Sho ground his teeth in annoyance as he listened to his father gush about Tsuruga Ren. It had been like that all night since he arrived at the restaurant where Kyoko and his parents were already seated at a table. They had ordered without him stating that they didn't know when he would arrive. They were talking about Oh! Darling and how complex the roles of Sayuri and Satoshi were. No one brought up Kenji or praised Sho for his hard work, but his dad had said of Tsuruga Ren, "He is such a hard worker and dedicated to his career the way a young man should be."

"You hate the entertainment industry." Sho remarked snidely.

His father shrugged him of stating, "If you are going to be in the industry the least you could do is work hard. Not like some people whom I hear throw fits and hold up production whenever they are not getting their way."

"Tsuruga-san already has three more jobs lined up after the one in America." Kyoko said ignoring the annoyed look Sho gave her.

"That's my boy." Sho's father said proudly and Sho's mouth twisted into a deeper sneer. "His parents must be so proud."

Kyoko held a finger up to her lips and glanced at Sho.

"Right, I remember." Sho's father said and Sho eyed them both suspiciously. "Though I will say it was fun having them stay at the ryokan for a couple of days."

"Thank you for that. They enjoyed getting to know you." Kyoko said with a blush.

"What is this? What are the two of you talking about?" Sho asked glaring at his father.

"It's private." Fuwa-san said gruffly before turning back to Kyoko with a cheerful grin. "Do you have your next project lined up Kyoko-chan?"

"I have sent her agency a request to have her in my next PV. I'll be recording a new album once I'm done filming Oh! Darling." Sho said triumphantly.

"I don't recall asking you but now I can't help but to wonder why you are waiting for the filming to end when you have so little screen time? A smart person would make better use of their time. Instead of forcing Kyoko-chan to act out a relationship your time might have been better spent working on your next album." His father said causing Sho to slouch in his chair and sulk.

His parents never asked him about upcoming projects. It was typical of them to gush over what Kyoko was up to. she had always been their golden child. Always getting good marks in school and learning new cooking techniques that they would ask her to demonstrate. He would just roll his eyes when they were younger, and his parents would tell her what a good girl she was.

"Shotaro sit up straight." Yayoi said before turning to Kyoko. "Do you have any jobs lined up? I would like to record them."

Sho corrected his posture and glared at Kyoko as she spoke.

"You don't have to do that. I'd have the episodes sent to you just like my other projects."

"Yes, please do but I would also like to give you the ratings." Yayoi said happily.

"Ok, well there's a drama that I'll probably take called the Bastard Champions. Tsuruga-san will be in it as well." Kyoko said proudly and Yayoi typed the name into a memo on her phone. "There's a movie called Vampire Kisses that I'm on the fence about. It's cute but simple and potentially it would have seven sequels. Tsuruga-san was also offered a role in that one. I didn't see any offers for your PV Shotaro. The shooting schedule must not line up with what I already have coming up."

"I'm so sure it has nothing to do with Tsuruga wanting to keep you away from me." Sho said ready to take his phone out and demand Shoko do something about it.

"No phones at the table Shotaro." His father said in a chilling voice. Sho stopped his hand in the motion of gesturing to his mother on her phone then he put his phone away. There was no point in arguing with his parents when they were so clearly on Tsuruga's team.

"Tsuruga-san doesn't mind if I work with you. Neither of us even sees our offers until after Yashiro-san has gone through and picked the ones that are possible for us to fit into out schedules." Kyoko said picking through her food.

"Right, I'm sure Yashiro doesn't give his best buddy a chance to veto anything he doesn't want his little pet to be in." Sho sneered wondering where the waiter was to take his order.

He was starving and the three of them were happily eating their food unconcerned for his wellbeing.

Kyoko felt sick at his use of the word pet. When Kuon called her his pet it made her feel warm and tingly inside. It was exciting and endearing. When Sho said it, he made it sound like something she should be ashamed of.

"Tsuruga-san would never do anything to control my career. He fully supports the projects that I choose to do." Kyoko said though she had considered the possibility of Kuon telling Yashiro not to let certain requests through. It was more likely however that Yashiro had decided to do that all by himself.

"Tsuruga-san is so perfect, isn't he? That's why he spends his days flaunting his relationship with Kana then he goes home to play mast and slave with you."

