01<@Ardweden> [Friday, December 20, 2003.] 01<@Ardweden> [Today was the last day of classes before winter break, and Akemi wanted to celebrate with lunch and a walk through the streets to look at the Christmas decorations! She has a brief break between school and work, as does Kaede (well, in his case, it's school and family as he told Nanami he'd have dinner at her place, but still...) So that's where they are: on the streets in a nice shopping district in Tokyo. It's a cold, overcast almost-evening, with heavy clouds that promise freezing rain or maybe even snow.] 01<@Ardweden> [But for now, the weather's holding up, the blue and white lights are already twinkling and shining along the street, and they can be the adorable couple that they are.] 01<@Ardweden> [Today, Akemi's wearing a short pleated skirt with warmer leggings and boots, a poofy white coat that goes to her waist, and fuzzy hot pink earmuffs and mittens. Her smile is infectious as she bounces from window to window, looking at the decorations inside.] 01<@Ardweden> [Start!] 06* Kaede *is* walking with Akemi, as affectionate as he can be. Which is hands in his pockets, watching Akemi go along. He's *not* smiling, but he's not *frowning* either. He just peers to try and see what window she's looking into. 01<@Ardweden> [Inside is flowers. Lots of red and white poinsettias, with white lights and fake snow around them. "Aren't they pretty?" Akemi asks. "I love Christmas flowers. I would've checked them out earlier but then there was the photoshoot and that one commercial I had to do with the toothpaste, and also that test for Algebra..." She makes a face. It's cute, but it's still a face.] 06* Kaede pinches his fingers together, trying to *avoid* the cute face, keeping his other hand in his pocket. Best way to stay warm. At least he brought his coat. "I told you, I'm not changing your grade in Algebra. It's something you have to learn for yourself, Shiraishi-san." He then glances poinsettia word and gives them an inspecting look. 01<@Ardweden> ["But why do I even *need* to know Algebra?" Akemi whines. "I'm not going to do math with my life. When do you have to know when X equals the square root of Y minus B plus seven hundred and sixty divided by twelve anyway?"] 06* Kaede pinches the bridge of his nose and sighs. "Well, it's useful...but I understand not everyone is going to use polynomials and designing curves..." He'll probably regret that last word there in a moment or two in front of Akemi. 06* Kaede adds, pushing up his glasses with a sigh. "Besides. I like it better when you act as intelligent as you actually are..." 01<@Ardweden> ["Curves are pretty smart and sexy," Akemi admits, and the next thing Kaede knows, she's pressing herself snugly against his back while he keeps talking to the window (and avoiding her pout). Her arms wrap around him, and she says into his ear, "So I guess it's not a total waste."] 06* Kaede freezes up as Akemi comes up to his back. He *really* should have expected this. How come freezing up leaves him so hot under the collar? "I..well.." He clears his throat. "Yes." He then points to the flowers. "So is that what you want from me?" 01<@Ardweden> [Kaede can't hear the pout, but he can feel it. "I'd *like* a passing grade. But since that's not happening..." She pulls away from him, but his arm is thoroughly in her grasp. "Come on!"] 06* Kaede almost *yelps* as she tugs on his arm and takes a brief stumble, letting himself get dragged along with Akemi's enthusiasm. "H- hey! I've been bus--I'll help you out, okay??" Stumble stumble stumble step. 01<@Ardweden> [Akemi giggles and slows down just enough that Kaede doesn't faceplant. "We've *both* been busy," she corrects. "Besides! It's your job as my manager-plus-boyfriend to figure out what I want for Christmas."] 01<@Ardweden> [They continue down the road, Akemi remarking on stuff, Kaede blushing (probably due to the stuff) when they finally come across a Kentucky Fried Chicken, a statue of the Colonel outside and wearing his finest Santa Suit. In his hands is a flashing flat screen display, which is clearly Countdown to Christmas Eve. "Oh," Akemi says, delighted, "Christmas chicken!"] 06* Kaede looks at the Colonel's harsh gaze, and then a glance to Akemi. Then he tilts his head down a little bit. "Christmas...I...I totally forgot..." He glances back up as his hand goes in his pocket. Way, way too late, isn't it?" 01<@Ardweden> [It's under four days. That's... pretty damn late. Kaede's never tried to preorder KFC for Christmas, but he does recall maybe three years ago, when he was out on Christmas Eve and saw the line for one of those places wrapping halfway around the block.] 06* Kaede looks a bit fretful and goes checking his pockets. *Maybe* he could buy off someone else's reservations...or he could just hack the computer listings saying he doesn't have a reservations...bumping someone else out...decisions decisions. He's *fidgeting*. 01<@Ardweden> ["Kaede?" Akemi looks at her boyfriend, concerned. "Are you okay?" Pause. "Did you *actually* forget?" Oh god, there's the question.] 06* Kaede looks back concerned as well, looking past Akemi and rubbing the back of his head. "Is it...uh...is it actually that *important*? I mean..." 01<@Ardweden> ["Of course it's important," Akemi answers automatically. She peers up into Kaede's eyes, evading all attempts he makes to look away (and he probably makes multiple, but man, he realizes, Akemi's eyes really are pretty. And earnest. And...) "But that's okay!" she says brightly. "I thought you might forget, since it's your first time and everything, so I've already got something planned!"] 