Chapter 9

Katsumi awoke a few minutes later. She sat up and shook her head. Ryuzaki glanced at her and turned his gaze back to the pond.

"Oh... I feel dizzy... I guess there was something in that water," She muttered. She rubbed her neck and stood up. Katsumi put her shoes back on and slipped her shirt over her tank top.

"It's getting late... Should we go?" She said. He looked up.

"I guess..." He murmured. They started back up the path to the park. They didn't speak. Ryuzaki was a little concerned. He didn't want to chase Katsumi away, she was his closest friend. They walked silently to her bike.

"I think I'll drive this time. I'll drop you off at your place.'' She grabbed her helmet and slipped it over her head. Ryuzaki put his helmet on and sat on the back of the bike. Katsumi hopped in the drivers seat. She revved the engine and eased into the traffic. The dark sky was illuminated with the lights of the city. She screeched to a halt in front of Ryuzaki's building. He got off and set the helmet on the bike. He headed to the doors, gazing at the ground.

Well, I just ruined a perfectly good friendship...

"Hey, Ryuzaki?" Katsumi's voice said from behind him. He turned around. She was standing without her helmet on and rubbing her arm.

"Um... I..." He sighed.

"Look, I'm sorry for that... I was... high on sugar. You were right about the sweets thing. I guess I eat too much..." Katsumi leapt at him, wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him. Ryuzaki was stunned. He hesitatantly put his arms around her waist. Time stopped for the two. Everything around them was at a standstill. Ryuzaki took in the warmth of her lips and the warmth of her body. A few middle schoolers passing by stopped and pointed at them, envious of the couple. Katsumi broke away, lowering her head. Ryuzaki released her and cleared his throat.

"Ryuzaki... Um... How about... Dinner? Sometime?" She asked nervously.

"Sure. How about tomorrow?" She looked up.

"Really? You sure?"

"Yeah. In fact, we can have it here. There's a whole floor that's for entertainment. Just stop by here... at 7:30?" He said, blushing.

"Yeah... That sounds fine! See you tomorrow!" She ran back to her bike and shoved her helmet over her head. He could see how red her face was. She revved the engine and quickly raced into the traffic. Ryuzaki smiled shyly. The middle schoolers who watched them ran up to him.

"Oh my god! You two are such a cute couple! Where did you two meet??"

"Did you two know each other or was it just first meeting and go on from there?"

"You have such great charm! No wonder she loves you!"

"Do you love her back? Oh my god!" They bombarded him with questions about him and Katsumi.

"Uh... We... Hey! Whoa!" They started pushing him back against the building.

"Whoa!! Hey!" He yelled. They stopped.

"First off, we knew each other for a long time. Second off, we met while at a day care." He escaped them and walked quickly inside.

"Oh...so... childhood friendship turned into love?"

"Oh! This is like Shoujo!" The girls screamed in joy and walked back down the sidewalk.

"So, how was your date with Miss Katsumi?"

"Hey! It wasn't a date, Watari! We were just talking!" Ryuzaki snapped, blushing. Watari chuckled and set down a tray of coffee with a bowl of sugar. Ryuzaki took a spoon and starting shoveling in the sugar and stirred it with the coffee. He gulped down the contents and slammed the cup down.

"I'm going to be using the second floor of this place tomorrow. Could you get it cleared out for me from seven to midnight?"

"Til midnight, Ryuzaki?"

"I just want to make sure it's cleaned up and everything. That's all," He said. Watari nodded.

"I'll make sure everything is taken care of. So what are you planning?"

"A dinner."

"For two... What shall be the main course?"

"I think fish... For desert maybe a nice chocolate cake with ice cream on it. You can think up the rest, Watari."

"Yes." Watari left the room. Ryuzaki looked over his shoulder to make sure he was gone. He picked up the cellphone Katsumi gave him and dialed a number.

"Hello?"

"Roger?"

"Ah! Ryuzaki! Is there someone you want to talk to?"

"Yes... is Matt there?"

"One moment..."

"Yes?"

"Matt, do you know the basic set up of a homemade motobike?"

"I'll need more info than that. Did you see any brand names?"

"The engine said Suzuki."

"Oh... So whoever you're lookin for likes speed, eh? No problem. Just go to the Suzuki motorbike website and look up engine type. Did you catch a number?"

"I saw a 17."

"Whoa! A real need for speed! And that motor isn't cheap either. Like I said, Suzuki motorbike and then bam. It should give you a list."

"Oh... and... do you know where I can buy a motobike? The newest one. With the best engine and parts and everything like that."

"You're going to be spending a lot of money, L. It costs about six hundred thousand yen. That's like three cars. In todays magazine of Speed, it has a picture of it on there. You can find it anywhere. I'm sure you can do the rest."

"Yes, thank you Matt." He hung up. Ryuzaki quickly typed in Suzuki Motorbikes on his computer and scrolled through the list. He moved onto the Speed magazine and examined the bike. He typed in the name and went through the shopping list. He clicked buy.

Katsumi hopped up on the counter, humming to herself. Uruki was yelling at the newly hired employees. They were clumsy at fixing the computers and setting up the displays.

"If you idiots leave the front door open one more time during the night shift, you'll never work in this country again!" He yelled. Katsumi smiled to herself and layed down on the counter. Uruki looked over his shoulder.

"Now clean this crap up!" He snapped. He walked over to her.

"What are you so happy about?" He asked. She ignored him and closed her eyes.

"You can't sleep on the counter, you know. You're underwear is showing." She sat up.

"Pervert..." She growled. Katsumi smoothed out her skirt and jumped off the counter.

"That is your most Lolita outfit. And it's the dressiest one! Something special happening after work?" He raised an eyebrow.

"Yeah..." She twirled in a circle.

"Hmm... Weird... A skirt with circles, mary janes, white tights, jump suit top with striped long sleeved under shirt. You even curled your hair again and put it up. Tell me what's going on!" He said. She sighed.

"Fine! If you must know, I'm having dinner with an important person tonight!"

"Really? So he's going to help the company if he can see your underwear like a prevert?"

"No!!! He's a friend!" Uruki grinned.

''Is it that Ryuzaki guy?"

"The newbies dropped the phone boxes."

"What?! HEY!! Can't you idiots keep a good grip on those!" He stormed off. Katsumi looked up at the clock. Three fifty six.