I can think of a few times in my life where I have been severely annoyed. So annoyed that it borders on anger, and I wish to lash out like a leopard and snarl like a boar. There had been one time in grade school. Some kid kept on elbowing me whenever I sat next to him, like it was my choice, and not the teacher's to put me there.
I naturally elbowed him back.
To the point of being fucking stupid, I would sit there and elbow him as hard as I could. He would elbow me as hard as we could. So we ended up elbowing each other whenever we had to be closer than a foot, exactly.
One day it was so bad I had a hard time moving my arm. I did the most logical thing. I hit the kid in the face super hard, and as many times as I could. It had been a lot, and he never dared to elbow me again. In hindsight, I am not sorry. I had been more than justified to level that stupid kid.
That wouldn't have been the first or last incident like that at my grade school. We were all hostile towards each other and spent every day fighting. In the classroom. In the hall. In the lunchroom. Outside was always a war zone with everyone fighting.
The memories play themselves out in front of me. The emotions. The anger. The fury. Everything I felt in those moments I can feel right now. The moments before a fight-when that person does not back down, when they keep coming, and you feel fear, damn right there's fear when five people are about to jump you, but that fear has to be squashed.
You either roll into a ball on the ground or you fight.
You run, spread them thin, and take them out. This is a critical mistake that I have unfortunately made. I did not go after who had been shooting at Mikoto and I.
I, in my haste, and attachment to Mikoto ran instead. I pushed her away from me before anything could have touched her.
I told her to run.
So, I thought, at least.
Whoever attacked us wanted us to do that.
The anger in me swims away, almost like a fish being caught within sight when it is coming to the surface of the body of water it is in. I am tired. More than out of it. My body feels like rubber. The TV is on, someone is close to me.
I look to my side, sighing when my neck cracks. A lot of people always think bruises and contusions are easy to deal with. A sprain is no big deal. That is not true. While the bone is not broken, the pain can be worse, to the point of total immobilization.
Like I am feeling right now.
It had been extremely bad early on in my recovery, thankfully Akane gave me some pain pills when that did happen, and it put me to sleep before too long even if I wanted to be stubborn and stay awake. That young lady is so sweet and kind, and it only makes sense she is so shy. Her transformation is dramatic, and I like that wild side of her as well.
We had went after Shizuku, and we kept each other covered through the whole ordeal. We have a mutual rapport and trust built because of that. We may have struck each other, but it came down to trust, and having each other's backs.
She had charged right in, though.
Then she started shooting without any fear or hesitation, not even caring about the odds.
Akane is so cool!
To my surprise Shizuku is right here and not Akane, though her purple eyes are closed and she is halfway on my bed with her head nestled in her arms. Her chest rises and falls gently and her eyes are completely relaxed.
She is sound asleep.
There is an urge to touch her. An impulse to caress her chin. To touch her cheek with my hand and keep it there, but I refrain from acting out on it.
I just content myself with watching her. She is so peaceful, like a child dreaming. Her eyes are not sharp or piercing, she is not smirking or drawing her lips together in anticipation. Unguarded and sincere, trusting, this is the real Shizuku.
With another quick glance around my surroundings, I see that Mikoto is sound asleep as well, and halfway snoring. I can't say I am surprised. Akane has us hopped up on these pain pills and they are doing what they should do. Keeping us out of it completely and the pain away so we can handle our business when we have to.
You know...Shower, move around, laugh, talk, bathroom, eat, the basics.
"Akane?" I murmur, keeping my voice down.
If she is in her Kampfer form, I am certain she can hear me. After all, we do have heightened hearing in addition to our other abilities. Akane is sharp as herself and as the violent red head, but the violent red head has apt hearing and perception.
Nothing gets past her.
It is partly the reason why I know what Shizuku is saying when she is speaking in her soft and secretive tones.
My hearing is much more sensitive.
"Natsuru?"
For a reason beyond me I venture for the dolt next.
Natsuru is my friend, we may have gotten off on the wrong foot, first impressions, and just about everything else, but I'll always have Natsuru's back. I just hope Natsuru returns the same thing in full and doesn't leave me hanging.
Still, Natsuru had spent the night, so we are friends.
There is enough trust between us.
Maybe these pills are making me loopy...
Minutes pass by and Akane was nowhere closer or sooner to coming into the room, which meant she was gone. A full hour must go by and Natsuru does not come in either nor even respond to my original venturing.
If they left, they could have only went to a few places-I hope.
Well, maybe she and Natsuru went to get the rest of my DVD collection, and it serves them right to do so after holding Mikoto and I hostage with ice cream.
"Well..." I venture softly to myself. "Nothing else to do. What now?"
Getting out of the bed right now isn't going to happen and I will not raise my voice to just make sure Akane and Natsuru are really not present. Shizuku and Mikoto are sound asleep by me, and I am not one for really yelling in the first place, though I do have my moments.
