Antwone: Hey all, Suzu and Antwone here with our third quiz! Hope you like it and all that jazz...Antwone starts singing: ALL THAT JAZZ
Suzu: sighs and shakes head Anyway, you're Yuki in this quiz so yeah.. it's a pretty long quiz with lots of useful information that you MUST remember so READ CAREFULLY! OR ELSE! Suzu throws banana at Antwone and she stops singing
Antwone: WHAT!
Suzu: laughs Anything else we need to tell them?
Antwone: glares Review and message. Or die.
Suzu: Antwone! That wasn't nice!
Antwone: glares at Suzu
Suzu: We just can't get enough fun can't we?
Antwone: No we can't, so we've changed the formatting again! This is what's going on now:
Speech and dialogs: " "
Thoughts -
Suzu: And...
Antwone: looks at Suzu What?
Suzu: Aaaannnnndddd?
Antwone: WHA... Oh! Yeah! We'd hate to disappoint our readers, so we're doing our best to make the reading as enjoyable as possible!
Suzu: smiles On with the story!
Chapter 3
A Rather Strange Day
After you had met everyone and had that short, or rather bizarre, silence, you got to take a look at your room and drop your bag and your stuff on the low bed. Speeding to take the one on the left, you wondered if Kimiko bothered much. You shake that thought out of your head telling yourself she didn't really care about small things like that. The room was pleasent but you wanted to see the whole thing. Once you walked out the door, Akane smiled up at you as you began talking about nothing specifically. She was just explaining the hot spring system when Kimiko came out of her room. You stopped your talk with Akane and turned towards Kimiko to flash her a small smile, and then turn back to Akane who began to lead you around for the tour of the place. (Suzu: Don't worry, we'll explain the system later on.) Anxious to see it all, you follow Akane pacing your steps to be next to Kimiko. It was all impressive and an incredible place. The hot springs looked more than tempting but you decided to wait till tomorrow to take that long awaited bath.
Once Akane said goodnight to you, you entered your room followed by Kimiko, who sat next to you on your bed. You talked for a while and during that time period, were interrupted when people came in and said their goodnights to you both. Finally Kimiko left for her room as you began opening your bag and placing each object in a specific place. You change into your pj's and fall into bed, drifting into a typical very light sleep. After waking up for only about a thousand times, (Antwone: You get used to sounds and don't wake up if they're common but since you're in a new place it's hard to consider it normal and the sounds common.) you smile sleepily, remembering your friend who fortunately and unfortunately had an incredible, deep and long sleep schedule. You probably would have to wake her up in the morning, as usual.
Morning came and you had to go wake that sleepy head Kimiko. After her bumping into Ranma, you followed the walking boy with a stare and when you saw he was going to leave the house you call after him,
"Where are you going"
He turns, smiles, and while making sure Akane can hear him, he calls back,
"I'm not risking my life by staying and eating Akane's cooking."
-It can't be THAT bad...or is it- You think as you give Kimiko a glance.
She gives you a half awake smile and answers your thoughts by saying,
"Well, they are letting us stay here, and I'd guess Ranma's just a little picky...no"
"Yeah...I guess it can't be that bad."
you say, walking into the kitchen after Kimiko. Unfortunately, yes, it can. You sit down next to the table and smile up at Akane who is still red with anger from what Ranma said.
"I know my cooking isn't the best in the world but he doesn't have to be an ass like that"
she tells no one in particular, although you did have the feeling that she was talking to you two.
"Please enjoy! I made my special rice balls as a welcome treat for Kimiko and you, Yuki"
You watch as Akane's and Ranma's father turn slightly green, while forcing a smile. Nabiki said she wasn't eating and went with Ranma, while the eldest, Kasumi, went food shopping for lunch. An anime sweat drop appears on both you and Kimiko's faces as you look at each other, now wondering if this food was such a good idea. Akane comes near each of you and places a rice ball in front of you both, smiling happily. The white rice ball doesn't look bad, it actually looked pretty good!
-How bizarre...- you think.
