"Yakusoku wa Iranai"

by: Na-chan

Na says: Another AyaxRei fic by moi. Hehe, I couldn't help myself. Set roughly ten years after their initial age in the show (16…is that accurate?). My title's not the most original though…O_o. It has no connection whatsoever with the song.

Na disclaims: Super Gals and its characters belong to their respective owners.

~~~

The coffee shop was bustling at this hour, but he had been in a hurry, and had chosen hastily. More importantly, he was positive that she knew this place.

The sweet sound of chimes and tendrils of black upon black announced the arrival of one Hoshino Aya. Her long ebony tresses hung unbound and flowing freely, a smile gracing her pale features. The small and lithe figure of hers had remained; yet under the petite form lay a strength that he held in high regard.

"Aya-san," He greeted, thoroughly pleased that she had not declined his invitation. This encounter had been put on hold for so long.

"Yuuya-kun. Konnichiwa."

Chapter 1: Longer than Expected

It was perfect, just as she had remembered. Time seemed to have stood at a standstill here–everything was exactly as she had seen it last. The wooden tables were still intact, but they still needed that paint job, she was overjoyed to note. He was not seated at the counter, but the nostalgia was there, and she found herself reveling in it. For the moment.

"It's good to see you again, Yuuya-kun," She said, taking a sip from her latte`.   It was good, but it would not keep her up until four in the morning. She contemplated on ordering a stronger one, but decided against it.

"Yes," He replied, satisfied with his own cup of black coffee. "It's been six years. " and as an afterthought, "how have you been?" The question rolled out of his tongue with ease, as if practiced.

"I've been better," She joked, but somehow, it was true. There were several lives to be saved, bills to be paid, and appointments to be attended to. She had known there would be consequences of her coming, but she had ignored them all. Yuuya was an old friend, and she valued her friends.

"Aa. That explains the bags under your eyes."

Aya suppressed a giggle, which was unlike her. He had always known her to show her happiness openly. It surprised him to find she had changed more than the others. Maybe there was more to her than met the eye. Six years was a long time.

"The concealer didn't work that well then. I should stop buying from Chanel." She was joking again.

Yuuya was not known to be serious. "I didn't say it didn't, Aya-san. You…you looked tired," He was being completely honest, and she was very grateful. She needed that.

"I am," she admitted, albeit reluctantly. "But this is what I wanted. It's my dream." It's their dream too, she almost added.

He understood that tone. It was one he heard himself use so many times. It was the tone of a person who had realized that he was an adult, and not a child anymore. An adult struggling to live up to his old ideals and simultaneously adhere to the rules of the grown-ups. It was regret more than anything else.

"You could always find another job." He wasn't well versed in the pains of a doctor, but he knew that it was a vital position in this dangerous society.

Creases appeared on her forehead, and she sighed. "I've been readying myself for this career for ages. I can't back down.  I don't want to waste this opportunity." She downed the contents of her plastic cup in one go, and began another topic. Hopefully, a lighter one.

"Enough about me. You're quite famous, you know. Business surely is booming." Teasing. She hadn't been this playful in a long time.

He shook his head, a bit embarrassed. "It was mostly Mami's funds. Without her help, I wouldn't have gotten anywhere." A strange look passed his pleasant features and Aya felt a smile tug at her lips. The ring on her companion's finger did not make it easier. She had been away for that long?

"So, how's is she?"

The man jerked up from his seat, obviously inattentive. "Who, Mami? She's doing fine. A little bit rounder on the hips maybe, but fine." He eyed his friend with barely concealed amusement. Aya was the picture of shocked dignity.

"Yuuya-kun! You aren't supposed to mention things like that. Mami-san would be furious!" She reprimanded, trying to regain her composure. Yuuya just laughed it off.

"She's pregnant. There's no reason for her to hide it." Now this certainly was news. The female managed a raised eyebrow, which prodded him to further expound.

He blushed crimson, and hoped his explanation would suffice. "We only knew last week. The baby's been along for two months already." This startling discovery made Aya elated. She beamed at him and took his large hands into her small ones.

"Congratulations, Yuuya-kun. I'm so happy for you."

"Arigato." He was practically glowing. She couldn't help but squeeze his hands. It had been the first time she had seen him this overjoyed, and she felt honored to be able to share in his delight.

"Now that you know…will you be our pediatrician, Hoshino-sensei?"

"I'd love to."

~~~

A half-eaten sandwich lay on his desk, waiting patiently for its consumer to devour it completely. But Otohata Rei was not hungry. Not anymore. Not after his client had called and told him that he had been arrested AGAIN. Rei was not pleased with this development. At this rate, the case would go down the drain. Nijutaka would surely have his head for this. And speaking of the devil, there he was.

A veteran lawyer in his own right, Nijutaka Keiji stood at a meager five feet and four inches. His voice, however, made up for his lack in height. "Otohata, Kunio's been taken into custody. And why the hell is that?"

"Hello to you too," Rei replied so monotonously that Nijutaka had to ignore the sarcasm. Said man was already pissed off as it was.

