So, Imma back with another chapter, which honestly is my longest chapter to date. I'm happy with it too.
Disclaimer: I don't own Mermaid Melody Pichi Pichi Pitch. But, if I was Maxim, I'd be saying 'It's Lively Pitch, then Mermaid Melody, not all this Japanese 'Pichi Pichi' crap! Especially with Mermaid Melody first! It's the subtitle of the series!". Yes, I have been hanging around SPPF/BMGF too much. Kudos to all who get the reference
Now, enjoy Umi, chapter 9!
"Hey…it's me again…"
"Oh, you're back?"
"I was never gone"
"Whatever, get to the damn point!"
"You're, well, not exactly doing it right"
"What?!"
"You're too loud…too impolite…just calm down, and try to act more like a stereotypical princess…like in all those fairy tales!"
"I'm not going to be a poser"
"Please? For the sake, of well, everything that should matter!"
"But things that matter to me are very different to yours"
"Geez! Just do it! You're messing it all up! I would've never asked you to do this for me if you were going to act this way!"
"Wow, if you're going to get this angry, I'll do it!"
"Thank you!..."
And with a small smile exchanged between the two aqua haired girls, the dream faded out.
"Hey! Guess what guys!" Suzumi exclaimed, bounding into Cinnamon Blossoms. Sakura, Noburu, Shizu, Kojirou and even Houko, who were lounging around inside, looked up. Little sounds of 'hmm?' and 'yeah?' arose from them, and Suzumi smiled triumphantly.
"I bought tickets for all of us to go to tomorrow's basket ball game, in the next town, so you all have no excuses to go!" Suzumi cackled, knowing that Sakura and Shizu had no liking for sport whatsoever. However…
"Oh, me a Noburu have a date that night…" Sakura said nervously, nudging Noburu.
"O-oh, yeah, we do, sorry Suzumi-chan" Noburu said, catching on.
"As you know, Kaito won't let me leave the house" Shizu said, pointing out the obvious. Suzumi turned to Houko and Kojirou.
"And lame excuses from you two?" Suzumi asked, getting two heads shaking.
"Great! Now I have three damn tickets left! Who do I invite?!" Suzumi exclaimed, sitting down.
"I'll be happy to go" A smooth, unknown voice said. The group turned to a man who just walked through the door.
"You see, my, uh, girlfriend works there, and I haven't seen her for so long…" The man continued to say. It was silent for a bit, when Suzumi spoke up.
"Okay, first, that was really creepy, in several ways…" Suzumi started, a pretend shiver going down her spine "secondly, sure! I'd love to reunite old lovers!" The man smiled and held out his hand to be shaken.
"I'm Eamon!" He said earnestly, taking off his sunglasses and revealing dazzling blue eyes, which looked strange with his long red hair. Suzumi raised her eyes a bit at his appearance.
"Aren't you…?" she asked, but she then dropped the subject and turned to everyone else.
"So, I'll just be heading out to Shizu's place to get Mr Kaito to stop being such a fucking agoraphobic and get outside and watch basketball!" Suzumi said, walking out of the room. She quickly returned and sighed.
"I'm sorry that I used a bad word around you guys!" she said very quickly, then jogged back to Kaito's apartment. Shizu followed in suite, worrying what Suzumi would say to get her father to go outside.
"Now that I think of it, Kaito probably does have agoraphobia…the fear of going outside" Houko laughed, looking at Kojirou's expression at the new word "He's changed so much, god…" Houko laughed.
"You knew Mr Kaito before I met Shizu and Chiho last year?" Kojirou asked, leaning forward on the glass display cabinet
"Duh, where have you been? We were friends when we were Suzumi's age!" Houko laughed. Everyone looked surprised at that statement.
"Really? I thought you knew each other through the kids!" Kojirou exclaimed.
"Nup, we go way back! He was my best friend's lover!" Houko said, laughing until she became aware of Eamon's lingering presence.
"Oh! Did you want to order anything?!" Houko exclaimed, realising he must've been there for a reason.
"Yes, of course!" Eamon said, eyeing Houko.
"I've found you!" He thought triumphantly, a smirk tugging at his lips as he ordered his food.
A small bus pulled up infront of Cinnamon Blossoms. Houko and Suzumi jumped out of it and stood infront of the small crowd of basketball ticket holders, ready for a hellish car ride and a not so exciting basketball game. How Suzumi convinced them to go was a wonder.
"Look! We hired a mini-bus! Now we can fit all six of you!" Suzumi exclaimed, waving her arms around at the bus "It's so gorgeous! Look at the engine guys!" Suzumi said, running around the front and lifting up the hood. Everyone ignored her and boarded the bus, thanking Houko for getting the bus for them. Suzumi put down the lid and pouted, muttering about how no one liked motors these days.
