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It was a quaint cloudy day. But that didn't mean it was a good day. Ana had crawled off the dirt path. Her eyes welled up with tears. She soon started sobbing. This attracted the hero on patrol, Lulu.
"Ana? Ana, what's wrong?"
She slowly approached, not wanting to scare her injured friend. She opened her arms for Ana to engage in a hug, but she would want to make sure Ana wanted said hug! Lulu just hoped that nothing serious was wrong. She eyed over her body to make sure!
The young ninja was covered in dirt and bruises, though fortunately the bruising wasn't severe. Lulu's words were not reaching the tearful ninja.
"Oh goodness, Ana, let me help." As the girl continued sobbing, Lulu crawled in front of Ana, trying to get in her view, and took out her first aid kit.
"Alrighty Ana, can y'show me where it hurts? Any cuts?" She didn't want to touch Ana without her realizing Lulu was here.
And then Lulu's continued talking had finally caught Ana's attention, but she was still stumbling on her sobs,
"L-Lulu!!"
The trembling child clung onto the hero, nearly knocking poor Lulu and her kit over. She was moreso emotionally distressed, though the physical pain was bad too.
"Oh.. it's okay Ana..." Lulu started giving some pats on the back to start. She didn't know what happened, maybe her friend tripped into mud? She wasn't sure, but continued to talk,
"Lulu's here, Ana. I'm not goin' anywhere."
Lulu would let the ninja sob. The pats, warmth, and familiar voice soon started to soothe that ninja into a more intelligible state. She hiccuped a bit,
"T-T'ank y-you, L-Lulu...w-wanna go hi-hide...g-go h-home...!"
Lulu thought, Go hide? Oh goodness, well she would have to talk about this later with Ana! For now, she needed to bring Ana to a safe place!
"Can I carry ya home then, Ana?" The hero kept talking softly and giving her pets. "I'll keep ya safe, hero's promise!"
The kindergartner nods against Lulu's shoulder, with a mix of relief and guilt was churning in her stomach.
Ana just wanted to go home and hide, but she was too emotionally compromised to use ninjutsu to vanish to there.
Lulu gave her a few more pats on the back before stuffing her first aid kit back in her bow. The next stop was Ana's house! She slowly weaned Ana off of her and turned around:
"C'mon best best friend. It's piggyback ride time." She gave a smile as she looked back, trying to help.
The teary eyed ninja nodded, and tried to get out a 'thank you'. But it came out with an awkward stumble.
Then she climbed onto Lulu's back. Ana wasn't sobbing out loud anymore, but the crying wouldn't stop. She'd do her best to hang on at least.
With a little bit of a stumble at first, Lulu started walking her friend home. She'd hop her home, but she was a little too scared that it'd worry Ana. What's a good idea for now...?
"The ants go marchin' 1 by 1 hoorah, hoorah..." And she started singing the nursery rhyme!
Ana tried to slow down her crying, though that came out in teary hiccups. She noticed that Lulu was singing a familiar ditty. So the little ninja tried to sing along,
"...th-the ants g-go m-marching...m-marching...h-hoorah, h-hoorah..."
Lulu was happy to keep singing as it sounded like Ana was singing along too! With a little bounce in her step, she kept singing nursery rhymes she remembered as they walked back to Ana's home. The young ninja weakly sang along to the songs the hero would belt out. It kept her from melting back into a sobbing mess.
Soon enough, time flies, they arrive home!
"Mind if I open the door, Ana?"
The tiny ninja nods. She was tired from all the crying and singing.
Once she was indoors, Lulu turned on the lights and walked straight to the bathroom. "Alrighty Ana, I'm not gonna leave until you either ask me to or we get everythin' A-OK. We gotta get you cleaned up first!"
She turned on the bath water, while still holding on to Ana.
Ana was taking in the home's comforting aura when she hears the water running. Realizing what Lulu's intentions were, the ninja slid off to not burden her friend. She starts getting up with a slight stumble.
