Chapter 16

Wow! Chapter 16 already? That's unbelievable.

Disclaimer: Still don't own it.

"So . . . does this mean you two are officially a couple?!" Risa could hear Airi's giggles from the other end of the line. She smiled to herself. You tell one person that Satoshi Hiwatari asked you out, and suddenly you get a whole string of phone calls.

"I don't know . . . I mean . . . he asked me to go to the luau with him . . . but I'm not quite sure. He was nervous when he did it . . ."

"Hiwatari-kun? Nervous?! I bet it was so cute!"

"Yeah . . . it was." She smiled softly. "It was really cute."

"So, have you kissed him yet?!"

"What? Of course not!" She sighed. "I'm not even sure that he . . . meant it . . . that way." She admitted.

"What do you mean? He asked you to a luau! That's like the Hawaii version of asking someone to a dance!"

Risa wasn't so sure about that, but she didn't argue. "It just . . . well . . . it's Satoshi Hiwatari"

". . . And?"

"Well . . . you know how he is . . ."

"Ooh Risa! Do you think you're his first girlfriend?!" Airi gasped. "That would be so cute! Maybe you'll be his first kiss!"

"You're getting way ahead of yourself." She said, not really wanting to tell her about the pier incident. "I mean . . . he just asked me out last night . . . and he's shy, you know? It'll probably take him a while to kiss me."

"Aw, you poor thing." She said, but then giggled. "Risa, you're so lucky!"

"Like I said . . . I don't even know if he . . . meant it like that . . ." There was a knock on the door. "Oh! I have to go! He's here! Bye Airi!" She said hastily and hung up.

"Of course he likes you, Risa." Riku said on her way to the door. "He wouldn't have asked you out if he didn't."

She was still unsure, but she didn't have time to ask Riku because Satoshi and Daisuke had arrived.

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"I had . . . the strangest dream about you, Satoshi." She was trying to get used to not adding an honorific to the end of his name. Daisuke and Riku didn't use them, and Satoshi had called her Risa the night before . . .

"Really?" He looked down at her, smiling slightly. "What happened in it.?"
"Well . . ." She thought back to her dream. "We were on the volcano hike again . . . and we were at the top, but it was different. The fences were gone and there was no lookout station. It was just flat, like the top of a building, but it was grassy. Anyway, it was just me and Riku, and suddenly . . . I don't know how it happened, but I fell off of the mountain. It was really high, and I knew that I was going to die, but then someone caught me. At first I thought it was Dark, but when we landed I looked up and it was you. You had these . . . beautiful white wings . . . like the ones that guy . . ."

"Krad."

"Yeah! Like the ones he had! Except they were on you. Anyway, you rescued me, but I woke up before the dream went any further. It was just strange."

She didn't miss the startled glance exchanged between Satoshi and Daisuke, but then he smiled at her. "What a silly dream. You know my alter ego was the only one with white wings. If I were to sprout wings, especially ones as big as his were, it would tear my back to pieces." Daisuke coughed loudly, and Satoshi shot him a venomous look.

"I know. It was just an interesting dream. " She said, smiling, but the truth was she was a little confused. The dream had been so real, and it had felt oddly familiar.

"Hey you guys!' Ugh . . . Saehara's voice snapped her out of her thoughts. "Hey! Did you see the crazy guy yesterday?!" He ran up to them and held out his camera. "I got a picture!"

"How . . . interesting." Satoshi murmured, looking at the photograph. "Yeah, that's him."

"He called me a cold-blooded imp!" He announced proudly.

". . . He called me a spikey-headed moron . . . at least I think that was it." Daisuke said thoughtfully. "Or was it pointy-headed."

"It was pointy-headed." Satoshi said. "I'm a blue-haired heathen." He couldn't help but smirk.

"And we're street-walkers . . . apparently." Riku said, putting her arm around her sister. Now that the psychotic man had disappeared, they could make light of his insults.

"Awesome." Saehara said.

"I think Hiwatari-kun was his favorite." Riku said with a laugh. "How many names did he give you?"

"Hmm . . . let's see. I was a blue-haired heathen, worthless filth. . . evil . . . a foul mouthed faggot. . . demon . . . spawn of the devil . . ."

"Yeah, but I already knew that about you." Saehara said with a laugh. Satoshi glared at him but said nothing.

"Well, I think Satoshi got it the worst because he stood up to him." Daisuke said. "I think he really freaked that guy out."

"I tend to have that effect on people." Satoshi said quietly.

"You stood up to him?" Saehara asked skeptically. Satoshi shrugged.

"He was harassing the Haradas."

