Eve yawned and stretched out her limbs on the small sleeping mat as she then turned to cuddle her pillow. Her eyes budded with dew drop tears as she let out another yawn. Her eyes fluttered open as she stared blurrily around the room, her senses just beginning to wake. With a third yawn she sat up and scratched her head and threw the covers off, revealing her silk Japanese styled pajamas. Button reached up along the middle and even one around the neck to make a beautiful collar. The pants were silky and beautiful but a little too long and covered her feet. The pajamas had tracing designs of vines and parasols and flower petals. Eve shook her head and then winded her hands up to let loose the bun in her hair, her long blond hair falling down and around her shoulders.

She moved the shojiscreen a little to peer into the next room. She saw Yui mixing a small pot above a flickering fire and some sort of stew swishing inside the black pot. Eve smiled and crawled out to the open area, plopping down in front of the warm fire. She smiled at the woman as she served her a bowl of porridge.

"Thanks," eve said with a smile.

Yui nodded and served two more bowls before putting the pot up on the counter. Eve sipped her food softly, careful not to burn her tongue as she looked at Yui. "It bothers me," She said, lowering the bowl from her lips. "That we don't have utensils. How will we eat? With our hands?"

Yui shrugged. "I don't know, but I must admit, it's actually quite fun~!"

Eve shook her head and sighed. "Yes but it's not lady like."

"You are not one to school me about not being lady like." She chuckled. "If anything, I am the most lady like."

Eve rolled her eyes and set down her finished bowl. "I must get dressed. I'll call you when I need you to tie my obi."

She stood and then walked behind the shoji screen to change into her kimono. She held up the clothing article to see the bottom and middle of it scuffed with dirt and a small rip along the bottom hem. With a frown she undressed and slipped the silk on over her instead, grabbing the obi and walking out.

"Here," Eve said handing her the white sash as she adjusted her kimono.

Yui smiled and tied it tightly for the young girl before helping her return her hair into a neat bun. "You look very nice," She smiled. "Though we will have to redo your makeup."

Eve frowned. "No, I don't need to look like a ghost thank you."

"Well then at least let me but on some lipstick and eye makeup."

Eve agreed and sat down as her mother delicately applied the makeup, all the while Eve drumming her fingers in anticipation.

"Please mother, I'm in a hurry." She said bitterly.

"And where to?" Her mom chuckled.

"Th-that's none of your business."

She smiled and patted eve's shoulder as she finished. "Of course it's not."

Eve jumped up and gathered the bottom of her kimono and hurried out of the house, not caring that she was in only socks as she ran over to the house next to her. She dropped the material clutched in her hand and debated knocking or not. Is that polite here? Am I supposed do or do I just walk in? I don't want to seem rude so—

The door opened and Eve stumbled back in surprise. When she put her eyes up she saw a man in all black and his face covered leaning against the door frame of the home, a mischievous sparkle in his eyes.

"Kon'ichiwa." He smiled (-again when I say he 'smiled' it means with his eyes unless I specifically say 'you could see an imprint…')

"Ohayo gozaimasu." Eve said with a bow.

"O genkidesu ka?"

Eve brought herself up again and blushed. "I-I can't understand you."

Shusaku folded his arms (still leaning on the doorway), and appeared to be thinking. "Well then, you have a lot to learn." He nodded to the inside of his house and Eve slowly walked in as he closed the door and followed behind her.

"Where should I sit?" She asked.

"Anywhere is fine."

Eve decided to sit at the small dining table and Shusaku joined her on the other side so he could look at her. "How much Japanese do you actually know?"

"Uh, well, I know the formalities, like good morning, good afternoon, good evening, goodnight," She began counting on her fingers. "Hello, good-bye, thank you, yes, no, father, mother, younger/older sister, same with brother, what, how to say my name, daughter…" She drifted off. "And I think that's it~!"

Shusaku stared at her for a little while then leaned back. "Where are you from?" he asked.

Eve was taken aback by the question and she fumbled with her long sleeves. "Why would you ask such a thing?"

"You have an accent, I just noticed it."

"Ah, I-I am from England."

"…England…?" He murmured. "Ah yes, England, Igirisu."

"Yes, It is a country on the west coast." Eve smiled.

Shusaku nodded, folding his arms again as he registered the information. "I see, well that explains why you don't know Japanese and your…appearance."

Eve blushed. "I-Is there something wrong with my appearance?"

