In the Family of Rozen, there are eight daughters who were each given a piece of jewelry with a brilliant pink stone called the Rosa Mysticae, which symbolizes their father's love. They rarely see their father because he is away on business trips. Alice, the real eldest sister, was killed by a bullet meant for Rozen himself, and it's obvious that she was the favorite. Now, to fill the void left by Alice, the perfect daughter, the Rozen Maiden sisters battle each other with blackmail, pranks and teenage catfights for their Father's affections and the right to the family fortune!
"Ugh! I can't stand this anymore, Shinku! It's over, so stop-"
"No, wait! Jun, I really-"
"NO! Shinku, it's over. Don't be in denial; it's getting on my nerves!"
"Servants shouldn't talk to their masters in that tone of voice! I demand that you turn the television back on. There might be a behind-the-scenes KunKun special after this commercial break! My internet sources tell me that Princess Tuna hasn't seen the last of Baron Von Anglerfish, so give me that remote this instant-"
"I'm sick tired of this show! For heaven's sake, it's a CHILDRENS' PUPPET SHOW. What's so entertaining about watching a DOLL move around trying to do away with some lame evildoer?"
"For YOUR information, KunKun is a brilliant mastermind. I understand that such lower echelon creatures like you wouldn't be able to comprehend such things…"
"---YOU!"
Freunde oder mehr? (Friends or more?)
That day, I was left speechless.
It was not his place to ask his mistress such things. Sakurada Jun is my servant; he shouldn't be able to bother me with such stupid questions. So why did that question trouble me?
We were walking to my mansion when he suddenly brought it up, with absolutely no warning. It caught me off guard- I shouldn't loose my cool like that. As a lady, I answered back in the best way that I could, but it left me asking some questions to myself.
He asked me, "Shinku. Why do your sisters fight so much?"
(8 years ago)
"Shinku-sama, I've prepared your bath." A maid bowed low to a very cute six-year-old with beautiful golden hair and stunning blue eyes. In a high voice, she answered back, "Thank you, Madaeliine. And you have not forgotten the bubbles and the rubber duck?"
"Of course not, Shinku-sama."
Shinku hopped down from her huge reading chair and entered her private bathroom. After she was taken care of by her maids, she was dressed in her best red velvet dress and her hair was brushed to gloss. Wondering what al the fuss was about, she allowed herself to be led into the dining room for supper when her eyes landed on the person sitting at the other end of the huge table.
She couldn't believe what she saw. That face that she has seen once in a portrait hanging over the mantelpiece that was removed a few years back. Her eyes widened, her breath caught in her throat, and she cried out, "Father!"
She was about to run forward to at last meet her father, but he raised a hand to halt her in her tracks. Shinku could see his face, his neat suit, his hair that looked so much like her own… but she could not approach him. She heard her maids gasp behind her, whispering and hissing to her, "Mind your manners, Shinku-sama!"
Shinku could feel Rozen's eyes piercing through her very skin. She was afraid- afraid that he was disappointed, afraid that he was going to deem her worthless as an heir and as a daughter. She tried to appear like a lady- straightening her posture, she held her head up high as she stared at the person that had left her in the care of servants for six years.
She was startled at the sound of his voice- and she took in every word like a sponge.
"Shinku- you are my fifth daughter. You have seven sisters." Shinku knew this- but she'd never met her sisters before. Her father continued, "In a few weeks you'll be moved out of this mansion and into a far bigger one, in Germany. You will live in the company of your sisters Suigintou, Kanaria, Suiseseki, Souseseki, HinaIchigo, Kirakishou… and Barasuishou."
Shinku was shocked. In the company of… her sisters? She tried to speak, but her words were stuck in the back of her throat. She looked at Rozen expectantly, waiting for him to continue. Instead, however, he got up from his seat at the table and walked towards Shinku.
