Chapter seven: Niwa, Daisuke

"Niwa there's nothing to eat!" Risa and Riku stand by the dim light of the fridge, throwing out empty containers and rotten fruit. My father told us he stocked the kitchen before we came, but it already looks like we're out.

"They're right. We need to go out and get some more." Hiwatari stands awkwardly in the corner, as far away from the Harada twins as he can manage. He doesn't want to scare them as much as they don't want to be around him. I wish they would get along for the time we're here, but I know it won't happen.

"No, it's okay Satoshi, I can go out. Maybe we can get a hold of my father somehow..." Everyone looks towards the radio expecting it to ring. Unfortunately it's calling range is only one-sided and we don't know how to contact another person but the static line left in our ears.

Hiwatari pushes off the wall and uncrosses his arms. "I have a plan, maybe we could step outside."

The twins exchange nervous looks but pretend to be busy in conversation while I leave with Satoshi. We meet in the hallway and Hiwatari slides the kitchen door closed behind us. I let myself back against the wall and he places his arm next to my head, resting his weight on it. We stand so close and he still feels so far.

He leans in close and whispers into my ear, sending shivers over my spine. For a moment I don't even hear the words, only the elegant hum of Hiwatari's voice. Soon enough I focus in on the plan, wondering what we could do to get past the guards of the city.

"WAIT! WHY DO I HAVE TO BE THE GIRL?!"

"Because Daisuke, you have a more feminine build than I do. No one would believe you if I dressed as the female and you the male. It would be too intimidating." He smiles crookedly, as if laughing at his own joke. His humor is almost embarrassing and I'm now glad he didn't tell me the plan in front of the Harada twins. I don't think I could have taken it.

Before I can blink, we're dressed and ready to go. Hiwatari is decorated in a long black jacket that buttons high on his neck. His glasses are gone and they've covered his hair in a droopy gray hat, only showing small sprouts of gelled bangs in the front. The Harada twins giggled the whole time creating our looks; they took their jobs seriously.

When Hiwatari told them what was happening, they instantly agreed without a second thought. I think Riku has secretly been waiting to give me a makeover since she met me, while Risa couldn't wait to touch Hiwatari's hair.

The girls drop a mirror in front of my face, twisting it so I can see the mess they've made of my skin. The first thing I notice is high, ruby-red cheeks, dewy eyes and a pout so pink it hurts my head. They patted down my hair and wrapped one of Risa's scarves around my head, completely hiding the fact that I'm a boy. I was forced into a short pink dress with black socks and one of Hiwatari's jackets over top. This was used to make us look like a couple.

His plan was that we would dress up as a young couple shopping for accessories in our new house. It would make sense for us to be buying housing supplies that way and they couldn't question who we were since we were new to the city. Although it is a good idea, I still feel sour about being put in the place of the girl.

He was right though. It would look funny for me to be standing next to a girl version of Satoshi. In this sense, I'm almost glad I don't have to be the boy. Besides, he's much better looking than me.

We use the old row boat my father brought us over in to get back to the city. It will take us into the dock behind the town, giving us the alibi of taking an evening boat ride before going for dinner. Hiwatari has something up his sleeve but he hasn't told me what, only that it will get us more faster.

The ocean is unusually calm tonight and makes a nice ride. The boat glides along the water smoothly, detaching itself from the movement of Hiwatari's arms. It's almost like we're floating on air instead of water. The world around us has a distinct chill and I'm glad for the thick sweater wrapped around my shoulders. How do girls wear this type of stuff?

-It looks good on you, Niwa.-

Dark chuckles happily in my mind, enjoying every moment of this mission. Before I get the chance to tell him what else he can enjoy, Hiwatari spies the shore. We were so lost in the ocean, we didn't say a word to each other the entire time. I regret not asking him more when I had the chance but I remind myself of the way back, setting my bets on then.

When we hit the dock, Satoshi tells me to stay seated. I wonder why until I look around and see multiple men standing around trucks, drinking thick liquids from random cases. The dock is only a large slab of concrete with several places to park boats and connecting alley ways leading straight into town. Not giving us many places to run if needed. I forgot about my costume already and how it might be a danger for me in situations like this one. Hiwatari gets out to tie our boat down and offers me his hand.

For a moment I'm stuck deciding how it's best to get out wearing a dress, until I give up and take his awaiting grasp. After an awkward struggle, Hiwatari pulls me out of the boat and balances both of us carefully on the dock. I can feel the men's eyes on my back and make sure to stay as close to Satoshi as possible. He places a hand on my back and we begin to walk past them. As the catcalls start, I make sure to close my eyes and put a hand around myself, pinching just the tiniest piece of the coat Satoshi is wearing.

"Hey! She's a cute one!"

"Where'd ya find something like her?"

"How much for the night sweetheart?"

Hiwatari doesn't say anything, but continues moving as if nothing is being said to him or me. From out of the corner of my eye, I can see a man approach us from behind. My feet turn to stone and it becomes harder to walk while so frightened.

"Need any help with that skirt lady? I'm sure I got an extra hand to lend." Half of the mans teeth are gone and the rest are rotting out of his gaping mouth. He looks like someone who hasn't seen a shower in years and he smells like the inside of a liquor bottle. His hand creeps closer and closer until Hiwatari's grip around me tightens and he pulls me into himself, swinging at the guy with full force.

