Chapter 25: Lingering Feelings

"Ooo, I'm so excited!" Wataru said as part of the family gathered to watch the TV. "It's so fun to watch Tsubaki, and Ema, and Azusa all on the same show!"

"You're not watching them," Yusuke said, rolling his eyes. "You're hearing their voices."

"Close enough!" Wataru shot back. "It has all three of them in it and it's fun to watch!"

"Now, now, you two, be nice to one another," Masaomi said, making sure to sit between Yusuke and Wataru. Wataru leaned around Masaomi to stick his tongue out at Yusuke.

"Ema, come sit by us," Tsubaki called.

Ema sat between the twins and Tsubaki draped his arm across the back of the couch, brushing against her shoulders.

"I'm glad you're enjoying the anime, Wataru," Ema said. "We worked really hard on this episode." The Princess's guards' dream sequences were finally airing. Ema was excited to see how the scenes turned out with animation.

The living room went quiet as the opening song played. It was an effort for Ema not to sit on the edge of her seat as she watched. She wondered if the twins had been as anxious watching any of their animes when they first started out as voice actors. She was just so invested in the characters and so excited. And she was especially proud of how the voicing for today's episode had turned out.

Zeeto, Tsubaki's character, had his dream scene play out first. Partway through Veeto's dream, Azusa's character, Wataru said, "How do they make the kissing noises? It sounds really real. Do they have stock kissing sounds or something?"

Ema's eyes widened and she froze. She hadn't thought anyone would ask something like that. While practicing and working with the twins, she had stopped being embarrassed about kissing them, but admitting it to people outside those working on the anime seemed embarrassing all over again.

Yusuke's head whipped around to stare in Ema's direction and Masaomi and Ukyo also looked over. Ema could feel her face heating up when Azusa said, "Most directors just have actors kiss their own hands to make the sounds for kiss scenes."

"Oh, I see!" Wataru said, settling into the couch again. "That's why it sounds real, then. 'Cause it is!"

"Whew!" Yusuke said, sounding relieved for some reason. "That sounds kind of weird, but I guess you have to get the sound somehow."

As everyone's attention turned back to the show, Ema was able to relax. "Thanks, Azusa," she whispered, grabbing his hand and giving it a squeeze. He squeezed back before she let go.

~.~

Ukyo stared blankly at the show as it continued running. Wataru and Yusuke had been easily pacified by Azusa's explanation. Or, perhaps, Ukyo should say duped. Azusa said most directors had actors kiss their own hands. He did not say they had kissed their own hands. The only logical conclusion for Azusa's statement was that both the twins had kissed Ema for the scenes.

The thought made Ukyo curl his hands into fists. He knew Ema doing voice acting was a bad idea. And what was the director thinking? She was in high school. She shouldn't be kissing anyone. Suddenly, the images from the anime of the guards kissing the princess flashed through Ukyo's mind, except the guards were replaced with the twins and the princess was replaced with Ema. Just imagining the twins kissing Ema made him want to kick the TV.

He'd probably continue watching the show to support Ema, and because it would be odd for him to suddenly stop when he'd been watching from episode one. He didn't want to hurt Ema's feelings. However, the show was ruined for him now. Every time he thought of it, he would just think of his brothers holding Ema in their arms.

Then he realized he was being stupid. Azusa and Tsubaki hadn't kissed Ema with a camera on them to capture the scene, they'd had a microphone to capture the sound. They probably hadn't held Ema at all, just kissed her long enough to get the recording they needed. He peeked at the three of them out of the corner of his eye. At least, they'd better not have held Ema in their arms.

He wouldn't put it past Tsubaki to take advantage in a situation like that. However, Tsubaki would only take advantage if he was interested in the person involved, and he'd always treated Ema like a little sister.

Ukyo settled back into the couch and tried to relax. He probably had nothing to worry about. A lawyer like him should really think things through more logically.

~.~

"What do you think, Zeeto?" Ema asked as she and Tsubaki rehearsed in his room. After rehearsing in his room for the kissing scene, they naturally switched to always doing that. They had fewer interruptions that way. "Should we trust them?"

Tsubaki looked reluctant as he delivered Zeeto's line. "They appear sincere, Princess, and their cause is just, but I am reluctant to entrust you in the presence of anyone I do not know. Especially, since we have been separated from Veeto and there is only me to guard you. I cannot be alert at all times."

Ema bit her lip as she confided Princess Neena's next words. "I'm afraid we will not be able to accomplish this journey on our own. You and Veeto are unfamiliar with this area, and we've been unable to discover where the darkness is emanating from. If we cannot stop the darkness, I left my people for nothing."

Tsubaki sighed. "I see your point. I do not like the situation, but I believe you are correct. Please, do not leave my side."

"Perhaps you are being a little overprotective? I agree that this group seems sincere. I believe they could be great allies to us."

