Musical inspirations: Your Hands Are Cold - Pride and Prejudice. RAVE TECHNO HOUSE-Matrix II Trance Mix. Just Dance - Lady Gaga.
To anyone else that may be reading my great story - or better yet, my author's note, I hope you enjoy and give pointers, because I will be writing a sequel, for my sake. I want to at least do it right the second time around. Thank you and enjoy a trip into my imagination.
You've got the key to unlock the forbidden door now.
[[Dedicated to my favorite wife. Married 11-2-07, a pledge of friendshipp.]]
A-CLAN: North (Ruled by the all greatness of ravetasticness)
Kitty; Snowlover10
Usagi; Saso-Saku-4ever
Hamusuta; SasoDeiFan
Risu; ArtGirl1311
Inu; Ben
PLANTS AND ELEMENTS: South
Aralia; Chris P.
Ume; Sam
Tsuge; Nima
Matsu; Madison
FRUITS: East (Ruled by the all greatness of ravetasticness)
Sekkai; Chandler
Remon; Derek
Ringo, Tsume; David
Pea; Mathew
Hakumei;
Ringo Tsume
Sekkai
Pea
"Nothing compares to this, the most wonderful thing the weather has to offer. Fluttering down from the white sky. It makes me immediently happy, you know? As soon as I see it, I feel like..." An animal girl explained to her friend. "Wonderful sight, don't you think?" Her hands were clasped as she stared upwards towards the sky. Her eyes sang a song to the stars.
"Hn, did she say when she was going to be here?" Replied a stubborn voice, earning a dirty look, Usagi didn't reply. "Usagi-Chan, I don't understand why we have to stand out here all night. It's getting cold, let's wait inside." She gestured to the small cabin now covered in the white flakes and vines, surrounded by tons of odd yellow bushes and flowers. While rubbing her arms, trying to keep warm, Hamster stompped her feet down hard, though it didn't sound, Usagi noticed it.
"No, Hamusuta-Sama, we have to wait, because she would do the same for us-" Usagi stopped herself. "Well, maybe she wouldn't, but just stay out here with me." She called, falling backwards with a 'thump' as she hit the ground, arms and legs sprawled out. "She will be here. Soon, too." Hamusuta rolled her eyes. "Or else she'll be swimming in that freezing lake over there; we'll throw her in while she's sleeping." They shared laughter until they heard a firmiliar whimper coming from behind them. "Finally, did you bring them?!" The animal girl shrugged. Kitty was wearing a blue jacket that was almost a trench coat, reaching her shoes, thick high heals. Her hair was longer in the front than in the back, resting on her shoulders. Her jeans were darker than her red-brown hair and fit neatly over the top of her heels.
"Cat's don't like water!" She squealed annoyingly, getting a look from the other two saying to move on and answer the question. "Yeah, it's a funny story, I almost forgot them when I was on my way out of the south, but Tsuge was all like; 'Oh Kitty! Don't forget this!' And so I took it from him, thanked him with a genorous grin and left on my way. So yes, I did bring them." She handed over two boxes, both wrapped in a purple and black paper. Usagi took them in her hands, still on the ground; she sat up to inspect them.
"That's funny, um, learn how to shorten stories from now on, please. I'm supprised that you remembered." She answered with a smile on her face, along with her singing giggle.
"I didn't remember, Tsuge did, weren't you listening to me?" Hamusuta and Usagi stood next to each other, making their fingers dance on their mouths.
"Yes, I remember you're unnessisarilly long story, Kitty-Chan," She laughed, "Or do I not remember and it acctually turned out that I wasn't even listening?!" Usagi was great at confusing the simple beings, expesially Kitty.
"Assumptions, assumptions!" They sung in harmony. It must have been an inside joke of some kind, because Kitty didn't understand. Hamusuta's hamster ears flickered and Usagi's bunny ears twitched. One of them let out a sneeze. "Okay, let's go inside the cabin now. It's getting really cold." She looked both ways and gave the signalling glance.
"On your mark, get set, go!" The A-clan members raced into the toasty home. The three of them would live there until they all finished school. They were only in junior High this year so it seemed that they would have a while longer to cope with each other in the cabin land where it always snows.
"You better catch up! I'm winning-" Hamusuta announced. Only to be passed by the feline of the friends.
"I guess the tables are turned now, right?" Laughs escaped her mouth as she sped forward on four limbs like the kitty she was.
