"Slow down, you're doing fine,
You can't be everything you want to be before your time,
Although it's so romantic on the borderline tonight…"

-Billy Joel

When Davina made several decent suggestions on what to do to continue their evening, and then not so subtly issued Shuichi a challenge over a videogame he was exceptionally familiar with, he found himself eager to indulge her. Super Smash Bros was one of Kokoda's favorite games, and the pair had played it often, especially during their earlier years together. Odds are that he was a bit rusty at the game mechanics, but was absolutely confident that he would regain his previous skill quickly. Certain that victory was in his future, Shuichi suggested raising the stakes a bit to sweeten the scenario—much to his pleasure, Davina was quick to agree to the idea, and, when he asked what her preferred prize would be, she requested a simple massage. Her chosen reward didn't come as a surprise, although judging by the mischievous glint that had suddenly appeared within her hazel eyes and coupled with the sudden rush of heat to her cheeks, something far more salacious had obviously crossed her mind as she had contemplated her answer.

"And you?" she asked, eying him curiously, quirking a brow in his direction. Given her previous reaction, Shuichi opted to just be blatant in his intentions and make his request a brazen one, interested to witness her reaction.

"A kiss," he replied quietly, meeting her gaze and holding it firmly to show her that he was serious. As he anticipated, she chuckled, albeit sounding a bit anxious, the scent of her body suddenly awash in a dichotomy of intent want and mild tension. He half expected her to protest, or fully deny his suggestion, but to his surprise, she willfully agreed, even going as far as to offer him a friendly handshake to seal their deal. With such a desirable award on the line, Shuichi was determined to emerge triumphant from their little bout. But he hadn't anticipated Davina's own personal prowess at this particular game, and she effectively destroyed him in the first round they played.

Before he could even acknowledge his loss or admit his defeat, she suggested they continue their current course, and he quickly agreed. But even with the addition of extra rounds, she still managed to best him after the course of several hours, claiming her well fought victory at the conclusion when Shuichi accepted that he had been overpowered. While he couldn't deny that he was disappointed, mostly with himself, he found the little cheers in light of her success endearing, and found himself content with the end result of things.

Following a bit of a witty repartee between the pair, Shuichi bestowed her desired prize upon her, treating her to the massage she had long been anticipating. In truth, getting to touch her and feel the softness of her skin against that of his palms was reward enough, and coupled with her little sighs of pleasure, he enjoyed the encounter almost as much as she did. The sweet scent of her hair was inviting, and he secretly longed to nuzzle his face into those soft copper locks. He worked until all the lotion he had spilled onto his hands had been absorbed, and even then, Shuichi was hesitant to cease his efforts, wanting the moment to last as long as it possibly could. He pulled away when it seemed appropriate, mildly crestfallen as he released his hold upon her.

"That was amazing," she offered, turning her gaze to meet his from her current perch on the floor before him. It certainly seemed to have the desired effect—she seemed much more relaxed, with a contented smile tugging at the corners of her lips. "Thank you for that."

"Glad you enjoyed it—spoils of victory, and all of that," he retorted, holding out his hand to help her rise up. She accepted, and immediately perched beside him on the couch, notably leaving very little space to separate his person from her own. Davina's unanticipated closeness pleased him—she was slowing growing more comfortable in his presence, and this realization caused him a sense of great satisfaction. He felt compelled to continue encouragement of this, wanting to nurture what was effectively blossoming between them.

"I enjoyed our evening together," he said with a small smile, reaching over to cover her hand with his own and fixing it with a gentle, affectionate squeeze. Much to his surprise, Davina moved her hand against his, slipping her fingers into the empty spaces of his own and lacing them together. It was a simple gesture, but one that brought him contentment.

"As did I. I hope we can do it again soon, but I know it's getting late, and you have an early morning tomorrow," she offered quietly. He knew she was correct and that it would truly be in his best interest to conclude their time together, but the thought frustrated him all the same. Their evening had gone by swiftly, and Shuichi was couldn't help but be mildly unhappy to see it come to an end.

"I'd like that, and yes, unfortunately. I do suppose I should be heading home now," he replied, trying to keep the disappointment out of his voice. A comfortable silence fell over the pair, but neither made a move to abandon their current position. Rather, Davina leaned closer, moving to rest her head gently upon his shoulder in a manner that was reminiscent of the night they had watched a movie together. This new level of contact further weakened Shuichi's desire to leave, causing him to sigh softly as his rested his head against her own, inhaling the pleasant scent of her hair and enjoying the feel of it against his cheek. They sat like that for a long moment, and Shuichi felt himself relax, feeling utterly at peace. He almost growled in protest when Davina pulled away from him, not wanting the encounter to end. Her movements were hesitant, and he knew that she was experiencing the same sort of grudging disappointment at their impending separation. She rose to her feet, and he followed in tandem, the pair of them slowly relocating to the foyer of her apartment so she could see Shuichi out.

