A/N: Forget tomatoes, I think everyone wants to shower me in blood after taking so long. Really really sorry everyone! To be honest, I'm having a really hard time scheduling a break - to sit down and just type something. But anyway, I won't rant so much.
Thanks so much to all my readers, reviewers, and followers! I feel guilty reading all your comments and not being able to do anything about them (cough. Update. cough).
Anyway, I hope everyone enjoys this chapter. As usual, I put myself in a situation I didn't like and just had to find a way to get myself out of it. I gotta say, I do like the ending though. :)
On with the story!
Chapter 19: Me and my Savior 2
Four tired figures met in the middle of the hallway.
"Any sign of her?" Akira asked. As soon as the blonde butler asked her about friend, the onyx-haired girl, along with her butler, decided to help locate the blonde maid as well.
"She's not in the kitchen nor the pantry," Mizuki started. "I asked the other maids and butlers and they haven't seen her since the last time she went there."
"Kanata?"
The brunet shook his head in the negative. "She's not outside either. The others haven't seen her too."
"My luck's just about the same," Seiya sighed. "I looked inside the bedrooms and toilets and still no sign of her."
"Where could Miyu-chan have gone to," Akira asked herself.
A moment of silence passed between the four – all pondered on where the blonde maid could have gone.
Just then, they could make out two voices from down the hall.
"I've heard that Saionji's maid has gone missing," a voice said.
"So I've heard," another answered. "I saw him asking around the balcony earlier."
"This is exactly what I was telling you about earlier," the first girl said haughtily. "I mean, what self-respecting maid would disappear when her own master needed her?"
"Incompetency at its finest," the other seconded.
"And this is why Saionji-kun should replace her-"
"Ehemm…" a voice suddenly cut their nice conversation making them turn to look at their new companions.
"Mind repeating what you said, ladies?" Akira said over-sweetly with a creepy smile on her face, her arms crossed in front of her. Behind her are her three boys seemingly backing her up. The two ladies immediately paled at the sight.
-0-0-0-0-0-0-
She can hear the waves crashing down the beach. Looking out towards the sea, the blonde sighed for the nth time. If not for her troubling thoughts, she would have noted how beautiful the moon and the beach looked tonight.
Curling into a tighter ball, Miyu couldn't help but sigh again.
"Maybe, the young master is better off without me…" she said to herself as she traced random shapes on the sand.
"I almost cost him his life, even made him sick," she started, "not to mention constantly annoy him with my nagging," she said.
She tucked her head between her knees. "I'm useless…"
Too engrossed in her own misery, the blonde didn't notice a shadow approaching her.
-0-0-0-0-0-0-
"That idiot must've heard them talking and believed it," Seiya said as brushed his palm against his face.
"Where could Miyu-chan have gone to?" Akira said as she glanced outside the window. "And it's already dark outside."
"I'll go and look for her," Mizuki said as he put on his coat.
Just then Christine entered the room looking a bit worried. "Umm… Akira-chan," she started. "Have you seen Mr. Shikada?"
"And where's the young master?" Seiya asked, as he looked around the room.
-0-0-0-0-0-0-
Managing to compose herself, Miyu finally had enough of her fetal position and sat up properly. Without her sobs distracting her, the blonde suddenly became aware of her surroundings.
With the silence, she sensed a presence right behind her.
Turning around, she met a tall, dark figure with horns emerging from the head.
The blonde did what was natural of her.
She screamed. Loud.
"It's just me, Ms. Miyu," the figure suddenly said, simultaneously bringing out a flashlight to illuminate himself.
"Mr. Shikada!" Miyu said, calming herself after recognizing the figure. "Sorry about that. I thought you were a monster…" she said as she placed a hand against her heart.
"I'm sorry for startling you," the butler started. "I was just passing by when I noticed you sitting here from afar," he said as he settled himself beside the young maid. "Is something the matter?"
Miyu subconsciously tightened her hold around her legs – her guilt arising yet again.
"Mr. Shikada," the blonde started, as she rested her chin on her knees again. "You've been with Chris-chan for…. A very long time, right?" she asked.
The butler didn't reply immediately and just continued to look out towards the sea. "10 years," he answered in the affirmative. "I've been serving the Mistress for 10 years now."
"Has it always been easy for you?" she mumbled. Mr. Shikada had to strain himself to hear her. "To be a butler I mean," she continued.
Earning nothing but silence, the blonde figured it's her sign to explain her thoughts. "I've been the young master's maid for about, 4 years now," she started. "And recently, I started to feel like I've been nothing but a burden to the young master."
