"Oh, don't you dare look back,
Just keep your eyes on me…
I said you're holding back,
She said shut up and dance with me…"

-Walk The Moon

. . .

Once the rest of the girls had arrived at Davina's apartment, things quickly commenced. Snacks and beverages were quickly claimed as everyone conversed excitedly, settling in and preparing for what lingered ahead. While initially a bit mentally overwhelming to have so many visitors occupying her personal space, Davina found it surprisingly easy to adapt to these new surroundings, and far more quickly than she had initially anticipated. The girls seemed more than happy with the arrangement, content to be in each other's company—she felt a sense of comfortable familiarity with her companions as they settled in, and it was a welcomed feeling. She had been concerned about feeling like an outsider among them, being so new to their group, but there was no merit to such worry, which came as a much needed source of relief.

At Botan's suggestion, Davina connected her phone to the small Bluetooth speaker that sat near her television to play some music while they got ready—given the giddy atmosphere and their impending destination, she opted for a playlist that was composed mostly of fun pop songs and high energy techno jams. Selina had composed this particular set list, and they had listened to it countless times, especially when in the car, singing along without a care and awkwardly dancing back and forth all the while giggling at their own silliness.

The very first song to play was Everytime We Touch by Cascada, and Botan let out a happy cry as she quickly recognized the tune, raising her mug in Davina's direction with a wide grin of approval. The gesture made Davina laugh—sadly, she didn't own proper wineglasses, so she had told the girls to grab whatever glassware they preferred to use for their alcoholic drinks. For some reason, their blue haired companion had opted to use a purple coffee mug bearing the likeness of Luna, the cat from Sailor Moon, to house her rosé—it was both amusing and fitting all at the same time.

After a brief moment of hesitation, Davina had agreed to partake in a glass of the wine when Botan offered, curious as to how it would taste. She wasn't much for alcohol, but she had yet to try wine, and given that this was turning out to be a night of many firsts, she figured there wasn't any harm in a little taste. It was surprisingly sweet, and she found herself enjoying it far more than the beers or liquor she had sampled in the past—as a precaution, she had only opted for a small glass, not wanting to over indulge.

"So, who wants me to do their make-up?" Botan offered excitedly, gesturing towards the coffee table, which was nearly filled to capacity with all manner of cosmetics. "Yukina? Davi?"

"I've never really worn make-up," Yukina replied, her voice somewhat shy. "Does it…hurt?" she asked quietly, sounding mildly nervous as she eyed the curling iron with obvious concern.

Botan's laughter echoed throughout the living room, even as she shook her head.

"Not at all, silly! It's just something fun to do to accentuate your looks."

Despite the reassurance, Yukina still appeared somewhat uneasy, so Davina decided to step in and play the first victim to Botan's whims so that she could see the process and hopefully be encouraged.

"I'm game, just don't do anything too crazy, okay?" she responded softly, biting back her own rush of trepidation. Botan clapped her hands at this agreement and shooed Davina over to the couch, urging her to take a set. While she began the task at hand, the others began to make their own preparations—Keiko offered to style Yukina's hair, while Shizuru perched near the coffee table on the floor, contently drinking her can of beer and watching everyone with obvious amusement.

It took a good fifteen minutes, but Botan worked with deft hands, her utmost concentration focused on Davina as she toiled with different brushes and tools.

"Ta-da!" she announced upon completion, holding up the portable mirror for Davina to scrutinize her face. A soft gasp of surprise escaped her lips at the sight—Botan had been true to her word in keeping things simple, fixing her with a basic smoky eye look composed of several gray shades, carefully winged eyeliner, and a soft nude matte lip gloss. The monotone hues complimented the hazel of her eyes, and the thicker liner accented the shape perfectly. The lipstick was a nice touch, the little pop of neutral color flattering against her pale, freckled skin.

"Wow, Botan, it looks amazing!" she offered with a wide smile, to which Botan giggled at her praise.

"I'm happy you think so—and that lip gloss is long wear, so it will hold up all night—eating, drinking, even kissing…" she tacked on with a playful smirk, her eyes glittering with silent mischief. A soft heat flooded throughout Davina's face at this remark, knowing full well what she was alluding to—but rather than allowing herself to become embarrassed, she decided to reply in kind.

