He skillfully wrapped his towel around his waist and peered out of the bathroom door into the hallway. Was she already in the bedroom or still on her way downstairs? But of course she had to be coming up the stairs at that exact moment! It wasn't enough that he had forgotten his things - again. She caught him right in the act, too! Heiji stuck his head completely out of the door now and looked at the brunette, who was also grinning at him and raising her eyebrows almost knowingly.

„Ya need something, Heiji?"

What was she up to? Was she going to take advantage of the situation and tease him? A little skeptically he looked at his wife. For a moment he considered just slamming the door in her face. He really didn't need her funny jokes. But then something dawned on him and he too began to grin. Why not repay same things with same?

So he put a hand on his towel and opened the door completely. „I just didn't want to scare ya off by going into the bedroom like that. But apparently ya don't have a problem with that." Neither did he - as long as the towel held, she couldn't see anything objectionable. Well, unless she looked under the towel. But that was a rather strange thought. Playfully nonchalant, he walked towards the young woman. Kazuha's gaze wandered back and forth between his hand on the towel and his face in panic. „I'm warning ya, don't do that!" she almost shrieked, but when he nevertheless came closer and closer with his poker face, she slapped her hands in front of her face as a precaution and turned away. Without much ado, Heiji continued to walk casually past her into the bedroom - his hand still on the towel - and pulled the door shut behind him. Inwardly he laughed to himself. The reaction to his counterattack amused him immensely. It was always fun to tease the brunette! Arriving at the wardrobe, he kneeled down in front of it and picked out his sleeping clothes from the day before, as well as a fresh pair of pants, and began to ponder again.

She had certainly had experience. The Kazuha from five years ago would have reacted very differently the moment she saw him in the towel. She would probably have kicked him out of the house with an aikido grip or something. An unmistakable blush spread across his cheeks. Then it was only worse if he had no experience with these things!

Or had Kazuha simply got more mature? Had she watched more adult movies? After all, there was a scene in today's movie. With a quiet sigh, he rose from his crouching position with the clothes in his arms. He quickly put on his clothes and then grabbed the towel again before opening the door for Kazuha. With a broad, almost triumphant smile, he looked down at her. „Well, the peep show's over~!" he grinned, seeing directly that she still hadn't completely recovered.

„The only one who peeps here is yerself!" she remarked with a red face and slipped past him into the room. Heiji had to laugh out loud and was still laughing when he disappeared into the bathroom to put the towel away before returning to the bedroom for good. So tonight they would really sleep like husband and wife in the marriage bed. Well, that could be exciting about falling asleep.

The embarrassed young woman, who had already got into bed, told him to switch off the light. Without hesitating or thinking anything of it, he complied and then walked around the bed in the dark to what was now probably his side of the large bed. He didn't think she really wanted to go any further than before, so he did well not to come too close to her now.

„Did ya set an alarm clock?" Heiji then asked. After all, she had to go back to work tomorrow for the first time since the move. He wanted to get up early too, but probably not quite as early as his wife. At least he could enjoy the last few days without work for an hour or two, while he otherwise wanted to take care of the boxes. „Of course I set my alarm!" retorted Kazuha somewhat defiantly.

Skillfully, he flipped back the blanket a little and slipped under it. Luckily they had separate blankets, otherwise the closeness would probably have been unbearable. It had been more expensive, but from their childhood they knew very well that a shared blanket did not go well with them. Just as he was about to lie down, he paused and looked over at her for a moment. She had become short tempered, almost silent. Skeptically, one of his eyebrows rose. Was she expecting something? Briefly he thought about it, then leaned in and gave her a kiss, but it was short and tender. „Sleep well."

After the words, he also snuggled into his blanket and turned onto his side. He didn't want to involve her in any more long conversations, as she had to get up early in the morning, and caresses wouldn't be a good idea now either. So he left it at that and tried to find sleep. However, just the certainty that Kazuha was lying next to him was reason enough for his body not to let him fall asleep just like that. It would probably take a few nights for him to get used to it.

But the more one tried to fall asleep quickly, the less he could. A wisdom that proved true once more. While Heiji had already closed his eyes, turned his back to his wife and prayed to just fall asleep quickly, the strange feeling of this situation kept rising inside him.

„Heiji?" And then he heard his name. As he often did. He wondered how many times she had called his name and would continue to do so. For a moment he tried to ignore her, not moving.

„Why ya never told me that I was the girl from Kyoto?"

Heiji opened his eyes and stared at the wall opposite. Why was she bringing this up now?! His hands clenched a little into his blanket. He almost wanted to tell her to just sleep and they would talk about it another time. Yes, it was really tempting to just put it off. Maybe she would just forget it again, like the Ebisu bridge thing. But she kept trying and already the next question rang out, „And why did ya think it was another girl at first?"

