A City Story, Day 4

[Zinna]

Mandi

"Hello. Hi. Um...thanks. How...how did you find me?" Mandi hesitated. "Where are my manners? Won't you come in. It must be freezing out here."

[Cytherea]

Shawlin smiled.

"Uh, sure." he walked into the front room and rubbed his hands together. "It is cold out there." he looked around her house. "You've got a really nice place here." he looked down at her and smiled again. "How'd I find you? My job... well, it helps me with things like these. Not specifically returning lockets, but returning other things."

[Zinna]

Mandi

"My job... well, it helps me with things like these. Not specifically returning lockets, but returning other things."

"Oh, well thank you again. Won't you like to meet my mother? Just don't mention meeting last night. Sh-she dosen't like parties too much, much less letting me go and spending too much time at them." Mandi lied. "Mother! Can you come down please? I have someone for you to meet."

[Cytherea]

Shawlin saw a middle-aged woman coming down the stairs. She looked pleased, until she saw him.

"Mandi, who is this? When could you have met him? You're not allowed out of the house. Who is he?"

"Er, my name is Shawlin, Mrs....?"

[Zinna]

"Mrs...?"

"Mrs Jras. Now I ask you again Mandi where and when did you meet this young man?"

"I...um...I meet him...um..."

"Don't stutter Bramanda! Answer my question."

[Cytherea]

"Don't stutter Bramanda! Answer my question."

Bramanda? She said her name was Sam... that's just depressing.

"Mrs. Jras," Shawlin said, casting a meaningful glance towards 'Sam'. "I met your daughter yesterday. My name's Shawlin Hynour."

[Zinna]

Mandi

"I met your daughter yesterday. My name is Shawlin Hynour."

Mrs Jras glared at Shawlin, "Very nice to meet you young man. Now," turning to Mandi, "where did you meet Mr. Hynour."

"Mother, why I'm not allowed out of the house!"

"Don't avoid my question Bramanda!"

"And why avoid mine!" Mandi's face was bright red.

"We don't want you to be subjected to the horrors of the world. It is safer in here," Mrs. Jras was at the point of tears. "We just want to keep you safe."

"But I'm seventeen. Can't I at least go to parties?

"So that is where you went. Mandi..." Mrs. Jras looked at Shawlin, "Did she behave herself at the party."

[Cytherea]

"So that is where you went. Mandi..." Mrs. Jras looked at Shawlin, "Did she behave herself at the party."

"Uh, yes ma'am. She... behaved."

Except for the lies... so many lies...

"But Mrs. Jras, if you'll forgive me, I didn't mean to intrude into your home. I was just returning her locket that she accidentally left behind. But, what I'm asking, is... well... how long is she going to be cooped up in here?" he raised his hand. "No, that's not the right question. When is she going to be... free?"

[Zinna]

Mandi

"When is she going to be... free?"

Mrs. Jras stiffened, "It is none of your business Mr. Hynour. Bramanda needs to focus on her education, but...I will begin allow her to occasionally visit certain people and go to certain parties if and only if she keeps up with her studies, has an escort, and Mr. Jras agrees."

"Oh thank you Mother!" Mandi hugged her mother tight.

"You better invite him to dinner after all the trouble he went through to give Grandmother's locket back," Mrs. Jras whispered to Mandi before she went back upstairs.

"Shawlin...would you like to come to dinner tonight?" Mandi looked up into his eyes.

[Cytherea]

"Shawlin...would you like to come to dinner tonight?" Bramanda looked up into his eyes.

"I'd love to." he said with a smile. "I think I've got the day basically off since the school burned down..." he shook his head. "Anyways. Did your mother say that you needed to focus on your education? I'd be more than willing to help you with your studies. I'm a qualified teacher."

[Lithium]

Cheiko laughed. "I'm sure they'll love it. We ate some pretty weird things as kids, I remember." She sighed. "I haven't visited my family in a long time. I've been looking after Missy. It'll be nice to see them again."

[Cytherea]

Jason

Jason smiled. He wasn't sure what she meant by, "It'll be nice to see them again", but he didn't worry over it.

"My parents died in an accident like the Titanic a few hundred years ago. There's a bit of history that's preserved for ages to come. So many people died... then, and then also a few years ago." he shook his head, trying to think of something else to talk to her about, but he couldn't find anything. "My brothers are basically the only family I've got left. I'm like father, mother, and brother to them."

[Zinna]

Mandi

"I'm a qualified teacher."

"Oh, Mother says that I need to learn more. I am actually finished with my schooling, but I am finished with all my studies. I am working on skills now unless you can do French cooking and can teach the proper way to be the head of the home. Again where are my manners? Would you like to do anything until dinner? I could give you a tour of the house or introduce you to our vast library? We could discuss topics for you book?" Mandi was trying to get his mind off of last night and the lies. She nervously smoothed her ancle-length dark green long-sleeved dress.

[Cytherea]

Shawlin

"That would be awesome. At the university I used to go to," he looked up at the ceiling, carefully trying to make her avoid the question, "which university?". He'd have to respond, "Why, the famous one that only a few special people are ever allowed to attend." He didn't like to boast about his very, very, very expensive education. "I read all the books in the libraries there. There were a... a few libraries in that university."

[Lithium]

"Oh," Cheiko said softly, feeling a drop in the pit of her stomach, like she had said something wrong. "I am so sorry."

