Subject: [FANFIC] A Lesson in Love XV: Obsessions (Part II) (Complete)
From: "Marisa Price" <marisa@tendo-dojo.ranma.net>
Date: 6/15/1997, 12:00 AM
To: fanfic@fanfic.com
Reply-to:
mdp102@york.ac.uk

"That's pretty far away. Is she still coming?"
 "Yeah."
 "Hmm. So what are you going to do?"
 "Well, I thought about calling in one of my debts to get a date. But,
 you
know, I'm not THAT desperate. Maruka and Kei and I are thinking of
going in a group."
 Nabiki knew how Nakoto felt. She had been in the same position
 herself
last year, which was why she didn't bother to go to the Junior Dance.
She wondered if Kuno's plan was to ask her. He hadn't said a word
about it yet, and the thought hadn't even crossed her mind. Now,
however, it was a matter of appearance that they go together.
 "Nabiki?"
 "Hmm? Sorry I was thinking. What did you say, Nakoto?"
 "Silly, they must have given you too much Novocain at the dentist and
 it
numbed your brain," Nakoto laughed.
 "Very funny," Nabiki rolled her eyes.
 Nakoto smiled and repeated, "I was wondering if you wanted to go
 shopping
for dresses after school today."
 After school. That meant she would need to talk to Kuno at lunchtime
 and
settle this matter.
 "Sounds great. I'll meet you by the water fountain near the HomeEc
 classroom." The two entered the gate to the school five minutes
 before the last bell.

* * * * *

 As usual Ranma and Akane were running late, it having taken most of
 their
remaining pre-school time to finish arguing, kiss and make up, and, of
course, eat breakfast. Ranma ran along the fence above her, and Akane
did her best to keep up.
 "Come on, slowpoke."
 "Oh, shut up Ranma."
 "Akane!!" Akane stopped as she heard a voice yelling behind her. She
 turned
around and saw Ukyou dragging along Ryouga and speeding towards them.
Ukyou finally caught up, a bit breathless, and said to Ranma, "Could
you take Ryouga to school? I need to talk to Akane for awhile."
 "I can make it to school without Ranma's help!" Ryouga protested
 loudly,
adjusting his slightly askew bandanna.
 "Sure you can, Porky. What's up, Ucchan?" Ranma looked a bit
 concerned. Ukyou actually blushed and looked down at her feet. She
 mumbled, "Well,
uh, it's sorta private. You know, GIRL stuff."
 "Girl stuff? Ucchan! I didn't..." Ranma began, and Akane stomped on
 his 
foot, silencing him before he could further embarrass Ukyou.
 "Ak..." Ranma yelped. Akane inclined her head toward Ukyou and
 Ryouga,
and they both stared.
 "You going to be okay, Ukyou-chan?" Ryouga asked, reaching his
 fingers
under her chin to gently lift her eyes up to look into his.
 "Ukyou-chan??!" Ranma and Akane both wondered to themselves.
 She gave him a sweet smile, and said softly, "Yeah, you just go on
 ahead,
OK?"
 "OK." Ryouga nodded, as if satisfied, and added,"I'll see you in
 class,"
before he finally turned to go to school
 "Uh, Ucchan? Are you and...." Ranma wanted to know.
 Akane interrupted, "Just take Ryouga and go on to school, Ranma.
Look, he's already headed in the wrong way." 
 Ranma looked from his girlfriend to his best friend and back again,
 then
said, "Uh, OK, sure. Ryouga, wait up man!!" 
 Ranma ran after the eternally lost boy before he could get any
 further. Ukyou was bright red, and Akane patiently waited a moment
 for her to
regain her composure. Finally she said, "We are going to be late if we
don't hurry. You want to tell me what's up as we walk to school?"
 "Oh! Sure, sorry about that, I'm just not used to talking about this
 kind
of stuff." Ukyou started walking and Akane followed.
 "What stuff?"
 "Well. . . Uh. . . Ryouga and I got together last night," Ukyou said
shyly.
 Akane teased, "You're kidding! I never would have known."
 Ukyou grinned and giggled. "Yeah, I never thought it would happen,
but he finally had to make a decision. . ."
 "And he chose you."
 "Yeah."
 "Ukyou, I'm so happy for you. I really like you both, and more than
anything I want you to be happy."
 Ukyou blushed again. "Thanks Akane, for understanding and all."
 "That's what friends are for, right?" Akane smiled.
 "Akane, I was wondering if I could ask you a favor. . ."
 "Sure! What do you need?"
 "Well, Ryouga also mentioned that there is going to be this school
dance. . . And without thinking I said that I would go. Then he told
me that it's a formal thing, and that I'm going to have to wear a
dress if we go."
 "Eek. You're right. Guys have to wear suits and girls dresses. So
 does
that mean you aren't going to go?" Akane asked.
 Ukyou smiled at her and shook her head. "No, I decided that I should
go. I want to try and develop the feminine side of myself a bit more.
But, the problem is that I really don't know what kind of dress to get
or anything."
 "Ohhhh!" Akane said in realization. "And you want me to help you pick
out something!"
 "Would you?"
 "Sure!! Do you want to go shopping after school?"
 "That would be GREAT. Thanks again, Akane. . ."
 "Hey, like I said, no problem. But we better run if we want to go
shopping after school. If we're late, we'll have detention instead!"
 Ukyou laughed and the two girls started to run, evenly pacing 
each other, running through the gates and the halls to slide into
their respective desks just as the bell rang.

