DISCLAIMERS: Shadow senshi and other OC characters related to BSSMShadows (C) 2006 - 2007 Wild Nature. Dan, and this storyline is (C) JeffJaffe. All other characters are (C) their respected artists/creators/mangaka.

Chapter Six: Trouble In Paradise

Kakure stood there for a moment, a blank look glazed over her. “Oh! I get it...” She said weakly. “Candid Camera?”

“No!” Danielle flushed. “Look, it’s kind of a thing I can do.. more like a curse really..” She stuttered, trying to get Kakure to stop staring in stunned silence. “Say something!”

Kakure blinked. “So... is this.. like your real form?”

“NO!”

She covered her ears. “Then why did this...”

“How the hell should I know! For all I know it’s your fault!” Danielle nearly wailed. “You shouldn’t have grasped...” She was looking at her pointed hand. “Do I have nail polish on?”

Kakure shook her head and turned to leave, her breath caught in her throat. “This is not fair! The first guy I like is a girl!”

“I’m NOT A GIRL!”

“Take a look in the mirror!” Kakure waved furiously. “You’ve got the looks, the anatomy, and even the voice! What the hell happened?!”

Danielle sighed. “It’s a long story but it involves me being able to, well, change sex.”

“And how does that help me?”

“Hell if I know! What would you become a man for?” Danielle asked a little too snidely.

Kakure’s eyes narrowed. Danielle flinched. “Sheesh, women are really sensitive!”

“I’m sure you would know,” Kakure glared.

They stared at each other. “This isn’t helping.”

“I’m still in shock.”

“Judging by the fact that your jaw is still on the floor, I’ll have to agree with you on that.”

“DAN!”

“Well, actually, Danielle is ...” She stopped there, Kakure’s eyes glaring fire. “Fine.. Dan is fine... well, now.. I need to find a way to go back to normal.”

“And how is that?”

A long pregnant pause issued forth before Kakure ran her hands through her hair. “All right, all right. It looks like Setsuna is busy, we could try Ami’s. She’s a girl genius, after all. But it’s now, yet again and quite conveniently, getting dark. We’ll just go home and discuss this.”

“Sure.. discuss..” Kakure grasped the other girls’ arms and tugged her out of the room.

“Grab the bottle!” Danielle said suddenly. “It might help.”

Kakure pocketed it and nodded to her. “Ready?”

Once back at Kakure’s home, Danielle sat on the kitchen table, thoughts fleeing in her head as she tried to figure out what went wrong. She had a distinct feeling it was something about Kakure, if not physical, perhaps something more?

“Here. You look really pale,” Kakure noted of Danielle. “Are you feeling all right?”

“At the moment? No, not really. But..” She eyed the food and ate it for the momentary silence, her head still trying to grasp something.

“Kakure..” Her voice came out carefully. She took note of the other’s intense study of her persona and although that would normally creep her out, maybe Kakure was trying to find a solution as well. But Danielle needed to ask because it may have been the problem for her to go home. “What do you think about me?”

She asked it in a general, vague way, not really wanting to word anything specific. She certainly wasn’t ready to figure it all out for herself but hey, she’s had fans before. Surely that was what Kakure was.

“I think you’re beautiful.”

Danielle turned red. “No! Not.. not like.. really? I mean! NO! As a.. as a, you know.. guy?”

“I think you’re beautiful,” Kakure said it this time, looking down at her feet. She couldn’t even so much as peek at him. “You’re very sweet... if clueless. And you have the most shining eyes and when you smile...”

She heard a thunk and a groan. “You asked me!”

“I know, I know... so um.. it’s just like fandom?” She asked.

“Oh..oh.. well...” It was Kakure to get a red face. “I.. no.. it’s something.. more..”

She continued hurriedly, as if trying to get all of her thoughts out before she lost her nerve. “I’m always alone.. I have friends now but I was lonely and having you around.. makes me happy... you’re like a beacon of light to me..”

Danielle closed her eyes. “It’s not a crush, is it?”

“I.. I...”

“Please, don’t say it. It’s not worth it. Once I get back to normal, once I get a way home, I’m going to be gone.” Danielle said this as gently as possible, making as minimal eye contact with the other girl. “I mean, look at me...” She laughed feebly.

“I don’t care...” Kakure said hesitantly.

“Yea, like you would date me like this? A girl?!”

“I would!”

“Will you stop trying to make me feel better and realize how big this is?” Danielle nearly shouted.

“I just..”

“You just latched onto the first guy in your life to pay you attention..” Inside, Danielle was screaming at herself to shut up but if she left Kakure like this, a lovesick puppy, then she’d have done more than break a heart, but breaking a spirit which she couldn’t stand. “And you won’t let me go home!”

“I just.. I... I’m sorry..” Kakure practically ran out of the room, her eyes filling with tears.

Danielle felt the sting in her own eyes. “Damn it... why do women feel so much..” She rubbed her eyes, sniffling even more loudly.

Danielle walked up the hallway carefully, listening with care. She didn’t hear a single sound until she entered the master bedroom. She sat on the sheets, once more rubbing her face.

