She climbed into bed with him. She smiled to herself, getting Liam drunk was the best idea she'd had. He'd be asleep for hours. She looked down at his face. If looked so sad, so empty even in his sleep. Sousuke, she couldn't leave him, she loved him. She leaned down and kissed his forehead. His cheeks, his nose, his eyelids and his neck. She left his lips for last. As she bent down to kiss them his eyes opened. His hand wrapped around her throat, slamming her to the floor. Her eyes widened.

"State who you are and what your business is," his voice was low and threatening.

She choked a bit, "Sousuke, it's me. It's Chidori. You're choking me."

He released her throat, "Get out," he said as he stood up.

"Please," she begged, "I only have until Liam wakes up from his drunken, semi-drugged state. I have to explain some things to you."

"Like what," he growled, "Like how your philosophies of love are total bull, like how you used me then left me when I truly love you. Like how you lied to me. Like how…"

"He'll kill you if I don't," she began to cry, "I love you more then anything and I don't want you to get hurt. But he said if I'm with you he'll kill you and I can't let that happen. I don't want to hurt you but it's the only way."

"Who," he asked skeptically.

"The man who took me yesterday," she stood up, looking at him, "Tessa's brother, Leonard," she wrapped her arms around him, "I'm sorry I hurt you. But I want to be with you, I just, I can't."

He held her tight to him, leaning his head down. He kissed all over her face. Her cheeks were wet from tears but now he understood. How could he have been so stupid? She'd never want to hurt him like that without good reason and this was a very good reason. But he wanted to be with her. He didn't care what the cost was, he would be with her. He kissed her lips, pushing her up against the wall. She moaned a bit, savoring the deepening kiss. His hands moved up and down her sides, going under her shirt. He moved to kiss her neck.

"No," she stopped him, "Sousuke, we can't."

He looked her in the eyes, "My job is to protect you, not the other way around. I love you and I don't care who wants to try and kill me because of that. I will be with you because it's what we both want and need."

She looked at him, "But…"

"Please Chidori," his expression saddened, "I already thought I lost you once, don't let me lose you again. Please just be with me and we'll figure this out together."

Her lips parted, "Sousuke," she pulled his face into hers, locking their lips together.

He picked her up with ease, carrying her over to his bed. Their legs intertwined as they kissed. Their fingers locked together for a moment before moving to explore each other. She moaned again as she felt him get hard. He blushed for a moment then felt the need to be inside her again. This time she felt no pain as he entered, only sheer pleasure. When they both finished he pulled the covers up around her, running his hand up and down her bare back. She giggled at the tickling sensation. She kissed his chin then snuggled into him, running her hand along his chest. He smiled as she fell asleep. After so many months he was finally with her. For once he felt normal. It was also the first time he'd been excited to go to school.

"Chidori," he whispered.

"Mmmm," she replied.

"In the morning will you cut my hair," he asked.

She laughed, "Yes."

"Will you also take me shopping," he asked, "You know, so I blend in."

"You blending in," she yawned, "is impossible, but yes."

She listened to the light rumble in his chest as he laughed, "You're beautiful."

She smiled, "I won't be so beautiful if you keep me awake like this. Go to bed."

"Alright," he was silent for a moment, "Chidori?"

"What," she grumbled.

"I love you," he softly whispered in her ear.

She felt herself blush, "I love you too, Sousuke."

In the morning he patted the bed, it was empty again. He looked around, her clothes were still on the ground. So she was somewhere in the room. He smiled and closed his eyes again. He felt her lay next to him a few minutes later. She kissed his forehead then ruffled his shaggy brown hair. He really did need it cut again. At least it wasn't as bad as last time. She smiled, this time she could kiss him all she wanted if he fell asleep. Her eyes grew wide when she heard someone trying to open the door. She quickly gathered her clothes. Sousuke pointed at the closet door. She hid just as Liam opened the door.

"Where is she," he glared at Sousuke.

Sousuke glared back, "She's your girlfriend. Why would I know where she is?"

He looked at the floor, "So you always sleep naked?"

Sousuke smirked, "Yes, it's less constricting and give my body a chance to breathe. Anything else?"

"If I find her with you," Liam threatened.

"You'll what," Sousuke said sarcastically, "kill me?"

Liam clenched his jaw then left, closing to door behind him, "Way to go Sergeant Sexy, you managed to piss off the bad guy."

He frowned when he saw her, "How did you manage to get dressed without making a sound?"

