2082/Last minute shopping

Last minute shopping
Date of Scene:	30 October 2016
Location:	Somewhere in Tokyo
Synopsis:	Nagihiko goes costume-hunting with Amu, and notices that Amu is starting to ... not do well.
Cast of Characters:	Amu Hinamori, Nadeshiko Fujisaki

---

Amu Hinamori has posed:
Amu Hinamori gave a light yawn as she walked into the shop, glancing to her best friend. "T-thanks for this." She uhhhh... she wasn't looking the best. Her eyes were a little... red. She was getting a cold, too.

It didn't help that she had spend the last night hunting an x-chara because, well... anyway. She was obviously coming down with something and her face was all red because of it. But she was NOT missing this party! No matter WHAT! "I just, really haven't had the time. There were... well... I've jsut been really busy with homework and stuff." Stuff being Lacrima.

She gave another soft yawn and walked into the shop. There... weren't a lot of options left.

Nadeshiko Fujisaki has posed:
Nadeshiko believed coming along with Amu as Nadeshiko would be easier because...

Well.

She clicks her tongue at Amu, pulling out a thermos of tea as they enter. "Here. I had Aunty make this up. It's a special blend, and it'll hopefully help you feel good enough for tonight."

Not that, of course, Nadeshiko wouldn't prefer it if Amu stayed in and got some rest, but she also knew that if roles were reversed, there was no way she was gonna miss tonight.

Unlike Amu, Nadeshiko already had most of her costume ready. As did Kukai. But there were a few pieces that she could get to improve both. An ornament for her hair, a leather hand wrap for one of his accessories. That sort of thing.

And of curse, if she couldn't find any of it, that's okay, too.

She hums in thought as she pulls one ofthe remaining costumes from the rack. The costume itself wasn't something that she felt should be worn on its own, but with accessories and some changes, it could be madei nto something else.

"Do you know what you want to be?"

Amu Hinamori has posed:
Amu Hinamori nodded. "Kinda... I was thinking... ummmm... I'm really not good at this kinda thing. I usually just grab whatever off the selves and--" And then sneezed. "Ughhh..." She shook her head and lightly tapped her cheeks. "I'm good, I'm good!"

She looked around and then... grabbed... "Hmmmm... witch or cleopatra?" she asked, holding the two costumes up. "Think I should try them on first, give me your opinion?" ... They were both cheap costumes, at least. Though that, errr... that was sexy witch. Not just witch. It jsut didn't say on the bag.

Nadeshiko Fujisaki has posed:
Nadeshiko arches an eyebrow at the choices. "Sure. Trying them on is good."

And, while Amu was trying them on, Nadeshiko could look around some more. Multitasking, wee!

"While you're in there, I could hunt through and see if there's anything else?"

She fingers the back with the heavily implied 'sexy' witch. "If you go for this one, it could be a bit cold. Could get you some stockings to go with. Something underneath to keep you warm..."

Amu Hinamori has posed:
Amu Hinamori nods. "Yeah, that sounds like a good idea." She looked down at it. "Do... you think... Tadase would like it?" At least it wasn't as bad as SOME Sexy costume. And since she had nothing up top, it wouldn't give much cleavage. She soon disappeared into the dressing room.

After a few minutes she came out and... as per anime laws, the outfit actually fit! annnnd... wasn't so bad. Like, a little bit of neck showed and her upper legs. But nothing scandelous. Heck, amulet heart was wayyyyy worse. She crossed her hands under her chest. "How, uhhhh... how do I look?"

To describe the costume it was your standard sexy witch costume. The main body of it was like a one piece bathing suit, with a dipping neck line which did nothing for amu, and a little bit over her shoulders. It had gloves that went up past her elbows. Of course there were cute little black and yellow wings and a big witch top hat. The leggings went high up her thighs and had high heels. "Does it look stupid on me?" IT was hard to say if she was blushing, or it was just the cold making her face red.

Nadeshiko Fujisaki has posed:
Nadeshiko rolls her eyes. "You could probably wear a potato sack and he'd like it." Which, of course, if this were proven false, Tadase is a stupid boy.

Nadeshiko poked around, pulling costumes off the rack from here and there, finding a necklace she could easily turn into the perfect hair piece, a large, bright, very fake flower.

She was just picking up a long strip of white pleather when Amu came out, and Nadeshiko places the items she intended to buy for herself in a small basket and draped the other choices over her arm.

She blinks a couple times before shaking her head. "Not stupid at all!"

And then she gives Amu a sly little grin. "Which opinion do you want? A boy's or a girl's?"

