"Are you still mad at me?" Kyouko asked as she caught Kuon exiting his home gym.

He jumped slightly not expecting her to be waiting outside the gym with her back pressed to the wall. She looked ready to bolt at the mere hint of a foul mood from him. It saddened him to know she was that afraid of his temper. He showed her a face she'd rarely seen before. It was the one he had when he explained to her who Cedric was. The face of a sad child who expected to be punished for existing.

"I was never mad at you." He said in a quiet hurt voice.

"We don't lie to each other." She countered mimicking his voice. "But I didn't lie; I fell, and it was my fault for letting my guard down."

Kuon looked away from her fighting the tears and said, "I thought you were lying to keep me from hating myself but it's him you're protecting isn't it? He hurt you and you're lying to protect him from me."

"I'm not protecting him!" Kyouko said. "And I didn't lie," she paused and gripped the hem of her dress. "I didn't lie completely." She said not wanting another misunderstanding to come between them. "Fuwa grabbed my arm and I fell after kicking him. It was an accident. I didn't want to tell you because then you would go confront him and people might see, and it could ruin your reputation. Worse yet you might hurt him and get into trouble…" she trailed off when his sadness only increased at her words. Shouldn't he be happy that it wasn't anything to be jealous over? It had just been Shou being a nuisance like usual.

"Do you think I'm so incapable of controlling myself that I would become violent on set?" he asked, and a tear slipped out. Could she really see the monster that clearly?

"What? No," she said taking his hand and tugging him closer to herself. "I'm sorry Corn, I didn't mean it like that. I didn't want to upset you because I know how protective you are of me. Shoutaro was being an ass like always and I suspect he was trying to start something with you on set by harassing me. He has always been obsessed with you." She was going to say that it wasn't a big deal but knowing Kuon that would only upset him more. To him everything involving her was a big deal.

"Obsessed with me?" Kuon asked wondering if she really couldn't see that it was her the singer was obsessed with. It was Kyouko of course she wouldn't notice that somebody liked her. He had to chase her down and profess his love to get her to notice his feelings. Then he had to remind her every day after that that she wasn't imagining him flirting.

"Yes." She said almost sounding excited. "He used to go on and on about you. Tsuruga Ren is this and Tsuruga Ren is that. What's so great about him being tall and I guess he is handsome but that's all he really has going for him. He's just a pretty boy actor. Someday I'll have everything that is his." She did her best Shou impression and if it were anyone else, she was mimicking Kuon would have been impressed. When it was Shou it only served to remind him that she had spent her entire life watching Shoutaro. "Honestly, he rarely talked about anything besides himself and how he was going to beat Ren."

Kuon captured her arm and tugged her to his chest. "He can have everything that is Ren's. if he wants this apartment it's his. Ren's car? He can take it. Ren's fans and his fortune and fame, Fuwa Shou can have it all." He said kissing the bruise from where Shou had grabbed her. "He can't have you though."

"No, he can't have me. I'll always belong right here in your warm arms." She said curling into him as he brought his arms around her.

"And he isn't allowed to hurt you either Kyouko." Kuon said and she tensed at the voice laced with venom. "I won't let anyone cause you harm but especially Fuwa."

"I told you it was an accident." She said irritably and pulled away.

"I don't care he shouldn't have been harassing you in the first place." Kuon said voice lowering darkly. "He's been warned Kyouko and multiple times at that."

"So, you're going have Yashiro-san follow me everywhere again?" she asked in annoyance.

"If it keeps Fuwa away from you yes." Kuon said defensively.

"He wasn't trying to hurt me." she said and Kuon's frown deepened. He took a step toward her causing her to step back.

He continued to advance on her until her back pressed to the wall then he leaned down to ask, "How is it you know me so well and yet you can't understand what I feel towards Fuwa?"

"I know you hate him." She said placing a hand to his chest. Kuon looked into her eyes somberly and she sighed in defeat. "Alright you're jealous of him. I get that but I can't change anything. He and I have a past, and I can't change that."

