Courting Cherries

My Little Blue Chair

A/N: This chapter is for my beta-reader, naïvenostalgia and everyone else over on the lj com.

"What!" Hatsumi was staggered. What was Akane saying? She thinks I slept with Azusa! "Akane what are you talking about?" Hatsumi spoke; frantic. Why would she think that…?

"Hatsumi, you don't have to try to cover it up. I know. Just tell me why. I don't understand. I thought things with you and Ryoki were going well, I mean he's not the nicest guy, but-"

"I did not sleep with Azusa!" Hatsumi blurted, cutting off her obviously very confused sister.

"But I saw! I saw the two of you, and so did Subaru and-" Akane stopped, slowing down, "and so did Ryoki."

"You saw me, huh? Where, when?"

"This morning. We were all looking for you! You didn't come home last night, so we formed a search party. At the coffee shop, that's where you were. All of us were standing on the corner-"

"You think I was doing that in at the coffee hangout!" Hatsumi stuttered. Had they all been brain-washed and abducted?

Okay, Akane thought, can we say dense? "No stupid, we saw you walking into the store with Azusa." Akane fathomed out the situation for her sister. "You guys looked, well-"

"Well what?" She hadn't been a very angry person ever in her life, but this was causing her stress.

"I know the way people look Hatsu. You and him; all ruffled up and frumpy. If you didn't want anyone to know you should have taken a shower or something."

"Wait, no! Akane I didn't do that, I swear!" She confessed, stressing the syllables. If that is what Akane thought, then… Oh god, that must be why…

"Akane, does Ryoki think this too?" Hatsumi asking, though she hoped her sister would say no.

"Yes." Akane sounded sad. Hatsumi could tell she was; their voices sounded so similar.

"But Akane, truly, I didn't. I just stayed at his apartment. Nothing happened. I just needed a place to sleep because I left my key with Ryoki."

"You two looked so tired though, I mean I recognize-"

"We didn't really get that much sleep," Hatsumi explained.

Akane rose an eyebrow.

"Don't think that! We were just watching a movie. Oh Akane, how am I going to tell this to Ryoki! He'll be furious!"

Her sister remained silent. What should she do about Ryoki? Honestly I don't know. "Well, I guess maybe you should just wait for him to come to you and explain. If that's really what happened-"

"It is."

"Hmm. I don't really know how to help you. I've never had this problem before, Hatsu. Sorry." Akane gave her sister another pat on the back, "but if that's really the story, Ryoki will forgive you." As Akane said this, she had her doubts as to whether her statement of reassurance was true

"Rina, I have to go."

"Are you sure you don't want to stay here? You look tired. Maybe you shouldn't drive, you could-"

Azusa flashed a smile. "I'll be fine." He gave a chuckle. "Com'on, you'd think by now you'd remember what I told you about worrying too much. Hmm. I guess old dogs can't learn new tricks?"

"Old dog, huh?" Rina gave a raised brow, questioning and slightly insulted.

"Don't worry, babe. I don't think yout look is fading. You're as beautiful as always," he said.

Rina muttered a small response, nothing important. "You shouldn't say things like that. I'm your boss." Rina knew to ignore Azusa's sweet words. She had learned that they meant nothing when they came out of his mouth. At least not to her.

"Boss?" He questioned. "More like mother hen." Laughing, he made chicken wings and imitated with his arms.

"Oh, stop!" Giving up, she fell back to sit on the chair. "Fine, go home!" She said, dramatically. "Just don't call me from the hospital when you get into an accident!"

"Sure," Azusa mumbled, followed by a short farewell, as he opened the door and started to head home.

Rina sighed as he closed the door and left. I wouldn't have to be such a mother hen if you'd just learn to take better care of yourself. After another well placed heave, she turned around to her desk and started some work.

Oh crap, she thought suddenly, I forgot to tell him to put ice on his eye.

Why the hell was he here again, left to another waiting game? First he'd had to wait for her and now Azusa? "What the fuck," Ryoki muttered under his breath. "Damn people need to show up quicker."

Turning around, he went to sit down on the ground. Leaning up against the wall, he was placed across the hall from Azusa's front door. During his period of waiting he had been forced to think. That had led him to a new conclusion. He was an idiot. Not only had he let this happen with Hatsumi, now he was waiting for a slaughter. Who was he kidding? He couldn't take the model. Sure, he could get in a punch when the bastard was off guard but…

Times like this he wondered if his girlfriend's IQ was rubbing off on him. Must be, can't think of another reason… Oh wait, it's ex-girlfriend, isn't it?

Despite the voices from his brain, the smart organ in his body which constantly told him to leave, he stayed put in his spot. Hmm. Maybe Azusa could just beat the pain out of him. Hit him 'til he couldn't feel anything. That was the least the bastard could do…

And this is what I've come too, he thought. A sappy, emotional loner. And I'm still cherry…shit.

