Author's Corner: Right hello again, thanks to my dear first reviewer- iMdr3AmInOfU! This story has engulfed my life; at the completely wrong time as this is err… one week before my O levels, four days before my Chinese O Levels and the last day of my Science Practicals. Right-O.

Still, I have to get this out as it will just rot out in me if I don't. Also I must say that I am the sort who writes first, thinks later and plans the last. So the first chapter was a Write-First thing, and subsequently, it became a Think-Later and now a Plan-Last.

I've did some minor changes, like bringing Riku's age up to twenty-three (she was originally twenty-one, goodness knows where that came from.) and changing the title-

Shigure: Isn't that minor.

Author: Ahem. Right. Okay, A Big Change then. The title's no longer 'You and Me' even though it was inspired by Lifehouse's 'You and Me', it's now 'The Perfect Birthday', as it happened on Riku's birthday and all. Yes.

Dark: A Secret Clan! Wa hahahahax.

Shigure: I told you so but nooo… you wouldn't listen…

Author: (Ignores Shigure and Dark) Also, I'll be recommending stories for Dark X Riku fans, at the end of every chapter. There isn't much out there anyway, so if you're a Dark X Riku fan like me, get out there and write one!

PS One of my beta readers said that Riku's reaction to going to the club was a bit too over-dramatic. I say, as Riku did, you have a mad sister who's married and doesn't work. You have two friends who are nice but homicidally insane when it comes to birthdays. You have a scheming sister, as emphasized again. Who is very free, as said once more. Thus, ph34r t3h r15A!

This should go out into at least seven chapters, if planned correctly and I don't suddenly add in unexpected things…

Most love stories begin with a protagonist, usually down on his or her luck. Most love stories then have the protagonist meeting, by accident, the love of his or her life, who would amazingly pull the person right out of the deep dark hole that he or she had been in, and smile charmingly, and everything would be wonderful from then on.

Most love stories bank on that, knowing that the beloved public loves them.

Unfortunately, this love story, banks on that catch, knowing that the beloved public loves them to bits. This love story, as we all now know, involves two startlingly different characters who unwittingly complement each other so well that they, sadly, do not see it.

This love story hopes to change that concept.

Title: The Perfect Birthday

Chapter II: Oh–hic-Dear

'Tadaaaaaaahhh!'

Riku flicked her hair out of her face with a jerk of her head irritably. The blindfold was finally pulled off rather ceremoniously to reveal a dark three-storey high building, with the words 'DNA' scrawled in pink neon at the roof. The entrance of the so-called newest club was teeming with young men and women, all eager to enter the club and see what the all the hype about it had been about.

'This is Satoshi's newest investment,' Risa explained as the trio pulled Riku past the crowd, towards the grim-looking bouncer with biceps the size of cannonballs. Riku winced in pain. She had just realised that she was shoeless and wearing stockings, in a very dangerous environment where stomping was bound to take place.

Her mind made itself up.

'Wait Risa!' she called desperately. 'I can't go in without any shoes!'

Risa turned, tilted her and frowned. She knew her sister wouldn't lie to her intentionally when she knew that there was absolutely no hope of escape. Still, Riku wasn't one to give up…

'Yes, she can't go in like that. Everyone would just die of laughter and think we manhandled her in,' Hikaru noted, seeing that Riku looked definitely worst for wear, with her messed up hair, missing shoes and rumpled clothing. Riku shot her a piercing glare.

'They aren't so far from the truth anyway,' she growled, looking almost frightening. However the effect was mostly destroyed by a particularly insensitive young woman, who stepped on Riku's toes, contorting Riku's face into a mask of agony.

'Arggh,' she added, for effect but mostly for the pain. Risa sighed in defeat.

'Fine, fine, let's move over before another person kills Riku even before her birthday surprise…' The quartet moved out of the crowd, much to the relief of everyone else, and stood at one side, discussing Riku's wardrobe.

