Greetings as always, loyal readers! You didn't think I was dead, now did you? This story won't die just yet, I still have too many plans. I finally got my inspiration back, as well as some free time from the four kids I babysit, so I finally managed to get this anticipated chapter out for all of you! It's going to be a bit hard, working on two stories at once instead of once, but I couldn't resist getting this chapter out before my next chapter for my other story!

Anyways, thanks as always for your patience in waiting due to my few month delay. Again, I apologize, it's hard writing when you've got four kids under the age of ten to watch. Now, I'm not going to make you wait any longer! Enjoy, and don't forget to review as always!

Mitsukuni fidgeted nervously as he waited outside the pension, sitting with his back to the building as his fingers strummed anxiously against his leg.

Ren was supposed to be meeting him in ten minutes. He didn't want to let her walk in to town all alone after what had happened, so he let her get ready on her own and decided to wait outside.

His fingers strummed faster against his leg as his eyes drifted down to the cement in front of him, unsure why he was so nervous. He had everything planned out. From the moment they got in to town until they came back to the pension.

But...somewhere in between he was going to have to factor in telling Renata, telling his best friend how he truly felt for her deep down. That she was his crush, that he wanted her to be his princess. Well, she technically already was as far as he was concerned. But still.

Warmth overtook his face as he thought over a few ways to tell Ren how he felt, eyes fluttering shut as his fingers strummed faster against his leg.

Back in the doorway of the pension, three sets of eyes watched the nervous oldest host, two of the boys laughing at the sight. "From how much he's fidgeting, he's acting like this is a date he's going on."

"Maybe that's because it is a date."

Takashi grunted at the twins conversation among themselves, not as amused by the sight as they were. Hikaru was unfortunately right though, this wasn't just some outing that his cousin had planned. It was meant to be a date.

He had made it clear that he wanted his cousin to tell Ren how he actually felt since they were going to keep doing taboo things together, but deep down he hadn't really thought Mitsukuni would do it this soon.

Granted, Mitsukuni was the older cousin, but that didn't mean that Takashi didn't worry about him. He knew Ren really cared about him deep down, but he didn't want his cousin to get hurt in case she didn't feel the same way.

He's so excited just to take her out, and obviously very nervous from how he couldn't sit still and wanted to be alone. He was sitting out there, fingers strumming against his leg rapidly with his gaze down.

He even changed how he usually dresses. Usually he's purposefully taking the cutesy route, since he played that role best. But now, he was dressing like a normal seventeen year old guy. He was wearing casual pink slacks and a nice white polo. He actually looked grown up for once.

Takashi sighed at the realization that his older, yet under mature cousin was growing up finally.

Takashi looked back upon hearing gossiping girls on the staircase, jaw dropping for a moment before fixing his blunder as he saw his cousins best friend and date.

Coming down the staircase were the Russian sisters and Haruhi, talking among themselves happily. But his eyes were on the shortest of the three, and how she looked.

Well, if there were any doubts in him that Mitsukuni might not fess up about how he felt about her, now those doubts were nonexistent at how she had dressed for her outing with his cousin.

Mitsukuni rubbed his neck nervously as he looked down at his phone in his other hand. It was the time they chose. She should be downstairs any second now.

On cue, Mitsukuni perked up as Ren's laughter drifted to him from the open doors, all other sounds muffled except for that familiar, addictive laugh. Turning around, his eyes widened and his cheeks turned bright red as he spied his best friend.

She dressed up for their fake date the other day, and he thought she was cute, gorgeous then. But now...she was the most beautiful sight to ever be kind enough to grace his vision.

Standing in the doorway with her sister and Haruhi was an angel in Mitsukuni's eyes.

Instead of cross dressing like she usually did to feel comfortable, Ren was wearing a knee length floral skirt paired with a white tee. If he hadn't known better, someone told her how he was dressing for the day. Because her clothes matched his own pretty well.

His eyes set on the pink flowers on her skirt before he cringed, remembering that he had wanted to get her flowers. How could he forget?! It was too late now, with a three way hug between her sister and Haruhi, Ren spotted him and headed his way.

Scrambling to his feet quickly, Mitsukuni forced his usual happy smile over his nervousness over taking Ren out as she walked up to him.

His mouth felt like it was stuffed with cotton as he looked her in the eye, seeing the amusing glint in those usually stoic silver eyes that he could get lost in. He opened his mouth to try to at least say hi, but fumbled, blushing in embarrassment at his awkwardness over stuttering and showing his nervousness to his best friend.

Ren giggled at his fumbling and stuttering, however, finding it funny while he was blushing bright red from the situation. "Y-you look...beautiful, Ren." Mitsukuni finally managed a compliment as his eyes caught her own again, blushing deeper as he noticed the pink hue enter her own cheeks and her eyes flutter away at his compliment.

"Thank you. You look handsome, Mitsukuni." Ren gave a quiet compliment back as her best friend wondered how she was capable of speaking clearly while embarrassed while he was fumbling with so much as a hi, let alone a compliment.

