Note: I do not own any of the characters within this story. They are the property of 07th Expansion.
Sorry for the wait guys. This took me longer than it should. Then the idea for that Umineko popped into my head, and I just had to write that. Oh well, the chapter is here now, so that's a cause for celebration in my opinion. And it's the longest one yet!
CHAPTER SIX
Mion yawned as she waited for Rena and Keiichi to show up. They were taking longer than usual for some reason.
Maybe Kei-chan's having a hard time getting into that maid costume, eh heh heh, she thought. That better be the reason, or else I'm going to be pissed for having to wait this long.
She started to get ticked off at waiting so long, and started tapping her foot. When she finally saw the pair approaching (Keiichi in full maid costume, of course), she cupped her hands around her mouth.
"You two are LATE!" she shouted.
"Sorry Mii-chan," said Rena. "We didn't mean to take so long."
"Sure sure, what the hell took ya?" replied Mion.
Rena shuffled a bit before speaking. "Rena slept in," she said.
"Tch, just don't let it happen again," she said. "Kei-chan, you seem awful quiet."
Keiichi had indeed been standing in silence, apparently contemplating something. She assumed it was because he had to wear such an embarrassing outfit, but something seemed off besides that.
"I was just, uh," he started. "It's nothing."
"Hmmm? You sound rather suspicious," she said, moving closer to him. "And just what is it Kei-chan doesn't want this old man to know, huh?"
Keiichi turned his head away. "It's nothing. Really."
"Tch, fine," she said as she moved away. "We better hurry up and go anyway, or else we're going to be late."
"Hauu, Rena doesn't want to get in trouble," said Rena.
All of them started to dash off to school together. Mion and Rena talked the whole way, but Keiichi was strangely silent.
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Mion was writing furiously. She had always struggled with Maths. She scratched her head as she looked at the problem down in front of her.
Tch, I'll have to get Kei-chan to help me with this, she thought.
She turned round to see Keiichi staring intently at her. He was wearing his gym clothes now --- when Chie saw him, she scolded him and told him to get changed. She held up her book in front of his eyes.
"Oi, Kei-chan," she said. "I'm ordering you to finish this page for me."
He blinked. "Uh, what?" he said, confused.
"I said finish this page for me," she repeated. "Geez, what're you spacing out for."
"Oh... sorry," he said, taking the book from her hands.
Mion sighed and turned back round. Chie had left the classroom for a little while, so she wasn't going to know. Tapping her fingers, she looked around the whole classroom. Everyone was working quietly, all completely focused on their studies. She yawned, and turned back to Keiichi.
"Hey, are you down yet?" she asked.
"Almost, give me a second," he said, not looking up from the book.
That's odd, Mion thought. Usually he'd be complaining by now, or doing something. Tch, it's no fun if he just goes along with whatever I say.
Keiichi finished writing, and handed the book back to her. "Here you go," he said.
Mion took it quietly, and glanced down at his own book. He hadn't even started working.
"You know," she said, pointing at his book. "It usually helps if you get started."
Keiichi looked down at his book. Without a word, he started to write in it. Satisfied, Mion turned round and tried to continue answering questions. She had gone through about half a page, when she came across another tough problem. Clicking her teeth, she turned around again, to see Keiichi looking at her again. She glanced down at his book again, and saw that he had only answered the first question.
"Uh... Kei-chan?" she said.
He blinked again. "Wh-what?" he said.
"Is there something interesting about the back of my head or something?" she asked.
"Huh?" he said, confused.
"You keep looking at me," she said. "What is it?"
Keiichi's face turned a deep red, and he stared back down at his book.
"D-do I?" he said, embarrassed. "S-sorry about that."
Mion gave him an odd look, before turning back to her studies.
Kei-chan sure is acting odd today, she thought. I wonder what's wrong?
Soon Chie came back into the classroom, and started to help some kids with their problems.
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It was lunch time. Rena had made a particularly large meal today, and everyone was stealing food out of her lunchbox. Everyone apart from Keiichi. Mion listened to a joke Rika was telling while eating some sushi taken from Rena's lunch, but out of the corner of her eye, she was watching Keiichi. He was still staring at her.
"...and then he said 'ouch'! Nipah!" said Rika, with a smile.
"Rika, that was awful," said Satoko. "Sheesh, you need to work on your material. Right Mion-san?"
"Hmmm? Ah, y-yeah," she said, taking her eyes off of Keiichi. "Maybe you should get a joke book."
"Mii, you two are terrible!" said Rika, annoyed. "I thought it was funny."