Shinku's heart beat very fast. In a moment, he was just a few steps away from her. She could smell his cologne- a light rosy scent. He knelt down- and opened his arms with a smile. Shinku couldn't wait anymore- she whispered, "Father!" and ran into his arms. He stroked her hair, held her tight. She was engulfed in the warmth that was her father, and she could feel his heartbeat through his suit. This was what it meant to be loved, she realized, as she buried herself into the jacket for what felt like what was worth an eternity.
She was sad when he finally let go, but she retained a picture of the moment in the back of her mind- her father looking down at her as he walked out of the house for the last time, saying in his gentle voice, "Shinku- don't forget that I love you. I am off to see HinaIchigo in Paris. Here- Don't fail me, Shinku…"
In her hand, he left a small brooch- a beautiful ivory likeness of himself. She watched his back go farther and farther into the distance, until her father disappeared into the cab and vanished from her sight altogether. Shinku couldn't help but cry then, her tears spilling over her dress as she remembered how warm her father was, and how much she missed him already. What had he meant by, 'don't fail me.'?
For the next weeks, her life was very busy- packing all of her dresses and belongings into huge boxes and making phone calls that she didn't understand. Then she was sent away by jet with her favorite maids, to an unknown destination called Germany.
She could remember the first time she laid eyes on her sisters- inside the second plane transfer. Madaeliine ushered her into the maid deck when she first lay eyes on them- one with impossible ringlets that was typing away furiously at a laptop, a pair of brown-haired twins that were reading a catalogue about geraniums, one blonde that was scribbling on the wall of the jet ('I'm sure that that's not allowed', thought Shinku), and one that was sitting dejectedly by herself in the corner. They all looked up from what they were doing as the entered- and then pointedly went back to whatever they were doing. She took no notice of this, however, as she tugged on the sleeve of her maid.
"Madaeliine, why are there only five? There are two missing." Shinku said, pointing at her sisters. Her maid looked uncomfortable, then she whispered into her charge's ear, "Well, Shinku-sama, the eldest is having some difficulty with her illness, so we're stopping by her hospital in Italy so we can pick her up firsthand. And the youngest… we're having some paperwork issues. You won't see her for another half a year, at most." Shinku knew to drop the issue when she heard 'paperwork'. "Besides," her maid perked up, "You should strike some conversation with your sisters, Shinku-sama!" She gently pushed Shinku towards them.
That was how Shinku learn the basics about her sisters. Kanaria was actually a certified genius- and was a growing star around the globe for her violin concerts. She lived in Switzerland before the move, and she was quite the noisy one. Shinku moved on to the twins Suiseseki and Souseseki then, and learned that they used to be situated in New Zealand. They were quite easy to get along with, despite the tense uneasiness between them. Shinku suspected that the one with slightly longer hair was apprehensive against strangers, so she politely stepped aside to talk with the doodling blonde. HinaIchigo was from Paris, France, and proved to be another noisy one, but Shinku found that this sister was the easiest to get along with, so she stuck with her for the whole trip. Shinku had tried to speak to the second-youngest once, but she was immediately brushed aside.
What she saw at the hospital, though, shocked her. When they got off the plane to pick up the first Rozen Daughter, she was taken to a large, frightening infirmary that reeked of medicine and smells she didn't know. Madaeliine muttered that a hospital was no place to bring children, but Rozen had requested this visit himself. The sisters were led down halls and up elevators until they reached yet another plain white door. Shinku had barely enough time to wonder how the doctors could find where they wanted to go when everything looked the same- white and eerie- when they were ushered in. there, on the single bed, was Suigintou, the eldest. The little girls all gasped at the sight of their obviously broken sister- she had beautiful, long hair, but she was hooked onto strange machined that beeped regularly and there were at least three syringes in her arms. There was a mask on her face that fogged up when she breathed, and two nurses were taking notes and pressing buttons in a manner that scared them
The nurse that was with them explained, "Your sister's all better now, so we're going to let her out of the hospital with you. But be careful- she's still very weak from her recent attack, so be gentle." The sisters couldn't help but crowd around the bed as the nurses unhooked everything from their sister but one needle that was attached to a bag of stuff that looked like water. She was lifted into a wheelchair when her eyes fluttered open to see Shinku, standing there before her with an expression of horror on her face.
