"Okay I'm off." Kazumi kissed Ichiro's cheek as he laced up his sneakers

"You sure you don't want me to walk you home?" Ichiro asks

"I'll be fine Ichiro." Kazumi says putting her purse over her shoulder

"I just worry about you." Ichiro says looking at his sneakers

"If I go down certain streets then I'll be fine, my dad has his goons lurking around." Kazumi reminds him "They'll keep an eye out for me."

"I still don't like it." Ichiro tells her

"It's going to ok it always is." Kazumi smiles before giving Ichiro a good bye kiss and heading out the door of The Miyata house and down the street knowing full well that Ichiro would follow her until Kazumi made it home.

As she made her way down the sidewalk Kazumi thought back on her relationship with Ichiro Miyata.

They'd meet when they were both young, Kazumi remembered it like it was yesterday...

It was three years ago on a beautiful spring day as Kazumi roamed around her dad's office building at the time Kazumi liked to pretend she didn't know her father was a Yakuza boss and was just in charge of the family business.

'Ichiro wait outside for me over there I won't be long.' a tall man instructed the young Ichiro

'Yes father.'

Kazumi paused watching him walk over to the leather bench situated away from Kazumi's father's office, Kazumi knew that her dad had an important meeting with a retired boxer meaning she couldn't just go into her dad's office. Which she liked it in there, her father had a huge fish tank with all kinds of salt water fish in his office and her father's desk always had some kind of food on it.

Kazumi stood at the other end of the room just at the start of the hallway staring at Ichiro.

He wasn't like any of the boys at her school. This Ichiro had a cute face and he was slender but not skinny and his shiny ebony hair looked soft.

Ichiro looked up catching Kazumi's stare.

'Take a picture it lasts longer.' he glared

'Rude.' Kazumi glared back turning on her heel before stomping down the hallway.

Kazumi remembered how much she thought Ichiro was the biggest jerk but it didn't take long for him to be the only thing on her mind.

Miyata senior and Ichiro would come to the Inagawa family office building almost on a weekly basis throughout that whole spring and summer eventually Kazumi and Ichiro were on speaking terms. And Kazumi wanted to be at least Ichiro's friend but Ichiro was probably the most difficult person she'd ever met.

'Ichi.' Kazumi skipped up to him, thinking about it now his eyes were watching the hem on Kazumi's sun dress bounce around her knees.

She'd always tried to dress cute especially on the days Kazumi knew Ichiro and his dad would be a the family office.

Kazumi would make sure her auburn hair was in some kind of cute hair style she hadn't started wearing makeup yet but she was allowed lip gloss.

'I told you not to call me that.' Ichiro grumbled looking away

'My papa says we'll be going to the same junior high next year.' Kazumi beamed at Ichiro 'Isn't that cool?'

'Not really.' he rolled his hazel eyes

'Aw you're no fun.' Kazumi stuck out her tongue

'Not trying to be.' Ichiro sighed

'I can't wait to start junior high it's going to be so much fun.' Kazumi sat on the leather bench next to Ichiro

'If you say so.' He scoots away from her

'You don't think so?' Kazumi leans forward to look Ichiro in the eyes

'No.'

'Oookay.' Kazumi smiled

They sat silently for a moment when Kazumi spoke up.

'Do you...''No I don't.' Ichiro interrupted her

'I'll treat you to lunch.' Kazumi told him

'Not interested.' Ichiro grumbled

'Whatever more teriyaki beef for me I guess.' Kazumi stood up and slowly started walking away she knew exactly what to say to get Ichiro's stomach to growl

'You can be so annoying.' Ichiro complained quickly catching up to her

'Hehe.' Kazumi smiled at him

'You're lucky I'm hungry.' he complained

Kazumi and Ichiro ended up at the teriyaki restaurant down the street from the Inagawa family office called 'Teriyaki Domo'

'Huh smells good.' Ichiro mentioned as the walked in

'Told you.' Kazumi smiled walking to a counter seat with Ichiro following.

