(Chapter Three: First Kiss)

"Here you go" Uo smiled as she gave Tohru her drink.

It was Wednesday afternoon and she was working the afternoon shift at her job at the restaurant for three hours. After that she had to hurry to the convenience store for the evening shift. Tohru and Hana had stopped by after studying at Hana's house that afternoon.

"Thanks Uo" Tohru smiled back taking a sip, "Mmm. It's really good."

"Your welcome" Uo grinned, "Can I get you anything else?"

"No thank you Arisa" Hana answered, "Tohru and I won't keep you. I have to walk her home soon."

"Mhm" Tohru nodded, "I need to start dinner."

"Okay" Uo replied, "Well I'll see you guys later. I have some work to do in the back" she walked into the kitchen.

"Uo seems to be in a pretty good mood" Tohru commented.

"Yes" Hana said, "But she also seems to be kind of distracted lately."

"Maybe because graduation is coming up."

"Maybe" Hana replied with a frown, "But I think it's more than that."

"You do?"

"Yes. I think somewhere buried deep in her heart that she hasn't forgotten about that guy."

Tohru froze sipping on her straw. To be honest she had completely forgotten all about how Uo felt about Kureno.

"Do you know what I mean?" Hana said turning to her.

"Ah" Tohru replied nervously, "It's getting late Hana" she said changing the subject, "Kyo will be worried about me if I don't get home soon."

Hana nodded and allowed the subject to drop. The two of them finished their drinks, paid for their bill and walked out of the restaurant, the thought about Uo still stuck in both of their minds.

(Next Scene)

The restaurant was extremely busy that afternoon. But the worse of it was that three guys from a private school, who often came in, were there and they were forever hounding Uo. And unfortunately that afternoon she had them once again as her table. As she poured their drinks, the blond whose tie was undone turned to her with a grin.

"So what do you say Arisa?" he replied, "I've asked you a number of times but you still haven't given me an answer."

"Look I already told you" Uo said trying to keep her calm, "I am not allowed to date customers."

"Well then I guess I will just have to either stop coming or you will have to quit your job" he replied, the other guys at the table chuckling as he said it.

Uo sighed and took the pitcher from the table.

"I'll be back to get your orders in a minute" she replied walking off.

"Hurry back!" the guy called.

Uo shook her head, her long pony tail swinging as she did. As she entered the kitchen a shorthaired red head stared at her sympathetically.

"Those boys giving you trouble again this afternoon Arisa?" the teen asked.

"Yea" Uo nodded, "I don't think that I can go back out there Hinako."

"Well I got some good news for you" she replied with a grin, "You're off the clock now. I get to take them."

"What?" Uo looked at the clock, "I'm not off for another hour though."

"Yea you are sweetie" Hinako replied, "I told the boss I would work your last shift. You go and take yourself a well-deserved break and then head off to your other job. I'll handle those monkeys."

"Oh Hinako" Uo smiled slightly, "I don't know what to say."

"Say nothing of it" Hinako grinned back, "You just go. You earned it."

"Thanks" Uo said taking off her apron and grabbing her coat, "I will see you Friday evening" she replied as she walked out the back door.

Hinako nodded and then walked out of the kitchen to take the orders from her new table.

(Next Scene)

Since Hinako had agreed to take Uo's shift she stopped at a small café and got herself something to eat and a coffee, before she headed for the convenience store, which was all the way downtown. She entered the store and a short, skinny guy with glasses stuck his head out of the back room as he heard the jingling of the door. He smiled slightly, his dark short hair messy, as he came out with a small box.

"Good evening Arisa" he replied as he sat the box down at the counter.

"Hello Yamato" she said back as she took off her coat, "What are you doing?"

"Just getting some more supplies for the shelf" the young college student replied, "Mr. Toyama is in the back but he will be leaving soon. Whoa" Yamato said looking at his watch, "You're about ten minutes early this evening."

"Yea I know" Uo said stepping behind the counter, "I got off work early at the other place."

