CH 38
Sunday morning at Kashiro's cabin, Namiri awoke in her own room, next to Kashiro's. She stretched with a luxurious yawn and lay spread out, looking at the rough hewn ceiling. The clothes she had brought were hung up on the trimmed down branch she was using for a clothes rack. The main branch was vertical on the floor, the smaller branches she'd stripped down held her clothes on hangers. Although in a normal room it would look odd, here it seemed perfect. Her dressing table was a slab of lumber sitting across a couple logs. Although this was by no means a palace, their cabin was already a special place. A light breeze blew in the window frame. She smiled at the air gently caressing her face. She had no idea what time it was, and she took pleasure in not caring. This was their place to be themselves and have fun.
It was time to go tease Kashiro.
Getting up, Namiri didn't bother with a robe. She went across the hall to Kashiro's door in her frilly light blue summer nightie that left her legs bare. The doors had no knobs, just a leather strap to open and shut them. She opened Kashiro's door, expecting to sit on his bed and tease him awake.
Namiri walked in and stopped short. Kashiro was in bed, His arms were around a purple headed girl as they lay curled up in a spoon. Kashiro's face was a picture of bliss, as was what she could see from the girl's face not covered by by her hair.
Frozen in place, Namiri stared at them. Who WAS this girl who had the audacity to sleep with Kashiro? Namiri then remembered yesterday when Kashiro had left in a hurry.
Namiri let out a gasp. Kashiro was sleeping with his SISTER!?
Kashiro's eyes opened. He lifted his head. "Namiri? What are you doing in here?" he asked a sleepy tone.
"So sorry," Namiri squeaked and quickly backed out and shut the door. Her mind spun. No, no, no! Surely they didn't do anything. There had to be an explanation. As Namiri thought, it came to her. Right, There were only three beds in the house and Kashiro, being a man of dignity and honor, wasn't going to let his sister sleep on the floor. And since he didn't want to bother her or Belle, bless his heart, having his sister sleep with him was the only option he had. That HAD to be it! They had just gotten into that position from moving around while they slept, trying to get comfortable. Yes, that made sense. Were they ever going to be embarrassed when they woke up!
Thinking of something to cover up her intrusion, Namiri said, "I was going down to fix breakfast, so don't sleep all day!"
Walking downstairs, Namiri mumbled, "If he would have told me, I would have given up my bed to sleep with him!"
.
Kumiko was happy Liz and Frank were finally going to school. Although they had different classes, it was fun having them join the lunch crowd and walking to and from school with them. Ruby had both her friends in what she called 'catch up' classes. There were classes where the teacher found out what they knew, then taught them the things they didn't know so they could eventually get into regular classes.
After classes, Kumiko and Akemi went to football practice. Liz joined them in the locker room as they were getting ready.
"Hi, Liz! How'd your day go?' Kumiko asked heartily.
"It was great," Liz beamed back at her. "I'm learning so many things! I mean just geography, I never new Russia was so close to Alaska! Did you know thousands of years ago, they were actually connected? And the languages, every one has their own way of writing. I'm studying English, and getting some Japanese, but as soon as I master English, I want to pick up Spanish too. I think Japanese is going to take me a while to master."
"Wow," Akemi said grinning at her. "Things are going well for you then, huh?"
Liz nodded. "I'm learning so much! And math, I didn't even know there was such a thing as Algebra or trigonometry."
Kumiko chuckled. "I'm happy you're enjoying yourself."
"It's all because of you, Kumiko." Liz said sincerely. "Thank you so much for everything you've done for us."
"What are friends for?" Kumiko asked with a blush.
With their uniforms on, Black T-shirts with silver hems and black shorts with silver stripes, white socks and black sneakers, the trio went out with the rest of the girls onto the playing field.
Still getting the team together for the year, the coaches broke they up into nine girl squads. After the warm up calisthenics, one squad practiced kicking the ball into goals, at one end of the field as another did the same at the other end. In the middle, the third squad did sprints from one side of the field to stop and run to the other as fast as they could go.
