A zombie looked and felt better. Those were the words little misaka said in overwhelming tiredness. Mikoto covered her eyes, feeling the aches and pains of having a little too much fun. The alcohol was sweet as candy, and the aftermath left her painfully aware. The hints of vomit and sweat hung lightly in the longhouse. Kea had done her best to wash and dry her dress. And it was hanging in the doorway, the morning light of the two suns filtering through, the soft breeze helping the process. Too bad the morning breeze was coming in as opposed to going out. Her mouth parched. But not as parched as earlier. Seems the hair of the dog was doing its job. Barely, she groaned. Sitting up, her head spun and ached. Squeezing her temples as they throbbed.
"You're fault." She blamed a certain inner turmoil. "Hmph! Miss, let's shake and sway our ass." Little misaka countered." I'll admit, I'll take a little of the blame. Should've known when Nya talked about the good stuff." Shaking her head, she had a sour expression of an experienced someone who'd partied with wolves. And who at this very moment looked like something the wolves dragged in. It wasn't too pretty. Wolves didn't care if you were a newbie or queen. Damn wolves!
A little wobbly, getting ready to throw across the blankets, feeling the warmth of the sun and coolness of the breeze across her naked chest and belly, and wondered about last night.
"You don't want to know…really, but if you insist, I will give you a detailed verbal report or the cleaned-up drunken memories, oh queen of perverts."
She dropped her tired, aching head, Mikoto exhaled, and her face twisted as she burped, burning her nose and throat, leaving her mouth tasting nothing short of horrendous. She covered her mouth, even regretting that.
"Yea, burping up bug parts has its adverse effects." Little misaka shrugged.
Her chest lurched at the thought. Rolling her head until her stiff neck loosened. "I didn't….?" worried she might have done something she might regret.
"Noooo, but a certain little kitten had to fight off the great hugging beast. Sans you, oh drunken pervert. You haven't used that since…well…since you chased the young prince around the castle."
Mikoto's warm smile returned, pushing away the undesirable stench of last night. Remembering his laughter's high pitch, the sound of his tiny feet patting across the royal grounds. His squeal of joy as she snatched him up and held him high above her. The moon shining behind him. And the warmth of his snuggles. She wiped a tear from her eye.
"Sorry," little misaka whispered. "Didn't mean to let that one slip by."
"Don't worry," she said.
The blankets dropped around her bare feet, standing fully naked next to the open doorway. People were working, walking around, going house to house.
The little ones were running, slipping inside the longhouses and darting back and towards the jungle. The young women watched and smiled with their arms out, hoping and waiting for them to stay. But It was more like a game of tag. The little ones rushed into the open doorways. And rush by and touch them as they pass. "They must be their mothers? I guess…"
"I guess." Mikoto shook her head, sniffed the dress, and shrugged. "smells pretty good. Wonder what she used?"
"I think it wasn't her tongue."
"Pretty sure she wouldn't use her tongue," Mikoto spoke. "Why would you even?" sounding a little annoyed.
"She used it on us."
"What?"
"Yep, washcloth, towel dry and tongue…" little misaka spoke in I told you so, fashion. "Mostly around the face…" she added, "And remember, I said mostly. I won't go into a significant detail…but.. we are really clean." She gave a knowing nod.
She stood silent, face turned in deep thought, doing her best to remember, unaware, unconcerned, she was still totally naked in the open doorway. She waved at a couple who walked by. They nodded, the female covering the males' eyes. Mikoto twisted her mouth. "I…really… don't…want…to..know…do I?"
"Well, let's just say Aya appreciates and will worship our boobs forever. She may even have the craftsman carve a likeness to set outside the doorway. And I am not kidding. She said it while copping a feel. I mean washing and drying. Nothing like a group of drunken, bruised, blood-covered young women helping a fallen comrade. Seems the bath is a barrel of cold water in the back. and when they were done. Aya and Gullah returned to their bed and howled at the moon. Nya had a second and third round with the young, well-muscled male. Rae moaned about nothing but ugly males and mentioned some female she knew. That left Kea alone to take care of us while she successfully fought you off. Miss huggy monster." She raised her arms over her head, stomping stiff-legged around like a monster.
