Chapter 1: Something Different
Another day, another crazy bridal appointment.
The shop was bustling with activity, vases and pots flying off the shelves as the busy hours of the day wore on.
He sighed as he put together yet another bouquet of roses, baby's breath, tiger-lilies, wrapping them up in paper and tying them with a ribbon.
It was the same old song and dance as he came out from the back room to restock the rack at the front of the store and nearly got mobbed the second he did.
"UWAH!"
Chiro stumbled back, hitting the shelf behind him as the flowers were forcibly ripped from his hands. He narrowed his eyes, crossing his arms.
He hated wedding season.
Especially when it dealt with these types of bridal parties that didn't make a formal appointment and just walked in and acted like they owned the store.
It was always the same thing. Fervent brides, mothers and mothers-in-laws, who all had their own visions for the "perfect day" and Shuggazoom forbid if even a single petal was out of place.
"HEY!" A voice bellowed from the counter. "I saw that! PUT YOUR HANDS ON HIM AGAIN AND SEE WHAT HAPPENS!"
The bridesmaids and the bride grimaced, looking towards the counter.
Behind it was a woman with long black hair, wearing a pale green blouse and a dark green pencil skirt.
Her icy blue eyes flashed with rage as they narrowed.
Chiro smiled wickedly at the bride.
"Now you've done it." He snickered.
"I just wanted my order and he was moving so slow-"
"That's my brother and this is Hanamura's Botanicals, not KAREN'S BRIDAL." His sister snapped at the bride. "I'm the owner and I reserve the right to fire my clients… So… you have two choices. You pay for it and leave or you pay and leave. Need I remind you I squeezed you in at the last minute?"
"... Is there a third option where I get the rest of my arrangements?"
"If you apologize. Now."
"M-Ms. Mila, I'm sorry-!"
Chiro slid behind the counter, ducking behind his sister.
"Siiiis, they're scaring me…" He whined, resting his head against her arm, flashing her an innocent look.
Mila's glare intensified as she pointed at the bride.
"Pay me. Now. Then get out."
"I'll tell everyone-"
"Losing my patience~!"
Chiro covered his mouth, stifling a chuckle.
His sister usually was cordial and polite with nearly every client… but her limits were the very reason he was behind her.
If the owner's brother was disrespected, Mila was not going to do business with them. That was her policy and had been in place for years.
It still made him laugh to see it happen though.
He brought his arms around her, sighing heavily.
Mila's gaze softened as she looked down at her brother, ruffling his hair a bit before looking back at the person in front of her. Her softness immediately melted back into glare as she waited for the person to swipe their card. They were having a hard time getting their card out of their purse with how frantic they were. Finally, they managed to pull it out, swiping it into the card reader.
The register beeped loudly…
Chiro quickly ducked into the backroom, covering his ears.
"WHAT DO YOU MEAN FRAUDULENT CREDIT!? ARE YOU TRYING TO RIP ME OFF!?"
Yep. She's done. She's 100% done with wedding season. If we're not careful, it's gonna be the funeral season.
He made himself busy, sweeping up spilled potting soil and tending to the plants in the back room.
These ones were going to be used as fresh stock the second the bridal party was gone… though he made a note to check the greenhouse later on to be sure.
Alright, that order was picked up-
"AND DON'T COME BACK! I KNOW PEOPLE! I WILL GET YOU BLACKLISTED!" Mila's voice echoed.
Chiro shuddered.
Sometimes, he wondered if he was just lucky his sister never turned that rage on him.
"Oh, you can do no wrong!" She had once said while giving him a look full of adoration. "There's nothing you could do that'd upset me."
Hope that works now too.
He looked over his shoulder before pulling out his holo-phone, checking a map he had made of the city in one of the drawing apps. He had a big red circle around a specific area.
The outskirts of the city, abandoned by all. Prime spots for finding rare plants, lost items…
And potentially, something decent to sell or fix up.
Or a dead body. I'll accept any and all oddities the city wants to throw my way.
The boy smirked, already picturing the possibilities.
A lost gold ring I can pawn off for some arcade money…
A crystal for Mila or some new plant for the shop.
Or…
Something. Just give me something new!
He didn't mind working at the shop. Hanamura's Botanicals was the family business after all and after Mila, he was set to inherit it one day if she chose to retire or leave it to him. He was already comfortable running orders, making floral arrangements - though they were nothing in comparison to his sister's elaborate creations.
"Ichi?"
Chiro grimaced, letting out a groan.
Mila poked her head into the backroom, a look of concern on her face.
"They're gone. You okay?"
"Fine. Honestly, I just wanted them out."
"Next time, tell me you just wanna kick them out."
"Did we get paid?"
"I had to call the bride's mother but yes." She grinned. "Which means I can pick something up for you for dinner later."
Chiro's eyes widened in wonder.
"Hot pot? Hamburgers?"
"Possibly~" Mila's eyes glinted with mischief as she smiled. "Not like you haven't been working hard or anything."
"And I brought home straight A's." He grinned.
Mila squealed, rushing over and pulling him into a tight embrace.
He let out a laugh, shaking his head.
"Mila!"
"Kya!" She squealed, nuzzling the top of his head. "You're so smart!"
"Miiiiilaaaaaa! Knock it off! That tickles!"
She grinned, nuzzling him more.
"Good!"
Chiro laughed harder as he squirmed to get away, his sister quickly joining in.
"YOU'RE MESSING UP MY HAIR! HELP!"
"BWUAHAHAHA NO ONE CAN SAVE YOU NOW!"
"Haaaalp!" He laughed.
Eventually, she let go, fixing up his hair.
"Try to be safe today."
"... How-"
"I know things, Ichiro." She gave him a stern look. "And I remember the last time with Cas."