Doing anything right now isn't really an option, and I will put homework into that category as well because it is logical. It is unbelievable things have escalated to this point. I cannot believe Mikoto and I were side swiped so bad...Mikoto has a broken arm, her leg is messed up, and her ribs are messed up.
I have a gash on my side, my ribs are messed up, my face, eyes, and head are messed up, I had been screaming bloody murder.
Mikoto had cried.
We had come very close to being killed, I know without a doubt.
It is thanks to our Kampfer abilities that we survived, and even our durability hadn't held up really well in the long run.
I still can't stomach it. If by some freak chance I survived and Mikoto hadn't, and if I had to see her dead body...I am glad it never came to that. I'm happy she's alive and I can still teach her to skateboard. I never want any harm coming to Mikoto.
I sit, brooding about everything. The more I run it over and over the madder it makes me. The more irate I get with each breath I take in and exhale. It is one thing to battle, but that was an ambush, nothing but an ambush, and it makes my blood boil.
Whoever attacked us will get what is coming to them. I will make sure of it. I wish Stubby Bear was here. He's always around to talk to me so I don't brood about things like I am right now. He always knows what to say and what not to say.
Thinking about my pal, I hope he is okay. I hope he isn't in the leftovers or food making a mess out of himself. I really hope he isn't trying his hand at cooking or screwing up my DVDs and tapes. My collection is too vast, expansive, and expensive to be treated without care.
I really don't want my apartment to be burned down because he is so foolish.
Does he even need to eat anyways? Whenever he drinks his entire body gets all wet and he starts dripping and I have to rush him to the kitchen so the juice doesn't stain the carpet, then he wants to get all snappy because I put him in the kitchen sink...Gosh that bear drives me crazy!
Perhaps the pain pills really are making me loopy or it is that silly bear!
I hope he's getting along with with everyone else, but those other little guys seemed really excited to see him. He better not do anything to get in trouble and I hope they don't do anything. If all of those big personalities feed into each other, it is going to be worse than all of us when we're together!
Our pals will run wild!
I really want to talk to Stubby Bear or someone. I also want to tell him and the others not to get out of control. I am beginning to get restless, even if I cannot move and do not want to move. It is an emotional and mental restlessness.
One born from thought and intensity, of spirit and vigor.
If I am going to live, I will have to fight. I will have to...I don't want to kill anyone or anything. I don't really want to bring any harm. The idea of it makes me cringe and it makes me sad. If I had to fight and kill Natsuru or Shizuku...
If I have to fight and kill Hitomi...Even if she is super cocky and super annoying, I don't want to hurt her. I would rather our relationship be what it is right now. She grinds my gears and I fire back at her. I don't want to get hostile. I don't want to get violent. I might not have any choice in the long run, though.
In a bid to quell my thoughts I turn my focus to the TV. Maybe one of my monster movies are playing or one of my other martial arts movies. It should be enough to divert my focus enough that I begin to space out, and eventually, go back to sleep.
Unfortunately, it is an anime that Mikoto and Natsuru favor having to do with dragon slayers and witches. I guess it's an okay anime. At least the female characters know how to fight and just don't stare at the male characters-still it's just not for me.
But, it might be more because of the fact I want to watch my monster movies.
"My Fast and Furious collection...Gojira...Ebriah...Remote...Where...?"
I look high and low. I finally spot it just a few meters away. It is on a table with school books and stacks of manga from Akane's secret collection. So close, and yet...So far away. I cannot bear to hear another woman character saying 'sir Hatsu' three times in a sentence.
Even if they are about to be bit in half by a dragon that is three thousand feet tall, it isn't necessary to say the guy's name three times over in less than a minute. Sir Hatsu is going to have himself a harem by the looks of it if he doesn't stop saving damsels.
No wonder Natsuru likes this, he has a fantasy about having a harem, and I knew there was always something a little off about Natsuru and now I know. Natsuru dreams and fantasizes of having a harem, and I, Shizuku, Akane, and Mikoto are a part of the harem!
"I knew it, Natsuru is an out control lecher!" I shout quietly, nodding my head in agreement with myself.
I finally turn my focus to Shizuku. I can move my arms and hands well enough, where there isn't so much pain or discomfort in them, or the rest of my body from moving them. I reach for her, fingers trembling from the strain in my shoulders.
I manage to grasp her cheek and I just hold myself here for a long time.
Shizuku's brow tenses after not too long.
Her eyes slowly open. She looks around. Sleep still glosses her jewel-like eyes and her slight open mouth and searching expression make her look innocent. Like a part of her, small, is still so innocent. One hand goes up to her eyebrow as she slowly raises her head, the other supports her body as she tries to go upright.
"Stay." I say the words softly, sincerely, and genuinely.
I support her body.
I am very conscious of the fact my hand is still on her cheek and we are close. It is as far as I want to go and as far as I am willing to go.
This is just fine.
"The bed...More comfortable...You're warm...So warm and...Cuddle..."
