I conveniently look up from the melting ice cream to see Hatsu come in the door with lunch. He had this awkward look on his face. A mix between wanting to cry and wanted to kill someone. He places the bag on the counter, shrugs his shoulders, and looks down at the floor. I didn't know what to ask him. I don't think I've seen him like this before.
"Hatsu," I say unintentionally quiet. "Is something wrong?"
He didn't answer me; he just tarts to make this funny noise. It sounded like a bunch of hick-ups. Without warning, he throws his head back in laughter. He reminded me of one of those crack-heads off of horror movies who had recently escaped from the local insane asylum. There were things about Hatsu that not even I could understand. I believe this is an example of one of them.
"Hatsu…" I say again, a little terrified.
"Oh, Misty!" He continues to laugh. "Your sister cracks me up!"
"What did she do?" I ask.
His laughter slowly dies and he looks me straight in the eye. "Something I could only friend amusing. Trust me. It gave me a wonderful opportunity to diss that shit-bag Ketchum."
"Why are you calling him that?" I ask, almost defensively.
"Just because." He replies and comes behind the counter. "He is horrible at first time experiences. You can tell he has no clue, whatsoever, what he's doing. My sympathies extend to his future wife."
He laughs again.
"Let's just eat and maybe you can explain more to me." I say.
"Eh… no." Hatsu smirks.
I sigh and just follow Hatsu into the back room. Oh well, it was none of my business to begin with. All that mattered to me right now was that I got my lunch. I was hungry. The ebi chaahan was calling.
After work, I head home. I got off early today, so I was home by four-thirty. I go up to my room and change out of my uniform and into jeans and a three-quarter length button up shirt. Stopping at my dresser mirror, I look at my hair. It was so dull. Laying there like a worn out rag. I reach for my brush and separate it equally on each side. French braids. I actually felt pretty.
I walk down the steps in time to see Lily dance through the door, followed by Violet and Daisy. They were back from the mall and their hands were full of bags. They set them down by the coat rack and go into the kitchen. Always chatting up a storm. It annoyed me.
I make my way to the kitchen as well and head to the freezer. I spot a leftover bowl of rice pudding and make a grab for it. I stop with my hand on the dish when the conversation of my sisters attracted my ears. They were talking about their current boyfriends and comparing their latest gifts. It was so tempting to eavesdrop. So, I continue to pretend to rummage through the freezer.
"Ken is such a sweet guy!" Daisy sighed. "He's taking me to that new fancy restaurant that opened up downtown next Friday night."
"Roku Hime-san?" Violet asks.
"Yes! That's the one." Daisy agrees.
"Sounds nice." Lily says.
"Well," Violet starts with a bragging tone. "You may get your expensive dinner, but Akito is getting me this beautiful necklace with a sapphire pendent."
"Oh, it will match your hair and eyes so well!" Daisy cooed.
"I know." Violet smiles. "I'm so happy."
"What is Ash doing for you, Lily?" Daisy asks.
Lily giggles to herself. "Tomorrow night, we're going to have so much fun at the new amusement park, Wonder Dog!"
"An amusement park, Lily? That's not like you." Violet says.
"Well, I know Ash likes them. He can be happy this one time, I suppose."
Daisy made this funny snickering noise. "That's nice of you."
"I only made him promise he'd go on the Ferris Wheel with me." Lily says. "Misty!"
I stand up quickly with the bowl in my hand. "Found the rice pudding."
"Good, now just close the freezer door. I'm catching an awful draft up my skirt! Mou!" Lily exasperates.
"Gomen." I grab a spoon and get out of the kitchen.
After my sweet little shack, I decide to go for a walk. The part was in its highest bloom, therefore making it very pretty. Dusk didn't fall until about nine o'clock, so I had plenty of time to roam aimlessly. Plenty of time to think about anything I wanted, or nothing at all. A break from the world. I have so many of those; it's insane. I should be considered lucky. How many people can just go somewhere and melt into oblivion and not have to worry about what's going on in your life?
I was standing on the small bridge over a creek in the park, doing just that, when I received a tap on my shoulder. I turned around and didn't quite know what I was looking at. Ash stood there. Didn't seem to be heading anywhere in particular. An old t-shirt and jeans. Hair not combed since he woke up. Staring with those piercing brown eyes. Why would he want to talk to me of all people? Maybe I was just in his way and he was going to ask me to move. Lily didn't mention anything about meeting him here. I stare back, without saying a word.
