Part III: And What Came of It
"I can't believe you cut it," Spinel remarked as he watched Nakuru arrange her hair.
"It was bothersome," Nakuru replied simply.
"But you were so proud of your wig," Spinel persisted. He recalled the long, arduous hours of shampooing, deep conditioning, brushing and trimming Nakuru spent in keeping her tresses in that, "Don't-hate-me-because-I'm-beautiful" state. When Nakuru told a beau that she had to wash her hair that night, it really wasn't an excuse. So when Nakuru lopped off her locks, Eriol and Spinel were understandably stunned.
"I'm still proud of it," Nakuru returned, shaking back the long strands hanging in her eyes.
"I can see that," Spinel retorted as Nakuru preened. "Nevertheless, Nakuru, it's quite a dramatic change."
"I suppose." Nakuru peered into the mirror, checking her teeth. She straightened and ran her hand through her hair once more. "I'm going shopping today, Spinel. Is there anything I can get for you?"
"Again? This is really too much, Nakuru," Spinel scolded. "You've gone shopping every day this week."
"But I wanted to check out the new men's line at Barney's."
"You did that yesterday."
"I only managed to get through the shoe department. I simply must look at the sweaters. They have a great collection of English wool in today."
There was no dissuading Nakuru when she was hunting for English wool sweaters. Spinel recognized futility. "Remember to buy Master a tie," he called out after the retreating Nakuru. "You forgot the last time."
"Oh, right. What color?" Nakuru asked, pausing before the door.
"Mauve."
"That color won't go well with Eriol's complexion. I think a nice lavender or pale yellow will look much nicer."
"All right. Just keep in mind that Master needs this tie tonight."
"Right. Ja ne, Spinel." And Nakuru disappeared around the corner.
"How strange," Spinel muttered to himself as he turned back to his book. A mournful look came into his eyes as he unconsciously sighed. "He didn't call me 'Suppi.'"
**********
"Look at that guy!" Sakura exclaimed in admiration.
"Who?"
"Him—over there!" Sakura pointed to the tall figure striding a few meters ahead. "Doesn't he look like a movie star?"
Touya cast the youth before him an appraising glance. "Well, he certainly dresses like one."
"Indeed," Yukito agreed, eyeing the black trousers, shining black oxfords and lean leather jacket.
"He looks handsome," Sakura continued.
"How can you tell? You haven't even seen his face." Touya noted to himself privately, however, that the guy had a pretty sweet a—
"I have to agree." Yuki's voice cut Touya's thoughts short. Which was a good thing, considering that Touya was heading in a direction that would have made Hiirigizawa blush (and Hiirigizawa, one of the naughtiest men in all Japan, did not blush often). "I caught a glimpse of his profile and he seems really good-looking."
"He's a real pretty-boy, all right," Kero pronounced, peering over the top of Sakura's handbag.
"Kero-chan—"
"And you know," Kero continued, "Pretty boys are always conceited. I'll bet he has mirrors all over the place—"
Sakura stared at the diminutive guardian. Wasn't it this morning that Kero-chan recommended that she put 6x4 foot mirrors on all her walls?
"—And stacks of 8x10 glossies of his pretty-boy mug," Kero continued.
But didn't Kero-chan just ask Tomoyo-chan to print and blow-up two dozen screen-caps—all shots of himself—of an old video the other day?
I'd definitely like a glossy, Touya mused. A nice big one of that yummy—
"I wonder who he is," Sakura murmured thoughtfully. "He looks somewhat familiar. . ."
The youth paused before a storefront.
"Well, Sakura-chan, maybe you'll find out now," Yukito said.
"Whoever he is, he's really vain," Kero commented dryly as he watched the stranger preen before a plate-glass window. "Just like I told you."
"Well, he—" Sakura began.
The stranger spotted the little group approaching him and turned to face them. "Oh, hullo everyone!"
"AKIZUKI?!"
"Oniichan!" "To-ya!"
But Touya was knocked out cold.
**********
"That's going to be a really nasty bruise," Kero observed as he peered under the white cloth that covered Touya's forehead.
"I hope Oniichan's all right," Sakura said worriedly.
"I'm sure he'll be fine," Yukito soothed.
"But Oniichan won't stop twitching. . ."
The group glanced at the tall man sprawled out in the neighboring booth.
"It will pass, Sakura-chan," Yukito assured her.
"So, what's this all about?" Kero inquired.
"Nothing, actually," Nakuru answered, sipping a cup of coffee.
"Oh sure," Kero snorted. "Well, this 'nothing' sure scared 'Niichan spitless."
"And To-ya doesn't scare very easily," Yukito added solemnly.
"Seriously, what gives?" Kero asked again.
"What do you mean?"
