Bunny Squash Evil Veggie-heads Hatoko and Misaki had fallen asleep shortly after their pirate show. Kotarou decided that spying on them wasn't worth it anymore. Girls were donwright vicious he concluded, glancing at his legs. They bore the tell-tale signs of being knocked about by two damp towels. "Must be... Hmm... Must be called 'Female Battle Frenzy'... I think..." he mumbled to himself as he stood up and wobbled away. A grin spread across his face as stepped inside of his room and closed the door behind him. A flash of lightning sounded in the distance. The rain, which had recently stopped, was now on its way back. --- Hatoko awoke to the tinkling of rain outside of the room. Misaki was still absorbed in her slumber, her mouth slightly open as she took small, slow breaths. Hatoko listened to her, hearing the almost inaudiable coo from her lips. Her hair was not held back, and was in a cascading disarray that fell across the front of her neck, in Hatoko's direction. "Misaki must have turned to face me in her dreams..." thought Hatoko, the daze of just waking made her slow in her thinking. A pink hue danced upon her pale cheeks as her emotions awoke. Hatoko, not resisting, scooted closer to Misaki and wrapped her arms around her love. Her eternal love, as far as she was concerned. Misaki stirred, and finally opened her eyes as Hatoko's nose brushed against her cheek. She brought her arms around Hatoko and the two stared into each others sleepy eyes not saying a word. The clock told them it was time to get up. Time to leave the warm confines of the bed. Time to leave each other's arms. Time for a day of school. --- Hatoko was downcast as she brushed her hair, and Misaki had already told her many times not to give in to the bullies who had once called her a friend. Hatoko knew Misaki was right, but still she didn't like the feeling of being without Misaki for so long. "Hatoko-chan, you need to keep your head today. Your wits and wisdom. Don't let them get to you. Stand by your feelings and they won't let you down." Misaki whispered into Hatoko's ear. She took the brush from Hatoko's small hand and witha few caressing strokes she finished taming Hatoko's hair. A glance at the clock told them it was time to go. Little was said to Kotarou that morning, he was still getting ready as they left. Of course, Kotarou didn't have to take his little sister to school that day. Hatoko turned her eyes away from the school grounds when she saw them. Misaki noticed this, and glanced towards them. She noticed a few people looking at them, and without thinking about it any further, she made her way past the fence straight for them. Hatoko noticed Misaki's sudden rigidness. Looking up, she found an angry expression set on Misaki's face. "Misaki-chan..." whispered Hatoko, almost to the point that Misaki couldn't hear. Misaki didn't look at Hatoko. She strode forward quietly, her age and status giving the impression of preparing to strike down from the heavens as she made her way to the group of children. They had turned away as Misaki entered the school grounds hoping to blend in with the rest of the children who were splashing around in the puddles in the brief absence of rain. Misaki stopped only inches from the first child who had been staring at her and Hatoko. Her dull shadow enveloped the small child, and she turned around prepared to stand her ground. "Eww... It's Hato-" she was cut off. "I'm here to set things straight. If you ever harm my Hatoko-chan again your going to feel it." Misaki paused momentarily. The confidence in the younger child, and her friends, faded instantly at Misaki's unusally hard voice. The fact she was older then them, and the Champion of Angelic Layer in the past year, forced many to take a few steps back. "And another thing... You say your sorry now," her voice commanded respect. Hatoko couldn't hold back her pride and love for Misaki, she never thought she'd take advantage of her status to this extent. It was working, however. It was one thing to attack a peer, and a completly different thing to stand and face a idol known throughout the country. The children's eyes turned from stubborn hate to attentiveness, and now they were slowly changing to a sullen, respectful glance. They're eyes were on Misaki, then Hatoko. Hatoko, feeling the confidence in herself welling up, stared right back at them. The only child refusing to look at Misaki and Hatoko was the young girl that had originally splashed paint onto Hatoko's uniform. She brought her head up, and after glaring at Misaki with all the spite she could muster, ran away. Misaki stood unphased. "Say it." demanded Misaki. Her voice fell on the others. The crowd of other young children, and even the older ones, watched as the children said sorry one after the other. A few even went as far as to give Hatoko a hug. The young classmates waited for someone to acknowledge their display of apologies. "Hatoko-chan, do you think they can be forgiven?" asked Hatoko, trying to get Hatoko to resolve her mind as if the question was idling within. Hatoko looked at Misaki, and then her past friends. "I forgive you," she announced, if somewhat quietly. Hatoko's classmates semed happy that they had made up, but Hatoko was still angry at them, and it showed in her face. Misaki bent down to look Hatoko at eye level. The classmates stayed silent, even though one from far away might think it laughable. "I think they will be your friends, when the time comes, Hatoko-chan." whispered Misaki so silently that the group of children around them only saw moving lips, but heard no sounds. "Thank you, Misaki-chan..." Hatoko whispered back just as quietly. Her eyes had gone a bit watery by now, thanking