Ryo folded her arms over her chest as she leaned against the doorway, watching the exchange between her sister and the boy lolita. It had taken a lot of convincing, and some intervention by Misuzu to convince Ren to dress girly, but the results were worth it. But, at the same time, she couldn't help but frown.

Even from the doorway, Ryo could see the blush spread across both third years faces as Honey-Senpai tried to find his voice. If Ryo had ever wondered that he possibly didn't have deeper feelings than friendship for her sister, they were squashed at his reaction. It was like he had been struck by cupids arrow from the moment he spotted Ren. He couldn't look away, and he couldn't stop blushing. He couldn't even find his voice yet.

That's what earned the frown from Ryo. She knew how Honey-Senpai felt. But Ren, while she knew her sister truly cared about Honey-Senpai, she didn't know how Ren would react if she found out. Ren had never dated, never even considered it. But considering their parents decision to try to arrange her marriage to some high class person back in Russia, she didn't know if Ren would either accept it or reject it to try to protect Honey-Senpai.

She always had to protect everyone, after all.

"You're overthinking things." Ryo looked to her side as her thoughts were interrupted, shrugging at Kaoru as he leaned on the other side of the doorway. Focusing better, she could hear Hikaru pestering Haruhi a ways back. "If you're worrying about Ren, she'll be fine. Honey-Senpai is a real gentleman, remember. He'll take care of her today." Kaoru assured as Ryo's frown only deepened.

Well, Kaoru knew partly what she was thinking. But the real part she was worried about wasn't if Ren would be safe going out in to the city again with Honey-Senpai. It was how Ren would be if Honey-Senpai told her he had feelings for her.

"I'm not worried about her, Kaoru." Ryo tried to cover for herself, scowling at Kaoru when he laughed at her.

"Sure you're not." Kaoru said through his laughter before motioning to the two older teens as Ryo watched Honey-Senpai take Ren's hand in his own and begin to lead her off towards the town.

"Oh my darling daughter! She looks like a princess, she looks so adorable!" Ryo cringed as Tamaki pushed his way between her and Kaoru to watch the third years walk away. "Honey-Senpai be gentle with my daughter today! Be her knight in shining armor!" Tamaki cried after the two as Ryo sighed, turning away from the sad display.

"At least he isn't trying to stop them." Kaoru reminded, since when Hikaru and Haruhi went out he was wanting to trade places with Hikaru.

"Yeah, that's the least of my worries right now." Ryo answered honestly before looking back when she felt Kaoru's hand on her shoulder.

"She'll be fine, don't worry." Kaoru assured with a gentle smile as Ryo felt a smile force it's way on to her own face at his genuine attempt of trying to help her feel better about her sister going out on her first real date with Honey-Senpai.

"Thanks, Kaoru." Ryo thanked as his gentle smile grew in to a face splitting grin at her thanks as he folded his hands behind his head.

Hikaru looked up from trying to convince Haruhi to let him stay the night in their room again upon hearing his brother laughing, looking over to see Kaoru standing in front of Ryo with a big grin and his hands folded behind his head.

His mood soured at the way his brother was acting around Ryo recently. He was always grinning, and always standing too damn close, since right now he was close enough to hug her. And the way Ryo was smiling at him didn't help either.

His mood over seeing them together really soured more though after last night's display.

Kaoru stuck his tongue out childishly at Hikaru as he was given the okay to share with Ryo. In all honesty, Hikaru hadn't thought that the dare would actually come to life, what with Tamaki staying in the room tonight too.

But here they were, all in pajamas ready for bed, and Kaoru retreating backwards towards the next room where he would be staying with not only Ryo, but Haruhi too since the girls shared the room while Ren got the king bed in the main room with Honey-Senpai.

But right now, Kaoru was gloating and bouncing in his step as he headed for Ryo's room, ignoring Tamaki's protests as the King tried to force him to stay in the main room with the rest of the boys.

"It's inappropriate!" Tamaki chewed him out as he tried to grab the younger twin, to no avail. The twins were too fast for him.

"Senpai, he's not going to do anything. I'll be in there watching too." Haruhi pointed out as she exited the bathroom dressed in her pajamas for bed.

Her voice was distraction enough for Kaoru to get in to the other room before Tamaki could stop him, laughing once he was in as Tamaki suddenly attacked the door, not realizing that it was in fact unlocked.

Hikaru scowled angrily from where he sat on his own roll away bed, fists balled against the mattress. It wasn't fair. Kaoru was just doing this to spite him because he knew that his brother was still trying to get in Ryo's good grace again.

He punched the mattress upon hearing giggling and laughing from the other room, turning away from the door. He only looked up upon feeling a hand on his shoulder.

"If it'll make you more comfortable, you can roll your bed in to our room too, Hikaru." Haruhi offered as he looked up at her, biting his lower lip.

He didn't even know if he wanted to do that, considering he'd have to lay there and watch his brother share a bed with someone else.

