Disclaimer: I own nothing

Edited: 11-27-15

To See a Smile

Her morning bike ride through the city was always Riku's favorite time of the day. It was a chance for her to zone out and think about nothing but the beauty of her seaside home and the nature surrounding it. Long ago she'd found the perfect route to school, it wound through side streets and several small parks on the way up the hill to where her school sat off to the left of the cities center. A small smile curved her lips as she watched young parents chased children too small for school around a jungle gym.

Your town is so peaceful, I have never been to somewhere quite so lovely.

Riku swerved gracefully around a man running to his car, probably late for work. Really? Over two hundred years and you've never been somewhere like this?

No. All of my previous masters were…how should I put this…

Riku snorted with a smile on her face, Genghis Khan-like?

Something like that. She could hear the laughter in Athena's voice, I know you have lived here your whole life but I wonder…what made your parents decide to put their home here. From what I have seen their place of business is miles away.

Riku crossed a bridge and slowed to a stop at her first major intersection. From here until the school the area became more urban and crowded. Well my dad is from here as was my grandmother. I supposed it was just a given that my sister and I would be raised here, Shizuka grew up here too. She just moved to the States for college four years ago. When my sister and I were younger our parents worked from home, but now that were old enough to be on our own they work up in Tokyo.

So your family is from here?

Yea, Riku turned the corner onto the school grounds and artfully dodged the other students to reach the bike racks. Supposedly my great something or other grandfather actually founded the town, that's why our house is where it is.

Athena was silent for a moment, why did he found the town here?

Riku snapped her bike lock shut and pursed her lips confused by the question. How would she know something like that, and why did Athena care. Um…I don't know? Maybe he liked the bay or something? Why does it matter?

I am not sure. I just find it remarkable that both Dark and the Hikari line have been so draw to this place. But then, this is a beautiful city, any artist would be attracted to it and Dark would surely follow. Do not listen to me. I must be seeing connections that are not there. Riku was about to question her further on the strange turn of conversation when the schools bell echoed across the ground.

It was the ten minute warning.

She hoisted her backpack high onto her shoulders and took off at a brisk pace toward the entrance. Today was an even better day then yesterday. The sun was shining, the temperature was the perfect balance between hot and cold and the air had that fresh salty smell that could only be found near the sea. The day was so perfect, and her emotional cleansing of the previous day had been so effective, she couldn't remember having been in a better mood.

"Riku!" She felt the burning sensation around her scar before she heard the voice and sighed. She should have known the universe would decide that she'd been happy for too long. "How are you feeling?"

Be nice Riku, he might find seething rage suspicious.

Athena had no need to worry as Riku turned around with a bright smile to face Diasuke. Like she'd said earlier, she was very good at being friendly with those she wanted to kill. "Hey Niwa. I'm feeling much better, thank you."

"Ah, well, that's good." He paused a little confused by her smile and cheery disposition toward him. "I was surprised that you left, you really must have been sick."

She was uncertain for a moment. He was right. It had been strange for her leave like that, but she'd already come up with an excuse.

"It turns out I had a…stress fever," She was pretty sure that was a real thing, in fact she could remember Kitsumi being benched at the Championships last year because of one. "Yea that's what the nurse called it. She said that it happens sometimes when you work too hard. Your body can't handle it and it forces you to take a break."

Daisuke eyed her with concern and she kicked herself, now he would be asking questions she didn't want to answer. "Riku…if that's the case, maybe you should go home, and take another day off."

Riku snorted at that, she had practice today and an English test. Plus she felt fantastic and so full of energy this morning that the idea of not coming in was unfathomable. She just waved him off she walked into the building. "Don't worry Niwa I'm fine. Hey Ritsu! I need to ask you about yesterday's history lesson."

Riku ran off to talk to her friend about yesterday's lesson leaving Diasuke staring after her the shadows from the trees making his normally bright hazel eyes seem almost purple as he watched her leave.

0ooo0ooo0ooo0

Riku kicked a rock gently as she looked out over the city, her half eaten sandwich lying forgotten on the wall. The view from the roof of the school was really quite something. She glanced down at her friends who were under some trees as she folded her arms and smiled. Normally she'd be with them, laughing and talking, but with everything that had happened, and everything she's learned, she wasn't really in a 'talking' mood. That wasn't to say she wasn't in a good mood, because she was, she just wanted to be alone. Somewhere quiet and peaceful, maybe tomorrow she would feel up to hanging out again.

