Home Wrecker [Mai-Hime, Mai x Nao, ~six yrs post-Carnival]

Home Wrecker, A Mai-HiME fanfic

Synopsis: Mai's finally on her way in the Real World,
having finished culinary school. Only, things aren't
that easy; she keeps getting dismissed before she
finishes, always for the same cause: Food - Delicious,
Attitude - Too Nosy. Now it's her last chance to be, not
just a cook, but a chef.

Uh-oh, what is Nao of all people doing here?!?

Chapter 1: Last on Her List

Looking at the slip of paper one more time to be sure,
the vermillion-haired woman looked longingly at the open
road before tightening her face in determination, she
walked the short distance to the cottage's front door.
Not that it was ugly, on the contrary, it was a cute, if
cozy home, well-maintained, and in a nice, if remote,
neighborhood. The home's looks were the issue, but rather
the home's position on her list of employment prospects;
it was the last one on her list.

There had originally been eight such prospects, clients
assigned to by her cooking school, and only now she was
wondering if she should have just saved her money and
opened her own food stand. She'd tried each client, tried
to be a good employee, but something would always happen
to cause her to seek anew. The first five had actually
been not too bad; unfortunately, she had learned this only
in hindsight. Each time she'd begin with good intent, but
something about each one would become intolerable, and so
either she would be dismissed (at first), or her sanity at
risk, she would ask to leave. Every thing from odd
schedule demands, to odd fetishes, to bizarre side dish
requests, worse than her high school pal's notorious
mayonnaise obsession. Now she was at the end of her rope,
and while she had always been an excellent cook, a bad
reputation in a hospitality field could make or break a
career.

Hoping against hope, she knocked on the door, wondering
what horror lay in store for her, praying that she could
somehow endure, at least long enough for this to qualify as
an official placement, and not wreck her job life before it
had hardly began. The door opened, and Mai found herself
face-to-face with a tired, but friendly-looking, auburn-
haired woman.

"Tokiha Mai-san?"
"Yes. I am honored by your consideration."
"Please, come in."

Mai entered the home, and it looked just as cozy and
charming on the inside. The woman, Nakamura Hanako, was
an excellent hostess. She explained her situation over
tea and rice crackers, that she had been a long time in
hospital, recovering from an assault, and then a coma.
Her stamina was still an issue, and while she built up
her body again for the rigours of life, she found the need
for someone to help take care of her and her daughter,
studying to be a doctor. While she insisted that housework
was just the thing to get her back into condition, she
needed someone to do the cooking, and she would not want
to risk prevailing on her courageous daughter, who
virtually had to raise herself, and who was doing so well
with her studies.

By the end of her tale, Mai was in tears, weeping at
the older woman's feet, and all but begging to be allowed
to help take care of the two courageous women. Hanako -
she insisted, since they would all be living and working
so closely together - was herself touched, and finally
hugged the sensitive young woman if only to stop the risk
of herself bursting into tears in sympathy. They had hit
it off so well from the start, that Mai had gone ahead and
fixed a light supper for Hanako, and readied some noodles
for a quick nourishing supper once the daughter came home.
Meanwhile, Hanako and Mai continued to chat, sharing more
about each other, hopes, dreams, even a few of their lived-
through nightmares.

Finally, getting close to eight o'clock, the ladies heard a
rattle as the multiple locks of the door were unlocked by
a key. Mai got up to heat up the noodles and add some
extras to it for a tasty, light meal. While the supper was
made ready, Hanako told her daughter about the cooking
arrangements she had made, and the new friend that would
help them out. As Mai filled the plate and placed it on
the table, she was mildly happy that she'd been able to
set it down, for she now knew why this home, was the last
one on her list.

Hanako's daughter...was Yuuki Nao.

Home Wrecker, A Mai-HiME fanfic


Chapter 2: Happy Little Home Wrecker


The first thing Mai noticed on confronting Nao was that
the expression on her face was exactly the same as she
remembered - sardonic, almost eager in her cruelty and
lust to inflict pain. The next thing Mai noticed was that
Nao looked like a woman, not a girl, and an attractive
one. Of course, Nao had always been an attractive girl,
all the better to entice her unsuspecting victims to their
doom...or at least, to their humiliation and robbing. She
could probably make about ten times as much money pulling
that same trick on men as a call girl...wait, Mai thought
to herself, what am I thinking? Bad Mai, Nao's studying
to be a doctor; that's a wonderful, honorable profession!

