¤Smile¤
When Seiran first came to the Kou house, he never smiled.
To him, the only person whom he smiled to was Ryuki. Ryuki was the only person he could trust, the only person who will never betray him, the only one who appreciated his kindness and tried to do something in return. He knew that to Ryuki, he was his only 'kin', but he wasn't sure if Ryuki knew that he meant the same for him too.
In the Kou house, Seiran treated everybody with caution. He treated Shouka with respect, Shoukan with interest. He never mixed well with the servants in the house as ,well, he was usually the one being served.
However, there was just one exception. The exception was the young lady of the house, Kou Shuurei.
"Seiran, I want another mandarin!" the four year old girl pulled Seiran's sleeve, looking up at the boy with watery eyes.
"But Milady, that will be your fourth mandarin!" Seiran protested gently.
It has been a week since Seiran arrived at the Kou house. He has been assigned to take care of the young lady of the house, in case she suddenly fainted or anything else.
"No fair, Seiran, no fair," Shuurei pouted.
If it was Ryuki......If it was Ryuki, will he pout if I don't give him a mandarin?
The thought of Ryuki pouting amused Seiran. Before he knew it, a grin already made its way to his lips.
"Seiran's smiling!" Shuurei exclaimed, reaching out her small hands to touch the boy's face. Taken aback, he quickly erased the smile and returned to his normal stoic face.
"Why didn't Seiran smile anymore? Did I do something wrong?" thought Shuurei. Then, as if realizing something important, she suddenly beamed brightly at Seiran.
"Seiran, if I don't eat mandarin, will you smile again?" Shuurei glanced upon him expectantly.
Seiran blinked, before he uttered, "Ehn......"
Seeing Seiran hesitating, Shuurei continued her efforts to convince the boy, "I thought for a long time, why Seiran don't smile. Then I remembered that Seiran never smiles when I eat mandarins. So if I don't eat mandarins anymore, will Seiran smile?"
Seiran paused, then knelt down to be of eye level of the little girl. Gently, he said, "Well, Milady, you can eat mandarins. The reason I'm not smiling is not because of you. Its because......"
Because there are no one there for me to smile at anymore.
As if she sensed his sadness, Shuurei whispered into the boy's ears, "Sorry Seiran, don't be sad." Tears welled up in her eyes, threatening to fall.
Suddenly, Seiran saw a splitting image of Ryuki in front of him. Tears welling up in Ryuki's eyes. Seiran gasped in realization.
How could I have forgotten? There is no need to guard against Milady. She's only four, even younger than Ryuki. What am i doing?
Seiran pulled Shuurei's face in front of him, and flashed her the smile that was once reserved for Ryuki only. Shuurei's tears stopped immediately, and ran her fingers across Seiran's lips muttering,
"Pretty......"
Seiran chuckled, and took Shuurei's hand, "Now, Miliady, would you want another mandarin?"
"Yay! Seiran is the best!" Shuurei jumped for joy, and pulled Seiran to the kitchen for another of her favorite fruit.
If only Ryuki can smile like that someday......Maybe I'll smile for him too.
