~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Neko flipped absentmindedly through the history book Jian-wa had brought over, mulling over whether she had done the right thing by finally agreeing to the pact Mi-chan had proposed to her. She did want Mi-chan to try and be friendly to Jasper, but she still wasn�t sure about this thing with Tenshi. How could she trust someone who had already proven that she couldn�t be trusted?
The phone rang, but she barely heard it. Mi-chan would answer it. She and Jian-wa had gone off somewhere in the house together. Let them deal with it.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Ring! Ring!
Mi-chan grabbed the phone before the possibility that Neko got it first arose. �Moshi moshi!� she greeted the caller.
It was Jasper.
Her eyes immediately narrowed. �What do you want?� she began to ask harshly. But before she could go off on him, Jian-wa had suddenly clapped a hand over her mouth.
�Hey, Jasper-san! Can we help you?�
Jasper hesitated, looking a little surprised by his immediate friendliness. So did Mi-chan. Jian-wa whispered to her, �Don�t blow it! Neko-chan�s agreed, so behave, okay?�
�I, uh, would like to talk to Neko-chan, if that�s okay with you. May I?� Jasper was being very polite, probably hoping there was a chance they wouldn�t argue if he was.
�Sure, I�ll go get her,� Mi-chan agreed through half-clenched teeth. She�d be civil, but that didn�t mean she was going to like it, Jian-wa knew.
She ran off and Jian-wa was left to talk to Jasper. �That was easier than I expected,� Jasper admitted.
�She�s going to be nicer to you from now on.� Jasper raised an eyebrow at Jian-wa�s declaration. �They made a deal. Neko-chan�s going on a date with Tenshi-kun, and Mi-chan will be nice to you. Is that okay with you?� Jian-wa had already decided that how much he liked Jasper was going to depend on this single question. If Jasper was an honorable person, he�d let her go on this date with Tenshi, even though he had a crush on Neko (or so Mi-chan had told Jian-wa earlier). Jasper knew Neko and Tenshi belonged together, and if he truly liked her, he�d let her have this chance to be truly happy in the long run. But if Jasper got jealous and forbade it, Jian-wa knew that he wasn�t going to be able to support him. Jian-wa felt for the guy, he really did! Having once been in his shoes, clamoring for the twins� approval after having wronged them, Jian-wa wasn�t willing to hold Jasper�s past transgressions against him, but he would hold it against him if Jasper proved he wasn�t worthy of Neko�s attentions.
But, somewhat to Jian-wa�s disappointment, Jasper shook his head. Jian-wa had had high hopes that Jasper wouldn�t get in the way, but it seemed he was determined to remain the villain.
Or perhaps not. �Tell Michiru-san that she doesn�t have to pretend, at least not when Neko-chan�s not around.� Jasper told him. �I�ll tell Neko-chan that she�s been civil to me. It won�t be worth it for her to simulate a sudden fondness for me. I�m not about to think that she decided she forgave me just like that.�
�Ano� I�m sure she�ll appreciate that,� Jian-wa answered uncertainly. �I�ll be sure and tell her.� Left disconcerted from Jasper�s unexpected answer, Jian-wa faltered for something to say to him. �Ano, why exactly were you calling?�
Jasper avoided his eyes. �I just wanted to make sure Neko-chan was all right after I left�. I mean, that Michiru-san didn�t yell at her too much.�
Jian-wa nodded. �No, she�s fine.� In the corner of his eye, he saw Neko approach the entrance to the study where he was. �But I guess I�ll let her tell you that. Um, see you around, I guess.� Thoroughly confused now, Jian-wa let Neko take the vidphone from him and returned to Mi-chan.
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