Yo!!!
MERRY CHRISTMAS (belated) and HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALLSorry for the late update... I've been busy watching some sentai series, stalking someone, and sleeping... and work too. heheh
Again… Sorry for every typo, wrong grammar, etc. that you’ll encounter/see/points out while reading this.
Enjoy
Chapter 7 "Do I really have to take part of this stupidity?" Mayu scowled at the grinning Yuko.
"Well… Not really… but if I say that earlier, I know you’ll back out…" Yuko replies happily, "and I want to see you dress like that… Eheheh~" Mayu's scowl deepens at the former goddesses' actual intention. "Now, now… Don't scowl like that! You're ruining the cute image." Yuko laughs soothing Mayu's furrowed brows with her index fingers.
"If I'm not wearing this short pleated skirt, I would have kicked you right now." Mayu growled at Yuko as she remembers what had happened a few hours ago.
Yuko skips happily towards the male Mayu, who was busy doing his part of the house chore.
"Mayu. Mayu." Yuko calls out, tugging his shirt. "Let's do some reconnaissance mission!"
"Reconnaissance mission…?"
"Re.con.nais.sance… You know… the info gathering thingy that military people or spies do." Yuko explained.
"I know what reconnaissance mean you idiot!" Mayu replied, eyes narrowing into slit in annoyance. "What I mean is reconnaissance for what."
"Oooh.... Oh!" Yuko grins nervously, while she scratch her cheek, "You're curious why I said that Takamina has a very very very bad luck, right?"
Mayu nodded cautiously. "You could have explained that to me instead of circling around the topic... No need for reconnaissance."
"That won't do Mayu." Yuko tsk-ed. "It’s much better to see it for yourself."
Mayu pause for a bit and think about the pros and cons of the idea of reconnaissance. It's true that seeing the actual thing/event/situation/etc would make him believe that it exists, however there's always an exchange to whatever people do in their everyday life and don't forget about the consequences of the said action. The real question is... What is Yuko planning anyway? Honestly, ‘Yuko’ and ‘Planning’ doesn't go too well in a sentence... So he's sure that something bad will happen.... And it did.
Right now, Mayu is wearing a pink hoodie jacket (with thehoodie over her head), black high school girl's uniform, black stockings, yellow boots and a backpack to complete her disguise. She remembers Yuko telling her something about buying some cosplay costumes just because they look cool after watching a gangster-like school drama series, Majisuka Gakuen. Apparently, Mayu is cosplaying as Nezumi of that drama series, while Yuko takes on the character that had the same name as hers. Furthermore, Yuko was able to convince the innocent Yuki to dress as Black, one of the four queens of the series.
Mayu shakes her head and adopts her usual serious face as she peers carefully over to where Takamina is. "So... What now?"
"You really looked like Nezumi with that expression!" Yuko squealed, eyes gleaming in fascination at Mayu.
"Shut up you idiot." She hissed, "Everyone is staring at us! We’re standing out in this crowd because of these costumes!"
Yuko ignores Mayu and skips happily to the quiet Yuki. "What do you think Yuki?"
"Hmm?" Yuki takes her eyes off the book that she's reading.
Yuko trembles for a bit.
"Yuko?" Mayu poked the shaking Yuko.
Yuko's dam of emotion breaks out and quickly hugs Yuki, crying in pure joy, "You really looks like Black!" Then proceeds to grope Yuki's behind. "And your oshir-" and the hard bound book finds its way to Yuko's face. "Ack.. That hurts Yuki-chan."
"Idiot." Mayu said, shaking her head. “You’re really into your ‘Rappappa Leader’ role… Anyway quit fooling around and-” She grabs Yuko by her collar so that they can go back to their original plan. Unfortunately… A group of teenagers are blocking their way.
“Uum…” They hesitated at first and then they brought out their camera and phones out, “We want to take a picture with you guys!!!”
“You look like Nezumi!!” Another one squeals at Mayu’s face. “You can pass for the real one!!!” Mayu thanked her reflexes for avoiding a huge amount of spittle coming her way.
“The Yuko looks cool too!”
“Of course I AM!!!” Yuko laughs, posing in front of the cameras.
“Not as cool as Black!!” Another one screams as the group surrounds ‘Black’, taking snapshots.
Yuki shut the book with a snap and walks out of the group. “We have to go now.” She said quietly.
“Good bye~” Yuko grins and waves goodbye at the now quiet group, following Yuki’s lead.
“Those idiots.” Mayu murmured, taking her cue to escape the weirdos. Moments later, the three heard a bunch of loud squeals and shriek about meeting some cool in-character cosplayers and the likes as they speed up their steps to catch up with Takamina.
