*AN*
I own nothing.
When the narrator is to be speaking, you'll know, bb. 3
Hope ya like it :3
Okami-san and Her Seven Companions
Chapter 1
Narrator: It was a fairly normal day in the Otogi Bank's secret basement headquarters, what with Ryoshi screwing up, everyone yelling at him and moving on with their day. But enough of that, let's just get to the interesting part, shall we?
"Don't stare!" Ryoshi screamed.
"Don't be such an idiot, then!" Ryoko snarled, as she effectively wore her wolf outfit.
Through all the yelling and bickering occurring in the Otogi Bank's secret basement headquarters, Liszt managed to get out a polite shout.
"Everyone! We have a new client! Otsu, my dear, will you go take care of that?"
"Yes, gladly!"
As the Otogi Bank members gathered around Liszt's monitor, to see who the client could be, it was revealed that it was none other than:
Narrator: Look, it's the match girl! What was her name, again?
"Machiko?!" Ryoshi said, as he jumped.
"I hope she doesn't have the same request as last time." Ryoshi muttered. Ryoko blushed, as she looked away from the monitor. Ryoko was not too happy the last time Machiko came with a request. She hoped that this time Machiko's request wouldn't concern Ryoshi, but unfortunately if it did, it really couldn't be helped, due to how the Otogi Bank operates; never turning down a request.
"What is your request, Machiko?" Otsu inquired.
"I found another potential meal ticket! I need you to set me up on a date with him, so I can "woo" him! I'll repay my debt whenever you want!"
"Oh? didn't Yukime already give you a room, at her apartment complex?" Otsuu inquired.
"Yeah, doesn't she still live there, Ryoshi?" Ryoko questioned.
"I can't live there forever! I need someone to take care of me when I get out of school and stuff!" Machiko yelled.
"Yeah, I see her all the time." Ringo glanced at Ryoko, who was looking furiously jealous. Little Red put on an evil smirk.
"You hear that, Ryoko? He sees her all the time!" Red ferociously prodded Ryoko's emotions.
"No, Ryoko, that's not what I meant at all!" Ryoshi said, getting more and more flustered as he spoke.
"Ugh! Whatever! Where is this guy, so we can just go do it already?" Ryoko inquired, angrily.
"Here's the address, with directions, Ryoshi heh." Liszt said nervously, handing Ryoshi the address.
Narrator: He's laughing nervously because Okami-san is really scary! So Little Red, Okami-san and Ryoshi headed out to set up a date with this new meal ticket.
As Ringo, Ryoko and Ryoshi walked down the sidewalk, they were swallowed in silence, Ryoshi and Ryoko exchanging glances every once in a while. And all the while Little Red smirked evilly, walking between the two. Though, Ryoko had her wolf costume on, her interior was just glad that Machiko's request didn't concern Ryoshi.
"Ugh, are we almost there or what? We've been walking for at least 45 minutes!" Ryoko shouted, her legs feeling tired.
"I think we're almost there." Ryoshi said.
"Here, if we just take a right we'll only be about 3 minutes away," Ryoshi said, flustered, hoping to save himself from Ryoko's wrath, or better put, her fist. As they approached a fairly luxurious home, a boy began to walk out. As they got closer they noticed it was the Prince of Tennis, Akihiro Ohji.
Narrator: The Pervert- I mean Prince of Tennis!
"Hm? I wonder what she's thinking, he's still with Kakari, right?" Ringo questioned.
"Maybe she doesn't know."
"What are we gonna do? We can't just ask him, he'll probably say no!" Ryoshi said, getting pulled back into a bush by Ryoko, so he wouldn't further attract Akihiro's attention.
"Shut up! We'll figure it out," Ryoko said, holding her fist up, in an offensive manner. As they all pondered the matter, they didn't realize that Ohji was walking down the sidewalk, away from them.
"Oh crap, he's leaving!" Ryoko yelled, jumping over the bush and running after him, Ringo and Ryoshi following close behind.
"Still, though, we need a plan, Ryoko." Ryoshi said, catching up to Ryoko.
"Yeah, I know. Hm…"
Narrator: Ooh, she's thinking really hard, everyone!
