A Magical Princess

Chapter 11

They slept until almost noon the next day and probably would have slept longer if Hari hadn't been forced out of bed by her throbbing ribs and shoulder.

"Urck," she mumbled and staggered into the bathroom to splash water on her face.

She heard her siblings stirring, and quickly used the bathroom and brushed her teeth so they could take care of their own ablutions. She glanced out the window when she went into the sitting room, ignoring the twins racing for the bathroom and Natsu's enraged howl when Eito slammed the door in her face.

It looked like it would be a fairly warm day, so Hari pulled out a light pink, short yukata for Natsu with a pair of shorts, and a blue one with lightweight cargo pants for her brother. After some thought, she decided on a light green one with pink flowers along the hem for herself. Hibiki always said she looked beautiful in it and used to request that she wear it. Her heart gave a pang as she thought of him, and she swallowed but gamely continued with her day. Loss, after all, was something she was an old hand at.

She dug through her trunk and pulled out a bag with some kohl to lightly line her eyes with and some tint for her lips. It was a little tricky with one good hand and a slightly sore shoulder, but she managed it. She brushed her hair, and after adding some oil to tame it (as much as it ever tamed), decided it would do fine staying loose.

"Natsu! Eito! Are you ready for breakfast?" she called, feeling somewhat more alive now that she was dressed.

She walked into the sitting room and raised an eyebrow at their state of general undress, and sighed before moving to help Natsu with her tie and turn Eito's yukata right side out. When they were ready they made their way to the kitchen, where Shikamaru was slumped over the table with a cup of tea, filling out paperwork. The twins made a beeline for him, and he raised an eyebrow at them as they clambered onto the chairs on either side of him and began peppering him with questions.

"Whatcha workin' on Shikamaru?" Natsu asked.

"Mission Report - what's that?" Eito said after peeking at the paper.

"It's classified is what it is," Shikamaru said, but didn't move to stop them from reading.

"Eito, Natsu! Leave poor Shikamaru alone to do his work. Have you eaten yet, Shikamaru?" Hari asked and laughed at his hangdog expression.

"No," he said.

"Well, let's see if there's anything in here...hmm. Omelets?" she suggested after looking through the fridge.

"Sounds good," Shikamaru said before going back to writing.

"Can we please go outside in the yard while you cook, Hari?" Natsu begged, eyes wide.

Hari hesitated. "I don't know...if you wait until after breakfast, I can go with you. I don't think you should be out alone right now." Both of the twins made high pitched whining noises in the back of their throats, and she rolled her eyes.

"I'll take them," Shikamaru said. "I just finished this, anyway."

He stretched and yawned as he stood, and Eito and Natsu cheered.

"Are you sure?" Hari asked, and he shot her an unimpressed look.

"I said I would, didn't I?"

She held up the hand attached to her uninjured arm in surrender and noted to herself that Shikamaru was a little cranky before breakfast. "You two behave, and listen to Shikamaru. If you don't, I won't let you go out just the three of you anymore," she warned.