His gaze turned a little to the side. This woman really could start things like that at the most inopportune times. Slowly, he glanced over his shoulder at her. „Do we need to talk about this now?" he muttered a little grumpily. But she probably wouldn't give him any peace before then, and he couldn't really escape from her in this house either. He sighed softly and slowly turned onto his back to look up at the ceiling. Comfortably, he folded his arms behind his head. Well, he wasn't really tired right now anyway.

„If I told ya, what would've changed?"

„Well, listen!" she gave indignantly. „It would've changed a lot, don't ya think?"

„I didn't want to just come along and say: Oi Kazuha, by the way, ya're the girl from Kyoto back then." Slowly, he closed his eyes.

„Ya might as well have told me when ya found out. Otherwise ya always brag about it when ya solve a case! That was pretty selfish of ya," she noted.

Heiji rolled his eyes slightly at her words. „I just didn't want it that way!" he growled, slightly embarrassed. „Ya don't need to know why!" She didn't know about his countless attempts to confess his love for her and if she thought he was a fool in love anyway, she thought he was even more so after knowing about them!

„Besides, that would've been pretty lame! It had simply been enough for me to know that I had found her and that she continued to deserve her place in my heart!" Slightly embarrassed, he curled his lips at the honest words and turned his head away from her, while continuing to lie on his back.

„Just because there wasn't a perfect time... Everything doesn't have to be perfect all the time," she gave herself thoughtfully. „I would have been happy for sure, but ya've never let me have that!" Heiji snorted lightly at the words. Of course it had to! Who did she think he was anyway! After all, he would give anything for her! Grimly, he looked at her again briefly.

„Ya've no clue what I tried to do back then! For someone who has no sense of romance, it's not just a small thing!" Embarrassed, he turned his back to her.

„Or did ya not say it because ya were disappointed that it was me and not some princess?" she added, offended, averting her eyes. Indignantly, he raised himself and looked at her.

„Stupid cow! I wasn't disappointed!" he growled angrily at her. „Ya were just Kazuha to me then! I never thought that far ahead!" Slightly incensed, he snorted, already considering for a moment whether he would rather sleep in the futon downstairs.

„And why did ya think I was a different girl?"

His cheeks had turned red again. „Because I didn't recognise ya, silly! Ya were so dressed up like that all of a sudden, I thought that hast to be a girl from a noble house! Too pretty for this world!" He was embarrassed just talking about it. „Damn, I was a little squirt and full of ideas with anime from TV. Of course I immediately thought of some princess instead of my best friend!" he grumbled to himself sheepishly. And with age, of course, the memory only got fuzzier after that.

Kazuha had to laugh at these words. „Who's the fool here? Doesn't recognise his best friend just because she wears a pretty kimono for once?"

„When I realised it, I was happy about it! The secret from my childhood had wormed me, but I was really happy that ya were my first love, D-" he didn't get any further than that as a pillow landed in his face. Briefly, he blinked in surprise.

„Ya're really a bad hero! What a goofball!" laughed Kazuha. Such a-

Heiji grabbed her thrown pillow and, laughing spitefully, smashed it in turn with his own against her head, in front of which she had already placed her arms protectively in anticipation. „Ya don't think ya're going to get away with this!" After all, she had willingly given him her pillow, knowing that he still had his own as well.

„Heiji!" she shrieked, trying to protect herself against his attack as best she could. But her screech only elicited a dirty laugh and did not stop him from his attack.

Kazuha would probably never learn what it meant to challenge Heiji Hattori!

Now sleep was really out of the question as they began to wrestle with each other. After a short while, however, he got bored with just attacking her with the pillows, so Heiji carelessly threw them aside and began to tickle her in the sensitive places he knew. The detective knew only too well from her past how sensitive the brunette was and took good care of this decisive advantage. Under her arms, on her belly, on her neck and on her feet. No place was safe from him and the louder she screamed and shrieked, the louder his laughter grew. They both knew he would not stop until she begged and apologized. In all the fun and tussle, he didn't notice that they were getting more and more entangled and closer and closer. He was too eager to make her give up. Helplessly, Kazuha wriggled her legs under him and flailed her arms, but it was no use. Gasping for breath, she finally choked out the following words: „Stop it... Heiji... Please! I have... said... please... ya...!"

Finally, she managed to beg him to stop, so that he slowly let go of her and bent over her, laughing triumphantly. Supporting himself at her sides with his elbows, he slowly sank down a little, exhausted, to hold her captive under him for a little longer.