When everyone was seated, Suzumi stepped up front on grabbed the microphone, since the bus was usually used for tours.
"Okay! Roll call!" Suzumi exclaimed "Houko? Kojirou? Shizu? Kaito? Eamon?" she called, getting a 'hear' or 'yes' from everyone of her called out names. She put the microphone down, then picked it up again.
"This thing is so damn cool! I call it for the entire trip!" Suzumi cried "Lalalalalala! This is so cool!" Suzumi laughed. When Shizu asked to have a turn, Suzumi hugged the microphone protectively, saying "No touching!".
The rest of the ride was hellish. Everyone was tired of Suzumi's voice, everyone joined in when they had to tape her mouth, everyone felt sick at one point and everyone celebrated when they reached the stadium at five in the afternoon.
"Shizu needs to go to the toilet, so I'll take her!" Suzumi exclaimed as she jumped off the top step of the bus, pulling Shizu down with her. Shizu opened her mouth in disagreement, but Suzumi disregarded it and pulled her towards the female toilets, lining up with at least thirty other people. The older passengers exchanged glances of amusement, then hopped out of the bus themselves
"Ah! So exciting! A basketball game!" Houko said, trying to lift the spirits of motion sickness victims behind her. Kaito put on a small smile, still nervous about being outside while Eamon scanned the pamphlet that was just handed to him by a young, silent young woman with myrtle green hair.
"Oh no!" he exclaimed. Houko and Kaito, who were about to start a conversation with each other, spun around and asked 'what?!' in the same worried tone.
"My girlfriend isn't the announcer this game!" he cried "It's…Kinoh Wren!". Houko put her arm around his shoulder.
"No worries! Just enjoy the game!" Houko exclaimed, attempted to lift the man's spirit up. Kojirou, who just woke up from his nap, jumped out of the bus and looked around.
"So, what's happened?" he asked. Eamon straightened up and put on a collected smile.
"Oh, don't worry, my girlfriend isn't in the game after all' Eamon said, faking his sadness. Kojirou made a 'tsk' like sound.
"Well, that's no good…I'm going through girlfriend troubles, if that's any consolation!" Kojirou offered. Eamon smiled politely.
"Thank you for your comfort!" he said, while thinking 'Like I care, dipshit' at the same time. Kojirou smiled nervously, wondering what to say in this company, but Shizu came marching up to Kaito.
"Suzumi just dissed you!" She stated, crossing her arms "She said you were 'effing annoying outside of your dump of a house'". Kaito laughed nervously.
"I'll, uh, try not to be 'annoying'" Kaito said, scratching his head. Shizu rolled her eyes.
"I agree with her you know…you should grow a backbone!" she half-yelled. Kaito mentally winced at this insult. Thankfully, nobody had to bear an awkward silence, as Suzumi came bounding up from the toilets.
"Fuckin' hell Shizu! You scared the living shit outta me!" Suzumi yelled, crossing her arms and imitating Shizu's tone "Don't disappear randomly, okay?!". Houko giggled quietly, then took the tickets out of her pocket and started walking towards the entrance of the stadium.
"It's 10 minutes until the game, let's get going!" Houko chanted half-impatiently. The rest of the group followed suit. As they all lined up, Houko turned to Kaito, who was behind her, and started up a conversation.
"So, remember me?" She said, flashing a smile. Kaito squinted for a second, scratched his head, stroked his chin in bemusement, and then smiled confidently.
"Of course I do, Hanon" he said putting a hand on her shoulder "how could I forget you of all people!'. Kojirou and Suzumi, who were busy competing in a tension-filled rock-paper-scissors tournament, looked at the two adults with mouths agape.
"W-w-w-what?!" Suzumi gasped in pure amazement "You're Hanon. The Hanon who knew Kaito when he was 14 or something?". She went berserk when Hanon nodded.
"HOLY SHIT! DO YOU KNOW HOW LONG WE'VE BEEN LOOKING FOR YOU!?" Suzumi yelled in anger and amazement, attracting many stares "FUCKIN'… YOU BETTER GET YOUR ASS BACK TO YOUR KINGDOM NOW, DAMMIT!". Hanon stared on with surprised eyes, and suddenly burst into laughter.
"I knew it! You were the new Princess!" she laughed, hugging Suzumi "Oh gosh! It's so nice to meet you!". Suzumi was the surprised one this time, then slipped out of Hanon's hug the same time that Hanon let go.
"Whoa…wow" Kojirou said, raising his eyebrows at the situation "Any explanation Houko?.". Hanon giggled and moved forward in the line.
"Nope! Not now at least!" she chanted, being unaware of two huge reactions of the new revelation around her. Eamon was twitching, almost violently, holding himself back from grabbing Hanon and choking or kidnapping her. Conflicting thoughts along the lines of 'Calm down and act civil' and 'Kill the sneaking bitch!' ran through his head.
