Family

Thirteen

Moving her Mother to a local medical facility hadn't been that hard, as far as it went. The basic costs had been covered by insurance, while Nao had been paying any additional costs out of her pocket. Her father becoming involved in their lives again covered the added fees, at least.

Nao visited her at least once a week, like clockwork. Her mother was in a coma, and according to doctors unaware of her, but she felt the need to be there. Her mother MIGHT be aware of her, and that was enough to justify visiting.

"She looks... comfortable," Akane said uncomfortably.

Akane had tagged along to make sure Nao wasn't jumped by White Kampfer. And, Nao suspected, sent by her step-mom to keep an eye on her too. Having a nice, fairly sweet step-mom was a bit of a trial for both girls, really.

"With the amount we pay, she'd better be comfortable," Nao noted flatly.

The nurse supervisor met them out in the hall. She anticipated Nao's usual questions as she noted, "No change, ma'am. We're feeding her via tube and having staff roll her over and exercise her limbs daily."

"Thank you, Miss May," Nao smiled a bit sadly as she added, "I appreciate what the staff here does for my mother."

The two girls left the hospital, then walked together to the bus stop. "Sorry for dragging you away from getting ready for the school fair," Nao noted wryly.

"I should be thanking you," Akane answered, glad for a subject change. As passengers filled the bus she added, "You have that cafe, right? We're doing fortune telling."

"Can I trade? Please?" Nao asked, sighing.

Akane laughed. "I saw the maid uniforms they put you in. Pass," she teased.

"I'm fighting for the right to wear a body stocking under it. I am not showing off my panties to everyone," Nao noted dryly.

"Good luck," Akane said mildly, "I've talked to your class representative, and I think she's going to get her way."

"Humph," Nao pouted.

0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0

Sayaka felt an odd twinge of guilt as the sword weilding White Kampfer shadowed Nao. She had been asked to do it by Kaede, as their leader had been wondering where Nao had disappeared last week. Whatever she had been expecting, it wasn't that.

"Yes?" Kaede answered her phone quickly.

"Nao was visiting her mother in hospital," Sayaka reported. She then filled her in on what Sayaka had been able to find out from asking nurses.

"Ah," Kaede hesitated then continued, "very well. I think we'll leave her be..."

Sayaka puffed out a relieved sigh.

"I'm not THAT ruthless," Kaede protested.

Sayaka pointedly didn't say anything about that either. "So what now?" she asked.

"Head back to school," Kaede decided. "I'm sure your class is still setting up for the school fair, too," she added.

"Ugh. Yeah," Sayaka agreed and hung up.

Kaede put her cellphone away, her own expression thoughtful. She was vaguely certain Sayaka had expected her to order an attack on Nao at the hospital. Did her minions think she was THAT ruthless? Apparently so.

The attractive, brown haired young woman looked out the window with a sigh. Increasingly, she had begun looking at people as allies or obstacles. Tools to be used. In a abstracvt way she had known people could die, but she hadn't really thought about it that much.

'I wonder if that's something the Moderators encouraged?' Kaede wondered a bit grimly.

"Uhm, Miss Sakura? We could use some help," her classmate asked tentatively.

"Ah, Sorry!" Kaede apologized, realizing she had been brooding while her classmates worked.

Their class was doing a short comic play, which would repeat several times over the event. The costumes and rehersals were ready, pretty much, but the sets still needed some touching up. Kaede, guided by the head of that project, cheerfully assisted with painting.

"There we go," Kaede said nearly a hour later as they finally finished. "Did we get material for the stage curtains?"

"All set," the other young woman noted. "Thanks for the help."

Kaede kind of half bowed, "I'm sorry I can't do more to help, but I'm tied up with council duties. I do promise to stop in to see the show."

With that Kaede was off, hurrying to her next job. A much more pleasant one too... the evening rebhersals for the fashion show tomorrow!

