At the end of his first day of work, Kyoko made a box of food for Sho to take home. He took it from her with a grateful smile.

"Thanks, Kyoko. I'm broke as hell right now. I'm looking for a cheaper apartment, but Tokyo's expensive… and all booked up."

She nodded. "I understand. I was lucky that the Okami and Taichou had a spare room."

He looked at his feet guiltily. "You wouldn't have needed a spare room if I hadn't been such a jackass."

She smiled. "Shotarou, if you hadn't been such a jackass, I wouldn't be where I am now. Be careful going home, okay?"

He made his way to the door, waving his hand at her. "Yeah, yeah. I'll live." He went outside to his bike.

Kyoko stretched and went to her room where she called Kuon.

"Hello, Princess."

"Hi Corn. How was your day?"

"Utterly fucking miserable."

Kyoko smiled, though she felt her heart twinge. "It can't have been that bad."

"I'm about to be thousands of miles away from the love of my life. Utterly fucking miserable can't even really touch it."

"I got a new coworker today. Spoiler alert, it's Shotarou."

He paused. "Okay, you win, that is way worse."

She laughed. "I almost feel bad for him. He's trying to find a cheaper place to live, but there's just not one. It's taking all of his money just to pay for his current apartment. It's kind of a shame that the Okami and Taichou don't have another room."

Kuon shrugged. "You'll forgive me if I'm not overly sympathetic to his plight."

Kyoko giggled. "You're forgiven. Are you home?"

"Not quite yet. I'm sitting in the LoveMe room at LME while Yashiro finishes up some paperwork."

She tilted her head. "The LoveMe room? Why there?"

He smiled. "If I can't be with you, then the next best thing is to be somewhere that reminds me of you."

Kyoko blushed. "You're a hopeless romantic, you know that?"

"So I've been told. Which reminds me, do you have a date to the wrap party?"

"Why, Tsuruga-san, are you asking me to accompany you?" She used his stage name purposefully as a reminder that it might look odd to people if they showed up together.

"I think it's a great way to pay you back for keeping my brains inside of my skull, Mogami-san. I don't think anyone will be terribly offended if we go together as friends."

"But I don't know if I'll be able to control myself around you in a tux, senpai. They don't call you the co-star killer for nothing, you know," she sighed wistfully. He smirked.

"Is that so? And what wouldn't you be able to control?"

She lowered her voice. "Wouldn't you like to know?"

Fucking hell yes I would like to know, he thought, his mind running wild with ideas.

"Ren." He looked up to find Yashiro in the doorway. "I'm done, let's go."

"Yashiro-san just found me, Princess. I have to go home."

She smiled. "I'll talk to you tomorrow then, okay?"

"Of course. Goodnight, Kyoko-chan."

"Goodnight, Kuon."

On the way back to his apartment, Kuon replayed their conversation in his head, feeling like he was missing something. When he got home and shut the door behind him, and looked around his empty apartment, he realized what that something was and stilled. His mind started working a thousand miles a minute as he questioned himself. Would she? She's probably going to think I'm insane for even asking…

That Saturday, Kyoko took a deep breath as she unzipped the dress bag that Julie had sent her and pulled out the seafoam dress. She put it on and zipped it up and stared at herself in the mirror. Mother is a genius, she thought. The bodice fit her like a glove, and the chiffon floated around her legs just so. Kyoko turned from side to side and blushed as she realized there was a slit on the right side that was up to the middle of her thigh. She double-checked her hair, which she had slicked to one side and pinned with a couple of sparkly barrettes, and her makeup. If Kuon was so set on her being his date, she was going to do her best to look the part.

She slipped into her soft silver heels and grabbed her matching clutch. She took a picture of the outfit and sent it to Kanae. Does this look okay?

Her phone lit up a second later with the answering text. God I hate how cute you are. Kyoko chuckled to herself and sent her a simple heart emoji back. She turned out her bedroom light and went downstairs. When the Okami saw her, she lit up.

"Kyoko-chan! You're so beautiful!"

Kyoko bowed to her. "Thank you, Okami-san. You're too kind."

The Taichou came out of the kitchen, and when he saw her, his eyes narrowed. "You're going with Tsuruga, right?"

She nodded. "Yes, sir."

The front door of the Darumaya opened, and the man in question stepped inside. He was wearing an impeccably tailored black tuxedo with a matching black bow tie. When he saw Kyoko, he stopped breathing.

"Tsuruga-san, I could have just come outside."

