Authors Note/ Thanks for all the great reviews all! I love you people so much! I've never felt so great in my life! I can't believe I finished chapter 7 and am on chapter 8! I never thought this would have made it this far! And I would like to apologize for the major cliffhanger at the end of this chapter. BUT DON'T GO READ THE END YET! You'll ruin a well-written chapter!
Enjoy! But don't expect much happiness here either…
Chapter 7/ Hidden gifts(Satoshi's PoV)
"Santa Baby, forgot to mention, one little thing… a ring! And I don't mean on the phone. Santa Baby, so hurry down the chimney tonight."
Daisuke and I had gone back to my apartment, and, with the help of my motorcycle, brought all of Daisuke's things back to his house. Now, we sat before the rekindled fireplace wrapping the remaining gifts. I agreed to help, but only if I did all the squares and he did all the odd-shaped ones. He had only giggled at the doubt I had in myself.
Daisuke had put on Christmas music and had been singing along with every, single one, not to my surprise. But I'll admit that my favorite one to listen to him sing was 'Santa Baby.' I suppose it was the fact that he was asking a fat man in a red suit for a wedding ring amused me at some level. I think I made him replay (and re-sing) it about 3 times before I was satisfied. And I will also say that he sang pretty well… for a female song, at least.
I finished pressing the last piece of scotch tape on the side of a box that I had taken the embarrassing liberty of wrapping, and placed it next to Daisuke for a nametag. He was mumbling along with 'Winter Wonderland,' and I presume that it was just the light of the prancing flames that made his soft, peachy skin appear even softer and his crimson eyes even warmer and brighter. And perhaps it was the merry song that danced across his virgin lips, or maybe the sweet scent of the holiday eggnog as he sipped it's thick, soothing spices that made him seem all the more joyous.
He took the box with innocent hands as 'Santa Clause Lane' began to play. Don't be too surprised that I know all the titles. Daisuke had just decided that he'd inform me of the title and singer of every song that came on. But why I actually cared enough to remember all of them is what I don't understand.
I sat back against the foot of the couch seeing as I had finished my pile, and I just watched Daisuke sing. He finished curling the ribbon that wrapped around the box and stuck a sticker nametag next to it. As he scribbled down the names, he sand the chorus…
"Walking this Christmas, Down Santa Clause Lane. No need to worry, no need to explain. Just have some faith in what you see. You're right here where you want to be, walking this Christmas, down Santa Clause Lane."
He didn't look up from the gift as he said, "I'm signing these from both of us, 'kay Satoshi? That's only fair since you did buy them all!"
It had taken a moment for me to register that he was no longer sing and was now talking to me. I guess it was because his voice sounded just as beautiful when he simply spoke.
I blinked. "Is that okay?" he asked, uncomfortable under my gaze. When I noticed I was probably scaring him, I nodded.
"Daisuke?"
"Yeah?"
"I need to go shopping."
"Shopping?" he asked, giving me a confused look, like the one a puppy would give you if you left him in a cardboard box in the pouring rain.
(Daisuke's PoV)
Shopping? Where? For what? In the snow! Was he just trying to get away from me? (AN/ he asks too many questions! sighs) Who was I kidding? He was the one that needed to worry about me running away!
"Yes, I must buy a chip for my laptop."
Laptop? Oh yes, I had forgotten. I glanced back at the cherry wood coffee table. We had pushed it to the wall so it would give us more floor space. But on top of it was the slim, silver computer, closed, keeping all its hidden secrets buzzing around within. I had wondered why he had brought it along with him when I had first seen him grab it on the way back to my house. But I had forgotten, seeing as how we were acting normally… like friends. Was that really normal?
I looked back at the boy of my dreams. "Okay-! Are you leaving now!"
"I probably should, before the snow becomes heavier." He explained, standing up and pulling on the cuffs of his sleeves to straighten them. I watched him tie up his boots and grab a jacket, and then followed him to the door.
"Are you sure you have to go now?" I asked, urging him to stay with me. I knew he wasn't just trying to leave, but I felt like he was leaving me alone! Dark won't talk to me and Wiz isn't much company. I needed Satoshi to stay with me this cold winter's day!
