Chapter Fifteen: Kisses

Rico

Henrietta, Triela, and Angelica rushed over to Rico and gave her what they called a "welcome-home embrace".

"Finally, you're back, Rico!" Angelica said.

"We missed the 'little boy' of our dorm," Triela added.

"How are you, Rico? I heard you got into trouble!" Henrietta exclaimed, happy though worried.

Claes just walked calmly toward Rico. She though how "childish" the others looked though she enjoyed the view and Rico's arrival as well. "And so she's back. I wonder what kind of experiences she bought," Claes said to herself pensively.

"Tell us what happened, Rico!" Henrietta persisted. The group walked in the corridors, towards the dormitories. Rico told them her tale as they walked (Rico wasn't walking actually, instead she was skipping merrily). She finished her story as they entered Rico and Henrietta's dormitory.

"What a tough one!" Triela remarked. "But you pulled through it! Nothing less from our Rico!"

"Yup! Yup!" Henrietta said, smiling, "you sure did well back then, Rico! And I'm sure your friends are really happy!"

Rico beamed. Then from her bag, she retrieved the pictures of her friends which Priscilla printed in the fully equipped C-130J Super Hercules. Rico showed it to her excited and amused friends.

"Wow, Rico. You sure look good in that uniform! You look good in girl's clothing!" Henrietta said when she saw Rico's Seishou uniform.

"Too bad her Handler doesn't allow her to be a 'girl'!" Triela teased.

"And I prefer boyish clothes. Girls' clothes make me uncomfortable," Rico replied.

"Anyway, who are they?" Angelica asked, pointing to the picture.

Rico introduced and described her friends starting with Elle "the silent type who rarely spoke", Sixteen "the very loud and jolly type who I had a fight with", and Funko "my closest friend in there".

"How come she's your closest friend?" Henrietta said, with a little hint of jealousy?

"My closest friend in there 'Etta. You're still my best friend!" Rico corrected her. "Anyway, Funko is the kindest to me there…and she also did something…remember the fight when I lost control? Well, she did something to help me return…"

"And what is that?" Henrietta asked, leaning closer to Rico.

"A kiss!" Rico beamed widely.

"A…kiss?" Henrietta replied, perplexed. "What's that?"

"Oh you little 'Etta!" Triela answered. "A kiss is-"

But before she could finish it, Rico grabbed Henrietta and they both stood up. Then she spoke out loud, "A kiss is like this!" and she put her lips closely in Henrietta's, giving her a warm and fond kiss as she hugged her tightly.

The other girls were stupefied—stunned out of their wits. Triela dropped her bear Augustus which she was holding. Angelica's mouth gaped. Claes dropped the book she was reading and her glasses slid on the bridge of her nose.

After five seconds, Rico released Henrietta. Henrietta was beet red and one hand touched her lips while the other her red cheeks and she was totally silent.

"You, okay, 'Etta?" Triela asked. To their surprise, Henrietta fell with a thud in the floor, her eyes were dreamy, staring into something faraway. "Oy, 'Etta!" Triela called to her.

"So…that…is…a…kiss," they heard Henrietta mutter, "I wish Giuse would do that to me!" Henrietta suddenly shouted out loud.

The girls jumped in surprise and giggled. Rico scratched her head and smiled. I guess I really am home, Rico thought.

Sig

Sig ran towards Elle, Sixteen, and Funko. She dropped her bags and gave them a big hug (she was able to hug them all with her two extended arms).

"Now! Now! You're gonna crush us!" Sixteen complained though she laughed.

Sig released them, "Gomen! Gomen! I just missed you, that's all!"

"It's okay, Sig," Funko said. Elle nodded. "We missed you too. But it's good to be home!"

"Hai! Let's get back to our dorms!" to Sig's surprise, Elle and Sixteen carried her bags and they walked.

"I heard you got into a terrible fight," Funko began, "Are you okay now?"

