By Haruka

Maria blinked when her alarm clock went off and the sun hit her right in the eye. She turned off the alarm and snuggled back down. She didn't want to get up just yet - she was too warm and cozy in Kanna's arms.
Kanna?!
"AHHHH!!!" Maria cried, shoving Kanna away from her. "Get out! Get out! Get out!"
Kanna moaned, then laughed, "Make up your mind, girl!" She scrambled out of bed and grabbed her robe. "Last night it was 'come here, sexy' and today it's 'get out'? Anyway, you'll wake up the whole house yelling like that."
"They are _already_ awake!" Maria pointed at the clock. "My alarm went off!" She brushed her hair off her face in frustration. "What are you still doing here? The only reason we have never been caught before is that you're usually up and out jogging by now!"
"I decided not to go today since the barbecue ran so late," Kanna looked toward the door. "You really think they're all up?"
"Yes, and we are late!" Maria ran to her closet and began rifling through the clothes. "You must go back to your own room but be careful!"
Kanna cautiously opened the door and peeked out. Duo walked by without noticing her, but she still caught her breath. Further down the hall, she could hear Amara and Inuyasha. She closed the door and leaned back against it, looking helplessly at Maria. "We're in trouble."
Maria finished buttoning her blouse. "No, we're not - not if you stay here until after everyone goes downstairs."
There was a knock on the door. "Maria, it's Rogue. Ah wanna talk ta ya."
The girls' eyes met in mutual panic. "_Now_ we're in trouble," Kanna hissed.
"Get in the closet!" Maria whispered urgently, then louder she said, "Just a moment, Rogue! I am dressing!"
"Yer usually the first one downstairs," Rogue chuckled from the hallway. "Slow start this mornin'?"
Maria watched Kanna try to close the closet door after herself. She finally gave it a hard tug and managed to get it shut, but Maria could tell it was an uncomfortable fit. She hoped she could get rid of Rogue quickly as she opened the bedroom door. "Come in," she said.
Rogue walked in and Maria saw her glance at the unmade bed. "My, ya _are_ slow this mornin'," Rogue joked. "Are ya feelin' all right?"
"I am fine," Maria said. "I just did not hear the alarm. What did you want to talk about?"
Much to Maria's dismay, Rogue took a seat on the bed and looked as if she were settling in for a long chat. She patted the spot next to her. "Come here, sugah."
Maria reluctantly joined her on the bed and hoped Kanna could hold out a little longer. "Have I done something wrong?" she asked.
"You?" Rogue laughed. "Nah, Ah'm just worried about ya is all. Ya didn't seem to have any fun at the barbecue last night."
"It was fine."
"Maria, _something_ was wrong, Ah could tell," Rogue said gently. "Was it Amara?"
Maria was confused, and her concern over Kanna wasn't helping her concentrate on what Rogue said. "Amara?" she repeated.
"Ya know, findin' out she the Tenous' daughter after all?" Rogue sighed. "Ah know it bothered _me_."
"Why?"
"Because she didn't seem very happy about it, and for my own selfish reason, Ah'll miss her if she decides to move in with them."
Maria was beginning to wonder if Rogue needed reassurance more than she was offering it. She put a hand on her shoulder. "It is not selfish. You love her, we all do." "It's still selfish," Rogue insisted. "We should want what _she_ wants, whatever she decides."
"If it comes down to it, you will support her, as you always have."
Rogue gave her a sad smile and touched her cheek. "Look at this. I came in here to make sure ya were all right and here ya are tryin' to make _me_ feel better. Yer such a good girl, Maria."
You would not think so if you looked in my closet, Maria thought guiltily. She forced a smile and patted Rogue's gloved hand. "Why do you not go downstairs? I will be down shortly."
"But ya never told me why you were upset yesterday," Rogue reminded her.
Maria heard a soft thump in the closet and felt her heart skip a beat. Fortunately, Rogue didn't seem to notice, but if Kanna was starting to lose her balance, the following noise might get a lot louder. She frantically tried to think of something to tell Rogue and remembered the jokes Inuyasha and Duo always made about the women in the household. "Oh, it was nothing," she waved a hand dismissively. "It was just ... you know ... _that_ time."
"Oh?" Rogue seemed uncertain. "Ya don't usually have any problems."
"I do not usually have to socialize with a bunch of strangers then, either," Maria said hastily. She hated discussing such things, even with other women, and cursed herself for not coming up with a less embarrassing excuse. "Really, I am fine now."
"Well, if ya say so." Rogue gave her a brief hug and much to Maria's relief, stood up to leave. "Do ya have any appetite? I'll make some waffles."
"That would be wonderful, thank you." Maria smiled, while mentally trying to will Rogue out the door.
"See ya downstairs then." Rogue walked out and Maria had to refrain from slamming the door shut in her haste. She leapt over to the closet and threw open the door. Kanna was half-standing, half-sitting, wedged between one wall and some boxes. She gazed out mournfully.
"I'm stuck."
Maria grabbed hold of her arm and braced her foot against the boxes. "We have got to stop meeting like this," she chuckled.
"Tell me about it!" Kanna did her best to wiggle out of her closet prison. She came free suddenly and overbalanced, sending both she and Maria tumbling to the floor. She propped herself up on her elbows and grinned down at the Russian girl beneath her. "That was fun."
"Well, fun time is over," Maria said, trying to push Kanna off of her. "We must go down before someone else comes to find us."
"In a second." Kanna embraced her again. "I don't get to see you this close in the daylight and I want to enjoy it."
Maria's first instinct was to protest, but then Kanna's lips touched hers and she decided it was worth a little risk.

