Obvious the invitation set me off.  It's not like I'm normally an
unreasonable person.  Everyone knows that.  Ranchan certainly knows that.
You don't see him having heart-to-hearts with the others.  

It's just that, well, that I _knew_  Mr. Tendo and his dad were railroading
him.  They always have.  If he gives in to them on this, they'll find
something else to push him into.  That's the kind of people they are.

Anyway, it just made me so mad.  Ranchan and the others had barely returned,
and before I get to see him, I get this _thing_ in the mail.  I could
picture them all sniggering as they sent out their smug little notice that
they'd won.  

That was that.  I had to save him.  I wasn't sure at first how to do it.
The invitations went out one day before, and Ranchan didn't even get back
until the wedding day!  Of course I thought they were forcing him, and,
really, they were.  That doesn't change the fact that he won't talk to me.

Anyway, I only had a couple of hours to break him out of a life sentence.
The thought kept coming to me that she was the obstacle.  I couldn't think
of her as Akane.  She would have him forever to yell at and slap and feed
horrible food.  In my mind, her face mutated, grew fangs and warts and nasty
growths.  Her body shortened and lost what few curves she has.  That thing
was taking my Ranchan away forever.

The idea formed at the edges of my mind.  If I took her away, there wouldn't
be a wedding.  If I took her away, they'd engage him to one of her sisters
... but Nabiki wouldn't stand for it.  She likes him even less than Akane.
Kasumi would agree, but Ranchan wouldn't look twice at her.  If I took her
away, he'd see me.  Not that he doesn't see me now!  Well, okay, he doesn't
see me now except to let me know our friendship is over.  

Once the idea fully appeared, it speard quickly.  This wouldn't be a problem
if it weren't for her.  I could end this farce now if I remove her from
play.  If I get rid of her, no one would ever take Ranchan away from me
again.  I put on a happy face, and acted.

Now he won't talk to me.  Now they hold hands at lunch, and blush when
people notice.  They laugh together.  (and it's not at me, really it's not.)
He gets in trouble for passing notes to her.  They wander around town
together watching people, windowshopping, eating food.  They don't eat
okonomiyaki, though.  They probably don't eat gyouza either, but I don't
care about that.  Ranchan won't talk to me.

***********

This is a spur of the moment thing.  I hope it's not too soggy.

Elizabeth