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The Kindergarten Affair

By Areku

Part 11: Knights and Princesses

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"Today do we have to play 'clothes'?" Akito moaned. He was at Yurika's house. School, for the day, had ended.

"How 'bout we play adventure instead?"

"How do you play adventure?" For all he knew, adventure might mean going outside and picking flowers.

"Well, I could be the princess. And I get to wear a pretty dress..." She noticed Akito start to lose interest so she rushed on. "You can be the knight that has to kill all the monsters, and rescue the princess from her evil sorcerer uncle."

"Well," this didn't sound too much different than dress up, but he could give it a chance- for awhile, "I guess so."

"Great. I'll put on my pretty dress, and you go wait outside."

*****

Akito was expelled from the room of doom, which was fine with him. He went outside and sat on the front steps, waiting.

He waited.

He waited.

Then he waited some more.

Then somebody, who he assumed was Yurika, giggled. He turned around and found that he was right.

Yurika was standing behind him wearing a dress that was much to large for her. The neck was very low on her, since the dress was meant for a much taller person, luckily she kept her t-shirt on underneath. The skirt was so long she stepped on it while she was walking.

She smiled, "do you like it Akito?"

Akito not having the finesse of more experienced men (er, I mean boys) said, "It's a dress." He was trying to convey in this statement that dresses were not at all in his line. Unfortunately he missed the mark completely.

She nodded and blushed. "Oh I knew you'd like it."

"Can we play now?"

*****

Akito was suppose to be the heroic knight that had to defend the princess from the monsters. This translated to Akito swinging a stick around with Yurika giggling behind him.

"Genkigan-kick!" He was about to strike at a particularly intimidating monster bush by the side of the house. (Giant purple fire eating monster)

"NO! You can't!" Yurika thrust herself in front of the monster. Children, it is only wise to do this in defense of something when you are assured that the person holding the sword does not get the idea to bring it down on you.

Akito lowered his sword, and asked in a irritated manner, "Why?"

"That's Mr. Coffyy Pot. He's not the bad guy."

Pointing, "But that's the monster."

"But Miss Coffee Mug will be sad if he dies." This was quite a dilemma; you couldn't make anyone sad. And it was bad to kill people...

"Okay then," he turned and raised his sword again. This time he was about to strike the evil telephone pole.

"No, no, NO!" She ran over and hugged the pole, "That's Mumphry."

Akito was exasperated, "Why can't I kill him?"

"No, it's a girl."

"Well why can't I kill HER?"

"Because," she crinkled up her nose, "because," how could he not know the significance of Mumphry, "because," she'd have to say something sometime, "because we're playing happy family."

Akito threw his stick down. "Fine, then I guess I can't protect the princess." He crossed his arms.

"Why can't you just pretend to you're killing the bad guy."

"We ARE pretending, I AM killing the bad guy, but you won't let me, cause they're your stupid friends."

"Well then why do we have to fight at all?"

"But how can the knight protect the princess if there aren't any bad guys to protect her from?"

"Okay, then maybe you can attack HIM." She pointed to the big tree on the lot, "He's the evil sorcerer you gotta kill."

*****

So they defeated the villain, who had usurped the throne, and where preparing to crown Yurika high queen.

"I'll be the queen of the rose garden." She looks around, "But we don't have any roses."

That was quite a problem. Akito looked around her yard. No such luck, there were no roses. Then his eyes fell on the only red flowers in the yard- a tulip (nadesico). (For the purpose of this story we will call it a nadesico. I prefer that to 'tulip'.)

"How about princess of the nadesicos instead. You got plenty of them, and it kind'a looks like a rose."

Yurika smiled, "You're the best Akito."

Akito blushed, and rubbed the back of his head.

They proceeded to pick most of the nadesicos in the yard, and weave them into a circlet crown. After the royal procession ect to crown the princess Yurika's mother came out, and they both ran up to her, laughing. Preparing to tell her all about their game. She wasn't as exuberant with the crown of flowers as they were. In fact you could almost say she was mad. She was very mad.

"Yurika, you should know better! The only nadesicos in the yard are from my flower garden."

Akito's eyes widened at the thought. Yurika hadn't said that it was her mom's flower garden. On Mars, such gardens were to be held sacred by all owners. And they had just destroyed Mrs. Misumara's.

He looked over at Yurika. Her head was hanging forward, bangs hiding her eyes. He could see something wet trickle down her cheek. She obviously knew the extent of the damage, as well. She also might know what punishment to expect.

Yurika took off her crown, and looked at it a moment. Then, head still forward, she held it up to her mother. "I'm sorry Mommy." Another tear dripped off her nose, "I didn't mean to make you mad..." She let out a little sob.

Mrs. Misumara crouched down in front of her. She smoothed her hair and wipped her eyes, taking the red crown in her own hands. "Oh, Yurika, don't cry. Come on, lets make a bouque out of these to show your father when he gets home.

Little Miss Misumaru noded, taking her mother's hand and going inside. Akito followed, a comfortable distance away.

End

AN. sniff Now my eyes are starting to water. That was soo sad! sniff, sniff I wanna cry but I can't. AHHH! Just come out you stupid tears. This has to be one of my FAVORITE chapters.

Disclaimer, the rights to Nadesico are held by Kia Asamiya, Xebec, and ADV. All of which I greatly respect, and have no intention of ripping off. So please don't sue me.