About 10 metres away, however, the pamphlet holding, myrtle haired girl dropped the pile of pamphlets in her arms. She whipped out her cell phone and dialled her most dialled number.
"Hiro-I mean, Ms Tanake…I don't care that you're busy! I found Hanon!" She shouted into the phone, receiving a yelp of accomplishment from the other end.
"Give her the letter, you dope!" Hiromu cried from the other side of the phone "I need to meet her now!". Kinoh nodded and hung up. She stepped over her dropped pamphlets and made her way to Hanon, drawing out an envelope.
"Hanon, your highness…" Kinoh started, holding out the envelope "Please read this" she said, bowing and handing over the envelope.
"Bwuh…Rina?" Hanon said, taking the envelope. Kinoh shook her head and smiled for the first time in days.
"No, my name is Ms Wren, and not Ms Touin…I didn't change it in a poor attempt of trying to disguise myself, either" Kinoh said, smirking as she turned around and made her way back to her, now crumpled and dirty, pamphlets.
"Uh, wow…" Hanon said, pocketing the envelope "She's not that much like Rina…but man, does she act like her!" Hanon laughed to Kaito. Kaito shrugged in agreement, still confused. Kojirou looked at Kaito, begging for an explanation that might be straightforward, but Kaito just shrugged at him too. Shizu, however, sighed.
"Am I the only one who wants to skip the basketball game and just…go home?" Shizu asked, rubbing at her eye "Or at least stay at a hotel?...". Several hands went up, all except Eamon and Suzumi's.
"What?! But I want to see a game!" Suzumi cried, crossing her arms. When everyone turned to Eamon to hear his reason, he just fished around in his pockets, handed Suzumi the amount his ticket cost, and walked off.
"What a weirdo…" Suzumi said, pocketing the money "He was probably after Shizu or something…" Shizu jumped back a bit from Eamon.
"Creep…" the young girl muttered, shivering at Suzumi's suspicion.
Finding no reason to stay and wanting many questions answered, the group sold their tickets to a group of poor college students wanting to get in, the piled up in the mini-bus and started to the nearest hotel.
"Houko…care to explain?" Kojirou asked the moment the kind woman from the hotel left their room. Hanon rolled her eyes.
"Fine" she said, sitting down on the nearest sofa "In short, I'm a former princess. The princess of what exactly is up to you to find out". Kojirou screwed up his face for a moment.
"No idea…I'm just taking a wild stab in the dark, but…a mermaid princess?" Kojirou asked.
"Bingo!" Suzumi exclaimed. Shizu seemed slightly surprised.
"So, you knew my mother?" Shizu asked, curious.
"Ayup! We knew all the other Princesses too!" Hanon said leaning forwards "And Kaito, who's a special little prince!" Kaito nodded, feeling much more comfortable inside.
"I'm a prince of the Panthalassa clan" Kaito said, not all that proudly. Shizu had a great look of disdain on her face.
"So, what you're saying is that I'm not human at all?" Shizu groaned.
"Now, Shizu!" Kaito said, shaking the girl's shoulder "Does that matter? Not to anyone here!". Shizu didn't answer, but still looked disdained.
"I, infact, feel very…plain at the moment…don't go complaining about being special in any way…" Kojirou said, a tone of bitterness.
"Oh for gods sakes! You're all being stupid about this!" Suzumi snorted "Complaining about being and not being human…I need to listen to what Hanon needs to say!"
"Need? You're just curious like everyone else!" Kojirou snapped.
"Shut up, fucker!" Suzumi yelled, holding her fist in the air "Dammit, I need this information! It's vital for our kingdom!".
"Shut up Suzumi!" Shizu said, pushing her way past Kaito to stare up at Suzumi "Quit acting like you're the only one here who wants to know! So just be quiet, you idiot! You're not living your spoilt princess life anymore!"
"Hah!" Suzumi scoffed, beginning to get pissed off "Spoilt Princess life? Living isolated from everyone else in the kingdom, with nobody to keep my company but my assistant? You're fucking clueless!"
"Oh, be quiet! Don't speak to a child that way!" Hanon yelled, leaning against her palm.
"Suzumi, you don't need to know anymore! I'm a mermaid princess, I'm not anymore, Suzumi is, and that's all you are allowed to know about this situation!" Hanon finished up. Everyone seemed quiet.
"Please? I can get everyone out of the room! Hanon, please I need to know!" Suzumi said weakly.
"No, me and all the other Princesses sworn to secrecy when we left" Hanon said "I explained it all in that letter I sent you, even though I was the only one who said everything to their replacement…why are you even questioning me?"
"What letter?" Suzumi asked blankly, bored of the conversation now that she knew that she'd get no information.