Suddenly, Ranma's father gets up and goes
"I have to go practice, I don't want Ranma beating me again"
And as he dashed off, Akane yells to his back,
"But you didn't eat anything! Fighting on an empty stomach is bad for...Oh nevermind." She finishes. "And what do you have to do father"
She looks at her father eyeing him suspiciously and threateningly.
"Oh...hehe...Nothing my dear Akane. I wouldn't miss one of your delights" He says, scratching the back of his head and a sweat drop appearing.
Akane's mood suddenly swings back to cheerful mode.
"Oh! That's nice! You should see what I'm preparing for lunch then" she says smiling happily and widely.
At that moment, Kasumi comes in, shopping bags filling her hands and arms.
"Akane, you said you'd let me do the cooking for lunch and dinner" Soun hurries to his feet and starts to help Kasumi.
"Yes Akane" he begins. "You said you'd let her cook if you made breakfeast"
Soun hurries into the kitchen with all the stuff and Kasumi is now standing by the front door, a surprised look upon her face. When she realizes both Yuki and Kimiko are looking at her, she simply smiles and follows her father into the kitchen.
"Well, we'd better start or it'll be too late for breakfeast" says Kimiko.
"I agree." You answer as your stomach grumbles somewhat.
Akane stays expectently in front of both of you as you pull the rice ball to your mouth and sink your jaws into it.
-It...It's not that...OH MY GOD- you think as you nearly choke on it.
It was absolutly horrible! And rice balls were the simplest things to make! How could she have done this wrong! You turn to see Kimiko reacting the same way and turn back to Akane who's staring with questioning eyes.
-This is...exceptional...- Kimiko begins,
-It is... very special indeed- You finish her sentence.
Akane looks pleased with herself and cheerily goes into the kitchen, a skip in her step.
"That is so gross! I never tasted anything this bad before" says Kimiko, spitting the rice ball onto her plate.
"I know." You answer back in a whisper. "How could she fail rice balls? They're rice balls for god's sake"
You quickly empty the bowl onto your dirty night shirt and hurry off to your room. There, you jump out the window and dispose of the nasty food. Hurrying back to the table, you pretend to finish the few rice crumbs left on your fingers when Akane appears again.
"Wow" She lets a shocked look appear on her face. "I didn't know you liked them so much! Sorry I didn't make more" she smiles and Kimiko and you both smile back hesitantly.
"Oh don't worry" You pause somewhat, thinking of what to say next. "We're full and we don't want to eat too many or we'll get disgusted by them...you know how it works." You tell her, hoping to sound convincing.
She nods as Kimiko explains that you'll go get changed before going out. You quicken the pace as you go for your rooms. On the way there and out of hearing range, Kimiko asks you what you did with the rice balls.
"I simply gave them wings." You answer, making both of you laugh.
You change into something simple yet comfortable...another training suit. (Suzu: Don't ask how, but for some reason you both have about three times the exact same clothes...It's a habit, what can I say?) You exit your room to find Kimiko coming out of hers and closing the door behind her. You do the same and walk up to her as you stride towards the front door.
"Do you need anything Kasumi? We're going into town and to the market to spend the day." Kimiko calls out.
Kasumi pokes her head out of the kitchen and answers"No, not really, thank you. I went this...Oh! Wait"
She calls as you were about to go outside. You turn around to see her walking rapidly towards you, cleaning off her hands on her apron.
There may be one thing. Yuki, could you please go and pick out a kimono for me" She hands you the money "Your choice, I like your style and if it fits you perfectly, it'll fit me. We're probably about the same size." She says, smiling up to you.
You look at her shocked. -Likes my style? I'm so tomboyish and she just so...so feminine! Something must be wrong.-
"Kasumi, are you sure you wouldn't prefer Kimiko to choose it for you? She has better ta" You get cut off as she answers plainly, a polite smile upon her face.
"No. I'd like you to pick it out for me! Thanks again" She says as she hurridly rushes back into the kitchen.
You look at your friend, money in hand, with a look of total astonishment on your face. Kimiko plainly has the same reaction as you as she just looks surprised and shrugs her shoulders.
"We'd better get going then." You tell her.
The day was quite enjoyable. You looked at many interesting things and a lot of the stuff you seemed to like. The town itself was very pleasing to both you and Kimiko. Nothing out of the ordinary came up until you got to a pet shop.
