.: Usagi :.
I turn the radio down, but continue to hum along to "Let It Snow" as I drive down the straight roadway, focusing on the street signs. My GPS indicates my turn is coming up, just on the left. My heart rate spikes when I spot the signage for Oakhouse Apartments. I flick on my blinker and squeeze my fingers around the steering wheel. Going to meet a total stranger about living in her apartment has me a little on edge, but I'm at my wits end after staying in an extended stay hotel for the last two weeks.
Taiki Kou, my co-worker, is supposed to be with me to make the introductions with her cousin. Sadly, kids have a way of throwing plans out the window as evidence by her sick toddler who keeps her at home. However, she's assured me that she called her cousin and that the other woman is expecting me.
My move has been a little more last-minute than I've hoped, but there is no way I could have passed up this job opportunity. Doing it right before the holidays also makes me sad, especially knowing I won't be able to go home and be with my family. But the positives outweigh the negatives. It's a boost for my career, and it doesn't hurt to get some different life experiences along the way.
Not having a place to call home royally sucks, but between relocating to a whole new city and starting a new job, finding a place to rent has been put on the back burner. Paying over two-hundred thousand yen a week has me quickly burning through my savings that I don't really want to spend. Not to mention living out of my suitcases has me out of sorts and feeling unsettled. Even if staying with this new person will be temporary as well, it will be in a more permanent living place—a place more tangible and will help to center me.
The neighborhood is very nice, everything uninformed and manicured. Some of the homes have decorations up, which helps to make me smile. Lights draped over small bushes, or wreaths hanging on their doors. One even has their garage gift wrapped.
"See, bright side, Usa. There's always a bright side," I murmur to myself as I drive down the narrow street, trying to find the complex.
At twenty-five, living with a roommate isn't my first choice, but beggars can't be choosers. Well, too choosy since I politely turned down Taiki's offer to stay with her. She has a toddler and partner to deal with. I don't want to impose on her family, at least that's what I told her. But really, the idea of sharing a room with a three-year-old is not my ideal living situation. Taiki's Plan B was to offer up her cousin.
"You have arrived at your destination," the robotic GPS voice informs me.
The apartment complex, Oakhouse, is a lot more modern looking than I've been expecting, it's made up of mostly metal and glass. Very upscale, I realize while gnawing my lower lip worriedly. I park my car in the tenant's parking lot, kill the engine, and take a breath. I flip down the visor and adjust my reindeer antlers with the red-and-green bells dangling from them to make sure they're straight, then rearrange a few of the blonde curls that frame my face and smile to myself.
This is going to be good... No, it'll be great! I like adventures. There's joy and happiness to be found in all new things, and this is just another one of those moments in life.
Properly motivated, I exit my trusty Honda and head for the multi-story building. Once inside the lobby—which is very sleek and pristine—I take the elevator up to the fifth floor. Breathe, Usagi. Just breathe.
When I'm outside of apartment 32A, I find myself frowning at the lack of Christmas decorations. Not even a wreath? But I'm quick to remind myself that it's still early in the month—maybe she'll put one up later. Even better, maybe it will be something we can do together. A team building exercise of sorts that will get us on the road to a beautiful friendship!
"You're getting ahead of yourself." I do a little shake to free my wayward mini daydream and push the doorbell.
No answer.
I push it again.
Still no answer.
Crap. I check my phone to verify the text message to make sure I have the right address and apartment and even the right time. As I raise my hand to knock on the door, it swings open and I'm met with a very annoyed woman on the other side.
"Yes?" she snaps.
If her striking good looks aren't enough to disarm me, her less than friendly welcome sure as hell does. Her full lips are pulled into a tight line and her cerulean eyes scream irritation. Maybe I have the wrong place...?
"Hi, yes, I'm Usagi. Usagi Tsukino. I'm looking for, uh...Seiya Kou?"
"You found her, but I don't know you. So, what do you want?" Her voice isn't exactly deep; it has more of a husky undertone. Like a bedroom voice, but better?
The attractive woman in front of me scowls deeper. I can see the family resemblance between her and Taiki. The refined features in the mouth, nose, and cheekbones. However, unlike her cousin, Seiya has long, pale raven hair secured in a low ponytail. Multiple piercings decorate her right ear, while the left only has one.
