Ariana: Look, look! Another chapter. Oh yeah!
Ti: All thanks to me, might I add.
Ariana: Yeah, yeah. He finally decided to come back. Where were you this time?
Ti: Not telling.
Ariana: Whatever. For warnings and disclaimers see previous chapters.
Enjoy!
Hikari stood uncomfortably with Miyako in front of Yamato's door. "Why do we have to do this?" she pleaded again.
Miyako sighed exasperatedly and faced her friend. "Because we need to find out who this mystery girl is and the only way to do that is to ask Daisuke himself."
Hikari allowed herself a moment to reflect on how blunt and straight-forward Miyako still was. She had never grown out of that, and probably never would. "And we need to find out why?"
The taller girl glared at her. "We're scoping out the competition. And if necessary, we'll eliminate her." She turned back to the door.
Hikari stifled a chuckle, something that would very easily send the lavender-haired girl off. The intensity with which Miyako deployed her "missions" was always entertaining...when there wasn't a chance of embarrassing another party that is. Hikari sighed and knocked softly on the door again. She shrugged. "Looks like they're not here." She silently prayed that was the truth.
Miyako rolled her eyes and leaned around Hikari to ring the doorbell. Soon after the door opened. Hikari decided that perhaps praying aloud would achieve better results next time, but quickly pulled herself out of her reverie to notice the person on the other side of the door. "Takeru?" she asked in confusion.
The blonde grinned. "Hello ladies, what are you doing here?"
"We came to talk to Daisuke," Miyako demanded.
Takeru turned to Hikari. "Don't ask," she said in response to his unasked question.
He shrugged and widened the door. "Come on in. My cousin's visiting from Kamakura, you can meet her." Miyako and Hikari shared a glance but followed Takeru into the apartment.
They entered the living room to find Yamato, Daisuke, and the girl from the mall. Daisuke was pouting and Yamato and the mystery girl were laughing. Hikari figured a joke had just been said at Daisuke's expense. Her guess was confirmed when the girl reached over and pinched Daisuke's cheek with a grin. "Aw, don't be sad Dai-Dai, you know we love you," the girl cooed. Daisuke turned red and Yamato was sent into another fit of laughter.
Hikari felt a strange stirring in stomach but pushed it back forcefully. She refused to acknowledge it for what she knew it was. She had never really been jealous of anyone, and she was not about to start now.
"Dai-Dai?" asked Takeru. The blonde couldn't seem to determine whether to break into laughter like his brother or be thoroughly disgusted with the nickname.
The girl turned to them and smiled. "When our friend's little brother came to visit one time, he kept calling Daisuke 'Dai-Dai'. I have no idea why." She chuckled. "The funniest part was that everyone thought he was saying "da-da" and so they thought he was Daisuke's son!" That finally sent Takeru into peals of laughter.
"Can you imagine?" he choked out. "Daisuke as a father? I don't know if we'd survive it."
"Hey!" exclaimed Daisuke. "For your information I would be an excellent father." He crossed his arms in irritation.
Takeru smiled. "I'm sorry, I'm sure you would...Dai-Dai." He then started laughing again.
Daisuke rolled his eyes. "Thanks a lot Sachi."
The girl shrugged. "Anytime." She then got up and walked over the other girls. "Hi I'm Sachi, Takeru and Yamato's cousin and Daisuke's friend."
"I don't know you!" Daisuke called from his position on the floor.
She rolled her eyes and gave the girls a look that said "He really is an idiot."
"I'm Hikari and this is Miyako," Hikari said politely. "Nice to meet you."
Before Sachi could reply Miyako cut in. "You were at the mall earlier today," she said accusingly.
Sachi seemed caught off guard but remained polite. "Yes I was. I hadn't seen Daisuke since school let out so I wanted to hang out with him a bit. Why do you ask?"
A very diplomatic response, Hikari observed. She decided she liked the girl for her politeness, but anyone who chose their words so carefully when they spoke had a lot to hide. She had learned quite a bit by her brother being best friends with Yamato...and being best friends with Yamato's brother.
Miyako seemed to be calculating her response. "Just that I saw Daisuke with someone and was wondering who it was," she replied nonchalantly.
Hikari almost groaned when she recognized Miyako's "two can play at that game" strategy. She glanced at Daisuke who was watching the interaction with guarded interest. She hoped Sachi didn't have a temper like Miyako's, or they would all be preparing for World War III.
"Oh," said Sachi smiling. "Well, it was me. Are you both friends of his?"
"Yes," replied Miyako before Hikari could answer. "We've known each other for quite a while. Since elementary school."
Hikari watched Daisuke's eyes widen at Miyako's defensive tone. Hikari had to admit she was a little shocked herself. She wasn't sure if Miyako was trying to defend Hikari's "status" or if she felt personally threatened.
Sachi either didn't notice or pretended not to. Either way she played off her response fairly well. The smile never left her face. "That really is quite some time. You all must be really close." She sent them both one last smile and then walked back toward the couches. "Come on and sit down with us," she invited.
Miyako subtlely, but effectively, forced Hikari into a seat near Daisuke. She took a seat for herself in a position from which she could keep an eye on Sachi. Hikari noted all this quickly and took in the positions of everyone in the room. Yamato's couches were set up in an "L" shape. Daisuke sat on the floor against the corner where the two couches met. Sachi sat to his left and Hikari to his right. Yamato sat next to Sachi. Miyako sat on the other end of Hikari's couch and Takeru thankfully sat between them.