She looked away, then took his hand. "I'm getting hungry. How about we go grab lunch now?"

[Cytherea]

Jason

Jason felt his heart rate pick up as she took his hand.

Normally I don't feel like this. I don't feel so... excited, I suppose, when anyone else grabs my hand. What is with me?


"I'm getting hungry. How about we go grab lunch now?" she said.

"Sure." He felt like an idiot, but he didn't know what else to say. He managed an embarrassed smile and then squeezed her hand. "Now, how's about we make our way to Robyn street?"

[Lithium]

"Absolutely."

Cheiko kept her hand relaxed in his as they walked down the sidewalk towards Robyn Street.

Me. Holding hands with a Royale! She smiled to herself.

They continued on their way and soon came to an elaborately decorated Japanese food restaurant, with its title in Japanese characters.

"Welcome to Sonoda House–––" The teenaged girl at the door stopped and looked at Cheiko.

"Cheiko? Is that you?"

"Mai!" Cheiko let go of Jason's hand and wrapped her arms around her little sister. "It's been so long!"

"It really has. You'll never guess. Hotaru is engaged! The wedding is next week!"

"What? Really! That's great."

"Lucky for you, she's not here right now."

"Huh?" Cheiko asked. "What are you––"

"You know as well as I do that she hates your guts."

Cheiko shrugged. "Oh."

She felt her joy wilting and she pulled her arms close to herself.

[Cytherea]

Cheiko shrugged. "Oh." She pulled her arms to herself.

"Ur..." Jason was completely lost, but he knew how to contain his curiosity. So why couldn't he now? Normally his sentences flowed together, but he felt almost immobilized now. He ran his fingers through his hair. "So... you know her?" he said, pointing towards Mai. He waved and gave her a friendly smile.

[Lithium]

Mai laughed. "Yup. Since I was born. She's my sister. Can't you see the family resemblance?"

"Be nice, Mai," Cheiko said sharply. "You're talking to a Royale."

"Oh!" Mai's eyes widened. "I'm so sorry, Sir. Please, accept my apology."

"Are you normally disrespectful to Subterreans?" Cheiko asked.

"No," Mai shook her head. "I treat them all fine. But..." She shrugged.

"I'm sorry I'm late," said a cool, masculine voice from behind Mai. "But I'm––"

"Hi, Takeo," Cheiko said quietly. "It's been a long time."

"Yes, it has Sonoda-sama," he said. "Now, is it table for two?"

Cheiko almost winced at his formality. She tried to see some kind of emotion in his vibrant green eyes, but there was nothing. It was like the fires had died.

"Yes. Table for two."

[Cytherea]

Jason

"Hi, Takeo," Cheiko said quietly. "It's been a long time."

"Yes, it has Sonoda-sama," he said. "Now, is it table for two?"

"Yes. Table for two." Cheiko said.

Jason thought he sensed a tight emotion between the one called Takeo and Cheiko. He shrugged, though, and walked into the restaurant. It was a nice place, especially for Subterria. He turned and looked at Cheiko.

"So, your family runs this place?" he said with a reassuring smile. He wanted to take her hand again, but refrained himself.

[Lithium]

"Yeah," Cheiko said, trying to eliminate the distraction she was feeling. "My dad and Takeo's dad started it together when they were young and needed a way to support their families. I wasn't born yet, and neither was Takeo. But, anyways, they started in Subterria and their food became so popular, even with Royales–– probably because this is one of the only Asian restaurants in the city area–– that they were able to move to an abandoned Japanese-style house and, voila. You see the prosperous business as it is today. Only the family works here. The women and younger guys work as waiters and greeters, and the adult men work back in the kitchen. They're the only ones who know how to make the food, besides the moms, of course."

They took their seats near the waterfall koi pond and Cheiko looked into it. "Oh! They still have our koi! I'm glad Hotaru didn't kill mine. It's that big silver one. Hers is the gold one with the red spot on its head."

[Cytherea]

They took their seats near the waterfall koi pond and Cheiko looked into it. "Oh! They still have our koi! I'm glad Hotaru didn't kill mine. It's that big silver one. Hers is the gold one with the red spot on its head."

Jason couldn't help but notice the word 'kill'. He raised one eyebrow slightly.

"Is Hotaru one of your siblings?"

[Lithium]

"Is Hotaru one of your siblings?" Jason asked her.

Cheiko looked back at him, the smile falling from her face. "Yeah. She's my oldest sister. I'm 2nd born, so I'm just a year and a half younger than her. We don't get along very well any more."

Mai came bounding up to their table and set down a menu and then said, "Papa says you and your date can have your meal for free, as long as you come back to the kitchen to see him afterwards."

"That would be great, Mai. Tell Papa thank you for his kind offer."

"I will. Now, would you like to start out with an appetizer? I can highly recommend the shrimp tempura."

Cheiko looked to Jason. "Whatever you want to get."

[Cytherea]

"Whatever you want to get." Cheiko said.

Jason picked up the menu and his mouth started to water. He'd always loved Japanese food, and he was glad that he could understand most of what was on the menu.

"How good is the Yakitori and the Gyoza here?"

[Lithium]

"The best in a fifty mile radius. Possibly in all of OnNa," Mai said with a grin and a wink. "So, an order of both?"

Cheiko nodded. "I'm game. I haven't had Japanese food in a long, long while."

She smiled at Jason and she felt butterflies in her stomach as she studied his face.