Chapter 13

"Is there something wrong, Minako-chan?"

The blond looked up suddenly, then smiled quickly. "No, I'm okay."

Kevin stared at her intently for a moment. She had been ill at ease for the entire time, spending most of her time staring into her soda, as if there was some cosmic wisdom to be gleaned from it. He shrugged slightly before returning to his book.

Suddenly, she blurted out. "My parents say I need a tutor."

"Oh? I don't think you do. Ami said your grades are going up."

"I know. I know." She pursed her lips. "But apparently not enough."

"Parental expectations suck, don't they? You'll never quite live up to them."

Minako sighed plaintively. "I suppose not."

Kevin grinned and took a sip of his drink before replying. "What do you need help in?"

"Ami is helping me with math and science stuff. History is fine. My biggest problem is with English right now."

A ghost of a smile crossed his face. "Your English is pretty good, I think."

"But my grammar sucks. I need someone to help me with that and go over my essays and things like that."

Kevin nodded slowly and returned to his book. "Who did you have in mind as a tutor?"

She stared at him, wondering if it was density or modesty which made him answer in that way. Deciding on the latter, Minako smiled shyly. "I was wondering if you might do it."

"Me?" Kevin seemed surprised. "Are you sure you want me to tutor you?"

"Why wouldn't I? You teach juku. You're American. And before I forget, you're a genius. You'd be perfect."

"Well, for starters, I'm not a great teacher at juku. Tanaka-sensei hates me-"

"Great he hates me too!"

"-and I'm not nearly as smart as I wish I was. I'm certain there are many other more qualified people you can find."

"But I don't know any of them!" Minako widened her eyes and stuck out her lower lip. "Please!"

Kevin lowered his book slightly and gave her a stern look. "Don't even try that with me. I'm immune."

She giggled and slapped him lightly on the arm. "Come on! I really need the help. Pretty please!"

He had no more arguments for that and his hand snaked out to grab his drink. She stared at him insistently and his hesitation indicated his surrender.

Minako's house was located on a strangely suburban lane, with a line of trees that provided shade to the otherwise sparse streets. Unlike its American counterparts, this suburb had no lawns, a luxury too expensive even for this upper class neighborhood.

As they neared her home, she pulled away from him, lest an alert neighbor take notice of her new boytoy. Kevin's eyebrows raised slightly at that revelation, but had no time to digest it as she brightly began to greet every she could see.

Whether an old playmate or an ancient neighbor, she seemed to be able to dredge up a personal question, about a favored son in university or the state of one's flowerbeds. She flitted from person to person easily, leaving Kevin to feel slightly uncomfortable until she introduced him as her tutor. Then, with the elegance of someone much older, she would weave him into the conversation, making him an active participant rather than an awkward spectator.

And that, he reflected silently, made her amazing. Kevin smiled charmingly again, reaching out to take the hand of another of Minako's countless friends.

As they passed the last one, Minako's grin never wavered and she skipped along the sidewalk merrily, leaving Kevin behind easily. He continued at his slow pace, savoring each step. If only for a moment, he imagined he was back home in Boston. A wistful smile crossed his face...

Minako snapped him out of his thoughts with an insistent tap of the foot. "Come on, lazy! Let's get to my house some time today."

"Why are you in such a hurry?"

"Because I am." She favored him with an idiotic grin. "Come on. We've got lots of studying to do!"

Kevin gazed at her, a faint trace of amusement dancing through his eyes. She placed her hands on her hips and glared at him impishly. He chuckled and picked up the pace.

Minako pushed open the door and called out loudly. "Mom! I'm home." She hesitated for a moment, then called out again so as not to surprise her mother. "I've brought a guest!"

An almost irritated voice called out from the kitchen, "Minako-chan! Where have you been? I've been worried sick!" The blond woman pushed her way out of the kitchen and stopped immediately when she saw Kevin standing in the doorway.

And at that moment, Minako was thankful that Kevin had taken the time to dress up for the tutoring session. A loose black silk dress shirt clung to his upper body, with the sleeves rolled up to just before the elbows. He wore black dress pants and shoes, every single element of his clothing complementing his dark hair and penetrating gaze.

Kevin had casually slung his semi-formal jacket over his shoulder, in a move that seemed oddly appropriate. He sauntered up slowly to Minako's mother and bowed slightly at the waist. "Aino-san. I'm so happy to finally meet you. I'm Kevin."

She perked up suddenly. "Ah, the tutor! I am surprised you were able to get here so quickly! When Minako called me today and said she had found a tutor, I had assumed that the first session would not be for a couple of days."

"Nonsense! I was happy to start immediately. Minako expressed her wish to improve her grades. I have seen few students so willing and able to improve. I trust that excellent parenting had something to do with it."

The mother bowed politely. "We are very proud of her. I hope you can help her. Why don't you two go upstairs to work and I'll be up in a moment with refreshments."

Kevin bowed again and then gestured to Minako.

As soon as they were out of her mother's view, Minako elbowed him fiercely in the ribs. "What on earth was that?"

"Whatever could you mean Minako-chan?" Kevin's voice was genial, even jovial.

"Jeez, talk about kissing up!"

"Hey, she's writing the checks. I am not so stupid as to bite the hand which provides me discretionary income."

She moved to slap him, but he blocked it deftly and raced up the stairs before she could move. Minako laughed aloud and ruefully began to chase him.

"What do you need help with exactly?"

"You're the teacher, aren't you supposed to know?"

"You drafted me into service, remember? I'm here at your request."

"Fine, fine. Actually making me work at this." Minako opened her pack and tossed him the book. "Chapter 15."

Kevin caught it deftly and settled himself easily into a chair by the window. He flipped it open quickly, and began to page through it.

His forehead furrowed in an expression of complete concentration, betraying a surprising clarity of emotion that she had seen few times before.

Kevin was an enigma to her. Rarely had she encountered someone who could hide emotions as well as he could. To her, he was no more than a blank and confusing slate of conflicting signals.

As he read her book, it looked as if he had aged thirty years in less than a minute. His youthful features seemed just a bit sharper, his dimpled cheeks gaunt with smooth competence, his eyes weary with the wisdom of ages past.

And then, just like that, the years disappeared and the Kevin she knew reappeared, with nothing but a sheepish, open grin.

'He changes so quickly.' Minako recalled an old Celtic fairy tale she had once heard in England. It was a story of a shapeshifting creature that would creep into the home of a new mother and replace her baby with one of its own. 'He's a changeling.'

She had never believed in such nonsense, but the thought sent a chill down her spine.

But those thoughts were quelled by his disarming smile and unassuming manner. Minako smiled in spite of herself, then moved to grab her computer chair.

She wheeled it next to him and gazed at the book over his shoulder.

Kevin spoke quietly in American accented English. "Perhaps it would be easier if we spoke in English. I can correct you on your grammar and you can get some practice on the accent and speaking."

"Okay." Minako tossed her hair behind her back. "Let's begin."