Of Yokai and Hopeless Romantics

Chapter 3

Celebrate was exactly what they did after eating dinner. The girls and Shoji retreated to Yayaka and Inna's room to let loose a little. Yayaka, Inna, and Mari were particularly into letting their hair down as the three were dancing until they fell over. Benihime joined them in their dancing for a bit, but when the three got too wild, she sat down next to Shoji and Noriko. Looking at those two, Benihime had to admit they made a cute couple. Noriko was radiant, her smile infectious, she might have lost the election, but it looks like she won the true prize. Benihime couldn't help but think of Mari's deal, could the cat truly pull it off? Would that be Benihime sitting there next to a boy who she cared for as much Noriko cared for Shoji? Even more important, would that boy care for her as Shoji cared for Noriko? The problem with Keiji wasn't that she didn't care for him, Benihime had thrown herself into the relationship, overlooking Keiji's faults and trying to make him into a better person. No, the problem was that Keiji hadn't cared for her. Looking at Noriko and Shoji together just drove the point home further, they had been a couple for only a few days and already had a stronger bond that she had ever had with Keiji, how foolish had Benihime been. Perhaps her parents were right and it would be best to return to the Yokai World, allow them to find her a partner.

" Ok, girls time to get down to some official business," Yayaka said, snapping Benihime out of her thoughts.

" Yes! Let's start the orgy!" Mari said.

" Don't joke like that Mari, that is very inappropriate," Benihime said, she usually expected talk like that from Yayaka.

" Have you been drinking sake again Mari?" Noriko asked her best friend. Mari, Yayaka, and Inna all got guilty looks on their faces. Yayaka really should know better, she was the President now.

" That's not what I meant by official business, but I'm up for anything or down or behind," Yayaka said laughing. " Business before pleasure though, I want Inna-chan to be my VP, I want Beni-chan to be my Secretary, and I want Mari-chan to be my Treasurer. I'd offer you a position Noriko, but I think you'll be too busy with the positions Shoji's going to have for you."

Noriko and Shoji both blushed.

Benihime was honored that Yayaka would ask her to be part of her Cabinet. While the two were friends, they had also been rivals for the Presidency and while Yayaka had mentioned wanting Benihime in her Cabinet, she was not beholden to that remark. It might be grasping at straws, but perhaps the responsibilities of being Secretary would help her in deciding her fate. Benihime was looking for anything that would serve as an attachment to the Human World, to act as a counterweight to what she felt was her responsibility to her parents. " I'll gladly accept your offer Yayaka-chan and will do the best I can to fulfill the duties of the office."

" Thank you Beni-chan, I'd expect no less," Yayaka said hugging her.

" I accept too, of course," Inna said, keeping her cool. It was probably a foregone conclusion that she would be Yayaka's VP.

" So you're just going to fill your Cabinet with your friends and lovers? Is that really responsible?" Mari said being the only one to object to Yayaka's proposal.

" Don't be difficult and just accept, I'm not looking to argue with you," Yayaka said not wanting Mari to ruin her good time.

" I'm just pointing out what others will say," Mari said, sounding like she fully believed in her logic.

" I'm not just filling my Cabinet with friends, I'm filling it with people I trust and know I can work with. You have a head for numbers, that's why you have the top grades in our year and why I want you to be Treasurer," Yayaka said.

" So your sexiness, needs my brains?" Mari said and a pillow smacked into her.

" Stop fishing for compliments, you'll get a big head," Noriko said laughing.