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.
Topic: Destiny Love [16/02 - In My Own Time] (Read 78630 times)