Disclaimer: I do not own Servamp or any of the characters.
"There's a lot more people here than I thought there would be. For once, I'm glad we woke up early and got here before the crowd." Kuro said as he looked over dock. People were boarding the Titanic to make the journey across the ocean to America. He and his brother, Hyde, were among them. They wanted to achieve the American dream and provide for their family. They were poor so they could only afford two tickets. Kuro made a silent vow to send money back to his siblings once they arrive in New York.
"Beautiful," Hyde whistled. Kuro followed his eyes and it became clear that he wasn't referring to the ship or the scenery around them. A few feet away, two women were walking across the deck and laughing with each other. From their dresses, it was clear that they were from a high class family. "Do you think we'll be able to sneak into first class to talk to them? The one with the dark hair looks like an angel."
Hyde subtly nodded to her and he was clearly smitten. His brother was a dreamer but Kuro had to be more realistic. He didn't want Hyde's feelings to be hurt. He doubted the women would give them the time of day. What caught his attention was how one of them was carrying a large suitcase. Kuro thought a rich woman would make her butler carry it for her. Nevertheless, he pulled Hyde away.
"You don't know a thing about her, Hyde. We can't break the rules and get ourselves thrown overboard." Kuro grabbed his arm with the intention of dragging him away. He accidentally walked into the path of the two women and he crashed into the one carrying a suitcase. He wrapped his arm around her when he saw her fall. She dropped her suitcase and clothes spilled out. "Sorry."
"It's okay, Sir." She said and their eyes met. Kuro was certain that he had never seen eyes as beautiful as hers before. At first glance, they appeared to be simply brown. But there were also subtle shades in her large eyes like amber. He realized that he was staring and he quickly turned away. With another apology, he let her go and stepped back from her.
She knelt on the ground and gathered her things. Luckily, it wasn't windy so her clothes didn't blow away. Kuro felt guilty that he made her drop her suitcase so he helped her. He picked up a shawl and tossed it into the suitcase while she folded the clothes carefully. He noticed that her cheeks suddenly became red. "Sir, I appreciate your help but… that's my corset."
He realized that he was holding her underwear and hurriedly handed it back to her. After they placed everything back in her suitcase, she locked it and stood. They both felt a little awkward as they faced each other. Hyde was the one to break the silence but he directed his question to the woman with black hair. "May we escort you two to your cabin as an apology, my lady?"
"We can't go to first class, Hyde." Kuro reminded him. He bowed his head to the two and said, "Please excuse my brother. He gets ahead of himself but he means well. We should go now. Have a nice day."
"Wait, Nii-san! We should be gentlemen and help these ladies with their bags." Hyde insisted after Kuro started to pull him away. He called after them, "O, speak again, bright angel! For thou art as glorious to this night being o'er my head as a winged messenger of heaven."
Mahiru watched the two men walk away until they were gone. She turned back to her cousin, Licht, and they made their way to their cabin. "Those two are quite the characters, aren't they? I wonder if we'll see them again. We have a week on the Titanic so there's a chance. But, the next time you want to talk to him, please don't push me and make a scene like that."
"I couldn't think of how else to approach him." Licht was disappointed that they were barely able to talk. She saw Hyde standing across the deck and decided to introduce herself. "He has a strange speech pattern. I couldn't understand what he was trying to say as he left. Father says anyone who don't directly convey their feelings are demons to be avoided. But he called me an angel so that's nice."
"I think he was quoting Shakespeare. You never payed attention to our tutor." She giggled as she thought of those simpler times. She missed those days. Mahiru looked forward to starting a new chapter of her life in America. "Uncle Toru has built a studio in New York. He said he will set aside a few rooms for me to use. I can start an art gallery and highlight upcoming artists."
"I can help you find artists." Licht was quick to offer. They had been close ever since they were children and she considered them to be sisters. "Maybe someone in the music industry will know a starving artist in need of work. I'll spread the word of your gallery too."
"Thank you but you have your own career to focus on. You're so talented that everyone will want you to play your piano for them. I already have my uncle to help me." Mahiru reassured her. They reached their cabin and she shifted her suitcase into one hand. She took out her key from her pocket and unlocked the door. "After we unpack, I want to explore the Titanic. The flyer said the ship has a library."
When she walked into their elaborate cabin, Mahiru was surprised to find their grandmother sitting in the room. She didn't expect to see the elderly woman but she hid her shock. Mahiru placed a fake smile on her face as she had been trained to do from a young age. She gave her grandmother a polite nod. "Good morning, Grandmother. This is an unexpected pleasure. I thought you were staying in England."
