Rain

[Mizukami Ayumu]

a wet flower bows.

"Let's go, then."

He would begin walking as soon as she would. Even if she had not said he would be coming, he would have... unless she had insisted that he not accompany her. Apparently, she was demanding his continued presence. That was familiar, if there was anything else familiar with this situation.

The stand was just a few steps away, and the car ride would probably take a short time, as well... he had been happy with her comeback, but she might be exerting herself too hard. "You're sure you'll still be carrying that?" queried the white-haired boy, referring to the other half of Fuukami's purchase. She might be using up her energy too quickly.

He moved quickly, although he slowed down at times so that the girl could keep up. While he said nothing about hurrying, he was in a cold sort of panic. The sooner Fuukami-san reaches home, the better. Maybe he was overreacting... Fuukami-san seemed a lot better now than when he had seen her getting wet... but he reasoned it was better to err on the side of caution.

[Fuukami I. Iryna]

"Oh, this?" I glance at the bag I'm still carrying with my right hand. "Yeah, I'll be fine with this. You just need to hold onto that umbrella until we get in the car."

Thankfully, there's one cab readily available for us at the stand, so standing there and waiting is not necessary. We quickly jump in the car, apologize to the driver for bringing excess moisture to the seats, and tell him the address. He doesn't seem to mind much though. In fact, he even teases my sidekick a little, something about "escorting the hapless young lady home". This boy... is not my knight in shining armor, but somehow I just want him to be one for me. The armor doesn't need to be shiny though, as long as he's there.

[Mizukami Ayumu]

He entered after her, locking the car's door shut. He allowed the bag he was carrying for Fuukami to rest on his knees. It looked like... assorted groceries; Fuukami must have been buying something, he realized.

He let her ramble on; he had begun this, he would finish this properly. He would have volunteered to pay if he had the money, but alas, Fuukami seemed to be always equipped in that aspect.

"Fuukami, you tell the driver where to go." he requested, hoping that the girl was at least coherent enough to give instructions to her dwelling.

Being able to walk to a place and then riding a car to the same place can be very different things, and Ayumu wasn't a modern-day genius navigator; and he'd only been with her to that... that modern-day palace, once. If she can't, the extent to which he could give directions would be up to those... gates, the gates that lead to the rich people's places. Or maybe he would be forced to bring her to his home. His little sister would have a field day.

He really wanted this over as soon as possible; he didn't want Fuukami-san developing pneumonia or something.

[Fuukami I. Iryna]

"Yeah, yeah, I already told him the address. I'll tell him which way to go when he asks. I'm not a primary school kid, you know." I try to make a comeback as usual, but somehow, I'm not mad at him at all. Once the car starts to move: I realize one thing must be done. "Oh, I'd better call home" Thankfully, the phone is still functional, protected by my sealed jacket pocket. Mama's probably very worried now, and wonders what could have happened to me. I need to get the gate open when I arrive, too, as the rain has no signs of letting up right now.

Mama really is a worrywart, and I can already picture her face when I hear her voice on the line. I manage to give her a brief explanation and promise her a more detailed report later. She's always like that, and constantly tells me not to overexert myself in my training.

I wonder whether Ayumu is bothered by the driver's teasing comments (about a knight escorting a lady home) though. It's hard to tell from that unchanging face of his. Still, if he's always be there for me when I need him, then he really is my "knight" after all. A loyal servant who is constantly devoted to his master.

[Mizukami Ayumu]

Belatedly Ayumu noted the driver joking about his relationship with the small damp girl; he now had time to think of such things... it was not like there was much more he could do in the situation besides praying that things would be all right.

He had done what he could; he regarded the cabbie's teasing with a thoughtful face, saying nothing. It would have seemed wrong otherwise to leave her alone, although perhaps, if he had not been feeling particularly meddlesome, he might have not started this series of events in the first place. Or was it just being meddlesome? Or the duty of being her sidekick, however silly it had seemed? He had not even bought her demands completely.