When his knuckles hit the mans jaw, I seal my eyes, not wanting to see how many more teeth he loses to Satoshi's hand. My body is crushed into Satoshi's, like a mother protecting her young. The minute the man falls, clutching his (no doubt) broken mouth, Satoshi hugs me close and then straightens me in front of him, eyes burning into mine.

"Are you okay? Daisuke, speak to me. He didn't touch you did he?" I can see the worry in his face almost as clearly as the fear in mine. For a second I can't speak and only manage to mumble a few words.

"Y-yes, I am. He d-didn't do anything Satoshi, don't worry." A long stream of hazy air retracts from his mouth and he sighs heavily.

"Good. Now let's go before anyone else gets another idea."

The other men back away quickly, not wanting to make eye contact with either of us. I realize they're all drunk by the similar looks on each face. One man steps forward and holds up both hands.

"Hey man, no harm done okay? We won't mention this to no one." I'm expecting Hiwatari to walk right past but instead he pulls out a shiny gun and points it at the man.

"Don't worry about it." The words are hardly out of his mouth before he pulls the trigger and shoots. The man crumples on the spot and a few others run to see if he's gone. Hiwatari grabs my hand and begins to half-run into a small alley way. I can hear men starting their trucks back at the docks. I can't tell if they're running away, or coming to find us.

"Why would you do that Hiwatari? You just killed that man!" The panic rises in my throat, creating a large lump that won't budge no matter how many times I swallow.

"He's not dead. I only shot his arm. He'll be fine if he gets to a hospital soon; that's if he doesn't die of alcohol poisoning first. Besides, he had a knife. He was trying to distract us so he could attack." I hadn't even noticed these tiny details he figured out so easily. How does he do it?

"Lets go, they already wasted too much of our time."

"Satoshi, you're hand! That's the one you hurt." Shallow cuts line his already bandaged knuckles, some even starting to bleed.

"Shh, don't use my real name here. Someone might hear. Call me, Jin-kun. And keep up, we need to hurry." As we enter the busy streets, I'm almost blinded by the lights. White bulbs are strung everywhere, decorating every post and building around.

"He's trying to please them. To act like nothing bad is happening. I'm sorry father but it's a bit harder than this." I can't tell if Satoshi is speaking to me or himself, but I listen carefully anyway just incase.

We rush down the street, hand-in-hand. I realize we haven't stopped holding them together since we got out of the boat. I hadn't noticed until now, when my palms are sweating and making everything slippery. Hiwatari doesn't even flinch at this fact, he simply walks faster and points to a small shop with the prettiest lights of all.

"There. That's where we need to go."

"But that's! That's a fancy restaurant , Hiwa...Jin-kun. How can we get in there?" I see couples sitting across from each other, taking in the romantic atmosphere together. Bottles of champagne and red wine are being passed around. This is a place I have only heard about, never dreaming to go inside. Especially with someone like Satoshi Hiwatari.

"Good evening, lady, gentlemen. What can I do for you tonight?"

"A table for two please." Hiwatari slips the waiter a blood-velvet baggy, no doubt filled with some sort of money. The waiter peeks inside and grins widely at him.

"A table for the lovely couple! The best view! And a bottle of champagne to start, yes?" He leads us to a small table in the back. Hiwatari gestures to the man and whispers something in his ear that I can't quite make out. The waiters face lights up as brightly as the lights outside and he nods at me vibrantly.

"Of course, of course. Right away!" He scurries away and shouts at a small working girl to bring us something to drink. When they are out of sight I lean in and ask Hiwatari what he said to him.

He simply shrugs and smells the rose that sits in the middle of the table. It looks fresh, like it has just been picked for us. The young girl hurries back with the biggest bottle of champagne I have ever seen, resting halfway in a bucket of ice. She sets two tall glasses on the table and starts pouring. I almost reject, but Hiwatari sets his hand on mine in a warning sign.

"If you could leave the bottle, thank you." His voice is like silk and the girl blushes and drops a pen tucked behind her ear. Hiwatari ducks down and picks it up, pushing it back into place. "Allow me."

Even I feel the pressure the girl is under. It's mean of Hiwatari to do this to her while she is at work. But when she leaves he only smirks and mutters something about young girls being too easy to manipulate.

"Should we really be here?" He begins to turn his glass round and round, making the rosy liquid swirl and create a whirlpool. He lifts it to his mouth and takes a long drink like he has been consuming champagne forever.

"Why shouldn't we be? They let us in didn't they; that means we're allowed." It's times like these when I don't understand Hiwatari and what he means. Why are we here when we were only on a trip to get more food for the island? What does he have in mind for such a restaurant and us? We shouldn't even be here together.

I attempt to hold the glass to my mouth as well and smell the beverage inside. It smells alright so I hold the smallest amount in my cheeks. The taste is slightly sweet and bubbly, unlike what I would have expected champagne to taste like.

Just as I take a deeper drink, the waiter passes by and winks at Hiwatari. As if on command, a harp begins playing softly and Hiwatari leans in to me across the table.

"Play along."