As I wake this morning, I see and hear some birds out my window. I walk to the window and lean on its circular frame, leaning out and letting a robin sit on my finger. As I gaze at the endless rows of houses, which seem to go on for all eternity, I see an older woman struggling to carry something that looks like a huge basket of laundry. I dress quickly in a pair of jeans and a white blouse and rush out the door, ignoring Okaa-san's protests on how I ate no supper last night so I should eat breakfast. I sprint to the old woman, helping her just in time to balance the basket, so neither of them fall. She has a terrible cough and her face looks flushed. She has the kindest eyes with wrinkles surrounding them, giving them a grandmother type of feel. She just has some quality in her dark brown eyes that you can tell she is grateful you are there, noticing her troubles.
"Do you need help Sohma-sama?" I question softly, my eyes ever inquisitive again and wondering why she is trying to work when she is obviously sick.
"Oh! Thank you dear child…no one seems to ever want to help the old anymore, too busy trying to do what needs to be done as quickly as possible. They never stop to listen to what anyone has to say…but I'm taking up your precious time, you must have something important to do. A pretty young miss such as yourself that lives 'inside'. Well, I must be going to hang these up to dry…good day and arigato for the help!" she wheezed, coughing in between every few sentences. I winced once I heard her cough; even though she had a cheerful old smile on her old warm face. I took the basket out of her grasp easily and walked ahead of her, leading her to Hatori-sama's house.
"You should have Hatori-sama look at that cold…you might have a fever and he'll make sure you rest. Just tell me whose house you take care of and what to do for the day, and I'll take care of it all until you're better. I'm Sohma Rini, by the way. And I'm not…exactly 'inside' family. My parents are. I just hang around here…so! You just write down all the things I need to do today and the house I have to take care of!" I say cheerfully. The old woman's face lights up and I think she's about to tear, but I'm not sure, as I'm only catching glances out of the corner of my eye.
"Arigato…I just have a small cold though…so I'll help you with the house…Ayame-san will be worried sick if I don't show up. I've made the mistake of not telling him where I was before…and he gives you the 20 questions treatment when he's worried. I'm Kaname Sohma…Rini-san was it?" Kaname-san said with her slow, gentle voice. I could hear the relief in her voice that she would not burden today. But I stopped dead in my tracks when I rethought about whose house she took care of. It was him. The man I had loved from afar for so long now. I suddenly shivered and flushed with excitement and felt a weak, trembling hand clutch my shoulder.
"Are you sick too dear? Maybe you shouldn't help me if you have the shivers…it could make you get a fever," she said kindly. I felt my face soften and melt into a grin at her concern. I shook my head, touched at her concern when she only just met me and was obviously in worse shape.
"No. Just…surprised that you work in…Sohma-san's house…" I said quietly, struggling for words. She smiled and nodded happily.
"He is a very kind young man. Also very dedicated to his work! He loves to design things and shows me often his beautiful dresses. He is a joy to be around, it's as if the room brightens just a bit when he comes in, like his happiness and genuine interest in everything you can imagine radiates off of him and sinks into the walls!" Kaname-san said with a smile. I could tell she was fond of Sohma-san, even if not in the same manner I was.
As we walked to Sohma-san's house we chatted about trivial things and got to know each other a bit, even though I was becoming more and more nervous with every step, every inch closer to Sohma-san's house. I thought I was going to be sick from the nervousness and the anticipation at the same time. I smiled to myself, amused that I was acting like a little schoolgirl that had a crush on some boy in her class. Kaname-san must have caught it because she elbowed me in the side.
"So…we weren't talking about anything particularity funny…so…I'm guessing you were drifting off and thinking about a special gentleman that's caught your eye, hmm?" she said wisely. I blushed and looked away with a nervous laugh, trying to fill up the space between us.
"Um…ah…no! I…I mean yes…AH! I mean no! I mean…how can you tell Kaname-san?" I stuttered, amazed at how easily she'd seen through me, was everyone I knew so skillful at reading me like an open book? Was I that bad at hiding my thoughts? As if reading my mind again, Kaname-san patted me on the back.
"Don't worry…you're not that readable. It's just I was a young woman once too, believe it or not. And a woman only gets that dazed, faraway look in her eyes over a man she loves…" she said, then shrugged, "Can't live with them, can't live without them I guess as the saying goes. But you'll see one day. They cause a heck of a lot of trouble, but I wouldn't trade my dearest Hakkai-chan for the universe!"
