Old Friends

I wake up to hear the phone ringing. Granted, it isn't too unreasonable – the clock tells me that it’s nearly noon. I roll over in bed, and snatch the phone off the bedside table.

“Matsuda residence, Midori speaking.”

“MIDORI-SAN!”  I have to hold the phone away from my ear, as a very young, very loud voice blasts from the speaker.

I smiled.  "Good morning, Kirako-chan!  You certainly sound cheerful today!"

I can practically hear the 10-year-old grinning on the other end of the line.  "Well, duuuh.  We get to come visit you!"  I hear muffled voices from the other end of the phone.  "Oh, Mama wants to talk to you. Bye-bye, Midori-san!"

There’s  a clatter, and another voice comes over the phone.  “Sorry about that, Midori. You know how she gets sometimes."

I giggle.  “Don't worry about it, Kyoko-chan.  She's a breath of fresh air, to be honest.  So, when do the three of you plan on arriving?”

“Oh, we'll be a few hours. Sayaka is only just now getting up, and you know how long she takes to pack.”

“Ehehe, yes.  Well, that's good. That gives me some time to get dinner started."

“I'm looking forward to it. I mean, not that Sayaka can't cook, but your Thanksgiving dinners are something special!"

“Well, I’m flattered, Kyoko-chan.  Tell Sayaka hello for me, and I’ll see you in a few hours!”

“Will do.  Bye!” The phone beeps, and I replace it on the nightstand.

 I roll back over, pressing against her back. She's usually up and awake by this time, but today she's sleeping late. I press my lips against the nape of her neck.  “Time to wake up, love. We have to get ready."

She rolls over and wraps her arms around me. I kiss her forehead, she kisses my throat.  It's become something of a morning ritual, over the years.

“Good morning, Midori.  You slept well?"

I color slightly.  "Once you finally let me get to sleep, yes."

She swats at my shoulder.  "Oh, don't pretend you didn't like it."

"Of course I did, but we were supposed to get up early today."

She gives me a slightly confused look.  "What for?"

“Did you forget already?  Mami and Wendy can't make it this year, so we're in charge of dinner. By which I mean, I'm in charge of dinner. I'm not letting you anywhere near the kitchen."

"Oh, come on Midori, I'm not that bad."  She sounds slightly aggrieved.

“Of course not, Chiaki-san, but somebody has to go get us a turkey."

She brightens somewhat.  "Of course. I won't be too long."

"I'm sure you won't. Now go on, get up. I need to get dinner started."

I unashamedly watch as she slides out of bed and changes into a simple T-shirt and jeans. She grabs a grey field jacket off the back of a chair, and walks out of the room.

I walk to the window, and watch as she walks out into the woods, shotgun slung over one of shoulder. Even after all these years since she retired, she still treats the firearm with perfect familiarity.

Once she's gone, I go shower. The feel of the hot water is a sensual pleasure, and I revel in it. Eventually, however, I turn it off and dry myself, then change into my normal sweats and T-shirt.I pad barefoot out of our room, down the stairs that separate the loft from the rest of the house. I set the oven to preheat itself, then step out onto the porch. A crisp, autumn breeze rustles the leaves in the trees above my head, and raises goosebumps on my exposed arms.

When Chiaki stepped down as Warmaster, we decided that it was best to leave the country, to avoid any lingering unpleasantness that might have resulted from her time at the head of the Ninth. I wholeheartedly approved of her decision to move to America, to our little cabin in the Blue Ridge Mountains. It's quiet, out here. Peaceful.

Eventually, I walk back inside, closing the sliding glass door behind me. The oven dings at me with a cheerful little tone, telling me that it is ready. I open the cabinets, assemble my cookware, and ingredients, and go to work.

I must have lost track of time at some point, because before I know it, the low rumble of a diesel engine alerts me that our guests have arrived. I clean my hands off, throw on a jacket, and walk outside.

Kyoko waves at me from the driver's seat of Sayaka's old, beat up Hilux, while Sayaka herself gives me a smile from the passenger side.  I don't see Kirako, but she's probably sitting between them, head hidden by the dashboard. I wave cheerily at them, walking around the back of the truck to collect their luggage from the bed. I almost make it too, before 60 pounds of 10-year-old slams into my side.

"Oba-saaaaan!  I missed youuuuu!"  She hugs me around the middle.

I pat her head affectionately.  "I missed you too, Kirako-chan. Want to help me with the bags?"

"Sure!"  The little girl scrambles up the side of the truck, and pulls out a suitcase nearly as big as she is. It's bright pink, and has a character I recognize from the OVA of The Adventures of Miracle Midori across the front. Kyoko and Sayaka get out somewhat more sedately, before coming around to collect their bags as well. Kyoko, of course, greets me with an affectionate hug, which I return. Sayaka is somewhat more formal at first, before breaking into a grin and hugging me as well.

We take the bags back inside, Kyoko and Sayaka walking in somewhat embarrassed silence as Kirako bombards me with questions about the next movie, about how Chiaki is doing, and about how much food I made.

