Disclaimer: I don't own Yu Yu Hakusho and its characters. I do own Riya and other OC's of this story, though. And that includes the plot.
Warning: The characters might not be in their usual selves.
AT LEAST WE HAVE FOREVER
CHAPTER 11
One Chance To Last A Lifetime
The next day after the attack, Koenma decided to have Yusuke, Kuwabara and Keiko transfer school since the toddler prince figured that the demon shinobi and the wielders would most likely make an appearance at Hanasakura Academy again. Koenma somehow thought that the enemies—although he wasn't sure who to treat as enemies between the wielders and the demon shinobi—were after something—or someone—from that school. Those three would be in a different class from Kurama and Riya but their classrooms were just adjacent to each other. Kurama's classroom was in Class 2-C and Yusuke, Kuwabara and Keiko's would be in Class 2-D.
As for Hiei, he decided to accompany the Fire Wielder Yumi to a journey in the Demon World for certain reasons. As for Riya, she knew that Yusuke still didn't know yet that she was Kurama's classmate and for two months, she managed to hide it. She later learned from Yukari that Yusuke, Kuwabara and Keiko transferred to Hanasakura Academy and so she thought that her school year would be even more exciting.
It took full three weeks for Riya to be able to recover but her wounds weren't completely healed that's why she has to use a crutch to move around the apartment. Kurama was the one who helped her with her home-schooling activities, from projects to homework and even notes. And one more week had passed before she returned to school.
Everything went fine after the incident and surprisingly, Ayako started befriending Riya. She knew that Ayako wasn't bluffing about that issue since she could see the sincerity in the brunette's eyes especially when Ayako asked for Riya's forgiveness. And she did…
…but that was after Riya talked to Ayako about the incident that took an unexpected turn. The day she went back to school, at the rooftop, she asked Ayako to meet her there along with Soujiro and yukari. Basically, they knew what Riya wanted to talk about. Kurama still had something to do with the Biology Club and Riya agreed to meet him after that at the school ground. She just needed a reason to distract his attention about the weapons that he and the Spirit Detective were looking for.
Riya could only hope it would work. It was for his sake, anyway.
"It's not that we intend to hide it from you, Riya-sempai," Yukari started.
"I know that. You wanted to protect me in the shadows like what Yumi had intended to do from the start… ever since she discovered she has the Garnet Heart inside of her," Riya replied. And then she looked at the three wielders in front of her. "But I'm not mad about you hiding the fact that you're the Legendary Weapon Wielders. Thank you for saving me that day. I truly appreciate it."
Soujiro managed to smile because of that. "It's our duty, mistress. But what I can't understand is the demon shinobis' reason why they wanted to have the Legendary Weapons so much."
Riya sighed and looked at the setting sun. "Even I don't know the answer to that. But whatever it is, it's something sinister. And we can't afford to lose against them. It's also our duty as wielders to protect the three realms, especially the Human World, from certain destructions even without Koenma's knowledge." Then she looked at Ayako. "But seriously, I'm quite surprised when I found out that you're also a Legendary Weapon Wielder… being the wielder of the Staff of Shimmer, at that…"
"I was surprised, as well. Even so, I guess it's for the best that I became one," Ayako said.
That statement made Riya frown. "What do you mean by that?"
But Ayako only gave a chuckle before looking at Riya. "It's better if I keep that for myself."
"Hmm… if you say so."
"You better go after Minamino-kun before he suspects something as to why you're here," Ayako said that made Riya slightly surprised. And somehow, the brunette knew the reason why. "It's okay. I've already accepted that Minamino-kun is starting to like you. Or maybe he already likes you and he's not aware of it. Just enjoy every moment you have with him."
Riya blushed upon hearing those words from Ayako. "It's not like that, Ayako-chan. It's impossible for him to like me. I'm only a friend to him."
"I would think otherwise, especially when I saw his expression after the incident wherein he rushed into the crumbling part of the building just to save you."
"I agree with her," Yukari added. "He was already showing some signs of liking you intensively and probably you're mistaking it as a friendly gesture."
Riya went quiet after that. And after a while, she turned around that made the three wielders giggle and made her blush even more.
"I don't believe you…" she mumbled before she hurriedly left the place.
That was when the three students left there began laughing because of her actions.
"I guess she was also showing those signs, Yukari-chan," Ayako concluded while laughing.
