Lucky Temptations

A Lucky Star Fanfiction

Episode 4 (Tense Temptations): Chapter 7

Author's Notes: Hey there everyone! Merry Christmas! Here's a little gift for ya! A new chapter of Temptations! (And just about everything else too.) I'm gonna keep all these author's notes short, so go ahead and enjoy the stories!

"Hey Misa-chan?" Ayano asked as she and Misao entered her dark house.

"Hm? What's up Minegishi?" Misao asked as Ayano flicked on a light.

"Do you know why Kagami was acting the way she was earlier? She seemed fine this afternoon." Ayano sighed.

"Well I'm not really sure, but it must have been something important, right?"

"And why can't I remember anything after breaking up with Nikinari?" Ayano asked. "I feel like I missed something important."

"Well, erm…" Misao said, looking at her feet and blushing. "How do I explain this?" She sighed.

"Misa-chan? What's the matter?" Ayano asked, tilting her head to the side.

"Well, you started acting kind of… Weird." Misao said, unable to think of a better word at the moment.

"Weird how?" Ayano asked.

"Well, you were pretty mad, and you went outside for some air."

"I remember that much at least. Then you, Kagami and Izumi-san came out too." Ayano said, putting a finger to her chin. "Everything after that is just a blur though."

"Well, do you really want me to tell you what happened next?" Misao asked, blushing even more now.

"I would hope that you would want me to do the same for you if you forgot something." Ayano said with a giggle. "What happened after we went outside?"

"Well…" Misao said. "You sort of, um…"

"What?" Ayano asked. "Come on, Misa-chan. Out with it."

"You kissed me, okay!" Misao exclaimed, surprising Ayano.

"What?" Ayano asked. "I… I kissed you? Well that's normal, right? I used to do that all the time, remember?"

"Not like this time." Misao sighed. "This time it was a lot more… Intimate."

"Intimate like how?" Ayano asked, beginning to worry a bit.

"Well for starters," Misao began, "it was on the lips this time."

"W- well, I accidentally kissed Kagami on the lips earlier too, so maybe it was just an accident." Ayano rationalized.

"I don't think so." Misao said. "We were talking about how Nikinari thought I might be a threat to your relationship with him." Misao hesitated before continuing. "You said that I was after all."

"I what?" Ayano asked, the memories beginning to come back to her. She remembered it all now.

Flashback

"So you think I should have stayed with him?" Ayano asked, a tear sliding down her face.

"Of course not!" Kagami exclaimed. "You made the right decision back there, and don't let anyone ever tell you otherwise!"

"Do you feel that way too Misa-chan?" Ayano asked, beginning to sob.

"Of course I do!" Misao said, pulling Ayano into a tight hug. "I had no idea my brother was such a sleaze, and I'm sorry I didn't believe you sooner." She said, also shedding a tear. "Can you ever forgive me?"

Ayano didn't respond immediately. After a couple of seconds, she turned around and returned the hug. "Of course I forgive you." Ayano said happily.

"Thanks Aya-chan." Misao said with a smile as the two parted.

"Nikinari was right about one thing though, Misa-chan." Ayano said quietly.

"What's that, Ayano?" Misao asked, tilting her head curiously.

Without warning, Misao's eyes widened as Ayano suddenly pulled her into a kiss, which lasted for several seconds.

"WHA-" Was the response from both Konata and Kagami as they watched the scene unfold in front of them.

When the two parted, Misao couldn't bring herself to say a single word. She just stared wide-eyed at Ayano as she gauged the magnitude of what had just happened.

"You were a threat." Ayano said with a smile.

End Flashback

"Oh my god…" Ayano muttered. "I… Misa-chan, I'm so sorry!" Ayano exclaimed, making Misao jump. "I can't believe I actually did that!"

"I thought it was just a stress thing." Misao said, wiping her brow in relief. "Glad that's settled."

"Actually…" Ayano said. "It was more than just that."

"Aya-chan, what are you saying?" Misao asked, beginning to blush again.

"It's true. I was always more interested in you than your brother. I think he actually might have begun to notice that. That might be why he did what he did."

"But-" Misao tried to say before being interrupted.

"Please, let me finish." Ayano said. "I'm not saying that that justifies what he did, not by a long shot. Do you remember when we met in middle school?"

"Yeah." Misao nodded. "We've already been over this, right?"

Ayano just nodded yes in response. "When you and Kagami helped me, I couldn't have been happier. At the same time though," she continued, "I decided never to tell anyone about my sexuality ever again."

"Wait a minute!" Misao exclaimed. "That's what they were picking on you for?"

"Yes." Ayano sighed. "They were starting to talk about what boys they thought were cute, and I only ever talked about girls. One day, they finally asked me to talk about a boy for a change, but I told them that I was only interested in girls. That's when the trouble started." She said, grabbing onto her shoulders.

