Hey guys, I know its been a while! Aoi is gonna be busy for a while! I have State Testing coming up, my Washington DC Trip in early May, Student Council stuff and promotion/graduation. Even so, ready for Chapter 2? :D I DONT OWN ANYTHING!
~xXx~
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~All Grown Up~
Normal POV
As soon as she woke up early that morning, Ichigo stood in front of that statue of the Queen of the Spirits for almost 10 minutes. Vanilla could completely understand why; they were about to leave to Nijigaoka any minute.
"It's almost nostalgic you know?" She said to her Sweets Sprit. "Its like it was just yesterday I came here and now..."
Vanilla nodded with agreement. "The first time I saw you is when you placed that madeline on the Queen's statue. After that, I started following you around. I'm glad I did."
Ichigo giggled. "Is that so? But in my case, after I did that, I met Rumi-san. After her, Hanabusa-kun and then Andou-kun and..."
"You called?" Ichigo jumped when her fiance came out of no where and wrapped his arms around her.
"Okay, I love you but please don't do that again..." She said clutching her chest.
Kashino laughed. "Sorry, but I had to interrupt you sometime. The bus is almost here so we have to get going okay?"
The brunet girl nodded at him and her spirit. "Okay, but can you just give me a minute?"
"As long as I don't have to pretend that I don't know you when you chase after the bus, all right." With that, he gave her a little peck on the cheek and walked out the gate with Vanilla and Chocolat right behind him.
Ichigo turned back and took one last look at the statue and smiled. As she walked up towards it she pulled something out of her pocket. "Here's a madeline your Highness. And this time, I'm the one who made it..." Then she took the handle of her luggage and ran out.
~xXx~
"Are you ready?"
"Ha! I should be the one asking you that! Look, your hand is already sweating in mine!" Ichigo released her hand out of Kashino's for a moment to show him just how "nervous" he is. "You've already met my family, more than once too, this should be no different."
Kashino blushed. "I know that, it's just that... You know."
Her face turned pink. "Yeah... But we'll be alright."
As she rang the doorbell, already there was the running of footsteps though out the house. Immediately, Natsume answered the door and tackled her into hug before even noticing Kashino next to her. "Onee-chan! Welcome home!"
Ichigo stumbled a little and laughed. "Good to be back!"
Natsume took a step back and saw Kashino. "Hey there! No hug?"
He raised an eyebrow. "Since when are you nice to me?"
"Take it or leave it!"
"I'll leave it for now."
"Fine," She sighed. "Anyway, you guys head inside, I'll get your things!"
The two of them walked in as Natsume went past them to get their luggage. "Mama is in the living room and Papa is in his studio!" She called out.
Ichigo nodded and walked on ahead while Kahsino -despite Natsume opposing him- helped her with the stuff.
A women, who is practically the older, mature version of Natsume, came out of the living room. "Ichigo! Welcome home!"
Ichigo couldn't help but run to her mom and pull her into a hug. "Hi Mama!"
While Kyouko stroked her daughter's hair, she looked up and saw Kashino as he was having a friendly conversation with Natsume while dragging over the bags.
"Why don't you leave those there everyone," she said. "For now, lets talk in the living room."
~xXx~
"You guys are leaving first thing tomorrow?" Kyouko was surprised as she placed the tea down on the table.
Ichigo nodded as she placed down her third slice of cake. "Yeah, we want to get to London before the morning after and get started right away."
Natsume picked up her tea. "But seriously, you guys just came in. I wish you'd settle down at least..."
Ichigo gave her sister a meaningful look. "I'm sorry... Oh, by the way, why isn't Papa out here?"
"He said he's working on something really important. I told him you two were coming home and he just said, 'Okay'." Kyouko sighed. "Do you want me to get him?"
Ichigo glanced at Kashino next to her and grabbed his hand. "Should we just tell them first then him later?" She whispered.
"It'd be even harder if we do, for me especially," he shrugged.
"Okay you two, something's up. What is it?" Natsume gave them a suspicious look as she cut a piece of cake with her fork.
Kyouko sat down next to her. "You have been more quiet than the other times you were here. Is everything alright?"
"Actually, I- uh... We..." Kashino started but Ichigo stopped him, leaving him confused as she smiled.
"I'll handle this!" And she turned to her mom and sister. "So you wanna know what's up" she asked in an excited voice and she showed them her hand with her ring before they could even reply.
Immediately, Natsume dropped her fork and screeched, "SHUT! UP!" Her mouth dropped open and her cheeks lit up. "Shut up! Oh my God! You're kidding!"
A few seconds later, Kyouko's hands flew up to her mouth. "Oh my goodness, Ichigo!"