"Well, look at you!" Kero began but Sakura abruptly stuffed an éclair into his mouth.
"Um, Nakuru-san. . ." Yukito said hesitantly. "Are you okay?
Nakuru looked blankly at him. "What?"
"We're worried about you," Sakura replied.
"Why?"
Yukito took a deep breath and squared his shoulders. Might as well take the bull by the horns, he thought. "You've been acting rather strange lately. . ."
"Eh?"
"Nakuru-san. . ." Sakura nervously fiddled with her napkin. "We feel that. . .there's something wrong and. . ."
"Whatever do you mean, Sakura-chan?"
"Well. . ." Sakura bit her lip. "It's just that. . .It's just that. . ."
"You're wearing guys' clothes," Kero bluntly stated.
"Kero-chan!" Sakura exclaimed.
"What's the matter with that? It's true, ain't it?"
"But it's rude!"
"It's okay, Sakura-chan. I don't mind," Nakuru quickly interjected.
"So why'd you do it? Dress like a guy, I mean," Kero queried.
"It's a long story. But it boils down to this: I had no clothes to wear one day and so I had to wear this."
"How long has this been going on?" Yukito asked.
"About a month."
The group stared at Nakuru blankly for a moment.
"A month?"
"Yeah."
"B-but. . ."
"What? You don't believe me?"
Sakura, Yukito, and Kero shook their heads violently. (They had all seen Nakuru's closet. There was no way in hell that Nakuru had no clothes to wear. That was physically impossible. Nakuru had a collection of clothing and shoes that would have made Imelda Marcos jealous.)
"Well, that's what happened."
"So, how does it feel? Dressing like a guy?" Kero questioned after a moment's pause.
"It feels rather good, actually."
"I agree," Yukito said. "I always feel a lot better wearing pants. Skirts are definitely uncomfortable. Especially short leather skirts. The way they ride up—"
Sakura and Kero stared at Yukito.
"Is something wrong, Sakura-chan, Kero-kun?"
"Uh, nothing. . ." Kero responded hastily. "So, uh, what does Hiiragizawa say to all this?"
**********
"I'm really worried about Nakuru-san," Sakura murmured as they watched her stride jauntily away.
"I wouldn't worry about it, Sakura-chan," Yukito assured as he shifted the tall, unconscious burden slumped against his shoulders. (Touya still hadn't recovered from the shock.) "I'm sure it's just a passing phase."
"You really think so?" Sakura inquired. A few meters ahead, a gaggle of girls approached Nakuru. "Why, hello, ladies," they heard Nakuru purr. The girls giggled.
"I'm certain that Akizuki-san will be fine." Yukito smiled. The girls tittered again as Nakuru flashed them a devilishly handsome grin.
"What I don't understand is how that freak gets all the girls," Kero grumbled. "I'm much cuter than he is."
A large bead of sweat rolled down Sakura's head. But before Kero could continue his rant, Yukito suggested mildly, "Shall we go home, everyone? It's been a long day—and To-ya's rather heavy."
**********
"You know, Spinel," Nakuru confided as she struggled into a cashmere v-neck sweater, "Men's clothing really isn't all that bad."
"Really?" Spinel looked up from his book, surprised.
Nakuru nodded. "Actually, I find it very comfortable." Nakuru selected a belt and slipped it through the belt loops. "And less worrisome. You don't worry about whether that mango pashima shawl was too last season, whether you should carry the clutch bag or the tote or whether your pantyhose have a run."
"But you never wore pantyhose," Spinel pointed out. "You always said that bare legs were sexier."
"I did?"
"Yes."
"Well, now I don't have to use Nair anymore."
"I suppose that's something," Spinel conceded. "The stuff did make the house smell terribly."
Nakuru nodded. "At any rate, it's a lot less hassle wearing men's clothes."
"But a lot less fun, no?" Spinel countered.
Nakuru, rummaging through the cupboards for a bottle of mousse, didn't hear him. She finally found the bottle and squeezed a generous amount onto her hands. "And, what's more," Nakuru added as she ran her hands through her hair, "I look damn good in men's clothing too."
"Well, at least some things don't change. . ." Spinel muttered to himself.
"What was that?" Nakuru asked, whirling around to face the tiny animal.
"Nothing."
Nakuru stared hard at the tiny guardian for moment. Spinel tried to look nonchalant. Nakuru shrugged and headed towards the door.
"All right, Spinel, I'm off," Nakuru called.
"Where are you going?" Spinel demanded.
"On a date."
"A date? With Kinomoto?"
"No. Her name's Kamiya Masako."
"MASAKO?"
"Don't wait up for me!" And Nakuru slammed the door shut.
It was only then that Spinel realized his revenge perhaps had gone too far.