"A mad rambling of a fic author with a cold who needs distraction while 32,000 feet in the air..."  or, An Intro to a Fanzine Article

After arriving at San Francisco International Airport and making her way through the construction areas, the lines of people waiting to check in their luggage and finding the right gate to go to, the author finally stepped onto the moving walkway and breathed a sigh of relief.  Suddenly, little red bubbles of light burst around her and chibi-shichiseishi appeared, sitting or standing on the walkway railing.

"Oi..." the author groaned, "This is too early, guys.  Go pester someone else."

"^*%#&* right it's too early," chibiTasuki grumbled through a yawn, eyes opening just wide enough to glare blearily at his surroundings.  "What the ^#$#(* are we doing here anyways?!"

ChibiNuriko cheerfully thumped Tasuki, "Baka.  We're here to wish Nellie a safe flight, of course."

ChibiTasuki, who landed on the floor of the moving walkway, raised a tiny tessen threateningly, "Watch it!"

The author raised her eyes to heaven--er, the ceiling of the terminal.  "Why me?" she wondered as she stepped off the walkway, "Go home, minna.  I'm only going to be gone until tomorrow night."

ChibiHotohori stepped forward authoritatively, "Very well.  Safe journey then and we will see you this weekend."  He smiled winsomely.

*swoon*

[hey...chibi or not, this is still Hotohori-sama we're talking about *wink*]

ChibiChichiri asked, "Daa...why didn't you just ask me to get you there na no da?"

"Thank you, Chichiri, but while it's tempting, I'd get there too fast and my office will wonder why then give me more work to do.  This way, I can at least get some more sleep.  Besides, they already paid for the flight."

"Daa...I understand no da."

One by one, the chibi-shichisei waved goodbye and disappeared back into chibiChichiri's kasa.

Finally, only chibiHotohori and chibiChichiri were left.  "Oh,"  the author remembered the favor she needed to ask.  Catching chibiHotohori by hand, she asked, "Ne, Hotohori-sama, will you please come back in a few hours?  I'll need your help with an article I'm writing."

"Of course," he smiled and disappeared.

With a final 'da!' chibiChichiri winked and jumped into his kasa himself.

The author sighed, "Finally, peace and quiet..." [which is all relative anyway] then made a face as a hoard of kids ran screaming by, "Daaa...this is way too early for noise..."

*

A few hours and a nap later, the author began outlining the article. ChibiHotohori appeared as promised and helped by answering questions... why, the article was about Hotohori of course...