.

"It is nice to finally meet you, son" Shishio gave a smile and looked proudly at the neutral faced Kazuya.

Kyouko was a little disturbed by the actions of this man. Wasn't he supposed to be here because he wanted to take over their company? Why was he taking such a sudden interest towards Kazuya? Shishio wasn't a sentimental person in the least. He would never acknowledge someone unless it had some sort of benefit for him so was this interest in Kazuya some kind of subterfuge?"

"What a rude kid" Nagisa commented. "Is that the way you were brought up? Ignoring your parent?" she didn't like the idea that her husabnd was calling Kyouko's son his own so she couldn't help but put some insults in.

"Who is this old bag?" Kazuya turned towards his mother and asked. Miyamoto taught him lots of things about girls and it included what was normally not supposed to be mentioned or asked. He did not spare this arrogant woman a glance because he knew that this was Kurogane Nagisa already.

"Don't mind her son. She's just some random nobody who got lucky being born into a rich family. She even got an ambitious and heartless husband for it so you can just ignore the garbage that comes out of her mouth" Kyouko chimed in.

"Wha—!" Nagisa was about to lose her temper when Shishio raised an arm to prevent her from stepping any further. He was quite annoyed at how easily this woman had been provoked. If she had not been his wife, he would have already done something to keep that lip of hers from making the situation worse for him.

Kyouko didn't mind what Shishio did although she couldn't help but feel a sense of loss because after she dealt with the woman once, she felt a sense of satisfaction from it compared to just ignoring her.

"Since the boy's mother is here…" the lawyer saw this as his chance to shine and stepped forward. "Are you depriving my client of his visitation rights towards his son?"

"Visitation rights? His son?" Kyouko's eyebrows twitched at the tone of the lawyer. "You have the nerve to say that he has 'rights' when not only was this supposed 'right' ignored but also my son's own rights. I have neither used the privilege to press charges over his failure to have done his part as a parent so if you've come here to threaten me with these 'rights' you speak of, I dare you to see me in court so we can see just who should be threatening who" Kyouko's cold gaze intimidated the lawyer. This was the head of the Kouzuki Corporation and she indeed excluded the intimidating presence of one of the people standing on top.

"I…" The lawyer couldn't respond. He didn't expect Kyouko to be informed about it. The only one who understood was Shishio who finally looked at her. This woman had been a lot more capable than he expected her to be and she seemed to have been prepared for the event that he would take advantage of the loophole of him being Kazuya's biological father.

"There shouldn't be any need for all of that. I just came here to finally meet my son and to make it clear that the family was not behind the actions my nephew took" Shishio smiled. His peripheral vision locked on to Kazuya who barely showed any change in his expression like he had little interest in the whole matter.

"(This guy… is going that route huh…)" It was unexpected but Shishio was using Suzaku's actions towards him to their advantage. He was trying to make it seem like that Suzaku's actions was his own and the Kuroganes held no grudge. "(Quite the clever scumbag indeed)" even he couldn't help to admire this man's wit. He was trying to save the Kuroganes from being suspected of making a move on Kazuya because of Suzaku's actions.

The tables were indeed being turned because since what Suzaku did had been in front of the eyes of the people, even Kazuya couldn't deny that it seemed like Suzaku had a grudge against him. The way Kazuya baited Suzaku to loudly declare his seemingly ludicrous deductions was actually working against him. Kazuya wondered if this father of his was actually on the scene because he seemed too knowledgeable about what happened.

"Is that all?" Kyouko, of course, didn't believe a word that came out of Shishio's mouth. All she wanted to do was to get him away from her Kazuya as soon as she could. He was like walking poison who couldn't help but poison or corrupt anything in his vicinity after all.

"Of course that's not all" Shishio smiled. "As my lawyer said, I would like to discuss the matter about visitation rights. Since I still have that right, I'm interested in spending some time with my son" he then turned to Kazuya. "I'm willing to pay twice the amount of child support and put it towards my son's account"

"You…" Kyouko couldn't understand what his motive was. Was this person really interested in being a father now of all times?

"Of course, we can settle this in court like you earlier suggested if you do so wish" he turned back to Kyouko. I'm sure that they can decide when I can spend time with my own child even if the mother does not cooperate" Shishio met with Kyouko's close gaze and took hit head-on.

"So the father is finally making a move on his son huh" Mei walked in from the house with her usual chilly demeanor. She woke up late because of the preparations she was indeed making for the day this man went for a visit.

"Ah yes, I almost forgot about you" Shishio grinned confidently like he had everything under control. "It seems like you've been extremely busy lately despite your long vacation"

"Doesn't your family have anything better to do than looking into other people?" Mei scoffed. "If the Kuroganes put half of their efforts in doing real business rather than finding material they could blackmail people with then you guys would have been standing in the same stage as Stockton International" she coldheartedly declared.

"So you're saying that I won't be able to say anything to them that would affect your own business?" a threatening smile was directed to her.

"There isn't much that they don't already know. I do live with them after all" Mei confidently replied. "Besides, even if you did know of a specific secret, it would already be too late for you to do any real harm" she ignored the threats which made Shishio quite impressed. He thought that she had indeed had the right to be called an ice queen.

"Is that so?" Shishio looked coldly at Mei. He didn't like being looked down upon by a mere assistant, much less someone with no background whatsoever. "Then you mind me saying that you have used my son and his affection towards you to build a foundation for your own company right?" Shishio asked condescendingly.

"What is he talking about Mei?" Kyouko took her eyes off the intruders for the first time and turned towards her assistant who now had a frown on her face.

"Didn't she tell you? Your assistant here is the mysterious CEO of the Kazuno Tech your Kouzuki corporation is going up against" Shishio's revelation attracted a killing glare coming from Mei. "She seemed to have used the resources our son had at his disposal to start the company" Shishio ignored Mei's glare and continued with his revelation.