* * * * *

Lunchtime.

 "Dating" Kuno could have it's advantages, Nabiki thought as she
took a bite of her spaghetti. Kuno, as the Principal's son, got to go
off campus for lunch, and Nabiki was allowed to join him. It sure beat
cafeteria food, or even Kasumi's cold lunches. Today, however, Nabiki
wasn't in the best of moods. She stirred her food around, not really
that hungry, and looked up at Kuno.
 He was staring at her as she ate.
 "What?" She asked.
 "Nothing, Nabiki-chan. Just admiring your beauty."
 "Hmm," Nabiki mused as she wiped her hands off on her napkin.
 Kuno, surprisingly astute, commented, "You do not appear to be 
in the best of humors this fine day."
 "You could say that again."
 "You do not appear to be in..." Kuno began.
 Nabiki slapped her hand over his mouth. "I didn't mean that
LITERALLY, Kuno."
 "I see," Kuno intoned.
 Nabiki wondered what he DID see, because it obviously wasn't
what everyone else saw. He seemed to truly have no idea why she wasn't
in a good mood. Nabiki sighed and decided she might as well broach the
subject.
 "So, Kuno-chan, I hear that you are having the Senior and Junior
Dance at your house. . ." She offered leadingly.
 "Ah yes, I did offer to do that. As there were no other options, and
as my father will be in the Islands on that date, I decided that the
most noble thing for me to do would be to host the event."
 "I see... And... ?" Nabiki pressed.
 "And what, my dove?"
 Nabiki groaned and threw her napkin down on the table. She 
steamed, "Are we supposed to be going to this 'event' together?"
 Kuno looked surprised. "But of course, Nabiki my love."
 "I see." Nabiki rapped her fingers impatiently. "So, when were
you planning to ask me?"
 "Ask you?"
 "You know, usually the boy asks the girl to go to the dance, and she
says yes or no...."
 "Oh, that foolishness. I saw no need for that, in our situation."
 Nabiki was startled by that response, her eyes open wide, blinking.
 "What?"
 "Well, as we are dating, I would of course expect you to attend
any function that I host," Kuno droned.
 "Well, well, Kuno, " Nabiki said coldly. "I guess I should have known
better than to have an opinion on the subject. I should just let you
take care of all my problems for me."
 Kuno thought it over for a minute before responding, "Yes, that
would be a good idea."
 Nabiki put her hands up to her face and sighed in defeat. "If he
wasn't so stupid, I would be more mad at him than I am right now.
There's just no reasoning with an idiot like this," she thought to
herself.
 Kuno put his hands on the table and leaned forward toward her,
proclamating, "I will send a driver over to pick you up at 7:30 pm on
Friday evening. I, of course, will not be able to pick you up
personally as I will be preparing for the guests."
 "Of course," Nabiki said numbly.

