*Kiba's POV*

"Why does he want to have dinner with me?" I asked starring at the full length mirror.

"Ryo learns about someone with one on one contact," Sasori said "He did the same thing to me."

"But-"

"He just wants to get to know you better," Irie answered.

I fidgeted with the tie that Sasori offered. I stood there trying to put it on but unable to complete such a simple task Irie ended up tying it for me. She put her hands on my shoulders, smiled and leaned up to give me a kiss.

"You'll be fine, father will love you," she insisted.

I took a deep breath and left with Sasori, he was driving me to the restaurant. He gave a final insisted relax and good luck smile before I got out of the car to wait for Irie's father. It was a cool night but my nerves got the better of me and to me it felt like the summer time had rolled around.

"Sir," I greeted him as he stepped out of his car.

"Relax boy," he smiled.

He glanced at the restaurant, put an arm around my shoulder and lead me to a deli just around the corner. I was a little confused; such an important and rich man ate at a deli.

"Boy, are you okay?"

"Just a little surprised," I replied.

He gave a rich laugh "They have the best smoked meat sandwich in town."

"May I ask you a question? Why did you want to have dinner with me?"

"Easy," he shrugged after finding a seat "I want my daughter to be happy, she's my little angel."

"I can agree with that," I smiled "Her first year at the school made a big impact, she actually brought the popular kids together with the…less popular kids, along with most of the seniors."

"That sounds like my baby girl. What group were you in? Tell me how you met."

I blushed "I was in the popular group and she hung out with the less popular. My dog, Akamaru, ran up to her one day and that's when I first fell in love with her - looks and smile. The more we hung out and talked the sooner I realized I loved her for her; her looks were just an added bonus."

"Interesting," he pondered "You're different than the others; they liked her for looks alone."

"May I ask about Irie's family?" I glanced at my food.

"Go ahead boy," he bit into his sandwich.

"I've met you and Shinji, both of you complete opposites. Does she have any other siblings and what are they like?"

"I'm the dean of the prestigious art university. My eldest son, Kenji, is a teacher at the local college, apparently the teacher of someone named Deidara. Then there's my youngest son, Shinji, who is an actor, quite popular with the ladies."

"If you don't mind me asking sir, what about her mother? Irie may have your brains, but she doesn't have your looks."

He sighed looking solemn "Irie's mother was, is a goddess. She's a fashion model for all the hottest designers from Paris to New York, she's known world wide."

"You used 'was' does that mean she's deceased?"

"No, she's alive and well but we're divorced."

"I'm sorry I asked."

"It's okay Kiba."

"Sir?"

With a sigh he leaned back in his chair "You can call me Ryo. I believe you'll be a nice man for my daughter, I approve."

"Thank you sir," he glared at me "I mean Ryo."

"What about your family?"

"My older sister is a vet while my mother works with police dogs. My father takes care of a kennel for abandoned dogs and nurses them back to health."

"Your family really loves animals."

"Mostly dogs, but yes we do."

Just as we were getting up to leave Sasori came barging into the deli panting really hard. It took him a moment to catch his breath and his face was super sad, something bad must have happened.

"Thought I'd find you here," he huffed "We have a problem."

"If it has anything to do with school I'm sure it can wait," Ryo smiled.

"It's Irie."

Everything in the world came to a slow down, Ryo and I began listening to Sasori intently. Nothing he was going to say could be good; my heart came up to my throat at his next few words.

"She's been kidnapped."

"You sure?" my voice sounded forced even to me.

"She studied in my room for a while after I dropped you off," Sasori explained "When I noticed she forgot her books I went to her dorm room to hand them back. Her room was a mess, like there was a struggle and there was also blood. Either someone was stabbed or there was a silencer on a gun."

"My little angel can't be dead," Ryo collapsed in a chair, at one point he had stood up "It's just not possible."

"I'll call my mom," I insisted "We'll find her."