Yui's PoV

"Here!" Li Yan enthusiastically dragged me everywhere she went in the dark aquarium. It's so we can see the fish tanks more clear that the inside was so dark. Of course, the perfect make out spot for some couples.

One of the large tanks has someone swimming around in it, dressed as a mermaid. A worker, probably. Her flowing orange red hair looked like silk in the water, the glittering scales on her tail shone under the spotlight. From time to time she'll have to go up to get some air.

"Ariel!" Li Yan shouted right by my ear. I hate children, I swear my sleeve is gonna get their stitches burst any minute now.

"Come see this!" Mei Ling's voice rang from across the hallway, Li Yan ran to her mother. Soryu was right beside them.

Finally getting a break, I sat on one of the benches near the food stand areas of the aquarium. I felt a bit thirsty. I watched Mei Ling and Li Yan leaning against a huge tank, inspecting the large sea turtles in it; and Soryu looking completely unfazed and blank, standing behind them with his arms crossed.

Just then, a cup of strawberry banana smoothie was set in front of me on the table. My gaze shot up to the person who took a seat next to me on the benches.

"You again?" I tilt my head, but accept the smoothie since he remembered my favorite flavour.

He smirked, his dimples showing. I open the cap and briefly scanned the content, just to be safe. Not that I can see if ecstasy was mixed in it anyway.

"What are you? Stalking me?" I asked before taking a sip of the cold smoothie. It felt good against my tongue, "What're you even doing here?"

"Accompanying a friend before her boyfriend showed up. You?" He lazily nodded his head towards a couple, who were excitedly pointing around the tanks. He then took a sip of his coffee.

"None of your concern, Daryl." I reply simply.

"Brrr, cold." He chuckled half-heartedly while I don't even make eye contact.

"Yup, I took on basically everything from my father." I blurted without going through my mind. I guess I was a bit frustrated at him after all. Surely he isn't going to believe me if I just popped up and said I'm his daughter, his suspicious nature is going to think I'm some sort of spy with a bunch of artificial evidence.

"Oh?" He questioned, and I looked up just in time seeing him glance in Soryu's direction. His right arm, which was resting against the bench back, bend up to run his hand through his always perfect hair. His other hand was holding that cup of coffee.

"Enjoying the view?" it was when tease glinted from his grey eyes that I realized I was staring for a few seconds. I just clicked my tongue and went back to my smoothie to avoid embarrassment.

"Uh-huh. Well, what about your parents?" I ask nonchalantly. And since he seated himself right next to me, I sense him stiffen at my question. I look back up at him, but by then he already fixed his composure.

"My mom passed away when I was just six, my father... let's just say he's very strict on me." He wasn't looking at me, clearly trying to avoid the topic.

I nod, not pushing on the subject. It's probably sensitive. Just like mine is too.

Out of the corner of my vision, I see them moving on to the water snakes section of the aquarium. I stood up. "Well I gotta go, nice talking to you. And thanks for the smoothie."

"No problem, love." He did a two-finger salute, his old self completely back as he repeated, "I'll see you at the bar tonight."

