Pretear Fan Fiction ❯ Field Full of Daisies ❯ A mysterious headache ( Chapter 9 )

[ X - Adult: No readers under 18. Contains Graphic Adult Themes/Extreme violence. ]

Field Full Of Daisies-A mysterious headache

Kagura and Himeno stepped outside the house early that morning. They had seen the news and it said bus lines were shut down for the morning until damage in the streets were fixed. So they had to get walking early. Sanma couldn't take them. Her job was in the opposite direction anyway. Ayanami offered to take them, including Yayoi who didn't have a ride either, but they declined. Yayoi was outside their house to greet them and not too much later did Hayate and Sasame come outside. Outside was cold and wet. There were a few trees lying in the street and leaves were scattered all over the sidewalk. It was a complete mess out. And the sad thing about it was people got hurt because a few stupid broadcasters couldn't predict a storm like this. Kagura and Sasame could have gotten seriously injured or worse if Hayate hadn't gotten them out of that car. The tow truck instead, towed Sasame's car to the dump. The cost of fixing it was higher than the cost of buying a new one. Lucky he had insurance. Though, a few weren't so lucky. More than one tree had fallen on more than a few cars. They got walking again. “So Kagura, how's the book I gave you going? Did you finish it?” Yayoi asked.

Kagura didn't know what she was talking about at first, but then it dawned on her. “Oh…that book. Yeah it's going…good. I didn't get too much read. I'm really busy with all this after school stuff now.” Great, I thought she forgot.

“Yeah. I can't believe you took on so many activities. That's very noble of you!”

“Yayoi…it was a punishment…as in I didn't have a choice. As soon as he gives the word I'm dropping them.”

“I think these activities are good for you, Onee-chan,” Himeno teased.

“Since when do you start telling me what's good for me?”

“What? Or is it none of my business?”

“No, it isn't. Just worry about yourself,” she smiled while grinding her fist on Himeno's head. Sasame walked with his brother close behind. He noticed Kagura hadn't said a thing to him since yesterday. Every time he'd try to reach for her she shoot him a warning glare or whisper, “Not in front of my sister.”

“You're staring again,” Hayate grinned. Yesterday, he had found it so surprising, it almost made him sick. How could anyone even think about someone so cruel in any other way? Though, she was a different person with her sister. Sasame blushed and laughed it off. “What? You two lovers fighting already?”

“Ha ha, real funny.” They walked through the wood street way. The tree that had fallen onto Sasame's car was still there with small shards of shattered glass.

“This must be all that's left of your car huh Sasame?” Himeno asked. Sasame looked sad for a moment. Who wouldn't be afetr they just lost a car like that over night? Kagura grinded her fist into Himeno's head again. “Owwwww!”

“I was in that car you know. I could have gotten crushed and died. Is that funny to you?”

Yayoi was frantic. “You almost got crushed by a tree! How come no one told me!”

“Ah, Yayoi, it was nothing. Kagura exaggerates. She was way out of the way when it happened.”

“Yeah. Only so I could get soaked to the bone. Princess locked the keys in the car. The towing guy had to get them out for us and that took forever. We were out there most of the storm waiting for some fat guy with his crack hanging out to get the door open.” Kagura crossed her arms thinking about it. The old pervert kept staring at me funny.

“Shut up! It was an accident!”

“You're a freakin' retard! I could've gotten hypothermia standing out there.”

“Then maybe I should have left you in the car! That way should be dry and crushed by the tree I saved you from!”

“Saved my ass! All you did was knock on the window! It's not like you knew the tree was going to fall.”

“You guys,” Himeno sighed. “Stop arguing. It's over now.” They got to the school a little late but a lot of kids hadn't even come anyway, so the teacher didn't care where anyone sat. Much to Kagura's annoyance, Tetsu sat beside Himeno, a sly grin on his face that Himeno proceeded in calling adorable. Sasame slid up beside Kagura but she hadn't given hima second look the entire time. Her eyes were too busy burning holes in the back of Tetsu's head. That, and rolling her eyes at other girls staring back at Kagura with the evil eye. Kyoko pushed a seat up beside Sasame and gave him her best `look at me' expression.

“Hiiiii Same-kun,” she smiled.

Sasame looked down at her a smiled. “Hello Kyoko.” She tossed her hair over her shoulder and leaned into his desk. Yup. That's how it was the entire class. In fact, the entire school day. Lunch was eaten in a group as always and again, Kagura paid him no attention with the exception of a `yeah' or `no' or `okay'. There were a few girls there pestering the boy most of the time anyway. Somehow, everyone had found out his car got smashed. After school let out, they all stayed behind to wait for Kagura in her Archery activity. She frowned through the whole thing. But she learned quick. Scarily quick. Before, she went in not knowing how to hold the thing right or even get one fired off. But after the coach spent five minutes demonstrating it to her, she left hitting perfect targets. The woman teaching was obviously glad to have her. Hayate just grunted like it was nothing special. Now, they were home. Sasame put some pants on and dried his hair off while he sat on his bed. She's got no problem in the car, but now she won't even look at me for more than two seconds. Either I did something wrong…or there's something emotionally wrong with her…women. He pulled the towel over his face and attempted to lye down and take a nap. That's when his mother shouted his name from down stairs. He got up lazily. “Why does she always want me when I'm about to sleep? Hayate's there,” he muttered. Once he got to the head of the steps, he saw her closing the door. “Yeah?”

“You have company,” she said a little too enthusiastic. The towel still on the side of his face, he wiped the side of his face and sighed. He couldn't see anyone down there with her. After a while of staring, he just sighed.

“Whatever,” he said, turning to leave. “Just tell whoever it is, I'm sleeping. I'll see them later.”

“Sasame! You stop being so rude, put on a shirt, and get down here right NOW!” his mother demanded.