'It's too late to bring her home-'

'She'd probably bolt, knowing her-'

'Hey!'

'I know! She can wear my shoes!'

Everyone looked at Risa, the brilliant one, as she removed her shoes. Riku's face became a mask of horror. Risa didn't wear shoes, she wore horrible fluffy things, which weren't even supposed to be in the same category as shoes but probably belonged somewhere in the behind section, the kind of shoes no one would dare to wear out, except to-

'They're just slippers, Riku. And wipe that terrible look off your face.'

'Oh god! They aren't slippers, they're-they're bunny killers! And they're PINK! I refuse!' Riku started backing away but Rukia, thinking along the same lines, moved closer, blocking off her line of escape.

'Nonsense! They're only slightly pink. Mostly blue,' Risa laughed, dismissing Riku's fashion sense and seriously undermining Eirotte's and Rukia's imagination. She proffered the pair of strappy fluff at Riku.

Riku shook her head childishly. 'Can I wear Rukia's shoes at least?' she asked timidly.

'No. You wear mine. I am being the nice younger sister here, and I am letting you wear my shoes. Do you know how many people I know want to wear Risa Hiwatari nee Harada's shoes?' she said with a steely glint in her eye. Riku sighed.

'Fine. And to think today is my birthday…' Riku continued under her breath. 'I get ambushed, tackled and embarrassed until beyond the edge of infinity… and to top it all off, possibly, drunk.' She pulled the vile fluffy strappy things on anyway.

'Right. Now what?' Riku nodded with a hint of defeat in her tone, as she planted her hands on her hips, tilting her head for effect. Eirotte smiled and nodded affirmatively, giving her a thumbs-up. Rukia nodded shortly, signalling her approval.

Risa wasn't looking, she was pulling something out of her bag, a bag which Riku didn't know her sister was carrying. Riku's look of defeat soon turned into outrage, as she saw what Risa pulled out.

'A pair of shoes! RISA! Why didn't you TELL me you had SHOES!' Riku cried, nearly pulling her face off in exasperation. Risa looked at her as though she was mad.

'Don't be stupid. I just brought those today. I want to wear them!' Risa replied, as though it was the most obvious thing in the world.

Riku wouldn't have been so incensed if they looked anything like those foul hairy things she had on. However, Risa new shoes were smooth, sleek and beige, with a slight tint of brown. So sensible… but she couldn't wear them. She nearly died of envy watching Risa pull them on.

'Damn you, Risa,' Riku muttered, as the trio held on to her arms again, and pulled her towards the staunch bouncer at the glass entrance of the club.

-/-

'Risa Hiwatari. I'm sure you know me…' Risa was saying loudly and clearly to the man. Risa had this belief since high school, that short and stocky people weren't intelligent. Several of Riku's best friends in college had been rather… vertically challenged but they were the most intelligent people she had met. Riku didn't really have the heart to tell her otherwise, as Risa would look dazed and space out until the topic changed anyway. Here, her prejudice wasn't so obvious, as the noise the people were making inside wasn't exactly as little as the hair on the bouncer's head. The bald bouncer then glared at the quartet, his eyes lingering on Riku, who was smouldering, and then waved them through.

Upon entering the club, Riku felt for the first time, that it had been worth it to be tackled, embarrassed and probably drunk, just to see the interior. It was… there was only one word for it, classy. There was no fog at all from the smokers; they had been cordoned off to another area behind the bar. The club had also been separated into two parts, an almost chic place where people could lounge and chat, and the dance floor, where the most energetic of the club's clientele could dance their time away. The area was big enough for the owners to install two different sound systems, one for the lounging area and one for the dance floor. While the lounging area had been furnished with cute yet comfortable, and stylish sofas and accompanying tables, the dance floor had been filled with high chairs and equally high tables, easy enough for the lively to jump out and join the dancing area. The lounging area was one where Riku would have most likely belonged, had she not lost her shoes. It was decked with mild colours and soft lighting, to bring forth the atmosphere of relaxation, something which she felt she deserved really badly today. The people there were also sitting about in small groups and talking quietly amongst themselves, like in respect of the surroundings and soft music flowing out from the speakers hinged at the corners of the room. It almost felt like a tiny bistro, tucked away in a corner of the street, like a secret. Spotting a particularly squashy looking sofa, Riku's legs wanted to melt… straight into it… but she felt herself being unwillingly tugged towards the bar.