Suigintou whispered, "F… Fa… Father…" and she reached out towards the brooch of their father's portrait on Shinku's lapel. The girls shrank away, repulsed by her. She coughed a little, then lost consciousness. The sisters stared as she was rolled out of the room. Suddenly uncomfortable with each other, like they had invaded something very fragile, they uneasily crept out of the wing.
(8 years later)
It shouldn't bother me that he asked me that. Of course, they fight because they want to. No… WE fight because we want to. We sisters were put together like puzzle pieces when we were six or seven years old, and told we were sisters. Though we were of the same blood, our sides never matched up- and we always knew about Alice. We weren't supposed to know, of course, but some careless maids can reveal any kind of secret. The picture came out garbled, distorted, as we all despised each other for whatever reason. It was always meant to be like this- our father always left us to our own devices. The puzzle will never be complete, for the pieces are impossible to line together. For one reason or another, for one jutting-out corner of cheap cardboard or another, we will never create the picture that Father wanted to see together. How can we, when we're so different, so imperfect in ourselves? Isn't it better to get rid of whatever competition you have?
Even from the beginning, we weren't sisters- I'm sure of it. Sisters are kin- we are not.
Jun's perceptiveness is practically nonexistent, but he asked an innocent question that baffled me completely. I'm certain that that was not his intention, of course, but I did not know the answer, or what I could pass off as the answer, for the first time in my life.
Then, he spoke again as he entered the room. "I mean, it's funny. You really shouldn't, you know. I might sound like a hypocrite, but sev-… eight girls around the same age who share a house are bound to make trouble, but they shouldn't." He put my tray of tea down in front of my textbooks and collapsed into one of my sofas.
I remember giving him a glare (of course, not one so furrowed that would crease my lovely complexion) and saying in a very cold voice, "Oh? And why is that? You sound like you would know, wouldn't you?"
Jun grimaced and stuck out his tongue. He then said, "If you guys are torn apart like that, like some puzzle that's been garbled around too long, you're never gonna find anyone else to be your family. That's what they are, aren't they? Your family?" At my silence, he added, "You share a mom and a dad, and that's all that matters. You may call me a worthless servant, but even I know that it doesn't make sense. You should be looking out for each other, but all you do is throw random catfights every weekend and steal each other's panties."
"… panties?"
"Yep. That one with the ringlets, Kanaria, was waving around someone's. I dunno, but it was blue. Oh, and you guys should stop the voodoo, too. Those straw dolls around the house are getting on my nerves."
I hid a grin behind my cooling teacup. The sisters' undergarments were arranged and coordinated by color- blue was Souseseki's. So Kanaria got her revenge after all? I didn't know about the voodoo- I would have to conduct a search party with Suiseseki and HinaIchigo later.
I was barely listening when he finished up his little speech- "I'm serious, Shinku. Your dad and mom are never around, anyway, so who do you have as your family? Are you so sure that your father is going to love you if you end up better than the rest, or are you just looking for an excuse to hate them?"
"Jun, I-", I said angrily, but he cut me off. He wasn't talking to me now, just absentmindedly staring at the ceiling and speaking what was on his mind. "Normal parents want their children to get along. I don't think your dad is any different. Don't take it from me, but it doesn't seem right somehow. Even the ones who just stay locked up in their room. Even Suigintou. Don't you love them, Shinku? More than you love some guy who you last saw eight years ago?"
All I did that day was thrust the cup into his hands and demand a refill. As he walked away muttering darkly, "Stupid prissy…" I stared at my homework, but I couldn't concentrate. After my useless servant went home, I thought about what he said. My head hurts, even now as I think about how when I was listening to him, I was a bit convinced. Maybe…
Oh, wait. Kunkun's on again! I don't mind reruns- I just can't miss this scene where the Duchess of Doggerdale is kidnapped by the evil Count Cattanoogie!
