A/N: I'm Yours by Jason Mraz

I've been so busy that I haven't even had the chance to call Kyoko before our date tonight. Well I was able to give her a quick call this morning to make sure that she still wanted to go to dinner tonight. I was concerned that she might be overly nervous about our first date and try to back out of it. I won't let her go so easily now that I have a fighting chance with her. I clutched at the wheel hoping she wouldn't find an excuse not to go by the time I picked her up. The red light just stared back at me while I was longing for it to turn green.

Plus Yashiro and the President would never let me live it down if I, Tsuruga Ren, was turned down for a date, by the girl I love no less. The worst part is I can already imagine the torture they would put me through.

The President would sigh heavily, then tease me relentlessly that I fail at love. He'd go on how he doesn't understand how I made my Katsuki role work. I wouldn't put it past him to throw me into the Love Me Section. Then I would pray to any deity listening to change the color of those uniforms. I bet my first task would be along the lines of getting Kyoko to actually date me. At least I could spend more time with Kyoko as a Love Me member. Wait, if she regained the emotion of Love, does that mean she wouldn't be in Love Me anymore? I hope he has some sort of respect for my image and wouldn't put me through that overly pink hell.

Yashiro would at least be a bit more subtle and reasonable. "Ren, I thought you were busy for lunch. I wasn't expecting you to be so alone for this meal." Or "Oh, I see there's some free time for dinner tonight. Why don't you ask Kyoko-san to dinner? I'm sorry, it's because Kyoko-san rejected your invitation to eat with her that you're free." I could tolerate it. To a point. Possibly. Let's just hope that I don't have to encounter that scenario.

I finally rounded the corner to her place and her silhouette greeted me. I pulled up to her and she smiled. She opened the door. She wore a white jacket over a cute red top and a light yellow skirt. She looked adorable and sweet. A concern broke across my pleasant train of thought.

"Kyoko-chan, shouldn't I greet your landlords?" Isn't it proper? They're the closest thing she has to parents and I'm taking her out on a date. I don't want them to have reason to dislike me.

"No, no, don't worry about it. I told them I was having dinner with you. Taisho-san and Okami-san were alright with it. They're rather busy with their dinner crowd anyways. But I'm sure they would like to see you." I'll go see them sooner than later. If her Taisho is as good as she is with a knife, I would not like to get on the wrong side of his favor.

"Well, are you going to stand there all night, then? Or would you like to sit down and come eat with me?"

"Oh right, sorry Tsu-" I coughed loudly. "ru-" I coughed again and looked at her pointedly, hoping she would get my point and not think I was getting sick. I don't get sick. Except for that one time. Well, I wouldn't mind it again if she took care of me again. "…Ren-san….." I sighed. This was going to take a while. At least she didn't think I was ill.

"Where are we going to eat anyways?" I bet she was concerned whether it was healthy food or not.

"I small sushi place I found a while ago. There won't be many people. It's quiet and out of the way so we don't have to worry so much about attracting too much attention."

"Ah, that sounds good." We fell into silence. Before our silences have been comfortable, but now there was all this tension, probably with this being a date, something she's not entirely at ease with. She needs to get her mind off of it otherwise she'll get all worked up. I want her to be relaxed and have a good time.

"How have the past few days been? I haven't seen you in while."

"Things have been going well, just the typical shooting for 'Box R.' Now that 'Dark Moon' has finished shooting, I have more free time than usual. The President is actually looking for something… different for me now."

"Different? How so?" I glanced over at her and saw her blushing. I wonder why that is.

"Ano… He heard about what happened in the hallway…" I smiled a little. I knew it wasn't going to be secret from him for long. "I saw him right after I saw Sawara-san and he already knew by the time I got there. " I guess it was barely a secret to him. I suppose something like me kissing anyone is hot gossip, especially so publicly.

