Shi's Day Off
Author Notes: It's been a long time since me and Sen dived into Angelic Layer.
Sen: Too long~ I'm excited! It's time for the return of Nes.
Mako: Hmm we'll see what happens. we don't own any of clamps awesome works. Especially Angelic Layer.
3rd P.O.V
Small soft flakes dance down across the sky. Gently falling onto a young girl's head as she waits by the streetlight. People were walking all around her, weaving their ways along the sidewalk. The girl utters a small squeak of a sneeze.
"Miiiimiiiii! Nes Nes go Boom!" The poor angelic player shrieks as she's startled out of her thoughts. It was a typical day for Misaki as she went to meet up with one of her good friends. Though the middle schooler underestimated the chilly temperature drop in Tokyo.
Her breath was coming out in small puffs and she could feel her cheeks reddening from the cold. Though now it was probably worse with her screaming at the top of her lungs from fright. "Nes! How are you?"
The young idol hugs the brunette close to her chest. Her aura bright and bubbly despite the season. "Gooood! Nes Nes is so happy you could come today~ Nes Nes needed to do some serious holiday shopping." Together the two begin their walk in the snow.
Their destination being the nearest plaza. "How come Shi isn't with you?" The celebrity Angelic player tapped her two pointer fingers together. Her mood suddenly plummeted as a depressing aura surrounded her. It was a stark change that Misaki hadn't seen since July.
"She's sick and in bed. Or...at least I hope she's in bed." Misaki frowned, not liking the sounds of this. For how long she's known the tag team sisters, it was usually Nes the person to worry about with how reckless she could be.
To hear their roles have temporarily switched was very concerning. "What happened?" A small sniffle escapes the idol, though her friend wasn't sure if it was due to the cold or her sister's health. "You know she's always working on top of doing competitions with me right?"
Nes waited for a nod before continuing. Sighing as she looks towards the sky. "Well, a week ago she started sneezing and coughing, I told her we could cancel our tournament over in Kansai if she wasn't feeling well, but she told me she was fine-that it was just allergies." It was a lie.
One that the short girl didn't think she would forgive her sibling for in a good while. "We went to tag team in the tournament, and midway through she collapsed with a high fever!" A gasp escaped the brown haired girl, but otherwise stayed silent.
"According to the doctor she had a severe case of burnout. Fatigue and over working messed up her immune system, getting her sick. And because she didn't rest, she got worse. She was told to stay home and relax. But you know Shi Shi." Despite the doctor's orders the elder girl refused to stay in bed.
Sparking a mini fight between the two. With Nes practically doing everything and anything she can to keep her sister from grabbing at her paperwork, or designing new costumes for their angels. But it was getting tiresome.
Shi was giving her the silent treatment and it was pissing her off. "Has Shi gotten any better then when she was in Kansai?" A sigh of relief came from both as they stepped into their first shop of the night. Together they stomped the snow off their boots before continuing in.
"Kinda? Shi Shi has been taking better care of herself despite trying to work, but she hasn't been sleeping well and the symptoms aren't going away no matter what medicine the doctor prescribes." That was probably the most stressful part about this whole thing.
That despite both girls best efforts, Shi just wasn't recovering like she should. There were hardly any 'good' days since she first got sick. If it wasn't for Shi's friends Kohaku, Soma and Fai visiting(and more importantly promising to keep and eye on her) Nes wouldn't have left her at all.
But all three of her friends were worried, so they came over to do a personal check up. It seemed to brighten up Shi's mood as well as give the sisters a temporary break from one another. "I just don't know what to do Mimi..." In the end, all Nes wants if for her sibling to be well again.
To see her finally able to breath without having a coughing fit. Or eat without having to worry about needing a throw up bucket nearby. "Any reasons why Shi's struggling to sleep? Maybe if she gets more rest that'll do the trick?" The suggestion only makes the girl slump further as she walks.
Instead of being surrounded by sparkles as she grabs item after item to throw into a cart, her heart just isn't in it. The gifts she picked out though were fantastic, were just somberly picked off the shelves. "I've tried everything." And she does indeed mean everything.
Giving her a parade's worth of plushies and soft blankets. Having her shower and in comfy pjs before bed, relaxing music, knocking her sister out with a karate move, tying her to the bed, forcing her to watch a super cheesy, boring movie(both of them hated that one) still despite all that effort-nothing.
All of them did nothing to help her sleep well. And it wasn't she was suffering from nightmares of any sort either! Now at this point it was driving Nes up the wall. She just wanted to figure out what was going on in addition to making sure her sister got better. Was that truly too much to ask? Nes certainly didn't think so!
