A/N: I'm back! And this time, I'm going to try to finish this story. It's been like two very hectic years, but after stumbling upon all the encouraging reviews of this story, I decided that it's worth it to continue. So, without further ado…

Recap of the entire story thus far: Sunako finally became a lady for some event, where she met Kyohei's brother, Toshiro. The two of them immediately hit it off, awakening some childhood memory of Kyohei's, where he lost his first love to his older brother. So obviously he wasn't happy about this most recent development. So he took it all out on Sunako, said some nasty words, which made her disappear into the night. Then he tracked her down and saved her from a potential rape situation, and returned her home to her bed. The other boys of the house caught him slipping out of her roomand immediately thought he was a pervert…


The next morning, Kyohei awoke from a fitful sleep, if that, with a terrible crick in his back from lying in a fetal position on Sunako's floor with only his arm as a pillow.

After explaining what had happened that night to the others (and accepting the well-deserved thrashes from Ranmaru and Takenaga that came along with it), Kyohei had returned to his own bed to find that anxiety kept him from falling asleep. The memory of that dimly lit room where Sunako had almost been…

Suffice to say that he couldn't keep his mind off it. The thought that she could ever get hurt like that made his blood boil and jaw clench. Only in Sunako's room, where she was directly in his sight, could he actually fall asleep.

So he accepted the cramp in the morning gracefully, or as gracefully as he could manage, and crawled to his feet. He was pleased to find Sunako still slumbering peacefully.

Kyohei hastily scrambled to his feet and bolted from the room, knowing that Sunako wouldn't be equally pleased to find him on her floor.

The morning passed without a single mention of last night's events; everyone was doing their best to put those terrors behind them. For the most part, they were succeeding. Even Sunako.

Everyone, but Kyohei.

"Do you need help setting up breakfast?" Yuki asked.

Sunako assented with a nod. "You can scoop the rice into the bowls over there," she instructed.

Immediately, Yuki got to work heaping rice into the small ceramic bowls by the rice cooker. He was sloppier than she was, so flecks of rice dripped all over the counter. But he worked diligently, unconsciously sticking out his tongue in his concentration. He let out a sigh of relief when his work was completed.

Yuki wasn't the only one trying extra hard to be nice to Sunako that morning. Takenaga too had taken it upon himself to get a wet paper towel to wipe off the table. He bent over it, scrubbing in circular motions until it was spotless.

Ranmaru had entirely different ideas about what it meant to be helpful.

"Do wear gloves dear, you'll ruin your delicate hands," he said, hovering over her as she washed the dishes, like she was one of his woman friends.

She quite predictably snapped when he tried to stroke her shoulder with one of his wandering hands. In one fluid, extremely agile motion, she snatched his hand in both of hers and twisted it until his arm was held behind his back.

He begged for mercy. "Ow, ow, Sunako! Let go!"

"Don't touch me," she said calmly, as if she was talking about the weather.

When she released him, he went staggering back into the awaiting arms of Takenaga and Yuki. He cradled his arm melodramatically.

Takenaga merely thwacked him on the back of the head. "Baka!" he hissed.

Just then, Kyohei staggered in, eyes barely open, unruly blond hair matted on one side, and clearly sleep deprived. "What's for breakfast?" he muttered.

"Miso soup and assorted side dishes," Sunako replied. Her tone was borderline between cheerful and nonchalant, which was the same thing as overly peppy for her.

Takenaga, Yuki, and Ranmaru exchanged nervous looks.

The table was ready, the food set, and the four boys seated in their usual seats. Sunako looked upon them, satisfied, and made for the exit when Kyohei stopped her.

He caught her wrist. "Stay," he said. "I can't eat when you're not here."

The other three boys stared wide-eyed. But none were as surprised as Sunako.

"Let go of me!" she demanded, trying to pry herself free from his grasp.

Kyohei only shook his head with great weariness. He was too tired to put up a fight but too stubborn to let it go.

"Stay until I'm done," he said again. "I'll finish quickly."

After an uncomfortable pause, Sunako consented. Anything to get away from that bright creature. So he released her and watched as she took her place in the corner of the room.