He snapped out of it. "That would be entirely improper, Mogami-san. I think the Taichou would agree with me that a man who has any couth comes inside to make pleasantries with the young lady's family before they leave on a date."

Kyoko blushed. It had happened by accident, but the Darumaya couple were the closest she had to parental figures. Kuon bowed deeply to both of them. "I will have Mogami-san back at a reasonable hour." A shiver ran down Kuon's spine as the Taichou crossed his arms over his chest and did not return the bow.

"Good. And don't try anything funny, either." The Okami swatted her husband on the arm.

She smiled gently. "What he means to say is, 'have a lovely time.'"

Kuon nodded and offered his arm to Kyoko, who took it. He led her outside to the car and opened the door for her.

The Darumaya couple were watching from the window. The Okami was glowing.

"They're a very handsome couple."

The Taichou snorted. "He won't be so handsome anymore if he hurts our Kyoko." He went back to the kitchen. His wife watched them drive away and grimaced. She hoped that Ren Tsuruga could be trusted to behave himself.

As they drove to the venue, Kuon was having trouble keeping his eyes on the road.

"Kyoko, you look beautiful."

She blushed and looked down at her lap. "You don't look so bad yourself."

He shook his head. "I don't look half as good as you do. Do you mind if I get a picture for my mother when we get there?"

She nodded bashfully. "It's the least I can do since she gave me such a beautiful dress to wear."

They pulled up to the front of the club where a valet was standing out front. Kuon got out of the car and opened Kyoko's door for her and helped her out. The valet stared at the leg that appeared in the slit of Kyoko's dress as she got out of the car and blinked a couple of times. Kuon caught him and smirked. He gave his keys to him with a tip and placed himself on the side of the slit to block the guy's view. That's mine, thought Kuon as he imagined trailing kisses up Kyoko's leg. When they got into the lobby, he took out his own phone, but Kyoko pulled hers out of her purse.

"Tsuruga-san, could you take a picture of my dress? I'd like to send it to my mother."

He looked up and noticed a few people milling about. He put on his best professional smile.

"Of course, Mogami-san." He took the picture, opened her contacts, and sent it to himself. He then handed the phone back. "Quick thinking," he whispered.

She beamed. "Thank you, Tsuruga-san."

He offered his arm to her once more. "Shall we?"

They approached the set of double doors and Kuon produced an invitation from the inside of his jacket. He handed it to the bouncer, who opened the door for them. Kyoko's jaw dropped. There was a DJ on a platform at the head of the room, laser lights, and a disco ball. The entire cast and crew were either out on the dance floor or sitting at tables to the side.

"Kyoko! Tsuruga! Over here!"

Koga was waving them down from a table nearby, and they walked over. He looked at Kyoko. "You clean up nice."

She grinned at him. "Thank you, Koga. Where is Moko-san?"

The side of his mouth quirked upward and he pointed out on the dance floor. Kanae was out twerking with Itsumi Momose and Eri the makeup artist. Kyoko giggled.

"She looks like she's having fun."

Kuon pushed her gently toward the floor. "You should go, enjoy yourself."

Kyoko blushed bright pink. "I don't know how to dance." She had only ever been to one dance in middle school, and the other girls had picked on her, and none of the boys had asked her to dance. She hadn't gone to any more after that.

Kuon saw the look on her face. He knew that look. Nope. Fuck that. She doesn't get to have bad memories of this night. He took her by the hand and half-dragged her onto the floor.

"I-Tsuruga-san! What are you doing!?"

He twirled her in place, causing her stomach to burst into a million butterflies. She broke into laughter.

"My kohai doesn't know how to dance. What kind of senpai would I be if I didn't teach her how?" he grinned.

She put her hands on her hips. "Okay then, how is it done?"

He thought back to his previous school dance experiences and immediately deflated. I can't fucking grind on her, that'll raise more than a few eyebrows. The music suddenly switched to something less energetic and more slow. He sighed in relief. He put his arm around her back and took her hand in his. Her heart jumped into her throat until she saw that everyone else on the floor was doing the same.

She looked up at him. This was the closest they had ever allowed themselves to be in public. "A-are you sure this is okay?"

He nodded. "Just try not to rest your head on me or anything, and we'll get away with it."

Her body shook with her giggles. "It's hard to not do that." she whispered.

He smirked and leaned down next to her ear. "Tell me about it. That slit in your dress is driving me mad."

Kanae and Itsumi stood to the side with Koga. Itsumi shook her head.

"I've been saying it since Dark Moon, they're cute together."

