My Stupid Family [O]

[kohaku]

//this is an open thread ya but its a house try to got a reason to join yo <33

Sometime during our game of follow the leader, I had somehow managed to become the leader much less the follower. Now, in front of my sister, with my hands in my jean pockets and my long red hair bouncing with each trudge, I escorted the -ehem- Chuunin down a busy street. Taking a sharp turn onto a long dirt path, we approached my longstanding old house. I didn't currently reside in this home, no; but I grew up here. Well, technically. I mean, it's where Shinji had taken me post adoption. Aside from the dojo, of course.

The abode had a lovely exterior, two stories tall complete with a fucking basement. Like, you see all these shacks in the villages, and never these super cool houses, yo. But, no, I just happened to be adopted by the coolest fucking richest Hyuga ever, I guess.

I gave Kaoru a smile over my shoulder as I dug out a key, presenting it to her before sticking it into the lock. "Don't worry," I assured her. "Not breaking in or anything, this is seriously the house."

I pushed open the now unlocked door. Honestly, I didn't know if it was locked in the first place, but Mei is such a little shit that she locks it even when everyone seems to be home.

The interior is just as nice as the outside. We entered into the kitchen/living room thing. Like, one side of this room was kitchen appliances, a bar some feet away to transition into the large living room. There's a lack of TV, though, in the living room. In its place are those stupid bags that you punch. A hall on the right of us and a few doors on the left, a stair case around the corner of aforementioned hall.

Footsteps coming our way. From the sound of the petite little strides, I guessed it was Shinji's wife, Ebony Hyuga.

"Kohaku! It is you, Mei said she saw you coming up the driveway with a girl!" Her raven black hair was pulled back into a tight bun, her glasses upon her cute face like usual. Weird how she was, like, 40 but looked, like, 19.

"Hi, Ebony," I said slowly, shutting the door behind Kaoru if she decided to join us in the weird house. "Uh, Kaoru, this is Ebony. Ebony, is is Kaoru. She's, um..."

"Is she your girlfriend? Ohh, how cute!" I frowned as my step-mom tried to take Kaoru's cheeks in her forefinger and thumb, pinching Kaoru's cheek if the woman would let her. I hoped she would duck away.

"No, this is Kaoru Takeuchi. My sister, yo."

"Sister! Love to meet you, Kaoru." Ebony gave her stupidly gorgeous smile. "Any friend of Kohaku's is welcome in this house, dear."

"Ugh, Ebony, you're embarrassing..." I pressed my palm into my face; facepalm, right?

[Deleted]

[/b] She had to assure me, oddly enough, but I smiled and nodded just the same, poised a little warily at the prospect of meeting new people. I quickly drew my hands out of my pockets before my lil' sis opened the door; I figured presenting a ladylike image in such an environment would be a judicious thing.

Apparently allowed to just enter, I followed Kohaku across the threshold, snooping around a little with my eyes. The place was spacious; luxurious, even. I was glad. This looked like the kind of place you would truly want to live in.

At first it appeared nobody was home, but then I heard soft footfalls from off to our right, and a woman of strangely indeterminate age appeared, hurrying to greet us, it seemed. "Kohaku! It is you, Mei said she saw you coming up the driveway with a girl!" Was this the mother, or a sister? It was actually fucking difficult to tell, and I hope I didn't look as gobsmacked externally as I was on the inside. If she was older than she looked, she was still beautiful, even disregarding her lack of pupils; I supposed she was a Hyuuga, which I did not believe I had been previously informed of. Still, beautiful.

Mei, though, that was the name of Kohaku's ex-girlfriend, was it not? So she lived here as well? Yeesh, that might have been awkward. Might still be awkward. I was introduced to the woman, and she was introduced to me as Ebony. I smiled and ducked my head in simple greeting, hoping I didn't look like too much of a whore to this stately woman in her stately home.

"Is she your girlfriend? Ohh, how cute!" What oh my god please. Had I looked, like, embarrassed or something? Like a date brought home? Maybe... but, no, jesus, what the hell, I was like, obviously seven years older than Ko. Obviously, right? Maybe Ebony was just... an incredibly accepting person? Still WHY WAS IT THE FIRST ASSUMPTION.

