Chapter 8: Meisuke and Christmas Party

Taking a final sip from her beer can and finding it empty, Meisuke chucked it into the trash can as she rose, saying, "Alright, it's about time I go check to see how dinner's coming along." Hearing a cough, she turned to find Tohru glaring at her skeptically.

"...and grab myself another beer." The dragoness amended with a sigh.

"Nice to see you being more honest!" Tohru called out as Meisuke retreated into the kitchen. With a smile, she turned back to the table, surprised to find Shouta staring at her, a calculating smile on his face.

Noticing the air was quickly becoming tense and awkward, Tohru offered a quick cough before asking, "So, Shouta, how are you liking the party?"

With a shrug, he answered, "It's the first party I've had in a while, so on the whole it's quite passable. What I'm more interested in," pausing to open his left eye, he finished, "is how much Meisuke is smiling now."

Blinking, Tohru cocked her head with a hum of confusion.

Beginning to frown slightly, Shouta said, "I'm being serious, you know. Meisuke was always so serious; she was an adult from the moment she emerged from her egg. All she ever did was stare and watch with those calculating eyes of hers with a dead expression."

Hanging her head slightly, Tohru considered Shouta's words for a moment before answering, "I'm sure she's not like how you said, but any change that's happened wasn't because of me!" With a small shrug and a self-deprecating smile, she added, "I'm just a regular person... and not a very good one, at that!"

Shaking his head vehemently at her words, Shouta replied, "There's no such thing as ordinary! Especially not when it comes to Meisuke's life! She might seem sort of aloof, but just look at her friends and you can tell what's true!"

Cocking her head to glance over at the television, Tohru took note of Riko, Takeshi, and Makoto huddled around the game a console, a copy of some Dark Souls-ish game running. Although she wasn't sure that she wanted Riko to be around a game like that, she couldn't deny the excited, confident smile she wore on her face as she shouted commands out to Makoto, into the hands of whom Takiya had summarily forced the controller... something about 'testing his butler skill', though she hadn't the slightest idea what video games had to do with being a butler. The dark man in question was calmly advising Takiya, offering scraps of insight and information about the game to Makoto and warning him of traps and secret treasure he would be remiss to forget. The dragon, for his part, seemed to be enjoying himself, happily cheering along with the rest when a powerful enemy fell or a great treasure was obtained (something which appeared to grant him a particularly gratuitous amount of enthusiasm).

"I don't get it." Tohru said. "They seem... normal."

Nodding his head, Shouta replied, "Ah, yes! They do! He's a perfectly normal sort of person... in THIS world! But this behavior is foreign in ours-unheard of! He should be a fearsome beast, roaming the countryside to feed his greed, and yet he's here," he paused, pointing at the dragon in question, "playing with some human as though nothing were out of the ordinary!"

Tilting her head, Tohru considered Shouta's point. "Yeah, but..."

"Don't doubt yourself!" The small dragon cried, turning to point at Tohru. "You may not realize that you are an incredible person in your own right, but one day you will! I have faith in any friend of Meisuke's who can change her like that! We all do! We all believe in you!" With a harrumph, he concluded, "So don't you ever doubt yourself, because you are better than you know!"

Taken aback by Shouta's dramatic outburst, all Tohru could manage was a small nod in response before Meisuke re-entered the room clutching a beer can, saying, "Alright, everybody, food's ready. Dig in when you feel like it."

Turning to Tohru once more, Shouta said, "Ah, yes, sustenance! As this is a party, there must, of course, be alcohol! Tohru, would you like to participate in a small contest of tolerance?"

Waving her hands, Tohru sheepishly answered, "Oh, no, I really shouldn't..."

...

"And I shaid," Tohru shouted, her face flushed tomato red from far to much alcohol, "that the younnng monnnshter butler ish a FASHCINATINGGG evolussion of the concep-pt! It'hs a thouuuughtful deconshtruction wiiiith hiunts of egaaalitar'in ideaaals shuitable f'r the NEW MILLLLLENIUM!"

"N-new," Takeshi answered, his face similarly red, "is no automatic-ically tran-ansitionary valueee of good!" Angrily jabbing a wobbling finger at Tohru, he added, "Jussst becausit-t's a neeew mutatiooon of the ideaaal doesn't-n't assignnn it automatic wo-orth!"

"Can you make out a word they're saying to each other?" Makoto whispered to Meisuke.

"Not a clue." Meisuke whispered back.

...

"Meisuke! Meisuke! Meisuke Meisuke Mei-"

"SHUSH, Riko!" Meisuke cried, twisting on the couch she napped on away from Riko. "Whatever it is, I'm sure that we can deal with it without you shouting at me!"

"What are you TALKING about, Meisuke!? Don't you know what today is!?" Riko shouted back.

Cracking open an eye, Meisuke shot an irritated glance at the calendar across the room. "It's February 14th." She muttered back.

"THAT'S IT!?" Riko cried. "Do you not realize that today is Valentine's Day!?"

