Title: Living in a Romance Novel
Chapter 1: My Bittersweet Prologue
Authors Note: Growing up, I was prone to reading everything my little hands could grab, the fantastic world of literature far better than real life. I really wanted to try my hand at writing a romance fan fiction circling around Shigure, hence my Lena was born.
Pairings: The Pairing will revolve around Shigure Sohma x Evalena White. I know I have a tendency to switch minds in the middle of a story, but this is set in stone.
Disclaimer: I do not own Fruits Basket or any of the characters. Evalena White is my own creation however, and belongs solely to me.
Full Summary: Evelena White was once an aspirting writer, now she's stuck as a dead beat editor, never making a break in the book industry. Her New York life is satisfying, but lacking until her estranged cousin Mii calls and begs to switch lives for three months. Her high demanding client has finally drive her up a wall and Mii needs a break. Despite Lena's bitter feelings to her family in Japan, she agrees to Mii's plea and becomes Shigure's new editor. She was ready to pull out every trick in the book in order to get that manuscript - falling in love was never part of the plan.
Every man's life is a fairy-tale written by God's fingers. ~Hans Christian Andersen
Born in the midst of a hot June summer night, Evelena Aurlie White began her literary career that would take the American Public by storm. With only her last name, Evelena, or more commonly, Lena, grew up at St. Marcus's Orphanage in New York, America. In the heart of American society of industrialism, surrounded by the mixed cultures of the world, Lena was first inspired to pick up the pen. Books had always been a source of inspiration for Lena White, escaping the dull grey room of the orphanage and skipping to princes slaying dragons, a slumbering princess and the evil witch. It was through novels, fairy tales, and poetic literature that Lena began her to form her own style of writing.
Lena first started her writing career at Little Brown's Elementary school, entering in numerous essay and short story contests. Her enhanced writing style took the children's competitions by storm and she was soon entering in Middle School and then to High School essay competitions. On a writer's scholarship and Valedictorian, Evelena Aurlie White was awarded a full ride to the New York College of Fine Arts where she began constructing her master piece –
The bibliography ended abruptly, because there was no master piece. Lena White had been writing her entire life, every word on the paper was true, which was why it stopped without ever announcing her contribution to American Literature. Somewhere along the line of her ten year plan, Lena had gotten side tracked, stuck at the same low end publisher company that looked at historical nonfiction books. She had never been much for ten year plans; maybe if she would have stuck to the list, she'd be on the other end of the publisher and writer relationship.
The phone rang off the hook in her small corner desk. Lena sighed and grasped the navy blue phone. She brushed her honey brown hair back and placed the phone to her ear.
"Lena Speaking," she spoke clearly, her voice was soft and bell like.
"Lena, I need your help," the voice was desperate.
"Mii, if this is about your hard to handle, high maintenance writer, I'm honestly out of ideas," Lena rolled her eyes on the other side of the line. She loved her cousin, but Mii could…over react at times. On the other line she heard deep breathing and heavy sobs.
"I can't do it anymore Lena, I need…I need a vacation," she begged.
"What are you asking, Mii?" she'd rather get straight to the case, "You know I'm not welcomed over there," she whispered the last few words dangerously. The harsh tone stung her throat.
"Trade places with me, just for a few months. I have to get away from my job. You can live in my house, take control over my writers and I'll take care of all the loose ends in New York. This is the chance you want Lena, to come over and say what you want to say to your mother's side of the family," Mii crossed her fingers, her lips trembled, "Please? PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE," and the sobbing broke out again.
"I'll consider it, Mii stop crying…Yes, I know you're very stressed, I know the past few months have been tough. Oh, damn it, Mii. Fine, yes. Yes, I will go for a few months while you come over here. Don't forget to feed my baby."
"Oh, thank you Lena! I promise! You can even bring the mutt over here; I have a big back yard, think of how nice it will be compared to New York."
Lena frowned, she LIKED New York. This was her home.
"When do you want to make the switch Mii?"
"Is tomorrow too soon?" she was getting away from all the stressed in her life, including Shigure Sohma, her most demanding writer. Grateful Tears were streaming down her cheeks.
"Uhm," tomorrow was very soon.
"Fantastic! Thank you so much Lena, you're a life savior," the phone line went dead, Lena sighed. She uncrossed her ankles and brushed her shoulder length wavy hair back into a clip. Her creamy complexion came from her father's side. The only look she had of her mother was her dark eyes, muddy brown with little specks of gold.
"Jenkins, I need a moment," she called from her office. Her boss shot his head out of the door and grinned.
"Finally come around Lena?"
"We're not dating, Jenks," Lena wasn't a great beauty, but she was easily one of the better looking women in the publishing industry.
"Break my heart sugar," he muttered, "such a tease."
"Stop asking and I won't have to break it," she replied haughtily back, brushing past her oak desk and walking into the office, "It's purely business, Jenks."
"Sure it is darling. It's happy hour in half an hour, you down?"