Nooooo... her mind was quietly protesting. Sofa good… sofa's soft…

As she slumped onto the hard high chair listlessly, she vaguely heard Risa ordering a drink.

'Whatever it is, make it a double,' she muttered, raising her hand slightly. The bartender heard and nodded accordingly.

-/-

Two hours later, Riku found out that she wasn't really feeling that down after all.

Of course, she had to add much vodka or whatever, into that concoction, to get the results.

Eirotte and Rukia were still sitting around and waiting, looking around almost hawkishly, waiting for… something. Riku had already been long gone, after what, her seventh martini? Eirotte had wanted to stop her from drinking her eighth but Risa had shook her head almost smilingly, which meant that if Eirotte had stopped Riku, Risa wasn't going to speak to her for the next three years.

So Eirotte had shrugged and smiled faintly, as Riku suggested for them to do something really raunchy. Dancing on the bar top seemed like fun…

Riku lifted her head mulishly, something she felt she hadn't done for a very long time. Signalling rather drunkenly to the bartender, she muttered something into his ear, before hiccupping slightly.

'You look really… are you twins? That makes you guys like me and my sister… haha… we're twins too…'

Eirotte pulled her away from the polite bartender and flashed him one of her more dazzling smiles.

'Ignore her maudlin, she's always like that…' The bartender smiled obligingly.

'I see this practically everyday,' he grinned, cleaning a glass. 'What's your name? Mine's Perrin.'

Eirotte laughed. 'Oh I'm not interested. Neither should you…'

The bartender shrugged. 'Well, I'm here every Friday.'

Rukia turned around and smiled at the man. His boyish grin froze. Rukia had a grin that few could match… in scaring people. 'You should listen to her. She really isn't interested.'

Risa then walked over, cutting off the bartender's reply.

'Right, we're going off. Leave her here, she'll be fine.' Eirotte and Rukia stared at her in disbelief.

'You mean we brought her here just to leave her here?'

Risa laughed a rather disconcerting laugh. 'Oh hohohohoho!' she cackled, putting her hand to her mouth demurely. 'I've got it all planned. She'll be fine! This isn't called Riku's Birthday Surprise for nothing you know!'

Eirotte still looked unsure, pushing her glasses up gently. 'Are you sure? This is Friday night after all, many things can happen…' She placed her hand comfortingly on Riku, who was still leaning on the hard metal bar top, and Riku giggled and blew a bubble. Risa's smile faded.

'Look, she's my sister and I want the best for her. I'm sure you do too. You know her company's state, and I do too… so let's just trust me on this, and leave her here… and if she gets raped or something, I'll be sure to know who did it too, and I'll slaughter that evil man. Anyway, just trust me on this, and I'll tell you the surprise later okay?'

She patted Riku's arm reassuringly. Eirotte turned towards the woman who now had the mental capacity of a five-year old and sighed.

'At least, tell me what her birthday surprise is…' she added quietly, as Rukia went to join them, and they started leaving the club. Risa smiled mysteriously.

'I think it's… no, he's been here waiting for quite a long time already…'

Risa pointed towards the corner of the lounging area. Rukia's and Eirotte's line of sight followed her finger, and stared as a man with violently purple hair barely visible in the dim lighting raise his cup in salutations.

'That's Riku's birthday surprise!'

'Well, yeah. What did you expect? I was dropping hints all over!'

'But but… a man?'