Well, I suppose because the truth was even more absurd.

Wait, was she trying to...? I stepped back a little, trying not to be too affronting as I think she had been trying to pinch my cheek. "Uh... I'm sorry, ma'am, but I'm twenty three, I really think that my cheek-pinching days are thoroughly over..." That was diplomatic, right? Polite? Yes. Yes it was. I hope. I just really wasn't going to have my cheeks pinched. Sorry.

"No, this is Kaoru Takeuchi. My sister, yo."

"Sister! Lovely to meet you, Kaoru. Any friend of Kohaku's is welcome in this house, dear."

WELL APPARENTLY THE TRUTH ISN'T SURPRISING AT ALL. Like, 'Oh, hello, I'm that girl you adopted's actual blood sister, nice to meet you', and she wasn't even fazed. Amazing. I tried to hide my smile, but couldn't entirely. Said sister of mine was wallowing in embarrassment, it seemed, which was unnecessary - I liked her mother/sister already. It didn't hurt that she was gorgeous. Had I mentioned that? Probably.

Wait SHIT I'm supposed to say something here right? Right now? FUCKING, I don't know, um um um!

"Nice to meet you as well. Um, I don't know if I was ever mentioned, but, uh... yeah, I'm... Kohaku's sister, by blood. Well, half-sister. I haven't seen her since she was just a baby. We, uh, ran into each other earlier. I am so glad to see her again. It's uh..." I glanced over to Ko. "It's been quite the day, so far. And I suppose I - er, we figured it would be nice for me to meet her family.

"And, uh, also so I could thank you. You know, for taking care of her. I, um, assume you're her stepmother, I..." Well, too late to back out of this train of thought now. "I mean, you could also be her sister, I am honestly not sure," Said I then. Pretty sure that was the kind of remark you usually used to hit on women, but I was actually genuinely confused here.[/ul][/div]

[kohaku]

I almost wanted to laugh as Kaoru told my stepmum off about the cheek pinching. It was hella polite of her to say it so, uh, nicely, but I don't think Ebony wouldn't have had any different reaction if Kaoru had slapped her hand away and said something rude pertaining the older woman's own mama.

Ebony simply smiled and stood tall at her full 6'0", her hands folded over her lap as Kaoru began her introduction."

I, suddenly, was shorter than fucking all things imaginable as I looked between the two women.

I braced myself as I waited for Ebony to interject her silly little...interjections. To make it easier, I'm going to narrate what Ebony says in bold.

"Nice to meet you as well. Um, I don't know if I was ever mentioned, but, uh... yeah, I'm... Kohaku's sister, by blood." "I have heard the name, yes." "Well, half-sister. I haven't seen her since she was just a baby." "Only half?! Could have fooled me, dear." "We, uh, ran into each other earlier. I am so glad to see her again." "Convenient!" It's uh..."

I smiled at Kaoru as her eyes fell on me.

"It's been quite the day, so far. And I suppose I - er, we figured it would be nice for me to meet her family.

And, uh, also so I could thank you. You know, for taking care of her."

Ebony had fallen quiet now as she listened, a pleasant smile on her beautiful face and her head nodding contently. She was always good at shutting up when she knew she needed to. Well, usually. She was..uh, always talkative.

"I, um, assume you're her stepmother, I...I mean, you could also be her sister, I am honestly not sure."

Ebony giggled, a hand over her mouth to cover her teeth and tongue. "Oh, heavens, I'm her stepmother, yes. Her...stepsister has long since passed away, unfortunately."

"Ebony," I wanted her to be quiet.

"Kohaku and my daughter shared a very lovely bond."

"Ebony," I needed her to be quiet.

"I believe Kohaku truly loved Tes-"

"EBONY," I stomped my foot, grabbing her attention finally. She seemed a bit startled, but hid it with another chuckle.

"Sorry, dear. Nostalgia kicked in, I suppose!"

I let out a deep sigh, only to have it sucked back in by an abrupt hand on my back. Mei, of all people, stood behind me. I turned my head to look at her, only to realize it was futile as she stood on my left—my eyeless— side.

"Hey, dork," she cooed in her usual condescending tone. I could hear my stepfather approaching not too far behind her.