“It's alright Ayanami-sama. Later,” she waved before opening the door. Sasame's gaze whipped back down the stairs.

“Kagura?”

Ayanami pulled Kagura back into the house with a stern hand. “You're not going anywhere young lady. Now you came here to see my son so go.”

“But-“

“I insist.” Ayanami gave Kagura a small push up the first stair.

Kagura gave her a surprised look. She isn't seriously going to let me up there with her half naked son… Kagura took another look at the smiling woman. Then again, maybe she will…Kagura walked up the stairs rather slowly, giving Sasame ample time to go put on a shirt, which he did. When she got up there, she noticed how clean it was. The only thing out of place were the covers on his bed she assumed he was lying in before she came. It made her…uncomfortable. I mean, she was clean, but this was freakishly clean. “So…this is your room…” she stared around, then watched Sasame turn on the TV inside.

“Yeah,” he grinned. Mostly at the fact that she kept staring from the doorway at it. “Are you going to come in or stand there all day?”

Kagura blushed a little when he made fun of her mindless staring at his room and hesitantly walked in. The red head sat at the foot of his bed and watched the TV. Sasame sat down beside her. “So, what'd you want?”

“I got bored. Himeno's been on the phone all day. Sanma's at work.”

“So you're here by default?” Sasame asked a little disappointed. She just smiled a little.

“If that's how you want to look at it. If I really didn't want to be here, then I wouldn't.”

Sasame smiled back at her. He pulled her a little closer and was leaning in to take her soft lips into his again…when his mom popped in. Kagura scooted away on instinct as soon as his mother swung the door open further. “Oh don't you two stop on my account. I'm just here to bring you some food,” she smiled innocently. In actuality, she had been hoping to walk in on something but had come a few seconds too early. She walked out, fully closing the door behind her, then pressing her ear to it.

“You're mother's weird.” Ayanami frowned. How disrespectful this girl was. She never liked her. She was so rude and- “But then again, weird is a good thing. She's funny. I like her.” -and the most polite little girl you'd ever run in to. She always liked that girl.

“Want to see something funnier?” Sasame opened the door and his mother stumbled in, almost falling. She recovered with a wide smile. “We liked the door better when it was cracked open, mom.”

“Ah, yes. I was just-…I'm going to go. You two enjoy yourselves. If you need anything, call me.”

“Thanks mom but we won't,” Sasame answered a little embarrassed. However, his embarrassment faded when he saw Kagura fighting to restrain a laugh. Ayanami scurried back down the steps and Sasame closed the door, leaving it cracked open. He sat back down while Kagura bit down on some leftover cake his mother brought in. “That was embarrassing.”

“Ah, I've seen worse,” she shrugged.

They watched TV and joked around for a while until all the cake ran out. “So, why do you care whether or not your sister finds out?”

“First of all, it's not like I'm not going to tell her…eventually. It'd just make me seem real stupid telling her not to go out with Tetsu and here I am.”

“And are we going out?” he asked.

“Don't know. Never thought to ask.”

“You can't do that,” he laughed.

“What?” she asked innocently.

“That right there. I asked you first and you flipped it around on me. I never thought to ask. You're not pulling that off on me.”

“I was serious. You're obviously just trying to avoid answering because you're afraid of what I might think about it,” she shrugged as if she were psychoanalyzing him. “I think we are. Is that a problem?”

“You ignore me all day, then tell me this now,” he sighed, more from mental relief than fatigue.

“Like I said, my sister. And the many fan girls that follow your every step. I know I'm not weak but I can't take `em all. They'll jump me. Probably abandon my lifeless body in the river and go on like it was nothing.” Sasame stared at her a while. “What?”

“Nothing. I just, like it better when you're smiling like that. It's different. You actually look happy for once.”

“Is that supposed to be a compliment?” she said with a sarcastic grin but her face was red enough to make him laugh. He pulled her close again and rushed into it before his mother could pop in again. He pressed on her back, forcing her to lean into it more. He came up for breath momentarily. Kagura bit down on his lower lip, trying to keep his mouth open, before sliding her tongue inside. Sasame jumped a little. The metal ball of her tongue ring glided across the roof of his mouth. He could have sworn all the blood rushed to his face by then. She leaned her whole body into it, trying her best to get closer without making the boy jump. That's when Ayanami popped in again.

“HAH!…I mean…I just came to get this,” the woman lied. She grabbed the plate the cake had been on and walked back out. She a nearly scared Kagura out of her skin, bursting through the door like she did. The girl was red faced and embarrassed, immediately jumping away from the woman's son. When Ayanami left, Sasame sighed.

“You still think she's funny now?”

“Yeah,” she replied, smirking over her previous shock. “I should go anyway.” Kagura stood up. She could feel Sasame's hand still around her wrist. “I'll come back tomorrow,” she sighed. When Sasame let go a and smiled at her, she followed up with a, “If I feel like it.”

His smile dulled down to a smirk. “Figures, you'd say something like that after actually saying something nice. Well come by when I'm not about to go to sleep next time.”

She kicked him rather hard before heading for the door. “Maybe I'll just stay home then.” That same teasing grin was on her face but when it came to someone like her, you never know what to take seriously and what not to.

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Kagura stayed after for swim practice. This again, had been something she was already good at. He was beginning to wonder if she was some type of mutant competed with a bunch of normal human people. Or maybe a robot. No, she'd shock everyone in the pool. Mutant definitely. Though, she was beginning to grow a greater number in people who didn't like her because of her being better at certain things it had taken them years to master. Sasame couldn't lie. He did envy her for it. But then again, he had been good at so many things himself. Kyoko had been on the team and it was the only thing she'd been good at. And she was very good. Now, to have this freak come for one practice and show her up fairly pissed her off. Kagura just ignored Kyoko's glares and proceeded with beating her in laps by miles and minutes. Sasame watched, slightly bothered by it. Kagura hates loosing. It's obvious. If she doesn't really care about these activities she's doing, why does she keep trying so hard at this? She hadn't tried so hard for the top spot at GMT but when it came to her Archery performance and now swimming, she's been outdoing everyone. Sasame stared as everyone walked into the back room. Kagura had been lucky that the suits came up close to her neck. Or else everyone would have seen her tattoo. He noticed how nervous she was going in. Kagura went to the back where others were going to shower. Kagura didn't plan on showering with them.

