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Chapter Six: Blue

a/n: pero usual, I own nothing.


Despite his warning, Riku defied Dark anyway and started to talk to Kaoru. She really had no intention of dating this guy, and she didn't start off really wanting anything to do with him. Honestly, he messaged her once the following day asking if she got home alright, and it was nice to meet her. Riku generally found that sort of thing thoughtful, so she replied back that she got home just fine and it was nice to meet him too. Then she found herself talking to him every day. While he was flirty and she was not, it was still nice to make a new friend. Risa, though never asked for her input, was not shy to tell her sister that she did not approve.

"He's not even your type!" she whined on their way to school. "Plus, he creeps me out."

"I didn't realize I even had a type."Riku mused to her sister. It was one of the few times they walked to school alone together without Daisuke, who was out sick. "Besides, it's not like I'm going out with him or anything like that. Plus, you only met him the one time; you can't make a good judgment off that."

Risa only gave her a look, and Riku had enough sense to be embarrassed. Kaoru came by once after they got out from school, and walked home with them. While he was not impolite or too weird, the way he looked at Riku was enough to mar him in the eyes of Risa forever. Even Riku couldn't pretend that she was not uncomfortable with the way he saw her which was like she was a piece of meat that he couldn't wait to devour. But she made it clear to him that she wasn't interested in dating and just wanted to be friends, which he seemed to accept graciously.

"Kaoru-san knows I just want to be friends, and that's all."

"I know Riku, but I just don't think he really cares."

"Well, either way, I don't think you're the type to approve of any guy I go out with; you weren't happy when Satoshi-kun and I went out. Or Takeshi-kun, now that I think about it."

"I only approve of Dark," Risa said simply. Riku froze in her place.

"What do you mean by that?"

"Well, it's obvious you like him. And it's been obvious that he—whoa, Riku!" Riku had charged at her sister and grabbed her, dragging her away from the school entrance where anyone could hear. "What's your deal?"

"You haven't told Daisuke-kun, have you?" Riku didn't mean to sound anxious, but there was no helping it. Risa only rolled her eyes.

"Of course not! What do you take me for?" Risa sounded quite offended. "I mean, he hasn't noticed, and I certainly won't tell him."

Riku let out a sigh of relief. "Thank you." She paused and flushed from horrid embarrassment. "And sorry for kinda ramming into you. And offending you."

Her sister flashed a brilliant smile. "It's ok. What's the good in being a cute younger sister if I couldn't keep a secret or handle your crazy? But anyway, that's why I don't approve of anyone else. You obviously really like Dark, and it is a waste to date anyone other than him." The way Risa explained it made it all seem too simple.

"Well, for someone to date me, that person has to like me back," Riku replied glumly. Risa only stared at her jaw slacked.

"You mean you don't know?"

"Know what?"

"I mean, everyone can see it. Everyone."

Riku's annoyance only grew. "What are you talking about?"

Risa only sighed heavily. "I'm almost embarrassed. And you're the smart one. Forget it. You'll figure it out. But Kaoru-san's no good and you know it. He knows it too, and the sooner you stop talking to him, the better I will feel."

Risa didn't talk to her any further on the subject of Dark or Kaoru, so Riku dropped it, but she never stopped wondering what Risa meant. When she got home, Dark's window held a yellow message for her. It had been so long that she nearly forgot what it meant: LET ME KNOW WHEN YOU'RE HOME. She couldn't stop the smile on her face when she went out to her balcony and began playing on her ukulele "First Love" (and Utada Hikaru song he taught her a few years back). Dark opened his window and grinned at her.

"And here I thought you stopped playing it." He looked positively radiant.

"Shame on you. I practice at least thirty minutes every day. You know I am a stubborn person that way." She put her ukulele down. "What's up?"

"Nothing, I just haven't talked to you in awhile." He began to climb down his window. "I'm coming up."

Though she was not weak in her arms, it was still hard enough to pull him up, but after they both managed, Dark stood up tall and proud that she needed to catch her breath. It really bothered her to like him that much. Luckily, it was warm outside, so Riku didn't feel the need to invite him in her room, which at this point, she couldn't take. He still had on his skinny jeans and a black tank top on, which clung to him nice enough for her to see what was usually hidden underneath a shirt. Her hormones didn't need the extra push.

"So…Risa-san tells me you talk to Kaoru a lot."At least he seemed awkward when he told her that, because that was really the only thing that saved him from being kicked out.

"Yes?" She made sure to keep her voice balanced enough to warn him before he said anything stupid like last time.

"I'm not trying to pick a fight." He seemed to catch on to her mood. "I just wanted to express concern."

"Concern?"

"Kaoru is…he is not a very nice guy," he said slowly, as if looking for the right words.

"What do you mean exactly?"

Dark usually had no problem expressing his thoughts, but the idea of offending her seemed to make him hesitant. Still, it was rare that Dark had anything bad to say about people in general. He got along with practically everybody, and everybody's need to impress him made them only show their good sides to him. The fact that Dark was ready to say anything negative about this person made Riku more apprehensive. She never got harmful vibes from Kaoru, but maybe she should be on guard around him more.

"Honestly, I don't know him too well. I try not to, but I know this much. He's not a good guy. He's lazy and rude, and likes to fool around. I mean, I know you think I do, but he doesn't treat girls right, and he plays the 'nice guy' act really well, until he gets what he wants, and I am not trying to say anything bad about you, or that it wouldn't be possible for anyone to be serious about you, but I just don't want you to get hurt, especially by that asshole, and that's what I wanted to say."

He said it all so fast that Riku felt tired in his place. He seemed to be nervously waiting for her response, which he assumed would be angry and offended.

"Okay," was all she said.

"Okay? Just okay?" He seemed dubious, but she didn't even glare.

"Yeah, I mean, you're around him more than I am, really. And I know you. We've been friends for a long time now. You wouldn't say that unless you meant it." She looked down as her tongue seemed to feel heavy. "I know you're just looking out for me. As my friend."

"Friend…right."

Silence washed over them, only rather than the peaceful ones she used to have around him, this silence was thick enough to suffocate her. Riku wanted to say a lot to him, anything to fill the quietness that was in the air. She wanted to tell him she missed him, and that she liked him, maybe loved him, maybe believed him to be the real thing, but she was also really scared. There was no way that he could want her in the same way when he still saw her as the same crying six year old with the scrapped knee.

"I should go." He said it so suddenly, Riku barely processed he was heading back.

"Okay, um, thanks for stopping by." She felt so lame, but it was better than not saying anything at all.

"Yeah, of course, and Riku-chan?"

"Yes?"

Those eyes of his seemed to peer deep into her heart. Riku tried to seal her feelings just in case he could see. At least, he struggled with his words, and Riku's breath caught in her throat, waiting for what he wanted to say. What could be so important to warrant such an intense stare?

Dark's face immediately shifted back into a shit eating grin. "You still sleep with a Hello Kitty plush doll?" Riku's face reddened as she remembered her bed was visible from the balcony.

"Oh my god, get out, out, out!" Her hands were on his back, pushing him towards the edge. Dark only laughed and saluted her before climbing down and heading back into his house. Each step and every word he had ever said to her felt like a dagger.

When she did go to bed that night, she wished that somehow, she could stop the hurting.


Ultra Special Blah Blah Blah: This is the penultimate chapter, so it actually is settting up the final one, even if it isnt as obvious. Either way, thanks for stopping by!

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