"Aya-chan…" Misao said softly.

"That day that you and Kagami found me was when it was getting really bad." Ayano explained. "It had been going on for a while, but it had never gotten to that point before. I don't know how much worse it would have gotten if you two hadn't stepped in. From that point forward, I had the greatest respect for the two of you. Not to mention two secret crushes." She said with a half-hearted giggle.

"Ayano, is all of that really true?" Misao asked.

"Yes, every word of it. My sister, my parents, and principal Rufus are the only other people who know." Ayano said.

"Principal Rufus?" Misao asked. "Why does he know?"

"He had to know. He was the principal of our middle school at the time." Ayano said. "In fact, the whole reason he's at Ryoo is because the position was open for a principal, and he's a good friend of my father's. Dad asked him to keep an eye on me, and he took it very seriously."

"Okay…" Misao said, thinking about her next question. "That just leaves one thing."

"What's that?" Ayano asked.

"Before I ask this next question, I have one more." Misao said. "From what you're telling me, it sounds like you're a… Lesbian, too. Am I right?"

"Y- yes." Ayano said, looking down in shame.

"So then answer me this." Misao said. "Why were you going out with my brother for so long?"

"I-" Ayano stuttered. "I don't know. I guess because I thought that if I got into a relationship with a boy, then maybe I'd be normal."

"What do you mean by normal?" Misao asked. "You mean you thought you might turn straight or something?"

"Something like that, yes." Ayano said. "It didn't quite work the way I hoped it would though." She sighed. "Since I was with him, that meant that I was around you more. Once you told me your secret, it really made me think about my own again as well. In fact, it might even have been my repressed sexuality that made me want to do my humanities project on same-sex relationships in the first place."

"So where does that leave us?" Misao asked, beginning to feel very uncomfortable.

"Well… I won't lie anymore. I like you… A lot." Ayano said, causing both of the girls to blush. "But I don't think I love you. Not in that way anyways."

"Really?" Misao asked, secretly breathing a sigh of relief. "If you don't mind me asking, why not?"

"It's not that I couldn't, so don't get me wrong." Ayano said. "It's just that I was never really as interested in you as I was with…" Ayano stopped before possibly offending her friend.

"Hiiragi?" Misao asked.

"Y- yes." Ayano nodded. "I really sorry, Misa-chan." She sobbed.

"Hey now, don't start crying!" Misao said, putting a comforting hand on Ayano's shoulder. "I don't mind. Really!"

"You're sure?" Ayano asked, wiping her eye with her sleeve.

"Of course." Misao nodded.

"I'm sorry. It's just that recent events didn't really help much either." Ayano admitted. "As all of that stuff with your brother was going on, Kagami was with me the whole time."

"Don't remind me." Misao muttered. "I'd rather not think of that slime right now. In fact, I don't even wanna be in the same house as him right now."

"I know it's a school night and everything, but if you would rather stay here I'm sure it would be okay." Ayano suggested.

"I guess." Misao said, taking out her cell phone. "Besides, I left all of my stuff at school anyways." She said with a laugh.

"You left it all there?" Ayano asked.

"Okay, fine. I forgot it all there." Misao huffed as she dialed her house. "Happy now?"

Ayano finally let out an honest laugh in response. "I think so."

After a very brief conversation, Misao hung up her cell phone and turned back to face Ayano. "Yep. My dad said I might not want to be home until tomorrow anyways. Nikinari's punishment is going to start tonight."

"Is it going to be that bad?" Ayano asked, secretly wishing she could be there to watch.

"Oh yeah." Misao said. "They've got him strapped to his bed, and they're forcing him to watch gory movies and stuff. By the end of the night, his brain will have snapped like a twig." Misao laughed. "He's really no good with blood and guts and stuff."

"How bad will it get?" Ayano asked.

"Well, he'll probably be talking to himself for a while. Last time we did this to him, he kept claiming that he could see the deceased and stuff. It was really freaky."

"Goodness, that sounds horrible." Ayano said with a smile.

"Gotta make the punishment fit the crime, ya know?" Misao said with a laugh. "So, now I've gotta ask." Misao said. "What do you plan to do about Hiiragi?"

"Well…" Ayano said. "I think what I did tonight really bothered her." She said. "Maybe I should let her know what I told you tonight."

"What? That you've had a crush on her since middle school?"

"Yes. She deserves to know after all this time." Ayano said with a determined look on her face. "Besides, I've got the feeling that it'll all work out somehow."

"Great!" Misao said with a fist pump. "And while you're doing that, I'll try to find out why Koko ditched us tonight." She said.

"Koko?" Ayano asked.

"Oh yeah, Kagami's short friend." Misao explained.