"He's always the one coming to my rescue, even ended up getting sick because of me," she started. "Of course, he already told me that it wasn't my fault, but I still have this constant feeling of guilt," she elaborated.
"What's worse is that I constantly annoy him with my nagging and I think…" she paused, grasping her knees tighter, "I think I'm acting too familiar with him," she said. "I guess, I just, sometimes feel that I'm more useless than of use to him," she explained, tucking her head in a fetal position again.
Her words were met with silence – the blonde's depression still lingering in the air.
"There is never a single way to describe a master's relationship with their maid," Mr. Shikada finally started. "Every one is different and there's never an easy way to define it as well."
"When I first started working for the mistress, I had doubts that she really needed me," he continued.
"She was a very polite little girl - always listens to our directions, never makes a mess, and always cleans up after herself."
"At first I started to doubt if this girl really needed me at all since she seemed to handle herself quite well. But as the months go by and I got to know more about the mistress, I was able to see what it is that she needed."
He then looked towards the blonde maid beside him. "She just needed someone to be there for her."
"And coincidentally, that's what I could give her," he smiled to her gently.
"I can only say one thing, Ms. Kouzuki," he continued. "All masters often get annoyed with their maids. But not all maids have the courage to treat their masters like a real human being. And not all masters are willing to risk their lives for them."
With his words, Miyu couldn't help but recall everything that they've been through making her form a small smile on her face.
"The bond between you an Master Kanata is very strong and the familiarity between you two is proof of that," the reindeer-man continued. "Why," he chuckled, "I've never seen the young master have a maid last for more than a month so you are definitely better than you think."
"I think it's also because not all maids can tolerate the young master so much, Miyu added to the joke making them both chuckle.
After a few moments of silent understanding between them, the reindeer-man put his pay on to the blonde's head, "You shouldn't let what other people say get to you," he said, as he rubbed his paw in a soothing, fatherly manner.
"But if you yourself think you're not good enough, then all you have to do is get better," he added. "But have no doubt that you have been doing something right all this time," said the reindeer-man as he gave her a genuine smile. Seeing this gesture, the blonde couldn't help but give him another one of her smiles.
Slowly, Miyu brought both her hands close to her cheeks. She then slapped herself 1, 2, 3 times.
"Thank you, Mr. Shikada," Miyu said as she rubbed the defeat away from her eyes. "I'll make sure to protect and treasure my relationship with Master Kanata."
Seeing the determination in her eyes, the reindeer-man knew that she had erased all traces of doubt.
"Now," Mr. Shikada said as he stood up and brushed the sand away from his costume. "Why don't we head back home?"
"Mmmm…" Miyu said thoughtfully as she considered her next actions. "I think I'll stay here for just a little bit longer," she explained – exuding an air of peacefulness.
With this, Mr. Shikada couldn't help but hold in his protest. He nodded in silent understanding. "But please come back soon, Ms. Miyu," he replied. "It's not safe for a young lady to be all alone out here," he said cautiously, genuinely worried for the young woman.
"I'll be fine, Mr. Shikada," the blonde assured him. "The house is just a few yards away." She then balled her fist in front of her and gave him a reassuring smile, "I know how to protect myself!"
Seeing just how much the blonde tried to assure him, Mr. Shikada couldn't help but let the young lady do as she please. With a reassuring smile, he nodded in affirmation and left her to herself.
As the blonde turned to look towards the sea once more, she failed to notice three figures approaching.
-0-0-0-0-0-0-
"Well, if it isn't Saionji's maid," a voice suddenly said behind Miyu, making the girl stand abruptly.
She was suddenly met by three looming figures, as they stood too close to her.
"What's THE precious maid doing all alone out here on the beach?" the guy on the left started as he took a few more steps closer, making Miyu step back further.
"Yeah, and without her oh so cool, handsome, and kyaa young master," the right guy mocked as he too took a step closer – the insult making Miyu stop retreating.
"Who would've expected," the guy in the middle said as he made to touch some of Miyu's hair. "That the oh so cool, serious, and popular Saionji-kun would let his precious maid out of his sight?!" he said as he brought himself closer to the young lady, her hair now covering her expression.
"Yeah," the guy on the left butted in. "Who would've thought, that after getting all the girls in school to swoon over him, he'd actually end up caring for none other but his maid!"
"Psch, such a player. So selfish and inconsiderate," the guy on the right added. "Hey, I know!" he continued, making everyone turn to look at him. "Why don't we try to steal his maid away from him!" he said determinedly, proud of having to come up with such an idea.