He stopped at the door and looked back at me. He was starring at me intensely with those eyes that were icy-sharp. I froze. His eyes could freeze anyone's blood, heart, and life. It could 'kill' in an instant, without you even knowing that you had just died. He did that to me. He killed me a little more every time that he looked at me so closely and I couldn't touch him, hold him, kiss him… treat him the only way I could treat someone who could steal my heart with the blink of an eye. The only way I ever 'survived' was when his features softened, as they did now. His eyes didn't stare through me like a stake through my heart, my soul, but instead they looked at me! An emotion flooded his eyes that I couldn't name even though I knew what it was. But as long as he had me eyes locked to his, my mind would be too clouded to figure it out.
He stepped up to me and I backed away until I felt the wall behind me, which I used to keep my legs from buckling. He stood before me and he slid his hand across the side of my face and cupped my ear beneath my hair. I leaned my face into the touch and placed my hands on top of his and pressed against my skin. His thin, pale hand was just so warm and caressing as I had pictured.
This was the first real romantic contact we ever had with each other. And, in a voice filled with the same unnamed emotion that was held in his eyes, he spoke softy, "I'm not leaving you, Daisuke."
And with that, he turned, left, and closed the door behind him. 'He's gone?' It wasn't until that moment that I realized that I was panting and my heart was beating rapidly. I guess Satoshi's eyes really did know how to kill given that they knew how to make one forget to breathe and convince a heart to stop. Look what you do to me Satoshi!
XXXXXXXXXX
It was getting late. The sun was near setting now and still no sign of Satoshi. Mom or Dad hadn't called. Dark hadn't even made his presence known. And Wiz slept. The house had been quiet except for the soft Christmas music that I still played to try to keep my spirits up. If I were able to, I'd cry. My heart ached. I shouldn't have fallen for that stupid excuse! Where was he? What was he doing that he didn't want to tell me about? But I couldn't cry! No, I couldn't! I had cried too much already.
I spent all day before this fire, waiting for him to return. 'He said he wasn't leaving me.' I thought, trying to reassure myself unsuccessfully. I sipped the last bit of eggnog out of my mug. I had drank the 2 quarts that I had in the fridge and told myself that if I kept it up, I would probably become quite sick. Maybe eggnog was my comfort food for the holidays.
I looked at the mug I held. On one side was a rough painting of me and on the other side was a painting of Dark that was just as rough. Mom had made it for us for my birthday. I stared at 'Dark,' and wondered just how long it would be until he talked to me again. He couldn't ignore me forever… could he?
"Dark?"
… No answer. Of course there was no answer. What did I expect?
"Dark. I know you're not talking to me, but I hope you can just listen." I took a deep breath and struggled to find the right words. "I-… I mean, I hop you can forgive me, for whatever I did. It must have been really stupid! My emotions have been getting the best of me these past few days. But that's no excuse. I'm not sure what I did… but I wish you would tell me . . . . . I'm sorry, Dark!"
I stopped for a moment, choking back tears. Dark hadn't ignored or acted like this toward me for quite some time. Not since the beginning, when Dark and I couldn't get along or work together. But, since then, we've been like brothers… and we rarely fought. We did everything together. I mean, we were the same person in a way, but we shared everything, even the same crush when it came to Riku. He helped me in school, and with the Haradas. And he helped me realize who and what I could be, if only I tried. He did everything for me. He made me stronger and supported me through any of my decisions.
But… what had I ever done for him? Nothing. I did nothing. He did so much for me, and I did absolutely nothing in return! I remembered disobeying him, and ignoring his advice. I remembered yelling at him when he was fighting Satoshi, when all he was trying to do was protect us both. I remembered… hating him. Some of the things he had done… I hated him for. Hate!
". . . . . I'm so sorry!" And with that I drifted off to sleep through my tears.
Somewhere, far off in a distant consciousness, Dark laid dormant. In a sound sleep of emotionless, lifeless, dreamless existence, yet a single, black, crystal tear slid down his paled cheek.