I make no motion or gesture of agreement or decline. I hold myself still and keep my spiking heartbeat calmer than a placid pond, well, I give an honest effort.
It spikes as Shizuku climbs atop me and moves around until she is comfortable. I try to do the same, though it is a lot harder, and a lot more awkward than her graceful movements.
We finally find a position where we are both comfortable, somewhat...She is one top of me and pressed to my torso, arms wrapped around mine, ear resting on my bosom. Every so often her head moves. Her hand moves. Her fingers tense.
I realize she is about to be out again listening to the beat of my heart.
Had she even been awake before when I told her to stay, or was she dreaming of someone or something and just responding out of reflex?
I take note of the pain pills by me and take them.
That's better.
Now I'll be able to block out Sir Hatsu and his growing harem. Natsuru thinks he can be an undercover harem desiring lecher, but I'm going to spill the beans on the charade!
But, at the moment I focus on something more pleasant.
Shizuku's breathing.
Her heartbeat.
I nod off after not too long, listening and feeling...
"You two really need to keep it to yourselves if you are going to be doing stuff like that. You can warn me next time. Andrew, you are in no condition to even be considering doing anything like that with Shizuku. Your stitches will tear if you get too careless. And, you, Shizuku, you should know better than to even put all of your weight on top of her-"
It is hard to look at Akane. She is changing my bandages. She is scolding me. She is scolding Shizuku. She is telling us to get a room. I look to Natsuru and Mikoto, but they do not offer me more than a shrug and sorry expressions.
Thanks guys, really coming through for me at this moment.
Shizuku doesn't really seem fazed, but her eyes are pointed on the floor. She looks thoughtful and maybe...Well, truth be told I have no idea. I don't know why Akane has to make a big deal out of this, I mean-we've already kissed with that curry incident.
Something Shizuku had orchestrated.
Hard to imagine this devious little delinquent looks so innocent sleeping, but I got to see her sleeping, and how she behaves when she is more than half asleep. Trusting. Seeking warmth. Like a child going to their parents for the security of their warmth.
Alone she probably sleeps naked, and when she wakes up the sun kisses her ivory skin and she rubs at her eyes for a few minutes, and-
Akane's stern eyes snap me out of wherever I just was. Now I am back and not thinking about Shizuku stretching out in the morning sunrise.
"Thanks for worrying about me, Akane."
She gives me a hard look, but it softens just a few seconds later. "I owe you one from before."
Natsuru looks at us, brow raising. "Something happen with you two?"
Natsuru didn't need to know Akane and I kicked down Shizuku's door and charged her like we were possessed. Natsuru didn't need to know that Akane elbowed me right inside of my rib cage and I punched her in the stomach. Natsuru didn't need to know about our bond.
Any of it.
Natsuru doesn't need to know now, either.
Natsuru is a pacifist, like I am. I am. I do not wish to fight or harm people. If I am pushed I will unleash everything I have, and no one can handle that. But, I would just rather not even allow the situation to occur in the first place.
"Nothing really. She got my entire DVD collection. Now we can watch my Fast and Furious trilogy and then we can watch all six episodes of Star Wars. She has also been taking care of me."
"Are you sure?" Natsuru looks at me, he then turns to Shizuku.
"Do you know?"
"How would I know?"
"You know everything for your schemes."
"Schemes is...Childish to explain what she does." I add in,
Shizuku clears her throat, crossing her leg over the other.
"Well?"
Natsuru is pressing.
"How can she know what Akane and Andrew do in their spare time together? They are pretty good friends from what I've seen-Akane is always helping Andrew get the good books before anyone else does, and they both take their time, so that way I can cheat-"
"Mikoto!"
What is the sense in cheating if she is always going to tell on herself before she even does it?!
I'm just glad Akane and Natsuru got here without any harm coming to them. I'm also glad Akane did really get the DVDs and some more tapes. I am staring at them. The remote is by me, as I had nagged on while I was being scolded to have it in my grasp.
Akane is my partner through everything, and I think she can almost read me.
Perceptive woman-I am glad she is so gentle and kind as her normal self.
That makes her even more cool!
A gentle and kind woman who is pushed to the limit, turns into a gunslinger.
So cool!
Natsuru and Mikoto are back in mortal combat about cheating and copying answers-I make it clear that I am not involved without saying it out loud. Hopefully the two see me as a cat with its back arched, ears to the side, and hissing.
Certain I will not be collateral damage to that battle brewing just a few inches away from me, I turn my focus onto Shizuku.
"Hi." I give her a smile.
She smiles at me, reaching her hand until she is just a flicker away from touching me. I really do enjoy her being so close to me, though I wish she was closer right now. Like...When she held me before I dozed off yesterday-she is so soft and so warm.
We slept soundly that whole time.
It was so enjoyable I want to do it right now.
I look her in the eye, not at all surprised to see that shine of...Secretiveness. I don't feel alarm like I would before, even though the impulse is there out of habit alone. I feel...Something drawing me to her, like I am a magnet, or she is, and to be apart from her is just...Unnatural.