"Ah. I see. Standing up for your woman." Saehara said, giving him a wink. Satoshi fought the urge to hit him in the face.

"Shut up, Saehara." Risa said, glaring. "Go find someone else to bother."

"Alright, I will!" Saehara said indignantly and stomped off. Daisuke shook his head, grinning.

"You know, he was right though. It's only been three days and already you two are -"

"Shut up." Satoshi said, unwilling to admit that Saehara's reporter's instincts had been right after all. Risa giggled, then pointed.

"Look! There it is! Now . . . who do I need to buy for? Let's see . . ." She began naming off the list of people she needed souvenirs for. Satoshi stared at he as the list grew longer and longer.

" . . . and Daisuke's parents . . . and . . . Hiro . . . and . . . Taki . .. Airi . . . Aimi . . . Rei, Miko and Ryo! I think that's it . . . what?"

Satoshi just shook his head. "Nothing. That's just a lot of people to buy for."

"Nah . . . it's not so bad . . .wow! It's just like in Japan." She laughed. "I feel kind of stupid now. I don't know why, but I was expecting it to be . . . like . . . outside or something."

"That's what a lot of people think, actually. A lot of students were surprised that Hawaii had amall. Not many people realize what a tourist trap this place is." He shrugged. Riku rolled her eyes.

"They're so shy." She whispered to Daisuke. "They're not even holding hands yet!"

"Well . . ." Oh no. Riku had that look in her eye. She grabbed his hand, then grabbed Risa's. "Make a chain so we don't get lost. At least until we get around the crowd."

Risa did as she was told and grabbed Satoshi's hand. Even though they had held hands before, they still blushed slightly. "God, Riku. It's so obvious what you're doing." She thought.

Once they were through the crowd, Riku let go of her sister's hand. Satoshi didn't. She smiled to herself. Ooh. She was holding hands with Satoshi . . . after he had asked her to the luau. Did this mean they were dating?

"Um . . . I want . . . this one!" Saehara could be heard nearby. Satoshi and Risa looked at each other and hastily let go. Her hand felt strangely empty without his there. Fortunately for them, Saehara walked into another store.

Risa tried to hold his hand again, but he quickly moved it away. She was hurt until he shifted closer and moved his hand around hers so they could lace their fingers. She smiled and leaned into his arm. Okay . . . they were definitely a couple.

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"The pink one . . . or the green one. Well . . . they're both so pretty! I would pick the pink one . . . but I already have so many pink things . . . it might be nice to have something in green. What do you think, Satoshi?" She held up the two garbs. "Pink or green?"

"I don't know. Which do you like better?" He could tell the saleslady was getting impatient - she sighed audibly, but Risa didn't seem to notice. This humored him.

"Well . . . which looks better?" She looked up at the saleslady. "How do you tie it again?"

"Miss, I've shown you twice already."

"I know! I know! could you show me one more time, please?"

The woman sighed and wrapped the cloth around Risa. She twisted the top and tied it. "There. You look lovely in the pink one. I think you should buy it."

"Hmm . . . no. I think I'll take the green one." She said, untying the pink sari. Satoshi fought to maintain his composed stature. He felt bad for the saleswoman . . . but Risa was very funny when she was shopping.

"I think that's an excellent choice, Risa." He said, putting his arm around her. She smiled shyly up at him.

"Are you going to buy anything, Satoshi?" She asked softly.

"No." He said. "They don't really have anything I like."

"What about souvenirs?"

" . . . Er . . ." He looked embarrassed. "I . . . don't really have anyone to buy for . . . so . . ."

"Oh . . . yeah." Stupid Risa. Stupid, stupid, stupid. ". . . Sorry."

He shrugged. "Don't worry about it. Are you hungry?"

"Um . . . a little." She said, feeling bad. "Satoshi, I'm really really sorry."

"I said don't worry about it." He gave her a brief smile to show that it was okay. "Let's see what the food court has."

"Okay." She smiled in relief and paid for her sari. "Riku, Daisuke!" Risa called. "Let's get some lunch!"

Her sister and Daisuke were in another part of the store, waiting impatiently for Risa to finish her shopping.

Risa linked arms with Satoshi and leaned on his shoulder. Riku glanced at Daisuke, smiling. He grinned back. Well . . . Riku was really good at this "matchmaking" thing.

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Short chapter. Sorry. I'm just so blah right now. I think the next one will be better, through. At least, I hope it will.

Also, the cute little "hand holding" thing . . . true story. Happened with me and the guy I liked - our friends set it up so that we would hold hands. He asked me out the next day. :D