Family

Three

This was the first time Nao Yuuki had a long exposure to the girl version of Natsuru, and to be honest she was kind of startled how attractive the girl was. Okay, so blue hair wasn't Nao's thing, but she had excellent proportions, a attractive face and a sweet sort of innocent aura.

"Damn it Seno, did someone dip you in Axe this morning or something?" Nao demanded as they walked to school, Akane by her side.

"Huh?" the blue haired girl blinked back at her innocently.

'Probably brainlessly too,' Nao thought to herself darkly.

Natsuru also seemed entirely oblivious to the girls and guys who were all looking at her with dreamy, love filled eyes. Or lust filled, in some cases. The only reason they weren't being mobbed was probably traditional Japanese restraint.

"I don't quite get it either," Akane admitted to Nao quietly, the brown haired girl shrugging slightly, "but everyone seems to be hit by it."

"Maybe a special power?" Nao wondered, frowning.

"I wish I knew," Akane sighed.

They made it into class with no incidents, thankfully, and Nao was not in Natsuru's class. She did sneak out during a break and took a look at Natsuru and Akane's class, which was surrounded by fangirls. The halls were mobbed! There were girls from different classes and grades, all jostling to catch a glimpse of Natsuru.

"Damn," Nao shook her head ruefully, wondering what had gotten into the girls.

"So, you're Nao Yuuki?" the unfamiliar voice asked her from way too close by.

Nao turned quickly, frowning at the other girl thoughtfully as she swiftly sized her up. The young lady wore the slightly perverted looking sailor uniform they all wore, and she had the oddest shade of dark purple hair. "Yeah?" Nao asked flatly.

The girl didn't seem bothered by the unfriendly reception, instead she just smiled back cheerfully. "Hi, I'm Masumi Nishino from Class 1-3, my blood type is B, my grades are lower average and my hobby is to fall asleep listening to music," the perky girl beamed.

"So?" Nao demanded, looking the girl over with her best dangerous look, one she had copied from Natsuki Kuga.

Masumi paled a bit under her gaze, but forged on bravely as she confessed to Nao, "I'm in the Newspaper Club."

"Oh, hell, no," Nao yelped, turning around and walking away.

"Wait, please," Masumi hurried after her as she explained, "our club likes to interview any new transfer students to the girl's wing."

Nao had to elbow her way through a crush of girls, not helped by several recognizing her as the popular new transfer student. "Not interested," she said over her shoulder.

Masumi cheated by dropping to the floor and crawling between the girls' legs, though there were several squeals of surprise as she passed. "Come on!" she hopped to her feet and grabbed Nao's arm, "You're nearly as popular as Natsuru-sama. If you don't say something all kinds of rumors will start to spread."

Nao scowled, but she had to admit the girl could be right. Just letting the rumors spread on their own certainly wouldn't help her, and if she talked to the reporter she might at least control it With a sigh she looked at Masumi and asked, "All right, where do we do this thing?"

"Come on," Masumi smiled, tugging at her hand.

The ended up at the Newspaper club room, of course. Masumi tried to dim the lights and 'spotlight' Nao with a lamp, but Nao made her turn the lights back on. "All right," Nao sat down as she said, "let's get on with it."

"Spoil sport," Masumi muttered then brightened up a bit. "Okay, I did a bit of research into you," she said briskly.

"Uh huh," Nao gave her a wary look.

"I understand you only recently moved to the area, and are living with your step sister Akane," Masumi said, "how did that happen?"

"My mother was assaulted last year and put in a coma," Nao said, keeping her emotions tightly controlled, "and when my stepfather found out he willingly offered his assistance."

"It must be hard getting used to a new home," Masumi noted gently.

"My sister Akane's been a big help," Nao admitted, "and she's introduced me around to her friends as well."

Masumi checked a piece of paper on her desk, "What do you think of same-sex couples?"

Nao thought of Natsuki and Shizuru, not to mention that closet case Haruka and Yukino. "Nothing wrong with it," she shrugged.

"I see," Masumi nodded, making a note. "Do you have a secret you'd never tell anyone?"

"I have spider powers and use them to punish perverts," Nao smirked.

"Oh, you!" Masumi laughed, scribbling down a note.

The rest of the interview was pretty run of the mill, then Nao took off. Masumi told her the story would hit the school newspaper in a few days, and promised to give Nao a copy.

