I was afraid of rating this story T because of several situations that may occur. Rin(ako) has a boisterous, obnoxious, and plainly inconsistent roommate who has no regards for her safety, comfort, or personal space. They are living in a 8x10 efficiency in which a small kitchenette lines one wall, the bathroom and single closet lines the opposite horizontal wall, with the two middle walls serving as the window, and apartment entrance with a small genkan.
Just to visualize the setting, there's only one piece of furniture, a low desk that sits under the window, and two cheap threadbare futons.
P.s: Eu não estou sendo razoável, mas não posso evitar...Deus, por favor não me deixe ser a próxima virgem Maria de Aparecida! = I know i'm being irrational, but I can't help it! God, please don't let me be the next Virgin Mary of Aparecida!
Meu Deus, Ela está batendo na minha porta como uma equipe da SWAT = My Lord, she's banging on my door like a SWAT team!
Reviews please and Thank you!
Rin rolled over under her desk and banged her head on the opposite cubicle.
"Ouch-uh," Rin slipped on her sleeping bag, and barely caught herself in the knick of time from tripping. She ran into the breakroom's separate trash closet, and hurled again.
What time is it?
Rin looked at the digital clock above the Television and frowned, it was 6:03 am.
Rin tiptoed out of the breakroom and peered over the banister to see Sayumi walking out of the entrance, while simultaneously giving a screaming Ashitaka the middle finger.
Rin covered her mouth, conflicted with the pride she felt for Sayumi and her fear of Ashitaka's pending retaliation against the other workers.
She walked back into the breakroom for a glass of water, and felt herself becoming queasy again. She knelt near the trashcan and gagged again.
Do I have the Flu? Did I eat something bad? Maybe one of those microwave meals went bad after sitting in my bag for so long...Maybe it grew mold while I was working.
Rin chuckled, despite herself. But then a revelation hit her:
When I was the last time I had my period? Eu não estou sendo razoável, mas não posso evitar...Deus, por favor não me deixe ser a próxima virgem Maria de Aparecida!
Rin effectively launched herself into a panic attack, and began cold sweating. Nervously, she took a gulp of water, but it almost immediately spewed back out. During Rin's musings, a wad of paper towels was shoved into her hand.
"Clean this mess up, and get out of here. I'll see you in two days, Rin."
Rin nodded, and stood up shakily. After Ashitaka stepped out, Rin tied up the garbage bag and sprayed clorox disinfectant into the garbage can, then proceeded to wipe out the trash can, surrounding floors, and walls of the small closet. She then tied another bag with the used wipes and gloves, and threw both into the garbage chute.
Avoiding the sanctity of the break room sink, Rin walked into the restroom and washed her hands. Afterwards she rolled up her sleeping bag, and looked wistfully at the mug Sayumi lended her. She smiled then, and placed it into the cupholder of her bookbag. She promised she would take good care of it.
Rin grabbed her packed bookbag, and glanced around to make sure she wasn't leaving anything. She shrugged the book bag off of her shoulder, then slid on her jacket last second. After zipping it up, she threw the handle over her shoulder, and maneuvered her arm into the next shoulder strap. She then reached over her head, and pulled her hoodie out from the gap between her back and backpack.
She nodded silently, acknowledging other envious co-workers who were eyeing her dangerously. Rin's stomach lurched, and she found herself fighting yet another episode of retching. As she passed, a co-worker started up acridly, "You're probably faking it."
Rin only shook her head in the negative before covering her mouth, and ran downstairs to grab her shoes out of her cubby-hole; seeing as lockers were banned a while back.
She stepped outside into the pre-dawn light, shocked to see heavy clouds rolling in the sky, and heavy droplets hitting her head. She pulled on her hoody, and shifted around other workforce denizens, and school students in the crowds. She pulled her beaten up brown leather wallet from her jacket and counted the money in her wallet. She only had 120 yen, and was short an additional 50 for a train ride home. She moved between an alley, and shrugged her backpack off her shoulders. She searched the front compartment, hoping to scrounge some change together.
Pleased, she found 53 yen crumpled in the front and top zipper compartments.
