(Lidia- HEYYYYYY! This took long but I've been busy so…yeah. Anyway. On the bright side, while I was taking so long, I was writing down abbreviated summaries to each chapter from start to finish to make this whole typing thing faster for me. Or a little faster anyway. So there will be previews at the end. I might change them though but I won't try to. Oh, and since I was in a hurry, there might be grammar mistakes. Sry! Didn't have time to check…
Reviews:
Saphimire Karishnikova- I had to copy and paste your name because I was sure I was going to spell it wrong. Lol Thanks for the review! To be honest, I just type down whatever pops into my head while I'm at the computer. Writing drafts and retyping what I have written would bore me and take forever anyway.
KeraJeir- Thanks! Happy Birthday to your friend too! I didn't think of the question as much of a cliffhanger. I could have done something dramatic like WILL SHE LIVE? To be continued. Now that would have really pissed people off right?
Invisible Love- Thanks! I type slow enough already, do ya know how long it takes me to type out a conversation with Sanma? Lol /still lmao about your last sentence/ thanks for the review.
Rain181- I'm glad you liked this one! It's kinda dark in this one, but then again, I foresee worse. Lol. Thanks for the review.
Kaiba-queen- Thanks! And I turned 15. I just didn't think anyone was going to care to ask. Lmao if I let Kagura just get rid of Mawata then it wouldn't be that interesting. Easier for Kagura, yes, but not very interesting. LMAO you what! For TWO HOURS/falls out of chair/ this is why I love reviews. You people are funny. Yes he does love Kagura, just to clear that up. Tell your sister I said HI! Thanks for the review/still laughing/.
Sailormoonhannah- Thanks! My brother's knee is getting better. I remember one time he made me REALLY angry. He kept calling me for unnecessary stuff and kept using his injury as an excuse for everything. So one day, I really had to go to the bathroom and he was blocking the hall. And I know he can't walk that fast but he walks fast enough. /note, what I'm about to do is cruel/ He was walking slow on purpose and laughing at me so I kicked the crutch he was using for support from under him. He didn't hit the floor or anything. Just wobbled and had to use the wall to stay up before he fell. I walked past him and got to the bathroom! Hooray for me! And I waited a while cuz I know he can't bend over to pick up his crutch. Lol. I'm an evil little sister. I go in trouble but he started it. You and your brother got type 1? So does my mom, she use to have type 2 but she couldn't stay off the sugar. lol. I swear she was hiding it. It would really suck for me cuz I flinch when I see needles. It doesn't hurt and I don't know why, I just do. Geez this response is long.)
Field Full of Daisies- As Happy As the Holidays Get
Mawata stared at Kagura, and she was sure it was pure hate in her eyes. Hate for that cokcy attitude, that cocky grin, her in general! "Where do you get off threatening to kill me?"
Kagura was taken aback, just slightly, but somehow, Mawata knew that look of shock was just an act. And what came out of her mouth next assured her assumption. "I don't remember saying 'Mawata, I'm going to kill you'. Or at least…I don't remember saying it out loud. If I did, I apologize. It's rude to just blurt out threats like that-"
"How do you expect me to talk sincerely to you. You take everything like it's a damn joke!"
Kagura grinned again. "It's when I start having fun that you should be worried. And you, I'm soon finding out, are a lot of fun. Me being the evil one, it would only make it even better if the brave heroine's arch nemesis was a little crazy. By the way, you never did answer my question."
"Even if you shot me right here, right now, how would you get rid of the body eh?"
"Eh, I was supposed to throw out the trash a long time ago. No one's going to notice if I throw out two bags. And they come to pick up the trash tomorrow morning! How convenient for me!"
"And the bullet hole in the couch?"
"If you shoot the upper torso, the top of your rib cage, the bullet will get caught in all the matter…or at least that's what I heard. Then I burn my clothes since they'll probably be covered in your blood and gun powder residue, take a shower, and be back before the idiots next door even notice I'm gone. I haven't done this in a while so it might take me a little longer than it used to. You should have seen it. I had to get rid of this old guy. It was a job. He was fricken HUGE! Five hundred pounds of rich pompous fat. I had to use a fork lift for him."
Mawata looked disgusted. Besides, there was no way what she was spouting off was true. "You know what I think. I think you're just like Kyoko. Making empty threats."
Kagura laughed. "You were right then. You haven't heard much of the rumors-"
"And I don't think you're going to shoot me. When we get back to school, if I see you with Sasame, the whole school's going to know about you being a gang banging whore."
"You finished?"
Mawata sneered at her and was about to stand when Kagura pointed the gun at her, cocked it back, and pulled the trigger. There was a loud click and the room grew deadly silent. Mawata stopped moving, and so did her heart. Her eyes were wide as saucers and her mouth dropped slightly. "Y-Y-You A-Actually tried to SHOOT ME!"
"Yeah? Why no bang no fall down dead?" Kagura asked like a small child. She examined her gun to see if it had locked up on her, then she laughed at her stupidity. "OH! I can't believe I forgot! The safety's still on. Okay, this time, hold still. It's a real pain when you move around." Kagura prepared to fire at the frightened girl again when there was a knock at the door. She sighed and put her gun and sword away, knowing it was probably someone next door coming to check on her. Nosy bastards…
Now Mawata had the upper hand. Kagura sure as hell wasn't going to shoot her with someone at the front door. "Take what I said into consideration," she smirked, still highly flustered by being shot at.
"Will do," Kagura winked, pointing a gun sign at her with her fingers. Mawata was again, disturbed, but hurried to get out of the house. Kagura took her time packing the gun far at the bottom of the bag and placed the sword back inside. Lucky bitch…I'm seriously going to hurt the bastard that interrupted. She quickly took the bag up stairs, threw it in her closet, and ran back down. By this time, Mawata was in her car and driving down the street while Sasame waited in the living room. "Whaddya want? I was gonna be there eventually."
"I doubt it. You probably would have stayed here until you had to come over. Himeno said if she has to wait, then you do too."
