"So, when did you say you were returning back to your country?" Yao asked you as he poured you some tea.

"We will only be in Beijing for about another two days, so we 're leaving Friday," you replied, smiling sadly.

Since the first time you two met in the palace garden, you took every opportunity you could get to see Yao. You would break away from your class when you could just to be with the man you had strangely grew fond of so quickly in such a short amount of time. You weren't exactly sure why, but there was just something about the young man that drew you to him.

When you remembered that you would be leaving China, leaving Yao, you felt a great deal of sadness.

Speaking of feelings, you recently became aware of the butterflies that fluttered around in your stomach whenever you two made eye contact.

Reflecting over the last week, you two did do many things together; walking through beautiful gardens, learning how to speak Mandarin even better than what your teacher had taught, and taking time to just talk to one another.

You wondered if he shared similar feelings…Even if that did seem stupid. After all, you were still young and inexperienced with the feeling of 'love', is that was what you were feeling.

You chuckled. Impossible.

"What's so funny?"

"Mm? Oh, it's nothing. I was just thinking about that goose that attacked you the other day at the park. Who ever heard of a grown man being nearly 'mauled', as you put it, by such a harmless creature," you began laughing, now remembering the look of sheer terror on the poor Chinese man's face when he accidently startled an unsuspecting goose, who wanted it's revenge.

Yao's face heated in embarrassment.

"S-stop laughing! It wasn't funny! That monster was a vicious bird that nearly killed me! And it was only an accident! Didn't you see the intent look of murder in its eyes," Yao huffed.

"Ahaha, the only destructive thing the goose did was put a small hole in your robe," you continued to laugh, wiping tears caused by laughter from your eyes.

"Aiyaa! That was one of my good robes! And really now, you are being so immature, _. I'll give you something to laugh about," Yao said as he suddenly tackled you to the ground, tickling your sides.

You shrieked in laughter and tried to tickle him back.

Well, you two engaged in a tickle war, laughing, taunting each other, and having a good time.

It ended with you pinning him to the ground, both of you breathless and red in the face.

"I…Win…" you gasped out, smirking triumphantly.

Yao rolled his face, smiling.

"Perhaps. Do you want a reward or something for playing games?"

"Hey! You started it, and yes, I think I deserve one," you pouted.

Yao chuckled, gently wrapping his arms around your neck. He pulled you close to his face and moved his mouth to your ear.

"I know something about you for sure, my dear _. Well maybe two things. The first is: I know for certain you will like this small reward."

His warm breath sent shivers down your spine and what he did next completely caught you off guard.

He placed a gentle and tender kiss on your lips.

It was brief, but when he pulled away, you just the cutest smile on his face.

"I also know that you like me, _."

You jumped away from him, covering your reddening cheeks.

He sat up and chuckled, patting your head.

"Why are you so nervous all of a sudden? I like you too," he said in a sincere tone.

You blushed even more, you face know a fierce shade of red.

"y-you…T-that was my first kiss!" you shouted. You weren't mad; just extremely flustered.

Yao looked surprised.

"…It was? Ahh..I'm sorry, _…Were you saving it for someone special," Yao asked, looking regretful.

You shook head, mentally trying to calm yourself down. My first kiss was given to me by Yao, my first kiss was taken by Yao, and Yao just…kissed me.

Wait.

He likes me?

Yao stood up, snapping you out of your daze. He held out his hand to you, wanting to help you up. You hesitantly took his hand and he help lift you off the ground.

He turned his head away, sheepishly and said, "I think it's time I lead you back to the hotel…"

Instantly, your eyes filled with sadness. It wasn't even the evening yet and you weren't ready to leave.

You took a deep breath, making your mind up.

"If this is too awkward for you, then you can take me back. But I want to know one thing first. Why do you like me," you asked, looking up with curious eyes.

Yao felt his face heat up.

"W-Well I…I know it may sound forward and unusual, considering you really only just met, but there is something about you…"

You listened, waiting for him to continue.

"You looked so lost when we first met and I knew I was bound to want to get to know you; I could tell that you were not some obnoxious tourist visiting my country. And while I don't know everything about you, I feel drawn to you."

"Please don't laugh at me, but it feels as if it has been ages since I last met someone that made me feel so…alive. So at ease and normal. I want to know more about you. I think you are also a very pretty girl."

Yao paused, chuckling.

"You're also so easy to read, like an open book."

You blushed again, looking down.

Was this man really telling you all of this? You almost couldn't believe it.

Yao looked at you, waiting for a response of some sort.

And in a quiet voice, you mumbled,

"I think…that I want to get to know you as well. I can't explain it either myself, but I too am drawn to you…"

…

Thereafter, you ended up spending the night at his house, talking to each other; learning as much as you could about him and vice versa.

It seems crazy and unrealistic they way it turned out, A young girl suddenly being thrown into an almost relationship with a man she still just a met in the course of a week, and in a foreign country.

But you had agreed to return to China again, in about a year or so. The reason being was that Yao refused to court you until you had legally become an adult. Well, this made sense, seeing as you were still seventeen and he was about twenty-three.

How traditional and gentlemanly, you thought smiling.

And to think, it really had been a few years since then. Look at where you were right now; exactly where you were meant to be.

Living with your loving boyfriend you had met five years ago, and have officially been dating for four years.

So loved…

So…not here?

Opening your eyes, you let out a yawn and stretched your arms out in front of you, sunlight streaming through the red velvet curtains.

You rolled over, expecting to meet Yao in a morning embrace.

Except, he wasn't there.

'Strange', you thought, sitting up and looking around.

You noticed a note left on the nightstand.

Picking it up, you read it to yourself.

After you reading it, you were wondering what Yao had to see Kiku for and why he left so suddenly.

Did something happen?

…

Yao lugged his suitcase off the plane with him, taking his first steps in Kyoto, located in the island country of Japan.

'It has been so long since I've visited Kiku's home,' he mused to himself.

Reading over the directions his brother had sent to him in a text message, Yao made his way to Kiku's humble home.

Knocking on the door of the house, Yao waited for him to answer the door.

"Ahh, I'm over here, Yao-San," Kiku called to Yao as he walked out from the back of his house.

Yao looked at him and nodded.

"It has been a while since I have last seen you, Yao…You look well," Kiku said, meeting Yao on his front porch.

"And you look healthy yourself," Yao smiled.

The two stood there for a while making small talk.

"Yao-San…No, China, I believe it's time we discuss what I had called you here for. Won't you please come inside?"