Movie night was over and the entire dormitory was quieting down for the night since it was a school night. In Shuuichi's mind, not only did he feel better knowing that Kiyoni would be staying over and that she wouldn't be too far away from him but the idea that a woman was going to sleep in his room was practically a first. He was clearly a virgin virgin.

"It's up this way," Shuuichi directed as he walked up the stairs.

The building did have the look and feel of a college dormitory. A carpeted path over a wooden stairway that led to a second floor where twenty dorms and small apartments share a gender-neutral, communal bathroom that only had showers and toilets. If anyone wanted to soak in a bathtub, a bathhouse was on the next block over. What gave Shuuichi's dorm away was a red berry decorative wreath that hung on the door with a picture of a Shiba Inu in the middle.

"Aww," Kiyoni admired, "That's so cute."

"Yeah. I've always wanted one of those. I'll get me one when I get the chance."

"My grandmother had one when I was a kid. It passed before I went to high school."

"That sucks. My condolences." Shuuichi unlocked the door and flipped on the lights, "Well, here we are."

Keeping up with the collegiate feel, Shuuichi's room came with a study desk complete with a rocking chair, a functioning laptop and desk lamp, a small, flat screen tv on a TV stand with a game console underneath, a full-size bed with a headboard where he kept his bible and bible study materials and a set of drawers underneath for some of his clothing, and a closet for the rest of his clothing, shoes, and coats. Take everything and place it on dark blue carpeting and the look is complete. Everything was so well kept in that room that Kiyoni was actually a bit frightened to touch anything.

"Go ahead," he insisted, "It's alright."

"Are you...sure? It's so…pristine, in here."

"It's fine. Don't worry about it. You can place your things anywhere."

Kiyoni hung her coat, purse, and blanket over the study chair, "Thanks. Are you sure you don't want to stay?"

"Kiyoni, I'll be okay. You're a much bigger priority than I am."

"Well," Kiyoni grabbed her blanket and wrapped it around both herself and Shuuichi, "at least take this so you won't get cold."

Another part of Kiyoni's plan, get Shuuichi used to the feel of her body. And it was working. The sensation of Kiyoni's warm embrace gave Shuuichi no choice but to hold her close. He hadn't held anything so soft and warm since his stuffed animal days. Throughout the moment, Kiyoni listened to Shuuichi's heartbeat. It provided a rhythm she liked and didn't want to end.

"I…" Shuuichi breathed, "appreciate the gesture. Thank you."

"Think of it as a thank you for the advice you gave me back at Aphrodisia."

"Right. I will use it well," Shuuichi stepped out with said blanket in hand, "Goodnight."

"Goodnight," Kiyoni waved.

Left alone, Kiyoni reflected upon tonight's events and developed a bit of an attitude because of it. Shuuichi didn't even try to make a move. To put it bluntly, she wanted to be close to him throughout the movie and thereafter. It had been a while since she's felt that sense of yearning for someone. Oh, well. Off to bed where there was one piece of silver lining to her dark cloud of depravity. Shuuichi's bed contained his scent, his pillow especially. As Kiyoni laid on the firmly plush pillow, she buried her nose deep within the fabric of the rosy-decorated pillowcase. It reeked of a sweet, musky scent which reflected how often Shuuichi washed his hair. The thick comforter and sheets also provided aromatic clues and Kiyoni buried herself in them. Shuuichi's hygiene level is on point but his organic scent was what turned Kiyoni on. She could've used that energy to masturbate and leave some of her essence in a secret area of Shuuichi's bed as a parting gift but decided not to and just went to sleep instead.

Into the late night hours, Shuuichi was no better. He tossed and turned for about two hours while resting in between with only a decorative pillow and Kiyoni's blanket with him.

Ugh. When did this couch become so uncomfortable? Wait. Kiyoni's blanket?

