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Once again, Ritsu was at a loss.
This time, it wasn't about his financial issues. This time, it was about his favorite employer ever, Aaya-kun himself.
The silver-haired man had been acting oddly all day. Earlier, he had dismissed Ritsu for four hours to he could go visit Yuki. Since he had returned, the snake had hardly spoken. His eyes held a faraway look in them. Ritsu had been trying to no avail to find out what ailed the poor man, but Ayame wasn't (Surprisingly) in a talkative mood.
"Aaya-sama," said Ritsu quietly. "Are you feeling okay?"
"Of course!" said Ayame, smiling a dull version of his usual vibrant grin. "I'm fine!"
"You seem tired," said Ritsu. "Eto... If you need me to, I can finish this hem for you, if you'd, you know, like to rest or something."
"Arigatou, Ritsu," said Ayame. "But I'm fine."
"Okay," said Ritsu. "If you say so."
Ayame nodded absently and proceeded to prick his finger with the needle in his hand. He didn't even notice until Ritsu gently tapped his shoulder.
"Ano... Ayame-kun?" he asked shyly. "Your finger is bleeding."
Ayame looked down, only to discover that his cousin was telling the truth. The hem now had three or four spots of blood on it.
"Gomen, Rii-kun," said Ayame, smiling weakly. Ritsu just darted over to the box of medical supplies and dug around until he found a band-aid. Once he had one, he darted back to his cousin and got down on his knees, taking Ayame's hand gently and unwrapping the bandage to apply it to the wound. Ayame smiled softly at Ritsu and was filled with the desire to hug the other man.
"There, Aaya-sama," Said Ritsu.
Ayame smiled again. But then his face was filled with a troubled look.
"Ritsu," he said quietly. "If I were to go away for a long time, would you miss me?"
"Of course I would!" said Ritsu. "You're my boss."
Ayame's face fell. Clearly that wasn't the answer he was hoping for. Ritsu hit himself menally for upsetting his cousin.
"Ayame-san," he said. "Are you going on a trip?"
"No," said Ayame. "Just asking."
Ritsu wanted to do something. He wanted to embrace Ayame. He wanted to tell Ayame that he would be missed. He wanted to offer support. But instead he just nodded.
"E-eto... Aaya-sama," he said. "Um... If you ever have anything to say, feel free to say it! because, ano... I'll listen. So, uh, if you're upset then you can say so. Because we're... friends."
Ayame seemed to brighten at those words. "Don't worry, Rii-kun," he said. "Just pondering aloud."
'pondering what?' Ritsu wondered.
"Okay, everyone," said Ayame, standing up. Miine and Ritsu both turned to face him. "I have an announcement."
Ritsu put down his sandwich. They were all on lunch break.
"I'm going...," here Ayame paused for dramatic effect. "A weeklong trip to a fashion convention!"
This news produced mixed results. In his chest, Ritsu's heart fell. Ayame was going away? One his face, Ritsu pasted a smile. So that's what he'd meant with his question the other day.
"Oh," he managed. "Well... That's good! have lots of fun, Ayame-san."
"When is boss leaving?" asked Miine.
"In two days," said Ayame. Ritsu's heart fell even further. So soon! But he nodded anyways.
"Well," said Miine. "I guess I'll go visit my parents then."
"I'll go visit mine, as well," said Ritsu. "They don't know I've finally found steady work." And truth be told, Ritsu really wanted to tell them.
"Well then," said Ayame, clasping his hands in front of him. "Everything's arranged. I can now go on vacation knowing you two are in good hands."
Ritsu and Miine nodded.
"Ritsu!" cried his Mother. "You've come for a visit! What a nice surprise!"
Ritsu smiled and clutched his bag a little closer. "Yes, Okaa-san," he said. "I came by to see you all. I'm on vacation while Ayame is out of town."
"Ayame-san?" asked Ritsu's Mother, looking puzzled.
"Yes," said Ritsu, taking a deep breath. "I work for Ayame-san. He offered me a job when my old work fired me. I'm very grateful to him. He's off at a convention now, though, so me and Miine-chan have the week off."
"I see," said Ritsu's Okaa-san. "I hope you haven't burdened him."
"No, Okaa-san," said Ritsu, his heart constricting painfully in his chest. When would he ever be good enough?
"Good boy," said Mrs. Sohma, finally allowing herself to smile. Ritsu relaxed a bit. Maybe this wouldn't be so bad.
