"ACHOO!"

"V-Verna, dear, you have tissues right here!"

If Vert wasn't convinced before that the heavenly cosmos were determined to make her sisterly life miserable, she would have been mentally challenged if the CPU attempted to think otherwise now. Beating a dead horsebird? Vert could not even recognize its skeletal structure, but the Universe's plan was still loud and clear.

The younger blonde sniffled, "I-I'm all icky..."

... and that was to undermine Vert's pride and self-esteem as much as was Goddessly possible.

The day itself had started off well enough. Vert had a supposedly perfectly formulated plan just begging to be set in motion, the older Neptune serving breakfast in a surprising gesture - regardless of the fact that she helped herself to half of it - and Chika had recovered from her wound nicely. All of that, combined with Cave's eventual visit with the new clothing, spelled out a good day to come for the CPU.

"Sis, I feel funny..."

That was to say, until Verna uttered those words while eating a pancake breakfast. Before her loving sister could even ask what was wrong, the aforementioned food was forcefully returned to the plate it was eaten off of. Needless to say, the little one was treated rather quickly. She was brought to Vert's room to rest, which brought the CPU and her sick sister to the current situation.

'It is just a simple cold...' Neptune was able to deduce that easily enough, leaving Vert to lament over it bitterly while said purplette left to retrieve medicine. 'And yet it utterly destroys any possibilities of a good day with my sister…' The distraught Goddess mentally lamented. 'Why me...'

Of course, Vert couldn't exactly blame any otherworldly interventions this time around. The result of her extreme over-bundling the other day had a larger negative effect than the CPU and her company had anticipated. While the Candidate was still acting like nothing was wrong - her smile alone was enough to melt her sister's heart - she was suffering from a stomach ache and a runny nose according to her surrogate 'sister', Neptune.

'Gracious, it has not even been a week and I have already made my darling little sister sick!' Vert was internally berating herself, resisting the urge to slap her face multiple times for being such an utter idiot. 'I truly am a terrible sister! I can not even keep my Verna healthy for longer than seven days! The others would never let me hear the end of this!'

"S-Sis...?" The young girl, living up to her title as a 'Green Sister' a little too well, caught Vert's attention. She was snuggled in warm blankets, a wet towel placed on her forehead. Instead of her green nightgown, Verna was dressed in the bunny onesie Cave had offered just yesterday. Her smile was still wide and gleeful, something Vert was grateful for. Although, it did make her worry that Verna was putting up a brave front just to calm her down.

"Er, yes darling?" Vert removed the wet cloth and placed her hand on Verna's forehead. It was still burning up, much to her dissatisfaction. "What is it?"

"W-Where's Big Sis Nep...?" The little girl asked, her smile turning into a sad frown as she peered from under her blanket. "I miss her..."

"Um, she will be right back, dear..." Vert patted her sister's head in reassurance, her smile strained. "Although, it has been ten minutes already..." Vert trailed off then, wondering what was taking the purplette so long. She gazed towards the open doorway. "At most it should have taken her five minutes. The bathroom is not that far…"

The young Verna sniffled again, "C-Can Big Sis get her?" asked Verna meekly, her voice barely above a whisper as her face was almost completely buried under the blankets. "I wan' her..."

'Ooooooh...' Vert crumpled inwardly, the weight of her sisters adorableness crushing her tremendously. "O-Of course. Chika?" The previously unnoticed Oracle was suddenly brought to attention, who had been sitting in an eloquently designed chair the whole time Vert was taking care of her sister. She appeared to grumble under her breath, the CPU couldn't even fathom why that was, before the Oracle rose from her chair and made her way to the Leanboxian sisters with a heaviness in her step.

"Yes, dear?" Her tone was upbeat, regardless. That eased Vert's suspicions for the time being, though she still believed she should question Chika later..

'I'm sure it's nothing, regardless. Gracious, I hope she hasn't caught a cold as well...' That would be a nightmare scenario for the CPU, undoubtedly. 'No, no, I would have noticed already. She faked it so much in the past. Still...'

"Would you care to watch Verna, please? I need to go find Neptune..." She asked with a sigh, placing a gloved hand to her forehead and rubbing gently. "What would be so difficult about finding medicine?"

"Of course, darling." The Oracle smiled, gesturing towards the door. "Go find her, I'll take care of Verna."

