Too big of a mouth for too little of a conscience
Chapter: Sorrows of the heart

Makoto entered the house. The sight was quite typical, unlike the out outside. It was logical for her parents to be abnormal considering what she truly is.

Natsuko: Makoto, looking good.

Makoto blushed as the gorgeous teenager slightly touched his left shoulder.

Makoto: Hello Natsuko. Where are your parents? Where's Fuyuko?

Natsuko: My parents are on the other side of the house fighting silently and Fuyuko is with Hikari in her room. In other words you and I are alone in the living room.

Makoto: Ye-yeah. I guess we are alone here. I better get Hikari.

Natsuko grabbed him and sat him on the sofa.

Natsuko: I got to talk to you first. Did you do what I told you? Did you kiss Hikari?

Makoto: I tried to but—

Natsuko: You lost whatever guts you gathered, right?

Makoto: Well it's not like I've done it before!

Makoto snapped at her turning crimson for what he just said. For a girl it might be good to say that kind of thing, but he was a guys and inexperience is a subject of humiliation and disgrace by your peers. Still Natsuko smiles satisfied by his response.

"I knew it. I knew that he would screw it up and now it's my time to step up."

Natsuko: That's your problem Makoto, you're too inexperience. If you want to get rid of those feelings and get Hikari you must practice kissing. That way when you get perfect you can grab Hikari and kiss her like in those soap operas.

Makoto: I don't know...

Natsuko: You don't have to do it Makoto, but you won't be able to start a relationship with dear Hikari until you get rid of that childhood attitude.

Makoto: But how do you suggest we do that?

Natsuko: Easy. I'll teach you how to kiss. Ready?

Makoto: What? Now?

Natsuko: Sure! Everyone is busy and it'll be just a second. You don't have a problem with me, right? I'm cute enough, right?

Makoto: No, no! You're fine. -Sigh- I guess you do have a point. Ok, I'm game. But do it fast.

"How cute and simple minded this boy can be. This just proves that I'm capable of stealing anything from Hikari."

Natsuko grinned at the sight of Hikari in the reflection on the window. She was standing still confused by the scene. Her hand was in her chest, as if to keep her heart in. Her expression was turning more hurt as Natsuko brushed her face against Makoto.

But before she could finally kiss him he grabbed her by the arms and pulled her away. Natsuko was shocked as she saw his expression; he was actually turning her down. On a desperate action she turned to see if Hikari saw this but she was long gone. It didn't matter if they didn't do anything Hikari saw what was needed.

Natsuko: Don't worry Makoto. It's ok. You should go to the kitchen and drink something to cool you down before you get Hikari.

Makoto: Thanks! You're a nice person Natsuko, but I don't feel it would be correct for me to do this when I like another.

Natsuko: Don't worry, I understand Makoto.
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Hikari: All done Fuyuko.

Fuyuko was staring out the window without giving me any kind of response.

Hikari: I'll take a bath and change for the festival. I would tell you not to touch anything but you're not that kind of brat.

Fuyuko: Take care.

Hikari: What?

Fuyuko: Take care your heart and the deceit of the sight.

Hikari: Sure thing Fuyuko!

I said not minding what her words meant. After all half of her words were always too hard to get. So instead I happily took my Inuyasha kimono and came out of the room.

Outside of the room I heard a pair of familiar voices. Forgetting the bathroom for a moment and going down the hall into the living room. There they were: Makoto and Natsuko. Completely friendly at each other at first but changing as Makoto closed his eyes and Natsuko lowered to kiss him.

This was too much, and the damned girl knew I was standing there since she had the most evil grin on her face. Still I didn't made a scene, and didn't stayed for the one that Natsuko was making. If Makoto was like that, fine! But there was no way I was going to give Natsuko any satisfaction. With dignity I simply turned and walked to the bathroom while taking deep breaths.

It was hard to digest what I saw, but there I saw it.

"Take care of your heart and the deceit of the sight"

Was this what Fuyuko meant? "Deceit of the sight"? I saw it and it was there, so how could this be a deceit?

Natsuko: Enjoyed the show?

I heard Natsuko say to me from the hall. Felling mad as I was this meant one thing to me: war.

