Prologue

The sea was hollering. Clouds of ash had swirled in a tumult of stormy air high above. Enormous, raging waves were blotting out the sky, before smashing into the carcass that had once been a ship. Lacerating rain and howling winds were bringing the ocean apart, and he could still hear the raucous echo of the midnight bedlam, deep down below as he went.

Sinking. Drowning.

There was no destination. There was no end. Just a bottomless, aquatic pit. The cold, onyx water was paralyzing his small limbs and his lungs recoiled in pain deep within his chest. But he was too tired to keep fighting against this oceanic grave. Way too tired. Before he lost consciousness, he thought he saw a silver gleam dancing through the ink before his sight. Something grabbed him by the nape. And then he was gone.

When he opened his eyes again, he was on a small boat , swaddled in blankets and burning in fever. He had been one of the last two people to be pulled alive from the tempest's fury. Immediately, he sought his family and his weary gaze eventually settled on his young mother, soaked and frozen as she was, trying to comfort his bawling sister in her arms.

But his father was nowhere to be found.

1

1936, somewhere in England

Strings of iridescent light and pools of faint shadow were cycling in his path, as he scurried along the row of arched windows, down the vaulted ceiling corridor. A dozen of letters and envelops threatened to leap out of his grasp, as his fingers rifled through the week's mail and his purple eyes scoured for any important matter that would require immediate response. Such was his engrossment , that he never noticed the light shade slowly peeping out the end of the long hallway.

"Aaaaaahhh!..."

"Oh my God!...what..." caught by surprise, he found himself engulfed in a cloud of yellow papers and stamps, before the various letters scattered around him on the wooden floor.

"Rei..I mean,Ryugazaki-san?"

Rei smoothed his black morning coat and pushed back his red glasses in all seriousness.

"Hanamura-san, what's the meaning of this ambush?"

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to."

Letting an irritated sigh, he looked down at the mixed and discarded letters puddling around their feet. He carefully squatted, so that dust wouldn't cling on his freshly ironed pants, and, followed by a blushed Hana, they started gathering the papers in swift motions.

"What are you even doing here? Shouldn't you be preparing the lady's dinner?"

"I..uhm..I was hiding...from...the rat..."

Pausing momentarily, he scowled at her in disbelief.

"A rat?"

"Yes. Nagisa-kun says there's a rat in the kitchen."

"A rat...in our kitchen, a rat...and you believed him..."

He snatched the last envelop from her rosy hands and stood up, straightening his lean body.

"I can't believe he continues that lame prank from last week. Hanamura-san, please refrain from falling for his jokes again, and return to the kitchen so that...where on earth are you taking that, Nitori-kun?!"

A round, silver head popped behind a huge, unidentified plant. Rei's sudden shriek had made the poor boy stop dead in his tracks, his knees lightly shaking under the weight of the ceramic pot.

"I...I'm sorry Ry-Ryugazaki-senpai!...So sorry! I'm just ta-taking this gift that came earlier today out to the backyard..."

Rei bit his inner cheek, struggling to retain his temper. His gloved hand beckoned the boy to come closer, which the latter did after taking a few staggering steps.

"Tell me Nitori-kun, are you the gardener?"

His voice was almost dripping honey.

"N-no."

"As what are you hired here?"

"As the master's valet."

"And exactly which valet's duty requires you to carry pots around the mansion, sprinkling dirt on the floor?"

"But Nagisa-chan said..."

"Where is that blond fiend that has messed up the whole staff today anyway?!" Rei finally shouted exasperated, causing Nitori to sink within his collar.

"He was around here ten minutes ago, not sure where he vanished now." Hana chimed in, looking around the hallway with uncertainty.

"He should be out watering the flowers, why no one is at their post today?" The proud butler muttered to himself before exchanging glances with his embarrassed subordinates. "Hanamura-san, in less than an hour it will be serving time for our lady's dinner, so please begin its preparation immediately. Nitori-kun, you should be polishing young-master's dressing shoes, in case he needs them tonight. And, dear Lord, put down that ugly pot."

"Yes, senpai!"

"Ooowwww!"

An agonizing, muffled sound escaped Rei's lips. Crystal tears blotched the dark violet of his eyes and his cheeks blazed up as he stared at young Nitori in pain, who smiled awkwardly back, too scared to form a word.

"What...what are you doing..."

"You said to put the pot... down so I..."