"Shotaro that's enough." His mother said.

"Shotaro we are in public, behave yourself." Sho's father said restraining himself from slapping his son.

"Obviously. Were we not in public Kyoko would be under the table su…"

"You are not too old for me to paddle your behind Shotaro." Yayoi said having heard enough of his perverse words.

"I'm sure I am much too old. Just ask Kyoko. She knows all about paddling and at what age it becomes inappropriate for a parent to do it and more apt for your master to do it." Sho said enjoying Kyoko's discomfort. He knew his parents were pissed at his behavior but that was nothing new. It was worth it to see the shame on Kyoko's face. There was no way she would let Tsuruga do anything to her now. Not with Sho's voice in her head reminding her about how dirty it would make her.

"Don't talk about Kyoko-chan in such a way. She is a good girl and Tsuruga-san is a gentleman. He isn't a lecherous little boy like you who has no respect for women. He'll take care of our Kyoko-chan and marry her properly." Sho's father said, and Kyoko felt her heart sink.

It was good that Sho had no proof she wasn't a virgin. It was even better that his parents wouldn't believe a word he said anyway. Still, she hated that they would think less of her or Kuon if they knew they had sex just the one time. She shuddered to think how disgusted they might be with her if they knew exactly what she and Kuon got up to.

"Right, I'm so sure saint Tsuruga is a virgin." Sho said. Noticing that she had stopped eating he reached over and pulled Kyoko's plate in front of himself. "Question is how many times has he fucked our little Kyoko-chan? You know he was bragging about it at the club. He told us all about how you throw yourself on his dick and beg him."

"Sho that's enough."

"He said you are such a slut that he was amazed to find you were a virgin. He had been certain that I would have used you in every way possible, but I suppose I'm just too much of a gentleman. Afterall I'm not the one who couldn't resist your mewling pleas to be treated like a whore."

"Shotaro!" Yayoi screamed standing up as she noticed Kyoko's face.

Yayoi knew that there was some truth to what Sho was saying but she wasn't as willfully naïve as her husband. Kyoko was living with her boyfriend after all, Yayoi hadn't expected her to wait until marriage. Especially not when said boyfriend was as desirable as Tsuruga Ren. She doubted Tsuruga had been bragging however and was sickened that her own son would spread malicious lies to Kyoko. She had hoped she had raised him better, but he kept purposely hurting the girl she had raised like a daughter.

"Whatever, take his side. Sell your precious little Kyoko off to that ogre so he can use her and share her with all his friends. Being subservient is the only thing she was ever good for anyway." Sho said as he polished off Kyoko's food and stood to leave. In a low almost kind whisper, he said to Kyoko. "That's all you are to him. You have to know that. He likes you because you're submissive. He's kind because you give him whatever he wants. You are his obedient dog, and he is a happy master with a short leash tied tightly around your neck. All he ever wants is sex now, isn't it? Try denying him and see how fast he dumps your ass. You won't because you know I'm right."

"Kyoko-chan don't listen to that insolent little boy." Sho's father said as Sho left them. "I am ashamed that he turned out to be the way he is. He is an insult to the Fuwa name. We know you are a good girl and Tsuruga-san is a good boy. The two of you will marry and do things the proper way."

"I think it's time to order dessert." Yayoi said wishing her husband would hold his tongue even though she knew he had no clue that he was making things worse. "Kyoko-chan, would you like ice cream?"

Yayoi pat Kyoko's hands and tried to convey through her eyes that it was alright. It was with much heartache that she realized she had raised Kyoko to feel dirty about sex. It was her old-fashioned way of viewing things which had enabled her son to make Kyoko feel ashamed.

"Actually, I should head home now too. I have to be up early for work tomorrow." Kyoko said an uneasy feeling settling in her chest.

"Of course, you do. That's our Kyoko-chan always so dependable and hard working." Fuwa-san said. "Don't worry about dinner. I'll cover the check, but you have to promise to bring Ren-san around again soon. There are still some knife skills I need to show him."

"Yes." Kyoko said with a bow.

"Is Yashiro-san picking you up?" Yayoi asked standing as Kyoko did.

"Yes." Kyoko answered. Yashiro had said he would be waiting for her nearby to take her safely home. All she had to do was text him and he would come.

