Chapter 4
"What is with all this commotion!?"
Rin was walking with a calm pace through the school's court yard, deep in her thoughts, when a couple of students both younger and her peers rushed past her. Their faces for some reason were lit with considerable excitement. Rin quickly caught the arms of a freshman, who was just about to join the fray.
"What's going on?" Rin enquired.
"Oh Tohsaka Senpai, you must come and see." The younger girl was tugging at Rin's uniform sleeve, eager to be on her way. She was so bent on going that she would have probably dragged Rin with her, had the older girl not restrained her wrist firmly. "Everyone's talking about it! Apparently a foreigner is in front of the school, waiting for someone. I heard he's accepting candy."
With that, the girl was gone. She slipped away from Rin's fingers like a fish, leaving her dumbstruck and all the more concerned. A younger classman wouldn't usually behave this way to her. They treated her with a sort of reverence and often stuttered when she addressed them. Rin didn't particularly enjoy or indulge such treatment; which, in her opinion, only widened the gap between her, a noble-born, and the majority of society. But right now, the lack of formality (or should she say common sense!) was alarming.
She quickly followed the small stream of girls, although not for the same reason as everyone else. If someone were here to cause a stir, she would not go easy on them. It was her duty, after all, to protect the younger classmen, among others.
When she reached the front gate, Rin was expecting to see anything but what she actually saw. A tall man, clad in formal attire, was leaning against a car - her car, surrounded by a small crowd of swooning female students. From her school. Who were all offering him a small box of chocolate or similar sweets.
Needless to say, Rin was incensed. How dare they make such a scene in front the school? This esteemed place, this temple of learning. What's more, it's one of the most respected schools in the entire country. Its student body was infamous for being elite and outstandingly talented, selected based on merit alone. Now they're fawning over him? Some random guy? Rin felt not just indignant, but also very tempted to be cross.
"All younger classmen, please step aside this instance!" She barked, in an absolute, commanding tone that left no place for argument or disobedience.
The crowd's chatter ceased at once. They stared at her with awe, and some with a look of shame (though none showed remorse), as they parted and backed away slowly and willfully.
"I must say how very disappointed I am with you, all of you. I know it's been a long day and every one is glad to go home, but there is no reason or excuse for you to gather in such a manner in front of the building. Look at yourselves! Have you forgotten your position, your pride as a student? If you will all chase after a stranger the next time you see one, then by all means pursue a career in selling lottery tickets!" She said harshly, addressing all of them. "Next time I see you like this, I'll report everyone to the Headmistress for misconduct. Is that clear?"
A unified murmur of 'Yes, Senpai' rippled through the crowd. Satisfied, Rin dismissed them. She stayed and sharply eyed any who tried to linger around.
"My, my, you gave them a good scolding, didn't you?" A voice sighed, sounding bemused rather than disappointed. "What an authoritarian personality…"
Rin spun around with a speed that would make sprinters shudder. The stranger didn't flinch, but simply watched her with great interest. It made her feel as if she was a book; he was reading her, intent on seeing what happens next.
He was very tall. Rin herself was by no means shorter than average, but she found her head to barely reach above his shoulders. Even when he surrounded by adoring fans, he stood at least a head above them all. She found she had to tilt backwards to get a good look (or good glare) at this man.
"And you." She said, not the least intimidated. "You would do well to park somewhere else during this hour. Only those with special permission from the school are allowed to be here."
He was quietly observing her expressions and made no attempt to stop her from preaching him. His own countenance lit up after she spoke that last bit, and he had this mischievous look that told her he knew that exactly.
"Oh? But I do." He said, smiling. Then, he frowned a little, as if entertaining a slightly unpleasant possibility. "Hmm, could it be that you've really forgotten me?"
"What are you talking about?"
"Tch, Your memory must be poorer than I imagined." He made no effort to conceal his rather abusive words. "Figure that out yourself, Ojou-sama."
.
.
Rin would have sighed exasperatedly at this stranger if such acts hadn't been considered a breach of decorum. When you are a noble you must watch even the slightest things, especially in front of the public. Rin recalled vaguely a quote her old governess had said, that to be born a noble is to live a life forever self-conscious.
So instead she chose to narrow her eyes critically at this man, he seemed utterly unfazed by anything she did. Where did he get his annoying confidence from? Apparently, he had an idea of who she was. If so, why did he opt to treat her like some heads-in-the-cloud? She could name a handful of people who had done so to her in the past. One of them was...
At last, it dawned on her.
"O-omae!" She stuttered.
A smirk tugged at the man's face, making him look especially cocky. "Have you finally remembered, Ojou-san?"
That's right! That day at the cemetery. Besides Mother's grave. The appalling comment. The scarf!
Rin felt the instant desire to combust on the spot, for her head sure was hyperventilating, and her cheeks felt embarrassingly hot.
She had forgotten all about it. Her head had been so preoccupied with thoughts of Tadao's retirement and the upcoming days, she had not thought of the enigmatic stranger (who couldn't really be considered a stranger now, seeing how this is the second time they willingly encountered each other).