Amu Hinamori has posed:
Amu Hinamori gulped and then lowered her head, looking down nervously at the ground meakly. "B-both. If that's okay. I mean, I don't... ugh, I look stupid, don't I? I knew this was a bad idea, you don't have to lie to me. I should have gone with a robe or something. This is too revealing, isn't it?" Really, all it reveals is the upper part of her leg.

"Should have gone with something simpler, I'm so bad at this. I wish I wish I was as pretty as you, you always look amazing in anything."

Nadeshiko Fujisaki has posed:
Sometimes it's easy to forget how uncertain Amu is about her body because, well, Amu.

So, after a couple minutes of blinking, she gives a soft laugh. "Relax. We're both of the opinion that you look beautiful. And trust me, I very much can not wear a bathing suit. Why do you think Nadeshiko got out of swim class?"

She clicks her tongue and hums as she appraises Amu as Nadehsiko. "However, whatever you wear, you need to feel comfortable in it. We could find some items to go with it that will make you feel more comfortable, like stockings or a necklace, or if this is the general look you're going for, we could find similar items that are the same idea but perhaps a bit more within your comfort level."

She pulls out a dark faerie costume. The colors are similar to what Amu is wearing, but there's a bit more to the skirt and the neck is scooped differently.

"This could be an alternative. It comes with wings, and I saw some nice witch hats."

Then, just in case she's coming across as unsupportive, she flashes a secretive smile. "I don't look amazng in anything. I just learned how to make it look like I have what I don't and I don't have what I do through years of practice."

Amu Hinamori has posed:
Amu Hinamori blinked a few times. "Really? I always though you looked amazing in everything. Way better than me, at least." She blinked a few times and then looked back. She kind of liked the dark angel look. But... dark fairy could work. She blushed and took it, stepping back in. "I-I'll be right back!"

After a few minutes... "Nadeshiko-chan? Can you come in here? I can't get the zipper to go up!" Aaaaand Amu forgetting she was a he bites her in the butt again. The dress itself was a bit poofy, with, once again, very swimsuit like appearance, but the gloves only went to the elbows and the boots went all the way up to where a skirt hid her. She'd have her back to her, so she could zip her up, before turning around. "How do I look?" she asked nervously.

Once again, the costume did her little favors in the higher areas. However, it DID manage to show off her flatter stomach and gentler curves, making her seem more cuddly and cutesy. It didn't help that she was sparkling a little and kind of bouncing up and down on her feet while she stood, her cheeks red and eyes wavering a little and... and amu was falling. Right into nades. Oh dear. That wasn't a good sign.

Nadeshiko Fujisaki has posed:
There's a small 'hrk' from the other side of the door.

But, fortunately, it's easy to remind herself she's playing roll and Nadeshiko doesn't blush when zipping up her best friend!

That doesn't mean she doesn't blush, but herh ands are steady.

"I think you look-oof!"

It's easier to catch Amu than it is to remember she's Nadeshiko at the moment. She steadies Amu, and maybe the cold is catching because her own cheeks are tinged pink.

Clearing her throat, she focuses on the task at hand. "I like it. Are the wings okay, or did you want something different or maybe we could see if there's something else do the boots feel okay?"

Amu Hinamori has posed:
Amu Hinamori blinked blearily a few times, staring up at her. "Huh? What?" She looked a little dazed. Just how sick was she. She shook her head. "O-oh. I think... I think it's fine. Do I look okay? Will... Tadase-kun like it?" Her cheeks were getting redder.

Odd, her charas hadn't made any comments this entire time. In fact, they hadn't come out of their eggs the whole trip. They... weren't fairing much better than her. In a state of exhaustion. "The boots feel... fine..." If Nade's let her go, she would fall. As it was, she was leaning into the other girl and struggling to maintain her composure. There was none left, though. She was really, really sick.

Nadeshiko Fujisaki has posed:
Nadeshiko sighs and pets Amu's hair. She chews her lip for a moment before making a decision.

Heck, it's not like she hasn't done it before.

Closing the dressing room door, Nadeshiko helps Amu change back into her street clothes. And it's easier, because Nadeshiko has helped countless girls change before. It's part of her job as a dancer.

She sits Amu on the bench as she cleans up, putting costume pieces back together. Then she picks up Amu, holding her in one arm while carrying everything else in the other. "Come on, sleepy boots. There's a chair in the waiting room you can rest in for a few. I'll get everything then come back to get you, okay?"

She clicks her tongue and sets Amu down in the overstuffed chair, usually reserved for parents waiting for their children to try things on or for hapless significant others lured into dreaded shopping trips.