"Kyoko-chan," Yayoi followed the younger woman to the lobby. She took her hand and lead her over to a bench near the window. "Kyoko-chan I never apologized, did I?"

"For what?" Kyoko asked taken aback by the words. She had thought for sure that she would be scolded by Yayoi for the things Sho had implied. Surely Yayoi would believe her son and think her a shameless hussy now.

"For raising my son so poorly." Yayoi said her head bowed low. "I took such care with raising you to be a good companion to him and yet I failed to raise him to be good enough for you. I am sorry Kyoko-chan."

"EH!" Kyoko jumped up her outburst drawing attention to them. She covered her mouth and looked around bowing in apology to the people she had disturbed. "Yayoi-san, you don't have to apologize to me. I'm the one who ran off and I…"

"No Kyoko. No. You are a good girl, and you deserve a kind and unselfish person. I failed to raise such a man and for that I am sorry." Yayoi said then bit her tongue.

She wanted to assure Kyoko that no matter what she did they would always love her like a daughter. She wanted to praise her for building a relationship based on trust and mutual respect. The words failed to form in her mouth and Yayoi regretted being unable to say them as she watched Yashiro's car pull up and the man exit. He walked briskly yet elegantly and opened the door greeting Kyoko and Yayoi with a smile.

"Yayoi-san it's a pleasure to see you again." He said and she nodded her head to him. "Are you ready to go Kyoko-chan?"

"Yes." Kyoko said looking sheepishly at Yayoi. "Thank you, Yayoi-san. For everything." She wanted to hug her surrogate mother, but the Fuwa household had never been big on hugging.

"Have a good evening, Kyoko-chan and say hello to him for us." Yayoi said wishing she knew what to say to the young girl about sex. It wasn't as if she had been raised with a positive view of it either.

"Yes." Kyoko said before allowing Yashiro to usher her to his car.

"Did you have a nice dinner?" Yashiro asked as he began to drive.

"Yes. The food was very good, and we talked about my upcoming projects."

"Oh? And may I ask where the young Fuwa ran off to?" Yashiro asked with annoyance. "It's already being reported on. He allowed himself to be photographed leaving abruptly and look extremely displeased. The forums were speculating about the two of you fighting and blaming you for it."

"I suppose it was technically my fault he was upset." Kyoko said her mind still mulling over what he had said about her being subservient.

"Did he try to kiss you again?" Yashiro asked annoyed. "It is not your fault for refusing to be mauled by that buffoon. Even in a real relationship you need to be allowed to not want to do things without your partner throwing a hissy fit."

Kyoko listened halfheartedly as Yashiro continued to bash and berate Sho. She didn't want to believe that Kuon had been bragging about their pet play, but she had to wonder how Sho had known. How was he so certain that she was submissive? Was it all just a guess? It had to have been. Kuon would never share that with someone like Sho. Possibly Yashiro knew. She looked up and caught Yashiro's gaze in the rearview mirror. She blushed scarlet and looked down at her hands. Of course, he knew he had caught them together more than once.

"It'll be alright Kyoko-chan. Not all the fan sites are blaming you. Some of them are even in support of you dumping him." Yashiro said comfortingly. "The majority of those sites also ship you with Kotonami-san but still."

"Moko-san?"

"Yes, you have a couple that pair you with Amamiya-san as well. Fans will create a forum for anything. The president said he was glad he had made an official Love Me section twitter and Instagram before the fans got to the name. Now there are several unofficial accounts with variations of the spelling. Don't worry about it though, I'll handle the fan sites. You just get some rest and take care not to be caught with Ren please." Yashiro said pulling into the underground parking.

"Yes, Yashiro-san. I'm sorry about earlier." Kyoko said sheepishly bowing in her seat.

Yashiro waved her apology off. "You're a good girl Kyoko-chan and Ren is a good boy even if he forgets to act like a gentleman sometimes. I actually think it's kind of cute how you two can't seem to keep your hands off each other."

"Yashiro-san!" Kyoko gasped scandalized by the assessment. Even if it was true, he didn't have to say it out loud.

"Goodnight Kyoko-chan. I'll be here at seven fifteen to pick the two of you up. Please do try to get some rest but also it would be best if you got playtime out of the way now."

"Yes. I'm sorry Yashiro-san." She said embarrassed as she bowed her way out of the car. Still bowing she fell onto the garage floor.