Now that Ana wasn't on her back, it was easy for Lulu to reach over the tub to check if the water was too hot or too cold. Once she turned off the water, she turned back to Ana with a tilt of her head,
"Everythin' alrighty, Ana?"
Ana got onto her feet, but she looked rather exhausted from the crying and today's turmoil.
"...I-I...I-I dunno..." She admits with slumped shoulders. It takes her a moment to ask,
"...d-do you think I-I'm useless w-without Kat...?"
Well that was an easy question for Lulu to answer! Confidently, she looks to her friend,
"Absolutely not, Ana! You're your own person! Why d'you ask?"
Lulu wondered what the origin of the question was. Could it have something to do with the dirt and the bruises?
Ana looks down, "'C-'Cause I-I don't f-fight good w-without her...I-I get b-beaten lots...a-and I-I'm n-not good at h-handly stuff..."
That's the gist of what she heard today. But it's always been a sentiment that repeats a lot, from outside and within.
"Well Ana," Lulu started, "Not fighting good is not a sign that you're useless."
Even though Ana DOES fight well, she's just a kinder soul. Lulu continues,
"You're a young kid, Ana. You don't gotta be good at handling everythin'! You'll learn in school how t'handle the stuff!"
"I-I dunno..." the littlie admits, "K-Kat and I b-became well known 'cause w-we're little ninjas...a-and o-our father w-was very good a-at ninjutsu a-at our age..."
And then she realizes something when talking about this out-loud,
"...B-But...y-you and our friends say n-nice things about me...a-and Miss Penny says i-it's not good to 'pare y-yourself to o-others..."
She sat on the bath chair, "S-Sometimes I-I wish people d-din't 'pare m-me to K-Kat ‘n Father..."
"Penny's right 'bout that!" Lulu nods, noticing Ana sitting on the bath chair, "If people do compare you to Kat and your father, then you ask them nicely not to do that first. Then if they still do it, do your best t'leave the conversation!"
"I-I did...b-but that's how I-I ended u-up like this..." Ana noted with a sniffle.
Oh gosh, so that's what happened...But Lulu had to be reassuring! She grins,
"I don't compare ya t'your sister. Sure you're both ninjas but you're different people. I should know! I have this best best friend who I love and appreciate alot and she's a ninja that's different from Kat in her own ways!"
Ana realized she was being talked about, "...w-wait...th-that's me...? D-Different...b-but still...good...?"
"Yup! You're different but still amazin' in my book, Ana! How 'bout you clean yourself up for a bit and get in the tub? I'll clean up your hair for ya when you're in the tub and maybe you can show me some of your toys for bath time? Does that sound okay?"
The ribbon wearer smiled and gave her pal a pat on the head. Getting petted was one of Lulu's favorite things!
"So, who told ya all that stuff? Who pushed ya into the dirt 'n stuff?"
Ana wipes away some more tears,
"Um...well...I-I dunno i-if it's good to be different...l-like it's good with you a-and the crew, b-but at schools, th-they don't like that...'specially a-at ninja school...I-I'm, I-I'm so c-confused...l-I wanna b-be me...b-but, I-I don't wanna st-stand out..."
"Well... there's no right answer, Ana." Lulu gave a nod remembering her own time in Luxeville. She was in the opposite situation of Ana: she didn't want to be just some villager anymore.
"But bein' different is just a fact! Like everyone is different in their own way!"
The kindergartner sniffled, "Y-Yeah... I-I've seen that lots a-at W-Wario W-Ware..."
After a moment of trying to settle down the crying with helpful support from Lulu, Ana gets up,
"I-I'm gonna...g-get clean, a-and...I-I dunno...b-but...I-I, I-I want t-to...to d-do my best."
Lulu gave a nod, understanding that maybe Ana needed some time to clean up.
"I'll wait in the hall, call me if you need ANY help, Ana. And also... all anyone can ask you for is your best at the time!" She wanted to make sure she added that in there, just in case!
The child nods in return, "Th-Thanks Lulu..."
