I love you, but….

(Aishiteru demo…)

Romance + General

Disclaimer:

I do not own any of the characters in this fic, or anything that has to do with them just my ideas

Longer just like I promised! -

'monologue'

"dialogue"

/hikari to yami/

yami to hikari

Chapter four

Admiration

-Admiration: n.

-Flirt: v.

-Oblivious: adj.

Honda POV

I'm at the park sitting on a bench. She walks by here everyday after school I always rush here so I can offer to walk her home. I always chicken out, but I'm ready today I'll ask her. Here she comes. Beautiful little Shizuka, how can she not know how I feel? She keeps pushing me away silently with a smile. Is she really that innocent? Of course she is, it's not like she would try to hurt me on purpose.

I wish Jounoushi would accept the fact that I don't have bad intentions in mind for a future with his sister. He knows me better than that, it's just with his sister because she's the most important to him he's a little too overprotective.

'A little?'

'Please!'

Shizuka POV

I look up and see him coming my way.

'Please! Not now!'

I quickly turn the other way and he grabs my shoulder.

"Shizuka, hey!" he grins. I smile back and greet him too.

'Ugh!'

"How have you been I haven't seen you lately?" Honda asks.

'Umm… let's see its been three days I would consider that recent.'

"It has been a while hasn't it." I smile again.

'Please Jou! Hurry up!'

However, someone else comes to my rescue today. I turn around when a voice says, "Hiroto leave her alone."

It's Otogi, my other stalker! I don't know who is worse! Honda likes me and my best friend Miho. I want him to leave me alone, but I don't want to hurt him because two girls'll reject him. And Otogi, he's cool, but still not my type. I couldn't deny one and not the other when they're both the same.

Now Otogi is walking over and Honda is glaring at him. I don't want to be stuck in the middle of this. I look up and see a red car parking nearby. Two girls climb out and I see them looking in our direction. They both have blonde hair, but the driver has some black highlights. I recognize her, she works at the same restaurant as my brother. I think her name is Mai. She looks upset, but I don't notice until they get closer she looks angry.

I slip away from the two boys and call out her name when they turn away. She keeps moving, but the other girl stops. She touches her shoulder and Mai stops. Then she turns around too. I run over to her.

"Hey! You remember me, right? I'm Shizuka, Jou's sister."

She wears a little half smile when she responds, it's more of a frown forced into a smile.

"Of course." She mutters.

I turn around and glance at the guys they've stopped arguing and they're looking at us.

"You know Otogi and Honda?" I ask.

I see the smallest of a sparkle in her eyes and she says, "Yes."

I smile sadly, " They won't leave me alone. Neither of them like me it's just to spite the other and I'm stuck in between"

'Oh how I wish that were true!'

Mai's eyes light up and I realize now that Miho's assumption was right. Mai does like Otogi. I giggle when I see her expression and she frowns again.

"I have a favor to ask you, Mai and this can go for…" I glance over at her companion, I don't this girl.

The girl smiles softly and says, "Ishizu."

'She's so pretty, both of them are how could Otogi not like Mai?'

I quickly finish, "And this can go for Ishizu also."

"What's this favor?" Mai asks

"Can you keep Otogi company, while I walk with Honda to my house?"

Mai smirks, "Sure kid."

"Thanks!"

I run over and grab Honda's hand. I pull him over to them and whisper, "Good luck" in Mai's ear.

Honda POV

I wish this moment would never end! Here I am holding hands with eth girl of my dreams. I really don't stand a chance with Miho. She's as much in love with Ryou and I am with Shizuka. I just figured if I was really nice to her friend then Shizuka would like me. I tok it a little too far and now everyone thinks I llike Miho and Shizuka. I can't tell them that it was my way of trying to get to Shizuka. Then Jou would never let me around her.

"Where are we going?" I ask

She smiles and says, " My house."

'Her house!'

I had to tell her, " I was a chicken and wanted to ask you if I could walk you home…could this count as that?"

She smiled and said, "No."

My jaw dropped and she laughed at me, "This is for my brother he said it might cheer you up, but tomorrow if you wait for me at school and not at the park I'll walk home with you and we'll take the long way."

I could have hugged her, but we arrived at her house. She hugged me goodbye and said she had to go. I watched her run down the street before entering her house. It was funny, it seemed like she had walked me home. But I can get my chance tomorrow.

'Yeah!'

