Jin gave his staff a three-week paid vacation to give Asuka something to do and it's been a week and half since she moved into Jin's guest room, temporarily. And yet there is still isn't much for her to do but dust, cook, and do the dishes; the sum of her house skills.
With Jin spending most of his time working out in his personal dojo and with Lili's bill already paid for, Asuka has no real incentive to work faster than at her leisure. She's already use to having the freedom of roaming the entire house in a simple shirt, jean shorts, knee high socks and sneakers; no need for a formal maid uniform.
Although Asuka is smart enough to not misbehave, but in Jin's house it's easy to be good; it's like a museum, beautiful and boring. He owns a large flat screen television but no consoles and no hand held videogames. He only subscribes to news stations and reads Time magazine. It's all very bad for her gaming social life, but it's great for her homework.
The only personal items she has to be careful of is a framed picture of his mother and a framed picture of them at the last Chinese new year celebration at her family's house; a nice surprise to find out he actually kept it and displays it.
Before she gets lost in the sentiment, which happens every times she dusts the frame, she tells herself, "Ok Auska, let's get to kitchen." She puts the duster in the closet, walks to the kitchen, and turns on the radio. Shounen Heart by Home Made Kazoku starts playing. She puts the volume up and sings along, just as loudly. Starting to dance to the music, she grabs two spoons and taps them against a turned over pot in the sink.
As she feels energized by the song, she spins around and sees Jin leaning against the wall, with his arms crossed, and a big grin on his face.
"Ah!" She loses her grip on the spoons from the shock and they fly out in opposite directions. One hits the kitchen door and other hits the clock on the kitchen wall before they both fall to the floor, making a loud clang sound. She turns off the radio. "I'm sorry if I disturbed your training…"
He interrupts, "I love to watch you dance."
She smiles, thinking that she should have already had said a zinger back but him walking around topless is still a sight she's still getting use to. She quickly takes a paper napkin, picks up the spoons off the floor, and wipes off the smudge marks they made.
"It's fine Asuka."
"I'll earn my keep." She throws the paper napkin in the garage, puts the spoons in the sink, and she starts to do the dishes. "Just don't sue me for damages." She quickly looks back and smiles at Jin as he walks to the fridge.
She watches him pull out a half gallon of orange juice and starts drinking it straight from the container as he kicks the fridge closed.
"By the way…I'm still really, really…really glad you told me about how drink juice."
Jin empties the container, burps, and throws it into the garbage. "You're welcome."
She rolls her eyes and then puts all of her attention back to cleaning the dishes, which is why the dish slips out her hands and into the sink when he catches off guard when he hugs from behind.
"Are you ok," he asks.
"You're…horrible." She doesn't know what else to say as she nervously laughs.
"I didn't mean to scare you."
She turns her head slightly towards him with an encouraging smile. "What do I have to fear? You're taking caring of me." She elbows him lightly to the stomach.
After he recovers from the blow, he whispers into her ear, "I'll always take care of you." He softly kisses her right cheek before walking away.
She grins. She looks back and watches him go back into his dojo. She looks back to the sink and turns on the radio on. Gwen Stefani's Hollaback Girl is playing. Getting excited, she jumps for joy because she hasn't heard that song for weeks. She puts the volume up, sings along just as loud, and throws caution to the wind.