Courting Cherries

I Feel Fine I Guess…Considering Everything's a Mess

Disclaimer: Heh, now that I think about it a lot of the hot guys in anime are lawyers, well okay, I think Nagira from Witch Hunter Robin is pretty cool. Not as cool as Amon, but still up there. Maybe breaking the law would turn out well for me, no? I don't own Hot Gimmick, or maybe I do…

Hatsumi stood in the doorway of Azusa's apartment with a jumbled look of caution on her face. I've never actually been in his apartment before, as odd as that sounds. I only stood in the doorway that time he got sick…

"Hatsu, you can come in. Don't worry about being too loud either, my father and his family are on vacation." Azusa said, throwing his coat in a closet by the door. He offered his hand out and after a moment Hatsumi took the hint and handed him her coat.

'My father and his family'…hmm, poor Azusa. I guess he still hasn't really given them a chance yet. "Why didn't you go with them, Azusa?" Hatsumi asked, slowly following into step behind him as he switched the lights.

Their apartment was nice, very nice. The furniture looks pricey, but I guess Azusa's father is higher up in the company then mine…Wow, are their couches actual leather?

"I didn't go with them because I have some shoots scheduled this week, and also because I didn't really want too." Azusa shared the last part with a hint of harshness.

Ouch! Change of subject, Hatsu… "You have a really nice apartment." Hatsumi turned around to tell him this, giving him a smile.

"Hmm, yeah I guess." Azusa scratched the back of his head a little before saying something else," I wouldn't know that much though. Interior design isn't really my thing."

He watched her giggle a little and take her hand to cover her mouth. It wasn't that funny of a comment, but Hatsumi had such a strange mind. No doubt she was imagining something in that brain of hers to spurn the small laugh.

Way to distract her, "So you should get some sleep." He threw a look at his watch after pulling the sleeve back, "It's about 2:30 and something tells me that's way past your bed-time"

Hatsumi put on her signature defiant look and stuck out her tongue at him. Not the best come back, but it will do…

"Ha-ha," Azusa chucked while walking towards the possibly leather couch and fell back onto it. "That's the kind of look that gets you into trouble, Hatsumi," Azusa pointed out, crossing his arms across his chest. "So, you don't wanna get some sleep? What then, do you propose we do to pass the time?"

"I don't know," she mimicked his pose accidentally, pulling her arms around her. "What do you usually do this late?"

"Hmm, that depends princess."

"On what?"

"Who I'm with," Azusa smirked and caught the surprised look on her face. She blushed a little and turned a way from him, apparently trying to look interested in some of the things in his apartment.

Azusa smiled, he couldn't lie. There is something about her, she makes the mood better. And god, is she cute…

"We could watch a movie, there are a lot of them here." She was kneeled over on the floor looking at the rack of DVD's by the entertainment center. "Are they all yours?"

"No, my dad's probably. Hey, if we look hard enough I'm sure we'll find some porn over there." He came over to kneel down beside her, looking at the collection. She blushed and faltered.

"Umm-umm…"

"Relax, I was kidding. In less of course you want to watch-"

"No!"

"Heh, well I guess we can watch one of these if that's what you wanna do. What do you like? Horror, action, drama, comedy…"

He's asking me what I like? Ryoki never did that when we went to the movies…

"I like comedy," she answered picking up random ones and reading the back.

"Should have known, hmm," he brought up his hands to his chin in a thinking pose. "How about this one," he passed her a movie and she took it to scrutinize.

"Monty Python and the Holy Grail?"

"Yeah, it's not Japanese, but its really funny though. I think you'll like it," He took the DVD back from her and put it in the player turning on the television.

"Okay," she walked back to the couch plopping herself down. This wasn't bad at all. Hanging out with him is fine, just like old times.

Azusa came back to the couch and sat down next to Hatsumi putting his feet up on the coffee table in front of them. Leaning back he stretched up his arms and brought one back down around her. Hatsumi froze, shocked.

"Relax, Hatsumi. You wanted us to be friends. If that's what you want then you have to act like it." Azusa picked up the remote as she calmed down a little. Its just Azusa, this is fine. Whatever happened in the past is the past. I've forgiven him.

"Cool," he looked to the screen leaning his head back on the back of the couch.

"Hey, Azusa?"

"Yeah?" He turned his head, still leaning on the couch, to look at her.

