Hita: ZANDi, I have a proposition.
ZANDi: and what would this proposition be?
Hita: I seen how much was in those bowls, and I know why you guys cant get jobs yet…
ZANDi: go on…
Hita: well as you can see I have a very large house and I live by myself so its rather hard to clean, and I've seen your brother admiring my sword.
ZANDi: uh-huh
Hita: well, I can train him as my apprentice and I could hire you as a…
ZANDi: maid?
Hita: well I wasn't gonna say that but yes, like that. So what do you say?
ZANDi: yay::hugs:
Hita::laughs: so I suppose that's a yes?
ZANDi: indeed!
Otaku pulls up in a black convertible along with Zachariah.
Zachariah: hey ZANDi! Come on! Remember? today I treat both of you to a movie.
ZANDi: oh yeah! Hehehe…but first! Hita wants to ask you something Otaku.
Hita: I do? Oh yeah I do…how would you like to become one of my apprentices?
Both of the male teens drop their jaws in shock.
Otaku: how'd you know ive always admired your swordsmanship? ZANDi…
ZANDi: I did not tell him a thing.
Otaku: well then sir, the only thing I have to say is when do we begin?
Hita: well you guys go to your movie and ill think about when you two can start
Otaku: what! ZANDi's gonna train with us?
Hita::laughs: no, she's gonna help me around the house so you guys have more money.
Otaku: oh, well thank you sir.
Hita::laughs: not a problem, now go on so you wont be late!
They drive off. Once on the road ZANDi sighs and rests her head on the side of the door.
ZANDi::thinking: 'this is not good, he is waaaay older than me, how can I be falling for him?… I mean he was Yusa's fiancé, there's no way that he'll like me that way but I cant help it, he's everything I dream of, he's perfect, his personality, his looks, oh my goodness I love his eyes, he has this aura about him that just makes me feel safe, I know he would never hurt me…but he'll never love me either. I don't think he's ever gotten over yusa and I don't wanna replace her. I wish I could talk to someone about this…but its no use, all my friends are friends with him and I don't want him to know…and the only one I trust wont tell is Otaku but he doesn't believe in love, so that would be useless, and' huh?
Zachariah: I said, whats wrong, your awful quiet back there,
ZANDi: oh nothing just thinking
Zachariah: about? You looked a bit troubled
ZANDi: oh its nothing,
Zachariah: okay, but we're here…
ZANDi: oh okay. :gets out of car:
After the movie Zachariah drops off ZANDi and Otaku back home.
ZANDi: well im goin to bed.
Otaku: what about dinner?
ZANDi: im not hungry
Otaku: homework?
ZANDi: didn't get any, it IS the end of the school year
Otaku: well true, okay, goodnight sis,
ZANDi: night
next day
Groggily ZANDi blinks and sits up.
Hita: about time you woke up sleepy head.
ZANDi::screams: how long were you here? What time is it::looks at self…and realizes she's only in her undergarments::screams again and covers self:
Hita::ahem, blushes:…im sorry, you were completely covered when I walked in…ive been here since 7 and it is now 11.
ZANDi: oh! Gomen! Gomenasai! I didn't mean to sleep in! why didn't you wake me up?
Hita: you looked peaceful
ZANDi::blushes: umm…can you excuse me, I need to get dressed.
Hita: oh yeah, sorry
Hita walks out of the room and ZANDi gets dressed and walks out
Hita: well lets go.
ZANDi: keydokes
They pull out of her "driveway" and turns right, towards town
ZANDi: I thought we were going to your house?
Hita: yeah…but first we have to get something
ZANDi: like?
Hita: you'll see…
They drive on until they get to the outfitters
ZANDi: what are we doing here?
Hita: as I said before, you'll see :walks in store: you said your favorite color was green right?
ZANDi: yes…
Hita: good
ZANDi: why?
Hita: well lets say I didn't stay at your house the whole time you were asleep, and your brother proved my suspicions to be correct.
A tall lady in her mid thirties walks out of the back room with a small heap of green material and measuring tape.
Fitting lady: are you ZANDi? Goodness dear child, here stand here and we'll get you fitted
ZANDi: Hita?
Hita::laughs: don't worry, she's just getting your measurements for your surprise.
ZANDi: okay…:worried look:
The lady instructs ZANDi to stand on a small table like thing and stand straight with her arms out like a T. she pulls out the measuring tape and starts with her waist and begins calling out numbers to a younger girl who then writes them down one a sheet of paper.
Fitting Lady: okay well it should be done tomorrow.
Hita: thank you.
They walk out of the store towards his car and towards ZANDi's house there's a huge fire started. They both get into the car and speed toward her house only to see it being engulfed by flames. ZANDi jumps out of the car and runs into her house with Hita screaming after her to stay here.
Hita: ZANDi! Get out of there! Your gonna get yourself killed!
ZANDi: no! I have to get Larka and Nanook! And my clothes and stuff::coughs: Larka::coughs: na-:coughs then passes out:
Hita: ZANDi! if you don't come out in three seconds im coming in there::hears something crash down: that's it! Im coming in there!
Hita runs into the burning building and sees the teenager lying on the floor clutching her burning kimono, in which she was not wearing, she was wearing her more rag type dress Hita pulls the kimono away from her grasp and picks her up quite easily and carries her outside.
Hita: ZANDi…hold on, im gonna get you to a hospital as soon as I can. You're gonna be okay.
End Chapter 4