Kagura's smile was twitchy. That was why they interrupted? And I bet Mawata was a real bleeder too. This sucks. I never get to have any fun cuz of whiny Hime. Her own mind bit back at her with a quick 'who's whining now', but she ignored it. When she noticed Sasame staring up at her with a smile on his face, she looked at him weird. "What are you so smiley about?"
"I'm just wondering why you're still standing there." Kagura blushed a little, realizing she probably looked stupid just standing there thinking to herself. Now she walked down the stairs and kicked Sasame on the leg. "What was that for!"
Well, she did say she was going to hurt whomever it was that interrupted. "No reason."
"Why was Mawata in such a hurry to leave? I asked her did she want to stay and she said 'maybe some other time'. What'd you say to her? What'd she want to talk to you about anyway?"
Kagura sighed. See what I mean by a billion questions? Sasame was raised a brow at her when she hesitated to answer. "I couldn't say. It's a girl thing. If she wants you to know then she'll tell you." Sasame looked at her oddly again, but in a way, it was true. It was a girl thing. And she would tell him when she wanted to. Only wrong thing was that Kagura could tell him and it would make sense but it would just ruin the holidays, and make him worry about things he would be better off not knowing about. What Mawata said did annoy Kagura though. "You and your affiliated gang problems won't bring him anything but trouble." She had a point. Maki did tend to lash out on the wrong people. When she said she was leaving, he threatened to kill her sister. It was pretty obvious to everyone that she was the reason Kagura left.
"Well, as long as we're here, we should have that talk I put off 'til now. About yesterday. How'd you actually cut yourself and why were you in such a hurry to leave. You're not hurting yourself are you?"
Kagura looked at him disbelieving but he kept a stern frown on his face so she frowned to. The next thing Sasame knew, Kagura's foot came crashing with his leg again. "I can't believe you'd even THINK something that STUPID!"
"Then who hit you?"
Kagura paused for a moment. "You know what. I might as well tell you the truth. You're right. I am hurting myself."
"Kagura!"
"I think I hear your mother pulling up in the driveway. We should go!" Kagura rushed out the door, leaving Sasame in the house by himself.
She never explains herself unless I find out, and even then, she keeps the whole truth to herself. Sasame was a little annoyed but walked next door to his house anyway. And to his surprise, his mother's car actually was in the driveway, along with a rented van. As soon as he opened the door his mother slapped him across the head.
"I told you to wait here! I can't believe the neighbors were here to greet your own family and you weren't!" Kagura was seated on the couch beside Himeno laughing but Sasame just frowned at her. When she noticed, she rolled her eyes.
He'll get over it. Then, out of nowhere Shin and Hajime jumped on her.
"Kagi-Nee!"
"Kagi-Nee!"
"…wha?"
"You're going to play outside with us right?"
"Right?"
"Eh…since when did you two start calling me Kagi-…nee?"
"I told you you'd make a great mommy," Himeno teased.
"Shut it!"
"Where's my grandson! I said where is he!"
Sasame flinched. Oh no… "H-Hi grandma," he smiled. And old lady white hair as white as the snow outside approached him with a cane helping her walk.
"You wait 'til now to say hi to your dear old grandmother? And why didn't you call me? You forgot about me already? You too busy for me?"
"N-No not at all."
"Give me a hug Goh."
"It's Sasame."
"Sasame?" She seemed to open her wrinkled eyes a little wider. "Oh, I'm so sorry. You know you're my favorite grandson."
"You say that to everybody, grandma."
"But this time I mean it." The old lady noticed Kagura and Himeno staring and laughing, so she approached them. "And who are you two? I don't remember you. What are you doing in my daughter's house!"
"We were invited. And I don't exactly remember you either gramps."
"Kagura! Stop being rude!"
"The old lady started it."
Ayanami approached with a nervous smile on her face. "Mother, these are the two girls I told you about, Kagura and Himeno. The neighbors. Girls, this is my mother. She wasn't here last time because the doctor suggested she not fly. She was sick."
"It's nice to meet you," Himeno smiled.
The old woman smiled back. "Such manners with this one. Too bad I can't say the same for the sister."
"Bite me with your denchers grandma." The old woman grabbed Kagura by the ear and pulled on it hard. "What the hell! Let go!"
"Now you listen here. I'm not going to tolerate that back talk. Do you understand me?"
Kagura was about to shout out another insult when Himeno elbowed her in the ribs. She sighed. "Yes ma'am." When she let go, Kagura muttered something that sounded a bit like 'old hag' but the woman didn't hear. Or she heard but didn't say anything.
"Oi! Who built the fort outside!" Mannen shouted, pressing his face to the glass patio door. "C'mon! I wanna have a snowball fight outside!"
"Stop shouting like an idiot." Goh picked Mannen up in a headlock.
"No. I wanna build a snowman. C'mon Kagi-nee." Shin and Hajime grabbed her and yanked her up from the couch.
"Wait! It's cold! I don't want to!" she objected but they dragged her out the door anyway. "At least let me get my shoes!" Himeno laughed.
"I'm going to go too before she lashes out on one of them." Himeno put her boots on and grabbed Kagura's shoes before joining the three in the front yard.
"Well if there isn't going to be a snowball fight, I might as well go make a stupid snowman." Mannen walked out into the front yard a little disappointed.
"It's early and I'm tired," Sasame lied. "So if you'll excuse me, I'm taking a nap."
He walked up the stairs. "What's his problem?" Kei asked. Hayate sighed, then grunted what sounded like an 'I don't know'. "Well aren't you the concerned brother," he said, a bit sarcastic.
"You know when he gets like that, it's best to leave him alone and let him sleep it off."
"You're probably right. So, what I hear is, you have a thing for the neighbor, Himeno?"
"WHAT!" It became quiet in the room and people stared at he and Kei.
"No need to be so loud." Kei smirked a little.
"Who told you something like that?"
"I heard my mother speaking with yours. It must be true if you're going to shout so loudly about it."
