Back with more spam! Lol~ Jk ^^ I should have posted this yesterday, but since I posted something else I decided to wait another day.

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Chapter 38

Misaki walked into the Ritz-Carlton with her arm looped through November's as they made their way to the front desk. She wanted to say that she didn't need his support, but she had the inkling that he purposely orchestrated it this way. The first time she had said that she didn't need his help, he had complied with her wishes by letting her walk on her own.

They didn't even make it out of the store before she stumbled and he was there ready to catch her. He grinned as she peeled herself away from his chest. When she had accused him of choosing these shoes on purpose, he had only chuckled. They proceeded to the cashier after he had carefully tucked her arm into his.

Her other clothes were carefully packed away by Suzume and they had put them into a box for her. They slipped that into a bag and November carried it for her as they walked out of the store. It was now that she realized how it all came together… November's formal suit was to match with her formal wear – something he must have planned.

As she listened with half an ear to the conversation November was having with the staff at front desk, she couldn't believe she was even in a place like this – not to mention dressed like this. She felt like she owned the place; that was how much confidence her appearance had given her. Not in the way she normally felt at work, but that she commanded presence as a woman. Of course, that opinion was strengthened with all the stares she had been receiving from strangers.

"The Ritz-Carlton Suite is on the 53rd floor. If you'll take the elevator on your farthest left, that should take you directly to the entrance of your suite."

"Thanks," November said as he took the key.

"Enjoy your stay with us. If there is anything you need, please do not hesitate to call us for any assistance."

"We shall do that."

November gave the man a slight nod before he led Misaki to the elevator that he had pointed out. This was too surreal and Misaki couldn't help wondering what she was doing here. This was a hotel – a very luxurious one at that – and November had just booked a suite for the night…

"W – What are we doing here?" Misaki asked nervously when they were alone together in the elevator going up.

"What? We're going to have supper."

"Eh? Here?"

"Why not?" November asked with a grin. "I bet you're hungry."

"B – But… It's expensive here!"

"I'm not concerned about that."

"Y – You should be…" answered Misaki. "I mean…"

"Sometimes, I think you worry about the silliest things. Money is made to be spent, not to be stockpiled. Life is meant to be enjoyed and right now, I enjoy it the most by finding new things to do with you on dates. It's not like I'm always going to bring you here and I bet you've never been on a fancy date before anyways."

"I…"

"No, you should only start worrying if I did this with you every day," November explained with a laugh. "I want you to enjoy yourself too and not worry about everything else. I'm sure you have enough to worry about when you're at work."

**********

Standing at the window, Misaki stared out into the city where she could see the Tokyo skyline. As promised, they had eaten supper through room service. It seemed like he was already accustomed to her eating habits as he must have ordered half the menu. It must have been a shock to the room staff as they needed more than one person to bring up their meal.

She couldn't believe it. The place was spectacular! She could see far out into the distance of the city and the bright lights twinkled back at her. The suite was spacious, even larger than her own place. At first, she had been nervous given that it was a hotel, but November hadn't tried anything on her as they explored the place together.

Since he was preoccupied in the bathroom, Misaki smiled slightly as she recalled the small speech November had given her in the elevator. She never imagined that he would be the type to give a lecture, though she supposed he was right. Life kept her busy and it was almost like she didn't know how to have fun anymore. Perhaps it was the guilty feeling that nagged at her when she tried since there were people out there suffering from the cruel and mindless things that both Contractors and humans could do to each other.

A door clicked shut in the distance and she glanced over her shoulder to see November enter the room. He smiled at her. Misaki nodded slightly in reply before turning her gaze back to the scenery in front of her. A slight hum of excitement seemed to be dwelling underneath her skin that mingled with the nervousness as she didn't know what to expect from him next.

"What are you thinking about?"

Misaki glanced up at him as he had casually put his jacket around her shoulders. Standing next to her, his gaze was also on the city before them. Not sure if she wanted to tell him what she was thinking, she gently shook her head and gazed away. It would ruin the mood if she talked about work now, even if that was how they were connected.

"The view is unbelievable, don't you think?" he asked, not pressuring to answer his earlier question. "It's beautiful in this distant and surreal way."

"This far away and with how much of the city we can see, it makes you realize just how tiny you are as one person."

"True. I suppose you would think of how insignificant you are, but at the same time, I think it's something to be thankful for and amazed at."

"How so?" Misaki inquired, wondering what he was thinking.

"I don't think there are many other cities like ours in the world; none that I've seen. Despite everything you've seen at work, I'm sure there must be good memories along with the bad ones. That I can even bring you to a place like this… It's a testimony to how fortunate I am."

November turned to glance at her and Misaki felt butterflies flutter in her stomach. It shouldn't really come as a surprise, but she didn't expect him to be so eloquent when it came to more serious-natured conversations. After all, he was the one who chose to show his superficial side to the world – at least with everyone else, but her.

"That reminds me," she said, hoping he didn't do anything untoward since she wasn't mentally prepared to ward him off. "I should thank you for the lovely evening, even if um… Not everything went according to my plan."

"It did according to mine," he answered with a chuckle as she had glanced down at the outrageously expensive, yet breath-taking dress she was wearing. "But you're welcome. Did you want to stay here a little longer or try out their fancy couches?"

"I think I'll stay here for a bit longer."

"I'll get you something to drink. What do you want?"

"Oh, that's fine," Misaki replied. "I don't need anything."

Her eyes widened in surprise as he smiled and took a step closer towards her. Even so, she didn't feel threatened. She reciprocated the smile, all the while wondering what he was going to do next. He reached out for her, placing his hands on her shoulders. But instead of tugging her close, he brushed his hands down the sleeves of the jacket he had placed there.

