Family

Chapter Eleven

"Someone is going to DIE for this," Nao said flatly as she looked in the mirror at the stylized swimsuit she was wearing.

The school fair was rushing ever closer, and Nao and the other girls were being fitted for the cosplay fashion show. The quite popular event would have each girl appear on stage in swimsuits, dresses and more formal wear. All cosplay inspired, of course. Girls from the theatre club were hurrying around making sure the costumes fit, while the reluctant models helped.

"What the hell?" Nao muttered, twisting around to check her reflection. She was wearing VERY racy shorts, part unbuttoned, and thick suspenders that went up to cover the front of each boob. To preserve a BIT of dignity Nao also had on a mesh under-suit but...

"Apparently someone is a fan of Sorcerer Hunters," Akane noted, Nao's sister dressed in someone's idea of a cowgirl outfit. Ripped jean shorts, a plaid shirt tied to be a 'bikini' and a silly cowboy hat.

"At least you probably won't start a riot," Nao noted as a suspender started to move aside and nearly revealed a nipple.

"Nao-san, please stay still!" one girl ordered. "We haven't applied the double sided tape to make sure you stay decent."

"Take more than tape to make her decent," Hitomi, one of the White Kampfer, muttered as they were taking measurements.

"Hitomi," Sayaka scolded, the sword using Kampfer looking cute in her two piece pink polka-dot bikini.

"How is that cosplay?" Akane had to ask.

Sayaka sighed. "I get to wear this and dance to that 'Teeny Weenie Polka-dot Bikini' song," she explained, resigned to her fate.

Nao blinked. "That nearly sucks as much as this outfit," she conceded.

"Damn right," Sayaka agreed.

"Wonder who came up with these," Hitomi sighed, "Kaede or Shizuku?"

"Both?" Nao sighed.

All of the girls exchanged sympathetic glances at BOTH their bosses general level of extreme nuttiness.

"Hey, I think we're bonding!" Akane noted cheerfully.

"Don't push your luck," Sayaka told her, but she was smiling faintly.

Nao suffered through various measurements then with a sigh of relief changed back into her school uniform. Shizuku was gonna pay for this, she promised herself.

In her classroom with the senior class, Shizuku sneezed suddenly.

"That's three times in the last few minutes," A classmate noted mildly, "You're not getting a cold are you?"

"No, I'm fine," Shizuku smiled. She chuckled wickedly, "Wonder if someone is talking about me?"

"You get FAR too much enjoyment out of that idea," another girl shook her head.

0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0

"Hey Natsuru," Nao smiled as the group got together to leave the school.

The blue haired young man was the target of her half sister Akane's affections. He was nice enough, though in Nao's opinion not all that bright. Tho admittedly that wasn't saying much.

"Did you track down that newspaper girl, finally?" Natsuru asked curiously.

"Yeah," Nao smiled wryly, "I think I scared her enough that she won't do it again. Hopefully."

"Big Sister," Akane smiled warmly as she trotted up, Mikoto Kondo following.

"Hello Natsuru," Mikoto smiled.

God it was sickening watching the girls drooling over Natsuru. Thankfully Nao herself seemed to be avoiding the infectious stupidity. She made a mental note to see if Akane might be interested in selling candid photos of herself to Natsuru... it might kick start things AND make Nao some money.

"You have a worrying look on your face," Akane noted.

"Heh," Nao smiled back.

Responsibly Natsuru asked, "Has anyone had any trouble from the White Kampfers?"

"So far the truce seems to be holding," Mikoto noted. "Tho they'll probably jump us once the festival is over."

"Oh I hope not," Akane sighed. "I think we made a little progress with the two Kampfer who are in the fashion show with us, at least," she added.

"That's something," Natsuru nodded. He smiled slightly as he looked over at Nao, "Still getting the love letters?"

Nao scowled. "Yes, I am," she conceded. "And all from girls too. You'd think someone else would get their attention or something?"

Akane chuckled, "You've got the attention of all the girls who like a tsundere. They just don't know you're all tsun tsun and not dere dere."

"Oh sure yuck it up," Nao rolled her eyes.

"I'm sure someone will bring out your dere side," Natsuru smiled.

Nao just rolled her eyes.

0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0

Shizuku looked up from her paperwork, the student council president lingering a bit to finish up some council related business. Kaede strode in like she owned the place, the tall beauty smiling slightly as she casually pulled out a chair and sat.

"Please, sit right down," Shizuku gestured.

Kaede ignored the attempt at wit. "I'm here to talk," she said mildly.

"So talk," Shizuku said, still focusing on her paperwork and rudely ignoring her guest.

Kaede sighed. "I suppose I deserve this," she noted, "but I really do think you want to hear this, as it deals with our ending our little feud."

That got Shizuku's attention, and she looked up to study Kaede thoughtfully. "Oh?" she asked.

"The red and blue Kampfer quit fighting, and that made the Moderators unhappy. They then created the white Kampfer, and... they've been less than successful," Kaede admitted.

Shizuku wanted to say they'd utterly failed so far, but was too polite to say it aloud. "As I'm aware," she nodded, "so?"

"I'm willing to end hostilities between our groups in return for exclusive access to Natsuru," Kaede said bluntly.

"So you'll give up a fight you're already losing for the grand prize?" Shizuku mused.

"I was sort of hoping you wouldn't notice that," Kaede pouted cutely.

"Besides, I can't speak for Akane and Mikoto anyway," Shizuku pointed out reasonably. Her own interest in Natsuru, interestingly, had been wavering lately. Still...

"Hmph," Kaede sat back with a sigh.

Shizuku was struck by the degree of normalcy Kaede was showing. She seemed far less manic than she had recently. Taking a chance she said, "May I make a counter offer?"

Kaede looked at her as she said, "I'm listening."

"Stop attacking us and try to court Natsuru openly," Shizuku suggested. "I'd argue helping the Moderators has actually lessened your chances of winning her."

Kaede sighed as she sat back. "You know, the Moderators won't stop if I quit. They still want the Kampfers fighting each other," she pointed out.

"At least I wouldn't be fighting someone I consider a friend," Shizuku shrugged slightly.

Kaede smiled a little. "Thanks," she said as she got up. She looked at Shizuku as she said, "I'll think about it."

To be continued...

Notes: Yes, I WILL get to the actual student fair. Next chapter or the one after. Short chapter is short, mostly because I got blocked on the next bit and decided to just post what I had.