"Doctor, are you in?" Ame asked as she peeked her head into the infirmary, taking a look around.
No one was inside. She hummed. Where was Faust? Or his wife? Ame had a lesson she was supposed to attend with them.
They must be tied up with something else.
Lessons were becoming less common since the warm season came. Faust and Eliza were famous around Funbari. Anna brought them in from Germany to be doctors at her inn; Ame was an intern at the time and when Skype calls became too much, she came to Japan to continue her training. That was two years ago. Since then, she attended lessons and worked at the hot springs in hopes of furthering her dream of becoming a doctor. It was rough, but she was patient.
Leaving the medical wing, Ame returned to the foyer. Since she wasn't needed, she decided to go home and rest before her dinner date. It was three days before she accepted Hao's proposal. Ame had Matilda tell him since she didn't have his number and in turn, he gave her a time and date to meet him according to her schedule. She was appreciative. As she walked towards the door, Ame heard someone call her name.
Turning towards the source, she saw Yoh near the front desk. He panted as he hurried over to her. It wasn't unusual to see him attending the reception desk but to be in a rush, Ame wasn't used to.
"Is something wrong?" she asked in concern.
Yoh shook his head.
"No. Seeing you reminded me that Faust had a message she wanted me to tell you. I almost forgot, but your class was moved to tomorrow."
He raked a hand through his long hair and apologized. The resemblance between him and Hao was uncanny.
"It's fine. I appreciate you telling me," Ame mentioned.
As if Yoh remembered something else, he widened his eyes.
"Oh! Manta said you found my brother's shirt in the laundry room. If you haven't given it to Kanna or one of the other waitresses, I can take it to him."
"I took it back to him a few days ago, actually," she uttered.
An embarrassed heat spread across her face.
"Did you speak with him?" Yoh asked.
Ame opted not to mention that she had a date with Hao and nodded.
"Only for a minute or so, to give him back his shirt," she lied.
Yoh grinned.
"He can be hard to deal with sometimes, but he means well."
Was he trying to assure her, or himself? Ame puckered a brow. Was it wrong for her to accept a dinner date with Hao? Considering that she knew nothing about him. He and Yoh seemed to have a strained relationship, but as to why was none of her business.
"Hao seemed welcoming towards me," she admitted.
Yoh grinned.
"I'm relieved, but hey, don't let me keep you. It is your day off."
Ame snorted and said her farewells, waving to Yoh as she left the inn. Her date was at seven, so she returned home and bathed, then took a nap. Around five, she woke up and got ready, leaving her apartment at a quarter till seven. It took her eight minutes to reach the subway station and once inside, she stood near the entrance, looking through the crowd for Hao.
"Someone is eager," Ame heard behind her.
She turned and saw Hao coming down the stairs towards her. He looked nice, wearing a track top with his hair up. An embarrassed heat spread across her face.
"Perhaps," she stated.
Ame was more nervous than anything.
"Come on," Hao ordered as he walked by her.
"And where to?" Ame asked.
Hao snorted.
"Wait and see," he simply said.
He led her to the platform where they boarded the line bound for Ueno and Tokyo. Six minutes later, the train arrived at Komagome in Toshima where they exited. Ame had never been away from Ikebukuro or Funbari, so she stuck close to Hao as he guided her to the entrance of Rikugien Gardens. Paying their admission, he took her further inside, grinning as she stared in wonder at the beautiful autumn foliage; the maple trees illuminated by the lights were especially beautiful.
Coming to a stop at the Tsutsuji no Chaya teahouse, Ame ordered something sweet to eat and a green tea, sitting in front of Hao as her order was being made. The teahouse overlooked the central pond; it was gorgeous.
"This beats a crowded restaurant in the city; hands down," Ame stated.
Hao snorted.
"I never cared much for the city."
She hummed. Perhaps he lived in the city to be close to his brother. Strange she has never seen him around the inn before.
"Do you visit Yoh much?" Ame asked.
A waitress brought them their orders, then left them be.
"I travel a lot, so no, but I'm home for good now," Hao answered.
Ame recalled him mentioning that his current abode was temporary. She wondered if he had plans to move soon.
"Are you staying long in Ikebukuro?"
Hao took a sip of his tea, then grinned.
"Are you eager to spend time with me while I'm in the city?"
Ame felt her face heat up in embarrassment. She didn't mean for her question to come off like an eager attempt to see him again, but she had to admit, the idea had crossed her mind.
"I meant––"
"I was only teasing," Hao said with a laugh. His eyes darkened. "Once I'm done with business here, I plan to move back into my estate in the mountains."
Ame understood now.
"And you?" Hao asked.
She hummed.
"I'm in Japan to study medicine, then get my license," Ame answered back.
"And then what?"
She hummed; she wasn't sure.
"Perhaps I'll work at the inn with my teacher. I'm sure Anna wouldn't pass up the opportunity to have another doctor at the spring."
Hao grinned.
"I'm sure."
