Family

Chapter Nine

Natsuru actually kind of enjoyed the quiet as the plots swirled around Nao. Not that he wished her misfortune or anything, of course... but at least the craziness wasn't focused on him for once.

"So, is the crazy lady still in town?" Natsuru asked as they walked to school together.

"She's not crazy," Nao defended Haruka wryly then clarified, "she's a little obsessive, yes. But not actually crazy."

"Crazy enough," Akane scowled.

"And yeah, she's still hanging around," Nao added with a sigh. She didn't mention her visiting with Yukino to them... there was no point. Besides, she HOPED Yukino could make Haruka see sense and get out of town.

"Are they a threat?" Natsuru had to ask.

"Yukino is," Nao willingly admitted, "she has abilities like mine, but more like a spy than Spider-Man."

"And Haruka?" Akane wondered.

"She has money and various types of influence," Nao nodded as she shrugged, "but at least she won't shoot at me."

"You hope," Natsuru sighed. "It's kind of nice to have someone around who's life is as messed up as mine is."

"Natsuru!" Akane scolded while Nao just laughed.

Innocently Natsuru asked, "So what's the class doing for the festival?"

That made Nao scowl again. "Damned maid cafe," she growled. "I bet the uniforms will be sexy as hell, too, just from what I've seen in this crazy school..."

Akane laughed merrily at that. "Pretty much," she agreed, "and there's that cosplay fashion show we're doing too."

"Oh that's gonna be marvelous," Nao sighed.

They arrived at school, the place bustling as usual as Natsuru went over to the boy's side of the school to make a appearance. After that he'd switch to Kampfer mode and head over to the girl's side of the school too.

Back in her class, Nao noted the cafe decorations were coming along. Given a choice between decorating and being a maid for the cafe Nao had picked maid, but she wasn't thrilled about it. She still hadn't seen the outfits they had chosen, but expected them to be sexy.

Junko Yamakawa looked amused as she asked, "I see you're being kept busy."

For a moment Nao thought she was talking about the whole Hime and Kampfer situation, then realized she meant the cafe and cosplay fashion show. "Oh yeah," she sighed, "I have to go to the theater department after class for sizing, AND we still haven't seen the maid uniforms yet."

"I think they're ready, at least according to the class president," Junko noted. "Do you want to ask her about it?"

"Better get the bad news now," Nao agreed.

The President looked kind of like a cornered rat as the two girls walked up to her. The fact that Nao ran in the circles of both the incredibly popular Student Council President AND the very popular Kaede was getting around. So yeah, crossing her might NOT be a good plan.

Still, she mustered a confident smile. "Why, hello Nao. Junko. What can I do for you today?" she asked.

"I heard the maid outfits were ready," Junko noted, "can we get a preview?"

The Prez paused, "Well, yes. Uhm..."

'That bad?' Nao thought. "Do you have one of them? I thought I might try it on," she offered.

The president looked torn, but after a moment nodded. "The size SHOULD be right," she said as she offered up the bundle, "and you can use the closet to change."

"I could make a 'out o the closet' joke, but Nao would hit me," Junko offered wryly.

"Shut up," Nao ordered as she stalked off.

"How bad is it?" Junko asked the Prez pointedly as Nao changed.

"It's not BAD," the President defended herself, "but it's... uhm... short."

"Short," Junko echoed.

The President flushed. "And kind of... low cut," she admitted.

"oh hell...," Junko sighed and waited for Nao to emerge.

Nao came out of the closet looking decidedly annoyed. "Someone is gonna die," she growled as she walked towards the Prez.

Several girls wolf whistled, which did NOT help her mood. The maid outfit had the traditional parts of a maid costume, with frills, a top, skirt and apron along with a cute hat. However the skirt was VERY short, pretty much a mini-skirt, and just barely covered her panties. And while the top was traditional looking, the v-neck went WAY down.

"Ah, you look lovely," the President said frantically.

"I look like a bit character in a H-anime," Nao scowled. She tugged down the skirt self consciously, "Let me guess, the outfits are already ordered and we can't change 'em?"

"Pretty much," the President agreed.

"Arrgh," Nao growled out.

Junko smiled, "We'll be a BIG hit with the boy's side of the school." Quietly she added, "A lot of the girls too."

"I am bringing in my own apron, for this," Nao scowled.

"Hold that pose!" a girl called then a camera flashed.

"Hey!" Nao yelped.

"Thanks!" Masumi from the newspaper club beamed, then fled when she saw the peeved look on Nao's face.

"Get back here," Nao started to go after her, then realized how bad an idea running in the halls in this outfit would be. "Crap," she growled and hurried back to the closet to change.

"Wonder if I can get a copy of the photo?" the president wondered quietly.

"Get in line," Junko shrugged. Thoughtfully she added, "Getting that photo may not be a problem anyway, actually."

"Oh?" the President asked.

"Wanna bet it'll be in the next paper?" Junko mused.

0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0

"Oh MY," Shizuku Sango purred as the student council president opened the paper to find a VERY large photo of Nao on page two.

It was a candid, un-posed shot. Nao was turning slightly, the little skirt barely covering her panties, while the top lovingly cupped her small but pert breasts. That, along with sexy long legs and a surprised look made for a very hot picture.

'Wonder if Nao killed the photographer?' was the second or third thought that occurred to Shizuku. Tho she hadn't heard of the police being summoned...

Checking around determined that the photograph takinbg student had wisely skipped school today. Walking the halls before class Shizuku determined a LOT of girls had the photo posted in their lockers, and she suspected it was as popular over in the boy's side too. Nao was going to be peeved, she suspected.

"Nao," Shizuku caught up with her at lunch as she teased, "I see you haven't dismembered any reporters yet?"

Nao gave her a flat look. "Thought about it," she conceded, "but I'd look awful in orange."

Mikoto laughed, the young woman having returned from yet another overseas trip with her dad. It was nothing to do with the author forgetting the sword using Kampfer after she was re-introduced several chapters ago. Really.

Akane sighed, "I can never tell if you're joking about things like that."

"Safer to assume she's not?" Natsuru offered.

"Anyway, I figured she dropped the picture off with the newspaper club pretty much as son as she took it," Nao pointed out, "short of my terrorizing the entire club, there's no way I was going to not have that photo printed."

"You could have asked me," Shizuku noted, "I have some influence, after all." She was actually a bit... wounded that Nao hadn't thought of coming to her. I mean, yes they were new friends, but still...

Nao seemed to pick up on that as she gave a faintly sheepish smile. "Next time a peeping tom photographs me, I'll call you," she promised.

"Thanks," Shizuku smiled back.

To be continued...