"What? Did you come back for round two?" A sly voice came from above. Ryoki didn't budge, he sat still and refused to look up. "That was a pretty cheap shot that you took this afternoon, got me good though."

Azusa had been walking to his apartment, surprised when he'd seen the blonde sitting crouched in the corner. His first reaction had been a slight burst of anger, but that faded. For some reason he didn't really care. He would have let any other guy have it, he would have done them in good. Ryoki though, didn't bring out that feeling in him. He'd play it cool; the urbane golden-boy.

"What? Are you mute or something? Speak!" He said mockingly, "it's the least you could do you know. You did belt me and all-"

"The least I could do?" Ryoki questioned, in an odd place between fury and bewilderment. "I don't have to do anything for you."

"Did what I say about Hatsumi make you this mad, geez I-"

"It's not what you said, it's what you did!" Ryoki spat out. "You asshole, don't you have enough women crawling for your affection? You could have screwed anyone. Why'd you have to do that to Hatsu? She was mine and you-"

"Screw?" Azusa laughed, "What are you on?"

"Don't laugh!" Ryoki jumped up from the floor to meet his gaze. "This isn't some stupid thing for you to have a good chuckle over. 'Oh great! I've pulled one over on Ryoki! I got him!'," Ryoki mimicked. "Well congratulations," he said in a frighteningly quiet voice. "You win."

"Look Tachibana, I don't know what the hell is up your canal, but I didn't screw Hatsumi." Azusa pronounced, still confused. "If anyone should be mad here, it's me. I'm leaving. You-"

"What do you mean? I watched you this morning. It was obvious! How else can you explain it? Outside the coffee shop you guys-"

"She slept over retard, you know because you left her at the club, her keys still in your pocket." Azusa smirked, "If I were in a more scheming mood I would have just lied to you about that, but I'm not. At least not now. But I'll tell you again that I'm aiming for her, and don't expect me to pay you any more favors."

Leaving Ryoki speechless, full of new acquired information, Azusa opened the door and slipped into his apartment. He slammed the door directly, leaving no time for the utterly stunned Ryoki to ask any more questions.

Well this was unforeseen, if there were a word to describe it. Of course there was the chance he'd lied. That was always a possibility with him; Azusa wasn't someone you could trust. One look at him and you would know that. It was the kind of vibe that you got from a person like that.

Ryoki didn't think he'd lied this time though. He'd been too surprised; it was evident in his facial expressions and unreserved shock.

Good thing.

Now Ryoki, the smart-ass intellectual, had no idea what to do. His absolutely dyer mood seemed ridiculous. Foolish. Now that he thought about it, Hatsumi was too chicken to try anything anyway. That was too bad for both of them.

A problem did remain, despite his misconceptions becoming clear. So Hatsumi had a little sleep over with not only another man, but someone he considered an enemy? Well Ryoki supposed he considered all other men enemies…just to be fair.

Hmm. He'd have to have a little heart to heart with her. Yes, the old Ryoki was back. Temper be damned!

Picking up a sweatshirt, she left her room quietly. Akane had come up with some new advice; 'let him come to you. It will work out better that way,' she'd said.

And she had tried that plan; for about an hour. It wasn't her style, she decided, if she even had one. She couldn't sit, she couldn't even stand, when the thought of what Ryoki was under the impression of crossed her mind.

No, she'd seek him out.

"Hatsu! Where are you going," Akane questioned, hands on her hips.

"I'm not like you, I need to go find him-"

"No! You need to stay here. Men like to be in charge-"

"I think Ryoki is in charge enough already. Cover for me? Please?" Hatsumi begged. She couldn't afford to be in trouble with their mother.

"Well I guess if you're gonna go, it's only eleven…" she trailed off, giving in.

"Thanks Akane." She pretended to smile as she left.

If I were Ryoki, where would I be? She'd asked herself. In the movies everyone did this, and magically, as if they had received a cosmic message, they got an answer. She lingered thinking, pacing around an inner lobby in the complex. Akane's words stuck with her, 'it's only eleven.' Only; she moaned

I need to think! He could always be home, but she couldn't go there. That brought the chance of waking up his mother. No, that was not an option. Maybe if she just stood in this particular spot, it would be an inevitable thing for them to collide.

This collision though, as she waited in place, could be days in the making.

This night had been so long; she sunk against the wall to lean. Her back brushed the surface slowly as she slid to the tile floor.

Maybe he was on the roof, his sanctuary. Yes! Lifting herself instantaneously, she felt a wave of relief. She'd go up there to scope it out. And if upon finding no one to be there she'd lean against the side, just like she'd done here, and start mulling over her thoughts again until morning.

He'd have to wait to see her until morning, because he couldn't just go barging into her room. He wished for a second she lived in a house, maybe in Kyoto, somewhere in the country. Then he could have snuck in threw her window whenever he pleased. That would be convenient.

Damn elevator! He thought, visions of broken windows leaving his head. He shoved the button with a little more force than needed. Noticing the lights, they told him the machine was being called before it would bring him to his destination. No! "Great, now I'm going to have to spend even more time in this thing." He put on his game face, ready to burst steam at whomever had prolonged his moving box experience.

