Warning: None
I hope you enjoy!
Disclaimer: Fanfiction is exactly what this story is. No more and no less.
Chapter 10 Arc III: My Little Sister is An Land God
Every half an hour I would hear the familiar whoosh of a car speeding past our apartment complex. I could hear no crickets tonight, maybe I wasn't listening hard enough for them, or the usual constant buzz from our neighbor's TV.
There is however a suspicious bumping noised coming from our right neighbor's room that I tried especially hard to not listen to.
It's been some time now since the festival. Nanami and mine's birthday past by quickly. We held a joint get together that consisted of only our closest friends, which is our only friends if you want to be technical.
It's been some time since that meeting with that Witch.
Shoving down the sickening feeling twisting in my stomach at the mere thought of her, I got up. I had not laid down in my bedclothes because I knew tonight was the perfect night to test out what that Tomoe fellow had given me.
Pulling the scroll out of my sports bra I frowned thoughtfully thinking back on my first meeting with Tomoe the Fox Familiar.
The air seemed to still suddenly and all was quiet before it wasn't anymore.
I blink and the infamous Tomoe was in front of me robed in clothes I couldn't even dream of affording. Not only were his clothes exquisite but he held an air of superiority and blase that only came from years and ego.
His silver hair barely brushed his shoulder but that didn't stop each stand from shining as if diamonds were encrusted into every hair follicle. With all of Tomoe's handsome features, the most striking were his eyes.
No, not because I could get lost in them for days, disgusting, the thought made me want to puke.
The fox demon Tomoe's eyes were sharp and highly alert. All it took was one glance and I was almost one hundred percent positive that he had dissected me down as far as he could get. That in itself made me nervous and a touch scared.
Nobody was supposed to have that ability to see so clearly through me. Though, it was to be expected. Tomoe, if memory serves me correctly, is a seasoned warrior and over hundreds of years old.
With that thought the stark realization that Tomoe was not taking me seriously. Matter of fact, the only reason he appeared was probably for entertainment to ease his boredom.
I stopped myself from truly feeling offended. If I was Tomoe and a random girl appeared out of nowhere, covered in reminisce of milkshake, trash, and scrapped knees, with red puffy eyes; and started declaring whereabouts of a lost person I wouldn't take her seriously either.
His fan blocked out the bottom half of his face but I don't think it would have done me any good. If Tomoe didn't want me to know what he was thinking at the moment, then I just don't know what he's thinking. He's a fox demon; if he couldn't mask his emotions I'd be thoroughly disappointed.
Simple, but annoying.
"Are you going to speak," His voice had a dangerous edge to it that made my spine twitch. "Or will you stand there gawking, girl?"
Raising my chin I put as much bravado as I could appearance-wise. "I want your help."
His eyes flashed then. "Yes, I heard you the first time." He closed his fan then. "But why should I help a lowly human such as you." He smirked as if the very idea amused him greatly.
"I have something you want and you may have something I want."
He outright laughed at that. "Foolish girl. There's nothing you can offer me that I do not already have." His arrogant smirk was back with a bucket load of contentment mixed in. "Besides, you do not even know if I have what you want."
I felt my cheeks redden under his scrutiny. Calming myself down, I made my face carefully blank. Looking him directly in the eyes I uttered the same words that got him to make an appearance in front of me. "I know where Mikage will be."
Annoyance flooded his face. "Impossible. You are but a human, you are no seer."
I nodded in agreement. "But I have my ways."
He was silent for a few seconds with a blank stare on his face. "Because I am bored as of now, I will allow you to speak more." His eyes narrowed with an interesting gleam. "What is it you wish to obtain from me?"
"I want a scroll that contains instructions to properly manipulate water."
Surprise flickered across his face, most likely his first true emotion, before he glared at me. Most likely trying to figure out what my angle was.
But if there's one thing I learned, foxes, especially the old ones, are not the ones to be tricked or deceived.
Till this day I'm still surprised at how I got him to give me the scroll. A small spike of guilt tried to break past my walls but I shrugged it off.
Not my fault he cares about Mikage so much that I could use simple information about the dude to get what I want. Nope, not my fault at all.
I stood ready to sneak out again from all my past times. I expected for my escape to go like every other time. Smooth and clean.
