Ranmaru's pov

"And then we should turn here and make a quick move to the right." Misaki turned around showing me the next dance step.

"You could actually be a step in front of me for this. It would look better."I told her.

"Oh you're right." She retraced back.

After we had been told we should prepare a live performance she worked really hard for a presentable stage. We spent hours coming up with dance steps and a routine for the stage when her manager came in with a sour expression on his face. 

I knew instantly something wasn't right.

"How is my manager doing?" She ran to him happily.

 He looked down and then scratched the back of his head awkwardly."I've got bad news for you Misaki."

They were pretty close for him to call her by her first name.

"What?" She crossed her arms.

" The live performance is canceled. The reasons are unknown to me. I argued because it ruins you schedule but also... I know how much you wanted to do it. However I'm sorry I couldn't..."

He stopped as he saw her face expression. I glanced at her. She was pale and she was starting blankly at him.

"I understand." She suddenly spoke.

"I apologize that you have to reschedule all of my jobs." She smiled at him sympathetically.

"Is that all you have to say?" I turned towards her.

"The show is cancelled. I'm sorry for wasting your time too."

I was in shock. I expected her to yell and argue but she looked like a wounded puppy.

"Can't we complain? We've spent nights on this and..." I turned towards her manager  but she slightly touched my arm.

"If he said he couldn't do anything about it, I trust him. Now if you excuse me." She left the music room leaving me alone with the manager.

"What was with the reaction."He looked down and then sighed.

He stared down at his feet and rubbed his forehead nervously. "Ah I really hoped she wouldn't have this reaction."

"That was no reaction at all." I complained. "I mean I'm angry. We went hours rehearsing dance steps."

"It's my fault. I made her like this. She either complains to much or not at all and when she doesn't complain it worries me." He sighed. 

"Explain." I said without thinking.

But that only made her manager give me a look. "You don't look like a person who would be interested in other's people affairs."

I clenched my fist. "Im only asking because i am a part of this. I also worked as hard as her for this."

He seemed to take that answer as plausible.

"When she prepared for her debut she would pretty much work as hard as she could and did everything i told her it was necessary. However after canceling her debut for the second time, she cried for two night straight." He made a pause and then continued. "I actually argued with the producer who was supposed to do her debut song and i got close to losing my job. It was my fault for causing a ruckus but once she found out what i did and what could have happened, she never complained about something that was outside my power again. She is a childish yet she always acts mature in situations like this."

I kept quiet. I felt like a part of me completely understands her but the other part that saw her working so hard hated this.

"Why won't they tell us the reason the canceled the live performance." I asked.

"I think it was more about boosting the anime show than you two at the moment so they will probably reschedule it for after the anime airs. This was out of the music producers hands." He explained.

I sighed and then got up to leave without saying another word. My footsteps led me straight ahead to her room. I knocked few times until she opened.

"Ranm...what are you doing here?" She asked confused.

"Get dressed and meet me downstairs."

"Why?" She asked surprised.

"Didn't you say you wanted to treat me dinner after we were done with the song?"

Her eyes lit up and she remembered.

"Yes i did, didn't I .." She smiled. "Okay I'll change."

Misaki's p.o.v

My mood instantly lightened up when Ranmaru showed up remembering my dinner offer. I decided to try and accept the fact i would have other chances for the performance and i should let it go. Putting on the ripped black jeans and a plain white t-shirt I hurried downstairs not to keep him waiting.

"That was fast." He said and then headed leading the way.

We got to the local pizza place and he ordered two very large pizzas. We hid away in a corner booth where no one could see us when we took off our masks.

"How can i ever eat this?" I asked when the large pizza was placed before me. It was double the usual size.

"You ate all the food i made." He added.

"That was different." My tongue was quicker than my head.

"Different how?"

Because you cooked it for me,  but I didn't tell him that.

"That was after my overwork break down. I was practically starved."

After I started eating it took me a while to look up but when I did I almost burst out laughing.

He stopped chewing and looked at me.

"Oi, why are you staring?"

"You have ketchup on your face." I handed him a napkin.

He took it amused by my laughing.

"Thanks for this cheering up." I told him after a while.

"What cheering up? I was hungry and you will pay." He said finishing his pizza. Damn, that was fast.

"This still cheered me up so thank you."I smiled. "Hey ..was manager okay?" I asked Ranmaru knowing he stayed with him after i left.

"He is more worried about you."He asnwered.

"I don't want him to worry."

He stared at me for a long moment making my heart skip a beat.

"What?"

"Do you like your manager?" He asked bluntly.

