Thanks to my second pair of eyes, xfang-girlx. You've been a great help catching my errors and keeping me on track.
Awkward could not even begin to describe what he was feeling right now as Shinji sat crammed in the back of the taxi with the immense overprotective brother sitting in between him and the woman he had just fallen in love with. This whole situation was crazy and seemed out of control. He had often told women he had just met they were his first love, but if he told her he would actually mean it. He had never truly been in love once in his life despite using it as a tacky pick up line that sometimes, even to his amazement, actually worked. No such lines or empty words would be used on her. Not tonight. Not ever. He was praying he could stick a for in front of ever and keep her that long. Shaking his head as the large man 'accidentally' elbowed him for the tenth time, he wondered what she must be thinking at this moment.
Esmerie was livid. She kept poking and jabbing at her brother's ribs unknowingly causing him to flinch into the third-party on the other side of him. Kaname was why she was still single. She was sure of it. No man had ever been good enough for his little sister. He had managed to run them all off for one reason or another. The excuse list was limitless. They all had something woefully wrong with them whether it be personality quirks or physical shortcomings they could not control. They were all too controlling, too lazy, too short, too tall, too much money, not enough money, too much hair, not enough hair (that event had been humiliating for all since Kaname took to shining the man's head like a bowling ball) and the reasons kept coming and grew more comical as time went on. Finally, Esmerie just gave up. Then she bought a cat. Kaname allowed her to go out on at least two dates with a man after that before he began the excuse parade, whittling away at her nerves with subtle jabs about them until she agreed not to see them again. She often wondered how the man knew so much about their physical appearance when he was blind as a bat. His intuitiveness was frightening. Her mind began to formulate what the reason could be this time for hating the man to make sure he had no chance whatsoever of having a relationship with her. He was too...what the hell was he? Peeking around her brother, she tried to get a good look at the stranger. However, once again the dim light prevented her from getting a clear picture of him. That and the fact her brother pushed her back against the seat. How did he do that?
"Sit back. It's not safe," he muttered, putting his arm around her protectively.
"Honestly," she breathed, wishing she could disappear. She was no longer thirteen years old for crying out loud. Leaning forward again, she craned her neck to the man who had pulled the page-boy hat further down to hide his face. "What's your name?"
"Shinji. Shinji Hirako," he answered, pushing his hat back so he could see her better. "Nice to meet you, Miss Labeau."
Esmerie almost had a brain fart and asked how he knew her name. It had been announced before she walked onto the stage - DUH! She smiled and reached her hand toward him across her brother.
Shinji glanced briefly at the man sitting beside him who stared ahead with no reaction. He took her hand and shook it lightly since he could not bring it to his lips to press a kiss to the back of it. Chivalry was not dead and he liked to practice it every chance he got.
"All right, kids, everyone must keep their hands to themselves," Kaname chided in his deep bass voice. He could barely keep the smile from his lips when he heard his sister's grunt of aggravation and felt the man wince beside him. He wondered if the man had even guessed he was blind yet. What he found amusing his sister referred to as him "being an annoying pain in the ass." He loved her; it was his duty to watch over her. Nudging the man with his hip, he wanted to ask the bony lightweight how in the world he hoped to protect her. It would be easy getting rid of this one. He sounded like a foreigner anyway. "Shinji Hirako? What the hell kind of name is that?"
"I don't know, Kaname, you tell me," he spat out sarcastically. He had heard Esmerie call him by his name. He had instantly recognized it as a Japanese name like his own. He was half Japanese and half white, his father being a soldier who was stationed in Japan and fell in love with his mother. He had changed his last name to his mother's after his parent's death to honor her. He had a strong accent despite being raised in the United States because he was reared almost single-handedly by his mother since his father was always gone. The fun of being a military brat. At least he always had his sister which often he wondered if that was a good thing or a bad thing. Kaname was a black man from New Orleans: what was his reason for having a Japanese name?
Kaname had instantly picked up on the sarcasm and questioning tone of the man's voice. He actually kind of liked this man. Forcing the corners of his mouth down into a frown, he answered back caustically, "My parents were going through a phase where they were deeply entrenched in Japanese culture when I came along okay?" The smile returned to his face when he added, "It's a blessing they allowed Granny to name my dear, sweet Esmerie."