"I decided that my granddaughter needs proper direction so I will be joining you to New York." She said. "Mahiru, I don't want you to ruin our good name with frivolous hobbies. We don't want you to be like your aunt. She put all her time into her piano and allowed her daughter become so ill mannered. I will ensure you act like the proper lady I expect of you, Mahiru."
"Excuse me? I will not listen to you insult my mother or speak to Mahiru such." Licht yelled and stepped forward. She stopped when Mahiru placed her hand on her arm.
"Licht, can you find a maid and order us some tea? Please." She asked. Licht bit her tongue against the curses she wanted to throw at their grandmother. As much as she disliked the woman, she knew that arguing would only upset Mahiru. She turned on her heel and stomped out of the room. Mahiru winced when she slammed the door but their grandmother barely reacted.
Mahiru took her suitcase and walked briskly past her to her bedroom. She told herself to ignore her grandmother and enjoy the voyage. As she passed, her grandmother said, "I don't understand you, Mahiru. We have servants who will carry your things. What will people think if they see you? How many times have I told you that you need to think of our family image?"
"Grandmother, it's a single bag. I brought a lot of artwork with me so I decided to carry my own suitcase. I wanted to be considerate." Mahiru said but she knew that she wouldn't accept the explanation. She sighed and set the suitcase on her bed. She hanged a dress in the closet but her grandmother immediately took it down.
"Is this what you plan to wear tonight? It's so simple." She turned up her nose at the dress.
"I like simple things." She was accustomed to her disdained and Mahiru brushed the comment aside. For most of her life, her grandmother had controlled her. Her mother died when she was a young and her father left before she was born. Her uncle adopted her but he worked overseas so he left her with her grandmother. Mahiru hoped she could find her freedom in America.
"You will meet your fiancé tonight so you cannot wear this dress." Mahiru felt her heart drop to her feet. The news was a shock to her and she couldn't stop herself from screaming.
"My fiancé? Grandmother, I told you that I have no wish to marry yet. You have no right to accept an engagement on my behalf either! Uncle Toru is my guardian and I am certain that he wouldn't force me to marry a man I barely know. He supports my dream to open an art gallery in New York." Mahiru hands tightened into fists but she could see her dreams being torn from her fingers. "I will not meet this man."
"You will meet him at dinner and marry him in New York." She said firmly. Mahiru now wished she hadn't sent Licht away. Her grandmother's cold glare cut through her resolve. "Your father left with this family in dept but your marriage can save us. The only other solution is to sell our valuable. Do you want us to lose our house, our heirlooms or Licht's piano?"
Her last statement made Mahiru's hands shake. In a small voice, she said: "I will meet this man."
"Wonderful!" She chirped. Her grandmother tossed the dress back into Mahiru's suitcase. "Before dinner, my maids will bring a dress for you to wear. You must be presentable for your fiancé."
"I never said I accepted this proposal." Mahiru's back straightened as she faced her grandmother. "I will meet him but that is all. You cannot make me marry him."
Mahiru felt as if her dress was suffocating her and she could barely take a breath. She was escorted to the dining table by her grandmother. The elderly woman gripped her arm as if she expected Mahiru to run away. Honestly, a part of her wanted to flee the situation but she was trapped. She was glad that Licht would be there to support her at least. She scanned the table for her cousin and found her sitting next to a familiar face. "Tsurugi!"
She wanted to hug her brother and she rushed forward but her grandmother held her back. Mahiru was dragged away from them and she sat across a stranger. She felt isolated, surrounded by people she didn't know. Her grandmother gestured to the man across from them and introduced him, "Mahiru, this is Kazuma. He is the heir to a mining company."
"It is a pleasure to meet you, Kazuma." Mahiru said with a rehearsed smile. She looked down the table to her brother. "Tsurugi, your letters said you weren't planning to return to England for another week. I wish you told us sooner so the three of us could have breakfast together. I have so many questions for you. Did your exhibition with Jun and Yumikage go well?"
"You can talk with your brother later, Mahiru. You shouldn't ignore our guest. I am certain that you and Kazuma have a lot in common." Her grandmother interrupted her. She wanted to speak with Tsurugi but she couldn't cause a scene. Mahiru also thought of what her grandmother had said earlier. She loved her family and she didn't want to see them struggle.