"Itadakimasu," he said. The others softly mimicked him before they all began to eat.

As promised, Kyohei was done with his breakfast in a hurry. He didn't even ask for seconds.

"I have to go grocery shopping," Sunako said to him as she put his dishes into the sink.

"I'll go with you," he said. He fixed her with a severe look, daring her to refuse.

She didn't, thankfully. They made quick work of the groceries. Sunako went in and out of shops to haggle for the best prices and Kyohei followed close behind her, like her personal bodyguard. Even when he would occasionally get too close, making her almost swoon from their proximity, Sunako didn't complain. Somehow she knew that his protectiveness was more for his benefit than her own. And she also appreciated the comfort of his presence.

After they were done, they headed home in a relaxed silence.

When they arrived at the mansion, a surprise was awaiting them.

"Toshiro!" Sunako cried in surprise, when she found the well kept young man standing in their living room. "What are you doing here?"

"I just came to visit," he answered, giving her a polite bow. "I hope I'm not intruding."

He directed those last words at Kyohei, who was dawdling at the back of the room. There were still a lot of things on his mind, as evident from his sullenness.

Sunako shook her head vigorously. "Not at all," she said.

Then Toshiro and Sunako glanced at Kyohei until Toshiro broke the awkward pause.

"May I speak with Kyohei alone for a moment, Sunako?" he asked her.

She nodded. She took the groceries with her out of the room.

"What do you want?" Kyohei asked, wearily.

Toshiro ran a hand through his blond hair, his nervous habit, and released a giant breath. "Well," he began, "I want your permission to ask out Sunako."

Kyohei narrowed his eyes at his big brother in distrust.

"I know that we've had our problems in the past," Toshiro admitted, making gestures with his palms facing upward to indicate his openness. "But I want to make amends."

Kyohei didn't respond. Instead, he collapsed onto the sofa and feigned indifference.

"I'm going to be perfectly clear, Kyohei. I like Sunako." Toshiro looked at Kyohei quickly, searching for any signs of anger or resentment. Finding none, he continued. "She and I share a lot of interests, and I'm genuinely intrigued by her."

Toshiro was becoming more unnerved by Kyohei's silence than he would have been at a sudden outburst of rage. That at least would've been more suitable for Kyohei.

Tiredly, Toshiro sunk at the feet of the couch that Kyohei was lounging on. "But you're my brother, and you are more important to me than my relationships with girls."

Still there was no response.

"So… I'm asking you for permission to date her. If you refuse, then I will never speak to her again."

Toshiro was almost too nervous to check for a response this time. He simply bowed his head slightly and raised two intertwined hands in a gesture of humility and submission.

It took a while for Kyohei to come up with an answer. He cared deeply for Sunako, that much was certain. But after the events of the previous night, he wasn't so sure he was right for her. She was always in danger, just because of some rumor that she was his girlfriend. But if it ever became reality, he couldn't imagine what crazy schemes his fans or his enemies would come up with to harm her.

Kyohei hated the thought of Sunako being hurt again. He would do anything to keep her safe.

Even if it meant that they could never be more than just friends.

And with that thought, Kyohei's mind was decided. He would suppress whatever feelings he had for her and never try to confess to her again.

Besides, Kyohei thought to himself, Toshiro is a good man. No jealous fans, no enemies...

After that long moment of deliberation, Kyohei finally had some semblance of peace within his mind, although he felt a pang of regret in his heart. He looked up at Toshiro and fixed a stern gaze on him.

"Only if you promise to keep her safe and love her for how she is," Kyohei said.

Sheer joy radiated from Toshiro's eyes at his brother's words. Toshiro leant forward and wrapped his arms around Kyohei's body.

"Thank you, brother," he said, a smile in his voice. "I promise."

Kyohei chuckled half-heartedly at those words. But Toshiro's happiness was contagious. So despite the aching feeling in his chest, Kyohei allowed himself to smile.


A/N: Sorry for the really long wait guys! But thank you for being truly faithful fans of my story. Please review! I'll try my best to finish the rest of it before I return to college.

.