"Skill," she replied, heading for the bathroom, "Now put some pants on, baka, so I can cut your hair."

He laughed while pulling on his pants, "And the verbal abuse begins again, yes things are back to normal."

"What are you mumbling about," she called from the bathroom.

"Nothing, nothing," he walked into the bathroom, "So am I cutting your hair as well," he asked as he sat down.

"No," she tied the towel and apron around his neck, "Mao is doing my hair for the party that is going on later tonight. Apparently all the allies of Mithril and the agents of Mithril get together once a month for a party type thing. She had this really gorgeous dress picked out for me, with jewelry and heels. She's also doing my make- up."

He listened to her buzz about the party as she cut his hair. He smiled at how happy she sounded and he couldn't wait to she her in a dress. He'd been to a few of the parties before but never found anyone to dance with. He'd been too unadapted to modern culture, unlike the other young members. Kurz would probably try to dance with Mao again this year which would end in disaster. If truth be told Sousuke could slow dance and that was about it. Hopefully Chidori would be able to get away from Liam long enough for him to have a dance with her.

"So, do a lot of people come to this event," she asked, pulling him out of his thoughts.

"Oh, yes," he began to explain, "It's a way of showing that Mithril is friendly and can be trusted. It also shows that another month has gone by that we have remained allies. The Americans are quite fun to watch. They all dance in a manner that looks like they are having sex on the dance floor."

Chidori laughed, "I'm all done and it's called grinding Sousuke. A lot of younger people dance like that. I hope they play Freak Um Dress."

"What's that," he asked as he started the shower.

She began to remove her clothes, "It's a song…don't worry about it. I'll let you know if it plays."

He pulled off his pants, "That would be much appreciated."

"Are you alright with me hopping in the shower with you," she asked.

"No," he looked her in the eyes, "Hopping in the shower isn't wise. You could slip and get hurt. However, if you'd like to join me you can."

She shook her head, "Oh Sousuke, you still have so much to learn. Hopping in the shower is a figure of speech. I'm not actually going to hop."

He pulled her in, "Well then you should have just asked if it was okay to join me."

She just sighed, arguing about this would be useless. Nine and a half months of going to a normal High School and hanging out with normal kids and there were still things he just didn't get. But at least he tried and that's all that really mattered to her. He was getting better after all. He hadn't pulled a gun on anyone in about a month, which was real progress for him. She kissed his chest, causing him to blush. Nine and a half months ago this would have never happened. He'd be sweating bullets just from the thought. He pulled her closer to him, letting the water hit them both. He placed his chin on the top of her head. He was surprised that she'd grown since first meeting her. He'd also filled out even more.

"I'm glad you've been sleeping normally," he felt her cheek press against his chest.

"Yes," he agreed, "it makes it so I'm much more alert and more able to protect you."

"You look so peaceful," she mused, "unlike when you slept over my house. You kept speaking in different languages and screaming about god knows what. You'd only calm down when I laid with you."

"So that was real," he thought.

"What," she looked up at him.

He smiled, "It's nothing, we should start washing up then you should leave in case Liam comes back. I don't want him hurting you because of me."

She nodded. They washed quietly, sneaking peaks at each other then blushing when they caught the other looking. Once finished she left for Mao's room, hair still wet. He watched her leave and his chest felt heavy. How was he going to do this? He could be with her but he couldn't really be with her. Which meant tonight Liam would be the one telling other guys to keep their hands off when really Sousuke should be doing that. He cursed under his breath. Damn that Leonard. Then an idea popped into his head. Leonard would probably attend this event like he had the last few. Sousuke smiled to himself, then he'd strike.

In Mao's room, Mao helped Chidori get ready for the party. She trimmed Chidori's hair a bit. Re-layering it and cutting off a few inched. When she was done Chidori's hair reached mid-back instead of past her butt. She'd never realized before how much her hair actually weighed. It felt so light now. Mao began to curl the long blue hair, twisting the sides as she pinned it back. She swept Chidori's bangs to the side but left them down. Next she did her makeup. She used black eye liner and a grey smoky eye that made Chidori's brown eye pop. Next she applied some blush and clear lip gloss. Finally she handed her a deep V-necked, floor length, spaghetti strapped, backless black dress with slits going up to mid-thigh. She paired it with diamond drop earrings, a diamond choker and a pair of three inches, opened toed heels.

"Sousuke is gonna drop dead when he sees you," Mao admired her work.