A/N: Like a zombie, I am back from the dead! I can't believe it's been 2 years. :o It seriously doesn't seem that long. I don't know what I can say to apologize, so I won't even try to make any excuses. Life does crazy unexpected things sometimes. Hopefully, someone, somewhere out there remembers this. And hopefully, it won't be another 2 years between updates! (finger crossing action)

Stalking Shinomori

By the horrible muffin who makes you wait forever for yet another shitty chapter

Chapter 10:

Everything is in Transition

Misao stared disbelievingly at the articles of clothing Megumi was holding.

"A dress? You guys want me to wear a dress." She asked.

Kaoru clasped her hands and nodded excitedly, grinning from ear to ear.

"Come on now…" Misao pleaded.

"Look, little miss tomboy." Megumi said rolling her eyes. "You're never going to catch any man's attention dressed like that." She said staring at Misao's clothes pointedly.

Misao glared at the older woman. "What's wrong with my clothes?"

Megumi smiled coldly. "Everything…." She began.

Kaoru snatched the armful of dresses from Megumi and thrust them at Misao. "Just try them on." She sighed, pushing Misao in the direction of the dressing rooms.

Misao glared defiantly at Megumi over her shoulder as she walked away.

Takani Megumi was in her last year of the universities' medical program, and over the years she'd developed quite a reputation. She was always poised and efficient, and came across most the time as a cold bitch. Not to mention the fact that she was always stylish and beautiful. Most males at the school where in love with her, so it came as no surprise that most the females hated her. She mostly kept to herself, so Misao had been shocked to find that she was Kaoru's 'secret weapon'. But at the same time, she was a little excited, if anybody knew how to catch a guy's attention it was Megumi.

With a reluctant sigh, she stripped down and changed into the first dress.

It had been a long day of going from store to store to try on various clothes, only to return to stores they'd already visited because the clothes had been better there. She didn't see the logic behind this, but she'd resolved to let them help her and so she resigned herself to being treated like a puppet.

She'd lost count of the number of times she'd changed clothes. After being critiqued by Megumi and catcalled by Kaoru numerous times, she had two complete outfits and a noticeably lighter bank account. (Playing the game wasn't cheap, Megumi had told her.)

"I'm tired." She yawned, stretching like a cat.

"You've had a big day." Megumi said, patting her on the head. "Let's get you to Cinnabon." She grabbed her by the elbow and steered her towards the food court.

"Oh, yay!" Misao said with as much sleepy excitement as she could muster.

Megumi helped pack the bags from the shopping expedition into Misao's car. Kaoru was helping an already half asleep Misao into the passenger's seat. She shut the door gently and Misao slumped against it, muttering something about cinnamon bun comas before she started snoring lightly.

"All done!" Megumi declared, slamming the trunk shut.

"Thanks for coming today." Kaoru said as she adjusted the seat and mirrors.

"My pleasure." Megumi smiled. "I love shopping, and helping people shop. But you know, you still gotta do something with her hair. And get some makeup on her." She said regarding the sleeping Misao.

"Oh, it's all been taken care of." Kaoru smiled devilishly.

Megumi raised an eyebrow. "Is it now?"

Misao dozed peacefully against the wall by the women's bathroom.

"Wake up!" Kaoru shouted, nudging her with her foot.

"Noooo. Lemme sleep s'more." Misao moaned, curling away from the foot.

"Fine. Guess I'll be eating your breakfast then." Karou said, sitting down next to her and opening the small bag she had.

"Breakfast?" Misao muttered, opening one tired eye.

Kaoru handed her a muffin and a cup of coffee. "Here, eat up. You're gonna need it."

Misao eyed her suspiciously. "Why? Why are we here so early?" She asked around a mouthful of muffin. "What's happening today?"

"GOOOOD MORNING LADIES!!" An overly cheerful voice cried out.

"Hey Kamatari!" Kaoru said, standing to greet the man.

Misao almost choked on her muffin as she watched him approach them carrying an oversized makeup bag. She liked the outspoken queen, but him and Kaoru were up to something no good, she could tell just by looking at them. "What's happening?" She asked again.

Kamatari just beamed down at her. "Did you bring the outfit?"

"It's right here." Kaoru grinned, holding up a bag.

"What's going on here!?!" Misao demanded.

"Well…" Kamatari said conspiratorially, crouching in front of her "A little bird told me you were trying to catch you a man."

This time, Misao really did choke on her muffin. "Kaoru!" She growled. "Did you get everyone in on this?"

"Come on," Kamatari said gently, offering her his arm. "Let's get you all prettied up!"

"Kaoru…." Misao growled again, as she let Kamatari lead her into the bathroom.

Kaoru just whistled an innocent tune as she followed after them.

So I kind of completely forgot where I was going with this. I'm not entirely sure I ever really had any direction for this story; I think I was just making it up as I went along, so I continued doing that with this chapter. I think it turned out ok, for coming back from a 2 year hiatus…passable at the least. So we'll call this the 'transition chapter' and I'll figure out what the hell I'm doing here, and rest assured, I will finish this! Eventually! Have patience, and I'll try to get another chapter up before 2009 :D