1st Contact
"Bye! I'll see you all later!"
The girl cheerfully ran down the sidewalk, casting one last look over her shoulder at the school, her brunette side-tail hanging across her shoulder. The tall, utilitarian-looking building with its big clock had been part of her life for the past several years now... every day... for many hours a day. She'd had several friends, lots of fun times, and learned lots of new things.
Good riddance.
With a grin, Natsuki began walking away, looking down at the drab brown skirt and the tan coat of her school uniform. She reached up and loosened the tie so she could breathe. Overhead, the sun was shining brightly, almost as if the sky itself was excited by her new freedom. There was a slight hop to her step, barely contained excitement. She held her bag in front of her skirt, thinking of all the annoyances she would no longer have to deal with, all the pointless assignments she was done with, and all the idiots she'd never have to see again.
As she walked past the corner, though, she turned and looked up at one particular window. For a second, she could see onii-chan's face. It was the first time she went to that school... when he was running away from her, that stupid jerk.
With a huff, she walked faster, not wanting to think about her brother or his pervy alien slave or...
Natsuki stopped and lifted her head. "I should see what Neneko is doing!" she thought aloud, walking toward the apartments. Graduating was a cause for a party, at least for one night! Even though it would probably be just her and Neneko. If she invited him, Khi would probably come, but he was no fun. Maybe she'd invite him anyway: if she could slip some alcohol into him, maybe he would loosen up a little. A devious smirk spread on the teen's face.
The smile slowly disappeared. Her footsteps came to a halt and she looked around, putting a finger to her lips. "Huh? Where is this..?" Natsuki turned around. "But I took a right... didn't I?"
Eventually, she managed to make it to the apartment. She looked over toward Neneko's room, but then shrugged and ran up the stairs toward her apartment. Since Mom was still keeping the apartment waiting for Takeya and Ren, Natsuki had taken to using it to store a few things or for a quiet study place. Or just a place that reminded her of onii-chan, Ren, and...
She dropped her bag just inside the door and shut it behind her. Natsuki smiled sadly as she looked around, picturing the broken door, that second night when it was just her and Ren... and the night when all of them had...
"Stupid onii-chan better not be forgetting me," she said out loud, cheeks puffing out briefly as she put her hands on her hips. The girl lifted up a fist, grinning evilly. "I'll give him a Natsuki Cutter just for being gone this long!"
Walking over to the small table, Natsuki tapped the touchpad on her laptop, killing the bubbly screensaver, and turned on some music to fill the quiet apartment. Something was blinking in the corner, but she ignored it.
First off was her tie, thrown across the room. Then Natsuki pulled the tight vest over her head, dropping it at her feet, letting out a sigh of relief as her breasts were freed from their confinement. She quickly unbuttoned the light brown shirt, tossing it somewhere behind herself. With a quick snap, she unbuttoned her skirt and just let it drop. "Oh, that feels so much better," she said with relief as she kicked the skirt away. "I'll never have to wear this stuffy uniform again!"
Natsuki reached up between her breasts and released the snaps on the uncomfortable bra, freeing her petite breasts. The thin girl cupped them briefly, just about enough to fill her hands. Her eyes drifting closed, not wanting to think of her. A brief wave of loneliness passed through her and as she opened her eyes she began to whisper, "N..."
Movement caught her attention and Natsuki cried out, "Oh beep!" She left the curtains open! Across the way, Neneko stood in her own apartment, giving the younger girl a weird look. Embarrassed, the brunette pulled one hand away, nervously waving back with a sheepish laugh. Then, remembering she wanted to talk to Neneko anyway, she made a beckoning motion.
The young landlady nodded her understanding, and then Natsuki quickly rushed to the window. One arm across her youthful mounds, she quickly scanned to see if anyone else was watching and, seeing no one, pulled the blinds shut. "Haha...ha..."
Shaking her head, Natsuki bent over and began pulling her grey short shorts down her shapely legs and thighs, leaving her smallish buttocks covered in just a pair of plain white granny panties. Those quickly followed, though her cheeks reddened a little more when they stuck to her skin for just a second.