"You know? The letter I sent before you were born? I told you every reason!" Hanon asked, getting a bit concerned.
"Ummm" Suzumi thought, looking alarmed and startled "I…I'm not sure" she said "You must've sent it to the wrong person…actually…yeah, you did". Hanon groaned.
"What are you talking about? I sent it to the Kingdom, not just one person!" Hanon asked "Spill, Suzumi! There's been something up with you ever since you've reappeared!". Suzumi looked at her hands, which were digging into her skin and leaving small nail marks, guiltily. It was silent for a minute, until Suzumi looked up confidentially.
"I will when you tell!" she said, winking playfully.
"Fine! I'll only tell when you find at least two other Princesses!" Hanon said, shaking hands with a now enthusiastic Suzumi.
"Ha! Sakura and I have to leave in two days anyway!" Suzumi said "Not our problem anymore!". Hanon and everyone looked disappointed.
"Really? Why?" Shizu asked, sitting down next to her father.
"I'll only spill when Hanon does!" Suzumi said, winking. Hanon smirked, then turned serious.
"Now, everyone, listen" she said, making sure everyone was listening intently "Never, ever call me Hanon again…saying that infront of Eamon, a stranger, was risky enough! My name is Houko Habuke, and not Hanon Hoshou!" when everyone nodded, Hanon stood up and went towards the door.
"Sleep up everyone, I'll be back soon…I need to go meet someone" Hanon said. Everyone chanted "Night, Houko!" to confirm that they got her message, as she closed the door and ran downstairs, zipping up her jacket and pulling up her hoodie, ready to drive back to the stadium in the rain.
"Hanon-sama!" a strong, confident voice drawled "I was getting a tad impatient!"
"Hiromu-sama…you've always been impatient" a cool voice responded.
"Touché…" Hiromu replied, putting out her hand to shake with Hanon. Hanon took it, gave it a firm shake, then let go. The shadows from the small wall light that was above the two left the two with the right sides of their faces in shadows. The light kept flashing like a fire, allowing the shadows to move as they willed.
"You're hand's awfully cold…have you became such a distant being from any kind of species that you lost your blood temperature?" Hanon said, slipping the snide remark. Hiromu's face grew from sarcastically amused to hurt.
"I'd prefer not to talk about that, Hanon…" Hiromu sniffed, suddenly retaining her amused face "I want to talk about you"
"I know, you want me to come back? Are you tired of that boisterous Suzumi ruling that kingdom?"
"She hasn't ruled anything"
"But she's 13, no?"
"That Suzumi's 14"
"So there's two Suzumis?"
"There's one Suzumi!" Hiromu said, feeling quite irate "Quit changing the subject!"
"Fine, Hiromu, but get to the point"
"I don't want you to come back…I want you to stay where you are until we find the other princesses. But, my assistant, Ms Wren, said that she saw you with this man" Hiromu said, holding put a picture of a younger Eamon.
"Yes, I lent him some tickets so he could see his girlfriend, who was an announcer…"
"Fuck him! He's trying to kill us, Hanon!" Hiromu said, looking panicked "He came that close to getting me and you…he heard you say you were Hanon Hoshou!"
"And?"
"Hanon…" Hiromu pleaded, putting her hands on Hanon's shoulders "Please, go into hiding, like Kaito…I heard you live in the same place as Kaito does…please, stay with him!"
"I will, I have no intention of dying…but answer me this Hiromu"
"Yes?"
"Why do you care so much about us? You don't belong to our world, yet you try to run it perfectly and you care so much for every one of us…even if that's made you give up so much and get angry when we mess up, even though you want the best for us…like a mother?" Hanon said, her question turning into almost mindless blabber.
Hiromu looked down at the ground, taking a step back from Hanon, and smiled bitterly.
"Because…I once loved a mermaid…and I wanted to do everything I could for her kingdom and life…no matter how fast she was dying…" Hiromu laughed bitterly
"I'm still confused...but I'm sure you have reasons" Hanon said, giving Hiromu a quick one armed hug before turning towards the rain.
"I'll see you again, Hiromu!" Hanon laughed, flashing a quick smile before dashing through the rain and into the bus. Hiromu watched her drive away until she could no longer pick out the lights of Hanon's bus from all the other cars on the busy highway.
"Estrella-chan…" Hiromu laughed lightly, slumping down and leaning against the brick back wall of the stadium. She gazed at the rain that was bucketing down, before turning her attention to Kinoh, who was running towards her, telling her something about not sitting in the rain like a hobo.
"Estrella-chan, I've done your daughter well, haven't I?" Hiromu whispered, before standing up to go greet Kinoh.
So. Long. ''
No matter, hope you enjoyed the story and will give me some nice reviews and concrit. Not flames though. I want to save my laughter for 'The Black Adder'.