Disclaimer: I DO NOT OWN SAMURAI DEEPER KYO...happy reading ^.^
A/N: Umm I received an email about an anonymous/guest review on chapter 3 for GDT but I can't directly reply to the anonymous reviewer. Therefore in hopes that he/she will read chapter 4 I'll reply here to the review ^_^
"From: Guest
:Hope you update soon I really like this story . Poor Yuya . . . I can ' t believe all this stuff is happening to her especially about her grandfather . By the way the scene with the two women fighting over the eye colour of the guy they saw ( I am going to assume they saw two entirely different people most likely one saw Kyoshiro and the other Kyo . ) made me laugh so kudos to you . Also I love how you made Yuya handle that woman in the bar it was very mature and kind of cool of her . I don ' t know about you but Kyo ' s personality always makes me smile it is probably because he reminds of someone I know . Again I hope you update soon and I don ' t care if its 2 years from now I will still wait for an update . XD"
[Hi (waves hand enthusiastically with a big smile plastered on my face) Thank you very much for taking an interest in this story . I will certainly do my best to update as quickly as I can instead of making you wait for 2 years I'm hoping I would have at least updated 2 or 3 chapters more by then haha. 😊 I'm really happy to hear reviews like these where people can actually connect with the characters that I portray like what you were saying about Yuya. Haha well I don't want to actually phrase it (just in case for others out there) plus I like to be ambiguous (although I'm sure they know by now ;)) so I'm just going to say that I'm glad my "hints" somehow worked I was a little worried about confusing the readers but I'm really happy it worked out well for the readers like you to build an assumption on the crumbs I've left along the storyline that I created 😄. Thank you I'm really happy to know that you liked that portrayal of Yuya. Haha hai I like Kyo's character very much. But Kyo is actually the character that's difficult for me to portray according to my own interpretation of him but at the same time it makes me very happy to build his characterisation and the different aspects of his personality as the story progresses. Oh gosh! Thank you so much ^_^ I can only hope you won't be too disappointed once the story progresses even more. Kind regards, Rui.]
Chapter 4 – Mirrored in your image
In the beginning there was silence. A silent plea to run and run. Then the sound of scraping was recognised in the darkness. A gritting, scraping on the wooden floor resounded. A huff of breath exhaled, a heave of the chest inhaled. Fear crawled on her skin chilling her immobilised as she waited and waited. Unseeing, as there was only darkness. A door slid open yet still there was only darkness. Run. But she was unmoving, rooted in fear yet frightened of hope. Red, two red orbs was emphasised in darkness accompanied with a menacing grin. An iced cold hand gripped her shoulder sending waves of dread and pain. The gripped became crushing involuntarily making her scream out in pain and the redness in those orbs shrilled until her visioned blurred from the tears as the hand travelled to the smallness of her neck. One thing she recognised and imprinted in her mind was the coldness in her stomach. A solid cold object, colder than any ice she had ever felt, colder than her fear aroused. And she wondered had they lied when they said hell was a burning inferno scorching you to death. For she only felt the coldness of fear, of pain and of death. Scream, scream scream.
…Help me!
A hurried breath exhaled aloud of Yuya's mouth. She heaved for much needed air. Beads of sweat rolled down to her face and neck as gravity worked. After a few minutes of hyperventilating she slowly chuckled as she thought of how an unwanted nightmare coaxed her into tachypnea. As her senses slowly returned, she faintly heard a ringing sound and as it became louder Yuya recognised the sound to be the phone. Crawling out of her futon to the phone Yuya answered before calming her breathing and mind. "Yes?"
"Ah Yuya-san?" came a reply. It was a high pitch sound and could be mistaken for a woman but Yuya heard it numerously to know that it was definitely male and belonged to her manager at Éclair.
"Manager-san? Is something wrong?" was Yuya's hoarse and hurried response desperately trying to recover her breathing.
"Ah well, umm you see I know you're not back until tomorrow but I was wondering if you could cover for today if only for four hours-of course only if you don't have any plans. It's just well umm one of our most important customers-eh? Oh I mean we could really use some umm extra hands not that you have extra hands-eh? Hai extra help." There was a touch of guilt in his voice that Yuya recognised; most probably Megumi has been sprouting nonsense about her 'condition' again. But the one thing she found most amusing was how she could clearly hear Henry correcting and relaxing the manager, he was never good at lying.
"Umm I'm free for the morning Manager-san but I've got a shif-I mean I have to go and visit ojii-sama in the afternoon" Yuya faltered, she really needed to cool her head the weather seems to be getting warmer lately or was that just her. She hated to lie most especially lying to those she cared for but at this moment she felt helpless as her mind was in chaos.
"Oh no that's perfect Yuya-san."
"Alright Manager-san umm then what time…?" she awkwardly uttered.
"Oh yes of course. Whenever you're ready Yuya-san, maybe by 9AM?" Yuya couldn't help but chuckle at the manager's character, it was no wonder Henry just couldn't leave the man alone. Who knows what'll happen to him if left unguarded.