"Good idea!" the guy at the center said, as he brought himself closer to the blonde maid in front of him. "Let's make him feel just what it's like for someone to steal away the attention of someone he likes."
Just before he could get any closer, he was suddenly hit by two forces: one on his crotch and another behind his head.
Miyu blinked. She could've sworn she landed her kick perfectly, but it seems like something made her assailant tumble forward apart from crouching down to the ground like she expected.
"WHAT THE HELL DO YOU THINK YOU'RE DOING!?" a voice suddenly yelled behind them.
Looking behind the crouching figure, she was met by the sight of a fuming brunet, his leg still stretched in front of him.
"S-Saionji!" the guy on the right started. "We weren't doing anyth-"
"I wasn't talking to you," the brunet said as he shot a glare at the guy. If looks could kill, the guy would've already been six feet under.
"You!" Kanata yelled as he glare to the blonde in front of him.
"M-me?" the blonde asked confusedly – double-checking if she was indeed the one at fault in the situation.
"Yeah, you!" the young man retorted again, his voice booming with power. "Didn't I tell you never to go out alone!" he yelled. "What idiot will go out ALONE, in a place she barely knows, in the middle of the night?!"
Thinking that the brunet was too distracted preaching, the guy at the center silently – albeit with much difficulty, stood up and recoiled his arm to get a good punch. But before he could land a hit, his target suddenly stepped to the side making the assailant lose his balance.
"You really make me so…" Kanata started, not taking his eyes away from the blonde in front of him. "ANGRY!" he yelled, as he brought his elbow right down the assailant's back. The guy immediately slammed down to the beach unconscious – his head getting swallowed by the crashing waves.
Seeing how their friend got beaten so easily by the fuming brunet, the other two slowly took a few steps away from the scene. Unluckily for them, the sand beneath their feet made a crunching sound, effectively catching the attention of the master and maid in front of them.
Slowly, the brunet turned to look at them, emitting an eerie glow around him. As he turned to look at the other two, his eyes showed nothing but ice-cold indifference. "Now," Kanata said, as she looked straight at the two. "What was it that you three were gonna do?" the brunet said, as he placed his hands inside his pockets, his eyes never leaving the two. "Steal her from me?" he said, as he took a step forward – effectively making the two step back.
"Don't you know what I do to thieves?" he said, as he closed in on them. "I get them expelled, disowned, and bankrupt," the brunet emphasized each and every single word. "So why don't you go ahead and try," he said, as the murderous aura went full blast.
A chill went up the two's spines. The instinct to fly was stronger than fight, as the pair decided to grab their unconscious friend and run for their lives.
-0-0-0-0-0-0-
Seeing how her assailants have all come and gone, Miyu let out a sigh of relief. This was also the first time she's heard her young master threaten someone with his power that it reminded her of just how rich and influential the Saionji family truly is. She couldn't help but sigh again.
Hearing this, the brunet in front of her abruptly turned to face the blonde – his ever-present scowl still on his face.
"What the heck were you thinking?" Kanata said spitefully, hands still in his pockets, his glare intensifying even more.
Seeing the young man so upset, Miyu couldn't help but feel herself shrink in front of him.
"Can you imagine what could've happened if I didn't arrive on time?" he said, his lined with a hint of dread in his every word. "You idiot," the brunet added, effectively making a vein tick on the blonde's forehead.
"Hey, I landed a good kick there too," Miyu mumbled to herself, making the brunet intensify his scowl even more.
"This isn't a joke, Miyu!" Kanata yelled at her, making the blonde flinch at the power of his voice.
Silence fell upon them.
Lifting her head, Miyu took a moment to truly study the young man in front of her: his eyebrows knitted so closely, you can barely see the distance between them, shoulders tense, fists clenching and unclenching.
Taking all of her defenses down, Miyu leaned forward and bowed her head as low as possible. "Young master," the blonde started. "Please forgive me," she said, her hair cascading from behind her. "Like you said, it was irresponsible for me to run away like that," she kept her head low. "And if you'd want to fire me, I would totally understand."
Meeting nothing but silence, Miyu kept her head bowed low.
"Do you want to leave?" the brunet suddenly said in front of her, making her head rise to meet his gaze.
"Do you… want to- to leave?" Kanata said again, as his fists continued to clench and unclench subconsciously.
Miyu was taken aback by how uneasy the brunet in front of her was. "N-no," the blonde admitted, unsure whether her answer was correct. After a few minutes of silence though, it seemed that she answered correctly on the count of the young man's aura relaxed a little.
