Courting Cherries

Talking With a Ghost

Disclaimer: I found out my cousin's going to law school, so maybe I could get a future discount?

After managing to fully survive the elevator ride of absolute silence, Shingou and Hatsumi had found their door. Shingou used his key to unlock it, pushing the door forward he stepped in, holding it open for her. Smiling slightly she stepped past and allowed him to close the door.

He watched Hatsumi walk towards the living room kind of awkwardly, Shingou supposed she must be really embarrassed from what he'd walked in on. He hadn't really looked at her closely either, but now seeing her in the stark light of the Narita apartment he could see how flushed she still was.

He shoved his hands in his pockets slowly and walked to join her in the living room. God. Things are so screwed up we can't even say hello to each other. He moved to sit down on the couch but decided against it, it would be odd to have to look up at her.

Things between them right now were extremely far from normal. After the events of what happened last week at his work, fainting spells and all, things just had been very tongue-tied and uncomfortable. It was bound to be, he told himself he was going to grow up and stay away from her. That promise to himself made harder by the fact that the two had run into each other a couple of times since. No, it didn't help matters at all.

He blamed himself completely and was now on one of his guilt trips, as per usual. He'd told himself that if he wouldn't have gotten ill then things would not be this bad. Hatsumi and he would not be suffering from this small rift, caused by him and his need for some 'space.' Looking back he wished he could have found something better to say to her, but nothing could be changed now. She'd gained some knowledge, and he also suspected that she knew even more…

Shingou would just continue to work, for money to pay back his parents and also to keep his mind off Hatsumi. Working so much wasn't just for the money; it served as a much needed distraction as well.

So yeah, things are bad right now, and her relationship with Ryoki isn't making the situation any better. Part of him was just trying to look out for her, because 'technically' she was still his little sister, not to mention the girl he was in love with. He knew Ryoki was not the best boyfriend ever, hell, in Shingou's opinion he was an asshole. But a part of him also knew he was jealous. Shingou had no problem admitting it to himself, how could he not be? Ryoki had Hatsumi, the girl he wanted and could never have.

"Are you feeling better?"

"Huh?" Shingou looked towards Hatsumi, in the couple of minutes of deadpan that had passed between the two she'd placed herself on the couch, leaning her arms down on her knees.

"I asked if you were feeling better," she repeated for him, starring down at her hands attempting to focus her eyes anywhere but on him.

Small talk, nothing wrong or hard about that. "Yeah, I think I may have just had a seventy-two hour bug or something." He smiled; she was always so concerned, putting everyone before herself.

"Well that's good, but you should still take it easy. You never know, it might come back. Remember last year? It was when I got sick a month before my finals and it lasted for about a week."

He remembered. He helped her study more so then usual because she'd gotten sick.

"I thought I was better and then a week later I got sick again, and during finals. Everything got so messed up-" Hatsumi looked up at him; she was trying to make him take better care of himself with her little story. She didn't have to remind him about it though; he'd been there at that moment, unlike lately.

"Maybe you just have bad luck," Shingou said, sitting down next to her. It is so easy to forget how things were and go right back…

"Huh?"

"You're saying that you were sick and then got sick again a week later from the same virus. But you don't know that, you might just be unlucky." He said smiling, he was teasing her. That is not something you should be doing, not now, especially not now. A voice inside his head screamed at him while he remained composed on the outside. There was not hint of the inner struggle within.

She gave him a look, and then smiled. "Maybe your right," she said. Her demeanor changed from being amused by his comment to seriously contemplating it. "I mean look at all the things that have happened in the past couple of months."

Oh great, now things are getting serious again. Change the subject, its better to avoid drama right now. "So where were you and Ryoki?" He asked, regretting the spontaneous question the moment it had escaped his lips.

"We went to go see a movie," she spoke quickly coming out of her funk from her last statement. "Akane and Subaru were there too, we ran into them."

"So why didn't Akane come back with you?" Shingou knew his younger sister was a little more social, he found himself already thinking about possible answers before Hatsumi even spoke.

"Well, Ryoki and Akane got into a little bit of a fight so we just came back here."

Shingou rose his eyebrow a little, "They had a fight?"

Hatsumi's face dropped a little at the recent memory. "Ryoki wasn't very happy that Akane and Subaru were with us, like I said we ran into them, it wasn't really planned…" Hatsumi drawled off on her last sentence, realizing she probably shouldn't take much about Ryoki. She knew Shingou didn't like him.

"Oh, well with their personalities I'm not surprised." Shingou smiled, looking over to her. "But Hatsu, while were taking about it, what was he saying about meeting him? He didn't mean tonight, did he?" Shingou slyly threw in the question that had been on his mind for a while.

"Well, umm…"

"Oh Hatsumi, I thought I heard someone talking. And Shingou, I didn't know you were coming." Hatsumi and Shingou looked over to see their mother coming into the living room. Mrs. Narita went to hug Shingou, she'd been awfully sad about his moving out. Every time she saw him now she acted like she'd never see him again. Shingou smiled at Hatsumi while hugging his mother, Hatsumi smiled back. She knew her mother hated the fact that one of her children had 'left the nest.'

Mrs. Nartia moved more into the middle of the room, facing her daughter. "Hatsumi, how did your date go?" She stumbled a little bit over the word 'date.' The fact that her daughter even had a boyfriend brought her mother to worry beyond belief, but the fact that said boyfriend was Ryoki Tachibana had recently sent her mother into a panic. To her mother's credit though, she kept that inside. Hatsumi knew the only reason her mother even allowed this was because he was Ryoki Tachibana, son of the evil and feared Mrs. Tachibana. Otherwise, this would not even be talked about.