"What's with the llamas?"

He laughed again, looking at her. He'd done that a lot tonight; laugh. Hatsumi really had an effect on him, he actually enjoyed spending time with her. He turned back to movie, what was to be done about this revelation?

He couldn't sleep, something just felt wrong. He turned his head to look at the digital clock beside his bed. Glowing red lights read; 2:45 a.m. Ryoki threw his legs over the side of the bed, leaning over to a chair to pick up his robe. Pulling it on he slipped quietly out of his room, closing the door.

He walked into the kitchen intent on getting some food to sooth whatever the hell was wrong with him, relieving this lack of sleep.

"Why are you still up, Master Ryoki?"

"Ahh!" Ryoki spun around to see Mariko, his maid, sitting at the island bar in the middle of their kitchen. She was reading, how in this lack of light he had no idea, but she'd put her book down just to scare the hell out of him.

"Mariko! What the hell," he whispered fiercely, settling down some. "What are you doing up this late, waiting in the kitchen?"

"I have insomnia, Master Ryoki. I thought you knew that," she looked over at him taking off her reading glasses.

"So you're here reading in the dark!"

"I can see perfectly fine, but why are you up this late? Don't you need beauty rest?" She smirked a little at the end, looking for his reaction. She was one of the very few people who could make fun of Ryoki Tachibana and get away with it.

Ryoki shot her an angered look and then sat down across from her at the island. He grabbed and apple and took a bit before talking. "I couldn't sleep, obviously."

"And why is that, Master Ryoki?"

"How the hell I am supposed to know?" Ryoki took another bite. He knew she was going to get something out of him, but there was no need to just hand it over on a platter.

"I suppose you shouldn't. Well, how did your date with Hatsumi go this evening? You should have seen your mother after you left, she was quite nerved about it." Mariko folded down the page, dog-eared her book, and placed it down on the table delicately. "Well?" She asked again, she had yet to look at him for a response and looked up to see him becoming rather agitated. Nothing out of the ordinary there, she thought.

"It sucked ass."

"Master Ryoki!" She scolded quietly, quite amused by his comment she smiled. "That was not a very becoming thing for you to say, and it does not really answer my question."

"The movie sucked because her stupid sister and Subaru showed up out of nowhere and ruined the whole thing. It didn't go as I planned at all," he confessed angrily, taking it out on the poor apple by throwing the remainder in the sink, about ten feet away.

"I highly doubt that will be able to fit down the garbage disposal," Mariko pointed out. "Well how did your other date go, if the first was so horrible?" Mariko threw him an 'I know what you know look, so you better just spill.'

"What second date?" Ryoki asked, obviously not taking her look as a hint.

"Master Ryoki, lying is also not very becoming of a young man." She leaned over on her elbows, clasping her hands together, Mariko smiled with her eyes.

Ryoki had no problem seeing what his father kept her around for.

"Don't worry I didn't tell your mother," she threw in.

"It wouldn't matter if you did. What's she going to do? I'm seventeen, she can't boss me around any longer."

"I suppose."

"It's true, besides my father feels so bad for not being around he's gone soft." Ryoki flung the comment out quickly; he knew Mariko cared about his father. That was his only trump card when it came to her.

"Your father only cares about you. He wants you too be happy, also I think he understands your mother is not the most accepting person."

Mariko, oh so quick to defend, Ryoki thought. "You would know wouldn't you?" Ryoki smiled, half-smirked.

"Enough of this, I believe this conversation started out about you," Mariko said, bringing them back on topic. "So, how did your second date go?"

"We went out to a club," Ryoki said, caving in. He could just see the walls falling. If anyone could get something out of him; it was her. "We were supposed to have fun," Ryoki sulked.

"And you didn't," she asked, she could already tell by his pissy mood, but with Ryoki she always had to beat around the bush.

"No I didn't," he mocked back. Leaning onto the counter he took off his glasses moving to pinch the bridge of his nose. "I just left and came home. She's so stupid; ruined the whole thing."

"You left. Why?"

"Because she is stupid. First she destroyed the whole mood by spotting these guys who-" Ryoki paused not sure how to explain the 'gang bangers' "-who she doesn't really like. And then she got all annoyed because I wouldn't get her a beer. And she didn't want to dance with me! That's why you go to a club, and she didn't even want to!"

