"Mmmmm..."

I made a low groaning sound I do when I feel like I should say something but was jjst too lazy to actually say anything. I blinked slowly at this contrasting figure opposite me.

"When matter and anti-matter meet, the resulting result is the negation of both entities along with..."

Yeah, like that would work. Nice idea though, she the matter, me the anti-matter.

What's the matter, anyhow?

"Some time past eight," I breathed, paused, then continued, "Too early, anyway."

I sighed heavily, and buried my head in my knees again. But feeling the strain on my back, I stood up and gave myself a nice, long stretch. After moving a little away, I stretched the rest of my limbs.

"I'm gonna go wash up," I said finally, and headed for the tent to dig out my bag.

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"Some time past eight. Too early, anyway."

---

As I tried to get my thoughts in order, I had the sensation of being watched. Hmm? I looked around, and started to get a headache. For some reason, I kept picturing doors opening. It was as if there was somebody else in my head at the same time.

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"Yay! Hibiki-Smile!"

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Post last edited by arren18 on 05.14.2008, 05:10 AM.

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“Heee! It’s because I’m pleased to be here. My first night camping. My first night ever not with mummy. My first friends! It’s really fun!” Na-chan squeaked.

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Post last edited by Nausicaa_Cat on 05.14.2008, 05:53 PM.

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"That’s great," Chi grinned, "This has been new for me too. I'm not sure why. But it has. New things are great aren't they?"

---

I could tell that it was morning, the night was too short. It was pretty quite inside, I assumed that most of the people were already gone, probably in the middle of breakfast. My sleeping bag was damp. I had been sweating. Another nightmare, nothing new there. In the end I died again, one of these days..." I peeled the thing off me and lay for a sec letting the circulation get going. I wasn't a morning person. Low blood pressure. Most of the time if I had to do something early, I would stay up the night so I wouldn't have to fuss with sleep. It was nice to get a night off from dreams sometimes.

I figured I looked like hell, but so do most people in the morning. I sat up and made my way towards the exit, the sun was decently bright, I covered my eyes for a second before blinking rapidly and getting settled. I ruffled my hair and hoped it looked a little better than it was and wandered out. I found some tea and poured a cup. I reached for sugar and cream but held off and stared into the cup for a moment. I shrugged my shoulders to myself and drained the whole cup. It was rather strong, but it was a nice wake-up call. I looked around and wondered who to talk too. I crossed off several names of people already involved in something, and figured that Chi, Na-chan and Hibiki was a pretty safe bet. I got another cup of tea with my amenities and walked sleepily over.

I was behind Na-chan and put a hand on her shoulder and let it drop back, "Ohayo" I sai quickly as to not make too much of an entrance, and tried my best to resettle in.

HONDA KANO



I woke up to find Momo-chan beside me reading a comic, one hand behind her head propping it up, the comic leaning against her knees which were drawn up. I yawned and stretched.

“How can you read in this light? You’ll do your eyes in.”

Without looking at me she said “Ohayo to you too! In case you’d not noticed you dozy thing, it’s daylight. Has been for over an hour.”

“Mehh!” I stuck my tongue out, “Uhhn, whatever. I’m getting up. Coming?”

We went out of the tent to find the day was grey and mild and damp. We went indoors to wash and dress then came back out. Okayu-san’s mother was busy downstairs and we said our hello’s.

A few people were around the logs in various states of half-sleep-half-awake. Most of the boys seemed to be up already, Tsugara-kun, Masahiko, Otomo, Otsuki, Murakamo, Takasumi. Many hadn’t got dressed but were slumped about in tee shirts and shorts. I wasn’t going to complain. We went over and joined them, various “Ohayos” were exchanged and the conversation began to pick up.

I came up from sleep and a particularly nice dream. The dream faded, I didn’t want it to fade, it had been good. Very good. But it was gone now, I reached out to try and hang onto the last trailing edges of its yukata but like the last sheets of rain of a summer shower they faded away and I couldn’t grasp onto them.

Cycling. I’d been cycling up and down hills, really fast. Laughing, full of energy. She was with me, on her own bike. It was yellow and she wore her yellow skirt, it was a huge skirt, it billowed out behind her like the rays of the sun, impossibly bright. Sometimes she was behind me, sometimes in front laughing back over her shoulder as I tried to pass her. We were going up a hill, a big curved mound with a ring of old trees on the top. Her dad lived up there, she was taking me to meet him. I wanted to.

We’d just reached the top and I could see three people in the clearing standing in the long grass among the trees. Our bikes vanished and we were walking towards them.

At which point I woke up.

Hmm… I lay for a time in the warmth of my bed but outside I could hear voices. I reached for my watch and lifted it up. Half past eight. Shoot! Some host you are!