'Ms. Inagawa good to see you dear.' The older woman across the counter smiled at her

'Hi miss Lin.' Kazumi returned her smile

'Oh? Who's your cute friend or should I say boyfriend?' The older woman winked at Ichiro

'Oh? Him no Ichiro is out of my league.' Kazumi looked at Ichiro who sat next to her, looking at her with a soft expression on his face which was a nice change compared to his usual glare

'His dad works for my papa.' Kazumi explained

'Oh I understand.' The older woman nodded giving Ichiro a nervous look 'The usual dear?' she asked

'Yes please for two.' Kazumi smiled

The older woman named Ms. Lin took their drink orders and went into the back to give the chef their orders.

'I am not out of your league.' Ichiro softly said

'What?' Kazumi looked at him

'You heard me.' Ichiro looked at his hands

'Oh geez don't take Ms. Lin seriously she's a little gossipy.' Kazumi waved her hand dismissing what was said

'Hmmmm.'

'Sooo are you going to be a boxer like your dad?' Kazumi asked smiling at Ichiro

'Yes.' he nodded

'Thats cool.' Kazumi smiled 'It suits you.'

'You think so?' Ichiro asked

'Yes of course.' she nodded

'What do you want to do?' Ichiro asked still looking at his hands

'I want to be a veterinarian.' Kazumi smiled

'Of course you do.' Ichiro rolled his eyes

'What?'

'Just Daddy's little princess wants to be a veterinarian I should have guessed.' Ichiro said

'I am not a princess.' Kazumi stated

'Yeah you are.' Ichiro sighed 'I know you're not dumb enough to not know by now what your dad does for money.' Ichiro said

'Yeah I figured it out awhile ago.' Kazumi looked away from Ichiro 'Plus watching my mom's soap operas helped me put two and two together.'

'Oh I bet.' Ichiro rolled his eyes

'I wish you didn't hate me because of it.' Kazumi blurted her face turning bright red

'Kazumi I.' Ichiro stopped 'I don't hate you.'

'You could have fooled me.' Kazumi said keeping her eyes down

'Two orders of teriyaki beef noodles with a side of tempura shrimp.' The older woman brought over two plates of intoxicating food breaking their silence.

As they ate Kazumi and Ichiro carried on a casual conversation mostly about what books they'd both read and which video games they were excited for.

After lunch Kazumi and Ichiro began walking back to The Inagawa family office building.

There was a gentle breeze and the sun was bright.

'Kazumi.' Ichiro spoke

'Hmmm?'

'Thanks that was nice.' Ichiro didn't look at her in the eyes but Kazumi swore she saw him blushing

'Yeah no prob.' she smiled

'How much do I owe you?' Ichiro asked

'What? You don't owe me anything I wanted to buy you lunch.' Kazumi told him

'Don't think it's because I can't pay because I can.' Ichiro told her

'Ichiro, I'm not like my father.' Kazumi frowns 'I just want to be your friend.'

'Why?'

'Why not.' Kazumi smiled 'Come we need to get back before our parents start looking for us.'

'Right.' Ichiro nodded

After that day Kazumi and Ichiro were actually more friendly with each other. Ichiro still told her on a regular basis that Kazumi annoyed him.

But he secretly considered Kazumi a friend.

They had been dating almost three years now, Kazumi and Ichiro had almost been inseparable since that day she poured her heart out to Ichiro expect for when he was training or at work or Kazumi was at work.

They went to the same highschool so it was easy for them to spend time together.

Kazumi stopped at the gate of the Inagawa house looking back catching Ichiro doing his road work down the street. Kazumi smiles to herself she knew that Ichiro was close by making sure she made it home safe.

She watched him in awe of his example of perfect masculinity.

Kazumi loved him all the way to her core, she knew that she would never love anyone else. But Kazumi feared that if she married Ichiro it would mean terrible things for him.

Kazumi wanted what Ichiro wanted to show the world that his father's way of boxing isn't wrong.

Kazumi went inside she knew that tomorrow would be a early start.