Well, here we are again. I don't entirely know what the full story will be so we'll see where the characters take me. This owes everything to chi whose little review reminded me of the areas I never got to explore and started the wheels turning again. So if you've read Time of the Rabbit, welcome back to the lives of Namie and Momiji. And if you haven't, (go read it!) I hope you enjoy them. Reviews, as always, are much appreciated.
Being a receptionist may not have been the most glamorous of summer jobs, but it paid well, did not require much, and all in all, Namie really couldn't complain. Especially when it was the end of the day on a Friday.
There was a whoosh of warm air as the door opened to let a young man into the air-conditioned office. He was tall, lanky, with blond hair and a smooth smile that he shot at Namie when he caught her eyeing him. Casually, he strode to her desk and leaned on the top.
"Good evening miss," he said conversationally, still with the same sly smile.
Namie returned his greeting politely. "Hello sir. Can I help you?"
"I'd like to make an appointment to see Ms. Kimura."
Picking up a pen, Namie opened the notebook in front of her. "Very good. When would you like to schedule your appointment?"
"For 6:00 this evening."
Namie's eyes flicked to the clock on the wall. It read 5:54. She turned back to the young man with a raised eyebrow.
"That's very last minute. I'm not sure she'll be able to meet you."
The man tilted his head and gave her a dramatically disappointed face. "I know. It couldn't be helped. Isn't there anything you can do?"
Despite herself, Namie felt a smile tug at the corner of her mouth. "Well, maybe if you could give me a message to pass along to her, she might be lenient."
"Ah," the man stood up straight, triumphantly bouncing on his heels. Then he put both hands on top of the desk, leaned right over, and kissed Namie right on the lips. He stepped back, a cocky grin on his face.
Namie had to bite her lip as her cheeks flushed. "Name?" she said, looking back down at the notepad.
"Momiji Sohma."
"I'll see what I can do."
"Great! Thanks!" the man said. Then he walked over to the waiting area and flopped down on a sofa, pulling over one of the magazines to read. Namie noticed it was one about gardening and household upkeep.
Shaking her head, Namie stood and went back into the deeper parts of the office. Coming to one door halfway down a corridor, she knocked.
A greying woman wearing a suit and a businesslike expression set down the report she'd been reading as Namie entered.
"Ah, is it time to go already?" she said.
Namie nodded. "Yes ma'am. Is there anything you need me to do before I head out?"
"No, thank you, Kimura."
"Of course. Goodnight, ma'am."
The woman's goodnight echoed in Namie's ears as she hurried to the waiting room again and gathered her belongings into a messenger bag. Seeing her movements, the young man set aside his magazine and stood just as Namie walked around the desk and was about to pass him.
"Well?" he said. "Will Ms. Kimura see me?"
Namie looked him up and down, then let her smile show as a grin spread across the man's face. "I think she can squeeze you in."
He laughed, grabbing her around the waist and spinning her. Namie half swallowed a squeal.
"Quit it, Momiji!" she giggled, wacking him on the arm once she was back on the ground, and glacing around to see if there was anyone to notice them. "I've still got a month or so more! I don't want to get fired."
Momiji tutted and wrapped an arm around her waist as they walked towards the door. "But then you'd get to spend more time with me, your boyfriend!"
"Exactly." Namie pushed open the door, and a wave of warmth and setting sun hit her in the face. Momiji stuck his tongue out at her, and she smiled, pulling him closer.
"I got some good news," Momiji said more seriously. Namie tilted her head back to look at him. "I've been accepted at the university."
"That's wonderful!" cheered Namie. "We should celebrate!"
"With ice cream!" responded Momiji excitedly. Namie agreed and let him pull her two streets over to where there was a small ice cream store. They both picked out scopes (Momiji: butterscotch and strawberry on a cone, Namie: chocolate and coconut in a cup), then stood outside eating them.
"What about you?" Momiji added just as Namie put her spoon in her mouth. "Did you hear from the university you applied to?"
Namie paused, then pulled her spoon out and started mixing it in the ice cream. "No."
"What? Well, I guess it'll be coming soon, right?" Namie didn't look at him. "Right?"
She kept her eyes on her ice cream, swirling the brown and white goo. "I didn't apply."
Momiji stared at her. "Why not?"
Namie sighed and looked Momiji in the eye. Resigned green eyes meeting confused brown ones.
"I'm not going to university Momiji."
Disclaimer: Fruit's Basket and its characters belong to Natsuki Takaya.
