Accept

"I told him! I told him! And I think he believed me!"

"You should be commended for your well-accomplished task."

"Huh?"

"…Good job."

"Haha, 'kay, I get it now!"

"Right." An impatient sigh. "The stage has been set. It is time for the curtain to rise."

"Um, yeah, sure, whatever. I just wanna get Kenji-kun is the sack is all; forget all of that other boring stuff!"

Light jade yellow eyes flickered a bit wistfully at her deceptive personality and clever wit. "Of course. As I would like to have Madam Uriko as my darling."

"Uh huh, I guess so. I don't like that chick, soaking up all the attention from the guys at the school… She's the only one that's almost a tenth as popular as I am!"

An eyebrow quirked in disbelief. "I am certain…"

"Hey! You being sarcastic or somethin'?"

"Not intentionally. Well now, to add gasoline to the flames of fury, I shall aim to make the lady my sweetheart, have her be my, how you say, 'date' for the social event occurring this weekend."

"…You're talking about the prom, right?"

"Yes. Now come, the lunch hour is about to end. I will speak with Ohgami after our conjoined athletic sports and exercise class."

"…That's called P.E."

"Thank you, my modern adolescent mentor."

*****

"Hey, Ohgami, somethin' wrong or what?"

Absentmindedly shoving his gym clothes into his locker, Kenji faintly shook his head and replied to his basketball teammate, "No. I'm fine."

"You missed half of your shots today in the game. What's up with you?"

"We still won," he remarked bitterly, slamming the small door closed and then straddled his backpack strap over his shoulder.

Without waiting for an answer from his peer, he quickly strode out of the locker room with his head hung low; shaky light brown eyes focused on the ground. His conflicting emotions reflected in his dark pupils, but he refused to allow other people to acknowledge his current inner struggle, and quickly shielded them over. Never a confiding person except to his former best friend, the sixteen-year-old was starting to retract into his private, secure little shell again, regaining his original, outcast personality. Yet many of his school peers had not noticed his attitude change, as it was still too early, so they treated him the same; girls trying to win his affection as usual, while the guys wondered about his natural athletic ability.

Seconds later, as he was making his way toward the quad, a hand slapped his back rather forcefully and a familiar, confident voice drawled near his ear, "Greetings, Ohgami!"

Goddamn it. "Cronos." The ninja snapped bitterly, raising a hand to distance the other student away from him as he continued walking, and grew annoyed when he was being followed him all the while. Finally, he stopped and turned around, glaring as he growled, "What do you want."

"Tomorrow night is the ever-memorable social event, the prom," the jade-haired teenager spoke, offering the younger boy an unreadable smirk. "Who are you going with? Could it be… Madam Uriko?"

A day had gone by since his argument with his best friend, and fortunately, no one at school really knew of the severing and deep wounds inflicted into their friendship. He wouldn't have to worry about being discovered for a while, since Uriko was never one to gossip and spread whatever new information she had on current ongoings, most of all the private relationships in her life. Maybe even summer vacation would arrive, and still no outsiders would know of their secret until the next school year began that fall. But of course, over time, the other students would start to notice the pair hanging around each other less often, and inquiries might lead to an accidentally revealing of their broken status.

"No." was his hissed answer. "I don't care to attend the prom tomorrow. I have better things to do."

"Oh?" Cronos feigned a shocked expression. "That is a pity, it truly is. I know of a maiden whom does not have a date and would like you to escort her to the prom; she is one of your many admirers." His eyes grew dark for a second at the mention.

"Great." The mole zoanthrope said uninterestedly, starting to head for the hallway and his next period, but then was held back and blood red ire briefly flashed in his pupils as he pivoted to look at the new student. "What else do you want to bother me with??"

"Well, if you really do not wish to know…" the seventeen-year-old sneered and began to turn away, brushing his light green bangs over to the sides of his face.

The tickets that he'd purchased for the prom were tucked in a slip of his wallet; sometimes he felt like the leather was burning his hand when he held the object. A few beats later, the cobalt-haired ninja sighed in exasperation and he displayed a frustrated expression as he finally relented to his curiosity, running up to the other scholar. "Wait! All right, all right, Cronos. What is her name, really."

Cronos grinned, as if he were pleased of the submission. "A very friendly lady, one of the first acquaintances I engaged with when I transferred to this new school. She is earnest, outspoken, entertaining to be around, and a pleasant person, adequate for you to escort to the prom with by her side as dates."

"Stop milking it, Daki." The younger teen spoke impatiently.

The wide smile stretching over his lips extended even further. "Wendy Kesler."

"Oh." Kenji nodded, seeming less hostile as he remembered the name and the person. "Yes, I know of her. Not very well, but we have met and spoken before."

