18 - Vignette - Post Reaper's Game

Dedicated to khheroxasoray :'D

xxxxx


Stitched Graffiti – After the First

Heart still beating unnaturally fast, Shiki wondered how Neku could stay so calm for the whole day. Then again, this was Neku, so it should not have been too surprising.

She still couldn't believe that Neku had asked her out on a date, even after having spent the whole day at Pon Land, which they had to take the train out of Shibuya to reach.

He had been very clear about it - not a, "Do you want to go out?" in which common misunderstandings could be easily made; or a covered up "There's this new theme park just outside Shibuya, wanna go check it out?"; but a blunt, "Shiki. I owe you a date - let's go somewhere."

He didn't seem embarrassed when he said it, but the Bito siblings both swore that his face was crimson when he was walking home with them.

In any case, she was glad Neku asked - she had developed a sort of kind of small crush on him.

Neku was walking her home, keeping close beside her. For these colder days, he exchanged his regular J&M sleeveless top with...a J&M long sleaved jumper. It was still a purplish-blue colour, though. His shorts had been replaced with a black pair of pants.

It wasn't the most fashionable assembly of clothes, but Shiki especially liked a certain part of his attire -

The scarf. He was wearing the black scarf that she had made for him. And he almost never willingly wore the clothes he made her (a loyal J&M customer to the end, she guessed).

She also assumed he didn't have gloves; his hands were shoved into his jumper's front pockets.

She brought her own ungloved hands up and rubbed them together; she really should have knitted some new gloves, her hands were freezing.

Another hand suddenly tugged at her left hand. She gave Neku a questioning look, before he entwined his own with hers.

"E-eh?"

"...it'll keep you warm," he said, in monotone, though she spotted his cheeks tinge pink, and not from the cold.

"Oh. T-thanks." And it also wasn't the cold's fault that she had stuttered just then.

Calm down Shiki, he's just keeping a promise. This date didn't really mean anything. He's just treating you, that's all. And he's just getting embarrassed 'cause he's Neku.

Arriving, at the front of her apartment building, they both stopped walking; Neku, to Shiki's disappointment, let go of her hand.

"Neku, about today," she started, "thanks. I had a lot of fun! We should go again sometime, we can bring along Eri, Beat and Rhyme."

"I thought you weren't supposed to bring friends on dates," said Neku, pulling at the tip of his front spike.

It took a few seconds for his words to register.

"Huh? You mean you want to go on another date with me? I mean, you don't have to take me out again since you only promised one... "

Neku brought his hand to his face. "Don't tell me that this whole time you were thinking that I only took you out 'cause I promised to."

"But you said you 'owed' me -"

"- well it's less embarrassing then saying 'I want to go on a date with you'." He let out an exasperated sigh and the same annoyed glance she was familiar with getting from him if she wasn't thinking.

Wait...but that means...

Before she had the chance to finish her thoughts Neku was there - kissing her.

Oh. That's what he means.


A/N: Welp its been almost a month since my last update so it's about time, right? I know, I know, this is pretty similar to last chapter but it is kinda different. AND HE KISSED HER. WOOT. Hmm I can't remember writing in a kiss for this collection before this...there's an implied one in 'Pop' though. Anyway, hope you enjoyed! I might have another for the 25th, since it's my birthday then, and what better way to celebrate than with a fic?

22/1/2013