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Chapter Three: Green

A/N: I own NOTHING!


When she was twelve, she had a huge crush on Daisuke. It was an innocent infatuation that began when he held her hand during their last school trip when they went to explore the dark caves near the beach. Despite her tomboyish nature, Riku was actually quite a "scaredy-cat" as Risa liked to tease, and Riku's pride wouldn't let her admit it to anyone else. But Daisuke noticed and offered his hand. It was so sweet and kind, and just the Daisuke thing to do, and she realized she crushed on him hard. She didn't show it to anyone of course, not even Risa, who was rapidly losing interest in the older brother.

"I don't like fighting losing battles, you know?" she told her.

"No, I don't know," Riku cried exasperatedly. They were in their last year of elementary, but Risa was still light years ahead of Riku in the love department. She would have to deliver her love letters from boys who were too scared to talk to Risa themselves.

"Well, it just sucks to like someone you know will never like you back."

That Riku understood greatly. Because no matter how much she liked Daisuke, and no matter how much he smiled at her and helped her in a pinch, it was obvious to anyone who knew him that he carried a burning torch for her sister.

It didn't stop Riku from liking him. Or from keeping his school photo in her wallet.

This was the main reason Riku was outside her school by the soccer field looking for her wallet in the snow. If anyone were to find it and see what was inside, she would just die. She decided that was the only option to die if she didn't get to it first.

Since Dark was a third year middle school student and went to a different school altogether, she didn't expect to find him walking up to her, still in his uniform.

"Dark? What are you doing here?" She only noticed him when he started rummaging through the snow with her. When she got up, she realized how cold it really was. Her fingerless gloves were doing a piss poor job of keeping her warm.

"Risa-san told me you were here looking for your wallet." Now that he was fifteen, his voice was low and deep, and made many females swoon around him. Everything about him changed in the last two years. He got taller. Much, much, taller. He also lost the boyish roundness of his face, and his jaw was sharp and clean, with cheekbones high and eyes even more piercing. He continued to play soccer, so his body not only grew, but it had small muscles everywhere that Riku feared would only grow with time. It was no wonder girls were already throwing themselves at him, and like the giant flirt he had become, he showered them with smiles and pretty words.

"Yeah, I lost it. You don't have to help me."

"Yeah, I do," he answered in his simple way. For awhile, he looked for it in silence. Since he entered middle school, Dark acted funny around her. He never stopped hanging out with her, but he certainly kept his distance. There were fewer hugs and piggy back rides, and she noticed that he was more careful with his words around her.

He would have continued in silence if she didn't start sneezing uncontrollably (she counted seventeen sneezes in a row—a new personal record). When she finished, he pulled out his handkerchief which had been washed many times over the years after wiping her blood, sweat, snot, and tears.

"Are you sick?" Riku could feel the disapproval dripping from his tone.

"No!" But another sneeze betrayed her. Heaving a sigh, Dark lent her his handkerchief again and his muffler.

"Go home." It was concise and to the point. He only ever got this way when he was really irritated. Though why should he be irritated was beyond her. She was the one with the never ending snot.

"But my wallet…" she tried to protest, but it was really all in vain. Dark gave her another one of his Just-trust-me-and-do-what-I-say-and-don't-be-difficult-Riku-I-swear-to-god looks, which meant she already lost.

"Don't worry about it. Just go home."

So she did, unhappily and with a pout that didn't go away even after a relaxing hot bath and a bowl of warm miso soup. Dark was right in sending her home since she was sick and being out in the snow looking for a wallet was not exactly doctor recommended. She sent him a quick text (thanks for looking out for me, I really wasn't feeling well ), and was surprised when he didn't reply back. Usually, he was quick to reply back, especially when he was proven right. Riku fell asleep wondering what he was doing.

She didn't have to wonder long. A knock on her window woke her up, and she rose quickly to let the only person dumb enough to climb her balcony in. Dark was cold to the touch, and his lips has turned a pale violet from the chill. She didn't need to be told a thing; Riku grabbed her thick blanket and a dry towel for him. Dark was uncharacteristically quiet.

"You're such a dummy! You're all cold and wet!" Riku chastised him. "What were you doing?"

Wordlessly, he handed her the mint green wallet she had lost earlier in the day. It was wet and as cold as his hand, but otherwise undamaged. Riku did not dare to open it in front of him. She wondered if he saw what was inside.

"Riku-chan…do you like my brother?"

Well, it looked like he had.

Riku's hand stopped drying Dark and froze on the spot. It was then she realized he was very close and much older than her. Those deep red eyes of his studied her, making her stomach shrivel up in response.

"Un," she nodded slowly, avoiding his gaze. When she found the courage to look at him again, she was surprised to find hurt in his eyes.

"For how long?" he asked, his voice still low and quiet that she had to strain to hear him.

"I don't know…not long I think…"she replied hesitantly.

"Why?" he demanded. His voice was not as quiet this time, and there was anger in the current of his tone.

"What do you mean why?" Riku stepped back, not liking the direction this was all going. Dark did not really get mad at her. Annoyed, frustrated and occasionally in disbelief, but never angry. But that was that he was: angry, and Riku could not understand why.

"Why Dai-chan?" His eyes narrowed dangerously, and Riku felt herself gulp. "Why do you like Dai-chan?"

"He's nice, and thoughtful, and he's not like every other boy!" It was almost embarrassing to admit all this, but Riku was more angry than humiliated at this point. She felt her fists ball up, and her brow furrowed.

"Ha! He's nice and thoughtful?" Dark scoffed. "You make it seem like he's the only one nice and thoughtful to you!"

"He is! He is the nicest boy to me!" Riku shot back. "At least he isn't some playboy like you!"

This was a bit much, even for her, and she knew it. Dark knew it. "Well, your perfect and nice Dai-chan still likes your sister, so you're just wasting your feelings on someone who will never like you ba-"

SLAP!

It was so strong that even Riku's palm hurt. She was now crying, unabashed that he was able to see. She may have hit a nerve with him, but he knew her just as well to push her in ways she found uncomfortable. She was well aware that Daisuke liked Risa, and he didn't have to rub that all over her.

"Get out."

"Riku-chan…I…"

"Leave! Get out!" She pushed him away from her and ran to her bed. When she looked up, Dark had already left through her balcony window.

Risa knocked, but didn't wait for Riku to give permission. Risa looked at her with such genuine concern that no matter how much she liked Daisuke, she could never bring herself to hate Risa.

"Riku, was Dark-san here? I heard yelling."

"Yeah," Riku sniffed. Her tears hadn't stopped. Dark opened up a wound she had been protecting since the moment she knew she liked Daisuke, and the realization of those unreciprocated feelings cut her deep.

"Do you wanna talk about it?"

"No."

"Do you want to be alone?"

"…No."

Risa climbed into bed and hugged her, and like that they both slept. When Riku woke up the next morning, Dark's window held a message.

I'M SORRY. On green.

After thinking about it, she knew she could not stay mad at him forever. She made sure to tape her green message to her window before getting ready for school.

THANKS. ME TOO.


Ultra Special Blah Blah Blah: The next chapter has them older, and the final three are when Riku is in high school. So hopefully, these shorts make sense and are cohesive (they are definitely more connected in the last 3). Anyway, thanks for any support, sorry for the chapter update delays. I will post another chapter up tomorrow as well. If all goes to plan, the last chapter will be up this Friday. Thanks!

Please review!