It had been the most difficult role to play. Kuon had been patiently waiting the whole evening to be alone with Kyoko. He had gone to her birthday party and resisted the impulses to kiss and hold her, while wishing her a Happy Birthday, and he had posed as the perfect senpai, even keeping his distance more than the usual. He couldn't risk to be seen by other people despite they knew he was close to Kyoko, because now their complicity was too evident. He had to stay away and watch her interact with others, and only approach Kyoko a couple of times, with Yashiro beside them, just to keep the act of them being in a current senpai-kohai relationship.

The party had been fantastic, he had granted Maria-chan the wish of appearing dressed with the same outfit of her beloved nee-san and, perhaps, if any photos leaked, people would cut the gossip about him buying woman's clothes, even if it had kind of dried a few weeks ago, he knew that he still might be followed. That had been another reason to be extremely careful with that night preparations. Although, as soon as he had seen Kyoko wearing the dress he'd bought for her and with that hairstyle MUSE had arranged for her, he had been stunned. He couldn't help but smile inside anytime people whispered how beautiful she looked that night. He knew how much Kyoko desired to stand out for once, and not be called plain or unattractive that, even if he risked other men desiring her, he felt happy to grant her that wish.

He tried not to exasperate while waiting inside his apartment. He knew that it would take Kyoko more than an hour to be able to sneak inside the building and knock at his door. He kept thinking about the order he'd say the things he wanted to say and would give her the real presents for her birthday. He just hoped that tonight, there wouldn't be any unexpected events that could ruin their long awaited encounter.

His door rung at 2 a.m., but he didn't care about the time. He rushed to open it so he could drag Kyoko inside "Happy birthday" he said grabbing her quickly and closing the door.

"Thank you" her eyes were really beautiful, she was still dressed in the clothes he'd sent her. She wanted to say something else but Kuon couldn't wait to kiss her, so she ended up answering to his passionate greeting.

"I didn't know I could feel that miserable" he said regaining his breath after the kiss "Not seeing you has been a nightmare" he held her as he was afraid that she would vanish.

"It's been hard for me too" she said holding him back "I must admit that even being that busy, I couldn't stop thinking about you" Kuon smiled as he confirmed that Kyoko felt exactly the same "I…" she raised her gaze to encounter his "I haven't thanked you properly for the dress yet" she blushed.

"Then give me another kiss" he requested, and she kissed him timidly "A proper kiss" he protested, but Kyoko was still shy. He kissed her cheek "This is not the real present" he blinked his eye.

Kyoko looked confused. He took her hand and brought her to the coach. If it hadn't been the party, he'd planned a dinner with candles… but now it was too late to eat, so he just took her to the coach.

"I am sorry to make it so casual, and zero romantic" he apologized "I first wanted to tell you that I've been selected for Hikaru Genji's role"

"That's fantastic" Kyoko's eyes sparkled, and she offered him a genuine smile that melted his heart.

"Thank you, Kyoko, it means so much to me" he said "If I succeed with this movie, perhaps…" he wanted to complete that sentence, but first he had to say a few more things "I want to give you this" he placed a small jewelry box on her hands. Kyoko's face blanked for a moment "Just open it, it's to pay company to Princess Rosa" she hesitated but opened the box to find a couple of beautiful earrings shaped as to Queen Rosa.

"These are really beautiful" he could see how Kyoko's eyes wetted a little "I don't know what to say…"

"I am glad that you like them" he smiled "These are designed just to match Princess Rosa" she looked at him with a gaze that showed how overwhelmed she was "Kyoko" he had to say more things "There's been a reason of why we haven't been able to meet"

"Uh?" she seemed lost. Kuon knew that she'd been distracted by her own job, but he wanted to explain.

"On the day I went to buy your birthday presents" he started "Maria-chan accompanied me, so I could use her as an alibi and make people believe that she was the one choosing everything for you" Kyoko was paying attention "I knew that it would be weird if I appeared into any shop to buy women's things, so I used Maria-chan for this. Even with that, soon the gossip spread and we had the tabloids following us" Kyoko's mind made a connection that Kuon could notice "I did it on purpose, I wanted to throw a small hint for later… but I did complicated things for us. I am really sorry"

"That's why they published those photos of Maria-chan with us?" Kyoko had been putting one and one together "You could had send Yashiro-san instead"

"But then, what meaning would have? I wanted to pick up everything myself" Kuon protested "I did choose Princess Rosa, although you completely bought my tale about the Rose…" Kyoko's eyes widened as that was the only thing she keep deluding herself with "So I wanted to choose my presents for your birthday, otherwise those would have no meaning"

"Nobody has ever done something like this for me before" Kyoko looked like she was about to cry.

"That's why I wanted to be the first" he smiled "And the one and only, if I can" she quickly gazed at him sensing his possessive nature "Anything made me happier than seeing how radiant you were tonight, wearing the dress I chose"

"You said that when a man buys a woman clothes it's…" Kyoko had such a great memory.

