A/N: Hey guys, it's been... a long time. Life is a busy thing, and since last updating this story I spent a year abroad as well as got involved in some other cool new stuff- I'm now on AO3, Twitter, and Tumblr! Links are on my profile, and I'll stick them at the end of this as well. I recently got a guest review that ended up reminding me about this piece, and how it was my path to falling in love with writing fanfic. I went back and checked my files... and found this chapter in the works. Somehow acquiring a burst of inspiration, I put some finishing touches on it and decided to post it.

Unfortunately, I can't promise a lot of new content for this story soon (with school and other projects consuming almost all my time), but please feel free to check out my other works and yell with/at me over on my new Twitter. Thanks to all of you that left reviews, and especially to you for sticking around. I'm so glad you're enjoying the story, eternally grateful that you're still here, and am excited to let you all know I actually have a completed Tsukki oneshot that is hopefully appearing in a Zine soon!

As always, let me know (in reviews here or on my social media) what you think. Take care, you guys.

Without further ado, here is the chapter.

Chapter 13: Echo

Ren blinks her eyes open blearily, snagging her phone off her night table to check the time. The dim screen reads 9:46. She yawns, shifting to sit up and her gaze lands on Kei, still asleep beside her.

"Wake up," she says softly, quietly enough that he doesn't stir at all. Eyeing his sleep-mussed hair and peaceful expression, she breaks into a smile and carefully edges out of the bed. She draws the covers up over him, pulls her hair into a very sloppy bun, and pauses to look at her painting.

The fact that the die is no longer alone is somehow comforting. She turns to her bookshelf, picking up her e-reader before her gaze catches on a CD that sits slightly askew in her collection. It's a little more forward on the shelf than the others, and what's more, it's facing backwards.

Ren sets her e-reader aside and slides the case forward, glances over her shoulder to make sure Kei's still sleeping, and edges the CD off the shelf. Snagging her laptop and earbuds, she tiptoes out of the room and closes the door behind her. Only after that does she manage to look at the cover.

For Ren is written in calligraphic script in the center of the cream-colored paper.

Deep breaths, she reminds herself as her pulse thrums in anticipation. She opens the case, finding the track list on the inside. It's handwritten in small print without any signs of ink smudges. And at the bottom center of the paper, there's a simple line drawing of a water lily.

Booting up her laptop, she sets the CD to rip while she starts a pot of coffee. She transfers the contents of the disc to her phone and eats a small bowl of cereal while she waits.

After the songs are synced and her cereal is eaten, she plugs in her earbuds, grabs for her coffee, and shuts out the rest of the world.

The melody fades into nothing and she's left with silence. The track ended. She knows there isn't another after it and squashes the disappointment in favor of the warmth simmering under her skin. The music has left her at peace, her mind full of bits and pieces of song lyrics.

And if I may just take your breath away
breathe out so I can breathe you in and
I want to bathe you in the light of day
and if you stay
I would even wait all night
but if stars shouldn't shine
crack the shutters open wide

Her heart thuds loudly in her chest. Not painfully, not erratically… just loudly. And maybe a slight bit hurriedly.

If the songs were supposed to be a message, she got it.

She goes for another cup of coffee and pulls down another mug, preparing coffee for Kei and heading back into her room.

"Wake up," she calls, louder this time. Kei grumbles beneath her blankets. "I brought coffee?"

He mumbles something, pushing himself into a sitting position.

"Yeah, yeah, you're welcome. It wouldn't hurt to say a genuine 'thank you' every now and then, would it?"

Kei accepts the mug of coffee and takes a sip, relaxing. Running a hand through his hair, he mutters a quiet but audible "thanks."

Ren brings her mug of coffee to her lips to hide her smile. She refrains from asking how late he was up making the mix CD. Instead, she asks, "do you want bacon and eggs for brunch?"

"Brunch?" He asks, sliding on his glasses.

"It's kind of almost noon already."

His reply is quick, definitive. "Yes, thanks," he answers, smirking.

She rolls her eyes, heading back into the kitchen. "When did you want to head home?" she calls over her shoulder.

Kei strides into the kitchen and leans against the fridge. "In time for dinner," he says, gulping down more of his coffee.

"When is dinner?" Ren turns on the stovetop, pulling out a large frypan to cook the food in.

In her peripheral, she can see him shrug. "I have no idea."

"Not helpful."