"I had the most interesting dream. Do you want me to tell you about it?"
"Um...?"
"Aren't you even a little curious?"
"I am. I just don't know if my curiosity will put its foot in my mouth this time."
It could be interesting in some regard. Maybe she had a dream she was racing on a super bike. Maybe she had a dream we were both running around in a meadow. I am not sure if Shizuku would even call such things interesting, we could have different viewpoints on it, so I just wait for her to speak.
Hopefully it isn't something obscene.
Shizuku stares at me hard, though her expression is soft in of itself. That look of...Hunger comes back in full swing and I have to wonder if she intends to do anything right here and now. I really, really don't want to get another scolding and lecture from Akane.
"Well, you and I were in it. I will say it was quite romantic and exciting...Your hands moved with precision, like you know my body so well..."
In the back of my mind I had a feeling it could have been a borderline erotic dream. Of course, I always keep the possibility in the back of my mind, so when it does happen, I am not completely surprised. Instead of wide eyes full of shock, I just look on blankly.
Even I had been prepared for it, knowing Shizuku is having such dreams about me makes my heart race and my throat go dry. When she made herself comfortable on top of me, maybe in her dream she was laying on top of me to take the reins, so I did not send her into an orgasm so quickly.
So, my response is just as suitable and appropriate in my view.
"You really had a dream like that? Is this not a way to fluster me or something like you do when you rile me up?"
Shizuku smiles a little wider, tilting her head. "We were both wearing...That is how I know I was dreaming."
I blink twice, looking at her, waiting for her to continue on. What we were wearing? What color was it? But, there is no answer, and it almost feels like this woman isn't feeling inclined to answer me.
"Shizuku, a little more would be helpful."
She smiles. "You are familiar with Mortal Kombat and Tekken, right?"
"I like Cyrax and Smoke. Hworang and Baek are awesome. Bruce, Paul, and Law are awesome too. King spams those wrestling moves too much and so does Marduk.
"I was talking about the women and what they wear..." Shizuku trails off, her smile turning into a full blown grin.
I am horrified!
"Oh my gosh, you and Natsuru are both lechers!"
"Me!?" Natsuru cries, whirling on me.
"I seen Sir Hatsu fetch himself a nice harem, your favorite anime. My favorite video games turned into a weapon against me." I point at him, turning my glare on Shizuku.
"I knew you were cheating on me, Natsuru! You want a harem!" Mikoto yells, thumping him.
"Andrew, tell her to stop!"
Natsuru is under fire, but I am content to just watch.
I look at Shizuku, not at all pleased.
"Honestly?"
"You're familiar with Jade from the movie, right?"
I almost cover my face with my hands, burning, my whole face feels like it is on fire!
"Annihilation...I know exactly what you are talking about..."
"You are obstinately stubborn about certain things in that regard. If I rile you up too much, I might be responsible for pushing your healing time back, and while I...Well, I don't want you to be delayed by injuries, I need you back at school."
I just stare for a moment, not quite sure how to feel about that.
Sounds an awful like Shizuku would act out her dream right now if we were alone, and while she would try to be gentle, there is a high chance she would get a little rough, or I would, and then stitches would start tearing again.
On the other hand her wanting me back in school isn't comforting. Not like I don't enjoy every girl and guy whispering about me holding doors open, and the hi-jinx of the school say itself with my buddies. I just don't feel like going back, nor do I want to.
"I'll take care of you, Shizuku. If you have an itch that needs scratching."
"Really?"
I think back to the time we were naked, when she pushed me, when I needed her and she was there. She needed me as much as I needed her. Then there was the next morning, and she was cooking in nothing but an apron.
The whole thing started with the curry...
"I think you already know the answer."
Shizuku inches close to me, grin widening on her face. A light, passion filled laugh leaves her lips as she stares at me, and I just return her stare with a serious one of my own.
"I like to clarify...We have to wait to have our fun."
Remembering something crucial, I turn towards Natsuru. The battle between himself and Mikoto is over with, and they are relatively amicable. Mikoto is pouting of course, mostly because she told on herself once again, rather than Natsuru's incessant lectures on not cheating and taking the time to study.
Of course whenever skateboarding or is mentioned I am the center of that focus.
Thanks Natsuru!
I pitch my gaze on Akane who is disposing of bloodied bandages and other such nasty things into the garbage close by. Her brow is knit in concentration, and her delicate fingers move with great dexterity and accuracy. I can't help but stare in awe as she just moves with a certain grace.
Noticing my staring, both of them turn towards me with Mikoto glaring playfully.
"You better not be staring at Natsuru with those dreamy eyes!"
"If Andrew-san and Shizuku-san are an item, Andrew-san has no need to let her eye wander." Akane says, tone pointed.
I blush, my cheeks start to hurt. "Akane!"
"I am just saying." Akane looks at me, smiling kindly. "What were you going to ask Natsuru and I?"
