Chapter Three
To be honest, the young man didn't know where to even began.
Files upon files upon files surrounded him. The room was lit only by a dim light bulb that was dangling by a string. The man feared that the light would burn out and he would be left to sort in the dark.
He sighed. I might as well get this over with. He went over to the smallest pile which went about up to his chest. He grabbed a file and began his sorting. After a while he let his mind start to wonder back to the harsh tour that he was given earlier by Hikari.
"Well let's get this over with." Hikari declared. She grabbed the man by his arm and started to drag him around.
They entered back to the front. Becca glanced over and then flashed him another flirtatious smile. His eyes grew wide, but he remained silent.
"See your following you father's 'orders'"
Hikari's response was the roll of her eyes. "You think he understands a damn thing you're saying."
Becca smiled. " You think he understand a word I'm saying?"
"No, but I think he knows that you are sexual harrsising him and it's making him uncomfortable. Right, Aratra-san?"
She yanked hard on his arm which shoot lightning bolts of pain down his arm. He quickly nodded his head, so that she would stop. She smirked with satisfaction, and her grip loosened.
Becca's face turned beet red. "Was not!" She exclaimed. " At least I'm feminine enough to get a man!"
Her eyes rolled again. "Like I need one. Oh." She yanked him forward causing him to slam straight into the desk. "This is Arata. Arata this is Becca."
"Ummm Kon'nichiwa."
Becca's eyes grew wide. "What'd he just say?"
"He said hello."
Becca flashed him a smile. "Well Kon'nichiwa, Arata. It's very nice to meet you. I'm Becca." Then she gave him a quick, and leaned close to Hikari. covering her mouth to mask her voice, but he could still make out what she was saying.
"Does he know any English?"
"Barely! And my dumb father is making me have to teach him! Why the hell would you hire somebody that doesn't know a damn thing you're saying. Seriously, my dad is sometimes too nice for his own good."
"Well," Becca sighed. "There is not much you can do now, Hikari. Your father's word is always final."
Hikari sighed in frustration. "Yeah, I know. Look, I gotta go finish showing this beanpole klutz around, so I'll see you later."
"Bye. Bye." Becca waved as the man was dragged out of the room. He felt light as a feather as was being dragged across the shop. Then he came to a thud as they slowly entered another room. His eyes widened at all the buzzing that was around him.
There many different types of oils that started to fill up his nose. The screech of drills and saws rang in his ears. At least dozen men were doing something mechanical. The heat was causing the man to break out in a sudden sweat. He yelped when he got yanked forward and then being dragged towards a man whose back was facing them.
Sweat ran down his back making it look shiny. Faded gold locks were matted onto the man's head. He had a lean build, but was strong enough to move a heavy piece of scrap metal like it was nothing. His biceps contracted every time he used the saw.
Hikari give the man a light tap on the shoulder which caused him to fly around, saw in hand. The man screamed and flew back to avoid getting cut. The man took off his protective mask and glared at her.
"How many times have I told you not to do that? What would've happened if that actually cut someone."
She crossed her arms. "Don't know, but you would have saved me a lot of trouble."
The young man realized the man shared the same eyes as Hikari.
"Spencer I would like you to meet Arata. Arata this is my older brother, Spencer."
"Um h-" He paused trying hard to remember the rest of the word, but she stopped him.
Then he felt a feather light touch.
"It's fine. I'll do the talking."
He was in shock. He swore he just saw her eyes soften, but it was only there for an instant. Then they back to their usual sarcastic glaze.
"Nice to meet you Arata!" He flashed him a large grin and took his hands. "Just so you know Hikari doesn't always get the best of me."
She flashed Spencer a glare, but his grin only grew wider and then let go of the man's hands.
"Buzz off." She grabbed the man's fist and clenched it. "Come on Arata let's go."
"Later!" Spencer waved. "Oh hey maybe he can come and drink with me sometime."
Then after that he was shown the kitchen, the break room, the bathrooms( Which embarrassed him), and then lastly…
"Here you go." She stood in front of an narrow door.
The man gulped when he noticed a couple of cobwebs in the corner. Then the door flew open and he was pulled inside. He blinked when a light flickered on, and he gasped. Files upon files upon files were littered across the room; quickly filling up the room's small space. Dust sprinkled the air filling up his nose which caused him to cough which earned him an roll of the eyes form Hikari. The man stopped coughing and cautiously approached one of the piles. He grabbed a file which had several layers of dust.
"Well have fun."
He glanced behind, and there she stood a hand on her hip and her lip curled into a smirk.
"W-what do you mean?"
