Chapter 4:
There was a knock at the office door at about 4:30 pm the next day, a time when respectable vampires still slept. Shido grumbled and made himself get up and walk to the door. 'This had better be Yayoi and it had better be important.'
He swung open the door to reveal a smiling and alert Jayne Hawkins. He held in one hand a white rose (Riho's favorite flower) and in the other hand was a wicker picnic basket. Jayne tried hard not to frown as he looked over the man in front of him. Shido's eyes were angry and half-open, his chest was bare, though he apparently liked to slumber in his regular pants, and his muscles almost rivaled Jayne's own. 'Well, he has had a couple of hundred years to work on them," he thought with a smug smile. Point being, Shido looked marvelous in the morning with his ivory skin and long lavender hair waving messily behind him. He looked the disheveled vampire over again, 'I wonder just how well our plan has been working.'
"Hello again, Mr. Shido."
"Josh," Shido nodded at the young man.
"It's Jayne, sir. So, is Riho here?"
"Um, yeah, right. Uh, I think she's still sleeping; I'll go get her."
Jayne entered through the open door and sat patiently on the couch. He could feel jealousy rising in him but knew how to put on a good front.
After a few minutes he heard, "Jayne!" Riho ran over and sat on his lap. Shido leaned back against Riho's doorframe and sighed. Jayne gave her a quick kiss, not wanting to aggravate the elder and very sleepy vampire by making out inside his office while he stood watching. "What are you doing here?" Riho inquired.
Jayne shrugged, eyeing her lovingly. "I just thought you would like to have breakfast outside today - overcast." He wiggled the basket and handed her the rose. "You weren't home so I figured you slept over at the office."
"Oh, God! I must look like a freak!" Riho exclaimed as if she had just realized her attire and state. She ran a hand through her messy hair.
"But you're such an adorable freak," Jayne told her with honest affection.
Riho punched his arm lightly, "Well, I'm sorry, but me and Mr. Shido stayed up late last night before we went to bed." Shido stared in shock, 'She couldn't possibly know what that sounded like.'
Jayne simply smirked and ran a finger down her cheek, commenting, "In separate coffins I hope."
"Of course, you idiot!" Riho giggled and rose and ran past Shido, slamming her door behind him in her haste.
Shido could tell however that the boy was only mocking Riho and trusted her whole-heartedly. 'Come on! This kid has to have some flaws," his mind demanded. "So, John-"
Jayne turned and grinned at him, "It's Jayne, detective."
'Stop being so damn polite!" he wanted to shout. "Yes. So today is yours and Riho's 3-week anniversary, right?" Shido hoped Mr. Perfect had forgotten.
Jayne sighed at this, "Well, yeah, I guess. I wanted to call it two weeks ago, from when I met my Angel, but she claims it's today, from our first real date. She's the only girl I've ever met who it took so long to get her to even give me a chance." Jayne smirked at the false memory.
'Aha!' thought Shido. "So you've had a lot of girlfriends?" 'Or probably a lot of conquests.'
"Well, yeah," 'This guy is too obvious.' "But none like Riho."
"Oh really? And what's so special about Riho?" 'Now I will figure out what he's up to.'
Jayne looked at Shido sternly, "I won't hurt her, if that's what you're getting at. And anyways, it's not something I can really explain. She's not the kind of girl you can chalk up to a few good traits. You know her better than I do - Riho's just…special." Jayne smirked again, "I'm surprised you hadn't noticed."
Before the now-ticked-off vampire could answer, Riho's door swung open.
"That was quick," Jayne beamed, getting up. Riho just shrugged and took her boyfriend's hand as he said, "See you later, Mr. Shido. Nice talking to you."
Shido frowned slightly at Riho's expectant look, "Uh, yeah, hope to see you again, Jayne. Bye, Riho." He made an effort to smile.
Riho's grin was genuine, "See you tonight, Mr. Shido. Bye!" She walked out, still hand-in-hand with Mr. Perfectly Annoying. "So what were you two talking about?" she asked Jayne once they had closed the door.
Riho brightened instantly, "I like surprise."
"I know."
