Chapter 10

The last day of school before break, everyone was exchanging gifts and talking about Izumi's party. There were going to be a lot of people at Kyo's house, so I signed up with him, Izumi, Kagura, and a couple other Losers to help clean up his house when the party was over. I was actually looking forward to it. Not cleaning up, I mean. Just the hanging with my friends all night long until the sun pretty much came up. Kyo offered for us to stay at his house for Christmas Day too, getting some rest and what not. He even set up a Christmas tree and stockings with our names on them for the 'special ocassion'.

When I told Satoshi about me staying late for the clean-up crew, I did not expect him to volunteer as well.

"You really don't have to," I told him, touched. "Really. It's going to get a little gross, with all the crap littered everywhere, and I don't want you spending your Christmas helping me... especially since you've been great about the study sessions..."

"It's fine, Harada-san," he said as we walked down the hall, our Child Care and Education class just ending.

"It's Risa," I said with a roll of the eyes. "And I'll have to check with Kyo-"

"Ah, it's fine, Risa-chan," Kyo said, suddenly appearing next to me. "If Yitoren-san wants to come, I think that's fine."

"I'll get him his stocking," Izumi volunteered, appearing next to her boyfriend. She smiled at Satoshi, whereas he could only stare at her. I found myself doing the exact same thing. Izumi, confused about why we were so stunned, just shrugged. "You don't have to look at me like that, it only costs a few bucks..."

"I have to go," Satoshi said quickly, spotting the one hallway he always walked down. He then gave Izumi and Kyo a greatful bow. I'm not even kidding. He actually bowed. "Thank you for your generosity, but I have no need for a stocking. Thank you, Kimonko-san, for allowing me to assist you in your clean-up." He then left, with all of us looking after him.

"Wow, Risa-chan," Kyo said, impressed. "You really shaped him up. Actually bowing to us..."

"I didn't teach him that!" I snappeddefensively. "I didn't teach him anything!" I paused. "And why are you guys so nice to him all of a sudden?"

"Because," Kyo said with a shrug. "He's really nice to you, Risa-chan. After everything that Izumi told me, I expected him to be just as mean to me and to you. But... I don't know... after you started talking to him, he's been resonably nice."

"And if Kyo says he's nice, then trust me... he's nice," Izumi added. "Besides, I agree. I thought he would just disown you and leave you to cry a river or something. But he has been quite a gentleman to you... and it's rubbing off on others too."

I could say nothing else as Izumi and Kyo continued talking about the party. Not only was I reflecting on their words, but the one sentance that Satoshi had said kept echoing in my mind.

"Thank you for your generosity, but I have no need for a stocking."

Does he get Christmas presents? I wondered to myself. I immediately felt bad because, although I had put a lot of effort into getting Izumi, Kyo, and Kagura a gift, I never once thought of Satoshi.

Oh, dear God... what kind of person am I!

I stood in front of Kyo's house, partially freezing my ass off, partially enjoy the cold, winter night. Along with waiting for Satoshi, I was stargazing. It was strange, how the sky was so clear only on a night when I couldn't stay to look it. It made me remember my Middle School years, when I would foolishly follow Dark around, just to get a glimpse of my one, true love. Ha. So much for that. It was hard, the way I came to figure out Dark's real feelings. I used to cry, looking at the stars late at night. I guess once I matured, I would look up at the stars and laugh. I really was foolish when I was younger.

As yet another group of people walked by me, I mumbled to myself and crossed my arms. I wasn't complaining or anything. I was just watching the stars, figuring out the constillations. I saw many of them that night, but I was looking for the North Star. Every single time I thought I had seen it, however, it wouldn't be there anymore. Stupid, elusive North Star. It has always been a tradidition every time I stargaze to look for the North Star. It's been that way ever since I first became interested in astrology. When a hand enclosed around my shoulder, I was pulled from my calm state of mind.