"Guess I'll have to put it to the test, then," she retorted with a cheeky smile, one that roused a series of chuckles from each of her companions. Botan shot her a wink before she vacated the couch, smiling at her bold rebuttal. Yukina, having witnessed the exchange, was now comfortable enough to permit Botan to work her magic, so she relocated onto the sofa for her turn.

"Would you like me to do your hair?" Keiko chimed in, looking over at her curiously. Davina nodded, grateful for the offer—in truth, she hadn't the slightest idea of how to style it, and had more or less planned to simply tie it back in her typical loose bun. As Keiko reached for the curling iron, she tried to relax, unsure of what the end result would be, but having faith that it would be far better than anything she would do for herself.

"Didn't you and Shuichi have a date the other day?" she asked conversationally, prompting Davina's cheeks to redden slightly. She nodded, unable to keep the smile from her face.

"Their first date," Shizuru chimed in with a smirk, finishing off the last of her spicy chili chips and killing the last of her beer.

"How was it?"

"Honestly? It was amazing—we did dinner at Akaitsuru, and he took me to play laser tag after. Definitely the best first date I've ever been on—not that there's been a lot of those, but still..."

"Sounds like a good time," the elder Kuwabara replied with a smirk of approval. "Laser tag is a good idea—leave it to Foxboy to come up with something like that."

The use of this seemingly strange nickname quickly caught Davina's attention, having never heard the name before.

"Foxboy?" she inquired, unable to silence her curiosity.

Shizuru immediately looked somewhat panicked for a brief second, but caught herself and chuckled, shaking her head as if to cover up her sudden blunder.

"It's just a dumb pet name," she explained with a reassuring smile. "A couple of years ago, we attended one of those big spring festivals at the square—got all dressed up for the occasion and everything. Shuichi had a fox mask on his head, so yeah. Guess the name just stuck."

Davina nodded her head at this explanation, but for some strange reason, the story seemed almost disingenuous, as if she had made it up on the fly. But there was no reason to question her account, and Davina simply shrugged, opting to let things be.

"Did you guys…kiss?" Keiko inquired, trying to keep her tone neutral, although there was an unmistakable air of curiosity clinging to her words. The forwardness of her inquiry caused the heat marring Davina's cheeks to worsen, but she swallowed back her anxiety and chuckled instead. It was all girl talk, which was to be expected, given the current situation—it wasn't weird that they would be interested in such a thing, considering their friendship. She decided to be honest, knowing that there was little point in tiptoeing around with her answer.

"Yes," Davina replied shyly, unable to keep the smile from her face. She wanted to expand on the explanation, but found herself unable to provide much in terms of detail—with Selina, this conversation had been easy, amusing even, but they knew each other on a level similar to that of siblings, and her best friend had yet to meet Shuichi. But these girls were his friends, and she didn't want to seem uncouth, so she kept it vague. "It was pretty…intense." She chuckled quietly, trying to calm the warmth that singed her face.

"As it should be—the proper end to a first date, and all that," Shizuru replied with a small smirk.

"From what I've gathered, he really likes you," Keiko offered, lowering the curling iron and taking a step back to scrutinize her handiwork. After discarding the wand, she used her fingers to carefully smooth the waves she had created throughout Davina's lengthy copper locks, appearing pleased with the result.

"I…uh…really like him, too," Davina replied softly, looking up and meeting Keiko's gaze. She smiled over at her, gesturing for her to approach the mirror that hung near the foyer. Davina did as she was bid, eying her reflection with surprise—it was hard to believe how much a bit of carefully applied make-up and the loose ringlets in her hair had done for her appearance. She felt almost overwhelmed at the sight—it was so decidedly different from her usual look, but she found herself content with the concept. It was for a night out, after all—there was no harm in getting a bit fancied up for the occasion. Vaguely, she wondered what Shuichi would think—she could hardly wait to see him.

"Thanks, Keiko, I love it," she gushed, unable to help herself.

"I'm glad—why don't you go get dressed? We all need to get changed here soon—it's already almost a quarter after seven already!"