After another giggle erupted from the other room though, he stood up and began to move the roll away with a thankful glance at Haruhi as she opened the door to go to bed herself.

Ignoring the boss's protests, the door closed right behind them as Hikaru glanced around the equally large room, spying his brother and Ryo on the other side of the room, sitting cross legged on either end of her queen sized bed.

Kaoru was grinning at Ryo, while Ryo was obviously out of breath. What had they been doing?

"I win." Kaoru announced happily, folding his arms over his chest cockily as he looked over the winded Russian girl in front of her before she fell back against the pillows on the bed. He had managed to subdue the skilled girl by tickling her until she was begging him to stop, fortunate that that was one of her weakness.

The reason, if she gave in then he got the most pillows to use for bed.

Once Ryo managed to regain her breath, he fell back in to the bed beside her, before finally realizing his brother was in the room. "Hikaru." Kaoru sat back up upon seeing the angry scowl his brother held towards him.

Hikaru didn't say anything, just laid down on the roll away and faced away from the two.

That continued for the rest of the night until the next morning when Hikaru got up earlier than the others and left the room to go get a shower first, not even glancing back at the two sleeping on the queen sized bed on the other side of the room.

With one last scowl at his brother and Ryo, which they managed to catch him send their way, Hikaru turned his full attention back to Haruhi. If Kaoru wanted to play that game, two could play that way then. With a glance back at his brother, he wrapped his arm around Haruhi's shoulders and began to lead her off.

Mitsukuni turned back to Ren with a grin, hiding a bouquet of roses behind his back as she stood with her back to him, looking over another cart full of many different kinds of flowers. But he wanted roses for her.

Walking up behind her as quietly as he could, he tapped her shoulder gently, smiling innocently at her when she turned back around before presenting the bouquet to her.

Ren smiled gently at his gesture of a bouquet of red roses, finished with a single white rose in the middle. Taking it from him, their fingertips met when she went to take them, blushing for who knows how many times she's already blushed in that day alone, and it wasn't even noon yet. The warm spark each felt as their fingertips met made it a bit hard to pull away.

"All reds with one white?" Ren asked quietly as she sniffed the sweet scent of the roses. She always loved roses most. Their scent, their appearance. But the scent was her favorite, especially mixed with citrus.

"Well..." Mitsukuni trailed off as he began to rub the back of his neck nervously. He had wanted to tell her his reason was because she was the one white rose that stuck out to him among any other girl he's ever seen, but his mouth felt stuffed with cotton once again.

Ren giggled softly at his nervousness before leaning over and pressing a gentle kiss to his cheek in thanks, turning her gaze back down to the bouquet before she could see Mitsukuni's bright red face and ears over the gesture. "Thank you, Mitsukuni. You know, I love roses." Ren advised as she looked over the countless roses, before looking up as Mitsukuni plucked the white rose from the bunch.

As gently as he could, Mitsukuni tucked the stem of the white rose in to Ren's hair just behind her ear, brushing her hair out of her eyes once the rose was tucked in to her hair, eyes locking with her own once done. "I got one single white rose because it's a lot like you. You're the one white rose among millions of other red roses, Ren." Mitsukuni finally managed to get out his reasoning for the white rose, stepping back for a moment when he noticed the dark blush overtake Ren's face at his words, knowing his own face was probably looking about the same.

Ren looked back down at the bouquet once Mitsukuni stepped back, heart pounding in her chest. He's never said something like that to her before, never been this sweet. "Y-you must say things like that to all your guests." Ren reasoned as she turned to continue on with their outing, but Mitsukuni's hand caught her free hand.

"No, I don't. You're the only one I've ever said anything like that to, ever Ren." Mitsukuni held a determined look in his usually laid back carefree gaze, as if he wasn't going to let her go on thinking she was just another one of his guests. "Like I said, you're the white rose among red in my world." Mitsukuni said as he gave her hand a squeeze, smiling at her before taking the lead to continue on with their day together.

His grip, gentle yet firm, didn't release her hand for even a second as he led her.

Ryo sighed as she relaxed out on the patio of the pension, actually able to relax for the first time since Ren had left with Honey-Senpai for their date. Neither would admit it was a date, but she knew it was.

The only reason she was able to relax right then even knowing her sister was out in the town where days previous they had been attacked in was the boy who kept doing everything she asked.

On cue, the clink of glass on the table beside her let her know that Kaoru was back with another glass of lemonade for her, taking the chair beside her again as he flopped down with a sigh of his own.

"Is Hikaru still glaring at us?" Ryo asked as she reached for her glass, not willing to open her eyes. The warmth of the sun on her skin was so comfortable, she felt like she could take a nap right there on the patio. It was so relaxing.

"No, he's planning something. Won't tell me what." Ryo opened one of her eyes to glance over at the sensible twin beside her. Just a glance and she could tell he wasn't happy. He was worried about Hikaru.

