Disclaimer: I don't own Lucky Star. If I did, I would find whoever said 'Yep, I'm gonna take this show, for geeks who will only watch it in Japanese, and dub it with voices chosen by a deaf baboon with an extra chromosome.' Then, I would break into their house at night, and smother them with a pillow.
A pillow made of tigers.
And nails.
Cheerful second chapter beginning!
Anyways, I'd like to thank all the people so far for reviewing! Its great when you can wake up at 3pm, throw something at your Computer's on button, and find a load of alerts in your Inbox. On the request of one reviewer I've turned anonymous reviews on, but I suggest signing in if you can (otherwise I can't reply, and I love doing that).
In return for my writing, everyone else must go write something with a fluff content equal to or greater than this fiction.
Tsukasa stirred in her sleep as someone prodded her midsection.
"Tsukasa, Mom says you have to be up before noon today." Kagami poked at the lump of bed covers again, rolling her eyes as it responded with only a twitch and a muffled groan. Slowly, a head appeared and rose from the blankets, glancing at her before collapsing onto the pillow.
"What time is it?"
"Ten. And you have to get up. You can't sleep like this all through Golden Week. Besides, I'm going in an hour, so I can't wake you up at the usual time."
"Where are you going?"
"Inori's driving me to the furniture store. I'm thinking of getting a new bed, since mines pretty small."
"Oh, mine's fine…"
"Yeah, I know." 'You spend so long in it it'd have to be. Besides, you're like a little kid anyway. Or maybe a Hamster.' "Anyway, if you're not up in the next ten minutes I'll put ice in your bed again." Kagami left the room, and Tsukasa snuggled her head back under her covers. Quickly forgetting about the threat she was about to drift back into sleep until she heard a muffled 'Waah!' and a thump.
"Oneechan?" She asked, peaking her head back out of the warm bedding..
"I'm okay!" Kagami called back. "I just tripped over something. Someone left junk in the middle of my room."
"What junk?" 'I hope it wasn't me.'
"It's… someone's handbag." Kagami walked back into her sister's room holding the offending item. "Is this yours?"
"No." She answered honestly. Her sister shrugged before opening it, poking around inside to find a clue to its owner's identity.
"Hey, its full of school notes." Kagami announced frowning. "Wait a minute… I'd recognise this handwriting anywhere."
"How?"
"Because it looks like someone was holding their pen in their mouth when they wrote it! This is Misao's bag!"
"Oh, she must have left it behind."
"Yeah, great. Now I'll have to take it back before Inori takes me out. If she doesn't get it, she'll forget all about the homework until the next study session."
"I could take it…" Tsukasa found herself saying before she even realised.
"No, you'd have to take it back in the next hour or two. Misao has sports practice today." Kagami dismissed her. The idea of Tsukasa going anywhere outside the house before noon on a non-school day was too bizarre to consider, ordinarily she would just find a warm corner of the house to doze in and stay like that until around three or so.
"I don't mind."
"Really? But you never go out so early." 'That's weird, she seems a lot more… alert now.' Kagami thought to herself. Instead of the dazed sleepy attitude of just a few minutes ago Tsukasa was sitting up straight with her full attention focused. If she hadn't been wearing her bedclothes Kagami could have been fooled into thinking she'd been up for hours.
"Well, I've never been to Misa-Chan's house before. I'd like to see what its like." She said truthfully.
"Oh, well once you've get dressed come downstairs. I'll write down the directions." Kagami walked out of the room, slightly confused and entirely surprised. 'Wow, I guess some things can get her out of bed.'
The moment Kagami had left Tsukasa leapt from the covers, suddenly anxious to figure out what she would wear. After putting on deodorant and going through her clothes she finally decided on a rarely worn yellow sundress to fit the weather. Ordinarily she had tried to avoid it, since the material was thin and in some ways showed off her figure a lot more than she'd usually be happy about. But Misao's words from earlier had stuck perfectly, and she actually felt confident enough to wear it without feeling self-conscious. Now she just hoped her sisters wouldn't comment too much on her change in attitude.