She was in a semi meditative, almost trance like state when she felt it again. That warm, irritating sensation around her scar and she stiffened. Diasuke was here, whether it was because he wanted some peace and quiet himself or he noticed her she couldn't be sure. He was the one who'd introduced her to this spot after all. Technically she was invading his personal sanctum.

"So you're feeling better then?" Riku didn't even have to pretend to jump when he finally spoke up and turned to glare at his smirking face.

"Don't you have some alley to lurk in or something?" She growled as she stood up hands fisted at her side.

Easy Riku, you don't want to say something foolish you will regret later.

He laughed and sauntered over to her from the entrance of the roof. There was a light in his eyes that was searching, "I'm glad to see that being sick hasn't affected your sarcasm."

She clenched her jaw as she pushed down a large part of her anger. Athena was right, she should at least make an attempt at civility, "I had a stress fever, but I'm fine now. Now go back to whatever hole it is you crawled out of."

"Aw, that's not nice! We haven't talked in such a long time. I missed you," He pouted and slid up to the roof's waist high wall a few feet from her, leaning against it he gave her a dashing smile. The look made her stomach flip as the vision she'd seen the night before flashed through her mind, but she grit her teeth and forced the foreign feeling away.

"Yea," she gave him a dangerous look, the one that said her patience was wearing thin. "Well ain't that's a shame."

See? Foolish things.

She could have kicked herself as he smiled brighter and leaned closer. A little more and he would be in her personal space, "I'm glad you agree with me."

Riku huffed, she deserved that one, but that did mean she would take it lying down. With an unfriendly smile she folded her arms and tilted her head slightly. "Don't you have something better to do? You know something other than annoying me? Like robbing something-o wait I'm sorry. That's not your job anymore is it?"

Oh Riku…no…

He stiffened, stood up straighter, and his eyes flashed at her. She got the distinct impression that had she been anyone else he would have done more than just give her a sharp dangerous smile. But the look was more than enough for the hair on the back of her neck to stand up straight. She made the judicial decision in that moment to never taunt him about her alter-ego's exploits again.

"I'll let that slide because you're sick and cranky," he said softly, his eyes watching her as if sizing her up.

Riku frowned, "I'm not sick!"

"Is that so?" He stepped forward again and only stopped this time when they were so close they were almost touching. All he had to do was lean forward another inch and their foreheads would make contact. She shifted her feet and clinched her fists even harder but refused to back down. Her tenacity only seemed to amuse him.

"You forget Riku, I know you. You're a very social, nothing like your sister of course," Her eyes narrowed and he shook his head as he made a tutting sound at her deliberate misreading of what he'd said. "But still, you enjoy being around others and eating lunch with your friends. So why are you up here all alone?"

She opened her mouth and then closed it again, unsure of what to say. Dark tilted his head smile gentle now, and took a step back giving her some breathing room. "The only reason you would be up here, after having missed it yesterday, was if you weren't feeling well and you didn't want to take it out on them."

Riku was really at a loss now, this usually didn't happen. Dark usually acted like a smug self absorbed moron, so in these rare moments when he acted like a human being she found him hard to deal with. This was the Dark she'd dreamed about the previous night and that confusing feeling came back with vengeance. She never knew what to say or how to react and he seemed to realize that, smart bastard. That's why she figured he did this so little, so in those rare moments she wouldn't be able to argue with him.

Perhaps it's more that he's so used to putting on a show he doesn't know how to stop.

You're not helping, shut up.

"Yea, sure…whatever," she took a step back and made for the door. She needed to get off this roof before she got confused and started thinking things that weren't and never would be a reality.

"Aw, don't run away?" He jogged after her.

Riku rounded on him appalled at the very idea, "I am not running away!"

"I think you are. Did I hit a nerve?" His flirtatious teasing smile was back and it made her hicks rise. Especially after the moment they'd just shared. It made her wonder if it had all been an act to put her off her game.

Frustrated with his mercurial moods she leveled a glare at him before continuing toward the door. He followed, of course he did, and jogging ahead of her so that he had to walk backwards to see her face. "I did! I hit a nerve, aw Riku did I fluster you?"

He looked like a little kid on Christmas as he watched her, "Go away!"

"You are flustered! Look at that blush! Wow never thought I'd see the day that I could fluster you, well I guess I should say again." He teased all bright smiles. "You know, after that kiss I mean. You really were cute after that."