0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0

Shizuku smiled wryly as she slipped in to peek at the rehearsing ladies. She really had more important things to be doing as Student Council President, but her minions had things well in hand. Besides, there was nothing wrong with playing hooky a bit.

Kaede was sitting in the theater seats, and smiled as she saw her. Things had warmed up between them, after their last talk. Maybe...

"Shizuku! Grab a seat," Kaede waved.

"Waiting on Natsuru?" Shizuku drawled, smiling.

"Of course," Kaede agreed willingly. She gave Shizuku a thoughtful look, "Are you here for her too or... maybe Nao?"

Shizuku deliberately kept her reaction off her face. "I try to keep a eye on all my allies," she said, shrugging.

Kaede pouted faintly. "Well, Nao and the others haven't appeared yet," she informed her. "Did you see Nao's swimsuit yet?" she asked eagerly.

Shizuku looked st Kaede curiously, "No. You picked it?"

Kaede smirked. "Oh yes. I think it'll catch a few glances," she agreed.

Several young women took their turns, including White Kampfers. Nothing too racy, but nice.

Then Nao strode out from back stage, looking VERY annoyed.

"Eeep," Shizuku eeped.

Basically it looked like Nao's outfit just consisted of tight little shorts and carefully placed suspenders covering her nipples. She strode forward, stood a moment under a spotlight, then turned around and walked off.

"There's no WAY the school will let us do that," Shizuku managed to recover enough to say.

"It's a bit racier than I expected, too," Kaede conceded. "But technically..."

"The school board would have a fit. Not to mention the PARENTS," Shizuku noted. Just the thought of Nao's step-mother's reaction was enough to make her shudder. "No, we need to put her in something else."

"Okay, but you get to tell the costumers," Kaede cheerfully passed the buck.

"Gee, thanks," Shizuku drawled.

She got up from her seat, then Shizuku headed down to the stage. She went by the curtain and entered the back stage area, where the volunteers were being dressed and such. This was being done in the same way the actual show would be, so they could hopefully figure out problems in advance.

"Argh! The seam went! I need safety pins!"

"The bikini is TOO SMALL! Her nipples show!"

"NO, damn it! You can not go commando in that dress! It'll show!"

Shizuku bit back a laugh at the comments, while looking for Nao. She spottered her off to one side, apparently waiting for her next costume change.

"This had BETTER not have been your idea," Nao growled.

"Would I do that?" Shizuku asked innocently.

Nao just gave her a LOOK.

Shizuku noted that YES, Nao was wearing a body stocking under the suspenders, so she didn't look totally nude up close. Sadly from a distance, that didn't really work. She ALSO noticed Nao's nipples were hard. Which she tried not to look at, as she figured Nao was tired of being gawked at.

"It does look like we're going to have to get rid of that costume," Shizuku said apologeticaly.

"Oh thank god," Nao sighed.

Just as a dresser yelped, "What!"

"Do you know how long it took to find just the right suspenders and shorts?" another young woman complained.

"It's too much for a high school fashion show," Shizuku said apologetically. "From a distance, she looks nude. It's just not a good idea."

Several women looked disappointed. Not, amusingly, Nao. Then a vaguely horrified look settled on the one dresser's face.

"We have to come up with a new outfit for Nao," the one girl muttered, "by TOMORROW."

"Oh crap," another muttered and they and the dresser hurried off in a panic.

Nao watched them go, smirking. "Thanks," she said to Shizuku with a warm smile.

"No problem," Shizuku noted. "You do realize you'll have to get a new fitting etc etc?" she added.

"Not having to wear this in public? Totally worth it," Nao smirked.

If it helps," Shizuku noted as she was leaving, "you did look good in it."

Nao gave her a thoughtful look, "Thanks. I think..."

To be continued...

Notes: I KINDA forgot about Nao's biological Mom. Kinda assume she's been making visits in between the various chapters, OK? And yes, we will FINALLY get to the school fair next chapter. As well as Natsuru, who I've mostly not been using despite him/her being the lead character.