„Always remember who still holds the greater power he-" he broke off when he felt her breath on his face. A little puzzled, he blinked before realizing he was lying on top of her. His body had found a place between her thighs in a rather obvious position. Wait. He wanted to hold her captive, but surely this no longer seemed like the romping of two children? He had to swallow briefly and suddenly it was there again - the heartbeat pounding in his ears. Her breath tickled his lips and he opened his mouth slightly. She needs to sleep. She needs to sleep. She needs to sleep. Like a mantra, his mind spoke it over and over. He even wanted to say it as a statement. Just say she needed to sleep and get off straight away. Nothing to be ashamed of. But instead, his hands clawed into the sheet beside her and his lips lowered to hers to engage her in a tender kiss. And Kazuha returned the kiss, wrapping her arms around him and stroking both hands right and left along his back before one of her hands settled on the back of his neck. Heiji had to admit, his mind hadn't really grasped yet that they were no longer simply friends who just frolicked wildly and only annoyed each other. And yet he became all the more aware of the new situation when he now felt her petite body beneath him. Slowly one could really believe she was doing this on purpose! Maybe it was just another plan of hers to wind him up. Exactly, first she drove him completely crazy and then she dropped the bombshell and turned it into a joke!

But no. Not even Kazuha would be like that. At least, that's what he hoped. And while his mind was still calling out, warning him that she needed to sleep now and go to work tomorrow, the inner voice began to grow quieter and quieter and Heiji simply softened to the desire to continue passionately ensnaring her lips. For how many times today did her lips hold him captive? He no longer knew. And slowly his mind began to say goodbye again. Her touches on his back only made his kisses more demanding. Damn it, he had to break away from her! He had to let go and leave her alone! This went against everything he had mentally renounced today! But his body craved her - he craved her!

Briefly, her lips broke away from his. For a moment, both their strained breaths filled the air. Was it still from tickling and romping? At least that's what he told himself. For a moment his mind flared again and told him to get off of her. Now.

But no sooner was Heiji about to surrender to that, Kazuha gently but firmly pulled him back into the passionate kiss. She must have really wanted to drive him crazy today! He wondered if she even knew what she was doing? After all, he had just recovered from what had happened earlier! Even though his mind was grumbling inside, his body was clearly enjoying the situation. And so he simply capitulated to his instinct and let his lips wander over the skin on her neck as she laid her head slightly back. His hands also began to explore more of her body.

His mind kept knocking, furiously, urgently, but it had become so quiet that he was already not hearing it anymore among the thoughts that were just now all about Kazuha.

Kazuha, whose skin he wanted to explore.

„Heiji..." she said softly, breathlessly. For a moment he paused in his movement. Was it a request to stop? Or a request not to stop?

For a moment he waited to see if she said anything more, but when nothing further followed, he dismissed it and continued his caresses. And the further he pushed and explored, the more impatient he became.

His thoughts, which had made him stop before, had by now completely departed. He no longer thought about the fact that he had no prevention at all. Not that they could go too far. He was only thinking about the moment with her here and now. So even his mind had now gone silent and said goodbye. All he could think about was his love for this woman and that he wanted to be as close to her as he could. Heiji never wanted to share her with anyone else again and show once and for all that this was no longer a teenage romance for him!

In between, he sometimes had the feeling that she wanted to stop him here or there. Probably that would have been a reason for him to stop just giving in to his instinct. Far too much he would have to constantly think about whether he had misinterpreted her signs. But each time it seemed to be only a brief moment of uncertainty while he followed his instincts. Heiji had no experience, so he had to be guided by what her body and his were telling him. It wasn't a head thing, it was pure instinct. He had now had to wait so long for her closeness that his feelings and hormones were going completely crazy. Thrown overboard were the worries about whether she would get out of bed on time tomorrow or have to go to work overtired. Also thrown overboard were the thoughts about prevention. All that mattered was this moment of intimacy with her.

It was almost as if a longing that had lasted for years was finally being satisfied, in that he could be as close to her as possible. While his senses were fixated only on the woman beneath him, his mind sulked in a back corner of his consciousness, condemned to complete silence. At least for the moment. For a moment that belonged only to the two of them and had been so eagerly anticipated for years. Kazuha didn't resist the experience - he probably wouldn't dare approach her again otherwise. He would be too afraid of going too far again. Instead, she allowed it and he continued these actions as if tomorrow and the realization of the events afterwards did not even exist.

Just before it became serious, he swallowed, as if for a moment he became aware of his actions again while placing himself over her. But it was only a brief rebellion of his mind, which was pushed straight back into the back corner where it just belonged. Slightly agitated, he opened his lips and let his excited breath out into the stillness of the night as his heartbeat echoed in his ears. Heiji desired the young woman. If he was honest, he had for many years, even if he had never been as aware of it as he was on this day. He needed it. He had to satisfy this inner desire. Otherwise he might go mad!

