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This was it! Yashiro Nene was excited as she got ready for her date. Ever since she and Amane had started dating in their second year of college their relationship went from budding to fully bloomed within the span of a few months. Some might have said that they moved too fast and would fizzle out, but the people who actually knew the pair would say otherwise.
The Yugi Twins and Nene had known each other for the majority of their whole lives. Most of her young life she had spent denying that she felt anything other than platonic love for either of the boys. She was quite embarrassed to find out that SHE was the only one who didn’t know that Amane had eyes for only her.
It was even more embarrassing during a beer ball contest when Akane had spilled that they had all taken bets on how long it would take for Amane to ask Nene out. The even more impressive part was that Tsukasa had managed to keep his mouth shut about that bet for years.The only oblivious ones were Amane and Nene, but that was okay.
Nene sighed as she took a break from reminiscing and studiously applied her strawberry flavored lip gloss, a gift from none other than her wonderful boyfriend. Finally after taking about two hours to get ready, she stood in front of her full length mirror and inspected her outfit. Was it too much? Too little? Too casual?
She wore a flowing cream sundress with off the shoulder tulle sleeves and spaghetti straps to hold it in place, accompanied by a wide brimmed sun hat, a small pearly wristlet, and black strappy sandals.
She wore a modest face of makeup, but definitely a bit heavier than her usual. But Amane had said that this was going to be a super nice date, they were going to the beach for a sunset picnic and some stargazing. It was surprisingly sweet and romantic of him, even though he always denied that he was never the romantic type; Nene knew otherwise.
This was the same guy who also started sniffling in the dark theater when Nene had dragged him to see ‘The Vow’ when it first came out. He vehemently denied crying while wiping his nose with a tissue as she was left to roll her eyes. Even now all these years later he will still tear up when it comes to any tragic love story, but Nene wisely keeps that information to herself. For ammo to use later, of course.
She hummed a small tune as she grabbed her bag and waited for the familiar knock on her front door. When it sounded about ten minutes later, Nene opened the door to a rather well groomed Amane. Slacks, buttondown, and suede shoes. It was definitely different from his normal date attire.
“What’s the occasion?” Nene teased as she took his offered arm, swiftly locking the door behind her before they walked down the granite steps of her apartment.
“There has to be an occasion to take my beautiful girlfriend out on a date?” Was his reply as he wrapped his arm around her waist. Amane wasted no time in ushering Nene into his car, she saw no picnic basket when she glanced at the back seat.
“Where’s the picnic basket?” She asked before she buckled her seat belt and then flipped down the passenger side sun visor, using the mirror to check her lips and teeth. When she was satisfied with that, Amane had already pulled out of the small apartment parking lot and onto the road.
The beach was an old favorite, it was where Amane had first taken Nene out on their first date back when they were still in school. He had been so nervous when he tried to hold her hand for the first time, it was so sweet.
Nene couldn’t help but notice how much he had changed now that he was a man. Amane had grown into his lanky body, although he was still incredibly tall he had filled out nicely. Underneath those clothes were lean muscles and soft skin.
She felt a blush creep onto her cheeks, the thought about his new physique was quickly forgotten when Amane covered her eyes with one of his hands and his other rested on the small of her back.
“Amane, what’s with this?” Nene asked as she tried to pry his fingers apart to peek through, but he held firm.
“Come on Yashiro, just go with it.” He jibbed playfully, while Nene just rolled her eyes. Since he had gone through all of the trouble to be slightly secretive about this date she decided to humor him just this once.
“Alright, I will just for this. But I swear Amane if you push me into the sand or water I will kill you.” The empty threat fell flat when his lyrical laughter sang through the warm air. Nene couldn’t help but smile along as she let her boyfriend guide her over the sandy dunes.
“Ta-da!” He finally sang before removing his hand from her eyes. Blinking her carmine orbs as they adjusted to the light, the sight before her shifted into focus.
It was definitely more than just their average picnic. A black velvet rug was spread amongst the sand, with a small lean-to with sheer curtains to block the wind coming from behind. Wreathed along the lean-to’s frame were fairy lights that twinkled like little stars along the dim sand. Atop the rug were several luxury throw pillows to sit on with a small chabudai table which was decorated with flameless candles and pretty greenery.
The table was set for two with elegant dinnerware, just from this small gesture Nene could feel tears prick at her eyes. She really did have the best boyfriend ever. Feeling the presence of his guiding hand on the small of her back vanish; Nene looked up at him,
“Why don’t we take a seat?” He gestured with a small smile, Nene felt herself return the smile before she took the seat that he was pointing to.
“Wow Amane, this is gorgeous!” She exclaimed as he sat down opposite of her. He was turned around rummaging in a tasseled tote behind him,
“Did you make this yourself?” Nene asked, as she ran her fingers delicately over the sheer fabric. When she turned her gaze back to Amane who hadn’t responded yet, he was still looking in the cooler that sat behind him. Cheeks tinged pink, he looked rather bashful.
