K.I.S.S.I.N.G.
First comes love, then-"
"Yamate!" Tenshi began to blush furiously. She quickly separated from Neko-chan, who looked a little confused. "Did you want something, Kiddo?"
"Dinner's ready! And Neko-san gets to eat with us!" Puroko-chan informed her. She ran over and grabbed Neko-chan's hand. "You can sit next to me, Neko-san!" she said and started pulling Neko-chan towards the dining room.
"Tenshi-kun," Neko-chan whispered, as they headed there, "what does 'kei-ai-es-es-ai-enji' mean?"
"Don't worry about it," Tenshi answered quickly. "She doesn't know what it means either. She just knows when to say it."
"Oh." Neko-chan didn't look quite satisfied with the answer, but she left it there.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Neko was extremely nervous. Sitting across from her was Michiru-sama, Queen of Neptune, and okaa-san of Tenshi-kun. And Haruka-sama and Michiru-sama were known for being very well-versed in etiquette, even when they were Neko's age. Neko would have to be on her best behavior and hope that it was good enough.
"Relax," Tenshi-kun whispered to her. She was seated to Neko's left and Puroko-chan was seated around the corner of the table to her left. Michiru-sama was at the table, but Haruka-sama hadn't come in yet. They seemed to be waiting for her.
Relaxing was easier said than done. Neko's hands were in her lap, but she was fidgeting a lot. She also was trying not to look at anyone, so she kept her eyes down.
Michiru-sama excused herself and got up to get Haruka-sama. Tenshi-kun took the opportunity to put her hand on top of Neko's and ask, "What's wrong?"
"What if I do something wrong in front of your parents? What if I spill or say something dumb or something? What will they think of me?" She kept her voice down because she didn't want Puroko-chan to hear.
"Watcha guys talking about?"
"They'll probably think you were silly for being that nervous around them. Don't worry, Koneko-chan. They already know and like you. They're not likely to decide to hate you unless you do something totally inappropriate. So don't blow straw wrappers at me or something."
"Of course not! That's Mi-chan, not me!" Neko's eyes widened in indignation.
"Whatcha talking about?"
"Well, then you should be fine." Neko realized that Tenshi-kun was just teasing her to get her to relax a little and it seemed to work.
"Will we have them?" Neko asked.
"Have what?"
"Straw wrappers. That'd be very strange at the dinner table." She nodded as if she were serious.
Tenshi-kun just looked at her. Then she laughed. "You'll do fine, Koneko-chan."
"Why'd you call her 'Koneko,' Tenshi? That's not her name. It's 'Neko,' isn't it Neko-san?"
Neko looked at Puroko-chan and tried to think of a way to explain that wouldn't result in Puroko-chan singing about her and Tenshi being in the tree again. She didn't understand the whole song or what the meaning behind it was, but she knew it made Tenshi-kun blush, and figured that it was probably some kind of teasing about them being girlfriends.
Tenshi-kun spoke first. "It's for the same reason I call you 'Kiddo,' Kiddo. It's a nickname."
"Can I call her it too then? Onegai, onegai, onegai."
Neko and Tenshi-kun looked at each other. How could they answer that one?
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
"You're calling who what?" Michiru asked as she entered, Haruka close behind.
"Tenshi calls Neko-san 'Koneko-chan.' Can I too?" Tenshi tried not to blush when Puroko announced that. She was suddenly very self-conscious about having Neko-chan eat with her and her family, no matter what she had told Neko-chan.
"Does she?" Michiru smiled, her eyes twinkling. She looked at Tenshi and Haruka. "Well you know what they say, 'Kaerunokohakaeru.'"
Haruka scowled at her. She didn't like to actually be referred to as a man by those who knew she wasn't.
"Ne, can I?"
"Aiji-chan," Haruka started as Michiru began to serve the dinner, "you know how you have nicknames that only one person calls you by? What if Neko-chan were to call you 'Aiji-chan' or 'Kiddo?' Wouldn't you feel strange about that?"
Puroko pouted. "Demo Haruka-papa, you guys are family. And I've been friends with Neko-san longer than dumb old Tenshi. Why can't I have a special nickname for her?"
"Puroko-chan," Neko-chan said quietly. She looked as if she was trying hard not to notice that everyone's eyes had turned to her now. "If you want, you and I can have special nicknames too, but I think that it would be best if one just naturally developed between us, don't you?"
"Oh," Puroko thought this over and seemed to decide that this was acceptable. "Okay!"
By this time they all had plates full of teriyaki chicken and rice.
As they ate, Haruka asked, "Neko-chan, how's your twin doing?"
Tenshi almost giggled as Neko-chan's eyes widened at being addressed. It was adorable how nervous she was. "Mi-chan's doing much better, arigatou. She rebelling against all the relaxing we're making her do, but she really is recovering well."
Haruka smiled. "Tell her we missed her today at fencing."
Neko-chan nodded.
Michiru added, "And how are you doing, Neko-chan?"
Tenshi sat up. She just realized that she never had gotten around to hearing what had happened to Neko-chan today.
"Oh, I'm doing much better too, arigatou." Tenshi started to object, but the question seemed to remind Neko-chan of something. "Ano, Tenoh-sama, what happened when you called the other Senshi?"