"What if we tell him, Kakari was gonna be at a different spot, instead of the courts, but obviously she wasn't and Machiko was?"
"I like it, Ryoko! But… What will he do when he gets there and sees that it's just Machiko and not Kakari?" Ringo reasoned. They pondered some more, this time not making the mistake of standing still while they were thinking of a better solution.
"Why don't we just figure it out when we get actually get there?" Ryoshi asked.
Narrator: Tsk, always plan ahead, Ryoshi!
"I guess, yeah. We've winged it in the past, we should be fine." Ryoko said, assuringly. The group quickly made their way up the sidewalk until they were close behind Ohji.
"Hey," Ryoko said while tapping Ohji's shoulder.
"Hey… What do you need?" Ohji said to the girl tapping on his shoulder.
"Where are you headed?" Ryoko asked, soon to reveal what they were speaking to him for.
Narrator: Smooth, Okami-san! Open with small talk!
"To the Otogi Academy tennis courts, to meet my girlfriend there. Why?"
"Kakari told us to have you meet her at a different location. Would you mind coming with us, so we could show you where she's waiting?" Ryoko lied through her teeth, very well, of course. She was used to it after all.
"Yeah, sure. Did she tell you why she wouldn't be at the courts?" Ohji asked suspiciously.
"Uh, no. No she didn't." Ryoko stated, trying to keep her cool.
"Alright, let's go, then." Ohji said, dismissing the situation. Now, the only problem was that they didn't have a spot set up for Ohji and Machiko to meet.
"Ringo!" Ryoko said in a hushed voice, as the four walked down the sidewalk, Ringo, Ryoko and Ryoshi ahead of Ohji.
"We don't have a place for them to meet! Call Liszt, and tell him to set something up!"
"Okay, I'm on it! I'll catch up in a minute!" Ringo said, stalling her movement and letting the rest walk ahead of her, while getting out her cellphone. As Ryoko and Ryoshi walked ahead of Ohji, they were engulfed in an unusually companionable silence. Usually the silence that surrounded them when they walked was that of a tense, awkward silence. Though even now, they still quickly exchange glances, the likes of which usually causing Ryoko to blush, and turn her head.
Narrator: Aren't these two adorable?
By now, Ryoko had warmed up to Ryoshi. Though she still yelled at him quite often, she saved the punching for more serious screw-up situations.
As they continued on they noticed that they had been walking for quite some time now. Ryoko looked behind her to see if Ohji was still there and of course, he was.
Seriously, where is Ringo? Ryoko questioned in her mind. But, speak of the devil, she saw Ringo running up behind Ohji.
"There you are! God, what took you so long?" Ryoko asked, in a relieved, but still hushed voice.
"Liszt was calling in a few favors to clear the park! What, you couldn't stand to be alone with Ryoshi for a few minutes?" Ringo teased.
"That's not what I meant at all, what is with you today?" Ryoko asked, frustratedly. Ringo wore her trademarked devilish smirk, then tilting her head up, coyly, as she walked with them. Ryoshi was equally confused as to why Ringo was being so suggestive today, though she did like to tease them, and fool with their minds quite often.
As they continued walking, Ohji was beginning to get slightly suspicious.
"Hey, guys," He called from behind them.
"I really would like to know where we're going, could you please tell me?" The three looked at each other, all with nervous looks on their faces. Finally, Ryoshi turned around, figuring that it was no secret anymore since the President cleared the park for them.
"We're going to the park, to meet Kakari." Ryoshi said, quickly turning his head back around. He was beginning to worry about what they would do, when the truth behind their antics was revealed. Ryoshi fiddled his thumbs nervously, looked at his feet, then at Ryoko, then at his feet again. He couldn't help but notice that the afternoon sun made Ryoko's hair look simply radiant. He got so caught up in his thoughts, and Ryoko, he had completely forgot about everything else, including the job they were on. Once he snapped back from his thoughts, he remembered his nervousness about what they would do when they got to the park.
"Guys, I'm really starting to worry about what he's gonna do when we get to the park," Ryoshi said in a hushed voice.
