Efflorescence
by Autumn Win-Dow
Chapter Twenty-two: Put Yourself Last
"How long will you be staying?" Mikan asked Ruka one afternoon as she poured him a cup of tea, which he graciously accepted.
Ruka pondered for a brief moment. "I'm not too sure, I wanted to stay here permanently, but Mother urges me to return to Paris as soon as I can. I'm at crossroads about this."
"But why would you want to stay in Japan?" She asked him in slight splendour, "France is a beautiful place with delicious food, or so I've heard. Why wouldn't you want to live in Paris?"
"Nostalgia, probably... I've lived in Japan for almost two thirds of my life, so it's quite colonised my way of thinking-our traditions differ quite greatly to the French."
She would have had no doubts on his good health if it wasn't for his rare hesitations and his fixation on the small dent in the wall. His grip on the tea cup was weak, and his face was flushed.
"Ruka, are you okay?"
He was still submerged in his strange reverie.
"Ruka? Are you listening?"
Her second call finally helped him snap back into reality, as he ran his hand through his head and shook his thoughts away. "I'm fine, Mikan. So, what was our topic?"
Unable to erase her suspicions, Mikan immediately leaned forward and placed her hand on his forehead; the sudden contact made him flinch.
"Wha-what is it?" He stuttered in surprise, and was one step back in trying to repress the heat in his face.
Mikan immediately stood, ignoring basic geisha procedure, and pulled him up with her. "You're sick, aren't you?"
The question greatly placed him off guard. "Wh-what?"
"You're ill, and you didn't tell me."
He was absolutely flabbergasted at her random conclusion. "I don't know what you're talking about!"
Mikan puffed her cheeks as she forced his arm over her shoulder and pushed the door open, leading him out of the ochaya. "That's just like you, Ruka, to hide what you're feeling for the sake of others!"
"Mikan, that's you, not me!"
"Balderdash!"
"Why are you using such a word on me?"
"Because I can, now let's get you to a doctor."
He pleaded that even if she was right, that he was sick-which he knew he wasn't-that he wouldn't have to go to the doctor to get it cured. That some honey and ice would suffice. But instead Mikan chose to ignore him and drag him through Central Town.
As she pulled him along, she found herself slowing in her steps. Right in front of her were the gates of the building which she once feared more than anything else-and since a few years ago, had become restricted territory.
The school, which she could guess that he was the current dean.
Mikan gripped Ruka'a sleeve and sped up.
"What's the sudden hurry-"
It was too late, though she hasn't known it. As she breathed a sigh of relief, a man paused in his steps at the sight of the brunette geisha.