Heka: Yes, I am alive. And since it's right after my preliminary exams, I just decided to update Songs About Riku, as I am currently ignoring The Keeper due to the idea in my head refusing to be written down, no matter how much I want it to.

Dark: Yay! Wait…

Shigure: Damn.

Heka: This idea came to me about two days ago, along with the song and then I realised that it would have fitted the challenge posted up by someone a while ago on Damage Control with regards to a date between Dark and Riku. Umm. I can't remember who that someone is.

Shigure: You are slow.

Heka: I actually DID write something for that okay. It's just… not done.

Dark: How can it be not done?!

Heka: Well, many things, like prelims, exams, more exams, work and this little thing known as the Uchiha Sasuke and Haruno Sakura pairing was the most recent distraction… Not that I watch Naruto.

Dark: How dare you jump pairings?!

Heka: What? It's only logical. I can't hang on to you and Riku forever; I'll run out of stuff to write!

Shigure: Ho ho ho. Now you see.

Heka: Umm fortunately I don't own anything here. Else D.N.Angel would have never sold as well as it does now. And the song may be kind of offensive to some but well, I didn't write it.

DISCLAIMER: I don't own anything. Lawyers will be fed to the Nac Mac Feegle.

You can see this as a companion piece to the AU of 'Something About You'.

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Song: Next Contestant

Leaning against the cool wall, she checked her watch for the fifth time with a sigh. Daisuke was late again, as usual. What Riku really wanted was to get home as soon as possible and enjoy a long bath. Her first day here had been beyond what she had imagined. She was once a kindergarten teacher and she thought children would be far worst than kind elderly members of society but well… she was wrong.

As a teacher, she considered losing her temper at children or elderly members as taboo, yet there had been so many little disagreements and grumbles between the elderly that she was practically chewing at the bit to not lose her cool and just yell at them for being so unreasonably disagreeable.

She tensed her shoulders before releasing them to let off some stress. She imagined her shoulder muscles tweaking in gratitude and her hand moved automatically to massage her left shoulder, where the strap of her bag was currently slowly but agonisingly cutting into her flesh.

She frowned at the flimsy material under her fingers. She knew she shouldn't have trusted Risa with choosing what to wear on her first day. Her malicious twin had taken one look at her sister and fled to her own cupboard, before pulling out a white frilly blouse and a chequered skirt which reached to her knees.

Riku had no qualms with the skirt. The argument with the blouse however, took so much time that when Riku finally realised it, she had been tricked into wearing that disgusting white frilly material… thing.

She felt cheated. It wasn't even fully opaque!

I judge by what she's wearing
Just how many heads I'm tearing
Off of assholes coming on to her

Each night seems like it's getting worse

Risa had patted her hand on Riku's shoulder in what she thought was an encouraging manner. "You look great, Riku. You have a wonderful body so now's a time to show it off. There's no need to be embarrassed!"

And then she laughed.

As such, Riku had arrived at the nursing home in a less than wholly satisfied mood and the rest of the day hadn't gone that well either, with the old mumbling darkly amongst themselves or leering at her when they thought she wasn't looking.

If she hadn't been responsible for their creative education, she would have strangled them already.
And I wish she'd take the night off
So I don't have to fight off
Every asshole coming on to her
It happens every night she works

Riku took a deep breath. At least the day was over. She would go home, rest and unwind and tomorrow would be a great day. Unconsciously, she reached into her bag to withdraw her cell phone, putting the longer locks of hair behind her ear.

She frowned at the time. She knew Daisuke said he would be late but not this late. The sun was setting already, and she was currently being treated to a vibrant display of reds and oranges. She checked her phone for any messages, disappointedly checking the last message from Daisuke which was apologetic, informing her that he was in the worst traffic jam on this side of Japan and would she kindly please be more patient?

Riku sighed and shrugged. She couldn't really blame him; he had a job too – he was just being extremely nice and kind by offering to fetch her to and from work everyday as he was firstly and foremost a gentleman.

She smiled to herself as she tucked her phone back into her bag.

Speaking of gentlemen

A brow visibly twitched as Riku closed her eyes in silent, shaking fury.