"You mean Izumi-san? Isn't her first name Konata?" Ayano asked.

"Yeah, but Koko is just a nickname that only I can use for her." Misao said proudly.

"If she lets you call her something that ridiculous, it sounds like things between you are going well." Ayano giggled.

"Huh?" Misao asked, beginning to blush. "Me and Koko? You really think so?"

"Of course." Ayano said with a smile. "I say go for it. I mean, do you think she likes you back?"

"I think she might…" Misao said. "I guess I'll just have to find out tomorrow then, won't I?"

"I guess so." Ayano said with a smile. "For now though, let's just focus on forgetting about today. Agreed?" She asked.

"Hey, you already had that taken care of earlier." Misao joked.

"Please don't bring that up." Ayano sighed. "It's kind of embarrassing that I managed to forget something like that."

"Fair enough." Misao said with a shrug. "I promise I won't tease you about that."

"Thanks." Ayano said. "How about I bake us something really quick." She offered.

"I'm always up for your cookies Aya-chan!" Misao exclaimed happily.

"Okay, okay." Ayano said, heading towards the kitchen. "Just make sure you save some for Tamano, okay? I'm sure she'll want some when she gets home."

"Aw, okay. If I have to…" Misao pouted, causing Ayano to giggle. "Look out, Koko." Misao thought.

"Because tomorrow, Kagami." Ayano thought.

"I'll tell you how I really feel!" Both friends thought simultaneously as Ayano got ready to start the cookies.

"Wow." Ms. Kuroi said as she took down another lesser demon in her net game. "It's almost midnight and Konata still hasn't logged back in. She couldn't seriously be doing her homework for once, could she?" The teacher asked herself. "Well, I guess we'll see tomorrow." She said as she logged out of the game and turned her computer off.

"Is it really that rare for Konata to do her own homework?" Kanata wondered as she watched Nanako change into her nightgown. "How are her grades doing if her teacher has to bribe her to do work?" She wondered fearfully.

Halfway through changing, Nanako stopped what she was doing. "Hm?" Ms. Kuroi said, looking directly where Kanata was standing.

"AH! C- can she see me?" Kanata exclaimed, wondering if Ms. Kuroi might have some sort of sixth sense.

"I wonder…" Ms. Kuroi said, now walking towards Kanata.

"She can sense me?" Kanata exclaimed. "What does that mean?" She asked herself as Ms. Kuroi got ever closer.

Nanako shivered involuntarily as she walked straight through Kanata. "What the hell was that?" She asked, looking around. "Must be a draft in here somewhere. Oh well." She shrugged. "I'll worry about it in the morning." She said as she picked Sojiro's wallet up off of the end table near her bed.

"Oh." Kanata said, breathing a sigh of relief. "I was just between her and the wallet." She said as she hovered closer to see what Nanako was up to.

"I probably shouldn't do this, but I gotta know." Ms. Kuroi said as she started rummaging through Sojiro's wallet.

"Hey! What are you going through So-kun's wallet for?" Kanata exclaimed.

"I know he's a lolicon, and I know he shows up at a lot of girls' sports events." Nanako said, looking through every pocket. "He gets big bonus points with me if there aren't any pictures of random schoolgirls in here."

"THAT'S what you're looking for?" Kanata shrieked. "So-kun wouldn't have anything like that in there!" She said. "Would he?" Kanata wondered, not feeling quite so sure of herself anymore.

Nanako finally finished searching, and was empty-handed. "Well that's a relief." Ms. Kuroi sighed as she put the wallet back down on the end table. "I didn't really expect to find anything, but you can never be too careful." She said as she finished putting on her nightgown. "Well, I'd better get some sleep. Don't want the kids thinking I'm hung over again." Ms. Kuroi said as she slid into bed.

"Charming." Kanata giggled as Nanako quickly fell asleep. "Hmm… It worked with So-kun." Kanata said, now standing next to Nanako's sleeping form. "I wonder if it'll work again." She said as she placed one of her hands on Ms. Kuroi's forehead. As she did, there was a dim light as Kanata found herself inside Ms. Kuroi's subconscious.

"Hey, Izumi!" Ms. Kuroi shouted as she approached Kanata. "How come you aren't ready yet?" She asked as Kanata turned around and saw something rather different. Ms. Kuroi was dressed in bright red and blue robes with a red, wide-brimmed hat on her head. In her right hand she was carrying what looked like a staff with a large crystal at the top. "Where's your armor?" Ms. Kuroi asked.

"Armor?" Kanata questioned. Kanata was still wearing the same nightgown that she had on when she died. Same as always.

"Wait a minute." Ms. Kuroi said, furrowing her brow. "You aren't Izumi! You must be a copy slime!" Ms. Kuroi exclaimed as her free hand lit up with fire.

