Fic: [Crossover] Family
Title: Family
Series: Mai Hime & Kampfer
Type: Crossover
Link: http://www.fanfiction.net/s/6643361/6/
Six
Nao lay in bed, for once savouring NOT having to get up early. It was the weekend, school was off and hopefully the ongoing Kampfer mess wouldn't intrude. While she liked Akane (and Shizuku, a little voice in her head noted) it really wasn't her problem.
"Nao, it's nearly time for breakfast," her stepmother, Michi, called from down stairs.
With a groan Nao sat up, scratching sleepily as she wondered what she was going to wear. Still in her slightly racy bra and panties she plodded to the bathroom, washed her face then headed back to her room, scandalizing her sister again. With a smirk she dressed in a simple set of sweats, knowing there were no plans to go out today.
Akane sighed as Nao came downstairs, but was relieved she wasn't in the shocking undies, still. "Good morning," she greeted her.
"Morning," Nao conceded as she headed for the kitchen and got herself a coffee.
"Good morning," Michi smiled gently.
Nao actually smiled a bit as she answered, "Morning."
Surprisingly Nao was developing a degree of respect for new new step-mother. I mean, she had had the resentful daughter of her husband's previous marriage dropped on her, and had been handling it like a trooper. Not that Nao would tell her that, of course.
Dad, amusingly, had been scampering off to work early. Nao rather suspected he was just trying the avoid actually dealing with her, instead leaving her to his poor wife. Yet another reason Nao didn't like or respect him much.
"Get seated and I'll dish up breakfast," Michi ordered briskly. She refused offers of help, as usual, and soon the whole group was ready to eat.
"Thanks for the food," Nao offered politely before eating.
Michi smiled, appreciating the gesture. As they ate she asked curiously, "How are you settling into school? Made any new friends yet?"
Nao thought about how to answer that. A honest, 'My sister has pulled me into a secret war between magical girls' answer probably wouldn't go over well. Instead she answered, "Fine, I think. Not too many friends yet, but Akane's have been very welcoming."
"I see," Michi nodded thoughtfully.
"And I met Akane's boyfriend too," Nao added impishly, "he's really cute."
"Hmm," Michi started then blinked. "Boyfriend?!" she looked at Akane.
"He is not!" Akane yelped. "We're just friends!"
"Oh really?" Nao asked, looking innocent, "Doesn't he walk you home?"
"He did do that yesterday," Michi conceded thoughtfully, giving Akane a speculative look. "Are we going to have to have the birds and the bees talk?"
"Oh god no," Akane whimpered.
Their back and forth banter was quite amusing, and Nao listened with amusement as she ate. Once all three women were done she volunteered to clear the table, then planned to head upstairs.
"Nice deflection," Michi noted as Nao passed her, "but we'll talk about this later."
"Right," Nao smiled wryly as she headed up to her room.
"Nao you're so mean," Akane sighed as she followed Nao upstairs.
"Well, you want him to be your boyfriend at least," Nao defended herself, "besides, maybe your mother could give you some man snaring tips."
"There's a unpleasant thought," Akane shuddered.
"Besides, you could probably give her tips, considering your collection of erotic manga," Nao teased her.
"I do not!" Akane protested, blushing furiously.
"Just keep telling yourself that," Nao smiled. The two girls diverted to Akane's room as they both went inside and Akane shut and locked the door. Nao quietly asked, "Did you have any trouble from the white Kampfer yesterday?"
"No, thankfully," Akane admitted, relieved. "I think I saw them shadowing us, but they must have decided not to act, yet."
"Or Kaede decided to go after me and Shizuku first," Nao muttered. She shook her head, "But that doesn't make sense!"
"Well, it sort of does," Seppuku Kuro Usagi offered, the stuffed bunny with a knife sticking out of it's guts sitting on the bed.
Nao glared at the doll. She didn't trust the thing, even though it had given Akane her powers. It was supposedly on their side, but it was also directly connected to the Moderators. His loyalties, frankly, were pretty questionable.
"What do you mean?" Akane had to ask.
The rabbit rather gratefully looked at her. "To Kaede, she had the advantage right up until Nao arrived. She might think taking her out will give her an edge," Seppuku Kuro Usagi explained.