"Don't you think you're shouting too much?" Meisuke grumbled. "Plus, it's Saint Valentine's Day, and on those grounds I choose to not care."

Sighing, Riko began to pat the reclining Meisuke's head, much to the elder dragoness's irritation. "Don't you know," Riko began, "That today is SO much more than that!? Valentine's Day isn't about some old fogey! It's about love and lovers! The bonds between those who care for each other!"

After allowing a moment of silence to pass, Meisuke deadpanned, "And...?"

Pouting at Meisuke's indifference, Riko answered, "AND if you don't do anything for Tohru-who cares a lot about you, by the way!-she'll be really sad! I don't want to see her sad, and I bet you don't want that either!"

Sighing, Meisuke rose to a slightly less comfortable sitting position. "Riko," she said, "No matter what, remember this: I care for miss Tohru very, very much, even when it doesn't seem like it." With a sigh, she asked, "So... how do I make sure she doesn't get sad today?"

"With this!" Riko declared, proudly reaching under her shawl and producing a heart-shaped box with a small note labeled 'For: Tohru, From: Meisuke'. With a boastful smile, her forehead brightly shining, she continued, "Today, humans exchange chocolate to show their affection! And I made sure to have this made special!" With a wink, she added, "These are sure to make sure you BOTH have a happy Valentine's day!"

Accepting the box, Meisuke sat and stared at it for a moment. Finally, still gazing at the box, she began, "Riko..."

With a proud smile, the younger dragoness replied, "Yes, my certain-to-be-grateful Big Sis Meisuke?"

Lifting her gaze to stare at young Riko, steel and fire in her eyes, Meisuke said, "There is a human concept known as 'trust'. It is the most sacred of bonds between all living creatures, and is fundamental to all kindness and peace. It takes a lifetime to build, and a moment to lose. It is the ability to place faith in others and believe that faith will not be betrayed." Narrowing her eyes at the younger dragoness (who was now visibly shaking, her smile still present but awkwardly twitching), Meisuke finished, "Knowing this... are you sure I want to take that chocolate and give it to Tohru?"

Beginning to fidget, Riko wavered a moment before finally declaring, "Actually, um, you should make your own chocolate for Tohru! You'll have all day until she comes home, so you should take this opportunity to make some of your own instead of relying on mine because then it wouldn't mean as much!" Swiping the chocolate, Riko dashed away from the older dragoness as she said, "I think I'm going to go read manga and stay out of your way so you should DEFINITELY go do that!"

Stumbling out of the room in her haste, Riko muttered to herself, "Darn, that was close... another second and I would have been found out! I wasted a feather from a sacred dove and a singing stone on the love potion I put in these things, but I'll just have to bite the loss!" Sighing as she walked away, she added, "At least I let Meisuke know how big a deal today is. MAYBE it won't be as intense as I hoped, but it's something." With this and similar ramblings, Riko stopped at the bookshelf before she stalked away, leaving the box sitting on the bookshelf as she picked a volume at random.

"Kekkaishi, huh?" she mumbled as she left in search of a nice spot to curl up and read.

...

Stretching as she rose from the couch, Meisuke took another look at the calendar. "Valentine's Day, huh...?" She wondered aloud. With a sigh, she adjusted her clothes and said, "I guess I ought to go. I don't really get it, but I should still cover my bets. Even if it seems kinda silly, I would never hurt Tohru." Wandering over to the door, Meisuke set off to the market district in search of the ingredients she would need.

...

"Uwaaaaah!" Tohru cried as she stumbled back to her apartment. "Valentine's day suuuuucks! Every year there's a SURGE of creepy guys who try to hit on you when it rolls around! And you look like a jerk if you're too harsh in your rejection, but if you're too soft they'll think they have a shot and just won't leave you alone!" With a groan, she shouted, "Why must life be so cruel to someone so adorableeee?"

Trudging up the stairs to her home, Tohru allowed herself a small, happy sigh. At least she had a classy dragoness butler waiting for her at home; who else could say they had that?

"Huh? Meisuke?" Tohru called as she entered the house. Although the lights were on, she didn't see anyone inside as she entered. Shrugging, Tohru decided that Meisuke must be out shopping. With a small huff, she produced a small box of chocolates from her bag and muttered, "Aw, but I wanted to give her this..." Putting the box away with a sigh, she removed her shoes and entered the house. Pausing for a moment, she began to walk over to her bookshelf as she muttered, "I think I'll read until Meisuke gets back."

Upon arriving, she noticed that a heart-shaped box was sitting on the shelf with a small note on it. Picking it up, she found that the note was a small tag reading 'To: Tohru, From: Meisuke'. With a smile, Tohru hugged the box to her chest. "Aw, Meisuke!" She enthused. "You do care!"

...

"Hey, miss Tohru!" Riko called out as she walked towards the bookshelf to find the young woman standing before it, her back to the young dragoness. "Welcome home! How was wor-"

Riko paused as she took note of the empty chocolate wrappers sitting at Tohru's feet.