When the hero left the room, Ana got to washing up. It was a slight struggle due to exhaustion, but there was that soothing sensation of getting the dirt off.
Lulu would just pace about the hallway, not really having much to do as she waited. After about two minutes, she started to clean around the house to at least help Ana out. She had heard stuff about being happier if your home is clean!
Now, the twins' house wasn't quite dirty or messy, but the extra tidying would be appreciated.
When Ana was about to get soap for her hair, she stopped. Didn't Lulu say something about wanting to help Ana with that...?
She turned towards the hall, "U-Um, L-Lulu...?"
Thankfully the hero wasn't working on like the opposite end, so she still was within earshot. She walked over to the bathroom door, stuffing her wash rag into her bow. She wondered if Ana was alright?
"Yes, Ana? What's up?"
Ana spots Lulu putting a dirty rag into her bow. A question of if Lulu ever washed her bow popped into her mind...
But, she had to stick to the request:
"Umm...d-did you, I-I mean...c-can you help me with my hair please...?"
The changing of the verb definitely helped Lulu say "Well, of course! I'm happy t'help!" Lulu walked in and sat right next to the tub, the floor was a little wet, but oh well, she could air dry.
"Where's the shampoo, I'll clean up your hair for ya!" Lulu grinned.
It was a bit weird to have jumped in the tub before fully washing up, but Ana wanted to follow Lulu's instructions. She hands over the bottle of shampoo that reminded her of the instructions.
"H-Here you go! ...A-Also you could sit on the bath chair."
"Bath chair? Nah, floor is fine!" She had NO clue what that could possibly have been. Wouldn't bath chairs be IN the bath that Ana was in?
"Thank ya for the Shampoo! Now just sit so the hair faces me, and rest and relax."
"O-Okay...b-but if a spot's too hard to reach, you can sit on it...err...that?"
Ana points to the stool right next to the tub. ...It's admittedly still wet from when Ana was washing herself on it.
Lulu gave a nod and started to lather the red hair. She was doing her best to get all of the dirt to mix with the soap. The shampoo would get it out then... at least that's how she thought it work, she wasn't really a washing hair kinda girl.
"How are y'feelin', Ana?"
"K-Kinda funny..." the child notes, "U-Usually sis helps wash me...b-but that's okay, I-I can do i-it by myself a-and you're helping me now, s-so thank you."
"Of course! Sometimes its nice t'be pampered!" Lulu grins. "It's like this is one of those fancy spa's! I've ALWAYS wanted to go! But this is the next best thing!" She started gently pouring water down her hair to get the suds out, making sure not to get them in her eyes.
"Mm..." Ana looks to the ceiling as Lulu washes, "...I-I wonder if it's okay to wash hair a-after getting in the tub..."
"Wait... why wouldn't it be okay to wash hair in a tub...?" Lulu asks. Sure she's not normally washing her hair at ALL but... where else would you wash your hair? In a sink? Has she been doing this all wrong her entire life?! Maybe Luxeville is a lot more different from Diamond City…
Thankfully Ana would explain,
"O-Oh, 'cause when Kat and me were growing up, w-we were taught to wash everything outside the tub...a-and then sit in the bath to relax...b-but, I-I hear not everyone does that..."
Admittedly, this discussion was making baths befuddling to Ana too.
Seeing Lulu wished to be treated at a spa, the ninja offers, "H-Hey, m-maybe sometime I can do this for you too! I-It does feel nice..."
Ana could also offer to take Lulu to a spa but...game development and ninjutsu barely paid enough for necessities.
Lulu couldn't think too hard about this bath thing, she might confuse herself more. She'd rather just apologize after this than think about customs of eastern and western baths.
"Oh goodness Ana, I couldn't ask ya t'do that." She sweated, not having taken enough baths,
"You're the younger one after all AND I'm a hero! Heroes don't do stuff like go to spas, they help others uhh... go to spas?" Lulu wonders where her train of thought was going but decided to finish with, "So I give you the spa. I don't wanna bother you the other way 'round!"
