few of the attendees look his way with amusement and judgment alike. Trying to make a child happy. What horror.

"Your majesty."

Hitsuji takes off the crown. "Okay. Thanks, Shusaku."

"No problem, your majesty. Can I go play swords now?"

"Yeah."

It isn't until Shusaku has walked out of sight that Hitsuji finally speaks—and even then, it's in a grave whisper. "I have to tell you something."

"I'm listening."

"But it's a secret. You have to promise not to tell anyone. You can't tell Kosuke."

Kyoya hums like a warning. "Is it a bad secret? Is something wrong?"

"No, it's just a secret."

"Alright, then." Kyoya wraps his pinky around Hitsuji's in an oath. "What is it?"

"Spike wants to meet you."

"Why don't you want Kosuke to know that?"

Even though they stand so close, Hitsuji refuses to meet his eyes. "Spike doesn't want to meet her and I don't want to hurt her feelings."

"Oh, I see. Do you know why?"

He shakes his head. "I don't know; he just doesn't."

Kyoya can see why Kosuke would find this just a tad worrisome, but she had let it go easily enough, so Kyoya will do the same. It's not as though he knows Hitsuji better than she does. "Then let me introduce myself. Where is Spike?"

"He's not here. He's at the park."

"Mm, we can't go to the park now. Maybe some other day."

"That's okay. Spike's always at the park. But we have to go soon."

"You have my word."

Hitsuji brings up Spike several times after that, always with a cautious look at Kosuke and a knowing one at Kyoya. Kyoya gets to see the pictures and confirms that Spike does indeed have some very impressive sunglasses.

Kyoya is never denied entry to the Amida mansion, though he tries not to go too often, lest Shigeo realize he's saying Either you let Kosuke out, or I'm coming in. If the children are there, they'll pull out a board game or watch a movie, or Kyoya will be introduced to one of their creative made-up games. For example, 'Antidote', where one person is 'dying' and the players have three chances to find and bring them the 'antidote' (some random object in the mansion) based on some vague hints. It's a bit like 'I Spy,' but with the very real threat of death.

If the children are gone, then Kyoya and Kosuke may study for her classes, or they'll talk about their families and the future and the past. Or maybe they'll just read, or Kosuke will try to show him how to make something in the kitchen.

The privacy also gives plenty opportunities to kiss, and Kyoya will be equally embarrassed and impressed that Kosuke is much better at it than he is. The glow on her cheeks afterwards is also an ego boost, however.

It's about two weeks after Shusaku Ryo's party, and Kyoya is at the Amida mansion again, exhausted from a long night of working but still pleased to be there. It's not Kosuke awaiting him in the lobby as usual, but Hitsuji, holding a silver-and-purple robot toy with both hands. "Minami has an upper res-pa-tory infection."

"Is she upstairs?" Hitsuji nods. "Want to take me to her?"

While they're ascending the stairs, Hitsuji informs him that 'upper res-pa-tory infection' is what doctors say instead of 'cold'. And that they call a fever 'pie-rax-eye-uh'.

In the children's bedroom, Minami is perched on the side of the bed while Kosuke kneels before her, a small flashlight in one hand and a Popsicle stick in the other. She's grimacing as Minami goes ahh. "Sorry, kiddo. Doctor it is."

Minami groans and protests in a raspy voice, "I don't like that doctor. He's mean. And he's got hair in his nose."

"Just because he doesn't give you a lollipop when he's done doesn't mean he's mean. And everyone's got hair in their nose. Even you."

Horrified, Minami rushes to the bathroom mirror. Curious, Hitsuji joins her. Kosuke uses the phone to summon the doctor to the mansion, and afterwards confesses to Kyoya, "Still not used to having the doctor come to us."

Minami emerges from the bathroom with her hands over her nose.

"Minami. It's normal."

"No it's not."

Kyoya ventures, "A cold?"

"Upper respiratory infection," Hitsuji corrects from the bathroom.

Kosuke shrugs. "Dunno. She definitely has a sore throat, though."

"Pharyn-gitus!"

From the corner of her mouth, Kosuke explains to Kyoya, "A doctor visited their classroom the other day and taught them all some new words."

"Food poisoning is called gastro-enter-itus. And a bruise is called echa-mow-sus. And farting is called flatulence."

