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]

Iruma: *shakes his head as he glances at Sumire and Minase* Far too cute together...

Kenta: Maaa...This' never happened before, Kirei-chan.^^ Cool!

Hiro: *eyebrow quirking* Where've you been Kenta? And yeah...Why is it that you...Uh...Can't place it but...

Kenta: Haaaa? *blinks* Me? Look different? *confused*

Sayaka: *looking at them curiously* What? *before looking to greet Tsubame* Konnichiwa Tsubame-san!^^

[senashenta.livejournal.com]

Sumire: Arigato Iruma-san! ^^ *huggles more*

Minase: Aha... ^^;;;

Kirei: We don't all get to hang out together very often, do we? ^^ Maaa, but Miyako-chan and Takeru-kun aren't here, so does this even count as us all? ^^;

Tetsuya: *looks over a Hiro* You see it too? Mm... *inspecting Kenta again*

Tsubame: Konnichiwa Saya-chan... ^^;

Sumire: Ne Neechan... daijoubu na? ^^

Tsubame: E? Ah... ^^;; Of course... why wouldn't I be okay?

Sumire: Naaaa... you just look nervous for some reason. ^^; I was just asking.

Tsubame: I'm fine... ^^;;;

[cassandracsenta.livejournal.com]

Is it okay with Dekiru that Sumire's treating Minase like her own personal living teddybear?^^;

Kenta: It's a majority.^^ Good enough and maaa! Stop looking at me like that! You're freaking me out!

Hiro: Hm...*looking at Kenta still*

Sayaka: What're you all staring at?^^;;;

Iruma: *looking blankly at Kenta too...maybe just for the heck of it^^;;*

Kenta: *shifts away a bit* Mou...Stop it...

[senashenta.livejournal.com]

*gigglesnort* I don't know... Sumire and Minase have a very similar relationship to what Nozomi and Kin had... very good friends, probably best friends at this point. And Minase's such a sweetheart that there's pretty much nothing for Dekiru to complain about... besides which, he's Kaida and Arashi's son, so even his genes are polite and pleasant. ^^;;;

Tetsuya: *eyeing him*

Tsubame: ^^;;;;

*gigglesnort to Iruma*

Hansa: *shakes his head* A lunatic asylum, this place is...

Sumire: *giggles vaguely* Na, you don't mean that Hansa-san. ^^

Hansa: =_=;; I'm pretty sure I do...

[cassandracsenta.livejournal.com]

Oh My goodness...But doesn't that make them cousins?? Minase is Arashi's son...Sumire is Dekiru's daughter.^^;; Dekiru and Arashi are brother and sister...

Kenta: Maaaaaa...^^;;;

Hiro: *looking at him, squinting a bit* I really can't put my finger on it...

Iruma: *slowly looks away* He looks a bit tussled...

Kenta: ^^;;;;

Hiro: *blinks* Oh My God...Yeah...

Sayaka: Hansa-san's so negative...*shaking her head*

[senashenta.livejournal.com]

Aw crap. I'd forgotten about that. =_=;; I can barely keep them straight anymore. So I guess they stay bestest friends... I'll put Sumire with Takeru... that's okay, ne? Uh, Dekiru and Fusae's daughter with Emiko and Kei's son? *ponders intensely*

Tetsuya: *eyebrows jump* And that would be it... jeez Kenta...

Hansa: I am not negative. *eyebrow tick*

Yukari: Yes you are... ^_^;;

Sumire: *giggles* >^-^<

Tsubame: *trying desperately not to draw attention to herself* ^^;;;

[cassandracsenta.livejournal.com]

*patpats* ^^;; I think they'd be cute.^^ Takeru and Sumire...How is Takeru turning out anyway?

Kenta: ...What?^^;;; What?

Iruma: *coughsniggers*

Hiro: *eyebrow quirk* Okay, who is it?

Kenta: Ah...^^;;

Sayaka: Sou~ ne...*nodding* Hate to break it to you Hansa-san, but you are...

[senashenta.livejournal.com]

Takeru is turning out quite a bit like his father, which is cool with me. ^^ Generally pleasant and cheerful... but he also tends to brood sometimes if the mood strikes him. ^^;; He inherited Kei's sense of style, too...

Tetsuya: *chuckles amusedly, practically grinning* No really Kenta, you've got to tell us...

Sumire: Neechan... are you sure you're okay? ^^;

Tsubame: I'm... fine... ^^;;; Ahaha...

