Alrighty. It took some time, but I've finally got chapter twelve written to my liking. I personally love how this chapter plays out, as I get to relay some memories from when I held a job at an indoor amusement park called Jungle Jim. I also get to poke fun at the people who love and hate Twilight, nothing really meant by it of course, this is all done for the sake of humor. Enjoy!
AW, GROW UP ALREADY!
Chapter Twelve
Reunion
The next day, Tsubomi got her wish. She was released from Osaka Community Hospital. She promised Yaya that she would visit her, and then returned to Astraea Hill to recuperate in more familiar surroundings. Her break didn't last long. Soon enough she had to attend her classes and on Saturday, she and Hikari went to Taro's World for more employee training.
Interpreters for the deaf came to Taro's World that night, and taught the mice how to say, "HELLO, THERE! I AM TARO-SAMA'S HELPER!" in sign language. The mice were instructed to use bold voices and bright facial expressions when saying stuff such as, "YOU ARE A VERY PRETTY BOY/GIRL! I LOVE YOU! DO YOU WANT A SURPRISE?"
Hikari had a deaf great-uncle, and so she actually knew quite a bit of sign language. At Tsubomi's request later that night, she taught the pinkette to say, "TARO-SAMA HAS A TUMOR IN HIS HEAD THE SIZE OF A PLUM. IT MIGHT GO AWAY TOMORROW, BUT I DON'T THINK SO."
For a week out of each month, Taro's World hosted "Operation Special Children." During this week sick and deformed children come to receive gifts and visit with Taro, as customers do in Taro's World. In "Operation Special Children" it is a mouse's duty to cheerfully greet the child, then jog back to the throne to brace Taro.
"The next one is missing an ear" or "Mari's got third-degree burns on most of her body."
Missing an ear, thought Tsubomi. Taro-sama better be careful when he asks what kind of present he can give that child.
The chief of security also came in to lecture the mice. Taro's World apparently suffered billions of yen of employee theft each year. As a result, every mouse was treated like a felon with a criminal background. Before clocking out at the end of a shift, they were to have their bags searched.
There followed a video presentation. The chief of security said that the people being interviewed in the video were real former employees of Taro's World. But Tsubomi could tell that they were actors made to portray former employees. They hung their heads shamefully, and ruefully recalled that horrid day when they had ever thought to steal that manga.
"I had big dreams of studying law at the University of Tokyo," said a thin little man on the screen. "But that one incident --- just ONE little incident --- where I stole that stuffed mouse has left a permanent mark on my immaculate record. There's no way I'm getting into U of T now. Nope, no way…" He buried his face in his hands. "Oh, man…Not after that. No way…"
A lonely girl sat at a table in a café on the screen. She quietly considered her latte before sighing, "After work, I used to go out on the town with my co-workers. God, those were good times. I loved those people…" She spaced out a moment before saying, "Well, needless to say, they're not calling me anymore." The common theme of these interviews was that petty theft in Taro's World had destroyed their jobs, friendships, and ultimately, their futures.
Taro's World had two jail cells on the basement floor which could hold ten people at most. The mice were told to keep a lookout for pick-pockets in Taro's World.
Finally came the tour of the indoor amusement park, which was really something, Tsubomi had to admit. You enter Taro's World, buy your ticket, get your hand stamped, and you receive some tokens to play the games or exchange for prizes. Taro's World was one enormous room with a vaulted ceiling, poorly lit by fluorescent bulbs. The walls were dull gray in color, decorated with paintings of tussocks and flowers, such that could be found in the perilous yet beautiful fictional country. There were two roller coasters, but since it was indoors, they didn't go very high or have many twists and turns. The kind of roller coaster for kids who hate roller coasters. There were all sorts of games, including pinball, whack a mouse (yes, reminiscent of whack a mole), racing games, and DDR.
