Under the Same Roof - Chapter two
By: Moments of Insanity
Date : 21 Oct 2004
Disclaimer: Nope, Sailor Moon wasn't, wouldn't, and will not be mine.
Author's note: English is not my first language. I had to try my best to tackle the horrible English grammar. If you see any blatant mistake Please review, and drop a note. Also Constructive criticism will be most appreciated.
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Zale opened the door to find himself facing a mountain of boxes. He blinked while his mind's was still moving at an agonizing sloe pace. He needed this morning tea. How did a mountain of boxes materialized outside his door?
"Zale, step away from the door and let the poor girl in," sighed Jay, he smirked under the pretense of sipping his coffee as he observe his friend dance around the boxes as if on hot coal.
"Thanks," muttered a female voice behind the box. Zale looked around the boxes to find the speaker. She was tall, just two inches short of Zale. Then of course Zale was the slightest of his closest friends. Her emerald eyes glittered under the rich brown bang and her long hair tied in a pony tail. She gave him a pointed glance before heaving her boxes for better hoisting.
Almost embarrassed, "here, let me help you," Zale muttered, taking the boxes from the girl, cursing at his good manners, before them into the vacated room.
"Thanks," the girl beamed, taking off her running shoes before taking another few boxes from behind..
"Makoto, move in," commanded a second voice, "The boxes are heavy." Makoto stumbled forward as the boxes behind pushed her, she turned and stuck her tongue out at the speaker before following Zale into the study room. Coming into view was a girl of smaller statue but with a commanding presence. Her long dark hair was swept into a braid that swished with every step she took. Her eyes were of a most particular shade, it seems almost like violet, flashing Amethyst. "Ames, are there good reasons why you must bring these books with you?" she huffed as she glared at Jay, who smiled at her serenely before continuing drinking his coffee. "Makoto, going back to the argument just now, Tokyo is not a breeding ground for gentlemen. I think I will have to regretfully turn down your offer."
"Regret my ass. Rei," Makoto's muffled voice came out of the room, "there is one gentleman here, you shouldn't give up yet, "Jay felt his eyebrow twitched at the underhand insult though obviously not intended. Sighing rather loudly, he gave up his coffee, walked over to Rei and took the boxes from her.
Rei, snorted, "well the only one I know is Mamoru, and I'm not going to that party," ignoring Jay's rolling eyes. Removing her shoes, she massaged her arms that were sore from carrying the boxes while survey her friend's new place with critical eyes.
"The study right? Zale?" Jay asked and at Zale's affirmation he took the boxes into the said room.
Zale looked at the last girl as she dragged one big suitcase through the threshold of the entrance. Wearing a large oversize white t-shirt that hid her figure and long faded blue jeans, she could be easily mistaken as a boy with her short hair.
"Ah, Miss Mizuno?" he asked awkwardly, his outreached hand waiting to help her with the luggage. He was taken back by an intent study from sky blue eyes and a development of a shy smile.
"Hello," she replied softly, she released her grip from the suitcase, straightened up before shaking the proffered hand. "You must be Mister Enkai. Mizuno Ami, please to meet you."
"Ames, you have to see this. You got such a nice room," Makoto's voice rang out cutting Zale's reply.
Curious, Rei walked in to room leaving the pair outside in the living room and mentioned dryly, "I'm dying with envy."
Ami awkwardly stood there torn, between being a good manner guest and going to her new room. She peeked at her new flat mate and tried to fit him into her mother's description of the guy. He had a tall and slender structure. Interestingly he had shoulder long weavy wheat colored hair that is tied at the nape, strands that could not be tied framed his face nicely. Like Makoto, he had green eyes, but unlike where her friend had emerald eyes, he had eyes with the color of spring grass. She smiled; obviously her mother did not mention her new flatmate would be an eye-catching guy. She blushed slightly; she had Ryo.
Zale sighed and took Ami's luggage as he initially intended to and led Ami to her room while at the same time giving her a simple tour of the apartment..
"Living room," Zale pointed to the right, "there is a lock near the floor if you need to open the door to the balcony, and there is a cloth hanger outside if you need to dry clothes," turning his head left, "self explanatory, an open kitchen. See the door next to the kitchen? It leads to the washing machine and drying machine at the back."