"Big Sis Chika!" Verna proclaimed excitedly, reaching her arms out.

Vert chuckled. "Very well. I will be right back." She departed shortly after, leaving her trusted Oracle to care for her little sister as she traversed the ridiculously long hallway.

'Did she get lost?' She wondered. 'Perhaps. This is her first time in my home, after all. Then again...'

In hindsight, considering the fact that Vert herself still got lost after so many years, it wasn't that big of a surprise. Then again, Vert spent ninety-percent of her time in her room, on the 'accursed computer' while Chika tried to gain her attention.

'Of course, with Verna a part of our family now, things simply cannot go back to how they were... and I fear my overall allotted time on Four Goddesses Online II will be sliced in half...'

Vert shuddered at the thought. 'What a terrifying thing to imagine...' So was the burden of having a new sister to care for. Her utter incapability was just one of the issues she faced, albeit the biggest one. 'Hm... what a dilemma...' Her frown fell into one hard line, the decision between her games and her sister incredibly difficult for her. 'Ergh... Oh, what does it matter? That is the least of my concerns...'

Her mind went silent for a moment after that, only her footsteps creating a dull thudding noise throughout the long empty hall. Her face returned to the downtrodden look she had become a little too accustomed to wearing.

'What should concern me is my awful luck...' Her frown deepened. 'I had such a wonderful day planned ahead too. I even went out of my way to register a Platinum Membership for Verna on Jump! Magazine! We were supposed to shop at Otaku Central until the sun no longer greeted us! What a dreadful waste!'

Indeed, Lady Green Heart's luck had been nothing short of terrible. Over and over again, without fail, her plans and efforts had fallen flat on their faces. It was unbelievable, inconceivable even, that she could fail so badly so consistently. It was as if Neptune had taken the reigns of the Universe and decided to 'troll' her every hour of every day.

Actually, she would have preferred that over her situation now. At least Neptune showed mercy. The Holy Spirits of the Universe and Beyond, however, were relentless and unsympathetic. No matter how much the CPU of Green pleaded and cried for a break, all it added up to was more punishment and even more suffering. She, the one CPU who clamored for a sister of her own for nearly her entire life, had to think of plans and situations on the fly for her darling and innocent Verna.

'It is simply not fair...!' She whined internally, the stomping of her feet echoing through the halls. 'Neptune, Noire, Blanc... they have all had relative success with their sisters, and they hardly grant them the attention they most certainly deserve! Why must I, the most deserving of us, be made to suffer!? It is just illogical! Unreasonable! Spiteful! J-Just... just outright mean!'

Ignoring the fact that Vert sounded exactly like the five-year old she was trying so hard to raise, the trip to the bathroom was far more tedious than she would have liked it to be. The CPU could feel her feet drag on the carpet, certain that she wasn't even halfway there yet. A part of her seemed to accept this as a reason why Neptune still hadn't made it back yet, but considering her luck recently, that would probably be too easy.

'Why must my Basilicom be so large?' Vert pondered, agitated. 'Is this a clever joke regarding my size, or was the CPU then simply overcompensating? I will never know...'

"Lady Vert?" A calm, monotone voice questioned from behind her. Slightly surprised, the CPU turned her body around and locked eyes with a familiar redhead.

"O-Oh..." The CPU wore a nervous smile, hoping her worry and frustration wasn't expressed outwardly as she tried to greet the soldier. "C-Cave, what a... surprise..."

"..."

Seeing Cave's confused expression made Vert want to slap herself. With Blanc's hammer. No, her axe.

'Of course, why would she not be here? Someone run me over with a truck...'

"Er, I... suppose?" Raising an eyebrow in her direction, making Vert's heat up and feel greatly ashamed at her stupidity, the redhead held up several bags. "Regardless, I have returned with the clothing as I promised. It is all childhood clothing that will fit me no more, as you know."

"R-Right..." Still struck with residual shame, her smile softened to a more relaxed position. Her face was still a brilliant shade of red, but she was happy that Cave wanted to move on as much as she did. "H-However…" Vert cleared her throat, "Verna is feeling rather sick. The poor thing has been in bed all day."

"Oh?" Cave expressed concern, her bags dropping to knee length. "What happened?"

"She has come down with a terrible cold, I'm afraid." The CPU frowned. "Your arrival is very fortunate, actually, she will appreciate more company."