* * * * *

 The week passed slowly for those who were excited about the dance.
For Nabiki, the week went by far too quickly.
 "Nabiki-chan, your guests are here!" Kasumi called up the stairs.
 "Coming, Oneechan!" she yelled back.
 Nabiki gave one last look at herself in the mirror. She looked svelte
 and
chic in her black velvet form-fitting dress. It was short, two or
three inches above the knees, and it had an open back and shoulders,
fastening around her neck with a white silk choker. There was a
heart-shaped cut in the front, revealing her cleavage in a way that
was daring, yet still within the bounds of morality. She had pinned a
faux-diamond brooch to the choker, and small strands of the
rhinestones glittered on her chest. There wasn't much she could do
with her hair, as short as it was, so she had just washed and brushed
it until it shone. She wore makeup, something she avoided usually, and
the dark brown eyeliner made her eyes look large and as brilliant as
her brooch, and her lips were a red that made them look pouty and
seductive.
 "Perfect," Nabiki thought to herself.
 Memories hit her then again.
* * * * *

 "You look. . . Beautiful. But, of course, you know that don't you?"
 He
said to her, staring at her in open admiration.
 She laughed back at him. "Of course I know I look beautiful, it's one
of my best weapons."
 "Why do you always have to be on guard, Nabiki?"
 "Because it's a dangerous world; everyone wants something from you.
You have to take from them before they take everything from you," she
said gravely, not looking at him, but staring out over the ocean
outside.
 "Nabiki, I don't want anything from you. I promise I won't take, I
only want to give," he said soothingly, and took her hand, bringing
her into a room where candles of every size, shape and form burned
like small suns, giving the room a magical warm glow.
 "Oh," she gasped, staring at the tiny fires. He was always like this.
Giving her gifts that cost nothing: a book to read as she sat
relaxing, sunflowers to brighten her room, a handful of seashells, or
a secret cave on the beach where seals slept in the heat of the
midday. Gifts that cost nothing, but meant everything.
 A tear slid down Nabiki's cheek as she stared at the beauty before
 her. "Nabiki? I wanted to make you happy, not to make you cry!" he
 was 
saying, shocked. "What did I do?"
 "You say you don't want to take anything from me, but every time you
do something like this, you take pieces of the most important thing to
me. . ." Nabiki whispered.
 He reached down to gently stroke her cheek. "Is that so wrong,
 Nabiki?
Would it be so bad for you to fall in love?"

* * * * *

 "Nabiki!" Akane's voice broke into her  thoughts and jarred Nabiki
 back
to the present. "Nabiki, didn't you hear Kasumi? Nakoto and your other
friends are waiting downstairs, and Kuno's limo just pulled up to take
you all over to the mansion."
 Nabiki shook the memories away and let her eyes focus on her sister
 as
she said, "Oh, sorry. I was just making sure I looked all right."
 "You look beautiful, Oneechan!" Akane smiled.
 Akane looked spectacular herself, in a pretty rose-colored chiffon
 dress
that had once been Kasumi's. Akane had decided on the dress because it
was finer than anything that she could find in the stores, and Kasumi
had hand-made it out of a dress that used to be their Mother's. The
long pale gloves and the pink silk choker were Akane's addition to the
ensemble. Silk rosebuds clustered in gatherings on the skirt and on
the front of the sleeveless bodice, and fresh rosebuds were gathered
on a barrette and fastened to her hair. Overall the effect was sweet
and soft, much like Akane. At least, when she was in a good mood.
 "You look really nice yourself, Akane-chan," Nabiki offered back, and
she meant it.
 Akane blushed.
 Ranma blundered in the room behind Akane and said, "Akannnn-ne. I
can't get this darn tie to fasten. Can you help me? Hey, Nabiki," He
looked her over, "You look great! Did you know your friends are here?"
 "Yes, yes, I know. I'm going down. I keep getting interrupted. You
look good too, Ranma. Are you sure you don't want to borrow a dress
for the Dance, just in case?"
 He stuck his tongue out at her. "Very funny."
 "I thought so," Nabiki said, laughing, as she breezed through the
 door
and down the stairs.