"Mei?" Kyouko looked at her assistant in disbelief and waited for her to deny Kurogane Shishio's accusations.

"I have to give you my praise" Shishio was feeling quite good after witnessing Kyouko's reaction. He was confident that he had turned the tables and was in control of the situation. "To even have called the company in your name. I believe I couldn't have done it better myself. You should come work with the Kurogane Conglomerate" he offered,

"So I would have to watch my own back every step of the way? No need. I've started this company on my own and It will remain standing on its own" Mei then turned to Kyouko. "Sorry boss. This sleazeball and his bitch wife will do anything to sow discord but it seems that they have gotten quite the accurate information this time" Mei gave a slight bow towards Kyouko.

"Sow discord? Why are you making it sound like your traitorous actions are my fault? You were the one who used my son to fill your own ambitions. I am merely stating that fact and even gave you a gracious invitation" Shishio no longer felt that he needed to get along with a person not willing to be on his camp and spoke against Mei.

"Get out of my house" Kyouko didn't bother glancing towards Shishio who looked satisfied with himself. He was successful in breaking up this duo and without someone as wise as Mei by Kyouko's side, there would be less resistance in the future.

"I immediately will. I shall wait for another opportunity so I can explain myself without the presence of people that are going to benefit from us falling out" Mei's implication was clear but Kyouko remained unfazed.

"There is no need for that" Kyouko turned towards Akane. "Please help her with her stuff so she will be out of here today"

"I will do so, mistress" Akane walked with Mei back to the house. She gave one glance at Kazuya who had been silent all this time before getting herself led by Akane who looked sternly at her.

"Now then, now that she's out of the way. Shall we return to the business at hand? I want to peacefully discuss the time I want to spend with my own son" Shishio wasted no time to take advantage of Kyouko who has yet to recover from what just happened.

"You…" Kyouko knew what he was doing. He was taking advantage of whatever he could. This was one of the basics in their world. Things would go much smoother, the more you have on your opponent. "What are you really after?"

"I believe I already stated my intentions" Shishio remained adamant about his reason. "Since I have already completed the tasks assigned to me by my father, I will remain here at least until the Kurogane Grand Banquet. I have time I can spend quietly here and I do wish to meet and catch up with my son" Shishio turned to Kazuya once more. He was a little puzzled over why he hasn't shown any reaction so far but he believed that it wouldn't last for much longer now. He believed that Kazuya was trying to get a good feel of him since they had never met because that was how he used to deal with people when he had been younger.

"Is that all that you want?" Kyouko tried to make sure. She understood that everything would have moved like it did in Kazuya's vision because they have already taken steps into changing major parts of it from occurring. This was the direct outcome of their interference. Though it was troubling to think about what Kurogane Shishio was up to, they could all assume safely that it was still definitely no good.

"That is all" Shishio nodded. His other purposes had already been achieved and he believed that he had settled the matter of them being under the constraint of being suspected for making a move on the Kouzuki clan for now. "I know I may not have been much of a father due to the responsibilities I hold within the family but now that I am at the point where I am beginning to think about and fix some of the mistakes I've made in the past"

The mother and son duo couldn't help but feel a little admiration towards this guy's acting skills. They may not know what his exact intentions were but it surely wasn't just to interact with his so-called son. He had been back in town for a while and he only appeared before them now? He had been claiming that he was here to meet his 'son' yet he did not only try to absolve his family for any actions taken against them, he also caused a rift to form between the famous duo that was Kyouko and Mei with the latter leaving not only their home but her job soon enough.

"Then I will see you in cou—"

"I accept" Kazuya cut in before Kyouko could finish her sentence. This not only startled his mother but the woman standing beside Shishio who had been wishing that they wouldn't accept her husband's proposal.

"Don't butt in when the adults are talking you little brat!" Nagisa couldn't help but shout at the boy. Kyouko almost rejected it and things would have gotten worse for their clan if they went through court but the boy was spoiling it like all her other plans.

"I believe that both of you have different purposes for coming here so why not discuss it amongst yourselves and come back when you've really made up your minds" Kazuya ignored Nagisa but he could feel her killing intent surging not only towards him but towards Kyouko as well.

"Nagisa" Shishio frowned as he looked at her. How could he not feel Nagisa's intentions?

"Are you serious!? You haven't even given me a child yet you dare act like a father in front of this bitch's child in front of me!?" Nagisa lost her temper even more after feeling the displeasure her husband was directing at her. "These two should die in a fire for all I care!"

Though what Nagisa said was because of her rage, Kazuya didn't think lightly of that remark. A cold chill could be felt by everyone in the area and it caused Nagisa's throat to dry up.

"Looks like negotiations have broken down" Kazuya spoke coldly and his eyes narrowed to look at Nagisa with the most chilling and threatening gaze she had ever experienced. "You can go to court if you want to but I will express myself freely in front of anyone who asks me about it" he then turned towards Shishio who was quite shocked at Kazuya at the moment. "Although I was initially curious as to what kind of person my biological father was, this woman's presence irks me so since my mother gives me the right to make my own decision, I will personally decline your intentions"

"Kazuya…" Kyouko felt warmth in her hand as her son continued to soothe her by gently pressing on it. She didn't know what her son intended but she of all people knew how capable and reliable he was.

Kazuya then slowly let Kyouko's hand go as he approached Nagisa menacingly. The pressure he was emanating made the woman back up and fall down on her behind in nervousness. The boy continued to approach the fearful woman and placed a finger on her forehead.

"You may take this piece of advice from a son to a father; If you don't put a leash on this woman as you should have, she might not last very long"

.