"I will make it my best interest to insure she recovers." Cave nodded. "But, why are you not with her? I would assume you would be by her side..."

"I was, but Neptune is being... well, Neptune." She couldn't have come up with a more valid answer if she tried.

"I see." Cave nodded in understanding.

"I will be back in ten minutes or so." Vert checked her watch and, realizing that she didn't own such a thing, blushed profusely. "T-Take care of Verna until then."

"Of course." Clearly ignoring that brief moment of idiocy, the redhead turned around and made her way down the very long hallway. Green Heart released an exasperated sigh as soon as Cave was out of hearing range.

'She must be so ashamed of me... and I honestly can not blame her...' Feeling her misery double instead of decrease, the CPU trudged through the halls like a zombie. 'I wish I could crawl under a boulder and live there for the rest of my eternal life. Can I have that, True Goddess up above?'

It was at that moment Vert knew, she was completely insane.

'I am so hopeless...'

"YO! Is someone in the halls? I can hear you!" A familiar voice cried out. "Mind being a helper and help a Nep out?"

"... What?" Relieved, but at the same time befuddled, Vert tuned her ears on overdrive and followed the yelling. Conveniently, it was in the Bathroom, and in there to greet her...

"Oh, uh... hm... Hey!"

... was Neptune, bound by a Compa-style bandage job. Somehow, somehow, she had managed to tangle herself upside down and hang from the ceiling above and dangle helplessly. The bathroom was completely and utterly destroyed. Broken mirrors, stained windows, collapsed curtains, water overflowing from the sink and shower, the floor stained with an... undefinable substance of sorts.

Chika would explode if she found this, Vert knew that. Currently, however, Neptune looked mighty embarrassed at someone seeing her in such a predicament. Vert could tell she was waiting to be cut down, and hopefully soon.

"..." Of course, she needed to get over her utter shock first.

"Mind being a pal and getting me down from here?" asked Neptune. "I kinda... can't do that myself. Heh..."

"You're such a dumbass..." Her Nep Note spoke brashly from inside her pocket. "Seriously, you have to try to screw up this badly..."

"..." Vert was silent, her face blank and expressionless.

"Er..." Neptune felt rather awkward, dangling upside down and all, and it certainly didn't help that her means of freedom was rendered motionless. "Crostie, is she alright?"

"How the hell should I know!? I can't see anything from in here!"

"Right..." Sighing, Neptune set her gaze on the statue-esque CPU in front of her."... Uhhhhh, Earth to Vert? Are you listen-"

Shing! Thud! "OW!"

"Sonuva bitch, why did you have to land on my side!?"

With a swing of her spear, Vert cut down Neptune with ease. The purplette tumbled awkwardly to the ground, hitting her head on the toilet on the way down. The Goddess could see a very large bruise forming.

"Now, Neptune... how?" asked Vert, her eyes wide. "How did you manage... this?" She gestured towards the apocalyptic wasteland that was once her bathroom. "And this... how? Explain. Please."

"Yeah, I'd love to hear one to, sweet cheeks."

"Uuuuugh..." Rubbing the back of her head, the damaged Nep slowly sat up. She blinked, staring at Vert in confusion. "Uh, who're you? Where am I?"

"Oh, for goodness sake!"

WHACK! "OW!"

A visible vein growing on her forehead, Vert gave the purplette a good whack on the noggin with the blunt end of her spear. Another very noticeable bruise grew on the back of her head, wincing as she rubbed it. "Ow..."

"I apologize, but I am not traveling down that plot line again..." The CPU sighed in exasperation, willing her spear away as Neptune stumbled to her feet. "It has been done to death, you see..."

"Yeah yeah, I get it..." Neptune grumbled, taking a line of bandage that bonded her and wrapping it around her damaged head. "Thanks for the concussion, by the way. What's that spear made out of!?"

"Oh, I'm glad you asked!" Vert's eyes lit up. "You see, it all started when my Giga Drill was destroyed by Blanc some years ago..."

"I wasn't being serious!" Neptune yelled, then clenched her head. "Ow..."

"Gracious, you shouldn't yell so loud." Vert chastised, ignoring the dull look of response she received from the purplette. "Regardless, just what in the name of Celestia have you been doing in here!?" Vert cautiously stepped over a puddle of mysterious liquid, staring down the elder Nep with a glare in her eyes. "A tornado would not do this mess justice..."

