*KRAKATHOOM**thunder, lightning crash*
So it turns out that being an admin of a site like MotK can eat up vast amounts of time. And writer's block is a bitch and a half.
However, this series' contract has officially been renewed. As has White Rose's, though out of necessity (the next update is a bit long), I'm updating Sweet Dreams this week, and White Rose the next. Stay tuned, folks, but for now, enjoy the return of Sweet Dreams!
Or don't. It's not like I c-care or anything. Hmph.
Chapter Seven
Estimated total average waking hour capacity: Fifteen hours, forty-two minutes-----
When I came back, Maribel was singing.
?Whoa, doctor bones, doctor bones, doctor bones, I love you doctor boooooooooones!?
Swing music, I recognized when I walked in, the click of the lock opening going unheard next to the sound of our computer speakers playing one of Maribel's favourite CDs.
?Whoa, shake, shake, shake n' rattle, rattle 'em doctor bones-- c'mon, shake, shake, shake n' rattle, rattle 'em doctor bones--?
I could see her standing in our very small kitchenette, her right foot twirling around, tapping to the beat, and an apron tied around her as she flipped-- wait, were those homemade pancakes? Hell YES. I knew I loved this girl for a reason.
?Hey, Mary, I brought your things back,? I spoke loudly enough that she could hear me over the sound of her music.
Maribel half-turned, and smiled back at me. ?Awesome. Just dump my backpack somewhere.?
?Sure thing.? I dropped it on our couch, and sat down. Maribel had dragged out our traveling suitcases at some point while I had been gone, so now that I had it handy, I took the chance to start opening up my cabinets and pack away some clothes for the next seven days.
In the meantime, the dorm filled with the scent of fresh-made pancakes. I inhaled, and I realized then that I was really, REALLY hungry.
I reflected also that I was sitting, warm and comfortable after coming in from a fresh morning bike ride, spending the early hours with a best friend who was busy singing along to American swing music while making fresh pancakes, and I suddenly felt very fortunate.
The memory of what I had been talking about with Yumemi yesterday-- about how I could not take life for granted-- floated into my mind, and I had to smile. This was a fantastic life I led. If I could have any wish...
I wished then and there that things as they were now could last forever.
The song ended. Maribel turned and grinned at me.
?What's the reason for that smile, Renko??
?Hmm...? I didn't know how to reply in a fancy manner, so I just said what was true. ?Everything.?
Maribel chuckled and turned back to her cooking.
-----
A few minutes later, Maribel and I were seated at our small table, enjoying fresh-made pancakes with whipped cream and strawberries on them. And some syrup, too. Delicious stuff.
Maribel wiped her mouth with a napkin. ?So,? she asked, reaching over to grab my hand. ?What're we doing today??
I held her hand in mine, wondering where the sudden affection had come from, but not minding it in the least. ?Are you packed yet??
She nodded. ?Just need to throw your stuff in the car, and we can get going.?
?Great.? I racked my brain for anything I could be forgetting. ?Wait. Should we call Yumemi before we leave? Just so someone knows where we've gone.?
?Sounds good to me,? she replied, finishing her last slice of pancake. ?I'll take your things to the car.?
I nodded, swallowing my last slice as well. She left the room with my packed suitcase, pulling it along by its wheels, as I took my plate over to the small sink we had in our kitchenette. I washed it with one hand as I dialed Yumemi's home number with my other. It was 8:07 AM; she should've been awake by now.
The phone rang. It was answered. “Hello??
That wasn't Yumemi's voice, though. ?Good morning. Is Okazaki-sensei home??
?Who's calling??
?Renko Usami. I'm one of her physics students.?
?Ah, Renko! I didn't recognize you at first. It's me, Kotohime.?
?Kotohime!? It was the policewoman, the one I rarely ever saw because she was always working. But she was there in the morning. Maybe she had late mornings. ?Where's Yumemi??
?She already left with Sanae this morning,? Kotohime replied. ?They already left to go to Nagano at, like, 7:00 AM.?
Nagan-- wait, what?
I didn't say it aloud. I did pause for a moment, though.
Kotohime's playful tone cut through my thoughts. ?What do you need her for??
I stayed stunned for a moment longer, and then caught myself. ?Oh-- nothing, I just wanted to ask when I could see her again, to go stargazing later.?
?Ah, I see. Well, you could always try her cell.?
?I will. Thanks, Kotohime-san.?
?No problem, Renko~ see you around.?
I hung up.
Nagano? With Sanae? Earlier today? Already? But it was so early in the morning. Why had they gone? It sounded like they had left in some kind of rush.
Stop that, I snapped at myself. I was being paranoid. Stop jumping to crazy conclusions. In all likelihood, they left that early to beat the morning traffic. And they were going to Nagano to visit... something. I didn't know. But if it was Yumemi, Sanae wouldn't say anything about Gensokyo. Yumemi knew nothing about Gensokyo except what the Sealing Club had told her. Right? Right.