Mariko watched him, searching over his face for something. "So you told her you were leaving and came back here. Well, I suppose maybe the two of you just aren't clubbers, that's all."

"That's part of it too! I went back to find the idiot and she wasn't even there!" Ryoki huffed, throwing his arms across his chest. "What a wench."

"Master Ryoki, keep you voice down! You'll wake your mother," Mariko told him harshly. "And I'm very disappointed in you Master, leaving a club like that without even telling her, especially with a girl like Hatsumi. Did you honestly give a good attempt to look for her? Or did you just leave because you were angry. She could have been getting a drink or had gone to the bathrooms…" Mariko looked down. Sometimes she just didn't get why he acted like this. I suppose its because he really doesn't have any good role models. He has no idea how to treat woman. And poor Hatsumi is his test subject. Who he is leaving in a cage with out any food or water…

Ryoki just let her give it to him. He had to hand it too her, she could be pretty forceful when she wanted to be.

"I think maybe, Ryoki," she said to him more softly, leaving out the 'master' she usually placed before his name, "that the reason you can't sleep is because your conscious feels guilty." Mariko finished waiting for his reaction. He didn't say anything, just sat there, head down. Even Ryoki could be human, sometimes.

"I think the best thing you can do now is apologize to her. Hatsumi, from what I've seen, is a very forgiving person."

Ryoki looked up, shocked. "What! You think I should apologize?"

"Yes, master Ryoki, I think that you should. After all, Hatsumi is no longer your slave but your girlfriend. You have to treat her better." Mariko stood up from her chair and picked up her book . She gave Ryoki one last look before she left the kitchen.

Damn. How does that woman know everything! Ryoki thought as he silently got up and left shortly after.

Tranquility. That was the word that Azusa would use to describe the scene that he was a part of right now. It was five in the morning, sun specs starting to come in through the blinds that hung from atop the windows, and he and Hatsumi were still gathered up on the couch. His arm was still placed possessively around her, except now her head laid on his shoulder; a product of her sleepiness.

She'd passed out from exhaustion a couple minutes after the movie had ended, she'd tried hard not too, but fell victim to fatigue anyway.

So Azusa was left to think, he couldn't sleep, not with her here in his arms like this. He figured it was too good a moment for him to spoil. He could have traded in something different for his thoughts though, they were anything but tranquil.

He was conflicted, most defiantly. Conflicted because of her and the emotions she brought out of him. The other day while shopping, he called her naïve, a chump, and tried to make her leave him alone. By the end of the day though, when she'd brought him back to Shingou's apartment, he realized he couldn't ignore her.

He'd a least have to learn to accept her being a part of his life. His first intention had been to use her. Get back at her father, make him suffer because he did. Use her and lose her, get the ultimate revenge. That hadn't worked out quite like he'd planned at all. Instead he'd ended up spending more time with her then he'd originally thought.

Now though, sitting here like this with her, her face so peaceful and caring he admitted that maybe something good had come out of this entire mess after all. He didn't feel any better about his mother, but he had reconnected with Hatsumi. Ironic, he knew. Especially because of the way he'd treated her with his friends. How she had forgiven him so quickly, let alone at all, proved how great of a person she really was. A loving, caring person that Azusa decided he needed.

"What do you mean she didn't come home last night!" Ryoki yelled at poor Akane at the top of his lungs. They were having a clandestine meeting on the roof, brought up here by Akane so her mother would not hear any of their conversation.

Ryoki had come down to their apartment early that morning, around seven. He was looking for Hatsumi and was not happy when he did not find her. Akane, trying to keep her older sister out of trouble had dragged him up here, much against his will to answer all his questions.

"I mean she didn't come home. I stayed up 'til about three before I fell asleep. I know she didn't come back because her bed's completely untouched. I told mom she left early this morning to go see Shingou, I hope see bought it."

"Well where the hell is she!" Ryoki was a firecracker to say the least.

"I told you, I don't know! You're the one she was with last night, why the hell don't you know where she is, huh?" Akane yelled back, she wasn't gonna let him boss her around.

"We left separately," was all Ryoki said. He didn't think that Akane would be too happy knowing he left without her sister. He really didn't want her high pitched voice to yell at him anymore.

"Why the hell did you do that?"

"Because we just did!"

"Fine, we have to go look for her though. I'm gonna go call Subaru, maybe we should call Shingou too." Akane picked up her phone and started to dial before the device was snatched forcefully from her hand.