Quickly scurrying over to her dressing table she applied what little makeup she wore on a day to day basis and began to brush her hair. As soon as she was sure she looked presentable, the youngest Hiiragi made her way downstairs, walking into the kitchen where Kagami was scribbling down directions between taking bites of some toast and glancing at a newspaper.
"Wow, you're really up." Kagami said as her sister walked into the room. "I'm just writing down the directions, help yourself to breakfast."
"Thanks." Tsukasa took a piece and bit into it, happy nothing had been said about the way she looked. Unfortunately for her, Matsuri was far more observant.
"Oh, is Tsukasa up already?" The second eldest sister walked into the room amazed, trying to remember the last time she had seen her sister in the morning. "Hey, when did you get that dress?"
"Yeah," Kagami began as she took a second glance at her sister, . "I don't remember it."
"Oh, um… I've had it for ages. I just don't usually wear it." Tsukasa managed to get out, cursing the fact she had three sisters to defend from instead of just one.
"It's really cute. What's the occasion?" Matsuri asked, a small smile breaking on her face. Dress plus unusual behaviour?
"Nothing, I'm just giving Oneechan's friend some school notes."
"Is he cute?" Matsuri asked instantly, to Tsukasa's eternal embarrassment. Even Kagami had almost choked on her food, so the shy younger sister to the two was bright red.
"She's a girl!"
"Oh, I didn't think Kagami knew any guys." Matsuri said slightly disappointed for a moment. "Which one is it? The big boobed smart one, the big headed smart one, the midget or the loud hyperactive one that chews everything?"
"Um…" Tsukasa began, unsure how to react.
"The last one." Kagami replied for her, not looking up from her food. "And you left out immature, annoying, hyperactive and her tiny attention span."
"I said hyperactive." Matsuri replied puzzled.
"Yeah, but you've got to say it more than once for emphasis."
Tsukasa could only fade into the background slightly, surprised that Misao and her sister had really been friends so long when all they had to say about each other were bad things. She was still thinking when Matsuri left, and Kagami began to notice her silence.
"You okay?"
"Huh?" Tsukasa jumped, as she realised just how deep in thought she had been. "Yeah, I was just thinking. You and Misa-Chan don't seem to get on well…"
"We do sometimes. It just doesn't seem like it much." Kagami told her, looking up from the article she was reading. "I guess we have our moments."
"Like with Kona-Chan?"
"A bit, except she doesn't come copying homework every second. And Konata doesn't constantly play tricks on me." 'Much'.
"Tricks?"
"Don't ask…" Kagami told her frowning.
"Okay…" Tsukasa said carefully as she saw her sisters dark distant expression. "So how did you meet her?"
"Well I met Ayano in our first school, and we became friends. Then she told me about Misao, and introduced me, and we just kinda drifted together." Kagami told her idly. "They're pretty much best friends, and Misao doesn't really hang out with anyone else so becoming Ayano's friend meant becoming hers as well." Kagami explained. "It's not like I don't like hanging out with her, she's just annoying a lot."
"She doesn't have other friends?"
"I don't think so." Her sister replied. "I've never seen her with anyone else anyway. I think Ayano told me she had trouble making them when I met her…" Kagami told her, something being dragged up from the depths of her memory. That had been the first day she had met Misao, when she had asked what she was like. Ayano had described the girl as sweet, protective, energetic, pleasant but in need of more company. And whilst several of those properties were certainly there, they were so diluted by so many other less desirable qualities that Kagami had formed an instant love-hate relationship with her that was only kept balance by the careful prodding of her other more peaceful friend.
"But she seemed really friendly…" Tsukasa said sadly.
"She did? How?"
"Well, um…" A light blush formed across her sister's features and Kagami found herself growing ever so slightly suspicious. "I mentioned not a lot of people like me-"
"That's not true!" Kagami interrupted hotly, almost choking on toast for the second time.
"As in dating like me."
"Oh, right." Her sister said awkwardly, not actually disagreeing with the statement.
