"So, you're heading out on a date with Kitsune, eh?" Ryuku asked. Daisuke had just put on a shirt and buttoned his pants. Why Ryuku had suddenly taken a liking to Daisuke so much, Daisuke would never know. Daisuke didn't really show off a great positive attitude to the guy either. Yet, Ryuku had just walked into his house like they were old time buddies. It wasn't that Daisuke didn't like Ryuku. It was just that the guy could be a little irritating once in a while.
"Yeah. I'm going on a 'date' with Kitsune." Daisuke said, the word "date" had the air quotes added tot hem, showing that he didn't really consider this as s date.
"Hey, hey, hey… what's with the attitude. I was just asking."
"I know. But, I don't think you guys believe me when I say that this isn't a date."
"Well, that's because it's, well, a date."
"No it's not! It's just a get to know each other type of hang out."
"That's not how Kitsune sees it."
"How would you know?" Daisuke asked with a sudden grin, thinking that he had gotten Ryuku in a trap laid out for him to fall in.
"Why do you think she called her friends to help her get ready? Their painting her face like pros. What do you think they would be doing up there?"
"Don't be stupid." Daisuke said. "How would you know all of this?"
"Do you honestly think I have a life? I've got nothing to do but see what's going on all around your life, even if you don't know about it." Daisuke looked at Ryuku blankly, and Ryuku grinned. "That, and because Yuri and Yuki paid me 600 yen (Between $5 to $5.50) to do this job."
"Only 600 yen? What the hell?!"
"Hey, it's all I needed to buy my week long snacks."
"You'd sell me out of 600 yen?"
"Hey, don't you have to worry more about your date."
Daisuke sighed. As annoying as he could be at times, Ryuku had still been Daisuke's elder. That was one thing Daisuke didn't understand about Ryuku. At times, he could really mature and elderly, but other times, like now, he was completely child-like. Thinking about nobody but himself at times. But at others, he was the most selfless person. It was almost like he was two people inside of him.
Daisuke finished getting dressed and looked in the mirror. But he caught a glimpse of the grin on Ryuku's face in the bottom corner.
"It's not a date." Daisuke reminded.
"Then why are you getting dressed up so nice?"
"What's wrong with looking nice for new people?"
"You don't dress up nice for me. We hang out and try to get to know each other, don't we?"
"This is different." Daisuke said.
"How so? Because it's a daaaaaaaaaaaaaate?" Ryuku sang the word "date". Daisuke had thrown at pillow at him in a playful manner. He laughed a little as he said the words: "Shut up."
"But, can I ask you a serious question, Daisuke?"
Daisuke looked at Ryuku, and he suddenly looked like he was ready for a serious question. What was that about? He was serious all of the sudden. Why the sudden change?
"Sure, go ahead." Daisuke said, completely facing Ryuku.
"How come you have five hot looking girls all over you, but you go after a chick you hardly know."
"Who's going after anybody?"
"I'm just asking from the way it looks. Okay, let me rephrase that. Why don't you go out with any of the girls you hang out with? They seem to like you."
"I don't know. Why? Who do you know who likes me?"
"Are you seriously that dense?"
"What's that suppose to mean?"
Ryuku smiled and he shook his head in disgrace.
"I can't believe you, man."
"Who likes me?" Daisuke asked.
"What time is it?" Ryuku asked grinning.
"What?" Daisuke looked at the digital watch in his room and noticed that he only three minutes to walk three Tokyo filled blocks. "Crap, I'm late."
And with that Daisuke ran out the door, leaving Ryuku with a huge grin on his face.
"ARGH! I can't believe that idiot! Why I ought to–" Yuri was taking our her anger with a pillow. Yuki was reading a book, sitting in a chair next to a desk in her room. Yuki had invited Yuri over for the first time, and Yuri was freaking out about the date that Daisuke was going on. But of course, deep down inside, Yuki was feeling the same way about everything. She wanted to know what was going on with Daisuke and his date with this Kitsune chick.
