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Annnnnnnnnnnnnd I'm back!
It's just a little prologue, just to keep you guys interested until I can churn out a proper chapter. :D
This is the prequel to Nanchatte Renai...sort of. Basically, the events in the beginning will be the same, but the timeline will eventually diverge. Because I (accidentally) promised Fenfen 10 chapters of fluff, I guess I have to fulfill that promise somehow. Well, here goes nothing, and this is my attempt to write happy ReinAi!
Hopefully it works out. :P
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Prelude
"This is Tanaka Reina, a new talent in training. She'll be shadowing you until she officially debuts."
"Hi, I'm Tanaka Reina. Nice to meet'cha!"
"...I'm Takahashi Ai. Yoroshiku."
~*~*~
"You don't really smile much, do you?"
"I smiled earlier."
"No, I mean, other than for your work. What's wrong with you?"
"...you're really direct."
"Haha, people say that of Reina all the time. So why are you always frowning?"
"..."
~*~*~
"Ossu! Here's your juice, Takahashi-san!"
"Thank you.......why are you staring at me?"
"Do you like it?"
"This? ......you got me 100% orange juice."
"Yeah I saw how you always bought that so...ah, ah! You smiled!"
"Eh?"
"Ha! Yatta!"
"...Tanaka, you don't have to be so excited over a photo."
"But, but! This is the first time Reina seen you smile besides work! Lucky~"
"...you're just like a kid."
"Gotta problem with that?!"
"And that's the yankii I'm used to."
~*~*~
"Suge! Takahashi-san, how do you cry so easily?"
"It comes naturally."
"Oh~ So normally you just cry really easily?"
"As usual, straight to the point...and yes, I do."
"Cool...Reina will have to try that some time..."
"Try what?"
"Making you cry."
"Huh???"
"It's a joke, a joke!"
~*~*~
"Did Yamashita talk to you just now?"
"Yeah! He was really nice, teaching me stuff while we were watching you at the shoot just now."
"...he was watching?"
"Un, he said that you really changed from before. He also said that if I worked hard, I could be just as good if not better."
"He said that..."
"Yeah...Takahashi-san, are you angry?"
"...no."
"If you say so...hey, wait up! Don't walk so fast! Hey!"
~*~*~
"Stay away from Yamashita."
"Huh? Why?"
"He's...not to be trusted."
"Reina thinks he's nice though. Are you angry that he praised Reina over you?"
"...I'm just saying that you should be careful about him."
"You're being strange today, Takahashi-san..."
~*~*~
"Reina-chan, are you free this Saturday?"
"Un, I don't have any lessons that day and Takahashi-san also doesn't have anything scheduled, so I'm free."
"Would you like to go out with me? Just to chat about future promotion of your image and all..."
"Really? That'd be grea--"
"She's not available, Yamashita."
"Takahashi-san?"
"Ah, Ai-chan! So good to see you...I thought you were avoiding me for some reason."
"Must have been your imagination. You'll excuse us, we're busy. Come along, Tanaka."
~*~*~
"Why did you do that?"
"You really don't want to get near Yamashita."
"But he's really well-connected! He could help my career!"
"...only for a price..."
"What did you say?"
"Nothing...Tanaka, you should stay away from him for your own good."
"Are you afraid that Reina would become your rival if he trains me? Aren't you just worried? Is that it?"
"That's ridiculous. Even after you debut, I won't lose to you."
"Then why did you stop me?"
"I'm not...and before you think you have Saturday free, you don't."
"What? But you have no jobs scheduled that day..."
"Change of plans. Since you want to debut so much, I think it's time for me to start really training you."
"Eh? Really?"
"You can only learn so much by watching. I'll be giving you additional lessons on top of whatever the agency gives you, so you can just kiss your off days goodbye from now on."
"Awesome! ...wait, WHAT?"
~*~*~
"Is this right?"
"No you should do it more like this. Doesn't your vocal coach teach you anything?"
"...Reina doesn't have one."
"What? Oh that's right, they only do that after they decide which field they are going to promote you in most heavily. Well, if you want, you can join me in my sessions."
"You're really serious about teaching me, aren't you?"
"Of course I am. Why wouldn't I be?"
"I mean, Reina just thought that you were just trying to keep me away from Yama--"
"Whatever he does, I can do better than him. I'll make an idol out of you or die trying, Reina."
"...you finally called me by my name."
"It's easier than calling you Tanaka all the time. Well, let's move on. Time is wasting."
"Hai!"
~*~*~
"Ano...Takahashi-san?"
"Hm?"
"Are you free tomorrow night?"
"You know my filming for the CM ends in the afternoon."
"Well I was wondering if you want to go out. Together, I mean."
"Why?"
"As thanks! You've been teaching Reina a lot for the past few weeks so I want to return the favor."
"It's really ok, you don't have to..."
"But Reina wants to! Please!"
"Alright..."
~*~*~
"An amusement park?"
"What?"
"Nothing...I'm just remembering that you're only 15..."
"Gotta problem with that?"
"Not really...and Reina, are you really going to eat all that candy?"
"You want some?"
"...you'll get fat."
"Well take some from me so I won't!"
"...I really don't understand you."
~*~*~
"Let's never ever do that again."
"Who knew you were so afraid of haunted houses, Takahashi-san?"
"I TOLD YOU BEFORE YOU DRAGGED ME IN!"
"Well I didn't think it would be that bad...are you crying?"
"No! I still can't believe you did that to me..."
"Uh, Takahashi-san, Reina don't like the way you look right now..."
"It's Ai, and you better say your prayers, because we're going to the rollercoaster right now."
"Noooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!!!!"
~*~*~
"That was fun!"
"Urk...my life was flashing before my eyes..."
"Now you know how I felt in the haunted house."
"No way! This was much worse!"
"Heh...you were screaming like a little girl just now."
"I am a girl! And you scream like a man!"
"What?!"
"It's tru--urk, I think I'm going to be sick..."
"Reina? Are you alright? Reina? Reina?"
~*~*~
"Are you feeling better?"
"Mm..."
"Ready to go?"
"Nn...just let me stay like this for a while..."
"Ok...I'm sorry, Reina. I shouldn't have made you go on the ride."
"S'ok...Reina's tough. Ne, this is the first time you held Reina like this, isn't it?"
"Are you uncomfortable? If you are, I can let go---"
"Don't! Reina likes it...it feels nice..."
"Alright..."
"Ne...Ai?"
"Hm?"
"Reina can really call you that now, right?"
"Of course."
"Wah...Reina feels really happy about that."
"It's just a name."
"But it's yours."
"Stop that...it's embarrassing..."
"Nuh-uh! Reina is really happy cos she really likes Ai! And that's the truth!"
"Reina..."
"Even if we become rivals in the future, let's always stay close. Promise?"
"Promise."
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Yup. Sleep time cos I have work in like what, 8 hours? So screwed...
*scuttles away*
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Reina and Ai are starting to get closer but could be separated by their work hmm, I guess I wouldn't mind following this :lol:
and :welcome back
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"I am a girl! And you scream like a man!"
"What?!"
priceless :lol:
essie you had a pretty lazy fan over the past days xD so let me tell this now. Nanchatte Renai was epic <3 can't wait to read more of this, you rock :3
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Kawaii! I am a guy , and still I went all KYAA :ding:. it's simply AWESOME. and the
"Gotta problem with that?!"
was truly Yanki XD, it also reminded me of one of the writers here( cough..Peti-chan..cough) as that person is also quite Yanki You really portrayed Ai splendidly. I am truly impressed, and you now have one more faithful reader. The best of luck writing this fic :byebye:
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Yay! I'm so happy XD Destiny Love has begun! :wub:
Reina's parts of the dialogues are so cute :inlove: I love the contrast between them the straightforwardness and cuteness of Reina and the reserved, cool attitude of Ai :lol:
And we finally get to know the bastard :angry:
"But he's really well-connected! He could help my career!"
"...only for a price..."
I'm guesing Ai had to pay that "price" :cry: She wanted to protect the kitten but then "that something" happened and she may had felt as if she fell to that guy's level...but now everything will have a happy ending, right...?
"It's Ai, and you better say your prayers, because we're going to the rollercoaster right now."
"Noooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!!!!"
Yeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeees!!! XD Rollercoaster vengeance continues! :lol:
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Yipeedoodle~~~~~ Destiny Love has finally made a start :banana:\
Ha, 15-year-old Reina sounds so much like a kid and kudos to Ai for keeping up with her XD
Since this will be a happy ReinAi (right? right???) I shall just sit back and relax with this one, whereas Nanchatte Renai got me all worked up as it headed towards the end.
If Reina was 19 in NR, this is four years prior. How much older is Ai? The same age gap between them in real life, three years?
(Oh, and seeing the name Yamashita automatically flashed a picture of Yamapi in my mind :lol:)
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Ah. *looks shifty* I'm quite excited about this story. RenAi, RenAi. It can work out....
You will not change my mind, though, just from the prologue, this pairing bumped up a couple steps.
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Oh my goddess-ness! ALL DIALOGS!! well that's a first.. For you that is xD
またれいな愛かよ！ cute tho.. So far~ btw by Yamashita, u mean the darn cute yamapi? Woo so he and Ai had a past?? Wonder if ur gonna elaborate on that..
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OMG, YAY! Estrea's back! And with Destiny Love! :gmon twirl:
Very interesting prelude. I wasn't expecting full-on dialogues, but it's actually quite a nice touch. I could imagine all the scenes playing out like memories captured in old film, with a mellow piano tune playing in the background.
I definitely can't wait for more happy!ReinAi cuteness. :heart: I'm also interested in knowing the history between Aichan and that one bastard of a guy who she clearly has passionate distaste for. What did the Yama-something guy do to you, Aichan?! D:
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Okaeri! :w00t:
A happier fic, you say? This is gonna be interesting, coming from you XD
So Reina is the handful adorable yankii who brought back Ai's smile :P It's interesting that Ai is one who took the first step in calling Reina by her first name :D
I was thinking of Yamapi too when I saw the name Yamashita :huhuh Gotta problem with that?! XD
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Mwahahahahahahaha!!
My 10 chapters of fluff!!! I'll be counting~~ one by one.. kekekekeke
Mmmm, all dialogue. Definitely a change of pace. Quite nice. It's much more imagining the scene all by yourself and filling in with the dialogue. XD
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Hmmm...
Have I mentioned that ReinAi is a major threat to my TakaGaki devotion?
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ah sorry for the late reply...apparently still playing catch up.
so nice and fluffy~
lol I'm with stefy here. Did you just make yamapi Mr. creepy creep? lol I love him so you better not turn him into a bald fat guy...else my brain will do some weird association thing..which will totally screw over any drooly thoughts :mon ko:
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Wow nice reception for the prelude. :D Thanks guys!
Comment replies first.
kurosawa87: I promise this will be light on the angst and heavy on the fluff. Really. :D And thanks.
Ada: Thanks! And welcome to the thread. :) New commenters always welcome lol. :D Hope to see you around more often!
Ore-Baka: I'm glad I could make you squeal. :D Welcome to the thread as well! Hope to see you popping by more frequently. :D
peti-chan: Hehe yeah, I love writing Reina's dialogues. :heart: So adorable. And well, stuff happened in the Nanchatte Renai timeline that didn't get cleared up fast enough, so things went bad. I intend to fix things this time round, so we will have lots of happy rabu-rabu. Lol. And yes, rollercoaster vengeance for the win. Hehe. Hope you'll like the story!
aussie: Well they ARE kids at the moment, both of them. And yes, Ai too, no matter how mature she appears to be on the surface. She's still only 18 and still figuring things out. That factors in to a lot of her behavior eventually. XD And yes, it's the same age gap between them in real life. And yes, you can definitely take it easy for this one. And why does everyone think of Yamapi??? :lol:
rndmn: Of course ReinAi can work out! I will convert you. I will. I WILL! ...eventually. XD
stefy: Yeah yeah, that's the only reason you read and commented, right? :P Of course what, what else did you expect? Hehe you'll see...if you continue reading that is. :P
Retro Bubble: Think of this track for the prelude: Yuki Kajiura - Romance (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ONyVtOwvpnw#) XD More happy ReinAi cuteness on the way! And yes, I'll explain everything in time. All the stuff that remained unanswered in Nanchatte Renai shall be explained here...with some luck. :P Keep asking the right questions and I'll provide! :D
badsaints: Tadaima! Again, with the pessimism on my ability to write happy fic! D: Haha. Well Ai isn't a total doormat, I always see her as a passive-aggressive sort. Hehe. Can't have Reina take the initiative for everything. Another Yamapi association, oh well. XD Have fun picturing him if you want to!
Fenrir: I hatez you. Just saying. :P And you can tell me what counts and what doesn't. :P
kRisZ: No you haven't mentioned it, and yes I intend to shake that belief all the way down to the core. :D ReinAi FIGHT-O!
Sukoshi: Better late than never. :P Fluff is good! You know, just for that comment alone I was tempted to make him a bald fat guy just to scar you for life. But since I already had another image in mind, I won't...:P Next time, maybe. XD
Well that's done, time to edit and post.
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Here, Again
"Ne~ I'm bored~"
Arms flailing wide, there was a thump and a corresponding 'oof' as the younger girl pounced on the older one from behind. Burrowing her cheek into the exposed nape beneath her, the girl purred like the kitten she was often mistaken for.
"Reina, be serious now." Her older companion chided, though her voice held more amusement than scolding. She held a sheaf of papers neatly tucked in a folder, the pages showing signs of having been thumbed through frequently.
"You're no fun when you're all about work." Reina sulked into the neck she was nuzzling into, eliciting a soft giggle from her target.
"Your script seems fairly worn too." Reina flushed at the remark. She never did like to have people notice her efforts save for the result she had to show for them. It was just a matter of pride for her, to be able to seem like she mastered something with only the barest of surface work done in front of others. No one was ever privy to her hard work behind the scenes, and she intended to keep it that way.
"Ai! You're not supposed to say that!" Reina pouted, prompting a sheepish grin from Ai.
"Sorry." Reina squirmed her way to the front of an apologetic Ai, dropping into the indulgent lap of the older. The little yankii stared up at the older.
"Quit saying that! Reina doesn't need Ai apologizing to her." Ai smiled.
"Sorry."
Reina growled. "You're doing it on purpose now! Stop it!"
Ai grinned again, this time more widely. "Sorry."
The older girl collapsed in a fit of helpless laughter as soon as the words left her lips; Reina pretty much seeing fit to deliver 'punishment' in the form of relentless tickling.
One would have assumed them to be best friends for years with the way they fooled around with each other, but the truth was that no more than three months had passed since their first meeting. As mentor to the adolescent Reina, Ai once tried and failed to be the aloof older sister, given that she was three years older and had had experience in that role, but Reina was hardly one to let her stay at arm's length forever. With persistence rivaling that of a cat on the hunt, Reina had all but pinned Ai down until the older allowed her the freedom to act as she wished outside of work.
Definitely worth it. Reina thought smugly as she witnessed her handiwork. Ai was sprawled on the bed, the folder somehow having relocated to the other side of the bed, and the girl herself still gasping for air with tears in her eyes from too much laughter. The reading glasses she had been wearing earlier had also fallen off, giving Reina an unobstructed view of Ai's happy face.
She looks so much better like that. Reina thought approvingly. Sprawling next to Ai on the somewhat narrow bed, Reina grinned to herself at her achievement.
It was then that the kitty cat was reminded abruptly of yet another fact: Ai was never one to take things lying down. Reina squealed as Ai took advantage of her inattention to descend with all fingers outstretched, returning the tickle attack with double the fervor.
"Stop, stop! I yield!" Reina surrendered, rolling onto her back and raising her hands in submission. Ai smirked triumphantly, sitting squarely on Reina's legs, effectively pinning the younger girl beneath her.
"That'll teach you to ambush me." Ai folded her arms, shooting an imperious look down at the prone yankii. Reina grinned wryly.
"Yeah yeah..." As if that would make her stop. Reina enjoyed these playful antics too much to give up on them, and she suspected Ai knew (and enjoyed) them as much.
"So are you ready to help me then?" Ai switched back to work mode without warning. Reina only sighed and rolled her eyes, since an Ai in work mode was an Ai who ran her like a slave driver. Except nicer. Maybe.
"Yes I'll help you practice your lines, senpai." Reina put on her most sincere face for all of five seconds, before she burst out laughing. The corresponding look of disapproval on Ai's face lasted almost as long, before she began giggling as well.
"Well hurry up. Time's wasting."
Reina looked up at Ai. Ai stared back. A long pause, before Reina finally said.
"Sure, as soon as you get off me."
Ai had the grace to blush before scrambling off the younger girl in a hurry. Reina sat up slowly with a smirk.
"Didn't think a feminist play involved pinning down your partner on a bed..."
"Reina..."
~*~*~
"Ah! It's already so late..."
Ai turned to look at the clock even as Reina stood up, pulling out her cellphone.
"Gotta call the folks..."
Ai smiled. "Reina's really a good girl."
Reina pretended to glare. "What's that supposed to mean?" Ai laughed and leaned back on the couch.
"Nothing."
Reina hmphed and turned her back on Ai, putting the phone to her ear. Ai took the time to pick up her pen, making little notes on her script. She could easily hear Reina's end of the conversation, which made her smile just a little wistfully.
"Yes mama, I'm with Takahashi-san...yes I'll be alright. When are you and papa coming back? Oh? Oh...it's ok...Reina can wait... Un, good night. Bye bye."
Reina's face held just a trace of disappointment as she turned back to face Ai. The older girl tilted her head up with concern, reaching over to take Reina's hand, guiding her kouhai to sit down by her.
"What's wrong?"
"They can't come back until after Reina's birthday..." Reina sighed, leaning on Ai's shoulder for support. Ai squeezed her hand lightly, reaching over to hug Reina.
"I'll celebrate with you, alright?"
"Really?" Reina lit up like a little kid, all trace of dejection disappearing in a flash. Not for the first time, Ai wondered just how mercurial Reina really was. Her moods came and went in a flash, and it was almost impossible to read her...or far too easy, since some of her responses were really just that predictable once you got to know her.
"Yes, really. It's a promise." Ai held up her pinky, and they solemnly pinky-swore. Then Reina leaned happily into Ai's embrace, practically crawling onto Ai's lap in the process. Ai only smiled indulgently, letting Reina wriggle into place without complaint.
"So, can Reina stay over tonight?"
Ai looked amused. "You already told your mom that you were going to stay over, didn't you?"
Reina grinned. "Yes I did."
"And it never occurred to you to ask me first." Ai reached up to poke Reina in the cheek.
"I'm asking now!" Reina pretended to snap at the intruding finger. Ai laughed.
"You're incorrigible."
"So is that a yes I hear?" Reina asked quite shamelessly, rubbing cheeks with Ai, who was trying and failing to look stern.
"Well it's not like I can just kick you out at this time of the night." Ai paused, then added with an absolutely straight face.
"Maybe I should..."
Playing along, Reina looked absolutely horrified...before they both cracked up laughing.
"Nice! You're improving." Reina patted Ai on the top of her head like a little dog, making Ai snort and shake it off with a wry grin.
"Thanks?"
Reina sat up straight and folded her arms, mimicking a school teacher-like pose, lowered her voice, and said in the deepest voice she could manage.
"You've got a long way to go, young one."
Ai snorted and shoved Reina off her lap.
~*~*~
"Are you asleep?"
"...I'm about to."
"Oh..."
"Are you cold?"
"Um..."
"...come on up."
"Ah, warmth~"
"The bed's a bit small, hope you don't mind."
"Nah, Reina's ok. This is fun, our first sleepover!"
"Mhm..."
"Are you sleeping already?"
"If I said yes, will you shut up?"
"...sorry..."
"Just kidding." A soft laugh. "This is nice."
"Isn't it? ...ne, Ai?"
"Hm?"
"...why do you live on your own?"
"..."
"Reina thinks it's really amazing how much like an adult Ai is...Reina could never live on her own!"
"It'll come to you in time too."
"What about your family?"
"...I call my mother sometimes."
"Oh..."
"Let's sleep. I've got a meeting in the morning."
"Un. Oyasumi, Ai."
"Oyasumi, Reina."
And the lights went out.
=================================================
There. I should really sleep. Work in the morning. O_O
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Well I guess I'm commenting this time xD
D'AWWWWWWW
Way to make me explode from all the sugary sweetness xDDDDD
Their chemistry is absolutely adorable here! <3
And :0 at the family remarks. Seems like you gave Reina a family in this alternate universe (...of another alternate universe xD ). Aichan calls her mom? Not her dad? :0
Anywho, looking forward to the rest :B
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Reina staying over with Ai :thumbup
Warming up with each other :thumbsup
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"Quit saying that! Reina doesn't need Ai apologizing to her." Ai smiled.
"Sorry."
Reina growled. "You're doing it on purpose now! Stop it!"
Ai grinned again, this time more widely. "Sorry."
:lol: :lol: Can imagine this.
"Are you sleeping already?"
"If I said yes, will you shut up?
More lol. Uh-oh, what was that there at the end? A little hint?
I will not convert, but I guess RenAi is okay so long as Gaki-san isn't mentioned in the same breath. Geez, I didn't used to be this Nazi-ish about my pairings...
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KAWAIII! :wriggly:! Great chapter, the fluff overflowing, especially the bed scene :thumbup. It really made my horrible day( waiting 1,5h for a bus with the temperature at -6 Celsius :on freeza:) much better, as ReinAi is the second best medicine for me( right after Mizu photobook ). Anyway, continue writing as well as you do now. Cheers :byebye:
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Awww~I melted~~ :heart:
Reina and Ai fooling around, tickling each other :inlove: They are so cute and adorable :wub: and warming up is good~~ 8)
It's so sweet that it feels almost like a...Disney Love XD
But of course, keep up the fulffiness :twothumbs
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So did my plan of not commenting until you posted up a new chapter so you'd write faster work? :D
ReinAi fluff~!!! :wub: :inlove: :heart: :onioncheer: :shy2:
Even though Reina likes to act all badass-y and whatnot, she's a good kid. Even calls her parents. :3 Too bad they wont be around for her birthday, though. :/ But that's why Aichan is around. :heart:
I wonder why Ai seems so distant from her parents. >_< I'm sure Reina will get it outta her sometime.
I love the ReinAi chemistry :heart: :heart: :heart: It's like they were just meant to be. :wub:
Write more, plzkthx. :grin:
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Another amazing job! :heart:
Them teasing each other is just... :wub: Especially when Reina gets Ai blushing from the "I can't move" comment. :lol:
Love the cuddling! I wanna cuddle too~
Good luck to Reina, for trying to break down Ai's teacherly behaviors. XD
Can't wait for more ReinAi! :thumbsup
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HIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII!!!! :cow:
I read Nanchatte Renai and I love it!!..and i was really anxious waiting for Destiny Love. Sorry for not post before, I'm a bad person, but I always read your ReinAi One Shots too , they are really nice and cool!!!!! :love:
Awww Reina and Ai are so kawaii together...I can't wait for more ReinAi love!!!! :inlove:
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ReinAi fluff is simply :heart: :heart: :heart:
There are no words to describe kid Reina's attempt to lighten up kid-but-not-quite-a-kid Ai's aloof face :heart:
This clear younger-older interaction ReinAi have with each other is one of the reasons I like this pairing. Ai-chan seems to act the part of the older girl particularly when she's around Reina (whereas around say, Gaki, she tends to become the 'younger sister' character when in fact she's the older one XD), and Reina seems to defuse her yankiiness when she's around Ai-chan.
That's one down, at least nine more chapters of fluff to come :D
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Fluff~~~~!!!
Ok... this counts..... as... one chapter... but I expect more sugary sweetness that would make one throw up for the next chapter. XD *is the slave driver* :lol:
But, mmm, guess Ai just wants to do things by herself and not have her family all worry or babying her. That sounds like the Ai I know in Disney Destiny Love.
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No wonder that track sounded familiar, I've seen that show before! :lol: Lovely music. :heart:
Anyhow -- yay, an update! Been desperately waiting for one for the past 2324349629234356474 days, and the wait was definitely worth it. This chapter was just terribly, terribly cute and full of sugary sweet fluff. It's so smoulderingly sweet, in fact, that it totally beats the hell out of the chocolate caramel I'm currently consuming. Now, that doesn't happen too often, lol.
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the noir music reminds me of two things: sexy island and assassin Ai XD
erm back to listening to Love ~Destiny~ Destiny Love
awww Reina calling home. so sweet~
Even though Reina said she could never live on her own, it seems like she's doing just that. Something tells me her folks are always away on business and they aren't home all that much XD There's gotta be a flaw with these normal "architect" parents you gave her :mon geek:
Ai chan better keep her promise in the next chapter! :O
1 prelude and 1 chapter in and I'm already worried their fluff world is gonna come crashing down on them XD
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Hello~ XD
oHhhhh...something more light and sweet~ :wub: but......might turn sad when finally Reina confess and Ai rejects..then Reina goes off to forget her... ;)
It's a little hard to warm Ai up since she is always so serious~ but Reina seems to be doing pretty fine~ Must have really been teasing/pestering her (but in a sweet way)~ LOL~
"Well hurry up. Time's wasting."
Reina looked up at Ai. Ai stared back. A long pause, before Reina finally said.
"Sure, as soon as you get off me."
-LOL~ how can she have forgotten~ maybe she just dun wanna get off :P
:mon bat:
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You're so paying my dentist
I will not convert, but I guess RenAi is okay so long as Gaki-san isn't mentioned in the same breath. Geez, I didn't used to be this Nazi-ish about my pairings...
OMG same sentiments XD
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"Your script seems fairly worn too." Reina flushed at the remark. She never did like to have people notice her efforts save for the result she had to show for them. It was just a matter of pride for her, to be able to seem like she mastered something with only the barest of surface work done in front of others. No one was ever privy to her hard work behind the scenes, and she intended to keep it that way.
Thank you sooo much. Nice to see this in a story. This is the reason why I really like Reina
Looks like the ReinAi relationship is warming up. Bet they have no idea on what's gonna happen years from now :lol:
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awwww..... fluffiness~! :mon inluv:
They look cute together! Gahhh..RenAi.... so this is how they started... really cute!!! can't help but squeal at their cuteness!!! :mon inluv: :mon lovelaff:
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Actually I finished the next chapter, but I'm too tired to edit and post, so y'all have to wait until I wake up. :D
Muahahaha, and Merry Xmas to everyone! XD
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Merry Christmas Essy-sama!
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Ok time to stop stalling XD
*yawns and stretches*
Comment replies first!
Yuuyami: Well you finally commented! :P Fluff is great, no? XD And of course I gave Reina a family, where did you think she came from? A trashcan? XD As for Aichan, well, you'll see. :P
kurosawa87: Hehe I like Reina staying over with Ai too. :D
rndmn: As Fenfen says, I drive wedges into fandom ships. Hehe. I forced you to take sides I guess, so you can blame me. And Merry Christmas to you too! <3
Ore-Baka: Aww sorry about your bad day, and I'm glad I could do something to help it. :D And thanks!
peti-chan: Yeah yeah, I'll never live down that Disney Love joke, am I? :lol: Yes they are so cute together, which is why we love them. Nyahaha.
Saiks: You better be commenting from now on. :P Of course Reina's a good kid, being yankii doesn't mean she's necessarily bad. It's just an image and an attitude. :P In my vision of her Reina has always been a good kid, if a little impulsive at times. Hehe. XD Ai's story will pop up soon. :P They are meant to be! That's why it's Destiny Love, you see!
Kitami: Why there you are! Welcome! FInally you show yourself. :P Yeah I love these two. <3 More ReinAi on the way!
kame_eririn: HI! Welcome aboard! Thanks, and do show up around more often! :D I'm glad you like my stories, and yes, ReinAi is much love!
aussie: Yeah that's why I prefer ReinAi to say, TakaGaki. Ai gets to act more mature, like the older sister she is supposed to be, though she can be just as childish and goofy with REina. It's not just one side of her that we get to see, it's multiple, and that's why I enjoy writing thjis pairing. It gives me more room to work with. :D And sigh, yes, damn you Fenfen for extracting that promise out of me!
Fen: D: Do my one-shots not count as fluff? D: You ebil creature. :P That's a good theory there, and it's certainly part of the reason, though not all of it. :P
Retro Bubble: Haha you exaggerate your waiting. :P I'm practically updating once a week at this rate. >_>; Just don't get too used to it. :P And that comparison to caramel makes me happy. I've done my job! :D
Sukoshi: You just had to bring those up, didn't you? XD Well Reina is often home alone, but not for weeks on end. Her parents do come back every few days to see if she's alright. :P And no parents are perfect, you see. XD Again with the pessimism, though well justified with my previous track record I guess. :lol:
baby sticky: Why are you anticipating the bad parts?! Lmao. Reina's a persistent little thing, and while Ai is stubborn, she's only stubborn when you're making her do something she doesn't want to do. Otherwise I think she's pretty ok. XD
kRisZ: Blah, you and rndm both...I admit I do see why TakaGaki works, but really...
badsaints: Mhm always wanted to work that into a story. XD Of course they don't know what's in store for them in the future, just because we as the audience know, doesn't mean that they're equally privy to the information. :P
cogi_yoshi: Yes, they are so very cute together, and welcome to the thread! :D
Right, now that's done, time to edit and post. Just a Christmas present to y'all out there. XD
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CHRISTMAS WEDGE :heart:
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Cinderella Complex
"Oi! Tanaka! Watcha wanna do next?"
A boisterous group of teenagers, mostly boys and all dressed like punks (albeit fashionably so, if that made any sense), surrounded the girl of the moment.
"Whatever." Reina stuck her hands into her pockets and slouched against a railing, glowering at random passerbys for doing nothing more than cross her field of vision.
Her gang of friends exchanged concerned looks. They had not been able to hang out with Reina as often as they used to back in middle school, where they always got into trouble pranking people and the like. Rebels, every single one of them, though not one of them actually did anything illegal or dangerous. Everything was done in the spirit of fun, so despite the negative image others would imagine upon seeing them for the first time, they were actually not that bad.
"Tanaka, you got sick of us after getting scouted? Is that it?" Fuji, one of the older boys, spoke up first.
"Too good for us now?" His girlfriend, her hair dyed a stunning platinum blond, followed up.
Reina eyeballed them. "No."
Yabara, with his ever smiling face, stepped up to defuse the tension. "Oi oi, today is Tanaka's birthday yo! No picking fights!"
Kneeling down in front of the sulky Reina, the tall joker of the group made a funny face at her, trying to get her to smile. A twitch crossed Reina's lips. Yabara was a funny guy.
"C'mon Tanaka, let's go karaoke! That always makes you feel better!" Yabara's sidekick, Ishihara, joined in. He slung one arm familiarly around Reina's shoulders. "Let's go, let's go!"
Unable to resist the urgings of her friends, Reina just let herself be pushed along with the crowd. The bright noon sun erased all shadows, reducing them to mere blots beneath them.
If so, then why do I feel like I can't see anything?
~*~*~
"I'm so sorry Reina, my manager made plans without informing me beforehand, and they rescheduled the rehearsal times, so I don't think I can spend your birthday with you as promised. I'm so sorry! I'll make it up to y--"
Just a hurried voice message left in her inbox. Apparently, Ai had been too busy the day before to even make a proper call. Knowing her manager, Ai had probably snuck a moment out of her schedule to use the phone, only to promptly get it taken away by that slave driver.
Sighing halfheartedly, Reina flopped back after relinquishing the microphone to some of her friends. Not even belting out her favorite hits could rejuvenate her, although she did pour a lot of energy into those songs in an attempt to distract herself.
It only struck her now how long it had been since she was with this particular group of friends. They were great people and fun to hang out with, but in the past few months her entire time had been taken up by the agency...or to be more specific, a person from the agency.
Reina didn't even know how much she was around Ai until Ai was not there with her. Even on days when they were not physically together, they would spend quite a bit of time on the phone. Reina didn't know how Ai could spend over 2 hours in the bathroom without passing out in the tub or something. Then again, given what she heard in the background, the older girl was probably playing some portable handheld while talking to her on speaker.
What a way to multitask... Reina resisted the urge to slap herself as her thoughts inevitably wandered to Ai again. Could she not spend time away from the older girl without thinking about her?
Reina hated clingy people. She couldn't imagine herself being clingy either...until now. It was quite unthinkable. It wasn't like Ai was particularly interesting or anything; she wasn't funny like Yabara, a loud moodmaker like Ishihara, or even someone she could squabble with, like Fuji. If anything, Ai treated her like a kid, and Reina hated being treated like a kid. Or so she thought.
"She confuses me..." Reina muttered out loud, folding her arms and staring blankly into space.
"Who does?" Yabara's voice came shockingly close to her ear, like a hiss under the ballad that Fuji and his girlfriend was singing together at the moment.
"My senpai." Reina did not volunteer more information. Given the lack of gender differentiation in the way she had expressed herself, it could just as easily have been a guy she was referring to, and Yabara obviously took it that way.
"Oh so you finally decide to stop being one of the guys and remember you're a girl? Who's the guy?" Yabara grinned evilly. Reina flipped him the finger.
"I've always been a girl, you idiot!" Reina flared. "But I'm also a girl that can kick your ass, don't forget that!"
"And that's the Tanaka we all know and love." Ishihara slid in on the opposite side of Reina. If Reina didn't know better, she'd think that those two were joined at the hip or something.
"I'm going to the washroom." Reina stood up abruptly and slipped out of the dark room, feeling oddly confined in that familiar space. It disturbed her to feel that way.
Splashing her face with water, Reina looked into the mirror. As usual, her wonky eye refused to focus right, and the water still dripping down her cheeks made her look like a bedraggled kitten.
Yeah, like the one I found abandoned in a box that time.
Reina was loved, unlike that poor lost kitten. Her parents showered her with gifts and attention, the latter usually when they had the time to be at home. Being famous architects meant that they had a great deal of projects, and it could probably be said that they saw those buildings more often than they saw their own child. She lived with her grandparents for half her childhood, moving out into the city to be able to spend more time with her parents when she got older (and to go to better schools).
To be fair, Reina knew that her parents always gave her as much time as they could spare, even taking time off projects to bring her out to dinner or even the occasional trip to the amusement park. She lacked nothing in material goods, and what she wanted, she usually got.
Her rebellious phase, such as it was, helped a little in getting the one thing she really wanted more of: her parents' attention. Reina knew it was a little underhanded, but surely they'd pay more attention if she did outrageous things. Which they did, and although the punishments were not always pleasant, at least they were there.
But she was loved. Reina knew it. It was just that the heart had a little trouble agreeing with the head, and what child would not jealously want to keep all of their parents' attention on them?
Right now however, staring at the stained mirror on the wall, Reina could vividly see the abandoned kitten all over again, and wondered just when her priorities had decided to shift.
~*~*~
The screen blinked and switched to another image for the nth time that evening, before Reina gave up entirely and turned the television off. The screen went blank, and the arm holding the remote control slumped to her side as she stretched out on the leather sofa, staring at the ceiling.
The house was big, bigger than necessary really. It was really only just for her and her parents, with rooms for her grandparents when they came to visit. It used to be great for hide and seek though, whenever her cousins came over in the past. Now that she was older and alone, the space seemed awfully empty.
Her parents had been around two days earlier, before they had to fly to another prefecture to oversee yet another project. They would not be back until the end of the week, which gave her another three days or so to be utterly alone in this huge emptiness.
Granted, the neighbor lady came over to make sure she was ok every day, but that was only for an hour or so while she tidied the place up (her parents had paid the lady to watch her and the house).
If she had school it would be bearable, but this was a weekend and she was bored to tears. Even with the attempt at celebrating her birthday her friends had made for her, Reina could not find it in herself to muster any interest in it. In fact, she had given them the slip with that bathroom break excuse earlier. Hell, she had even gone through her homework twice in an attempt to distract herself. The only thing that did was to make sure that her homework was spotless, perfectly spaced, and probably mistake-free. Not even Ai was that anal...
...and there it was again, the inevitable linkage back to her mentor. Reina resisted the urge to bang her head on the coffee table.
Rolling off the couch, Reina padded over to one wall where glass windows stretched from ceiling to floor, giving her an excellent view of the district below. The lights blinking below seemed quite insignificant from this height, a poor mimicry of the stars hidden overhead.
This was supposed to be her birthday, but Reina could not even summon enough enthusiasm to generate some kind of cheer over the presents her friends and parents had given her. They lay abandoned on the floor of her room still, while she sulked over the fact that her new favorite person was too busy to give her the time of the day.
Dejected, Reina sank to the floor, hugging her knees to herself as she lay her head against the spotless glass panes. It was evening, the sun long since set, and there were only a few hours before her birthday was officially over.
Reina closed her eyes and tried not to think. Eventually, she ended up asleep.
~*~*~
The bell ringing jolted Reina out of a perfectly good nap, making her yowl in pain when her neck protested the sudden movement. Clearly, sleeping in awkward positions was not a good way to avoid muscle aches. Grumbling, Reina got up and dusted herself off.
11.55pm. Reina's eyes passed over the clock on the mantle as she headed towards the door. Without really thinking about it, she opened the door, prepared to chase whatever unlucky soul who dared to bother her at this hour away.
The words died in her throat before they even made it to her lips. Standing in her doorway, a very bedraggled and exhausted-looking Ai stood panting and shivering from the cold. The older girl was drenched, and her teeth were chattering. Belatedly, Reina realized that it was raining outside. It had probably started while she was sleeping.
"Thank goodness, I made it." The words spilled out of Ai's lips as soon as she looked over Reina's shoulder to check the clock behind her. WIth a sheepishly awkward grin, Ai produced a package she was hiding inside her coat with a flourish.
"Happy birthday, Reina."
Reina's jaw twitched, but she was unable to produce a coherent word for the moment. She accepted the gift regardless, before finally blurting.
"But you're supposed to be out of Tokyo?" Ai blinked, before rubbing at her eyes.
"Yes, well...I took the Shinkansen back?" The older girl scratched at back of her head awkwardly. "I wanted to be here for you for your birthday, so I tried really hard to get everything right at the rehearsal until the director was happy enough to let us go."
Reina stepped back and gave Ai a once over. In addition to being drenched, disheveled and exhausted, there were also some very obvious signs that Ai had in fact been in rehearsal right before this.
"It wouldn't happen to be a full dress rehearsal, would it?"
Ai blinked at her. "Well, yes it is, but how did you know?" She shivered again, rubbing at her arms. Reina giggled.
"Because you still have some stage makeup on your face, silly!"
"EH?!" Ai's hands flew to her face, her pale cheeks flushing a vivid crimson from embarrassment. Reina laughed lightly and pulled Ai into the house. No reason to keep the older girl standing in the doorway any longer.
Reina couldn't stop smiling even as Ai obediently followed her in. For some reason, her previous bad mood had all but disappeared. Setting the gift carefully down on the table, Reina then led Ai to the bathroom, where she carefully wiped the remaining traces of makeup away from the older girl's face.
She must really be tired. Reina mused as she fussed over the older girl, helping her out of the wet coat and practically helping to dry her with a towel. Ai, for her part, had her eyes half closed, blissfully letting Reina take care of her. Grinning to herself, Reina prodded Ai's side, making the older girl squeak and jump, her eyes flying open at the shock.
"Reina!" Ai pouted, rubbing at her eyes sleepily.
"You were practically asleep standing up." Reina teased, before hugging Ai tightly. Ai purred softly and nuzzled, Reina's warmth seeping into her chilled skin.
"I'm so glad you came." Reina confessed, whispering into Ai's ear.
"I promised you, didn't I?" Ai murmured her reply, her eyes barely open right now.
Reina didn't reply to that for a moment. She had had too many memories of when her parents had to renege on a promise to go out because something important came up. Sure, they made it up to her afterwards, but a broken promise was a broken promise. That Ai tried so hard to make it in time, even if it was just a little time left until the end of her birthday, made Reina feel all warm inside.
"Ah!" Ai suddenly jerked away, slapping herself on the cheeks rapidly to wake herself up. Reina stared in incomprehension, before she found herself dragged by the arm out of the bathroom.
"What are you doing?" Reina managed to ask. Ai was hopping from one foot to another, like a restless chipmunk. Or monkey, as befitting her image.
"It's a surprise! Don't take your time, we might still make it if we hurry!" Ai pulled insistently at Reina again, and the younger girl barely managed to pull on her coat and boots before being hauled out of her own house.
"What's going on?" Reina tried to ask a suddenly rejuvenated Ai, who flagged down a taxi, shockingly enough. Ai never took taxis unless she was in a dreadful hurry.
"You'll find out when we get there." Ai grinned and flicked Reina's forehead teasingly. The yankii pretended to growl, but found herself growing excited from the anticipation as well.
The rain slowed as the taxi sped through the dark streets, soon leaving familiar ground. Reina snuggled into Ai, the older girl wrapping an arm absently around her shoulders as they cuddled together.
The ride was over sooner than expected, and Ai paid the fare hastily before dragging Reina out and up the still wet trail. Reina looked around fearfully. She did not like the dark.
After a decent trek in which Reina found both scary and squishy (mud was not kind to her boots), they ended up on top of a hill, where the lights of the city were but faint specks in the distance.
"Why are we here?" Reina asked, curiosity slowly giving way to exasperation since she didn't understand why Ai brought her here. The older girl, however, was looking up and ignoring her question.
"Ai..." Reina warned, her voice lowering dangerously.
"There! Look, Reina, look!" Ai cried out excitedly, pointing at the sky. Reina followed her direction irritably, before her impatience melted away entirely at the sight.
"A meteor shower..." Reina's voice was awed. Ai smiled radiantly.
"I heard about it in the news. We could probably see it in the city too, but not very well because of the light pollution." Ai turned her gaze up again.
"It's a lot clearer from here."
"It's beautiful..." Reina whispered. Ai smiled.
"I'm glad you like it..." In the gloom it was hard to see well, but there was no mistaking the choked sob that Reina valiantly tried to hold back.
"Is something wrong, Reina?" Ai panicked, reaching over to grip Reina's other arm worriedly. The younger girl all but fell into her arms, clinging to Ai tightly and burying her face in her chest.
"Reina is so happy..." Reina admitted quietly, letting Ai pet her comfortingly.
"I'm glad." Ai said simply, letting a relieved smile show on her face. Reina suddenly chuckled into Ai's chest, drawing a puzzled look from the older. Reina giggled, but did not explain. She had simply just remembered something about the clock in her house.
It was 5 minutes slow. That meant that Ai was actually late with the present, but Reina couldn't very well tell her that, could she? She could just imagine Ai falling all over herself apologizing, and Reina didn't feel like breaking this moment with that.
In the end, none of that really mattered, as long as Ai was here with her.
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Lalala~ Merry Christmas to all~
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KJHSFIUSHEFSEUJTFSEUH
-dies from diabetes-
Such cuteness! Only Ai can really animate Reina to life as opposed to the other things she has around her xDDDD
Oh and as you wanted, here's the present:
(http://img13.imageshack.us/img13/9276/xmasxd.jpg)
A lil out of character, but hay, it's Christmas xD
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That made my sweet tooth happy, :lol: incredible Ai came back in time and catch up the meteor shower
Just incredible :thumbup
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Awwwwwww...
Poor Reina. All she wants for Christmas is Ai. kekekeke
And it's so cute how Ai was trying to get to Reina's place before midnight but fails miserably. :lol: But I give her lots of bonus points for trying so hard. :D
And this does not count as a fluff chapter. Not sickeningly sweet enough. :P I guess that's 2 chapters...Christmas and all
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Awwww.. Ai saves the day once more,. And even more yankiness from Reina :luvluv1:. That's it, i'm officially addicted to this fic XD. Keep up the fantastic work
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kyaaaaaaaaa~ kanpeki!! :nya:
It's perfect! Ai chan being "fashionably" late and the kitten getting all warm and cuddley :mon inluv: kyaaa~ just melts the heart~ :wub:
and yes, Ai chan, Do Not take taxis!! :ph43r:
lol I like Fenrir's counting :mon evillaff:
hehe if this chapter is an attempt at destroying any pessimism, please do keep it coming! :mon lol:
Merry Christmas Estrea
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What a way to multitask
XD
"Oh so you finally decide to stop being one of the guys and remember you're a girl?
OMG :lol:
She must really be tired. Reina mused as she fussed over the older girl, helping her out of the wet coat and practically helping to dry her with a towel. Ai, for her part, had her eyes half closed, blissfully letting Reina take care of her.
Cute to imagine
they ended up on top of a hill
Reminds me of the camel damn :lol: sorry
It's the thought that counts :yep:
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Honestly, that's the best Christmas present I could get! XD
I really like Reina's gang, they are all damn cool :twisted: And Reina thinking about Ai 24/7 XD Yankii in love is so adorable :wub:
And way to go Ai! That's the Ai I like! Rain or earthquake, nothing is gonna stop her from keeping her promise :twothumbs This 5 min doesn't really matter :P After all, they were just in time to see the meteor shower which by the way, was such an awesome romantic moment :heart:
Merry Christmas to You~~ :mon santa2:
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SO CUTE!!!!!!! :inlove:
Poor kitten, :( her parents being so busy, but at least she has good friends, especially Ai. :yep:
Ai is the best~ Being so tired but making sure to be there for Reina. I love how Reina just places the present down and takes care of Ai. The meteor shower, even though it was raining is adorable too~ :wub: Too adorable for words!
This just made my Christmas! :D
Merry Christmas Essy~ :heart:
-hugs- Now all you have to do is write more~ teehee :grin:
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KYAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!
