State of Affairs
The train left the station onward to the junction slowly, its contents packed full of people creating a wave of unintelligible chatter and laughter, it is Friday and the workers are looking forward to getting inebriated, blanking out the grind.
Kobayashi sat in silence on the benches watching the backdrop propelling past her. The sun was setting to a saffron haze painting the buildings vibrantly, a crimson land which she admired, reminiscent of her hair.
"Wonder what Tohru's got cooking for me? Probably anything she can sneak in that tail of hers…"
She thought to herself, expecting the same old mischief that hasn't gone since day one. This didn't bother her though, because like all lovers they have their little idiosyncrasies that punctuate the experience. A normal Tohru would be nice but would be boring. As long she didn't burn the apartment down everything will be alright.
She let out a little frown, going over today's events
"Elma's been having a really tough week, she doesn't seem to know how to do things lately. I can't keep cluing her on everything or else the project will take a dent… something needs to be done, otherwise she'll be out which is bad news for everyone."
Somehow, she couldn't help but feel sorrowful, although she had no personal reason to be. With her workmate struggling to cope with the demands ordered it made the experience at the office more hectic with the supervisor berating Elma at every turn.
Her thoughts drifted back to her surroundings, not wanting to dwell on the situation too long. One by one the people boarded off freeing up space to have a short power nap before her stop arrives.
At the apartment Tohru is arranging tonight's dinner of chazuke: a dish of boiled rice poured on by green tea. With Kanna over at Saikawa's for a sleepover. Her hopes of having an intimate night to themselves seems possible, and had a positive demeanour.
"Waste not, want not… Miss Kobayashi will be pleased that I've recycled last night's dinner…"
She said to herself cheerfully, always looking for admiration from her kuudere girlfriend.
"Fresh carrots; crunchy seaweed and tangy pickles, all served up in lovely rich green tea, so perfect…"
Tohru was obviously proud of herself despite cooking basically a comfort food meal, but at the end of the day she wanted to deliver the best of anything no matter how mundane it seemed.
She had the tail in hand, a wild smirk across her face.
"This time Kobayashi WILL have my tail, one way or another…"
She swiftly chopped it off and made it into little chunks cooking into the pan next to the pot where the ingredients are mixed in, the meat turned brown looking like pieces of beef, Tohru looked in achievement.
"Excellent, there's no escape now!"
Kobayashi woke up in time to get off the train with seconds to spare, down the steps into the streets below. It's approaching dusk and she picked up the pace, a female walking alone at the beginning of nightfall isn't the safest of times to be in.
When she made it out of the less populated districts she slowed down a bit, there's more people and surveillance in the area to be guaranteed safety.
As she walked past the park there was an audible commotion going on:
"Tell us where you got that!"
"No!"
"Fine… suit yourself."
"Oof!"
She paused and wondered what was going on, the tree branches obscured the view so couldn't make out the result, she started walking again.
Kobayashi stepped inside her apartment. Exhausted and tired, she hung up her coat drawing a deep sigh, ready for some grub served by her eccentric lover who was standing in the hallway
"Welcome home Miss. Kobayashi!"
Tohru said brightfully, aware that a certain appendage was absent.
Kobayashi smiled
"Hey Tohru, you look awfully cheerful…"
The dragon main gave an expression of satisfaction
"That's because I prepared a delectable meal for the two of us"
"Two of us huh? Where's Kanna?"
"Oh, she's stopping over at Riko's, they're having a sleepover for the night. Don't worry Georgie knows about it"
"I see... well I'm going to get changed, call me when dinner's ready"
"Ok"
Kobayashi went to her room, and Tohru gave a sigh a relief.
"Phew! So far so good!"
She began serving up the chazuke, holding a cheeky smile. Will Tohru finally have the upper hand on Kobayashi? no comment has been made so far so it could be it.
"I'm home…"
A wary Shouta quietly said, face down closing the door. When Lucoa came to greet him from the top of the stairs, he had his back purposefully to her. Stepping up them delicately.
"Shouta-baby is everything ok? You came home late"
"Yeah I er… missed the school bus"
A nervous tone was in his voice
"You don't sound too good…"
"I'm fine, demon… I was just late"
Lucoa's usual bubbly tone turned serious in an instant, looking uncharacteristically stern. She knew it was more than being late for the bus.
"Shouta, tell me what's wrong now!"
He froze and sobbed, reluctantly turning around revealing a swollen black eye on his left, the tears streamed down the purple area. it was fresh since blood was still dripping.
"SHOUTA!"
In a heartbeat Lucoa rushed to him, enveloping the boy in her bosom, he blushed as he normally would.
She let a cry of shock and fear, examining the damage.
"MY BABY WHAT HAPPENED?! Did someone hit you?!"
When he regained oxygen after suffocating under her fruits, he offered an explanation
"No, I… I just ran into a door by accident… but everything's fine now so just let me go, demon!"
Shouta broke out of her grasp and sped off to his room slamming the door, audibly crying.
"My precious Shouta… just tell me what's going on?"