(eight years ago again)
"You really think so? You really think Father will love me if I learn to walk properly?" Shinku gently guided her elder sister through the halls of their new, unfamiliar house that they shared, holding on tightly to her hands.
"Yes, he will love us all." Shinku stated firmly, taking a few more steps back. Suigintou teetered on her feet, then regained her balance and took a few more clumsy, careful steps. Suddenly, the elder's face contorted as she exclaimed, "Hey. Today is Tuesday! You were supposed to go with your friend Sara to the theatre today to watch the junior production of 'Pinocchio!'"
Shinku's expression softened, and she stated back, "I'd rather teach you to walk here, and not leave you alone. Besides, who would really want to watch some show about a moving doll, or a lot of dolls, or whatever, who love their Father so much that they would do anything?"
"Yeah, huh? That would be SO boring!" The two laughed, a normal pair of sisters for once, and they reached the end of the hall in no time.
"Ha ha, a show about moving dolls!"
"Imagine, who would watch that rubbish?"
(four years ago)
"Shut up, you stupid piece of junk! Father will never love you!" Shinku shot another blast of icy water at Suigintou, who aimed and flung a paper clip at the offending sister with a shooter that she had stolen from Kanaria's 'secret' lab. The bushes around the house were getting battered up, but the sisters didn't rest.
Narrowly avoiding the whizzing clip, Shinku whirled around, muddying her skirt and boots. She grimaced, then ran across the courtyard and hid behind the shed. Ignoring taunting calls of "Yoo-hoo, Shinku. Come out and play with me", she ducked and kicked a rake into her path. She couldn't hear anything now except the pounding of her blood in her ears, and her own hatred of her sister.
(one year ago)
"Mattaku, Shinku!" Suiseseki muttered, mending the torn stocking with flying fingers. "Just when I finally had some peace around here, you have to go and fight with Suigintou again. You two have GOT to knock it off- picking fights is definitely NOT a good thing, desu." Shinku was barely listening to her sister, lying on the bed and gingerly touching the bruise on her arm. It was swollen to about twice its size, and VERY unbecoming on her cherry-cordial petticoat. How unladylike… if Father could see her now… and her hair must be a mess, too!
"And anyways," remarked Suiseseki with a huff as she handed Shinku back her stockings, "things aren't going to change around here if you beat her. Do you think Souseseki and I fight about our grades, or with HinaIchigo… wait, I DO fight with her, never mind. But it's never THIS far, Shinku. Do you think that it's normal for sisters to fight?"
Shinku shot an icy smile at Suiseseki, then offhandedly stated in her most queenly voice, "Father is bound to love the most beautiful, smartest, and most womanly daughter. As we can't kill each other, this is the next best thing. If we terrorize each other enough to steal their Rosa Mystica," (at this, both Suiseseki and Shinku subconsciously touched theirs) "then it's blatant proof that we're better than the rest."
Suiseseki opened her mouth, but then closed it in a defeated manner. Nothing could convince Shinku otherwise, she thought miserably. Nothing…
(present)
I thought about what Jun said for the rest of the night. It bothered me… so much… I tossed and turned in my bed, wondering why.
The next day, I had to put on my wretched school uniform and walk all the way to school. I decided to forget whatever my stupid little servant said- thank goodness there were no bags under my eyes. What a sight I would be then!
Said stupid little servant was always absent- even though I pestered, nagged and otherwise made his life a living underworld, he would always disobey this one order. I went through the day as always. It was easy, this stuff. I had learned it all back in Germany when I was nine, with my four private tutors, one of them being a retired college professor. I had ordered them all myself- needless to say, I knew everything they taught here. It did keep my mind off of Jun, however, so it kept me occupied until the bell.
Ignoring all of the little commoners walking past, I walked back to my house- and scowled ever so slightly as I reached the front gate. There was Jun, mindless lump, sitting on the porch waiting to be let in. He saw me approaching, then nodded. "Hey, Shinku. What's up?"
"Getting used to being my servant now?" I miffed in my most refined voice. I let us both in with my house key, and Jun laughed a little. "No use trying to run away, because I know you'll hunt me down. Four weeks of this has really gotten me used to it."