"Not here, you dimwit! And certainly not on my toes!"

"Let me have a look at them, Ryugazaki-san. I've attended a nursing class at the local church."

"No, stop it, you both!" Rei took a couple of much needed, soothing breaths in. "I'm fine. Please, for now, let's all go back to our work."

The shrilling sound of the old doorbell reverberated through the mansion's ground floor, making all three of them jump at their spots, as if the button was hardwired to their brains. Rei cast a brief glance at the Victorian grandfather clock with the elaborate carvings that was rhythmically ticking the time at the other end of the corridor.

"Weird, as far as I know, we aren't expecting anyone at this time. Nitori take these " he shoved the pile of letters to the boy's chest "and leave them on the secretary in the small lounge, I shall archive them later. Now, please, both of you return to your duties."

Rei strode towards the main entrance, squaring his shoulders and stealing a second to inspect himself through the basalt mirror at the foyer, a treasure brought back from a trip to volcanic Iceland. However, his austere and ceremonious expression quickly crumbled into ashes the moment he opened the heavy, oaken door. Standing on the threshold, below the canopy crowned by streamers of climbing star jasmine, there was a dark haired man in his late teens. His clothes seemed old and of second hand; the edges of his brown vest were tattered and the coarse wool of his pants had been mended and darned on the knees several times. A pair of leather boots, weathered by mud and rain, and a newsboy cap were completing his humble attire. A burlap sack was draped over his shoulder. He had no coat.

Rei didn't have to spare him a second glance.

"We've already donated to the local charity this week, thank you."

The words were blurted faster than a bolt, and twice as fast Rei swung the door closed on the man's face. But before he dared a step away, the harsh doorbell jangled his nerves once again.

"Listen, sir, I believe you're knocking on the wrong..."

"My name's Nanase Haruka."

Rei blinked a couple of times.

"Excuse me?"

Without explaining further, the young man stretched out his arm, urging the suspicious butler to accept the discoloured note within his hand. Rei took the creased paper and read it with caution. Soon, his eyes widened in disbelief.

"A cook? You're the cook we were expecting?"

"Yes, sir."

"But you were supposed to arrive in two days from now. We weren't notified."

"I had no means to do that, sir. I've been traveling on foot since yesterday."

Rei let the image of someone walking a whole day just to reach the mansion register in his mind, while he observed this stranger with the Japanese name. His clothes were timeworn yet clean and his apathetic face didn't betray a man battered by journey and weather. If anything, his cold eyes reflected the icy blue of winter. Rei had serious doubts this man possessed any cooking skills.

"You should have showed up at the service entrance. Staff isn't supposed to enter by the main door, not to mention dressed like that" he massaged his left temple, feeling already a migraine spreading."Where is that brat of a gardener when you need him?"

As if the Devil had just been summoned by name, golden strands of hair stood out of the blooming shrubs circling the stone fountain in the front yard. A second later, a short young man, with a face brighter than the meridian sun, emerged from the green.

"Nagisa! Come here at once!"

The youth called Nagisa wiped his forehead with the back of his palm, leaving a sooty smear in the process, before briskly scampering their way.

"Hey, Rei-chan!"

"Don't call me Rei-chan. Where have you been all this time?"

"I was uprooting weeds in the garden. Why, what's wrong, Rei-chan?"

"I just asked you to not call me that" he hissed through clenched teeth, while comically wiggling his eyebrows to point out Haruka's presence. Nagisa tactlessly eyed the newcomer from head to toe.

"Why it matters in front of this guy? He's a laborer."

"Potentially, he's also our new cook."

"Ooooh..." Nagisa's lips shaped up into a playful circle "Nice to meet you then, mate, I'm Nagisa"

Surprising Haruka, he grabbed his hand and cheerfully shook it, while a cordial smile sparkled on his cheeky face. If anything, the raven haired man looked slightly uncomfortable with the gesture.

" You two shall have time for the introductions later. Hurry up and lead him to the kitchen, and I shall inform the master of his arrival. I can't have him waiting at our doorstep while looking like a peasant. It's not beautiful."

Rei gave a gentle push on their backs, effectively guiding them down the marble steps of the porch. Haruka seemed to hesitate, but Nagisa's compelling enthusiasm pulled him by the wrist into the verdant garden. They followed a pebbled pathway gyrating around the main house. The sunlight, a rare premium in the English province, was warming up the hues of malachite on the leafages, though everything was still damp after the morning drizzle.