"Overpro—" Tsubaki's words died off partway through the word, as they were supposed to. He closed his eyes and sighed. "Perhaps. Sometimes it is hard to tell with you."

"Hard to tell?" Ema asked, cocking her head. "What do you mean, Zeeto?" Zeeto was supposed to be referencing his feelings for the princess, that sometimes he didn't know when he was protective of her as his guard, and when he was protective of her as a man.

"I…"

Ema blinked in confusion at the script. Tsubaki's next line didn't start with 'I'. She raised her head to ask him about it, just in time for him to grip her arm and brush his lips across hers.

Her lips parted in a gasp and Tsubaki pushed more firmly. Ema's heart raced in confusion. That definitely wasn't in the script.

Ema's body finally seemed to sync with her mind and she pushed against Tsubaki's chest with her free hand. His eyes looked surprised, as though he were shocked to realize he'd been kissing her.

"I-I think you might be channeling Zeeto a little too strongly," Ema said, her voice higher than normal. She felt her cheeks flame and she looked at the floor instead. How had she not noticed what a great kisser Tsubaki was before? Had she been too involved in the acting? "It makes sense since we're so immersed in the characters, and we spend a lot of time with them and with each other…" And they were alone, just like Zeeto and Neena currently were in the anime. It made sense that they might get overly caught up in their roles.

She glanced at Tsubaki to find him still looking surprised.

"Sorry, Ema," he said, running a hand over his face. "Yeah, I guess I just got too caught up in the role. Sorry."

"It's okay," Ema said, relaxing. "It's fine. Maybe we should practice with Azusa next time, though." She glanced at her watch. "It's getting a little late. I'm going to go to bed. I'll see you in the morning, okay?"

"Right," Tsubaki said. "Good night, Ema."

~.~

"Crap," Tsubaki whispered, sitting on the edge of his bed and burying his head in his hands. What the heck had that been? They had been doing a read through and it had been fine, then Ema had looked so adorable he wanted to kiss her. It wasn't, as she said, Tsubaki being Zeeto and wanting to kiss Princess Neena. It had been Tsubaki wanting to kiss Ema.

What Tsubaki couldn't figure out was when he decided that would be a good idea. He'd felt totally platonic all through practicing and recording of their kissing scene. Well, maybe not one hundred percent platonic. He'd been surprised at Ema's skill with kissing (which had again made him want to know about that stupid mysterious boyfriend Ema refused to talk about), and he'd wondered if Ema always kissed like that, but that had been the extent of it.

But, it made sense for him to feel this way, didn't it? They had so much in common, and Ema was wonderful. They'd stayed close even while Ema had been away. She'd supported his dream of being a voice actor and been enthusiastic over his success. Ema coming back and living with them had been wonderful. She brightened up the house and loved spending time with family as much as he did. Before long, it seemed like she belonged with the Asahinas. He couldn't imagine coming home and not having her there.

And, apparently, since the kissing scene he couldn't help noticing how cute Ema was. He'd always known she was cute, of course, but it had been in a little girl way. Now that she was grown-up…Well, there wasn't anything wrong with his feelings for Ema changing, was there? He couldn't see any reason not to pursue her. There was the fact that she'd fervently claimed she would not date while in Japan, but he just needed to convince Ema he would be worth it. He smiled. He'd always liked a challenge and proving to Ema that the two of them would make a great couple would be fun.

~.~

Azusa's heart twisted inside his chest when he saw Ema walk out of Tsubaki's room.

He hated feeling this way, feeling uncertain about Ema and irritated at Tsubaki. He didn't know where these feelings were coming from and he didn't like it. Tsubaki was his best friend and other half. His world wasn't right when the two of them weren't getting along and he didn't like anything that came between them.

"Hey Azusa," Ema said, flashing him a smile. She looked a little distracted. "Tsubaki and I were just rehearsing the scene where Veeto gets separated from Zeeto and the Princess. You should join us next time. Even though Veeto isn't present, you could still offer us critiques on if you feel we aren't acting concerned enough about his absence." She blushed and hung her head a little. "Well, you could offer me critiques. Tsubaki probably does it perfectly."

The tightness in Azusa's chest eased. Of course, they had just been rehearsing. There was no need for Azusa to feel…whatever it was he had been feeling. Nothing had changed between Ema and Tsubaki or Ema and Azusa. Everything was the same as ever.

"I'd be happy to join you," Azusa told her. "You're doing very well, though. You can always tell if Director Agota isn't happy with an actor. There's a particular sigh with a sad face he does whenever he works with them. You haven't gotten the sigh or the sad look once. Well…maybe when you and I struggled with the dream scene, but that was on both of us."

Ema beamed. "Thank you, Azusa. It makes me very happy to hear that. Working with you and Tsubaki on this project has been amazing."

"Good," Azusa said. "I'm glad you're enjoying it. Good night, Ema."

"Night, Azusa." Ema waved to Azusa before going into her room.