"Th-They do...?" Ana was perplexed. That was certainly not a hero policy she heard of...although Lulu was the hero expert.
"B-But...th-that doesn't matter...I-I don't want to give a hero a spa..."
The young ninja spun to face Lulu, "...I-I wanna give my best best friend the best I can do 'cause she's my best best fri-"
Ana realized her sudden turnaround had gotten her friend soaked.
"...oops." she squeaked.
Lulu smiled at the nice gesture Ana was offering, even though she may have gotten soaked. At first Lulu took a moment to process what happened, which was followed by a fit of giggles escaping. She grabs the wash tub,
"Be careful Ana! I got the bucket!" And she dumped some water right over Ana's head.
This caused the small ninja to have her own burst of giggles, "W-Well, i-if you got the bucket, I-I got the-"
She grabs the shower wand and playfully sprays Lulu with it, "Sparkle Sparkle Shower Burst!"
Lulu squealed and laughed as she tried her best to shield herself from the shower head's constant stream... she'd need a weapon herself. And as a hero... she has the perfect thing!
"Try my Hydrocannon LX!" It was not on a pressurized setting, so it acted more like a normal water gun.
Ana shrieked giddily upon receiving the "attack". It had thrown off her mark as she needed to shield herself from the famous weapon!
"Oh no!" the girl giggled, "N-Not the Hydrocannon LX!"
She dove into the tub to avoid the spray, and that caused some water to splash out! But since Ana had to let go of the shower wand to duck, water was now spraying everywhere!
"Oh goodness!" Lulu couldn't help but keep laughing. "It's rainin' Ana! Rainin' in your bathroom!" She accepted that she'd get soaked as she turned off the water faucet to the wand.
Now she sat herself on the edge of the tub, still having a few giggles left.
"I wonder where Ana went? Maybe she became a fishy or something?" She yelled out, as she looked away from Ana.
"Anaaaaa? Did you become a fiiiiiishy?"
Soon enough, Ana bursts from the waters and gives Lulu a hug!
"Here I am!" she giggles, "And I'm not a fishy! But maybe I'm a mermaid who just got her legs!"
Lulu happily accepted the hug, returning the girl's hug.
"Well, I think we cleaned everythin' in the bathroom, Ana. How 'bout I find your jammies for you to put on and some towels for the both of us t'dry off? Afterall, y'just got your legs! Don't you need to learn to walk?"
"Hee hee, yeah! Thanks for the reminder and help!" the young girl agrees, "Fluffy dry towels are in the closet next to this room!"
After all, they did soak the ones in the bathroom.
"Closet next t'this room, got it!" Lulu slid off the tub and back onto the bathroom tile, shaking her head like a dog to give Ana one last splash before she took off her wet socks. She didn't want to make too much of a mess outside the bathroom after all! Ana giggled upon being splashed by the hair shake. As soon as Lulu left the room, the child drained the tub to scrub it as soon as she's presentable.
Lulu did her best to be quick to grab the two biggest towels she should find, as her clothes were dripping wet. Once she acquired two towels she slid right back in, putting one towel right in Ana's reach outside the tub.
"Alrighty, Lil' Mermaid! Time to try out those legs!" Lulu turned around to give Ana a little privacy so she could get out of the bath. Lulu would start working on drying her hair first.
"Thank you!" she chirps when Lulu placed the towel. Time to dry off!
After getting her hair fairly dry, Ana wraps the towel around herself and climbs out of the tub.
Her hair was still wet, but it wasn't drippy at least.
"Alrighty, next y'need t'get yourself some jammies! Something nice and soft and warm for nighttime!" Lulu had seemingly thought this all through, ready to serve!
"Also can I borrow a top 'n bottom myself? My outfit is kinda soaked." She chuckled, wanting to hang a little more.
"Of course! I'll be back as soon as I can!"
Ana wipes her feet on the bath mat to make sure no water gets in the house. Then she darts into the hall to get sleepwear from the clothes closet.