"Are you ok?"

"I'm fine!" She said scrambling to her feet and bowing once more. "Totally fine! See you tomorrow."

"See you." Yashiro said then watched her scurry inside.

He waited a beat then pulled out his phone with his gloved hand. There was no way he was going to allow people to call her names without giving them a piece of his mind. He had everything ready to go. Tabloid articles of Sho meeting with known flings, and stories about how mean he was too her on set. There was no way that boy was going to look like the good one in this relationship.

She stepped into their apartment frowning. Kuon's shoes were there, and his slippers were gone but he did greet her. He had forgotten to shut off the lamp in the living room making her frown. The thought that he expected her to shut it off for him crossed her mind, but she shook it out of her head. It was more likely that he left it on so she wouldn't come home to darkness. Kuon was considerate like that. He was nothing like Sho who would leave a mess for her to clean up and always left everything on expecting her to take care of it. She removed her jacket and placed her shoes in their spot before retrieving her slippers. She ran her fingers over the golden embroidered princess on the tops of her slippers.

With a gentle smile she turned off the lamp and walked to the hallway. The sound of the shower going drew her to the bathroom.

She watched him through the glass shower door for a moment. Sho's words echoed in her mind, and she felt ashamed of how wanton she had become. He had called her a whore and said that Kuon had bragged about the things they had done. That wasn't possible though because Kuon would never brag about that especially not to Shotaro. Not thinking she walked over to the shower and pulled open the door. Kuon smirked but before he could ask if she was joining him, she was in his arms.

"Are you ok?" he asked as he embraced her.

She nodded against his chest. The hot water felt like it was washing away all the shame Shotaro had made her feel. She felt silly for being bothered by his words. There was no way Kuon had said anything about her being his pet to Shotaro. A hand unbuttoning her blouse startled her out of her thoughts.

"I'm not in the mood for that." She said annoyed at him. Maybe Sho was at least partly right. All they ever seemed to do lately was have sex. "Can we please go five minutes without you ripping my clothes off?"

Kuon held his hands up and looked at her with concerned shock.

"Yes," he said a bit hesitantly. "I would like to point out though that we are in the shower and your clothes are getting soaked."

Her mouth opened and she trailed her eyes down his wet chest. Then she lifted her arms made heavy by her drenched clothes. She closed her eyes embarrassed by her overreaction and bowed her head.

"I'm sorry." She said turning to run out of the shower. In her haste she slipped and fell forward. He scooped her into his arms keeping her from falling on the bathroom floor.

"Seriously are you ok?" he asked setting her down and turning her to face him.

"I'm fine." She shouted more annoyed with herself for entertaining Shotaro's lies than with anything Kuon had done.

"You sound fine." Kuon said snidely. If she was going to act annoyed, then he was going to give her a reason to be annoyed.

"Because I am fine." She said matching his derisive tone.

"Well fine then by all means finish your shower in your wet clothes. I was enjoying my alone time, but you go right ahead and have the shower all to yourself." He said climbing out of the shower and retrieving his towel.

What had she just done?

"Kuon, come back." She said frustrated with herself.

"No, no. You started this fight you can't just start crying to end it. Why don't you call Fuwa and finish whatever fight the two of you were having instead of taking your frustrations out on me? I'm going to bed." He wanted to pull her close and soothe her troubles away, but the words had spilled out before he could stop them.

Hurt and frustration flashed in her golden orbs then she lashed out. "Go then. Since we're not having sex and that's all I'm for to you now."

He sucked in his breath and bit his tongue. The words stung but he knew this wasn't about him. He hadn't done anything to incur her anger. Somehow that just pissed him off more. Fuwa had gotten into her mind again. He had polluted her emotions and made her act like a child.

"Why don't you just go and fuck Fuwa. Get it out of your system and see how unsatisfied he leaves you." He knew the words were cruel, but he couldn't stop his mouth from moving.

Instead of apologizing he took his clothes and left the bathroom to dress in their room. She marched after him shedding her soggy clothes on her way. Her shirt squished against the floor and her bra fell with a soft thump.

"Don't say disgusting things then walk away from me." she spat as she struggled to walk and pull her leg out of her pants. "As if I would ever let that slimy cockroach touch me."

"Kyoko you're going to fall." Kuon said too amused to be upset with her anymore. She was hopping on one leg and tugging her pants off. "You are a silly girl."

