Title:

A Murder of Mochi

Summary:

I'm not sure if you were expecting me to have some amazing first three months of school, meet some amazingly good-looking guy, and then, you know this whole story become some heartrending drama, or something like that, but I'm sorry to say nothing of interest has occurred.

Well, unless you count Ryuunosuke nearly tossing Yuu out the window. That was pretty funny, actually, well, besides Yuu nearly dying for the second time.

Pairings:

Undecided

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The Neko-Karasu Reunion!

Heck Yeah!

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I skipped past Mango-kun as we approached the gate, and suddenly, this overpowering smell of lavender flooded my nose.

It was just so awful, all that smell suddenly coming into my nose at one time... So awful that I literally doubled over, gagging, and had a mini-heart attack as I pinched my nose.

I actually quiet like the smell of lavender, but seriously, I really, really hate this sort of burn-your-nostrils-with-this-overpowering-stench thing. It makes my head spin, and me wanna puke, and it's just an all around negative experience.

Trying not to throw up breakfast, I shuffled as far away from Mango-kun as possible, glaring.

He glanced at me, obviously noticing the action, and frowned.

"What?"

I growled, crinkling my nose up as I huffed out, "You reek of lavender! You smelled better when you stank of tobacco; at least then you smelled like my Obaa-chan!"

His face turned red as he lunged towards me, and I squealed as he did because, oh my goodness he smells like a bottle of massaging oil threw up on him!

"You brat! I do not!"

"Liar! You totally do! You reek! Reek I say!"

Mango-kun chased me around the court-yard, then into the building, so I really didn't get to see the Nekoman team, which means I don't get to scare a bunch of innocent children, which is totally not fun, which means I really want to beat a certain lavender reeking volleyball coach up.

Does he not understand my absolute obsession of scaring people?

...

I watched as Daichi and the Nekoma captain shook hands cautiously, smiling at each other with the same look on both their faces...

'I've gotta watch out. This guy seems cunning.'

I snorted at the sight, and then turned my attention to Mango-kun (who I was keeping a safe distance from), and the assistant coach of the other team.

Seems like they know each other from their high school days, and I perked my ears up at their conversation as they shook hands and grinned at each other. 'Eternal Benchwarmers', they said... I stifled a laugh rocking on my toes and heels holding on tightly to the my backpack strapes, and as the other coach leaned to the side, I vaguely wondered what I was going to eat for lunch...

"Hey, kid, are you playing? Or are you injured?"

I looked around, trying to see who he was addressing, but I really couldn't see anyone who fit the bill. I'm pretty positive he wasn't address Takeda-sensei... So who was he talking to?

Wait...

With a shaky hand, I reluctantly pointed at myself, tilting my head as if to say, 'Hold up, you mean me?"

The coach gave me this strange look, and he nodded, "Well, duh. Are you playing? Or are you injured?"

My face burned.

Well, okay then.

"I-I'm not on the team..."

Darn it. I stuttered.

Coach What-ever-his-name-is raised an eyebrow, "Then what are you-"

I think Mango-kun glared at him, because he shut his mouth abruptly, and this gave me the perfect chance to make my quick escape to the bleachers.

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But seriously, why would a girl be on the boy's volleyball team?

Really?

I puffed my cheeks out widely as I slouched up against the side wall, opposite of the bleachers.

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The dear children were happily getting acquainted as I whistled to myself, quietly making profiles for each the players and the two coaches on Nekoma and creepy stalker stuff like that, you know, the usual.

I turned a page, just about to start making the profile for the Yamamoto character that reminded me sorely of Tanaka, when I had my notebook snatched right out of my hands!

Since this made me kinda mad, it wasn't a mystery as to why I snapped my head up, to glare at the person, but I kinda had to stop when I saw just who it was exactly.

"Neko-jii-chan!" I squealed loudly (like a squirrel high on coffee, mind you) as I jumped up to my feet, giving the old coot a gentle hug (because, you know, old people have fragile bones) and then proceeded to bounce up and down, rattling off things I had done since I had last saw him, and that Ukai-jii-chan told me to tell Neko-jii-chan that he should slip a hip disk so they could both be old and injured together and stuff.