Rin quickly told herself to calm down. There was no need to lose her head over this. Yes. He's here to get his scarf back, that's all! She mentally persuaded herself into thinking.
Taking a deep breath, she cleared her voice. "Thank you for giving me your scarf the other day. I assume you've come to retrieve it?" When he didn't reply, she continued, taking it as the affirmative, "My apologies. Seeing how I did not expect to see you today (or ever again), I have not brought it with me. Come back tomorrow and I shall have it for you."
There was a moment of silence between them. The last of the students were finally saying their goodbyes and vanish into the street or join their chauffeurs in the car. Rin started to feel some discomfort. Such silence could mean anything.
"Or, would you rather I send someone to deliver it to your home? That, too, may be arranged." She added.
Still no reaction! Why wasn't he saying anything? Give me an answer already, dammit. Rin was feeling a mixture of annoyance, failed anticipation and a lot of impatience. But after a while, she forgot that she was standing ver publicly in front of the school. She forgot that she should be hurrying home. She also forgot whatever supposed reason this stranger had crossed her path again. For she was looking into the most striking pair of eyes that ever existed.
They were grey in colour, steel-like but softer. They had a smooth texture, while the slant of his brows looked almost troubled. She searched for a hint of his previous playfulness, but there were none. His eyes had this almost hardened look that made him, despite his youthful appearance, suddenly ages older.
"You are mistaken, Ojou-san." The man finally replied, which wasn't the only thing that startled her. Rin was also little surprised to see he was more serious. "I did not come here to take back anything. I have come with the sole purpose to fulfill my job, and take you back."
Rin spluttered. "Excuse me?" She asked, in disbelief.
"My name is Archer," He said, bending down to give her a full bow. His hand was placed on his heart, the sign of a vow. "Today henceforth, I am your butler and servant. May my time serving you be of use to the cause of your noble house.".
.
.
Their ride back was a relatively quiet one. Simply put, neither of them said anything.
In the back Rin sat very rigidly, wrestling with her thoughts. Her eyes rested pensively, although sometimes she could not help but staring at the driver, this man who would be her butler.
Somehow, in Rin's mind she could not reconcile Archer's image with that of the chief manservant. He seemed too young, a man who could not be older than her by a few years. Or was it, Rin thought, that with all his years of serving her, Tadao's figure had been so deeply ingrained in her mind that she could not deem any deviance from it possible?
Sensing that she was burdened with more than one question, Archer startled her by saying. "I know you are confused, and righteously so. If you want, you can speak to me and I will-"
"That's enough," Rin cut in. "Do not talk while you drive. It's distracting."
She pushed aside any thought that pointed out to her that she conversed with Tadao all the time in similar situations.
"Humph, very well." Archer replied, sounding neither offended nor disappointed. But the curt retort was somewhat unexpected though, for Rin had been used to Tadao's formally addressing her. He always showed a clear consciousness to rank.
It wasn't that she was afraid that Archer would steer them straight into a streetlamp or an innocent tree - she could see how expertly the car glided under his guidance and the way it deftly turned. Even under her critical eyes, she could find no fault in his driving. The reason was that Rin wasn't feeling talkative at all.
Since the day Mori Tadao left, Rin had managed the estate by herself and was very proud she did. In her mind, it was proof of her independence. Here she thought she was doing a good job, when suddenly, Archer appeared out of no where and complicated her life.
She would have to tell him him that she didn't want him. No, it wasn't a matter of want. She didn't need a new butler. Now that Rin had grown more accustomed to the lack of any companion, she grew more irritated by the thought, by the very presence of one in her life. He would be with her all the time now, wouldn't he? Isn't that what butlers and chauffeurs are for in this society?
Oh, why couldn't life go the way she wanted? First, the prospect of living alone was so daunting. But just when she finally accepted it and found it even minutely comfortable, a new person popped in and ruined whatever solitariness she had now purposely surrounded herself with.
No! She wasn't going to just accept anyone to be her new butler, no matter how shining their resumes were. Rin made up her mind quickly. Even if Archer was hand-chosen by Tokiomi himself, she was sending him and his smart mouth back to her father. That would probably save them all a lifetime's worth of trouble. Definitely, there's no way this was going to work!
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A/N:
Didn't see that one coming, didya? No? Oh well, who am I kidding, of course you guys saw this coming.
A big thanks to every single person who's reviewed and liked and followed this story so far. This chapter is for you guys!
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6/11/2015 Note: I was so anticipated writing this chapter because I thought I could finally bring conflict into the story. However, it seems I am the only one who has felt that way. If there's anything worse than bad publicity, it is no reception at all. It feels horrible to write for an audience who doesn't respond back.
A fanfiction may be free, but it doesn't mean we authors don't invest our time and love into it. We are not a charity and neither are our readers. The relationship is based on mutual respect. Authors took hours to write a decent chapter while readers spend only need to spend a few minutes typing a review to make us as happy as idiots.
So the next time you feel tempted to write something to the author and don't, please remember that we are humans too. We starve if we aren't nourished by the support of our fellow humans.