"Hai, I'll just get ready then manager-san." She smiled as she thought of the manager's countenance. Somehow it reminded her of- she ceased her thoughts as nostalgia and loneliness began to distinguish before the words even began to form in her mind. The mind may have been forced into repression but the body remembers.
"Ja, I'll see you soon Yuya-san."
"Hai" she said solemnly.
As Yuya began to get ready she forced herself to remember the occurrence of the last few days to eradicate the remnants of her nightmare and the sadness of loss. Making her way to the bathroom she suddenly found herself buckle at her knees and a strong sensation of heaving pulsed out from her throat and spewed all over the bathroom floor. Great that's another job she would have liked to have avoided but before she could fully process her thoughts another wave of heaving spewed out one after another relentlessly discerning an acidic and burning taste from her throat all the way to her mouth.
As she huffed and wiped her mouth with her hand Yuya became aware of another disconcerting fact as haze blurred her vision and the heaviness in her head became apparent- she was having a fever. It wasn't the weather it was her body- she was burning up but strangely enough Yuya noticed that she was shivering. It's been a long time since she's had a fever and is fully aware that during these circumstances one should be resting. But she couldn't miss work not when the manager was relying on her and she certainly couldn't give up now that she was close to her goal. So she didn't have a choice but willed her body to sort herself out and get ready for work, and so gripping at the toilet bowl for support Yuya stood.
"…ya." Who?
"Yuya?" A man? Jii-chan?
"Yuya?!" Iie, jii-chan janai. Dare?
"Yuya! Shikkari shiro!" Ah Henry-san. Arara you're mad again Henry-san. Gomen Henry-san.
"Yuya, open your eyes. Here drink this." Hai arigatou Henry-san.
Waking out of her haziness Yuya could see a blurred outline of a man. "How are you feeling?"
"Henry-san? Koko de…?" She rubbed her head and sat up on the futon hoping to get a better understanding of her surroundings.
"Isn't this your bedroom? You didn't even make it outside of the bathroom I had to carry you out." Henry busied himself with the water and medicines but Yuya could see the tightness on his jaws.
"Sodesu ka" Yuya looked down on her body and froze in realisation as her mind finally caught on with her situation "a-ano Henry-san? D-did you change me?"
"Calm down you'll give yourself another headache. Megumi was here, she cleaned and changed you. I only carried you."
"I see" she sighed in relief "Eh? But what about work?" Yuya then began to fidget out of the futon to stand albeit unsuccessfully as Henry poked her forehead tilting her back on the futon to lie down.
"Megumi is covering for you. Don't mind that, more importantly do you still want to argue with me about your health or shall I just get to the point?" Henry crossed his arms on his torso looking at Yuya with disappointment and the tightness on his jaw still visible.
"From now on you are to quit all of your part-time jobs and only remain as a night-time weekend worker in Éclair. A maximum of 4 hours per night shift only! I've already rang the rest of your managers on your behalf and they have accepted and will pay you for all of the hours you've worked for the month." Henry carried with authority in Yuya's silence.
"What? How could you- You can't just do that Henry-san!" Yuya shot out of her futon into a seating position directly facing Henry with determination. Her head still thundered as if being repeatedly and mercilessly pounded by Mjolnir..
"It's not a matter of question Yuya!" she flinched by the harshness of his voice as he continued "Do you have any idea what could have happened if Megumi and I haven't arrived in time? Or how your grandfather would feel if he found out that his only granddaughter was taken into the emergency room?"
"Bu-"
"This is precisely why you're still a child!" Yuya recoiled as Henry burst out of the room.
Clenching her fists Yuya understood why Henry lost his temper-it was out of worry. She also understood the reason Henry made her quit her jobs, Yuya understood. But just because she understood it didn't mean she wasn't hurt. Not out of self-pity but rather seeing the reality of it all. Thinking she could carry all of it on her shoulders was her immaturity and in the process she made it worse by worrying other people. She sighed in defeat and contemplation all these while suppressing the pain and soreness she felt. Yuya had enough experience on how to make it seem like she was pain free, albeit her pessimism on lying to people she cared for. But she disliked causing unnecessary worry even more.
"Yuya?" Aggressively wiping her eyes Yuya faced the owner of the voice.
"Megumi-san…" Not knowing quite what to say Yuya just stared before lowering her gaze in shame "Gomennasai Megumi-san."
"Mattaku!" Megumi sighed and ruffled Yuya's hair "Alright, now how about when Mr. Grumpy gets back you apologise to him too. Oh and about the rest of your shifts for your other part-time jobs they've been taken care of. So starting right now you are officially jobless! Well except for the occasional hours at Éclair."
"That's not exactly something for me to smile about Megumi-san" tugging Megumi's hand she continued "and what about Éclair?"
"I'm sure Henry already explained that you can only work the night shift on weekends. Listen I wanted you to quit altogether-just listen, but he was the one who said to give you this one. It's important to you right?"