Thinking about her gave Shuuichi some ideas and the bottom line was that he missed her touch. The way Kiyoni performed physical magic on Shuuichi during that neck massage, the way she smelled when she laid on his shoulder, and the way she felt when she wrapped her blanket around him were all quite pleasant. Shuuichi grabbed said blanket and gave it a good whiff. Granted, the burgundy-colored, fleece fabric contained hints of the same incense that burned inside Kiyoni's dressing room. However, the scent that drew Shuuichi in was of Kiyoni, herself. She smelled so fresh and sweet with a hint of pleasant undertones. With every exhale, Shuuichi held that blanket closer to him as if Kiyoni was there and all over him. Unfortunately, a blanket couldn't replace the real thing but he couldn't go for it. The bible forbids a couple lying in bed together unless they were married. Then there was the risk of anyone catching them walking out of Shuuichi's room together the next morning. No. It's wrong on so many levels. Shuuichi went for it anyway.

Tip-toeing his way inside his own room, Shuuichi was mindful of the bright hallway light that might disturb Kiyoni's slumber by hovering her blanket above his head to block the light. Indeed, Kiyoni was found asleep on her left side facing the wall.

I can't do this, Shuuichi thought, She might hate me for it. Wait, she's a succubus, right? She may be used to stuff like this. Oh, that sounded wrong. Wait, what if she isn't? I could get into a lot of trouble for this. Please be a heavy sleeper, please be a heavy sleeper…

Normally, Shuuichi would disrobe and wear only a pair of boxer briefs to bed but this was clearly not the time for it. He kept on his darkly-colored t-shirt and matching flannel pants as he slowly...gently...took his sweet time getting into bed. Kiyoni jerked a couple of times which caused Shuuichi to freeze and his heart to race. It sucked for him because of all the extra layers, Shuuichi's body had no choice but to produce heat with a little bit of sweat, the main reason why he sleeps in his underwear. With the coast clear, Shuuichi was fully immersed in bed, comfortable, and closer to his guest without ever touching her. In one, heavy, victorious exhalation, Shuuichi closed his eyes and attempted to sleep.

Unfortunately, the victory was short-lived when Kiyoni blurted out, "I knew it."

"Hm?"

"I knew it. I knew you'd come back here."

"Haha. Very funny, Kiyoni. You had no clue I would come back here."

"Then why are you here?"

"This is my room last time I checked."

"Yes but I'm here. Did you come back to sleep or to see me?"

"Goodnight, Kiyoni."

"Answer the question."

"To sleep."

"Liar."

"I'm a deacon, Kiyoni. I don't lie."

"And just because most snakes have fangs doesn't mean they're not poisonous either."

"I said goodnight."

The two laid in Shuuichi's bed with their backs against each other and the silence between them became unbearable.

"Okay," he confessed, "I came in here to...check on you."

"Is that all?"

"Unless you had other plans."

This was it. The opportunity had finally come. So much for that masturbation idea.

Emboldened and carrying a smirk, Kiyoni turned over, "Shuuichi, look at me."

He did as asked, giving Kiyoni his undivided attention. Unfortunately, the movement triggered another one of Kiyoni's spaced-out moments. This one involved the two engaged in the most passionate love-making session ever where Kiyoni rode Shuuichi like a professional bull rider of sexuality caressing every inch of his upper body and hair. Shuuichi, in turn, pulled himself upward, nibbling on Kiyoni's neck while smoothing over her back and rear. It wasn't until Shuuichi maintained a firm grip on Kiyoni's hips that he took charge. With every orgasm-causing thrust, feminine and masculine energy flowed between them like blood and oxygen through the body. Kiyoni leaned back on her hands allowing her partner to get a full view of her changing physique as it shifted from human to succubus. Shuuichi appreciated the gesture by pulling himself deeper and harder into Kiyoni and she enjoyed every inch of him. Sure, the act may damn Shuuichi's soul to Hell but so long as they have the opportunity to intertwine like this, it's Heaven to them and only them. Just before the couple simultaneously reach orgasm, the daydream is over.

"Kiyoni," Shuuichi whispered, "Kiyoni…Kiyoni…"

"Hm, what? What…? What did you say?"

"You spaced out again. Are you sure I shouldn't be worried about that?"

"Oh, that? Yeah, no. Don't worry about that. My bad."

"Were you about to say something?"

"Actually...I wanna show you something," Kiyoni laid Shuuichi on his back while she climbed on top, "This."

Shuuichi didn't know how to take this moment but he wasn't going to protest it either, "This is...this is new."

"I know, right? I want to teach you a new skill."