"Yeah, I'm kinda starting to worry too." Ryoko said, pondering what they would, and more importantly, what Ohji would do. They weren't necessarily worried about him getting upset, more so that he would leave. She also thought of how Kakari would feel, when he didn't show up when he was supposed to. She really didn't like the thought of that.
"Ringo." Ryoko said, looking down at her.
"Yes, what is it?"
"Can you call the President and have him call in a favor?
"Another favor, why?" Ringo inquired.
"To tell Kakari that Ohji was sick or something. She'll probably feel horrible when he doesn't show up."
"Oh, I hadn't even thought about that, thanks!" Ringo said back, enthusiastically. Ryoko lightly smiled back. Ringo figured that she would slightly walk ahead of them this time, rather than halting her movement. After a few minutes of Ringo being on the phone, she fell back into step with Ryoko and Ryoshi.
"The President is taking care of it." Ringo said with a smile. Ryoko sighed a small sigh of relief. She definitely didn't want some poor girl being stood up, and feeling abandoned. After leading Ohji along for a few more minutes they arrived at the park. As they entered the gates Ryoko, Ryoshi and Ringo began scanning the freshly cut, emerald grass and tall trees for Machiko. Ryoko jogged ahead slightly and scanned the left path, only to reveal that Machiko was not there.
"Where is she?" Ryoko growled, under her breath. Ryoshi noticed this, and hopped on the right path and skimmed the area with his eyes.
"She's over here!" Ryoshi said, pointing down the left path and smiling slightly. Ohji developed into a quick jog, to look around the tall bushes which obscured his view of the right path.
"I don't see her, where is she?" Ohji questioned, feeling slightly worried. Ringo walked towards Ohji and tapped his arm. Ohji looked down at her, with a confused, and slightly worried, look on his face.
"Kakari's not here. We're on a job for the bank, to set you up on a date with her." Ringo pointed at Machiko, who was sitting on a picnic blanket she had set up.
"You don't have to say 'yes' to her, that's not part of the request, you just have to hang around in the park with her." Ringo said, in a soothing tone.
"Well, does Kakari know that I won't be coming? I can't leave her at the courts, all by herself!" Ohji exclaimed, worried that Kakari's feelings would be hurt. But, luckily, Ryoko beat him to the punch.
"She's been told you aren't coming, because you caught a cold." Ringo consoled. Ohji turned his head in Machiko's direction, and his eyes looked quite worried at this point. More for fear of hurting Kakari's feelings, than anything else.
"Okay... I'll do it. I'm not going to say 'yes', though. I'm quite happy with Kakari. " Ohji said, in a very matter-of-fact tone.
"That's perfectly alright, saying 'yes' was not stated in the request." Ringo said.
"Though it's obviously what she wants." Ringo exhaled, looking at Machiko. Ringo pointed in Machiko's direction.
"Go on then!" She said, light-heartedly, to Ohji. Ohji then, stiffly, made his way over to Machiko. As she saw him heading over to him, she nonchalantly unbuttoned a few buttons of her blouse. Ryoko, Ryoshi and Ringo sighed, at the sight. They made their way to a bush to watch as the date went on.
Narrator: So, the date went on as planned, all except for one thing as the date neared an end.
As Ryoko, Ringo and Ryoshi sat, hidden in their bush, they grew tired. The date was going , with Machiko talking excitedly, and Ohji showing severe disinterest. Ringo twiddled her thumbs, Ryoshi was sat rather close to Ryoko, and though she showed disgust, she really wanted him to move closer. Ringo hastily looked up from her thumbs, and at the metal fences around the park.
"What is it Ringo?" Ryoshi asked, looking at her, then at the fence.
"Oh, no." Ringo said, staring at a small, pink-haired girl. Ringo's heart dropped, and she quickly ran to the park gates.
"Ringo, wait!" Ryoko said, running after her. Ryoshi followed, of course. When they got around to the sidewalk on the other side of the fence, Ryoko and Ryoshi saw Ringo with her hand on Kakari's shoulder.
"I- I was just walking h-home and…" Kakari sniffled, and wiped her eyes.
"W- why would he do this to me?" Ryoshi and Ryoko got closer to the two so they could hear better.