"Only because of the people there" she said quietly in embarrassment as an afterthought and voluntarily cleared her throat.
"Well shucks kiddo" Megumi blurted and reached for Yuya only to be deflated by her hand "Ewe no stop it Megumi-san with the American slang terms" she halved joke and laughed together with Megumi.
"Now on to some serious matters missy" Megumi turned towards the door observing it before continuing "about those schools-"
"Hai, don't worry it's already been done Megumi-san…oh come now don't be so surprise despite my looks I do try to keep my word. Now as I was saying before being so rudely interrupted" she smirked, winked at Megumi and reached for a thick black folder similar to what Megumi has given her before. "As you have oh-so-emphasised about the importance of high schools, I did as you and Henry-san both requested. I filled in the forms and sent it off, though I don't know why you went off about different schools when there was only one, but anyway about 3 days ago I received an invitation-"
"Invitation?" Megumi slipped before stopping herself and was distracted to even care about the other point Yuya passively made "I don't understand…"
"That's what I've been trying to explain here" Yuya plastered an obvious expression and continued on "They sent an invitation stating that in order for me to be fully regarded as an examinee I have to do a series of, well 'stages' as they eloquently phrased it, examinations. The one you gave me was apparently only equivalent to a test drive. That wasn't even the real thing. I mean why even make the students go through so much hassle if that wasn't even the real exam. I mean do you have any idea the amount of paper work I had to fill in just about my 'background' I mean really it was almost akin to an interrogation, maybe that would have been more tolerable, and there was mor-" Yuya coughed stopping her own ramblings and started again with a faint blush on her cheeks "So after the 'initiation' as once again was so eloquently described, I received a letter of invitation for me to take the second stage of the examinations the preliminary if you like."
"How many of these 'stages' are we talking about here?" Megumi asked in a whirlwind, talking to Yuya can be a real rollercoaster at times and as one being less academically developed Megumi quite often has a hard time following her conversation let alone her train of thoughts.
"Oh, only 3. There was the initiation which was contained in the folder you gave me, which was a written exam, but the initiation isn't really regarded as part of the stages. I think it was more like testing out your IQ first or something, it was just plain odd. Anyway then came the first stage- an oral examination, then visual observation and finally the physical exam. You know those examinations were a real eye opener for me. I mean I never knew high school examinations here in Japan were that vigorous."
"No me neither" Megumi mumbled.
Yuya chuckled in response "Anyways I suppose the good thing is that I passed. At first they wanted me to take the exams within the space of a week but I told them I really didn't have the time to waste just for exams so I asked whether I could take them all in 2 days and they approved, surprisingly enough."
"Well you can be a real hard dealer" Megumi joked "So which school did you pass the entrance exam of?"
"Which? Well there was only one- Tenshi Gakuen."
"What?"
"Huh?"
"No. What did you just say?" Megumi repeated in confusion.
"Huh-" Yuya replies hesitantly.
"Not that before that!"
"Oh Tenshi Gakuen. Yup I got in. I received the confirmation letter yesterday afternoon-which now that I actually think about it is really odd. How did they manage to send me the confirmation letter just after I finished the exams? Surely the results would take some time to actually process and I believe sending a letter takes at least a day to arrive after sending it right and at least half a day if it's local? So then that would mean that they-" as Yuya turned around she was caught on hold by the expression on Megumi's face. She didn't realise that as she rambled on about her new found analysis Megumi had blanked off right after when Yuya confirmed it was Tenshi Gakuen.
"Umm Megumi-san?"
"Y-Yuya did you just say what I thought you said which I heard you say and which you confirmed but still I find it hard to believe and say?"
"I think so" For the second time Yuya hesitantly said but this time giving Megumi a look as if she had grown two heads.
"Hmm-What? Tenshi Gakuen? The Tenshi Gakuen?"
"Yeah why?" Yuya jumps a little as Megumi suddenly clutch her arms and shook her back and forth.
"What do you mean 'why' you clueless foreign child!"
"Hey! For your information I am Japanese, well at least I think so-okay so I may not be a nadeshiko flower but I am still Japanese."
"Right~"
"Okay fine! So I'm not a full blooded Japanese that still makes me Japanese and your point is?"
"Sure British born foreigner."
"You know this is discrimination and I will not adhere to being discriminated by you withholding information that I should know about especially since I am about to sacrifice 3 long years of my life there ah don't you shake your head at me" Yuya tackled Megumi to her futon with a playful smile on her face. Megumi really liked these times where Yuya actually looked like a child, well not that she looks mature for her age, quite the contrary, but rather the atmosphere around her is free, childlike or more like pure. Yeah that's it her purity was refreshing to her.
"Alright! Alright I give. Crazy foreigner.
"So…? Feel free to start at any time."
