Efflorescence
Chapter Twenty: Nostalgic
by Autumn Win-Dow
The male fidgeted in the uncomfortable position he sat in, but he decided against shifting his legs, as he knew that his host would be entering the room soon. For the seven years since he had last seen her, he wondered how much she had changed-how much did she grow? Did her hair maintain the old shimmer it once possessed when she was a teenager? Was her usual cheer still intact? Or did the circumstances which she was forced to go through as a teenager change her both physically and emotionally?
The questions did not cease to rebound within the space which was Ruka's mind. His rather untimely visit to France had kept him away from Japan for longer than he intended, and every day for him encased him in a stupor of longing and homesickness. It was why when he finally returned to Japan, he was shocked out of his mind when he found out that his childhood friend was now working as a geisha, of all occupations.
It was a belief which he intended to keep secret from Mikan, but he had expected her to have married by the time he came back, but instead she couldn't have taken a more opposite route to what he was expecting.
What surprised him even more was that when he asked for 'Mikan Sakura', no one knew. He sat in one of the rooms of the ochama because he had merely heard of a beautiful geisha with rare chestnut brown hair, named Kurike.
Ruka was certain that it was Mikan Sakura-who else would possess the same hair colour as she?
He could feel his hands growing sweaty from nerves. He couldn't contain his worry about whether she had changed over the years, even though he was certain that he would continue to love her, no less. He could not imagine a Mikan different from what he once remembered, but he was unable to erase the suspicion that she would no longer be the same girl from seven years ago.
Damn it, Ruka, she's an adult now. She has to have changed, in some way for form, he sighed to himself, shaking his head.
He barely managed to run his hand through his golden hair before he heard the door slide open slowly-even the simple movement allowed for some delicacy and grace to be implied. Ruka's head immediately snapped up to meet a familiar pair of brown eyes-there was no way for him to deny her identity any longer.
"Huh," He barely managed to say when her eyes widened at the sight of her childhood friend, all grown up, seated in the place where her next customer was supposed to be, "I half expected you to be wearing the powder make-up that maiko wear. To think that you've already graduated... I'm glad that I can see your face sooner."
Mikan grinned at his words. "Me too. The powder was annoying."
A/N: Breaking news, Jess actually updated quickly!
I'm surprised too. Even if the two main characters aren't here, I'm planning to bring them up soon. Just need some background setting first, as usual. Hahahaha.
Reviews are appreciated! :