"It still feels really weird coming here." Tsukiko looked around the room.

"Don't be a stranger." Fumi was practically sitting in the Knight's lap. "We already live together. Your place is my place and my place is your place."

"...Something like that." Tsuki smiled a little.

Fumi's "place" was a small office building nestled in some obscure corner of one of Tokyo's emptier, slower going parts. It was modest, only being a few rooms and holding only a few employees, but it was still something a business owner would be quite proud of.

Fumi's personal office was a quiet, comfortable place, with a big leather couch for two people to snuggle up on and a nice coffee table to put down their drinks. At the far end was Fumi's desk, computer and other essentials, but the middle of the room was meant for relaxation.

A large window at the far end would've provided all the light they could ever need, but Fumi preferred to keep the blinds closed and the lights low whenever Tsuki was around. The dark gray walls and hardwood floor projected a sense of subtle luxury, not some tacky thing bought with some massive inheritance, but brilliance earned with hard work.

The two of them sat at the leather couch, leaning into one another and enjoying their time spent together. Every few minutes, Fumi let out a dreamy, weak sigh that betrayed her usual playful attitude. Tsuki kept a straight face, but she could feel her chest tighten a little every time the girl next to her made a sound, her fingers tugging at a blanket Fumi always left out for her.

"I have to work hard to earn a livin'." Fumi smiled and chuckled. "Something wrong with that?"

"Just never expected you to... work this kind of job, y'know?" Tsuki looked around, feeling a bit out of place.

"The job chose me. It's not my fault Dad bailed." Fumi rolled her eyes. "...I gotta say, I'm pretty proud of how far we've come, though."

"Construction, though?"

"I just own the place. It's not like I do any of the building myself." Fumi paused to think up just how to describe herself. "Think of me like... the oil that keeps the wheels turning. I run around makin' the decisions I gotta make so everyone else can keep on working their best."

"You've been working here for months, but... I always thought you'd end up being a weather girl or something." Tsuki couldn't help but let out a joke.

"Why's that?" Fumi cocked her head.

"You're... cute. That, and I think you'd be pretty good with an audience." Tsukiko played it straight.

"Is that your idea of a compliment?" Fumi smirked.

"'Course not." Tsuki shook her head slightly. "You asked a question, I gave you an answer."

"I thought you'd have had a better answer than that." Fumi stared into the Knight's eyes.

Fumi was wearing something more formal than usual, probably to help bolster her appearance as a professional woman before Tsukiko. A crimson blazer with brass buttons and a white button-up led down to a pair of deep black tight suit pants. A platinum necklace with a locket, a gift from Tsukiko, dangled from her neck. It probably wasn't as professional as it could've been, but it wouldn't be one of Fumiko's outfits if it wasn't a bit flamboyant.

"What's that supposed to mean?" Tsuki turned a little red.

Fumi playfully rolled her eyes. "You know... I thought you'd wanna see me in those nice outfits they make the girls on the air wear. Y'know, those tight skirts and button-up tops."

"...that'd be a real bonus." Tsukiko played it cool.

"I think the fancy stuff suits you better, though." Fumiko looked her up and down. "We can't both have the same look. Besides, you know me, I've always liked a girl in uniform."

"C'mon, Fumi..."

"Don't be such a prude." Fumiko whispered to Tsukiko, wrapping an arm around the Knight. "We're all alone right now, everything's in our court right now, let's enjoy it."

"Mmm." Tsukiko wouldn't give in to Fumi's behavior. "You know I can't let my guard down."

"C'mon, you've earned yourself some much needed rest." Fumiko clung to Tsuki. "Besides, you left your jacket with Aurelia, right? Take some time to yourself, babe."

"It's not like I'm not a Knight just cuz I left my hat behind." Tsukiko gently nudged her.

"'Course not, but let's pretend you're... on vacation." Fumi suggested.

"Hmm..." Tsukiko looked away for a second. "If you say so."

"I'll do something nice for you if you play along..." Fumi leaned in and whispered.

"Fine." Tsuki didn't know what to say back.

"It's not that serious..." Fumi chuckled a little. "You've got Kaz and those two weirdos investigating and whatever Shizuka's got cookin'. All we can do now is wait, and you owe me one after our last date."

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"Don't blame me for that one." Tsukiko defended herself. "How the hell was I supposed to know that'd happen. Besides, you asked me out that time."

"I'm not trying to get even or anything..." Fumi spoke sweetly. "I'm just saying, I wanna forget, y'know?"

"If we really do have that much free time on our hands..." Tsukiko could feel the spirit of a carnivore rising within her. "I'm gonna make you work for it."

Fumiko played along. "Name a price, then."

"I can't be bought." Tsuki sat a little closer to Fumi. "You know that."

"You know I'm good for the money. Everyone's got a price..." Fumi reached for one of the buttons on Tsukiko's red button-up. "Don't even try to act all upright and proper."

"Make me an offer I can't refuse." Tsukiko said in a sing-song voice.

Fumiko reached out and started petting Tsukiko like a dog. The Knight's lips curled into a big smile, then she broke into a laugh. Poor Tsuki couldn't handle the situation.

"What're you dooooing?" Tsukiko writhed.