Reluctantly putting aside bikes and hills and skirts and fathers I rolled out of bed, rubbing the sleep from my eyes. My sandals were just at the tent flap, pushing my feet into them I went out wearing my black baggy tee shirt and even baggier black shorts.

I went past people and lifted a hand here and there, making the appropriate noises. My eyes cast about but she wasn’t up yet, it was mostly boys awake so far which didn’t really surprise me.

I went inside only to bump into Icchan coming out the washroom.

“Ohi,” was about my limit at this point. I went in past him and had a quick wash and brush up but gave up with my hair. It always needs washing in the morning to get yesterday’s gunk out of it. It remained impossible to tame and stuck out in all directions, so after a few half-assed attempts with my fingers I didn’t bother.

Thinking that I should check in with base camp I went to the kitchen and found mom in a good mood, so good she didn’t kill me when I picked up a warm fresh pastry off the side and scoffed it in one mouthful.

“Oh there you are, thought you’d died. Half your guests have been up for hours.”

“Neh.” (chewing)

“It’s going to rain, 72% probability the radio said.”

“Uhn.”

“So get them indoors when it does. Quickly. I don’t want mud in the house. You can eat buffet-style in the dining room. Sit on the floor. Get the rest of the paper plates and things. I’ll cover the table. Make a mark on that and the recoating bill will come out of your allowance.”

“Har.”

“As well as your funeral bill! Are you listening to me, Sadoru?!”

“Har, har…” (still chewing, hand waves dismissively)

She called me Sadoru. I only get called Sadoru when things are serious. I swallowed the pastry fast, thumped my chest to get it down, “Mm, hai, hai, don’t kill me before the crime.”

“Well I ought to, it’s inevitable anyway. It saves time later.”

“Sure, whatever. Hm, nice pastries.” I popped another in my mouth, “Need to bake a couple more though, looks like you’re two short.” (muffled through chewing).

“Get out of my kitchen you cheeky little…! And take this out, make yourself useful!”

“Uhng.” (more chewing).

I picked up a tray with a huge carton of orange juice and a stack of the ubiquitous Office Supplies paper cups and made myself scarce, grinning at her as she swatted at my backside with a tea-towel.

Back outside I put the tray on the grass near the logs and announced it’s presence and made help-yourself noises. I found an empty log and sat, stretching my arms up and my legs out and making “Nyaaaaarh!” sounds like a dying Tanuki.

Post last edited by Saddletank on 05.15.2008, 06:09 PM.

Na-chan looked back, at first seeming... well, before I could tell exactly how she seemed, she smiled.

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“Sleep well?”

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Post last edited by arren18 on 05.15.2008, 11:49 AM.

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"Do you want to go?" "Um... well, I guess I'd like you to stay. It's nice to have company..."

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My eyes caught movement at the boys tent. Out of the corner of my eye I watched him come out. I tried not to look like I was looking but even so I couldn’t suppress a smile. His hair was all over the place sticky-uppy and spiky, and… oh, so that’s what you wear to sleep. I put the blanket edge up to my nose to hide my smile which had grown wider.

I’m lucky. Such a privilege seeing you like this.

I wonder if you can guess what I wear to sleep…

Oooh! Heee!

I made myself blush.

What did happen last night? Did I dream it or did it really happen like I remember?

He went out of my line of vision. Behind me I heard him getting a cup of tea. I was aware he was close by. I could feel him. I continued to look at Hibiki and Chi. Hibiki answered me.

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"Er... okay, I guess. I've got a bit of a headache though..."

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She explained why she was condering going home soon. I could just about understand. Hmm... it's not been that amazing, has it...?

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"But i'll stay since you'd like me too, its always nice to be wanted y'know?"

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It had still been dark when I'd woken. Even after realising how early it was I didn't try to get back to sleep... the first thing I'd seen when I'd opened my eyes was him. And now he was in my head, there wasn't a chance I'd be getting back to sleep. That's irony... I planned that and now it's the last thing I want... Partly due to the time of day, my mood turned sour quickly. I turned over and scowled at the canvas wall for a while, before closing my eyes again.

After an hour, or maybe two, there was a rustling on the other side of tent; finally someone was up. I heard the flap of the tent being unzipped, and for a few moments things brightened... then it closed again, and the dimness returned. After the fourth time this happened, it began to annoy me. Can't they just leave it open? Two, three more people left. And still he wasn't stirring. Eventually I gave up on the hope that he was going to go first, and dragged myself out of my warm sleeping bag. Geh... why's it cold...?

You're only in a tent... baka.

I made my way slightly haphazardly across the tent. It was a good thing there were only a few people left, it was certain I'd have tripped over somebody otherwise.

There was already a small congregation sat around yesterday's ashes. I wandered over, and sat on the ground in front of the one remaining empty log, leaning back against it and sighing deeply. I still wasn't in the mood for people, still only barely awake. " 'Hayo." I said to anyone who was listening, raising a hand unenthusiastically in greeting. I rested my head on the rough wood behind it, staring into space through half-closed eyes. A couple of minutes later someone came over with a tray. Sadoru... must be... I blinked, bringing the world into focus. Orange juice? At this time in the morning? You serious? Yeesh.