Amu Hinamori has posed:
Amu Hinamori shook her head. "No... no, I'm fine... it's fine..." She didn't even object much to Nade's seeing her in her underwear. She gave a soft yawn and then blinked a bunch. "I'm awake. Really! I'm awake!" she said with a weak smile. "I can come with you, really."

However, she didn't get out of the chair. Eventually, Nades would come back and Amu would be... awake. Barely. She gave a nervous, sheepish smile. "Please... don't tell Tadase-kun. I... I'll be fine by the dance. Really. I'll just... skip feeding Lacrima-chan today and I'll be fine. Get a lot of rest before the dance. It'll all be fine. Really."

Nadeshiko Fujisaki has posed:
Nadeshiko's eyes flash with worry. "How often do you feed her? It isn't every day, is it?"

If that's the case, well.

Brows furrowed, she adjusts her bags and kneels before the chair, giving Amu room to climb on her back. "Hop on, no arguments. There's time enough before the dance for you to get a nap in. I won't let you miss it."

Amu Hinamori has posed:
Amu Hinamori eeped and looked down. "W-well... I mean... i-if I don't... I just feed her whenever she needs it. So she doesn't... have to feed on others or... I-I'm fine... usually..." She coughed into her hand. "N-nadeshargra-char," ... Dang. She was sick. "It's fine. Really. I... I can walk." Her cheeks were bright red. She tried to stand and... leaned... heavily on her. Not putting up much objection. So likely every day. "It's not her fault... she... didn't want to... I made her. It's... it's for the best... can keep... everyone safe this way... right?"

Everyone but her. At least the cast was off now.

Nadeshiko Fujisaki has posed:
Nadeshiko scowls as she hoists Amu up. "Remember how I said I wouldn't tell if you weren't in danger? You need to let up on it, because despite what you say, your words aren't agreeing with your body."

She walks out of the store, eyes dark. "If not for your sake, then everyone else's. Including Lacrima. If something happens to you because she's too greedy, she'll be right back where she was."

Amu Hinamori has posed:
Amu Hinamori nodded, laying her head against hers. resting her warm face against nade's neck. Her breath lightly tickling her neck.

"Okay. I guess... I can... let up for a little bit. Until I'm better," she mumbled softly. "Don't be mad at her... please... I-I made her... she didn't... want to. I just... I didn't want her to have to hunt. Because... because hunting is..." she mumbled softly, giving a little nuzzle into the neck. "Your hair... smells nice... You've always been so pretty, Nadeshrkkgrfgol-churn..."

She nodded weakly. "Do... you think... I'll do a good job? will... Tadase-kun be happy? I... I know I've made him so miserable lately. So... sad and... and I just... I want him to be happy. I don't want... I don't want anyone to be sad anymore." Her hands tightened. "Not... not Lacreee... not... tadashhher... not you... not... anyone..."

Nadeshiko Fujisaki has posed:
Nadeshiko sighs. "Tadase-kun will be sad if you give her too much, even when you're not feeling good. Maybe mad, but I think that'd be more to hide the sad."

She's on the sidewalk now, looking around. "My place or yours?"

Amu Hinamori has posed:
Amu Hinamori nods and murrs a little. "Yours... my parents will... freak... if they find out I'm sick... it's nothing, really. Just a little cold..." Combined with lack of sleep, constant drainings, no medicine and a bunch of other things.

"You know I... I'm really jealous of you sometimes... Nade... nade-chan." Yeah, not doing the full name. "You're always so... amazing. So... perfect and... together. I wish I could be like you," she mumbled softly. "You... know who you are... what you want... You want Kukai... you don't... look at other guys and get all... warm and fuzzy and think about... them... and stuff..."

Nadeshiko Fujisaki has posed:
Nadeshiko heads toward her family's estate. "Okay, but I'm letting Aunty fuss at you and pour soup and tea down your throat."

Nadeshiko listens to Amu and laughs a little when she's done. "Well, before, it's just because I'm a good actor. Now, most of it's Kukai's fault. He sees me. Not Nadeshiko or Nagihiko, but whoever it is I am when I'm neither. He sees me and the crazy boy likes me." She gives a small, happy little sigh. "He's why Rhythm woke up, you know."

Amu Hinamori has posed:
Amu Hinamori nodded. "That's fine... a luttle fuss won't hurt me." Yes, she just said luttle. She nuzzled a bit more.

"He... does... doesn't he," she asked softly. "Nades... I... I'm so sorry. I know I don't... I know you're one person and... and I keep... I keep forgetting. No. I just..." She went really quiet for a moment. "I feel like... I don't know... can... can you tell me about... how rhythm woke up?"