However, Nanami sat up in her futon staring at me curiously with her overly huge eyes. She looked out the window to see if it was daylight time yet. Then back to me with narrowed suspicious eyes. It almost looked as if she is accusing me of something with that expression on her face.
"Where are you going?"
My hands hid the scroll behind my back subtly. "Just gonna get some fresh air." I hated how easily the lie slipped from my mouth. Though it was to be expected. I had to be able to lie with a straight face, the less savory back streets of Tokyo.
Her eyes narrowed skeptically before sadness overtook her expression. "You're lying."
"No, I'm not." My response was too quick.
A heavy uncomfortable silence filled the room then and I fidgeted in my spot as Nanami pinned me with her stare. I breathed out in relief when she turned her eyes away from me. She looked to the terrible picture of us that she'd drawn years ago.
It was exactly what one would expect from a child's shaking unpolished hand. All colorful and wild. No straight lines and rough edges.
"Will you come back?"
The question is so quiet I almost miss it altogether. It confuses me, because why wouldn't I come back. Then I'm reminded of one of the rare occasions I allow my walls to falter.
I hated how stupid my voice sounded. "It's just some fresh air." I worried my lip as Nanami's eyes focused on my socks. "You can come with me." a few seconds after the words leave my mouth I regret them.
She's gonna look at you a different way, you fool.
I stood with my back to the person I've called my sister as I waited for her to say anything at all that will loosen the panic in my chest. I'd shown her my ability to make water move, if only slightly. Somewhere in the middle of all this, I felt a small bit of peace.
Why? Because even though I'll never tell anyone of my origins, I felt like less of a piece of shit telling one of my most guarded secrets to the sunshine that stays with people like me.
That still loves me when I don't truly deserve it.
Arms are suddenly around my waist and I don't reject the feel of her warm body pressed against mine. I turn in her grip to return the hug.
"You're amazing nee-chan,"
I won't agree with her because I don't believe those words for a single second and probably won't ever either.
She pulled back and smiled cheekily at me. "So does this mean you're a nymph?" she jokes and for the first time in my life, I think my sister is more than just smiles and sunshine. She's understanding and can tell when I'm uncomfortable.
My heart warms. "I could be trolling you," I suggest, some part of me wants her to believe that this was all a prank and we could go back to thinking I'm just another regular struggling human.
"You would have already laughed if you were."
My lips downturn in defense. "I can control myself."
She pats my back as if to comfort me. "Of course you can," she coos out not unkindly.
I step back. "Mushrooms for a week."
She sputters. "Those aren't cheap." her attempts to sway me are useless.
"It is convenient they are on sale, no?"
She kicks me in the back of the knee and I go down, wondering when exactly she picked up such violent tendencies.
Sucking in a deep breath, I ignored the burning sensation of eyes judging my every move as I stood in the center of the gymnasium.
It's been two hours after school ended and Nanami sat in the bleachers grinning encourages down at me with some much confidence I almost didn't feel so scared of messing up in front of so many people.
Almost isn't completely so my nerves are still very much present and making themselves known.
My instructor's voice snaps me from my thoughts. "You may begin now Momozono-san." When the calm and serene music fills the silence of the room I realize I immediately don't like it.
My body moves with a sense of determination to not make a fool of myself in front of the families that had gathered to watch their children's performance which would also be a grade.
The multicolored ribbon the school provided me with moved like a liquid in whichever way I willed it to. I thought of the ribbon as water and my wrist turned in tendon with the ripples I created. I know that even if I was failing miserably in doing more with my mysterious powers if I just pretend that this ribbon is more than just that but water.
I could pretend I'm doing better than what I was in reality.
Forcing my mind to not care if gazes linger too long on my exposed skin, I allow my body to fall into the routine I'd practice just about every night I snook out. I know it's not perfect because the damn ribbon didn't always do what I wanted it to and maybe I missed a few steps but I made it through the final exam.
When I stopped and the calm music that contrasted with my nervous mood stopped, my sunshine was the first to start clapping and shouting.
"That's my daughter!"
I noticed my instructor for the past school year give me an appraising smile. "Thank you Momozono-san. You may be seated."
I can't help the blush that springs forth on my cheeks at my family's rowdiness and I grin stupidly because I succeeded.
Making my way to my family, I sit and they drape themselves across my body with exasperated compliments and affection.