Unfettered, nude except for her calf-high socks, the lithe young teen stretched, her lightly toned muscles rippling underneath her fair, smooth skin. A light shiver ran through her body, suddenly, and Natsuki quickly went and kneeled down next to the small dresser. She pulled out a pair of comfy lime boyshort panties, snug against her shaved skin, followed by a short pair of tan cotton shorts.
There was a knock behind her. She called out to let Neneko know it was okay to come in, pulling out a light blue shirtdress. She slid the shirt over her head, back turned toward her brother's friend. Slipping her arms through the short sleeves, she pulled the flared bottom down and then pulled her side-tail out of the neck, letting it fall across her shoulder again. The teen did a quick energetic spin, facing the visitor in the doorway.
Still the same old Neneko, the young landlady smirked and adjusted her glasses. She was wearing a pair of camo guy's shorts and a white t-shirt with an unbuttoned green shirt over it. "Now you're looking more mature, Natsuki." She had grown a little taller, but she had the same short curlish hair that Natsuki remembered. Neneko shut the door behind herself, slipping her sandals off and walking over, looking curiously at the discarded clothes. "Is that really how you want to treat this old apartment?"
"I'll clean it up," the girl replied with a quick roll of her eyes. Light brown eyes shining, she looked at Neneko expectantly. "Well?"
Grudgingly, Neneko smiled a little brighter. "Congratulations, Natsuki. Harumi-san and Takeya will be proud of you."
Natsuki grinned and threw out a thumbs-up. "Of course!" She reached over and grabbed a braided leather belt from the top of the dresser, wrapping it around her waist and buckling it loosely, letting it sit a little lopsided.
"As the daughter of your landlord, though, I need to inform you that we can't have any more strip-teasing. People might get the wrong idea about what kind of place this is."
Shuffling her feet, Natsuki laughed sheepishly. "Uh, sorry about that. I don't open the curtains myself so I didn't expect..."
"That's my fault," Neneko explained, walking past Natsuki and looking around. "I thought we ought to have this place cleaned for tonight, so I came over earlier to tidy up."
The teen's eyes lit up. "Really? So you're cool with us having a party here?"
Neneko grinned and lifted her glasses again. "Of course! Although, as the daughter of the landlord, I will of course need to be here to supervise!"
Natsuki laughed and hugged the older girl, who stiffened briefly. She patted the excited graduate on the back and then slipped a few steps away. "I need to check on a few maintenance issues and then I'll be back to start setting up. If you clean up your mess and get some snacks, we should be ready to get started."
"Should we invite Khi-kun?" she asked.
"Already done. He wouldn't want to miss this for the world. Besides, it's his graduation, too, right?" Laughing to herself, Neneko moved to the door and slipped on her sandals. "The timing on this really worked out incredibly, don't you think?"
"You bet!" the girl replied, moving to the door herself and pulling on a pair of calf-high brown boots.
Revitalized by the shedding of the oppressive uniform she jogged eagerly toward the marketplace. Many of the shopkeepers seemed happy to see her, offering her excited congratulations. Thanking everyone profusely, she went from shop to shop picking out a variety of chips and candies and drinks. She even eyed an alcoholic vending machine for a moment until one of the old ladies clucked at her disapprovingly.
She stuck her tongue out once the lady turned her head, but didn't try for the machine. She might have gotten away with it somewhere else, but everyone knew her here.
"Ah, Natsuki-chan! Congratulations!" Gen called out as she walked up to him.
Grinning, she thanked the old man. She almost walked by, but then she noticed his newest catches. "Oh wow," she murmured, "You got in some octopus?"
"Better!" he said with a grin, pulling a small wooden box from under the counter. He lifted the lid off, revealing a dozen small round balls. The scent of prepared spices rose from the uncooked dumplings.
The girl's eyes widened. "Takoyaki!" She tried to calculate in her head how much money she had left, knowing it really wasn't enough. The girl pouted a little. "Oh, I wish I had come here first..."
Gen laughed, putting the lid back on and holding out the box toward her. "Don't worry! Today's a special day!"
Natsuki stared at the box for a minute and then gratefully accepted it, slipping it into one of her bags. She grinned hugely, then leaned over and gave the old man a peck on the cheek. "Thank you so much, Gen-san!"