His features softened and he placed his hands on her hips. "I'm sorry I lied, but it was only to protect you. It had nothing to do with him." She said letting him pull her to him and lift her up.

After a moment of embracing her nose wrinkled in disgust and she gently pushed him away. "You're sweaty." She complained.

"I was lifting weights." Kuon said with a shrug.

"Yes, I know for an hour while I was out here alone." She said tearing up as a sudden rush of hurt hit her. "Maybe I should have told you the truth, but you can't distance yourself from me like that. If you need space tell me why first because I can't take the silence."

"I'm sorry Princess don't cry." Kuon said kissing her tears. "I'm sorry I didn't mean to hurt you. I needed some time alone to think."

"I know but you can't shut me out like that. I…" she couldn't say that it reminded her of being neglected by her mother. That was something she told herself she should be over, but the wound refused to heal.

Kicking himself for hurting her he kissed her cheek and promised, "I won't do it again. Next time I'll tell you that I need some time to think. I'll say, I love you, but I need time alone to think. Ok?"

She nodded and he wiped her face. "Can we be done fighting now?" she asked.

"Yes," Kuon replied then with a mischievous smile he hugged her close and added, "I promise from now on I'll never need any more space."

"Kuon you stink." Kyouko said but she giggled and hugged him back.

"I mean it I'll stay stuck to you like glue forever." He joked kissing her head.

Giggling Kyouko tilted her head up for a kiss. "You better." She said just before his lips touched hers. "Because you're mine."

"Mmm." Kuon hummed breaking off from the kiss. "I promise that next time I'll tell you when I need space and why. Though there won't be a next time because you're going to tell me next time, Fuwa hurts you. Then I'll kill him."

"Kuon."

"Kidding." He laughed kissing her nose. "I'm kidding. Mostly." Thinking for a moment he added. "The boss would cover it up if I did."

"I bet he would. In the most extravagant way too, but then we'd have to tell him that we've been dating for a year and he'd cover up our sudden deaths too." Kyouko said with a shiver. She couldn't believe they had managed to hide their relationship from the lovemon for so long. Though that was probably more of Maria and Yashiro's doing than theirs.

"You shouldn't worry about Shoutaro so much." She said plainly. "I'm not even his type."

Kuon looked aghast and asked, "Do I need to get you a mirror?"

Blushing she said, "No, I am perfectly aware of what I look like."

"I don't believe that. If you could see yourself, you would not dare to say you weren't that womanizer's type. I believe beautiful is his only criteria and you fit that to a T." he said setting her down and circling her with a predatory gaze.

"I don't fit his definition of beauty." Kyouko protested following him as he continued to ogle her. "Not at all. I lived with that jerk most of my life, so I already know that he prefers busty girls with long hair and a tiny waist."

"One of these days," he said suddenly stopping to grab her shoulders and leaning down to eye level with her. "I'll drag you in front of a mirror and point out everything wrong with how you see yourself."

"Kuon?" Kyouko asked biting her lip.

"Yes, Princess?"

She stared into his emerald eyes and shook her head. There was no way she could ask something that embarrassing. She didn't really want to know the answer anyway.

"Are you going to eat dinner?" She asked her eyes silently pleading with him not to notice that she had been going to ask him something else.

"You made me dinner?" Kuon asked kissing her cheek. Then he whispered in a voice that somehow managed to be seductive and soothing, "I'll shower first then we can eat and watch a movie together. Do you want to join me?"

Captivated by his voice she almost said yes but quickly snapped out of it and shook her head.

"You make a cute tomato." Kuon joked touching her heated red face but then he turned serious and said, "You lied to me."
"I didn't lie." She insisted seeing the wicked glint in his eyes. Backing away slightly she brought her hand up to cover her head. "It wasn't a lie. I left some things out, but I didn't lie." She said frowning as his smile widened. "Ok, I lied! I lied but we already established that you were bad too. So, we're even."

"No." Kuon said advancing on her.

