Truth Be Told: Untold Short Stories

First of all…HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE! :D

Sorry for the lack of answers on the PMs, I have been busy this Christmas with the party and all in my house and the clean-up afterwards. It's been hectic for me, which is why I haven't been able to answer the PM's, if my time loosens up… maybe next week; I promise I will answer those PMs.

Also the update of TbT is coming soon; meanwhile just enjoy this 2nd chapter of the short story.

Disclaimer: I don't own Infinite Stratos (except my plot and OCs), it belongs to Izuru Yumizuru.

Short Story# 2: Madoka's Strange New Year (Part 1)

"What?"

Madoka jumped out of the sofa when someone pinched her on the shoulder.

"Who did that?"

"Come on Madoka, mom wants us to get the fireworks."

"Wha? Mom… Fireworks?"

Madoka looked at Ichika with profound confusion and that confusion grew as when noticed where she is. There are in the Orimura residence, the house that Ichika and Chifuyu lived in however it appeared to be bigger and a bit different than how she remembered it. However that alone wouldn't be enough to cause bafflement but there the things that are began appearing one by one.

Is Chifuyu with Chigusa in casual clothes and in aprons even got out of the kitchen carrying with them newly cooked chicken and turkey.

(What is this? Are we Americans now… No wait that's not the issue here… where are Chifuyu-nee and Chigusa-nee not fight!?)

Looked at his two big sisters with profound confusion and a hanging mouth.

"Madoka come on."

But Ichika pulls her to her feet and pinches her cheeks to wake her up.

"Ichika! Chifuyu-nee and Chigusa-nee! Fighting… no cooking… what's happening?" Madoka in a hysteric manner fervently asked Ichika as to what both their big sisters could possibly be doing.

"Well they are cooking… they've been doing since early in the morning. If you didn't stay up all night play those galgames then you would've been cooking with them."

"Chifuyu-nee and Chigusa-nee… cooking?"

Madoka's just felt she got thrown to deep space as her mind seemingly blanked out while making the sound of a radio in standby.

Again however Madoka's musing was disturbed when two fists landed on her head.

"Hey I felt like some midget is insulting my cooking."

"Yeah I feel the same way."

It was Chifuyu and Chigusa that gave her the brutal head smacking. But instead of retorting Madoka cowered in silence especially because of Chigusa, Madoka was expect an even more painful attack from her but instead was left waiting for something that didn't come.

"Quit turtling there and go help Ichika with the fireworks!" Chigusa instead smacks Madoka on the head again and scolds her. Although this leaves Madoka even more confused and earlier.

"Wait… you're not gonna kill me?"

"I'm gonna kill you if you don't get to your errands!"

(SMACK)

"Ueeeeh!" Madoka whimpered as she clutched her aching head that got smacked again.

"Come on Chigusa-nee Madoka stayed up all night…" Ichika came in Madoka's defense.

Chifuyu however moves in and drops a counter while pinching Madoka's cheek playfully.

"So did the brother-sister themed gal-game give you what you wanted?"

Madoka didn't actually know what was going on but she did feel embarrassed especially of Chifuyu suggestive comments.

"Ok enough with the teasing."

Suddenly someone Madoka didn't expect arrived in the house, coming inside the house with bags of grocery is the person that defined evil in this world, her mother, Izanami Orimura.

However strangely Izanami was wearing a floral pink blouse and high heels making her look very different than her usual scary image, although the sharp look in her is still there.

"Mom!?"

Madoka fell over in shock and then reflexively hid behind Ichika in fear.

"Hey Mom… let me get those for you."

Ichika quickly skitters to Izanami and takes the heavy bags from her.

"Thanks Ichika…" Izanami embraces Ichika lovingly and then gives him a chaste kiss on the cheek.

"The grocery was packed full but somehow I got, people where literally giving way for me in the counter."

"Well mom is very beautiful so it should be expected." Ichika smiles at his mom who seems to be in a good mood.

Shortly after, Nobume and Miko entered the house as well carrying with them bags.

"Uwah… Izanami-sama! You left us." Miko dropped the bags and basically hugged Izanami and fondled her breasts. However Nobume steps in and drags Miko away.

"Behave yourself… Sorry for that Izanami-sama." Nobume bows and also forces Miko to bow, except she made Miko kiss the floor itself rather than making her bow.

"(Sigh)… Well since I'm in a good mood… I'll ignore it. Anyway Ichika did you get the fireworks for later? It is the new year after all."

"Me and Madoka are going to get it."

Izanami's eyes now switched to Madoka.

The latter now shivers as her mind automatically thought that she is either going to be beaten to death or splattered on the floor as a puddle of blood. But instead of those gruesome endings, what came was a gentle pat on the head from Izanami.

"Eh?"

"Go help your brother with the fireworks."

Madoka blankly nodded. She was so confused that her face looked like she saw something very, very rare and unusual.

Soon everyone around Madoka noticed the weird expression she was wearing, luckily for her Ichika stepped forward and grabbed her by the hand.

"Okay then… we'll be going now. Come on Madoka."

With that, Ichika left with Madoka to get the fireworks for later. But Madoka on the other hand was still lost at the situation; everything around her seemed to have been heavily altered from how she knew them.

(Am I dead now? I have to be dead…)

Madoka thought of that in her mind again and again, greatly convinced that she has passed on and is in heaven.

"What's the matter Madoka?" Noticing his sister's uneasy expression, Ichika pets her on head again and gives her a warm smile.

"Nothing… just… confused… that's all. Yeah… just confused…"

Madoka didn't really know what was going on, she has no idea as to how things became like this but she didn't want to let this go to waste.

Her sisters aren't fighting and they didn't show her their usual hate and her mother didn't ignore her like usual and even smiled at her.

It was pathetic but Madoka felt really happy.

(Is this what it feels like… to have a normal family?)

Madoka wasn't aware of it but she is wearing a bright and sincere smile on her face.