Hansa: *just eyes Sayaka, eyebrows ticking vaguely*

*coughs* Sayaka's supposed to be with Hansa, ne? ^^;; Not creating a very good impression, here...

[cassandracsenta.livejournal.com]

They'd go well together i think.^^

Kenta: How 'bout no, Tetsuya? *looking at him, shaking his head*

Hiro: Maaa...*chuckles* What's this? Are you actually shy?

Kenta: I'm not shy. It's just that I don't know if she'd want it out in the open okay...

Iruma: *watching Hansa and Sayaka*

Sayaka: *sighs* Jeez...So sensitive, Hansa-san...*shakes her head* Gomen...

Well, she is supposed to annoy him a bit at first...^^;;

[senashenta.livejournal.com]

I'm sure they would... aha... but I think Dekiru would definitely have something to say about Sumire being with him. ^^;;;;

Tetsuya: *sighs and shakes his head* Maa ne. Can't argue with that, I guess...

Yukari: Chivalry isn't quite dead yet. ^^

Arika: *snorts softly*

Yukari: Maa, Arika... ^^;;;

Hansa: =_=;; I'm not sensitive... I just get tired of people trying to tell me what I am...

Kirei: Oh please. *rolls her eyes*

Sumire: Maaaaa Neeeeee~chaaaaan... *pouts*

Tsubame: Daijoubu na. ^^;;; No worries, Sumire...

[cassandracsenta.livejournal.com]

Maaaa...^^;; Probably just about Takeru being a boy in general, nothing beyond that I'm sure.^^;;

Kenta: Good. Now, leave me alone ne? >^-^<

Hiro: Yare, yare...Fine...*sighs*

Kenta: Maaaa! And Arika-chan! Didn't see you there! ^^ *waves*

Sayaka: Maaaa...Don't get upset, Hansa-san...*sighs, shaking her head*

Iruma: *smiling vaguely*

[senashenta.livejournal.com]

Well... but Takeru's kind of on the fringe, same as Kei, ne? So Dekiru would be even more wary...

Tetsuya: Yeah, okay... *sighs, shaking his head, chuckling softly* Looking so pleased, Kenta...

Arika: Hm. *eyes him* I wasn't trying to be particularly visible, Kenta-kun.

Tetsuya: I told you she doesn't like being called that... ^^;;;

Yukari: *giggles vaguely*

Hansa: I'm not upset. I'm fine. *sighs tiredly* Jeez...

Sumire: Whatcha smilin for Iruma-san? ^^

[cassandracsenta.livejournal.com]

But Dekiru tolerates Kei...^^;;

Kenta: Well, you know I can't stay serious far too long.^^;; Aha...Weird..

Hiro: Sou ne...But you've always been so...*shrugs*

Kenta: Anyway, Arika-ch--Oh fine, Arika then...*SIGHS* Was just wondering how you were...*shrugs*

Sayaka: *shrugs* Fine.

Iruma: *shrugs* Just felt like it...

[senashenta.livejournal.com]

It'd be different if his daughters were involved, though, ne? ^^;;;

Tetsuya: That's true... *smiles amusedly* Always very cheerful, you are Kenta...

Arika: *shrugs a bit* I'm fine.

Yukari: How are you, Kenta-kun? ^^

Hansa: Good. *nods vaguely*

Sumire: Sou! >^-^< More people should smile just 'cause they feel like it!

Tsubame: Maa ne Sumire... ^^;;

[cassandracsenta.livejournal.com]

I guess...^^;; Though maa...Not like they do drugs or anything like that but whatever...^^;; Dekiru is such a stiff!

Kenta: That's good, Arika.^^ Maaa...I'm fine, Yukari-chan. Thanks for asking.^^

Hiro: *chuckles, shaking his head*

Kenta: Maa and what's so funny, Hiro ne? *pokes*

Hiro: *smiling vaguely* Just thinking that "yes, you're very fine Kenta...Very find indeed..."

Kenta: Maaaa...Quit it...*pouting a bit*

Hiro: *chuckles, waving a hand* Yare, yare...

Sayaka: *shrugs, smiling suddenly* ^^

Iruma: *eyebrows quirk* People can't always smile all the time...

[senashenta.livejournal.com]

*patpat* We knew he was, ne? ^^; That's just Dekiru for you...