"Oh no."

For a moment, Tohru stood perfectly still. This moment was short lived, however, and soon the young woman turned. Riko's heart sunk as she noticed a bright red blush spreading across Tohru's face.

"Umm..." Riko dared, "how are you feeling...?"

Tottering slightly, Tohru stuttered, "Uh... I'm not sure... I feel kinda," she paused for a few blinks before concluding, "...hot?" Glancing down, Tohru's eyes dilated as her gaze settled on Riko.

"Hiya, Riko!" Tohru said in a stage whisper, kneeling down in front of the young dragoness. "How're you feeeeeling?"

Shuffling backwards, Riko ducked away from Tohru's advances. Glancing around for some source of inspiration, all Riko could think to blurt out was, "Uh... Tohru! You're sick! You should go lie down!"

Pausing to consider this for a moment, Tohru eventually nodded. "Yeah," she said, "now that you mention it, I'm feeling kinda off." With a stretch and a yawn, she added, "I think I'm gonna go lie down for a bit."

As she began to wander off towards her room, she threw a sultry glance over her shoulder and asked, "Do you want to come with~?"

"NNNOPE!" Riko shouted, forming an 'x' with her arms. "I'm JUST FINE, thanks! You have a good nap, though!"

With a disappointed awww and another yawn, Tohru wandered off to bed.

...

Meisuke opened the apartment door to find Riko standing at the entrance, a smile far too wide on her face as she rocked back in forth in place. "Heeeeey there, Meisuke!" the younger dragoness said in a voice far too casual to feel normal. "Tohru's feeling kinda sick right now, so you should-"

Pushing past Riko, Meisuke entered the kitchen and set a box of chocolates down onto the counter. Riko skipped after her, inelegantly shouting, "Hey! Hey! Wait! Where are you going!? Stop!"

Glancing over her shoulder at the younger dragoness, Meisuke coldly asked, "...did she find those weird chocolates you made?"

Frightened by the sharp gaze Meisuke was subjecting her to, Riko began to tear up and cry, "Yes! Yes! I'm sorry I didn't think that this would happen and I didn't mean to leave it out but I did and she found them and it's just-"

Riko was interrupted by Meisuke placing a hand upon Riko's head. "Listen," the older dragoness began, "I get it, what you were trying to do. It was foolish, but... nice. Just don't do it again." With a shrug, Meisuke reached into one of the cabinets and produced a bottle. "I'm just going to go in and see Tohru... and give her some medicine to help her get better. It'll be fine, okay?"

With a small nod, Riko hung back and watched Meisuke leave the room.

"Huh." Riko mused after a silent moment had passed. "Maybe they'll have a happy Valentine's Day after all?"

...

"Meisuke..." Tohru muttered. She lay on her bed, a wet cloth draped across her head with her eyes half shut.

"I'm here."

Tohru opened her eyes to find that Meisuke was indeed standing over her, a small smile on her face and a small cup of some sharp-smelling liquid in her hand.

"Meisuke!" Tohru weakly enthused. "You're here! I'm so-" Wrinkling her nose at the smell coming from the cup, Tohru asked, "What IS that?"

Still smiling, Meisuke answered, "Oh, just some medicine... drink it up and get better quick, okay?"

With a nod, Tohru accepted the medicine and downed it with one gulp, scrunching up her whole face in distaste at its bitterness. Considering the flavor a moment, however, Tohru's displeasure turned into confusion and she turned to Meisuke. "Hey," the woman began, "this medicine tastes kinda... familiar..."

"That would be," Meisuke answered with the same smile still in place, "because that medicine was strong alcohol that would get a lightweight like you drunk quick and pass out so you could sleep off the love potion Riko slipped you."

"Wait," Tohru replied, the world turning just the slightest bit fuzzy, "Love Potion? All I did was eat a box of chocolates that were lying around... they said they were from you!"

Pinching her nose, Meisuke said, "Really, Tohru? Would I really just leave a gift for you lying around instead of just giving it to you."

Tohru's face fell.

"Ugh..." Meisuke groaned. "I can't believe that's only occurring to you now. Anyway," Meisuke reached into one of her pockets, producing a chocolate bar in a pink, frilly wrapper decorated with hearts. "Here. I tried to make some, but it didn't go well, so I just bought you some instead."

Blinking as she accepted the bar, Tohru smiled brightly, pointing at a bag in the corner of her room. "Thanks, Meisuke," she said as she began to recline once more and allowed her eyes to close. "I got you something... too..." With a yawn, she fell asleep.

Curiously turning to the bag Tohru had indicated, Meisuke walked over to it and, after rummaging around a bit, produced a large, heart-shaped box with the words 'For Meisuke' written in large, neat characters on the front. With a chuckle, she muttered, "Happy Valentine's Day, Miss Tohru..."

***End of Chapter 8***