"Hopefully, work goes fast for you tomorrow," she offered with a smile as she tugged open the front door to allow him passage.

"I certainly hope so—I'm definitely looking forward to what comes after," he responded agreeably, and then stepped through the doorway and into the mild air of the exterior. He fixed her with a warm smile, hating that they were parting ways but happy to know that tomorrow would bring more of her presence. Before he could make his exit entirely, Davina said his name, immediately claiming his full attention and causing him to pause. Without prompting, she leaned forward and pressed her lips firmly against his cheek. That meager contact of her soft mouth against his flesh sent a sudden rush of excitement racing down the length of his spine, causing that feral presence buried deep within him to almost purr with pleasure at this unexpected boon. He smiled as she pulled away, and their eyes locked and gazes held firm. He could hear the sudden rush of her heart, the beat immediately growing rapid in light of her bold action.

"Consolation prize," she announced with a mild chuckle. "Be safe getting home."

"Until next time," he said, reaching forward to tuck a misplaced lock of her hair behind the curve of her ear with his fingers, gently caressing her cheek as he did so. The heady scent of want pouring forth from her person was unmistakable, and he drank it in with relish.

"Goodnight, Davina."

"Goodnight, Shuichi."

He took his leave of her then, pausing at the top of the stairs to collect himself as she closed and secured the door in his wake. He was just about to make his way down when he heard a faint squeal emit forth from Davina's apartment, and couldn't suppress the chuckle that emerged forth from his lips. It was apparent that she was just as happy with the outcome of their evening as he was, and in truth, he was more than eager to see what tomorrow held in store.

Despite the wonderful conclusion to their evening, by the time Shuichi reached the bottom of the stairs, his mind returned to the odd scent he had caught wind of during their return to Davina's complex earlier in the night. It was already fairly late and while he knew that he should head home straight away and ready himself for bed, he felt compelled to investigate further. He was well aware that his efforts would probably prove fruitless, but if a short detour brought peace of mind, it would be worth the time spent. With his course decided upon, Shuichi swiftly bypassed his house and made his way over to the entrance of the park once more.

His senses were on high alert as his approached, the area appearing almost ominous in nature due to the minimal light offered by the nearby streetlights. Shuichi paused just abreast of the iron arch, inhaling the chilly night air deeply into his lungs. He lingered for a long moment, but detected nothing out of the ordinary. After a brief second of silent consideration, Shuichi opted to venture into the park, not wanting to risk leaving anything to chance despite the current lack of evidence.

Under the cover of dense night, the interior of Yureihana Park appeared almost otherworldly, almost reminiscent of places he had visited in a far off past. The light offered by nearby overhead lamps was sparse, and the multitudes of higanbana blossoms swaying in the soft breeze lived up to their name. Their appearance was akin to that of a horde of nimble spiders dangling forth from the murky sky, their crimson hue appearing almost violet against the curtain of darkness. As he continued forth, the lake came into view, the water appearing black and endless due to the lack of sunlight. Shuichi made his way over to the water's edge, pausing his step once more to taste the air as his steely gaze dragged slowly over the lake's expanse, silently searching for something, anything, on that glossy surface. He was met with nothing—there was no trace of life, mortal or otherwise.

For a brief second, Shuichi found himself questioning his earlier experience, but quickly put the notion to bed. He trusted his senses to a fault, and knew there was no doubting his previous finding. While whatever had been nesting within the park previously was long gone, the fact that it had inhabited here at all was still a cause for concern, and one that he could not afford to take lightly. Given its close proximity to his family, he could not risk their safety, in the case that the apparition in question was malicious and sought to do harm.

Having hit the anticipated dead end with his investigation, Shuichi opted to put the matter to bed for the time being. He decided it best to keep a close eye on the park going forward, should anything questionable resurface in the future. Perhaps he would request Kazuma's assistance—given his friend's exceptional sense for such things, he would probably provide a much needed second set of eyes on the situation at hand. When the opportunity presented itself, Shuichi would bring the matter to light, and together, they could go from there. But for now, with little to be done, he took his leave of the park and made his way home.

A soft sigh of relief escaped him once he slipped past the entrance into his house and carefully pulled the door closed behind him. Given the late hour, every member of the Minamino-Hatanaka household was thoroughly enthralled in sleep. Taking care to step lightly, Shuichi made his way to his room, shedding his clothing and climbing into bed, sighing in relief as he nestled into the inviting comfort of the cool sheets. After plugging in his phone to charge and making sure his alarm was set to the right time, he relaxed and waited for sleep to claim him.

. . .

Following a decent night's sleep, Davina awoke early the next morning, despite the lack of an alarm. After lazing about in bed and replaying through the events of the evening prior with a great sense of mental satisfaction, she decided it best to get up and start her day. She was en-route to the kitchen to make a cup of coffee, but the desire to take a long, hot shower hit her with sudden force, and she altered her plan, heading into the bathroom instead. While waiting for the water to grow heated, Davina found herself curious as to just what to expect of the day ahead—as far as she knew, the plan was to meet up with Kazuma, his girlfriend, and his group of friends for the afternoon, although the details of just what that entailed were vague at best. She had yet to receive any confirmation or communication, but took it in good faith that it would be incoming at any time.

While she was anxious at the prospect of meeting new people, Davina was determined to make the best of it—this was her opportunity to forge some new friendships, to visit new places, and experience new things, and despite her trepidation, she was excited. From what she already knew of Shuichi and Kazuma, they certainly wouldn't put her in a compromising position, or introduce her to people that they themselves didn't care for—neither struck her as someone who was a poor judge of character, and that notion comforted her, easing some of her worry.

As the room began to steam up, she cued up some music on her phone, syncing up to the waterproof Bluetooth speaker that sat on one of the wall shelves. She pressed the play button and began to shrug off her pajamas just as the distinctive piano rift of Alone by Heart flooded the enclosed, tile lined space. Davina couldn't help but chuckle at the random selection—the playlist she had chosen was a true mishmash of everything, and for it to kick off with that particular song was an amusing but almost eerie coincidence. Regardless of the unwitting symbolism it held for real life, it was one of her favorite songs, and Davina stepped into the hearty stream of heated water, happily singing along with the words.

"I hear the tickin' of the clock, I'm lyin' here, the room's pitch dark…
I wonder where you are tonight, no answer on the telephone…
And the night goes by so very slow…
Oh, I hope that it won't end, though…
Alone…"

While Davina wasn't much of a singer, she had a fairly decent set of vocals—even still, her voice cracked when trying to hit the exceptionally high notes that followed the chorus of the song. It didn't discourage her—everyone knew that the shower served as a collective of useful things: a place to get clean, a sanctuary to do some deep, meaningful thinking, and a private karaoke soundstage where one could perform without shame. She took full advantage of this fact and belted out the words as she began to shampoo her lengthy copper hair.

"'Till now, I always got by on my own…
I never really cared until I met you…
And now it chills me to the bone…
How do I get you alone?
How do I get you alone?"

For the better part of an hour, Davina remained an occupant of the washroom, taking her time washing her hair, her body, and shaving the places that required such attention. She continued to sing along with the music, making it through Aerosmith's Rag Doll and Maneater by Hall and Oates before her playlist suddenly skipped from eighties jams to Broadway musicals, peppering in Kristin Chenoweth's version of Popular from Wicked (of which she sang every single word without so much as an inkling of indignity, even though she related far more to the socially inept character of Elphaba rather than Glinda in all her vapid glory, and most of the higher notes were painfully off key) as well as the movie-version of La Vie Boheme from Rent (where she preferred to sing as many parts as she possibly could, although the excerpts performed by the character, Mark Cohen, as portrayed by Anthony Rapp were her favorites—given his high baritone vocal range, she could sing said parts pretty well).

The water was just beginning to grow cool when Davina finally rinsed off the last of her body wash, which had flooded the space with the fragrant scent of warm vanilla. Just as she turned the faucet off, Trouble by Pink began to pour into the room, causing her to laugh out loud as a memory with her best friend immediately surfaced within her mind—Selina was absolutely obsessed with the pop artist, and had been since they were kids. Trouble was one of her favorite songs from among the artist's compendium, not just for the song itself, but for the music video that accompanied it. Complete with campy old wild-west fashion, several bar fights, and a ridiculously hot sheriff, Davina could certainly understand why Selina appreciated it as much as she did. It had been played during many a sleepover, and her dear friend, who loved to dance but regrettably was not blessed in the art of such movement, would always try to do this awkward little wiggle to the beat that she though looked inviting—to Davina, it looked like she was in the midst of receiving a mild electrical shock.

As they grew, Selina had ultimately given up on trying to perfect said dance move, eventually ceasing her attempts at dancing to the song entirely, but it was the kind of thing that stuck with a person, even over the years. Each and every time Davina heard that particular song, the memory immediately resurfaced, and she couldn't help but laugh. But now, it was a bittersweet moment—again, she found herself missing her best friend immensely. No one could ever replace Selina, but Davina longed for similar companionship. Perhaps today would be the day she found such a thing.

