Chapter Two: Glycine and Hanabi
Erica ran her fingers across the luxurious silk fabric of her new dress. "Are you sure I look okay?"
Ogami nodded, smiling. "The color suits you well." He glanced at the shopping bag he carried. "Are you sure women like receiving these sorts of things?"
Erica giggled. "I'm sure Sakura-san would love to have a silk scarf. I may be sworn to a life of simplicity as a Sister but I still know what women like."
"Thank you for helping me with this. We'll have to think of what to buy for the others." Ogami slung the bag behind his back. "Hey, isn't that Hanabi-kun standing outside the restaurant?"
"So it is. Maybe she's waiting for Glycine? HANABI-SAN!" Erica waved at her fellow Hanagumi member and ran towards her.
Hanabi smiled and waved back. "Hello."
Erica skidded to a stop in front of Hanabi. "Are you waiting for Glycine?"
"Yes I am. We're supposed to meet here for afternoon tea. Would you like to join us?"
Ogami shook his head. "Thank you, but I still have a lot of packing and preparations to do before I leave."
Hanabi frowned. "Leave? Are you going somewhere on holiday?"
Erica sighed sadly. "No. Our squad leader has been called back to Japan. He's leaving in a few weeks."
Ogami didn't want to further upset Hanabi or Erica. "You look nice in that dress, Hanabi-kun." He indicated her purple dress. "I'm glad you decided to stop wearing your dress for mourning."
Erica nodded. "And you aren't as pale anymore. You look so lovely!"
Hanabi lifted a palm to touch her cheek. "Do you really think so? Glycine doesn't think it befits my birth and station to stay out in the sun too long. She says that young ladies of good breeding stay indoors to escape the sun."
Erica winced. "Glycine is really quite strict about that sort of thing, isn't she?" She laughed nervously.
"You have also changed your clothes, Erica. That dress looks quite nice."
"You think so?" Erica twirled around, letting the mass of silk and ribbons billow in the soft afternoon breeze. "Ogami-san picked it out for me. He said I look like an angel."
Ogami scratched his head in embarrassment. "No, I -- it was Erica-kun who--"
"Hey, maybe Hanabi can help us!" Erica stopped twirling and struggled to regain her equilibrium.
Ogami had to support her shoulders with his hands to keep her from falling. "Yes, I need your help, Hanabi-kun."
"Help you with what?"
Erica leaned into Ogami's hands. "We're buying presents for our Tokyo Hanagumi sempai. I chose a silk scarf for Sakura-san. We still don't know what to buy for the others."
Hanabi looked thoughtful. "What does one give young yamato nadeshiko?" She absentmindedly tapped her finger to her chin. "Oh dear, I'm not sure we can get traditional Japanese products here in Paris."
Sensing that Erica had found her bearings again, Ogami released her shoulders. "Actually, Hanabi-kun, I was thinking of getting them authentic French items. Can you suggest any?"
"Are you sure those Japanese women would appreciate superior European products?"
Ogami turned around to find Glycine Bleumer casually leaning against a lamppost. He knew she was teasing but he still wasn't used to this new side of Glycine's personality.
"Hello, Glycine." Erica curtsied awkwardly. She always seemed to get frazzled whenever the young Nordic girl was around.
Glycine smiled. "I'm sorry I'm late, Hanabi. My chess match with that obnoxious French Count ran a bit late."
Hanabi shook her head. "Ogami-san and Erica have been keeping me company. Did you win?"
Glycine snorted, flipping her long blond hair. "Isn't it obvious that I did?"
Erica tugged on Ogami's hand. "Hey, if we want to finish shopping for presents we have to get going."
Glycine looked at Ogami. "Aren't you going to ask me what I think?" A small smile curved in her mouth.
"Will you answer me if I did?" Ogami countered, raising an eyebrow in mock challenge.
Glycine laughed out loud. "I will miss the verbal sparring with you, squad leader and I still have a score to settle with you regarding our little match. I would like to find out if my battle-ax could beat your sword if you don't hold back."
