Chapter 19

Wow, another long chapter! Hmm. . . well, I hope you enjoy this one. Hehe, everyone pretty much said the same thing in the last chapter: OMG! Risa! That skank! Okay, maybe not in those words . . . but you were all thinking it!

Disclaimer: Not mine.

"Risa, please come out." Riku knocked on the door again, but Risa stayed put. She had moved over to the sink was now leaning against it's marble cabinets. "Risa! Open up the door!"

"Risa . . . what's wrong?" Daisuke asked. "Why are you doing this?"

She didn't want to tell them. She felt too terrible about it to tell anyone, especially the world's most loving couple. They had no problems - they were so happy it was nearly sickening. She knew Daisuke didn't have to worry that his girlfriend was a selfish slut - Riku wasn't like that.

"But what about me?" She asked herself. "Am I just going out with Satoshi because we would look good together? I really like him . . . so why is it that I never noticed him before?"

"Risa! At least let us know that you're alive!" Riku called.

"I . . . I hate to think that I would leave him for Dark . . . I don't think I would, but . . ." She shivered and wrapped her arms around herself. "But what if I'm not really over him after all? What if . . ."

"Risa!" Riku said and banged on the door.

"Riku, not so loud." She heard Daisuke say. "We're in a hotel . . ."

"Sorry, I'm just . . . Oh, I'll get it. It's probably Hiwatari-kun. He'll know what to do."

"No!" Risa shouted.

"Well at least we know she's alive." Riku muttered. "Hiwatari-kun, I'm glad you're here."

"Where is Risa?" She heard him ask. "We were supposed to go out today." She closed her eyes and put her head in her hands.

"She's locked herself in the bathroom." Riku muttered. "She won't come out."

"Risa?" His voice was quiet as usual, but somehow it was completely audible even through the door. "Are you in there?"

"No!" She shouted, feeling childish.

"Risa, what's the matter?" Worry was evident in his voice.

"Nothing! Just . . . just leave me alone!" She put her head in her hands and started crying softly.

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On the other side of the door, Satoshi looked at Daisuke and Riku. "Did something happen?"

"Yes." Riku went into 'sister-defense' mode. "I think one of your rabid fan girls attacked her."

"What?!" His voice was angry, but Riku glared up at him.

"Riku!" Risa's voice screeched from the bathroom. "I told you not to tell him!" Riku acted like she didn't even hear her.

"That's right, Hiwatari! They wrote her a letter and signed your name to lure her down to the lobby." She shot him a venomous look. "I hope you're happy!"

" . . . I didn't . . . I didn't ask for this to happen. I didn't think they . . . I didn't even consider how they would react . . . " He said softly. He put a hand on the door. " . . . Risa please open the door . . ." There was no answer. "How long has she been in there?"

"About twenty minutes." Riku said, still glaring at him. "Knowing how Risa is, she could stay in there all day."

He closed his eyes and leaned his head against the door. "Risa . . ." He sighed and looked at Daisuke. "Have you tried picking the lock?"

"Yeah . . . but because it locks from the inside only there's no way to pick it." He said. Satoshi nodded and pulled out his wallet. When he selected a credit card and started sliding it between the doorframe and the door while turning the doorknob, Riku rolled her eyes.

"That's the oldest trick in the boo-" She stopped when the door made a gentle clicking sound. Smirking, he opened the door a fraction, then held his hand up as Riku started to make her way toward it.

"Let me talk to her." He said. "It's . . . kind of my fault, after all."

"You'll need a better reason than that." She said, taking another step toward the door. He placed himself in front of her.

"Okay. Let me talk to her. I am her boyfriend, after all." With that, he slipped into the bathroom and locked the door before Riku could get in.

Risa was sitting in the floor, her face stained with tear tracks. She covered her eyes so she couldn't see him and turned away, crying.

"Risa . . ." He said gently. "Risa . . . please look at me."

"No!" She cried. "Don't look at me."

"Why not?" He asked, sitting down next to her.

"Because . . . I-I look awful. My eyes are all red from crying and . . ." She sniffled. "Just don't look at me right now!"

He smiled gently and took her hands. "You don't look awful, Risa. Please, look at me." She finally forced her hands away from her face and peeked ruefully up at him. Her smile had vanished completely, and it made his heart constrict. He had to look away from her. Seeing her like this, and knowing it was partly his fault, was too much.

"I told you I look awful!" She said, crying.