"He'll be fine, Kaoru. When he realizes that he can join us whenever he feels like it, he'll be back to normal." Ryo reminded her friend as he forced a smile her way. It was even easy to tell his smile was forced. "Hey, you got me out here to relax and not think about my family. My turn. Relax, Kaoru. Hikaru will be fine." Ryo assured, before noticing Kaoru glance behind her.

She didn't need to look to know it was probably Hikaru.

Hikaru tried to hide his scowl this time upon seeing his brother and Ryo lounging out on the patio in their bathing suits, sunbathing as Kaoru had told him when he talked to him when he was inside getting drinks. Why was it so easy for his twin to make nice with Ryo, but when he tried they always butted heads, even after his gift for her?

Once Kaoru looked away from him and laid back down to relax with Ryo, Hikaru walked over to the garden and grabbed the hose. His temper got the better of him as he turned the water on high and aimed for the pair relaxing on the patio. A grin broke out at the shriek from Ryo and yell from his brother as they both leaped to their feet quickly.

A nice cold spray down was exactly what they needed.

"Hikaru!" Kaoru yelled as he spotted him with the hose, before Hikaru sprayed him in the face, laughing now as he continued spraying his brother.

Up until he was tackled backwards in to the grass by Ryo, a fight for the hose beginning.

Hikaru struggled to keep his grip on the hose as Ryo tried to take it from him, trying to pry his fingers off with one hand as she tried to shove him away with the other hand. He kept his grip though, aiming the hose at her as a tumble across the grass began.

It came to a stop at the edge of the patio with Ryo sitting on top of him, shoving the hose down his shorts as she held his hands above his head with her other hand, laughing as Hikaru yelled at him.

"Hikaru had an accident!" Ryo chimed childishly as he tried to break free from her grip on his wrists, pushing up off the ground with his legs before Ryo tumbled to the side, obviously not having expected that as he pinned her back down, yanking the hose from his shorts and holding it on her face until she gave in, slapping his chest to try to get him to stop.

"Ha!" Hikaru threw the hose aside victorious, standing up and flexing as he was the victor.

His macho display ended though when he heard Ryo's laughter, looking back down at her as she rolled over to a knelt position. "You're getting better at wrestling. Nice job, Hikaru." Was that...a compliment? For him?

Hikaru looked away as heat invaded his face and ears, only looking back as he was sprayed again with the hose.

"Next time you wanna throw a temper tantrum over Kaoru and I spending time without you, just come join us. Don't have to sit in a corner all gloomy like the boss." Ryo said before walking back over to her chair beside Kaoru's and laying back down, Kaoru laying back down in his own chair after the amusing display was done.

Hikaru opened his mouth to try to give a witty comment, but he couldn't think of anything this time. Closing his mouth with an audible click, he walked back over to the two and took the chair on Ryo's other side, laying down with a thud as his brother and friend looked his way, still amused by his actions.

Ren's giggle was the most adorable sound in the whole world. She was basically in a fit on the blanket he had bought for them to use to have a last second picnic in a nice park, laughing at him none the less. He had managed to trip and fall just because his foot got caught in the blanket, so it wasn't like it was an easy thing to happen.

But she found it hilarious, almost in tears but controlling her laughter down to a giggle as she tried not to look at him kneeling in front of her on the blanket as she laid on her side, giggling away at his actions.

"Are you done yet?" His voice was full of amusement at her behavior, it was like she was sugar high, couldn't stop laughing no matter what. Just hearing him talk to her and she was covering her mouth to try to stifle her laughter.

"I...I'm sorry." Ren rolled over on to her back as she continued laughing at his clumsiness as he rolled his eyes at her playfully.

All he was trying to do was go to the bathroom, which he still needed to do. But he couldn't walk away from hearing that laughter. Grinning, he scooted over and began tickling her, knowing she wouldn't be able to conceal her laughter anymore if he did.

On cue, she began laughing louder as she tried to get him to stop, struggling to get away as he laughed along with her, until she began trying to do the same right back to him. This continued until they were both doubled over gasping for breath from their laughter.

"Okay...okay you win." Mitsukuni surrendered as he pushed himself up to a sitting position, offering his hand to Ren to help her sit back up. She shouldn't be laying down with her outfit for the day. They weren't alone in the park, and he didn't want anyone getting any funny ideas from seeing her skirt all messed up.

"Oh...oh my stomach hurts." Ren, instead of sitting up, scooted over so her head was resting on his lap, holding her stomach as she tried to regain her breath. He smiled down at her.

Her eyes were closed to him, but the way the sun fell upon her sun kissed skin made it look like an angel had fallen in his lap. Her eyes opened finally, and his breath caught in his throat at how angelic she looked now that the sun caught her eyes as she looked up at him. The only thing she was missing was a halo. Though, when the sun caught her hair, it made it shine like one. She really was an angel, wasn't she?