Gleefully, Rin skipped to the train station and went over to the ticket kiosk. After paying for her single train ride home, she walked onto the platform and stood by the back end of the station to board the front of the train, that way, it would leave her by the stairwell of her stop closest to her apartment.
Rin thoughtfully stared out at the rain falling onto the tracks of the platform, then she glanced at her open wallet; showing her expired weekly subway pass.
I need to refill this card, but I should just preload it with cash rather than buying 1, 3, or 7 unlimited passes. They keep expiring while I'm at work. Rin's mind wandered further,
I should probably buy some groceries. Just in case Mei decided to eat everything, or let it go rotten.
Rin shuddered at the thought of cleaning the fridge again.
The train pulled into the station and Rin hopped on, after grabbing a seat on the half-filled train she checked her banking app to see how much she had.
She scowled at her account, which only read 2414 yen, 1000 of which needed to stay in her account to keep the minimum in her account to avoid fees.
Rin exited the train station and walked down the hill to the supermarket and picked up two onions, a carrot, a cucumber, dried mushrooms, a pack of noodles, a small pack of bean sprouts, and miso powder.
At checkout, Rin smiled at the cashier. The girl inclined her head and greeted her with, "Ohayōgozaimasu."
Rin returned the greeting, and paid for her groceries with her debit card. She opened her backpack again and pulled out a linen tote and packed her groceries up.
After waving to the cashier, she made the short walk home up towards her apartment.
She reached the dingy complex and pushed her keys into the door, and traveled up the stairs to the fourth flight. The girl pulled her hoodie off and shivered slightly. The overhead fluorescent bulbs flickered as thunder boomed through the complex. Rin shivered again, upon feeling as though she were being watched. She shook her head and fumbled with her keys to get in, and jumped when she heard the next door neighbor to her left's door click. She opened the door and merely placed the bag on the counter, and kicked off her shoes and bookbag at the genkan.
At least the place isn't a mess, I'll have to put these away later. But first, I'll get some rest.
Rin searched the cabinets glad to see some sesame seeds, peanuts, dried peas, lentils, red, and black beans there. As well as a bin of rice on the very top. She checked the fridge to see some sad scallions, garlic, and lemons there. She turned on the single countertop burner and placed a pot of water on it, and scooped out some instant tea mix.
Quickly she peeled off her wet jeans and t-shirt and draped them across the plastic green hamper by the doorway.
I'll wash those later too
Half naked, she made two large gallops into the restroom and took a quick shower. Afterwards, she dragged on some basketball shorts and a bleach stained orange t-shirt and poured herself some tea. She grabbed some seaweed crackers from on top of the mini-fridge. She picked up her cup and crackers, only to realize she hadn't unrolled her futon.
Huffing she placed it back down, and quickly unrolled her gray futon.
She grabbed her food again and sat on the futon. She finished the items quickly, and she crawled into the bed.
Feeling like she forgot something, she shot up again.
I need to charge my cell!
She crawled to her backpack and pulled out her phone charger, and pulled her phone from her jacket. She placed them to charge next to her futon, and finally sprawled back out to bed.
!THWACK!
Rin awoke startled, and flew out of the bed.
"OPEN THE DOOR, YOU SLEEPY FUCK!" Mei yelled as she banged on the door.
Meu Deus, Ela está batendo na minha porta como uma equipe da SWAT
Rin scrambled out of the bed, and opened the dead bolt lock. After pulling off the door chain, she grimaced at all of Tadano's stuff lining the hallway. The pretty and svelte girl pushed her way past Rin and dropped her duffle bag onto the common area.
Rin stood astride, dazed and rubbing her eyes.
"Aren't you gonna help me?" Tadano barked, while looking over her shoulder.
"Oh, yeah…" Rin groggily pushed her feet into her still damp sneakers, and started pushing the television box from the hallway into the apartment.
Absentmindedly, she noted it was still drizzling outside as she returned back into the hallway to push in another luggage.
Sesshomaru sat at his desk, frowning at the email.
An Icebreaker?
He thought back to all of the awful diversity training he'd received, and remembered how each person was asked to introduce themselves with their occupation, hobbies, favorite food, and ultimate goals.
He sighed, and decided he'd just have to approach it that way.