"'tsup, Boobs," Nao snarked. "Nao! That's no way to
treat a guest," Hanako exclaimed, shocked at the rude
remarks of her daughter; shockingly, Nao ducked her head
and blushed, answering, "Sorry, Mama. We already know each
other; we went to high school together." Nao went over to
stand in front of Hanako, in a submissive posture, despite
being distinctly taller than the older woman. "Then you
should be even more kind to her, as an old friend." Nao
ducked her head again, this time in acknowledgement, then
tenderly and carefully, as if handling a porcelain cup,
Nao hugged her mother, and was hugged in return. Mai
thought they looked so adorable...until Nao looked up at
her, with those electric green eyes. Tell this to anyone
and you will die, the glare seemed to say, before she
lowered her eyes and gave one last tender squeeze.

Before Nao could start up again with her barbed
remarks, her stomach had a comment or two to add. Happy
to have the chance at getting in the last word, Mai
waved Nao over to the table, and her still-hot supper
waiting for her. Betrayed by her hunger, the sullen med
student thanked Mai, took a seat, and with a subdued
"Itedakimasu," began on her meal. Unable to contain
herself, Nao let out an evocative moan of pleasure at the
first bite. Blushing slightly, Mai graciously helped
Hanako to a seat and poured tea for them both. Hanako
reached up and tugged on Mai's blouse as she went to put
the kettle back. Smiling and nodding, Mai got a cup for
herself and sat across from Nao, occasionally blushing,
as Nao made more suggestively enthusiastic noises while
she ate. Hanako laughed lightly, and remarked that Nao
would have a sweeter tongue, now that she knew what good
things could sweeten it in return. Nao blushed a little,
but didn't interrupt her eating.

When finished, Nao's reach for her tea cup was blocked
by Hanako. Looking up, she caught her mom's eyes dart to
the left, before flicking back to her, narrowing slightly.
closing her eyes and nodding slightly, Nao sighed, and
folded her hands in front of her, and backed a bit away
from the table. "Mai, thank you very much," Nao began,
bowing seated. "The meal was...amazing; I can see why the
stray cat always hung around you." Mai's face scrunched up
a little, then drooped as Mai's face took on a sad,
pensive expression.

Hanako lifted the tea cup, and lightly rapped it on
the table, tilting her head more left, while keeping her
eyes firmly, intensely, on her daughter. Again, Nao bowed
at the waist, and apologized. "I'm sorry for calling you
'Boobs,' it was rude, and ungracious of me as a host."
Mai looked at Hanako, then Nao, and back, amazed at how
submissive and cooperative Nao was being for her mother.
Mai almost said something about it being no problem...but
a glint in those peridot eyes showed that Nao wasn't quite
done, and wasn't quite as "submissive" as her initial
speech had suggested. "You gotta admit, though...they're
huge!"

"Nao!" Hanako sighed - or huffed - and looked back at
Mai with a shaky-looking smile, shoulders closing in on
her ears. "I mean," Nao continued, looking up, smirk on
full blast, "they look like they've grown! You should cut
down on the milk, already!" Strangely, Mai did not look
discomfited, but was looking right back at Nao, a little
Cat Smile of her own on her lips. "No, no worries,
Hanako-san," Mai said, waving a hand between them, before
tucking it under her chin, continuing to smirk back at
Nao. "We have a little history, Nao and I, I know she's
just making a little joke, that's all." Mai's eyes
narrowed, and the smile, if anything, got a little
brighter.

Finally suspecting something might have been done to
the food, Nao's smirk disappeared in a flash, and she
exclaimed at Mai, "What?" Mai laughed, a small, menacing
laugh, and fanning her hands over her head, said, "Oh,
just remembering a costume, from some time ago." Mai put
her hands down, and sipped her tea, glancing back up as
if to ask if Nao remembered it, too. From the sudden deer-
in-the-headlights expression that flashed across her face,
Mai saw that it had; while Natsuki had all-but exploded in
laughter to see it, that didn't mean no one else had seen
it, or forgotten the showy display. Knowing that Nao was
remembering the outfit was revenge enough for Mai;
besides, she'd rather remember her own performance from
later that night, how she'd finally been able to sing her
heart out, and just be a regular high school girl, for the
first time...ever, it had felt like. That night had been a
bright light in a very dark year.

Hanako looked back and forth between Nao and Mai.
"Yeah, just making a joke, ha-ha." As she ducked her head,
and finally got at her tea, Nao looked more like she
would rather have a cup of sake than tea in her hands.
Hanako smiled at her daughter, her delightful bundle of
contradictions, so similar to herself, yet so different
in the oddest ways....