"It's not!"
"You're shouting again."
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"Don't you think you're over reacting? Eh? Just a little." Kagura walked circles around him. "There's gotta be a good reason why she didn't tell you."
Sasame frowned further. "That's not the problem. Her constant lying and half truths are."
Kagura pouted like a small child being scolded. He was mad at her out there so he caught an attitude with her here. She finally stopped walking around him and plopped down beside him.
"What are you to her, eh? Kagura. What are you to her?"
Sasame looked confused. "What do you mean?"
"I mean what I asked. What are you to her?"
"Her…boyfriend I guess." His dream Kagura smiled at him.
"Does she know that?"
"Ye-"
"Think before you lieeee."
Sasame sat there a while. Dream Kagura must have spent WAY too much time in this field alone. "I guess I didn't really SAY it but-"
"Then SAY it. You expect the girl to tell you everything and you're not even her boyfriend. After you say it, if she still doesn't tell you what happened, then trust me when I say, you're better off not knowing."
"How would you know?"
"How would you NOT know? Stop worrying about what she's not telling you. All she cares about is whether you'll be there if something actually happens. That's all you need to worry about. Anything else is probably one of those secrets you'd like to keep to yourself. Or do you want to tell Kagura that, deep down, in the depths of your mind…you still have a thing for Mawata?"
Sasame jolted up from his position on his bed. And, as if the dream wasn't shock enough, Kagura was there beside him. She'd…fallen asleep…in his bed. Why did fate have me born into 'this' family, of all the families in the world. I've got the weirdest one. He looked back down at Kagura's sleeping face. Her hair was a mess and it seemed the cut she'd had yesterday night was healing fast. Her mouth was parted open, and you really wouldn't be able to tell if she was asleep or dead if it wasn't for the rise and fall of her chest. Otherwise, she slept deadly quiet. And he didn't seem that annoyed anymore. Maybe his dream had a point. Besides, there's a logical reason for everything right?….right? He laid back down, slung an arm over her, and went back to sleep. Though, that peace didn't last long, soon the cracked open door pushed open even more and in trotted a small dog. It, having never seen Kagura actually inside the house, hadn't taken too kindly to Kagura. Kagura's hand was hanging off the edge of the bed, and Matty bit it, rather hard for a small dog. A small dog who thought he was a guard dog. Kagura screamed and bolted up right. Her scream startled Sasame from his sleep, and others downstairs. The dog started barking rather loudly at her, adding to the noise. In how abruptly she'd woken up, she hadn't noticed when she flung Sasame's arm off of her.
"You're dead you damn dog! That hurt!" She picked it up and tried stuffing it out the window but it wouldn't unlock it's jaws from her arm.
"Kagura stop that! That's Shin's dog," Sasame said before a few of the boys heard the commotion and came running up the stairs. Hayate smirked and grabbed the dog from Kagura.
"Was that ugly punk bothering you?"
Kagura kicked Hayate. "I didn't do anything! That damn dog just bit me."
"Good Matty. You're a great guard dog. Let's go get you a cookie," Hayate laughed. He walked down the stairs with the dog in hand and Shin and Hajime came barreling up to her.
"There you are Kagi-nee!"
Kagura froze and stared down at the two children. Oh god no… "H-Hey," she replied with a twitchy smile. Before she could get another word out, they were yanking her down the stairs to play with them again.
"What was Kagura doing up here anyway?" Goh asked, eyeing Sasame suspiciously. But he had the most adorable grin on his face.
Sasame froze for a moment, but countered by rolling his eyes. "How am I supposed to know. I was asleep."
Goh frowned now. "Is something going on that I don't know about?" Kei chuckled and left the room and Goh frowned further. He didn't like being kept out of the loop.
"Nothing you should worry about Goh."
"Aw c'mon! We're cousins. And Kei knows. Why don't you tell me?"
"I didn't say anything to Kei. Now leave me alone. I'm trying to go back to sleep."
Goh was about to say something else when a loud argument from down stairs was overheard. "LET GO OLD LADY!"
"Don't you speak to your elders in such a tone! Young ones these days, no respect at all."
"I said LET GO YOU HAG! That hurts! Don't make me kick that cane from under you!"
"I should take this cane and beat you with it!"
There were more shouts and Sasame covered his delicate ears. "How am I supposed to sleep with them going at it?"
"That girl's terrorizing your grandmother and all you can think about is getting a good nap?" Goh asked. When he saw Sasame roll over, he sighed. "I leave you alone…for now."
