A/N: Yay its Fall break! Although it is very short, I'm hoping I can update at least two chapters before 25th October. Thank you everyone for your kind words and encouragement. This is a AU story so the characters might be a little OOC. Forgive me for that. But I will try my best to improve it. The reviews are great! :) I was laughing while reading them. Arigato minna! ^.^

I do not own Skip Beat or any of its characters.

Chapter 14

It was silent….. almost too silent. One of the biggest businessmen in the history of Japan was on his knees, asking for something that was utterly confusing and weird. The rest of the people in the room had shocked reactions written all over their faces.

Only Lory thought, 'Darn it Kuu! I was going to ask for Kanae-chan for my Yuki first! (Silently cries inside his mind theater)….. Hidoooooi!'

Kyoko was beyond shocked….. She forgot to breath. As for Kuon….. well….. Kuon…. He was sitting there with the angriest expression he could master. Looking at his father and couldn't possibly fathom what on earth was going on inside his mind.

Tatsuya…. As stoic as ever, who was kind of used to the obnoxious behavior of the gaki, said, "Explain."

Kuu got up and had a powerful puppy dog eyes plastered on his face. It was enough to even sway Kanae and Kyoko felt a sudden urge to give the man whatever the hell he wants.

"My son, my one and only beloved son, is suffering from a grave disease. It's called 'I don't like food' disease. Kuon doesn't like to eat at all, he skips meals and cannot take care of his body properly"

"Ano… Otou-san, are we talking about any other son you have?", Kuon said, gritting his teeth. His cool and collected demeanor was fading… and fast!

Kuu completely ignored Kuon's words and returned to his topic like a man on a mission.

"Regardless of what he says, Yuki and Lory know what I am talking about. I had given up on any hopes I had for my son to share the love I have for food. He rarely finishes his meals and deserts are the bane of his existence."

Yuki and Lory nodded simultaneously to agree with Kuu's words. Kuon knew he couldn't go up against his father's accusations, they were all true.

Kyoko inwardly gasped, no wonder the man was so harsh in his behavior. Someone who doesn't like sweets cannot possibly understand what sweetness is. She also hated the fact that he didn't complete his meals; it is disrespectful towards food and the person who makes it. As a chef, she couldn't accept it at all.

"But today I saw a silver lining", Kuu continued, as dramatic as ever. "Kyoko-chan's cooking made my son finish whatever was given on the plate. He even had the desert. Aniki! Your daughter was made for my son! She was born to cook for him! To feed him and make him appreciate what a miracle food is! Would you please lend me Kyoko for my Kuon"

The undertone and meaning didn't go unnoticed by Lory, Yukihito and Kuon. Kuu made it sound like he wanted Kyoko to cook for Kuon but the truth was that he wanted her for his son. Forever.

"You want my daughter to cook for your son?", Tatsuya asked, blunt as ever.

"Yes!"

Tatsuya grunted and folded a nearby newspaper. He smacked Kuu on the head with it and said, "Baka gaki! If you wanted that from the start, don't make it sound like you want my daughter's hand for marriage! Say it properly!"

Kuu rubbed his head and laughed. He won this round. He was sure of it.

"I do not need anyone to cook for me. Especially her!", Kuon seethed.

"I do not intend to be someone's personal cook! I want to be a chef and I have no intention of serving him of all people!", Kyoko said with as much malice she can put on her voice.

"Kyoko is right, she cannot possibly cook for Hizuri-san everyday for all three meals, she has her university studies and she has to help Otou-san in Darumaya.", Kanae said, trying to save her sister of too much work.

"She can cook dinner for him. Kuon is very busy as well and doesn't have time to go home for lunch and leaves too early to have breakfast. Kyoko-chan can be free all day for her studies and helping in Darumaya and still have time to cook. Besides, she can have firsthand experience on how to handle a difficult customer as Kuon", Yukihito reasoned, as diplomatic as ever.

"I still don't see why it is necessary for me to have a cook! I am living fine!", Kuon was sure he was going to land in whatever plot his father had thought.

"Kuon!", Kuu said in his no nonsense voice and his son was smart enough to not argue with him further.

