Chapter 9: A Surprising Invitation

The next day Ren met Kyoko just outside of the restaurant at a quarter past eleven. They had decided it would be easiest to walk out a ways towards a clearing to shoot. So they walked, Kyoko carrying a basket with a blanket and Ren with two pistols and a satchel containing ammunition.

"Thank you again for offering to teach me." She told him as they walked through a clearing.

"You shouldn't thank me yet." He teased. "We have to see if I'm any good as a teacher first."

Ren lead the way to a large tree. "We can set out lunch here." He told her.

Kyoko nodded and the pair made quick work of setting out the picnic. It was nothing special, just sandwiches, some apples, and cookies. Yet, Kyoko noticed it felt special. Sitting with the sheriff and sharing a lunch she had prepared.

She found she was unable to keep a small smile off her face.


Behind a bush near the large tree Ren and Kyoko were picnicking under, crouched Ruriko. She hated being that close to nature but this was an important part of her plan. She watched as Ren laughed at something Kyoko said and she felt her face heat up.

Why does that brat think he can get away with making Ren laugh like that? She thought angrily.


Kyoko removed her hat as they prepared to begin shooting.

"You dyed your hair." Ren commented approvingly.

Kyoko blushed lightly. "Did I do all right? I wasn't sure if I got it all."

The sheriff reached out a hand and ran his fingers through the light colored hair. "I think you did very well. Especially if you've never done it yourself before."


Ruriko could feel her blood boiling as she watched Ren gently caress the younger man's hair. She bit down on her hand as she let out a muffled scream of frustration. But the final straw wasn't until several minutes later when she was forced to watch as Ren stepped behind Kyoko and gently guided her arms and hands to the proper posture to shoot.

The school teacher stood and hurried away from the clearing. She stomped angrily through the brush all the while cursing under her breath. "That damn brat has confused my darling Ren. He suddenly thinks it's acceptable to act that way with another man."

I'll have to do something about this! She thought, determined to take care of her problem once and for all.


Ren carefully guided Kyoko as she aimed her gun at the can he had placed on a tree stump. Having him so close to her was making Kyoko's heart beat fast. But she was determined to hit the can this time, having already missed it twice. She focused and aimed carefully before pulling the trigger.

There was a ding as the bullet hit the can, throwing it to the ground. Kyoko spun around excitedly. "I shot it!" she exclaimed.

Ren beamed down at her as she danced around. "Good shot," he said, "looks like you're a very good student."

Kyoko smiled up at him. "No, you are a very good teacher. Thank you, Sheriff."

"You know, you can call me 'Ren'." He told her softly as he reloaded the gun.

She stiffened unsure of how to respond. Calling him Ren would feel too familiar. As if they had been friends for a long time. She wasn't sure she could handle having that kind of closeness with this man. Especially, when she still had a job to do.

But Ren didn't wait for an answer. Instead, he handed back the loaded gun. "Now, why don't we try shooting some moving targets."

The following day was Sunday, and after everyone had attended morning service, Kyoko found Ren and Yukihito as outside of the school building.

"Good day, Sheriff, Deputy." She greeted, giving a nod to each of them.

Yukihito smiled and patted the top of her hat. "Good day to you, Kyo."

Ren couldn't help but smile. "How did you enjoy the service this morning?" he asked innocently.

A darkness spread over Kyoko before she forced it away. But her annoyance at his question remained. The preacher had taught about how women shouldn't go about in men's clothing. A lesson she hadn't found troubling until Ren brought it up now. She was not a religious person but she still didn't appreciate Ren mentioning her secret.

"It was a very enlightening sermon." She said carefully, emphasizing every word with politeness.

Yukihito glanced between them, full of confusion. He had no idea what they were talking about.

"Did you want me to go buy our lunch from the restaurant?" Yukihito asked Ren suddenly.

Ren focused on the deputy. "Oh, yeah. You're right. Go ahead before there's too large of a crowd."

As the deputy hurried away, Kyoko began to walk with Ren. "You aren't going to the restaurant for lunch?"

He shook his head. "I have some leftover work to finish. So I was going to the station."