Esmerie blanched with the possessive and warning tone with which he said 'my dear, sweet Esmerie.' Sighing heavily and staring out of the window, she knew she was doomed to be an old maid. She would be going to the pet shelter tomorrow to get another cat. Mittens was getting old and needed a companion to keep her company anyway.
"This is the place," he announced unnecessarily as they pulled up outside of the rundown, hole in the wall all night diner.
Esmerie opened her door and stepped out, surprised when Kaname did not move. Ducking back down to lean inside of the cab, she asked, "Aren't you coming?"
"No. I'm tired and going home. Be home by sunrise, Ezzie," he told her. He could almost feel the state of shock she was experiencing. It was two o'clock in the morning at the moment; that would give her at least three hours with Shinji. "Close the door, Esmerie, I want to go home. Enjoy your date."
"Oh, my god," she murmured in disbelief, slamming the door. She was unable to move since the astonishment had not worn off. The whirring sound of the window being rolled down helped her shake off a bit of the shock.
"Get out of the road, honey. You never know when a car might come along," he warned her sweetly.
"Why are you - " She was cut off before she could finish asking her question. She was completely bumfuzzled as to why he was leaving them alone, not that she was upset by it though.
"Sunrise, Esmerie. Go have fun," he told her, patting the back of the driver's seat to signal the driver to pull away.
Esmerie was left standing in the middle of the street staring at the stranger who looked as perplexed as she felt. Gathering her thoughts quickly, she moved across the street to him before any cars appeared. She was pleased when he snatched off his hat to reveal a golden blond head of hair before offering his arm to her. He was so amazingly proper and thoughtful. Chivalry was only dead in the South apparently. Returning his toothy grin, she inserted her arm into his hooked one and allowed him to escort her into the diner.
"Guess it's just you and me," she said, looking up at him as he ushered her into the dive.
'Just the way I wanted it,' he thought, holding in the sigh of relief and gratitude that wanted to escape.
Opening the door, their senses were bombarded. The air was overly warm and smelled of grease and coffee - just like any good diner should. Although there was only two other diners, the cook in the back was making enough noise for a crowd. Pulling Shinji along to the booth situated in the back corner, Esmerie slid across the cracked red plastic surface of the seat to huddle by the massive window that gave them a view of the empty street. The only reason the streets were so desolate was because they were way off the beaten path out of the tourist area of New Orleans. This was where the real New Orleans, it's food and people, could be found. If this restaurant had not been owned by her Auntie Désirée Lebeaux, she would not have dared to set foot in this place. Despite it's rundown appearance, she knew it was kept impeccably clean and the food was positively orgasmic. It was the same cooking she eaten every Sunday afternoon and at every family reunion for all of her life.
"Hey, Ezzie!" Charles yelled from the back. He was the night cook who had worked here since Désirée had opened the place. He was also the man who had been hopelessly in love with his boss since the beginning of time. Everyone seemed to know it but her or she strategically ignored it.
Désirée Lebeaux was an excessively independent woman, starting her own business at the tender age of eighteen and choosing to never get married or have children. Esmerie had been daughter enough to her and she was satisfied with that.
"What'll ya have chérie?" he asked cheerily, setting a plate in the window and slamming his hand down on the bell. "Order up, Mah-ree."
Esmerie had to laugh at the way the man over-pronounced each syllable of the simple name. It was also funny because it irritated the temperamental waitress who was now cursing him in rapid French. The only other people in the diner snickered because they were regulars, natives and entrenched cajuns who still spoke French, so they understood every word.
"Ahhh, shut up Chah-lee," she snapped, popping her gum loudly which warranted a string of dirty French words from him.
Esmerie looked at Shinji who seemed a little confused but totally amused by the exchange. Reaching across the table, she took her hand in his to draw his attention from the pretty caramel skinned waitress whose skirt was too short and her top too tight. She smiled when his head instantly swung around and his eyes met hers. His eyes were a deep brown; like the mud where she and Kaname went digging for mudbugs (crawfish). That may not sound romantic to some but digging in the rich brown mud for those little treasures was quite satisfying especially when it came to eating them after boiling them up with corn and potatoes. She wondered what she would find if she had the chance to dig around and get to know Shinji Hirako. Clearing her throat, she hoped he thought her sudden red color was due to the heated restaurant and not her run away thoughts for the future.