He didn’t answer until he brought out two champagne flutes and a bottle of rather expensive looking bubbly.
“I can’t take all of the credit unfortunately.” He mumbled as he popped the cork off the sovereign bottle and filled the flutes with the popping gold liquid.
“I had some help.” Was all he said while passing one of the glasses to Nene. She swirled the drink in her glass around thoughtfully, he wasn’t being honest. But there had to be a good reason? She brought the glass to her lips, taking a shy sip.
While the crackling flavor danced across her tongue, Nene smiled.
“I’m glad to hear that!” She chirped cheerfully while sunset eyes watched their dish of some sort of pasta was heaped onto two china plates. When Amane placed one in front of her, a small smile flickered through his features. Before Nene could question the odd expression he gestured to her plate,
“Well, let’s eat!”
Their dinner was a calm and pleasant one, neither of them spoke much throughout its entirety. As Nene downed the last of her drink she hummed,
“Hey…” She started while gazing thoughtfully at the cherry tomato on the prongs of her fork.
“Do you think Kou has been acting kinda strange recently?” The question fell easily from her lips before she bit into the red fruit. Amane looked a little surprised,
“What do you mean?” He asked, tone rather light. But Nene paid it no mind,
“It’s just that I sometimes catch him spacing out more often… I’m just a little worried.” She shrugged as the gentle breeze picked up around them, making her teal ends dance around.
Amane just smirked in turn,
“I wouldn’t dwell too much on it Nene. Kou sort of vented it to me and Tsukasa the last time we hung out.” His reply was airy and nonchalant. Nene couldn’t help but feel a little bit left out.
“You guys hung out without me?!” She blurted, a frown twisted onto her face. Amane laughed,
“You were busy with work! Don’t take it personally.” He countered as he leaned back onto his hands.
“But, why didn’t he talk to me then?! I’m around him more than you are.” Nene pouted as she crossed her arms across her chest while Amane let out a low chuckle,
“We were just talking about how complicated it can be.” He started, seemingly solemn.
“He and I share a similar position, how to ask one of your best friends to be something more.” His golden gaze drifted to look into Nene’s eyes. If the table wasn’t between them, Nene was sure he’d already be devouring her lips.
A stark blush crept up her face and she chided herself for thinking such things at a moment like this.
“O-Oh?” She stammered while she tried to quell the rising embarrassment. Sharp as ever, Amane noticed.
“And just what were you thinking about you dirty daikon?” He drawled, leaning forward slightly, his hooded eyes did nothing to diminish the sparkle in his eye. Nene felt her face get about ten degrees warmer,
“Don’t change the subject!” She whined while turning her gaze to the setting sun over the water, the darkness of dusk dappling the sky with blues and purples. The sky would be perfect for stargazing later, she thought with muted excitement. Not noticing how her boyfriend’s eyes never left her face, she heard him sigh.
“Even though Mitsuba acts like he wants nothing to do with Kou, it’s really just the opposite.” He mused, as he steepled his fingers in thought.
“But I know that Kou will figure it out himself. After all he is a Minamoto.” He added with another dry chuckle, Nene just hummed in response with a small smile.
“Anyways! I heard that Aoi is going to start up a flower shop, what do you think about that?” Amane asked abruptly, breaking Nene out of her peaceful reverie.
“Oh, yeah! I’m really excited for her! She told me that she might commission me to make some flyers!” Nene clapped her hands excitedly, she already had so many rough drafts sketched up. She hoped that Aoi would approve of them.
Suddenly she felt arms envelop her in a warm hug which elicited a surprised yelp from the dreamy eyed girl. But knowing who those arms belonged to she quickly leaned in, relishing in the warmth. Amane may not run super warm, but sitting in the breeze it was a bit chilly.
He tucked her chin over her shoulder and gave her a quick squeeze,
“Hey, do you remember that one time we were sitting here on this beach together?” He asked, the question catching Nene off guard again.
“You told me that you wanted a happy and complete family.” The words were spoken softly, Nene could feel how every single one was ladened with a soft love. It made her feel warm and fuzzy as she smiled brightly at the memory.
“Well, that was true then. But now that I think about it, ‘family’ isn’t always blood related. It’s what you make it.” She replied, recalling the faces of the ones that had become her ‘family’ over the past few years. Amane, Tsukasa, Sakura, Natsuhiko, Kou, Mitsuba, Aoi, Akane, and even Lemon. They were all there for her when her own family was broken and they all helped pick up the pieces of her heart and put them back together.
Yes things may be slightly haphazard, but that was fine with Nene. Because she wouldn’t want her heart to be any other way, it was perfectly imperfect and filled to the brim with love.