06* Kaede looks at Akemi and speaks out, a little too suddenly. "You do?!" And then he regains his composure, pushing up his glasses and closing his eyes. "Ah. I mean. Of course you do. I always knew you'd be prepared for this sort of thing." This is how he avoids your eyes, Akemi. This is how he does it. Don't give him that look. 01<@Ardweden> [Akemi so gives him that look, and while Kaede's eyes are still closed, cries, "Look at that! Christmas pastries!" and tugs on his arm hard towards the next door bakery hard enough for him to stumble.] 06* Kaede does stumble and he looks good doing it. Wait, no. He looks like Kaede doing it. After a few steps, he tries to regain his footing. "*Akemi-san*!" Clop clop clop. 01<@Ardweden> [The day continues apace, with Kaede extra concerned about Christmas Eve looming and Akemi trying to pretend she doesn't notice. They break off before it gets too late for each of them to go to their previous engagements, and Kaede does manage to make it to Nanami's in time! And then time passes, with Kaede freaking out a bit more (and then more) as he tries to prepare for the big day that he TOTALLY FORGOT ABOUT. Did I mention that he forgot? He forgot.] 06* Kaede didn't forget the day! Just the fried chicken! He doesn't even *like* fried chicken! 01<@Ardweden> [Fine, he just forgot the fried chicken. But Akemi said she had something planned, so what are you worried about, Kaede?!] 06* Kaede isn't worried about anything. Honest. Look at his face. Honest. 01<@Ardweden> [The night before Christmas Eve, Kaede falls into a fitful sleep, and periodically he dreams. He finds he's a young Masaki Tsumioji - the last Two of Pentacles, and he's seventeen. He's rushing to work, chasing a case concerning some mysterious murders - he *knows* they're related to that group of strange people called the Council, those people who want him to join- and he stops, dead in his tracks, as he turns the corner and sees a girl he knows, Tomoya.] 01<@Ardweden> [She's tending her garden. Her fingers gently brush the plants, coaxing them to grow. They sprout under her touch, opening into full bloom, and he knows in that instant that she's the most beautiful woman he's met in the entire world. Then he remembers what *time* it is and rushes off, and as he does so, he feels her eyes on him.] 01<@Ardweden> [Next, two years later, they're in that same garden and having an argument. It's terrible, because Kaede's been trying so hard to make things right, and- oh. Tomoya just knocked his apology gift, a potted plant with delicate blossoms - to the ground. "It doesn't *matter*, Masaki! Gifts, presents, they don't make up for time. What matters is you!" Kaede's gaze is fixed on the flowers on the ground (he worked so hard to get them; why doesn't she understand; he has to work and sometimes things are just too busy...) and then finds he can't see them, because the top of Tomoya's head is in the way as she grabs his face with both hands and forces him to look at her.] 01<@Ardweden> ["All I wanted was to spend time with you," Tomoya says, her eyes glistening, and Kaede sighs. "Yeah," he says in Masaki's voice (because, obviously, that's who he is). "I- yeah." It seems so obvious in retrospect. He'd been so worried about making her happy that he lost track of what made her happy. "Me too."] 01<@Ardweden> [They hug and kiss, right there, not caring about who sees them for the first time in their relationship. It's a warm, pleasant feeling, and then Kaede wakes up.] 06* Kaede lifts his head up from the dream and holds it, still worried as he squints into the world, unfocused as the glassesless are wont to do. Ugh. Masaki, what are you going to do? Idiot. Oh wait, Kaede. That's who... his gaze does turn over to the place where he hid the flowers he brought though. 06* Kaede 'd been thinking of faking it. But really now...He reaches over for his phone and checks his schedule. Just in case. So he can make sure he clears it. 01<@Ardweden> [Kaede has one of the nice new phones that actually has a planner. His day's completely clear.] 06* Kaede hmms and looks ahead a couple of days. He clears those too. Really, he wonders if he *has* been spending enough time just with Akemi. 01<@Ardweden> [He succeeds, and while he does so, there's a metallic crash from the living area outside.] 06* Kaede jumps a bit and then he goes quickly out to the living area in his pjs. Withdrawing his wrench from who knows where. 01<@Ardweden> [Mimi-san the Phone beeps the time in his head. 6:53 am.] 06* Kaede really does need to talk to Akemi at naming his things. Okay then. Still heading out to see what's going on. 01<@Ardweden> [Kaede steps softly out of his room, his eyes still adjusting, and he sees the light on in the kitchen area. Akemi is picking the wok up from the floor, and she somehow manages to make a tank top and sweatpants the hottest look ever. A bandanna is holding back her hair. Oil is sizzling on the stove, a platter of what breaded something-or- others is lying on the counter next to it, and even half asleep, Masaki- Kaede? knows that something's burning.] 