"Hey, twat," I gave my exgirlfriend a gentle nod of acknowledgment, turning on my heels to face her entirely. I gestured to my sister. "Have ya met dork prototype number 1?"

"Who?" Mei squinted at Kaoru, her short brown locks bouncing slightly as she leaned in close. I felt better having Mei, who was a whole three inches shorter than me, have to look straight up to fully drink in my sister's front. "Hey, this chick looks like ya, 'Haku? She ya sister or somethin'?"

My family continued to amaze me with their strangely southern accent in a village full of people who speak like human fucking beings.

"Yeah," I replied matter-of-factly. It was my turn to introduce my sister, I noted, as Shinji came to stand beside Mei. He seemed to be looking at Kaoru closely from behind his glasses. He was hot, too, for a forty-something year old. Ew, did I just say that?

"No kiddin'?!" Mei exclaimed before I continued.

"How'd you manage to find her?" Shinji inquired suspiciously.

"Ice cream shop. You see, ya know how I always told you guys I wanted to be a ninja so I could find Kaoru, my sister, right?" Nod from the crowd of three—even though Ebony didn't need to hear it cos she'd already met her but whatever—and I continued my story. "Right, well, I guess that I didn't need to go all ninja, cos I found her at...the, yeah, the ice cream place. I'm...really happy. To finally meet her, and, I...think I'm gonna cry again," I smiled, wiping my reddening face silently.

"So, uh, don't do that thing you guys do," I begged.

"What's that?" Shinji prompted.

"That thing where you embarrass me in front of people."

"We would never embarrass you in front of your sister, darling!" Ebony pinched my cheek, to which I quickly slapped her hand away.

"See, right there, oh my God! And you guys wonder why ya never meet my friends!"

Mei was giggling.

"Fuck you, Mei!" "You already have." "Shut your face." Mei's tongue came out.

"You seem to be embarrassing yourself, Kohaku."

I wanted to pout. But, remembering who was right fucking next to me, I didn't. "Uh..." was all I could choke out in response.

"Come and sit, Kaoru. Can we offer you anything? Tea, coffee, water?" Oh great, Shinji was walking towards the kitchen table.

"Oh, God, dude, no way, do we really gotta do the whole 'concerned family meeting' thing that you always do to all the friends I bring over? It's my sister, you don't gotta ask her about her past or nothing!"

My protest was in vain, he had already pulled out a seat and was sitting. It was all up to Kaoru. I eyed her curiously.

[Deleted]

[/b] The only male in the room inquired suspiciously. Oh god, I felt like such a thing now. Why were they all talking about me like I wasn't even there? Was I that low? Surely not.

Ko told the story; when she proclaimed she was about to cry, I was this close to speaking words of comfort before I was cut off again, and I just couldn't bring myself to talk over the top of these people in their own home. I watched Kohaku melt in her own embarrassment and frustration with growing amusement; the happy family scene did not make me look at her any less, no matter what she seemed to think. I was just glad she obviously had a loving family.

"Come and sit, Kaoru. Can we offer you anything? Tea, coffee, water?" The father whose name I either did not know or could not recall asked. I grinned a little. "Uh, coffee, thanks," I said with considerable cheer. "Oh, God, dude, no way, do we really gotta do the whole 'concerned family meeting' thing that you always do to all the friends I bring over? It's my sister, you don't gotta ask her about her past or nothing!"

"Ko," I said, to silence her. I contained my goofy grin diplomatically... or tried, biting down on my lip. "Don't worry. They're not embarrassing. Not to me. I don't mind, honestly. I said I wanted to meet your family, and I do.

"I might be your blood, your 'true' family, but these are the people who raised you. Don't be ashamed of them," I hoped against hope I was empowering my sister as I laid my hands on her shoulders and smiled at her as the other half of this convoluted congregation assembled at the table. "C'mon," Was all I finished with, and went to awkwardly sit at the table as indicated. Was a little odd to be at the table with people that I'd only just met, but I was doing my best not to act like the anti-social bitch I was, for both my own and Kohaku's sake. I wanted to ask for the father's name BUUUUT I didn't, I couldn't manage to, too awkward, I'd pick it up at a later date.[/ul][/div]

[OOC: NOT A WHOLE LOT MORE I CAN DO I don't want to be controlling all your NPCs haha]

[kohaku]

//wow buddy r we slow or wot

Oh, golly, she wants coffee?  I look to Ebony expentantly, only to see her already shuffling over to the coffee pot and present a mug.  I sighed through my nose with my lips locked tight, my eyes fluttering up to Kaoru's as she reassures me.  I smile as her hands meet my shoulders, her breath cooling my cheeks (even though it has quite a ways to travel because, uh, fucking height differences.)

"Don't be ashamed of them," is what really sunk in.  Suddenly, I felt like an ungrateful dickhead.  Here I was, with a family that loved me and shit, and I'm getting mad at them for being my family, while my sister just got done telling me she never rewlly had that after a certain point.  I sank into the sewt beside her as she took her place, my eyes wide as I pondered.  I snapped back to focus as Ebony placed a mug in front of Kaoru with a "I didn't know what you liked so I left it black, feel free to help yourself to the sugar," she gestured to the sugar packets in the center of the table held in a little black...something.  It was pretty.  That's all I knew.

"So," Shinji began as he positioned himself appropirately on the opposite side of the table.  Ebony sat on his side as Mei dragged up a chair to sit on Kaoru's other side.  I glared at her, only to have her show me her tongue.  

"My name is Shinji Hyuga, and this is Ebony Hyuga.  That there is Mei Yukiko, she's decided to live in the Hyugan household, given her circumstances."

"My mum and dad got divorced," she interjected bluntly, her eyes remaining on Shinji.  She dragged her eyes to Kaoru to side-ways glance at her as she added, "I'll leave the rest to your imagination."  God she was dramatic.  I couldn't blame her parents for disowning her sometimes.

Sighing, Shinji pushed his glasses up further.  "If anything I ask makes you uncomfortable, I apologize in advance. and you do not have to answer it.  In fact, you don't have to answer anything if you don't want.  I just want to assure you that right now, Kaoru."  He smiled.  God, his smile was stupidly attractive.  I hated myself for acknowledging his, uh, visage.  Why'd he get Ebony?  Oh, that's right, because he's hot and fucking sophisticated.  Fuck, I hate these people, I don't fit in at all.

"Kaoru Takeuchi, right?  That is a lovely name, dear," Ebony sighed happily.  What the fuck.

"It's, like, nearly the same as mine, Eb'."
"Oh, hush."
I rolled my eyes, landing them on Kaoru.  I smiled slightly.  Okay, so, showing her off to my family was kind of awesome.  Although, I hope she stills feels...uh...human?  I am sort of....uh...presenting her.  Showcasing her.  LOL, or whatever it is kids these days say.

"So, to start, why don't you tell us whatever you want.  Where you come from, what you do for a living, interests, all that jazz.  I really would love to hear everything about you."  God, he's so pretentious.

[Deleted]

[/i] tea. Usually my drink of choice was something alcoholic, or at least a soda, but I didn't really wanna ask for either of those, and I also didn't want to be the plain bastard who drank water.

Thus, my hands now rested on the outside of the black mug, and I was grateful for the warmth. Ko and the other surrogate daughter sat either side of me, while Ebony and her husband were more or less directly across from me. Um...

"So. My name is Shinji Hyuga, and this is Ebony Hyuga. That there is Mei Yukiko, she's decided to live in the Hyugan household, given her circumstances." Shinji introduced his ensemble, though it was only his name I had not known. "My mum and dad got divorced," Mei stated bluntly, dissolving my smile momentarily. "I'll leave the rest to your imagination." A very dramatic kid. I could not decide if I liked her effrontery or not. It was probably a bit two-faced of me to want anything but audacity out of a sixteen-ish year old girl, but... well, maybe I would have irritated me now too.

Shinji was speaking again, and I turned attentively. I hadn't actually drunk any of my coffee yet. "If anything I ask makes you uncomfortable, I apologize in advance. and you do not have to answer it. In fact, you don't have to answer anything if you don't want. I just want to assure you that right now, Kaoru." And he smiled. Whoa now. I wished he hadn't. These were all stupidly attractive people and I was probably attracted to all of them in varying small measures. GOOD ONE, KAORU, THAT IS AN EXCELLENT ENTERING THOUGHT. "So, to start, why don't you tell us whatever you want. Where you come from, what you do for a living, interests, all that jazz. I really would love to hear everything about you."

