Buying Some Dust...

[senashenta]

I've had my degus (Bedrock & Granite) for about four years now (I believe), and only now am I finding out that they should be supplied with dust for dust bathing--like you would do for a chinchilla. =_=;; I just read that in a pet magazine that I got when I took Tri and Neko to the vet last month...

Supposedly, dust bathing is good for them. I should let them do it once every couple of days or so. And because I love all my little furry friends and I want them all to be as happy and healthy as possible, I will be going out and buying dust for them ASAP.

...yup.

Now!



It was nearly nine o'clock in the morning when the door creaked open and Nazoko poked her head into the apartment that she shared with her sister and their best friend. Orange eyes flitted around, looking for one or the other of her roommates; at that time in the morning, Miru should have been up for hours and was probably gone already, off trying to find something to entertain herself until their classes started, at ten thirty. Nozomi, she figured, would just be falling out of bed, if she was even awake at all--so hopefully no one would see her sneaking in.

The door closed behind her with a quiet creak, and she headed for her bedroom, ponytail swaying behind her.

It wasn't like Nazoko Kou to come sneaking in at the crack of dawn--she was more responsible than that... then again, she found herself doing more more things that could be considered irresponsible as of late, and this was only one of them. In her mind, though, she was attempting to justify the night before with the thought that she hadn't actually been out all night...

I was inside... I just wasn't in my own room...

The thought and what it hinted at almost made her blush, and she raised a hand to rub at one of her cheeks absently.

The truth was that she had spend the night with Hide... and if Nozomi ever caught wind of that fact, she would never hear the end of it. She was fairly sure that her sister had at least a vague idea of how intimate she was with him, but if she actually had proof--or what she thought was proof, anyway--Nazoko would very quickly find herself in trouble.

Giggling, squealing, annoying trouble.

She hoped to get in, change into new clothes, and get back out without anyone noticing.

"Nazoko-chan."

"Ah!" Surprised, she squeaked something almost indignant, and clamped a hand over her own mouth. "Miru-chan!"

The other girl, who was seated in the living room, reading over a thick, heavy novel--which she had probably borrowed from Josei--giggled softly, eyebrows lifting a bit. "Daijoubu desu ka?"

"Aha... I'm fine..." Nazoko couldn't help sweatdropping slightly as she waved one hand in Miru's direction. "Why do you ask?"

"You didn't come home last night." Miru's lips were quirking amusedly. "I had to convince Nozomi-chan not to launch a search party for you... I figured you and Hide-sama had gone out to a club or something."

"A club? Uh, yeah..."

"Or not?" A shrug, and Miru's beige hair shifted when she turned her eyes back to the book in her lap, a knowing expression on her face. "Well... that's what I told Nozomi-chan, anyway... she's still in bed, if you wanted to grab a shower and get changed." A pause, and green eyes flicked up toward her again; "you're looking a bit wrinkled, Nazoko-chan."

She couldn't help the blush that colored her cheeks, a flare of bright red that almost matched her hair. "I--I wasn't--"

"You were too." A chuckle, and Miru turned the page in her novel. "Just don't let Nozomi-chan see that ring, or you'll be done for."

"My--"

Her eyes shifted downward, catching on the silver and red of the ring she was wearing.

The ring was a new development... something Hide had given her only the night before, and part of the reason that she hadn't come home. It was hard for her to believe that they had come so far in their relationship, but... well, there it was. A silver band, highlighted with rubies, worn on her ring finger. A promise of much more to come.

Gods, they had even discussed having children, when they were both ready.

"Omedetou ne, Nazoko-chan."

"I--"

"Omedetou for what?" The third voice made her jump again, and before she could turn around, a familiar orange-haired head was leaning over her shoulder, bright red eyes flitting straight down to her hand and-- "HAAA!!" Nazoko was spun around, her hand jerked up so Nozomi could look at it more closely, before she could even say a word; "Nazoko, this is a ring!"

Nazoko tried to take her hand back, but her sister would have none of it. "Tell me something I don't know." Her tone was a bit defensive, a lot embarassed.

"This is an engagement ring!"

The pitch to Nozomi's voice was raising. The girl was about to start squealing.

"And you didn't come home last night! I knew it! I KNEW IT!"

"Nozomi-chan..."

The slightly-younger twin continued to hold onto her sister's hand, bouncing slightly in her excitement, squealing softly. Over on the couch, Miru was giggling under her breath, giving Nazoko a sympathetic-but-amused look out of the corner of one eye, and Nazoko was almost glaring back at her--she wasn't helping. At. All.

Nazoko jerked her hand back, rubbing at her wrist a bit. "Nozomi, leave me alone."

"Heehee! I'm getting a brother-in-law!"

"No-Nozomi!"

"And neices and nephews!"

Her face flushed terribly again, Nazoko shoved her sister away. "Nozomi, shut up, shut up!"

"I'm only telling the truth!"