Shizuka POV

I really didn't have to go I just had to tell Miho something I just realized. Something I felt guilty about, but positive about too. When I arrived at her house she was siting on the porh with her neighbor Rebecca. I smiled at Rebecca who returned the gesture and then turned to Miho.

She said, "Shizuka looks like she has some big secret sshe's ready to spit out so I'll go so you can talk."

'She thought I wanted her to leave!'

"No!" I cried, "You can stay Rebecca, I want everyone to know!"

Miho eyes popped out of her head, " Are you serious? If this is a secret Rebecca is the last person you want to tell!"

Rebecca rolled her eyes and retorted, " Well she said she wanted everybody to know now didn't she?"

I smiled, " Yes! I want everyone to know that I Shizuka want everyone to know that I like Honda Hiroto!"

Miho's eyes popped even further out and she dropped the ice cream she was holding.

"Are you serious? I thought you couldn't stand him!"

" I thought so too, but today I realized he just doesn't know how to express it without being freaky. My brother wanted to talk to him about something and I grabbed his hand because we were late and ran all the way home. On the way he told me he 'wanted to ask can he walk me home,' but I had already pulled him. So he asked 'can I count this' as my wish?"

Rebecca giggled, "What did you say?"

"I said 'no'."

"But I thought you said you like him now?" Miho cried.

"I told him that he can walk me home tomorrow from school and we'll take the long way back."

Both of the girls laughed. Then Miho got serious, "So you really like him?"

I thought about it then said, "Yeah."

Miho smiled, "You've got a boyfriend and a date to the dance now!"

I forgot about the dance even though I was only fourteen I was still allowed to go if I was invited. My brother, Miho, and his friends were sixteen and Ishizu, Otogi and Mai were seventeen. I heard that Ishizu had a brother who was fifteen, but I never met him. I smiled at Miho when an idea popped into my head.

"You need to talk to Ryou soon!"

Rebecca licked her ice cream, and looked at Miho's, "And you need to clean that up."

Miho hopped up from the porch and returned a few minutes later with the hose. She turned it on and sprayed Rebecca who ran to her own porch.

"You're gonna pay for that Miho!" she cried, "That ice cream was good!"

All three of us laughed then Miho sprayed the ice cream and put the hose back.

Rebecca came back over and asked, "You know where Ryou lives Miho?"

Miho's eyes lit up and she said, "Yes."

Rebecca rolled her eyes again, "And we're sitting here moping because?"

'I don't get it?'

She glanced at me and I shrugged, "Let's go!" she cried and I jumped up.

"Yeah let's go get your date Miho!"

We both dragged her off the porch, she was the only one who wasn't excited about the idea.

We stood there for a few moments until one of us finally asked, "Well? Where does he live!" that obviously was Rebecca. I was too busy staring at the figure coming up the street to pay attention.

He was wearing a blue and white striped shirt. His pale arms dangled beside him and swung slightly when he walked. He had a companion walking with him. The boy wore a maroon sleeveless shirt that came up to his neck and some tight black pants on. The boy reminded me of Ishizu they had the same kind of stance and posture maybe they were related. Maybe this was her brother.

The pale one noticed us first. And I felt Miho tense when she saw the two boys. She never answered Rebecca and the aforementioned was silently checking out the boys too. They both had blonde hair, the pale one's hair was faded like his skin and the other boy's hair was a yellowish and it brought out his darker skin. He spoke first.

It was a whisper to the other boy and it caused him to smile slightly.

The pale boy looked at Miho and she turned away she buried her face in my neck and whispered, "That's Ryou."

I gasped out loud and smiled at Rebecca who got the hint.

"You know Miho?" she asked the pale boy, or rather Ryou.

He smiled and nodded politely, "She's in my class."

I felt something wet on my neck and realized that Miho was crying. She was his desperately in love with the boy! I needed to help her I couldn't stand to see my friend like this she had helped me through everything.

"Are you going to the dance?" I asked him.

The other boy smirked, but I ignored him. I saw his eyes flicker to Miho, but he said nothing. He was watching her for a reaction.

Ryou looked shocked, but quickly regained his composure and responded, "I see no reason to go, why does someone want me to go?"

Rebecca nodded said, "Yeah, I'm going with Yugi and Shizuka's going with Honda. We want to find a date for Miho and there's only one person she would consider going with."

Miho pulled her arms from us and walked away. She stormed into her house and slammed the door.

Ryou looked shocked and Malik just stared at the door before turning to his friend. Ryou glanced at him then dashed over to Miho's door and opened it.

Rebecca yelled over to him, "Up the stairs and the first door to the left."

