Disclaimer: I don't own Mai-Hime/Otome…
Snowflakes gently drifted onto dark brown eyelashes as a deep sigh released a mist cloud into the frigid January air. Light-lavender mittened hands rested relaxed on a dark grey down-feather jacket. A bright red knit pom-pom with a XO pattern in white around the band rustled slightly as tawny brown tresses fell back slightly as the young woman leaned her head back.
Deep crimson irises were met with a jaded white sky; it cried calmly as frozen teardrops slowly wafted down, melting onto the cold-caressed cheeks. The young woman closed her eyes and breathed deeply, letting the cold numb any semblance of thought.
"I….must be crazy….." Shizuru voiced out to no one in particular as thoughts mulled around in her mind. Her short conversation with her parents had not gone as… smoothly as expected. It hadn't exactly been a fight, she reasoned. Her father had simply not listened to her….she supposed.
Another cloud dissipated as she slowly brought her head back up. Then again…why should I have expected to have them value my opinion….it's not like it's mattered before.
She felt the shiver latent in her black Joan of Arctic sorel-booted feet, wiggling her sweater-socked toes to fend off the oncoming numbness creeping through the impermeable rubber soles.
She stood up from the wooden, snow-covered bench, dusting off the light layer of snow that had accumulated on her patterned knit scarf, her jacket, and her fitted black denim jeans.
She pulled out her dusted metallic black chain watch, checking the time on the rustic analog face. It was something she had bought for herself, though if you asked her she couldn't really say why. It afforded a certain sentimental value, albeit of melancholy loneliness.
2:30PM. She shut the watch with a soft click. "Well, it's too early to go home. She shifted her Galian studded purse before she let her eyes wander around her surroundings.
"I guess I'll go get coffee or hot chocolate or something…" And she slowly headed towards the nearest coffee shop.
The slight jingle of a bell sounded as the winter-chilled brunette stepped into the store. The quaint chatter of coffee-goers and the aroma of ground coffee beans were not unwelcome sounds to Shizuru's ears, but she did not feel like being around many people; any people at the moment. She patiently waited in line until her turn came to order; a graceful smile on her lips, her gaze calm underneath closed eyelids.
She scanned the menu as the queue grew smaller. She smiled quaintly at the cashier, who offered a charismatic smile to her as he took her order.
"Hi! What can I get for you today?" He grinned in a….friendly manner, Shizuru mused as her smile went unchanged.
"Hi, I'd like a large peppermint mocha, please." Though Shizuru had spoken softly, a few heads turned at the melodic voice.
"A large peppermint mocha, coming right up. Would you like any scones or pastries today?"
"Not today." Shizuru replied as she pulled out her wallet from her purse. "Alright, that'll be $5.97 with tax." She handed the cashier her card, who swiped it and returned it to her. "Thanks. And your name?"
"Shizuru." The brunette stepped around to the counter, joining the small crowd of people waiting for their drinks. She pulled out a chair from a small two-person table and sat while she waited. She debated silently about where she wanted to enjoy her coffee. Perhaps I'll just take my time and walk back to the apartment. She pulled out and checked her watch. 3:25PM….huh. It shouldn't become too dark while I'm walking back…
The brunette was pulled out of her thoughts as her name was called. "Large peppermint mocha for Shizuru!"
She smiled as she accepted her drink from the barista. "Thank you."
"Have a nice day!" The bell jingled once again as Shizuru stepped once again into the frigid winter air, hot coffee in her gloved hand. She took an appreciative sip as she started on her way home, the soft crunch of her footsteps and the occasional car the only noise as snow continued to slowly fall onto the ground.
…I should just pick something up for dinner on the way home. I'll make a stop at the convenience store; I think I need some green tea also…
As Shizuru made her way up the hill to her apartment complex, she paused at a turn in the road to lean over the guard railing, coffee half-emptied. She gazed out at the snow-blanketed city
"Yappa, fuyu ga suki-ya." [I love winter afterall]
She watched the contrast darken as the obscured sun began to set. She checked her watch in the fading light. "4:35PM…huh. I should get back soon." She murmured, letting the chain watch fall onto her jacket-padded chest. She continued her walk.
"Irrashaimase!" [Welcome!] The cashier cheerfully called as Shizuru stepped into the small convenience store. She walked to the instant food aisle, reaching for a few packets of udon noodles, placing them into the small green plastic basket looped around her arm. She then made her way to the beverage aisle, selecting a few boxes of assorted teas and a few bottles of various tea blends. She promptly paid for her items and left, hastening up the road of her neighborhood.
She sighed as she trudged up the stairs, unlocked the door to her apartment, and closed it behind her, setting down her plastic bag purchases next to her shoes.
She set her keys on the wood floor and sat down, untying the laces to her boots before tugging them off with a sigh. She gratefully slipped on her black sheep slippers and brought her things to the kitchen. She let her bags sit on the counter while she shed her jacket and hung it up in the closet, shedding her gloves, scarf and hat. She paused at the flashing message machine as she started sorting her purchases. With some trepidation, she pushed the little button.
"Shizuru," A gruff voice calmly greeted, "I've sent you a list of potential business partners' children."
…How pleasant; if only familiarizing myself with them was the only problem… Shizuru thought to herself as she tore open the package of udon noodles as her father's voice echoed in the room.