"What skill...would that be?"

"Intimacy."

"Come again?"

"Intimacy. Physical intimacy. You're gonna take your hands like this, wrap them around my waist, and hold me close."

"Sounds simple enough."

"I know, right," Kiyoni adjusted her position so that each party would get a good feeling for one another, "Oh…! Someone's...excited."

Shuuichi's face flushed with heat. Why, oh, why did he choose this night to wear extra layers? There was another area of his that felt the heat as well but he chose not to disclose on that, "Uh...well...I have a beautiful woman sitting on top of me, wearing a cookie monster onesie, in my bed late at night. What's not to get excited about?"

"Are you sure this isn't the reason why you came back?"

"Kiyoni, I-"

"Because I'm happy you did," Kiyoni cradled Shuuichi's head in her hands, running her fingers through his hair, "I wanted to share this moment with you."

"Y-you did?"

"Mhmm."

"Well, I'm...glad I did...too," although it's dark in the room, Shuuichi lost himself in Kiyoni's eyes. The feeling of her body against his, the comfort of her fingers in his hair, the softness of her lips brushing against his…

"Kiyoni?"

"Yes, Shuuichi?"

Shuuichi was extremely nervous at this point. He had never been this close to a woman before and the attraction to Kiyoni was steadily increasing. He could've played the smooth, romantically-experienced role and go for a kiss but he thought of it as being too forward and mood-killing. He had much more respect for women than that. So he went a different direction.

"May I...may I kiss you?"

Quick learner. "Of course, Shuuichi. I was going to ask if you wanted to."

A perfect time for Kiyoni to witness Shuuichi's kissing game if he had one. Hesitant but resolute, he went all the way with ease. It was a gentle kiss. Not too aggressive and not too subtle.

"Eh...Thus by my lips, by thine, my sin is purged," he whispered.

"Um...excuse me?"

"It's a line from the movie. The part where Romeo and Juliet are in the elevator? He says that line after kissing Juliet."

"Ohhhh. I think I remember that part."

"Yeah. So Juliet says, 'And have my lips the sin they have took'?"

"Go on…"

Shuuichi awkwardly exhaled while brushing his lips against Kiyoni's, "Then Romeo says, 'Sin from my lips? Oh, trespass, sweetly urged. Give me...my sin again."

It was a damn good thing Kiyoni applied some lip-softening lip balm before her arrival for those lips of hers felt absolutely amazing. So much so that the first kiss led to a second. From second to a third. From the third came a fourth with a little more feeling. Now it was Kiyoni's turn to feel the heat. It was already bad enough that her...cookie was pulsating.

"I think I remember now," Kiyoni quoted, "You kiss by the book."

Shuuichi was impressed. He didn't think anything about his favorite movie would stick with Kiyoni. Then again, what Kiyoni just said was a commonly memorized line.

"That wasn't too much, was it," he queried.

"No," Kiyoni returned a kiss of her own with the same amount of feeling Shuuichi gave her.

"So this is what intimacy is."

"A part of it from what I can tell you," at this point Kiyoni's lips have yet to part from Shuuichi.

The same thing goes for her fingers and his hair. Meanwhile, Shuuichi tightened his hold on Kiyoni; the small width of her waist provided adequate leverage for him to rest his hands on her widened and open hips. Not to mention the buttons of her butt flap were definitely within reach and were difficult to ignore.

"I like this part."

"So do I. Want to kiss me again?"

"Gladly," Shuuichi pulled Kiyoni in once again and in a more intense fashion, shifting things from simple kissing to an uninterrupted make out session.

Shuuichi's reception to Kiyoni's charms made her feel like she just reached a new level with the guy. Shuuichi was happy due to the fact that he was making out with a beautiful woman in his bed. On holy grounds, it was a forbidden fruit moment, one neither Shuuichi nor Kiyoni thought or cared about.

The next morning, just as everyone was causing a stir in the building, Shuuichi slept comfortably with his cookie queen senpai in his arms. A couple of knocks on the door startled him awake.

"Mm! Oh...Kiyoni. Kiyoni, wake up."

"Mm, five...five more minutes," Kiyoni yawned.

"I'm sorry. You have to get up."