"I thought that you had given up and Daisuke, or at least pretended to in public."
"Shut up." Yuri said in a slightly sarcastic voice. "I tried not to look like I cared, but do you know how hard it is to play hard to get when it's not getting you anywhere? I swear, it's like he's gotten denser since his training with what's her face."
"Hakura." Yuki corrected. "Her name is Hakura."
"Whatever."
A thought had gone out into Yuki's mind. Why was it that Yuri hadn't seen Hakura yet? Hakura had given her small missions, but she hadn't seen her in person. Ever since that order to keep her alive a while back, you'd think that Hakura would want to see her face to face. In fact, Hakura hadn't spoken to anybody lately. Not even Daisuke. It's weird. She hadn't spoken to Yuki, her most trusted pupil, in four days. Sure, a whole day would normally be unusual. Even if there wasn't on order to hunt or kill anyone, Hakura usually called or showed up to see how Yuki was. But she hadn't done that in days. Did something happen to her?
Yuki looked out the window, and she could still hear Yuri taking her anger out with the pillow. It was a decently warm night out. Wait a second… didn't warm weather mean short skirts…? With every thought going in and out she wanted to go and see what Daisuke and Kitsune were up to.
"Yo!" they heard at the window, and there in the tree in front of the window had sat Ryuku.
"What are you doing here, pervert?" Yuki asked.
"Pervert? Why, I'm hurt that you would even consider me such a thing."
"Why else would you be in a tree in front of the window where two girls may be changing?"
"Oh, I though that you two would be up for some spying."
"On Daisuke? Are you stupid? You know how well he can sense things."
"I'm not sure if you've noticed, but if it's not demons, the kid's pretty dull."
"No he's not." Yuri said in defense.
"Yuri? My love?" In one swift moment, Ryuku had been at the feet of Yuri holding her hand. "Oh, how I've longed to hear your voice."
Yuri took back her hand and just looked at Ryuku.
"What was this about spying on Daisuke?"
"Don't be tempted by the words of a fool." Yuki warned. "Could you imagine the expression that Daisuke would have if he found us spying on him."
"Knowing how Daisuke is, he'd probably think it was a coincidence." Ryuku pointed out.
"You guys don't think he's seriously that stupid do you?"
"Well, I guess there's only one way to find out." Ryuku said.
The two looked at each other. They did want to find out what Daisuke was doing with a strange girl. But at the same time, they wouldn't want to invade his privacy. But then again, was he too dense to figure out what privacy was? Would he really see their bumping into, if it happened, as a coincidence?
"Fine." Yuki said. "But I swear, Ryuku, if we get caught I'm having your head."
"I wouldn't have had it any other way." He said with a smile.
"So," Daisuke said as they casually walked down the street. "Where do you want to head first?"
"How about somethin' to eat?" she offered.
Daisuke felt the fire already burning in his wallet. This wasn't going to be a cheap night, he knew that. Even at McDonald's the whole thing would come out to a whopping 1200 yen. He only had 6000 yen on him tonight. He knew it wasn't too much, but it would have to do.
"What did you have in mind?" he asked.
"Well, what do you feel like treating me to?"
"Is McDonald's okay?"
"It's better than okay! I love that place."
Daisuke hadn't gotten as dressed up as Kitsune had. A dark, and tight, sweater-like long sleeve short, with a black skirt, and almost-knee-high boots. Not hooker boots. More like combat boots. Her hair was pushed mostly to the left, it's one strand of purple blew in the wind. She looked graceful tonight. All Daisuke was wearing was his everyday, casual KonekoNekoNyu-NyuKyu (CittyKatMeow9) white T-shirt, and some baggy, pale forest green pants. But he didn't really think of it as anything. It was just a hang out night, right?
Daisuke didn't order too much for himself. Just a cheeseburger and a large drink (In America, their large is our kid sized drinks). While she had three cheeseburgers, four small fries (She was being polite) and three small drinks (islands don't get refills…too much money wasted). When he was done, all he had left was 700 hundred yen.
