Azusa was in the middle of talking with Kenji when Chiori appeared and dragged her and put her in one of the rooms with a private onsen. She told her to relax, take a dip in the onsen, and she would prepare food for her. She also told her that everyone would understand, and to not sweat it, so she just did that. Relax. Alone.

And that was heaven.

Chiori even prepared a floating tray with delicious sake and… two glasses? Ah well, she tasted it and smiled in appreciation.

She saw when Chiori and two other young women entered and put a lot of food on the low table and then left without a word.

Finally.

She specifically built a few of these special rooms with private onsen inside for the newlyweds or for a romantic getaway for two. She loved how this turned out and could not wait to spend the night here today. Alone.

She started to enjoy the quiet, when she heard the commotion next door and she knew that the women were also trying the onsen, and she could hear the bitter voice of Karen Fukuyama.

"I don't understand how my mother could sell this ryokan to the bitch! This place was supposed to be my inheritance soon, and she just sold it and kept the money herself!"

Azusa smiled when she heard the tantrum.

That woman didn't even care about her own mother. She lived in a fine house and she left her own mother to rot in this ryokan until she begged her to buy the place and fix it. And she dared to complain about the inheritance? What a devious person.

She was too busy enjoying herself when she suddenly caught a movement inside the room. She moved quietly into the hidden spot behind the huge rock, when she saw a tall, handsome man enter and pick up the shrimp tempura, then he started to undress.

Hmm…

Should she announce her presence?

But then she became very impressed with his hard body, toned muscles without an ounce of fat, an eight pack abs, and scars all over his body. Not to forget his… impressive thing.

She guessed that this must be the famous Toru Hasegawa, the son of Genji and the nephew of Kenji. They had been trying to impress her about his achievements and she caught up immediately that they were trying to set her up with the man.

She thought that they were exaggerating about him, but upon looking closer, well, he was as impressive as they all bragged about. Too bad his sense of surroundings was, well, let's just say that if she was an assassin, she could easily sneak up on him.

The man sat down not too far from her and covered his face with the hot towel then groaned in ecstasy. He looked like he was tired and enjoyed the hot onsen immensely.

She bit her lips from amusement, and that was when the conversation next door continued.

"I heard that Toru the Stud is going to come, is that true?" Followed by giggles, giggles and more lewd giggles, and snorts.

Jesus.

Well, to be honest, Toru the Stud seemed to be a very fitting nickname for the man with impressive… everything.

Then all the women continued to ogle and talk about the man's private parts and she could feel the waves of embarrassment and amusement coming off from him.

She felt sorry for the man, so she moved closer to him and nudged him to offer the sake, and he looked really surprised when he saw her.

"Sake?" She poured the bottle into the two glasses and gave one to him – which he accepted, still in daze.

She smiled as she observed the man from closer.

He was handsome in a rough, threw you at the wall and ravished you hard until you screamed from the repeated ecstasy. His hair was longish, unkempt, and dark – just as his eyes. His lips were thin and there was a hint of the five o'clock shadow on his face that made him more attractive in a dangerous way.

She also noticed the huge scar on his left shoulder and she wondered how he got it.

"You're… Toru the Stud, I presume?"

"At your service. And you are…" He took the glass and drank the sake in a gulp. He eyed her intensely and she felt… very exposed.

"Well, I am Azusa the whore. Nice to finally see you, Stud."

She waved her glass in a toast and drank it in one gulp too, when she heard the hearty laugh from the man in front of her.

"I like your style." Toru poured them another shot and toasted her. "Although I disagree with the label whore." He observed her with such an intensity that gave her a shiver. "You look like a very high-end escort. Or a chaebol." He sipped the sake slowly. "Very expensive and out of reach."

"Why, thank you for the compliment." Azusa chuckled. "Unfortunately, I'm none of those. Just an ordinary woman who's looking for a quiet place to stay and enough money to make sure she has the said peace and quiet."

"Too bad you ran into Karen. That woman will not let you have the peace and quiet you want, you know that, right?"

"Not to worry, I have my own way to handle her." She smiled satisfactorily.

"Like how you bought this ryokan, fixed it, and shoved it to her face?" Toru laughed. "I like your style. Classy."

"You've said it already." Azusa smiled at the man. He looked so… dangerous, especially with the dimples and the scars. "Anyway, I think I will let you stay here and enjoy your peace and quiet, Toru the Stud. You may stay here as long as you like, free of charge, so if Karen or the other women happens to… corner you, you will always have a place to hide." She stood up and walked to the end of the onsen where she put her kimono on top of the rock.

The act caused Toru to widen his eyes, since as he guessed, she was naked and her body was perfect – although he could only see it from behind.

He cleared his throat and Azusa smiled.

"Take this as a payment for confirming that you are indeed a stud." She laughed as she took her kimono and wore it, then tied it securely at her tiny waist. "The rest though… hmm." She just winked mischievously at Toru – who followed her in three big strides and caught her hand.

"At least have dinner with me." He pointed to the table full of food. "I bet you that this was a set up from my father and the other busybodies, but I can't see why we shouldn't enjoy the good food and drink together. I am… intrigued, and I want to know you better."

"Sure." Azusa answered after she decided that it was harmless to have dinner with this man. Only dinner though. And so she smiled as she pointed her finger at the obvious. "But are you sure you don't want to wear anything? It's fine with me if you prefer to be au naturel." She grinned and Toru swore he could hear she laughed at him when he took his discarded kimono and wore it quickly.