“And back then, you also told me how you wanted to go to the moon!” She spread her left hand out and gestured to the grand expanse of the darkening sky above them,
“So, now with you being an astronomy major, it looks like we both got what we’ve always wanted.” She turned her head to look at Amane, fully expecting that he would be looking at her. But instead she was surprised to find that his gaze was trained on her hand that was still suspended in the air.
The look in his eyes was hard to decipher, it was definitely fond but there were other emotions that Nene wasn’t sure of.
“Well… There’s still one thing…” He breathed so quietly, Nene would have missed it if he wasn’t right next to her ear.
“What?” She asked, tilting her head in question at him. Suddenly, Amane straightened as his gaze redirected and fixed on something in the distance.
“Tsukasa-” Nene stared at him bewildered,
“You want Tsukasa?!” She nearly shouted, eyes whirling. But Amane just lifted his left hand and pointed,
“No, look! I’m pretty sure that’s Tsukasa over there.” Following Amane’s index finger out over the water, sure as anything there was a little tugboat floating on the waves with what looked to be three figures on it. Squinting her eyes she could make out what looked to be Tsukasa, Natsuhiko, and Kou.
The dark haired twin was waving his arms around excitedly while Kou and Natsuhiko were trying to get him to stop.
“Amane, Nene-chan!” He shouted at the top of his lungs. Were those sparklers in either of his hands?!
“What the?!” Nene gasped as she shot to her feet.
“LET’S LIGHT IT UP!” Tsukasa screamed as a barrage of fireworks went off behind the trio as Nene ran to the edge of the water,
“What are they thinking? Is that even legal?!” She said frantically as she hitched up her skirt and waded ankle deep into the waves,
“TSUKASA, YOU PUT THAT OUT THIS INSTANT!” She yelled at the rambunctious boy who was being put into a headlock by Natsuhiko as Kou waved his hands around, distant shouts of ‘Senpai’ could be heard amidst the chaos of Tsukasa’s laughter while more fireworks popped off.
“Who on earth thought it was a good idea to give that boy explosives?!” Nene clutched at her head in panic as she watched the scene unfold in front of her, not caring that the hem of her dress was wet.
“Well, that was his idea.” Amane’s steady voice sliced through the discord in the air like a knife. Nene turned around on her heel,
“Wha-” The words died on her lips at the sight before her,
“And this one is mine.” Amane rested on one knee. Sitting in his hand was a black velvet box with the cover flipped up revealing a gorgeous ring. Nene stared wordlessly, her jaw hanging open as the man in front of her smiled lovingly,
“Nene, you’re all I ever wanted in my life. All those years you thought I was chasing the moon, I was actually chasing you. I never thought in a million years you’d ever give me a chance; and I’m making the leap to ask you to be by my side forever. I love you, Nene. I love you more than the moon itself. My whole life all I had ever wished for was to go to the moon, but when you came into my life that wish changed… You were my new wish, my new dream…” He trailed off as a scarlet wave washed over his face yet his eyes never left her own,
“Will you marry me, Nene?” The dying sun’s rays reflected in his eyes, making them look like a swirling molten gold. It should have been a crime to look this good.
Nene was left to gape at her boyfriend down on one knee, she didn’t even notice that his hopeful smile had quickly turned into a grimace of unease at her silence.
“Nene?” He asked, voice tinged with anxiety. This made her blood start to flow again and she blinked; then she was crying.
“W-Wha- Nene?!” Amane waffled as he snapped the ring box closed and was about to scramble over to her but halted when she threw herself at him.
“Amane, you dummy!” Nene wailed as she clung onto his shoulders. Flabbergasted Amane could only stare as she laid in his arms.
After furiously wiping her eyes Nene grinned,
“Yes!” She shouted before pressing her lips to his in an ecstatic kiss. Amane grinned so hard he thought his cheeks would split before he hurriedly broke away,
“Well, let’s see how this looks on you then!” He said while plucking the ring from it’s velvet folds and gently slid it on to his now fiancée’s ring finger. It was a perfect fit, the sparkling halo of diamonds glittered brilliantly in the light; as if Amane had captured a star and crafted it into a ring just for her.
But there was time to admire the ring later, right now, Nene had to kiss the fool she had just agreed to marry.
The happy couple were oblivious to the fact that there were far too many fireworks going off in front of them to be considered ‘safe’ while Tsukasa and Natsuhiko cheered. Kou was wiping away his tears of happiness, the broken record of ‘Senpai…’ carried into the wind.
Mitsuba and Sakura grinned from their hideout amongst the sand reeds, their Nikon and Canon cameras snapping away as they caught the whole ordeal on film. Lemon sat with them, facetiming the whole time with Akane and Aoi.
“She said yes.” He confirmed while the purple haired girl burst into tears and Akane grinned like a maniac,
“It was about time, Yugi!”