Her eyes narrowed. "Your first lesson is to alphabetize all of the files in this room. Tomorrow I will check on your process." Then she turned around to leave the room.
Is this woman insane!? There is no way in hell I can finish all of this by tomorrow morning. He thought. "W-WAIT!"
She stopped walking, and her eyes glazed back. "What?"
"What I'm I supposed to do!? I barely know any English! This will take me all night! There is no way this will be done by tomorrow."
"Well too bad so sad. It's your problem, not mine. So you better be done by tomorrow or I will have you fired. Now you better get started."
He was about to shout out in protest, but again she disappeared without being able to say a single word.
Now here he was. He managed to get through at least three piles. Each one was more dreadful than the last. He wasn't even sure he was doing any of it right. The words were nothing but a blur, and the dim lighting was not helping. He sighed and collapsed against one of the few bare walls.
This was horrible. All he had to help was his memory which he barely had despite his father being an English professor. The only phrases that could come to his head were "please." and "Thank you." It helped him figure out some of the letters, but the rest were a mystery to him.
"Rough night. huh?"
He glanced up and noticed Steve towering over him. He immediately began to panic.
"I'm sorry! I'll get right back to work! I swear I was not slacking off! Please don't be angry?" The man wasn't even sure the Steve understood a word he was saying.
The man flashed him a gruff smile. "Your fine kid. I see you're quite exhausted."
The man just sighed in response.
Steve laughed. "Don't worry! You'll benefit from this in the end."
The man glanced up. "You know Japanese?"
Steve laughed again. "Yeah! Who do you think taught me. It sure as hell wasn't Rosetta Stone."
The man flashed a small smile.
Steve smiled back and scratched his head. " Yeah Hikari taught me. Cool huh."
"I guess so."
"Good luck, Arata. You'll do just fine at Ironside."
Steve flashed him one more grin and left the room. The man grabbed another file and continued with his attempt at organizing.
"Hey. Hey. Wake up."
The man felt a rough poke causing him to grimace. His eyes fluttered open and there was Hikari a tan jacket upon her shoulders and the usual scowl on her face.
"You done."
He groaned and sat back up. His back aching and his head wouldn't stop throbbing. He brushed back his bangs.
"Right there." He pointed to one of his piles by the door.
She got up onto her feet and walked over to the pile. Grabbing some files and started to going through them. He watched her quietly as she flipped through them. He started to notice small things about her. How her lips pressed together when she concentrated on something. How the dim lighting made her hair glow. When her brown eyes were skimming across the pages.
Then he started to remember someone similar to her. A woman who was just like that. Standing in the auto parts section going through a book. Only her eyes portraying her thoughts. He was so busy scoping out for that dove that he never realized that she was... in the store with him.
She stopped reading and put the papers down. She heavily sighed and brushed back some of her curls. Then she grabbed a large pile of papers and threw them down in front of the man.
The man stared at the pile in horror. It was over half of his night's work. She bent down and handed the first file.
"Read it." She ordered.
"I-"
"Do it."
"A-A-u-t-o p-"
"Stop." She cut him off and plucked the file out of his hands. She flashed him a glare. "Watch my mouth closely. Auto parts order for Steve Osborne."
He watched her mouth carefully, but was not paying attention to any of the words. He noticed that her lips were neither to full or thin. and that they were bubblegum pink. They looked really soft to him. Soft enough to k-
He shook his head. What's the matter with me? She's rude and short tempered. And kicks things when they don't go her way, but then their are her wings….
He sighed.
"Oh my god quit your whining. You'll get the hang of it. If it makes you feel any better you're doing better than most people."
"I am?"
"Yeah you are, and there is no need to sound so surprised okay." She flashed him a grin and handed another file. "Read one word at a time."
He took the file out of her hand being carefully to avoid brushing it. He glared down at the file. The words seemed like something an alien would use. He was concentrating so hard that the page started to blur.
Then the it was snatched out of his hands.
"One word at a time, dumbass."
"I'm s-"
"Shut up and read." She crossed her arms over her chest. "And you better get it right cause I got better things to do than be your damn teacher."
"I-I."
"Read." She ordered.
He stared down at the paper. Taking several deep breaths to calm his nerves. He focused all of his attention on one word. Soon the blur started to come into focus. B-build? Is that it! Should I say it? Just say it! Your tired and you want to get some sleep.
"B-b-build?"
"That's right, but your u is a little off." She got up and brushed dust off her knees." Go home and get some rest. Will work on it some more tomorrow."
He stared at her with wide eyes.
"What's the matter?"
"I…" He bit his lower lip.
"I ain't getting any younger here. Now spit it!"
"I…." Then he stopped.