* * * * *

 "There. I got it. You look great, sweetheart." Akane stood on her
tiptoes and pressed a kiss to Ranma's cheek. "You know, I think you
are growing. I didn't used to have to stand on my tip-toes to kiss
you."
 Ranma smiled. "And you are even wearing your high heels. This
is great! Maybe I will pass up Ryouga in height. Hmm, I wonder how the
added inches will affect my. . ."
 Ranma started to mumble to himself and do some sort of kata. Akane
watched him for a moment, loving the way his muscled form filled out
his traditional black tux. A blue-grey bow-tie, exactly matching his
eyes, was tied perfectly (by herself) at his throat. He was handsome,
and he was hers.
 "Ranma, you are going to mess up, or worse rip, your tux. Stop doing
those moves," she said finally, noticing that he was getting too
involved with what he was doing.
 He stopped, straightening his outfit, and stared at his love. She was
 
so soft and sweet looking. Ranma stroked his hand on her soft hair and
lowered his lips to hers for a short, sweet kiss.
 "I'm going to have the cutest date there," he said softly, looking
into her deep brown eyes.
 "I love you, Ranma. . ."
 "Jeeze, will you two quit all that mushy stuff already!" Ryouga said
as he was pushed into Nabiki's room by Ukyou.
 Ryouga and Ukyou had decided to get dressed at the Tendos, as 
neither of them were quite sure what they were supposed to wear.
 "Akane, HOW do you tie these things?" Ukyou asked, pointing at
Ryouga's yellow bow-tie.
 Akane laughed and went to help a flustered Ryouga, and Ranma
went over to calm Ukyou.
 He straightened the white bow in her hair, and complimented her
 dress.
It was a plum-purple with a flared short skirt and a white satin
brace, which covered her breasts and her lower shoulders, and tied in
the back with a white bow. Ukyou had fastened an antique-looking gold
and amethyst brooch in the front, and Ranma vaguely remembered her
showing it to him in their childhood and telling him that it was her
mother's. Ukyou looked very pretty and very feminine, but Ranma
hesitated to tell her so, not sure what her reaction would be. So he
finally just said, "Ryouga must be really proud to be going to the
dance with you."
 Ukyou blushed and gave Ranma a small shy smile, and looked over at
the newly bow-tied and black-tuxed Ryouga to give him a meaningful
look. He returned it, smiling back at her with his fangy smile.
 "Doesn't Ukyou look nice, Akane?" Ryouga asked.
 "She looks really pretty," Akane smiled. "And you look very handsome.
You two make a great couple."
 Ryouga turned red and started to twiddle his thumbs. "I... I...."
 "He wants to say thanks," Ukyou translated.
 Ranma took Akane's small hand in his and said, "Well, guys, I think
it's time to go. Mom and Pop and Kasumi want to take some photos of us
and stuff. Besides, we have to make those dinner reservations."

* * * * *

Several hours later.

