Chapter 18: You're Something New
Mila's eyes were screwed shut, holding desperately onto Ren's torso, her face buried in his back.
Her heart was racing. She was pretty sure they dropped her stomach somewhere between the store and the first stoplight… and she was sure her breakfast was going to join it soon with how nervous she was getting.
THIS WAS NOT AT ALL HOW IT WAS WHEN I RODE ON DAD'S BIKE! HE HAD A SIDECAR!
"You okay?" He called over the wind as he weaved through traffic with ease.
"NEVER BETTER!"
"Good, because we're here." He chuckled.
Ren's motorcycle slowed to a stop as he rolled up to their destination.
He took off his helmet, before looking down at Mila.
"You can open your eyes now."
"Okay, awesome. I wasn't sure." She cleared her throat. "I-I'm fine."
Ren raised an eyebrow.
"Never said you weren't… Was this too much?"
"No, noooo." She laughed nervously. "No, this is great."
"Why are your eyes still closed then?"
Mila slowly opened her eyes before they widened in shock.
Ren grinned, taking a step back, waving his arm with a flourish.
"Ta-da…!"
Standing before them was a tall, massive building made up of gold and red, with a bridge leading down it from the street. Fog trailed out from the water features on either side of the bridge.
Mila nearly fell off of the bike when she realized where she was.
"N-No way… Uh, Ren, this place is super expensive and-"
"What?" He chuckled, shaking his head. "No, no… It's mine."
"Hah!?"
Ren took both of her hands, helping her up, offering his arm to her right after.
She hesitated before taking it, following after him.
Ren's eyes narrowed, though the smile never left his face.
Their footsteps echoed on the wooden bridge as gentle music flowed out from within the building.
Mila was dumbfounded, looking around her perplexed. Her mind was racing, trying to catch up with what her eyes were looking at.
Mila turned to Ren before looking up at the massive Inn.
He couldn't have been serious, right? No way!
"You're kidding me."
He laughed a little.
"No, I'm not. Sakura Ryokan is my business."
Mila's jaw dropped.
"I know you said you owned an Inn but a LITTLE heads up would've been nice!"
He stopped short, frowning a little.
"Would that have made you rethink it?"
"What!? No!" She huffed.
She huddled closer to Ren as a few women in long, flowery kimonos walked by them.
She looked down at her outfit, with its cloudy skirt and the artificial raindrops that freckled her skin from her arm bands' holo sensors.
I'm so underdressed…
Her face flushed with embarrassment.
I should've picked something else, this is humiliating-
"You know, I'm glad you didn't mind the way I was dressed." He chuckled sheepishly, breaking her out of her reverie.
Her head snapped upwards, baffled.
"Hah?"
"I look more like a punk than a Master Innkeeper right now." He smiled, rubbing the back of his neck. "Truth be told, I wanted to bring you here because the spring menu is so good and the eatery outside has okonomiyaki as its spring special.."
He wondered for a moment if perhaps this was a bad choice.
She probably wants something better from me…
Mila's face burned as she buried it in his arm.
Oh gosh his arms… They feel nice too…
Focus, Mila, focus!
"Well, let's get a move on then." She mumbled.
Ren perked up before leading her inside, where they were greeted by several staff members.
"Welcome home, Master Kanno!" They chorused, relieved that he was back so soon.
The front desk manager was giving him a harsh glare, looking him up and down.
"Yes, I see you decided to go with that…" He sighed.
Ren smiled, though it didn't reach his eyes.
"Yes and I brought a date home, so please, welcome her kindly."
"Yes, Sir. Welcome to Sakura Ryokan…"
"T-Thank you." Mila mumbled.
Ren nodded before taking off his boots, exchanging them for sandals.
Mila did the same with hers before he helped her to her feet.
"Let's get you fed now, hm?"
"Y-Yeah."
The winding hallways of the Inn were colorful as they walked down. She noted a few of the screen doors having large illustrations of spider lilies covering them.
