Chapter 37

It was good to know both Akane and his mother were enjoying themselves as they sat at the table together, eating their ordered stir fry. Because right now, Caleb was absolutely hating his life. While he had no doubt that would change again at some point, it could not be denied that the perhaps somewhat overdramatic teen was praying for death at that moment.

This was easily the most embarrassing thing he'd ever been subjected to.

Still, he knew in the back of his mind this was a good thing. His mother wouldn't be trying her damndest to humiliate the living daylights out of him the way she was if she didn't positively love Akane. Just one look in her direction, and he could tell already that his darling girlfriend had absolutely nailed it in regards to winning over the only other person in his life whose opinion meant anything to him.

"So when's the wedding?" Angelika suddenly asked out of the blue, sending water straight up her son's nose mid-gulp, prompting a violent coughing fit.

"Well, we certainly don't have a date in mind yet," Akane admitted. "Though I imagine we'll be looking for some time after the two of us have graduated college together."

"Either way, you would look positively stunning in a fancy white dress," she assured. "Or were you considering something more in keeping with your heritage? Perhaps a Shinto ceremony?"

"Well, I believe modernism has its own perks as well," Akane responded.

"Why does it...." Caleb coughed a few more times, beating against his chest to clear his windpipe. "...why does it sound like the rest of my life is being decided for me?"

"Welcome to the committed life, kiddo," his mother insisted teasingly, whereupon she set down her chopsticks and smiled wistfully up at the ceiling. "Goodness me, where do the years go? You'll find this out one day soon enough, Akane, but kids grow up remarkably fast. Too fast, if I'm honest." She smiled at her son sweetly. "One minute you're changing their diapers, the next they're looking at college campuses."

He turned his gaze away and crossed his arms, his cheeks flushing again despite himself.

"Now then..." Angelika clasped her hands together. "...I have a wonderful idea. Caleb, since you never got around to finishing dinner, how about you treat us both to some dessert?"

Akane beamed at him. "I'd love that, actually."

He shrugged. "I mean, I didn't have anything planned, so your options are limited. But I'm fine with whipping something up real quick."

"Has he made his chocolate mousse for you yet, dear?" Angelika asked Akane.

Caleb almost immediately glared at his mother in suspicion.

"No, he hasn't," she responded excitedly. "Though that sounds wonderful."

"It's simply divine," his mother assured. "And what's more, it does not take him long to make at all." She then turned to her son, who was still quietly glaring back at her. "Provided, of course, that he has the proper ingredients."

"Which, as it so happens...I don't," he responded, his voice just as wary as the look in his gaze.

She smiled at him, a slight glare in her eyes as well. "Well, then it sounds to me like you have a trip to the store to make."

For the longest time, the two of them just stared at one another, Caleb glaring at his mother, who in turn quietly stared back at her son, completely unbending.

"Best hurry before it gets too late," she insisted.

He was about to respond when Akane spoke up for him.

"Go ahead, Darling." She was glaring not at him but at his mother, a knowing smile on her face. "I promise we'll both still be here when you get back."

Caleb looked to his girlfriend, then back to his mother; they were both staring each other down with the same looks in their eyes. He knew there was absolutely nothing he could do to dissuade either one of them from what was coming. With a weary sigh, he finally relented and stood up from the table.

"Both of you, please play nice," he practically begged.

They waited until he had put on his jacket and was in the elevator before saying anything else to one another. Once the doors were shut, however, it was Angelika who broke the sudden tension between them.

"You really do make one hell of a first impression, Akane. I must hand it to you."

She smiled sweetly and nodded her head in gratitude. "And I must say, Caleb truly has such a lovely and understanding mother."

Angelika chuckled, smiling at her as well. "By the way, I never did thank you for helping us with that pesky matter involving those armed hooligans. My son can be a little gungho about these sorts of things. I'm glad there was someone there that night with a slightly more even temperament."

Akane's smile slowly faded somewhat as she shifted her weight in her seat and tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. "It was absolutely no trouble, Mrs. Barlow. As I'm sure your son can attest to, I'm very loyal."

She nodded. "You're more than just loyal if what he's told me is accurate."

Akane narrowed her eyes despite herself.

"Caleb tells me more than you think, Dear. I know how it is you two really came to be together."

She didn't respond, seemingly looking straight through Angelika much in the same way the older woman was doing to her.

"My concern is not with your enthusiasm towards my son, but rather how it is a young lady such as yourself comes to possess the training necessary to take down an entire cell of fully armed Hunters single-handedly," Angelika continued.

It was brief, but Angelika very clearly saw Akane glance over towards the kitchen knives for a fraction of a second.

"Now, Caleb claims you have a spotty memory, which is just fine. Your business is your business. I don't seriously need to know the how or when of anything."

Angelika leaned forward and rested her elbows on the table.

"I really only need the why."

"Are you doubting my conviction to your son, Mrs. Barlow," she asked in as even a voice as she could muster.

Angelika smirked at her, seemingly unphased by the dangerous aura she was giving off at that moment. "Not doubting, only questioning. It's nothing personal, Dear. If Caleb has told you even half of what I now suspect he has, then you should know already that our family has a lot of enemies."

Akane slowly nodded her head. "From what little I've seen, Ma'am, it seems to me at least that that may be a bit of an understatement."

She chuckled. "Perhaps."

"Well, you can rest assured, Mrs. Barlow, that the only enemies I have are anyone who would try to keep Caleb and me apart."

Leaning forward in her seat, she then added.

"Whoever they may be...."

For the longest time, they both silently sized up the woman in front of them, neither one saying a word to the other.

"Do I have your word on that?" Angelika finally asked.

Akane slowly nodded her head. "You do."

Another tense silence followed. Finally, Angelika smiled warmly again and relaxed.

"In that case, Hun, I just have one request for you."

Akane perked up immediately, seemingly back to normal as well. "Yes, Ma'am?"

"Take care of my boy, okay?" she spoke a little more softly. "He's all I've got left now. As his mother, my biggest concern in life is knowing that he'll be happy when I'm gone."

She smiled at that and placed her hands on her chest. "You have my word, Mrs. Barlow. Your son is in good hands."

Angelika nodded in approval. Both women stared at each other once more, the same thought running through both their heads.

She's so nice. I'm really happy I don't have to kill her.