"Uhhhhh..." Neptune blanked, as if she herself didn't know why the bathroom was a warzone. "Uhhhhh..." Either that, or she just didn't want to admit it. Either possibility fed Vert's growing headache.

"Forget it..." Dreading the inevitable maelstrom that would be Chika's fury, Vert opened the cabinet near the broken mirror and snatched the medicine. "Honestly, I even told you where the medicine was. Do I have to do everything myself?"

"Mmmmm... maybe."

Vert frowned. "I wasn't looking for an answer, Neptune."

"Then why'd you ask?" Neptune shot back.

"..." Dead silent and dull, Vert simply turned around, shut off the faucets and left the bathroom.

"W-Wait, I just kidding! Vert!?" Neptune followed her, vainly making panicked attempts to smooth things over. Obviously, since her blunders were so incredibly awful, it was going to be very hard to do so in even a semi-confident manner.

"I'm not listening...~" Vert responded musically, which made Neptune's nervousness spike.

"Heeeeeeey, yer not gonna take the Bathroom Dilemma seriously, r-right?" The purplette forced a nervous laugh. Vert responded with a sickeningly sweet smile, making Neptune gulp. "C-Come on, I did my very best! R-Really!"

"Oh, I won't do anything. Chika on the other hand, why, she'll probably blow a fuse, nay, an entire circuit board when she discovers what you've done. Actually, that's probably an understatement~"

"... Is that bad?"

"Very." She responded in that same sweet voice, smiling brightly in her direction. "I, for one, would be very much surprised if she left you with your limbs intact."

"Aw, geez!"

"Big Sis Chika?"

'Don't let her get to you, don't let her get to you, don't let her get to you!' "What is it?" Chika responded to the soft voice from under the covers, after taking a moment to mentally berate herself in preparation for any sudden tricks the little one might pull on her.

The Oracle of Leanbox was a cautious woman, after all. Her head was totally in the game, ready to take on any danger in the shape of a five-year old. She was ready for anything!"

"C-Can I have some chips...?"

Okay, she wasn't ready for that, per se... don't judge her!

"Heehee... Big Sis Chika looks funny... sniffle..."

Nevermind the fact that the kid asked for snacks while she was sick as a Dogoo, but more so that Verna still found a way to smile and laugh despite being ill. Somehow, the kid was still giggling despite sneezing her brains out.

Somehow, she was still happy despite feeling clearly looking, and probably feeling, miserable. Chika didn't understand it, and it frustrated her for all of the wrong reasons.

"Y-Yeah, I... guess..." Feeling her cuteness shield crumpling already, Chika shook her head and moved from the foot of the bed to its side. "Kid, why do you want chips? That's pretty much the last thing you should be eating right now!" Moving to the side of Vert's bed, Chika dropped to her knees and voiced a concern she obviously didn't hear. "In fact, you shouldn't be putting anything in your mouth but medicine!" She glanced towards the door, but there was still no sign of her one true love and that other person.

"But... I'm hungry..." Verna mumbled, shrinking under her covers in an intense display of shyness. "Really hungry..."

"You're also really sick." Chika countered. "Your…" She gulped, "S-sister might allow such a thing, but you'll find I'm not as nice as my darling. Junk food will certainly not help your condition, so that is that."

"But-"

"No buts."

"Boo..." Verna pouted, her azure eyes gaining a shimmering glow that stared down into the Oracle's soul. "I wan' some chips..."

'Is this kid seriously pulling this cutesy trick again!?' Taken aback for a brief moment, Chika responded to the melodramatic puppy-eyed stare with a glare that meant business.

"No means no, little missy." Chika pressed her index finger against Verna's forehead. It was drenched in sweat. "You're bed-ridden, and I'm not letting one chip enter that mouth until you feel better." She leaned back, a frown on her face. "So suck it up."

"Mm..." Verna pouted, sinking into her bed in a crestfallen manner. "Big Sis Chika is mean..."

"W-What!?" Chika was dumbstruck, to say the least. "Hmph!"

"What are you doing this time, Chika?" A stoic voice rang through the room, a voice that Chika knew all too well. She didn't even need to look to know who it was, hence her shocked look morphing into one of frustration. "I do hope you are not annoying the little one. She is suffering enough."