She uses her body to block the entrance with one arm on the door jam and her hip pressed against the other one. A clear "you're not welcome here" message. I swallow the dryness in my throat. The hostility is unexpected from the person I'm maybe going to be room-mating with. Voices filter out from behind her. Maybe this is a bad time? Maybe she has company and I'm disturbing her.
"Erm, Taiki sent me. She said that you were looking for a roommate... But, if this is a bad time, I can always come back."
Realization dawns on her face as she slowly tilts her head and looks me up and down. Her gaze lingers on my headband. If the twist of her lips doesn't showcase her displeasure, the way her eyebrows shoots up when she lays eyes on my "I believe in Santa" t-shirt sure does.
"You?" she asks with a clearly sarcastic laugh, all while stepping aside. "Come in." Seiya turns and walks into her apartment without waiting for me to enter.
I quickly cross the threshold and close the door behind me. The foyer—if you could call it that—separates the living room from the entry with a white wall, see-through built-in shelves. They look like a great place for Santas, snowmen, or maybe an angel or two considering she doesn't really have much on it but her car keys and a plant that looks more dead than alive.
Around the divider opens to the large living area. A black leather sofa dominates the space with its L-shape design. In the middle, a glass coffee table, and on the wall hangs the largest flat-screen TV I've ever seen. It has to be over seventy inches. Beneath it sits a console table that holds two gaming systems and other electronic components. It's nice, but not exactly homey. More like a bachelor pad than anything, and, like outside, totally void of any holiday decorations. But still way better than my hotel.
My potential roommate, or landlord—I'm not sure how exactly this is going to work since it's her place—picks up the remote off the table and pauses whatever show she's been watching, then plops down on the sofa, sitting with legs crossed and one arm draped over the back, staring up at me. Seiya is on the taller side, towering over my measly five-three frame, and beneath her white button-down I can see the slight muscles in her arms. The rest of her outfit consists of loose fitting khakis and her house slippers.
"You going to sit, or what, Odango?" she asks, making a jab at my hairstyle.
I bite my tongue, clutch my bag, and take a seat on the opposite end, at the very edge of the cushion. Her intense stare, and what I hope is just her resting grimace face, isn't entirely welcoming. In fact, Seiya is downright unnerving. Taiki didn't say anything about her cousin being so...moody.
"Your place is nice," I say, glancing around at the décor.
The area is neat, so that's a plus, but the dull color palette could use some livening up, but I keep it to myself. It would be rude otherwise, and I don't do rude. At least, not out loud.
"Um, Taiki mentioned that your last roommate just moved out, or left a little while ago—I'm not sure. But, when she found out that I was living out of my suitcase, after she got through scolding me on my bad decision making, she decided that she would be the one to help me find a place. Her place is a tad crowded, so then she mentioned you because of your roommate leaving, and that you needed a place—I mean, I needed a place, and you had a place... So, here I am! ...Maybe. I don't know." I press my lips together and wish a giant whole would just open in the middle of the floor and suck me in.
I know I'm rambling, but whenever I get nervous I do just that. And the woman across from me, who speaks very little, while staring at me like she has x-ray vision and can see my insides, makes me so damn anxious.
After a few seconds, what might be considered a smile shows up on her face. It isn't exactly friendly, or warm, but it's something different than the frown she's had this whole time.
"Taiki is always trying to be...helpful," Seiya sighs, rolling her eyes. "My cousin means well, but she also doesn't listen to me half of the time. Because, what I actually told her is that I don't need another roommate. I like my space, but she insisted that I should help you."
I swallow again. Great. Just fucking great. No wonder she's so hostile! She doesn't want me here. Yet, here I am, without any other options. At least, in my head, because in person I'd probably end up being the one to apologize and say that this isn't a big deal when, in fact, it's a very big deal.
I stand. "I—I'm very sorry. I'll go. I thought... Whatever, it doesn't matter. I'll figure something else out."
"Hold up, Rudolph... Though, I guess with the way you're trying to run outta here, I think Dasher would be more fitting." Her gaze goes to my reindeer headband and the painful looking grin she had earlier turns into an almost genuine one as she is most definitely making fun of me.
"Let me give you the nickel tour."
I adjust my antlers. I refuse to let Miss Grumpy get to me. I love Christmas—it's my absolute favorite holiday! Since I was child, I've always felt this time of year holds such magic and wonder. From the decorations, to the caroling, and the cooking. Not to mention the cookies! And the occasional snow.
"This is the dining room, but as you can see, it's actually my gaming station. So, no big meals are ever had in here," she says as we round the wall from the living room.