Erica's mouth dropped open. "You -- you know?"
Glycine nodded. "I stopped by Les Chattes Noires because Grand Mere asked to see me."
She looked at Ogami. "It seems I will be replacing you as squad leader."
Erica's mouth dropped even more. "You mean -- you will be our new --"
Hanabi clapped her hands. "I'm so happy for you, Glycine."
Ogami extended his hand to Glycine. "Congratulations, Glycine. You deserve this."
Glycine blushed slightly; she reached out and clasped Ogami's outstretched hand. "Thank you. I shall do my very best. I promise I won't let you down."
Ogami gave her hand a gentle squeeze. "I know you won't."
"I know what we can give Orihime." Hanabi exclaimed breathlessly. "You can buy her a nice bottle of French perfume."
"Yes, she seems like the type who would appreciate such a fine product." Glycine affirmed. "There is a quaint little boutique in Terutoru Public Square that sells exquisite perfume and other French products."
Erica clasped both hands to her chest. "The two of you are so amazing and so sophisticated! I would never have thought of that. You are both so wonderful!"
Ogami groaned wearily at Erica's display of starry-eyed worship. It was one of Erica's most endearing qualities -- her capacity to see the best in everything and to appreciate even the littlest of things. He started to pull her away. "Thank you for your help. Come on, Erica. Let's go before you do anything else."
Glycine and Hanabi watched the two walk away.
"The squad leader thinks he can make us forgot our sadness at his leaving by making light of things. When will he learn?"
Hanabi looked up at her best friend. "You'll miss him too, won't you?"
Glycine sighed. "You know I will."
The two girls entered the restaurant and greeted the maitre d' who personally led them to their usual table.
"Lady Glycine, Lady Hanabi, will you be having your afternoon tea?"
Glycine gave a brief nod. She didn't like being addressed as such; she hated being reminded of her responsibility and duty as a member of the distinguished Bleumer family. She turned to look at Hanabi who smiled at her, amused.
"I thought you gave strict orders about how they should address you, Glycine."
Glycine sighed. "I did. But it seems that Madame Tarebou discovered what I had done and took it upon herself to correct me and the cafe." She smirked. "It isn't that bad... once you get used to it."
Hanabi nodded, and seated herself in the chair. "You should really smile more often when we're around other people."
"You know that isn't possible, Hanabi. The others have an image of me and I'm pressured to uphold it."
Hanabi could see the sadness in Glycine's eyes. She could relate to Glycine for she, too, was in an almost similar situation.
"At least your family cares about what you do." She added quietly, "I haven't spoken to my honored father in years. Baron Kitaoji couldn't be bothered with such a trivial thing as a daughter."
Hanabi shook her head, as though to rid her mind of sad thoughts and shifted to a lighter, more conversational tone. "So, how does it feel to be the new squad leader?"
Glycine opened her mouth, wanting to tell Hanabi that she wasn't right about her father. She wanted to tell Hanabi that her father cared for her but the look on her friend's face told her that the topic was closed. "To tell you the truth, I'm a bit nervous. Ogami was a brilliant tactician and there's no way I can match that."
"Ogami-san always knew what to do and what strategy to apply. He made me feel safe." Hanabi blushed at her own admission. "What I meant was --"
"It's okay, Hanabi. I know what you mean. He brought out the best in us. Six months ago, we were just girls with unusual gifts -- he made us realize what we could do with our talents." Glycine sighed. "I hope I can do the same when he leaves."
"I don't want Ogami-san to leave us, Glycine."
"Neither do I, but there's nothing we can do." Glycine took the sterling silver tea pot which had been discreetly placed by an attendant and started to pour a cup of tea for Hanabi. "We, of all people, should know how important it is to follow the duties laid out for us -- no matter how painful."
Hanabi understood what Glycine was driving at. Her eyes twinkled mischievously. "I'll inform the others of your plan."
Glycine nodded. "Before he leaves -- IF he leaves, Ogami Ichiro will first witness what the daughter of the House of Bleumer is capable of."
~ Next Chapter : Pierre and Coquelicot