Second chap! Hope you'll all enjoy this as much as I did writing it! Wahahahaha! BTW, most of you commented on my character's name – Porka. *authoress turns red* Yeah, I admit it's a weird name – even now I as write it, I actually cringe and think 'what on earth made me name her that???'. But too late. But you must admit it's ORIGINAL and NON-EXISTING! Ha ha! And no, I was not inspired by anything. I just typed it out, and since it sounded pronounceable enough, I took it!
Ferohcious: You were the first one to review my Poor You Too and also the first one to review this fic. Ferohcious, you are amazing! Ha ha! (what's GYA??) I like feisty, independent and sarcastic heroines! They kick-ass! Good luck in your exams!
Silhouette Panther: Actually, the concept came to me after reading David Eddings. You read David Eddings? He's REALLY good. : ) I wouldn't say my story is all that original. *bows down in shame* #^___^#
Shirodachi: Very first SD AU you've read? Wow, you must be new. You should read Silhouette Panther's Aus – they're incredible.
SLL: NOOOO! SLL-san! Don't be confused! Aki is NOT Akira! I just thought I'd make the names similar cuz they're brothers. Sorry if I mixed you up! Cliffhanger? Mitsui-fic? *tries to remember what she did to make sL angry* and what do you mean, 'temporarily' forgiven???
Yoriko: am continuing!
Fiery-ice: A Fujima fic? Okie-dokie! You've got yourself one story, fiery-ice. It's called 'Roger, Captain', I think. I'll be putting it up in about five minutes or so after I finish this. Hope you like it, and this as well!
Ice1387: Hey! It's you! *dances wildly* I was afraid you weren't going to read this fic, Krista, and here you are! What do you mean you thought I wouldn't do one?? Of course I would! Us authors are here to make people happy, aren't we? ^____^ And sorry again for forgetting the numbers! Heh heh. I'm from Malaysia. You?
Kka: all right. Next time I'll use durians – those smelly, spiky King of Fruits. *devil's horns sprouts on head*
Jo-sen7: Thanks! *tries to get away from Jo-sen's pompoms. Help! I'm stuck!
Alexia: Hey, you've been reading quite a lot of my fics, aren't you? Your name's popping out on my review list everywhere! Ha ha! Thanks! Write a fic for you? Sure. Um, well, let's see. I wrote a Fujima fic for fiery-ice, and also a Maki-fic. I'll dedicate the Maki fic for you! Or if you don't like Maki, then take the Fujima fic as yours too, okay? I'm sure Fiery ice will share. : )
Tiran: Yeah, you can say a twist is coming up. Don't you just love twists?? And stop bowing! You're making me nervous! Ha ha!
Rei-142: Thanks! Am glad you like this fic!
Tensaispira: Arigato! Next chap up!
Idiotic Moron: To be truthful, it's not all that original. Read Silhouette Pather's review reply if you wanna know why. : ) You like all my OC's?? What a nice things to say! Am really happy that you think they kick ass.
Kawaii sakura-chan: OOC? Sendoh? Really? *starts sweating nervously* Forgive my error, sakura-chan!! I didn't know he was OOC! I'll try to keep him back to his original characteristics. *checks the second chapter* Emm, maybe not…
Patty g: Thanks a lot, patty! I like Porka too! Actually, I like all of my OC's. I can't help it!
Choco_no_baka: I think Aki's cute. : ) Thanks for reviewing, choco-san!
Maemi: Thanks!
Whistling happily, Porka pocketed her share and waved at Kuran, who had refused her potential new master after finding out he had nothing else other than a shabby house and an even shabbier dog. Kuran refused to wave back, looking away in jealousy. Porka burst laughing.
"You're lucky the boy has no taste in women." Kuran had told her sourly just after the business transaction was finished, ending with a fairly dissatisfied Sendoh. "No one else would look twice at you."
"You're starting to sound like Ayashi," Porka accused her. "It's not my fault the boy happens to want young people rather than old hags like you." She laughed at the look on Kuran's face. "And it's not my fault either that he happens to have a dashing brother."
"Oh, go away!" Kuran stomped away to join Master Inando.
