Hi guys! Here's the 27th chapter! Holy crap, I cannot believe how far I've gotten with this story! Enjoy my darlings!
Today started out on a strange note. Arisa, Tohru, and I were waiting in the hallways between classes. Tohru and Arisa were talking while I was immersed in a manga called Durarara! It was actually very good. I was pulled out of it when Arisa suddenly grabbed the top of my head and turned it.
"Yo, Tohru, Mandy, check it out"
"Yes?!" We asked.
I caught sight of Saki having a conversation, a real conversation, with Minami, Mio, and Mai. The three annoying girls of the Prince Yuki Fan club. What in the hell was going on? Saki couldn't stand those girls. I frowned and was tempted to go up and see if they were going to give her trouble. But, I remembered, Saki was able to take care of herself.
"Hana's over their talking to that Minami girl" Arisa whispered.
"Oh" Tohru said happily, "Well, that's good right? Maybe they're finally starting to be friends or something"
I snorted, "As if. All those bitches think about is Yuki and different ways to get in his pants."
Tohru gasped, blushing brightly.
"Are you crazy? Hana hates those fan club girls more than anything" Arisa quirked an eyebrow, "I don't know, but there's definitely something suspicious going on here"
I slipped my book into my bag when I noticed her walking over to us, "We'll find out in a second, here she comes."
"Hey" Arisa called, "Hana!"
"Oh my, you were watching us?" our black haired friend asked.
"Wha 'sup? Were they trying to stick you with the blame for something?"
I ran a hand through my hair, "They weren't giving you trouble were they?"
"No, they weren't. They said they were doing a special report on electric waves, for the school newspaper, and they want to interview me. They asked if they could come to my house this afternoon" She told us, gripping her chin with a black nailed hand.
"Huh?" I scratched my head.
As if, they were definitely up to something. I wonder what though?
"Do you actually believe that?" Arisa asked dubiously.
"Who know's?" She shrugged, "However, I felt the unmistakable presence of sinister waves"
"Eh?!" Tohru gasped.
"So, are you letting them come over?" I wondered out loud.
"Of course." She said, very matter of fact. "I can't back down when the waves might break"
I snickered and hi-fived Arisa, who crowed; "Alright! A fight, that's what I like to see!"
"Uh" Tohru made a worried noise.
"Oh, this is going to get interesting! You mind if I come over after work?" Arisa all but cackled at the idea of freaking out the fan club girls.
"No, not at all." She looked at us, "Are you coming as well Tohru, Mandy?"
"No" Tohru said regretfully, "I'm sorry, I've got to work until late tonight."
"Oh" I grimaced when her eyes fell.
I threw my hands up in the air and then laced them behind my back, "Sure, I've been wanting to come over anyway. You don't mind if it's just me do you?"
The slight downfall in her expression lifted slightly, "Of course not"
Then she did something weird, she looked through the window we were standing by and stared. I looked too and just saw a girl ducking down, holding what looked like a camcorder.
I rolled my eyes and sighed, "Dumb girls, always being annoying. Come on, we'd better get to class,
my dears"
Later that day at lunch, I told the boys where I was going after school. Kyo looked mildly interested, while Yuki looked mortified.
"I'm sorry Miss Hanajima," He sighed into his bento.
"It is no problem" Saki said as she ate, "I will have Mandy, and after this, they won't bother me at my home ever again"
They all looked scared to ask what she meant by that, so they said nothing.
"Control your damn fan girls" Kyo said snidely.
"As if you're one to talk" Yuki snapped, "None of mine ever stuck gum in Miss Cho's or Miss Honda's hair" He sniffed, "Even your fan girls are as uncouth as you are, stupid"
"DON'T CALL ME STUPID!"
"Then don't give me reason to, stupid"
"Alright" I cut them off before it could get ugly, "Firstly, I took care of that, secondly, I look damn good with this hair, and thirdly, you both realize you're arguing over your fan girls right?"
That shut them up for the rest of lunch. I sat back with a contented sigh, grinning as the others poked fun at the two. That's when the bell rang and we were all hurrying back to our seats for homeroom.
After school, I met up with Saki and the girls in front of the building. I adjusted my bag on my shoulder and fixed them all with a cool glare, silently daring them to make any wrong moves. What surprised me though, was the fact that it wasn't just the usual three girls that we saw, it was just two of them. There was Matoko Minagowa too. She was the official president of their non-official little club.
The girls just glared at me, looking slightly worried about something. I smiled, feeling sly, and sent them a wink. Touching my index finger to my eyelid and pointing it at them, in a silent showing of 'I'm watching you'.