Even I couldn't stop the silly smile that spread across my face and the pleasing feeling in my chest.
It seems like just any other Saturday but Keiko knows better as she stocks the shelves with canned goods. She doesn't quite know how time slipped through her fingers so quickly but she isn't mad all the same.
She got the curves and boobs she wanted-no needed that could only come with time. She only regretted that she isn't the type to flaunt her assets because of pedophiles and unwanted attention.
She's so very proud of her body. Something that took her years to accomplish, and she couldn't have done it alone.
Family, can't do without them. She thinks fondly completely unaware of the MIA person she hasn't seen in year walk past her in search of something to burn his throat.
Standing up she stretches her limbs out tiredly.
Another day in the workforce, Keiko thinks as she rubs her aching legs to help along with the blood flow. She was determined to not mess up her first actual stable job with a less than desirable income but beggars can't be choosey. The convenient store owner was a nice woman that appreciated Keiko's work ethic.
She wasn't about to mess that up in the first few months because she wanted a raise. Besides, Keiko felt a silver of normalcy return every time she clocked into work. Sort of like she was back on track to making life hers again and not about the hoovering future of KH.
Picking up the now empty box, Keiko heaves it back to behind the store counter for the middle-aged store owner to flash her a tender smile.
Keiko doesn't smile but she doesn't glare either. "I have the vegetables restocked Hanako-san."
"That's wonderful." Hanako's smile turned to tease. "You might put my lazy son out of business if you keep restocking like a machine."
Keiko laughs softly, its more of a snort though. "I wouldn't dream of it." Yes, she would, she'd take the extra shifts even if it was illegal because of money.
Money is motivation.
Keiko was in the middle of pretending to organize some things behind the counter when Hanako popped her head out of the back room. "Help the young man out." She paused thoughtfully. "Remember to smile."
Keiko's above reacting to her bosses comment and instead moves off to help the teenager so he can leave. Then she could leave for her lunch break, go get a quick sandwich and juice from down the street. Maybe indulge in something sweet if she wasn't penny-pinching.
Putting on a saccharine smile she makes her presence known. "How can I help you today sir?" He turns and Keiko is momentarily stumped.
Isobe is the first to react and he exclaims. "Keiko?"
Her head tilts and she studies the once little boy now turned teenager with scrutiny. "Isobe?"
They stare at each other somewhat awkwardly before Isobe scratches his head. "I need something spicy or to scratch my throat."
Keiko turns and he follows her lead. As she scans the isle for something to help him. Keiko never did consider herself smooth, she was blunter and the silence bugged her more than she cared to admit. "So do you plan to tell me where you disappeared off to?"
He made noises in his throat. "Uh...it's a long story?" He scolds himself silently for making it sound like a question.
"My lunch break is in, " Se checks her newly acquired wristwatch that came as a gift from her dad in congratulations for her first official job. Of course, it was a hand-me-down but who cares anyway? "Two minutes. I have time."
"There's no getting out of this huh?"
Keiko smiles in such a sweetly way it makes Isobe cringe. "Of course, you don't have to tell me."
He sighs defeatedly "Why do I feel like you don't mean that at all?"
His friend that he hasn't seen in years continues to smile and offers him a coke and spicy ramen.
Keiko sat on the bench at a park close enough to her workplace so that she wouldn't be hard-pressed to get back on time. A cold flavored orange juice, that totally doesn't have any actual oranges in it, sits between her and Isobe.
After chewing a bite of her lackluster sandwich she finally decides to break the silence. "So…you and your mom moved to your grandparent's house?" She asked hesitantly making sure she had indeed heard him right on the way to the park.
He nodded. "Yeah." Isobe averted his gaze from Keiko's much different face to watching some kids play catch some ways in front of them.
Some memories of his group are brought to the front of his mind and he wonders if they could still play like they did before life got more complicated. He doesn't hold his breath though.
"Why?"
He takes a swing of his hot drink before answering. He shrugs in a way that he hopes is nonchalant. "Some family issues." Isobe never wants to talk about his life at home. Especially not to Keiko Momozono of all people.
Ever since they were kids she always had this above-me air to her as if she wasn't a kid herself. Always looking at kids and judging them for doing normal kid things.
Judging him and he never truly let go of the resentment he felt towards her and himself. Her for being so strong and scary and himself for being the coward he was.
