Disclaimer: I do not own +Anima or it's original characters. I own Sasori, Jagger, and Delia. El-hime belongs to ElouiseVictoria. Why are you still reading this, the story is down there! XD.
Husky sighed. A formal dinner? He wasn't in the mood to do something so boring. And with a bunch of women! He would give anything to get out of it, but Senri and Cooro didn't look willing to let him get away. And That Delia, she might kill him if he tried. Nana also looked reluctant to come out of behind the door she was standing, where she was wearing a dress. He could tell because there was a bit of white cloth laying to the floor, trailing back behind the door.
"Okay, everyone!" Delia said, interrupting Husky's train of thought. He looked over to her like everyone else. Cooro was practically drooling at her side, staring at the dress Delia was wearing. She clapped once. "I told you all we were going out to dinner, and we are. It is a very expensive restaurant, I had to use my family name and checking account to get in!" She laughed at this, but there was something weird about the laughter. "Well, I invited an old friend to come too, oh, and Sasori, El-hime and Jagger, too." At this, she smiled at the three. "I expect you all won't complain about the seating charts. There are only tables of two, so…" She said. "El-hime, I hope you don't mind sitting with a child. I would've sat you with my friend whose coming, but I learned something interesting and sat Senri with Rose-chan." She laughed a bit at the last part, and Senri's eyes widened.
"Rose?" Cooro, Husky, and Nana all said at the same time. "Flower." Senri added, opening his flower pressing book to a red rose. He smiled. Cooro shrugged when Delia looked a little surprised at the book. "He's always had that thing. It helps him remember people. Of course, you'd think that Crystalia would be the only one he would remember without a flower, but apparently he remembers her clearly." Cooro sighed. "For some reason, whenever roses are mentioned, he looks around expectantly." Cooro laughed. "Wait, that aside for a second, did you just say expectantly? Since when has your vocabulary held that word?" Delia asked. Nana laughed. "He picks words up from us." She said, walking out from behind the door. Delia held back laughter when Husky turned towards Nana, mouth open to say something, but it caught in his throat.
The first thing he noticed was the dress. It was white, and down to the floor. It was snug, but not uncomfortable, which made Husky's jaw almost touch the ground. Then he saw the fact her light brown hair was put up in a long ponytail, unusual for her, it was normally just left down. Husky could hear people talking, trying to get his attention most likely, but he was unable to snap out of it. Nana poked him, and he flinched.
"Husky if you don't stop staring at me I will kick you hard enough that you won't be able to walk for three whole weeks!" She threatened. Husky couldn't say anything, and Nana held up her promise. Her foot reached his leg, and he toppled to the ground in pain.
"What was that for?" "I told you I would." Nana said smugly. Husky growled, but it sounded like it was at himself. His face was red, and everyone was staring at him. Except Senri, who was occupied with his rose in his little black book, and Cooro, who was trying to tell Delia a story unsuccessfully. Sasori poked Husky. "Did that kiss have more of an effect on you than I thought?" Sasori asked, making him believe his hair must've turned red with embarrassment by now. Nana went red at this too, and looked around, most likely for something to hide behind. Delia, Senri, and Cooro were now staring at the two in shock.
"K-kiss?" Cooro asked, mouth dropping open in shock. Husky shook his head, and meant to sound serious, but he stuttered too much. "O-of course not! You r-really think I'd k-kiss Nana?" Cooro turned towards Nana, who seemed like she wanted to hide under a rock. What kind of development was this? Cooro had not expected that. Not in his wildest dreams - which were of giant flying apples you could ride on and eat at the same time - would he have thought something like this would happen. Then again, he didn't think too much about anything.
"Wait, if Sasori knows about it… What does that mean?" asked Delia, turning towards Cooro. "I dunno, I met her at the same time as you." He said. Now facing her again, he couldn't stop staring. For some reason, and he wasn't sure why, she wasn't even wearing red, she reminded him of a big, juicy, bright red apple. He looked away, so he wouldn't start drooling.