I smiled warmly as we walked into the garden pathway leading to Sohma-san's house. How nice it must be to have loved someone for so long like Kaname-san, and still be able to say many years later that you could never live without them. I wonder what that feels like. But I doubt I'll find out, I thought. She opened the door and led me in. I looked around, amazed at how normal everything seemed. I had half expected it to be done grandly in gold and silver and silk draped everywhere, like in palaces. The only room that seemed a bit out of place was a cramped workroom that had fabric and a sewing machine strewn about in it. There were many stray patterns for dresses and clothes on the floor and on the chair, and one or two finished dresses. Kaname-san saw my wide-eyed expression and smiled.
"Not what you'd expect Ayame's house to be like, huh? Knowing him on a personal level…I have to say that I always want him to show his flair for things in his house, but he says he leaves all that mess at the store, "she shrugged, "But that one little workroom is a disaster area, and if you try to clean it, he pushes you out while scolding you all the while. Like he's one to talk, he interrupts everyone's work constantly."
"Ah! Kaname-chan! I'm hurt! I do not interrupt…I merely make sure everyone is not too bored while they're working! And where have you been! You're late by 10 minutes! I was worried! I almost called Ha'ri' to find out where you were!" a voice I knew so well said behind us. I spun around to face my love, the enigmatic Sohma-san, "You look sick…have you taken medicine? Why aren't you in bed? Didn't Hakkai-san try to keep you home? Shame on him for being overpowered so easily! I'll go make you some tea to fix you right up!"
She glanced at me with a smile once he had left.
"Quite the ball of energy, isn't he? Wants to know your life history if you show the slightest hint of being interesting. Well, stay for tea with us before we start to work!" she said cheerfully. I shook my head, trying not to let a blush creep up my face.
"Ie…I'm…I'm going to hang these clothes up and get started Kaname-san!" I say in a rush, then bend down and take up the basket, which I realize are full of his clothes and I blush at this revelation. I run out to the clothesline in the back yard and hang them up quietly.
I can hear them talking faintly, but I won't strain to hear. It is their private conversation, and not meant for me to hear. They wouldn't talk about me anyways…Sohma-san probally didn't notice me at all in his haste to see Kaname-san… I think sadly. I hang up one of his long red coats and stroke the golden buttons for a second, then catch myself doing so and lean down to hang up what I see next. I think I'll do the floors next…
(Ayame's POV)
"Kaname-chan? May I ask you something?" I say, curious about something as I sip my tea once more. I amaze even myself at how graceful I can be as I look in the mirror out of the corner of my eye.
"You just did Ayame-san."
"OH! Don't be such a teasssssseeee! You're reminding me of Gure-chan! What I meant was…who is that girl that is here with you today?" I say, watching her hang my clothes out to dry. I try to crane my neck in such a way that Kaname-chan won't notice I'm trying to get a better view of her. I didn't get too good a look before when I was talking to Kaname-chan. The woman seemed to shrink and hide behind her.
"Oh…you mean Rini-san. Actually, I met her this morning. She helped me with your oh so heavy laundry. I'm feeling a little under the weather with this cold, so she offered to help me today. Wasn't that sweet? She reminds me of Master Ritsu, or Mistress Kisa because she is always so quiet. And she gets flustered easily at the smallest things…but she's a good girl. And stop trying to look, if you want to stare at her, how dare I to think of making you pay attention. Anyways, I better get going, don't want her to have to do everything on her own now, do we?" Kaname-chan said, trying to get up, but I ran around the table to support her.
"Don't overwork yourself. How would I ever possibly tell Hakkai-san that I overworked his darling Kaname-chan to her death! You really want to put that kind of pressure on poor little me?" I joked with a smile. She smiled and laughed, shaking her head.
"You haven't grown up one bit since you were 18, you know that? That's nine years of stunted brain growth…and I'm sure it has something to do with Shigure-san…" Kaname-chan sighs with a smile. I try to look as devastated as possible and try not to laugh.
"AH! Kaname-chan! I'm hurt! You say I act childish, but you like to poke fun yourself!" I protest. She shrugs.