Mion took her chopsticks, and plucked something out of her own lunch. She started to eat it slowly, as she looked back over at Keiichi.
What's with him today? she wondered. Is he... planning something? No wonder he hasn't been complaining, and staring at me all day. Hah, I'm on to you. Whatever you have, I'm prepared for it. Don't try to mess with your master, little slave.
With a smile, she finished chewing her food, and swallowed. She was confident he would have him in his place. She just needed a pre-emptive strike. She started to think of something as she got another bite of sushi out of Rena's lunch.
"Hauu, Mii-chan," said Rena, sadly. "Leave some Rena-na..."
"Whoops, sorry Rena, eh heh heh," laughed Mion. "Here, have some of mine."
She pushed her lunch towards Rena, who started to eat happily, until she came across that was 'kyuute' that she 'wanted to take home'. Mion wasn't paying attention however, she was formulating a plan for Keiichi in her head. She was ready for him.
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They were had just finished playing poker. Mion had won, as she was able to make Keiichi do whatever she wanted on the game, bet high or low or tell her his cards or anything. He didn't seem pissed off about it. As she packed up, Keiichi went to another room to get changed back into his Maid outfit, while Satoko and Rika said their farewells.
"Rena," started Mion. "Does Kei-chan have anything planned for me?"
"Hmmm? What do you mean, Mii-chan?" asked Rena.
"I mean, he seems awfully suspicious today," Mion replied. "I think he's up to something, trying to strike back against me."
"Maybe," said Rena. "Rena doesn't know, he hasn't said much to me either. What do you think he's going to do? What do you think?"
Mion rubbed her chin. "I don't know, but I bet it's something big."
"Hauu... I hope he doesn't go to far," mumbled Rena. "Mii-chan's been really mean... so..."
Keiichi opened the door, in full maid costume. Without a word, he stepped into the room.
"Speak of the devil," said Mion. "You ready to go, Kei-chan?"
"Yeah," he said.
Mion picked up her bag and tossed it at him. He caught it, and held it in one of his hands, while he went to go fetch his own bag.
Man Kei-chan, she thought. It's kinda creepy to have you so quiet. Say something, god.
"Hauu, Keiichi-kun, you don't need to carry my bag," said Rena, breaking the silence.
Mion looked over at her, Keiichi was trying to carry her bag for her. She couldn't help but laugh.
"Wahahaha, Rena, if Kei-chan wants to carry your bag, let him," she said.
"A-alright," said Rena, as she let go.
"Let's go," he said, as he shouldered her bag, along with Mion's and his own.
"Keiichi-kun, are you sure you can carry all that," Rena asked, worried.
"I'm fine," he said. "Don't worry."
"Haven't we had this conversation before?" asked Mion. "Seriously, you guys need to get a new act."
Keiichi didn't answer, instead he opened the door and started to leave. Mion shrugged, and followed him, with Rena close behind. They left the school building and started to walk home together. Like the morning, Rena and Mion talked and talked throughout, while Keiichi remained silent. Eventually, Rena left the other two, and headed back to her place on her own, while Keiichi followed Mion back to her place.
"Uh... Mion... started Keiichi. "Is it true that... uh... you uh..."
"That I what, Kei-chan?" asked Mion.
"No, never mind," he said. "What do you have for me to do today?"
"Ah," said Mion, excited. "I'm glad you asked."
She reached into her pocket and pulled out a long sheet of paper, with writing all over it. She had been working on this list instead of doing her work, and it was full of all kinds of nasty little jobs for Keiichi to do. She figured that if he was constantly busy with meaningless tasks, he wouldn't be able to strike back at her. Keiichi's eyes widened as he saw the list.
"Well, first I'm going to need you to---"
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Keiichi seemed to go back to normal after that. He had a mop balanced on his shoulders and a bucket in hand, and was cursing under his breath the whole time. There was dirt all over his clothes, had Mion had just finished making him do the gardening, which was rather difficult, considering how big her place was.
He put the bucket down on the ground, and held the mop properly. He dipped the mop in the bucket, and took it back out. With a sigh, he started to mop the ground. Mion stood close behind him, making sure he wasn't slacking. Under her watchful eyes, he cleaned the floors, sad.
"Say, Mion," he said.
"No talking on the job," she replied.
Keiichi totted. There was no way he could work like this. This was different from all the other times, and he hadn't even gotten a moment's rest. She was overworking him to an unbelievable extent. He was sure he hadn't done anything to piss her off today.
He sighed, and continued to mop. He was sure he was doing a bad job of this too. Well, there was nothing he could do. After a while, he was too tired to carry on, and leaned on the mop, panting.
