A/N: Here we go, the next chapter! And for those who are thinking it, I don't believe this story will end for quite a while, so you guys are stuck with me for a bit longer lol. I'd like to thank all who reviewed, I haven't received one negative one, I'm very happy.
Dragon hunter- Yes, I just couldn't find a way to fit him in! I was getting pretty frustrated. And no, they aren't.
Phantom Dark- waves hey! I emailed you earlier, hope you like this chapter.
Hitaru- lol who did you think it was? Hope you enjoy this chapter.
Yipster54- I'm so sorry you have to go back to school! We don't start 'til the 7, thank god. I will put in Daisuke and Riku moments next chapter, I thought it I should you know? And about Aeris, I molded her after my brother's favorite female character of what he believes is the best game ever, Final Fantasy VII. I always thought she was awesome, but Aeris and the girl from the game are different, my Aeris is meaner! lol
Family guy- thanks! I'm glad you stopped to review.
Lil-saturn-goddess- Here's the next chapter! .
ToTalLy WeIrD Grl aka Redrose Moon- hides behind her dictionary I wouldn't! I swear! I wouldn't have the heart, I don't really like those kind of stories, they make me sad you know? lol don't worry okay?
Sprixer- Hey! Emailed you today, hope you like the chapter! (I'm so jealous, you have the DVDs!)
"Barring that natural expression of villainy which we all have, the man looked honest enough." –Mark Twain (I love Mark Twain, he's just so damn clever)
Part Nine
Moonlight filtered through Aeris's balcony doors, softly lighting the floor and parts of the bed.
Riku lay on the floor in a dark blue sleeping bag; deep in sleep while Aeris tossed and turned in her sheets.
But a shadow blocked out the moonlight, carefully picking the lock on the balcony doors while the girls slept on, unaware and defenseless.
Well, I might have been too rash when I said defenseless.
"What have we here?" Dark's eyes glittered as he perched on the roof, looking at the boy with interest.
Aeris felt her heart slam against her ribs, what was going on?
"Daddy? Momma..." She crept forward, tears already streaming down her cheeks, they were okay, they had to be okay.
"Daddy?" Her father lay on the ground, a knife stuck in his back surrounded by his blood. "Please wake up Daddy!"
Quickly she yanked out the knife and kneeled by his side, "It's out, your okay now! Daddy..."
Aeris jerked violently in sleep, but still did not break free of the hold her dream had on her.
The boy smirked in satisfaction as the tumbler fell into place, he'd cracked the lock.
"Now, now, it wouldn't be sporting to sneak up on fair maidens while they sleep, would it?" Dark said lightly, dropping behind the boy.
The boy froze, "It can't be,"
Dark's eyes narrowed. "It is, and you're in deep my friend."
The boy turned to run but Dark was quick, far quicker. With a kick to the boy's throat he slammed against the side of the balcony, his head making a sickening crack as it connected with the concrete that the balcony was made of.
"They are not to be harmed, and if they are, I'll come after you friend." Dark lifted him so that they saw eye to eye. "And I won't be so kind next time."
Unceremoniously he threw him down the stairs, watching as the boy struggled to his feet and ran like the hounds of hell were after him.
"Now," Dark slipped through the balcony doors, and stood next to Aeris's bed.
She was twisting and squirming under the sheets and he brushed a hand over her forehead and she stopped.
"Just what are you dreaming of?" He whispered.
Aeris bolted up in her bed, clutching the sheets to her chest. "Satoshi?" She blinked pitifully in the darkness, trying to see.
But Dark was no longer there, he'd fled the moment he feared she'd awake.
But he'd left his calling card, on which was written, sweet dreams.
Satoshi's hand shot out, grabbing Dark by the shoulder. "Just what were you doing?"
"What's wrong commander?" Dark calmly looked over his shoulder so they were almost nose-to-nose. "Not up to a little competition?"
Satoshi gritted his teeth. "There is no competition."
"That's right, because she's not yours," Dark smirked at the look on Satoshi's face before shrugging him off. "Face it commander, you lost her before you ever even had her."
Satoshi felt the blood pound in his ears, "Your wrong."
Dark grinned as he took flight, "Am I?"
Aeris stepped out onto her balcony, closing the door softly so not to disturb Riku. She didn't know how much more of these dreams she could take.
And the note... Dark had been in her apartment! While she was asleep!
She shook her head to clear it. It had to be her imagination, but what about the card?
"God I've got too much going on." She groaned putting her head in her hands.
"Apparently."
Aeris turned to see Satoshi on the stairs, slowly making his way up in a suit and tie.