'And not just any man, Eirotte! He's the best one I could find!' Risa waggled her finger playfully. 'And when Risa finds the best, she means the-'

Rukia chuckled darkly, cutting Risa off. 'You are so brilliant Risa. I don't know how you do it…'

Eirotte could only stutter. 'Are you sure? She'll be okay right?'

Risa cast Eirotte a questioning glance, even as Rukia interrupted, 'Eirotte, you're talking to the woman who melted the Ice King's heart.'

Eirotte blinked, and smiled. Slipping her arm around Risa, she watched Rukia do the same and the trio left the bar, smiling serenely.

'…But why did you have to get her drunk?'

-/-

Riku woke up from a slight snooze she had been having on the bar top. The bar top was a hard place to sleep on, she felt, and now she wanted a nice softer place to soothe her legs. Sitting down on a hard high chair for the past two hours had done very bad things to her bum. Yawning slightly, she stood up unsteadily, hiccupped, and grinned childishly at the bartender twins.

She leant over the bar top as both of the twins, once again, obligingly leant over to hear whatever she had to say.

'You guys are really… really something. Thanks… so much…-hic- for listening to me… but can I have… another drink? Because my glass is empty… and I really, really, really… don't like that view…' she grinned sheepishly as the 'men' filled up two glasses of alcohol for her. 'Where're… my friends?' she asked, suddenly noticing their absence.

She spun around unsteadily, to see where her friends had gone, and predictably lost her balance. Riku only remembered seeing some things black and thin appearing somewhere from the corner of her eye… and suddenly the floor was very far away from her face.

'Ooooohh…' she muttered dizzily. 'Hello floor…!'

She felt something pull her up, and she lifted her face up to greet it, only to see two of the most intense violet eyes she had ever seen staring back at her. Normally, Riku would have slapped the evil bugger for taking advantage of her, as Riku had a personal space which extended several metres away from her body. However, befuddled by one too many shots of alcohol, Riku only laughed slowly and said dreamily, 'You have the most pretty eyes I have ever seen…'

The eyes twinkled as Riku finally noticed the face that went along with the astonishing eyes. The face was boyish yet devastatingly good-looking, for even though Riku did know the word 'handsome', she had never used it on anyone before and she certainly wasn't going to start tonight, even if she was a little tipsy. The face was similarly framed by one of the worst hairstyles she had seen, yet they complemented the person's eyes oh so beautifully.

Unfortunately, even though Riku still was sober enough to notice such salient features, the alcohol had taken its toll, and now Riku was looking into two pairs of purple eyes.

'Hi…' she murmured. 'You're very pretty…'

The faces grinned at her. A surprisingly low voice answered, 'Hello. So are you.'

A tiny thought bubble surfaced amongst the swamps of drunkenness. 'You're a guy?' she queried curiously, as the man helped her towards the blessed piece of squashy furniture she had been eyeing the entire night.

'Fortunately, yes. My name's Dark Mousy. What's yours?' he smiled as he bounced onto the seat next to her on the sofa, and called for his drink. Having finally rested on the wonderfully soft sofa, Riku grinned again and placed her head on the top of the cushion, and turned to face the interesting person, her short hair spilling all over her face.

'My name's Riku… and today's my birthday!' she announced self-righteously, putting her finger to her mouth. 'Haha…'

Dark nearly snorted into his drink. She had looked completely adorable at that point, and he wouldn't have been able to swallow anything for fear of choking upon it, and ruining the moment.

'Well, happy birthday then, Riku.' He held his hand out to congratulate her. 'And how old does Miss Riku become today?'

Riku took his hand and shook it. It was surprisingly warm for a person who had waited for at least an hour before making his move, under the fierce air-conditioning of the club. It was also smooth, and Riku couldn't help noticing the extremely long fingers the man had.

'You have very long and pretty fingers, Mr Dark…' she replied, taking his hand and subjecting it to close scrutiny. Dark laughed- a low pleasant sound.

'Does Miss Riku's vocabulary only contain the word 'pretty'?' Dark asked teasingly, his eyes never leaving her as she examined his hand with childlike curiosity.