"Chiro, just Chiro, not Ichi or Ichiro, we talked about this, Sis." He cringed. "And that was one time."
No it wasn't.
She wasn't going to argue that right now though.
"I know…" She sighed, crossing her arms. "But Ichi's cuter…"
Chiro stuck his tongue out, grimacing.
"I hate it."
"I know~"
Chiro rolled his eyes, chuckling.
"Alright, alright. Now for real… how?"
"You're not as sneaky as you think." She crossed her arms, raising an eyebrow. "Just tell me where you're going." Her gaze softened. "Please."
Chiro sighed before showing her the map on his phone with a bit of an eye roll.
"Don't take it back."
Mila looked over the map, grimacing…
Truth be told, she hated his "urban exploration" phase. This had been happening for months now where he would find abandoned buildings and rush through them… and not every single one was safe.
Especially when one of his friends and he would go and run around abandoned buildings as if it was their personal playground.
Considering last week…
She eyed the bandage on his cheek.
He covered it with his hand, giving a sheepish look.
"You don't have to worry about me. I'm fine."
Mila sighed, smoothing his hair down.
"Just check in often, okay? I want you home for dinner BEFORE five. Can you do that for me?"
He nodded.
"I can totally do that. I'll be careful, I promise."
"Okay… then you can go - but ONLY if you call me the second you're on your way home. Got it?"
"Got it!"
He cheered, hugging her tightly before rushing out with a large cheer.
"THANKS, SIS! YOU'RE THE BEST!"
The broom clattered to the ground as he practically threw it in his rush to get his things upstairs.
Mila sighed, chuckling as she watched him go.
"This is what he's turned out like… Hope you two don't mind…" She said softly, looking up at two pictures hanging above the door. "He's turning out like you, Mom."
I just hope he'll be okay.
She shivered as she wrapped her arms around herself.
I feel like someone just walked over my grave… ugh…
She shook her head, hurrying upstairs as well, grabbing a bundle of dried herbs off the coffee table in the apartment.
Mila dug through her pocket, producing a lighter.
Sage.
Sage fixes everything.
oooooo
The edge of the forest was overrun with weeds and long grass. Towering, old trees loomed overhead, their lush canopy creating shade.
Some bore large red fruit that threatened to fall at any moment, warmed from the sunlight.
Chiro practically bounced on his feet as he hurried inside, the cityscape forgotten behind him.
This part of exploring was the best.
The hustle and bustle of the city fading into a hum then eventually silence as he trudged further inside, disappearing into the woods.
It was like his own private world all on its own, the overgrown vines and grass shielding him from sight.
The stream off in the distance, a low hum as he made a careful note to avoid it as he hurried past it.
Chiro adjusted his backpack as he looked around him at the scenery.
It was so still… so quiet. Not even the insects were making sound as he traveled.
He looked around, scanning the forest floor.
Gotta find something that'll really blow the last present outta the water…
"Sis…?"
Mila had her head on the shop counter, her shoulders trembling as thunder boomed outside. With each sound, she tensed up more, trying to keep still in her chair.
But it was no use, he could see everything.
He rested a hand on her shoulder as she looked up miserably.
Chiro dangled something in front of her eyes, swinging it back and forth.
A pendulum made up of a shining quartz, the lights inside bouncing off of it in rainbow facets.
Mila's eyes widened in shock, a smile blooming on her face as she turned to him.
"I swear, you are the best!" She squealed.
"I try. You were really upset about the last one going missing so… I did some digging." He grinned.
Mila sat up, bringing him into her arms, hugging him tightly.
Chiro sighed happily, bringing his arms around her.
This was the part that made all the searching worth it.
Mila rested her head atop his.
"How did I get so lucky?"
"I dunno."
He was determined to find something else to cheer her up. She was always working so hard…
Sometimes, he went through older buildings, looking for things to fix and sell for pocket change and other times he looked for things for himself. That was just the nature of urban exploration.
And other times, it was just fun and seeing how far he could push his limits with climbing through abandoned structures and swinging across them.
Things that would turn his sister's hair gray.
However, that was not his agenda now.
Today, he was determined to find something for Mila instead.
Especially after the morning she had.
He grimaced, looking over her shoulder at the chart she was following.
"That does not mean what I think it means." He said, crossing his arms. "Come on, you know better."
"I do not know better. You have way too much faith in me." Mila grinned as she looked down at her masterpiece. "This is ART!"
"What am I gonna do with you?"
"Help me make "Hope you get divorced Karen!" bouquets?"
"How bad did this one tick you off?"
"The reason is in the bouquet name. Now, hand me the orange asclepias."
"Yes, Ma'am. Anything else?"
She shoved her coffee cup across the counter towards him.
"Use your words."
"Coffee please?"
Chiro chuckled, shaking his head.
He smiled, stretching as he continued on.
He supposed, he should've just been glad that ire had never been directed at him.
At least, not directly.
For the most part.
I just have to stay outta any major trouble and bring home good grades. I got it pretty good all things considered..
He looked around before spotting a red can, abandoned in the middle of the forest.
He took a running leap, kicking it as hard as he could, cheering as it went flying, with a rattle.
"And he scores! The crowd goes wild!" He called out. "Chiro Hanamura wins again!"
Chiro laughed as he ran ahead, giving the can one more kick…
Before he tripped up as something hard caught his foot, sending him falling forward…
Hitting something cold.
And to his eyes, something he couldn't see.
He looked up, running a hand along a smooth surface… to him, nothing but forest for miles could be seen.
He knocked on the surface as it rippled under his hand.
Chiro was puzzled, as he took a step back, reaching out once more brushing his hand against it.
There was a green light under his palm, before a panel slid open revealing a corridor ahead.
Whoa…
He grinned.
Now THIS was something new.
