Otani had his head in his hands and he was groaning morosely. Kyle watched his little friend, amusement twinkling in his dark blue eyes. With a wicked grin, he pushed the coffee cup closer to him.

"That's what you get for trying to drink me under the table."

Otani made an inarticulate sound that could have been anything from a curse, to a sound of agreement, and painfully lifted his aching head off the table. Bleary-eyed, he gazed hopefully at the aspirin clutched in his roommate's hand and made a weak grab for it.

Kyle pulled the bottle away and tsked. "Naw, no way…not until you explain to me what got your knickers in such a twist last night."

His hung over friend shot him a weak glare.

"That's blackmail, you bastard."

Kyle's grin widened.

"Yep." Otani scowled.

"Hate you…so much."

Kyle shook his head. He knew the midget didn't mean it, he was just sore because of what happened yesterday morning when he'd let his girl stay over. Kyle frowned slightly.

Not that he understood why his friend was upset. Sure, he'd felt the need to rib him a little, but it had been harmless and as for the flirting…hell, that was just second nature. It wasn't like Risa had responded to it.

He waved the bottle in front of him and watched as Otani followed it like he was drowning and Kyle was holding the last life preserver.

"Come on midget, tell me what's up and the suffering ends," he sing-songed.

"Killing is too good for you…gonna torture…rip your fingers nails off…one by one."

Kyle rolled his eyes. "Sure you are, and who the hell you gonna get to hold me down, munchkin? It's not like you can do it."

"Still hate you," Otani muttered. His roommate, tired of getting nowhere fast, smacked him upside the back of his head.

"Dammit, you bastard that hurt!" He snarled. Kyle glared at him.

"That was the point, idiot. Now, tell me what the hell your problem is?" Otani looked away and mumbled.

"You kissed Koizumi."

He rolled his eyes again and spat. "I fucking pecked her on the lips! I was trying to get a rise out of you, asshole. It was all in fun and she sure as hell didn't take in seriously. Man, talk about insecurity."

Otani raised his tortured head enough to meet his roommate's azure gaze.

"You flirted with her," he accused. Kyle gave him an incredulous look.

"I flirt with anyone who has tits. I'm a flirtatious kind of guy, you know that. You also know that I wouldn't poach in a friend's territory. Not that it would do me any good. That girl of yours only has eyes for you. I could see it the moment I met her. I tell you midget, you're one lucky son of a bitch. She's got the nicest, perkiest set of tits I think I seen since I got here, and those legs…damn. If I was a different type of guy I might be jealous."

He glared at his friend. "Don't talk about Risa's tits, or her legs, or any other part of my girlfriend or I'll fucking castrate you while you sleep." Kyle shuddered and cupped himself involuntarily.

"That's just cold, bra. Threatening to cut off my cock. You could get killed in America for saying that." The unrelentingly look his diminutive friend shot him made him sigh.

"Sheesh, fine, be a prick about it. I'm sorry I kissed your girlfriend and I'm sorry I flirted with her, and I'm so very sorry I noticed that she had an ass that could stop traffic, a great rack, and legs that a man wouldn't mind having wrapped around his waist while he pounded into her."

Otani felt his anger boil and then suddenly slumped, defeated and held out his hand. This time Kyle handed him the bottle. He mumbled something unflattering about his roommate's parentage and the blond man grinned.

He knew that Kyle was only saying that shit to rile him, not that he was wrong. Risa had a great body, even if she wasn't aware of it. Having Kyle point it out to him, however, wasn't helping his hangover, or his mood.

Grunting, he struggled with the cap, popped it open, shook two of the white pills out onto his palm, threw them into his mouth, and swallowed them without water. Kyle shuddered a little, wondering how his friend managed to do that and not gag.

"All teasing aside. You gonna tell me what got your back up or not?" Otani frowned, cursed, and said.

"This is why I haven't had Risa over. I knew you'd be an ass and try to put the moves on her." Offended, and now slightly ticked Kyle growled.

"Hey now, I, in no way, shape, or form, tried to put the moves on your girl. Shit bra, you're my friend. Hell, she even knew that when I pecked her on the lips it was a fucking joke. That's why she laughed. Look man, I'm sorry if you thought I was coming on to her…seriously."

Otani shrugged and looked away. Okay, maybe he was overreacting. It was just that when Kyle woke up and found him and Risa sharing breakfast, all the insecurities about their height difference had come bubbling to the surface.

Kyle, in typical Kyle fashion, had seen a beautiful girl and immediately turned on the charm. If he were to be honest, Koizumi had been polite and friendly to him, and she'd also seemed to like him, but she hadn't shown any interest beyond that.

His problem was that he hadn't been able to see beyond how right she and Kyle looked together when they stood next to each other. If the three of them had been walking down the street somewhere, he just knew that everyone would take one look at them and think they were a couple.

He scowled at the aspirin bottle cradled in his hands. Kami, he thought he was over the fact that she was taller than he was. Why the fuck were his old insecurities playing havoc with his mind now?

He knew the answer. It had to do with the fact that he and Koizumi were getting more physical in their relationship and he was worried…worried that he wouldn't be able to satisfy her, despite the fact that he'd done just that a little over a week ago, and that she'd go looking for someone who could.

Of course, if he were to maybe, find someone who could possibly give him a few pointers on what he had to do. He looked at Kyle thoughtfully and blurted.