'I turn… twenty… err…' Riku dropped his hand and scratched her head and then sighed as a hurried search in her memory drive proved futile. 'I can't remember…'

Dark shrugged and smiled again. 'It's alright. Sometimes, it's good not to remember stuff.'

Riku nodded happily. 'I was trying to forget something today but now I can't remember what…' She laughed and pulled her legs up to the sofa, a bid against the sudden cold. Eyes shining with mischief, Dark burst out laughing again and replied, 'Perhaps it was the slippers?'

Riku turned down to her feet, to see some very unfamiliar objects at the end of her legs, contrasting rather violently with her black stockings. Her eyebrows wrinkling as she tried to remember how they got there, she pulled the slippers off her feet and stared at them. After a few seconds of silence, she shrugged and then replaced the slipper back on her feet.

'Nope… it isn't the slippers.'

Dark cocked his head to the right as he leant on the sofa along with Riku. 'Hmmm… maybe it's… your job? What do you work as?'

Riku frowned again then brightened. This time, her search proved successful. 'I work as someone who draws pictures for other people…' her vocabulary sadly lacking as the alcohol continued its toll on her brain.

Dark put his finger to his chin. 'An artist? An interior or fashion designer? Architect?' he probed.

Riku shook her head violently. 'I don't like drawing buildings… I think I draw insides of houses… What about you?' she asked Dark.

Dark tossed his head casually to shift his hair. 'I write,' he said simply.

Riku laughed again. 'I like to read! Have I read your writings before?'

Dark swallowed his drink. 'No… I don't think so. Unless you read magazines…'

Riku replied, 'Risa reads magazines!'

'Risa?'

'She's my sister. She's married now, though she's younger than me. It's so lonely without her around any more. I mean, I'm happy for her yes… but it's sad… like she left me for her own happiness…' A slice of Riku's inner self, which wasn't completely drunk yet, had broken through, and without the constraints of her outer core, which was currently having fun with several types of organic compounds, it continued pouring out, like a river which had broken through a dam.

'I mean, it's all very nice to go and get married but she doesn't seem to remember me anymore. Oh she comes and visits… sometimes… but she seems to have forgotten that I've spent my entire life looking after her and watching for her so everything I did was for her, as she was always the pretty one, the one everyone looked out for, as she didn't seem capable of looking out for herself… then she met that Satoshi Hiwatari, and got herself married, without so much as a thank-you Riku for taking care of me!' Riku continued, taking a deep breath to continue.

'Then it's all very well that Satoshi's some big businessman and rich, so she's all taken care of… but how about me? I've been the kind sister, the one who always took care of her, the one who went after the guys who broke her heart… heh,' Riku smiled weakly to herself. 'Now that she's married, she's really free now and today she dragged me to this bar for some birthday surprise thing-'

Riku stopped. Dark turned to face her.

'Why'd you stop?'

'I-I-never figured out what was her birthday surprise thing!' she stormed. 'She dragged me here to get drunk, stupid girl, I'm going to kill her when I get home!'

Dark raised a delicate eyebrow. One thing worst than a half-drunk would be an angry half-drunk.

'Er… have another drink?' he said hastily, offering her his glass. 'To soothe your angry spirit?' Angry, Riku took it and downed in swiftly.

Dark poured another one quickly, even as the bartender arrived with another bottle and another glass.

As Riku downed several more glasses much too quickly for her body to handle, Dark leant back and looked at the angry young woman.

She was amusing yes, and undoubtedly very angry at her sister. Still there had to be something else which had to be the source of her getting drunk in the first place. He looked at his watch. He still had a couple of hours to waste, something he would very much like to spend on this woman. She was very interesting…

'- here?'

'What?' Dark snapped out of his brief reverie. 'I'm sorry… what did you say?'

'I asked what you were doing here.'

'Oh. I was waiting for someone.'

'Well?'