Hanako reached out to run her hand through Nao's still-
bright hair, pausing for just a second, as her eyes
fluttered. Recognizing the signs, Nao immediately got up
and offered her hands to her mom. Hanako tried to wave her
overly cautious daughter off, but needed to cover her
mouth as she yawned wide enough to stick her teacup into.
"Help me out, Mai," Nao asked, in an uncommonly soft tone.
Mai got up, and together, both young ladies helped the
older one from the floor, and down the hall to the futon
in her room. As she changed the woman's clothes, Nao said
quietly, "It's one of the complications of the coma; if
she stays up for too long, or works too hard, she just
shuts down. I guess having you here let her feel less
tired than she usually gets; she's usually asleep already
if I've been studying this late, so, um...thanks for that.
But don't think we're getting all chummy, or nothing; you
may be helping out Momma, but this is just a professional
arrangement."

Mai looked thoughtfully at Nao, as if trying to decide
something tough. Apparently, she decided, because she said
to Nao, "You try too hard, Nao." Nao looked up for a
moment, at the older redhead, went back to tucking her mom
in, gave her a kiss on the forehead, and shooed the two of
them back to the table. Making a side stop in the kitchen,
Nao pulled out a bottle of sake and refilled the cups on
the table with "something more useful." Nao clinked the
cups together, and with a glint in her eye, softly said,
"Kampai." Then, she waited for Mai to drink. Mai took a
small sip, then took a bigger one when she saw Nao's
scrunched-up face. Then, eyebrows up, Mai looked at Nao's
cup, then back to Nao; the younger woman huffed,
delicately placed the cup "just so" to her lips, and
inhaled the contents in one smooth head-tossing action.
Then, she re-filled her cup, filled up her mom's, and
sliding the latter across, pointed at Mai's semi-full
vessel, and in an exaggerated, menacing tone, repeated
herself: "Kam. Pai." Eyebrow twitching, Mai looked back
with wide-open amethysts at her apparent-alcoholic co-
employer. What is it with flame-red hair and getting
yourself smashed, Mai thought to herself, as Nao reached
over, took Mai's cup, wrapped her fingers around it, and
shoved it into Mai's face. Able to read the writing on the
wall and unwilling to let Nao do what else she might care
to justify as she forced the liquid down Mai's throat, Mai
shotgunned the drink. Turning her head and coughing
quietly, Mai watched as Nao took her mom's cup, full of
booze, and poured it into her own, then horrified, watched
as Nao held her hand up, lightly tapped their cups
together and again, said "Kampai," once more downing hers
in that one smooth head toss, not even waiting for Mai.

Nao grabbed the sake bottle, got it ready to pour,
then looked at Mai - she quickly downed her cupful in a
few hurried, burning gulps. Apparently, this satisfied
her, since she straightened the bottle, slid it over to
Mai, and then held out her cup. Feeling a bit peevish, Mai
snatched the bottle up, filled Nao's cup to near-full, with
her own to match, tapped them together and challengingly,
said, "Kampai." Nao did her inhalation trick, and Mai just
forced herself to gulp it down. Flushed with more than
success, Nao filled her cup about half-way, as was
Mai's, then looking the older woman in the eye, cockily
posed, "So, who's working too hard now?" Mai, unused to
"imitating Midori-chan," as she thought of it, not only
felt flushed, but her head spinning, just a little. She
giggled quietly, because to be honest, it didn't feel bad
at all, and she found Nao's antics to be childish and
amusing.

"Silly Nao," Mai began, the beginnings of a slur
easily heard in her voice, "I didn't mean hard working, I
meant too hard pushing!" Then she took her half-cup into
her mouth, swished it around like mouthwash, and swallowed
in one hard gulp. "He-he, wow," Mai breathed, "that's some
good stuff you got there, Nao!" Nao sneered, answering,
"Well, of course it is, why would I want to drink crap? I
get enough crap in my face at school." Mai motioned like a
bobble head, but in her mind, she was nodding sagely. "Uh-
huh," she said, definitely slurring now, "that'sh why you
TRY sho hard, to pusshh people away!"

