"Life's a journey, not a destination,
and I just can't tell just what tomorrow brings…"

-Aerosmith

When Davina arrived at the lecture hall for her first class of the day, she was having a difficult time keeping herself from smiling. After a wonderful date the night prior and the pleasure of Shuichi's company during their morning venture to the university, to say that she was in a good mood was a drastic understatement. He had even walked her to class, holding her hand the entire way, which earned them many a curious stare from those around them—it almost felt as if he were announcing their presence together with this obvious display, and rather than shy away or feel embarrassed, Davina felt a small sense of pride. Encouraged by his gesture, she had offered him a hug before they parted ways, and while he seemed somewhat surprised, he accepted it without hesitation, embracing her firmly and wishing her well before departing.

She slipped into her seat and readied her notebook for the lecture ahead—it proved hard for her to concentrate, but she managed to focus enough to take decent notes, knowing full well that she would need them for the following week's exam. Much to her delight, the day moved fairly quickly—Shuichi even took the time to text her between classes, and while their conversation was casual, it made her feel special that he had made the effort.

During her downtime before her final academic obligation of the day, Davina headed to the cafeteria to grab a snack and fuel up with some coffee. She was in the middle of responding to Shuichi when another text message came through—curious, she popped open the message, quirking a curious brow at the unfamiliar number that displayed itself on her small screen. Much to her surprise, it was Kazuma's older sister, Shizuru—the girls were planning on grabbing dinner and doing some shopping later that evening, and wanted her to join them. This invitation struck a cord deep within Davina as she read through the entire text—the fact that they had thought to include her was a wonderful feeling.

She responded immediately, happily agreeing to meet up with their group later. While she wasn't a huge fan of shopping, it was an opportunity to spend time with everyone, and she was excited at the thought of seeing them again. She quickly shared the news with Shuichi, who responded with encouragement—seeing as his friends were exceptionally important to him, Davina was more than eager for their approval—she truly hoped to build her own friendship with everyone, and this was a perfect chance to further that effort. Excited for her future plans, Davina finished her snack and headed to her last class, looking forward to her evening adventure.

. . .

When Davina informed him that she had been invited to hang out with Shizuru and the other girls that evening, Shuichi felt a rush of relief—they were a close knit group, and while they seemed to take to Davina well enough, he had been quietly concerned that they were simply being kind and accepting her on his behalf. But to hear that Shizuru had taken the initiative to include her in their activities without his request made him feel a direct sense of satisfaction—she wouldn't have made the effort if they didn't like her. Given Davina's fairly introverted status and her admittance that making friends was a difficult task, he was pleased at this unexpected opportunity—he knew it would serve both parties well, and provide Davina that sense of comradery she felt was lacking.

And knowing that Keiko would be in their company for the evening meant that Yusuke was potentially free, which would hopefully provide Shuichi the opportunity to discuss the matter Hiei had brought to light. It wasn't a conversation he relished having, but he had to remain true to his word and at least make the attempt.

Wanting to be proactive, Shuichi took a moment to shoot a quick text over to Yusuke, asking him to meet up with him later that evening, following work—he suggested grabbing a bite to eat, knowing that a decent meal would ply his friend into considering the request. He sent the message along, curious if he would receive a response. Yusuke wasn't much for personal conversation, and given the subject matter at hand, Shuichi knew he would be less than eager to discuss things of such an intimate nature. But he had to be able to tell Hiei that he at least tried to dissuade their companion from his poor choices, even if he knew that his efforts would probably fall short. The former Spirit Detective was one of the most hard headed and stubborn souls Shuichi had ever encountered in his long life, and the odds were exceptionally high that his words would fall on deaf ears. But once he had spoken his piece, if he got the chance to do, the ball was in Yusuke's court, so to speak—it was solely up to him what came of his choices and actions. If he wound up earning Hiei's ire, it would be his burden to bear.