Kyoko frowned at her when she entered, but soon grinned. “At least I can see my boobs are bigger than yours. And you can't beat genetics.”

“No, you can't,” she replied blandly. “My hair is proof of that.”

“What? Don't go getting sensitive on me.”

Kagura started washing her hair. She'd shower when she got home. Less time spent here the better but she didn't want her hair getting damaged on the walk home. “I'm not. You're right. I guess genetics just made me a better swimmer than you. And you can't fight that…without steroids.”

“You're a real bitch, you know that.”

“Really, because I wasn't trying to be,” she replied with sarcasm. Kyoko proceeded with telling her to `kiss her ass' while Kagura kept quiet until she had finished washing her hair.

“You've been hanging around Sasame a lot lately,” Kyoko finally added.

“So?”

“You two going out?” she asked. That's when she noticed the actions of others change a little. They were all listening.

“He's my neighbor,” she stated. It wasn't until Kagura changed her clothes and left did Kyoko notice that she really didn't answer the question. Kagura walked outside with Sasame walking beside her.

“So I thought you didn't really care about trying since you didn't plan on sticking around.”

Kagura looked up at Sasame. “You heard your coach. They're watching me. So I got this idea. I'm going to be better at this than anyone else. Then, when the time comes, I'm just going to up and leave after the teams become dependant on me.”

“That's a little cold.”

“Which is exactly why I'm doing it. These people don't like me anyway.”

Sasame wanted to laugh at her. “And whose fault is that? You're the reason they don't like you. You have to start being nicer to people.”

“Why would you ask me a question, then tell me the answer?”

“You're missing the point,” he sighed. “Nevermind. Just in one ear and out the other.”

“Pretty much,” she smiled. “But I won't hold it against you for trying.” The farther away the school became on their walk, the more Sasame relaxed. Once they reached the woody pass, he wrapped a secure arm around Kagura's shoulders and pulled her into him while they walked. He felt her freeze. “Not in public,” she muttered, about to push him away, but he just let out a loud sigh.

“It's not like anyone's looking,” he said, giving her a puppy-eyed look.

She rolled her eyes at him before smiling at him. “Alright, but I smell like chlorine.” Sasame slid her hood off she had been using to hide her wet hair from the cold weather. “I'm going to get sick.”

“I noticed how you always say that but never do.” He leaned down and kissed the top of her head, a show of affection she hadn't been used to for a while. That's when a loud shout came from behind the two. Thay immediately jumped apart and looked behind them to see who shouted `Little Sister!'

Kagura's eyes widened. She wasn't expecting this. “Get away from her,” she muttered to Sasame. There was a woman standing not too far away with bright purple hair and a few too many piercings in her ears.

“I heard that! Don't be afraid of me! I didn't come for anything like that,” Psy pouted. Sasame looked confused but Kagura looked relieved. The girl came running toward Kagura and lifted her two inches off the floor. “How have you been! I've missed you SOOOOOO MUCH!” She squeezed the girl so tightly, she began to worry herself whether Kagura was breathing. So she set her down.

“I missed you too Psy,” Kagura laughed. Sasame just stared until she went noticed. It wasn't like he even noticed what was going on. But he soon saw the jacket she wore had a large butterfly on it.

One of her Saint friends?

“Hey, it's the blonde I saw on the news. You really are cuter in person,” Psy smiled. Sasame just blushed. “So, you guys do it yet?”

Now they were both blushing. “NO!” Kagura shouted. “You gotta think about stuff before you say it.”

“Right. I'll remember that.”

“No you won't,” she sighed before she introduced `the blonde'. “This is Sasame. He's my neighbor.”

“You looked like more than just neighbors before I showed up,” she smirked. The two turned red again. Kagura gave her a hopeless look. “It was just a joke. Calm down.”

“I know you didn't just come to see me. What is it?”

Psy's smile faded, then her eyes drifted toward Sasame. “You don't mind if I snatch her up for a moment do you? I need to speak with her alone.”

This was the first time Sasame got a word in the whole time. “Uh, yeah. Sure.”

Psy and Kagura walked a few long feet away before she said anything. “I came to give you this.” Psy handed Kagura another red envelope. Kagura stared at it a while, then shoved it into her jacket pocket.

“You came all this way just to give me this,” Kagura asked.

“No. I just wanted to see you again. One last time. For things between us to be the same as it used to be one last time.” Kagura didn't say anything at first, then when she was going to, Psy spoke over her. “I can't see you anymore after this. No more letters, no more visits, no more…heh…jokes and tattoos. No nothing. I can't keep putting myself on the line without getting killed for it,” said in a whisper so her friend wouldn't hear. He heard anyway though. It was a natural gift bestowed upon him. The gift to hear the most quiet or sometimes inaudible things. There were no secrets left secrets when he was around. Not that he actually meant to eavesdrop. Kagura looked down at the ground, not wanting Psy to see how much she wanted to cry. “Don't.” Psy hugged her even tighter than she had before. “Maki really wants to see you and not in the good way. He's looking so hard and I can't keep putting myself out there. You know what'll happen if I get caught. And I'm afraid he might even send me out here looking for you. So if you ever see me again, stay away from me.”

“No…”

“Kagura,” she sighed. The girl's hands had a death grip on her shoulders. “I'm sorry.”

“Why does he want to bother me now. Now of all times, when I'm finally just a little happy,” she whimpered. All Psy could keep saying was `I'm sorry'.