Riku's eyes narrowed to slits and she stopped dead in her tracks. The jackass who'd stolen her first kiss was mocking her about it. It was the final straw and it broke the mental dam she'd place around all the anger, frustration, and fear of the last few days. In that instant she made the split decisions to do something she'd been threatened to do since she met him.

She reared back and threw a solid right hook at his face.

He really must have been good at reading her, because he seemed to realize a split second before she moved that he'd pushed too far. Wide eyed he stepped back slightly and caught her fist in his palm with a loud smack that echoed across the roof. She felt some satisfaction as he grit his teeth and winced in obvious pain from the contact. Yea, she knew how to fight and fight well. Though a large part of her really wished it had hit his face, it would have left a longer lasting impression. He opened his mouth to say something but she didn't give him a chance and threw her left fist at him, as he held her right. Dark used the leverage he had due to his height and his hold on her to dodge the swing. Then, using her own momentum against her, he spun her around and grabbed her around the shoulders, effectively holding her in place with her back pressed against his chest.

"Enough Riku!" He held her tighter as she struggled. She could have gotten herself out of the hold instantly, breaking his arm in the process, but something held her back from truly harming him. "I'm sorry, I shouldn't have said that!"

She froze and he loosened his hold slightly but didn't let go. Had he just apologized? "What, did you just say?"

He sighed and his warm breath ruffled the hair on the back of her neck, it made her shivered. "You're not feeling well and I pushed you. I'm sorry I shouldn't have done that. Frankly, I shouldn't have brought that up at all. I-I just didn't want you to leave so soon."

He let her go and stepped back allowing her some personal space, though she could tell by his stance when she spun around that he was prepared to grab her again if need be. The wary look in his eyes sent a warm feeling of satisfaction curling through her.

Please, continue to exhibit abilities he previously did not know you had.

Riku frowned at that and huffed, Athena was right. As much as she would like to and could beat him up that would only make her stick out in his mind as someone who was more capable physically then he thought. That, in turn, would make her number one on his list when he found out Shadow was a girl, because she had no delusions that charade could last forever. As it was she was going to be near the top on the short list, no need to give him more evidence. So she turned toward the roofs entrance and stormed off again, or at least she would have if Dark hadn't grabbed her arm. Again. She really forgot how quick he could be.

"Riku," his grip on her arm wasn't painful, but it was solid. She glared up at him, prepared to deliver the triad to end all triads, when she saw the look in his eyes. It was one she'd never seen before. His eyes were soft and sad, if not a bit lonely. "Riku, I am truly sorry. You know that right?"

Her mouth opened slightly and she stared at him, where was all of this coming from? Why was he acting like this, like he didn't want her to be mad at him? "What the hell is with you?"

He gave her a half smile, "I'm just tired of you hating me is all."

She stared at him from a few more seconds before rolling her eyes. He was trying to manipulate her again, that was the only explanation. "Yea, sure whatever, I don't loath you entirely. Now, let me go."

He sighed and let her go, he seemed defeat for a moment, but then he smile at her. "Well that's good to know. I think you should go home and rest though, no need to make yourself sick again. School will be here tomorrow."

She rolled her eyes, and actually made it too the door this time. "Spoken like a true slacker."

"Hey! I work hard!" He yelled after her, indignant, though he didn't move to follow. She threw him a look over her shoulder.

"An yet your also 0 for 1," she yelled, simply because she couldn't help herself, and then ran head long down the stairs. She couldn't breathe by the time she reached the bottom she was laughing so hard, and the sounds of his offend sputtering echoed down to her making it worse.

I thought you were not going to taunt him about that.

Come on! I couldn't resist it was set up perfectly!

You are lucky he did not try something, Dark Mousy is not a man to insulted

Meh, I figured I had a bit of good will to work with given his comment about that kiss.

Athena sighed as Riku headed back down the halls heading for the tree her friends were under. All of a sudden she was in a fantastic mood again and felt like entering the world. Sparing with Dark always tended to do that to her, especially if she won.

With a laugh and a bright smile she hugged her friend Kairi who jumped up with a squeal at seeing her. As she settled down to talk for the rest of the break she didn't even spar a glance at the roof where a certain phantom thief stood smiling wistfully down at her.

A/N: O hai dere Dark/Riku moment, glad you could finally make it into my story again. ^_^