*Oops* Mi-chan startled out of her in-class nap and stared at the empty sheet of note paper in front of her. Between not getting much sleep last night and worrying about her twin, she didn't know how anyone expected her to pay attention to class. She quickly changed the subject *How are you doing?*
*My head hurts a tiny bit, but not even close to last night. Arigatou, by the way.*
Mi-chan was so incredibly relieved to hear from Neko-chan. *No prob. Well, I should get back to those notes, ne?*
*Hai, arigatou.*
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
After school ended, Ami had gone to pick up Chibi, and Neko was home alone. She was really sick and tired of being home all day. The headache, while not even close to being as bad as last night, was still there and it was starting to get on her nerves. She didn't usually get this bad-tempered, but this was ridiculous! She had taken a nap, and it was there when she woke up. She had done some school work. It was still there. She had even watched some TV and played on the computer, but still it persisted.
"Go away!" she yelled at it, but it didn't.
She plopped down on the couch and closed her eyes. Maybe some meditation would help. Probably not.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Tenshi was running late to Kempo after having changed from her school fuku to her new Kempo fuku. She had had trouble tying the knot on her white belt. Even now, she wasn't sure she had gotten it right. She couldn't find Neko-chan to help her, but maybe she'd help her in the class.
This sucked! This was only her second class and she was going to be late to it! On top of that, she'd missed Monday's class because she had been in Hawaii.
She ran in, apologizing to the coach, and instantly scanned the room for Neko-chan. But she only saw Mi-chan, sleeves rolled up so that the tattoo was clearly visible, standing near the far wall with Jian-kun. She joined them.
"Hey, Jian-kun. Michiru-chan. So� where's Neko-chan?" She was trying to play it cool, trying not to sound too worried. But with all the stuff Neko-chan had gone through lately, she was having trouble imagining a good reason for Neko-chan to be missing.
"Yeah, I was wondering that too," Jian-kun echoed quietly. He was obviously uncomfortable around Mi-chan (and probably Tenshi too), but Tenshi thought he was brave for trying.
"Ano," Mi-chan looked nervously at the two of them, "she wasn't feeling well earlier, so she stayed home. But she's ok now, I talked to her during class. Well, not talked to her, but, well, you know�" she pointed to her head, which Tenshi deciphered to mean that she used her psychic link, "and she says she's feeling better. But we're not allowed to go to activities if we miss school, so she couldn't come anyway."
Tenshi frowned. This was not what Neko-chan needed.
The coach's voice brought her back to what the class was doing. He showed them all a move to defend themselves if someone grabbed them by the shoulders. Then he asked them to partner up and try.
Naturally, Mi-chan and Jian-kun partnered up. Tenshi looked around the room, but didn't see anyone she knew well. "Ne, Michiru-chan, Jian-kun? Who does Neko-chan usually partner with?"
Mi-chan and Jian-kun looked at each other. Jian-kun answered after thinking for a few minutes, "Well, let's see. It's been a long time since all three of us were here. And last time we were, I was late and missed the partner section. Hmmm."
Mi-chan added, "Actually, one of us used to be the third wheel, because Neko-chan was the link between us so she would usually partner with one of us. We only started really hanging out like a week before the dance. Before that it was mostly just flirting. Anyway, I usually ended up with a random cute guy if I wasn't with Neko-chan."
Tenshi looked around the room, but there seemed to be an odd number present. *I wish Neko-chan was here!*
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Jian-wa finished changing after soccer practice and decided to go to the Mizuno house. He hadn't been there since the dance and wondered if he'd be welcomed by anyone except Mi-chan. Well, maybe by Chibi and Kimako too.
He wanted to make an effort to stay friends with the Mizuno twins, but it had been so hard being around them. Mi-chan was a little better than Neko-chan, because at least she couldn't detest him since she didn't remember what he had done. Yet that almost made it seem like he was betraying her twice by pretending that nothing was wrong, when really it was. Yet if Neko-chan was hiding it from her too�. Maybe there was hope that he and Neko-chan could stay friends too. Or maybe she was just protecting her sister.
Either way, he had decided today that he was going to make an effort. Kempo with Mi-chan wasn't too bad, especially after she had felt sorry for Tenshi-san and partnered up with her. Jian-wa didn't mind because he certainly had learned the move before, whereas Tenshi-san was a novice. Besides, Tenshi-san had been pretty nice to him considering everything. And it was sweet of Mi-chan to look out for her sister's girlfriend.
She was too sweet. Ahhh! How could he do this to her?! He almost changed his mind and went home instead, but then decided better of it. *Coward* he reprimanded himself. *They really won't ever be your friends if you don't at least make an effort. And maybe you don't deserve it, but let them decide that, not you.*
He stopped by a phone and called his aunt, Ayakashi Cooan . Tanzen-san had never cared where he was, as long as he was somewhere she wanted him to be at the time she wanted him to be there. And since she was using him to get to the Mizuno family anyway, she really didn't care if he went there and forged a better "friendship" with them. But Cooan-san cared where he was at all times. And even if it was a pain to have to tell her where he was going all the time after having so much freedom (well, at least in that respect), he was still grateful to have someone look out for him. He was glad Neo-Queen Serenity-sama had introduced him to her.
"Oba-san, is it ok if I go to Mi-chan and Neko-chan's house?"
"Sure, as long as you're home in time for dinner."
"All right. Arigatou"