"Do you enjoy art, Kazuma?" Mahiru asked. She reasoned that she could give the man a chance. "I visited a museum and saw a collection of Greek statues. They were beautiful and detailed. I thought it was a shame some of those artists only became famous after their death. That's why I want to start an art gallery that will highlight new artists."
"That's sentimental but short sighted. Such a risky venture will be too much for a woman to handle, Mahiru. It's better if you focus on maintaining the home like a proper wife." Kazuma laughed. When Mahiru tried to speak again, he talked over her. "After we get married, we will move to the west where I can watch over the mines. You're free to have hobbies but don't inconvenience me."
"I don't want to move away from my family in New York. I can't agree to an engage—"
"Mahiru, you will remember your place." Beneath the table, her grandmother had a vice grasp on her arm. Licht noticed Mahiru wince and the sight made her anger flare. She slammed her hand on the table as she stood. "Sit back down, Licht. This doesn't concern you."
Mahiru wanted to speak again but the table suddenly became a torrent of arguments. She could barely hear her own thoughts. Everyone was trying to pull her in different directions until she became dizzy. They were discussing her future yet none of them asked for her opinion. She didn't know what she would say if they did ask her. Would they even listen to her?
Her hands shook but she managed to grab a glass of water to clear her throat. Mahiru saw her reflection in the glass. She barely recognized the blurry image of herself in the restrictive dress. She thought she would be free in New York but it was clear that she could never escape her name. The world became silent as if she was suddenly plunged in cold water.
"I need to go to the bathroom." Mahiru hastily broke away from the table. She fled the scene before anyone could stop her. She didn't care if she was causing a commotion because the only thing on her mind was escaping. The argument echoed in her mind even after she left the dining hall. She wanted to scream and tell the voices to stop but she couldn't speak.
Mahiru could barely breath.
She ran aimlessly through the ship until she reached the deck. The fresh air helped but the people staring at her made her feel trapped again. She needed to find a place where she could be alone and simply breathe. Mahiru wandered to the stern of the ship. She was relieved that no one was there and it was finally silent. She walked to the rail and clutched the cold bar so tightly that her knuckles became white.
Finally, she screamed. The waves carried away her cry but that left Mahiru feeling hollow. Her knees buckled and she sank to the ground. She leaned her head against the cold rail and tried to take a deep breath. She cursed when her dress seemingly tightened around her chest. Mahiru desperately needed to breathe again. She grabbed the back of her dress and tugged the ribbon free. Her dress loosened and she inhaled deeply. She curled into a ball and hugged her knees to her chest.
"You should put on a jacket. It's freezing." The voice behind Mahiru made her stiffen. She looked over her shoulder and found the man she ran into that morning. Mahiru rushed to adjust her dress and make herself decent again. She couldn't be more embarrassed that someone saw her scream. She avoided facing him by staring at the dark water.
Kuro was careful not to look at her as he took off his jacket and tossed it towards her. "That should keep you warm but I doubt it'll do much. It's pretty old. Is there someone who can walk you back to first class and make sure no one attacks you. With your dress ripped… What about that woman you were walking with earlier?"
"Thank you, Sir, but I want to be alone right now." She didn't want anyone else to see her in the dishevelled dress so she took the jacket he offered her. From how warm it was, she knew that he must've been wearing it. He was likely cold as well but he gave her his jacket. "I will return this as soon as I'm back in my room. May I know your name and room number?"
"I'm staying in third class, room 1231. My name is Kuro Sleepy Ash Servamp."
"You'll have to write that down for me." A light giggle escaped Mahiru, despite herself. She covered her mouth and apologized. "I'm sorry, that was rude of me. My name is Mahiru Shirota."
"It's fine. It looked like you needed a good laugh." Kuro shrugged. He started to walk away to honour her request. The lonely expression she had made him pause though. He glanced around the deck and noticed a few men nearby. He couldn't leave her alone. Kuro sat down next to her and looked over the ocean. Moonlight sparkled over the water and it made a beautiful pattern. For a while, they stared at the simple view without trading a word.
Mahiru turned to Kuro and said, "When I was a child, my mother told me that the light reflected in the water was moon dust. I believed her and I thought it would make a wonderful gift for her birthday. There was a lake next to our home so I grabbed a jar and tried to swim to the moon. It was so cold that I almost lost my toes. My grandmother gave me a very long lecture the next day."
"Did you get your moon dust?" He asked her. She didn't expect the question and assumed he would call her a fool or naïve.