"The bathroom is here," pointing to a simple white door, above the door is a sandblasted window. "You room is at the opposite," The entrance of her room was treated in similar fashion. As he hoisted Ami's luggage through her door, he nodded at the door at the end of corridor that was treated in similar fashion, "that is my room."
"You just don't know how to appreciate western interior design." Makoto was saying to Rei when the two entered the room. Jay was leaning against the wall and nodded in greeting at Zale and Ami.
Zale looked fondly at his former study room, he had fun fixing this room up. It was not as big as his bedroom, but enough to put a bed, one working table and a ceiling high bookcase. The floor was laid with random blue shades of mosaic and where the floor meets the white wall, a stainless steel lining replaced the convention skirting around the wall. There were two silver hooks on the wall where he used to hang his coat. He smiled when he saw the look of delight on his new flat mate's face.
It was a gorgeous room, pale green curtain covered the window. There was a window bay and the long side of her bed was place against the window bay. Ami spotted a curtain behind the door. Curious, she swept the blue curtain to show a small wardrobe hidden in a niche. Next to the wardrobe was a mirror.
"It's too cold," Rei was saying, "Give me a traditional Japanese room anytime. Anyway it's strange to use mosaic in the bedroom. Nothing against the designer or the owner's taste," she added hesitantly, looking at Zale. "It is not supposed to be a bedroom, right?" she asked astutely.
"It is designed as a study room." Zale answered and smiled amusingly when Rei gave a told-you look at Makoto who scowled mockingly at Rei.
"It's great," Ami smiled, "it's wonderful."
"Great you like it," Jay replied as he was the owner of the place. "Now, coffee anyone?" Jay smiled as he walked out glad to get his caffeine fix of the day.
"But going back to the original topic. Minako took the trouble to get organize a party, you should at least turn up." Makoto told Rei as both followed Jay for a coffee, her voice dying out as she walked out.
"Ah," both stood in awkward silence. He sighed again, "I don't think I got to introduce myself," he stood straight and smiled gently at the girl. "I'm Zale. Enkai Zale"
"Please to meet you." Ami replied politely.
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Later in the day, when the girls left and Ami was left to organize her room. Jay found Zale moodily nudging the boxes in his living room around.
"Leaving?" Zale asked looking up when he saw Jay approaching him. Jay noticed Zale had a panicky look in his eyes.
He nodded his head, he just helped Ami placing her luggage on the top compartment of the wardrobe when he spied her difficult with the bulky object. "So what do you think of her?" Jay asked.
"Quiet, nice," Zale replied, he frowned, "I hate the word 'nice', it doesn't encompass anything in it. It is a word that can be used to describe everyone, " he complained.
"No, it doesn't," Jay snorted, "I wouldn't use the word 'nice' to describe her friend. Her name is Rei right? Remind me to get out of her way. I think she has a personal vendetta against me even though I only met her now."
"Maybe she doesn't enjoy male company," Zale replied half heartedly. He sighed and whined, "this is awkward."
Jay raised an eyebrow at his friend's outburst. Zale never had problem with meeting people. He sailed his way through social gatherings and was at the center of things. "She's a nice girl. It is not like she will jump on you or anything. Quiet and unobtrusive. You wouldn't know she had a problem unless you see her struggling with it."
"That's not the point," Zale mumbled. His problem was simple. It was the notion of living with another person that he could not stomach. Living with a complete stranger who would get to know all his habits, different facets of personality and even the color of his briefs was like bearing his soul. Zale was quite sure he did not want to share such an intimate part of himself with anyone yet.
Jay continued; he didn't catch Zale's comment, "Hey chill man. She wouldn't bother you; She just strikes me as one who doesn't ask for help. Shy with people," Jay remembered the luggage incident. "Trust me, I am quite good at reading people, anyway, gotta go," and promptly let himself out.
Zale rolled his eyes, Jay had a habit of acting as if he owned everything, hopping in with no announcement, though he was grateful for his friend's presence today.
Zale grimaced and gave into fate. Slowly he began setting up his studio in the living room and tried to restructure his life.