Shintaro X Kido1

I moaned as I looked over to the bright flashes of my iPhone. Had the alarm gone off again? What time was it? I glanced down at the screen. Ene looked up at me cheerfully with her big blue eyes.

"Master! Time to get up!"

I gave her a blank stare as I set my head back down onto the pillow. I had nothing better to do. As if Ene wanted to get under my skin, she blasted the music. My eyes shot open as I rolled over slamming my hand over the phone.

"Ene?! What the-"

Ene rolled around the screen, laughing.

"Master! You...You... Bwuahahaha!"

I rolled my eyes. "I'm up.. Shut it off.."

She did as she was told, but I could still hear her quiet snickering. I walked over to my dresser, pulling out a plain black T-shirt. I put on my normal clothes and walked out of my room, picking up my phone and slipping it into my back pocket.

I poked my head into Momo's room. She laid peacefully in her bed, moaning slightly. I didn't blame her. She had just come home from a country tour. She had been gone for over a month, and had just come back about an hour ago. I stretched as I walked down the stairs. I found a note on the table addressed to Momo and I.

-Ok guys, when you get up, there are some eggs on the table. They should still be warm. If not, use the microwave. Don't get into trouble.

-Mom

I looked to the table, finding two plates of eggs, still steaming. I ate half and shoveled the other half onto Momo's plate. I walked on the tile floor towards the door.

Was I really venturing out side again?... No matter. I had to. We were out of milk (and soda). Momo would throw a fit if she couldn't eat her cereal. And it would be worse this time, because she had less than three hours of sleep.

I opened the door, plugging an ear bud into my left ear. Ene laughed.

"Master, you're so grumpy today!"

"Ene... You were the one who woke me up. So you shouldn't be complaining. "

I took a left. A slight breeze blew through my hair. It was the end of Spring, and the air temperature was starting to drop. I quickened my steps to keep my circulation moving. The grocery store was less than a fifteen-minute walk.

I reached the entrance. The door opened and I took a step forward. Someone had the same idea. We both collided, sending food spilling all over the ground. I panicked I stood up, quickly bowing three times.

"I'm sorry! I didn't see you! Please accept my humblest apolo-"

"You should really watch where you're going, you know... Shintaro?"

I recognized that voice. And slowly looked up. Kido's face had softened slightly, but you could tell she was unhappy about our little run-in.

I felt a bead of sweat roll off my chin. Next to her was Kano, trying to hold in a laugh. Kido turned to him, shoving her knee into his solar plexus. Kano dropped to the ground, gasping for air.

"Owowowowow!"

"Shut up, Kano! You shouldn't be laughing!"

I picked up an orange and a lemon, handing them to kido. After kneeing Kano, Kido's rage had somewhat subsided. I pulled her to her feet as she brushed herself off. She looked over to Kano, who held his stomach and laid limply on the ground.

"Sorry, Shintaro. Just don't let it happen again, ok?"

I nodded profusely. My ear bud crackled to life.

"Pffftt! Your so pathetic, Mas-"

"CAN IT, ENE!"

People across the parking lot stopped and stared. Kido's face palmed and she brushed passed me. Kano picked himself up, holding his stomach.

"Nice move shintaro, nice one."

He patted my shoulder as I walked into the store. Ene hadn't said a word since I yelled at her.

"Ene..."

I got no response. I rolled my eyes as I walked to the dairy section of the store. In every isle, there was a poster with a picture of Momo on it. I saw a couple of girls crowded around one. They marveled about how they wanted to be like her one day, and wanted tickets to her next concert. Looking at the poster, it said she had one... Later tonight?!

Oi... Momo, you have to take care of yourself. You just got back from Kyoto...

I grabbed a gallon of milk and walked up to the cash register. I ran my fingers through my hair. A flash of purple grabbed the attention of my eye.

"Sir?"

I looked back at the cashier. I had been zoning. I felt a tap on my shoulder. I turned. Kido handed me several produce items.

"These too."

She glared at me.