Davina nodded her ascent, quickly disappearing into her bedroom to swap her current wares. Given that she already had the proper undergarments on, she swiftly shed her tank and leggings, sliding on her opaque black pantyhose and straightening them out before liberating her new dress from its hanger and tugging it on. Once in place, she adjusted the thin straps, eying her reflection in the full length mirror curiously. The garment was truly flattering in its shape and cut, and while it was far shorter than she was used to, the tiny shorts hidden beneath the skirt were helpful in quelling the worst of her concerns. Finishing up, she applied some more deodorant, refreshed her perfume, and reached for her small jewelry box to find some accessories to wear. She settled on some short silver teardrop earrings, and her necklace bearing the leaf charm. Satisfied with her preparations, she grabbed her new boots, a pair of black ankle socks, and a tiny black purse to carry out into the living room with her.

Upon her return, she was greeted with approving looks and encouraging words, all of which had her smiling widely. Keiko stepped in her room to change, while Shizuru headed into the bathroom to do the same—Yukina had already donned her wares for the evening, an adorably fitting sundress in a soft blue hue that was laden with tiny white flowers. The make-up Botan had applied for her was subtle, but flattering, her eyeshadow a soft ivory laden with shimmering mica, mild liner, and pale pink lipstick. Her mint green hair was tied back in a carefully woven braid, a fake purple peony hairclip secured just above her left temple.

"Yukina, you look great," Davina offered, earning herself a winning smile from their counterpart. "That dress is adorable."

Botan was putting the finishing touches on her make-up as Keiko emerged from the bedroom—her dress was a dark green, with a ruffled knee length skirt and off the shoulder straps. It was a great ensemble, fitting her slender form perfectly, and the color complimented the olive tone of her skin. Shizuru emerged from the washroom, clad in a simple pair of fitted black slacks and a sleeveless chocolate brown cowl neck blouse—she had been adamantly against wearing a dress, citing that they were uncomfortable and not really her cup of tea. Her selected outfit suited her perfectly, lending her an air of subtle elegance. She looked well put together and comfortable. Botan stepped into the bedroom to change into her dress while Keiko and Shizuru put on their final touches—Davina reclaimed her phone, silencing the music that was playing, and prepared her purse, taking care to add only the necessities into the tiny bag.

It wasn't long before Botan emerged, clad in the rose colored, rhinestone accented dress she had selected during their shopping venture—a comfortable silence was had as everyone scrambled to gather their things, and finally, it was time to depart. With Keiko in the lead, they left Davina's apartment, carefully making their way down the stairs and out onto the sidewalk. Davina's new boots weren't as comfortable as she would have preferred, given that they had yet to be properly broken in, but there was little to do but grin and bear it. Quickly, they made their way over to the downtown district, chatting excitedly among themselves.

. . .

It was just two minutes shy of eight when Shuichi checked his watch at Kazuma's request—he was starting to become impatient, as their agreed upon meeting time had come and gone, wondering aloud just what was taking the girls so long to arrive. Yusuke had since joined their gathering, having arrived almost twenty minutes prior—he was fairly dressed down compared to his companions, wearing his typical blue jeans and a loose fit black shirt, accompanied by a dark green jacket. His thick black hair was slicked back with its usual fairly heavy application of gel, and he had actually sprayed on some cologne for the occasion—Shuichi recognized the scent as being one Keiko had gifted him for Christmas several years prior. He didn't wear it often, not being particularly fond of such things—the fact that he had bothered to do so at all was simply to please Keiko, and Shuichi took that as a good sign that things were heading in a better direction for the pair.

"Where the heck are they?" Kazuma barked, his voice heavy with obvious exasperation. Shuichi remained silent at this irritated inquiry, while Yusuke simply shrugged.

"They're girls—since when are they ever on time?" he quipped with a mild smirk, which caused Shuichi to sigh quietly.

"If they're not here in five minutes, I'm gonna call Shizuru and tell them to put a fire under it," Kazuma continued, crossing his arms over his chest, his entire visage contorted with annoyed impatience.

"Relax, Kuwabara—we've got the whole night for you to make an ass outta yourself in front of Yukina," Yusuke teased, quickly earning himself a harsh glare from his best friend. "I'm sure she'll be super impressed with all those sweet dance moves you've been blabbing about all week…"

Shuichi shut his eyes and shook his head, fighting back another sigh—the last thing he wanted to do was handle an escalating quarrel between his two companions. While Yusuke didn't mean anything cruel by his snide taunting, Kazuma's mood was already antsy, and adding fuel to the fire wasn't going to help the situation. But before Kuwabara could retort, his entire face suddenly altered from sheer aggravation to one of excitement as his gaze reached out into the distance. Shuichi turned his stare in the same direction, and immediately felt a quick rush of relief wash over him at the sight of the girls as they approached. The timing of their arrival, while not ideal, came as a massive reprieve—with Yukina in sight, Kazuma immediately forgot their impending spat, his entire focus planted firmly on his girlfriend as his face lit up with a huge grin. Eagerly, he waved to the approaching group, his frustration quickly fleeting.