"Did you want any help?" Kyoko offered quietly. As much as she wanted to spend time with him, she didn't want to be an inconvenience.

"Well, Yukihito is coming in for a bit," Ren said, rubbing the back of his neck.

Kyoko felt the smile slip off her face.

"But, we could always use an extra hand. If nothing else, it's nice to have the company." By the time he had finished speaking the smile had reappeared on Kyoko's face, though she tried to control it. She didn't want to seem to eager.

"Well, then let's get going," Kyoko agreed.

The pair headed off towards the station. Just as Ren finished unlocking the door, Ruriko came hurrying up the steps and followed them into the station.

"Miss Ruriko?" Ren asked, surprised she had come into the station to see him so suddenly.

She paused for a moment to catch her breath, as she had apparently walked quite quickly after them.

"I'm so happy I caught up to you. There was something I needed to discuss. I have decided I would like you to escort me to the town's dance next Sunday night." She spoke as if offering the most wonderful opportunity known to man, and to be honest her attitude irritated Ren.

"I'm sorry, Miss Ruriko, but I have no intention of going to-" He started but she quickly cut him off by holding up a hand.

"I'm awfully sorry, Sheriff." She said sweetly. "But I wasn't asking you. I was actually asking Kyo."

Kyoko's jaw dropped in surprise. "Me?" she exclaimed.

Ruriko nodded. "Yes, Kyo. I'd like you to escort me to the dance. I know we haven't spoken very much but you were oh so kind to me the other day and I'd like to get to know you more." She reached out and straightened Kyoko's hat while giving a sideways glance at Ren to see his reaction. He certainly looked shocked.

Good. She thought. Let him realize what a mistake he made rejecting me. She turned back to Kyoko.

"So, what do you say?"

Kyoko was dumbfounded. Surely, she couldn't accept and go to the dance with another woman. But then again, at present she was pretending to be a man. And I've always wanted to go to a dance… She gave a charming smile to Ruriko and nodded. "I'd be honored to escort you to the dance, Miss."

After Ruriko had nearly skipped out of the building, Ren fell back into his chair. He couldn't believe that Ruriko had asked Kyoko to the dance. And even more surprising was the fact that Kyoko had accepted the invitation.

"Have you gone crazy?" he asked, watching the strange girl before him.

Kyoko looked surprised and a little hurt by his words. "What do you mean?"

He ran a hand through his hair, feeling exasperated. "Kyoko, do you really thinks it's a good idea to take Miss Ruriko to a dance?"

She stared down at her feet. Why does he have to scold me the first time he actually says my name? She sighed. "I'm sorry. I didn't think about it like that. I just, I got excited because I've never been to a dance. And I knew no one else was going to ask me."

Ren's annoyance at her decision began to fade. Of course a girl who has never been to a dance would want to go if given the chance. "Well, I guess it isn't too bad. I mean, you can go and dance with her for a bit and then be done."

Kyoko blushed as she realized something that his words had reminded her of. "Just one tiny problem," Kyoko said softly.

"And what's that?"

"I-I don't actually know how to dance."

Ren stared at her for several moments. Then he looked down at his desk and covered his mouth as he tried not to laugh. This girl was just too funny. First, she accepts an invitation to a dance with another woman without thinking of the consequences. Then realizes she doesn't know how to dance. A snort escaped and a moment later he was laughing.

Kyoko tapped her foot irritably. "You don't have to laugh at me." She muttered.

Ren caught his breath, stopping his laughter. "Sorry. But what are you going to do then?"

She looked completely hopeless for several moments before her eyes lit up. "You could teach me!" she exclaimed.

The sheriff shook his head. "Oh, no. I may know how but I haven't actually danced in a long time."

She moved to his desk and kneeled in front of him. "Please, Sheriff. Will you please teach me how to dance? I'm sure if it was you then I could learn quickly. I mean, look at how quickly you taught me to shoot."

Ren considered rejecting her request. But the thought of teaching this girl before him, who he had begun to have some feelings for, how to dance intrigued him. He sighed. "All right. Just get off the floor." He took her hand and pulled her up.

