Kapitel 143: The Plunge
Akane slipped into the bedroom, closing the door behind her. She found Ranko frantically trying to pull off the mint-green dress they'd just bought for her yesterday. Laid out on the bed was the red Chinese shirt and the black gi pants that had been her second skin in her former life.
"What are you doing, silly girl?" Akane smiled, walking up to her and unzipping the back of the dress for her girlfriend.
"I thought maybe it would be easier if I wore my old clothes. Maybe if they saw me like I used to be…"
Akane shook her head with an amused smile. "I'm sure that'll make total sense considering you spent the last hour and a half doing your hair and makeup."
Ranko sighed. "I'll take it off. I've got a few minutes, right? Shit, what time is it? I need to check the sweet potatoes. I don't want to let anything burn. And I gotta…"
She stopped speaking as Akane's hands gently rested on her bare shoulders. "Shhh. Relax, baby. You're overthinking this stuff."
"I can't. I've gotta get all this done and get changed and figure out what I'm gonna say and I…"
Akane took the smaller girl's hands in her own, and she could feel them shaking. Sighing, Akane pulled the half-naked girl into her arms, holding her gently. "Ranko, it's gonna be okay. You're gonna do great. I promise."
Ranko relaxed a little bit into her lover's arms, exhaling heavily. "I'm just so scared to embarrass you."
Akane pulled back a bit from the hug, taking Ranko's chin in her hand gently and leaning in to kiss her. "You couldn't if you tried. Well… maybe if you forget to get dressed again." She giggled slightly, hoping Ranko would join her in a little levity to break the tension, but she did not. "I mean it, silly girl. You are the most formidable person I know. You can absolutely handle impressing an old man and two girls."
"I'll do my best for you, Akane. I promise. I just hope it's good enough." Ranko sighed, turning and looking at the dress and her old outfit that were both laid out on the perfectly-made bed. Ranko had been able to get at least a reasonable amount of rest most nights since dropping all of her homeschool classes, but she hadn't sat still in three days making sure everything in the little apartment was Kasumi-level spotless. She couldn't help it if they were upset that Akane had a girlfriend, or that her girlfriend used to be a boy, but she refused to let Akane's family think she was not a dutiful and devoted girlfriend, at least.
Akane wrapped her arms around Ranko's waist from behind. "The best is the only setting you have, Miss Tendo."
As she gently spoke, the quiet was splintered by the harsh chiming of their doorbell. Ranko had actually never heard it before, so she had no idea what it even sounded like until now. It almost made her jump out of her skin.
"Ohmigods, they're here. Akane what do I…"
Akane leaned forward and kissed her forehead. "Breathe, baby."
With that, Akane took a deep breath, steeling herself, and slipped out of the bedroom, quickly striding the five steps to their front door. "I'm coming!"
Unlatching the chain holding the door closed, she turned the doorknob and pulled it open. "Dad! Kasumi! Nabiki! It's so good to see you!" She hadn't been home nearly as often as she'd wanted to since leaving for college, owing to the fact that she couldn't bring the most important person in her life with her. She desperately hoped that tonight would begin to break that ice.
"Please, come in!" Akane stepped out of the doorway, the skirt of her yellow dress swirling around her ankles.
Soun entered first. Akane almost didn't recognize him out of his brown gi, as he wore a pewter-colored polo shirt and a pair of black slacks. Akane opened her arms, and Soun leaned down to give her a tight hug. "Oh, Akane! I've missed you so much. It looks wonderful in here! You've done a lot of work since we moved you in."
Kasumi entered next, in a blue floral dress with a wide white sash. "My goodness! Akane, something smells wonderful! I've got to say, I'm really impressed!" She leaned in for a hug as well.
Finally, Nabiki came into the room, in a green vest over a brown turtleneck, and a pair of black jeans. She closed the door behind her, leaning down to Akane and whispering in her ear as they hugged. "Is she here?" Akane nodded surreptitiously.
Akane walked around the circular folding table they'd set up in the living room, their usual dining table not being large enough to seat five. She hoped to make a little small talk to break the ice before diving right into shattering her family's reality, but Kasumi looked down at the place settings on the holly-green tablecloth and then up at Akane with a knowing expression. "Should we be expecting someone else?"
Shit. That was quick. At least Ranko won't have to wait in there too long. Here we go.
"Well, Kasumi, I, uhh." Akane wrung her hands. For as much time as she'd been spending reassuring Ranko that everything would be alright, she'd not thought much at all about her own performance tonight.
"That's actually one of the reasons I invited you over tonight. I have someone I'd like you to meet." Because you don't know her, even though you think you do.
Kasumi grinned. "I knew it! When I was here for dinner that day, you had a new slow cooker on the counter that I doubted you knew how to use, and there were two different bottles of shampoo in the bathroom. You've got a roommate, don't you?"
Akane sighed, chuckling a little nervously. "Something like that, yeah, Kasumi." All the fighting with Ranko over that night, and Kasumi figured it out anyway. Fuck, did I screw that up. But tonight, we fix it. I promise, baby.
Soun smiled broadly. "Well, that's good. An essential part of the college experience, I say. And having someone to help with the bills and such will be nice, too. When do we get to meet her?"
With a heavy gulp, Akane made herself smile. This is a good thing, we just gotta rip the band-aid off first. "Right now. But first… you might want to sit down."
Nabiki gave a devious grin. "Ooh, intrigue!"
Akane flashed her a glare. Don't make this harder than it has to be, please.
"I'll be right back." Akane walked to the bathroom door, walking in and closing it before opening the bedroom door. She wanted to make sure Ranko wasn't startled, especially if she was still dressing. She smiled, finding Ranko sitting somewhat calmly on the foot of the bed, back in her mint-colored dress, her red hair cascading in waves down her shoulders. The outermost edges were pulled back over the rest of her hair to keep it contained on the sides, and they were pinned back with a white satin ribbon. She'd opted for silver heart dangle earrings, the star pendant Izumi had given her, and of course, her dragon bracelet.
"Is it time?" Ranko looked up, praying a meteor would crash to the earth just outside and delay what was about to happen.
Her lover nodded, offering Ranko her hand. "I've got you, babe."
They made eye contact, and both of them took a deep breath. "Let's do this." Both of them spoke at once.
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