"Come on guys! Slow down." Usagi complained, slowing for every word spoken. The other two had already made it inside, not worrying about the fact that Usagi still had about twenty feet before entering the cabin to warm up. "Don't you love me you guys?!"
Inside the cabin, Kitty and Hamster sat cross legged on the couch of the living room, in front of the fireplace. "Should we go back for Usagi-San?" Kitty asked. They all had lived in different places until sent to the ninja academy. Then there, they would hate each other for months until a book was brought up in front of the other. Bunny, Hamster, and Kitty would discuss the book for a while until discovering that they all had more in common then thought. How exciting it was to find your long lost best friends. They were all meant for each other, to grow up together, and be friends for quite a long time.
"Um, yeah, I guess we should," Hamster answered deviously as they quietly crept over to the door of the cabin. Standing next to it, Usagi was only a couple feet away from finally making it to her destination. Panting and shivering, her ears were curled into balls, and her hands were shaking.
"Squeal of death!!" Hamusuta was on Usagi's shoulders in a flash. Usagi stiffened, her body completely frozen. "Don't you think it'll be great to get away for a while, stay here like this together!" Hamster announced playing with Bunny's ears. Usagi's eyes widened in embarassment. Was she really exited for they're stay together?
"You freak." She name called playfully. "So it's Christmas eve night." Hamster climbed off of her shoulders to take the gifts out of Bunny's hands and set them on a table next to the fireplace. The other roommates began to ask the same question while warming up on the couch. Bundled up in four blankets, Usagi joined them.
"So...?"
"'So...' We can open one gift!" She said excitedly. Kitty shot off of the sofa, exploding the blankets over the room, almost directly after they had all gotten comfortable.
"Meow!" She explained with a sound effect. Another 'meow' followed the first. "Boy, do Senpai and I have a Christmas Eve gift for you!" Hamster was by her side in only seconds, with her hand over her mouth.
"Shh!" Hamster almost imploded, unlike the blankets that did the exact opposite, her face was beginning to turn a deep shade of red. She was waving her hands frantically in front of her face. "You can't tell her! Are you stupid?!" Tell me what? It's just a Christmas present,Usagi thought. It wasn't that big of a deal was it? Gifts never are, it's spending time with your friends and family. But they didn't have family any where near them. They were all off on different sides of the world. The A-Clan members had only come together, away from their families like this for school.
"I wasn't going to tell her, because no I'm not 'stupid'." They were bickering again. You can't put them in the same room for thirty minutes without them fighting with each other. "Ugh, that is so childish, the word 'stupid'."
"Well, that's just fine, it suites you then." They crossed their arms. "Besides, is that any way to speak to your Senpai?"
"Are you done ye-" There was a knock at the door before Usagi could even think about trying to calm them down.
"OH NO! THEIR EARLY!" The opponents shouted. Kitty leapt and forcefully dragged Usagi into another room and shut the door behind her. "Senpai, the door's all yours!" She called from one of the two bedrooms.Only two bedrooms? How are we going to do that?Kitty began to bind Usagi with some duck tape that appeared out of no where. She covered her mouth and tied her wrists and ankles together, sticking her to the bed frame of a purple queen. Bunny was struggling to get free, thrashing her body around, but it was no use, and she wouldn't get free. Not until someone else untied her. "Gomen, Usagi-San." She added to the bondage conversation. Last, she placed a blind fold around Usagi's head, blocking her vision.
-With Usagi-
What is she doing? What is their problem?! My legs were bound and my mouth was taped over with duck tape. She had thrown a blindfold on me, to keep from seeing what?! My heart was beating so fast, and my lungs were working so hard, I was making it difficult for myself to breathe. My chest was rising at an unhealthy speed, I need to calm down. Relaxing my shoulders, I tried to slow my heart rate. One, two, three...
One, two, three...
I closed my eyes under the wrap, thinking to myself as I tried to identify the people at the door. My ears twitched as I thought I had recognized someone I hadn't seen in... Years. I wouldn't even think of it. Not going to get my hopes up, I told myself. The tape on my bear skin started to itch. Darn Kitty and Hamster! As soon as I get out of this, I'm going to--splash boiling water in their laps! That will melt the snow from their ankles. Kitty better leave this room soon! As my mind wandered, I began to think about the past. I had so much fun playing with the boy I wanted to talk to right about now. Suddenly, I needed to talk to... Him. I know I had told myself not to think about the boy waiting at the door, but my ears were picking everyone's' voice up. I couldn't get him out of my head. Not until I talked to him, would I be able to think straight. I could hear things happening in the room, Kitty's silhouette moved towards the window. She opened it wide, where the wind was blowing the curtains around in all different directions, and letting snow flutter into the room. Cold, it was getting so cold. I wasn't wearing my shoes anymore, because I had kicked them off when we reached the cabin.