"Well crap," Nao swore softly.
Akane paled visibly at that thought, but rallied quickly. "There could be other reasons they tried to jump you first," she said.
Nao grunted. And the little shit could be trying a divide and conquor tactic too. She wouldn't put it past the doll, really. "Doesn't really matter," Nao noted dryly, "I'm stuck here, remember? Unless I refuse to go to school, I'm going to continue to be caught up in this."
"You could avoid the Kampfers," Akane offered weakly.
Nao felt vaguely uncomfortable saying it but shot back, "Yeah, but them my life would be fucking boring."
Akane beamed and hugged her, "Nao!"
":Argh. Get off! Get off!" Nao growled.
0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0
Shizuku smiled to herself as she reached the small house. She had been here before a few times, their alliance of Kampfers usually met here, but this wasn't a business visit. Instead Shizuku was checking up on Nao... something she wasn't even sure was a good idea. Still, Nao HAD been pretty shaken up by yesterdays attack. And, if Shizuku was going to be honest with herself, she wanted to see the other woman again.
Calmly Shizuku pressed the buzzer, greeted the woman on the other end and introduced herself as Akane and Nao's friend. Which wasn't a lie, exactly, though 'acquaintance' might be more accurate. Still, it got her inside.
Michi was a attractive brown haired woman, presumably Akabe's mother. She also seemed oddly relieved to know Nao had friends. "I was worried about how Nao is settling in," Michi admitted as she lead Shizuku upstairs.
"I think she's quite popular, actually," Shizuku reassured her. "And personally I think she's very interesting," she added.
The older woman gave her a thoughtful look at that comment, but Michi didn't say anything. "I know Nao wasn't happy about coming here," she added, "I'm glad she has support, at least."
"I think she's getting over that," Shizuku said optimistically.
They reached Akane's door and Michi knocked firmly. "Girls?" she called, "You have a guest!"
Akane opened the door, blinking in surprise. She recovered fast, though, smiling as she said, "Shizuku, good to see you."
"Thanks for having me over," Shizuku bowed slightly.
Nao looked amused, and was in the CUTEST sweat pants and shirt. "Nice of you to drop in," she noted wryly.
"Have fun," Michi smiled, "do you want me to bring up drinks or anything?"
"No, it should be fine," Akane reassured her as they led Shizuku inside.
Once the door was shut and they were sure Michi was gone Nao asked, "What did you say to step-mom? She looked pretty happy having you here."
"Oh, I just told her how well you were fitting in and so on," Shizuku said smoothly.
Nao rolled her eyes, "In other words, you lied."
Shizuku just smiled faintly. She could tell Nao that she was popular at the school, but unless she believed it it wouldn't matter. Aloud she said, "I am sorry for dropping in on you like this."
"It's fine," Akane reassured her. "Is there trouble?"
"No, not exactly," Shizuku felt slightly sheepish as she admitted, "You seemed pretty shaken yesterday, Nao. I wanted to make sure you were all right."
"Nao?" Akane looked at her half sister in alarm.
"Calm down," Nao told her with a sigh, "I had a slight freak out over people shooting me with real bullets."
Akane winced. "I'm so sorry I got you into this," she started.
"Oh shut up," Nao sighed. "I jumped into your fight with my eyes open, all right? You don't have to feel guilty over my choices."
Shizuku smiled faintly, wondering if Nao even realized how... well, heroic she sounded. Probably not, she decided. Instead she simply said, "Well, personally I'm very grateful you are around."
Nao blushed slightly, then met her gaze defiantly. "All right, according to Akane we were the only ones attacked yesterday. Any idea why?" she asked.
"Divide and conquor, I would think," Shizuku answered steadily. "If Kaede is no longer as concerned with keeping our conflics secret she might have decided to eliminate the weakest targets. And there were just two of us."
"That's... a good point," Akane nodded, though she also looked worried.
"Better not tell Natsuru that," Nao said wryly, "he'll be heartbroken." She looked at Shizuku thoughtfully, "You okay? I know you two used to be close."
'She's more perceptive than she acts,' Shizuku noted. "I'll be fine," she reassured her. What they were going to do about Kaede was a harder question to answer, and she hoped Nao wouldn't ask.
To be continued.