Heka: Looking back makes me sad!
Dark: It rhymed.
Heka: Hey, it did!
Shigure: Why were you sad anyway?
Heka: I used to write two pages worth of stuff and now I write six!
Dark: Awww there, there…
Heka: I feel peckish. Time for drabbles! Happy Boxing Day!
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Title: The Bet
She frowned. He was late. She'd given him half an hour's allowance, and now he was pushing forty-five minutes.
She cursed softly, pausing to glance absentmindedly at the horizon before shifting her hidden position slightly.
It was almost evening. Where was he?
He had sent the notice and she had listened and waited here, ready for anything that could happen. He said he'd steal something tonight and Heaven forbid she'd stop him from stealing it this time.
Curse all thieves.
The main guard was down; she wanted to take this personally. The thrill of the hunt, the wild abandon, she lived for it. She took a deep breath and closed her eyes, relishing on the feel of the chase and the ecstatic rush of adrenaline she experienced whenever she got caught up in the race.
If only her prey would appear.
Peeking and lifting her head up above the tabletop one more time, she glanced around.
Nothing.
She turned to scan around, before she noticed something cold and thin lay gently on her shoulder, touching her neck.
She muttered a four letter word she wasn't supposed to say.
'Now, now, a lovely maiden like you shouldn't curse like that.'
His rich velvet baritone rolled out from somewhere behind and above her.
'Now stand up, like a good girl that I know you are.'
Riku narrowed her eyes. Like hell she would.
Twisting herself quickly, she ducked down to avoid the blade and turned, sweeping him off his feet with her leg.
Leaving him to groan in agony on the floor, she leaped over the table, grabbed the said-item-to-be-stolen, and burst through the door, sprinting towards the broken open window.
A small part of her noted that this was how he got in, and a larger part of her said this was how she was getting out.
As she leaped through a window, a spurt of triumph went through her. She had escaped!
Not much of a Phantom Thief, she thought as she landed gracefully on the grass, is he if-
She collided into something warm and hard.
Once again, she muttered a word a girl should never utter in public and in her mind, the thought, 'pride before downfall' appeared in her head.
'Pride before- '
She pushed the person away roughly, leaping backward. Taking a deep breath, she attached the item around her neck, and smiled mockingly.
Said Thief stood a couple of meters away, looking tall dark and handsome as usual, with a mess of purple hair framing his smirking face.
'Now do you honestly think you can stop me from taking what I want?' he smiled genially, crossing his arms.
Riku smiled. 'Yes.' She drew a sword and licked its blade before holding it in front of her. 'I think I can.'
He chuckled softly and drew his own blade, the sound of the blade sliding from its sheath ringing in her ears.
She scoffed slightly. She was an accomplished swordswoman. Still, not willing to underestimate him again, she held her blade steady and bristled, challenging him to come closer.
With a gentle smile, he nodded in her direction and charged.
Even though she had expected this, it still came to her as a surprise as to how strong he truly was. Digging her heels into the ground just before impact, she held her ground but still registered the fact that her feet was pushed backwards by a little, before she dug them in deeper and countered his rush.
She sneered into his face. 'Is that the best you can do?'
He smiled charmingly. 'No.'
Then he jumped back and charged her again. She parried his numerous strikes, backing away slowing until she felt the wall behind her and she finally stood her ground again.
They remained as they were; two swords between their faces.
She smiled. He smiled back, his sword relentlessly pressing down on her. And still he dared to flirt.
'You smell good.'
'Pompous jerk. You're lying.'
With a soft grunt, she threw off his attack and was about to slash at his arm when-
'Your Majesties!' a scandalised voice rang out.
Unable to stop the momentum of her rush and knowing that there was no time for him to react as he was distracted, she yelped and jerked her arm backwards, bringing the butt of her sword to face him. With that done, there was a sickening crunch she barrelled into him and both adults sprawled painfully onto the ground.