"Right. Well as you know there's a fair number of prestigious schools here in Japan and most of them are private or well known public universities located in the cities and in particular in Tokyo. But out of all these prestigious schools one stands at the very top. And that my dear ignorant little British princess is Tenshi Gakuen. And did you know that not just anyone can get into that school? Even if you were the daughter of the prime minister if the school deems you as 'unacceptable' to enrol then that's it. Don't even think of trying any means to enter because you'll just be waisting your time, no wealth or government authority will get you that golden ticket…"
As Megumi went on Yuya's head was elsewhere. She understood that it was somewhat of a big deal to be able to enrol into that school but somehow the details just didn't sink into her head.
"…And did you know even famous and affluent people from all over the world enrols into that school well try to anyway. As famous and prestigious that school is it's also shrouded in mystery. You'd think that because it is that famous, that even the blue bloods are trying to enrol into that school, that the public would know a lot about that school. But in actual fact you can just pretty much count with one hand the information shared about that school."
"Why is that?" Now this had caught Yuya's interest. From what she had read on the student booklet, the school was founded at the end of the Edo period, so surely there was a lot of information about the school. But now that she thought about it there wasn't much details written on the student booklet either.
"The public really doesn't know how that school operates. What we do know that it's an academy and its system follows much like in western countries, well where you're mostly from, kiddo."
"Yeah I read that too." Yuya mumbled quietly.
"Hmm? Oh yeah, so you never actually told me kid, how in vices' name did you get into that school?" Megumi bellowed the latter part.
"Eh? What do you mean 'how' you were the one who-" Yuya was stopped as she heard the sliding of the door revealing Henry with a gloomy expression carrying a tray filled with Japanese homemade food.
"Hm? Oh did I interrupt something?" Yuya shook her head in response unable to utter a word as surprise was conveyed on her face. It's been such a long time since someone else had cooked for her, and a modest Japanese breakfast at that. There was fried fish, radish and a bowl of rice, frankly piled by so much rice that she couldn't help but smile at the thought of having to eat all of it.
"Ah I had to borrow your kitchen, that alright with you kiddo?" Noticing the sincere smile on Yuya's face made Henry somewhat a little flustered at the thought of what he had just done, in a fatherly sort of way.
"…yeah, no that's alright. I don't mind at all." She looked down at her clasped hands and said quietly.
"Well you had better cleaned up after yourself too!" Megumi voiced in hopes of dissipating the weird fresh yet shy atmosphere that was starting to emerge. For she dearly feels awkward in the middle of those things and in response Henry merely clicked his tongue and placed the tray next to Yuya.
"Well what the heck are you just staring at it for! It's not gonna just magically enter your stomach you have to eat it first and now before it gets cold." Megumi hurried and gave Yuya the chopsticks, who accepted them with a warm and amused smile. And throughout eating her food Yuya felt strangely full in her whole being than just one particular organ, with a small smile on her face.
~~~~~X~~~~~
"Oh Yuya how are you feeling? We were so worried about you yesterday."
"I'm fine now Manager-san thank you. Megumi-san and Henry-san looked after me yesterday." Yuya replied with a smile as she positioned herself behind the bar.
"Oh good. Now don't push yourself too hard alright otherwise Henry will have my head." The manager chuckled.
"Hai thank you manager-san."
"Oh and don't forget make sure you clock out in three hours time alright?! Just until Megumi arrives."
"I know, thank you manager-san" Yuya smiled and continued "and please manager-san keep this from Henry-san alright? I don't want him worrying and besides this is only for three hours just for you know extra pocket money…?"
"Alright, you have my word but are you sure Megumi won't say anything?" He sighed feeling hesitant about asking Megumi to cover for today.
"Hai don't worry, besides it was Megumi who suggested I should work at least for a few hours today. I suppose this is her way of keeping an eye on me rather than leaving me alone before I start school." She talked on hoping to have eased her manager.
Although in actual fact apart from keeping an eye on her Megumi asked this of her as a favour. As Megumi had to look after her son today. It seemed the father forgot about his duty again today. Apparently they were supposed to go to the countryside to visit the boy's paternal grandparents but Megumi's ex had supposedly forgot and made another business appointment. So Megumi was left to pick up her son from the train station who was waiting for his father. The poor child. Yuya had only met him twice when Megumi had asked her to babysit for her during emergencies, and despite the short period of time she spent with him, Yuya grew very fond of him.
She doesn't really know much about him though as the boy hardly spoke of himself when they were together and instead opted to ask questions about her own life. Even Megumi doesn't know everything there is to know about her son, as not only does the boy not say anything to her she also can't get any information from the father. It would seem that whatever he does with his father is for the two alone to share, which Megumi accepted but hoped the sentiment was the same in her case as well.
~~~~~X~~~~~
The three hours she spent in the bar past quickly as her shift was about to end, it wasn't so hectic this time and the majority of her customers were either female or males involved in a same-gender relationship, not that there was anything abnormal about that. But rather what she found abnormal was the population of hetero-males or in this case the lack of them. As she found from experience whether it was peak hours or not, there were always these annoying men, who persistently and shamelessly want her attention but only managed to annoy the life out of her. Heaven knows why they would want her attention is beyond her comprehension nor was it something she planned on finding out. Not that she's complaining about the lack of these certain people, as she was very much thankful for the peace.