It was veryvery very very very very beautiful and nice!!!! I love it!!!!!!!!!!!!! :bow:
I like it when Reina thinks too much about Ai..is so sweet!!!! :wub:
And when Ai take Reina to see the meteor shower :heart: KYA!!! I thought I could die for the sweetness !!! :mon lovelaff:
I want moreeeeee!!! :luvluv1:
HAPPY REINAI CHRISTMAS!!!!!! :mon santa3:
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OHMIGOSH! Awesomely cute Christmas present! Thanks a bunch, Estrea, and Merry Christmas to you, too. :heart:
It's just absolutely adorable, and somewhat bittersweet, how Reina couldn't take her mind off of the absent Aichan during her birthday. But, of course, Aichan makes it up by dragging her out to see the meteor shower, being gosh darn romantic and all. Who cares if she missed Reina's actual birthday? At least she showed up, and that's pretty much what all Reina wanted. Warm fuzzies!
It strikes me just how different both girls (mainly Aichan) are in this story. A lot must've happened that lead up to Nanchatte Ren'ai.
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Why are you anticipating the bad parts?!
- traumatize by you~ XD
OHhhhhhh~ Ai is so sweeeeeeeeeet.........*melt*
Doesn't matter she miss it by 5min or not..its the thought~ Even forgot to remove her stage makeup..she probably look like a weirdo with such thick make-up on the train..LOL~
Anyway..Merry Christmas to you too~ =]
:mon bat:
p.s: I'm starting to read All Aboard now~ XD
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:bow: :bow:
EDIT: Okay, I'm back after my crappy comment. Reina's already so taken with Ai and she doesn't even realize it and it seems that Ai is the same way. Watching the meteor shower is so romantic. :wub: :wub:
And no beans were hurt in the making of this chapter...
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I had NO clue there was an update with me being busy with holiday stuff and all :angry: But, at least I read it now, right? :D
First of all: AWWW :heart: :wub: Reina is so lucky to have Aichan. <3 It makes me giddy, seriously. XD
I do feel bad for Reina's friends though. :/ They tried to give her a happy birthday, I wonder how they feel after being ditched? Especially Yabara, he seemed to be trying extra hard. :cry:
But I do understand why she left them, sometimes when you're expecting a certain thing to happen, and it doesn't, then you just lose all ambition to do anything fun and just wanna sit and sulk because nothing seems to be able to distract you from thinking about it. o: But it was SO cute that Ai showed up, even if she was unknowingly late (but, that was just funny :lol: ) The meteor shower is mucho adorable! <3 So many warm and fuzzies in this fic. :wub:
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I'm back! Sorry about the extended delay in updating. I was busy, and then I went into depressed mode for a while, which made writing this difficult since I didn't want to contaminate with the emo. Yup. But I'm back! Comment replies first.
Yuuyami: zomg you commented! Thanks for the picture. :heart: Very OOC though. :P
kurosawa87: Yeah she has great (?) timing. :lol: Thanks.
Fen: It's not yet Christmas in the timeline for the story, but yes, she would want the same for Christmas. Hehe. And yes it's cute that Ai tried so hard. :heart: And i hate you, you know that? :heart: :P
Ore-Baka: Yankii Reina for the win! And thanks for the support. :D
Sukoshi: Cuddly is always good. :heart: And I see you've also been traumatized by taxis...don't worry, no death-by-taxi shall occur in an Essy fic! Rest assured! Since I torture them in other ways generally... Ahem! And yes I shall continue with the fluff run for now. XD
kRisZ: Always the thought that counts, And Reina knows it too! :heart:
peti-chan: Yankii in love is always cute. :D Too bad they weren't already a couple during the meteor shower scene, since it would have been so easy to get them to kiss right there. Oh well. XD
Kitami: ReinAi is great. :heart: I love this pair. And I'm glad I brightened up your Christmas! And why does everyone keep bugging me for more. >_>
kame_eririn: Yes Reina-vision is adorable. She does it again this chapter too. :D
Retro Bubble: Yup, Reina just wanted Ai to show up, which she did! Happy endings all round! :heart: And yeah, I guess it's obvious how they're both so different before things changed. XD It's amazing sometimes. But you know....circumstances...
baby sticky: Yeah she looked weird on the train. Too bad she was too occupied over whether she would make it in time to notice all the strange looks. :P And why are you reading that?! D:
rndmn: They're both idiots, which is why they don't notice right at first. XD It's gonna take more than a push, shove and a kick before they realize they actually like each other that way. And yes meteor shower is romantic. XD And obviously, your top priority would be bean protection...wanna get a PPO for the bean against me? :P
Saiks: Yeah Reina is so lucky to have Aichan. :heart: I feel bad for her friends too, but eh, I've done shit like that myself. Lol. And yes, Ai's accidental lateness was funny when I thought of it, and I'm glad you feel the same! Warm and fuzziness hurrah! Oh and I forgive you for missing the update, you can go yell at Kitami for not telling you. :P
Ok time to edit and post. Wait for it!
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-wedge-
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Fools in Love
Sprawled comfortably on the beaten couch, Reina looked perfectly at home in the small apartment she was currently in. A wet towel remained draped around her neck and shoulders, her hair still damp and tousled after a shower.
She was not currently at home, obviously. The size of the hall at her house was bigger than the apartment itself. Alright, perhaps she was exaggerating a little, but it came close.
This was Ai's place, somewhere she came by very often, and currently the owner was taking her time in the bathroom. They had worked out an arrangement once Reina had started sleeping over more regularly: Reina always got the bathroom first. The reason was simple. Ai took forever in the bathroom, and Reina often wondered why anyone would waste that much time soaking in a bathtub when a good shower could get the dirt off as effectively.
As usual, Reina had one hand on the remote control for the television, though she wasn't really bent on watching it. She just liked having it on to create some ambient noise. Her other hand cradled a camera possessively, in a way that Ai had teased as having been glued to her hand.
The camera was a precious gift, of course. Reina had been overjoyed when she unwrapped her birthday present from Ai; the older girl having noticed her obsession with photography and given her a Polaroid camera, along with several rolls of film. Because of that, Reina had recently begun creating a photo album just for the two of them, since her new favorite subject was obviously one Takahashi Ai. After witnessing what she had unwittingly unleashed, Ai had only one thing to say.
"Well, darn."
Reina could only smirk to herself at the memory of Ai's resigned expression. In fact, she had gotten a fairly good shot of that as well. The yankii did have some good reflexes.
Twiddling her toes in boredom, Reina flipped through the channels restlessly, her eyes occasionally flicking towards the clock to check its interminably slow progress. Not for the first time, she wondered if Ai had drowned in the tub.
Deciding to give Ai another 5 more minutes before she went to pound at the door, Reina idly toyed with her towel, before scrutinizing her nails. She always liked it when Ai helped her decorate her nails. It was always nice when Ai paid attention to her. The dinner they spent together earlier was wonderful as well, given that Ai had chosen to accompany her instead of going out with the rest of the cast of the play. Today had been the final day, and Reina had been present within the audience. Granted, arthouse productions had never been a strong point of interest for the younger girl, but she wanted to show her support for Ai.
The more Reina got to know Ai, the more of the older girl's little quirks showed up. Some were cute, though some were a little annoying. Reina had no idea why Ai had a predominantly black wardrobe. It needed more pink. And purple. Basically, brighter colors. Reina had been attempting to get Ai to try more daring styles, with little success. Not that she was about to give up though.
And then there was her obsession with history and video games. At first the rambles about Nobunaga and the Edo period were interesting, but after the third time or so, Reina could feel her eyes glazing over at a subject she had little interest in. She humored Ai though, and injected witty remarks to make the older girl either laugh or pout.
The video game thing was annoying to some degree though. It took Ai away from her. She had playfully called Ai an otaku on more than one occasion, even as Ai vehemently denied the accusation (while cradling her DS like a baby, which kind of invalidated her claim). Nevertheless, Ai did take time to spend time with Reina, though there were times when Reina had popped in for a surprise visit only to see Ai obviously occupied by her amusements and reluctant to go anywhere else. It took lots of pouting, sulking, and whining on Reina's part to get Ai to even consider ditching her game and going out on a whim. Ai always did like her activities planned out beforehand, though with Reina's company she had become slightly more spontaneous. Just a little, but even that little was a vast improvement.
All that extended musing about Ai wore away the requisite 5 minutes in no time at all. Bouncing off the couch, Reina happily made her way to the bathroom, prepared to pound the door down (and not for the first time). Before her hand landed on the door though, she paused.
Reina never liked being too predictable. She had already done the whole "Get out of there before you shrivel up!" routine several times before, and wanted to try something new. The tiny little gears in the wonky eyed girl's head turned, and without really thinking about it, her hand fell to the knob of the door and turned.
It could have been locked. In that case, Reina would have had little choice but to fall back on the good old plan of yelling through the door. Fortunately, or perhaps unfortunately, it wasn't. Reina all but fell over the threshold and into the bathroom.
Nearly tripping on her own feet, Reina's first instinct was to save her camera, clutching it protectively before even attempting to regain her balance. She did manage to ungracefully tumble against one wall before leaning against it to prop herself up again.
The scramble startled the original occupant of the bathroom, who very nearly dropped what she was holding into the water.
"Reina!" Ai sounded scandalised, though a quick check of her expression would reveal that she was clearly more annoyed over nearly dropping her DS into the water rather than Reina barging in.
"Ah I'm sor--" Reina started to apologize as she regained her footing and looked up. Then she stopped. Her cheeks reddened considerably. Ai blinked back at her, unperturbed.
"Is there something wrong?"
"N-nothing!" Reina spluttered, looking all around her, suddenly finding the tiles and ceiling of the bathroom to be of immeasurable fascination. Her cheeks were stained a bright crimson, and she fidgeted around awkwardly, like a child caught with her hand still in the cookie jar. Suddenly, Reina wished that the towel she still had around her neck would just cover her entire head right now and save her the embarrassment.
The reason for Reina's panic was obvious (except to Ai, who was still oblivious). For the less perverted, it can be simply put together in few bulleted points.
1) Ai was taking a bath
2) She was sitting in the bathtub to play her DS
3) The water was only at waist level
The rest can be left to a normal imagination. Reina wanted to bury herself headfirst in the nearest hole, while Ai wondered why Reina was acting so strangely. Oddly, for someone as naturally shy as Ai was, she showed absolutely no awkwardness about Reina walking in on her naked in the bath. If asked, she would undoubtedly say that it was because they were both girls, and that she trusted Reina. Reina, however, was in no shape to ask or even wonder why Ai was completely unbothered by her presence.
"Reina, are you sure you're ok? Your nose is bleeding..." Ai definitely sounded concerned now. She started to climb out of the tub, and Reina's brain came very close to shorting out as she smothered her own face (and the bleeding orifice) with the towel and beat a quick retreat, nearly falling over in her haste. The door slammed shut after her, and Ai heard an "itai!" that was preceded by a very loud thud.
The last thing a dazed Reina saw was a still dripping Ai wrapped in a towel kneeling by her side, before she passed out from the bump to her head.
~*~*~
"Argh..."
Reina winced as she cracked her eyes open. The first blurry image reflected into her eyes made her jerk back reflexively, nearly whacking said person in the face.
"Reina? Are you ok?" Ai leaned in, making Reina's cheeks redden again from the proximity, but Ai simply checked Reina's temperature by touching her forehead to Reina's.
"I was so worried..." Ai murmured. Reina lowered her eyes guiltily, then yanked her eyes away just as quickly. Having Ai seated by her side dressed in only a bathrobe was still too much for her right now. Granted, she knew she shouldn't have overreacted to seeing that, since they were both girls. But still...
"You shouldn't have run out like that. What if you really hurt yourself?" Ai scolded her, or tried to. It was obvious that Ai was still too worried to be truly angry, and in any case, her tone was too gentle and caring to hold much barb. That did not take away the sting of truth in her words though, and Reina bit her lip, hanging her head.
"I'm sorry..." Reina mumbled, looking rightfully ashamed of herself. Ai sighed at the repentant look on Reina's face, fondly running a hand through Reina's tousled locks.
"Do you want to tell me why you freaked out just now?" Reina winced. That was the last thing she wanted Ai to ask her right now. Ai watched her expectantly, and Reina grumbled under her breath, averting her eyes to avoid direct eye contact.
"...not fair..." Was all Ai could catch from Reina's muttering. She arched an eyebrow, prodding Reina speculatively in the side, earning a short squeak from the younger girl. Reina glared back at her waiting senior, clearly reluctant to answer.
"Because of you." Ai blinked.
"What did I do?" Reina pouted childishly.
"Why are you so much bigger than me?!" To emphasize her point, she jabbed at the center of Ai's chest, making Ai blush and pull back a little.
"I-i-it's not, I'm n-not, it's just r-really..." Ai stuttered incoherently, caught offguard by Reina's revelation. Reina sulked, folding her arms indignantly.
"And I can't believe you bring your games into the bathroom!" On a roll now, Reina successfully pushed away the topic of her awkward reaction to seeing Ai's naked state and moved on to the less inflammatory subject of gaming.
"I just wanted to clear another level!" Ai replied just as indignantly, her lips unconsciously forming into a pout. To look on this two right now, one would vividly see the childishness with which they were conducting themselves at the moment.
The flashpoint of the evening was successfully averted as they descended into the much safer territory of childish squabbles, which eventually led to a tickle fight, lots of squealing, before both sides called a truce. It would be a routine faithfully seen to for still some time to come, given that neither side were ready for any more "adult" confrontations.
Then again, they might not always have a choice in the matter.
===============================================================
Ah, young love...
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First post~ woo~
These two are so cute. :heart: I love that you added in Ai gaming in the tub, so geeky/cute/sexy! :drool: Poor Reina though, having to wait all alone, bored while Ai soaks in the tub trying to get to the next level. Speaking of her playing her DS. I'm very disappointed in you :smhid You never said what color it was :P
I also thought it was really cute that Ai got Reina a camera. :heart: It's so fitting, Reina is a little camwhore XD And she can take lots of pictures of her Aichan now. :heart:
I totally :lol: ed at Reina getting a nosebleed. Don't worry Reina-sama! I would have, too! :mon bleed2:
Poor Reina, jealous because she lacks a decent sized chest. :lol: Don't worry Reina, I still love you and your small boobs. :wub:
Maybe if Reina gets bored, she can join Ai in the tub? :twisted:
Write more ^_^
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:lol: :lol: :lol: That was epic!
Reina got a nosebleed! :mon blood: I can identify myself with her :lol: But honestly, it was a crazy idea to just go in like that XD
And Ai just caring about her DS :lol: Man, she is an addict XD
The funniest and cutest thing about them is that they are both so clueless about their feelings XD And on one hand, you want to shake them, shouting "Dammit, fools! Can’t you see that? you love each other!" but on the other, you want to leave it like that and just sympathetically smile to yourself, watching as they live in their unawareness and as the tension builds between them XD
Ai buying Reina a camera was a nail to her own coffin XD She got herself a private paparazzi :mon cam: Go Reina! Get some nice shots! :twothumbs
And there is still so many things before them :roll: I can't wait :D
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I see you were quite influenced by last week's Pocket Morning Weekly question. :lol: Ah, Ai in the bathtub :drool: Other than that.
The camera
XD Reina. her DS
Ai XD
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KAWAIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII!!!!! :mon angel:
I TOTALLY LOVED IT!!! :mon lovelaff:
Today I was so angry and depressed, but this totally kill my bad mood!!! kyaaa!!
It seems like all of us will react like Reina to a sexy Ai-chan in the bathtub :on bleed: :bath:
And I think I could perfectly die right there. :imdead:
Well, what more can I say? This chapter was perfect!! :mon roll:
I KNOW I HAVE TO WAIT, BUT.....I WANT MORE REINAI!!!!!!!!! :mon pray2:
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This chapter is a bit more sexy with the mention of Aichan "all nude" in the bathtub and the water only going up to waist-level. :on bleed:
But, as usual, it was mostly cute and absolute fluff. :heart:
:lol: at Aichan caring more about her DS dropping into the water than the intruder who unintentionally caught sight of her hawt bod. If I was in her place, I'd probably be the same, 'cause I seriously cannot risk getting any of my beloved handheld electronic devices fall into the water and ultimately get broken; but then again, why would I take them with me in the bath? I'd take them somewhere less hazardous, lol.
The bit with Reina nosebleeding had me lol'ing as well. It totally reminded me of the time when I was looking through some Aichan pictures, sneezed, and got blood all over the monitor. So disgusting -- I probably shouldn't have shared it -- but it was SO ironic, lmao.
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And why does everyone keep bugging me for more. >_>
Because you and your stories are amazing :D
~~~~~
Poor Reina having to wait so long for Aichan, but Aichan is geekily playing her video games :heart: Though I would most likely be in Reina's position in this one :sweatdrop:
Reina's nosebleed :lol: But how could you not when you walk in on Aichan waist deep in the bath... :drool:
Its sad that Reina got hurt though :( Aichan should have kissed her head and made it better, thats what i would do :D
And its ok Reina small boobs are better, they don't get in the way XD
and again, more please~ because we love you~ :heart: :wub: :heart:
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I know you love me! :P
Ah the shower or bath pocket morning! So nice to see that integrated into this chapter. hehehe Ai and her love of video games. Although I would have thought it would have been the PSP that she would have brought into the bath instead of the DS, but both would work either way. :lol: Speaking of PSP, I really should finish playing Dissidia. XD I'm so behind.
Ai truly dug her own grave when she got Reina that camera. Good thing Reina was too busy nosebleeding to take a picture of a very hawt naked Ai. hahaha
I must agree:
Ah, young love~
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Reina's image of Ai in the bathtub hehe :D
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Ah, young love... :P
The bulleted points duly noted :w00t: Anyone would have reacted the same way as Reina. I mean, it's Ai! So I'm guessing this is the beginning of Reina's orientation towards Ai? :lol:
Someone walks in on you when you're naked and the first thing you thought of is your DS? Prove how dorky and otaku she is in this story :P Oh wait, isn't she like that irl as well? XD
edit: Oh I got the new page! :P
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I'm back again! And yes I know that was quick. I briefly pondered letting it hang for a few more days before updating, but nahhh, you guys are great and I don't wanna torture you. :P So here's another chapter in less than a day! :D
But first, comment replies.
Saiks: Yes these two are so cute. :heart: I just find it funny that Ai would revert to her old habits after getting used to having Reina around in her life. You can't expect her to change entirely just because Reina is there. :P And I'm sorry for not mentioning the color of the DS? D: And yeah, the camera definitely fit as a present. Hehe. I just felt like it was appropriate. :) Reina's reaction was entirely expected and reasonable I supposed. I'd be more surprised if she didn't react hehe. Too bad these two are too innocent for tub action as of now. Give them time. :P
peti-chan: Reina always has crazy ideas. That's why she's Reina. XD Yeah part of their charm is them not knowing how they feel, so I totally get what you mean. And yeah, Reina as papparazzi is amusing. She's Ai's very own stalker! :lol:
rndm: Yup the Pocket Morning question was very...helpful. XD I love Pocket Mornings like that. They need more useful questions around. XD
kame_eririn: I'm glad it cheered you up! It makes writing worthwhile when I know people are able to enjoy it. Yeah, being able to see Ai like that in the bathtub...I'd die happy too. :lol: And yes MOAR REINAI COMING!!!
Retro Bubble: Sexy and Ai-chan go hand in hand. You can't have one without the other. :P More cuteness and fluff coming up! And yeah I thought it was funny how Ai panicked over the DS first. I wouldn't risk my electronics in the bathroom either. XD Did you really sneeze blood all over the screen? :lol: My my, the power of Ai-chan is vast indeed...:lol:
Kitami: Why thank you~ Yeah I'd imagine you'd be in Reina's position since Saiks is as much of a geek if not more :P I would have let Ai kiss Reina better, but too bad she's too innocent to have thought of it. Oh well. XD There's always another time...
Fen: I do not! >_> I put her DS in instead nof her PSP because given the timeframe, she would probably have been playing FF Tactics on her DS at that time. See, I was thinking. :P And you really should finish Dissidia! I already finished mine! And yeah, if Reina had taken that particular shot, it'd have been worth a lot of money...I'd sell my kidneys to buy that. >_> XD Young love is wonderful~ :heart: :heart: :heart:
kurosawa87: Too bad it's something we'll never see. D: :lol:
badsaints: Well Reina probably doesn't even really think about her growing attraction to Ai. She knows she's affected somehow, but she doesn't want to think about it for now. XD Poor girl, so much in denial hehe. And yeah, I wanted a dorky and otaku Ai. :heart: So much awesome right there. :D And yes you got the new page you lucky duck. :P
And there, ready to edit and post! Wait for it!
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A Yuletide Festival
"So you're the one who's been kidnapping my daughter..."
Dark eyes set deep into a stern, uncompromising face bore deep into the quivering girl standing awkwardly before him. Takahashi Ai had never had such a gruelling test before. She would rather go for an audition all over again then stand here under that penetrating gaze.
"OYAJI! Stop picking on her!" Reina stormed in with decidedly unladylike grace, her skirt actually knee-length for once. Coupled with the light-colored blouse and the gentle curls in her hair, Reina managed to look more feminine and less yankii for tonight.
"So, my princess makes an appearance!" The great bear of a man stood, towering over both Ai and his tiny daughter. With hardly any effort, he lifted Reina by the waist, making the girl eep in shock and try to prevent her outfit from being messed up.
"Dad! Put me down!" Reina complained, but the sparkle in her eyes told a different story. From the side, Ai smiled as she carefully inched to a corner. It was nice to see that the scary man who was also Reina's father could actually show such a gentle expression for his daughter.
"Pardon those children! Sometimes it seems that I have two kids instead of just the one." A voice from behind startled Ai, who jumped before turning around to face a woman just as tiny as she was. Tanaka Saeko smiled as Ai hastened to apologize, fumbling over her words adorably and struggling to introduce herself without tripping up.
"There there, it's alright. I've heard all about you from Reina. Ai-chan, is it? Can I call you Ai-chan?" A demure "hai" was her answer. Saeko nodded approvingly at the shy, polite girl before her. Reina's friends were usually of a wilder caliber. This Takahashi Ai, for all that she was apparently an idol, seemed like a frightened chick fresh out of the nest. Case in point: if Ai sank any lower into her scarf, she would be all but invisible.
"Ai!" Reina greeted cheerfully, finally having wriggled free from her father's grasp. She very nearly glomped the older girl, only managing to restrain herself because of her mother's presence. Saeko seemed amused as Ai tried to juggle the hyperactive girl without dropping either her bag or the presents she brought.
"Now Reina dear, you better let go of Ai-chan over there before she suffocates." Saeko stepped in to help the beleaguered guest. Ai shot her a quick, grateful look for the aid even as Reina retreated, still beaming.
"I'm so glad you made it!" Ai smiled indulgently at the younger girl.
"Well it was either this or the office party..." Ai made a face at the thought. She didn't mind the glitz too much, but all that forced socializing with people she didn't know and/or didn't care about was never high on her list. Besides, going there meant she had to find a date. The year before, she had one. This year, she would rather avoid the hassle of finding one.
"I still think you're crazy." Reina meant it. As much as she was happy that Ai could come over to spend Christmas with her and her family, she couldn't believe that Ai was turning down the opportunity to mingle with celebrities and influential people in the industry.
"Crazy or not, you like me well enough." Ai retorted smartly. Prolonged exposure to the yankii wit had helped her develop a few barbs as well. Saeko was smiling at the bickering children.
"There now children, you can argue later." The 'mom' voice was in full effect, since it made the two stop before they even started.
"Hai~" They chorused in unison, then playfully glared at each other. Reina jabbed Ai in the side with her elbow. Ai shoved back. Saeko gave them the Look. They stopped immediately.
"You can continue after dinner." Saeko said firmly. The kids nodded. Turning to her watching husband with a gentle smile, Saeko glided over to his side.
"Come along Kenji, I'm starving."
Behind the loving couple, Reina made gagging noises. Ai smirked, but looked somewhat wistfully at the sight before her. Reina was truly fortunate to grow up in a family like this.
~*~*~
Dinner went well, considering there was far more focus on the food than on conversation, which was something even Ai could do. That didn't stop Reina from playing footsie with her under the table however, though Ai wasn't as inclined to entertain her. No one in their right mind got between Takahashi Ai and her food, as Reina could eventually testify to with her bruised toe.
Light conversation began over dessert, with the parents quizzing Ai over the industry and Reina's performance in general. Saeko didn't embarrass Reina too much, although she did on one occasion threaten to bring out the baby pictures, standard weapons in any mother's arsenal, much to Reina's chagrin and Ai's laughter.
The topic inevitably moved on Ai herself, naturally. Reina definitely had a lot to add on that subject, given that she had been shadowing Ai for a while. Ai's cheeks darkened at the unreserved praise Reina heaped on her, managing only the weakest of declinations and trying to play everything down. Her fate was sealed when Reina produced a magazine out of nowhere (Ai had to wonder if Reina was a hidden fangirl), turning to the exact page where Ai was modelling for a particular fashion style.
"You do look very pretty!" Saeko exclaimed, even as Ai sank lower in her seat, hoping that the ground would open underneath her. It probably didn't help that the particular brand was notorious for a daring gothic style, so Ai looked every bit the dark seductress on those pages.
At least it's not bikini shots... Ai consoled herself. She did not notice the mischievous twinkle in Saeko's eye. Reina did however, and wondered what her mother was up to.
Turning to a particularly eroticized shot where Ai was gazing at the camera with a smouldering look, Saeko observed.
"You do look very sexy here, Ai-chan...if you had showed up earlier, I might have had some competition for my Kenji-kun. Ne, Kenji, don't you think she looks sexy here?" Saeko turned to her husband.
Reina's father had good instincts. That was how he had survived this long with two manipulative females in his household. With an absolutely straight face, he replied.
"I'm not answering that."
"And what do you think, Reina?" Saeko turned to her daughter.
"Mom!" Reina flushed. Ai was very close to crawling away to obscurity under the table at this point. Why did Reina have to bring that particular magazine out again?
Completely unruffled at embarrassing her own family, Saeko looked rather pleased by the aftermath if nothing else. Ai shrank back unconsciously when the matriarch of the family turned her eyes back on her.
"I'm so glad that Reina finally has a friend like you. Maybe you can convince her to be more feminine." Reina grumbled something about her mother not understanding her sense of style, and Ai laughed along ruefully, remembering her own tomboy phase.
The rest of dessert went by without further mishap, and they finally ended the sumptuous meal on a relaxed note. The whole family, including Ai, helped to clear up, to the hidden approval of the parents at the courtesy.
The familial atmosphere was comforting and inclusive, though Ai often felt like a watcher on the sidelines, given that she was only a guest after all. Nevertheless, she enjoyed the mood while she could, savoring the closeness through osmosis.
When the last of the dishes were done and put away, they adjourned to the sitting room. Or tried to, given the minor hiccup in the move.
"Ah! I wonder who put the mistletoe there." Saeko did not sound very surprised as she looked up. Kenji did not need a further hint. Leaning down, he gave a swift, loving peck on the lips to his wife, the couple gazing at each other like newlyweds again.
Behind them, Reina pretended to gag again. Children never did like seeing their parents making kissy faces at each other. At the sound, Saeko looked over at her daughter pointedly.
"Reina, you do know you're under a sprig of mistletoe too?"
Reina gulped, looking up. Her mother was right. It seemed that the sneaky older woman had placed the plant strategically all over the place to ensure that she managed to trap her husband underneath one of them.
Unfortunately, it seemed that it ended up catching Reina and her guest as well. Ai looked around awkwardly, the only thing keeping her from moving away being the fact that her fingers were still laced with Reina's.
"You know what you have to do~" Saeko enjoyed teasing the kids. It was funny watching them squirm like three year olds. To her surprise, her husband joined in.
"Any daughter of mine will stand up to challenges like a man." Saeko swatted at him for encouraging more tomboy behavior from their daughter, but the girls involved didn't notice. They were both in their own world now.
I can't kiss her! I mean, I just can't! Reina was panicking inwardly, although her face remained calm, if a bit flushed. Never mind that it was going to be her first kiss, but it was Ai! The girl she had only just accidentally managed to see naked the other day! Reina so did not need the extra complication right now.
Next to her, Ai looked just as perturbed, though her inner thoughts were comparatively calmer. Well, we're both girls, and we're friends, so it should be ok, right?
Reina felt a light squeeze on her fingers, and looked over at Ai, who smiled reassuringly at her. Reina felt her worries melt away, and squeezed Ai's hand back with a shy smile.
I trust you.
I know.
When Ai leaned in, Reina felt her eyelids flutter close in anticipation, only to feel a ghost of a touch settle briefly on her cheek before disappearing entirely. Despite herself, Reina felt a pang of something akin to disappointment the moment contact vanished, her lips forming into a pout as she opened her eyes to glower at a faintly blushing Ai.
"Let's go." Ai urged, not noticing the hint of dissatisfaction in Reina's eyes. Reina's parents had already gone on their way, and the younger pair quickly joined them.
Reina did her best not to think about the whole incident, and more importantly, her reaction to it. Somehow, it was probably not entirely normal to wish that your best female friend had kissed you on the lips, even if it was just a friendly one.
But it's tradition. Just tradition...right?
Reina tried to convince herself of that. It was better than considering alternatives.
~*~*~
It was much later, and the older couple had already retreated into their bedroom to rest (or more, but Reina steadfastly wanted to remain ignorant of that). That left Ai and Reina alone in the sitting room, leaning against each other and engaging in drowsy, intimate chatter.
A few minutes before midnight, mindful of Ai's growing weariness, Reina suggested that they head to bed. Hand in hand, they made their way up the steps.
At the very top though, was yet another sprig of that damnable mistletoe. Reina knew about that one, since her parents had given them another graphic demonstration of its presence earlier. Given that they were alone now, she could conceivably have guided Ai past it without any further incident, but somehow they both slowed to a stop underneath the silly thing again.
"Here we are again." Ai observed sleepily, hiding a little yawn with her hand.
"We don't have to do anything about it since we're alone now." Reina answered, though if one listened closely enough, one could probably catch the tinge of disappointment in her voice.
"Mm true..." The agreement didn't make Reina feel any more cheerful. Tugging lightly on Ai's hand, she tried to lead them forward, only to be stopped by unexpected resistance.
"Ai?" Reina turned, then stopped abruptly as the older girl left a lingering kiss on her forehead. Ai did not withdraw very far after that, their level heights allowing her to gaze directly into Reina's eyes. Her voice was soft, almost velvety as she murmured.
"Merry Christmas, Reina."
As if on cue, the clock began to chime for midnight. For once, Reina was glad that the shadows hid the fierce blush she was currently sporting, even as she whispered back.
"Merry Christmas, Ai."
A very Merry Christmas it was indeed.
=================================================================
I know this was late, which was why I rushed it out. Hopefully it's not too sloppy. XD
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-dibs-
Awwwwwwwwwww. :heart: Christmas time is just so cute :heart: !
I love Reina's mom, seriously. XD She's so awesome! Her dad seems funny too. I think it's cute how mushy the parents are together, it's like they just got married :heart: Most couples are just like...blah with each other by that point :lol: I guess it proves they are truly in love. :)
Mistletoe!!! So cute!! Gahh! :wub: :heart: I'm glad Reina's parents teased them into doing it XD But it was even cuter the second time! :D Poor Reina though, so comfused. :lol: Ai seems so calm about everything :huhuh It comfuses me, I wanna know what she's thinking!
Write more! plzkthx
OH YEAH ALSO...I WAS VERY UPSET THAT IT WASN'T A REAL KISS D: I feel Reina's pain!
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Wow that was quick! :w00t:
Aw~~ Ai is spending Christmas with Reina's family that's adorable :heart: but at the same time makes me wonder about Ai-chan's family situation...
Reina's mom was cool especially when she teased Reina 8) And setting mistletoes all over the home was a great idea :twothumbs
The kisses were so sweet :wub: But Reina's disappointment even sweeter XD
It probably didn't help that the particular brand was notorious for a daring gothic style, so Ai looked every bit the dark seductress on those pages.
Now I would like to see that! :w00t:
Her fate was sealed when Reina produced a magazine out of nowhere (Ai had to wonder if Reina was a hidden fangirl), turning to the exact page where Ai was modelling for a particular fashion style.
Hidden fangirl? Definitely! :lol:
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Oh my goodness~!!
Why have I not been reading this??
I love this story! So freakin cute!!
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I think I'm becoming quite comfortable with the pairings. I hate it. :lol:
But I love it. You write RenAi so well.
Case in point: if Ai sank any lower into her scarf, she would be all but invisible.
Can imagine. :heart:
The whole mistletoe part was sweet. :heart: :heart:
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That was really cute :lol:
The image of forcing it was just too much to bear XD
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Please excuse my second post before another update but I have an important message...
I think I'm becoming quite comfortable with the pairings. I hate it. :lol:
No you don't, nobody can hate the ReinAi :wahaha:
Ahehm, thank you. -wanders off-
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AWWWWWWWWWW~! :nya: SO CUTE!
When/if I become a mother I wanna be like Saeko! :grin: Tease my children~ MUAHAHAHA~ :twisted:
Reina is just so cute, trying to play footsie with Ai. Yeah I think it is funny that Ai is just too engrossed in her food to care XD
The whole Christmas time was just priceless :D Mistletoes are amazing, and poor Reina being confused about being sad about Ai not kissing her on the lips :(
I think the cutest part was when Ai sleepily kisses Reina's forehead :wub:
But I really feel bad for Aichan, I wanna know why she doesn't have a family like Reina's or really I wanna know how her family is. (if she has one, idk, there might have been some hint to her family in another chapter but I am writing this comment half asleep so I apologize for the crapiness)
More pwease~ :heart:
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Lol~ That was super quick... i have not even read the previous chapter yet... I have read the pocket morning on the bath soaking topic too.. so... :thumbsup Poor Reina..lost some blood plus a big bump on her head... and had Ai-chan to tend to her since she blacked out.. should be quite a blast to her ego..LOL~
As for this... I would have wanna quote the whole story... LOL~ but i'll just settle on the fav part~
Sprig of mistletoe.... Hmmmmm~ What a nice excuse to get a kiss~ XD I thought she might get one on the lips for the second one since no one is watching plus Ai-chan is really sleepy.. she might.......... :P but kiss on the forehead is really sweet... XD All thanks to a certain scheming mum.. which...diverts from a certain writer..XD
"I'm not answering that."
- I kinda like this from Kenji... LOL~ A big man cornered by 2 women... and so he thought he can at least scare Ai-chan...but i guess he will just shrink under Reina's glare if he ever does that... XD
Are we expecting a New Year Celebration between them too? *Bright Smile!*
:mon bat:
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!!!exclamationpointexclamationpoint!!!
You know, I'm so used to your once-a-week updates that I was actually kinda shocked when I noticed that you updated just a day after the posting the last chapter. But it made me feel super giddy inside. Unfortunately, I had to reserved reading the latest chapter after doing my school work. Simply because I wanted a reward for my hard work, lmao.
Anyhoo -- man, that was just plain cute. :heart: (I've been using that word too much with this story. :lol:) Reina's mom gets a delicious cookie for decorating the whole house with mistletoes. If it wasn't for her little tactic and teasing, Reina probably wouldn't have gotten the kiss from Aichan. But the forehead-kiss was definitely a lot better; the little kitten didn't feel disappointed, and there's no adult supervision around to boss 'em and tell 'em what to do, lol. Aichan did it willingly, and that just made it all the more sweeter. *melts*
Did you really sneeze blood all over the screen?
Yes, and it was a drag to clean off. XD Nosebleeds are only an occasional problem for me, and since I just so happened to have gotten one whilst in the middle of my usual staring-at-pictures-of-Aichan private time, I decided to incorporate the nosebleed to Aichan's hotness. Nevermind the scientific explanations! :wahaha:
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WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!
I CAN'T BELIEVE THAT YOU POST SO SOON!!! I'M SO SO SO SO HAPPY!!!!!!!
That was so cute!!! :mon lovelaff:
The previous and this new chapter TOTALLY KILL ME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :mon crazyinlove:
I really enjoyed reading Destiny Love, especially in these days that have not been very good for me.
Thank You again!! I don't know what more to say!!! ONLY THANK YOU!! :mon fyeah:
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Ahahahahahahaha!!
Cute! You deserve two cookies for this! But minus one for being late on this chapter! So one more to your count of fluffy chapters!!!! :p
Oh, man. Reina's mom is the best. XD She sure love to tease those two. :lol: I wonder if she notices something between them that ReinAi doesn't even realize yet. Hmmm...
The strategically placing of mistletoe is a nice touch. lol Good way to get somebody you want to kiss to fall right into your trap.
Mmm, Ai in sexy gothic clothing. Yum. I'll eat that up any day. Reina picked a very good magazine.
Ah, Reinai is so cute. XD Write more like this and you'll definitely bring rnd to the dark side. Mwahhahahaha. XD
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I've always wanted Christmas to last just a little longer and you made that happen! :mon santa3:
YAY!!
hehe I love Reina's normal family! Especially Mrs. Tanaka. She's down right lovely~ :mon innocent:
lol Estrea, keep this up and next thing you know, this normal family thing will become very popular. Pretty soon Ai chan will have a normal upbringing too! :lol:...wait actually, I take that back. I think it does happen except that Ai chan gets messed up all on her own XD
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Heehee it's really the "meet-the-parents" chapter, isn't it? What better time to do that than a Christmas dinner :P
Glad to see that Reina actually has a normal family and despite the parents being busy most of the time, Reina is being doted by them :D But I guess that's not enough if Reina has to go through the rebellious phase to gain more of their attention :roll:
Ah another step forward in their ReinAi friendship (special thanks to mama Tanaka too :lol:) A first kiss on the cheek, followed by the forehead. Where will the next one be? XD
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Even though it's a little late.. IT'S A GREAT CHRISTMAS GIFT!!!!!! :onioncheer: :bow:
"So you're the one who's been kidnapping my daughter..."
Great intro there. Well, it's their fault if Ai was 'kidnapping' Reina because, they were really busy with their work. XD.. in this chapter, at least Reina celebrated her Christmas with her family...including Ai. :nya:
"You know what you have to do~" Saeko enjoyed teasing the kids.
Cool mom!!! :on GJ: ahahaha... she's a great 'catalyst' for making ReinAi closer..XD
GAAAHH!!! YOU KILLED ME THERE!!!! :mon angel:
Ai kissing Reina on her cheeks.. and then later on her forehead... :nya::nya::nya:
Please bring me back to life (hey, that's a song.. :P) with your next update. :mon cute:
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"Well, darn."
:lol:
"Reina? Are you ok?" Ai leaned in, making Reina's cheeks redden again from the proximity, but Ai simply checked Reina's temperature by touching her forehead to Reina's.
That can generate another nosebleed. :on bleed:
"Why are you so much bigger than me?!" To emphasize her point, she jabbed at the center of Ai's chest, making Ai blush and pull back a little.
:lol:
"Hai~" They chorused in unison, then playfully glared at each other. Reina jabbed Ai in the side with her elbow. Ai shoved back. Saeko gave them the Look. They stopped immediately.
Mom is :rockon:
No one in their right mind got between Takahashi Ai and her food, as Reina could eventually testify to with her bruised toe.
:lol: I saw someone had those bruises more than Reina. Where's that whistling emoticon XD
Reina gulped, looking up. Her mother was right. It seemed that the sneaky older woman had placed the plant strategically all over the place to ensure that she managed to trap her husband underneath one of them.
Sneaky and sweet wife :wriggly:
"Any daughter of mine will stand up to challenges like a man."
I so like this line
I trust you.
I know.
I can’t find the words to describe this. All I know is it's :heart:
As if on cue, the clock began to chime for midnight. For once, Reina was glad that the shadows hid the fierce blush she was currently sporting, even as she whispered back.
Melts me :heart:
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What a cute ReinAi story. :P
I'm liking this :twothumbs
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My 100th post is dedicated to get Destiny Love back up and running!! :jphip:
I BELIEVE IN YOU ESTREA!!! :mon squee: :on woohoo:
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Finally commenting! XD
Awww~ ReinAi so cute!! XD I love young Reina...too damn adorable! But the BEST part was when Reina saw AiBoobs and flipped out. :w00t:
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I'm back! Thanks to Sai. XD
Comment replies first and chapter to come.
Sai: I love Christmas for them too. XD And yes, Reina's mom is awesome. She has a great family (for once :lol: ). The thing about Ai...she does not think, she does. :P Well she does think, but she only thinks about the things that are important to her and accepts the rest as normal. Lol. That's kind of why she's odd... And Reina will get a real kiss...eventually. :P
peti-chan: Sorry I took a little longer this time. :P Ai-chan's family situation...will come to light eventually. Just not now. XD Reina's mom is awesome. XD I wanna see Ai in dark gothic style too!!! Someone get to it already!!!
Swtme03: Well good for you, you're reading it now! And thanks for the vote of support. :D
rndmn: Get used to it, I'll be writing this pair for a good long while, barring unexpected disasters. Lol.
kurosawa87: Yeah it was cute wasn't it?
Kitami: Saeko is a cool mom, yes she is. :heart: Christmas is great for them lol. Aichan's background will be relevant eventually, but it does contribute to her stubborn nature (or rather, her stubborn nature led to it...), and it'll feature later in the story. :)
stinky: Well at least Reina got a good eyeful before passing out. :P We can only rely on our own imaginations...:sob: Sleepy kisses are great teehee. And a man knows how to pick his battles. Reina's dad is a smart guy, so he knows better than to make his own life difficult. XD
Retro Bubble: I feel like calling you Bubbles. Can I call you Bubbles? XD Sorry this took a little longer than usual, I had a bad writer's block as you know. Cute is a good word for this story. :D Forehead kiss for the win, and Aichan is just so unconsciously sweet and adorable. :heart:
kame_eririn: I'm glad my story can help cheer you up. :)
Fenfen: Let's hope you're still keeping count, and that this counts too. *crosses fingers* We'll see if she approves of ReinAi together...I still haven't decided really. XD I intend to convert the world to ReinAi!!!! Muahahahaha.
Sukoshi: Yes, this is Reina with a normal family. She needs a normal family more often lol. So maligned. XD And yes, Aichan does seem to get herself messed up pretty often, doesn't she?
badsaints: Woohoo meet the parents! Yeah Reina's a really lucky girl. I wish I had a family like that too!
cogi_yoshi: Hehe Christmas is great for ReinAi. They're too sweet together. :heart: I hope I can live up to your expectations! I'm not in the best of conditions myself...
kRisZ: Hehe. Yeah Reina's mom is win. :D And ReinAi is much love. :heart: :heart: :heart:
LovelyGaki: Thanks for reading! I'm glad you like the ReinAi. :D
strawhead: There you are!! Aren't you glad you read this? :P Yes, little Reina is adorable. :heart: And yes, wouldn't you flip out if you saw AiBoobs too? :P XD Lucky Reina, even though she knocked herself out afterwards...:lol:
Time to edit and post~
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And Then There Was Us
The peace of Christmas was but a distant memory with the new year upon them, as Reina found herself auditioning for a job and actually getting it, thus making her ready for her official debut as a talent, rather than a mere understudy.
She had celebrated the fact with both her parents and her once-mentor, and now-rival (as Ai wryly put upon hearing that Reina was going to be debuting), before throwing herself wholeheartedly into the assignment like never before.
The first job went by exceedingly well, if reader response was any indication. More than a few calls had been made to the magazine that Reina had appeared in, and the young idol very soon found herself with yet another assignment, followed by plans for other forms of media exposure. It was turning out to be a very good start to the new year.
Reina soon found herself in a frenzy of activity that saw her up before dawn and stumbling back home only somewhere after midnight. Who knew smiling at a camera (or not smiling, depending on what the photographer wanted) could be so difficult? It literally took hours to get it right, depending on how fussy the photographer was, and on her own performance as well. After the end of a particularly stressful day, Reina felt like her face was going to fall off, muscles aching in places she didn't even know she had.
Given that the above would be a very bad thing indeed, she often collapsed right into bed right after getting cleaned up, only just remembering to set her alarm before passing out from exhaustion. She might be young, but until her body adjusted to the hectic schedule, she would suffer this way for a while. At least it didn't take too long for her to recover though.
Despite the workload, Reina did not even slow down. She leapt into her work with all her youthful enthusiasm, her focus at insane levels. If forced to think about it, she probably hadn't devoted any time to anyone else outside of work during this whirlwind of activity. Going from one thing to another, Reina was soaking up information like a sponge, learning on the job and doing everything she could to outshine everyone else around her.
In other words, she was fast becoming the image of a perfect idol, as if she had been born to the role. There was no other place she would rather be, to have all eyes upon her and seeing how awesome she was. In fact, her mother had even teased her about smiling in her sleep, to which Reina only smirked at, given that she did have a good reason to be smiling at her rocketing popularity.
After two weeks of frenetic work, Reina finally got a bit of a breather in between jobs, allowing her subconscious mind to finally catch up with her conscious one as she lounged inside an empty practice room at the agency building. It took one look at her personal phone (she ended up with two, one for work and one for her friends) to remind her just what she had forgotten in the crazy promotion schedule she had been on.
Reina winced at the number of messages left on the phone, most of them from her usual gang. She could not believe that she had actually forgotten a birthday. Her thumbs worked on double time, apologizing to said birthday boy and promising to meet up whenever her schedule opened up again. She could only hope that her friends would forgive her for that slip.
After spending the next half hour or so scanning through the hundreds of missed messages, Reina frowned imperceptibly. She had a good memory for this sort of thing, and in over a hundred of the different messages, most of them from the same few people, there was one person prominently missing.
Well, there was one measly message from said person, in all its typical brevity.
Congratulations. That was all it said. Reina chewed absently on her lower lip. Scratch that, she just found a second, more recent message. It was still short, but it was at least longer than a single word.