"...urusei."

"I knew it, I knew it, I knew it!"

"Naaaaaaaaa~" Nazoko made a break for the stairs, heading for her room as quickly as she could. "I have to go... I'm taking a nap."

"Because you didn't get much sleep last night, Na~zo~ko!"

If Nozomi hadn't scrambled frantically for the kitchen, she would have been clocked firmly in the head--when Nazoko grabbed a candle from the nearby bookshelves and flung it at her.


Nazoko just flings things at Nozomi a lot, doesn't she? ^^;;;

Comments

[cassandracsenta.livejournal.com]

Leika: All right then, Ryoka. *smiling vaguely, leaning back against her chair*

[senashenta.livejournal.com]

Ryoka: *chuckles softly, shaking his head vaguely*

[cassandracsenta.livejournal.com]

Leika: Na, and what are you chuckling for this time hm? *smiling at him, watching him*

[senashenta.livejournal.com]

Ryoka: *sighs, turning to look at her again* Nothing really... and everything... just the situation in general...

[cassandracsenta.livejournal.com]

Leika: *smiling* Amused again then?^^

[senashenta.livejournal.com]

Ryoka: *lips quirk* Pretty much...

[cassandracsenta.livejournal.com]

Leika: *giggles* Yaaaaaaaaay...^^

[senashenta.livejournal.com]

Ryoka: *chuckles softly, amusedly* And you're pleased again...

[cassandracsenta.livejournal.com]

Leika: That you're amused makes me happy.^^ Especially since I'm around...*giggles softly*

[senashenta.livejournal.com]

Ryoka: I'd noticed that, yes... *smiling vaguely* Why is that, do you think?

[cassandracsenta.livejournal.com]

Leika: *shrugs* I don't know.^^ I guess you just really find me very entertaining.

[senashenta.livejournal.com]

Ryoka: *chuckles softly* I really haven't known many people like you, Leika...

[cassandracsenta.livejournal.com]

Leika: Na? Like me? *looks at him, tipping her head a bit to look at him curiously* What makes me so different ne?

[senashenta.livejournal.com]

Ryoka: You're... like Miku, I think... *chuckles softly, smiling a bit* Very cheerful and enthusiastic... outgoing...

[cassandracsenta.livejournal.com]

Leika: Miku-san has always been cheerful yes.^^ Does she amuse you too?

[senashenta.livejournal.com]

Ryoka: She does at times, yes. *smiling vaguely* I don't know many people like you and her... it's kind of refreshing, actually...

[cassandracsenta.livejournal.com]

Leika: Well, I'm sure I speak for both of us that we're happy we amuse you.^^ There are others in the palace...You just need to spend more time among them I guess...*giggles* Keiko-chan and Tokiko-chan and Yuki-chan....Oh and Nozomi-chan too.^^

[senashenta.livejournal.com]

Ryoka: Yes, I'm told there are others now... *chuckles softly, shaking his head* I just don't know most of them... I get the feeling they find me unapproachable, actually...

[cassandracsenta.livejournal.com]

Leika: Hm...I guess they do. Maaa...But I'm sure they'd be happy to get to know you.^^

I bet Nozomi-chan and the other enthusiastic ones are very curious of Ryoka aren't they?^^ They just don't know how to approach him.

[senashenta.livejournal.com]

Ryoka: *smiles, amused* If they're anything like you, I wouldn't doubt it...

Probably... I can see Tokiko and Keiko and Nao ambushing him some time to ask him some questions. ^^;; At this point, Nozomi's married and whatnot, so she might actually be a bit more discrete than that... but she'd probably find an excuse to talk to him, too... and probably Kozue as well. ^^;

[cassandracsenta.livejournal.com]

Leika: *giggles* Sou ne.^^ They'd want very much to be friends, I believe.

Oh those three would definitely do that won't they?^^;; Maaa...Any idea on what they might want to know?

[senashenta.livejournal.com]

Ryoka: *chuckles softly* It wouldn't surprise me...

Probably everything. ^^;; Who he is, where he and Kozue have been, why they left, if they could still henshin, if they were still bound to Stars, etc. ^^;;

[cassandracsenta.livejournal.com]

Leika: Well they do.^^ They just probably don't have any idea on how to approach you.

Na, think Ryoka'd put up with their questions?^^;;

[senashenta.livejournal.com]

Ryoka: I do seem to have that effect on people, don't I? *sighs and shakes his head* It's not that I mean to... what is it about me that makes people think twice about talking to me, mm?

Probably... he's pretty patient as long as there's little or no squealing involved. ^^;;; And talking about Misha is something he doesn't like to do... kind of a sensative subject, ne? ^^;;

[cassandracsenta.livejournal.com]

Leika: *chuckles softly* You just don't smile enough, I think.^^ Without it, you look very intimidating, Ryoka.

I believe Nao, Keiko and Tokiko would drop a subject if they know it was sensitive ne?^^