"Aniki, I take full responsibility for Kyoko-chan. She will be treated well and I would personally reward her for her efforts. Juile and Jude would be happy to know that Kuon has someone to look after his eating. So… Please", Kuu pleaded.

Tatsuya looked Kuu straight in the eye to read how sincere he was about his promises. He found no reason to doubt him.

He finally said, "Alright"

Kyoko was looking at her father with disbelief. She was going to cook for the demon lord?! He was going to kill her! Oh Kami!

Saying Kuon was disappointed was an understatement. He was sure the only way to get rid of this girl was to make her quit. He was going to make her life so miserable that she would never even think about being around him.

He hated how his control slipped every time he was around her. His mask fell whenever he had to deal with her and his real emotions slipped through. She was the reason he was unable to sleep peacefully after coming back from Kyoto. He hated her, and he would make sure she was not going to make him vulnerable. Ever!

The next morning, as the sun rays slipped through the curtains to assault both the Tsubasa daughters enough to wake them up, they both sighed inwardly.

Kanae was dreading another day with the eccentric president. Now that he was a childhood friend of her father and they knew him on a more personal level, she wasn't sure if she could contain her professional demeanor around his obnoxious behavior. But she was sure this job experience will benefit her more than anything. She thought while getting ready. She was only Yukihito Yashiro's personal secretary. That was it.

Kyoko had a nagging feeling that she was in deep shit. Not only Kanae decided to make her continue her studies, she also had to start cooking for the demon lord. She thought about what her sister said and a higher degree would be good after all. She hadn't thought about it much as she was always anticipating a marriage with Shotaro….. and …..

Her demons sensed her anger and started poking out of her, basking in the anger…..

"Grill him!", said demon number one.

"Sauté him!", said demon number two.

"Dry him in the sun and make him burn!"

"We will never forgive!"

"Revenge!"

"Kyoko!". Kanae asked her sister who had a very sinister aura around her. "Are you okay?!", she asked, concern laced her voice.

"Yeah! Let's go down for breakfast!", Kyoko said, snapping out of her trance.

While they had breakfast as a family she thought about her revenge plot. She would be lying if she said she forgot what Shotaro did to her heart. She was sure she couldn't fall in love with a man anymore. But that brat went and is living his life peacefully somewhere in this very city. The mere thought of him made her want to strangle him. But her resolve of wanting revenge faded along with the rapid incidents happening with her, starting from the dreaded fashion show.

Kuon Hizuri was all over her life. He entered and engulfed it entirely. She hadn't had any time to recover. When she thought his presence was gone…. He came back with even more force. It was like Kami was testing her with him.

Why did it have to be like this? Kuon and Shotaro could actually go up against each other in terms of their arrogance and rudeness and obnoxious behavior. But, even so…. Kuon was a refined man… where Shotaro was, with every sense of the word…. A boy…

So she knew she had to hold her ground against Kuon, she would take him as a challenge. If she succeeds in surviving against him, she could take on Shotaro any day….. he wouldn't even know what hit him. Maybe…. Then just maybe she would feel better, maybe her heart would heal enough.

It has been a month since Fuwa Shotaro had taken over his father's business; already he was all over the news as the new face of Fuwa hotel and resort chain all over Japan. Advertising and promoting was very helpful after they merged with Akatoki Industries. They were a very big company and a rival of HTC. His father thought of merging with HTC but Shotaro thought he would rather go up against the famous Hizuri Kuon than work with him. In Akatoki, he was the face and held more importance and dominance.

He was enjoying his life to the fullest. It's not like he didn't have any work; his secretary Shoko made sure of that. But he enjoyed hogging all the attention in the office, all the female employees fawned over him and he was like the prince of the office. Just like high school.

If only he could bring down Hizuri Kuon, his pride would be satisfied to the fullest. He had met him once in person and made sure he noticed him by 'accidently' knocking off some stack of files from a female employee's hands, in front of him when he came by for a meeting with the board members of Akatoki.

Hizuri Kuon didn't even spare him a second glance and helped the woman who was apologizing and trying to gather the papers along with his brother, Yashiro Yukihito. Once he was done he got up, and said to him, "The things you drop… Remember to pick them up properly" and he walked away. Sho felt utterly humiliated that day.

He knew somehow he had to defeat him. He will eventually. He was sure of it.