From the Desk of Sphinxy8a

Here's the next installment. I hope you like it. It is rather longer than usual. I felt bad for not updating in a while. Read, enjoy, and review.

-Sphinxy8a

Two Years After: Chapter four

"Stop messing with your clothes," exclaimed Riiko as she swatted at Soshi's hands.

"What if someone recognizes me," asked Soshi as he moved out of Riiko's reach.

"It's the middle of the day. Everyone we know will be in class or at work. We're almost there, remember to be cool," said Riiko as they crossed the street.

"Do I really have to wear my contacts?"

"Yes, now hurry up and put them in," said Riiko as she reached in her purse for his glasses case and handed it to him.

"Fine, but they itch," grumbled Soshi as he took off his glasses and put them into their case and reached into his pocket for his contact case.

"No one will recognize you because you look way different without your glasses and no one would even think you would even attempt to wear these kinds of clothes."

"Thanks for reminding me about that," said Soshi as he tugged at his shirt.

"You look fine, now go in there," said Riiko as she opened the club door and pushed him inside.

After making sure that Soshi didn't try to escape, Riiko crossed the street and sat on a bench watching the iron gated door.

"Hey there sweet thang, what you looking at?"

"What the – Geeze Gaku! Give a girl a heart attack why don't you!"

After completely ignoring Riiko's last comment Gaku took a seat next to her on the bench and popped a skittle into his mouth.

"Why are you here Gaku," asked Riiko after calming down a bit.

"To make sure you guys go through with this," said Gaku as he popped another skittle in his mouth and offered some to Riiko at the same time.

Shaking her head Riiko replied, "Of course I'm going through with this! How else an I going to make Kronos Heaven go away?!"

"I guess you're right. So how are things going?"

"What do you mean? Like with school or what?"

"Oh I know how things are going with you at school, so let's try the or what category."

"You've been watching to much Jeopardy."

"You're avoiding the question."

"No I'm not, everything's fine. I go to school then to work and come home and watch TV with Soshi."

"That's not fine, that's routine. No beau? The kid still hasn't made a move on you," asked Gaku as he finished of his skittles and then said more to himself than to Riiko, "Geeze, you'd think that he would have learned from the last time."

"Soshi knows we're not ready to be anything but friends."

"Maybe it's not the both of you but more that you aren't ready."

"When did you become all psychological," asked Riiko defensively.

"What are you talking about when? I've always been this way."

"Riiiight."

"Ok, so maybe since Night asked me to keep and eye on you."

"He asked you," said Riiko incredulously.

"I'm trustworthy. Anyways don't you think that you're wasting your time waiting for Night? I mean I know you love him but you also love Soshi. Who is in there probably making a fool of himself to help the girl he loves."

"Hey! What happened to the Gaku who was trying to get me to do… things with Night?"

He was just trying not to lose his job. You need to move on. I'm telling you this as a friend."

"It's just hard, because I know that Night could wake up at any moment and if I'm married with kids he'll be devastated but won't want to interfere and I'll feel like crap and blame myself."

"Don't you know that all night wants is for you to be happy? He told me to tell you not to let any opportunity pass you by because you feel you have to wait for him. Now don't you think that includes an opportunity for love? Even though Soshi loves you, he's not going to wait forever. He'll get tired of being your best friend eventually."

"You're right, but I don't know how to tell him how I feel though."

"So don't tell him, show him."

"What do you mean, show him?"

"Shh," said Gaku putting a finger to his lips then said, "Soshi's coming out."

"Hey kid, so how'd it go," asked Gaku as he got up off the bench and helped Riiko up as well.

"I got the job right away. They had a lot of people quit recently, so it was easier than I thought," said Soshi as he took off his contacts and handed them to Riiko who got out his glasses and handed them to him.

"That easy, eh? I think I might try for a job there myself," said Gaku.

"But won't Rita be upset if her Gakipoo is entertaining other women," asked Soshi with a smirk.

"Shouldn't you be at home? If anyone catches you two you'll be in major trouble," said Gaku evading the question.

Just as Soshi was about to say something Riiko put her hand over his mouth and said "You know he's right lets go." She then proceeded to give Soshi a push in the direction of home and waved bye to Gaku.

"What was that about," asked Soshi looking back at Gaku.

"Hmm? Oh, he just wanted to see if you'd actually get the job," said Riiko.

"And why wouldn't I?!"

"Don't be so irked. You were afraid you wouldn't get the job too!"

"Self doubt is different!"

"Sure, sure. So what do you want to do now since we don't have to go to school?"

"Didn't Gaku say we should go home?"

"You're going to listen Gaku now? Anyways haven't we been shopping already and no one has recognized us yet and if they did they would be in trouble to for ditching."

"Hmmm. You're only this convincing when you have something to hide or you haven't done something. It must have something to do with going home because you don't want to be there," Said Soshi as he stood in a position of thought next to the bus stop. "I thought it was strange when you changed all the clocks because you're too lazy for that, and you didn't seem to surprised when we found out we were an hour late to school, so that's what it must be related to… Riiko! You had that really big project due today didn't you?"

"…I don't like you."

"How much of it do you need to get finished?"

"Erm…"

"Riiko! Come on, were going home so you can finish it."

"But I don't want to!"

"Too bad," said Soshi as he dragged her behind him onto the bus that had just arrived.

"And I almost got away with it too," muttered Riiko.