In other words, I yelped like someone had just stabbed me.

Satoshi stepped back, surprised. My hands coverd my mouth and his cleanched into fists. It took us a few seconds to realize who we were staring at. I then sighed, relaxing. I rubbed my face with my warm, fuzzy gloves, trying to hide my blush. He really shouldn't come up behind people like that.

"Did I scare you?" Satoshi finally asked. I lowered my hands to glare at him, but saw a strange feature across his face. It was as if he was struggling against something. I wasn't sure what it was... but it looked an awful lot like a smirk.

"Are you laughing at me?" I breathed, unbelieving. Satoshi struggled some more, then put a hand to his mouth, trying to act like he was becoming thoughtful. But I knew better. He was hiding a smirk. He was smirking at me! "You-!" I stopped, trying to sum up all the insulting things I could have said into one, horrible word. I sputtered a bit, but then heard a chuckle. A low chuckle... and a snorting sound... and a high-pitched squeak. He shook his head, waving a hand at me, and turned so I wouldn't see something. Dear god, he was laughing at me! What an insulting, ignorant-!

Wait...

He was laughing. He was laughing. He was laughing!

All I could do was stare, open-mouthed. Satoshi glanced back at me, still trying to hide a smirk, then sighed. He bit his lower lip, then shrugged and cleared his throat.

"Shall we go in?" His voice pitch went up at the end of the sentance as he continued to strugle with himself.

I nodded, numbly, as he walked a few paces ahead of me. He rang the doorbell and we waited. Kyo and Izumi answered the door, and Izumi beamed at me. I gave her a questioning look, but she pulled me into a hug.

"Merry Christmas!" she squealed, then let me go. I couldn't help but smile at her. "Come! We're all playing a question game in the living room!" She rushed ahead of me, and I called back to her.

"Wait! I don't know where the living room is!" I glanced back at Satoshi and Kyo. They had shaken hands and wished each other a merry Christmas, and now Kyo was joking with him. I was thrown back into shock when I saw Satoshi shake his head at something Kyo said, and smile. It was a small smile, as if he was a good acquantence with Kyo, which he kind of wasn't. But... he was... he actually looked... happy.

"Ah, Risa-chan!" Kyo said, smiling at me. He gave me a small hug and patted my shoulder. "Merry Christmas!"

I smiled back at him and nodded. "M-merry Christmas, Kyo-kun."

"Oh, Izumi-chan left you again, didn't she?" he asked, looking around. "You were headed to the living room, yes?"

I nodded again and he looked back at Satoshi. "Yitoren-san knows this place better than I do. He can show you around."

I blinked, glancing from Kyo to Satoshi. "H-he... knows this place?"

"I grew up here," Satoshi said. "Before I moved to Middle School, this was my home."

"Small world, isn't it?" Kyo laughed and began walking away. All I could do was stare at Satoshi as he walked away from the door.

"You lived here?" I repeated. I don't know why I was repeating nearly everything anyone said, but I was becoming annoyed with myself. Satoshi just shrugged and pushed his glasses up his nose.

"I did," he replied. "It was my childhood house basically. My father-" he stopped for a split second, as if a bit uncomfortable with the subject. "My father was a wealthy man and he spent a lot of his life teaching me inside these walls." He looked around, then, completely and utterly unexpectedly, took my hand. "This way."

I squeaked... again. Why must I always squeak? It makes me sound so immature! Well, anyway... he led me through the crowd of people. I couldn't really see anything except for his back and a few people's shoes. It was... strange. I mean... for God's sake, he was holding my hand! I felt a bit angry with myself because, not only was I letting him hold my hand, but I was... well, I was a bit nervous so I... I kind of squeezed his hand... more tightly than a normal person would...

He stopped and I found myself standing along a circle of people. Some were sitting down on comfortable-looking couches, and the others, like Satoshi and me, were standing. They were laughing about something or other, and one person, who seemed to be the victim, just shrugged and covered her eyes with her hand. I was confused.