"Splendid! You two would make a marvelous pair."

"To each their own," the mole zoanthrope commented, shrugging as he once more started heading for the hallway, "Now if you will excuse me, I have to get to class."

"Sure, sure, school is the most important subject on your mind, after all, is that not true?" The light verdant-haired student snickered from a few feet behind his retreating figure. "Be sure, however, that I aim to make Madam Uriko my sweetheart, and I will walk into the prom tomorrow night with her arm hooked into mine."

"Shut up…" the sixteen-year-old muttered under his breath, trying to shut out the taunting words as his head bowed and he quickened his pace to escape into his next period. Although… perhaps his idea is not a bad one - asking Uriko to the prom is not an option, and to waste the tickets would be a shame.

*****

…Sigh…

The young feline absentmindedly threw her long brown hair over her shoulder as she strolled down the sidewalk, not bothering with the stray bangs loosely fall into her forehead. The cool air breezing around chilled her lower legs, bared by the shortness of her school uniform skirt, making the girl shiver slightly and hug her textbook more closely to her chest. Glancing up at the sky, she bit her lip in apprehension at the gray storm clouds gathering together overhead, foreshadowing the coming of rain. The hair on her arms rose, while goosebumps prickled along her skin, and she grumbled in wordless complaint, a little annoyed that she hadn't taken an umbrella with her that morning.

Her spirits weren't exactly enlightened at the moment either; she had found out in her last period, news of her former best friend asking the popular Wendy Kesler to the prom, and of course, the fiery-haired girl had accepted. She was one of his most intent pursuers, and during free time granted by their teacher, had strutted about the classroom, feeding fuel to her posse about how they were going to get a hotel room after the dance ended. Her followers swooned and remarked how they all envied her unbelievable luck, whereas Uriko doubted that the ninja even knew what happened between the two dates on prom night. She wanted so badly to go and warn him of Wendy's intention, but the anger regarding how he'd quickly turned against in their fight the day before would always resurface and she would think; It serves him right.

"Beep, beep!" A horn honked at her from behind just then, startling her out of her thinking.

The sudden noise jostled and startled her, and the sixteen-year-old whirled around to face the softly rumbles emitting from the engine of a creamy beige Mercedes rolling up to the curb. Apprehension shaking her nerves, a frown marred her brows as she turned her back on the vehicle and started walking away, ignoring the honking that continued. Finally, the female student pivoted her body to face the Benz, placing a hand on her waist in exasperation at the persistence, a bit shocked to see it slow to a stop next to the sidewalk. Blinking in surprise, she stared at the black glass covering the four windows of the car, shielding the identity of its driver, and when the one on the passenger side slid down, she met the light jade-yellow eyes of her schoolmate.

"Cronos!"

"Milady Uriko," he greeted smoothly as he leaned toward her from his seat, his pupils flashing at her enticingly before he bowed his head a little for emphasis.

"Um… hi…" the cat zoanthrope replied, slightly uncomfortably as she shifted her book to tuck it more securely underneath her armpits to avoid the light sprinkle of rain that started to come down from the clouds above.

"Oh, do come in," he invited, reaching for the handle and with a soft click, pushed open the passenger door. "You mustn't continue strolling about outside, or you will soon be drenched by the rain."

Tilting her head up and glancing at the stormy grayness consuming the sky, Uriko had to reluctantly agree, "I guess you're right," and with a small sigh, she stepped off the pavement and slipped into the seat, shutting the door closed afterwards. Nodding in agreement, the verdant-haired teenager pulled away from the curb, and drove on down the street, quickly sneaking a peek in her direction with a pleased smile touching his glossy lips. Not noticing his action, she buckled her seatbelt and merely glanced around at the inside of his car, taking in the fuzzy beige carpeting and matching colored covering. She inhaled deeply, and a fresh, musky scent teased her senses, reminding her of a newly washed smell, and her palm rested on her seat next to her thigh, absorbing the smooth silky feel underneath.

"It is relaxing to acknowledge that you trust me." He spoke at that moment, interpreting her exploration of his vehicle as impressed awe instead of innocent curiosity. "And I see that you are intrigued by my automobile."

"What?" She shook her head out of her dazed state, then flashed him a diminutive smile, "Oh, yeah, sure. Um, thank you for giving me a ride home."

Cronos inquired her of the directions, and the auburn-haired girl blushed, then gave them to him, light blush of embarrassment dotting her cheeks. He chuckled good-naturedly, training his eyes carefully on the road as he asked, "The weekend has finally arrived; you must be relieved as all the other students of our school at this upcoming, no?"