"Gomen, again." I heard her say as she hopped out of the room into the dark sky of night. My eyes followed her though I couldn't see, on the way, I could almost picture the stars filling the sky, making my mind sparkle and my head spin. It was like ballroom dancing... Only...
I wiggled my toes, trying to get something loose, or to warm them up, get the blood to flow down there. No hope. I knew Kitty was a trained Shanobi, there for, able to bind another like it was no body's business. But I didn't want to know or think about Kitty's bondage life right now. I had a mental video that would be burned into my memory forever.
He and myself were training at home one day, the sun was high in the sky, not a cloud blocking my view to the moon that was already beginning to show. Someone tapped my shoulder, it was Chiyo-Baasama! She was offering drinks to Ringo and I. Cheerfully I chose the pink lemonaid over the yellow, even though there really was no difference in taste, the color excited me. It reminded me of romance, so I figured the more I drank, the more I would enjoy the love of my life. Whoever that may be. It was a silly mind game I played with myself, but it kept me occupied when I was alone, keeping to myself.
"Usagi-chan, you take too long to drink, what's your problem?" I snapped out of thought. Ringo was sitting next to me now on a pile of sand sipping his beverage. I didn't answer for a while, because I truley didn't have one, I didn't know why I had to think so hard about simple things. "You're making me wait, I don't like waiting. You know that, so what's going on?" He pushed me playfully. We both giggled, exchanged smiles.
"I don't know, I just think intently about-things, I guess." I couldn't let him know about what I thought of love or romance.
"You don't trust me with your secrets, but I tell you mine every day!" He said, his voice louder than before. He turned to face me, sand rolled of the top of the pile, depositing at the bottom. Not much was supporting us now, we were sinking into the middle. Our hips getting closer and closer with every small movement. I began to think he was doing it on purpose. But no, not Ringo, he was no romantic. I was the one with the imagination out of the two of us. "So tell me, my puppet princess, what is your deal?"
"Puppet princess?!" I laughed, he was pushing my bottons, it needed to stop. He shook his head yes. "You know I hate princesses! Their stuck up and always get what they want. You know I'll bet they don't even life happy lives, with people always out to steal the thrown or get pictures with them and stuff loving them for what they've got, not who they are." He laughed at me, I pointed at him with my free hand.
"You have a point," He started, "but wait, how do you even know those things if you haven't even met one before?" But I had, and I shouldn't have said those things before, because she was a friend.
"Never mind that, no princess, but I will settle for puppet." He seemed happy with that, so we sat together, sipping our drinks slowly and discussing our training before night came.
Then it was over, with a blush. I want to talk to him, but things that seemed to good to be true, most of the time... Were.
Oh, my Tsume-San...
-Without Usagi-
Hamster answered the door quietly, but quickly, pulling the red head and blond inside.
"Danna!" Risu chanted in a high voice, almost hopping up and down.
"You guys are way, way early. I told you ten thirty." Risu nodded in a sarcastic fashion. Her good mood had passed thanks to Hamster's surprise anger.
"Yeah and its eleven forty-four." Hamster smacked her forehead angrily. "So we're late, and what in the world was that for?!"
"'Yeah'," She said mockingly as the red head stood in the doorway fidgeting to what seemed like, to get comfortable. He looked bored, and irritated at the same time. "Ten-thirty tomorrow morning!!" Risu froze stupidly. "We haven't even unpacked, we arrived not to long ago!"
"That's--"
"--Exactly what I said when we met west?" She guessed, correcting the mindless rodent. The three swayed, waiting for someone to speak up. "Well, we all know what exactly you're here for, so at least you brought the package." Suddenly Risu was back to herself and sprung on to the couch shutting the front door behind her.
"'At least I brought the package!'" She repeated happily. That earned her a pair of rolling eyes. Hamster raised her hand to be shaken by the scorpion. "I love you, Danna!"
"Welcome to your temporary home Tsume no Ringo!" She greeted with a smile included as a muffled scream was heard from the other room. Her mouth was supposed to be taped shut!! Ringo shook her hand anyways and didn't seem effected much by the alarm.