"My Yu-Gi-Oh and Pokemon cards. The rest of my DVDs, tapes...Did you get them?"
"We even brought your DVD player. We were careful, Akane even put some tissue into the cases. I was careful with your binders full of cards." Natsuru tells me, rubbing at his mouth.
Is...Is he making fun of me?
"Natsuru, are you poking at me?" I look him over carefully, flicking my focus onto those blue eyes.
Natsuru waves his hand around, in a gesture of dismissal or it was an amicable joke, which I know it was the second, but I can't help poking at Natsuru either.
"No, no. I just didn't expect someone else to collect stuff like that."
Mikoto rummages through her pocket, staring at me the whole time. "Like this one?"
I shoot up on instinct, forcing my arms to heave my weight up. My body screams. I scream. Akane is on her feet and rushing towards me. I try to heave myself up, straining, gritting my teeth to keep down the gasp of agony that wants to rip through me.
I scrabble for balance. Everything burns, stops, and halts all at the same time. The confounding sensation is enough to make me breathless. Pain. Floor. I am in pain and on the floor, but my awareness is still sharp thanks to the pain.
Without any delay I claw towards Mikoto, using my fingers and forearms to pull my stupid body across the threshold between vindication and failure. Ferocity burns through me, intense as fire, and it takes all I have not to erupt like a volcano.
Of all of the stupid things to allow Mikoto to do, why, oh why...Did it have to be my cards?
"That's my Winged Dragon Of Ra! It's out of the sleeve! Why is out of the sleeve!? Where is the binder!? Put it back in the book, now!"
"But, it's an ultra rare card!"
"MIKKOOOTTTOOOO!"
I'm going to heave myself out of this bed, and drag myself towards the little dolt so I can clobber her if it is the last thing I do. Pain won't stop me. The cold floor won't stop me. Not even Shizuku will stop me. I can barely maintain my grasp on reality as I know.
I cling to the satisfying thud I am going to hear when I smash Mikoto's bed upside her head.
I try to rise, roaring. "Give me that card, right now! Give me it now!"
Clutching my side, I can barely stay calm as I go into a spasm.
"My card! Now!" I snap, rolling on the floor.
I manage to scream in fury, but it does me no good. Shizuku is clearly concerned because she is trying to move me away from Mikoto while at the same time trying, and not trying to pick me up. Akane is stuck between snapping at me and snapping at Mikoto, and Natsuru well...
You know, Natsuru...
"If you even touched my Entei card and the Mew ancient, I swear..."
I cannot say any of them are holding me back for my safety or for Mikoto's safety, but no amount of distance will separate me from my ultra rare Yu-Gi-Oh cards!
"Andrew, stop! The stitches, they're-"
I am past such logical reasoning, Senou-san. I am not thinking logically. I am thinking from the standpoint of the fact that is my ultra rare, limited edition Winged Dragon of Ra card. It is out of the binder, where it always belongs-I even have a rule sheet when it is first opened.
I am so close to Mikoto's bed, I can almost grab the sheets and throttle her. "You are getting oil from your fingers all over the holographic part of the card, and it was in your pocket! You better not have any other cards of mine in your pockets, I will rip you to smithereens if you do!"
Akane is starting to get flustered, her response is a hasty one. It is as hasty as her rushing to me, trying to stop me.
"C-calm down, Andrew-san! It's just a card."
"Just a card!? It is not just a card! Don't you understand, because Mikoto and I do!" I yell, glowering at Mikoto, still trying to claw my way towards her.
"That's not exactly..."
"Shut up, Natsuru!" I snap.
"All of this fuss over a card." Shizuku chastises me, much less gentle than Akane did, but I still don't care.
That is the Winged Dragon of Ra! You ruined my Winged Dragon Of Ra! The edges aren't going to be perfect anymore! I haven't taken it out of the binder since I got the card in the mail where it came in a plastic sleeve! I had three whole decks complete, I even have Sphere Mode and Immortal Phoenix! Where is my binder!?"
Akane does the unthinkable and shoves her hand on my mouth, effectively silencing me. I don't go anime style and thrash around obnoxiously, I just stare into her stern gaze that has me captured for the time being, mostly because she is forcing herself on me.
Judging from the drawn frown, Akane is not happy with me, but she isn't pleased with Mikoto either in some regards.
However, that doesn't mean she will simply remove her hand from my mouth.
"Shizuku-san, cover her mouth. I'm going to get the card from Mikoto, and cover her mouth, too with something..."
I start licking Akane's fingers, getting her to yelp in shock.
"Andrew! You licked my fingers!"
"You're not going to shut me up so easily, Akane!"
Shizuku shuts her hand over my mouth, pulling me tight against her bosom and shoulder. With relative ease she picks me up and sets me back on the bed. Her grip isn't jaw breaking or teeth rattling, but I can tell if she wanted to, Shizuku can crank the pressure up to the point I would feel like she is going to break my jaws.
