Ritsu had slightly calmed down by the time they had reached Ayame's store. Even so, Aaya held his arm and guided him carefully, marveling at how fragile his cousin looked. So... vulnerable. Aaya pitied him.

"There, now," said Ayame, holding the door open. He gently tugged the monkey inside, and closed the door behind him. "Welcome to my glorious shop!"

Ritsu looked up and sniffled a bit. "Oh, my!" he said. "It's lovely! Aaya-sama, you're such a success."

"Well, you can too can be, one day, dearest Ritchan!" cried Ayame. "Come in, come in." He ushered his cousin into the sitting room and gently shoved Ritsu into a chair. "Now, wait here while I go make tea." With that, Aaya skipped off, leaving Ritsu alone.

Ritsu looked around. He was in a Victorian-style room, surrounded by expensive-looking furniture. Ritsu was, to say the least, awed.

"Now," said Ayame, bustling back in. "The water is boiling. It'll be ready in about five minutes. Now, what was all that about finance issues?"

"I-I'm out of money," said Ritsu. "I can't seem to find a job, no matter where I look! Oh, gomen! I shouldn't talk so much about myself! I'm so very-"

"Ritchan," said Ayame, pressing his finger to the monkey's lips to silence him. "It's fine. You simply must apologize less. Now, you say you need work?"

"H-hai," said Ritsu. "And gomen ne."

"Well...," said Ayame, looking thoughtful. "Have you tried being a waiter?"

"Hai," said Ritsu. "They fired me after half an hour." Ayame cringed.

"Oookay," Aaya drawled. "How bout... working at the check-out of a grocery store!?"

"They wouldn't hire me," said Ritsu dejectedly.

"Oh," said Ayame. "Well... You could deliver pizza's!"

"I tried. I owed them money after I fell and almost had to go to the emergency room. I would have, if I hadn't landed on the pizzas," said Ritsu with a sigh. Ayame frowned.

"Well," Aaya stated after a pause. "Have you ever tried being a cashier?"

"I was fired after one customer checked out," said Ritsu with a sigh.

"Well, then," said Ayame, trying to seem confident. "I'm sure I can think of something." Ritsu's face fell. If his idol couldn't think up anything he hadn't tried, then Ritsu was doomed!

"I'll go check on the water," said Aaya, who couldn't bear Ritsu's disappointment. "I'll be right back." Ritsu only nodded, deep in thought.

Once Ayame was gone, Ritsu felt a wave of despair wash over him. What was he going to do?

Suddenly, the back door burst open with a flourish. Ritsu stood up curiously, and darted into the hallway to see who it was. He was met halfway by a brown-haired woman with large glasses on her face. She stopped when she saw him.

"Oh, hello!" the woman chirped. "Who might you be?"

"O-oh! Gomen for not introducing myself," said Ritsu, bowing slightly. "I am Sohma Ritsu."

"Oh! Are you related to boss-chan?" asked the woman.

"Hai," said Ritsu.

"Yay! Company! I'm Miine-chan, by the way. Just call me Miine! Everybody does, you know. Oh, you look tired! Do you want to sit down?" asked Miine, all in one breath.

"uh, I'm fine," said Ritsu. "I-if you need Aaya-sama, he's in the kitchen.

"Oh, no," said Miine. She looked weary suddenly. "I just have two dress orders that need to be done in two days. Goodness knows how I'm going to finish."

"Uh, oh, well," Ritsu fumbled. "P-perhaps I could help? I've mended clothes before, and I can do a bit of stitching."

"Oh, that would be lovely!" exclaimed Miine. "Sure! Come on!" And with that, she dragged Ritsu into a workroom and randomly began to give him instructions.

------------------------------------------------

"Tea's ready!" called Ayame, walking into the parlor. He was surprised to see that his cousin was no longer there. "Ritsu?" Aaya stepped out of the parlor, into the hallway. He could have sworn he heard... a sewing machine?

Ayame walked down the hall, towards the second workroom. Once he arrived at his destination, he peeking inside. What he saw surprised him.

There was Ritsu, surrounded by fabric and buttons and lace, holding up a measuring stick and attempting to cut a piece of silk while Miine-chan worked on sewing a pink ruffled skirt. Miine looked up first.

"Ohayo, Boss-chan!" She exclaimed. Ritsu also looked over.

"Oh, Aaya-sama," said Ritsu. "Do you need help carrying that tray?"

Ayame suddenly realized that he was about to drop the tea. Quick as a flash, he righted the tray, and then studied the scene before him.

"What are you doing?" he asked, blinking.

"Miss Miine-chan said she had a few orders to finish, and she sounded worried, so I offered to help her," said Ritsu. "I'm not being a burden, am I?"

"No, Rii-san," said Ayame. Inspiration suddenly struck him like a bolt of lightening. "In fact, you wouldn't mind watching the sewing machine while I get Miine-chan a cup to drink out of?" For a second, Miine looked confused. Then, she saw the look on her employers face. It was his 'I'm scheming something' look. So Miine wisely nodded and stepped out.

"O-okay," said Ritsu. "I'll just finish cutting this cloth. You two go ahead."

Once they were in the hallway, Ayame smiled dramatically.

"Miine-chan," he said. "Have you noticed how work seems to be piling up around the place?"

"Why, yes," said Miine, surprised. "I have noticed that. That's why I'm here on my day off."

"Well, You know what I think would help?" asked Aaya.

"What?" asked Miine, perplexed.

"Having an assistant!" cried Ayame. "And I know the perfect person. My dear cousin Ritsu-kun!"

"Oh!" cried Miine, clapping her hands together and jumping up and down. "That's a wonderful idea, boss! He's just like you!"

"How did you guess his gender?" asked Ayame, looking surprised.

"Because," said Miine. "I could tell from his voice. And the way he held the scissors. Little details like that."

"Well, You did well guessing," said Ayame, patting Miine's head. She merely beamed.

When they both got back, Ritsu had just finished cutting the fabric, and was folding it neatly.

"Rii-Kun!" cried Ayame with a smile. Ritsu looked over. "You know how you said you were having problems finding a job? Well, I just thought of one you'd be perfect for."

"Really?" asked Ritsu, eyes lighting up with hope.

"Hai!" cried Ayame. "You could become... My new assistant!!!"

"R-really?" asked Ritsu, who's eyes were now wide as plates. "B-but you can't want me. I'd be such a terrible employee! I might mess something up!"

"No, no!" cried Miine. "You were a big help to me. And besides, we really need help. I don't know what we'll do if you leave."

"H-honestly?" asked Ritsu. "I could work here?"

"Yup," said Ayame, nodding emphetically.

"We'd love to have you as a new worker!" cried Miine enthusiastically.

"I-I couldn't," said Ritsu. "I'm no good. Honestly, if I had to run this place, I'm sure it would be a pigsty! And I'm not that good at mending."

"Nonsense!" cried Ayame. "Why, with proper training, you could be almost as good as me!"

"Really?!" Ritsu asked, leaning forwards in shock.

"Hai," said Ayame. "All you have to do is agree to work here!"

Ritsu considered it for a moment. Could it be? Was he really being given a chance to be around his idol all day, and learn from the other man?

"H-hai," said Ritsu. "I-I would like to learn more, and I would be pleased if you would teach me, Aaya-kun."

"Then it's settled!" cried Ayame dramatically. "You start tomorrow."

Ritsu nodded, his head swimming. What an opportunity!

Well, wasn't that sweet?

You know what's not sweet? My lack of reviews. I'm sad. Doesn't anybody like this story? I wish they did.