"You're welcome."

Ren zips her duffel bag shut and hefts it over her shoulder. Her laptop and a few schoolbooks have been squished in, along with an assortment of winter clothes and a few Christmas gifts. She turns out her overhead room light and heads into the living room, shutting the door behind her.

Upon seeing Kei waiting by the door, she hastily shrugs her duffel off and slips on her shoes, tugging on her winter coat and hefting it back up.

They head out of the apartment without a word. Even after they've been walking for several minutes the silence remains, a tense cloud over the darkening sky. Ren shudders, her fingers closing around the strap of her duffel. Her eyes flick over to Kei and stay there, observing him. His mouth is drawn into a thin line, his shoulders stiff. She sighs, reaches over and takes his hand.

Her action prompts him to look at her, raising one eyebrow slightly.

"I'm here," she says, her breath a cloud in the rapidly cooling evening air.

Kei snorts quietly. "I'm aware," he says matter-of-factly, and she's rewarded with his fingers loosening ever so subtly around hers, an obvious evaporation of tension.

Ren smiles, turning to take in their surroundings. "How far is the house from here?"

"Not very far," he answers, leading her up to a house just a couple of houses in from the end of the street. He uses his free hand to ring the doorbell, keeping hold of her hand even as the door opens.

A man answers the door. He's shorter than Kei, his hair more brown than blond. His expression is a relieved smile. "Welcome home, Kei," he says, ushering them inside. "You must be Ren," he continues, offering her a warm smile that turns into a grin as he eyes her hand in Kei's.

"So you've heard of me," she says, pretending to be surprised, and turns to Kei. "What all did you tell him?"

"Not very much, actually," Kei's brother answers. "Tsukishima Akiteru. Nice to meet you." He offers a small, polite bow.

"Aihara Ren. Thanks for having me." She returns the gesture with a small bow. "Oh! I also made dessert." She holds up the gift bag.

"You cook?" Akiteru asks.

Ren nods, taking the opportunity to slip off her shoes and step up onto the floor. "Yes."

"What class are you in?"

She frowns, raising an eyebrow. "3-A, same as Kei. Top rank. He didn't tell you?"

Akiteru shakes his head, still grinning. "No. Clubs?"

Ren narrows her eyes, recognizing this as a brotherly interrogation and isn't sure how to stop it. "Aikido." She waits until he opens his mouth again before cutting him off. "Since you're going to ask about college next, I've been accepted into Waseda's liberal studies program. I'm going for psychology."

Akiteru fakes a swoon. "I love her already," he says, likely attempting to ease the tension.

Instead, his words have the opposite effect.

Kei's hand tightens around Ren's, a fierce blush creeping over his neck. His neutral expression is approaching angry as he takes a step closer to his brother.

"That's nice," Ren declares coolly, staring Akiteru down while appearing totally relaxed. "I didn't know I needed your approval to date your brother." She doesn't look at Kei, instead keeping her challenging gaze focused on Akiteru while fighting a blush. Somehow managing to succeed, she continues. "And since I don't need your approval, or really anything else from you right now, excuse us, please."

Kei's hand is disgustingly clammy within Ren's as she leads them up the stairs. He flexes his fingers and she releases his hand. He wipes his palm on his pants as she asks, "So, where are we staying?" as they reach the top of the stairs.

He leads her down the hall, stopping in front of a door that he hasn't seen in months that feel like years. The knob turns easily under his palm and he pushes the door open.

The room hasn't changed. His bookshelf is still there, an empty CD case holder on top. There's no dust, so his mom must have cleaned.

Ren follows him inside, flipping on the overhead light and setting her duffel on the end of his bed, lying down on the mattress and sighing contentedly. "Man, that was tense," she remarks, staring at the ceiling. "Also, this bed is really comfy."

Carefully easing the door shut behind her, he's finally able to ask. "We're dating?"

She sits up on her elbows, looking at him with one eyebrow raised. "Isn't that normal for people that like each other?"

Kei can't do anything but stare at her. She's ridiculous. Ridiculously simple-minded. And troublesome. And he's… kami help him, he's in love with her.

Ren frowns. "Okay, alright. Dating is totally normal for people that like each other, especially if one of them is a dinosaur-loving strawberry fanatic and the other is an artist and cooking enthusiast."

"Did you just call me a fanatic?"