We get their bags put away in the guest bedroom, before Sayaka and I returned to the kitchen, and Kyoko takes Kirako outside to play. I glance out the window – it seems like Kirako has discovered our Christmas present somewhat early. Sayaka and I pause for a moment, watching Kyoko teach the little girl how to ride a bike for the first time.

It's then that we hear the sound of a helicopter flying low overhead.  We run to the porch, in time to see three parachutes open and float toward the house.

Moments later, they touch down, and I blink in surprise at the scene in front of me.

It seems that the youngest of the three somehow managed to get tangled in his parachute after he touched down, and his parents are now cutting him loose.

Once free from his silken trap, the boy gives the business of folding the three parachutes, as his parents approach the house.

"Ah!  Midori!  Is good to see you again!"  The tall, black-haired woman before me greets me in a loud, boisterous, heavily-accented voice.

"It's good to see you as well, Kharn.  And you, Souji.  And little Boris as well, of course. I admit, though, I wasn't exactly expecting you."

The former Warmaster brushes my comment off with a smile.  "Is completely okay. I have heard tell of your cooking, Midori, and decided that this is the perfect opportunity to sample it."

"Well, that's fine, I suppose. It is Thanksgiving after all. Unexpected guests are par for the course."

I hear the snap of a twig, and turned to see Chiaki standing in the clearing, gun in one hand and field-dressed turkey in the other.

Kharn grins.  “Ah, Murderface! Is good to see you alive and well! How is retired life treating you?"

"Good to see you as well, Kharn,"  Chiaki murmurs.  "And I'll be honest. There was a time when I never thought I would make it to retirement, and that was the furthest thing from my mind. Now that I'm living it? It's pretty nice. Peaceful and quiet."

The Russian nods sagely.  "Not many skulls to take out here though, eh?  Except for bears, of course!"

Chiaki laughs softly.  "No, not many. We still get the occasional assassin or two, but it's not much of a problem."

"Good, good! Have to keep the old skills sharp somehow, da?"  Kharn laughs.

Sayaka frowns.  "I'm not sure we have enough food for an extra three people, though."

The Russian turns to her, raising a coal-black eyebrow.  "You forget, little Blueberry, there are many animals in these woods. Between Murderface and I, we will have a feast! Come, comrade Murderface, is time to hunt!"

Chiaki wordlessly turns the turkey over to me, and reloads her shotgun. She and Kharn move off into the woods, leaving the rest of the standing outside.

I break the silence.  "Well, come in, come in! No sense standing around in the cold!"

We troop back inside, Sayaka and I again returning to our ministrations in the kitchen, while Kyoko and Souji sort through the various board games and movies Chiaki and I keep for just such an emergency.  Eventually, they settle on Risk, to Boris's delight.

The game goes on as we continue cooking, with Boris blitzing through Asia, Europe, and the Americas.  Chiaki and Kharn return partway through, turning over the rest of dinner to us before watching the game with interest.  Kyoko and Souji are quickly eliminated, with Kirako staging a massive counterattack two thirds of the way through the game. The battle rages back and forth, eventually ending in a tie when Sayaka and I proclaim that dinner is ready.
Everyone takes a seat at the table, and, after making Boris remove his officer's cap (which he had somehow acquired over the course of the game), we tuck in. I have to admit, Sayaka and I outdid ourselves – turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, the whole nine yards.

By the end of the meal, we are all comfortably stuffed. Boris and Kirako make vague motions to continue their game, but quickly return to the table when Sayaka unveils her masterpiece: two massive chocolate pies.

Not long after, the two young ones are asleep. We tuck them carefully into bed, and retire to the fireplace.  Kharn and Souji sit on the sofa, she with her arm around him. Kyoko and Sayaka occupy the loveseat, Sayaka resting her head on Kyoko's thighs, while the redhead pets her hair absently.  Chiaki sprawls on the sofa, moving her legs so I can sit before replacing them across my lap.  We sit, chatting idly and enjoying the fire.  Sayaka at some point makes cocoa, of which Chiaki has three cups.

Kharn and Souji eventually make their excuses and retired to a guest room, citing jet lag.  Kyoko and Sayaka stay up a bit longer, before they, too retire to their room.  As the fire burns down to embers, I shift, lying beside Chiaki on the sofa.

“So, what are you thankful for, Midori?”  I smile at her murmured question.

“I’m thankful for our house.  Thankful that you decided to retire here.  Thankful that we can live peacefully here, without worrying about witches and Incubators and Ladies.  What about you?”

“Hmm.  I’m thankful for cocoa, firstly.”  I giggle.  “I’m thankful you made so much money on those mangas of yours, so we don’t have to work.  I’m thankful for old friends.”  She turns to face me, and kisses me softly, gently.  “But mostly, Midori, I’m thankful I have such a loving woman to share it all with.”

I kiss her back.  “I love you, Chiaki.”

“And I love you.”

A few moments later, Chiaki Matsuda is asleep.  I get up carefully, and carry her up to bed.  When I lie down beside her, cuddling her in my arms, I am truly thankful for all I have, for all she’s given me.  I close my eyes with a smile.