"I think you're gonna like it here, mister...I didn't catch your name?"

"Nanase Haruka"

"Yes, as I was saying, you will be fine here, Haru-chan. Everyone in.."

"Just Haruka."

"...the staff is friendly. Don't let Rei-chan fool you. He is a bit obsessed with order and elegance, but he's actually a sweetheart. Also, if you need anything, I'm your man. I do errands outside the house, run the stables, tend the vineyards, I'm basically a jack of all trades around the estate."

"I thought you were the gardener" Haruka remarked in a rather indifferent tone.

"Well, I started here as a ground keeper when I was still a child, then moved to become the head gardener...but, lately, we've been lacking so much staff that each one of us had to take on more responsibilities. I'm not complaining though. In fact, if our cooking was any good, there would be no need for a chef. So you may thank our nightmarish culinary skills for your new job...Ah, here we are!"

They ascended a small, wooden patio. Its white paint had faded and the planks under their feet squeaked lightly. There was a long, shabby bench next to the screen door, a lonely ashtray resting on its rough surface, overflown with cigarette butts and ashes; the countless, cherished breaks from the daily work reflected in its soot. However, the moment they stepped inside the kitchen, a female scream pierced their ears and thick, grey smoke began befogging their sight.

"Oh my God! I can't believe I burnt the steaks again! Why is this stove giving me a hard time every day?!"

In an instant, Haruka jumped by the girl's side, turning off the stove and helping her with the sizzling pan. Nagisa, on the other hand, was shaking his head in surrender.

"See what I'm telling you..."

Silent and unruffled, Haruka grabbed a kitchen knife and proceeded in deftly cutting and peeling off the charred parts of the tenderloin steaks. Hana was watching dumbfounded his lean fingers working with grace and ease on the burnt meat. Despite his efforts though, most of it had been reduced to carbon.

"Is that all you have for dinner?"

"Huh?...No...that was our lady's dinner...there's also some cold, potato leak soup from yesterday. I was going to heat it up and serve it as an escort, but now it has to be the main dish and its taste is just so bland."

"Where do you keep the seasonings and spices?" he abruptly cut her off.

Hana pointed at the farmhouse styled cabinets above the sink, the second one in row. Various glass jars and sheer pouches rested on the shelves, containing an array of colours in powders and herbs. Haruka's eyes scanned them carefully for a minute, before returning to the central counter with a small jar and a couple of leaves in his hands.

"Add the bay leaves and one spoonful of ground thyme while you are heating the soup up. Before you serve it, remove the leaves. I'll turn the gas stove on for you."

Hana stood there in absolute awe, her worries about the dinner long gone and replaced by one simple question; Just who this stranger before her was? As if reading the thoughts pulsating in her mind, Nagisa's lips curled up to a jaunty smirk.

"Our food saviour."

Meanwhile, one floor above, in an antique furnished office that smelled of mahogany wood and brandy, the handsome face of a man with hair shining like wild cherries, was reflected on the translucent glass. An unforeseen heir to the grand estate, after his mother's second marriage, Matsuoka Rin was known for his impudent personality in his personal affairs, and stern outlook when it came down to serious business. His tendency to only hire help of Japanese origin had built him a disreputable name among many English locals. At the same time, his irresistible charm had always fueled him with allies when most needed, so that everyone surrounding him would agree that, if anything, Matsuoka Rin was a man of great passions; one would either loathe him or worship him. There was no middle ground.

But that afternoon, as he was standing behind a window pane over-viewing the impressive front spread, with his hands casually shoved in his herringbone slacks, a light frown kept disrupting the harmony of his facial lines. An unusual yet absurd scene had caught his full attention, rendering him deaf to the deep , husky voice floating in the background.

"Things don't look well in Europe. Nationalists seem to be on the rise everywhere. It's not just Germany or the police state of Italy anymore. There's a turmoil in Spain too, it seems a matter of time before the Republicans clash with General Franco's army."

The owner of the velvet, baritone voice was leaning back in a burgundy winged armchair , his homburg hat resting on the burnished brown desk beside him, his sapphire eyes browsing through the inky pages of the Daily Telegraph.

"Back home there had been an attempted coup in late February, and even though it failed, the public unrest is still widespread in Tokyo. Meanwhile, the incidents against Chinese targets are succeeding one another. It seems that every corner of the earth smells of gunpowder."