"Sake". Or so she thought she would get some peace. Yup goodbye happy ending. And it wasn't even a sentence this time. It was truly a paradox how just a mere word could affect her so, regardless of how the rest of her day has been beforehand. Although it probably had something to do with her previous encounter of a customer who once asked-no demanded for the same order. Just suck it up Yuya and don't forget he is a customer, a pain in the ass customer, but nonetheless a customer. So give him your best smile and explain the bar is temporarily close for today.
"Good afternoon sir, I am sorry to say-"
"So we meet again dog face." Yuya was taken aback by the response and she turned to face the customer only to find the scarlet eyes man she previously encountered. No wonder the voice irked her in an incomprehensible way.
"Sake and keep it coming." He monotonously said beating Yuya on continuing her previous sentence.
"Umm I am sorry sir but the bar is unfortunately temporarily close, just until another member of staff can attend to-"
"Are you not a member of staff then?" He eyed her narrowly inspecting her uniform and she paused under his intense gaze but saw something more than a general annoyance reflected in his eyes.
"N-no I am, of course but…"
"Well since your 'other' member of staff isn't here yet, I believe you can't leave your post. So I'll say it again dog face, sake."
Wha-what the heck did he just called me? No, just chill Yuya, he's a customer, a very arro-important customer. All previous thought of trying to discern what it was she saw in those blood red eyes was thrown out the window.
"Hmph guess I was right you are deaf and a dog face, how do you cope."
Did he just call me a dog? Or a human that has a face of a dog? I don't even know which one is worse but either way this jerk just- No! Yuya relax you can't loose your temper now. Remember inhale from your nose and exhale through your mouth. That's it, better. Now just because he might look quite handsome, okay so he's unearthly handsome, but that doesn't give him the right to, ugh I could just, how dare he-
"Oi! Woman! I'm talking to you"
"Oh will you shut up! I'm trying to think here!" She bursted in his face with a clench fist and assumed her initial internal monologue, before pausing as her action sunk in.
"I-I mean-" Yuya turned to see her customer she unknowingly found herself gazing quite close at his scarlet eyes. But looking at them closely she observed it was more crimson than anything else under the soft illuminating light of the chandelier bar. That's when it hit her, the form reflected in his eyes were a caring annoyance. A feeling of annoyance directed at himself, perhaps caused by someone he cared for. Hn, hmm that's odd what was that? Ah probably my stomach telling me it's hungry, I did skip breakfast this morning. Well I did bring some onigiris and tea with me I'll just eat on the way. Anyways to the current situation at hand.
Finding a lack of forming sensible sentences, Yuya opted for a small smile and busied her herself on the bar, gaining the attention of the other man.
A few minutes later she turned towards him and placed a small array of onigiris and a cup of Japanese tea in front of him as she said "I don't know what happened but surely sake won't be able to solve it. And like I said before mister the bar is close and we've also ran out of sake, apparently somebody ordered the whole lot yesterday. Although how someone can drink that much sake is beyond me and surely isn't doing any favour to their liver. Anyways that's on me." She gestured to the onigiris and tea, and anticipated before he could say anything "If you don't want it then please give it to the oji-san that's living in the alley out the back I'm sure he'd appreciate it. Like I said that's on me, so there's no need to pay and rest assured I haven't poisoned it, tempting though it may be. Anyways I have to go mister if you still want something from the bar then just stay here I'm sure my replacement will be here soon."
Yuya gathered her things and turned to leave but paused "…It might seemed difficult now but I'm sure things will work out somehow…life is kind of odd that way."
With that he could only stagger as he watched her retreating form before disappearing into the staff room.
~~~~~X~~~~~
What did I do? What was I doing? Why on earth did I do that? What happened? What happened?
Such were the thoughts that whirled in her head as she exited from the back of the restaurant. "Yes sir, I seem to have misplaced it … No sir I'll what? Eh? Someone did? When-UGH! What the-Are you alri-it's you!" She was so immersed in her thoughts that she failed to notice the form in front of her and got the wind knocked out of her wind pipe sending her posterior anatomy to the ground. Great another bruise, was the only thought she could process in her mind.
For a moment Yuya thought she had bumped into the sake-loving-pompous customer but this person was different, it was the other idiotic-wastefully-handsome customer. They do look very similar heck they could even pass off as twins, maybe they're brothers. But as identifiable as their similarities are their differences were much more recognisable. Not only in their physical beauty but somehow they're aura and the atmosphere around them, though something else, much stronger, yet Yuya couldn't quite grasp what that was entirely.
"Umm are you alright? I'm sorry I didn't see you, here" He offered his hand to a still dazed Yuya, for a moment he thought she would refuse but she held on hesitatingly. He couldn't help but find it a little bit cute- how she hides her face, probably from embarrassment was his assumption.
"You didn't hurt yourself did you miss?" Hmm if she came out from the back door, maybe she's a staff member?