"What was that?" Ringo asked, still calm possibly on the way to laughter. Hamusuta clasped her hands together and stood on her toes. The puppet master was dressed in his normal attire; an Hakumei cloak unbuttoned about half way down. Sadly he wore a shirt underneath, black in the upper half, and ninjas fishnet the rest of the way down. His hair was also its normal self, disarray almost past his chin. Hamusuta reached for his wrist, pulling him to the bedroom in which Bunny was kept to be surprised. He tripped over his own feet a few times, glaring at her from behind. She always liked Ringo, but knew he was meant for Bunny. One thing she would have to live with forever.
"In here. Usagi-Chan is being held--" Mistake, mistake. She shook her head, still holding Ringo's hand. "She's in here." She cracked the door open to get the first look, to make sure there was no way the Bunny could move around. It was colder in here then in the rest of the house for some reason. Good, okay time to let him inside. She pushed the door the rest of the way open. When she suddenly, oddly, heard Kitty-Chan in the living room talking to Risu. Wasn't she supposed to be in here with Bunny? But then again, the window was open, probably the reason for how cold it had gotten in the bedroom. Ringo let go of her hand and walked into the dark room, turning on the light on the way inside.
-With Usagi-
"Mmm?" I mumbled through the duck tape on my lips. I wasn't sure why in the world I was tied up. They could have locked me in a closet, but why was Ringo no Tsume here? "Mmmm!?" Someone was in the room with me, my eyebrows tilted was freaky, knowing my friends, they probably brought Ringo over here to help kill me. My head was still woozy from ballroom dancing with the stars, when would they untie me!? I felt that someone knelt over me, onto the bed to carefully peel the tape off of my closed mouth. What a relief too. It still stung and I was feeling warm all of the sudden. I knew who it was, my scorpion knight. Embarrassed? By Ringo's presence? No way, he's just a really close friend from three years ago. When we were ten I had a huge crush on him, but I had thought that passed by now. I couldn't be blushing, not me. I heared crashing and grunts, Hamster was trying hard to close the window, hopping on the day bed in front of it. I wanted to help her, but at the moment, I was all tied up, and to be honest, I couldn't tear my gaze from Ringo's direction. Why wasn't he taking off the blind fold?
"So why did your stupid friends tie you up like this?" He asked me, and being myself, I replied stupidly, playing with the tape wrapped around my wrists behind my back. Hamster shot out the door after closing the window, rubbing her arms, warming herself up.
"Because, it's Christmas time, of course." Because--? What?! Ringo gave a 'che' and tore off all the rest of the tape around my ankles and then my wrists and arms. I guess I was going to have to take the cloth off of my face myself. After taking it off, he helped me up, leading me to the living room to join Hamusuta and Kitty, turning off the light behind him. But instead of just two other bodies, there were three.
"...and during the run over here -which took forever by the way- Ugh you should have heard him talking all about the missions that he and Deidara were going on-" I was taken by surprise to see Risu-Chan here too. "There you are Usagi! Why is your face red?" I couldn't answer because I couldn't tell if it was from the peeling off of the duck tape or Ringo being here... And now holding my hand?!
"Um, I-I..." The words wouldn't come out, so I asked; "Who wants some nice hot chocolat?" I faked a smile. Kitty gave me the WTF look and rubbed her chin with her hand. She was going to say something incredibly stupid, I could taste it.
"What does that mean? Chocolat?" Kitty was just being obnoxious today, with all of her talking and sudden outbursts.
"It's 'Chocolate' in French or something, I saw it in a movie." I answered, right now I was raving over the idea of getting out of the same room as these people.
Hamusuta smiled devilishly and pointed in the direction of the person by my side, even the though of what I was about to ask made me blush, and I knew I was even more red now than I was before. "S-Ringo, would you like a cup of cocoa?" I had to use the frilly word 'cocoa'. Nice Usagi.
"I'll prepare it!" Kitty explained. Or rather, called dibs on preparing. Ringo turned to face me.
"Sure. I would love some." He bent forward, to whisper into my ear. "None of Kitty's though, I'm afraid of her cooking." He chuckled, not moving his stance. "Would you mind preparing mine?" My heart skipped a beat as he let go of my hand, then joined Risu and Hamster on the sofa in front of the fireplace. The hand he was holding became cold, but palms were sweating.