"Because I'm not as good looking as some people in class." Tsukasa ended her original sentence quietly, her eyes facing the ground in a combination of embarrassment and worry.
"I see, and what she said is why you're wearing a dress that shows yourself off for once?" Kagami asked, catching onto the game.
"Uh-huh." Tsukasa nodded, and her sister smiled. Ayano had sworn to her that Misao could be caring and thoughtful, but until now she had never seen any proof. Apparently it was actually true. 'I'll have to thank her next time I see her, Tsukasa isn't confident enough in herself as it is, and she never really believes me when I compliment her. I wonder what she actually said to her.'
"Well I guess its nice that you've made a new friend, I hope she's less annoying to you than me." Kagami joked. "Anyway, you should probably go sometimes soon, give you plenty of time to get there."
"Okay. I'll just get my jacket."
"Its on the other chair there." Her sister pointed out. "Here are the directions." She said handing the paper to her. "She actually doesn't live far from Yutaka-Chan's classmate, Tamura-San."
"Oh, we went there before with Kona-Chan didn't we?"
"Yeah, it's the same street, so you shouldn't have too much trouble." Kagami replied even whilst wincing, knowing well what her sister's sense of direction was like. She could only hope her instructions were detailed enough.
Tsukasa said her goodbyes and exited the house, walking down the road with the directions firmly clasped in one hand, Misao's handbag in the other. She felt so bizarre doing anything without her own sister that even something as simple as walking somewhere made her slightly lonely at first. After a while however she grew to enjoy the rare time alone, and her thoughts turned to the person she was visiting.
'Oneechan said she doesn't have other friends, but she must meet loads of people at her clubs.' Tsukasa thought to herself. 'So why doesn't she make friends?' It really didn't make sense to the confused girl. If Misao was as friendly as she had been to her people would have been lining up to be her friend. Unless every one of them was like her sister and easily irritated by the actions that she saw as cute - but that didn't seem likely at all. Besides, she got the impression that Misao's annoyances were specifically reserved for Kagami.
'So either she isn't this friendly all the time, or she doesn't try to make more friends?' Tsukasa thought. 'So maybe she only likes certain people? And is only nice to them?' A warm feeling filled her as she realised that Misao had chosen to try and befriend her, and she promised herself she would act just as friendly back.
Eventually Tsukasa reached the park and began walking through it, finding the peace and quiet a pleasant break from walking by the noisy road. All too soon however she passed through the calm midway point and started to Misao's house, taking time every once in a while to wipe the sweat from her eyes under the overly warm sun.
In another twenty minutes the youngest of the Hiiragi sisters was standing outside her sister's friend's house, consulting the paper to make absolutely sure she had the address right. Timidly she stepped forwards and pressed the doorbell, hearing the distant ring coming from somewhere inside the house.
"Coming!" She heard a voice call, though she didn't recognize it. The door opened a few minutes later, and Tsukasa found herself looking up at a young woman with a smile on her face. The woman would have looked almost identical to Misao but for the tiny ponytail on the back of her short hair, and eyes coloured a soft green in stark contrast to Misao's bright amber yellow. She was wearing what seemed to be some kind of jogging suit, and Tsukasa guessed she was every bit as athletic as Misao too.
"Oh Good Morning." She greeted her politely.
"Good morning." Tsukasa returned with a small bow. "Um… I came to give your sister some school notes."
"Sister?" She looked confused for a second before a smile broke out. "Oh, you must want Misao. I'm her mother."
A look of shock shot across Tsukasa's face.
"S-Sorry! I didn't think you were- I mean you don't look old eno- I mean, I didn't-" She rushed out, immediately, hoping she hadn't offended her on their first impression.
"That's okay." The unnamed woman interrupted Tsukasa's ramblings firmly. "It's actually a compliment to know I can pass for someone so young. Mineko Kusakabe, pleased to meet you." She reassured her with a small but warm smile.
"Ts-Tsukasa Hiiragi, pleased to meet you too." She replied, her face still burning with embarrassment over her mistake.