A small smile tugged at my lips even though I shook my head at him.

~~~

Back in the penthouse, I quickly gathered my stuff. I have only twenty minutes before my shift starts, and the walk there is twenty minutes itself!

Just as I'm walking across the lounge to the door, Soryu looked up from his work and asked in a menacing growl, "where do you think you're going?"

"Work. I have the evening shift." I answer rather impatiently.

"I'll drive you."

Wait what? He already walked out of the door with car keys in his hand.

Awkward was an underestimate for the drive. Now I definitely know where I got my socially awkwardness from. It was completely silent. None of us made even a squeak.

It was when the car stopped in front of the bar that he informed, "I won't be back tonight, I have business right after."

And that was all. That was frickin all he said.

Hikaru sat on his usual stool near the counter when I walked out of the change rooms for employees.

"Hey, Yui." He starts as soon as he sees me, "I have an upcoming test next week, it's on math!"

I know math is his worst nightmare. But he could've at least started with a greeting or a reason for why he wasn't here yesterday before he came straight out for the favor.

"On?" I ask as I start to rub glasses with our clean towels.

"Algebra!" he said as if it being a huge deal. It's just stuff with variables. His grades aren't bad, but they're not straight A's like mine's were either.

"So this time do you want me to tutor you or just give you cheat sheets?" I ask as I arrange the shelves of bottles of alcohol, just to look busy so the manager won't think I'm slacking off.

"Cheat sheets. I can't possibly learn that crap." He took a sip of his beer.

"Sure. That makes things easier for me." I gave him my final reply, then went to a table of two for their orders.

~~

My shift ends in another hour. What was on my mind for a few minutes now was that Daryl never showed up. I wonder why? He always did when he said he would.

Actually, why am I even worrying about this? He's free to do whatever he likes.

I couldn't help but think that something came up, though.

"Hey cutie~ you single?"

And of course, yet another one of these jerks. Hikaru came up from behind me, since that was the deal, warning the dude off. It'll mean trouble for me if I had to fight the dude off myself.

"So, how are you going to make cheat sheets for math?" he took the opportunity to ask.

I waved my arm at him in dismissal, then slipped a sheet of paper in his pocket. I already knew what unit was coming up next. I gave him my old test for reference, then the rest is up to him. Like how to sneak cheat during it, which is his expertise, in that case.

"Thanks a lot." He says before going back to his spot.

After work ended, Hikaru drove me in front of the hotel. He didn't question why I was staying there, good. Sometimes his carelessness comes in handy.

He drove away, I just took one step up the flight of stairs, when I heard something. My hearing was stronger since I took special training, I pick up on a lot of noises.

I strain my ears again.

*plunk, plunk*

The noise was extremely faint, but it sounds like metal hitting against a brick wall. Puffing my guts, I followed to the source of the noise. After a few twists and turns, the noises became louder.

Very soon it was visible that someone was continuously kicking an empty can against a wall. Even under the single streetlight in the area, I can tell that it was none other than Daryl.

I stood there and watched for a whole minute. He was muttering things under his breath that I didn't understand while he kept kicking the can to the wall.

Suddenly, he stopped short, "Who's there?"

Before I could even react, there was the pain of impact on my back. He had somehow flew over and pinned me against the wall that was in the shadows, not even under the only street light this little corner deep in the alleys had.

"Yui?" confusion was present in his tone, but he doesn't loosen his grip.

"I heard noises from outside... so..." I look into his eyes. His gaze was solid and stern. Not the usual easy going and playful glint in them. He must be frustrated with something.

"Is... something wrong?" I ask, not exactly knowing why I'm concerned. He was frowning slightly. I've never seen him like this, but honestly it's kinda hot, especially under the dim light.

He didn't answer, his gaze just bored into mine. His large hand pinning both of my wrists solidly above my head, his other hand was right by my head, pressed against the wall next to it.

"Well..." my stupid mind decided that I had to say something, "I don't know what happened, and it may not be okay at all... but you're not you when you're in a bad mood. I mean, I've never seen you this mad before...."

Okay, I'm totally rambling, though I kind of mean those things. Look at me, I wouldn't say misfortune but I still have more life problems than most people my age. He's still staring at me, his eyes unreadable.

"Hey, everybody has life hard." I add, hopefully to conclude my babbling. But when he still searched my dark blue eyes with his grey ones, my mouth opened again all on its own.

"I mean, my father is naturally cold-hearted, and he doesn't even know I exist, literally. My mom is kind and gentle and more of the opposite of my father but I guess I took on everything from my father than any—"

I was so surprised that my eyes went to their full length when he kissed me. Right on the lips. But as suddenly as he did it, he pulled back.

"You may take on more of your mother than you think." Is all he whispered, I could still feel his breath right on my lips as he spoke.

He leaned down again, and that's when I totally lost control, I kissed him back this time. His hand that was on the wall moved to tilt my chin to get a better angle.

"Daryl..." I couldn't help but say breathlessly between the hot kisses.

Very soon his hands moved to cup my face, and mine snaked around his neck, pushing his head down to me.

When we both finally stopped to catch our breaths, he had a look of disbelief through his eyes, though he showed no signs of letting me go. His breathing was ragged and rough. My hair was probably messy now since it was down in the first place. I'm pretty sure I looked bewildered too.

"I-I should be going...." I said softly, letting my arms fall down from around his neck.

"R-right." He stuttered as he untangled his fingers from my hair as well, looking everywhere but me.

Without looking back, I made my way out of the alleys. Just as I enter the lobby of the hotel, I snapped.

I can't believe I just had a make out session with Daryl.

When I closed the door behind me into Soryu's private suite, I prepare for bed.

I can't believe I... didn't hate it.

This is way too soon.

I know this isn't love.

But...

I think I really like him.....

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Ayo~finally some progess~

How was this~? 1855 words

Thank y'all for reading ^_^

Next update: Chameleon/10DWHM

Yes I'm not being fair to the cycle of my updates, why?

BECAUSE I CAN.

That's like my fav line~

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—Lillie

Edited: June 9, 2016