A/N: I have said this before and I am ashamed to repeat it, but I shall – sorry for not updating this story twice last week! But I have a better idea. Instead of updating my stories on schedule twice a week, I will publish a chapter as soon as I finish writing it. That guarantees two chapters a week, and sometimes, even more. ^_^

Feedback: neha borkar – Thank you for your review! I hope you like this chapter too! :)
ScriptAngel – Hehehe... thanks for your review. I hope you like this chapter, my friend, and I wish you the very best with your new story. :D
Gueno - Aww! Thank you very much! I truly appreciate your review. Thank you for your kind words and I hope you like this chapter. :)
Kayura Yukishiro – Thank you, thank you, thank you! I am glad you like this story and think so highly of my writing. :3 Well, I hope you like this chapter as well and I give you my word that I won't stop writing this story until it's finished. Thanks again. :)
Guest: Thank you for your review! And I have mentioned at the very outset that this story is about Saki (OC) and Hideyuki. It does have Ryo and Kaori, of course, but you will have to wait a little to see them again in this story. Meanwhile, I hope to keep you interested in this story till those two make an appearance. Thank you. :)

Theme: 'I Run to You' by Lady Antebellum.

Disclaimer: I do not own City Hunter or its characters.

Saki: Now this is a Good Sign

Sifting through all sorts of papers – answer sheets, old novels, ledgers, newspapers, pending bills – I spent eight months pondering over one question: what is my life going to be like now that he is gone? To the external eye, it may seem that we both have never been an important part of each other's lives. But in truth, he is and has always been one of the most crucial parts of my existence. So how was I supposed to move on and continue with my life when he was missing from it? I swear by Buddha's feet that I tried. Yet, the harder I tried to forget him, the more I ached. It's true. If you're a tragic mess like I am, and if you have been hurt in one way or another, it pains like hell.
So even if I have suffered (twice) due to his leaving, what could be the reason for me to still be hopelessly in love with him? That's the twist. I have never been able to analyse why I love him. When I realised that I do love him, I tried to trace where it all started. We have known each other since we were toddlers, so it is hard to determine from where it all started. Maybe it began when we both looked at each other for the first time; or perhaps by the time when we had spent half our childhood together. This question in itself is so difficult that I no more try to look for answers. I just accept what comes and make the best of it. But again – what is my life going to be like now that he is gone?
Well, I said, "Que sera sera", and told my grandparents that I was ready to attend marriage meetings, something they have been asking me to do since I graduated college. I thought that I needed to see other men. Because I have never known what the other members of the male sex are like, I might just be missing out.
'Maybe there is someone else out there who needs my love more than Hideyuki does' – to this day, I consider this my stupidest thought ever.
All of these little plans and scenarios I had constructed in my mind came crashing down at my feet when I heard the words
"I would like you to marry me".
Onoda-san's proposal felt like a thunder had struck me right over the head. I was so scared of his romantic intentions towards me that I cried once, thinking, 'Onoda-san wants to marry me and that means some day, he will want to have sex with me'. It sounds silly coming from a grown woman, I know. It is just that the very thought of being loved by someone else other than Hideyuki was not just repulsive to me but also horrifying. And it was Onoda-san's crude proposal which convinced me that I can never truly get over Hideyuki. He is a part of me, within me.
And that confirmation was sealed ember with Hideyuki's return. Even before he could step his foot inside the house earlier this afternoon, I had made up my mind to not wait any further. I promised myself that I would ask him if there was a chance that he would 'like' me as someone more than a friend. But then, Sofu told me that a suitor was coming to see me. I didn't want to create a scene in front of Hideyuki, so I agreed to meet the guy. Buddha, what an airhead he was! He said that he needed a homely wife and judging from my appearance and background, I was perfect. It was a horrible marriage meeting. I don't care what his answer is, but I am not going to marry that buffoon. Thankfully, I don't even have to bother about that anymore. It did not come out as I had planned but in this moment and every moment from now onwards, Hideyuki Makimura knows that I am attracted to him. Well, I didn't want to scare him by revealing that I have thought of names for all our possible future children.

