The next day, Naki stood on the guest room balcony. He gazed down at the courtyard, watching the servants work in the courtyard in the sweltering summer sun. He watched the servants toil; pulling weeds, watering, and scrubbing the benches. A smaller servant weeding the roses caught his attention. He couldn't help but smile a bit when he saw her.

Working in the yard had always been his least favorite thing to do. He hated the dirt, the bugs, and how hot it would get. But of course, working with Ju San would always make it bearable. She didn't fear the bugs he did, and if a beetle ever dared land on him, the doe eyed girl would not hesitate to pick it up and put it back where it came from.

He chuckled to himself, lost in memories of working in the gardens. Naki jumped in surprise when Eto spoke.

"Hey baby," she said, wrapping her arms around his waist from behind.

"Hey," he said, trying to duplicate his affectionate tone. However, his heart wasn't in it.

"What's the matter?"

"Just tired," he said. It wasn't a complete lie, he had been sleeping as little as possible in order to avoid the heartbreaking dream that now constantly haunted him.

"Awwww," Eto said.

"It's s'all right."

"So you'll be to tired for anything later?" she asked, letting her hands slip down past his waist.

Naki flinched and bit his lip. "I don't know."

"Naki, there's something that happened yesterday I wanted to ask you about," Eto said, playing with the button on his slacks.

"Yes?"

"I realized that I don't know anything about your past," Eto said. Naki tensed up.

"What's there to know?" he said. "None of it matters."

"Well, it seems like all the servants know," Eto said, unbuttoning his slacks.

Naki swatted her hands away. "If you want to take off my pants, we go inside," he said gruffly.

Eto giggled and pulled him inside, coaxing him to lay down on the guest bed. She climbed on top on him and began asking more questions as she undid his pants.

"Why do the servants all know?" she asked, slowly unzipping his slacks.

"They've known me for longer," he said, refusing to look the half ghoul in the eye.

"How old were you when you came here?" she asked, yanking off his pants.

"Eighteen."

"How old was Ju San?" Eto asked, palming him through his underwear.

"Twelve," he muttered, trying not to give into her teasing.

He failed.

Late that night, Naki awoke in cold sweat yet again. He looked at Eto sleeping peacefully next to him. He frowned and climbed out of bed. It was the middle of the night; he should not be up and about. He walked over to his dresser. He was naked, so he needed clothes. He pulled on boxers, silk pants, and a silk button up nightshirt.

Feeling empty and alone, he quietly left his room and walked to the guest bedroom he had once called home. He curled his nose; the bed still smelled of earlier's events. Naki did not want to be reminded of what he had done yet again. He opened the doors and stood on the balcony.

What was he doing? He didn't love Eto. But he didn't want her heart to break again, and it seemed as if there was no way back now. He wanted a family, yes, but not with her. And day after day, he had to hide it. And day after day, he hated himself more and more.

He stared out at the courtyard, trying in to see a certain bench through the blackness. Suddenly, he thought he saw movement out by where the bench was. He narrowed his eyes. He still could not see what it was, but there was definitely someone or something out there.

Naki frowned. He could go see what it was, but that would require him climbing down the trellis. That was something he hadn't done for a long time, and also something he swore he would never do again. But before he could stop himself, his hands were gripping the white painted pieces of wood, and vines were catching his nightshirt.

Ju San sat on the bench, lonely as always. She had decided not to go spy tonight; what Eto had said to her had really been killing her. She looked up at the balcony and trellis, and her heart almost stopped. Somebody was climbing down the trellis.

Inside, she was panicking. Who the hell would be coming to the courtyard at this time of night? Ju San made the split second decision to stay and find out who it was.

Naki's feet hit the ground and he strode across the courtyard. The bench was in complete shadow, so he still couldn't make out who was there. There was no wind tonight, so he could pick up the scent of who was there.

He paused before stepping into the shadow of the wall. He squinted his red eyes, but could still not tell.

Ju San's heart pounded rapidly in her chest. Who had just walked across the courtyard? Her vision was always faulty in the dark, and no wind made it impossible to pick up a scent.

"Who's there?" the figure called out.

Ju San's heart almost stopped. She would know that voice anywhere. She was dead, she was so dead.

"Master Naki?" she managed to squeak out.

The man approached the bench, and in that moment, the cloud covering the moon decided to drift away, and moonlight shone down on the bench, illuminating the two ghouls.

Naki stared at Ju San. It was her sitting on the bench. His heart fluttered. She looked absolutely stunning in the moonlight, her pale skin glowing and her silky brown hair shining. The constellations of the sky above sparkled in her eyes.

"Wh—what are you doing out here?" he stuttered.

"I'm sorry," Ju San said, shaking. "I couldn't sleep."

She winced and tightened her muscles, waiting for a strong hand to knock her off the bench. Instead, the man spoke softly.

"You come out here every night, don't you?"

Ju San's lack of answer said it all. He sighed and sat down next to her on the bench. He felt so full of guilt, yet so empty at the same time.

"What are you doing out here?" Ju San managed to say. Her heart was in her throat, and she wasn't sure what to feel.

"It's been awhile since we were out her together," was all he said.

"Nine years," Ju San said sadly.

Naki looked at her in shock. "Has it really been that long?"

Ju San nodded, and then looked at her feet. "It doesn't matter though."

He stared at her. "Why not?"

"Because," Ju San choked out, trying not to tear up. "You're marrying Eto."