"Ah, Risa! There you are!" Izumi waved at me from one of the couches, then stopped to stare at me. She raised an eyebrow as the rest of the group decided to stare with her. "Umm... Risa-chan? Why are you holding Yitoren's hand as if he were your last grip onto life itself?"

My mouth fell and I couldn't even look. As everyone laughed at my facial expression, I cleared my throat and bit my lip. I could hear Satoshi clear his throat, embarassed as well. My hand slowly unfolded itself from his, and I could not bring myself to look at him. Just as I thought I was really about to die, a hand closed around my shoulder. It was Kagura.

"Risa-chan!" she grinned and hugged me tightly. "Merry Christmas!"

"Merry Christmas, Kagura-chan!" I said, hugging her back.

"Oh, yes!" Izumi shouted, becoming distracted and standing. "You're here! I've been meaning to ask you a question."

Kagura rolled her eyes at me, but took my one hand and pulled me over to the couch where Izumi sat. They hugged and we sat. As I glanced at the group from a different angle, I saw Satoshi (who was still standing, but was now across from me) shove his hands in his pockets and look around. A classmate came up to him and they began conversing. The guy, whoever he was, led him away to the punch table. I wondered why I was dissapointed to see him go.

The game continued through the party, with some people leaving, and some people joining. There were meaningful questions asked, as well as stupid questions. I wasn't paying attention the entire time, but every now and then, I would slip in a comment. I can't remember exactly where else my mind was occupied, but I knew that I was staring out a window, into the black night. For a fleeting second, when I actually was paying attention, I thought I saw a few drops of snow...

"Oi, Risa-chan!" I felt someone hit my arm and I gasped. I cursed and the circle laughed. I glared at Kagura, who was the one that had hit me. "Are you going to answer the question, or continue dreaming of a white Christmas?"

I sneered playfully at her, and sighed. "What was the question again?"

"Who exactly is this Satoshi kid?"

At that moment in time, I think it would be safe to say that I did not want to answer the question. I wasn't sure if I was able to either. I was staring at her, surprised, angered, embarassed, and reluctant... very reluctant. "I told you... he's my imaginary boyfriend." The circle giggled, but Kagura would not take that as a real answer this time.

"Come on, Risa!" she whined. "You've mentioned his name so many times!"

"I have not!" I protested.

"Oh please," she sighed, rolling her eyes. "You mumble it during your homework, you bring him up at least once in every conversation we have... whether it's a good thing or bad thing. Come on. Who is he?" Oh, she was going to get it for exaggerating so much...

I looked around the group, then at my hands. I was twidling my thumbs again, like I always did when I got really nervous. I stuck out the bottom of my jaw, thinking. What was I going to do? "What do you want to know?"

"Oh, the normal things," Kagura said, glad that I was cooperating. "What's he like, how do you know him, why do you keep mumbling his name, and, most importantly, is he gorgeous or not?"

I felt my face go red and I closed my eyes. Everyone pointed and commented on my flushed face. I had to smile, however as I took a deep breath and began. It wouldn't be a bad thing if I told them about the Satoshi I knew, right? "Well, I knew him from Middle School. He was... quiet. He never really talked to anyone, but every now and then he made an exception. He talked to a kid named Daisuke Niwa, someone who used to be in love with me, but ended up falling for my twin sister." There was a pause in the group as they all nodded and smiled, understanding. I then smiled to myself. "I used to think he was a jerk because, although he was polite, he always looked like he dreaded talking to me. I can't really blame him though, seeing how much of a snob I was..."

There was an outburst of comments on how I could never be a snob. Izumi hugged my shoulders and Kagura shook her head, unbelieving. It finally grew quiet again, and I continued.

