Disclaimer: I don't own Hot Gimmick… however this plot is all MINE! MINE! HISS... BACK OFF! MINE!
Chapter Six: Born Anew
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"I still don't see why we have to do this Mom!" Akane whined.
"Sweetie you have to help out more often! Hatsumi's been doing your dirty work, and look – she's also helping you too so just be quiet and get on with it!" Mrs. Narita replied.
It was finally Christmastime, but with it being a holiday, it came with some downsides… like cooking dinner, decorating the tree, and delivering those dreaded gifts Mrs. Narita made for everyone in the complex. Of course, there was chocolate inside those gifts, so that made it even heavier to carry around.
"Mom… please! I have to go meet my friends! They're having a party and I promised I'd come!" Akane whined another second time.
"Akane, ok. How about this, you help Hatsumi deliver half of the gifts and then you can go after?" Mrs. Narita replied, trying to make a compromise with her lazy daughter.
"Uggghh, fine! Hatsumi! I'm taking the lower half of the complex! You go do the top half ok?" Akane asked her busy sister.
"Uh… ok Akane. Have fun!" Hatsumi smiled and went back to chopping the tomatoes. Akane then took a huge fake Santa bag and walked out. Hatsumi groaned. She'd suddenly remembered that her friends were having a party on the roof tonight. If she could only finish helping.
"Hatsumi! I think that's enough helping today. Thank you for all of your hard work, now go, have fun!" Mrs. Narita said, winking at Hatsumi.
'So she does know about the party… she must've seen the invite in my room.' "Wow. Really, Mom?" Hatsumi asked.
"Yes. I'm sure. Now go! I'll see you before midnight! Oh don't forget to do your half of delivering the gifts. Just so you know, I gave Akane the most loads, since most of our friends are in the lower complex area. You don't have much to deliver, just remember to be EXTRA nice to the Tachibanas." Mrs. Narita replied, winking a second time again before giving her daughter the smaller fake Santa bag, and directing her to the door.
"Thanks Mom! I'll see you later bye!" Hatsumi excitedly chattered, closing the door behind her.
"Kids these days, always want to go out to parties… oh dear me." Mrs. Narita said to herself.
Hatsumi walked up the stairs, since all elevators were off due to maintenance checks this week. She stopped on every floor and delivered the gifts, until she finally reached the top floor, 'The Tachibanas'. She took a deep breath and rang the doorbell. The door opened.
"Hello. What brings you here Hatsumi?" A very festive Ryoki said. He was wearing a red turtleneck sweater that clung to his body, and black pants with black shiny shoes. Inside his home, you could see tinsel all over the place, even on the walls. The tiles on the floor resembled the red and green theme. Heck his place had that Christmas spirit.
"Oh, hi Ryoki. Here. This is a gift from us all, the Naritas. Merry Christmas!" Hatsumi exclaimed, handing Ryoki a HUGE present. After all he was a Tachibana.
"Oh, why thank you Hatsumi. Tell your parents we all say thanks. Merry Christmas too. Oh wait, here, we've got a gift for you too. Hold on let me get it." Ryoki replied, walking off to a nearby room and taking a gift. He handed it to Hatsumi.
"Thanks. Bye. Oh wait, did you happen to get an invite to the roof party tonight?" Hatsumi asked.
"Of course I got one, you see, I planned this party." Ryoki answered.
"You?" Hatsumi exclaimed, "You planned this party?" Hatsumi asked again, half shocked, half excited.
"That's correct. I thought it might be a good idea. You know us, we always want fun! So, don't worry about it being FREEZING up there. I got some workers to set up a heated tent thing. You'll see when we go up there. So do you want to come up with me?" Ryoki asked Hatsumi.
"Sure! I was actually on my way there now." Hatsumi answered. So, the two walked up to the stairs, which didn't take that much time and when they arrived, it was… breathtaking. The tent was completely see-through and it covered the entire roof. When you went inside, you immediately felt the heat and if you looked around, there was a table, full of food and above you the snow falling. There were some tables and booths too with candles, and some had mistletoes hanging above them. Of course a party wouldn't be complete without mistletoes. There was a small area taken up by speakers and a DJ playing music. A song was playing, The Black Eyed Peas "Don't Phunk With My Heart" or something like that and everyone was dancing.