"Hi." He plainly addresses me.
"Evening." I reply.
"Um…what brings you here?"
Something was wrong. He didn't sound like his usual self.
"I felt like going for a walk. To think about stuff."
"Care if I join you?" Ash asks in a mouse-like voice.
"I don't mind." I say and point to the railing that I was leaning on. There was ample room for him to lean as well.
"Thanks." He leans on his elbows and looks at the water slowly trickling over the shiny pebbles. "What are you thinking about?"
"You may find it silly," I say. "But I like to think of not thinking. I come to clear my mind, not refill it with things that I don't want to bother myself with."
He looks over at me. "It makes a lot of sense."
Wow…we were having a normal conversation. We weren't yelling at each other yet. It was nice.
"If you don't mind me asking," I begin. "Why did you come to talk to me?"
"To tell you the truth, I wanted to ask you some things." Ash replies.
I turn my head to look at him. "Jodan, ne?"
"No, I'm serious."
I swallow my words. "Okay, ask away."
He hesitates a little bit. "Does Lily ever talk about me?"
I should have seen it coming. "Sometimes, yes."
"Like what?"
I try to recall. I didn't want to, but I didn't want to lie to the guy. "She says how nice you are to her, how you treat her to things, that she likes your face, your humor. Stuff like that."
"I see."
"Why did you want to know?" I ask. "Are you not trusting her?"
He looks at me with a worried brightness in his eyes. "No, that's not it at all!"
I actually laugh a little bit. "Don't worry about it. I was just testing you."
He lets out a huge breath. "Don't scare me like that."
"Gomenasai."
"Eh, don't be sorry. I'm too jumpy these days." Ash says.
"Why?" I ask.
"This is my first relationship and I don't know quite what to do. I know that I'm supposed to act like she's the only woman on this planet and care for her and spoil her…but something doesn't feel right about it." Ash looks back down into the babbling brook.
Oh, now I felt sorry for the guy. Something about him always drew me to him. It's like he is north and I am south. I wanted to be around him. But I knew that he didn't feel the same for me, so I was starting to deal with it. Now that we're having this conversation about Lily and him…part of that feeling is coming back. I want to tell him that she's using him and that he should try to find a better woman (me!). On the other hand, I'd just be meddling with an affair that isn't supposed to concern me. The problem is that it does. I'm worried for him. That my sister will milk him too dry and he won't recover.
"Ash,"
"What?" He replies.
I open my mouth and the words don't come out. I turn my head away. "Don't worry about it. Lily cares about you, and she knows you care about her. If something is bothering you, I think you'd be better off talking to her about it than to me. I know my sister from my point of view. She's probably a lot different in mine than in yours."
"What is she like to you?" He asks.
Rage overcomes me and I don't consider my answer before I speak. "She's a little weasel! A conniving, shifty, niggling little bit—yeah." I finally stop my ranting. "I'm sorry."
He doesn't answer me. That was what I was afraid of. This is just great.
"Okay, Misty." Ash finally replies. "I'll keep that in mind."
I look at him in a little bit of shock. "Sisters fight by nature. You can't blame me for thinking that."
"I agree… though, I am an only child."
"Lucky."
He laughs. It makes me laugh. I liked it.
"Well, I have to get going." Ash says.
He walks off the bridge and looks back at me once he reaches the path.
"Oyasumi." He waves.
I wave back. "Oyasumi."
I turn back to the creek and continue to watch the shimmering water that was now silhouetted by the setting sun behind me. My reflection wiggled back and forth as a little water bug ran across the surface. I reach up and grab one of my braids that rested on my shoulders. For some reason, I felt like a new person. It's surprising how much a simply new hair style can do. I straighten and begin to walk home myself.
The wind swept through my bangs. It was the first time that my hair didn't swirl behind me. It still bobbed against my shoulder in that tight little twine. I smile to myself and put my hands in my pockets.
Good things come with change.
-------------------------------------------
Here, as requested, are the translations for the Japanese phrases used in this chapter!
Roku Hime-san – Six Princesses
Mou – For Goodness Sake
Gomen – Sorry
Jodan, ne – You're joking, right?
Gomenasai – I'm sorry/ Forgive me
Oyasumi – 'Night