Heka: I've decided to update The Perfect Birthday!

Shigure: Ahem. This is a perfect moment to go 'OH-EM-GEE!'

Heka: I know what sarcasm is, okay.

Dark: Really? Last I heard is that I just gave Riku a job…

Heka: You didn't. Daisuke did.

Dark: But I told-!

Heka: But she doesn't know…

Shigure: Ah ha! Plot twist!

Dark: What... What!

Shigure, Heka: He's slow…

Heka: She probably forgot about you already…

Dark: I am unforgettable. I am. I know I am.

Heka: Then you've got to see this. Riku darling!

Riku: Don't call me that! Who's the purple guy?

Dark: …

Shigure: And ten dollars goes to Heka.

Dark: Who betted for me?

Shigure: You really don't want to know.

Heka: Oh yeah, someone asked for Kyou. Shigure, being the nice person he was, bundled him up nicely.

Shigure: (flips through measley amount of reviews Hint, hint) Don't see anyone who asked for Kyou in the reviews…

Heka: I know someone did…

(Muffled screaming from a very large, dazzling present that is moving slightly)

Shigure: Then I went through all the trouble of tranquilising, kidnapping and paying Kagura all for nothing?

Heka: Wow. How much did you pay Kagura?

Shigure: A little here, a little there...

Heka: Since we've captured Kyou all for nothing, we'll be doing an auction! Roll up, roll up, the auction starts at one Private Message to me!

Dark: Isn't that like concentrated spam?

Heka: Spam, scham. I need to up my ego a little.

Dark: Then that explains the delay?

Heka: Anything for my readers.

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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 IV: Catch Your Wave

The clock was ticking far too loudly in Riku's opinion. She had spent the last few minutes completely in shock, once the nic- gorgeo- simply wonderful man had announced in a rather frightened manner, that he was going to hire her.

She wanted to cry; she was just so happy and so grateful that she didn't kill him.

'Hello? Miss Harada?' Daisuke was waving his hand in front of her face curiously. 'Are you alright?'

Riku pulled herself together and took a deep breath. 'Yes! I mean, yes! I'm fine! Thank you!' she barked.

Daisuke sat back on the sofa uncomfortably. She was obviously very rattled but he wasn't exactly sure why. Perhaps it had something to do with the fact that she nearly killed him just now.

He peered at her. She was apparently lost in thought. Again.

'What did you say your name was again?' she said slowly, putting her finger to her lips in a manner akin to a child trying to figure out a mystery.

He snorted softly. 'Daisuke Niwa.'

She snapped her fingers suddenly. 'Niwa! I knew I heard that name before!' Then she looked at him triumphantly. 'You're the owner of Niwa.Inc! The guy who owns…'

Her voice petered out as she realised what she was talking about.

'Oh dear.'

Daisuke gave her a quizzical glance. Riku turned bright red faster than a set of traffic lights.

'You're the next CEO of Niwa.Inc…'

'Yes…?'

'You're the next CEO of Niwa.Inc…'

'Yes…'

'You're the next CEO of Niwa.Inc!'

Without another word, she bolted into the sanctuary of the kitchen again.

Daisuke leant back on her sofa and sighed for the entire world to hear.

Women.

-/-

I have the next CEO of Niwa.Inc sitting on my sofa!

And he wants to hire me!

Riku was about to go into a mental meltdown. She knew she was acting ditzy, she actually repeated a sentence to him three times, something only her sister would do on a daily basis but Riku only tapped into her missing bimbo when she was confused, shocked, sleepy or a combination of all three.

Today qualified as the last condition. And she just showed her most stupid, possibly even worst side of her very diverse character to her potential boss.

Riku wanted to cry again.

Okay, she told herself. She was twenty-three. She was a decent woman, she had a job and she loved her job, and she was being offered another one – a completely wonderful job of her dreams which made it all the less practical – for Riku was a very practical woman indeed, and she was not going to drop everything just because some guy from Niwa. Corp wanted to hire her.