"Wow! You did a great job Ryoki!" Hatsumi exclaimed, trying to get her voice to overcome the loud song that was playing so Ryoki could hear.
"Thanks!" Ryoki replied.
Hatsumi looked around and saw Akane. So this was the party she was raving on about. Hatsumi walked up to Akane surrounded by hot boys and cleared her throat.
"So, Akane, what a surprise to see you here, of all places." Hatsumi said in a matured sisterly voice.
"HATSUMI! OH MY GOSH! HOW WEIRD IS THIS! This is totally cool! You and me at the same party! Sweet!" Akane exclaimed. She was already excited and into the Christmas spirit already. Waaaayy too excited.
"Ok… excuse me Akane, I'm going to go hang with my friends ok, bye see you later!" Hatsumi chimed in after Akane and walked away. Hatsumi looked around and couldn't find Yumi or any of her school friends. She gave up and walked over to an area where she could wait. She rested her left arm on a bar table thing and waited…
"Hey, Hatsumi! How're you doing so far?" Ryoki asked, joining Hatsumi at the bar table.
"Huh? Oh ok." Hatsumi replied.
Ryoki looked up and saw mistletoes hanging above the bar table over them and chuckled.
"Why did you laugh?" Hatsumi asked.
"Look… up." Ryoki answered.
And so Hatsumi did. She saw the mistletoe. 'Oh damn… I thought this area didn't have any… wait I HAVE to KISS Ryoki? OH NO WAY AM I GOING TO! I CAN'T KISS RYOKI! STUPID MISTELTOES AND CHRISTMAS TRADITION! STUPID! STUPID!'
"So?" Hatsumi said, trying to shrug it off the fact that she HAD to kiss Ryoki Tachibana, of all people because of stupid mistletoes.
"You don't know the proper Christmas traditions do you? Whenever two people stand under mistletoes, they have to kiss. It's tradition!" Ryoki quoted.
"O..k... I guess." Hatsumi said shyly, looking down.
"C'mere." Ryoki said, gently lifting her head up from her jaw with his hand. He then put both of his hands lightly on Hatsumi's face and pulled her towards him. Hatsumi squirmed a little, but still let Ryoki pull her into his face.
"Hhmhmm…" Hatsumi said, feeling the warmth from Ryoki's lips. Ryoki tried to be a little more daring and pressed his tongue against the teeny gap between Hatsumi's lips. Hatsumi let Ryoki's tongue in and Ryoki explored her mouth with his tongue. His tongue then massaged hers and finally, they pulled apart.
"Well that was most definitely a mistletoe kiss! Thanks again Hatsumi. Merry Christmas, I've got to go!" Ryoki quickly sputtered and then left.
"Wha-what was that?" Hatsumi said to herself. She stood there for the next second, still gaping and wondering what happened. Her brain couldn't respond. And her heart, thumping and beating so hard that Hatsumi thought she was going deaf. (Author's Note: Well I am DEAF!)
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"C'mon Subaru! If we don't hurry, the 7-Eleven will close before we'll get a chance to get their yummy hot chocolate!" A worried Akane responded.
"Don't... wo...rry, it doe… sn't… close… un…til… twel…ve…o clock." Subaru panted. He was running, behind Akane, who had obviously gotten a big lead ahead of him. Shortly, they arrived at the 7-Eleven with the 'Open' neon sign still on. It was 11:00 p.m. so they had an hour until it actually closed.
Both teenagers walked in, towards the cashier.
"Hi, I'd like two medium hot chocolates please." Subaru asked the cashier.
"Certainly" the cashier replied. Then he walked over to the booth that had the machines to make hot chocolate. He then began pouring hot chocolate into two medium cups.
"Subaru, I can pay for my own ok?" Akane asked.
"No, let me get it for you. After all it's Christmas." Subaru smiled sweetly. His blush was so red, that his head almost looked like a tomato.