"Uhm, well..." My left hand went to the headband slung about my neck, holding it up a little; straighter. "I'm a kunoichi of the village, ob- evidently. I actually received my Chuunin title just earlier today, as it happens. Me and Kohaku just came over from the ceremony." I smiled with a little pride, trusting that was something suitable to be proud of in this environment. "I um, well... me and Kohaku were both born in Shiichi: a little village in the country, if you don't know it. I don't imagine a lot of people do." I chuckled, mainly for effect. "I..." I glanced awkwardly at Kohaku, not knowing how much of her past she had enlightened her effective parents on, and decided to play it a little safe. "I trust you know at least a little of our true parents. Well, technically Kohaku was raised by my dad, not hers, but... Well, he's... he actually..." Maybe not playing it safe? "He murdered her father, which sort of... drove my mum to suicide." Grim, Kaoru, too grim. Idiot. I glanced away, and hid behind a quick sip of coffee (okay that is good coffee).

Ugh. I had just told a sob story to relative strangers. Oh well. A little sympathy is never a bad thing, really, just kind of pathetic. "I've lived on my own since I was twelve." Layering it on now, we are. Though at least now we're looking up at them again, and we don't sound so miserable. We're also talking ourselves like we're more than one person HOLY SHIT okay no more of that.

"In...terests..." I pondered. Hm. Few of my interests were particularly refined. Perhaps I could phrase them to sound like it though. "It might not be the most girly thing, but, I've always been into athletics. Martial arts, and such. I managed to get Chuunin without ever casting a single ninjutsu, so that's something." That was also the first time I'd realized that. Wow. That's actually pretty neat. "Besides that, not a whole lot, really. I've become pretty devoted to my career. I've never really had all that much money and I just found too many hobbies expensive. I did used to collect comic books when I was younger but..." Gonna leave that alone. Dumbass hobby.

"Pretty much it's just me and my..." Fear of homophobia struck. "...partner..." Wait, Kohaku, Mei and their true daughter were all either open or suspected homosexuals, right? IDIOT. Oh well, no risks. "...living life as shinobi. She's..." (Yup, fuck it,) "...ambitious, to say the least." I could not help this stupidly tender smile from rising up whenever I referred to Isabella. Legitimately involuntary. Though I was pretty sure anyone who had a problem with it could get fucked.

Right, present day. I looked up again. Present. Awake. "That's uh... that's about all I've got to say, I think." ...You know, I should probably be honest for a moment. It was probably super evident that I was nervous as fuck in my seat, here. "Sorry, I'm just... frankly, a little bit intimidated, I uhm, I'm not used to being in a er... rich household, or anyone else's house altogether, honestly. I feel like I'm... intruding..."

I had wanted to say out of place, but that sounded... out of place, somehow, so I hadn't. I sipped my coffee again. People-ing is difficult.[/ul][/div]

[kohaku]

Yeah. I'm not narrating all that; mainly because my reactions were a little more than sympathetic. At one point I had to bite my lip as to not, ugh, tear up. God, I'm a pansy; but what do you expect? It's my fucking sister. Also, she was telling them everything. Like, not in a bad way. Just, yanno, telling them things that I, as the daughter child of the house, should be telling them. It made me feel emotional. Let's not get into it.

Rubbing my face as to snap to focus, I eyed Shinji. He seemed as interested as humanly possible. He pushed his glasses up his nose a few times like the pretentious asshole he is, but otherwise was completely as attentive as you would expect him to be. Ebony as well, with her elbows on the table and her chin in her hands, listened to my sister. Even fucking Mei mother-fucking Yukiko was listening, her hands in her lap and shoulders hunched slightly, her eyes on my pretty sister.

I scanned the table briefly as Kaoru talked.

"Congratulations!" Ebony blurted out upon hearing about Kaoru's Chuuninship. She smiled sweetly, beaming slightly, like Kaoru was her fucking kid or something. Like, wow, tone it down, Ebony, you're really fucking embarrassing sometimes, you know that?

