| Title : Bunny's Trinkets Chapter : One Author : Tokyo Rabbit Stalk Me? : «email» fanficqsandas@yahoo.com Rating : PG-13 Genre : Romance Summary : Darien Chiba, a major tycoon, is called back to Sim Island, Japan when his very last relative passes away. There he meets the most extraordinary women... * = * = * = * = * = * = * = * = * = * = * = * = * = * = * = * = * = * = * = * = * = * = * = * = * = * = Watching over the small figure in the dark, his heart moved as it made a small sound in sweet slumber. He reached a strong hand down into the cradle and softly stroked his new born son’s head. A smile crept across his face as he ran his long fingers ever so carefully though the babe’s hair. The boy would have a full head of raven hair, like his father-- him. It amazed him how something so tiny and so fragile could make him feel as if his heart was going to break open from too much love and compassion. It was the best feeling in the world and when he lay in bed thinking about how his life was and what it could of been if things didn’t go the way they had-- it nearly brought the proud, tall man to his knees. Some would say that he lost everything, changing his life so, but he saw it as gaining everything. But still, at rare points in time he thought about how it was and how it came to be, his life then and now.... ---- Darien Chiba woke from a pleasant dream feeling refreshed and on top of the world, no pun intended for him. The dream? He had become the most powerful business man in the world; a natural tycoon. But for the CEO of Goldshou Enterprises, one of the most trusted names out there in the business world, it was almost a reality for him. He quickly showered and dressed in his usual pitch-black suit, black Italian dress shoes, and dark maroon tie; which none of were very cheap or even reasonably priced. Darien refused to dress in anything but the best to keep himself looking as sharp as his razor-like mind. Looking himself in his full-length mirror, a raven eyebrow arched over his midnight blue eyes and a sly grin appeared on his startling- handsome face. ‘Looking good as usual, Chiba,’ he thought boastfully. There was a bounce in his million (lots of millions actually) step as he walked down his pent house stairs. It was going to be a wonderful day in his eyes, but Fate did not see eye-to-eye with Darien. “Good morning, Mr. Chiba,” a short woman in her forties smiled, “You seem to be in a chipper mood.” “That I am, Ms. Tsukisiro, that I am,” He spun her around as his maid/cook giggled. “You’re paper is on the table along with your breakfast, Mr. Chiba,” Ms. Tsukisiro said with a smile on her face as she watched him go into his vast kitchen. “Thank you,” he replied with the last word a note higher than the one before. Portly Ms. Tsukisiro had an easy job of cooking when it came to breakfast; the only thing he would eat was some assortment of grains, what looked and smelled like hay, and Kami only knew what else in there-- a Nutrigrain bar, with a side of the most influential business paper. Darien came back out, munching on his bar of oats and reading the paper. He walked past his maid as she began to dust his black marble mantel. Thinking of something, he turned to look at her, “Ms. Tsukisiro.” His voice was stern and serious, which wasn’t anything new. Darien Chiba was a very stern and serious man who could easily bowl over any obstacle or challenge that came his way. His appearance was somewhat brooding but very somber, making anyone who met him for the first time respect him highly. “Yes?” She turned to face him and he looked worried. “Don’t you feel sick?” “Why no, I feel absolutely fine, Sir.” Ms. Tsukisiro looked at him puzzled. He narrowed his eyes as to look more closely at her, “No, I’m pretty sure your sick.” “Mr. Chiba--” she started again but got what he was trying to say. She smiled brightly, “Thank you, Mr. Chiba.” Darien smiled, “Have a good day, Ms. Tsukisiro.” “You too, Sir,” the woman said with a silly grin plastered on her face. --- Fate watched closely as the twenty-eight-year-old entered into the skyscraper-- the core building of the whole company, then into a meeting, and then into his huge, lavish office. She observed him sign some important papers and confirm some calls. Under her attentive eye she saw him break up with his fourth girlfriend that month over the phone; breaking yet another young heart. Then she moved another pawn onto the playing field. A man dressed in a brown jump suit walked up to Darien Chiba’s secretary’s desk, handrf her an envelope, then left. The woman looked it over then stood from her desk and walked over to Darien’s open door, “Mr. Chiba?” His deep blue eyes looked up from some company documents, “Yes, Mrs. Shoji?” “This just came for you,” the tall brunette walked over to his desk and set the envelope in his hands, then left to go back to her desk. The address was handwritten in blue ink and in the corner was the name ‘Saotome.’ Puzzled, though he knew who it was from, he opened it. His eyes fell quickly across the vertical lines and could not believe what he was reading.... ---- Mr. Tsukino, the head hancho at Goldshou, stood looking over plans that had been displayed in front of him with a future partner of the company, “Yes, I like this... although we should--” He was cut off as Darien Chiba burst into his office’s double doors, “We need to talk--” his eyes darted to his boss and to the shocked man standing next to him and added formally, “Mr. Tsukino.” The man with the glasses coughed, “Mr. Mikasa, I’m sorry but--” The other, shorter man nodded and smiled at Darien, then walked out for the two men to talk. “What is it, Darien?” His superior sat down behind his wooden desk. “Kenneth, I need to leave for a short while,” he replied, throwing the letter on the desk. Kenneth Tsukino picked it up, read it, then sat it back down, tossing it across his desk for Darien to pick it back up again, “I see.” “I’ll be gone for a least two weeks,” he said solemnly. “Hmmm....” He thought about it and sat back in his grand leather chair, “Hell, take a month if you need. This merger is about to commence and we’ll become one of the largest companies in this city, so you’ve done your job here for now.” Darien nodded and took back his letter, looking at it. “Hmm... Sim, my daughter lives on the island,” he said absentmindedly as Darien walked out. ---- It made him feel uncomfortable to be on such a rural island; away from the higher standards of living. But certain circumstances had brought him back to this island that he rarely ever visited; Ken Saotome, his cousin and only living relative, had died about two months ago. His wife, Lita Kino-Saotome, had neglected to contact him due to the onslaught of bills and legal matters after he passed away in a freak accident. He had met Lita once or twice and they got along very well. She was a nice young woman and Ken loved her a lot, as did she. Lita had finally remembered to write Darien when all of her hope of ever pulling out of her financial hole seemed obsolete; she had remembered that he was a whiz for such things and could help her out. So, of course being more than willing to help his very last relative (even if by marriage), he boarded a dock farrie to cross over to Sim Island, Japan. His Porshe wove among the green hills, passing through rural and urban towns, to reach the little town of Gleenbrook. There he would stay with Lita until everything was handled, and he hoped it would be soon; clean and smooth. Nothing too messy is what he hoped, but Fate didn’t see it that way, with a smug smirk across her lips... Title : Bunny's Trinkets Chapter : Two Author : Tokyo Rabbit Stalk Me? : «email» fanficqsandas@yahoo.com Rating : PG-13 Genre : Romance Summary : Darien Chiba, a major tycoon, is called back to Sim Island, Japan when his very last relative passes away. There he meets the most extraordinary women... * = * = * = * = * = * = * = * = * = * = * = * = * = * = * = * = * = * = * = * = * = * = * = * = * = * = With a bewildering smile on her lips, beautifully cruel Fate watched a certain young woman walk with a bounce in her step down the small town streets of Gleenbrooke. It was a beautiful Saturday morning and the wind carried a sense of adventure that sent an exciting rush through single-mom Kou Bunny. Something good was going to happen today, she just knew it. The small silver bell twinkled as the young woman walked through the front door of a lovely novelty store, Bunny’s Trinkets-- her store. It was a popular store among all the people of Glenbrook. They sold handmade novelties of all kinds, sweets and pastries, and tea. It was a rather large store; in the back was a counter that almost stretched from wall to wall, next to the front door-- in front of the huge window and homey display-- were two round tables with four chairs each so people could drink their tea, and then there were several shelves on the walls and tables to display what they had to sell. But this was only the front; behind the counter was a light green curtain, which matched the light hues of the store, that led to a staircase. Upstairs was just as vast as downstairs; it needed to be with it’s concrete-like floors and wide doorways. It was separated into three rooms, two bigger than one. The first room that you came to had a one window that faced inside-- this was the office and the smallest of all rooms. Then there were the two other rooms with huge windows with black shades. One was filled with various tools and strange supplies; this was where the most of their items were made. The last room was a huge, steel kitchen where their foods and teas were made. “Good morning, Bunny,” one of the women who worked for her said from behind the counter. For all four years Bunny’s Trinkets had been open, there were the same five women who worked there; shy and intelligent Ami Goya kept inventory and