A/N: Welcome back! Thank you for all your support as always! Onwards!
Chapter 27.
Yui laughed and bounced as she joyfully received gifts from her friends. Dante stood leaning against the wall, next to the door. He couldn't stop smiling, watching her being so childish and so carefree.
He chuckled, and fiddled with the velvet box in his pocket.
"Good luck mate." Aki came up and leaned on the wall next to him, in pretty much the same position.
"Haha, I'm going to be in a mess. Just thinking about it makes me nervous."
"Why? She is definitely going to say yes."
"But what if she doesn't? What if she's cheating on me... Or, Or she just isn't ready for that kind of commitment?"
Aki suddenly got angry.
"You're a smart guy Dante, but I swear to god sometimes... I want to punch you for that."
"E-Eh!?"
"Don't be an idiot. She would never cheat on you, and if you think you two aren't committed already anyway, you are completely wrong."
"Right, right... Sorry Aki... My mind is in a mess."
"And I'm right here. You need me for anything, and I'm here. Ok?" Aki extended his hand.
Dante shook it firmly, and nodded.
"You are the best."
"Believe it!" Aki did a signature thumbs up, as Dante face palmed.
Sky bounced over to the two friends, and beamed.
"Are you guys going to join in or what!?" She pouted, her hands on her hips.
They looked up, saw Yui laughing with Mindy, a drink in her hand. Hana ran around serving drinks, in her 'waiter' outfit. She looked like she was enjoying herself. Argo talked quietly in the corner with Kazuto and Asuna, probably catching up. Eugeo and Alice were inseparable, sharing kisses and nibbles.
"Nah, I like watching you all. Cutie." Aki chuckled as Sky blushed.
"I'm the same. You and Yui are just acting so cute and childish today..."
"Hey! It's her birthday! We are allowed!"
They looked at one another.
"Please continue." They said in sync, a smirk plastered onto their faces. The slap that they both received afterwards was to be expected.
"Humph!" Sky stuck her tongue out and bounced back to Yui. The young friends burst out laughing.
After calming down from their laughing spree, Dante turned to Aki, and decided to ask a question that had been bugging him.
"Hey Aki?"
"Hmm?" He said, straightening back up.
"Have you and Sky... You know... Done it?" Dante blushed ferociously.
"Uh... We... I... Well... Um..." Aki tugged at his collar.
"I mean It's none of my business... I just wanted to ask cause... Well... I've been thinking about it."
"Wow, Dante's growing up! First he wants to propose, and now he wants to have sex. Oh you..." Aki shook his head and chuckled.
"Y-Yeah..."
"We have."
"You have what?"
"We've... You know, 'Unified.'" Aki used air quotes.
"O-oh! R-right..." Dante started giggling, then chuckled, then burst out laughing.
"What!?" l
"I've got an image of how awkward you and Sky would be!" Dante continued to laugh, even more so when Aki glared.
"I'll have you know she's an animal in bed." Aki stated matter of fact-ly.
"Oh really?" Dante chuckled, raising an eyebrow.
"I've said too much. No details. Focus on what your task is today. Dante gulped.
"It's gonna be difficult. I think I'm going to do it tonight, by the stream on the way home."
"It's really beautiful there, that'll be perfect Dante, Go for it man." Aki knocked his shoulder, winked, and walked over to Sky.
Dante shook his head, and approached Yui.
"So Dante couldn't see me sneaking up, and nearly dropped the kitchen knife, his face was priceless! Although I guess it was unfair to sneak up on his blind side..." Yui giggled, still chatting away with Mindy. Dante lightly touched his eyepatch.
"YuYu." He kissed her cheek. "Mindy." He bowed.
"We were just talking about you Hun."
"I heard, and I'll have you know, I honestly thought it was a their or something. I had every right to be afraid."
"Sure you did Dante." Mindy laughed, she looked at Yui hooked around Dante's arm, and back up at Dante. "You two are such a cute couple."
"T-thank you Mindy... How's it going with that guy you met the other month?" Yui asked.
"Good... We don't get see each other too often, with work an' all, but I really like him, he's a sweet guy, charming too."
"I'm happy for you Mindy." Dante said, smiling, and bowing.
"Thank you Dante. Do you want a drink? I haven't seen you with one..."
"No thanks, I'm not thirsty."
"But I am! One coke please Mindy!" Jake walked up, grinned at the three and thanked her for his drink. "Happy birthday Raven." He smiled again.
"Hello. Jake." Dante attempted a smile, It looked forced, but it was the best he could do. Jake didn't see to notice.