"Umm you're probably wondering what I'm doing here, but you see I'm familiar with the manager of the restaurant and well there was something I may have left in the staff room so I was just on my way to…umm…Kyoshiro that's my name if you were to ask the manager I'm sure- Miss?" He babbled on awkwardly not knowing what to say in these situations, until he caught sight of her glasses and picked it up only to find the lady was no longer in front of him.
"Miss?" He called after her and only just managed to catch her, small such small wrist soft easily breakable, "I mean your glass-"
"Ah. Arigato gozaimashita ." Yuya quickly yet sincerely said and hurried off without even waiting for the other's reply.
"…You're…welcome…?" He muttered with his arm still suspended in the air where Yuya's wrist was previously occupied. Did…the restaurant have someone like that?
A muffled scratching voice awoke him from his reverie and quickly placed the phone back to his ear "Ah, hai, I'm apologise for that sir. Eh? Leave it? But the folder held all the forms regarding-Hai, hai…" his voice fading out as he entered the restaurant.
~~~~~X~~~~~
"Onee-san? Yuya-neesan?"
"Huh? Oh Sasuke-kun. Gomen I was just thinking of something that happened earlier." She smiled and patted his head.
"Did something happen" he paused trying to stop Yuya's patting "when you came here your bun was loose and you didn't have your glasses on. You're usually very particular about these things."
"My~ how observant of you Sasuke-kun" Yuya giggled and smiled tenderly at the young boy. Sasuke didn't really resemble Megumi in terms of appearance though he certainly inherited some of her temperament, therefore Yuya presumed he looked like his father. By his outlook Yuya could tell Sasuke wasn't of pure Japanese blood, in that he has grey hair not the kind common to the elderly but a silvery grey which glistens under the sunlight. His eyes are a unique amber shade that are mostly common to pedigree cats but less glassy looking the animals', his eyes are also beautifully slanted something which Yuya learned was secretly admired and desired by the Japanese. Although he's only 12 years old Sasuke was a beautiful child and would surely grow up to be more handsome and admired. He was also fairly short compared to other kids his age, something which he is very adorably sensitive about in Yuya's opinion. She hasn't known him long but Yuya has grown to care for the boy very much and sees him like a younger brother. The sentiment was also reciprocated by Sasuke, he's not the sort to socialise with others nor try to get close to people. But once he does he can be quite attached and overly protective of the person.
"I'm joking" she chuckled and continued "I just bumped into someone on the way here that's all. No need to worry."
"Ah I see." He said pretending not to be too relieved nor interested and glanced at Yuya who continued staring at nothing in particular. "It's really boring huh!" Ah no.
"Eh?" This snapped Yuya from her musings. "You're bored Sasuke-kun?"
"Ah no that's-"
"Of course you would be, it must be boring staying here in the house with me."
"No that's not what-"
"I'm sorry I never thought how you might get lonely Sasuke-kun, I mean although I'm here I'm sure you would have preferred your mother or father right?! But you know it's not like they don't want to spend time with you, it's just that, see adults are a bit complicated." She was completely spouting nonsense and rattling on, pacing from corner to corner much to the boy's panic.
"No onee-san it's not like that I like-"
"I mean I don't really know what kids these days are into you know. Ah no I mean…you are a kid but I don't mean a kid in a condescending way. I mean you're very mature for-I'm sorry Sasuke-kun is there something you'd like to do? I really don't mind as long it makes you happy."
"I said it's not like that didn't I!" He bellowed and huffed from his outburst glaring unthreateningly at a startled Yuya.
"I-" she started but was interrupted by a huffing Sasuke "Gomen. It's not like that. I mean I did say it but I didn't mean it like that. I just, I thought you might be getting bored…I, I like it when you're here but I'm sure … You've just been staring into thin air. I mean it must be annoying right, having to look after a kid like me…"
Yuya moved to Sasuke crouching down to meet his eyes and smiled tenderly "Eyi. Arigato Sasuke-kun for considering me so much. Gomen ne, I didn't mean to space out so much, I was just thinking about a lot of things I didn't mean to look as if I was getting bored being here. Ano ne Sasuke-kun I too like being here and spending time with you."
"Eh? Hontou?" He said lowly meeting her eyes and found his answer in hers. But quickly lowered his head in embarrassment.
"Ne Sasuke-kun if you don't mind would like to accompany me to the hospital?"
"The hospital? Are you sick?"
"Eyi." Yuya replied abruptly before sending the boy into another panic mode "Remember I told you about my grandfather? Well I'd like to see him today. So if you don't mind would you like to come with me? I'm sure he'll be happy to have another visitor. And then we can get some ice-cream on the way or maybe some takoyaki. Oh and maybe even visit the book store."
"Okay." He smiled secretly hiding his expression from Yuya, feeling embarrassed about his thrill of going out with his favourite onee-san.