"What'll it be, sugah?" Marie asked Shinji in her best and most seductive Southern drawl. Too bad she ruined it by smacking her gum while mimicking a cow chewing cud.
"BESSIE!" Charlie howled from the back.
"BESSIE!" she bellowed back, spinning around in aggravation. "Who you callin' Bessie, old man?"
"You vaché!" he yellowed, launching into a further tirade of French. "You remind me of the old milk cow on my grandparents farm I had to milk every damn day growing up. Give that gum a rest would ya?"
"Is it always like this?" Shinji asked, noticing her trying to stifle her laugh behind her hand despite the loud cursing in English this time from the offended waitress.
"Yes," she chuckled, failing to hold in the laughter. "My Auntie owns this place. Everyone that works here becomes like a part of the family."
"Hey, chér, what you want? I'll cook you anything up in my kitchen. Just tell me since the cow won't do her job," Charlie hollered from the kitchen, peeking at them through the narrow window where the plates were placed for pick up.
"How about giving my friend here a real taste of New Orleans?" she suggested, realizing she was still holding his hand. Releasing her fingers, she began to pull away when he grabbed her hand and held it. She could not help but smile back at him as he flashed a smile as brilliant and toothy like that of a toothpaste commercial model.
"Will do, chér. Ima goin' to cook you something so good it will make you wanna slap yo Auntie," he laughed loudly, knowing good and well if anyone dared to slap Désirée Lebaux they would putting their life at risk for sudden extermination.
"How long will you be staying here?" Esmerie questioned him, tracing his long fingers that held hers with her friend hand.
Shinji chewed his lower wishing she knew how much her innocent gesture was turning him on. He could tell by her open expression that she had no intention of purposely stirring him up. No wonder her brother was so protective of her. Or was she this way because of him?
"Another week. I've already been here for a week," he answered, seeing the disappointment cloud her eyes momentarily. "I have someone waiting for me at home."
"Oh," she gasped, pulling her hands from his suddenly.
"No! Not like that!" he exclaimed, rushing to explain. "My sister. I left my sister at home."
"Oh," she responded curtly again gazing at him warily.
"She needed a break from me as much as I needed one from her," he mumbled in an attempt to explain which only seemed to make it worse. Her feeling was carried over loud and clear without words by her steadily deepening scowl. Apparently family was extremely important to her. Spreading his hands in a pathetic attempt to beg her forgiveness or at least her mercy, he struggled to find the right words that were rolling around in his brain - somewhere. "That's not what I meant, I - "
"Here it is, folks!" Marie announced not caring that she interrupted the failing conversation at its most miserable point. "Eat at your own risk."
Ignoring the food, Shinji continued on babbling in hopes of redeeming himself. "My sister and I have been together day in, day out for the last fifteen years since our parents died in a plane crash. We love each other but damn do we get on each other's nerves."
Esmerie felt a rush of emotions within her that shook her to her core. His situation sounded just like hers. Fifteen years? That was how long ago her parents died too. Her eyes met his earnest and hopeful brown ones. Now, she understood what he meant. It was such a relief for someone to know, to understand how she felt.
Seeing her brightening expression, Shinji released the breath he had been holding in a gush. He was afraid he had bungled his words too many times and angered her by sounding like a selfish jerk. Then the smell of the food his nose and drew his attention away from the lovely lady in front of him. Staring at the half dozen or so plates of food, he could not begin to know what they all were. He recognized certain parts of the dishes like rice and tomatoes and shrimp but he had no idea beyond that what they could be. There was also one plate piled high with little pieces of something fried to a golden brown that although unidentifiable, it looked delicious.
"What is all this?" he inquired.
"Well, this fried crawfish tails," she said, picking up one of the little fried things before popping it into her mouth. She went on to tell him what they were. Besides the crawfish, their dinner consisted of gumbo, shrimp etoufee, and bread pudding for dessert.