For a moment it grew quiet between them. Ame ate her sweets and stared at the pond as the stars reflected off the water. She was at peace here.
"Do you like to watch the stars?" Hao asked, noticing the sparkle in her eyes.
Ame nodded.
"My mother would take me stargazing in Brandenburg all the time. She knew all the constellations and their tales," she answered. "But it's so hard to see them in the city nowadays."
"I'm going to Tochigi soon for business. Why don't you come with me? There is a hot spring in the Nasu Highlands that is great for stargazing," Hao offered.
Ame widened her eyes and looked at him. She wanted so bad to go.
"I don't know if I'd be able to, not with work. But I appreciate the offer."
Hao grinned.
"I'm sure my little brother would give you the weekend off if asked. It's only for three days."
Perhaps. Ame took a sip of her tea and shook her head.
"I'll ask him, but won't I get in the way of your business trip?"
"Not at all. You can relax at the inn while I am away," he answered.
Ame was flattered; she had never been asked on a vacation before. As she remembered what Yoh said about Hao earlier, a laugh poured from her mouth.
"Oh! Is something funny?" Hao asked.
He leaned his head against his palm, narrowing his eyes in a spirited manner. Ame felt her face heat up.
"Yoh said you were sometimes a bit hard to deal with," she answered back.
Hao grinned.
"And your assessment?"
"I'm not sure. Honestly, I don't know enough about you, but Yoh also told me you mean well and so far, you've done nothing to upset me or set off any red flags," Ame answered.
Hao hummed. She was blunt. He liked her answer.
"I knew from the moment I saw you that I'd relish getting to know you," he mentioned.
Ame felt nervous. She never experienced something so personal before with a person. Her heart felt like it might burst. Was she expected to say something? She was so unprepared.
"T-thank you for all this," she uttered. "I am grateful."
Hao laughed.
"There's no reason to thank me. It was my pleasure."
He was too much. Ame took an uneasy breath. For the next few minutes, she and Hao chatted casually as they ate. When they were done, she accepted his invitation to escort her to her apartment, then helped him clean up. One thing she learned about Hao in the short amount of time she spent around him was that he seemed to love nature; he had a dislike for the city, but his work forced him to remain rooted there, at least for the time being.
Leaving the garden, Hao rested his hand against her back and led her along in silence. As they rounded the corner heading towards Komagome where they exited the station, a person came rushing at them, standing in their path. Ame stared in confusion at the dark-haired female as she glared at them. Who was she? And what did she want?
Her pale eyes averted to Hao.
"I thought that was you, troll. What are you doing here?" the said female asked.
Hao laughed.
"I'm on a date."
His eyes narrowed.
"So, you see you caught me at a bad time," he added.
The female paled and looked at Ame. She opened her mouth to retort, but another voice cut her off.
"Leave them be, Bāji," a woman ordered, walking around the corner.
Ame noticed the burns on her face and averted her eyes to Hao. She had no idea what was going on here.
"We're not here to start trouble, Asakura," the scarred woman mentioned.
Hao snorted.
"That's yet to be seen."
Bāji curled up her nose in disgust.
"Damn I hate you."
Ame widened her eyes. What brought that on? Did Hao do something to them to warrant such a comment? She looked to him for answers, but his attention was on the two women in front of him.
"It's time you both moved along," he said in a dark tone.
The scarred woman ushered Bāji around them, but not before the said woman spat on the ground at Hao's feet. He said nothing and led Ame towards the subway station. She was curious, but she wasn't sure how Hao would react to her asking. Even so, something had happened between the three of them; it was obvious there was bad blood.
Looking over to Hao, Ame frowned. He seemed to be lost in his thoughts; even his hand fell from her back, resting at his side. She hummed and raised a finger, trailing his knuckle. A grin pulled at his face as he took her hand.
"I owe you an explanation, don't I?" Hao asked.
"Under the circumstances, yes, but you are not obligated to," Ame answered back.
She was considerate, but she was right. Some of the truth should set her mind at ease.
"Niaesu Bāji and Dong Honhon are members of a rival agency. They tend to take things too far," Hao explained.
No kidding.
"They seem to have it out for you," Ame mentioned.
Hao laughed.
"That is an understatement, but yes, their leader, Yabisu and I go way back. His beliefs are biased and centered around the motto that the one with the money rules the world. He runs Japan for the time being with the most real estate, but others want to tip the balance away from his favor."
Like you, Ame opted not to say.
She had no idea the real estate business was so vicious. Readjusting her hand, she linked her fingers with his. In doing so, Ame was taking a big step, but she wanted to show Hao that she was interested. His grip tightened, bringing a smile to her face. She could get used to this sort of attention.
Ame should have read the signs better; she would have seen the underlying problem, but her heart got in the way.
A/n: the link below is an image I drew of Ame. It's how I see her when I write, and though I am not great a drawing, I like to make headshots of my original characters sometimes.
post/671339389061922816/ame-roth-from-my-au-shaman-king-story
