"In the car, I just can't wait.
To pick you up on our very first date,
Is it cool if I hold your hand?"

-Blink 182

The walk into the downtown district of Kaiden was a quick one had mostly in a comfortable silence. While Shuichi was relieved down to his core that his worst concerns were just figments of an apprehensive mind rather than rooted in reality, he still felt somewhat on edge as they made their way over to their first destination. They walked in tandem, and when the urge to hold Davina's hand as they progressed came to mind, he reached for it without hesitation. She smiled softly at the sweet gesture, willfully linking her fingers with his and maintaining their connection as they continued on. He fought the urge to sigh, internally grateful for the great reprieve he felt now that he was once again in her presence—to know that she hadn't fallen for Amaya's wretched instigation had not only improved his mood drastically, but he felt as if they had somehow grown even closer as a result of it.

Despite her prior negative experiences, Davina had decided to place her trust in him, and he was truly grateful for that. Unfortunately, such a revelation was also heavily laden with silent guilt—not over Amaya, but over things best kept secret. Regardless of his intentions, what Shuichi had done by stealing her memories was an infringement of that precious trust that Davina had decided to bestow upon him. While he truly believed his actions to be the singular option to cure her fears, he knew he had breached that sacred contract—even if she was entirely unaware of his meddling, it was a heavy burden he would have to bear on his conscience. But it was something best left to contemplate at a later time—if he dwelled on it now, it would undoubtedly ruin their evening. After everything that had unfolded over the course of the last few hours, Shuichi felt as if he owed it to her to make their time together the best he could—after all, it was their first date. A significant milestone in their relationship, and he wanted it to be special. Davina certainly deserved it, and he was determined to make it a memorable one.

The deliciously potent scent of minced garlic greeted the pair as they entered the pizza restaurant, coupled with the complimentary aroma of baking bread. The interior of Akaitsuru was far less crowded than it had been during their last visit, hosting a small collective of early weekday patrons as opposed to the Saturday horde that had been present on their previous encounter. With Shuichi at the lead, they claimed a small booth meant for two near the back of the venue—after some deliberation, he asked her to remain as he went to the counter to place their orders. Davina protested his offer to once again pay for her meal, but Shuichi insisted, quelling her mild indignation by promising that she could treat him to dessert at a later time.

Dinner was a quiet affair, both of them enjoying their pizza while making casual conversation about the typical ongoings of their individual lives. Davina shared her recent experience with the literary club, shyly admitting that it had gone far better than she had anticipated—he was thrilled with her success, despite her attempts to downplay her efforts. To hear that she was taking a step out of her comfort zone to pursue a craft she enjoyed made him feel a rush of pride for her, and he openly encouraged her to continue.

"Perhaps, you'll let me read it before it's published in the campus magazine," he offered with a small smile, finding the sudden rush of pink that colored her cheeks to be endearing.

"If you genuinely want to," she replied quietly, trying to hide a smile of her own.

"I do—I really do think this will be a great outlet for you. With your brilliant mind and creativity, I'm sure you will find success."

Her cheeks darkened at this comment, and she chuckled softly.

"Keep it up, and you're going to over inflate my ego," she teased, shaking her head and looking down at the nearly empty plate that sat in front of her. "But I really appreciate your support—it…uh, means a lot."

He smirked at her retort, but nodded his head in silent assent.

Once they had finished eating, they cleared their mess from the table, and took their leave of the restaurant. While their meal had been a nice interlude, Shuichi was eager to venture to their following destination, curious to see his companion's reaction.

"So, where to now?" Davina asked curiously, meeting his gaze.

"It's a surprise," he replied with a playful smirk, offering her his hand to take and smiling as she claimed it without hesitation. "I'll admit, it took some thought, but I think you'll be pretty pleased with the idea."

Mild shock blanketed Davina's demure features at this admission, but she nodded in agreement, allowing him to take the lead as they began walking. When they reached their intended spot only a short while later, Davina's entire face lit up at the realization of just what his plan was.

"Laser tag?" she exclaimed excitedly, suddenly grinning from ear to ear like an excited child as her eyes caught sight of the purple neon sign that announced the arena's location.

"That was the plan," he admitted, drinking in her reaction with relish. "If you're on board, of course."