Yukari nodded. "I can't wait for what's about to happen next between those two."
Yusuke and the others headed home first to start studying for the exams after Keiko forced them, of course. Kurama just went out of the laboratory when he saw Riya coming towards him. The girl smiled at him he waved his hand to return the gesture.
"You're done?" Riya asked when she stopped in front of him.
"Yes. Where have you been, anyway? I was worried that our classmates might bully you again."
She shook her head and then she began walking along with Kurama. "I'm alright. Besides, I don't think they could do that to me anymore. Ayako somehow threatened them if they do that to me." And then he saw her giggle. It was a genuine one which means Riya was telling the truth about Ayako's sudden change of attitude towards her.
Kurama has to admit, it does seem weird. But he noticed that after the attack three weeks ago, Ayako had somewhat changed, especially when it comes to how she treated Riya. And he could see that it was a sincere gesture… which was for the best. At the very least, Riya has gained a new friend.
"Is there something wrong, Shuichi-kun? You're spacing out. Are you alright?" Riya asked that startled him so he faced her and smiled. But it appeared that the young lady wasn't convinced. "Are you sure?" He just nodded.
Riya didn't ask anymore and the two of them walked together as they went out of the school.
As they walked together like that, Kurama was thinking about some stuff running inside his mind. More particularly, what he was actually planning to do on coming Sunday since he remembered something that his mother said last night during dinner…
…thanks to the suggestion of his stepbrother that night…
-Flashback-
"Really? You've been dating a girl lately?" Shiori somewhat excitedly asked to Kurama while they were discussing some stuff as they were having their dinner.
It was just after he arrived at home and Shiori was already preparing dinner. He came to Riya's apartment before that because he handed the photocopied notes to her so that she could still catch up with her studies since she hasn't gone to school for full three weeks already, as per recommendation of the doctors who examined her. The only person who knew he went there was his stepbrother Hatanaka Suuichi since he called his house and said that he'll be coming home late because of that.
But he never thought that his stepbrother would talk about it to his mother and stepfather. He and Suuichi agreed not to tell about what he was doing for Riya or else, issues would arise. Well, he couldn't help it. Suuichi had been asking him about Riya and how he got so fixated on the transfer student. Even though he insisted that they were just friends, his stepbrother didn't stop bugging him about it. Besides, he couldn't tell him about how he and Riya first met five years ago for some reasons. He believed that it wasn't yet the time for him to do that.
"I'm not dating anyone, Mom. I'm just helping a friend of mine to catch up with her missed lessons since she hadn't gone to school for full three weeks because of the injury she got from the explosion," Kurama explained but he was somehow flustering for some reasons.
His family knew about the explosion at school but they knew that the cause of it was a freak accident at the laboratory and a gas leak. Mostly, these theories haven't been proven yet and it somewhat contradicted from the witnesses' accounts since they saw that the explosion came from outside the building.
That was why further investigations were being conducted until now, but Kurama highly doubted if they would find a logical explanation for that.
Shiori smiled at the sight of her son flustering. Well, as they say, "Mother knows best."
"But this is actually the first time you've been fixated to only one girl. I'm sure that she's not just a friend to you. Right, Shuichi?" Shiori said as she faced him while smiling. Kurama's stepbrother and stepfather just chuckled when he couldn't even react.
He really gave a second thought about his mother's statement. Riya wasn't just a friend to him… Was that really it? It was true that she had been a part of his memory because of their meeting five years ago. And when he promised to her and to himself that he would never leave her anymore…
Kurama sighed inwardly to ease his mind from certain thoughts rushing in. After that, he glanced at Shiori then to his stepfather Hatanaka Kazuya and lastly to Suuichi. He then realized that Shiori was looking at him and was waiting for his answer in a way.
"So? Have you thought about it?" Shiori asked before continuing to eat.
But before Kurama could even think of an answer, Kazuya spoke that distracted the flow of his thoughts. "The only time when you couldn't answer a simple question was when you're really thinking about it so that you wouldn't regret saying your answer once it's been said. Whether the answer is good or bad, you wanted to answer it seriously. And in your case, it's not only your mind that's doing the thinking for you but your heart, as well. You wanted to make sure that your mind and your heart would come up with the common decision or answer. That way, you'll be certain that your answer is serious and without pretenses."
He couldn't say a word after that. His stepfather does have a point on that. That was when he smiled and continued eating.