Right. She was sensible and practical. She was in control.

Right.

She was in control.

Right. Another deep breath. In control.

She walked out of the kitchen. She was calm, cool and confident. She was not paying attention to his clothes, or his eyes. She was Riku Harada, and she was twenty-three. She was in the prime of her life.

'So, Mr. Niwa? When can I start?'

-/-

Once again, the months flew by. This could be signified with the errant flipping of pages, becoming faster and faster, before landing up on a particular date. There was actually no significance for this, other than the procrastinating author trying to take up some space, but a sense of time passing had to be impressed upon the reader.

It was almost eleven in the night when Daisuke Niwa pushed his chair back from his desk, dusted his hands in a self-satisfied manner and stood up. It had been a most fulfilling day today. Indeed, he had not been wrong when Riku Harada almost self-conscientiously dragged him over to his office to get her resume and official documents recognised. She didn't seem to mind that she was gripping his wrist rather tightly when she pulled him over to his office after getting out of his car (for she had insisted upon getting them finalised on the very day that they had meant – just to make sure that, you know, it wasn't a dream and all) and when she pulled him into the lift. She had the most curious expression on her face – it was determined and set but there was almost a desperate quality to it, like she was a child that had been denied cookies all her life and now when some benevolent man offered her just a crumb, she grabbed it and held on for her life's worth.

It was terrifying, seeing that aura of such feeling radiate off from her.

He felt his wrist appreciatively. Until now, he still could remember how smooth her skin was, and how tightly she had gripped his hand. His eyes softened.

No wonder Dark wanted his help, she was terrifyingly attractive, this woman. She made him want to let her take the reins of whatever she was doing now, yet she seemed so vulnerable, so much like a child, that it made him want to protect her.

Dark Mousy did deliver.

He smiled to himself, ruffled his hair when he yawned, and strolled out of his office, switching the lights off as he did so.

He hummed as he took the lift down from the highest floor, down to the ground floor, passing a section of the ground floor offices where he knew a light would still be on. It had curiously, become a habit of his to just glance surreptitiously at that corner of the floor – to just look and hope, and most definitely see a light at that corner.

It had been her idea. She was to be a designer for them, but only he and the other higher-ups would know. She would just come in, as a clerk because Riku couldn't stand not having anything to do for the company, even if she was designing for them.

'But I still want to keep my hands busy!'

'You will be, by designing for us?'

'But it doesn't seem enough! So I want to be a clerk or something, someone at a desk job, that I may meet other people who work here, in advertising, or whatever… just put me as a normal person!'

'Erm… I think that can be arranged… we always need little clerks. But I'll make sure you get a lesser load than others, right?'

'Don't do that… I work better under pressure. Then again, give me about three-quarters of what you usually send to clerks.'

'Three-quarters? How about half?'

'Three-quarters. I'm not a complete slacker, you know.'

And hence, it was decided that she would be a clerk – that she would come in at eight in the morning every day and file her share of work, before working on her designs. Daisuke secretly made sure that she had a distinctively quieter corner of the floor plan, and pushed up her beginning salary.

However, Riku was not so stupid. She found him after she had received her first month's pay and dangled the cheque in front of him.

'A few thousand? A clerk isn't worth that much right?'

'Well, you are designing…'

'But I haven't come up with any designs yet!'

Daisuke swallowed inwardly but recovered magnificently. 'Of course, when you've seen the pay you get when you're not designing… think, how much would we pay you if you did?'

Riku's firm line of a mouth had become a rather adorable 'O' after that statement and she had turned red and hastily shown herself out of the office and had not complained of her pay ever since. Daisuke was just grateful that he had paid attention to Dark's numerous monologues when the cousin of violet colouration had suddenly decided to impress upon his younger cousin the Art of Wooing Girls. It came in handy every now and then, coupled with his adorable looks and particularly when he had to deal with raging females.