usually worked the cash register, and tall, strong Lita Saotome who was the head chef (and who also recently lost her husband). Then there was Bunny’s cousin, vivacious and bright Mina Aino who handled publicity. And last but not least, Rei Hino who made most of their items in the shop above. All the women had known each other for most of their lives. It was a very warm atmosphere between them that people loved about the BT women. “Morning Ami!” Bunny replied with a warm smile as she walked behind the counter, “Where’s everyone else?” Her attention was pulled to the door as the bell chimed. A tall girl with cerulean blue eyes and golden hair that reached down her back walked in, “Sorry I’m late.” “It’s all right Mina, I was a little late myself,” Bunny admitted, smiling. “Is Rei here yet?” Mina asked with a twinkle in her eyes. Ami just smiled, “That question is nearly rhetorical. Of course she’s here. She’s up in the shop working on some metal lamps.” Mina bound around the counter and stuck her head through the light green curtain, “REI! COULD YOU COME HERE FOR A SEC?!” Bunny winced and decided to get ready for the day. She placed her purse under a shelf part of the counter where no one could see it, then turned back to her friends as Rei came downstairs, “What?” Mina could barely contain her excitement, which meant she had some tidbit of gossip, “It’s about Lita!” The other girls immediately began to ask questions. Was there friend all right?! “No, no. It’s nothing bad!” The blonde calmed down a bit, “Well, you know how she’s been swamped with... well, you know....” They nodded and she continued, “She’s asked Ken’s cousin to come and help her!” “Oh, the one from Tokyo? He’s been here a few times; I think he’s head of some huge company,” Ami said thoughtfully. “Really? A business tycoon, how interesting!” The fiery Rei rolled her eyes at Mina’s single-girl antics and went back upstairs. Slightly disappointed by their reactions, Mina followed Rei to see if she needed any help. Bunny drew a long sigh, “Poor Lita....” Fate delicately moved the final playing pieces onto the field with a wicked smile upon her lips. *Twinkle* The two young women behind the counter looked up to see a tall woman with auburn hair that fell to her waist and an even taller man with raven hair. Their breath caught in there throats as they saw the apparition of a man. The woman, who was known as Lita, walked up to the counter with the man following her, “Bunny, Ami, this is Darien Chiba, my cousin by marriage.” So he was real?! He couldn’t be! No man could look that handsome and exist, but they nodded and said hello to it any ways. Lita continued, “Darien, this is Bunny Kou, my boss, and Ami Goya, my co-worker.” Darien shook their hands politely, then Lita directed him to one of the tables that sat in front of the shop. He set down his briefcase and began to go to work with her. She pulled out several papers that she kept in folders, then sat them on the light green table, showing them to her cousin. “Did you see that?” Ami breathed, putting a hand on Bunny’s shoulder. Snapping out of it, the blonde hastily answered, “Yes, I’m glad he’s helping Lita. Now, I have some things to do upstairs.” And with that, she quickly departed. Ami watched after her with a puzzled expression on her face. That was very strange.... * * * * * Rei quickly plunged the scolding iron into a sink of water, causing it to hiss and sputter, giving off masses of steam. “So Lita’s cousin is here?” She asked, then put the iron back into the coals. Bunny was now up in the shop, telling of Darien Chiba’s arrival, “Yes. It puts me at ease to see that she’s getting some help now. I was so afraid for her.” “We all were,” the twenty-five-year-old woman with crimson hair agreed. Running out of reason for staying away from the devilish handsome man, she just smiled and went to her office to do... well, something, anything. Being around men still made her extremely nervous and Mr. Chiba was no exception-- far from it!! * * * * * “Lita, how did this get so bad?” Darien asked the tall brunet, slightly amazed at the pile of papers he had gotten through, looking at the even bigger pile he had yet to conquer. She put her head in her hands and sighed, “I don’t know. Before I even buried Ken, I was receiving bills and legal papers.” “Do you have a Lawyer?” “No, I don’t think I can afford one.” “Is there a firm in Glenbrook, or in a near by town? Because some of these things shouldn’t be happening to you.” “Yes.... Uh, Montag Hiroshi,” she tilted her head up and blinked several times to see if she could fight back the tears, “His firm is on General and River St.” Darien turned his head to see Bunny who had politely coughed to interrupt them, “Uh....” “Yes?” He said sternly. “I was wondering if I could get you something, you and Lita, while you’re here working,” she said sweetly, almost nervously. “Coffee would be nice.” Lita didn’t answer, she was too