"No," he said. "You just look, different, then the others, as with your parents. But I again didn't notice till now, I never really took the time to look at you much."

Eve felt somewhat hurt. So, what? I'm not even worth a sideways glance?

"Your eyes are wider and rounder than ours, and your face is slightly more rounded along with less defined cheekbones. You have blond hair, your lips are fuller than ours and you are slightly more pale then an average farmer."

"Ah, well, most people in England are usually pale or very tan. I don't…go outside often so I've stayed fairly pale. But you," She looked around. "All of you here are extremely pale, as if you never go out in the sun."

Shusaku shifted nervously. "Hm, Japanese people are born with pale skin—now if we could continue." He said shifting the topic quickly. "I shall teach you to speak Japanese first, and then we will get how to write and read the different types of Japanese. Calligraphy will probably be the hardest thing so we shall do that last."

Eve nodded.

"First off, I know you know what people mean when they say 'Watashi wa…' correct?"

"Yes,"

"And you pretty much know the very basics at the most" He mused.

Eve flushed in embarrassment. "I-I didn't pay attention much when I was learning."

"I can tell." He said matter-of-factly. "But I think we should first teach you, how to say you can't speak Japanese." He smiled, waving a finger at me. "A few other people in the village speak English as well as me so they can also help you translate what others are saying."

"So, you are like my translator?"

"If I am with you at the moment, yes, I will act like a translator. But if I'm not then you are on your own. Now, repeat after me: Watashi wa nihongo o hanasanai."

"Watashi wa nihon o hannah." She said slowly.

"No, Watashi wa,"

"Watashi wa,"

"nihongo o,"

"nihongo o,"

"hanasanai."

"hanasanai." Eve finished.

"I don't speak Japanese." He said slowly.

"O-Okay," Eve stuttered. "I think I've got it, maybe."

Shusaku chuckled. "I don't expect you to get it the first time. Just keep practicing. Practice makes perfect."

"Permanent." Eve butted in. "Practice makes permanent, no one is perfect."

Shusaku gave her an amused look and shrugged. "I guess you are right."

Eve let out a breath and nodded. "Sorry, I just hate it when people use that phrase, I feel like it's trying to make someone go for an impossible goal. Being perfect," She scoffed. "No one can ever attain perfection, well except for a few people."

"And may I ask who?" Shusaku asked.

"Ah, well, I really shouldn't."

"Please do," He insisted.

"Well, in my religion, Christianity it describes as our savior Jesus, that he is the only one who is perfect, and whoever could be perfect. But…" She drifted off. "I'm guessing that in your religion Buddha is perfect."

Shusaku seemed shocked. "How do you know about Buddha?"

"I actually am a somewhat educated girl." She giggled. "I know quite a lot about Japan, about its religion, currency, about the daimios and shoguns and lords, and samurai and their code of honor," She smiled. "About the Buddha Ball, and" She leaned forward. "Ninjas." She whispered.

Shusaku was taken aback.

"Ninjas?" He chuckled. "Whatever made you think such things as the Buddha Ball and ninjas exist?"

"I never said I did." She smiled. She had caught him. "I just mentioned I know about them. Why would you believe that I thought they were real? It couldn't be…because you think they're real, do you?"

Shusaku didn't reply. "We are drifting from the topic of your studying."

"I'll take that as a yes."

"I didn't answer the question so you cannot take it as yes. It is a question that will and forever will remained, unanswered." He said sternly.

Eve just gave him a coy smile. "I will get the answer from you, Shusaku-sempai." She said, drawling out his new formal name.

"Sempai?" He asked, amused.

"Yes, Shusaku-sempai. Or do you prefer Sempai-sama?" She chuckled.

Shusaku shook his head though Eve heard a small chuckle. "No wonder you never learned anything, you don't pay attention."

"Sempai-sama it is."

"No."

"Shusaku-sempai?"

"No."

"I'll just stick with Shusaku-sempai then." She smiled.

Shusaku just rolled his eyes in response. "Anata wa totemo yochida." He sighed.

"Shusaku-sempai," She said, waving her finger at him as she stood. "Remember: Watashi wa nihongo o hanasanai." And with that and a smile, she left.

*Translations:

Ohayo gozaimasu. –Good morning (polite)

O genkidesu ka? –How are you?

Igirisu –England

Watashi wa… -I am…

Anata wa totemo yochida. –You are so childish.

Watashi wa nihongo o hanasanai. –I don't speak Japanese. *