She eyed herself with disgust. “Damn it...” She looked out of the window, her thoughts slowly consuming her.

‘What if I did stay?’ A tiny voice whispered. She waved her hand impatiently in the air. ‘ I mean, is it so bad?’

She shrugged, studying her fingernails. ‘No, it isn’t, now is it?’

‘Why not then? You actually have someone who likes you! And you..’

Danielle shot up and began to pace. “Hey, I like her but that’s it! It’s not like I.. I mean, I’m a confirmed bachelor!”

“And here I am still. If I really wanted to get home, out of this situation, wouldn’t I have done so by any means? Is she why I...”

She turned and walked out of the room. “I mean, yea, she’s cute, funny, sweet, and...”

“She sees me for what I am. She gets me...” She stood at Kakure’s bedroom door and knocked. “I need to just talk..”

Kakure opened it and the two stared at each other.

“I’ll stay.”

Kakure stared with a slowly spreading frown.

“What?”

“I.. err, I want to stay.”

“I don’t understand.. You don’t want to..”

“I love you.”

There was a moment of silence.

“Granted, I’m in girl form and I can’t promise you anything but I’m sure we can work on things and I...”

Danielle nearly was thrown on the floor as arms wrapped around and there was another stunned silence as Kakure tilted her head and for a moment, there was a brush before Kakure pulled away, a giggle coming from her.

“I don’t normally kiss girls but for you, I’d make an exception.”

Danielle smiled, the blush moving rapidly. “Eh heheh...Kind of like a dream come true..”

Kakure quirked an eyebrow. “And what does that mean?”

“It’s every guy’s fantasy!” Danielle said brightly.

“OW OW OW!” Kakure grasped the other’s ear and tugged. “I’m sure it’s a common thing!”

“For guys you mean!”

“I’m sorry! I’m sorry!” But Danielle was laughing, her fingers grasping Kakure as she tugged. She was still stronger even as a girl and the look certainly wasn’t at all feminine.

“It’s not you haven’t lost your personality,” Kakure quipped.

“So.. ah.. where do we go from here?”

“Maybe Setsuna can help again?”

“She’s not exactly trusting of me,” Danielle pointed out.

“Than maybe it’ll wear off?” Kakure suggested.

“That would be a good possibility!”

“Great! Then let’s get a good night sleep!”

Danielle stood at the threshold. “Can I come in?”

“What?”

“I feel strange sleeping in your old man’s room,” Danielle lied.

“Oh well..” Kakure eyed her own bed. “I don’t know...”

“Hey, I can sleep on the floor!” She said brightly.

But it didn’t turn out that way. Kakure had to literally drag Danielle to her bed, not for anything save to be more comfortable but Danielle wasn’t expecting to be held so gently.

She rested her head against Kakure’s shoulder, Kakure looking up with half closed eyes.

“Penny for your thoughts?” She asked impulsively.

“Nothing.. I can see why people like to be together. It’s comfortable and soothing,” Kakure smiled sadly. “My father is never home. My mother died early on and he seemed to stop caring, you know? I didn’t think I would be warm like this..”

Danielle shifted. “So why are you letting me close like this?”

“I don’t know. I knew I could trust you. I mean, you’re obviously bizarre..”

“I am not!”

“You fell from the skies!”

“All right, all right..”

“But you’re like me. We’re lonely.”

Danielle laughed bitterly. “But I’ve never been able to handle any relationship. I mean, over half the time I’m not aware of anything!”

“But you are now, right?” Kakure blinked innocently at her as Danielle flushed.

“Oh well, yea. You kind of spelt it out to me.”

“But how else would you know?”

“I had inclinations..”

“But that’s not enough! Words are important too! Dan..” Her fingers reached out and touched the other’s hair. “So soft.. are you sure this isn’t your..”

“Trust me! I’m all man!”

Kakure blushed, looking away for a moment. “You need to sleep.”

“So do you!”

“I’m trying to comfy!”

“Hey, you’re not the only one in a awkward position. I may end up shoving you off or something!”

Eventually, sleep came and with it came a calm moment as Danielle reformed. Dan shifted in the early morning, his body pressing forward into a warmth. It took a moment for him to remember what happened and realize then what else had happened. He reached up, studying his fingernails before lifting his head from the makeshift pillow.

He faced Kakure’s closed eyes, soft even breathing and realized he hadn’t been on a pillow but a body. He stood up, eyeing the sleeping girl before seriously studying. The short green hair, strewn and bedridden, the docile look of sleep, and look, a slowly moving chest that..

“Bathroom..” He told himself. He nearly tripped off the bed before he straightened. He was gone for several moments, enough time for her to wake up slowly.

Her fingers brushed the bedsheets, panic began to grow as she remembered that she hadn’t been alone. “Dan! Danny boy!”

“Will you stop calling me that!” He stood poised at the open bathroom door, arms crossed. His pants hung loosely at his hips, his hair and upper body still dripping in water.

“It worked!” Kakure beamed before she looked at the clock. “Damn it! I’m going to be late to class!”

Poor Dan was thrown to the side as she entered and closed the door.