"Kido, I-"

"Oh, no! You're paying for these. Thanks to you, the ones I bought were crushed!"

I couldn't argue with that face-it was so... enraged. I smiled sheepishly as I handed the cashier more money. He gave me a funny look before giving me the receipt.

"Here ya go! Have a nice day"

Kido politely smiled then scowled at me. She grabbed the bag and walked briskly ahead.

"Master, you-"

"Ene... Say something useful."

Ene laughed again. But said nothing more.

The wind had picked up again. Leaves blew across the street, and empty plastic bags flew through the air. Kido was walking off into the distance, her hair blowing to the left.

A car off to my right drove up to the stop sign, but didn't move. I picked up my pace. Catching up to her I tapped her on the shoulder. She turned around. I started to speak, but ended up placing my hands on my knees to catch my breath.

"What is it, Shintaro?"

There was a hint of annoyance in her voice. I pointed to the car as it slowly drove toward us. Kido rolled her eyes. And walked ahead, turning a corner. Ok, maybe I had just made a fool out of myself.

I walked toward the end of the street where Kido had turned. She was walking much faster than I had first thought.

The average person walks about three miles an hour, and she was walking more like four. No, wait, that's not right. The amount of steps multiplied by four... times it by sixty, decided by seven... She was walking about 5.629 miles per hour. But she couldn't have been walking that fast, could she? Sometimes I had thought Kido couldn't be human. Maybe it was because of her freakish strength, or because she was more intimidating than my mother. I stumbled upon a plastic bag that contained ginger and celery.

"...Kido.."

I set down the jug of milk and ran back to the corner watching the black SUV turn the corner. The windows were dark and tinted. I pulled out my phone, feeling a bit silly as I snapped pictures of the license plate. I ran after it, gaining ground.

"Shintaro?"

I turned around. Kido looked at me, hands on her hips, holding a bag. I looked at her, then to the corner.

"That was the other bag. You crushed them..."

I face palmed. So there wasn't anything to worry about.

"Come on, come back to base."

I nodded. "Only after I drop the milk back at my house. "

"I'll go wih you. There's no point of me waiting and letting the food get cold. "

I walked ahead taking the first step. The wind sent chills down my spine. Even Kido looked cold. I extended my hand.

"I can carry those for you. "

She hesitated before handing the bag to me. Her hands were cold, and starting to turn bright red.

Kido crossed her arms as she walked next to me. My house was still unlocked. We both felt the warmth gratefully as we stepped in. Momo heard the door open and yelped.

" , DON'T HURT ME!"

Kido and I looked at each other. Before chuckling lightly. It seemed like everyone was paranoid today. Momo turned around and peered per the couch.

"O...Onii-chan?"

I looked back at her. "Yes, Momo?"

She looked at Kido, then fully stood up.

"I thought you were a robber..."

"We noticed. Oh, by the way, since when did you have another concert tonight?!"

She walked back to the kitchen and stabbed a fork into her eggs.

"I know... But, after that, I'm taking a whole month off. "

She smiled seeing, the milk as I set it down on the table. I walked back to the door and opened it. The wind rushed in as I walked out. "I'll be back later, okay?"

Momo smiled and nodded. Kido had stuck her hands into her pockets and grinned lightly.

"You're quite the big brother, huh?"

"Uh huh, sure I am... I've been in my room for the last two years, and only now I start worrying about my younger celebrity sister."

"Why don't we all go to the concert. The Mekakushi Dan, that is."

"Why not? All Kano's going to talk about is that night when I carried Mary down the mountain..."

"Don't worry. I'll kick his butt later. "

I smiled. Whether she was looking after me, or just trying to find another reason to kick Kano's butt, I was enjoying it. At least someone cared. Even if it was just a little.

The walk to their apartment was longer than I first thought. I looked up as the wind blew clouds across the blue sky. Shadows filled the streets, and the biting wind blew in our faces. When we got to the door, Kido knocked.

The door opened the slightest bit, and half of Mary's reddish eye could be seen through the crack. She took one look at me the shut the door.