"I hope you were nice to him, god forbid he gets mad and says something to his mother-"

'That won't happen mom, I promise." Hatsumi said, she knew Ryoki wouldn't do that. Well, Hatsumi was almost certain he wouldn't do that.

Shingou stood by idly. He was a little peeved that his question had gone unanswered.

"Well I think I'm going to go in my room and go to bed now. I'm really tired." Hatsumi turned towards Shingou, "Night, I hope I'll get to see you soon." She threw him a smile before walking towards her mother. "Night mama," she gave her mother a small hug before departing to her room. I hope that wasn't too conspicuous, I need to get ready…

Hatsumi was shocked to find a certain sister of hers in their room when she got there. Oh great, guess I'm gonna have to tell her. Maybe she can help cover for me?

"Akane, what are you doing here?"

"Well this is my room too," she threw her a sarcastic smile. "I'm surprised I got back before you did though."

"We ran into Shingou, he's in the living room."

"Ohh, I didn't know he was coming home."

"No one did. I think it's just a quick visit," Hatsumi told her. She needed to hurry up and tell her what was going on. To Hatsumi, sneaking out of the house was the equivalent of a black ops. mission. "Akane I need you to help me with something."

"With what?" Akane had thrown herself on the bottom bunk of their beds, and was currently occupied with twirling her hair.

"I like that one the best," shouted Akane, immediately to be shot a look of 'be quiet' by Hatsumi.

"Shh, if mom wakes up I'm in big trouble."

"Oh, stop worrying." Akane picked up the shirt that 'she liked best' and handed it to her sister. "Definitely wear this one."

Hatsumi took the shirt and walked into their small closet to change. She wanted to examine what she was wearing without her sister for a minute. Pulling over her shirt to take it off, she then picked up the new one from Akane and put it on; short skirt, high boots, and a tank top. "Oh yeah, Ryoki's gonna love this one, maybe for himself, but not for the public," Hatsumi said quietly to herself. True this outfit was a bit more outgoing then her usual, but she remembered her last visit (and only) to a club. She hadn't fit in at all, and she didn't like that. At least now she could concentrate on other things. Like trying to keep Ryoki from jumping me.

Stepping out of the closet Hatsumi faced her sister with a frown.

"Why so glum? What's wrong now Hatsu?"

"I'm having second thoughts about this. Lots of things could go wrong, I mean I already got caught once for sneaking out-"

"Stop it!" Akane said, "It's going to be fine because I'll be here to cover for you."

Something about that does not comfort me. Hatsumi looked over to the clock to see how much time she had left before she had to go meet Ryoki. Oh shit! "Akane I have to go, I gonna be late!"

Akane let her eyes move to the clock, it was ten-forty. "You have like ten minutes left, and hasn't he ever heard of a girl being casually late?"

"No."

"Oh god I hope he's not already waiting." Hatsumi was now on her mission to sneak out past her mother, which in reality was ridiculously easy. She went through the front door and off to meet Ryoki. Although getting past her mother went okay, her sneaking did not go unnoticed by someone else.

Sure enough she saw a shadow at the designated meeting place. He turned around when she approached him and Hatsumi's mouth dropped. He looked amazing. He stood there in some dark jeans with a black, long sleeve, button up shirt and he'd left his glasses behind so she could see his eyes. Never had Hatsumi though she would actually be worried about jumping him.

"You're actually on time," he said looking at his watch not having even bothered to look up at her yet.

"Really?" Hatsumi thought she would have been late for sure.

He looked up to see her and further comment on her punctuality, but stopped when he caught sight of her. She looked really different. Not necessarily bad, but not really her. Or at least the way her was used to seeing her. He wasn't going to complain though, at least not right now. She looked hot not cute, that was the difference. He could handle hot for one night and maybe if things go right he would allow this more often.

Hatsumi watched his reaction, which did not go quite as expected. He didn't yell like she'd thought he would, but instead she saw his face turn slightly pink.

Maybe it turned out that Hatsumi did have some power over him after all.

They'd taken a taxi to get to the club; it was to far away to walk and even if it wasn't Ryoki would have insisted anyways. Just like the first time she' been here there was a line outside that had a pretty decent number of people in it waiting to get in.

Oh great, now we're gonna have to wait and Ryoki…

"Come'on its cold outside," Ryoki said grabbing her hand. "I don't want to catch a cold because you want to stare at things."

"Huh? Where are we going?" Hatsumi looked towards the line of people.

"In the club you idiot! You didn't actually think I was going to wait outside with all these people did you?"

Hatsumi shrugged her shoulders while they moved around to the back of the club. There was another entrance there and a bouncer who Ryoki started to converse with. Soon they were in, and Hatsumi had realized again that if you had money you could get anything.

"Lets go find a table," Ryoki looked around the place, spotting one he must have found that was good enough.

Hatsumi suddenly grabbed his hand fast, startling Ryoki. "What the hell…?" He looked over to see her, hazel eyes holding an emotion he couldn't read.

"Maybe we should go."

"Go! We just got here, what the hells wrong with you?"

Hatsumi sighed and composed herself a little, Ryoki wasn't going to give without an answer. Nodding her head towards the front entrance of the club Hatsumi said, "It's those guys, Azusa's friends. It looks the majority of them, and that one you stabbed."

Ryoki looked over trying to find them; it was true they were there. Well, let them be. "They don't know were here," he turned to look at her. "Even if they did, who cares?"

I care.