Delia laughed at the explanation Sasori had given them on the way to the restaurant. "Well, that's interesting. And I take it they liked it, but won't admit it?" She asked, Sasori nodding enthusiastically as a response. "Exactly! They-" "We DID NOT like it!" the two shouted at the same time, faces red with anger or embarrassment, Delia couldn't tell. But she knew better than that, and smirked in satisfaction. By the end of the week, the two wouldn't be saying that. Or, that's what she hoped. They could get annoying denying it like so. Delia stopped in front of the restaurant, and turned around to face them. "Okay, here are the seating charts. Don't whine at me to change them, because I'm not. Okay? First Pair: Sasori and Jagger. Second Pair: El-hime and Pinion, who we will meet inside. Third Pair: Senri and Rose. Fourth: Husky and Nana" the two flinched at this "Fifth: Cooro and I. No changing the seats, got that? That includes you two, Husky and Nana." She said firmly, and walked in.
When the large group entered, they immediately saw the familiar faces. Rose and Pinion were sitting on a bench, chatting. They seemed to be debating something, but it was cut off when Rose spotted them. "Oh! Delia, Senri, everyone!" She said happily. Cooro smiled and waved, but Husky turned to Nana. "Why is it that she names those two, but everyone else is left out?" He asked her. She shrugged. "Those are the two she's closest to?" She suggested. Husky nodded thoughtfully. "I guess." He agreed. He was about to get lost in his thoughts when Rose stepped in front of Nana and him.
"Nana! Husky! You two have grown so much!" She smiled, hugging them both at the same time. Husky murmured "stupid woman" but she didn't hear. She was now turned towards Nana, looking her up and down. "Well damn! You're figure is way better than mine!" She began, and Nana's face went pink. Delia and Senri looked over, and Jagger too. But Sasori, El-hime, Pinion, and Cooro were busy discussing the pros and cons of putting Husky and Nana at the same table (o_O).
"What's your cup-size, Nana? Those have to be the biggest breasts I have seen in my life!" Rose continued, oblivious to Nana's embarrassment and Husky's astonishment. "I know! They're C-cup, aren't they?" She asked, and leaned in closer. "Come on, you can tell Rose nee-san!" She whispered. Nana mumbled something, and Rose's eyes widened as she shouted "D-cup? HOLY CRAP!" making Nana go completely red and Husky's eyes to -inappropriately- travel to the embarrassed girl's bust. Quickly he caught himself, hiding his own embarrassment by mumbling about how stupid women were. But not before Delia spotted him and gave him a smirk when he turned to face her, making his face go red. "Stupid women! Always making things seem different than they are!" he muttered. Delia smirked and mouthed something at him. He didn't know what it was, so he went over to her. "Letting our hormones take over, are we?" She whispered to him with a mischievous smile. Husky gave her a evil look, but his face was red and gave him away. He noticed Cooro glancing over at him and the girl, and he wondered if the older boy was capable of jealousy.
Cooro snuck another peek at Delia and Husky. Husky's face was red, which was unusual, and Delia had whispered something in his ear a moment ago. Strangely, every time he saw her with Husky, Cooro got a weird feeling in his gut. It was almost anger, but not quite. He wondered if it was his intuition (another word he picked up from the group) flaring. Maybe she liked Husky? At this thought, Cooro's heartbeat quickened. His stomach churned at the thought. "Weird." he mumbled to himself. "I must be pretty hungry. Never had it growl like THAT before."
"Well, we should get seated." Delia stated loud enough for the group to hear. She showed them their seats, glad they didn't ask how she got these reservations. It was a confusing story. "Rose, I seated you with your old friend Senri. You don't mind, do you?" She asked, already knowing the answer. She watched as the girl's eyes lit up in a manner Delia knew very well. "No, of course I don't mind!" Rose exclaimed happily, giving Delia a confident smile that only she possessed. Delia sighed and sat down across from Cooro as El-hime took the 12 year old Pinion's hand and led him to their table, talking about nonsense and craziness. Everyone got seated, and comfortable, without any complaints. Delia smiled a bit. She had always loved playing matchmaker as a child, and often her matches got married and had a happy life. Only one time was her matchmaking wrong. But that was a lifetime ago, and she didn't like to think about it. "So," She began, turning to Cooro, who looked up from his menu with a pained expression. "Uh, what's wrong?" She asked. "I- I don't know what to choose!" he cried. Delia smiled and laughed a little bit. "Well what kind of food do you like?" She asked. This restaurant wasn't very fancy, but it had good food and better privacy. She liked to give her 'couples' some of that on their unsuspected first date. They didn't know they were on a date, after all. "Uhhh… Cheese… and apples…oh and bread!" Cooro answered. Delia laughed. "A man after my own heart." She said. Cooro tilted his head, his expression becoming a question mark. "It means I like the same foods as you, in this case." She explained. Most girls would have had it with his simplicity by now, but Delia was patient, and always knew that behind the stupidity, he was kind and open minded. She sighed. "Well, there is a meal of cheese sticks with applesauce on the side. Why don't we both get that?" She suggested. Cooro nodded his head happily. "Sounds yummy!" He exclaimed.
