Chapter 2 Edits
Opening my eyes I looked up at the white ceiling of my room. I didn't remember falling asleep earlier, nor did I remember coming home. Instead I was walking towards Yoshinobu and the limo before I blacked out. The ground growing closer coming up to meet me.
"Sup?" I heard Mari's voice call out coming from over by my door. "Morning sleeping beauty." She said as she started to walk over to me.
"What time is it?" I asked sitting up slowly while holding back a wince in pain. "Nine at night." She answered. So I ended up sleeping for three hours huh?
"Dinner hasn't been served yet," she started off "Setsu wanted to wait for you." Nodding my head I stood up and walked over to my door and into the hallway, Mari following after like she usually does.
Walking down the hallway I stared at the floor beneath me as my feet brushed along it.
Passing by various doors I turned down the hallway towards the dining table. Sitting at the table waiting silently was Setsu, who stared at me for a few seconds before smiling brightly.
"Onii-chan! Good morning!" she chirped, standing up as she ran over to greet me, clinging onto my legs.
"Morning." I said back to her smiling slightly as I tousled her hair.
Walking past us Mari went towards the dining table and sat down.
"Young Master Ii," a maid addressed me as she bowed "dinner is ready."
"Thank you." I responded, after which she stood up and excused herself from the room, disappearing from my sight.
Holding Setsu's hand I walked over to the dining table and sat in between Mari and Setsu. It wasn't long after that the maid came back inside the dining room, holding open one of the big double wooden doors for the three servants who followed in after her. Each pushing a small trolley of food that had been prepared for dinner.
Walking over to where the three of us were seated the three servants set our food down on the table before us, after which they bowed and left through the doors which they had come in from. Pushing trollies as they walked away, the maid closed the door behind the three.
Tonight's dinner was Salisbury steak with a fried egg on top and vegetables on the side, a commoners dish that Oka-san often made for Mari and I while she was still alive. I smiled to myself fondly as I recalled the memories of Oka-san's warm smile and equally warm cooking.
Cutting into my own food I watched as Setsu ate everything on her plate, from the steak and egg down to the carrots string beans and even broccoli. She was never a picky eater and it made my happy to see her eating well.
Mari on the other hand, though she ate all of her steak and egg, pecked at her vegetables with a look of disdain spread across her face.
Closing my eyes I put another piece of steak into my mouth. "You know if you don't finish what is on your plate now I won't let you have desert." I commented offhandedly, opening one eye slightly to watch Mari's reaction.
"I could always give it to Setsu, since she did finish everything on her plate." I continued putting emphasis on the 'did' in my statement. To which Setsu replied, "We can share it Onii-chan!" with her fork held up high in the air and a grin plastered onto her face.
"That's right we can share it." I said sweetly while looking over at Setsu. "It's fine if we do that right?" I asked Mari as I begun turning my head back over to her, only to see her plate empty. She should have just done that in the first place, it wasn't that hard.
Opening the door again for the servants and their silver trolleys, the maid stood dutifully by the door.
As they picked up the empty plates situated in front of us the servants placed desert down onto the table. Whisking away the dirty dishes off to the kitchen to be cleaned. The door once again closing behind them.
Tonight's dessert was also simple, much like dinner. Another commoners dish that Otou-sama and Oka-sama would have punished us for eating.
I was a home-made, or rather servant made, apple pie with a scoop of vanilla ice cream placed onto each of our slices. It was yet another dish that Oka-san liked to make while she was alive, and another dish Otou-sama despised because of that fact.
Slowly digging my fork into the pie I watched as steam rose from my cut, helping the ice cream on top to melt quicker. The mix of cinnamon apples and sugar was just right, and though it was not exactly like Oka-san I still found myself smiling as I cut myself another piece.
Finishing dinner I stood up from the table along with Mari and Setsu as we left the dining room. Bowing down as we passed the maid went to clean up what was on the table as she normally does.
"Setsu did you bathe yet?" I asked as we walked.
"Of course Onii-san." She chirped, "Me and Onee-san had a bubble bath together." She finished, clearly happy about the fact that she got to bathe with her Onee-san.
"Alright then." I responded as we continued down the hallway nearing Setsu's room.
Stopping at the door I looked down at Setsu. "You should go to sleep now, it's late." I stated as I opened her door. It was already after nine getting closer to ten and Setsu was almost always in bed by eight.
"But I'm not-" she started though yawned in the middle of her protest, "tiewired." She finished, her finial word coming out as a jumbled and sleep filled miss pronunciation.
Gently pushing her forward I guided Setsu into her room, my hands on her back as she weakly protested. "Good night Setsu." I said sternly leaving no room for any more arguments as Setsu looked at Mari and I, her eyes half lidded, until the door was closed.
"You should go to bed too you know." I heard Mari say behind me before she turned around and walked down the hallway towards her own room.