"Risa, you don't look awful." He said, moving closer to her. He took her face in his hands and made her look into his eyes. "You don't. You're very pretty."

"You're my boyfriend. You have to say that." She muttered.

"No I don't." He said, playing with her hair. "I may be your boyfriend, but I still have a right to my own opinion, don't I?" When she didn't smile he kissed one corner of her mouth, then the other.

"Satoshi . . ." She whispered.

"Smile for me." He murmured against her lips. "Please." When he pulled away she gave him a weak but sincere smile. His fingers tangled gently in her hair as he spoke. "What happened?"

"Riku already told you." She said.

"I know . . . but I want the whole story from you . . ."

"It was just . . . I don't know. A teenage girl thing, I guess. It was stupid, really. Not even that important."

He took wet washcloth and wiped away her tears. " . . . She hit you." He said softly. She nodded.

"But it's not a big deal, Satoshi!" She said but he was already look away. Though his face remained composed, she could tell by his eyes that he was furious. "Please . . . please don't be mad."

"I'm not mad at you." He looked back at her.

"I know you're not! Just . . . .don't be mad at all!" Risa grabbed his arm. "I don't want you to be angry, Satoshi."

"Which one was it?" He asked. Risa wasn't sure if she wanted to tell him.

"I . . . I don't remember." She said quickly. She saw Satoshi clench his jaw before closing his eyes.

"Don't . . . lie to me." He said as calmly as he could. "I . . . don't like it when people lie to me." He looked at her again, and there was a coldness in his eyes. "I don't like secrets, Risa."

"Ando! It was Nana Ando!"

"Er . . ." He looked confused. " . . . Which one is that again?"

Risa smiled slightly. "You have so many, it must be hard to keep up with them all."

"No, that's not it. I just try not to pay attention to them. I don't really know one from another. Which one is Ando again?"

"Well . . . she has long dark hair and green eyes . . . " "She's kind of pretty" Risa grudgingly admitted. When he still didn't answer, she added. "She's the leader of the fan girls."

"Oh, that one?!" Satoshi looked appalled.

"Yeah, why?"

"Suddenly it makes sense." He grimaced. "She's the worst of all of them. Mostly they leave me alone after I turn them down. But not her. She went as far as to try to cut a lock of my hair when I wasn't looking."

"Oh my gosh! Really?"

"Yeah."

"That's . . . really creepy, Satoshi."

"I know. I've also caught her trying to steal my glasses. I took them off for two seconds and when I turned around they were gone. Then when I took them back from her she nearly fainted because I touched her." He shook his head. "I've been considering a restraining order."

"Wow . . ." She knew his fan girls were bizarre, but this was just insane.

"Risa . . . are you ready to get up now? The floor is getting a little uncomfortable."

"Oh . . ." She said softly. "Um . . . sure . . ." She allowed him to help her to her feet. He reached for the handle of the door, but she stopped him. "Satoshi? Can I . . . can I ask you something?"

"Of course." He turned back to her and she took a deep breath.

"You don't . . . you don't think that I'm . . ." She closed her eyes and swallowed past the tears that were starting to form again. "You don't think that I'm a . . . slut, do you?"

"Did she call you that?!" He grabbed her wrists, furious again, but she shook her head.

"No. She didn't say it . . . but she insinuated . . ." Despite her best efforts she started crying again. "She said that I'm just using you to get over Dark!" She sobbed. "She . . . she said that if . . . that if . . ." She couldn't bring herself to say it. Satoshi released her wrists and instead took her in his arms. She clung to the dark fabric of his shirt, crying.

" . . . Are you? Are you using me?"

"I don't . . . I don't know." She mumbled into his shirt. "I'm happy when I'm with you . . . and you . . . you make me not miss him anymore . . .does that mean . . . does that mean that I'm using you? I just don't know!"

"I don't think that means you're using me to replace him . . . I think it means . . . that you're still getting over him . . . and . . . maybe . . . I don't know. Maybe I'm helping you with it." He sighed.

She looked up at him, and a small smile found its way onto her face. "I . . . I think that's probably . . . right, Satoshi . . ."

"Risa . . ." He whispered, looking down into her eyes. "If they say anything else to you . . . don't listen to them."

"I know." She said, looking down.

"No! I wasn't finished." He said and she looked back up at him, surprised. "If they . . . if they try to hurt you again. . . . . physically or otherwise . . . I want you to tell me. Don't try to keep it a secret from me."