She squealed as he lifted her over his shoulder. A fit of giggles erupted from her as she felt his excitement. He was so weird sometimes, but she didn't mind indulging him a bit. Seconds later the world was spinning as she was tossed down onto their plush bed.

"Not the cat." Kyouko said through her giggles as Kuon opened a drawer. He pouted at her, but it turned into a smirk as he lifted a set of furry brown ears out of the drawer.

"You can be my cuddle bear then." He said walking over to her and smoothing her hair down to clip the ears into place.

"You are so weird." She said as she watched him gather clothes to shower.

"But you love me anyway." He said and though it wasn't a question she nodded. "I think I'll go shower now. You should start eating without me."

Showering quickly, he dressed himself in just his pajama bottoms and carried the shirt out to where he knew she would be waiting. A devilish smirk broke across his face as he saw her placing two plates of food on the table. She threw him an innocent smile, but her face was bright red.

"Is this my punishment?" He asked gesturing to the gauzy material barely managing to hide her body from him.

"For ignoring me." she said with a nod before taking a seat. "You're not allowed to touch me."

"Oh?" Kuon feigned indifference but he was dying to reach out and touch the soft fabric and the skin it exposed. "Just out of curiosity where'd you get that?"

"I bought it on a girl trip with Kana-san." She said into her plate having lost some of her nerve as he sat in his spot beside her. He placed his pajama top in the center of the table and the temptation to put it on was strong.

"Seems more like a reward than a punishment." He commented. "Thanks for the meal my love." He said digging into his food.

Kyouko fidgeted fighting her instincts to put on the shirt. She didn't know why she had thought it would be a good idea to punish him in this way. She had wanted to tease him and maybe make him blush, but it was only her turning bright red and uncomfortable. She had other pajamas which covered less than the teddy did. Her camisole and shorts set barely covered her stomach and legs. Somehow though the see-through overlay of the teddy made her feel more self-conscious than the soft fabric of the camisole.

After a moment of eating, he looked up at her motioning to her food. "Eat, or I'll make you wear the tail."

"Yes, senpai." She said and shivered from the waves of irritation that instantly came off him.

"Don't call me that." He said warningly.

"I'll call you what I like Tsuruga-senpai." She said in a convincingly bratty manner.

"Kyouko." He growled.

"Tsuruga-san." She countered.

Suddenly his aura turned calm and he said, "You know I can see your nipples?"

In a flash she seized the shirt from the table and pulled it around herself. His laughter filled the room and she scowled at him.

"Princess." He said cupping her chin. "Eat your food."

"Yes, emperor." She said and pushed her plate next to his.

Slowly she crawled into his lap allowing him to adjust his body to accommodate her. A gentle kiss placed at her temple filled her with warmth or maybe that was from his chest pressed to her back. His arm wrapped around her and he resumed eating as she began to pick at her food. Every so often he would pause to lean down and kiss her arm wishing he could magically heal the bruise.

"Kuon?" she started after half her plate was gone and his was empty.

"Yes, my love?" Kuon replied. His fingers were running through her hair marveling at how smooth the dark strands felt.

Biting her lip, she changed her mind again and asked, "Did you like your dinner?"

Gently pulling her bottom lip from her teeth he answered, "I love everything you cook. Now ask what you really want to ask me."

"What?" she squawked startled.

"That was twice now you were going to ask me something then backed down. We can ask each other anything right? We don't lie to each other and we don't keep secrets." He said hugging her from behind and placing his head on top of hers.

"It's nothing, really. It's silly." She said taking a couple more bites. "Do you still want to watch a movie together before bed?"

Silence followed her question then without warning everything went dark and a weight settled over them. She blinked a couple times before recognizing the fuzzy texture of the blanket she used when they snuggled on the couch. She tilted her head back in question and he kissed her nose. He was less hindered by the dark than she was and could make out the shape of her face.

"Ask me anything." He said quietly.

Reluctantly giving in to her curiosity she rested her head back on his shoulder and asked, "What is your type?"

"My type?" Kuon asked squeezing her waist to pull her closer.