06* Kaede dashes in, best as he can and goes up behind Akemi to snag the wok before she burns herself. "Akemi! Are you hurt?!?" 01<@Ardweden> [The wok is *hot*, and Kaede finds himself juggling it as he slips on the oil on the floor (why is there oil on the floor?) and skidding right into Akemi, who falls over with a surprised "Kaede! What are you doing u-" They end up in a tangle of limbs and, erm, oil. The wok makes another ringing sound as it hits the floor again. Kaede drops his wrench as well. And something is still burning.] 06* Kaede would, ordinarily, *love* to have an oiled up Akemi Shiraishi tangled up with him. And so would a lot of other people. But for right now, things are *burning*. He tries to pull himself up as quickly as possible and put out the fire. If Akemi comes up with him, so much the better. 01<@Ardweden> [Akemi makes things difficult, as she's making squeaky I- skidded-into-the-cabinet girly noises and isn't really paying attention to the obvious urgency with which Kaede's moving. But he manages to disentangle himself and get to the stove, pulling oiled up pan off the burner and removing the... thing... that was obviously frying at far too high a temperature. By the time Akemi climbs to her feet, the charred piece of "food" is in the garbage can.] 06* Kaede *really* has a hard time ignoring Akemi squeaks. But he does breathe with a little relief once he's taken care of the fire hazard. He then takes another moment to stare into the garbage can. "...What?" 01<@Ardweden> ["It's a garbage can," Akemi says like that's the most obvious thing. And also like what she just said makes the most sense. "You should go back to bed. It's early." And she tries to push Kaede back towards his room. Her hands are oily and hot and oh god, the back of Kaede's mind says, maybe contaminated...] 06* Kaede gets slowly shoved and tries to steady himself. "W-wait a moment! Was this your plan?" He looks over his shoulder. 01<@Ardweden> [He glances over to see that Akemi's normally perfect hair is frazzled, a few locks falling out from under her bandanna. "No!" She sees the look in Kaede's eyes and follows that immediately with "Yes." Akemi stops, dropping her hands.] 06* Kaede blinks a little and looks over back to the kitchen. "...what were you trying to--" He then closes his eyes and breathes, trying not to look at her "Shiraishi-san, have you ever even cooked before?" 01<@Ardweden> [Once again, Kaede can *feel* Akemi pouting, and he can hear her slippers scuffing the floor. "Don't you trust me?"] 06* Kaede looks at her for a moment and then, oh god the pouting. He lets out a sigh, then rubs his forehead, looking off to the side. "It doesn't...Akemi, it doesn't really matter, does it?" He then thins his lips. "...you were trying to do all this for me?" 01<@Ardweden> ["... Yes?" Now Akemi's avoiding Kaede's gaze. That's a near-first. "I just thought- you cook all the time, and I wanted to do something nice. I thought you'd like it, and- I didn't order the Christmas chicken ahead of time, but the French are the best at cooking, so I thought maybe if I did something French-ish then..." Her gaze turns to look at the destruction in the kitchen. "I really screwed this up."] 06* Kaede looks Akemi over then looks at the kitchen and chuckles, going to hold her shoulders. Before going into a bit more of a laugh. 01<@Ardweden> [Akemi turns to look at Kaede, some hair falling out from under the bandanna and into her face. She smiles sheepishly and wipes her oily hands on her sweatpants. "I, uh, it was going to be pate. Duck and chicken liver pate. Because two birds is probably tastier than one bird." Pause. "Fried. Like Christmas chicken."] 06* Kaede looks at her for a moment and blinks, expression going blank. "That's...uh...that's really elaborate." He then sighs and goes to kiss her forehead. "But...I....you know. It doesn't matter. I appreciate the effort, but all I really want to do is spend time with you..." 06* Kaede then blinks as he rolls the taste of those words around in his mouth for a moment, then looks off to the side and mildly scowls. "...wait. I'm the woman in the relationship?" 01<@Ardweden> ["Wha-" And then Akemi recovers. "*Obviously*. You're the one who can cook! Wait, does this mean I'm dating a lesbian?"] 06* Kaede 's mouth opens and closes like a fish. His eyes then open in alarm as he pokes her nose. "*This doesn't leave this room!*" His cheeks are so red, you'd think he's *Satoshi* right now... 01<@Ardweden> [Akemi bursts out laughing.] 06* Kaede grumbles a bit, then deflates. He deserves it. He goes to tug on her apron strings back towards the kitchen. "Come on. Let's cook it together, alright?" 01<@Ardweden> [Akemi is still giggling when Kaede tugs her back towards the kitchen. "Together?" She looks at him for a moment, then darts in and presses against him, kissing him fully on the lips.] 06* Kaede tries to avoid! Well, at least soften the blow of a sudden Akemi, but he slips on some of the oil slick and ends up pinned against the counter. Part of him doesn't seem to mind though. 06* Kaede , when he recovers, eventually answers Akemi's question softly with a "...well, we're a team, right?" 01<@Ardweden> [Akemi pulls away enough to look at Kaede's face. "Yeah." And then she smiles, and between that and her frazzled hair and her oil- stained clothes and the pate on her cheek, Kaede knows (again) that she's the most beautiful woman he's ever met. "We are."] 01<@Ardweden> [End!]