* * * * *

She had just begun walking home when his car pulled up beside her. The back door flung open and the purple-haired boy pulled her into the car. The privacy screen was up, not surprisingly. Kahoko tried to get her heart to slow down. "I have to get home, Yunoki-sempai."

"That's where I'm taking you." His eyes were warm. He took her hand in his, intertwining their fingers, and rested them on his thigh. He stroked her hand for the rest of the drive.

The car stopped. "We're here." He leaned over to kiss her softly on the lips. "See you tomorrow, Kahoko."

* * * * *

She honestly didn't know what to think of him. One moment he was ravishing her, the next he was sweetly affectionate. Her emotions were all over the place. The young man that she feared was also the one who was arousing her and winning her heart. She actually looked forward to being with him. What was wrong with her?

* * * * *

His morning theory class was boring. Of course he kept his attentive student mask in place, but he was actually thinking about her. Her expressive eyes. The way they showed all of her emotions. He himself had made a study of not showing anything except what he wanted to show. Maybe that's why he was so fascinated by her transparency.

* * * * *

She was the only person hurrying down an empty hallway toward the cafeteria for lunch when Azuma appeared suddenly and pulled her into a deserted classroom. He led her by the hand to the back of the room where some bookcases formed a partition, behind which there was a small space. Pulling her into the cozy passage, he leaned back against the wall, still holding her hand and looking at her. Being a man of details, he decided that there was one more element that needed attending to. He reached behind her head to pull a very thick encyclopedia volume off the shelf. He pulled her to the side, placed the book at his feet, and pulled her up to stand on it. Now closer to him in height, she looked at him questioningly.

"Kiss me, Kahoko."

His eyes told her how much he wanted her. There was a deep softness there that made her heart go out to him. She knew that his mood could change into something less pleasant if she refused, but she would have complied, regardless.

She leaned against his chest and looked at him for a while, succumbing to his magic. He held her gaze, still with that tender look. This was a boy that she could love. She took his face in her hands and pressed her lips against his. He shut his eyes and sighed, putting his hands on her waist. She kissed him softly, over and over. Gently pushing, and sometimes pulling at his lips, she enjoyed the feel of him. He was responding, but letting her lead. When she began using her tongue, he moaned with pleasure. He pulled her hips against him as he gave her full access to his mouth. She ran her tongue over his, enjoying the velvety friction of their taste buds. How surreal it was for her to be making love to the boy who only a couple days ago had frightened her. She was loving the feel of him, exulting in how good she and he felt together.

They were moving perfectly in sync when they were interrupted by the sound of her stomach growling loudly.

They both laughed. "You'd better get some food into you" he smiled at her rosy face. He sighed, put the book back on the shelf and led her by the hand to the door. Peeked into the hall to see if the coast was clear, he kissed her on the forehead. "You go first. "I'll see you later."

* * * * *

He realized that he was beginning to need her. It was a kind of ache in his chest. It was uncomfortable and pleasant at the same time. It had something to do with her touching him. Until today, he had no idea how touch-deprived he had been. The only affection of any kind he had in his life was from his little sister and his hyper trumpeter friend. Apparently their kind of affection wasn't enough, because the petite violinist's touch was reaching into the very core of him, where no one else could. He now knew that he would do anything to get more of her kind of affection.

* * * * *

Over lunch she thought about how he had been vulnerable with her, letting her see him without the mask. He was gentler with her, too. She liked him like that. She hoped that was the real Azuma and that this persona would prevail.

* * * * *