Kyonko's Reckoning

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Haruki tapped his foot impatiently as he stood against the wall of the school, cell phone glued to his head. He let out an annoyed huff. What did she think she was doing, calling in sick? Who gave her permission to miss the math test, and her brigade duties? Kyonko was in so much trouble when he got his hands on her.

Irritated, he slammed the phone shut in his palm and he stalked inside, heading to class, gently nudging his earphones behind his ears. It threw his day off not to know where Kyonko was.

Each hour that passed, sent Haruki into a tizzy and finally, Itsuko had to leave school to take care of a closed space. It was only fortunate that she returned in time to rush into the clubroom, barely after the time she usually arrived.

"Sorry, I had cleaning duty today." Itsuko said with her everpresent smile.

"There's no time for that." Haruki declare and pointed at her. "You deserve a-" He paused. "A penalty." He finished lamely. Usually he wasn't as punitive towards the rest of the club, but without Kyonko around, he was floundering.

"Of course." She agreed easily.

"To be detemined later. Now then. We are in crisis!" Haruki slammed his hands down onto the table in the middle of the room. "Has anyone seen Kyonko since Saturday afternoon?"

Nagato had his nose in a book as usual, Mitsuro was cowering in the corner, huddled over the teaset and Itsuko was leaning back in her seat, smiling a little. "Not at all." She offered. It would explain Haruki's mood if Kyonko hadn't come to school. "I would say perhaps she's sick."

Haruki frowned a little. "Well she's not here, what if she was abducted by aliens? We need to go find her! I say we should go to her house and make sure she hasn't been abducted."

"Did you try calling her?"

"Of course I did!" Haruki boasted. Although that had been at lunch and if she was sick she could have been sleeping. It wouldn't hurt to try again. He flipped open his phone and dialed her number again. It rang in his ear. "She's in so much trouble for not coming." Another ring. Three. Four. You've reached Kyonko- Haruki slammed it shut again. "There you go, she's not answering."

Naturally, they were all going to along with it, so they got up and pulled jackets on as Haruki led the charge, out of the classroom.

Kyonko was awakened by pounding on her door. Her little brother was banging as hard as his little fists could.

"Come on Kyonko! Wake up! Let me in! You never lock your door!"

She groaned and pulled her pillow over her head, and shouted back. "Tell mom I'm sick and go downstairs!"

It took a few more tries before he gave up. Silence finally reigned in her room again. She closed her eyes. Kyonko had always been lazy, but this was taking it to a new low. She felt nauseous however, and there was a good reason for it.

Lunchtime, her phone rang and she wasn't terribly surprised. It was probably Haruki. He would never let up in her life these days.

Kyonko had no desire to talk to Haruki. Not today.

When she heard her mother go out to get groceries, Kyonko dragged herself out of bed, turned the lock on the door and stepped out, padding down the hall to the bathroom.

She had been dying for a shower, but taking one would have been suspicious when she was playing hooky. Kyonko had slept in a dress from the day before and she untied the sash around her waist, unzipping it and letting it fall to the floor.

The mirror hanging in the bathroom showed her her reflection. Kyonko made a face and turned her back on her reflection, pulling the tie out of her hair. She turned the spray on as hard as it would go and stepped in without washing herself.

The phone rang again, but this time she didn't hear it over the sound of her time alone in the shower. There was no way Haruki could ever, ever know anything about Sunday afternoon, after all, the end of the world was no laughing matter.

Cool puffs of air escaped their mouths as Haruki marched them down the hill. "When we get there, Kyonko better be ready for her punishment! She will have to come out with us and pay for our desserts."

Itsuko smiled and nodded her agreement.

Mitsuru put his hands together a bit, pointers touching lightly. "But what if Kyonko-chan is sick?"

"Then she can have soup!" Haruki said as though he wasn't concerned, however he really was. Kyonko hadn't been sick since he'd known her, and that was a concern.

When they arrived at Kyonko's house, her mother was in the process of bringing the groceries into the house. Haruki put on his most charming smile and offered to help. It was the easiest way to get in really because once they were finsihed, her mother allowed them to go upstairs.

Kyonko had finished her shower and changed into her gym clothes, leaving her hair loose and wet to her waist. She sat on her bed idly, slouched against the wall lost in thought.

The knocking interrupted that.

"Mom, leave me alone." Kyonko called to her.

"It's Haruki!"

Her eyes widened. "I'm sick."

That didn't stop the door from being flung open. Haruki barged in without invitation and he loomed over Kyonko easily. Haruki leaned in close and stared at her. She looked a little pale, so he placed his hand on her forehead.

"Haruki..." She protested, trying to duck his hand.

"You don't feel hot, but you don't look good." He decided thoughtfully and stepped back, pacing. "I was going to make you buy us all something, but you don't look well."

Kyonko exhaled when he backed off and pulled at her zipper, making sure it was up all the way. Although Haruki was too self-involved to notice what she was doing, Itsuko hadn't missed it. She found herself wondering what Kyonko was hiding.

Haruki turned suddenly and pointed at her. "You are going to rest, because you need to come to school tomorrow!"

"Alright Haruki." Kyonko offered a weak smile in return. "I'm not feeling well. I was thinking about going back to sleep."

"Well..alright. Let's go!" He said and led the way back out.

Itsuko approached the bed. "You're hiding something...but I don't know what." She frowned. "I'll talk to you tomorrow." She turned around and left, lest Haruki get suspicious.

Kyonko groaned. She didn't want to face twenty questions, all she wanted to do was take a long nap.