Much to his surprise, Shuichi received a prompt response—Yusuke agreed to his invitation, but questioned his motives, as anticipated. He saw no reason to be coy, knowing that his friend would see through any excuses he could pitch him—instead, Shuichi replied honestly, citing that they needed to talk one on one, to both catch up and clear the air.

Odds were that Yusuke believed he wanted to speak about the incident at the festival with Keiko—of course, the Mazoku had no way of knowing that Shuichi had been made aware of his impending transgression, and that worked in his favor. Regardless of the thought process, Yusuke decided to oblige his request, even going so far as to admit that talking about things might not be a terrible idea. That in itself was a huge thing—for him to be willing to discuss such matters openly was not typical, nor was it an easy endeavor. Shuichi assumed that something must be bothering him if he was willing to entertain such a task—perhaps there existed some semblance of hope after all. If he could avoid Mukuro harboring a vendetta against Yusuke, that would be ideal. He felt cautiously optimistic at the idea, beginning to devise a plan of approach for their meeting.

. . .

Davina's venture home was thankfully a quick one, and she immediately jumped into the shower shortly after returning to her apartment—she was due to meet Shizuru and the girls at the downtown district in less than an hour. She had hopes of finding something to wear for Friday's outing, knowing how scarce her wardrobe was—sexy was not part of Davina's usual style, and given the scene, she wanted to try something a bit out of her typical comfort zone. She knew that Keiko was an avid shopper, and with her help, she felt fairly confident they would find something suitable for the occasion.

Following her quick shower, Davina dressed comfortably, donning a pair of worn black jeans, and a hunter green off the shoulder long sleeved blouse, paired with her trusty chucks. She tugged her damp hair up into a high ponytail and quickly did her basic make up routine, knowing she had little time to finish up. After stuffing the necessities into her purse, she made her way out of the apartment, heading towards downtown with a spring in her step.

With all her rushing, she arrived at their predetermined location prior to anyone else, and laughed quietly at her own eagerness—she was just about to reach for her phone to text Shuichi while she waited, but her efforts were interrupted by the call of her name, which quickly grabbed her attention. She glanced upwards, a smile emerging across her face as she spotted Botan approaching her, waving excitedly.

"Hey Davi!" she called happily, reaching her side on swift legs. "I was so happy when you agreed to join us! I've been looking forward to this all day!" she offered with a wide grin.

"Same here—I was surprised when I got the invite, but glad," Davina admitted softly, sounding almost sheepish.

"Well, of course! You're our friend, silly! It'll be so nice to have some girl time!" Botan exclaimed excitedly. To hear the blue haired girl refer to her a friend sent a rush of warmth to flood Davina's chest—it was such a small, inconsequential statement, but to her, it meant the world.

"I can't wait for Friday night! Have you ever been to Yori No Hi? It's a good time."

"Not really—Shuichi and I stopped over one night to drop off some snacks to Kazuma, but didn't go inside. To be honest, I haven't been to a dance club, well, ever…" Botan's eyes widened in surprise at this revelation, but her smile never faltered.

"It's a lot of fun—I'm glad you'll be joining us. Yukina's never been to one either, so no need to be intimidated. And you'll have us, so we'll make it a great night."

"I, uh, was hoping to find something to wear there tonight," Davina said softly, suddenly feeling somewhat shy. "I don't really have anything good to wear for a club outing…"

Her words seemed to excite her companion, who seemed thrilled at the idea.

"Don't worry, we can absolutely help you find something! Trust me when I say that you are in good hands," Botan replied with a laugh. Suddenly, her attention was drawn to the distance, and she quickly waved, prompting Davina to glance over in the opposite direction—Shizuru was approaching, with Keiko and Yukina in tow. She smiled over at the trio as they approached, earning a similar gesture in return. It was nice to see friendly faces, and it quelled some of the anxiety that had been threatening to bubble up within the pit of her stomach. It had been so long since Davina had ever really taken to other female friends—apart from Selina, she was always geared more towards cohorts of the opposite sex. She believed it was due to being raised alongside two brothers—since they shared so many hobbies and common interests, she simply seemed to get along with males easier. Selina had been the first to really introduce her to the more feminine side of things, which she had grown to embrace over the years. Regardless of such things, her circle of friends had never been an impressive one, but rather one that suited her perfectly. She was content with the realization that she managed to make some new ones here, and looked forward to what the future held.