"Yes, Hitsuji, thank you. Anyway. I don't think you should stay today, Kyoya." Kosuke is already fluffing up the pillows and tucking in the blankets around Minami, who still refuses to show her weird hairy nose. "I'm going to be on nurse duty, and I don't want you getting sick, too."

"'Doodie' is called 'fee—'"

"Yes, Hitsuji." He suddenly zips out of the bathroom, looking frantic. "We know what 'gluteal' means, too."

Hitsuji ignores her for Kyoya, grabbing and tugging on his hand while his feet shuffle in place. "Can we go to the park?"

"I've got to stay with Minami, buddy."

"Can we go to the park? Me and Kyoya? Please?"

Hitsuji looks up at Kyoya very expectantly. Kyoya remembers the promise he'd made, and his curiosity is piqued. He'd expected Hitsuji to have forgotten about Spike by now, as he and most children tend to do, obsessions forgotten as quickly as they'd come. This Spike must be very important, if Hitsuji's been waiting two whole weeks for Kyoya to meet him.

Kosuke seems none the wiser. She only gives Kyoya a reluctant look, as she still does whenever the children ask anything of him. Kyoya hopes she'll stop one day.

"That's fine with me."

Before he's even finished, Hitsuji runs off to find his shoes. Kosuke calls after him, "Remember the rules! Stick to Kyoya and do what he says!"

The Minami-shaped lump under the bedsheets squirms. Kosuke sighs. "I shouldn't have said anything."

Hitsuji spends the whole ride to the park on the edge of his seat. His nose leaves smudges on the window. To pass the time, he talks about Spike, like how Spike can read minds, and how Spike owns a lot of hotels and restaurants and even arcades, and how Spike is a magician who can pull rabbits from hats and make people disappear and 'do that thing where he picks out the same card you did'.

Kosuke always lets the children bring a few toys with them to the park, on the condition they don't get lost. Hitsuji only brings his robot, who is named Robot, short for Robotson. Kyoya has picked up that Hitsuji will sometimes pick a toy to cling to for a few days, but Robot must be making some kind of record.

"Where'd Robot come from? Was he a birthday gift?"

"No, Spike gave him to me."

"Ah—he did?"

"Yeah. He said it's because I'm cool."

It puzzles Kyoya, sure, but no need to sound the alarms. Probably Hitsuji found the toy abandoned at the playground and wanted a cooler, Spikier backstory for it. Jin had told Kyoya once that when she was younger, Fuyumi had been at the home of one of her playmates and found a doll that had slipped behind a nightstand, so forgotten it was dusty. She took it and kept it a secret for all of two days before she confessed to Jin like a hell-fearing sinner to a priest.

There's no sunglasses-wearing lion-tamer in sight once they get there, but Hitsuji looks hard. Children are laughing and running about, but Hitsuji ignores every swing and slide. He even says no thank you when a kid asks if he wants to join a game of tag.

"Here." Hitsuji pats a bench. "You sit here and I'm going to go look for Spike."

"Yes, sir."

So he sits, and Hitsuji walks off. First he goes past the seesaws, then the jungle gym, then he's off the wood chips and into the grass. The children are behind him and the trees are ahead. His neck is craning and his sneakers are going on tip-toes. Now he has Kyoya anticipating Spike to come crawling out from the bushes, giant sunglasses and ringleader top hat and all.

When Hitsuji's knees touch bush branches, Kyoya stands to call out to him, but Hitsuji stops and waits for far too long. Even I wasn't THIS patient as a child, thinks Kyoya, right before Hitsuji turns and waves for him.

Humoring his little brother-in-law was what brought Kyoya here, but confusion is what has him crossing the playground. Perhaps Spike will be one of those imaginary friends made from inanimate objects, an obscure face in the bark of a tree, or a neat rock.

Kyoya is beckoned even further still. The bushes are sparse enough to walk through, but thick enough to make Kyoya consider telling Hitsuji that this is going too far. Still, curiosity stops him.

They step into a pocket-sized glade with leaves stuck to their pants legs. Then Hitsuji finally calls, "Hey, Spike! Here he is."

Spike does come crawling from the bushes.

Kyoya's blood to ice—because Spike is a man.

