Tsuki had been feeling icky for the past two days and she had no idea what was causing it.
Uzume took one look at her before she grimaced.
"Hey Miya? I think we're going to need to make a shopping trip soon."
"Why?" Miya asked, popping her head out of the kitchen. Then she saw Tsuki's expression and understood. "Try not to go overboard with the chocolate."
At Tsuki's baffled expression, Uzume cackled.
"I make no promises!"
What followed was beyond mortifying and yet highly informative. Since Tsuki had actually skipped the mandatory Sex Ed classes when she bypassed her middle school years online, she had no idea what a period was. And with how oblivious her mother was, she would have no idea how to handle it and would have suffered some minor humiliation for a while from the other girls in her school had she stayed.
Fortunately she lived in an inn filled with several older females and a highly sympathetic male who wisely did not ask why there was suddenly a large stock of chocolates in the pantry. Or why there were a few more feminine supplies in the bathroom and supply closet.
Takami, when she heard the story, laughed and laughed once she got over the news that there was a twelve-going-on-thirteen year old girl living in Izumo inn with her mother in another city and no father figure to speak of.
She offered her sympathies for Miya...and discreetly offered her support since the woman had never actually raised a child (much less a teenager) before.
(Miya quietly accepted the offer, so long as Karasuba was never brought to the home. Ever.)
A week later...
Tsuki was coming home from class, and had only belatedly realized when she asked what the date was from someone next to her that it was her birthday.
Considering how past birthdays had gone, she wasn't going to expect much. Especially since she hadn't told the others when it was.
If Nana had forgotten it with depressing consistency until well into the night, then why would relative strangers bother with it?
So she wasn't that surprised when she didn't hear an answering "Welcome home" from Miya, who was likely out shopping. Or anyone else for that matter.
As she opened up the door to the dining room, she nearly jumped out of her skin in shock when she heard "Happy Birthday!" and realized that the entire room was set up for a proper party, including gifts.
"Hwa? How... how did you know today was my birthday?" she asked in shock, completely dumbfounded that they had set up a party for her.
"Partly because Matsu hacked your files (the red head waved at her, though she was still pouting over Tsuki yelping because she thought the other girl was a ghost one night), but also because Akira-san came to remind us," said Uzume cheerfully.
Tsuki blinked at her, then peered at an unashamed Matsu.
"You hacked my files?"
"It wasn't that hard. Did you know they still have you listed as a student of Namimori Middle School? You have quite a number of 'unexcused missed days' racked up by now," said Matsu grinning.
"I'm still trying to get that fixed, by the way," added Akira.
Uzume eyed Tsuki oddly.
"Is this really the first time you've ever celebrated your birthday?"
"Mama always forgot until last minute, and was always late trying to get a present that usually ended up in the closet forgotten about. I doubt she even remembers my actual age at this point," said Tsuki.
And don't get her started on her father sending gifts. That jerk (whoever or wherever he was) always sent them months late and oftentimes the presents were better suited for small children! It was like he still thought she was five or something.
She was completely unashamed to donate nearly all those gifts to local orphanages since she would almost certainly never use them.
"Well Miya cooked up something extra special, so why don't we dig in before she brings out the cake?" suggested Uzume.
It was so surreal, actually celebrating her birthday and not as a half-assed measure because her mother remembered halfway through the night. More to the point they had the right number of candles on the cake and the gifts were all appropriate for a thirteen year old, as opposed to simple stuffed animals or clothes that would only fit for a few months before they were donated.
She might be short, but she was still a growing girl.
It was easily the best party she ever had, bar none.
Homura had gotten her some new language books, since she seemed to have a knack for learning them (she was almost fluent in Italian, English and simple Mandarin at this point). He also gave her a new cell phone complete with a set amount of texts and minutes on it.
(Takami had been appalled at the fact that a thirteen year old girl was so desperate to leave her home that she couldn't even afford something as common as a cell phone. The phone in question was on the same plan Homura used himself.)
Uzume had gotten several new clothes that she knew Tsuki could easily grow into (including some undergarments that would allow her to switch once the first set got too tight) and suited Tsuki's style... Tsuki was somewhat amused that a number of them were cat themed, or had paw prints on them.
Miya had gotten her a new apron, since the one she owned was a bit too big for her to use without almost tripping on it. She also got her a "Sailor Moon" themed bowl and chopsticks with a picture of Luna, Artemis and Diana on the side and a crescent moon in the background that were a cheerful orange color.
Matsu, being the tech savvy one and having heard of the headaches Tsuki had doing her 'real' homework on public computers since she didn't have one at home, got her a brand new laptop with all sorts of neat extras and already had the WiFi password on it.
(Tsuki had practically hugged the stuffing out of the red head for that one, since she hated having to use the university library to do the online assignments.)
Akira had brought over several birthday cards from Namimori from the people who had gotten to know the girl during the investigation, and a slightly used music player with songs already on it that Tsuki might have mentioned she was partial to during their meetings.
Tsuki's smile hadn't abated in the least the entire party. It was nice having actual friends and people around that cared about you.
She stared, and she really couldn't help it. She had heard something so stupid that it required an incredulous look not just from her, but from every single female with maternal instincts within hearing range.
"Excuse me?" she said baffled. There was no way this guy was that stupid. Or if he was, then he was clearly a pervert and thus to be avoided like the plague.