Liz found she had a little trouble with kicking the ball. Used to Moka's combat practice she kicked too hard and ruptured the ball and sent it into the net so hard the goal jumped and net ripped. She had to 'soften' her kicks so the ball didn't explode when she kicked it. She was good at the sprints, Her and Akemi were over to one side of the field, then back to the other before most of the girls even got to the far side. Kumiko was right behind them, with another girl.
During the rest period, Kyoko came up to them in her coach's uniform. "All right girls! Tomorrow we're going to form up teams. First is 'A' team Akemi, Liz, you will be the outside forwards. Kumiko, left side half back, Rika left fullback, Hama center fullback. Jasmine, Chi, Reiko, Dai, you will be with 'B' team. Everyone got it? OK, 'A' team is meeting over by the end of the bleachers, over here, 'B' team is meeting at the benches down there mid field. Come on girls, let's go!"
Going over to their team, Akemi noticed the rest of their team were Juniors and Seniors. A redheaded girl stepped up on the first row of benches and announced, "Everyone! I am team Captain Mizushi Caro. We will meet here tomorrow and plan our game against the 'B' team. We have new recruits, so for the rest of our practice today we will do some ball handling, basic passes, captures and control.
Liz found handling the ball was harder than she thought it was. In her passes, she kicked too hard and missed the persons she was kicking to. When she tried to capture the ball, she made it bounce away. To control the ball took a firm but gentle approach. Akemi showed her a couple tricks, and how to head butt a ball so the opposition couldn't stop the pass.
At the end of practice, they all took two laps around the field, then did some cool down exercises. Liz was buzzing with energy. After they changed, they headed back up the hill for home and met up with Frank and the other kids.
As usual, Kumiko and Liz bracketed Frank as they went up the hill. On their way up, someone called from behind.
"Kumiko! Why are you walking so close to that guy?" Leo asked in a demand.
Kumiko rolled her eyes. Turning, she said, "Frank and Liz are my friends."
"You shouldn't be so close to them!" Leo said sternly. "I'M your boyfriend!"
"No, you're a friend, Leo," Kumiko told him.
Leo ran up to her. Glaring at her he said, "I am too!"
"Leo," Kumiko said in a huff. "I don't have a boyfriend."
"Yes you do, me!" he said firmly. "So don't go walking next to anyone else!"
"You can't tell me what to do," Kumiko said, frowning at him.
The rest of the pack had stopped, and were watching the exchange. "Hey, fella?" Frank said, "I think it's up to Kumiko if your her boyfriend or not. If she says you're not, then you're not."
Leo glared at Frank. "Is that a challenge?" he asked, and lowered his head.
"That's truth. Accept it."
"Whoa, Leo, get a grip," Kumiko said, getting in front of him. "Frank is right, it's up to me who my boyfriend will be."
"So, who is it?" Leo snapped at her.
"I just told you, no one!"
In a flash of inspiration, Liz strode up beside Kumiko and put her arm around her. "If you must know, I'm her girlfriend."
"WHAT?" everyone cried at once.
"Go with me on this," Liz whispered to Kumiko, then she told Leo, "That's right! We really don't like boys like that, so Kumiko can't be your girlfriend. She is MY girlfriend."
Leo stared at them. Quiet voices behind them spoke.
"They were outside together by the pool, pretty much naked."
"Yeah, and they do sleep in the same room."
"Liz?" Frank asked.
"So, bugger off!" Liz said to Leo sternly.
Leo blinked. "No, that can't be right. That can't be right!" he said in disbelief.
Kumiko put an arm around Liz. "That is right, so please, Leo, leave us alone," she said firmly.
Leo shook his head. Weakly, he said in a whine, "No, not my Kumiko,"
"She's not your Kumiko, she's MY Kumiko," Liz stated.
Leo turned around and walked back down the path in a daze.
"Good thinking, Liz," Kumiko said.
