Note: Holy shit, this has been around ten YEARS idile. Wow. Uhm... sorry?

Aria: Return to the Traghetto

Four

"Alicia!" Akari exclaimed, hugging her former mentor happily.

"Ara ara," Alicia smiled as the gorgeous blond hugged her back. "Missed me?" she teased.

"Nyu! Nyu nyu!" President Aria added happily.

"Yes, I've missed you," Akari smiled. "How is wedded life treating you?" she asked as they walked to the Aria Company building.

Alicia blushed, "Well, there's a baby coming..."

Akari gaped.

"NYU?!" President Aria exclaimed.

"Congradulations!" Akari said excitedly.

"Thank you," Alicia said. She smirked, "Akira is annoyed I got knocked up first."

Akari laughed, thinking of her mentor's rival. "I can imagine," she said. "Let's go in, put on some tea and catch up..."

The two women made tea, got out some snacks and chatted cheerfully. "So..." Alicia peered at Akari, "is there anyone you like?"

"Uhm...," Akari blushed.

"Nyu?" President Aria prompted.

"Oh ho," Alicia leaned forward.

"Well... it's another undine," Akari admitted, then explained a bit more about Ayumi, whom she had gone on a few friendly dates with.

"Aww, that's so sweet," Alicia sighed dreamily.

"It doesn't bother you it's two girls?" Akari asked a little tentatively.

Alicia laughed warmly. "It's really not that uncommon," she reassured her. She smiled impishly, "Prima Undines get a LOT of female fans. I think Akira went out with a few too."

"Huh," Akari blushed, thinking of the smoldering, black haired woman. She could certainly see it...

"You were just imagining something naughty, weren't you?" Alicia teased.

"I was not!" Akari blushed.

Alicia just laughed.

0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0

Aika leaned forward, "I heard that Akari is in LOVE."

"WHAT," Alice yelped.

"Yep," Aika agreed. "The rumour mill is buzzing about her and a traghetto undine." A woman who worked for Himeya Company, her staff more or less.

"What do you know about her?" Alice asked. She wanted to know because she was concerned fot Akari. Not because it was hot gossip. Of course.

"Ayumi Jasmine," Aika said, and sketched in her background.

"She doesn't want to become a Prima, though?" Alice asked. She sounded a little dubious about that lack of ambition.

Aika shrugged slightly, "I think she might suit Akari, maybe."

Alice still looked unconvinced.

"Why not go see her?" Aika suggested.

"We can't do that!" Alice yelped.

Sometime later...

"Hello, Miss Aika," Ayumi said, blinking at the ODD outfit her boss was wearing.

Both Alice and Aika were in long coats, wearing hats. And sunglasses.

Alice sighed, "We were supposed to be in disguise."

Ayumi looked amused, "Ma'am, you're BOTH pretty famous."

"Ugh," Aika took off her floppy hat with a sigh.

"All right," Alice decided to get right to the point and demanded, "what are your intentions towards our friend Akari?!"

"What?" Ayumi paled.

"Do you intend to make an honest woman of her?" Aika followed up.

"Wait, wait...," Ayumi waved. She took a breath, "We're friends. Well, mostly... I mean, I like her. A LOT. But..."

"So you're NOT dating?" Alice actually looked disappointed.

"Well, I'd LIKE to," Ayumi admitted.

Aika exchanged a look with Alice. "Uhm... sorry to jump all over you," Aika apologized.

"It's nice that Akari has such good friends," Ayumi noted wryly.

0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0

"They did WHAT." Akari yelped.

"Easy, easy," Ayumi said, "I thought it was cute."

Akari sighed, "I am SO sorry..."

Ayumi just laughed.

"I think they may have gotten the idea from Alicia," Akari admitted sheepishly, "I kind of mentioned you to her, you see."

"Oh?" Ayumi looked curious.

Akari blushed slightly. "I may have... sort of... said I'd like to date you," she confessed.

There was a beat of silence, then Ayumi answered, "Me too."

"What." Akari looked at her in surprise, then smiled.

Ayumi shrugged eloquently. "So... maybe we could go out on a date, then?" she suggested.

"I'd really like that," Akari beamed.

Ayumi looked at the smiling Akira and just couldn't help herself. She leaned forward a bit, tilted her head then pressed her lips to hers'.

"Hmmm," Akari sighed as they kissed lingeringly.

"Sorry, I just couldn't help myself," Ayumi admitted quietly.

"... that was my first kiss," Akari confessed.

"EEEEP," Ayumi blushed.

End...?

OMAKE

"You stole Akari's first kiss?!" Aria yelled.

"I didn't mean to!" Ayumi cried.

"She can never get married now..." Alice noted grimly.

"WHAT? That's not how it works." Ayumi protested.

"YOU will have to marry her now. It's the only way." Aria decided.

"... I'm okay with that." Ayumi admitted

END.

Notes: YES, way long time. Sorry. Life kinda kicked my ass on various things. Anyway... there's a fourth series of OVAs, and a Aria MOVIE coming. Hopefully will see them eventually, then may add to this. Otherwise, consider this it.

Thanks for reading!