"Bankotsu…" She mumbled as she opened her eyes. Her brows knotted together as she glared at the man who was actually next to her. She was so close to his face that she felt his warm breath on her lips.

"Masumi…" He whispered and faced her. "Get changed and go downstairs for breakfast." He smirked.

"I can't." She whispered and he cocked an eyebrow at her. "You need to let go of me." She continued to glare. He would never understand how she was so timid and at the same time, very daring. He smirked and pulled her closer. Her chest pressed firmly against his.

"Give me a kiss." He whispered. She grunted and tried to push away. "Hurry or I'll make you do worse…" He whispered and slid his hand down her back. She gently pressed her lips against his and quickly pulled away. "A real kiss." He smirked and she growled now.

She pressed her lips against his and slid her tongue into his mouth. She moaned as he sucked on her tongue. He rolled on his back and with his arms still around her waist; she laid on top of him. She panted as she pulled away.

"Good girl." He whispered and squeezed her butt. Her back shot up and he scoffed. She got off him and quickly paced out of the room.

XXX

She felt his eyes on her back as she cooked. He sat on the counter behind her. She didn't like how close he had been watching her lately.

"Finished…" She whispered. He slipped off the counter and walked into the dining room. His behavior was off to her, too.

He had been calm and mellowed out. He hadn't forced her. His behavior was even almost categorized as…nice.

She sighed and followed him.

XXX

Hiten growled as he heard the phone vibrate again. He knew who it was. Bankotsu. It had been ringing all day now. Bankotsu never tried to call this phone, Hiten had threatened to harm Masumi if he ever attempted to call her, so why was he being so bold?

"You." He barked and Masumi jumped.

"What?"

"What is today to you?" He asked in a quiet tone.

"Nothing…" She frowned and whispered.

"Something now tell me or else." He argued.

"My birthday." She whispered in a barely audible voice.

"How old are you?"

"Eighteen." She glanced at him.

"You've been a good girl." He smirked. She instinctively scooted away and jumped when he reached in his pocket and threw her phone at her. "Consider it part of your gift."

"Can I…"

"Call him." He whispered and she nodded. Her hands trembled with excitement as she went through her contacts and she smiled. She didn't see the smile of satisfaction appear on his face.

'Bankotsu?' She whispered.

'Masumi?' His voice cracked.

'Yeah…I miss you guys…'

'Has he hurt you?'

'No.' She lied. She didn't know why, though. Maybe it was the fact he was listening and sitting right beside her.

'Listen…Inu's got the cops looking now, ok? I will find you.' She could tell he was in tears now.

'Ok…'

'Happy birthday…when you get back, I'll take you for eighteen drinks.' He promised and she giggled.

"Hurry it up." Hiten crossed his arms.

'Ok…I need to go…'

'Do not let him break you…be strong.'

'I will…I love you.'

'I love you too….' She hung up. She handed him the phone and he tucked it away.

"Now…you dressed?" He asked and she rolled her eyes. She was in a white miniskirt and a turquoise halter top. "Good, we're buying you a dress." He smiled.

XXX

Her eyes lit up as they approached the store. He had his arm around her waist as they walked inside. The brand name dresses were displayed and hung.

"What's your favorite color?" He whispered in her ear.

"Purple." She smiled. He nodded and went with her to pick a few to try on. She happily picked up the ones that were well over a hundred dollars and he smiled at her excitement. At least she seemed happy when she shopped with him.

She smiled and practically ran in the dressing room. She came out with a light purple strapless dress. It went mid-thigh in length and slightly lifted her already large chest. He smirked as she posed in it for him. He was glad there were mostly women in the store. He stood up and walked in front of her. She smiled and wrapped her arms around his neck.

"Why have you been so nice?"

"Because I can be…" He whispered. He leaned forward to kiss her but she slipped out of his embrace and went back in the dressing room. He grunted, not amused with her games, and sat down.

The next one revealed a little more. There was a slit up one side of the dark purple dress and the v neck revealed most of her breast line.

"Beautiful…" He smirked as he felt himself grow aroused.

"Too slutty." She frowned and went back in the dressing room. The next one was silk. It was halter top but covered her chest nicely. It went just above her knees.

"Eh…" He shrugged. It did nothing for him.

"I like it!" She smiled as she twirled around and looked in the mirror.