She could probably toss me around like air, and I mean air, too, judging from how easily she set me back on the bed. I wouldn't even be half a pound, or half a gram in her hands. Not a lot of people would really be aware of this fact, I think, but I am more aware.
I can feel the cadence Shizuku just not only moved her fingers with, but the cadence in which she closed her fingers over my mouth, clenched, and how her muscles turned into knotted tree roots.
Like iron, I'm not moving.
Scary, scary strong...
Now I understand the difference between a Zauber, myself, and a Schwert, like Shizuku. My forte is speed, agility, and harnessing energy. Shizuku, clearly demonstrated while Schwerts must master complicated techniques, their physical, brute strength is frightening.
So, I listen to Shizuku.
"You just threw yourself off of the bed and onto the floor. Your stitches ripped and opened up, are you happy with yourself?" Shizuku's tone makes me shiver as much as her fingers kept me still and quiet.
I sigh, waiting until she removes her hand from my mouth-licking her fingers won't do anything, and if it does anything at all, it will not play will in my favor.
"My card, Shizuku. It's super rare and I..." I look at her as I trail off, feeling a bout of embarrassment, and I try hard to fight the cramping in my cheeks.
I occupy myself by searching for some amount of understanding from Shizuku in my dire situation, I hope she understands. I don't want to look to Natsuru for understanding or support in this. Natsuru could be such a dolt and had a hard time speaking up in my defense.
Especially in situations like this...
Natsuru couldn't possibly understand Yu-Gi-Oh cards and my attachment to them. Shizuku was a little prankster growing up and she understands the need to have cool things and collectibles. Just like her array of stuff to pull pranks on her parents.
"I do not condone you launching yourself out of the bed onto the floor, hurting yourself once again, opening some stitches, and it all being for a Yu-Gi-Oh card."
"But-"
"Even if it is an ultra rare card, Andrew. You promised me you wouldn't take long to recover or do foolish things to hinder it."
Akane flicks her eyes on Shizuku. "You're one to talk."
"I..." Shizuku flushes, remembering the scolding we didn't suffer too long ago.
Akane grins a little, finding some amusement in all of this. "Can you work on Andrew's stitches again? here's some pain pills."
I look at Shizuku, feeling a little uncertain. "You're too happy about this."
Shizuku grins, eyes gleaming. "Why should I not be? I'm going to be your nurse and bring you back to full health so you can join me at school...I will take care of you...Just like you take care of me when I need you most."
"You're getting weird again, Shizuku."
The times something remarkable happens never dwindles. The fact I am a Kampfer and have Stubby Bear is remarkable, and always keep the clock ticking. Natsuru being a dolt is remarkable and Mikoto being the little bundle she is, now that is remarkable.
Shizuku is remarkable in a lot of ways, and in some, it is bad. Very bad. I had a sneaking suspicion she had set up Akane and I, but when we had her at gun point, she confessed and didn't lie. Whoever attacked Mikoto and I had nothing to do with Shizuku, nor had anything to do with the attack on me in the library.
I am relieved to be out of commission to some extent because being at that school with Hitomi, I know things would have boiled over. She may know Karate, but one good slug to the nose would keep her down, even if she is a black belt.
Of course my relief cannot last long in the eyes of Shizuku. Know, I must get up, move around, go to school, and keep this bullshit going. Even now, I realize this is Shizuku's primary objective, and so with good reasoning, I look away from her.
"You have problems. You're trying to nurse me to health too fast."
My statement gets all of the attention, strangely enough. Even Natsuru is looking me at me, but just as quickly, his eyes divert to Shizuku and sharpen. Suspicion. I can feel it move around Natsuru, cloak over his body, and bundle itself.
Akane and Mikoto are more confused than anything, if their blank and somewhat searching expressions are anything to go off of. Shizuku nursing me back to full health should be a good thing, certainly, me not being laid up in bed half out of it should be a good thing, but Shizuku doing it for an express purpose is what bothers me.
And, it appears my sentiment is returning by Natsuru.
"What around you planning, Sangou-san? You always have your schemes, but that doesn't mean you will put their lives at risk. Andrew and Mikoto are in condition for your games." Natsuru's tone is as hard as his are, and there is no compromise in his tone.
Natsuru is serious.
"I just want to nurse Andrew back to full health. She is needed, after all...As a member of the Student Council."
"What!?"
I look at Natsuru, then switch my gaze to Shizuku. I wish Natsuru didn't beat me to screaming what, but given Natsuru's personality it does fit.
"What is right. When the hell did this start?"
As far as I can see Shizuku doesn't care if I am on the Student Council, and didn't care if I ever got on it or not. I don't know when she devised this plan in that twisted little head of her's, but I am certainly not going to go along with this.
"I disagree. I refuse. I don't have the GPA or attendance to be on that."
Akane sighs, pinching the bridge of her nose. She looks like she's stuck between eating a sour pickle and drinking salt water.