When the news failed to evoke even the slightest stretch of Rin's shoulders, the man directed his gaze at his companion and folded the newspaper.

"Have you even been listening to a word I'm saying?"

"Nagisa just dragged some unknown drifter towards the back yard."

"Well...here I am talking to you about the whole world looking like a boiling cauldron, and you only seem to care about your staff's affairs."

"I have more troubles plaguing my mind, Sousuke." Rin finally turned around with a sigh. He lazily approached a small bar cabinet, and filled in a glass of aromatic brandy. "In fact, my troubles are so many that the world's problems are not among my priorities. Not when our crops' sales remained low last year, and the possibility of bouncing back looks still a far-fetched dream."

"We are still facing the effects of the great depression. How do you think your sales will go if, on top of that, a new war breaks out?"

"Relax, I'm not going to flip my head around the worst possible scenario all of a sudden. I have crucial matters to tend, and an important dinner with the Mikoshiba family to prepare for the weekend."

"Wait a second, Mikoshiba?" Sousuke's eyes widened in mild shock, as two familiar copperheads started materializing in his mind "This sounds more like a trap full of suitors for your sister."

"Well, this wouldn't be my exact choice of words."

"Rin, you can't be serious..." he stood up and took a few steps towards the mini bar, as if getting closer to his friend would unveil the joke hiding behind the startling news. "Why would you rush in giving her away as a wife to someone that won't be of her choice? Gou is not even eighteen yet."

"She will be soon enough. Besides, I won't be pressing her to do anything she doesn't want."

"How isn't this dinner a type of pressure? This far, you've been a raging watchdog around her, barking at any male who dares to step within range. So I don't know what to make out of this new plan of yours."

Sidestepping him, Rin settled in his leather executive chair. For a moment, he rotated the glass in his hand, peering thoughtfully into its tawny hue, and when his eyes drifted back to Sousuke, they were shadowed with a darker red.

"Make no mistake, Sousuke, it won't be without a cost for me. In order to keep her safe from spoiled jerks that would break her heart, I would marry her myself if I could. But given our financial situation, I need to think of her future. Besides, that's not the only reason."

A small lump was burdening his throat. He swallowed.

"Mother is not well. The last weeks, her health has deteriorated. I thought that, perhaps, spring-like weather would help her, but I was wrong. The doctors aren't confident anymore. And right now, if there's something that will brighten my mother's days, that's to see her daughter settled and happy."

"However, your mother also has a son..."

Through his red bangs of fire, Rin squinted his eyes at the brunet.

"Your point?"

Sousuke exhaled lightly, already sensing the defensive vibe behind his friend's challenge. He perched on the edge of the mahogany desk right before Rin, and as his impressive stature hovered above the redhead, his voice assumed a sweeter and soothing tinge.

"You're the older one and yet you never expressed any interest in marriage. Look, I'm saying this as your friend. People will eventually get suspicious and start gossiping."

"I don't know what you're talking about."

Rin cut him off and took a generous sip of his drink. It poured down his throat in a cascade of heated silk. Coming face to face with Rin's denial, an emotion so strong with deep roots weaving through the innocence of their childhood, Sousuke shook his head. It was not the appropriate time to untangle the ball of yarn that were Rin's unsolved insecurities. He knew that well. Still, an impetuous wedding in the Matsuoka family was a development he couldn't just overlook.

"So basically, because you can't get married yourself to benefit the estate and follow your mother's wish, you're arranging such fate for your sister" Sousuke pressed on, changing to a harsh tone.

"Options are up to her. Nevertheless, I am not going to let any rich brat or penniless officer brainwash her. So, I'm merely making sure said options are worth her time. But what put the bee in your bonnet all of a sudden?"

Sousuke clenched his jaw at the invisible boundary rising before him. Retracting in his usual aloofness, he shrugged off his friend's question, but Rin had already his crimson orbs piercing through him with curiosity.

"Sousuke, you've known Gou all her life. You are like a second brother to her, so if you think someone isn't suitable for her or you have any other worry I should know of, please do speak up. You have earned that right within this family."

This time, the brunet stared at him straight in the eyes, with a composed expression spread on his face like a sea vast and unlined.

"Yes that's it. The worry of a brother when he's presented with such news out of the blue."

"Rest assured then, I am not going to force her to do anything. She will be free to choose."