Was it supposed to mean something, to help someone of the opposite gender? He definitely did not feel like how he felt with Furukawa-senpai with Fuukami-san... but he definitely felt compelled to help her. It puzzled him, these whims that he obeyed, as if they were not his.

He turned to admire the cascade splashing themselves across the closed car window, even as their rented vehicle sailed smoothly across the road, through familiar places partially obscured by weather and by nightfall. Fuukami was talking with her mother over the phone; that was good, perhaps he can go off right after dropping her off. It would certainly give him more time... more time to think about just what he was doing.

Maybe he should see her next practice in the rink.

[Fuukami I. Iryna]

Despite the unexpectedly heavy rain and limited visibility, the vehicle swiftly and steadily towards our destination. Thanks to the car's internal heating system, I've felt a little better, even though my body still trembles from time to time. I'm just like a towel which is just out of the washing machine, waiting to be dried.

This rainy weather still give some rather interesting sights, like how droplets of water on the windows run horizontally when our vehicle runs at high speeds, how the numerous raindrops look like a curtain from afar, or even how big a splash this car can make.

After entering the large gate that I ordered to be open beforehand, the sedan finally stops in front of the mansion. Thankfully I still have enough cash to pay the jovial driver. Once we get out of the car, Katsura-san the head butler immediately rushes to my side. Once I tell him that the boy standing next to me sort of helped me out, the middle-aged man thanks him in the usually formal way, complete with a bow, and invite him into the mansion. I try to persuade him to do that too:

"Well, the rain is not going to end soon, why don't you... stay here for a little while... and be our guest?"

[Mizukami Ayumu]

The inside of the estate... even if it was not yet the inside of the mansion... even in the darkness and the pouring rain, was silently majestic. Silhouettes of trees and bushes arrayed the path that their ride took, from the gate to the door, and here and there were lanterns, illuminating the way; the mizture of light and water made for a spray of sparkle.

He had seen this from afar once, and now, while not in perfectly clear vision, near. He wondered how one so blessed with such treasures could be miserable... but then again, all who live have their problems. One gifted with finances might be lacking in something else, but he did not dare presume.

They slowed smoothly to a stop. A man who looked like he was as old as Ayumu's father greeted them at the shelter of the entrance, and thanked him for looking out for their 'lady'. Was he some sort of dignified manservant? He wondered if such grandeur, such service, was needed.

He had wanted to go off as soon as possible, but it had not been he who had paid for the car, and so he cannot ride it back... well, he could, and then ask for money from his parents, but that might be too extravagant, and if he asked more from Fuukami, he'd feel like a freeloader. Then his elder, who had introduced himself as one Katsura-san, and Fuukami herself, had invited her to stay awhile. He did not like refusing people's invitations; he wondered if it was genetic.

"Uh... thank you... I guess I will."

He reached for his phone from a jacket pocket, and upon checking the screen saw that he already had two messages. His family was probably worried about his usual stroll being too long. He sighed, and gestured toward his mobile.

"I'll just... tell my parents where I am." he meekly informed the two, even as he tapped a reply to his father and mother's concerns. He slowly followed the two to the inside... a lit place, where he was sure to see... more luxurious things, he guessed. The situation felt a bit stuffy for him.

[Fuukami I. Iryna]

The three of us proceeds into my family's residence. Compared to the stereotypical lavish mansions frequently shown in fiction, my place looks more simple. Just walls painted with bright colors, wooden doors in various sizes, large glass windows to fully utilize natural light, and some generic landscape paintings here and there. After purchasing this estate from its previous owner, my father didn't want to spend too much money on "unnecessary" decor, and focused on furniture instead. I heard from Mama that he has a thing for high-class wooden furniture, and chose them very carefully.

After going through the main hallway and up the large staircase, I request Katsura-san to guide him to a guest room, while I go back to my own to get changed. I still have to reassure him that I will be fine alone, though.

I take a look of myself in the closet's mirror once I'm back to my personal space. Man, I really look like a mess, getting soaked from head to toe, and my clothes (except my jacket) cling firmly to my body. This looks so embarrassing. Heat starts to rush to my face while I'm wondering whether my sidekick managed to get a glimpse of my body in this state. Then, I hurriedly grab a new change of clothes, and rush to the bathroom.