"So Sachi," Miyako asked. "Where did you say you were from?"
"Kamakura," she answered smiling. "I really don't know why I haven't visited before now. It's a bit of a trip but not too long."
"You should've stayed there," muttered Daisuke. He turned and grinned at Sachi to show that he was just joking. She stuck her tongue at him.
"So you go to school with Daisuke?" asked Miyako.
"Yep. He's one of my best friends there."
"Aw, thanks Sachi," said Daisuke teasingly, though Hikari could tell he was slightly embarrassed. She glanced back at Miyako expecting another comment. Just as the other girl was about to open her mouth a musical tune sounded.
Miyako frowned and pulled out her phone. "Hello? Oh hi mom. What? It's supposed to be my day off! That's not fair." There was a long pause as Miyako apparently received a lecture. "Yes ma'am," she said dejectedly before hanging up the phone.
"Have to go into work?" asked Daisuke.
Miyako sighed. "Yeah." They waited but she didn't elaborate. "Well, I guess I better go. Nice meeting you Sachi." She stood up.
"You too," Sachi replied. They watched as Miyako walked out the door. "Is she okay?" Sachi asked.
Hikari smiled. "She's fine. She's just…"
"Miyako," Daisuke finished for her. He laughed and looked at his watch. "Well, I hate to break up the party, but if we're going to the aquarium we should leave soon."
"You're going today?" asked Hikari.
"Yeah, you wanna come?" asked Daisuke with a grin.
"Actually," Takeru interrupted, "I need to talk to you, Hikari."
She nodded. "Sorry," she said to Daisuke. She turned to Sachi. "How long are you here? Maybe we can all hang out some time?"
Sachi smiled. "I'd like that."
Daisuke rolled his eyes. "Come on. We should get going."
They all said goodbye and Sachi and Daisuke left. Hikari sighed. She had a feeling she knew what Takeru wanted to talk about.
Sachi watched Daisuke as he watched the otters. "Cute, aren't they?"
She turned back to the display. "Yeah they are." She waited and turned back to him. "So that was Hikari?"
Daisuke sighed. "Sachi," he growled.
"What?" she asked innocently.
"You just can't keep your nose to your own business." He turned and walked to the next exhibit.
"Hey!" she cried. She ran after him. "Why are you so touchy?" She studied him. "You like her don't you?"
"What?" he asked, eyes wide. He frowned. "Don't be ridiculous."
"Oh man," she grinned. "You totally do!"
Daisuke rolled her eyes. "Okay, yeah, I used to like her. A while ago. Back in elementary school. Not anymore."
"Mmhmm…"
"Besides, it would be totally pointless for me to like her. I mean her and Takeru are joined at the hip. And I don't care what Ken says about them being 'just friends'. How would he know anyway? I can tell. They're just in denial. Pretty soon they'll get together, and get married, and have little Hikaris and Takerus and…would you stop smiling at me!"
She chuckled. "Oh Daisuke." She shook her head and looped a hand through his arm. "When will you learn to stop denying everything and trust your friends," she stopped and faced him, "and yourself."
He looked at her. It took a few minutes but he finally sighed. "And what if I do like her still…again. It doesn't matter. She and Takeru…"
"How do you know they like each other?"
"How do you know they don't?"
"Daisuke," she said sternly.
He sighed again. "You're just like Ken."
She laughed. "You say that a lot. Maybe I should meet this Ken?"
"God forbid," he countered. "But seriously, they're attached at the hip."
"So are you and Ken."
He looked at her in shock. "That's disgusting."
She rolled her eyes but decided to change tactics. "Does Miyako like you?"
"What!" He stuttered for a bit before calming down. "Miyako would sooner prick needles into a voodoo of me."
"Ugh, that is disgusting."
"What? I didn't say she'd prick them into me!"
"Daisuke!"
"What?"
"Never mind, we're getting off topic. So if Miyako doesn't like you, why was she so defensive?"
"Heck if I know. She was being really weird today, even for her."
"I have a theory…"
"Oh no, I've seen that smirk before…"
"I think she was acting for Hikari."
"What!" yelled Daisuke, again. "Hikari doesn't act like that."
"I figured," said Sachi thoughtfully. "Which is why I think Miyako took it upon herself to protect Hikari."
"What are you saying?"
"You know how Dan gets when he starts feeling overprotective?"
Daisuke shook his head. "Are you suggesting…"
Sachi shrugged. "But then again, what do I know? They're not my friends."
She turned away from him with a satisfied smile, which quickly dropped at the scene in front of her. A woman of about forty was clearly flirting with a young man no older than twenty. "Oh that is disgusting," she said as the couple kissed. "And in public, no less."
She turned back to Daisuke to say something but stopped. Her friend was pale and looked like he was grinding his teeth. "Are you okay?" she asked carefully.
He turned around. "I don't feel like being here anymore." She watched him walk away, confused. Sure the display was kind of disturbing, but she didn't think it was reason to get so upset.
"Daisuke, wait up!" she called, chasing after him.
The journey back to the apartment was silent. He dropped her off at his door and left again, saying he had to go see Ken.
With a sigh she opened the front door, only to find three guilty faces staring at her. She raised an eyebrow and closed the door behind her. They looked relieved as they realized Daisuke wasn't with her. "All right," she said, "what are you guys plotting?"
Dun, dun, dun! Oh yeah! One more chapter and it's finished! The next chapter should be out a lot sooner than this one, seeing as I'm done with school. Until then, please review!