"So, we ready to get this show on the road?" Shizuru asked once they closed the distance that separated them, a small smirk forming across her lips. Davina nodded eagerly, mirroring the actions of her companions, and they began their adventure, with Keiko taking the lead.

. . .

Following his shift, which was thankfully quick despite not being exceptionally busy, Shuichi took his leave of the café—he didn't want to waste precious time by stopping home to shower and change, so he quickly texted Yusuke to inform him that he was free of his obligation and heading towards their rendezvous point. Previously, they had agreed to meet over at Taki's, a late night diner near the edge of the downtown district of Kaiden. It was a simple place that offered basic comfort foods and remained open several hours after most businesses had ceased operations for the day, making it an ideal choice. Yusuke was a regular patron there, and had been since he was a child—his mother wasn't much of a cook, and subsisting on microwaved fare wasn't a favorite pastime of his. When he wasn't at the Yukimura's noodle shop, Taki's was his secondary go to. His friend was swift to respond, informing Shuichi that he had already arrived, and was in his usual booth near the back of the restaurant. His response prompted a sigh of relief to escape Shuichi—he had half anticipated a cancellation of their impending meet up, given the implications.

The venture to Taki's was a quick one, and Shuichi spotted his companion the moment he entered the establishment, returning the quick wave Yusuke sent his way. He approached the booth and slid into the opposite side, eying the number of empty plates that sat abandoned on the table top with curiosity.

"I got here early," Yusuke offered with a shrug, taking a long sip of his coffee as Shuichi settled into his seat. The waitress came to call less than a minute later, and while Shuichi wasn't particularly hungry, he ordered a side of rice and steamed vegetables, paired with a cup of hot green tea. He was somewhat nervous about their impending conversation, but hadn't had anything to eat since lunch, and knew that it would be best to have something within his stomach, lest he get a headache from a lack of available energy.

"So…" Yusuke said, waiting until the waitress had departed from their table, his tone casual, but his eyes drawn onto the empty vessels before him, as if he wasn't willing to meet Shuichi's inquiring gaze. "You wanted to talk?" The question, despite sounding simple enough, was a loaded one, and Shuichi immediately picked up on the hesitation in his friend's voice. While part of him wished to delve right in, he knew full well that such an approach would be ill fated—Yusuke only opened up on his own terms, so if Shuichi dared to push, the odds of them conversing about anything truly meaningful were exceptionally small. He decided to make a causal advance, hoping that opening up with small talk would encourage his companion to venture into whatever it was that was hindering him.

"I know things have been difficult for you lately," Shuichi replied quietly, keeping his tone conversational. "And I understand that you have a lot on your plate, as it were, so really, I just wanted to catch up a bit. We haven't had much of an opportunity to do so lately, with things being so busy."

"Yeah…well, ain't that how it goes?" Yusuke responded, then sighed irritably. "Look, let's just get into it and not beat around the bush, okay? I know I was an asshole the other day, and it wasn't cool. But I…I've been thinking a lot about everything lately, and it's just…kind of crazy."

Shuichi simply nodded his head, waiting patiently as Yusuke paused to gather his thoughts.

"I dunno, man, I just…with everything going on, and all the wedding crap, I don't have any time for myself and it's starting to get to me…Keiko and I, we've been fighting a lot lately, and she keeps pushing…it's really starting to piss me off. I know she wants to get married and all the crap that comes with it, but the more I think about, the less it feels right…"

"If you are having second thoughts about getting married, perhaps you should try explaining your position to her," Shuichi offered thoughtfully. "She's well aware of your…unique circumstances."