Take care of yourself. She looked at the timestamp. It had been sent a week ago. The first had been sent all of two weeks ago, right as Reina had been told that she had gotten the job. Apparently Ai was very well informed, since she had timed her message for the moment Reina stepped back out of the meeting, appearing right before the younger girl not long after that. To cover her surprise at the moment, Reina had cracked a joke about Ai stalking her, only to have Ai playing along, pretending to be Reina's first stalker and even producing flowers with a flourish, much to Reina's secret delight.
"I'll be rooting for you."
So Ai had said with a smile, and Reina felt an instant pang at the memory. She hadn't had sight or sound of the older girl since that time. Apart from the measly little text message open in front of her now, Ai had apparently not bothered to communicate with her, or even look for her. Granted, Ai was probably just as busy, and at least she had bothered to send a message at all. Reina had not even had the decency to do that, and the first twinges of guilt started pawing at her, making her scowl to herself.
Deciding to reply, Reina began a new message...then hesitated. What should she say? Somehow it didn't feel right to send one of her usual type of messages, all bright and cheery, after a two-week silence. Should she apologize? But then again, Ai would understand how busy she had been, and Reina hated apologizing for something that wasn't really her fault. The birthday thing was a bad mistake on her part, granted, but this was different.
Besides, since Ai messaged her only once in the two weeks they had been apart, Reina decided that things were even. Don't ask her why she thought that way, because Reina worked on her own logic and didn't appreciate any second guessing.
Just as the yankii girl had decided to send a neutral "how are you?" type of message, her phone started vibrating in her hands, almost making her drop it as her ringtone sang out. She swore to herself under her breath and picked up, not bothering to check the caller id. The voice she heard almost made her drop her phone again.
"Reina, are you free now?"
Reina composed herself in a moment, finding her calm before one could even blink. She didn't want to sound too eager, for whatever reason. It was a subtle thing, but Reina wanted to be in control of the situation.
"Yeah I am. What is it?" Hearing Ai's voice again after two weeks made Reina feel surprisingly nostalgic. It felt longer now, the separation. She had not noticed it before, but now it felt like she hadn't seen the woman in years. It felt oddly wistful.
"I was thinking if you wanted to go for dinner together."
Yes!!! A little voice in Reina's head exulted. She slapped the little voice down, letting only a hint of it show through in her reply.
"That sounds great! Where are you now?" Reina asked curiously, starting to pack up. She tucked the phone in the crook of her neck, stuffing the rest of her things into her bag.
"Don't worry about that. I'll meet you in a minute."
And then she hung up. Reina almost dropped her phone for the third time that day, swearing again as she fumbled twice, just managing to snag it before it hit the floor. Does she even know where I am? Reina stared at her phone incredulously for a moment, then shrugged. She could always call again if it turned out to be necessary.
Her attitude towards Ai had shifted since Christmas, Reina was honest enough with herself to admit. She was still happy to see her, but Reina started curbing obvious exhibitions of enthusiasm towards Ai, often leaving Ai with a confused sort of look on her face as to why Reina was blowing hot and cold towards her. Reina liked seeing that expression. It made Ai look so adorable as she tried to work things out, and Reina just liked teasing Ai that way.
I wonder what kind of face she'll make this time? Reina wondered to herself, a smile on her face as she pulled open the door, almost running into someone standing right outside it.
"What the hell?! Look where you're go-- Ai?" Reina stopped in mid-rant, blinking in surprise at the sheepishly grinning Ai before her.
"Told you I'd meet you in a minute." Ai looked childishly pleased by her own feat, reaching out to link arms with Reina as they started walking down the hallway.
"How did you know I was here?" Reina asked, leaning in close to Ai unconsciously as she spoke. The older girl grinned widely.
"Nai~sho~" Ai winked roguishly, putting a finger to her lips. Her hair had grown longer in their separation, coming down in waves that was barely tamed into a loose ponytail. With a white jacket and ripped jeans, Ai looked very ordinary and very casual, perfect for blending into a crowd. Not that it would have hidden her from Reina's eyes though. Ai shone like a beacon in her sight, and Reina would pick her out of a crowd any day.
"Tell meeeee~" Reina whined, pleading with her best puppy dog face and pouting, taking the opportunity to nuzzle close to Ai. Both girls seemed to forget that they were out in public, where curious eyes watched their passage, murmuring whispered speculations behind their backs.
Neither really gave a damn though, since Ai never really ever concerned herself with idle rumors, while Reina was nothing if not single-minded about her object of interest. In any case, more than one pair of eyes followed them, and not all of them were interested for mere gossip.
The oblivious pair continued on, bickering about mundane things, completely unaware of the vibes they gave off. It would catch up with them soon enough.
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A bit filler-ish in my opinion, but necessary. Kinda fills in the gap in between the timeline from Christmas to now. :D
On a side note, I think my writing got worse. D: *mopes*
Oh and, currently the story still runs concurrently with the history that led to Nanchatte Renai. Some things will start to change soon though. Amazing what little variations can do to a time line. :D Wait for it!
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DIBS!
You're writing hasn't gotten worse, you're just your own worst critic! Still amazing as always. :D
I feel bad for Reina's friends (including Ai.) It really sucks to be neglected because someone is so caught up in work, it reminds me when I was working at the amusement park and never had time for anyone. >_> Reina better do something good to make up for that missed birthday!!
I don't think that Ai was neglecting Reina, though, even though Reina probably likes to think it a little bit. Ai is a busy woman, and not to mention, she probably understood what Reina was going through, because they're in the same business, so she didn't want to burden Reina with stuff because she knew Reina was so busy... Or something like that. XD
OMG Aichan is a fucking ninja. :ph43r: I wonder how she knew where Reina was. :lol: Probably has a tracking thing on her to make sure the yankii doesn't get into any trouble. XD (Really, somebody needs to keep an eye on her! I will if need be. :D)
Uh oh, I smell trouble... ReinAi, why must you be so openly gay? As much as I like it, you could get yourself into a bad predicament or something.
Oh, btw... Ai's outfit in my head...HOT. Were you purposely trying to make her look uh, excuse my lack of a better word, openly gay? Like how we talked about when we were talking about how she normally dresses lately? :lol:
Write more! :heart:
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Could it be... :mon lurk: an UPDATE?!!
YATTA!! :cow:
Again, you're writing has chained me to walls of the ReinAi world, making it harder for me to escape every time you update :wub:
EDIT:
I was making more gifs today and as I was making one this popped into my head from the chapter...
Reina wondered to herself, a smile on her face as she pulled open the door, almost running into someone standing right outside it.
"What the hell?! Look where you're go-- Ai?" Reina stopped in mid-rant, blinking in surprise at the sheepishly grinning Ai before her.
"Told you I'd meet you in a minute." Ai looked childishly pleased by her own feat, reaching out to link arms with Reina as they started walking down the hallway.
"How did you know I was here?" Reina asked, leaning in close to Ai unconsciously as she spoke. The older girl grinned widely.
"Nai~sho~" Ai winked roguishly, putting a finger to her lips.
Doesn't this remind of you of it? :roll:
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v243/swtme03/gif/My%20GIFS/aicute.gif)
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well an update, still great in my opinion, I can relate as of right now because of my workload but hey I like the fact of how Ai is still there but I can sense the change soon but don't worry about the writing, you are still one of my favorites and a source of inspiration for RenAi
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WEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE~
An update! Don't worry about the lateness, it's all good! And sure, you can call me Bubbles. :heart:
I guess a lot of us could relate to Reina's situation. Despite being a total lazy-ass, I also like being busy; I'd rather be doing stuff all the while rather than sitting around with nothing to do, being bored. Then comes the whole "Gosh, I haven't spoken to my friends, haven't hung out with them, blah, blah, blah!" -- I get infuriated when it comes to that point. Makes me feel guilty for being so busy all the time, argh.
Major lol@ stalker!Aichan and her unknown ways of tracking down Reina's location. :lol:
The way you described how Aichan was dressed up in this chapter made me squeal. I dress the same, sometimes even more tomboyish. But you didn't mention what kind of footwear she wore, though! Converse? Skate shoes? Slippers? I'm curious. XD
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Ai chan is such a pro stalker XD
She probably asked a staff person if they've seen Reina around XD
The chapter felt too short but still very sweet. :wub:
I greatly enjoy this light, happy world they currently inhabit.
*tries to savor the moment before the events of NR kick in*
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UPDATE :bow:
Filler chapter or not, an update to this story (or any of your ReinAi stories for that matter) is always worth a read, and forces me to switch between ReinAi and TanaKame for the title of my favourite pairing XD
(The latest influx of ReinAi goodness from their H!P shop appearance together is once again challenging my TanaKameism :lol: )
ReinAi are still in their 'early days' when things were so sweet and fluffy, but I'm sensing a rapid development towards the mess that was Nanchatte Renai :( Which would probably mean Gaki-san should be making her entry soon, and we might finally get to learn why Aichan jumped into that 'relationship' despite her feelings. But I'm counting on Aichan to fully make amends so she gets to have her happy ending with the kitty that she knows she wants :D
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AWWWW~~~ Super cute Reina! Ganbatte, Reina-chan~ XD Just felt like saying that.
Poor Ai-chan, Reina just likes to confuse her. :P
LMAO at Ai-chan knowing where Reina is. The Nai~sho~
reminds me of Kaito Reinya!! XD
Gonna try and keep up with you, Essy. So don't make this difficult. :P
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:o
Sorry for the delay on commenting. DA has completely sucked my time. lol I'm aiming to be king.
"Nai~sho~" Ai winked roguishly, putting a finger to her lips.
Why am I thinking of her drama, QED, when she said this line?! o.O lol But I suppose that image fits a bit. <3
And no, this does not count. Not enough fluff! Where is all the sweet lines? The cuddles? The staring intensely into each other's eyes??? XD
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I'm finally up to speed, woooot :)
So far, this has been fluff chapter after fluff chapter (interspersed with some mild Reina angst xD), and I'm totally loving it, but I've also been wondering when some conflict would arise.
The last part of your latest chapter definitely earns a thumbs up from me :thumbsup
In any case, more than one pair of eyes followed them, and not all of them were interested for mere gossip.
^ Is this possibly the first mention of Yamashita? :O
Anyways, ReinAi is growing on me. Fast. If Gaki makes an appearance now, I might just want to :banghead:
Because the connection between ReinAi was already established from the outset in Nanchatte Renai and their past only briefly explained, I didn't find myself as involved with the pairing. Destiny Love is hitting all the right spots so far. We're getting to know them more intimately, see how their relationship has progressed, and this will make any later 'complications' between the couple all the harder to bear as readers. Good job! :yep:
The highlight so far HAS to be that kiss on the forehead Ai gives Reina on that sweet Christmas night :wub:
That scene was pure win for so many reasons!
On another note, Ai is such a mysterious character. We know Reina a lot more because you're letting us see into her mind. But Ai... nothing. Most of what we find out about her, we find out through Reina's eyes. Are we ever going to get an Ai-POV chapter? I sure hope so!!! But yeah, so far, I really love your portrayal of Ai. As much as I like the feisty kitten, Ai just captivates me. Even her one word phone messages are charming. She's sweet, she's gorgeous, she's mysterious, she's a gamer... :panic: ahhhhh, somebody help me! I'm only supposed to be thinking about Charmy! >.<
Right... now I'm just kind of dreading what's in store for these girls. Judging by what was revealed (in too little detail) in the original story, it's not going to be nice.
How does I've-never-been-kissed Reina become Don't-feel-like-sex-today Reina?
I'm scared.
But let's find out!
<3333
THANK YOU ESSY FOR SHARING THIS STORY. I'll be waiting patiently for the next update. :heart:
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Besides, since Ai messaged her only once in the two weeks they had been apart, Reina decided that things were even. Don't ask her why she thought that way, because Reina worked on her own logic and didn't appreciate any second guessing.
:lol: :lol: :lol:
"Told you I'd meet you in a minute."
Yay! :grin:
On a side note, I think my writing got worse. D: *mopes*
lol, you're not a Titan for nothing :yep: it still is :heart: :yep:
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As Sai said, your writing hasn't gotten worse~ You are still Amazing! :heart:
Ai is a stalker~ but it is freakishly cute :nervous
I love that Reina starts going off on whoever bumped into her but then sees Ai~ :wub:
And your explanation of Reina knowing her feelings but not knowing, was really good. You could perfectly understand and almost feel what she was feeling.
I also apologize for the crappy comment. I am exhausted right now... :sweatdrop:
I still love it all though~ Keep up the AMAZING work, Essy~! :wub:
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"Don't worry about that. I'll meet you in a minute."
Ahahahaha... So Ai became the stalker now..LOL..I guess whe used her 'sempai' power to get Reina's sched or something. XD
"Nai~sho~" Ai winked roguishly, putting a finger to her lips.
uhhh...I don't know why but when I read this part... Kaito Reinya's image popped into my mind..I guess I'm somewhat addicted to that reaaaallly short anime.
:P
I'll definitely wait for the next update!XD
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Hi, Estrea-sama :)
After only just be a lurker of your works, I think I will commenting this time. But I'm not good at commenting, so forgive me and my poor english.
I read Nanchatte Renai and your oneshots too. They are very well written, I really love them. :heart:
Young!ReinAi's relationship in Destiny Love is cute. :wub:
It's amusing how Aichan can make Reina happy with anything she does.
I hope ReinAi can get together in the end. Afterall this is the happy ending version, right? right? yes please :bow:
Oh, and...your writing's absolutely amazing, you have great skills.
I'm officially addicted to your work :heart:
Write more please! I'll be waiting for your next update :thumbsup
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Comment reply time! You all know what that means. :D
Saiks: My writing really got worse in the upcoming chapter. I absolutely hated it. D: But I had to get it out somehow. :/ Otherwise I'll never continue. And marrr, Aichan isn't really the type to make the first move most of the time. XD Though she still cares and is a stalker. :lol: But yeah, open gayness = bad in that industry. Haha. And yes, I was just copying what I saw in that blog pic. Hehe.
Swtme03: I'm glad that I'm reinforcing the ReinAi foundations. Muahahaha. I love that gif! It makes her look so playfully naughty. XD
kurosawa87: The turning point is coming soon. XD And thanks.
Bubbles: I'm late with this update too! orz. But yeah, I do the neglect-my-friends-because-of-work thing sometimes too. :X Makes me feel bad when it hits me. >_> Hehe I love tomboy!Aichan. It's so cute and hot and fucking adorable at the same time. :D I was imagining her in rolled up jeans and high top sneakers for some reason. XD Does that help?
Sukoshi: I think Ai just asked for a copy of Reina's schedule outright. XD It would save a lot of time. :P And quit being so pessimistic! :lol:
aussie: Sorry about the long delay in updates for this one. D: But yes, I am glad to contribute to the ReinAi side in that particular shipping war. XD LONG LIVE REINAI!!! May their hotness continue to thrive. :heart: But yes, the turning point will come soon. XD But don't worry about it too much. It'll come when it comes. :P But yes, you'll see what really happened this time round, so wait for it!
strawhead: Yeah, Reina enjoys winding Ai-chan up. I mean, who doesn't? :lol: I bet my long delay in update really helps~ :P
Fen: What, this doesn't count as fluff? D: D: D: This is gonna take a while lol. And you've been watching/reading too much shoujo anime/manga! :lol:
Beecubed: Have I ever told you how much I appreciate your analytic comments? Makes me warm inside. :heart: Anyway, yes, conflict. The backbone of any good story. XD It's about time anyway. Lol I'm not that evil to let Gaki show up immediately...yet. XD I'm glad you like the development between ReinAi here, and definitely a plus to know that the couple is growing on everyone. :D I do rather enjoy writing Ai as a mysterious character, if only because it's somewhat easier to write from Reina's POV, and also because Ai's POV would have too many potential "spoilers" in terms of plot progress. Reina and Ai see things in different ways, which is what makes them interesting, and Reina is the more apt narrator for now. Ai POVs will come later after certain things have already happened. XD And muahahaha, fall to the dark side of Aidom! She will EAT YOUR SOUL. :D But have no fear, this story will have a happy ending! It's a reboot after all. :lol: But I will explain what went wrong after the big event. More things have to happen before then. XD
kRisZ: Aww thanks for the encouragement. :heart: But I still think the upcoming chapter is trash. D:
Kitami: I'm not amazing. D: Not always anyway. :P Freakishly cute stalker! I like that image of Ai. Hehe. I'm glad I could convey Reina's feelings well here. :) And thanks for commenting!
cogi_yoshi: Yeah well, odds are Ai somehow got Reina's schedule. We will never find out how. XD
Aisacchan: Hi there! I'm glad you like my stories. :D I do like the cute young ReinAi here so far. :heart: It's heartwarming isn't it? But yes, no worries, they will have a happy ending here! Because I say so! :lol: And thanks for liking my work. :)
Ok time to edit and post!
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Winter Soliloquy
"So are you absolutely sure you know where we are going?"
Reina sounded justifiably suspicious as Ai led her down increasingly narrow paths, twisting and turning in on themselves like a maze.
"It was just one wrong turn." Ai replied a little defensively, pausing briefly at another corner to re-orient herself while muttering under her breath that Cortana could come in real useful about now. Reina raised an eyebrow at that, but did not comment. She did, however, sidle closer to Ai, wrapping her arms around Ai's, since she really didn't know where she was and did not want to get lost.
"Aha, there it is!" Ai exclaimed, tugging Reina along with her as she shuffled over to stop in front of an unobtrusive storefront. There was a bleak sameness about the entire row of units along that quiet little street, and the place they stood before had little to distinguish itself from the rest, save for a tiny handmade sign hung on the door that declared it to be a family restaurant.
"What's this?" Reina asked curiously, turning to look over at Ai. The older girl had an oddly nostalgic expression on her face as she met Reina's gaze.
"I found this place when I first came to Tokyo. It's a good place." Ai did not elaborate further, only motioning that they should enter. Reina shrugged; she would get more out of Ai later.
The tinkle of windchimes announced their entry, and both girls blinked to adjust their eyes to the dim light. A rush of cool wind ruffled their hair, though no airconditioning unit was in sight, only an ancient fan moving sluggishly overhead.
Reina looked around, bemused. The decor was homely and unpretentious. The restaurant did not pretend to be any more than it actually was, and it did not aspire to be 'retro' as the modern world understood it. It had a solid atmosphere, and felt removed from the world outside. Reina exhaled slowly. It was like coming home.
Beside her, Ai's shoulders also relaxed, a small smile turning the corners of her lips up. Reversing her hand, she took Reina's hand into her own, and they walked hand-in-hand to the counter area.
"Obaachan? Are you there?" Ai called out, after no one appeared in response to their arrival.
A pause, then a beaming old lady came bustling out of the back. Instantly her presence seemed to inject a certain life to the premises, and the place somehow became warmer and more inviting.
"Ara, Ai-chan! Hissashiburi!" The old lady might have been old, but she had none of the fraility her age would suggest. She was not big; but she seemed larger than life, carrying a touch of roundness to her face and figure, while smile-wrinkles adorned her aged face.
"Baachan. It's been a while." Ai bowed slightly, before reaching forward to clasp the old lady's hands with one of her own. A couple of the other patrons looked up, young salarymen by the looks of them, and they smiled too at the friendly exchange they witnessed.
Reina quelled the odd swell of irritation at the familiarity she somehow felt excluded from, though she definitely bristled visibly when the other patrons looked over. She felt acutely aware of the stares from others now, despite her job. Or perhaps it was precisely because of her job, and her recent popularity made her more prickly about being seen out and about. She enjoyed the attention, certainly, but there was a time and place for all things. This was not one of them.
Ai must have felt her tense, because she felt a reassuring squeeze on her hand. Ai smiled gently back at her, and Reina let the tension go out of her shoulders. No one was staring at them anymore at any rate, and the old lady was now looking at Reina.
"A friend of yours? My my, she's so adorable!" The old lady fussed over the suddenly quite pleased Reina. "But she's so thin! Come come, we absolutely must feed you!"
"Be prepared, Baachan really means it." Ai quipped wryly as they removed their shoes to sit in the inner section. "She made me eat so much the last time, I couldn't move for an hour afterwards."
"Pah, don't listen to her. Any girl needs some meat on her bones, and both of you are too thin." The old lady tutted disapprovingly as she prodded Reina's wrist. "Skin and bones!"
"I eat a lot." Reina objected. "I'm just...like that."
Ai laughed. "Oh yes, your famous inability to get fat. I'm jealous of that, I really am!" Her eyes sparkled with mirth, and it lit Reina up to see the open expression on Ai's face.
"Nonsense, neither of you eat enough." The old lady hummed under her breath. "Well you two just wait here, I'll make sure you two fill your bellies tonights."
The girls watched as the old lady bustled back into the kitchen area. Reina broke the relative silence after a moment.
"Well, she's...quite a character, isn't she?" Reina looked over at Ai, who was spacing out again. Their hands were still attached to each other, and Reina squeezed Ai's hand to get her attention.
"Ah, yes, yes she is." Ai reacted after a moment, turning to face Reina with a gentle smile. Reina resisted an urge to reach out and pinch Ai's cheeks, if only to tease another adorable reaction out of the older girl. She settled for poking Ai in the side, eliciting a squeal.
"What did you do that for?" Ai pulled a sad face, making Reina giggle in response.
"You're not paying attention." Reina stuck out her tongue at Ai, who chuckled and rapped a knuckle lightly on Reina's forehead.
"Brat." Ai murmured fondly, and Reina grinned at her like a pleased kitten.
"So, how did you find this place? It's quite a ways off the main street." Reina asked curiously, looking around the small restaurant.
Ai bit her lip sheepishly. "Actually, the first time I got here, I was lost..."
"I knew it!" Reina exclaimed. "There's no way you could have gotten here otherwise!"
"Hey! Someone else could have brought me here." Ai objected. Reina smirked.
"But no one did, and you stumbled upon this place by accident while lost, didn't you?"
Ai sighed. "Well, yes...stop laughing at me!" She swatted at the giggling Reina, who ducked under the blow and nuzzled playfully at Ai's shoulder like a kitten seeking attention.
"But you're so fun to tease~" Reina grinned again. Indeed, Ai's flushed cheeks from the embarrassment was certainly a sight for sore eyes. Reina did not think she would ever tire of seeing them.
Ai pouted, turning away from Reina. "Fine, I'm not saying anymore."
"Aww, come on..." Reina nudged her senpai in the side. "Tell me~"
"Nope." Reina made a face, and Ai resisted the urge to smile.
"I'll sulk." Reina threatened. Ai smiled beatifically.
"Go ahead." Reina pouted, before resorting to dirty tactics and beginning to make puppy eyes at Ai while whining cutely and tugging at her sleeve. Ai managed to keep a straight face for all of 5 seconds before she gave up and started laughing.
"Quit it! It's not that funny!" Reina slapped Ai's shoulder even as the older girl practically doubled over into her lap. Ai wiped the tears with the back of her hand, leaning her weight against Reina as she breathed hard to calm down.
"You seem happier here." Reina observed after a moment, when Ai had finally stopped giggling to herself. Dark brown eyes flicked over to meet wonky ones, and Ai smiled lazily.
"I told you, this is a good place." Again, with the lack of explanation. Reina huffed impatiently, making Ai chuckle quietly.
"This is a place I can relax in. I thought you might like it too." Ai admitted, sitting up to face Reina properly. Her eyes were sincere, if a little nervous, watching intently for Reina's reaction.
Reina was silent for a moment, digesting the fact. Slowly, she looked up and met Ai's anxious gaze. Then she smiled, reaching over for Ai's hand.
"Thank you for sharing it with me."
A slow, hesitant smile bloomed on Ai's face, a mixture of relief and uncomplicated joy.
Under the table, their fingers entwined together, as if they would never let go.
~*~*~
"I'm so full I can't breathe..." Reina complained, sprawling onto the comfy seat. Ai followed her with an amused glance, settling herself more neatly on the seat next to Reina.
The train was fairly empty, and they had managed to locate a relatively quiet carriage where the only other occupants were a balding salaryman and a hunchbacked old lady. Granted, it was getting late, and no one wanted to stay out long in the cold at night.
"I told you she would make us eat a lot." Ai said, poking at Reina's tummy. The kitten slapped at her hand, mock-growling with lowered eyebrows before both of them started giggling again.
"Brrr it's cold...I didn't think Tokyo was supposed to get this cold!" Reina sat up, rubbing her mittened hands together. Her tiny frame seemed lost within the giant hoodie , making her look like a purple ball of fluff.
"I thought you would be used to colder winters from where you came from." Ai pointed out. It was a relief that the train was a great deal warmer, but the wind had been brutal earlier during their walk to the station. Reina threw back her hood, pouting.
"Just because I'm used to it doesn't mean I have to like it. Aren't your hands cold?"
Ai grinned, and Reina looked down automatically for her hands. An eyebrow jerked up.
"I don't think it's very lady-like to sit on your hands..." Reina started. Ai smirked.
"I don't think an ex-yankii has the right to call me out on that!"
Reina twitched. Ai grinned some more. Reina glared.
"You've been saving that for a while, haven't you?"
Ai continued grinning madly. "I've been dying to say that since the first time I saw you."
Reina stared for a moment, then recovered quickly. Scooting closer to Ai, Reina leaned in close to the older girl's ear.
"What if I'm not just an ex-yankii..." Reina murmured, digging her gloved fingers into Ai's arm in a near-crushing grip. "...but a real one?"
Reina felt bold with her lips almost brushing Ai's ear, especially when she felt Ai tremble ever so slightly; be it from her words or the closeness, she did not know. A pleasant flush lit Ai's cheeks, and Reina boldly nipped at the inviting earlobe before retreating, a smug smile on her lips.
Ai looked oddly disconcerted for several moments, staring blankly into space. The silence stretched between the two girls, until it started to become awkward after a minute or two.
Not wanting Ai to feel uncomfortable, Reina squeezed Ai's arm lightly to get her attention, then whispered.
"I was just kidding."
Ai didn't respond for a moment. Suddenly she straightened and turned to face Reina in all seriousness.
"So are all yankiis actually dere-dere on the inside like you?"
Reina gaped. That was what she was thinking about?! And I was actually worried about offending her???
"Are you fuckin' kidding me?" Reina blurted, her accent coming out in her exasperation. "I can't believe you just---argh! Mou! Baka!"
Ai blinked innocently at the fuming Reina, who was muttering to herself. She couldn't help but notice Reina's blushing cheeks, despite the younger girl having turned away from her.
So cute... Ai smiled to herself. Steathily, she sidled closer and rested her head on Reina's shoulder, letting her eyes flutter close.
Reina was in the middle of a frustrated diatribe when she felt the sudden weight on her shoulder. Sparing a glance at the sneaky older girl, Reina only sighed.
"What will I do with you, Ai..."
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Sorry about the long delay! I had a bad case of writer's block. I still think this chapter feels awkward...and it's still more or less filler until the main event. :sweatdrop:
Btw, in case there are people who don't know, dere-dere kinda means "lovey-dovey", or basically acting all cute like Reina is prone to do. XD Ai was basically letting her otaku side show. :lol:
I hope you guys like the chapter! :)
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"But she's so thin! Come come, we absolutely must feed you!"
:lol:
"Brat."
Reminds me of the other half of TakaGaki :twisted: sorry :D
I don't think it's very lady-like to sit on your hands..."
That would be lovely to witness :inlove: you now like sitting across from them :D
"So are all yankiis actually dere-dere on the inside like you?"
Reina gaped. That was what she was thinking about?! And I was actually worried about offending her???
:lol: :lol: :lol:
Yay! I'm glad I stayed online :cow:
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Yay-tastic! You don't know how long I've been waiting for an update of this story. Imagine just how loud my squeal was when I saw this thread up on the list, as well as the title of a new chapter ("soliloquy," huh? I never knew such word existed! One word has been added to my slowly growing vocabulary.) Oh, and I felt super special when I read the word "retro" in the story. '_' Yeah, I'm super lame like that too, lol. I get easily amused by the smallest of details.
A cute chapter, as usual. For every sekushii couple, there is adorableness. ReinAi! :heart: :heart: :heart: :heart: :heart: :heart:
Lol'ed pretty good when the old lady made that remark about Reina's thin physique. Her face must've been like:
:grr:
The train scene was really cute. I could totally imagine Aichan sitting on her hands, that adorkable monkey! I do that when my hands are freezing cold, too. Sometimes, I stick them between my legs in case I get odd looks from random passersby. I never really found hoodie pockets warm anyway. My own body heat is better, lol.
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:shocked
...
...
...
:w00t:
AN UPDATE!!!!!!
:cow: :cow: :cow: :cow: :cow:
I haven't read it yet, but OMG!! I WANT TO SO BAD RIGHT NOW!!! :jerk:
Gotta wait till I get home tho :cry:
Every day when I visit this forum, the first thing I do is check to see if you update.
And I always :bleed eyes: when there isn't anything...
BUT YOU DID TODAY!!! :panic: :panic:
SO HAPPY!! :cow:
Will be back to comment about the chapter :)
EDIT: (but not about the chapter...yet :) )
Is this picture not perfect for this or is it not perfect for this?? :wub:
(http://img405.imageshack.us/img405/1168/o0179032010511587542.jpg)
This pair is driving me crazy~!!! :panic: :panic:
EDIT: EDIT:
(about the chapter)
*sigh*
:shy2: :shy2:
It's so fluffy!! I want to hug and squeeze it :mon inluv:
Granny is so awesome! She reminds me of my granny when I go to visit her. She'll feed me until I can't move and then tells me to eat more :bleed eyes:
But I love that about her :)
"What if I'm not just an ex-yankii..." Reina murmured, digging her gloved fingers into Ai's arm in a near-crushing grip. "...but a real one?"
Reina felt bold with her lips almost brushing Ai's ear, especially when she felt Ai tremble ever so slightly; be it from her words or the closeness, she did not know. A pleasant flush lit Ai's cheeks, and Reina boldly nipped at the inviting earlobe before retreating, a smug smile on her lips.
Oh my~ :mon blood:
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Oh you updated! :D
This chapter kinda bring back some fond memories. I miss having the weather freezing my butt solid :lol:
...pausing briefly at another corner to re-orient herself while muttering under her breath that Cortana could come in real useful about now.
Oh geeky Ai alert! XD
I don't think the last 2 chapters were just fillers as you have mentioned. It may not be the main event right now, but it's important for us to see how the ReinAi relationship came to be as close as they are right now. I like how Reina flirts with Ai ("subtly" of course :P) and how Ai seems to bring down the wall when with Reina, as compared to the early Ai that we've seen in the first few chapters. And hey, nobody can complained on the fluffs :wub:
"I don't think an ex-yankii has the right to call me out on that!"
LOL I really like this line :lol: And it's from Ai!
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The Reina Ai bickering made my my day GJ Essy :thumbup
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Yay! an update!!! :cow:
Awwwwww ReinAi interaction is pretty cute :heart: :heart: :heart:
Aichan is so adorable like always and Yankii!Reina dere-dere :wub:
"I don't think it's very lady-like to sit on your hands..." Reina started. Ai smirked.
:lol: Aichan always doing things man-like :P
"So are all yankiis actually dere-dere on the inside like you?"
Reina gaped. That was what she was thinking about?! And I was actually worried about offending her???
"Are you fuckin' kidding me?" Reina blurted, her accent coming out in her exasperation. "I can't believe you just---argh! Mou! Baka!"
XD My favorite part :thumbsup
Overall this is cute chapter :mon inluv: It make my day :heart: Thanks Essy-sama :bow:
So it's definitely happy ending. I'll waiting for next chapter peacefully without worries then :mon thumb:
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Awwwwww~ :heart: So cute~ :wub:
I loved it~ I didn't think it was awkward at all. How was it awkward?
Ai bringing Reina to a special place of her's~ Reina getting all jealous at first but then loosening up just by a smile from Ai~ :wub:
The whole thing was adorable and just heart warming.
I love how Reina got all daring though and nipped Ai's ear~ :inlove:
Essy, I want more~ Keep up the lovey-dovey~ It just melts my heart and makes me grin like an idiot~!
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YAY!!!! UPDATE :cow:
.....and the fluff continues. Not that I'm complaining. And it doesn't feel filler-ish either. Like badsaints said, these kind of chapters have their importance in showing the subtle developments in their relationship (not necessarily on the romantic side, but on a person-to-person basis). At the same time it's crushing knowing some ugly twist of events is waiting somewhere around the corner, it's only a matter of how much closer we're approaching that corner at this point. I was re-reading Nanchatte Renai after seeing it has been relocated to the 'Library' section, and coming back to fluffy RenAi in Destiny Love, I can't help but feel a twinge of blues with RenAi fluff when it normally would have me all giddy while reading it. Where did it all start to unravel, what led to that fatal choice/decision/path (I'm guessing on Ai's part) that led to Nanchatte Renai four years later.....etc.
But since you promised this would be a re-working of Nanchatte Renai and a happier ending is in the works I'm looking forward to seeing how they dig themselves out of that mess in Destiny Love :D
I especially loved how kittenish Reina was being around Ai in this chapter. Reina will always be the resident kitty of MM but somehow she seems to fit the role of the 'pet kitten' around Ai better than anyone else :lol:
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*sigh* No one does RenAi like you, I love every little teasing moment, every flirting touch, every cheeky word from both girls. Honestly, I'm hoping for a little bit (but not TOO much, now) turmoil for them, but I love how you have them opening up to each other. Ai with her restaurant, Reina with her family.
I think I've decided to throw caution to the wind and enjoy this ride, wherever it may go, so keep the updates flowing and I'll try to mentally send you some inspiration.
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LOL
Fluff!! Ok, this counts as one with all the flirting, cute acts, loving stares.... not to mention that I already lost count. XD XD Maybe we'll just start all over. :P
The restaurant sounds like a place Ai would relax at. It reminds me of the small little places I went to out in the countryside in Japan. XD They do feel quite homely. Nice touch!
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Have I ever told you how much I appreciate your analytic comments? Makes me warm inside. :heart:
No, you hadn't... but then I haven't been a long time reader of yours yet! I'm glad you like my comments though :heart:
But I had a feeling you'd appreciate analytic comments more so than you would mindless fangirling (which I can fall into very easily xD). Luckily, this is a ReinAi fic, and I'm not exactly a ReinAi fangirl. So it's easier to be more level-headed while reading Destiny Love... (But don't worry, I do like ReinAi in your story! :love:)
Truthfully though, I'm not a very intelligent or analytic reader, so please don't be disappointed if I ever digress to fangirl excitement :grin:
Anyway, yes, conflict. The backbone of any good story. XD It's about time anyway. Lol I'm not that evil to let Gaki show up immediately...yet. XD
You're only delaying the inevitable! :panic:
As adorable and cute as everything is between them now, the imminent intrusion of Gaki on their relationship won't leave the back of my mind :(
It's kind of giving me a bittersweet feeling as I read through these serene moments between them...
But yes, thankfully we all know that this time around it will end a bit more favorably! :twothumbs
I'm glad you like the development between ReinAi here, and definitely a plus to know that the couple is growing on everyone. :D I do rather enjoy writing Ai as a mysterious character, if only because it's somewhat easier to write from Reina's POV, and also because Ai's POV would have too many potential "spoilers" in terms of plot progress. Reina and Ai see things in different ways, which is what makes them interesting, and Reina is the more apt narrator for now. Ai POVs will come later after certain things have already happened.
:muffin:
Well it's kind of hard not to like them after you write them like that... :oops:
I can't seem to like them as a pairing IRL though, I don't know why. They're cute and all (as you would expect for two individually gorgeous people), but they don't make me swoon the way say, AiEri does. Maybe I need to become a bigger Reina fan, I don't know!
But yeah, you take your time in introducing Ai's POV, I wouldn't want to push you. Especially since you know what's best, of course. I'm just REALLY looking forward to seeing things from her perspective! It'll no doubt give us all a more encompassing sense of their relationship, and make us fall harder for them. :inlove:
XD And muahahaha, fall to the dark side of Aidom! She will EAT YOUR SOUL.
She has. Kind of. Hehehee... well, ever since reading your fics (Nanchatte Renai being the first to deviate from an IshiYoshi focus), I've found myself becoming more and more interested in Ai as a person. And then comes all my catching up on post-Rika-graduation Morning Musume stuffs. And now Ai-chan is officially my favourite H!P member (followed closely by Eri). I kind of have you to thank! XD SANKYU! <3
But have no fear, this story will have a happy ending! It's a reboot after all. :lol: But I will explain what went wrong after the big event. More things have to happen before then. XD
:w00t:
I just hope I don't have to wait too long...
Anyways, now to the actual chapter comment.
This chapter certainly does have a filler-ish feel to it, but doesn't make it any less of a chapter (I'm thinking how much I love some of those Naruto filler eps xD).
The chapter is good in terms of Ai opening up herself to Reina, in the way Reina had previously with her family. Ai wants to share a part of herself too. The fact that she hasn't been back to this restaurant in a long while, and that she is visiting it again WITH Reina... it means a lot. She must view Reina as somebody important enough to want to make the visit. Once you find something important in life, surely you must feel nostalgic about your own roots and treasures. I have a feeling the restaurant and what it is to Ai is more signifcant than her almost offhand comment that "It's a good place."
The warmth from 'Baachan' really emphasised this. She was a great character. I hope she will have many opportunities to feed Reina! :yep: The yankii could really do with a bit more meat on her...
Anyways, contrary to what you might have thought about the chapter, every moment between them reveals at least a little something about them that we take away with us. I like the way you write Reina too. How she likes to present herself to Ai as being somebody somewhat tough and cheeky. And to have Ai playfully interpret it that way. :wub: A truly cute ReinAi moment! (almost as cute as Ai sitting on her hands to warm them... nothing like AiButt warmth :oops:).
Thank you Essy for the update!
Hope I won't have to wait too long for the next one!
:heart:
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KYAAA!!
That was really cuteeee!!! ReinAi is so perfect and beautiful!!! :inlove:
Gomenasai for not comment before!! Something strange happen the other time when I tried to leave comment :fainted:
I'm a very bad fan-reader!!! :OMG:
In any case I read "And Then There Was Us" and "Winter Soliloquy" long time ago XD! :mon lovelaff: So cute!
And the part that I most liked of Winter Soliloquy was...
Under the table, their fingers entwined together, as if they would never let go.
That was so ... :mon crazyinlove: I don't have any words...
So...I will be waiting more ReinAi love!! :mon angel:
Now I was reading again Nanchatte Reinai to remember old times :mon cry:
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Yoohoo! I'm back! And it only took 2 weeks. :D
Comment replies first!
kRisZ: Haha I'm glad you like the cuteness. Hehe. Hope you like this chapter too!
Bubbles: Sorry to make you wait so long. ;_; And soliloquy is a word I picked up from literature class. Haha. Lol I'll use the word retro more if it makes you happy. :P ReinAi is always adorable. :heart: I like sitting on my hands too, it's far more efficient to warm them up that way lol. Hope you enjoy this chapter as well.
Swtme03: That pictures is great! :heart: I'm glad you like the fluff. I like Granny too! :D I want a granny like that haha.
badsaints: Yeah I miss the cold too. XD I'm glad you caught the geeky Ai reference! :D :D :D Well, here comes the main event. Well, the lead-up to the main event. Hurhur. XD
kurosawa87: I love ReinAi bickering. It's part of why I like them. XD
Aisacchan: Cute ReinAi is cute. :heart: I like dere-dere Reina too. Hehe. Yup there'll be a happy ending, but I have no guarantee for anything that happens in between. '_' Just saying. XD
Kitami: Haha, you know how I'm always critical about my work. :P This is a special place for Ai, which will be explained why in due time~ XD I'm glad it makes you grin like an idiot!
aussie: More fluff is always good. XD I did want to show the progression of their relationship, which teeters in between moving fast to glacially slow. That corner is coming. You know, the major turning point. Heh. It's kinda like knowing a train wreck is on its way. Terrifying, isn't it? The good thing though, is that things will turn out better this time round. As for how and why...well, I'll explain at a later date. XD Reina will always be Ai's pet kitty. :heart:
rndmn: Thanks for the praise. :3 Oh turmoil is on the horizon, alright. Just you wait. XD Good, I'm glad to see you're gonna just kick back and relax. Muahahaha. And thanks for the moral/mental support! :D
Fen: Damnit, you're not starting the fluff count over again! D: I like the restaurant too. :D Glad you found it familiar. ;)
Beecubed: The mindless fangirling I get a lot XD So you're right that I enjoy analytical comments. :P Well it's good to have a non-ReinAi fangirl reading this and still enjoying the pairing. It means something to me. :heart: It seems like the shadow of Nanchatte Renai is still hanging over everyone. Darn. Lol. Must make everything so ominous in retrospect lol. To like ReinAi IRL, I guess one has to like Reina more too. XD She's too easily stereotyped, and that makes it difficult to get to know her. But everyone has facets, and I like how ReinAi work out together, provided they make it past the rocky start. Haha. I'm glad I helped to corrupt you into the world of Aidom. :D Is she not awesome? Lol. You're welcome! <3 And yes, two weeks of waiting time beats two months. :P Anyway, yes, the restaurant means a lot to Ai, but with her being bad with words as it is, she probably just settled for saying it's a good place, because to her, that's what it is, short of going into the whole story of why it's a good place. XD I love the ReinAi dynamic, and I hope it shows! And yes, AiButt warmth...nothing beats that. Hehe. Hope you like this update too!
kame_eririn: Awww did the forum eat your comment? :/ That must suck. It's ok though, as long as you read and comment eventually. :heart: And stop reading Nanchatte Renai to depress yourself! Lmao. XD
Ok time to edit and post~
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Moments in Time
"I...I want you to stay with me. Don't go. I...I need you."
Her voice quavered towards the end, the last syllable prematurely terminated with a gulp that swallowed tears. Her eyes were already red-rimmed, her hands wrung together in distress.
"Takahashi, you have got to look like you mean it."
The stern voice cut through the scene, and Ai winced at the slap of papers on the table. Her acting coach was a good man, though firm. They had spent the better part of the morning working on those lines. This was her first real role in a television drama, which was somewhat different from the plays she had been participating in. Granted, she was not the main character, but having a decent supporting role was a good start, nevertheless.
"The camera will zoom in on your face, so expression is very important." He was speaking again, and Ai tuned back in, paying rapt attention to his words.
"You've got the voice down, but you need just a bit more..." He tapped his cheek with a finger, expertly arranging his features into one of anguish. Ai nodded intently, thinking about how best to replicate the same effort.
"We'll stop here for now. Work on it some more Takahashi. You've got potential, but if you don't practice, you won't get anywhere."
Ai nodded, bowing automatically. "Hai."
"Try putting yourself more into the situation. It might help." A rare flash of a smile appeared on her usually stern coach's face. He patted her a little distantly on the shoulder, unused to showing any kind of affection for his students, before walking away. Ai smiled behind him. The old man might be a harsh teacher, but he was as good as his word, and Ai always took him seriously, knowing that she needed everything he could impart.
Picking up her copy of the script, Ai glanced through it again, determined to get into her character's head as much as possible. One chance look at the clock almost made her drop everything in panic, when she realized that she had to get to her next destination soon.
As if to exacerbate the situation, her phone trilled, marking another mad scramble for it. Ai conversed quickly with her manager, promising to be downstairs as quickly as humanly possible even as she shoved all her belongings into her bag.
She made it down in about two minutes flat, which was still about 2 minutes too slow for her fussy manager, but the man was a slavedriver and she was used to getting scolded. Bowing her head and apologizing, Ai let the words flow over and into her, accepting whatever that came.
She had a CM to film, with a bunch of younger girls. Outdoor filming always had more factors to take into consideration, with everything from moving people and equipment around, to making sure that the place was suitable for their purposes. Ai did not envy those who did the grunt work. All she had to do was show up and follow instructions. Life was a lot less complicated that way.
The ride was not particularly long, but it did give her enough time to flip through her script again. Mercifully, her devilspawn of a manager had stopped terrorizing her, instead switching targets to whatever helpless victim on the phone. Practice helped Ai tune out the annoying drone, her mind completely focused on the material.
Vulnerable, afraid, desperate... Ai closed her eyes, trying to place herself into her character's shoes as her coach had suggested. Afraid of being alone, wanting, needing...
A half-forgotten image surfaced in her mind, making her shudder, her script slipping out of suddenly loose fingers. They fell on her lap, then were pinned there by suddenly taut hands. Ai set her jaw stubbornly, grinding her molars together to keep from crying. Already, her eyes were red again. It was at times like these that Ai really didn't appreciate her ability to cry easily.
"Takahashi! Takahashi! Are you listening to me?"
Ai had never been more grateful for her evil manager's nagging than at that precise moment. Straightening, she delivered an acting performance her coach would have been proud of, her outward calm masking the roiling emotions underneath.
I promised myself I won't cry over him again.
"Yes I understand."
I won't. I won't.
~*~*~
Reina prodded at the tall parfait in front of her, wondering exactly where to start from. She had already taken a photo when it first arrived at the table, and now came the fun part: actually eating it.
Her companion was less interested in his dessert, choosing to discreetly follow attractive girls with his eyes. This Reina knew, even though his eyes were hidden behind sunglasses. It was something guys did, and Fuji in particular was notorious for it. The fact that he was in between girlfriends at the moment practically made his wandering gaze all the more active.
It was just the two of them at the cafe, given that the rest of the gang could only meet up later. Besides, Reina owed Fuji a dessert. A lot of desserts, actually, since it was his birthday she had inadvertently forgotten.
"Or you could just introduce me to one of the pretty girls at your agency." Fuji had suggested earlier, prompting a low growl from Reina, and they had gone on to argue the point again, as always.
It probably didn't help that Fuji had seen the current wallpaper of her phone: a two shot of her and Ai together. Just a single remark about how he would love to get to know Ai better had sparked an immediate argument that almost had Reina spitting nails. She knew what Fuji meant, of course. Of their entire group, Fuji could be considered the only true "bad boy", since the rest of them just had that image for sure. Fuji was the real thing, but he never touched those within his group. He did have some ethics.