Walking through Taro's World, Tsubomi and Hikari passed all sorts of props. Among them was the Magic Tree, a complex system of roots that reminded the kouhai of a scale model of the human intestinal tract. There was also a giant frozen lake on which skated robotic mice. They frolicked about mechanically, permanent grins painted on their titanium faces. The cherry on top of the experience is when you get to meet Taro, who is played by a different male employee on any given day. One could talk to him and get a photo taken with him. Immediately after that, you wait in a long line to order your photo.
Tsubomi and Hikari were taught various code names for different posts. There was the Vomit Corner, a little section by the pinball machine where nauseous children tended to surrender the contents of their stomachs. If a child threw up the nearest mouse had to yell, "VAMOOSE," which is the name of the product used to clean up vomit. There was also the "Oh my God" Corner. This was where a visitor would finish his time with Taro, encounter a long line to the register to buy his photo, and he would tend to groan, "Oh, my God." Nervous breakdowns abound; at that point it is a mouse's duty to console the customer and explain that the wait should be no more than one hour.
There were various positions one could be assigned to on any given workday, including Entrance Mouse, Counter Mouse, Magic Tree Mouse, Photo Mouse, Usher Mouse, Water Cooler Mouse, Emergency Exit Mouse, Token Mouse, Cash Register Mouse, Exit Mouse, to name a few. The employees were given demonstrations of the positions by returning mice who were so relentlessly cheerful that it embarrassed Tsubomi to walk by them. As a mouse, it was her lot to remain merry in the face of adversary, but the kouhai couldn't see herself doing that. Tsubomi couldn't picture herself gamboling about and cheering, "Oh, my goodness! I think I see Taro-sama!" or "Can you close your eyes and make a very special Taro's World wish!" Every sentence had an exclamation point at the end of it!!! It would hurt Tsubomi's mouth to speak that forcefully. She knew she wouldn't be able to provide the grinding enthusiasm they were looking for at Taro's World. She would be a low-key sort of a mouse.
---
Word of Kizuna and Remon's high school play selection got out, and it had Astraea Hill in a fervor. Those who were fans of Twilight rejoiced. Those who hated the book and/or the fans staged angry protests throughout the campus. The middle schoolers cried foul, wishing they could perform a Twilight-based play. It was the biggest controversy in the history of Astraea Hill. The Sisters had their hands full, dealing punishments to the anti-Twilight or pro-Twilight patriots who had crossed the line.
Kizuna, the thrill-seeker, was delighted by what she and Remon had set in motion. Remon, on the other hand, was burdened with stress.
"Maybe we made a mistake," the premier sighed, staring at the cover of her book. "Maybe Tamao-oneesama was right --- Twilight doesn't compare to any other book. Maybe we should've done something more tasteful…The Lord of the Rings or something…"
Kizuna shook her head. "No good. The play would be, like, two million hours long." She paused. "And I don't think there's any high schooler short enough to play a hobbit or a dwarf."
Among the middle schoolers who were envious of the upperclassmen's play selection was Tsubomi, who was put up to decide the underclassmen's play.
"Do I detect some jealousy?" Tamao smirked after listening to the pinkette's furious rants. "Some Twilight fangirlism, perhaps?"
"Ugh. No." Tsubomi wore her signature scowl, but a pink blush dashed her cheeks. "I'm just having a hard time picking a play."
Meanwhile, for Tamao, writing a script for a Twilight play was proving to be more difficult than she initially thought. Though the poet hated Stephenie Meyer's writing style (it was something like that of an angsty pre-teen, she thought), it seemed her style did the plot of Twilight more justice than Tamao's gentle yet boisterous writing style.
---
By checking off the days on her calendar, Nagisa realized that hers and Tamao's one-year anniversary was coming up. For a gift, the redhead had considered buying her girlfriend a book. But while shopping online using Tsubomi's laptop, Nagisa wasn't sure what book to get the poet. Her first pick had been Ivanhoe, but what if Tamao had a copy of that already? Okay, how about a copy of The Catcher in the Rye? Same problem. The Island of Dr. Moreau? Same problem.
What do you get for the girl who's read everything?
---
A surprise came to Astraea Hill one day in June. Or rather, it should be said, seven surprises.
It was Sunday, June 15th. With Mass just finished, most of the students were having their lunches outside. Cherry blossoms drifted down on the courtyard like fragrant pink snow. The stone benches were occupied by groups of friends taking lunch, playing games, and generally enjoying themselves. The orchestra hall entrance door was propped open, and the sweet melody of a movement from Händel's The Messiah drifted out into the warm, carefree summer air.
Their shoes hitting the cobblestones lightly (though the poet's gait was a bit more heavy on the heel), Tamao and Nagisa made their way back to Strawberry Dorms.
"It's such a beautiful day," Nagisa sighed, taking Tamao's hand. "We should have lunch outside, too."
"We should," the poet agreed breezily. She halted. "Tell you what. If you would go wait by the lake, I'll run back and throw something together." She gestured toward the dorms.
Nagisa smiled. "Sounds like a plan."
"Great. Then I'll see you in fifteen."
The two of them kissed before going their separate ways. Nagisa walked at a slow pace, her head still spinning from the kiss. Sitting down in the soft grass by the lake, the redhead was thinking that Tamao really did have everything going for her, girlfriend-wise. She was smart, cute, sentimental, funny at times, and --- gosh darn it --- the girl could kiss!
Nagisa sighed and tipped her head back, letting the sun warm her face. There was hardly a breeze to stir the water in the lake, which therefore took on the appearance of a smooth blue plate. The scents of honeysuckle and daffodil wafted through the field. A lark was singing its usual summer tune. It was a great day for a girl to be in love.
The redhead was so preoccupied with thoughts of Tamao and of summer that she failed to hear the advancing voices until they were directly behind her.
"The cathedral always held the most prominent memories in my head. All those Étoile selections…"
"Ah, the lake. Who could forget the lake?"
Nagisa's ears perked. She recognized those voices. But to be sure that she wasn't just hearing things, she twisted around to get a view of the girls whom the voices belonged to. And she wasn't hearing things. Crying out joyously, she jumped up.
One of the girls, a tall young woman with long black hair, reacted first. She grinned, "And who could forget that redhead? Hello, Nagisa-chan!"
"Chikaru-san!" Nagisa ran up to embrace the Lulim President, and shake hands with the others. They were all there: Chikaru, Shion, Kaname, Momomi, Amane, Setsuko, and Miyuki. "What are you guys doing here?"
"We're done with our summer semester finals," responded Setsuko, who was the old Miator President succeeding Miyuki. "And we thought we'd come here for a reunion."
"And to repay old 'kindnesses,'" Shion smirked.
Nagisa sweat-dropped, a bit put off by the former Spica President's tone. "W-what does that mean?"
"It means Shion-chan wants to play a prank on Sister Hamasaka," Chikaru explained.
"A prank?" The redhead blinked. "I can't see Shion-san doing that!"
Shion shrugged. "Oh, what the hell. I've graduated."
A loud THUMP! was heard behind them. When they turned around, they saw Tamao. The picnic basket had fallen from her hands and her amethyst eyes were wide with shock.
"I don't believe it…" the poet whispered. Then she ran up to meet the Astraea Hill graduates. More cheerful greetings abounded.
"Setsuko-chan!" Tamao exclaimed, hugging her old friend. "You haven't changed a hair!"
"No, I haven't," Setsuko agreed, pulling back to look at Tamao. She readjusted the glasses on her nose. "You, however, have changed several. What happened to your bun?"
Tamao frowned. "So no one likes this look?" She sighed, then pulled the hairtie out, letting her cerulean hair cascade down to her waist. "Fine, then. I'll go back to the bun.
"It's so good to have you back, Amane-sama," the poet smiled at the former Étoile. "Hikari-chan's missed you like crazy."
"Hai. I've missed her, too." Amane's ruby eyes swam. "But I wrote to her, telling her that I'd be back either during the Drama Festival or the beach trip."