She grumbled at him as she finally managed to pull one leg out and switched to the other. She teetered forward and he caught her arm holding her up as she slipped her other leg out.

"Thank you." she snapped then looked down letting her fury melt away so there was only the hurt left.

"I'm sorry I should not have said that about Fuwa." He said lifting her chin.

She avoided his gaze and mumbled her own apology. If she fell to the floor in a hysteric apology, it might make him angrier. And it wouldn't be the fun anger that she had grown to love so much.

"Kyoko, you know I don't think of you as a sex object, don't you?" he had to ask hurt most of all by that accusation.

She nodded, "I know but," she fell silent unable to ask what she wanted to.

"But what? I don't understand why you would even listen to anything that jerk says. All he ever does is hurt you."

"I know but," she mumbled hesitantly. He slid his hand down her arm to take her hand. He brought it to his lips and waited patiently. "He knew things."

"Like what?"

"About us. About me being your pet. Did you tell him about that?" She hated that she had to ask but she needed to hear him deny it.

"No? Why would I talk to him about that?" he asked kissing her knuckles.

"I didn't think you had but he knew." she said stepping closer into his arms seeking his warmth as she stood in nothing but her uncomfortably wet underwear. "He called me a whore and said that being subservient is all that I'm good for. Then he said you would leave me if I denied you sex."

"He's an asshole who wouldn't know the truth if I slapped him in the face with it." Kuon said settling his pajama top over her shoulders. "You know that all he wanted to do was hurt you."

She nodded her head and began buttoning the shirt. His hands fell to her hips slipping into the open bottom half of the shirt and pushing down her underwear. They slid down her legs and she stepped out of them as she finished buttoning the shirt.

"He also knew that we have sex a lot. He was saying things in front of his parents. I was mortified and well we do have sex all the time now. It seems that is all we ever do anymore." She said wringing her hands together as she worked herself up again.

He cupped her face, looked into her eyes, and said, "I never mentioned anything about you being my pet to him. Though I will admit that it seems Kijima and Koga know. I didn't tell them. Kijima was the one trying to brag about our sex life, but I told him to stop. Fuwa knows his scheme is failing and he'll try anything to put a wedge between us. That's all he's trying to do."

She nodded knowing that he was right. Sho was upset that he hadn't gained the upper. He was desperate to get the upper hand and would say anything to win this stupid game he was playing.

"I didn't brag about having sex with you to anyone and the only person I've told anything is Yashiro-san. Which you tell your best friend everything, so I don't think I'm wrong for talking to him about it." He said kissing her cheek.

"I talk to Moko-san, Chiori-chan, and Kana-san about our sex life." She admitted sheepishly.

"Exactly. I have to interact with all three of them knowing that they have probably seen a perfect replica of my naked body."

"I never showed them the doll naked!" She said. "How do you know it's a perfect replica."

"Because I know you and your Setsuka doll is a damn near perfect copy of the real thing. I checked." He said loving the lovely pink hue of her cheeks.

"Pervert. Don't undress my dolls."

"My point is Fuwa doesn't know anything about us. He doesn't know me, and he doesn't know you. As for his parents." He paused and bit his lip thinking of how best to phrase his next statement. There really was no nice way to say fuck them if they're going to be judgmental. "I told you before that your mother doesn't deserve to know you. She made the choice to abandon you and you have no obligation to repair that bridge. The same thing applies here. If they can't accept you the way that you are then they don't deserve you."

"I don't think they believed him." She said resting her head on his chest. "Fuwa-san kept saying that I was a good girl and Yayoi-san apologized for how she raised Shotaro."

"You are a good girl Kyoko, and I don't think they're as oblivious as they pretend to be. At least not Yayoi-san." Kuon said rubbing her back.

"I'm not a good girl. I'm a sex addicted slut."

"Kyoko." Kuon sighed closing his eyes. For a moment they stood in silence as he rubbed circles up and down her back then he asked, "Do you think I'm a slut?"

"No! That's absurd." She shouted shaking her head.

"Really? But I've had way more sex than you have. I've had multiple partners and I really enjoy sex. Like I really like fucking you. Doesn't that make me a slut?" he said wanting her to see her own bias. If he pointed it out, she would just deny it.