"I wouldn't know how to tell her—she's got her heart set on a big, fancy wedding, and has all these plans…that, and she's still sore at me over going to the tournament. She wants me to act like that part of my life doesn't exist, and I can't just shut it off. I love her, but I'm starting to wonder if things will work out with us. We just seem like we're growing apart."

"It happens," Shuichi replied blatantly, knowing there was little point in trying to comfort him with empty platitudes. "It seems like you both are in two different places in life at this moment—perhaps, given time, you will reconvene. Or perhaps not—regardless of the ultimate outcome, you have to decide what you want and plan accordingly."

"It's not just that," Yusuke responded, suddenly sounding angry. "I don't want to hurt her, but hell…you know what I come from, what I'm capable of. What if I start feeling things I shouldn't be feeling?"

His statement immediately piqued Shuichi's curiosity. "As in?"

"My ancestor ate people—craved human flesh. What if I go that way, too? I don't want to put her in a position where being around me could put her in danger. You know better than anyone that normal doesn't apply to people like me and you. I can't be what she wants me to be, even if I really wanted to…"

The conversation paused quickly as the waitress reappeared with Shuichi's meal, placing it before him with a flourish. She fixed them with a short bow and took her leave, but Shuichi remained inert, far more interested in their conversation than the food in front of him.

"It used to be that I couldn't imagine a life without Keiko…now I'm starting to wonder if she'd be better off. Too many things have changed since we were kids—I'm gonna outlive her, for one. How the hell is that supposed to work?"

There is little to be done about that," Shuichi replied with a soft sigh, feeling an uncomfortable pain radiating within his belly as he fought to ignore his own comparison to the notion Yusuke had just propositioned. While Davina's lineage was undetermined for the moment, his friend's statement brought thoughts of his mother to his mind, and it hurt to understand that she too would eventually share a similar fate. "She is human—unfortunately, they have short lives. But wouldn't you agree that it is better to enjoy the time you have together rather than obsess over it coming to an end?"

"I guess," Yusuke admitted, although his tone was adamantly unconvinced. "But I can't stop thinking about it—every time I look at her, I feel more and more disconnected. I mean, she's a huge pain in the ass, but she's always been there for me, even when I didn't deserve it." A heavy sigh escaped him then. "Not gonna lie, I miss my freedom. She wants to settle down, and I don't know if I can do that right now."

"Has someone else caught your interest?" Shuichi asked bluntly—he could sense a chance in Yusuke, and knew that this little venting session he was willingly indulging in was quickly coming to a close, so he made the opportunity to pose the uncomfortable question, hoping to get a direct answer.

Yusuke, to his credit, didn't appear surprised by this rather aggressive approach. He also had no way of knowing that Hiei was keeping tabs on them in his absence from their world, so he was unaware of just how much Shuichi was privy to.

"Not in the way you're thinking," he retorted, sounding somewhat defensive. "I've been talking with someone I met at the tournament—she gets a bit flirty from time to time, but you know me, that crap goes right over my head…" He smirked at the thought before continuing. "But she made a good point about demons and humans being involved, and that's that it never ends well. You can't tell me that the same thing has never crossed your mind before."

Shuichi considered this—Yusuke wasn't wrong in his thinking, but Shuichi was determined to get him to see all sides of the argument at hand and make an informed choice.

"It certainly has, but you can't spend your life thinking solely about what the future will bring—if you do, you'll rob yourself of the enjoyment of all the good the current moment has to offer. I'm not saying to ignore what will be, just to consider the journey as well as the destination."