'Well what?'

'Did you find that person?'

'I can't say yet.'

Riku sniffed and leant back on her sofa, crossing her legs impatiently, ignoring the disgusting pieces of cloth that was at her feet. She was drunk, half–drunk really, but now that she found a purpose for getting drunk (again), Riku Harada wasn't one to let a tiny thing like money get in her way.

'Bartender!' she called. 'Three more bottles!'

Dark's impression of the woman grew significantly. He didn't know whether it was good or bad yet. All he knewwas that, man she must be really upset…

-/-

Two hours later, yet again, Riku was now completely at sea in the huge alcoholic ocean that she had sunken herself into. Dark wasn't drunk; in fact he could hold his liquor exceptionally well. He had just sat there and slipped a few slips of his martini, and watched and listened as the angry woman poured everything out to him.

His impression of her had definitely improved. He found out that she was an interior designer but her company was currently floundering, and that she was now twenty-three and completely lost at what to do with her life. She was also a very passionate woman, as seen by her previous outburst, and one who pretty much kept everything to herself. She was definitely very interesting. Risa promised, and she did deliver. He knew about her company of course, which was why Risa had organised the entire Riku Birthday Surprise Extravaganza, just to cheer her sister up. Unfortunately, Riku didn't know about it, and was currently spilling her secrets all out to her birthday present.

She was now relating how she got into the bar, after telling him her entire day at work.

'-and Rukia just ran over me like it was the most normal thing to do. I mean, doesn't she care that I don't want to come? I wanted to go home and sleep! I had such a terrible day today and it was…' Dark jerked in surprise when he didn't hear her voice any more and turned to see Riku burst into tears right before his eyes.

'Hey, hey… what's the matter?' he asked, thoroughly surprised that she had completely broken down in front of him.

'I'm just… so tired… and all I wanted was a nice long sleep and no one to disturb me and…' she stopped and suddenly looked at him in a new light. 'Dark, can I ask you a serious question?'

Dark tilted his head again, moving closer. 'Yes?'

'Can you bring me somewhere to sleep? I'm really tired… and my head hurts really badly… and I'm currently seeing triplets.'

Dark smiled down at her. Seeing her ask such an innocent question, with tears in her beautiful eyes… suddenly it took all his self control not to just hug her and comfort her then, telling her that the world was alright.

Man, she was intense.

'Sure,' he smiled. 'Where'd you want to go?'

Getting up, he held out his hand to her and she smiled and pulled his hand, falling onto his shoulder, as she slipped a little.

Riku giggled again, getting light-headed, as she picked up one last bottle of alcohol.

'I want to go somewhere grand… somewhere I've never slept in before… like the Hilton Hotel! That's where my sister had her wedding…'

Dark laughed and supported her out of the bar as she took one swig of the bottle. As she hiccupped, Dark tsked and pulled the bottle from her hands.

'Now that's enough, Miss Riku Harada…' he smiled, wrapping his arms around her waist. Riku pouted.

'I'm twenty-three and I can drink when I want to, and you can't stop me!' she replied, crossing her arms.

Dark laughed. 'I can and I will. You don't really want to know how I can stop you from drinking… trust me.'

Opening the door of the club, Riku looked at the sky muzzily, and laughed as she felt droplets on her face.

'It's raining!'

Dark sighed and supported her all the way to his car, which was conveniently parked near the building, so the couple only got slightly damp. As Dark got into the driver's seat, Riku followed rather unsteadily to sit at the back and she sprawled all over the back seat, hiccupping.

'Now if you want to hurl, there's a plastic bag somewhere in the seat pockets.'

'Don't wanna hurl,' said a muffled voice.

'Don't go childish on me, Riku. You've been through a lot today.'

'Wanna sleep.'

'Right. Hang on tight then.'

Dark started the engine and pulled out of the driveway. Riku mentioned something about the Hilton Hotel, and frankly that was one of the few hotels he would put up on a night like this, with a spitfire like Riku drunk and all.

