What a mess. She was going to have a hard enough time giving two shy teens "the Talk" without other complications getting in the way, like that slip up back at the school. Thankfully, Minamo had had the good sense to remind everyone that it was Osaka they were dealing with it, which (in and of itself) seemed to suffice.
Still, the situation wasn't resolved as neatly as she'd hoped. The students reaction ranged from relief to disappointment. It seemed that the hopes of the male student body was hanging by a thread, now that Ryoga had entered the picture. On a brighter note, the girls' chances had improved considerably now that Sakaki was soon to be out of it; leaving only Yomi and Kagura to compete with. That is, once she was tamed and officially "off the market".
That was hardly the problem though. The real mess had to do with her own slip up, the one she'd made last year at Chiyo's summer home. Minamo couldn't believe how that one incident kept coming back to haunt her. Never mind all the times Yukari had gotten drunk. Like the time she'd gotten plastered so bad that she even stripped! And did anybody bring that up? Nooo. But she had one too many, just once, and she was marked for life. All because she leaked some, um, rather questionable details about the opposite sex... and maybe a few about her personal life.
What made it worse, was that Chiyo had been present to hear all of it. So, when Minamo had mentioned wanting to talk to Ryoga and Sakaki in private, the girl had asked what about. Minamo tried tailoring her words by saying it dealt with matters concerning young adults, only to have it backfire spectacularly. The mention of the word "adult" sparked the eleven year old's memory, prompting her to ask the same question she had the last time.
Well sir, you should have seen the faces.
The images that were conjured in the students minds left... them... speechless! Several hairs on the Hibiki boy's head had bristled out of place as his eyes grew big as saucers. Ryoga found himself wondering how an eleven year old had learned of such things or if she was really that smart? It was when she touched on a particular subject concerning the male and female anatomy that he reached his limit and fainted.
Double that for Sakaki. Being a Pokegirl, she knew the matter of sex was inevitable. It was bound to happen, but that didn't make it any less uncomfortable for her. Neither had Minamo's little talk. She still couldn't believe that her respectable PE teacher had been so... open. Or that her cute little friend had been listening so closely. Sakaki was already reeling from what Osaka had said, it was Chiyo's query that scored the knockout blow.
Minamo had chuckled self consciously, eyes darting about to see if anyone drew the connection. Seeing that one of them did (at least, it looked that way to her), she decided to cut the girl short and make for the exit. All it took was a clever diversion. Pointing down the hall, toward the cafeteria, she cried, "Seconds on BEAN JAM BUNS!!" Her ruse had the desired effect of starting a stampede. The students were about halfway down the hall when they remembered the cafeteria was serving seaweed sandwich bread that day and that they were already sold out.
By the time they turned around, all that remained where Minamo had been, was a swirl of papers and a rapidly vanishing dust trail.
Once they were all back in the car, the only thing left to do was find a suitable place to talk. After a short drive, she settled on the park. There was a secluded area, near the fountain. Off to the right of it, was a narrow path lined by trees and a wooded fence along both sides of the walk; an ideal spot for their conversation. Minamo thought some sodas might help, and left the two on their own while she went to find some.
While they were waiting, Ryoga took a spot against one of the post, propping his elbows on the rail behind him. Sakaki's feline instincts drew her to a branch hanging over the fence. Stepping quickly and lightly, she leapt from the ground, to the upper rail, and finally to the jutting limb. It easily supported her weight, allowing her to sit with her legs crossed and her palms planted beside her. To anyone passing by, they would appear to be a boy and girl meeting for the first time.
Moments passed with neither saying anything, until Ryoga finally broke the silence. "Listen," he began tentatively, "I know we weren't formally introduced or anything, but... I just wanted to say thanks."
When Sakaki looked down, she saw that he was looking down at his feet, until hers eyes fell on him, though they were clearly confused. He's thanking me? But... why? It didn't make sense to her. If anything, she felt she should be thanking him.
In answer to her unspoken question, he explained. "If you hadn't helped me, I don't know what I would have done. I... sort of wasn't thinking. It's a bad habit of mine," he admitted guiltily. "And I wanted to say I'm sorry for making you feel like you had to do that."
"No, not at all," Sakaki told him. Pushing off the branch, she landed beside him and went on, "If you hadn't been there, those boys might have gotten me. Besides, I chose to fight for you, no one forced me. It's funny," she said, her mood seeming to change, "but it just seemed natural to me, even though we'd just met. I'm just... not sure why."
