Precious

Act 2

Kasumi and Hitomi's father were seated at the dining table, waiting paitently for Hitomi to return from the kitchen with lunch prepared. Ein had currently excused himself to take a shower in the room.

Kasumi, however, was deeply concerned about her brother. 'What was he doing all the way here in Germany? Why doesn't he remember me?' She then settled her musings by agreeing to herself that she will talk to Ein after lunch. As she descended back into reality, she noticed Hitomi's father staring directly at her.

They stared at each other for the moment; a very long awkward moment.

Hitomi's Father began to talk, relieving the tension. "So, how long do you plan on staying here?" Kasumi pondered. From the beginning she figured she would be staying for a couple of months. However, ever since she found out that Hayate was residing here as well, there definitely were a change of plans.

Hitomi's father laughed abruptly. "Oh, ha ha! Well, I'm not pressuring you to leave or anything! I mean, you're very welcome to stay here for as long as you like," he said. "But, you know, if you're going to stay here, you're going to have to work and contribute to this household like everybody else. I mean, I don't want any slackers in my house-- not like I'm saying you are! But, you know what I mean..."

"Oh, I understand, sir!" Kasumi nodded. She personally liked the idea of working and helping around the house anyway, knowing she had something to give back after Hitomi and her father provided her food and shelter. She was exceedingly grateful for that.

Hitomi's father grinned. "Ah, good! If that's the case, you'll be our official maid! Our house is constantly a mess and we're always too busy to clean the entire thing!" He explained.

Hitomi could hear their conversation from the kitchen and called out to Kasumi. "Oh, Oneesan, you're going to be our maid? You can clean my room; it's always a mess!"

Hitomi's Father laughed once more. "Ha ha ha! You can say that again!"

Hitomi huffed. "Oh, daddy!" Her father continued to laugh.

Finally, Hitomi's head emerged from the kitchen entrance. "Oneesan?"

Kasumi perked her head up. "Yes?"

"Do you mind telling Ein that lunch will be ready?" Hitomi asked.

"Oh, I don't mind," Kasumi smiled, her blood rushed with excitement. Finally, a real chance to talk to her brother!

"Thanks! Ein's room is down the hall on the last door to the right," Hitomi directed.

Kasumi left the table, and then navigated the halls with Hitomi's precise directions. Finally, she had reached the front of Ein's room. She hesitated before she could knock on the door as anxiety arose in her stomach. Finally, when her hand touched the door, it began moving by itself, leaving it ajar. Kasumi peered her head inside to look around. And the first thing she saw was Ein in the middle of putting a shirt on.

Ein turned his head, startled, noticing her. "Kasumi?"

She flustered. "Ah bro-- I mean, Ein! I'm sorry!" She immediately slammed the door and began walking fast down the hallway, returning to the dining table. She embarrassed herself in front of her brother, again! 'Well, at least he was wearing pants,' she said to herself reassuringly.

"Hey, Kasumi."

Kasumi froze right in her tracks and turned around. She saw Ein standing next to his bedroom entrance looking at her expectantly. "You needed something...?"

"Y-yes..." She nodded and began walking back down the hallway, returning to the front of his bedroom. She looked down at her feet as she walked, too embarrassed to look directly at Ein.

Finally, she made it back and was finally face-to-face with her brother.

Ein looked at her expectantly. ".. well..?" He didn't seem bothered of the fact that Kasumi had walked in on him as he was putting on his shirt. She was relieved by that. She couldn't afford any more embarrassing acts.

"Hitomi says that dinner will be ready soon..quot; Kasumi answered quietly.

"Hmm is that so? Well, tell her I'll be right out. I need to straighten out my room. Thanks for telling me," Ein was about to retreat once again in his bedroom, but Kasumi stopped him abruptly. The truth; the words were waiting impatiently in her mouth, trying to burst free. But the words couldn't flow. All that came out were stutters.

Ein began to tire of Kasumi's timid behavior. "Kasumi--"

"I-I'm sorry about earlier, Ein... when I first saw you in the back of the dojo. You just look so much like my older brother.. It's just that... we were so close then.." No good. The only words that flowed out of her mouth were lies but, it felt more relieving than telling the truth. "No, it's okay... and I'm sorry about your brother... " He said sympathetically.

"It's okay... " Kasumi said quietly. 'I'm so afraid. I can't tell him. I simply can't tell him. How would Hayate react if I were to tell him the truth? How would he react to how I, his sister, wasn't there to protect him when he had needed me the most? Just how my clan, my family, had rejected me as I tried to right these wrongs, would Hayate turn his back on me, too?'

Ein had been staring at Kasumi for some time now, since she was completely caught up in her thoughts. He grew very concerned of her. "Kasumi..." His voice immediately grabbed her attention. "Are you alright..?"

Kasumi looked at Ein but turned her head away, looking rather hurt. "No.. I'm fine.." And slowly, she turned around and walked back to the dining room and left Ein, once again, completely confused.

AN: Heh well there's act 2 for ya... To tell u the truth i was going to put act 3 with act 2.. but seeing how I have to write this in HTML form (which is very frustrating to write with btw) I guess I'll make the next scene a separate Chapter/Act... I guess. Anyway, this took me a very long time to write because of these darned writer blocks. But I guess you can say I pulled through.

Anyway I'm sorry if this seems like a boring story... It's very slow paced in the beginning but as soon as I get all the characters in... I'll get to add in some more humor.. I'm trying to make this as interesting as possible.

BTW.. I'm changing one of the pairings to a mild Eliot/Hitomi.. I guess... has anyone tried that before? I suppose that'd be interesting to write...

Right.. ok... ramble over... critics... please critic my fan fic... I highly encourage criticism and corrections so please review! Thanks for reading. Till' next chap XD