"Good boy, Jun." I ordered him to bring me a cup of orange pekoe or Darjeeling, and fumed all the way up the stairs to my room. It was obvious that he had remarked about my sisters without a thought, and he had forgotten all about it.
Stupid Jun, I thought. He was the same age as I was, but much less worries. He had a sister that loved him, a friend in that one… Tomie… Tomari…. Tomoyo… Tomoe? That one that was friendly with HinaIchigo, that commoner. The only thing that seemed to bother him was school, but even I know that it's completely normal for teens to hate school. I also seethed a little at the fact that he was taller than me, too. I was sure he was shorter than me the first time I saw him, but now that I look closely, he was slightly taller.
I practically broke my pencil; I was gripping it so tightly. Why was I thinking about Jun? Calculus, calculus…
-------
It was suddenly super-noisy as all of Shinku's sisters came rushing in the doorway. Man, I forget how noisy they can get. Dumping their bags on those rich-people sofas, they headed over to the kitchen, where I was. The little ones, Kirakishou and Barasuishou, went straight up to their rooms.
"Good morning, Jun." said Souseseki, really politely. I couldn't help but smile- I can handle people like her. She didn't even treat me like a little kid, like a lot of older girls do. However, her twin was a real brat, like some monster come from hel-
"Make us all some sandwiches! Hop to it, chibi-boy, desu!"
Speak of the devil. I could only manage to shout back, "I'm not the cook, Nori is! You'll have to wait till she comes-"
"You can't even make some decent sandwiches for hungry girls, kashira? We are all very tired from that long walk!" Kanaria. I winced at her voice- she's just as bad as the rest. I stubbornly turned my back to them. Shinku wasn't going to wait forever for her tea, and I didn't want to hear another lecture about tea leaves. I was about to pour the water when I felt a little tug on my sleeve.
I looked down to see something that looked like a little kid- but really, HinaIchigo is only a year younger than I am. She looked up at me with huge, annoying googoo eyes, and said, "Please, Jun? We'll be super-good, and we won't bother you again today."
How could I say no? Mind you, it wasn't the eyes, or anything. It was the offer to leave me alone. Okay?
When I was done with the quickly-made sandwiches, the ones left at the dining table chowed down. It really shouldn't surprise me that they eat so unladylike, but after watching Shinku eat for the past few months, even really polite dining looks like pigsty-manners to me. So I was just there, trying to heat up the water for Shinku's tea again, when I suddenly noticed that no one was making death threats at me.
I mean, this is normal for other people who aren't imprisoned in a mansion full of eight bossy girls every day, but not for me. I looked around, then asked Souseseki, "Where is Suigintou?"
"She's visiting her friend Meg in the hospital again. She's doing so very often nowadays- it's healthy that she's made a friend, but I'm worried…"
I brushed off the comment. As long as she wasn't poking her nails into my ribcage and saying creepy stuff, I was okay with whatever she was doing. As I poured the hot steamy water into the cup, Shinku finally came downstairs. Without a single look at her sisters, she demanded, "What is taking so long for my tea, servant? I asked you half an hour ago!"
I grimaced, then said as I pushed back my hair and handed her the tray, "Sorry, your Majesty, but I was caught up in making sandwiches for your sisters dearest to dine upon."
She turned to them with a huff and declared, "Annta-tachi, if you wish for servants to make you food, get your own. You take up too much of MY servant's time, so he can't even bring me tea!"
Ignoring Suiseseki's "Whatever, desu…", Shinku stuck her nose in the air and wafted back up to her room with her tray. I stuck my tongue out at her retreating figure, then sat down at the table. At least she didn't give me any more orders, and if I was lucky she would leave me alone for the rest of the day.
Kanaria was talking into her little earpiece again, and HinaIchigo was trying to get her attention. Suiseseki was busy trying to reach the last sandwich, but Souseseki looked up where Shinku had been on the stairs and smiled. She muttered something under her breath that sounded a bit like, 'jelly see'.
