Riku: Seems Hikari is busy with cosplay so here I am to share the new chapter. I never am good at saying things, so anyways enjoy!

Chapter 36

Saruhiko sat on the couch while engrossed in the magic book that Zexion had gotten him for his birthday. As he held the book in one hand, he had his other hand protectively holding his little otter. It was fast asleep and snuggled up against his side, but he made sure that it wouldn't roll away at any moment.

He continued to flip through the pages when the door opened and Riku entered. Though Saru thought not to pay much attention, he ended up staring anyways. There seemed to be something different in the air as soon as his brother came in. He still looked exactly the same as he always did… but there was something different about him.

Saru narrowed his eyes, trying to figure it out when he finally looked at Riku's expression. "Did you get laid or something?"

Riku snorted, looking slightly surprised, but other than that he didn't even bat an eye. Much to Saru's surprise, Riku ended up laughing. "No, not at all."

"Something sure happened though. Should I go get Zack?"

Riku shook his head. "Nah, you don't need to. As excited as he probably is to know what happened, let him sleep."

"I'm half surprised he didn't stay up to wait for you." Saru turned back to his book.

"He's the one with the morning job anyways," Riku replied before heading over to the chair near the couch and flopping down into it. "Just wait for tomorrow evening and I am sure he will be all excitable 'puppy' mode on asking how it went." There was a pause before Riku smiled once more, looking like he was lost in his own thoughts. "It just was a lot of fun tonight. It went well, really well."

"I'm guessing that you're going to tell me about it regardless of how many f**ks I give.

Riku laughed almost a bit giddily. He ran a hand through his hair slowly. It didn't even seem to catch the uncaring and sarcasticness in his brother's voice. "I don't even know how it really happened. It just happened so fast…"

Riku had placed his hand over Sora's. "Yeah, I think I would like that."

Sora was beaming now. "You really mean it?!"

"Yeah, though I wouldn't know where to start… you're only… I mean we're only 16 or 17 you know? We're on the young side of this."

"Ah, that's okay! I know we can figure out something! But this is going to be great!" Sora said, his smiling continuing to hold through every word he said.

Just then the front door unlocked and both boys looked to see that Vanitas walked in. He stopped and looked over at Sora and Riku sitting on the couch. "Oh, so you did show up. Still wearing that strange scent masking cologne I see."

"Vani! Stop criticizing people on how they smell! It isn't nice!" Sora pouted. "Besides… I got something really great to tell you!"

Before Riku could react or even say anything, Sora grabbed him by the hand and pulled him up to his feet. He was dragged across the room by Sora over to where Vanitas stood once they were there, Sora's grin continued to grow.

"Guess."

Vanitas tilted his head to the side. "Guess… what? You need to give me some context Sora."

"Guess what Riku and I agreed on!" Sora replied.

Vanitas stared at Sora before looking over to Riku. He blinked slowly, trying to read what possible was hidden from plain sight. "I have no idea. What is it you are trying to say?"

Sora turned to Riku. His adorable smile caused Riku to start smiling as well. Carefully Riku reached for Sora's hand and laced his fingers between his. The action was enough to make Sora's smile even wider and it made Riku wonder how far that smile would be able to stretch.

Sora finally turned back to Vanitas. "Riku and I decided that we are going to start dating!"

Vanitas's eyes stretched wider, but after a moment they relaxed and he laughed. "Is that so? My little brother thinks he is ready to date?"

"Yeah! Riku and I both really wanna try and stuff! So that's what we are going to do, and that means you have to be nice to Riku, okay?"

"You mean tease and embarrass you guys? Okay I can do that," Vanitas replied with a chuckle.

Sora started to pout again. "Noooo Vaaani!"

"Hey I am still your older brother, which means I can still tease you how ever I want," Vanitas replied snarkily while he crossed his arms.

Sora stuck out his tongue. "Bah! You're no fun!"

Riku laughed lightly. "I guess we are just going to have to deal with him. I can only imagine what my brothers are going to think… mainly Zack. He's going to bombard me with questions. I am sure of it."

Sora gave Riku's hand a small squeeze. "We'll survive as long as we have each other, right? Since we are dating now and everything?"

Riku nodded. "Yeah, that sounds about right."

"So yeah, we're dating now, or going to figure out how to start," Riku replied after he finished telling his story.

"While I've already said I didn't care, you have fun dealing with a hyperactive Zack 'puppy' in a candy store." Saru closed his book, setting it aside before picking up the snoozing otter and standing up. He then turned and walked down the hall to his room.

When he got there, he entered and closed the door behind him. Now alone in his room, save for his little otter, he let out a long sigh.

To say he didn't care wasn't entirely true. He had thought that he could care less about his older brother's love life. But once Riku started talking and explaining what happened, something small twisted in him.

He had taken note of how Riku looked… how happy and joyful he looked as he explained his evening with Sora. Never in all his years with his brothers had he ever seen Riku look so light on his feet. Never had he seen him so genuinely happy and full of bliss.