Misaki for getting her at least some room to breath. Misaki saw this, and gave Hatoko a warm hug. The school, now completely silent (as everyone had been watching), just stared with wide eyes. Hatoko didn't want Misaki to leave, but she knew she had too. Misaki pulled away and giving Hatoko one last glance, dashed off to her school. The chances were high that she would be late, but right now it didn't matter. Her heart told she had done what she should have. Hatoko would be able to learn today without this horrible burden, at least for the most part. The young girl that ran away seemed to still be a part of the problem, but Misaki doubted she would bother Hatoko for at least today. Misaki didn't think twice about being late for school if it meant Hatoko would have a better day. --- Misaki glared at her language teacher the entire day. Misaki wasn't afraid of her in the least, and she figured it was probably the other way around. The teacher tried her best to avoid eye contact with Misaki, but every once in awhile her eyes betrayed her and stole glances back at Misaki. Each time the teacher had done this she lost her words for a moment, and then turning away, continued with her lesson. Being the last class of the day, Misaki was especially tired, but kept up her defiant attitude. The class was whispering near the end, curious to as why the teacher, the language teacher in particular, was acting like she had seen a ghost every five or ten minutes. There eyes were all watching her for a change, and a noticeable murmur arose each time she broke off her train of thought. The class seemed to be enjoying it actually. "She must really be a witch," whispered one student. Images of a wild green witch floated through the class' mind, dropping piles of homework onto student's laps, and trying to speak to them through an odd assortment of hiccups, pops, and even a few belly belches. No one noticed Misaki's death stare of sorts. --- The events in the language class spread like wildfire throughout the school. Misaki left the room, catching her teacher one last time with her blank stare as she left the class room. Her teacher watched her go, and after the last few students had left, locked herself in the classroom. A dozen students heard this, and it too spread like wildfire, even though Misaki never intended for the stare to start these rumors and such. Misaki left the school in a run. She didn't take out her umbrella even as the rain began to pour down. All she wanted to do was to see Hatoko, and make sure she had made it through the day without a problem. She longed for Hatoko to have a full day without annoyance. The opening in the fence came into view, and Misaki turned onto the school grounds to find Hatoko flying towards her with a smile. Misaki's heart gave a great sigh of relief, and at the same time, leapt out of her chest. "Hatoko-chan!" she cried as Hatoko flung herself into Misaki's arms. The embrace was warm and pure. Hatoko finally had a good day at school. "Today was... wonderful! My friends came and had lunch with me! It's all thanks to you, Misaki-chan..." Hatoko's eyes sparkled even the rain. She clamped herself onto Misaki's wet clothes and swung her arms around Misaki's neck. And despite the onlooking face, Hatoko stretched up and gave Misaki a light kiss on the cheeks. A blush crept onto the twos' faces. Hatoko let go of Misaki and slid of, taking her right hand. She and Misaki began the walk home in high spirits. --- Upon arriving back at Hatoko's house, Kotarou, who was already home, handed Misaki a letter, which took her quite by suprise. The two made off for Hatoko's room to get out of their wet clothes and put on something warm and comfortable. After changing, Misaki sat next to Hatoko on her bed and looked at the letter. It was from her mother. A longing in Misaki's heart to see her mother suddenly grew, as she hadn't seen her for some time. She had gone off to talk to medical institutes in North America to try and promote the artifical limbs she had been working on for years with that wierd docter the Misaki fondly remembered. Misaki opened the letter and removed the contents. It read: Dear Misaki-chan, It has been some time, but I assure you we'll catch up some more when I get back from this trip. It seems promising already, and I'm very happy about it. I've heard that you and Hatoko-cahn have realized your feelings for each other. When I was young, I remeber the same thing happening to me. I feel in love with a girl from a grade lower then me right before I left elementary school. However, after a year we split apart. My interest in boys grew to the point that I denied to myself that I ever liked a girl with so much love and passion. She is still my friend... but it seems as if there is a rift between us. There must be, we hardly ever talk anymore. Well, my best wishes to you and Hatoko-chan. I'm sure your relationship will last a lifetime. Shuuko Misaki's heart skipped a beat. Hatoko hadn't caught on yet. Misaki found herself fighting out words to confirm it with herself, and to tell Hatoko what she thought it meant. "She loved... a... girl... A girl Hatoko-chan..." Misaki stared blankly at Hatoko, "She saying her love was a phase." Hatoko understood Misaki now. The letter fell from Misaki's hands to the floor as let herself fall onto Hatoko's bed. Hatoko knew Misaki was fearing for the sake of their relationship now, as was herself. She felt light headed at the thought, and turned around to cuddle onto Misaki, tears already escaping her eyes. * My, it has been a long time! Glad to be back and writing! Please leave a little review, if you have the time ^_^
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