Like a moth to a flame, Shuichi's eyes immediately sought out Davina from among her companions—a hitch of breath caught in his throat at the sight of her. He hadn't been sure what to expect, but one thing was for sure: she looked absolutely delectable, even from afar. It was almost surprising to see her dressed and dolled up as she was—he had found her beautiful regardless of her state of dress or make-up, but the extra effort she had put in for tonight's outing was obvious, and he couldn't help but silently admire her. That little black dress fit her buxom figure in a painfully delicious manner, hugging her curves and causing his palms to itch with the desire to touch them.

She caught his stare and fixed him with an inviting smile—he returned the gesture, unable to pull his eyes away from her as they closed the distance that separated them.

"Hi, Yukina! You look great!" Kazuma quickly spouted, his eyes wide with appreciation for his beloved, who fixed him with a shy smile.

"Hey," Yusuke offered casually, taking a step over to greet his fiancée—although he tried to be subtle, it was obvious he was drinking in the sight of his partner, a small smirk hanging on the corners of his lips. "Nice dress."

Keiko quirked a brow at him, but smiled even as she shook her head—she knew from experience that as far as compliments went for Yusuke, well, that was as good as they got. Regardless, she was pleased, and leaned into kiss his cheek carefully, coming away with a small grin as she caught wind of his cologne.

"Hi, Shuichi," Davina offered quietly as she paused beside him—he could feel her gaze as it traced over him, and judging by the soft look of awe that had fallen across her face, it was obvious that she liked what she saw.

"Davi," he replied in greeting, fixing her with a welcoming smile, sudden warmth blossoming in his chest. She looked even better in close quarters, and he held out his arms to her in the offer of a hug, which she quickly stepped into, even as a soft pink hue flooded her cheeks. The scent of her perfume washed over him, prompting him to sigh happily.

"You look fantastic," he whispered into her ear just before they parted, feeling the ghost of a shiver as it raced down her spine at his softly spoken admission. She was smiling as they separated, the blush marring her face darkened at his compliment.

"Sorry we're a bit late," Botan said, her voice decidedly unapologetic. "Girl stuff, and all that…" She giggled softly, shooting the other girls a knowing look.

"No worries," Kazuma replied, acting as if he hadn't been complaining about their tardiness only mere minutes before. "Let's head inside—follow me!"

Collectively, they began their venture into Yori No Hi—Shuichi offered his hand for Davina to take, smiling as she accepted and linked her fingers among his own. While a seemingly sweet gesture, simply escorting her wasn't Shuichi's only intention—it was a clear calling card to all who looked that she was spoken for. And look they did—Shuichi was hyperaware of all the eyes that followed Davina upon their approach into the dance club, but given their close proximity, his internal aggression did not bubble to the surface. In fact, he welcomed their stares—she was his, this ethereal creature that ambled alongside him, unaware of the multitude of hungry gazes that followed her. He didn't know if it was out of sheer innocence or blissful ignorance that she didn't notice—but it hardly mattered.

With Kazuma at the lead, they made their way inside, following a quick exchange with current bouncer, who swiftly allowed them entrance after checking their identification. As the minors of the group, both Davina and Keiko receiving a small stamp on the top of their left hands—the dark, inky impression was a simple rendering of a character that meant 'NO', which would prevent them from purchasing alcohol if they were to make the attempt.

Yori No Hi was hardly different from any other standard club, boasting dark interior with dramatic red lighting, loud dance music that poured forth from over head speakers, and a massive floor occupied by a multitude of gyrating bodies. The DJ booth was front and center, backlit by a vast projection screen that hosted an animated backdrop of wriggling orange flames. Upbeat techno music pounded through the vast space—it was fairly loud, but thankfully, not entirely overbearing. Thanks to Kazuma's familiarity, the group made their way around with ease, carefully navigating through the intense throng of fellow patrons. There was a small section of seating near the narrow corridor that led to the restrooms that remained unoccupied, and Kazuma quickly moved to claim it for their collective. Unfortunately, it wasn't large enough to accommodate their entire assembly, but it was enough to work with.