"Oh that's right, because that happened, I graduated! I'm not part of Love Me anymore!" She paused a moment. "…Thank you… I was able to graduate and regain that emotion because of you." I glanced again. She wore that enchanted and warm expression that makes me melt inside. Her cheeks and ears were bright red. She wasn't facing me, but she was watching from the corner of her eyes. She's so cute like that. My heart swelled at the knowledge that I was the one that made her remember love. I wonder if she knows that she's the one that taught me love. Maybe I should tell her… She's just as important to me.

"I should be thanking you, Kyoko-chan."

"Huh?"

"If I hadn't realized my feelings for you, I would have never been able to act in 'Dark Moon.' My career would have hit a wall if I didn't."

"Oh…" She seemed rather stunned. I suppose it was a heavy concept to grasp easily. Thankfully it seemed like she thought of something else.

"I just remembered how I'm leaving Moko-san and Chiori-san in Love Me. Moko-san was upset when she heard from the President." She seemed to get darker and upset. How do I deal with her when she's like this? I don't want to pull the sempai card just when she's not seeing me just as her sempai for once. I used to do that since it was effective, but I took a step forward. I don't want to take two steps back.

"It's not as if you can't see them anymore. I'm sure you can find time to see them. And they'll graduate in their own time too. They probably won't mind some help from you either." The darkness subsided slightly, but it was still tense in the car. I nearly sighed in relief as our destination came in view.

"Ah, here it is." I will admit it isn't the most glamorous place, but I thought the food here was rather good, which for me was something substantial. It also had a comfortable and private atmosphere. I hoped that it would keep her from panicking or something. This is our first date, probably her first ever. I want it to be special.

We sat at table in the back that kept both of us out of sight. We ordered a few different small plates.

"What about you, how have you been? Anything exciting happen?" I smiled and just looked at her. Yeah, she's sitting right in front of me.

"…Ren?" I realized she was waiting for me to answer.

"Mmmm? Sorry, I had a hard time thinking of anything that topped the last time I saw you." That sounded so cliché. I mentally smacked myself. It was true, though.

"Not even your latest shoot? Or filming for your new movie?" Despite her downplay, she was blushing brightly.

"No." I'm certain my smile widened. Her pink face became pinker.

"Oh…Well how are they doing anyways?" She looked nervous. She's probably not used to so much attention and compliments. I'll ease up for now, it'll probably take her time to get used to that too.

"They're doing well. I like my co-stars, they're good professionals. I'm excited for the movie role; I haven't done an action film before. That car stunt I did for 'Dark Moon' impressed the right people."

"I'm glad that something good came out of that. I'm certain that everyone within earshot of the stunt lost at least a few years off of their lives." Her glare is as penetrating as always.

"There was no danger, Kyoko-chan. Everyone was fine, we just had a bit of an adrenaline rush and a bit of a scare." She crossed her arms and muttered.

"Maybe if you actually had practiced in real life and not just in your head like Yashiro-san said you did."

"Now, where would I have practiced? On the street and risk innocent bystanders?"

"No, maybe you could have found a race track or an empty street late at night. Or something!"

"Sorry, I worried you so much." Aww, she's pouting now. I love her expressive face. I can't be entirely upset with Fuwa. If he never threw her away, she never would have thought of entering the show business. If she never auditioned with LME, she wouldn't have found something she was so passionate about. She's perfect for acting. And most of all, I wouldn't have found her again.

"You already apologized. Plus you said there wasn't any danger, so there wasn't. Just… be careful in this movie."

"Of course. I wouldn't want to get scolded if I, or anyone else, ended up needing as much as a bandage." I decided to tease her a bit. She didn't know I have a vow to never hurt anyone again. That's why there is no danger. That's why she needs to worry less about opening up to me. She's the last person I would ever want to hurt.

"Hmph." She continued pouting. I still don't understand how she doesn't understand her own appeal to others.

Thankfully, our food came then. Apparently, I've been spoiled by her cooking. I thought this was really good last time I came, but that before Kyoko came to LME. We ate in silence for a bit. I couldn't keep comparing this to her cooking, so I stopped for a bit.