Looking at her retreating figure I turned around and walked on towards my room. Closing the door behind me as I entered I walked over to my bed, falling onto it face first.
I closed my eyes and buried my face in my pillow, the familiar soft feeling of my bed below me lulled me to sleep without giving me a chance to bundle up under my covers.
Blinking slowly I opened my eyes and rolled off my side and onto my back. My room was still dark, and I could just barely make out the hands on the face of my clock.
Getting up I made my way through my room, thankfully without hitting anything, and towards my bathroom.
I turned on the shower waited for the water to heat I before I got in, stripping as slowly as possible as my body clung to the warmth of my clothes and shivered as the cold air hit me.
Opening the translucent shower door I slid under the spray of hot water, only to hear the old clock in my room chime four times. Four in the morning, I had another three hours before I needed to wake up much less go to school.
I sighed as I turned off the water and stepped out of the shower and on to cold tile floors. Taking a towel I dried off my body and wrapped it around my waist once I was finished with it.
I did not bother to dry my hair and let it drip down my neck as I walked out of my bathroom. Walking over to my bed I started putting on my uniform that had been left there for me. The servants must have heard me in the shower.
Sliding my blazer on over my black jacket and white school shirt, I walked out of my room and towards the dining room.
A maid stood by the door, bowing and closing it after I walked in, and a servant stood by the table waiting for me to be seated comfortably before setting down breakfast and leaving me to eat alone.
Eating, my mind wandered away from the meal in front of me. Hani-san had run away yesterday, and I still had his bag with me. I also had to pack my own bag and hope that I would not leave it home this time.
There was also the card I got yesterday during class. I had left it in my pocket, I needed to check my clothes and put the card in my wallet this time around. I also needed to check for the project sensei gave us.
Bringing my spoon to my mouth I ate a spoonful of air before drawing my spoon back down to my plate only to hear the conflicting of metal on ceramic. The sound drawing me out of my own thoughts.
My once full plate of food had been emptied during my inner monologue and I had yet to enjoy any of it.
With a heavy sigh I closed my eyes and pushed myself away from the table, walking out of the dining and back down the hallway to my own room.
I opened my door and came face to face with another maid who was carrying my uniform from last night. "Young Master." She addressed as she bowed and left the room. My card from yesterday place on my bed.
Walking past it I headed over to my desk in the corner of my room, socks shuffling across carpeted floor.
I bent down and pulled up my bag from the floor, sitting down in my chair after I did.
I pulled the cord out of my laptop, successfully taking off of charge, rolled it up and placed both in my bag. I also pulled a binder off of the shelf above my head and placed it in my bag as well; along with my pencil case and my wallet from inside my draw.
I stood up again only to hear my old clock chime five times. I had too much time before school started, and another two hours before I needed to get up. A small nap wouldn't hurt.
Convincing myself that there was no problem with falling back to sleep I tucked the card that was still on my bed into my back pocket. Curling up with one of the many giant plushies on my bed I drifted off into another dreamless sleep.
It took me a while to realize what was happening. My body which was at one moment floating with the clouds, was falling out of the sky down towards the earth.
Bracing myself I closed my eyes and waited for the impact, my shoulder colliding with the ground soon after. Cracking my eyes open I saw that I had moved from my initial spot on top of my bed to my floor, thankfully carpeted, below.
Ignoring the pain that had spread from my shoulder to my back I stood up and straightened my clothes. The hand on the face of my old clock had moved once again, reading half-past-seven. Though my still sleepy eyes had blurred the giant roman numerals quite a bit.
I doubted that I would be able to fall asleep again for a third time, especially after such a rough and unwanted wake up call. Instead I picked up my bag along with Hani-san's and left my room, closing my door behind me.
Walking aimlessly I found myself in Oka-san's old garden which Mari had taken to tending to. Despite her brash nature Mari became quite caring and delicate when it came to plants and animals. She was the one who often helped Oka-san take care of the plants while she was still alive.
I sat down in a small clearing in the garden under an oak tree that had been there from a time before I was born, close to the white lilies that Otou-sama had plated with Oka-san while she was pregnant with me.
Placing the bags that I had brought with me close by, I closed my eyes and let my mind wander away from me. Whenever I come back to this garden I like to think that it is because Oka-san had called me here to be with her.
I could feel my lips twitch slightly and turn upwards at the thought of Oka-san. Her warm smile and wavy light brown hair that moved gracefully in turn with the movements of her body.
"Young Master Ii!" I heard a female servant call out for me.
"Young Master Ii, it is time to head out for school." She called out again for me, alerting me of the time.
Had I really stayed in the garden that long? Standing up and brushing my uniform clean I picked up the two bags and let my eyes roam once again. I was about to leave when I felt a gentle push on my back.
