Like, omg. The guys who reviewed the last chapter are as awesome as apple pie (which is very, very awesome, mind you). And because I'm high on apple juice right now, I decided to update. Please point out the errors, and bla me with them.
I don't own anything. Anything. Heck, I don't even own my soul! My cat does.
I'm using the first name basis system, or whatever you call that.
Explanation on why in the world Ryoutaro is Edward Pease in my story? No, it has nothing to do with my hatred for him. I didn't hate him that much when I thought of this story, really. I just forgot to put him in it. So, forgive me if you love Ryoutaro so much. But I promise to extend his role (or make it a lot bigger) in this story. Since I'm just basing, after all.
This fic doesn't really have the same happenings as the story. Just somehow the same plotline while Kaho is… dreaming? Is she dreaming? Lol. You'll understand.
This is modern. I do not plan to take the story back to the 1800's, since I have no clue what happened (or happens) during those times.
Enjoy.
I woke up with a headache… and a lot of questions like "Where am I?", "What in the world happened to me?" and "Why am I somewhere else?".
"Good morning, Hino-san." A familiar voice greeted me from my right. "If my calendar actually serves me any justice, then the day you've been waiting for has arrived."
I tilted my head to the direction of the voice and saw Manami-chan, wearing a…French maid uniform?
"Ma-Manami-chan!" I was able to stutter out of my shock. "Why are you wearing that? I mean we're still in Fuyuumi-chan's house!"
"Yes, yes we are." She placed a small cup of tea on the table beside my… bed? Last time I checked, wasn't I sleeping on my own futon? "And Shouko-san is still asleep in her bedchamber, Hino-san. It's already late in the morning, but I can understand that Shoko-san will be Shoko-san."
"And I am?" I got up from the bed and straightened out… my nightgown. Yeah, where in the world are my pajamas now?
"You? You're Kahoko Hino-san, my mistress." She looked at me with a skeptic expression. "Are you quite well, Hino-san? I can arrange that you'll be fetched once you're feeling better instead."
"No. No, I am not okay." Not a minute out of bed, I felt myself fall back down. I grabbed a pillow nearby and pressed it unto my face. "This—this cannot be happening."
"Oh, I see. You're just getting all eager because Yunoki-sama's picking you up today, am I correct?"
"Azuma-senpai?" I sat up and glanced at her. "What does he have to do with this?"
"Aside from him being your love? I'm not sure."
"My— love?" Since when did he become my… love? Oh gosh, have I suddenly entered an alternate universe of some sort? Or is this some practical joke the girls are pulling on me because I was the reason they slept late? Because if it was, I don't think this is funny. It's nowhere near funny, at all.
"Yes, I couldn't help but overhear you and Shouko-san speaking about it sometimes." She said, chuckling a bit.
On impulse (since I couldn't think of anything else), I said, "You do know that it is rude to eavesdrop."
"I'm quite aware. But are you aware that it is also rude to wake up late when you're a guest in the Tsukimori household?" She raised a brow at me and turned, opening a closet at the left of the bed.
"Tsu-Tsukimori?" I said, surprised. "We're in Len-kun's house?"
"Yes, we're staying in their household as of this moment." She stated dryly and pulled out a few dresses. "Would you like to bring these with you?"
Ignoring her question, I asked, "But I thought we were at Fuyuumi-chan's place?"
"And I thought you knew that they're brother and sister." She shot me another skeptic look and proceeded to folding the dresses she took out from the closet earlier. "Really, Hino-san. If this is another one of your pranks to get even with Tsukimori-san, I suggest that you don't since he woke up a bit off this morning."
"Doesn't he always wake up a bit off?" I tried to joke. I remembered the mornings when I would greet him and he would grunt, shiver, and run a hand through his hair instead of greeting back. Ah, remembering about that is funny to think about…
"Not when you're in the house, mistress." Manami-chan looked at me seriously, but with a playful smile on her lips… that actually ruined the whole serious look she was going for.
Setting aside the thought of Len-kun being not off when I'm around, I asked her, "Mistress? Manami-chan, please! Call me Kaho-chan—like you usually do!"
"But I usually call you Hino-san." She looked slightly taken aback, if not, shocked. "Are you sure you're quite well, Hino-san? I can always get some ice chips if you're suffering from an ague—"
I cut her off, "No, I'm fine." I waved my hands in front of my chest for emphasis, even. I put my arms back to my side. "Len-kun's here, you say?"
