The air quickly vibrated, their hearing assaulted by a deafening static buzz all around them. It was like white noise, furious as if a cry to battle. And a warning. Megumi crouched and braced herself. A vision of an experienced ninja trained for warfare, don't worry… they won't. The room went still.
Who won't? Then she understood. Or more like she saw them.
Faded colors of translucent light appeared within the branches of the small bush, then shined brightly and rushed out from the branches. The static grew louder, and the colors blurred, swerved, and flew around like a swarm of bees.
Freaking fairies! Megumi yelled, swinging the flyswatter. The colors changed and avoided the flyswatter. In masterful dance, filling the room with small sounds of laughter and taunting. You're kidding me… they can't be.
Then one stopped, just in front of her eyes, shimmering bright green—a fairy.
Kuroko gasped at the sight of something she'd only read about or seen in movies. No bigger than a flying mantis. The fairy hovered, its transparent wings so fast, nearly invisible. At seeing something that she thought didn't think, a simple feeling arose, disappointment.
She'd imagined something like Tinkerbell. Small, cute, and friendly. But not this one. Barely a breath away. Not so small, not so pretty, and not so pleasant. More to the point, it was ugly. Nor did it appear to be friendly. But then again. Megumi said not to disturb the bush. So maybe… it was just mad.
Ehhh…. kuroko's face twisted in disgust. What is…? She watched it dart away and attack Megumi.
The loud sound of AAAAHA!, followed by a resounding thump and the roar of success!
Megumi slapped the flyswatter down on the desk, ecstatically snatched the bug spray. Hold your nose, she yelled gleefully and sprayed. She had the nozzle just above and sprayed until it bubbled like foam.
It would drown, kuroko thought, before choking on the spray.
They're primordial… basically ugly and bug-like—pain in the asses. Love to play tricks and be overall annoying Little bastards.
She sprayed in a broad arc, blanketing much of the room, including a second heavy dose on the Hawthorn bush.
A heavy smog of bug spray lingered lazily. The fairies scattering wildly but couldn't escape. She picked up the ping pong paddle and jeered.
How many have you? Wanting to know the count, kuroko asked, wide-eyed.
None… the little bastards are built to survive. She smashed the paddle down. Take that!
Laughing, she put her other hand on the paddle and put all her weight. Die… die… she bounced, Why won't you… others came to its aid. Blues, yellows, and red orbs swarmed around her head, ignoring kuroko.
Guess they know who their enemy is? Kuroko fretted her brow. A little relieved.
But a red glowing one hovered, glared into her eyes. She nodded, you are pretty ugly… she whispered.
Its large shell-like body shimmered, translucent wings fluttered so fast she couldn't tell if it was one pair or two. It tilted its head, gazing back at her. Almost human. Small round head, two small black dots for the eyes, she assumed. The mouth looking like a smile until it opened like an insect. You're not so pretty yourself. Human!
Ehhhhhhh… it talks!
Of course… Megumi was doing her best to crush the one under the paddle. Come on, die already. The fairies crawled through her hair, the edge of her yukata, around her mouth. If you… she opened her mouth and chomped. Don't think it won't. You have no idea what I've put in my mouth.
Kuroko tilted her head. I don't want to know that.
She's ours. The red fairy flying close to Kuroko yelled.
Looking perturbed, what? Who is…? She pointed. Megumi?
No! … the princess is ours, and you can't have her…. it shot forward, smacked kuroko's forehead,
Ouch! What the… again it happened, Hey! Stop it, you little!
Her nose, chin, and cheek felt the pain as the fairy hurled itself against her. Once, twice, a third time.
Quit it… go bug her… she raised her hand and swatted.
Missed me! It taunted and laughed. How the hell can it talk and laugh with that mouth…
It's not… Megumi answered, still struggling. It is telepathic… she grunted. I just need to kill one. That's all.
The fairies swarmed. They were laughing like mischievous children as Megumi growled.
The red one hovering aggressively moved side to side. Kuroko exhaled, telepathic… she nodded, that's how. I don't want to hurt you but remember.
What? Hissing out her words.
You hit me first. With an edge to her voice, kuroko thinned her eyes and slightly gave a nod of her head.
If it had a proper mouth and tongue, she imagined it was sticking out its tongue.
She slowly raised her hand like a vine wrapping around the limb of a tree. Her finger and thumb were touching. If the fairy had a natural human face, it would look a little confused right now.
It wasn't a fast, aggressive attack. No more like using honey to catch flies, or in this case, fairies. A certain red-colored fairy. It didn't move. It couldn't move. No longer darting back and forth, it watched the hand slowly rise, almost hypnotically. kuroko grinned, and like a praying mantis, she struck. Surprise… she spoke without malice or care. She just spoke.
It disappeared.
It smacked the wall behind the desk and slid down into the bush. She heard the shrill screaming, and the other fairies rushed into the lone bush.
Megumi Watanabe looked a mess. She lifted the paddle, and the last one struggled, wavered, and barely made it to the bush. So…. slow and steady, she said, take the race. She smiled a mischievous smile.
Got 'em now.
Yep, so why? Kuroko asked as Megumi adjusted her hair.
Because Uiharu is…. There came a knocking. A panel in the wall slowly opened, and a stunning golden light made its way into the room. A tall, shadowy figure walked through the doorway.
Is the fairy queen's daughter.