They went back to the pack. Frank stepped aside to walk in Liz's other side. They shuffled around as they walked until Liz and Kumiko bracketed Frank between them.
Eyeing them, Frank asked, "Don't you want to walk together?"
"I thought we were," Liz said.
Frank shrugged,"I thought, you know, since you and Kumiko got a thing going..."
"We don't. That was just to get rid of Leo," Kumiko told him.
"Ahh, I don't think so," Azami said with a giggle. "Everyone knows you two were on the back terrace early in the morning. Though your room probably would have been more private."
"Um. Mama Mizore caught them playing," Moka Jr. added.
"Papa saw them too."
"It's fine if you are like that, you don't have to hide it," Akemi added.
"Wait, hold on a minute!" Kumiko cried. "We were just pretending!"
"I bet Kaiyo went to another school because she couldn't sleep with them in the room," Jade said much too cheerfully.
'Yeah, all those moans kept her awake I bet," Kanae said with a giggle.
"But, it's not LIKE that!" Kumiko cried. "Liz, tell them!"
Wearing a crooked grin, Liz asked, "What are you talking about? Don't we have fun, dear?"
Kumiko flushed and frowned at her. "Liz! I thought you liked Frank!"
Liz shrugged. "I do, but can't I like you too?"
"NOT LIKE THAT!" Kumiko yelled.
Liz put a hand over face, faked a sniffle and said, "I feel ... so rejected."
Frank put an arm around Kumiko and said, "Kumiko, it really is OK to come out of the closet."
"But ... I'm not in a closet," Kumiko whined. "Guys, I'm NOT gay!" she complained.
"You swing both ways?" Azami asked.
"NO!"
"So, it's girls only," Kanae said. "That means you're gay. Just accept it."
Becoming anger, Kumiko said loudly, "I don't want to sleep with any girls, the only one I want to sleep with is Frank!"
Everyone turned to look at her. Frank took his arm off her shoulder.
"You what?" Liz asked in a hard tone.
Realizing what she'd just said, Kumiko blushed. Sheepishly she asked, "Umm, can we drop it, please?"
They walked along in silence. Liz shifted Frank to her other side to stay between him and Kumiko the rest of the way home.
.
Kaiyo loved Kashiro's cabin. It was all rough wood, it had a special appeal to her. This was going to be their home. Her wings still sore from the beating she took by that golem, Kaiyo decided to do finishing work as Kashiro left for his SP patrol.
Carefully, Kaiyo scrapped her nails along the railings on the stairs and the second floor balcony overlooking the main floor. Although not super-smooth, she did get rid of the saw marks and splinters sticking up. Instead of the square shape, she carefully carved the upper surfaces into a rounded shape to make it more comfortable to hold.
"Kaiyo, right?" Namiri asked as she came up the steps holding a plate. "I made you a sandwich."
"Thank you," Kaiyo said offering her a smile as she took the plate.
Looking at the railing, Namiri ran her hand across it and said,"Wow, you do good work! That is nice and smooth."
"Thank you. And thank you for helping Kashiro build this place. You helped him make us a lovely home."
"It was fun," Namiri assured her. "It's not often we get to build a house. I mean, I know every piece of wood that went into this place. It makes it special." Gazing around at their creation, Namiri glanced down at the furniture below. "Oh, Kaiyo, would you be kind enough to smooth out the furniture too? I got a splinter in my butt from that chair."
"Sure thing, right after I finish with this rail."
.
"What do you mean, you can't find her?" Tsukune asked in a worried tone.
Yukari looked frantic as she peered into her scrying bowl. "I can't find her! She's not at the Banks' house, not at school or anywhere in between! I did a magic scan and it's like she ... disappeared!"
Tsukune's heart was in his throat. Has something happened to Kaiyo? "OK," he said, trying to collect himself. "Make a portal to the Bank's house, I'll see if they know anything."
Tsukune waited impatiently as Yukari made the portal. Once the magical door was stabilized, he walked through and onto the Bank's sidewalk.