"Is something wrong, Fish Eye?" Nuriko studied his son in concern. "You're not eating."
"I'm okay," he murmured, pushing his eggs around on his plate.
"He's upset because his boyfriend is interested in someone else," Cere Cere said helpfully.
"I am not!" Fish Eye snapped. "I mean _he's_ not! He was just being polite to her because she's going through a tough time!"
"I wish a cute guy would be that polite to _me_," Ves Ves remarked.
Sanosuke frowned. "You and Seiya have just started going out, Fish Eye, and you risked a lot to do so. Are you saying he's treating you badly already?"
"No," Fish Eye answered, but there was no conviction in his voice. The truth was, he didn't know. It all depended on how much more time Seiya would want to spend with Amara.
"What did you think of Seiya's parents, dear?" Nuriko asked his husband. "Personally, I think if the child is a little odd, it's not entirely his fault."
"But that would mean Taiki and Yaten are weird, too," Hawk Eye protested. "And Taiki's not weird. Yaten, maybe ...."
"No argument there," Tiger Eye agreed. "But even if he's weird, he's cute."
Hawk Eye grinned at him. "Tigger, are you getting a crush on Yaten?"
"All I said was he's cute. Don't read too much into it."
"Seiya isn't weird!" Fish Eye protested.
"He is if he dumps you for Amara," Hawk Eye said frankly.
Fish Eye was about to yell again, but instead he smiled. "Thanks, Hawk Eye."
His brother winked at him. "Call him today and spend some time with him. Don't give him any time to think about her." He sat back in his chair. "As for _me_, I have a date with Taiki."
"You do?!" his siblings said in unison.
"When did that happen?" Jun Jun asked.
"At the barbecue - I asked if he'd like to hang out with me today."
"'Hang out'," Cere Cere repeated, shaking her head. "How romantic."
"More romantic than being alone, little cousin," Hawk Eye retorted.
"Okay, now I know what I'll do with Seiya," Fish Eye said mischievously. "I'll ask if he wants to join me in tailing you on your date."
"Great idea!" Ves Ves said.
"Let's all go!" Jun Jun laughed.
Hawk Eye jumped up. "ToolateI'mleavingnowbye."
They watched him leave a vapour trail on his way out the door.
"Was it something we said?" Fish Eye giggled.

End of chapter 29

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