In the middle where a wonderful dining table should be is instead a desk with two large monitors and an oversized computer tower that glows red. How much gaming does this woman do? She has both the Xbox and the PlayStation in the living room, plus the computer setup. Everyone has their hobbies, and I guess there are worse ways she could spend her time..
"Kitchen and sunroom here. We'll have to figure out groceries, meals—stuff like that. I don't cook, so it shouldn't be much of an issue."
The kitchen area isn't exactly large, but it's nice with dark granite countertops, light gray cabinets, and stainless steel appliances. The sunroom is a bright, yet empty space. As we head back down the hall, she indicates to one door being a closet and another the half-bath. I make a mental note as I follow her down another hall that veers off the main one.
"This will be your room," she informs me as she opens the first door to the left.
Seiya doesn't move so I have to squeeze past her, brushing up against her warm skin. Goosebumps pepper my arm from the contact, but she doesn't seem bothered at all. I peer around the room and realize how nice it really is. But empty. There isn't a bed or dresser, which means I will have to buy furniture. I know I'm already imposing, but having some basics would be helpful since my furniture is in storage... Beggars can't be choosers, Usagi.
"You'll have your own bathroom, so you shouldn't bother me. And I won't bother you. My room is at the end of the hall."
She points in the direction, and though I'm tempted to peek out to see, it means having to squeeze past her again, so I stay put and nod.
"I really don't want to impose. If you weren't looking for a roommate—"
She holds her hand up and I clamp my mouth shut. "It's fine. Taiki said this would only be temporary. Gave me a whole song and dance about you being new in town, and overpaying to stay at a hotel. Y'know, I'm the oldest between us two, but she's one hell of a mother hen."
I bite my lip to keep from grinning too hard. "Thank you for letting me stay, Seiya. You have no idea how badly I wanted to get out of that place. It's noisy and, honestly, going back at night makes me nervous. And it's way more expensive than I think it should be... Which reminds me, how much is rent?"
Another one of those not-quite-a-smile smiles appears on her face. And she's probably laughing at me and my rambling again. "Ninety-thousand yen sound fair?"
I nearly jump in her arms to hug her, but catch myself just in time. "Oh, my God, seriously?! That's it? Are you sure? I don't want to under pay you." I want to do a happy dance. Seiya Kou can laugh at me all she wants because staying with her will save me a hell of a lot more money, and her apartment beats staying in that damn hotel.
"I wouldn't have leased the place if I couldn't afford to live in it on my own. So, yes, ninety-thousand is fine. Now, I guess you need a key. Follow me."
Again, she walks off and I dutifully follow her down the hall to where she indicated her bedroom is located. I stop at the doorway, nervous about entering her private domain. The walls are a soft gray, similar to the paint in the kitchen. A low profile, king-size bed dominates the main wall. Like the living room, this space has minimal furniture. And she isn't into color at all. Black, gray, and white makes up the entirety of her palette.
She heads over to the nightstand that seems to be floating and is probably attached to the headboard. It's hard to tell from here, but I've seen those types of bed frames before. I consciously try not to follow her body's movements—the way she moves does something to my insides that I don't particularly like.
When Taiki talked about her cousin, I imagined someone more like her. However, the surly woman who gives off serious stud vibes is an unexpected surprise. I have a weakness for that type.
No, stop. I mentally scold myself for even going down that path. Plenty of women like the low maintenance hairstyles and to dress androgynous. That doesn't mean they like women. And forget liking women, from Seiya's attitude, I get the feeling she doesn't like people at all.
"Afraid I'm gonna bite you?" she asks when she turns to see me still in the same spot.
I quickly shake my head. "It's your room, and I'm already invading your home. I want to be a good roommate and respect your space."
"How considerate of you, Dasher. Here ya go."
She holds the silver key out to me and my fingers brush across hers as I take it. Unlike when I squeezed past her getting into what will be my room, this touch seems to get to her as she quickly withdraws her hand away.
Forget disliking people, I'm pretty sure Seiya Kou simply dislikes me.
But she's letting me stay, so I'll count that as a win.
A/N: I just love Seiya, if you couldn't guess lol.
This story will be a short one—maybe ten chapters? I have them all outlined and even have the first three already written. I will try to be posting a new chapter every weekend (fingers crossed I can accomplish this).
Please keep in mind that this story is AU. Also, Usagi is 25 and Seiya is 26.
Let me know your thoughts!