Akito was fifteen and in the prime of her teenage years. Unfortunately, no one seemed to notice or care. She had pointed this out many times to her most trusted companions: Shigure, Hatori, and Kureno. But they didn't seem to understand how important it was to her to get her first kiss.
Her only friends were her only companions, and they were NOT kissing material. In all the books Shigure read to her from the main characters always kissed. It seemed only natural for her to do the same.
One day, when in her rooms with Hatori she asked, "When will I get my first kiss?"
Hatori looked up from examining her large scratch on her ankle, "Um… when you're old enough."
Akito sighed and moved her feet around so that it was harder for him to put a band-aid back on. "But I want one now."
Hatori glanced back up at her, "Why don't you ask Kureno? Or Shigure? They would certainly be most willing."
"Because I want it to be with a boy."
Hatori blinked in confusion and started slowly, choosing his words carefully, "Akito, you do know that Shigure and Kureno are indeed both boys."
"No! I mean a boy my age!"
"Oh. Well, I'm afraid that that is no option. Why don't you just wait and see what comes along in life. After all you are only fifteen. There is plenty of time for… kissing."
Akito rolled her eyes, but didn't comment. Somehow, she would find someone, the right someone to kiss. And just like in all Shigure's novels, she would fall in love with that one simple kiss.
The next day, Shigure and Akito were reading from another of Shigure's school novels.
"And so he went over to his beloved's side and kissed her. Just one simple kiss was all that was needed for then, the castle woke up from the trance…"
Akito interrupted the dog from his reading, "When will I get my first kiss?"
Shigure smiled down at Akito and replied, "When you want it and are ready for it."
"I want it and I'm ready for it."
"Okay. Well go pick up a boy and sweep him off his feet."
"I can't. You're too heavy."
Shigure looked surprised for a moment then shook it off. He chuckled to himself thinking, Poor girl. She does not know what she is about to get herself into.
Akito watched him carefully and admitted more to herself than to him, "I don't know what to do."
"Well, you close your eyes."
Shigure closed her lids softly.
"You tilt your head upwards, and I kiss you…"
He leaned forward slowly touched her lips delicately with his own.
Akito savored the moment. Her first real kiss. Not some innocent kiss on the forehead or a cheek, but a real kiss on the lips. And that was all it took. Just one… small… kiss.