Other than the old lecherous men, whose situations were quite understandable after one cooled down with an ice pack to the forehead, there was one other man on the premises whose neck she would dearly love to strangle, especially after today's tiresome day.

They'll go and ask the DJ
Find out just what would she say
If they all tried coming on to her

Don't they know it's never going to work

Unfortunately for Riku, Dark Mousy had not forgotten their little tête-à-tête on the night of her interview with the formidable lady of the organisation. Fortunately for Riku, Dark Mousy was a man and, like all men, he could not resist a shapely woman in a translucent shirt.

When she arrived, he had taken one look at what she was wearing and had whistled appreciatively. Seizing the moment, she had shoved her initial slack jawed behaviour around him down her throat and had whacked him soundly on the head with her bag… just as Niwa Emiko strolled out of her office. Mortified but wiser around him already, Riku had followed the smug smiling lady into her office, only to learn that the man whose hair she had just completely destroyed also happened to be the Assistant Supervisor (that is, the more hands-on version of Overbearing Boss of She Who Signs Your Paycheque and Laughs Evilly While Doing So) of the entire home. She also learned that he answered directly to the great Niwa Emiko of the Ebony House of Elders and hence that meant that as Riku was a greenhorn, she had to answer to him.

And he absolutely loved it.

Riku seethed silently. She had no idea why she had found him so attractive in their first meeting. The beautiful face and wonderful dressing style (which she now seriously doubted) apparently hid a personality which would suit a perverted sadist. He absolutely delighted in watching her struggle with the old men of the faculty, drifting in occasionally without any intention to help at all in his flamboyant red shirt with of all things, an unbuttoned white camp shirt over that glaring piece of colour. To her horror, he had ended the entire bright clothing fiasco by wearing a pair of pure white cargo pants, modestly decorated with a black leather-and-chain belt.

Her first impression was that a candy cane had exploded on him. He stood out terribly; she could barely glance at him without thinking of Risa's shriek of horror should she have seen such a fashion disaster or the fact that her eyes would spontaneously begin to bleed. She could not understand why he would choose such a terrible clash of colours and why, he kept drifting over during her classes, distracting her. He would just sit right at the back and watch her, his face in that permanent Cheshire cat grin as she struggled futilely against the disgruntled elderly. And when she signalled with some body language for help (for what other reason could he have attended the lesson?), he had to choke back his uproarious laughter before leaving the room in a most undignified manner.

… Yet she observed (very rarely and only during breaks) that his terrible clash of colours had allowed him to move easily with the old, pulling chairs out and assisting them in their movements.

Inwardly, Riku had snorted. Apparently, 'Assistant Supervisor' here meant 'an extra pair of hands'.

"Well, hello there," a smooth voice drawled out.

They think they'll get inside her
With every drink they buy her
As they all try coming on to her
This time somebody's getting hurt

Riku opened her eyes. She was no longer alone by the wall. Two men, much taller than she was (oh why didn't she wear her heels today?) were currently looming over her and were very noticeably cutting off all exit paths. One of them had a particularly familiar expression.

Her brain groaned as it clicked. He was leering at her.

Here comes the next contestant

Her hands automatically shifted to the front of her chest, gripping her bag tighter protectively.

She wasn't wearing pants today… Damn. And she hadn't bothered to pull on her heels today. Double damn. Her first two options out, Riku decided that diplomacy was the only way to salvage the situation.

"May I help you?" she managed, proud that her voice trembling only slightly.

One of the men leant down with a smile. His face was pleasant-looking, with fine cheekbones and he was wearing a pair of sunglasses and an exotically designed bandana had been tied around his head, to keep his longish locks of brown hair out of his face. She noticed he had a small ponytail.

Why-why-why-why was she noticing this sort of irrelevant detail?!

"Why, yes, my dear lady. As you may have noticed, we're currently without a partner."

Riku bristled. What was she, a whore?

"That doesn't seem to be my problem, sir," she replied sweetly, hoping that Daisuke would miraculously beep his horn or something.

The other man smiled. His was far more terrifying that the first one.

"Wouldn't a lonely lady like you like to join us? I happen to know a good bar not far from here…" he trailed off suggestively, his hand reaching towards her left arm.