"What's this?" he asked with childlike curiosity when a large jar was sat beside him with something inside of it that looked like iced tea.
"Sweet tea," she answered, taking a big long gulf before sighing loudly with satisfaction.
Shinji had never seen a woman enjoy her food so brazenly in front of a man. He was accustomed to women daintily picking at salads or covertly demolishing his meals by taking 'just one bite' to taste. He tasted the tea and thought his teeth would fall out from all of the sugar. Damn if 'suweet,' as she had pronounced it, was not the word for the syrupy liquid. Picking up a fork in one hand and spoon in the other, he commenced the taste testing as they shared from the dishes. This reminded him of the way his mother and sister used to share meals with him. He loved it.
"Hey, you might want to be careful with that," she warned just as he shoved a heaping helping of the etoufee into his mouth. She would have sworn she saw steam coming out of his ears as his faced turned a fabulous cherry red. "It's a little spicy."
Saying this stuff was a little spicy was like saying cramming a teaspoon full of wasabi in his mouth was a little spicy. Grabbing the tea flavored syrup, he drained the jar to put out the fire in his mouth. He panted to catch his breath after slamming the mason jar down onto the old brown formica tabletop.
"Charlie! Did you trip when you were carrying the cayenne pepper to the etoufee pot?" Esmerie called, fanning her sweating friend with a napkin as Marie refilled his tea.
"No. Why? Is a little hot?" he asked, poking his head through the window from the kitchen.
"Not if it was lava from a volcano. Dammit, Charlie, you know Auntie Desiree hates it when you over spice the etoufee!" she fussed at him, picking up her jar and pressing it against his red cheek.
"Mmmm," he moaned, thankful for the cold against his flaming face. "Thank you."
"Oh, Shinji, I'm sorry," she apologized, moving the glass to his other cheek.
"It's all right. I like spicy things," he said, drinking down half of his refill. He did in fact like hot food - just not when it was hot enough to singe his tongue. He hoped he could still taste the rest of the food.
Esmerie laughed lightly and shook her head as she took another sip of her tea before sitting down the jar.
Shinji watched her as she commenced to finishing off the plate of fiery rice and shrimp by herself. He waited for her spit a burst of flames like a dragon after finishing it but the flame thrower effect never came. He was almost disappointed. But then they were ready for the dessert.
"Bread pudding with a bourbon sauce," she said, offering him a forkful of the square cake looking stuff covered in a syrupy sauce.
Opening his mouth, he feared the sugar high he would be on for the next several days. The tang of the alcohol cut the sugar in the glaze and the thick moist concoction that was softer than a cake but more solid than a pudding. It was amazing in taste and texture.
"Wow," he mumbled around the mouthful of confectionery delight.
"Good, huh?" She immediately shoved a piece as big as the one she had given him into her mouth.
Damn she was sexy when she ate. Before he could clear his thoughts, he had to open his mouth for another piece of the dessert that she was offering him. This was pretty great as well. Smiling at her, he wondered if she would continue to do this until the dessert was gone. To his great enjoyment, she continued to indulge him until every last bit was gone.
"That was amazing...all of it," he added with a blush. His body reacted immediately when her long dark lashes fell to her cheek which were tinted a lovely sweet pink.
Esmerie avoided his gaze by looking out of the window. It was extraordinarily dark. Her mama had always told it was darkest before dawn to help cheer her up and get her through the bad times. Looking at the everlasting black sky overhead that held no stars or moon, she now knew that statement was literal as well. Sighing deeply, she swung her gaze back to her companion when she felt him touch her hand that was lying on the tabletop.
"Do we need to go?" he asked, picking her hand to place it on top of his.
"I suppose so. I better not take advantage of Kaname's trust. It's a rare and beautiful thing he allowed me to be alone with you," she said with a somewhat chagrined expression.
'A rare and beautiful thing indeed,' Shinji thought to himself while staring at her. Sliding out of the seat without letting her hand go, he pulled her to a standing position in front of him before turning to lead her outside.
They walked out into the air that was still suffocating with its heat and humidity at nearly five in the morning. Taking off his coat, Shinji draped it over one arm before being surprised by her hooking herself to his other arm. He noticed the fine coating of sweat that seemed to make her glow in the dim light of the streetlamps. They maintained a tranquil and easy silence as they strolled along the deserted street. Surely she did not plan on walking home in those high heels.