"Oh crap!" Feeling her face turn hot, "but nothing…."
"Nothing bad. But just a playful warning."
"What?"
"She didn't fight hard, if you know what I mean?"
"Ooooooo, this is not going? To be" surge of inebriation regret.
"Not as embarrassing as standing naked at the door for the neighbors to see what Aya has been spreading rumors about?"
"Shut up! And what?"
Little misaka shrugged. "She likes boobs, so what do you expect?"
Her arm dropped to her side, lightly smacking her thigh, sighed, and slowly turned. "Well, here's my bum," she said, walking over to the armor hanging on the wall. "Time to get dressed into old faithful."
"Well, I'm sure putting on some tight, form-fitting dragon skin armor will not exactly hide our assets, add a few more than deadly weapons and the ability to use them…yep, no one's going to be paying attention to us…not…at…. all."
"Shut up!"
Mikoto reached down, picked up the empty pitcher, walked over to the barrel, moved the lid, and dunked the pitcher into the liquid. She curled her nose, smell lingering across her tongue, and took a deep drink. Despite the odor, it had a lovely, calming impact on her belly.
Twisting in disgust, and gasped. Finishing the pitcher, she turned and started to get dressed.
The quick pattering of feet came rushing through the doorway. She turned around, confused and concerned, and what the hell? A little one stood, looking around and sniffing the air. It looked at her for a moment. Its large dark eyes glistened with the sun, a tiny slit for a mouth, but it grew bigger as it smiled. Nearly three feet tall, pudgy, colored in jungle colors, and naked. She couldn't tell if it was male or female. Just that it was there. It turned around, showing its tiny bare butt to her, dipped its head into the barrel, and slurped. And when it was done, it turned around, smelling the air, clicking its tongue, and chirping. Something inside Mikoto wanted to reach down and pick it up. Slowly looking around, with no answer, it turned, rushed out of the doorway, and disappeared.
"Wonder whose it was?" Little misaka asked. Mikoto just shook her head with her hand on her chest. The urge to answer its chirps and clicks nervously twisted her belly. And began to get dressed.
She finished with a snap of her belt, making a few subtle adjustments, and sighed. Taking a small compact out, and opened it. The mirror reflected how she felt. Eyes red, tired, hair messy, and when she opened her mouth, fangs, and teeth, tongue gummy with saliva and something. Bits of leftover bug, maybe. Reached over, picked up the pitcher, and drank. She swished it around her mouth, swallowed, gasped, eyes watering, and looked into the small mirror. "Ahhhhhh," sticking out her tongue.
"Better?"
"A little," Mikoto answered, running her tongue around the tips of her fangs. Closing the compact and putting it away. She smacked her lips. Shaking her head, eyes dimmed, "Cleo always was prepared for something like this."
"Oh yea," little misaka laughed, "a queen needs to look like a queen no matter how hungover you are." She would say with a serious face. Meticulously applying her makeup to herself and others. She often held classes among the less talented in the field. But truth be told, she loved the attention.
Looking out the doorway, the sunlight growing brighter, young ones were rushing out into the clearings, some clumsily, others darting past them. Villagers reached out, patting their heads as they passed. Especially those who Mikoto could only think of as older. Not quite as young as those rushing about, but those like big sisters or big brothers. The young ones stopped, sniffed, and chirped. In return, the older ones laughed, gently patted their heads, and watched as they darted, stumbled, and disappeared into the jungle.
She said with a grin, "time for a bath…" taking a few steps outside.
She stepped outside and walked. Passing the villagers and the young ones.
"I just can't…."
"Not our world to understand. Remember! They are bred for food and war." Little misaka spoke. "A little over a year. They'll be adults." She sighed, "if they are not killed and eaten."
A sadness hinted in Mikoto's eyes, and a pain in her heart pinched her chest. "Cattle?" She whispered.
"Maybe.."
"Not much different from…."