Sasame flinched. But then again, this was Goh. Easily distracted clueless Goh. He'd forget about his interrogation later. Sasame's face burned red for the moment though. Kagura being asleep in his bed? That was a secondary concern that he wasn't really protesting either. It wasn't that, it was her disshelved yet peaceful way she slept that made him worry about himself. He felt like he'd seen her like that before. Like an unusual de ja vu feeling you get when you've been somewhere or witnessed something in a dream or past life maybe? He shook his head and took his extra pillow to sandwich his face. There he went, letting his mother's family story ranting influence the way he thought again. He remembered, back around the time when his father and both Hayate's parents were still alive. It hit a sore spot, remembering his father without having thought about him in so long, but that wasn't what this memory was about. He and Hayate were sitting in the living room of this very house, listening to his mother tell them a shortened version of the family story and how they played a role in it. Hayate, being the reincarnated Knight of Wind. Sasame, the Knight of Sound. Hayate's mother, took much enjoyment in hearing the story again. After the great tragedy, the suicide of the Pretear Princess of Sound, these souls were thrown into a type of array. None really wanting to be set a peace due to their own reasons. The one most heard about, the saddest one, being the one that involved he. The Princess of Sound passed off a bit of her heart, sacrificing some of her heart so the knight would never forget her. Sacrificing her happiness, and, in a way, a bit of her own sadness she couldn't hold away. He wouldn't have to remember any negative emotions, only dream of the good in her. She'd wander the world in her every time brought back to this world, looking for her knight, searching for her missing half of her heart, and he would be looking for her, wanting to make her happy being his main objective. When this happened, everything else would work themselves out. The souls of those from long ago, their family's past, would rest in peace with their reincarnation's death. Sasame wouldn't have given the fanciful story a second thought if it weren't for the way the birth cycle worked. If you traced the blood line back to the original parents of the story, or as high as you could trace it back, you'd find that every child was female, only every seventh being a round of sons, reincarnations of knights. Or did you not find it strange how each sister had a son? Each sister could only bear on child? It was too much of an eerie coincidence for him not to take it into consideration, and Kagura…was his princess. Sasame rolled onto his back and stared at the ceiling. Not de ja vu, old unobtainable memories. Memories he wanted and at the same time, was probably better off not knowing about. That's why he felt so good waking with her there beside him. The Knight sleeps as though his princess will come. Leaves a space, should she come to him in the night, she would know she was welcomed and definitely not forgotten. There were times when Sasame tried to prove it wrong. His bed was big, surely he could take advantage of that and sleep the way anyone would with a bed all to themselves. Right in the middle, sprawled out in lazy sleep. He tried, stayed in that spot 'til his body gave up consciousness right there. And guess what? That damned subconscious of his would roll him over to his side in his sleep. Sasame sighed. Then there was that time, the thing his dream Kagura warned him about. Just thinking about it made his face flare bright red, even if he did think it was stupid. To have been a lady-killer up until this one showed up. It was embarrassing. To an extent anyway. But then again, she was easily embarrassed in her own way. Sasame found his thoughts straying away from his previous thoughts. Everytime the topic of that dream came up in his head, he tended to do that. It wasn't anything deadly. Torturous to himself but certainly, he couldn't die from sexual tension. The warning being that, his first time with her would be pushed. He didn't quite understand it until that night Kagura came in. Or he invited her in anway. It was the same night Hayate had gotten sick and his mother took him to the emergency room. He didn't know where she was coming back from, but, for the moment, he was just glad to see her. Happier than usual actually, which struck him as weird at first. When she sat so close, laid her head in his lap and pressed her face to his abdomen in what looked like an attempt at a nap or a reaction, she surely wouldn't have gotten the nap. Though, he knew what he was doing and he did want to, it wasn't his own shy will, spurring him into doing it. He couldn't keep his hands off of her. And she wasn't making it any easier on him. It was harder to stop, hearing that she wouldn't make a sound to respond to his gentle caress or nibbles on her neck. Though, he could hear her ragged breaths. He remembered with clear, yet cloudy, darkened vision, staring down at her through half lidded eyes. There was just one primitive need nagging at his mind. "I'll stop if you want."
"N- o." She almost immediately looked away, face as red, or even darker than her hair. Her voice was cracked and sounded a little desperate. The mere memory brought a smile to his face. That's when he realized it, and thought himself stupid for not noticing it before. She was holding it in. That does sound like something Kagura would do. Too concerned with sounding weak. In fact…he'd never heard her cry before. Not even when she told him she was raped. She said it like she didn't care. Or like she didn't want to care. But, all that aside, that's why he kicked her out. The phone rang, and with the little sense he had left, he told her to leave. He couldn't risk being left alone with her, which his mother was intent on leaving them alone very often. "What kind of family was I born into?" He remembered who called too…Mawata. Never had she called so often as when Kagura showed up. But Sasame didn't seem to take much notice to that. Just then, his door swung open. A red blur moved swift and dove under his bed. "Kagura?"
"Shut up!" she said in a harsh whisper.
Sasame's grandmother popped into the room. "That ruffian girl ran up here. Did you see where she went, Kei?"
"It's Sasame, grandma."
"Right. You always were my favorite."
"I've heard."
"Did you see where that rude girl went?"
"I didn't see her. She probably jumped out the window though."
"Out the window?"
"Yeah. Crazy, I know, but it sounds like something she'd do so she's probably home by now."
"Just wait until I see that disrespectful child again," the old woman mumbled under her breath before going back downstairs. Sasame got up and closed his door again.
"You can come out now." Kagura poked her head out first before sliding completely out from under the bed.
"You need to keep that crazy woman on a leash." Kagura rubbed her ear. "Or stick her in an old folks home."
"It's not like you to run from old ladies," Sasame teased. Kagura just glared at him.
"She's your family but I could always re-think pushing her down the stairs." Sasame swalloed the lump in his throat and gave a nervous smile. Kagura's glare subsided. "But then again, I'd probably end up getting pulled down with her. You're grandmother's a tough old hag."
Sasame looked confused for a moment. Was that supposed to be a compliment?
"Besides, Kei, you are her favorite grandson."
Now Sasame winced. "Funny. She's been like that ever since she turned 60. Just have to remind her."
Himeno popped her head in the door. "Ah, so you were hiding in here. I don't mean to interrupt but Yayoi's here Onee-chan."
"Ah, I'll be down in a minute." Great…that hag's down there…
Sasame noticed Kagura flinch and sighed. "It could be worse. She completely ignored Mawata. If she didn't like you, she wouldn't pay you any attention." Just like the old story, the elder advisor and the Princess of Sound never got along. Liked each other…but never really got along. And the elder never really paid too much attention to the Princess of light…Mawata. Heh, but she won't even talk to Kei.
"Wish she'd ignore me," Kaura frowned.
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"This is perfect! Tetsu's going to love it!"
"I can think of something the pervert would want more."
"Not that again! Kagura, Tetsu's not a pervert! He's kind and sweet and treats me like the princess I am."
"PER-VERT. He just wants to sleep with you. Naïve little Hime."
Kagura, Himeno, and Yayoi were riding the bus away from the shopping complex. Himeno had saved a large portion of her money that her counselor had given her when they first moved in with Sanma. She was sure she thought Kagura had spent all of hers but apparently not. In actuality, Kagura did spend all of hers, but stopped at an ATM while Himeno and Yayoi were in a store to take money from her account. They were now on their way home. Yayoi tried her best to be kept out of the conversation.
