~*~
Chapter Five:
General's Hardware
~*~
Last night she had gone to Rini's play, just as everyone else had at B.T. Ami was there with her husband Zachary, Darien had picked up Bunny and Rini, Mina brought Montag who was absolutely thrilled with the school production, Lita went by herself so the fiery red head sat with her friend. It was quite strange to see Bunny with Darien, but she figured something like that would happen; Lita and Mina were well known to conspire against the blonde many a time. Rei, for one, knew if they had tried to do that to her, they would be meeting her iron prod.
The red head checked her watch; it was time to pick up her order. Having shaped the majority of the iron pieces for the lamps, she secured her working area and grabbed her leather, fringed purse. Passing the office, she popped her head in and told Ami, "I'll be back. I have to go to the store."
The accountant nodded as she typed madly away on her laptop.
Rei descended the stairs to the first floor and walked out the door. *Twinkle*
Walking down the hilly, small town streets of Glenbrooke she stopped in front of a shop as she caught her reflection in the display's glass. She was currently wearing dark blue jeans, a white tank top securely tucked within her pants, a blood red handkerchief that kept the majority of the tendrils of fire red that escaped her tightly wound bun back. All over-face, arms, shirt, everywhere-there were smudges of soot. The only thing about her that was clean and girly was her tan leather purse.
Rei sighed. Like it mattered what she looked like, she scolded herself mentally. It's not like she was trying to impress anyone.
As she rounded the corner, the hardware store came into view. Absentmindedly she pulled the rubber band that held her hair up to let the long strands of burgundy fall down her back.
Pushing open the door, a blonde head looked up and smiled, "I was wondering when you would get here."
She wrinkled her nose and crossed her arms defiantly as she walked up to him, "I had to put out my stokes out."
The man behind the counter just chuckled, "Wait here Rei."
Her violet eyes that had been defiantly closed flew open to watch the man's tall, slender frame leave to go into the back where storage was. This was Jarred Usami, the owner of General's Hardware, the sole provider for Rei's craft making. Often when she needed materials that a normal hardware store would not carry Jarred ordered it from a larger distributor, like today.
As his tall figure came back into view Rei busied herself with a display of paint cans. There was a clap as the storeowner placed his clipboard on the counter, "Here's your order of ridiculously heavy ore."
She turned to see crates stacked upon a dolly, "Thanks Jarred."
Smiling his sultry smile, he wiped his brow, "Is there anything else you would like?"
"No, this is it for today," she replied.
Nodding, the man stuck his head through the back door way and shouted, "Watch the store Simon. I'm making a delivery."
Delivery?
Seeing the puzzled look on her exotic face, Jarred smirked, "You didn't bring your truck did you?" When she shook her head he continued, "So, we're taking mine."
Grabbing his keys off a hook, he stuffed them in his pocket and began to push the dolly out the door (which she had to hold for him), "Besides, I wouldn't trust you to bring my dolly back."
She nearly closed the door on him for that, which only made him chuckle. Subdued with feigned anger, she crossed her arms and followed him around the corner into an alley where his white truck was parked. In truth-even though she wouldn't admit it, verbally or mentally-she liked pickup days, or in short, days where she would be able to see the gray-eyed, blonde headed Jarred Usami. He would poke fun at her in his cool, laid back way and she would flare at him only making his eyes hold more merriment. She liked it when she was able to watch his lean figure, which much resembled lean poles of iron threaded together, work like it was now, loading the crates into the bed of his truck.
Placing the dolly in the back, Jarred closed the somewhat rusted tailgate and went around to the passenger side, opening the door for his most frequent customer, "My lady."
"Honestly," she huffed, "I am quite capable of opening my own doors, thank you very much." All this while climbing in with a slight tint to her cheeks.
He only smirked and closed the door, then walked around to his own door. The drive was a joy for both in their own secretive ways-Rei making judgmental comments she knew that would reward her with his lazy amusement and for Jarred as she was most attractive, or so he thought, when she was angry.
"I don't understand why you don't sell this thing and get a new truck. It's so old," She crossed her legs.
He tried to look offended, "This truck and I have history together! Besides, why get rid of something that still runs as smooth as the day it was bought?"
