Yay! *gives cookies*
Since I couldn't decide, two will be revealed...
BTW, look out for a Nanakusa Ver. 2.5 soon, or at least an opinion topic starter on it, or something... I've been inspired, and YoMaki doesn't write itself the same way it did in my head. *grin*
Between Lion and Crab
"Yocchan, are you okay?"
"Yeah, fine. Sure..."
Aika had stood at my front door for a few moments before realizing that I was a little off. It might have been the not smiling I was doing, or the not 'I'm a leedur respect mah leedurness' (I swear Nakazawa made that up) face that I had on, but she noticed it right away. Her own smile had faded.
"Yocchan, are you ready for company? Nacchi and Sayumin wanted me to make sure you were ready..."
What did they want!? Gah! It was invasion of the annoying people today, wasn't it? First Aquarius, and now Leo and Cancer.
I don't know what was going on today, but if this day kept up, Aika'd know everything by the end of the week!
Which might have been ideal for Pisces, but it wasn't for me. The poor girl needed some time.
I shrugged.
"Ready as I'm ever gonna be..."
"Did you even go to the bathroom yet? You're not dressed!"
I stared down at the pajamas I was still wearing, and stared up at Mitsui.
"... I guess not, Mom," I said, giving her a look. She blushed and grinned.
"Sorry..."
Then she tried to cover.
"Well it's not like you want Nacchi and Sayumin to see it anyways!"
She brought up a point. Bunnies and panda bears all over my butt wasn't exactly something I wanted Leo or Cancer to talk about with anyone else. That was just humiliating.
And Gemini would never let me live it down.
"Right... going then..."
I could hear them competing with who was going to say 'hi' to me first down the hall. I grunted.
"Stall them like your life depends on it Micchi..."
She nodded, saluted, and was off. I rolled my eyes, and ran to get dressed.
Even a few minutes later, after I had finally succeeded in covering up my 'cute pjs,' I heard no evidence that either of the Zodiac had gotten past the strong 'Mitsui' Defense. Good.
I jumped when my phone rang. Snatching it up, I flipped it open, and, without even looking at the name, I started to talk.
"LEARN TO BE THE LEADER OF MOMUSU WITHOUT MY HELP, WILL Y-"
".... Yocchan?"
Her voice made me stop.
"I... I mean..."
"Sweetie, I was never leader... I left that job to more capable people if I remember correctly..."
My brain melted. I had nothing to say right off. I never did. She was always so damn cool all the time. Just that look on her face made you want to stop and give her whatever she wanted.
As opposed to Koha-brat's 'Buy my singles' look.
"... Yocchan?"
"Gah... Maki..."
I could hear her laugh on the other end, as if she realized what was going on.
"Has Ai-chan been pestering you again?"
"... I.... uhm..."
"It hasn't been that long... you shouldn't be stuttering."
I shouldn't have. Why was I?
Oh wait, because my overactive imagination saw other images than just her cool gaze.
"I... Yeah... look... Leo and Ca-"
I could hear her sigh on the other end.
"... Sorry, Abe and Michi-"
Another sigh.
"...... C'mon Mak-"
This time, she cleared her throat. I sighed.
"...... Nacchi and Michishige are about three seconds from breaking down my front door... and unless you want to pay for it, you'd better let me off the damn phone."
She knew I wouldn't hang up on her without a reason.
"Well... listen, your little Gatas child thing is here..."
"Beh?"
"... I don't know her name, but she's just sitting there, staring at me."
"Oh, you mean S-"
"Her name Yocchan. I want her name, not her title."
"Ask her then!"
"I'm trying to get you in the habit! If I can change you for the better, then I will!"
"It's not like we're trying to take over the world Ma-"
She cleared her throat again.
"GOD FORGET IT!"
And, for the first time in ages, I hung up on her, my anger getting the best of me. I could feel my cheeks flush.
I set the phone down and went to go save Mitsui.
"THERE SHE IS!"
The simultaneous shouts of Leo and Cancer set me off, as they bounded past poor Mitsui and each gave me a hug.
"Yocchan!" Leo shouted happily. Cancer's pigtails were bouncing out of happiness (and the fact that she was bouncing along with them.)
"Yocchan, happy day off!"
"Great. Yeah. Sure... who gave you two sugar?"
Mitsui grinned sheepishly at me and shrugged, like she didn't do anything wrong.
Yeah, right.
"Nevermind... STOP BOUNCING I CAN SEE THAT YOU'RE HERE ALREADY!"
Both of the women stopped, let out noises, and released me from their cute death grip. I grunted at them both.
"What do you want?" I asked. Cancer stared at me.
"Nacchi, Yocchan's a big meanie today! We just wanted to cook her breakfast and take her and Mitsui out for shopping and then lunch, right?"
Leo nodded vigorously.
"And I was going to drive us around after that!"
All three of us got horrified looks on our faces. Could you blame us? If that woman was driving, I wanted no part of the day.
"No Abe. No driving. We're walking," I concluded. The younger two brightened, but Leo pouted.
"Awww, and I pilfered Yuuchan's car for that..."
I had an itching feeling I'd be hearing it later.
"Yocchan," Cancer said, innocence and cute filling her voice, "If Ai-chan calls... Mitsui and I are sick with.... uhm..."
"Smallpox," Mitsui finished. Cancer smiled, and nodded.
"....... I hate you," I blurted out. Cancer frowned.
"YOCCHAN! YOU DON'T MEAN THAT! You're just grumpy! I know! I'll go cook some udon!"
And before I could say 'no we'll go out so you don't make a mess of my kitchen,' she was gone. Making a mess of my kitchen.
Which left me with Mitsui and Leo the Clueless.
"Yocchan..." Leo whined, "We're still going out right?"
I sighed. The day was not meant to be spent babysitting. That was alright though, if Mitsui was there. She'd help me reign the two idiots in.
"Yeah..."
"Yay! We can buy pandas and bunnies and gifts for Rika!"
I stared at her angrily.
"You didn't happen to ... let anyone else know..."
"Nope! The only people who know are you, me, Sayumi-chan, and Aika-chan!"
Aika grinned at me, and I just sighed.
"Just keep it to yourselves, alright?" I tried hopelessly. Leo nodded stupidly in response.
"Of course! It's not like I told anyone else! I don't think Gocchin would like it if I told her..."
No. She wouldn't like that at all...
"What are you getting at?"
"... Nothing."
And she just smiled at me stupidly.
I hated it when she did that.