"I said would you like to go out with a date with me on Friday?" he asked, with his most charming smile.
"That's what I thought you said. You are aware that I'm only thirteen, right?" she asked slowly, as if talking to a complete idiot. Considering she could see several of the older girls sharing Looks that did not speak well of this idiot's continued ability to procreate or sully the gene pool with his stupidity or perversion, she at least felt safe enough to express her disinterest in the idea.
She might be taking college classes, but there was no way in hell she was going to date ANYONE from her school. Some of the teachers already gave her a bad vibe as it was!
"Seriously? I just thought you were a midget or something."
"Excuse me?!" she hissed at him.
Her disbelief turned swiftly to ire. Fortunately she didn't have to deliver feminine retribution for that crack about her height, because quite a few people around her were more than happy to do it for her. Besides, her kick wouldn't have nearly as much impact.
Tsuki somewhat got along with her classmates, in that they accepted her as one of them without trying to drag her into places she had no business being like bars. Originally they had groaned, thinking she was some sort of child genii or something and was thus too smart for her own good, but seeing her struggle just as much as they were (if not more) to pass classes had created an odd sort of camaraderie between them. She wasn't some high and mighty genius, nor had she bought her way in.
She was just a lonely kid who had found a loophole out of a bad home life and was trying to get by. She was adorable and sweet, and most of the girls in her classes had almost immediately likened her to a kitten.
Her official nickname at school was Koneko-chan, and she was quickly learning to answer to it.
The older girls looked at the pervert with disgust. There was no way he was that ignorant of the fact Tsuki was clearly too young to be attending college normally like the rest of them. Though at least now she could stay out for the official (and some unofficial) study groups since she could call home to let Miya know she would be out late. And with her new laptop she got her homework done that much faster...though her grades were usually better if Homura had the time to give her little bits of useful information.
It wasn't often, but he did occasionally help and Matsu was a wealth of information when it came to research.
"You seriously need to sign up for some self-defense classes," said Micheala, a girl from America.
"I can't afford it," sighed Tsuki.
Though she would love to attend one considering how much difference the ability to fight back could have made with her former bullies. Then again, Hibari-sempai might have taken notice of her long enough to see if she was worth fighting. She felt for the poor guy... he was clearly a warrior born in the wrong time and was forced to deal with people who considered fighting more of a sport than anything. It was no wonder he was going stir crazy looking for someone decent to play with that would bore him to tears.
When she brought up the incident at dinner, she was surprised by the dark looks shared by the other residents, including Matsu.
"So some idiot actually asked you out for a date at school?" said Uzume.
"Unfortunately for him it was in a public area with lots of very unhappy witnesses who were quick to disabuse him of the idea," said Tsuki. "One of the girls suggested self-defense lessons, though hopefully what they did to him will be enough to discourage some of the more idiotic men on campus for a while."
Homura and the others shared a look. She couldn't even begin to guess what they were thinking.
Later that night...
"She's really too innocent for her own good," sighed Homura.
"I can't believe someone had the audacity to ask her out!" said Miya incensed.
If Tsuki had been attending a normal middle school this wouldn't have been a problem, but the girl was a thirteen year old college student! Every other person attending the school was at least six or seven years older than she was and far more experienced! She had just started puberty a few weeks ago, for god's sake!
The mere thought of an grown man asking out someone who was still legally a child made her blood boil.
"Uh Miya? The mask is showing," said Uzume nervously. Normally that thing only came out when Miya was disciplining the other residents for misbehaving.
Tsuki was such a well behaved kid and still too young to hit the usual triggers, so she had yet to witness the terrifying thing.
Miya took a calming breath, but she was still pretty irate about the incident even if nothing had happened.
She was rather happy Tsuki's first reaction to the offer of a date had been outright disgust, rather than interest.
"I can look up some local dojos for martial arts and see if we can't find one that suits her," suggested Matsu.
"Why not have her train with Miya?" asked Uzume.
Miya quickly shook her head.
"Tsuki doesn't have the right temperament for weapons, let alone a blade. She would be much better off with straight hand to hand combat," said Miya.
Her physical condition was barely acceptable for her age and size. Miya wasn't sure if she was malnourished or what, but her stamina was rather pathetic.
Homura sighed.
"It's almost too bad she's not an Ashikabi. It would make things so much simpler."
"If you forget the fact it would mean she'd be stuck in Minaka's sick game," snarked Uzume.
"But a Sekirei would be able to protect her at school and Takami would have a lot more freedom to act indirectly to protect her. You know that idiot doesn't like it when something he considers trivial interferes with the 'game'," Homura pointed out. "There's also the fact that it would mean her 'mother' wouldn't be able to remove her from here, even if she wanted to."
Uzume grimaced at that.
Nana Sawada had so far proven to be a lack-luster mother for her daughter, and was still firmly in her delusion that Tsuki was still at home. But there was no telling when that would change, and once it did it was almost a certainty that she would attempt to reclaim her daughter.
Even if that attempt was likely to fail, the damage it could do to Tsuki was no joke.
They had no idea that the "bodyguard" issue would take care of itself in two short weeks. Or that they'd be meeting one of the more...interesting...residents of Namimori who was less than pleased at her "repeated missing days" with no explanation forthcoming.