A heavy sigh fled her lips as Davina dried her hair and carefully wrapped it in a towel, leaving it to rest atop her head as she took a second towel and wiped away at her damp skin. After applying some apple scented lotion, Davina slipped into a short black cotton robe and left the washroom once she had reclaimed her phone—with a push of a button, she silenced the music that poured through the speaker just before the next song on the playlist could commence. As her ears adjusted to the new found quiet of her surroundings, she headed into the kitchen, now intent on making some coffee. A healthy dose of caffeine would complete her morning preparations, and then she could turn her focus on finishing up her current tasks.

Once armed with a fresh cup of hot brew, Davina perched at the small dining table that sat alongside the kitchen. She had just taken her first sip when her phone, which she had left over on the countertop alongside the coffee maker, suddenly vibrated, signaling the arrival of a text. Upon a quick inspection, she discovered it hailed from Kazuma, and promptly opened the message to read. It was a group correspondence, sent to multiple recipients including both herself as well as Shuichi, but also to several other numbers she did not recognize.

That realization sent a sudden wave of fresh apprehension washing over her—Kazuma hadn't specified just how many of his friends would be tagging along for the outing, and, judging by the collective of unfamiliar digits present in the message, it was to be a considerable handful. It didn't matter how mentally prepared Davina was, meeting new people, especially in large group settings, always tended to make her feel nervous. But she was determined not to give into timidity and instead focused on embracing her enthusiasm instead of her discomfort.

The text simply read 'Akaitsuru 12?' Davina recognized the name of the location almost immediately—it was a pizza restaurant within the downtown area of Kaiden, not far from the Koeda Café. She had walked past it a number of times, but had yet to give it a try. A swift glance at the time informed her that it was only about a quarter after ten, which gave her plenty of time to finish readying herself and head the way of their intended destination. She responded favorably, then put her phone back down, plugging it into its cord to charge so she would leave with a full battery. Only once she had consumed her coffee did she feel prepared enough to tackle the task of getting ready—with a slight spring in her step, Davina headed into her bedroom, intent on finding something appropriate to wear for the outing that awaited her.

. . .

When his morning alarm echoed across the modest expanse of his bedroom in what seemed like only moments after his eyes had finally closed, Shuichi was far from pleased. His exhaustion lingered even as he readied himself for work, dreading his arrival at the café—Saturday mornings were notoriously busy, for the majority of customers who patronized his step father's establishment did not have academic or work obligations and desired a sit-down dining experience as opposed to their usual grab-and-go practices. This sudden influx of dine-in patrons made things much more hectic, and it would remain as such for the entire four hour duration of his shift.

It was with a heavy sigh of sheer defeat that Shuichi left his room and headed for the door, walking carefully as to remain quiet—his mother and Kokoda were still asleep, and he openly envied them for it. Kazuya had already left the house, far before Shuichi's alarm had disrupted his short slumber—as per his routine, his step-father arrived at the café at dawn on Saturdays, using the time to bake fresh pastries and prepare as best he could for the impending rush. Such methods certainly proved useful, as they ensured an overall smooth service for the busy morning, minus a mild inconvenience or two along the way.

During the short walk that separated home from work, Shuichi took the opportunity to shoot a quick text over to Yusuke, forewarning him of the fact that he should expect a new companion in tow when they rendezvoused later that day. Kazuma could already have announced such intentions, but Shuichi wished to be thorough, asking his friend to be more mindful of how he spoke, given his proclivity to refer to Shuichi by his former alias. He sent the message along, knowing it would be some time before he received a response, if he received one at all, but satisfied with his efforts nonetheless. Even in the event that Yusuke slipped up, he could play it off as an old nickname—that little while lie was believable enough, and he had no reason to think that it would prove problematic.

Upon his arrival to the Koeda Café, a line of eager customers had already formed just outside the doors—there still remained a near twenty minutes before the café was set to open. Shuichi stealthily made his way around towards the rear entrance and slipped inside, careful not to draw attention to himself. He got to work immediately on the remaining opening procedures, and by the time the doors were unlocked and the first wave rushed in, Shuichi was as ready as he possibly could be, given his lack of decent rest and desire to be far away from his current location. The single upside to being insanely busy was that time passed by swiftly—it was nearly half past eleven when Shuichi was finally gifted a brief interlude, which he used to grab a glass of water and check his phone for notifications. There were several awaiting his attention, so he clicked on the one that had been the first to arrive, well over an hour prior.

