30 Kisses
By Neech
Category: Hana-kimi
Rating: PG
Genre: Romance
Status: HK compilation of one-shots (1st chapter)
Theme: 18 "Say aah…"
Pairings: Sano/Mizuki
Characters: Mizuki, Shizuki
Disclaimer: I wished I owned something, yet I own nothing.
Chapter I
I always wondered what sort of reaction my parents would have when they finally realized that they had just sent their precious daughter to an all-male school for three years.
Needless to say, when Mizuki finally told them the truth after being sent back home (she would object to this most profoundly. She wasn't sent back home; she came back on her own accord), some of the more common responses were utter horror, downright amazement and irrefutable anger (a rare emotion from our normally easygoing father).
A punishment was deemed necessary and by the end of the week, Mizuki was grounded for two months, her allowance negated and both Julia and I were rebuked for- how should I put this- 'encouraging her and aiding her in this foolish masquerade'.
In a sense, I was not surprised when I found an uncharacteristically surly seventeen-year old female sitting in my office one Saturday morning.
"Mum wants you to give me a full check-up. I think she's afraid I've caught something from Japan." She snorted, turning my swivel chair to face the wall.
Amidst protests, I turned her to face me, giving her a kiss on the cheek. "Hello to you too, Mizuki. Who let you in? "
She smiled, and my heart warmed. For the past week, I had hardly seen her smile; instead, she constantly stared into space with the same look of sadness and longing. In some way, I suspected why, but I dreaded asking and receiving the answer.
"That nice lady, Miss Marie, I think. She recognised me as your sister and sent me in."
I laughed and tweaked her nose. "Funny. We look nothing like each other."
We both laughed at this point. We couldn't have looked more different, she and I, she with Asian features, slight and slender physique and brown hair, while I possessed a noticeably Caucasian nose and colouring, broad shoulders, blond hair and a towering frame that was nearly twice hers.
The only feature that acknowledged the fact that we shared similar genetic material was our pair of brown, expressive eyes, as well as our propensity to point with vigour when angered.
There was so little resemblance yet we never disputed the fact that we were siblings.
"So what does she think you caught?" I asked, snapping my rubber gloves as I put them on.
"I don't know, Hokkaido Woodland Tick? Hepatitis? I shouldn't have told her I fainted more than four or five times in Jap-"
I cut her off. "Open your mouth, please."
And she did, as I placed the instrument above her tongue, checking for any signs of disease or illness.
"Arh mein, ish nudding-"
"Say 'aah'."
"Aaaa."
I removed it quickly, making a note on a piece of paper as I wiped the instrument clean of saliva. But I stopped abruptly, remembering her earlier words.
"You fainted four or five times in Japan?" I frowned.
"I mean, it was nothing serious, really. See! I'm completely healthy now. " She flexed an elbow for emphasis, smiling away.
I bit my tongue, struggling to come up with the right words.
"Mizuki… I don't think that's why Mum sent you for a check-up. You've been out of sorts recently… Are you depressed? Do you miss Japan?" I refused to ask anything more.
I watched her gaze turn sad. " It's not just Japan…" She sighed.
"In a way, it's everything… I miss the seasons, the school, the people. I left so abruptly, I never got to say goodbye to some people. Akiha and Ebi taught me so much, even gave me a job, and I never got to thank them. Umeda-sensei (I flinched at this) and Rio did so much for me- You would have liked her, Nii-chan… I miss them, Shizuki. I miss Nakatsu's humour and his passion for soccer… I miss Sano's nagging and concern. I miss Nanba's funny speeches and Rio's teasing and laughter. I miss Yujiro and Noe and Sekime and Nakao and everyone. I never got to say a proper goodbye. I never got to tell them how much I appreciated their friendship, how sorry I was that I lied to them for two years." She faltered, and I noticed the unshed tears in her eyes.
I passed her a tissue, which was about the limit of my comforting skills.
"And what makes me feel even worse is that those who knew forgave me, just like that. Just accepted me, even though the Mizuki they knew for two years was a lie. Sano… Sano knew right from the beginning, and yet forgave me, even pretended he didn't know for my sake. Nakatsu…" She choked back a sob. " I hurt Nakatsu so much. Poor Nakatsu… He spent a year and a half confused, because he was attracted to me! And I could never help him because I was supposed to be a boy! And he forgave me, just like that! I don't deserve their friendship…"
This was all news to me. I stifled the urge to cross an ocean and throttle the boy who had affectionately named me 'Chiari-san' for being attracted to my little sister.
Somewhere, across the ocean, a boy named Nakatsu sneezed.
I stripped off my gloves, raising her chin to meet confused, teary eyes.
'Mizuki-chan… Don't you see?" I smiled and rubbed her tears away, stroking her cheek affectionately. "You may have caused some pain and some problems, but you going to their school was a experience they treasured. They forgave you because they love you, Mizuki. And the Mizuki they knew wasn't a lie. You were still you, just different gender, that's all. You know yourself, Mizuki. Your character would always shine through. And they themselves know it made no difference. Look at the thick wad of mail I see you get from Japan every week! They appreciate you and you made a difference in their lives." Her tentative smile put an end to my fears, as she wiped away her tears and laughed at her silliness.
And now it was back to work again.
"Aah, Shizuki, thank you for…" She trailed off, eyeing the instrument in my hand dubiously.
"Oh no."
"Oh yes. Mum said full check-up, remember?" I grinned, a teenager again as I waved the syringe in front of her face, an elder brother taunting his younger sister.
"Mmmfrghh."
"It'll be quick and as painless as possible, I promise."
'Alright…" She sighed, playing the part of the annoying little sister all too well.
"So… You said Sano Izumi knew all about you being female?" My tone was carefully casual as I asked the question.
"Yeah. He was my room-mate-"
"WHAT! Did anything happen? Did he do anything inappropriate?" I felt myself seethe with rage as I thought of what that boy could have done to my poor, defenceless sister.
I never did like him.
Brief silence.
She blushed and I was prepared to jet to Japan and commit murder.
"Nothing happened, Shizuki, really- ARGHHHHHH. Ow! Shizuki!"
"I'm going to KILL that SANO IZUMI. HOW DARE HE-"
"Shizuki! You idiot! I said nothing happened! I mean… Um… We kissed… But-"
"AHA. You said nothing happened! Kissing is NOT nothing! Do you know how many types of sexually-transmitted diseases can be transmitted by just kissing alone!" I yelled, my tone bordering on the frantic.
"We didn't do anything, I swear! Come on, Shizuki, you know I wouldn't-"
"Oral Gonorrhoea! Once you catch it you can never be rid of it! You can even get it from close-contact sports, for goodness sakes! Oh Lord, you'll have to go for testing for Herpes, Syphilis, Hepatitis, HIV-"
"Shizuki!"
I was never going to let Sano Izumi within a five-metre radius of my sister ever again.
Finito
Reviews are highly welcome, as is constructive criticism.