busy shifting through some papers. “We don’t have... coffee....” Bunny said apologetically. “You don’t?” An ebony eyebrow arched at the poor girl. “Yes, well.... We have tea. Several different types... we have vanilla, cranberry, cinnamon--” Darien cut her off in annoyance, he dislike being disturbed during something important, “Tea will be fine.” The blonde was about to say something, but thought it better otherwise. She turned on her heel and marched over to the counter where Ami was shaking her head at the devious looking Mina. “Well?” Her cousin grinned. “There was no point in doing that!” She whispered fiercely. “Really, Mina. You should stay out of poor Bunny’s love life,” Ami scolded. “I can’t let my dearest relative die old and lonely!” Mina straightened up and put her hands over her heart, looking sincere. “What about you Mina? I don’t see you dating.” Cupid’s composure slumped down, putting her elbows on the counter as she rested her head in her hands, “Ami’s married. She doesn’t understand us single women.” “Happily.” The woman with short cerulean blue hair added with a sweet smile. “As am I in the single life!” Bunny protested and went upstairs to fix Mr. Chiba’s drink. She looked among the dry herbs and leafs to try and pick a tea that would be strong enough to stand up to coffee. That black drink was never her favorite, nor anyone else’s at BT, so they only had tea. Only tea, she explained again mentally. That handsome man made her feel bad for not having coffee. Why should they have coffee any ways? It was atrocious! But she still felt bad; after all, he was helping one of her best friends out. “Green.... Chamomile.... Hibiscus...! Ha! This stuff is famous for it’s strength.” * * * “With taxes it would be--” Again, a soft cough came, annoying Darien, “Yes?” “Here,” Bunny sat a light blue saucer down on the table, then a tea cup, “I hope you like it.” He watched her walk off to attend to a customer with an almost annoyed look. The way her hips swayed as she walked made her skirt flutter almost magically.... He coughed and turned his attention back to the tea, eyeing it suspiciously. He was never one for tea.... His lips came to the cup and he took a sip, only to come to a coughing fit! “What-- what the hell is this stuff?!” Lita smiled and winked at him, “Hibiscus, sour huh?” Title : Bunny's Trinkets Chapter : Three Author : Tokyo Rabbit Stalk Me? : «email» fanficqsandas@yahoo.com Rating : PG-13 Genre : Romance Summary : Darien Chiba, a major tycoon, is called back to Sim Island, Japan when his very last relative passes away. There he meets the most extraordinary women... * = * = * = * = * = * = * = * = * = * = * = * = * = * = * = * = * = * = * = * = * = * = * = * = * = * = Darien and Lita walked back into the empty Saotome household after the shop closed at seven. Automatically, the tall brunette widow made a bee line to the kitchen, “Sorry, but I usually cook late due to work. I hope you don’t mind.” “No, not at all,” he said truthfully. Eating was overrated. Sitting down at the kitchen table, he began to unpack the papers to begin work again. Lita saw this over the counter that separated the dinning room and kitchen, “Darien! Don’t you dare! You have worked hard enough today, just take it easy now.” He gave her a genuine smile, “Lita, I want to help. You are my last relative, family takes care of each other. Plus, you know me, the workaholic.” The twenty-six-year-old woman meekly smiled. Darien had been alone for the majority of his life, seeing how his parents died when he was very young. Her late husband’s parents searched for several years for the young orphan. They finally finished the paper work from Rose Saint Home, letting their nephew stay with them when Ken and Darien where both sixteen.... Feeling that he was a burden, the young Chiba moved out when he was eighteen and began his legacy. So, Lita would indeed take care of Darien in any way possible. What was family for? “So you and your coworkers are close?” Darien asked, typing madly away on a massive calculator. “Yes, very. The majority of us knew each other through high school,” Lita called through the various sounds that emitted from the kitchen. “Oh?” “Bunny used to live in Tokyo. When her and her husband got married, they moved out here and we all became fast friends.” Husband? So the medium height blonde was married? He shouldn’t have been surprised... but for some reason it concerned him.... *Ding-dong!