"I'm just wondering what kind of freedom is that when someone else sets the choices."

At that moment, the office's sliding door was pushed wide open, causing the irritation hanging from Rin's pursed lips to transform into his infamous shark grin. Like a honeycomb-yellow ray of sunshine pouring through patches of cloud onto a gloomy meadow, Gou rushed into the austere-styled office. Waves of strawberry fragrance swarmed every corner of the room and her cerise ponytail flowed behind her, following the gentle swish of her floral gown. Pouncing on her brother's lap, she let her happiness drench him and, in response, Rin cradled her dearly in his arms.

"Onii-chan! I'm so glad you're here!"

"Hey, Gou. What's the rush?"

She rested comfortably on his thigh and smoothed the folds of her dress. Only then did she lift an eyebrow, acknowledging Sousuke's presence, who had been standing there uptight since the moment her youthfulness barged in.

"Good afternoon, Yamazaki-san."

"Gou."

Sousuke bowed lightly, sporting a look more reserved than usually. Rin's gaze bounced between his dear sister and his best friend like a ping-pong ball, before disapprovingly clicking his tongue.

"What ' s with the stupid formalities? 'Yamazaki-san'? Really? Don't tell me you two still hold a grudge since the day he refused to give you a horse ride?"

Gou stole a second glance at Sousuke, heedlessly chewing on her bottom lip. He seemed unfazed by Rin's scolding.

"Well...nii-chan...maybe I overreacted...a bit..."

"There's no 'maybe'. Start acting your age. That includes you too, big baby."

He planted a light kick on Sousuke's shin, eliciting a low growl from the taller male.

"Now, what is it that you wanted? Your innocent smile can't trick me, I can tell you're here to ask for something."

Gou's slender fingers came to straighten his collar, circling with her index one the Bakelite buttons she found there. A playful spark twinkled in her crimson eyes, and Rin already knew he was a slave to her demand before she even mouthed it.

"Today at school, during the music class, we were taught about this great composer, Chopin and his work. And later, during the gym class, I passed by the big hall we use for the school's events and Mrs Amakata was in there, playing the piano. Oh, onii-chan, it was so beautiful! I was carried away by Chopin's nocturnes, I forgot to return to the gym class. Those melodies were pure magic!"

"I'm sure we have a vinyl record with his well known creations somewhere."

"But onii-chan! I don't want just to listen to them. I want to be able to play them myself."

"So you basically want to learn how to play the piano all of a sudden..."

She beamed, nodding happily like a child that was just promised the best ride at a fun faire.

"Gou, you'd need an actual piano first to practice..."

"What about that old one we had found in the basement when we were kids? It's still there, we never got rid of it."

"Oh God, that one should have been turned into firewood long ago. It's so old, its keys are probably broken. It would also require someone to tune it up."

"I'm sure if I ask Mrs Amakata, she will suggest me a good tuner. Nothing that can't be fixed."

"You have an answer to everything, haven't you?" Rin sighed his defeat "What do you think about that, Sousuke? I know you enjoy music more than I do, even though you barely admit it."

The handsome brunet cleared his throat. But as he was about to respond, two steady knocks on the door claimed their attention. With his breath hitched, even more so when he realised his master wasn't alone, Rei excused himself and asked for Rin's prompt intervention as ' the kitchen's beauty was in peril '; his choice of words. Even though clearly perplexed, Rin knew better than to ignore his own butler. Ryugazaki Rei wasn't the man to interrupt him over frivolous matters. Promising to be right back, he followed the sophisticated servant, leaving Gou and Sousuke to sink in unnerving silence. They both remained rooted to their spots and, suddenly, the art deco wallpaper across them looked unusually interesting. She was anxiously toying with the hem of her dress, while he kept clenching his fists by his sides , both of them inwardly counting the echoes of Rin's thumping footsteps down the hallway. And as soon as their sound faded away, it was Sousuke the first one to fail bearing that mute tension.

"Seriously Gou, a horse ride? Are you mistaking your brother for an idiot?"

She crossed her arms and puffed her chest up, subconsciously rivalling his intimidating figure.

"Would you prefer it if I just told him the truth, then?"

"Not when your version of the events is a far cry from the truth."

"There aren't many different ways to describe the stalking of a girl while she is bathing, you know."

Sousuke's thick eyebrows lowered in a heavy scowl.

"For the last time, I wasn't stalking you."