"M-Mion," he said. "Seriously, can I take a break?"
Mion gave a close look at him, and then sighed.
"Fine," she said coldly. "But only for a bit."
He put the mop in the bucket and stretched out. He headed to another room to lie down, Mion following closely. He found her room and sat down on her bed.
"Oi," said Mion. "Did I say you could go in here?"
"Leave me alone, I'm tired," he said in reply.
Mion sighed, and sat down on the bed next to him. He looked around the room and noticed the doll wasn't anywhere to be seen. He sighed. After a moment, he gathered his thoughts, trying to think of something.
"Mion," he said, with a serious tone. "At Watanagashi, you were going to take a bullet for everyone."
Mion looked surprised, then scratched at her face. "Ahahaha... well, you know, I couldn't have any of my friends get hurt."
Keiichi was silent for a moment, then spoke again. "What would you have done if one of us had gotten shot?"
Mion thought for a moment. "I would've taken her to the underground chamber," she said. "Strapped her to the table, and hammer nails into all of her finger joints. I would've made her suffer long and hard."
"Ahahaha, really?" he said. "Good to know you care about us."
"Well... you know," she said.
"Uh... this is kinda strange, but uh," started Keiichi. "I think I took a bullet for everyone once."
"Huh?" said Mion, confused.
"I can remember it clearly, even though it never happened," he said. "It was dark. We were running through the forest, and then I heard it, I saw it. This bullet rushing towards me. It was like time stopped. I couldn't move, I could just see it stopped in midair right before me, and then, it hit me."
Mion sat in silence as he continued.
"It hurt so much, and I fell to the ground," he said. "Everyone was sad, you all gathered around me. I remember your crying face, I remember Rena getting everyone together and telling everyone to run. I remember wishing, praying you would all get away."
"That's... odd, Kei-chan," she said.
"I'm sure it happened," he said. "But it didn't. I don't know how to explain it. It's not the first time either."
"It's not?" said Mion.
"About the time Hanyuu came here, just before then," he said. "When I got you that doll."
"Huh?" she said. "When you got that... doll?"
"Yeah," he said. "I had it in my hands, and I just... remembered something. I thought of you, you crying, talking to Rena on the phone, saying how much you wanted that doll. I remember how sad you were that you didn't get it, so I tried to buy it for you again, but I couldn't. I tried again, but you wouldn't take it, you were so hurt. I didn't want that to happen, so I gave it to you."
"Is that so," she said, softly.
"Yeah," he said. "I don't know, it's so weird. It started to happen again when Hanyuu came here. I remembered all kinds of weird stuff. Mion, we're more than friends, right?"
"That's right," she said. "We're comrades. Brothers in arms. We'll fight together to the very end."
"Comrades," he said. "I always liked the sound of that word."
"That's probably why you use it so often, eh heh heh," laughed Mion.
Keiichi still had a serious look on his face. "Mion," he said. "When you finish this school year, you have to go to university, right?"
"Ah, yeah," she said, looking down at herself.
"It's going to be so weird, without you here," he said. "I'll miss you a lot, you know."
"Yeah, I'll miss you too," she said, sadly. "You know, I don't like to think about it too much. I like to think about now, with us here, together."
Keiichi shook his head. "You're right, I shouldn't think about that. Mion, could you do me a favour?"
"Hmmm? Sure, Kei-chan," she said.
"Could you go get that doll again," he said. "I'd like to see you hold it."
Mion blushed for a moment, then nodded slowly. She headed over to her closet, and opened it, taking the doll out from inside. She held it in between arms in front of him, blushing furiously. Keiichi just sat and stared at her.
"Brothers in arms," he mumbled. "You know, we can't be brothers if you're a girl."
Mion didn't say anything to that, she just turned even redder.
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Keiichi finished making a little snack in the kitchen, at Mion's request. He brought it out over to the table, and bowed before her.
I'm such an idiot, Mion thought glumly to herself. Kei-chan wasn't trying to get back at me, he was just worried. Damn, I never really gave thought to that before. What will the club do without me?
She shook her head. Don't be a hypocrite now, you said it yourself. Don't think about stuff like that, concentrate on the here and now.
"Uh, Mion," said Keiichi. "Aren't you going to eat?"
"Ah, whoops," she said. "Sorry, I was spacing out."
She took one of the biscuits out of the little basket he had brought and took a bite. It wasn't the best, but it was still good. Keiichi said he was terrible at cooking, so he was getting his mother to teach him a few things. Evidently, it seemed to be working.
"It's good," she said. "It gets the Club President Sonozaki Mion Seal of Approval!"