"Dante." He bowed. "Good to see you again." He sipped his soda.
Yui sighed. "You boys are just gonna have to get along ok? that's an order Dante. It's my birthday." Dante grunted, and Jake shrugged.
"Fine by me."
"I guess I could tolerate him..."
"Dante..." Yui said, lingering on the last syllable.
"Fine. Lovely to see you again Jake."
"Likewise." Jake twitched. He didn't like Dante, not because of his character, or his relationship with Yui, but because of his god damn jealousy, and with that, his stubborn nature, his refusal to see that Jake was just a friend.
They stared at each other, gritting their teeth.
"S-So! We have a few things to get done! First is the movie!" Yui butted in, holding up a box for the movie, Cogs that connect.
"Oh god..." Dante groaned.
"What! It's new, has mechs in it, and is a rom com!"
"Exactly! Why would you mix something as awesome as Mechs, with a flipping romantic comedy! They turned a manly machine of war, into a chick flick!"
"Oh shut up, it's my birthday, I choose the movie. Just be glad I didn't pick a classic like the notebook."
"Oh please don't get me started! We watched that together in our flat and I fell asleep within minutes!"
"You just can't see the work and effort put into that movie, the scenes are perfect and the story... It's so... So...-"
"Crap?"
"Language." She hit him on the head with the box.
"Sorry."
~Minutes later.
After Aki and Dante had finished Groaning to Sky and Yui about how bad the movie was going to be, and how bad the notebook was, they sat next to their respective partners on the sofa, with Jake on a beanbag, Mindy crushed between Dante and Aki (Which she really didn't mind at all), and Hana sat on the floor in front of the sofa.
"So why can't we watch Super Mecha Wars XIV again?" Aki asked.
"My god, Aki! You're a super mecha wars fan!?" Dante said, leaning forward to see him.
"Hell yeah! You are too!?"
"How have we not found this out before!?"
"So much time wasted!" Aki shook his head regretfully.
"What did you think about The crusader attacking Zealot!?"
"It was a massive plot twist! It was perfectly executed too!" Aki shouted.
"SUGOOIIIII!" They both shouted in sync.
Yui and the other guests rolled their eyes.
"Seriously guys? Are you finished fangirling?"
"Shaddup! Super Mecha Wars is the single best anime movie ever made!" Aki stated.
"It is definitely not! There are fourteen movies and three seasons! How can you have that many hours on one story!?"
"It's such an amazing concept! 90% of each episode are battles, whereas the movies really focus on the psychological effect the mechs are having on the team-" Dante was interrupted by Mindy.
"Stop there, we're watching this now." Mindy said, putting her index finger to his lips.
The two friends sighed, and turned their attention to the 'boring chick flick'.
It wasn't too bad, he had his arm wrapped around Yui, who leaning into his shoulder a most adorable fashion. Aki traced his free hand through his girlfriend's hair. Mindy was practically drooling as she sat in between the boys, attempting to keep out here dirty images, but she couldn't help herself.
"Mindy, are you ok there?" Jake teased, watching her zone in and out, rubbing her legs together.
"Y-Yeah! Why?" She Instantly stopped, as Jake grinned, he shrugged and returned his attention to the movie.
"Sorry Mindy, are we crushing you?"
"N-No! Carry one! I like it!" Mindy gasped and put her hand over her mouth, now blushing furiously.
"Naughty Mindy, I'm taken!" Dante laughed.
"I... Um... I..." She bit her bottom lip and continued to blush. "I'm stuck between to 18 year old hot guys ok!? How can I not have certain fantasies!"
The entire room stared at her.
"W-Would saying that I need to go to the bathroom be a good enough excuse to just run away?"
The room shook their heads collectively.
"Great..." She mumbled, her face still as red as a tomato.
"Oh you, Mindy." Yui grinned and nudged her. "Lucky you." She whispered.
"Hey! Yui! I'm your boyfriend, you shouldn't even think about that." He laughed, and she giggled.
"As if you haven't thought about it with Sky."
"I'm male, I'm allowed."
"Dante!" Aki said sternly.
"Oh come on, you've thought about that with Yui at least once!"
"I'm a male too! but that doesn't mean I like you thinking about my girlfriend like that!"
"Well you just admitted to the same thing about my girlfriend, so I don't like you thinking about her that way either!"
"Ladies, ladies, chill." Mindy said, grabbing both boys by their arms, and almost moaning in bliss. The two broke up their playful argument and burst out laughing. Yui and Sky blushed deeply.