"I really was kind of bad... one of those girls that only cared about looks. I had wanted a good-looking boyfriend so I could rub it in my sister's face. Anyway, Satoshi came up and asked me for help on an... an 'experiment of femininity'. I said yes just to get the attention. I didn't really get it, because he was always so quiet and remote from the world. So, I was pissed off and all..."

"Was he mean to you?" Izumi asked.

I shook my head, smiling thoughtfully. "He was actually a really nice person. In retrospect... he was one of the sweetest, most gentleman-like guy I have ever met. People didn't realize it, but you just had to look at the small things." People 'awww'ed at this and I felt myself heat up even more. Why was I telling this story anyway?

"Like what?" I heard someone ask, and I thought for a moment.

"Like..." I paused. "Once, we accidentally fell down into a well, and he gave me his coat to wear." More 'awww's. "And he never lied to me, although sometimes it was a bad thing..." Yes, they all laughed at him insulting me. "Oh, and he saved my life once." Everyone's head snapped into attention when I said this.

"Saved your life?" It was as if the entire room shouted this at me and I cringed. Izumi and Kagura yelled over the outbursts and managed to calm the crowd down. They all looked at me, expecting something juicy.

"Go on," Kagura said, her voice sly. "How did he save your life?"

I took a breath. "One night... my sister dragged me along with her on this stupid, little adventure to help her find a painting that someone had stolen from her. I didn't think she was telling the truth, but she was bound and determined. She actually jumped off the side of a building, in pursuit of her painting's captor. I was light-headed when I looked over the edge and did not see her anywhere. I must have fainted or something because the next thing I remember, I'm lying on a bench with a brown coat laying overtop of me. Daisuke was obviously there, and he told me that he saw Satoshi save me.

"I never really got to thank him because there was always a doubt that it wasn't true. I wish I had, but... well, even after that, he still spoke to me. He seemed to act like he had never saved my life, and I guess, in a way, I was happy for that. He was a true, honest friend, and I had never had one of those before. Well, with the exception of my girlfriends and Daisuke. But then..." I had to take a painful sigh for dramatic effect. "He left. About a few months later. I never knew why because he left so suddenly, and... I found myself wishing that he hadn't gone. Not only because nasty rumors were going around, but I just... I just wanted to make amends for the way I acted. I had never had regrets before I met him, but... I guess he changed me. Not in a bad way, mind you. I changed from an immature snob, to a well-matured, young woman. And for that, I will always remain thankful to him."

I stopped and looked around the group, that had grown absolutely silent. All I could do was shrug and look at the floor. Another minute of silence, with a few whispers. Then, a burst of claps and whistles errupted from the crowd. Izumi squealed and hit my arm playfully. Kagura shook her head, her grin widening so much that I thought the tips touched her ears. The conversation soon carried on to other things, but I did not pay attention... at all. I was thinking about what I had said... if I had really meant it... if there were some, oh, I don't know... emotions inside of me that I wasn't aware of...

I felt a hand on my shoulder and I looked up, kind of hurting my neck in the process. I saw Satoshi himself looking down at me with an odd expression. His mouth opened and closed, but I could not hear him because of the noise level. For a second or two, I questioned if he had heard the story. I yelled, and he rolled his eyes. He leaned down, allowing me to relax my neck, and talked into my ear. For some reason, his hot breath against my ear made me shudder.

"Are you alright?" he asked.

I nodded quickly. "Why ask?"

He shrugged. "Well, for the past 45 minutes, you have looked like your cat had just died." I looked at him, and he just looked back at me.

Whoa, I can see the colors of his eyes blending together, I thought to myself. I felt my breath catch in my throat, and I shook my head quickly.

"I-I'm fine," I said, trying to sound sure of myself. He didn't believe me. I could see it in his face. Still, because of the fact that it was late, and we were due to clean up soon, he let it go with a shrug.

I don't think I've ever been so happy to clean in my entire life.

A/N: Double feature coming up. Love the reviews coming! Hope y'all will review this one and the next!