Notes and Disclaimers: Hime-chan no Ribon was written by Mizusawa Megumi and published by Shuueisha. All rights belong to them, though I am sorta borrowing the characters for a few. Do you think they'll mind? ^^
My most important person
"But there is someone I like," he protested. Adopting his usual wolfish grin Daichi put his hands behind his head and leaned back on the sofa. "She's my most important person," he said with a smile that belied his words.
"Parallel!"
Hime-chan masked the sudden pain in her heart by smiling at him, "It's no wonder," she said with a forced laugh, "Someone as popular as you..." He emphatically nodded then turned to look off into a dark corner. An uneasy silence settled on the room.
"Parallel!"
Hime-chan managed a weak smile as she rose to take her leave. She pointed out that it was getting late and that she needed to get home. Scooping up Pokota, she hastily shoved the small lion into her purse and made for the door without a backward glance.
"Become the person Manami loves best!"
Standing before the mirror in her bedroom Hime-chan allowed the magical power lent to her by Erica-hime to saturate her body. Within seconds she lowered her arms and found herself looking into the eyes of Daichi's best friend, Tetsu-kun.
The experiment had worked!
Quickly she reversed the spell, becoming once again Hime-chan, and then repeated the process, this time invoking her older sister's boyfriend, Hasekura-senpai. Opening her eyes Hime-chan found herself gazing into the gentle eyes of the man she thought she had been in love with.
Dropping her arms Hime-chan became herself again and flopped down on the bed. Now she knew she could do it. If she really wanted to know who Daichi liked, she could do it.
"She's my most important person."
He's word resounded in her mind, echoing off memories. How much she wanted to believe it was her, and how close she had come to knowing it when she had been trapped in Himino-san’s body. He had tried to comfort her; he had stood by her, regardless of her outward appearance. He had a self-confidence, an inner strength, that she longed to posses in herself. Would it be possible to learn if her personality had in fact changed? Did she have the strength? Would it make any difference if she knew? What would change?
Leaping to her feet Hime-chan faced the mirror once again and repeated her incantation.
"Parallel, parallel, become Daichi's most important person!"
Arching her arms around her head the small blonde felt the magic of transformation yet again. When she knew it was complete she quickly covered her face with her hands, fear getting the better of her.
"Help me," she whispered to no one.
Shaking herself Hime-chan balled her hands into fists and readied herself. She had done this with her eyes open, she would finish it the same way!
But when she finally steeled herself enough to look she found she was looking at her own reflection.
Hime-chan frowned. What had she done wrong?
Repeating the process produced the same result. Confusion had a very firm grip on her. As her hands moved to frame the pendant on her chest she was arrested mid motion.
The action had become almost automatic and as a result she hadn't even noticed that she had done it seconds ago. Slowly her hands moved away from the necklace and rose to her hair. The ribbon was gone. She had become Daichi's most important person. She was his most important person.
Once again she dropped her face into her hands, but this time it was to stem the flow of tears. The relief that flowed through her body made her momentarily weak.
Running out into the night air Hime-chan raced for the old house. She had to see him again. To see for herself. She wanted to let him know, to tell him everything.
Panting before the door her hand shook as she slipped the key into the lock. Chances are he would be gone, but she had to try.
Standing at the foot of the sofa Hime-chan looked at the young man sleeping before her. The dying embers of the fire cast just enough light for her to make out his features and for the moment she allowed herself the luxury of admiring them. His hands were behind his head, supporting him in lieu of a pillow. All was stillness and peaceful.
Time slowly passed, as the fire continued to fade, and yet she did nothing. Never before had she been this happy and she wanted nothing to break the spell.
The log finally broke in the fireplace, sending up a fountian of sparks, and Hime-chan gave a soft gasp of surprise.
"You figured it out didn't you?" Daichi suddenly asked with no outward sign of being awake.
She wasn't alarmed by his voice and a smile slowly spread over her lips.
Opening his eyes, Daichi withdrew a hand from behind his head and reached for her. Hime-chan said nothing but swiftly moved to take it. As she came closer Daichi rose to meet her. Wrapping his arms around her he crushed the petit blonde to his chest.
The urgency of Daichi’s embrace bespoke the many times he had longed to do this very act and had been unable to for whatever reason. Every part of his body that was in contact with hers, hummed. His eyes sank closed as he breathed in the warm scent of her hair.
"How long can I hold you?" he whispered, turning his face into her hair. The soft golden threads teased his skin.
Hime-chan squeezed him gently, "As long as you’d like."
He laughed softly, "We’d starve to death before I let go."
Hime-chan did her best to hide the tears of happiness that were suddenly burning her eyes behind a giggle.