"Do you like spider lilies?" She frowned.
Such a sad flower…
"My aunt did… and I admit, I've grown fond of them too. I do want to grow them."
Mila bit her lip, nodding a little.
Why, though?
She loved MOST flowers but there was a very good reason why she refused to grow spider lilies or sell them at her establishment.
Ren looked back at her.
"I know they carry some rough meaning but I really love them. They're beautiful and resilient. You have to admire them."
He's cute but I gotta judge him a bit on this…
"I suppose so… So, that's what you wanted me to special order?"
"Ahaha… I still don't know. Maybe. We haven't had luck growing them at all… they always died." He frowned. "It's weird…"
Mila shook her head.
"No. It's the soil. Shuggazoom's soil has high alkaline levels and that kills spider lilies. They're not really that resilient…" She looked up at one painting in particular…
A man surrounded by them, holding his blade up, the flowers almost consuming him as if they were flames, twisting around his arms and legs, trying to drag him down, his gaze terrified as he looked down at the flora.
She shuddered.
His aunt liked this stuff!?
Ren hummed in thought.
He hadn't considered that. He looked back at her with a warm smile.
"I didn't know that. Honestly, I thought I just had a black thumb." He laughed.
Mila smiled, shaking her head.
"Not at all. It's hard to know when you first get here how plants react. We'd have to put down special soil just for the plants. It'd add to your installation cost but the flowers would thrive."
Yet here I am breaking my own rule…. Maybe just one order.
One.
ONE order then no more spider lilies.
"We'll discuss it after lunch." He winked.
"Yeah…"
It wasn't long before they were seated in one of the tea rooms overlooking the gardens in question.
The tatami mats under her were a comfort as she leaned back on her seat with a small sigh.
Everything was so familiar, yet so foreign.
"So…" Ren cleared his throat. "You… really okay with all of this?"
"Huh?! Yeah! What'd make you think otherwise?"
"I thought you might've hated this."
"No, no." Mila sighed, rubbing the back of her neck. "Ren, you gotta understand, I've never known anything like this." She played with her ponytail a little.
She wondered how Chiro's date was going in comparison.
"Well, I hope to spoil you more then." He winked. "Now, shall we?"
She smiled, nodding a little.
"S-Sure."
"Do you like sushi?"
Mila's eyes lit up.
"I'll take that as a yes."
It wasn't long before they were served as plate after plate was laid out on the long table before them.
Ren wasn't even baffled, he just smiled at the stunned look on Mila's face… and the way her eyes lit up as she looked over every dish.
Even on Earth, the luxuries in front of her, was something she never had before.
"Oh WOW!"
"Eat as much as you want."
"You mean that!?"
"Absolutely!" He laughed. "I ordered it for you, silly."
"Eheh?"
They both put their hands together.
"Itadakimasu."
Mila picked up her chopsticks, digging in with a gusto.
Aaaaaahhh I'm gonna have to keep this one!
Ren chuckled.
"You like it?"
"Love it!" She grinned.
"The head chef will love to hear that. He made Jinmay some lunches for Chiro too."
"Ohhh lucky kids." She giggled. "Hope they're having fun too."
"Yeah… Gotta say, still not used to her being interested in dating." Ren grinned sheepishly. "I feel like I'm supposed to be against it but… She's happy so.."
"Nah, I get it." Her gaze softened. "You still catch yourself thinking she's still a little kid and then get a big ol slap in the face with reality, right?"
He nodded, sighing a bit as he took a sip of tea.
"Just a touch. I work hard for us both but I feel like I make a lot of mistakes." He grimaced. "Parenting's hard."
Mila sighed heavily.
She knew that feeling all too well.
"Trust me… If there's anyone who gets that feeling it's me."
"Oh?"
Where do I even start?
Monkeys.
Evil skeleton creatures busting my shop.
Monkeys.
Evil skeleton obsessed lady beats the tar out of me.
Freakin MONKEYS.
My shop windows get busted and Chiro's suddenly a mc'freakin magical boy….
