"So where are we going to eat?" Aomi asked Eden as they rode in the back of a cab.
"A new place that just opened. Never tried it before so I hope you like it," Eden answered smiling at her. Then he turned a little serious.
"Can I ask you something?" He asked.
"Sure," Aomi said looking at him curiously with the sudden seriousness in his tone.
"Why didn't you tell me yourself that your last name is Niwa?"
Aomi was caught off guard by the question. She had hoped he hadn't noticed and wasn't too concerned about her last name. Before she could respond he continued.
"Don't worry about it. I don't concern myself with our families past and our so-called tradition. I gave up trying to stop your brother and Dark a long time ago. I'm sure you know about it."
Aomi nodded.
"But how did you find out?" Aomi said remembering they had never seen each other before.
"The guy who delivered the flowers to you today was quite loud," Eden told her smiling.
"Oh," Aomi said feeling rather foolish that she had forgotten about that. Then doubt began to set in her mind. The same doubt she felt when she first found out Eden was a Hikari.
"I don't think this is a good idea," Aomi blurted wishing immediately that she hadn't said anything. Eden was so good looking and she wanted to get to know him but she knew how Rio and Dark would both react.
"Why? Because of Rio and Dark?" He asked. Aomi nodded looking away. She felt bad for going this far with Eden. She didn't want to pursue something that she knew would not turn out so well. She thought to how Rio had responded when Dark wanted to spend his night out with her. Rio would blow up if he knew she was even sharing a cab with Eden.
"Can you pull over here," Aomi told the cab driver. The driver nodded and pulled to the side as she requested.
Eden looked at her flabbergasted. "Wait, Aomi!" He called out as he grabbed her arm before she could get out of the cab.
"Eden, let me go," she told him harshly. "My brother would kill me. I don't normally listen to what he has to say about who I spend my time with, but this would be going to far. He'd never forgive me and he's the only family I have left. I can't," and she removed Eden's hand from her arm and got out of the cab. Eden immediately followed her pulling out some money and handing it quickly to the cab driver as he got out.
"Aomi!" Eden caught up with her and turned her around to face him. "I'm not asking you to marry me. Just have dinner," he explained. "You're brother doesn't have to know. Besides, you didn't seem so concerned with your brother when I asked you to dinner at the gallery."
Aomi's mouth dropped opened ready to protest but found she had nothing to say for herself and immediately closed her mouth. Then she remembered he had asked her out to dinner before telling her his name and she pointed this out to him.
"Well, when you found out who I was, why didn't you try to cancel?" He shot back.
"Because you were just to good looking," she exclaimed exasperated realizing she was probably just making things into a bigger deal than they really were. I'm being a fool, she thought. Why would I start worrying about my brother now? Eden is just too cute to resist.
"You think I'm good looking?" He asked smiling as he straightened up and let her go.
"Yeah, but don't let it go to your head," Aomi told him lightly punching him in the arm. Eden grimaced in mock pain then laughed.
"So, come on. Let's grab another cab," he said taking her hand.
"No, wait!" Aomi said stopping him from dragging her to the edge of the sidewalk. "Let's do this another time. I'm really tired. I was out too late last night."
"Sure," Eden said disappointed. "But don't try to flake again," he scolded waving a finger in her face.
"I won't," she protested grabbing his finger and pushing it away.
"Alright, I'll take you home." Eden walked to the street ready to hail a cab.
"No, it's okay. I don't live far so I'll just walk" Aomi told him.
"I'll walk you home then," he offered but before she could protest he added, "Don't worry about your brother. We haven't seen each other in years. He won't recognize me."
"Okay," Aomi relented glad that he did offer to walk her home. She didn't want to end her night with Eden so soon but fatigue had started to set in. She was happy to spend a few more minutes with him.
As Aomi put the key into the lock of the front door to her house she heard Eden laugh softly.
"What?" She asked eyeing him out of the corner of her eye.
"You know this is what I planned all along," he told her mysteriously.
"Yeah, and what's that?" She asked curiously.
"To get inside the Niwa home so I can learn where you're family has hidden all of the Hikari artwork that Dark and his tamer's have stolen," he told her seriously though Aomi knew he wasn't.
"Ohhhh, so you're just using me then," Aomi said with wide eyes.
"I am," Eden whispered as he leaned in closer to her and kissed her lightly on the cheek. "Well, I'll call you tomorrow," and he turned to leave.
"Wait a minute," Aomi exclaimed stopping him from leaving. "You call that a good night kiss?" She tried to sound offended but couldn't help but smile.
"This wasn't a real date, so you don't get a real good night kiss," he told her turning to leave again.
"Why don't you come in and maybe it can be a real date?" Aomi asked hopefully. She had been looking forward to a kiss. The one with Dark the night before had left her wanting to really be kissed again. And she had a feeling she would really enjoy being kissed by Eden.
"Are you sure? What about Rio? If he's home you'll have to introduce us," he told her hesitantly.
"Don't worry about Rio," Aomi told him grabbing his hand and pulling him back. "He's not home and you'll probably be gone by the time he gets back."
Aomi didn't want Eden to go. She wanted to spend more time with him and talk. She had enjoyed their conversation as he had walked her home and she mentally kicked herself for not going to dinner with him.
"I thought you were tired," Eden pointed out.
"I am, but not too tired spend more time with you," she told him opening the door and pulling him inside.