Yusuke was quick to suggest they hit the bar and grab a round of drinks—everyone agreed with his suggestion, and, with Kazuma in tow, they headed for their destination, following Keiko's friendly reminder to bring back something that she and Davina could partake in without causing trouble.

The girls, save for Shizuru and Davina, immediately perched on the sectional, their conversation faint against the rumble of their noisy surroundings. Shuichi's hand was still intertwined with Davina's—for a brief moment, he considered releasing their connection, but she seemed more than content with their current position, so he let it linger. Her grip on him had tensed up since their entrance into the club, and he could tell by means of simple observation that she was already a bit anxious about their current surroundings. But this wasn't a shocking revelation, considering their previous conversation about this outing—all in all, Davina seemed to be holding up well, smiling over at him despite the mild apprehension present in her eyes. Regardless, Shuichi sought to reassure her, so he fixed her hand with a firm squeeze and leaned in close so she could hear his words over the drone of the music.

"Shall we look for a dark corner to hide in?" he teased, his mouth perched close to her ear so he didn't have to raise his voice. He could feel her laugh at his question, knowing she appreciated what had quickly become an inside joke between them. Davina leaned in closer as he turned his head to better hear her reply.

"I might be taking you up on the offer sooner than you think," she replied, but the inflection of her tone was suggestive rather than apprehensive, which surprised him. He turned back to face her, unable hide his stunned expression—it lingered for a moment, then morphed into a playful smirk, encouraged by her salacious comment. She gestured for him to turn his ear to her again so she could continue, and he did so quickly.

"Are you a parking ticket? Because you've got 'fine' written all over you…" She barely managed to complete her sentence before erupting into a giggle, fully understanding just how awful her effort at flirting was.

Shuichi joined in her laughter, amused by her playful candor—it surprised him that she had even made such an attempt, given her usual timidity. He decided to respond in turn, knowing it would encourage her. Swiftly, he wracked his brain for an equally banal line, and smiled at the idea that came to mind.

"If being sexy was a crime, you'd be guilty as charged," he replied in kind, leaning in so she could hear him. Davina's laughter was contagious, and he couldn't help but share her mirth. Her cheeks were heated again, and Shuichi couldn't help but feel pleased with himself.

"I'm terrible at flirting, but you really do look amazing," she said, her voice suddenly shy as she spoke into his ear.

"As do you…" Another corny line popped into his mind, one he could recall over hearing from one of the tacky romantic movies his mother loved to watch, but it was almost a perfect fit for the situation, so he decided to utilize it to his advantage. "Do you know what my shirt is made of?"

This question seemed strange to Davina, who quirked a curious brow at his words and stared over at him quizzically for a brief second before leaning in to hear his response.

"Boyfriend material," Shuichi replied quickly, unable to keep the smirk off of his face.

Davina's eyes widened at this answer—it was obvious she hadn't been expecting such a response. But she was quick to recover, and was fighting back a smirk as she leaned in to whisper a reply.

"It is a nice shirt…but I think it would look better on my bedroom floor," she retorted, although her tone was suddenly nervous as the words left her lips. A sudden burst of warmth gathered in Shuichi's loins at her impish remark, causing him to quickly inhale as their eyes locked and gazes held. A small, bashful smile tugged at the corners of Davina's lips, but there was a heat behind her stare, one that caused his inner self to growl with want. While their banter was playful, there was a deeply seated sense of lust building behind their flirtatious words, and Shuichi was more than enjoying their mischievous affinity.

"And here I thought you were terrible at flirting," he teased, reaching over to wrap an arm around Davina's waist. She leaned into the contact, willfully pressing the length of her side against him.

"I am—I'm just feeling…some type of way, I guess," she admitted, sounding somewhat timid at her explanation. Shuichi nodded in understanding, but before he could respond, Botan's voice interrupted their conversation, swiftly capturing their collective attention.

"Earth to Shuichi and Davi! Just what's so funny over there?" she called out loudly, trying to speak over the music.

They both shook their heads in response, wearing identical smirks. Botan fixed them with a stern look, gesturing for them to move in closer so they could chat. Together, they maneuvered in closed, curious as to what she had to say.