"Huh?" I asked her (did she want jam?), so she turned to me and repeated her word.
"Jealousy. Her face was red."
I was stumped. "What?" Before I could ask what she meant by that, she promptly ignored be and bit into her sandwich.
Yare yare, these sisters are weirder than my own.
-------
"Good evening, girls!" Nori called, closing the door behind her. I perked right up from my half-daydream and ran downstairs in the most ladylike fashion that I could manage. Brushing off my skirt, I instantly stated without second thought, "Hanamaru hamburger. Double, with the works plus that delicious coleslaw like last Wednesday."
"Okay, Shinku!" she said cheerfully, and then bounced all the way to the kitchen. I could hear my sister's running footsteps behind me, and when I turned around I saw them approach and collapse with heaving chests. I smiled innocently.
"Darn you, Shinku!" Suiseseki yelled. "So you got to order today, big deal!" Souseseki smiled, painfully clutching her thigh where someone had undoubtedly kicked her on accident. "Nice. What did you ask for?" Kanaria and HinaIchigo were lying on the floor gasping behind them.
I smirked, but I'm sure it came out much nicer than I intended. "Don't worry- Hanamaru hamburger and coleslaw. We all like that." I don't know why- maybe I should have ordered something that only I liked to eat. Perhaps I should have, perhaps not. That conversation with Jun came up startlingly clear in my mind, as I watched my sisters' grins magically appear on their faces. Suiseseki got red, and then muttered, "O-okay… then… Then that's okay, desu…can't be helped. Shouganaishii…"Souseseki grinned apologetically at me, then whispered, "Thank you, Shinku." HinaIchigo practically mauled me, and Kanaria grinned. "My thanks, Shinku. I, Kanaria, am very grateful!"
Why was I happy? Why was I glad that I had ordered something we all liked?
-------
"Order up!"
Me, my stupid sister and the Rozens all gathered around the table. We were digging into this really good dinner, see, when SHE came in. She looked really worried, right? So I asked her, "Hey, Suigintou-san. What's the matter?"
She glared at me and Shinku, who glared back, then left to her room without a word.
The rest of the dinner went by without incident (except maybe when Suiseseki stole a piece of HinaIchigo's burger), but when she was clearing up, Nori frowned worriedly at the three plates left untouched. I knew what she was going to do when she heated them up at the microwave, but I didn't stop her. Let her do as she wants, as long as she can drive us home on time. I was worried, too, but how would I look if I let it show?
-------
What about the other three? I couldn't let them go without dinner, when Shinku pays me for every sister's food. I heated up the leftover three dishes, and smiled a bit when Jun fake-ignored what I was doing. He's sweet like that. He worries about all of the girls, but he puts on an indifferent air.
So I took the three plates upstairs. I stopped at Suigintou-san's room first (you can tell who's room is who's because they decorate their doors, and they're in order from eldest to youngest). I knocked on the door (and ignored the gruesome posters) with my free hand, and called, "Suigintou-san? I have your dinner right here. Don't worry, you don't have to eat with Shinku-chan." When there was no answer except a little 'hmp', I knew she heard me and told her that I left the plate next to her door. I turned and walked all the way to the end of the hallway, when I heard her door open and close. I smiled to myself again, as I knocked on the second-to-last door.
"Kirakishou-san?" The door opened a crack to reveal the cutest little girl. "H…hai?" I grinned softly at her, and then motioned to whisper in her ear, like we shared some sort of secret. When she leaned in, I suggested, "You know, Suigintou-onee-san is bound to get lonely, eating all by herself in her room. Here- why don't you go keep her company and eat with her?"
Her little face lit up, she took one of the plates from my hand and scampered off in her bare feet to Suigintou's room, where she let herself in. I thought it was so cute, that I almost forgot the last door. I reached it, and knocked quietly, as to not scare her.