He smiled and went in the house.

I glanced over at the other boy.

"Do you know a girl named Ishizu?" I asked him.

He laughed at my question then responded, "She's my sister, why?"

I smiled, "You move the same you don't look alike but…" I couldn't finish I didn't know how to explain it and I had already embarrassed myself enough.

He just smiled at me, a real smile not a smirk.

"We should let them have some time alone we'll find out later what happened."

'He's right.'

He began to walk back down the street he came from and Rebecca patted me on the shoulder and went home.

I looked up at Miho's window before looking back in the direction the boy had went.

"What's your name?" I cried. He stopped and turned around.

"Malik."

I smiled at him, "Hey Malik, I like Honda!"

I was just picking with him, but he didn't understand. Rebecca did I looked in her direction and she was laughing while she walked through her doorway.

He looked confused.

"I want to make it up to Honda so I'm telling everyone."

He looked confused, but nodded anyway. Then we both went our different ways. I watched him walk and remembered Ishizu. She was the third wheel with Otogi and Mai. I started to run I had to get to the park. Fast!

Honda POV

I had left Jounouchi's house a while ago. Shizuka never returned. I wonder where she went? Maybe to a friend's house. Or maybe to get away from me…I can't keep tricking myself she doesn't like me and she never will. I look out the window and see Shizuka walking down the street. It's getting late where is she going?

I open the window. And yell out her name. She looks around then up at my window.

"Honda is that you?" she asks.

"Stay right there!" I yell to her. I run down the stairs and out the door as fast as I can. I have to ask her. I need to know now so I can just end this if she doesn't like me.

When I get outside I freeze up. I can't ask her.

Instead I just smile at her, "Where are you going?"

She says, "The Park I forgot that I left Ishizu with Otogi and Mai. They need to be alone and nobody needs to feel like a third wheel. I'm trying to hurry, but I can't run anymore."

She laughed and said, "Everyone's going crazy Honda. Don't change."

Just those two words gave me hope.

'Don't change…'

So she likes something about me. I grab her arm and she looks confused at the gesture.

"Wait here! I'll get you there faster."

She smiles at me and I rush into the garage to get my bike. I start it up and put on my helmet I grab the spare one for her. The motor grinds louder when I turn the handle. I ride out slowly and stop in front of her. She looks shocked when she sees the motorcycle. I hand her a helmet and she climbs on before she puts it on. I make sure she's holding on tightly before I pull off.

The ride to the park wasn't long, but still we saved some time by riding here and not walking/running out of breath.

I parked the bike and she ran over to Mai's car. Her and Otogi were standing outside it.

Shizuka POV

I saw Ishizu was a few feet away looking at some birds fighting over a piece of bread.

Mai looked up and smiled at me when she saw me walk over holding Honda's hand she raised an eyebrow. When I was closer I laughed at her expression.

"I changed my mind." I said and she understood. Ishizu turned around. I smiled at her and then Otogi. Then I saw the cigarette in his hand and realized he really wasn't my type. Honda was a better choice besides then Mai could be happy too. The dance wasn't that far away. Otogi smiled at me and I realized that we had reached the same conclusion. We weren't compatible.

He looked at Honda and smiled, "Taking her to the dance?"

Honda looked at me and I giggled then ran over to Ishizu.

I heard Mai squeal and saw Otogi pat him on the shoulder so I suppose he said 'yes.'

"Ishizu?" I asked and she smiled at me she didn't say anything.

"I met your brother."

She just looked at me and said, "Thank you."

I understood.

"What about you?"

Her smile didn't falter once, but I could tell she was hurting.

"What was my brother like?"

"He was pleasant enough."

She laughed, "Then I suppose I'll bring him to the dance so he can find a girl and leave me and Mai alone." I laughed.

"What about Ryou?"

"They're only friends because they understand each other, they have the same problem… kinda like me and Mai."

I nodded and she looked back at the birds.

I grabbed her hand and she squeezed mine back then I left her standing there. When I walked back over to Honda, Otogi was dusting of his pants. Mai climbed into the car and he leaned over the door. He put his cigarette in her mouth and backed away.

"Bye babe."

She turned the car around and Ishizu walked over and climbed in. When the car slowly pulled away I met Ishizu's gaze and held it until they were gone. We turned to Otogi and he smiled at me.

"I'm glad you're happy." He said.

"What about you?" I asked.

"I couldn't have found a better girl or a better friend to show me that."

