Kotoko roused slightly. That had been a most...interesting dream. When she rolled onto her stomach and discovered that instead of her BTS nightshirt, she was wearing only Yuuki's birthday gift (a sapphire-studded, heart-shaped necklace), she realized it was oh-too-real. She slid her eyes over just far enough to recognize the profile on the pillow next to her before closing her eyes tightly and stifling a squeal.

The evening had started on a slightly embarrassing note. While Kotoko had never been known for her "smarts" she knew what Yuuki's plans entailed. She had managed to squeeze all her needed items into a large over-the-shoulder bag, but exiting the taxi in front of the luxurious hotel, she felt as if all eyes were on her.

Yuuki met her just inside the entrance. Without a word he had taken the bag to an attendant, and before she could blink it had been whisked into the elevator. Her date returned with a smile and guided her into the restaurant with a firm hand under her elbow.

Any further trepidation faded during the meal. Yuuki showed no hesitation in ordering an overabundance of dishes, teasing her about her fabled appetite. Their long acquaintance had her shooting insults right back at him. The atmosphere changed slightly when he held out her chair and led her to a small dance floor near the darkened lounge.

"Yuuki!" she hissed. "This is a bar! You're underage!"

He laughed into her ear, sending tingles down her spine. "As long as I don't try to order anything, they won't bother with me." He held her close and swayed to the sultry jazz music. Several minutes later, realizing that they were not about to be summarily ejected, Kotoko's tension eased. After about half an hour, he whispered one word, "Ready?"

Despite the fact that she had quickly nodded, her nervousness returned as the elevator ascended. His hand on her waist, Yuuki rolled his eyes. Just as he had predicted!

Kotoko had not actually anticipated an immediate assault as soon as she entered the room, but neither did she expect a small birthday cake with a lit candle. Her cry of glee as she ran to the table revealed that she had once more relaxed.

"Look! It has Hello Kitty on it!" She waved to Yuuki to approach, which he did after removing his jacket.

Loosening his tie as he walked over, he commented, "What a surprise!"

She grabbed his face down for a quick kiss, then pinched one of his cheeks hard. "Stupid! I know you ordered this." She let him go and bent down to blow out the flame. "But why isn't the cake bigger?"

His arms encircled her from behind. "Because we don't need leftovers," he murmured. "Don't forget that Mother only agreed to a one-day delay in your celebration. We'll have a four layer monstrosity tomorrow night."

She tilted her head to the side as his mouth moved to her neck. "You know, Yuuki, I'm not that hungry at the moment."

Her back hit the bed in a matter of seconds. "I was hoping you would say that!"

Her reminiscences came to a halt when the other person in the bed woke and suddenly rolled over on top of her. "Good morning, sweetheart," he said gently.

"G-good morning, Yuuki," she managed, lowering her eyes and blushing.

"Kotoko!" He tilted her chin up. "Still embarrassed?"

Riled a bit, she glared at him. "Well, it's new to me. It's going to take some getting used to."

Yuuki winked at her. "It's new to me too, and I don't mind helping you get used to it." He ran his fingers up her midriff to catch her off-guard before shifting his weight.

"Again?!" Kotoko asked.

"Come on," he pushed hair off her forehead, "I'm a male in my sexual peak! What I lack in experience, I make up for in enthusiasm."

After a shower and room-service breakfast, she paused in the middle of applying mascara and asked, "Had you really not...uh...before?"

Interpreting the question, Yuuki walked over to her, barefoot. "Why should I have gone to some other woman when the one I wanted was right in front of me? Besides," he hugged her, "you kept using our age difference as an obstacle, but you were in the same position."

She scowled at him. "Well, even though I never dated anyone seriously—despite my advanced age!—it still seemed like you knew what you were doing."

"Seriously, Kotoko, have you never heard of AV?" He picked up a brush and began to draw it through her hair. "It's a rite of passage for teenage boys. If you're interested, we can watch some together."

"Yuuki!" Her face showed her shock even more than her voice. "What if someone found the disks?"

He shook his head and met her eyes in the mirror. "Get in the twenty-first century, my dear doofus. It's all on the Internet. You just have to make sure to erase your history." He applied himself to her hair again, humming absently.

Kotoko reached around and stilled his hand before turning to face him. "Yuuki?" She ran a finger over the line of his eyebrow. "You're erasing my heartbreak history." His eyes widened as she continued. "The longer I'm with you, the more those memories disappear in the mist."

When his arms surrounded her and pulled her close, she felt as if she could stay in their protection all day.

Unfortunately, time stops for no one. Especially when Mrs. Irie was involved. Her ringtone chimed forth loudly from Kotoko's phone. "Could you answer and put it on speaker?" she asked. "I need to finish my makeup before check-out time."

"Kotoko-chan!" Her voice echoed in the bathroom. "I hope you're looking forward to your birthday party tonight!"

"Certainly, Obasama." She shot a glance at Yuuki. "How many layers are on my cake this year?"

"How many—? Four, although I don't know why you'd ask."

Kotoko mouthed, "You were right", but Mrs. Irie continued on, unabated.

"That's not the most important thing. I want you to wear that blue dress with the printed orchids tonight."

Kotoko's stomach fell in anticipation of the reply to her next question. "Why?"

"Papa is bringing home a young attorney that was recently hired by the company's legal division. He's from a good family and graduated from Kyushu University. I know that he will enjoy meeting you. Why!" she exclaimed as if it had just occurred to her, "you could show him around Tokyo, as familiar as you are with your touring routes."

"Um, Obasama..." Yuuki placed his hand over her mouth while also muting the phone's speaker.

"So much for telling the family tonight," he said with a half smile. He kissed Kotoko between her frantic eyes. "We'll let her have her party, but if he makes any moves he's out of a job!" He removed his hand to kiss her quickly then restored the phone's setting.

Kotoko punched his arm but replied calmly, "I'll be on time this evening. Don't worry." After she hung up after Mrs. Irie's additional wardrobe and hairstyle suggestions, she turned to Yuuki. "As if he'd try anything with his bosses looking on." She gnawed on her bottom lip. "But how are we going to tell her that you and I…"

"Easily enough." He smiled and opened his arms, and she walked right into them. "But her underhanded methods of finding you a suitor will cost her." When Kotoko looked at him in enquiry, he informed her, "We'll let your father know first." Luckily his reflexes were quick enough to catch her when her legs collapsed.