Disclaimer: I do not own D.N Angel.
A/N: Okay, I know I've been abandoning this story for a long while now because I was totally concentrating on my other two stories so I decided to update now.
BlazexFlame: Thanks for the review. And don't worry, I spazz a lot in reviews too. It's fun! Anyway, I'm totally into writing Risa and Satoshi so I'm glad that they interacted the previous chapter. Enjoy this chapter!
Anonymous: Sorry for the late update. I was concentrating on two stories for the time-being. Enjoy this chapter!
ffgirlmoonie: Well, some words don't make sense but hey, I understand it! Enjoy this chapter!
Luna Forest: And here I was wondering I should make Riku sleep like, what, a month? Haha. Enjoy this chapter!
Chantelle: Sorry for the late update. Too buried in my own little world of my other two stories. Enjoy this chapter!
DattebayO: I WILL NEVER ABANDON THIS STORY! It's working out so good that it'll be such a pity if I drop it. Enjoy this chapter! And sorry for the late update.
Writer-Goddess22: Sorry for the late update. Long chapters just took over me all this while so enjoy this chapter which I especially made it long for you! (Pretty much)
1000Sparkings: Darn! I totally forgot. Well, read below…
Hiten Katsu: I'm going to make it longer for this chapter. So I hope you'll enjoy it!
everyday-snowangel: Riku won't die! Or else everyone will be hating me right now! And I don't want that, do I? Enjoy this chapter!
iMMATUREx: Well, personally and seriously, I have no idea where the rush-ness is. Pardon me anyway. And crap, you "stole" my idea! Haha. Enjoy this chapter! I was going to make Miyu visit Riku anytime soon anyway.
daisukezgirl13: Well, he does care for Risa, doesn't he? And I'm so sorry for the late update! Enjoy this chapter!
Chibi-Chipmunk on Crack: Enjoy this chapter and I absolutely apologize for the late update.
Liz: Sorry for the late update. Life was hectic. Enjoy this chapter!
boktay: New reader much? YAY! Enjoy this chapter!
NOTE: This chapter might be very badly written because I continuing after a long hiatus and I need time to collect myself on this story.
Chapter 12: Inside of Hearts
Random Person: WAIT! WAIT! WAIT! WHERE WERE WE THE LAST CHAPTER? (Looks at story) AND I'M NO RANDOM PERSON! I'M THE GREAT PHANTOM DARK-SAMA! (Fan-girls in background screaming)
Hajimari: Don't spoil the story. Please.
Random Person: How can you say that? You were the person ruining our scenes the previous chapter! And stop typing 'Random Person', darn it!
Hajimari: I'm the writer anyway so please move out of sight! Let the readers read the freaking story!
Random Person: What the… (Looks behind and faces audiences slyly) Sure, if you gladly request, my lady.
Hajimari: What the… (Looks behind)
Everyone: (Eyes sparkling evilly) You didn't give the "self-scenes' in the last chapter…
Satoshi: And where was my POV?
Hajimari: But I forgot! Don't…don't look at me like that! Dark, come in front.
Random Person: What? Backing away from your word so soon? And stop typing 'random person'.
Hajimari: Dark… (Being covered by…EVERYONE!)
Random Person: The following scenes are PG. Please proceed to the story and stop imagining scenes in your head. Hajimari has gone to the hospital for a month or two so… (throws rose and fan-girls scream) if you have any inquiries, do not hesitate to ask me, the great phantom Dark! (-mutters- and darn, stop writing me as 'random person'.)
Chapter 12: Inside of Hearts
Satoshi's POV
It felt good, having her laying on me like that while she peacefully sleeps. I placed my coat on her, hoping that she'll be warm. I rested my head against the wall while looking down at Risa's face once in a while. It saddens me to see her like this; listless and worried. But how can anyone blame her? Riku-san was the patient in that room and I knew the sisters, although different, were very close. Her current sadness cannot surpass those when Dark left her, or I might as well say, left everybody.
I looked at her soft pale complexion and her innocent face. I didn't mind, because, well, I didn't mind her. I felt my cheeks heated up despite the cold air-conditioning. I shake my head lightly and when my eyes felt on the napping girl again, a small smile leaked out onto my face.
