A/N: One of the things I wanted to do differently from the Animation and P4 and PP4 Golden was to make Ai and Yukiko friends after an initial rivalry due to the fact both liked Charles. Originally, Yukiko and Ai might as well have been in different games because the only connections, no matter how tenuous, were to the Investigation team were Yu and Chie. That's the reason why I moved up Yukiko's return to school from the canonical April 30th to April 25th.(That and if you rescue her early like they did in the animation of April 18th...12 DAYS? Are you NUTS?! And WHY a SATURDAY?! ONE DAY BACK at school?! But I digress..) So while they both come from wealthy families, though through different means, there's one element that makes them alike. I wanted to explore that here.

"The 'Ai' in 'Amagi'"
Yukiko/Ai
June 27, 2011

Natsuoshi Hot Springs, Okina City

"Domo Arigato for inviting me, Ai…" Yukiko said.

"Really, Yukiko, it's my pleasure…and long overdue…" Ai replied.

Ai had at lunch approached Yukiko about "clearing the air" between them. This had come as a surprise, because Most people had heard of the slapping incident between Chie, Ai, and Yukiko on the 29th of April and knew that at least for two out of the three had been fighting over a certain Exchange student, so it was of surprise when in the more recent basketball game, Ai let Yukiko help again. But even more surprising to Yukiko's friends that Ai would even offer anything resembling friendship.

Ai had suggested the Natsuoshi Hot Springs in Okina City because while they weren't open air like the Amagi Inn had, it at least was as spacious, and was used less often due to its premium prices. The two could relax without fear of being interrupted. Something Yukiko grudgingly admitted that during this time of year would happen a lot at the Inn.

Both girls lowered themselves into the water and Yukiko decided to break the remaining ice. "So, how are you doing?" Yukiko said as tentatively as possible while also sounding confident (A hard feat for most, but Yukiko learned from her Father on how to convey both…something he said he had to learn, just to ask out her Mother.)

"Straight to the point," Ai said with a chuckle. "You don't have to mince words, even when being direct. I'm feeling much better since I've been in Therapy, and I'm very sorry that we came to blows over Charles."

"I didn't know how much you were hurting, because he had said to Ichijo and Narukami how much he liked me…because I didn't even know how much he liked me… I mean, he and I several days before kissed…but he was the one who changed it from platonic to romantic…I guess I'm just making it worse."

Ai chuckled again. "I know what you're trying to say. You didn't know how deeply he felt for you, and NEITHER of you knew how deeply I felt for him AND Kou, so I shouldn't have reacted the way I did. I just felt, why does Kou want Satonaka…when I'm of the type most athletes want…? But…"

"But?" Yukiko asked.

"But…I could understand why Charles liked you…because you two are nice…as long as no buttons are pushed."

"Ai…all you have to do is not dishonor me or those I care about…or bitch-slap me and we'll get along fine…"

Ai laughed at that. Yukiko just chuckled along.

"Yeah…but the thing is…I wanted Charles to see the true me…" Ai said sadly.

"I'm sorry I caused you…" Yukiko started to say, but Ai held up a friendly had to stop the platitude, meaningful as it may have been.

"I appreciate that…but I wasn't saying that to guilt-trip you…" Ai said. "The problem was…And I haven't told anyone outside of Narukami and my therapist…but I used to be obese…I weighed 118 kilos. The other girls would make fun of me…The boys mocked me when I even tried talking to them…because I wasn't as confident as I am now…I was a mess. Then my dad gets a load of money from Real Estate…and I use the opportunity from what I read in Teen and Fashion Magazines to completely make myself over…But I became a Bitch because I thought having a Himedere personality would get me boys. Yeah…it got me boys all right. Stupid boys who wanted nothing to do with me before now wanted to do things to my new hot body…and I let them…because it let me feel something…for a few minutes…"

Yukiko was so stunned that she didn't say anything for a couple of minutes before she found her voice and said, "What was…that something?"

"Acceptance."

Yukiko looked sad. She had known about Ai being in therapy, because she had nearly killed herself in despair that Yukiko and Chie were liked by Ai's crushes…but she didn't know how much pain Ai truly was in.

"I just wanted to feel accepted…and that's what I sensed about Charles too…is that he wanted to be accepted for who he was. And I could tell…maybe if things had turned out in my favor…and I don't mean in a he picked me over you… I mean he was in my class instead of yours…maybe things would have worked out if I took things slower."

"What about Yu-kun?" Yukiko asked.

"I made a mistake…and maybe that's why it's best I wasn't with Charles. Because I rushed Narukami to give me his V-card to punch. If I had done that to Charles…I think I would have hurt him worse."

"You sound like you still have feelings for him…" Yukiko said. Though it was without rancor or protective jealousy. Rather it was kindness and curiosity. Yukiko knew Ai HAD truly been in love with Charles…and couldn't let go easily…but even Ai admitted before the basketball game against Yasogami Academy that she had to let go.