Nadeshiko Fujisaki has posed:
Her shoulders droop a little. "It's okay. I'm not gonna say it doesn't sting, but you're talking to me again and you know. So...that's all I really wanted, right?" She jostles Amu a little. "Besides. It might be a little weird for me, even, if you ask Nagihiko to zip you up."

And then her cheeks take on a pretty pink color and she bites her lip to keep from grinning too much.

"Well...my family's pretty much established and eccentric enough that 'scandal' like that doesn't effect us much. And if it does, we just don't perform for those snooty boots. But his family feels more...traditional in that sense? Or at the very last, don't ask, don't tell? So I'd always been cautious. But he just up and kissed me, in public, and it didn't matter to him that I was wearing swim trunks."

She shrugs, blushing more. "Okay, it sounds super ridiculous when I talk about it, but it just...I mean...it seems silly and such a small thing, but it wasn't. Not to me."

Aaaand here Amu is hearing a very flustered Nadeshiko.

Amu Hinamori has posed:
Amu Hinamori kept her eyes closed, listening to ever single word.

"I don't think it was... silly. I think... it's sweet. Kukai is... he... he loves you. And he's... he's much better than..." Her grip tightened slightly. "You deserve him. You two... deserve each other. To be happy. To... love each other." She nuzzled into that neck a bit. "Hmmmm. Wonder... if I'd kissed... nade-chan... what would have happened..." She might not be drinking too clearly. "You... deserve him... to be... happy with him. I'm happy he never... gets..." She kind of trailed off there and nade's would feel something wet on her neck.

... Oh shoot did amu just throw up?

Nadeshiko Fujisaki has posed:
There's a slight pause in her steps as her eyes widen. Please don't be...

There's a touch of relief and sympathy when she realizes that they're tears on her neck. "Are you kidding? He gets jealous. Sometimes...I may do it on purpose..."

She clears her throat. "I don't do it to be mean! Just...! Sometimes...I need to know he gets jealous..."

She scuffs her foot on the ground.

Amu Hinamori has posed:
Amu Hinamori nodding. "Mmmm... i wish... Tadase-kun would get a little... less... jealous. I... I'd never cheat on him but... sometimes..." She rested there. "It feels like... he doesn't trust me... at all... like..." A long, long pause. "Like he's... not even enjoying this. Like he just sees me as a... another step on his road to world domination or... something..."

She sniffled a little. "I'm sorry, Nade-chan. You're my best friend and I... I'm just... scared. I'm scared I'll lose you and... and you'll run off and... and be nagi and... and then you won't like me anymore because I'm not... because I'm a girl and you're..." And she sighed. "I just don't want to lose my friend but... but I want to be there for you. Always... for you...'

Nadeshiko Fujisaki has posed:
Nadeshiko sighs. "He doesn't just see you like that. He was pretty miserable whe you were gone. He's just...got some growing to do?"

Her eyebrows furrow in confusion. "I won't stop liking you if I ever just become Nagi...um...I mean, well...Why would you being a girl..."

There's a little dig there, but she pushes it aside for the safety of sudden indignation. "And you know what! Even if I were completely...I wouldn't just...! I mean, really Amu-chan, why do you think I was afraid I was telling you in the first place? Whatever reason you think, it's because I was afraid of losing my bes friend!"

A huff and a scowl, and then she's tromping along.

Amu Hinamori has posed:
Amu Hinamori blinked blearily, her eyes closed slightly. She could hear it, the way she sounded. How upset she was. She then sighed. "Nades... nad... nad... look at me. Look. Look at me," she said for a moment. And then when she did. "You're... you're my best friend and I..."

She stared into her eyes and then... "I... I..." And then leaned in and kissed her. On the lips. And then pulled back a little, her face somehow even redder. "I... I want... to see... all of you... too."

Amu was probably going to shriek a lot later when she woke up.

This dance was going to be very, very weird and--

... Did amu just pass out on her shoulders? OH MY GOSH SHE ACTUALLY FAINTED! OF ALL THE TIMES!

Nadeshiko Fujisaki has posed:
She sighs again, and it's a rushed sound, but she looks at Amu anyway. And her tensed shoulders relax at her words, and then--

!!!!

She stares in shock for a moment. Amu's lips are warm wth fever but still nice. And guilt flares up a bit because she's pretty sure Amu thinks Nadeshiko and Nagihiko both only likes boys but she doesn't, and Tadase's gonna be, and Kukai...! And there's no way she can't not tell them.