Well, Mrs. Tetsuhara,
I could not come up with any of those "icebreakers" you seem so fond of.
But, I will introduce myself as an excuse of an apology,
My name is Shigeto S. Taishou as shown in my email,
I am 27 years old, and I own a small IT firm here in New York.
A personal goal for me would be to eventually garner my P.H.D
I look forward to hearing from you,
S.
Sesshomaru moved his gaze from his phone and looked back at the coding on the screen.
These people were obviously incompetent, and expected him to fix their terrible excuse of a website? This Sesshomaru should have never even considered working with such fools!
He closed his eyes and ignored the time on his phone's display. The 12:23 in bold, bluish letters seemed to mock him.
I would gladly throw this entire firm in the trash. Everyday, I find myself more miserable than the day before. He thought bitterly.
He was suddenly drawn from his dark musings when his phone vibrated against his home office's desk. He slid home bar down searching amongst the barrage of push notifications, nearing the end, Gmail showed his new message from Rinako.
Didn't I just email her three minutes ago? Shrugging it off mentally, he opened the message regardless.
You're so dry! It's okay, I'm not too great with words or introductions either!
I'm either absolutely star-struck, or a non-stop rambling machine.
Anyways, my name is Rinako Inés Tetsuhara-Carreira. I mean, I have like four other last names accompanying that too. But, I think those are too far back to really matter.
I am 21 years old, and I work at an animation studio. I mean it's not the greatest, but it's something. It's just terrible when you have a passion for something, do it for a living, and begin to hate it. Anyways, disregard my pity party!
My ultimate goal is to eventually own my own animation studio, and create warm, happy, nostalgic films akin to Studio Ghibli!
Anywhos, since you work with IT, does that mean I have to tape my camera now?
Also, would you like to use Hangouts so that we can instant message each other quicker?
Or, any other platform for that matter! Like Messenger, or WhatsApp?
Thank you so much for acquiescing to my request, you truly didn't have to!
Rin shuddered as Mei went back to her foul mouthed ways, and described graphic details of her ex-boyfriend who kicked her out of his place. And also, how she decided to get back at him by going with his elder cousin.
"It serves him right! His dick was small anyways." Mei scoffed between smoking yet, another cigarette.
Rin only nodded while praying for another text to come and sweep her imagination from this vulgar conversation.
Mei continued, "I can't believe that guy! All of a sudden everything was perfect, the next I find him on Instagram making out with his co-worker. Then, he didn't have the decency to tell me in person. He broke up with me via text! After he proposed to me! I promised myself I'd never return to this hellhole! But here I am."
Rin genuinely felt sorry for Mei. But, not to discredit the girl's pain, she'd been obnoxious to the guy. Regardless, his response wasn't warranted.
Rin plugged in the T.V. knowing better than to try to console Mei as she took another swig of Vodka straight from the bottle.
Stepping over her, Rin put some rice into the rice cooker and decided to make a red bean stew so she'd have a hearty meal to settle her stomach after all that drinking.
While chopping up the garlic, Mei kicked Rin's leg to get her attention. Holding her composure, she turned to the girl sprawled on the floor.
"Yes, Mei"
"You think you're better than me huh? 'Cause you ain't getting your heart broken all the time? 'Cause you're a little goody two-shoes who doesn't break the rules," Tadano kicked her leg harder before continuing, "All because you think you're a saint 'cause you haven't had sex."
"Mei, let's not do this, please," Rin groaned, "I never think like that! I just wish you were more hospitable sometimes and that you'd help with your share of the bills!"
Mei smirked, drunkenness fogging her brain with more vindictive thoughts than usual.
"Oh?" she inquired as a straight brow went up.
The normally calm girl was on the verge of tears, "All you do is saddle me with the rent, light, gas, internet, and grocery bills! Then you pop up whenever you feel like it, and then instead of trying become amicable, you just terrorize me! All I'm trying to do is help you! You have no consideration for the fact that most months I don't even have cellphone service, or skip meals! We live alone Mei! We need to work together, God forbid something happened!"
Rin clenched the knife harder and turned back to chopping her aromatic vegetables before she said anything else that Tadano might throw back in her face in another argument. Mei took another swig, and reclined back into the futon.
"Whatever" Tadano scoffed.
