Thirteen Stitches

Backflips

I slowly stretch my arms out to the sides as I yawn.

Next to me, Juuzou snores lightly in his sleep.

I grin at him before rolling out of bed.

Today's the day.

The day I begin learning how to be a CCG Investigator.

I quickly grab my clothes and head into the bathroom.

After I finish my regular routine and have the clothes Juuzou got me on, I quietly tiptoe out of the bathroom.

To my delight, Juuzou is still sound asleep.

"Ohayo, Juuzou-Kun!" I shout excitedly as I jump onto his chest.

His eyes fly open as he sits up.

He looks about irritably until his gaze lands on me.

"Ohayo, Nitori-chan.." He says as he relaxes back into the pillows.

"You need to get out of bed." I say sternly.

"What? Why?" He whines as he settles deeper into the covers.

"Cause today i get to start training." I answer.

"I'll get up ten minutes before we leave." He replies easily as he closes his eyes.

"You'll get up now." I repeat.

"One more hour."

"Now."

"Half an hour."

"Now."

"Fifteen minutes."

"Now."

"Ten minutes."

"Now."

"Five minutes."

"Now."

"One more minute?" He asks hopefully.

I stay silent as I watch him smile to himself, believing me to have given up.

Right when his breathing relaxes, however, I take action.

"NOW!" I shout as I shove him off the bed.

"WAH!" He yelps loudly as he falls off the bed in a tangle of blankets.

I suppress a giggle as he slowly gets up.

"Nitori-chan.."

"Glad to see you're up!" I grin as I hope off the bed.

He sleepily lunges to grab me but I nimbly jump out of the way.

"I'll go make some fruit salad!" I call as I run out the room.

"Nitori-chan!" Juuzou shouts.

"Go get dressed!" I snap back.

I head to the kitchen to go make him a special surprise.

***********

"Hello Nitori-chan!" Juuzou says brightly as he walks into the kitchen.

"Hello Juuzou-Kim!" I smile back.

"You excited for today?" He asks as he sits down at the island.

"Extremely." I reply.

"That doesn't smell like fruit salad.." He says suspiciously as he tries to look over my shoulder.

"There's fruit salad." I answer sweetly.

"But that doesn't smell like fruit salad." He repeats.

I finish drizzling the icing and turn around.

"Cinnamon buns!" Juuzou shouts excitedly as he reaches over to grab one.

"Careful! They're-" I begin to say quickly as Juuzou picks one up.

It scalds his fingers and he quickly drops it on his plate.

"Hot.." I finish awkwardly.

"I'm okay." Juuzou reassuringly smiles at me.

He pops a sticky finger in his mouth and licks the rest off with his tongue.

"Clean yourself!" I laugh as I toss him a napkin.

He blushes as he takes it from my hand.

"Thanks.." He mumbles.

"After you're finished, can we go?"  I ask pleadingly.

He distractedly nods his head, his attention focused on the slippery pastry.

"Hurry up, then!" I exclaim as I grab my own roll.

*********

"Here it is!" Juuzou grins as he stares up at the towering building.

"Wow.." I mumble quietly.

"I know, right?" Juuzou laughs.

He grabs my hand and quickly pulls me towards the front entrance.

"Good morning, Nitori-chan, Juuzou." Shinohara says happily as he waves us over.

"Good morning, sir!" I say brightly.

"Good morning!" Juuzou says as well.

"Are you ready for this?" Shinohara asks.

"Yes!" I grin.

"Well then, let's get going!" He says as he begins walking away.