When are you gonna start acting like a real man, boy?
Isobe doesn't quite know when he became friends with the girl that scared him because she isn't that likable.
She isn't gentle, he could have snorted at the thought. She's not a social butterfly, definitely not nice, and can be insensitive also. So why are they even friends?
Isobe finds he doesn't know the answer either and that's fine with him. He doesn't have the urge to know everything. He's content with not knowing how he befriended Keiko.
It's not like she's his closest friend anyways, just a marginal step above acquaintance because she's a childhood friend.
"Isobe-kun?"
The voice of the girl occupying his thought is the same that brings him from them. He realizes she might have asked him a question and he's been lost in his head.
"Huh?" He's half dazzed because he's only really just getting back to Tokyo and Keiko isn't the first friend he should be seeing. Almost as if it was unreal.
Maybe he's overreacting. Just a little bit.
Keiko's brows furrow before smoothing out and he face relaxes before she smiles slightly at him. "It's okay if you don't want to talk. We can sit here and watch the clouds drift by." She offers because she wants to.
Maybe it's the guilt resurfaced after all these years. She had initially planned to use him but shit happens and now her heart decided to unfreeze a bit.
He raises a skeptical blond thick brow. "We both know you don't mean that."
Keiko shrugs before taking another bite from her sandwich. "Just wanted to try the whole compassion thing ya know." It wasn't a question and Isobe laughs abruptly.
"You haven't changed.." His eyes sweep her body and he grins cockily, in a way she thinks he meant to be alluring or attractive. "Personality-wise, but you look like an exotic bebe now."
Keiko quirks a brow and responds in a teasing manner. "And I wasn't before?" He really wasn't supposed to answer but he did.
He shrugged once again "You were a boobless boy with the curves of a square."
Keiko believes she is completely justified with the punch she delivers to his shoulder. He yelps in pain. "You haven't changed much either, jerk."
Keiko sits in exasperation, a common emotion, as Nanami rattles on different ways to eat a chocolate cornet. The whole scene reminds her of something old and nostalgic but the origin eludes her.
Nanami inspected the chocolate cornet with the eyes of an amateur scientists eyes. Not quite sure what she was looking for but eager to find something nonetheless. Finally reaching a point where she couldn't continue Nanami decided she needed help.
"Nee-chan, which side do you think is the head?" Nanami had asked the question in her most serious voice to be taken seriously but it seemed to have the opposite effect on Keiko. Which annoyed her.
Keiko, somewhat amused, asks a bit unsure if she should be worried about her sister or not. "Is it really that important?"
Nanami gasps as if Keiko just greatly offended her. "Of course it's important," Nanami stresses, wondering how her sister can be so none concerned about eating food the wrong way. It could totally change the way the food taste. No worries, Nanami thought, I'll enlighten my poor lost sister.
Before Nanami can set into making good on her thoughts they are interrupted at their lunch table by Isobe himself.
"Isobe-kun?" Nanami exclaimed pleasantly surprised to see someone from her past.
Keiko doesn't miss the subtle way he quickly glances away from her eyes and the dust of pink on his cheeks.
A creeping thought makes it way into Keiko's mind as she slowly chews on the tail end of her chocolate cornet temporally absent from the exchange between the two friends reunited. The savory chocolate filled her mouth and she loved it because sweets are not cheap but her guilty pleasure.
Thank God for jobs. Well, paying jobs.
"Keiko-chan?" She only comes back once she notices Nanami and Isobe staring at her expectantly. She really should care more that she spaced out but she doesn't.
"Sorry I spaced out."
Nanami eyes her with those suspicious eyes again but returns to the topic at hand fairly quickly. "Isobe-kun was telling me that he's new to the school and how he wanted to know if we could show him around since it's his first day." Nanami fills her in on the parts she's missed.
Keiko nodded her head. "I don't see why you couldn't Nanami." she purposely left herself out of the sentence and Nanami knows it too because of her eye twitches.
She resisted scowling by taking another bite of her chocolate cornet. Keiko was not about to play guide, even if he was a childhood friend. If he thought she was, he will be corrected then 'cause Keiko wasn't the nicest person on the planet.
Isobe sweatdropped, while Nanami just sighed defeatedly. Rolling her large eyes, she stuffed the remains of her chocolate cornet into her mouth, which caused Keiko's eye to twitch now.
