((I am SO glad you're back, haha.))

  Uzume gave him a soft smile. "I.. Yes, a suit is quite acceptable. You should not worry at all. My brother's daughter is quite a fan of yours." She gave a soft laugh. "And how could I ever not consider you seriously? I am just thankful that you are willing to make this sacrifice for me." A single tear tracked down her cheek.

With a chuckle Hongki pulled her back to him, kissing te tear from her cheek. "No more of that, now. It's a wound to my pride, and we both know how much pop stars care about their pride." He pressed his cheek to hers. "I am a very playful and silly young man, but for you I feel not in the least joking. No sacrifice would be too great. Tomorrow we will go to your parents, and I will show them the proper way to treat a lady."

Again he chuckled, lips pulling into a smile even as they pressed to Uzume's. "Rest. If I am to get any rest, you will have to stop kissing me. For I most certainly will not think of sleeping as long as this continues." He gently gripped her shoulders, holding her at arm's length. "Would you like me to go back to my own room, or would you prefer not to spend the night alone? In either case I promise to be a perfect gentleman, and should you request I stay her I will stay on the couch so as to assure that you are not compromised."

"Then I will sleep on the couch. A lady needs defending, right?" He struck a pose, doing his best to lookas unintimidating as possible, modeling himself like the body builders he saw on tv. "You need a big strong man around." The words were obviously meant as a joke, since Hongki guessed that Uzume would be tough enough to handle herself in most situations. Still, being here did pu his mind at ease. Letting a woman sleep alone in a new lace just didn't sit right with him.

With Uzume's room aving the same set-up as his own, it didn't take long to find the extra blankets and pillow to get himself a nice bed made. "Ta-da! Now you can sleep knowing that you're safe and sound, and that if anyone does come in, you'll here them trying to land a punch on me. Don't you feel much more secure now?"

  "I'm glad you do," Uzume muttered under her breath as she cuddled close for a moment. "But yes, we should rest." She stepped away to her bed, sinking into the silk sheets with thoughts of her bethrothed in her mind.

  The next morning, Uzume was up exceedingly early, since she had not been able to sleep. She went to the gym to run and then stepped into the shower, before Hongki had awakened.

Hongki, ever the lack-a-bed, rubbed his eyes blearily at Uzume' return from the gym. His cowlicks were exceedingly pronounced, his constant grin sleepy. For a split second he felt panic, just enough to wake him thoroughly. Just as quickly it left, pushed aside by optimistic determination. Stretching Hongki rose, waving.

"Good morning Uzume. You do not seem like you slept well at all."

  Uzume smiled at the comical picture her bethrothed made. His hair flew in every direction and the grin on his face was endearingly sleepy. "Good morning," Uzume said, moving around the small kitchen where she was preparing breakfast. "Would you like to dress for the day while I finish our breakfast? It might be strange to you, but you will enjoy it.

((Not sure if he would know about grits?))

ooc:// Probably not. He's a city slicker. ._.

bic://

Giving a drowsy nod, Hongki looked around in mild confusion before remembering that this wasn't his room and that all his clothing was elsewhere. With that he walked to his room two floors up, a trip that woke him nicely. Once there he showered and put on his best jet black suit set, brushing out his hair until it was good and set, adding a slight spike just because he felt like it.

Thus bettered he made the journey back to Uzume's room, letting himself in. "Much better. I almost feel human again now."

He was a guy. A big, stupid guy. So, naturally, his gaze went immediately to how completely and utterly gorgeous Uzume looked when she was relaxing. Those shorts that showed off her long, lean legs, the nice fit of her top... Jeeze. It's like she was trying to make being calm and civilized hard on him. He sat at the kitchen table with an eager grin, eyes widening at all the food she had prepared.

"This all looks amazing! I'll admit that I don't know much about American cooking, but I am certain I will like whatever you cook." He began eating almost at once, his smile growing with each bite. After a moment he swallowed, eyes shining up at Uzume. "It's delicious."

After enjoying a particularly crispy bit of bacon, Hongki nodded. He gestured to his crisp, pressed suit, down to he deep red of his tie. "Look at me. I was born ready. At least our father will not be able to say anything about my choice of clothing. I even made certain my shoes were polished. And my cuff-links. I should look like the ideal respectable young man, even if my pop-boy status says otherwise."

There were lots  things he could have said then, all of them seeming wrong and horribly inappropriate. "I-i-i... I think... Y-y-you l-look..." Despite the color rising to his cheeks Hongki calmed himself, taking a breath. "Dearest Uzume, you look like a vision. And regardless of how you look, you are a responsible woman who has madeher own decisions." He closed the distance between them in a few steps, wrapping his arms around her waist in a loose, gently possessive gesture.

"You continue to amaze me with your beauty. I feel like every day will be a new opportunity to tell you just how lovely you are. You have no reason to worry. Whatever your father says, I will be by your side." He laid a kiss on Uzume's forehead, his lips lingering just long enough.

ooc:// Random side note, the girl you used for your picture was in a music video as a guest with my favorite Tai girl group. Apparently she's a famous Chinese actress/model. :3

((Haha, that's cool. I wonder why she showed up when I was searching Korean girls... Ah well))

  Uzume relaxed into his arms for a few moments, grateful for his comments. They gave her strength. Smiling she whispered, "Thank you," before turning her lips up to his. She pressed herself against him, letting her fear and hope out into her kiss.  She wanted him to understand the things she was not yet sure how to say.