"Yes, but you're hot." She said as though it should be obvious to him.

"I'm hot so that means what? That I can have as much sex as I want, and it doesn't count? Does my hotness make me immune to infections and unwanted pregnancy? Explain it to me why you are a slut but I'm not." He said holding her shoulders and bending down to look at her eye to eye.

She shrugged, "I don't know you're a man."

"That doesn't mean anything either. I've still became sexually active at a much younger age than you. I've had multiple partners at the same time. I have done things that I don't even want to think about, yet I am supposedly not a slut. Meanwhile you waited until you were ready to have sex at a much older age and your first time was with someone whom you were in an established relationship with. I'm not understanding your criteria for what makes someone a slut or is it just because Shotaro says you're a slut therefor you are?" He said stepping away from her and breaking contact. It would help nothing for him to be jealous of Sho in this situation. Jealous because that creep had so much control over her self-image.

"I don't know, ok? I just…" she closed her eyes to the tears that threatened to spill. "I don't know. It's what I was raised to believe. Good girls wait until marriage. Boys have different rules especially good-looking ones."

He took her hands and pulled her over to the bed where he sat pulling her to his lap.

"My Kyoko is a good girl. Having sex whether it's before or after marriage doesn't change that fact. You can ask anyone who knows you. I could call Koga-san right now and ask him. Yashiro-san would sing your praises. Kuu, would murder anyone who dared say anything negative about his precious child. I wish you would stop letting that arrogant little boy make you think less of yourself." He said kissing her temple.

"I'm sorry." She said curling into his warm embrace. "And I'm sorry for picking a fight."

He kissed her cheek filling her with warmth and said, "I'm sorry too, for fighting back. I knew that what you needed was comfort and reassurance, but I said something mean and nasty anyway."

"You know I wouldn't cheat on you right? Especially not with that arrogant jerk." She said kissing his cheek.

"I know. As I said before, you know who you belong to." he said hugging her tight and laying kisses all over her cheek.

"Kuon!" she giggled.

"Now, go dry your hair for bed."

"Yes, sir." She said teasingly then looking down shyly she wondered if he would kiss her on the lips after being accused of only wanting her for sex. "Kuon?"

"Yes, Princess?"

She blushed scarlet and shook her head before running off to the bathroom. He chuckled having a feeling that he knew what she had been thinking about. With a heavy sigh he picked up her clothes and took them to the hamper.

Kuon sat on their bed using his towel to dry his hair as he thought about their situation. He didn't know what he was going to do about Fuwa. He had thought that the boy would have been discouraged or grown bored of this game by now. He knew that Fuwa was desperate to stay relevant to Kyoko, but he never thought that the boy was this determined to make her miserable. He had certainly not expected Fuwa to say such crude things in front of his own parents. How had he managed to trick Takatsuki-san into thinking he was a well-mannered and suitable partner for Kyoko?

Kyoko emerged from the bathroom dry and contrite as she walked over to him. He opened his arms for her, and she took him up on the offer to snuggle into his arms.

"I really am sorry. I shouldn't have taken my anger at him out on you."

"No, you shouldn't have but I understand." He said kissing her cheek. She pouted at him thinking he was being too nice. "Couples fight Kyoko. I take my frustrations out on you too. You're just so prone to blame yourself for everything that you rarely notice. You're also a glutton for punishment anyway. That's probably why we always end up having sex."

"So, you're blaming me?" she asked fresh annoyance boiling to the surface.

"There's nothing to blame anyone for. We have a very active sex life and there is absolutely nothing wrong with that. You happen to like being dominated and there is nothing wrong with that either. I happen to like being financially dominated and there's nothing wrong with that." He said smiling at her annoyance.

"I'm going to bed." She declared jumping out of his arms and marching to her side of the bed.

"That's fine with me. I'm not the one who needs to orgasm in order to fall asleep."

"I do not need to orgasm to fall asleep."

"Alright. Goodnight then." He said but his wide knowing grin irritated her.

"I went nineteen years without even thinking about sex." She said fluffing her pillows by hitting them roughly.

"Seventeen but ok." He said grinning wider.

"It was not seventeen. I never thought of you in that way until you started groping me. You said we would remain unchanged but then you were always finding ways to touch me before we started dating. And flirting. You were always flirting! I am not the wanton one who needs sex to function, you are." She said vehemently.