"Maybe," Nao self-justified, "it's because I don't
need anyone else's crap in my face?" She slid her cup over
to Mai's cup, enjoying the soft >clack< of the ceramic as
it connected. "Don't spill it, now, 'cause that would be
very rude...to the drink!" Nao wasn't slurring - yet -
but she was definitely feeling a nice warmth of the drink
in her; it really was some good sake, though not her best.
Mai took the bottle, and poured a full cup for the both of
them, them sliding the bottle in a large circle, avoiding
the cups, to rest it against Nao's arm. "I've done
waitresshing for yeeeeearsh, sho worry 'bout your own
cup. Hey, Nao," Mai went off on a new tangent, "are you
friends with anyone besides Micho...Mitoku...besides cat-
girl?" Nao thought about it for a couple of seconds,
giving Mai a chance to sponge up half of her beverage.
Being a wise woman, Nao delayed speaking until she had
something to say. "I know a lot of people, and they know
me, but I wouldn't say we're friends. They talk to me, and
I let them live, but it's not like we're close." Mai
leaned way - WAY - across the table, and not quite
focusing on the flamenette, said, "I think you just need
to have a BIIIIIIIIG Hug...right after I finish my drink!"


Mai tilted her cup up and let the rest of the sake run
over her tongue into her stomach. This was fortunate,
since to do this, she tilted her head back enough to lose
her balance, and whack the table with her knee. Seeing
what was about to happen, Nao quickly lifted the bottle
and her cup from the table, thus saving the rest of the
precious liquor. One leg stretched out, Mai shook the cup
a couple of times at her mouth, with no result. "Aw," Mai
remarked, staring up at her empty cup, "it's all gone,
that's so sad...." Then, she started to cry, softly at
first, but not for long. Nao flipped the top back on the
bottle, tamped it shut, slurped her cup dry, and set off
on a Grand Crawling Adventure around the table, to shut
the older girl up. "Hey, you," Nao interrupted Mai's
blubbering, "it's after hours, and you've had enough. Time
for you to...hey, shut it, already, you're gonna wake my
ma, and that's not cool!" Nao crawled over until her green
eyes were right over Mai's violet ones. "Hey, Mai, sshhh,
time to go to sleep." Mai stopped crying and giggled,
saying, "You have pretty eyes, Nao, like shiny chips of
jade." Nao lowered her face until their foreheads touched,
and said, "You're pretty drunk, Mai, and you need to sleep
it off."

"Okay," cheerily responded the buxom beauty, and
promptly closed her eyes, snoring lightly. Nao blinked
owlishly and nudged Mai's cheek with her nose. "Hey, hey
Mai. Mai!" To no use; Mai was dead to the world, and all
its woes, especially its green-eyed, red-haired ones.
Sighing, Nao put the sake back in its cubby, got the cups,
crawled to below the sink to leverage the cups on the
counter, then went to get a duvet and pillow from the
closet. She debated whether to undress Mai, but as
entertaining as it would be to hear Mai freaking out about
waking up naked - and that did appeal greatly to Nao's
sense of mischief, it meant that she'd have to run her
hands over Mai...she shivered at the thought. No, better
to let sleeping Dragon Princesses lie. Besides, what if
her bra came undone at the wrong time - poor Nao might
suffocate, and no one would find her until the morning!

Turning the room light off, and leaving the bathroom
light on, Nao crawled slowly into her room, not even
taking the time to get out her bedding, just curling up
in her closet, like a kitten in a hide-away. Her last
thoughts were of what might have happened if she had
taken Mai's clothes o-

You know this qualifies for the crack pairing contest on the multiverses Deviant Art site this month. There are three days left to enter , its free to join if haven't already also we have prizes

Interesting start, BM! :D

zanekal1 wrote:You know this qualifies for the crack pairing contest on the multiverses Deviant Art site this month. There are three days left to enter , its free to join if haven't already also we have prizes

Thanks, zane, since:

1. I didn't know there was a contest;
   
2. I have the start of a crack-fic in the crack section...maybe I should finish it? :)
   
3. dang it, I had a third point, honest! Oh, well, I'll work on the toughest part of any story (for me) - finishing it!

...prizes, you say? :D

ookamidesu wrote:Interesting start, BM! :D

Sweet...but that's just 'cause it's Nao, isn't it?

BMeph wrote:

ookamidesu wrote:Interesting start, BM! :D

Sweet...but that's just 'cause it's Nao, isn't it?

It's cause it's MaiNao

Home Wrecker, A Mai-HiME fanfic


Chapter 3: Home Is Where the Wreck Is

Nao got up at six o'clock - some habits die hard; some
alarm clocks die harder - and wandered into her mom's room
just in time to see her stretch and stand up. Eyes shining
like gems, Nao went to the center of the room, where
Hanako joined her, and together, they did some T'ai Chi
exercises. For Nao, mornings were bigger than Christmas,
and she never got tired of starting her day, seeing her mom
standing and bright-eyed, ready to start the day.