“They’re loud.” Takamina said out. She tiptoed for a bit to see what’s happening. Nope. She can’t see a thing from where she’s standing… or tiptoeing from.
“Silly Takamina.” Acchan giggles at Takamina’s cute antics, “You won’t see anything even if you do that.”
“Thanks for pointing the obvious Acchan.” The midget huffed at her laughing best friend.
“Taka’s soooooo cute!” Acchan cooed, pinching Takamina’scheeks.
Suddenly, plant pot falls inches away from them. “Sorry.” The old man yelps from above. “I hope no one’s hurt.”
“Don’t worry we’re fine.” Atsuko replied. Takamina just stares at the fallen pot.
‘
It’s happening again.’ Takamina frowns as she looks at Atsuko. ‘
I don’t want to lose her… I…’
“Takamina?” Atsuko pats her shoulder.
“Ah… Acchan…” Takamina forced herself to smile, “I remember… I have something to do… I’ll see you tomorrow!” She said and quickly hops inside the bus before it leaves. ‘
Hopefully, I…’
“You’re hoping to leave me there, huh?” Someone took the seat besides her.
Takamina looks at Atsuko with her eyes wide open. “You… You…” She groans, “Why are you in here?!”
“I’m following you!” Atsuko glares at Takamina. “You’re always leaving me behind Takamina! Ever since that day…You…” She let out a soft sob.
-----
Meanwhile…
“We’re in the drama climax.” Yuko pointed out, eating some potato chips.
Yuki nodded, smiling at the two, “They really are that close, huh?”
Mayu just take a sip from her juice, silently watching the scene unfolds from the back seat area of the bus. “Wait.”
“Hmm?” Yuko and Yuki turns to Mayu.
“Are we safe here?” Mayu asked. “I mean… You did say something about Takamina having some bad luck… three times worst than mine by the way.”
“Weeeeell…” Yuko drawls out, thinking, “We can always pray for a safe trip.” She smiled.
“You gotta be kidding me.” Mayu gave Yuko a scary glare.
Yuki, who was sitting in the middle, gave the two a quick flick on the forehead. “Quiet! They’ll hear us. And I’m sure we will be ok.”
......
Then, the bus’ front wheel exploded.
-----
“ACCHAN!” Takamina holds Atsuko close to her while clutching on the nearby railing as the bus swerves left and right, hoping to get some control back.
“TAKAMINA!!” Atsuko, in turn, tightens her hold. She’s silently praying to all gods, deities and saints that they’ll survive to see to tomorrow.
-----
“THIS IS BAD…. GAAAAAH…” Mayu cried, hugging the seat in front of her. “I DON’T WANT TO DIE!!”
Yuki just muffles her scream by holding on to Mayu. She tightens her hold every time she sees cars that had almost crash into the bus.
Yuko, in the other hand, closes her eyes and concentrates her limited power to hopefully save their lives. The bus topples over to its side and finally stopped its crazy roller coaster-like ride of their life.
“Uuuuh…” Mayu groans. “Yuki?” She pats Yuki’s back. “Are you ok?”
“Yes.” Yuki nodded. “You covered my head with your arms when the bus toppled down. Thank you.” but gasped when she saw some blood trickling down on Mayu’s face, “You’re hurt!”
“I’m fine.” Mayu smiles, “Your safety goes first.”
“And what about mine?” Yuko finally interrupted the two, groaning. “Off. OFF! You two are heavy!”
“Sorry.”
“Before we forget…” Mayu stands up, helping Yuki and Yuko into their feet. “TAKAMINA!!!!”
“Here…” A quiet voice yelps. “We need help… Acchan… She…”
The three scrambles to get to Takamina. “Let me see her.” Mayu said, taking Atsuko from Takamina.
“Yuko-san.” Takamina cried, “Yuki-san. Acchan… She… She covered me. I… I can’t…”
“Shhh…” Yuki hugs Takamina, “She’s going to be fine.” ‘
I hope’
“Who’s the girl in the pink hoodie?” Takamina asked, watchingMayu as she checks up on Atsuko’s safety.
“Err…” Yuko paused, “She’s a… friend.”
“Yes. A friend.” Yuki smiles. “She knows First Aid… I’m sure she can help.”
‘
Yuko paused.’ Takamina thought suspiciously, she keeps an eye to what the girl in the pink hoodie do. There’s something familiar about the girl, but she couldn’t point it out. ‘
At least she’s helping Acchan.’
“She’s fine… She just lost consciousness.” Mayu sighed in relief, “Yuki. Call an ambulance, while I check the others.”
