Meet_the_parents

I'm standing looking down at the frosty gardens of Eitoku from my post at the top of the Emergency Exit staircase. My breath hangs in the air and I can feel my nose getting cold but I'd rather be out here in the cold than in there with all the fakes. I've got my coat, scarf and mittens on anyway so I'm good for a while still.

Has it really been four months since I've seen Doumiyouji?

It seems like forever, at least that's how it feels with him not being at Eitoku everyday. Mimasaka and Nishikado are still here, and so are Kazuya, Makiko and Sakurako. And Hanazawa Rui, who has become my rock over the past few months as he helps me pick up the pieces of my heart, is always there. Even so, with all my friends around me, I still feel empty.

It's funny the things you miss when they're no longer there. I miss him teasing me and I used to hate so much. It used to piss me off royally when he called me "poor girl" and now what I wouldn't give to hear him growl it just once more. But he's not here, he made his choice in New York, leaving me feeling like a fool for going after him. It still hurts when I think of how he rejected me but where there was once a sharp pain there's only a dull ache.

Hanazawa Rui.

I can't get over the difference in Hanazawa Rui these past few months. He laughs more, is more outgoing and Nishikado was telling me the other day that he's been sleeping less. Is that because of me? Is he finally over Shizuka-san? The other question, though, is how do I feel about him? The jury is still out on that one, and might be for a while. I feel serene and cared for when I'm with Hanazawa Rui, but I don't know if I'm in love with him, not like how I felt in the beginning, before I knew how I felt about Doumiyouji. I care deeply for Hanazawa Rui but can't figure out to what extent with the shadow of Doumiyouji still looming large over us. So for now I'll coast along with my heart in neutral, it's safer that way.

"Hey, Makino." Hanazawa Rui greets as he walks up the stairs and plops down in his ususal spot.

"Hey, the stairs are cold, you shouldn't sit on them or you'll get hemorrhoids." Not exactly the reply either of us were expecting, but it just popped out. He arches an eyebrow and begins to laugh as he gets to his feet again.

"The things you come off with, Makino...anyway, I was wondering if you have to work after school?" He comes over to stand next to me, leans against the wall, and looks out at the view.

"Huh? Not today, why?" I answer, wondering if he's looking at something in particular.

"Want to go downtown with me?"

"Uh, sure."

"Want to go now?"

"You're kidding right? We can't skip school."

"Come on, let's go...it'll be fun." He grabs my mittened hand in his and pulls me down the stairs after him.

"Oi, Hanazawa Rui, cut it out!" I chastise him, but it's only effect is to make him break into a run and I've got to concentrate on matching his moves so I don't end up tripping and falling flat on my face.

When he finally stops running and lets go of my hand we are well outside the school gates. I lean up against the wall of an office building and catch my breath, wondering what has made Hanazawa Rui reckless today. This isn't like him.

"Okay, so now we've skipped school what do you want to do?" I ask, still breathless from our flight to freedom.

"Let's have tea. We can figure out what we want to do and warm up at the same time." He leads me to a traditional tea house and we go in. The foyer's dark wood is polished to a deep shine. There is a beautiful koi pond in the corner, the bubbling of its soft fountain providing a relaxing curtain of sound. From the decor I can tell it's going to be expensive and tug on his sleeve to get his attention.

"I don't think I've got enough money on me to pay for tea here.." I hiss in his ear, uncomfortable.

"It was my idea to have tea, so I'll pay. It's my treat."

"Are you sure?" The look I get in response to the the question tells me to drop it and accept the gesture graciously. "Thank you, Hanazawa Rui."

The hostess, wearing a tradional wa-fuku, comes out and greets us, bowing low. Hanazawa Rui explains what he wants and we are led to a small room overlooking a well-manicured courtyard garden.

We sit down on the tatami mats and watch the hostess busy herself preparing our tea. I find myself remembering when Tsubaki-san helped me train for the Teen of Japan competition. I learned the basics of the tea ceremony but I've never experienced it on this level before. I stare at the hostess, admiring her beautiful kimono and her poise. My glance flicks towards Hanazawa Rui and I find he is staring at me, almost studying me.

"What?" I ask, curious about what he finds so interesting.

"What are you thinking about?" he asks.

That's a weird question but he is Hanazawa Rui after all. "Not much actually...I was just remembering when I was in the Teen of Japan competition and how they taught me the Tea Ceremony."

"Ah, is that all? You seemed wistful."

"I did? Well I guess in a way I am." I can feel my cheeks get hot as I continue, "I was admiring her beautiful kimono. I've never had one because our family can't afford to buy luxuries like that." I'm embarrassed to admit it.

