Chapter 4:
Different People
"You did what!?" Nabiki exclaimed just after she forced a sip of water down so as not to shower her sister, nor to choke on her own surprise. "I had no idea my little sister could be so bold."
"Nabiki! You said no one would think differently." Akane held her pillow tightly and pulled it closer to herself as she tried to bury her face in it.
"Well, look, I promise I won't tell anyone, Besides, you aren't the only one who's tried it." Nabiki thought for a moment, then smiled at Akane. "Besides, no one would believe it anyways. So, what happened after you kissed her?"
"Nothing, she pulled away, then smiled and shook her head. Then she told me to just stay true to my heart and Ryouga." Akane lifted her head from the pillow and sighed slightly. "And now I'm more confused then ever."
"Is that so? So, what are you gonna tell Ryouga?"
"I'm not going to tell him anything, and you aren't either, you promised. It's just, everything feels so akward around Nodoka, it's like she's someone else." Akane grabbed her head and ruffled her hair a bit in frustration.
"Did you feel anything?" Nabiki walked towards her sister's bed and sat next to her.
"I don't know how to explain that. There was something, but it felt distant, wrong, like it wasn't the right person."
"Don't worry so much about it Akane, it's probably just an experimental stage you're going through or something. You love Ryouga, we both know that, you're just experiencing something new, that's all. So, what are you gonna do now?" Nabiki smiled a bit and placed an arm on Akane's shoulder.
"I... I think I'm gonna pretend it never happened, things are just getting too wierd and complicated."
"If you think that's wise. I just hope you don't chase Nodoka off, she's a nice girl, and I'd hate to see you lose a new friend." Nabiki had always had a way with words around Akane. Despite her outward reputation as the Ice Queen, Akane had come to trust her sister when it really mattered, especially situations like this, where she wasn't sure how Kasumi would react. It had been like that the first time Ryouga had snuck into her room late at night too. She didn't know who to talk to, until Nabiki cornered her and forced a confession. Ever since, she'd bonded more with Nabiki, and trusted her with secrets she couldn't trust with anyone else. Usually, she gained as much blackmail material as she had given, the perfect balance to keep Nabiki's lips sealed.
Akane opened her mouth slightly, she wanted to share her theory, though it still seemed odd. She closed her mouth and sighed, even Nabiki probably wouldn't believe that one, and there were still limits to what she could safely share with her. "Thanks Nabiki, you've been a big help again."
"No worries there Akane, just remember, same price as always."
"Right, We'll go get ice cream after school tomorrow then, my treat, just try not to clean out my piggy bank again."
--
Akane stared at the empty desk next to her. It had been two days since she had that kiss with Nodoka, and still the girl hadn't been back to school. She felt a slight knot in her chest, wondering if she had done something wrong. Nodoka had hardly said anything else after the kiss, and there was a lot of akward silence, and now she was missing from class as well.
She had hardly noticed the bell had rung to end class, until Ryouga placed his hand on hers and smiled at her. "You sure seem spaced out today Akane, what's up?"
Her blank stare broke as she turned her head to Ryouga and looked up at him. "Nothing really, I was just wondering where Nodoka's been the last couple days."
"Yeah, I was wondering about her too, it's wierd for a new studant to go missing like that so soon after transfering in. Anyways, I was going to head over to the Okonomiyaki shop, you want to come with me? We haven't been out alone together in a while." He smiled slightly and offered his hand.
"Sure, that sounds nice." Akane stood up and kissed Ryouga. The haze in her mind cleared and everything felt right again, though deep down, something stirred in her heart screaming at her that something was still off. What it was, she had no idea.
--
Nodoka sat in bed, covered in heavy blankets and fighting off a cough. She had wanted to go to school that morning, but her mother wouldn't allow it. Two days straight and it seemed she'd likely be stuck in her bed at least another two with her cold.
At least the letter from her father had left her in slightly higher spirits. She'd started looking forward to his letters in the weeks since he'd left, it was actually nice to hear stories of his travels without actually sharing on those trips.
However, there was still the gloom she felt from missing school. She worried about Akane, especially since the last time she saw her, they had parted in a rather uncomfortable manner. She sighed as she picked up one of her old stuffed animals from her childhood, coughed a couple times, then hugged it tightly. "She probably thinks I hate her..."
--
Ukyo smiled and waved to Ryouga and Akane as they entered her fathers shop. She was alone behind the counter, as her father was upstairs perfecting a new sauce recipe that he had claimed came to him in a dream. Ukyo rather enjoyed having the shop to herself, the place was more peaceful, more quite, less like a battlefield. "Hey you two, the usual?"
Ryouga chuckled as he led Akane to the bar and helped her to be seated then sat next to her. He nodded to Ukyo. "You know us too well Ukyo."
Akane smiled at Ukyo, then leaned against Ryouga. Ukyo had been one of her closest friend's for years, and she'd procrastinated long enough in sharing the good news. She rested her left hand knowingly on the bar as Ukyo turned around to cook, and quietly waited for either the right moment, or for the chef to notice the ring.
They hadn't told anyone outside the Tendo family that they had become engaged, and except for Nodoka who had seen the proposal, only Kuno knew, and that was privelaged information gained by his relationship with Nabiki.
A few moments had passed, and Ukyo turned around, placing the Japanese pizza before the young couple. Akane smiled at her friend then raised her left hand a bit to flash the ring. "Actually Ukyo, there was something I wanted to ask you."
Ukyo stared at the ring, then to Ryouga, and then Akane smiling. "Oh my god Akane, congratulations, I was starting to wonder when you two would take that step."
Akane blushed as Ryouga attempted to ignore the ensuing girl chatter by stuffing his face, that worked for several minutes until the conversation died down a bit. "Anyways Ukyo, I, I want you to be my Maid of Honor."
"Really? So, you're having a western style wedding then? Funny, I always pictured you as the more traditional type Akane. Yeah, I'd love to." Ukyo chuckled slightly.
The young couple paid thier bill, and left the shop. After a moment of walking, Ryouga paused, and took Akane's hand. She stopped a half step past him, then turned to look at him. "What's the matter Ryouga?"
"It's nothing Akane, I just wanted tonight to be special."
"Why? What's so special about tonight?"
"It was this day, three years ago that I confessed to you. It was on this day, three years ago that I took my greatest chance, and I wanted to celebrate the great success that gamble has given to me." He smiled a bit, then kissed her softly.
It was as the kiss broke that she felt a strangely shaped object in her hand. She raised it up and looked at it, to realize it was a key. Words didn't come to her as she quietly stared at it, there were many possibly implications for a key, the most likely being a room at the love hotel, but she'd known Ryouga for a long time, and that simply wasn't his style. "What is this?"
"I, I've been working hard for the last several months, and I finally saved enough money with Nabiki's help. I know we're both still in High School, but, I got an apartment, and, I'd like for you to move in with me."
Akane blinked, she didn't know what to say. Ryouga had grown up a lot in the last few years, but she'd never been sure to what extent. To see him already providing them, as a couple, a home, she was nearly to tears. "I, I will Ryouga!" She flung her arms around him and held him tightly.