"Eek!"

Kido knocked again. "Mary, it's me. Open up."

Mary opened the door again even less than the last time. Her eyes grew wide.

"No! You're not Kido-san! Kido-san isn't a boy!"

And with that, she slammed the door shut again. I realized that, from the angle Mary was at, and because she opened the door only part-way, it was impossible for her to see Kido.

"Mary! It's Shintaro. "

The door flew open. Mary smiled from ear-to-ear as she looked at me, then Kido.

"Huh?... But... She wasn't there..."

Kido knelt down to Mary's height. "Mary, it's okay. That... bad...scary guy is gone." She glared at me. "Isn't that right? Shintaro?"

I nodded in agreement. Mary stepped to the side and let us in. Kano was sitting on the couch, reading one of his magazines. Mary ran to Seto, who was setting the table. I walked in, placing my jacket on a hook on the door. I set my shows next to the door and walked on the soft carpet floor.

"Hey, Shintaro... How... How was... Pffft! Hahahaha!"

Kido dashed forward, picking up Kano by the collar, his momentum carrying him upward. She set her weight and slammed Kano's face into the ground. I felt my eyebrow twitch.

As tired as she looked, Kido took off her hoodie and put her hair up into a long pony tail, grabbing and pulling a white apron on. She sighed as she took the groceries out and diced them up for some miso soup.

I walked over to the couch and sat down. Kano's foot twitched above him as he laid motionless. Mary sat next to me with an excited expression.

"Does this mean you get to stay for dinner?"

Her smile was so innocent.

"Yes, I guess it does. Then we're all going to see-"

I looked up at Kido, her index finger to her lips as she glared at me. I smiled back. "Then we're going to go see what else I could do with you..."

Lamest cover-up ever. But it seemed to convince her. She hopped off and jumped around the living room, humming to herself.

Moments later, Kido announced that lunch was ready. She brought it to the table and sat down, waiting for the rest of us. She looked exhausted. I walked to the table, Mary insisting that I sit next to her and Kido. Seto sat on her other side.

The soup was poured and tasted amazing. The time was already nearly 2:00- three hours until Momo's concert.

Kano was the first to finish.

"I'm taking a bath first! See ya!"

He dashed off. I collected his bowl and glass.

"That slob... Shintaro, you don't have to."

I smiled at Kido. "I know, but I'd rather be a polite guest, rather than a bad one."

I set the dishes in the sink and walked back to the table, collecting Mary's dishes from her hands. She couldn't finish her soup, and was carefully taking it back to the kitchen. She had already spilled some on the carpet, so on the way back, I grabbed a damp paper towel.

I scrubbed until the carpet looked white again. Seto finished clearing the table, and walked to his room to play a game of Scrabble with Mary. I wiped the table with another damp cloth and dropped it into the trash. Kido, wiping her forehead, sighed.

"Thanks, Shintaro. Kano never helps, and Mary attempts, but ends up doing more damage than helping... "

I nodded as I guided her to the couch, sitting her down.

"But..."

"Trust me on this, Kido."

She looked at me, surprised. I heated some water, and moments later brought her a cup of tea. She took it, still as surprised as she looked when I first sat her down.

"W-What's this for?"

"Does there have to be a reason?"

I smiled and sat down next to her. The light outside had begun to become dark. I looked out the window at the dim stars. We still had an hour and a half until we had to leave the apartment.

I heard the tea cup being set on the coffee table. The lights were dim enough and created a a subtle atmosphere.

I felt something lightly touch my shoulder. I looked down. Kido didn't look up at me, but her face was slightly red, as she rested her head on my shoulder. Her face slightly rubbed on my shoulder when she shifted her weight. Her eyes slowly shut. Her breathing was soft and light. I leaned my head on hers. She slightly flinched but didn't resist. Her shoulder pressed against my own, her breathing evened out as she moaned in her sleep. I smiled as I shut my eyes. She was warm. I couldn't pull myself away if I wanted to. I wanted this to last... Last for all eternity.