"I'm sorry, Professor. I can't stay late tonight. Gendo and I are going out."

"What about..."

"I'm all caught up. I'll see you tomorrow." Yui collected her things and left, not paying any further attention to the lab behind her.

Fuyutsuki frowned. She was caught up. And she was going out with Rokubungi. What had happened to turn her attitude around so completely? Each morning she'd be chipper and alert, talkative, not tired at all, sometimes even excited.

It certainly couldn't have been just because of Rokubungi, could it?

Gendo was just getting changed as Yui arrived. "Reservations are for seven. Will you make it?" he called out from the bathroom.

"Time me!"

Twenty-four minutes later, Yui was running a brush through her hair for the last time. "Will we make it?"

"Shouldn't be too tough." Gendo held the door open for Yui as they left the apartment. Just as they headed down the walk, they took each other's hands.

She managed to hold off until the door was closed. After that, Gendo had his hands more than full. "That was great," Yui whispered to him, her arms encircling him from behind. "And it's still too early to go to bed."

"I wasn't going to suggest it."

"Then we can do something else."

Gendo rolled his eyes. The woman was almost out of control. "Not for twenty minutes after eating," he warned seriously, hoping she would believe him.

"You're such a party pooper."

"Yui, you are the biggest party girl I have ever met, so I wouldn't rely on those types of insults." He turned his head and looked at her as best he could. "You are aware of the trouble this could get us both into, aren't you?"

Yui sighed and released him. "Fine, fine. You really aren't any fun."

"That's not what you said that first night."

"I don't recall saying anything if you want to get picky."

Gendo turned around to face her, grinning. "What was that I heard in my ear then? It sounded like..."

"Heavy breathing. Anything else and you need your hearing checked," Yui answered quickly to cut him off. There was a very healthy blush in her cheeks.

Eyebrows lifting slowly, he gave Yui an amused look. "Check my hearing?" He took a step backward, which Yui followed. "And where might I get my hearing checked?"

"The doctor probably." She followed each of his retreating steps. "But I could probably be convinced to check those big Dumbo ears of yours."

"How closely?"

His one step back was countered by Yui's two steps forward, and she was suddenly leaning against him. "Very closely," she whispered in his ear and then nibbled delicately on it.

Gendo flushed, goosebumps traveling up and down his back. "I can't really call you a tease anymore, can I?"

"If that's what you want. I don't see how it matters one way or the other." Yui smiled coyly. "Unless that's what you want me to do."

"You're still a tease. You always will be. But you're my tease." They stayed that way for a few moments, just looking at each other. "It's been twenty minutes."

Yui grinned and glanced at her watch. "Only eighteen."

"Two minutes to get undressed then. Come on, tease."