"Corsage"
by Void
sidefic to "Pomegranate" by Void, which is itself a subfic to Istoria's "Streets of Tokyo" universe
"I know that, at your young age, hormones are running rampant, and I know that you both consider yourselves able to make adult decisions."
Kaoru had never expected to receive this speech from Nichi's soft-spoken sister. She tried to get over her embarasment and focus on Nichi's burning cheeks and Tomoe's kind, gentle, amused smile. Anything was worth it if Nichi was this cute when he blushed. And she had thought nothing could improve on the striking young man in formal dress who had picked her up from her father's house, offering a gorgeous rose, a charming grin, and an empty arm, for her.
"Whether you use these tonight or not, I think it's a good idea for you both to have them."
Kaoru thought her face was going to burst into flames. Tomoe had bought them condoms.
"Nee-chan, it's a prom, not a honeymoon," Nichi muttered through his shame.
"Well just in case..."
Out in the cold night air, blissfully dark and cool on their flushed faces, they tried to say, "It doesn't matter" and "Never mind it," finally chuckling through their mutual discomfort.
"I can't decide if it was worse when your father threatened to throw me in jail if I tried anything." He tossed the box in the back seat of his car, trying to erase all memory of its existence.
"Don't worry about it. Don't worry about any of it. Tonight we're just going to dance and have fun."
"Kaoru..." He reached for her hand over the dusty hood of the car, not minding his suit, not thinking of the delicate fabric of her dress as she reached over and clasped it. "Thank you for being with me."
"Nichi, you don't have to thank me," her voice shy and gentle and glad. "Don't thank me for doing what makes me happy."
I love you. But he didn't want to confront her with that much emotion, didn't want her to know just how much her friendship meant to him, how desperately he needed her sometimes. "Let's go." He tried to sound as light and at ease as he knew she felt.
His glance once they were inside the car made her blush again. Kaoru bit her lip and tried to keep from grinning out of happiness.
A/N:
This little snippet didn't quite fit in with the tone of "Pomegranate;" ah well.
I find the notion of Tomoe giving Enishi a box of condoms quite amusing; don't ask me why...