He is a real, breathing, older man, in slacks that are too big and a dress shirt that's too tight. His thin, dark hair is soaked in gel. Hitsuji's renditions of him were not far off. The man's large sunglasses give black reflections of Hitsuji expectantly rocking on his heels and Kyoya bristling like a cat.

What the hell?

"Hey, there," the man drawls. Even his voice sounds greasy. "Glad you could make it. I've been looking forward to meeting you. Here, little man. Gimme some."

He holds out his hand for Hitsuji to slap in a low-five. It's just an instant, but at the same time their palms smack together, Kyoya is pushing Hitsuji behind him. Don't touch him.

Kyoya's system is overloaded with adrenaline. He can only think of so many reasons as to why this strange man has sought out a seven-year-old boy. This little patch of trees is secluded enough for their conversation, but not enough for Spike to try anything without being noticed. Silver linings.

It's not that Spike scares Kyoya. Kyoya doesn't have to be a martial arts wonder like the Zukas to take on a man with the build of a wilted weed. But Kyoya is afraid of what Spike is. He's afraid of what he has been planning to do and what has already been done.

But then, this isn't about Hitsuji, is it?

"Spike, Spike," Hitsuji urges, "Show Kyoya the trick you do with the cards!"

"Oh, yeah. Hold on." Spike digs through his pockets and pulls out a deck of playing cards. He spreads them out in a fan and holds them before Kyoya's eyes. "Pick a card, any card."

Of course, Kyoya ignores it. He puts a hand on Hitsuji's shoulder, tempted to push him back screaming go go go, but only giving him a nudge. He has to stay calm. Hitsuji can't see him scared. "You go back to the playground for a bit so I can talk to Spike."

He's young, yes, but Hitsuji isn't young enough not to see the neon tension that has settled in the glade. The excitement for the cards has fizzled out and left him looking between the two men. "What's wrong?"

"Nothing is wrong. I just want to get to know Spike."

Spike flits the cards together again and jerks his chin towards the playground. "Go on, kiddo. I'm excited to talk to my new friend."

Though not without some hesitation, Hitsuji obeys. Spike waits until he's dangling from the monkey bars as though he wants Kyoya to see how happy and healthy Hitsuji is before they get to business. "Let's have a seat, eh? I imagine this is going to take a minute."

From the bench he leads them to, Kyoya can still keep an eye on Hitsuji. He's joined two other boys on the swing-set, and the three of them are trying to rise and fall in sync. The edges of Spike's smile push up his sunglasses just so.

"I hope getting here wasn't too much trouble for you. Kind of hard to relay details to a kid and make him pinky-swear to secrecy—"

"Just get to the point."

"Alright, alright. Have some patience; you sound like your girlfriend." Kyoya's eyes snap to him, and Spike shrugs a shoulder. "Mm, getting a little ahead of myself. Let me explain."

Spike crosses his legs and stretches his arms across the back of the bench. Kyoya inches forward on his seat. He refuses to let this bastard so much as graze him.

"A few years ago, this guy comes in to my office, right? Real nice, says he's in some trouble and he'd heard that maybe I could help. He has this business that's doing nice but not nice enough, and he's got three kids relying on him. One's nearing college-age. He needs to nip the problem in the bud before they're all in the red. So I decide to help him out. We set the terms, we make a contract—"

"I know who you are."

Spike hums, pleased. "How about you tell me who you think I am, just to make sure we're on the same page?"

"You're a loan shark who gave a loan to Marti Nakahara. He died before the loan was paid off, so you demanded that his daughter pay the rest for him even though she'd just lost both of her parents and had two children to take care of. She refused, so you damaged her property, then the property of her employer to threaten her—"

"Okay, time out, there." Spike signs a T with his hands. "I never threatened anyone, and I certainly didn't break anyone's things."

"Meaning, you hired someone to do it for you."

"I just asked an associate to help me in conveying how important having my money returned to me was."

Kyoya nearly counters that given the sum, Marti probably "returned" the money a long time ago and the rest was just the criminal interest rate, but it would be stupidly pointless. As if Spike is going to say you're right, my bad at any point in this conversation.

"Now, as for the timing, that's not on me. I can't put my whole business on hold just because one of my clients is having a bad—"

Kyoya holds up a hand. "Before we go any further, how did you plan this?"

Spike's head tilts at Kyoya's naivete. "I don't think I know what you mean."