She spent the beginning of lunch worried about how to eat the damn thing and now she just shoves it into her mouth so carelessly, Keiko thinks worried. Keiko with that thought stood up and the other occupants of the table stood up also. "I'm going to the teacher's lounge." Picking up her school bag she departs with a fake smile and wave. "Have fun."
In Keiko's old school in America, the student was not allowed in the teacher's lounge so she plans to take advantage of this opportune. Even if there was nothing to get from it besides the familiar feels of doing a bad habit.
Back at the table, Nanami sat buzzing with energy because even though they weren't close as kids maybe they could be close now. With those thoughts, she takes Isobe's hand and stares him down with her eyes.
"I will not let you down."
Isobe not knowing what to do, because seriously he just wanted to be shown around the school. He didn't know why Keiko's sister was making a big deal out of it.
Nanami walked down the empty school hallways practically glowing with happiness. It'd been days since Isobe came back and contrary to what most would think nothing change. He didn't sit at the same table with them after his initial day back, instead some with some other boys. Even though they had basically all their classes together, he rarely talked to her.
However, none of that stopped Nanami from hoping for the aspect of another friend. She adjusted the stack of student votes for something she really should have paid attention to. Intending to quickly drop the papers off and get back before Keiko leaves her.
Of course, Nanami knew she wouldn't just abandon her at school.
Speeding up, she paused as she heard her name coming from the boy's bathroom. Stopping altogether, she realizes eavesdropping is bad but can not resist.
"Yeah, Nanami's cute but have you seen the rack on Keiko?"
Nanami's cheeks reddened in indignation.
Another voice piped up gloating. "Nah, sure Keiko's got more boob than average but it's nothing special. I've seen bigger." Nanami wanted to gasp, glad Keiko didn't hear him. She'd only overreact because she loved her breasts.
"Man Isobe, you're so lucky. You get Keiko's foreigner traits and Nanami's cuteness." This voice is envious and Nanami decides she feels dirty being talked about in the boy's bathroom.
Nanami hears the distinct noise that is Isobe's rambunctious laugh. "Why else would I hang around them?" Nanami really thinks she should leave but her feet won't allow her to. "Maybe she'll let me touch them. They bounce when she walks." Isobe sounds perverted and it slowly killed her opinion of him.
"Dude, have you seen her in PE?" The first voice turns dreamy. "In that white shirt that's just tight enough to show her tits and those bloomers that cup her perk behin-."
There's laughter. "Calm down man, you're gonna get a boner."
Nanami makes a beeline for the office now, not wanting to hear any more of the conversation, thoroughly disgusted.
Boys are so gross.
….
Walking home beside Keiko, Nanami couldn't help but think back to what she overhead and found it was true.
Have you seen her boobs when she walks?
Nanami's eyes strayed to her sister's chest and found that yes, they did bounce with each step. This discovery distressed Nanami and she puffed out her cheeks in frustration. In her frustration, she didn't realize that she had stopped walking.
Curious to why Nanami stopped, Keiko turned to halfway face her and on a spur of the moment, Nanami shot out her hand and squeezed Keiko's right boob experimentally. A strangled sound left Keiko's mouth before Nanami's hand was slapped off into her face.
"W-what the hell Nanami?" Keiko asked in absolute horror. The thought that Nanami was trying to fill her up crossed her mind but she quickly cut and beat it down. Nanami wasn't that kind of person and she was her sister.
Still…
"Why did you have to grow boobs?" Nanami asks and Keiko is lost to why it matters all of a sudden.
"Because...they were meant to be I guess."
"Well ungrow them. Put them away or something!"
Keiko raises a brow, desperately trying to calm her heart so her cheeks would return to their natural color. "That's not exactly how it works." She was silently becoming worried the more flustered Nanami became.
She didn't want perverts to look at her sister anymore. The men on the street always did every day, Nanami isn't stupid. The shadows in their neighborhood as eyes, and those eyes drunk in the sight of Keiko's exotic features. The school was supposed to be a place away from those sick eyes...but now.
Nanami lifted her bag and shoved it onto Keiko's chest in a vain attempt to push them back into her chest. Keiko ekk' ed because people were beginning to stare and the old leather rubbed her harshly. Slapping Nanami's off her with barely restrained anger she took off down the street.