"You know do you like blondes or brunettes? Short or tall? Skinny or," she paused to make a face thinking of her thin body, "voluptuous?"

With a knowing smile Kuon replied, "Isn't all of that pretty obvious?"

"No." She said fingers drawing circles on his thighs.

She had always known that Shoutaro liked busty women with lots of sex appeal, he had never kept his tastes a secret. Kuon on the other hand rarely talked about himself. He told her about Cedric and the bullying and Rick's ultimate demise, but he glossed over his girlfriends. She didn't know if it was because he honestly couldn't remember much about them or if he didn't bring them up out respect for her. Part of her was afraid that it was disappointment at how unsexy she was.

"I like you Kyouko. You're my type." He said not sure how to prove that to her.

Pouting she asked. "So, all of your ex-girlfriends looked like me?"

"No, they were all tall and most were blonde and," his hands trailed up to lightly cup her breasts. "I was a teenage boy Kyouko, I didn't really put much thought into who I dated."

Kyouko placed her hands over his wanting to believe him but unable to comprehend how she could be anyone's type. His love for her didn't automatically make her more attractive. Outside of her roles she was the farthest thing from pretty or cute.

Smoothing his hands down her body he hugged her tight he peppered kisses in her hair careful not to knock her bear ears off.

"You look really good in my clothes." He said after a moment. "I never understood the appeal before of having your girl wear your clothes. They were just clothes and they hid all the good parts." He said kissing down the side of her head to her ear. "But I get it now." He whispered nipping at the shell of her ear.

"Kuon." She gasped relaxing against him allowing him to elicit deep moans from her.

"You look really sexy with my clothes on. I want to devour you when you parade around in nothing but my shirt." He said hands travelling down to her thighs and sliding up to grip her just beneath the shirts hem. Her eyes were closed and her breathing was heavy as he continued to lick and kiss her ear.

"I never had a height preference before but you're short and I find that extremely adorable. I want to lift you over my head and eat you up." he said making her blush deepen. The same with short hair, I always kind of preferred long wavy hair, I thought I preferred blonde, but short hair suits you. Long hair does too, and I like you best with black hair, but chestnut also works or blonde or any other color you want. Because I like you and one look from your golden eyes makes my knees go weak." He said all this with a sincere and serious tone but then finished by lifting his hands and tickling her sides.

She giggled as his fingers glided up her sides but then she wanted to know. "But I'm not just short. I'm small everywhere. How can you ever be satisfied with a flat unfeminine body that's like an ironing board? Ow." She said from the shock of being flicked in the head. It didn't hurt but she hadn't expected him to be so annoyed about her talking about her own body.

"I happen to like your athletic build." He said smiling mischievously as his hand pressed against her abs. "And I would appreciate it if you would stop badmouthing these perfect breasts. They're really sensitive and I'd like them to stay that way."

"You like them?" Kyouko asked placing her hand over his and guiding it up. He took the invitation and palmed her breast.

"I love them." He said tracing a finger around the swell of her breast to the buttons down the center of her shirt. "May I?" Feeling her nod against his shoulder he slipped his hand beneath her shirt and pinched her nipple. "This body is mine isn't it?" he asked, and she nodded in reply. "Then stop badmouthing it." He whispered into her ear. "Unless you like being my pet." He said lowering his mouth to nip at her shoulder.

To Kuon his voice sounded cruel and domineering. He had a need to prove to her that she belonged to him. The bruise on her arm made him mad, not only because Fuwa had hurt her but because she had Fuwa's mark on her. Scared by his impulse to bite her neck until she cried out in pain, he pulled his hands away from her body and let his head fall back on the couch.

Her moan turned into a disappointed whine as she caught his hand and asked, "If you like my body so much why are you so afraid to touch me?" she kissed his chin wanting him to kiss her and prove that he desired her body.

"It's not touching you I'm afraid of." He answered giving in to her demands with a deep kiss. Her lips parted under the slightest pressure and he tangled his tongue with hers. "What if I can't stop Kyouko?" he asked between kisses. "I'm afraid of scaring you with how much I want you."

