Yes, this is an AU. So expect things to be slightly different. But I hope to preserve the characters, themes, and atmosphere. In case you were wondering about my previous fic (Risa's convoluted thought process behind a cubicle) I had intended it to be a one-shot while I was working on this, so chances are, I'm not going to continue it unless someone gave me an idea, or I come up with something.

To Not Fall in Love

Satoshi Hiwatari was given one generous week to prepare for a social gathering where the leaders of society gathered to unite and join forces. Replace "leaders of society" with "snobs", and "unite" with "brag about themselves," and you get the idea.

Preparing for such a grandeous event goes a lot deeper than buying an Armani suit, or spending a few hours on hair. Because apparently, it consisted of finding a woman. Not just any woman…

"Dad, you and I know perfectly well that I'm cursed." Satoshi hissed.

"Well. Get uncursed." Hiwatari-senior hissed back, a little more viscously. "Either that or just don't develop any feelings. Just find someone decent: rich, good looking and from a well-known family."

"Where the hell am I suppo –"

"Don't disgrace Hiwatari Corp. I want you to find a girlfriend for social events. That's all I'm asking of you." he blundered on like he usually did, with no regard to the person at the other end of the conversation. With a sort of flair and a sickening aristocratic air, he departed from the gloomy building known as Satoshi's house.

And that was that. It was official.

Satoshi Hiwatari had to find a girlfriend in less than a week.

(divider)

Day 1:

Satoshi, in a moment of unsatoshi-likeness, muttered a string of colourful obscenities when he thought nobody was looking. First, this complication. Then, these monotonous reports to file for the police. A chore. Nothing but a silly chore he had to fulfill because he was unfortunate enough to be born a Hikari, a hunter for his alter ego. All for the purpose of preserving his blood, and to save his line from the "manifestation."

Satoshi, who blinked his large blue eyes blearily behind a set of large glasses, looked rather intelligent, which was not at all far from the truth. Nineteen years of old, he has already completed university top of his class, and had risen to the position of supreme chief of a police squad. It's something most people can't do in their lifetime.

Ah, this is interesting. The boy's eyes hovered over a paragraph in a manuscript before carefully tucking it away in a drawer.

Without a moment's hesitation, the blue-eyed one decided that it was time for the other mission.

(divider)

What better place to find intelligent, well-off girls than at a prestigious university? The answer is nowhere, for Satoshi wouldn't be there. He forged an ID card, and entered a party of some sort, narrowly missing a group of obese ladies clad in skimpy attire on his way to the bar.

On the other side of the room, two brown-eyed girls, one with short hair, the other with long hair that should be in a shampoo commercial, was bickering about something. Risa Harada, for that was what the long-haired one was called, flicked her wrist.

"Drop the issue, Riku. Seriously. You have too much going on in your mind. We're at a dance. You should relax and have some fun." Risa hopped off the bench she was just sitting on and proceeded to 'have some fun.'

It was at this precise moment that an incredible event in history occurred. Well, several events, simultaneously.

Risa spotted, identified and tagged a male in her mind. He was tall, and slim, but built. His eyes, dark and mysterious locked onto hers. At the same time, Satoshi scanned the room like an eagle scanning a field of grass for a snake. He spotted a head of brown hair. The gears in his mind began to turn.

When the gears in this particular species of male begin to turn, something significant is about to happen.

A few strides, and he was there.

Risa felt a body brush against her. Instinctively, she turned around and apologized.

"No problem at all," he answered. Risa's eyes widened happily in return, and immediately asked for a name.

"Satoshi Hiwatari." he said, in a not unpleasant tone of voice. Without missing a beat, he continued, "Are you enjoying yourself?"

"Yup, how about you?"

"It's alright I guess…" wanting to retain her attention, he also paid her a compliment, "By the way, you have beautiful hair."

He read this technique in a book somewhere. Besides, it shouldn't be considered to be flattery because he was being honest; she really did have nice hair. The type he might like to run his fing…nothing.

"Really?" Risa's doe-like eyes widened even more, unconsciously radiating vibes that attracted the attention of all males in the room. Riku watched from a few meters away, wanting to throttle her for being so gullible. You don't go around believing everything anyone says. Not that Risa didn't have nice hair or anything. Not that she was jealous or anything… HmpH!

"Really." he replied, trying to muster as much enthusiasm into his voice as he could (without success, I might add, him being Satoshi and all) "Oh, I don't believe I've asked your name yet."

No he hasn't, and so, Risa happily told him, her voice (noticed Riku), dripping with honey and dew. Satoshi saw that he wasn't far from his goal now. Now was the opportunistic time to strike.

"Harada-san, I was just wondering, did you eat yet?"

No, she hasn't.

"Mind if I pull you out of this dance for some time to have dinner together?"

Ah, she didn't mind. In fact, she seemed all too happy to oblige. Riku seethed inwardly, inferiority complex full throttle. Within 15 minutes, and Risa's been asked out already.

Satoshi smirked when he thought nobody was looking. He wasn't so bad at this little social thing after all. True, he rarely participates in the affairs of those around his age and has had minimal contact with members of the opposite sex, but his intelligence and good looks compensates for that. Risa was definitely pretty. She goes to a rich school, so her family must be well off. Intelligence level? Perhaps a little less than average, he reasoned, as she did seem gullible.

(divider)

Risa wasn't particularly smart. She was quite naïve, actually. But truth to be told, she had a compassionate and caring personality. Perhaps too caring for her own good. Riku was annoyed by the turn of events, but she was also worried. This boy did not look familiar at all. This was a dance strictly for the undergraduates of the arts faculty, and if he was in her faculty, she would have seen him before. Plus, it all happened so quickly. The boy was up to something.

Her eyes wandered around the room, focusing on the side benches where she knew Daisuke would be.

"Hey, Daisuke." Daisuke sat on a bench beside Saehara, his loud, nosy friend who had the unnerving habit of carrying a camera with him wherever he went.

"Riku!" his face lighted up, perhaps a little happy to be 'rescued.' "What's up?"

She let out a pensive sigh. "It's Risa."

"What about?"

"She left with some guy. I've never seen him before."

"What does he look like?"

"Tall, blue hair…"

"Never seen anyone with blue hair around."

"Can you come with me to look for them?"

"Can I come too?" Saehara said.

"No!" Riku said a little too loudly. If Saehara was offended, he didn't show it. He had a "plan" either way, and a matching headline.

Daisuke didn't want to spy on Risa. First, she wouldn't be happy if she found out she was being spied on, and second, it just didn't seem right. But Riku never said anything about spying, so why was he implying it in his mind?

"Okay…are you sure that guy could be dangerous? Did he look old?"

"He looks our age. But I know he's up to something. I can tell." They call it woman's intuition.

"Alright." He hopped off the bench, gave Saehara a glance that said don't-follow-us, and took Riku out of the dance hall.

End of Chapter 1

AN: Comments? Suggestions? Criticism? I'm horrible at updating, but I'll try my best. And this time, they'll be at least 1000 words, so that they'll be worth your time.