Jyūoku - "Senku, where have you been?! Do you have any idea what time it is? You should be in bed young man!"

The sick ten year old boy genius stood in the genkan while his older sister wrapped him in a towel. Senku had caught a nasty bug and when Jyūoku went to bring him soup and crackers, he wasn't in bed. It was pouring rain outside and here Senku was, three hours later, soaking wet.

Jyūoku - "Stay here. I'll be back to run you a bath then. I have to call the police and let them know you're back."

Jyūoku left Senku in the bathtub and left for the house phone. When she returned, her baby brother was crying. Mama Bear mode kicked in.

Jyūoku - "Sen-chan are you okay?! Are you hurt?!"

Senku - "I'm sorry..."

Jyūoku - "What?"

Senku - "I'm sorry, Onee-chan...I shouldn't have left..."

Jyūoku - "Why did you then?"

Senku - "I wanted to get back at the guy that made you sad..."

Her eyes widened a bit. Her boyfriend cheated on her earlier in the week and left her for the other girl.

Jyūoku - "Sen, I swear you drop IQ points every time you get sick. Hitsugawa isn't worth you getting even more sick. You don't even know where he lives."

Senku - "I'm sorry..."

Jyūoku - "Don't be, when you're better you can do whatever you please to the bastard. I have no doubt you can make his life a living hell with nothing more than your big brain. But right now, you're hella sick. Now let's get you cleaned up and back in bed."

<~<~>~>

Senku - "Oi, Nee-chan! Wake up!"

Jyūoku - I'm up, jeez."

Senku - "Finally. I'm not going to have the time for the soap workshop today."

Jyūoku - "That bites, but what are you planning today?"

Senku - "Gen was planning something to get the people Tsukasa revived to cooperate with us. I plan on creating a ship to take us to where the light appeared. South America."

Jyūoku - "Fun, let's go see your magic man."

Senku - "Mentalist."

Jyūoku smiled and followed her baby brother to an area that reminded her of a stage.

(Insert the play here)

Senku - "Time to submit ship designs."

Jyūoku left the boys alone and made her way over to a hut where all the herbs and meat was.

Yuzuriha - "Senpai, aren't you going to spend more time with Senku?"

Yuzuriha followed her. Such a sweet girl, if not a bit oblivious.

Jyūoku - "Sen-chan's busy and doesn't need me at the moment. Knowing him, he's going to find a captain, so I'm sure said captain would like a good meal for dinner tonight. I'm going to take stock of what we have here and start prepping for dinner. You should accompany Sen-chan with a proper outfit for the captain."

Yuzuriha - Okay, here's some paper for you and a pencil."

Yuzuriha left as quickly as she arrived. Jyūoku was a little relieved, the silence was beautiful.

<~<~>~>

Jyūoku - "Five prepackaged ramen cups, three salmon, six tuna, a hunk of deer meat, a basket of dandelions, some raspberries, strawberries, basil..."

??? - "Who the hell are you?"

Jyūoku jumped and threw her pencil at the very large man in front of her. He was very muscular with blonde hair.

Jyūoku - "Don't sneak up on me, you asshole!"

??? - "You're the one sneaking around the food storage!"

Gen - Magma-chan, don't yell at your chief's beloved older sister."

Magma - "Older sister? If I marry her would I become the new chief?"

Gen - "Nope, but -"

Jyūoku - "Ew, I'd never marry you."

Magma - "Why the hell not?!"

Senku - "Magma, move your ass! We're going to meet our captain! Oh, hey Jyūoku. We're going to retrieve the captain for our vessel, want to come with?"

Jyūoku - "I'll pass, chances are Minami is taking you to the Nanami Academy. Even if it's practically destroyed, one trip was enough. Besides all the boat instructors were pervy old men. I'll have a delicious dinner ready for you guys when you get back, though."

Senku - "Make me some teriyaki shiitake?"

Jyūoku - "I'd love to, but not for another six to seven months. I need soybeans and we haven't got any. It'll be near the top of my priority list to find them."