"Bite your tongue," little misaka shook her head. "we give them a choice now. Those days are pretty much over. Mina, Anastasia, and the four queens have ensured that. You, yourself, give them that choice… So don't even.."
"I know, I just." She paused, Don't want to get too much involved." Quickly added. Feeling another pinch, the faces of those she lost slipped through her mind. "Ghosts? She said. "Nothing of the sort."
She brushed her hair out of her face, pulling it together in an impromptu braid, quickening her step. She walked faster, hoping to leave the village and make it to the springs. She was already smiling at the thought. With her, I overdid it pain dissolving. Thinking of the cool waters against her skin, turning warm and relaxing, her heart beat faster, the healing mist in her lungs. "I just want to close my eyes and disappear into the mist." She said, "and when I wake up, Anastasia will be there. And I can go home." the words sounded good. With a deep breath, she wished with all her heart.
"Well, guess who's coming to dinner?" Little misaka said with a sigh, "at your nine o'clock." Mikoto glanced over, eyes thinning like a predator. Oh great? She said, less than enthusiastically.
"Your boyfriend is looking too, I don't know…. get that dance you promised him before you made your impression of the exorcist." She looked up at one of many wide screens, data running, images playing. It was a favorite. Even though she existed in the mind and body of Mikoto Misaka. And with her love for everything, Sci-Fi. She had created this environment to add to her repertoire. She had other scenarios, thanks to a long-running television series about a time traveler called the doctor. And yes, she called Mikoto her TARDIS. Mikoto didn't like the reference at all.
She tapped the screen, and the images changed. "360 degrees?" She said, "views and oh…look at this…seems he has a few others in pursuit?" she puckered her mouth. "I am thinking pack mentality to surround and take down an unwelcoming female." she watched. Six other males were walking quickly towards her. spread around her like numbers on a clock.
Great…I really don't need an aggressive boyfriend scenario." Mikoto clenched her fist. "Guess I am going too…."
"Beat them?!" little misaka quickly nodded.
No.
"Rip them apart?!" little misaka tightened her fist, watching her nails turn dark and grow.
No…
Sprout wings and fly away?! Little misaka's eyes widened, mouth stretched into a smile. "Always loved the view."
Kinda. Mikoto grinned maliciously.
She could fly. Being a genius-level esper, she could create numerous attacks and abilities. Little misaka knows this. Being in a jungle setting, this ability is keen. She can use static electricity to induce electrolysis. Using hydrogen and oxygen as fuel, she can create water vapor to make wings. And using airflow manipulation, creating a low-pressure region, allowing high-pressure areas close by to rush in and fill the low pressure for quick takeoffs.
"Well then.."
Little misaka watched as they rushed forward from around their prey. She looked at the confident expression on their faces, wishing she could physically wipe them off. But loved to see what it would look like when…
"Are you ready?" Mikoto's voice brimmed with laughter.
"I am ready?" Little misaka chuckled, "in five, four, three.."
The son of the king rushed forward, reaching out. Almost catching her wrist. Seeing her looking at him from the corner of her eyes, with that confident smile. He hated it. She was laughing at him. Making fun of him. Throwing up on him. Rea had kicked his ass because of her. The king's daughter couldn't be touched, but her, the guest of a king about to pass on…he could, and he wouldn't wait. He'd take her and have her, give her to the others.
Mikoto slowly turned, eyes flickering like fire, reds, oranges, and yellows. A glare pressed against his skin and burned. As if she knew what he was thinking.
"one!" she skipped three and two.
"bye," she said with a gust of strong wind, pushing the others to the ground. He tripped, stumbled, and fell face-first into the dirt. He rolled, glanced up, and saw the glimmer of gossamer wings reaching towards the sky and pulling her up with each stroke. Catching his breath, his heart slamming against his chest. He looked skyward, shocked. She didn't look back, didn't say anything.
He was nothing.
She flew and landed before the edge of the jungle. Her gossamer wings fell apart like dew on the leaves. The villagers who watched her were stunned and silent. She nodded gratefully, slipped into the jungle, and followed the path to the springs.