She sat up about then, leaving him missing having her rest her head on his lap. Though, his bladder chose then to remind him he never made it to the bathroom. "Thank you for today, Mitsukuni. It's been fun so far." Ren spoke before he could remind her he needed to find the bathroom.

Mitsukuni smiled back at her as their fingertips brushed together on the blanket, looking down at their hands before back up at her. "I'm just glad you're having fun and relaxing. You don't need to thank me, Ren." Mitsukuni reminded his best friend and crush before Ren began giggling at him again. "What?" Mitsukuni asked before she pointed at him, just then noticing he was fidgeting in his spot on the blanket.

"Someone's doing the potty dance. Didn't know you still did that, Mitsukuni." Ren teased as he shook his head at her playfully, pushing himself up to his feet.

"I'll be back, stay put please." Mitsukuni said politely before dashing off for the bathroom as Ren continued laughing at him.

Ren calmed down after a minute or so before leaning over and snatching one of the few sweets left from their picnic, popping the little truffle in to her mouth before laying back on the blanket again. Today sure has been fun. Mitsukuni has been nothing but sweet and attending to her needs and wants, it's different. Usually they do what both of them want to do.

Upon realizing that everything they've done, from looking at the flower carts to lunch, was mainly her ideas, she rolled over on to her stomach, folding her arms under her chin, enjoying the warmth of the sun on her back.

This picnic in the park was his idea. She had offered they go have lunch at the restaurant where they danced together the other day, but he offered the park for a picnic instead. Was today meant to be all about her?

She'd never really gone out alone with a boy before Mitsukuni, and usually when they would go out back home, they'd go somewhere fun like a festival or movie. But this was the first real time where she had actually dressed up and was having sweet moments with Mitsukuni.

Ren buried her face against her arms as a giddy smile formed on her lips at how Mitsukuni had bought her a bouquet of her favorite flowers, how the food he picked out for the picnic was some of both of their favorites. How he was spending the day basically catering to her.

Thinking over everything, Ren felt a warm fluttering in her chest as her smile only grew. She didn't know if it was just her own hopeful thoughts, but she wished that maybe Mitsukuni had ulterior motives for this day.

No, no she can't think like that. Ren shook her head as she tried to remind herself that this was her best friend. This...was how best friend treated each other. Right? He couldn't have a crush on her like she was beginning to believe she had for him, could he?

Ren almost leaped up as she felt something touch her calf, turning her head to be met with those familiar mahogany eyes. "Sorry if I scared you. I thought it was impossible to sneak up on you." Mitsukuni mused as he laid down on his side beside Ren, plucking a truffle from the box of sweets as Ren rolled over on to her side.

"I wasn't paying attention, I guess." Ren said as Mitsukuni watched her tuck a stray strand of hair back behind her ear, pursing his lips as he realized her giddiness from earlier was gone.

"Is something wrong?" Mitsukuni asked gently, reaching over and brushing his fingertips over Ren's knuckles as she looked up at him, smiling at him in response.

"No, Mitsukuni. Nothing is wrong. I was just thinking about how much fun today has been." Ren answered honestly, deciding to keep her feeble hopes that maybe this man beside her could feel for her as more than a best friend a secret.

"Well the day's not over yet." Mitsukuni reminded as she chuckled softly at his eagerness to make sure that their day was fun filled and relaxing. "I have a few more surprises for you." Mitsukuni revealed before popping another truffle between his lips, smiling at her as he chewed, since he knew she hated surprises. She was impatient like that.

"Come on, give me a hint at least." Ren tried to reason with him as he laughed at her reasoning. He kind of liked making her beg, usually he was the one following her lead all day. Now she would have to follow his lead. He wanted to be her prince, and a prince needs to lead and care for his princess.

After finishing off the last few sweets left, Mitsukuni began to clean up their mess to continue on with their day of fun together, taking Ren's hand gently to lead her.

Hikaru rolled his eyes impatiently from where he was sitting. Haruhi was on his other side, reading a book, and Kaoru was inside with Ryo getting food and drinks. They were all relaxing out on the patio now, well until their stomachs started growling. Then his brother went to get food and drinks with Ryo.

His stomach growled again to let him know they were taking too long. "Come on, hurry up guys!" Hikaru yelled to the two inside the building.

"Be patient, Hikaru." Haruhi reminded for the umpteenth time as Tamaki swooned over her, agreeing with her oh so wise words as Hikaru rolled his eyes again.

"Yeah, what Haruhi said." Finally! Hikaru turned to see Ryo carrying a tray stacked with sandwiches and his brother carrying a tray of drinks.

"Kaoru! How dare you force Ryo to carry the bigger tray all by herself!" Tamaki chastised as Ryo rolled her eyes at the boss's defensiveness, when she was the one who grabbed the tray before Kaoru could.

"She grabbed it before me, boss." Kaoru clarified as he set down the tray of glasses of lemonade, not even giving a glance at the boss on Haruhi's other side, passing the glasses out to everyone present, which only consisted of Haruhi, Tamaki, Hikaru and Kyoya. No one knew where Mori-Senpai was, probably off doing his own thing.