"What do you want to do now?" Kitsune asked after they left, and Daisuke looked at his wallet. There wasn't too much he could do with this.
"What do you feel like."
"I don't know." She put her hands into the position of a boxer. "I'm really hyped up. I want to blow my energy on something. Something fast, something bright, something fun." Than she got an idea. "Have you ever played Dance Dance Revolution?"
"Not much. I'm not a good foot and eye coordinator."
"Oh, c'mon. You're a world renown Demon Hunter, and you can't even play a game of DDR?"
"Sorry." He said with a shrug.
"You're not even going to give it a shot?"
He could hear the eagerness in her voice. He couldn't let her down. This was a way to get to know her, and this was a "get-to-know" date. He lifted his head, his face looking into the sky as he let out a sigh of defeat.
"Fine. A couple games couldn't hurt."
On the way to the arcade, she was beaming. Daisuke could tell that she was excited to play. She was a nice girl. She almost smiled the entire night, and she was really easy to talk to. She was pretty open about her Demon Hunting life, and even more open about her normal life. With the questions that she asked, it was almost like hanging out with Momo. One of her questions being, "When's the last time you've had sex?" When Daisuke stumbled upon words, she got the hint that he was a virgin.
As the two had entered the arcade, there was one DDR machine that was being used up, but he people were on their last song, and by the time they had gotten to the machine, the people started to head off.
"So," Kitsune said as she got on the stage of flashing lights. "You hardly played this game."
"Haven't we already been through this?" Daisuke teased.
"Well, I just want you to know that it doesn't matter how long you've played, or not played at this moment. Since you're a Demon Hunter, I'm going to post you up for Heavy Mode."
"Oh, c'mon! That's cruel."
"You'll get used to it, I promise."
And so the horror began. When Kitsune had picked a song, she went for a pretty easy one, even if it was on Heavy. But when they played, she was amazed that Daisuke was doing better than her. Never played DDR her foot. This kid was looking bored while doing it.
After the song ended, Daisuke looked at her.
"Do you mind if we play one that's a little harder? That was a little too easy."
Kitsune grinned, and went to a song that took her months to finally get down to at least get a decent C. Once again, Daisuke had managed to keep up with her, and the two had started to look a team for one of those DDR competitions. Every step was in step, with the same foot and their bodies shifted in the same way. And the two had gotten a B.
"What happened to 'I'm not very eye and foot coordinated?' You're better than me!"
"Well, I guess this game's gotten easier in the last five years."
"You haven't played this since you were ten?"
"Yeah, why?"
"No wonder why you thought it was hard! You were too young for something like this!"
"Oh. Well, I guess it makes sense."
Kitsune scowled. He could have at least told her it that it had been that long since he had played this game. She than decided something she originally said she wouldn't do: she started the song Dead End. One of the hardest songs in the entire game. In all her three years of playing this game, she had never once passed this song on Heavy. It was almost impossible.
In the first thirty seconds of the song, Kitsune had already failed, and decided that she should just quit now. When she did, and looked over at Daisuke, his skill bar was completely full. Most of the steps were Perfect if not Great. She had seen one or two Bad, but that was it. Never a miss. She hadn't seen a miss in the entire song.
When Daisuke stepped off, he looked at her, and smiled.
"I guess I actually do like this game. It's pretty fun, ya know."
"What are those two doing in there?" Yuki asked, her face pressed up against the window of the arcade.
"It seems that they just finished playing Dance, Dance Revolution." Yuri said.
"C'mon, let's go inside." Ryuku urged.
"Are you nuts!? Who knows what he'll do if he sees us?" Yuri said.
"Didn't we already go through this? He's not going to think anything of it, I swear."
"I swear Ryuku, if he ends up hating me–"
"You'll have my head, I know, I know." He said with a tad bit annoyed voice from the babying. "Now, let's go!"
"What are you bumbling idiots doing?" they head a voice behind them, and when they turned, they saw somebody from school.
"Doichi," Yuri pointed at him. "Am I right?"