"You are not going to call Shingou!" Ryoki held up the phone out of her reach, Akane tried to jump up to get it but with no luck.

"Why not? He has a car and…"

"No! Call Subaru, but that's it." He handed her back her phone, and she accepted it with a huff. "Tell them to meet us down stairs in the lobby."

Hatsumi opened her eyes slowly, see was always dizzy when she got up in the morning. It was hard adjusting to being awake. She felt something fuzzy rub against her cheek, and she went to go push it out of the way. When she pushed though, she got a "ouch" noise that startled her instead.

She looked up to see Azusa starring down at her rubbing his cheek, realizing that she'd just accidentally hit him she apologized quickly before taking in the situation. She was leaning against him on the couch, she must have fallen asleep against him after the movie last night. Oh great, good job Hatsu, she thought sarcastically.

"It's okay. Morning," Azusa mumbled, tiredly. She wondered if he'd gotten much sleep, it didn't look like it. There weren't bags under his eyes, there never were, but overall he just looked worn out.

Oh god! Morning! "Azusa, I have to go home, my mom's gonna find out I snuck out. Do you know what time it is?" She asked, hurried. She got up quickly from the couch trying got make the clothing she'd sleep in look less frumpy. She tried to brush out the wrinkles, but to no avail.

"It's 7:30. There's no use rushing back, you just have to hope she didn't notice." Azusa told her standing up, he went over to walk towards the kitchen and Hatsumi followed.

She knew he was right. No need to run home for the slaughter.

"Damn," Hatsumi heard him mumble to himself, she looked over in slight concern.

"It's nothing, we're just out of coffee."

"Oh, well we could go get some. I mean I don't need to go home right away, that is if you want too?"

"Sure," he looked over towards the door to signal their leave, picking up their coats before they left.

"This is bad what if something happened to her!"

That thought had been on his mind since Akane had told him on the roof that she'd hadn't come home. Now the squeaky girl was just verbalizing that fear. He'd had a good half-an-hour to think about this fear and it was starting to really scare him. He been stupid, he hadn't thought that something might have actually happened to her as he'd spent part of last night complaining to Mariko. So stupid. He hadn't been worried like this in a long time.

If something did happen it was his fault, he'd left. He knew she didn't like being by herself and he did it anyway just to piss her off and now this. Anything could have occurred, any guy at the club…oh god those guys, Azusa's friends. If they did something…he do more then stab-

"Is that Hatsumi?" Ryoki heard Subaru say to Akane. They stood on the corner of a street about two blocks away from the apartment complex, attempting to strategize. And lo and behold down the sidewalk a little further was exactly who they were looking for.

"Hey Azusa's with her! And they look kind of…" Akane started off making the observation and then stopped noticing Ryoki coming up to stand next to her. His eyes were completely locked on the two.

She knew what it looked like. They both seemed sluggish and tired, clothes rumpled and wrinkled. Hatsumi was wearing the same thing she wore last night. It was blatantly obvious that she'd spent the night with him, and perhaps done a little more then just sleep from the looks of things. Oh, this was bad. Akane watched them go into a little coffee shop, the same one where Azusa and their father had their little showdown.

Akane turned back to look at Ryoki, his expression unreadable. The Ryoki she knew would have stormed over to the two of them and demanded what the fuck was going on, but he didn't. That scared her, more than anything right now she wished he would. Ryoki though, just turned around and stormed in the other direction, presumably back to his apartment.

Subaru looked at Akane as she watched his friend go. "This isn't going to go well," Akane said quietly. "Maybe you should follow him and do some damage control."

"What! I feel bad, but I have no desire to receive bodily harm," Subaru said. After a silent plea from Akane though, he gave her a nod and started to follow his best friend back to the place where this whole messed up-melodrama-soap opera started.

A/N: Dun dun dun, (behold the drama!) Now things are getting ugly…

I had a lot of free time this week so I'm happy I could get this chapter out so quick after the last one. For the most part I'm happy with it, and still I'm locked on working secondary character's minds 'cough, cough' (Mariko) I think that she is really interesting after the 8th book especially…her and Ryoki's father seem to have an interesting relationship. Did you notice in the book she calls him by his first name? Hmm. How fascinating, huh?

So thanks so much for the reviews. I swear I'm gonna actually respond to them next time! Little Emo ; )