"So tell me about this girl." While Reina had been poking idly at her slowly melting parfait, the older boy had sneakily swiped her phone off her side of the table, and was staring at the wallpaper again. Reina glared at him, holding out one hand for the phone.
"Give it back. Now." Fuji seemed unaffected. Given how he had actually taught her the glare, his immunity was justified. Thumbing through the photo album, he wolf whistled at some of the pictures, though none were that raunchy...well, maybe some might have been fodder for a very male imagination. Reina felt her cheeks burn as she half stood, flailing to try and get her phone back.
It didn't help that he was tall...and she was short. It was far too easy to hold the phone out of her already limited reach. Frustrated, Reina acted on instinct, grabbing the glass of water next to her and splashing it directly into his face. Fuji spluttered, and Reina took the chance to scramble over and retrieve her phone.
"Damn, girl, that's harsh." Fuji dried his face on his sleeve, giving her a narrow look. Reina sulked, jabbing her spoon more violently into her dessert while her phone rested safely on her lap.
"You two look pretty cozy." Reina looked up confrontationally.
"So? We're friends."
Fuji quirked his lips. "Nothing wrong with that. I've just never seen you being this comfortable with another girl though."
Reina hid a smile at that. She had known Fuji for the longest among her friends. He had been a senior, still was, and they had met in detention the first time. They had ended up in an argument the first time they spoke too, but somehow it had never become truly acrimonious. Fuji would never have hit a girl, and Reina still didn't have claws at that point.
Instead, they had settled into a strange kind of friendship, with a surprising amount of candor between them. Reina could say anything, and Fuji wouldn't care either way, and vice versa. They argued, but it was more for the fun of it than anything else. Fuji was the big brother Reina never had, and Fuji was protective over his baby sister, never letting anyone else other than him bully her.
Still, it was true that Reina had never had many female friends. She was comfortable hanging out with boys, and had no patience with most girls her age. Then again, most other girls had been intimidated by her seemingly yankii exterior. Ai had been an anomaly, probably because she was such an enigma. Reina liked things that pricked her interest. Ai certainly did well enough in that department.
"Ai is...different." Reina said after a long pause. "She's funny, and kind of weird, but really kind inside."
"Not to mention really pretty." Fuji added, scratching at his chin. He pretended to duck in case Reina decided to throw more water at him, but Reina only stuck her tongue out at him.
"She is..." Reina agreed slowly, starting to spoon her dissolving parfait into her mouth. "She's talented, capable, and works harder than anyone else."
"Sounds like she should be your rival." Fuji commented, looking out of the window when some girl in a mini skirt waltzed by. "Woo, check that out."
Reina rolled her eyes. She stirred the liquid at the bottom of the dish with her spoon, thinking.
"She should be, but she isn't, somehow." The tink of the metal against the glass dish made Reina stop poking around so vigorously, instead transferring her attention up to look into Fuji's amused gaze.
"You like her." Her spoon rattled against the glass quite violently. The older boy chuckled.
"I meant you admire her. I know you though. You would want to surpass her. You wouldn't be Tanaka Reina otherwise."
Reina swallowed nervously, glancing regretfully at the glass of water she had emptied into Fuji's face earlier. Her reaction had been a little extreme, if only for a moment. She could only hope that Fuji hadn't noticed, or if he did, that he would keep his mouth shut about it.
Making a humming sound of agreement, Reina went back to staring at her dessert, or whatever was left of it. Wanting to be the best? Of course she dd. It had somehow not occurred to her in all this time that being the best meant having to surpass Ai. At the back of her mind she had been aware of the fact, but things were complicated at best where Ai was concerned. She would do anything to succeed, but if she had to hurt Ai...?
Then again, Ai had always supported her whenever she did well, never showing any jealousy on her part. Somehow, Reina had grown to take that kindness for granted, as if Ai would always be there, cheering her on. The thought that Ai would be displeased by her success, maybe even leave her, was strangely unsettling. Reina knew she would stop at nothing to be the best though, such was her drive to succeed. No matter the price...?
Feeling more confused than ever, it was a blessing when her cell phone suddenly vibrated in her lap, the flashing screen indicating an incoming mail. Reina's worries faded into the background as she read the simple words.
Seeing Reina smile to herself, Fuji raised an eyebrow. He was somehow not very surprised when informed that she would only hang out with them only for the rest of the afternoon, having to leave early to meet someone for dinner.
Reina could barely contain her excitement at getting to see Ai again. It had been over a week since that last dinner outing, and they had both been busy since. She didn't know how Ai knew that she had a day off today, but Reina was past caring.
She was going to see Ai again today.
~*~*~
The filming had taken half the afternoon, but Ai had fun with her juniors. They had been a tad nervous around her right at first, but Ai smiled a lot and talked about random things to put them at ease, and soon they were chattering like birds around her.
Now it was over, and her manager was nowhere to be seen. Ai had already changed back to her own clothes, and was reading the message her manager had left her with a frown. He had had to head back to the office first, and told her to make her own way back. There was just a meeting she was supposed to attend there, before her work day would be over.
Cheap jerk. Ai grumbled to herself. It would take at least an hour by train. Oh well, that was what her DS was for. The weather was finally starting to warm up, which was a blessing in itself. At least she wouldn't have to brave the cold just to get back.
The walk to the station was by-and-large uneventful, though Ai was in no hurry. She had about 2 hours to spare before the meeting. The transit wouldn't take that long, so she could afford to take her time.
The streets were not particularly packed, given that it was still only 3pm. Ambling at her own pace, Ai was not really looking for anything in particular, until something sparkled as she walked past, making her pause and track back to stare.
It was a modest little shop, with a variety of jewellery on display. It was obviously not a "high-end" kind of place, but Ai was never much concerned about little things like that. Her attention had been caught by a pair of dangling earrings, shaped like a cat. The worked silver sheen was quite exquisite, but what drew Ai were the eyes, gleaming with a mix of yellow, orange and brown. It felt strangely alive, curled around a deep violet gem.
"May I help you?" The clerk was prompt, her plump face friendly. Ai didn't take her eyes off the earrings.
"Can I have a look at that?" She pointed, and the clerk retrieved them, explaining to her what the gems were. Topaz for the eyes, and sapphire for the main gem. Ai barely heard half of what was going on, only nodding absently as the clerk continued her explanation.
"Topaz is said to augment creative energy, and sapphires have always been a symbol of prosperity. Did you know they are birthstones too? Topaz is the birthstone for November, and sapphire for September..."
"I'll take it." Ai said suddenly. It seemed somehow right. She hadn't even looked at the price, but felt like this was worth spending on. Looking at it reminded her of Reina somehow. Perhaps it was the cat, with its lively eyes.
Ai barely noticed half of what was going on as she paid for her purchase, walking out with the box held close. She wanted to show that to Reina. That had been her first thought when she saw the cat. Reina would appreciate the humor, not to mention the delicate beauty of the earrings.
Reina. Ai tapped her card as she passed the fare gate, entering the station. She hadn't seen her in a while. A quick check revealed that the younger girl had a day off. Getting Reina's schedule hadn't been too difficult. Insufferable though her manager might be, the man was resourceful, and he didn't ask strange questions.
Her fingers were already sending the message before her mind caught up to the action, and Ai pressed 'send' with a wry grin, hoping that Reina would have time to meet up with her for dinner after her meeting was done.
The reply came almost instantly, her phone jumping in her hands. Reina's reply was amusing as ever, and it brought a smile to her lips as she put the phone away, careful to set it to silent as she boarded the train.
You want me to go back to the office on my off day?! ｀ﾛ ´
Maa, if it's Ai, I'll go. :3
"Such a cute child..." Ai murmured to herself, leaning back in the seat.
She looked forward to meeting Reina later.
~*~*~
Reina tossed a bottle of oolong tea between her hands, pacing around the lobby while wondering if she should just go up and look for Ai. She had ditched her friends earlier, much to the displeasure of some of the latecomers, but Fuji had shooed her off before anyone else could protest.
Looks like I owe him another one. Reina thought wryly. She was here a little too early. It was only 5.30pm, and Ai would not be done until 6. Reina looked around. Perhaps she could sneak up and surprise Ai upstairs. Like wait outside the room until she came out. The idea appealed to her, and she was about to move when she realized she didn't know which room Ai was in, or even what floor.
Well I can't just ask her, it'd ruin the surprise. Reina pondered for a moment, then decided to ask someone. She wasn't exactly thrilled about talking to Ai's Manager-from-Hell, but he was the best source of information she had. The most direct too.
Or I could just ask other people...might take longer but less stressful.
Reina weighed her options. She wanted to have enough time to surprise Ai, so speed was the way to go. Screwing up her courage, Reina dialled a number.
Ten minutes later, a much hassled Reina managed to weasel the information she needed out of that annoying man. Boy, Ai wasn't exaggerating in the least when she said that he was bad. Reina didn't think anyone could go on and on without taking a breath for so long. She looked at the empty bottle in her hand, and decided she could use another drink. She thought she might as well grab an orange juice for Ai while she was at it, and strode off to the only machine in the building that sold both.
As luck would have it, Reina got the last orange juice in the machine. If there hadn't been any left, she would have had to walk to the next block to get it. Giving thanks for her good fortune, Reina started off for the 7th floor, where Ai was.
She would love to see Ai's face when she surprised her.
~*~*~
It was 5.40pm and the meeting had ended early. Ai dawdled as the other two left first, leaving her alone in the room. Taking her time, she emptied the contents of her bag in order to rearrange them. It was a mess inside.
She was due to meet Reina downstairs at 6pm, and had plenty of time. Taking advantage of the reflective glass on one side of the room, Ai doublechecked her hair and makeup. An idol had to have some awareness of their outward appearance. Or so the two stuffy suits had told her earlier. Given a choice, Ai wouldn't really give a damn about how she looked normally, as long as she looked alright for work. As it was, she supposed she had to respect their point of view.
That and, Reina would probably scold her for being careless with herself again. A smile curved her lips at the thought of the spunky young girl. Reina was incredibly self-possessed and confident, carrying herself with the air of one born to showbiz. Ai envied that, even as she admired it. It was part of what drew her to the younger girl. Ai wished she could project even half of that boundless confidence Reina seemed to have.
The door clicked behind her, and Ai turned, wondering who it was. Her smile froze when she did. The intruder smiled back.
The door closed.
=========================================================
Time is killing us~ Killing us softly~
^Lol nonsensical lyrics. Or not so?
Time matters. XD
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Mmmm, I probably shouldn't be replying this when I'm a bit hazy on cold meds, but what the hey.
Cat earrings! They do sound cute and Ai's little shiopping spree somehow reminded me of a convo we had earlier about your shopping trips. Hehehe...
Mmm, good things to come in the next chapter? Reinai's little dinner date? If so, I'll count it as another chapter. :P
And off to bed I go.. the medicine is making me more drowsy....zzzzzz....
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Every time I read this I think of that old children's song Stirring and stirring and stirring my brew~ That's what every chapter feels likes, you're just stirring in more and more ingredients into you delightful witches' brew. I'm quite curious as to who the ingredient is this time.
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:k-inlove:
That's all :D
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OMGOSH, HERE IT COMES!!! *covers head with a paperbag with just one eye-hole*
Seems like drama's going to hit the adorably content ReinAi couple pretty soon -- and JUST when they were going out to dinner! So unfortunate. I just hope their night together wouldn't be ruined. It already kind of sucks that they were separated throughout the duration of the chapter, and right when they scheduled to hang out, some intruder (I'm guessing that it's the guy mentioned in the section where Aichan found herself crying over) comes in, seemingly bringing an air of bad news to the couple. I hate it when unexpected things like that happen in real life and you have to cancel any sort of appointments, lol. But in this case, it makes things even more intriguing. WHY END IN A CLIFFHANGER?!?! D:
I'm going to laugh if the intruder ended up being Reina, but I'm a bit doubtful about that. XD
Speaking of the kitten, I quite enjoyed reading the lengthy section she had for herself. I always like reading her thoughts concerning Aichan. She seems sort of oblivious for her own bubbling romantic feelings for the woman, though she's definitely acknowledged the fact that there's something about Aichan that draws her in, and makes her feel and (unconsciously) do "strange" things. I hope it won't take her forever to realize that she wubs her senior.
Can't wait for the next chapter! :heart:
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I know I'm being surprising. XD I just had to get this out though.
Comment replies first!
Fen: Girl, get some rest. XD You're in no shape to be reading or commenting lol.
rndm: Everything I do has a purpose. Mostly. XD
kRisZ: How did you make the emoticon float like that????
Bubbles: *throws you a portable bomb shelter* You'll need it. And I like cliffhangers. :D I'm glad you liked Reina's POV. She does have some interesting thought processes concerning Ai. It'll take a while being she figures out it's rabu rabu. XD But well, here's the next chapter first!
*hides in bunker to edit*
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A Ripple in Time
Reina hummed impatiently as she waited for the elevator. The doors had closed without waiting for her, so now she had to wait for the next one.
The adjacent elevator was currently out of order, so that was the only elevator in service. Reina muttered something ugly at whoever had closed the doors on her. It was really rude.
The blinking numerals paused at 7, then continued moving up. Reina sighed. 22 floors was a pain. It would take another minute or two before the elevator made it back down to the ground floor.
Rolling the bottles in her grip, Reina tapped her foot restlessly. It seemed like an age before the elevator came, and in moments she was on her way up,
Once on her desired level, Reina switched to "stalking" mode, padding quietly over to Meeting Room B. Pausing in front of the door, she was about to open it when she heard voices behind it. Her hand rested on the knob, wondering if the meeting was still going on.
Then she heard Ai's voice, distinctly.
"Let me go!"
That didn't sound like a meeting.
~*~*~
"What are you doing here?"
Ai gathered her half-empty bag in front of her, as if it would protect her somehow. Trying her best not to cower like a little girl, she straightened and started packing her things back in, as if nothing had happened. Her nerves showed in the way her fingers slipped over her belongings though, and it was difficult to keep from rushing.
"Why so cold? It's been a while since we've been alone together." His hand slid along the edge of the table as he moved closer, and Ai did not meet his gaze.
It was true. She had avoided being alone with him at all costs, even if it was just in the elevator. The last she had spoken to him was when she had intervened in a conversation he was having with Reina. That felt like an age ago.
"Yamashita-san, if you'll excuse me." Ai picked her bag up, ready to just walk out and leave. She was halted by a grip on her wrist. Against her will, she stopped, raising her head to meet his eyes.
"There was a time you called me Jun." He was a handsome devil, Ai could give him that. His eyes always looked so sincere, and for a time she could almost pretend that he really cared. She almost wanted to believe that he cared.
"Who cares about that little girl?" A husky whisper. "I need a real woman."
Ai swallowed hard at the memory. She hadn't wanted to hear that. Then again, it was probably better that she had, or she would have gotten even deeper into that particular trap. But it had already been too late at that point, almost. She had already given him something she couldn't take back, not ever.
"There was a time I was a foolish little girl." Ai bit back bitterly, throwing the words he had said out of her hearing right back at him.
"I don't understand. What did I do?" He seemed genuinely confused, but Ai knew her man. He was an excellent actor, and she was just one more in a long line of girls on his list. The truth was bitter, but Ai had already bitten into that particular pill over a year ago.
"Let me go!" Ai struggled to get free, but he was stronger than her. He always was.
"You know, it really hurt when you just cut me off like that." He said almost conversationally, as if they were just sitting down for tea. "No one's ever dumped me that way."
"Well, it's happened. Get over it." Ai replied coldly, her flat answer concealing the near-panic raging inside. She was afraid of him. She could only hope it didn't show.
He smiled, and it was not friendly. "You've gotten some cheek, hanging out with that feisty little kitten of yours." He smoothed back Ai's fringe almost fondly, making her jerk backwards to avoid his touch.
"I like my girls with a little more bite." He was still smiling, and Ai had a sudden impression of a shark circling her. It was not a pleasant feeling.
"Why can't you just let it go?" Ai exploded suddenly, letting out the nervous energy as anger. She dug her free hand into his arm, her nails leaving deep imprints as she tried to pry his hand off. He hissed at the action, grabbing her other hand with his own, trapping her in front of him. Ai stared up at him defiantly.
"It was over a year ago! I don't want anything to do with you anymore!"
The smile never left his face, but Yamashita's eyes were cold.
"You don't get to decide that. You were mine, and you can't go until I let you."
He pulled her right hand up to his lips, deliberately kissing one of her fingers. His eyes never left Ai's, watching as she flinched at the contact, turning an interesting shade of ghastly white.
"You're not wearing the ring I gave you." He admonished gently, though his grip was still iron. Ai avoided his gaze, still struggling to get free.
"I left it on your table." Ai replied. Her eyes flitted over her right pinky. There was still a barely visible tan line of where a ring had once been.
"I know." He sounded amused. Letting go of her left wrist, he calmly reached into his pocket even as Ai tried to take the opportunity to escape. She stopped suddenly though, when a familiar ring was held in front of her.
"I always wanted to put it back on for you." He sounded so sincere, so repentant. If Ai had heard him say that a year ago, she might have believed him. Would have accepted him back, because it was easier than being alone.
He had taken her under his wing when she was just another trainee, just another fresh face in the agency, with no friends or family in the big city. Ai had left everything and everyone behind to pursue her dream. She had nowhere else to go except forward, and he had been there for her.
Sure, she had maintained contact with a couple of friends, but she could never tell them how difficult it was, struggling to rise in an ultra-competitive industry where your rivals would not hesitate to trample all over you in their own bid for success. Silently, she bore everything inside, never confiding in anyone, never relying on anyone. She cried on the nights alone, but always strove on.
Then he had appeared in her life. Her hero, she thought bitterly. After a failed audition where the director had attempted to solicit sex from her before casting her, he had found her, picked her up, and been kind to her.
In retrospect, he had probably known that the direct approach wouldn't work with her. Ai was not someone who would betray herself in order to succeed. She would work herself to death rather than take a despicable shortcut. So he had become a friend to her first, her benefactor, and eventually, boyfriend.
I am a fool. Ai thought bitterly, unshed tears stinging her eyes. Mixing up gratitude with love had probably been the worst mistake of her life thus far. The ring sparkled in the light, reminding her of the night he had given it to her. It was also the night she lost her virginity.
When he made to put the ring back on for her, Ai snapped out of her trance, reacting instinctively. The ring flew away, bouncing against the wall and skittering across the floor. Ai took a deep breath, taking the opportunity of his loosened grip to pull away.
"I don't want it back. I don't need you anymore." Her voice shook along the last sentence, but she felt the truth of the words. Two years ago, she had been lonely and afraid. A year ago, after the betrayal, she had hardened herself and locked her loneliness away.
Her bag had fallen to the ground in the struggle earlier, spilling some of its contents onto the floor. The simple box holding the earrings was one of items among them, and Ai felt her gaze drawn to it for a moment.
Reina. Right now, I have Reina. Despite herself, she smiled.
"I am not alone anymore, Yamashita. I don't need you. Go away." Ai felt brave saying that to him, but she wanted to be brave. She couldn't be scared of him for the rest of her life.
He was staring at her. It was not an angry look, or even particularly upset. He seemed somehow intrigued by the sudden change in her.
"You've changed, Ai." He began slowly, looking at her with a new light in his eye. Ai shuffled back uncomfortably, feeling oddly naked under his gaze. Despite herself, she shivered, backing up still further.
"You're a woman now." Again with that chilling smile. Ai felt her skin crawl. She wanted to bolt, but he blocked the only route out of the room. Short of jumping out of a window, she had nowhere to run.
"Jun, stop it." Ai snapped, then bit her lip at the way she let the name slip. Erasing a year and a half of history she had shared with him was not easy. Some part of it would never go away, she was beginning to realize. She had genuinely liked him once, which made it hurt all the more.
He smiled again, showing his teeth. Ai felt very small as he moved closer, and her limbs felt strangely paralyzed with something akin to terror as he tilted her chin up to face him.
"You're beautiful..." He whispered, and Ai blanked out suddenly when his lips touched hers. The contact was eerily familiar, yet uncomfortably alien at the same time. Her body tensed, her fists clenching as motion returned to her. Gathering her strength, she shoved him in the chest, surprising him enough to back a few steps at the force.
Ai's hand was up and moving before she knew it, slapping him hard across the face. Tears had sprung from her eyes at last, and her voice was hoarse when she spoke.
"Don't touch me."
Yamashita touched his cheek gingerly, almost disbelieving at the fact that Ai had just slapped him. He was silent for a moment, then he chuckled.
"Really, that cute little yankii of yours must be a bad influence."
"Leave Reina alone." Ai said immediately, feeling an odd spike of panic. Not for herself, but for Reina. She had a bad feeling about the way Yamashita was acting at the moment.
"So it's 'Reina' for her, and 'Yamashita' for me?" He shook his head. "I'm hurt, Ai."
"This is about us. Leave her out of it." Ai said sharply, desperate to get his attention off that particular topic. She didn't want Reina to get involved in this mess. She wanted Reina to be safe.
Yamashita had an odd look on his face, before his expression grew smug. Ai winced, realizing her own mistake, too late to correct. He knew how to get to her now.
"You just said there is no 'us', Ai-chan." He reminded her. "Maybe I'll have to find someone else to keep me company. That kitten of yours looks like she would be a real spitfire in bed..."
"Don't you dare...!" Ai surged forward, sinking her fingernails into his arm. Vaguely, she was aware of the panic written all across her face, and tried to hide it. But it was too late.
"So you do care about that kid!" Yamashita laughed delightedly. He reached out to smooth away the trail of tears on Ai's face, undeterred by the way she flinched from his touch.
"I won't trouble a kid like her unless I'm feeling desperate. You know what I mean?"
Ai did know what he meant. She shuddered all over at the implications, wondering how she could keep Reina safe. Short of staying by her side at all times, there was no guarantee that Reina would be truly unharmed. Ai knew that Yamashita could and would do anything in order to hurt her. She had heard of his less than rosy reputation only after she had left him. In fact, she was surprised that he had taken this long to corner her.
"All you have to do is come back to me." His voice was silky smooth, like a predator on the prowl. Ai shivered, her belly clenching in fear. She couldn't let anything happen to Reina.
She had no choice.
Her head dipped briefly, shoulders slumping as all the fight went out of her. She had to struggle against the sick nausea rising within her, but she couldn't fight the tears that came.
"Good girl."
He lowered his head to kiss her, and Ai steeled herself, unable to stop the tears running down her face. She shook in utter misery, trying not to scream as his lips moved down her neck, marking her as his.
Ai mentally braced herself for more, shoving all her screaming as far down as it would go. She had to do this, she told herself. It was the only way.
There was a sudden grunt of pain, and Ai lost her balance as Yamashita suddenly staggered away, falling to the floor in a crouch. Ai slumped to the ground as well, her legs too weak to keep her standing. Stunned, she looked up blindly, wondering what had just happened.
Reina was standing there.
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CLIFFHANGER!
:D
As for why the title is A Ripple in Time, well, this is where the first major divergence occurs from the history that led to Nanchatte Renai. For NR, Reina was delayed by a few things: 1) She chose the long way of finding out where Ai was, 2) the vending machine was out of juice, making her walk further and wasting precious minutes. By the time she did get up to that room during NR's timeline, she only saw the tail end of what happened. You can imagine it wasn't pretty.
Here she makes it in time to catch most of the conversation. As to why she didn't barge in earlier, it will be explained in the next chapter. Reina learns about some things earlier in this case, and that will influence how some events turn out later. :)
This is merely the beginning. Amazing how one little decision to do things in a certain way could have so many effects. We'll see where this ripple leads us. :D Stay tuned!
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:mon wtf: :mon wtf: :mon wtf: :mon wtf: :mon wtf:
I'm in shockkkkkkkkkkk!!!!
But TWO UPDATES!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :mon beam: and they were totally fantastic!!!!!
And at last we got to know YAMASHITA :mon mad: :mon mad: :mon mad:
BASTARD!!! :mon zoom: I always suspect of him being a S.O.B. but this chapter confirms my suspicions!! I totally hate him!!!!
But I'm glad because Reina (my heroine :cool1:) got there in time and I really want to know what she's gonna do know!!
Reina give that damned Yamashita what he deserves!! :mon worklate: :mon headbang: :mon woo::mon slapself: :knee: :kickass: XD!
In other words...Kill him please!!!
In any case..KYAAA this is so exciting, I can't wait for more!!
Ah! and about the previous chapter I really liked it when Reina and her friend were at the cafe talking about Ai-chan :mon fyeah:
Fuji-kun knows Reina so well :mon evillaff: I like him!!
Thank you for this, Estrea-sama!!! :tama-heart: :tama-laff:
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Reina come to save her damsel in distress!!!! :wub:
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OMGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGG!
The intruder's a creeper! A major S.O.B creeper at that! I knew that it wouldn't be Reina, but as I read, I couldn't stop wishing it was her who appeared instead of that guy. XD But, hey. Gives us a major backstory of Aichan's, something I've been waiting for ever since this Yamashita Jun dude (I keep thinking of Junjun. Which is a good thing, 'cause I'd rather imagine her as the predator than some random person, lol) was mentioned in Nanchatte Ren'ai. So, he's the one that took Aichan's virginity, huh? Then he pulled off something really stupid that made her hate him and ultimately regret the time she spent with him. Argh, I really hate guys like that. They're such inconsiderate, manipulating, and sex-crazed jerks that it makes me want to beat them senseless.
I was pretty shocked that Aichan just gave up near the end like that. Why didn't she kick him between the legs when she had the chance? That's how I would've handled a creeper like him. But, yay, Reina to the rescue! She should use her claws and scratch all over his pretty little face. >D
I'm not much bothered by the cliffhanger this time around, since this chapter ended positively with Reina's appearance. :lol: I'm still looking forward to the next chapter, though! Is there going to be more fluff in the upcoming chapters? 'Cause I reckon your readers are going to need some sugary fluff rabu-rabu scenes between ReinAi after such an intense encounter with Aichan's old flame, lol.
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BLAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAGGHHHHHHH!!!!!
:panic: :panic: :panic: :panic: :panic: :panic: :panic:
YAMASHITA!! IF YOU TOUCH AI AGAIN I'LL RIP YOUR ADAM'S APPLE RIGHT OUT OF YOUR THROAT!! :scolding:
REINA TO THE RESCUE!! BEAT THE SHIT OUT OF HIM!! :rockon:
*****
aaaaAAAAAaaawwwwWWWWWW~!!!!! :heart: :heart: :heart:
Aichan buying earrings for Reina is so adorable!! :love:
Also...masaka!!...Did Reina just admit in her mind that she's crushing on Ai??????!!!!!! :shocked........ :w00t:
KYAA~HHH
I NEED MORE!!!
Feed my ReinAi addicted mind with more of your fanfic awesomeness!! :inlove:
:D
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Two posts so close together! I don't even care it's a cliffhanger I'm so happy! I'm glad we finally get a little insight into where things began to go wrong in NR and how you intend to change them here. It's probably going to be a while before you post the next one, huh? Or can we get that lucky?
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in such a short period of time, i've become a huge fan of your works. it started with the one-shots ( i read them all) and then it went to the chaptered stories, and now a new story. your writing... i can't even begin to describe how good you really are. comparable to professional authors. i write fanfics myself, on hello!online, but i could never, ever be as good as you are.
ok ok, that said, this is quite a good start. at the beginning of this story, when aichan found the earrings, i thought that maybe there was going to be some sort of body switch going on. (could still happen) i'm really intrigued to find out what happens next.
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I write this again after taking the cold medicine. lol
Mmmm, amazing how just one moment in time can change an entire course of a person's life. Reina being just a few minutes late and it's Nachatte Renai; Reina being there right on time, it's Destiny Love. Let's see how this new ripple will affect the rest of the story. Hehehe *coughfluffcough*
I hope Reina beats the crap out of Jun. Although I have a funny image of little tiny less than 100 pounds Reina fighting a guy who probably weighs at least 1.5 times more and is like a foot taller than her. XD David vs Goliath... hmm....
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Oh lookie, I'm back again! I can update really fast when I want to. :P
I guess it's because I just want to prove a point. *shrugs* Ah, well.
Comment replies again! XD
kame_eririn: All these quick updates must make you happy. Lol, I think I made everyone pissed at Yamashita (who totally deserves it, the jerkwad). Well she can't kill him, but she can hurt him. :P And yeah, I like Fuji too. I accidentally made him awesome in the course of writing lol, but I needed someone on Reina's side who she could talk to. He was a good choice. XD I hope you like this chapter too!
abok: Welcome to the thread! :D And yes, Reina the heroine. <3 Yay for saving the day!
Bubbles: Yeah, intruder is MAX on the Creep-O-Level. And lol, yeah, I kinda thought of Junjun when I wrote that in, but yeah, no offense to Junjun fans. XD But yeah, this is a pretty big part of Ai's backstory, and it's a big part of how she became so warped. She made a bad error in judgment, and yeah...well. Jerk was a jerk. One reason why Ai didn't simply attack him was because of 2 reasons: 1) She's still kind of scared of him, 2) she's worried about what he would do to Reina if she retaliated. Very noble, very stupid of her. Heh. XD Reina to the rescue is awesome, yes. The fluff will come, but first they have to recover. You'll see. :D
Swtme03: Wow, you're agitated. XD Remind me not to piss you off. :lol: More ReinAi for you here! I guarantee you will like it. :D
rndm: And here's a third post in as many days! :D Yes, you can be that lucky. :P
Glasseyelashes: Welcome to the thread! And to the forum as well, I suppose. XD Wow, you read all that? How long did it take? :lol: But thank you very much, I feel like I still have a lot to improve on. I'm glad you like my writing though. :) Hope to continue seeing you around here!
Fen: Dude, you're crazy. XD Go rest, you sick bird. :lol: But yeah, I just wanted it to get across that even the smallest things can change our entire lives. And more often than not, it all stems from a decision we make. Consequences, cause and effect, blah blah. XD But hey, David did beat Goliath! :P Reina does have the advantage of not being seen as well. XD You'll see how she does it here. XD
Hokay, time to edit and post again.
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You and I
Crouched against a door, with one ear pressed against it, Reina was aware she looked very strange in that particular position. Fortunately, that level was mostly empty. Not that she really cared about what people thought.
Ai's voice was distressed, from what little she could hear right off the bat. Part of her wanted to barge right in and find out just what was happening, but an oddly familiar male voice stopped her in her tracks.
Yamashita? What's he doing in there? Her curiosity was peaked. Slowly, quietly, Reina twisted the knob, making absolutely no sound as she slid the door open a fraction. The thin line of sight it afforded her was barely worth speaking of, but she did get to see exactly what she wanted to.
Mostly it was just the tall man's back looming over Ai. Reina bristled visibly, hunched at the doorway. She hissed when he grabbed Ai's other hand, clenching her fist on the carpet beneath her. It was truly tempting to just go in and break them apart, but something was going on that she knew nothing about.
What's that about Ai being his? Were they dating? I didn't know that.
A sour feeling rose in Reina's throat. The whole business was making her uncomfortable. Ai had never spoken much about herself, so all this was new to her. As much as she wanted to rush in and beat the shit out of the guy touching her friend, Reina couldn't help but stay put, if only to listen in on their conversation. She wanted to know.
Reina flinched at the mention of a ring, her face darkening. It made her oddly upset to know that Ai had been close to that man. Was that why Ai had made her stay away from him? Reina didn't really get it. Ai had shouted that she didn't want anything to do with him anymore. That thought pacified her a little. If anything, it was obvious that Ai didn't like him anymore.
Reina couldn't help but feel a little relieved when Ai knocked the ring away, pulling free out Yamashita's grip. She hated the fact that Ai had been close to this guy. Her chest tightened at the thought of them being intimate in the past, and Reina shook her head to clear her mind.
What was this feeling? Reina couldn't stand the sight of Yamashita being close to Ai at all. As Ai told him off, saying that she was no longer alone, Reina puffed out her cheeks.
That's right, I'm with Ai now. I won't let anyone hurt her.
Yamashita was giving her the creeps, Reina decided after a few moments. She couldn't believe that she had thought him attractive at any point before. Ugh.
When Ai said his name, Reina winced at the way it rolled off her tongue. It sounded intimate and familiar, even if it was laced with anger. Obviously, Ai had been close to the man before. That really bothered Reina. She couldn't exactly say why, but it was starting to piss her off even more.
Reina very nearly saw red when Yamashita went and kissed Ai on the lips. She almost sprang into action right there and then, but Ai beat her to it, pushing him away and slapping the bastard. Reina clenched her fist in triumph at the act. That'll show him!
When Yamashita started to taunt Ai using her name, Reina tensed. She couldn't take her eyes off Ai's face. It was as if all the blood had drained off it in a moment. Though Ai had kept up a cold mask the entire time during the confrontation, it was starting to crack. And Reina could see the fear seeping through. Fear of him?
Fear for me? Reina's lips moved silently, digesting the thought. The possibility felt more real when Ai actually tried to attack him in defense of her.
She cares about me. The notion was a triumph, a roar of satisfaction welling up in Reina's chest. She felt somehow smug about that.
Wait, what? Reina returned her attention to the confrontation she had been eavesdropping on. Was he threatening her? Using me?! That despicable asshole...!
She tensed when Ai gave in, her whole body trembling despite her attempt to control herself. Reina felt her chest tighten painfully at the scene.
For me, she would go this far...
Her shoulders shook, and there was an audible snap as one of her fake nails broke on the carpet. Rage overtook her, the desire to hurt the man who was hurting Ai right in front of her. When he moved his head down, Reina had a clear view of Ai's face.
Ai was crying.
That did it. Reina pushed herself off the floor, shoving the door open with a force that left the hinges rattling. Fuji's voice rang in her head, a memory of the older boy teaching her how to defend herself.
"Everyone has a weak spot, Tanaka. You're too small for a straight fight with someone twice your size..."
"I'm not small!" A pint sized Reina pouted, her hands on her hips.
"Right, of course." He rolled his eyes. "Still, it's best to just hit 'em hard where it hurts. It makes things easier for you."
Hitting where it hurts. Reina's smile was terrifyingly vicious as she recalled the tip. Without breaking her stride, she aimed a kick for a spot between Yamashita's legs. Where it really hurts.
Good thing I'm wearing boots. Reina stared down at the cringing man on the floor. She was strongly tempted to beat the shit out of him, but Ai was still a mess.
Another time. She promised herself. That didn't stop her from bringing her heel down on top of his head though. Fuji had taught her the basics of dirty fighting. The blow would be solid enough to knock him cold for a while.
Ai was still slumped against the wall in shock, and she flinched automatically when Reina reached down to touch her. Reina winced, kneeling beside the older girl.
"Ai? It's me, Reina. It's alright now. You're safe."
"Rei...na?" The glassy look was starting to dissipate, and Reina couldn't help but hug Ai impulsively. The urge to protect the suddenly fragile girl in front of her was overwhelming. Reina patted Ai's back, and Ai started to sob quietly into her chest.
"I won't let anyone hurt you." Reina promised, soothing the broken girl in her arms. It was the first time she had seen Ai so vulnerable. Her chest tightened painfully again. She never wanted to see Ai cry like that, not ever.
"Rei...I'm sorry..." Ai murmured. Reina tightened her hold on Ai, pulling the older girl still closer to her.
"Idiot! Don't ever do something like that again!" Her temper flared, and she felt Ai shake in her arms. Afraid that she had scared Ai, Reina looked down worriedly.
To her surprise, Ai was giggling, though her face was still streaked with tears. Reina felt her heart thump heavily in her chest, blood rushing to her cheeks. In an instant, she suddenly understood just exactly why the unconscious bastard behind her had called Ai 'beautiful'.
"I'm sorry, Reina. Don't be angry." Reina felt her throat constrict at the puppy eyed look Ai was giving her. Shit, stop being so adorable! Argh!
"Let's just go." Reina replied gruffly, looking away before her blushing cheeks could give her away. As she pulled away, she felt a tug on her blouse, making her look back down.
"Thank you for coming, Reina."
"Tch." Reina huffed to herself, turning away again quickly before all the blood in her body migrated to her head. To distract herself, she started shoving Ai's stuff back into the bag, before closing it and turning back to the girl in question.
Ai had managed to stagger to her feet, and was still leaning against the wall. Reina felt a stab of rage at the way Ai tried to pull her blouse back together with shaking fingers, the effort a chore since the jerk had torn off a few buttons earlier. Wordlessly, Reina shrugged off her own hoodie, handing it over to Ai.
"Let's go." Reina's voice, though gruff, was still oddly gentle, and it made Ai smile wanly to hear it. Neither of them said a word as they left the room, though Reina took Ai's hand as they did, their fingers entwining in a reassuring grip.
They didn't go out for dinner that night, but that was the last thing on their minds.
She came for me. Ai thought, pulling the hoodie even more closely around her body. It was comforting to be surrounded by Reina's warmth, even through a secondary source. Despite the fact that they were seated on the train, their hands remained joined, and it felt nice to have Reina close to her.
I won't let anyone else hurt her. Reina's eyes were fixed in a terrifying glare that intimidated any living creature within its radius, though the girl herself was barely aware of it. She felt her heart like a living thing of its own, leaping around wildly whenever Ai came into her mind. It was strange, unsettling, and more than a little frightening.
"You like her."
Reina's grip on Ai's hand tightened, making the older girl look over quizzically. Reina flushed, unable to meet her gaze right on. Forcing herself to relax, Reina stared at the floor.
This can't be right. We're both girls. She's just my friend. That's right, we're best friends.
Reina picked at the hem of her skirt restlessly, trying to still her racing thoughts. She was abruptly broken out of them when Ai's free hand grabbed hers.
"Reina, you broke a nail." Ai sounded worried. Reina wanted to laugh. Ai had just come very close to being sexually assaulted not half an hour ago, and she was worried about her having a broken nail? Still, it felt good to have Ai fussing over her, even over such a trivial matter.
"It's nothing. It was a fake nail." Reina said dismissively, waving it off. Ai bit her lip, withdrawing her own hand to tap restlessly on her own lap.
"Reina...can you come home with me tonight?"
Reina froze, before forcing herself to relax. Ai's voice was quiet, as if ashamed to be even making the request. The older girl was looking away to one side, and Reina could just barely make out the mark that the asshole had left on her neck earlier. Despite herself, she bristled at it, anger heating her body again.
"Are you stupid?" Ai jumped at the harsh bite in Reina's voice, but the yankii girl wasn't done yet. Ai looked up when Reina took her free hand, clasping both of Ai's larger hands within her own small ones.
"What the hell do you think I'm doing right now?" Ai blinked. Reina smirked, covering up her own nervousness with the confidence she was known for.
"Baka, I live in the opposite direction."
Ai looked blank for a moment, then the light of understanding sparked in her eyes. She looked down sheepishly, and Reina cuffed her lightly on the shoulder.
"Don't ask stupid questions like that again." Ai smiled at the fierce tone, sensing the protective gentleness in it. She rubbed her thumb over the soft skin of Reina's hand, soothing the fiery young yankii.
"I'm sorry, Reina."
Reina made an irritable sound with her lips. "Don't apologize for something like that, baka!"
Ai smiled. "Sorry."
Reina growled under her breath, making Ai giggle softly. Reina sighed. She could never be truly angry with Ai, not right now, not over this.
Though neither said anything else after that, both of them took comfort in each other's closeness. They did not have to speak to confirm something they both knew.
Something had changed between them. As for where it would lead them, they could not know. They could only hope for a better tomorrow.
A tomorrow where they would still be together, hand in hand.
=============================================================
Tralalala. I like how this turned out. It only took me 3 hours to write. :D
And now I gotta go out for a dinner date! Bai~
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Wha-wha-what?! Three chapters now! *dies of shock* It's an Essy-sama explosion! I'm beyond happy with this development, both at seeing a little more of you (I was beginning to worry you periodically fell into a black hole at work or something) and with how the cliffhanger panned out. This seems to be the first truly major shift in their relationship and I've always liked how you manage to be subtle while still making things clear in a non in-your-face way. The way I do...
"I'm sorry, Reina."
Reina made an irritable sound with her lips. "Don't apologize for something like that, baka!"
Ai smiled. "Sorry."
Fav quote.
I love how you make Ai so demure, yet mischievous and Reina so Tsundere(ina!) Which, I guess Reina really is like that, but I've always thought of Ai to be a little more childish and bratty at times, though my opinion in neither here nor there, so, yeah.
I dunno, just rambling now; so, in conclusion, I look forward to the next chapter, but I don't see my luck holding out much longer. Actually, I feel if I keep saying that, it will actually hold, but now I fear I've truly jinxed it. :lol: Sorry, it's like seven am here and it's almost time for me to go to sleep for the night. Stupid vampire schedule. :lol:
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OMG :mon fire: That bastard!!! :mon fierce: He wants to be dead (http://www.laymark.com/i/m/m206.gif) (http://www.laymark.com)
Hmmm... Why am I liking ReinAi now? :huhuh Just please don't make Risa appear in future updates or don't make her suffer that much and I'm good :grin:
Edit: I was pondering a little and my request was kind of not good and this is your thread and I'm just one of your humble readers, so anyway you want it, I'll be cool... I'll just endure the pain just in case...
How did you make the emoticon float like that????
[ move ] [ /move ]
:down
Hart's teh man. Got this from him :D
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You updated again! And 3 times :heart: :)
It's been ages since I commented on this, hasn't it? Well, I suppose we finally got to that divergence you'd been talking about. XD Hmm. It does seem like a significant juncture in the relationship. In NR Ai was always the protective senior, and because of certain experiences they both fell onto a darker path. But here... Reina's just completely altered the dynamics of the relationship. Now Reina's a protector too, though it still doesn't take away from Ai. Really, it makes them more equal... which is what's important for a real relationship of course.
From the setup, next chapter better be some incredible lemony fluff! :heart:
Oh... and they really need to sick Fuji on that Yamashita bastard!!! :angry:
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Updates! Updates! Updates! ~
:mon dance: :mon dance: :mon dance:
I'm totally in love with these last few chapters! (well, except the whole Yamashita incident)
They keep growing closer and closer, even when they're not around each other :wub:
Reina, you know you like her :mon misch: Hold on to her hand for as long as possible :wub: I'm sure she won't mind :roll:
And where were they going again?? Back to Ai's place...??? :shocked
I'm totally not getting any ideas :roll: :P
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so i take it, you update on a whim? you write the chapters out in a sort of "real time"? i do the same thing. i write mine, and totally wing it the entire time.
but yeah, i'm sooo glad reina was there. i felt the anger right alot with her. i'm usually a takagaki fan, but reading stories with reina/ai in them isn't so bad anymore. i expect alot of clumsy moments between the two during the sleepover, but that's what makes it cute. :heart: :yep:
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:on gay: :on gay: :on gay: :on gay: That was totally amazing!!!!!!!
So cool, so cute, so fantastic!!!!!
Reina is so strong!!! She is my heroine, well Ai's heroine!!!
She gave that bastard what he deserved!! I hope that the blow has hurt him very much!! :ding:
And I like Fuji-kun more than before!! He's the best!!! :shy1: XD! I think I'm in love.
She came for me. Ai thought, pulling the hoodie even more closely around her body. It was comforting to be surrounded by Reina's warmth, even through a secondary source. Despite the fact that they were seated on the train, their hands remained joined, and it felt nice to have Reina close to her.
I won't let anyone else hurt her. Reina's eyes were fixed in a terrifying glare that intimidated any living creature within its radius, though the girl herself was barely aware of it. She felt her heart like a living thing of its own, leaping around wildly whenever Ai came into her mind. It was strange, unsettling, and more than a little frightening.
"You like her."
Reina's grip on Ai's hand tightened, making the older girl look over quizzically. Reina flushed, unable to meet her gaze right on. Forcing herself to relax, Reina stared at the floor.
This can't be right. We're both girls. She's just my friend. That's right, we're best friends.
:luvluv2: I totally loved this part!!!
Reina and Ai were so sweet!! :heart:
And...
"Reina...can you come home with me tonight?"
Reina froze, before forcing herself to relax. Ai's voice was quiet, as if ashamed to be even making the request. The older girl was looking away to one side, and Reina could just barely make out the mark that the asshole had left on her neck earlier. Despite herself, she bristled at it, anger heating her body again.
"Are you stupid?" Ai jumped at the harsh bite in Reina's voice, but the yankii girl wasn't done yet. Ai looked up when Reina took her free hand, clasping both of Ai's larger hands within her own small ones.
"What the hell do you think I'm doing right now?" Ai blinked. Reina smirked, covering up her own nervousness with the confidence she was known for.
"Baka, I live in the opposite direction."
Ai looked blank for a moment, then the light of understanding sparked in her eyes. She looked down sheepishly, and Reina cuffed her lightly on the shoulder.
HAHAHAHAHAHAHA :mon lmao:
I love that BAKA!! :hee: and you too, Tanaka Reina.
These three last updates have being very surprising and I like surprises VERY MUCH!!! :pig sleep:
I'm so happy!!
Thank You!!! :tama-lotsaluv:
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This last 3 chapters totally kill me! XD Make me go doki doki (both in good way and in bad way :P)
Poor Aichan... :cry:
So thats what happen that led to her low self-esteem in NR. But Aichan has Reina that make her more brave now :)
It's heartwarming how ReinAi willing to protect each other <3 Though in Ai's case it rather bitter.
And TsundeReina FTW!!! :cow: Me like tsundere chara :wub: (in anime and manga too :D)
This can't be right. We're both girls. She's just my friend. That's right, we're best friends.