"Yeah, I'll do that right now." I hurried off into the kitchen and boiled a small portion of water, the pot of water that should have been tossed at Hamster and Kitty. "Kitty-Chan, how was the Southworld?" She tensed.
"Great, I only got hit by a moving crowd of ninja and jumped off of a building." I couldn't believe it, she didn't call me? Why didn't she contact me by even the Internet?! I came in here to make happy time with happy drinks, not hear about her getting hit by ninja.
"What the bunny-whiskers, Kitty-Chan?!" I slammed my hands down on the kitchen counter, nicking my finger on a near by knife. "Ouch." I rolled my eyes at her and sucked on my hurt finger. "Why'd you unpack the knife?"
"I'm kidding. Besides even if I did, Kitties have nine lives all the same." She held her hands up and giggled. "Gomen, Usagi-San. I got it out to open the cocoa package. The box I got it out of is right over here." And then, she bowed and pointed left, stilling her laughter. Unnecessary, but nice. Maybe a little suck-uppish though. But who other than me was watching? I was serving Ringo a beverage that needed to be done soon so that I could talk to him, to satisfy myself. Hm, now I know how Hamusuta-Sama felt at home, I like the powerful feeling. Thousands of people kneeling at the sight of her every morning. I wonder what the feeling of wealth is.
"Usagi-Chan!" A female voice called out to me. What could anybody possibly want?! "Are you going to let us open our gifts yet!?" It was the all too selfish Hamster. I loved her though, she was really one of my closest friends. I appreciated her friendship, but she wore on my nerves some times.
"Yes," I called back. "As soon as I'm finished in here, excuse me--We're finished in here." I had forgotten about Kitty, she could easily turn invisible. The water was ready as I poured it into a mug and searched for the cocoa powder. My hand was pulsing as the blood started to leak out a small amount more. I had forgotten about my wound already, too. It was healing fast enough anyways. I used a spoon to stir the powder into the boiled water as I made my way into the living room and handed the mug to Ringo.
"Thank you," He said to me as I skipped away to bring the wrapped boxes to the circle in the small cabin room. I needed to make about two trips for us five people. I guess he spotted the gift with his name on it because he commented. "Who sent me a package?" Ringo asked. Hamusuta and Kitty-Who was now in the room with her cocoa handed out-Smiled.
"Guilty!" They chimed together waving their arms around in the air. "One for you too Risu." Again, their voices were in sync. Risu smiled and put her hands on her cheeks and kicked her legs.
"Thanks guys!" Then an emotion shot through my body. I was always on top of everything during Christmas time! But because I didn't know they were coming, I didn't get them presents! I felt really bad then. Horrible friend. So while everyone else was in a nice chibi mood, I felt...
"Gomen, Ringo, Risu." I got down on my knees and bowed my head just as Kitty earlier. "I didn't know you were coming--" Ringo stopped me.
"--So you didn't buy us anything." I raised my head and sucked on my finger that was again bleeding. "It's okay, because you didn't know. Besides, you needed a break from being in charge this year. Aren't you always helping out with the homless for christmas back at home or something along those lines?" He asked me happily as there was a knock on the door. All of us jerked our heads in that direction. "Ah," Then he let out a giggle. Not like himself, he was laughing hysterically. "I told him not to come."
-With Kitty-
Senpai stood to answer the door like she did the first time. Everyone but Ringo was wondering who it could be. "Who is it?" I asked only to be answered by Senpai, who clearly was in a bad mood today.
"Gosh, I don't know possibly because I haven't gotten to the door yet." Even before she did, I guess we all had a hint on who it might be. She looked through the window. "Ah! It's Sekkai!" She jumped high in the air and squealed at a high annoying pitch. "I can't believe he's here!" She announced, still squealing.
"So answer the door already." I called to her encouragingly, pushing my hand out forward. Her hand hesitantly reached for the handle, turning it quickly the door opened to reveal Sekkai and-- Pea?
"Pea?!" I squalled, not meaning to yell his name out loud like that. "What are you doing here." I played it off with a hand on my waist. I felt like I was sinking far, far into the bean bag I was sitting in. Farther, and farther, and farther...
That was the first chapter, and I hope you all lived through the author's note. I worked so hard on this, you guys don't even have a clue! So I would hope you found this story interesting and go forward the link to your friends!
:D It's good, trying things new.
REVIEW!!!!REVIEW!!!!REVIEW!!!!
Until next time SasoDeiFan!