"Maybe so…but you take the words drama queen to a whole new universe Ayame-san. I still say you should have been an actor…" she says as her last remark as she walks out to Rini-san. I lay on the couch and stare at the ceiling.
"Rini-san…" I say to the room, the sound echoing in it. It leaves a small tingle on my lips as it passes. I smile to myself.
I finally know the name of the mystery girl I see so much… I think to myself contently. I will have to tell Ha'ri' later about my discovery. I am almost sure that he knows her, but he won't tell me anything. He just smirks at me and stays quiet.
I roll out and walk out to the garden in the back where I last saw her, hoping to talk to her, ask her name. I want to hear it from her.
This thought makes me walk a bit faster to the back, but when I get there, she's gone. I sigh in slight disappointment. Too bad.
"Now I'll never see her again…she's only helping Kaname-chan for today I bet…" I whisper to the flowers softly in sadness, bending down to pick a delicate white rose. I feel eyes on me though, and look up into the house to see her polishing the floors right after Kaname-chan makes sure she can do it right.
Her beautiful forest green eyes grow wide and her face turns a very slight shade of pink, at least where I'm standing. Maybe it's darker the closer you get? I pick the rose and leave, maybe I have embarrassed her somehow? Maybe she feels awkward around me? Is it something I said or did? I don't know…maybe in time I'll find out. I clench my fist as soon as I get into my workroom and close the door, nestled in the piles of fabric and sewing patterns I so love.
"Yes…" I promise my self, "I'll find out why. I just know it!"
(Rini's POV)
(Later…)
I was helping to clean his house today, because old Kaname-san, who normally did it, was sick. To be so close! My hands shook as I went about my duties. To touch the things he has touched feels like I'm intruding on a place I should never be. I saw him as I was polishing the floor. He was in the small garden adjoining his house. I saw him bend down to touch a flower and he looked at me. He looked at me! His hair was flowing softly in the slight breeze, and his cheerful golden eyes were just staring at my own dull green ones. I blushed so hot my face must have been bright red. I immediately resumed polishing the floor and when I looked up again he was gone.
I put my pen down with a displeased sigh. I wouldn't have minded watching him outside. But when I'd finished I'd heard a breakneck speed of sewing from his workroom, and Kaname-san had told me he was working on one of his 'dazzling masterpieces'. But I wish I had seen him longer. It felt so strange to be in his house…but I brushed the thought aside and decided to tell Hatori-sama of my day. I couldn't help but smile at what he would probally say, compared to his assistant Diana Sohma. She was half American, half Sohma, but her little sister, I think her name is Kagura, is 'inside' family, so Diana-chan is too. I laugh as I imagine it walking to Hatori-sama's house.
"OH! Rini-san! How romantic! You finally got to meet the mysterious man you've been swooning over for so long, and he noticed you! Maybe he's fallen madly in love with you already…like love at first sight! Maybe he wants to get to know you and you'll both live happily ever after! Just like a fairy tale!" Diana-chan would say happily, she was quite the romantic. Down to earth usually, but when it came to anyone in particular's love life, she was fond of romanticizing it all and making it sound flawless. I could just picture Hatori-sama scowling at her, maybe smoking a cigarette as always and puffing out smoke as he looked at her.
"Diana…stop it. You can't fall in love at first sight. You get deceived that way. Someone can only use you for their own purposes that way, and if they do fall in love that easily, the relationship will be short-lived and painful for both people. So I don't wish for them to fall that easily. Love should take time…" Hatori-sama would say. Then they'd get into another heated argument as always and bicker about the principles of love. I thought it over carefully. I would place my bet on Diana-chan to win that one.
I walked in and sure enough, the two were already bickering, just as I had imagined. I laughed and they stopped, smiling at the same time. I loved it when they were both together. The air around Hatori-sama was so much lighter when he had her to fight with. Quite frankly, Diana-chan has a crush on Hatori-sama and that's why she stays his assistant. Just to be near him, but then again, I'm staying Kaname-san's assistant for the same reason.
"Hey Hatori-sama! Hey Diana-chan! You two look as lively as ever! What are you fighting about this time? What take-out to order?" I smiled. They fell silent and my face darkened. "You're…not really fighting about that…are you?" More silence. "You two…and to think I look up to you two when you both can act so childish…ayah. Now you're tainting my fairy tale day!"