"Rennnnn… Why aren't you eating? Do you not like what you got? You should try mine, it's really good!" All of a sudden, there was one of her sushi rolls in front of my eyes. I blinked and realized she was holding it there for me to eat. She just noticed what her impulses had her do as well. She started to draw her hand away but I lightly caught her wrist in my own hand and locked my eyes with hers. I opened my mouth to eat the offered roll. My eyes never left hers, but she turned her head to the side in embarrassment. Doesn't she know that she looks seductive when she looks at me through her eye lashes blushing like that? Especially with her lips parted, too. Her pulse raced under my thumb. I can't deny I felt a bit smug and prideful at her response.

I am so glad we are in public right now. Otherwise, I wouldn't be able to let my hand just slide away from her wrist. Chewing and swallowing enabled me to regain my self-control.

"Did… you like it?" Her voice shook with sheepishness. She played with the fringe of her skirt. I wish she would stop doing that. It keeps bringing my attention there and I can only manage so much control, at least, when it comes to her.

"Yes, it's very good." It was the truth, it was better than mine. Or it could just be that it tastes better since she fed it to me.

Silence settled on the table again. This was a thick and vibrating silence. I need to find something to break it. Otherwise she might find some inexplicable tangent that allows her to think that's not what I thought or some reason why I would be upset with her. An idea brought a grin to my mouth.

"Can I have another one?" Her head snapped up. I hope this can help her differentiate between teasing and bullying. I have to make up over an entire year of a poor mental image she has of me.

"Not like that!" She forced out in a harsh whisper. She glanced around nervously.

"Why not, Kyoko-chan? You want me to eat and be healthy, right?" Conflict clouded her eyes. Propriety said no, but her personal crusade to get me to eat right agreed with me.

"Here." She placed it on a separate plate and handed it to me. She found an alternative solution. I decided to pout anyways.

"I bet it won't taste as good as the first one." She glared at me. I shouldn't push my luck. I've already gotten so much more than I originally hoped for. "Fine." I picked it up and ate it. I was right, it wasn't as good as the first, but I'll keep that to myself.

Fortunately, conversation started flowing more freely. Dinner went by too quickly. We argued over who would pay the bill. I won on the argument that I asked her on the date. Plus what kind of man would I be if I let the girl I love pay on our first date? She also has both acting and high school to pay for, which her income hardly covers already. But she's always adamant about paying for her own things. I guess I'll have to find new ways to trick her into letting me give her gifts. I had to tell her that whole story about Princess Rosa so she wouldn't think of returning it.

Before I knew it, we were back at the Daruma-ya. We got out of the car as I walked her to the door. She turned to me.

"I had a good time tonight… Ren-san." My heart skipped at my name.

"I did too, Kyoko-chan." Even in the alley light, I still find her enchanting. I can't resist any more.

"In order to really convince you, if you had any doubts that the first one counted…" I leaned in. My world was right here. I wanted to show her that. My arm slid around her waist and a hand along her cheek. I paused to wait for her to close the distance. For a moment I feared she would politely put her delicate fingertips on my cheeks to push me away. Her face relaxed and her lips melted into mine. It felt like I landed the biggest role of my career. In a way, it was, or at least I hope it will be. I want this role for as long as she'll let me have it. I want to be her important person. I pulled her closer. Her hand moving up along my arm was a touch of heaven.

I needed to pull away before I could go any further. I needed space before I lost all sanity and propriety. What on earth enables her to make me lose nearly all control? I loosed my arm from her waist and moved my hand from her cheek to her shoulder. Our lips parted. I watched as her eyes drifted open. She looked like she just awoke from one of her fairy dreams.

"Now that, Kyoko, was a kiss." I whispered softly. I separated myself from her despite every part of me screaming to go back to her. "Next time, I'd like to see the Taisho and Okami-san, okay?" She nodded vaguely. I just grinned and walked back to my car. I waited for her to close the door behind her before I started the engine. I barely thought about getting home and inside. My mind was stuck on her. She still filled my mind as I lay staring at the ceiling above my bed. I just wish that when I finally fall asleep, that my dreams are just as sweet as tonight.