She nodded with an enthusiastic grin at the mention of the weekend. "Definitely, this week feels like it's been going on forever, you know what I mean? And all that prom talk going around is beginning to pour out of my ears!"

He slowed the speed down a bit as he checked around before tugging the steering wheel to the right and turning his car in the same direction. "I agree wholeheartedly on the subject. All this conversing over an event that I am not even attending, it does irk me at times, especially when a few of my peers jeer at me about not going when they are."

The feline glanced at him empathetically. "Yeah, I know how ya feel. My best girl friend just got invited by this guy she has a huge crush on, and she was asking me why I wasn't going to the prom."

"Hmm, well, I want to go," Cronos said nonchalantly, "And I already purchased two tickets for this prom night occurring on the morrow's eve; however, I fear that it is too late at this time for me to seek a date." He sighed wistfully. "Tsk, tsk, what a dilemma that has been bestowed upon my person…"

A sympathetic look inhibited her large brown irises. "Have you gone to a prom before? I mean, at your old school, the one you went to before transferring over here."

"Oh…" she sighed, then turned to glance out the window, listening to the rain lightly tinkle onto the glass, watching the wet drops slowly slide down the curve. "So you wanted to try this out for the first time, right? Got prepared, bought tickets and everything."

"Yes," the male student confirmed, a small grin touching his lips. Oh, woe is me… Express your companion, my lovely maiden.

"Hey, we're here," Uriko spoke at that moment, pointing to her house that was just a couple yards away. "That's it."

"Tsk, you are leaving all too soon," her schoolmate teased, slowing his car to a stop. Leaning over to her side, he quickly brushed a kiss against her temple, the feel of her soft skin underneath his lips stirring alive a hormonal emotion hidden within him. Hiding his expression, the verdant-haired teenager ducked his head with a secretive smile, missing the surprised look on her face; the girl blinked at him, unsure of how to interpret his action. Gently touching his arm in response, she reached her other arm over and hooked her fingers under the handle near her, tugging it up and pushing the door open. Sliding her legs off the edge of her seat, the feline zoanthrope began to step out of his Mercedes, when all of a sudden she felt resistance hold back her wrist.

"Milady Uriko," her acquaintance started to remark smoothly, "This may be a farfetched request… and I would pinch myself to wake up from a blissful dream if you acclaimed, but would you grant me the honor of being my date for the prom occurring on the morrow's eve?"

For a moment, she fell into silence, glancing down at her knees as the muscles of her neck tensed slightly, a part of her mind mourning the loss of the possibility of her best friend going to the prom with her. That chance was mercilessly slaughtered, as their heated argument from the day before still made both of them uncomfortable around each other. She didn't know how long it would take until they mended their friendship together again, but it didn't seem like that would happen in the near future. With that thought in mind, the auburn-haired teenager gathered together her bruised pride while narrowing her eyes in determination, and nodded slightly in silent agreement.

Briefly looking in the other boy's direction, she smiled and replied, "I'd love to go with you."

His face immediately lit up with elation, and a satisfied smirk flickered upon his lips, then he hastily wiped it away before she could catch sight of the expression; Cronos displayed a warm beam at her instead. "Marvelous! You do not know how overjoyed I am at your acceptance of my invitation."

"I hope we'll have a fun time together," she offered him a small grin and inwardly sighed in relief when he released his hold on her so that she could arise from her seat and stand onto the sidewalk near her residence. "Your first prom, you're probably excited about it."

"Indubitably, I am now, knowing that you are my escort," the seventeen-year-old regarded her with a sparkle twinkling in his light yellow eyes. "Unfortunately, I must bid you farewell, for my guardian requires I return home immediately after school to complete the many assignments my teachers are occupying my free time with. But I shall be back in the heavenly vicinity of your presence when I pick you up tomorrow night, should we arrange, at approximately eight-thirty? We can dine together before proceeding to the hotel where the event is being held, if you wish."

"Okay, sure," she agreed, shrugging casually, then shut the passenger door and waved to him as she began to ascend the walkway to her house, "See you tomorrow!"

"Farewell, sweet princess," he murmured, blowing an invisible kiss to her retreating back.

Watching her through the transparent glass while she unlocked the front door and disappeared into her dwelling, a gratified expression crossed his features, making his eyebrows arc in a contemptuous manner. Images of what her prom attire would be, and remembering many of the ongoings that his other peers had whispered around the campus about what happened on prom night, Cronos began to laugh aloud. Now, what he wanted was finally within his grasp, and there were no obstacles in his way that could steer him from attaining his prize, especially that tiresome former rival of his. Calming down, he whispered inaudible nothings under his breath and chuckled lowly, a twinge of slyness in his tone as he revved up the engine of his car, and pulled away from the curb.