Kashino sighed, relieved that it didn't take longer than he hoped. He wrapped his arm around her and nodded.
"When did this happen?! Onee-chan, you getting married?! Oooh, can I be a bride's maid?" Natsume was about to run around the room in excitement.
Ichigo laughed. "...Oh Mama, come on, don't start with that!"
Kyouko grabbed the tissues on the coffee table. "I'm sorry honey it's just..."
"Ichigo..." The tone in her dad's voice was so weird to Ichigo, she never heard him like that before. He was standing by the living room entrance in his usual clothes but as far as Ichigo can tell, he really has been working in his studio judging by the dry paint on his hands.
Ichigo felt Kashino tense next to her. Slowly, she stood with her hands close to her chest. "Papa! We're home!"
Shigeru stared at his oldest daughter but quickly looked away. "Yeah," he mumbled. "Welcome home..."
Hearing Kashino come up behind her she said, "I um... We have something to- "
"It's okay," Shigeru said cutting her off. "I already heard..." And he started walk back the way he came.
Ichigo suddenly felt a cold pit in her stomach. "But, Papa..."
"It's alright sweetie, I'll talk to him." Kyouko placed a hand on her shoulder and ran off after her husband.
For a while, it was quiet in the living room. Natsume just sat on the arm of the sofa, wanting to say something, but nothing came out. Vanilla came next to Ichigo and whispered her name just before she took off after she heard her mom shut the door of her dad's art studio.
Ichigo's POV
I tried hard to get my breathing back to normal before I leaned my head on the door. Why did Papa look so... pained back there? I thought he'd be...
"Going to London is one thing, but now she's engaged?!"
Mama sighed at Papa's words. "You've acted this way before she went to Paris, are you seriously going to make us go through it again?"
"You don't understand Kyouko, this is a completely different situation!"
I've never heard Papa talk like that before, especially when it's Mama.
"Oh, like I don't understand why my father acted they way he did when you asked him if you could marry me?" She said throwing his words back. "Darling what has gotten into you? Are you not happy for Ichigo at all?"
"What are you talking about? Of course I'm happy for her!"
That sent a wave of relief through out my body.
"It's just that... Ichigo... She's already 19, she graduated, she's moving out and going to London, and now she's going to get married? Kyouko, our daughter -our first born- is all grown up!"
"Shigeru..."
I always knew Papa dotes on Natsume and I all the time because he loves us, because we're his kids. Though I never realized that this was what it's like to be a parent and that this is really hard for him.
I didn't realize that I was starting to tear up a bit. I brushed the back of my hand against my eyes and walked back to the living room. When I got there, it looked like Natsume went to her room because she wasn't there.
"Vanilla," I quickly said. "Can you come with me?"
Kashino walked up to me. "Hey, everything alright?"
I nodded. "Yeah, I guess. But I'll tell you later. You think you can stay here while I work in the kitchen?"
"Work on what?"
"You'll see," I said and called Vanilla to follow after me.
"What's going on Ichigo?" She asked me.
"I have a plan!"
~xXx~
"Not now Kyouko," said Papa on the other side of the door.
Not even saying it was me, he assumed it was Mama. I knocked again and this time he opened it.
"I-Ichigo!" Papa's face was surprised. "What is it? What do you want?"
"Um, can I come in?"
We stared at each other for a while then his eyes drifted over to the lid-coved plate in my hand. "I'm not really hungry right now so- "
"Please?"
He sighed and made way for me to come in. The smell of paint filled the whole room and it was so familiar. It wasn't like the art studio back at St. Marie. I looked around and saw a tarp covered over a canvas and easel. He doesn't usually do that unless it was a private projects but I get the feeling it was something else...
"What is it Ichigo?" He asked again.
"I need to talk to you."
"I already know about- !"
"I heard you talking to Mama earlier."
Papa gave out a small gasp. "...W-what about it?"
I sat down on the other stool and placed the plate on my lap. "Remember after I quit piano, you offered to teach me in your studio? I remembered I was so excited that since Natsume got to learn from Mama, I would learn from you."
I looked up at him. He was now sitting on the stool across from me, looking at me with a hardened face.
"I honestly thought it was really cool how you can make something so beautiful using simple colors," I continued. "I thought that I'd be able to create something better than you. After a few tries, I started to give up because I realized it was impossible to be like you. Now that I look back at it -even though I was really young- that was really pathetic of me. And though I might sound rude for saying this, but I'm glad I gave up. After all, I wouldn't be here where I am if I didn't."
Finally, I removed the lid off the plate and the smell of strawberries wrapped around us like a child wrapped in a blanket.
"I don't remember the last time you tried my strawberry tart, so I made some." I handed him a slice and a fork.
