ramen ii
"What's wrong, Keiko-chan?"
Keiko's head quickly shot up. "Nothing! I'm fine."
Beside her, Makoto gave her a slight glance. It was obvious the girl was lying (Makoto thought she herself was the crappiest liar in the world, but apparently there were those far more unfortunate), but she didn't seem to want to press the subject. Makoto shrugged. "If you say so."
"Thanks, Mako-chan."
Makoto grinned at the shorter girl. "Hey, it's your birthday! I can't bug you too much, can I?"
Keiko laughed as Makoto nudged her head. She put down her drink, reaching for the nearest microphone. At once the other occupants of the karaoke room started hooting and hollering. Keiko, embarrassed, ducked her head again to pick out songs. One of her other friends started chanting the title of a popular song; soon everyone joined in, and Keiko had no choice but to pick it.
"'scuse me, I'm gonna get some air," Makoto said as the music started. She slipped out of the room easily, stepping over a couple that was more interested in themselves than the karaoke. She raised her hand to the owner of the place, signaling that she would be back.
Once she stepped outside, she slipped out a cigarette and lit it. As the smoke curled up into the air, she sighed. As fun as this bunch was, they weren't... fun. Which didn't make sense. Makoto frowned trying to make sense of her thoughts. They were fun, but they were not the Senshi. And she adored Keiko like a little sister, but Keiko was off tonight. Keiko usually had a spark to her, no matter how stressed or quiet she was. Tonight, though, the spark was suppressed.
"That stuff will kill you, you know."
Makoto blinked, glancing over her shoulder. She smiled sheepishly as Keiko lowered her eyebrows at her. "Heh, sorry, bad habit."
Keiko grabbed the cigarette right out of her mouth, glaring at it. Then, without warning, she stuck it between her own lips. Makoto gaped.
"W—woah, Keiko—"
Keiko took in a long drag, glaring at her all the while. A second passed—and then she started hacking, keeling over for air. Makoto thumped her on the back, all the while hoping that it didn't look like she was mugging her. "What the heck, that's so gross!" Keiko sputtered eventually, once she could breathe. "That was even worse than the first time!"
"The first time?" Makoto gaped again, righting her friend up. "You've smoked before?"
Keiko scowled, crossing her arms. "That idiot does."
"That idiot?"
"Yuusuke."
"Yuu... suke?" Makoto scratched her head. Keik's grumpy expression cleared.
"Oh, you've never met him, have you?"
A light went off in Makoto's head. She held up a finger, eyes wide. "Ah! So this Yuusuke is the guy you're having an affair with?"
"M—mako-chan!"
Makoto nudged. "So when do I get to meet him?"
Keiko hesitated, biting her lip. Makoto blinked, having not expected this. She had only been teasing, of course. "Well," Keiko said, and she glanced back at the entrance. "He was supposed to come, but he's stuck at work."
"Doesn't he have his own shop?"
"Yeah," Keiko said, playing with the hem of her sleeve. Makoto had never seen such uncertainty on her face; the look was unnatural on her. She quickly made up her mind.
"Well," she said, throwing her arm around Keiko. "Let's go meet him, then. I'll give him a piece of my mind, and then you guys can kiss and make up."
"Mako-chan—"
"What way is it?"
Keiko sighed, glancing back at the entrance again. "Are you sure? They'll be mad—"
Makoto raised her eyebrows. Keiko laughed, shaking her head, remembering that while they were all friends, they were all also very afraid of angering Makoto.
"Alright, let's go," she relented, and she led the way. Makoto was surprised to find that it was only on the other side of town. She wondered briefly why she had never seen the shop before, especially since she and the other senshi scoured the streets nightly for youma once a week.
The ramen stand was packed with customers. Makoto surveyed the kid behind the counter coolly. He was okay, she thought. Not really her type—actually, she couldn't picture him with Keiko at all, especially when he started accosting a customer for not paying. Then again, if anyone had asked her years ago, she couldn't imagine Usagi with Mamoru. She shrugged, taking Keiko by the arm and leading the way.
"Oh, Keiko, can you get around here?" Yuusuke asked once he spotted her, flipping noodles in a pan. He grimaced as a new customer approached the stand.
"It's my birthday," Keiko said flatly.
"Yeah, yeah—"
"Say please."
Makoto raised her eyebrows as Yuusuke glowered at her. "Forget I ever asked for your help!"
"Fine," Keiko said, stubbornly crossing her arms. She leaned back in her seat, watching almost smugly as Yuusuke nearly dropped the noodles. Makoto scratched her head; before she could ask Keiko if it was alright to leave him to fend for himself, Keiko stood up and walked around the back. "You owe me one, Yuusuke."
"Yeah, yeah," Yuusuke repeated, but he was smirking. As soon as Keiko approached the counter, there was a loud bang. Keiko shrieked, clutching her heart and scrambling back as streamers flew at her. Makoto leapt back from her own seat, crouching down at the sudden noise; when she saw four people with party hats pop out from beside the counter, she heaved a sigh. The other customers started clapping, joining in a round of 'Happy Birthday.'