"Okay . . . Satoshi." She said softly. He kissed her gently her forehead before opening the door. Riku immediately latched on to her.

"What happened, Risa?" She asked. "Tell me everything!"

"If you'll excuse me, Satoshi and I have a date." She wormed herself away from her sister and quickly ran a brush through her hair. A soft smile played on Satoshi's lips as he watched her, but it disappeared as soon as he realized Riku was watching him.

"So . . . what happened, exactly? Was I right?"

"Yes . . . you were. It was one of them. But I think Risa would rather tell you herself . . . once she feels like it." He said coldly and turned back to look at Risa. He got the impression that Riku didn't like him . . . at all, even though she had been painfully obvious in her attempts to set him up with Risa. So why the sudden attitude?

"Are you ready?" Risa asked, taking his hand. He nodded and opened the door for her. Riku cast him another evil glare as he left, but he shot it right back. He was silent until they were inside the elevator.

"Usually it wouldn't bother me . . . but I would like to know . . ." Satoshi sighed as the elevator descended to the lobby. "Why does your sister despise me?"

"Riku? She doesn't despise you!" She giggled at the notion. "She kind of set us up, remember?"

"Yes."

"You're silly. I think the whole "police commander" thing has made you a little paranoid." She looped her arm through his and leaned against him. He grinned down at her.

"Paranoid? Me?"
"Very much so."

" . . . Maybe." He said with a smirk. The elevator doors opened and Satoshi glanced around the lobby before putting his arm around her.

"Satoshi?"

"They're not here."

"Oh . . . your fans?" She asked as they stepped into the lobby.
" . . . Yes. Them. Though it really shouldn't matter if they see us or not. Everyone probably knows by now anyway." Even as he said it, a girl two grades beneath them came running up to them, her blond pigtails bouncing up and down in her haste to reach them.

"Harada-san! Hiwatari-kun!" She panted. "Is it true what everyone is saying?"

"Ah . . . Wh-what are they saying?" Risa asked nervously.

"That you two are . . . you know . . . a couple!"

"That would be correct." When Satoshi spoke to her, she looked like she was about to faint with happiness.

"Oh . . . wow." She breathed, staring into his eyes. " So those rumors about you being gay . . ."

"Oh, I was wrong about that." Risa said, smiling brightly. Satoshi glanced at her.

"How many people did you tell?"
"Uh . . . well . . . news travels fast, you know?" Risa giggled.

"Okay, well I guess that settles that." The girl looked down sheepishly, a blush spreading across her face. "Um . . . I . . . I gotta go . . . bye." She said and quickly took off in the opposite direction of them.

"That was . . . kind of strange." Satoshi murmured. Risa looked up at him.

"Um . . . Satoshi . . . She has a crush on you."

"Oh . . . great. Another one."

"You're so popular, Satoshi." Risa grinned. He groaned.

"No . . . I just have looks that appeal to the eye." He muttered. Risa took his arm again.

"Come on, handsome. Let's go."

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Risa stood on the pier and gazed out at the ocean. They had found yet another public beach that wasn't on the itinerary, but this one was devoid of jellyfish and therefore suitable for crowds. Risa smiled at the children playing on the beach - building sandcastles and then kicking them down. It was really quite sweet.

She could feel Satoshi's eyes on her. He was standing at the end of the pier, and when she looked up, sure enough he was gazing at her intently. He smiled warmly at her, but there was a hint of tiredness in his eyes. Even though they weren't standing near each other, she could tell his face was paler than it should've been.

He held up a hand when she started to move toward him.

"Don't move." He said softly. " . . . the way the sunlight is catching your hair right now is just . . . perfect. I . . . I would paint it right now if I had my supplies . . . but as it is I would like to memorize the way you look right now." He got that dreamy, somewhat glazed look in his eyes as he added. " . . . for when I start painting." He stared at her for about ten more seconds before smiling. "Okay, I think I've got it."

"You're planning . . . to paint . . . me?"

"If that's alright." He said.

"Satoshi!" She cried, running to him. She threw her arms around his neck and kissed him. He wrapped his arms around her and rocked back on his heels, but the inertia she had exuded upon colliding with him was more than he had expected, and he fell backward, taking her with him. They both landed with a huge splash in the salty seawater. His grip immediately loosened from her waist, but he was able to disentangle arms from around his neck and pull her to the surface.

