Getting ready

Who'd have thought I, of all people, would be nervous about starting school. I'd been the new kid a few times and I had already been to this one so people would know who I was as soon as I entered. Even so I had been awake the entire night thinking about attending class at that prestigious academy. Starting this day I would be beginning my life as Nao during the day and in the afternoon I would be a Fujisaki maid. I hadn't been able to stop thinking about my new life since it had been handed to me. Even though neither I nor Jin had actually started working, or started being Fukisaki's, it was already beginning to pile on the stress. Everything was moving too fast for me to even think. It had been days, even hours, but things would not slow down. I had to remind myself that this was all for Ceri. Everything that I was doing, everything that I had done, and everything I was going to do was for Ceri. I dreamt of a normal life for her. She deserved a good life with a home with people who loved her and without the fear Jin and I were raised with hanging over her head. She didn't need to worry about money and she could be a normal school girl and even find normal love like any other girl when she grew up. That was what I wished for more than anything in the world and Masako was handing me this dream on a silver platter. Maybe I would have hoped for that for myself as well but I was no longer normal.
Why did I have to think of those things all night, every day as well? Was I trying to exhaust myself before my life began? This was my chance to change things. Early in the morning I began to prepare to be Nao, which I became more and more aware was a terrible cover name. I never really tired passing as a guy before, though I've always been mistaken for one. This was completely new and I was winging it. First I put on an old sports bra which was so incredibly tight that it had been a good starting point. Then it was time for the compression wraps. I grabbed a 6 foot bandage and began to wrap it around my chest tightly. I started with the end on my right side near my spine and pinned it to the bra before continuing by wrapping it level around my breasts, tightly. I wrapped slightly about to hide the bulge that occurred on the upper potion from the compression then wrapped the bandage over my right shoulder then down and to the left to stabilize the wraps. I layered the lower portion another time before going for the last steps. Over the shoulder, back to the start, and then layer tighter and tighter until I finished and pinned the end. Step one to being Nao was finished. Next I put on the uniform that Masako had bought me. She knew my size perfectly and I wonder, could only wonder, how did she know; but that wasn't important at the moment. I put on a black man's tank top then the uniform over. It wasn't tight as to not show off my figure so the outfit was perfect. I grabbed a comb laying the dresser top and the gel that I "borrowed" from Christopher. I combed the left side of my hair to the side and back while the front part was combed forward and above my right eye. On the back on my head both sides met in a peak and pointed down. Lastly I placed a bandage over my birthmark. I was ready to be Nao for the day.
As my job entailed I had to take care and look after the two girls. Since I had already woken up early I thought I might as well get some work in during the morning. With great trouble I found my way from the first floor to the second. I had taken a few wrong turn on my way to wake up Aoi and Aiko. Luckily, or unluckily, none of the other maids or butlers had crossed my path. It might have helped to ask for directions but at that same time I didn't seem to fit in and I felt as if every step I took was being judged by everyone in the house hold, which gave me a bad feeling every time I saw someone stare.
After a while of aimlessly searching the corridors I found the familiar room. The outer door leading to the hall was just like the rest but gave off a familiar feel. It just felt different.
"Aiko, Aoi, Wake up. It's time to get ready for school." I knocked on the door and called from the outside without opening the door. I heard shuffling and then there was a thud. Worried that one of them might have hurt themselves I quickly grabbed the knob turned leaning forward to open the door just as someone was opening it. I found myself face to face with Aiko. We weren't even an inch away from each other. Her eyes widened just as I was about to lean back. Her hair was a complete mess and her clothes were askew. I looked up and down quickly, unconsciously, and then looked over to Aoi to see if she was ok. She was sitting at the foot of her bed looking at me with a similar expression as Aiko, except Aoi wasn't red, or at least not yet. I was still face to face with Aiko without backing away yet. Out of habit I flashed her a smile but before I could say a word I heard Aoi call out.
"Baka, Naomi!" When I turned back to her a pillow was flying straight at my face. It hit me square in the nose causing me to stumble back just in time for Aiko to close the door. What was that for? I was being a good house worker and waking them but somehow I had earned myself a pillow to the face. Sitting down against the wall I hugged my knees and the pillow. My only option was to wait. While I was waiting I saw Jin walking by so I called out to him.
"Jin, hey! I have a question." He came walking over to him with his signature goofy smile while rubbing his stomach. He must have just woken up. It was a habit of his to rub is stomach after a good night's sleep. I never understood it but that was my brother for you.
"Morn'in, whatcha ya got for me this morn'?" He placed his large hand on my head and shook it without disturbing my hair.
"I just came to wake up Masako's daughters and they threw something at me. What did you do wrong?"
"Did ya greet em lookin like that?"
"Yeah, I got dressed first and came here to make sure they wouldn't be late. I thought I heard someone fall so I opened the door and Aoi threw this at me." I hugged the pillow tightly.
"Ya gotta be more considerate about girls, more delicacy."
"Hey, I'm a girl too you know." I pouted and suck my face into the soft fabric of the pillow. I knew what delicacy was, or so I thought. I was yet to find out what normal girls thought constituted as delicacy.
"I know, I know." Jin patted my head softly before turning to walk away. "Oh, by the way can ya take Ceri to day care today. I got some things to work out this morning. Oh, and pick er up too this week."
"Sure, but what's going on? You usually take Ceri with you."
"We're starting a new life now. I gotta sort some things out with Masa-pyon. It's nothing ya need ta worry about runt. Ya got a lot ahead of ya too. Good luck our idiot prince." I watched Jin walk away and down the stairs. I wonder what he wasn't telling me. We always did everything together and he never hid anything from me before. He had a point though; I had a long day ahead of me I knew he'd tell me in time. I stood up again and brushed off my plaid pants and straightened my yellow tie.
"Hey, are you girls ready?"
"Chotto matte kudasai." I heard Aiko's voice through the door. Within seconds the door opened and both girls were fully dressed and holding school bags while also wearing makeup, which I hadn't noticed them wear before.
"Wow, you two look nice. I'm glad I get to escort such cute girls." I wish I could be as cute as them, is what I meant to say but somehow I think I hadn't said it right. Both of the girls exchanged a look that had me guessing. What were they thinking?
"I am very glad to have a popular escort as cool as you are, Naomi-san." I felt as if I had lost something in that exchange. I lost a little bit of pride as a woman. Aiko didn't even seem to realize the deadly blow she had given me.
"I'm glad you'll be taking us to school every morning." Aoi was more subtle in her excitement of a "cool boy" with her. I knew she was thinking the same as Aiko, or at least I thought so. I could only imagine they both thought of "Nao" as an idiot prince.

Warning! Though these are rather accurate directions for compressing you're breasts (chest binding) do not try this at home. It can be harmful if worn for long or done too tight. This description is only to show the process of Naomi's transformation!

Baka - dumb, idiot
Chotto matte kudasai - Wait a second please