I sat up in the sand and saw that it was Dizzy and Storm that had plowed the volley ball into my head. I sighed, and stood up.
“What are you two doing here?” I asked as politely as I could with anger rushing through me like electricity.
“Hey! We wanted a break too, and since you didn’t invite us, we came anyways!” Dizzy answered.
Maki who had been chatting with her older brother Aki ran over to say hi.
“Dizzy! Storm! You two came too? This will be great!” Maki said happily.
The three of them began chatting about what would be fun to do and where the best place was to eat. I looked at Aki remembering the ten year old boy who constantly told his younger sister he would protect her from the big snake in the mountains. Maki had always refused his services though, and I smirked remembering the look on his face. I refused to trust him with my biju secret though. I had told Maki to tell her family that I was just a kid she knew a long time ago back when the village was still there.
“So you’re the one that ran off with my sister!” Aki said not angrily but more of a laugh.
“Hey she followed me home,” I answered.
“So Maki says you’re a gay hu? Well I guess that’s fine since I think you are way too young to go out with Maki,” Aki laughed.
My face went scarlet, and I knew it. Even when Isonade wasn’t here, he still made an imprint. I sighed.
“No I’m not a gay,” I said directly, “I just haven’t found the girl I like, and I wouldn’t date your sister even if you paid me. She is really old!” Sometimes playing a sixteen year old had its kicks.
Maki overhead and nearly tried to kill me. After she was done, Dizzy and Storm decided to take their swing at me. I wondered what the heck I was always getting beat up by women…..
“So was it ok with your parents that Maki stayed?” Aki asked.
“I don’t have parents. They died a long time ago,” I said flatly, “But Maki got a guest bedroom that had a handle that locked.”
“I see,” Aki said calmly, “So you normally live by alone? What work do you do?”
I had to stop and think that one through. It was true that when money ran out I would just make around four or five hundred clones and have them all work in stores or fields or something, but I really didn’t have a specific job.
“I have an inheritance that I live on now, but I work in rice fields every other day. I also live with my younger brother Kai,” I answered. It was a reasonable answer, and he couldn’t pressure me any further without sounding rude.
Suddenly Kai and Shane were back from their surfing and walking fast down the beach. Kai had something in his hand, and he speed up with excitement. He brushed past Maki and Dizzy and ran straight up to me.
“Look what I found!” Kai said happily opening up his hands. Inside was what appeared to be a black pearl, “It was inside an oyster! Can you believe it?”
“Most impressive Kai,” Aki said, “You could make an earring out of it.”
“If Hachi would let me,” Kai said almost pouting, “Shukaku has one, but not me…..”
I sighed realizing where this was going. Kai had made several attempts to get me to let him wear earrings.
“Or you could give it to Maki as thanks for cleaning the house and feeding you,” I retorted.
Kai was at a loss and Maki was smiling thinking of the black pearl. So we went to a jeweler and had it made into an earring. Maki thanked Kai who was still sad that he had lost.
The day ended with us searching the beaches for more pearls. I found a piece of plexy-glass that I figure I could try using a fire style jutsu to meld into a flute or something. Aki had been sending overly obvious hints that Maki’s birthday was coming up. Dizzy and Storm found odd shaped sea shells and a dried out blue sea star. Kai was still pouting about giving up his pearl, but was satisfied when I gave him some money to go buy some taffy. Shane went off somewhere and later came back with several girls. From the look on his face I could tell he was trying to get back at Suki for dating Isonade. All around I guess it was an ok day.