"It's no use. It's just not you, Andrew."
"What do you mean? What are you guys talking about?" Natsuru looks at us, flicking his eyes left to right.
"Fill me in too." Mikoto chimes, waving her hand.
I refuse to shake my head. It will only be a waste of energy. I should have known the point would go right over Natsuru's head and Mikoto, as groggy as she is, I can't expect her to put two and two together as four, and she has proven that herself with math homework.
Still, I don't find myself expecting nor anticipating Natsuru not reading between the lines. It was almost like Natsuru just went off events and what could be seen and heard, not the underlying motives or people antagonizing things through some means.
Which all fits Shizuku, but she isn't malicious. If she were malicious and vicious Akane would be dead, Natsuru would have been dead, and I would have been killed on the school roof when I first got here.
Whatever she was after back then, it was definitely beneath the surface, and even more, between the lines, and what she is searching for now is no different.
"We're all on the Student Council, Natsuru. I think..." I reply, shuffling the thoughts away.
I really need Stubby Bear.
"That's cool..." Mikoto sighs softly, closing her eyes.
"Wrapped up in another scheme by the Director!" Natsuru exclaims, anger and frustration more clear in his tone than in his body language.
If I didn't know any better I would say Natsuru is about to snap on Shizuku. Natsuru is going to give it to Shizuku worse than anyone has ever before. But, I do know better. Natsuru isn't going to snap at Shizuku or even take a walk down that bridge. Fear of her has Natsuru gripped.
It is a good thing I am processing and concluding all of this now. It'd be real easy for get sidetracked right now, and I have a feeling that something is going on. Enough that Shizuku is worried, a lot, and Natsuru is pointing the finger at her again for causing mayhem.
The situation is grave enough Shizuku has put all of us on the Student Council-even Mikoto and I have a seat, when in reality we are the last two who should, and would have a seat on the Student Council. If that isn't a mark for disaster on the horizon, I don't know what could be.
"Oh, Natsuru...If this was another one of my schemes don't you think I'd do something to parade around the third beauty of our school?"
"You better not dare do that!"
"Don't test me, Natsuru. You know I am capable and more than willing. I had you enter the beauty contest before, do you want to keep testing me?"
"Director..."
The statement, which it is more than a question, fills me with an amount of dread I've felt only a few times so far. Shizuku isn't against members of the girl side hogtying Natsuru, and she could, say, string Natsuru up, upside down and leave her dangling.
No doubt one of her obsequious, sycophantic, toady fan girls would take her down, but not untie her, and then of course nothing is off boundaries. A toady fan club or two full of ingratiating girls would take Natsuru down, and then accommodate her, in ways Natsuru wouldn't want.
That wouldn't be the best thing considering how people get over the Kampfer Natsuru whenever she is in a ten thousand yard radius. Things get crazy, weird, and just weird. It's even weirder because Sakura is around, acting weird herself. Natsuru would be chased, yanked around, pulled in a million different directions, faster than a brat can eat a bowl of sweet red beans, or chug down their favorite ramen.
Amusing as it may be, I would rather...Natsuru not go through such an ordeal.
Natsuru seems to feel the same way because I watch shock, surprise, horror, and finally anger morph all over his expression. They mix into a contortion of wrinkles on his smooth face, bringing deep wrinkles between his eyes, and it's just...Uncharacteristic of Natsuru to look like this.
His jaw is starting to clench.
"I won't let you put Andrew's or Mikoto's lives in danger! Whatever you are planning, forget about it!"
I flinch, out of reflex. My skin is electric, almost crackling with each stroke over my pores from Shizuku's one finger. I harden myself a little, and try to ignore her. I even fold my arms over my chest so she stops, and can't continue...Doing whatever this is that she is doing to me.
When I become a ploy in Shizuku's schemes, naturally I am upset, but she will not use me to get to Natsuru.
"She just wants to nurse me back to health."
"Just for you to fight and fight!" Natsuru snaps at me, lashing his hand out.
Now, I flinch, bringing up my own hand-bracelet glowing. It will be very hard, but I can summon some water from my energy, just enough to extinguish the fire ball that will come blasting towards me because Natsuru is losing control.
"Wait! Natsuru, put down your hand! Close it!" Akane cries.
"I'm not made out of dynamite all of the sudden, relax!"
"You miles well be since you can shoot fire." I remark.
I keep my gaze fixed on his palm, more than aware that the burning sensation of that power being focused isn't present right now, but it takes less than a heartbeat for that power to magnify..
Natsuru didn't transform, but for a moment there...If his emotions get the better of him like Akane, he can transform at the drop of a hat, and that fire power running through that body will turn into an inferno under such circumstances.
Still, I keep my hand up-no degree of focus or concentration exerted.
I am just cautious and ready.
"Sorry, sorry...I forget still. I didn't mean to..." Natsuru concedes, trailing off, clenching his bracelet wrist with his other hand, staring at it hard as he moves it back down.
