Typical day, typical Osaka. While her friends and teacher were getting acquainted with school's new arrival, she alone remained on the school's roof. Of course, she was neither aware of this, or the fact that she'd gone to sleep. Most would say she was clueless, when in fact, she suffered from an acute case of tunnel vision. She'd been watching the clouds before she had fallen asleep and she was still watching them now, only there'd been no transition in between. So she honestly thought she was still awake.
Even so, there were clear indications that things weren't the same as they were when she started watching them. Like how she was no longer wearing her school uniform, but a short yellow sun dress and a straw hat, or the that the clouds were now various shapes and colors, like the bunny shaped one drifting by at the moment. Nevermind that her friends had seemingly vanished, leaving her alone on the grassy knoll she was now sitting on. She simply kept watching wearing her typical blank stare and cute smile. BUT! Even if one could somehow overlook all this, you'd think that the fact that two of her classmates were flying overhead would have been the thing that tipped her off. Not Osaka.
*Giggle*
Above her, Chiyo Mihama flitted about, her pigtails flapping with that familiar accompanying sound. Like Osaka, she was no longer in uniform, but a blue long sleeved shirt and a red mini skirt. Arms spread out at her sides, her eyes shining with delight as she did what others only dreamed; powered only by her pigtails. Were it real, it would surely be another feat for the child genius. But then, the sight was a normal one for Osaka as she often fantasized about the eleven year old flying. Only, in this case, she wasn't alone. Joining her was the last person most anyone would have expected. Sakaki.
Free of her inhibitions, the Skit Tit followed her friend. Her eyes closed as she enjoyed the feel of the wind as it caressed her face. Like the others, she too was out of uniform. What set her apart was that instead of casual wear, she was dressed in what appeared to be a flight suit consisting of a light brown jumper, thick leather gloves, and goggles. Sakaki sat Indian style with her legs folded while firmly gripping her ankles. Her tail spun rapidly behind her, having the effect of a propeller, while also causing her hair to billow upward as it flowed behind her, thereby keeping it from getting entangled with her tail.
The two seemed to be enjoying themselves, tracing lazy circles in the air. Below them, Osaka smiled and waved, enjoying the scene, wishing she could be part of it somehow. Chiyo dipped low, long enough to return the gesture, before resuming her flight path. Sakaki thought of something a bit fancier and passed through the clouds to spell out, "Hey Osaka, look at me!" causing her to clap her hands.
Suddenly, in a rare moment of rational thought, she stopped to wonder how it was possible for either of them to fly. One had pigtails and the other had... well, a tail. It didn't make sense to the girl, so she figured she should ask.
"Excuse me, Chiyo-chan.! Ms. Sakaki! How do you fly?"
"I'm still eleven years old," Chiyo replied.
Sakaki blushed, her eyes softening as she smiled and said, "My Tamer is nice."
Ah ha! So that's how it was! And it made Osaka happy to know Sakaki had a nice Tamer, she deserved one.
Just as she was thinking this, she felt her legs scoop up from beneath her and strong hands support her as she suddenly flew skyward. Curious, she looked over her shoulder to find herself in Sakaki's lap. Then, looking to her left, she saw Chiyo flying beside them. She closed her eyes and giggled then flew on ahead. Osaka's smile grew wide as she realized she'd gotten her wish and was now flying with them.
From then on, time passed without meaning as the three of them enjoyed each other's company and the sights down below. They even passed Chiyo's house where Mr. Tadakichi barked and chased after them til they flew past the yard. But all good things, as they say... And so, as the sun began to set, they returned to the school. Chiyo righted herself as her feet touched gently on the roof. Sakaki's tail slowed a bit and turned upward, allowing her to hover in place then gently lower herself to the ground.
Osaka had a bumpier landing. Something made her she lose her balance, causing her to and fall and hit her head. She sat up with a start, rubbing her temple. When she opened her eyes, however, something didn't seem right. The sun was back in the sky again and Chiyo and Sakaki were nowhere to be seen. It wasn't til she saw she was back in uniform and her spilt lunch box that she realized she had fallen asleep again. She realized something else too.
Lunch was over.
Stifling a yawn, she picked up her lunch box and shuffled downstairs.
Back in the hall, everyone was still wondering who Ryoga was and what (if anything) was going on between him and Sakaki. And Kaorin happened to be one of the ones who was wondering. I mean, guys and girls don't stare that way unless there's something between them. Which was fine, so long as it didn't involve her Sakaki! It was bad enough that Yomi had already taken advantage on her, now it looked like she was going to have competition from this guy too.
Well, not if I can help it!
Stepping forward, she approached Ryoga, succeeding in breaking their stare by gaining his attention. The young Tamer blinked a few times wondering who this girl was and what was up with that look she was giving him.
"Uh, hi" he said tentatively.
Kaorin closed her eyes and smirked, "Hmph. "Hi" he says." Opening them, she fixed him with a stare of her own and asked, "And you are...?"
"Oh, sorry. My name's Ryoga Hibiki. Nice to meet you."
He attempted a handshake, but Kaorin brushed his hand aside just as he'd done to a certain rival of his. She didn't have time to waste on pleasantries. "State your business" she said in what, he guessed, was meant to be her 'tough girl' voice. Though it wasn't much different from her normal one.
"State your business?" Yomi wondered aloud, her glasses glinting over. Who talked like that? It sounded like something out of one of those tough guy flicks. Then again, Kaorin had always struck her as a strange one. She'd been fine one minute, then completely weird the next. She and the others never knew why though.
Ryoga blinked again.