These feelings were completely new to him, but once discovered they were really tempting. It was so incredible to experience this moment. To experience it with Kazuha. Something he could never have imagined in his wildest dreams and was impossible to grasp with a logical mind. Suddenly everything about her was so close, so omnipresent. All his senses were taken up by her and her sight held him captive. As close as anyone else could come to her!

And then it was over - unexpected and sudden.

His eyes widened in surprise before his body slumped a little. His arms suddenly felt weak, while his chest rose and fell with strain.

Damn ... that was way too fast!

He suddenly lifted his head and looked into Kazuha's face in surprise. And at the same moment, when he saw it in the pale light of the darkness, he suddenly turned bright red in realization of what he had just been through and buried his face breathlessly against her breast. Against her naked breast. Jeez, how embarrassing. Surely he had failed and anyway - what had just gotten into him anyway?!

And all of a sudden his mind was back. Ranting at him about his ignorance, his unbridled temper. His body still trembled under the experience he had had, while Heiji listened against Kazuha's chest to her excited heartbeat. She had allowed it, so everything was all right, wasn't it? There had been no backtalk from her, so he guessed it was. Jeez, how was he ever going to talk to her normally again after this situation? Suddenly his body tensed nervously. He had rushed into it. Exactly. Once again his impulsive character had run him over. Now he hadn't used prevention either! But if Kazuha didn't take anything, she would have said something, wouldn't she?

As far from his mind as he had been a moment ago, everything he had repressed all this time was now hitting him. He narrowed his eyes slightly. Had he possibly gone one step to far in their relationship?

And suddenly there was a touch. Tenderly, her fingers stroked through his hair, soothingly. And suddenly the thoughts fell away from him as he slowly lowered himself onto the brunette and enjoyed her caress for a moment. His body relaxed and his breathing steadied. It was okay. Everything was okay.

For a moment he remained in his position, then he detached himself from her a little and lay down beside her. Carefully, his arms wrapped around her delicate body and pulled her towards him in an embrace. Heiji gave her a gentle kiss on the temple and nestled his face a little against hers. His body was still heated - what had he showered for anyway? - but hers felt pleasantly warm too. His fingers gently stroked her tender skin and silently he enjoyed the moment. Grateful that he was allowed to experience it with her.

„Amazing what can result from of a pillow fight..." he then murmured softly, laughing a little sheepishly as he pulled her blanket over them, unwilling to just disappear under his now.

Kazuha giggled and his heart gave a slight jump when that giggle sounded as casual as ever. He probably would have been heartbroken if it had been otherwise. „I'll definitely think twice about throwing a pillow in yer face in the future!" she declared, snuggling against his chest. At her words, he laughed lightly and rolled his eyes a little embarrassed. After all, he hadn't expected this outcome either and in retrospect he felt a little uncomfortable that he had so little control over himself. After all, there had suddenly been no sign of going slow. But that was how it was when the mind was suddenly pushed into a corner for a head person - wasn't it?

The thought of prevention popped into his head again and his eyes opened. Heiji raised his head slightly and looked down at Kazuha. He still had no idea if she had been a virgin or was already using some kind of contraception. Embarrassed, he turned his gaze aside, still embarrassed about what he had just experienced. „Um..."

Well, if he looked at it carefully in his mind, the chances of pregnancy from a single slip were extremely small. Not only did it have to fit within a certain period of the female cycle, no, even then it took a lot of luck for fertilization to occur at all. So you had to be pretty „lucky". At least as far as his knowledge of this kind of thing went. So he had nothing to worry about. No, nothing would happen, even if Kazuha herself did not use contraception ...

His gaze went back down to her face. Great, now he had already started to talk. Slowly, he lay down next to her again. Jeez, now he needed some reason for the raised word.

„I ... I'll drive ya to work tomorrow." After that, he could go straight to buy something so that the next time would be taken care of. He was quite satisfied with this plan and gently pressed the brunette against himself again. He didn't want to look stupid for worrying about such things, although in the end there was probably no reason to worry.

„It's the least ya could do," she said cheekily, kissed him briefly on the bare chest and snuggled back against him, ready to sleep. Heiji had to smirk a little at her reaction and then exhaled slightly. Hopefully she wouldn't think he was stupid if he bought something tomorrow. In the end, she might have already used contraception and he would spend all the money for nothing ... Would it be better if he didn't?

He lightly stroked her soft hair and thought back and forth. But better safe than sorry. A little more relaxed, he closed his eyes and listened to the steady breathing of his wife, still nestled against his chest.

„Good night, Kazuha ...", Heiji murmured softly. It took another moment for his thoughts to settle at least enough for him to fall asleep peacefully. But it was a pleasant sleep.