(I am SO, SO SORRY that I haven't been writing! I've been a terrible author, I know, but I PROMISE I'll work super hard on remembering to write more and add chapters more frequently! orz Anyways, I need a little feed back from you wonderful readers! When I wrote this, I decided to make the scene a little hotter, as a sort of extra apology for taking so long to update. Doing so got me thinking about keeping this story T rated, but I have no qualms writing something a little... spicier, if you get my drift. I was thinking about maybe omitting certain part from this story that would be M rated, and make those their own short storied, and for this I'll leave some detail, but mostly just implication? Is that something that you guys would be interested in, or would it be a waste of time? :D!)

Ayano eased herself into the shower and turned the hot water on full blast. Steam quickly filled the room, and for the first time in her life Ayano began to feel dizzy from the temperature. She used the door of the shower to steady herself as she reached for the cold water knob, but the pressure she applied caused the door to open, which made Ayano lose her balance and fall onto a heap on the floor.

Kazuma heard the loud thud from the shower and ran in without a second thought. When he opened the door he saw Ayano curled up in a fetal position, lying in a puddle of water, her hair set in just the right places to cover her chest. "Ayano! Ayano, are you okay? I need you to look at me." Kazuma bent down and grabbed Ayano's head to look at her eyes.

Ayano forced her eyes open, and more tears began to form. "I-I'm okay... I just fell is all? I can't even take a shower. I'm so useless." She used her hands to cover her face as she sobbed quietly.

"Stop it!" Kazuma grabbed both of Ayano's arms with one hand, and used his free hand to put a towel on her. "You're not useless. You're just drunk. And now you're going to bed."

Ayano was in complete shock, she had never heard Kazuma get a tone like that with her before. She held up the towel to cover herself and wiped away her tears, nodding as she followed Kazuma to her bed. "Hey Kazuma…"

"Yes, Princess?"

"T-Thank you for remembering my birthday." Ayano once again blushed a light shade of red, and she nervously rubbed her index finger over her lips.

As Ayano rubbed her lips she began to blush a little more, and turned her head to the side-these were all signs Kazuma knew well. The only question for him was whether or not to make a move, as he could either wait for her or save himself about half an hour and just go for it.

"I, well, I know I'm not Tsui Ling, but—"

The moment Ayano mentioned Kazuma's deceased girlfriend his jaw and fists tightened simultaneously. He decided he did not want to hear the rest of her statement and covered her mouth with his hand, making stern eye contact. "Don't you ever compare yourself to her."

Ayano's eyes began to water again, her stomach knotted up in the most unpleasant of ways, and her body felt limp. She could feel the alcohol raging through her blood stream, but Kazuma's words were much stronger than any amount of wine she had consumed. Ayano ripped Kazuma's hand off her mouth and flung herself face down onto her bed to muffle the already silent sobs.

Seeing Ayano react in the way she did made Kazuma feel sick to his stomach. Yet again he managed to upset this girl he cares about without meaning to, and found himself unable to find any words that may have brought her any comfort. Both Tsui Ling and Ayano were very important to him, but they were too different to be compared. Tsui Ling was quiet yet authoritative, she had a gentle and motherly soul, she was exactly the kind of person Kazuma needed when he first left the Kannagi family. Ayano, on the other hand, was fierce, feisty, and full of spunk. She was determined and strong, but so innocent and naïve. She brought Kazuma endless amusement, and being around her made him happy. Ayano was the kind of person he needed right now.

Kazuma let out a deep sigh and sat beside Ayano on her bed, laying his hand on her back as she cried. "You know, I didn't mean to upset you, Ayano."

Ayano peaked up from her covers and sent Kazuma a deep and piercing glare, lip pout and all. "Why can't you ever say nice things about me like you do about her? Why won't you ever acknowledge me?"

Words escaped Kazuma despite his perfectly articulated thoughts. There was only one thing he knew he could do that would keep her from talking, and show her he cared at the same time. Kazuma grabbed Ayano by her shoulders and forced her to her side, facing him. Keeping a tight grip, Kazuma laid beside her, looking deep into her soft and fragile gaze. Ayano's breath quickened as Kazuma's face grew closer to her own, and she could feel her heart beating strongly inside her chest as she began to feel his breath on her face. Kazuma pulled Ayano closer to his own body, closed his eyes, and let his lips touch hers once more.

The second their lips met Ayano's heart skipped a beat and her stomach began to unknot itself. Her world began spinning and her whole body had a warm tingling sensation, amplified by her inebriation. She slowly began returning the kiss, unsure of what exactly to do, as she had never properly kissed anyone before. Kazuma slid one of his hands behind Ayano's head, gently playing with the baby hairs on the top of her neck and he began to deepen the kiss. Hesitantly, Ayano began to open her mouth a little wider, allowing herself to be caught up in the moment and follow the lead of the much more experienced man.

Kazuma removed his hand from Ayano's head and moved to her back, using his free arm to slide underneath her to regain control of the deepness of the kiss. As he waited for her to adjust to the situation, he rubbed her back and waist, holding back all of his urges to rip away the small towel that covered Ayano and her alcohol infused breath.

Once their tongues touched, Ayano took some initiative in the situation and wrapped her arms around Kazuma, hugging him tightly. She began to touch Kazuma's legs with her own, slowly sliding her leg between his, but only barely. Ayano could not recall the last time she had been this close to Kazuma, she could only remember holding him when he was flying her places, but that did not count as anything.

As time passed, between the wine, the shower, and the kiss, Ayano's head and body were both spinning out of control. At first the whole event had been exciting and pleasant, but the strain it placed upon her stomach was too much. Ayano quickly broke away from the kiss and scrambled into the bathroom as quickly as she could, having only a second to spare from the time she reached the toilet to the time her stomach demanded seconds.

Kazuma, who was left in a daze, rolled onto his stomach when he heard the girl in the bathroom beginning to heave once more. He put a pillow over his head and cursed himself for thinking he could ever get anything more than almost perfect.