Rin sidestepped the reclined girl's hip and closed the window. "You'll catch a cold if you keep sitting under that draft."
The girl cut her eyes at Rin.
Going back to the kitchenette, Rin started a carrot and cucumber salad. Rin turned to see Mei sleeping half-reclined, and was tempted to pour it into the toilet. But the last time, that didn't go so well.
Turning, Rin sat down and decided to scour KBS World on youtube for a K-drama to watch, something to take her mind off of the tension between herself and Tadano.
She didn't think any less of her, she just had an affinity for looking for love in all the wrong places. Whenever Tadano was there, their apartment door served as a revolving door. Guy after guy kept coming to see her in her rebound state, and it caused Rin's privacy to fly out the window. Thankfully, none of the guys were ever too fresh with her. The last thing she needed was Mei going at her for being a man-stealer.
Rin kept dozing off, but she felt too uneasy around Tadano to sleep.
Her computer's notifications sidebar popped up, and she saw that she received a new hangouts message. Grateful for the distraction, she clicked the notification.
"Hello" - Shigeto T.
"Hi!" Rin responded excitedly, "I just saw your message earlier! I can't believe you're in New York! For whatever reason, I figured you were here in Japan!"
"You most likely assumed so, because I responded in Japanese."
"Oh, you're right"
Rin fidgeted after seeing 2 minutes elapse with no response.
"What's your middle name?" She typed, hoping to elicit some response.
"That's for me to know and for you to find out."
Rin grimaced at the slight admonishment. Maybe, this wasn't a great idea after all.
"I'm sorry" She responded quickly, then double texted, "I'm overstepping my bounds."
"That was unnecessarily rude of me, I apologize. It's not something I'm too fond of sharing."
"I understand, trust me, I get wild stares with the whole 'Inés' thing. Who names their kid the equivalent of Agnes in this day and age? Anyways, what time is it over there in New York?"
"12:57am"
"Nice, it's 2:57pm here. But, shouldn't you be asleep?"
"Considering the hellish day I have tomorrow, I'll enjoy the lack of expectation night provides me."
"You could say that again! Ugh, I know all too well. Do you like your job? I mean not as in the Customer service part, but the actual labor itself?"
"No"
"Jeez, buddy that sucks! You didn't even soften the blow with that blunt, "No!"
On the other end, in New York, Sesshomaru struggled with asking about the girl's parentage.
Rin watched several typing bubbles appear, only to disappear again.
"Whatever it is, you can just ask" She took the bullet, and decided to see if her curiosity would pay off.
"You are Japanese, yet your second surname is not. Why is that?"
"Because I married a rich FIFA FUTBALL player!" Rin giggled despite herself, then double texted, "No, I'm kidding! My mom is from Brazil, and my dad is well, Japanese. So that's how the whole name thing came along."
"I don't think you'd be talking to me if you were in such a high-status position; what brought you to Japan?"
Rin sighed heavily at the question, it was meant in all sincerity but it hurt to answer sometimes.
I guess I'll edit some details!
"It's funny really, my parents moved here to Japan after my dad lost his job! He was working for an engineering firm and got laid off, and my mom wasn't making ends meet. So, they decided to move to Japan when I was fourteen. What brought you to New York?"
"My mother."
"Oh come-on, there's a story behind that!"
"...She didn't approve of my wandering lifestyle." There it goes, it's not a lie.
"Oh, you were like, living in the backwoods like a savage or something? I'm kidding, I could relate though. The whole job instability thing, disappointing your parents."
"It wasn't pleasant."
"I can imagine, from what I gather you seem very intelligent. Were you unhappy where you were and remained fickle?"
"You could say that."
"I hear that's a common problem amongst the intellectually gifted. I hope I'm not depressing you! I should change the topic."
"It is fine."
"Do you have any hobbies?"
"Fencing." It was close enough.
"That's super cool! I like to cook, and well, my main hobby and livelihood is drawing! I think everyone loves music, so that's a given."
"What do you listen to?" I have to ask, out of...societal expectations.
"Um, everything! Although mostly Lofi and Jazz. Sometimes Bossa Nova! You?"
"I don't listen to much music."