“By the way… Why are you guys dressed like...” Takamina looks at Yuki then turns to Yuko and ‘Nezumi’, “…that?”
“Yuko’s fault.” Yuki replied. “She got hooked with this high school drama series and bought some cosplay dresses.”
Takamina just gape at Yuki.
“Rest now… Help is on their way.” Yuko said with a serious face. It’s something that they didn’t see every day, but still it was a pleasant surprise that Yuko can be serious. Sometimes.Takamina smiles and slowly closes her eyes shut.
-----
Takamina woke up in a hospital room. “Acchan…”
“You really like Acchan eh?” Yuko teased, “You had an accident and the first word you said when you wake up is Acchan.”
“Wha… What are you saying?!” Takamina blushed, sputtering her answer nervously, “O-of course I like Acchan… I mean as a friend… it’s not like I like Acchan like that… I…” her blush seems to deepen as she tries to form an answer in her head.
Yuko just let go and laughs loudly. “You’re turning into a tomato… a cherry tomato.”
Takamina stops, “Was that suppose to be a compliment?” She asked sarcastically when she realized that she was played for a fool by Yuko.
“I guess so,” Yuko wipes away her tears from laughing. “Cherry Tomatoes are cute!!!”
“And small!!!” Takamina added.
Yuko snickers, “I didn’t say that. You did.”
“Stop teasing Takamina.” Mayu pinches Yuko’s cheek.
Yuko pouted. “You’re back to normal.”
The strawberry-blonde male pinches Yuko’s cheeks again. “Of course!” He gritted his teeth, “Do you think I would like to dress LIKE THAT for the rest of the day?! What if THAT happens while I’m wearing that?!”
“No one would recognize you since you’re wearing the hood on.” Yuko gave him a victory sign.
“NO! I’ll die in embarrassment right then and there!”
“Huh? Hood on? Die?” Takamina asked, “What’s happening?”
“Why don’t we start from your case first?” Yuko proposes as Yuki enters the room.
“Case?” Yuki asked, a bit confused, but smiled when she saw Takamina. “I’m glad you're ok now Minami-chan.”
“Thank you.” Takamina replied meekly.
“Back to the topic… I’m referring to Taka’s unusual circumstances.” Yuko continued, “Base from what Mayu told me and the incident earlier… I’m sure now that some deadly bad luck had attached itself to Takamidget here.”
“Oi!”
“Attached?”
“To see is to believe, right?” Yuko smirks; she knocks on Yuki and Mayu’s forehead three times, and then hit the two with open palms.
“You don’t have to-” Mayu wanted to reprimand Yuko for hitting him and Yuki, but he saw something hovering over Takamina. “What’s that?!”
“Are those?” Yuki gasped.
“Yup” Yuko noded, “Those are the bad luck. I’m quite surprise that Takamidget manage to live with those three around her…The God of Death” She points at the chibi grim reaper; “The God of Calamity” She then points at the deviruchi-like figure (base from a monster in Ragnarok Online); “and the God of Poverty” she points at the last chibi black ghost-like figure.
“Eh?” Takamina’s eyes widens, “EEEEEHHH?! I can’t see them!!!”
“Here.” Yuko did the same to Takamina.
“Oh my god!!” Takamina yelps, when the three figure waves at her; it seems like the three gods thinks that the situation was quite amusing. “No wonder death and misery follows me around. Literally.”
“They are attached to you.” Yuko shrugs, “Did you something or anything that might include breaking some important stuff?”
“Hmmm” Takamina squinted her eyes, trying to remember anything of sorts. “I don’t remember anything like that but… hmm?” They noticed the three gods frantically waving at Minami.
“They said that you did something like that.” Yuko looks at the gods, while the nodded. Then the three did some reenactment. “What are they doing?”
“I thought you know?” Mayu looks at Yuko, “You’re like them, right?”
“I can’t read minds.”
“Like them?” Takamina stares at Yuko, “She’s like these three?”
“Not really… I’m a level lower…” Yuko answered, “I’m a mountain guardian spirit. I’m guiding them.”
“Guiding? You are being punished to help us so that you learn how to be responsible.” Mayu glared.
“Hmp… Guess what Takamidget… This guy here…” Yuko pats Mayu back, “is like you.”
“Ha?”
“Don’t you even dare.” Mayu glares.
“He’s cursed too.” Yuko just grins, “It’s something like this~” Yuko whispers something to Mayu, who quickly blushed, and *
poof* he became a she.
“You…” Mayu growled, “I’ll twist your neck!!!”
