I walked next to Momiji-kun in a slight tiff. I don't know if he noticed, but I was slightly angry. I couldn't believe that Diana-chan had tricked me! Sohma-san wasn't here. My heart was a little heavy when I noticed that we were not going to go pick him up, but how could I tell that to Momiji-kun? He'd been so happy to see me come with him.
"You'll LOVE Shigure's house! You can meet Tohru, and Shigure, and you already met Kyo, oh yes! You'll meet Yuki too! He's Ayame's little brother!" Momiji-kun tittered on happily. Although I was a bit upset, his innocent smile drowned all my uncertainty away in his liquid brown eyes.
"Oh! So Kyo-san doesn't live with Kazuma-sama?" I questioned as we walked up a driveway and into a forest path. He nodded.
"He lives with Shigure! You'll be so surprised when you see Yuki! He looks just like Ayame!" Momiji-kun said happily. I almost gasped. Would I be able to sit near someone who was so similar to my love? I did not know that Sohma-san's brother looked just like him. Was he 'inside' as well? Most likely he was I feared. I was finding out that I knew more 'inside' family than I was at first aware of. It was a bit unnerving at first, but I suppose I could get used to the idea. I just prayed he wouldn't act like Sohma-san too, or that would be too much and I would burst out crying and run out the door. I sighed heavily, and Momiji-kun noticed as we reached the door, but said nothing.
A man with soft, tousled ebony hair much like Hatori-sama's, only in a different style opened the door. His eyes sparked a bit, and they seemed to be intrigued by our visit. But I didn't know why. His eyes were very dark and deep, and his smile seemed like it was well used, but not completely genuine. I secretly suspect his real smile is much harsher. Momiji-kun just smiles and hugs him. I do not follow though, I tried to hug Hatori-sama once, and he pushed me away. But I suspect he doesn't want to be touched with the memory of Kanna still fresh in his mind.
"Shigure! This is Rini-chan! Isn't she pretty! She's my big sister at the main house! She even knows Ha'ri' and Kazuma!" Momiji-kun said happily. I blushed and looked away. Suddenly I saw Kyo-san and I bowed with a smile.
"Daijobu, Kyo-san? You weren't at Kazuma-sama's dojo yesterday! But then again, neither was I," I laughed. He grunted in disapproval.
"Yeah. I heard you were cleaning up after that dumb snake, Ayame…Shishou told me he talked to Ayame's regular housekeeper about it. But how are you? Are you still upset about what Shishou said?" Kyo-san ventured. I smiled and shook my head.
"I'm fine Kyo-san. But do you really dislike Sohma-san so much? I think he is a nice person…" I say, drifting off. He rolls his eyes and shrugs.
"Whatever. I can't make you hate someone just cuz I don't like them. Do what ya want…as long as Shishou and me don't have to clean up after you…"Kyo-san stated. I bowed and my hair fell in my face, and I knew that the ebony haired man had a look of amusement in his eyes. For some reason, he seemed to like seeing people be humbled. Much like Akito.
"Gomen nasai, Kyo-san. I didn't know you and Kazuma-sama had to look after my mistakes so often! I will try to make sure I don't cause any further trouble than I must have already done!" I apologize. He flushed and turns away in a schoolboy fluster.
"Ah! You…you don't have to…I mean. It's okay that you do things you want to once in a while, instead of what everyone is telling you to do. I didn't mean it the way it came out…I just meant…that I don't want you to dig yourself in deep with that damn Ayame. That's all…" Kyo-san said seriously, but still flustered. I smiled gently and looked at him.
"Thank you…for caring about me…but…how could I get into trouble with Sohma-san? You really shouldn't say such disrespectful things about him. He is truly kind at heart. I wish I were like that myself. But then again, I wish I was a lot of things I'm obviously not," I say. He looks at me, seemingly in shock.
"Who told you that you weren't like that? Next to Tohru…you're one of the nicest people I know Rini…san…" he said, a bit awkwardly. I beamed; Kyo-san had given me such high standing in his opinion in front of people I didn't know. I felt so happy! To think, someone held me in such high opinion! Me!
"OH! How rude of me! I am Sohma Rini…it is a pleasure to meet you Sohma-san…" I say, a bit uncertainly, since that is also what I call my love. It is strange to use that name on another man. A bit betraying even.
"No, no. Please call me Shigure. We'd just get confused about if you're talking about me or Aya-chan otherwise!" Shigure-san said with a warm smile. I smiled weakly, and I am sure Shigure-san noticed the slight flush of relief on my features. But then a young girl Kyo-san's age came out.
She had brown hair, and sweet and innocent brown eyes. She had two yellow ribbons in her hair, and a high school uniform on. She looked very sweet in it. My heart instantly melted, and I think Momiji-kun noticed because he giggled and pushed me inside.
"This is Tohru-chan! Tohru, meet Rini-chan! She's my adoptive big sister! Isn't she pretty!" Momiji-kun smiled, he seemed like he was infatuated with my looks. It made me slightly nervous, as I knew I was no stunning beauty, as he was making me out to be. But I smiled in regards to Tohru-san. She returned the gesture politely.
"Tohru-san? Are you a Sohma too? Everyone I seem to meet or know seems to be 'inside' family…are you that way too?" I ventured meekly. She shook her head and smiled.
"NO! But I'm honored you'd think I was a Sohma! I'm not nearly as pretty as any of you Sohma's!" she tittered happily. I blushed.
"Not…not all Sohma's are attractive…just some of the privileged few…they say my little brother is a very handsome young boy…but since I've never seen him, I can't be the judge," I say with a smile.