"Seriously?" she asked with a hearty laugh. "I love it! I didn't even know this place was here."

"Well, I didn't want to settle for something typical, and I thought you would enjoy this," he replied softly, content with his decision. To say that he was pleased with himself was a mild understatement—Davina's cheerful response had been even better than he had anticipated.

"Where have you been all my life?" she teased, her tone playful as she fixed his hand with a soft squeeze.

"Waiting to meet you," he retorted smoothly, enjoying the flush of her cheeks as she smiled over at him bashfully. They headed inside, making their way to the counter to prepare for the game ahead.

. . .

Davina felt all of the worries of the day drift further and further away with every step she took—now that the difficult conversation had come and gone, she felt light on her feet, almost as if the world around her had taken on a soft, dream-like state that set her mind at ease and calmed the trepidation that had been brewing in her belly. To say she was relieved was a massive understatement—it had been such a strange interlude, but now that their date had finally commenced, she found herself unable to focus on anything but Shuichi's presence and her desire to enjoy what lie ahead.

Their conversation at dinner had only sought to further energize her, prompting a deep warmth to unfurl within her chest—this was truly everything she wanted, and nothing she had ever expected to have. How this was reality, she still wasn't sure—Shuichi kept surprising her, consistently exceeding her expectations and doing so with apparent ease. She knew better than to think of him as perfect, but damn if he wasn't skirting close to the definition—he was so kind, so sweet, so…genuine. It was proving to be difficult to not put him on a pedestal of sorts, given his actions.

'What's the catch?' a sour voice demanded sternly within the confines of her mind, this bitter inquiry coming without warning. Davina hated that such a thought dared to blossom, but wasn't exactly surprised at this deeply rooted cynicism when it reared its ugly head. She was no stranger to disappointment, having experienced far more than her fair share, but Shuichi had given her no reason to embrace such pessimism. She felt almost guilty for daring to entertain such an awful thought, even for a brief moment. But as quickly as it appeared, the negative notion dissipated, pushed aside as he reached for her hand once more and claimed it in his. No one was perfect, that was for certain—but as long as Shuichi was willing to do right by her and be honest, she would continue to hold him in high regard.

When he revealed that their next location was a secret, Davina was beyond curious as to what he could have planned—all the usual spots for a date came to mind: a moonlit walk in the park, a clichéd movie, things of that sort. But when the sign for the laser tag arena came into view and was revealed as their intended destination, Davina was nearly floored. He really was clever—it was such a fitting idea, and she was beyond excited to play. She truly felt as if he knew her well, despite their relatively short time together—his intuition was impressive, to say the least.

Once they had paid to play and collected their equipment, they were led into the holding area to watch the instructional video and don their gear prior to their release into the showground. The arena itself was a massive space, housing a number of walls, hidden crevices, and elevations throughout. It was expectedly dark within, a number of powerful UV lights hanging low overhead to paint the entire space with a vivid purple glow. Dayglow paint splatters covered the structures, glowing vibrantly in a vast spectrum of neon hues beneath the black lights.

As the countdown to the round commencement began, Davina readied herself, preparing to unleash some hell on the opposing team. For their first round, she and Shuichi had opted to be on the same side, and remained close, watching each other's backs as they crept stealthily throughout the arena. Shuichi performed well, but Davina was an absolute machine, successfully zapping their opponents left and right, racking up a significant amount of hits as the round wore on. By the conclusion of the round, their team was met with success, and they shared a victorious high five in light of their win. Her score was impressive, earning her congratulations from several other members of their unit.

For the second round, she made the suggestion that they play opposite of one another—her competitive side had been roused from its slumber, and she was determined to continue her winning streak. Shuichi agreed to her proposition, smirking at the intense twinkle in her eye. They parted ways, and Davina found a perfect spot to linger in preparation for the start of the second round, ready to bring the pain. As the countdown concluded, she took off on swift feet, careful to watch her back.