Riku didn't make any sound at all when he was on the highway, driving towards the nearest Hilton Hotel. Dark was thinking that she was finally asleep as the Hilton Hotel loomed into view, when Riku suddenly sat up at the backseat, startling him.

Her eyes were closed and she leant on the back of the driver's seat, and placed her arms on his shoulders slowly. Dark was completely nonplussed but enjoyed the experience all the same.

'Hmm?' he asked when he felt her breath on his right cheek.

'Dark… have I thanked you yet?'

'Nope.'

'Well… thank you…'

'No problem.'

'You're such a nice guy…' Riku murmured, pulling her arms closer around his neck. The effect of the hug wasn't as he hoped it would be, he nearly choked- but the gesture was still rather lovely. Dark felt… strange. With any other girl, he would have pulled over and probably slept with her there and then but with her… he didn't feel any physical urges at all… well, any which weren't morally upright, at least.

Odd.

'And have I told you yet? I don't want to be an interior designer. I want to be a fashion designer… like in all the magazines Risa's been reading…'

Dark stiffened. No wonder Risa said he was the perfect man for the job. That conniving witch…

'Well. That's interesting.'

'Yep. Will you help me?' Man did she know how to read minds or something, when she was drunk?

'I'll see what I can do.'

'Thanks…'

He drove up to the entrance of the lobby, and a valet jumped up to receive him and park his car. That was easy. Registering, however… was another thing.

The receptionist was an old man, and he cast the pair of them a dismissive look- an apologetic young man with violently purple hair supporting an obviously very happy-go-drunk woman.

'One room, I presume?' he asked, as he arched his fingers, and eyebrows, to check the rooms on his computer.

'Yeah but-'

'With one big warm bed!' Riku grinned mischievously, cutting Dark off. He looked incredulously at her.

'What?' She stared at him with dilated eyes. 'I might get cold…'

Dark wanted to correct the man but he was already typing in his computer, he obviously didn't care what Dark thought he might think they were doing.

Oh god.

She might get cold… so many meanings in that one sentence. Dark managed a weak smile as the man passed him their key.

'Room 14-05. Walk to your left, and the lifts are located there. The lift master will be happy to guide you to your rooms. Enjoy your stay.'

Dark's grin was frozen on his face as he approached the lift master. He was a cheerful, slightly overweight man, who had kept his silence rather respectfully on the lift as Riku was currently humming nursery rhymes. When they reached their floor, he easily pointed them down to their respective room and sent them off with a cheerful 'Enjoy your stay!'

Three words. Three stupid words. Dark had to tell himself that they were just… words and he didn't need to wring their necks just for saying these… syllables.

Dark wanted to yell them; to tell them that they weren't doing anything wrong and he was just bringing her here because she wanted to come but the words wouldn't come. He had done this before, plenty of times… but why didn't the previous times seem as wrong as this?

His conscience poked him, and passed him a message.

Because you were drunk as well, stupid.

He snorted at himself. That explained a lot. Stopping in front of their room, he unlocked the door as Riku leaned on the wall, her face now serenely peaceful, as the depressant properties of alcohol were starting to work full time.

As the door opened, Dark helped Riku into the room and kicked the door closed. Seating her on the single bed (damn that cheeky receptionist, didn't Riku specify a 'big' bed?), he watched her go straight from sitting position to lying position without any interruptions in between. Standing up and shaking his head, he was about the leave when a muffled voice called out, 'Dark?'

He stopped. His hand was on the door knob. She sounded so very vulnerable…

'Hmm?'

'Don't go…'

His shoulders sagged in defeat. 'Alright.'

He went back to the bed, where she was sprawled on, her ridiculous slippers abandoned on the floor. Upon seeing his return, she had broken into one of the most breath-taking smiles he had ever seen on a drunken woman. Sitting down with a sigh and by the side of the bed, he was about to shut his eyes when Riku stopped him.