"Grrr..." Chika glared, but Cave ignored.

"Big Sis Cave!" Verna just about shot up from her bed in happiness. She was held down by Cave's gentle hand, who had somehow made it from behind Chika to beside the bedridden Candidate in the span of one second. Chika didn't know how that happened, but she didn't care as she realized she had bags of clothes thrown onto her lap.

"Hello, Verna." There was a gentleness to her otherwise serious tone, her hand pressed against Verna's head as she laid her back down. "Do not over-exert yourself. Rest."

"O-Okay..." Verna shrank back into her covers, smiling wide and her eyes sparkling in adoration. Chika growled from the sidelines, a scowl defining her features.

'Sure, you're a darling angel when Big Sis Cave shows up, huh?' thought Chika bitingly. 'I see through you, little brat.' She glared icily at the young Candidate

"She's burning up." announced Cave, wiping her gloved hand on her skirt. "I do not feel it is my place to say such things, but Lady Vert's child-caring skills are very poor... at best."

'Ouch...' Chika felt that burn. "She can still learn as we go along. You need to have more faith in her."

"I suppose..." Cave shut her eyes, contemplating as she spoke. "But, in all fairness, I get the feeling of confusion and cluelessness whenever I see Lady Vert and the little one together..." Cave reached out and pet Verna's head, earning a weak giggle. "As if she truly does not know what she is doing."

"Well..." Chika didn't have a real counter. Instead, she gained a sudden interest in her hands.

"You see it too, don't you?" asked Cave. "I am well aware of her extreme want of a sibling in the past, but I feel it was just that: Want. No preparation whatsoever, it seems."

"Hmph! You're spouting crazy talk." Chika accused, grabbing Cave by the hem of her black top and pulling her down to eye level. "You see how my Darling Vert acts around that twerp!? She's so completely euphoric around her, it's annoying!" Her tone morphed into a harsh whisper.

"I am merely stating what I have deduced through annalistic observations." Cave responded in an equally quiet tone, unaffected as always by Chika's fury. "It is not my fault you have a tendency to overreact to the simplest of situations." She bopped her nose playfully. "Grow up, it is a truly wonderful experience."

"Hmph!" Chika puffed her cheeks and snapped her head to the left, her vibrant green hair almost hitting Cave in the face as she let her go.

"Such a child..." The soldier sighed, giving her Oracle friend a sarcastic pat before standing upright.

"Mm..." Verna grumbled, catching the attention of the two as her small form shifted under the green covers. "I-I feel funny..."

Cave was by her side in an instant, such speed being lost to the likes of Chika, and pressed her palm against the Candidate's forehead once more. "Where do you feel 'funny', little one?" She asked softly.

"Tummy..." She mumbled. Her eyes narrowing, Cave grabbed the hem of the covers and pulled them down slightly. Verna still smiled at her, despite the complaining, which seemed to relieve her apparent stress.

"A stomachache? Hm..."

"What are you looking all troubled for?" asked Chika. "She's sick, you already knew that."

"Indeed..." Cave squeezes her lips into a hard line, regardless. "However, that does not excuse my worrying about the little one, does it not?"

Chika shrugged. "I guess not, but you should at least chill out a little. It's a cold, not cancer."

The redhead glared in her direction. "Hm..."

"Big Sis Cave...?"

"Yes, little one?" Cave directed her attention back to the little girl, who looked a bit concerned.

"Where's Big Sis Nep...?" She frowned. "I wanna see her..."

"Uh, your older sister went to retrieve her, did she not...?" Cave tilted her head in confusion, looking towards Chika for answers.

"Well, yeah, she made me watch the br- Verna until she got back." Chika turned her head towards the open door. Empty. "What's taking her so long? Don't tell me she got lost again!"

"I would hope not..." commented Cave, reaching her hand out and patting the Candidates head. "Considering Neptune's... extravagant behavior, however, it does not surprise me that she is late. At the same time, though, Verna is still in need of medicine."

"Well, she-"

"I have arrived..." The dull voice of Leanbox's CPU made itself known, the Goddess entering her own room with a sag in her step. With a sigh, she crudely dropped in a nearby chair and rubbed her head. "And I need Aspirin..."