"Ah...", he is confused. This is not a good sign. Still I am going to go through with this. There is no backing down now.
His brows furrow,
"Uh, do you mean a d-date between friends?"
I twist the fabric of my dress between my hands (I need to hold on to something when I am nervous).
"No", I explain, "A date between two people who are looking to be more than friends"
'Great. I am sweating', I look up timidly into his eyes.
He is blushing. Oh god, I didn't want to embarrass him in any way. I immediately say,
"You don't have to answer this if you don't want to"
'Shoot!', I cover my mouth, 'I need him to answer this'
He is still recovering from a supposed shock. Opening his mouth every now and then to say something but saying nothing, he looks like a lost puppy. And I shouldn't be getting aroused by the confused looks he is throwing my way...
"I...", he says.
'Say something, Hideyuki', I plead to him in my mind.
"I have a few questions for you as well", he says before clearing his throat and leaning against the bench.
"Okay", I say. Now this is a good sign.

"Owing to my new profession, my life is always in danger. Are you still willing to date me?", he asks.
"Yes", I say confidently. He can protect himself. And my prayers are always with him.
"Wow", he mutters and adjusts his glasses, looking away from me. He turns to me again before saying,
"I don't have much... relationship experience. Do you still want to date me?"
"Yes", I reply. If we multiply his relationship experience with mine, we will get a big zero for an answer.
"Very well. What if I tell you that whatever happens, my sister will always be the most important woman in my life?", he is speaking with confidence now.
I answer with a smile,
"I know that already. Your love and loyalty towards your family is one of the many things I like about you"
"Are you serious?", he exclaims.
"Yes", I nod. Does he really not know what the things I like about him are?
He holds his head in his hands on hearing my response. Almost in denial, he frowns and looks back at me,
"Why would you want to date someone like me?"
"Not someone like you. I want to date YOU!", I scold him.
His frown disappears on seeing mine. I am really mad at him. It's evident from these stupid questions that he doesn't think very well of himself at all. Trying to regain my composure, I concentrate on the swings in front of us and begin,
"I really like you. I have always liked you. And god knows how I have worked up the courage to confess to you. But you are just bent on discouraging me. If you want to say no, go ahead. Say it. Just... don't you dare belittle yourself through words. I won't tolerate it".
I have started to think this was a bad idea.
"I am sorry but I need some time to think about this", he says.
'Oh', I smile against my will. We all know what that means. I turn to him bravely,
"Sure. Take your time".
'All is lost...', I look down at my hands, 'Don't you dare cry like a loser right now, Saki'
"I would love to date you"
I flare up at him in surprise. He smiles sweetly at me,
"I would really like to date you. And sorry if I made you feel otherwise".

Buddha has enclosed me in his giant palms and He is raising me higher and higher. Flowers of all hues are pouring on me and happiness seems to be made for me in its entirety. I have been singing and dancing since morning. To be honest, I have been doing this since Hideyuki agreed to date me.
"I would love to date you. I would really like to date you", he said.
I swirl around and study my image in the mirror again. I am wearing my mauve dress for our first date. He should know that I am making an effort to look nice. But what if he prefers me in white?
"Hm", I glance at the white dress on my bed, "Nah. This one is better".
We are going to meet at this small aquarium/museum in Northern Tokyo. It's never crowded and they have a beautiful fish pond there. Yeah, it's a geeky choice for a first date but Hidyuki didn't mind. Also, I did not want to come off as desperate by selecting an ultra-romantic venue. The North Tokyo Aquarium and Museum is nice, secluded and beautiful. It's not very far away from my house too. Hideyuki offered to pick me up from here and I almost agreed. But then I remembered Sobo and Sofu. They would definitely want to know where I am going by myself with Hideyuki and why. It's better if we keep this a secret for now. I will tell him so too.
I board the 10:40 am train on a lazy Sunday morning. The crowd in the bogey today is mostly of couples and people travelling alone. Unlike weekdays, there are no students or salary men in here today. I keep peering out of the window at the trees and scenes we pass. Even though I am carrying a book in my purse, I am too excited to concentrate on reading today. My first date with Hideyuki... if I want a second one with him, I have to make sure this one is perfect. Whatever happens, I am going to be myself. This might be a date but we are both not going to act different just to seem 'cool'.