With rapid fire, she zapped three of her competitors, taking off like a thief in the night before they could hone in on her location. She heard incoming footsteps and saw the flash of blue, knowing that a hostile player was en route—racing across the line of sight, she practically dove behind one of the walls and crouched down, awaiting the arrival of her next victim. A smirk spread across her lips as Shuichi slipped past, failing to realize that she was lying in wait to amount her attack—without hesitation, she fired, successfully landing a hit on the glowing marker of his back. He realized that he had been zapped, and swiftly met her gaze—she laughed at the surprise on his face and took off running, finding a new location to camp in. She perched just atop one of the ramps, lingering behind one of the short walls as she searched for a fresh target to claim. She was in the midst of lining up the shot when her own indicator lit up red, signaling that she had been tagged—she heard a laugh ring out behind her, and turned around just in time to see Shuichi fleeing the scene, grinning from ear to ear.

She groaned at her loss, but couldn't help the smile that perched across her lips—he appeared to be enjoying this just as much as she was. After taking out several other enemy targets, she spotted Shuichi once more, hiding just abreast of a wall with a large hole cut out of the plywood—his back was to her, and it seemed that he had forgotten that he was exposed.

Carefully, she snuck up on him, holding her laser gun out before her with both hands as she lined up the target from afar and pulled the trigger. His device flashed red once more, and she made her escape, giggling almost manically as she raced away to safety. Davina paused her stride, slipping into one of the large through and through crevices to hide, only to sense someone behind her—she gasped when she swung around, and came face to face with Shuichi, who wore a smug smirk as he held his zapper towards her.

"Well, well, Miss MacKenna, we meet again," he teased, his tone amused. She decided to play along, raising her hands up in mock surrender.

"Please don't zap me," she pleaded playfully, attempting to pout in an attempt to dissuade him.

"I'm afraid I have little choice in the matter," he retorted, taking a step in her direction. "But perhaps, I can be persuaded otherwise…" He quirked a brow at her, trying to maintain his villainous façade despite the threat of laughter.

She felt a sudden rush of heat pour down to consume her entire body at those words, her mind venturing towards a not-so-innocent place at the loaded inflection of his statement.

"I think I know how can I persuade you, Mr. Minamino," she replied cheekily, meeting his gaze and holding it firmly as she took a step forward, closing most of the short space that separated them. "But you'll have to lower your weapon first…"

Slowly, Shuichi lowered his blaster, his face suddenly curious. Encouraged by their loaded banter, Davina decided to embrace the moment, feeling suddenly brazen. She bridged the remaining space that held between them, pressing herself into him as she reached up to claim his lips with her own. He met her gesture with enthusiasm, returning the kiss with silent vigor. It was a lingering peck at best, but enough to make Davina want more—of course, this was not the place or time, and while the idea of sharing a heated make out session in the middle of this oddly lit room was certainly appealing, she knew it would be inappropriate. She quickly pulled back, smiling up at him as she did so. Shuichi's face reflected her own, and he sighed softly.

"You're free to go," he said, gesturing for her to make her escape. She smirked with satisfaction, and then backed up away from him slowly, keeping her eyes trained on him as she headed towards the open end of the narrow parting. Now free, Davina took off running, unable to keep the smile from her face.

They played several more rounds, with Davina hitting a top score nearly each game. She felt as if she were flying by the time their session came to a close, happily riding the mental high of the game and all it had entailed. They reconvened upon exiting the playing field and decided to grab a drink, having grown quite thirsty in light of their activity.

"Want to grab some ice cream?" Davina offered after taking a healthy swig of her water. Shuichi nodded his head, gesturing towards the exit.

"There's a sweetshop about a block over," he offered, taking another sip from his bottle. "But they close in about thirty minutes, so we'd have to take our dessert to go."

"Works for me," Davina replied, nodded her head in agreement.

. . .

Shuichi hadn't been sure just what to anticipate when he suggested that Davina persuade him not to tag her during their unanticipated meeting as opponents on the playing grounds. But he certainly wasn't disappointed when she decided to fulfill his vague request with a kiss—the only disappointment had been when she pulled away. He wanted more, wanted that particular moment to linger, even if it was hardly appropriate for the current setting. Shuichi could imagine things escalating in that darkly lit room, and the beast inside of him growled low with need. He forced those less innocent thoughts away, hardly wanting to think himself into an uncomfortable position. But he was pleased to see Davina enjoying herself—their date was progressing even better than he had hoped, and he was momentarily content with the world around him.

