Liar, Liar, the Mage's Desire Vol. 3 (Return of the Oumeno)

The Bad Boy (7)

    The next afternoon, Himiko knocked on Kokichi and Gonta's door. Kokichi opened the door to see Himiko's forlorn expression. He patted her shoulder.

    "You okay?" he asked her. Himiko nodded. 

   "Um...I'm going to the mall with the others," she said. "Do you wanna go, too?" 

   "I can't, Monkey Buns, I'm sorry," Kokichi replied apologetically. "Um..." he paused to look around. Then, he lowered his voice. "...I got a call from D.I.C.E. headquarters. Three called me because Six and Four were fighting again, and Six shoved Four's arm in a place where...arms shouldn't be shoved." He winced with pain. 

   "Well, that's not good, I guess," Himiko mumbled. 

   "You gonna be okay?" Kokichi asked. Himiko sighed and nodded.

   "I guess," she replied. "Maybe I just need to get out and...get away."

   "Yeah," Kokichi murmured softly, patting her shoulder. "Well, you go on ahead and have fun, HimiCocoa Bean."

   "Okay," Himiko replied. Kokichi kissed her hand and then her cheek before she left. On the way to the mall, Himiko remained silent. 

   "You okay, Himiko?" Kaede asked. 

   "Nyeh...I'm fine," Himiko muttered. 

   "I heard you and your sister were fighting last night," Tenko said. "Do you wanna talk about it, Himiko?"

   "No," Himiko sighed.

   "I heard the whoooole thing!" Miu said. "Your sister's datin' a sixteen-year-old!"

   "Is this true, Himiko?" Kirumi asked with concern.

    "Yes," Himiko answered briefly. 

   "That could be dangerous!" Tsumugi cried.

   "I know," Himiko said.

   "And you're not going to do anything about it?" Maki asked.

   "Why should she?" Miu chimed in. "Maybe what her sister needs is a good ol' di-" Before Miu could finish, Himiko shot her a death glare. "Eeeeeeee....I was just jo-o-oking! You don't have to l-l-look at me like tha-a-at!" 

   "I told her not to see him anymore," Himiko growled. "Now, can we stop talking about it?"

    "We're sorry, Himiko," Kaede said, and the others apologized, as well. Finally, they arrived at the mall. 

    "I'm going to the bookstore," Maki said. 

   "Ooo! Me, too!" Tsumugi said. "There's a new manga that's out that I've been dying to read!" Tsumugi and Maki headed off to Farms and Mobile.