Narashi Akina

Disclaimer: Refer to previous chapter.

SUPER IMPORTANT NOTE: Yea, this chapter's isn't that great but I haven't been getting much sleep so I gotta end it this way. Sorry about the title too. I was under pressure...Also, this is your last warning to review or I shall stop writing and sleep instead. Then we'll see who's laughing!

~At Misora First Elementary: Seki-sensei's class~

Seki-sensei asked, "So who knows where Kenichi is?" Aiko reluctantly raised her hand and replied, "He left Japan, permanently." Seki-sensei nodded. She looked around, "Where's Asuka?"

Just then, the door opened and Momoko stomped in. She looked and sounded angry, "Ugh! That stupid Itsuki-kun and his stupid challenge! He thinks he's all that! Ugh! He makes me so mad!" Momoko kicked her desk before sitting down with her arms folded. Everyone blinked.

Akatsuki, Fujio and Tooru turned to Leon. "What did Akira-kun do?" Akatsuki whispered. Leon shrugged in reply. The foursome turned back to Momoko. Seki-sensei cleared her throat, "Asuka, why are you late?" Momoko replied, "I was practising." Seki-sensei asked, "For what?"

Momoko replied, anger evident in her voice, "For some stupid competition some stupid guy named Itsuki-kun decided to have." Seki-sensei raised an eyebrow, "Does this competition involving cooking?" Momoko perked up, "How do you know that?"

Seki-sensei replied, "You're wearing an apron." The class sweat dropped and Momoko chuckled embarrassedly.

~After school~

Momoko ran out and to the MAHO-dou just as the last bell rang. Doremi turned to her friends, "Why is she in such a hurry?" They all shrugged. Leon stared and then replied, "I'll go find out." Tooru spoke up, "I'll come too."

The two then ran off as well. Everyone walked to the MAHO-dou, all wondering what happened between Momoko and Akira.

~At the MAHO-dou~

Doremi and the girls walked in and the minute they did, they heard Momoko yell, "Aargh! What is wrong with me? Why can't I get it right? Alright Nini, one more time!" They went to the kitchen and gasped. The place was covered with ingredients, flour, sugar, butter, chocolate chips, including Momoko and Nini. The witch apprentice didn't seem to care that half of her face was covered in flour/sugar and other things.

She went over to her book of recipes and read the page all over again. Halfway through, she slapped her forehead, "That's what I did wrong!" She then slammed her head against the table in frustration, and again, and again until she screamed, "Aaaaaaargh!"

Everyone stared at Momoko. Doremi asked, "Momo-chan, what's wrong?" Momoko perked up and realized that her friends just saw what she did. She rubbed the back of her head and laughed embarrassedly.

She took out her crystal, "Peruton peton palalila pon! Clean up this mess!" Momoko put her crystal back, took off her apron and grabbed her book of recipes. She then went out of the kitchen and sat at one of the tables. Everyone followed her. She sighed. Everyone stared.

Momoko took a deep breath and stared at her book, "It happened yesterday...I was following Itsuki-kun home after he and Leon-kun split up. He just sat there reading and then the magic wore off. I tried to sneak out but he fell asleep." Only the apprentices understood what she was talking about. Akatsuki and Fujio were confused but listened anyway.

The blonde continued, "For some strange reason, the little voice in the back of my head told me to wake him up and I did. Then somehow our conversation lead to who can make tastier brownies and since Majo Monroe taught us both how to make brownies first, we decided to have a competition."

Fujio asked, "Is that what you were talking about in class?" Momoko nodded and fiddled with her fingers, "And somehow that 'competition turned into a bet..." "What kind of bet?" Kimura asked. Momoko lowered her head, "You know...That if I win, the guys would tell us everything and if he wins..." Aiko asked, "If 'e wins...?"

Momoko replied, "All of us except Doremi-chan...would...you know..." Everyone was getting impatient, "Spit it out already!" Momoko yelled back, "We'd give up being apprentices!" Momoko immediately put her hand over her mouth. All the apprentices' eyes widened in shock as they realized what was at stake here.

Tooru and Leon came back and Tooru spoke up, "Guys! You'll never guess what..." Leon stared at the shocked people and stated, "I think they know." Tooru nodded.

Leon stepped forward, "Momo-chan, I think you should cancel the whole thing." Everyone turned to him in confusion. Momoko clenched her fist, "No way! I'm not backing down now! I have a whole week left! If I try hard enough, I can make it!" "You can't." Akatsuki stated simply.

