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

[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.^^;;

[senashenta.livejournal.com]

I think most people are like that, though. ^^;; It's fun to tease, but not so much fun when people are teasing you, ne?

Tetsuya: *shakes his head*

Yukari: Ah, sou ne... ^^;; Demo, I don't think Kenta-kun is quite ready to share, ne? Leave him be for now. ^^

Sumire: *HUGGLES* >^-^<

Tsubame: *sweatdrop* Na Sumire... you probably shouldn't be doing that...

Sumire: E? *blinks* How come?

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

Arika: *looking at Tsubame*

Tsubame: ...what? ^^;;;;

Arika: *eyebrows lift vaguely* Nothing...

They'd probably cause quite a bit of trouble together, though. ^^;;;

[cassandracsenta.livejournal.com]

Exactly.^^;

Sayaka: 'Kay...*sighs*

Kenta: Naaa...*pats Sayaka on the head* I'll tell you sometime ne? Just not now, Sayaka-chan...Okay?^^; She might not like it if I did...

Hiro: *chuckles softly, amusedly*

Iruma: *suddenly looking at Arika then Tsubame, eyebrow quirking a bit*

I'm sure they will.^^;; do you think Kirei, Tsubame, Sumire and Sayaka all go to the same school?

[senashenta.livejournal.com]

Tetsuya: *sighs* Maa, don't make promises to her Kenta... she remembers every single one of them. ^^;;

Yukari: That just means you have to keep them, Tetsuya-kun. ^^;;

Tsubame: Aha... ^^;; W-what, Arika?

Arika: *smiles vaguely, almost amusedly, glancing discreetly between her and Kenta* Nandemonai, Tsubame-chan...

Sumire: Naaaaaa~ Iruma-saaaan! *looking up at him curiously* What're you looking at, ne?

Well... I didn't plan on Kirei going to an all-girls school. ^^;; I don't think she'd like that all that much... but I guess they could all go to the same academy, if you wanted. ^^

[cassandracsenta.livejournal.com]

Kenta: Ah...But I do promise her that.^^; Just not now ne?

Sayaka: *smiling* You do promise, Kenta-san?

Kenta: Na...*smiling back, chuckling softly* Would I lie to you?^^

Sayaka: All right...^^

Hiro: *sighs* I wonder when he would get to tell her though...

Iruma: *eyebrow quirking, smiling vaguely then as well, shaking his head, looking to Sumire, shrugging* Nothing, Sumire...

Well...Maybe they could just have their schools near each other then? If Tsubame doesn't want to. It's fine with me.^^

[senashenta.livejournal.com]

Tetsuya: Yare, yare... *shakes his head*

Yukari: I think we're all rather curious to know... when you think it's alright to tell us, of course. ^^

Arika: *chuckling softly*

Tsubame: ^^;;; M-maa neeeee...

Sumire: *wrinkles her nose a bit and then huggles him again* Okaaaay~

*shrugs* Maybe they can attend branches of the same school... Tsubame and Sumire can go to the all-girls campus, and Kirei and Sayaka can attend the co-ed one... that way they can have some classes and after-school activites together sometimes. ^^

[cassandracsenta.livejournal.com]

Sayaka: >^-^< A promise, is a promise, is a promise...

Kenta: Na...*coughs, shaking his head* I'll have to check with her if it's all right...

Hiro: *chuckles softly* Oh this wouldn't take long I wager...

Kenta: *eyeing Hiro a bit*

Iruma: *shaking his head, sighing* Ease a bit ne, Sumire? You're cutting of my circulation a bit...

That could work.^^ Which could explain how Sumire and Tsubame could watch Sayaka's matches easily and maybe Kirei's tournament too ne? I was thinking I'd have them, Sayaka and Kenta when Sada comes to watch Kirei's tournament.^^

[senashenta.livejournal.com]

Tetsuya: Shouldn't take long? Why do you think that, Hiro?

Tsubame: ^^;;;

Sumire: Maaaaaa neeeeee... *sighs and loosens her grip on him a bit* Better?

That would be cool. ^^ It'd be nice to have a bit of interaction with them... other than the scene I wrote the other day, this generation hasn't gotten much exposure so far. ^^

[cassandracsenta.livejournal.com]

Hiro: *shrugging* I don't know...I just think so...

Kenta: :P

Sayaka: *giggling* ^^

Iruma: *sighs, nodding* Aa...*cracking one eye open* How long are you planning to do this, Sumire?

Naaa...Not like Dekiru-tachi have a lot either...^^;;

[senashenta.livejournal.com]

Tetsuya: *shakes his head* Okay, whatever you say... *eyebrow quirks* Real mature there Kenta...

Yukari: What's so funny Saya-chan? ^^;

Sumire: *HUGS* Until you smile for real! >^-^<

I guess that's a good point... ^^;;;

[cassandracsenta.livejournal.com]

Kenta: Nyaaaaaaaaah! XP

Hiro: *SIGHS and rolls his eyes* Would you like a piece of candy, Kenta-kun?

Sayaka: Nothing, nothing.^^ Na Yukari-san, so how are you nowadays ne?

Iruma: *sighs, shaking his head*

Ahahaah...^^;;

[senashenta.livejournal.com]

Tetsuya: What girl would want to put up with you anyway? -_-;;

Yukari: I've been alright Saya-chan. ^^ Nothing unusual happening in my life... just the usual stuff.

Na. We decided to put Yukari with Iruma, didn't we?

Sumire: *HUGGLES* ^__^

We have a lot of writing to do yet, I think. ^^;;

[cassandracsenta.livejournal.com]

Kenta: *chuckles* I'm sure you'd want to know, Tetsuya.^^

Hiro: *rolls his eyes* We're all DYING to know...

Sayaka: Sou ne? You sure?^^ No secret boyfriend or anything? *giggles*

We did.^^

Iruma: *SIGHS* -_-;

We do, we do.^^;;

[senashenta.livejournal.com]

Tetsuya: *shrugs* I wish her luck...

Yukari: Maaaa... *giggles, shaking her head* Unfortunately no, Saya-chan. ^^

Cool... *ponders* How do you think that'll happen, though? ^^;;;

Sumire: *HUGGLES more* >^-^<

He's gonna have to smile or she won't let go. ^_^;;;