As they made their way over to the sweetshop, Shuichi stole a glance at his companion, satisfied to see that look of true happiness present upon her typically reserved visage. The power of her pleasure made her even more appealing, a child-like glee glittering behind those lovely hazel eyes. Once in the store, they made their selections, and true to her word, Davina took care of the payment before he could even make a sound in protest. Armed with their ice cream, they headed for the exit, walking back in the direction of her apartment as they enjoyed their frozen delights.

Their desserts consumed, they discarded their trash and made their exit forth from the downtown district, Davina's complex quickly coming into view as they neared their destination. It was just after nine when they reached the stairwell, pausing their stride just before the steps.

"Do you want to come in for a bit?" Davina asked, her voice hopeful.

Shuichi considered this request—it wasn't overly late, and he was loath to see their evening come to an end so quickly.

"I suppose I can hang around for a bit," he offered, drinking her in pleased smile. Together, they climbed the stairs and slipped into her apartment, quickly removing their shoes in the small foyer.

"Tea?" she questioned, and he nodded quickly. She gestured for him to head over to the couch and then headed into the kitchen to prepare their beverages. Shuichi did as he was bid, stepping into the living room and sinking down into the sofa, sighing softly as he reclined into the plush surface. While Davina was absent, he contemplated future plans. Kazuma had texted him earlier that day, informing him of a hangout plan for Friday evening—for the first time in ages, Kazuma had that evening free from work, and wanted to do something fun with the group. Much to his chagrin, Botan had suggested a meet up at the very club he was employed at—sadly enough, it was only dance club in all of Kaiden, so unless they wanted to make the trip into Osaka, their options were exceptionally limited. Kazuma hadn't wanted to disappoint their friends, and had agreed to the plan. He requested that Shuichi pass the invite along to Davina on his behalf, and Shuichi had confirmed that he would. Truth be told, he wasn't sure if she would agree—a dance club seemed to be something that wouldn't appeal to his companion, given the crowded, loud space it would place them in. But he planned to ask her all the same, hopeful that she would agree in spite of her concerns.

Davina rejoined him a few minutes later, carefully wielding two cups of freshly prepared green tea. She passed his cup along, placing hers down upon the coffee table as she perched upon the couch and situated herself before reclaiming her mug and clasping it firmly in her hands.

"Would you happen to be free this Friday evening?" he inquired quickly, deciding it best to get his question out of the way sooner rather than later.

Davina nodded, looking over at him with mild curiosity.

"Kazuma texted me earlier today—plans have been made for another hangout that very night, and he asked me to pass an invitation along to you. I do have to warn you, it will be at Yori No Hi."

"Isn't that the dance club that he works at?" she questioned, appearing mildly confused at the explanation. Shuichi nodded and shrugged his shoulders.

"It is—Botan suggested it. It's the only club in down that will accept patrons under the legal drinking age," he offered by ways of explanation. While most of their group was of the approved age, both Davina and Keiko were still considered minors. Keiko wouldn't turn twenty until the following March, and he knew from Kazuma that Davina hadn't even seen her nineteenth birthday yet. As for himself, his human self would be turning twenty one in a mere three months—as for his other self, well…the years were more than he cared to admit.

"Ah, I see," she replied, looking contemplative.

"I know it's not ideal, but I think it could be a good time. Of course, you don't have to attend, if you'd rather not."

She remained silent for a long moment, as if weighing the options.

"You're entirely right, it's not really my scene," she admitted, somewhat sullenly. "But what the hell…karaoke isn't really my thing either, and I actually had fun doing that, so I don't see the harm in going…that is, if you want me to."

"I'd love for you to attend, but I don't want you to feel obliged to do so," he replied honestly, not wanting to push her into something that could potentially render her uncomfortable.

"I don't feel that way—but I do appreciate your consideration. If I start to feel out of place, I can always take a breather, right?"

He nodded, fixing her with a small smile, which she returned.

"I'll text Kazuma tomorrow and tell him I'll attend," she said, prompting Shuichi's smile to widen. "It'll be nice to hang out with everyone again."

"I know they will be happy to see you," he offered, quietly pleased that she had agreed to join. He took a hearty sip of his tea, the hot, bittersweet liquid comforting against his tongue.

"I'm looking forward to it," she admitted softly, taking a quick swallow of her drink. "Tonight was amazing—thank you for everything."