"Please, come in." The younger girl followed her inside the house, sighing as she realised that the house was air conditioned.
"Would you like a cold drink?" Mineko asked, knowing full well how warm it was outside.
"Yes please."
"Juice or ice tea?"
"Juice please Kusakabe-San."
"I'm not that old, you don't need to call me so formally." She chuckled.
"Oh thank you um… is Mineko-Chan okay?"
"That's fine dear."
"Here's you're drink," She said, handing the cold glass to Tsukasa, who had to stop herself from putting to her hot forehead. "If you're not in a rush perhaps we could sit in the main room and chat for a bit? I'm interested in getting to know another of my daughter's friends."
"I'm not really a good friend of Misa-Chan's yet, but I'd be happy to." Following Misao's mother into another room, she took a seat on a large comfy looking chair, Mineko sitting across from her.
"Um, its odd. Misao had the same reaction when I called her 'Kusakabe-San'. Like Mother like Daughter I suppose."
"Oh, you think?" Mineko asked her with a curious smile.
"Yeah… I can tell by looking at you that you two must be a lot alike. Except maybe…"
"Maybe what?"
"I-I shouldn't say, it'd be rude."
"Oh… I see. You think I'm calmer? Less jumpy? Quieter? There's a whole list." She giggled mischievously, well aware of some of her daughter's shortcomings.
Tsukasa didn't say anything, but the way her face turned red gave it away.
"Anyway, even without all that there's definitely a resemblance isn't there?" She asked, putting down some juice in front of the girl and taking a sip from her own.
"Yeah, if it wasn't for the eyes and the…"
"Fang?" Mineko supplied, aware that some people were worried about her daughter being sensitive about her teeth.
"Yeah… if not for those I don't think I'd be able to tell you apart."
"Well she got both from her father. They're genetic."
"Really? I always thought the teeth must have been caps."
"Oh no, they've run in his side of the family for years."
"But, they look so sharp…" They were sharp in fact. Her sister had told her of several occasions where Misao had accidentally bitten herself hard enough to bruise or even puncture the skin, when a normal person might not have even felt any pain. That was far too sharp for a normal human tooth.
"Oh yes, Misao had to get them filed down when they got too big, and she asked the dentist to sharpen them a bit whilst he was at it. But apart from that, they're natural. Look." Mineko pointed to a picture atop the table that Tsukasa hadn't noticed. Picking it up she found herself looking at a pleasant looking young man, who seemed to be laughing at something off picture. It was quite obvious it was Misao's father, albeit at a younger age. He too had the tiger-like yellow eyes, though in this case they were far smaller and sharper looking than the feminine features of his daughter. From the side of his mouth jutted a small prick of ivory white that Tsukasa instantly took to be the Kusakabe heritage.
"They were both big idiots keeping them really, the number of times my husband bit himself by accident. Misao's even worse since hers are sharper. Maybe she keeps them to remind herself of him or something, I have no idea."
"Remind?" Tsukasa asked. "Um… if its not too rude, did something happen to him?"
"Oh, I'm sorry dear. I suppose I left you behind in the conversation there a bit. My Husband died a long time ago."
"I-I'm sorry about that." Tsukasa managed to get out, unsure what else to say. "Um… when?"
"Just a little after Misao was born. She doesn't remember anything about him poor girl." Mineko told her, looking at the picture fondly. "But anyway, that's all in the past. I want to hear all about my little girl's new friend. Hardly anyone ever comes over, I was beginning to think she was some kind of social outcast."
"No one comes over?"
"Well, there's that nice Ayano girl. But she's off with her boyfriend a lot these days so she doesn't visit as much as she did. Oh, and one of our neighbours, Tamura-Chan, comes over quite a lot. But she knew her from before she even went to that school. "
"No one else?"
"Um… sometimes people come with Ayano or Hiyori-Chan. Like that cute little pink haired girl, or that pigtailed girl. Are they her friends too?"