An indignant snort was her answer as he parallel parked in front of Bunny's Trinkets. Both climbing out of the truck, they both headed for the bed of the truck to receive the crates and dolly. When Rei went to reach for one impossibly heavy wood container, Jarred froze for an instant as his only displeasure with the thought of her helping him doing 'manly' things. He knew better than to tell Rei Hino no. She was a live wire and was one hundred percent capable of taking care of herself, years of knowing her told him that much and more where as, he wasn't even sure she knew those specific things about herself.
With all the crates stacked, Jarred tilted the green dolly back to roll it through the door Rei now held open.
*Twinkle*
Bunny looked up from the register to see her long time friend and the owner of the local hardware store walk in. She smirked, "Here's your tea Mr. Tsuji."
"Thank you Ms. Kou," the middle aged man smiled, accepting his change and purchase before turning to leave the store his wife sent him to every other week to buy their favorite tea.
"I'm back," Rei said as she walked towards the back of the store.
"I see," Bunny smiled knowingly.
"Ms. Kou," Jarred nodded his hello as she replied, "Hello Jarred."
Having a difficult task before them, the two resolved to carry the dolly up like a stretcher with Jarred on one end and Rei on the other. Bunny held the curtain aside for them to keep from their already blundered way, calling out words of caution.
"Oh--! Be careful!" Would slip from her lips as she watched someone have a difficult time with their footing going blindly up the stairs, or she would encourage, "Half way there!"
Only when the two had disappeared up the top and final step Bunny returned to the counter waiting for the next loyal customer to walk through the door.
Rei wiped her brow as Jarred set down his end, up righting the dolly, "Thanks Jarred."
A wry smile came upon his attractive face. Halfway tempted to tease her once more, he decided just to settle with a "Welcome."
"Now," he said, looking around the shop, "Where exactly do you want the ore?"
"Where do I…?"
"Want it?"
"Uh-don't worry. I'll get it put up." She said confidently, flustered from the laborious work they had just performed.
"No really. I'll help. Besides, I'd like to see a little bit more of what gave you those strikingly well developed biceps." He chuckled, defending himself half heartedly as a well-calloused fist came in contact with his arm.
"Very funny. If you're going to be that way-"
"I like your arms, Rei," Jarred's playful mood became deadly serious.
"Wha-" The blacksmith blanched for a second before her already flushed face became five shades darker, "Fine, but don't expect a tip."
That almost always present smirk of his came upon his face once more as he followed Rei over to one of the metal cabinets.
~*~
"I like him," Rini said as she scraped the fudge bowl clean, making sure none was wasted.
"I like him too," Helen agreed as she cut cookies with a heart shaped cutter.
Currently, as it was Saturday, the two girls were spending their free time helping Lita with baking the sweets that were sold at Bunny's Trinkets. It was something they did willingly when they had some 'time to spare' and Lita wasn't too busy trying to turn out several times at once. As that was the case, weekends were the best time for her favorite helpers to have an opportunity to do what they did best: help.
The tall brunette smiled as she rolled out dough for Helen to cut, "I'm glad to hear that."
"Do you think Mama does?" Rini stopped, setting the nearly sparkling bowl down, amber eyes set on her close, older friend. Helen stopped as well, violet eyes intently showing her mutual curiosity.
This made Lita smile even more, "I think she does, but she's just afraid."
"Afraid of what?" Helen asked, "Mr. Chiba is more than efficient to take care of Ms. Bunny and Rini."
At this the adult laughed, "Yes he is Helen. Very perceptive, but I'm not talking about his status in the world or wealth. Bunny's afraid to fall in love again."
The two girls slowly began to resume their previous chores in thoughtful, mechanical motions. Love was something they knew adults strived for and as they were still children, one expected very little of their knowledge for it. But that is were adults are in turn surprised for their lack of knowledge of how the child views the world.
"Mommy loved Daddy," Rini said quietly, staring off into the distance.
"Yes, she did. Still does," Lita responded just as quietly.
"I love Daddy too."
"Naturally."
There was another thoughtful pause.
"I'd like to see her happy again and so would Dad," Rini said, smiling down at the large yellow bowl that she was still scraping that nearly gleamed now, "Yes, I like him very much."
And with that simple statement that was so beyond the years of the girl who spoke them, Lita watched the girl with quiet revere while moving the rolling pen across the dough she was preparing with slow, absorbed motions.
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TR- It's short, I know. It just seemed to be the perfect place to end it though. I'll get working on the next chapter soon! Promise!
(Unedited)
7-20-03