"I know why you chose to go through Hitsuji, but you still relied on a little boy to get me here. He could have told Kosuke, or not mention you at all to anyone. He doesn't have any phone for you to contact him with, let alone find out when he'd be coming back, and you couldn't 'convey the importance' too much or he'd be too scared to ever approach again. Sounds like you were depending on happenstance."

"But it worked, didn't it?" Spike gives him a jolly nudge on his shoulder, then holds up a hand at the look it gets him. "Alright, fine, I'll admit it was a toss-up. But it was just Plan A, and I had to get creative. Your girlfriend isn't very accessible nowadays, what with all the gates and security guards and whatever. Once she or the tots are outside the house, though, it gets a little easier. Still not accessible, but easier to keep track of."

"Is there a reason you told Hitsuji to get me, or was that some more creativity on your part?"

"Having him tell Big Sister was my first thought." Now dangling from the monkey bars, Hitsuji glances over at them. Spike waves. "I figured this new setup she has going for her would run offtrack if her hubby or daddy or...eh, really anyone who knew her found out we had business. It'd be a reminder to keep it discreet like last time. Then I thought, why not just skip to Step Two? Since you two are a package deal now, her business is your business, and her reputation is yours, too. It really only seemed fair."

It's not a whole answer. Was telling Kyoya just supposed to put more pressure on Kosuke, or does twice the people mean twice the profit?

Kyoya takes his gaze off Spike and watches Hitsuji. One of his new friends is struggling to swing from one bar to the next, so Hitsuji has his arms wrapped around one his legs in meager support. "You want more money."

"Now, I wouldn't put it all blase like that." When Kyoya's fingers twitch, he reminds himself that there are too many witnesses around. And children. "Look at it from my point of view. Your client dies with a debt unpaid, that's already unfair, right? You need the money back, but you decide to cut his daughter some slack by ending the interest. Then you find out that she's moved into this fancy mansion with butlers and maids, probably having someone else brush her teeth for her, and she's going to own this huge hospital company or whatever that's going to have her swimming in cash for the rest of her days. After all the fuss she made about paying in the first place!"

"So you want more money."

"I think it only makes sense that I reinstate the interest. I run a business; I can't just go handing out favors to people who really don't need them."

Kyoya nods. "I'm sure it also only makes sense that that interest rate go up in proportion to her new 'setup.'"

"I heard you were a smart one, but you really are three steps ahead. Hat's off to you, sir."

While Hitsuji and his buddies run to the merry-go-round, Kyoya rests his elbows on his knees and thinks again that it really is a nice day, too nice for all of this. "With circumstances being so different this time, how will you convey the importance of repaying the debt if she doesn't do it quickly enough?"

"Oh, it's actually much simpler this time. I really don't think she'll need any encouragement, but hypothetically...There's nothing I hate more than people who do bad business, you know? I mean, this is a tough job I have here, and there's so many people out there who will cheat and lie and just try to screw you out of every last coin in your pocket. I don't want those people getting any business, so when I found out what they're doing, I let everyone know to avoid them. Reputation is very important; I'm sure you know."

He does. Would it be the worst thing to come to light about one of high society's own members? No, but it would still be a giant black stain on Kosuke's character. Kyoya can see it now: the invitations to balls and parties stopping cold, people avoiding her gaze as she walks past, turning away when she comes too close—the same to anyone who stays at her side.

"That doesn't mean you'd get the money."

"No, I'd still get it. I'd just be giving her a grace period first. But I'd still get the money." Spike snorts. "I don't think you realize just how many associates I have."

Kyoya can't give him the satisfaction of looking around the park, but he can wonder who is really just a parent bringing their child to a fun day at the park and who isn't.

"I'm thinking somewhere in the ballpark of a million yen a week? We can work out the details, I just think we ought to get the ball rolling."

It takes some effort, because the man is hideous with smugness, but Kyoya turns to face him and meets his eyes through his sunglasses.

"Let me ask you something."

"Of course." Spike waves him on. "Right into action, I love it."

"Are you stupid?"

Spike's smirk visibly rots, but doesn't fall. He's clearly dealt with the pious just as much as the petulant. "Now, I don't think that's any way to talk to a fellow businessman."

"It's the only explanation that I can come up with for why you're sitting here right now. That, or you're lazy."