FREAKIN MONKEYS.
She exhaled slowly.
"I could tell you stories."
He leaned over, propping his chin up, a wry grin coming to his face.
"Do tell, do tell."
"Well first off, he's a great kid, don't get me wrong, barely actually gives me any trouble… but ho boy when he does-"
"You wanna just scream?"
She groaned.
No, more like if I thought I could, it'd be two tickets to the space port, living out of a van and starting a rice farm! Far away from all this insanity!
"You don't know the half of it. There was this time he and his maniac friend decided to go urban exploring and teach themselves parkour using StarTube."
Ren cringed, his grin disappearing as horror etched itself across his face.
"He didn't."
"He did."
"Mila, Mila, GREAT timing!" His friend said, trying to stay in front of her, his violet eyes apologetic. "Look, there's a perfectly logical explanation-"
"Can it Cas. Where the HECK is my-"
She looked down at a hole in the ground.
Chiro was laying at the bottom of it.
He waved up at her.
"Hi."
"ARE YOU KIDDING ME!?"
"Nooooo!"
"Yeah! He went SPLAT! You?"
"Jinmay's never given me that much trouble… Honestly, most of my problems was trying to balance kendo and running her to lacrosse practice." He cringed.
"Kendo eh?" She smirked.
He lifted his head higher, pride in his eyes.
"17 years I was champion of my high school's kendo club when I was still there."
"Oooo, he's cute and he can kick some serious butt." She grinned. "I like that."
His face burned bright red, stammering nervously.
HOW IS SHE DOING THIS!?
His heart was racing as he tried to focus on his food.
"S-So um… yeah. Jinmay's never done anything THAT crazy. At least… Not that I know of…"
"Honestly, I've done worse than Chiro. I'll take stupid crap in an abandoned building or the woods over the stunts I pulled when I was an edgy teenager."
He cringed anew.
"Oh, you have no idea…" He grimaced.
She smirked.
"What? Could it be the young master who has some secrets of his own?"
"H-Hey!" He laughed. "Not really, I just made some mistakes too. I'm not perfect." He took a bite of sushi, looking out at the gardens.
"Really?"
He let out a long sigh, throwing his head back.
It was so humiliating to even contemplate he hadn't even fully processed it yet.
"You're gonna think it's stupid and by association, that I'm stupid."
Mila smirked.
"Can't be that bad. Lay it on me. What's it like being the rich heir to a big fancy place like this?"
Ren looked around to be sure no one was about to come in, even going as far as to get up and open the door looking around before closing it.
He sat down, leaning over the table, his gaze darkening.
"They won't let me do anything for myself anymore!"
"What!?" Mila laughed. "Oh no, what a shame to have to be waited on hand and foot-"
"No! No, it's worse!" He shook his head, his eyes growing wide. "Mila, when we lived in Osaka, I managed my parents tiny Inn and we had maybe five guests at any time. It was easy to deal with, I could also cook for them and so did Jinmay. We managed!"
"And?"
Ren groaned, running a hand down his face.
"They won't even let me cook for myself anymore. I have to bribe the girl at the eatery out back to let me cook in her kitchen if I want a snack!"
Mila sputtered, clamping both hands over her mouth.
Ren's eyes narrowed into a warning look.
"Don't laugh."
"Okay." She snorted, clearing her throat. "How bad?"
"Okay so, we were closed a couple of weeks ago for a day and we decided to throw a little staff party. Y'know, food, some of the really good sake, that kind of thing, yeah?"
She nodded, raising an eyebrow.
Ren's voice lowered into a hushed tone, glancing over his shoulder anxiously as if one of the staff members was going to burst in any minute now.
"Aoi! Is there anything I can do?" Jinmay asked, her eyes glimmering with excitement. "Please let me help?"
"Oh uh… Well Lady Jinmay, I don't think I quite can…"
"Please? Please?"
"Okay, you can help me with actually making the sushi. Sounds good?"
"YES!"
