Suki's Surprise

' '= Thinking

" "= Talking

Chapter 7:Suki's Friends

It had been about three weeks since Suki met Katsu, and she seemed to be getting used to living alone (not counting Katsu) as she was always cheerful, and happy…for the most part, she kept getting angry at Katsu for being to 'gloomy' all the time, and tried constantly to cheer him up (which didn't work). But Katsu wasn't so sure…She'd been coming home later than usual for a week now, and when he asks why she's late, she either says that she's been shopping with Tae, or exploring the city. So today, Katsu decided to follow her…or try

"Alright! I'm off to work!" Suki shouted as she walked out the door.

"…Are you going to be late again?"

"Uh…Maybe, Tae asked if I could help her with …" 'drats! I need to think of a new excuse…I went 'shopping' with her yesterday…' "…CLEANING!" She blurted out. "Erm, cleaning, she said that she was going to clean the Akabeko, and I said I'd help…so I might be a bit late." She said, as she quickly got into her car and drove off.

"…How dumb does she think I am? I'm going to find out what she's up to…one way or another…" 'hmm…I can't follow a car…but I was at the Akabeko once…I guess I'll have to go there…and hope no one sees me…' Katsu waited an hour before going to the Akabeko, so he didn't run into Suki (or Tae) when he arrived. Of course, he got lost on his way there…and after several failed attempts at finding the Akabeko he gave up and went back home…or TRIED to get back home, somehow ending up at the Akabeko instead.

'…How'd I end up here?? Where's Teya's house? …That's not important…I better find Teya, I hope she hasn't already left…maybe I'll stay here and wait, She'll see me if I go in…or worse, Tae will see me…' So Katsu waited for Suki to leave, so he could find out what she was really doing. And after another hour or so, she came out, followed by two girls that were about her age.

'Who are they? I thought she said she didn't have any friends here…only one way to find out…' Katsu waited till they were farther away, and then followed, luckily for him, they didn't see him, unfortunately though, Tae did

"Katsu? What exactly are you doing?" Tae said, as she gave him a somewhat scary look

"What!?" 'Why me…why do bad things always happen to me?' "Uh…nothing?" He said nervously.

"M-hm, and you expect me to believe that? Looks to me as though you're following Suki around. Now why would you be doing that, hmm?"

'I guess I have to tell her…' "…Um…Sh-she's been coming home much later than usual, and she keeps saying she's shopping with you, or in today's case, helping you clean…I thought she was lying, and wanted to know what she was really doing…um…who were those two girls with her? She said she didn't have any friends."

"Oh? She lied to you? Strange, why didn't she tell you…"

"Tell me what?"

"Those two girls were her friends from Tokyo, they're staying in a nearby hotel, they came to visit Suki. I believe their names are…Tsubame, and…Misao."

"…hmm, do you know where they're going?"

"I'm not sure if Suki would want me to tell you that…what are you going to do when you find her?"

"nothing…I just want to know why she lied to me…I only want to see what she's doing, she won't even know I'm there. When I find out, I'll go home…or try…"

"…Okay dear, I'll tell you…I'm not sure, but I think they went to the hotel the girls are staying at…I think it's called the Aoi-ya, it's the biggest hotel in Kyoto, and it's also a popular restaurant, just head in the direction Suki went, you shouldn't have trouble finding it."

'Aoi-ya? It's still around?' "Thank you, and uh…could you keep this a secret from Teya? I don't want her to get angry."

"Teya?"

"hm? Oh, that's what she makes me call her…"

"Oh, okay, I won't tell her, but…just don't get caught, I don't want her upset like she was before…"

'upset? Was she that upset?'

Katsu went off to find the Aoi-ya, which wasn't to hard since he'd been there once before. The only problem was getting in, if the staff noticed him, they might tell Suki, and that would be VERY bad.

But it didn't take Katsu long to find a solution. He was a ghost, all he had to do was take off the bracelet and put it, with the box, somewhere close to the building, but out of sight. After that he just walked in, invisibly, and found where Suki was.

'I shouldn't eavesdrop but…'

on the other side of the door

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"So how long are you gonna stay?"

"um…I have to leave next week, but Misao…"

"Misao?"

"I'm gonna stay! I got a job at the hotel, the owner says I would be a good errand runner. He says I'll get paid well, and I get Saturdays off, He's even letting me stay here free! Maybe I could come over sometime and visit you."