"I'm glad you enjoyed it—I had a wonderful time myself. I would love the opportunity to do it again soon, if you're interested."

"Definitely interested," she replied with a mild smirk, meeting his gaze. "If you'd like, I'll plan the next date—you just let me know what night works for you, with your work schedule."

"Deal," he retorted, feeling a small shot of relief race through him. He hadn't anticipated refusal for another date, but was certainly glad she had been eager to agree to seeing him again. The fact that she wanted to take charge and plan their next outing came as a pleasant surprise, and he was curious to see what she would devise.

As the minutes passed, they continued to chat as they drank their tea, both enjoying the quiet comfort of the personal atmosphere they found themselves in. Leaving their empty cups to idly sit atop the coffee table, Davina excused herself to visit the bathroom. During her brief absence, Shuichi checked his phone, curious of the time—it was already nearing ten, and while he loathed the idea of their night coming to a close, he knew it was almost time for him to take his leave. She returned quickly, opting to pausing just abreast of the couch rather than reclaim her seat.

"I know it's getting late, and you probably need to head home," she offered, as if sensing his internal dialogue. He could sense the thinly veiled disappointment in her tone—it was apparent that she was just as unhappy about their impending parting as he was.

"Unfortunately…tonight went by far too quickly."

She nodded in agreement, then sighed softly. Shuichi rose forth from the sofa, then opened his arms out in the offer of a hug. Davina quickly accepted this invitation, stepping into his welcoming embrace and returning it wholeheartedly. They held each other for a long, lingering minute, her face buried in his chest as he rested his head against the crown of her hair, enjoying the feel of her body against his own. She moved to look up at him, those hazel eyes seeming to glow with warmth, her lips appearing deliciously inviting—Shuichi couldn't seem to help himself. He sought her mouth with his own, initiating a soft, deep kiss, the sudden tingle of heat racing down the length of his back. Davina seemed to melt against him, happy for the intimate connection that bound them. It lingered for a long moment before Shuichi pulled back, smiling down at her as he did so.

"Would you like to take the trip with me to school tomorrow?" he asked softly, to which Davina quickly agreed. They headed to the foyer so that he could reclaim his shoes and say their goodbyes.

"Please be safe getting home," she said quietly, pulling open the door for him to exit. He stepped through the frame, only to pause and surprise her by leaning in for another quick kiss. She happily obliged, her cheeks rosy as their lips met once more.

"Sleep well, Davi," he replied, pulling away and smiling before turning to head towards the stairwell. He heard her door shut, and chuckled to himself as he made his way down the stairs. Things had gone well—their parting had been quite chaste on his end, but he saw no problem with that. She certainly hadn't seemed dissatisfied with the evening's conclusion—a fitting end to a casual, but certainly enjoyable first date. Shuichi was definitely looking forward to the next one—and knowing that she would be joining the group for their Friday night excursion only sought to excite him further about future prospects.

Before heading towards the sidewalk, he halted his stride to check the bushes, not surprised to find the space vacant. His trap still remained untouched, but the energy he had hidden there was beginning to fade—the surrounding air was still utterly devoid of anything apparition, and Shuichi found himself wondering if Davina's secret visitor had abandoned its efforts. It seemed unlikely, but seeing as it had been several days and no evidence of its presence had surfaced, he was curious by this unanticipated absence. Despite nothing concrete coming to light, he had every intention of keeping an eye on things—he couldn't be lulled into a false sense of comfort only because nothing had yet to occur. As much as he wanted to touch base with Hiei on the matter, he knew better than to try—his friend would alert him with his findings in due time, should he come across anything of importance. To bother him with inquiries would only serve to annoy the fire apparition, and Shuichi hardly wanted to end up on his less favorable side.

With a quiet sigh, he headed in the direction of his home, hoping that he would be greeted by peaceful silence.

. . .

Author's Note: Not going to lie, this chapter was a fun one to write. I know it's fluffy, but isn't that a damn good reason why we enjoy fanfiction? Next chapter is in progress, I've been putting Yu Yu Hakusho on as background as I write, and it's been a wonderful motivator. I've watched it so many times, and I still absolutely love it to pieces. Thank you to everyone who read/favorite/reviewed! I get so excited when I get notifications regarding this story. You guys are lovely. Please be safe out there, and look for the next installment soon!