“I love you so much,” she said, pulling her away. “But I have to go now. Alright,” she smiled. “Just smile through it. You don't want to worry your friend.”

Kagura forced a small smile there and wiped her face. She just stood there for a while and watched Psy wave goodbye with a huge smile, the same energy she had coming to meet them. Kagura had spent so much time with the girl. Kagura would never come close to how good she faked happiness. She'd gotten good at it by now though. But her smile just never came out just right. Not like Psy's. She could a smile on her face in the worst of times. Just like now. That's when Kagura felt two arms wrap themselves around her from behind. Sasame had heard everything down to the very goodbye. It ached his heart just watching something like that. And he was sure that wasn't even the surface of what she's probably been going through. Especially now that he knew she had Maki wanting to see her. That had been the guy on the news, getting out of jail a while ago. Kagura looked up at him. “You really are too touchy,” she smirked. But somehow, it wasn't the same as the teasing smirk he had become used to. Sasame tightened his grip on her.

“You don't have to smile through the pain now, Kagura. Not with me,” he whispered.

Silent tears fell from her eyes and made tapping sounds on the sleeves of his jacket. “Thanks,” she said in a shaky tone. He kissed the top of her head again and they stood there for a while. “I want to go home now.”

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Sasame walked her up to her door. “You alright now?”

“Yeah,” she sighed. “It's not like I didn't see it coming.” Kagura opened then turned around. “Later.”

Sasame leaned down a kissed her. Her eyes shot open. He was getting a little more bold every day she saw him. He pulled away too quickly in her opinion and ran his hand over her hair. “Just take a nap. You'll feel better.”

Kagura walked inside a closed the door. Even through her depressed mood, a smile found it's way to her face. She glanced back at the closed door, then shook her head, imagining she'd been acting like Himeno. Speaking of Himeno…”Oh…my…GOD!” the tulip shouted. “I saw that! So just when were you going to tell me? Huh? I knew you liked him-“

“Could you be any louder about it?”

Himeno giggled. “It was so cute though. No wonder it took you so long getting home. Maybe I should stay after and walk with you two. You need someone to make sure nothing funny happens.”

“God. And you're wondering why I didn't tell you.”

Himeno smiled, lost in thought. “Tetsu never kisses me like that.”

“You kiss him?”

“Yeah. He's real aggressive.”

“Ack! You probably have mouth herpes or something.”

“Kagura!”

“I'm just saying. 99 percent of the time, I'm a good judge of people.”

“Well Tetsu's that one percent.”

“I already know who that one percent is and he's not it.” Kagura walked upstairs to take a shower and then went into her room to read the letter after having a snack. It was nothing different. Just Psy's usual letters. Began happy. Dropped bad news. Then ended happy. Just like her. It started with a hey, hi, how are ya? Then it got into Maki pressing to find her. She even went as far as to say he was going crazy. Obsessed. People are walking on egg shells around him. Afraid he might snap. Last person who talked back to him was his new…not girlfriend…but…bed partner Mimi. Everyone was around when it happened. They were arguing about something and Mimi saying something about `this Kagura girl' being a bitch and he just shot her. Then told us to clean it up. It also warned her to watch after herself and not to see anyone from the group again. Not Berserk either. Then she said goodbye and signed `Big Sister'. She burned it over the stove while Himeno watched TV, then joined her in the living room. Kagura sat, already in her night attire and hugged Himeno while she watched television. “I love you…so much. You know that right?”

Himeno looked at her awkwardly. The last time she did this, they found her out on the Tokyo streets half dead. “Yeah…What's wrong?”

“Nothing.”

“Onee-chan…” Himeno sighed. “I love you too.” That was all she could give her. Whatever she was thinking about would be far beyond her comprehension. And it was a matter she'd only keep to herself anyway. After a while, they'd gotten comfortable watching TV like that. It became dark soon and Sanma came home.

“I-I'm sorry. I h-had to work late,” she apologized.

“It's alright Sara,” Himeno smiled. Then she noticed her sister had dozed off against her shoulder. “We should be getting to sleep anyway. See you tomorrow morning.” Himeno helped a half-sleeping Kagura up the stairs. They both lied down in bed and went to sleep.

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It was the same as yesterday. Kagura had paid Sasame no special attention in no way shape or form that day during the walk to school nor while there. But it was obvious Himeno knew. Sasame had seen her watching yesterday anyway, which was mostly why he did it. And she kept looking at Kagura confused now. Why was she treating him like this now? After school, Himeno and Hayate walked home, leaving Kagura at her Traditional Female's Club. Sasame was aloud to sit in until she was finished. “Aren't they so cute together?” she smiled up at Hayate who just grunted in response. “It's good for her. Being normal for once, you know? She came in with the most love-sick smile yesterday.”

“You don't say,” Hayate muttered in none interest. Himeno frowned at him a little.

“You haven't been speaking to me for a while. What's wrong? Did I do something?” she asked. He blushed a little and looked away from her. “Hayate?”

“It's just-…Tetsu.”

“Nevermind,” she cut off. “He's really a nice guy and all of you have nothing but negative to say about him so nevermind.”

“Nice guy, huh?” he snorted. “You really are an dense-tulip-headed-valley-girl.”

“What did you call me!” Hayate got to running as soon as he said it, knowing she was chasing right after him.

“OW!” Hayate halted in his tracks and turned around to see Himeno on the floor, holding onto her leg. “It hurts you Queen of the Bakas!”

He sneered at the remark before walking over and kneeling in front of her. “Is it bleeding?” She went from a pout to a smirk in two seconds. Before he could move out the way, Himeno leapt out at him. They rolled around a bit before Hayate pinned her down to the floor in the spikey grass. “I try to help and you think you're going to pull something like that one me,” he smirked.

She just laughed. “Okay, I'm sorry.”