"Oh! Did something really good happen today Rini-chan?" Diana-chan said happily, walking over with a hug and motioning me to one of the chairs in the room. Hatori-sama also sat down, and like usual, smoked. Diana-chan whipped it out of his grasp before he was about to light it and he was lighting pure air in front of his face in confusion.
"I told you not to do that! That sets a bad example, AND you're not about to die of lung cancer! You're still young enough to lead an actual life…" Diana-chan said, like scolding a child, "Besides…what kind of assistant would I be if I let my boss die of smoking, and he's a doctor?"
Hatori-sama rolled his eyes, but I saw a spark of playfulness light up in them as he challenged her by lighting another cigarette immediately. She sighed and did nothing, knowing her complaints were falling on deaf ears.
"Well…I helped take care of Sohma-san's house today…and he noticed me. He stared right at me, I'm sure of it Diana-chan! I can't believe I was in his house!" I giggled, blushing furiously. As I had suspected, Diana-chan followed my own happiness with her dramatic flair for the romantic.
" OH RINI-CHAN! I just know this is the beginning of a beautiful relationship! Just you watch! Me and Hatori-san are going to have to be the Brides Maid and the Best Man! I just know you two will end up getting married in some beautiful church someday and live happily ever after and have lots of children!" she said enthuastically. I smiled warmly. She always knew what to say.
"But…how do we know he even likes her? I know Ayame very well…and he normally likes people with a lot of energy and that are outspoken. No offense Rini-san…but you're a fairly quiet, down to earth girl. That's the complete polar opposite of Ayame," Hatori-sama said, once again putting a damper on the fantasies that Diana-chan had built up for me to imagine. She hit him lightly on the head and glared.
"No, YOU'RE his polar opposite. Rini-chan can be fun and outgoing too! She's just intimidated by a stuffy old man like you who smokes all the time and makes it his job to try and stop people from dreaming and putting their heads in the clouds every once in a while!" she snapped. He smiled.
"I'm not old. I'm 27. and I don't stop people from dreaming, I just put things into realistic terms," he protested.
"Could have fooled me on the old man part. And you just like to be blunt and make things difficult! Crazy old hermit to be!" Diana-chan snapped again, crossing her arms. He rolled his eyes and smiled again. I couldn't help but laugh.
"Gomen nasai…but you both look so sweet! You argue like a married couple, and yet you still have the warmth towards each other to smile once you've stopped talking! You two, if anyone should be dating in the Sohma household, it should be you two!" I laughed with a smile. Diana-chan blushed and looked away with a defined 'Hmph' and Hatori-sama just blinked and tried to disappear in a cloud of smoke.
"That…is the dumbest idea I've ever heard in my life! Who wants to date some living ice sculpture?" Diana-chan snapped after a small silence. Hatori-sama nodded.
"And who would want a girlfriend that never thinks, just fantasizes. Also, they never really DO any of the things they fantasize about…" he said, a tactful insult somewhere in there. She just glared at him and picked up the phone, ordering some food from Choppa Delivery. Hatori-sama groaned, he hated them. His friend, Shigure-san I think, always made him eat it before the rumored 'miracle girl' Tohru Honda came to his house.
I sat with them and waited, then we ate in companionable silence. Later, Diana-chan took me aside as Hatori-sama bid be goodbye and went upstairs for a bath.
"Rini-chan! Why did you do that? Now he's going to think I think those awful things about him that I obviously don't think about!" she said in a flurry of rushed words.
"Diana-chan…calm down. No he won't, we know Hatori-sama. He just likes to mess with your head. You know that. Besides, Momiji-kun told me he's never even looked twice at another woman ever since Kana-san went away. So he doesn't care what you say, he knows you're just playing as a friend!" I say cheerfully, thinking I am saying the right words. She just sighs.
"Thanks…I really needed to be reminded that I'm competing with a married woman for Hatori-san's affection. Anyways…Momiji-chan called earlier looking for you. He said he wanted to know if you'd like to come with him to Sohma Shigure's house tomorrow…" she said, and as I was about to decline, she smiled slyly," I heard that Ayame-san is accompanying him."
I nodded vigorously and ran home after saying goodbye, and called up Momiji-kun. I accepted his offer and he sang a happy song on the other end. I couldn't wait to fall asleep. Spending a whole day close to Sohma-san sounded so wonderful. I hoped I wouldn't mess up.