~~~~~X~~~~~
After visiting the hospital Yuya treated Sasuke to some ice-cream and they went window shopping for fun, visiting a lot of bookstores. She was only glad that Sasuke was back to his usual demeanour, after what had occurred between him and Yukimura-sensei. It was the first time she had ever seen him loose his cool and had thoroughly been unnerved.
In terms of the condition of her grandfather, Yuya seemed to suppress it all, willing to deny everything rather than face it at this point. Maybe if she had been alone, she could have faced the truth but allowing another to see your most vulnerable state wasn't somethings she was particularly keen on. So she concluded that she would have to visit the hospital again, alone, in order to properly talk about the details of his condition with his new consultant- Yukimura-sensei.
Once they had spent a few hours wandering around the town, Yuya took Sasuke back to the restaurant where Megumi was waiting for them. She would also be finishing her shift soon. As they arrived they were greeted by Henry instead of a hard headed Megumi. He then takes Yuya to the bar where Megumi was just finishing clearing up and left Sasuke alone in the staff room to wait for his mother.
"What? What is it?" Finally freeing her arm from Henry's grip.
"It's about your part time job"
"My part time job?" She raised an eyebrow at him in confusion. She thought they've already talked about it- she would be allowed to continue to work in the restaurant but only once a week and on a weekend.
"He means the one he found for you." This time Megumi answered wiping a sweat on her forehead.
"Ah" was her only response. Truth be told, she had forgotten about that.
"You're not getting away with this, you hear?" Henry narrowed his eyes at her as if daring her to challenge him.
"Relax, a promise is a promise." She sighed in defeat. She then proceeded to make herself comfortable in the counter and listened patiently to his explanation.
Apparently she was to become a housekeeper for one of the patron's at the restaurant, a very important one at that. Apart from that Henry denied anymore information concerning her new boss, only that he was man and currently a professor at some prestigious college. The housekeeping pertained visiting his home only after or before school hours, cleaning around the house and…cooking? She had to cook for him too?! Great. Next thing she knows she'll be taking and picking him up to and from college. Don't misunderstand, Yuya has a great of deal of respect for housekeepers but it was something she never deigned to make a career of nor has ever thought about making it one of her jobs. Well sure she had cleaned, cooked and even house-sit for Henry and Megumi but that's a different matter. She never saw it as a chore, rather she found it pleasant having to return the favour and she also knew the home owners enough to feel comfortable and safe in their respective homes. But she was mostly displeased on barging into someone's home, someone she has never met and from what she gathered from Henry, likely to ever meet, it just feels like she was some sort of…well it was just an unpleasant feeling. Although she supposed this was one of those cases where she'd have to suck it up and get on with it, instead of being a lazy old bugger and moan about it to friends, well if she had any. Henry, Megumi and the manager weren't really considered the general consensus of friends teenagers would have. Plus she saw them as family rather than the platonic relationship.
"So my part time is being a maid?" She asked blatantly free of malice, purely seeking reassurance that she had heard him correctly.
"No, think of it like being a companion" Megumi winced at that after the word had left Henry's mouth.
"Ah no, I mean not in that way, you know I would never offer a job to you like that, look I mean…" Henry stumbled, rambled under the critical eyes of the older woman and at this point Yuya was thoroughly confused she had no idea why he seems to be on edge over the word companion. Well she supposed it was just one of those words that made you cringe and she so embarked on ceasing Henry's silly mutterings.
"Okay relax Henry-san don't give yourself a headache. I understand. I am to be his housekeeper."
"Yes" he sighed and continued to explain further whilst pressing on his temples "but make sure you are only at his home after school hours or before. But only when he is no longer at home. Here this is a pager and this will be your communication with him. Once he has left his home he will page you. Remember Yuya do not visit when the apartment is occupied."
Interesting. From the tone and emphasis on Henry's voice, it would seem like he was adamant on never allowing Yuya to meet her new boss. How suspicious. She did always like mystery it gave her a sense of thrill and excitement. But seeing the look Henry was giving her Yuya had to concede this time on never following the end of the mystery novel and unveil all of its secrecy. Also her new boss lived in an apartment rather than a house. With this new information she thought he must be a bachelor oji-san. Which meant her new boss was likely to be grumpy,grouchy and cantankerous. She would definitely not be seeing him.
"Oh and remember patience is a virtue…" He sermoned. Great so her new boss was definitely someone to avoid.
"...you must be professional at all times even when you are alone in his home, you do not…" Henry continued maundering on how she should behave giving her an earful and she caught the growing irritation plastering on Megumi's face. She had to stop this before chaos ensues, so she ushered the older woman to the direction of the staff room where Sasuke was waiting for her.
"…and please Yuya remember not to let your temper get the better of you…" and this was where she had to protest.
"I got it Henry-san. I'll be sure to be as quiet as a mouse. Nay maybe even quieter." Sarcastically stated than was intended. .
"I'm serious."
"I know" she offered a sincere smile "Henry-san don't worry. It will be fine." She then held out her hand waiting for Henry to understand and finally handed her a card with a name and an address.