Kanae took a sip of her drink. "They're so sweet they make me sick." She put her drink down on the table. "So, we're kidnapping her after this, right?"

Itsumi laughed. "Definitely."

The music faded and a new song started, a much clubbier heavy bass number. Itsumi and Kanae appeared on either side of Kyoko.

"We'll take it from here, Tsuruga-san!" They absconded with her, and left him to go back to Koga, who was laughing at him.

"They kidnapped your girl!"

Kuon shrugged. "I got my dance in, I'm happy. This night is about her. She deserves it." Koga offered him a champagne glass, and he took it gratefully. "So, I'm leaving for Route in about a week and a half. How about you?"

Koga shook his head. "Not quite yet for me. Got another month. Kanae has a whole two months before they need her on set."

Kuon nodded. "That makes it a little easier on Kyoko. She won't be totally alone for at least a few more weeks." He took a big gulp from his champagne glass and set it on the table. "I'm fucking worried about her, Koga. She's putting on this brave face, but I know it's bothering her."

Koga rolled his eyes. "Or maybe you're reading too much into this, and she's not actually going to miss you that much? You're not that great, you know."

Kuon smirked. "Fuck you, Hiromune."

Koga raised his glass to Kuon with a smile. "Fuck you too, Tsuruga."

It was at this moment that Kijima appeared with an entire bottle of champagne in hand. "Ren! So this is where you've been hiding!"

Kuon took the bottle from Kijima and set it on the table. "You should use a glass, Hidehito. The bottle will last longer that way."

Kijima waved a drunken hand at him. "Nonsense. Where's Kyoko-chan!?"

Kuon looked up to where the girls were dancing in a circle and smiled. Kyoko was wearing the biggest smile and having an absolute ball. "She's over there."

Kijima looked over and shook his head. "Still a fucking knockout." He poured a glass of champagne and raised it to Kuon. "To Ren Tsuruga, the luckiest man in the room." He drained the glass and shivered. "I hate to cut it short, gentlemen, but the dancefloor is once more calling my name." He sauntered off on the floor and grabbed an unsuspecting light tech and started dancing with her.

Kyoko made her way back to the table a long while later. "Sorry I just left you, Tsuruga-san." He shook his head.

"Don't be. Are you tired? Can I get you a drink?"

She sat down beside him. "I'm having a lot of fun, but I am tired." She pulled her phone out of her bag and texted something to him. She put her phone away, and he pulled his out of his pocket.

I want to spend time with you. Alone.

He checked the time on his phone. 7:30. He'd need to have her home by 9:00 to make the Taichou happy. He nodded. "I can take you home if you'd like?"

Kyoko nodded. "If it's not too much trouble. I have to work early tomorrow."

He shook his head. "Of course not, Mogami-san." He got up and bowed to Koga. "Until we meet again in the US, Koga."

Koga nodded. "I'll see you there. Goodnight, Kyoko-chan."

They went out to the valet, who hastened to get the car. When they were safely in the car, Kyoko took his hand while he drove to his apartment. "Did you have fun, Princess?"

She nodded. "Yes, it was wonderful! But… I wanted to have some time, just the two of us, since you're… you know."

He squeezed her hand. "Kyoko…"

"Don't feel bad. I'm okay. Really."

When they got to his apartment, he took his jacket and his bow tie off and tossed them over the back of one of his dining chairs. He loosened his collar. "Damn tuxes are so uncomfortable."

Kyoko undid the straps on her heels, kicked them off, and breathed a sigh of relief. "The dress is fine, but the heels are murder."

Kuon led her over to the couch. She sat down, and he sat on the floor in front of her and started working the arches of her feet with his thumbs. Kyoko leaned back against the couch with a contented sigh. "You don't have to do that, you know."

In answer, he dragged his fingertips up the side of her leg that was exposed through the slit in her dress, causing her skin to break out in goosebumps. "I know I don't have to. I've been wanting to touch this leg all night." He massaged her calf and planted a kiss on the inside of her knee. Kyoko shivered.

"All night, huh?"

"Ever since I caught the valet staring at it." He hugged her leg to him. "Mine."

Kyoko giggled into her hand. "I didn't realize my leg was something to be so possessive over."

He set her leg down. "There aren't too many things that I wouldn't do in defense of this leg, Princess. It's a pretty good-looking leg, and it's attached to a very beautiful woman." He took a breath. "Which reminds me, I need to talk to you about something."

She sat up. "Of course. What is it?"