"Kaorin, what's gotten into you?" Minamo asked her in mild reproach. She'd never known Kaorin to be rude. "If you must know, Ryoga's a Tamer. I brought him here because I need to talk to him and Sakaki in private."
If felt, to Kaorin, as if the world had fallen from beneath her feet. "I-i-in p-private?" she squeaked. Her beloved Ms. Sakaki alone? With some guy, especially one that was a Tamer? She couldn't bear the thought of it.
"That's right" Minamo said, failing to see what the problem was.
"He's a Tamer?" Kaorin heard Sakaki ask suddenly with what was undeniably hope in her voice.
"Yes."
Sakaki shifted her gaze back to Ryoga, unconsciously clasping her hands over her heart. She'd been right. So, if he was here to see her, did that mean...? Did she hope? The pounding of her heart conveyed what she couldn't yet form the words to say.
Her reaction didn't go unnoticed by Kaorin. That was it, she had to stop this now, while there was still time! "But... but Ms. Kurosawa, we hardly know him! We don't whats he's like. What about credentials? I mean, look at him. He doesn't even have a Pokegirl with him or so much as a poke'ball. How's he supposed to look after her?"
"Kaorin, calm down" Minamo said, "That's what I'm here to find out. And, to be honest, I think I can safely say that Ryoga is a kind, decent young man."
"I'll say," Kagura agreed. "I mean, the way he stood up to those two guys was awesome. Of course, he didn't have a Pokegirl at the time, so it was kinda dumb. But I bet he'd have gone down swingin'!"
Yomi looked at the tanned girl with deadpan eyes. "That... was supposed to be a compliment?" she asked her in a barely audible tone.
Ryoga had to agree, though he didn't say anything.
For Kaorin, however, it was perfect. "There! You see? How's he going to look after Ms. Sakaki, if he can't even looked after himself? Better yet, how long have they even known each other? Shouldn't she at least get to know him first?" Man, Kaorin was patting herself on the back big time. There was no WAY any of them could refute that one, no matter how nice a guy he was.
"Kid's got a point there, Nyamo" Yukari seconded.
Sakaki gasped in dismay, feeling her hopes begin to fade.
"That's what I thought" Tomo chimed in, seeming to appear from nowhere. The mischief maker stood next to Yukari with her arms folded and a smile on her face.
"Since when?" Yomi wanted to know.
"Awhile now," was all the girl said.
Yomi had been an inch from flattening her when a sleepy eyed Osaka brushed past her. Yomi and the others blinked, having completely forgotten about her. Yukari, on the other hand, wondered where she had come from. Feeling everyone's eyes on her seemed to finally snap her back to reality. Which is when she noticed Minamo and... some guy she didn't recognize, but he looked nice enough, whoever he was.
"Ms. Yukari, who's he?" she asked.
"Mm-mm (I don't know)" Yukari uttered, making the equivalent gesture with her arms.
Minamo did the honors. "Osaka, this is Ryoga Hibiki, a Tamer who's interested in meeting Sakaki" she said.
Osaka's eyes lit up. "Oh. So it's you."
"Huh?" Ryoga asked in surprise. "You've heard of me?"
"Yes. Ms. Sakaki told me."
Sakaki eyes grew wide. "... I did?"
No one heard since, like her, they were too stunned by what Osaka had apparently let slip. The girl prattled on unimpeded. "Ms. Sakaki said she had a nice Tamer! So she must have meant you," the girl concluded. You could practically hear the bombshell that went off at the sheer implication of it. After what seemed forever, Yukari broke the silence and whistled.
"Damn. Don't waste time, do ya kid?" she said, impressed that anyone could make time with Sakaki that fast.
Ryoga was totally outdone. What this girl thinking? She didn't really think they'd... that he... did she? Sakaki was beet red with embarrassment. Osaka had just insinuated she'd already been tamed, in front of the whole school! It was worse than Yomi being in her room, worse than that time she'd taken that picture with Kimura and not known it til it was already too late.
It was even worse for Kaorin. Sakaki tamed? Her head turned several clicks in Ryoga's direction. Then Sakaki's. My God, she was blushing! So it really was true! She was already too late, twice! Wait a second... was Yomi there when it happened? Could that be what what they were talking about behind the gym?! The girl clutched her head, mouth open wide in despair. That had to be it! Yomi had taken advantage of Sakaki by getting Ryoga to help her! Her sweet innocent Sakaki was being misused by these miscreants!
Yomi was the only one other than Ryoga and Sakaki themselves who realized Osaka must be mistaken. She had to be, there was just no way. Unfortunately, that other pair had already jumped on the band wagon and were heartily congratulating the them.
"Way to go Ryoga!!" Tomo cheered, smacking the boy on the back repeatedly with each word. Ryoga found he couldn't say anything. His mind was still trying to cope with everyone thinking he'd go and do that sort of thing with someone he hardly knew.
Kagura gripped Sakaki's shoulders and smiled. "Aw man, how come you didn't say anything? I can keep a secret." Sakaki mouthed a few words, but Kagura couldn't make them out. Kagura hugged her and added, "Ah, well. What's done is done, right? I just want you to know I'm happy for you guys. And if he ever breaks your heart, I'll break his balls," having said it affectionately.
Sakaki's body went completely rigid at the other girl's candor, her eyes going solid white. The thing of it was, when she had left for school that morning, the most she'd been worried about was anyone finding out about her room. She never imagined anything remotely like this would happen to her. Life was funny that way. The entire time, her only thought was, Why? Why me?
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(Posted Sun, 13 Jan 2008 02:03)
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