Walking up to the door, Tsukune knocked and waited.
"Yes?" Mrs. Banks said as she opened the door.
Tsukune bowed. "So sorry to bother you, Ma'am. I am looking for Kaiyo Aono. I'm Tsukune Aono, her father. Do you know where she went?"
Mrs. Banks eyed him suspiciously. "Her father, huh? Describe her to me," she said flatly.
Tsukune was taken aback. He then realized Kaiyo had come here as a foster child. "Medium purple hair, violet eyes, about this tall," he said holding a hand up to indict her height. "Do you know where she is?"
Mrs. Banks seemed unimpressed. "What happens when she sneezes?" she asked.
"Huh?"
"When she sneezes, Mr. Aono, if that's who you are, what happens?"
Tsukune was stumped. What was she talking about? The only thing he'd ever noticed was one time when Kaiyo had a cold, her wings would pop out when she sneezed. He blinked at Mrs. Banks. "She sneezed ... here?" he asked.
"Last chance before I call the cops, what happens?" Mrs. Banks said sternly.
"Her wings come out," Tsukune said. "She really sneezed here?"
Mrs. Banks relaxed. "Yes. So tell me, why are you just now looking for her? Where were you when she needed you?" she asked, eyeing him angrily.
"It's complicated," Tsukune said with a huff. "Kaiyo was sent away to keep her safe. That's all I can really say. We've been watching, and noticed she was gone. We're worried about her."
Mrs. Banks nodded and stepped back. "I have something to show you," she said, motioning him in.
Leading him into the living room, she took a letter off the fake fireplace mantle and gave it to him. "We noticed Kaiyo had not come home. I checked her room and it was empty. All her clothes and things were gone. There was only this, and a gold bar lying on her bed."
Tsukune took the note and read it :
Dear Mr. And Mrs. Banks,
I want to thank you for taking such good care of me, and not judging me despite how odd I must have looked to you. I will be forever thankful for your kindness. I would have liked to tell you personally, but the situation doesn't allow it. There is a gold bar here for you as a more substantial way of thanking you.
I've learned that your world will not last but a couple more years. Please, use the money from the gold to get away from populated areas. Underground if you can, and quickly as possible. I do not want to see such nice people hurt. If it is possible, I will visit. If not, then farewell and take care of each other.
Love, Kaiyo
Tsukune read it twice, looking for a clue to where she might have gone. The only hint was the gold bar. "Do you use gold very often?" he asked.
Mrs. Banks let out a snort and said, "You're kidding, right? That bar is worth close to a half million dollars. Where would we get that kind of money? Roger checked and it is an unregistered bar, which means we have to go through an investigation period before we can use it. And what is this about our world 'not lasting'? Is there something you know that we don't?"
"I don't know," Tsukune said honestly. "Apparently Kaiyo or someone found out, and took her away before it happened," he mussed. He wondered if Krumu had secreted Kaiyo off someplace. He held the note up. "Mind if I keep this?" he asked.
"We were kind of hoping to hold onto it."
"Of course," Tsukune said, and handed the note back to her. "Is there anyone else Kaiyo talked to? A friend maybe?"
"There was that John Baum boy," Mrs. Banks said in a huff. "He was older than her and ... all over her! I seriously hope she didn't run away with him."
Tsukune itched the back of his head nervously. "I doubt it. Kaiyo went to another world," he explained. "But maybe this John knows where she went. You wouldn't happen to now where they live, do you?"
.
Tsukune was hoping that this would be a quick trip. It wasn't. He went to the school and charmed a secretary there to give him this John's address. He arrived to find a 'for rent' sign out front and the place empty. The landlord, a pregnant blond, had no idea where the family had gone.
Great.
Tsukune had to go back to the Bank's house and get a description of John. He went home for the night, then went to the school the next day. Instead of looking at every student, he went to the office and used a charm to explain he was a police investigator, and wanted to talk to John.
After sitting in a room for an hour, a boy came in and asked, "You wanted to see me, Sir?"
The boy was thin in his face and build. This was not John. "Yes," Tsukune said heartily, "Please have a seat."
The boy sat down, looking nervous.
"Take it easy, I only want to talk," Tsukune said with a reassuring smile. "Do you know Kaiyo Aono?"
The boy nodded. "The girl with the blue hair, right? Yeah, I've seen her around. She's not in trouble, is she?"
"She's missing. You wouldn't happen to know where she went, do you?"
The boy stared at him and swallowed. "I hope those guys didn't get her. A couple weeks ago, she beat up this football player. They've been known to gang up on other kids to get even," he said.
Tsukune shook his head. "Nothing like that. Can you tell me something else?"
The boy nodded.
"I know you're not John Baum, so where is he?"
The boy flushed. "Ahh, yeah, I'm John. Honest."
Gazing at him intently, Tsukune said, "We both know you're not John Baum. I must speak to him for Kaiyo's sake. He knows what happened to her. Please, I need your help."
.
Tsukune sat outside with the boy who's name was Morris. The end of the day bell rang. They watched the students filing out. After a while, Morris pointed and said, That's John, and his sister Cameron."
Even though they were a distance away, Cameron looked right at him. She grabbed John's arm and they ran the other way.
"Thank you, Morris," Tsukune said. With the crowd, Tsukune could not follow them and not bowl anyone over. Instead, he ran to the school building and vaulted up onto the roof. Running across the roof, he leaped over a couple making out. Getting to the edge, he saw John and the girl fleeing across a parking lot. Tsukune jumped down and ran to their side to get ahead of them.
He also wondered why they were running.
The pair was tricky. They kept to alleys and back yards in their flight. Tsukune could hear their footsteps as they ran. He also noted John was running out of steam. Taking to rooftops, Tsukune shadowed them until they stopped behind a warehouse, John collapsing out of breath. Cameron watched the alley they had come from while he rested.
Tsukune jumped down from the roof to land in front of John. "John Baum?" he asked.
John's eyes grew wide in terror. He pulled a gun, Tsukune took it away. Tsukune was then hit from the side by Cameron. They flew and tumbled to the ground.
"JOHN, RUN!" Cameron screamed as she got up and attacked Tsukune again.
The girl was fairly powerful but not very fast. Tsukune grabbed her hand and spun her around and tossed her into a wall.
"Cameron!" John cried and dove to scoop up his gun.
Before John could aim the gun, Tsukune raced over and took it away again. He then grabbed John by the collar and lifted him in the air so he would try to grab the gun again. Cameron was on her feet and charging him. She snapped up a two by four and raced at him with murder in her eyes. Tsukune blocked her hard swing, breaking the board, then pushed her back.
"ENOUGH!" Tsukune roared. "I only want to talk, knock it off before someone gets hurt!"
"Who," John asked weakly.
Tsukune set him down and explained. "I am Tsukune Aono. Kaiyo Aono is my daughter. All I want to know, is where she went. She's not at the place she's suppose to be."
Cameron walked back up to Tsukune. Cocking her head, she said, "Kaiyo's grandmother came and got her."
"Which one? She has several," Tsukune said.
"Her name was Ageha, she was with someone named Apollo," Cameron explained.
Tsukune stared at her. "Apollo? You're sure that was his name?" Tsukune asked.
"Yes, We're sure. A boy named Kashiro was with them too. He destroyed the triple eight that was attacking her," John supplied.
Tsukune turned towards John. "Kashiro was there too," he stated more than asked.
"Yeah, he carried Kaiyo outside and ... they vanished. We have no idea where they went," John said.
Tsukune's fists balled up. What in the hell was Apollo doing? Wherever Kaiyo had been taken to, Kashiro was there with her. That did not make him happy at all. "Thank you. Sorry to have bothered you," Tsukune said heavily, then belted out in Japanese, "Yukari, home!" He took four steps away from them and vanished.
Staring at the place Tsukune had been, Cameron said, "I wish I could do that."