"Ohmigod! Look Yuki! Isn't it so cute"
Kimiko says as she points to an adorable little puppy playing with a ball. You crouch down next to her and look at the dog now chasing it's tail. You laugh.
"Kimiko, he is adorable, but how on earth are we going to find the money to buy one" You look at her sadly, pointing to the price tag.
It was unbeleivibly expensive. She looks down, a sad look crossing her smiling face.
"Come on Kimiko, we have to keep going. If you stay looking at it you'll end up feeling bad. Let's go." You say as you get up and gently grab her arm.
Her head lowers as she let's you pull her to her feet and you two start walking again. She gives the puppy one last glance and you look at her, sad to not be able to give your best friend something she's always wanted. For some reason she always prefered her dogs a chocolate brown color and nice and cuddly. You didn't disagree with her but you had already found your best friend.
"Ohmigod" says Kimiko, coming back to reality "Look at the time! And we still have to find the kimono"
"Damn! You're right" You answer as you both start rushing towards the first kimono shop you see across the street, a couple of blocks away.
You remember that place because you had passed in front of it before when coming into the city. Just when you were about to cross the street and enter the building, Ranma comes up and you guys talk for a while before continuing on your ways.
You finally arrive in front of the store after talking with Ranma for a while. Before entering it though, you look at the window to the left of the door. It's a simple glass window showing the manequins dressed up in womans' kimono's. Blue, silver, black, red, burgendy, grey, gold, purple, maroon, pink, fushia, sky blue, turquoise, green, forest green, any color you could possibly imagine. Most of them were just piled up in front of the window, only three kimonos were actually presented on manequins. It was a small store but it looked like it had the biggest variety ever. You hurry to keep up with Kimiko who rushed right in, mezmerized by all the choices. She starts going through racks saying things like,
"How about this one? No, no! Wait! This one! Oh wait, this one" And so on.
She didn't even realize the old woman who came out from behind her desk. She was short and for her age she was very wrinkly, but the smile she gave was such a honest and innocent one that you couldn't help but smile back.
"Welcome to my humble shop. I hope you girls find what you're looking for." She says, causing Kimiko to jump from the unexpected scare.
You slightly laugh as she nervously smiles back to the woman.
"Are you looking for anything in particular" She asks.
"Well, n" You get cut off by Kimiko's fast reply
"Yes! Actually, we're looking for something of her size but color wise and design wise is for her to pick out"
You send a glare to your friend and she just grins stupidly. You give up and the woman grabs your arm and starts pulling you towards the back of the shop.
"Here are all the kimono's that will fit her. If for any reason they don't fit correctly, I can adjust it and send it later to your house if you leave a note with your adress. Now, to make things easier, do you have any color you don't want" You look down at the racks and racks of folded kimonos.
"Well...I... uh..."
"She doesn't like yellow, pink, and purple isn't her color but she does like greens, blues of all kinds, and silver...Oh! and red! Gold isn't her favorite but depending on how it's lined or designed she might like it." Kimiko answers for you.
You glare at her giving the what-the-hell-are-you-doing look and she ignores that, looking at the old woman who's slightly laughing and separating a few kimonos.
"I bet she's your sister, since she knows everything about you and you do look quite alike" She tells you, turning around.
"Well, we're not sisters but we've been best friends ever since childhood. That's why we know everything about each other." you say as Kimiko continues to grin.
"Oh. Very good. What do you think of this one" She presents you with a dark green kimono.
Beautiful indeed, but you didn't like the way the brown intwined itself with the other shades of greens.
"No...not for me." You tell her.
She nods and continues her search. "How about this one"
She shows you a flashy red kimono, complete with black and gold triming, a black design of what seems to be black berry branches on the corner.
"Um...not really that either." You say, shamed to be so difficult.
Kimiko by now is rummaging for herself in other racks.
After an hour of so, and a couple of interruptions from Kimiko asking the price, if they have her size in this one, or if this design comes in other color, your eye is caught by the kimono that will be chosen.
"That one." You say plainly.