Honda rubbed my shoulder and I smiled at Otogi. I watched him walk away. When I turned around Honda was climbing on the bike. I ran over and climbed on the back.

"What was wrong with the other girl?" he asked. I smiled.

"Hey do you know Malik?"

"Yeah, he duels too."

"That's his sister."

He looked shocked, "Really?"

"Yeah."

"But she looks so calm and poised."

"He is too if you watch for it."

"He's like that because he thinks he's royalty."

"Stuck-up?"

"Yeah, selfish sadistic little monster!"

"She's bringing him to the dance."

"Just great!"

I laughed and held onto his sides. I leaned my head on his back and closed my eyes. When it picked up speed it felt like we were flying. Just me and Honda and the open road. Then just as quickly it had ended. I opened my eyes and I was home. I climbed off the bike and handed him the helmet.

I kissed his cheek and turned to go in the house.

I heard the engine rev and turned around he was leaving.

"Honda wait!"

He stopped and looked at me pulling off his helmet.

"As for that walk home tomorrow I also want a ride home."

He grinned and put his helmet back on. Flashed me a thumbs up and rode away.

I watched him for a while then went into the house. I had to call Miho.

Jounouchi was sitting on the couch when I came in and our dad was out somewhere. I really didn't care.

I grabbed the phone and Jounouchi snatched it back.

"Who are you callin'?"

"Why do you care?"

"Where were you?"

"That's what this is about?"

"Hell yeah!"

"I was at the park with Honda, Otogi, Mai, and Ishizu then I went over Miho's house and sat with her and Rebecca then I went back to the park and Honda gave me a ride there and the same people were there then Honda drove me home."

"Honda?"

"Yeah, it's only him not some stranger."

"Ok."

"Jou, don't worry you can trust Honda."

"I know, but you're young."

"I know my limits."

I snatched the phone and sat next to my brother on the couch."

Miho answered the phone. I could hear the tv in the background.

"How'd it go?"

She hesitated before saying, "Good."

'Yay!' I noticed she wasn't acing normal. Hesitant responses and reluctant answers.

"He's still there isn't he?"

"Maybe."

"Let me talk to him!"

"No!"

In a sing-song voice I said, "Miho loves Ryou!"

"So…"

I laughed at her then added a bonus.

"Ryou loves Miho!"

"Shutup Shizuka he's right here!"

I gasped, " I was just playing I didn't know he was still there."

She giggled, "Yeah, he's sat and we watched movie and had dinner."

"And…"

"My mom loves him too."

"And…"

"He's taking me to the dance."

I started to squeal.

Jounouchi looked at me like I was crazy.

"Well I won't disturb you two so you can have some more bonding time."

"Ok I'll see you tomorrow."

"I'm walking with Honda so I'll be a little late."

"And…"

"He's taking me out for a ride so I'll call you."

"Ok."

She giggled and we said our goodbyes. I reached over to the hook and hung the phone up. I looked at my brother and he looked at me like I was insane.

"You should hear an excited phone conversation."

"No thanks." He muttered.

I kissed his cheek and went over to the stairs. Two stairs up I stopped and turned around.

"Goodnight big brother."

"Goodnight Shizuka."

"Oh, and Jou…"

"Yeah?"

"It's not Honda have to worry about."

His jaw dropped and I laughed. He jumped over the couch and I dashed upstairs. He chased me into my room and I slammed the door before he could get in.

He was banging on the door. I slid down the door and leaned against it. I laughed at him and he started banging more. He must have heard me.

"It was a joke!" I sputtered out still laughing.

"Betta be!" then I heard him go back down the stairs.

I laid down on my bed and didn't bother changing my clothes. I rolled over and closed my eyes. Within moments I saw Honda's face. I felt that flying feeling again. Maybe it wasn't the motorcycle that did it. I smiled to myself and thought about earlier.

'I like Honda Hiroto!'

'Do you know Malik….'

'Yeah."

'He's Ishizu's brother…'

'Bye babe."

'What was my brother like?'

'What's your name?'

'Malik...'

'Honda…'

'Jounouchi...'

'Miho...'

'That's Ryou…..'

'Kinda like me and Mai…'

'I couldn't have found a….better girl

or a better friend to show me that…'

I keep thinking of Ishizu's sad face.

'I hope everything works out for her.'

'Are we friends now?'

'Understand each other……'

'Kinda like me and Mai…'

That was the last thought I had until my thoughts turned fuzzy and I faintly remember Jounouchi fussing with my father.

Something about going to bed…