Jyūoku hugged Senku tightly, kissed his forehead, and ruffled his gravity defying hair. Senku smacked her hand away and left the hut with both Magma and Gen. Once again it was just her, the food, and the peaceful quiet.

Jyūoku - "I suppose I could make venison with a wild berry reduction and vegetable tempura...I need more venison for that though...and oil."

Ukyo - "I can help with venison, but oil is not my forte."

Jyūoku tripped over her feet and gripped her pencil too hard, snapping it in half.

Jyūoku - "Why do people keep sneaking up on me?!"

Ukyo laughed and helped her back to her feet.

Jyūoku - "Let's go, I need to find an olive plant and you can find some deer. Let's bring Kinrou and Ginrou to help you and protect me from wild animals."

Ukyo - "Gotcha -"

Kinrou - "Ma'am!"

Jyūoku turned to face Kinrou, Ginrou, and Chrome.

Chrome - "Dude, chill out. Hey, Senku said you were in charge until he got back. So what do you want us to do boss!"

Jyūoku - "Great timing actually. Ginrou, I want you to accompany Ukyo. He's hunting for meat for tonight's dinner. Chrome, if you can find Suika, I want the two of you to gather berries, herbs, and vegetables. Kinrou, I'd like it for you to accompany me, so I don't tragically perish to wild animals."

Jyūoku gave them all a big smile and eyed Ginrou's flighty stance.

Kinrou - "Understood Ma'am."

Jyūoku - "If you work hard enough, I'll make you something special."

Ginrou gave Jyūoku all his attention. His face grew into a wide smile and she didn't like the implications of what he was thinking.

Jyūoku - "Alright, off you guys go. Good luck Ukyo, Chrome."

She took a lovely grass woven basket and lead Kinrou out to the surrounding forest.

Kinrou - "Who are you"

Jyūoku - "Pardon?"

Kinrou - "Senku confirmed you're his older sister, and I trust him, but you showed up at the end of the Stone War. I don't believe you'll cause trouble for the village, but I don't understand you. You act nothing like Senku, nor do you look anything like him."

Jyūoku - "You don't believe I'm really Senku's older sister because we don't have any similar features. Honestly I'm not shocked, you're not the first person to suggest something like that."

Kinrou - "Apologies, I meant no offense."

Jyūoku - "No, it's fine. I should explain. Senku and I aren't biological siblings. My father, Ishigami Byakuya, adopted Senku when he was just two years old. His parents were killed in a car accident. I look more like Byakuya, but Senku looks like his late mother, or so I was told."

Kinrou - "I think I understand. In any case, it's nice to have another older sibling to talk with. I'm not close enough with Ruri to complain about Ginrou."

Jyūoku - "Yeah, is he...always like that?"

Kinrou - "Yeah, he's a village guard. I hoped to make him less of a coward by having guard with me, but it didn't do much."

Jyūoku - "I understand that. When Senku was younger, I had to force him outside or he'd die from lack of sunlight. More than once, I had to tie him to a tree and force feed him because he was holed up in his room, with all his science stuff, and he forgot to eat. He'd go days without eating or bathing if I wasn't there to take care of him."

Kinrou - "I never thought the Chief could be so negligent. What are we looking for again?"

Jyūoku - "Right, sorry. We're looking for a large tree, ranging ten to forty feet tall. It'll have a ton of branches...actually olive trees wouldn't be here. They prefer mediterranean areas...I'll let you know if we find anything I can use."

Jyūoku was on the hunt for...something. She didn't know what, but something she could use as oil. She kept walking until she stopped. It was so abrupt, that Kinrou almost walked into her. Her shoulder length hair was quickly tied back with a strip of cloth from her basket. Kinrou could see her eyes practically sparkle.

Kinrou - "Are you oka -"

Jyūoku practically flew away from him and was on the ground in front of a front with flowers resembling butterflies. She was digging in the dirt and pulling up little bean-pod-things and putting them and the flowers into her basket.

Kinrou - "What are they?"