"but…maybe we…"

"C'mon Tsubame! Stop being so shy! It's just us girls here!"

"Misao, be nice to her…so what were you going to say?"

"umm, well…maybe we could have a sleepover…at your house, before I have to leave…"

"Hey! That's a GREAT IDEA!! WE COULD THROW A PARTY TOO!!!"

"Calm down Misao! I-I don't think that's a good idea…"

"WHY NOT!!? DON'T BE A BORE!!"

"It's not that simple…"

"um…if you don't mind me asking…what's not that simple?"

"Well…" 'Should I tell them? But…I told Tae he was on old friend…and he said we met in school…they would know I'm lying, unless…' "I have a friend staying with me right now, and I don't think he'd like it if we did that."

"A friend? Who? And more importantly, WHY DIDN'T YOU TELL ME…I mean…US!!"

"um…his name is Katsu…we, met when I was taking those extra school classes, and he needed a place to stay until he can find a job, so I let him stay with me."

"…um…why didn't you tell us?"

"……I…guess I forgot…and, well, he's not very…sociable…"

"Really? TELL ME MORE!!"

"um…well, he's pretty smart, and…good at drawing, he usually keeps to himself, but sometimes he can be nice…and sometimes he can be a jerk! He's always so gloomy though…he never really seems happy…I wish he would cheer up…just a bit…"

"so…we can't sleep over? Oh…okay…"

"Maybe…I'll talk to him, but…there could be a problem…"

"WHAT NOW!?"

"um…Misao, you should really calm down…we might get kicked out if you keep yelling…so, Suki…what is the problem?"

"Well, you see, I've been making excuses when he asks why I'm always so late…and I haven't told him about you two yet…I'll try…but don't expect anything…"

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'I should leave now…if I'm lucky, I'll make it home before she does…' Katsu left the Aoi-ya, and after retrieving the bracelet and box, headed home…and was lost within minutes…

'Maybe I could ask Tae for directions…if I can find her…' After asking a few people, he was able to make it back to the Akabeko.

"um, Tae?"

"Katsu? What are you doing back here?"

"uh…I'm, kind of lost…do you think you could tell me how to get to Teya's house?"

"…You don't know how to get to your house? I suppose I could help you."

"Thanks, and what do you mean, 'my' house? I don't live there, I'm only staying temporarily."

"Hee, hee, hee, oh nevermind, turn left when you leave here, then keep going straight until you reach a large shopping center, there should be a strange magic shop there, If you turn right when you get to it, then keep going straight, you should end up at Suki's house. Ok dear?"

"Got it!" 'A magic shop, eh? Could it be the same one?'

Katsu followed the directions and found the magic shop, he was going to head towards Suki's house, when he heard a strange voice behind him.

"You are a ghost, no? I see that girl has kept you around, Katsu. Good, you take care of her now."

"Huh?" He spun around quickly, but no one was there… "I could have sworn someone was standing there…" 'that voice sounded…familiar…'

Katsu made it home, unfortunately, after Suki.

"Katsu. Where were you?"

"uh…I was…at…The Akabeko…with Tae…I got worried when you kept coming home late ,so I thought I'd ask Tae what you were doing…why didn't you tell me your friends were here?"

"Um…she told you? I-it doesn't matter, um, Katsu…since you know about them now…do you think I could let them spend the night here?"

'…I'd rather not, but I don't want to upset her…' "Sure…I don't see why not…"

"really!? GREAT! Misao will be happy to hear that!"

"hope she doesn't try and throw a party…" Katsu mumbled to himself.

"What?"

"uh, nothing. It's late you should go to bed. When's the sleepover?"

"Tomorrow!"

'oh, joy, what have I gotten myself into this time…'

End of Chapter 7

Authors Notes: Wow! That chapter turned out pretty long. Sorry, I couldn't help but include Misao and the Aoi-ya(I hope I'm spelling that right) I just like Misao's personality. When Katsu is eavesdropping, I didn't mention who was talking, It was supposed to be that way, you should be able to tell by the way they talk; Tsubame says um a lot, and is timid, Misao YELLS A LOT and is very straightforward, and Suki…is usually addresses by the other two. Hope that helps.

I have changed my plans a bit, Katsu's secret will not be revealed until chapter 9, the next chapter will cover the sleepover. sorry, you'll have to be patient a bit longer!

Disclaimer: I do not own RuroKen.