"It occurs to me that Fuwa needs a place to stay, and that I'm going to be out of the country and my apartment will be vacant for the foreseeable future."

Kyoko blinked. "Are you proposing that Sho moves into your apartment?"

He swallowed and shook his head. "No. I'm proposing that you move into my apartment." He took her hand and looked into her eyes. "I'm probably going to be gone for close to a year. I would feel better if you were living somewhere more secure, especially as your popularity rises."

"But, Kuon… what if someone realizes where I'm living?"

"You can say you're on a LoveMe assignment or something and that you're watching my apartment for me while I'm away."

"...And when you come back?"

He kissed her knuckles. "When I come back, come hell or high water, you're mine. We will make it work." He set her hand down. "I understand, though, if you aren't ready to do something that drastic. I just… short of proposing, I feel like this is the most that I can offer so that you understand that I'm serious about you before I leave."

At the mention of a proposal, Kyoko's face flamed up. "Proposing won't be necessary!"

Kuon laughed. "And that is exactly why I'm not doing that. We're already carrying a huge secret between us, and I don't think putting a rock on your hand is going to make that secret easier to keep."

Kyoko started wringing her hands in her lap. "I… I don't know what to say. If I start living here, what will the Taichou and Okami think?"

Kuon took a breath. "Actually, I need you to teach me how to eat fish properly, because I'm going to have to go into battle with that old man."

Kyoko stared at him. "You're serious?"

He laughed nervously. "I need to show him that I am, yes. I don't think if I went into his restaurant and told him that I was having you move in with me without declaring my intentions, that I would leave there in one piece."

Kyoko took all of this in and set her hand on top of his. "Kuon… are you sure?"

He smiled. "Princess, have you seen this glorious leg? I'm not willing to give this leg up. You have to move in with me. That's all there is to it."

She chuckled and wiped her eyes. "Well, I can't deprive you of your leg."

He stilled. "Is that a yes?"

She slid off the couch and into his lap and hugged him around his neck. "Yes."

He hugged her tightly. "I love you so much, Kyoko."

She kissed him and looked up at him with teary eyes. "I love you, too." He kissed her again and then his lips trailed from her mouth to her neck. He licked the skin there and then sucked on it. Kyoko gasped and pulled away. "We can't! What if the Taichou sees!?"

The Emperor picked her up and sat her on the couch. He then knelt before her and put her knee over his shoulder. "Then I'm just going to have to mark you where the old man won't see it." He pressed his lips to the inside of her knee again, and then inched his way higher up the inside of her thigh. He sucked the tender skin of her thigh into his mouth.

"Kuon!," she gasped. His face was only inches from where her dress was draped between her legs, covering her panties. His ministrations were brief, but when he gave her thigh one last lick for good measure and pulled away, there was a sizable hickey. Her cheeks were flaming when he looked up at her.

"Was that too much?"

Before he could even begin to feel guilty, Kyoko pushed him backward onto the floor. She straddled his lap and started to unbutton his shirt. He sat there watching her in stunned silence. When she had his shirt unbuttoned all the way to his waist, she pulled it open to expose the hard planes of his chest and abs. As she ran her hands over his skin, he stayed as still as possible. She traced over his abs with her fingers, and then pulled back, blushing.

"S-sorry. I should have asked before touching."

He sat up on the heel of his hand and took her by the wrist. He nuzzled his cheek into her palm and slid it down the side of his neck and down his chest. He put his lips beside her ear. "You can touch as much as you want." She put her forehead down on his shoulder, and he raised an eyebrow. "What's wrong?"

"I can't. Not really."

Kuon settled his hands on her hips and pressed himself between her thighs. The tiniest gasp escaped her, and she froze in his lap. "Is this what you want to touch?" When she didn't answer, he thrust against her again. He felt her thighs clench. He nipped her ear. "If you're not honest with me, then I can't help you, Princess."

Kyoko was so conflicted. Of course she wanted to touch him there. But that wasn't possible. When he thrust against her a third time, she moaned in frustration. "Why are you doing this? I can't! We can't!"

She felt his body shake with mirth against her. "So is that a yes?" he whispered into her ear.

She felt hot despite her lightweight dress. "Of course I want that! But we- ah!" He ground himself hard against her center, and her eyes glazed over. Her hips rocked against him, and he encouraged the movement with his hands.

"Like that, Kyoko. Just like that." He nipped at her chin as she wrapped her arms around his neck and ground herself over the evidence of his need for her. He kissed down the front of her neck and peppered the tops of her breasts with kisses. His hands caressed up her sides and his thumbs found her nipples through the chiffon. He ran his thumbs over them at first, tracing soft circles around them.