Getting back some confidence in doing something right, Miyu answered again with more conviction. "Not unless you'd want me to, young master," she said. Taking the silence as her cue, the blonde then leaned forward and bowed down again, "I'm very sorry for my actions, Master Kanata. I promise I won't do it ever again."
Seeing the girl still prostrated in front of him like that, Kanata couldn't help but sigh to himself. As if all the energy has left his body, the brunet crouched down to the sand and shielded his eyes with one of his hands – effectively startling the blonde in front of him.
Miyu crouched lower to get a better look at the young brunet, "M-Master Ka-"
"Just give me second," Kanata said, not taking his hand away from his eyes. Truthfully, the brunet was just trying to absorb the relief of knowing that his maid is safe in front of him and that she doesn't want to leave him.
After a few more seconds of silence, the brunet finally released his hold over his eyes and slowly looked up to the blonde's. Miyu was a bit taken aback by just how different his eyes are now than they were a few minutes ago. She could see nothing but such honest eyes staring back at her, though she was having a hard time reading the exact emotion.
"Look," the brunet started, "I know why you left the house," he continued, going straight for the cause of everything.
"But you shouldn't let what other people say get to you," he said, as he sat down and made himself more comfortable. "Just ignore them," he said as he scoffed at the imaginary audience.
The blonde was a bit surprised by the little pep talk from the young brunet that she couldn't help but giggle at their little moment. As she laughed, Kanata diverted his glare back at her.
"Miyu!" he scolded her as he looked up to her from his seat.
This effectively stopped the blonde from her laughing fit. "D-did you just call me by my name?" Miyu asked as she looked incredulously at the equally shocked brunet in front of her.
Being illuminated by nothing but the moonlight, both failed to notice the blood rushing up their faces.
"T-that is your name, isn't it?" Kanata said, as he cleared his throat – his face trying to keep its calm and aloof facade.
...
Not being able to bare the awkwardness of the situation, Kanata abruptly stood up and brushed the sand behind him.
"Let's go back," the brunet said, as he turned towards the blonde. As he took a few steps, he heard nothing but silence behind him.
Sighing to himself, he turned to look at the blonde behind him only to find the young maid fidgeting in her place.
"Oi-"
"This is the first time…" Miyu said as she slowly turned her eyes towards the confused brunet in front of her. "The first time, the young master has said my name," she said, as she flashed him a genuinely bright smile. "And you said it twice!" she exclaimed.
The moment he saw the face of the blonde in front of him, all of his efforts have gone out the window and Kanata couldn't control the blush coming on to his face.
After taking a while to calm himself, Kanata cleared his throat and motioned towards the house again. "Let's go," he said, as he diverted his gaze back to the blonde.
Suddenly, his maid jumped in front of him, her head slightly tilted to the side, her face expectant as she held her hands behind her back.
Kanata tried to side-step away from the blonde blocking his path but to no avail, Miyu was quite good in preventing him from doing so.
Sighing in defeat, Kanata closed his eyes and turned to look at anywhere but in front, "Miyu," he said again.
This made the blonde grin up to him as she turned and started walking towards the house.
The brunet was about to follow after her but stopped when the maid turned to look at him again.
"Thank you for saving me again, Master Kanata," she said flashing him a smile. As if on cue, the moon came out of the clouds to brighten up the night for them.
"Remind me never to make you furious," he joked recalling the swift kick the blonde pulled back there.
-Chapter 19 End-
A/N: For anyone who's not familiar with Japanese customs, only really close people can call each other by their first name. And after four years of serving him (not counting the slip up in the play), this is the first time that Kanata has actually called Miyu by her name – like, actually calling her. He usually refers to her as 'Oi'.
If anyone noticed any inconsistencies with my story, please do tell me. Sad to say, I've lost track of the story and its details as well so not everything might be in order.
Now that that's out of the way, I can move on to finishing this darn 7-day bet between Kanata and Akira. Ugh. MUST. FINISH. SOON!
Omake:
From the near-by rock, Mr. Shikada couldn't help but chuckle in relief as he watched the two walk towards the mansion. Truthfully, the reindeer-man has been standing behind a rock since he "left" Miyu. Being the veteran butler that he is, he decided to stick around discreetly and watch over the gentle blonde. He was about to intervene when he saw the three young men approaching her, but decided not to seeing as the brunet had everything under control.
"They have such a good relationship going on for them," he said contentedly as he watched on to the two.
"Now, time to take care of my own mistress," he said as he discreetly made his way towards the mansion. "Can't imagine how the mistress would react seeing the two come back so late," the reindeer-man shuddered at the thought.