"Um… I don't know about Yu-Chan, but my sister is her friend." 'I think…'
"Oh, your sister is the pigtailed girl? I thought you looked a little similar." The older woman said, almost to herself, before looking back hopefully. "So she's not lonely at all?"
"No, I don't think so. She's always seemed happy with Ayano-Chan mostly."
"Sounds like her. If she has one good friend, more are just distractions. Silly girl." Mineko huffed in frustration at her daughter. "She's possessive like that. Her and Ayano have been best friends so long I'm amazed she even lets anyone else near the girl." 'Wow Ayano-Chan is really lucky. I like Kona-Chan and the others, but I don't have anyone who's really my friend before anyone else…' "Oh well, thank you for telling me about my Misao. Do you want to go give her those notes? You might have to wake her first, she's so lazy she'll be asleep at this time of day."
"That's okay, I don't mind." Tsukasa answered as she stood up. "Thank you very much for the drink."
"No problem. Misao's room is upstairs, last one on the right."
Tsukasa opened the door as gently as she was able to, moving through and closing it behind her quickly, not wanting to wake and daze the other girl with bright lights.
Misao's room was dark and gloomy with the curtains drawn, only the slightest bit of light making it through the gaps in the curtains and illuminating a few basic shapes in the darkness, giving the room the twilight appearance of dawn. There was a desk and a bookshelf, but even in the dark she could see both were covered with random items and even clothes. The floor fared no better, even at her feet she could see the outfit Misao had worn only yesterday, clumped together by the door like she had taken it off all at once as soon as she had gotten in. 'Maybe she's one of those people who likes to be naked when they can be?' Tsukasa wondered, and instantly regretted doing so as her imagination was more than happy to provide embarrassing but intriguing guesses at what Misao looked like without her clothes.
Shaking the thoughts from her head Tsukasa walked across the room to the single bed that held the form of Misao. Leaning over the sleeping figure she found herself captivated but bashful at the scene before her.
The fanged girl was splayed across the bed, tanned flesh only partly covered by the blankets, limbs stretched around herself like a contented cat bathing in the sun. On her face was a small smile and Tsukasa found herself wondering if she was dreaming about anything specific, or whether this was simply how she looked when she slept - relaxed and happy. Moving closer the smaller girl found herself enthralled in watching her, taking in every detail in the carefree tanned face.
Suddenly she frowned as she noticed something, a mark on Misao's skin, just above her eyebrow. Ordinarily her fringe was brushed down to cover it but now that hair was out of the way and Tsukasa found herself looking at what seemed to be a faded but fairly long scar, stretching about an inch and a half across her skin.
"Where did she get that?" Tsukasa wondered aloud, before hushing herself when she saw Misao on the bed. For some reason she really didn't want to wake her. As long as things were kept like this she didn't need to explain her strange behaviour or feelings to anyone, nor did she need to even think too deeply on it herself. She could simply watch her and bask in her presence.
Slowly, almost as if she was stirring from her rest, Misao opened her mouth and moved slightly. Tsukasa held her breath, wandering what she would say in her sleep addled state.
"Ayano-Chan~" The sleeping girl finally called out quietly, before turning in her bed and falling back to a deeper sleep. With those words Tsukasa felt a pang of jealousy. Once again she was reminded of the fact she had no one who was so dedicated to her. But there was something else also, a depth to the feeling she couldn't quite figure out. Tsukasa felt for all the world like she had just found out her best friend liked someone else more, even though she knew that was ridiculous. She hadn't ever even had a real conversation with her before yesterday, there was no way she should feel that close to her.
Slowly, the confused girl put out one hand and stroked it along Misao's cheek, unsure why she was doing it. The girl moved below her, only slightly, and her hypnotism was broken. 'What am I doing??' She thought to herself, genuinely unsure. Shaking her head free of the confusing thoughts Tsukasa backed away from Misao's sleeping form and tried to decide what to do next. In a way she wanted to carry on doing what she had been doing, but another part of knew that there was a definite wrongness to how she was acting.