"Have you tried tea? I know having a hot cup of that or milk always made me drowsy." The short girl suddenly snapped upright from the shelf in front of her, as if zapped by lightning. The dark aura surrounding her frame evaporated within moments.
She spun on her heels, grabbing her shopping companion's shoulders. Shaking poor Misaki back and forth while a smile stretched across her face. "You're a genius Mimi! I'll do it as soon as I get home. But first...let's shop till we drop!"
Having been revitalized Nes goes from store to store, spending endless amounts of money with her Angelic Layer battle points on the gifts for all of her friends and sister. Making up for lost time while she was dealing with her mini depression.
Misaki was finding herself struggling to keep up with her energized friend. Actually the poor middle schooler was literally being dragged around, barely able to catch her bearings and breath before being taken all throughout the plaza.
A shopping expedition that to the average civilian would've taken at least two hours but most definitely longer...took the two girls half that. There was an army's worth of bags held by Nes, her small stature practically hidden away.
"Have a good night Mimi~ Thanks again!" Nes ran all the way home, leaving the middle schooler buried in a heap of snow. "Ah-choo!" Despite the extra weight and chill she made it back to her house without even a stumble. It did take longer then usual for her to get home because of said weight.
Still it was a good thing she lived so close to the shopping plazas. "Phew..." Though she was out of breath, waiting a few moments to relax as she tried to cool off her burning lungs. Taking deep gulps of air the pain within her throat slowly fades away.
Her nose starts to drip as she somehow manages to turn the door knob. "I'm hooome~" Her sister was nowhere to be found when Nes entered the house. "Welcome back." But her eyes twinkled at the familiar faces that greeted her.
"Soma~ Kohaku! What are you two still doing here? Weren't you supposed to be heading back home?" The two girls in question were playing a game of chess, and up until the young idol's arrival were conversing with one another.
A chuckle escaped the black haired herbalist as she places her companion into check. "You came back earlier than expected Nes. We told you we'd leave within a couple hours, it's barely been that." Sheepishly the young girl smiles before dropping her things.
Barely missing Kohaku's statement before trying to salvage her pieces. "Besides...even if we wanted to our area's were hit with major storms. My brother Koryu called me saying I shouldn't even bother trying to drive back." She pouts at the memory, her cheeks puffing up in annoyance.
Her annoying twin brother even when concerned for her safety always had to say something mean. She would not crash and burn thank you very much! "Indeed. My girlfriend Kenda called saying something similar. Apparently our neighborhood is out of power with how ferocious the winds are."
The raven haired beauty was relieved to find Kenda was already with other kin when it happened and like Soma is spending the night at another friends house. "Oh jeez. Does sis know? And what about Fai?" The two elder girls share a look, both smiling to the point where Nes narrowed her eyes at them.
"What?" Soma simply pointed her finger up to the next floor-specifically towards Shi's bedroom. "And that's checkmate Koha." While the naïve bubbly blonde whines at her defeat the curious angelic player makes a beeline towards the second floor.
Hopping two steps at a time, now her legs burning along with her throat, she carefully opens her sister's room. "Fai?" The boy was sitting in a chair right next to Shi's bed, his free hand gently sliding across long soft locks.
He offers the younger girl a smile as he quietly shuts his book. "Good evening Nes. You came back early." She couldn't believe it, but her eyes were open and wide at the scene before her. "She's asleep?!" Immediately the boy puts a finger to his lips with a wink.
"Indeed. Let's allow her to rest hm?" Carefully he sits up, readjusting the covers so that Shi was fully protected from the cold before walking out alongside the still shocked girl. "How?!" It wasn't until the door was shut did Nes exclaim.
Within an hour...probably not even an hour considering who she was talking to did the man get the sickly Shi to finally sleep peacefully. "I have my ways." She glowers at him, startling him with the rather heavy dark aura she suddenly created. "If you want to have any chance on dating my sister you WILL tell me."
A nervous chuckle escapes him as he takes in her threat. Knowing...that his relationship as a whole with the girl was riding on his answer. "I gave her some tea, then well..." A small blush forms on his cheeks as he throws his hands helplessly in the air.
"I...played with her hair. Like how you saw me just now." She couldn't believe it. "When did she fall asleep? When did you give her the tea!?" The blonde smooth talker glances away from her then, unable to meet her gaze.
Not that he'd want to with how angry she looked. "About twenty minutes after you left she had tea with me, then within five after went to sleep." The short girl deflates then, her roller coaster of emotions reaching their limits.
