"Hiten? Masumi whispered as she sat up. He frowned and slipped on his boxers.

"Wait here." He picked up the phone and walked out of the room. She pulled up the sheet to cover up her body and rested on her side. It was only a few minutes, but it seemed like hours since he had walked out.

His reaction to the phone call concerned her. He wasn't smug he almost looked…afraid. She snapped out of her thoughts when he walked back in and threw the phone carelessly on the nightstand.

"Who was it?" She asked almost immediately.

"Nobody." He assured as he crawled behind her. He slipped under the covers and wrapped an arm around her waist. "Just relax." He kissed the back of her neck.

-

She frowned as she awoke in the morning. He was gone and she was left sore. She slowly eased herself up and threw on a nightgown and some panties.

She walked around and eventually found the kitchen.

"Hiten?" She whispered.

"Yeah?" She jumped when she heard his voice. He was sitting on a stool behind the island counter holding his head, though his expression appeared calm.

"Are you alright?" She kept her legs shut tightly to hide some of the pain and he sighed.

"Yeah…come here." He ordered in a whisper. She cocked her eyebrow and cautiously walked to him. He pushed back in his chair and patted his lap. She sat down slowly and he wrapped his arms around her waist.

"Where's Souten?"

"It's her first day of school." He answered in a dry voice.

"Oh…" She frowned. "Am I in trouble?" She mumbled.

"No, why would you say that?" He looked up to her with soft, scarlet eyes.

"Because you seem upset…did I do something wrong?" She asked shyly.

"No." He answered bluntly.

"Are you angry?"

"Somewhat." He shrugged.

"At me?" She asked quickly.

"I said no!" He barked and she winced. "Don't…just…did you mean it?"

"Did I mean what?" She faced him again.

"What you told me last night….that you loved me." He reminded. Her face got red and she looked to her lap as she shrugged. "Just answer me."

"I think so…I don't really know…I've never loved anyone before." She explained.

"But either way you would rather go back to your brother than stay with me?" He asked with slight anticipation.

"Why?" Tears welled up in her eyes as she looked up to him.

"Just answer me." She shrugged. "Dammit, forget it!" He snapped and she instinctively jumped off his lap.

"I'm sorry!" She yelled quickly and he frowned.

"Just…go get changed."

"Why?"

"Just do it…wear jeans or something, though, its cold." He finished. She stared blankly before obeying.

-

He led her to the car. She still felt achy but he insisted she get in the car. She was too embarrassed to explain her 'situation' to him anyway. He got in the driver seat.

"Where are we going?" She asked timidly.

"Don't worry about it." He answered more harshly than he intended and she gave him a nervous stare. "It's a surprise." He explained with a smirk. She blushed and nodded. She held his hand and he smiled.

She stared out the window as they continued the ride.

"Close your eyes." He whispered. She giggled and obeyed. After a few minutes, she felt the Navigator come to a stop and heard him walk out. Her door opened and he held her hand as he helped her down.

She wrapped her arms around his and kept her eyes shut. She heard a door open and shut and they were now inside somewhere. He pulled out a chair and she sat down.

"You can open." He whispered in her ear. She glanced around the small room in confusion, and then looked down to the table in front of her. The picture of Bankotsu and her, now slightly crinkled, was underneath a diamond bracelet.

"Where did you get this?" She asked as she held up the picture.

"Don't worry about it." He shrugged.

"And what's this for?" She blushed.

"An 'I'm sorry'." He shrugged and sheepishly looked to his feet. She stood up and gently pecked his lips.

"I forgive you." She smiled. "Where are we…?"

"My mother…she owned a beach house too…" He walked outside and she followed. "She loved them…she painted and stuff, I hardly came out here, though."

"Where is your mother now?"

"She died." He answered dryly.

"I'm sorry." She frowned.

"It's alright…Masumi?"

"Yeah?" She walked beside him on the beach.

"Bankotsu…he…you're going back to him." He faced her.

"What do you mean? I don't need to go back now…I'm happy with you." She answered with a cracking voice.

"No…he has the money." He explained. "We're meeting him tonight…Manten is counting it right now…" He sighed.

"But…" He wrapped an arm around her shoulder and she stopped walking. He did the same and wrapped his arms around both her shoulders. She buried her face in his chest. "I'm not ready to leave yet…"

-

They sat on the couch now. Her body faced him as she sat on his lap with her legs folded at his sides and her head rested on his shoulder.

"Masumi…you're the one that said this wouldn't work…." He reminded.

"I know but…"

"I don't want to give you back yet but…" He shrugged.

"Why do you speak of me as if I'm an object?"

"How so?"

"Giving me back…like…"

"That's all you are, an object of trade." He sighed.

"But you said…" Her back shot up to face him.

"We both said some things, ok?" He softly pecked her lips and she pulled away. "We cannot grow attached to each other."

"But…" More tears became visible in her eyes. She tensed when she felt his hands slide up the backs of her thighs.

"Just sh…you'll be ok…" He leaned forward to kiss her neck and she tried to push him away. He grabbed two handfuls of her ass and she gasped as he pulled her as close as he could.

"I…don't want to."