She rolls those damn coffee eyes of hers and grins. "Of course that's what you focus on." Rolling off his bed, she comes to stand in front of him, pulling him down by the collar of his jacket and kisses him.

He can't move. It feels like something is collapsing in him somewhere; something that was holding him in place crumbles away. "Ren." He manages to say her name after they break apart, despite it feeling like his tongue is stumbling over itself. "Ren, I-"

"Yes?" She interrupts, eyes wide in faux innocence. "You what?"

A flush creeps over his neck, threatening to burn him. "You-"

"You should know," she continues as if he hadn't just started speaking, "I don't go around kissing people for no reason."

His hands find her waist and hold her tightly, like she could slip through his fingers and turn to dust in the next moment. "I take it you have a reason, then?"

She tilts her head up in fake consideration. "I have a few," she says, grinning, her smile bright and soft at the same time.

It's a look that has him smiling, cheeks almost hurting from stretching so wide. He cups her face in his hands and kisses her, softly and deeply, feeling his neck flush but ignores it in favor of the pure happiness he's floating in right now.

Ren moves to break away and he lets her, eyes blinking open to see that a fierce blush has crept over her as well. She backs away, hands stretched out behind her and plops onto the bed. "Swept off my feet, literally," she mutters, pushing her hair out of her eyes. Blinking a few times, she shakes her head, getting to her feet. "We should… go," she says, voice still rather distant. "Downstairs, I mean. Dinner. I should probably… set the table or something, make up to your brother."

Kei raises an eyebrow. "What for?"

"As a sort-of apology for if I offended him. One that deliberately indicates I'm not sorry for what I said."

"Is that really an apology, then?"

She frowns, considering. "Good point. I'll just have to hope he likes the dessert, then."

Kei smiles, reaching for the door.

Dinner is a lively affair. Ren and his mom seem to get along, and Aki doesn't seem too upset by what transpired earlier. He even pulled the both of them aside after dessert to apologize himself, which was… not all that unexpected, Kei realizes.

He helps Ren wash the dishes, which ends up meaning he's cleaning and she's drying, putting clean plates and cups away. Seems a bit backwards but he doesn't mind, quietly directing her on which cabinet is for what.

She holds up the dessert plate he just handed her, tilting her head to the side. One eyebrow rises higher than the other in a clear display of confusion.

His mouth quirks into a smile, and he reaches up, tapping the cabinet in front of her. She opens it, finding the matching plates, and sets this one on top. Kei hands her the last plate, holding it within arms reach before lifting it up, up, up until it's quite out of Ren's reach.

She doesn't scowl, merely squinting at the plate. She makes a jump for it and Kei hastily steps back, his foot catching on the carpet as she snags the dish from his fingertips. He feels himself falling, falling, and then he isn't.

Ren's arm braces him across the middle of his back, hand curled around his bicep. Her other hand grips the plate high above her head. "Do you mind?" she asks, tone incredulous.

Kei lets his weight sag further towards the ground. "I think gravity minds," he says, grinning as she shifts her grip to brace him better. She sighs, blindly shelving the plate (in the wrong place, Kei notes, but neither of them care).

Just as she closes the cabinet Aki walks through the kitchen, looking up from his phone to stare at them. He lets out a laugh, shakes his head, and exits into the living room.

Ren heaves him back upright, steadying him with her free hand before letting him go. She mutters something under her breath.

Curious, Kei asks her to repeat it, surprised when she blushes.

"No floating away," she says quietly. "Gravity has to share you, understand?"

He smiles, pressing a kiss to her forehead. Taking her hand, he leads her (past Akiteru and) out to the back patio. They sit on the edge together, holding hands. Under the light of the moon, Ren starts to sing.

"There's a daylight going under
There's a new spark to discover
And you know we're not getting any younger
So remember, this is our time

I wanna drive an open road
Can we go out tonight
Anything goes
Let's make a monument for our—"

She stops suddenly, shuddering against the cold, and quietly says, "thanks."

Kei doesn't know what she's referring to. A single action, the past few hours? And he can't help wondering why she cut herself off. Monument for our... what? Future?

There's a heavy word, but it's made lighter by the fact that she'll be part of it.

"Thanks," he echoes, holding her close under the stars.

A/N: The song at the end of the chapter is Mutemath's Monument, specifically the Kasbo remix that can be found on SoundCloud. PS I'm weak for soft Tsukks.

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