"Here you go. That will be $2.11 please." The cashier asked.
"No problem." Subaru modestly said, handing him the money.
"Thank you. Merry Christmas, you two!" The cashier replied.
"Merry Christmas!" The two teenagers said in unison. Then they turned around and walked outside.
"Thanks again Subaru, for buying me hot chocolate." Akane sweetly spoke.
"No problem Akane. Merry Christmas!" Subaru chimed in.
"Uggh. I've heard that too many times!" Akane laughed.
'She's so beautiful when she's herself and laughing. Ohh... if I only had the courage…' Subaru thought to himself.
"Hey Subaruie, let's go back to that roof party!" Akane suggested.
"Uh… you go Akane. I'm going back to my floor and spending the rest of tonight with my family is that ok with you?" he asked Akane.
"Yeah sure go on ahead. I'll see ya later. Bye!" Akane chirped.
"Bye…" Subaru replied, walking away from Akane. Akane then set foot to the roof party. 'He never tries to compliment me or stay with me longer than five minutes before making up some excuse to go back home… I'm so sick and tired of it. If he really likes me, then why isn't he making his move?' Akane whined to herself. She walked back to the roof party, alone, satisfied that there would always be some hot guys who would at least keep her company for the duration.
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Knock, knock, knock.
"Hello?" A curious Ryoki opened the door.
"Hey Ryoki it's just me Hatsumi… can we talk?" Hatsumi nervously replied.
"Uh- yeah sure Hatsumi, come on in, my mother's out on a business trip for 2 days, she just left a while ago." Ryoki opened the door and let her in.
Hatsumi turned around, facing Ryoki.
"Uh, Ryoki… why did you change? What's going on?" Hatsumi asked, trying to be as serious as she could be.
"Actually to tell you the truth, it's all for you. I mean - god how do you explain something as trivial as this? Your impact on me has inflicted me in many ways and has made me be a better person. You know, I owe it all to you…" Ryoki answered.
"Me? Really? Wow uh… I feel honored that I've helped you." Hatsumi chuckled.
"Yeah, but there's just one more thing I want to ask you." Ryoki slowly said.
"What?" Hatsumi nervously replied, getting really spooked out at this.
"Would… you… wouldyouliketogooutwithme!" Ryoki stuttered. Unfortunately, Hatsumi didn't catch the last part of his sentence.
"I'm sorry what did you just say?" Hatsumi asked again, her stomach twisting and knotting all of a sudden.
"Would… you like… to go out with me?" Ryoki asked, taking deep breaths in between words to calm himself down.
'OH MY GOD.' Hatsumi thought.
"Wow. I would love to!" Hatsumi replied, smiling.
"Thank you so much Hatsumi!" Ryoki beamed, giving her a very affectionate hug.
"Mhmm…" Hatsumi mumbled. She loved this… feeling. Like Ryoki was sheltering her from the harsh world outside with his warmth and loving care. It felt so new and different to her.
'Perfect.' Ryoki thought to himself. Releasing Hatsumi, he said,
"Well Hatsumi I have to go. It's getting late, so good night and Merry Christmas!" Ryoki said, guiding Hatsumi outside his door.
"Good night… Ryoki and Merry Christmas." Hatsumi said, looking a little love struck. She let out a little giggle, before waving goodbye to Ryoki and walking downstairs to her home.
'He is so…amazing.' Hatsumi thought to herself, before closing her eyes and falling asleep in her bed…
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Author's Note: Ok! Well, since I don't get reviews much anymore, please review this chapter and I won't be posting the next one unless I get more than 3 reviews! Also you should know, the next chapter is a real DOOZY… it might… cause you to… get… pretty angry… so calm down (this is in advance) and chill out. Everything will all work out eventually in the end.
HollyWriter: I know… 'What the hell is going on with Ryoki?' Just relax… I'm sure by reading this chapter, it will have at least cleared your questions a little bit. I swear there is a rational explanation for all of this.
Well… please, please REVIEW! DON'T BE SHY! I CAN TAKE BAD AND GOOD COMMENTS! Well… have a good time reading!