"Just one more time…" He whispered in her hair.

"No." She struggled again.

"Stop." He glared and she instantly froze. He stood on his knees and dropped her back against the couch. He pulled his shirt over his head and she watched him cautiously. "You're so beautiful…" He whispered as he bent over and undid her jeans. She tried to hold her legs shut.

"Please…"

"In a few minutes, you'll be begging for me to continue…promise…" He put his weight on her when he was eye-level and softly brushed his lips against hers. He sat back on his knees between her legs and slowly slid her jeans off. She looked to the side and frowned.

He leaned down so he was eye-level with her crotch and used his mouth to slide her panties off. She bit her bottom lip and he smirked. He roughly grabbed her hips and sat her on his lap. She yelped and held his shoulders.

"Take your shirt off…" He whispered as he wrapped on arm loosely around her waist and slid his free hand underneath her shirt.

"I don't want to…"

"I'll fuck you just like this and trust me; it'll hurt so bad you won't be able to walk straight." He threatened. She grabbed the bottom of her shirt and pulled it over her head.

"We don't need to…" She mumbled.

"I'll take care of the bra…turn around." He whispered and let her go. She crawled so her back faced him and felt her bra become unhooked. He grabbed her back and bent her over until she was on her hands and knees. She felt his weight shift and then gasped when he entered her.

She tried to resist the urge to moan but failed miserably. He pounded in and out at a quick pace and felt her knees get weak. He pulled out and flipped her on her back. He bit her breast and her toes curled. Her legs spread wide and he kissed down her stomach.

"What's my name, Masumi?" He asked in a raspy voice.

"Hiten!" She moaned and he smirked. He pushed his tongue inside of her and her back arched.

"You like that? You want it to stop?"

"No." She spread her legs in the air now and he smirked. He licked his fingers and stuck those in next. He crawled back on top of her and watched her squeeze her eyes shut and look away over and over. He bit her neck and her eyes snapped open.

"Don't you dare look away from me." He barked and she frowned. "You feel ready again." He pulled his fingers out.

"Yes…" She wrapped her arms around his shoulders and he thrust inside of her. She gasped and rocked her body with his.

"Masumi…" He grunted. He sat up and held her lower back so she was still with him and she buried her face in his shoulder. She shifted her hips and he took the access. She felt her body tremble as he became rougher and now was partly screaming in pain.

He groaned as he dug inside her. Her legs wrapped around his waist and then he pulled out of her. He fell against her, sweating and panting.

"Do you…do you hate me now?" He whispered and she cocked her head at him. "You need to hate me…so I can let you go."

-

They drove in silence. She leaned against her door and stared out the window blankly. She jumped when the car stopped.

"Here." He threw her the cell phone and she stared blankly. "I…have my number in it. If you need anything…" He shrugged. She just nodded. He grabbed her hand and kissed the back of it. He took in a deep breath.

-

"He said seven 'o clock." Bankotsu anxiously looked around the restaurant.

"Calm down, Bankotsu." Renkotsu put a hand on his shoulder, though he was just as concerned.

"Look!" Jakotsu happily pointed.

Masumi was in a black mini skirt and a purple, low-cut, v-neck t-shirt and had her arm wrapped around Hiten's. They approached the booth and Hiten let Masumi sit before he did.

"I don't want a scene." Bankotsu whispered.

"Manten counted everything, it was right. I get my prize, and you get yours." Hiten replied coldly. Bankotsu's brows knotted together but softened when he looked to his sister.

Masumi sat with her legs and arms crossed and stared at her lap. She shifted her weight, obviously uncomfortable, and was fiercely biting her bottom lip.

"I told you it was." Bankotsu answered.

"You aren't trusted." Hiten said smugly.

"Neither are you."

"Bankotsu, you need to trust me. Who's been taking care of your precious sister for two months?" He asked cockily. Bankotsu went to lean forward but stopped when Renkotsu grabbed his arm. "What's wrong? You don't want to stay?"

"No, I want my sister and I want out."

"Fine…Masumi, you're brother wants you." Hiten glanced at her. She just continued staring at her lap. "Aw, don't be scared." He grabbed her chin and Bankotsu growled. "No kiss goodbye?" He smirked.

"Don't you…" Bankotsu started.

"Bankotsu, he's just trying to get you mad." Jakotsu reasoned.

"No." Masumi whispered.

"Just a little one." He smirked and softly pressed his lips against hers. She kept her eyes open and gasped when he groped her thigh. He took the opportunity to shove his tongue in her mouth and she moaned lightly, and then blushed. She watched Bankotsu grow angry through the corner of her eyes and pushed Hiten off.

He nodded and glanced at her up and down. He slid off the booth and offered her a hand. She took it and stood up. She felt a light tap as she walked by him and jumped in the seat beside Bankotsu.

"Make sure you take care of her." Hiten smirked.

"Don't you dare-" Bankotsu was cut off.

"And be a good girl, Masumi." He winked and left. Masumi nervously rubbed her arms. She was sore and tired and for some reason upset.

"Its ok, now, you're with us." Bankotsu hugged her and she leaned her head on his chest, letting one tear slide down her cheek.