She folded another dress and said, "He's downstairs, having his coffee. Your tea is just on the table." She looked over at the untouched tea and smiled slightly before resuming her work.
"Th—Thank you, Manami-chan." I stuttered, slightly creeped out. "Do you know where my violin is?"
"It's downstairs in the living room, Hino-san." She replied.
"Oh. Okay then." I got off the bed once more and took the full teacup into my right hand. "But if you'll excuse me," I stated quickly. "I've got some more answers to find."
I opened the door slightly when I heard her say, "Don't be too long with that! Yunoki-san is arriving after lunch!" Manami-chan's voice sort of sounded like it was echoing, so her head must have been in the closet while she said that.
I sighed and closed the door quietly behind me, in an attempt to stay low and be unrecognized this late morning. From what I have gathered since I woke up this morning, the facts were that Manami-chan was my maid; Azuma-senpai was the one I like, Fuyuumi-chan and Len-kun were related, and I'm supposedly leaving with Azuma-senpai after lunch…
Hm. Perhaps I could play along for now.
"Good morning, Hino-san." Some girls, who were wearing uniforms like Manami-chan's, greeted me. I awkwardly nodded my head and paced on slowly.
I closed my eyes and put my head down, trudging stealthily while doing so. I sighed, what am I going to do now? Am I supposed to live some life that isn't even mine? Is that it? Or am I trapped in one of my fantasies…?
Impossible, I thought. If this were one of my fantasies, then surely Azuma-san would not be… my love.
"Hino-san," a red-haired guy in a suit bowed down before me and presented a small silver platter that had a letter on it. "A letter from your aunts at the Kagoshima prefecture has arrived."
I grabbed the letter carefully and stared at the white envelope. "Aunts? In the Kagoshima prefecture?" I asked a bit surprised. Since when did I have aunts in the Kagoshima prefecture? I knew that my mother was an only child, and as for my father, I'm not really sure since I have never met him before… could this finally mean that I have a family from the other side?
My eyes lit up with newfound excitement. I looked up happily at the guy, who simply said, "Mio Takato and Nao Kobayashi, Hino-san." And that crushed my short-term euphoria. It wasn't that I didn't like Mio and Nao—they were my best friends. But, how did Mio and Nao become my aunts? Aren't they just as old as me? I know there are some cases like that, but still! Mio and Nao? The chances of that happening are just as high as me coming up to Len-kun and confessing my—nothing.
I shivered involuntarily and nodded at the guy, signaling for him to leave. He nodded back and went on.
I opened the letter and smiled slightly at the short (and somehow messily written) note.
Dear Kaho,
Good luck with the violin romance was crossed out and replaced with a: Good luck looking for a boyfriend. We hope that you bring him with you in your next visit to Kagoshima. Our ginger cake is already waiting for you and your future beau! Thank you for the dresses you sent the other day—who knew that we all have the same dress size? We hope to hear from you again soon! We love you!
–Mio and Nao.
Ginger cake? Where have I heard that before?
No, I will not even attempt to figure this one out. It might just add to my confusion if I do.
I shook my head lightly and saw my way out of this maze…
The stairs.
Unless, of course, if there'd be another maze waiting for me downstairs… which I thought was highly improbable since I noticed a while ago that the window in the room had the view of a garden not far from below. You thought I wasn't observant, did you?
I crept down the stairs slowly and stopped when I saw a mob of cerulean hair peaking from a… wingback lounge chair? Talk about filthy rich. I kept on tiptoeing down and up behind him when…
The maids started to giggle.
"What," Len-kun snapped, his ever so stoic voice spilling more sarcasm. "Is your problem?"
The maids giggled some more and pointed at me. He turned his head and I quickly ducked down. Seriously, what are the maids' problems?
"Could you please leave?" He asked –demanded- angrily. "I don't have any time for this."
Oh, looks like someone did wake up a bit off. Well, a bit is an understatement. What could be his problem?
"Yes, Tsukimori-san." The maids bowed, giggled, and then exited the room. Len grunted in his (I'm guessing) oh-so comfortable seat. So he really does have a bad day; too bad that my next action is going to make it worse.
I took my right hand and clamped it over his mouth—wait, is this his mouth? I leaned over the armrest of the chair, only to find that he was gone.
"I wonder where he could've gone—" I was cut by a warm hand over my lips. So that's where he went.
"Kahoko," he breathed. "What are you doing here?" He released his hand on my mouth yet still kept a firm grip on my wrist.
"I'm a guest here, aren't I?" I spat, pretending to be angry. If I was going to be Len's enemy (how Manami-chan puts it) here, I might as well act like one, too, right?