Saki smiled when she saw me and sent a bland look at Matoko, Minami, and Mio. "Follow us"
They followed behind us, "whispering" loud enough that I barely had to try to hear them.
"What is that Wretch doing? Did you know she would be coming too?"
"No! She's going to ruin everything!"
I smiled in accomplishment and silently walked with Saki to the train station where we would ride from there to her house. I was excited to see her little brother. I hadn't seen the little brat in forever!
The train ride to Saki's house was quite interesting. I got to watch all three girls stand and grip the hand rails in fists so tight, I thought they were going to break them.
Once we got to the station, Saki turned and pointed in the direction we would be going. "This way, we turn here. . ."
"Umm, okay" Minami seemed slightly unsure.
"Ha-Hanajima, you ride the train to school?" Matoko asked shakily, as if the very thought of getting on a train was appalling, even though she just had.
I decided to ignore the girls and loop my arm through Saki's, "So hun, how's Auntie Azumi and Uncle Isamu? I hope Megumi's doing well"
She smiled at my questions, "Mother and Father are doing well, and Megumi has been wanting to see you three for the past few days"
"Great, it's really been too long since I've seen him." I smiled as we came into sight of her home.
Usually with people, they all think Saki's house is some old Victorian model built on some graveyard, but really, it's just your average suburbia household. I turned to call to the fan club members.
"Yo, we're here"
"What, already?!" Makoto asked, shocked.
"Yes" I stated impatiently, "Pay attention will you?"
I simply ignored the glares they sent me and entered the familiar house, taking off my shoes at the entry, and stopped.
"Thank you for having us" Minami said politely.
"This is a pretty big house" Mio stated, obviously relieved it wasn't dark and gloomy and filled with cobwebs.
"You three" Saki turned with a foreboding tone, "For your safety, I suggest not speaking your real names in this house"
You probably think that was weird of her to say, and it was if you're not accustomed to her, but to those of us who knew it was a valid point. You see, Megumi, Saki's brother, is a lot like his sister. They even look alike, even if Saki says otherwise. But, unlike his sibling, he doesn't control or sense electric waves. Megumi has the power to lay curses on those he knew the names of.
We left them in Saki's room and headed back down the hall, I paused at Megumi's room and knocked quietly, gesturing for Saki to go ahead. The adorable little boy opened the door and blinked in surprise.
"Hey Megumi!" I grinned and received his hug, "How are you?"
He gave me was passed for a smile, "I am good, and you Mandy?"
"The same" I leaned down to whisper, "Can you do me a favor?"
"Of course" He agreed easily, "What can I do for you?"
I gestured to Saki's bedroom, "Listen to those three? They're probably going through your sister's stuff right now, and I bet they're doing exactly what she told them not to do. I want to scare them before the day is over"
Megumi got a scary gleam in his eyes before smiling slyly, "That I can do, leave it to me"
I kissed the top of his head and left him to it, smirking in anticipation. Saki was loading up a plate with dango and a tray with tea when I joined her in the kitchen. I picked up the tea and smiled.
"What did you do?"
"Oh nothing" I shrugged, "Just talked to Megumi"
She gave me a knowing smile and grasped the plate of dango, leading the way to her bedroom. We entered just as the sliding door that connected the siblings bedrooms snapped shut. I set the tea down and looked suspiciously around the room, glaring at Minami when I noticed things moved around and slightly out of order.
She glared back at me.
"I apologize for making you wait" Saki told her guest's.
That's when Matoko started to freak out, speaking about someone hiding, pointing wildly to the door that could pass for a closet. I rolled my eyes and planted my hands on my hips.
"You mean Megumi?"
Matoko looked at me and stuttered, "Meh?! Huh- wha?!"
"My younger brother, his shoes were in front so he must be home from school now" Saki said, as if we hadn't just been talking about him, "Megumi, come out from hiding and say hello"
He slid the door open just enough to show a sliver of his face, "Hello. You're not Tohru and Arisa, are you new friends of Saki?"
"No, they happen to be in the same class, and happen to have the same genders, but they are complete strangers" Saki stated coldly.
~LINE BREAK~
I was sitting between Saki and Megumi, munching on a stick of dango with sweet sauce covering it, enjoying the awkward silence that had enfolded the room. That's when the leader of the little trio spoke up.
"Y-you look just like your sister" Matoko's smile was strained, she was trying to make conversation.
"No he doesn't. . ." Saki told them, glancing to her brother.