'Aren't you going to be cold there?'

'I'll be fine.'

'No. I want you to sleep on the bed.'

'But you're there.'

'Do you want to freeze to death then?'

'I told you I'll be fine.'

'Dark Mousy, you will sit on the bed!'

'No, I-' He didn't get to finish his sentence, as Riku had already grabbed his hand and was pulling him onto the bed.

'You will sit! Sit!' she pushed him onto the bed and he settled uncomfortably near the head of the bed. 'If you don't want to sleep, sit and watch me sleep-' Riku continued. 'Because I don't want to be alone…'

Dark smiled again as she snuggled up next to him, under the covers, muttering something about 'a warm pillow'. What a wonderful, honest little woman. He didn't meet many of this kind of women now. A bit of an attitude there but Dark wasn't one to back down from a challenge. Besides, he was her birthday present for the next… he looked at his watch.

'Minus one hour and fifteen minutes. Jolly good.' He remarked as he crossed one hand behind his head, leaning on the bedstead (Sudden memory loss, can't remember what to call that piece of wood at the head of the bed, is this it?) of the bed. Another hand had placed itself naturally on Riku's head and was stroking her smooth coppery sheen of hair as she slept on his body, his slow easy breathing lulling her into a peaceful sleep.

Still unable to get much sleep, Dark's hand fidgeted for his iPod which he had kept in his pocket. He had taken it out to listen and wait for his birthday girl to get sufficiently drowned and had kept it when he saved her from having a personal conversation with the floor regarding her face. Now that she was sleeping, it seemed like a perfect chance to continue listening to his songs, as he heard the soft patter of the rain from outside the window.

The song currently on was ending already, and there was a few seconds of silence as his shuffle randomly picked a song.

The mild guitar tune encouraged him to close his eyes and he bobbed his head slightly to the gentle melody of the song.

What day is it? And in what month?
This clock never seemed so alive
I can't keep up and I can't back down
I've been losing so much time

Cause it's you and me and all of the people with nothing to do
Nothing to lose
And it's you and me and all of the people
And I don't know why, I can't keep my eyes off of you

What are the things that I want to say just aren't coming out right
I'm tripping on words
You've got my head spinning
I don't know where to go from here

Cause it's you and me and all of the people with nothing to do
Nothing to prove
And it's you and me and all of the people
And I don't know why, I can't keep my eyes off of you

There's something about you now
I can't quite figure out
Everything she does is beautiful
Everything she does is right

Cause it's you and me and all of the people with nothing to do
Nothing to lose
And it's you and me and all of the people
And I don't know why, I can't keep my eyes off of you
and me and all of the people with nothing to do
Nothing to prove
And it's you and me and all of the people
And I don't know why, I can't keep my eyes off of you

What day is it?
And in what month?
This clock never seemed so alive

Dark smiled with his eyes closed. Switching off his iPod and the lamp by the side of the bed, he sighed and closed his eyes again.

Today hadn't been such a bad day, really…

Aside from the great guilt joyride he took, then the random mood swings of the interesting woman… it really was quite a nice day after all.

'What day is it, and what month, this clock never seemed so alive…'

Well, he thought. There's still tomorrow, which would certainly be very interesting…

/finished/

Heka: Ugh, it's one in the morning, and I spent the whole day on this nine page thing! Ugh it isn't my best work I think… but the next chapter will be better. I promise! I'm sorry I HAD to add the song! Really! I'm such a song fanatic…

Dark: A Clan!

Heka: Shut up. It's called a Fanlisting.

Shigure: Nooo… why did you tell him…

Heka: To shut him up?

Dark: I liked this chapter. But I think I'll like the next chapter more. Heka has something really naughty planned up right?

Heka: … No.

Dark: Damn.

Riku: It's bad enough I'm drunk and sleeping with you, now I got a headache…

Dark: I loved that line… 'I might get cold…'

Riku: Shut up.

Heka: Review! All my loving fans!