Hongki had been on the verge of replying when the music started, and his eyes went as wide as dinner plates. "I love Evanescence! Amy Lee has such a beautiful voice. That she can have such a large range and maintain such clear tone is incredible." Closing his eyes, Hongki let the music flow over him. His entire body loosened visibly, slipping under the spell cast by the light, the company, and the music. His face was a mask of utter contentment, and he was loathe to speak again, though he was compelled to answer. "Any time, really. I feel as if I could be by your side at the drop of a hat, to be completely honest."

Nodding, he took a sip from his own cup. In his mind he was thinking of a way he could be more obvious about his feelings without crossing any of his personal boundaries. It was all he could think of; how wonderful she looked, how sweet she was behind that shell. He sighed, following Uzume with his eyes. "That sounds perfect. I suggest wearing something that moves with you comfortably." He shrugged, gaze softening a little.

The minute he saw the outfit Uzume carried, Hongki's mind went to what it would look like on her trim and toned body. He went tense, unable to tear his eyes away as his heart thudded, face going red. "T-that should... That should be just fine." Stammering he attempted to think of something else, but couldn't even do that. His breathing seemed impossible past the lump forming in his throat.

He attempted once more to school his features, clearly struggling to regain control of his own reaction. "I'm fine, really. It's just... I don't want to appear rude, or horribly low-class. I really don't. And yet, if I may be competely honest, the thought of you in that outfit it stretching the limits of what I would usually consider to be unshakeable control over my physical reaction. I am, after all, only male, and you are not only radiantly beautiful but also a strong person with moral character and what I can only see as underlying sweetness. I promise to keep my attraction toward you in check. I just need a moment, if it makes you uncomfortable." He dropped his gaze to the floor, looking appropriately humble.

At this he stood, dropping all his quiet and soft behavior, suddenly bold. In a few strides he was standing in front of Uzume, hand moving to her chin, gently lifting her face to meet his. "That is something I will not stand for. You are ravishing, dazzling, stunning, powerful in presence, and tender in heart. Your beauty cannot be measured or duplicated. I will not hear you belittle yourself in any way, shape, or form." His eyes burned with passion, suddenly released like water breaking a dam. They were so close that he caught another wiff of her perfume, but refused to move.

Watching her attempting to compose herself and failing, Hongki almost smiled, the ex
pression tugging at the corners of his mouth. Instead he leaned forward, placing a kiss on her lips. The contact was tentative, as if he expected her to pull away immediately, hand dropping from under her chin to take her hand. His other went to cup the back of her neck, burying itself in that silky black cascade of hair.

The pressure of her body against his caused the beginning tenderness of the kiss to fall away, and he pressed into her. Lifting her hand to grip his shoulder he let his now free hand move to the small of Uzume's back, kissing her with all the passion that had been in his eyes. He felt himself mold to fit her form against him, like two puzzle pieces clicking perfectly together. His breath mingled with hers, heart pounding almost painfully against his ribcage.

  Uzume mused at his offerings, almost lost in the sound of his slowing heartbeat and her thoughts. Continue to see him? It was what her heart was telling her to do, but she was afraid. There was no way for him to keep his promise. Realisticly, she knew that. All she could hope for was that he would be willing to work through things and be paitient with her when the inevitable happened. She was sure that she would have to be paitient with him as well.

  "I... would like to try'" she said, looking up at him. "But don't promise me that you will never hurt me. No one is capable of that. Instead, promise me that you will be paitient with me, and allow me to be paitient with you. If this is to be... permanent, we will not always put the other first. We will not always be kind and gentle and respectful. And I think I want to try that. Is that acceptable?"