"I'll admit to being wanton, but I don't need sex to function."

Why was he picking a fight after they had just gotten done apologizing to each other? She glared at him and pulled the covers back.

"I was not lustful until maybe a couple of weeks before turning nineteen."

"Really?" he asked in a playfully mocking tone.

"Yes, really."

He was so irritating she could just push him down and kiss him. She clenched her jaw annoyed by her own thoughts.

"You never stared at my bare chest before then? You never rubbed against my groin while we were kissing to see if you were having an effect on me? Was that not you who walked in on me in the shower several times as Setsu then again once we started dating?" he asked watching her cheeks tint pink.

"That was an accident!"

"The first time maybe but every time after that was you trying to catch a glimpse. I thought it was cute." he said stretching out on his side of the bed.

"Kuon!"

"Yes, sweetheart?" he said in that annoying sexy way of his.

She fumbled over her words losing her anger as her eyes roamed over the hard muscles of his bare chest. If she reached out, she could run her hands over the warm skin and feel the ripples of his abs. He would suck in his breath at her touch and maybe even moan. She shook the thoughts out of her head remembering that he was being annoying.

"Drying your hair with a towel only isn't acceptable. You have to use the blow dryer to get it completely dry." She said unable to muster the frustration she had felt moments before.

"Whatever you say princess." He said rolling to her side of the bed and rising up. "I do mean whatever." He whispered in her ear. "If you want something just say so."

"I don't want anything!" she shouted after him blushing furiously as he disappeared into the bathroom.

"Irritating! Annoying! Insufferable! Arrogant!" she grumbled as she punched her pillows. She climbed into bed and pulled the covers over her determined to fall asleep before he came back. "As if you're that sexy that I would absolutely need sex before bed. Making me out to be the lustful one. I've only ever had one partner."

She continued to grumble as she closed her eyes. When he returned to their bed, she pretended to be asleep, but she heard his knowing chuckle. Her teeth ground in annoyance as the bed dipped under his weight. His closeness fanned the flames of her irritation but oddly it caused her groin to clench in anticipation. Now was not the time to be turned on but she could smell him even though she was turned away from him. His scent clung to her pillow and his warmth radiated behind her. She felt him move closer. Despite her anger her stomach flipped as she thought he was going to pull her into his arms.

"I don't want to cuddle." She heard her voice say and she could have slapped herself for being so stubborn.

"I'm just turning off the lamp." He said as though it was no big deal.

"I can do that." She said irritated now that he wasn't trying to cuddle.

"Alright." He said pulling his arm back and grazing it against her arm.

"Don't touch me." she said. If he wasn't going to cuddle, then he couldn't touch her arm either.

"I didn't touch you; I touched the blanket." He said bitingly as he laid his head on his pillow. "Shut the light off already."

"I am!" she said sitting up and shutting off the lamp. "Goodnight!"

"Goodnight."

They laid in silence for a moment then Kuon called her name.

"What?" She asked sulkily.

"I love you." his words caught her off guard though if she thought about it, she had expected him to say them.

"I love you too, Kuon."

"Princess?"

"Hm?"

"Can we cuddle?" he asked feeling awkward that he had to ask.

For the longest moment she didn't reply. He worried that she meant to punish him by sleeping far out of his reach on the large bed, but then he felt her stir. Her hand touched his chest, and he took it as permission to encircle her waist with his arms and pull her close. She snuggled into him rubbing her nose against him and breathing in his scent.

She smiled feeling like a weight had lifted. She had to admit it had felt good to let go and fight with him even if he was irritating. It was different than fighting with Shotaro who sought to win and hurt her. Sometimes she didn't know if she was safe to say whatever she wanted with Sho. Yes, she said harsh things meant to hurt him she would still hold back for fear that he would take the verbal abuse too far or even physically hurt her. Fighting with Sho always left her feeling miserable but fighting with Kuon felt safe and even arousing.

She snuggled closer trying to get comfortable and fall asleep. His slow steady breathing normally did the trick, but she was too keyed up to keep her eyes shut. Her irritation was gone but there was still an underlying itch that she couldn't scratch.

"Kuon?" Kyoko spoke into the darkness.

"Yes, princess." Came Kuon's drowsy reply.

She squirmed against him but feeling nothing pouted and said, "I love you."