"A cab will be along soon. We just have to walk a ways," she said in answer to his silent question.
This set off the conversation. Esmerie asked his reason for coming to New Orleans which he said was simply for the music. Then he began to talk about his great love of love. She smiled through his whole explication although she already understood his passion for jazz. She had it too; instilled in her from both of her parents who had been a jazz musician and a jazz singer.
"What's wrong?" he inquired when her expression turned sad.
"My mama would have been a star. Well, she actually was one...after she died. Her and daddy both died in a plane crash after she had signed a big contract in Nashville, Tennessee," she stated in a low voice while staring at the ground.
"My parents were on their way home from looking at a house in Tennessee where we would have stationed next when they died. He was a Master Chief in the Navy. He had one of those 'I could tell what I do but then I'd have to kill you' kind of jobs," he said, patting her hand that was gripping his arm a little too firmly. "We lived in Pensacola, Florida at the time."
"Oh," she mumbled, thinking a minute. Could their parents have been on the same airplane? "Shinji, do you think - " Before she could finish her sentence, a cab went by and she stuck her fingers in her mouth to let out an ear splitting whistle to hail it.
"Oh, my god," he muttered, his ears ringing from the sound.
"Let's go," she said, lugging him to the cab.
Shinji quickly discovered her reason for being in such a hurry to get the one available cab. She lived far out of town on the outskirts of a swamp. Their house looked like one of the gorgeous Antebellum homes the South is known for complete with two massive oak trees hanging heavy with Spanish moss in the front yard. On the way there, they had decided to talk about the future instead of their pasts. He was still not sure what the hell he wanted to do with his life and moved from job to job, whatever paid the bills. She worked as a waitress in her Auntie's diner while working on her singing career at night. At least she knew what she wanted to do.
"Stay here while I walk the lady to the door," Shinji politely ordered the driver while he helped Esmerie out of the car.
"Yessir," the driver returned, smiling broadly at him.
They walked up the long walkway made of decorative paving stones that looked like big slices of a boulder. Shinji glanced up at the tall white columns that were about six feet thick and ran from the porch to second story ceiling.
"I'll be at your performance tomorrow, well tonight," he corrected himself with a grin. "Thank you for the wonderful food."
"You're very welcome. Good night, Shinji," she said, scraping the pointed toe of her black high heel along the worn welcome mat at the door. With her hand on the doorknob, she leaned toward him in hopes he would give her a good night, or good morning as the case was, kiss.
Shinji leaned toward her, preparing to taste those lovely pouty red lips he had eyed longingly from time to time during their short time together. Just as they were about to touch, she was pulled back and a sword came down in front of his face. Acting on years of training, he grabbed the wrist of the swordsman, pulling him to overbalance him and send him sprawling while disarming him at the same time. He swung around, holding the sword at the throat of a sweating Kaname dressed in nothing but white hakama pants laying flat on his back on the wide cement porch.
"That was incredible!" the cab driver yelled while clapping.
"Yes, it was," Kaname agreed, jumping to his feet.
"Kaname! You idiot!" she screeched in embarrassed horror. Rushing forward, she beat her small fists on his broad chest. "What the hell - "
"Slow down there little sister," he muttered, picking her up like an annoying wind-up toy gone mad and holding her away from him with his long arms. "Would you like to come in? I'll make coffee."
"What?!" both people yelled in unison.
~...~
"What's the deal with the sword?" Shinji asked while standing in the kitchen with the imposing big brother.
"I told you my parents had a Japanese phase. That included martial arts training too. Hand to hand combat, sword fighting, all of it. I was a competition fighter," he said, filling the coffee pot with water.
"Was?" the blonde questioned curiously.
"I've turned to teaching instead. Time to allow another generation to win all of the prizes and recognition," he explained with a self-satisfied smirk.
Shinji smiled back although the man could not see it. He had to admit he was really good.
"You're quite skilled yourself," Kaname complimented.
"I was born into it. I'm half Japanese and my father was a soldier."
"Of course."