[Mizukami Ayumu]

He felt guilty over thinking that the place was overly grand; it had struck him with its size, but now, inside, it seemed, while spacious, simpler. Having a great and extensive dwelling did not necessitate gaudiness, it seemed. The lad muttered a silent prayer of apology to the house, both literal and metaphorical, of Fuukami, for his assumptions and apprehensions.

Still, the high ceilings, the walls that spread dauntingly, the floor that rolled on and on, the wide panes that, perhaps, if it had been daytime, sunny, would have let light shone, but now contained the vision of obscure, billowing clouds... all these dwarfed the boy, who had not expected to see the innards of this foreign palace. It felt like something he should have prepared for before he saw it. He wondered how the small Fuukami-san could bear such lonely space.

The butler lead Ayumu to a room styled much like the first room, only slightly smaller, though the white-haired boy's addled senses weren't completely sure. The pink-haired girl he was 'escorting' had gone off, and now he was mostly waiting. Katsura-san, with courtesy that embarrassed him just because it was directed to him, asked him if he would want some refreshments, and in a daze, he nodded.

He wondered how he was supposed to be feeling.

[Fuukami I. Iryna]

After standing in that rain, I'm in dire need of hot water. Lots of hot water. After enter the spacious bathroom with my change of clothes, I adjust the water temperature of the shower to be as warm as my body can handle, strip out of my soaked clothing, then step in the tub.

At least, I can get more relaxed and compose myself after taking a shower like this, or immerse myself in the elegant-looking bathtub.

Then I think about that boy again. So I already made him go to my house. What's next? Shall I invite him to our dinner, maybe even stay the night? That... can be used as my gift of gratitude, but I doubt he will accept that, though. He doesn't look like the curious type, and since we still don't know much about each other, will he accept this kind of invitation? And furthermore, even though Papa's going to be late tonight, he'll definitely have questions about that guy's presence.

Still, if the rain's still not going to let up soon, it will be very hard for him to come home at this time, since his home is probably very far away from here, and he will be soaked even with his umbrella. Ah, what should I do? Another problem is that Mama, and probably the house workers too, are curious about who is the boy escorted me home. Ah, what should I do... I stand still under the warm water streams, completely lost in thought. I hope Katsura-san can keep my sidekick company for the time being.

[Mizukami Ayumu]

tick, tock.

He knew that she would probably take long in refreshing herself, but it did not mean he can stop himself from being jittery. Things tend to drag on while one was waiting, and women often take longer with fixing themselves in the bathroom, in the lavatory, than the members of the other gender, of his gender.

The man who went by Katsura came back promptly, and with the most dignified of demeanors brought him a cup of steaming tea. For some time the beverage managed to keep the boy from idleness. It was not like he could consume it so quickly, considering its temperature, and he had its flavor to think about. There was also a message from his father and his grandparents, chastising him a bit for doing something so unpredictable in so late an hour, and asking him what time he could possibly come home.

But even while he pondered on these much simpler topics, his mind floated back to the events that lead to him coming here, how now he was not so sure just what connection he had with Fuukami-san, or at the very least what she thought 'sidekick' was. The girl had seemed distressed, but it was a riddle to him how she trusted him so quickly with her sentiments, nebulous as they were.

He wished he had brought some paper and a pen, even if they would have turned a little wet. It would have helped slow down his racing mind.

[Fuukami I. Iryna]

After finishing my warm shower, I grab a towel to dry myself up thoroughly. Cannot leave any wet spot now, or it will probably take a toll on my health.

Aside from that, my mental state rather questionable. My head feels really dizzy. I can feel spiral shapes forming inside my mind. What an "eventful" day.

Now that I think about it, I can't believe... I can't believe I let myself be so defenseless like that. And I hugged my slave out of the blue. Instinct, or whatever it is, what did you do to me? It was like a hidden personality inside me that I don't know about just activated on its own back then. If I was a boiler, I could have steam coming out of my ears right now.