"Tsukasa?" She jumped at the mention of her name, and turned back to the bed to find Misao sitting up and stretching her arms above her, the covers clinging to her chest against probability in a desperate effort to protect the decency of the world. "What are you doing in my room?"
"You left some notes behind yesterday. Oneechan couldn't come to bring them…" Tsukasa said, holding the girl's handbag in front of her by way of explanation.
"Oh, sorry about that."
"That's okay, I don't mind." Tsukasa replied bashfully.
"Thanks for going to the trouble though."
"It wasn't any trouble, I wanted to come anyway."
"Really?" Misao asked, frowning in confusion. "Why?"
"I was interested in seeing what you're house was like." Tsukasa repeated what she had told her sisters that morning.
"Does it fit?" Misao smiled as she gestured to the mess around her.
"Kinda…"
Tsukasa felt herself heat up as Misao began to rise from the bed, swinging two tanned legs from the side and giving a glimpse of bare thigh which erased all doubt in the smaller girl's mind that the other girl had been sleeping naked. Out of sheer embarrassment Tsukasa turned around before she could see anything else and began to stare intensely at the wall instead, an uncomfortable prickling on the back of her neck telling her Misao was watching her reaction with interest.
"Am I really that bad to look at that you have to turn around like that?" The exposed girl joked behind her even whilst she was looking around for something that could be suitable to wear.
"N-No!" Tsukasa tensed as she felt breath hit her ear, and knew full well that Misao was standing just behind her, probably not even thinking hard about her nudity. Only sheer willpower kept her eyes fixed on the wall in front of her, and she didn't dare move them. "That's not it at all!" She continued. "I think you're-" She stopped, realising she had said too much.
"Think I'm what Imouto?" Misao asked, using her pet name for her.
"I think you're beautiful!" The smaller girl forced out, closing her eyes tightly.
"Wh-What?" Misao stared at Tsukasa, completely unprepared for the sudden compliment. She, the girl wearing the enchanting yellow dress, with the kind face and breathtaking eyes, was calling her beautiful? "Do you really think so?"
"O-Of course." Tsukasa answered honestly, aware that she was saying things that until now had existed only in her subconscious. "You're athletic and tanned and you look perfect…" Tsukasa mumbled. Misao didn't say anything else, instead choosing to put her hand around Tsukasa's shoulder and hugging the smaller girl to her from behind.
"Thanks Imouto, I don't… really get told that sort of thing often." She said awkwardly, even as she hugged her.
"N-No problem. It's just the truth, and you did the same for me yesterday…" Tsukasa found every muscle in her body tense, as she felt the other girl's bare body pressing at her through a very thin shirt. But at the same time, she felt a warm feeling inside her, happy that Misao genuinely appreciated her compliment.
"Um… could you pass me the shorts by your foot?" Misao's voice was suddenly more quiet and subdued, and Tsukasa realised she had actually embarrassed her. Misao, the girl who was fine with being naked with someone she hardly even, was embarrassed by a simple compliment. Looking down Tsukasa found herself looking at the slightly creased but clean item of clothing, and turned around with it outstretched in her hand, her eyes tightly closed out of respect for the other girl's privacy, even if she herself didn't particularly seem to need it. It was taken from her hands and she took the short ruffling sound to be Misao putting it on.
"Okay, you can open your eyes now if you want." Tsukasa did so, and felt her heart leap up to her throat. Misao was standing at her wardrobe with her back to her, busy picking out a shirt to wear. She hadn't yet bothered with a bra, and as such Tsukasa found herself looking at nothing but bare skin and the smooth contours of a tanned back. If she turned around now, the only part of her skin unexposed would be the part the shorts covered.
The smaller of the two girls immediately felt her face burn yet again, turning her head down and fidgeting with her fingers, casting ever so lengthening glances at the girl in front of her. After a few moments more Misao picked out a clean white tank top and pulled it over herself, and Tsukasa noticed she still hadn't put any bra on. Then again, she herself often went without when she wore certain things, since she often didn't need one. Her own assets weren't anywhere near as developed as her sister's were, she was barely any larger than Konata if she was painfully honest with herself.