"Yeah…but I have Kou now…I mean…he took Satonaka and Hanamura rekindling pretty well…and we WERE hanging out a lot after that first basketball game…so, we did start dating only recently…"

"You two haven't…?" Yukiko asked.

"I'm not rushing it with Kou. I did that with Narukami and I regret it every day. I shouldn't have rushed it because Yu isn't like other guys…he's more like Charles is. A nice guy. Which is kind of the point of why you and I are here."

Yukiko blinked. "I'm sorry?"

"Yukiko…" Ai said, wading to sit by Yukiko, "Yukiko…both you and I…we're alike in one respect…we're both Princesses."

"Well, I'm not sure that's…"

"I mean our family names have wealth and power to them. Yours do to history, Mine due to shrewdness and luck. I'm envious of you…because you don't even flaunt it. That's a good thing, because I'm like, 'Look at me! I wear bills of yen to bed!' But we're both Princesses still. And the reason we're alike…is because we're looking for that nice guy who'll take care of us."

Yukiko thought about it. She didn't want to be chained to the Inn for the rest of her life. But she wanted someone to take care of her… And the way Ai meant it wasn't "be a housewife" It was, "At the end of the day, want to be with a man who will treat me like a Queen because he loves me…NOT because I demand it."

"Well…I suppose you're right, Ai. But I should let you know…I have a dark side to myself that makes you at your worst seem tame."

Ai looked at Yukiko and said, "Yukiko…I'm not stupid. EVERY person has darkness to them that they don't like…but it's giving in to that darkness that would be a terrible thing for the man we love…because if we were to hurt them…then all we are…are spoiled princesses."

"Well, I'd like think you act more spoiled than me…" Yukiko said with a smile.

Ai just arched her eyebrow and smirked. "I'm sorry, I would have to disagree. I wasn't the one who pulled Charles's tie."

"That wasn't me being spoiled…" Yukiko protested.

Ai laughed. "No…it just means you're a big tease…and could actually teach me a few things…"

"Only if you return the favor…" Yukiko replied with a chuckle.

The two girls compared notes on how they should handle the boyfriends involved. Yukio gave Ai great advice on how to deal with Kou. And Ai suggested several things with Charles that Yukiko could try.

But both laughed when a few of their suggestions sounded alike.

They then got out of the bath. Yukiko noticed Ai did have a figure that would attract many boys…but it should have been what was within Ai's heart that should have counted.

Does Charles-chan think of me as just a sexual object…I don't mean all the time…but are there moments where he would fantasize about what he would do to me…rather than care about my feelings? Yukiko thought as she wrapped her towel around herself.

"No," Ai said.

Yukiko shrieked.

"Sorry, Yukiko, I didn't mean to startle you like that…but you had said the last part of what you were thinking aloud. Charles is not that type of guy. I think something would be wrong if he DIDN'T have sexual desires and fantasies about you…but the way he acts…he thinks the world of you."

"I suppose you're right, but…"

"But nothing, Amagi… He's a good guy…You should be glad to have him."

"But he hasn't said the three words yet…" Yukiko finished.

"He will…as I said, don't rush him…A princess may think she can have everything she wants, but a princess should be defined by what she really NEEDS. And that's why we each have Kou and Charles…because they're what each of us NEED," Ai said, folding her arms.

The two of them then got dressed after Yukiko only nodded. They then traded cell numbers so they could talk often.

"Look, Yukiko…I didn't think much of you at first. I thought you were one of those spoiled girls who didn't act spoiled, but still managed to piss people off…but after being slapped by you and talking with you…we are a lot alike," AI said.

"Yes…I thought you were this girl who dated many boys and flaunted it…" Yukiko started to say.

"You're being too kind…I was a slut…everybody else thought so…" Ai laughed ruefully.

"Not me…and not Charles…"

"…" Ai said, touched.

"Regardless…I agree with you. We both may be by definition of wealth and power be princesses…and occasionally act like we're spoiled. Me when I'm in a dark mood and you when you're…is 'on' a good word to describe it?"

"I do have a reputation of being uppity to maintain…" Ai said.

Both girls laughed at that.

"But we just have that façade of a spoiled princess…to cover our deepest need…"

"And that is…"

"That a boy loves us for who we TRULY are…" Yukiko said.

Ai nodded and both girls hugged a good bye.

As the next few days passed at school. Ai would act all huffy towards some boy thinking she could do better with him than with Kou, as that pairing wasn't officially out in the open yet, it was still only a rumor. Ai coldly told the guy off. The guy, undaunted, tried to ask Yukiko out. She pretended to "space out" and wonder if the inn had the right year for a certain type of wine.

Once the guy left disappointed, everyone else was watching to see what Ai and Yukiko would do. Both of them just walked away in opposite directions.

But for months afterward, some swore they saw the two girls wink at each other as they walked away…