Neko-jii laughed while patting my shoulder, his wrinkly face crinkling up as he did, "Woah, woah, calm down tall stuff, the boys are staring at you like you're crazy!"

"That's doesn't matter Neko-jii-chan! We both know I'm already clinically insane!"

Jii-chan gave me this funny look, and ordered me to stop jumping so he could take me to a hospital, but I politely refused, saying that the purple bunny flying around his head was telling me to go find Neverland instead.

Then he started laughing, and I don't know it if was because he had gotten that I had been joking around, or he'd finally lost it.

I'm just gonna assume he got the joke.

He grinned at me. It was a sly grin, one that was making me really uncomfortable.

"Girl, you look like a boy with the clothes you have on. Has anybody questioned your gender lately?"

"You weird old coot! I assure you, I look very much female!"

(I really don't look like a guy... Do I? I mean, just 'cause I have short hair, no boobs, olive skin, and wear athletic clothes doesn't mean I look like a guy, right? I mean, my eye lashes are feminine, right!? JUST BECAUSE I LOOK LIKE MY DAD DOESN'T MEAN I LOOK LIKE A BOY, GOSH DARN IT!)

"Really, if you hadn't told anyone you were a girl, I'm sure you could've slipped your way into the match. You and the libero would have to take turns though~"

Jeez! He said that super loudly! I really how no one heard that (especially Yuu) because some people (Yuu!) are super annoying (YUU!) when they hear the term 'liebro' (Y-U-U!).

"You geezer," I muttered through gritted teeth, "They didn't even know I was a libero!"

The old man rubbed his chin, "Really now...?"

I gave him an unamused look.

"Yeah. Really."

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"YOSHI-SAN!"

Freaking French Toast Fluffing Fudge of Fred!

"AHHHHH! There's a midget on the loose run for you lives!"

I frantically looked around for someone taller than me.

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Option 1- Tall captain of the Nekoma team who I seriously don't know!

Option 2- Tsukki!

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"HOTARU-CHAN, SAVE ME!"

In my desperation, I ended up jumping on Tsukishima's back while he was drinking water, which naturally caused him to do a spit-take, which consequently resulted in his knees buckling.

Then, instead of face planting unto the very friendly Nekoma gym floor, he wobbled a bit, then groaned as I clung onto him like a monkey to a tree.

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I feel kinda bad.

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Wait, wait, no, that's not guilt, I'm just fearing for my life right now. Not definitely not guilty.

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"Would..." Tsukishima gruffly began, his face no where near pleasant as I listen attentively, "You. Get. Off. Of. Me. You. Oaf."

"Um, since I kinda of like living, no thanks."

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Tsukki slapped his hand against his thigh, which I jumped at sorta, because his hands are big, and loud, "I wasn't asking."

"Oh, I know," Came my answer with a peppy chirp.

Tsukishima turned his head around a bit, his hands dangling loosely at his side. Tsukishima's eyes were looking straight back a me with this blank (but super scary) look, "Do you, now?"

"Yeah!" I nodded frantically, with a nervous smile as I shifted from monkey mode to a regular piggy back style position,"-And I think also this is the longest conversation we've ever had! Hotaru-chan, is this a new hair style? It looks so good on you!"

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Okay maybe moving wasn't the best thing to do, because I'm pretty sure I just broke Tsukishima's back.

"Dear God, I swear, I'm going to kill you, Oozaki! Violently!" His freakishly long arms reached backwards, clutching at my shirt, which in turn made me wiggle about to stay out of his reach.

He glared at me.

Schnitzel.

I gulped, wondering what medieval torturing technique he would use to cause me the most amount of pain.

"H-H-Ha ha ha! I-I wouldn't e-e-expect a-anything less f-from Hotaru-chan!"

We stared at each other for a moment, which gave me some time to prepare a will in my mind.

"I'm totally dead, aren't I, Hotaru-chan?"

Smack!

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Tsukki face palmed.

He must do that a lot...

"Jesus..."

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"A-Ah, Tsukishima, Oozaki-san, we need to start the match-"

I jumped off his back, not bothering to even spare a second to look at the downright murderous Tsukishima, and ran as fast as I could, right to the wall, where I made my escape.