“They’re always like that. Sorry.” Yuki apologize to Takamina, “about the gods… I…”
“I think… I did accidentally break their seal…” Takamina interrupts Yuki as she looks down at her bandaged hands.
“Eh?!” Yuki yelps in surprise. Mayu, who is busy strangling Yuko at the moment, looks at Takamina with her eyes wide open. Yuko, being Yuko, just laughs.
"Umm" Takamina looks away from the trio, "You see... I was busy protecting Acchan from our school bullies..." The started to midget recount her life-changing past.
-----
"Acchan. Run!" Takamina drags Atsuko away.
"OOOI!!!" The bullies screams at the two.
"No girl wants an overly persistent boy! IT'S ANNOYING!" Takamina screams at them.
"Are you even a girl?!" They replied.
"WHY YOU!!!" Takamina glares at the boys. Atsuko just chuckles, amused at the situation and at how Minami's face turned from annoyed to pure infuriation. She just tigthen her hold on to the midget's hand to hopefully calm her beloved friend, after all a fully confident smiling Takamina is still the best.
Moments later, the two stops in front of a small shrine in the middle of the woods. "I didn't know that of school's mini forest isn't mini at all." Atsuko noted.
"And there's a shrine here and a mini altar." Takamina replied as she looks around. "I didn't read this in our school's manual."
"We finally found you!" The boys growled, panting.
"Tsk." Takamina grimaced, "I told you. Girls doesn't want an overly persistent boys! It's a turn off."
"Hmp... No one cares about your opinion Takamini." One of the boys stuck his tounge at Minami.
"Ha! As if I'll leave Acchan to you!"
"It's her choice."
"I don't want to go with you." Atsuko frowns, hugging herself to Takamina. 'Boys. They don't even understand a girl's subtle actions. Idiots.' She thought.
Takamina smirk at them, "See! She don't like you! Now. Shoo!" She shooed them away with her two hands. "Shooooooo!"
A guy charge towards Takamina and push her with all his strength. Minami bumps over the mini shrine altar. "Serves you right! Let's go."
"Minami!" Acchan kneels besides Minami.
"I'm fine." Minami rubs her backside. "I just-" She saw that the mini altar fell down. "Oh my goddess!" She panics as she picks up the fallen altar and put in back to where it was positioned before, "I didn't break it, right?" Takamina cringed in worry and decided to open the mini altar cabinet. Upon seeing a broken urn inside, Takamina immediately shut the altar close and falls down on her knees and hands, crying. "This is bad luck."
"It's not your fault, Taka-chan" Atsuko pats Minami's head. She then grabs Takamina's wrists and pulled the girl up. "Let's forget this day and move on. Ok?" She smiles, lacing their fingers together.
"O-ok" Minami murmured, still sad, but tighten her hold on Atsuko's hand. She bow toward the shrine first, muttering a quick apology, and then walks away with Acchan.-----
"I heard that the guys who were running after us had an accident on their way back." Takamina said, recalling her teacher's announcement about an incident, but was not further explained to the class, "I don't know if this" Takamina points at the circling gods, "had something to do with the incident or not."
"Maybe." Yuko said while Yuki pulled her and Mayu's ear. "O-ow! Yukiriiin."
"Anyway... Is Mayu really a male or a female?" Takamina asked to change their topic.
"She's really a He!" Yuki replied, twisting their ears first before letting them go.
"O-ooooow!!" The two cried as they sooth their battered ear.
"Eh? Then why did Mayu's blonde hair turns into black when he turns into a 'she'?"
Yuki tilted her head to look at Mayu. It never borthered her before but now that Takamina asked about the hair. She narrowed her eyes at Mayu, silently waiting for an answer.
"Uuhh" Mayu gulped, "Its original color is black." She laughs weakly. "Maybe that's why..." She trailed off, coughing a bit.
Yuko tugs a strand of Mayu's hair, "So you bleach yours?"
"Er..." Mayu looks away.
Yuki thought for a bit and said, "Blonde looks good, but it gives you a little bit of bad boy vibes." Then the three imagines a male Mayu with black hair instead the usual blonde one.
Yuko grins widely. "He looks so prim and proper with black."
"Right, right." Takamina and Yuki nodded. "The blonde or black haired Mayu looks appealing either way." Takamina said as she keeps nodding to herself. "but why bleached it?"
"It was an impulsive action to some stupid comments when I was in high school." Mayu replied, still looking away.
The door suddenly opened. "Acchan!!" Takamina sits up, "what are you doing here?!"
"Takamina!!" She cried, dragging her dextrose with her. "I was worried!"
