Post by Nekayne on May 23, 2012 23:05:39 GMT -5
Warm waves crashed up onto the sandy shores of the overly populated beach of the island. With high temperatures and not a cloud in the sky, vacationers were experiencing bliss as they chose to enjoy themselves on the beach, whether it be through volleyball, swimming, or just laying about on a beach towel with a book.
Noriko felt completely out of her element. She wasn't meant to be here with all these people, wandering about without a care. She had work to do. She had people to take care of. Her time was constantly stretched. Being here was taking precious time out of her chores and tasks.
But still, Akeminess said...
"It'll be good for you!" The feline chirped, a smile striking across her face.
"I don't know..." Noriko began, her eyes looking over the travel package that had been gifted to her. "I just have so much work to do."
"But you said you didn't work this week!" Akeminess cocked her head to the side, her curls bouncing in turn. "So that's why I got it for this week. You need to go have some fun!"
"There's more work than employment." Noriko's tone changed to that of a mother or teacher as she lowered the papers and moved her sights to the pouting feline. "What about the house? Who will take care of you all? Who will do the laundry or cook or clean?"
"Leave that to us!" Akeminess firmly put her hands on her hips, taking a stance that indicated that there was no way out of the arrangement. "Seriously. You work hard and we all appreciate it, but you need to have a little play-time too."
"Well...--"
"Good! I already packed your luggage."
"Wait, what?"
"They probably burnt the house down by now..." Noriko chuckled under her breath. With elbows bent onto the wooden railing of the boardwalk above the sandy paradise below, Noriko looked out at the glistening waves from behind her large sunglasses. It was one of the rare occasions where she didn't seem like the guardian of six troubled teenagers. She was now just a small woman in her mid-twenties, dressed in beach attire that Akeminess had packed for her - a frilled yellow bandeau, white jean shorts, and flip flops. In other words, something she would never have picked out herself.
Pausing her thoughts to messily pin her hair up with a butterfly clip, Noriko changed her sights to the pedestrians walking along the boardwalk. There were a number of stands and vendors, none of which had caught her eye, but others had been attracted to. She started to wonder if she should take a closer look and try to loosen up a little bit. After all, this vacation was paid for an--
"This tail is so fluffy!"
Noriko blinked, taken from her thoughts as she felt something wrap around the end of her large, bushy tail. She turned her head around to see a small child, no older than the age of four, hugging it as if it were a brand new teddy bear. She stared back at Noriko with wide eyes filled with young curiosity and a smile comprised of a missing tooth.
"Veronica! Stop that!" The child slowly let go of the tail she found as an older woman approached her, straying from her husband and stroller. She lifted the child into her arms, resting a hand on her back before her attention turned towards Noriko, her brows upturned in apology. "I'm so sorry, she's just overly energetic today."
Noriko smiled and gave a dismissive wave, to which the mother took her leave and reunited with her husband before continuing down the boardwalk. She watched them depart, feeling a longing creep into her chest. The absence of family left a part of her hollow, and the want of a husband and child of her own drifted into her mind like it had many times before. She let out an irritated huff, annoyed by her own thoughts, before beginning down the boardwalk steps towards the beach. "I have got to get a little buzzed tonight and stop thinking about this."