"Whatever." He rolled his eyes. She came back out in her regular outfit and handed him the three dresses. Hiten put the money on the counter and snatched the dress.

XXX

He sat beside her in the car.

"Turn around." He ordered. She sighed and faced her back to him. She lifted her hair and revealed the swollen tattoo. He softly rubbed the lotion on it and she winced. "It looks good." She grunted and sat back in the seat.

"Where are we going now?" She whispered.

"Where do you want to go?" He asked as he drove.

"Anywhere…" She frowned, still uneasy by his kindness.

"Well…we don't have plans until six; it's only four so you have two hours to kill. I have something in mind but you wouldn't appreciate it too much." She glared. Then smirked.

"Shopping."

"We just did."

"No…shopping." She smiled. May as well blow his money…right?

"I took you before." He grunted.

"Alright, to see my brother." She challenged.

"Fuck it, we're going back!"

"Ok, ok…can we go…for a walk?" She asked nervously.

"A walk?" He cocked an eyebrow at her.

"On the beach!" She smiled.

"Why?" He asked wearily.

"It's beautiful…" She smiled. "When I was younger, my mother used to…" Her voice trailed off when she realized how personal she was getting with him. He rolled his eyes. The rest of the ride was silent.

He pulled into the empty parking lot and she smiled. He held her hand and helped her out of the car. It looked like it was going to rain and nobody was here. He saw her shiver and sighed. He pulled his hooded, light blue sweater over his head and handed it to her. She nodded in thanks and put it on; it almost went longer than her skirt. She took off her heels and put them in the car before walking on the cool sand.

He walked beside her and watched the excitement in her eyes. She watched the water and even the sand in amusement. He remembered it had been a while since she had the chance to just be outside and frowned to himself.

"Your mother used to take you here?" He asked and she shifted her gaze to him.

"Not here…but to beaches…we had a beach house for the summer…" She smiled and crossed her arms. He nodded.

"I hate beaches." He mumbled.

"Why?" She looked up to him. It was their first normal, non-emotional conversation.

"The sand sticks; the water smells…it's gross." He shrugged.

"No…the sand is calm and relaxing and the water is beautiful…" She smiled and he gagged. She playfully pushed his shoulder and he smirked at her.

"You sound like any other woman." He rolled his eyes.

"No…I am not like the women you deal with…" She mumbled and he let a small growl escape his lips. She looked down and tried not to meet his angry gaze.

"Wanna swim?"

"I don't have a bathing suit." She looked up to him.

"You don't need one." He smirked again.

"No…"

"Sit?" He offered.

"Alright." She agreed and sat beside him. The sun set and she smiled. She watched him stare at it blankly. "Do you not think that beautiful either?" She asked and he scoffed.

"No…I consider few things 'beautiful'." He whispered and she nodded. "I think of you as beautiful." He looked over to her and she blushed. She looked to her lap. "Come here." He grabbed her arm and wrapped his arm around her waist. She tensed and slowly rested her head on his shoulder.

"I do not understand you…"

"I don't understand me either…" He sighed. The sky got dark and he smiled as rain drizzled down. "Rain is beautiful…and so is thunder and lightening…" He smirked and she sighed. Then, rain poured and she jumped to her feet. "Where are you going?" He teased as he held her by her waist.

"To stay dry." She laughed as he tickled her ribs.

"What if I don't want you dry?" He whispered.

"Then you need to catch me." Her laughing calmed.

"Huh?" He stared at her quizzically. When his hold loosened, she ran ahead of him and he smirked.

"You need to catch me!" She laughed. He smiled and ran after her. The rain pounded down on him but didn't slow him down. He ran and tripped over her.

"Got you." He panted as she rolled on her back and smiled at him. Her hair clung to her forehead from the rain and he smiled and brushed her bangs aside. She smirked as his white T-shirt clung to his body. She rubbed her hands on his chest and giggled.

He leaned forward and brushed his lips against her damp ones. She wrapped her arms around his neck and laced her fingers behind his head. He leaned forward again and kissed her. She moaned in his mouth but pushed him off when she heard thunder.

"Scared?" He taunted.

"No…I just don't like lightening." She smiled with her arms still around her neck.

"I won't let it hurt you." He whispered and leaned forward, so close their noses touched. "I won't let anyone hurt you." He watched her expression get serious and jumped at another boom of thunder.