"Spying then? You like this verb better?"

"I had wandered off and got lost" he hissed through clenched teeth, admitting his poor sense of direction had always been a pain for him "I couldn't possibly know you were wading naked into the river."

" A noble man, who accidentally becomes a witness of such scene, has the decency to leave as soon as possible. He doesn't stay there, bump onto me and find the perfect chance to grope me."

"You are twisting everything, I stumbled and I apologized for it, but I never laid a hand on you."

"Really? It must have been someone else's hand then," she scoffed, without thinking for a second to back down, just like a proper Matsuoka. "But isn't this what most men would say, anyway?"

That was the straw that broke the camel's back for Sousuke. He had never been a boaster like Rin, but his competitive pride wouldn't let him stomach the comparison to inferior men. Taking two steps closer, he invaded Gou's personal space. Startled by his sudden advance, she stood there like a pillar of salt.

"You're taking me for a coward, aren't you?" He leaned down, letting his low-pitched voice become a caress to her ears. "You think that if I wanted to make a move on you, I wouldn't do it directly? Why? What would stop me?"

He curled his fingers around a stray strand of her soft hair. His warm, moist breath billowed in a cloud between them, making every inch of her face tingle. Gou could feel her eyelids weighing down.

"Don't do that..."

He breathed out, inches away from her skin.

"Don't do what?..."

Hurried footsteps shattered the slackened time. With eyes wide and cheeks flustered, they jolted away from each other, as if they had just touched an electric fence and the high voltage cleaved through their bodies.

"This could take me longer than I thought. There might be an addition to our staff, so I have to check the newcomer out." Rin's red head popped around the door.

"That's fine, onii-chan. I am going to keep mother some company while she's having her dinner."

Gou hopped over to his side and placed a feathery kiss on his cheek.

"Don't forget my request!" She winked and Rin was left shaking his head, while she dashed down the hallway.

"Oi, Sousuke, if you aren't in a hurry, wait for me at the lounge, will you?"

"Yeah, in fact I'm in mood for some pool. I might break the rack while waiting."

Five minutes later, Rin was entering the bright kitchen with the rustic country look. The little ruckus, that was previously reverberating through the ground floor, ceased at once and everyone's head turned on the classy, young man. The acrid smell of something burnt and gone was skimming the air, but everything else looked perfectly fine.

"I won't bother asking what was going on in here and why you all look like you were just caught with your hands in the cookie jar..."

Rin spelled out slowly, while his canny eyes tip toed from one guilty face to another. Until they finally settled on the only one that looked serene and nonchalant, if not borderline uninterested in standing among them. Two big, azure eyes, resembling two clear drops of water that escaped the everlasting ocean, were fixed on him, and Rin could swear they were almost beckoning him to dive and drown in their infinity. He had to briefly avert is own.

"He's the cook?"

"Yes, Matsuoka-senpai. His name is Nanase Haruka." Rei whispered next to him, before passing him the recommendation letter.

Rin glanced again at the raven haired man, taking in his humble appearance. He looked about his own age.

"I didn't expect you to be so young. In how many households you've worked so far?"

"None, sir."

"None?" Rin sneered. "And what makes you think you'll fit in here then?"

"My skills."

His voice was flat and steady, without the tiniest hint of arrogance. Its compelling undertone made Rin a bit uncomfortable. It wasn't confidence this guy was oozing, it was some kind of brute, deadpan honesty. Rin's focus changed to the typewritten letter in his hands. He frowned.

"Here it says you've only worked in Rules before."

"That's right, sir."

The redhead chuckled visibly irritated.

"You...working as a chef in London's oldest restaurant...Tell me, do I look like a fool?"

"As one of their assistants. I never claimed I was the main chef."

This time, Rei didn't evade his master's deadly glance. He stammered awkwardly while Rin's inflamed eyes narrowed at him.

"An assistant..."

"Ma-Matsuoka senpai, his na-name was the only one sent when I called the agency for Japanese cooks. Besides, an assistant in Rules is...still an assistant in Rules , right?"

Shedding his sulky facade, Rin raked a hand through his scarlet mane.

"I'm afraid we can't hire him. He clearly lacks in experience, plus I still have my doubts a place like Rules would allow anywhere near their kitchen someone who looks like a boor. Just hand this man his coat and escort him out."

"I don't have a coat, sir."