"Ugh!" She stormed over and yanked him up by the collar. "Say something! My god! What are you?!"
"Homeless." He whispered.
Her eyes widened and her grip loosened. "I'm sorry."
"Don't. Please, I don't need any pity."
"Look." She put her head down. "If you need a place to stay my dad keeps a spare cot in my brother's room. If you want." She let go and he adjusted his collar.
"Are you offering me...a place to stay?"
"What do you think? Yes! Last thing I need is to think about you sleeping in some dumpster."
A dumpster? What in the world would make her think I would sleep in a dumpster?
"Well come on!"
"Huh?"
"We're going to get the cot."
"Ummm...okay." I guess I don't get a say in the matter.
She rolled her eyes and with that the two left the room.
After that the two walked down the hallway. The man stared blankly as Hikari was dragging him. He was confused about how she was generous enough to offer him a place to stay.
Maybe she is trying to make up for how she treated me back at the coffee shop.
"Hey."
He tore away from his thoughts and stared at her.
Her eyes narrowed she finally got his full attention. " Just so you know I'm not doing this out of the goodness of my heart. I'm doing this because if you get killed by god knows what. My dad will have my ass."
His eyes went wide at the realization that this was solely for her benefit, not his. Oh...so...that's why. He mentally groaned for getting his hopes up.
"Alright here it is. Hello Arata!"
He turned his attention back up to her. She stood, hand on her hip, in front of a door. "I want to warn you my brother David kind of has a strong obsession."
The man gulped. What kind of obsession? Is it one that involves decapitated animal heads? Because if that is the cause I would prefer the streets. The man took a breath and then spoke, "What kind of obsession?"
She smirked and threw open the door. He noticed that she had an evil glint in her eye. "You see."
Then he was pulled into darkness.
"I can't see anything."
She stood there as he tightened his grip on her wrist. The darkness not even fazing the woman. She sighed heavily. "Will you loosen your grip. You're gonna break it if you hold on any tighter."
"Why is it so dark? I can't even see."
"Just give it a minute. Trust me will be blinded in about a minute."
"Huh?" The man was in the process of backing away when he suddenly lost his footing causing him to knock down a pole causing it to go at an angle. His eyes grew wide as a marble started to flow down and pushed on a button causing a champagne bottle to pop open. The golden liquid flowed down two diverging tunnels into the mouths statues of an elephant and a pig. The alcohol continued to flow into their mouths while a timer ticked. Then once the animals were satisfied they burped and the timer went off.
The man watched in awe while Hikari yawned.
"Oh it get's better." She went sarcastically.
The two animals burps became bubbles and flew up to a breathalyzer causing it to go off. Which in turned fell and a line of dominoes causing them to clutter to the ground. The last one flew straight in a teakettle and it started to boil. Ounce it finished it knocked down and hot water flowed down into a tube straight into a toy train. The train raced down the tracks and rammed into a button causing an wailing fire alarm to go off.
The two threw their hands over their ears to muffle the noise.
"Is this what you meant!?"
"Huh!?"
"I said is this what you meant!?"
"Wha? I can't hear you!"
The man decided to not repeat himself again for risk of scratching up his throat. He prayed that the horrific wailing would soon end, and to his relief it finally did. A green curtain was drawn back and revealed a teenage boy.
Hikari heavily sighed. "Aratra, this is my younger brother, David. David, this is our new co-worker Arata. He is staying over tonight."
The boy yawned and wiped his eyes and then he bent down to grab something.
He was quite leaner than his older brother and super bluff father, but he had the same eyes as Hikari. He bent back up and the man noticed that own his face were giant glasses that were falling down the bridge of his nose, so he had to push it back up.
"Yes sis what is it?"
"First of all why don't you get a alarm clock like a normal person. Second, I need to borrow Dad's extra cot for tonight."
He brushed back some of his blond curls. "Why?" He pushed back his glasses. " You have a bed, so what would need with the cot."
She grimaced. "It's for our guest?"
He flashed her a sheepish look. "And who might that be?"
"Him!" She pointed harshly at the man. " He's homeless and needs a place to sleep! Now hand it over!"
"I can't."
"Why not?"
"Because I need it."
She threw her hands on her hips. "For what?"
She put her face in her hands and groaned. "Please David."
"Sorry. I still can't."
"What is this dumb project anyway?"
"I'm going to make a machine that will greet the customers. I need the cot so I can use the frames for it's body stature and the cloth to cover it up."
"Use something else!"
"What! No! Have your "guest" sleep somewhere else." He sighed and readjusted his glasses. "Geez, if I known you were gonna wake me up for something stupid I would've put a lock on the door."