"Lazy?" Agitation is starting to tighten Spike's jaw, but so too does curiosity push his eyebrows up. "How's that?"

"Since good business is so important to you, allow me to give you some advice: if you're going to make a pitch, do some research into the investors first. If you had, you might have presumed that this would be far from the first time my family, or any other that I know, has been threatened for money. It happens on a daily basis. Millions of yen for a scratched car, copyright infringement because a business name shares one character with another's, even alleged affair children demanding hush money.

Usually a decent lawyer or a counter-suit takes care of it in a month or so, but I think it's only fair that a man of your practices has a proportionate approach taken. For example, investigators who, just based on your physical appearance and your relative location in Karuizawa, will be able to find out what your name is and where your office is. Then collecting the evidence of all these helpful loans you've given people, of which I'm sure there will be plenty, may take another day. After that, I'd say that it would be three days before you're arrested. Should you go to trial, the sheer amount of evidence against you would make it so open-and-shut you might not even sit before you're sentenced.

You could let the world know how you and Kosuke know each other, but given that you'll be in a cell by the end of the week, I doubt anyone is going to give it much mind. It wouldn't matter, anyway, since you would certainly not be getting your money.

Also, had you done your research, you would have learned that the Ootori family has a highly-trained private police force. All of this to say, I'm going to have to say no to your offer."

Spike's attempt not to react achieves the exact opposite. Kyoya watches him turn to stone inch-by-inch, until he's sitting on a bench with a statue. Hitsuji and his friends have moved on to the merry-go-round, screaming in delight and terror as the world spins around them.

Finally Spike clears his throat. Twice. "I think there's been a misunderstanding."

"I don't." Kyoya takes a glimpse at his wristwatch. "Is there anything else you'd like to talk about?"

"You know what? Let's just forget this ever happened. It's on me, I shouldn't have tried to change the terms all of a sudden like that. I'll go and leave you be and we'll just put this whole stink behind us."

His terror wrapped in a thin layer of bravado has the corners of Kyoya's mouth ticking up. "Putting this behind us stopped being an option when you first threatened my family all those years ago. Do feel free to walk away, though. It won't make any difference now."

Spike spends a whole three minutes rifling through any more tricks up his sleeves. The merry-go-round slows to a stop, and the boys crawl off with nauseated giggles. There's a girl, maybe twelve, pushing her little sister on the swings. Higher, higher, she's crying, but her sister can't even reach her anymore.

When at last Spike does stand and leave, it's without any goodbye. Behind him, Kyoya hears his footsteps go from a stroll to a trot to a run.

The boys are speeding toward the slides now, but Hitsuji skids to a stop when he sees Kyoya alone. He walks over with his fingers twisting together, his cheeks still flush with energy but everything else sapped. "Where'd Spike go?"

"He had to go home. He had some things to do."

"Is he coming back?"

"No, he shouldn't be."

Hitsuji pauses, like he'd always known that something was just a little wrong about this, no matter how cool his sunglasses-clad lion-taming secret friend was. "Why?"

"Spike lied to you. He was a spy, just not the good kind."

"Am I in trouble?"

He's got a scuff of dirt on the corner of his shirt. Kyoya leans forward and tries to brush it away. "You're not in trouble, but we're going to have to have a talk with Kosuke later."

"She won't be mad?"

"No, she won't."

Kyoya looks him up and down, such a short distance for how young he is. Strange how Kyoya can watch him tear through a playground but still only think about how delicate he is. Already his relief is waning in the face of all the what-ifs and could-have-beens.

"Hey, I have an idea." Kyoya checks his watch again. "How about, instead of staying here for thirty more minutes, we stay for twenty more and stop by that ice cream stand on the way out?"

It doesn't have Hitsuji dancing, the sadness too fresh, but he nods. "Okay. Can I go back now?"

"Go ahead."

The second Hitsuji is at the top of the slide, Kyoya takes his phone out. He has twenty minutes and a lot of phone calls to make.

That evening sees Kyoya and Kosuke sitting across from the children on the floor of Kosuke's bedroom. Hitsuji is sheepish, Minami is confused, but both have been paying good attention.

"So let's go over it one more time," Kosuke says carefully. "If a grown-up stranger ever walks up to you and asks to be your friend, you..."

"Say no and find an adult," the children recite dutifully.