"Yes, I did. My mother kept the jar next to her bed. That night, she made me hot chocolate and wrapped me in a thousand blankets. She made certain that I was warm." Mahiru smiled softly as she thought of her caring mother. "I was just a child so I didn't understand the consequences. I can only imagine how scared she was when she realized I was in that ice cold water. I could've died."
"Kids do stupid things sometimes. I have seven younger siblings so I know that very well." Kuro turned away from Mahiru when he heard people calling her name. He stood and held out his hand to her. "I think that's your family. You should go to them."
"I should," she agreed but disappointment made her voice small. Speaking with him made her forget about her title. Mahiru placed her hand in Kuro's and he helped her to her feet. She faced him and said, "It's cold so please take your jacket back. I can borrow a shawl from my cousin so you don't need to worry about me. Thank you once again for lending it to me, Kuro."
He couldn't reply before he heard someone yell her name again. Several people ran to them and Kuro stepped away from Mahiru. From the distrustful glare a few of them gave him, he could guess what they thought of him. He wasn't expecting one of the men to punch him though. Kuro caught his fist and twisted his arm behind his back.
"Troublesome," Kuro groaned and then he pushed the man away. He raised his hands to show that he didn't intend to fight anyone. In a dry voice, he said: "I travel often but I never been to a country where punching someone was a polite greeting."
"How dare you put your filthy hands on my fiancé?" Kazuma yelled.
"Wait, Kazuma," Mahiru stepped in front of Kuro because she was wary that the man would attack him again. She didn't understand why he would punch Kuro when he didn't do anything to provoke him. The flash of anger in Kazuma's eyes made her hug the jacket around herself. Mahiru looked down at her dress and the torn ribbons. She realized that they must've assumed that Kuro attacked her. She rushed to correct the misunderstanding before anyone else could be hurt. "Kuro didn't do anything to me!"
"Step aside, Mahiru." He tried to grab her arm.
"I suggest you not touch her." Mahiru was glad that her brother stepped between them to deescalate the situation. Tsurugi placed his hand on her shoulder and lightly nudged her away from the two. He doubted Kuro attacked her since Mahiru was quick to defend him. He thought it was best to be cautious though. "What happened to your dress, Mahiru?"
"I…" She started to answer but she didn't know if they would believe she tore it herself. Even if they did, her grandmother would call her crazy and emotional. Kuro was silent and she knew he was being considerate. Mahiru decided to lie. "I came out here for fresh air and someone attacked me. It was dark so I didn't see who it was. But Kuro saved me! I couldn't go back with my dress ripped. He was kind enough to stay with me until you came."
"Well then, this man is a hero!" Tsurugi patted Kuro's back. "Thank you for helping my sister. If there's anything you need on this ship, we will help you. Licht, you should take Mahiru back to her room. I'll talk with her new friend for a little while longer."
"I think a twenty would be sufficient." Kazuma scoffed. "That should be more than enough for a hoodlum like him."
"Kazuma, stop!" Mahiru yelled over him. She couldn't stand to hear him insult Kuro when he had been nothing but kind to her. She ignored Kazuma and walked to Kuro. "Let me thank you, Kuro. Would you like to join us for dinner tomorrow? Your brother is free to come too."
"My brother would love an opportunity to talk to your friend again." He whispered and she nodded in return. Kuro saw her smile and he added, "I'll see you tomorrow."
"Someone sent you something, Nii-san!" Hyde told his brother after he answered the door. Kuro assumed that it was Mahiru returning his jacket like she mentioned earlier. He found that she sent him something else as well. A note and a pair of gloves were pinned to his jacket. He unfolded the letter and read it.
Thank you for listening to me tonight. I appreciate it. I noticed that you don't have gloves. It's cold in the ocean so please accept these. I don't know what size you wear so hopefully these will fit. Tell me if they don't fit and I'll buy you another pair. From, Mahiru.
Kuro placed the letter on his lap and slipped on the gloves. They were warm and they fit surprisingly well. His brother sat next to him and took a peek at the note. Hyde grinned and nudged Kuro with his elbow. "It looks like you have a secret admirer. You made a good impression on her."
"I don't know if she'll be with someone like me." Kuro knew that his brother was merely teasing him and pushed him away. Yet, he couldn't shake her clear eyes from his mind. He took off the gloves and tucked them beneath his pillow. He laid down and stared at the ceiling. "She was pretty interesting though."
"Dinner is going to be interesting." Hyde climbed onto the top bunk. "Who knows what might on the Titanic?"