Summary: Kisa and Hiro are going on their first date. Rin follows them to look out for Hiro, not knowing that Haru has his own plans to keep an eye on Kisa. Pre-Volume 18.
Disclaimer: Don't own.
This, by the way, is my first chapter story!
I'm taking Kisa out on a date.
Isuzu "Rin" Sohma pulled on her knee-high stiletto boots, a grim frown on her face. After doing so, she paused to think. Shaking her head, she kicked them off again and instead, slipped into more formal black high-heels. Hiro had said that he was taking Kisa to De la Mer, and knowing a fancy place like that, Rin didn't think her favorite boots would be welcome. Normally, she wouldn't have cared, but she didn't want to make a scene. Not tonight. Not on Hiro's special night. She didn't want to ruin things for him and, more importantly, she didn't want to be discovered.
She didn't like to admit it, but she was fond of the kid. Yes, Rin Sohma hid deep, sisterly affection for the annoying, wise-mouthed brat. When Hiro had come to her with the news that he and Kisa were going on their first date that very evening, Rin felt that she had responsibility over the two, especially for Hiro. Kids could be so immature sometimes. She immediately decided that she would follow them. Not for her own selfish amusement, no, but to protect them. She didn't know what she was supposed to protect them from yet, but… she cared for the kid. A lot. And hell would freeze over before Rin Sohma would let something ruin Hiro and Kisa's perfect night.
---
Hiro-chan asked me to dinner.
Hatsuharu Sohma tightened his tie in front of the mirror, frowning in concentration. He hated getting all dressed up. He took a step back to look at his reflection fully. Damn. His tie was still crooked. He untied it and glanced at the instructions that Yuki had written for him. Silently, he followed them for the sixth time. And the sixth time was the charm. He grunted in satisfaction and reached for a comb to tidy his unruly hair. You had to look pretty spiffy in order to dine at De la Mer. After struggling for many minutes without much improvement, he gave up, chucked the comb aside, and ruffled his hair.
'Screw it.' Haru thought, barely irritated. Who cared what his hair looked like anyway? It's not like he was the one with the date. 'It was Kisa.' He thought, feeling a sudden surge of affection for the girl. Haru couldn't help but feel like an older brother to the timid child. And now that his 'little sister' was going out on her first ever date…well, what else would an older brother do? Follow them secretly, of course. Besides, those two were only kids, and kids could be so irresponsible. Didn't they need someone to watch over them? Haru had to be sure that everything went as planned on Kisa and Hiro's special night.
---
Hiro Sohma shifted from one foot to the other nervously, clutching the bouquet of flowers in his sweaty hands. He adjusted his tie fretfully, and waited like a nervous wreck. His heart beat louder and faster every second he waited outside her door. More beads of sweat ran down his temple. He adjusted his tie again. Where was she?
His eyes widened. Was she ignoring him on purpose? What if she really didn't want to go? What if she was taking her time to answer the door because she dreaded the date? What if she only said yes out of pity for him? Hiro almost fainted on her doorstep.
Suddenly, a wave of realization hit him like a semi truck. He hadn't even knocked on her door yet.
---
"There you go." Kisa Sohma's mother stepped back to admire the flower in her daughter's hair. Kisa was wearing a pale, yellow dress and matching yellow sandals covered her small, stockinged feet. "You look so beautiful." She felt the tears come to her eyes again and blinked them away.
Kisa fingered the flower shyly, "Thank you." She said in an almost-whisper.
There was a timid knock on the door, and Kisa's heart skipped a beat. He was here. She took a deep breath to contain herself and opened the door. She tried so hard to keep from blushing, but her face turned red as soon as she caught sight of Hiro.
Hiro was dressed in a little tuxedo with a very large bouquet of roses, which he held out to her in shaking hands. His face was just as red as hers was.
They both stood there, red as tomatoes, until Kisa remembered just who she was and what they were going to do. Embarrassed, she took the roses, thanked him shyly, and invited him in, closing the door behind him.
They took a seat beside each other on the couch, still blushing, hearing nothing but their own pounding heartbeats and stealing secret glances at each other every now and then.
"Picture time!" The sudden loud squeal made the both of them jump about a foot off the ground. Kisa's mother had leapt up from behind the couch, whipping out a digital camera from the pocket of her apron.
After about a dozen profuse compliments directed at Hiro ("Uwaaah! Your little tuxedo is so adorable!") and even more pictures ("Oh, this one's going on the wall for sure!"), Kisa's mother was finally able to let them go. She led the children to the front door and waved goodbye as they both climbed into the backseat of Hiro's mother's car.
---
The ride to De la Mer was all but quiet, even though neither Hiro nor Kisa spoke more than five sentences the whole time. The silence was filled by the happy chattering of Hiro's mother from the driver's seat. Although she was pregnant and also exceedingly clumsy, Hiro's mother had insisted on driving her son on his first date. Conscious of his wife's ability to be hopelessly accident-prone, Hiro's father had also tagged along.
Uncomfortable from the cheesy love stories that had spouted from his mother's mouth, Hiro was more than glad to step out of the car with Kisa and watch his parents drive away, his mother's waving hand still protruding out of the window.
Hiro took a deep breath as he gaped at the very large and very grand door to the fancy restaurant. He turned to Kisa.
"Ready?" He asked.
She nodded confidently. Then they took each other's hand and walked inside.
---
"Fuck you!"
The boy on the red bicycle instantly pedaled away as fast as he could with one hand clamped firmly over his mouth, both completely shocked and extremely scared.