More praise came. I kind of drowned it out, smiling at my sister. Having a sister who soared into the title of Chuunin gave me a sort of sense of, like, fucking pride or something? Usually I'd be all "fuck I'll never be as cool as that bitch," and be, just, a jealous snob. But no, I was sincerely just fucking happy, and proud of her. I mean, I just met her, sure, but still. Big shit.

More words came from Kaoru's lips, and I couldn't help but watch them move for a moment. I shook the thought of mine on hers out of my head, remembering who this lady was. Fucking hell, was it even that really...weird of me? Because, um...well...I...I don't want to snog her, but, I still can't get over her stupidly attractive everything.

Oh, right, there are words to be listening to right now. She's talking about Isabella. I smile at the thought of her petite girlfriend.

"She's...ambitious, to say the least."

I look up at my parents. "She's really nice," I add. The simply smile slyly. I can see the fucking homosexual remark on Shinji's tongue. I glare at him slightly through narrowed eyes, which only broadens his stupid grin. Fucking nerd.

"Sorry, I'm just... frankly, a little bit intimidated, I uhm, I'm not used to being in a er... rich household, or anyone else's house altogether, honestly. I feel like I'm... intruding..."

I turn my eyes to Kaoru, my mouth hanging open. But instead of my voice, I hear Ebony giggling. Gazing over at her, I close my mouth, clinching my jaw and grinding my teeth slightly; I can feel heat in my cheeks. I have no idea why. Fucking...rich household? That's, uh, what she...okay.

Shinji chuckled slightly. "No worries, Kaoru. I understand completely; but I just want you to know that you are entirely welcome in this house. If you are ever to need a place to stay, you know where to knock." I waited for him to give her a thumbs up, but thank god, he didn't. It's so embarrassing when he gives thumbs ups, like, what the-

Oh. Okay, there it is. A fucking thumbs up. Fucking. Idiot.

[Deleted]

[/i] amount of congratulation for my title. Was weird, to think I, me, had achieved something that even someone who hadn't known me an hour could be impressed by and delighted in. They were obviously very kind people (Well, maybe not Mei, I have no clue), but even so. I smiled almost bashfully from behind my mug.

Was rather heartwarming to hear Kohaku say that about Isabella, too. I knew it. Other people saw it, not just me. It wasn't even some sort of bias or anything (like she probably had towards me). Or well, maybe the upper limits were a little subjective, but shut up.

I wondered where she was now, what she was doing. I was suddenly aware that I was tired; it had been such a long, eventful day. I had been walking since the crack of dawn till almost noon with Isabella at my side, gotten back home, met my long-lost sister in an ice cream parlor, been promoted, shared and learned of a life story and now I had met an entire family of new people. I had to close my eyes for a moment and drift behind the aroma of the beverage I held. So tired... I wished only that I could be curled up in bed, perhaps with Isabella beside me... hmm...

WORDS! I blinked my eyes open.

"No worries, Kaoru. I understand completely; but I just want you to know that you are entirely welcome in this house. If you are ever to need a place to stay, you know where to knock," Shinji was saying in his rather smooth voice. I was doing my best not to appear as though I had been drifting off to sleep only moments ago. Shit, and I was even drinking coffee. Bloody good coffee. Did he just give me a thumbs up? HAH, that is amazing. I smiled with as little bemusement as I could muster, trying to look grateful for the offer, which I most definitely was.

"Thank you. Really." Slight difficulty concentrating. Shit, and I wasn't the best speaker when I was wide awake. Also I probably wouldn't be able to find my way back here anyway. My sense of direction was fucking appalling. "I think I already said it, but I'm glad to see Ko grew up with you all as a family. I'm just a bit..." I yawned, covering my open mouth with one hand and setting my mug down with another. Shit, I should finish my drink, shouldn't I? It was only like, half gone though. "...tired, after everything that has happened today."

I smiled, but it was an apologetic one, almost pleading. Ugh, would it be awkward to leave so soon? It was only like, late afternoon (approaching evening, to be fair), but I felt like sleeping. I glanced to Kohaku. "Ko, your jumper's still at my place, isn't it?" I asked, as a quick aside, already knowing full well.

Hint hint.