"It's okay, Natsuru. Nothing happened, besides...I am grateful for your concern, I don't think Mikoto and Akane would be so strong willed all of the time against Shizuku. Besides, you brought my DVDs." I hope my smile is comforting and not awkward.
The fact I have my Gojira collection, among others, is a great big relief. I have Akane and Natsuru to thank for that, because there is no way Shizuku would be so generous. She would make me lay around and watch a documentary or something.
Or worse, make me do homework.
"Still, I don't like it. You and Mikoto were attacked, and it stands to reason whoever attacked you goes to our school. If you go back, there is no telling what can happen."
Shizuku cuts at Natsuru, and if she could, I am certain she'd strike him hard enough to knock him to the floor. The reason she would do that is very simple really, in fact it so simple, and that is because Natsuru is more or less telling me to stay away from school.
Which, I have no problem doing. I hated school in the states. I still hate school, that hasn't changed. I just have a billion other things to worry about besides which class I'm skipping or which day I'm not going to show up, not to mention there's Shizuku who will drag me to the damn place...
Really, Natsuru is doing me a huge favor.
"Don't give Andrew any ideas. Do you understand what kind of a record she has with truancy? You saying that is the same as giving her keys to a castle and letting her lock us out!"
I flick my focus between Shizuku and Natsuru. "Don't talk about me while I'm laying right here. Akane, can you be the voice of reason here?"
Normally, she wouldn't be the voice of reason.
Normally, she would have been the loud mouth, gun toting, bad tempered, short fused little red headed fox. She would pull out her gun, start firing off shots, and start yelling at all of us.
She would probably sock me in the gut too, and shove her barrel right in Natsuru's face-you know, because when Akane is a Kampfer she can terrorize us like Godzilla terrorizes all of Japan!
"While you are over there snickering about my behavior." Akane comments, narrowing her eyes at me.
"Please, Akane! You're so cool and I mean it!"
She sighs, like it is a big weight on her, and then Akane exhales, and her usual smile returns. Her green eyes shine with that quiet liveliness I've come to expect, and as she adjusts her glasses, I am confident she is on my side.
"In order to smooth things along Shizuku will tend to Andrew. She will not do anything contrary to her recovery. Once that is over with we will nurse Mikoto back to health, between the two of you I am not sure who got the worse injuries."
Mikoto starts to moan in annoyance. "Stop signaling me out. I'm not wearing something over my head and eyes."
"Well, my arm isn't crammed on me at least. Stop treating it like it's a competition you ninny. And, what do you mean speeding up my recovery?"
I move from one topic to the next, in no mood for Mikoto's remarks, and in no mood to go back to school. I am not in the mood to have Shizuku start fussing over me and being domineering, that is going to be a recipe for me falling out of the bed again.
Akane made it clear that such a thing isn't going to happen again.
"Well, seeing as you launched yourself off of the bed and onto the floor...And seeing as how Shizuku can't keep certain things to herself, I believe that getting you fully healed is the best thing we can do. You won't launch yourself off of the bed and end up messing up your stitches. You and Shizuku can also have your time, alone, away from all of us."
I don't know if I should be mortified, appalled, or exasperated. Akane's reasoning, part of it, is because Shizuku climbed into the bed with me...Well, Shizuku was, and is doing more than that with me, and has been. Akane isn't oblivious or aloof like Mikoto and Natsuru.
"Akane, come on...Shizuku drives me crazy." I look to her, almost pleading.
"And, you both drive everyone crazy around you."
"That is so not true!" I snap.
"If we don't allow your side to heal like it should, it may not heal right. You might get an infection. You will recover first. We can see what has Shizuku so nervous at school, and why she has decided to put all of us on the Student Council...Despite some of us not having the GPA."
"That is fuzzy logic." I remark.
"I need you in the library, Sayaka annoys me. She isn't decisive and she can be incompetent with the numbering and organization. I don't know how you put up with her like you do."
"She is a silly young lady. Unlike Hitomi, she really grinds my gears. " I comment, remembering the spunky blonde.
Of course, how could I ever forget Hitomi with her stupid cocky smirk and stupid blue hair?
Her stupid, tasty, delicious Italian food.
Natsuru scoffs, shaking his head. "Nothing makes Shizuku nervous, she is cold as ice. She's makes all of us, and everyone around her nervous because of her schemes."
"Oh, you wound me...Do you not trust me, Senou-san?"
He frowns. "No."
Shizuku looks at me, eyes taking on that...Weird look they always get. Natsuru pitches his focus onto me, and his eyes get that...Hard look they always get whenever conversations like this happen.
Overwhelmed, I wave my hands in front of me like it will honestly be enough to get both of them to back off of me. As it stands, it is enough right now, but neither of them have truly caught their stride in that regard.
Still, I am not going to be a part of it.
"Don't pull me in the middle of your spat. I'm just the one who has to recover first, remember? I can't be bothered with anything until I am fully healed."