"You're losing this case even before it's put on trial!"

The younger man shrugged, almost disinterested. This speech was too customary to be worth hearing. So Rei kept quiet, and took bite into his forgotten sandwich. Surely, it was more appealing than a lecture.

"…and another thing, Otohata. You're off this case. We're assigning it to someone with more experience and dedication."

Rei's ears caught that, despite his show of apathy. He was slightly bothered that the sermon had been brief. It had always lasted longer. Yet his face remained as passive as ever, if not cooler. This was not the time for emotions.

"Go ahead." And that was how Otohata Rei found himself jobless and standing outside his bestfriend's house. Yuuya's house.

A maid opened the door, but not before the security system identified Rei. It had done a quick scan of him, and then checked the database for a match all in the span of a minute.  He had passed, apparently, for the front door of the Asuo household swung open, to reveal a semi-surprised Mami.

"You're early," She commented dryly, as she embraced him. He stiffened at the contact, but that was expected. "Yuuya's on his way," she added, and released him.

"Aa," was the only reaction she got.

~~~

"Dinner? Are you sure I won't be intruding on anything?" The scene from this afternoon was replaying itself in her head, up until Yuuya's proposal of supper. He had said no, it was perfectly all right with him, and she had asked about his wife.

"She'll understand," But in truth, it had been Mami who suggested he invite Aya over. It was the annual old gang's get-together night, and as far as she checked, Hoshino Aya was still a part of the group, although unconsciously. Yuuya had simply been the middleman.

Aya hadn't declined, but she had come quite hesitantly. It wasn't because she didn't want to see all of them again; it was because she was ashamed to face them after all these years. She had, simply put, abandoned them.

The Asuo abode was located in the suburbs of the city. She wasn't familiar with that sector, but Yuuya was kind enough to give her directions, and his phone number. Hence, she had hailed a cab, gave the proper information, and ended up in front of a modest Victorian-styled house. However, she learned that its looks were very deceiving.

Almost camouflaged among the lush foliage except for its telltale lenses, appeared to be several security cameras. Aya blinked at the find, and suddenly came to the conclusion that most of them were aimed at her.

Slightly unnerved by the eyes that may be watching, she rang the doorbell. It took only a minute before it was answered, after which she felt a tingling sensation leave her. She dismissed it, blaming it on the cameras. They never ceased to make her nervous.

To her surprise (and slight disappointment), it was Yuuya who ushered inside. She chided herself silently, quashing the small hope that it may have been someone else. After all, that person had been on her mind ever since Yuuya mentioned that the whole posse would be there.

"Aya-san? Are you all right?" Aya was touched by the blonde's concern for her, despite her obvious shortcomings. Him caring had been the main reason she had accepted his invitations on both occasions.

"Daijoubu desu ka," It was a reassurance not directed at him, but mostly at her. He seemed to find it adequate enough to stay his doubts for he smiled warmly, and led her into the living room where four people were seated. They turned to the new arrival.

It was impossible to not recognize them immediately. The cornflower-haired woman on the single armchair facing the door was clearly the hostess, formerly known as Honda Mami. The sofa, on the other hand, was occupied by a grinning Kotobuki Ran, and an equally jovial Kuroi Tatsukichi. Both seemed to look as young as ever, and Aya felt a twinge of jealousy at their exuberance. She then focused her attention on the other armchair, which had its back against the entrance, and saw that a very pregnant Miyu occupied it. The other couch was empty.

"Aya!!!!" A blur of vermilion swept past Yuuya in a flash. He sweat-dropped along with the other occupants of the room. Aya felt the bear hug even before she caught a glimpse of Ran's impish face. The gal had matured physically, but she seemed to be the same person Aya had left behind. When Ran had released her, Aya was nearly blue. After Ran's sudden display of affection came Miyu, who had to be helped by Tatsukichi to stand up.

"Aya," Miyu began, before Aya engulfed her into a loose embrace. That was unexpected, but not unwelcome. Miyu returned the gesture, and Aya could not help but smile. She owed Miyu the most, for being absent when the woman gave birth–she was not shocked when Yuuya mentioned that Miyu was on her fifth child.

Mami coughed, and Aya broke away from the hug. Said hostess was trying to smother the inevitable smile that was fighting its way into her lips. Aya gave her a squeeze too. Tatsukichi also received the same treatment from the dark-haired individual. He, in turn, had patted her head like a cat. She didn't object. She was too happy.

"Well, dinner's served…shall we eat?" Yuuya took it upon himself to interrupt the tender moment. And the interruption did not end there. Another person stepped out from behind of him, rekindling that feeling Aya had tried hard to crush earlier. She recovered quickly.

"Konban wa Otohata-san."

"Konban wa Hoshino-san."

Pleasantries between friends.

It had certainly been too long.

Tbc

Na says: I started writing this out of sheer boredom. Gomen ne if you found it confusing. Kung may problema, sabihin niyo na lang sa review ha? REVIEW! XD