"You want anything to drink Imouto?" Misao asked as she drew the curtains, wincing slightly as the sudden light hurt her nocturnal eyes.
"No thank you, Your mom just gave me something."
"Oh, ok. Sorry, I'll be back in a second. Just gotta brush my teeth. Got that bad morning taste in my mouth."
Tsukasa nodded and smiled, knowing the feeling. Misao left the room, her feet padding on the floor outside and fading down the hallway. A few seconds later the sound of an electric toothbrush started up, and Tsukasa found herself looking around the room for things of interest. Whilst at first it had seemed messy it wasn't really as bad as she had thought, at least it was fairly clean and uncluttered but for the occasional item thrown about. The only thing that made it untidy were the clothes, that were scattered around like someone had thrown them at random. Apparently Misao didn't care much for her clothing once it was inside her room, or she just didn't see the point in putting it in the wash after she had worn it.
She kind of wished she had noticed her own dress though. The whole point had been to impress her hadn't it?
Eventually, Tsukasa grew tired of standing and sat down on the closest seat she could find, a computer chair near Misao's desk. Almost immediately however she began shifting around uncomfortably, aware she was sitting on something. Lifting herself up slightly she felt around beneath her and picked it out before sitting back down again, holding it between her hands to see what it was.
It looked like a scrunched up piece of white cotton, to the point where Tsukasa's first reaction was to label it was a handkerchief. Then, as she lifted it closer it fell open, and she found herself looking at a big pink heart, printed ever so tastefully on the front of Misao's underwear.
"So… what are you doing playing around with my panties?" A voice whispered by her ear, suggestiveness turned to max. Misao had taken advantage of her bare feet and natural stealth to sneak into the room without her guest even noticing, and hadn't revealed herself until she was standing right behind her.
"NYAAH!!" Tsukasa dropped the panties like they burnt her hand, and span to face the voice, her eyes wide with shock and the shame of being caught even touching someone else's private things, even if they had been draped over her chair.
"Wow, aren't you a bold one?" Misao joked. "I didn't expect to come back here and find you'd been going through my underwear! What kind of person does that?" 'Apart from me of course.' "Such a little perve!"
"I-I-I…" Tsukasa attempted to make a sentence in the face of the cruel accusations, but failed miserably. Misao only realised she had gone too far with her joke when tears appeared in the corners of the smaller girl's eyes, and suddenly guilt hit her like a half-brick to the stomach. If there was a list of things in the world that no Human should have to see, a crying Tsukasa was certainly near the top.
"D-Don't worry, Imouto. I was only joking!"
"Really?" Tsukasa sniffed and wiped her tears on her wrist.
"Of course I was! I know you're not a pervert, you don't need to get so worked up about things." That brought more tears, and Misao realised using a voice like that would only make it seem like she was angry. 'Wow, she's delicate. I guess I'm too used to screwing around with Hiiragi…' These kind of jokes were definitely the kind of things she had to restrict to Kagami, her sister was a completely different person.
"Its just, its just I found them! On the chair…" She sniffed halfway through her rushed attempt at an explanation. "A-And I picked them up. I didn't know they we-"
"Don't worry. I know, I know. And I'm sorry I said that." Misao interrupted with her cooing reassurances. "Just stop crying and come here, you really didn't do anything wrong." She tried to emphasize, as she put her arm around Tsukasa yet again, and this time the small girl responded warmly if slightly hesitantly, no longer worrying about touching Misao since she was now fully clothed.
"Your not gonna tickle me again are you?" Tsukasa joked even whilst tears still filled her eyes.
"Of course not." Misao assured her.
What occurred next would be remembered by Tsukasa as one of the most relaxing moments of her life, as Misao sat down on the bed with her back against the wall and led Tsukasa along with her, meeting little to know resistance as she pulled the girl into an embrace.
Several minutes passed, and what had started as something designed only to comfort the smaller of the two gradually just became two people just enjoying each other's company. Neither of them really said anything, Misao concentrated on sitting back and running her hands through Tsukasa's hair, and Tsukasa concentrated on leaning her head against Misao's chest and listening to the beat of her heart.