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Jayne and Riho made their way to the beach; he had brought his black jaguar.
"Ready for your anniversary present?" He smiled slyly at her, wondering for the millionth time what his Angel would look like in the bright sunlight.
Riho put her glass down, "Sure. But Jayne, you really didn't have to get me anything. I mean, it's not like we're really together."
The sweet innocence in Riho's unsuspecting tone made the comment hurt even more, but as usual, Jayne just smiled. "Hmm, but you're still my angel, so-" Riho blushed and he took her hand pulling her to stand beside him. "Close your eyes," he instructed. She did and shuddered lightly as she felt something cold and hard slither around her neck. "Okay," he released her.
She opened her eyes and felt the necklace. She held it out to see a silvery chain with a yellow diamond in the shape or a rose at the crest. Her eyes went wide and she looked at Jayne wide-eyed, fondling the most wonderful present she'd ever gotten. "Oh my gosh, Jayne, please tell me this isn't real!" She pleaded although he could tell she couldn't help but hope that wasn't true.
"Come now, Angel, you know me better than that," he mocked as she jumped into his arms and kissed him. After a while, he lowered her to the ground, grinning widely. " Thank you so much! It's the most gorgeous thing I've ever seen!"
"Second to me, of course."
"Of course." She smiled shyly as he swept her up again and pressed a passionate kiss to her lips.
They sat down and looked out at the crashing waves. "Angel?" Jayne began, almost tentatively. He sighed, only she had ever made him feel so nervous.
"Mmhmm?" She leaned against his shoulder.
"If Shido," he said quietly, knowing the vampire detective nearby. He started again, whispering into the girl's ear, "If Shido doesn't come around soon, I want you to consider going out with me for real." Riho gazed at him in shocked silence; she had never once thought that Mr. Perfect sincerely liked her. She thought for a moment. Jayne had never been so nervous in his bachelor - it wasn't as if he'd asked her to marry him or anything, just to give him a chance.
Riho sighed; she actually wanted to say yes, but knew she had to be frank. "Jayne, I, um, I don't know if I can love anyone except Mr.-" She was cut off by a kiss.
"That's not what I'm asking you for," he began. "But you are the most striking, extraordinary woman I've ever- well, I just want a chance. And it's only if you can give up on Shido." Her struggling expression made him add, though not in a hasty manner, "I'm only human after all. You can always go back to pining for him after I'm gone or if it doesn't work out, although I must say he's the world's biggest idiot." Only Jayne Hawkins could say such a thing without it sounding like a desperate plea.
Riho was very surprised. She knew the comment about Shido was a further compliment to her and she could tell Jayne meant his words absolutely. Also, she did like him a lot (though she really loved Shido) how could she not? But above all else, she couldn't believe what she was hearing. How on Earth had she caught the affection of the most notorious, ahem, renowned "player" she'd ever heard of and most handsome man in existence. She smiled to herself, 'It is feeling useless to chase Mr. Shido forever, especially when there's someone as wonderful as Jayne Hawkins willing to wait for me. Hmm.' She seemed to be hmm-ing a lot lately. She raised her eyes to Jayne's and he knew she had made her decision. "Alright."
"Huh?" 'Really?' His heart was on fire; he hadn't been expecting that.
"I will give our plan one more week and if my sire doesn't…whatever, by our one-month anniversary, then I'll really be yours." Her voice let him know she didn't see taking him as much of a sacrifice.
Jayne had never smiled so big in his life. He kissed Riho more passionately than ever, now with the hope that the sweet lips he kissed might soon belong fully to him.
Riho's heart fluttered; she didn't know she could be kissed like that! "I said one week!" she squealed, giggling against his mouth.
"I know," he whispered breathlessly, "but my rival is watching."
So Riho let Jayne kiss her senseless until 6:40 pm when her watch went off. The unseen sun had nearly lowered behind the horizon.
Shido had watched in pain as the pair kissed and held each other for about 25 minutes before he couldn't take anymore. Why did he keep watching them if he just left a little more crushed each time.
AN: Please don't forget to R&R! Hope you guys liked this chap! I completely veered one day from where the story was intended to go, but hey...Whatevs.