Ukyo got up extra early and found Ryoga outside doing morning work outs. No wonder he's so powerful. His manliness was becoming too enticing. "I'm headed to the market. I need more ingredients for dinner. Did you want to come?" Ryoga saw it as an opportunity to buy souvenirs for Akane. After showering and eating breakfast, they were on their way.

It took a lot of ingredients to make enough okonomiyaki for a non-stop influx of tourist orders. Ukyo bought extra ingredients to be sure she wouldn't run out. "Don't worry about it, sugar. I do this all the time," Ukyo said cheerfully.

Ryoga wouldn't have it. "This is heavy. Let me carry it for you." Whoever said chivalry is dead never met Ryoga. Ukyo couldn't hold back the feelings of affection bubbling up in her.

That night after eating dinner at the cottage, Ukyo was anxious about soaking in the spring. "Thanks for helping me chop up the ingredients, Ryoga. My time for preparing okonomiyaki's been cut in half."

"It's no problem, Ukyo. Usually, I'm traveling, so staying in one place like this is starting to bore me." He spent his days training, working out, and hunting for food. If he stopped at one place he would be training hard for most of his stay. And he was always willing to help when it was needed... even if Ukyo was mean sometimes. A lone girl running a business must be tough afterall. He could see Ukyo grow anxious. "Did you want to bathe in the spring? If the intruder comes back..."

Ukyo felt uneasy. "Umm... I really do want to soak in it. But if you hadn't been there last night..."

"Don't worry, Ukyo. I'll keep a look out. I'll be outside, following the perimeters of the wall. If anything happens, you can call me."

Ukyo felt assured. Even if the intruder came in from the opposite of where he was, Ryoga was very fast and could jump over walls. She held on to her spatula, just in case.

Her bath went without a hitch. She felt refreshed and relaxed, and ready to call it in. "Ryoga... he didn't come. I'm going to sleep now."

Ryoga heard her and went in to lie down on his sleeping bag. Suddenly he heard her scream. "AHH, RYOGA HELP!" The intruder hid in the closet ready to ambush her.

Ryoga ran up the stairs and quickly attacked the intruder. The intruder, only two feet tall, using a blanket as a bag and wrapped around his neck, wearing all black and a scarf over his head, swiftly dodged.

"WHY, YOU!"

"You youngsters shouldn't be left alone together! I'll protect you, young lady!" The intruder jumped towards Ukyo's chest. Ukyo quickly held her spatula to block him. Ryoga swiftly used the opening to strike the intruder out the window. He jumped out after him. The intruder landed on the wall. "Hah, you may have stopped me but I got exactly what I wanted!" The intruder held up a a long yellow cloth with black patterns. His eyes bulged. "What the? This isn't a bra!" Realizing he was tricked, he threatened to return. "Why you! This isn't over!" He jumped over the wall as he dodged Ryoga's oncoming attack and disappeared.

Ryoga went to check on Ukyo. "Are you alright?"

Ukyo sat on the bed holding her robe tightly closed. She couldn't think of what would happen if that freak were to come again. She didn't feel safe there anymore. With the window busted open, she felt even more on edge. She looked at Ryoga, worry in her eyes. He could see how uneasy she felt. "We can leave tomorrow, if you want."

But Ukyo was too stubborn. Sure, the pervert may come back, but she was not going to leave a free vacation with a hot spring and tourist money. There was only one way around it. "Ryoga..." She looked away. "I don't want to leave. Maybe you should... just stay with me?" She blushed. Ryoga's eyes grew wide and became hot with embarrassment. "Your sleeping bag's in tatters. This bed is big enough for two people. We can just stay on our own sides..."

Ryoga couldn't believe it. She was asking him to sleep next to her. On the same bed. "U-Ukyo... I-I wouldn't dream of..."

Ukyo pulled him down. "Stop being such a coward! We're just going to sleep..."

Taken by surprise, Ryoga looked at her in disbelief. "An unmarried man and woman... especially who aren't dating... can't sleep on the same bed!" He looked down and noticed her robe was beginning to part. His face turned red but pretended he hadn't noticed.

"I need someone to proctect me. Why don't you be real man?" She insisted.

"I protected you twice!" Ryoga sighed. After much hesitation, he finally conceded. "Alright. Maybe just for tonight. Until we get the window fixed. I'll check the closet and bathroom before you do anything."

"Ok," said Ukyo. She lied down and pulled a blanket over herself. Ryoga moved to the window side and tried to sleep as far away from her as he could. Still, he was a bit ecstatic. The bed was soft and so comfortable. Ah, sleeping on a bed as a human for once in such a long time!