0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0

Nao realized something was wrong almost as soon as she and Akane reached school. A younger girl, maybe a first year, rushed up to Nao with a envelope in hand. "Nao-sempai, please take this!" she yelped, blushing furiously.

Nao blinked at her, then took the envelope warily. "Sure," she said.

The girl beamed as several other young ladies nearly squealed with happiness. They scampered off chattering happily, several commenting, "I'm so impressed you confessed to Nao-sempai!"

'Confessed?' Nao thought, ripping the note open as they hurried into class.

It was on pink paper, with enough cute stickers on it to make someone ill. And yes, it was a 'love confession' though it was a bit scattered considering Nao had barely been here a week.

"What the hell?" Nao blinked.

"I think it's kind of cute," Akane noted mildly.

Nao gave Akane a withering look as she asked, "But why in hell would someone decide to send me a love letter?"

She found the answer out quickly enough when Nao got to her class room. A copy of the just released school newspaper was on her desk, with her photo on the front cover. Worse was the headline, "Lesbians are okay by me!"

"What the...?" Nao growled out, scanning the article quickly. Thankfully there wasn't anything TOO bad, but clearly Masumi had taken a lot of notes and enjoyed quoting people out of context. Crumpling the paper in her fist Nao hissed, "I'm gonna kill her."

"Please don't," one of her classmates noted mildly, "we'd have to take up a collection to bail you out of jail, and that's SO troublesome."

Nao snorted in amusement, which was enough to break her out of her momentary homicidal mania. "Thanks," she smiled, "you're Junko Yamakawa, right?"

Junko smiled, her black hair framing her face cutely. "I'm surprised you remembered," she noted cheerfully, "things have been pretty hectic for you."

Nao nodded slightly as she agreed, "You got that right."

Junko looked a little apologetic as she said, "I hate to make things more difficult, but a messenger from the Student Council arrived. The president wants to see you."

"Oh lovely," Nao sighed.

Nao still wasn't quite sure what to make of Shizuku Sango. The student council president was cool and confident, with her long dark purple hair and steady gaze. But there was also a impish side to her, though she seemed to do her best to keep it hidden. According to Kaede she was interested in Natsuru too, but it was hard to see.

Nearing the office Shizuku used Nao slowed, hearing two women arguing inside. She recognized Shizuku saying, "All I am asking you to do is practice restraint. I doubt your superiors would be happy with revealing the Kampfer."

"You don't control me, Shizuku," the woman said coldly. Getting nearer Nao recognized her as Kaede, the crazy bitch who had attacked them on her first day.

"I'm not interested in controlling you, Kaede," Shizuku sounded sad as she looked at her. "We were friends, once..."

There was a beat of silence, then Kaede answered her, "What we were doesn't matter. Natsuru will be mine!"

Nao let herself be seen as she moved into the doorway, standing ready to move quickly if she needed to. "That sounds kind of creepy, really," she noted calmly, "doesn't Natsuru get to pick?"

Kaede whirled around, glaring at Nao. The brown haired woman had a hell of a figure, reminding Nao once again of her own more average bust, and she would have been attractive if her pretty face wasn't twisted by hate.

"You," Kaede hissed.

"Me," Nao agreed, "I don't think we've been introduced. I'm the girl who helped kick your White Kampfer's asses."

Shizuku covered her mouth with her hand, fighting back a chuckle. Kaede glared at her at Nao, then strode out of the room. "This isn't over," she said, and it wasn't clear which of the girls she was addressing.

"Friendly, isn't she?" Nao asked Shizuku wryly as she went into the room and closed the door behind her.

"Thank you," Shizuku said, "though I fear you have made a enemy today."

"She pretty much was one anyway," Nao shrugged eloquently, "and what's one more?"

"Still, I appreciate it," Shizuku said seriously, meeting Nao's eyes with a odd sort of intensity.

Nao decided a subject change was probably a good idea. "So, why did you want to see me?" she asked instead.

"I assume you've seen the paper?" Shizuku looked amused as she leaned against the table casually. "I wanted to make sure you were fine."

"Well, other than a sudden confession of love from a random girl, I'm okay," Nao rolled her eyes. "Oh, and my shoe locker was filled with notes."

Shizuku looked amused, "Read them yet?"

"God no," Nao snorted, "I may throw out the lot of them..."

To be continued!

Note: Junko Yamakawa is a OC, but I don't expect her to DO much. The name if from a fusion of two Kampfer voice actresses names.