"Better to come back sooner than later."
"Yeah. Well…" Amane casually stretched her arms. "I returned to my apartment in Kyoto one day to find a message on my answering machine from Shion-kun about…"
"Great story, Amane-kun," Kaname grunted sarcastically.
The two tomboys laughed and threw some playful punches.
"Weird to see them getting along like that," Nagisa remarked.
Miyuki smiled. "Well, after you graduate, you sort of forgive and forget all that high school drama." She frowned. "Of course, Shizuma is an exception, but…"
Miyuki stiffened, regretting even mentioning her silver-haired friend. Nagisa's expression was troubled. Tamao's was one of indifference, but it appeared so the poet was forcing the emotion.
---
Everyone was so preoccupied with the reunion (among other things), that they failed to notice Amane stealing off to Strawberry Dorms. The turquoise-haired girl could move fast on a horse, yes, but she could run like the wind, too. Within minutes, she was leaning tiredly against the door, trying to catch her breath.
Once she could breathe more easily, Amane darted inside. If Hikari was rooming with Yaya again, she would probably be on the third floor. Amane raced up the stairs. I'm getting some serious cardio done, she thought. My caloric needs will be off the charts today.
Again, she had to catch her breath before lightly knocking on the door.
"Who is it?"
Hikari's voice. Amane sucked in her breath. The way the blonde girl spoke sometimes sounded like music.
"I-it's me," Amane stuttered.
She heard some klutzy clunking on the other side of the door, the sound of nervous hands fumbling the knob, and the door was thrown open. Hikari stood there, wide-eyed, her hands clasped anxiously as if in prayer.
"Amane-senpai," she breathed, leaning against the doorway in disbelief.
Amane smiled. Did Hikari get cuter or had they just been apart for too long? She leaned forward and lightly brushed some golden wavy locks out of Hikari's face, letting her fingertips linger on her cheek. Soft and smooth as a baby.
The contact sent flutters through Hikari's internal organs. "Am I only dreaming?"
"If you were, what would you do?"
Hikari's breath snagged in her throat. She leaned in so she could rest her head on Amane's, their lips only inches apart.
"I'd just take you," she whispered.
Amane hooked her arm around Hikari's waist and brought her in closer. "Or better yet, let ME take YOU."
Hikari whimpered as Amane gently pushed her inside, kicking the door shut behind them. There was no space between their lips now, and they kissed with such passion. Up until now Hikari never realized how badly she'd needed to kiss Amane. It unlocked her libido, and she made her kisses more aggressive. That afternoon, in a humid and poorly lit dorm, they had both gotten what they needed the most.
---
That evening Remon announced the roles to be played in the high school play over dinner.
"As you've heard," said she, "this year's performance will be based on the American novel Twilight."
Her announcement was met with cheers and protests. Then arguments broke out all across the dining hall. Some were even beginning to escalate to violence.
Kizuna pounded the table. "Hey! Shut up!"
And they did.
Remon cleared her throat. "According to Astraea Hill's Drama Festival customs, this year Miator and Lulim will be acting, and Spica will work stagehand."
"See? I told you!" Momomi hissed at Kaname. "You thought it was Miator's turn! But now look at what we've come back here for!"
Nagisa grinned. Hah! I can't wait to throw brooms and bottles of iced tea at them!
Remon then announced the main roles.
"To play Bella Swan, the transfer student…Our scriptwriter and Miator's secretary, Suzumi Tamao!"
Students applauded. Setsuko, who was not a fan of the book, turned to Tamao and inquired, "How in the world did you get roped into this one?"
"I'm a sucker for Kizuna's best-little-girl-in-the-world face," the poet responded wryly, swirling the water around in her glass.
"To play Edward Cullen, the vegetarian vampire who bewilders and eventually falls in love with Bella…Aoi Nagisa!"
"And a darn good vegetarian I'll be at that!" the redhead nodded.
