Disclaimer: I only own Nori, Ryo and Nori's father. The story is mine as well but everything else belongs to Voltage.

Another chapter! I'm doing good guys! Anyway, not much to say but enjoy this!

Chapter 8:

Helping

His lips were warm as he kissed her, slowly and passionately. He drove her crazy when he kissed her like this and he knew it. Oh did he know it. She knew he was holding back on purpose so she balled her fists up in his shirt and pulled him closer but he pulled away with a chuckle.

"Getting excited, are we?" He asked.

"Stop being such a damn tease," she muttered.

"I thought you liked it when I teased," he said.

"No one likes to be teased," she huffed. He chuckled, pushing her down on the bed. He laid down on top of her and started kissing her neck.

"Oh, Satoru."

Nori had never had dreams like this. Not even with Ryo-her boyfriend-much less someone she had just met. But it didn't feel like a dream that happened just because she met a good looking stranger. No, it felt like a memory. She remembered that feeling, how happy and pleased she was to be there with him. But that was insane. She had just met him!

Nori finished doing her hair and looked at her reflection in the vanity mirror. She looked like the put together daughter of a wealthy businessman and the beautiful future wife of another. Just how they liked her. Fitting inside their perfect box. Nori let out a frustrated huff as something caught her eye. Satoru's jacket, slung on a chair she had in her room. Ryo was never allowed to come in her room, a rule set by her. He hadn't seen her with the jacket and she'd make sure he never would. He would throw a fit of epic proportions and Nori didn't need that.

Still, she supposed she should return the jacket. She had already had it drycleaned. There was no point in hanging on to it, except for the fact that maybe she wanted to. It was a ridiculous thought and she let out a huff as she grabbed the jacket and stepped out of the room.

It would be too early for Ryo to be there right now, he had his own business to run and they didn't have any plans that day. Still, there would be some trouble if her father saw it. It wasn't one of Ryo's.

Nori crept down the stairs, listening to her father on his phone. Talking business, as usual. Perfect. She could sneak out without being noticed and questioned about where she was going. And she didn't plan on coming home until later but what she had planned usually didn't matter if her father and Ryo already had plans or if they decided to have plans.

Nori loved walking in the morning. It wasn't too hot but it wasn't too cold and the morning glow on everything seemed to calm her. She loved it.

Nori was grateful there was only one close hotel so she didn't have to go searching for where he was staying. However, she didn't make it to the hotel because as she was passing her building-where she was going to build her homeless shelter-and she saw Satoru looking up at it. She felt a pit in her stomach. He didn't want to buy it too, did he? He couldn't steal it out from under her! She would never forgive him if he did. Nori took a breath as she walked over.

"Are you interested in this building?" She asked. Satoru looked over at her, seeming surprised to see her there.

"Oh, E-Nori," he said and Nori frowned at him. That other woman again. She wondered how long this woman had been gone for. It couldn't have been that long since she died. "I was just looking at it. You said you wanted to make it into a homeless shelter?"

"Yeah," Nori nodded. "It doesn't look like much from the outside, but we could really put the space to some good use inside."

"Why haven't you bought it yet?" Satoru asked. "You're not exactly poor." Nori raised an eyebrow at him.

"No, I'm not," she said. "But I want to do this on my own, without my father's money."

"So you probably won't accept money from me, will you?" Satoru asked.

"Well, considering we just recently met, no," Nori said. "Not unless it's at a fundraiser."

"Fair enough," Satoru nodded. "Perhaps I could help you with that? The fundraising."

"Why would you help me?" Nori asked. "As I've said before, we just met." Satoru sighed as he thought.

"I know but… I told you about the woman, that you remind me of," he said. "This is something she'd be onboard with. She'd love this. I want to do it for her." Nori had never seen anyone so sad.

"You really loved her, didn't you?" She asked. Satoru sighed as he nodded, looking at the building. He wanted this, Nori could see that. And who was she to deny help?

"Alright," she said. "There's a group of us working on this. We'd be happy to have one more. The more help, the better." Satoru turned to her and smiled, a warm smile that caught her off guard. It seemed so personal, a smile just for her. There were so many weird things about this man that probably should have sent her running but she couldn't. She found herself smiling back at him.

"I'll do what I can to help you with this," Satoru said. "You have my word."

Across the street, Ryo was in his car. He had been going to pick up Nori as he had decided to pick her up for a breakfast date. But she wasn't in the penthouse. She was back at that infernal building, smiling at that other man. She was also holding a jacket Ryo had never seen before. That man's jacket? This would not do.

Ryo wanted to make her happy, he really did but she wouldn't let him in. Yet here she was, smiling and talking openly to this stranger. Would that building make her happy? Would that do it? Then fine. She could have it. He would see to it that she would have it. Maybe she would finally let him in and he wouldn't have to deal with her spacing out.

Well, what did you think? I hope you guys enjoyed it! I'm really enjoying this story and I'm hoping you guys like where it ends up going. Let me know what you think!