Turning around quickly I looked for the source of it. Not finding anything I relaxed and let my eyes soften.
"Bye Oka-san I off for the day." I said softly as I walked away, a faint smile on my lips.
I was not in a good mood. If the servants avoided me before without reason then they definitely did now.
My face wasn't fixed in my usually icy uncaring stare, but rather my eyebrows were furrowed, and my eyes sent a heated glare both at anyone and anything that happened to pass through my line of sight.
As soon as I came home I went to the dojo with Yasuchika so I didn't realize at first. And after that I went to the bathroom then straight to bed so there wasn't any time to check before now.
So this morning when I reached for my bag which was usually sitting on the floor next to my desk I only grabbed at the air.
I searched around my room long enough for me to get frustrated, but I couldn't think of anywhere else I would put it.
Balling my fist I punched the mattress of my bed. Where was it? It had to be somewhere. But I had already tore apart my room looking so where. Was. It.
Sighing I closed my eyes and took in a deep breath; it was too early to be doing this. Bottling up my anger I walked out of my room towards the limo, though my face still showed my irritation.
I didn't pay attention to my surroundings as I was driven to Takashi's house. The limo pulling up at the gates and Takashi letting himself in as always.
Takashi who usually paid close attention to my mood quickly picked up that I was angry. Sitting down Takashi call out my name, pulling me out of my head. His voice, though it sounded the same as always to any other person, held blatant curiosity and concern.
"Mitsukuni." He repeated again. "I can't find my school bag, and I already spent a lot of time looking." I answered back with an even voice. It was no use getting mad at Takashi, it wasn't his fault that I couldn't remember where I put my things.
"The library?" He ask looking down at me after having a moment to think. "No, I didn't go there yesterd-" I started off answering him back right away; though I trailed off after realizing what I was saying.
I did go to the library yesterday didn't I. When I went to look for my partner, Mizuri-san. "Shit." I cursed under my breath.
I scowled and inwardly berated myself for being both completed stupid, and such a scatter brain. "Thanks Takashi." I said to my cousin and closest friend. Though he didn't verbally respond to me and only nodded his head Takashi's face has relaxed and softened slightly.
With the answer to my seemingly unsolvable problem the rest of the ride seemed to pass by quickly with a much gentler atmosphere when compared to before. Though I continued to brood over my sudden short-term memory loss as I looked out the tinted window watching the scenery pass by.
I wasn't usually like this, at least not to my knowledge. As heir it was my job to be focus and alert, not some blushing scatter brain spazz because of- because of some cute, dopey eyed, cuddly….Ugh!
My thoughts clearly reflected my previous actions as they strayed from self-scolding to lovesick thoughts about my partner Mizuri-san. And though I knew my thoughts were wrong I couldn't help but think about how soft his hair was the first time I touched it, or how his pale skin glowed in the dim light.
How long his eyelashes had been, and how his plump pale lips were slightly parted while he slept.
And despite how hard I may have tried my stern icy glare melted into a warm, love-sick, dazed look as I continued to daydream about my partner.
Takashi may or may not have noticed the change in my expression, though knowing Takashi he saw my face and decided not to say anything for now. But after taking one look at me he probably already knew as well as I did. In one day I had ended up fall completely and utterly in love with someone I had just met. And I defiantly fell hard for Mizuri-san.
I watched the door from my relatively new seat inside the classroom, waiting for Hani- san to walk through the doors so that I could return his bag to him. I could feel the wind blowing my air-dried hair across my face in an attempt to keep my already falling eyes open.
As I brought my jacket sleeve to my face to cover a yawn Hani-san and Morinozuka-san walked through the open door. Hani-san leading with the same icy glare from yesterday morning as Morinozuka-san followed content with his stoic neutral face in place.
Hani-san's eyes roamed the class as he walked, the glare in his eyes never faltering, though when he looked at me it seemed as if his eyes had briefly softened before returning back to normal. Quick enough to be mistaken for a trick of the light but slow enough for me to catch a glimpse of his soften features.
I once again, much like yesterday, did not realize when Hani-san dismissed Morinozuka-san, nor when he began to walk over to me. I was too busy trying to fight down the blush that insisted on creeping up my neck and towards my face after seeing Hani-san's briefly gentle expression.
"Mizuri-san." He said calmly, his voice warmer than it was when he talked to a group of girls yesterday.
I jumped in
surprise, though my reaction time was slightly slower than it should have been due to grogginess. "Hani-san, I have you bag." I stuttered out quietly as I reached down beside my desk and picked up his bag. Handing it to him once my hand had latched onto the handle.
There was a falter in Hani-san's expression as my fingers brushed against his, his cold expression being melted away by the blush that had started to spread across his face. "Thanks." He muttered under his breath as he lowered his head to look at the ground before rushing off much like his did yesterday.