Jyūoku - "Peanuts! Before I use them, I'll have to have Sen-chan make some epi-pens in case people are allergic. Back to the search."

Kinrou had to jog to keep up with her. She ran through the trees and foliage until she slowed down near a pond.

Kinrou - "Taking a break?"

Jyūoku - "No, I'm looking for specific plants that grow in and around water....there!"

Kinrou had never seen a person move so fast, unless it was Ginrou avoiding work. She ripped off Kinrou's shirt and was dumping wet plants onto the blue leather. He didn't want to say anything because she looked so excited. Her eyes snapped to a pile of green leafy plants by the shade of the trees.

Jyūoku - "Kinrou, bring me one of those leafy plants' please."

Kinrou - "Alright."

He did as told and his eyes widened at the potent smell the plant emitted. Jyūoku seemed to love it though. She thrust her basket into his hands. She covered the peanuts with a thick layer of grass and leaves around her.

Jyūoku - "Put as much of that plant in here. But please make sure they don't touch the peanuts."

Kinrou - "As you say."

Kinrou tactfully didn't mention the plant he retrieved was being chewed to oblivion. She said the plant could touch the peanuts and he didn't want to risk it. He spent a few minutes making another woven basket. It wasn't as nice to look at as Suika's was, but it was serviceable and it held the pungent plant well enough.

Jyūoku watched him from her spot at the pond. Her beloved rice plants were being properly harvested and replanted for future harvesting. She was amazed at how fast a basket was crafted from scraps of foliage. She had a massive amount of rice to feed the village for seconds and thirds, and even future rice to look forward to. She was quite satisfied for the time being.

Jyūoku - "Kinrou! I'm ready to head back to the village!"

Kinrou turned to her with the baskets in hand and a soft smile on his face. Jyūoku stood up, but fell right back down with a pained look on her face.

Jyūoku - "Shit!"

Kinrou - "Are you okay?!"

She didn't notice him bolt to her side. It was almost sweet to see how much he was worried for her.

Jyūoku - "I stepped in a hole and sprained my ankle."

She rubbed her swelling ankle with irritation and annoyance lacing her voice. Kinrou was silent for a moment before giving her his baskets and lifting her into his arms. Jyūoku gave out a squeak and her arms wrapped around her precious herbs and plants. She could feel heat staining her face at how effortless it was for Kinrou to pick her up. He didn't grunt or let out a huff of air at all!

Jyūoku - "Aren't I heavy? You don't need to carry me."

Kinrou stopped his trek through the forest to look at her, confused.

Kinrou - "You're not heavy. You actually feel too light, I'll have to talk to Senku to have you eat a bit more. And besides, I'd be a poor excuse for a man to let you walk on a hurt foot."

The heat on her face was traveling down her neck.

Ginrou - "Kinrou!"

Ginrou and Ukyo waved to them. Ginrou had a massive buck draped over his shoulders. Suika had a little hand basket with cilantro, carrots, and basil and Chrome had a bigger basket on his back with a lid covering everything.

Ginrou - "Oh ho~ Kinrou what were you two up too~"

Kinrou - "Give it a rest Ginrou."

Chrome - "Hey, Jyūoku. You okay? Your foot looks swollen."

Ukyo - "Sprained ankle?"

Jyūoku - "Yeah, I stepped in a hole and sprained it. Kinrou, ever the gentleman, is carrying me back to the village so it doesn't get worse."

Jyūoku gave Kinrou a little kiss on the cheek and ruffled his hair. Kinrou's face blew up in a red mess.

Jyūoku - "You boys had a good hunt I see. What did you gather Suika-chan?"

Suika - "I got carrots and basil and cilantro and some wild bird eggs!"

Chrome - "And I got berries, nuts, and some mountain greens the village usually eats!"

Jyūoku - Wonderful job everyone! Let's head back to the village. Suika-chan, Chrome, hold these baskets please?"

Jyūoku handed off her baskets and they continued the trek to the village. 

Vote,comment, and have a fantabulous day 💖💖😊😊 
2182 words 
Enjoy