Hello again readers! Welcome to the second chapter to my eighth story! (or is it my seventh...) *shrugs* Huh, oh well... Anyways, this chapter is basically slow because I wanted to use this to give a little bit of information about Sesshoumaru through the family dinner, rather than him just pop out of no where trying to get with Risa. I guess what I'm trying to say is... I was trying to create a 'somewhat' realistic situation in which the family (mainly the parents) have this sense of trust rather than try to figure out who the creep is trying to get with their daughter. I hope you like this chapter and Thank you for reading! Enjoy and review if you feel so inclined! :D
Next Door
Chapter 2: Dinner and a Number
Risa sat in her chair trying to keep from fidgeting so she wouldn't catch unwanted attention, but the task would be easier said than done. He had been looking at her a lot in the past hour and it was a bit unsettling to say the least. Why did he have to sit across from her? Constantly, Risa had been 'fixing' her glasses; wiping the lens, pushing the frames back in place then checking them for dirt once again. Miki noticed this and would occasionally nudge her sister in the side.
Mrs. Kuro was the first to break the ice at the table, "So tell us more about yourself Mr…"
"Hiro." Sesshoumaru answered simply.
The father extended his hand for Sesshoumaru to shake as he formally introduced the family.
"Well as you already know, we're the Kuros. This is my wife Mae, I'm Shin and these two are our pride and joy; Miki and Risa."
Miki was quick to follow her father's example and shake their neighbor's hand, but Risa gave only a slight smile and a glance before snapping her eyes back to the menu. The laminated piece of folded paper proved to be quite the comfort boon for shy girl. However, pretending to be busy looking over the food choices could only last for so long.
The waitress came by to take everyone's order before taking away each menu, leaving the poor Risa under the mercy of Sesshoumaru's burning gaze. She kept her head down, focusing on the table the best she could and she was even desperate enough to ask for the coloring menu for little kids.
Sesshoumaru raised a brow as he gave an intuitive look. He knew she was avoiding eye contact with him purposely. Was she really that embarrassed about what happened earlier? A rosy red tint was creeping up to appear on her face prompting the taiyoukai to nearly smile.
'Cute…'
"So Mr. Hiro," Mr. Kuro began.
"Please, call me Sesshoumaru."
"Haha, right. So… Sesshoumaru, what do you do for a living? You seem to be around my daughter Risa's age, I assume you're still in college?"
Sesshoumaru nodded. "That I am, and in fact I think I've seen the Miss Risa around campus once or twice before…"
This caught the brunette's attention. Risa snapped her eyes up to look into his before blushing even more and giving him another nervous smile. In all this time of her attending the Hartman University, she had never seen Sesshoumaru walking the halls before; but then again, Risa didn't make it her life mission to know everyone that stepped through the doors of the college. Always in her studies… Always…
"What are you studying?" The mother Kuro asked, "My little Risa is studying to be a teacher. She's such a kind-hearted soul…"
'Geez mom… you make it sound like you're playing matchmaker or something.' A slightly miffed Risa thought to herself.
"Well at the moment, I'm caught between going into business and becoming a lawyer. I might just combine the two and start my own law firm." Sesshoumaru finally replied.
Both parents couldn't contain their smiles. They were almost too excited about hearing his answers, and the two sisters nearly rolled their eyes as they heard Shin and Mae voice their approval of the silver-haired man.
Risa sighed silently, resting her head in her palm while waiting for their meals to arrive.
All she wanted to do was eat and leave…
'This is the most awkward dining experience of my life…'
…
The dinner finished at approximately 9: 30, and it was now time for everyone to retire to their respective homes. Shin gladly paid for Sesshoumaru's meal along with the rest of the family's food and the two men exchanged friendly words of 'Thank you' and 'No problem'.
Risa trailed behind the group as they walked to their cars prompting Sesshoumaru to look back at her curiously. He joined her, spiking up the nerves in the quiet girl. She felt his hand move to her back to pat her lightly and before she could ask him to remove it, he passed her a small piece of paper then turned to go to his car without saying a word. Opening the tiny scrap of stationary, Risa's fingers pulled apart the neat folds to reveal a number…
His number…
Confusion taking over her features, she almost wanted to run to him to return his 'gift' but alas, Sesshoumaru was gone from sight. Enthralled with the man's speed, Risa was brought back down to Earth when she ran smack-dab into the side of the car causing a loud 'Omph!' to leave the young girl, and she went tumbling down to the ground. The concerned parents went to help up Risa while Miki, staying true to her role as the younger sibling, broke out in an uproarious laughter at the sight of her sister go crashing to the floor. The young Kuro nearly thought she was watching something straight out of a comedy show, because it was so hilarious to her. Of course their mother and father quickly reprimanded her for it, but Miki shrugged and hopped in the back settling next to Risa who seemed unfazed by what happened. She noticed the small paper in her older sister's fingers as well as the rosy shade on her cheeks.
Miki leaned over to whisper just loud enough for Risa to hear, "Ooo… someone's got a number. You gonna call him?"
"I… I don't really know…" Risa whispered back.
The older Kuro sister never told Miki that Sesshoumaru caught her staring, but then again maybe that's why Risa thought the whole situation was rather strange. Under normal circumstances, a guy would never dream of giving away his number to a girl that could potentially be his stalker and the fact that Risa even had a number was a big shock to her. She wasn't like women one would see in the magazines. She was just a plain, ordinary, girl who took joy in solitary reading; so why her?
'Maybe it's different for demons?' She thought.
…
He walked into his home making a beeline for his bedroom so he could wait for Risa's phone call in relaxation. Changing into his sleep clothes, Sesshoumaru placed his cell on the nightstand before lying down on his mattress; silver locks fanning out over the pillow. Minutes passed and still no call. Those minutes then turned into a couple hours and by that time, Sesshoumaru called it quits for the night. Turning off his lamp, his sleepy golden gaze turned into an almost furious expression as he glared at his phone. What was he going to do? Glower until Risa felt his unspoken want for her to call him?
It seems he needed a to take a different approach…