Karen left the ryokan with such anger in her heart, and when she saw that the bar was dark, she decided impulsively to visit the whore's temporary residence. Who knew what kind of secret she could find there that she could use against her.

She looked around and didn't see anyone else on the street, and it was kind of… dark. Like very dark. Like, eerily dark that made your ears ring from all the silence.

She quickly looked back at the ryokan, and saw that it was still bright – like when she left it a minute ago – and then suddenly it didn't feel that dark and silent anymore, but she shivered still.

She rubbed her goosebumped arms and cursed lightly. She could still feel the uncomfortable darkness that just happened out of nowhere and enveloping her surroundings. She could even feel that someone was watching her beyond the shadows, and she shivered. It was all in her mind, no need to see things that weren't there.

"Fuck that bitch for making my own mother turns against me." She mumbled and tried to change the direction of her mind's thought, then rubbed her freezing cold and shivering hands together, when she suddenly saw a light flickered inside the bar.

The supposedly empty bar.

Everyone was having fun at the ryokan including Hideo, so who lit the candle?

"What the…" She quickly walked to the bar and opened the door to find a glowing strange looking device on the floor, in the middle of the bar, and it spewed thin smoke out of the top. She could smell the familiar scent burning from the device.

She moved closer to see the thing, and found out that it was a very old, very ancient thing, judging from the carving and the mystical feel surrounding the thing. Then it hit her.

An incense burner? It definitely smelled like incense.

But why the hell was an incense burner doing here in the empty bar? Was that whore Azusa actually a witch?

She didn't have time to think more because at that time, a huge black figure covered in a black smoke appeared in front of her, and she caught her breath in surprise.

She saw the figure tilted its head, and she suddenly lost the strength in her legs, making her fall down on the floor. She shivered and trembled so hard, she almost passed out. And when the black figure took a step forward, she couldn't help but scream with all her might before she lost consciousness.

Toru had the most peaceful sleep ever.

He couldn't remember when was the last time he slept like this – peaceful and dreamless – unlike his usual toss-and-turn sleepless night.

Then, he woke up and had a whiff of something familiar, and something soft was in his hands. He squeezed it once, twice, and felt that he had done this before – before he suddenly remembered that he was supposed to share a futon with a beautiful stranger – and jolted up to find that he had spooned her very closely with one of his hands on her stomach and his other hand on her… breast. Other than that, their legs also tangled together and his face was literally on her neck – nuzzling her like she was his lover. His hard lower part also happily snuggled between her butcheeks.

Fortunately she was still asleep when he retracted his hands and his body off her and prayed that he was not going to be slapped with sexual harassment charge. He didn't even know how he could embrace her that close. Well, he was obviously attracted to her, but he was not going to grope a sleeping woman – whatever the reason was.

But when he had successfully untangled their limbs, Azusa turned around and threw her hand on top of his body, snuggling into his neck and refused to let go.

"One more minute please." She yawned and nuzzled Toru's neck before she pressed her body on his arm and hooked her naked long leg on top of his.

Now he was confused.

She only wore a loose sleeveless top and soft shorts to sleep that caused him to have a mild heart attack last night, and their skin touched almost everywhere since he didn't wear anything on top and only a pair of soft fleece pants – the only thing she could find inside her bag. Thankfully it fit him.

Strangely, this all felt like a routine to him, not just a one time thing with Azusa – no, first time thing. He felt like he had been doing this for a long time already, but then he shook his head to gain some sense into his brain.

Stop daydreaming.

He came here to the island to spend some time with his family, his friends and the people here, not to start a romance – although he wouldn't mind knowing Azusa better.

He liked her and he sensed that she liked him too, but this was definitely too fast, because he would like to get to know her better first before taking her to bed. He knew that she was not the type to have a one night stand, and besides, everyone would definitely skin him alive if he just did what he always did back in the city – a series of meaningless sex with meaningless people, just to get rid of the loneliness temporarily.

With a heavy heart, he untangled himself once more, before he fixed the blanket to cover her and went to the bathroom to brush his teeth and get ready to go jogging. He would give Azusa another minute, as she wished, before he woke her up.

In the other room, Azusa opened her eyes as she stretched and yawned. She was already up when Toru untangled her legs from his, and she purposely hugged him and snuggled to him.

God, it was such a torture for her to restrain herself.

But she needed to focus and finish the job first before everything else. She yawned once again and kicked the blanket off. She wore a muscle top and shorts to sleep, and Toru's body heat helped her to feel warm. But to go out in this cold weather, she needed to change into her jogging clothes – thick leggings, a sports bra and a jacket.

She rummaged through her overnight bag and quickly wore them right when Toru got out of the bathroom wearing only his low-slung jogger without a top. She couldn't help but almost drool from the sight in front of her.

"Morning. You're sleeping well?" She grinned, knowing for sure that he did until after he realized that he groped her.

"Uhm… yes. The best sleep I've had in years actually. We should do this again." Then he reddened. "I mean, well, not sleeping together… well, damn." He was so flustered that Azusa couldn't help but laugh at his shyness. God, he was so cute when he was flustered like this.

"It's okay, I understand. And you're welcome to sleep here anytime, although I may not be able to accompany you next time." She chuckled and pointed at the duffel bag in the corner of the room. "I found it outside the door just now. And yes, they've unlocked the door and brought you your bag." She laughed at his pained expression. "I'm gonna brush my teeth and we should start before the sun's up and the people come out to pry on us. Well, they will definitely pry anyway, but I want to put in some miles before they start to do their matchmaking."

Toru was speechless with Azusa's easy going manner, and he could feel that he liked her even more by her non fussiness. She was really unlike the other woman he knew, and he was very eager to get to know her better, as he opened his bag and put on a black t-shirt and a black jacket then wore his running shoes.

He was used to training every day – jogging for at least five klicks, push-ups, pull-ups, and finally some martial spar with his partner, Lee. He didn't want to lose his strength by skipping training for the basics and he wondered if Azusa could help him with the spar. She looked athletic and strong, and it would be a sight for sore eyes if she decided to help him.

It was definitely an upgrade from the grumpy Lee.

He chuckled and when a minute later Azusa came out of the bathroom, they went out together, talking like a pair of best friends and lovers.