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When the game began, I was just sitting there, patting my chest, muttering the mantra of, "You're alive you're alive you're alive you're alive you're alive-"

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Somehow, I had managed to snap out of my brush with death, and I watched the practice match, scribbling notes as Nekoma stood flabbergasted at the freak-quick the first-year duo unleashed as soon as the game had started.

I grinned, throughly smug at their shock.

Okay, so while I realize that the first-year quick is certainly not going to working for this whole game, I also realize that this match is going to be extremely entertaining, and might even provide me with some invaluable information on the Nekoma team, so I figure I can be a little smug while the Cats are still a little shell-shocked.

I peered toward the game, flipping to the page of the Nekoma libero, quickly taking note of his skill, then turning to the very first page of my new "Info on Opponents" Notebook, and making sure to write about the well connected sensation the Nekoma team gave off. I also jotted down info on their skilled receives, and made sure there was ample room for the Nekoma setter.

With a sly smile, I put my pencil right next crook of where my jaw met my ear, knowing that this match would very much satisfy my curiosity of the newest generation of Nekoma.

"What's with that smile? It's creepy."

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As I choked on my own spit, I glared at Mango-kun, very, very unhappy with the sudden conversation.

"You know what, you need to shut your face. I'm doing this out of the kindness of my heart, so I expect a lil' more appreciation!"

He made this 'phhhttt' sound that just epitomized cheekiness, and I threw a volleyball at his face.

"How do like that Mr. Phhhhttt!?"

"Why you-!"

With an exasperated sigh, and a loud 'tsk' I very eloquently asked:

"What do you want!? You're irritating!"

"Would you chill out! Jeez, having a civil conversation with you is like trying to talk to a donkey!"

I felt my eye twitch.

"You rude son of a gun-! Just tell me what the heck you want already!"

"I will! Stop using exclamation marks!"

"No! You stop using exclamation marks!"

"No! You-"

"Both of you annoying children-shut up!"

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I rubbed the back of my head sheepishly, "Okay, seems Neko-jii-chan has had enough of our shouting match..."

Mango-kun nodded, "Yeah..."

"What did you want again?"

"For you to stop being antisocial and come cheer with the rest of the team. -And for you to quit with the creepy faces. They're scaring everyone."

With sudden fatigue, I picked myself off of the floor, and wearily made my way to where everyone else was sitting. After a quiet, "Osu," I plopped down on the bench there, and resumed my note taking.

Chikara turned leaned over my shoulder, promptly scaring the living daylights out of me as my pencil went 'kacrk-kacrk-scrk'!

"What are you writing?"

Glancing backwards, I scooted over on the bench a bit, so he could see the notebook better, "Well, this is a page on their captain... Kuroo Testurou, was it?" I flipped the page, "This one's on their vice-captain, and #2, Nubuyuki... Something. They haven't said his first name in the match, so I don't know it yet, but I'll get around to it." I showed him each page, pointing out what I knew about them from their form and such from the match, and also told him what our players were displaying.

Chikara was very polite through all of this, only talking to make a few comments, or ask a question, but other than that, he was super quiet.

After I had finished explaining, I went back to writing notes, looking at the game for a bit, then jotting down some more notes in a calm, orderly manner. Ya see, I actually like learning such about other people, and I also kinda like taking notes, so this is why I usually do this when I need to sort out a bunch of information I know I'm gonna need to use in the future.

"Well, that seems tiring," Chikara furrowed his eyebrows as I turned to the overall Nekoma statistics, noting that they had amazingly proficient synchronized attacks in their arsenal as well.

I blew a raspberry and smiled, "Yeah, I guess it is." After finishing that, I glanced up, watching that Kenma character skillfully toss one of his cool feints, and also putting that down under his profile as well.

Ennoshita plopped himself down next to me, and continued to watch me, which kinda made me a little nervous.

I'm not a big fan of people watching me do stuff, 'cause that's just embarrassing.

He gestured at my info on Kenma, raising his eyebrows slightly as he did, "How do you know he's on the observatory side? And, what does that say," He leaned over a bit more and squinted, "He's also pretty skilled with reading the atmosphere? I mean, we're not even half-way through the match, and you have two pages on this guy."