"Oh I see" Yamato replied beginning to put stuff on the shelf.

A few seconds later Mr. Toyama came out from the back. He was a tall man with graying hair. He also wore glasses. He had a very stern face as he approached the counter.

"Ah Ms. Uotani. You are here early this evening?"

"Yes sir" she nodded, "I hope that's all right."

"That's perfectly fine. But don't start until you are supposed to. I don't want to have to pay you overtime. I will see you later Mr. Amori," he said to Yamato.

"Yes sir" Yamato nodded as well, "Later tomorrow morning like always."

"Good night you too" Mr. Toyama replied tipping his hat and opening the door, "Work hard."

"Yes sir" they nodded again as he closed it shut.

"Geez" Yamato replied standing up, "What a stingy old man. I don't want to have to pay you overtime," he said imitating Mr. Toyama, "You work so hard Arisa, that once and awhile you deserve a little overtime."

"Thanks Yamato" she smiled a little, "Do you want to do the counter for the first half of the evening? I kind of wanted to do the shelves."

"Sure no problem" Yamato nodded walking behind the counter as she walked out, "I put the other boxes closer to the door" he called as she walked to the back room.

"Okay! Thanks!"

Uo found the boxes in no time and took them out to a third row of shelves and began stacking items onto the shelves. When she had gotten to the top shelf she dropped a box and went down to pick it up. As she did someone else's hand appeared trying to help her. Uo looked up and realized that Kureno Sohma was staring right back into hers.

"You?" she replied stunned as she moved her hand slightly.

"Me" he nodded.

(Next Scene)

It took Uo a few moments to find her voice.

"What are you doing here?" she asked coolly taking the box from him and placing it on the shelf.

"I was in the neighborhood" he replied, "And I thought I'd stop by to see you."

"I'm kind of working right now," she said turning her back a little, "It's not really a good time."

"Well I was hoping" he replied, "That maybe when you got a break that you would join me for a small meal."

"I don't get a break tonight" she said walking back over to the counter where, Yamato interested overheard.

"Actually Arisa" he replied with a smile, "If you want to take your break now, you can."

"But there is still so much to do" Uo started to protest.

"No its okay" Yamato said grinning even more, "You've been working for three hours straight. I can handle things here until you get back. Besides Mr. Toyama doesn't come back until one in the morning. So it's not like you will be missed. Go ahead."

"Well" Uo looked at Kureno who smiled at her, "Okay" she replied, "I'll be back as soon as I can" she told Yamato as they exited the store.

"Take your time!" Yamato called happily.

(Next Scene)

Kureno bought Uo and himself a small meal and a coffee and then the two of them sat down on a nearby bench, both eating their meals in silent. Finally Uo balled the wrapper from her sandwich into a ball and threw it into a nearby trashcan. Kureno turned to her and she avoided his eyes.

"So" he began, "How have you been Arisa?"

"I guess I have been okay" she replied, "And you?"

"Oh. I've been fine. Working a lot but that's always a given when it comes to Akito."

"I'll bet" Uo said, "Well I should be getting back to the store" she started to stand.

"Wait Arisa!" he called out to her standing up himself, "You're leaving so soon?"

"I have to work to do. And I assume you have to get back."

"Well actually I don't. I was hoping we could talk."

"About what?"

"I don't know. I miss you."

"Really? You miss me?" she said sarcastically, "You haven't been to the store in months. You haven't kept in contact at all. What makes you think that I believe what you say?"

"Are you upset with me? He asked placing his hands in his pockets.

"What do you think?" she frowned at him.

"I'm sorry Arisa. I wanted to see you but I just couldn't get away."

"Yea? Well I am sorry too. Because I can't do this. I am so confused all the time. And I don't honestly get it. I don't like feeling like that. So I think it best that we don't see each other anymore" she said walking away.

Kureno watched as she walked to a corner and then turned it. Then he took off after her in a dashing run.

"Stop! Arisa!" he called.