"Yayoi, you've met Tetsu right? Tell Kagura he's not like that."
Yayoi flinched. "Well, I haven't talked to him or really. Just once and that was just because he was on his way to the principals office."
Kagura frowned. She didn't want to go Christmas shopping to begin with. And on top of buying a Christmas gift, she had to get that Baka a birthday gift too. Himeno reminded her anyway. Kagura thought it was stupid but got one anyway. Just then, to change the conversation, Himeno poked one of Kagura's earrings she had put in the side of her ear. "I want one. Did it hurt?"
"You're not getting one and yeah, it hurt."
"You can't tell me what to do and what not to."
"Yeah I can. I'm doing it right now aren't I?"
"You're such a hypocrite."
"Do as I say, not as I do, and maybe you'll reach heaven too."
"You just made that up baka."
Kagura shot her fist down on the top of Himeno's head. "Don't you call me baka again unless you want me to hit you."
Yayoi smiled at the sight. "I see you two get along well. I'm an only child so I never really had a sibling to play with."
Kagura ignored Himeno for the moment and smirked. "See what I mean? You got house wife written all over your face. Stay at home and take care of all you babies. Goh's babies."
Yayoi's face lit up and Himeno turned to look at her crimson faced friend. "You like Goh?"
"No! I mean not like that- it's not like we're going out or anything. We're just friends. That's all!"
Himeno raised an eyebrow at her flustered friend. "Really? Doesn't sound like it."
Kagura sighed loudly and slumped back in her seat. "Doesn't matter anyway. He already has a girlfriend."
Yayoi's nervous smile faltered for a moment. "He does?"
"Yeah. But no biggie right? You're just friends. Ah, this is our stop."
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Kagura took all her things up to her closet, refusing to let anyone see it. "C'mon Kagura. I'm going to see it anyway, so what's the harm in peeking?"
Kagura pushed Sasame out of the house. "I'll hit you. That harm enough?" It looked as if it were about to snow again. Mannen, Hajime, and Shin played outside in the front yard with their fathers. Over time, Kagura could see how old fashioned their family was. The women stayed inside and cooked to feed all those mouths. Even Kei's mother was in their helping and she didn't strike Kagura as the house wife type. She came to visit the family in a suit for crying out loud. And yet, she was in there helping. I guess you need all the help you can get when feeding so many people. That kitchen must be hectic. Sanma was out at the grocery store getting extra things they needed. It was Christmas Eve and they were cooking like crazy for tomorrow. Making the occasional meal here and there for those who were hungry now. Though, they were told to go eat out a good number of times because the women didn't have time for them too. None of them went because they couldn't all fit in Sasame and Hayate's car. They were waiting for Sanma to come back so they could take hers too.
Sasame pouted like a small child but Kagura just locked the house door behind her. "Stop acting like a three year-old. It's not going to work."
Sasame sighed. "Well why couldn't we have stayed in there," he grinned. "My house is crowded."
Kagura sat down on the porch swing and Sasame sat down beside her. "I'm just hungry. I wish Sanma would hurry and get here."
"Now that you think about it…can you drive?"
"Huh?"
"I've never actually seen you drive. Can you?"
Kagura thought about it. There was a difference in driving, and knowing the laws of driving. She thought back to the last time she drove. It was late night and the city was lit as far as the eye could see. The car was parked in the alley next to a pretty large building. Kagura was in the back seat, arms crossed with an impatient look on her face. Her nose scrunched up at the smell of the smoke drifting toward the back and she rolled down her window. Hanai, who was seated in the drivers seat, waiting as well, rolled Kagura's window back up with buttons in the drivers seat control and locked it like that. "Stop playing with the window little girl," she mumbled with her cigarette still in her mouth.
Kagura coughed. "Before, I thought you just stank because that was the way you were. Now I know why." She coughed again and Hanai frowned.
"Stop being such a pussy and suck it up. I don't even know why we brought you of all people to substitute for Koriko because she was sick. They could have brought Berserk."
Kagura held in her next cough. "He's visiting his family."
"So what? Who cares?"
"Why so bitter? Oh, that's right, because you don't have one-"
"Shut the hell up!"
"And aren't you and Maki together? Eh?"
"So what if we are? That's not your business."
"Well, it's not I guess. If you don't care that he had strange women in and out of his place last night when me and Psy went over then I guess it really is none of my business."
Hanai was quiet for a while. Then she spoke, and her voice was bitter. "Little girls should stay out of adult problems."
"So it is a problem. Heh, I knew it. You got anger and jealousy written all over your face. I know all you're seeing is green right now, but be careful not to crash. Any monkey can drive anyway."
"Heh, really? Would you like to switch places? I'll shoot, you drive."
Kagura frowned. Of course she'd never driven before and Hanai knew it. Way to shove your foot in your mouth. But, then again, the girl was too hardheaded to simply say 'no'. "Sure. I've seen Psy do it a million times, how hard can it be?"
Hanai laughed and got out to switch places with Kagura. "All I have to do is sit back and watch you crash and burn. This'll be funny."
Kagura smirked herself. "Eh, so maybe I will mess up. But who do you think he's going to be angry at for giving me the wheel." Kagura looked at Hanai in the rearview mirror just in time to see Hanai's smile fall. Just before Hanai could demand they switch places again, Maki and Psy jumped out the alley exit and into the car. Maki, got in the passenger seat, and was surprised to see that Kagura in the driver's seat.
"What the hell's going on?" And his immediate attention went to Hanai with a scowl. "Is this another one of you're stupid games? Because if it is, you should know better than to be doing that now of all times." It was obvious he was talking to Kagura too but she didn't seem to care. She just put the car in reverse and backed the car up. Hanai smirked, until the car hit something.
"Hanai, you should pay more attention to who pops up behind the car with a gun instead of whether I mess up or not." She put the car in drive and tore out of the alley, leaving a badly injured man sprawled out on the floor. In the drive home, they almost hit a few things, a few people, but Maki was telling her what to do the whole time. Hanai hated her a little more ever day. Kagura snapped out of her train of thought. Did she know how to drive? "I guess." That wasn't an answer Sasame was expecting, but he took it as it was and labeled it a 'no'.
