AN: Sorry I haven't updated in a while. Enjoy the next chapter!

Joushou-Sensei- Glad you like, hope you enjoy!

MochiMochi-tan- Good for you! Be sure to make reviewing a habit! :-D Ai make slipups? Oh ye of little faith…;-)

devilYuki- It's gonna be continued, I've just been very busy half the time and very lazy the other half. :-D

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"Do you need help with the obi?" Aoi asked Ai pleasantly.

Ai swallowed. "Y-yeah, sure." It was so weird and strange seeing her mother like this.

"I tie these very often," Aoi said conversationally. "Daddy loves kimonos and buys me them pretty often, along with yukatas. This red one looks really pretty on you, Ai."

"Thanks," Ai murmured. Aoi herself was wearing a midnight blue kimono with lovely silver designs on it. She looked like a night goddess in the ancient legends. Aoi sighed and wished for the thousandth time she looked more like her mother.

Well, Tatsuma thought I looked like her. Ai reminded herself. She felt slightly less panicked about her whole situation since Tatsuma knew about it, but it didn't quell her nervousness. This just had to work!

There was a knock at the door and Aoi smiled. "That must be the rest of them," She said serenely. "You're set to go."

Ai nodded and mother and daughter walked to the foyer and exited the house.

XXXXX

"Oh, Aoi! You look so pretty!" Komaki exclaimed. She did not say anything about Ai's kimono. Ai suspected that Komaki was still annoyed about agreeing to the 'let's get Kyouichi and Aoi together' plot. Still, Komaki herself looked very lovely in a dark green kimono. Daigo couldn't keep his eyes off of her.

Ai sidled next to Tatsuma. "I'm feeling better about this," She whispered. "Look how pretty mom looks! There's no way dad'll not fall for her."

"It sounds weird when you refer to them like that," Tatsuma remarked conversationally. "But I agree with you. You look really nice yourself, by the way."

Ai blinked; she hadn't been expecting that. "Thanks," She muttered. "Where is dad—Kyouichi anyway?"

"He said he'd meet us at the festival." Tatsuma said breezily. "Let's get going."

Out of the corner of Ai's eye, she noticed a multi-colored flash. She whipped around.

"What is it?" Komaki demanded huffily.

"Nothing," Ai said slowly. "I guess I just imagined it…"

XXXXX

The entire street was lit up with paper lanterns. Ai was mightily impressed by the spectacle. The group met up with Kyouichi and started wandering around aimlessly. To Ai's disappointment, Kyouichi did not give Aoi the same puppy dog look Daigo gave Komaki. He merely glanced at her and stuck close to Tatsuma. Ai knew this would take some teamwork.

"Well, I don't know about you guys, but I'd like to play some festival games!" Komaki declared.

"I'll go with you, Sakurai!" Daigo said eagerly.

"'Kay," Komaki said indifferently. "You wanna come, Aoi?"

"Maybe a little later," Aoi replied. "I wanted to set my lantern afloat earlier his year—to try and get some more protection from my ancestors. Anyone want to come with me?"

An idea crept into Tatsuma's head. "I'll go with Aoi."

"Yeah, I'll go too, I'm not hungry and not into festival games," Kyouichi said seeing that Tatsuma was going.

"I'm actually kind of hungry," Ai said looking confusedly at Tatsuma. "I was going to get something to eat."

"That's a good idea!" Tatsuma said quickly. "Tell you what, sinceyou'renewI'llmakesureyoudon'tgetlostKyouichiwilltakeAoiandwe'llmeetbacklaterkayseeyoubye!" Tatsuma grabbed Ai's hand and immediately disappeared. Komaki grumbled, grabbed Daigo's sleeve and stalked off leaving Kyouichi and Aoi alone.

Kyouichi blinked. "Wait, what just happened?"

"I'm not exactly sure," Aoi admitted. She gave Kyouichi a sideways glance. "Do you still want to come with me?"

Kyouichi twisted his mouth a little. "Well—fine, sure. Whatever." The two of them determinedly didn't look at each other as they started towards the water.

XXXXX

"That wasn't exactly subtle," Ai said dryly as Tatsuma led her to the food stands. Tatsuma shrugged.

"We don't have time for subtle," He said merrily. "Besides, it's best we get them together as soon as possible."

Ai frowned. "But shouldn't we try not to rush things? You can't rush love, right?"

Tatsuma shrugged again. "Maybe, but we can plant as many seeds as possible." He ordered a small cardboard plate of yakisoba and began to eat thoughtfully. Ai ordered her own.

"You're surprisingly gung-ho about all of this," Ai remarked. "Komaki still wants to kill me."

Tatsuma laughed. "She'll get over it. Kyouichi doesn't seem like it, but he is a very loyal guy. I know he'll take care of Aoi just as well as I could. Of course you already know that." He smiled at her.

Ai nodded and then froze. She reran the words in her head…"just as well as I could…" Did Tatsuma like her mom too?! Ai opened her mouth to ask when a wave of nausea overcame her. She groaned and held her stomach.

"What's wrong?" Tatsuma asked concerned.

"I feel sick…" Aoi gasped. "I feel like…like something terrible is about to happen!"

XXXXX

Aoi lit the candle. She took a deep breath and silently said her prayer. Unbeknownst, Kyouichi watched her. She looked very lovely against the firelight…

Kyouichi shook himself abruptly. Enough of that. "What'd you pray for?" He cleared his throat.

Aoi looked up at him from her kneeling position. "I prayed for my ancestors to watch over us as we fight, to give us their protection," She smiled faintly.

Kyouichi nodded brusquely.

"Would you like to say a prayer too?" Aoi offered. "We can both send it out."

Kyouichi shrugged. "I'm not much of a praying guy."

"Well, is there anyone you'd like to honor?" Aoi asked quietly. "Anyone who passed away?"

His mouth felt dry. "My dad."

Aoi's large eyes looked sad. She took his hands and gently placed them on the little boat. Together, the two of them set the lighted boat afloat. Its glow floated away from them, its warm light strangely comforting. Kyouichi's hands were still on Aoi's. The two of them watched their boat float away and then turned, looking at each other.

"Aoi…" Kyouichi started to say.

"Yes?" Aoi whispered.

"I…" His expression changed. "What the hell is that?!"

And then a burst of light interrupted them both.