"N – November?" she asked softly.

"Hm?"

"W – What are you doing?"

"Nothing really," he replied lightly. "I was just thinking it was such a shame to cover you up like this, but I don't want you to catch a cold."

"Oh…"

"The shawl was hardly enough to keep you warm, but it all needs to match. Here, let me help you," November stated.

"Help me with what?" she asked in confusion.

He stepped away from her and walked around so that her back was towards him. His fingers lightly brushed across her bare shoulders as he pulled away the jacket, taking the thin shawl with it. He tossed the shawl to the side before instructing her to put out her arms. When she complied, he slipped the sleeves of the jacket over her arms before coming back around to face her.

"You'll be warmer this way," he informed her as he bent down to do up the buttons for her.

"I… Thanks," she murmured.

"Not a problem. Are you sure you don't want anything to drink?"

"Yes, I'm fine."

"Then I'll let you enjoy the scenery for a while longer. Just let me know when you're ready to leave. I'll watch some TV while I wait," said November.

"L – Leave?"

"Go home… Unless you rather stay here with me all night?"

"N – No! Of course not!" Misaki exclaimed as a bright flush touched her cheeks.

"I'm a little hurt," he answered with a chuckle. "But at the same time, I expected this. You can change back into your own clothes at my place since I don't think you can drive with those shoes on. Let me know when you're ready."

He casually brushed the back of his fingers across her cheek before he sauntered off. Misaki turned to watch him go and he grinned at her before he partially closed the door to the bedroom he had entered. There was a 40-inch flat screen TV inside and she wondered what he would watch for a brief second before she sighed softly.

She was not used to this at all. Sometimes, he was being playful and others, quite serious. She never knew what to expect from him when he easily switched between the two without any warning. Her cheeks were still warm from the embarrassed reaction she had when she stupidly asked what he meant by leaving.

Finding her hands from within his jacket, Misaki stepped towards the window and placed one hand against the glass. It felt so good. The coolness of it was a welcomed feeling in comparison to the heat she was feeling. Sighing softly, she pressed her cheek against it and closed her eyes.

Now that November was away from her, she had some time to sort out what exactly happened. There had been so much… It seemed like November was a genius when it came to toying with her. He used his sweet gestures to lure her into compromising situations. Then there had been that electrifying moment in the dressing room when they discuss the dress… But he hadn't actually done too much – at least nothing that she could get angry about.

The whole hotel experience was beyond her imagination and again, he didn't try anything here either, despite what she might think. All in all, she could imagine the polar reactions she was going to get; Kanami would be ecstatic and envious at the same time while Li would probably freak out on her… Just because that seemed to be the latest reaction he had to everything November related.

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"Misaki?" November asked quietly.

He had finished watching a complete news program and she still hadn't come to find him. A little concerned, he had exited the bedroom to find her. He didn't expect her to run away, especially because of the dress – not to mention that she didn't have a reliable form of transportation with her. He found her exactly where he had left her, standing in front of the window.

She seemed to be lost in thought and November smiled to himself. The thought that a true luxury would be returning home to find her waiting for him entered his mind. Or knowing how she was, to pick her up each night so they could return home together. He was careful not to startle her as he made his way to her side.

"Misaki," he murmured softly, placing his arms around her shoulders and pulling her closer.

"N – November! W – What?"

"Did I startle you?"

"Of course," she exclaimed, trying to escape his embrace as she could feel his heat permeating through the jacket and into her back. "I… Let me go."

"Only if you tell me what you were thinking about."

"November…"

"Please?" he asked, relishing the feel of holding her close.

"N – No… My thoughts are personal things that I don't want to share with you."

"Not even a little bit? You mean I can't convince you to share them with me?"

"Of course not," she retorted.

"Well you're no fun," he answered with a long weary sigh as he pulled away from her as she had wished.

"What did you want?" she inquired, surprised he had given up so easily.

"Are you sure that's something you want to know?"

"Well you must have wanted something if you came out to find me…"

"There are lots of things I want," November replied with a grin. "Like let's see… To hold you in my arms like I was doing a second ago; or to kiss you; go on dates with you…"

"I – I didn't mean like that!" protested Misaki as she felt herself blushing at his words.

"But that was what you asked…"

"I meant right now," she answered, disbelieving that he would feign innocence.

"Those are things I want right now… Are you sure you won't let me indulge in at least one of them? I'll even let you pick…"

"That is not what I meant at all and you know it! You're just trying to provoke me on purpose!"

"Maybe, because I love how cute you look when I put a healthy blush in your beautiful cheeks," he answered with a chuckle. "I came to find you because you didn't come to find me. I thought you would have wanted to go home by now."

"Oh…" she murmured, thoroughly embarrassed by how easily he talked about his intentions – probably because he understood full well the type of effect it on her. "I… I lost track of time. Were you in a hurry to get home?"

"Only if it means I get to keep you with me forever."

Misaki groaned as she couldn't believe he made something so corny sound so good. He laughed in response to her reply and she could only shake her head in response. Somehow or another, she really needed to learn to watch her words around him. At least, for things that might come across with a dual meaning since he always chose the meaning that suited him best.

"I'm ready to go whenever you are."

"Avoiding my comment I see," he teased. "But very well. Your wish is my command."

"If only that were actually true…"

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A/N: Lol~ I hope no one was wishing for them to kiss... You'll have to wait some more... teehee~ It is coming though! And NOT at the very, very end. Promise ^^