"On my way, on my way," Porka assured her. She walked back to where her new masters were waiting for her. She noted that Sendoh was still looking at her with an expression of one outrageously cheated of his money. "We're going back home, Porka" he informed her.
"Of course, Master." The smile she sent him furthermore angered him and he turned stiffly away, muttering.
She decided laughing out loud wasn't exactly the best of choices.
Aki, on the other hand, was looking at her adoringly. His big blue eyes studied her carefully and he blushed if she so much as looked back at him. Porka thought she rather liked the adorable youngster, and started to think of mischief to get into with the boy along the journey to her new home.
The mansion that they were headed for stood on land that stretched for acres and acres. Porka stared around in amazement. "What do you need all this space for?" she asked curiously.
"Horses." Sendoh replied shortly, obviously still furious. "Running."
"Oh. Thank you, Master."
The way she said that word irritated him for some reason. He gritted his teeth. "Where did you come from?"
She shrugged. "I'd rather you didn't know."
He looked over his shoulder at her. "I see. So you're the only one here who can ask questions?"
She shook her head, smiling that fake sweet smile again. "Of course not, Master. You can ask as many as you want. You just won't get the answers, that's all."
Sendoh made strangled noises.
"Is there something wrong, Master?"
He didn't even bother answering her, and she laughed delightedly.
A dozen or so maids and stable boys greeted them, joined by another ten inside the mansion. Porka, who had expected no more than five, was immensely shocked and it took her a couple of days to adjust herself. They were friendly, no doubt, and welcomed her almost eagerly, but the attention given to her slightly smothered her, and Porka decided it wasn't going to be as fun as she thought it would be.
It was three days later when she burst out in rage.
"There's nothing to do around here!" she yelled at the startled Sendoh, who dropped his pancake. "Everywhere I look, something's already done or being done or will be done by someone else!"
"Go play with Aki."
"Aki won't even talk to me!" Porka protested. "He just stares at me and blushes. I can't get a word out of him, which is rather surprising because he certainly had a lot to say back then at the tavern!"
Sendoh shrugged. "It's hardly my fault that your face bores him to utter speechlessness."
Porka rolled her eyes. "I'm restless." She told him. "I have to keep myself preoccupied or I'll die of boredom."
"You better don't. I didn't sacrifice six hundred dollars just so you can die of something as insignificant as monotony."
"Then give me something to do!"
Sendoh stared up at heaven and wondered what he did to receive a punishment as severe as living under the same roof with an impossible slave. "You could…" he looked around for inspiration, and immediately saw his fallen half-eaten pancake, lying miserably on the floor, "…cook."
Porka frowned. "I don't know how to."
"Then learn how to."
"Who is going to teach me?" she demanded. "You? You can't even – hey! I'm not finished yet! Where are you going??"
He shrugged on his coat. "Hunting season," he answered. "I'll be back in twelve months."
"TWELVE MONTHS????"
He sighed. "It'll be thirteen months if you keep on screaming at me like that."
"But we haven't even discussed the boundaries between you and me!"
Sendoh groaned. "How tiresome. Listen, you can go discuss it with Aki. He's the one who asked for you after all."
"But you're the one who paid for me! So you're my rightful master!"
The burden that I have to carry, Sendoh thought briefly. "We don't need boundaries."
"Yes, we do," she told him firmly, and a little angrily. "Firstly, you cannot, in whatsoever way, touch me. That's the way it has always been with my previous masters. And secondly, you cannot creep into my bedroom demanding a bed company, because I won't stoop to that."
He looked stunned. Gradually, however, he started to laugh. "Don't jest with me, Porka," he managed in between laughter. "There's no reason I'd want to touch you or creep into your bedroom. You can rest your worries."
She should've been satisfied with that. He was agreeing to her terms and conditions after all. But somehow, Porka felt he had twisted the entire deal around until she seemed to be the one on the losing side. What does THAT mean?? No reason to touch me?? Is he saying that I'm UGLY?? That I don't tempt him in any way AT ALL??
"Take care of Aki," he instructed her, breezily going out and heading for his waiting horse. "I'd like him to be alive and sane at the very least when I return."
She watched him go, and quite suddenly turned on her heels and dashed for her room, bursting into tears.
*nothingtodo watches as Porka slams the door of her room and turns to readers, scratching her head* What's up with her??