~Author's Note~

Here, Tokiko expresses her emotions over the course of five exciting chapters. The more I wrote about her, the more I grew to love this crazy youkai with a heart of gold, this warrior, this bibliophile, this great lover, this Tokiko with bells on. After I finished the story, I realised her personality could just as easily have been Kyouko's.

~Tokiko Felt Five Emotions Last Tuesday~

Chapter 1: Disgust

Tokiko's day was ruined when she stepped out of bed and trod on a dead mouse.

"Aaaaaaugh! My FLOOR! My FOOT! This is hideous!" Tokiko screamed. She flopped back on her bed, half wishing she could just die and let the mouse be someone else's problem, but it was not to be.

Chapter 2: Love

After a thorough foot-bath and a hearty breakfast, Tokiko got ready for the day's carefree unemployment. Something had put her in the mood to polish her boots, so she did, enjoying the breeze in her little garden.

"Oh, are you polishing your boots?" said a voice. It was Ayumi Takao, the tsukumogami dressed all in green. "A woman who treats her boots with respect. You love to see it!"

Tokiko giggled. "And I love to see you... I- I mean, um, good morning! The weather's beautiful today!"

"If you're into that thing," said Ayumi, plonking herself down next to Tokiko. "I'm off to the lake for a swim. Are you busy today?"

"Oh, very! Lots to do..."

Chapter 3: Boredom

"I should've gone with her," Tokiko sighed, lying miserably on the floor. "Tokiko, you useless lesbian! That was SO OBVIOUSLY an invitation..."

Why had she said she had lots to do? She had NOTHING to do. With a heavy sigh, she reached for one of the books she'd read several times and read it again.

Chapter 4: Anger

When she delved into the pantry for lunch, Tokiko found Nazrin nibbling on her smoked fish. Furious, she grabbed Nazrin by the neck and hauled her out of there.

"You've absolutely taken the biscuit, you mouse! And the sausage! And my dried beans, even! Why, Nazrin?! WHY?!" Tokiko roared, shaking Nazrin like a maraca.

"I-I'm sorry! I was hungry!" wailed Nazrin. "You know what that's like! A mouse has to eat sometimes!"

Tokiko let out a scream of frustration. "If you'd just asked me, Nazrin... Just ASKED if you could join me for lunch! Why did you have to be so silly about it?!"

"I'm a mouse!" snapped Nazrin.

"Well, I've had enough mice for one day!" barked Tokiko, stuffing Nazrin back inside the pantry. "Be a dear and get me the miso paste."

Chapter 5: Happiness

At a shop in the Human Village, Tokiko and Nazrin ran into Ayumi.

"Oh, hi, Tokiko!" she said. "And is that Nazrin? What brings you here?"

"She dragged me along," said Nazrin weakly.

"I was out of miso paste," explained Tokiko. "Now, um... You see, Ayumi, I kind of wish I'd gone swimming with-"

"Miso paste?" Ayumi's face lit up. "You're making soup together?! I love miso soup!"

"Wha?" Tokiko couldn't believe her luck. Her mouth hung open for a touch longer than strictly necessary. "I... Great! Why don't you join us for lunch?"

"Could I? I mean..." A strange shyness came over Ayumi. "I wouldn't want to get between you and Nazrin."

"Oh, no, Nazrin's not my type at all! Too mousey!" said Tokiko quickly. "But we're good friends! Right, Nazrin?"

Nazrin shot her a withering look. "Oh, yes, we're inseparable."

"See?" Tokiko patted Nazrin on the back, almost knocking her down. "She loves me! In a friendly, sort of sisterly way! And soup tastes better the more hungry friends you have, so..."

Ayumi smiled. "Then I'd love to come!"

"YAY!" Tokiko jumped up and punched the air.