"Yes…Hiro is Rini-chan's little brother!" Shigure-san says jovially. I crowd him and pleadingly look into his deep ocean, almost black eyes.
"Please Shigure-san! Will you tell me what my little brother…Hiro…is like? Kazuma-sama wouldn't tell me! Neither would Hatori-sama…I so desperately want to know him…" I say, my tears brimming my eyes with their salty threat of embarrassment. I feel a soft hand on my shoulder. It is slender, and oh so gentle, almost undetectable. Kyo-san stands rigid now, as if upset and I turn around.
I gasp, because the boy that is standing behind me is like a doppelganger of Sohma-san! Their faces are the same, as are their slender frames. But he has a slightly darker, melted silver look to his hair. And his eyes are a stunning violet, like the rising sun when it stains the clouds purple, compared to his brothers stunning golden eyes. But his eyes have the same effect of drawing me in just like Sohma-san. I bow with a blush.
"Gomen nasai…I was staring…it is just…you remind me so much of Sohma-san. He is your big brother, ie?" I say, trying to find the words. His face comforts me somehow, and I know he is not like his brother. I can just feel it. He has a quieter demeanor, and his eyes have a softer, more understanding than playful tone to them.
"It's alright…I get stared at a lot. Even by fellow Sohma's. so…you know Ayame-niisan? I feel bad for you…do you have to put up with him often?" he says. I shake my head furiously.
"Ie! Ie! Ie! I like to spend time in Sohma-san's presence! He's very cheerful and kind! And I only just met him really…he doesn't even know my name…um…I'm sorry. I don't know your name yet…" I say hesitantly, hoping that no one sees me blush as my thoughts drift to Sohma-san again. Then I remember that old anger at Diana-chan again at her deception. Then quick successions of raps are heard at the door and we all turn around. The door slides open and I hear myself gasp softly. Sohma-san has just arrived!
(Ayame's POV)
"Hello everyone! I'm sorry I couldn't accompany you this morning Momiji, but I just HAD to finish my newest creation! Oh! My little maid-chan is here from yesterday! Kaname-chan never told me your name, so may I ask what it is? I am Sohma Ayame!" I say grandly as everyone stares at me in admiring awe, their faces gaping at my stunning entrance. Shigure smiles and waves to me.
"Aya! Would you like some tea?" Gure-chan says happily. I nod and flip my hair over my shoulder. Yuki-chan and Rini-chan seem to be very deep in admiration, as they can only stare at me. I hope Rini-chan tells me her name herself, it's been eating me alive that I couldn't talk to her before. Her face turns the most innocent shade of pink and her beautiful green eyes just widen a bit, making her look even more innocent. She is so adorable at this moment that I wish Mine' was here to dress her up in one of my adorable creations. She bows and her pink stain grows larger, and turns to deep scarlet.
"Um…I'm…I'm…" she stutters. She is obviously stunned by my tact and grace, as everyone else always is. Momiji smiles and talks for her.
"Rini Sohma…" he whispers. Once again, another has let her name pass their lips, and she has yet to say it herself. But I think it grows sweeter each time I hear it.
"EEP! SOHMA MINI…NO! SOHMI RINA! AH! GOMEN NASAI SOHMA-SAN!" she stutters with a blush fully on her face. I frown a bit mentally, as I seem to be making her uncomfortable again. Maybe she is like Ritsu and likes to admire my confidence and grace from afar?
"um…what I meant to say was…Sohma Rini…" she finally manages, but barely in a whisper. I lock away that sound of her voice saying her sweet name. Even her name is sugar coated with innocence. It makes her look and sound very adorable. Gure-san must think so too, because he is just smiling smugly, like he knows something. Yuki-chan is still staring, but then he moves his hand swiftly. I wonder what he's…
(Rini's POV)
I hear a sickening SMACK! And I look to see a large hand shaped red mark on Sohma-san's delicate face. I gasp and immediately go to touch it. He winces a bit, but seems not entirely repulsed by my forwardness. His brother has hit him! For what reason I wonder? Was it something I did? Did he think I took offense at the 'maid-chan' remark? My heartbeat quickens as I remember the casual way he called me that.
"Yuki-chan! Why did you ever hit me? What did I do wrong?" Sohma-san says happily, almost as if he enjoys getting hit. Sohma-san is a maze to me.
"You don't talk about respectable and sweet young ladies such as Rini-san in such a crude manner Nii-san…" Yuki-san says. I blink once in confusion.
"But…Yuki-san…he didn't say anything disrespectful about me…I…don't understand…" I say uncertainly. His eyes widen in mild surprise at my words.
"But he…called you a…maid-chan…" Yuki-san says quietly, with a bit of distaste in his words. I blink in confusion again. I am somehow related distantly to these people, and yet their minds are such a mystery. We drop the subject and chat, although I don't talk much, for sheer excitement of being so close to Sohma-san. As we leave, Sohma-san stays behind. He waves and calls to Momiji-kun and I as we walk away.
"See you later Momiji! See you tomorrow at my house Rini-chan!" he calls. My heart soars, and I conceal a blush for Momiji-kun's sake.
As I sit in bed, I can't believe that he was so informal with me. I can't even believe he now knows my name! It was so thrilling, to be so near to him. And yet, I cannot say more than three words to the man. Is he just that though, just a man? I don't think so. There's something more…secretive about him. But I suppose I'll find out eventually. I sit down and write in my journal before I go to bed.
He
asked me my name again today, and this time I found the courage to
answer. "Sohma Rini, Sohma-sama" I told him. He smiled at
me, a gentle smile. " I am Sohma Ayame." I was so nervous
at Shigure-san's house. My hands were shaking so much I'm surprised
I was able to stay there. I think I saw him smile more after that.