"Definitely, now can we get back on track? I'm going to take that vacation you requested, unless you would consider a switch," she waggled her eyebrows and smirked.
"Talk to me baby, I'm listening."
"My cousin in Japan is having a…desire to change lifestyles; she wants to test out the American way of life. She'd come here, take up my clients and I'll go down there and work with hers," as far as Lena knew, Mii only looked after a few writers, "She's really pretty, by the way."
"Hmm," he leaned back in his leather recliner, his finger tips meet up with the finger tips of the other hand as he went into deep thought.
"Well, we'll miss you Lena, have fun in Japan," he grinned cheekily then, "Try not to murder anyone."
Jenkins knew all about her dysfunctional family past, considering the fact he had been in the same orphanage she had been in. They had met when an older girl was going to steal her cookie away from her and J ended up beating her up.
"Don't scare her off J," Lena warned as she began to order his desk, "I don't think I ever mentioned your sexual orientation so she might not handle pet names like sweetie, baby, babe, princess, beautiful, or the variety of other names I know you enjoy."
"Noted, Sugar lips. So are when's the big switcheroo?"
"Tomorrow," it was far too soon.
"Impulsive, that's good for you, be more spontaneous. Try not to go overboard with your lists darling, just remember to grab Pooch and you'll be set."
"His name is Prince, Jenks, not Pooch," Lena replied cross, "You should know, you bought him for me, imposed him into my house, let him run amuck and then refused to return him."
"And you love every piece of fur on that dog," he grinned, "So, you're welcome."
"Just be nice to my cousin, Jenks. She's the only family I like." And Uncle had not been happy about it.
"Who's the boss here?" he grumbled as she swished out of the office and returned to her desk. She had multiple lists to make if she was going to be in Japan by tomorrow night.
"Did you enjoy your flight ma'am?" The airplane attendant had legs that went on forever, legs that Lena would die for with her own bean pole figure. If she gained weight, it was in all the wrong places, no curves.
"Yes, thank you," Lena replied as she entered the grand Japanese airport. Her cab money was ready, the address in her pocket. She had to pick up her luggage (fingers crossed that it was all there) and Prince.
She wouldn't have to go shopping for human necessities, and the attendants hadn't lost Prince. So all in all, she was two out of three and only needed the cab driver to find the house. She was exceptionally gifted with directions and catching cabs, a real New Yorker.
She whistled, holding up her hand as a Cab wiped by her side. The man took her luggage and was even pleased to let Prince ride upfront with him, windows rolled down and everything. The dog was in paradise. They rolled down the streets, the driver assuring her in thick Japanese that he knew exactly where he was going.
They arrived in front of a cute yellow house with brick trimming and a white picket fence. It was like suburb America. Mii had gone a little crazy with the pictures Lena had sent when she was building her house. Lena generously tipped the driver and took her bags and dog inside. A detailed two page note was waiting on the table next to a longer ten page note. The first was instructions on the running's of the house. The second was labeled, 'How to deal with Shigure Sohma – Lena, read carefully'
'Respect writer's creative space but do not be afraid to call numerous times and even go and check over at his house. Directions are on page two along with directions to various other houses he is known to escape too'
Escape?
The last page had the deadlines and what novels she would have to harass him on.
"Aww come on Mii, this one needs to be in today. I didn't even have time to check out the grocery store," Lena grumbled as she moved slowly to the phone. This was the part she hated, picking and poking at the writers to finish.
She'd much rather be picked and poked at.
Her fingers numbly dialed the phone as she glossed over the tips to forcing Shigure into finishing his manuscript. He had to have been one top client to put up with so much trouble.
"Shigure's residence, the young master is currently unavailable due to the highly contagious and dangerous Influenza…"
"I'm sure that won't stop him from finishing his manuscript," Lena commented, a smirk settled on her lips, "Last time I checked as long as the patient wasn't delirious he could hold a pen."
"This isn't Mii."
"Observant, good skills for a writer, Sohma-San. When can I expect your manuscript?" Lena tapped her foot against the hard wooden floor.
"Oh well, I'd welcome such a lovely presence into my humble home, but we're having renovations, it's highly dangerous," he sounded sincere.
"Fantastic, I'm jet legged from the trip anyways. I'm sure you remember Mii's address, I'll break out the champagne when you hand deliver it to me, Sohma-San. I look forward to meeting you. Mii speaks so…highly of you," she smirked. Highly wasn't exactly the word she would use.
"Oh, well,"
"Six o'clock then? I'll be waiting," Lena paused, and then slammed down the receiver. She had left enough curiosity to know that Sohma-San would be far too curious to resist.
Now she just had to unpack and look presentable by six o'clock. There was plenty of time. She was in Japan not five minutes and already Mii had provided her with a story to journal about later. The meeting with the mysterious man or possibly just 'Curiosities' the titles popped out in her head.
An editor on paper, a writer in the heart, it was a hard line for Lena to walk.