The group of friends laughed their way through the movie, and to the end of the party.
~Hours later.
The guest left one by one, with a smile on their faces, Mindy still drooling over her two and a half hours crushed between two hot guys, Jake still half growling at Dante, but the two seemed to make up. At least in Yui's mind. The last couple to leave was Aki and Sky, who gave a smile, wished Yui a happy birthday once again, and left.
"Can you not stay just a little longer?" Hana moaned looking down art her feet."
"Sorry Hana, but we have to be on home, we'll see you soon, that's a promise." Dante ruffled her hair. Yui grinned.
"Yep! Your birthday next, remember!?"
"But that's in three months!"
"See! Super close!" Hana pouted.
"Goodbye Sis, Brother!" Hana smiled, waving Dante and Yui off. Kazuto and Asuna came to the door.
"Bye you two! Hope you had a great 18th Yui!" Dante grinned as he got in the car.
"And now, for the hard bit." He breathed.
He pulled up in the public car park, a few minutes walk from their flat. They liked to walk through the park, it was full of beautiful trees and streams and flowers, flowers that Yui often stopped to inspect.
They walked with their hands intertwined, Yui grinning as always, Dante smiling, but almost shaking. He could feel his palm start to sweat, and prayed that Yui would not notice. Unfortunately, he was not so lucky.
"A-Are you ok Dante? You're shaking."
"N-No! I'm fine, it's just... Uh, it's a little cold tonight."
"We can skip all the scenery if you want to get home."
"Definitely not. I love all this." He grinned, and kissed her. "I'm fine."
She furrowed her brow, but let it slid.
That was too close. He thought.
They carried on walking, Dante getting more and more nervous the closer they got to the bridge across the stream, a truly beautiful landmark for them both.
But, as well as being super nervous, he was also sure. In fact, he was never so sure about a decision in his life, this was it. This is who he wanted to give his heart to. He just hoped Yui was the same.
They stepped onto the bridge, and time seemed to slow for Dante, he saw the water splashing off the artificial waterfall, the beautiful water rippling, the sounds of the splashing fish. He could see the cracks in the concrete, the breaks in the dried cement. He became completely aware of all of his surroundings, it felt... Supernatural.
"Dante? Something is definitely wrong with you, what is it?"
"N-no... I'm just nervous."
"Nervous about what?"
"Well..." He exhaled heavily. "Yui. We've been together for almost three years, which to the average person doesn't sound like that long, but it feels like a lifetime. That day that I asked you out... It changed my life forever. For the better. I looked forward to seeing that beautiful smile, you blissful expression, and I hated those who hurt you... Eathrel... The bullies... We've been through a lot together, and I would happily of given my life for you when fighting Eathrel, when any obstacle is in your way, I'd give my life for you. You are everything I live for, and you are perfect in every way... And... And so..."
Dante got down on one knee, and fumbled for the velvet box in his pocket.
"And so." Yui gasped. "I want to ask you a very important question. Will you... Yui Kirigaya... Will you marry me?" He flicked open the velvet box, to reveal the perfectly crafted engraved engagement ring.
Yui was speechless, tears clung to the corners of her eyes, and began to fall, one after another, before they were streaming out of her eyes. Her heart thumped against her chest, threatening to break free of the flesh prison, her breathing skyrocketed, she felt like she was hyperventilating. She closed her eyes, tried to control all of her senses, tried to control her breathing, before looking back at the awaiting Dante, still holding out the beautiful ring.
"Y-_... YES! YES! YES! YES! OF COURSE I WILL DANTE!" She threw herself forward into his arms. He caught her, and span her in his arms, smothering her in kisses.
The locked eyes, and engaged in their most passionate and loving kisses to date, neither wanting to break away for even a second. The pink cherry blossom tree across the bridge swayed slightly in the breeze, releasing a few of it's leaves, showering the couple in a perfect splash of colour. It was perfect. Dante thought.
Dante broke away, and extended his hand. She slipping his hand onto his, and he placed the ring on her finger.
"It's... It's beautiful." She whispered, tears still rolling down her cheek.
"Matches you then." Dante chuckled.
"You... I love you so much Dante." She fell into his arms again, both of them still kneeling on the floor.
"I love you more." He teased, kissing her forehead.
They stayed that way for a few minutes, enjoying each other's presence. Then they stood, linked hands, shared a brief kiss, and mad their way home.
A/N: Hope you guys enjoyed! This story is coming to a close, I don't know exactly how many chapters, but I doubt that it'll make it to forty. Thank you for all yours support! You guys are awesome as always!