Such a denial :smhid
Now I wonder what will happen next. Can we hope to see some fluff in the sleepover scene? :hee:
I'll waiting for next chapter :thumbsup
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Three updates in a row!!! :shocked :shocked :shocked
I just hope this doesn't mean this will be followed by a barren spell :smhid ;) :lol:
Yeah, you go show him Reina! I was expecting Ai's backstory with the Yamashita guy to involve something like him taking advantage of her, but I didn't expect it to have been as deep as a relationship (though it doesn't make much of a difference, does it?). Good thing Reina made the right choice to hackle Ai's manager for swift information as to Ai's whereabouts, and she was lucky with the vending machine as well. I wonder how the 15-year-old Reina in NR reacted to seeing the 'tali-end' of er, events, in that room. And how Ai coped with never explaining herself to Reina (in order to protect her). In Destiny Love, Reina is able to learn that Ai was sacrificing herself for the sake of Reina, which obviously would look different to a completely oblivious Reina walking into what she believes to be a scene of passion between Ai and Yamashita. Not only would the scene itself look different she was also able to see and hear how Ai thought of Reina. It could only deepen her crush on the older girl that she is slowly becoming aware of.....and maybe more :twisted:
I'm hoping for some mushy, awkward moments in the sleepover that should be covered in the next chapter :lol:
(And I hope they remain safe from the clutches of Yamashita. Something tells me he wouldn't take the way things turned out in that room all that well...)
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How can I rest if you keep updating this fanfic like non-stop! You are not helping me get better! D:
Woot! Reina to the rescue! This is the first time for her seeing Ai so vulnerable, I hope she will take good care of her. That was a nice kick to the crotch by Reina. Her height must have been perfect for her. XD
Where is my dinner date?! I want my dinner date!! lol Since there's no fluff in this chapter, I expect some GOOD fluff in the next with both of them going to Ai's place. Ufufufufufufufufufufu~ I still want my dinner date though... >.>
And I'm writing this before even taking my medicine, so hah!
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*breathes out deeply* Haaaaa.
Comment replies first!
rndm: And it's number four! :D You were worried about me? :O My shock. But yes, major shift in ReinAi's relationship. Not quite done though, because...well, paradigm shifts don't happen at one go. XD I'm glad you liked how I handled it though. Ai's seemingly demure and even restrained behavior has a great deal of reason behind it. You'll see more of what it really means in the upcoming chapter. XD Bratty and childish Ai will come...eventually. :P You haven't jinxed it! I hope. Haha. Let's see how long I hold out. Take care of yourself!
kRisZ: Hehe I WILL COMVERT YOU!!! Awww it's ok, you're entitled to make requests. Just like I'm entitled to ignore you if I want to. :P Just kidding. Haha. Your concern for Risa is noted though. ;) And thanks for telling me how to do that that!
rokun: :heart: You commented! Yup, this is a significant point in their relationship. Reina's not quite done with this though, you'll see. Some confrontations are better off done sooner than later, and in this story, they definitely will get through their problems sooner instead of leaving them too late. :) This I can promise. :D
Swtme03: I'm glad you're happy. :D Yup, ReinAi just keep drawing closer to each other. Hehe. What ideas are you getting, I wonder? :lol:
Glasseyelashes: Well I normally update when I either have the time or energy to write. I have assorted plans for how my stories pan out usually, so I wouldn't say I actually wing it. That said though, I do change my plans during the actual writing process sometimes, especially if the scene decides to come alive on its own -- like it did this time round. o_O Bursts of inspiration should always be used whenever possible. But yes, I'm glad ReinAi is growing on you. :) Muahahaha.
kame_eririn: Yay Reina! I really like how she turned out too. She's amazing here. XD And yes, that blow has to hurt lol. Fuji is awesome. <3 I'm glad you like him. XD And yeah, ReinAi are such adorable dorks. :heart:
Aisacchan: Yup Ai has Reina now, hip hip hooray! :D Mhm, Ai takes things onto herself without telling anyone, and it's a problem. XD You'll see how it works out. Reina's a tsundere, but I would say she's also incredibly straightforward, and easy to provoke. I like that about her lol. The moment of truth when Reina finally admits that she likes Ai? Hmm, I wonder when that'll be... :P
aussie: And another update again! Haha. Let's hope there won't be a drought either. *crosses fingers* As for how 15 year old Reina reacted to the events in NR, well, it was really bad. Some really Bad Stuff happened, Reina walks out on Ai, then...yeah. It created a rift between them, and then more stupid things happened, which led to the crazy shitty world we saw in NR. *shrug* I have an evil mind. XD And well, this will definitely not be the last we see of Yamashita...
Fen: Excuses! You're the one who refuses to go to bed early! It's not like the fic will run away. :P You can always read it another time. XD So don't try blaming it on me, or I'll pluck you to make a Fenther Duster. :P Heh yeah, Reina's height makes it really easy to aim for the crotch. Go Reina! XD Fluff? What fluff? *whistles innocently* And you still sound insanely high without meds...must be a mental condition...:P
Okie dokie, time to edit and post~
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How do we call this comment in between... Sandwich.?. :grin:
And this :cow: is for that second 'Trophy' lol
And you can ignore as long as you want, I won't mind as long as I can read awesome fics from the Titan :D
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That Which Binds Us
"Sit down."
The voice was peremptory, commanding. The target sighed, rolling her eyes.
"I've got this. I can do it myself..."
"Reina..." Ai's voice brooked no opposition, although Reina would have very much liked to try. Ruefully, the cat-like girl stared down at the offending fingernail. It was about time to remove them in any case, and the chipped nail simply hastened that decision.
What she didn't get though, was Ai's stubborn insistence at helping her remove them. Reina certainly knew how to do it herself. The younger girl rubbed at her fingers. Maybe if Ai hadn't seen the bruising around the chipped nail, she might not be overreacting so much. Reina thought that perhaps she shouldn't have gotten so agitated earlier, but how else was she supposed to react?
Reina blinked when Ai returned with an armload of materials, everything from nail polish remover to nail clippers and assorted other supplies needed to safely remove the fake nails. Clearly, it wasn't the first time Ai had done it. Naturally, as a talent, there were times where they got the fake nails for the job, so it made sense that Ai knew how to remove them.
"I can do this myself." Reina whined again, holding her hands close to her chest. Ai gave her a narrow look, holding out one hand and waiting. Reina glowered at her briefly, before reluctantly extending one hand for Ai to start trimming them off.
Silence reigned for a few minutes as Ai focused on the job, bent attentively over Reina's fingers. For someone who was usually so careless, Ai seemed to be taking infinite care here. Reina shifted uncomfortably in her chair. The silence was getting to her.
"Ne, Ai?" Reina began tentatively. Ai paused, looking up. Reina desperately tried to think of something intelligent to say.
"Uh...do you wear fake nails often?" Reina blurted, deciding on a safe topic. Ai raised an eyebrow, before continuing with her work. Her voice was amused when she did reply, after a moment.
"Do you see me wearing them often?"
Reina cocked her head to one side, considering. "Um, no..."
"There you have it." Ai lowered Reina's hand. "The other one please." Reina obediently extended her other hand.
"Why don't you?" Reina continued, not wanting it to be quiet again. She just wanted to hear Ai's voice, really. It made her feel better.
"They're a pain to remove." Ai paused when she reached the chipped nail, running her thumb down Reina's bruised finger. "And they get in the way when I'm gaming."
Reina couldn't help but laugh at that. "So that's your real reason?!"
"Do you have any idea how difficult it is to press the buttons with nails like that? I prefer to keep mine short." Ai replied just a tad petulantly, taking care not to hurt Reina's fingers as she continued her work.
"I'll take your word for it." Reina chuckled at the idea. Ai really wasn't idol material, despite her natural good looks. Yet despite her careless attitude towards such things, Ai was incredibly serious about her career, and never let her public life cross into her personal one, and vice versa.
Reina watched as Ai carefully applied petroleum jelly to the skin around her nails, the sensation making Reina giggle. Ai pursed her lips in amusement, repeating the gesture for the other hand before gesturing for Reina to dip her fingers into the bowl of nail polish remover Ai had prepared earlier.
"I'll go make something for us to eat." Ai said, preparing to stand while Reina's fingers were still soaking in the bowl. To her surprise, Reina suddenly reached up and grabbed her arm, her fingertips still dripping.
"Ai." The older girl turned back, putting on a smile for Reina, but the younger girl was not fooled. Her grip did not relax on Ai's arm, and her wonky eyes were serious.
"You don't have to pretend it's ok." Reina said seriously, worrying at her lower lip with her teeth as she wondered how best to voice her concerns. "Reina doesn't really know how to help, but if you want to talk, Reina will listen. If you want to cry, it's alright too." Reina lowered her head, scuffing at the floor with her feet. "Reina doesn't want you to be sad, Ai."
Ai blinked back tears at the quiet little speech, touched by Reina's heartfelt concern for her. Swallowing the rising lump in her throat, she sat back down, trying to process her thoughts. Seeing Reina's hand still on hers, Ai carefully pried it off and put it back in the bowl, smiling faintly.
"Reina, I'm alright, really." Ai chose to stare at the clear bowl of nail polish remover instead of Reina's eyes. "I'm glad you're here with me. So, it's ok..."
"Liar."
Ai jerked up at the flat accusation, staring right into Reina's eyes. The yankii's eyes glittered dangerously, her flat gaze penetrating. Ai set her jaw stubbornly, not willing to give in either.
As expected, Reina's temper flared first.
"You're always like that!" Reina exploded, her feelings running haywire. "You never tell me anything, always keeping everything to yourself. You always do everything on your own..." Reina slowed, taking a breath.
"It was the same earlier, wasn't it?" Ai's gaze had dropped slightly, her shoulders squared defensively. Despite that, she still held Reina's hands still in the bowl to prevent the younger girl from taking them out.
"You were just going to let him do whatever he wanted to you..." Reina's voice shook with a strong emotion, barely held in check. "You were never going to tell me if I hadn't heard it myself, weren't you?"
Ai said nothing, but her inability to meet Reina's eyes was an answer in itself. Reina's gaze darted to where Ai still held her hands within the bowl.
"Why are you..." Reina started, halting reflexively for a moment as she struggled to find the right words. "Why don't you ever think of yourself? Why are you so kind to others?" To me, the little voice in Reina's head added.
"I didn't want you to get hurt..." Ai whispered, her voice barely more than a murmur. Her hands were trembling over Reina's, and tears were already building in her eyes.
Reina winced at the broken tone, though it infuriated her at the same time. She just couldn't understand how Ai could be so annoyingly blind and so damn stubborn at the same time.
"You don't get it!" Reina shoved herself upright, shaking free of Ai's hold. "Reina can take care of herself! Reina doesn't need you to protect her! Why can't you just..." Reina gripped the table with one hand, unheeding of the fact that she was dripping nail polish remover all over the place.
Ai bit back a broken sob, her tears falling without restraint now. Reina didn't need her. The fact hurt. She hadn't expected it would hurt this badly. It felt worse than when Yamashita had betrayed her. It was like being rejected all over again.
Ai lowered her head, the tip of her chin almost touching her collarbone. Wrapping her arms around herself, she tried to stop herself from shaking, her fingers digging deeply into the skin of her arms. The pain from that act helped to distract her from the numbing pain she felt within. She dug her fingers in mindlessly, barely aware of the fact that she had drawn blood.
"Stop that!" Reina's voice cut through her miserable haze, and she felt strong hands shaking her shoulders. Ai blinked back tears, her breath coming in shuddering gasps. Reina looked angry, but she was also panicked. Ai calmed briefly, but the dark despair was still there, clawing for a way through. Her eyes were empty as Reina stared into them, trying to find a way to get through to her.
"Why do you keep hurting yourself?" Ai stared blankly, though the pain in Reina's voice seemed to get through to her. Reina breathed in deeply again, struggling to master the mixture of fear and anger within her. Fear for Ai, anger at her own helplessness. She hated to see Ai like this, but she didn't know what to do. It was frustrating, especially for someone like Reina. She wanted to get straight to the point, but the complications made her want to scream.
To hell with the complications. Reina hissed out a long breath, steadying herself.
"Reina hates it when Ai is hurting, ok? Reina doesn't want Ai to be unhappy. Reina is happy when Ai is happy." Reina moved her hands to hold Ai's face up, so that they were looking straight at each other. Ai's lips moved wordlessly, and Reina continued.
"Reina wants Ai to be happy." The yankii closed her eyes and leaned her forehead against Ai's, feeling their breaths mingle at the closeness.
"So, Reina won't let Ai be alone anymore." The words were little more than a whisper, yet Ai could feel the sincerity of the promise. "Reina will make Ai happy again."
"Reina doesn't hate me?" Ai's voice was barely audible, almost too afraid to hope. Reina wrapped her arms around Ai, wanting Ai to understand how much she cared.
"Reina likes Ai best." How could I hate you? Reina thought to herself.
Ai whimpered, her chest heaving painfully. She wanted so badly to just let it all go. Reina sensed it, rubbing the back of Ai's head soothingly.
"It's ok. Reina is here. If you want to cry, just cry."
The floodgates opened. Ai seemed to crumble in an instant, slumping into Reina's embrace as all her defenses fled. Reina held on to Ai fiercely, protectively. She meant every word she said. She wanted Ai to be happy. It upset her to see Ai struggling so hard on her own, never relying on anyone, never showing her inner feelings.
It reminded Reina of something her mother had told her, part of a bedtime story when she was younger.
People are weak, so we need each other to live on in this world. No one is ever strong enough to live on their own, Reina.
Reina had not completely understood what her mother had meant at the time, but being with Ai had helped her begin to understand what it meant to need someone, and now, perhaps, to be needed in return.
It would not be an easy burden for a 15 year old to bear, but Reina was willing to try. Ai was light in her arms, and Reina felt again the same surge of protectiveness she had felt earlier when Yamashita had been with Ai.
Mine. Reina thought possessively, holding Ai more closely to her. Ai sniffled in her arms, mumbling something that Reina had to struggle to hear.
"What?" Reina leaned down to listen. Ai wiped at her eyes with the back of her hand, repeating herself in a hoarse voice.
"Rei...your nails..."
Reina stared at her in disbelief. She snorted, taking in the puffy red eyes and the smeared makeup on Ai's face. Ai looked confused when Reina rapped her sharply on the top of her head.
"Tch, why don't you ever think of yourself?" Ai had the grace to look chastised, rubbing at her head sheepishly.
"But...it's no good for you if you leave it like that..."
Reina rolled her eyes. The girl was beyond hope. How Ai had managed to live on her own all this time was beyond Reina's comprehension. Straightening up with a creak (being bent over for so long was hard on the spine), Reina pulled Ai to her feet as well, shoving the older girl in the general direction of the bathroom.
"Go and wash up. Take a bath while you're at it." Before Ai could interject, Reina continued.
"Yes, I'll finish with the process, so off you go. You look awful." Reina shoved Ai again, making the older girl stumble a little before regaining her balance.
"Are you sure..." Reina glared at her.
"Go. Now." Ai mumbled something to herself, but shuffled obediently towards the bathroom. Reina shook her head, exasperated, and was about to head back to the table when something else occurred to her.
"DON'T YOU DARE BRING YOUR DS INTO THE BATHTUB AGAIN!"
A moment of petulant silence ensued, and Reina could just vaguely hear Ai grumbling to herself. Reina smirked, took another step, before yelling something else for good measure.
"NO PSP EITHER!"
The silence this time was definitely injured, and Reina could practically feel Ai pouting from all the way around the corner near the bathroom. The sound of the bathroom door closing was not quite a slam, but it was a great deal more forceful than usual.
Reina grinned to herself, settling down to dip her fingers back into the bowl. She still felt a little overwhelmed by everything that had happened today, but the memory of Ai looking at her like she was the only thing left that mattered in the world stayed fresh, filling Reina with a glowing warmth at the center of her chest.
Ai... Reina rolled the thought in her mind. There was nothing else she could think of, not right now. Everything else could wait.
It was just them against the world, and Reina was not unwilling to take up the challenge. She smirked to herself.
Bring it on.
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Well that was intense. I am not ashamed to admit I was near tears at some parts (as to which parts, I'm not telling XD). It felt awfully personal in a way. I felt like I could understand. *shrug* I'm supposed to understand anyway. How else would I write them?
But yes, another major step. To those who have read Nanchatte Renai (all of you, I hope...), Reina's outburst here might feel a wee bit familiar. If not, please refer to the second to last chapter (I think) in NR where Reina confronts Ai. Similar feelings held pent up, and it all has to go somewhere. I'm just letting it happen sooner here. It's better for them to have their confrontations now instead of letting the problems fester at any rate. XD
So yup. I hope everyone enjoys the chapter!
EDIT: Lol kRisZ, congrats on your wedge! :D
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:O :shocked Now I'm starting to get a little scared that all this updating is to make up for a lengthy drought to follow :sweatdrop:
(You wouldn't do, right? You'll keep it up and update again....soon enough, right? :D)
So, they're um, uh, official now? XD This sleepover is getting juicer now... :twisted:
Starting to wonder where/how Gaki comes into this. Maybe Ai will make a different decision in Destiny Love? I almost want Gaki to make her entrance just to see her part over and done with before ReinAi are able to live happily ever after :P
(That Yamashita better not try to hurt ReinAi :angry: )
Oh, and:
Ai mumbled something to herself, but shuffled obediently towards the bathroom. Reina shook her head, exasperated, and was about to head back to the table when something else occurred to her.
"DON'T YOU DARE BRING YOUR DS INTO THE BATHTUB AGAIN!"
A moment of petulant silence ensued, and Reina could just vaguely hear Ai grumbling to herself. Reina smirked, took another step, before yelling something else for good measure.
"NO PSP EITHER!"
The silence this time was definitely injured, and Reina could practically feel Ai pouting from all the way around the corner near the bathroom. The sound of the bathroom door closing was not quite a slam, but it was a great deal more forceful than usual.
Could this pair get any dorkier? XD
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The first few lines I forgot Ai was being abused by that BASTARD :mon fierce: and Reina saw Ai's concealed emotions, ain't that lovely :wub:
People are weak, so we need each other to live on in this world. No one is ever strong enough to live on their own, Reina.
So true.
I love the shoving part and the no PSP/DS part, very cute XD
The transition from the nails to the serious matter and to the funny part is very :twothumbs
EDIT: :shakeit: getz :shakeit:
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I hereby pledged guilty that i have been lurking around here for quite sometime cause I'm lazy~ XD Owe you an ice cream~ :D
Give me some time okay?
I'll be back! :D
but anyway...
*Throws durians at JUN~*
^ by chance it was related to Jun2 hence the name? Coz she pops out in my mind~ haha~
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Man, you really did cure your writer's block! Of course I was worried, you don't call, you don't write, how else am I supposed to feel?! XD J/k j/k
Once again a work of genius from you, this chapter is. The use of the nails by Ai to try and hide was clever, but Reina saw right through her. And, as KZ mentioned, the transition between the uncomfortable silence, to the serious talks, to Reina lightening the mood was great.
Fluffy fluff next time?
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reina seems wise beyond her years, something aichan needs right now. you better not screw their budding relationship up, or i'ma be mad! :P
but yeah, i see what you man about this chapter being intense. in a way, i'm alot like aichan in this story, but i act like reina to cover all that up. naw mean?
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I know I should've mentioned this earlier -- but this is the first time I've seen you churn out so many chapters at once! You even updated while I was away, busy and getting super pissed off over a write-up for my school project (despite the LARGE amount of time I was given to work on it, I decided to do it a few days before it's deadline. 'Cause, y'know, being a procrastinator and all...) The last two chapters you posted are sort of like my prize for all the hard work I did yesterday, lol. Now, onto my review! Or is it reviews?
You and I
REINA, YES! GO SHOW HIM, GIRL! WOOOOOOT! I'm kind of bummed that she didn't use her claws to scratch all over his jerk-face, or kick his most precious, but I'm pretty satisfied with what she did. Yamashita better be out cold for a while. A long, long while. And lose his memory, if that's even possible.
I'm quite surprised that Aichan didn't even seem THAT affected after the encounter with her ex-boyfriend. Especially since she was almost sexually assaulted there! I was seriously expecting her to turn all teary-eyed and super clingy around the heroic kitten; but then again, I don't think she wants to show her vulnerable and weak side to Reina. Being the eldest and somewhat like a guardian to the girl, it only makes sense that she forces herself to appear strong and not show any signs of vulnerability around Reina.
That Which Binds Us
This chapter was quite bittersweet, with a touch of humor here and there.
I'm glad Reina had that outburst. If it wasn't for her straightforward personality, I doubt Aichan would've learned anything from the incident (aside from the fact that her junior could deliver some pretty sick heel on the head.) It may be a bit harsh on Aichan's part, but it's exactly what she needed to hear. She couldn't just keep playing as Reina's knight-in-shining-armor -- sure, it's swoon-worthy and it's technically her job as the eldest of the two of them, but she needed to know that the kitten is capable of looking after herself AND Aichan too, if her heroic moment in the previous chapter was any indication. Gosh, she could be pretty damn blind, lol. I'm glad Reina was able to coax Aichan out of her thick shell, though. I was like, "YES! FINALLY!" with tears of joy when Aichan broke down in Reina's arms. It sounds kind of mean if taken out of context, but you know what I'm talking about!
The ending was pretty awesome. Poor Aichan. She at least deserves some time alone with her precious video games after such an intense night. :lol:
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:shocked MOREEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE?! :w00t: :bow:
WOW, this chapter was really intense. It touched me very deeply. :on speedy:
Reina was so damn right about what she said to Ai-chan!!
I know it hurts, Ai-chan. But it's the truth. You never think about yourself!!! It's nice, but it's wrong!!! :mon annoy: Baka Ai-chan. :banghead: XD!
But I love her anyway... :luvluv2:
"Reina hates it when Ai is hurting, ok? Reina doesn't want Ai to be unhappy. Reina is happy when Ai is happy." Reina moved her hands to hold Ai's face up, so that they were looking straight at each other. Ai's lips moved wordlessly, and Reina continued.
"Reina wants Ai to be happy." The yankii closed her eyes and leaned her forehead against Ai's, feeling their breaths mingle at the closeness.
"So, Reina won't let Ai be alone anymore." The words were little more than a whisper, yet Ai could feel the sincerity of the promise. "Reina will make Ai happy again."
"Reina doesn't hate me?" Ai's voice was barely audible, almost too afraid to hope. Reina wrapped her arms around Ai, wanting Ai to understand how much she cared.
"Reina likes Ai best." How could I hate you? Reina thought to herself.
:mon inluv: Reina is such a sweet girl.
And Ai-chan...BAKA! :mon cheek:
Mine. Reina thought possessively, holding Ai more closely to her.
:onionwhip: That's so truth!! She's yours, Reina-sama!!! :gmon fry:
"DON'T YOU DARE BRING YOUR DS INTO THE BATHTUB AGAIN!"
A moment of petulant silence ensued, and Reina could just vaguely hear Ai grumbling to herself. Reina smirked, took another step, before yelling something else for good measure.
"NO PSP EITHER!"
:mon mad:---> Reina-sama
:mon yell:---> Baka Ai-chan
Hahahaha The end was really hilarious. I love it!! :heart:
Destiny Love really makes me happy, today in the morning I was reading it in class (a class that I hate) XD and then I was happy all day!! :on gay: :on gay: :on gay:
:tama-lotsaluv: Thank You Very Very Much!!!! :tama-lotsaluv:
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Omgass, gamer Ai! lol I love how you brought that in. :D
I'm still blaming you for updating mestermind. Fanfics won't run away, but at the rate you updating, how am I suppose to comment after each chapter if I don't read it right then and there? It's only cuz I want to read your reply comments. >.> lol
I don't see any lemony fluff here... maybe a little "awwww" fluff, but not the amount of fluff I was looking for. I'm expecting the next chapter to have more fluff now they worked out some of their issues and hopefully turn the apartment hawt.
How fitting at the end with the bathtub. We should have Reinai or maybe just Ai join the crew of S.S. Dorks. They/She would fit right in. :P Oh yeah, gotta tell Commie....
*collapses on bed hacking*
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Oh my!! :wriggly:
I'm...I just....I mean....I ..... GAH!!! :mon inluv:
I'm totally speechless about this chapter. :love:
It's just so adorable/intense/sad/beautiful/AWESOME!!!!!!
lol I wish I had a better comment, but I can't get over how great your writing is :wub:
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nuts, i thought there was a new chapter. :(
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I'm back! Tired...need sleep...
Comment replies first.
aussie: This soon enough for you? :P I wouldn't say they're official yet. They've deepened their friendship, but there has been no mushy love confession yet (though I suppose it was very very close to one). Gaki's entrance will come in time. XD The time isn't right yet you see. :P And well, part of the joy of this couple is their dorkiness together. :heart:
kRisZ: I like how Reina saw through Ai too. :heart: Yeah, they're cute aren't they? :D And congrats on getting a new page lol.
stinky: Mom bought me an ice cream, so therefore you don't owe me any ice cream. :P I expect a nice fat comment some day. Haha. You can think that the Jun guy is related to Jun2 if it makes you happy. Lol.
rndm: Haha! XD I'm glad you liked the transitions. I was worried it was too abrupt at first, but I tried my best to make sure it worked. It's good to see that it did seem to work. :) Fluffy fluff? From me? :D I'll try.
Glasseyelashes: Dude, I've been trying to rescue ReinAi using this story. I won't screw it up lol. And yes, I know what you mean. Haha.
Bubbles: Lol, you should have seen me in my early fic days here. :P 11 chapters in 2 weeks. That was particularly insane, but then again I can be pretty crazy at times. And lol, I hope you do well for your project! I'm glad those chapters could serve as a reward for you lol. Y'know, I'm tempted to make life worse for Yamashita, and I will, eventually. XD Just, not yet. Lol. But yeah, Ai's lack of reaction has a great deal to do with how she just seals everything up inside and doesn't show what she really thinks or feels to others, so you're right about that. It's something she definitely has to work on. Yeah, Reina's outburst was timely. Ai definitely needed to hear something like that, or she wouldn't change her thinking. Stubborn girl, that. But yeah, poor Aichan. Reina bullies her a lot when she can. :P But Ai would have it no other way! XD
kame_eririn: We all love baka Aichan. :heart: I find it amusing that the monkey emoticons really suit Aichan. XDDD Definitely a monkey huh...lol. I'm glad I could make you happy with my writing! :D
Fen: Gamer Ai pwns! :D Aww Fenfen, I didn't know you loved reading my comment replies. :P There, I gave you a few days to recover this time. Feel better soon ok? Why does everyone want hawt action right away? :lol: Sheesh. XD Oh well, this is JPHiP after all. Can't expect anything less. Heh. XD
Swtme03: Haha thanks. It's ok to have a fangirl reaction. ReinAi is awesome after all. :D
Hokay, time to edit and post.
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All In Good Time
Slumping into the water, Ai allowed herself to slide down until the water lapped at her chin. Closing her eyes , she leaned her head back to rest on the edge of the bathtub, letting the hot water relax her body.
There was nothing more relaxing than a soak in the tub, and Ai could feel the knots in her muscles loosening. Her breaths became long and deep, her mind following the calming rhythms.
It felt a little strange not to have something other than her private thoughts to occupy herself while in the bathtub. She had become used to either reading scripts or gaming while doing so, never allowing her mind to remain idle. It was oddly pleasant to have her mind empty itself, neither feeling or thinking, suspended in a single moment.
Such moments of peace were few and far between, and Ai cherished them. More often than not, her thoughts were always a whirl of activity. The things she had to do, the things she planned to do, hundreds of different little details crowding in her mind, all clamouring to be heard. Gaming helped to banish those persistent little voices by giving her something else to focus on. Speaking of which, she was getting close to beating Tactics, and she couldn't believe Reina had forbidden her from bringing her DS in. The nerve.
The thought made her smile, unconsciously. Her languid thoughts shifted easily over to the pint-sized kitten that had insinuated herself into her life. Her chest tightened again at the memory of Reina coming to her defense earlier. She had been terrified when Reina appeared then. Afraid of what Reina would think. Afraid of how Reina would look at her.
But Reina had not looked at her disgust, or even pity. Reina had protected her. The memory brought a warm feeling to her heart. Despite how weak she had been, how weak she still was, Reina had still come for her. Ai could not imagine why anyone would, but the fact remained that Reina was there for her when she had been all alone.
I really don't deserve her. The thought made Ai's forehead crease, and she brought her knees up, hugging them to her chest. Reina was so full of life and energy, and Ai felt boring in comparison to her. She could not imagine why Reina continued to be with her when she could be out with other more interesting company. Even though I want her by my side.
The thought made her go still. It was true. Ai felt a strong urge to protect Reina, and more than that, to bind the younger girl by her side. The impulse was powerful, and Ai lowered her head, her cheeks burning. She didn't want to let go of Reina at all, like a child never wanting to let go of their favorite toy. She clenched her fists at her sides. That couldn't be right. Reina was a person, not a toy. Ai had no rights, none at all, to keep her by her side. The thought stung, but Ai couldn't quite banish the selfish thoughts from her mind. It shamed her to feel that way. Reina really deserves someone better than me.
Reina's outburst came back to her. Ai rested her chin on her knees, staring at the bubbles on the surface of the water. The things Reina said earlier had a powerful impact on her. Reina's anger and sadness because of Ai's actions made the older girl feel ashamed of herself. She wanted Reina to be happy, but it seemed to Ai that she just didn't know how to make the younger girl happy.
To think of myself...? Ai struggled with the concept. It was hard. It was easier to focus on other things. The last time she had seriously thought of what she wanted, she had ended up leaving home and coming to the city to pursue her dream. Even now, she occasionally still felt a twinge of guilt at the way she left, but refused to regret it. She had made a decision and would stick by it, come hell or high water. It was the way she was.
Ai had once felt like she would never think of others again after her failed relatioship with Yamashita. Reina had changed that though. Reina made her smile again, really smile, not the fake ones she put on for the camera. It made her happy to see Reina happy, and in that she felt like she could sort of understand what Reina meant when she said she wanted her to be happy. To know that Reina cared for her so much was a joy in itself.
Still, it was inconceivable that anyone could accept her as she was. Ai struggled with old memories as they surfaced. She wanted to be a better person, but her past gave her nightmares of her own making. Her failures tore at her; the worst of which, of course, had been her association with Yamashita. She still regretted it, blaming herself for being so foolish. These little things ate at her, preying on what little self-confidence she possessed, until she was far happier when she was not herself.
It was in part because of this that she enjoyed theater. There, on stage, she could be any number of things, anything but herself. The masks she could put on there liberated her, freeing her from being, well, herself. Ai could feel in control there, instead of being her weak self.
That was what felt the strangest when she was with Reina. Ai pushed herself hard in all things, striving to eliminate the weak parts of herself, enduring anything in order to burn away those weaknesses she saw in herself. There were still far too many, but Ai was nothing if not persistent. With Reina though, Ai sometimes found herself slipping a little, relaxing and just goofing off to do something silly with the younger girl. Despite her desperate need to be seen as an 'adult', Ai had been surprised to find that it was fun to just play and act like a kid.
Ai knew she was often too serious, an observation many had made of her. She never had a problem with that before, since she felt like it was only right to be serious for work. Finding that she could still be as childish as her age evidently allowed came as a surprise, and that was one of the more important things Reina had given her.
The thought made her smile wryly. Younger though Reina might be, it seemed that Ai still had to learn from the younger girl. Her pride prickled a little at that, but Ai did not let it bother her too much. She always had more to learn. The perfectionist in Ai would never stop seeking to better herself. There was always room for improvement.
It seemed like an age as her thoughts worked themselves through, and Ai's skin was starting to get pruney by the time she finally heaved herself out of the tub, still dripping. Reaching for a towel, Ai winced when she brushed against the nail marks on her arms. That had been a stupid thing to do earlier, but she hadn't been thinking straight then.
Even as she spaced out in front of the mirror, her hands working automatically with towel to dry herself, her stomach growled. Ai flushed, though there was no one around to witness it. She would have to do something about dinner soon.
It was only when she reached out for something to put on when she realized that in her rush to the bathroom earlier, she had completely forgotten to bring a set of clothes in.
Well, darn. Ai frowned briefly, then shrugged. The towel would serve until she could get to her room. With that in mind, she gave no more thought to the situation and stepped outside.
~*~*~
Reina was bored. Even without a game system to entertain herself in the bathroom, Ai still enjoyed taking her time in there. After Reina had successfully ridden herself of the fake nails and even cleaned up the mess, the yankii girl found herself with nothing to do for a good bit.
Then again, it only took all of 5 minutes for her to start feeling bored, so it was really her own fault. Reina's mind was not really on the drama playing on the television. It kept straying to the girl in the bathroom, and Reina sucked nervously on her thumb.
Something had changed between them, Reina was certain. She couldn't quite put a finger on it, but it was just different. Reina was fairly sure that none of her friends made her feel so strongly for them. She would back any one of them up anytime, but with Ai, it felt so much more intense. The thought of anyone hurting Ai infuriated her, and it tore Reina apart whenever Ai was in pain. Reina had never been good with crying people, but Ai crying really messed her up.
All this thinking was making her confused, and Reina hated that. If she didn't already like Ai so much, she might have been cross at the older girl for making her head hurt like that. Reina preferred it when things were laid out clearly in the open. All these mixed signals and strange feelings made Reina want to scream. If she had a clear idea what all this was, she could at least do something about it. The way things stood, she didn't even know how to approach the issue, and that bothered her. Reina was not made for inaction.
Let's see. Ai is important to me. Reina started off with the first certainty, ticking off one point on her fingers. She hesitated, considering the next point.
I want Ai to be happy. The next point, ticked off decisively. Reina paused again. She didn't particularly know how to continue from there. The two points she had were correct, of course. As to where that led to, she wasn't sure.
You like her. Fuji's voice echoed in her head. Reina scowled, her cheeks flushing lightly. Of course she liked Ai! Ai was her friend! An important friend, Reina added to herself. It was normal to like your friends, Reina reasoned.
Her stomach growled, reminding Reina that she had yet to have dinner. The kitty frowned. Ai would have to be hungry too, and it would still be some time before the girl came out of the bathroom. Reina made her up her mind in an instant, leaping up from the couch.
When Ai finally did wander out, she saw Reina busy in her kitchen, dilligently making a simple dinner with whatever was in her fridge. The sight made her smile, and a mischievous thought slipped into her head.
To think was to act, and Ai stole closer to Reina, taking advantage of the younger girl's distraction to sneak right up to her back. A quick glance ascertained that Reina was not handling anything hot or sharp at the moment, and Ai grinned briefly to herself before breathing right into Reina's ear.
"Rei~"
"Kyaa!" Reina dropped the onigiri she was making, jumping in her surprise. Ai laughed behind her, snorting hard in a most unladylike fashion. Reina growled, turning on the older girl.
"Don't do that!" Reina had her hands on her hips, the perfect picture of indignation...at least until she took in the fact that Ai was only clad in a towel and precious little else. Her face turned red, though if anyone pointed it out to her, she would probably vehemently deny it.
Ai was still giggling, hardly aware of Reina's state. Having grown up with a younger sister, Ai had very little discomfort about her current state of undress. It wasn't like she was completely naked after all. There was a towel in the way.
"Get dressed!" Reina ordered, trying to hide her moment of distress with a display of anger. Throwing a tantrum was always an option for the spoiled only child she was, and Reina had turned her back on Ai when the older girl quite suddenly wrapped her arms in a loose embrace around Reina's neck, making the younger girl freeze.
"Reina's such a good girl~" Ai chuckled, leaning her chin on Reina's shoulder. "Thanks for making dinner."
"Y-you're welcome." Reina stuttered briefly, feeling Ai's closeness to her. To hide her sudden nervousness, the kitten continued on irritably.
"Go put on some clothes before you catch a cold!"
Ai laughed and pulled away, but not before reaching up with a finger to flick off a grain of rice that had ended up on Reina's face earlier, putting the grain into her mouth with a flourish. Reina saw it out of the corner of her eye and flushed harder, though she stubbornly refused to turn around. Ai chuckled again.
"You look adorable in an apron!" Ai called out before darting quickly away to her room, her laughter ringing in Reina's ears. The poor kitten was already blushing down to the roots of her hair, and she wasn't even sure why.
This is all Ai's fault. Reina asserted to herself. That woman was way too confusing for her own good. Satisfied with that explanation, Reina conveniently avoided thinking further on the topic.
After all, for all of her apparent maturity, Reina was only 15 years old. Some realizations would not come easily, if at all.
For now, perhaps it would be enough to be innocently happy. There would be time enough for other things, all in good time.
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Still postponing on the fluff. XD Sorry guys, but they gotta take it slow for now. Happens when you have two stubborn people in the equation. :P
And now I sleep!
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i lurk way to much xDDD i need to stop lol
ubber cute chapy essy~ X3 i love how it kinda starts serious only to end ubber cute X3 keep it up!
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I was going to say something about the lack of true fluff, but then I came to an important realization. Reina's 15! I mean, I knew it, you've mentioned her age several times, but I don't think it quite registered until she was faced with a towel clad Ai and could do nothing but blush. And just how old is Ai in this? Do they still have the same age difference? I can't remember off the top of my head if you said her age or not. But, cute, Reina blushing and Ai being innocently oblivious.
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This was cute chapter. :heart: Though the starts kinda serious.
Aichan is an enigma. XD Why she can't just admits that she needs (and loves) Reina without thinking too much? It would make everything more simple and easy. But Ai in your stories always so complicated. :P I still love her nevertheles. :wub:
It's obvious how ReinAi meant to each other. I wish they'll take the next step and become couple soon. :D
Waiting for more... :bow:
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You just love putting yourself into Ai's head, don't you? :P And for a good while too...
Poor Ai thinking so little of herself. It really caught me in that paragraph where she was thinking about how she didn't want Reina to see her in that position with Yamashita, because she was afraid Reina would see her as weak... It's so completely the opposite though! What she was about to do for Reina's sake was a thing that would take incredible strength, and that very few, rare people would be brave enough for. Is it the right and best way to handle it? Maybe not. But it's still incredibly courageous self-sacrifice for another.
There's definitely a contrast in personalities when you switch perspectives like you did in this chapter. But I suppose we know that well by now, huh? And wasn't it 15-year-olds that Ai was messing around with in NR? I have a feeling there's some symbolism there with the history of that story. Something that, perhaps, shows a marked difference between that and your Destiny Love right here...
Still, we can have some (more or less) innocent fluff for now, can't we? :hee:
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That's right, I keep forgetting Reina is only 15 in the story :nervous
Still, I wouldn't object to some hawt action between the pair :onionwhip:
(At least a kiss somewhere :kekeke: )
I recognise some of the same tensions Aichan went through in NR, how she didn't feel she deserved Reina or could make her happy and kept trying to push her away (with disastrous results). I guess her fears showed in this chapter of how she expected Reina to have perceived that little scene with Yamashita was exactly how the 15-year-old Reina reacted in NR - disgust, contempt, and maybe even disappointment?
Fortunate how this incident helped bridge the gap between the pair to become even closer in Destiny Love. An incident that was the first source of friction and mixed signals in NR turns around to serve a better purpose here. I likey.
Now to the fluff. As I recall, the 'mandatory' 10 chapters of fluff hasn't been filled yet :P
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I came to an important realization. Reina's 15! I mean, I knew it, you've mentioned her age several times, but I don't think it quite registered until she was faced with a towel clad Ai and could do nothing but blush.
i think anybody, at any age, would blush at the sight of aichan wearing nothing but a towel.
but yeah, another awesome chapter! i swear, it's like i'm reading a movie!
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Well, I can see why you want to slap Ai silly when you were writing this. I kinda just want to slap her and tell her to go make out with Reina already! XD
And you such a tease. Making Ai only be dressed in a towel. So tempting.... This is JPHiP after all. lol
I take great pleasure in reading your comments which is why I try to reply after each chapter. Thanks for the few days break. I am feeling better, but there's just this scratchy lump in my throat that just won't go away! D: So annoying. orz
I can't remember if I ever finished tactics. XD I don't think I ever did.... >.>
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:inlove: :heart: :heart: :heart:
With this chapter I reconciled with Ai-chan!!! YAY!!!!
"Get dressed!" Reina ordered, trying to hide her moment of distress with a display of anger. Throwing a tantrum was always an option for the spoiled only child she was, and Reina had turned her back on Ai when the older girl quite suddenly wrapped her arms in a loose embrace around Reina's neck, making the younger girl freeze.
"Reina's such a good girl~" Ai chuckled, leaning her chin on Reina's shoulder. "Thanks for making dinner."
"Y-you're welcome." Reina stuttered briefly, feeling Ai's closeness to her. To hide her sudden nervousness, the kitten continued on irritably.
"Go put on some clothes before you catch a cold!"
Ai laughed and pulled away, but not before reaching up with a finger to flick off a grain of rice that had ended up on Reina's face earlier, putting the grain into her mouth with a flourish. Reina saw it out of the corner of her eye and flushed harder, though she stubbornly refused to turn around. Ai chuckled again.
"You look adorable in an apron!" Ai called out before darting quickly away to her room, her laughter ringing in Reina's ears. The poor kitten was already blushing down to the roots of her hair, and she wasn't even sure why.
Muahahahahahahahahahahhaha Poor and helpless kitten!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Baka and sexy Monkey Ai-chan It's too much for you? :mon evillaff:
That was really nice!!
This chapter was much more joyful!! :mon fyeah: and...romantic? Well, not really...
Hot?...mmm....ADORABLE!! :w00t: XD!!
And Ai-chan, stop thinking too much, it damages your brain
You have to be a good Monkey!! :monk gboy:
Thanks Estrea-sama!! :gmon love2: You're such a ReinAi Master!! XD
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Woohoo, I'm back! Anyone miss me? XD
Comment replies first~
kawaii beam: Yes you should stop lurking. :P More cuteness coming up!
rndm: More fluff here, but yes, little Reina is little. Seriously though, who wouldn't blush when faced with a towel-clad Ai? XD Her lack of action merely speaks of inexperience. :P But yes, they still have the same age difference, so Ai is currently 18. Aren't they adorable together? XD
Aisacchan: Yeah Aichan thinks too much. XD But she wouldn't be Aichan otherwise. :D I love making her complicated. :heart: But yeah, ReinAi. <3
rokun: I knew you'd spot my self-insertion. :P You're the only one who knows anyway... But yeah, Ai's perception of herself is a little skewed, so while what she would have done was incredibly brave, she can't help but think of the negative side of things. Hehe. But I like how Reina acts as a foil for her, being so different. I like your theory about the 15 year olds. :P It's something you would notice. XD More innocent fluff coming up!
aussie: Hawt action? Hmmm. I'll think about it. XD But yes, Ai is still very much the same person she was in NR, well, before events warped her further anyway. At the root were these insecurities, and some things just don't change. At least they are dealt more positively here though. And you're right, the Reina in NR did react negatively since she wasn't able to see the whole Yamashita scene in context, which was what negatively reinforced Ai's behavior as well. Amazing how a few minutes can change the entire course of their lives. XD More fluff coming up!
Glasseyelashes: I agree. Ai in a towel is the perfect wet dream...ahem. >_> Yes. I'm glad you like my story!
Fen: Haha it's a little premature for them to be making out. :P Hehe I just liked giving you guys that kind of mental image. :P Good to hear you're feeling better. Drink honey water! It might soothe your throat. And you didn't finish tactics? Shame on you! :P
kame_eririn: I think Ai switching between baka and sexy modes would explode any normal person's brain. :P Adorable is right. :D You see, Ai's a monkey so she's restless. :P And thanks for the compliment. :D
Ok and time to edit and post~
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It Takes Two
"Reina! You should dry your hair properly!"
Ai gave Reina a disapproving look, but the younger girl simply ignored it, flopping onto the rug in front of the coffee table, hair still dripping from the quick shower she had just taken. Ai shook her head, putting down her book and reaching for the towel that still hung around Reina's neck.
"You'll get a headache if you don't dry your hair." Ai admonished, starting to rub the towel into the damp mass of hair. Reina leaned back obligingly, scooting up to sit between Ai's legs, her back against the couch. She purred as Ai kneaded her scalp while she was at it, a pleased little grin on her face.
"I don't have to do it if you do it for me." Reina answered, closing her eyes to enjoy the impromptu massage Ai was giving her. Ai sighed, raising her eyes to the ceiling.
"You're just taking advantage of me, aren't you?!" Reina did not deny it, her lips curving further to show her glee. Ai snorted, but did not stop until Reina's hair was more or less dry again. Reina rubbed her cheek against the inside of Ai's thigh, purring in thanks.
"You're such a brat." Ai said, but she was smiling. Reina smirked, leaning her head against Ai's knee and looping an arm around the lower leg. Ai giggled as Reina deliberately ran her fingers lightly along Ai's calves, tickling her.
"Stop that!" Ai squealed, reaching down to grab Reina. They ended up rolling around on the rug, Ai trying to tickle Reina back and Reina trying to get away. It finally ended when Reina hit her shoulder against the coffee table, making her wince. When Ai tried to examine the bruise, Reina took the opportunity and rolled Ai over, sitting squarely on the older girl's back in triumph.
"Yatta! I win~" Reina cheered like a little kid, making Ai smile despite her current position. Reina leaned down, nuzzling against the back of Ai's neck as the older girl relaxed on the ground, stretching fully.
"Ne, Reina?" Reina made a non-committal sound, fully content to lie on top of Ai for the time being. Ai nudged her with an elbow.
"Get off, you're heavy." Reina growled at that, poking at the ticklish part of Ai's back, making the older girl squirm under her.
"Don't wanna~" Ai grumbled under her breath, but didn't protest further. Reina lay face down on Ai, using her back as a pillow.
"Ai?" Reina said after a moment. Ai made a muffled sound, eyeing her book that was just out of reach. Reina rapped the back of Ai's head sharply, making the older girl grunt.