A mild sense of relief flooded through Shuichi—he was pleased to learn that Hiei's concerns were not entirely correct. Yusuke wasn't fleeting in his loyalty, but rather just caught up with all the intricacies living a duel life brought with it. It seemed almost foolish to him that he had even considered Yusuke to be capable of such a thing—the former spirit detective was a number of things, some of them less pleasant than others, but he was strong in his devotion and his concerns were certainly justifiable, even in their clandestine nature. Feeling as if they had ventured past the difficult hump that was the awkward nature of this particular conversation, Shuichi felt inclined to snatch up his utensils and take a tentative bite of his food, keeping his gaze on Yusuke in case his friend decided he had more to add.

"I guess I do need to talk to Keiko about this stuff," Yusuke admitted quietly, a frown suddenly appearing across his lips. It was obvious that the concept did not appeal to him, but it was a step in the right direction.

"I think that would be a good place to start," Shuichi encouraged, fixing his friend with a small smile. "She deserves to be informed—and she's never shied away before, even when you were being less than agreeable…"

Yusuke chuckled at this comment, shaking his head. "True—although I think she'll probably rip me a new one if I tell her I wanna wait to do the marriage thing…"

"You have to do what you think is best," Shuichi offered, reaching for his cup of steaming hot tea and taking a small sip. "Even if it hurts her feelings, it's best to be honest."

That statement brought with it a sudden bitter taste to roll across his tongue—a pang of guilt bit into his subconscious, knowing full well that he was preaching a word he himself wasn't practicing. But his situation with Davina was its own ordeal, one that he couldn't really share with anyone, even members of his own trusted circle. Shuichi fought to push aside such thoughts, knowing that it was pointless to entertain them in that moment.

Their conversation quickly strayed from its original subject matter, reverting to their usual candor without any fuss—Shuichi felt fairly satisfied at its conclusion. He would inform Hiei of his findings during their next encounter and placate his concerns. In truth, he wasn't sure how Yusuke would chose to proceed—he wasn't wrong in his thinking that such news would certainly come as a harsh blow to Keiko, who had already spent years waiting for Yusuke to return to her. She might not be willing to wait any longer, and if that was the case, it could very well mean the end for them. But, given their talk, Yusuke seemed far more relaxed about his concerns, now that he had been given an opportunity to vent his frustrations.

As they continued to talk, Shuichi's mind briefly wandered to Davina, vaguely curious as to how her evening was going—it was already nearing ten, but he wasn't sure of just what the girl's plans entailed, if they were still out and about or had called it an evening. Probably the latter, given the fairly late hour, but with girls, one never knew. He decided he would shoot her a quick text when the opportunity arose, and it did just a few minutes later, when Yusuke excused himself to hit the restroom. Shuichi withdrew his phone and typed up a quick message, sending it along to Davina, eager to learn how her night had treated her.

. . .

Another peal of laughter escaped Davina as Botan emerged from the dressing booth, clad in a short pink cocktail dress that hung low off her shoulders and was bedazzled with rhinestone roses all along the hemline of the skirt—she strutted out of the partition with a flourish, pushing aside the heavy curtain with dramatic flare before swaggering over to where the girls stood, acting as if she were a high fashion model on a catwalk. This was their third stop of the evening, and while Davina wasn't much for retail therapy, she was having a good time. Keiko had proven to have quite an eye for clothing choices, and with her help, Davina had found a few things to improve her meager wardrobe—some were things she never would have selected on her own, but with her friend's assistance, she was convinced to step out of her comfort zone and embrace the change.

Botan was met with eager applause, smiling widely as she came to the end of the corridor and did a little curtsy, spinning around slowly to show off the dress on her petite form before eying her reflection curiously in the trio of tall mirrors that hung on the nearby wall.

"Whatcha think?" she asked, her eyes hopeful. There was a collective nod of approval, and Botan smiled victoriously, pleased with their reaction. She returned to the booth to change out of her selection, while Keiko called Davina over to investigate her current finding.

"What do you think of this one, Davi?" she asked hopefully, holding up a diminutive black dress on a wooden hanger. The sight of the garment made Davina laugh anxiously—with its thin straps and short skirt line, it was certainly something different.

