Disclaimers: As per usual, don't own characters or series but writing and content are my own.
Author's Note: I am on a roll! Anyway, let me know if anything ends up being confusing or interesting. Have fun reading!
Ch. 2 Purely accidental
Rei pulled another weed out of the front lawn. Goddammit, why did her grandpa keep planting them?
She had been watering the grassy area on the other side of the sidewalk and turned around to water the front lawn when she noticed them. She scowled so ferociously she could feel her veins. I KEEP telling him that they'll kill all the other flowers. He's getting so senile he can't tell one plant from the other. I just hope he doesn't make the same mistake with peanuts and his medicine.
There was no telling how fast his throat could seal up if that happened, especially if she wasn't always at home to keep an eye on him. As she knelt in the grass, feeling the water soaking into her pants as she kept pulling, someone ran past sliding in the muddy part and spraying her in the face and arms.
None better have gotten in my eyes, she thought lividly as her eyes snapped open again. The other girl had cushioned her fall with her hands as she scrambled to get back up. "Oh my gosh! I'm so sorry about that. Who got this area all wet? Some people have no consideration for those who have to use this sidewalk!"
Rei could feel the vein ticking in her forehead. The bumbling moron probably didn't know it had been her but as always, her temper got the better of her. She let out something between a scream and a growl, and jumped to her feet, ready to throttle her. Apparently, like a rabbit sensing danger, the other had hightailed it out of there before the sound had gotten halfway out of Rei's throat.
Rei gnashed her teeth. This was going to be a long day.
--
"Did you hear that?"
"Hear what?"
He waved it away. "Maybe that was my stomach?"
Kunz snorted. "That's your answer for everything, isn't it?"
Zoi pulled a face and blurted out, "Last one's a rotten egg!" as he pelted down the sidewalk toward their house.
"Oh no you don't!" Kunz raced after him, jumping across the street in two strides as he followed his brother's path.
Mamoru hit the sidewalk a few seconds later.
Quite literally. What the . . .? The trees whirred above his head as the wind moved the branches and the leaves twinkled here and there as the sunlight streamed through in patches.
He groaned. He felt like a truck had just hit him; he had no air in his lungs.
"Ah." Short and surprised. She got up, pushing against his chest (once again knocking the air out of him) and almost kneeing him the process.
Mamoru frowned at her, as if expecting an answer, and all he got in response was a childish grin as she bit her lip, shrugged her shoulders, and continued like a whirlwind down the block.
He dropped his head back onto the concrete.
--
"Stop right there!"
The blonde clutched her dress, wondering if Mako was chasing a runaway lobster again. Not seeing anything even conspicuously dark red flopping towards her, she started looking around.
"What are you doing? I'm talking to you."
Pointing at herself, she tilted her head quizzically. Makoto responded in kind with a raised eyebrow and pointed down.
Usagi's shoes were caked with mud, slowly creating a brownish pool around her feet. Putting a hand to the back of her head, she gave a high pitched, nervous laugh. "Ahahahahaha . . ."
Makoto dropped her head in exasperation. She breathed out a laugh as she shook her auburn locks out of her face. "Come on. Clean it up and you can eat those brownies you came for . . . but not before I get you something else to wear. Did you fall into a swamp or something?"
Makoto started picking out leaves and twigs from Usagi's hair as Usagi slipped out of her shoes and carefully maneuvered herself away from the puddle. "No, just a few accidents."
She had to laugh again. "Why am I not surprised? You always have some type of accident."
"They weren't even my fault this time!" Usagi only received another disbelieving look from Makoto. "No, really!"
After wrapping her hair into a messy blob on her head with a kerchief and putting on a fresh change of clothes, Usagi was allowed to slump into the plump cushions of Makoto's overstuffed armchair and stuff herself with hot fudge brownies to her heart's content. Usagi made another low sound in her throat as if she were in seventh heaven.
"You really love them that much? That's the fourth time you've made the sound in the past minute."
Usagi replied with chipmunk cheeks, "Uf coursh. Effyfing you mek ish duwishush."
Makoto tried her best not to snort but burst out laughing not soon after the failed attempt. "Oh, don't look like that. You're just too cute." This was followed with more laughter.
Usagi pouted, mouth still full of brownie. "See ifh I efer compuhmen you agen."
"Anyway, guess what? I have exciting news." Usagi choked, remembering that she had her own exciting news to tell. Now Makoto wasn't so sure about saying anything but Usagi was looking at her expectantly. "I—well, you remember that vacant building down by the canal?" An exuberant nod. "I just finished paying for it." A blink. " . . . I can finally start Meadow Lark."
Usagi squealed. "Really? More delicious food than I could ever imagine!"
Makoto laughed at that. "All you ever think about is food."
"Hey, I'm a growing girl!" Fists on her hips, she frowned defiantly at Makoto. "Ah! Anyway, I just saw something really amusing. You know the girl that lives in the house to the left of the house across the street from me? There were a bunch of guys hiding in her bushes today!"
"Oh . . . um, what was her name? Mi-something. Honestly, you should know her name better than I do. I only moved here last year and you've what? Lived here since you were born?"
"Besides the point!"
"Yes, yes." Makoto had a thoughtful look on her face. "Motoki-kun lives across the street from you, doesn't he?"
"You can remember his name but not hers?" Usagi asked with a smirk. Makoto blushed.
"So, the guys? Who were they?"
"Oh! Eh, I'm actually not sure but they kinda looked familiar. I've seen them around the block before . . . they were running like their butts were on fire, so I only got a glimpse of them as they were peeking out of the bushes to make sure there was no one in view before they made their escape."
"You were watching them for a really long time, weren't you?"
Usagi shrugged and grabbed another brownie. "I guess."
With a sigh, Makoto said, "Let's start today's cooking lesson. I have a feeling it's going to take longer than usual to clean up."
--
Mamoru blew the hair out of his eyes as he entered through the back door of the Shittenou's house. Carefully keeping away from the walls (Mrs. Shittenou was very anal about dirt on her walls), he took off his shoes and put them outside the door before completely stepping inside.
The others looked up from the concoction they were making. Wait, was it bubbling? "What happened to you? You are the last one but we didn't expect you to actually look like a rotten egg."
"Some blonde pipsqueak plowed me over, she was in such a hurry." He began washing his hands in the sink.
"Are you talking about the Walking Disaster?"
Mamoru turned at the question. "The who?"
Kunz sighed rather melodramatically before saying, "You would think you would know most of the kids in this neighborhood. You've been here for at least five years, if not more."
"Well, sorry." At which point, he began shaking his hands instead of wiping them on a towel. Of course, he had also cupped his hands together and filled it water.
A water fight ensued.
Consequences were only thought of afterwards as the whole kitchen was drenched, puddles forming in various places. The front door opened with a jingling of keys. A feminine voice called out, "Hey kids, I brought dinner."
If they had gotten lucky earlier, then they must have used up all their luck then. Oh, they really were fucked this time. Looking around the kitchen, Mamoru, Kunz, and Zoi realized there was no way they were going to get out of this mess.