Unconsciously, I huddled her closer, smelling her jasmine-scented hair and felt the heat from her body. I knew what I was feeling: love. It was probably the first time I felt this way, the first time I saw her in such a light that morning when Dark and Krad officially disappeared from our world. That morning when Riku-san and Niwa-kun kissed and both Risa and I had turned around so as to feel we're not "extras". And that morning when I took a good glance at everything about her.
I remembered glancing at her at the corner of my eye; the new sunlight was shining on her face, showing her skin's brilliant glow and enhancing that blissful smile she was giving to her sister and to Niwa-kun. Maybe it was at that time I fell in love with Risa. Or maybe it was the time when Krad was hurting her and I suddenly felt…protective of her.
Suddenly, I felt her stirring. Her head suddenly lifted from my shoulder and she rubbed her chocolate eyes sleepily.
"Good morning." I said, feeling a pang on my chest. Her sleepy and innocent face looked almost…cute.
"Good..." She started but paused. "Morning? Have I been sleeping that long? Don't we have school?" And suddenly, her sleepy face turned into a shocked expression.
"Yes, you have been sleeping that long." I answered, remembering that she only slept at 4 in the morning due to excess worrying for Harada-san. "And no, we have no school because today is Sunday."
"Oh, that's right." Risa muttered. She stood up and peeked into Harada-san's ward through the glass window. Her disappointed face told me that she hasn't woke up yet.
"Don't worry, Harada-san." I said, surprising Risa and even myself. "Harada-san will wake up, soon." I didn't know why but I saw Risa's face fell. Curiosity was burning inside of me, but I decided that it'll be much intelligent not to ask.
"I hope so." Her reply came shortly after, accompanied by possible sounds of sniffs. I examined her face and was shocked when I saw her crying all over again. "Harada-san." I said her name softly. Instantly, she faced me, her tear-stained face shone because of the moisture.
"Hi…Hiwatari-kun…" She sobbed and choked briefly on her tears. Without thinking, I embraced her tightly, hoping to give her as much comfort as possible.
"I'm afraid." I heard her weak voice confessing. "I'm afraid that Riku would leave me! I'm really afraid."
"It's going to be alright." I anxiously comforted her, patting her back lightly.
"I'm afraid that nobody will ever be there for me like Riku!" She continued, her voice seemingly threatened to break.
I didn't know what to say. I was not the best at comforting people. So all I did was to stroke her head and embrace her tight. "Harada-san wouldn't be happy if she sees you this way." I tried.
I felt her body retreating from me and she rubbed away her tears. A forceful smile came across her lips and she said with a small nod, "You're right. Riku wouldn't want to see me this way too. I want to smile the moment she wakes up, so that she won't have to worry."
I nodded solemnly, the only thing I could do right now. Harada-san, please wake up, for Risa's sake…
Normal POV…
Footsteps sounded through the empty hallway, prompting Satoshi and Risa to spring around and look at whoever it was coming their way. Flaming red hair greeted their sight first because of the striking colour.
"Niwa-kun." Satoshi muttered his name, suddenly feeling heavy inside at seeing Daisuke's tired and almost lifeless eyes.
"How's Riku-san?" He asked with a hint of guilt.
"She's still…" Risa discontinued and turned towards the window pane, hoping he could see the answer without spelling it out herself. It took all her will to stop herself from another crying frenzy.
"Do you blame me, Harada-san?" Daisuke suddenly asked, prompting Risa to look at him with widened eyes which might have contained certain bitterness.
"Yes." The simple answer came and silence hung for a few minutes. "But Riku wouldn't want me to do that. She is too kind for her own good."
"You want to go back home, Harada-san?" Satoshi asked, placing a reassuring hand on her shoulders. "You haven't had a bath or a good and proper sleep."
"I'll be fine without those. Not when Riku is…" She stopped; grabbing her arms together across her chest and her eyes became watery again.
"Then how about the cafeteria?" Satoshi tried again. "Breakfast would do you some good." Seeing Risa was about to say no to that too, he said more firmly, "You need to eat, Harada-san."