Hikari's face became beet red. " What the hell does that supposed to mean."
His eyebrows rose. "So...you..two..aren't hooking up?"
Hikari stuck her tongue out while the man shook his head viciously. She pointed a finger into the young boy's chest.
"Just give me the damn cot, you asshole."
"Fine. Fine." He said as he pushed his intimating sister back. " I go get it from my workshop. Just when I had the perfect piece for my wonderful creation." He murmured.
"Quit your whining and go get it."
He stuck his tongue at her and she flashed the bird as a reply. Her shook his head and went behind the curtain. The man heard crashing and banging for a few moments, but then then he came out with a dark green cot underneath his thin arm. He threw the cot at his sister who caught it and put under her arm.
"Come on let's go." She said to the man as she walked past him.
He gave her a quick nod and followed her.
"Don't do anything I wouldn't do!" David shouted.
The man blushed while Hikari shouted at him to "shut the hell up if he knew what was good for him."
"Like I'm afraid of you sis. Goodnight!"
"GOODNIGHT!"
These people are completely strange. The man thought to himself. He sighed. But..by far that kid is the normalest person in this entire shop.
He turned his attention back to Hikari and followed her out of the room leaving the boy genius behind.
The two went back down the hall and turned to the right. Hikari kicked open the door using her right leg. The man's eyes darted around the room while she put the cot in front of an unkempt bed.
The man noticed that there were countless posters of rock bands scattered across the walls. A desk sat in a corner piled high with textbooks and paper. A full length mirror sat in the opposite corner. A sticker of a grinning rabbit peeling off in the corner. A bed was littered with clothes while the comforter was laid off to the side. He saw a stuffed, violet monkey sitting on one of the pillows. Blood rushed to his face when he realized there was a bra on the bed post.
Oh my god! I'm in her room! Why the hell is she putting the cot in here?!
Her eyes glazed back. "What?"
He turned another shade of red. "Y-Yo-ur b-b-r-a."
She stared over at the bedpost. Her jaw dropped and in a flash the undergarment was gone. She scrambled it up and threw into the overflowing laundry hamper.
He stared away and began to play with his hands. He could still feel the heat on his face and the racing of his heart. The man never paid much attention to the opposite sex. He'd admit that he had found attractive women before, and many he found quite attractive, but there was nothing more than that. He could never approach a pretty girl without going into complete shock shock, or saying something completely stupid.
But here he was the one of the most beautiful women he had met, and he was alone in his room.
"Hey."
"Take this." She handed him a pile of blankets and a pillow.
He pulled the bundle up to his chest as she grabbed her blanket and pillow and threw it on the cot. Then she took her giant pile of dirty clothes and threw it on the floor.
"Wh-hat a-are y-y-ou doing?" He mumbled.
She looked at him in surprise "You can sleep here till I get back."
"B-but w-why."
"Got school. And for god's sake will please stop with the fucking stuttering. It's annoying." She grabbed her school bag and her uniform. "See ya later."
"Ok…." He silently shook his head. Best not to over think this. He put the comforter down and made his bed. Ounce her finished fluffing up his pillow he went under the covers. His eyes widened when he realized Hikari was still and was kneeling down towards him. Oh my god! What is she doing!? She's so close! So, so close. He clenched his eyes shut as he started to feel the fabric of her shirt. He felt several tugs of his blanket. He peeked an eye open and show she was tying the him to the bedpost.
"Wha-t a-r-re y-yo-u d-doing.?"
"Tying you done in case you have the stupid idea of going through my room. That," She leaned down causing them to bump forehead. Her lips curling in an evil grin. "Would really piss me off. So you're gonna be a good boy and stay."
"Wh-at i-n th-he wo-rl-d wou-ld m-m-ak-e y-yo-u thi-nk -t-th-a-at?"
She stood up and sighed heavily. "God, I got so much work to do." She threw her bag over her shoulder. "Well sweet dreams, dumbass."
"W-"
But the slam of the door cut him off. He groaned and started to scrim, but she tied him down well, so well he could barely move. He was lucky enough just to even breathe. After several failed attempts he gave up as exhaustion was finally wavering throughout his body. The man was slightly irritated that he had to sleep in such uncomfortable position, but as his eyes began to drop it faded from his mind.
Soon not long after that he was dreaming of her again.
A/N Happy super late Merry Christmas/New Years. Sorry it took so long for this chapter to get out, but with my classes starting up again. Well...work comes before play right. I hope that you enjoyed the next chapter of How I met Her, and that you keep spreading the Arata love. And I would love reviews as a late Christmas present!
Panda out! :)