Ren poked his head into the room, pointing to himself.
"Anything I can do?" He asked with a bright smile. "I'd love to help!"
The girl cringed.
"Oh, Master Kanno I uh… Maybe you can wash the rice?"
He grinned, hurrying over and taking the pot into his hand.
"Yes! Finally, something I can do-"
"YOUNG MASTER! YOUNG LADY!"
Jinmay and Ren both groaned as the front desk manager burst into the room.
His eyes were blazing with fury and disgust as he snatched the pot of rice out of Ren's hands.
"How dare you! Making the master wash rice…"
"Akatsuki, I'm a grown man and I've cooked for myself since I was Jinmay's age!" He pleaded.
"Nope. I will handle this." He started to walk away.
Ren's eyes widened at the sheer disrespect before chasing after him.
"H-Hey! I wanna do it!"
"NO!"
Mila couldn't hold back anymore as she busted up laughing, falling backwards onto the tatami mat.
"PFFFTAAAAHAHAHAHA!" She shrieked with laughter, hitting the floor with her hand.
Ren's face melted into one of sheer displeasure, huffing.
"Told you not to laugh!" He tried to stifle a snicker.
"You're not even allowed to wash rice!?" She wheezed. "What are you allowed to do?"
"Dress myself." He groaned. "Train Jinmay with self defense and practice kendo… Oh and ikebana but I'm terrible at it."
That did it as she laughed harder, tears brimming at the corner of her eyes.
"OH MY GOSH!"
He chuckled, crossing his arms, as he leaned back.
"Yeah… it is pretty stupid."
Gosh her laugh is adorable…
I can't believe I said all that…
Mila giggled, sitting up and wiping at the corner of her eyes, her shoulders shaking with mirth.
"I can't believe that…"
"Believe it. It's my every day."
"Wanna trade? I'll be glad to take all that spoiling off your hands." She grinned.
He laughed.
"Who knows?" He smirked, gesturing dramatically towards the gardens. "One day, this too may be yours, loud intrusive employees included!"
Mila hummed in thought.
"Hm, I mean there would be perks… You're really cute and nice… and Jinmay is a total sweetheart." She shrugged. "I really can't see the downside here, Ren."
Ren's eyes widened as he turned bright red, looking away bashfully.
He drummed his fingers on the table, though she didn't notice it.
"You really think I'm cute?"
"Yeah?" Mila giggled.
"W-Wow…"
She grinned, her eyes gleaming.
He swore his heart was trying to escape his chest with that look.
"Ren, I mean it. I wanna come back here again."
"Maybe I could get you a room here and you and Chiro could have a little vacation from all the stress. Sounds like he puts you through a lot."
She busted up laughing anew.
"Oh, ohm let me tell you-"
Her phone started ringing, the starting riffs of her favorite metal song beginning.
Ren raised an eyebrow, frowning a little.
"Who's calling you?"
Mila scrambled for her phone, nearly dropping it onto the table before finally answering.
"Hello?"
The phone line let out a crackle before a voice came through.
"This is Antauri."
Her eyes widened before she narrowed them in annoyance.
She was already picturing it.
Something broke into her shop windows.
Or this was the fateful call Chiro was asking her to cover for him about.
This better be good…
"Antauri!" She exclaimed, her voice oh so cheerful despite the coating of ice around her words. "So good to talk to you but now is really not a good time! Can you call back later?"
"No, now is in fact a good time. We require your presence back at base to deal with a… problem."
She narrowed her eyes, rolling them so far she thought for a moment they might just pop out and roll down the street.
"Is Chiro safe?" She asked, taking a deep breath.
Please don't let this be one of those "He got hurt" calls…
"He's on his way back."
She bit her lip, already guessing that something went awry somewhere in the minutiae.
"Listen, Antauri, this is a really crappy time. I'm kinda busy-"
"Kinda busy?" He asked, exasperated. "I don't think you're too busy for this. We… need your specific area of expertise."