Kagura scooted in a little more and lifted the part of her hat that covered her ear. "Kagura…what am I to you?"
She had a confused look on her face for a while then sighed. "You're my boyfriend, baka. What? You trying to break up with me already?"
He smirked, resting his chin on her shoulder and whispering again. "No…never." He snaked in and grabbed her gloved hand and, Kagura could have sworn he shocked it. She felt funny. She felt…happy.
The two stayed like that a while before Goh's unbearable questioning rang in out of nowhere. "There you are! You're not sleeping now so tell me the secret, Sasame!"
Sasame groaned and cursed under his breath before turning to Goh. Well, not relly turning, more like shifting his eyes in Goh's direction. He didn't want to move. Can't have a moment without someone screwing it up.
"What secret?"
"Go away, Goh."
"What's he talking about?"
Sasame sighed. "Nothing worth listening to."
"I'm right here you know," he said, narrowing his eyes at his cousin.
"Why do you think I said it. Don't you have somewhere you need to be right now?"
Goh thought about it. "Not really."
"Yayoi's looking for you," Kagura put in, noticing Sasame's frustration. Goh forgot about Sasame for the moment and scurried off.
Sasame smirked and nibbled on Kagura's ear. "I'm getting cold. Can we go back inside?"
She smirked and plucked him over the head. "No."
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Goh finally found Yayoi, sitting in the backyard by herself, kicking up clumps if snow, then patting them back down with her foot. She swung her feet back and forth while she sat on the propped up patio. "Hey Yayoi," Goh greeted with his usual million dollar smile. Yayoi returned one that was a little less grand than usual. His smile dulled down a little bit. "Something the matter?"
Yayoi was quick to shake her head, then resumed fiddling with the snow. "Just bored."
Goh looked confused. "Where's Himeno?"
"Last I remembered, she was throwing snowballs at Hayate."
Goh sat down beside her. "So why are you back here by yourself?"
"No reason. Kagura's letting me spend Christmas Eve here with you guys since my mother's not here."
"Where is she?"
"Over seas. She works a lot to support the both of us."
"You don't have a dad?"
"…no. He left when I was three."
Goh stopped smiling for a while. "Oh."
"It's nothing serious. Me and my mom are fine. And she'll find someone one day!"
Goh smiled at her, noticing she was about to drift off into another one of those romantic rants of hers. No matter how oddly adorable he found it, he ended up cutting her off. "You were looking for me?"
Yayoi stopped and shook her head. "No."
Goh looked confused but didn't say anything more about it. Probably just trying to get rid of me…but why? Great, more secrets. What kind of cousin is he? Goh looked a little distracted for a while before he turned his attention back to Yayoi. "That's right. I got you something."
Yayoi perked up a little and looked at him. "Really? What is it?"
"Ah, ah! Not telling. You have to wait."
"Why would you do that? I'm not saying it isn't nice but-"
"Do what?"
"Get me a gift. I don't think your girlfriend would like that very much-"
"What girlfriend?"
"Kagura said you already had one."
"I don't."
Yayoi flinched. I wish Kagura wouldn't tease me. "My fault for believing. Sorry."
"You guys were talking about me?" Goh had a more probing, mischievous look on his face. Yayoi turned red.
"Sorry."
"Don't be sorry. I'm not mad." Truth was, he was far from it. "I'm pretty bored myself."
"You want to go in the front yard and help the others build a snowman?"
"Or we could stay back here and make one," he grinned.
She blushed and looked at the ground again. "Sure, I'd like that."
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Hayate was in the garage. "It's in here somewhere."
Himeno stood on the other side of Sasame's car, surveying the clutter of material inside. There was barely any room for the two cars parked inside. "Wow," Himeno said, grabbing an old cracked picture. The two women in the old wrinkled photo looked much like Sasame and Hayate. Strikingly alike. One she recognized as Ayanami, and the other she could only assume was his mother. Hayate glanced around to see what she was talking about, but immediately snapped his attention back on his search.
"That's them when they were younger."
"You look just like her. Except, not so feminine looking I mean."
Hayate smirked, just like her to take the subject of his mother and make him want to laugh about it. He had tried his best for the most part, not to think about it. "Here it is," he said, taking out a large sled from a box labeled 'old snow memories'.
Himeno winced and complained. "You don't think you're taking me down on that rickety thing do you?"
"And why not. It's held up every winter 'til now. You're heavy tulip-head but not that heavy. You couldn't break it anyway. My dad made it."
Himeno went from seething angry with red eyes to a curious happy. Hayate never really spoke about his parents, but when he did, it was always nice…in a sort of solemn way. "Well I guess if you say it works, it must. But I doubt I'll be the one to break it you big baka."
Hayate smirked at her as they head out of the garage. "There's a hill me and Sasame go down every year. We usually take Shin, Mannen, and Hajime with us but they looked like they were having too much fun already." As they got closer, Himeno gasped.
"No you didn't take those children sledding down that slope, Hayate! How irresponsible!"
Hayate chuckled to himself. "Mannen and Hajime liked it. The first time we took Shin, he cried. But he likes it now."
"And if he falls? His mother won't like you returning her son with a broken neck."
"Stop bitchin' and walk faster tulip-head."
"Excuse me?" Hayate took off running, purposely making her angry so she'd run after him and get up the hill faster. "Get back here BAKA!"
"You got to catch me first you empty flower pot-tulip-headed-obese-valley girl!" He flinched. That was the fastest he'd ever seen her run and she was only getting faster. Her eyes looked spiked like a demons. It reminded him of an exaggeration out of an anime. Maybe I took it too far… (Lidia- sorry people, just had to throw that in there. How do you know anime characters don't watch anime, huh?)