Tonight, Daisuke looked at little corner again and smiled.

As sure as the compass needle which pointed north, there was a tiny light at a desk at the corner. Shaking his head gently, he grinned as he walked over slowly to the little light. As he came closer, he could see that she was concentrating very intently on a piece of paper. Her copper hair was slightly frazzled; she had found a band of sorts to keep the more irritating strands out of the way, making her resemble a slightly disgruntled peacock. And as she continued glaring at that piece of paper, he cautiously peeked over her shoulder.

'Go away.'

He nearly jumped; she sounded so hoarse and curt that he almost complied. Then he laughed to himself again; Riku was like that whenever she was in her designing mood – she could look so furiously intent on whatever she was doing yet be so attuned to her surroundings that she could aim her pencil directly for his midriff, earning him a painful poke whenever she felt he drew too close to her.

'It's late. Have you eaten?' Nine times out of ten…

'No. I said, go away.'

'Aren't you hungry?'

'No.'

'I am going to lock up, you know. You're going to have to leave, I'm sorry to say.'

'Go eat your supper then come back.'

'Ms. Harada!'

She ignored him. Daisuke sighed, resigned himself to the worst and pulled the plug of the little light.

'Hey!'

'You'll have to leave, Ms. Harada!'

'You jerk! Switch the light back on!'

'It's almost midnight, Ms. Harada. You're going to miss the last train.'

'… Damn!'

That always got her. Then she would be out of the desk in a flash, and her dust would be settling at the front door.

He checked the rooms and the area, making sure that everyone had left and everything had been switched off and walked out the front door as well, turning to lock them. He walked to his car and started the engine. He had just driven out of the carpark gate with a wave at the security guard who watched at the premises at night when he spotted a rather sad familiar little figure standing by the empty road.

He smiled as he pulled over in front of her and wound down his window.

'Ms. Harada, why don't you come into my car, and I'll fetch you home?'

Riku gave him a slightly affronted look. It wasn't everyday that your boss would offer to take you home.

'I won't bite you know…'

Riku stuck her tongue out and continued standing by the road, peering over the car and into the darkness. Daisuke turned and looked as well, curious as to what she was looking at.

After a while, 'Ms. Harada, what are you looking for?'

Riku blew the hair from her face. 'A taxi.'

Daisuke gave a low whistle. 'Are you currently successful?'

Riku glared at him, contemplating kicking the car wheel. 'I know what sarcasm is.'

'Then get into the car. You won't be getting a taxi here for hours.'

Riku scrunched up her face in disappointment. Then she contemplated her choices.

She could go into the car with the cute boss (she was Riku but still a woman) and probably get a nice meal out of the bargain. Then she would never be able to live with herself for displaying such weakness. Or she could ignore him completely, and continue waiting for a taxi until three hours later, and keep her pride.

Choices, choices…

However, she had not thought that Daisuke, though mild mannered and a complete gentleman, did have Dark Mousy as a cousin. In fact, Riku had completely forgotten what happened on her birthday. In the future when Riku looked back, Risa would attribute the memory loss to brain shock, and laugh appreciatively.

Thus Daisuke gave up, leant towards the left, opened the door and pulled Riku Harada into his car.

'Six words for you, Ms. Harada. Supper is served. And no buts.'

-/-

Much to her disappointment, Daisuke did not take her to any fancy restaurant. She would not have expected it from him, as it was close to one in the morning before they had reached to any consensus about why Riku had to go with him for supper in the first place. (Riku Harada could be hungry, tired and mentally exhausted but an argument would always wake her up.) Then she had settled down in grudging silence as he drove her towards a place he claimed had 'great food 24/7'. Of course, that would have warned her that wherever he was bringing her to would not necessarily be high-end but she at least hoped for him to bring her into those cozy little restaurants in all the trashy romantic novels that she had been reading since her university days.