"Oh my gosh, Antauri, spit it out NOW, I'm on a DATE!"
Ren grimaced at the volume.
"Are you okay?" He whispered.
She held up a finger, closing her eyes, pursing her lips together tightly, mentally counting down.
She usually didn't mind getting calls asking for help in regards to Chiro's upbringing but this was one of the times she genuinely hoped she didn't have to get involved. At all.
After all, she had warned him that if it came down to it and he got in trouble, she wasn't going to try to get him out of it.
Though now it was backfiring on her and interrupting HER date.
"Is this just one of those romantic holidays? Because Chiro informed me he had been on one as well." Antauri asked. "And it comes back to this issue. He's been missing all day and didn't tell us where he went."
She groaned, putting a hand to her face.
Don't say anything, don't say anything to incriminate yourself…
She exhaled sharply.
No.
She couldn't let this one go. She just couldn't.
"Alright, that's it. We're discussing this when I get back to base and I'm gonna be angry now! This is over his date?"
"Mila, he lied and I cannot let that slide-"
Mila growled, slamming the table in front of her.
Ren jumped, bewildered at the sudden shift.
"Seriously!? There is no reality where this is THAT important that you five ADULTS can't handle a kid for at least two more hours. I'm not going to come rushing home. You figure it out until I get there!"
"Mila, I…" He sighed.
She laughed, shaking her head, floored that she was even having this conversation right now.
Seriously? She thought. I let my brother move in with you guys and you can't handle the first teenage rebellion?!
She exhaled slowly.
"No, no, no Mila this or Mila that. Mila is busy. Goodbye and see you later-"
A loud alarm blared in the background as Antauri let out a small gasp.
"What the heck is that!?"
"The threat alarm. Stay where you are. We'll get this under control and discuss this later."
"Oh!" She laughed, shaking her head in disbelief. "The conversation we're gonna have isn't even remotely gonna be close to what you think it is!"
"Just stay put."
"Ahaha… Good try." She hung up, exhaling slowly.
She could worry about finding creative ways to throw Antauri off the robot and make it look like an accident later.
Now, it was time to shift into gear.
Because her brother was still out there and something was heading their way.
Ren's gaze was full of concern as he reached across the table, taking her hand in his, rubbing his thumb over her knuckles.
"Are you okay? That sounded pretty bad."
Heat rushed to her cheeks before she shook her head.
"No!" She pinched the bridge of her nose. "I'm gonna kill Antauri later!"
Ren tilted his head, scrunching his face up.
"Who's Antauri?"
"One of five pains in the butt. It's a long story." She got up, letting go of his hand. "I'll tell you later."
"What can I do to help?"
Mila bit her lip.
Like it or not, as much as she personally wanted to avoid Ren getting involved…
His sister was with her brother.
"Can I borrow your bike? I'm gonna go get Jinmay and Chiro."
Ren's face fell into one full of concern.
"Can I ask you a favor then?"
They started to head out as Ren ran into one of the staff members.
"Master Kanno, there's alarms blaring outside!"
"Activate the shields and tell all guests to head to the lower level." He called over his shoulder.
Mila swallowed hard.
"So much for a good first date, huh?"
"I'm gonna ask one thing… I have to protect this place too. If something gets past those shields.."
A chill ran down her spine as she pictured it…
Dead roaming the halls, finding the lower level… attacking innocent people…
She swallowed hard.
"You're seriously trusting me? What if I can't.."
Ren pressed something into her hands.
He gave her a gentle smile, pressing his head against hers.
"I have no doubt in my mind, you'll do great."
Her face burned but she grinned confidently as she held up the keys to the motorcycle.
"I'll make ya proud."
"And we'll make up for this."
Mila ran out, grabbing Ren's helmet on her way out, a katana strapped to her back.
This was the craziest thing she had done…
Yet, as her heart raced with adrenaline there was something else stirring…
I wanna do this again…
Minus the trouble…
And minus Antauri interrupting me!
Oh, his life is OVER when I get my hands on him!