“You don't sound sorry,” he said, tickling her ribcage.

“I said I'm sorry,” she laughed harder. “S-SOOO-ORRY!” He smirked down at her, and she just stared up at him. “We should hang out more often Hayate. Really. You're fun. And you can help me with my kendo practice since Kagura's so busy with all those after school things she's stuck with now.”

“Fine.” Hayate still stared down at her. His warm breath visible because of the cold air. His face wasn't too far away from hers and he couldn't help it. She may have been a tulip-headed-valley-girl but she was an adorable-tulip-headed-valley-girl. He closed the gap between them, pressing her lips gently under his. Himeno's eyes slowed closed, her mind drifting away from he for what seemed like an eternity of moments. But her mind soon came whipping back. She pushed him back a little.

“What are you doing? I…have a boyfriend already,” she said, her face standing out in red. His soon turned the same color.

“I-….I'm sorry. It was a mistake,” he apologized before standing. He offered a hand to help her up and she took it.

They had walked in silence for a while before Himeno smiled up at him. “You're still going to hang out with me right? Help me with my practice?”

Hayate was a little surprised she still wanted to see him after that but smiled back. “Yeah. I guess I could help you out, tulip-head,” he smirked before running again. She was right on his heals.

“Get back here baka!”

While back at school Kagura was having terrible trouble with the club. Mawata instructed her on what need be done and Sasame just stared in amusement., making momentary conversation and jokes with his friend Mawata. Kagura had put on a kimono, which she complained about. She tried pouring tea. Spilled it, and almost cracked the pot. They were laughing at her, much to Kagura's annoyance. She tried walking with books on her head, which was no problem. But formal dancing with books on her head. She didn't even know how to formal dance so of course the books would make it worse. The only thing she was good at was planting flowers. The problem was, she got the damned kimono dirty and they took points off for that. That entire time was like a laugh at the new girl meeting. Even Mawata got a pretty great laugh. Kagura made a mental note of it just in case she got the chance to punch her harder next time. Kagura was instructed on formal manners, which weren't a problem, but when asked to…`POUR TEA' for the bastards, it turned out a disaster. I mean, how much tea can a guy drink? She was forced to take her kimono home and wash it. They were walking home now and Sasame couldn't stop laughing. “It's not funny jerk-off!”

“Haha, heh, don't get angry. I'm not laughing because you suck at it. I'm laughing because there's actually something you're not good at.” The girl blushed a color the same as her hair and she frowned at him. “Oh don't look at me like that,” he sighed. “I'm sorry, okay. I won't laugh next time-“

“No. Go ahead. I was funny. I would have laughed. Besides, it's actually kind of a relief not being good at everything,” she smiled. Sasame pulled her closer to him once the school became out of sight.

“You coming over today?” he asked, a mischievous little grin on his face.

“Maaaybe,” she grinned back. They had gotten home and Kagura went inside to shower and change before coming back out. Not to go next door yet, but to look for Himeno. She better not have gone to Tetsu's. She knows better. Kagura walked around outdoors, looking around for a bit, thinking she'd stop a tulip and sunflower skipping down the sidewalk, saying they've been hanging at Yayoi's house. That would be the reasonable place to look. That's when she heard laughing. Laughing and whining. Kagura walked next door, climbed over the fence, and landed in their backyard.

“But it's coooold Hayate. I thought we were going inside!” Himeno complained. He just huffed at her.

“You asked to practice with me. I practice outside, sun or snow. Now get moving.”

“But I don't wanna! Ayanami-sama. Make him stop!”

Kagura stared at them from her spot at the corner of the house. She had scratched herself on the way down the fence and her finger was bleeding. She shoved it in her mouth and watched them. Hayate kept trying to pull a protesting Himeno off the floor while Ayanami watched with a smile on her face, steamed cocoa tea in hand. “Aren't you two just adorable.”

Hayate dropped Himeno with a red face and she hit the floor. “Mom! Please! Go…wash the dishes or something.”

“Are there dishes in the sink? Because I do remember that being your chore for the day. So why don't you give Himeno a break and wash those dishes.” Hayate grumbled and did as told. Himeno walked inside to help, having nothing else to do. That's when Ayanami noticed her staring. “Kagura? How'd you get over there?”

Kagura snapped out of her daze and walked over. “I climbed the fence,” she mumbled with her finger in her mouth.

Ayanami looked a bit disbelieving. “Why didn't you use the door like normal people? I swear. You kids. Come in, come in,” the woman waved. She stood and Kagura followed her into the house.

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Sasame had been downstairs for a while, watching Hayate and Himeno practice their kendo. Then he got bored and went up to his room. Kagura had said maybe she'd come and by now he took it as a no. So Sasame laid back onto his bed and went to sleep. He had the weirdest dream. He was standing out in this large field of white daisies while dressed in his knight costume. Each and every flower reflecting the light of the sun, causing this white haze, like an angelic memory. He'd had dreams like this before. Just him by himself wondering why he was there. It was like walking on air. That's when he felt someone run up and grab his arm. He looked down and there was Kagura, standing there with a wide smile. “Kagura?” The rose was dressed in that costume she wore to the carnival at school and not a tattoo on her.

“Duh, who else would it be?” she said with her smile changing into a smirk. But that smirk turned into a frown.

“What's wrong?”

“If I told you I did something really bad, would you hate me for it?”

“Hate you for what?”

“Promise you won't get mad first.”

Sasame looked at her oddly. “Alright. I promise. What is it?”

She held out her hand. She was holding onto a rose that had wilted and turned black. Blood dripped from the sides of her hand. Then she opened her hand to reveal a blood covered rose and holes in her hands from squeezing down on the thorns. “I killed it. But I didn't want to! Honest!”

“You're bleeding…” Sasame tried to grab her hand but she yanked it away. “Kagura. Let me fix it.”