Walking out of the train station, I find myself waiting under the bill board Hideyuki had specifically told me to wait near. It is an advertisement for a government innovation. Japan is getting too commercial these days.
"Pervert!", a woman's shrill scream is heard from inside the station.
I can't see anything from here. These perverts and Peeping Toms have been on a rise lately. Thank goodness I have never had one of those harass me. But something needs to be done about them for the safety of us women.
"Hey!"
Hideyuki walks speedily towards me from my left. He is sweating, and he seems in a hurry. It is confirmed when he says impatiently,
"Let's get out of here, shall we? Come on. Come on"
"Are you okay?", I ask, worried about his perspiring form.
"I am, yes. Let's go", he gently pushes me from behind.
'Oh boy', I know those were not his intentions but his hands were on the part of my dress covering my bra. And I just imagined his hands under my bra.
'Don't think sexy things', I repeat to myself over and over as we walk towards a parking lot.
"Here", Hideyuki opens the car door for me.
"Thank you", what if he pushes me inside the car and we do it here itself?
'Think unsexy things! Think unsexy things!', I mentally scold myself between heaving breaths.
Hideyuki gets inside the car and closes the door to the driver's seat. He asks as he turns the key for ignition,
"How were your Sofu and Sobo this morning? The children?"
The sexy thoughts are gone now. Thank Hideyuki. And I wonder if I truly am any different than those rampant male perverts.

Throughout the car ride, we engage in small talk. I am comfortable with it as long as the conversation stays fresh. Actually, conversations between me and Hideyuki never get boring, at least for me. It takes us ten minutes in total to reach the museum. I open the door to my side, but Hideyuki says,
"Wait"
He then gets out of the car, walks to my side and holds the door open for me. I smile as I get out of the car,
"Thank you. But don't you get tired of being a gentleman all the time?"
He closes the door and his eyes are fixed dreamily around the upturned corners of my mouth when he says,
"Not with you"
I blush and grin as he walks by my side,
"Started the flirting already?"
He smiles,
"I was being honest"
"You should be honest with me often then"
"I am always honest with you", he asserts, "You know that, right?"
"I do", I smile and look ahead.
'N.B. Sweet talk is not Hideyuki's forte'.
The sleepy guy in the ticket window asks us,
"Tickets for two?"
"Yes, please", Hideyuki says and produces his wallet from a coat pocket.
I quickly put my money on the counter before he can. He looks at me in surprise,
"Why did you that?"
"I asked you out. So it's on me", I explain.
The guy hands me the tickets and props his chin on his elbow to listen to our conversation. Hideyuki glances at him and we walk into the dome shaped building. He says to me once we are inside,
"You shouldn't have done that"
"Why not?", I truly hope Hideyuki doesn't have that alpha male ego.
"Because I wanted to pay"
"What difference does it make if I pay?"
"That puts me in your debt", he says.
"Well, if you would have paid, wouldn't that have put me in your debt?", I ask.
"Fine", he sighs, "Next time, I am going to ask you to a date first so that this trick of yours doesn't work"
I stop midway in the passage, breaking into a smile. He halts and looks over his shoulder at me,
"What?"
"There is going to be a next time?"
"Of course", he says but then raises his eyebrows, "I-I mean, if that is okay with you"
"It is", I nod and give him my biggest smile. We are not even halfway through our first date and he already wants to have a second one – I couldn't ask for more in this moment.
Hideyuki looks at me in adoration (How I love that!) and asks,
"Shall we?"
"Yes", I catch up with him.
There couldn't be a more perfect start for this date. I wonder what else is in store for us.

***BANTER TIME!***

Me: (grins while typing) If I keep getting such good reviews, I will add this scene to the story. Teeheehee!

Jetsu: (reads over my shoulder) "Ah!", I gasp as he lifts my skirt. He...

Me: (frantically shuts the laptop close) Baka! What are you doing here?!

Jetsu: (frowns) I was reading what you were typing.

Me: (arms akimbo) That is considered bad manners! Kenji! Kenji! Take your brother away!

Kenji: (has switched on my laptop and is reading) "You are turning into a per-per..."

Me: (screams) Give it back to me!