"How can I trust someone who fears a sound?" She teased and he smirked. He stood up and held her by the waist. She quietly laughed as she felt herself slip out of his hold a little and buried her face in the nape of his neck. He swung the door open and jumped in the SUV with her. She laughed as he tried to crawl into his own seat. He panted for air as he finally sat right.

"I fear nothing." He said after catching his breath. She smiled and nodded. Her legs and face were soaked and so was his sweatshirt. He placed his hand on her lap beside hers and she jumped at the contact. He slowly slid his hand towards hers and put it over hers. Her face got red and she looked out the window. He grabbed her hand and pulled it to him. She watched him softly place his lips on it and smiled. She took it back and rubbed her forearms as she shivered.

XXX

She smiled as she styled her hair. She had showered and changed into her dress, but he hadn't told her where they were going. Rain still poured outside.

She pulled the top of her hair back but left the back and her bangs down. She put on her diamond studs and smiled. She wore light purple eye shadow and clear lip-gloss. She wore little cover up and slipped on her black, open-toe heels.

She jumped up and down, she didn't know why she was so excited for him to take her out, but she was. She would wear the necklace, but the back of her neck worried her. He knocked on the door and opened it.

"You look nice." He smiled and gently kissed her cheek. He smelled her hair as he did so. She blushed and nodded. He gave her his black, zip-up sweater and she put it on. He led her outside and they ran to the Navigator.

XXX

She smiled as she walked inside one of the fanciest restaurant she had ever seen. He grabbed her hand and they followed the waiter to the table. He pulled out her chair and she nodded in thanks as she sat down. She took off her sweater and placed it on the back of her chair.

He sat across from her and smiled. They ordered and sat in silence.

"Happy birthday…" He whispered.

"Thank you." She blushed and looked back down. The red wine was served and she scrunched her nose.

"Don't like?" She nodded no. "How is it you can be so quiet and yet so loud?" She just shrugged. "Do you not like being in public with me?" He asked and she shrugged again. He lifted from his seat and leaned forward. He gently brushed against her lips and then sat back down.

She received salad and he had steak. She slowly ate and he smirked watching her.

"What?" She smiled.

"You eat so…slow." He scoffed. She nodded. He cut off a piece of his own food and fed it to her from the fork. She ate it and slowly chewed, trying to annoy him. "What would you like to drink? Wine seems like too much alcohol for you." He smirked.

"Is not." She crossed her arms.

"I've seen you drunk…I just don't want you being careless." He smirked. She drank the glass of wine in one swig and smirked. "Oh? So you think you can handle your drinks?" He taunted.

XXX

He sighed and set her on the bed. He walked in her bathroom and heard her laugh as he returned with aspirin and water. She took it and smiled at him.

"Can we?" She whispered and practically tackled him. He held her by the waist and regained his footing.

"Not tonight…"

"It's my birthday…" She frowned and nipped his earlobe.

"Not…" She licked her lips as she faced him and he grunted. He pinned her to the wall and claimed her neck with his tongue. She carelessly kicked off her shoes and he tried to find the zipped in the back of her dress. She wrapped her arms around his neck and he let the dress fall to her ankles. She kicked it aside and grabbed to handfuls of his shirt.

She crashed her lips against his. He closed his eyes and tugged at her panties. She pulled away, panting, and ripped his shirt over his head. He ripped her thong off and she yelped at the snap. She unbuttoned his pants and locked eyes with him the whole time.

She slid them down and he stepped out of them. He threw his boxers off and buried his face in her neck. Her back still pressed firmly against the wall and her chest was against his, though she still wore her strapless bra. She moaned when he entered her. She wrapped one leg around his waist and used to the other to try and stand. He grunted as he held her hips and quickened his pace.

She held onto his neck.

"Masumi…who's the best?"

"You!" She moaned.

"Say my name…"

"Hiten!"

"Who fucking owns you?"

"You do!" She groaned as he continued pounding inside of her. They slowly made their way to the bed and she fell below him.

After a while, his breaths became short and his body became exhausted.

"Don't…stop…" She begged and he thrust into her one last time. Her legs spread in the air and he pulled out of her. "I…love you…" She panted and his brows knotted together. He pulled her close and she buried her face in his chest.

"Don't…" He whispered. He looked down and saw she had passed out.