--26th December—

I woke up and looked at the clock. 7:00. It was still early.

When I looked up at Daisuke's bed, he was still asleep. I didn't want to disturb him so I quietly found some clothes and headed to the bathroom to change.

When I entered the bedroom again, Daisuke had just woken.

"Hey," he said. His voice was clouded with sleep.

"Hey," I replied. "I'll be on the balcony if you need me."

I had just reached the door when I heard a voice.

"Satoshi-kun."

I turned.

"Wait and I'll join you," he said as he went to his wardrobe.

"'Kay."

I came back inside and went to my bed. I grabbed my sketchpad and a pencil.

Daisuke had found some clothes and had changed by the time I found a pencil. He grabbed his sketchpad and a pencil and we went onto the balcony.

From his balcony, you could see out across the ocean and up the coast, until the Harada's house.

I made it look as if I was settling down to draw the ocean, but I didn't.

My pencil flew across the paper, making a picture. I didn't need to look up. I didn't have to. I knew exactly what Daisuke would look like when he was hunched over his pad, his pencil skimming the paper. I had seen it many times before.

I had finished the pencil outline and decided to colour it. I headed back inside and found the casing which housed my coloured pencils.

I went back onto the balcony and sat down where I was previously. I started with the eyes. A deep burgundy colour would be best. The hair would be scarlet, with paler patches where the light caught it. His skin was a pale peach colour, slightly darker across the cheekbones.

I had finished the picture by the time we were called down to breakfast.

When we were safely back in our room, I decided I had to know something.

"Daisuke-kun?"

He looked up from the comic he had in his hands.

"Yeah?"

"Did you mean what you said last night?" I was nervous. I was dreading the answer. It could either help me or it could spoil my only friendship that I had ever had.

"You heard that?" he exclaimed. He was blushing. It was obvious even if he had his head down. "I thought you were asleep…"

"Not quite…"

"Yes."

"You what?" I was surprised.

He was blushing even more now.

"I meant what I said and I still do…" he mumbled, only just loud enough for me to hear. "I wouldn't have said it if I didn't mean it…"

I only just managed to contain my happiness.

"You know, you can lose the mask around me."

I stared.

"What?"

"You always seem so emotionless around people. They think you're incapable of any feeling. Part of a human is emotion. You need to show it. If you lose the mask around me…maybe it will help to show people who you really are."

I had never thought about what people thought of me. It was never very important. I was always made to focus on my goal, whatever it was.

"Yes, but what am I really? A police commander failing to capture their target, time and time again. A university graduate. Until recently, I was just a container for Krad." I said miserably.

"You are more than that. Stop putting yourself down. You are a wonderful friend and advisor. You were a university graduate at 13. That's incredible." Daisuke said, facing me.

There was something in his eyes that I never seen before. Determination. He cared for me so much that he was determined not to let me put myself down.

"You are also a thief in your own right…" he finished.

I stared at him.

"What have I ever stolen?" I asked.

"You've stolen…my heart…" he mumbled.

"WHAT?"

"You heard me. I love you."

"Daisuke-kun…"

He turned away. I could see his shoulders shaking and could hear muffled sobs.

I went up behind him and hugged him. He stiffened, and then started to struggle.

"Don't," I whispered in his ear.

He stopped instantly. I turned him to face me, still holding him in my arms.

"I've waited so long for you to say that…" I mumbled in his ear. He wrapped his arms around me. "I love you too."

He tightened his hug until I could hardly breathe anymore. I hugged him just as tightly.

Our hug was broken by Emiko knocking on the door.

Daisuke pulled away and opened the door.

"Lunch's ready, here!" she said as she passed two mugs to Daisuke. He smiled in thanks and shut the door again.

"Here…" I took the mug handed to me and sipped at the soup gratefully.

As I drank, I thought. I had never thought Daisuke would return my feelings. Actually, I never thought Daisuke would like me at all.

I guess that was one of his good points. He cared for people, even if they did things that were wrong, or tried to hurt him. He saw what was inside people.

The current object of my thoughts waved his hand in front of my eyes.

"Hello, anyone in there?" he laughed.

"What? Oh, sorry…"

"It's alright. Anyway, what do you say to going to the fountain again?"

I nodded.

"Just let me finish this." I held up my mug.

"'Kay."

--Later--

We went and stood next to the railing, looking out over the ocean. Although it was still relatively early, the sun was on the horizon, casting orange, pink and purple rays into the clouds.

"It's beautiful…" Daisuke sighed.

"Not as beautiful as you."

He turned to me and launched himself into a hug. I stumbled backwards slightly, shocked.

"You are so sweet, you know…" he mumbled in my ear.

"As are you," I replied.

He stared at me. "You've got to stop doing that."

"Doing what?"

"Turning everything I say into a compliment."

"Why? Don't you like it?"

"It's embarrassing…"

We stood there for ages, just looking out to sea. It was dark now and getting colder.

"Daisuke-kun, we should get back. It's nearly 5."

"Have we been out here that long?!"

"Yep."

We headed home. We got there in record time, despite slipping over many times.

When Daisuke opened the door, we were upon by Towa.

"You're cutting fine guys! Emiko was about to send out a search party!" she exclaimed. We looked at each other.

"Oopps…"

"Dinner's out!" came a shout from inside.

We hurried to take off our shoes and then headed to the table.

After we had eaten, we headed back to the bedroom. I decided I should give him the picture I did earlier in the morning.

"Daisuke-kun, I've got something to give you…"

"Really?"

"Yeah, here," I said holding out the picture. He looked at it and blushed.

"It's amazing, Satoshi-kun!"

"It's nothing…"

"What to give you…what to give you in return," he mused aloud.

"You don't have to."

"But I want to!" he insisted. He came and stood in front of me. He slowly leaned forward and brushed his lips against mine. He pulled back and blushed even more.

"I'm sorry…"

"I didn't mind."

He stared at me.

"I know it's early, but I'd better get to bed-," I said but was interrupted by a yawn. "Oopps…"

Daisuke laughed.

"I don't blame you. Night."

"Night." I collected my nightwear and retreated to the bathroom to change. When I returned Daisuke had disappeared, probably out on the balcony I reasoned, the glass door was open. I walked to my bed, put my clothes away and collapsed into a deep sleep on my bed.