"You always stop when I tell you to." She said unconsciously squirming in his lap. "Maybe I don't want you to stop though."

Her words caused him to pull away to stare down at her. She had to be teasing there was no way she wanted to have sex.

"I've been meaning to ask you." Kyouko started with a blush. "Before you asked if there was any one thing, I wanted real or make believe and I said you." he nodded recalling the conversation. "I think what I meant was I want to," her blush deepened, and she hid her face against his arm. "Iwantyoutomakelovetomeonmybirthday." It hadn't occurred to her that she wanted that until she said it.

Kuon opened his mouth to speak but nothing came out. His brain was catching up to what she had said, wrapping around every syllable to decipher the meaning behind her rushed high-pitched words. He had to have heard her wrong. She couldn't have said that. There was no way miss prim and proper Japanese maiden had asked him for sex on her birthday.

"I think it's time for bed princess." He said attempting to move her off of him.

"You can go to bed. I'm not tired." She said annoyed with him. How was she supposed to believe he wanted her when he turned her down so casually?

"Don't be mad at me. I'm only trying to protect you." Kuon said deciding to turn her in his lap instead of placing her on the floor beside himself.

"Protect me from what? I asked you to give me something that you claim to want as well but you flat out refused me." Kyouko huffed feeling more like Setsuka than she ever had before. He had spoiled her too much to start denying her now. "You didn't even refuse you just ignored me."

"We're not married Kyouko." Kuon started then taking her hand he added, "I hope we will be someday, and I don't mind doing things out of order. You on the other hand are a traditional girl with certain fantastical notions about love and marriage. I won't be the one to ruin your dream wedding night by giving into my desires." He toyed with her ring finger before twining their fingers together. "You don't need to rush into anything just to keep me interested."

"That isn't," Kyouko started but closed her mouth for a moment to think. "I thought you were my husband, and I am you wife." She said pressing her lips to his cheek shyly.

"That was a cute joke between us, but we're still not married." He said rubbing soothing circles up her back. "I really don't mind wait…" he felt her deflate in his arms before he could finish speaking, "ing."

"I'm your wife Kuon." She said sternly and he pulled her close.

"Yes, my love you are my wife." He said pulling the blanket off of them. "And I will reiterate that it is time for bed. I will consider your birthday request but for now go get ready for bed."

Her lips pressed into a line then she said, "I know we've made promises and we both have goals to achieve but this is torture."

Kuon smirked at her unable to argue with his own logic. She had spoken the words he had used to convince her to secretly date him.

"Being near you without being with you is killing me and I can see that you're suffering too. If it's something we both want than why are we denying ourselves. You of all people deserve to be happy and have everything you want. I want to make you happy." She finished her surprisingly accurate Tsuruga Ren impression. She would have done Kuon, but she wasn't as practiced when it came to imitating him. "You promised to make me happy."

"So, I did." he conceded with a wry smile. "And you're certain that birthday sex would make you happy?"

"No." She said startling him but then continued. "I don't want sex I want you to make love to me on my birthday. I want you to be romantic and plan it all out and make it special for me." she ducked her head against his shoulder blushing madly. "Is that too selfish of me?"

"No, my love." He said petting her gently. Then in his best Kyouko impression he said, "I've been waiting forever for you to work up the nerve to kiss me."

Shy lips pressed to his. They both giggled wondering just how they had gone from arguing to deciding to make love on her birthday. Kissing over the bridge of her nose Kuon released a contented sigh.

"We really should get to bed soon." He said kissing her temple. "I'll clean up here and grab some pillows. We can sleep on the couch tonight while watching a Disney movie."

"I bet I could still seduce you on the couch." She joked but stood up anyway. Then with a pout she asked, "Do I have to put these back on after my shower?"

"Yes." He replied with a wolfish grin.

"You are so weird." She huffed but she couldn't contain her smile as she felt his eyes watching the sway of her hips on her way to the bathroom.