"WHAT?" Kanata exclaimed. "No no no! You've got it all wrong! My name is Kanata!"

"Kanata?" Ms. Kuroi asked, her hand thankfully going out.

"Yes. My name is Kanata Izumi, and I would like very much to talk to you." Kanata explained.

"But wait." Ms. Kuroi said. "Does that mean that you're Sojiro's wife?" She asked as her wizard robes were replaced by her nightgown.

"Well, yes." Kanata nodded. "Or rather, the spirit of his wife. I'm sure you already know that I am no longer among the living."

"Y- yeah." Nanako nodded, beginning to feel somewhat scared. "If this is about Sojiro, then I'm very sorry. I didn't mean to offend you." She said with a bow.

"Oh, no." Kanata giggled. "I assure you, I'm not here to get you away from So-kun."

"You aren't?" Ms. Kuroi asked. "Then… Why are you talking to me?"

"Because you seemed like you could use someone to talk to, and so could I." Kanata sighed. "If you wouldn't mind, that is."

"Well…" Ms. Kuroi said hesitantly. "Honestly, this is really weird for me, and I can only assume that I'm dreaming."

"Until a minute ago, you were dressed ridiculously and your hand was on fire. You just realize that you're dreaming now?" Kanata asked.

"Okay, I see your point." Nanako conceded. "So I guess I don't have anything better to do. What do you want to talk about?" She asked.

"I can tell that you really want things to work between you and So-kun, and I just have a few questions that I would like you to answer." Kanata said. "Is that okay?"

"Sure." Ms. Kuroi said. "Ask me anything you like."

"Okay then. Firstly, how well do you know my daughter?" Kanata asked.

"Konata? I know her pretty well." Ms. Kuroi said. "I mean, we talk and stuff all the time."

"I could tell that you two seem to have a lot of trust between you." Konata said.

"Well, yeah. I mean she's one of the only people that I told about me being bi-curious." Nanako admitted. "I guess that implies a certain amount of trust."

"I'll say." Kanata said. "And she trusts you a lot too. Why else would she ask you for such direct help with her love life?"

"Wait, you know about that?" Ms. Kuroi asked.

"Of course. I've been watching you for several hours now." Kanata giggled. "By the way, your apartment doesn't have a draft in it."

"R- right." Ms. Kuroi gulped. "Anyways, I like to try to help all of my students when I can." Nanako said. "I just happen to talk to her more often."

"Don't be so modest." Kanata said with a smile. "Up to this point, it seems like you've been much more of a mother to her than I have." Kanata said, her eyes welling up with tears. "I wasn't even there for her growing up. So-kun had to do all of that by himself." She sobbed. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't cry right now." Kanata said as she started wiping her eyes.

"Izumi." Nanako said quietly.

"Please, just call me Kanata. There's no need to be formal here." Kanata said with a smile. "I'm going to go soon, but can you just make me a promise first?"

"Sure. What's up?" Ms. Kuroi asked.

"Please take good care of my daughter. I wasn't ever able to be there for her, and I think you would do a very good job in my place." Kanata said. "You and So-kun have my blessing. I hope you two can be happy together." Kanata said as she disappeared in a flash of light.

"Whoa!" Ms. Kuroi exclaimed as she jolted upright in her bed. "That was something else…" She said as she looked around the room, her eyes briefly stopping on Kanata's smiling face, but not seeing it.

"ARGH!" Konata groaned as she flopped her head down on her desk. "Just one more problem and I'm done! Why do they always have to save the toughest one for last?"

"Do you really need to do every single one?" Yui asked, looking up from the DS game she was playing. "I mean, if you did all the other ones, then maybe you could just leave the last one blank or just write whatever seems right."

"Yeah, not so much." Konata mumbled. "Remember what happened last time I followed that nugget of wisdom?"

"Well it's only one question this time, right?" Yui asked. "That's different from a whole paper, isn't it?"

Konata sighed in response. "I'm just not willing to take that risk this time." She said. "There's no save points in love, and I want all the help I can get!" She exclaimed as she went back to diligently trying to figure out this last problem.

30 MINUTES LATER

Konata, despite her enthusiasm, had fallen asleep on her desk. Yui was in no position to wake her up though, as she had fallen asleep as well. All night, Konata's dreams were filled with images of great wars fought in the past. Likely a side effect of having done her world history homework for a change.

Yui's dreams, on the other hand were plagued with terrible images. Images of her dear husband Kiyotaka with other women. Images that she felt were more than just subconscious fears. Yui cried in her sleep this night. Not a rare occurrence these past few weeks.

Author's Notes: Wow. Quite the developments here. How will Misao and Ayano's plans go? Only time will tell! See you all next update! Look forward to it!