"We were talking about hitting the beach tomorrow—you guys in?"

"I have an evening shift tomorrow, but I could attend for a few hours, providing it's early enough," Shuichi replied quickly—he rather enjoyed the beach, and it wasn't often that he had the chance to go due to his many outstanding obligations, so he was happy for the opportunity.

"Sounds good to me," Davina responded with a wide smile "I haven't visited the beaches around here since I was a kid."

"Yes! So, it's settled, then!" Botan exclaimed with an excited clap of her hands.

"I love the beach," Yukina offered with a smile. "I visit the shore at Genkai's every chance I get. It's so tranquil there."

It was in that moment that Yusuke and Kazuma reappeared, carrying a collective of beverages between them. Quickly, they passed them out, with Kazuma attempting to explain just what the dark concoction contained in the cups was. Shuichi couldn't really make out much of what he was saying, save for the word cranberry. Yusuke first handed Shizuru an opened bottle of beer, to which she nodded in silent appreciation.

"Shit, I forgot which ones were non-alcoholic," he grumbled, glancing down at the cups with an annoyed stare. After realizing that there wasn't much to be done, he handed out the cups and shrugged.

Shuichi eyed his drink curiously, taking a quick, inquisitive sip. He was quick to recognize the familiar tang of whiskey, which was almost immediately overpowered by the potent taste of tart cranberry, and paired with the tingly carbonation of soda water. It was some strange take on a highball, a simple but popular cocktail. It was an interesting combination, one that he had never sampled before—he didn't drink often, but when he did, he typically preferred a dry red wine, or an aged sake. In his previous existence, Shuichi had indulged consistently, but now, as his human self, the taste for alcohol didn't hold the same appeal during his days as the king of bandits. Still, there were times when he missed the utterly pleasant sense of cheerful abandonment that accompanied a decent level of intoxication—the lack of inhibition was quite freeing, and while he had experienced many an enjoyable night in those days, it simply didn't fit his carefully cultivated façade.

Davina took a large sip of her beverage, her face immediately altering with surprise.

"Erm, I don't think this one was meant for me…" she announced loudly, causing Yusuke to shoot her an apologetic glance.

"I'll trade you," Botan said with a laugh, having quickly realized that she had been given one of the virgin drinks in place of her actual cocktail. The exchange was made, and Yusuke relaxed—he watched as Keiko took a sip of her drink, sighing with relief when she nodded that hers was correct.

With some effort, loud conversation was had while they consumed their drinks, talking at higher decibels to combat the overhead music. Botan was quick to suggest they hit the dance floor following the completion of their beverages, and everyone nodded in agreement, much to her delight. Shuichi saw the trepidation as it formed on Davina's face, but she shook it off after a moment, determined to at least make an attempt. He was silently proud of her for taking the plunge with so little hesitation, knowing just how far this interlude was out of her comfort zone. He offered her his hand to claim in hopes of encouraging her, and she accepted it swiftly, smiling gratefully over at him. Hand in hand, they followed their friends out onto the vast expanse of the dance floor, carefully weaving their way through the crowd.

. . .

Upon their arrival to the street that hosted their destination, a nervous flutter had blossomed within the pit of Davina's belly—she could hardly believe she had agreed to such an outing, but was determined to see it through. The distant sight of Shuichi helped quell her twanging nerves some, and as they closed the space that separated them, her budding apprehension quickly dissipated as she took him in.

It was hard to believe that this man was real—even more difficult to fathom was the reason why someone so ungodly attractive was looking at her with a sense of wondrous awe, his green eyes drinking her in as if she were some rare, potent elixir. If this was a dream, Davina never wanted to wake from it—it almost seemed too good to be reality, and yet, somehow, it was.

A sudden weakness hugged her knees, and she could feel the warmth blossom in her cheeks as their eyes met and lingered. She greeted him once they were close enough, and when he called her name in response, Davina felt a sudden quiver race down the length of her spine. She was quick to accept his offer of a hug, enjoying the brief but satisfying contact with a soft sigh, inhaling the familiar aroma of his woodsy cologne. The momentary press of his body against her own was electrifying, causing her skin to tingle pleasantly.

"You look fantastic," he purred softly into her ear, the tone of his voice prompting her to shiver, even as the warmth on her cheeks rose to a fever pitch. An innate sense of satisfaction was had from his whispered compliment—all of the extra time and effort was well worth it, after witnessing his reaction. Davina couldn't contain her smile, buoyant because of Shuichi's positive response.