But whilst the only thought in Misao's head was how sweet she thought the small girl who lay on her was, Tsukasa's mind was full of questions. Why did she act so strange around Misao? Why did she want to spend time around her so much? Why was her presence so calming? Why was she lying on her chest and listening to her breath without feeling awkward? Something she had only ever done with her sisters, and even then not since she had slipped down the stairs at their shrine and sprained her ankle last year.
The most important question to her was simple however. 'What does Misa-Chan think of me?'
Was this some sort of sudden close friendship? Was Misao simply doing this because she felt she needed comforting, and this was the way to do it? Was it, Tsukasa thought without any idea of the opinion she was meant to take, something more than friendship? The way they were now was almost motherly, she thought to herself as she felt fingers stroke delicately down through her hair and onto her cheek. But there was something underneath that definitely went even further than any sort of maternal instinct Misao could be having, didn't it?
"Feel better again?"
"Yeah… I guess you're good at cheering people up." Tsukasa answered, not lifting her head.
"Thanks, guess I've had practice over the years."
"Should I get up now?" She asked hesitantly.
"Do you want to?"
"No." Tsukasa admitted.
"Then that's your answer."
"Sorry for causing you so much trouble…" Tsukasa apologized solemnly even as she rested her head in the crook of Misao's neck.
"What trouble?" Misao asked in disbelief. "I was the one who was stupid enough to make you cry. Besides, you're so cute, I'm glad I get an excuse to hug you."
Tsukasa's face grew warm and her stomach filled with butterflies at the knowledge that Misao genuinely enjoyed comforting her.
"Misao!!" They were broken from their little world when Misao's mom called from the bottom of the stairs. "Get ready soon okay? You have to be at your club in the next twenty minutes!"
"'Kay!" Misao answered loudly, before turning to the girl beneath her and talking in an altogether more quiet and comforting voice, though unable to conceal her regret. "Sorry Imouto, guess I have to go after all…"
"Okay…" Tsukasa pushed herself up from Misao's side, and immediately missed the steady heartbeat and warmth that the fanged girl had provided. "I should get back too. My sisters will get worried otherwise." Tsukasa said awkwardly. It was so strange to go from such an intimate position back to just being vague acquaintances, the change between the two was jarring.
"Do you want a lift?"
"No, its okay. I can walk. Have a nice time at your club." Tsukasa said distantly.
"I will, enjoy the rest of Golden week okay?" Misao smiled at her, but the smile was fake. In truth she was just as sad to see their embrace end, and once again found herself cursing the fact she did so much sport.
"Thank you, I will." Tsukasa was just about to exit the room when Misao stopped her.
"Hey, I'm going shopping downtown tomorrow… you wouldn't want to come with me would you? Just the two of us…" She offered.
"I'd love to!" Tsukasa answered, life pouring back into her voice as she realised she could see Misao again so soon.
"Great, I'll phone tonight with the details." Misao's voice did the same, and her smile became genuine again.
"I can't wait." Tsukasa told her truthfully, smiling.
"Just make sure you wear something as cute as this dress again." Misao smiled back, and got a small blush for her compliment. "You look really good in it."
"Thanks," Quick as she could Tsukasa leant forwards and hugged Misao tightly, if only for a few seconds. "See you tomorrow!"
The next moment she was gone, and Misao was left in her room alone, wondering just where all this could possibly lead.
Tsukasa practically skipped home.
'She liked my dress!!' She thought ecstatically, her day made by the single comment.
Does anyone else imagine Misao as bit of a nudist? I guess it's the animalistic comparisons or something…
Anyways, had to basically make up Misao's Mom, cause she's never mentioned in the Anime and I don't think she's ever done in the manga (not that I can track the damn thing down). I tried to make her a calmer more sensible version of Misao, personally I think of her as looking something like a slightly more aged version of Matsuri crossed with Misao.
Next chapter next week!