"It even has tiny shorts under the skirt," Keiko offered, tugging up the bottom of the dress to show her the hidden legs of dark fabric. "And you can always pair it with stocking or pantyhose, if that works better for you."

"If you think it'll work for me, I'll give it a shot," Davina replied, feeling that same nervous twinge again. She knew that her body was nothing to be ashamed of, and that she had a fairly desirable figure, but she was never one to show much skin, and this particular garment was something she couldn't picture herself wearing in her own place, much less out at a crowded club. But she pushed aside her worry, and took the dress from Keiko, heading towards the dressing room that Botan had just emerged from.

It took her a few minutes, but she stripped down to her underwear, took a deep breath, and pulled the dress on. Much to her pleasure, it didn't look half as intimidating on as it had on the hanger—it hugged her curves in a pleasant manner, the thin straps comfortable against her bared shoulders, with similar straps arching across the top of her bosom to accent her chest. The skirt was a fairly short length, hovering a good four inches from the tops of her knees, but the shorts contested her worry about her bottom hanging out, which came as a relief. Overall, she liked the selection—it took a minute to compose herself, but when she pushed aside the curtain and stepped out for her companions to appraise her, she was met with cheers of approval. Keiko seemed pleased with her choice, and nodded agreeably.

"Shuichi is gonna flip when he sees you in that!" Botan exclaimed with vigor, causing a red hot blush to suddenly stain her cheeks. She smiled at the thought, the notion of such a reaction more than satisfying to picture.

Once all was said and done, she added the dress to her collective, and headed to check out, making sure to grab a pair of black pantyhose on the way to the register—she had already found a new pair of boots for the outing, and Keiko had assured her that they would work well with her ensemble, so she was pretty content with her purchases.

"Holy crap, it's after eight already!" Shizuru announced as they left the store, the collective of shopping bags held among them considerable. "We should probably go grab some food—I'm starving." The remainder of their group nodded in agreement, and they took off in the direction of their destination, a small sushi restaurant near the heart of downtown.

Dinner was a pleasant affair, full of amusing conversation and delicious food—at some point after they had consume their fill, the girls lingered at the table, finishing up the last of their beverages and conversing about their plans for Friday.

"We should all get ready together," Botan suggested, her statement earning a fair amount of agreeable consideration.

"Why don't we meet at my place?" Davina offered quickly, then second guessed herself, hoping she hadn't been too forward with the idea. Much to her relief, her suggestion was met with approval from her companions, who seemed elated by the idea.

"Sounds wonderful—shall we say, around six?" Botan asked, to which Davina nodded in agreement. Seeing as Shuichi was the only person apart from her to ever enter her apartment, it was mildly unnerving to know that she would be playing host to so many people at once. But it would be nice to have company, and she was more excited by the idea than concerned over it.

It was nearing ten when they finally decided to part ways, and Davina made the short venture to her apartment, humming a nameless tune, with happiness in her heart. She could hardly wait for Friday—the mere thought of what was to come had her thrilled and terrified all in the same instance. Once within the familiar comfort of her apartment, she took a long, satisfying shower, donning some clean clothes to sleep in. Her thoughts had fallen to Shuichi in the midst of her ritual—she wondered how his night had gone. When she discovered a text from him waiting for her to read on her phone, she felt a sudden rush of warmth, inspired by the idea that he had been thinking about her, too. She responded swiftly, feeling the phone vibrate with a reply before she could put it back down on the coffee table. Much to her surprise, he was calling her—after a brief second of hesitation, she answered the call, speaking tentatively into the receiver.

"Hey," she greeted quickly, trying to hide her surprise at this unexpected communication.

"My apologies for calling rather than texting, but I'm currently walking home and this just seemed like the easier option," he explained quickly, quelling her concern. "How was your evening?"