Riku tensed. She was not in a good mood. The moment he touched her…

Is that your hand on my girlfriend?
Is that your hand?
I wish you'd do it again (I'll watch you leave here limping)
I wish you'd do it again (I'll watch you leave here limping)
There goes the next contestant

The hand never reached its destination.

"What lonely lady?" another voice broke in. Riku opened her unconsciously shut eyes to see that a pure white arm was currently gripping the hand which was just reaching for her shoulder. Tightly.

Another arm slipped around her waist. Riku squeaked in alarm as she was pulled towards a warm, hard body.

"Eh?"

"Terribly sorry, gentlemen. She did promise to wait for me until I arrived. Were you that lonely, Riku?"

She looked up in a dazed manner and her eyes widened in surprise.

The gods above had sent an angel to save her. She knew he was one; he was dressed in dazzling white and he was shining like the sun.

She smiled blissfully at the charming face. All was well…

Until the evening light faded as it hid behind a cloud and Riku's daydream shattered when she finally saw that it was her favourite Assistant Supervisor.

"She doesn't look very happy to see you, jerk," the second man growled, noting her drastic change in expression.

Dark Mousy chuckled. "Well that's because she's a terribly fashionable woman and couldn't bear to see me in the same colour as she is today! Of course, that can be easily remedied…" With a flourish, he pulled off his white camp shirt and exposed to the world his red nightmare of cloth and generously draped the white material around her shoulder.

I'm hating what she's wearing
Everybody here keeps staring
Can't wait 'til they get what they deserve
This time somebody's getting hurt

"There. Now we match." He wrapped his arms firmly around her shoulder and smiled one of the most predatory grins Riku had ever seen in her life – exposing teeth and the terrible intention that they were about to be used.

"Don't you agree… gentlemen?"

Here comes the next contestant

Apparently the men had the same impression.

"We wish you the best. Good luck with him!" the long haired man had hurriedly said before the two of them vanished down the street without another backward glance.

There was a brief silence as the spell over the pair gently dissipated.

Then there was a sharp, soft slap of clothing against skin as Riku shoved his white shirt into Dark Mousy's face.

"What the hell is your problem?!" she shrieked. "Get off me!"

Dark Mousy rolled his eyes as Riku stormed a few feet away to slouch against another section of wall. "Look, I just saved you! At least you could say 'thank you'!"

"Couldn't you have done it any other way?" she snapped back. "You made me sound so terrible!"

"Actually, it was more of me," Dark mused slowly as he began to pull his white shirt back on before stopping. "And besides, there was no time! What did you want me to do, run to the nearest police station? Which happens to be at least five streets away?"

Riku crossed her arms angrily. She simply would not admit that though his idea was downright lewd, it did save her from an evening of questionable activities and other things her mind did not want to go on thinking about.

"Alright. Okay," Dark sighed, running his fingers through his hair. "I'm sorry for what I did, but you have to say that it was for a noble purpose."

Riku bit her lip as he leant on the wall next to her. He did save her butt.

Her conscience did not make things better by deciding to remind her how angelic he had looked at the moment he had appeared to rescue her.

"S'…ry," she murmured.

Dark Mousy smiled. "Excuse me? I didn't catch that."

Riku rolled her eyes. "Sorry! I'm sorry that I yelled at you for your brilliant idea to save my sorry butt!"

Dark Mousy rubbed his chin thoughtfully and tilted his head playfully as she glared at him. Why was he attractive again?

"A tad forceful, with quite a substantial amount of sarcasm and anger but…" he trailed off with a laugh as she swelled, "I formally accept your apology."

Riku released her breath slowly. She could feel a headache coming on.

"Tell you what: I'll bring you home. This way you won't have to deal with jerks like those two again. And…" here he hesitated, before thrusting his white shirt in front of her. "Wear the shirt. Seriously."

Riku stared at him as he stood in front of her in his crimson glory, offering her his white shirt like an olive branch.

"Why? And someone's coming to pick me up."

He rolled his eyes again and forced the shirt into her hands. "Look, I didn't mind it at the home as I was around and the old guys wouldn't really do anything serious to you except look funny and make lewd remarks. You can take that. But those two men were different – they could have dragged you off to anywhere and did all sorts of things with you. So… just wear the shirt. Really. A lot of men around you would also feel better," he added as an afterthought.