 "Nabiki-chan, would you care to step outside for a breath of fresh
 air?"
Kuno asked her, approaching the chatting circle of girls where she
stood.
 Nabiki was not having a good time. She didn't want to be at this
 function
in the first place, and now that she was here she found it even more
undesirable than she could have possible imagined. The room was heavy
with oppressive warmth, the smells of sweat and too much perfume
reeked and her head clattered with the voices of gossiping girls and
sullen young men. Kuno hadn't commented once on her outfit, and
everyone was asking about the fact that she had arrived separately
from Kuno. Then Kuno had only danced two dances with her, excusing
himself after to gone off to do his "hosting". It was partially a
relief in that she didn't have to spend too much time with Kuno, but
it also fueled the gossip. Maybe he had noticed himself, and that was
why he was suddenly offering to take her outside. Nabiki decided
without hesitation she could use a breath of fresh air.
 "That sounds wonderful, Kuno," Nabiki sighed in relief, and pushed
away from the confining circle, making her excuses as she passed, and
then found herself chagrined at the winks and nudges she received in
reply.
 "God, can't they give it a rest," she thought angrily, and flinched
 as she
finally made her way outside the circle and Kuno took her arm in his,
validating her friends' unspoken words and knowing glances.
 Nakoto called after her, "Don't do anything -I- WOULD do, Boss!"
 Nabiki didn't bother to turn around and acknowledge the comment or
the giggles that soon followed after Nakoto's outrageous remark.
 Kuno didn't say a word, thankfully, probably ignorant of the
 implications.
At least, she hoped that was the reason. He escorted her to the door,
and then outside into the fragrant gardens surrounding the house. The
gardens were a mixture of traditional Japanese flora and various
imported flowers. Stooping down a bit, difficult in her tight dress,
she bent to touch a delicate white flower gently, inhaling its
fragrance.
 "These are really beautiful flowers, Kuno. Do you know what they
 are?" "I do not know. We have gardeners for that sort of thing." "Oh,
 I see," Nabiki mused, wondering once again what had persuaded
her that becoming a "couple" with Kuno was an advantageous decision.
She finally looked up at him and tried a different tact.
 "Kuno, I was think....."
 She never got to finish her sentence as Kuno reached down to tug her
up from the ground and pull her to his chest. Startled, Nabiki broke
off and looked up into Kuno's eyes, which were filled with an emotion
that she didn't want to acknowledge.
 "Enough about flowers," he said sternly, "These flowers are not as
fair as thou art fair, Nabiki my love. Your beauty makes such frail
things fade into obscurity." His eyes bored into hers, and she
suddenly saw his lips descending toward hers. She could feel his body
pressed against her, and there was no way to escape the fact that he
was aroused by her.
 "Kuno, I!..." She tried to pull back, but his lips caught hers and
suddenly his tongue invaded her mouth. She gagged at the taste and at
the violation. Her mind was screaming for her to get away. He suddenly
broke off, loosening his hold on her and grinning like a tiger at it's
meal.
 "You liked that, didn't you, my fair Nabiki. That is only a small
taste of all that I can give you, all that I can make you feel."
 What Nabiki felt was nauseous, but she tried to hide it by 
laughing nervously and heading a bit further down the path, realizing
that they were now quite far away from the Dance, and she felt a
sudden desperation to once again be surrounded by people; protected.
 "Um. You flatter me Kuno. These flowers are much prettier
than I am, see? Don't you think that we have had enough fresh air? We
should. . ."
 He was suddenly behind her, holding her around the waist, 
breathing on her neck in hot, stifling, bursts. She knew he was eyeing
her cleavage from his advantageous height. Nabiki tried to keep
walking forward, but he pulled her back.
 "Kuno. . ." she tried again, and then stiffened as his hands slid up
to cup her breasts.
 "The only flowers I want are these rosebuds here, Nabiki."
She felt his lips descend to her neck, and then the slimy wet trail of
his tongue.
 Chills broke out all over Nabiki's body and she began to shake,
her stomach roiling. That was it. She pushed his hands off of her
forcefully and then turned to face Kuno. She was completely
disconcerted for the first time in years, her face red and angry. 
 "What the HELL do you think you are DOING, Kuno?!"
 Looking at her with half-lidded eyes, he replied, "Come, come,
Nabiki. It is well-acknowledged by all that we are a couple, and I
think I have waited more than long enough for you to overcome any
maidenly hesitations."
 "Maidenly hesitations?!" Nabiki spat in disbelief, her fury growing.
"What makes you think that I don't want to be mauled by you because of
maidenly hesitations?! Did you ever stop to think that maybe I wasn't
interested in you that way?"
 Kuno smiled a knowing grin.
 "Ah, Nabiki. I see that you are embarrassed of your passion. Just
give over to it, my love. After all, it is not as if I have not paid
well for your affections."
 All color drained from Nabiki's face and she stood there, frozen,
realizing that he had just branded her a whore, saying that she was
selling her love to the highest bidder.
 "HOW DARE YOU INSINUATE THAT I AM SOME SORT
OF PROSTITUTE!!" She screamed.
 Kuno shrugged. "A rose is a rose is a rose. . ."
 Calling on skills which she had forgotten that she still possessed,
Nabiki struck out, striking Kuno simultaneously in the windpipe and
the groin, and he fell to the ground gasping with shock and pain.
 "You BASTARD. You stupid, horny, malicious, BOY-LOVING
bastard!! How DARE you!!"
 "Foul woman, you wound and insult me! I will have vengeance for
this," Kuno ground out between clenched teeth, his body hunched.
 She continued to rail at his pain-wracked form, "You, the one who was
obsessed with another man to the point of insanity, presume to judge
ME? I saved you! I salvaged your pitiful honor! That's the ONLY
reimbursement you are EVER going to get from me."
 "Bitch." He said it quietly, trying to stand.
 She froze.
 "That's right Kuno. I'm a bitch. But this bitch owes you NOTHING."
 Nabiki turned, summoning her dignity, and strode out toward the gate
to the outside of the mansion, waiting until she reached the street
before she dared to break into a run.

