Author's Note:

Thank you all for being so patient. I promised I wouldn't drop the story, even if it took me forever to put up new chapters. :)

As requested by one reviewer, I have changed the primary genre of the story to Hurt/Comfort. I apologize to any other readers who stumbled across this story looking for fluffy romance and found something quite a bit darker instead.

Your reviews mean so much to me! Thank you thank you thank you.

Also, can you believe it's been FOUR YEARS since I posted the first chapter of Entertainment?! Crazy. Sorry I take FOREVER to finish things, haha.

"Did you miss me?"

Kahoko swallowed. She didn't know what to think or how to respond. As she stood there in shock, her phone received a second text. "I want to see you. Are you at home?"

She wasn't, but she didn't want Yunoki to know that she'd just been with Ryotaro. "Yes," she lied.

"Good. I'm sending a car."

Kahoko ran the rest of the way to her house, sighing in relief that there wasn't anyone waiting out front when she got to the gate. She focused on slowing her breathing and plastering a calm expression on her face before stepping inside. She'd barely finished fixing her hair in the bathroom when the doorbell rang. Forcing a smile at her reflection, Kahoko turned off the bathroom light and opened the front door. Yunoki's driver gave a nod of greeting, and Kahoko followed him out to the car, mumbling her thanks as he opened and closed the door for her.

During the drive, she clutched at the seat, willing herself to relax. The route seemed familiar, and sure enough, the driver stopped in front of the hotel where she'd seen Yunoki last. It felt like déjà vu, walking into the lobby, getting the room key from the front desk, and waiting as the elevator made its way up to their floor.

Kahoko stood in the hallway outside of the room for fifteen seconds before summoning up the nerve to swipe her keycard and shove the door open. She hung the "Do Not Disturb" sign on the knob and closed the door with a sigh.

Yunoki wasn't in sight, but Kahoko heard the hum of a fan and movement inside the bathroom. She smoothed her skirt and knocked lightly on the bathroom door. It opened and revealed Yunoki, wearing one of the hotel's bathrobes and toweling his hair dry. "Sorry," he said. "I always feel grimy after long flights. I needed a shower."

Kahoko cleared her throat. "It's okay. Erm, do you want me to wait out here?"

Yunoki laughed. "While what, I get dressed? That seems a little counterproductive." He tossed the towel aside, turned off the bathroom lights, and stepped into the room. "Come here," he said.

Kahoko obeyed, and stifled a squeak of surprise as he pulled her into his arms. "I missed you," he whispered against her hair.

Kahoko kept her eyes closed. She was trying to turn her brain off. Trying not to analyze how she was supposed to be acting in this situation.

"Kahoko, are you okay?"

Kahoko opened her eyes, realizing that Yunoki had released her. "Yeah. Sorry. I'm just . . ."

"In awe of my beauty?" he teased.

Kahoko felt her cheeks grow warm. "I . . ."

Yunoki chuckled, but his expression grew more serious as he studied her. He leaned in to kiss her.

Kahoko didn't know what she had been expecting him to do, but the kiss—or rather, her reaction to the kiss—caught her off guard. It was like a flaming match being dropped into a pan of oil. Kahoko pulled Azuma close, her hands gripping at the fabric of his robe. He gave a groan of anticipation and pushed her up against the wall, his hands coming to a rest on her hips. He broke away with a smirk, and Kahoko felt her face turn red.

"I see you missed me as well. Perhaps I should travel more often." He kissed his way down her neck and Kahoko sighed. Her fingers found the sash on his robe and fumbled with the knot. Azuma shook his head and stepped away. He walked backward to the bed, pulling back the covers and settling down on top of the mattress. He untied his robe and let it fall open, grinning as Kahoko's eyes skimmed over him.

"Clothes," he said.

Kahoko nodded. She concentrated on steadying her breathing. She deliberately took her time removing her clothes, not wanting to look too hasty. She felt Azuma's eyes on her, but didn't dare return the gaze. She stripped down to her underwear before looking up at him. He nodded and extended an arm toward her. "Come here and love me."

Kahoko had started to walk toward the bed, but stopped in her tracks when he spoke. She knew what he meant by "love," but she couldn't help but wonder if he had intended the word in the other sense.

She could love him physically, sure, but could she love him emotionally as well? And if the answer was no, could she love anyone else?

Could she love Ryotaro?

Azuma saw her hesitation, and let his arm fall. "Kahoko," he said, his voice holding a hint of warning, "are you okay?"

Kahoko blinked quickly forced a smile. "Yes, sorry." She walked the rest of the way across the room and climbed onto the bed.

Azuma frowned. She could tell he didn't believe her, but what was she supposed to say? "It's just that I started dating somebody while you were away, and I'm realizing that I'm not sure . . . or rather that I'm even less sure what to make of our relationship than before you left. I don't know if I should be here right now. If I should let this happen."

"Is it because I've been gone, Kahoko? Did it hurt you when I left?"

Kahoko shook her head, not trusting herself with words. Part of her sensed that this was her chance to come clean, but she was afraid. It didn't seem right to discuss it now. Not while she was sitting in bed with Azuma Yunoki in her underwear.

"Do you want this?" he asked.

Kahoko knew she could say no, but she wasn't sure if that was what she wanted. She didn't know if that was her honest answer. Of course she wanted it—the physical act of love. It'd been a month since she'd last been with Azuma, and her body was screaming at her to have him.

But aside from that. Did she want this? The whole "package deal" with Azuma? Did she really want him in her life?

Kahoko closed her eyes and took a deep breath. There was a time for complete honesty, but this wasn't it. She leaned forward and kissed him, taking her time, using the kiss to turn off her brain and focus only on the physical.

"You know I do," she finally whispered.

Azuma wasn't an idiot. He knew something was wrong, but he wasn't about to let an opportunity like having Kahoko in a hotel room pass him by. Especially when she'd already gone and removed most of her clothing. So he'd pushed his anger and his concerns aside for the time being. He focused on the sex, which, admittedly, was very easy to do. It had been entirely too long since he'd been with Kahoko, and he had managed to stay true to her while he was in England.

Azuma frowned. He wasn't really sure what he meant by that thought, "staying true" to Kahoko. He admitted that he did have some feelings for the girl. He'd known that for a long time, but they had never established any kind of "official" relationship. As such, he wasn't technically garnered by rules of fidelity and other such nonsense. Regardless, even though his hand was a poor substitute for a flesh-and-blood woman, Yunoki had kept to his memories of Kahoko while he was away.

It was something that he was proud of, quite frankly.

But now as he sat in his hotel room, empty after Kahoko had showered and returned home, he wondered what he was doing. He closed his eyes and inhaled deeply, focusing on the memory of her scent. He began drifting off to sleep, but the wheels of his mind kept turning. When she'd hesitated earlier, it had frightened him. But why?

What had he to be afraid of?