Aaaand... I'm awake.

. . .

God, I must look a mess.

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"Good idea. Hmm... I can't decide what I ought to think of though!"

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"Uhuh." I murmured unethusiastically, my mind too occupied by the drum-like rolls of thunder that seemed to be coming with less space in between. I could just about hear na-chan counting the seconds between and it raised the hairs on the back of my neck.

I looked up at the branches of the tree. I'm under a tree. Isnt that exactly where your not meant to be in a thunderstorm? A ice cold shiver ran down the back of my spine as the sky gave another volatile burble.

"I-I''m sorry." I stuttered, jumping to my feet, my arms and legs shaking like crazy. "I'll...i'll...umm be right back."

Without a seconds thought I bounded away from that tree, across the garden to the little summerhouse, I pulled open the door and stepped inside, slamming it behind me. There was another peal of thunder and I stifled a squeak.

Your such a baby. Are you going to let that one night influence you for the rest of your life?

One night of darkness. Of thunder and tight spaces. Of quick breaths and unanswered shouts.

How can I forget?

I knelt on the floor at first then, leant forwards leaning my cheek against the floor, tracing the knots in the wood with my fingertips.. Come on, end, end, end. I wished like crazy that I hadn't stayed, that I hadn't turned down Kahei's offer of picking me up and was at this moment snuggled up close beside him were even the thunder couldnt reach me.

"Its just thunder, it's just thunder, it's just thunder..." I whispered to myself.

Your being ridiculous, just go back and join the party.

No.

I greeted Sadoru as I came out of the bathroom, taking in the nice scent of breakfast... and salty air.

As I walked towards the tent, I looked up to study the sky. Judging from the thunder, state of the sky, temperature of the air and the smell of salt...

"It's gonna rain within two hours, maybe one. We should get inside soon," I said to Hissori and the gang, the first group I met.

"Thinking maybe we ought to wake the rest as well, wouldn't want them stuck in the rain-"

Plip.

I felt the tiniest of raindrops hit my hand.

"Scratch that, it's starting to rain already. I'll get the boys. Na-chan, sorry, but can you get the girls?

I turned my attention to the tent to wake the rest of them.

She seemed rather happy to see me, and did so with a loud hello. I returned it and took a seat next to her.

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“Did you have a good sleep?”

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I saw Kazuo come and sit behind us. I turned my head to smile at him and wiggled some fingers out at him from under the blanket.

Opposite me Chi began to get restless and didn’t properly answer Hibiki. The conversation tailed off. I stopped whispering my confused count when I saw her glance at me nervously.

. . .{{ kio-chi is afraid of me }}

. . .“why?”

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"I-I’m sorry." she jumped up, "I'll...I'll...umm be right back."

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Post last edited by natsuba on 05.16.2008, 04:37 PM.

Kashikoi seemed to be quite worried about the thunder. She looked upwards, then stood up suddenly, shaking all over.

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"I-I''m sorry. I'll...i'll...umm be right back."

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Post last edited by arren18 on 05.16.2008, 04:53 PM.

Icchan came out and stated the blindingly obvious, that the heavens might soon open when right on cue they did. I got up, grabbed the tray with the fruit juice on and went quickly inside, asking Jun to pick up the teapot and stuff for me as he went by.

Pretty soon a cluster of people were running towards and gathering inside the back hallway by the downstairs shower room door. A few kicked off shoes and such and went through turning left after the shower room into the dining room which had a large window overlooking the lawn towards the pond.

Mom was in there laying out breakfast things.

I did a quick headcount and realised a good few girls must still be in the tent.

Surely not asleep in all this?

Then Hibiki came in shaking his wet hair, "Hey," I said to him, "Did you see Kashikoi-san and Na-chan on your way in? They're not here."

Post last edited by Saddletank on 05.16.2008, 05:19 PM.

As I lay, close against the floor, my mind battling against the sound of the thunder another sound began.

Drip. Drip. Drip.

DRIP. DRIP. DRIP.

I could hear the sound of the rain beating against the summerhouse, at first it was seperate drops then it seemed to come down all at once. One hugh wave after another, splashing against the now the thin roof. I sat up, my eyes open and a small smile on the face.

I wasn't afraid of the rain. The rain shut out the thunder, it wrapped around you like a blanket, stopping anything else from reaching you. Or thats how it seems.

I winced as through the sound of the rain I heard the crack of lightening and a soft, rustle of thunder. I raised a hand to my eyes, covering them in an effort to calm down.

Suddenly I heard shouting from outside.

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“Chi! Chi! CHI! Come out! Don’t be afraid! They won’t hurt you!

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