You go near it and unfold it, the lady behind you. It's the most beautiful kimono you've ever seen. It's midnight blue, with the silver bow and on your left hand side, going down and ending in a beautiful arragement of silver and black. The design in itself presented vines and branches going from under the bow and ending in a entwined set of tree branches over looking a bright, full, silver moon. The leaves and branches are black, sometimes a dark green that almost looked black, and a few shining tips of silver on the branches, the moon illuminating them somewhat. It was entrancing. You looked at it as if you were in that forest, under that same moon. How perfect it seemed. Suddenly, and to your surprise, Kimiko's head pops from over the kimono, scaring you so much that you jump backwards, almost hitting the old lady.
She laughs as she says"Looks like Yuki has found herself a partner"
You hit her on the shoulder and turn to the lady. "How much is this one"
"Oh my..." She says, her look falling to her feet.
Suddenly your heart sinks. The kimono, the one you picked out, might not be for sale, or not in your size, or too expensive. -Oh no, Please don't tell me anything like that- The old woman's head comes back up with a smile and a tear dancing down her cheek.
"You have chosen the one that has been said to do incredible things. It is a wondeful choice; you couldn't have chosen better. In fact, we're having a discount now and that kimono is the only one in it's design and color arragement."
Kimiko looks at you, wide eyed and with a look of total unfairness. She wanted to whine but didn't, she just hurridly asked if there was another one like that. The tear upon the woman's face was continued by a following other but she didn't seem to stop it, and let it fall to the ground.
"No child, there isn't."
Kimiko looked very sad and the woman seeing this smiled and went out to pick one for her. She told the old woman the colors, the designs, and the size of the similar one she wanted and the woman said to come back in a couple of days, she would have found it or made it by then. Now all happy again, you paid the woman and took the kimono back to the dojo, it already being one in the afternoon exactly.
((Old Lady's Point Of View)) As the girls walk away happily after paying, you look at their backs, disapearing into the crowd on the street. A silent tear glistens down your cheak as memories of old times pass by. You walk back to the back of the shop, where a shrine to your husband is decorated and covered in his favorite flowers, sented incense and so on. Unleashing another dancing tear, you smile up to his picture.
"You know, my love, today was a special day. That kimono was sold to me and brought me to you, has itself been chosen by another. The girl seems like a smart one. A little oblivious of it's powers but I think she will be able to handle it. I wish you were here my dear, I miss you so much. How hurtful it was to see you've gone and such an emptiness filled my heart when you went away. Never will I forget that day."
Tears now streaming down your face, you remember the first day you met him, your first date, your first kiss, the wedding day, the day your son was born, and so on. You can't help but smile as tears rush down like a waterfall down your wrinkled face, getting caught in between each line. One of the side doors leading to the storages opened. You didn't bother to turn around, you knew who it was.
"Mother, are you alright" Calls your son, seeing your head down in front of his father's shrine.
"Y...Yes...I'm fine." You answer, trying to hold back your tears.
Your son understood why you were crying and comes over, hugging you tightly.
"I'm so lucky to have you. I don't know what I would have done if you weren't born." you say, crying into your son's shoulder.
"Mother, don't speak like that." says your son gently.
"You know" You say, ignoring his reply"The dress was sold today."
"The dress? THE dress? Your dress? The one" asks your son, raising an eyebrow down to you.
"Yes, my dear." You say, slightly laughing. "This wonderful girl saw it and picked it up. As caught by it's beauty as I were the day I saw it. She didn't hesitate and didn't want any other."
"She chose well." says your son, comforting you more.
"Indeed she did, sweetheart, even though her friend didn't seem to be quite as absorbed by it as she was. Once I told her it was special she wanted it." Wiping your tears away, you get up and you son helps you.
"You told her about it" asks your son, bewildered.
"Not exactly...I merely said it was special and a unique peice." you say.
"That's for sure" says your son, smiling down at you.
As you turn back to take a one last, longing look at your husband, you smile and say outloud to no one in particular"I wonder if she has any idea of what it will do. How much it will change her life for good."
((Back to Yuki's Point Of View))
"That's incredible! It's beautiful! How did you chose it" asks Kasumi, very content about your choice.