"Huh?" he said, confused. "You're weird, you know that, right?"
"And you're not?" she retorted.
Keiichi just grumbled at that, and took one of the biscuits for himself. He was rather pleased with the result, although, it seemed something was missing...
"Damnit, I forgot the most important ingredient!" he shouted as he slammed his fist on the table. "Tcch, it would've been so much better then."
"Hey hey," said Mion. "It tastes good, alright? That's all that matters."
"Tch, I guess," he said.
He sat down and put his head in his hands, still ticked off that he had forgotten such a vital part of his, or rather, his mother's recipe. Mion patted him on the back as she chewed.
"You know, it's almost time for you to head back," she said. "You can go early, if you want."
"Hmm? Ah, thanks," he said. "My parents would probably like that. Okay, see ya then."
He got out of the chair and started to head off.
"Oh, Kei-chan," said Mion, softly. He turned round. "You don't have to wear that maid outfit tomorrow. I mean, y'know, Chie would just get pissed again, eh heh heh."
Keiichi smiled. "Thank you, Mion. Uh, could you tell your sister something?"
"Huh? What do you want to do with Shion?" she said, getting a little serious.
Keiichi chuckled, pleased with her reaction. "Tell her, 'thanks for letting me know'."
He turned and left, leaving her puzzled.
Thanks for letting him know? she wondered. Letting him know what?
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Keiichi walked back to his house, wondering what to do. He couldn't think anymore, his head was an absolute mess. He knew he had vowed to get back at Mion... but... he didn't want to do that anymore. He didn't know what he wanted to do anymore.
Maybe Rena knows something, he thought. Damnit, I'm all confused now. I wonder how I never noticed it before today?
He sighed, and just continued on towards his home. His parents were out for some work related stuff, so he didn't have anything to worry about when he got home. He headed to his room, and got changed back into his normal clothes, relieved that he could feel like a man again.
I should probably send this back to the Manager, he thought to himself.
He headed downstairs and picked up the phone, and dialled Rena's phone number.
Soon, a man picked. "Hello? Ryuguu residence."
"Ah, hello," said Keiichi. "I was wondering if I could speak with Rena?"
"Who is this?" asked the man.
"Her friend, Keiichi, from school," he said.
"Hold on just a minute," said the man.
Keiichi could hear him call out for Rena. After a while, she picked up the phone. "Keiichi-kun?"
"Ah, Rena, hi," he said. "Uh, sorry for calling you so late."
"It's no problem Keiichi-kun," she said. "It's not late at all!"
"Well," he said. "I dunno, maybe it just seems that way cause I'm tired."
"Has Mii-chan been overworking Keiichi-kun, I wonder? I wonder?" she said.
"Nah, don't worry! I'm fine," he said, as he gave a thumbs up. He didn't know why, because there wasn't anyone to see it. "Actually Rena, Mion was what I wanted to talk about."
"Hmmm? Why? Why? What about Mii-chan?" she asked.
"Well... did, uh... did you know what Mion... uh..." he stuttered. "uh, likes me."
"Yep. Why wouldn't she?" she replied.
"No I mean... damnit, you know," he said.
"Oh," she said. "Teehee, Keiichi-kun finally figured it out, huh? Rena knew! Rena knew!"
"Geez," he said. "Yeah, I figured it out. Ummm, did she tell you, or...?"
"No," she said. "She never told me, but it was obvious from the way she talked about you. When you first moved here, she said she finally found a 'good rival', hee hee. She's liked you for a long time now."
"Wow..." he said. "I can't believe I never realised."
"It's cause Keiichi-kun is an idiot," she said.
"Huh? O-oi! Don't say that!" he shouted angrily.
"Hauu, but it's true," she replied. "You would have to be an idiot not to realise for so long. I guess it's a good thing you finally did."
"Yeah, I guess it is," he said. "I'm all confused now though, I don't know what to do."
"Hauu? What do you mean, what do you mean?" she said.
"I mean, when this whole thing started, I wanted to get back at Mion," he said. "I was trying to plan this huge revenge to get back at her... but I don't want to do that anymore. I don't know what I want to do."
"Hmmmm... Keiichi-kun, could it be you like Mii-chan back?" she asked.
Keiichi shook his head. "I don't know. I don't know what I think."
"Hauu, Rena thinks you should do something nice for Mii-chan tomorrow," she said. "Make sure happy. See how you feel when you see her smile tomorrow, alright?"
"A-alright," he said. "Thanks, Rena."
"No problem," she said.
He put the phone down.
What should I do tomorrow? he wondered.