I smirked as the silence just got thicker, the girls obviously thinking otherwise. "They're nothing alike"
"Um . . . well, Megumi" Matoko was sweating, "Megumi, can you send waves or something too?"
"I can't do anything like that" Megumi examined his dango stick, "All I can do . . . is curse people"
Silence, thick, palpable silence filled the room.
"My specialty is reciprocating curses with increased intensity," He said, "I'm . . . a little proud of it"
"He's kinda . . . strange isn't he?" Saki said affectionately.
I giggled and ruffled his short inky black hair, "Just a little bit."
"C-curse people?" Minami stuttered, "How do you . . .?"
"If I know someone's name it's easy for me to put a curse on them" Megumi told them with a straight face, "Now that you mention it, I still haven't heard your names"
"NOW, NOW!" Matoko burst to her feet and clapped her hands, "It would be rude of us to stay too long! Let us finish our business and be on our way, l-like a refreshing gust of wind in the month of May!"
"Your names. . ."
"That's right!" Minami joined her leader, "Hate to ask questions and run, b-but she's right! Yup, honestly! Really!"
They started to whisper with each other quietly, with the Mio girl looking like she was about to have a panic attack.
"Hanajima senpai, do you have a weakness?" She whimpered.
"THAT"S TOO MUCH TO THE POINT!"
I scowled at the three, "What in the hell is that supposed to me-"
"I do" Saki said quietly.
"WHAT?" All three shouted, obviously surprised.
"Such a . . ." Saki looked them over, "Heavy matter. You are all in the Yuki Sohma fan club, are you not? You must hate that Tohru has gotten to be such a good friend of Yuki Sohma recently, and by extension, Mandy too. You must want to punish Tohru, but I am in the way of your doing that. Are you scared?" She blinked, "But to look for my weakness, is a very childish way to do things"
"Th-THAT'S DIRTY! USING YOUR WAVES TO READ OUR MINDS!" Minami shouted.
"I am not reading your minds"
I pounded my fist on the table, fury burning hot. "Why you petty little girls! If you've got a problem with Tohru or me, then why don't you say it to my face?! Instead, you go asking my friend-"
Saki cut me off by calmly placing a black nailed hand over my fist, shaking her head slightly. I scowled, what in the hell had Tohru done to earn such hate from these stupid bitches?
"Alright girls, it can't be helped. We've been found out, there's no use beating around the bush" Matoko stated briskly. "You're absolutely right, we despise the witch . . . I mean Tohru Honda and her bodyguard Amanda Cho." She smiled slyly, "How about this; will you ask her to put a little more distance between herself and Yuki?"
"That is up to the two of them" Saki stated passively, "Actions spawned from jealousy are quite unbecoming"
"IT"S NOT JEALOUSY! WE'RE RIGHTFULLY ANGRY!" Mio stood in self-righteous anger.
Minami followed suit, "Yeah! Who does she think she is!? What makes her think Prince Yuki wants to be around her?! She makes me sick!"
"What about you? What do you know about Tohru?" Saki asked quietly, "It saddens me to know that Tohru is looked down upon, merely for her association with something like Yuki . . ."
"Something like?!" Matoko shrilled, "You would dare call the Prince a thing?! Did you hear that? You two heard that didn't you?!"
"YES! BUT OF COURSE WE HEARD HER!" The two underlings cried.
"It's because you look down on Tohru . . ."
"What about you?! You're looking down on Yuki, and on us! Look at you, mocking us with those lightless eyes of yours!"
I pounded my hand on the table and leaned forward intimidatingly, "How dare you! How dare you come into Saki's house under false pretenses." I stood, thoroughly pissed off. "You go through her things, don't you think I didn't notice, you sit here drinking her tea and exploiting her hospitality, when you really only want to find out her weakness. I can't believe you have the gall to sit here and shout at her like this"
"What do you feel for Yuki?!" They gasped at the familiarity I said his name with, "Other than simple infatuation with an attractive boy? Do you know him? Do you know what he's like? Have you ever even spoken to him before?! Or Tohru for that matter? How the hell can you say she's conceited when you've never even talked to her before?!"
Matoko pressed her hand to her chest and spoke passionately, "I-we- truly adore Yuki! Dare I say, we love him! Do you understand how Tohru Honda's actions are trampling on those feelings? Making that face like she's . . . like she's the one Yuki likes the most! Making sport of Yuki and getting all conceited!"
I snarled wordlessly, Tohru wouldn't make sport of a fly! The girls couldn't even squish a spider without feeling bad. And getting conceited? Please! Tohru Honda was the most humble person you could ever ask to meet!