"Honestly, it was wonderful," she admitted, smiling mildly. "I actually really enjoyed myself—we did some shopping and grabbed some sushi—I got home not too long ago…what about you? How was work?"

"Easy enough. I actually met up with Yusuke and we chatted a bit…it was an interesting endeavor, to say the least…"He chuckled softly, as Davina quirked a inquiring eyebrow.

"I'll bet that it was—are things…okay with him?"

"As okay as they can be, given the complicated circumstances—he apologized for acting out, and vented some, so I'm hoping things will continue to improve…" Of course, she was inertly curious about their conversation—however, it would be rude to push for further information, and it wasn't her business to ask, so she didn't attempt to pry.

"I'm glad. Keiko is really nice—I didn't think we'd get along too well at first, but she's been nothing but good to me. I hope they can work things out…"

"As do I. Time will tell…" He sighed softly, the conversation falling lax for a brief second. "I'm rather looking forward to Friday's evening," Shuichi continued, he tone growing softer as he spoke.

"Same here—I, uh, found a dress for the occasion tonight, and the girls will all be coming to my place to get ready beforehand."

"Seems fitting…a new dress, hmm? I didn't realize that it was going to be a formal affair," he joked, a smile clear in his voice.

"It's hardly formal," she interjected with a chuckle. "It's short, black, and almost completely out of my comfort zone." Her comment was meant to be amusing, but she could have sworn she heard a hitch in his breathing at her description of what she would be wearing to their impending outing.

"Well, I for one can't wait to see you in it," he replied mischievously, causing her face to flush as she mentally pictured those vivid green eyes fixing her with a lengthy once over, a nervous laugh escaping her lips at his candor.

"Are you flirting with me, Mr. Minamino?" she teased, encouraged by his remark. She suddenly felt hot and cold all over, involuntarily biting down on her lower lip as her mind ventured to thoughts of a not so innocent nature.

"It's likely, given the mental image you've just provided me, Miss MacKenna," he responded, a smirk clear in his words. "And as it were, I just so happen to be passing your complex at this very moment. Maybe if you ask nicely, I'll even stop by for a few minutes to see you."

His suggestion prompted her belly to do a little nervous flip, and her first inclination was to refuse his offer, knowing that her current state of being was less than polished. But she could hardly deny her want to see him, even if it was just for a few brief minutes.

"Asking nicely is not my forte," she retorted playfully, deciding to throw caution to the wind. "But if you do make the effort, I might make it worth your while." She hadn't intended her response to come across as so forward, but that little hitch in his breath echoed across the receiver yet again, sending a quick shudder racing down the length of her back.

"You might want to head over to your door—I'll see you in a minute," he shot back, then promptly ended the call. A short anxious giggle fled Davina at his response—she was fresh from the shower, no makeup, clad in tiny shorts and a tank top sans a bra. Hardly a fitting position to see Shuichi, but hell—hopefully, he wouldn't pay too much attention to such things.

She flung open the door just as he lifted his hand to knock on the hard surface, their eyes locking almost immediately. A small smile widened across his face and he altered his position to offer her a hug, which she eagerly stepped into. Judging by his scent, he hadn't yet showered—he smelled of the café, the aroma of his cologne still present, but decidedly faint. She found herself uncaring in light of just being happy with his impromptu visit.

"You smell fantastic," he whispered into her ear, sending a shiver racing down the expanse of her bared arms. She sighed against him, pulling back from their embrace just enough to afford herself a view of his face, unable to withhold a smile from her own.

"I had literally just stepped out of the shower when you texted me," she explained quickly, to which he nodded.

"Call it perfect timing," he replied with a small chuckle. "I know it's late, so I won't keep you long. I'm sure you're more than eager to be off to bed."

"Not as eager as you would think, especially now that you've decided to pop by," she teased, smirking up at him.