Rin arched a curious eyebrow. Even though they were sauntering in the heart of spring, the temperature had been low and the sun soaring during middays was as unfriendly as ever. No matter the season, the sharp English weather wasn't something to joke about.

"You don't own a coat?"

"That's not what I said. I owned one. But I don't have it anymore. I sold it."

"Very well. I'm not pretending to be a good Samaritan but..." Rin paused for a second "...Rei, give him some money and food, before leading..."

"I sold it to get here, sir."

A sigh of sadness fled Hana's lips and she swiftly covered her mouth in mild embarrassment. Her eyes though mirrored the sympathy that had just coloured the surrounding faces. And even though Rin was an eccentric man loaded with flaws, being heartless wasn't one of them.

"What do you mean?"

"I was staying at a hotel but I was running out of money, hence I had no choice but to travel here sooner than I was expected. I needed to pay for a train ticket, but my coat sold lower than I expected. So I had to continue my trip on foot."

"You could have just made a call here. Everyone knows us in town, they would tell you the number. We would have sent someone to pick you up, since you were expected."

"But I wasn't in the nearby town. I was in Canterbury."

Instantly, wrinkles of surprise sketched Rin's forehead. His lips parted, but his mind-blowing confusion was impossible to be shaped into words. And, soon, this startling emotion segued into awe; this man before him, this young bloke with the frayed clothes and the sky-blue eyes, had been walking all these miles for more than a day, just to reach his house and become his servant. Only the mighty Gods could brag for such compliments of devotion.

"Haruka, right? Tell me a good reason to keep you."

"Senpai?"

Rei turned towards him in question but the redhead raised his hand, signalling him to remain quiet. Someone who had covered all this distance in a pair of boots that was already coming apart at the seams, and without a coat to shield their body against the fierce midnight cold, surely deserved at least another chance.

"I don't have much to tell you. I can show you though."

Instant delight enlivened Rin's face.

"Show me then. Use whatever ingredient you find here and make a drink for me. You have ten minutes."

It was an unprecedented pleasure to witness Haruka in action. Fully committed to the cause, he quietly combed the entire kitchen. Every time he would find an ingredient he needed, prying pairs of eyes would follow him for a reaction; but his face would remain unreadable. Cranberry juice, star anise, ginger, brown sugar, cloves, regular grapes though he'd prefer red ones...eventually he formed a lineup of tastes and aromas on the wooden counter. Rather than a chef, he reminded of a painter, deft fingers working with grace on the culinary canvas. He stirred gently everything in a hot pan until the spices infused. The anticipation around him was growing, he could smell it on their uneven breaths, on the minuscule beads of sweat cooling their temples. In the end, he strained the mixture into a thick glass tumbler and, adding a cinnamon stick, he offered it to Rin.

Hearts pounding, lips being chewed, hands anxiously being rubbed together ; everyone's focus was weighing on young Matsuoka's shoulders like an anvil. He stared at the bloody liquid for a mere second, before taking a cautious sip.

His eyes shimmered.

"This is..."

Incredible was the word he was seeking, but it was left wafting in the back of his mind.

"Firepit steamer, this is how I call it."

At the sound of its creative name, Rin was triggered anew. He gulped down some more, letting the hot drink flare up his insides. It was spicy, yet fresh-tasting and Rin could picture it clearly now; late summer nights by the fire, chilly hands wrapped around a mug, gentle waves rocking against the steadfast shore, the dark ocean expanding till the end of the horizon.

The ocean. Its waters. Those crystal eyes.

Was the cocktail's overwhelming flavour the culprit, or could he be sinking in their iciness already? He couldn't honestly tell. But that wintry aquamarine had somehow invaded his senses along with the flames of the savoury juice. Those eyes were gradually making him numb to the core. It was a spell and he had been summoned by name. He could smell the sea, the wild kelp, the mysterious depths. He was there again. Frozen and yet alive. Alone and yet not quite. He was...

"Senpai?...Matsuoka-senpai?..."

Rin blinked a couple of times. He was still in the middle of the kitchen and everyone was looking at him expectedly. Staring down at the glass in his hand, he chuckled; it was empty. He met Haruka's beautiful face and the tip of his tongue swept any stray, sweet droplets off his upper lip.

"Rest today, Haru. Rei will show you your room and fill you in regarding your work here."