It infuriated but also made him feel something else. That small pang of something that he had not expected… and he wanted to do something about it.

Quickly he moved over to his bed and set the little otter down on the pillow. Next he pulled out his phone before sitting down onto the bed. Flipping through his contacts, Saru scrolled to 'Mi~Sa~Ki~' before clicking the text option and typing out a random-ish text and sending it.

Saru: *poke*

A couple of seconds went by before Saru saw the reply text bubble pop up.

Mi~Sa~Ki~: What?

Saru: I'm bored.

Mi~Sa~Ki~: Uh…

Mi~Sa~Ki~: Why did you come to me?

Saru: Riku's too busy gushing over Sora.

Mi~Sa~Ki~: And… you're telling me… because?

Saru: you asked me why

Saru: Riku's too distracted with his newfound BF, and I don't have anyone else available to entertain me

Mi~Sa~Ki~: Wait hold up!

Mi~Sa~Ki~: BF as in… best friend… or….

Saru: boyfriend

There was a minute pause before Yata ended up replying.

Mi~Sa~Ki~: What the hell? And this just happened tonight?

Mi~Sa~Ki~: I'm surprised Sora hasn't told me yet

Mi~Sa~Ki~: Figures something would happen between the two of them though

There was a pause after Saru gave no response.

Mi~Sa~Ki~: Well?

Mi~Sa~Ki~: Did you care to say anything else?

Saruhiko started to hesitantly type out a message, before backspacing everything, and attempting to reword it. He kept repeating this for a while, constantly typing, but never pressing send.

Mi~Sa~Ki~: So…

Mi~Sa~Ki~: Um…
Mi~Sa~Ki~: Did…you want to talk or not?

Seeing that Yata appeared to be getting impatient, Saru typed out a very basic, blunt question.

Saru: … did you want to start dating?

Mi~Sa~Ki~: What the hell?!

Mi~Sa~Ki~: Why would you just ask that out of nowhere?

Saru: is it really out of nowhere, Misaki.

Saru: When we were just talking about how my brother and your friend are now an item

Mi~Sa~Ki~: Yeah but…

Mi~Sa~Ki~: Why are you asking me that question?"

Saru: Oblivious virgin…

Mi~Sa~Ki~: WTF man!

Mi~Sa~Ki~: Cut that out and just be serious!

Saru: i am being serious.

Saru: you're just an idiot

Mi~Sa~Ki~: just tell me what this is about…

Mi~Sa~Ki~: I really just don't get it

Saru: it's a simple question that you won't even answer.

Saru: I've basically asked you out, and you haven't answered.

Mi~Sa~Ki~: But…

Mi~Sa~Ki~: Why are you asking me?
Mi~Sa~Ki~: Like why do you want to ask me out?

Saru: ...

Mi~Sa~Ki~: What?
Mi~Sa~Ki~: You stop being blunt now?

Saru: I am baffled by your stupidity.

Mi~Sa~Ki~: And I am annoyed by your vagueness

Mi~Sa~Ki~: Tell me already what this is all about before it gets too late...

Saru: I asked you out you stupid virgin

Saru: what more do you want me to say?

Mi~Sa~Ki~: I want to know WHY
Mi~Sa~Ki~: Why ask me over anyone else
Mi~Sa~Ki~: Just tell me that answer

Mi~Sa~Ki~: otherwise we are just going in stupid circles here

Saru: does the why really matter, misaki?

Mi~Sa~Ki~: yes it does!
Mi~Sa~Ki~: cause i just don't get it

Saru: this is going nowhere…

Saru: just forget I asked...

Mi~Sa~Ki~: No wait!...

Mi~Sa~Ki~: I just want to know this… are you asking me out cause you really want to or just because you want to show up to your brother or something?

Saru: not everything's a competition, Misaki.

Mi~Sa~Ki~: So… you just wanted to ask me out?

Mi~Sa~Ki~: just cause you wanted too…?

Saru: do I need to rent a billboard outside of your house to spell it out for you?

Mi~Sa~Ki~: If you are going to be like this, maybe you do!

Saru: If you weren't so f**king oblivious, we wouldn't be dancing in circles.

Mi~Sa~Ki~: And if you weren't so vague about everything maybe I would have gotten it by now

There was a small pause before Yata sent another message.

Mi~Sa~Ki~: does this have to do with how you were at the theme park?

Mi~Sa~Ki~: You held my hand and you were all weird with holding me on some of the rides…

Mi~Sa~Ki~: You want to ask me out now cause you want to apparently… so is it because…

Another pause happened where Yata did not immediately reply. Saru waited quietly though, waiting for the little text bubble to pop back up to show that Yata was typing once more.

Mi~Sa~Ki~: because for some reason you're interested in me?

Saru: Congrats, you've figured out how to use your head.

Instead of a new text popping up, the screen changed to show the caller ID from "Mi~Sa~Ki~". Only a couple rings went by before Saru swiped to answer. He held the phone up to his ear a beat later.