Following their reunion, their group made their way inside the club, with Kazuma taking the lead position. She and Keiko received their temporary marks that identified them as minors, but it didn't damper her mood. Even if she was of legal age to consume alcohol, the idea of being intoxicated in a massive, crowded place such as this would have absolutely been an awful idea—she wanted to keep her wits about her. Shuichi was quick to offer her his hand to hold as they made their way forward, and she claimed it gladly, more than content for this tactile connection. The pressure of many curious stares pressed down upon her as they walked onward, but she ignored them with relative ease—with Shuichi as her escort for the evening, there was simply no one could compare—all of her attention was reserved for him and him alone, so it was easy to overlook the strange attention that was she gleaning, even if it was a bit unnerving.

These unfamiliar surroundings were a lot to take in, between the numerous sights, sounds, and collective of different smells that assaulted her senses all at once. Davina had done her best to mentally prepare for the onslaught of such stimuli, accepting that it could be potentially difficult to adapt—she had worked to psyche herself up, comforted by the thought of her current company and knowing that if in the event that she got overwhelmed, she would be able to voice her discomfort without concern of judgment. This knowledge lend her a much needed sense of security, but still she was resolute to not allow feelings of anxiety taint what she desperately wanted to be a wonderful evening with her new friends.

Even with the theme of fire and flames, as proposed by the club's name, Yori No Hi wasn't much different from any other club she had seen, even if her only true references hailed from movies and television shows. Davina had to admit, it was interesting to witness such an environment in person rather than through a screen.

Their collective was fortunate enough to snag a small area with seating, and almost immediately, Yusuke and Kazuma were headed to the bar to fetch some drinks—when Keiko reminded them to grab something acceptable for her and Davina, she shot her companion an appreciative smile, grateful that she was looking out for them.

Upon the boys departure, Yukina, Keiko, and Botan all claimed the available seating, which suited her fine—Shizuru lingered alongside of their arrangement, her expression stoic as she glanced out into the throng of people dancing, her eyes amused as she took in the sight. Davina and Shuichi stood off to the opposite side of the sectional, remaining in close proximity to one another—it was pretty loud because of the music that lingered overhead, so he made a point to lean in even closer to her, his mouth seeking out her ear so he could speak.

"Shall we look for a dark corner to hide in?" he offered playfully, prompting her to laugh at this personal joke that had quickly evolved between them. She turned to respond, feeling rather brazen in light of the way things were unfolding for their evening.

"I might be taking you up on the offer sooner than you think," she retorted, her words heavy with a wayward inflection that bestowed upon them a far different meaning than their original origin. Shuichi's expression of shock at her pointed remark was reward enough, and the smirk that followed informed her that he had fully understood the less than innocent meaning that loitered behind her comment.

The urge to continue on in such a manner was potent, but Davina knew full well that flirting was definitely not her strong suit—she had never mastered the mischievous art of such prose, despite numerous attempts of assistance from Selina, who could flirt with the best of them. She decided to take a humorous approach to her attempt, racking her brain for a cheesy pick up line to share with him—even if it didn't have the ultimately desired effect, she hoped it would make Shuichi laugh. He might even appreciate such a thing, even if it was a bit on the childish side.

"Are you a parking ticket? Because you've got 'fine' written all over you…" she called into his ear, hardly managing to complete her sentence before giggling at the awkward phrasing, understanding just how corny it really was. But to her pleasure, Shuichi responded with mirth of his own, amusement dancing in his green eyes.

He leaned in close to reply, effectively taking Davina by surprise when he responded with his own silly line.

"If being sexy was a crime, you'd be guilty as charged," he retorted quickly, his smirk widened as the words left his lips. Another peal of laughter escaped Davina at this reply, even though her stomach did a little nervous flutter at the realization that he had referred to her as 'sexy'. She couldn't stop the heat from gathering in her cheeks, even as a mild feeling of defeat welled up within her. His line was undoubtedly better than hers—regardless, she was still pleased to be on the receiving end of his flirtatious joke.