He wanted some sleep already.

Crossing his arms, he was a little dazed when Hatsumi came in, almost tripping over the small gap in the floor. He wasn't going to try to resist the snide remark that came from his lips. "Klutz," he started, "I can't believe you just tripped on that. The gap's half an inch wide." Scoffing he helped her off the railing that had saved her from falling.

"Ryoki?"

Her perplexed voice was cute, he mused to himself. But then again the gaping eyes weren't… "Hurry up and press the button, I've already spent enough time in here."

In a state of more than mild confusion, Hatsumi did as he asked, pushing the wrong button by mistake. "Oops," she squeaked.

Rolling his eyes he shoved her aside. "Idiot, can't do anything right." Turning back to find her, she held his gaze.

"Why, a-aren't you…?" Stopping; she wanted him to finish.

"Why aren't I what?" He re-played, about ten times quicker than she.

"You're not mad anymore? I thought that you thought that I-"

"Just shut up about that! I don't want to hear anything about it, all right?" Ryoki waited for her to return a nod. "There is something that I do want to talk about though."

"What?" Hatsumi asked, on the verge of bliss. He isn't mad! He knows I didn't do anything with Azusa, oh Ryoki…I really do love you…

"I'm fucking peeved that you think it's okay to have a sleepover with the guy."

Crash. Well rain on my parade… Hatsumi sighed. "Well-"

"Well nothing. You owe me. Big time!" Taking on his mightier than thou pose, he stood tall over her. "You have to make it up to me, slave."

Huh? "I thought I was your girlfriend now-"

"You're on probation, as of now. Your girlfriend privileges are being revoked-"

"I had privileges?" She questioned loudly. "Ryoki can't we just sit and talk about why I-"

"No." Ryoki's simple answer was strong; she accepted defeat.

This man had a strange sense of a relationship. Really strange.

"You're going to start tonight too, now that I ran into you."

"Start what?" This pace was a tad bit too fast for her to keep up with. One second he's infuriated with her, then he's joking around, and now he's mad again…god…

"Re-paying me. I have the perfect idea! We are going to have our own sleepover." Smirking he waited for her delayed reaction.

Hatsumi's mouth hung open; ready and willing to catch massive amounts of flies. "What?" Her voice became quiet and meek once more. "Ryoki I don't think-"

"I already know you don't think," he teased. "That's what got you into this mess."

"It's almost midnight!"

"Exactly! Ideal timing to sneak into my room," he said.

"But what about your mother?" There had to be a loophole…

"I have a lock, people just don't come barging into my room." Except for Mariko, he thought.

"But, but-" She knew he was going to have an answer for anything she threw at him. "Just a sleepover?"

"Huh?" Drawing off his glasses off, he rubbed them on his shirt.

"Well that's all we're going to do. Sleep that is." Maybe there was a way around this.

Ryoki took a minute to think. Knowing what she was trying to get around, he smirked on the inside. No, tonight would not be a good time to attempt to rid himself of the dreaded cherry. His parents were home and from what he read in magazines, noise was sometimes an issue… She didn't have to know that though. "We'll do whatever I want us to," he told her as the ding from the elevator went off. They had arrived.

Stepping out past the doors, she took up her familiar spot beside him; Ryoki dragging her arm. Working their way down the hall, she groaned. Well look on the bright side. At least he still doesn't think I had sex with Azusa…now he just wants me to go have it with him. Why me?

I did start a live journal community for Hot Gimmick fanfiction. I really would love tons of people to join. You'll also get an update notice sooner there too,  Not that anyone likes my fic that much! Plus, I hope there will be many other fics posted there. So if your interested tell me in an e-mail or a review and I'll send you a link. I just don't want to give out the name here for privacy reasons.

Review of the Reviews:

Sesshomarus Chix: I'm sorry I made you ache, I think? o.O I guess actually that's a good thing… This chapter isn't as dramatic as the last. It's a little lighter, mostly because I'm trying to stick with the flow of the manga.

Thanks twofang and S.B. Kisses! You've both become constant reviewers of mine, 'hugs.'

lunawolf709: God I really hate those sunburns… . I can just imagine you calling up your friends because I do the same thing, XD.

le lovely: I really try to forget there's only 2 books left, 'cries.' If there is anything else it will just be a little side story that sometimes comes after a popular manga ends. I love writing Azusa! He's such a good character.

Jenbo: You're so welcome! Hikaru's so damn cute. The manga really needs more of him.

Flippy0.o: Hello! Thanks for reviewing. Shinogu, Hatsumi's older brother, is adopted in the manga.

Thanks to everyone who reviews, I appreciate it! I have to go back to school soon…I have no idea what this will do to updates. As of now I have two days of freedom left. . Anyway, I think I will hopefully be able to keep up, encouragement helps! Be kind to each other… Gods I talk too much…