Okay…well since only one person reviewed, and I'm getting impatient, I'll go ahead and write anyways. VOTE PEOPLE…PLS?
Thanks to stargazer250 for her vote and review.
On with the story.
Chapter 15 – Toilet paper, ink, and festival prep
Grabbing two rolls of the best decorator ever invented and a bucket of water, Hiroka crept quietly from the hut out into the dark. Giggling to herself, she ran swiftly to the temporary house of Kouga. Locating the window, she climbed soundlessly inside.
'Now which one is his room?' She thought, slinking about.
Finding her destination, Hiroka opened the door and set about wet toilet papering the room around the sleeping figure. When she had emptied both rolls, the mischievous hanyou girl silently went back to her own hut.
"Ohmigod!" Taro yelled the next morning, awaking to a hilarious sight. His room, bed, armoire, everything was cocooned by wet toilet paper. There was even a soaking glob of it in his hair. He knew only one person was capable of such an act. Hiroka.
He confronted her later that day.
"Would you like to go to the well? You might have to travel back to get more toilet paper," he said, walking beside her.
"Toilet paper? Why would I need that?" Hiroka asked too innocently, " We have plenty."
"We seeing as a lot of it was used last night in my room, there must be a slight shortage. It has to last all summer you know," Taro replied.
"I have no idea what you're accusing me of, but if you'll excuse me, I have to go meet someone," she said, in very convincing mock insult.
"S-someone?" Taro faltered, " as in a boyfriend?"
"Boyfriend? No. Not that it's any of your business, but I have to go see my mother."
"Oh. I knew that. I'll see you later then?" he asked, completely forgetting why he was there to begin with.
"Maybe," was all she said as she winked and left him standing there.
Only after she was long gone did he remember, 'Dammit! She got me there. Well I'll just have to get her back.'
When Hiroka awoke the next morning, she did not see anything as she had expected. No mud, whipping cream or something else spread on her or in her room. The only thing out of place was her door, which was slightly ajar.
'That's strange, I'm sure I closed that last night," but upon spotting a clean, white kimono on the end of her futon, her worried were eased, "Mama must have washed it and brought it in this morning."
Getting dressed in the crisp kimono; white with the classic two cherries attached to a stem with a single leave embroidered around the edges of the sleeves and on the obi. She pulled her long black hair back into a loose braid and opened her door.
Instantly she knew it was a mistake. Her door, which opened out, was supporting a large bucket, which poured down on her. Hiroka let out a scream. The mirror on her wall showed that the bucket had contained black ink for calligraphy.
Hearing her cry, a grinning Taro came dashing around the corner, " Are we even now?" he said, unable to suppress the urge to laugh at her.
Wearing a furious, embarrassed scowl, Hiroka said in a deadly calm voice, " You have ten seconds to run before you are dead. And this is far from over."
Jumping, Taro took off out the door, a frightening Hiroka, covered in black ink, wielding a kendo stick chased after him.
"Anyone know how Hiroka's white kimono got drenched in calligraphy ink?" Kagome asked at the diner table later that evening.
"There's a – erm – prank war going on," Taka supplied, picking at her sushi casually trying to hide a grin that all of the older teens were wearing having witnessed the earlier scene.
" I see," Kagura mused, " I wonder, if that's how Taro also got a nasty goose egg on his forehead."
"Yeah," Asako giggled, "I guess you could say that."
"Funny, it looks like it was made by a training stick," Kouga said.
Hiroka shot a glare at Asako and changed the subject quickly, " Um…are we all going to the festival in the village? It's coming up soon."
"Ah yes, that's right." Sango said, " We'll have to go get some silk for kimonos, and dig out or fans of course."
"Yeah, and lanterns have to be made, food prepared. I hope that everyone is up to date on their dancing!"
The adults immersed themselves in preparation details while the teens and children sighed in relief.
Miroku and Sango's house was abuzz the day of the festival with chattering women all primping, fixing and preparing for the celebration. With twelve females the bedrooms, kitchen, and bathhouse; anywhere with a mirror was chaotic.
"That parasol would match Aunt Rin's kimono better Kagura," Hiroka commented, taking the green paper and bamboo umbrella and replacing it with a pale blue one.
"Oh?" Kagura said, " I was going for contrast with the orange, but a nice match with the green and aqua.
"Mmmm, no the pale blue accentuates the multicoloured thread in the waves and makes the gold fish stand out nicely," Naomi agreed, working her mother's hair into many, many small braids before pulling them up into a graceful sweep, " and it matches perfectly with the mahogany and blue hair ornaments."
"I give up!" the defeated Maki cried as she sat down in a tangled mess, " I just can't do these fancy things!"
Tsking, Asako came in from the other room, " you have it on backwards too, let me help you."
"Thank you!" Maki gasped, giving a final struggle before letting her friend take over.
"Well you've got the light blue under layer and the dark navy outer kimono on properly, but," she giggled, " your obi is backwards, you've the wrong color in the middle there and that does not go around you neck…or head."
"Well what am I supposed to do with the damn thing? It's a long piece of gauzy crap…I thought it was a neck tie!"
"It drapes over you elbows," Asako informed, exchanging the middle piece of the two-layer obi for a yellow piece, " and just tie the black cord in the centre of it all the voila! A picture of beauty – almost."
"Almost?"
"Hair."
"Oh."
In the bathhouse, Taka, Kagome, and Sango were with the younger girls.
"Oh my god! She is so cute!" Kagome exclaimed, adjusting the nine-year-old girl's hair again.
"I like it," Kameko exclaimed, seeing herself in the mirror, " it's such a pretty purple!"
"And the white is adorable hon," Sango said to her daughter, " matches the purple really nice."
"Can I have a parasol like Takari?" she asked eagerly.
Taka said, jumping up, "I thought I saw a white on in the house. I'll go get it."
"How come she gets a white one? I'm stuck with this crummy green umbrella!" Takari whined, as kids will.
"The green matches your pretty orange and green kimono Kari. And the long sleeves are better that any white parasol don't you think?" Kagome said, smoothing the rift quickly.
"Yeah, they are!" Kari giggled.
"Here it is!" Taka said, handing the little umbrella to the young girl," anyone want to help me with my kimono? I'm a bit challenged."
"Well c'mon, give it here," Sango said, " now hold you arms out and stand still."
The men were having an easier time, sort of.
"Those are my sandals!"
"No they aren't yours are over there!"
"Oh," Shippou said, " didn't see them."
"Figured," said Kenzo, "hey, I saw you taking to that hot cat-girl the other day, you going to ask her to dance tonight?"
"Maki? Yeah I think I will, what about you? Anyone special you've got your eye on monk?"
"Me? Nah. Unless you count the cat-girl's triplet sister, Taka."
"The red-head?" Shippou asked, " the sarcastic one with the temper?"
"Yeah, but you don't know her. She's really sweet, and funny and nice and hot and…"
"Ooohh! Looks like Kenzo liiikes her! He wants to hold her. He wants to kiss her, he wants to-" Miroku chanted, coming in the room.
"Yeah so what?" Kenzo glared, shooting his father a look, " she's wonderful."
"Yeah well I hope she doesn't crack your skull open, that's all," Miroku aid, laughing a he walked away.
Well that's all for now folks. Hope its up to standards. Festival in next chapter, and a bit of romance. It's also decided whether Taishita stays or goes. I have a plan either way to its up you anyone who even reads this.
Taka