More of my twisted ideas. In this chapter, I've included some of my friends, who will have larger parts later on, too.
***I claim ownership only to my ideas and original characters. Everything else belongs to their respective creators***
6) In Which Miaka Overhears a Conversation
After several hours of strenuous hiking across the field, Miaka finally reached the mansion.
"Boy," she said, wiping the sweat from her brow, "this mansion was a lot farther away than I thought." She looked up at the large house. It loomed above her: the door itself more than three times her height. "And it's a lot bigger, too."
Miaka pulled the frosted mushroom chunk from her left pocket. She broke off a pieced and ate it. Immediately she doubled in size.
"That's better," she said. "I can't have everyone stepping on me." Raising her hand, she was about to knock on the door to announce her arrival when she heard whistling. Looking behind her, she saw someone coming up a path towards the mansion.
"If I hide behind this bush here, then I'll get an idea of what kind of people live in this house." With that idea in her head, Miaka jumped behind the bush and waited to see what would happen.
A girl walked up to the mansion, carrying a large envelope in her hands. She had light brown hair pulled back into a ponytail, and wore jeans and a T-shirt. She did not knock, as expected, but called out loudly.
"KNOCK, KNOCK! WHO'S TH--"
"It' s not Koji, is it?" a voice from inside the mansion yelled.
The girl grinned. "No! It's Publisher's Clearing House!"
"What?!"
The door opened and another girl, this one with dark brown hair pulled back into a bun, appeared.
"Hey, Katey!" she said.
"Nice outfit," the girl named Katey said, grinning.
The doorgirl stepped into Miaka's view, and Miaka saw that she was wearing a tailored suit, such as one a bell boy (or girl) might wear.
"Har, har," the girl said dryly, "it comes with the job."
Katey handed the doorgirl the envelope. "Here's an invitation."
"From Him?"
"Yup. To play whips."
The dark haired girl took the invitation. "So you're working for Him now?"
"Pays good. Gets me away from my sister. And I don't have to wear ridiculous clothes like you. "
"Hmmm..."
"Anything new?"
"Yes, but the Duchess is having a fit. Chiriko won't act his part."
"That's not good. I'll come back later, then." Katey paused, then, "Why Duchess? I mean, he is a man, right?"
"As far as I know. I guess he just likes being called Duchess."
"Oh. Well." Katey turned and started down the path, whistling.
"Oh, Katey!" The whistling stopped. Katey turned and looked at the doorgirl.
"Are you going to the Mad Hatters' party tomorrow?"
"It's at seven, right?"
"Yeah, and bring your camera just in case something happens that would make good blackmail pictures.And make sure to wear your fireproof clothing. They don't call Tasuki the Drunken Pyro for nothing!"
Katey laughed. "See ya' then!"
"Bye!" The doorgirl waved, then went inside, carrying the envelope. A few minutes later she came back out, this time holding a pad of paper and a pencil.
Miaka got out of her hiding place and walked up to the door.
"I wouldn't go in there if I were you."
"What?!" Miaka looked at the doorgirl.
"I said, 'I wouldn't go in there if I were you.'"
"Who lives in there?"
The doorgirl sat down on the steps and wrote something on the pad. "Oh, the Duchess Nuriko, sometimes Chichiri. He usually wanders, though. And Chiriko's visiting for a while."
"Can I see her?. Miaka politely asked.
"Him. Can you see him? I don't know. Can you?"
"I mean, will I bother her if I go inside?"
"Probably not. He's bothered enough as it is and probably won't notice you. But I'd be careful. If he picks something up, most likely he'll throw it." The girl continued to write, pausing every now and then to speak.
"He?"
"Yeah. Nuriko is a man. So is Chiriko, and he's twelve, though he looks six."
"Duchess?"
"That's what he wanted to be called. I don't ask questions, I just answer the door, among other things."
Miaka looked at the door. A crash could be heard from inside. She looked at the doorgirl, but the girl ignored her and continued writing.
"Uh...thanks for the advice...I guess."
"No problem."
Miaka was about to open the door, but stopped. Curiosity overcame her and she walked over to where the girl was sitting.
"I don't mean to pry or be irritating, but, what are you writing?"
"Just a fanfic."
Miaka clapped her hands with joy. "Oooh! About what?"
"A girl who has a really weird dream. She chases this guy around but ends up getting lost. Right now she's getting ready to enter this house and meet two unwilling actors."
Miaka nodded. "It sounds familiar."
The girl looked up, slightly surprised and yet pleased.
"I think I had to read something like it in school." Miaka added. The girl sighed, shook her head, and went back to writing.