"You didn't have one when you were little for the Shichi-Go-San?" He leans forward and drapes his arm over his knee, intent on my answer.

"My parents had to borrow one and I was warned so fiercely about damaging it in the least way that I was afraid to move. It was supposed to be an exciting day, but I didn't enjoy it."

"Do you think it would have been different if it were yours?"

"I would have been proud because it was my own. I would have been careful because I was protecting a beautiful thing that belonged to me. With the borrowed wa-fuku I was so afraid of wrecking something that belonged to someone else that I couldn't enjoy myself."

"That's too bad, it's supposed to be a special day."

"Yeah." What a depressing memory. I let out a soft sigh and let my gaze wander to the tokonoma alcove, registering the arrangement there in the back of my mind.

Our tea is ready and the hostess excuses herself, leaving us alone to enjoy it.

"These cups are beautiful," Hanazawa Rui comments, "and so is the view." I smile, he really is into the ritual. I add an observation of my own to the mix.

"The arrangement in the Tokonoma alcove is expertly done." He smiles at the way I phrase it. I can't help it, the whole thing makes me self-conscious.

"And the garden outside is divine." he adds, beginning to laugh gently.

"And this whisk is to die for!" I pick up the tea whisk and brandish it at him. He cracks up even more than before and his laughter is contagious. in a matter of seconds the hostess is peering into the room to see what's going on.

"Ah, Hanazawa Rui, I think we'd better just drink our tea and leave before we outstay our welcome." You aren't supposed to make fun of the tea ceremony. He nods and sobers up and we finish in silent contemplation, the hostess hovering nervously in the doorway, half afraid we're going to do something else.

We thank her on our way out. I think she's glad to see us go. "so where to next?" I ask as we stand on the street looking left and right.

"Let's just go where the wind takes us." He's smiling again. I lick my finger and hold it up to test the wind direction.

"It's going east," I tell him as I slip my hand back into its mitten, "shall we follow?" He nods and we start walking down the street, chasing the wind.

"Let's go in here." He's stopped and is looking in the window of a ritzy salon. It's the kind of place that's shiny from all the chrome and polished marble.

"What for?" I ask, puzzled.

"I need a trim." He answers. "Come on."

Once inside, he requests the services of a celebrity hairstylist. When they realize he's Hanazawa Rui, the staff almost falls over each other in their rush to fulfil his request. In just a few minutes a flustered receptionist is ushering us through the doorway to a private room.

"Please wait here a moment." She asks as she gestures to a loveseat. We sit down to wait in silence as the door closes after us.

I'm having a surreal day today. I say to myself as I look around the room. Hanazawa Rui begins singing softly to himself as we wait. It sounds like some classical piece he plays on his violin. Then the door opens and a tall, thin man with short, spiky hair steps into the room.

"Ah, Hanazawa-san, it's been a while. So to what do I owe the pleasure?"

"I was just in the neighbourhood and decided it was time for a trim." He suddenly remembers I'm here and adds, "Fukuwara-san, I'd like you to meet Makino Tsukushi." The stylist turns and bows towards me. What is it with the F4? This is yet another stylist I've read about in the teen mags. Even the most mundane details of their lives are the stuff of ordinary peoples dreams.

"And what would you like done today?" he asks, noting my hair hastily pulled back into ponytails to keep it from being to unruly as it grows out. Without asking my permission, he steps forward and pulls the elastics out of my hair, causing it to tumble around my shoulders. "Oh, yes," fukuwara continues, inspecting my hair with a critsal eye, "definately some shaping needed. And what about a bit of layering?"

"What do you say, Makino? Wanna join me for a haircut?" I can't believe what I'm hearing coming out of Hanazawa Rui's mouth. I turn to face Fukuwara-san.

"Could you please excuse us for a moment?" I request. The stylist nods.

"I'm just going to pick up some things and I'll be right back." Once the door closes behind him, I round on Hanazawa Rui.

"Are you nuts?" I ask, wondering if he's lost it. "If I couldn't even afford a cup of tea, what makes you think I have the money for a cut and style by Fukuwara, exclusive stylist to the rich and famous?"

"Relax, Makino. Since it was my idea again, I'll take care of it. And besides, these celebrity stylists can be temperamental, if you refuse his services he'll be insulted." I know I have a blank look on my face as his arguement sinks in.

"Are you sure?" We're talking quite a few thousand yen here. He nods.

"Okay then, that settles it." He says, as there's a sharp rap at the door and Fukuwara returns with the tool of his trade.