"Even if he asks for your help with something, you..."

"Say no and find an adult."

"Even if he offers you candy, or toys, or anything else, you..."

"Say no and find an adult."

"Good. Do either of you have questions?"

Minami raises her hand. "But what if—"

"No."

"Okay."

Hitsuji sits with his chin perched on his knees. He'd been quiet since Spike left. He had made Hitsuji feel special, and that was spellbinding to any child. Spike was a lion tamer-slash-spy-slash-magician who took Hitsuji as a friend, when the other adults Hitsuji knew were just family or authority figures. Kosuke reaches out and gives his curls a little rustle. She'll give him comfort and reassurance later, but now he needs time to just sit with the betrayal.

"Go and pick a movie to watch. I'll be with you in just a minute." Just as the children are closing the door behind them, Kosuke adds, "You have to agree on the movie!"

Once she and Kyoya are alone, she folds her arms over her knees and leans her head back against the bed. Kyoya waits for her to break the silence.

Of course, when Kyoya had told her everything, she had been horrified. Terrified. Disgusted. Not to the point of hysteria, which was an improvement. She had many questions but listened to all of his answers, and sat still with her hand in his instead of pacing a rut into the floors. She'd had a feeling all along that the matter had not been wrapped up with a pretty bow, she'd said, but she never thought it'd come back like this. It was like her safe haven had been invaded.

Her first instinct, as always, was to blame herself for not being clairvoyant to see this coming, for not doing something the day he'd come into The Lily Bowl. If she had only done this, had only said that...It's impossible to be grateful for what little went right when all she can think about is how much could've gone wrong. She didn't even say anything about the threat to their reputation or exile from society—just Hitsuji.

Kyoya told her that it was already being taken care of, all of it, which wasn't entirely a lie. Spike was being hunted down even as they spoke. Probably he'd been on radars for a while now for preying on people, even police, who could not afford to fight back. It was shameful that justice had to be bought, more so that there were plenty more Spikes out there to replace him.

Kyoya swore on his life that she would never see or hear from "Spike" ever again. She believed him because, she said, she was daring to hope again. She had to get out of her head and live again.

"Are you still worried?"

Kosuke closes her eyes. "Yeah, I guess, but I'm more...annoyed, I think. I'm sick of worrying."

"Of course you are." He's not used to this rigidness of hers. There were no more fidgeting feet and trembling fingers, just the tight jaw and curled fists of someone fed up with life. "Get as angry as you want. You're entitled to it."

"No." Kosuke pushes herself up to her feet and straightens out her sweatshirt. "Whatever."

"'Whatever'?"

"Yeah. At this point. Just..." She waves her hand about. "Whatever."

It doesn't sound right, Kosuke's voice saying whatever. Has she ever said that word before?

"Hey, come on." Kosuke nudges her foot against his, beckoning him to stand. "I won't worry about it anymore, I promise."

"You're taking this much better than I thought you would."

She rolls her eyes. "Shouldn't you be grateful that I'm not hyperventilating and screaming my head off?"

"I am. I suppose I'm just impressed."

Kosuke shrugs a shoulder. "I'm sure that it won't be a problem anymore. Or, if it comes back up, then it'll be okay. It's a weird feeling, but I can get used to it." She strolls over and reaches up, twining her fingers on his neck. "Have I actually thanked you yet?"

"Hm." Kyoya pretends to think as he puts his hands on her hips, holding her there, keeping her close. "If you did, I wouldn't mind hearing it again."

"Well, thank you. My hero." She pecks his cheek, then rests her own against his chest. He can feel the fall of her chest as she sighs. "I just wish I knew why he did it. Marti, I mean."

"Oh?"

"Or if he ever told Mom. Or if he ever thought something like this would happen." She pulls back, and there's a somber look in her eyes, then an angry one, and then nothing. Whatever she was thinking is turned off like a light switch. "Now, come on. I need popcorn and a movie right now."

"Are you sure you're okay?"

"Kyoya. Yes. I promise." She takes his hand, starts pulling him to the door. "I'm doing better at being okay. So let's just...go..."

She trails off, her eyes pinned to something behind him, but there is nothing there when Kyoya turns. There's her bed, her desk, the bookshelf.