"I don't know...I just saw it and it's as if it called to me." You answer back. "I hope you like it."
"Of course! I love it" says Kasumi.
"Yeah right." Says Nabiki, pearing over her shoulder.
Akane hits her in the side and she laughs. You smile nervously, as if ashamed to have picked it. You were about to tell them about it's 'powers' or whatever the woman meant, but you guessed it was just an old wive's tale and kept it shushed. Kimiko didn't say a thing as she wandered over to the kitchen, sniffing the food.
"Um...Kasumi...is it supposed to emit black smoke" You hear Kimiko yell out.
"Oh No" says Kasumi, dashing towards the kitchen, leaving the kimono in your arms.
"Go put it on her bed, it's the bedroom right before your own." says Nabiki, turning, hands in pockets, to go sit down at the table.
You walk to Kasumi's bedroom and set it on her bed and then return to the lunch table where everyone already was, even Ranma, and were awaiting food. Lunch was quite nice, and everyone loved the food, making Akane feel sort of bad.
In the afternoon, you decide to take a break from walking and decide to use the dojo to practice. You against Kimiko had always been a challenge. Whether she took the top strength and skills or you did, it was pretty much equal, making each match and game very interesting for both of you. Naturally, after a while, you both learned each other's techniques and therefore have to always perfect them and make a new, original, unexpected trick to beat the other. However, no fight was easily won; for either of you. The afternoon was nicely spent and in the late afternoon, Akane came in to invite you two to a hot spring bath with the two other girls. Upon seeing you fight in the dojo earlier, she couldn't help but admire such martial arts skills. You both looked at each other, laughed at your appearences, and gladly accepted the invitation. You hurried back to your rooms, got towels, necessary items, and a clean pair of white kimonos to change out of your training clothes. You get to the springs and decide to get your stuff ready, seeing as no one was there yet. You strip and test the water. Hot...Perfect! You slowly slide you feet into the warm water and let yourself sink into it's heat. Kimiko arrives a second later and does the same thing you did. You both just relax there, listening to your surroundings and sucking in the humid steam. You close your eyes to enjoy this much more, and feel the steam lifting towards your face. Now completly relaxed you seem to be falling asleep until...
You hear a loud bang, making you jump out of your day dreaming. Screaming follows and suddenly people start appearing to your left. You see the two figures appearing. Two girls to be precise...Wait a minute...it's Akane! But the other girl...she's unknown to you...yet you feel as if you know her. You both quickly grab your towels and pop out of the water, shivering because of the difference of temperatures. Akane is screaming at the other girl who's running away from her. What a strange feeling...They finally catch up to where you are and the screaming seems more like words now.
"Come back here! That's an unfair fight! You're cheating" screams Akane.
"Oh yeah! Well, you're not that strong an opponent you know" says the girl.
"Yeah right! Come and fight like a woman" yells Akane.
"You just wish I could kick your ass again" says the strange girl.
"Ooh! You're asking for it" Finally calls Akane, jumping into the air to send a punch down to the strange girl.
The girl, suddenly spotting you two, stops in her running to stare. Uncomfortable moment...Your surprised expression didn't seemed to do much of a difference as Akane's punch came down. The moment she was about to hit her, the girl simply bent down, sending Akane flying into the water. She got up and got out, furious and dripping, she simply said as she stormed away to the house,
"I'll go get my stuff." Meaning her towels and what not.
You turn around to see the strange girl scratching her head, watching Akane as she left. Finally she turns to you two and an akward silence brings itself forth.
"So what are you doing here" She finally says.
Kimiko answers"We were invited to take a bath in the thermal waters. Would you like to join us? Akane should be coming back and Nabiki and Kasumi are on their way here."
The girl looked shocked by Kimiko's offer so you hurried to complete.
"If you don't want to though, you don't have to."
Her deep brown eyes stare into yours and you can't help but feel yourself blush. So familiar...What was this? Who was she?
"Thanks, maybe some other time." She answers as she starts walking away.
You suddenly remember. You don't know her name and to your dismay, she's already out of hearing range. You turn to Kimiko.
"Did you catch her name" She shakes her head a no as you turn back to watch the red-head's crossed fingers behind her head, walking away.