Thus she was in for a little shock when the current CEO-in-training of Niwa. Inc pulled up near an isolated alleyway and dragged her through it, into what she first thought was a fish market. Then it slowly became clear to her that she had been pulled into a tiny street full of hawkers displaying their wares - be it food, trinkets or any other piece of item which could be taken and sold for using a loud voice.

Slowly she became used to the sound as Daisuke continued walking ahead in front of her and began observing her surroundings. One thing which she could not get over was the fact that the entire street looked so glaringly bright at so late an hour. And it was so busy – exactly like how a normal shopping street would look during the holiday season only it was in the wee hours of the morning.

'I came here all the time when I was younger,' Daisuke said over his shoulder as he pushed through the buzzing crowd. 'Don't get lost,' he added as he vanished for a breathless second behind an annoyed looking head. 'I got lost here once; a nightmare, honestly.'

Riku did not reply; she was too overwhelmed by the sight and sound of everything. How come she didn't know that such a place existed? She was also gradually aware of the heat that she was feeling, generated by the people and the intensity of the lights and almost breathed a sigh of relief when Daisuke's hand shot out from the midst of the crowd and pulled her out of the slow moving river of people. She felt drained – as though the crowd sucked the life out of her.

She yawned.

Daisuke laughed; a pleasant sound within the mass of noises. She felt her mouth lift at the edges. He had such an infectious and warm smile. 'Come, let's eat. They serve the best beef noodles here.'

A while later, Riku and Daisuke were happily tucking into a large bowl of the best steaming hot beef noodles each that Riku had ever tasted. They did not talk much; half of what little conversation they had was spent complimenting the food and the other half about work. Halfway through the meal, Daisuke swallowed his mouthful of noodles, coughed slightly, and cleared his throat.

'Oh! Yes! I was supposed to give this to you.'

He turned, reached into his bag and pulled out a pair of glossy tickets with a flourish. Riku, fully aroused with curiosity now, put down her chopsticks and took the pieces of paper. Reading what was on them, her eyes grew large.

'Tickets to the next Fashionistic! Autumn Collection! Niwa-kun! How expensive were they?'

Daisuke shrugged and pointed to the small print at the bottom of the ticket. Written in a flourished script were the words: Proudly sponsored by Niwa. Inc.

Riku only said, 'Oh' in a very small voice and busied with her supper again.

'Thanks,' she murmured. Daisuke picked up his chopsticks again.

'Don't thank me. This is to help you get some inspiration perhaps, or see what's in the rage now and tap into it.' He smiled genially as he explained. Riku smiled back gratefully.

She was just about to eat a rather delectable piece of beef when Daisuke suddenly asked a question.

'So, who are you bringing along with you?'

Riku's piece of beef stopped its inevitable path towards her mouth. The beef sighed in relief as Riku placed it back down delicately.

'I don't know… you? Since you did give them to me…'

Daisuke laughed and popped a piece of beef into his mouth. 'Harada-san…' he said slowly, marvelling inwardly at her innocence, 'Who are you talking to?'

Riku tilted her head and frowned. Was Daisuke stupid? 'You, Niwa Daisuke.'

'And what do I do?'

Riku frowned. 'I don't know. You're the next Chief Executive Officer of Niwa. Inc. Am I supposed to know what you…'

She went as scarlet as a tomato when she realised what she just said. 'Oh.'
Daisuke grinned. 'So, I ask again, who are you taking?'

Riku shrugged. 'Risa, I guess?'

Daisuke chewed on his piece of meat slowly. 'Hmmm… She wouldn't be Risa Hiwatari now, would she?'

Riku bit off a mouthful of noodles and nodded before swallowing. 'Yeah, she's my sister and she married him last year.'

Daisuke gave a low whistle and grinned again. 'You do have great contacts… Then again, if she was Mrs. Hiwatari, maybe she wouldn't need your tickets.'

In her mind, Riku's shoulders sagged. 'Oh. Yeah. She wouldn't.' She continued to eat her noodles quietly.