"I'm terrible at flirting, but you really do look amazing," she admitted when he turned to provide her access to his ear once more, wanting to seriously communicate her current feelings. It was a simple truth—she always thought he looked amazing, but there was an air about him tonight that had somehow rendered Shuichi even sexier to her. Despite feeling shy about such things, there was a deeply seated urge to indulge in his touch, wanting to experience more of what he had to offer.

"As do you…" He paused for a brief moment, as if considering his next words carefully.

"Do you know what my shirt is made of?" he asked lightly, this inquiry causing her to look over at him with mild confusion. It was an odd question, and while she didn't understand the relevance in relation to their conversation, she leaned in to hear his response, curious.

"Boyfriend material," he said swiftly, a knowing smirk coming to rest across his lips.

Davina felt her eyes widen at this answer, taking a second to process his well articulated jest. Hearing him use the word 'boyfriend' sent a literal shock into the depths of her mind—while things between them had yet to progress to such a status, they were certainly heading in a favorable direction. The thought of Shuichi claiming such a title in relation to her made all of Davina's body tingle with silent want, but she pushed aside the desire to comment on such a thing. Instead, she opted to keep with the theme of things, seeing as he had set her up so perfectly.

"It is a nice shirt…but I think it would look better on my bedroom floor," she retorted, trying to exude confidence in her phrasing, but failing at the last second, her voice taking on a mildly anxious tone. It was a forward remark, she knew, but hell if there wasn't truth behind it. Davina couldn't play timid forever, and with the tone of the evening, it simply seemed the right moment to play things a little fast and loose.

The sound of his quick inhale confirmed that her response had indeed had the desired effect on her companion, and their eyes locked and held firm. She fixed him a shy smile, encouraged by the hunger that lingered behind his gaze.

"And here I thought you were terrible at flirting," he replied pointedly, moving closer to entangle his arm about her waist. Davina happily leaned against him, eager for the press of his tall, lithe form against her own.

"I am—I'm just feeling…some type of way, I guess," she offered, sounding almost hesitant. He simply nodded, understanding her explanation, but before he could continue, their conversation was interrupted by Botan, who loudly demanded their attention. For a brief second, Davina felt guilty, knowing that they weren't sharing their collective attentions with their friends—while an unintentional slight, it was simply difficult to tear her focus away from Shuichi. It was obvious that he was facing the same difficulty.

After a quick chat about plans to visit the beach on the following day, Yusuke and Kazuma rejoined their ranks, passing out the drinks they had procured. Davina had no idea what the dark concoction contained in her cup was, but she decided to through caution to the wind and take a sip—she tasted cranberry, but it was accompanied by an unfamiliar flavor, something akin to spice and oak, with a mild burn to follow.

"Erm, I don't think this one was meant for me…" she offered, shaking off the surprise of having received the wrong beverage—but it was a quick fix, with Botan having been given the one intended for her, and a swift exchange was made, which fixed the issue.

Once their round was consumed, Botan eagerly suggested they head to the dance floor and 'bust some moves' as she called it, following her joke up with a wide grin. This suggestion made Davina's anxiety rear its ugly head, but there was little to be done about it—it was a dance club, after all—dancing was expected. She forced her nervousness back, wanting to at least give the opportunity a chance to thrive.

It was as if Shuichi sense her hesitation, as he quickly offered her his hand to claim—she did so, shooting him an appreciative smile. With him by her side, Davina felt encouraged—with their companions leading the way, they headed over to the dance floor, Davina clinging tightly to Shuichi as he guided her carefully through the throng.

. . .

TO BE CONTINUED IN PART TWO.

Author's Note: I apologize for how long it took to get this chapter posted. Apart from reality getting in the way, writer's block was a bitch there for a good while. Luckily, it seems to have forsaken its hold on me for the moment, and hopefully, remains as such. I have the next installment started, and hope to have it ready to post by the conclusion of this week. This scenario is a long one, hence why it is broken up into two parts—I didn't want to rush the spicy bits, so it's a bit drawn out for the sake of being more in depth, and I didn't want to make you guys wait even longer for another chapter (hence the weird, middle of the week posting). All that aside, I have to take a moment to give my sincere appreciation to all you lovely readers—the reviews I've received recently were so wonderful and encouraging, and it is so nice to hear your feedback. Just know that I really appreciate you guys taking the time to write me, it genuinely means a great deal. Look for part two here soon, probably this coming Saturday, if all goes well. I hope everyone is doing well out there, and staying safe.