I couldn't help but worry, though. What was Sanae planning? What on earth were they up to?
Calm down, I told myself again. Watch, they're doing something utterly benign, and you're making too big a deal about it. Yumemi's a smart woman. She knows what she's doing. So does Sanae. They probably just went fishing or something. Yes. That was it.
I put my dirty dishes off to the side to dry. I really needed something to do before I drove myself crazy with these thoughts.
Thankfully, an opportunity presented itself, in the form of Maribel opening the door. ?Renko, you ready??
?Yes,? I replied, grabbing my mostly empty backpack. ?Let's get going.?
Maribel went over to grab her CD of swing music and a water bottle, and walked out of the room. I followed after, locking the door behind me, and bid farewell to our dorm for the next few days. I followed Maribel down the hall and out of the building (which was mostly empty by now) and out to the parking lot.
In front of her car, Maribel pulled her keys out of her pocket and dangled them in front of me. ?All yours, Renkobon.?
I shot her a snarky grin. ?Thanks, Maryberry.?
She grinned back and hopped in.
-----
Now, I understand how strange it is for two college-age girls to have a car in modern-day Japan, where EVERYONE uses public transportation. It's not actually that weird if I explain. For her 16th birthday, Maribel was told that she'd be getting a present from overseas. It turned out to be a Land Rover G4. British make, apparently-- cars were never my thing. But the thing was hers, and yes, it stood out in a country where everyone rides their bikes or the train everywhere.
Maribel didn't drive it often for that reason; the public transportation system was too efficient to justify it, and she didn't like driving besides. She really did prefer riding her bike with me. But for a trip like this, Maribel just felt she had to use her car, especially since we had luggage to carry around too, and I wanted the practice. I rarely got to drive, and though I didn't care much for car trivia, I did like driving.
?Master and slave-- in equal parts, split down the middle, drinkin' doubles at the bar-- oh, master and slave, god bless you both, I got two for the price of one-- Such a deal for your only sooooon--?
And so that was why I was driving through the streets of Kyoto, making my way to our destination, amused at all the looks this car was getting. I supposed the sight of two college-age girls (and one of them singing along to English swing music) in a car like this would draw stares.
?Geez, you'd think these people have never seen a Land Rover,? I commented.
?Wait 'till they see Yumemi's Cadillac,? Maribel replied, turning up the music. ?Ooh, this is the best part!?
She tapped her hand against the dashboard to the beat as she sang along, loudly enough to draw stares from pedestrians outside.
?While the masters and slaves scratch for pieces of the dream-- for purple mountain majesties, whatever the hell that means-- They give up on each other, and that's the way they get ahead-- But I can still see the stars, through these red, white, and blue prison bars-- oh, master and slave--?
I couldn't look over for more than a few seconds, but I got enough time to see Maribel air-microphoning, and I had to laugh aloud. It was just so wonderful, so fitting for such a great day today, to see her having that much fun.
?Hey, what is it?? Maribel looked over at me, pulling a sad face. ?Are you laughing at me??
?No,? I said, trying to choke back my laughter and failing. ?Okay, fine, yes.?
?Why? Are you making fun of me?? She asked, leaning over on her seat to me. ?How mean...?
?It's not that,? I chuckled. ?I'm amused, but not at your expense.?
?Whaaaat? What does that even mean??
I shook my head, making sure that the route was straight enough that I could look away from the road. ?I've laughed at you before, Mary, but not because I'm mocking you.? I looked at her; her face was no more than a foot away from mine. ?It's only because you're so unexpectedly wonderful that I can hardly believe it.?
I had to turn back to the road then, but I could have sworn I saw Maribel's face turn a dozen shades of red then as she sat back down onto her seat.
?Oh, Renko... thanks.?
?For what, telling the truth?? I shook my head. ?That's not something you need to thank me for.?
?But still...? A nudging on my right hand prompted me to look down. I saw Maribel's hand cover my own, and I glanced up at her to see her smile, warmer than ever, and a faint blush on her cheek. ?Thank you.?
I smiled back. ?You're welcome, then.?
Maribel squeezed my hand and let it go. I looked at my hand on the steering wheel, and I already missed the feel of her hand on mine. I shook that thought out of my head, glanced at the time-- 8:32 AM-- and concentrated on the road.
-----
Estimated total average waking hour capacity: Fifteen hours, twenty minutes
End of Chapter Seven.
Oh man it feels so damn good to be writing again. I'm terribly out of practice, though, as this update's quality should indicate. :V Please be patient with me!
We're finally moving into the second arc of Sweet Dreams. I can't wait to start writing some more of this. :3
