I do not own Absolute Boyfriend.

Nuff said. :P

Enjoy!

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"Riko?"

Soshi stuck his head into the front door of Riko's apartment. He was holding a carefully wrapped box tied with a silver stretchy ribbon behind his back. He could imagine Riko's delighted face the moment he gave it to her.

"Riko?" The living room was empty. He had half-expected her to be sleeping on the couch.

But she didn't sleep or even sit on the couch.

Not anymore.

"Riko?" he called, letting himself in and closing the door silently behind him. He wondered if she was hiding and giggling in the kitchen, waiting to ambush him like she did the other day. A broad grin broke across his face as he remembered what a fast recovery she had made.

Finally, she was his and his alone.

And the pair of matching rings he had just bought and was now waiting in the box he was holding right now was sure to confirm it. He was sure that the moment she received it, she would throw her arms around him and kiss him hard on the lips.

And right after that, he thought. I'm going to propose to her.

Riko was actually kind of young to get married. But she had just recently graduated from high school and was attending a few college courses. He could not afford to wait any longer.

And come to think of it, he brooded. I don't want to wait any longer. She is mine and mine alone.

She would not belong to Night.

Setting down the present on the couch, he walked into the kitchen. He waited for Riko to scream and jump out at him, right into his arms and provide him the perfect introduction.

However, no little girl jumped out and yelled, "Boo!" But he wasn't one to discourage easily.

He quickly glanced around and clocked in on a pretty, slim shadow posed behind the fridge. Her hair was put up in a high bushy ponytail which was rustling slightly. A huge grin nearly cracked his entire face.

Trying to be sneaky, he crept across the kitchen and towards her. He imagined grabbing her and kissing her full, perfect lips and his own twitched slightly.

"Yah!" He yelled as he jumped out at her from the other side of the fridge. He grabbed her then, stopped.

It was a broom.

Embarrassed, he put the household cleaning object back and looked around. She didn't appear to be in the kitchen, much to his relief and confusion.

He supposed she was in her bedroom. He walked out and into the living room. Picking up his present, he only had eyes for Riko's closed bedroom door which was probably why he didn't notice that there was an empty box lying on the couch.

Soshi frowned slightly as he approached Riko's room. He felt highly uncomfortable going into a room that she had more than once warned him not to go into but this was necessary.

Besides, he reasoned with himself. They would be married soon and then, there wouldn't be anything private between them anymore.

His lips twitched as he envisioned several scenarios.

"Riko?" he whispered as he gently opened her door a crack. The entire room was plunged into darkness.

Suddenly, there was a sound of a door opening and some light spilled into the room. Riko walked out of her bathroom wearing only a bathrobe, just as Soshi was considering to leave.

His jaw dropped open as he realized just how short the bathrobe was. Nothing can make me leave now!

She walked lightly over to her bed, pushing aside a stack of what looked like photo albums. After climbing onto her bed, she picked one up and began to open it. A sad look passed over her face.

"Oh, Night," she murmured. "I miss you. I really miss you."

Soshi's eyebrows shot up as a tear spilled down her cheek.

Waitaminute, he thought in bewilderment. I though she was over Night?

Riko sobbed slightly, then reached up to scrub her eyes.

Soshi couldn't bear it. He opened the door and walked in, holding his arms out to Riko, ignoring her stunned and horrified face.

"Aw, Riko," he murmured. "I love you."

She just stared up at him, her face white and stunned.

Silence.

Then,

"Aargh. Soshi, you friggin' dog!"

"Riko!" He ducked as a pillow hurtled over his head and smashed against the door.

"How. Dare. YOU?" She flung another pillow at him in anger, her eyes flashing dangerously. "How dare you?"

Soshi scrambled out of the room as she stalked after him with heavy footsteps.

Stomp. Stomp. Stomp.

"Riku!" He took cover behind the couch. "I just came to give you a present."

He waved the box temptingly over his head. He knew Riku loved presents. Ever since she was a little child.

She stopped. "What kind of present?"

"They're rings," he explained, scooting around the couch and handing it to her. "Like, the ones you and Night had."

She froze.

He plowed on quickly. "Actually, they're special in a way. Because-"

He took a deep breath.

This was it. His moment.

He knelt down on one knee and took Riku's hand, the one that wasn't digging its fingernails into his present. He could see her huge, shocked eyes staring down at him.

"Riku," he whispered, pressing his lips against the back of her hand.

"...Yes?" Her voice came out in a hoarse whisper.

"Will you...marry me?"

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Cliff-hanger! x]

Read and review fairly,okay? (:

I know it sucks.

xShanaChan