"I'm fine." Takamina replied as she hug the crying girl, who quickly latches onto Takamina. "You should be resting in bed Acchan... Wait a minute..." She pushed Atsuko in arm's length. "How did you even got here?! And while dragging that thing with you."
Atsuko pouts. "I escape after the nurse finished with the check up... I didn't see you when I woke up. I thought something bad happened to you."
"No. No. No." Takamina shakes her head while saying the no word. "You had it worst!" She pinches Atsuko's cheeks. "You. Should. Rest." The midget scolds her friend. "And besides... I think... You should stay away from me. I almost lost you to this accident because of-"
"of the plague gods?" Atsuko asks.
"Yeah." Takamina nodded, "because of these three I almost lost yo-... Wait. What?" Takamina stuttered; bewildered at what Atsuko had said.
Yuko looks at Atsuko, bemused. "You know about them?" Meanwhile, Yuki and Mayu stood there frozen in shock.
"Yes... Since the day they started following Takamina." Atsuko shrugs. "For some reason, I can see if something or someone isn't normal... You, for example... You're not a human." She looks at Yuko.
"Bingo~" Yuko nodded.
"Eh?" Takamina's mind seems like it couldn't process what's currently happening. The plague gods following her around, causing trouble (and deaths) around her. Yuko being something not normal or something like that and Mayu being cursed like her. And now, she learned that Acchan knows what's happening before she even had an idea. Takamina poke her bruise to make sure is she's really awake or not. "Ugh..." She yelps. That means she's wake right? Wait... What if she's in parallel world where not being normal or cursed is normal? Her mind is still working hard to catch up.
"Ta. Ka. Mi. Na." Acchan pouts in front of Minami. "You're ignoring me!"
"Huh?" Minami automatically replied, still dazed from thinking about everything. "I'm not ignoring you."
"Yes you do."
"I'm not and you should go back to you room now or else..."
A nurse opened the door, "Have you seen- oh... There you are." She said, sighing in relief. "You set the whole staff in panic, Maeda-san." She lightly reprimand, "If you want to visit your friend, you should have told us... We could, at least, help you get here."
"Can I stay in the same room with Takamina?" Atsuko asked.
"I'll see what I can do." The nurse nodded, "but first. You go back to your own room." She then drags the girl back to her own room.
"Err..." Mayu started after the door was shut close, "what about those?" She pointed to the three chibi gods, who were now sleeping on Takamina's bed.
"Seal them?" Yuki suggested, "although... I think Takamina should decide."
"Uhh" Minami stared at the three gods, "I don't really know. I'd feel bad for them if we seal them back, but I'll be a walking catastrophe if we don't."
"Why don't we use Takamidget as the seal itself?" Yuko said, "A replacement for the sealing urn."
"Isn't that dangerous?" Mayu asks.
"Not really... Since the gods willingly attached itself to Takamina, all that's left is to put some seal and charm." Yuko explained. "Seal is for the strengthening of their attachment to Takamina, so that they couldn't wander around free. The charm, on the other hand, will neutralize most negative effects that the gods have... the major ones... That way, Takamina will have control over the three."
"That means..." Mayu looks at Takamina and the gods, "She can, if approved by those, use their power? That's unfair." She scowled.
"Well... in the darker side... If she loses control, we all die." Yuko laughs.
"I can't see what's funny about that." Mayu said, “and you should point out the brighter side. Not the opposite.”
"What do you think Yukirin~" Yuko ignored the Mayu.
"If Takamina agreed... I'll prepare everything immediately." Yuki smiled, "I'll have some charm prepare for myself and Mayu too... Just in case."
"What about me?!"
"You'll live." Yuki replied. She looks at Takamina, "So... What about you? Do you accept?"
Takamina frowns at the three sleeping gods first before looking back at Yuki. "I accept... With that, I can keep a close eye on them."
Mayu stares at the short girl in awe of her determination to carry the burden of the plague gods. She (or rather he) will hesitate to say yes to that. Then again... There's a huge different between Takamina and Mayu's curse. Or maybe not. '
What's important is that she'll be able to stay beside her "friend" without worrying about any accident... and there's too many shocking events happened in just one day.' Mayu nods to herself. '
I want to go home and rest now... Hopefully this won’t become another headache.' She groans silently as she touch her bandaged temple.
Merry Xmas again and Happy New Year~
PS: I picked up some some idea from a manga (I forgot the name... I think it was something like Kitsune Yomeiro(?)) and RO in case someone had noticed something.
(back to hibernate mode~)
Topic: Skeptic chapter 7 (MaYuki) 12/30/2013 (Read 9825 times)