It was silent for a few moments. "I'm not going to marry Eto," Naki finally said.

Ju San stared at the man. There was something lurking behind his eyes, but she didn't know what it was. "Why?" she asked.

Naki smirked and ran his finger over the names carved into the bench. "You."

Ju San's heart skipped a beat. "Me? Why would you not marry her because of me?"

Naki, in that moment, felt a rush go through his body. He would say it now, or he would never speak of it again. He chose to speak. "Because I love you."

Ju San's mouth went dry. Her eyes widened and she found herself unable to move. She had yearned to hear those words for twelve years. And now that they were ringing in her ears, she wasn't sure rather she was dreaming or not.

Naki hung his head at her silence. "I'm sorry," he said. "I shouldn't have said anything."

He went to stand up, but Ju San caught his arm.

"Wait," she said, finally finding her voice. Her inability to speak now turned into an unstoppable flow of words. "I love you! I love you too! I've loved you since the day we met and I've loved you every day after! Please don't go Naki! God damn it, I love you!"

He sat back down, closer than he had before. He brushed his nose against hers, closed his eyes, and then pressed their lips together. Both their hearts were pounding a million miles an hour. The kiss was tentative at first. Their lips were gently touching, and Naki cupped the servant's face in his hands.

They then decided that they had taken long enough on things in general. Naki pulled Ju San into his lap, and she let out a noise half way between surprise and satisfaction. She loved the feeling of his soft lips against hers; it was what she had wanted for so long. Naki pulled the woman straddling him closer, and he gripped onto her hair. Ju San parted her lips slightly and let her tongue slip into Naki's mouth. He responded by sliding his tongue into her mouth, enjoying her sweet taste. His soft, wet tongue tugged at something deep inside her, a side that sweet little servants weren't supposed to have.

Naki's hardness rubbed against her groin, and was driving Ju San crazy. They gripped each other tighter, and Ju san began tugging at his nightshirt. Naki responded by snaking his hands up her shirt, causing her to let out a whimper. She kissed him harder, forcing more of her tongue into his mouth. Naki's scent mesmerized the servant, she just couldn't get enough of it. Naki needed more. Her seductive scent was pushing the limits of the control he had over himself. He began to rub at her breasts, and the whimper she let out made him lose it.

He rocked his hips against her, thrusting. He bucked his hips harder and harder, desperately trying to get that spark of pleasure he craved. Ju San seemed to get the message, and her hand traveled down to his pants. She began to rub the bulge that had formed, throughly enjoying every lewd noise Naki let out beneath her.

"Stop," he suddenly said, breaking the kiss. "Ju San, stop."

He was panting and his eyes were lidded.

"Stop?" Ju San looked at him in confusion.

"I—I can't do this like this," he said.

"Wow," Ju San said harshly. She shoved her hands against his chest in anger and stood up. "So like you, Naki. It's so like you to do that. I'm going to bed."

Hurt and angry, she began to storm off.

"Ju San, wait!" Naki said, hurrying after her.

"No!" she said, tearing streaming down her face. "I won't wait! Do you have any idea what I go through for you? And you treat me terrible! And finally, when I think I'm going to get something I want, you do this! I spilled my heart out, telling you how I feel! But you don't care! So no, Naki! I will not 'wait'! I'm done!"

She whirled around, but the blond ghoul caught her arm. "That's not what I meant, Ju San!"

Ju San smacked his hand away. "What did you mean then?" she snapped. "Here I am, being stupid again. Thinking that something you say will make it all better. Go ahead. Take advantage of me being an idiot. You have one last chance. Explain yourself."

"I don't want to fuck you on our bench," he mumbled. "In the courtyard in the middle of the night. I wanna do things right."

Ju San stared at him blankly. "What?"

"I don't want to fuck you, but I do want to have sex with you."

"Naki you make no sense," Ju San said. "I'm done."

"Wait!" he said. "There's difference between fucking and what I want us to do."

Ju San was utterly confused. "Explain."

"Well, I fuck Eto," he said. "That feels good here." He pointed down at his crotch. "But what I want to do with you, that would feel good here and here." He pointed at his crotch again and then at his heart.

"So what are you saying?"

"I don't know the words!" Naki said, frustrated. "But I'm not going to just have sex with you now. I want to go…" he trailed off.

"Go where?"

"On a date," he muttered. "That's the right way. Treat you good. I won't do naughty things with you until we go on date."

Ju San wrapped her arms around the blond ghoul, pressing her tearstained face into his chest. "Naki, you're a gentleman," she laughed through the tears falling down her face.

He pulled her head back and cupped her face in his hands. "You'll go on date with me tomorrow?"

Ju San nodded, then frowned. "What about Eto? And Aogiri? And the other servants?"

"They won't know," Naki said. "Eto has to go to another city to meet with a certain strong ghoul. She won't get back until afternoon day after tomorrow."

"Naki,"Ju San said slowly. "No one can know. Aogiri would never let you hear the end of it. Eto, well, I don't have explain that. And if the other servants found out, they would hate me. Promise nobody will find out."

"I promise," Naki said, scooping her up in his arms.

He carried her over to the window and set her down.

"I'll see you in the morning," Ju San smiled.

"Goodnight, Ju San," Naki said.

She chuckled at the reference to their first conversation. "Goodnight Naki."

"I love you," he said softly as she slipped inside.

Ju San looked up at the man who stood outside. "I love you too," she said, and then quietly closed the window.