Disclaim: Refer to chapter 1
Cognitive Process
Chapter 2: Plans and Mischief
*A few mornings later*
'It's very odd here. Everyone enjoys each other; the landlord is worked like a slave, beaten around, and considered immortal. Naru and little Motoko seem to beat him up the most... well except for that Su-child. Motoko seems genuinely happy.' Tsuruko shifted on her futon, and looked over at her younger sister and had to smile at what she saw.
Kaolla was wrapped around Motoko like an octopus, and neither of them seemed to notice. 'It was really surprising the first morning. Actually, I think shock is more the word that should come to mind. Although, that display was much different than today.
*FLASHBACK* (3rd person POV)
Tsuruko had woken up to the sound of Motoko's voice.
"Shh, shh. I don't hate you, and I'll never leave you." That was enough to set Tsuruko on edge, but when she looked over and saw the position that Motoko and Kaolla were in, something went off.
Kaolla had her cheek pressed against Motoko's, tears were flowing down her face, and her arms were around Motoko her hands were gripping Motoko's hair. Motoko also had her arms around Kaolla; one holding Kaolla to her while the other was stroking her hair. In between whispered words, Motoko would kiss Kaolla's cheek.
Tsuruko rose, the demon glint taking over her eyes, her bird flew to her. She walked over to her sister, and loomed over her and Kaolla.
"Squee!" The phoenix shrieked.
Motoko's eyes flew open, to see her demon sister. Wondering what she had done, she realized what she and Kaolla looked like. Angry with her sister, Motoko shot her elder sister a glare, possessing a bit of demon, which she would never have been able to muster in other circumstances.
"NOOOO! Please don't leave me!" Motoko ignored her sister and went back to comforting the sleeping girl.
Tsuruko stared, and decided to sit down beside the futon and wait. 'Motoko- chan are you in a relationship with this child? If you are, why haven't you told me?'
'Squee? Squee, Squu, Squeee!' Kou, the phoenix bird, replied.
'You are so infuriating! I'm only looking out for her well being... you should know that more than anyone.' Tsuruko sat and watched her younger sister comfort the sleeping child. She watched as Kaolla slowly woke up.
"Wahh! Motoko, it was so scary! Big Brother said he hated me and, and that he never wanted to see me again! Then he left with someone, and I was all alone!"
"It is all right Su, it was just a dream. I am sure that your brother could not possibly hate you." They sat in silence for a few minutes. "So, Su. Do you want to go back to sleep, or do you want to play now?"
"Let's play! Let's play! I wanna ambush Keitaro!" Kaolla jumped up and ran out of the room to prepare.
Motoko turned to her sister. "What was with the evil look?"
"I thought that you were in a relationship with that child, and that you hadn't told me." Motoko blushed at what her sister had said. "How long has she been sleeping with you? /Why/ does she?"
"Su has been sleeping with me since shortly after she arrived. She had given a reason as to why she chose me, but I can no longer remember. As you might have noticed Su has nightmares, frequently, about her older brother abandoning her. I was quite startled the first night, I thought I was being attacked. When I realized it was just Su heaving a nightmare I tried to wake her. Su is a very deep sleeper and nothing I tried would work. The only other thing that I could think of was to try and calm her whilst she slept."
Motoko looked at her sister sadly, "I hate leaving on training trips because it makes me worry about Su. She either has to risk sleeping alone or see if any of the others will have her. Last time I left, she spent the night with Keitaro and Naru, and even with them saying she could stay with them when I had to train away, I noticed the strained looks."
Tsuruko nodded, and stood up. "Well I'm off. See you a little later, Imouto- chan, have fun with your ambush. Just don't kill the guy." Tsuruko left, with a 'squee' from Kou who was still on her shoulder.
With slightly widened eyes, Motoko contemplated why her sister called her 'imouto', when she had never referred as little sister before.
*END FLASHBACK* (Tsuruko's POV)
'I do feel slightly ashamed for the way that I reacted. Almost as if I was jealous. What do you think, Kou?'
'Squee, quee, squee.'
'Hmm, thank you. I think I should do that.'
(3rd Person POV)
"Hey Naru. What'cha doing there?" Mitsune asked as she entered the room and noticed Naru staring out the window.