“No.” she dropped the rose on the ground. “I deserve it. I killed something…I kill everything.” Her blood dripping from her hand fell onto the daisies below, and those daisies withered and turned black as well. The flowers under her feet did the same and it was like a domino affect. Everything around her was dying and even Sasame himself couldn't feel his legs. This wasn't his dream anymore, it was a nightmare. “Don't leave. Stay with me, Sasame. Forever, and ever and ever and ever and ever and ever and ever…I love you.”

Sasame thrust forward from his sleep and nearly scared Kagura to death. “What the hell!”

“Kagura?” Sasame still tried catching his breath. “What are you doing here?”

“Your mom let me up…” she said, staring at him oddly. “Bad dream?”

“Uh…yeah…what's that behind your back?”

“If I told I did something really bad, would you hate me for it?”

Sasame froze for a moment. “N-no…what is it?”

Kagura grinned at him and held out a pretty large sized book. That's when Sasame went a little frantic. “You were sleeping and I got bored-“

“Give me that!” He snatched it out of her hands.

“So I read your diiiiaaaaaarrrrryyyy! I didn't know guys kept those.”

“It's not a diary, it's a journal. It helps me…vent.”

“Yeah. No wonder you're so happy all the time. You put all your angry thoughts in your man diary.”

“Will you stop saying that!” His face burned red and Kagura decided to let up a little on the `diary' term. “How much did you read anyway?”

“Not much…”

“What's not much?” he asked, raising a brow.

“Just like…the first…fifteen pages. You had a big vocabulary for a fifth grader.”

Well at least she didn't go through anything recent. Sasame sighed. “Well…I wasn't exactly the most sociable in the fifth grade.”

“Yeah…I assumed after I read…so…you liked Mawata in the fifth grade…” Kagura was less playful when she said it but not as annoyed as she wanted to be.

“Yeah. That was years ago though. I wore glasses and had braces back then. Mawata and a very few other people were the only ones that talked to me. She was the only girl that talked to me anyway. Then one day, I told her I liked her and she said that famous let's just be friends line. Two years later, my bad vision cleared up, got my braces removed, and everything changed…fast. Mawata's still a friend of mine and so are the ones I spoke with before.”

“That…must…have really…SUCKED!” Kagura blurt out before laughing.

“You'd seriously laugh at me after I open up and talk to you about something like that?” he asked, a look of disbelief on his face.

“I'm a brutally honest person. You know that. And besides, it's funny. To think, you were a dork!” Kagura rolled around, clutching her sides. “Besides, would you rather me not laugh and tell you how bad I feel for you? Because I don't. You turned out fine and that's all that matters right?” Sasame got up and began tickling her ribs, causing her to laugh harder.

“Well when you put it that way…”

“Okay! Stop it!”

“Say you're sorry.”

“But I'm not.”

“Then I'm not stopping.”

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The children continued admiring the exhibits in the museum in Tokyo, their field trip. Though, a couple of kids got bored and decided it'd be more fun to pick on the dork. Sasame had strayed farther away from the group and a few of the kids cornered him. With that, they hit him, played with his glasses, while he sat there defenseless. One to three. “Hey! Leave the him alone!”

They turned around to see who it was. Standing there was a girl, wearing a sweater as forced by the cold weather, and a hood over her head indoors.

“And what are you going to do about it.”

“You're just a girl.”

She walked up, flipping through a book hurriedly at the same time. That almost made them laugh. That is, until she looked up from the book long enough to smash her hand down two inches away from one boy's neck. He dropped onto the floor and didn't move.

“She killed him!”

She held a small smirk on her face. “Anyone else wanna be my lab rat? I've been waiting to try that out on a few more people.”

The two boys ran back in search of their teacher, leaving their limp friend behind.

“I-Is he really d-d-dead?” Sasame asked, cowering before the girl.

“O-O-Of course not. He's just sleeping,” she said, mocking him. “You're such a dork. At least act like you're not about to piss on yourself.” Sasame froze for a moment. She helped him from other bullies but she was acting much like on herself. And she did say she was looking for lab rats to practice that hit on. What if that's me? I got saved by someone who wants to hit me…Her eyes look…really weird though.

“It's rude to stare you know?” Sasame immediately averted his gaze to her feet. She kneeled down and picked up his glasses, then threw them in his lap. “Well four-eyed-metal-mouth, you don't look like much of a fighter so you better be a good reader. Here.” Sasame looked up finally to see her holding that book out to him.

“What's this?”

“A book. Goodness, you're a genius,” she replied sarcastically before handing it off to him. “Just read it alright? I just finished with it. Maybe next time they bother you, you'll kick their asses so they don't do it again.” She winked at him. “I gotta go now before my counselor notices I snuck off. Later four-eyed-metal-mouth.” She walked off, leaving hurting words behind him. Sasame looked a little depressed by it, but she did help him. And he was…is a dork. Maybe what she left would help. Then, if he ever saw her again, he'd be showing off things he learned. He looked down at the book. Basic Acupuncture/ Stress Points, Paralyzing, and Slumber.

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Sasame struggled a bit, trying to control the squirming, laughing girl beneath him. “Why should I have to say sorry because you were a four-eyed-metal-mouth?” Sasame froze for a moment and during this time, Kagura flipped the two over so she was on top. “That's what you get for stopping,” she grinned. He didn't reply, just stared up at her, into those warm eyes, like two of the fireplaces he and the family sat at in the den during the winter. Warm and inviting, just like the girl from that memory. “What's wrong?” she asked, growing concerned when he still didn't try anything. He snapped out of his thoughts and just smiled.

“It's nothing,” he said with a slightly red face when he noticed their position.

Kagura wanted to laugh but instead, decided on teasing him. “You're blushing. What's wrong? You don't like being on the bottom?”

He flipped her over again. “That's not funny. My mom's here. You know how nosy she is. I don't want her to hear those dirty jokes of yours.”

