The weeks that followed were of subtle bliss for Kento and Lita. Their love was nothing elaborate, it was a simple love, and what made it simple is what made it complete. Naturally the word had gotten out quite quickly through the circle of friends that the two had finally "made peace" with each other. So everything picked up as is and the buzz of each day passed with the playing out of a normal routine.
Lita was locking up the restaurant for the night and began her trek home, she rarely drove to work, on occasion when she was late she would but otherwise she would walk. As she walked down the street she gazed into store front windows and glanced around at all the products. There was a dress shop window that always gained her attention for more than a minute. She loved to look at the elaborately overpriced gowns that reminded her of times long gone. After sighing multiple times as most women do when they see something they can't have, she continued walking. The night sky was dark, as it should be, but overcast with clouds blocking out even the little amount of light the moon gave off. Lita used the street lamps as her guide and was just making it home when it began to rain. The moment she stepped through her door she heard a loud crash of thunder.
"Should be lightening following any minute now." She said to herself.
And sure enough, a few moments later the sky became illuminated with bold flashes of lightening. She looked around the room and noticed her dog had not come to greet her. She wandered around the apartment calling his name, but he didn't come. Finally she resulted to looking under the furniture. After overturning everything but the kitchen sink she decided one more time to look under the couch. She squinted hard as she peered into the darkness of the catacombs beneath the sofa. Managing to make out a small shivering figure in the far corner she whispered her dog's name once again and the small figure began to slowly scoot its way toward her. When he was close enough she dragged the dog the rest of the way out from under the couch and held him close.
"Don't tell me you're afraid of a little thunder and lightening?" she said and dropped him.
Another crash sounded outside and the dog scurried back under the couch. Lita got up from the floor and set up a chair by the window and went and made herself some rice. She went and sat down in front of the window to watch the weather and propped her feet up on the sill eating her rice in complete serenity. She had been sitting for an hour when she was beginning to doze off and heard the phone ring. She picked it up and it was none other than Kento.
"Why are you calling so late?" she asked in a tired voice.
"You call this late?" He responded. "It's called caffeine, my dear, does wonders for the body and mind."
Lita chuckled.
"I have a question for you." He said. "What would you do if you wanted to say something…"
"Well I'd imagine I'd say it." Lita interjected.
"No no, you wanted to say it but you couldn't."
"Kento, is there something you want to say to me?"
"Possibly."
"Well, I hope you'll work it out, for now I'm going to bed."
"Wait, wiat!"
"Yes?"
"Oh, nothing."
"That's what I figured. I'll see you tomorrow Kento."
"Tomorrow?"
"Yeah, that's when we're all meeting and Sage and Serena's again remember? To reconvene? "
"Re con what?"
"Nevermind, I'll see you then."
"Alright, bye."
Kento sounded a little disappointed. Even in the weeks that had passed Lita had not yet been fully used to the fact that they were not casual friends anymore.
"I love you." She quickly added with the utmost sincerity before he hung up.
"Right back at ya." He said sounding a little better. "Goodnight."
"Goodnight." She said smiling to herself and hung the phone up.
Lita eventually made her way to bed and plopped down on her mattress. The next day practically the entire group showed up to Sage and Serena's house on time. It was about half past one, the original meeting time when Kento finally showed up.
"Hey look who decided to grace us with his presence." Rowen said.
"I got held up." Kento said placing his coat on a rack behind the door.
"By what?" Lita asked.
"Swimming across the ocean….. it doesn't matter." He replied quickly.
"Alright." Lita said a little taken aback.
He took a seat on the couch next to her and a discussion began about everyone's plans for the next few months. Not far into it Lita noticed something different about Amy who had been rather quiet and seemed to be staring out the window frequently.
"Amy!" She said aloud. "You have a new ring on your finger!"
"What!" The rest of them chimed in.
"Oh!" Amy said blushing though she was surprised by it as well. "Yes, I do."
"Cye you little devil." Ryo said prodding Cye in the arm.
"Hey Amy." Serena said. "You seem to have it on the wrong hand there."
"Well, actually it's a promise ring." Cye explained. "I saw it in the window and I immediately thought of Amy so I decided I would get it."
"It's beautiful." Mina chimed in. "When did this happen?"
Cye proceeded to regail the group with the recounting his unveiling of the ring involving a hot air balloon and a large stretch of ocean. The girls sighed with delight and all of the guys, except for Sage of course, wondered whether or not they should be happy for him or frustrated now that they would have to make an attempt to top his stunt on any future dates.
"I think it's great." Serena said.
"Well!" Raye began. "Anyone else have any small 'jewels' that they're hiding. Serena you're not knocked up are you?"
"Hey! I resent that." Serena huffed.
"That's uncalled for Raye" Sage said calmly.
"In all seriousness though guys," Ryo said. "Anything new happening that we should know about?"
"Well," Mina said stolidly. "I bought Rowen a watch."
Rowen smiled and held up his wrist.
"It's true, top of the line. It's not exactly an engagement ring, but it tells me the time just fine."
"Raye actually stepped out of the temple and spoke to a living person." Ryo smirked.
Raye got an offended look on her face and playfully slugged Ryo in the arm. If there was anyone who could get away with those type of comments around Raye it was Ryo.
"I wouldn't consider you a living person, you dead beat." She said smiling.
"Things are pretty normal for me at the restaurant, nothing new here." Lita said.
There was a pause in the group and everyone's eyes rested on Kento for a moment.
"Oh I bought a ring too." He said in a cool tone.
"What would you need a ring for Kento?" Lita asked.
"It's not for me." He said with a slight smile.