Naru jumped, startled. "Whoa! Kitsune, you scared me. I'm just watching Motoko and her sister train," Naru said as she turned around to continue watching the two sisters spare. Mitsune shrugged, and decided it was time to get royally wasted. Pulling open her bottle of sake, she began to do just that.
"Hey, Kitsune?" Mitsune looked up, "What do you think of Tsuruko? I mean, why do you think she's here?" Naru looked at her friend inquisitively.
While downing more sake, Mitsune thought. "Uh, I don't know, hun. She doesn't really seem all that bad. She does seem a little confused or sad. I can't really say what brought her around these parts."
Naru sighed, and continued on watching the sisters. "I just don't understand why she hasn't tried to attack Motoko, take her away, or tell her she is unworthy to be a Shinmei samurai. You know, like the last time she was here."
Mitsune cracked her eyes open to get a good look at Naru. Then she had a wonderful idea; she knew exactly what to do to find the answers to all of Naru's questions. With a mysterious grin Mitsune as good as vanished.
"I'm worried about them, especially Motoko. Tsuruko just /has/ to be up to something otherwise she wouldn't be here." She was surprised when Mitsune didn't have any input, so she turned around to query her friend, but Mitsune was no longer there. "Oh no, Kitsune. What are you up to now?"
"Fu fu fu. Do you make it a practice to talk to yourself Na-chan?" Mutsumi questioned from beside Naru.
Naru swirled around so fast she would have fallen, except Mutsumi was prepared and caught her. "Mu-chan! When did you get here?" Naru tried to pretend that nothing had happened.
"I think from 'I'm worried'. I decided perhaps I should let you finish before I interrupted your conversation," Mutsumi gave her patented 'idiot' smile.
"Did you see where Kitsune went? I was talking to her, but she left."
'I wonder... I think I will.' Mentally, Mutsumi grinned evilly, "She probably went to find a nice cozy kotatsu and some watermelon. Oh! Speaking of watermelon, Naru would you like a snack? Afterwards we could take a nap under the kotatsu." Mutsumi beamed cluelessly on the outside, laughed on the inside, but hoping nonetheless that Naru would join her.
Naru sighed to herself, 'Oh, that woman. She's always got watermelons on the brain. Oh why not? Maybe a nap will clear my mind.' Looking away from the still sparring sisters to Mutsumi, Naru spoke, "Sure Mutsumi, I think I could go for that."
Mutsumi beamed impossibly wider as she grabbed Naru's hand and began tugging her out of the Hinata house to her apartment next door. They bumped into Haruka on the way out. "Oh! Haruka-san, if anyone asks Naru and I are going to be at my house."
Haruka nodded, "Alright," then continued on her mission. She needed to talk to her good for nothing nephew, Keitaro. As luck would have it, she found him in his room, reading something that looked suspiciously like porn.
"Ahem!" Keitaro looked up startled, but when he saw who it was; he just marked his spot and closed the book. He then looked up.
"Hey Haruka. What do you need?" Keitaro was completely collected, not even appearing as the klutz he usually was. The klutz he never was when with family, only outsiders.
"I was just wondering how things were going with everyone, and what is up with Tsuruko." The woman's cigarette bobbed with her lips as she spoke.
"Lesse. I just saw Kitsune set off on some mischief, so she's happy. The others seem to be their normal selves, except for Motoko. Motoko seems really happy, I think it's because she gets to spend quality time with her sister. Hmm... Tsuruko doesn't seem to be even half as sad as when she first arrived. Actually, I don't think the sadness really affects her, almost as if it is an old sadness. I have also noticed that when no one's really looking, Tsuruko studies Motoko and it appears if she is confused about something." Keitaro looked at his Aunt, waiting for her input.
Haruka remained silent, and contemplated this information.
. . . . . .
End chapter 2
Hmm. I hope that this turned out all right. I also made it so that Tsuruko and her bird, that I named Kou (I don't know if the bird is ever named), have a telepathic like ability to interact. Also, I'm not sure if Shimei is really the name of the school.
By the way, in case anyone noticed or cared, I decided to ignore Sara. Let's just say she's off with Seta or something. I just don't see her in my plans or anything.
I can't think of anything else.
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