Nagisa jumped triumphantly, while both Nitori and Hana clapped their hands, unable to hide their elation. Still puzzled by the sudden turn of events, Rei tailed after his young master, as the latter spun on his heel to leave.

"Are you sure, senpai?"

"One hundred percent. I'll be at the lounge if mother asks."

A faint smirk was dangling at the corner of Haruka's mouth. He had never been keen on expressing his emotions, but watching all these people - mere strangers to him thirty minutes ago – genuinely joyful over his stay, had strummed sensitive strings inside him he didn't know he possessed. And then, there was him . There was Rin.

"Well, you heard Matsuoka-senpai." Rei showily steadied his red glasses and showered Haruka with a polished smile, completely aligned to his master's orders. "Now come with me if you please."

"Oi, Rei..." Rin emerged behind the stylish butler, causing him to comically lose his cool once again. "Uhm...there's some huge , ugly plant right in the middle of my corridor. Could you take care of it and make it vanish? Like, now?"

Haruka ended up following the naughty gardener through the stately mansion and into the servants' quarters. Nagisa was a source of relentless chatter. In their short stroll through halls and passageways, he made sure to brief him on the various rumours floating around the house, as well as his unique preferences regarding his one true love; food. And even though Haruka dodged all the intrusive questions about his life and Japanese origins, that didn't discourage the devious teenager one bit.

"This is Rei-chan's room. He likes to read till late, but most times he falls asleep with the lights on and his glasses ready to drop off his nose. I find it cute, he'll never admit that though...And this is where you'll be staying. Bed on the left is yours, the other one is for our chauffeur. He only sleeps here when he must though, since he has a family down at the village...Ai-chan and I are at the end of the corridor, room on the left. So if you need anything...though tonight I might be staying in town. Gotta buy some garden supplies, I don't think I'll catch the last train back on time...Oh shit, in fact I should be leaving soon!"

The room was plain, with a low ceiling and unvarnished furniture. A basic, clean shelter for the night, just as he liked it. He found a new change of clothes waiting for him on the white, cotton sheets. For the next hours, Haruka would soak in a tin bathtub, letting the cold water wash the day's traces away and rejuvenate his soul.

When the midnight stillness befell, it found him sprawled on the bed and motionless like a log. His gaze, a cobalt lagoon hibernating in darkness, was permanently transfixed on the ceiling. For the past hour, the sea was swelling on its drab surface. Waves were grinding against reefs, sending their ripples to all four corners of the room. And somehow, among those fond memories of the ocean, red threads would weave through uninvited, like unruly strands of hair, and dye the ceiling scarlet. His chronic insomnia had been blessed with new ghosts to haunt him. Because the scene of a certain, velvet tongue licking the last droplets of his cranberry juice, kept undulating on the sea's facade. Because he couldn't hear his full name anymore, but instead his thoughts whispered Haru .

Such was the harrowing silence beyond him, that when a low shuffle reached his ears, he mistook it for a figment of his imagination. But then light thumps followed, and Haruka was sure these were footsteps coming from the narrow hallway. Dragging his body to the wooden door, he leaned close to a jagged crack and peeped outside.

That was when he saw him. His body clad in a long, dark robe, the flickering flame of his candle stirring the shadows on the wall beside him; Rin Matsuoka was secretly sneaking in those lowly quarters.

In an instant, Haruka's mouth was drying up like a desert.

The redhead quietly passed outside his chamber and continued down the hallway. Pausing in front of another room, he gently knocked two times, waited a few seconds and then knocked once more. Soon, the old door opened with a low, creaking sound.

" Ai-chan and I are at the end of the corridor, room on the left...though tonight I might be staying in town."

Suddenly, Haruka could not swallow anymore. His eyes widened and his thoughts kept galloping like male steeds on a racetrack. And it was as if Rin had just heard his screaming mind, because he hesitated and turned his head towards his own closed door. Two lethal, crimson eyes hovered above the amber candlelight and mercilessly pierced him through layers of shadow and wood. For a moment, Haruka felt helpless like a shark's prey. But then Rin averted his gaze and entered the room, immersing the world outside of it once again into darkness.

Thanks for reading. Reviews are appreciated. This is my new multi-chapter fic, the one I had promised at the end of "Those Piercing Eyes of Red". Apart the two main ships tagged, it will include other, lesser ones too. 2nd chapter is up. I will continue posting one shot stories though too, next one that will be uploaded will be a SouRin/MakoHaru one.