With cheeks reddening the old man laughed again and waved her on. "Go! Enjoy yourself! And tell that girl to come say hello!"
"I will!" she promised, a little surprised. Neneko usually came by this market a lot more than Natsuki. She really must have been busy with maintaining the apartments if the old man was missing her. "Thanks again!"
Hurrying on her way, eager to cook up the takoyaki -- or rather, to convince Neneko or maybe Khi to do it -- Natsuki almost didn't hear her name being called again. Surprised, she looked over, spotting the bread shop where onii-chan used to work. A big muscled guy was standing outside in an apron. "Oi! You're Ikuhara's little sister, right! Almost didn't recognize you!"
She looked at him curiously and then walked over, hiking her bags up higher in her arm. "Uh..?"
"Got room for one more bag?" he asked. As she held out a hand to protest, the man put a plastic bag full of lumpy round loaves into the hand.
"Whoa!" she cried out, nearly dropping the bag of warm bread. The familiar smell of melon rose up around her, and she almost threw the bag then and there.
Seemingly unconcerned with her thoughts on the matter, the shop owner clapped his hands together. "That boy is five years late for his shift, but I'll just dock it from his pay, so don't you worry." With a laugh, the baker waved and walked back into his shop.
Nearly overburdened, the girl moved quickly away from the marketplace, escaping before the overly friendly merchants could pile any more gifts on her. Even so, she was smiling. After her initial revulsion, the smell of the warm melon bread had won her over, and she found her feet heading toward one more familiar spot.
With a relieved sigh, the brown-haired teen set down her burden next to the railing. A small, sad smile appeared on her face. The ocean stretched out before her, a salty breeze blowing past and ruffling the trees on the opposite side of the walkway. There were a few small boats sailing in the cold waters.
Everything about this day had been incredible so far. Everyone was happy for her, cheering her on, congratulating her. She had graduated from school, they were going to have a fun party, and she had her whole life ahead of her now. Everything seemed... perfect.
Even so, there was something important missing, the one thing that would make the day complete. The one that that would make her feel complete again.
With a dramatic sigh, the girl turned her watery eyes to the right, staring at the floating spaceship in the distance and thinking of the first time she had seen the thing, half-sunk and turned up on its side. She leaned against the railing and sighed.
She remembered, also, the day that she had been walking down this same street, only to have an orange and white blur tackle her out of nowhere. The time she had been violently yet innocently molested, Natsuki realized with a quiet chuckle. The memory was crystal clear in her memory now. She could almost hear the crazy DearS yelling, "Natsuki-chan-nii~!"
The teen's head jerked up suddenly, eyes wide. She could hear it! Wait... the UFO! Natsuki rubbed her eyes as she looked at the impossible. Was she seeing things..? It was really there, floating over the water..?
Stunned, in utter disbelief, Natsuki turned to look over her right shoulder, her side-tail hanging free.
There, in all her eccentric glory, she stood. Taller, but still thin and lanky, the DearS was grinning hugely, one hand on her hip as she waved, eyes closed. She was wearing what looked like white low-rider jeans with shiny orange chaps, and white leather boots. The hem of the pants dipped low, revealing the faintest hints of golden fuzz. A wide orange belt with metal studs sat crookedly on her hips, Her toned midriff was bare above the flare of her hips, and she had a short-sleeved orange vest with white edges above that, the tiny article of clothing somehow managing to cover just the bare essentials.
Her golden blond hair seemed the same as ever, spreading out vibrantly to the sides, though she had foregone the cat-ear hair ornament. The long tail also opened higher up, giving the appearance of a bushy cat's tail right behind her round bottom. Each hand had a sleeveless white glove, and of course, there were the usual DearS shoulder spikes.
And the wide red collar, with the familiar triangle.
Natsuki could barely open her mouth to speak as a thousand emotions flooded through her at once. She was back... here... just a few feet away from her... Her hands tightened at her sides.
"Nia..." The name slipped from her lips involuntarily.
The DearS opened her gleaming emerald eyes and met Natsuki's stunned look with an excited grin, her hair swishing behind her playfully.