"Satoshi... what are you doing here?" She crossed her arms as the wind blew and was grateful that her doors were made of soundproof glass.
"Oh, I've been here for a while." He reached the landing and leaned against the wall. "I showed up just around the time that Dark was leaving your apartment."
"So he was here, I thought so!" She leaned against the railing, Satoshi was acting oddly calm, freaky calm.
"So what's going on?" He asked.
"What do you mean?"
"With you and Dark."
It hit her like a lightening bolt. Satoshi had seen Dark leaving her apartment, he'd be told not to come over, so he probably thought they were secretly meeting.
But why would he mind them secretly meeting?
"Nothing's going on Satoshi." She smiled at him but his facial expression did not change. "Really, and why would it matter if there was?"
Satoshi's eyes narrowed. "But there isn't."
Aeris smiled pleasantly. "That's right."
"Ugh!" He turned on his heel and went down the stairs grumbling.
Aeris frowned, he wasn't really mad... was he?
The next morning Aeris and Riku discussed it over breakfast.
"I don't know it's hard to tell with Satoshi." Riku admitted. "If only he would've answered, then we could have gotten a confirmed liking."
Aeris laughed uneasily. "Riku,"
"Seriously, we all know he likes you, he just doesn't want to admit it yet I guess." Riku swirled the fruit in the bottom of her bowl. "But if he is angry, give him time to cool down, or come to his senses, whichever happens first."
"You okay Satoshi?" Daisuke asked, "You seem pretty upset..."
They were at Satoshi's apartment, working on a project for school. "I'm fine." He glanced at Aeris's bedroom before turning back to the project.
"Did you have a fight or something?" He couldn't concentrate and if Satoshi couldn't either they'd flunk.
"Hn," Satoshi wrote down some equations without answering.
"I tried..." Daisuke sighed.
Aeris juggled the phone, her laundry basket, and Chuu while she slowly made her way down the stairs.
"-So he still hasn't talked to you?" Riku exclaimed, punctuating Aeris's right eardrum.
Aeris shifted the laundry in her arms and moved the phone away from her ear a bit.
"No, I haven't seen him Riku." It had been three days already. Not one word, not a note or anything.
"He must be really steamed. Or stupidly stubborn. It's probably both, yeah I bet it's both." Riku said causing Aeris to smile.
"I have to fold this laundry, I'll see you at school tomorrow." She hung up and placed the phone on top of the laundry basket. "What do you think Chuu? Think he'll get over this?"
Chuu murmured a bit and she sighed, taking that as a no.
Was she to blame, or was it all his fault?
Satoshi sat in his chair uncomfortably while his adopted father and Jin looked from him to Aeris's balcony. "So, how is she?" Hiwatari asked.
"Fine," Satoshi mumbled, wishing to whatever gods were listening that lightening would strike him down right now.
"Are things not going well?" Jin asked cheekily and Satoshi groaned inwardly. If only he carried poison in his wallet, he could end all this now.
"No," Satoshi mumbled again, feeling like a complete idiot.
"What happened?" Hiwatari asked, hiding a grin.
"You were an idiot, weren't you?" Jin laughed loudly.
"I'd rather not have this conversation..." Satoshi started to get up out of his chair but Jin shoved him lightly back down.
"Oh but I would. She is my niece you know,"
Oh, like he didn't know.
Gods, when would it end?
It's bad when two people think that you acted like a complete idiot, but it's even worse when your father and his friend both completely agree. Then your two friends both agree that it was completely stupid to act like that.
Satoshi sighed as he lifted his hand to knock on Aeris's door. This was so humiliating...
"Yes?" Aeris smiled as she opened the door, "Oh, Satoshi." She stepped out onto the front porch while his head screamed for her to go inside.
"Aeris, I came to apologize for the way I acted..." Satoshi began.
"For being a complete idiot!" Riku whispered behind the bushes while Daisuke clamped a hand over her mouth.
Aeris's eyes widened as she looked at the bushes. Did... no...
"It was wrong and I was wrong because I know there's nothing going on." He didn't mind swallowing his pride and apologizing, but when there was an audience...
"It's all right. I know how it must've looked." Aeris smiled kindly and a rustle was heard from the bushes.
"Don't forgive him yet! Make him beg!" Riku whispered fiercely while Daisuke tried frantically to keep her quiet.
Wide eyed, Aeris stared at the bushes again while Satoshi hurried her inside before muttering, "Idiots!"
"You failed!" The anger was unmistakable in his voice as he slammed his fist on his desk.
"It was not my fault! Dark showed up." The boy said angrily. "Someone is always watching the girl, we can't get close!"
The man said nothing.
"Since we cannot get in, we will get her to come out."