I started laughing. "Of course i like him. But not in a romantic way. He's old."

He wasn't old, but still. Too old for me to date him.

I decided to explain to Ranmaru. "Manager has been taking care of me for years now. He is more like a father or an older brother. The only one i could lean on until i came into shining agency."

Ranmaru was quiet so i pushed my plate closer to his. He took a slice of my unfinished pizza.

"He let me live in his parent's house telling everyone I'm his niece. He hired private tutors for me at the beginning so I could graduate highschool. I would have been lost without him."

"Living in a man's house like that. What if he was some pervert who attacked girls." Ranmaru asked annoyed.

"Well I did keep my guard up at the beginning. But I can tell a man's character very quickly after meeting him. " I explained.

"As if. Like you knew anything about me." He smirked.

"I didn't at first, but it was because I didn't want to. After you helped me with my brother i knew i had a lot of prejudice about you. Now i have a different opinion on you."

He crossed his hands and legs looking at me. "Do I wanna hear it?"

"It's your decision."

He flicked his tongue on his teeth and then sighed. "Alright."

"I still think you are rude but not you're not insensitive. You are loud but you are sure in what you want to say. You have a mean look but you are kind and caring even though i think you don't want to be. Despite thinking of every one as annoying, you treat each one seriously and you don't do things halfheartedly. You are stubborn but determined. I admire you." I instantly added realizing my rant. "But don't get too cocky about it."

When i finished he had a half surprised half unsure look on his face and he couldn't say anything for a while.

"What do you think of me?" I asked taking another slice of pizza.

He snapped out of it. "I don't think anything about you."

I was disappointed but i kind of expected that response.

After a longer silence he cleared his throat. "Okay I'll tell you what i think. Don't make that sad face."

I hadn't even realized i was showing it.

"You have a childish personality that is unlike your whole personality image as the dark princess. You live in two different characters and your personality changes along with them. I knew you were troublesome from the first moment i saw you." He stopped and ruffled his hair nervously before continuing. "However you are quite sharp. And have a talent for music. You are a hardworking person. You also are bold with words as if you wear your heart on your sleeve and you don't which confuses me. "

He paused and then smiled. "I also admire you."

My heart stopped in that very second. Could this mean he actually could also like me. I mean these were all positive things. 

"But the list of things you do to annoy me is very long so i kept it short." He added and then took the last slice of my pizza.

My sweet moment was gone.

"If my personality annoys you then you can't have my pizza." I said angry.

"Too late." He ate it all.

"You are a bully." I threw a straw at him laughing.

"You already said nice things. Are you admiring you are a liar." He spoke back.

"All i said was true. But i forgot to add bulling to the list."

"I don't care what you think anyways." He pulled his tongue out.

My mouth dropped open. 

"Here..." I pulled and put money on the table. "That's for the pizza. I hoped you enjoyed it."

I stood up and left the place, leaving him behind. 

I sat on a bench lifting my knees up to my chest. To be honest i knew this crush on him was going to burn me some day but when he placed a wall between us so easily, it hurt more than i could handled. So i wanted to pout like a little kid.

I will give up on him.  I have to. Unless a miracle happens i will give up on him.

I closed my eyes leaning my chin on my knees when i felt something cold touching my cheek. Instantly i opened my eyes. Ranmaru was holding a frappe in his hands handing it out to me while drinking his, from his straw.

I didn't take the frappe and turned my head away. "Hmph."

"Oi, i spent money for this." He touched my hand this time with it .Take it while it's cold." He said.

"I'm sure the ice in your heart can keep it from melting." I complained.

Surprisingly he laughed and then sat next to me taking my hand and pushing the frappe into my hands.

"This is a make peace bribe." He smiled. Actually smiled.

"You can't just go bribing people with drinks."

"You do it with food."

"Does it ever work?" I imitated him.

"You tell me." He smirked.

"Did you possibly put poison in it?" I pushed it back.

"That's going to far." He squeezed the cup a little too strong to push it back and it spilled on my hand.

"Ah look what you did." He scolded me. But he looked amused by this.

"What i did?" I yelled angry. "You did this."

"Give me something to wipe it off with." He ordered me.

"I don't have anything." I glared at him.

"Hold still." Suddenly everything turned in slow motion.

His mouth went down towards my hand and then his tongue traced my inner wrist. He took the cup from my hands and started licking my fingers.

I was too shocked to move my hand. His tongue expertly traced my hand licking the spilled drops of frappe on my hand.

All the blood was rushing to my face. I was going to explode like a teapot.

"Ranmaru what..." I tried to pull my hand away but he didn't budge. I looked around nervously too see if anyone was watching but luckily there were no people around.