“You’re welcome...” He rolled his eyes and headed to the kitchen. “Another day alone..” He stilled, hearing a jingle. “Kakure?” He looked around the corner and his face turned white. He turned tail and ran, thoughtlessly entering the bathroom as the girl was quietly singing. She looked out, anger and confusion warring as she hissed.

“What are you doing!?”

“I think your dad’s home..” Dan was covering his eyes. “Oh god.. oh god..” He was fighting a losing battle as he peeked.

“Don’t look!” She hissed darkly, hurriedly drying and dressing. “Pervert!”

“You kissed me in girl form!”

“What does that have anything to do with anything?”

“I don’t know!” Dan was panicking, his breathing quickening. “He’s going to kill me!”

“Or me!” Kakure hurriedly ran out, Dan peeking out after her.

“Dad!” Kakure came to a screeching stop, nearly tripping over her feet. Her father had retreated to his bedroom. “Oh, how nice to have you home!”

Onryuku looked surprisingly like his daughter. The same hair and same eyes, but his hair was dull and his eyes often squinted and emotionless. He was a bulky man, his face lines often denoting exhaustion. He stared blankly at his daughter before shrugging. “Don’t you have class?”

“Oh, well yes, I do!” She answered, falsely bright.

“Then get going,” Onryuku didn’t so much as look at her.

“I was worried about you.. Papa..” She reached out hesitantly.

“I told you to get going,” He said evenly, staring back at her and glaring at her hand. “Don’t make me tell you again.”

She looked over and saw a strange look on Dan’s face. Unknown to her, it was murderous, son-of-a-bitch look targeted at her father. She helplessly waved her hand to indicate for him to leave and he did so, extremely hesitantly.

He was waiting outside as she came out in her school fuku, her bag grasped in her fingers. “Ready?”

They began to walk in silence. Kakure kept looking over at him, fidgeting, her fingers tightening and lessening on her bag handle.

“Um.. Dan..”

She felt her back hit the wall as he pressed in. “Why didn’t you tell me he was a prick!”

“He’s my father!” She answered weakly.

“He treats you like trash!”

“He doesn’t.. he provides for me and everything..”

“But he doesn’t give you love..” Dan looked away. “Stupid prick.”

He was surprised to hear a giggle. “You’re sweet but now you need a new place to stay.”

“Don’t worry, I’m sure I can find something..” He pulled away and she moved forward only to feel his breath followed by soft lips.

“Oh...” She studied her feet shyly. “So you really want to stay?”

There was a distant sound of ringing, Kakure’s face turning white.

“Oh god, I’m late!”

She tore off with a hurriedly goodbye to Dan. “Meet me after school!” She added as an afterthought. “Remember, after school!”

He waved before looking to the way he came, thinking momentarily on the fact that he was now, once again, homeless.

But then, he wasn’t completely alone, now was he? That would be enough for the next few hours. What he should do is look for a job, he mused to himself.

He wasn’t able to find a job in that short of time. He got to spend a great deal exploring. Even in this dimension, there was a lot of favorites. He looked up at the large clock as it began to chime the end of the school day.

“I’m sure he won’t be here for long,” Kakure told him brightly upon finding him. “Dad never stays more than a day!”

Dan shifted, trying to look interested but she was smarter than that. “What’s wrong?”

A soft grumbling echoed from Dan’s stomach. Her face turned red. “Oh god! Didn’t you have breakfast?”

“There wasn’t enough time!”

“You don’t have money.. no, of course not,” She rolled her eyes as he sheepishly shook his head. “Come on! Let’s get some early dinner.”

The two sat in a tiny restaurant, Kakure watching him with careful eyes. “So what did you do today?”

“Explored. I was thinking about finding a job.”

“You know English right?”

He nodded.

“Why not teach students? It’d be helpful and we could always need English teachers!”

He studied his drink. “Well, I suppose so. I’ll apply tomorrow at your school.”

She laughed softly as she shook her head. “I don’t think that’d be a good thing. How would I explain that my boyfriend is my teacher!”

Dan smirked. “That would cause trouble, now wouldn’t it..” He paused, momentarily drinking in the idea that he was labeled boyfriend. He found he didn’t mind it so much. “Fine then.”

“What about elementary?”

“No,” Dan was laughing. “All those snot kids. They’d kill me!”

“Well, look around at the other schools and apply. Someone must want to hire you.”

“I’ll get to work on it,” He took a sip. “But where do I stay tonight?”

“Dad gives me as much money as I want,” She reached into a pocket. “I have more than enough for you to stay in a hotel for a few days, if you like?”

“I suppose but I got used to sharing a house.”

Kakure beamed at him with a slight blush. “Then when he’s gone..”

“But you know,” Dan butted in gently. “I can’ just stay all the time with you. Your dad’s going to find out eventually, or catch us, or something.”

“By then you’ll get your first check and can find an apartment!”

“I don’t know..” He was worried but the smile on Kakure’s face caused it to flee, if just for the moment. “Let’s just enjoy the moment, eh?” He offered his drink. “To you and to us!”

“Hear, hear!”

And the glasses clinked and they returned to a quiet meal, talking amicably to themselves, momentarily, if just for the night, forgetting about all their problems to focus on things that were all right in the world.