"You've been with a lot of girls, haven't you." It was less of a question and more of a statement. Kyle preened a little and grinned widely.

"Oh yeah, I've had my fair share of the fairer sex." Otani looked at him, a strange gleam in his eyes.

"How'd you learn how to, you know, get them off?" Kyle had been in the midst of taking a swig of his soda when he'd asked that and promptly choked.

"Shit midget, why the hell are you asking me that? You and the bodacious Amazon not doing the horizontal mambo yet?"

Otani frowned and leaned in. "You're answering my question with a question. You really are just all talk aren't you."

Kyle looked affronted. "Fuck no, I ain't all talk. I'll have you know that I always, always bring my dates to orgasm. I'm a fucking sex machine and what the hell would you know about it anyway? I bet your little hottie hasn't even touched your cock, much less sucked on it."

It was Otani's turn to choke on his drink and Kyle watched in amazement as his friend turned red. He smirked.

"Well, well, looks like I spoke to soon. My little Otani is all grown up and having oral sex."

He flushed again and muttered. "Asshole."

"Hey don't hate the player, hate the game. And now your little overreaction to my harmless flirtation makes sense. So tell me…did you return the favor."

Otani choked again and sputtered.

"W-What!?" Kyle scowled.

"Well that's a resounding, 'no.'"

The shorter man scowled back at him. "I am NOT talking about this with you."

Kyle smirked. "Yes you are and you're talking about it because you want the master to bestow his hard learned secrets. Come grasshopper and I will teach you the ways of the force."

Otani dropped his head back into his hands and groaned. It was going to be a long fucking day.

Risa stood in front of Takara and helped her adjust the belt she'd just put on the lithe, beautiful model. Behind her Yoko nodded in approval.

"You were right Risa. That belt is the perfect accent to the off-the-shoulder top she's wearing."

Takara turned this way and that, examining the affect of the belt in the mirror and agreed.

"She's right; this totally pulls the whole outfit together. Great job."

Risa flushed with pleasure and smiled brightly.

"It's just because you're so easy to dress, Takara. Everything looks good on you." The model cocked an eyebrow and smirked a bit.

"Don't I know it?"

Risa and Yoko both laughed. They knew the beautiful young woman was joking. Of all the models they'd worked with in the last week or so, Takara was the most down to earth, level headed, un-diva-ish, and least pretentious of all them on the shoot. She was also the most attractive.

Eyes twinkling, she turned to Risa.

"So…when is that cute little boyfriend of yours coming to take you to lunch?" Risa blushed and stammered.

"He said he would be here by twelve-thirty." The model clapped her hands together and squealed delightfully.

"Great, I can't wait to meet him. I hope he knows what a lucky guy he is to have such a fabulous and talented girlfriend."

She turned even redder, unused to such compliments, but inside she flushed with pleasure. Both Yoko and Takara had been so good to her since she started working as Yoko's assistant, and she was happy that they thought so highly of her.

"I have to admit, I'm curious as well. When you showed us that picture I couldn't believe how short he was!" Yoko said. Risa grinned and shrugged helplessly.

"I know it seems kind of strange, but he's the most affectionate, caring, supportive person I've ever met. He's really good to me and I love him."

Takara waved her hand dismissively. "That's all that matters. Come on Yoko, you've met my boyfriend Suji. He's not much taller than Risa's Otani."

Yoko shook her head and laughed. "I just don't get it, all these tall, gorgeous girls dating all these short guys. I guess love really is blind. And you're right. If he's good to her and he loves her as much as she loves him, then that's all that matters."

Takara grinned wickedly. "That…and whether or not he's good in bed."

"Takara!" Risa exclaimed and blushed. The model and her boss laughed.

"Oh come on, Risa, don't be embarrassed. I love Suji to distraction. He's solid, and loving, supportive and loyal, but it's a nice perk that he has a tongue that can do things to my insides that should be illegal, along with other, useful appendages of larger-than-average size."

Yoko swatted the model on her arm playfully and teased. "You are a wonton little hussy, Takara Hattori."

She laughed and waggled her eyebrows. "Only with Suji."

Kozumi was tomato read again and blurted in typical, not thinking before speaking, fashion.

"Why is his tongue a nice perk?" Both women froze and exchanged knowing looks.

Yoko smirked. "You want to tell her or should I?" Takara waved her hand again.

"Oh darling, you do it. You're her boss." Yoko chuckled and leaned in to whisper in the taller girl's ear. As she spoke, Koizumi's doe eyes grew wider and wider and her complexion redder and redder. When she was finished explaining and pulled away, Risa sputtered.

"He licks…down there?"

They both nodded and decided to have pity on the younger girl. Takara threw an affection arm around her shoulders and assured her.

"Don't worry hon, you and Otani will experience these things when you're ready to and don't let anyone pressure you into doing something you don't want to. We're just teasing you a little, that's all."

Risa nodded numbly and gazed at the model, perplexed.

"I-I don't think I'm r-ready for something like that." Something not unlike affection, touched Takara's eyes and she smiled softly.

"You really are too cute for words, Risa darling. Come, let's get out there and see how this outfit you put together for me looks on film."

Risa nodded dumbly and followed her friends out of the trailer, but her mind was no longer on the photo shoot. Thanks to Yoko and Takara she was now wondering just what it would feel like if Otani put his mouth…there.

The prospect wasn't an unpleasant one.