…
"Sis.." Nanami tried the Englis version that Keiko seemed to like better than nee-chan. It was a useless try to get Keiko to look at her.
Keiko sat completely ignoring her sister in favor of brushing her mass of curls in front of an outdated television. There were green and pink lines around the edges distorting the image slightly. She still couldn't believe that Nanami would do such a thing, especially in a public place like that.
Dad sat on the other side of the table looking between the two confused as to why Keiko came in red-faced and looking so affronted, while Nanami came in moments later head downcast. He was about to open his mouth to find out what exactly happened when Keiko passed him chocolate.
He shrugged and went back to watching TV.
Nanami sat beside Keiko and buried her head into her side. "I'm sorry." her words were muffled but she knew Keiko understood her.
Though she also didn't respond because Nanami doesn't just act weird out of nowhere...well okay, yes she does but not this weird. With newfound energy to figure out what brought her behavior on but their dad stood up.
"Girls." they both looked up at their dad's excited face. "We're going out to eat tonight."
In truth, he just didn't want to eat burnt food, because whatever was going on is distracting Keiko. And since she is the one cooking, always is really, she's likely to burn some of the food like she does when she's out in space.
Kaito figured out that he doesn't want burnt rice soiling his taste buds tonight. It's a plus that both the girls perk up at this.
Keiko doesn't exactly know what happened to make Nanami so protective over her body. She never really paid attention before but now she made an effort to shield her with her school bag whenever somebody stared a bit too long at her.
"Keiko! How ya doing?"
Nanami intercepted the hand Isobe had raised to put onto Keiko's shoulder and glared daggers of ice at him. Keiko rubs her forehead and realized this is only the beginning of the school day.
When Keiko dropped a piece of paper from her stack of folders, Nanami saw one of the boys from the bathroom. Later Nanami accidentally pushed over the average looking boy when she tripped.
Keiko gives her a strange look, wondering if she lost her mind. Nanami dismissed it with a shrug.
"Completely accidental. It happens."
Then Nanami almost tripped a girl down the stairs at the end of the day and Keiko realized that her behavior is tiring and would be amusing if it wasn't making them both look bad.
Grabbing her arm, Keiko dragged a protesting Nanami away from her self-proclaimed 'duty', to the girls bathroom. After making sure it was empty, Keiko pinned Nanami with an annoyed stare.
"Okay, as entertaining as it is to see this violent side of you, it's become tiring. Quickly, so what's been eating you up?"
Nanami tries to lean against the sink counter looking as innocent as possible, "Nothing, accidents happen. Truly a sad thing." Keiko doesn't snorts or smile.
"No, you've been acting weird since yesterday." Keiko thought back to when she left to deliver the papers to the teacher's lounge. She wasn't acting differently than so something must have happened after they got separated.
Nanami crossed her arms and puffed out her cheeks. "Don't know what you're talking about."
"No clue whatsoever?"
Nanami inspected her nails. "Truly, a shame."
Keiko shrugged. "I'm sure the principle would love to hear about these sad accidents." Nanami's eyes widen before narrowing.
"You wouldn't?"
"Oh, but I would."
Nanami held Keiko's eyes and the longer she stared the more uncertain she became. "Fine." Nanami groaned at her breaking point. "I overheard some boys talking about you and I didn't like what they said."
"That doesn't explain your violence."
Nanami fidgeted on her feet before rubbing her arm. "They said...perverted things about you. I don't want people looking at you that way." When cool arms wrap around her shoulders she's shocked before returning the physical contact.
"I guess I don't mind...as long as you don't get caught. If so you're going down alone."
Nanami doesn't say anything because she knows her sister wouldn't let her take the full brunt of the punishment if she is caught. Besides, it's not like she plans to do it often anyways.
It's been a long-awaited time but it's finally here. The Arc in which the original plot starts in Kamisama Kiss! Yay! *Explodes fireworks* I know you might be tired of reading about Keiko and Nanami's childhood adventures so I decided to move onto teenager years now that I have somethings cleared up!
A firm reminder that this is a Jirou x Keiko story! She was created with certain traits that would make her suitable for specifically Jirou. Keiko's personality would just clash too much with mostly anybody else.
With that being said….
QUESTION: Who do you think Keiko will get along with the best inside KH? Besides Nanami of course.