"That doesn't excuse you, you could have taken it instead and given her something lighter!" Tamaki continued to berate as Ryo set down the tray of sandwiches in front of all their chairs.

"Senpai, she's strong enough to carry a tray." Haruhi defended Kaoru and Ryo before taking a sip from her lemonade.

"Yeah, you forget, this is the girl that could take any of us down if she wanted." Kaoru reminded with a smirk at Ryo as she tried to swat him for even insinuating that she would hurt any of them intentionally. He dodged with ease and grabbed one of the sandwiches from her tray, starting to chow down.

After passing out all the drinks and food, Ryo excused herself once more as the boys and Haruhi chowed down, wanting to go get her cell from inside. She was hoping that maybe Ren had texted her to let her know how her date with Honey-Senpai was going, even if neither of them agreed before they left that it was in fact a date.

Getting upstairs, however, she found the door to their suite already open. "Ren? Honey-Senpai?" Ryo called, wondering if they were back early instead. Honey-Senpai had told them they wouldn't be back much before sunset, did they cancel some of their plans? Ryo decided to find out, heading in to the suite.

Hikaru sighed as he leaned back, stomach full finally. He then realized Ryo's absence. "Hey, where's Ryo?" Hikaru asked his brother, who looked around, just then noticing she was gone too.

Where could she have gone off to?

Mitsukuni grinned as he saw the excited sparkle in Ren's eyes as they arrived at the last event for their day out together. She turned to him with that excited look in her eyes then. "I knew you wanted to go dancing at that restaurant again, but I figured this might be a bit more fun for you." Mitsukuni reasoned as he nodded towards the park where a festival was taking place, right now a dance competition beginning with some of the locals.

He fortunately has known about it since their fake date, so this one has been planned for a while. Ren could never resist dancing, let alone a competition.

"It's a competition, Mitsukuni. Are you sure you're up for this, since you aren't as skilled as me with dancing?" Ren asked, teasing as usual as he rolled his eyes at her playfully.

"I'm sure I could keep up with someone as skilled as you, Renata." Mitsukuni teased her right back with her full name, taking her fingers gently between his own as he began to lead her in to the fray of teens and children dancing.

The music was fast paced and lively, Ren immediately knowing how to dance with it as Mitsukuni watched her for a second before trying to join in himself, keeping a few feet away from her as apposed to their dance at the restaurant.

"So, what does the winning couple get as a prize?" Ren asked over the music as she twirled a bit closer to him, moving more in tune to the music than he ever saw her move in class.

"I have no idea." Mitsukuni answered honestly, laughing as he earned an eye roll for not knowing the prize. "What do you want?" Mitsukuni asked instead, knowing what he wanted was already his right now.

Right now, all he wanted was Ren by his side. But, if he got to tell her how he felt tonight, then his night would be made.

"I dunno. I mean, the day's already been amazing. What else could I need?" Ren asked back as their eyes locked, conveying her happiness to him with a single look as his heart skipped a beat just from her gaze on him.

Ren felt that warm fluttering in her chest again as their eyes locked with one another, suddenly pushed a little closer to Mitsukuni by another boy behind her. "Are you okay?" Mitsukuni asked, eyes laced with worry now before he cast his gaze behind her, seeing the spark of annoyance dawn in his gaze instead.

"I'm fine, Mitsukuni. Don't worry." Ren assured him, pressing a comforting hand to his chest as he looked back at her, gaze softening for a moment before he chuckled at her, taking the hand she had placed on his chest with his own and beginning to lead her in a dance to the song.

"Well, why don't we win this thing then and find out what the prize is?" Mitsukuni asked with a devious grin at her as she offered her own.

"Who better to win than us?" Ren asked in response as their dancing began to tune in to one another, moving together with gusto to win now that it was decided they would win.

Ren giggled as Mitsukuni actually managed to keep up with her with the fast paced dancing, barely a foot away from her as she bobbed her head to the beat, looking up at him through her eyelashes to see the warm smile directed down at her. When was it that he got so much taller than her.

She tried not to get annoyed by knowing she was now the shortest of the club, before Mitsukuni took her hand gently in his own and spun her in place, her skirt flourishing out around her as she spun before he stopped her, hand held high in the air as they continued.

"You've been practicing more, haven't you?" Ren asked over the music as Mitsukuni leaned down to hear her better, smirking at her at her words.

"Maybe." Mitsukuni was playing innocent as usual, however. "Are you having fun?" Mitsukuni asked as he glanced around, noticing the crowd begin to thin as other pairs began dropping out. The way to win must be last pair standing.

"Of course. Thank you for bringing me here." Ren thanked him for probably the millionth time that day alone for their day out together. He couldn't help smiling at her gratitude as their fingers grazed together, just realizing how close they were as he felt his cheeks heat up once more.