Hanako wrapped her arms around Nao's back, while Nao
ducked her head enough to keep their cheeks together.
Hanako started to push Nao to go take a bath while she
fixed breakfast; Nao interrupted, reminding her mother of
their new-found domestic arrangement. "In fact, usually
Mai was already up by this time, making bentos and such,
back in high school. Maybe she's still sleeping in..."
Hanako forced herself not to laugh at the thoroughly up-to-
no-good expression on the redhead's face; it was adorable
as anything, but really, Nao-chan should learn to be kind
to her friends. "Behave, Nao; Mai-san is like family."
Nao smiled evilly, "Oh, yes, Mama, I'll behave, I'll
behave." Hanako didn't need special mind powers to see her
daughter was thinking, "I'll behave rottenly," since it
was written so plainly on her face. "I'm...just going to
see if Mai is awake yet..." ...and wake her up if she
isn't, Nao finished in her head. Hanako reached out and
mussed up Nao's hair, neither one paying attention to the
fact that Hanako had to reach up to do so.

Creeping into the living room like a stalking cat, Nao
snuck in, hoping to catch Mai unawares. Then, seeing her
still asleep, she quickly ducked back, zipped into the
bathroom, kissed her mom on the cheek, carefully lifted
a can of mousse, danced back out, and put an egg-sized
pile on Mai's outstretched fingertips. Then, combing
through her hair, she got a loose one, and used it to
tickle Mai's nose. It was an amazing miracle; Nao was so
intent on her plan, that she didn't make a sound until Mai
snorted some foam, and woke herself. When Mai went to wipe
the bubbles off her nose, only to find the reason for
the bubbles being there in the first place, Nao couldn't
hold it any longer.

NOT impressed, Mai went to wipe her hand on Nao's face,
but the younger woman ducked at the last moment, landing
Mai's hand in her crimson mop. "Geez, Nao, you must be,
what, twenty? You're still acting like a child!" Nao played
with the mousse-spot on her head, drawing part of her bangs
into a forelock suspiciously similar to that of another nearby
redhead and snidely replying, "Oh, not all the time, Mai, just
for you..." She batted her eyes at Mai while she spoke,
which just made Mai more annoyed, and Nao more
entertained. Cradling the can of mousse like her favourite
child, and still occasionally giggling, Nao got off the floor,
and whipping the cover off of Mai, said, "Sorry to cut your
nappy-time short, O Honourable Boobs-san, but it's time
for you to earn your keep."

Grabbing the pillow under her head, and whipping it at
Nao's face - only to have the younger woman jump up and
bundle it with the futon - Mai grumped, "What is it with
always talking about my boobs...breasts, anyway?" Nao
shrugged, sassily replying, "It's like the elephant in the
room." Raising an eyebrow, Mai sputtered, "What are you
talking about, you're the one always bringing them up, so
no one can avoid talking about it!" Nao smirked, "Huh? Oh,
no, I meant they're huge, like an elephant in a room. Aw,
I'm just playing," Nao waved, as Mai self-consciously and
on reflex, crossed her arms over her sizable chest, "Mikoto
would never shut up about 'Mai's melons' this and 'Mai's
melons' that, so I figured you were used to being the talk
of the town by now. I didn't mean a thing by it - shake?"

Mai looked up at Nao's offered hand with suspicion,
grabbing the wrist and turning her palm up. Sitting like
a joy buzzer stand-in, was another dollop of mousse. As
Mai gave Nao a "disappointed" look, Nao giggled, ran her
hand through her hair, leaving a stylish set of spikes
throughout her hair. Mai then accepted Nao's hand up,
holding on long enough to wrap her arms around Nao and
give the mischievous one a great, big, Marshmallowy hug.
By the time Mai was done, Nao's face matched her hair -
well, except for the spikes. Nao gasped dramatically for
breath, as Mai laughed. "Just remember," Mai warned, "that
I give as good as I get." Then, smiling, Mai spun around
and started fixing a quick yakisoba for breakfast. Nao huffed,
and waving in the kitchen's direction, went back to the
bathroom, with a loud "Whatever," smiling at her mom as
the two swapped rooms.

