Chapter 29

Akane was extremely nervous. She might actually puke mere minutes from her boyfriend getting to the front door, kind of nervous. What was she doing? She'd never gone on a real date before! And Caleb was such a cultured and refined man. There was no telling how many dates...

...nope, she wasn't about to go there. Akane couldn't afford to fly off the handle in rage right now. She needed to focus on getting ready.

As luck would have it, her mother had a traditional Japanese yukata for her to wear. Black cotton fabric with white floral prints and a golden sash. For her makeup, she really wanted to honor her heritage with a more traditional look, which reflected in the colors she chose. Finally, she did her hair up into a bun which she held in place with an antique hair stick in her mom's closet.

Looking at herself in the mirror, Akane was starting to feel a little better. And she only had to take a break to scream once this time, which was a drastic improvement. Still, it could not be overstated just how fast her heart was racing at that moment. She found herself pacing back and forth in her room, determined to get all of this out of her system now before Caleb arrived. She felt like a mess but was content with that so long as he didn't see it.

She certainly didn't want her darling boyfriend to think he was dating a crazy woman.

At that moment, the text alert on her brand-new phone went off. It was so sweet of Caleb to buy a new phone for her. Admittedly, her old one was getting a little dated. She quickly checked her messages.

:: We need to talk. ::

Akane frowned in annoyance. It was from Tomoe. How she even got her new number was a mystery. But frankly, Akane didn't have the time. She quickly typed out a response.

:: Oh, so we're doing that again? And here I thought you were done with me. ::

:: Sorry if I've been distant. Just wanted to give you and your new boyfriend some space. ::

Akane narrowed her eyes at the message. It was hard to tell if she was being bitter or sincere right now. Another message appeared.

:: Which is why we need to talk, actually. You are aware you need to be extra vigilant tonight, right? ::

:: What do you mean? ::

:: You think you're in the clear just because you two are dating now? Don't be fooled. This is the time where your relationship is in the most danger. ::

A nervous pit formed in her stomach.

:: But we're a couple now. We've declared our love for one another. ::

:: Has he kissed you under the cherry blossom tree at school yet? ::

She frowned worriedly and typed back her response.

:: No...not yet. They haven't bloomed. ::

:: Then you have got to be vigilant tonight. Until destiny has been written in the stars, you must continue to write your own destiny in blood. ::

:: But he loves me... ::

:: You don't want to lose his love, do you? ::

Anger began to boil within her as she shakily typed out a response.

:: I won't lose his love. Caleb and I will be together forever and ever. ::

:: No matter what you have to do? ::

:: No matter what I have to do. ::

:: No matter who you have to hurt? ::

:: No matter who I have to hurt. ::

:: No matter who you have to kill? ::

She giggled in a slightly unhinged voice before typing out a response.

:: No matter who I have to kill! ::

At that moment, there was a knock on the front door.

"Akane! He's here," her mother called out.

"I'll be right there!" she called back.

"Don't stay out too late!" her father insisted.

Akane stuffed her phone into her purse and made her way to the front door. She took a breath to steady herself before sliding it open and stepping through.

They took a moment to appreciate one another, their cheeks glowing red in appreciation for the other's beauty.

"I...I umm..." For the first time, it was Caleb who was tongue-tied and not her.

Akane smiled demurely, casting her eyes to the ground. "What do you think? It's a little old for a yukata, I know. But this once belonged to my grandmother. So..."

Caleb placed a hand against her cheek and kissed her deeply, finding his center again.

"I could not imagine seeing what this city has to offer with a more stunning woman. I'm honored just to be your arm for the night, my love."

Her eyes swam, and her heart melted at his words. He looked so unbelievably handsome. Caleb reached into his coat pocket and took out a small black box with a clear lid. Inside was a beautiful hair clip with a lavender rose that complimented her outfit perfectly.

"It was my mom's idea," he explained.

She placed a hand up to her chest. "Oh, Caleb, I love it. Thank you."

He placed the flower in her hair, his heart fluttering at the sight. She bowed to him, a smile that lit up everything around him on her face.

"Arigato."

Caleb smiled and offered her his arm, which she accepted graciously. The two walked off together, nervous but also unbelievably excited for the night.

As they made their way down the street away from Akane's home, so too did the hooded figure who'd been shadowing Caleb since he left his house.