"I told you, you don't need to thank me Ren. Just seeing you smile..." Mitsukuni trailed off as he raised a hand and grazed his fingertips across her cheek, still smiling down at her. "That makes it worth it." Mitsukuni advised honestly as he watched Ren's cheeks turn red again, diverting her eyes from him as his smile faltered. Why did she always have to do that when embarrassed?

"You're just saying that to be nice." Ren murmured, but he still heard her over the boom of music and laughter of other pairs around her, moving to stand in front of her vision again.

"Ren, I like making you smile. I'm doing all this because I want to see you smile. The other day...it wasn't fair to you. You weren't comfortable with that whole fake date thing, so I wanted a day where we could both have fun, and you'd be happy." Mitsukuni explained, serious for the first time since they arrived at the festival.

Well, the whole day he's been serious about her though technically. All he wanted was for her to enjoy herself today. If she was happy, he was happy.

"Why're you doing all this, Mitsukuni?" Ren asked, looking up at him with a serious look in her own eyes as their dancing began to slow, Mitsukuni rubbing the back of his neck in the same manner he always did when he was nervous about something, which was more and more often now a days.

"I...I just said I'm doing this to make you happy. To see you smile." Mitsukuni stuttered, wondering if she even believed him. She was the one who with once glance could tell if someone was lying. With her background, he wasn't surprised anymore with that technique either. It probably ran in her family. But he wasn't entirely lying. He was doing this to make her happy.

But he was also doing it because he wanted her to see that he held her high in his view, that he really cared about her, as more than just his best friend even.

"Didn't you tell me yesterday you had something you were going to tell me today?" Mitsukuni paled a bit, stopping his dancing completely since he thought Ren had forgotten about last nights conversation until then.

"I...do." Mitsukuni answered honestly, not wanting to say anymore though just yet. He wanted to wait until the moment was right. Right now, they were having fun together and relaxed together, but it wasn't right yet. He wanted her alone when he told her.

When he told her that he, Mitsukuni Haninozuka, had a crush on her, Renata Nikolai Romanov.

"Are you going to tell me?" Ren batted her eyelashes up at him as he felt his heart hammer against his chest at the cute display of trying to goad the truth out of him sooner than he wanted to reveal it.

"I will. After we're done winning this competition." Mitsukuni advised before taking Ren's hand and spinning her in place, his nervousness vanishing the moment a giggle escaped her lips over his actions. That giggle could make even the gloomiest day seem perfect, as long as she looked at him the way she's been today.

His heart thumped once more against his chest as he thought of that cute look she's been giving him, always grateful over everything he's done for her today, as well as relaxed and happy. Something he will never get tired of seeing in her eyes.

"You're very lucky that I want to win this, so I'll wait until after to bring this up again." Ren agreed as Mitsukuni grinned down at her before she twirled around him with ease, smiling as he moved to stay in her vision the whole time before taking her hand gently in his and leading her to the beat of the music, their eyes never breaking for more than a second as they moved.

To onlookers, it already looked like the two were a couple as they moved, in tune to one another as their steps and twirls matched up in time with the music and one another.

The look in their eyes as they watched one another was another reason to believe that they were already together, as neither could look away for very long, and both held a look of adoration for their dance partner for the competition.

Mitsukuni laughed as he twirled Ren away from him, watching as she spun, before suddenly his smile faltered as someone else caught her before he could, dawning a frown as his friend and crush looked up at the onyx haired teen that caught her mid spin.

"Oh, I'm sorry. I guess we weren't paying attention." Ren apologized as she tried to move away from the boy, but he followed with a lascivious look in his eye.

"Don't apologize, I'm the lucky one since I got to catch you." The boy said as he looked down at the once girl in disguise who wished at that moment she kept her disguise from the way he was looking at her like she was a meal.

"Well, sorry again, but I gotta get back to my friend." Ren tried again to get away, but he stepped in her way of retreat, putting a hand on her forearm as she resisted the urge to hit him for laying a hand on her. The only people allowed to were her friends and sister, and this was some lustful stranger.

"Aw, don't go now. I wouldn't mind being your partner for this dance." The boy remarked, before suddenly his hand was yanked off of Ren's arm and behind his back in a flash, the boy yelping and thriving to get free as Mitsukuni held tight to his wrist with enough pressure to break it.

"Don't put your hands on someone without permission. She said she had to go, so leave her alone." Mitsukuni snarled darkly, before shoving the teen forward and out of his way, standing in front of Ren protectively as she looked up at him in shock over the display.

The teen rubbed his wrist and shot Mitsukuni a dirty look before skulking away, Mitsukuni wrapping a protective arm around Ren's waist before leading her a ways off to continue their dance.

"Mitsukuni..." Ren began, unsure what to say to his protective nature of her. No one had ever willingly defended her like that before in public. Usually she'd verbally berate perverts and they'd run crying, she never had to use her fists. But it looked almost like Mitsukuni could have broken that kids wrist if he wanted.

