"Very good, Kyoko; your bow hand is developing well," Gackt praised.
"Thank you Gackt-san!"
It was already Sunday, surprisingly. Setsu told Cain she wanted to her nails done, and then told Ren that she was taking tutoring lessons every 3 days. He didn't think much of it, just gave her a warning to keep her grades up or she'd be kicked out of the agency.
"Alright, let's try bowing the open strings. All you have to do is angle your elbow so the bow is only touching one string. "
Gently grasping her forearm, Gackt angled her elbow high enough for the D string. He then pulled her arm straight out across it, making a resonant sound.
"See? It's very easy. Why don't you try it a few times?"
They then went onto the next step of placing fingers on the fingerboard.
"Oi, didn't I say to lay off her?"
Kyoko and Gackt turned to look at Reino, and then realized Gackt was holding her hand to show her properly.
"Teaching her involves physical contact, Reino, I told you that before."
The mock vampire huffed and continued to lean against the door frame, motioning for them to continue.
Later, after Gackt had left and while Kyoko was packing up, she asked a random question.
"Beagle, why haven't you perved on me today?"
"Sounds like you want me to."
"Of course not! I don't want dog slobber and fleas all over me!"
"..." Silently, Reino approached her. He put his mouth next to her ear and whispered: "Say my name."
"Eh?"
"Say. My. Name," he ordered.
"B-Beagle!" She squeaked, trying to move away from him, but he wrapped his arms around her.
"I will not release you until you either say it, or kiss me."
Silence. Kyoko could feel his heartbeat in her back. It was slow and calming in a weird way, while hers was accelerated like a rabbit being hunted. In her mind there was a war raging on: grudges versus angels, kissing versus speaking.
Finally, she mustered up her courage and turned around in his arms. She opened her mouth to speak, but no sound came out. With an arched eyebrow, Reino stared at her expectantly.
"...-o."
"Hm?"
"R...Rei...no."
He chuckled. Watching her struggle with his name like a child was too adorable.
Pouting, she looked up at him defiantly and said: "Reino."
He offered her one of his rare genuine smiles and pulled her in closer for a hug.
Kyoko felt heat rise to her face; she wasn't used to being hugged by men. Suddenly, she felt a rumble in his chest, as if he had said something. Yet, she didn't hear anything.
"Did you say something?"
"You're imagining things, Kyoko."
He let go and grasped her hand, using his other to hoist the violin case over his shoulder for her.
"Ah-you don't have to do that, I'm supposed to be the one helping you!"
"Don't worry, I won't deduct points."
That satisfied Kyoko.
While he led her to the limo, all she could do was stare at their hands. His large, pale, and freakishly long nails completely obscured her tiny hands. This time, he wasn't trying to scare her. He still did though whether she admitted it or not.
He still held her hand in the limo, playing with her fingers while staring off into space. He was startled when he felt something heavy hit his shoulder, but it was only Kyoko's sleepy head. He smiled, watching her sleep peacefully.
Even when they arrived at the place she had made him pick her up from, she slept on. Sighing, he nudged her.
"Kyooooko, wake up," he said.
No matter how hard he nudged her she refused to wake up. He considered kissing her, but that would make her upset.
"Creed-san."
"Yes?" Said the driver.
"Let's take her back to the Darumaya."
"Yes, sir."
When they got there, she was still fast asleep.
Hoisting the violin case over his shoulder again, he carefully picked up Kyoko princess-style. He smirked to himself when she still did not wake.
When Creed opened the restaurant door for him, everyone stopped what they were doing to stare at the strange couple. The shop owners stared too, recognizing the man as the one who brought the violin.
"Evening; Kyoko fell asleep as I was bringing her back to LME after her lessons and she feels a little feverish. May I bring her up to her room and take care of her? She appears overworked and sleep-deprived."
The Okaa-san looked at her husband and he nodded before giving the young man a warning glare. Reino bowed and followed the Okaa-san upstairs to Kyoko's room.
"Would you like anything to eat or drink?"
"No, thank you."
"Thank you for taking care of Kyoko for us, let me know if you need anything."
Reino smiled and nodded at her, and placed Kyoko on her mat as the elder woman left. After tucking her in under several blankets, he looked around her room.
Every bit of it was so Kyoko-like. And then he saw the wall with the three posters of Tsuruga, Fuwa, and himself. Frowning, he stalked over to it and stared.
'Why is my picture the smallest?' Was the only thing he could think of. He made a mental note to get life-sized posters made so Kyoko could get one.
Oh yeah, Kyoko had a fever! He'd totally forgotten! In a matter of seconds he had a cool rag for her forehead. He felt her cheek, finding that it was warmer than before.
"Forgive me for not noticing, Kyoko..." he murmured.
A few minutes later, she began shivering. Reino panicked and decided to use himself as a heater, laying beside her on top of the blankets and in response she curled toward him. He mentally laughed at the irony of the whole situation. Determined to keep watch on her condition and to witness her reaction of his presence he stayed awake.
Her fever eventually lessened, but naturally he stayed beside her. The sun had just risen when she awoke.
"Mm-Nii-san when did you sneak into my bed?" Kyoko mumbled in the role of Setsu.
"Nii-san?" Reino asked, puzzled.
Kyoko froze. She stared with wide eyes at the pale collarbone before her.
"B-!" He'd put his hand over her mouth.
"Ah, we discussed the issue with my name last night didn't we?" Reino drawled, the smirk evident in his voice and removed his hand.
"Reino! What are you doing here in my ho-..tel." Kyoko sat up, recognizing her own room.
Reino sat up as well, pressing his forehead against hers.
"Your fever is gone."
"I had a fever?"
He nodded against her forehead and stared at her amber eyes.
"Kyoko, why didn't you say you weren't feeling well?"
She pulled back from him, "I felt fine. I was just a little tired."
"Tired enough to fall asleep in the limo on my shoulder and not wake up no matter how hard I tried."
Kyoko's jaw dropped in horror and she jumped away from him. "WHAT DID YOU DO TO ME YOU DEMON?"
Smirking wider, he trapped her against the wall and pressed himself against her.
"Oh, I simply undressed you and explored every inch of you and left my mark somewhere you'll never find it," he paused to lick his lips slowly. "You are exceptionally delicious, my dear Kyoko. "
The poor girl slid down the wall, only to be caught by Reino.
"Kyoko, I was kidding. Every word was a lie."
"Y-you mean I didn't lose my purity? I didn't see a man's named body?"
"...you're saying it like you want to see me naked."
Oh, how red her face became.
"N-no! Of course I don't!"
"Hmm..."
Kyoko looked up at him with a questioning look.
"May I kiss you?"
"EH?"
"I will not repeat myself."
"What makes you think I would agree?"
"As thanks for staying up all night taking care of you."
"Not even as thanks!"
Reino pouted in disappointment like a puppy, releasing her and stepping away.
'Tsuruga-san would kill me if he found out that I slept in Beagle's arms...TSURUGA-SAN!'
Kyoko gasped and ran to her purse for her phone: 33 missed calls from Nii-san. Terrified for her life, she pressed "call back."