"Happy birthday, Keiko-chan!" the girl with blue hair exclaimed, springing forward to throw her arms around the startled brunette. "You should have seen your face! Priceless!"
"B—botan?" Keiko stuttered, absently patting her on the back. "And Yukina-chan, you're here too?"
"Of course we're here," the giant boy with hair almost as obnoxious as Usagi's said. Makoto wondered where she had seen him before. The red-haired fellow beside him held up a neatly wrapped package.
"Shizuru couldn't make it, so we're her errand boys."
"Kuwabara, Kurama-san, thank you," Keiko said, taking the gift. She let out a large breath, puffing out her cheeks before turning to Yuusuke. "Thanks for warning me, jerk!"
"Pfft!" Yuusuke said with a grin as he packed up a box of noodles for a customer. "Not my fault you're a fraidy pants."
"Hey, take it easy on her Urameshi," the customer said, paying Yuusuke and taking the box. "That one's a keeper, I can tell."
"Oh cut it out old man." Yuusuke turned back to his friends (Botan was nudging Keiko with a wily grin). His eyes immediately fell on the girl standing next to Yukina. Keiko, noticing his gaze, shrugged Botan off.
"Everyone, this is Mako-chan," Keiko said importantly, motioning to her tall friend. "She's from Juuban."
"Yo," Makoto said, flashing a peace sign. "Nice job surprising her. I don't think I've ever seen Keiko so flustered since she accidentally used the men's room."
"Mako-chan!" Keiko protested, but she was smiling nonetheless.
"So how do you guys know each other?" Kuwabara asked curiously. As far as he knew, Keiko still hung out with those two girls from junior high. She'd gained a few friends from her new high school, but no one from outside of the area, and definitely not giant girls from Tokyo.
"Mako-chan beat up some guys for me," Keiko said with a shrug. "She's my personal yakuza."
Makoto gave a thumbs-up and a pearly white grin. Yuusuke blinked. "Huh?"
"Jeez, Yuusuke," Keiko muttered under her breath. Botan rubbed her hands together gleefully.
"Oh, Yuusuke, what an idiot!" she crowed. At once Yuusuke turned his glare on to her.
"Say that again!"
"Keiko-chan's just trying to make you feel bad because you weren't here to protect her!" Botan continued. She slapped Keiko on the back, who buried her face in her hands. "Not that she needs protection, but every once in awhile it would be nice if a big strong man could take care of her! Am I right, Keiko-chan?"
Keiko made in inaudible voice as Kurama turned in his seat so he wouldn't directly laugh in her face. Yukina looked just as confused as Yuusuke, who was being lectured by Kuwabara on the points of being an honorable man. Makoto, however, grinned and leaned against the counter.
The spark that had been missing all night was now blooming on Keiko's face.
"Mako-san," Yukina said, turning to her suddenly. Makoto wanted to reach out and pinch her adorable little cheeks. "Would you like some cake?"
"Sure," Makoto said, standing up from her lean. "Anything from a cutiepie like you."
Yukina blushed so red that Makoto wondered if she was going to pass out. Kuwabara, on the other hand, paled as he eyed her.
"Oh, wow!" Botan cheered, clapping her hands together. Kurama was laughing into his hand. "It looks like Kuwa-chan has a rival!"
"S—shut up, Botan, I don't fight women!"
"She looks like she could kick your ass," Yuusuke said, grinning at his pal. Kuwabara swiped at him; he easily dodged.
"Mako-chan," Keiko sighed, shaking her head. "Can't you turn off your charm for a bit?"
"My charm?" Makoto tilted her head, blinking. She glanced back at the others; Yukina had covered her face with her hands and Kurama was patting her back while trying to dodge Kuwabara's poorly-aimed punches at Yuusuke. Botan had taken to standing on a stool, trying to cheer him on as Yuusuke evaded every jab.
"Look at what you've started," Keiko said, but she smiled up at her friend and looped their arms together. "Thanks."
"No problem," Makoto responded with a wink. "Happy birthday, Keiko."
an i have no idea why i like the idea of keiko and makochan being buddies (and also makochan picking up haruka's shamless/charismatic habits haha).
ArmyWife22079: haha, yuusuke and hotaru won't meet quite just yet. as for senshi abilities, that's a secret! all will be revealed soon enough ;) thank you for reading!
NeoMiniTails: hahaha you saw right through me! but for now i'll keep everything lighthearted; the dark stuff can come later, when no one expects it. ;x sorry for the long time between updates. thank you as always for reading and your support!
Boingy: bingo! haha i'm planning for more than three plotlines going on, but for now i'll take it easy. i've always thought setsuna would get along with genkai; those two both have wry senses of humor haha. sorry for taking so long for this chapter xx' but i hoped you liked it! thanks for the review.
koryandrs: thank you! i hope you enjoyed this chapter!
thanks for reading! xoxo