"Are you okay?" Mitsukuni asked as he let his arm drop from her waist and instead took her hand in his to look at her wrist.

"I'm fine." Ren assured, but she could still see the annoyance in her best friends eyes over someone laying their hands on her. "Thank you, Mitsukuni. You didn't have to do that." Ren reminded as his gaze flickered back up from her wrist to her eyes.

"I want to protect you Ren. Like Tama-Chan said earlier, I'm your knight in shining armor tonight. No one gets to lay so much as a finger on you but me." Mitsukuni defended as he watched Ren's gaze soften from shocked to his behavior to a sweet look directed at him, feeling his heart swell with pride that he defended the girl of his dreams from some pervert.

"Thank you." Ren murmured quietly, leaning up and pressing a kiss to his cheek before going right back to dancing, not wanting to lose just because of some lustful teen.

Mitsukuni grinned at the kiss on the cheek before following right along with her to get back to what they had been doing, glad that he intervened with the guy if it meant he got a kiss on the cheek as a reward. Though... Mitsukuni's eyes drifted to Ren's lips as they danced, wondering how a real kiss with her would feel.

Soon, the competition was coming to an end, and as predicted by Ren they had been the winners, as they were the last standing as well as voted most enthusiastic of the competitors. The prize, much to each of their delight, an expenses paid dinner at the very restaurant they ate at the other day.

Mitsukuni lead the way to the last event of the night, both choosing to have dinner another day at the restaurant since Mitsukuni had plans already for tonight.

Finally, they came to a stop at a park that overlooked the city, as well as gave a good view of the setting sun. This was where Mitsukuni had planned to tell Ren the truth.

"Well haven't you just planned everything, Mitsukuni?" Ren asked, teasing gently as he set out the blanket from their picnic at the highest point in the park, sitting beneath a large cherry blossom tree to watch the sun set.

"Not everything. Just this." Mitsukuni answered honestly. He really had planned most things for today, but most of his plans were thrown out when Ren would see something she wanted to do. He wanted her to have a day for her, so the only real things he planned were the dancing, picnic, and this sunset moment at the park.

"And the dancing, and the picnic." Ren reminded as he chuckled, motioning for her to sit down, only sitting down once she was seated and comfortable. "So are you planning to tell me what you wanted to now that we're here?" Ren asked as Mitsukuni smiled at her, unable to look away from the setting sunlight making her glow like an angel once more.

"Well, that was the plan." Mitsukuni said with an innocent shrug, laughing when Ren smacked his shoulder playfully, which ended up turning in to round two of a tickle war, ending with him on his back and Ren at his side calming down finally.

"Alright, now tell me why you've been acting this way all day." Ren said as she got her breathing back under control after Mitsukuni's tickle assault, rolling on to her side to look at him only for him to motion at the sun setting in the distance.

Both sitting up to watch, Mitsukuni looked down as his hand landed over Ren's, looking back up to be met with those beautiful silver eyes.

Both froze as their eyes locked in the setting sun, Mitsukuni's hand still on Ren's as each felt their hearts pounding against their chests.

Mitsukuni blinked for a moment, before leaning in closer to this girl with the ability to make his mind blank and his heart pound.

Ren moved in at about the same time, both barely inches from one another and Mitsukuni's hand on her upper arm before Mitsukuni's phone went off, both flinching away as they looked down at the intrusion in his pocket, Mitsukuni sending Ren an apologetic look as he stood up to pull his cell from his pocket.

Upon realizing it was the other hosts, he moved around the tree to see what was so important to interrupt his date with Ren.

Ren sighed, heart still pounding. Was he...going to kiss her? They were so kiss before they were interrupted. What was that?

Ren looked to her side upon hearing someone approach to her left, figuring Mitsukuni must be done with his phone call since it was quiet.

Mitsukuni shoved his phone back in to his pocket with a huff as he walked back around the tree, only to be met by silence and an empty blanket. Ren?

So close! So very CLOSE! But, I'm mean to my characters when I write at times. Nothing is easy. Not even one kiss. But oh, what's happened to Ren and Ryo, if you were paying attention to the parts where Ryo was. This chapter was meant to be more Ren and Mitsukuni, but I had to throw in some parts with the others too, it's only fair. Guess you'll have to wait to find out. And Mitsukuni will have to wait to show or tell Ren how he REALLY feels.

I wonder where they went? Well, I already know, since this part was planned from a long while ago, but you'll all have to wait until next time to figure out. Maybe if you review a lot, the chapter will be out a whole lot sooner. Well, sooner than a few months at least.

Again, I apologize for the delay.

Anyways, I'm at 102 reviews as of posting this chapter! That's almost to my record on my very first fict on here! Keep reviewing everyone, I want this to be one of my more popular ficts! It's no where near done yet as of this chapter, I can tell you that!

Thanks as always for your patience in waiting for this new chapter. I can't apologize enough for the delay. Now, do me a huge favor, and scroll down and leave me a review! Please! I'm going to go back to work on the next exciting chapter!