Yukari: ^^

Arika: *bored*

Tetsuya: Maa ne Hiro... *chuckles and shakes his head*

More than fine, I think. ^^;;

Tsubame: ^^;;;

Sumire: People should! *giggles, smiling toward Iruma* Smiling is good medicine!

[cassandracsenta.livejournal.com]

Ahahaahah...^^;;

Kenta: Mou...

Hiro: *chuckling softly*

Sayaka: Ne, ne? What's everyone talking about back here?

Hiro: Oh Kenta's just very fine for some reason, Saya-chan. Nothing to worry about...^^

Sayaka: Ah...Sou ne.^^

Iruma: *shrugs* If you say so...

Kenta: *whining* Stop it...

[senashenta.livejournal.com]

Tetsuya: Maa ne. *patpat Kenta*

Yukari: I think Hiro-kun is just happy for you, Kenta-kun. ^^;;;

Tetsuya: He likes to stick his nose in other people's business sometimes. ^^;

Sumire: ^_^

Minase: ^^;;

Sumire: Smiling is good for you, I say. ^^

[cassandracsenta.livejournal.com]

Kenta: Maa...=_=;;; You suck, Hiro...

Hiro: *chuckles* ^^

Sayaka: I think he's just happy he's getting to Kenta-san for once.^^;;

Iruma: *sighs, shaking his head* Sou...As you say, Sumire...

[senashenta.livejournal.com]

Tsubame has managed to successfully melt into the background, I notice... ^^;

Tetsuya: Come on, Kenta. *pokes* You do it to us all the time...

Sumire: *eyes Iruma, very clearly considering glomping him* HMM...

Yukari: Aha... ^^;; I wouldn't advise that, Sumire-chan...

Minase: Sou... ^^;;;

[cassandracsenta.livejournal.com]

Well...Kenta did manage to deviate a lot of attention from her so...^^;;

Kenta: Maa ne, doesn't make me like it you know?

Hiro: *snorts* Who said you had to like it? It's just something we do in return. It's only fair.

Kenta: :P Meeeeeh...

Sayaka: *giggles* It really does make me curious though. I wonder who the girl is.^^

Iruma: *eyeing Sumire back, tensing a bit*

*giggles* If Sumire wants to glomp him, she should just do so.^^; Iruma's just going to stand there and bare it anyway...

[senashenta.livejournal.com]

Yeah, he did. ^^;; You think it was intentional?

Tetsuya: *shrugs* So now you know how we feel when you go it to us...

Tsubame: ^^;;;

Sumire: *giggles... and GLOMPS* >^-^<

Yukari: Oh my... ^^;;

*gigglesnort* She'll glomp on Iruma now, just cause she thinks he should smile and he happy more often. ^^;

[cassandracsenta.livejournal.com]

I don't think so.^^;; I'm sure Kenta didn't want to get teased either like this even if he wouldn't want any attention drawn to Tsubame.^^;

Kenta: *nods and points a finger in the air* I will get my revenge.

Hiro: *sighs* We know, we know...

Kenta: Good.

Sayaka: Naaaaa...I wanna kno~w!>^-^< *giggles* Who i~s i~t Kenta-sa~~n?

Kenta: Not telling, Saya-chan. :P

Sayaka: *pouts, tugging on his shirt sleeve* Mooooou....:(

Iruma: *sighing resignedly, looking down at Sumire wearily*

Ahahaha...^^;; Don't know if that'd make him smile more though...

[senashenta.livejournal.com]

Kenta can dish it out, but he can't really take it, can he? ^^;;;

Tetsuya: *rolls his eyes* Yare, yare... *eyes Sayaka a bit* Na Saya-chan, leave him alone already...

Yukari: Daujoubu, Saya-chan... ^^;; You don't have to look so sad, ne?

Sumire: Sou! Smiles for everybody today! *huggles Iruma*

Minase: Maa ne... ^^;;;

I think Sumire and Sayaka would get along well, actually... ^^;

[cassandracsenta.livejournal.com]

The teasing? Haha, yeah...^^;;

Sayaka: Maaa...Fine.

Kenta: *sighs in relief*

Sayaka: Mou...*pouting a bit still* I just want to know who Kenta-san's girlfriend is, Yukari-san.

Hiro: *chuckles softly* You're doomed, Kenta...Sayaka's going to not stop bugging you about it.

Kenta: Mou...*sighing, shaking his head, rubbing the back of his neck slightly*

Iruma: *sighs* Yare, yare Sumire...

I think they would, yeah.^^;;