"Someone's impatient Misaki," Saru greeted.

"I just need to hear it from you straight!" Yata shouted from the other end. "I want to hear if you are serious or not."

"Why would I even ask if I wasn't serious?"

"How should I know! Just…" Yata started to sound much quieter than before. "Just tell me, I want to hear it verbally."

"Did you want to start dating?" Saru hesitantly repeated his blunt question from earlier.

A long sigh was heard from the other end. "You're just really annoying you know that? But… fine, whatever. I guess that is the closest I'll get from you."

"For now. When's your next day free?"

"Uh, I think Friday would be my next free day."

"That works then. Do you have a preference for a location for a first date?" Saru asked.

"You really wanna get right on that don't you," Yata replied, scoffing slightly. "I have no freaking idea where we could… would even go."

"I should also remind you that my eldest brother won't let me out of the house without supervision."

"Ah… I forgot you mentioned that before… so he wouldn't even let you go out just for a date?"

"No idea. Would have to ask, but that would require me dealing with a hyperactive brother who's too nosey when it comes to my social life."

"Well um… if you figure it out… I guess let me know," Yata replied.

"Ok then Misaki. Hope to talk to you soon~" Saru dismissed in a sing-song voice.

Another long and deep sigh was heard. "All right fine then. Talk soon."

Saru placed his phone down on his nightstand. A smirk had come across his face and he didn't plan to let it go anytime soon. Though there was still the part of how he was going to pull all of this off. As much as he wanted to get everything set and done right now, he knew that waking up Zack wasn't the right answer. It was going to have to wait until morning.

Either way the thought of possibly what could come still floating around in his mind, leaving him feeling happier than he was before. The small uneasy feeling that he had before after seeing Riku so happy was now gone. Instead there was a much more lightening feeling in him.

He sat there a moment longer, letting this thought wander. He wondered if this was what Riku must have felt after talking things out with Sora. If the light feeling he had was the same or at least similar to what Riku was going through. But he knew that there was no way he was going to go out and ask him right now. He didn't want to get caught up in another 'Riku being all gushy' moment.

Instead Saru turned his attention to the sleeping otter. He gently picked it up again and held it close. Knowing that it was at least the otter's time to sleep, he headed out of his room and towards the basement to place it in its habitat. From there he was sure he could figure out something else to do to occupy his time for the remainder of the night.

The morning came and Zack's alarm went off. He groaned slightly, still wanted to sleep more like he would have prefered. It was always hard for a vampire to adjust to not being nocturnal, but it could be done and he had done for quite some time now. It wasn't that he struggled to wake up in the morning, he was perfectly fine doing so. But it still didn't mean he didn't prefer to sleep the day way.

After a few more seconds, Zack yawned and began to stretch before turning off his alarm clock. Getting out of bed he did was he usually did in the morning to start off the day, by doing a series of squats.

Once he had finished his mini morning workout routine he grabbed a fresh pair of clothes and headed towards the door. As soon as he opened it he saw that Saru was sitting right across from it up against the adjacent wall.

"Huh? Saru? What are you still awake for?"

"Wanted to ask you something." Saru stated before letting out a yawn.

"Ah, well what's up then?"

"Want to head out on Friday. Don't want to deal with lovey dovey Riku, and Zexion's busy."

"Hmmm," Zack hummed softly. A grin flashed across his face. "Any reason why you want to go out?"

"I already said I don't want to be around a gushing Riku. Isn't that reason enough?"

"It's just not too often you wanna leave the house all on your own." A moment later the grin returned to Zack's face. "Would this have anything to do with that boy Yata?"

"How about you stop trying to tease me and answer the question?"

"I'd be happy of course to watch over you," Zack replied, a slight teasing tone showing in his face. "Especially if you are planning something with your new friend."

"Or you get to ottersit and I'll borrow your boyfriend."

Zack staggered to the side over dramatic. "Ah! Really? You'd have Cloud watch over you over your own brother?"

"You're an embarrassment to be seen in public with," Saru deadpanned.

"Aw, come on! You don't mean that! I can be good when I try!"

"You're a hyperactive child with the attention span of a puppy on a good day. I can at least trust Cloud to be discreet."

Zack pouted childishly. "Why does everyone always call me that… Cloud's technically the real puppy! But honestly, you'd have to ask Cloud if he is up for that. I'll call him later and tell him you need a chaperone for your date."

"I said I wanted to go out, never said I was going on a date."

"Sure that's what you said, but your eyes tell a different story." Zack smirked before he placed a hand on Saru's shoulder. "You think I am that oblivious?"

"If it was a date, why would I ask for Cloud when he would tell you every single little detail." Saru turned around and went into his room.

Zack blinked slowly, trying to understand what Saru had meant. "Uh… I mean I wanna know about it either way! But I hope you will have fun."

Riku: So a slight bit of different format going on there, but hey hope you all enjoyed!