And within a few minutes, she's back, wearing lavender pajamas that had a few flowers on the shirt. The girl offers Lulu two sets of clothing:
"Here Lulu, you can choose the cloudy set or the big Zoo shirt!"
"Cute pajamas!" Lulu complimented before pointing to the cloudy set. It's not that she didn't love animals, but the clouds were much more her style as some who has flown amongst the clouds before.
"Thank ya so much, again. Can I change in here? That way I can hang up my clothes!"
"Of course! I'll be wiping off any drippy drops from the floor while you do that!"
Ana gets a rag from the closet and gets to wiping away any bath water that had fallen onto the house's floors from the girls' excursions.
"Oh! I can do that for you in a bit Ana!" Lulu exclaimed. That motivated her to get changed as quickly as she could, but once she got changed, she stopped in front of the mirror. Seeing herself in the clothes got her to sorta be amazed. It felt kind of weird to be in different clothes…
The kindergartner had wiped down the last of the bath water, "Oh, I'm done! But thank you for offering, Lulu!"
She gets up with a little stretch, "...I'm a little tired, but I'm not ready for bed yet..."
Today was a long day, but with a good friend, it felt a lot better.
The older girl bowed her head in apology, "Aw, dang! Sorry for leavin' you with all of the work, Ana! Took me a bit to get the pajamas on!"
She tilted her head, "Well, anyway I could help?" The hero was happy to offer her assistance in any way
"It's all okie dokie, Lulu!" Ana reassures her friend, "But you can help me with rolling out the bed!"
The child has rolled out the futons alone before, but it was much easier to do it with help!
"Let's go wash our hands first, I gotta put away the rag too!"
"Okay! I'll meet you at the sink then!" Lulu walked over and started dousing her hands in soap and lathering for the 20 seconds her classroom bathroom sign told her to do it for!
Ana nods and follows Lulu. She mimics the hero's movements, although the kindergartner hums a small ditty to keep track of the 20 seconds.
"Alrighty, futons! Prepared to be unrolled!" Lulu pumped her fist in the air as if she was engaging in war with the bedding, "Let's get the bed set up, Ana!"
"Yeah!" the ninja child cheers.
With their combined efforts, the futons were rolled out in a jiffy! Then came the blanket and pillows! Although there were two sets of bedding fit for the big futon.
Ana pulled out the light pink one, "M-Mind helping me with the blankie please...?"
"Of course!" Lulu grabbed one end of the blanket and started to walk away from Ana, that way it can be placed over the futon easily!
"What a nice pink y'chose, Ana!" She smiled.
"Th-Thanks!" Ana said as they pulled the blanket over the futon, "We used the blue one when you slept over the other day!"
With the blanket settled, the ninja brings the pillows over...Seems like there were four in total, but two of them were sitting in this room's closet.
"Oh ya?" Lulu didn't remember, to be honest, but she happily put the blanket down. As Ana brought the two pillows over, she decided she'd offer to get the other ones!
"I'll go get the other two, alrighty Ana?"
"U-Um, okay!" Seemed fine for Ana, although she wasn't exactly sure why they had 4 pillows and only two ninjas lived here.
...Must be for sleepovers!
Now for the cuddly toys! Ana carries the bin of plushies over, and they're spilled onto the futon!
"The animals are free!" Lulu cheered. "Look at all these wonderful friends you have, Ana!"
She would sit down on the futon and stand the toys up, spreading them out so they can get their own space to 'rest' accordingly.
Ana joined in the cheering, "Woohoo! Now for Jira Jira and Mei!"
She looks around the main area, but manages to find the two. Mei was under the kotatsu, while Jira Jira was tucked in a corner. The two were brought over to the futon!
"Here they are!"
"Awww yeah! Now it's a party!" Lulu whooped. It was nice to see that Ana was feeling much better compared to earlier today. She felt proud to say that a little bit of this happiness was thanks to her! And now she greets the plush,
"Hello Mei, Jira Jira, how are you two t'day?"
