"Jeez, what a brutal week," Ami complained as Ryuji dropped the groceries on the ground and started fishing for his keys. "Monday night I spent in Japan. Tuesday morning and afternoon in Singapore, Wednesday night in Taipei, Thursday all-day in Hawaii, Friday and Saturday in Aspen and when I finally get back this morning, you want me to get vegetables with you?"

"Hey, it's Kitamura's birthday - and our last year in high school. Just this once, please, Ami-chan, give it up?" Ryuji pleaded.

"Hmph." Ami pouted at him, then walked through the door and plunked down on the tatami, checking her reflection in her phone screen. Ryuji retrieved a huge chunk of beef from the oven, and had thrown it into the boiling soup when Ami asked mildly "Have you talked with Taiga recently?"

Ami watched the the back of the apron and smirked when Ryuji's shoulders visibly jumped, the stirring spoon clattering onto the floor. After all this time, he still loves her, she thought, with a vague sort of discomfort, but shook it off quickly.
Several moments passed before Ryuji picked up the spoon. He wiped the wooden floor with a well-used rag, then retrieved a lid from an upper cabinet. Ami watched, somewhat dispassionate, then went back to her phone as Ryuji mechanically broke out the vegetables for cutting. It was probably a little early to be asking him that. A smaller nudge might've been better. Ami sighed softly, and stared morosely out the dark window.

She had waited a month after Taiga's departure to begin casting out her metaphorical line: catching him on the way to school, "accidentally" brushing against him in the halls or at lunch, making sure to send him late-night texts saying all the right things. He had seemed impregnable at first, but compounding her personal beauty and Taiga's prolonged silence, that barrier wouldn't last long, and Ryuji would crack. They always did. "Still got to put in the work though,"Ami muttered disconsolately, and sighed again.

The sound almost made her miss the hoarse "No" that was finally offered up from the kitchen. The violet-eyed girl turned curiously to look at the boy with the delinquent eyes - he had set down the knife, and was busy rummaging around in the refrigerator. For a moment, Ami wondered if she'd imagined the low voice when Ryuji suddenly turned around, and caught her staring at him.

"Oh, uh, want a melon soda?" Ryuji held up two drinks, a slight blush in his cheeks, and Ami nodded demurely. She felt her ears grow warm, but caught the bottle neatly as Ryuji threw one to her and walked over to the living room table. The dark-haired boy plunked down heavily on the green tatami with a short huff, popped the cap on the yellow soda, and took a deep thirsty pull, his throat moving sharply as he gulped. Ami smirked at the sight of his bobbing Adam's apple, and Ryuji's eyes opened to look at her as if he heard the smile. You cutie, Ami thought, then unceremoniously grabbed him into a tight embrace against her breasts, flooding him with the sheer freesia fragrance she had put on that morning. A sharp gasp came from under the mass of dark hair, and after holding him against her a moment longer, Ami shoved him away, making sure her face showed none of the sensations currently being created by her galloping heart. "For my best guy friend!" she explained cheerily as Ryuji rubbed his face, which had turned a dark puce. "We-we-well..." Ryuji stammered furiously.

Ryuji's phone suddenly buzzed. He checked it, still with an embarrassed countenance, then did a double take as he saw the caller ID. Kitamura. Ryuji picked it up: "Hello?"

Ami listened closely, and picked up faint traces of the conversation. "Oh, I'm sorry...No, it's fine, I was only halfway through preparing dinner anyways, I can stick most of it in the refrigerator...no, it's totally fine. Have a nice evening with your parents. Yeah...just Ami, I guess, Minori isn't here yet..."

Ami's phone vibrated sharply in kind, and she read the screen. New Message (1) from Minori Her violet eyes widened as she opened it and read silently:

Gomen-nasai, Ami-chan! Can't make it to Kitamura's party tonight - Boss is making me stay because I dropped a pile of dishes while washing them. Sorry again - I'll make it up to you guys someday! Give my congratulations to Kitamura, please - thank you! -Minori

Ryuji hung up the phone, and plucked thoughtfully at a strand of hair. "Seems like Kitamura's folks sprung a surprise dinner on him - he can't make it tonight. Guess I'll just keep it down to three servings then." He glanced at Ami, who bit her lip. "What's wrong?"

Ami cocked her head, and gave him a bemused smile. "Just keep the servings to two. Minori can't make it either - her boss is making her stay a bit longer." Her voice dropped to a conspiratorial whisper. "Which means, it's just us two tonight."

"Oh. I see." Ryuji seemed stunned, then went back into the kitchen and started shoving the various dishes into the refrigerator. Ami's gaze followed him, her eyes sparkling now. Taking a deep breath, she eventually got up and walked over nonchalantly next to Ryuji. "Here, let me help you." She stretched her arm over him as if she were reaching for something high up on the cabinet, but suddenly their arms became entangled, she pulled sharply, and they fell down in a heap on the floor.

"Are you okay?" Ami asked innocently, her violet eyes huge and concerned. Ryuji touched the side of his head gingerly, groaning, and Ami suddenly put her arms around his neck, hugging him. "Hey, I'm sorry Ryuji. You're hurting, right? Where?" She shifted her head off his shoulder. "Here?" Ami pressed her lips to his cheek, and felt him stiffen. His breathing seemed to stop. "No? Let me look some more." Her voice grew huskier. "Maybe here?" She kissed the red mark where Ryuji had hit the drawer handle, and gradually started to shift to the right. "I'm really sorry, Ryuji." Her lips were right at his ear now, and she whispered, her breath loud and hot in his hearing: "Let me make it up to you."

Ami suddenly drew back, looking at Ryuji, his dazed expression, full of wonder. Cocking her head in detached amusement, she leaned in.

Ami's lips drew very near his, hesitated, then after a beat she murmured "Oh fuck it all," and her mouth closed on his. He dribbled kisses cautiously down her neck, and Ami groaned softly in triumph. Ryuji pushed her slowly up, his breathing harsh and hot against her neck now. She kissed him again, bodies still locked into each other, they fumbled for the bedroom.