XXXXXXXXXX
(Satoshi's PoV)
I was going to give up! I had been wandering around the mall all day! I knew I'd have to get back to Daisuke soon, before he began to worry. (AN/ little does he know that he's a little late!) I thought back to what had happened before I left. It was instincts, or the moment, or maybe just his distressed face, but I wouldn't have done it if I were thinking clearly. Because that had been pure torture for me! How could I have been so close to him and not be able to go any farther! It was unbearable. I left as quickly as I could once I realized what I had done and what I was doing to myself.
Though, I had felt rather guilty after I left, since I had lied to him. Computer chip? Right! Luckily Daisuke wasn't the brightest penny when it came to computers! But I was truthfully shopping! Thank goodness Krad slept through most of it and didn't ask too many questions, or else I would never had heard the end of it! Because I was actually shopping for a Christmas Gift for Daisuke.
I was so close to just leaving with nothing and trying again another night, like I had done with Dark so many times before. The crowds, the noise, the rush… I had always avoided going out during the holidays because of things like those. Yet there I was, among the other 'last-minute' shoppers.
It was then that something caught my eye. I steered myself into a nearby store, and up to two people that I had grown to despise. "Miss Harada." I said flatly. The 2 brunette twins turned to look at me, both slightly surprised to hear my voice.
"Hiwatari-kun?" asked Risa. I strongly wished to roll my eyes at her. No, I'm Santa Clause come early! Jeez! This girl was a ditz. And I hated her even more because she had turned down Daisuke and hurt him. That had got me pissed. I once thought to ask her out. I know now that it was only so I could get closer to Daisuke.
"What are you doing here, Hiwatari-kun?" asked the other twin, Riku. I'll admit that she wasn't as bad as her sister, but she had, or maybe still was in the way of my relationship with the redhead. And there were times when she seemed to tear out my heart without meaning to. I was happy to know that I was Daisuke to turn down Riku and not the other way around.
But no matter how you looked at it, I wished both of them would jump off a bridge!
"I was going to ask you the same thing." I said, trying and succeeding in hiding my bitterness for them both.
"Last minute shopping… for Daisuke!" they answered, blushing.
XXXXXXXXXX
(Daisuke's PoV)
Wiz prodded my nose with his, and then climbed on top of my head. I closed my eyes tightly in response, as though if I did then sleep would come back to me. I pried one eye open so I could look blurrily at the pair of white rabbit ears that hung in front of my face. His big black eyes stared into my own red ones.
"Kyu!"
"Oh, Wiz." I whispered, my words almost unintelligible from the lack of use of my vocal cords, Wiz jumped off my head, off my bed, out my bedroom door, and into the hallway. I sat up slowly, trying to wake up. Wait, my bedroom door? I fell asleep downstairs on the couch, how did I get up there? I heard Wiz 'kyu' from the hallway. I stood, losing my balance at first, but regaining it quickly enough. I joined my pet in the hallway before asking, "Wiz, what is it?"
He only 'kyu-ed' again and headed down the stairs. He laid down on the bottom step and I sat next to him, on hand holding the banister, the other petting the rabbit.
Then I heard a noise, like a sharp tearing sound. I peered curiously and nervously into the living room from my seat. Satoshi sat in the middle of the floor, tearing off another piece of tape before finishing of the wrapping of a box. He stuck on a nametag and scribbled something on it. A gift? For who? Could it be for…?
Satoshi looked around him for a moment, searching for a place to hide it. He put it in the bottom of the clothes bag that he had brought, and then folded his clothes over it. Satoshi then stood and stretched, then headed off for the bathroom.
Once I had heard the lock on the door click shut, I jumped up from the bottom step and went to Satoshi's bag to find the present. I wanted to know whom it was for? 'Could it be for me?' I thought as I pulled it out, careful not to mess up the clothes that Satoshi had just folded. 'The one and only gift he gives on Christmas…' My thoughts were cut off when I read the tag. "T-to… to Risa!"
TBC…
AN/ I told you, major cliffy! Sorry people! Don't kill me just yet!
So… what happened at the mall that made Satoshi redirect his emotions? Or is it something else? Find out in chapter 8!
Don't forget to tell me if you want me to continue or not, or if you've gotten bored with the lot yet or something, kk?