"You are?" He asked disbelievingly. "Sure. Now tell me, what am I doing here?"
"Uh, I'm not entirely sure, but I think you're in my dream!" I said cheerily.
He frowned. "No, you're in my dream."
"So you dream about me!" I said, a toothy grin appearing in my face,
He frowned. "Likewise, Sherlock."
"I woke up in my room, I went out and it looked like a cross between Fuyuumi's house and mine," he explained with a scowl, his grip on my wrist getting tighter.
"Ha-ha, Len-kun," I tried to shrug off. "But you're hurting me…"
He released his grip on me and looked a bit… shocked? "I'm sorry. I just—"
"Onii-chan! Kaho-senpai!" A familiar (but somehow never heard) high-pitched voice interrupted from behind us (the stairs). We both turned our heads and found…
"Fu-Fuyuumi-chan?" and "Fu-Fuyuumi?" we both stuttered at the same time. That couldn't possibly be Fuyuumi-chan. Although the looks and voice proved otherwise, her personality was too wayward to be her.
"Hm." She hummed thoughtfully as she came –ran- to us and playfully ruffled both of our hairs. "What are the two of you doing so early in the morning now?"
She brought out her hands into a thinking position. "Let me guess, flirting again?" She groaned. "Why don't you two just get married already?"
M-M-M-Married? I thought disgustingly. Well, I guess I've had my share of dreams about being with Len-kun, but— no!
"Me? Flirt with him? I'd have more fun flirting with a mongoose!" I retorted.
"Ooh!" I glanced at Fuyuumi-chan and saw her trying to stifle giggles. "She got you there, onii-san!" She hit Len's rib with her elbow and I saw Len cough a little. It's either he's weak or Fuyuumi-chan is that strong.
"Since when did you become my little sister?" Len looked at her with incredulity written all over his face.
Fuyuumi-chan looked at him thunderstruck, her mouth opened slightly. "Hey! I'm not the one who you should be getting back at!"
It was my turn to be looked at with incredulity. "Did you know that she was my sister?" He whispered to me softly.
"Manami-chan told me." I whispered back, trying to stifle my laughter at his reaction when I told him.
Fuyuumi-chan put one hand on Len's shoulder and another on mine, she tiptoed up to our height and said, "What are you two whispering about this time? I hope it isn't something lovey-dovey, because I think I'll puke if it is."
"I-It's nothing." I brushed her hand off my shoulder. "I hear someone is going to pick me up later?"
"Ah, yes! Are you excited?" She squeezed her way in between Len and me, and then she put my hands into hers. "Imagine, Kaho-senpai! You're going to live under the same roof as the one you love! I know it'll be a bit lonely and sad without you, but I'll manage with the maids and Okaa-san!"
"And why am I going to live there? Can't I live with my mom instead?"
"But you haven't seen your mom ever since you were five, right?" She looked at me like I was some sort of lunatic, then she put her palm on my forehead. "Are you quite fine, Kaho-chan?"
Now doesn't it just feel like déjà vu?
"Why am I going to live with him?"
"I don't know. Because you accepted Miyabi-chan's offer?"
"Oh," I said, pretending to know what she was talking about.
"Who loves Kahoko?" Len cut in rather rudely.
"You're rude." Fuyuumi-chan stated dryly.
"You're rude for leaving me out of a discussion which I was initially part of."
"Well, this is a new discussion!"
"Who loves Kahoko?" Len asked again.
I stared at the two (supposedly) close blue-haired relatives who were glaring at one another.
Fuyuumi-chan grinned mischievously at her brother. "Azuma Yunoki."
(End of Chapter One)
Ooh. Can you now understand what I'm doing with the story? If you don't, then I won't try to explain it any further since it actually can't get any plainer than that.
See? I extended the role of Manami! And I guess she's going to get more story time in the next chapters, too. XD So Ryoutaro fans, please do not kill or threaten me. (Holds up a white flag)
This chapter… is longer than expected. Help me spot errors since my beta is only the Microsoft Word Spelling and Grammar check feature. XD Thanks in advance? Lol.
Update my other stories? I'm working on it, so no need to remind me. :P
Oh, and I'm going on a vacation to Kuala Lumpur and Singapore this week. Yes, this late. Summer's ending in the Philippines and I do not want to waste my time fussing over school like other people. XD
OOC-ness rules. Len and Kaho are the only ones who aren't acting like their counterparts. ;D
Review~! (: