Disclaimer: This parody is a work of fan-fiction, and is distributed
purely for it's subtle political effect.  A-ko and all related
characters are copyrighted by Soeishinsha/Final-Nishijima and Central
Park Media and are not used with permission.  All original material is
copyright 1996 by Henry J. Cobb.  Permission is granted to browse and
redistribute this material, but not to modify it.

----------------------------------------------------------------------

Project A-ko: "Promise" Chapter VII: "Sunday, Resumption"
  By Henry J. Cobb

[Breakfast, Sunday morning at the Daitokuji's.  The father-daughter
chat.]

[Meeting between B-ko and the Engineering staff.]

[In the afternoon B-ko finally gets in touch with A-ko and arranges a
meeting at the Cafe]

[B-ko has not changed from the professional outfit she used at the
meeting and has been waiting at the Cafe for a while.]

[A-ko finally arrives, via bus, and is in a dress B-ko bought for her on
Saturday]

"A-ko" B-ko addressed her warmly "Have a seat."

A-ko sat across from B-ko, picked up the menu and seemed to search
it. "Hi B-ko, do they have hamburgers here?"

"Don't be silly A-ko" B-ko replied "Here, try the chicken salad and the
herb tea" she pointed out the items "they're really quite good."

The order was placed, and they waited in silence for a few minutes.

B-ko was content to simply sit and watch A-ko, the beautiful angel she'd
spotted on Friday was already starting to shine through, the hair and
cosmetics were still a bit off, but she had plenty of time to fix that
up.  She'd have to turn her drawing talent to painting, so that she
could capture A-ko as she was, and show her as she progressed.

A-ko sat in what seemed to be uncomfortable silence.  Thats my fault,
B-ko thought, what sort of friend am I, to simply sit and stare?

"A-ko," B-ko started, "what would you like to do this evening?  There's
a new French film down at the cinema."

"Ah, B-ko" A-ko replied "I don't speak French."

"They have subtitles," B-ko continued "but perhaps you find that
distracting.  We could go dancing."

"B-ko" A-ko answered, "my parents don't want us to be seen in public,
together."

"Yes," B-ko acknowledged "my father also has problems with that.  You
could come over to my place for the evening, he'd like to meet you."

"B-ko" A-ko parried, "we have school tomorrow, and I need to do my
homework."

"Great!" B-ko enthused "I can help you with it, you just need a very
personal tutor to pick up those horrid grades.  You can sleep over and
I'll get you up in time so you won't be late to class."

"What about C-ko?" A-ko asked "how will she get to class, on her own?"

"We'll just drive by and pick her up Monday morning." B-ko explained
"It's really no trouble."

At that point, A-ko's order was delivered and she began to pick at the
salad.

B-ko waited a few minutes then prompted A-ko again "What do you say
A-ko?  Just try one night, if you like it you can move over.  I've got
plenty of space.  We can be privately together and publicly just
friends, we don't ever have to be apart again."

A-ko sat silently for long seconds then replied "No."

B-ko was taken aback for a moment then said "I'm sorry A-ko, I'm moving
too fast again, aren't I?  Tell me, how do you want to structure our
relationship?"

"I don't," A-ko answered "I don't know how this started.  I didn't ask
for any of this.  I just want out."

B-ko was staggered by this, what was wrong, didn't she see?  "A-ko,
there's magic in our touch, surely you must feel how this was meant to
be."

B-ko reached across, but A-ko withdrew her own hand.

"B-ko" A-ko accused, "you've been lying to me.  You come up with this
sob story about a forced marriage and now your father is happy to see us
together."

"I'm sorry A-ko" B-ko apologised "I misunderstood him, just as I've
misunderstood you, but now that we know each other we can work it out."

"I don't want you" A-ko threw at B-ko, "I understand you well enough
already, you're a spiteful, cruel, scheming, repulsive, ill-bred,
treacherous, vindictive idiot.  I don't see how anybody could want you."

Those words again, they beat down on B-ko like hammers, driving her face
down into the table, then see heard a motorcycle arrive.

"If you'll excuse me now" A-ko said cooly, "my ride's here."

B-ko knew who's motorcycle that was, but she lacked the courage to look
up, "A-ko" she sobbed out into the table.

"Give it up B-ko!" A-ko rose "You're not fooling anybody, any more."

B-ko risked just one more glance to see the pair off on the motorcycle,
A-ko pressed firmly against Kei's back, then she slumped back again,
dying inside for what felt like forever.

That night was not pleasant for B-ko.

Monday morning, B-ko waited in front of the school gate, in her school
uniform.  She would give A-ko one final chance to explain herself and
then she would blast her for good.

As the trail of dust arrived, B-ko swung in front of the gate and
addressed A-ko.  "So", B-ko started as cooly as she could manage "What
happened last night?"

A-ko released C-ko's hand, struck the most sickening love-struck pose,
giggled then replied "Oh it was heavenly, divine, like a dream, you
should have been there."  A-ko seemed to think for a moment then
continued "On second thought, I'm glad you weren't, I didn't want to
share him with anybody."

OK thought B-ko, that's it.  She's gone too far.  I will use the suit
and this time the Kid gloves are off.  I'm not going to kill her, that
would be too easy.  I'm going to hurt her outside, like she's hurt me
inside.  If I can't have A-ko, I'll make sure that nobody can bear to
look at her, ever again.  She'll be a living example of why you do not
toy with Biko Daitokuji.  B-ko paused for one moment more, to savor her
rage.

Suddenly a slight figure slipped between A-ko and B-ko.  C-ko turned to
face A-ko and rebuked her "A-ko, A-ko you're lying!"

A-ko seemed to be taken aback by this turn of events and dropped the
pose.

C-ko continued "A-ko, you promised you'd never fight again, you
promised!"

"I, I'm sorry." A-ko replied, carefully studying her shoes.

At last!, B-ko thought, I've won.  I've split them apart and now I can
take each of them, one at a time.

Then C-ko turned to face B-ko, tears and green fire in her eyes "And
B-ko, you won't fight."

How B-ko wished at that moment to take C-ko into her arms and comfort
her, but she was trapped in those green eyes and could only stammer out
"I, I'm sorry."

C-ko continued, strong as any horse "Promise me, promise me B-ko, you
won't ever fight, ever again!"

B-ko could not face this fire and wanted to run or turn away, but she
was pinned by those twin green beacons, as securely as a beetle to a
display board.

"I promise." B-ko whispered, then louder "I promise I won't ever fight
again."

As C-ko turned back to A-ko, B-ko staggered back a step in relief.

"A-ko" C-ko said, taking her by the hand, "B-ko" she continued, taking
her as well by the hand "We can be friends forever!"

Then C-ko lead the other two girls into the classroom and the three
inseparable friends were never late for class again.

#$Id: promise_chp7.txt,v 1.2 1996/07/14 14:20:50 hcobb Exp $