"Well, a little while ago, Tsukishima had tried to predict were Kenma was gonna toss it, and Kenma noticed this, to he pulled a feint. So, I just sort assumed he was observant." After scribbling some more, and then looking at the match again, I flipped a couple of pages.

"And for reading the atmosphere... How do I explain it..." I paused here while stifling laughter at Yamamoto Taketora and Ryuunosuke, "Well, basically, it's sorta like doing the opposite of what the atmosphere is. If we're all pumped up, and totally expecting a head-on attack, he'll make absolutely positively sure that it's indirect. That sorta thing." I rubbed the back of sighing.

"Ah that was boring wasn't it?" I slouched unceremoniously as I adjusted the bandana on my head, "Sorry, I'm not very good at explaining stuff... so... yeah."

He sheepishly smiled, waving his hand, "That's not true, if I had to take notes like this, they'd probably be a whole lot worse."

"Hey now," I warned cheerfully, "That's totally untrue! I've heard your ranked pretty high in your classes at school! You must take pretty good notes to do that, huh?"

Chikara shook his head, "No, no, no, not really..."

With a gasp, I lightly shoved his shoulder playfully, "Your such a liar! I didn't know you were such a proficient fibber!"

Ennoshita's mouth opened and closed like a fish, as if to rebuke my statement, but I gave him a quick grin so that he knew I was joking.

"I wasn't aware you were so dramatic, Oozaki-san," He shot back wittily.

"Pish, posh! I'm more concerned about how you, and almost everyone else calls me Oozaki-san! Jeez, just call me Yoshi!"

We stared at each other for second, then broke out into these ridiculously hilarious grins.

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I tapped my pencil on paper as we lost the 1st set, quickly glancing over to Kiyoko, who had a notebook in her hands already.

I smiled, and patiently waited for the next set to start as Chikara bounced his knees (which was kinda annoying, but I'm not gonna tell that to such a nice guy).

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The second set was our loss, not a big surprise really, but I was kinda hoping we would at least win one set.

I closed my notebook, expecting that to be it, but to my utter happiness, Hinata was a loud mouth and demand another game.

Score!

More info on Nekoma for me!

Heck yeah!

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"One more time!" Hinata screeched as almost every person on the court laid sprawled out on the floor, seemingly dead from exhaustion.

Neko-jii stared at him with this, 'You've got to be kidding me' face and he pointed at the flying squirrel, "You wanna another game!? When you've been jumping around for three of them!?"

Hinata wobbled a little bit as he tried to stay on his feet, "One more time!"

I sighed, "This is ridiculous. Hinata, chill out." I poked his shoulder, rubbing my temples as he tumbled face-first into the ground. "What a dummy-asking for another game like that. I wanna go home and sleep, thank you very much!"

Mango-kun nodded his agreements, and I pulled Hinata to his feet by the collar of his shirt.

"You guys are all gonna sleep like logs tonight~" I purred as I herded a very tired orange haired monkey over to the rest of the Karasuno zombies.

"That's a good thing?" Ryuunosuke groaned as he held his eyes open with his fingers. "I can barely stand I'm so tired..."

With a grin I clapped my hands together cheerfully, "And just think! You still have to clean up the gym before you can go anywhere!"

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A collective groan resounded through the gym as all the players, drifted toward the coach of the opposite team in order for them to have a small chat before everyone wrapped everything up.

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Hello Folks!

I'd like to personally thank you all for your prayer and support of Maeve, and that I'm terribly grateful. I haven't been getting email update lately, so I hadn't know about some of your PMs and Reviews for awhile, which was kinda made me feel horrible for not replying to some of you. I'm still going through my PMs, so please be patient! Please!

About the nice name I gave Tsukishima...

You see his first name's "Kei", which means "firefly". When the kanji for his name is seem alone, it's usually pronounced as "Kei" which is how he pronounces his name, but this kanjji where a compound phrase, it would probably be pronounced as "hotaru". So, that's where I got his nice name. Yep!

God Bless!

Mellow-chan