Hikari: Hey Natsuko, the Navy called you and they want their whore back.

Natsuko: So I'm a whore because I get what I want. You have no claim over nobody. I guess it's easy to blame me over your problems. Why don't you blame me over your loss of memory? The fact Makoto sees you like a sister, unlike with me? Why don't you blame me over the fact that you're a freak?

I remained silent. All my thoughts, all my witty remarks were gone. Natsuko had finally done what she wanted: hurt my pride. Still I wouldn't give her the satisfaction of my tears and sorrow. In a quick action I opened the door of the bathroom and closed it in her face.

I stripped myself of my clothing and whatever was holding me up. Like always I had to wait until I was unseen to let myself go with the sorrow. As much as I hated to admit it Natsuko was right.

Tears bitterly rolled down my cheeks. My eyes were burning and my body was aching. Just like some time ago I bet since I couldn't help but feel I've been like this before. But I decided it was better to drag myself to the shower and hope the water takes the feeling away in time for the dance.

Makoto: Hikari, are you going to be a long time in there? Not that you ever do. You're not type of girl.

Makoto started to laugh at the idea of Hikari being a girly -girl like Natsuko. However his laugh was cut short by my wet presence . My eyes were red from crying, my breath was shallow and a towel covered my body.

Hikari: Do you have a problem with me? I realize that Natsuko's gorgeous and I'm not but do you have to such an asshole about it.

Makoto tried to pay attention to what I meant with my words but the towel was making it hard to look at me face-to-face. My face turned red and quickly slapped him for the wrong attention he was giving me.

Hikari: MAKOTO, YOU PERVERT! Don't you have enough of Natsuko? Why don't you leave my freak self-alone?

My actions surprised Makoto making him stare directly at my eyes.. It seems the first time that Makoto has done that, but more than the stare it was the embrace afterward that shocked me. He closed the door behind us as to get some kind of privacy.

Hikari: -breathless- Makoto?

Makoto: I don't know what's happening but I don't like it. Natsuko is a beautiful girl with a nice personality...

Hikari: -thinking- Yeah, right.

Makoto: But she wouldn't be able to take a small part of the place you have in me. You also shouldn't place yourself down. You're the most beautiful person I know. I love everything about you, and I love all that is you, from your good points to your bad points. Even that beautiful right punch you usually use to knock people out.

Makoto felt a sense of relief when he started to hear Hikari's hiccups. That meant that she was listening to him and was feeling better.

Makoto: It's funny but a while ago I had a dilemma and Natsuko tried to fix it by kissing me. But in the end I pushed her aside because I couldn't stop thinking how pissed you would feel if you ever knew that and also because I could never see her that way. Didn't matter because you ended up hitting me for whatever reason.

"I can't believe that bitch! She made me feel awful and lead me on as if I were some moron. If I just had her on my face!"

Makoto: I hope you feel better. And whatever you're going through you tell me.

Hikari: -softly- Makoto...

Makoto: Yes?

Hikari: GET OUT OF THE BATHROOM YOU PERVERT!

And worst than a hit of fate I literally and hardly kicked Makoto out of the bathroom. I couldn't help but giggled as I looked at my reflection on the mirror. I knew that no matter what my past and future holds it would indeed be bright and full of fun.

Meanwhile Makoto was waiting for me to come out on the floor while fuming about his exit.

Makoto: Is this is the thanks I get for cheering her up! This sucks big time!

Fuyuko: The aura is bright again.

Fuyuko said as a way to cheer him up, thing she clearly sucks at, while offering her hand for him to stand up. Her father followed behind her with my mom, godmother, and Natsuko.

Uncle: Time to go people!

Mom: Is Hikari ready?

Makoto: Last time I check she just ended her shower.

K: What do you mean by that?

Makoto: -blushing furiously- well—I—I mean

Fuyuko: He asked her.

I came out wearing a cute Inuyasha kimono with 2 ponytails made with red ribbons.

Hikari: All is done and ready. Where's dad?

K: He'll meet us there. Your uncle and mother will go to the seminar while the rest of us go to the festival.

Natsuko: Sounds good.

Hikari: -bitterly- I bet it does.

And thus we headed to the place where I would find about my self and my past: The Hiigarashi temple...