"I'd like you to of course familiarize yourself with them. You don't need to spend too much time on the names near the bottom of the list."
Why of course not… Shizuru hummed as she put the stock flavoring into the now boiling pot of water.
"As you're aware, the company will be having a casual networking hour for the newly accepted business partners and interns tomorrow afternoon. We will be moving forward with that business proposition that we discussed earlier. As such, I'd like you to indiscreetly mingle with your future interns, and a potential roommate."
Roommate? Shizuru raised her brow at the mention of a roommate. Not that she especially minded, but surely her father knew all-too-well of her rather…obsessed fans. She gently plopped her noodles into the boiling soup.
"I expect you to treat this event in a very professional manner. I'll see you tomorrow morning."
Shizuru turned off the burner and reached into the cupboard, pulling out a bowl and a pair of chopsticks as the message cut off with a beep.
"Shizuru-san~!" A cheerful voice greeted enthusiastically. "It's Midori! I got an email from your father and I was wondering if you'd be free for tea later at my place. Yohko gets off around 6 or 7, so just drop by any time after that! See ya later~!"
Shizuru smiled to herself as she minced some cilantro, green onions, and seaweed to garnish on top while listening to the other messages. She glanced over at the clock. 5:46PM.
She tucked her hair behind her ear as she brought the noodles to her lips. I'll just head over after I finish this.
She tastefully garnished her soup with said toppings, serving some to herself in a bowl. The hot soup steamed as she walked over to the machine and erased the messages. She sat at kitchen island, clasping her hands together before indulging in the meal.
"Itadakimasu." [Thank you for the food].
Nothing broke the silence but the slurping as Shizuru nursed her bowl of noodles.
A few bowls of soup later, Shizuru soaked her dishes in the sink before padding to her room, taking out her contacts and changing into a pair of shale-gray sweats. She placed a pair of maroon rectangular-frame glasses onto her face after washing her face.
6:13PM. Shizuru decided to wash up her dishes before meeting with Midori and Yohko, humming to herself pleasantly as she soaped, scrubbed, and rinsed, placing the cleaned dishes in the drying rack.
6:30PM. She placed her tablet into her bag, layering on her winter garb before scuffing on her shorter shearling-lined leather boots, tapping her feet into them lightly before locking the door behind her.
She walked down the walkway to the landladies' apartment, rubbing her hands together for warmth as she waited for a reply to the doorbell.
"Who is it?" A somewhat tired, calm voice politely inquired over the intercom. Shizuru smiled and politely waved to the camera that displayed her face to the apartment's occupants.
" Konbanwa, Yohko-sensei." [Good Evening, Dr. Yohko].
"Ah, Shizuru-san." The door presently opened, revealing the still winter-clothed dark-brown haired doctor.
"Did you just get home?" Shizuru inquired, though it was pretty obvious due to the doctor's dress that she had recently gotten in.
"Yeah," the doctor chuckled as she closed the door behind Shizuru, sitting down to fix her winter boots that she had been in the process of taking off when Shizuru rang the doorbell; Shizuru similarly unlaced her own boots, grabbing her pair of slippers as she hung up her jacket.
Midori's head popped around the corner. "Hey Shizuru! Come help me with the tea!" Yohko made to stand up and interject when Shizuru softly placed a hand on her shoulder stopping her. "Sensei should go freshen up; I'm sure you're exhausted from the day." The doctor smiled appreciatively. "Thanks, Shizuru-san. I appreciate it."
Shizuru smiled in reply. "Of course I'd be glad to lend a hand, Midori-san." And she headed over to the kitchen area, her bag in tow.
"I brought some of my favorite tea, Midori-san." She smiled as she set her bag down and produced the box of loose tea. She popped the top open as she prepared to steep it into to the water Midori had boiled in anticipation. "It's has a very delightful and calming aroma." She winked as she poured the leaves into the steeper. "I figure it would come in handy tonight. Oh, it also goes quite well with whatever dinner you have planned for the two of you."
Midori and Yohko, who had changed into more comfortable clothes and entered into the kitchen, both laughed. The brown-haired doctor sat at the kitchen island and observed as the other women finished preparing dinner, tea, and tea-matching snacks.
"Sore wa domo." [Thanks for that; loosely 'I appreciate the consideration/concern']
The dinner was declared finished to perfection and the tea was poured into ceramic mugs with milk and sugar added. The trio took the dinner and tea to the kotatsu in the living room, all relishing the heat the table afforded their feet as they settled in.
"Why don't you two enjoy your dinner first? I haven't had a chance to glance over the list that my father sent me." Shizuru reached into her bag and brought her iPad out, attempting to locate said email.
"It's fine; we haven't had a chance either. I'm guessing your father sent the list to you around the same time he sent the email to both of us and left the voice messages. We'll just skim as we eat."
"Kannin na." [I'm sorry (for the inconvenience); I'm grateful]
Shizuru thanked as she found the email and opened the attachment, skimming the documented list from behind the frame of her glasses.
A/N: Konbanwa, YH desu *bows* I realize I haven't been publishing/updating lately, but I'm still alive…somewhat haha. Muse sent me this idea over break. I'll be posting a few chapters in succession today for this one...Feel free to drop a review? Thanks for stopping by, and as always, hope you enjoyed your stay!
-YH