Rin glared at his retreating figure, throwing invisible daggers at his back with her piercing, dark eyes. Nobody whistled at Isuzu Sohma. Nobody.
Regaining her composure, she smoothed out her short black dress and continued walking. She was beginning to regret wearing the thing already. Who knew what other idiots she would meet that night?
The large restaurant came into full view. Increasing her walking speed, she reached the grand door in record time and unceremoniously threw it open. The sound of the orchestra playing was the first thing she noticed. The second thing made her mouth drop open. There was a ballroom in this restaurant. Having never eaten at De la Mer before, she was unprepared for the sight of the expansive dance floor that centered the great room. All of the candlelit tables surrounded several couples in formal attire that now slow-danced happily to the sound of the band.
Shaking away her surprise, she pretended as if the extravagance of it all had barely fazed her.
Suddenly, a tall, thin man whom she assumed was the maitre d' stepped in front of her in full costume, bowtie and everything. "Good evening, madam. How many in your party?" He spoke in a perfectly matching pompous voice complete with a subtle, foreign accent.
Caught off guard by his sudden appearance, Rin stuttered an answer, "Er…it's – it's just me."
The maitre d' raised his eyebrows. Single women did not dine by themselves at De la Mer. That just wasn't how it was done. Perhaps he had made a mistake in communication. "And will anyone be joining you, madam?"
The girl's brows furrowed, "No. Didn't I just say that it was just me?" Clearly, she was irritated.
The maitre d' nodded solemnly. Maybe the poor girl's date had walked out on her. What a shame, a lovely young woman like her. Ah, well. Such was life. "My deepest apologies, madam. This way please."
He led her through a maze of tables, chairs, and waiters to the other side of the ballroom. He led her to a table set for two with a single, romantic candle set in the middle. The maitre d' pulled out the chair for her and gently placed the napkin on her lap. Normally, the maitre d' did not do these things, but he told himself seriously that kindness was what the poor girl needed most right now.
He handed her the menu, bowed to her, and gave her a sympathetic smile before gliding off to do his real job.
Rin was bewildered. Did they normally treat you like royalty at places like these? Surely, the maitre d' did not go as far as to bow to you and place the napkin on your lap and stuff. 'Maybe it's the dress.' She thought sullenly. Pushing the subject out of her mind, she searched the room for the two children who were the reasons she was here in the first place.
She was very relieved to spot them on her adjacent side to the right. They were not too close for them to see her, yet not too far that they were out of sight. From her spot in the restaurant, she could see Hiro and Kisa perfectly. She could also hide behind the large man seated between their tables if there was any danger of them discovering her.
Right now, Hiro and Kisa were talking and eating their appetizers. Both were still a little bashful and self-conscious, and they were both pink at the cheeks. Letting a small smile grace her features, Rin Sohma leaned back in her seat and opened the menu.
---
Hatsuharu was a little late. He just had to get lost on one of the most important nights of his – er, Kisa's life. He pushed the regal door to the fancy restaurant open without even a second glance at it and entered the vast room. The sight of the immense ballroom did not affect him in the least. He had been here several times in the far past with his parents and already, he was getting a little bored.
A tall, thin man, the maitre d', of course, greeted him, "Good evening, sir. How many in your party?"
"One." Haru answered simply, barely paying him any attention as he scanned the room for Kisa and Hiro.
For the second time that night, the maitre d' was in a state of shock. Young men did not just dine at De la Mer without a date. This was simply not right! Maybe if he asked again, he would receive a serious answer. "And is anyone else coming?"
Haru withdrew his gaze from examining the room to stare at him. "Look - " he glanced at the man's nametag, but was not able to comprehend the complicated, foreign name. How did an X and a Q get in there? " – P-something-something, I only need a table for one. Do I need to spell it out for you?" Obviously, he was annoyed.
P-Something-Something nodded solemnly, "So sorry, sir. My deepest apologies. Right this way." He scratched his head inwardly. Why were the single ones the most easily aggravated?
Haru's table was only a few meters away from the entrance. As the maitre d' pulled Haru's chair out for him and kindly placed the napkin on his lap, he observed the white-haired boy glancing around the room. Poor kid was probably going through a tough breakup. Such a shame, a handsome young man like him. Ah, well. C'est la vie…
The maitre d' handed him the menu. "Thanks, Mister P." Haru said, a little amused by the strange man's antics. Mister P smiled at him sympathetically, gave a little bow, and drifted away to do his real job. Finally.
Shrugging his shoulders nonchalantly, he proceeded to scan the large room yet again. The lighting was dim, but Haru's soft, grey eyes finally settled on the two kids on his adjacent side to the left. Their distance was perfect; he could spy on them, yet not be easily seen, and he could always hide behind the large woman at the table between them if there was ever any danger of him being sighted.
As of this moment, Kisa and Hiro had just finished their appetizers. They were talking to each other happily, and Haru secretly wished he knew what the topic of their conversation was. But that would be stalking, and stalking was bad, so he waved the thought out of his head. Hatsuharu Sohma smiled faintly, finally relaxed and, resisting the urge to put his feet up on the table, opened the menu.
If there is any confusion as to where they are sitting, Rin is sitting on the other side, opposite the entrance. Haru is sitting on the same side as the entrance, so Rin and Haru are facing each other. Kisa and Hiro are adjacent to them, on the side to Haru's left.If that explanation confused you more…sorry XD
There's chapter one!! Chapter two should be up soon…so review, review, review!! I don't like flames, but constructive criticism is loved and accepted.