Is that your hand on my girlfriend?
Is that your hand?
I wish you'd do it again (I'll watch you leave here limping)
I wish you'd do it again (I'll watch you leave here limping)
There goes the next contestant

Riku's face flushed immediately and she grabbed his shirt, pulling it on hurriedly. When the opaque shirt was completely enveloped around her, did she finally feel that the day's tensions were releasing. Men weren't giving her funny looks anymore.

She leant back on the wall and an awkward silence settled between the two of them.

She opened her mouth and looked at him. "Umm, thanks," she replied slowly. Dark nodded casually, whistling a jaunty tune.

She continued staring as she realised that he really did look good in the red monstrosity. All he needed was a pair of stylish shades to complete the look.

"Hmmm, if you're done staring, I'll have to say you look good in that."

Riku sucked in her breath. She hadn't realised that he knew she was staring! "What?"

"You're not bad-looking, if I may say so myself. You and the shirt. It suits you. I guess it should, as my wife." He tilted his head again with a teasing smile. "Pity. It was my favourite."

Riku stood ramrod straight, her body going hot all over as she remembered how she met him. "I'll give it back to you tomorrow! I promise!"

He laughed and shook his head. "Nah. I got plenty more where that came from. You can keep it."

"I'll return it! I'll wash it! So don't…"

He cut her off by resting both his hands on her shoulders. "Keep it."

She could only nod silently as he smiled gently down at her, his red eyes (which so matched his shirt) growing soft and effectively disabling all coherent speech in her systems. Again.

He leant back on the wall. "Besides," he smirked, "I get a kick out of you wearing my clothes, Mrs. Mousy."

She kicked him in reply.

I wish you'd do it again
Each night seems like it's getting worse
I wish you'd do it again
This time somebody's getting hurt

As if on cue, there was a loud beep from a car on the road as it slowed to a stop next to the sidewalk where the pair was standing. Dark couldn't help noticing the way Riku's face lit up when she saw the vehicle stop in front of her.

"Daisuke! You made it!" she smiled as the side window of the car rolled down to reveal a rather cute-looking and apologetic redhead. "How was traffic?" she asked as she opened the car door behind him.

The redhead laughed sheepishly. "I'm sorry for making you wait for such a long time, Riku. It was really bad!"

"Ah, no problem, Daisuke! Thanks for fetching me back! Wait for a minute, okay? " Riku laughed, turning back to Dark Mousy was had been standing on the sidewalk silently since the arrival of the car.

She put out her hand. He looked mildly surprised.

"Thanks for today. I'll return you your shirt tomorrow."

He smiled easily, leaning down and kissing her hand lightly. "I told you already, my dear, there's no need."

Riku's hairs stood up when his lips brushed her skin but she shrugged him off with admirable effort. "I'll wash it tonight."

He shut the door cordially after she slid into the backseat of the car. Winking at the other man, Dark smiled and waved at him before turning and walking away.

Daisuke didn't have a chance to wave back.

"Who's that man?" he asked as he began to drive off. Riku was already melting into the backseat, but she replied anyway.

"He's my supervisor," she replied slowly. "Quite an alright and friendly sort of guy. See, he gave me his shirt."

Daisuke frowned as Riku raised her hand lazily to show him the white shirt she was wearing. "Really?" he mused softly, remembering the smile the purple-haired male had given him.

"He doesn't seem that friendly to me…"

There goes the next contestant

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Heka: Okay… I got carried away. But I like this very much!

Shigure: It's three-freaking-am in the morning. You irritating person. I want to sleep.

Heka: And I cut out the second stanza of the song because it didn't apply in this context. I wonder if anyone noticed…

Dark: You wrote about me again! And Riku's wearing my shirt! And it ended on such a note! Daisuke's my next contestant! Mua hahahaha!

Heka: The scene where Riku's cornered by the two guys is from a manga – W Juliet. I love that series! And the two guys that corner her are my creations!

Shigure: Hear, hear. Can I sleep now?

Heka: Ah. I want to sleep too. Please review and tell me what you think of it! XD I might as well go on and finish this random storyline of mine already…

Quote(!) Because I was watching Nickelback's If Everybody Cared: Never doubt that a small group of committed people can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has. (Margaret Mead)