"Ok then." The brown-haired girl said listlessly. The bespectacled boy held onto her arm softly and as they walked around to corner to the lift, his eyes glanced at Daisuke, who didn't notice anything. And without saying anymore, he walked on as he held Risa's arm with reassurance.
Daisuke entered the ward, and felt more guilt splashing inside him wave after wave. It was so painful, even if he was just looking at the girl who probably suffered more than he did in her predicament. The Riku there looked so…un-Riku-ish. The vivacious and sporty Harada Riku he knew was lying on the bed so peacefully, as if she was in an eternal slumber like Aurora from Sleeping Beauty.
He sat down on the chair next to the bed and held the hand which didn't have any drips. Gently, he covered her hand with his, feeling her cool hand (due to the air-conditioning) and the softness of her skin. Suddenly, the door opened and he instantly looks back at the new visitor.
…
…
…
…
Daisuke could feel the warm air rushing into his nostrils and through his skin when he entered the hospital garden where patients were enjoying the fresh air.
"It's nice to be out here, isn't it?" A brown-haired boy stood next to Daisuke, giving him a smile. "Harada-san would enjoy this, wouldn't she?"
"Yes, she was always sporty and an outdoor person." Daisuke nodded with a small and dreamlike smile, remembering her liveliness and her everlasting enthusiasm, except when areas concerning swooning over Dark were involved. "Thanks for visiting Riku-san, Kinomoto-kun."
"It's nothing." The amber-eyed boy said casually. "She's my friend too, even though it was a short period of time." Then, with a more solemn tone, he said, "But I just want to tell you that what happened…what you saw, it was all a misunderstanding. You misunderstood Riku already."
"Okay." Daisuke's tone of voice suddenly became monotone. He didn't want to talk about this. It made him feel stupid because he actually doubted Riku then. It was preposterous.
"We didn't do anything you think we were." Miyu continued his explanation, whether or not he knew Daisuke was listening. "I admit I like her but she didn't accept. So she just comforted me by giving me a friendly hug." He emphasized greatly.
"It seems to be useless information now, doesn't it?" Daisuke replied, "But, thanks anyway. Really." Before the red-haired boy walked back into the hospital, he turned back and gave Miyu a reassuring smile.
"I hope you can give Riku happiness."Miyu said under his breath. "I know you can."
…
Riku's POV
I opened my eyes slowly, looking at a red-haired person with a blurred vision. Who was it?
"Riku-san. Riku-san." A familiar voice called.
I closed my eyes for a moment and opened them again. And my clear vision gave way to the face of the boy in front of me. The red hair, the kind and innocently oblivious and caring face in front of me made me all perked up all of a sudden.
"Ni…Niwa-kun." I sounded out his name like a soft whisper. I could feel my cheeks heating up and I was sure those blushes were obvious.
I saw his face brightened with a wide smile, and his uncontainable tears run across his cheeks. Lifting my hand, I softly touched his face, wiping his tears away.
"I'm so sorry, Riku-san." He apologized profusely. "I'm so sorry I misunderstood you! I'm so sorry I landed you to this condition! I'm so sorry…"
I silenced him by placing a finger on his lips and said gently, "It's okay, Daisuke-kun."
"Daisuke-kun?" He looked confused at the sudden addressing.
"You don't like it?" I suddenly frown and pouted a little. "You prefer 'Niwa-kun'?"
"No, of course not!" Daisuke said abruptly, waving his hands a little. "I…I'm so glad you called me that."
I smiled a little and Daisuke's expression suddenly became calm and collective. "Riku-san."
"Yes?"
"Aishiteru." And then, I felt a pair of lips pressing onto mine.
Hajimari: I apologize for the badly written chapter. I needed to "collect myself" on this story again because I haven't written it for a long time! So sorry! Plus, Dark's refusal to help me landed me in this poor state of mine.
Everyone: (Looks guilty…quite)
Daisuke: Speaking of Dark, where is he?
Hajimari: I send him out of the story temporarily. In other words, you can say that he is in "prison".
Mental Image of Dark: NOOO! LET ME OUT HERE! MY FANS LOVE ME!!!
Everyone: (Sweatdrops)
Riku: Anyway, thank you for reading.
Risa: Hope you enjoyed that!
Satoshi: (Monotonously) Reviews appreciated.