A/N: This might be one of my favorite chapters out of all ten, even if it is super short. For some reason, I just love Sanjay's hair, especially in that braid of his... I really wish it didn't take so long for him to move into town in the game, because I never had the patience to woo him or Amir, even though I prefer them over some of the other bachelors. Anyway, I have just one more chapter to post after this, so thank you for reading thus far!

-CCM

009. Braiding Hair

Thin, nimble fingers swiftly twisted snow white hair into a neat braid. Rio smiled as she steadily worked on Sanjay's hair, which was slightly wavy and exceptionally soft to the touch, and smelled vaguely of exotic fruits that she could not name by scent alone. The girl couldn't help but feel a twinge of envy at the volume and unusual color of the butler's hair, and how it was even longer than her own.

"Your hair is so beautiful, Sanjay. I'm jealous!"

"Oh…!" Though she could not see his face, Rio knew he must be blushing; he was always blushing around her, it seemed. "Thank you, Rio. I appreciate the compliment."

She nodded with a small but sincere smile as she pulled a loose strand of hair back from his face, carefully weaving it into the braid. "Why do you keep your hair so long, anyway? Not that I mind it; I'm just curious."

Sanjay titled his head in thought, before realizing that he probably shouldn't move his head too much while Rio was currently braiding his hair.

"Oh, I'm not really sure..." he admitted. "It might be a bit too long now, actually, but I just can't seem to bring myself to cut it, so I always keep it in a neat braid when I go out."

Rio finished off the braid with a flourish and then twirled the silvery plait in her palms with some longing. "It really is beautiful… so long and soft! And the color of clean, newly-fallen snow."

Sanjay turned to face her, shyly reaching out one hand to inspect a lock of her golden hair, grasping it gently between his fingers. "Your hair is lovely as well, Rio. Like sunshine."

Rio smiled again, accepting the compliment with grace.

"Would you like to braid it?" She giggled. "We could have matching hairstyles."

Sanjay nodded and reached forward to pull the girl's hair back from her face, sending it cascading over her shoulders in a waterfall of gold. Silently and steadily, he began to brush the thin blonde hair and twist it into a braid much like his own, starting from the top of her head, grateful that she couldn't see the blush forming on his cheeks at her current angle.