"Kuon…" she whined under her breath, "Please."

He unzipped the back of her dress and pushed the bodice down around her waist. When he saw her breasts for the first time, his breath caught. Fuck. He palmed them and reveled in their softness.

Kyoko's back arched when he took one of her tiny brown nipples into his mouth. Her movements became more desperate and hectic as she sought her pleasure. Kuon grabbed her hips again and pulled down on them, establishing a dizzying rhythm that left her breathless.

Finally, her orgasm washed over her in an intense wave. She dug her fingertips into his shoulders and moaned loudly into his ear as she shuddered against him. She collapsed, and he gathered her against him and they lay there on the floor for a moment, breathing hard. He pulled his phone out of his pocket and checked the time. Shit. It was 9:05.

He kissed her temple. "Are you okay?"

She nodded against his chest, unable to look him in the eye. "I'mreallysorry."

"Kyoko, look at me." She looked up at him, the embarrassment plain on her face. He kissed her forehead. "What's wrong?"

"I…," she was bright red, "I was very forward."

He laughed and nipped her ear. "I happen to really like Forward Kyoko." She hid her face again. He kissed the top of her head. "I like Forward Kyoko, but Angry Taichou is a little less likable. I gotta get you back to the Darumaya."

Kyoko sat up, clutching her dress to her front. "I probably look like a mess. They're going to know exactly what we were doing." She looked terrified. The last thing she wanted was to lose the respect of the Darumaya couple.

He shook his head. "Nonsense. You look fine." He smoothed her hair and her barrettes back into place and kissed her forehead. "Better than fine. Gorgeous. Ravishing, even."

She blushed as she put her arms back through the armholes of her dress. "C-can you zip me back up?"

He pulled the zipper back up, blushing. "I should have asked to take your top off." I can't apologize, though, Princess., he thought, wishing he could touch her breasts again.

She was beet red. "I-It's okay. I don't mind." I just hope you liked what you saw, she thought, wanting to crawl into a hole.

When they were dressed back up, they went out to Kuon's car. When they reached the Darumaya, he walked her to the door. "Can you set up a dinner with them soon?"

She nodded. "I'll talk to them tomorrow about it."

"Great." He looked around. "Do you think we're being watched?"

Kyoko smiled sadly. "Probably."

He sighed in frustration. "I want to kiss you so damned bad right now."

Just then, the light above them came on and the door opened. The Taichou stood there in his pajamas with a baseball bat. Kuon straightened up immediately. The Taichou checked his beat up wristwatch.

"It's 9:30, Tsuruga."

Kuon bowed. "I'm very sorry, sir. Mogami-san was having a good time dancing with her friends, and we lost track of time."

Kyoko nodded. "It's true. The party was really fun, and we got caught up. I'm sorry I'm back so late."

The Taichou hmmed suspiciously at Kuon, who looked like he was about to lay an egg. "Goodnight, Tsuruga."

Kuon nodded. "Goodnight, Taichou. Goodnight, Mogami-san."

She bowed to him. "Goodnight, Tsuruga-san."

I fully blame Snoo and Yam for this. I'm trying to keep the smutting as tame as possible, because I feel like it's only a natural progression in their relationship that they're going to start getting touchy feely, but there's still the age gap to consider. (Except for Kuon's wet dream in the tub. That one was purely me laughing at Kuon.) And then Snoo and Yam were like, "HEY BO. LOOK AT ALL THIS HALF-NAKED REN. LOOK AT IT." And I was like, "That is very nice half-naked Ren. Grade A half-naked Ren, in fact." Also, I blame parkerbear for encouraging me to smut. x'D And The Grudge. I blame everyone. I TAKE NO RESPONSIBILILTY FOR MY ACTIONS. x'D

ANYWAY, I had a VERY VERY good writing week. I got TWO WHOLE CHAPTERS finished this week, so I'm now like 3.5 chapters ahead of the game instead of just ONE chapter. You wanna talk about a panicked Bo? That was a panicked Bo. So, I'm feeling much more comfortable now. BUT, I feel like I need to hire a singing bard to follow me around like, "Toss a review to your fanfic author!" Nothing gladdens the heart like reviews, guys. Like seriously. PAY ME WITH YOUR LOVE. x'D Or don't, I guess. But srsly -whispers- Give me them reviewssss. I LOVE YOU ALL - BO