"Mm, is it morning already?"

"I'm afraid it is."

"And you're kicking me out, aren't you?"

"I'm afraid I have to but not right now."

"Then let me sleep."

"I can't. We need to figure out how you can leave without being seen. If you walk out right now, we'll be in big trouble."

Kiyoni wakes up but is grumpy, "Mm, then when's a good time to leave?"

"Do you have your phone?"

"It's in my purse."

"Good. You're going to need that for entertainment. It'll be about an hour at least before the coast is clear."

"Then let me go back to sleep."

"Again, I can't. That first free period is your best chance. Now that the city is getting ready for the holidays, things are going to be a bit busy. Timing is crucial."

"Ugh, fine. What are you going to do?"

"Simple. Try to act like everything is normal," Shuuichi grabbed his daily hygiene kit which included his toothbrush, toothpaste, facial wash, mouthwash, and dental floss , "Try not to make too much noise while I'm out."

"Sure, sure."

While Shuuichi was out, Kiyoni took a quick peek at what's going on and noticed just how busy things were. With people getting ready for either work or school, Shuuichi would definitely be looked at funny if Kiyoni just walked out nonchalantly. Fortunately, Kiyoni is no ordinary person. Discovering a window in the middle of the room, Kiyoni's plan was quickly developed. After straightening up Shuuichi's bed, Kiyoni transformed into her succubus form, gathered her things, and took off from the window. She'll explain things to Shuuichi some other time.

Another two weeks went by and the country threw itself deep into the holiday season. Lighthouse Tokyo contributes greatly to the occasion by presenting a holiday concert and ice sculpture show at the city's biggest amusement park, Yomuri Land, located within the Inagi district of Tokyo. The park's special attraction, called Jewellumination, featured some of the brightest and most colorful LED lighting displaying thousands and thousands of lights in sparkling gemstone colors. Special guest and grand master of ice, Seiryuu, had been called in to contribute to the festivities. A world-famous ice sculptor, it was an extreme honor for his appearance and collaboration with the church this year.

Kiyoni showed up with Juri, Aiko, and Shishi in tow. "Shishi, why are you here," she wondered.

"Isn't it obvious," Shishi replied, "Who? Who in their right mind would have better looks than me and live to talk about it?"

"I just want to meet the guy," Aiko announced, "and ask him why he's still a virgin."

"Aiko, please don't go there," Juri insisted, "That's rude."

"Rude? Tell that to Kiyoni. She's the one who's leading him on."

"Aiko, you are not going to ruin my night," Kiyoni determined, "I'm feeling way too good to be dragged down by you."

"Ew. What's gotten you so giddy?"

"Duh. It's the holiday season," Kiyoni sang, "It's the most wonderful time...of the year."

Both Aiko and Shishi covered their ears. "Please," he protested, "Please don't sing anymore. That was absolutely horrible."

Kiyoni continued, "Jingle bells, jingle bells. Jingle all the way…"

Aiko shrieked, "Ahhhh! Mercy, mer-cy!"

"Oh, what fun is it to ride in a one-horse open sleigh…"

Shuuichi approached from behind, startling Kiyoni, "Hey!"

"Ah," Kiyoni gasped, "Suu'chi!"

"Hey."

"Suu'chi, you're here."

"And so are you. Welcome."

"Suu'chi…" Shishi joked, "What kind of name is that?"

"That is the most ridiculous thing I have ever heard," Aiko followed.

"Quiet. The both of you," Kiyoni demanded, "Shortening names is a common thing in America."

"News flash," Aiko informed, "You're not in America. Far from it."

Side eyes came everyone's way from Kiyoni.

"You all must be her colleagues," Shuuichi deduced, "Minamino Shuuichi. Nice to meet you all."

"Yamashita Aiko."

"Shishiwakamaru."

"Takehito Juri!"

"Juri, yes, I remember," Shuuichi nodded, "I take it you're all here for the show?"

"I'm here to see my competition actually," Shishi admitted.

"I'm sorry. Competition?"

Shishi looked Shuuichi up and down, "Yes. Competition."

"Eh…?"

"Don't mind him," Kiyoni insisted, "He's just mad that I'm standing next to you and not him."

"Oh, I assume you two have dated?"