"Risa! Are you alright?"

"Ye-yeah." She coughed. "That was just . . . unexpected. That's all."

He smiled slightly, then suddenly turned red. "Um . . . R-Risa." He said, looking away.

"Yeah? What is it, Satoshi?"

"Your um . . . your dress is . . . well it's . . ."

"Huh?" She looked down, worried that her top had been pulled down. It was fine, but the skirt of her dress had air bubbles under it and had floated to the surface, giving him a full view of what was underneath.

"EEK!" She cried, forcing the dress down with her hands. "Satoshi you . . . you shouldn't have looked!"

"I didn't!" He said, still looking away.

She forced the air bubbles out. "I can't believe this. I really like this dress, too!"

Satoshi chuckled slightly, and she splashed him. He chuckled even more, but didn't splash her back.

"Your clothes will be fine. You'll just have to wash them a couple of times to get the salt out."

"Ah! Oh no!" She cried.

"What's wrong?"
"My shoe!!! It sank!"

"Sank?" Satoshi asked.

"They were wedge heels!"

" . . ." He gave her a look. "Your shoes are gone?"

"Well . . . just one."

"Are you sure it won't float to the surface?"

"I felt it sink." She muttered. Satoshi sighed, but then gave her a weak smile.

"Would you like me to go after it?"

"No! You don't know how deep it is right here! And there could be . . . things living at the bottom."

"Well then what do you suggest? It's a half-mile walk on concrete to get back to the hotel."

"I think . . .eek!"

"What?"

"Ewe ewe ewe ewe! The pier is slimy under the water!"

"It's algae." He said, smiling at her.

"It's gross." She said. This time he laughed aloud. It was the first time she had ever heard Satoshi actually laugh, and it surprised her. She loved the way it sounded.

"Risa . . ." He said, smiling. "Maybe . . . we should go back to shore now."

"Okay . . ." She smiled. "And don't worry. I can walk. It's not . . . that far."

"Hm" Was all he said. They swam around the dock and back to shore. Satoshi was able to touch bottom before she could. The moment her feet reached the sand she took her other shoe off and tried to walk the rest of the way.

"I feel so . . . heavy!" She muttered when they finally reached the warm beach. Her fabric felt like it was made of lead now that it was weighted down with water. Satoshi smiled at her, but then blushed furiously and looked away. Damn . . . he hated hormones! Risa looked down and realized what was making him blush - her wet clothes were sticking to her body, accentuating every single curve that she had.

"Um . . ." She began wringing out her skirt, though the attempt was futile. She was completely drenched. To make things less uncomfortable for the both of them, she picked at her dress to make it stop sticking to her. It didn't work, however, and she sighed.

"I guess. . . we should probably get back to the hotel so we can change . . ." She giggled. "Your clothes are sticking to you pretty bad as well."

"You're right." He said with a smirk, then took her hand. They walked up the beach together.

"Guess I won't be needing this anymore." Risa muttered and threw her other shoe in the trashcan. Satoshi chuckled again.

Once they reached the edge of the beach where sand meets asphalt, Satoshi stopped.

"What? Oh!" She cried as he swept her into his arms and carried her bride and groom style again.

"No, Satoshi! I'm-"

"You're not too heavy." He anticipated what she was going to say. "Remember? I carried you home from the other beach."

"I know, but . . ." She sighed. "I'm okay . . . I can walk, I promise."

"You'll hurt your feet." He said softly.

"But . . . "

"Shh . . ." He said. "It's fine. It's not every day I get to carry a beautiful young woman in my arms."

"Satoshi." She sighed.

"Don't worry." He smiled down at her.

"You're pale."

"I'm always pale."

"I know but . . ." She sighed. "I just don't think you should be carrying me."

"Risa." He said softly. "Would you allow Dark to carry you?"

"What?!" She gasped up at him. "What does that have to do with anything?!"

"It was . . . just a question. Undoubtedly, if I were Dark and you were still in love with him, this situation wouldn't bother you at all."

"Satoshi, you are so annoying sometimes!" She said. He merely shifted his hold on her in response. She groaned and laid her head against him, not wanting to say anything else. As much as she hated it that Satoshi had to carry her, she was glad that she didn't have to walk.