"What's that for?" Ai complained, pouting. Reina idly drew circles on Ai's back with a finger.
"You weren't paying attention." Reina said sweetly. She pressed her face into the crook of Ai's neck, breathing in deeply. Ai shifted uneasily. Reina's breath was tickling her neck.
"So how long did you date him for?" Reina said suddenly. Ai tensed underneath her, but Reina did not seem ready to move off any time soon. Ai sighed. She didn't really want to talk about it.
"Well?" Reina prodded her again. She hadn't really wanted to ruin the relaxed atmosphere with the question, but it had been itching at her all evening.
"6 months." And 5 days, 10 hours, and 32 minutes. Ai added in her head. She hadn't intended to keep track, but somehow it had stuck. Yamashita was her first boyfriend, even though he turned out to be a complete jerk. After such an experience, Ai wasn't sure if she wanted to date anyone in the near future.
Reina was silent for a moment, so still on Ai's back that the older girl thought that she had fallen asleep. Just to keep the conversation going, and because she was sort of curious too, Ai asked tentatively.
"Have you ever had a boyfriend?"
Reina twitched a little at that. Playing with the strands of Ai's long hair, she replied.
"Nope, Fuji and the guys always chased off anyone who tried to hit on me." She shrugged. Somehow, having a whole gang of overprotective male friends had pretty much reduced the number of prospective suitors to nil. Ai chuckled.
"Maybe some of them like you."
Reina stared for a moment, then burst out laughing. Curious, Ai turned her head around to look at the hysterical kitten on her back.
"Are you serious? No way! They're like brothers to me!" Reina spluttered in between fits of laughter, kicking her legs against Ai's.
"I was talking about how they might feel about you, not how you feel about them." Ai pointed out. Reina stopped laughing, tilting her head in thought. She shuddered after a moment, making a face.
"Ew." Reina jabbed Ai in the side when the older girl started laughing at her. "Stop that, it's not funny!"
"Is it that bad?" Ai asked curiously. Reina frowned.
"Well...they're not such bad guys, but dating them?" Reina repressed a shudder again. "I wouldn't date Fuji in a million years. He's a great guy, but just...no."
"What's so bad about him?" Ai had heard Reina mention her group of friends before, but this was the first time they had girl talk of this kind. For whatever reason, the topic of boys had never come up before. At any rate, Ai was just glad to be talking about something else other than her own misadventures when it came to that topic.
Reina finally rolled off Ai, sprawling comfortably on the fluffy rug. The two girls lay next to each other, though Ai had turned on her side to watch Reina. The kitten shifted onto her back, staring up at the ceiling.
"Fuji's a flirt." Reina said bluntly. "He changes girlfriends every other week, and he's always looking at other girls even when he's attached. He's really nice to me because I'm like a little sister to him, but he's not boyfriend material."
"I see." Ai nodded, putting that little tidbit of information aside. "What about the others?"
Reina thought about it. "Hmm, Ishihara's a joker. He's fun to hang out with I guess, and he makes me laugh." She shrugged then. "I wouldn't mind going out with someone like that, but, well, he's Ishihara." Reina paused. "Besides, I think he's gay."
"Ehhh????" Ai spluttered, almost sitting up in shock. She had felt a little uneasy when Reina admitted that she wouldn't mind dating the guy, but the last bit was surprising. Reina laughed.
"It's not such a big deal. He doesn't talk about it or do anything around us, so I'm not sure, but I have a feeling he is." Reina smirked. "Besides, I'm not sure if I want to date a guy who spends more time on his hair than even I do for my own."
Ai giggled nervously at that, twirling the ends of her hair with a finger. She waited, and true to expectations, Reina continued, obviously still intrigued by the topic Ai had brought up.
"Yabara..." Reina paused. "He's really kind to me. When I'm upset, he always tries to cheer me up." Reina smiled. "He's a nice guy."
Ai watched Reina closely. For some reason, the feeling of unease was growing again. Carefully, Ai asked.
"So you would date someone like him?"
Reina thought about it. "Well, he's nice, he's funny, he treats me well...and he's taller than me." She shrugged. "Why not?"
"Ah." Ai flopped onto her belly, burying her face in her arms to keep Reina from seeing the change in her expression. For some reason, it was both depressing and irritating to hear Reina say something like that.
"That's good I guess..." Ai mumbled, feeling like she should say something nice about the situation. Next to her, Reina shifted closer.
"What about you? What kind of guy would you like?"
Ai muttered something that sounded suspiciously like "anyone but Yamashita". Reina nudged her again for an answer. Ai grumbled under her breath.
"I don't know." She admitted. She had never seriously thought about her criteria before. With Yamashita, she had just gone along with the flow of events somehow. She liked him because he was nice, and she had been lonely.
Reina gave her a look. "Don't tell me you've never dated anyone before that bastard."
Ai looked down. Reina clapped a hand to her forehead dramatically. Ai glared at her.
"It's not like you've dated anyone either!"
"Yeah but I'm younger than you~" Reina stuck her tongue out at Ai, who returned the gesture just as childishly. They held the pose for a moment, before both of them cracked up.
"Seriously though, what would you like?" Reina asked, after recovering from the impromptu laughing session. Ai rolled onto her back, considering.
"I think I'll settle for someone who isn't a jerk." She said solemnly after some thought, making Reina snort in response, punching her shoulder lightly. "Ow."
"You should aim for better, silly." Reina scolded her, taking the opportunity to cuddle close and resting her head on Ai's chest. Ai chuckled deeply, the sound vibrating in her lungs.
"It's not like I have the time to date now, anyway. Work is more important." Her tone was serious. She ruffled Reina's hair with one hand, stroking the younger girl's head as one would pat a kitten. Reina purred, pleased by the attention, though her fingers played restlessly with the hem of the oversized top Ai was wearing.
"You have time for me~" Reina taunted, shifting to flop over Ai's belly while looking up at the older girl. Ai pushed a finger into Reina's forehead, making the already wonky eyes cross further.
"That's because you're really clingy." Ai teased. Reina blew a raspberry at her before finally grabbing hold of Ai's finger, pretending to bite down on it. Ai watched, amused as Reina pretended to attack her hand like it was separate creature.
"Am not!" Reina shot back, still mock-wrestling with Ai's hand. Caught up in the game, Ai let Reina tug on her arm, before changing her mind and sitting up straight in an instant. Off balance, Reina fell over on Ai's lap. She was about to get up when Ai deliberately rested her elbows on her back, pinning the kitten down.
"Hey! Get off!" Reina thrashed wildly. Ai tutted disapprovingly, poking the back of Reina's head. Reina pouted, making Ai smile in response.
"That's for sitting on me just now." Ai said serenely. She pondered for a moment. "Now how should I punish you for using me for a pillow the whole time?"
"Not my fault you're comfortable!" Reina argued, arching her back and trying to push herself off. It failed when Ai simply leaned her weight down on her elbows, making Reina go 'oof' and fall back down to her starting position.
"You're heavy..." Reina whined, hoping that pity would make Ai release her quicker. Ai was not impressed.
"Are you saying I'm fat?" Ai pretended to be insulted, slapping Reina's butt with one hand while her other elbow remained to pin the active kitten down. Reina squealed suddenly, then tried to muffle the sound in her hands. Ai raised an eyebrow, then repeated the action quite deliberately. Reina squirmed under her, another muffled squeak coming through her hands. Ai grinned suddenly as she realized another spot she could take advantage of.
Reina burrowed her face into Ai's stomach, gasping when Ai did in fact spank her lightly. After a few light whacks, Reina was a flushed mess, her hands tugging on Ai's shirt, crumpling it. Ai stopped, concerned.
"I didn't hit you that hard..." Reina mumbled something incoherent. Ai rubbed Reina's butt soothingly, feeling the girl on her lap tremble at the action.
"Stop molesting me!" Reina complained, turning her head up to glare at Ai, who blushed at the accusation.
"I'm not!" Ai leaned back, letting go of Reina in the process.
"It's sexual harrassment!" Reina pushed on gleefully, getting up to sit on Ai's lap, prodding the older girl's shoulder accusingly. "I'm underage too!"
"So it's ok if you're of age?" Ai shot back thoughtlessly. Reina stopped in mid-poke as the world ground to a halt around them.
Silence. Reina reacted first, blushing heavily for reasons she refused to contemplate. Snapping a quick "baka!" at Ai, she scrambled off the older girl, hopping back onto the couch to hide her embarrassment. Ai stared blankly at her for a moment, her cheeks tinted pink.
After a moment, Ai crawled up next to Reina, making puppy eyes at the younger girl, who was steadfastly staring at the tv screen.
"Reina?" The kitten ignored her. Ai bumped her shoulder against her. "Rei~"
"Since when did you start calling me that?" Reina mumbled, her hands tight around the remote control. Ai paused, thinking about it.
"Since...today?" Ai nudged Reina again. "Are you angry with me?"
"Hmph." Reina did not dignify that with an answer. Ai frowned, leaning her chin on Reina's shoulder and staring at her with unconscious puppy eyes. Reina twitched, trying not to look at her.
"I won't spank you again." No response. "I'll buy you chocolate." Still no response. Ai tried again.
"I'll go karaoke with you." Ai paused, gauging Reina's reaction, then added. "For as long as you want."
Reina smirked, but said nothing. Ai wondered what else she could do. Suddenly, a thought hit her.
"Ah!" Scrambling off the couch, Ai shot off to her room, leaving a confused Reina on the couch. The kitten turned around, wondering what was going on, but forced herself to turn back and pretend disinterest again when Ai came back out.
Ai plopped back onto the couch next to Reina, holding a box in her hands. Reina shot discreet glances at it, while pretending to be absorbed in the variety show on tv.
"This is for you." Ai said, opening the box and handing it to Reina. The younger girl tried to look as if she didn't care, but one look at the gift broke the image.
"It's so cute!" Reina reached down, her previous act completely forgotten. Ai beamed.
"I thought of you when I saw it." Reina stroked the cat earrings, marvelling at the workmanship. Turning to Ai, Reina grinned brightly and hugged her.
"I love it! Thank you!"
Ai smiled. "So you're not angry with me anymore?" She asked tentatively.
Reina still did not disentangle herself from Ai, but her reply was haughty.
"That, is a completely different matter." At Ai's crestfallen expression, Reina giggled, rubbing her cheek against Ai's.
"Don't think I'm going to let you forget what you promised."
"Chocolate?" Ai said weakly, hoping that Reina would forget the next one. A smirking Reina patted Ai's cheek almost condescendingly.
"You are coming with me to karaoke some day, for as long as I want."
Ai groaned. What had she gotten herself into?
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And there! Fluff! :P
I wonder how many lurkers there are out there. I feel like doing a quick roll call to see who's reading lol. Oh well, kinda used to the whole ninja in the woods thing going on here. XD
Hope you guys like the chapter!
Edit: Wheeee I got a new page!
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Yay fluff finally! Cute fluff at that! :D
Reina the kitten... reminds me of a certain person. >.> Rolling, biting, scowling, purring... yup.. another person.
Oh Ai, going for jailbait eh? I see how her taste is. Kekekekekeke... Of course jailbait now makes me think of Krystal from f(x). o.O The Jungs are dangerous.
Ai just dug herself a grave by promising to go karaoke with Reina. It's the end for her. lol They will be there all day. 24 hours! Hmm.. never done 24 hour karaoke... most I've gone was 7 hours? lol
Honey water... mmm.. I prefer honey tea. XD I had some the other day... sooo goood. Woot woot! First comment!
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too cute! reina and aichan wresting around on the floor. oh, how i wish i were a fly on the wall for that one. XD
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This was sweet chapter. :heart: Overflowing with fluff.
ReinAi fooling around, pinning and wrestling each other. :wub: Their cuteness made me squeal. :mon lovelaff:
I like Ai's childish attitude here, more relaxed and not thinking so much.
"Don't think I'm going to let you forget what you promised."
"Chocolate?" Ai said weakly, hoping that Reina would forget the next one. A smirking Reina patted Ai's cheek almost condescendingly.
"You are coming with me to karaoke some day, for as long as I want."
Ai groaned. What had she gotten herself into?
:lol: :lol: :lol: Aichan better keep her promise
Keep up the fluffiness, Essy-sama :twothumbs
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This was a nice fluff
ball chapter. Renai cutely playing around, then Ai spanking Reina... :huhuh :shocked :drool: Must remember, Reina's fifteen.... Fifteen! Oh god, am I converting? Noooooo!! :on blackhole:
Ahem, anyway... Where was I? Sorry, long night at work...
Anyway, happy fluffy chapter, nine more to go, right? Cant wait for the karaoke scene, two girls, alone in a soundproof booth for an indeterminable amount of time? :drool: :oops: Fifteen! Fifteen! Ahaha, geez I need sleep... :sweatdrop:
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ah~ more cuteness~ i'll try to replu more for u XDDD
and i kinda feel bad for ai, pretty much a whole day of kareoke could kill certian ppl XDDD but reina's invincible XD
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Estrea's at it again! :cow:
Okay, fine. I admit. Your frequent updating is making me a bit too lazy to leave a review chapter after chapter. XD But that doesn't mean I didn't like them; in fact, I quite enjoyed reading the chapters thoroughly (which isn't much of a surprise, given that I'm a huge fan of your stories.) I didn't really feel like leaving a review after having just posted a long, wordy one a couple of days ago. I actually decided to type one up a day after you updated with All In Good Time -- but then you posted another chapter, and I was like, "... well, I'm sure my thoughts could wait another day." *gets shot for being extremely lazy*
All In Good Time
I wanted to slap Aichan silly in this chapter. That girl, there she goes with her I'm-so-selfish-I-don't-deserve-her attitude. Oh, Aichan. You'd be surprise to know the undeniably possessive, albeit brief, thought that ran through Reina's mind just a little after saving your butt from that jerkface Yamashita. She was all like, "SHE'S MINE, BETCHES. SHOOO!" while the poor, adorable lil' monkey was crying in her arms after being lectured.
As someone's already mentioned before, there is definitely a marked difference in the change of perspectives. At the same time, though, I couldn't help but find it strangely amusing. Here we've got a person who tortures herself because of a harsh belief and is looking for a way to better herself; and then there's a naive teenager, who seems to be having a bit of a difficult time dealing with her feelings for her beloved senior. SO AMUSING. But you can't deny the endearing quality harbored within the two, very different perspectives.
And Aichan forgot to bring clothes into the bathroom? Well... it happens! :lol:
It Takes Two
Yay for fluff! Gosh, that was so extremely sugary sweet and absolutely adorable, I think I might have to schedule an appointment with my dentist tomorrow.
Reina is such a kitten around Aichan. Purring and rubbing her cheek against whatever body part of hers, it's cute. The wrestling bit was pretty amusing, and I totally lmao'ed when Reina accused and called for a stop of the other's "molestations". I could imagine Aichan looking like a naive child as she asks Reina if it was alright to sexually harass when she's turns of age, lol. She really seems like the type who'd ask such a question whilst being completely oblivious of the possible implication at the same time.
/end review
It's almost 11 at night. I shall go to sleep now~
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:D
i admit.... i read parts of the previous chapter in the toilet of my office.. along with some weird smell...that i can't stand that i decided i shouldn't try to kill myself in the toilet after some time.. XD
Wasn't expecting you to update so fast and all in a go!
i don't even know where to start.. hmmm....
After reading this few chapters... i re-read Nanchatte Renai..
I always thought and it seems that Reina was the one that came between Risa and Ai in the first place..but after Destiny Love (Nickname: DL) I realized it might have been that Ai agreed to be with Risa to run away from things~ because she thinks Reina deserves better.. :(
Then..there was the infamous "HE" that made an appearance that i guess all readers wanna kill.. <- no doubt..
So i guess.. we should be expecting the fateful night whereby everything is gonna spiral from fluff to complications again~ ;)
It's great seeing how the much missing bits of that story being pieced up by this... :) I'm glad i read on despite the fact that i don't fancy sad endings~ :)
ps. Do you have an alternate happy ending for it? *Big Smile* :D
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Hola, I'm back! :D
Comment replies first.
Fen: Yay fluff! And yeah don't think I don't know who you're referring too. >.> Rawr. XD I think Ai is secretly a lolicon shhhh. :P I've never done 24 hour karaoke either, my record was 9 hours. Let's try it sometime! Haha. Hope your throat is better by now! And grats on the first comment lol.
Glasseyelashes: Yeah I think everyone would have loved to see ReinAi play-wrestle. XD So adorable. :heart:
Aisacchan: ReinAi cuteness is awesome. :heart: Reina distracts Ai a lot, so that's why she doesn't think so much when she's with her. I'll try my best to keep up the fluff!
rndm: Muahahaha come to the dark sideeeeeeeeeeee~~~ There is no escape. XD You seem stuck on the idea of Reina being fifteen lol. :P It's not that big a problem...:lol:
kawaii beam: Haha thanks for commenting! Yeah a whole day of karaoke is hard on the body, but Reina definitely has the stamina for it. XD Poor Ai lol.
Bubbles: Lol no worries, I get what you mean about being lazy to review. I get lazy to update too! :P I'm glad you like my stories. :heart: I wonder how many fans I have *shameless egotist* :lol: But yes, Ai and Reina's personalities are so different, so they have different concerns. Ai's major flaw (and strength) is that she reflects on herself a lot, often in a negative manner. It's really up to Reina to help her with that, though it won't happen overnight. :) Reina also needs to grow up a bit more really, but you can't blame her for being 15. XD Everything takes time~ But yeah, Ai can be rather oblivious at times. xD Much to Reina's exasperation lol. This sort of thing will keep happening for a while, I'm afraid. XD Poor Reina. XD
stinky: You read in the toilet? LOL. Weirdo. :P Yeah I can be pretty surprising sometimes. :P Well Destiny Love is meant to fill in the gaps of NR's history. What happened? How did things get this bad? DL answers them. But history has already changed. XD From the moment Reina was able to hear the Yamashita/Ai confrontation and her subsequent intervention, that was the first major ripple, and things are changing from how events progressed in NR. I'll put up another Differences Guide soon, after more things have happened. Since some of the history for NR contain potential spoilers or just aren't appropriate at the moment. :P You're right though, Ai did accept Risa for the wrong reasons, which was why things were doomed to failure right from the start. :P TakaGaki might have worked out in a different universe, but definitely not in this continuity. Too many things have happened. XD I'm not even sure that "fateful night" might happen between ReinAi at all, because of how things have turned out. XD But if it does happen, it'll be a variation of what did occur for NR's history. XD And didn't you pay attention to my statement from the start? DL is meant to have a happy ending! :P
Well that was long. o_O XD
Time to edit and post!
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Parental Advice
Keys jingled as Reina walked up to the front door of her house. Humming softly to herself, she swung them around a finger before starting to unlock the gate, only to have the inner door open on its own.
Startled, Reina almost dropped her keys, but the smiling face that greeted her made her relax. Her almost equally petite mother was standing in the doorway, giving her a searching kind of look. Reina winced. She hadn't expected her mother to come back a day early from that business trip up north.
"Tadaima." Still, Reina could pretend that all was well, despite the very evident fact that she had obviously spent an entire night out. Saeko raised an eyebrow, playing along.
"Okaeri." She let her wayward daughter in, firmly wrapping one arm around Reina's shoulders as she closed the door behind them.
"You stayed out all night?" Saeko's voice was not accusatory, only mildly curious. She knew her own daughter well enough to know that Reina would react defensively and even in a hostile manner if approached in that fashion. Reina relaxed a little, rubbing at her eyes sleepily. She had spent half the night chatting with Ai in the hall at first, then moving the conversation to the bed later. The only reason she was up and back this early in the morning was only because Ai had to head to work at the office. Reina suppressed a yawn as she replied.
"I stayed over at Ai's." At the mention of the girl Reina had brought home the other time, some of the tension went out of Saeko's shoulders. She smiled as she subtly guided the obviously sleepy Reina towards the bedroom.
"You two are really very good friends. But you mustn't always impose on her, do you understand?" Saeko paused in her mini lecture, reflecting on how Reina addressed the other girl. Though the Tanaka household had always been relaxed about formalities within the family, Saeko was aware that certain courtesies would have to be observed in the working world. She had been rather lax with Reina's manners all this while. It was difficult not to indulge her only daughter.
"Are you sure it's alright for you to call your senpai directly by her first name?" Reina yawned out loud this time. She looked like hell warmed over.
"Ai said it was ok." Another sleepy stumble. "She calls me Reina anyway."
There was a brief, sleepy frown on Reina's face as she added. "I'm not imposing on her. Ai needed me yesterday." The topic seemed to have given her more energy to continue, and she forged on unthinkingly.
"I couldn't leave her alone after what happened anyway."
Saeko raised an eyebrow. "And what happened yesterday?"
Reina seemed to wake up at the question, and Saeko could see her daughter obviously starting to get angry over something. Whatever it was, it could not be good.
Reina struggled with the topic at hand. She really wanted to share what happened with her mother, but wondered if Ai would be alright with her doing so. There were still so many things Reina did not understand, and she definitely wanted to know if there was something she could do about Yamashita. It wasn't like she could ask someone to beat the living hell out of him --- though that could always be a backup plan. Reina filed that away for future reference.
"Reina." Saeko's voice jolted Reina out of her thoughts. Her mother sounded concerned. "Did something bad happen?"
Reina bit her lip briefly, then made her decision. She would tell her mother. If nothing else, at least Saeko would understand what was going on and how to handle it better than her. Reina was acutely aware of the fact that despite how Ai was willing to talk and play around with her last night, deep down the older girl was still hurting. It was a flash of insight she rarely had, and it had hurt to know that she could do nothing to help Ai with her pain.
"Can we sit down first?" They were outside Reina's bedroom, and Saeko settled into a chair as Reina sat down at the edge of her bed, wondering how to start. Inside, Saeko was starting to feel slightly alarmed by the way her usually impetuous daughter was thinking so seriously.
"Mama, a guy took advantage of Ai yesterday." That was just the tip of the iceberg, but it was basically what happened in a nutshell the day before. Reina sighed, knowing that there was a great deal of explaining to do.
Saeko had a grim expression on her face as Reina slowly started recounting the events in detail, interrupting only at points to ask for details. When Reina had finished, Saeko embraced her daughter, proud that her daughter had done what she could to help the other girl.
"It was brave of you to do that, but you should have just called for security." Saeko said after releasing her daughter. Reina blinked. That had not even occurred to her, and she started to object out of habit.
"But Mama, if I waited, what if something worse happened...?"
Saeko shook her head. "If you had gotten security, you would have more witnesses, and it would have been easier to do something about him. As it is, only the three of you know about what happened. It would be your word against his, and it would be too easy for him to get away."
Reina ground her teeth together as she considered that point. She hadn't been thinking clearly at the moment, but it was too late to regret what she had done.
"Can't we just take it to the police or something?" Reina ventured. Saeko shook her head.
"No proof. Besides, from what you told me, Ai-chan did not resist him. You can't really charge him on anything based on that." Saeko paused, considering. That fragile-looking girl had shown a great deal of courage in her desire to protect Reina. Saeko could respect that, but inwardly lamented the stupidity of the action. There were better ways to handle the situation. Sometimes she forgot that they were still kids.
Reina gnawed nervously on a thumb, still worried. A sudden memory came to her, a sleepy recollection of what Ai had murmured the night before when she thought that Reina had already dozed off.
He won't have given up. I can't let Reina get hurt, no matter what.
Reina's insides clenched. Stupid, stupid, STUPID! How could I have let Ai go the office alone? What if she runs into him again?
At the suddenly distressed expression on Reina's face, Saeko put a hand on Reina's knee, only to have it shaken off when Reina leapt to her feet.
"I have to go to the office! What if he targets her again and something bad happens?"
Saeko reached out and pushed Reina back down onto the bed firmly. In her best 'mom' voice, Saeko said.
"Reina. Ai-chan can take care of herself. From what you told me, she has been doing a decent job of avoiding him for quite a while. You can't always be by her side." Inside, Saeko was slightly surprised by Reina's outburst. Her daughter was rarely this agitated for someone else's sake. It was rare indeed to see her worry like this over anyone else.
"But, but..." Reina gripped her knee tightly, her mind playing all sorts of possible worst case scenarios. She grimaced. She didn't want to see Ai cry again, not like that.
"If you're worried, why don't you call her?" Saeko pointed out gently, giving her worried daughter an out. Reina grasped onto the idea gratefully, her hands scrambling to grab her phone and dialling the numbers from memory.
Saeko watched with a certain amount of interest. In the time she had not been able to spend with Reina, her precious daughter appeared to have grown up a great deal. Yet Reina was still very much a child in the way she thought and behaved, and that brought Saeko some relief. She wasn't sure if she could deal with her daughter growing up too quickly and flying free on her own. A wry smile touched her lips at the thought. It was a little too early to be suffering from empty nest syndrome.
Reina was holding on to her phone in a death grip, her knuckles white as she muttered 'pick up' while waiting. To her relief, the call went through, and a sleepy sounding Ai answered.
"Ai! Are you ok?" Reina all but yelled into the receiver.
"I'm fine. Is something wrong?"
Reina scratched at her head awkwardly. "Um, I was just worried about you..."
There was a soft chuckle on the other end. "Rei, I'm fine. Really." There was a pause, almost hesitant, before Ai's voice strengthened again.
"In fact, I can go home now. Turns out I'm not needed for that part in the drama."
There was a false lightness in her tone, as if she was trying to sound like she didn't care. Reina knew better though. Ai had taken the role very seriously, and the loss must have hurt.
"I can go there and meet up with you." Reina said impulsively, not wanting Ai to be alone. There was something about Ai's tone over the phone that nagged at Reina, as if Ai was not saying everything. It would be a lot easier to get it out of her in person.
A moment of silence. "You don't need to. You're still tired, get some rest. I can go home on my own." Another chuckle. "I don't need an escort."
"But..." Reina's protest was cut off halfway when Saeko smoothly plucked the phone out of her daughter's grip. Reina stared open-mouthed as her mother spoke to Ai.
"Ah, Ai-chan? It's Saeko, Reina's mother...I gather you're free now? Oh, nothing much, I was just wondering if you could come over...just for a meal...it's not too much trouble. Our Reina's been imposing on you all the time. Oh I must insist! Consider it thanks for always looking after Reina....nonsense, she's always hanging around you, I'd imagine it must have been tiring. You're too modest...then, perhaps, for this old lady? Oh, how sweet of you! You must come! Then I'll see you later? Do you remember how to get here? You do? Good, we can have a late lunch together. Yes, you too. See you later!"
Reina scowled at her pleased-looking mother as Saeko hung up. She couldn't believe how her mother had basically just interrupted her phone call and proceed to manipulate Ai into coming over within the space of a minute. Reina did not know if she should be dismayed or pleased by the turn of events.
"Mama, why..." Reina trailed off uncertainly, trying to frame her question. Saeko smiled benignly, crossing over to sit beside Reina on the bed.
"You're not the only one who's worried, Reina. Now go wash up and get a bit of rest. She won't be here so soon."
Reina was about to protest when her tired body reminded her with a yawn about the current state of her body. Flushing in embarrassment, Reina rose to her feet sheepishly and shuffled off to the bathroom.
Saeko tapped her knee in thought as she remained where she was. From what Reina had said, Ai had little to no contact with her family, and while Saeko was impressed by the girl's independence, clearly it also meant that Ai had little support in her life. She assumed there were reasons why Ai seemed estranged from her family, but Saeko was determined to try and restore some sort of normalcy to Ai's life. With her own daughter so closely concerned with that girl, it seemed only right that she should concern herself with Ai as well, if only to keep Reina happy.
Rising to her feet, Saeko headed to the kitchen. Perhaps it was just normal maternal instinct, but she would welcome the chance to mother another daughter, especially one that has been so long alone.
Anything to keep Reina happy, Saeko thought.
At least, in that, she and Ai were on the exact same track.
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And there, not really a fluffy chapter, but sort of a serious one? Reina never consulted her mother during the NR timeline, and perhaps that was part of what made all the difference. I'm trying for a more balanced development of their characters so that they won't turn out so skewed like in NR. XD Isolation and misunderstanding can cause a great deal of pain. I'm working to dismantle that. :D
Well, as usual, read and review!
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ALRIGHT!! WAY TO GO MAMA AND HER AMAZING MANIPULATION!! :cow:
Reina's family is so beautiful! :farofflook:
Such a caring mom to want not only her own daughter to be happy, but also wanting someone elses daughter to feel the love.
I LOVE IT!!
She may seem clingy, but Reina is so freaking cute being all worried about Ai :monk gboy:
So much fluff!!! I could stuff a ton of pillows with it!! :rofl: .....bad joke :sweatdrop:
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She couldn't believe how her mother had basically just interrupted her phone call and proceed to manipulate Ai into coming over within the space of a minute. Reina did not know if she should be dismayed or pleased by the turn of events.
Fav line. :lol: :lol: :lol: Reina's mom is great. I can't wait for the mealtime.
Another minor change that might have had a huge impact; I like the little guideline at the end on that.
It wasn't like she could ask someone to beat the living hell out of him --- though that could always be a backup plan. Reina filed that away for future reference.
Maybe this could be another 'minor' change :twisted:
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yay for mama manipulation~! XDD its great to see that her mom was thinking logicaly XD i completely forgot about the security ppl too XDDDD ubber great chappy as always essy~
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I like Reina's mom. :heart: She's a great mother. Maybe she should gives Aichan some parental advice too.
I expecting some serious yet amusing talk at the mealtime next. :D
"In fact, I can go home now. Turns out I'm not needed for that part in the drama."
:O Why? What hapenned?
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Haha~ Toilet is haven in office~ :roll: sometimes~ lol...
I read the latest chapter in toilet too :roll: HEY~ i was eager to find out what happened!
And didn't you pay attention to my statement from the start? DL is meant to have a happy ending!
XD I believed i was traumatized by NR at the that moment.. BUT ~ YEAH! :D
Ohhh..most likely the fateful night might no be that bad~ no as bad as how it turns out in NR then~ XD
Back to story~
Yup~ It's kinda of a serious chapter here ya.. but it's a important one too~ Saeko is a smart lady and an adult (Even me myself often forgets that Ai is only 18 and Reina is only 15 here).. so probably she is gonna play a big part is kissing that jerk ass goodbye~ lol~
He won't have given up. I can't let Reina get hurt, no matter what.
- awwww... Little Reina must be really hoping to grow up real fast to protect Ai too~
Anything to keep Reina happy, Saeko thought.
XD so mama is not gonna complaint when they really got together? XD XD
p.s: Let's hope the next update would not be on my duty day as well.. :roll:
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Awwww :wriggly:
Sorry Estrea-sama for not having posting before, lately I've been a little bit busy and stressed with university. :on cloudeye:
Anyway I like the two last chapters very much!!
It Takes Two
:mon inluv:
KAWAII!! and It was so funny too, especially when the poor ai-chan had to promise that she will go to the Karaoke with Reina!!
Poor Monkey!!
And It was nice the present she gave Rei Rei :mon lovelaff:
Parental Advice
I really really liked this chapter!!!!
Because I think both of them need to be suported!!
Reina's Mom is the best!!!
Well...I'll be waiting for more!!!
Sorry for my short and boring comment XD
Now I have some kind of brain block... :mon exhaust:
But I had to comment anyway because I love your fic :heart:!! :mon beam:
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Yay~ More of the amazing mommy~!
But I agree with momma and I don't. I think Reina did exactly the right thing. It saved Ai from a lot more pain then what she has. But I'm really happy that mommy tanaka is going to take Ai under her wing~
Reina acted just like I would have. Especially during the phone call.
I can't wait for the next chapter~ So Essy wake up and right more~! :whip: (you called me your slave driver so there you go) :P
Keep up the good work, Essy~ :heart:
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There's no fluff, but I really enjoyed reading Reina interact with her mother. It kind of reminds me of my own interaction with my mother, albeit mine's a bit more rougher since I tend to, erm, "talk back" (or, from how I see it, trying to explain to them that they're wrong) to my folks when they say something that I don't agree with or I just find utterly ridiculous. They could be pretty awesome, until they get all logical and you-should've-done-this on me. So, yep. Because of that, I find it easy to understand how Reina felt when her mother told her that she should've gotten the security instead of barging in and immediately kicking Yamashita's $%$^*&*@($(!!D< ass. Even if I was told that advice beforehand, I couldn't just wait and let anyone be taken advantage of.
Y'know, the whole drama thing with Aichan kind of sucks... but at the same time, I'm quite happy because she'd get to have lunch with Reina and her mother. Knowing the old lady, she must have something planned for the two youngsters, right? Right? RIGHT, Estrea?!?! Whatever it may be, I hope it'll be able to get rid of, or at least diminish, the hurt Aichan's got bottled up inside of her.
And, HA! I manage to type up a review before you even posted another chapter. :P I feel strangely accomplished. Weeeeee~ :heart:
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Woah you weren't kidding when you said you mass-updated :lol:
Interesting, isn't it, how a small change can make a big difference in the future. If Reina had taken the easier or the longer way or if the girls did not agreed to meet, what would have happened is as we've known in Nanchatte Renai.
Why do I have a feeling that this is not the end we've heard of Yamashita? But you know, I kinda like the Yamashita character here. He needs to bug Ai more :P *dodges stones by other readers* Let me explain why. Since Ai & Reina are kinda slow, the girls will only take the next step forward only when there is a catalyst for them to do so. In the beginning of their friendship, Ai was no doubt nice to Reina but it was the first appearance of Yamashita that pushed Ai to personally train Reina, thus prompting her to spend more time with the yankii. No doubt their friendship grew over time but when Mr Paedoshita appeared again in that room, Ai realised she is not alone anymore and how important Reina is to her. Reina, on her part, also becomes more possessive protective towards Ai, though I kinda wished she did more than just kicked his ***** :lol:
Honestly, what Mama Tanaka did was what a mother would do in this kind of situation. So I didn't think it was anything special on Reina's part. But it would mean something to Ai right? Makes her realise that she not alone anymore :)
As many of us have conveniently forgotten, Reina is only 15 at this point of timeline. But then again, 15 is not that young of age to know love :D
Now, the girls know that they like each other. But it'll be interesting to see the event that will lead them to realise that they like each other.
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So i was trying to catch up on Reina's blog today and this entry TOTALLY brought me back to your fic :love:
http://ameblo.jp/tanakareina-blog/entry-10552895428.html (http://ameblo.jp/tanakareina-blog/entry-10552895428.html)
It's got Destiny Love written all over it! :P
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:huhuh Estrea!!! More chapters!!!
Onegai :cry:
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Oh hey, look who's back? :D
Anyone miss me, or am I deluding myself? I hope I haven't lost all my readers...D:
Well, comment replies first!
Swtme03: It's good that Reina has family support. God knows she needs it. Reina sure is adorable, ain't she? XD Yeah, fluff is always good!
rndm: Sorry to disappoint, but the mealtime isn't even in here. :lol: My muse decided something else was needed...heh. XD
kawaii beam: Mama manipulation ftw! I like Reina's mama. :D
Aisacchan: Not mealtime yet, but...! Good stuff ahead, plot-wise. At least, I hope it's good...and you'll see what happened.
stinky: Reading in toilet tsk. XD Traumatized by NR? Well, I just reread it, which was partly why I updated again. Haha. Maybe I should just write what happened that fateful night in NR's timeline. That would clear a lot of things up. :D Let's hope you get to read from a place that is not the toilet this time! :P
kame_eririn: I hope you like this update as well! And aww, hope you feel better with university! Thanks for loving my fic. :)
Kitami: Everyone has different opinions XD But I agree, the mama is awesome. Hey, see, I wrote more! Granted, it took me more than two months to update this time...but I had good reasons! XD Hope you like this one as well.
Bubbles: Aha! I'm glad you enjoyed Reina's interaction with her mom. Parents can be both right and wrong, they might know better sometimes, but not always. It's a useful perspective to have in this situation though, just things that can be seen from another angle. As for lunch, you'll see. :P Hope you review this one before I update again too! :lol:
badsaints: Yup yup, I told you so! It's always the little things that people overlook...every action has a consequence, seen and unseen. One ripple is enough to cause a sea change in the entire timeline. XD And I agree with you, Yamashita is useful as a plot device. XD I really like how you call him Paedoshita, btw. :lol: And you know I was listening when we discussed him that other time, you know, before all the shit went down in my personal life and fic writing was put on hold. Thanks for those ideas. ;) And you're right again about how they're not too young to know love, and yes, them figuring out that they like each other that way should be fun. I must say though, the way they figure things out has a great deal to do with a personal experience of mine...*coughs* Sigh. Bad memories. Lmao.
gab98: Oh, you read this! :D Comment more often, and I might update more often! *shameless comment monster* :lol:
Okie, time to edit and post.
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Without You
The doorbell rang, and Ai waited nervously. It wasn't her first time here, but she was still a little awkward about meeting Reina's mother again. After so long associating only with staff and co-workers, it was strange to have contact with the warmth of a family again.
I wonder how Yuu-chan is? Her thoughts wandered to the sister she had not seen in so long. Though they used to squabble a lot, deep down Ai still cared a lot about her baby sister.
If only she relies more on me...then again, I'm not very reliable, am I?
Ai smiled wanly at her own thoughts, and at that moment, the door opened.
"Ai-chan! Welcome!" Saeko smiled gently, taking in the pale, strained features on the girl before her. Ai was obviously worn out, but held herself well nevertheless. She beamed at Reina's mother, bowing almost unconsciously.
"Thank you for inviting me."
"It's my pleasure. You're always looking after Reina, it's the least I can do."
Reina. Ai's heart made a hard double-thump at the name. Reina had fallen asleep before her yesterday, obviously worn out by the stress of what had happened before. It was one of the few times that ever happened, since Ai was usually the one who fell asleep first.
Ai had taken the opportunity to study Reina's delicate, unguarded features as she slept, fascinated by how utterly cat-like her little kouhai was. When Reina made a small, snuffling sound and burrowed into her chest like a small animal, Ai had blinked and automatically wrapped her arms around Reina. Protectively, even possessively. A contented murmur was all she needed to hear from the cute little kitten in her arms.
It was hard to believe that such a small, vulnerable person would stand up to defend her. Ai had felt the tears well up almost unbidden, cuddling Reina even closer. She could never let Reina get hurt, not because of her.
"Ai-chan? Why are you in a daze?" Saeko's voice broke through to Ai, startling her. It was only then that she realized that she had been standing in the entrance for a minute or two, just swaying gently on the spot. Embarrassed, Ai bowed her head and apologized.
"You must be tired." Saeko's voice was understanding. "Why don't you go check on Reina? She's still in her room upstairs."
"Ah!" Ai blurted out suddenly. She held out a plastic bag. "I bought some ice cream on the way. I thought we could have it for dessert later."
"That's very sweet of you." Saeko accepted the offering, her opinion of Ai going up yet another notch. She's a nice girl. Looking into the bag, the older woman chuckled.
"Green tea and chocolate flavor?"
Ai flushed. "Is it the wrong one? I didn't know..."
Saeko laughed. "No, I just find it amusing that you picked Reina's favorites."
Shifting awkwardly, Ai toyed with the ends of her hair, unsure of how to reply. Sensing the discomfort, Saeko subtly guided her guest towards the stairs where the bedrooms were located.
"You can go check on Reina. Young people should stick together, no?"
"But you're not old?" Ai replied earnestly, making the older woman chuckle.
"Go entertain my daughter. I still have to finish making the meal." Ai hesitated, then nodded before sprinting up the stairs. Saeko noted that Ai was very fast on her feet.
With a small shrug, the Tanaka matriarch returned to the kitchen. The kids would be hungry when they came down.
~*~*~
"Reina~" Ai called softly from outside the door. No response.
"Reina?" Ai pushed the door lightly, and it swung open, revealing a very pink room. The sight never failed to make her smile. The tough girl image Reina so carefully cultivated was practically the anti-thesis of how her room looked like.
The girl in question was curled up on the bed, too tired to even crawl under the covers. A towel was haphazardly wrapped around her head, still obviously damp from the shower.
Ai sighed as she crossed the space in a few steps. Reina had not dried her hair properly again. She had half a mind to wake the younger girl up, but when she looked down at the peaceful face half hidden by the towel, she couldn't bear to do so.
"Really, Rei, you'll catch a cold..." Ai mumbled, carefully untangling the towel from Reina's head. Even as she did so, Reina flopped over, so that she was now snoozing face down on her belly. This suited Ai's purposes perfectly.
Ai's hands were gentle as she carefully dried Reina's hair as best as she could, taking infinite care not to hurt or even wake the girl. Thankfully, Reina slept like a log.
When she was done, Reina was still soundly asleep, a little bit of drool staining the pillow she was hugging. Fondly, Ai smoothed the strands of hair away from Reina's face, taking the opportunity to look at her again.
So cute. Then Ai noticed the dark circles under Reina's eyes, and a wave of something akin to guilt washed over her. I shouldn't let her worry about me all the time.
Idly, Ai started running her fingers through Reina's hair, undoing the tangles and just enjoying the feel of the strands in her hand. Her thoughts wandered, as they often did in the past few hours, to a certain person.
Yamashita... It made her chest hurt to think of him. She could not love him anymore, did not, not after how he had hurt her before. It made her angry that he would just waltz back into her life pretending nothing had happened, and to try and claim her again.
If not for Reina... Ai would be lying if she said she wasn't worried. He would make his move against Reina, now that he knew that she was her weakness. In fact, he had already begun acting against her, that much Ai could fathom.
Though the producer had been apologetic, Ai knew that it wasn't his fault that she was being dropped from the drama. It was just Yamashita showing off that he could do a lot of damage to her career if he chose to. Just a small taste of things to come.
He won't let us off easily. Ai knew that it was only a matter of time before he started doing the same to Reina. Ai knew the price he demanded, but she shuddered to even contemplate it. She could not let him touch her again. The idea repulsed her.
And Reina would be mad at her if she knew. Ai ran a finger gently down the contours of Reina's face, tracing the outlines as if to commit them all to memory. There were times when Ai regretted coming into the industry, with all the complications that came with it. But here, with Reina slumbering under her watchful gaze, Ai could not find it in herself to regret the decision. After all, if she had not entered the industry, she would never have met Reina.
It was amazing how they had become close at all. Ai knew how different they really were, and sometimes those differences led to arguments between them, but were never really serious enough to cause a major rift. Stubborn and headstrong they both might be, but they also genuinely cared about each other, and while neither would ever give in, they soon discovered that their best recourse was to agree to disagree.
Reina was just...different. Challenging, without being annoying. They fought, but without malice. It was fun being with her, and it helped that Reina absolutely adored her. That much was obvious, and it was very flattering for Ai. Being the subject of such devotion (much of it undeserved, she thought) gave her warm, fluttery feelings. It made her comfortable around Reina...
...which was why it was so hard to distance herself from her. Pausing in her study of Reina's face, Ai retracted her hand, her fingers curling into her palm. The thought...distressed her.
It would make sense to create that distance about now. Yamashita had already made the first move, and Ai had a sinking feeling that he would slowly corner her by cutting off everything she held dear. Her work, her prospects...and Reina.
Ai thought she knew the man, once. Had hints of his obsessive nature in the way he dealt with certain things and people. Hindsight put a lot of things in perspective. Yamashita was calculative, and eeriely rational in a destructive way. Ai was sure he would come after Reina, knowing how important she was to her.
The solution was simple, though it may already be too late. Still, if Reina was no longer close to her, perhaps she would no longer be a target for Yamashita to get to her. Ai wanted to believe that she could do something to make the best out of an already bad situation.
If I'm not in the picture, he would never have a reason to attack Reina.
If I'm not here...
Fingers slipped unconsciously back into her bag, drawing out a much folded piece of paper. The creases on it showed the many times it had undergone such treatment, and once again Ai unfolded it, reading it without really reading it, since she already she knew what it was all about.
Think about it, it'll be good for you.
The words echoed in her mind, even as she refolded the paper and tucked it back into her bag. She didn't want to think about it, because thinking about it would only lead to one conclusion.
Fingers trailed a lingering path over one temple and over a ear, smoothing back the wavy strands of hair. Ai leaned down, hesitating for a moment, then allowing her lips to brush Reina's temple lightly. The whisper that escaped with her breath brushed across soft skin, tingling where it touched, tight with emotion.
I don't want to leave you.
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Well, that was fun. I'm sort of back on track, but I'll need to look at my timeline again. I still have things going on schedule, so...
Ai is an idiot. Well meaning, but an idiot. I still love her though. She just needs to be more...well, she needs to stop assuming things on her own. Really.
And yeah, I hope you guys like this chapter! Despite the lack of fluff. :P
*flops into bed*
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OH MAH GOD! UR BACK~! *hugs you* i've missed u^^
and this chappy was extreamly sweet... and ai ia an idiot....its not good to have all of that on u..u gotta let it out somehow ore bad stuff'll happen! like that jerk trying to use reina in a realy bad way even if u distance urself from her!(reina will probably keep trying anyway XD)
hope everythings doing ok though essy and u deserve the sleep~>3<
:bow: :bow: :cow: :inlove: :wub:
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I love Reina's mom. I think I may have said this before, in some form or another, but it bears repeating. I think maybe she's starting to get an inkling of what could happen in the future for these two kids and I have a feeling she's already okay with it. At least on some level. It's just too bad she doesn't know the depth of what's happening, maybe she would be able to beat some sense into Ai. Or maybe Ai could be somehow convinced to confide in her.
Poor Ai, so muddled up about herself. And Yuu-chan? At first I thought she was talking about Nakazawa and I had to double take on that sentence, but then I remembered that I heard rumors that her sister's name was Yui or something like that.(Am I right about that?) For a second, imagining Nakazawa Yuko as Ai's younger sister made me rofflecopter.