"Hai! I'm okay, don't worry about me! I'm good as new!"

"Can you tell us the battle then?" Sixteen asked.

"Later, when we get to the dorm. I don't want to talk about it here," Sig replied while her expression turned serious.

They reached Sig's room and Sixteen and Elle dropped the bags. They all sat down and Sig began her account as she cleaned her SG550. When she finished, Funko held her free hand.

"No wonder you didn't want to talk about it publicly," Sixteen said, her face serious as well, "that's one hell of a battle you had there. I don't know what I will do if I was there."

For a moment, no one spoke. Finally, Funko did, "We're here already, Sig. It's alright. And you did the right thing back there. As that doctor said, you saved lives…" then she squeezed Sig's hand. Sig put her other hand on top of Funko's and clasped it tightly.

"Arigatou, Funko," Sig smiled.

"That's a beautiful bracelet you got there, Sig. Did your friends give that?" Funko asked, touching the star bracelet.

Sig nodded. Then from her bag, she took out the pictures that the Japanese Teacher developed on the way to the school.

"Here are my friends…" everyone looked closer as Sig introduced the Agency girls. "This one's Triela, she's like our big sister, always looking out for us. This one is Angelica. She's the gentle one. Here's Claes. She's the mysterious type and has a knack for books. I learned a lot from her. Finally, here's Henrietta, my closest friend at the Agency. She's the cheery type and she loves stars. We watched the night skies, found constellations, and watched the meteor shower on my last night…"

"They really are good friends, Sig. I hope we can meet them too," Funko replied looking at the group imagining Rico to be with them.

"Hai! They are really good friends—and fighters. I hope we'll get together someday," Sig replied.

"Oh! Oh! I forgot, I have something to show you too, Sig," Sixteen said with an evil grin and got her camera from her bag.

Funko knew what it was and she protested. "Sixteen, don't!" She tried to take the camera but Sixteen pushed her. Sig held Funko and insisted, "I want to see it!"

Sixteen looked at Funko, "See, she wants to see it. Back-off already! Oh you'll enjoy this, Sig!" Sixteen approached Sig and showed the camera. As the video played, Funko blushed and shrunk, I just want to disappear! she thought. As Sig watched, her face turned grim and her eyes became sharp.

When the video was finished, Sig started to clean her SG550 again. Sixteen even told her of how Funko kissed Rico beforehand. "Oh boy, let's see what happens," she whispered afterwards.

"Uhm, Sig," Funko stammered. Sig inserted a magazine and cocked the gun.

"Sig…" Funko tried again. Sig opened the windows and fired a round. "Nani?"

"Uhm…" Funko's face was now red and she was shaking. "Nani?!" Sig asked as she shot at the air again.

"About the video…"

Sig switched into full automatic mode and emptied the magazine. "First Sako then this time another girl!" Sig reloaded her magazine and switched to semi-automatic fire. She aimed it at Funko.

"Gomen! Gomen! Sorry already!" Funko's voice quivered.

"Hentai!" Sig fired a round at the floor near Funko's feet.

"Ecchi!" another shot, this time on the floor besides Sixteen who jumped.

"You're all perverts!" and Sig shot the wall behind them.

The three girls dashed outside Sig's room, cowering in fear. Behind them, they can still hear Sig firing and shouting, "Hentai! Ecchi! Perverts!"

"Welcome home Sig-chan!" Sixteen called out in a sing-song voice. Sig came out of the room, her face twisted in anger and her eyes devilish. Sig chased her three friends. And the chase went on around the dormitory then in the school grounds.

"It's good to be home, isn't it Sig?" Sixteen teased again.

"Wait for me you freaks! I'll get you!" Sig screamed on the top of her voice.

FIN

Author's Note: Thank you for reading the first fan fiction I ever published. I hope you found the story worth your while. I am considering of making short stories as prequels or sequels or simply fill in the gaps as follow up for this story. Again, thanks!