Esmerie walked into the kitchen with a towel wrapped around her head and wearing her favorite pajamas of a pair of sleep pants decorated with cats and a black tank top.
"Where's Mittens?" she asked, not noticing the reaction of the blonde to her.
Shinji could not help but stare. He was amazed she had no problem standing in front of him completely natural and fresh from the shower with no make up, no fancy clothes, and her hair still up in a towel.
"I don't know. I hate that cat," Kaname muttered.
"Don't be so mean," she pouted, kicking at her brother. She shrieked when he grabbed her ankle and nearly took her to the floor but held her hand to keep her from landing on her butt.
Shinji smiled. This looked familiar. If it had been Hiyori a sandal would soon be flying his way.
"Here," Kaname said, holding out a pink mug of steaming coffee for her. "Take this and shut up. I want to talk to your boyfriend here. I think I like him."
Esmerie choked on the liquid and was thankful she had taken just a tiny sip. He liked him? Kaname never liked anyone she did. Boyfriend? Glimpsing Shinji over the mug, she pretended to take a deep interest in its contents after quickly averting her eyes from his. Moving to the massive kitchen table that could seat eight people, she steeled herself for what was about to come. Kaname's idea of 'talking' to prospective boyfriends consisted of a rapid fire Q and A that bordered on being something like a police interrogation. Why was he going through so much trouble for a guy who she would probably never see again after the end of his vacation? Sighing dejectedly, she finished off her coffee and rose for a refill just as they sat down at the table.
"Tell me about yourself Shinji Hirako," Kaname insisted, grinning as if he could see the man swallowing nervously and loosening his tie.
Esmerie sighed and shook her head as she poured herself another cup of coffee. Leaning down to dig through the cabinet, she grabbed the last bottle of Granny's personal stash of bourbon. She figured Shinji could use a drop of Granny's special 'medicine' as well. A lopsided grin of devilment split her face when the thought occurred to her that her brother would require a dose too.
~...~
They laughed until they cried. None of them could even remember what was so funny. Esmerie had spiked their coffee several times, adding more to each refill until the pot of coffee was gone and so was the bourbon. She offered up a silent prayer of thanks to her dear old Granny as the men clapped each other on the back and got along like best friends. The sun had risen and was shining through the big windows of the kitchen with dazzling brilliance as it glinted off the shiny counter-tops and highly polished finish of the walnut table they were sitting at. Wiping away the tears, Esmerie yawned which caused Shinji to do so as well.
"Can I use your phone? I'll call a cab and be going," Shinji said, reaching over to gently caress Esmerie's shoulder.
"Don't be silly. Stay here. We've got a dozen rooms. You can sleep in any one of them except my sister's," Kaname rejoined, finished off the boozy coffee.
"O-okay," their stunned guest stammered.
Esmerie took his hand, pulling him from his chair. She led him up the sturdy golden pine staircase to the second floor. Picking the first room on the right, the one next to hers, she opened the door for him to go inside. She smiled up at him drowsily when he stopped in front of her to push a loose, wild curl behind her ear. Her eyes focused on his just in time to see the lids lower to cover their lovely brown irises before he bent his head to hers. She gasped when his soft lips touched hers. A bubble of excitement burst deep inside of her, flooding her with warmth and a tingly sensation following after his lips gently moved against hers. His lips pressed harder momentarily before lifting from hers completely.
"Good day, my lovely Esmerie. I'm so glad I met you," he told her, before moving past her into the room. If he stayed close to her much longer, he would pull her to the bed and make love to her. Her brother would surely kill him then go after her. It was too soon for both of them to die. He had a plan - a plan to make her his. It would not be easy and there would be many obstacles: two of the most daunting being a their siblings, Kaname and Hiyori. Shockingly enough, Kaname seemed to willing to at least entertain the idea of letting him get to know Esmerie.
Esmerie closed the door, pressing her fingertips to her lips that still seemed to prickle from the sensation of chaste yet still remarkably exhilarating kiss. Hurrying to her room, she jumped in the bed so she could fall asleep to have a very sweet dream of the man who had just kissed her.
*Translations from French to English: chérie = sweetheart, vaché = cow, chér = dear