Anyway, being so thoughtful(and stupid) towards Reina, she doesn't even realize herself that it's now impossible to distance herself from the girl and would probably leave her unprotected from the jerk if she did. Besides, will Reina really stand for that, especially after she fought for her like that?
Is the note from the jerk? An ultimatum, perhaps? Will we find out in the next chapter?
The kids would be hungry when they came down.
Fav line of the chapter, though I'm not entirely sure why. XD
Btw, when you said timeline, I got this sudden image of a timeline(made of taped together computer paper, no less) tacked to the wall, surrounded by various pie charts and graphs on Reina and Ai's personalities, with you standing in front of it and contemplating it like you were solving a quantum physics problem. XD Again, rofflecopter.
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What a coincidence! :lol: I decided to take a break from everything Hello!Project-related to indulge myself in my other interests, and when I just decided to come and check up on some stuff here, I was greeted by an update. Awesomesauce! My timing makes me feel super magical.
I enjoy reading from Aichan's perspective. It definitely gives us a lot more insight on her character, thoughts, and feelings than what we normally get from Reina's perspective -- which is something I appreciate, 'cause it makes for better judgement. Like you said, she's still pretty much an idiot, albeit a well-meaning one. Reading about her contemplations on distancing herself from Reina makes me want to slap some senses into her. Even if she did just that, I still think Yamashita will be a douche and do something to Reina regardless of the fact that Aichan has cut off her ties with her. There are other ways she could go about things... like going totally psycho-axe-murderer on him -- BUT that'd be pretty messed up and sick, so I doubt she'd resort into something like that. :bleed eyes: Maybe she could expose his actions to the public when she gets enough evidence to back it up. Something like that is bound to get his sorry butt away from the two future lovebirds.
I kind of wish Aichan left a kiss on Reina's lips or cheek instead. But it looks like she's into temples, so I'mma just let her be. XD It's still romantic, though. :heart:
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I think I sense that 'fatal night' that screwed everything up in NR coming up soon :lol: With a more positive outcome, I'm expecting :D
Seeing how established Ai and Reina appeared to be in the industry by the time NR rolled around, I trust that they'll be fine from the clutches of Yamashita. Maybe he'll be embroiled in another rape case where there is actually evidence of the crime he couldn't escape from and gets locked away for good. Or he'll go a tad over the limit with Reina, tipping Ai over the line and bringing out the monster in her he didn't see coming.
And Ai, she needs a good knock on the head before she loses Reina, 'again'. Which I also trust will not happen this time round :D
(and she only went for her temple? The kitten is asleep. Might as well make the most of it :roll: :lol: )
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KYAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!! DESTINY LOVE! DESTINY LOVE!! :gmon twirl::on BDay: :on gay:
I've missed Destiny Love so much!! XD sorry, it seems like I was desperate or something like that XD But I'm really really happy, I needed ReinAi love so much, It's like a drug.
Fluff Fluff Fluff!! :heart: :heart: :heart:
Ai-chan doesn't want to leave her kitten!! :farofflook: That was so romantic! :luvluv1:
Oh Estrea-sama Finally I did well in the university, and I got very good marks in my English class thanks to you and Destiny Love *w* I've learned a lot reading your fic.
I hope you can post the next chapter soon :k-inlove: this chapter was so beautiful!! really!! the wait was worth it!! :mon beam:
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Nice Chapter no....CUTE Chapter! :luvluv1: :luvluv2:
Can't wait whats Aichan Going to do. :ding:
p.s.: and i'm your new reader :thumbsup
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OMG THE WORLD IS ENDING. ESSY UPDATED.
:P
Sigh.. Ai, ai, ai... stop being stoopid. Looks like Reina will have to beat some sense into her. Or perhaps Reina's mom will beat some sense into the silly girl. lol
I hope Yamashita gets it later. Run over by a train? Mmm... dies on the set? That would be ironic.
Nyan~
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From the way this chapter is heading..it looks like Ai will leave Reina.... but...
I don't want to leave you.
I hope Ai will hold on to that..ahahaha...keep up the good work!XD
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I have a solution to this Yamashita problem. XD
Yamashita: -pokes through Aichan's bag for something to use as blackmail-
Aichan: -walks in room- what are you doing?
Yamashita: -just happens to have her ds in hand-
Aichan: THAT IS THE LAST STRAW YOU BASTARD!!! -shoots-
Problem solved. :P
Anyway! Onto a serious comment. XD OMG UPDATE YAY. Fen said it all, the world IS ending.
Sleeping Reina is always cute. :heart: I just can picture Aichan sitting next to her drying her hair while Reina is konked out, hehe. You're right, not a lot of fluff in this chapter, but enough to make me think it's cute. Aichan's so good to Reina, taking care of her and all, but she needs a brain. Really. If she left, yeah, it might make things better about the Yamashita thing, but Reina would be heart broken!! :tama-mad: But at least Ai realizes she doesn't want to be without Reina, that's good. :heart:
Update soon, please!
PS: I love Reina's mom. XD She just has this cool image in my head, but not the "I don't care" type of cool, because she obviously cares a lot for her daughter and even Aichan. :heart:
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^I absolutely love your solution, Sai. :lol:
I am SO happy that you updated~!!!! Especially since you haven't lost your touch for a good chapter! :D
Green Tea and chocolate ice cream~ :heart: Now I want green tea ice cream... >.>
Ai sitting next to Reina, drying her hair, then playing with it~ <3 It is so cute~ :3
...Then we get into how Ai means good but is a freaking idiot! :angry: ...But I can understand where she is coming from, doesn't make it the right solution, but i understand. Ai better stay with Reina, leaving her would hurt her more then Yamashita can. :(
Good chapter, essy~ As always, I :heart: you~ :D NOW WRITE MORE!! :whip: <--It is with love, I swear :grin:
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:w00t: :w00t: :w00t: :w00t: :w00t: :w00t: :w00t: :w00t: :w00t: :w00t: :w00t: :w00t: :w00t: :w00t:
ESTREA~!!!! :inlove: :inlove: :inlove:
I've missed you and your beautiful writing :cry:
oh~ what to say about this chapter :roll:...... I think "cute" would be the best thing, don't you think? :wub:
Aichan.....she cares so much about Reina, she's willing to break her heart in order to protect her :bleed eyes:
But I think Reina would much rather have Aichan around more than worry about keeping her career. Not that I want her to lose it or anything
Damn you Yamashita :smhid I knew there was a reason why your group went from 8 to 6 members :ding: ....j/k :P
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I'm glad you update. :) I miss ReinAi fanfic, especially yours.
Reina sleeping is so cute <3 I can't get enough of the sweetness between the two XD
And yeah, Aichan is stupid. Reina will hurt more if Ai leave her. I hope everything will be ok.
About Ai's family...Are you gonna revealing more about it? I wanna know how her family is.
Please update soon :bow:
p.s: LOL@Swtme03 j/k XD
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Lol late comments...but better late than never right? :D Oh yeah I really enjoyed the talk we had the other time. Let's do it again! But minus the overnight thingy :lol:
I agree Ai is an idiot, but that is what make us love her so much :yep: But what caught my attention is the piece of paper she was that piece of paper that was nagging her thought :huhuh Something tells me that that paper is no good news? :P
I kind of wish Aichan left a kiss on Reina's lips or cheek instead. But it looks like she's into temples, so I'mma just let her be. XD It's still romantic, though. :heart:
Well she is the temple-loving Ai :lol: :lol: :lol:
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I'm too tired to do comment replies this time round. Not physically tired. Just emotionally tired. Intellectually. Mentally. Blah.
Tired of stalling too. And so.
Forward it is.
=========================================================
Forward
Lunch was not as tense as she would have imagined.
In fact, nothing happened, to Reina's utmost bafflement. They were just eating together, in a relaxed atmosphere...
Maybe that was it. Being relaxed. Reina thought about it as she licked at her spoon, trying to get all the chocolate off. The last 24 hours had been hectic to say the least, and perhaps this downtime was just what they all needed.
Actually, she didn't know. She just wanted an explanation because nothing was happening. Well, except for her mother and Ai having a conversation about the weather. And whatever was on the news recently. It wasn't exactly a conversation Reina could follow. She watched TV, sure, but news wasn't her favourite programming of choice.
What were they talking about now? Something about politics? Or was it America? On some level Reina had known that Ai was intellectual, but it had never really hit her until now. Ai never did talk to her about these things. Sure, she tried discussing history once, but since Reina hadn't been interested, Ai had let the matter drop. They never brought it up again.
Now Reina had to wonder. Would Ai prefer to have someone who could share these topics with her? Reina dug her spoon into her ice cream, frowning slightly. Maybe she should try to take an interest in these things. Because...well, because.
She tuned back into the conversation. They were, in fact, talking about America, or rather, English, at the moment. Ai was expressing an interest in learning English, and lamenting the fact that there was little opportunity to practice in Japan.
"It's hard to get the confidence to speak in another language when we're still in our own." Ai said ruefully. Saeko chuckled.
"And you think jumping straight into another culture is a good idea?"
Ai leaned back into sofa. "Well, if forced to either swim or drown, I would rather swim, no?" She grinned. "Language learning through shock therapy. That might work."
"Actually, they call it immersion, but your analogy still works." Saeko smiled, then gave Reina a sideways glance. "At least you're eager to improve yourself, unlike someone..."
"Hey! Japanese is hard!" Reina protested, waving her spoon around for emphasis. Ai giggled, then leaned across to swipe her thumb across Reina's cheek.
"Apparently, table manners is also quite difficult." Saeko deadpanned even as Ai licked the chocolate she had gotten off Reina's face from her thumb. Reina scowled, shoving her spoon into her mouth and pouting.
"We're not at a table!"
Ai looked pointedly at the low coffee table in front of them. Reina flushed.
"Not the point! Aren't you supposed to be on my side?"
Ai was the picture of innocence as she replied.
"But Rei, this is your mother we're talking about."
Reina stuck her tongue out. "Suck up!"
"Children." Saeko interrupted, her expression somewhere between exasperation and amusement. "I'm going to go do the dishes now."
"I'll help!" No guesses as to who said that.
Reina muttered something uncomplimentary under her breath. Saeko gave her a look of fond resignation.
"Alas, to have a daughter like this..."
Ai gathered the dessert bowls carefully and trotted obediently to the kitchen. Reina pretended to sulk as she was left alone in the living room, but she didn't really mind it that much. There was something soothing about this homey atmosphere. Like Ai was part of the family. Her family. It was...nice.
Only nice? A little voice in her mind scoffed. Well...Reina admitted to herself that she would prefer it a lot better if Ai was only paying attention to her and no one else. To have Ai looking only at her, taking care of her, being with her...
Reina hated sharing things with other people. In a way, she had come to perceive Ai as being "hers". Logically, Reina knew that she couldn't really own anyone, but she wanted to monopolize Ai anyway.
That desire had first manifested itself with the introduction of that Yamashita jerk as Ai's ex-boyfriend. The simple knowledge that Ai had been with him in an intimate way before really irritated Reina, for some reason. Because he was a jerk, of course. A jerk like him didn't deserve her. Ai needed someone who would treat her better.
Mine. Reina did not stop to think about the implications of that. She had seen Ai smile for her, in a way she never did for anyone else. That was special. That was precious. It was for Reina only, and Reina was not going to share it with anyone else.
Perhaps being the spoiled only child of rich, doting parents had warped her thinking.
But perhaps, not as much as one would think. Because above all, Reina loved it when Ai was happy. Even better if Ai was happy with her. Reina liked making Ai happy. It made Reina happy to see her precious friend happy. Positive feedback.
Deciding that licking the bowl would probably not be a very glamorous thing to do, Reina stood up, ready to bring her bowl to the kitchen. Padding over silently, she was about to step in when something stopped her in her tracks.
"Actually, I had an offer to go to America to improve myself. I'm kind of considering it..."
Clang.
Both women in the kitchen turned around, only to see a cracked dessert bowl. The spoon skidded to a stop near Ai's foot, and she stooped to pick it up, heart pounding. The not-so-distant stomping of feet up the stairs was suddenly very loud in the silence.
Saeko calmly took the spoon from the uncertain Ai, then gave her a gentle shove.
"Go on. Talk to her."
Ai looked conflicted, a play of emotions vivid across her expressive face. Then she nodded, decision steeling her features. Hopping adroitly over the shattered mess, she did not look back as she went after a certain distraught kitten.
Saeko shook her head as she prepared to deal with the aftermath.
Children. So much more trouble than they were worth. And yet, so very precious.
Take care of her. A mother worries, but it was no longer her place to interfere. She could only wait, and watch.
And hope.
==============================================
Forward. And forward. Things need to happen.
Things are happening. It'll get better, eventually.
And I sleep now.
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First! XD
So I'm skimming through the forum in a desperate bid to find something to read before work, when I see a new chapter here. Of course, my first reaction was, "Wha-What?!" and banging my knee on the desk in surprise. I didn't even feel the pain because I was already reading the update.
Reina seems to be expecting the bomb to drop in the beginning. Or maybe the world to flip over. Not some normal lunch with her family and their is no denying that Ai is family, even if they seem to be polar opposites. So she relaxes.
And then gets hit on the head with a brick. It's not a bomb, by it hurts anyway. Hurts and surprises.
I wanna see Ai comfort her and reassure her and maybe some cuddling. I want my Essy RenAi! XD
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:shocked :shocked :shocked
Um....yay???? :lol: I was almost starting to think this story had been abandoned with, but to see an update!!
The first test for RenAi. I kind of do want to see Ai take the opportunity in America, and see how they would readjust(?) on her return. That would jump the story ahead a couple of years, I guess. I can't help but think this would also be the best way for them to get around that Yamashita.
Ai goes to America to study, Reina establishes herself in the industry in the meantime and perhaps even a little bitter at Ai's decision to go, and when Ai returns they'll have plenty of catch-up and making up to do.
I can't wait until the next chapter. Already XD
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Hey! You still did it!!! :heart:! I'm glad to see...
aussie has some good ideas there, and why do I seem to be getting this mixed up with something else...? XD
I feel like you portrayed Reina very well here, and it's nice to see Saeko so supportive. I wonder what Ai's gonna do (in the immediate term). Those two being alone in Reina's room with at least one of them in a quite emotional state though...
>.>
:oops:
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Is... is it the fluffs are come to an end? :mon cute:
Way to retcon, Essy. I've been away and only realised you updated when I was scrolling through earlier.
Vulnerable defenseless Reina. Tabetai!! Oh wait, she's 15.
I loved the dialogue format in the prelude. It provided a good legend? (too geological), moodboard? (too design)- anyway, we could determine their voices and characters based on pure interaction and manner of speech. It helped me understand the characters better. Bear in mind that when I first read this long ago, I really had no clue who Ai and Reina were, character-wise. I think I learnt more about them by reading your fics than I did watching whatever clips I could of them.
- We got to see them at play- somehow, they are only like this with each other and no one else.
- Reina deeply imprinted on Ai like a baby bird and suffering withdrawals in the first part of Chap 2 only to be resolved in what has to be the fluffiest platonic ReinAi scene ever at the end of the chapter.
- (I interrupt this brief review of my favorite parts to inject some nonsense) Boy, I woulda killed for a polaroid picture of Ai in that bathtub.
- Apparently Ai was very well informed, since she had timed her message for the moment Reina stepped back out of the meeting, appearing right before the younger girl not long after that. To cover her surprise at the moment, Reina had cracked a joke about Ai stalking her, only to have Ai playing along, pretending to be Reina's first stalker and even producing flowers with a flourish, much to Reina's secret delight.
I liked this scene a lot- the Love Meter is edging out of platonic to courtship.. For Ai to take time out of her day to do this= :wub: I think this was the first time I identified with Ai emotionally. It's not written there and it may have been playful, but the dokidoki of pulling a stunt like this for someone (your kouhai/friend, no less). I guess I just read in between the lines a little too much there.
- Finally, the ripple in time. The first retconned shoe dropped. And it wasn't as bad as I'd feared. There were a good coupla fluff scenes in between that and the 'i-must-leave-you-for-your-own-good' shoe. And Destiny Love was meant to be a fluff/happy fic. So we will await that shoe with only mild trepidation. :hopeful
- The aftermath: Reina should've let Ai bring the game into the bath. Overthinking!Ai is no good. But there was kyaa-ing, adorkable embarassment and innocent sweet fluff. So no other shoe there. Yet.
- This obligatory girltalk about boyfriends in a GL story made me laugh. I think the fact that i just classified this as a 'GL' story made me laugh more.
- And so... the other shoe makes it's appearance.
I'm too tired to do comment replies this time round. Not physically tired. Just emotionally tired. Intellectually. Mentally. Blah.
Tired of stalling too. And so.
Forward it is.
This, made the mild trepidation jump to full blown panic. Please don't kill or maim anyone. If Ai's plane crashes into a mountain (nod to OTN1/Commie), I will first laugh (because I use humor as a defense mechanism) and then I will be glued to this thread to see how you will shred my heart further. How convenient for your muse that Ai is graduating soon, ne? Oh god *checks Essy's posts carefully to see if she's past that 10 chapters of 'promised fluff'* Is it... the fluffs are come to an end?
Edit: And oh, FORWARD, it is!
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Kukukuku. Comment replies!
rndy: Sorry for shocking you? :lol: Definitely more ReinAi here. Hehe. Omatase!
aussie: I honestly forgot about this story for a while. But then I reread NR the other day and was like, ah, I should do something. So I did. XD
rokun: Lol you already know what I'm going to do. :P
drac: LONG COMMENT. I likey. XD I shall return the favor with mass quoting of your comment. :P
Vulnerable defenseless Reina. Tabetai!
Pedo. :P
Bear in mind that when I first read this long ago, I really had no clue who Ai and Reina were, character-wise. I think I learnt more about them by reading your fics than I did watching whatever clips I could of them.
That's really flattering! Wow, I must have influenced how people think of them a lot...^^; I hope I didn't do too badly.
Boy, I woulda killed for a polaroid picture of Ai in that bathtub.
So would I...so would I...
This obligatory girltalk about boyfriends in a GL story made me laugh. I think the fact that i just classified this as a 'GL' story made me laugh more.
This made me laugh too. :lol:
If Ai's plane crashes into a mountain (nod to OTN1/Commie)
LOL. Oh Commie, what have you done. XD I don't think I'll do it that way unless you want me to write another alternate universe of an alternate universe of an alternate universe --- I'm turning into Commie! *facepalms* You know. I just might. :lol: Stop giving me ideas!
Drac, your comment made my day. :P It took me a while to churn the next chapter out, because it was SO DAMN INVOLVED. And I kept losing track of what I was doing so I had to keep referring back to previous chapters to make it consistent. orz. Never take excessively long breaks from a story. Also, try not to juggle too many at the same time. I think some of the crack leaked over from MSF...
:lol:
Alrighty. Dunno if anyone's on to read at this time, but time to edit and post!
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Tango
The door was closed.
Ai slowed to a stop in front of the shut entrance, flustered but not really knowing why. Now that she was actually coming to a pause, she started to question her own panic.
Yes, she felt bad for not telling Reina about this new development, but it wasn't like she was really going to go for it. In fact, she had been leaning towards not accepting the offer, because of, ironically, Reina herself. In which case, she would never have had any reason to tell Reina about something that wasn't going to happen.
Yet, here she was, frantic and flustered, all because Reina had gotten the wrong idea. What was wrong with her? It was only just dawning on Ai that her reactions were not entirely normal for such a situation. Neither were Reina's, for that matter.
What have we gotten ourselves into?
Ai hesitated. Should she knock, or just try the knob? Both? None?
She went with option three.
"Reina?" No answer. "Can I come in?"
It might have been her imagination, but she could almost hear Reina going "hmph!" at her. The thought would have made her smile, if she wasn't feeling so jittery to begin with. Screwing up her courage, Ai took a firm grip on the knob, and twisted.
Locked. Alright. So Reina was angry with her. The realization sent a pang through her, but also irritated her for some reason. It wasn't like she intended to keep it from Reina. It wasn't going to happen, and if she had really decided on going, it wasn't like she was going to disappear on Reina without a word. Why was the girl so upset?
It pissed her off.
Ai didn't even realize her knuckles were turning white on the knob. She probably didn't notice the hinges rattling a little (the door was a little loose). She was probably only half-aware of her petulant reaction of kicking the door.
She became quite fully aware of the consequences in a moment though.
The door caved in. Ai nearly fell into the room with the momentum, but managed to save herself with good balance, decent reflexes, and a great deal of luck. In other words, she managed to cling to the doorframe.
There was a long moment of silence.
"Oops?" Ai said sheepishly, running a hand through her hair nervously. Reina continued staring in disbelief, then recovered to scowl at Ai.
"Reina?" Ai started cautiously. Picking her way delicately past the shattered remains of the door, Ai skirted to the far side of the bed where Reina was currently perched on.
Reina turned away from her. In fact, she threw a blanket over her head, resolutely not wanting to deal with Ai. The older girl felt a familiar prick of irritation, along with the strong sense of being wronged. She didn't like the feeling. She really liked Reina, but this was pushing things.
"Reina." Her voice is firm now, and she sits by Reina's prone figure on the bed. "Listen to me."
"Go away." It was a bit muffled, and Reina shifted under the blankets, the material bunching as she curled into a tighter ball. Ai pressed her lips together in irritation.
"Fine." Ai took a deep breath. "I wasn't really going to go, but since Reina doesn't want me here, maybe I will after all."
A thin hand shot out from under the blanket, latching onto Ai's wrist in an almost painful grip. Reina poked her head out from under the covers, glaring.
Taking the opportunity, Ai reversed her wrist so that she could hold onto Reina's arm as well, locking the younger girl in place. Neither was willing to back down.
"Are you going to listen now?"
"Why didn't you tell me?" Reina looked at Ai accusingly, all wounded kitty in her tone.
"I..." Ai didn't like being put on the defensive. "I would have told you if I was going to go!"
"Only after you made a decision?" Reina said, a tinge of bitterness in her voice.
"I don't have to tell you everything!" Ai burst out, frustrated. She hated being backed into a corner. She wasn't wrong! She didn't have to report everything to anyone. Reina was being silly. It wasn't such a big issue, so why were they getting upset over something like this?
"You never tell me anything!" Reina felt like a broken record. They had been over this. If there was something Reina really hated, it was being treated like a child. She could never hate Ai, but this was really getting to her.
"This wasn't important! Besides, I wasn't going to go! I didn't want to leave..."
The 'you' died on Ai's lips, swallowed back into her throat uncertainly, where it left a huge lump that nearly cut off her breathing. It was one thing to admit to herself that she didn't want to leave Reina behind. It was quite another to admit to the person in question. As for why it would be a problem, Ai wasn't sure why either.
It felt too big a proclamation. Like...a line would be crossed if she had said it. As for what line that would be...well, Ai wasn't really thinking about that at the moment.
Reina misread her hesitation for something else. For all of her astute judgment, Reina was still only an adolescent with minimal experience regarding humans relationships. Her interactions with people were never this involved, and Ai was the first person with which she had really connected, but even that was a little skewed. Ai could be quite the enigma sometimes, and she was not helping with all the mixed signals she sent off.
"Don't tell me you still miss that bastard." Reina seethed a little (ok, more than a little) inside. She was jealous, damnit. The way Ai talked about, and did not talk about, the guy really illustrated how deeply he had gotten under her skin. Reina wasn't blind. Ai's eyes became clouded with a myriad of emotions whenever they got anywhere near the topic before. There had been love, regret, despair, sadness...
Many things. Reina felt insecure. It was so obvious that Ai had felt strongly about her ex-boyfriend. Reina only wanted Ai to look at her, and not even think about anyone else. She had felt more than a little desperate, trying to cheer Ai up after that debacle, trying to steer Ai away from focusing on the jerk. She had convinced herself that she was just trying to protect Ai from dwelling on the pain, but the truth was...she just hated the idea of Ai thinking of someone else that wasn't her.
"What are you talking about?" Ai was baffled. Her feelings toward Yamashita were...complicated, to say the least. She loved him once, that much she was willing to admit. She had been betrayed, and that had hurt her past the point of forgiveness. He would always get under her skin, because he had already been there before. It was difficult not to think of him whenever feelings were involved, because he had hurt her so deeply that she would never really forget it, short of amnesia. He was a bad first example to have when it came to relationships, but Ai figured that she would just have to deal with it. The consequences of bad choices.
Reina sat up, so that she was almost nose to nose with Ai. Their hands were still locked around each other's wrists, neither willing to let go. Stubborn mules, both of them.
"You don't trust me at all! Never telling me things, hiding stuff from me...I'm not a kid! I can help you! I want to help you!" Reina's voice was getting agitated, almost on the verge of cracking.
Somehow Ai got the feeling they weren't just talking about the trip anymore.
"Look, I wasn't going to go so I didn't think I needed to tell anyone, ok? Can't you just accept that?" Ai pushed forward stubbornly, deliberately ignoring the tangent.
"You told my mom." Reina said quietly. That was true.
"We were on the subject." Which was also true. "I would have told you about it if the subject ever came up in conversation." Somewhat less true, but it would never be put to the test, not now.
"Why are you always so...argh!" Reina tried to let go, shake Ai's grip loose of her hand. Ai didn't let go, so she settled for turning her face away huffily. Ai twitched irritably.
Reina was more than a little surprised when Ai's other arm snaked around her waist, pulling her into a tight embrace. The grip on her arm loosened, but that was only to faciliate the act of hugging Reina with both arms instead of just one. Her back was still to Ai, but she could feel the older girl's breath on her neck. It sent an involuntary shiver up her spine.
"Reina, listen. I didn't tell you because, because I'm not used to telling people things, ok? I don't know how to talk about these things. I used to talk to my mother, but I don't really want to worry her with this..."
"You know, people are just going to get more worried because you don't tell them anything." Reina interrupted, exasperated. Ai's grip didn't allow her to turn around to look at Ai, and having the older girl pressed into her back was kind of distracting. Not that it helped her temper. Ok, perhaps it did, but only a little!
"Will you stop it? I'm trying to apologize here!" Ai replied just a little snappishly. Her nerves were a little frayed. "I don't do this often!"
That was true. Most people usually gave in to her. Ai wasn't sure why. Probably because her pride had never allowed her to bow her head first. But here comes Reina, with a pride just as stubborn as her own. Something had to give first, and Ai was already very uncomfortable having to concede first, if at all. The best, or worst part, was that she didn't feel like she was at fault.
But she wanted Reina to listen to her, and if apologizing would get her damn attention, then she would suck it up and just do it.
Reina, for her part, wisely shut up. A part of her wanted to yell back. She didn't recall ever really having screaming matches with Ai. It just...never came to that. They had disagreements, but both of them chose to ignore it before. It was all sweetness and fluff before, but now? Now it felt real.
To be perfectly honest, Reina was terrified. It felt too real. Too honest. Too close to...whatever it was brewing between them. It felt raw and ready to lash out.
Was she angry with Ai? Yes. Did she still care about Ai? Definitely yes. Did she want to move on from this? Hell yes, but not back to what it was before, where they simply danced around each other's problems. Except going forward suddenly seemed like such a terrifying prospect. Because it was totally unknown, and Reina had absolutely no idea where they would be heading with this.
"I'm no good at this." Ai grumbled under her breath, which only served to tickle Reina's neck. The younger girl shifted uncomfortably. Her room was cold, but being pressed against Ai like this made the temperature almost comfortable. Comfortable, but for the tense atmosphere between them.
"Just stop thinking so much and say what you want to say!" Shutting up and listening was never Reina's strong suit. Her blunt honesty was something that Ai both loved and hated sometimes. It cut too much into her comfort zone, and Ai envied the way Reina could just say the things on her mind without, well, over-thinking it.
"God, you're such a coward."
Alright, that was just pushing it. Ai's temper flared, her fists clenching. Her jaw tightened, and she wanted to just lash out at something, but she managed to restrain it. Just barely. She had to respond. Somehow.
"I was worried, I didn't want to go because I didn't want to leave you behind!" There, she said it. Before Reina could respond, Ai took advantage of her momentary courage and continued.
"But I was also thinking of going because it's hard, alright? I didn't want to stay here. It's just going to get worse, I just know it! He's not going to stop haunting me, I need to get away from him. And if I leave, maybe he will leave you alone. He can't use you to get to me."
Ai closed her eyes. "But if I leave, he might still try to do something to you. I'm scared, Reina. I don't want anything to happen to you."
There, the truth. Ai's determination wavered, and she withdrew into herself, her grip on Reina slackening. She had said it all on the spur of a moment, and now she couldn't just un-say them. Things didn't work that way, and Ai was new at this whole...being direct thing.
"Ai." Reina had managed to turn around. Ai's head was bowed, her shoulders turned inward like a defensive bulwark against the world. Reina returned the embrace Ai had given her earlier, burying her face into Ai's shoulder.
"You're such an idiot." Ai stiffened at this. "Reina can take care of herself." Before Ai could shrink further, Reina continued.
"But Reina wants you to take care of her too." There. She kind of liked it when Ai was fussing over her. She would probably never admit it to someone else. It was a little embarrassing to enjoy being babied in any way, after all.
Ai looked down at where Reina was nestled into her. The younger girl seemed kind of embarrassed by her own declaration. So cute. How could I possibly leave?
"Reina doesn't want Ai to go anywhere." Reina muttered, clinging on to Ai. "Reina wants you right here. Not somewhere else." Reina looked up, and their eyes met.
"Rei..." Ai felt a little overwhelmed by the devotion in Reina's eyes. It made her want to pull away. It made her want to hold Reina close and never let go again.
It was all so confusing. Ai licked her suddenly dry lips. She felt like she should do something.
Something. Reina looked so vulnerable in her eyes. They were too close. She wanted to kiss her.
Wait, what? Ai recoiled from her own train of thoughts. What?
Reina ended up making the first move. It was just a simple, innocent press of her lips on Ai's cheek, but the contact felt like a burning brand on her skin. Reina was blushing when she pulled back, and promptly hid her face in Ai's chest.
"Mou, Ai is the worst!" Reina grumbled, smacking Ai gently in the shoulder. "Making me say all these things..."
Still kind of stunned, Ai didn't react for a while. She was still trying to respond to her own impulses.
"I'm sorry, Rei..." It felt right to have Reina curled up in her arms. Felt good to have her there. She was trying to process where all those led.
I want her all to myself. Ai thought a bit guiltily, running her thumb down Reina's arm. I don't want to leave, and I don't want to share.
The realization made her flush hot in a moment. Friends didn't do that. They didn't think like that. If Reina was not just her friend...where did that leave them?
We're both girls! Ai panicked internally. I can't do this to her! What if she doesn't like me back?
But she does! A gleeful, giddy sort of voice reminded her. Images of Reina being overly affectionate to her, coupled with all the declarations of how much Ai meant to her flashed within her mind in an instant.
She could have just been trying to be a really good friend. That sounded lame even to herself. For that matter, why was she even having this argument with herself to begin with? It didn't make sense.
I can't possibly like someone like that, right? Not a girl...
But it's Reina. Not just any other girl. She had never felt so comfortable cuddling with anyone else that wasn't family. With her other friends from her childhood, she used to do boisterous stuff like climb trees and do strange things on a dare. Almost like a boy. She was practically fearless back then. It was a different kind of closeness she was dealing with now, and it was absolutely scary.
Ai was pretty sure her brain was short-circuiting. It was too confusing! She needed some space. She was not getting any space, short of shoving Reina off her. That just wouldn't do.
"Ai, is something wrong?" Reina had sat up, and she reached out to cup Ai's cheek with one hand. Ai nearly choked, a strangled sound coming from her throat.
Reina was just too close. She should push her away, get some air. Get some space. She needed to think. Reina was not letting go. Damnations.
Oh, screw thinking!
Ai had a wild sort of look in her eyes. Like that of a cornered animal. Reina was justifiably concerned. Leaning in close, she was totally not prepared for when Ai suddenly grabbed her by the shoulders. Reina barely had enough time for her eyes to start bulging when Ai kissed her.
The sound of the bedsprings bouncing was very loud when they hit the bed.
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Oh Ai. You so confused. So cute. Hurhur.
I leave evil cliffie and see if anyone responds. Fufu. XD
P.S. I didn't plan it to turn out like this. They just took matters into their own hands. Oh well, what can I say. XD
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Cliffhanger? That was like (for a serious lack of another metaphor) getting blue-balled. I can't tell if I should be excited or worried. Me and Ai rowing downstream on the Pedo Boat together. Who wouldn't want to eat petulant Reina? Come on, let's all be honest here. *raises hand* anyone? Just me? Okay.
I LOVE the 'Ai smash rawrr' moment here. At least we get to see it appear somewhere. You can tell I've been thinking about it since MSP.
Re: Altverse- YES! Go character death and hurt/comfort someone! It's good for the soul, I hear.
I will keep this short for now since I'm typing this up on my Pod. Just wanted to be a troll and FIRST!
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At least you had forgotten about the story, not had it shoved somewhere in the corner and neglected it all this while :lol:
Especially after seeing you venture into kyukki fics I started to think we would never get to see ReinAi from you again :nervous
So. Ai gets invited by Mama Tanaka for lunch, and contributes to a shattered dessert bowl and dismantled door to Reina's room XD
Nice job. Whatever it takes to get to the kitten who has her defensive walls set up.
And finally. The kiss. Finally Ai lets herself driven by her emotions and feelings. See how not over-thinking can achieve things.
Though, if Ai really has chosen not to go to America I'm also curious how this would influence their relationship, as much as her leaving would have. That stumbling block called Yamashita is still lurking around, but like Ai said who knows if her leaving for America really would have sorted things out for Reina.
I wonder if Mama Tanaka has picked up the "vibes" around Ai and her daughter, and wouldn't be all that shocked if she happened to walk in on the scene going on upstairs XD
....and so I wait for the next chapter. Again :P
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O M G
:cow: :cow: :cow: :cow: :cow: :cow: :cow: :cow: :cow: :cow: :cow: :cow: :cow: :cow: :cow: :cow: :cow: :cow: :cow: :cow: :cow: :cow: :cow: :cow:
After being without internet for almost two weeks, to come here and found this kind of update is... well, totally OMG.
I have a lot, a looot, to catch up, and too many comments to write but.... BUT! Gosh, I just have to come here first and fangirl a little. I think I told you already, but this was my very first H!P fanfic. Because of that, this fanfic is very special and dear to me :heart: This is what made me stay here and lurk in the fanfic section in first place. I thought you wouldn't update this one anytime soon so... when I saw this I choked on my coke XD I don't think I have the words to express properly my happiness and enthusiasm right now. Too bad you can't see my happy dancing :lol:
I'm talking too much. What I wanted to say is THANK YOU A LOT FOR UPDATING DESTINY LOVE ESSY :heart: And expect a very very fangirly comment later, when I finish catching up with my comments duties XD.
OH, AND...
Who wouldn't want to eat petulant Reina? Come on, let's all be honest here. *raises hand* anyone? Just me? Okay.
*raises hand too*
You're not alone grac :lol:
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They just kind of wrote themselves, huh? XD I wouldn't have expected Ai to jump in like that, but at the same time, Reina would have never done it at this stage. Maybe an older Reina.
Sorry my comment's lame, I'm sick... :on freeza:
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Woohoo I'm back! 3 updates in 3 days. Hehe.
drac: To be perfectly honest... *raises hand as well* :lol: I know you wanted to see Ai smash something, and this seemed like a good spot for it so....lol, I think the crack is crossing borders. It gets more obvious in the coming chapter. XD OMG don't make me do an AU for this! It'll be more than borderline depressing! >_> And lol, you got your first, happy now?
aussie: Ehehehe... ^^; I don't think I can give up ReinAi entirely, I love them too much. Even though I sometimes want to smack them. XD Yeah, an Ai who doesn't think so much gets more things done. Haha. She'll need to learn that as she goes. The America thing is still up in the air, actually. As long as she hasn't rejected it outright, the offer's still on the table...so who knows? XD Yamashita will be taken care of in due time. I have plans for him. XD I do wonder what Mama Tanaka will think of ReinAi's budding relationship, really. XD It's one thing to accept your daughter having a close female friend. Having a girlfriend, on the other hand...XD
ropy: Dancing cows! A whole row of them! This was your first fanfic huh...yeah you mentioned that before. :D I'm glad that I was able to reel you in with this fic! And lol, what's with people being so shocked that they choke on coke, bang knees on desks etc...right, I went 6 months without updating this. XD Take your time catching up, I know two weeks is a long time, and I've updated quite a lot within that span too! :P Have fun!
rndy: *gives rndy blankets and huggles* Get some rest! Honestly, I hadn't expected Ai to jump in like that. They were rebelling against my angst setting and I gave up after a while. Lmao. I think they had enough of it from NR. Disgusting cuteness coming up. :P Get well soon!
Ok time to edit and post!
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*wedge*
>.>
<.<
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Wedge~ *cough cough* >.<
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Hanabi
This was not how Reina had imagined her first kiss.
For starters, her imagination had always conjured a tall, handsome guy who would literally sweep her off her feet and then kissed her under a starry night sky, preferably on a hill somewhere. Yes, she might have been watching too much drama. But that was basically how it went.
It would have been tender. It would have been amazing. It would have been unforgettable and awesome and whatever other appropriate adjective you could think of. It would have been something out of a dream.
Except, you know, reality's kind of a bitch. Nothing ever turns out the way you expect it to.
She might have been shocked, but she somehow still managed to mentally tick off all the things that didn't happen off her checklist. Maybe it was a coping mechanism.
For starters, the person kissing her was not tall, not handsome (beautiful, but not handsome), and most definitely not a guy. Technically she could say she had been swept off her feet (they were not touching the ground), but being laid flat on her back on her bed struck her as...inappropriate. Or too damn fast.
It was also not night, there were no stars, she was at home, in her room, with her mom downstairs, and the bloody door destroyed, so basically anyone could walk in on them right now.
That fact might have disturbed her had she not been so distracted at the moment.
Wow, she's kissing me. Way to be obvious, brain, Reina mocked herself. It wasn't exactly tender. It felt desperate. It was kind of clumsy. It was tentative and scared and bold all at the same time. Demanding, but worried. Curious, nervous, almost shy.
In other words, it was a very Ai sort of kiss. It was like Ai had laid all her emotions bare through the less than proficient contact. For her part, Reina was just lying there, too stunned to react, even as her subconscious catalogued all these details.
You only get one first kiss in your life. Reina definitely hadn't expected to get it under such circumstances, but she wouldn't trade this experience for anything else.
Her eyes had widened, but they gradually fluttered close as she began to respond. Or she would have responded, because the next moment saw Ai pulling away, a look of utter horror on her face. Reina blinked slowly, still trying to process what had just happened.
Ai pressed her fingers to her lips, seemingly shocked by what she just did. She would have backed away, but her legs were still tangled with Reina's and she only succeeded in nearly falling off the bed. Had Reina not reached out to pull her back, she probably would have.
The forward momentum only succeeded in getting Ai practically on top of Reina again. There was a lot of squirming (on Ai's part), while Reina was just trying to get her to calm down. Drawing on all her experience of roughhousing with boys, Reina managed to flip Ai over, straddling the older girl down on the bed.
"Will you just hold still?" Reina growled. Ai covered her eyes with one hand, as if too ashamed to look Reina in the eye. Under different circumstances, Reina might have been amused. Right now, she was just exasperated. After all, Ai was the one who had initiated the kiss. Therefore, Reina was technically the victim. However, Ai was the one freaking out, and Reina, while she had been surprised, was dealing with it a lot better than she would have expected.
"Oh, brother." Reina muttered a few choice swear words. Ai was still not looking at her. Time for some drastic measures. Holding Ai's head still with both hands, she leaned down.
Ai almost jumped when Reina's lips found her own. Her tiny squeak was smothered under the assault, her senses reeling. It seemed impossible that Reina would kiss her back, but there they were. It was almost too good to be true.
Reina had no idea how to do this. It always seemed so easy on TV. What exactly was she supposed to do next? She had mostly just wanted to get Ai's attention. Then maybe they could talk. She was about to pull away when she felt Ai respond warmly to her kiss, nibbling lightly on her lower lip. Reina squeaked in surprise as Ai ran her tongue across her lips, at first tentatively, then a bit more confidently.
The next thing Reina knew, she was no longer on top of Ai, having been rolled over as she had relaxed into the renewed kiss. Not that she really minded. This second kiss was so different from the first. Where Ai had been terrified of her response at first, now she seemed more reassured, and was exploring the territory with a renewed confidence.
Then Ai pulled away, watching Reina carefully. She didn't want to push too far, too fast. She licked her lips warily, savoring the feeling. Kissing Reina was nerve wracking to start with, but ultimately felt more comfortable than, well, her other experience. More importantly, she wanted to make sure Reina was ok with this. Whatever "this" was.
Reina was feeling a little dazed. Sure, she initiated the second kiss, but it was more on an impulse, just to get a reaction out of Ai. She wasn't sure what just happened. Hell, she didn't even know why Ai kissed her to begin with. Where did that leave them now?
"Rei...?" Ai's voice was nervous, and she played nervously with the hem of Reina's t-shirt, unsure of how to begin. "Um..."
"Why did you do that?" Reina's eyes came back into focus, and were now boring sharply into Ai's awkward profile. To prevent the girl from bolting again, Reina deliberately hooked one arm and leg around Ai, latching on to her like a giant remora.
"I uh..." Just wanted to kiss you. Ai finished lamely in her head. She fidgeted uncertainly.
"Ai." Reina narrowed her eyes, deliberately pushing up closer to the older girl. "If you're just messing around..."
"I'm not!" Ai protested, jerking her head upwards. Due to the close proximity of their faces, their foreheads collided. Both girls parted reflexively.
"Oww..."
"Are you ok, Reina?" Forgetting her own pain, Ai attended to Reina first. Her hand lingered over the red mark, her face apologetic. "I'm sorry..."
"You're hard-headed..." Reina muttered, opening one eye to look at Ai. "In more than one way."
Ai pouted and flicked a finger against the injured area. Reina winced. "Hey!"
Ai smiled, placing a soft kiss on Reina's forehead. "I like it when you're like that."
"You still haven't answered my question." Reina said pointedly, poking Ai in the chest to emphasize her point.
"Um." Ai was the very image of eloquence. "I like you?"
That was not the kind of confession every girl lives to hear.
"...what?" Reina couldn't believe her ears. Then again, she couldn't believe herself, on some level. Logically speaking, they had already kissed twice, been all cuddly for longer before that, and basically tiptoeing around the whole subject of, you know, liking each other that way for some time already.
Ai thought about it. A few things clicked into place. Her attachment to Reina. The concern, the devotion, the near-obsession with the girl. Yeah, she liked her. What took her so long to figure this out anyway?
Oh yeah. Because it's not exactly normal. Right.
And back to your regularly scheduled ANGST.
Ai bit her lip nervously. Reina's reaction was not giving her good vibes. But Reina had kissed her back, hadn't she? So it was possible that Reina didn't completely reject the idea. Maybe she had just moved too fast. Or maybe Reina was just being kind when she did that, and she never had a chance before.
Ai was starting to get a headache at all the possibilities (mostly negative). The longer Reina took to respond, the more time she had to cook up worst-case scenarios. Having an active imagination was probably not a good thing in this situation.
"Really?" Reina whispered, as if not quite believing her ears. Ai snapped out of Doomsday Scenario #23 (involving window ledges, dramatic speeches, and a blustery sky), and looked right back at Reina.
"Um." She needed to stop doing that. "Yes." I like you, Reina. I really like you. I like you so much, I don't even know how to say it, it's kinda scary.
Amazing what doesn't get said.
For one of the very few times in her life, Reina was at a loss for words. Make no mistake, Ai's confession made her very happy. Fireworks were going off inside her head. She felt overwhelmed. There was just so much emotion floating around in her that she did the only thing any ordinary girl would do.
She burst into tears.
Ai's jaw worked soundlessly as she did a mental impression of a panicked squirrel in a forest fire. She wanted to flail about in her distress, because she had absolutely no idea why Reina was crying. Did she do something wrong? Was Reina shocked by the confession? Did Reina not like her that way? Had she hurt the girl's feelings?
"I'm sorry Reina! I-I shouldn't have done that! Um, ah, I'm sorry I kissed you? I'll uh, take back whatever I said? Please..."
Ai started crying too. Tears were contagious, especially in her case. She was so flustered that she didn't even notice when Reina started to giggle at her excessive reaction.
"Idiot!" Reina spluttered, reaching up to pinch the tip of Ai's nose. "I'll really kick your ass if you take what you said back..."
"Eh?" Ai blinked back tears in confusion. Her eyes widened as Reina leaned in, pressing her forehead against Ai's.
"Reina likes Ai best too." The younger girl was blushing. Ai mentally pinwheeled backwards.
"Eh, eh???" Reina snorted, pushing Ai over so that she was leaning over the older girl.
"Will you stop that?" Peck on the forehead. "I." On the temple. "Like." Cheek. "You." And then a quick one on the lips. Reina pulled back, puffing out reddened cheeks as she gazed at Ai in fond exasperation.
"Idiot."
Ai stared blankly upwards, then blinked rapidly. "Ah."
"Don't just 'ah' me, you!" Reina prodded Ai aggressively. "Say something!"
"Something." Ai said lazily, an oddly blissful smile settling on her glistening face.
"Oi!" Reina pouted, putting her hands on her hips as she sat up. Ai grinned foolishly as she reached up and pulled Reina back down.
"Daisuki da yo, Reina."
==========================================================
Lol. I would like to quote myself.
Yeah, she liked her. What took her so long to figure this out anyway?
This. I feel like this was a backhand at the Ai from NR. Lmao.