Suki stared quizzically at Nagisa. "Hmm…We're gonna have to do something about those eyes…Edward has golden eyes, like mine, not like those blood-red peepers of yours."
"To play Charlie, Bella's father…Minamoto Chikaru!"
Chikaru got maybe the loudest and longest applause.
"To play Jake, a childhood friend who has a thing for Bella…Ewata Setsuko!"
"Isn't he a werewolf?" Setsuko muttered, embarrassed by the applause.
"To play Billy, Jake's father…Haruna Miyuki!"
"Haruna?" Nagisa asked. "I thought your name was Roukoujo!"
"Was," Miyuki sighed, holding up her right hand. On her hand was a white gold ring with a sapphire gemstone. "But, I'm married."
"Is your husband nice?" Tamao asked.
"Yes. I like him." But Miyuki's expression aroused suspicion and concern in the poet.
"Now." A smile pulled at the corners of Remon's mouth. "You'll want to know which couple the Étoile are playing."
The whole room fell silent as the students tried to picture Remon and Kizuna as various pairings in Twilight. Alice and Jasper? Jessica and Mike? Victoria and James?
"I, Natsume Remon, will play Rosalie…" Already the entire dining room was roaring with laughter. "…and Hyuuga Kizuna, the Étoile cadette and my beloved girlfriend, will play Emmett."
"Break out the pillows and muscular body suits!" Kizuna cheered. Students couldn't stop laughing. It was harder to decide which was funnier: polite Remon playing a grade-A bitch or playful little Kizuna playing an intimidating big (but friendly) guy.
Once the laughter had died down, Remon went on to announce the last two major roles. "To play Jasper, one of Edward's brothers…Harasaka Hitomi!"
The blue-haired Lulim girl blinked owlishly behind her glasses. "Erm…I never really read Twilight," she practically whispered. "What does my role entail?"
"Well, if you watched the movie," her best friend and girlfriend Suki sighed, "you get to look creepy and stare wide-eyed at nothing in particular and stay glued to Alice's side."
"Umm…I guess I could do that…"
"To play Alice, Edward's helpful and cheerful sister…Yamoto Katsuki!"
Suki pulled a victory fist. Alice was supposed to be cute and pixie-ish, and that was something she could definitely do. Suki did look like Alice --- short, skinny, playful, fun, and she had the same hair as her.
---
After dinner, Nagisa immediately excused herself and darted upstairs. This confused Tamao, and by the time she got to their room, she was totally convinced that Nagisa was upset about something. She seemed just fine at dinner. Tamao was certain her fears were being confirmed when she entered the empty dorm room.
"She's gone…?"
"VAAAAA!!!"
Tamao shrieked as she was glomped onto from behind. Then she laughed once she realized that it was only Nagisa. The poet was practically crying, that's how hard she was laughing, as she took in what her girlfriend was wearing. Nagisa was garbed in a tattered red and black velvet cape, and had fake plastic fangs in her mouth.
"Come here, my pretty maid," Nagisa hissed gently in Tamao's ear. "I vant to drink your blood!" The poet giggled as she felt the faux fangs graze her neck.
"There," nodded Nagisa, releasing Tamao. "Do you think I can do seductive now?"
"Uhh, wow Nagisa-chan. You look…" The poet shook her head. "Um…Count Dracula much?"
"Hm. Probably not very Edward Cullen, eh?"
"Not really. But then again, this kind of vampire could be sexy, too. You know how lesbians love to play vampire."
"They do?" Nagisa blinked. Then she got the mental picture of Tamao gushing blood; frankly, it was a turn-off to her.
"Yep. But it's not that time of the month for me. How 'bout you?"
Suddenly the meaning of "play vampire" hit Nagisa like a tire iron. The redhead seemed to dry heave a little before excusing herself to run to the bathroom.
NEXT CHAPTER: Tsubomi, Hikari, and Yaya go to work. Preparations and rehearsals for the Drama Festival.