He took it from my hands and stared back at me. Before he could speak I said, "Hopefully this can explain one thing, that no matter how old I'll get, I'll always be your little girl."
For a while, Papa kept staring at me before he cut a piece of the tart and ate it. His face seemed to relax as he sighed. He slid the fork out of his mouth and swallowed.
"You know for a while," he said. "I was wondering where you'll go after you came back from Paris. I thought, 'Where's she going to go next?'. When you told us when you were going to London, I decided to let fate take it's course and I wouldn't get in the way of your dreams. Unlike my mother and your Uncle, I decided to go with art instead of cooking. You're just like me, unlike music or art, you decided to go your own way."
Papa placed his plate down and stood up. "You really are my little girl."
My eyes burned behind my lids. I got up and hugged him tight. I heard him take in a sharp breath and he held me against him. I can't remember the last time I cried on him like this. Knowing me, probably since I was 5.
Papa, wiped his face and then mine. "I can't believe you're all grown up. It's like you were just born yesterday."
An old cliché but at this moment, very true.
"Come on," he said wrapping his arm around my shoulder and walked out the door.
He brought us to the living room where Kashino, Mama, and Natsume were waiting for us. They all looked up at us but then their faces softened when they saw how happy our faces were.
Papa dropped his arm and said, "Kashino."
I tensed when I heard his tone. You can probably guess that it didn't sound good right? Kashino stood up from the sofa and he looked just as nervous as my mom and sister.
"Yes sir?" He said calmly (I'll have to give him credit for that).
"Come here."
Kashino hesitated at first but walked up towards us. He looked at me with a worried look and I gave back a look that says 'I don't know.'. " Which I don't honestly. After such a heartfelt conversation with Papa, I don't understand what's with the sudden mood change.
Papa grabbed his hand and my ringed hand and joined them together. "I'll give you one chance," he said. "If she comes home crying and I hear just the slightest sound of your name out of her mouth, you'll defiantly pay."
I choked out a playful laugh. "Papa!"
Kashino was more relive than I was. "Does that mean?"
Papa went to sit between Mama and Natsume and nodded. "Yes, I give you my blessing."
A cheer from Natsume, Vanilla, and Chocolate broke out. Mama laid her head against Papa's shoulder and mumbled, "You're an idiot." making him smile. I heard Kashino suddenly laugh, I didn't blame him, after all that's happened, its like it was all a joke that from a serious, heart pounding moment ended with relief.
And I couldn't help myself from laughing along with him too.
Normal POV
The next day early in the morning, Ichigo, Kashino, their friends and family were at the air port, seeing the two of them off.
Their friends were all flocking around them, saying their goodbyes and tears of happiness.
"I can't believe you're getting married!" Was what most of them said.
Rumi said something different though. "Let me be your maid of honor!"
Ichigo laughed and turned to her family. "Wait, where did Papa go?"
"He said he forgot something in the car- Oh wait, there he is!" Kyouko said after she looked around the area.
Shigeru was running towards them with what looked like a medium-sized square wrapped in pink wrapping paper and a red bow in his hands. "Sorry, I had to get this." And he handed it to Ichigo.
"What's this?" She asked smiling.
"Did you not see me with paint all over me yesterday?"
Ichigo placed the placed her gift down for a minute and went to hug her dad one last time. "Thank you, Papa."
"You better be careful out there. And at least call or mail us once a week! And remember- !"
Ichigo laughed and shook her head. "You don't need to worry about anything." She bent down to pick up her gift and luggage handle with one hand and Kashino's arm with the other.
With one last look at their loved ones, Ichigo and Kashino headed to the plane-gate entrance.
"You ready?" He asked her.
She gave him a confident nod.
~xXx~
Some time during the whole plane ride, Kashino fell asleep. While she had the chance, Ichigo decided to see what was it that her dad made her. Carefully she tore through the wrapping paper and gasped.
It was a painting of her: The background was the city of London. Her back was slowly turned to it, but her face was looking back at the viewer of the painting. She was wearing a flowy white dress and had angel wings on her back. And her arm and hand was extended as if she were touching Big Ben as it stood high from the ground.
But what made Ichigo even more happy, on the extended hand, there was a slightly wet paint smear on her ring finger that was the color of her engagement ring.
I was finally able to finish this before the end of the day! So testing starts tomorrow and this chapter is a little long for your enjoyment! I love every single one of you and thanks for reading!
Did you see the new Story Picture? It's the cover of volume 11 manga! Aren't Kashino and Ichigo the cutest?!
And if you haven't yet, follow me on tumblr! My link is on my profile! ;3
Be sure to review! It would mean lot to Aoi!