When there was no answer, I waited for about ten minutes when I couldn't stand it any longer and I walked in. It was kind of like back when Jun didn't ever come out of his room, before Shinku ever came to our house. There she was, sitting on her bed and reading a book. She blatantly ignored my presence, such a cold emotion for a twelve-year-old. I quietly crept up to her, then sat on her bed.
It was when I adjusted the plate of Hanamaru on my lap did she pay any attention to me. She stared at it, and her stomach growled involuntarily. Even in the dark room, I could tell that her face got bright red as she jammed her face back behind the book.
I wasn't going to leave until she ate. I lifted the fork from the plate, cut up a little piece of the burger, and then waved it tantalizingly in front of her face. She grimaced, then she reluctantly nibbled at it. In moments she was wolfing down the burger, sobbing silently at who-knows-what, at the fact that she didn't, couldn't eat if it was with her sisters. I could do nothing but hold her head and rock her back and forth, back and forth, as she cried over the plate.
When she was full, I offered to carry the plate back down. She shook her head, then hefted it on top of her head and went out of her room with a determined glare. Barasuishou was done crying now, and as I followed, I suppose it was a good thing that she ate my food. She had taken it upon herself to bring the plate downstairs, as a sort of reconnaissance mission. I waked down the stairs with her, admiring her small, slight build and long hair.
What bravery it must have taken, I realize now, to just walk downstairs, at the amazement of her sisters, as she resolutely put her dish down where I showed her. Barasuishou-chan even said something to me, in a really cute, high voice that sounded like she hadn't used in a long time. Later, Souseseki amazedly told me that perhaps it was the first word that she had said in years, and that she wouldn't even talk in school. Either me or my burger recipe had been her angels from heaven.
My work there was done for the day.
As I was driving home with Jun, I replayed those words over and over and over.
' "Thank you."'
-------
If Jun has an amazing sister like THAT, I huffed, why couldn't he be a little more like her? She would make a good servant, but it would be too cruel to make her miss even MORE club activities than she gave up for Jun. That Nori was a real angel, I thought, as I sipped my after-dinner tea that I had forced Jun to brew me before he left.
Nori was a hard worker, sweet and very perceptive about things (though a bit of a pushover). Jun was lazy, filthy (though I remedied that), crude and was so dense he could crack open a geode with his head. There was absolutely NO family resemblance between those two, except maybe their chin.
I almost abandoned my ladylike posture when I seethed at the thought of my stupid servant. Why was I cursed with thoughts him again? He was an unworthy little insect that got under my skin with questions about my family. Why I put up with him, I have absolutely no idea.
I shouldn't even be thinking about that useless servant at a time like this.
So why is his face popping at me everywhere I turn?
For the second night in a row, I couldn't sleep.
(two weeks later)
"SHINKU! Can you PLEASE turn off that TV, that theme song is getting on my nerves! You already watched that episode! What's so great about reruns?!?"
"Oh hush, servant. After this, they're going to air a sneak preview of the Detective Kunkun live musical. You WILL buy me a ticket, of course."
"W-WHAT?"
"Hop to it, Jun. Good boy."
((A/N- Sorry for not uploading in so long, I have to study for the semester finals. Give a round of applause to Ancient Death, The-Shadow002, Dianthis, Taro Taro, Merines Shinku and BishojouTenshi, who are my beautiful reviewers. So, how was it? Like this length better now? This chapter is over fourteen pages long on my word processor, so it took me a LONG time to beta it myself. Sorry it's so pointless, but I threw in bits of every other character, plus Nori's first speaking role (she got a shining moment all to herself, heh heh.) I'm sorry, but no kissy-kissy just yet. It's WAY too early.
I'm going to try to upload a new chapter every week (if it takes longer than that, expect a longer chapter). I'm sorry that this one took so long (and the lack of indents) , but you know, finals are coming up and the stress of learning THREE new alphabets (Japanese) is killing me. But at least I'm trilingual now, so…
Review for encouragement! And if you can guess who my favorite Rozen Maiden doll is, I will reward you with a sneak peek of the next chapter (title undecided). Thank you for reading and supporting me!))
-Truffles