"Shame on me for interrupting you," he replied, his voice dropping several octaves as his hands slipped lower on her waist, coming to rest on the upper curves of her bottom and squeezing the thicker flesh there firmly. This action caused her to gasp, not anticipating such contact. Her response seemed to encourage him, as he leaned in quickly to claim her lips with his own, enticing her into a long, lingering kiss that caused her entire body to tingle with want.

A soft groan of protest escaped her when Shuichi pulled away before she could even think to silence it. As if prompted by her response, he thought better of his actions, trailing a short series of quick kisses down the side of her face, venturing stealthily down the length of her throat, stopping only once he had reached the place where neck melded into shoulder. She squirmed against him, suddenly engulfed in heat, every nerve ending in her body lit aflame by the feel of his lips against her bare flesh.

Logic seemed to flee as a result of his ministrations—Davina reached for his chin before he could pull away from her, directing him in for another heady kiss. She felt his tongue slip past the boundary of her lips and welcomed its entrance, enticing it with her own, happy that she had managed to brush her teeth prior to this unexpected boon. She tasted the faint tang of peppermint as their tongued dueled, and could feel her sense of self control beginning to slip. What was it about this man that fueled such intense urges within her? She could hardly help herself, so painfully eager for more. Shuichi seemed to harbor the same urges, but his control was far greater than hers, and she silently envied him for it.

They broke their oral bond when the need for air came to call, leaving Davina short of breath, her cheeks tinged pink and chest heavy. That strange golden tinge was back in his eyes, adding a hypnotic glow to his emerald orbs, but disappearing almost entirely in the same instance.

"That was well worth the effort," he offered softly, fixing her with a knowing smile as he reached over to sooth back a stray lock of her damp hair. "But sadly, I should be going…did you want to head to school with me tomorrow?"

"Yes," she replied, hardly recognizing her own voice. It was a difficult thing to bite back the familiar taste of disappointment that always seemed to accompany their parting, but she managed all the same.

"Sleep well, Davi," Shuichi offered, finally separating himself from her. "I'll see you in the morning." She nodded, still attempting to collect herself. She blinked and he was gone, the sounds of his footsteps echoing as he made his way down the stairs. A heavy sigh fled her before she slipped back into her apartment and quickly closed the door behind her. While she had been feeling somewhat tired before Shuichi's spontaneous stop, all remnants of exhaustion had fled in light of their fleeting interlude. She still when through the motions of preparing for bed, readying her clothing and backpack for the morning, and plugging in her phone to charge before finally heading into her bedroom to make an attempt to find sleep.

Despite lying down and closing her eyes, rest eluded her for a fair while, her mind unable to stop its cavalcade of wicked thoughts regarding her crimson haired companion. She wondered vaguely what Friday would bring, and found herself unable to picture those details of what her body craved without every fiber of her being growing heated and tight. Eventually, she succumbed to sleep, her slumber plagued with a vivid dream that solidified these salacious desires and composed a literal play by play of all the things she wanted from him. She awoke in the wee hours of the morning, coming to suddenly, her entire body free from the blankets and covered in a light sheen of sweat. It was almost as if she had been truly experiencing those things in reality as opposed to her imagination, given the way she was feeling.

One thing was for sure—Friday night could not come fast enough.

. . .

Author's Note: My sincere apologies for taking so long to post this chapter. Unfortunately, reality has been a hindrance lately, and has gotten in the way of my writing. I've had next to no free time over the past few weeks due to work and family obligations. But I promise that I have no intention of leaving this story unfinished, so I simply ask you all to bear with me when life gets in the way and keeps me from delivering. As always, a heartfelt thank you to all you lovelies out there kind enough to favorite or review. And I have to pay a special mention to Bananarock509 for their recent review—it was exceptionally helpful in providing assurance with the Yusuke/Keiko situation, as I was experiencing some doubts about the scenario I have envisioned for them to undergo. So thank you for your insight, I'm extremely appreciative for it. I hope you all are doing well out there and staying safe. I've started working on the next chapter, so hopefully, I can keep the pace. Take care, everyone!