Chapter 5: Delilah Strikes

"So he's fallen in love…"

"So it seems…"

"Take her," the Card Master, Alexis Hargreaves, said. "I'd like to meet this daughter-in-law that has captured the heart of my darling son. Jezebel."

"Father?"

"Go collect your new sister."

Jezebel Disraeli, Cain's half brother, bowed to their father and turned to leave.

Alexis smirked. "How many times will you make me punish you, Cain?"

Sunako put the fifth book down and looked outside. It was raining outside, but Sunako itched to do something other than sit inside and read. It was all she'd been able to do for a week.

Martha came in. "Miss, are you feeling alright?"

"I'm bored." Sunako stood. "Do you think I could do some cooking or some cleaning?"

"Why ever for?" Martha asked, taken aback.

"I haven't cooked and cleaned in so long that I'm itching to do something."

"Are you remembering something?"

"I think so…yes…"

"Well, I guess it's alright if it will help you remember. But we can't let you get those clothes dirty. I'll go borrow something that you can get messy."

Sunako hugged Martha. "Thank you so much!" Sunako said. "You're a life saver!"

Once Sunako was in "more appropriate" attire, she began to clean like a maniac. Then she went to the kitchens and made all her favorite foods after sending the chef to buy rice, fish, shrimp, seaweed, and vegetables.

As Sunako cooked, she began to remember…

"Nakahara Sunako!"

"Sunako-chan!"

"Fried shrimp!"

"Okasan!"

Su-na-ko-chan."

"Free rent!"

"Please, Sunako, save our miserable souls!"

"I hate ugly girls…"

"No one thinks you're ugly!"

"You already kissed!"

"Hi, honey…"

"I knew you'd say that, so I came prepared—eight slasher films so violent they were even banned in Japan!"

"Kyouhei! You idiot! Idiot! Idiot! Idiot!"

"Kyouhei…Takenaga…Ranmaru…Yuki…Noi…" Sunako muttered, feeling her eyes well up. "Obachan…" Sunako stopped cooking and sat at the table.

"Miss? Are you alright?"

"Uh…yes. I'm fine. I'm sorry, I feel a little faint," Sunako said. She stood again and dried her eyes before checking the rice again.

Once she had finished the feast for that night, Sunako helped set the table, and then Martha and Claire whisked her away to fix her back up into a lady's dress before Cain came home.

Once Sunako was presentable again, she joined Cain and Mary into the dining room.

"Wow…what's this called?" Mary asked, pointing at the fish. Sunako answered. Mary pointed at the sushi.

"Did you make this?" Cain asked, staring at the food with as much interest as Mary.

"Yes," Sunako answered. "These are some specialties of my country."

"Wow! Japanese food!" Mary said reaching out. Sunako slapped her hand away with chopsticks.

"Not yet, I need to show you how to use chopsticks and what to say before you eat."

"Eh?!"

Sunako moved their fingers into the right way to hold chopsticks.

"Before you eat, you say 'itidakimasu,' which means, 'thank you for the food.'"

Five minutes later, they had gotten it right and Sunako finally let them eat.

"This is amazing!" Mary said. "You never said you could cook!"

"Really?" Sunako said. "I guess it slipped my mind. Do you like it?"

"You're a natural cook," Mary said. "Right, Big Brother?"

Cain nodded, unable to answer otherwise because his mouth full of rice. Sunako and Mary laughed. You would never have guessed that the reserved Earl Hargreaves could look so much like a silly child as he did then.

They laughed harder, when he reached for more fried shrimp. "Big Brother, if you're not careful you'll get fat."

"Careful," Sunako said darkly, but smiling none the less. "I'm the one who made the food."

"Sorry," Mary giggled.

Sunako and Cain bid Mary goodnight and went to the library. "You really are a natural chef," Cain said. "I've never had Japanese cuisine before."

"I'm glad you liked it."

Cain kissed her hand and opened the library door for her. "I love you," he whispered in her ear. "I can't say that enough."

Sunako blushed. I guess love can't be reasoned with. Especially love at first sight—never have I believed in it before now. "I love you, too."

"Ah! Sunako-chan!"

"Damn! Another nosebleed?!"

"Sunako, you're bleeding."

"Huh?" Sunako touched the bottom of her nose and sure enough blood was dripping out. "Well, that's odd."

"That it is," Cain laughed, handing her tissues. They sat down at the table and continued their Japanese lessons.

Martha entered the library an hour later. "Ms. Sunako, it's time for bed," Martha said. Sunako nodded. She turned to Cain.

"Goodnight," she said. Cain kissed her hand.

"Goodnight."

Sunako followed Martha to her bedroom silently, her brow furrowed. Why did I get a nosebleed?

Sunako allowed Martha to undress her. Once Sunako was in her night dress, Martha bid her goodnight and Sunako stayed up a little later to read.

While she read, Sunako sensed someone in the room. She looked up from her book and turned to the door. It was closed.

She looked at the window. It was open.

Sunako went to see if the presence she sensed was outside. The moment she was outside, someone covered her head with a sack.

Sunako screamed and thrashed against her assailant, but, whoever it was, he tossed her against the wall and Sunako lost consciousness.

oh no! and the plot thickens! what will happen next?! Yeah. I'm evil. ;P