"It's called synching," they heard Minamo say. The Pokegirl League Rep reappeared with drinks in hand, seeming pleased that they'd at least broken the ice. "It's what lead you to team up with Ryoga yesterday and it's what happened earlier today at the school," she said, handing each of them a can of oolong tea. "Sorry guys, there's only machine here at the park. So it was either this, or carrot juice."
Both she and Ryoga looked at their cans, then made a face and answered, "Tea it is," surprising themselves for having thought the same thing.
"Thought as much."
Sakaki took a sip from hers then asked, "So, what exactly is synching?"
Minamo, in turn, chose answer her question, with a question. "What did you feel when you first saw Ryoga?"
What did I feel?
"Comfortable," Sakaki said simply.
"And what feelings did you get from him?"
Sakaki took in Ryoga's features, somehow looking beyond the exterior. "Kindness. Warmth," she said.
"And when those girls attacked him?"
The tall girl's eyes narrowed. "I was angry."
"Why?"
"They hurt him."
"That, Sakaki," Minamo said, gripping her shoulders, "is synching. It's the bond that exists between a Tamer and his Pokegirl. In other words, it's your genes at work."
Both adolescents blinked at one another in surprise at this.
"I did some reading on your particular breed, last night," she continued. "I learned that Skit Tits are among the most docile, domesticated, Pokegirl breeds. For most, the idea of engaging in battle is unthinkable. They prefer to avoid conflict when possible. For you to react as you did, as strongly as you did, was a clear sign that you and Ryoga had already begun to bond."
A gasp escaped Sakaki's lips now that she understood why she had behaved so unlike herself. It was the boy that brought out those feelings in her. It was Ryoga. For the second time, in as many days, Seichiro's taunt echoed in her mind.
Oh my God! The guy doesn't even have a Pokegirl, and he calls himself a Tamer!
He has one, she remembered herself saying as she boldly stepped forward, he has me.
He has me.
He has ME.
Ryoga seemed at a loss. "Maybe that explains what I was feeling," he said, though more to himself than either of them.
"Which was?" Minamo asked him.
Ryoga rolled his two index fingers together, blushing faintly. "Well, it's just that when I see a cute girl or... uh"
"A sexy one?" Minamo offered helpfully.
"... uh, yeah," Ryoga replied, turning redder than before. So did Sakaki. "Anyway, when I see one, I usually get a nosebleed... or worse."
Minamo's lidded her eyes and chuckled, "I see."
"I don't. I mean, look at her," he said in a tone that was appreciative rather than derogatory. "It's a wonder I haven't bleed myself dry. And yet...."
"I get what you're saying," Minamo said. "Yes, I suppose the synching may have something to do with that too. Still, if that was your idea of compliment, your approach needs work," she told him.
Sakaki's expression was deadpan as the girl nodded in agreement.
Taking another sip from her tea, Minamo moved the conversation along. Since Ryoga had made his intentions clear, and Sakaki by her own admission (albeit indirectly) was willing, the matter seemed pretty much decided. Still, she thought it best to let them decide when it became official. In the meantime, she proposed they spend sometime getting to know one another. The girls only had two weeks of school before their vacation, they'd have ample time between now and then. And he could use that time to learn more about her species.
Minamo would have gone into the matter of Taming, but Chiyo had pretty much seen to that part for them so she left it alone. That, and she didn't want the two of them passing out on her again. Besides, Sakaki had gone through threshold only recently and Skit Tits, it seemed, could go longer than most without Taming before there was any risk of going feral.
The school was still abuzz with news of Sakaki. Oh sure, the rumor about her having been tamed had been cleared up, but that had only lead to talk of when it would happen. Needless to say, this didn't sit well with everybody. Not the boys, or even some of the girls who were already lamenting the impending loss of their idol. Naturally, the one most effected by this, was Kaorin.
All signs pointed to the worst. That boy had come for Sakaki, she seemed to want to be with him and, thanks to Minamo's involvement, they even had the blessings of the Pokegirl League. What more was there to say? It was over, she'd lost. Her dreams of being with the love of her life destined to go unfulfilled. It was a dark day. So she decided to drown her sorrows in the time honored tradition.
Okay, so she wasn't legal age to drink, but there was cookies and milk!! She'd pack it away til she ballooned three times her size... now that Sakaki was gone, there was no reason to care how she looked. Too bad Kaorin was one of those lucky so-and-so's (like me!) that could eat just about anything and not gain a pound. Oh well, she'd just have to find some other way to deal with her suffering. Until then, it was off to the land of Chips Ahoy and moo juice!
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(Posted Thu, 24 Jan 2008 04:41)
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