'Saehara!' they both yelled simultaneously at the unfortunate courtier, who winced.
'Leave us!' he yelled, breathing heavily below her, his arm gripping her shoulder instinctively. They were face to face but he was turned to the side, facing the man who had just rounded the corner to see the kingdom's current reigning monarchs about to kill each other.
'But- but! The ball! It's- it's only an hour away!'
'Leave us!' he yelled again, this time in a more authoritative manner and his breath more steady under her body. As she struggled to get up, he smiled and his arm pressed down on her shoulder harder, and she collapsed back onto his chest, her lips brushing his cheek accidentally.
She flushed. He noticed it.
'Still blushing, even after we're married?' he teased. 'Really, have I taught you nothing at all?'
She flushed even deeper. 'Release me, dear.' The last word had knives in it.
He shook his head slowly, his eyes never leaving hers. 'No. I like this position. Besides…' he left it hanging, his other hand holding something glittering in it.
A simple silver chain necklace, with a small red ruby surrounded by sparkling even smaller diamonds was dangling from his fingers. She appeared to wilt at that sight and propped her elbows onto his chest, sending a few spasms of brief yet sharp pain through his body accidentally or on purpose he did not know, under her face and pouted like a child.
'I win,' he whispered. She blinked and turned away from him.
'You always win! It's not fair; you've got years of experience as a thief!' she said in a childish voice, rolling off him.
He sat up with a laugh and stared at her fondly as she remained lying on the ground, turned away from him and understandably, sulking.
'It's not unfair… you've gotten much better at cracking the riddles. I'd put them out thinking you'd take at least an hour to figure out what item I'd be stealing but today you're early! So there's no need for you to sulk…' he said slowly, leaning over and trailing his fingers over her body, lingering at her waist where he knew she was ticklish
She giggled softly before bursting out into a solid laugh, rolling with delirium on the grass. Turning back to him, she frowned and pushed his wandering fingers away.
'But you've always won! And I've always got to do whatever you say, every night…' She blushed again, the red tint complimenting her hair quite well. He smiled at her again.
'But you've enjoyed it right?'
There was no reply as she turned away, hiding her face. He laughed. After all these months… she was still this innocent and shy. She was rare, this one.
'Right?' he asked again, suddenly wanting to know her answer.
She blushed even deeper; he didn't have to see to know.
'… Yes.' It was a tiny voice, suited for an ant.
'Sorry, can't hear you…'
'Yes…'
'Nope, still can't hear you…'
'Yes! Happy?' she snapped, now slightly annoyed at his teasing.
He smiled, again, leaning down to turn her face and gently kiss her on her lips. 'Yes. Very. Now let's go prepare for this ball, before Saehara freaks on us again.'
He stood up, and pulled her up with him. She dusted herself off slowly, and took his proffered arm.
'Dark…?' she said softly as they walked back to the castle, as he made a mental note to find someone to repair the window he broke.
'Hmmm?'
'That necklace?' she said softly, almost coyly, looking down.
'Yes?'
'It's a fake.'
He blinked in surprise as she flashed a triumphant smile and took out from a pocket an identical necklace. As he took out his own necklace, he realised, too late that the ruby was in fact, a cheap semi-precious garnet.
'Oh dear,' he said mildly. Then noticing her barely suppressed grin of victory he remarked dryly, 'You're going to enjoy this now aren't you?'
She grinned even wider, and hooked his arm in hers again with renewed vigour. 'Yes. Yes, I am.'
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Heka: Now that's how I want it to end. Woot.
Shigure: You are a nasty little woman.
Dark: Damn! She's a witch!
Heka: Yay! I vote that Riku would make him dress up as a fat bunny and hop around the castle singing 'Mary Had a Little Lamb'!
Dark: You really are cruel, are you?
Heka: It's in my blood. Say what you think Riku would make him do! Oh yeah, Dark and Riku are somewhere in their twenties in this drabble… Please Review! Thank you!