He's... he's my slave, my servant, my sidekick. But I did something so unsightly and shameful with him, with my clothes being virtually transparent from getting drenched too. Somebody just kill me right now!

And I even fantasized about him being my "knight", too...

Argh, it's so embarrassing! I feel like those lovestruck heroines in various shoujo manga. What is this, some kind of a romance TV series?

I have to make it clear to him. I have to make sure that he does not misunderstand anything. That incident is caused by my subconscious mind, nothing more.

After putting on new clothes, I come out to proceed towards the guest room, and knock on its door.

[Mizukami Ayumu]

It seemed like so many minutes, and he was halfway through the consumption of his drink, that a small, sharp rap startled the Mizukami.

It called the attention of the composed Katsura-san, as well, his eyes regarding the door, and with a certain ceremony opened the door, revealing the daughter of the house, freshly arrayed and lacking her earlier mishaps, aesthetic or otherwise.

For a moment he only looked at her; it was a little funny that he had thought so much about it, but in the end, he could not think that much of what to say, of what would be appropriate to say.

"Welcome back." he joked.

In a way, perhaps he would have been more relieved if it had been someone else who had knocked. Perhaps a family member, a mother, a father, somebody who could discuss the situation with him, somebody who was not the person herself. It was sort of embarrassing...

Then again, it had come to this; his other possible scenarios did not seem too feasible, anyway, with the lack of people inside the mansion, notwithstanding Katsura-san.

Perhaps he should let her explain herself; he had only been reactive to her sudden advances... there was not much he could explain about that.

He stilled a knee that had been bouncing, a foot that had been tapping.

"So... you're okay, now?"

[Fuukami I. Iryna]

I step in the room, receive a cup of tea from Katsura-san (which is exactly what I need right now: my favorite Earl Grey tea), then settle down on the chair across my slave/sidekick. This conversation has to be private, so I turn my back towards Katsura-san and dismisses him:

"Katsura-san, thank you. Would you excuse us for a while?"

After the dutiful butler exited the room, I take a sip from my cup of tea, trying to take in the soothing smell of bergamot that I've grown to fond off. That should clear my head a little.

But how should I start this conversation. Maybe some small talk first, like him who just asked about my health conditions earlier.

"I'm probably fine now, thanks for your concern. How's the tea? This is authentic, high-quality tea from England, and brewing it is Katsura-san's expertise."

I couldn't help but boast a little about the Earl Grey, which is merely a part of my family's colorful tea collection, as the current owner of this mansion is quite a tea afficionado. Guess I take after him in this sort of thing. Everyone has the right to be proud of their possessions, after all.

[Mizukami Ayumu]

He entertained her small talk about the tea; after all, he had probably spoken in the most predictable way he could. After all, he had began with small talk, as well.

He did not know much of tea or England or how one from Russia enjoyed the brews of other countries or other things that Fuukami-san and her family might choose to enjoy. He nodded anyway; it tasted well and good. Mizukami Ayumu wasn't some gourmet critic, or whoever was it that made a profession over tasting beverages.

As for the person herself... she looked well and good, too, and she had declared herself that so, in her own words. He was definitely relieved... but he was also partly embarrassed, partly curious, and as had been mentioned earlier, confused. They had exchanged the usual pleasantries, almost as if they'd come from somewhere else, some other event that did not involve weeping and a lack of explanation.

He drank some more. He toyed with the small spoon that had come with the cup and the saucer and the tea, playing with it as if it were a pendulum for a bit until he caught himself, and thought that such antics might be unbecoming of such surroundings as he had found himself enclosed upon.

He wondered if he should excuse himself already and find a way through the rain outside; maybe it was just his imagination, but the weather may be letting already, and the Rain was his friend... and he had an umbrella too, even if it would be a long walk.

He wondered what he would do if he instead chose to stay, if he could ask her what the meaning of the things she did were... how should he begin... change the subject?

"Your place... is big."

His mouth, he swore, must have a mind of its own. A relatively small one.