All right...
Seamus is a 3 year old Norwegian forest cat.
Hitomi's mother owns an Umbrella Cockatoo named Papi-chan
Hitomi's father owns an Irish Wolfhound named Ryoma
Nikudzukinoyoi means fat (pretty much). I don't speak Japanese so please forgive me if this is wrong
P.S. While you read the second portion of this chapter it might be helpful to listen to the song Gymnopedie #1 by Erik Satie. It really sets the mood.
--
Chapter 27
--
I walked up the stairs to my room, dragging my feet. My shoes were in my right hand. There was a big scuff mark on them.
Well that's what I get for dragging my feet...
I had ruined many pairs of shoes over the years. I opened the door to my room and flicked on the light. I sat on my bed and tossed my shoes into a corner.
I wonder what's for dinner...
Snort
What was that?
I opened my closet. Nothing except for clothes. I walked over to my desk and opened 1 of the drawers. Nothing but paper, pens and... a single strand of blond hair. I picked it up.
Who do I know that has blonde hair?
I shrugged and tossed it aside.
Snort
There it is again!
I knelt next to my bed and lifted up the comforter. There was something under my bed. Something with brown eyes and a wrinkly face. The thing darted forward and licked my face. I grabbed it underneath it's front legs and dragged it out from under my bed. "It" was a fat, brown pug. He stared at me with a stupid look, his pink tongue hanging out of his mouth. He had a ribbon tied around his neck, the words Love, Denjiro written on it.
"Oh you've go to be kidding me."
The pug licked my face again. He panted at me. I set him down and stood up. He scratched at my legs, ripping a hole in my tights. I glared at him.
"Nice job. Get away from me." I said angrily. He obviously didn't get the message. I sighed and sat on my bed. He jumped up on it and sat down next to me. I looked at him.
"You're ugly." I said to him. He licked my face.
"And fat." I said. He scratched his ear, as if to say 'You're fatter, you can't even touch your leg to your ear'. I scratched his head.
"You aren't so bad."
What should I name you? I can't name you Seamus, I already have a Seamus.
I pondered while the dog nibbled on my uniform. I snapped my fingers and looked at him.
"Your name is Nikudzukinoyoi"
He looked at me.
"Niku for short."
He snorted. I untied the ribbon around his neck.
"You like it? It suits you."
My intercom buzzed. I stood up, walked over to it and pressed the red button.
"Yes Svetlana?"
"You have a guest. A Morinozuka-san."
Mori? What does he want?
"I'll meet with him in the family room."
"Yes Ma'am."
I quickly got dressed into normal clothes. I motioned to Niku.
"Come on Niku."
He refused to budge and I groaned. I walked over to my bed and grabbed. I held him belly up and he started panting. He was pretty cute; I couldn't help but like him.
"You are such a little shit."
--
I walked into the family room and shook my head. Svetlana had cleared the room of all it's furnishings except for a small table and two of the parlor chairs in front of the French doors. Tea and cucumber sandwiches had been set out. Mori was sitting in one of the chairs, hands folded in his lap. He looked out of place, as he always did, among such delicate things. I set Niku down on the floor and he immediately made his way towards the deck. I sat down in one of the chairs. Svetlana had set out the good tea set, the blue and white one that was hardly ever used.
"Hello Mori" I said. He nodded at me.
"This is quite the pleasant surprise." I said politely. I felt myself lapsing back into my etiquette school days. I usually did when drinking tea English style. I took one of the delicate sandwiches and took a bite.
"So why the sudden visit?" I asked. He handed me my socks. I took them.
"Thank you." I said. I picked up the teapot and poured myself a cup. I brought it to my mouth and took a sip. I pursed my lips.
Not enough sugar...
I opened up the sugar bowl and put three cubes of sugar into my cup. I could feel Mori's gaze on me. I looked up at him.
"The tea's going to get cold."
He snapped out of it and poured himself a cup. The teapot looked fragile in his hands, like it would break if he gripped it too hard.
"I hope you don't mind Darjeeling." I said. "We have Earl Grey if you don't like it."
Mori just shook his head. He poured milk into his tea. I took another cucumber sandwich.
"So, how have you been recently?" I asked. The silence felt awkward.
"Fine" he said. I took another sandwich. Niku laid down next to my feet.
"The sandwiches are good. You should try some before they get soggy." I said. He took one and ate it. The wind blew softly and the scent of lilacs flooded the room.
He didn't come here just to give me my socks...
I looked at him. Mori really was quite handsome, in a casual sort of way. His tie was loose and the top button of his shirt was undone. He was the only person in the Host Club who wore the tie that way. He was gazing out at the lake, deep in thought. I noticed that his nose was slightly crooked, I felt guilty for ruining such a nice face.
"So why did you really come here?" I asked. He looked at me with a puzzled expression.
"The socks were an excuse. You could have just given them to me at club. There were many opportunities." I said. Mori looked down. I sighed and looked out at the lake. The grounds were quite beautiful, even if the lake was man made. Mori sighed.
"I wanted to give you something..." he said. I looked at him. Extended, over the table, was a bouquet of pink paper roses. I blushed and took them.
"Thank you." I said, holding the roses in my arms. I looked down at them. The roses were nice, folded out of pink paper and attached to plastic stems. My eyes welled up with tears. I wiped them away with my hand. No one had ever done sweet things like this for me, at least, not since I was very small.
"And... I wanted to ask you..." he said quietly.
I looked up at him.
"Would you like to go out with me sometime?"
--
I actually blushed while I wrote this. Please, review and tell me if you think this is too sudden...