Before she made her way, she gave him one more reassuring smile and said "And please tell Megumi-san not to be too hard on Sasuke-kun. He likes her company just as much as his father."
Sometimes he truly wondered where that child came from, as much as he knew she wasn't full Japanese, looking at her appearance alone, but at the same time there are moments where she was just like one of those traditional and iconic yamato nadeshiko not in appearance but in countenance. With that thought he chuckled at remembering the temperament of the child and pictured a wailing Yuya.
~~~~~X~~~~~
"Hey. Kyoshiro was looking for you earlier did you happen to see him?" Yukimura asked not bothering to turn his head at the person who just entered his office, fully knowing which aura it belonged to.
"No." Came an instant reply, passive.
"Oh?! Someone's in a foul mood. How odd. Usually you're in a good mood after coming from that restaurant. What, did something happen? Ran out of sake again?" He teased and smirked. Oh how it gave him great pleasure to irk this fearsome demon. It was something like a secret pleasure that wasn't so secret as everyone in their circle knew his sadistic personality well enough as much as his masochistic mentality.
But all he had in return was a glare not even so much as a grumble. This could only mean death for whoever tire his patience at this moment.
"Well if you're not going to share then so be it. Enough about you then. I found the most adorable pet." He gushed at remembering his banter with his patient's granddaughter's young companion and all of the boy's expressions seemed to imprint on his mind without approval.
"Good for you." Kyo dismissively remarked. His thoughts swirled on the occurrence earlier after his departure at the restaurant.
~~~~~X~~~~~
Having been completely frazzled by what the dog faced had done he was unaware of the presence of another as he exited at the back of the restaurant. He came face to face with a beautiful woman. Appearance wise, she looked to be the epitome of a yamato nadeshiko. Straight and long silky raven hair framed an oval shaped face, softened by straight thin brows covered by her fringe atop a pair of slightly slanted deep set chocolate eyes, framed with long lashes. Her skin was fair, flawless and smooth with a lithe figure. She was what the majority of the Japanese population valid as a picture of beauty.
"I wanted to talk to you" she offered as the reason for her being there. Uneasiness crawling it's way to her skin.
"Does he know you're here." He stated rather than questioned.
Finding no words to answer him, she merely ducked her head lower, feeling unnerved after such a long time of being in his presence and alone no less. It was bad enough when they weren't alone, but this time she found it difficult to breath as if the air around them refused to give her lungs any.
"I don't have anything to say to you that I haven't said before." With that he walked past her and proceeded to exit the alley before she clasped her hand on his wrist. The touch sending a flame on her own skin yet her stomach churned unpleasantly at the feel of his steady pulse on her fingers.
"I-I umm, Kyo." She gazed at him nervously, pleadingly and searchingly. After a while of finding nothing of what she wanted in his expression or eyes. She withdraw her hand slowly in a defeated manner and ducked her head lower, her eyes cowering behind her fringe.
She had thought he would at least offer her a ride home or walk her to the station. She found she could finally breath unsteadily at first but it was replaced by emptiness. As after a few minutes past she lowly lifted her head only to find an empty alley with its previous occupier long gone, as silently as the wind that blew on her hair with the trickling of a tear.
~~~~~X~~~~~
Japanese translations to English ^.^
Ojii-chan/san/sama – Grandfather (informal/formal)
Oji-chan/san/sama – Uncle (informal/formal)
Ja – An expression used as an interjection. This expressive word has interchanging meanings depending on the sentences it is used and the intention in which it is used. It's akin to the expression "Well then".
Dare? – Who?
Shikkari shiro – An expression used to motivate someone to regain control of themselves or push forward. It is akin to the expression "Pull yourself together", "Hang on", "Don't give up", "Hang in there", "Get a hold of yourself", etc, well you get the point.
Koko de – An expression used to inquire about a particular place or environment, equivalent to "This is?", "Where am I?", "This place is?", etc.
Sodesu ka – This term can mean "Is that so?", "I see", etc.
Side note :- In Japanese a word can have many different meanings depending on the sentence it is used in or the intention in which it is used.
~~~~~X~~~~~
A/N: Okay I think I'll stop from there. This seemed very long to me. Longer than I had intentionally wanted it to be. Also I'm sorry if there were any misspellings or if some of my sentences were grammatically incorrect. It's very late and I'm extremely tired with heavy eyes. But the main reason, if prodded, would definitely have to be that I just feel very uncomfortable having to re-read anything that I've written, be it a poem, novel or just plain prattles. I don't know whether this is just me but it really unnerves me every time, it just gives a cringeworthy feeling but much worse and the unpleasant kind. Anyways I'm sure you'll all wiz through some of it any ways and just get on with the conversation points haha. Oh and I was thinking of maybe changing the title of this story?! I don't know. Hah I seem to have a very indecisive mindset at this current moment in time, I hope this phase will pass, maybe it's because I'm tired, too tired. Any ways let me know your thoughts. Until next time. Ja ne~
Thank you for reading, feel free to comment, favourite, follow or all of the above ^.-