I am not a subtle woman.[/ul][/div]

[kohaku]

Damn, I never even really incorporated how tired my sister could be. It was weird to think of her sleeping; defenseless (I'm going to assume she sleeps with her eyes closed and not open, but what do I know?) and sound. The thought made me kind of smile.

She thanked him, and Shinji nodded. Upon hearing about her tiredness, he smiled gently. His eyes wandered to me and I suddenly felt like I was expected to do something. I gritted my teeth in anticipation of being told to escort our guest out or something, but the gesture never came. His eyes finally left my good one, allowing me to relax my once tensed demeanor with a sigh.

"That's understandable, you've been through a lot, Kaoru," Shinji said. God, just address her by her first name, whatever. Or is that a normal parent thing? I don't know; whatever.

"Don't go," Mei whined. I smirked at her.

"Ko, your jumper's still at my place, isn't it?"

What? My jumper? Yeah, but, you can j...oh. Oh. Oh. No way. You're not really going to offer me a night to sleep in your apartment, are you? Holy fuck that would be cool-hgghhg.

I can't help the foolish smile on my face right now as I reply with a simple enthusiastic nod. I'm almost too excited right now. What am I gonna do while my sister sleeps, though? Like...it's certainly not my bedtime, and truth be told, I don't think I'll be sleeping very good tonight what with...with everything. But at the same time, all the excitement has rendered me exhausted. I'm in a pickle.

Mm, I love pickles.

I removed myself from my seat quickly, maybe even before my sister, rounding the table and giving Ebony a hug and kiss on the cheek, repeating the process with Shinji. I would have felt mildly embarrassed about my traditional hug/kiss to the parents before I left if the girl that witnessed it wasn't Kaoru. But she can just get over the display of affection. >

"Bye, m-Ebony. Bye, Shinji." I usually call them 'mum' and 'dad' nowadays when parting ways or whatever, but with Kaoru there, aware of our past and who my parents really were, I didn't want to trigger anything. I turned to her, my sister, ready to depart.

"Okay, I'm ready." I kind of hope she's not just pulling my leg or nothing. To ensure that I'm really accompanying her, I duck out of the house, waiting for her at the bottom of the few steps with my hands behind my back as I rock myself between my heels and the balls of my toes patiently, watching the door eagerly.

Crap, meeting my sister has set me back a few years. Have I even fucking swore in the past two minutes? That's unlike me. God fucking dammit, Kaoru, I think you cured my depression. Which, okay, that one I'm gonna have to thank you for someday if it's true and not just a rush of my sisterly fluids.

//exit

[Deleted]

[/b] Phew. I was in the clear this time. I nodded again, apologetically.

"Don't go," The other girl whined, and I glanced at her, but pulled up my look of bewilderment before it fully arrived. I had gotten the impression that she disliked me. Or was that just me expecting my opinion to be mirrored? Maybe she was being sarcastic. Owch. I looked away quickly from the altogether unwanted affair.

Kohaku was already out of her seat, so I guess I was clear to move as well. I was mortified when my chair scraped a little, but I didn't think anyone really noticed. Christ almighty. I stood waiting for Ko to say goodbye to her parents, my heart simultaneously warmed and chilled at the sight. I didn't have a lot of things, and had lost a lot, but if I could reclaim anything, I think my mother would have been top of that list, shortly followed by my stepdad. I didn't even notice that I had raised my fist to my mouth. Probably best just to glance away, and remember that Ko had had her fair share of parental troubles herself.

Yeah. I wasn't jealous. Just sad.

Not sad when she spoke and skipped past me, though. My hands almost dropped to my pockets, but then I was faced with her family, and thought that my lethargic tomboy stance was probably not optimal for the situation. Were words needed here? Urgh, nah. A smile and a nod would do, am I right? That's what I granted anyway, and stepped out myself.

PHEW. OKAY.

The sun had set a ways since we had arrived on the Hyuuga family's doorstep; had I been there longer than I'd thought? Maybe. Ko was waiting for me at the bottom of the steps. I grinned at her as I descended. "Your family is cool. I don't even think they hate me," Said I, smile widening. Oh dear, then I had to yawn. Urgh. "- I am actually fucking tired, though," I declared on its end. I shook my head to clear it, and then hissed the cooling dusk air in through my teeth.

"Well, off we go."

[Exit][/ul][/div]