"He's not actually on a date with her, Kakari! He's on a date with her for the Otogi Bank. Machiko requested a date with him, but he doesn't have to keep going out with her!" Ringo consoled.
"But what if he does? What if he likes her more than me?" Kakari said. Ringo could feel the pain in her voice, like nails to a chalkboard. Ringo pointed to Ohji and Machiko,
"Look at how bored he is! He doesn't want to be on a date with her!" Ringo said, soothingly.
"Are… Are you sure?" Kakari sniffled, tears still in her eyes.
"Am I sure? It doesn't matter if I'm sure. Look at him. Does it look like he's having fun?"
"N- No. Not r-really." Kakari said, looking at Ohji. With help from Ringo, she was fairly convinced that everything was okay between her and Ohji.
Ringo patted her back, softly, for a few minutes.
"She really loves him, doesn't she?" Ryoshi said to Ryoko, in a slightly hushed voice.
"Yeah. Yeah, she does." She said, sounding a bit distracted.
"Everything alright, Ryoko?" Ryoko blushed slightly and suddenly found great interest in the ground.
"Yeah, I'm fine." She huffed, and turned her back. Ryoshi obviously knew something was wrong, but he was finding it very hard to pinpoint exactly what was bothering Ryoko. He could usually tell when something was bothering her, and what it was.
"Ryoshi!" Ringo said jogging over to him.
"I'm taking Kakari out for crêpes! You wanna walk Ryoko home?" Ringo teased, with a sly look on her face.
"Uh- Yeah! Yeah, I'll do that!"
"I'll be home soon!" With that, Ringo took her leave with Kakari. Ryoshi ran up to Ryoko, who was already walking down the sidewalk, on her way to her dorm.
"Ryoko, Ringo said for me to walk you home. She's taking Kakari out for crêpes."
"Yeah. Yeah, I heard." Ryoko said, in an unusually shy way.
"Ryoko." Ryoshi stopped her, by grabbing her wrist gently. Ryoko whipped around and looked right into Ryoshi's eyes, almost causing his ophthalmophobia to kick in, but he held it back.
"What?" Her voice was broken, and soft. She cleared her throat and looked at the ground.
"What?" She repeated, this time her voice low, as it always is. The sun was setting just behind Ryoko, making her hazel hair blaze, a bright gold.
She's so beautiful.
"Ryoshi?!" Ryoshi jumped, and shouted.
"Yeah! Sorry."
"Was there something you wanted to say?" Ryoko queried, making sure there was a tiny hint of annoyance in her voice.
"Yeah… Listen. If there's something wrong, don't be afraid to tell me… I'll always be here for you, and I'll always have your back, Ryoko. I promise." Ryoshi smiled warmly.
Narrator: Aw, how sweet!
"I… I know."
It's just that… You said that Kakari really loved Ohji and that made me think of how much you love me. And I am starting to think that you really do love me. I think I'm starting to love you, too. But I can't admit to these feelings yet, neither to you, or to myself. I just don't know why… But, I'll try to get strong for you this time, Ryoshi, I will. I promise.
"Really, I'm fine. C'mon, let's go." She, briefly, wore a small, soft smile, and continued walking down the sidewalk, with Ryoshi at her side. The gap between them had gotten smaller.
As Ryoko and Ryoshi approached the Otogi Academy girls' dorm, the sun was almost completely set and the sky was now dimly lit.
"Well, have a nice night, Ryoko." Ryoshi smiled brightly and walked away, waving.
"Y- You have a nice night too." Ryoko mumbled, stiffly. Ryoshi quickly spun around.
"Did you say something, Ryoko?"
"I… Y- You have a nice night… too." Ryoko blushed and averted her eyes. Ryoshi gasped softly, and smiled even brighter than before. Ryoko twiddled her thumbs a bit, as they stood, in the dying light.
"Bye." She said, shyly.
"See you tomorrow!" Ryoshi said, happily. He smiled at her, one last time, and headed home.
I'm getting there, Ryoshi. Please wait for me.
Narrator: So now it's Ryoko getting stronger for Ryoshi! The wolf's clothing is coming off, hang in there, Ryoshi! And with that; all's well that ends well.