The text, which hailed from Kazuma and hosted a group of other recipients, all of whose names were already saved within the memory of his phone, offered a brief inquiry for future plans: 'Akaitsuru 12?'

Shuichi was fond of that particular restaurant, which was known for its Neapolitan-style pizza. He was quick to notice that Davina had already replied with her intention to be there, which prompted him to crack a small smile. In truth, Shuichi had been somewhat concerned that she would suddenly cancel her plans to attend, given her fairly introverted status. While excited for the opportunity to see his friends, he was certainly looking forward to spending more time with her, and would hate to be denied the chance to build on the events of the previous night. But the affirmation that she would indeed be there quelled that worry, and made Shuichi all the more eager to be done with work and move along with his day.

After confirming his intention of participating, Shuichi scrolled onward to the next text, his eyes eagerly racing over the content. To his mild surprise, Yusuke had not only read his message, but had responded agreeably, nearly an hour prior. The acknowledgement of his concern brought with it a great sense of relief—he knew Yusuke would tread carefully, out of respect for his request.

He responded to Yusuke's message with gratitude, and only moments after returning his phone to his pocket, his step-father called out his name, requesting his assistance at the counter. Knowing that only a mere thirty minutes remained between him and much desired freedom only encouraged him to persevere. The last of his shift passed quickly, and Shuichi was in the midst of removing his apron when he felt the subtle vibrations of his phone once more. He withdrew the device and couldn't help but smile at the notification bearing Davina's name lingering across the screen. He opened the message and quickly read the contents.

'Hope you had an easy morning at work, looking forward to seeing you soon :)'.

The smile stuck to Shuichi's lips as he typed up a quick reply, a feeling of mild warmth washing over his chest at the realization that she was just as excited to see him again as he was to see her.

'It's been a busy one, but knowing that I get to see you soon made it bearable—be on my way to Akaitsuru shortly.'

Shuichi clicked send, replaced his phone, and hung up his apron before clocking out, offering a quick goodbye to his step-father as he made his way to the exit, relieved to have his freedom once more. Within minutes, Shuichi found himself at home—the house was unusually quiet, and upon further inspection, he discovered that neither his mother's nor Kokoda's auras were present within the immediate vicinity. He slipped into the kitchen with the sole intention of checking for any correspondence that might have been left, and was rewarded with a brief note scribbled in Shiori's familiar hand. The scrap of paper was tacked onto the surface of the fridge via a small magnetic picture frame—the photo it housed was one taken at Christmastime nearly two years prior, while attending a small party thrown by his mother's company. In it stood him and Shiori, both finely dressed in festive colors and wearing bright, identical smiles as they posed together in front of a snowy holiday backdrop that had been provided for such use. Shuichi couldn't help the small smile that came to play across his lips at the sight as he reached over to liberate the note and quickly skimmed over it.

Through the message, he discovered that his mother was out having lunch with a coworker—it also informed him that Kokoda was over at a friend's house and wouldn't be returning home until later that afternoon. Although the absence of his family members was unanticipated, Shuichi found himself grateful for the tranquility of a silent space. He swiftly showered and groomed himself before changing into fresh clothes, selecting a pair of charcoal gray jeans, a wine colored button down shirt with quarter sleeves, and a well worn in pair of black loafers.

After a short evaluation of his appearance, Shuichi headed for the door, eager to make his way over to the destination that awaited him. He was looking forward to spending some much needed quality time with his friends, several of which whom he hadn't gotten an opportunity to see in a great while, and, of course, there was Davina—the anticipation of seeing her was beyond potent. It was all he could do to keep his pace steady as he walked the short few blocks that separated him from his goal.

. . .

Author's Note: Apologies for the long wait, but the past nearly two months was exceptionally busy. As of five days ago, I left my home state of Florida and have relocated to Wisconsin to help with some family matters. Between my last few weeks of work in Florida (Spring break spans several weeks when you work in the travel/service industry) and the move north (which was quite a challenge, to put it kindly), I've barely had time to sleep, much less get any writing done. Thankfully now, I am settling in, and have some free time to focus on writing. Things will undoubtedly be heating up over the course of the next few chapters, and I hope you are all as excited to read them as I am to write them. Thank you for your patience, and I hope to have a new chapter ready to go over the next few days. The landscape is so different up here, and the weather is such a drastic change from the scorching climate I'm used to, so the change in scenery has me feeling invigorated, to say the least. I hope everyone out there is doing well and staying safe! Thank you to those who favorited and reviewed, I truly appreciate you. It absolutely makes my day when I get the notifications for such things, so just know that your encouragement means a great deal. To those who celebrate, Happy Easter/Passover! Look for the next installment soon, and take care, everyone!