* * * * *

 "Did you see Ryouga?" Ukyou asked, handing a cup of punch to 
Akane as she walked up to their table in the corner of the crowded
room.
 "Nope, not him OR Ranma." Akane answered, taking a sip of the
bright red punch and grimacing slightly.
 Ukyou shook her head. "I was hoping that they might have come
back or at least stopped to check in by now. I mean, how long does it
take for two GUYS to go to the bathroom? Guys usually are so quick,
you know?"
 "Hmm..." Akane mused and swirled her punch around to try to mix
it a bit more before taking another sip. "I wouldn't be surprised if
they were off fighting somewhere."
 "The sad thing is, you're probably right. Those two just aren't cut
out for getting dressed up and acting like gentlemen," Ukyou sighed,
absentmindedly rubbing her calves, commenting, "Jeesh, these heels are
gonna do me in."
 Akane chuckled to herself, noting that Ukyou wasn't exactly used to
getting all dressed up and acting like a lady herself.
 "You know, Ukyou, I really thought this would be a romantic 
evening. I guess I was hoping for too much. Those two WOULD feel that
it was unmanly to dance. A couple of slow dances and they were already
itching to leave."
 "No kidding," Ukyou grumbled, fiddling with her corsage and
scowling at the wilting flowers, suffering in the heat of the room.
"Not to MENTION that if I hadn't been leading, Ryouga would have
waltzed us all the way to Kyoto."
 At that comment Akane couldn't help but laughing aloud.
 Ukyou gave her a dark look and said, "Go ahead, laugh it up.
It IS pretty funny I guess. But at least MY boyfriend didn't get
turned into a girl in the middle of the Lambada."
 "Oh, you know that was just Daisuke playing a joke."
 "Well, we wouldn't be sitting her waiting for him to go change
back if it hadn't happened."
 "Yeah, well, you're right about that. At least Ryouga didn't get
turned into a pig too."
 "It was a close thing," Ukyou grumbled.
 Ukyou stared out at the dance floor, eyeing the various couples.
 "Hey Akane," she asked suddenly, "Why is Nabiki's friend... what's
her name? Oh yeah. Nakoto. Why is Nakoto dancing with Kuno?!"
 "What?" Akane asked, not bothering to look. "He's probably
dancing with her because Nabiki asked him to. I think she came without
a date. He's probably just trying to be nice."
 "I think making out with her in public like that might be taking it a
LITTLE too far though, don't you?" Ukyou asked dryly.
 Akane started and turned to look among the couples until her
eyes fell on the two plastered to each other on the dance floor.
 "Why that. . .!!" Akane blustered, standing up so suddenly that
her chair toppled to the ground.
 Just as rapidly, Akane and Ukyou were suddenly surrounded by
a cluster of chattering girls.
 "Akane! There you are! We've been looking EVERYWHERE for
you!"
 "Did you SEE, Akane?!"
 "I heard that Kuno took Nabiki out into the garden and dumped her!"
 "Yeah, I guess she took it so hard that she ran off."
 "Well, she WAS stringing him along. . ."
 "What are you talking about, HE'S the JERK!"
 "He is not!"
 "He liked Nakoto anyway I hear."
 "He is too!"
 Akane's voice finally broke through. "ENOUGH!!!! Where is my
sister?!"
 The girls, surprised by Akane's outburst, tittered to a stop. Maia,
one of Akane's friends, said, "I heard she went home and that she was
really upset. I guess Kuno chewed her out for manipulating him."
 Naomi added, "And he went to Nakoto afterward and told her that
he'd really liked her all along."
 "I see," Akane said quietly. "That bastard. And she wasn't
 manipulating
him. She loved him."
 Naomi shrugged. "Well, if you say so, Akane. It's sure always seemed
to me like the only thing Nabiki loves is herself. And money, of
course."
 "Why you. . !" Akane snarled, and Ukyou tried to restrain her from
scratching Naomi's eyes out.
 Fortunately, Ranma and Ryouga chose this time to reappear. Or 
perhaps not so fortunately, as they were both a bit ruffled, and it
was pretty obvious that the both had been off tackling somewhere.
 Akane, already not in the best mood, screamed, "RANMA!!!!"
 Ryouga looked in askance at Ukyou as Ranma disappeared, 
Akane and a mallet hot on his trail.
 "I think, for us, the Dance is over," Ukyou said softly, looking
after the retreating pair before taking Ryouga's arm and heading to
the door to leave the Kuno mansion.

End of Chapter XV