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Mawata lied in bed, fairly angry. Her life wasn't much to be happy about. Sure, she was rich and had great grades. There were fan clubs made just for her. So why did she hurt so much? The answer was obvious. Because Sasame was with that woman. Kagura. A common name she was growing to hate. She shifted and spread out, sprawled across the middle of her grand bed. She had so much except what she actually wanted. Sasame… Her clock read twelve. Sasame would surely be awake right now. He was, and every year she'd call him at twelve exactly to wish him a Merry Christmas. A small smile krept onto her face. At least this was one thing that woman couldn't take from her. Mawata scuffled over to her nightstand to grab her phone.
"I knew it. You're pathetic."
Mawata had been too wrapped in her own thoughts to notice Mayune open her door. She had almost completely forgotten her sister had come home from college to spend time here with the family. Ever since she got that new rich boyfriend, she's been with him every waking second. So it wasn't a surprise that she brought him home for the holidays with her. To meet the wealthy family he was trying to squirm his way into. Mawata now glared at Mayune, noticing it was now 12:01 and Mayune just broke tradition. It didn't mean she wouldn't call but still. Mawata glared. "I gave you no such permission to enter into my room now leave."
Mayune's smirk faltered a little but she held onto her smart-ass grin none the less. "Am I keeping you? Heh, figures you'd be so obsessive about it. You always were such a bitch when it comes to him. I heard he's already got a girlfriend anyway. And it's not…you."
"I said leave!"
Mayune's smirk grew to a wide grin and she held her hand up. "Sorry for stating the truth. I'll leave and go with my boyfriend. You should get your own."
The door closed behind Mayune and Mawata glared at it for a few moments more before dialing his number. She sat impatiently while it rang. Quickly thinking over what had been said before someone finally answered. "Hello Mawata."
Mawata recognized the bland voice immediately. She'd met him many times and had to say, he'd been her favorite out of Sasame's family. Refined, well mannered, always honest no matter how brutal, and intellectual. She had to admit, when she and Sasame were younger, she'd actually taken a liking to his cousin. Which is why she'd told Sasame no when he asked to be with her. But Kei had told her no at the time. She remembered. "I don't have time for 'girls' right now. I'm more into this book. Besides, what would we do? I don't have my own job or home and I'm much too young for sexual intercourse. It would be a waste of time." Kei pushed his glasses further up the bridge of his nose, snapped his book shut, and walked away. The girl was heart broken and depressed. Even though she'd rejected Sasame, he was still there to make her feel better afterward. That's when she decided, when she saw him smile at her that day, that it was him she wanted. But she surely couldn't ask. Not after telling him no the way she did. And now, she'd lost him. Mawata snapped out of her thoughts to pay more attention to her phone call. "Hello Kei. Nice to here from you."
"You too. How are you?"
"Fine. You?"
"Same. You called for Sasame right?" For some reason he sighed.
Mawata made a soft smile. "Yeah. Is he there? Can you put him on?"
Kei sighed again. "Easier said than done. He's right here. But I doubt he even noticed me walk in to answer his phone in his own room."
Mawata looked a little curious. "And why is that?"
She heard Kei chuckle a little. "Kagura's here." Mawata restrained a growl. "And they're…well…use your imagination." His voice traveled a bit away from the phone. "Shameless! Keep your tongue in your mouth for two seconds. You've got a phone call."
There was the sound of something hit, sounded like Kei threw something at the two when they still didn't listen. Sasame groaned. "Thanks for killing the mood."
"One good deed at a time," Kei shot back before handing him the phone.
"Hello?" Sasame asked, changing his tone.
Mawata was seething on the other side of the phone. She'd heard enough to make her want to throw up. Just when she thought that whore couldn't ruin the one thing she had left, she did, and it hurt. It hurt so much. Mawata hurled the phone at the wall and it broke into about three pieces. She was in too much anger to be surprised at her own strength. I hate her. Mayune had listened in throught the door, and heard her sister crying. Truth be told, she really did care. Not like she'd ever tell her, but that was her baby sister nonetheless.
It would be best if I found out who this woman is…lllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll
"Merry Christmas!" Himeno was up early that morning. Himeno gave her half awake cousin a bone crushing hug. It was times like these when Kagura remembered just how strong her sister was. She would be proud, but she couldn't breathe.
Kagura patted her on the back before pushing her off. "…merry…happy…sleepy…" She fell back down on her bed and almost immediately drifted off to sleep. Himeno yanked her back from that sleep.
"C'mon Kagura! You said you'd get up early with me today! Yayoi's up and she's not even my sister! You GET UP!"
Kagura groaned and rolled over while Yayoi stifled a laugh. She had spent the night at their house and was currently poking at a photo sticking out of Kagura's mirror. One Kagura had obviously forgot to cover up when Yayoi came over. Her eyes bolted open and she looked back at the two sisters, then back to the photo. The two didn't seem to notice her momentary shock. The picture was of Kagura and two other people, Tokian Saints. I guess it makes sense. After all, I shouldn't be surprised. Knowing Kagura, it would be strange if she wasn't doing something wrong.
"Alright, I'm up!" Kagura rose quickly and wacked Himeno across the head.
"That hurt!"
"And when you pulled my hair it felt FANTASTIC!"
"You two certainly do squabble like siblings."
Kagura rolled her eyes and go out of bed. Himeno ran down stairs and dragged Yayoi with her while Kagura dug into her closet full of gifts. She tugged it down the stairs and handed them out. Giving one to Yayoi, Himeno, and even Sanma. That surely surprised the stuttering woman. "T-Thank you."
"Don't sweat it. It's no big deal." Kagura went back upstairs. "I'm gonna take a shower. I'm still kind of sleep walking. Up late last night."
"But staying up with the Ayanamis was fun."
"I only did it cuz I thought the idiots were opening gifts. Instead, they all went to sleep." Kagura sounded a little disappointed. On top of all that meaningless staying up, she didn't get much sleep. It was seven in the morning now. With the extra time Sasame took, keeping her up, she'd gone to sleep four hours ago. After she showered, Sanma hurried to catch her.
