Hey guys, I'm back with another chapter! Honestly, I don't know how would you feel about this chapter but I hope you'll enjoy it! ^^

Alexandra Arauz: Thanks for the compliment! I hope you'll continue enjoying this story ^^

Peachie: Thanks and yes, he's a male hahaha

teamBLAZE: Awww thanks for catching on that, I thought it would be a good premise for this story (the stimuli and the sense). Iris and Marian make a great matchmaking couple, don't you think? HAHA

fantasyanimegirl283: it's okay! I'm glad you're dropping a review despite being busy! And yeah, Raeger's 'eww' line is so hilarious I couldn't stop laughing when I saw it!

Bean9000: Thanks for the compliment and I'm happy to know that this story makes you happy! ^^

CrimsonCrush: read on to satisfy your curiosity *wink*

Klaus was mixing the scent, as usual, when he heard the knock. "Mr. Klaus? It's me, Raelyn," he heard the voice said.

"Please come in," he replied while he stood up and straightened the hem of his suit to make himself seemed more presentable. He turned around just in time with her walking into the house. She smiled. "You seem to be better," she commented with relief.

"Yes, I am," he assured her as he motioned to a small seat he had prepared next to his in front of his desk. "Please."

The young woman took ginger steps to the chair. "Truth to be told, this might get repetitive and boring… so, if you do not wish to continue any longer please let me know."

She smiled. "It's okay," she assured him.

They sat down next to each other, but Klaus turned his chair so that he faced her. "Basically, I would ask you to smell the samples and give me your honest feedback."

"Okay…"

"I have prepared one before you came," Klaus reached out to one of his reaction tubes and pulled out its stopper before giving it to Raelyn. He watched as the young woman carefully put the tip of the tube near her nose. He watched it too, as she took a shallow breath, just enough to draw the scent into her sense, and then closed her eyes. "The client didn't give me specific requests, so it could be anything."

After some moments, Raelyn opened her eyes and faced him. "it feels too heavy," she told him. "The after-effects, I mean… I thought it was supposed to be lighter?"

Klaus put his hand on his chin and nodded pensively. "Do you have any suggestion as to how I should fix it?"

Raelyn pondered for a moment; the corners of her lips curled ever so slightly to form something akin to a smile as she pursed her lower lip. She used her free hand to prop herself, latching itself to the edge of the chair. Klaus could also feel her legs swinging back and forth; he didn't tell her that he could feel the light brushes of her shoes and his covered shins. She looked so young—well, she was young—but there was something so girlish, so innocent in the way she was being around him. It couldn't be because of their age gap, right? Or could it be?

"How about adding a light, fruity scents?" she finally spoke up with a bright smile.

Klaus watched his client carefully as the latter tested his sample. They met in a simple diner, and it was quite noisy, but the silence that came from his client was more deafening than the conversations going on around him. It was his first job for this client, so this scent would be his first impression and first impression—needless to say—always weighed a lot.

After some moments, the client finally spoke. "There are two possibilities, Mr. Adler," he continued. "One: I heard wrong about you. Two: Something significant happened."

"Beg pardon, Sir?"

"I was told that your scent has this calming signature," the client spoke. "It is true, but not for long… but I have to say I love the small fruity surprise in the end. I'm impressed."

Klaus sighed in relief; he didn't even realize he had been holding his breath in. "When I first saw you, I thought your scents would be appropriate for older women… those in their thirties or forties, but this sample is very suitable for women in their twenties."

Women in their twenties, huh… Klaus thought. He briefly thought about Raelyn; she was the one who suggested the fruity addition, after all. Perhaps, that's why.

"Which is why, I'd like to place another order, this time for women in their thirties or forties…"

Klaus and Iris were walking back to town, telling each other about their respective meeting, when they passed a patisserie with a plate of beautifully arranged sakura mochi on the display. Again, he thought of Raelyn; while they were working, they conversed here and there mostly to keep her out from boredom. In one of such conversations, he found out that she loved sakura mochi.

Klaus turned to Iris. "One moment," he told her before walking into the shop.

It didn't take long before he came back with a small box containing half a dozen of sakura mochi. "Cakes?" Iris asked. "Since when?"

"It's not for me," Klaus replied as they resumed walking. "It's for Miss Raelyn."

Iris' eyes twinkled playfully. "For a date?"

"As thanks," Klaus emphasized. "For helping me out. She loves sakura mochi."

"I see…" Iris mused. "In a way, she did help you to receive another request." She then laughed lightly before saying, "It suits her… sakura mochi."

"What do you mean?"

"I heard this kind of rice cake is eaten in Sakura Country every year to commemorate a festival for young girls," she told him. "The pink color of the rice cake reminds me of her beautiful hair, and for the leaf wrapping…" she glanced playfully. "…do you need me to spell it out for you?"

He knocked on her door lightly three times. "Miss Raelyn? It's me."

"Wait for a moment, please!" she replied from inside.

She came out a few moments later. "Mr. Klaus!" she asked. "Today was the meeting, right? How was it?"

"It went very well, thanks for your assistance."

He could see her cheeks bloomed into a beautiful shade of pink. "It's nothing much, really," she told him.

He gave her the package. "No, no, you were a big help," he said. "Which is why I would insist for you to accept this."

Raelyn took the package and she squealed when she realized what it was. "Sakura mochi! Thanks, Mr. Klaus!"

Klaus unknowingly smiled, looking at her to be all excited like that. "I'm glad you like it."

"Would you like to come in for some tea?" she asked. "I mean, you've walked all the way to the mountain just to give me this… I feel bad if I just send you away."

"Tea would be good."

Raelyn stepped aside to allow him inside. Obviously, it was his first time to be in her house. It was small, but neat and clean. She didn't have much, but arranged what she had in such a way that made the room felt spacious.

She came back from the kitchen not very long after she asked him to sit around the small dining table with a teapot, two sets of cups and a small plate with the sakura mochi he bought on it. She set down the tray at the middle of the table. After she poured the tea for both of them, she sat down across him. "I hope you like green tea. Grandma Eda gave me some last time."

"I'm fine with all kinds of tea," he replied, taking in the warm scent of the cup of tea in front of him. "How about you?"

"I like green teas better than black."

Klaus noted that she talked more easily around him these days, which was a good thing. Sometimes he felt like he bored her out, but it didn't seem to be the case anymore.

She took one of the mochis on the plate, unwrapped and then took small bite. "Mmmm…" she hummed softly. "This is nice. Would you have some, Mr. Klaus?"

"No, it's okay," he refused politely. "I'm not really into sweets myself and it's good simply watching you enjoying it the way you do."

Her cheeks turned pink again, almost the same shade of the round—now incomplete—sweet right in front of her lips. Klaus couldn't help but to smile a little. He remembered what he had told Iris on their way back earlier.

"If I said I feel nothing for her, I know it's a lie. It feels really good to see her smile and I would do anything to protect that. I want her to be happy and content and get all she wants and deserves…"

He knew that everything he had told Iris was true when he saw her enjoying the sweets he had bought her. It was a simple thing, eating sweets, but somehow it seemed to be quite a deal. Her happiness pleased him.

A thought began to grow inside of him.

Is this how it feels to have a younger sibling?

Stay tuned for the next chapter!

Thanks for reading! Please rate and review ^^

A/N: I know some of you might be like "WTH KLAUS THAT'S A CRUSH DATE HER DATE HER" etc. etc. in my defense, I believe that this relationship DEMANDS things to be taken slowly. ^^