"D-Don't be such a drama queen, Verty!" A flummoxed Neptune soon followed her, fake tears rolling down her cheeks. "Come oooooooon, the bathroom can't be that expensive, right?"

"... 25,000c for the tiling alone." Vert muttered, acting almost traumatized in a sense. "New windows, new curtains, new shower... Oh, my poor poor wallet..."

"C'mon, s-stop acting all emotional!" Nep begged worriedly, especially when Chika's attention was caught. She could feel her crimson eyes burning a hole into her skull. "Y-You were so upbeat just a minute ago! S-Seriously, don't do this!"

"Big Sis Nep!" With a sniffle, Verna waved happily, sneezing shortly after. She was held down by Cave, who made the wise decision to stay away from whatever sort of event was about to happen.

"H-Hey, kiddo..." Neptune waved back limply, her usually bright smile strained and nervous. She didn't even make eye contact with the Candidate, instead focusing on quashing Vert's attitude. "H-Hey, Verty-"

"What was that about the bathroom~?" Neptune visibly froze when Chika's sugar sweet voice came right behind her, her smile wide and sickening to the core. "I could have sworn I heard my dearest talk about property damage...~?"

"Uhhhh..." Neptune made the effort to attempt a quick retreat, but she was seized by Chika's hand grabbing the front of her hoodie. The purplette was pulled from her spot and met face-to-face with the Oracle, a dangerous glint in her vermillion eyes.

"Care to tell me all about it out in the hallway? You don't mind, do you?"

Neptune gulped. "C-Can't we just talk about this in a completely rational and unbiased-" PULL! "N-Nope, guess not! EEP!" She was dragged out the door by Chika, never to be seen again. She will be missed dearly. "Hey, I'm still alive!"

"Not for loooooong!"

"HEEEEEELP!"

"Oh, that's right! Here is the medicine Neptune was supposed to retrieve, Cave." And just like that, Vert had reverted back to her usual, composed self. She tossed a white bottle in Cave's direction, the latter catching it easily with one hand. She had a look of disbelief on her face as she twisted it open.

"... You imposed a fake front to ensure Neptune would not survive Chika's wrath, correct?"

Vert simply smiled sweetly, while screams of bloody murder emitted from the halls.

"NOT THERE! I'LL NEVER BE ABLE TO MARRY MINI M- I-I mean, SOMEONE TOTALLY RANDOM THAT I DON'T CUDDLE WITH AT NIGHT! YEAH!"

"... Right."

"Big Sis Nep is weird..." Verna mumbled from under her covers.

"Indeed, now open wide." Cave knelt down and held a spoon full of the liquid medicine in front of the little girl. "Do not ask me to imitate airplane noises. I guarantee failure."

"It looks icky..." The sick one whined, shifting a bit.

"Perhaps, but if you want artificially flavored tortilla chips to grace your taste buds once again, I highly suggest you consume this medicine." She gestured the spoon towards her mouth again.

"Mm..."

"Say 'ah'." Cave ordered. "Please."

"Ahhh..." Verna did as instructed, and Cave put the spoon in her mouth. Verna made a face like she was sucking a lemon, and would have spit it out if Cave didn't keep her mouth shut.

"Swallow." Came the simple order. After hearing an audible gulp, Cave released her grip and Verna stuck her tongue out in disgust.

"Icky..." She mumbled, shrinking back into the depths of her covers while Cave patted her head.

"Good girl."

"NOT THERE! NOT THERE! CROSTIE, HELP ME!"

"You kidding? This is music to my ears! Keep it going!"

"GAAAAAAAAH!"

"..."

"..."

Verna sneezed.

"... Why don't we put on some cartoons, dear?" Vert frantically reached for the remote, broadcasting a distraction in the shape of an anthropomorphic sponge and a mentally-challenged starfish.

"Yay!"

Editors Note: After an almost 3 month absence, A Verdant Breeze has returned, re-edited and re-furbished for your viewing pleasure! With the help of some friends, chapter 6 to 11, which are now chapter 6 to 9, went through a massive editing overhaul because, admittedly, these chapters had turned out kind of... shit and, since a few of them were planned to be longer, they were melded with each other which results in the chapter count taking a dip, but hey, quality assurance.

This note will be copied from this chapter to chapter 9, just to avoid confusion to the people that see A Verdant Breeze back on Page 1. Enjoy!

-Yuri