"And I intend to, Kyoko" the Emperor of the Night had returned "I do" he could appreciate how she shivered and fixed her gaze on him "But before I'll make you mine" he had to say it "I want to tell one more thing"

"Aren't I already yours?" she started to play too "I am wearing the clothes you sent me" she looked really attractive while saying this "And I am here"

"Of course" he caressed her cheek, acknowledging her game "There's more things waiting for you" he continued "But before I show those to you, I want to show you one more thing" he took another jewelry box from his pants' left pocket "I want to let you know that I am aware we won't be able to bring what's inside it. But after thinking it over, I decided that I wanted to tell you that when the movies for BJ's role and Hikaru Genji's role are released, no matter the results, I'll be wearing it to let everyone else know that I am no longer available" Kyoko's eyes showed their shock as she understood what might be inside the box "It might take me a longer time to get the right to ask you for something else. But after all these weeks, I realized that even if we have to hide it for your sake and so I can complete my goals, I'd be more than willing to drop everything if you asked me" she wanted to speak, but he just wanted to say one more thing "I am greedy, I know. I don't want to choose between my career and the woman I love. It's because my pride depends on it, my relationship with my father also depends on it, but furthermore, it's because if I cannot reach my dreams, then I am not worthy of you, Kyoko" he said.

Kyoko placed her right hand on the one that was holding the box "I love you" she smiled "And I am greedy too" she lowered her gaze "I can't deny that I still want revenge, I still want to show that I can be a good actress. Not only because of Sho Fuwa, but because a lot of people neglected me or looked down on me before. I am grateful to those who helped me, but I still hold my pride, and I am not worthy of you if I cannot stand as an actress for my own merits" she raised her gaze again "I am sorry my pace is slower than yours. I am younger, and my career will take longer. Will you wait for me, Kuon?"

He kissed her deeply "I will" he whispered to her ear "But I am afraid, that maybe it'll be you who'll wait for me, at the end" He knew that she wouldn't understand. Kuon had seen how quickly she'd raised her career. It wasn't a coincidence or one of those cases when someone gains fame first and then disappears as fast as had raised. Kyoko was one of a kind, as an actress she was someone to be afraid off, she would soon surpass his own talent. He knew "I also want to ask you one more thing" he opened the box so Kyoko could see the couple rings that were waiting inside. Couple rings were for those who didn't marry but wanted to make public the fact they belonged to someone else. Kuon wanted to marry Kyoko some day. He truly believed that she was the woman he wanted to spend the rest of his days with. But their careers were hard to handle, and it wasn't easy for celebrities like him or the one he knew Kyoko would become to date openly and less to marry. Kuon also had the truth about his own self to reveal someday. There were too many things that could complicate their relationship but, yet, he had decided he'd estate that he belonged to someone as soon as he'd completed his new movie.

"Kuon" Kyoko interrupted his speech "Do you really intend to wear it before you know what the results are?"

"If I fail" he replied "Even if you don't love me anymore, I still will belong to you" he was serious "And if I succeed, if I have to start flying to the US and trying to advance my career there, so I can become Japan's number 1 actor; then I want the World know that I've already have someone I love"

"I'll work hard to catch up with you" Kyoko still looked overwhelmed "I promise"

"Kyoko" he had been interrupted "There was one more thing I wanted to say" she tried listening despite she was obviously anxious "When I have finished filming the new movie, when you've graduated high school, even if we have to keep a low profile, I want you to move in with me"

"Here?" she seemed surprised "Live with you?"

"I know I am foolish" he left the rings' box on the table "And I know that I intend to still keep it private. But I can't bear not seeing you, and we'll get even busier than we've been… I don't care if you're asleep when I get home, or if I've passed out waiting for you. I just want to know that we'll be staying together, and try to share my daily life with you. Even if the time we get to see each other is a few minutes on the morning, I want to be able to fall asleep while holding you or find you sleeping beside me when I wake up" Kyoko had become speechless "I know" he laughed "I sound cheesy, I am sorry"

"Won't it be troublesome for you?" she finally said.

"I guess we'll have to be extremely careful" he pulled her closer "But I'll take that risk" he kissed her.

Kuon had said so many things in a short time, he knew that Kyoko would think those over and would have something to say later, but he'd taken too long to talk and now he wanted to get her inside his bed. He stood up and offered his hand so Kyoko would follow him to the bedroom. Still being shy, he undressed her, as he had already stated before buy buying her clothes. That night, they took things really slow, Kuon wanted to enjoy every bit of her body before allowing her to sleep. They would have the whole day after to rest and discuss everything through. He knew he was contradictory with everything he had said: he wanted to hitch her so bad, but yet he didn't want to expose their relationship. Even his ideas of a solution were unstable, and he was sure that sooner or later, they might fall. He just prayed that Kyoko could become a more established actress sooner than what it was expected and, perhaps, even if everything got exposed, he wouldn't be damaging her career.

I completely fell for my feelings…