Once behind closed doors, Nao leaned back and rubbed
her face. "They are pretty soft," she muttered to herself,
before quickly looking forward, and burying her face in
her hands. "Where the heck did that come from; I am NOT
Mikoto, I don't even Like girls! I mean, I like some, but
I don't like-like...aaahh! Less talking, more washing!"
With clothes in the hamper and wash cloth in hand, Nao
proceeded to do just that.

Fresh clothes on and book satchel in hand, Nao came
back to the living room, greeting her mom with a loud
cheer. Then, after a kiss on the cheek and a cheeky wink,
Nao slid her eyes toward her shoulder, further turning her
head to catch sight of the third member of the household.
"Good morning, Big Sis, how are those huge...cooking arms
doing today?"

Still feeling a bit tipsy from the night before, and in a good
mood from cooking, Mai decided to be a bit playful.
Kissing Nao on the cheek, she said, "Good morning,
imouto-chan! I'll let you judge for yourself, how my...
cooking arms are." She then gave the wok a last seasoning
and toss, and put three portions of yakisoba on plates.
She then pulled out an egg, offered it to Nao teasingly,
before putting on a thoughtful face and pulling it back,
with a fake pout. With a quick flourish, she flipped the
soba around, putting each serving back on its plate, this
time with a still-cooking egg nestled in the middle like
a nest. Setting each plate down, along with each person's
drink, they began to enjoy the meal; by the smile on
Hanako's face, the glint in Mai's eye and the twitch at the
corner of Nao's mouth, some enjoyed the display more than
others.

As much as Nao's fingers itched to tweak out Vengeance over
Mai's chain-yanking, she knew that one, she'd have better
opportunities to get hers back; and two, Mai really was an
amazing cook. Telling herself that this wasn't so much a
surrender as a temporary cease-fire, Nao went ahead and
picked up her chopsticks, only cringing a little when her mom
giggled - giggled! Mom! - and complemented Mai on her skills,
and not just the cooking.

"I think this will be a satisfactory arrangement for you and the agency,
Mai-chan," Hanako remarked, dipping a clump of noodle in her egg, and
popping it in her mouth.
"Well," Nao warned, "let's not be too hasty; there is a time limit for a
reason." Hanako's mouth quirked up on the side in a way that Mai had
seen on Nao thousands of times, and with a mix between pointing, and
a feint to pick at Nao's food, she replied, "Taste the noodles, Nao-chan,
then try that speech again." Shrugging a shoulder and rolling her
eyes, Nao coolly grabbed a small bit of soba and placed it in
her mouth...then spent the next minute licking the chopsticks
clean. Oh, Kami-sama, but those were good; Nao promised
that the next time she ran into Cat-Girl, she wouldn't tease her
about going cuckoo for Mai's cooking any longer.

Cooking is the way to anyone's heart and Mai has that perfected. XD

Mai's just full of great tasting things

zanekal1 wrote:Mai's just full of great tasting things

Not to mention, what do you do with a girl that your mama loves?

Well, if you're Nao...(looks around) yeah, I should be finishing Chapter 4. Right, right, back in the salt mines I go...

(The Next day...)

Ah, that should work fine!

Home Wrecker, A Mai-HiME fanfic


Chapter 4: Home Wrecker With Class

The next six weeks went by amazingly smoothly, even though,
mothers aside, certain persons had tried like the
Devil to make other persons have a very "eventful" time.
The worst part, not naming names, is that certain person's
mother really likes and has fun chatting all day with an
other person, which make a certain person dread the next
revelation of some "adorable" incident that a certain
person would have enjoyed having been unknown to (un)said
person's mother forever. Unfortunately for certain
persons, other persons exist that know things that make a
certain person's actions sound feisty and cute, instead of
aloof, intimidating and domineering. Other persons, with
gigantic breasts, that have likely drank so much milk,
that the Wagyu veal industry must have had a minor
recession trying to fill their orders. Other persons that
are abnormally chipper in the morning, when they have been
unreasonably suspicious and refused to enjoy a few
soothing after-dinner drinks with a fun-loving friend.
Other persons who seem to enjoy open conspiracies with a
certain person's mama, to embarrass a certain person and
totally destroy a certain person's ability to be cool and
sophisticated.

It was early June, and while Nao was re-shelving library
books at her part-time job, she was increasingly feeling
the oddest sense of frustration even. On the one hand, she
was doing fantastic in her latest set of classes, excellent
since, being in a six-year program, this year of classes
are the last set of really challenging ones; the rest are
still important, but things finally feel as breezy and
relaxed as university programs normally feel for Japanese
students. On the other hand, a huge amount of the reason
why things were going well was because of the other per-
because of Mai coming to live with her and Mama, helping
out with home chores, helping both her and Mama to stop
worrying so much about each other, letting Mama concentrate
on rebuilding her physical strength and stamina, and
letting Nao concentrate on her studies, with great success
all around.