Kosuke creeps, as if approaching a wild animal, to her bedside. There sits Robot. Now in her hands, still just a plastic toy with lights and buttons.

Or...maybe not.

"Kyoya...If you can hunt someone down, get their name, gather evidence, and have them arrested, all in a few hours—can you find another toy just like this one?"

"Thirty minutes, at most."

"Go stall for me. I'll be quick."

She storms into the bathroom. There's a hollow ring of the porcelain lid of the toilet coming off. Kyoya shuts the door to the sound of the first blow.

In their room, the children have failed to obey their older sister. Minami has the TV remote in one hand and is using the other to keep Hitsuji away.

"We've seen Big Cat Puku a gazillion times," Minami is growling when Kyoya walks in.

"Nuh-uh," Hitsuji shouts back. "Not this one! This is 3! The three one!"

"Stop that." Kyoya nudges them away from each other and puts himself between them as a buffer. Brother and sister glare daggers around his knees. "Kosuke said you have to pick together."

Minami groans like she thought Kyoya was better than this. "Hitsuji won't even let me look at anything else! He just wants to watch Big Cat Puku again!"

"I've never seen it," Hitsuji protests again, his voice creaking higher. It's hard to say if he's more upset about not getting his way, or being called a liar.

"Why don't we watch one movie this time, and the other movie the next time we want to watch something?"

Hitsuji nods, satisfied. "We can watch Big Cat Puku 3 this time."

"No," snaps Minami.

"If you two can't agree, then we'll have to leave it up to chance." Kyoya kneels down and beckons their attention. "Rock-Paper-Scissors. Whoever wins gets to pick the movie, whoever loses gets to pick next time."

Minami grumbles agreement, but Hitsuji lights up like he's the Rock-Paper-Scissors master. When they raise their hands, Kyoya quickly adds, "Whoever wins, don't rub it in the other's face. Whoever loses, no fighting."

This time both children agree, sounding rather sheepish.

The winner is Minami, who—after catching Kyoya's look—does not taunt her brother, and instead promises they'll watch Big Cat Puku 3 next time. Hitsuji unhappily, but quietly, burrows into Kyoya's side on the pillows they've thrown together. Minami hits play before she remembers Kosuke has not yet arrived. There's a panic as they try and fail to get the movie to pause, both children screaming as though the world will end if Kosuke misses the opening credits.

Kosuke does eventually make it and settles against Kyoya's other side, then Minami against her. But after just fifteen minutes, Kyoya's phone rings. The children start to protest, No, you have to stay, but Kosuke hushes them, as she usually must do when Kyoya is called in.

The image of her snuggled with the children under fluffy blankets lingers in Kyoya even as he enters his office, and not in a pleasant way. Kosuke was right. Kyoya should be proud that she feels safe and sure.

But he isn't, because he doesn't. He should have told her that, to keep his promise, but what was he supposed to say? I'm happy that you're not worried, but I am. I need YOU to tell ME that everything will be fine.

It's so infuriating, too, that protecting her and the children can't always be this easy.

They need to expedite the wedding, he decides. He needs to get her and the children out of that mansion.

Chapter Summary

Hitsuji has an imaginary friend, Spike, who he can't stop talking about. Kyoya doesn't think anything of it when Hitsuji asks him to meet Spike, though he does think it's odd that Spike "doesn't want to meet" Kosuke. Kyoya agrees if only to amuse Hitsuji, and later, takes him to the park to meet this amazing new friend. Once they arrive, however, Kyoya gets a horrifying surprise: Spike is an actual person, a man who turns out to be the loan shark that had forced Marti's unpaid debts onto Kosuke. Spike non-too-subtly demands part of Kosuke's new wealth, and threatens her, her family's, and the Ootoris' reputations should she refuse. Kyoya quickly shuts him down and scares him off. Later, Kyoya reports the events to Kosuke, who is obviously horrified but believes Kyoya when he says she won't have to be scared of the loan shark any longer. Kosuke also seems annoyed at something else, but Kyoya doesn't comment on it.

Ah, yes, as promised - the return of Mr. Loan Shark. The end of Mr. Loan Shark? We shall see.

Kyoya's scene with Spike was probably rewritten a dozen times, so I'd love to hear what you guys think about it. The next chapter should be up in about a week or so, maybe a week and a half. Until then, I hope you all enjoyed the read!