"Anyway, you can answer that when you're ready. But can you invite her here one of these days? Your friend, that is…" Shiori inquired that made him frown a bit.
"Her? You mean the girl that I was helping?"
She nodded. Then he went quiet again.
"What about this Sunday?" Suuichi suddenly suggested and he glanced at him. "Mom and Dad wouldn't be working that day since it's day off. We don't have a class on that day so I think it's perfect for the whole family to meet her."
His eyes widened when he heard that. "Are you serious, Suuichi-kun?"
His stepbrother nodded and grinned. Seriously, what the heck was wrong with his family right now, cornering him like that?
"I agree with that suggestion," Shiori replied and then she faced Kazuya. "What do you think? Would it be a good idea?"
It took a short while before Kazuya spoke. "It is a good idea. I'll go with that."
"What?" he exclaimed. "Are you really serious?"
Shiori giggled at the sight of his son's reaction. "We're REALLY serious so you better bring her here on Sunday. Now I'm getting excited on meeting her."
All he did was to sigh exasperatedly at that. He guesses that there was no choice but to bring Riya on Sunday. All he could hope was for her to agree with that…
-End of Flashback-
Kurama couldn't help but to heave a heavy sigh after remembering that. But how in the world would he be able to convince Riya to come with him on Sunday just because Suuichi suggested it?
"You're definitely not on yourself today. Are you sure you don't have any problems at all? You can tell me about it," Riya said with a smile as they walked together.
"I don't really consider it a problem, though. It's just a passing thought."
She raised an eyebrow upon hearing that. "Is that so? I don't believe you."
He only chuckled at that statement.
"Really… It may not be a problem but it's still something to think about for you to space out like that. Come on, tell me," she insisted.
All he could do was to look at her and afterwards, he sighed. "Alright." They stopped on the bridge's sidewalk before glancing at the setting sun. It was the same bridge where he and Riya have a serious conversation since she transferred. It was he who started the conversation.
"You know that I have a stepbrother, right?"" he started. She nodded as an answer. "Well… Last night, we had a discussion… about you."
That made Riya's eyes slightly widened. Obviously, what he said made her unlikely surprised.
"W-what did you discuss about me?"
"Nothing much. But blame Suuichi for it. He told my mom about me visiting you for the last three weeks after the incident at the school. And now, my mother thought that I was dating you." He laughed after saying that. "Quite shocking, I know."
"More like exaggerating, in some sense," she commented and then she scratched the back of her head. "So how did it go?"
"I explained them that you're a friend I'm willing to help with your studies that you have missed during your three-week absence. Apparently, they couldn't easily believe and Suuichi kept on bugging me about it. They kept on saying that this is the first time I had my attention fixated on one girl," he continued without looking at her. For some reasons, he couldn't do that.
Moments of silence fell between them as they looked at the red orange sun setting on the far horizon.
"So that fact made them excited to see me, is that it?" she stated that made him surprise and looked at her. His heart started pounding at the sight of her peaceful and serene face looking at the horizon. Her gentle smile seemed to be enough to stir his emotions.
He smiled and glanced at the sun once again. "Yeah. Apparently, it looks that way. Would it be okay of I ask you to come to our house this Sunday?"
"This Sunday? Boy, that was fast," she responded.
He just scratched the back of his head as he seemed flustered for a bit. "I told you, blame Suuichi for it. He was the one who suggested it." He looked at her seriously. "Will it be okay? I'm sure my mother would to meet you. And I guess, same goes to my stepbrother and my stepfather."
He saw her went quiet after that. It was as if she was thinking about it carefully since she put her hand to her chin and stood in what appeared to be in deep thoughts. Finally, she sighed and smiled when she looked at him. That made him holds his breath for some seconds before he heard her speak.
"Do I have to wear something formal when I'm meeting your family?" she said, more like her way of saying 'yes'. He shook his head before smiling.
"Not necessarily. Just wear something comfortable for you."
"Alright. That made me feel relieved from the fashion-stress I'm having when it comes to occasions." Then she burst out a soft laugh that was later followed by his laughter. He found it quite refreshing.
That afternoon continued with them talking about the plan for Sunday with regards to her meeting his family. No doubt, it was surprising but admit it or not, he liked the progress. Probably at that point, he would be able to her better.
Unbeknownst to him, a certain person would lead him to know her even more. And it would be someone he knew pretty well.
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