On the other hand, Nao's attempts to get Mai in
trouble, get frustrated, or just plain quit, have been
less successful. Significantly less successful, mainly
because Nao has been slowly coming to accept the idea
that Mai...is fun to have around. Nao almost felt ashamed
in a way; her prickly exterior was needed when she was
all-but living on her own, hustling to get together the
coins needed to keep her mama alive was scary, tough and
empowering. Nao had had to work to keep an edge on her,
not to give up, give in, or let the bastards that had let
the both of them sink of swim. She couldn't have afforded
to let herself grow soft, and now that she could, it seems
that she had. Not that she regretted her mom having fun
with Mai - anything that gave the least comfort to that
woman was hers, in an instant and no questions asked. As
far Nao was concerned, her mama could ask for the moon,
and Nao would get it; when her mama smiled at her, Nao
still felt happy, and silly, and grateful. Only, she was
starting to feel the same way when Mai was happy, too.

Nao hadn't even noticed anything different, but others
at school had. Guys had asked for dates, instead of her
simply looking to see which ones might be the easiest to
rob - not that she did that any more, it was just a habit;
just making sure the reflexes were still sharp. The weird
thing though, were the women, the ones that would just
come up to her and ask her if her boyfriend had a brother;
worse, were the ones that asked if her boyfriend had a
sister, since they were delighted to find out about Mai
at home, and always - always - asked if she were
interested in a three-way. Nao could just imagine Chie
hiding in the bushes, waiting for the perfect time to
take a picture to capture the whole thing; in fact, the
first two times, Nao had torn up the landscape, expecting
just that. The craziest thing about it was that the first
time she'd been asked that, she'd actually considered it -
just because Mai would absolutely freak out, that's all.
She's considered saying "yes" but certainly not going
through with something crazy like that. No, that happened
the second time; Nao still had little shivers thinking of
that. Bad shivers, of course, very bad...shivers.

Only later, had Nao found out the reason why she had
been getting approached so often lately; she smiled all
the time. Not like, "When I'm done with you, your mom's
going to weep that you were born"-kind of smile, either,
but a happy, all's-right-with-the-world smile, which did.
Not. Make. Sense! Not that Nao's life wasn't completely
awesome, what with her classes going well, and Mai coming
in to keep her mom entertained, and not so busy working
while still trying to recover her strength; mama hadn't
exhausted herself since that first day Mai came over. Mama
still tired quickly, but she was getting better, and going
to sleep when she was tired, not pushing herself and
collapsing anymore, which in itself, was a breath of fresh
air. Speaking of fresh air, Nao wondered what kind of
celebration she would have for her upcoming birthday. Not
that twenty-one was a special age, but it was still her
birthday, and any excuse to party was one that needed to
be exploited.

Shelving books in the library, for the first time in a
long while, Nao spent her "plotting" time thinking about
simple fun. With Mai in the kitchen, something good to eat
is a guarantee, and being Nao's place, something good to
drink is a given. The important part, though, is what kind
of entertainment could be had and...at what price. Because
let's face it; with Mai involved, there will be karaoke in
the the event sometime, and letting mama, Mai, and a
karaoke machine together in the same space, would be like
one of the Mutt's dumb sci-fi stories: unbelievably awful.
So, plan for a quiet celebration at home, let Mai drag me
off to "surprise" me with corny singing, and let her and
mama laugh about it all week. Acceptable, especially, Nao
smirked, if Mai can find an outfit that fits. On the other
hand, if Mai got stuck with that "showgirl" outfit, it
may not be too bad if it's a little..."snug" in places.

Out of the blue, a cute brown-haired girl walked up to
Nao, handed her a piece of paper, giggled and walked off.
Not recognizing her but becoming used to the odd behaviour,
Nao shrugged, and unfolded the note; she found it had a
name...and a phone number. Smiling faintly and shaking her
head, Nao stuck it in her pocket with others she had been
given this week; she figured that by the weekend, Nao
might have a fan-girl club the size of Fujino's. Then as
an actual use for them occurred to her, she laughed, her
knuckles shoved in her mouth to keep the head librarian
from docking her pay for "too much noise"; she figured
she'd need thousands of names before she came close to
Shizuru's fan count, but that wasn't the point, at least,
not any more...as if it had ever been, Nao told herself
internally. The real point is, she went on in her head,
a few of these babies in select pockets at the "surprise"
karaoke party Mai had planned for Nao's birthday would
start enough drama to make sure that the rest of the month
would be good for laughs. For just a moment, Nao's face
looked almost scary in its promise of gleeful mischief,
before she gave a cute laugh, with a face to match. Of
course, if you knew her at all, the latter expression was
one that looked even scarier.