They all turned to him. Akatsuki continued, "It doesn't matter how hard you try, you won't win." The other three nodded. Aiko replied, "Kimura-kun's right! You guys DON' know how t'believe in someone!" Leon replied, "I'm going to check on Akira-kun."

When he poofed away, his wizard friends sighed. Kaoru asked, "Why, is there something wrong with Itsuki-kun?" Fujio replied, "Maybe. We're not exactly sure." Momoko asked, "What do you mean?" The trio sighed.

Tooru started off, "You see, before the war, when everyone was happy, Akira-kun and Leon-kun knew each other, don't know how, but they did. And they had a friend too. What was her name?" Akatsuki continued, "Narashi Akina. And from what we know, in personality, she and Momo-chan were almost the same." Fujio finished off, "But umm...let's just say she didn't make it through the war..." The other two saddened as well.

~With Leon and Akira~

Leon asked, "Ne, Akira-kun, are you sure you want to do this?" Akira nodded. Leon asked again, "You do realize what's at stake here, right?" Akira nodded again. Leon sighed, "I guess nothing will change your mind, will it?" Akira didn't reply.

Leon muttered, "Idiot." Akira spoke up, "I heard that." Leon just laughed embarrassedly. Akira ignored him. Leon asked, "What are you reading anyway?" Akira perked up, "I'm not reading." Akira showed Leon the book and he smiled, "You really miss Aki-chan, ne?" Akira replied, "Yea, I guess."

Leon got up, snatched the book away from Akira and dragged him out of the house, "Well then, come on!" Akira blinked, "Leon-kun! Leon-kun, where are you taking me?" Leon grinned, "You'll see." Akira replied, "I heard that." Leon replied, "I know." Akira blinked in confusion.

~At the MAHO-dou~

Nyoko came running in, breaking everyone from their trance. She walked up to Momoko and asked, "Are you Asuka Momoko-onee-chan?" Momoko nodded. Nyoko bowed, "Gome-nasai." Momoko raised an eyebrow, "What for?"

Nyoko replied, "Please forgive Akira-onii-chan...he's really nice once you get to know him!" Momoko scratched her head, "Uhhh...it's okay, I guess." Nyoko went up to the yellow patisserie and put her hands together as her eyes gleamed, "HONTOU?" Momoko slowly nodded causing Nyoko to hug her, "Arigatou, arigatou, arigatou! You're the best Onee-chan ever!"

Nyoko let go of Momoko and smiled at her. The blonde smiled back. Everyone turned to Leon's voice saying, "Come...on! It's...not that hard...Momo-chan's...really nice...once you get to...know her..." Leon was dragging someone in by the arm.

It was none other than, Itsuki Akira. When he came into view, Leon let go of him and he regained his posture while asking, "Is that what this is about?" Leon didn't reply.

"Onii-chan!" Nyoko yelled as she ran to hug her brother. Akira asked, "Nyoko-chan, what are you doing here? You were supposed to be with Mia-chan and Hikaru-kun." Nyoko giggled in reply. Akira and Momoko made eye contact and glared. Momoko noticed Nyoko as Akira came up to her, "So how are you sure you're up for this?"

The blonde took one last glance at Nyoko before replying, "Yep! I'm sure or my name isn't Asuka Momoko!" Akira stared and then shook his head. He looked up and replied, "Hm." Akatsuki spoke up, "Ano, Akira-kun, we told them about Narashi-san..." Akira turned to his prince, "You what?" Fujio tried to calm him down, "See, see, we only told them about the last and first part." Akira sighed.

Momoko put her hands on her hips, "Ne, Akira-kun, tell me, am I really just like Narashi-san?" Akira stared as a specific image from his past made its way to his head. He tried to shake it off but it didn't work. He took Momoko's hands and lowered them as he said, "Please...just stop."

Momoko asked, "Stop what? You know, you confuse me more and more every day." Akira glared at her. He slowly backed away from the girl and ended up running back to the Witch World with Leon and Yuki following him.

Kaoru asked, "What's his problem?" Akatsuki replied, "Narashi Akina and Asuka Momoko." Tooru perked up and turned to Onpu, "Onpu-chan, catch!" Onpu quickly turned and caught Suki's turquoise crescent crystal. She stared, "What for?" Tooru replied, "Just trust me and whatever you do, don't let go of it." Onpu reluctantly nodded.