"Why did she have to seat us together?" Husky muttered as Nana looked over her menu. "Well, she obviously was planning for Rose and Senri to sit together. El-hime is the most suitable for amusing a twelve year old boy, Jagger is the only one who can calm Sasori down, and If she put you with Cooro you would make some kind of scene. Or maybe she wanted Cooro for herself. Who knows." She told him. He looked up from the table, but only to her chest again. When he caught himself this time, he looked up to a very embarrassed and very angry Nana. "Where the hell where you looking?" She hissed. Husky went slightly red, but was good at concealing it this time. "Obviously nothing. I was spaced out, idiot girl." He told her. She narrowed her eyes. "You know, you're a total-" "What would you like to order?" A voice interrupted. Nana looked up to a very… handsome male waiter. "Oh! Um, I will take the fried mushroom dinner please!" She stuttered at the man. He smiled kindly. "Ok, and you sir?" He turned towards Husky, who was now glaring at him. "Fish platter please." He said with a snarl. The waiter smiled at him, and turned back to Nana. "It will be with you in a moment." He said, a bit too kindly. Husky knew that kind of man well. He was a player, and was aiming after Nana now.
"Husky, I still don't get how you eat fish!" Nana laughed. "I wouldn't be able to if I had your Anima." "I see nothing wrong with it." Husky muttered, mind on something else. It had only been a few moments since the waiter had left, but Husky knew that he'd be watching Nana. A good looking girl like her was the perfect target. 'Wait, when did I start thinking of her as good-looking? She's just a stupid girl, with no good aspect about her including her looks!' Husky shouted in his head. He looked up once again and noticed that the waiter had already re-appeared while he was lost in his thoughts. Man, that guy worked fast.
"Senri, I dare you to say a sentence with at least five words. If you don't, I'll never speak to a coward like you again!" Rose exclaimed with a grin, leaning in towards the man. He looked at her with the same expression as always, but she knew he wouldn't decline. "You smell very nice, Rose." Senri stated, unable to think of anything else to say at the moment. Rose grinned. "Why thank you! Not only did you talk, but you complimented me!" She said happily. Senri shrugged, and took another bite of his food, which not too shockingly, was just a bunch of honey-roasted nuts. Rose looked over at Husky and Nana's table, and watched as Nana chatted with an extremely hot waiter. Husky looked wary, and didn't seem to happy with the man. Rose smiled a bit. "Those two are idiots." She whispered. Senri nodded once, in silent agreement.
Delia groaned. "Oh my god. What is wrong with El-hime?" she asked Cooro, who shrugged, his mouth full of applesauce. "I mean, telling Pinion things like that!" She muttered. "Really. I think she might put the poor boy into a state of shock!" Delia sighed. Earlier El-hime and Pinion had walked past their table, and El-hime was explaining to the boy how to slip a date rape drug into someone's drink without being noticed. Delia had obviously been right about entertaining the child, but she didn't think she would bring that up in a dinner conversation! She wondered if she should switch Cooro and El-hime's positions for a moment, but then decided not to. If she didn't apply the no switching rule to them, then Husky and Nana would have a reason to switch also. And that was the last thing she wanted. Delia, glanced towards the two's table and noticed the waiter that was chatting with Nana. She saw how he flirted so obviously and had his hands positioned too close to the girl's chest for comfort. Like always, Nana didn't notice. She was too busy chatting. But Husky noticed, and didn't like it one bit. Delia grimaced. "Well hell. That waiter is interrupting my matchmaking service." She muttered under her breath.
Author's note!
To everyone who reads this, TYVM for putting reviews and being so awesome x3! I know i haven't updated in forever. I'm lazy as hell. To El-hime: OMG. El-hime! telling a twelve year old such a thing. XDDD. jk jk. Delia seems kind of... idk, strict, evil, something like that in this chapter. I'm sorry for any OOC-ness! i really try to keep their characters in check, but gosh its harder than it seems XD. Is Rose in chara enuff? She's a bit hard to keep in chara considering she was only in what, one or two chapters in the real manga? idk. Anyways... c u all next time!