Author: I'm back! I wanted to leave the last chapter to speak for itself and I was really happy that you guys gave such positive feed back. Remember to always pay attention to the details and tell me what you think in the box below!

Happy reading everyone! Promise to update as soon as I can. :)

Chapter 10

It had been a week since the kidnapping incident, and things were going back to normal.

Ryosuke was coming down the stairs to go to school when his mother called him from the kitchen.

"Yes mother?" he said walking to the kitchen table.

"We are having dinner tonight with another doctor from work with his daughter."

'Great' he thought annoyed.

"Okay mother, what time?"

"Seven o'clock sharp. I've met her before and she's a lovely girl" she said smiling.

Ryosuke rolled his eyes as he walked toward the garage to his car. As he drove to school all he could dwell on was how dreadful dinner would be. He really wanted Mizuki to meet his parents, but with recent events they just tried to go back to normal living. If this next meal goes as bad as he predicted, then he'd ask Mizuki if she's ready. After all introducing her to his parents was like meeting their future daughter in-law in his parents' eyes.

When he arrived at school, Mizuki was already waiting for him.

"You're actually early" he said with a facetious smile as he stepped out from his car.

"I'm always early, you are just ten minutes earlier than early." she complained.

He kissed the top of her head, took her hand, and started walking toward the school.

"Do you have work again tonight?" he asked.

"Yeah I do, but only until six. What about you, any plans tonight?"

Ryosuke felt a bit hesitant at first, but figured there was no use lying to her.

"My parents have arranged another dinner tonight" he replied casually.

"Hmm I see another well brought up rich girl with all the looks, and perhaps no brains."

He chuckled at her sour expression.

"Yes, I suppose that is true sometimes, but I have everything right here."

Mizuki's cheeks flushed to a warm pink shade and she kissed him on the cheek.

"You're sweet"

He felt his own cheeks get a little warm, but tried to cover it by kissing her hand.

"I'll see you later okay. I love you." he whispered.

"I love you too"

Ryosuke went on to his first two lectures as he normally did and waited outside his last class for Mizuki. He watched his fellow classmates file in, but one in particular eyed him before going inside. It was the same girl who had stared at him with sad eyes, the girl from his high school. For some reason, he had this strange feeling as she looked at him. As soon as Mizuki was in sight, he had forgotten all about the other girl.

"How were your lectures?" he asked.

"One class more tedious than the other, I've already read two chapters ahead so it's just review." She said shrugging her shoulders.

He smiled, "Let's go in before we're late."

They sat together in their usual section in the middle of the room and Ryosuke had this strange feeling again like someone was looking at him. He pretended to look at the clock in the back of the room and noticed the girl quickly look down at her paper. He tried to ignore the feeling that was pulling at him and continued to concentrate on the lecture.

When the professor excused them, Ryosuke and Mizuki walked together to their FC's.

"Have a good day at work. Say hi to Mrs. Saito for me"

She laughed, "She always asks, 'Where is that handsome boyfriend of yours?' She's a sweet woman. Have a good time at dinner, I suppose."

Ryosuke laughed at her sarcasm and kissed her hand.

"Call me when you're home. I love you."

Mizuki rolled her eyes at the subject change. "I love you too"

Ryosuke got home after dropping off Tsugumi and could see Keisuke was pacing uncharacteristically in the living room."

"There you are!" Keisuke exclaimed.

"Yes, now what is it you needed to talk to me about?" he asked his eager brother.

"Let's go upstairs"

The two brothers almost talked for four hours. It was nearly 7 o'clock when their mother called them downstairs for dinner.

Ryosuke took a deep breath and put on his usual stoic look; however, as he walked down the stairs his mask faltered for only a second. Standing in the entre' way was the girl from his high school who also happened to be in he and Mizuki's class.

"Ryosuke, Keisuke this is Doctor Arai and his daughter Hanako."

He could see his mother was ecstatic about the whole affair.

"It's nice to see you again Ryosuke" Hanako said with a pleasant smile.

'Likewise' he thought to himself.

"Oh! You two already know each other?" his mother asked with a delighted smile.

"We went to high school together; we actually have a class together at the University." Hanako answered politely.

"Well isn't that nice. Let us all go into the dining room shall we?" said his mother.

They all went to join his father in the large formal dining. The three doctors were talking about work, leaving Ryosuke, Hanako, and Keisuke in silence.

Finally seeing Hanako up close, Ryosuke concluded that she was indeed pretty, shoulder length honey colored hair, slender, modest attire, and a pleasant smile. Even though she was all those things, he just couldn't find her attractive.

"Ryosuke" Hanako started, "Why is it I am here and not your girlfriend"

"I don't believe that is any business of yours. If you must know she's working." He said with a slightly annoyed tone.

"Ah, middle class girl" she said with snobbery.

Ryosuke stopped eating and glared at her; from the corner of his eye he could see Keisuke doing the same.

"Is there something interesting about that?" he asked staring her down.

"I'm only curious as to what your parents think. When you're ready to stop living in a fairytale with your Cinderella then you can call me."

Hanako handed him a folded slip of paper with her phone number. He took it in his hand, crumpled it, and shoved it in his pocket.

"I think you know my answer"

She gave him an angry look and like a typical rich, well brought up Japanese girl, she stayed quiet and ate silently for the rest of the meal.

After the dinner was over, Ryosuke and Hanako exchanged false pleasantries and left it at that.

"She seems like a nice young lady huh son?" said his father.

Ryosuke put on his poker face for his father.

"I'm sorry father, she's not my type. I've actually been seeing someone for a little while." he accidently blurted out.

"Let's meet her then son. How's next Saturday?" asked the doctor.

"Sure. I'll ask her."

Keisuke and Ryosuke went upstairs and Ryosuke went into his room to call Mizuki.

"Hello" Mizuki answered.

"Hey it's me" said Ryosuke.

"Hey you" she said happily, "Mrs. Saito was asking about you; anyway, what's up?"

"I need to talk to you. Do you mind if I come over?"

He felt himself getting anxious.

"No not at all. I'll see you soon."

Ryosuke quickly made his way to Mizuki's house and before he could knock on the door, Mizuki answered it.

"Hey!" she greeted him, "I heard you car."

"Hey" he greeted with a quick kiss.

"Is everything okay?" Mizuki asked curiously.

Ryosuke was feeling a little nervous and Mizuki obviously noticed.

"Okay, I just had dinner with this terrible girl; she's actually in our class. Well what I'm trying to say is I'd love for you to meet my parents" he said quickly.

Mizuki visibly swallowed and took a seat on the sofa.

"So does that mean we…we are…" she started.

"No…no! I mean I have until graduation and I don't want to pressure you at all."

He sat at the edge of the sofa with his hand on her back.

"You know what" she said with a deep breath, "I want to meet them."

Ryosuke saw something spark in her eyes and he couldn't help but kiss her. He pulled away slowly and put his hand threw her silky straight hair.

"I love you" he told her.

"I love you too. I think I need to get some rest."

Ryosuke nodded. Mizuki walked him to the front door, but before she closed it she grabbed his hand.

"Ryosuke…for what it's worth, I know I'd be happiest with you." She smiled and shut the door slowly.

He was silenced.