Breaking a Curse

Oh no... she was crying again. Why did he always have to make her cry?

"Harada?" Satoshi Hiwatari winced in pain and tried to turn his head to see her. "Harad-"

"Baka," came the choked voice of Risa Harada. She flicked his temple, so he would continue to look forward. "Don't move. I'm still bandaging your wings... and it's Risa."

Satoshi sighed. He hated making her cry.

Ever since she had found out about Krad (Daisuke had spilled everything), she would always come to the museums with a First Aid kit. At first he wondered why, but she found him after a battle and, without questioning him, began to tend to his wounds. It grew to the point where Dark would leave a note, Risa would see it on TV and grab her kit, then exit the house, not even bothering to look nice. She would go to the museums, crowded with reporters and policemen, not for Dark, but... for him. It was annoying as hell, really.

But it made him happy.

A sharp pain blinded him for a moment, and Satoshi swore. Risa gasped as he swatted at her hand with his non-broken arm and grimaced. There was an awkward moment of silence as the two sat in the empty park. Well... Risa had been standing behind him as he sat on a bench. Miles away, in the city, one could see search lights and hear the soft roar of a crowd.

"This needs to stop," Risa whispered quietly. Satoshi didn't know if she was just wondering out loud or if she speaking to him. He chose not to say anything as she finished his back and walked towards his front. She knelt onto her knees, took out a damp washcloth, and began gently cleaning the scratches on his face. Satoshi felt his temperature rise, uncomfortable with the fact that she was (and had become) so close. Both physically and emotionally.

The slight shimmer of a teardrop as it fell down her cheek caught Satoshi's attention. He wanted to reach out and wipe it away...

"Are you alright?" Risa asked, leaning back on her heels, looking him over once more. "Well... other than a twisted heel and a broken left arm..." When Satoshi nodded, so did Risa. "Come on. Time to get you home." She slung his right arm over her shoulders, grabbed her kit, and the two students began the walk to their houses.

Satoshi paused as they stood at the doorway of Risa's house. He insisted that he walk her home this time because last time, she walked him home, and it wasn't safe for a young lady to be out at this time of night. She stood in front of him, expectantly.

"Can you make it home?" Risa asked, concern filling her eyes.

The blue-eyed male nodded. "Yes... Harada-san-" He ignored her telling him to call her Risa. "-I wanted to thank you for taking care of me. For... always taking care of me."

Risa put her hands on her hips and sighed, a small, amused smile showing. "I only do it because I know you can't."

"Funny." Satoshi didn't really find it funny. "Well, thank you anyway. I am very grateful. Someday, I'll make it up to you." Risa suddenly became very quiet, and he saw her begin to twiddle her thumbs. Not a good sign.

"You can make it up to me by getting rid of your stupid curse," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. She then added, "I won't be able to take care of you forever, you know."

Satoshi did not want to think of that day. In fact... that was one of his greatest fears, but he would never let her know that. He shook his head solemnly. "... The day my curse is broken will... will be the day you kiss me." Of course he meant that, seeing as how she was his Sacred Maiden (which was the one thing about him she didn't know), but he also meant for the statement to sound wild... as if something of that sort would never happen.

Risa must have taken him seriously. She blushed furiously, blinked... then kissed him. She just grabbed his shirt and yanked him forward, standing on tip-toe and planting her lips firmly onto his. He felt light-headed, but a shock of pain from his arm and a special, good kind of shiver running down his spine stopped him from passing out.

Before Satoshi could even comprehend what was happening, Risa had pulled back, her entire face a deep color of red. She then took a long breath, flicked him on the nose, and said, "Now go brake your god damn curse!"

With that, she slammed the door, leaving a bewildered Satoshi to just stand on her front porch.