“O, I've upset the mama's boy. I apologize.”

Sasame continued with his previous action of tickling the trapped girl when the phone rang. He proceeded with one hand so she wouldn't get away, and reached over to the end table by his bed for the phone. “Hello?” he spoke over Kagura's laughing. The person on the other end paused for a while. “Hello? Anyone there…?” Sasame was about to hang up when Mawata's voice came over on the other end. “Oh, Hi Mawata.” Kagura's laughing hushed at the sound of her name spoken. Sasame assumed it was just because she wanted to let him speak and continued talking. “Not much, just hanging out with the neighbor…yeah Sanma Kagura…uh huh…yeah I remembered. They're coming in the day after tomorrow.” Kagura grew bored, just lying there and decided to speed the call along. She slid her hand up Sasame's shirt and literally felt the boy jump a little. He looked down at her and she just smiled up at him. “Yeah, tomorrow's fine,” he said in a more high pitched tone. “Huh? No nothing's wrong? Now's not a good time Mawata. I'll see you tomorrow. Uh-huh, bye.” He had practically rushed her off the phone. Mawata laid on her bed, in her dark room with the phone still in hand. Her eyes glued to the ceiling. Her eyes looked empty, like she was thinking about something, before the phone rolled out of her hand. Besides the fact that she captivated so much of her Prince's attention, this was just another reason why Mawata loathed that woman. Sanma Kagura.

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It was the last class for the day and Kagura had been half falling asleep. It had been Chemistry class and they were, for some class, going over History. It was the history of certain poisons so she could see where it made some sense, but it was something she already knew. And even worse, no one else in the class seemed to know. That's what made the lesson drag on so much. No one participated and the teacher, oddly enough, seemed to like the fact that not a student in class could say the answer or even knew what he was talking about. Kagura, however, wanted to speed the lesson along. “Well I guess I'll have to slow down a bit to more basic harmful chemicals. It's known to coal miners as the `Fire Damp'. Does anyone know what I'm talking about? Anyone…?” The teacher looked around and Kagura sighed. Her hand raised lazily, much to the teacher, and a few students' surprise. “It's methane.”

“Back in the earlier years of spawning Japan, Methane was discovered and experimented with by a nameless scientist who later died from too much exposure to it. During this same time, this scientist accidentally created it's cousin chemical methyl chloride, altering it by accidental electricution. It's was first proved deadly, how miss Sanma.”

“The scientist needed more money for his research. He sold it as an assassin potion to a greedy Concubine who'd convinced her ruler to fall in love with her. He was sick but still wouldn't die and she'd had enough of waiting. She seduced him into putting her into his will for a great sum of wealth, greater than that left to his actual wife, then she added methyl chloride to his medicine which ended up killing him, few symptoms visible.”

The teacher was surprised she'd answered correctly but was sure she wouldn't get the next one. “And how did this branch off into the testing of Anesthetic Chloroform?”

“King died. Wife got jealous of the wealthy concubine. The scientist had reenacted his previous actions when his assassin potion had proved successful. He took more methane, and this time produced assassin potion number two, later named Envy in his series of assassin potions he'd named his Seven Deadly Sins. The first one being Greed, given what it was used for. And Envy, was used by the envious wife, who was later made into a servant along with many other women when the Concubine came to power. She purchased Envy and mixed it with her wine. This chemical and the wine put together, sent the woman into immediate symptoms. Sandy tongue, dry throat, Swine's Disease or burning of the skin due to absence or inactive sweat glands, later dehydration, deadly tightening of the skin, bleeding from opening of the body, and multiple convulsions until she was later put out of her misery with death. Did I miss anything?”

“…no…that's it. I guess…that's my lesson for today. Class dismissed. And Kagura, you should participate more often.”

His words had went in one ear, out the other. “Thank-you Onee-chan!” Himeno practically cheered. “I was falling asleep.”

“You did tulip-head. There's drool on your desk.”

“Stop calling me tulip-head!”

Kagura didn't seem to share their joy. She just wanted to hurry up and get out of class. The other students in class were giving her weird looks like she usually gotten after a rant like that. They were muttering amongst themselves and she knew what they were saying. `Freak' She was used to it by now. `Smart freak' `Red headed freak' `Demon eyed freak' It didn't bother her anymore. She only dealt with it when they became bold enough to say it to her face. Speaking of which, as she finished packing her things into her bag, there were two guys walking her way. “Hey, Sanma. You wouldn't mind coming over and helping us with our homework after school now would you?”

“Listen really close because I won't tell you again. NO.”

“That was harsh. You didn't have to be so bitchy about it.”

“I've seen you two. You never even bring your book to class so it's pretty damn obvious you're not reading it. You don't want help you want me to do it for you. You want helpful advice on how to pass? Stop looking at the pictures of what the dead bodies look like after they've been poisoned and READ THE FUCKING BOOK. Nice talking to you though. Hope to do it more often.” She walked out of class, leaving Himeno and Sasame to catch up. Hayate was in no rush, just stayed after a while to stare at their angry faces before strolling out of class.

“You didn't have to be so mean about it. A simple NO would have been good,” Himeno frowned when she finally reached her sister.

“They never bothered talking to me before, why should they now? You have to be mean to get the point across. This way, I have no doubt that they won't ask me again.”

Sasame slowed down when she started walking normally again. He stared at her a while. For some reason she seemed extra angry today. Himeno noticed too. “Are you alright, Onee-chan?”

“Hmm?” she smiled at her. “Fine. It's just a headache.”

Himeno became even more worried. “Is it…one of those headaches?”

“No…It's a normal, headache alright. You worry too much.” Kagura walked into the girl's bathroom and Himeno followed her in. Sasame, who had no idea of what they were talking about, was forced to wait outside.

“Kagura. You sure? If you're lying, you'll just get yourself hurt.”