Shishi busted out laughing, "Please. Kiyoni wishes she dated me."

"Riiiight," Kiyoni clapped back, "And risk being one of your good-for-nothing groupies? No, thanks."

Aiko walked around Shuuichi, checking him out, "Hmpf. So you're the one Kiyoni is falling over. Still don't see why." She's considerably taller than the deacon, emphasized by the designer boots she wore. There she stood in her red winter coat and matching designer hat, eyeing the man.

"Is there something...I can help you with," Shuuichi asked.

"Nope. Other than the red hair, I still don't see it."

Kiyoni stepped in, "Geez. Rude much, Aiko? Are you okay, Suu'chi?"

"Fine," Shuuichi assured, "I'm sure she was just looking out for you."

"If you say so," Aiko concluded.

"So when does the show start," Juri wondered.

"Soon," Shuuichi answered, "If we move now, we can grab a good spot."

"Lead the way," Kiyoni professed, linking a hand with Shuuichi.

"You're going to love this year's show," he bragged, "I asked Yukina to make a sculpture just for you."

"Suu'chi, you didn't…"

"I did."

"You didn't have to do that."

"We didn't have to meet two months ago yet, here we are."

Kiyoni couldn't help but blush at the thought. If Shuuichi was for it, he would so get it from Kiyoni tonight.

"So what are we gonna see this year," Juri asked.

"Oh...sculptures and lighting displays of snowflakes, holiday figures, I think some anime figures. You see how the entire campus is covered in lights. We have an internationally-known sculptor in town so whatever he created will be a sight to see. Along with the surprise I planned for Kiyoni."

Juri gasped, "A surprise? Ooh, tell me, tell me!"

"If it's not a diamond ring, don't bother," Shishi teased much to Aiko's amusement.

"Is it a diamond ring?"

Shuuichi kept quiet as he glanced over at Kiyoni. Kiyoni looked back and became instantly nervous. Surely, the deacon wouldn't be this naive and so deep in love to propose marriage this early...would he?

The show was underway beginning with the lights. Waves of jeweled reds and greens mingled with shades of yellow, white, and blue to the tunes of Mariah Carey, The Trans-Siberian Orchestra, Yamashita Tatsuro, Takeuchi Mariya, and others. Those who were close giggled while Juri danced with Kiyoni. Mariah Carey has a way with Christmas music. Even in Japan. It was enough to put smiles on anyone's faces. To end the night, Touya and Yukina joined grand master Seiryuu in revealing their frosty designs for the year. Touya created statues of Jesus and the Virgin Mary. Seiryuu displayed a frozen image of a Santa dragon with children and elves sliding down its body. The illuminated skeletal structure provided extra ooh's and ahh's as the entire thing looked like a multi-prismed ice crystal.

"Here comes the surprise," Shuuichi hinted.

Yukina's work was a sculpture of Santa Claus in his sleigh driven by his reindeer including Rudolph and another of a coily-haired ballerina with angel wings reaching for the holiday star.

"Wait," Shishi observed, "Is it me or does that statue look like Kiyoni?"

"Looks like it," Aiko squinted, "Definitely got the hair down."

"OMG, it is Kiyoni," Juri concluded, "Kiyoni, look! It's you!"

Kiyoni couldn't believe it, "That's...me."

Indeed, it was Kiyoni and it was quite impressive as shown by the many people who took pictures of it. Another step made for the blasian community in Japan? Maybe. The country did have a few Black Lives Matter rallies during the summer.

"I had to do a little research to get the look right," Shuuichi confessed, "Your social media helped. Ever heard of Misty Copeland? I did some research on ballerinas that looked like you and she popped up quite a bit. That's one of her poses."

Absolutely touched, Kiyoni looked at the sculpture and back at Shuuichi, "You...you did that?"

"Yes. What do you think?"

"I...I…I'm speechless. I...I honestly don't know what to say."

"Hm, how about 'Thank you'?" Juri suggested.

"Yeah...thank you."

Shuuichi caught the lone tear that fell from Kiyoni's eyes, "You're welcome."

Witnessing the situation, Aiko and Shishi looked at each other with concern. They may have to worry about Kiyoni more than originally thought possible.