Ayame looked over the kimono carefully. It was green silk, with a small bow tied in back. There was a pattern of golden leaves falling all over the kimono.
"This is very skilled," Ayame admired.
"Well," said the girl holding the kimono up for a full view. "You're only as good as your help!"
"As a dressmaker, I can relate," said Ayame.
"Oh, really?" asked the girl. "Do you have a lot of assistants?"
"Two," said Ayame. But they're both very hardworking. They're each visiting their parents since I'm away."
"Oh," said the girl. "Are they terribly young?"
"The youngest is a college-aged man named Ritsu," said Ayame. "I want to buy this for him. He loves to dress up, you see. And he looks absolutely fabulous doing so! I've already bought mine a cassette series she's had her eyes on, so I thought I'd bring him back a souvenier as well!"
"Ah," said the girl. "Well, I think this kimono would make a good gift. It's durable and long-lasting, and I designed it to reflect the seasons of the year. This one is spring and fall. I have another one that is red with silver leaves. It is supposed to be summer and winter."
"May I see that one as well?" requested Ayame. The girl nodded happily and trotted off.
'I wonder if Rii-kun misses me...,' thought Ayame absently.
"What is working for Ayame-san like?" asked Mesho-san. (Ritsu's Mother.)
"It's very nice," said Ritsu. "He's terribly kind to me and offers me many things. I'm paid fairly and treated very well."
"I see," said Mesho-san. "How had he been?"
"He's fine," said Ritsu. "He's gone to a special fashion convention, so I thought I'd come visit you."
Mesho smiled affectionately at her son. "Is the work hard?"
"No," said Ritsu. "Ayame is very thoughtful, so the hours are flexible as well."
"That's nice to hear," said Mesho. "Tell me, Ritsu, have you found anyone?"
"'Found anyone'?" asked Ritsu, confused.
"I mean, do you have someone you like?" asked Mesho. "If so, I'd love to meet them."
Ritsu turned bright red.
"Eto... No, I'm afraid I haven't found such a person," he said. "I-I hope to someday, though."
"I'm sure you will," said Mesho-san, leaning on the screen door next to her for a moment. "And you'll get married under a blossoming sakura tree, like your Father and I."
"That sounds nice," said Ritsu wistfully. "And there'll be benches with cushions so you can rest if you need too."
Mesho smiled peacefully. "You're a good son," she murmered to Ritsu. Ritsu smiled happily.
The door to the shop opened with a flourish, revealing Ayame standing in the doorway.
"Welcome back, Boss-san!" cried Miine-chan, prancing out to the front of the shop.
"Miine-chan," said Ayame, genuinely surprised. "What are you doing here?"
"Me and Ritsu both came back a little early," said Miine. "So we figured we'd get some work done to surprise you."
"Ayame-san?" came the shy voice. Ritsu stepped into the room, wearing the same golden kimono as before, even with a pair of traditional sandals on his feet. "Is that you?"
"Rii-kun!" said Ayame. "Miine-san! This is such a nice surprise." Miine-chan beamed at the compliment, and Ritsu smiled one of his rare genuine smiles. Ayame's heart lifted.
"What's that in the bag, Boss-san?" asked Miine-chan, eying the brown paper bag Ayame held in his arms.
"For you," said Ayame, handing it over to Miine. She looked inside and squealed.
Ayame glided over to where Ritsu stood. He removed a bag from where it rested, hooked to his arm, and handed it to Ritsu with a flourish.
"For you," he said. Ritsu looked surprised.
"O-oh," he said. "For me? You shouldn't have, Ayame!"
"But I did," Ayame beamed.
Ritsu gently opened the bag and reached inside. His fingers met... soft silk? Immediately, his expression turned to wonderment as he lifted out a beautiful red kimono with a pattern of silver leaves.
"Oh, Ayame-san," he breathed, awed. "It's beautiful."
"I thought you'd like it," said Ayame. "It reminded me of you, somehow."
"Arigatou gozaimasu!" cried Ritsu. "I very much appreciate this gift, Ayame-san. Thank you!"
"Of course, Rii-kun," Ayame said. He beamed at his cousin.
'Really, Ritsu has a beautiful smile!' he thought. 'Someone as beautiful as him should have more confidence.'
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Abscence makes the heart grow fonder, ne?
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