(Though she never did about the goodbye kiss because it had been a good bye kiss, and this one was different.)

She's not feeling guilty for Amu, because she's feverish and if she isn't forgiven she will bop Tadase on the head until she is. She's guilty for herself because despite Amu being sick, and it not lasting, and everything else, but that doesn't mean her heart didn't flutter a little.

Amu Hinamori has posed:
Amu Hinamori nodded softly, her eyes closed and...

And she had a big, happy, silly grin on her face. And she looked so happy and content. She didn't look horrified or scared or, well, even embarrassed. Okay, a little bit. But she seemed, more than anything, relaxed. Also, she was drooling a little bit on Nade's shoulder.

Tadase was going to have the freak outs to end all freak outs. They JUST had this talk! Amu didn't even chara change! Her charas are passed out in their bag! They don't even know! It was just Amu. A hundred percent amu. And she'd done it, sick or not.

At least no one-- "Is that Amu-chan?" she'd hear some girls gossiping. "Did she just kiss Nadeshiko-chan?" another girl said.

oh by the heavens kids from school. Oh crud.

Nadeshiko Fujisaki has posed:
Nadeshiko swallowed and cleared her throat.

And then she hears the gossiping twitters around her. With a quick spin, she glares at them with her scariest face, eyes glinting.

And then she sighs and continues on.

"Amu-chan, our boyfriends are gonna be so grumpy at us."

Amu Hinamori has posed:
Amu Hinamori nodded. "mmmmm... Nades..." she mumbled drowsily. The girls who had been gossiping took the moment to flee for their lives. "Did I... fall asleep again?" she mumbled, staring bleerily at her.

"I kissed you... right?" Pause. "Oh... yeah. They'll be grumpy..." She paused. "You can kiss Tadase-kun if you like... that'd... actually be... kinda hot..." Oh, yeah. She was so high on temperature right now. Seriously. Ice pack.

She nestled in. "Your warm... I'm sorry I'm always causing you so much trouble. You're like... a big... brother to me... and sister and... I always wanted one... you know? Being an older sister is nice but... it... sucks... always having to be the... responsible one who... takes care of everythng..."

Nadeshiko Fujisaki has posed:
And, well, being compared in a familial way is sort of like a bucket of ice water on those flustered thoughts. "Yeah. Well, I don't have siblings, so I'm glad I get to be one."

She sighs and continues on, now more amused than anything.

She feels less guilty regarding Tadase now. Kukai? Not so much...

Amu Hinamori has posed:
Amu Hinamori blushed and nodded. "Sorry... that... that was... stupid... wasn't it... I mean... you don't even like me like that and... even if I... like you... nothing can ever... I'd never cheat on Tadase-kun no matter... how cute I think you are and... your shoulders are wet..." BECAUSE SHE KEEPS DROOLING ON THEM!

"I'm sorry I'm sick..." she mumbled. "Sorry I kissed you. I... I just... I want... I want to see you. The... the best friend... and... and the... really cute boy who's so kind and... like kukai does...."

Nadeshiko Fujisaki has posed:
Nadeshiko pauses and looks over her shoulder at Amu. It's okay that her shoulders are wet, but she blinks in surprise.

And then she's blushing.

"You think I'm...? Um...actually."

She starts walking again, her entire face bea red. "I'm not with Kukai because he's a boy. I'm with him because he's Kukai. If he were a girl but still Kukai, I'd be with him."

More beat red. Finally, she's outside her home gates and she pushes open the door. "It's not that..." Another sigh. "Even if things didn't work out, I couldn't do that to Tadase, anyway. So why pretend otherwise?"

Amu Hinamori has posed:
Amu Hinamori nodded, her eyes closed again and only half listening. "Mmmmm? Really? But what about all the rumors about you and Tadase-kun? I mean... I thought you only liked guys?" ... Really? She listened to the rumors? According to the rumors she punched out a car!

She gave a yawn and nestled up. "Mmmm hmmmm... okay... and yeah... Tadase-kun would never be okay with all of us dating and... besides... you and kukai-kun look so cute together. I'd end up... end up... zzzzzz...." Aaaand she passed out again.

Nadeshiko Fujisaki has posed:
Nadeshiko snorts. The rumors about her and Tadase were mostly because, well, it's easier to go to dances with your best friend. She'd protect him from the gaggle of girls, he'd help her experience such activities without having to string along or lie to someone. A win-win as far as she could tell.

By now, Amu was already asleep. She deposited the girl in the Media Room and gave Aunty free reign to fret and flutter.