"I let out an audible gasp because of you! Well, I'll strike you a deal! I'll make you a playlist from what I've gathered here and send it to you! And I want you to guess a song that seems like something I'd like! My roommate is waking up, so I'm going to have to get up in a little."
A chat bubble appeared, then disappeared on Rin's screen.
Quickly, she acted: "NO IFS ANDS OR BUTS!
Sesshomaru sighed, resigned, "Alright."
Rin smiled at her screen, "Okay! Bye!"
She closed her computer and stood up, going over to the kitchenette to serve some food for both herself and Mei.
Mei groaned and Rin called to her, "Wake up Tadano, you need something to eat."
"I don't wanna."
"You've got to, are you going to wither away and let Toshio get the best of you?"
Mei glared at the girl, then sat up and rolled her shoulders.
"Move the bench in front of you."
Mei reluctantly complied, and Rin sat the food in front of her.
In an uncharacteristic show of gratitude, Mei started; "I'm sorry about earlier."
Rin, heavily hurt but too sweet and understanding to say anything else but words of praise continued; "It's fine. Just, help me out a little more."
Rin continued with a smile, but Tadano reverted back to her usual ways and shot the girl a glare.
Choosing to ignore her, Rin continued; "Itadakimasu."
They ate in tense silence, and Rin honestly tried to figure out why Tadano just disliked her.
Tadano is a beauty and then some, she's everything I remember wanting to be as a young girl. Bright, sharp eyes, a svelte frame, delicate hands, and a sharp jawline. Her hair! Gosh, it's so shiny and straight. It's so black till it shines blue!
Trying to break the tension, she complimented her. "You're so pretty Mei, you deserve someone much better than Toshio!"
It was the wrong thing to say.
Tadano scowled and slammed her bowl on the low bench. "Are you gay or something?"
Rin sputtered, "No!" then caught herself, "There's nothing wrong with being gay, it's just not my orientation!"
"Oh, 'cause let me tell you something, sweetheart. Nobody around here says shit like that, unless they're gay."
"That's not true! People are allowed to compliment each other! Why does everything turn into an argument with you!"
It chafes! That's why!
Tadano had half a mind to hit her.
She instead decided to cut her eyes once more.
"No matter what I do, I can never please you! Why do you even come back! Obviously if you hate me that much-"
I just came off from a happy place, to be greeted with this attitude again!
"You got hotel money?"
"No?" Rin continued, genuinely bewildered.
"Well, if you don't have hotel money then deal with it."
Rin's stomach dropped.
"Anyways, why do you want my approval, freak?"
"Look," Rin retorted as she knelt, "I don't have the energy, strength, or time to take you on! I'm going out for a walk."
Tadano laughed, "Then I'll just lock you out."
Rin slumped right back down.
Now, she was really fighting tears.
Tadano stopped laughing, "Hey kid, I didn't mean it. I was just trying to get a rile outta ya'."
"You know you meant every bit of that." Rin shot back.
"Oh, so you do have some fight in ya. Maybe I did." She grinned cheekily. "Also, wipe those tears, you know I can't stand that shit."
Rin simply buried her face in her hands.
Making Rin feel bad made her feel better. Oh, how good it was to be back home!
On the other side of the world, sat a confused demon.
What did she like anyway? How would he manage to listen to enough annoying music before he chose something that seemed like her.
Absentmindedly, he noted the girl hadn't seen what he'd looked like. While she nearly spilled all of her personal details.
Searching through some work files, Sesshomaru found a group photo taken at a recent diversity training he'd attended and screenshotted himself.
He set the image as his Gmail Icon, and then went about scouring the internet for this so called, "Lo-fi"
Fingers sat on his nose bridge as he searched through the endless playlists on Youtube, most of which simply grated on his ears.
With an eye clench of frustration, Sesshomaru retired for the night. Determined, to resolve that in the morning.
A Laptop remained open on a home office desk.
Blue light filtered throughout the room.
The flight reflected off of the windows and curtains,
Highlighting the untucked lavish colonial mahogany chair and beautiful executive Italian desk and bookshelf.
It was simply a shame, that all of these beautiful furnishings went unappreciated,
By a miserable demon.
Fin
Chapter 2: Breaking the Ice