"So you'll teach me?" she asked, her eyes full of hope.

He nodded, running a hand through his hair. "First lesson is tomorrow night after dinner. Meet me back in here around 7:30."

The following evening, found Kyoko standing anxiously outside of the sheriff's station door. It was only 7:20 but in her excitement over the upcoming lesson, she had finished her duties quickly and was now early.

What do I do? She wondered as she stood frozen outside the wooden door. She raised her fist to knock but paused again. Will he think I'm stupid for being here so early? She lowered her hand slowly, torn over what to do.

"Were you going to knock?" Came a whisper near her ear. She spun around quickly to find Ren grinning at her mischievously.

"Don't sneak up on people like that!" she scolded him. "It's very rude!"

He chuckled as he watched her face turn bright red. "I'm sorry. I just thought it was cute." He muttered before reaching around her to unlock the door. He pushed it open. "Ladies first." He murmured in her ear.

Kyoko felt a chill run down her spine and quickly stepped inside the station. She could feel her hands starting to sweat as her nerves took over. "So where do we start?" she asked, watching the man before her warily.

Ren moved across to his desk and pulled out a small record player and placed a record on it. "Well, first we start with some music." He beckoned her to him. "Come here."

She moved slowly to his side. We're all alone again. Just like the other night at his house. She thought as she watched him.

"Now come take my hand." He instructed. He held out his hand to her and Kyoko took it. He then placed her other hand on his shoulder and placed his corresponding hand near her waist. With a quick movement he started the music and he began to lead her, slowly at first.

"Just try to follow my lead." He began to count as he tried to instruct her on which foot to move where.

Kyoko felt nervous at the close proximity to each other. She mistakenly moved her left foot forward when it should've gone back and landed her boot hard atop his own. He winced and Kyoko cringed. "Sorry." She muttered.

"It's all right. It does take some practice." He replied. "So, tell me, where you lived before, did they hold a lot of dances?"

Kyoko nodded excitedly. "There was one at least every month. And all of the girls wore beautiful dresses. It was very fun for those who went."

"And you never went?" he asked.

She shook her head. "I never had anybody who asked me."

Another misstep caused another pained cringe to cross Ren's face as he tried to instruct her again.

"Not even Shotaro?"

A pained expression crossed her face before she forced a smile. "No, Shotaro had plenty of other girls he would rather spend time with."

Ren felt his anger with Shotaro flare up within him. He didn't like that this boy had hurt Kyoko so badly. But even more, he didn't like that Shotaro still held so much of her heart.

As they danced, Ren noticed that Kyoko's expression softened. A small smile playing on her lips. He could feel something that might have been jealousy take over his thoughts. Is she imagining dancing with him? Is that why she looks so happy now?

He began to move more quickly, forgetting to take the time to explain the movements to Kyoko. Only one thing mattered right now, and that was the fact that Kyoko should not be thinking of another man while dancing with him.

"Can we slow down? Please?" Kyoko asked. "I'm having trouble keeping up."

Ren sighed and stopped the music. "Well, let's take a break then." He moved away from her and back towards his chair. "Although, if you really focused you could get it easily." He murmured under his breath.

Kyoko paused, looking at him in confusion, her eyes searching him. "I- I am focused." She argued.

"If you were really focused, you wouldn't let other things distract you. I thought you would've picked it up by now." Deep within Ren he scolded himself the moment the words left his mouth, but something in him was taking control.

Kyoko looked at him, her eyes filled with hurt. She took a step back. "I am trying. I'm just not very good at it yet. If you didn't want to teach me, you didn't have to. I'm sorry for the inconvenience."

And with those words, Kyoko hurried out of the room. Ren leaned against his desk feeling guilty. He had allowed his jealousy to take control, and had said something he hadn't intended to. And now she'll probably hate me.


A/N: First let me say I am so sorry for the delay in getting a new chapter up! I actually wrote this chapter and had to go back and rewrite about half of it because it didn't flow properly. But next week is thanksgiving here so I will have some time off of work and I'm hoping to get a bunch of writing done! Thank you for your patience!