He carried her in silence for a little while. She closed her eyes against him, trying to block out the embarrassment of yet again being the damsel in distress. When she squinted back up at him a few minutes later, her heart skipped a beat. For just a moment . . . a split second at the most . . . the sunlight played a trick on her eyes, and she could've sworn she could see him with the most beautiful white wings she had ever seen. It was gone in an instant, but it was enough.

"Satoshi!" She cried, suddenly understanding why this felt so familiar.

"What?" He stopped.

"Put me down!" She said happily.

"No." He said and continued walking.

"Just for a second. Please?"

"Why?"

"Just do it!" She said and he gingerly set her down.

"Now what did you -" He was cut off as she flung her arms around his neck and crashed her lips against his. He wrapped his arms around her, unsure of what he was being kissed for, but not really caring.. She tugged him closer, her lips parting just slightly. His lips parted too and he kissed her tenderly. They were both very aware that they were in the middle of a crowded sidewalk, but neither really cared all that much.

When they broke apart, they stared at each other in shock.

"Wow . . ." Was all Risa could say.

"What did . . . what was that for?" Satoshi asked quietly.

"You saved me." She said.

"Yes . . . numerous times. I thought we already established that."

"No . . . not here . . . not in Hawaii . . .you saved me . . . when I fell off of that building.. You were the one who rescued me, not Dark!"

"What?" He stared at her in shock. "How could . . . how could you know that? You were unconscious!"

"I don't know . . . I guess I kind of woke up for a moment or . . . something. It was like . . . a dream that I'd forgotten . . . " She paused. "I . . . didn't know. Why didn't you ever tell me?"

"Why would I want you to know something like that? It's rather sickening, really . . . wings . . . sticking out of my back like that. I mean . . . "

"Sato-Satoshi!" She stared at him, suddenly horrified. "So when you said that it would destroy your back if you grew wings . . ."

"Yes."

"I mean . . . I saw you transform into him . . . but I never thought . . ." She put her hand over mouth. "Every time . . . oh Satoshi! It must've been so painful!" When he didn't say anything, she threw her arms around him. "Every time!"

"Don't be upset." He looked down. "It's over now. I know you must think I'm . . ."

"What?"

" . . . A freak." he said softly. "I wish it hadn't happened like that, but that's the way it was every time."

" . . . I don't think that about you at all, Satoshi." She said gently. "You . . . saved my life . . . even if I didn't know it was - ah! The jacket! And the feather! I don't know why I didn't put two and two together! I mean . . . I knew it was your jacket . . . but . . . I didn't want it to be . . . at the time."

"You wanted it to belong to Dark." He said softly. Risa nodded, abashed. "Yes. I'm sorry. I was such a . . . a . . ."

"Don't insult yourself, Risa." He took her hand.

"Satoshi . . ." She closed her eyes. "I just never . . . I feel bad because I never knew."

"Well, how could you know? I did my best to keep it a secret."

She stood on her toes and kissed him again, but this time it was gentle and brief. "Don't keep any more secrets from me, Satoshi." She said softly.

His smile was gentle as he scooped her back into his arms. "Really, Satoshi. You don't have to carry me."

"Don't worry about it, Risa." He said. "I'm used to it by now."

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Once inside the hotel, he was able to set her down. She felt people staring at them as they walked by. She couldn't blame them - the y must've been quite a sight to behold. Two teenagers in clothes that were only just beginning to dry, one barefoot and one with blue hair sticking to his forehead, walking hand in hand toward the elevator.

Once inside, Satoshi pressed the buttons for the seventh and eight floors and leaned against the wall.

"Ugh . . . these clothes are getting itchy." Risa complained.

" . . . Yeah." Satoshi said faintly.

"I need a shower. Hey, once we're in dry clothes, do you want to call Riku and Daisuke? We could see what they're up to.

"Sure . . . that sounds like . . . fun." He paused. 'Risa . . . does it seem kind of hot in here to you?"

"What? No . . . Satoshi, this whole building is air conditioned."

"Oh . . ." He put a hand against the wall. She looked at him suddenly concerned. He had broken out into a cold sweat, and his face had gone even paler than before.

"Satoshi . . . are you okay? Your eyes look kind of funny."

" . . . I . . ."

"Satoshi . . . .you're not going to - Satoshi!" She didn't get the question out in time. Satoshi suddenly collapsed against the wall of the elevator. She caught him around the waist and sat down with him. "Satoshi! Satoshi, wake up! Satoshi!"

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Yep, that's chapter 19. Hope you enjoyed it. Review and I'll try to update soon:D