"C'mon, what kinda cheesy shit was that?" Fumiko couldn't stop laughing. "You've been watching too many movies."

As tough as the Third Knight Himura liked to present herself, she still had her glaring weaknesses. One of which happened to be that she couldn't stop herself from writhing like a happy dog whenever Fumiko started patting her head.

"I was doing my best..." Tsukiko whined.

"I'm not doin' anything like that in my office." Fumi teased. "You'll have to wait 'till we get home."

"...probably for the best." Tsuki finally escaped the head patting.

"I'll give you a little something for now." Fumi got close.

Fumiko tugged on Tsukiko's collar, pulling her closer, face to face. For just a fleeting moment, Fumi kissed the Knight, before pulling away. It was too short, but was just enough to make Tsuki's head fuzzy, just enough to stain her lips red.

"Mmm..." Tsuki almost felt unsatisfied.

"Hehehehe, what's wrong?" Fumi had an annoying smirk on her face.

"...nothing." Tsukiko looked away.

"Never seen you that desperate." Fumiko said with a mischievous smile on her lips. "Not in a while."

"If you're gonna try to tide me over, don't do it half way..." Tsuki sighed.

A quiet, albeit very clear ringing came from a phone at Fumiko's desk. Tsuki tried her best to get closer to Fumi, as if trying her best to distract her from business. Her gambit failed, as Fumi gently pushed her away, getting onto her feet with a groan.

Fumi stepped behind her desk, her hand reaching for the phone, hesitating at the last second. Slowly, she brought it up to her ear.

"Hello, this is Nakano Fumiko at Nakano Construction, who might I be speaking with today?" She answered formally.

Tsuki could hear a voice, but it was far too quiet for her to make out anyone in particular.

"E-Excuse me?" Fumi spoke in a mix of anger and confusion. "Who is this?"

"Fumi?" Tsuki stood up.

"Tsuki? How do you--" Fumi stopped herself, then turned to Tsukiko. "It's for you."

Tsuki approached the phone. Fumiko handed her the receiver quickly.

"Hello?" Tsukiko said by instinct.

"You didn't tell me your girlfriend had such a nice voice." An annoying voice spoke.

"Who is this?" Tsukiko demanded.

"All polite too, told me her full name and everything." The man on the other side continued. "Could've given us an address while she was at it. Well, not like we need it."

"Who is this?" Tsukiko repeated, louder.

"You know who it is, don't act like you don't." Masahiro's voice came through loud and clear.

"How'd you get this number?" Tsukiko tried to get an answer.

"Everyone knows what a phone book is." Masahiro hissed. "You're not that young, are you?"

"Then how'd you know I'd pick up?"

"Know your enemy." Masahiro paused. "I think Sun Tzu said something like that. Maybe."

"What do you want?"

"I'm just calling to let you know how lucky you are."

"Yeah?" Tsuki grit her teeth.

"You've got yourself a nice girlfriend, y'know? There's a lot of people that know all about Miss Nakano." Masahiro talked like an asshole. "But she's already been through so much..."

Tsuki shook in anger, but she tried to sound calm. "If you say so."

Fumiko's concerned look made Tsuki soothe herself, not wanting to lose her temper in front of someone she loved.

"Construction's a tough industry, always involved in the sketchiest shit." Masahiro let out a short laugh. "Don't you hate it?"

"How'd you know I'd answer?" Tsukiko's grip on the receiver tightened.

"I called you to tell you something, not to answer your questions." Masahiro raised his voice. "Why don't you ask your detective friend or Lily?"

"Have you been stalking me?" Tsukiko said blatantly.

"Know your enemy." Masahiro repeated. "Besides, what part of 'not answer your questions' do you not understand?"

"Fine. Get to the point." Tsukiko knew what he was doing.

"You already gave me what I wanted, right now." Masahiro's voice went flat.

"And what's that?" Tsukiko asked.

"I put you in a corner and you flinched. Again." Masahiro insulted her. "And now I've got all the leverage I'll ever need. I just wanted to let you know that. I want you to know that I'm not gonna play some game like Morgan did."

"You didn't know Morgan." Tsuki countered.

"Oh?"

"He wasn't a coward like you."

"He isn't a free man like me." Masahiro started laughing before hanging up.

"You'll meet him soon enough." Tsukiko narrowed her eyes.

Masahiro laughed hard. "I guess it hasn't really clicked with you, has it?"

"It doesn't matter." Tsukiko's grip on the receiver tightened.

"Maybe not to you, maybe not yet. A little friend of mine gave me info on every last thing about you." Masahiro's voice grew dark and serious. "You do anything stupid and... Well, you know how it is."

"I get it."

"That's good, I was getting tired of explaining it." Masahiro muttered. "I'll give you a chance to retire. For Fumiko's sake. She's a nice girl, doesn't deserve to get torn open again."

Tsukiko didn't say anything.

"They say a wounded animal only gets stronger, hysterical." Masahiro spoke his final words quietly, but firmly. "I didn't get to kill you then, so now I'm stuck with a wounded animal. It's too late to finish the job now, so I guess I'll just have to get you to back off. You know how it is."

Tsuki heard a final click, then silence. She put the receiver back down and turned to Fumiko, not sure what to tell her first.