But when he turned the corner he saw the mostdisturbing sight. The same guys who had been harassing her at the restaurant earlier that day surrounded Uo. The blond was standing her way and wouldn't let her pass. He sounded as if he had a bit too much to drink as well.

"Come on baby" he replied reaching for her hand, "I'm asking nicely."

"Look I already told you knuckleheads that I wasn't interested" she replied angrily, "Now get out of my way. Let me pass."

"I don't think you get it sweetheart" another guy spoke up, "His heart is broken because you keep refusing him. Won't you reconsider?" he asked fondling her hair.

"Stop it!" she shouted as the same guy took her hand.

The next moment a hand reached out onto the guy's shoulder and yanked him off. Kureno strode into the center of the circle and stood in front of Uo. His face held such a frown that the boys stared at him in fear as he spoke.

"You heard the lady" he said dangerously, "Get out of the way."

They all nodded their heads in unison and as they all dashed away he shouted after them.

"And if I ever catch you punks messing with her again I will do more than just throw you!"

Uo caught her breath and then walked slowly back to the bench they had been sitting on before. Kureno followed her and sat down next to her.

"You okay?" he asked.

"Yea" she nodded slowly, "They just have been bothering me awhile."

"Well I guarantee they won't be bothering you anymore" he said angrily, "And if it keeps happening then I guess I am going to have to be around more often."

"Why did you do that?" she asked.

"Why did I do what?"

"Help me like that? I thought I made it pretty obvious that I didn't want to see you anymore."

"I know" he nodded, "But I need you to hear something."

"What's that?"

"The truth is Arisa" he replied, "I have missed you. That wasn't a lie. And the sad fact is, I wanted to see you and it has been impossible to see you."

"Why?"

"Because" he sighed, "My job is so demanding. You have no idea what a burden and pain he can be. But lately I have felt so lonely and a bit resentful towards him. Because the truth is I have never had a life of my own. I am twenty-eight years old and I have never known what it's like to go to normal school and to work at a normal job."

"If you hate it so much why don't you just quit?"

"I wish I could."

"You know what you can" she said determined.

"What?"

"You can. Just get some backbone and tell the guy off. I mean he's what a whole heck of a lot younger than you."

"It's a lot more complicated than that."

"You've been telling me that" she sighed heavily, "But if it were me I would find a way to stop doing what I hated the most. I did that you know. I did something a long time ago that at first I enjoyed and thought I needed but afterwards all I wanted to do was escape from it. I couldn't do it on my own. I needed the advice from someone else. You might be in the same boat as I was."

"Maybe" he nodded, " I mean I have been wondering lately what would happen if I was to quit. Get a normal job. Maybe even go to college. Cause I am well educated, just didn't go to school. I learned from tutors. It would certainly make it a lot more easier for me to see you more often."

"Why do you care so much about me?" she sighed again with sad look in her eyes.

"I guess the most simple of answers would be that I am in love with you Arisa."

"In love with me?" she replied after a brief pause.

"Yes" he said, "I am certain of that. I have never wanted to be with any woman as much as you in my entire life."

"Kureno. Do you really mean that?"

"Yes. I love you," he said softly.

"I" she started to say, "I need to get back."

"Okay" he replied slowly as they stood up, "I'll walk you."

"Wait" she pulled at his arm, "Are you really sure?"

He smiled at her and then moved in close, placing his lips on top of hers. She kissed him back. And they remained that way for a few moments until they broke away, both of them smiling.

"You think?" he grinned as he took her hand.

"Then I love you too."

He smiled and she smiled back and then squeezed his hand as they walked back to the convenience store, making it just in time for her next shift.

(Till Next Time)

Authors Note: Hey guys! Did I fool you? Could you guess who was going to get the First Kiss? I knew I probably would fool some of you. Anyway I hope you enjoyed the chapter dedicated to Uo and Kureno. I love the idea of this couple. And don't worry now that they have admitted how they feel you will see more of them in the future.

Next Chapter: Asking a Favor

Kyo takes Haru's advice and meets Kagura to discuss his dilemma!!