Finally, the day of days came to pass: Nao's birthday.
Her alarm went off for school, since it was a school day,
and she had left it on, even though she had hustled like a
woman on a mission to make sure that she could, and had,
gained permission to skip all her classes for the rest of
the week. She just liked to be able to do what she then
did: lazily stick a hand out from the covers, and shove
the alarm off of its stand, shutting it off. Sighing, she
then snuggled under the light, and light-blocking, covers,
her hand still laying on the outside.

Hanako heard the alarm, as she did most every day, and
lay in her own bad, waiting for her "little handful" to
come in and join her in her morning exercises. A few
minutes later, she remembered why Nao was so slow off the
mark today, and a familiar smirk lit up her face, as she
thought - for just a second or two - about doing her
exercises on her own and waking Nao up afterwards. She
laughed to herself, as she knew she had no intention of
ever disappointing her daughter again by having her miss
out on their favourite bonding routine. She got up and
stretched, just as Mai came in, apron still in her hand.
The carrot-top looked confused, looking around, even above
her (with a slight cringe, Hanako amusedly saw), trying to
spy the youngest woman's hiding place. Hanako had to hide
her smile behind a hand, then gestured in the other's
direction, quietly saying, "Birthday."

Rolling her eyes and bopping herself in the head with
her wadded-up apron, Mai smiled - happily, at first, then
with an expression more fitting to the Yuuki household. Mai
crooked her hand at Hanako, then tiptoed to Nao's room,
with her mother curiously following. Mai carefully and
stealthily opened the door and crept into the college
girl's lair. Taking note of the arm peeking out of the
covers, Mai all-but floated to the other side of the bed,
and gently peeled up the bedding, piling it onto the
snoozer, until it all of it was piled high atop the ruby-
tressed one. Then, with a saucy wink at Hanako, responded
to with quick nods while the older woman covered her mouth
with both hands, Mai jumped on top of the pile, with an
ear-splitting "Banzai!" A muffled, but distinct "Urp!" was
extracted from the pile. Then, Mai turned over, pushing a
layer or two of comforter out from between them, and with
one hand touching the bottom girl, she signed again for
Hanako to follow. "Who is that," Nao sleepily queried,
"is that you, Marshmallow Girl?" Before Mai let herself
answer, she nodded encouragingly at Nao's mother, while
giving Nao's back a couple of quick taps. Nao had just
enough time to crack open a peridot eye, to see her mother
jump on the impromptu dog pile.

"Mom!"
---

A/N: These have been short chapters, but I plan to make
the next one a little longer. Ironically, I also plan on
getting the next one out more relatively quickly than the
last, but you'll have to see just how well I do with that.
On a lighter note, this one came out pretty soon after the
last one, so maybe there's hope for me....

Sounds like Nao is starting to loosen up a little.

Aww.... Nao is going soft. How cute. :3

ookamidesu wrote:Aww.... Nao is going soft. How cute. :3

. That's what happens with enough forplay

zanekal1 wrote:

ookamidesu wrote:Aww.... Nao is going soft. How cute. :3

. That's what happens with enough forplay

And Mai is really good at what she does. XD

SulliMike23 wrote:Sounds like Nao is starting to loosen up a little.

ookamidesu wrote:Aww.... Nao is going soft. How cute. :3

Don't be too fooled; Nao has always been, and will always be, soft as sponge cake for her mama.
The next chapter (which I'm furiously planning as we speak... ) will show how Nao is more than able to Instigate as well as she always has... :evil: :twisted:

BMeph wrote:

SulliMike23 wrote:Sounds like Nao is starting to loosen up a little.

ookamidesu wrote:Aww.... Nao is going soft. How cute. :3

Don't be too fooled; Nao has always been, and will always be, soft as sponge cake for her mama.
The next chapter (which I'm furiously planning as we speak... ) will show how Nao is more than able to Instigate as well as she always has... :evil: :twisted:

Hahaha, I don't doubt her plotting skills. Looking forward to it, BMan!