She should've just gone to Fai in the beginning. "So there's apparently a huge snow storm." The boy could only blink at her, not understanding the abrupt change in subject. "Yes. I got a text from my neighbor. He had lost power and asked to use my house just until someone can come and fix it."
Nes rolled her eyes at the news. The storm wasn't so bad! Other people, her included were out and about for the holidays and they were just fine. Though...considering all three of Shi's friends lived in different towns that are a bit aways from them, it wasn't a surprise if they were hit harder.
In the end she could only sigh. "Well sis wouldn't want you guys out in such bad weather and we got plenty of room. BUT-you are staying on the couch!" There was no way she was going to let him try anything on her watch! Doesn't matter if he was cute or nice-there would be no funny business.
"That's fair. I was going to offer to take the couch so Kohaku and Soma could have a room to themselves." With that surprisingly gone well, the two go downstairs to allow Shi some privacy. "Achoo!" All three look towards Nes in concern. "Are you alright?" She simply waves them off. She. Is. Fine!
Two days later...
Ohh how the tables have turned. "Not so easy being the one stuck in bed is it little sister?" Nes grumbles as Shi shakes her head, feeling like absolute crap and was NOT happy about it. Her sister throwing salt into her already wounded mood wasn't helping in the slightest.
Furrowing her eyes at the thermometer in her hands "Hey Fai can you make a pot of tea for us please?" He places a small kiss to Shi's temple before doing as asked. The sweet gesture nearly making Nes gag. But one look from her elder sister made the sick girl bite her tongue.
"Soma how's that batch of medicine coming?" Her friend chuckles as she finishes grinding up the set of herbs. "Just about done. When Fai finishes making the tea i'll add it in." Shi loved her friends. Especially since they decided to help her sister while waiting for the snow storm to die out.
It's a good thing Nes went shopping before getting sick. "Here Shi~ I got a bowl full of cold water and a washcloth for you." Grinning, the angelic player grabs the items. "Thanks Kohaku." Gingerly she places the cloth into the bowl.
Shivering for a minute as her hands freeze from the water. It's only for a second before she places the now damp cloth over her sister's burning forehead. "Since we're in for the long haul. Let's watch some tv." Within ten minutes of receiving a tag-team dose of Fai and Soma's herbal tea does Nes fall asleep.
Breathing in and out in a peaceful rhythmic pattern. "Thanks for everything guys." All three of her friends simply wave her off. "If anything consider us even for letting us bunk at your place till the storm ends." It seemed like a pretty fair trade. Suddenly a sharp sound caught everyone's attention.
"Is that your doorbell Shi?" With a confused expression Shi leaves the room, carefully stepping down the stairs before reaching her front door. "Who would be out in this crazy weather?" For a moment she hesitates, figuring her and Kohaku were hearing things.
But she hears the ringing of her doorbell again. "Shi? Are you alright?" Fai, Soma and Kohaku followed her down, their lips in the form of frowns as Shi opens the door. "H-h-here's your mail Shi-sama!" Much to her(and everyone else's) surprise it was a mailman.
He was shaking from head to toe, looking like a popsicle. "Thanks but you shouldn't be out here in the cold." She takes the letters handed out, her fingers twitching as she feels how cold the other person's hand is. "I-I ahhh~" Fai narrows his eyes as the mailman swoons.
Looking ten times warmer then when he arrived. Still Shi does not react to either of them, simply giving a small nod. "Have a good day and stay safe." With that she shuts the door, flinching as not even a second later she hears screaming.
"I'VEEEE BEEEEEEN BLESSSEEEDDD~" Well...at least this one didn't faint. Would've been a pain in the ass for her to call someone from the delivery committee to do a mailman pickup. "Anyone want some hot chocolate?"
The end.
Author Notes: Well that happened. To be honest it was kinda hard to write this one shot. Since the premise was very simple compared to what I usually do and it's been years since I wrote something for Angelic Layer.
Jin: Who are these guys?
Sen: They sound familiar...
Mako: They're other characters from different CLAMP series. Fai is from Tsubasa, Soma is from RG Veda, and Kohaku is from Wish. I figured since last one shot for this series had a man of many faces reference, I'd keep that tradition going.
Jin: Clever.
Mako: Thank you~
Sen: Too clever...i see what you did there! God the mailman-at least this one didn't faint! I forgot about that.
Jin: Also...isn't the title a hint?
Sen: Hint? Hint to what?
Jin: That Mako wants a break? ...That she's burnt out?
Sen: Nah. Don't see it.
Mako: Well folks with that, it's the end of the one shot. If you like please feel free to follow/fav/review as it would mean so much. Also check out all the other one shots we've done for the holidays~ Tchao for now.