Anyway, disgustingly sweet and saccharine chapter for you guys. Coupled with generous amounts of crack. I think writing MSF got to me. It infected my brain with crack! Whatever shall I do? :lol:
EDIT: WHY ARE THERE TWO WEDGES THERE.
And rndy, GO BACK TO BED.
:lol:
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so like holly crap thats the most epic confession ever XDDD liek i was laughing so much but like holding it in at the same time cus its like 1:30 am here and i cant wake up my mom ^^; essy, you like seriously made my day and it's barely even started! XD reina crying and then ai crying just cus reina's crying plus the billions ouf senarios is just like.....there's not even a word! XD this is a back hand to the ai in NR and i likes it! X3 XD cant wait for more~! and how on earth can u do wedges anyway??? o.o XD and u got 2? thats pretty cool
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Can't sleep, the clowns'll eat me. I mean, I got up late today, I'll go after a reply, promise. :grin:
First off, stop making me laugh, it hurts. This fluffity fluff is so dang cute, I giggled through the whole chapter. Some things that made me laugh were:
Reina's thought processes:
She might have been shocked, but she somehow still managed to mentally tick off all the things that didn't happen off her checklist. Maybe it was a coping mechanism.
It was also not night, there were no stars, she was at home, in her room, with her mom downstairs, and the bloody door destroyed, so basically anyone could walk in on them right now.
Wow, she's kissing me. Way to be obvious, brain, Reina mocked herself.
In other words, it was a very Ai sort of kiss.
Ai's reaction:
because the next moment saw Ai pulling away, a look of utter horror on her face.
She would have backed away, but her legs were still tangled with Reina's and she only succeeded in nearly falling off the bed.
There was a lot of squirming (on Ai's part),
Reina's STFU kiss.
Ai's excessive "um"ing
Tears.
Blunt ass confession.
This quote:
And back to your regularly scheduled ANGST.
And this one:
Ai snapped out of Doomsday Scenario #23 (involving window ledges, dramatic speeches, and a blustery sky), and looked right back at Reina.
Then some loving banter at the end.
Man, I can't spell tonight. Hope I fixed all my errors. XD
I'm so glad you haven't forgotten about this story. Or at least remembered it. XD XD Hopefully next time, we can all make a wedge triple decker. :lol: With cheese. XD
:yawn: Off to beddy bye. :bow: :bow:
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Disgusting Cuteness! Yes! *fistpump*
As first kisses and declarations of love go, this has to be the sweetest yet. Or crackiest. I find it kinda odd that Reina has never imagined a romantic situation with Ai after all this while tho. Must be the being 15 thing.
To prevent the girl from bolting again, Reina deliberately hooked one arm and leg around Ai, latching on to her like a giant remora.
Ride the shark, Reina! Ride it! (http://biomesblog.typepad.com/photos/uncategorized/2007/09/16/remora2.jpg)
:lol:
Ai's jaw worked soundlessly as she did a mental impression of a panicked squirrel in a forest fire.
(http://rlv.zcache.com/fire_squirrel_photosculpture-p153440668744404586qdjh_400.jpg)
In case anyone needs a graphic illustration. Ai, burning up from overthinking.
Wow, it's like NatGeo in this story, what with all the animals:
(http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3284/3354036128_cf06879d25.jpg)
Tussling for dominance.
Coupled with generous amounts of crack. I think writing MSF got to me. It infected my brain with crack! Whatever shall I do?
I 'muaha'ed. Good luck with that. Welcome to the edge of the crack of no return. i think the exit clause may be character death, but i haven't tested it out yet.
By the way, what the hell is a wedge? And where can i get one?!! Til next time, Rokun and Rndy. Just you wait.
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finally get to catch-up reading this fic :)
I'm glad that writing MSF gives you inspiration... more crack please :lol:
This was not how Reina had imagined her first kiss.
For starters, her imagination had always conjured a tall, handsome guy who would literally sweep her off her feet and then kissed her under a starry night sky, preferably on a hill somewhere. Yes, she might have been watching too much drama. But that was basically how it went.
It would have been tender. It would have been amazing. It would have been unforgettable and awesome and whatever other appropriate adjective you could think of. It would have been something out of a dream.
Except, you know, reality's kind of a bitch. Nothing ever turns out the way you expect it to.
ah... the classic perfect-first-kiss that almost every girl dreams about XD
too bad Reina... :lol:
I actually expected Reina's mama caught them or something :lol: that would be hilarious and awkward
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Essie-sama, Imma just tell you this.
You are just too awesome x__x
This chap made me all mushy in the inside umg :heart: It was THAT nicely written D:
kk that was all D: i shall come up with a neater (?) comment in your next update, kk, carry on gets :twothumbs
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Ok I'm back. XD
kawaii: Yes, it's a pretty epic confession between two dorks. XD Well, Ai is dorky enough for both of them, honestly. XD As for the whole wedging thing, the idea is to basically post in between the author's comment reply and the actual chapter. It's easy to wedge my stories since my editing process takes a while. :lol: So whoever is online at the time gets tired of just waiting (and refreshing) the page, so thus was born the wedge! Yeah. XD
rndy: Clowns? Girl, you're too luded up on meds. XD But clowns! *hands you a chainsaw* And I'm sorry I made you laugh? XD But isn't laughter good for the soul? :P Don't worry I don't spot any spelling errors. You do good for a sick person. I don't know if there are enough people on at the times I update sometimes! How to do this wedge thing then. :P Hope you're feeling better already!
drac: LOL at all the animal pictures! The flaming squirrel one...I twitched at that. Really. XD The cat pic was so gosh darn adorable! Just like ReinAi here, honestly. XD And gah I haven't fallen into the abyss of crack yet! The next chapter proves it. :P See explanation to kawaii for the tradition of wedging. XD It used to be pretty common back in the day. :lol:
eruchan: Why is crack so popular? I have no idea. XD Are you reading my mind though? Reina's mama is just downstairs after all...what's to stop her from coming upstairs to check on them? XD
Ada: Yes, I feel mushy whenever I look at it too! :heart: Haha I appreciate the effort to comment! :) Hope to see you around more often!
Alrighty, time to edit and post. XD
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White Noise
Tanaka Saeko hummed to herself as she finished putting the kitchen back in order. She had taken her time, giving the children enough time to talk.
Granted, she had been a little concerned when she heard a loud crash at one point, but the distant sound of yelling voices pretty much said that the kids were alright, if a little worked up. She would have been worried if it had been silent after the crash, but if they were able to yell at each other, that meant that they were at least safe from physical harm.
Those two... Saeko neatly tied a knot for the bag of burnable garbage, ready to be taken out. Reina had always been a stubborn child, with difficulty relating to other people. Sure, she had a lot of acquaintances with which she played with, but Saeko knew her daughter. Reina had never become emotionally close to other people.
Perhaps it was the way she was brought up. In Reina's early years, Saeko and her husband had been busy trying to establish their business, and Reina had been forced to move around various cities with them for a time. It was thus that Reina never had much time to really make close friends, though it was a blessing of sorts that the girl was always able to strike up passing acquaintances with new people so very easily.
But it was probably from that time that Reina learned to keep people at a distance. Why bother to form close friendships if they weren't going to last? Saeko had seen this, and regretted that time. Putting Reina with her grandparents was a marginally better idea. At least it gave the girl a chance to live a more settled life.
It had come as a surprise to Saeko that Reina had finally found a close friend, and at work no less. She had very few expectations from the entertainment industry, only obliging Reina because that was what her darling daughter wanted to do. The general impression she had of the industry was largely negative, so she had definitely not seen it coming when Reina started talking about her senpai so enthusiastically.
It was no passing interest, either. Reina could be rather fickle, Saeko knew. A good television drama series would probably do more to capture her interest in the long term than a person could. But Reina seemed to have grown quite attached to one Takahashi Ai, and would not stop talking about the girl.
So Saeko had to see this person for herself. Just to see what kind of person her daughter was hanging out with. Of course, she had also done a little covert research on the girl, just a cursory look at her profile and information that was accessible to the public.
The results had been pretty positive. Ai had been relatively scandal-free, and seemed like a good girl at a glance. Saeko had waited to judge until after she actually saw Ai in person though. It wouldn't have been fair otherwise.
She wasn't disappointed. Ai was a good girl, and a decent influence for her Reina. Shy, reserved, even hesitant. The complete opposite of her often rambunctious daughter. Saeko was not sure why Reina found Ai so fascinating. Maybe Ai was just nervous around her, and was different around Reina?
That seemed possible. Then again, Saeko had been privately surprised by how different Reina was around Ai. Reina seemed to actively seek Ai's approval, and judging by how quickly she leaped to the older girl's defense, she was evidently very protective of her.
With the way the two girls had been behaving around each other, Saeko would have thought that they were acting like a pair of young lovers. Her little Reina was definitely acting like an overprotective boyfriend, what with the way she had been stressing over Ai's situation. It was adorable, in a way.
Though, with Ai's little situation...Saeko frowned. Reina had given her a brief overview, but she got the feeling that her daughter hadn't been fully forthcoming with all the details. So Ai had an ex-boyfriend that was giving her trouble. It was very sweet of Reina to defend her friend, but Saeko did not want her daughter putting herself in danger.
There were no longer any sounds of yelling coming from upstairs. Saeko took that as a good sign. Speaking with Ai earlier, she had quickly picked up how mature and intelligent the girl was. Ambitious too, though humble in the way she carried herself. Reina would do well to learn from her, really.
Ai's desire to study in America...Saeko had found that quite admirable. Something had been holding the girl back though, but Ai had not been forthcoming on that point. She had spoken almost wistfully about wanting to experience life in a different culture, about learning the language, and how the program her mentor had recommended her for would definitely improve her skills in theater.
Then Reina had overheard them, and reacted quite explosively. Saeko knew her daughter though. To have found a close friend after all this time, and then hearing that she might leave...really, Reina was still such a child. Then again, could she blame her daughter for having issues about separation? For all of her strengths, Reina was still very needy and insecure when it came to people she cared about.
And whether Saeko liked it or not, Ai was someone Reina cared for greatly. She would not take well to having the older girl away from her. It was almost worrying, honestly. The attachment Reina was developing towards Ai was bordering on unhealthy.
There was Ai, too. Judging from her expression earlier, when she realized that Reina had overheard them, Saeko had been able to guess a few things. One, that Ai cared a great deal about Reina. Another was that Ai had not wanted Reina to know, and Saeko was willing to hazard a guess that Ai's reluctance to take up her mentor's offer had a great deal to do with her wayward daughter.
It was rare to see a pair of friends so devoted to each other. Saeko shook her head and exited the kitchen. She should go check on them. There was no more yelling, so they should have calmed down a little. Or rather, Reina should have calmed down. Saeko didn't think Ai would be the yelling type anyway.
Mounting the stairs, Saeko wondered again just what it was in Ai that had caught Reina's interest. Ai was a good girl, yes, but she hadn't expected her wild daughter to settle for the quiet and shy type. After all, most of Reina's friends were anything but sedate. Just because Reina didn't bring them home doesn't mean that she was unaware of who they were. She had her sources.
A few feet away from Reina's room, Saeko suddenly heard Reina shout.
"Don't just 'ah' me, you! Say something!"
They were still at it? Saeko blinked. She zeroed in on the entrance. Why were there wood splinters on the floor? She stepped carefully around some of it, wondering what happened as she got ready to peer into the somehow door-less room.
She missed Ai's reply, but definitely caught the annoyed "oi!" coming from her daughter, who was sitting on the older girl in her bed. The next moment made her heart stop.
"Daisuki da yo, Reina." That sounded way too loving to be normal between friends. What they did next threw 'just friends' out of the window.
They kissed.
========================================================
Well, another shoe just dropped! XD
Sorry for the slightly boring chapter, but things have to continue moving forward. XD Besides, it's just too easy for them to finally admit they like each other. Hehe. Time to introduce complications! ...not like it isn't already complicated. *bricked*
:lol:
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I can see two possible scenarios.
1) Somehow quite inexplicably Reina and Ai manage to talk their way out of this as a friendship moment gone overboard, and although Mama Tanaka doesn't completely buy the story lets it slide. For now. And will keep a closer eye out on Ai, and a distance will start to grow between Ai and Mama Tanaka (who starts seeing Ai quite differently), and also maybe between Reina and her mother (for all of a sudden treating Ai differently).
2) Mama Tanaka wisely walks out of the scene, and later calls Ai out on her own to have The Talk. Ai gets the hint and starts withdrawing away from Reina, and eventually takes up on the American offer without telling Reina.....who finds out too late and tries to catch Ai at the airport but just misses her.
Ai finds Reina has changed dramatically upon her return several years later, who has also walked out on her family in the meantime for separating her from Ai.
XD
I just got too excited that you started updating this story again, and I got a wee bit carried away. But yeah. I'm counting on Mama Tanaka to keep being that cool mom and after overcoming the initial shock she'll support ReinAi like we all do *chuckles*
I just hope Ai doesn't make a stupid decision again and starts thinking too much, again. Like right after she confesses to Reina she will withdraw away just because Reina's mother caught them kissing, and send all sorts of wrong signals and messages to Reina.
But you promised this will be a happy ending. Right??????? :lol:
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i'm really glad to see you update, and so quickly for that matter?!.. :twothumbs :bow:
o.k.. here goes my random comments.. :grin:
Tango
i like how Aichan is internally debating about how she feels and what she should do about it, in the end logical thinking lost to impulse(which i greatly approve of!) :twothumbs realizing just how much she likes/loves Reina..
and jealous Reina is always fun to read.. XD
Hanabi
This was not how Reina had imagined her first kiss.
it was better than she imagined.. :yep:
And back to your regularly scheduled ANGST.
this made me ->> :lol: and thought it was a hint that things would be going south real soon... XD
this chapter was cute and fluffy! i need to savor it while it lasts.. :grin:
White Noise
and just like that the fluff went poof :lol:
i shouldn't really be surprised seeing how Nanchatte Renai turned out.. :nervous that one (NR) pissed me off in a good way (if there is such a thing XD), i'm a real sucker for happy endings but that won't stop me from reading your amazing(x10) fics.. :grin: :grin:
"Daisuki da yo, Reina."
i like reading this part better on the previous chapter.. :P
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"Daisuki da yo, Reina." That sounded way too loving to be normal between friends. What they did next threw 'just friends' out of the window.
They kissed.
Hopefully, they kissed with a good deal more skill and practice than the first few times. Have to put on a good show.
"Aww," cooed Mama Tanaka as she witnessed the sweet Girl Love blossoming between the two girls. "Reminds me of me and Oneesama when we were their age."
Yeah, right. Things are never that easy in an Essy-fic. Catch Reina by the scruff of her neck and lock her away for her own good ('til she's legal)! Have the 'if-you-love-Reina-you'll-leave-her-be' talk with Ai! Window ledges! Kerosene cans! School rooftops! (Oh wait, its not that kinda fic.)
Crack next?
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Tired now. Reply tomorrow... :yawn:
EDIT: So now we get Mama's thoughts on things. I thought it was pretty ironic that, just as she was thinking the attachment of Reina to Ai was borderline "unhealthy," did she walk in on them kissing.
A good television drama series would probably do more to capture her interest in the long term than a person could.
Oddly, this made me lol.
Why were there wood splinters on the floor?
Also, I realized I didn't say anything about Ai's tendency to break things when upset. Did I? I don't think I did. It's funny. XD
White Noise
Aaand~ It's called this because that's what Saeko heard in her shock?
So now I see two outcomes. One, Tanaka Mama turns into a figurative dragon and eats Ai whole. Figuratively, of course. Two, she slowly walks away and confronts one of the girls at a later date. Three, you completely surprise us with something out of all three of their hands. Like a meteor or a flaming toilet seat to the head.
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:ph43r:
Omake #1
"Aww," cooed Mama Tanaka as she witnessed the sweet Girl Love blossoming between the two girls. "Reminds me of me and Oneesama when we were their age."
"Mama?!" Reina gasped shrilly, falling off the bed. Ai gaped and pulled the covers to her chin.
"So should I start planning for the wedding?"
"Mama!"
"I'll take responsibility!"
"Ai!!"
"That's decided then!"
And then they got married and lived happily ever after.
The End.
===============================================
Reina: Don't I get to have a say in this at all?
Ai and Mama Tanaka: Nope!
Reina: orz
:lol:
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LOL! I wish I could click the 'thank you' button more than once.
I almost had an accidental roffle because i leaned too far back in my office chair whilst laughing. I can totally imagine Ai's mouth pursed into a cute determined line, hand straight up in the air whilst claiming responsibility.
:lol:
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The Omake deserves a separate reply. :lol: :lol: These simple laughing faces don't properly express my surprised hilarity at the whole thing, especially Ai's "I'll take responsibility!"
I also laughed at grac. :lol: :lol:
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Ok I promised comment replies. Here they aaaaaaare.
White Noise
aussie: Your scenarios are both very plausible. I had to think for very long to not write something predictable because of that. Right. XD It's ok to get carried away! I don't get into updating sprees very often. ^^; But yes, this will have a happy ending. Eventually. :P
mmsuki: Ah, welcome to my threads! I think this is the first time I've seen you post on one of my stories. *remembers most of my commenters* :lol: Haha yeah, enjoy whatever fluff when you can. Cos me being me, I tend to pierce it with drama and what do you end up with? Bucketloads of angst. But I intend to fix it. XD This won't turn into another NR. NR always made me feel so bad, and this story is a reaction to how I feel about NR. I'm happy for your support for my stories! :D Please do continue commenting!
drac: Lol, is the kissing so important? Yes it is Anyway! And if you feed me crack, be prepared for the consequences. :lol:
rndy: Aww sleepy rndy. :heart: Yeah I found it really ironic too. Ai's breaking of things when upset is pretty funny to me too. You can bet that this characterization is going to show up a great deal in my fics. XD Nice guess on the title. XD No meteors or flaming toilet seats though unless you want another omake Haha.
Omake #1
drac: I laughed. At you. XD Well technically you fed me that crack, I just took it and ran with it. Crack begets crack. It's like fire. :P It spreads... >_>
rndy: I laughed at grac too. Crack is always so much fun. Feed me more and I'll come up with more of this random moments of craziness. XD
Okie time to edit and post!
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Communication Break
"What exactly do you think you two are doing?"
Ai's eyes snapped wide open. Reina 'eep'ed and rolled off her...girlfriend? Both of them stared wide-eyed at the imposing figure of Tanaka Saeko in the shattered doorway. A noticeable red flush was creeping up Ai's neck as she swallowed dryly -- her throat was locking up in a highly uncomfortable way.
"Mama, I...we..." Reina was feeling defensive. She found Ai's hand and clutched it. She wasn't going to back down, not even if her mother disapproved.
Saeko was having mixed emotions about this whole thing. Her previously elevated opinion of Ai needed some serious re-evaluation. It is possible that no parent can truly react rationally when catching their teenage daughter in bed with someone else.
Especially if it's another girl... Saeko's mouth firmed into a thin line. Ai did not look very innocent with her hair mussed and the bed looking like the two of them had...
It was very hard to fight the instinctive assumption that the girl had seduced her daughter somehow. Even if Reina had been straddling her earlier. Her mind tried to erase that image. She wanted to preserve her idea of Reina still being her innocent little daughter. This...was not helping.
"Reina, get over here." Saeko said firmly. Reina narrowed her eyes, glancing back to Ai reluctantly. She shook her head once, then twice, slowly. Her grip on Ai's hand tightened.
Ai sat up slowly, feeling a slow dread creeping up from her throat to her ears. Her legs felt numb. She was terrified. Here she was, barely just over the first sparks of joy at having discovered her feelings for Reina, and a roadblock pops up to ruin her happiness. Her stomach clenched tightly, bile rising in her throat. A familiar despair was coming back to haunt her. Am I not allowed to be happy?
A small hand cupped her cheek. Ai turned to face Reina, who looked worried. Unbidden, the tears welled up in her eyes, and she had to blink them away. Reina's thumb brushed away the stray drops that escaped, her eyes boring into Ai's. I love you, I won't leave you.
"Takahashi-san, I think we need to talk." Saeko's tone was clipped, and more than a little edgy. The show of intimacy, both physical and emotional, disturbed Saeko deeply. Never had she seen her daughter seem so...adult...before. Reina would always be a child to her, but in that moment, Saeko had a flash of the woman Reina might grow up to become.
That was somehow distressing.
"Not without me around!" Reina interjected quickly. She knew firsthand how well her mother could manipulate people. She was not letting Ai out of her sight. After witnessing how Ai had been willing to do stupid things for her sake, Reina was not going to risk it. Even if it was her mother. Especially if it was her mother.
Reina didn't want to end up hating her mother. She loved her parents, but she loved Ai too. Hell if she was going to sacrifice one for the other. She couldn't make that choice. She just couldn't.
"Reina." Saeko wasn't quite sure how to properly communicate her feelings to her daughter. Ai on the other hand, smiled wanly, as if struggling to put up a brave front.
"Rei...it'll be ok." Ai almost choked on her words. She tried to smile again, even succeeded, but her tear-stained face ruined the effect to some degree.
"No it won't!" Reina burst out, turning on Ai in an instant. "You're just going to do something really stupid again and not tell me about it! I hate that! You were always so...so..." Reina ran a hand through her hair in irritation. "You're just so impossible."
"Rei, I'm sorry." Ai bowed her head. Reina made a noise of exasperation.
"Why are you apologizing again? Don't do that! I don't need you apologizing to me. You haven't done anything wrong." Reina let out a long breath. "You've just been so annoyingly self-sacrificial. This isn't a drama you know!"
"Ahem." Saeko cleared her throat. She was beginning to revise her opinion of what was going on between the two girls. Again. All these shifts of opinion was beginning to get very tiring.
"Later, Mama. I need to deal with her first." Reina almost casually dismissed her own mother, her attention fully focused on Ai. Saeko had to admit, that stung a little.
"But I just wanted to protect you..." Ai mumbled. Reina puffed out her cheeks, blowing out air slowly in an effort to not just explode right there.
"Look, we've been over this! Reina can take care of herself." Reina folded her arms. "You were just going to let him do that to you because he threatened to do something to me? Honestly! Remember how I kicked his ass?"
Reina had left the threatening part out of her account to Saeko earlier. The older woman raised her eyebrow at the relevation of this information, mentally filing it away for reference. She might have to do something about that. No one gets away with threatening her daughter, even by proxy.
"But you don't know what he can do!" Ai replied heatedly. She seemed genuinely agitated, even distressed. She was frightened of the man. "H-he has connections, Reina. He'll ruin you. He's already..." She fell silent, biting her lip.
"What did he do now?" Reina's voice was low and angry. She gripped Ai by the shoulders. "Tell me, what did he do to you?"
"He had me pulled out of the drama." Ai said quietly. She chuckled without humor. "He'll cut me out of the industry, and he can do it to you too." She shook her head. "I can't let him do that to you, Reina. I can't let him ruin your dreams."
"I don't care." Reina said flatly. "I can always just start again somewhere else." Her knuckles grew white as she clenched a fist. "I can't believe that jerk could just..."
Saeko was forgotten in the background as the drama between the two girls played out. Given other circumstances, she might have even been amused by this. It was amazing how focused those two were on each other. Her image of Ai as a wilting flower was starting to waver a little. There was a quiet strength in that girl, behind her tears and retiring nature. Push her down, and she'll just stand up again, head bowed but not defeated.
Her Reina, on the other hand, would never admit defeat and fight tooth and nail every inch of the way. But her inner nature was far more fragile. Harder to break, but once shattered...
Saeko had worried about whether Ai would be good enough for Reina. A love between girls...she had seen too many of those too-close relationships broken up as they approached adulthood. Japan did not care about how children experimented while they were young. What it did care about was the adults they became. It would not be easy, and she didn't think they would be able to withstand it. Saeko did not want her daughter to be hurt. It would be so much easier had Reina fallen for a boy, though she probably would have put the young man through hell anyway. She only had one daughter.
She had to make sure. She wanted her daughter to be happy, but not just for a time. She wanted Reina to find a lasting happiness as she had. Something that would endure, something that would see her through the different trials life would throw at them.
Not every first love works out to a happy ending. Saeko knew that. Her Kenji had come to her completely by accident. They had made it work, even through all their differences. She had had to grow up a great deal before being sure that she was in fact happy with what she had.
Reina was still too young. Ai was not much better in that respect. Both of them hardly had any idea what they were getting into with each other. It was far too easy for them to just be caught along with the rush of emotions and stumble along like blind (wo)men in the dark.
Maybe it would have been a better idea to just let Reina try and fail, learn the hard way that love wasn't easy. But Saeko loved her daughter. She couldn't just stand by. The stereotype of the meddling mother was hard to overcome, and Saeko knew she couldn't help herself.
For better or for worse, she was already involved the moment she found out about it. Whether the girls liked it or not. They were just going to have to deal with it.
"We need to talk." She had to almost shout to get their attention. Ai and Reina blinked at her, as if suddenly remembering she was still there. Saeko caught Ai swallowing nervously again. She couldn't quite manage a smile at this point, but she was sure smirking would just make the girl hyperventilate from the stress. Reina probably wouldn't like that.
"Come with me. Both of you."
================================================
*wanders off whistling*
Progress is...inching forward. XD
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:shock: Garg~! Tanaka Mama reacts like a mama bear, rather than a dragon. If she could get Ai alone, I'm almost positive, in this early stage of their relationship, she could cut the bud of their romance. She seems to have a fine grasp of the subtle nuances of manipulation and speech.
Though,There was a quiet strength in that girl, behind her tears and retiring nature. Push her down, and she'll just stand up again, head bowed but not defeated.
Maybe Ai would not be so easily deterred.
MaybeHer Reina, on the other hand, would never admit defeat and fight tooth and nail every inch of the way. But her inner nature was far more fragile. Harder to break, but once shattered...
Her attack should be on her daughter instead. I doubt she would ever do that, though, she's a mother, not a dictator.
I want to see how they all react to each other now, rather than speculate on what "could be if." I mean, you promised a happy ending, right? :wub:
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"What exactly do you think you two are doing?"
"Saa." *shrugs*
^Was what my crack!Reina would've said, dismounting from Ai smoothly.
...and a roadblock pops up to ruin her happiness
LOL! I had a sudden image of Saeko as an orange cone dressed in a frilly apron.
"You've just been so annoyingly self-sacrificial. This isn't a drama you know!"
It's... not? :stoned:
She was beginning to revise her opinion of what was going on between the two girls. Again. All these shifts of opinion was beginning to get very tiring.
Heh. Hehheh. Was this your own personal opinion injected into the story?
Inch more! Forward!
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:ph43r:
Omake #2
"What the hell do you think you two are doing?"
"Saa." Reina rolled off Ai lazily. She adjusted her clothes half-heartedly.
"Can't you tell?"
"You two..." Saeko twitched as Ai tried to gather the shreds of her dignity (and clothes) back together. Reina smirked.
"You're in the way, hag."
============================================
Hurhurhur.
And a bonus!
Omake #3 or Why Gaming is Bad For You
"Take that, ten points!"
The human missile known as Takahashi Ai launched across the room and hit the oddly frilly roadblock dressed in a pink apron with a flying tackle. Otherwise known as Tanaka Saeko.
"Mama! Ai-chan!" Reina's jaw dropped.
"GTA, baby!" Ai cackled madly.
"Ai-chan yarisugi..."
========================================
Heh. Hehe. Hehehhehe.
:grin:
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My first comment for this fic :lol:
But I have nothing to say because your fic is hard to explain the feeling (and I know it cause only to me)
Thanks for writing the good one to us :wub:
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mmsuki: Ah, welcome to my threads! I think this is the first time I've seen you post on one of my stories. *remembers most of my commenters* :lol: Haha yeah, enjoy whatever fluff when you can. Cos me being me, I tend to pierce it with drama and what do you end up with? Bucketloads of angst. But I intend to fix it. XD This won't turn into another NR. NR always made me feel so bad, and this story is a reaction to how I feel about NR. I'm happy for your support for my stories! :D Please do continue commenting!
oh yeah, that was my first comment on your thread.. :nervous but i have read majority of your fics (there are a few one-shots that i have yet to read XD).. i was just too intimidated to leave a comment.. :lol: because i don't know where or how to start commenting... :sweatdrop: i do enjoy reading YOUR ANGST, its on a different level.. :lol: when i read it, i feel the need to look for sunshine and i'm not even a big fan of the sun as i prefer cold, cloudy weather.. XD
Communication Break
The older woman raised her eyebrow at the relevation of this information, mentally filing it away for reference.
LOL!! will this information come back and bite Reina on the ass?.. :lol:
She might have to do something about that. No one gets away with threatening her daughter, even by proxy.
oh.. oh..!! i definitely want to see Yamashita getting whooped by Mama Tanaka.. :twisted: :twothumbs
Omake #1
LOL!! if only things were that easy.. XD
Omake #2
hahahaha!! ok.. i just don't know where to start with this one.. :lol:
Omake #3 or Why Gaming is Bad For You
Aichan getting 'possessed' by GTA?!.. thats not good but its awesome nonetheless.. :rofl: :twothumbs
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Crack is good for you. It's certainly improved my quality of life. You can laugh all you want. *just noticed the comment replies*
These omakes were crazy awesome!
Somehow even though you used the word 'hag', I could totally imagine Reina saying 'baba' with an unimpressed look on her face.
"Ai-chan yarisugi..."
Do I detect a bit of awe mixed with the exasperation and disbelief?
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I HATE YOU, ESSY!
You make me like ReinAi.
o__________o
>__________<
*Bee needs to read beyond Hanabi then will make proper comment*
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When I saw the Omakes had been added, I immediately thought, "Oh god, she isn't really going to incorporate my flying toilet seat of doom, is she?!"
Saeko twitched as Ai tried to gather the shreds of her dignity (and clothes) back together.
Could totally see, even though Reina is younger, completely taking charge of Ai and ripping into her, literally. :lol:
"You're in the way, hag."
I had the same thought as grac. It brought me back to Maido Arii~ squatting Reina XD (My favorite part of that ep. "It's string bikini. :heart: ")
The human missile known as Takahashi Ai launched across the room and hit the oddly frilly roadblock dressed in a pink apron with a flying tackle.
Sure she hasn't been playing Madden? :lol:
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Wow.. You update real fast..
Sorry for the late comment, I'm on holiday n mobile phone really isn't convenient to type posts with proper emoticon.. Lol..
Well.. I love the crack.. Make my day feels better.. XD
Woo.. Mama Saeko is so protective, guess Reina get it from her XD
Reina's mama still thinks of her as a baby? A lot of parents are like that I guess XD too bad your baby girl will keep growing and maturing..
Thanks for the omake!
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waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa Estrea!! write very well!
I love this fic!! RENAI THE BEST!! ♥♥
although a bit confusing for me to read, I do not understand English so it passes through the google translator (as now)
not very reliable to translate aajajjajaja and more if they are long texts =(,
but no matter, it is understood as, although there do not understand who is speaking or what each one does ajajajjajajaa.
I look forward to the next chapter!!!!! *3* I know you will say Saeko T_T! awww
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Hi my first post here :sweatdrop: I just read all of the chapters in one sitting :nervous
I have NEVER shipped ReinAi before and never wanted to and after reading this I can't help it >_<
I don't know if its a good thing or not :wigglypanda:
But these last few chapters when they realize their love for each other.. Just perfect :farofflook: Til Saeko interrupts :dizzy:
Anyways. Great story!! I lubs it :hee: Hope to see a new chappy soon :onioncheer:
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i read it from the very first page today :D i'm... yeah, well... haha.. what can i say?
it feels like i would just suddenly blurt out every kind of praise and wonderful adjectives at the moment.
WHAAAAAAAAAAAaaaAAaaAAAaaaaaaaaAA!!!
--- exhale~
i hope i was able to express myself well XD XD XD
i love the the story.. way too innocent, i love the fluff and mush all around..
yeah, you should see my face at every chapter-end. it is idiotic, insane face craving for more..
things had been going well since chapters were already laid out, but now i came to this..
yeah, i gotta join these guys in waiting for more...
only scares me a bit though.. it kinda resembles my friendship.. A LOT
i hope this won't affect my reality that much :nervous
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estreaaa plisss continues with the fic T____________________________________T ONEGAIIIIIIIIIII
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I swear these ReinAi fan fictions are really starting to open my eyes. And I wonder what Reina mom needs to say.. dokidoki feeling to it. Now im quite positive im a semi ReinAi fan lol. I say this to all the writers who didnt finish but GANBAREEE~ Come back whenever you can and finish please? Ok! Jaaa neee~
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why i cant write like you??? . . .
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plisssssssss ;_; continuously the fic!! T_T
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camping out in this thread...
i need more reinai in my life
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think so astro... still I have hope that someday we continue to fic
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So uh, tis the season for unexpected updates? My belated Valentines' Day gift?
Or maybe I'm just preparing for my own demise by finishing up stories, yes
ANYWAY. Comment replies~
Shiawase_Honoo: Sooo....2 years. XD I guess rereading is necessary at this point. :lol: Sorry for the wait!
mmsuki: Pretty sure I haven't seen you around in a while. Well if you're still interested here's the update. :P
grac: Hopefully you'll find the time to catch up since you've been so busy lately. :lol:
Bee: WHERE DID YOU GO? I CANNA FIND YOU. D: And yes, come to the Dark Side, we have cookies. :P
rndy: Something else for you to reread. :P
eruchan: I must apologize for vanishing for 2 years. :lol: Hope you're still interested!
Angel Asuka: Thanks for commenting, I'm sorry it took so long to get updated? XD; And I'm happy that you never lost faith even after 2 years lmao...^^;
astro: Here! Update! You can has! I apologize for the unreasonable delay! orz
aya-chii: Hopefully the story didn't parallel your real life. My stories have a delayed time bomb on them sometimes. o_o; I apologize for the delay again and the absurd cliffhanger I left everyone on! orz
Sora-chan: Welcome to the dark side! And I have returned ohohoho! Sorry about the delay!
devil13: I'm....flattered you say so? And I had a lot of time to practice? ^^;
Ok guys....long awaited update~ I BEG FORGIVENESS FOR THE LONG DELAY. GROVELLING. Forgive me? :D Since I come bearing update....ehehehe...
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In My Own Time
"So I was telling Eri the other day that...mou Reina! You're not even listening are you?"
"Ah, Sayu...did you say something?"
The pint-sized yankii (ex-yankii?) looked up distractedly from her schedule book. A well-gnawed pen tapped impatiently against the dog-eared page. Her companion, a girl with dark long hair and an impish twinkle in her eye, rolled her eyes and hefted her own PDA.
"Honestly Reina, you ought to get with the times! What, you're still using a keypad phone? Seriously?" Michishige Sayumi, otherwise known as she-of-the-uncommonly-sharp-tongue and emerging talent on the variety show circuit, flipped her dark hair over one shoulder as she sniped at her friend. Said friend, Tanaka Reina, who was part-time model and budding singer, glowered at the taller Japanese beauty through cat-like eyes.
"I'm perfectly happy with my keypad phone! And there's nothing wrong with using a schedule book! Geez." The tiny idol clutched her precious schedule book to her chest. 3 years in the industry had done little to blunt her edges, and while she looked more glamorous on the outside, she was still at heart a delinquent from Fukuoka.
"So defensive~" Sayumi cooed, switching abruptly to a sugary sweet tone as she leaned into Reina's personal space. "I know that look on your face~"
"Shut up Sayu. And don't come so close. You perv." Reina scoffed and backed away from her fiendish friend. Her eyes strayed back down to her schedule book, the corner of her lips unconsciously curving upwards again. The (self-proclaimed) cutest in all Japan idol smirked deviously, before deftly snatching the book from the preoccupied yankii's hands.
"Oi! Sayu! Give that back!"
Being tall had its advantages, Sayumi mused happily to herself. The stolen schedule book was open to today, of course, and there was nothing particularly incriminating on it. Just a bunch of meeting notes and work timings pencilled in. Oh, and a series of numbers and letters at the bottom.
"I wonder what this is~ Looks like an flight number~" Sayumi said out loud in a singsong tone as she held the book safely out of Reina's reach. Reina was huffing with mock (?) anger and flailing around trying to get at her stolen book.
"You left your evening completely unbooked~ Say, are you free for dinner then?" Sayumi teased the shorter girl, who was now glaring at her taller friend.
"No I'm not. Happy?" With a surprising show of agility, Reina jumped from a chair and snagged her schedule book from the bunny's hands. Without even causing injury. To anyone concerned.
"Reina's so cold~ I thought we were friends~" Sayumi pretended to cry, a fact which Reina pointedly ignored. If being friends with the girl for the last 2 years had taught the yankii anything, it was the fact that Sayu was full of shit at times. Like right now.
"If friends are supposed to be as annoying as you, I don't need any." Reina sniffed haughtily. After a moment or two of silence, Sayumi burst out laughing, and even Reina cracked a smile at the charade. They did get along, despite all their squabbles, and some might even say because of them.
"Say hi to your girlfriend for me, yeah?"
Sayumi waved a hasty goodbye to her sometimes partner-in-crime when a call from her manager sent her off in a rush. The bunny shot the kitty a conspiratorial wink and a quick thumbs-up before vanishing in a whirlwind of energy through the door. Reina rolled her eyes at the girl's antics. Really, you wouldn't think they were the same age! Then again...18 wasn't very old.
It was a continual mystery to Reina as to how a certain Michishige Sayumi had immediately divined the fact that not only was Reina not single, but that instead of a secret boyfriend, she had a secret girlfriend. Except. You know. Female, close friend. Not really dating. Kinda. Oh never mind. Reina had badgered the bunny only since forever, but the girl had refused to tell how she had worked it out. "It's just a feeling~♪"
Well, not that it mattered. Sayu had kept to her promise and never breathed a word of it to anyone else. Reina owed the bunny a debt of gratitude at times, she would admit. The tech-savvy bunny had essentially shortened the distance between her and her absent girlfriend by hooking up the requisite programs and walking the techno-dumb Reina patiently through every step of getting connected to something as simple as Skype.
Seeing that familiar face every day eased the ache that separation caused. Reina had been afraid then, when her mother sat both Ai and her down at the table and told them that nothing good could ever come out of them being together. That it was most likely just a passing fancy, and that they would grow out of it. Reina remembered reacting quite violently to that assertion, and a wry grin played on her lips at that. Ai had stopped her, then.
"Your mother's right, Reina."
"What? You can't possibly believe that!"
"I like you, Reina. I care for you a great deal...but you're still so young and I don't want to take advantage of you...there are better people than me out there..."
"I don't care. I like Ai. I want Ai to be with me, always."
"Reina. Look at what you're saying. Do you mean you want to tie down poor Ai-chan next to you forever, and never let her pursue her dreams?"
"Mama! I didn't mean that...!"
"Both of you are still young. You don't even know what you want in life, much less what you want from each other. You two are close friends, and Ai-chan here has just been through something traumatic. She's vulnerable right now. And you, Reina. You're my daughter. You've never formed close friendships with anyone else before this, how would you know what you are feeling?"
The discussion had gone decidedly downhill after that. With the benefit of hindsight, Reina figured that well, she probably would still have done the same and protested to death in any case. The "time-out" suggestion by her mother had not gone over well, and Reina had been VERY displeased then. Not that Ai had been any less pleased, but at least she had been a good deal more composed about it.
Being grounded for the first time in her life had been a shocking experience for Reina. She would have shut herself in her room but for lack of a door, but hiding under her blankets sulking was a passable alternative. Never let anyone tell you that you can outgrow blanket forts. Lies. Absolute lies. Her cell-phone had been confiscated, and her mother stopped her from going to work for a couple of weeks. It was infuriating then, and it still made Reina irritable now to recall it. She had exploded at her mother for real a few days into the confinement, and spent time destroying things around her room afterwards. Like a caged tiger, she raged until she was allowed contact with Ai, albeit only over the phone.
"Ai! Are you alright? I can't believe Mama won't let me see you!"
"I'm fine, Rei...are you well?"
"I want to see you!"
"It's only for a while...Reina. I have something to tell you..."
Recalling the aftermath of that conversation, Reina laughed softly to herself. She had very nearly broken the phone and then gone off to murder her mother. There was no way her mother had not been involved in sending Ai away. To America! To the 15 year old Reina, it sounded like Ai was being banished to the far side of the earth. It was unthinkable.
They had lost contact for the better part of a year after that. Reina had been very...difficult...for several months. Tantrums, mood swings, and a whole new level of scary came from the teen. Take natural teenage rebellion, factor it upwards to the power of ten...or hundreds...throw in natural yankii-ness, and you had a cauldron of trouble brewing. Even Fuji had been taken aback by the changes in his friend/adopted little sister. Adolescent angst had never been so pronounced in an individual.
Then, just as abruptly, Reina decided to settle down from the excessive rampaging, to her parents' relief. There appeared to have been no apparent cause for it (that they knew of). Even her friends had been somewhat suspicious. Then again, considering how in the midst of her delinquency she had managed to scheme Yamashita's downfall (scandals are a good thing, when you're not personally involved), that might have played a significant part in her sudden cheering up. Of course, having willing accomplices who had connections on the darker side of Tokyo was probably a plus in this case. There might have been a case of going too far, but making sure the man got arrested with (planted) drugs had been a stroke of genius from Fuji. Reina's mood had still been dark though, in the wake of the man's conviction. It seemed like nothing would get her off a somewhat self-destructive path...and then she just stopped. No reason, no excuses. Just. Stopped.
While she could never be labelled as a model student, she at least stayed out of trouble and started working again in earnest. Voice lessons became a must for her, as she focused on the route she wanted to take. She always did enjoy singing, though trying to work on that angle was more difficult than simply modelling. How many hopefuls were there who wanted to make it big? She was just one of many. But Reina wouldn't let that get her down. She was certain she had something, and she was going to make something of herself or die trying. After all, she couldn't lose to her.
Due to Reina's complete ineptitude with anything vaguely electronic (save for her precious tape recorder. yes, TAPE, in a digital age), the quest to re-establish contact with her all the way from the other side of an ocean was significantly more challenging than if she had some form of online access. Fortunately, old-fashioned ways are not only charming, but also ultimately reliable. Terribly slow, yes (they don't call it snail mail for nothing), but short of running up ridiculous international phone bills, that was the only practical way of keeping in contact.
Honestly, it should have been obvious what would have reined her in. Other than natural good sense, which should have come with age (though there is arguably nothing natural about good sense), the one person who has had a positive influence on her was of course, the one furthest away from her. Given time, Reina would have ended up drowning herself in work anyway, but at least her disposition was more acerbic rather than completely poisonous. That, to some small extent, led to her actually discovering friends outside of her usual social circle, and Sayumi had been one of them. That was not to say that all went well between the two, but Sayu was in possession of a very important piece of Reina's identity, and used it without shame to muscle her way into Reina's confidences. You would be surprised what shared secrets can do to improve relations between people. When you're both gay in a heterosexual world, it's only natural to stick together.
Not that, you know, Reina was actually gay. She still liked boys very much. Ai just happened to be an exception. These things happen. Or so she assured herself.
Time flew by when you were busy. In between the intermittent correspondence and her own work, Reina was surprised by how quickly she had reached her 18th year. 3 years since Ai had upped and gone to study in America. They had...well, they didn't have anything between them, officially. Ai had made her promise not to wait for her. They kept in contact, remained friends, and Reina often wondered if Ai had found anyone new where she was. She was confident that if Ai had, she would be the first to know, and since the older girl hadn't said a thing...she could hope, right?
Reina herself had gone on a few casual dates with boys, mostly at the insistence of her mother. She enjoyed the company, made them pay for everything, and then stopped seeing them once she got bored. Hey, if they were going to be willing suckers, she might as well take advantage of it.
And if one discounted Sayumi's harmless flirting in her direction, Reina had more or less remained quite single during this time. She wasn't waiting for anything, no. She was just busy, yes. That was all.
Reina looked back down at the hastily scrawled notes on her schedule book. Flight number, time, and arrival gate. She had deliberately cleared her schedule to make sure that she could make it down to the airport. No one could stop her now. Reina had promptly moved out of home the moment she graduated high school several months ago. Her mother had been satisfied with how she had been toeing the line (having Sayu receive her mail was probably the best idea she had come up with), and said nothing about Reina's desire for some independence. Had she not proven herself?
On some level Reina felt guilty about lying to her parents, but when she remembered how her mother had more or less sent Ai away (never mind that Ai had already had the offer to go before), she decided that a little payback was in order. What they didn't know wouldn't hurt them either, and Reina started packing up her things to leave. She didn't want to be late for her engagement.
It had been too long since she last saw Ai in person. She didn't intend to miss it for the world.
======================================================================
Yay time skips. :P I know, I cheat. :lol:
I confess that I had a huge block over how to deal with the fallout from the cliffhanger I left you guys with. I knew generally what I wanted to do with the story, but the particulars were fuzzy. I knew I was going to separate them regardless, and then suddenly the answer came to me a couple days ago while I was rereading the ending to NR. Funny, huh? XD
Hopefully people are still interested in this! XD Just a bit more to the end (!) cos I'm a cheap bastard like that. :lol:
Baibai~
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Oh god yes! I love this story! I about had a heart attack when I saw it was updated, thankyouthankyouthankyou! :cathappy: I-I, god, I can't even think straight I'm so excited, I feel like a smearing of happy colors over the page should just be my response. I really, really can't wait for the next chapter and I love Reina and Sayu's relationship.
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Is it take 2 years!? :shocked
Wow~ :lol:
In this story, I enjoy only reading, really.
No, not reading.
I think I'm watching a drama. :twothumbs
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OMG ESTREA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
THANKS THANKS THANKS FOR CONTINUES THE FIC SKDJSKLDJSAKD *O*!!!!
I will keep an eye to the chapters that follow!!!
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!!! I'M VERY HAPPY >,<!!!!!!!