Chapter 5
An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth
Hitomi was now four and half months pregnant and happily cooking in the kitchen, something she'd taken to doing a lot lately. As each month went by she did less and less training and more cooking much to the relief of her mate who never really wanted her to exert herself to much encase it harm the cub or herself. It was one fine afternoon after training that the three high knights were sitting in the kitchens watching Hitomi cook when Kotori came striding in hot and sweaty after a few hard hours training.
"Where's the food I'm starving!"
"Kotori where are your manners!" asked an unusually irate Hitomi.
"What are manners?" asked Kotori smiling.
Hitomi just grumbled and returned to her cooking while Kotori slumped down in a seat next to Sir Blastus.
"Hitomi get me a drink will ya?" Kotori shouted across the room.
"What do want?" she replied.
"Anything" replied Kotori.
"Anything" Hitomi quietly mused.
Kotori struck up a conversation with the knights all oblivious to Hitomi setting to work on her new concoction. Grabbing various ingredients from around the room she placed them on her side bench then retrieved a glass. Looking behind her Hitomi saw Kotori quite happily chatting away so she turned back and started her devious little plan. She firstly filled the glass a third full with warm milk that had been on the stove, she then proceeded to add something that looked like cocoa, salt, pepper, little cold water, syrup, orange juice, apple juice and cinnamon. Looking at the substance it had turned dark brown and a tiny bit gooey it almost looked like form of cola except this wasn't fizzy or cold. She smiled. Walking over to the table Kotori saw Hitomi out of the corner of her eye and held out her hand to take the drink from Hitomi. Perfect thought Hitomi. Kotori took the drink and without a glance drained a quarter of the content before she stopped and apparently started choking. She glared up at Hitomi while unsuccessfully trying to get rid of the awful taste in her mouth.
"Are ya trying to kill me?"
"You said anything"
"I didn't mean poison" retorted Kotori grimacing and the awful substance sliding down to her stomach.
"It isn't poison" stated Hitomi.
"I'd like to see you try it" Kotori said holding up the glass.
"Very well" said Hitomi taking the glass and taking a gulp.
'It's revolting' were her first thought as the gooey substance slowly slid down to her stomach which she could feel all the way. It made her feel slightly sick at its taste but it soon passed and she smiled at Kotori who while Hitomi had been drinking turned very green and ran for the door.
"Problem Kotori?" asked Hitomi.
"I..uhh.." she said opening the door and flying out the room.
A minute later they heard retching from not to far down the corridor.
"Guess she didn't make it" said Hitomi eyeing the drink still in her hand.
"What does that taste like?" one of the knights queried.
"Something completely disgusting" said Hitomi now draining the glass into the sink.
The three knights all looked at one another before laughing.
"Yeah, well Kotori'll learn in future I ain't her slave" justified Hitomi.
After running out of the kitchen Kotori had made it down the short corridor and was turning the bend when she collided with something or someone when her stomach decided the rollercoaster ride was over and she emptied the contents of it.
"Eeww" an all too familiar voice said.
Oh, in all the gummies in the city thought Kotori why did it have to be Ginni? Looking up she saw her head had bashed into his chest and that she'd been sick on none other than his feet, luckily he wore boots. Looking up at his face she saw the grimace and mild disgust at having throw up all over his shoes, but also concern at her well being.
"Sorry Ginni" she muttered and walked past him trying to hide her embarrassed face.
Ginni just remained transfixed to the spot.
"By the way you might wonna change those. After all it's not any incentive for young gummi's to throw themselves at your feet when you've got throw up all over them" he heard her say with slight mirth before she disappeared completely.
His first thought was how she could leave him like this and say such things until he quickly remembered it was Kotori no matter if she was sick or not. Not the love struck knight anymore but the partner in crime to the past pranksters when he had helped Kotori pull off a few pranks his mind supplied she would pay and pay dearly as he now had to walk to the other side of the castle to his quarters in his current state letting the entire city see his situation.
Later in the afternoon Hitomi had discarded her apron for her comfortable training gear and headed out for a good training session with her mate. She only trained with Plucki now as he didn't want her to tire herself out to much and feared any other might not be restrained enough and potentially hurt her, not that he didn't trust his friends, he just didn't want to risk it.
"Gimme your best shot" said Hitomi.
"As my lady wishes" he answered striking out at her, which she managed to block.
This carried late into the afternoon and slumping down on a bench Hitomi voiced her growing concern.
"Where's Kotori?"
"I don't know. I haven't seen her" replied Sir Plucki.
Scanning the grounds in case she'd missed her Hitomi looked, but the results were the same. Kotori wasn't here, strange considering she thought Kotori would be dying to get back in here. Her curiosity peeked she stood up and said,"I'm going to find Kotori"
"I will come with you" said Sir Plucki.
"Kay" said Hitomi walking by his side out of the training grounds.
Two hours later and only a short while till their evening meal and still with no sign of Kotori left them more than a little concerned.
"Where could she be?" Hitomi voiced.
"Hi, Hitomi" a vice interrupted her thoughts.
"Hey Ginni, you seen Kotori?" she asked.
"Err…." He paused a minute and Hitomi could have sworn he blushed a little before answering, "Yeah, she's in he library"
"WHAT!...Thanks Ginni" she said recovering from her shock and speeding down the corridor.
"Oookkaayy!" Ginni said slightly confused at Hitomi's behaviour.
A moment later the library doors swung open and in marched Hitomi followed by two nearly breathless knights who'd had to nearly sprint down the corridor to keep up with Hitomi. Walking up to a table in the back of the library Hitomi announced.
"It's the end of the world, the end of the world is coming…Kotori is studying"
"Why do you say that?" the knights asked.
"Well she never studied at school" replied Hitomi.
"Yeah, but they were boring" replied Kotori, momentarily joining the conversation before going back to her book.
"That's not the point" says Hitomi, slowly inching closer to Kotori then reaching out her hand, so Kotori couldn't see her.
Snatching the book out of Kotori's hands despite the sudden whine of protest Hitomi read the title.
"Oh, my, goodness...hmm"
Hitomi leant forward the quickly felt Kotori's forehead for a second then quickly removed her hand saying "Wow, that's really hot, I mean you must be really sick Kotori, you need to go and see a medic"
This comment causing the other's in the library who knew Kotori well enough and the knights to snigger.
"Hey, I do not" Kotori replied somewhat sulky.
Grabbing the book back she scowled at Hitomi.
"What?" she asked.
"What?" Kotori imitated.
Hitomi laughed then asked, "Why weren't you in training "
"Hmm….I didn't feel like it" answered Kotori.
"WHAT!" shouted Hitomi. "Alright, that's it after dinner you're going straight to a medic, never once in your life have you put books before training"
"Yeah, yeah, can you go now I can't read with you here" said Kotori.
"Wha…." Started Hitomi.
"Hmmm….." said Kotori.
"Oh, alright, but I still think you need help…BIG help" muttered Hitomi walking out of the library with Sir Plucki.
Kotori smiled and went back to reading only to look back up a moment later, "Yes Ginni, can I help you?" she asked somewhat nervous remembering the event earlier that day.
"Well,…..I was just wondering?" he started.
"Yes" Kotori answered trying to encourage him to continue.
"If, you would allow me to escort you to dinner tonight?" he finished.
Kotori sat there silent for a minute leaving Ginni squirming a little until she answered slowly, "Okay"
"Great, I'll meet you at seven" Ginni said smiling then turned and left the library an evil smirk on his face, part 1 of his plan accomplished.
Now all he had to do was get Kotori to dinner and the real plan could commence and while it was nothing to major it would be enough for payback.
TBC…
Please R&R!