"Yeah. So, why are you guys spying on Kitsune and that bastard?"
"That bastard?" Yuri asked. "Why would you call him a–"
Yuri and Yuki looked at each other with a grin, and then looked at Doichi.
"What?" he asked.
"I think I know what you're problem is." Yuri said.
"Yeah. It's definitely THAT." Yuki pointed out.
"No question about it." Yuri agreed.
"What are you two talking about?" Ryuku asked.
"Yes, I would like to find out as well."
"Oh, c'mon. You know, THAT."
"You guys aren't making any sense at all!" Ryuku exploded.
"I'm afraid I agree with this idiot. What are you two mumbling about."
"The reason that you hate Daisuke." Yuki said.
"And that is…?" Ryuku asked.
"A little thing called L-O-V-E."
"That's ridiculous. Why would I ever love…" When he saw the looks that were being given out by the group, he knew that no sense of trying to convince them would work.
"That's so cute." Yuri squealed. "A young man on the verge of battling an idiot for the woman he loves."
"Will you please shut up!" Doichi shouted.
"I agree. All this talk is making me queasy." Ryuku chimed.
"And why, might I ask, are you three here."
"Isn't it obvious?" Ryuku asked. "We're spying."
"Like children. You call this spying? You're completely exposed."
"Not sure if you've noticed, but Daisuke isn't the brightest guy in the world."
"I must concur. Excuse me for my accusations."
"So, may I ask, are you doing out here yourself?" Yuki asked.
"Me? Well, I was…uh, talking a walk."
"You really to work on your lying." Yuri said.
"Crap, they're coming out!" Ryuku said, and the group, including Doichi, had hid in the midst of the crowd. Daisuke and Kitsune had came out smiling, and Doichi had cringed. He had known that smile for some time now. It was that smile that he was never been able to get her to show to him. The smile that she only gave to guys she liked. She didn't know his secret of his love, he knew that. And he tried to keep that way. That way, if she ever did like him, it would because she really liked him, not because he confessed his love and she thought that it would be mean to reject him.
The two had walked down blocks, and the four had followed them behind. Until they got to a part of town that Doichi had known pretty well.
"Where are we?" Yuri whispered.
"They're heading to Kitsune's house."
"THEY'RE WHAT?!" Yuri and Yuki whispered loudly as looked at Doichi.
"Yeah, it's only about four houses down."
And as the closer they got to their house, Yuri's stomach had started to ache more and more. Why would they be heading to her house. Unless… no. Daisuke wouldn't do that sort of thing, especially not on the first date. Would he?
As the got to Kitsune's front door, she turned to him. With the four hiding in a tree across the street, they couldn't hear anything that was said. But, from what things looked like, Daisuke wasn't entering the house at all. Things had gone pretty smoothly that night.
That's what everyone thought. Until Kitsune had leaned in, and kissed Daisuke. The short gasps were quiet, but the surprise from everyone could be felt around the tree.
"Dammit." Was all Doichi said, and with that he fled. He had exit the tree completely silently, making sure Daisuke couldn't hear where the others were.
Poor Doichi. Yuri thought. All he wanted was perhaps only go out with her, and she goes and kisses another guys in front of him.
"Hey guys, whatcha doin'?" Daisuke asked, not even looking in the tree. He was still looking at Kitsune's house.
"You knew we were here?"
"I figured you guys would follow me, and then I saw you guys at the arcade, and I sensed you guys follow me. You enjoy the show."
"You mean, you knew we there the whole time?"
"Of course. I'm not that dense. What do I look like an idiot?" he laughed a little. "I'll see you guys at school tomorrow."
And as he smiled down the street, Daisuke could hear Ryuku screaming in pain. It's funny. The girls had paid Ryuku 600 yen just to make sure Daisuke's date wasn't as sexual as they thought. Daisuke only had to pay 400 yen to get Ryuku to tell them when they were spying on him. But poor Ryuku was paying the price. Oh well, that's what happens when you're mercenary work sucks.