Kagura turned the sink on a splashed some water in her face. “I just haven't taken my shot in a while, okay?”

“You should have told me. I'll ask Sanma to take you when we get home. How long has it been, eh?”

“…”

“Kagura…You did ask our counselor to take you every month, didn't you?”

“…”

“KAGURA!”

Sasame could hear Himeno shouting and wondered what was going on. For the most part, they spoke in hushed tones and even he couldn't hear much. Mostly because, for once, he was actually trying to mind his business. If he would have actually tried listening in, he probably would have heard from start to finish. And now that Himeno shouted like that, he was listening. “Five months…maybe more. I lost count. But I've been fine. I didn't think I needed it anymore-“

“That's not for you to decide Kagura-“

“I got to hurry up and get to practice before I get put on probation.” She smiled one more time at her worried sister. “I said I'm fine. Stop worrying about me and go home. You can't do anything about my shot here complaining about.”

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Kagura shook her head. She was tired and just wanted to go home. Hime's just over reacting. I'm always tired…after…a boring…day…of…sch-… Kagura had literally fallen asleep where she sat on the sidelines. Sasame looked at her worried and shook her awake.

“You alright?”

“I'm fine.”

“Awayuki! Stop napping over there and get over here. Mawata needs a practice partner.”

“Sure.” She got up, rather drowsily, and walked over in Mawata's direction. “Hey,” she smiled. “How's your stomach?”

“Fine thank you. Shall we begin?”

Kagura rubbed her eyes. “Give me a minute.” Okay, maybe Himeno was right to worry. There was definitely something wrong. Her vision was blurred. And now, breathing wasn't as easy. Still, Kagura, being Kagura, to arrogant to admit there was something wrong with her. Mawata was merely looking to take out some pent up aggression on her. Though, she did notice that Kagura wasn't acting so normal. She ran in and swept her leg down, tripping the girl in the process. Kagura would have normally jumped that. And even still, she would have gotten back up. Mawata braced herself for another punch like she did last time, coming up off the floor. But Kagura just laid there. Now, no matter how much she didn't want to be, was a little concerned.

“Uh, hey,” Mawata kicked her. “Get up.”

“I will,” she smiled. “When the room stops spinning.” Her breathing came in loud and a group of the students swarmed around her.

“Hey? What's up with Kagura?”

“She doesn't look so good.”

“She fell pretty hard too.”

“What'd you do Mawata?”

“Nothing. I just, tripped her, and she fell.” Sasame rushed over and gave her a once over before telling their coach to call an ambulance.

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Kagura was a special case and the hospital in Kogo didn't know what to do with her. Sanma was home early that day after Himeno called and told her they need to take another trip to Jyouh. Before they got to the school to pick Kagura up, they got a call from the hospital, stating her condition there and the fact that she was contained for mental illness and nearing temporary insanity. She was too hyper active to give her a shot or an X-ray. Once Himeno explained, they had to wait even longer before her medicine was shipped over from the hospital in Jyouh. It took five men to hold her down and another to give her the shot. Kagura awoke the next day in a hospital bed with Himeno there. She'd fallen asleep in the chair beside her bed, with her head resting on the side of the bed. Kagura sat up, feeling a lot better than she did yesterday. She shook Himeno awake. “What are you doing here by yourself?”

“Worrying about you, Onee-chan. I told you you'd hurt yourself.”

“But I feel better now…they didn't do anything…weird did they.”

“They tried but I didn't let them. They had to get permission from family to do it. My sister's no lab rat.”

“Thanks. I want to go home now.”

“You have to wait for Sanma to come. She would have stayed but I told her to go home. The Ayanami's were here too. They wanted to stay but the mom made them go home and get some sleep.”

Kagura looked around the room. “And those?” There were two vases full of flowers sitting on a table.

“Oh, one's from the hospital in Jyouh with a letter attached to it. The other's from Sasaaaaaaame,” she grinned.

“Stop teasing me and hand it over.” Himeno walked over and set the vase on the end table beside the bed before snatching up the card. "Hey! Give it back!"

"Hope you get well soon. See you when you get home. Sasame. How cuuute! Kagi's got a boyfriend! Kagi's got a-"

Kagura leaned forward enough to snatch the card from her. "Stop acting like such a child." Her face had gone a deep shade of red and Himeno wanted to take one of the rare occassions of Kagura's embarrassment and rub it in her face.

"Kagura and Sasame sitting in a tree. K-I-S-S-I-N-G!"

Kagura looked a little surprised. "Is that how it goes?"

"Yeah. Why? How'd you think it went?"

"I knew someone who used to sing it a little differently."

(flashback)

Psy danced in circles around a red faced Kagura, teasing her mercilessly. "Will you shut it already!"

"Kagura and Maki on the beach by the sea. F-U-C-K-I-N-G!"

"That's it! I'm kicking your ass!" Kagura took off after the girl while on lookers laughed.

"Go easy on her," Berserk shouted.

(end)

It dropped Kagura's mood a bit, remembering her old friends. "Ah," Himeno thought aloud. "You must be talking about the dirty version. I think I remember how it goes. Kagura and Sasame...on the beach by the sea. F---"

"Don't even think about it," Kagura frowned. "Give me the other one."

Himeno did as told and this time, Kagura grabbed the envelope before Himeno could get to it. Then she read it over.

Hope you're doing okay blah blah blah Take your madicine next month on time please. Like I don't already know that. Hope you're having fun in Kogo. The doctors here miss you and your sister. Hope you stop by for more visits. Your sister is due her shot for the year soon. We'll give it to her next month along with yours. more crap...more crap...what the-? You're father's...awake and requests to see you. We've phoned your guardian with the news. Since he isstill your legal guardian, it is mandatory that you show up. He's really devistated that he's been sleeping for so long and wishes to be with his only two children...shit. Just what I need after a day in the hospital.