"Are you a cat?" I yelled at him but that didn't work wither."

"Please stop." I begged at his point and he let go of my wrist. My hand was clean but still sticky.

"Did you mention anything about a cat?"He asked wiping the corners of his mouth.

"Give me the frappe." I ordered and he gave it to me.

"It's sticky." He told me.

"Don't you dare lick it." I said a little too quickly.

"Why? Is it a little too straight forward bullying for you?" He smirked.

He actually dared to say that.

"I thought you didn't like sweet things." I told him and he just raised his shoulders and relaxed on the bench, stretching his legs forward.

His legs were very long. He was quite taller than me but now than i fully pay attention i realized he was too tall for me even when i was wearing heels.

"I like cats." He suddenly said. I was very confused where that turned out from.

Then he stood up and walked over to the trash bin across our bench. Behind it there was a little kitten. He took it in his hands. The kitten was very angry. It scratched him for a while and then calmed down when he pressed it gently to his chest.

"There, you're not gonna bite." He scratched it's little head and the kitten submit to him purring really loud.

"Cats also like you." Too late i realized i told him that without thinking.

"They are troublesome but cute."

"Did you own a cat when you were little?" I asked.

"No but i always played with the strays i found. My mom hated that."

"And your sister?"

"She was always scared that they would scratch her."

"My parents were like that with every animal. I wasn't allowed to keep a pet."

I petted the cat too and it settled in his lap to sleep.

"Do you know you only have one more month in the agency?" He suddenly asked me.

Has it already passed that much time?

"Uh yes."

"What are you going to do afterwards?" He asked petting the kitten.

"I'm going to look for an apartment. I can afford my own now. Also I'll try to relax for a while after i meet with my brother."

"What about the people you met here in Shining agency?" He asked looking down.

Our fingers slightly touched.

"I will keep on hanging out with everyone of course." I answered calmly. "I made great friendships. Also Haru said she will take me and Tomo to visit her grandma. I can't miss out on that."

He kept quiet.

"Also..." I started and he lifted his head to look at me but i couldn't meet his gaze. "I think it won't be as fun when you're not around."

He suddenly dropped his hand and the kitten jumped out of his lap frightened. Confused Ranmaru reached for the kitten but it ran away.

"Oh no." I sighed as the kitten vanished from our sight.

"Come on." Ranmaru stood up and offered me a hand.

"Where to?" I asked.

"It's already getting late."

I took his hand thinking he will rush me towards somewhere but instead he just held my hand and walked slowly as we were walking back.

I didn't say a word. If i did open my mouth i would have probably stuttered.

I wasn't sure if Ranmaru was doing this out of specific reasons but i couldn't even think.

Instead of taking the road towards the house he took the road towards his favorite place to chill.

Once we were there he let go of my hand. I instantly realized it was cold and the warmth on my hand was vanishing.

He sat down on the grass and I sat down next to him watching the river glisten in the moonlight in silence.

"I'm kind of disappointed we didn't get out do the live performance. The song feels different when you do a live version of it." I said.

He gave me a look and then uncrossed his hands , lifting one knee and the leaning his hand on it.

"Sing the song if you want to. I'll listen."

"What , no." I laughed.

"Didn't you want to have a live performance?"

"Yes with a crowd."

"Count me as a crowd." He said calmly.

"No, i can't."

"I'll sing with you."

I raised a brow. "You promise?"

"Are you calling me a liar?"

I rolled my eyes and then started singing slowly.

~song ~

M: I hold on tightly to my paper heart

And i think of ocean depths and gray skies.

Running tracks like the strings of this guitar

Trying to find my lost star...

The sound of music keeps me warm,

as i walk this road all alone.

And i won't let the cold strike me down

I will fight on, i won't give up,

Cause the storm inside me want too.

M&R: Rage out..rage out..rage out..

-We both start to sing and smiled at each other.

As the song ended I covered my eyes embaresed.

" That was fun." Ran smiled.

"it was." I smiled back and slightly shivered from the wind.

"Are you cold?" He asked.

Before I answered he pulled me to sit between his legs, holding me. My back was suddenly warm pressed on his chest.

"Ranm..."
"Shh don't be annoying."

He whispered in my ear.

His hands around me suddenly made me feel very self aware. The cold was gone but i felt my whole body burning. This was too much for one day. How can this happen in one day.???

***
It was so very late when we entered the house so we tried to get to out rooms without waking anybody up. Ranmaru just murmured a goodnight and left. I turned on my heels and made my way to my room.


I really hope no one saw us.