"You have a v-visitor. S-Sasame's friend."
Kagura immediately shot her a frown. "Where is she?"
"Y-Your r-r---" Kagura immediately walked into her room, hearing enough, but she made herself non-chalant before entering.
Mawata was overlooking the photo she'd stuck into her mirror. She saw the expression on her face, curious. Kagura cleared her throat and Mawata schooled her features to a blank look. "It's rude not to call before you show up," Kagura said, walking into her closet to get dressed. "So, get talkin' I ain't got all day. Christmas just started and you're ruining my good time."
Mawata frowned. "I came to tell you…that I'm telling him."
It was quiet for a while and all that was heard was Kagura dressing. She was quick about it too, wanting to end this talk before she got any angrier at Mawata. She might do something she'll regret. "Telling him what exactly?" She stepped into view, resting casually in the doorway. "Something that you don't understand or something you think you understand?"
"Something I know I understand. It doesn't get and deeper than what it was. You're cheating on him with that horrible man from the news. That Saint they thought killed all those people. But then again, you are a Saint yourself. You've probably been with since before you got here, using my Sasame for your own amusement. It makes me sick."
Kagura grinned, a glint of anger in her gaze. "My Sasame?"
"Just tell me why you did it! You slut! I hate you! Only a heartless person would do something like that to someone-"
"I don't have to explain anything to you. What I do is my business. So go ahead and tell him. Tell him I'm with someone else. I don't care. What? Did you think I was going to beg you to keep it quiet? If he'll believe you, then you can have him." If he'd believe something like that, he wasn't worth all the time she spent…liking him.
Kagura and Mawata heard a low growl and turned to the door. It was slightly open and Kagura frowned. "Who's there?"
With a loud sort of bang, Sasame kicked the door open the rest of the way. He wasn't facing them, but they could tell he spoke with a frown. "What's the point in me believing her or not when you just said it for me yourself."
"Wait-"
"Stop it…you're begging." Sasame said in a colder than usual tone. He dropped her gift he'd brought for her and walked away in a fluid, quick motion down the stairs. Mawata chased after him.
"Sasame," she called, in hopes he'd slow down for her. She'd followed him all the way back to his house and Kagura, well, Kagura just stood there for a while. The way she spoke with Mawata and what she meant when she thought about Sasame were different. Completely different. But what she wouldn't take back was that last sentence. She wasn't telling him about Maki out of his concern. But if he was going to believe something like that…Kagura became angry and slammed her door closed. Himeno and Yayoi had become concerned and walked up the stairs after seeing Sasame and mawata leave the way they did.
Himeno tapped on the door. "Kagura? You alright?"
Kagura took in a harsh breath and let it out. It was Christmas. Himeno's first Christmas in a long time when she didn't get borrowed crap to play with. And she was having so much fun with it, so early in the damn morning. Kagura forced a smile on her face, though didn't see the point since the door was closed. She injected as much happy into her tone as possible. Himeno may not buy it, but she wasn't going to let her think it was something serious. "I'll be out in a minute, Hime. Jeez! Ya just can't wait to get this stupid holiday started an you?"
Himeno frowned for a moment, noticing a box left on the floor outside her door. She picked it up shrugged off her suspicion and made her way down the stairs. "No I cannot now hurry it up."
Kagura listened to her walked down the stairs then sighed, slumping backward onto her bed. Maybe if she tried talking to him about it? She sighed and shook it off. Nope, she already lied. Besides, she had to think about how he heard it, and it didn't sound good that way. There was a bright side to this. It was better than last Christmas. Last time she got tattooed by crazy Psy and shot at by Koriko when she a the previously mentioned Saint dumped left over fish guts on her head. No…nevermind…that had to be better than this. Much better. Face it baka. Like your life's really been any good so far. For you, this is as good as the holidays get…
(Lidia- Trouble in paradise as you can see. Though it was never a real paradise to begin with. You gotta understand how Sasame must have heard it though. To him it was like Kagura just ran off at the mouth about it on his way to bring her his gift. Really must suck to here it like that. On lighter terms- My birthday went fine! It was pretty nice. Hispanics, instead of celebrating their sweet 16, they do a sweet fifteen, quinceneta. I dunno how ta spell it. I was never good at spelling in Spanish and I don't know how to type the n swivel thingy. Nye. I'm only half Hispanic by the way, which is why I don't speak the language well. The only words I do know are words my mom says I shouldn't be saying to begin with. And how can I learn the language? Cubans talk to damn fast. Oh, I just remembered something funny. I was joking around with my mom and she did something incredibly stupid. I forgot what but it was something funny. So I called her a baka, nowing she wasn't going to know what it meant. Instead, she looked at me like she was going to strike me down right there and then. Lidia-What? You don't even know what it means and you're getting angry.
Mom-Yes I do.
Lidia-The what does it mean?Mom-It means cow.
Lidia-NO it doesn't. It means idiot in Japanese. /like that was a better thing to say/
Mom-Well I don't know what language you're speaking but in this house we speak Spanish and if you ever call me a cow again I'll shove my foot so far up your ass…
You can pretty much guess the rest. Lol. Til next time!)
PreviewChristmas is winding down and all is not well. Even more so, it's getting worse. Hayate tells Himeno he likes her, but that doesn't seem to help much of anything but make her even more uncomfortable around him. Himeno and Kagura arguing again doesn't seem to make things any better. They pretty much stop speaking to each other, Himeno stating that she's not a little girl anymore and would rather Kagura stop treating her like a child. Like her child. So, since she's not dating Sasame, no Himeno to watch, and let's face it, she could give a rat's ass about school, there's no reason she can't pick back up doing what she used to love. Smoking, drinking, and fighting people for no apparent reason. A winter break house party is coming up. Sasame, still angry and trying to forget about it, takes Mawata. And with all this fighting going on, you've got to wonder, is it really such a good idea to let Tetsu and Himeno go to this party together…alone?
All information under preview subject to change.
Lidia