"If you like him . . ." Megumi said frankly, "You cannot say whatever comes into your head and assume you will be forgiven. If you like him, how can you speak so disrespectfully about him? You should choose your words more carefully"
Saki spoke next, "You should know that if you bombard someone with one-sided love then you are nothing but a burden to them and you will just be hurting them in the end."
Megumi smirked evilly, "You must remember to respect the other person's feelings"
"Wha?!" Minami spluttered.
"For if you do not" Megumi continued over her, "He will only hate you in the end. Minami . . . Mio . . . and Matoko?"
They practically shoved each other on their way out the door. I was still fuming angry when they flew out the door, looks of absolute terror on their petty faces.
"Did I . . . go too far?" Megumi asked.
"No" Saki told them, "But when did you learn their names?"
"While you were making tea, they were calling each other by their names." Megumi told her, omitting the fact that I'd asked him to eavesdrop. "It wasn't hard"
"Actually, I was a little jealous too" Saki took her hair out of its strict braid, "But, you are right. That's why I cannot be selfish. I mustn't be like those three. But, it was a little rude for me to call Yuki Sohma a thing"
Megumi smiled up at his elder sister, "You can learn from their bad examples . . ."
I curled my lip, "I can't believe the nerve of those . . ."
There wasn't even a word for them.
Megumi took my hand in to his, "Are you okay Mandy? I hope so, you were very angry on my sister's behalf in there"
I shoveled my hand through my hair in frustration, "I'm sorry" I apologized to them, "I shouldn't have blown up like that, it's just the way they were talking about you, about Tohru, and about Yuki. I hate when people insult my friends, especially when they don't even know them."
"And you don't have to be jealous Saki" I took her hand in my free one, smiling warmly at her. "Tohru loves you, I love you. We'd be lost without you and Arisa. You two are my closest friends besides Tohru, and I know she feels the same way. We've just been so busy with work and school . . ."
Saki smiled and pulled the Megumi and me into a tight hug, saying nothing with words, only with actions.
That's when the doorbell rang.
"Coming" Saki called, she opened the door to reveal Tohru and Arisa.
"Yo" Arisa greeted, holding her hand up in a peace sign.
"Hana! Mandy!" Tohru gasped.
"Tohru?" Saki asked, slightly bewildered.
"I met her at the station" Arisa informed us.
"Hana, uh, um, where are Minami and the others?" Tohru asked hurriedly.
"They left" I said coldly.
Arisa noticed and shot me and Saki a look while Tohru greeted Megumi. I shook my head, not wanting to get into and get pissed all over again.
"Hey" Arisa leaned into Saki, "I think she was worried about you"
The look on her face when Arisa turned to Tohru and Megumi was heart wrenching. I smiled and looped my arm over her shoulders, bumping my forehead into hers. "Told you we love you Hana"
I never used Tohru's nicknames for them, and I think it hit home that we absolutely loved her. I vowed to use her nickname from now on, just to prove it.
She smiled, glowing with happiness.
~LINE BREAK~
The next day at school was particularly funny. Matoko came up to us spewing crap about failing and running away but not giving up. They were pretty self-confident until Saki mentioned that her brother had cursed them and it would take effect in the next three days.
Then, later, Saki apologized to a clueless Yuki for speaking poorly about him. I just laughed my ass off and read my book, thinking about how great things were now.
I truly love my friends. . .
Ermahgerd! This fricking chapter was so hard to write and not screw up! But, I knew it had to be
done, because it was in both the manga and the anime.
I hope y'all liked it, I decided to make Mandy a bit emotional in this chapter. She's kinda like me in this aspect.
Don't screw with my friends, or I'll bite your head off. Not that I can fight, because I suck at any physical
activities.
On a totally unrelated subject, I somehow managed to cut the tip of my thumb at work last night. I've got one big slice and, like, five little slices on the vary tip of my thumb. It hurts, every time I want to do something... I like pie...
Okay, now I'm just rambling. Now it's time to get to my faithful reviewers!
GiraffePanda2: I'm happy that you thought it was cute! That's what I was aiming for!
LadyAmazon: It took me so long to figure out a nickname for Mandy! I knew Tohru will always be sissy, but I literally sat there for twenty minutes trying to figure out what to have Kisa call her. I've got so many idea's for her first meeting with Hiro, they're just popping out of my mind!
The Yoshinator: I thought that would be a good touch, having Mandy be well known at the middle school. I'm glad you thought so too!
Thank you guys soooooo much for reviewing on my story! I love you guys!
BYE-BYE!