Daisuke noticed her sudden silence and tilted his head slightly in concern. 'Are you alright?'

Riku nodded and smiled briefly. 'Yeah! I am… just thinking of who to bring… I can't really think of anyone else who would be interested in fashion, other than my sister…'

Daisuke flushed. He hadn't really meant to put Riku's suggestion down like that. 'Tell you what, why don't you just ask your sister? Maybe she'll want to go with you? She's your sister after all.'

Riku thought about it and shrugged. 'Perhaps. I'll ask her tomorrow then.'

Daisuke picked up the last piece of beef and swallowed it with relish. 'Are you done? Let's get you home then.'

-/-

'Tomorrow' happened to be a Saturday. Thus, Riku sat up in her tiny apartment, safe and snug in her bed when she noticed the two tickets that she had pinned on the board near her table, which she knew was the first thing she would see.

She peered curiously at the tickets before remembering how she got them suddenly.

The supper, it was really late and she fell asleep in the car on the trip back right…?

Whatever, her mind thought. The glossy tickets were screaming at her. Call Risa!

Oh yeah…

She picked up her cellphone and flipped it open absentmindedly. She flopped back onto the bed as her fingers automatically found Risa's number in her rather short list of contacts and she placed the phone on her ear as she yawned, tousled hair and all.

A jarringly high pitched voice could be heard on the phone a short while later. 'Good morning Riku!' Risa exclaimed. And she meant it.

'Hi Risa… just wanted to know if you wanted to go to Fashionistic's Autumn Collec-'

Riku hadn't even finished her sentence when Risa's squeal interrupted her.

'Oh my God! Really! Riku! You got the tickets?'

'Ears… and yes.'

'Sorry, dear… but you DID! Say you did!'

'I did.'

The squealing continued on for about three more minutes. Riku had slammed the phone into her pillow and was almost on the verge of dozing off when she heard that the squealing had stopped.

'Hello? Riku dear?'

'Yeah… I'm here. But I don't get it. I thought Satoshi would get them for you?'

Risa snorted. 'The selfish brat wouldn't even let me think of buying them. I think that's one of his worst points ever. I mean, come on! It's our first year of marriage! He's supposed to pamper me! The torturing can come later!'

Riku rolled her eyes. 'Come on, haven't you heard? It's usually the wife that governs the husband in the later years!'

Riku could feel Risa's eyes growing round. 'Ooh! Really!'

'You mean you didn't know?'

'Err well... it's not really that important right? And besides, it's not very nice to govern Satoshi… and you've seen him before… can he be governed in the first place?'

Riku smiled. What power her sister held and yet she did not know it…

'Oh, Risa. No wonder Satoshi married you.'

'Because I can't govern him? I'm hurt Riku!'

'No dear… it's because… well, you're you. And I think he likes it that way. He likes it a lot.'

'Oh.' Riku smiled again as she felt the waves of acute embarrassment radiate from the phone. 'Huh? Oh, bye dear… have a nice day!'

There was the soft sound of a kiss being made. Riku blinked.

'That was…?'

'Oh couldn't you tell? That was Satoshi! Hey, Satoshi, say hi to Riku!'

Before Riku knew it, her brother-in-law had his ear on the phone and had said, 'Hello, Riku.'

'Erm, hi.'

'I heard what you said just now.'

Damn. 'Oh… really?'

'Yes. Pretty accurate, I must say. And don't give Risa any ideas.'

'Ah… okay. Have a nice day.'

'You too. Funny how they can look so alike but sound so different…' Satoshi mused absentmindedly as he passed the phone back to his wife.

Risa put the phone to her ear to hear Riku exclaim, 'Hey! What did that mean?'

'He's gone. So how was he Riku? Wasn't he nice?'

'Chilly, more like.'

'Don't worry; this is how he usually sounds like around people.'

'How'd he hear what I was saying?'