Holding Mei by the arm, Ana bounces the giraffe over to Lulu. She speaks for the giraffe in an excited tone,
"I'm doin' good, Lulu! I won at hide and seek today! I'm getting better at it!"
As for the turtle, Ana used a peppy yet gentle voice, "Good evening! I was staying warm under the kotatsu. It's a lovely spot for a turtle."
A small laugh escaped Lulu as she applauded the giraffe.
"Soon enough you'll be an expert at Hide and Seek! Maybe there's a hide and seek championship for giraffes!"
Considering that the giraffe was one of the larger plushies, Jira Jira certainly had something to be proud of.
Lulu then tilted her body towards Ana as Mei started 'talking', "Hopefully this blanket is just as warm!"
"Thanks a lot!" the giraffe 'said', "Haven't found a championship for giraffes, but I hear there's one for all animals at the zoo!"
Ana helped the turtle bow to Lulu, "I'm sure it is, Lulu. I..."
The child stifles a yawn, "...I would like to thank you for looking out for Ana...And you're wonderful for, being you!"
Lulu applauded the giraffe's ambition before turning to Mei to confirm,
"Well, of course Mei! Ana's my best best friend! And I should be the one thankin' you, shouldn't I?"
Of course, now that Lulu knows Ana is tired, she had a different goal.
" 'Ey, Ana... Mei sounds a little sleepy, maybe you and her should get under the covers and I'll go turn off the lights." She hopped off and started walking to turn off the light. It was Lulu-Decreed bedtime now.
"Okay..." Ana sleepily agreed. Part of her wanted to stay up but she wasn't one to deny commands and requests (most of the time).
So the kindergartner got herself and the plush turtle settled in. But she wasn't lying down just yet.
Once Lulu did a check through of the house, she grabbed some homework she needed to work on and went into the bed with Ana. To be frank, she wasn't that sleepy either but she knows that once there's a yawn it's not too far from sleep!
"Need me t'get you anythin', Ana?"
Ana shook her head, "Uh uh, b-but thanks for asking..."
She gently squished the turtle's hands as it sat on her lap. They were still partially under the covers, but Ana remained sitting.
As Lulu grabbed a hard-covered book and sat herself up in the futon as well, but this was so she could get ahead on her school work! That's the heroic thing to do!
"You gonna sleep sittin' up, Ana?" She joked. "Everything alrighty?"
The kindergartner quietly nodded, though her eyes had some difficulties in staying open. She was just sort of, thinking, attempting to process what has happened as of late.
Ana pulled Mei in close, as she tried to find some words to say. But perhaps her mind was too sleepy and thinky to utter something besides the tiny grunt.
Lulu was able to sorta recognize the state Ana was in, as Lulu's been in a position similar before where words just don't come out. For her it was a sign of feeling safe and secure, so Lulu will take this situation as a compliment to her helping out Ana, even if it may not be.
She gave her pal a pat on the head and a nod of understanding.
"Alrighty then, I'm gonna be right here workin' on some homework, Ana. Sleep well." She gave a grin.
After another small yawn, Ana nods again.
She certainly felt safe around Lulu. They had plenty in common, along with their own differences. But the older girl gave her head pats and lots of support. It really felt like she was a best best friend.
After processing that thought, the kindergartner gave Lulu a hug,
"...thanks Lulu." she uttered in a hushed tone.
Lulu returned the hug, a sign that her prediction wasn't too far off!
"No needta thank me, Ana. Sleep well!" She grinned, loosening her hug so that when Ana was ready to sleep, she could!
Since the older girl wanted to do homework, Ana lets go and lies on her side. Holding the plush turtle again, she remained facing towards Lulu.
"Night night, Lulu..."
Finally, the ninja allows herself to doze off, feeling much better than when she was found.
Lulu would continue to do her own work for about an hour, using the time to also make sure Ana slept soundly . It had been a hard day for her best best friend, so she wanted to make sure she did everything in her power to make it nightmare free! It was the heroic thing to do!