'We were having breakfast dear; I didn't want my phone to get dirty when I was eating that lovely croissant so I used the loudspeaker function on my phone. Satoshi was just facing me, reading the paper. He looked at me when we were talking about the governing part and put it down when you said that…'

'You were you. And he liked it that way.' Riku finished.

'… Yeah.'

Riku laughed. 'He didn't mind it at all when you called him a selfish brat?'

'I call him that all the time.'

'And he doesn't mind it?' Riku asked again. Risa really didn't know the power she had over that ice king now did she…

'No… why should he? He's really one anyway.'

'I see. Anyway, the fashion show is next Friday night, at seven in the evening. We'll meet up at-' Risa interrupted her again.

'Oh, nonsense dear! You'll be coming over to my house in the morning. We have to decide what to wear! Take a day off from work.'

Riku blinked again. 'What? I can't do that!'

'Yes, you can.'

'No!'

'Why not? Your boss's too cute?'

'Risa!' Riku exclaimed, flushing brilliantly. She was regretting ever having told Risa about her new job and the rather endearing boss that came along with it.

'Ah… see, you're blushing,' Risa nodded knowledgeably.

'I'm not! You can't even see me!'

'Ah ha!' Risa pounced.

'Risa!'

'Anyway, we might be seeing Fashionistic's editor there. Therefore we must dress well indeed.'

'The editor? Who's she?' Riku asked.

'Fashionistic's editor, might I remind you again Riku, is a man,' Risa smirked.

'Really?' Riku could not believe it. The most popular fashion magazine… under the guidance of a man?

'And I heard he's fantastic and really good with his clothing and style. So knowing him might be good for you Riku. I know you steal all my Fashionistic! magazines when you think I'm done with them…'

'I do not.'

'Oh, yeah, now you don't. You buy your own. You used to do it all the time though. Funny how you didn't know that the editor was a man… You really aren't very observant, Riku…'

'What's his name anyway?'

'Dor Kaysum.'

'What a weird name…'

'Yeah, many people don't think it's his real name.'

'Well, duh! It doesn't even sound nice. I mean, if you shifted the letters a little, he'll be a dork!'

''Ku. That was not funny.'

'And he sounds like he belongs to an asylum anyway… but then again, he sounds like calcium. So I shall not say anymore but grin at the sheer possibilities of his name.'

'Riku. You were insulting the editor of the magazine that I, happen to worship!'

'Yeah, Risa, I know. That's why I'm being particularly vicious.'

'Riku!'

'Okay, fine… I'm sorry. So we shall meet-'

'At my house, at nine in the morning.'

'What? Risa! I told you-'

'Tell your boss that…' Risa paused for effect. 'Actually, you don't need to tell him anything. I'm sure he'll understand.'

'Risa… why are you acting like that?'

'Well… the nose knows, dear.'

'What nose?'

'Nothing…'

'You're being cryptic again!'

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Heka: I am so mean! Another cliffhanger!

Shigure: I understand you're typing this in the midst of your examinations?

Dark: Yeah. And I didn't appear here at all!

Shigure: You didn't appear at the third chapter too.

Dark: I did! She woke up with me.

Heka: Gods, you make that sound so wrong…

Dark: But I like her waking up next to me.

Heka: Enough! Yeah, I decided to leave it here for now, as I wanted to pull this story longer a bit, and let you guess who Dor Kaysum is!

Shigure: It's so obvious, they ALL know…

Heka: Actually, he gave you a clue already. And so did Riku, in the story… She said that one line, which may help you guess who he is.

Dark: And tell me what that entire ridiculous part with Satoshi was about. This story is about whom, pray tell?

Heka: But I like Satoshi's voice… his seiyuu is super nice. He did Hakkai from Saiyuki too! I love Hakkai… Besides, I like the relationship between Satoshi and Risa, it's very promising.

Shigure: Ah see, the eye knows all.

Dark: Now you're being cryptic!

Heka: Cryptic, we like being. Please review and you'll get a cookie! Satoshi's voice is sexy! Who agrees with me?