* “Oh, Darien, could you be a dear and get that for me?” He walked through the flowery house and came to the door, which was already opening. A blonde head poked in through the opening. His heart strangely jumped. “Heeeeelllo? Lita?” The young woman saw him standing there and stepped inside, “Oh hi Darien!” Oh. “Hi, Mina.” He never forgot a name or face. She smiled and closed the door behind her, then began to walk towards the dinning room, “Is Lita back here?” “Uh-- yeah....” Shaking his head, he followed her. “Hey girl! How goes it?” “Hi Mina! Wanna stay for dinner?” Lita invited her. She took a seat at the table and winked at Darien, “I was in the neighborhood and smelt something good brewing. I just knew it was you Lita, so I decided to pop in for a visit.” “I knew you would.” They heard the cook laugh. “So, how was your first day in Gleenbrook?” Mina asked the tall man with ebony hair as he sat down across from her. “Well, half the bills and papers have been taken care of, but--” She cut him off with a wave of her hand, “I didn’t mean that. Don’t get me wrong, I’m glad you’re helping Lita... we all are. But what I was asking was, how was it?” “How was it?” He didn’t quite understand. “How did everything go?” “Nothing unsatisfactory happened.” The blonde laughed, “So it was okay.” Darien couldn’t help but smile, “Yes, it was okay.” Soon, dinner was ready and Lita made Darien put away anything important looking. They were having Italian that night. The three sat talking as the dishes began to diminish as Lita refused to put away leftovers. Who likes leftovers any ways? “--Darien and I are going to go see that lawyer tomorrow--” Lita said, dishing out even more lasagna on Darien’s plate. “Are you serious? I hear that he’s really good!” ‘And cute,’ she added mentally, “I’ll come with you tomorrow. Maybe if I flirt with him, he’ll be cheaper.” Darien looked up from his ominous plate in surprise, “You cannot be serious.” She winked at him and stuffed a huge bite in her mouth. He looked at Lita for help, was she just pulling his leg? “Mina--” Lita warned. After she swallowed, she began to laugh, “The look on your faces! I want to go to make sure he’ll be able to help you out, Lita. I’m your friend, I have to look out for you.” Darien almost said something, but decided against it.... After the three got done finishing off everything, they cleaned the dishes then began a game of Monopoly, which Darien dominated in. “Remind me never to play this again with you Darien,” Mina said in mock grudge as she handed him over a couple bills of hundreds. “Thank you,” he accepted her compliment and money. Soon after Darien had bankrupted his adversaries, Mina went home to her white cat Artemis. “She’s a bubbly girl....” Darien commented. “Yeah, just like Bunny,” Lita smiled, and they retired for the night. - - - - - - - The two cousins talked the whole way through Gleenbrook as they walked to Bunny’s Trinkets. Lita laughed at the comment Darien had made about having nightmares about Hibiscus tea, but he was actually being serious. It was like he had eaten a truck load of lemons... but maybe he was exaggerating, give or take a lemon.... They walked into the store, ready for another day. They had made an appointment with Montag Hiroshi yesterday and were due to meet him around noon. Darien sat down and began to prep for it while Lita went upstairs to restock their chocolate treats supply. From the corner of his eye he saw someone sit down and sit down a cup. A familiar and friendly smell wafted under his nose. It was...! He looked up to see Bunny sitting there, smiling at him, “I picked it up on the way here.” It WAS!! It was coffee! “I felt bad yesterday for the Hibiscus. It’s really sour huh?” She smiled at him. “That’s an understatement,” he looked at her, then smiled back, “You really shouldn’t apologize. I was irritable and treated you poorly. I’m very sorry.” Again, he was rewarded by a dazzling smile, “I tried to pick something strong enough to stand up to that awful stuff.” She was pointing to the cup of coffee. “Hey, this stuff is what keeps me running!” “Exactly. Petrol.” She laughed and got up to go back to work, leaving him to his first love, coffee. But as she did, his eyes caught a glitter on her left ring finger... so she was married.... Trying to take his mind off of it, he looked at the cup in near disbelief. She had obviously bought it from a local donut shop. It warmed his heart in a strange way, but she only did it because he was helping Lita, right? *Twinkle* “Morning everyone!” It was Mina, “Hey Bunny, is it all right if I go with Lita and Darien to the meeting?” “Meeting? Oh, with the lawyer? Sure, Tuesdays are usually slow,” the owner replied, smiling of course. “Thanks.” And so they found themselves, Lita, Darien and Mina, in a clean-cut new age office waiting to talk to Mr. Hiroshi. Mina was the brightest thing in the office, seeing how she was blonde and she was wearing a gray suit, instead of a black one. She tugged on her skirt; places like that always made her extremely nervous. A tall man with steel blue eyes, natural white hair pulled back in a neat pony tail, and a firm jaw line came out, causing them to stand. This was him. “Hello, I am Mr. Hiroshi, I’m pleased to meet you,” he shook their hands and came to Mina who seemed to have seen a ghost, “Are you Ms. Saotome? I’m very sorry for your loss.” He just assumed that she was due to the fact that she didn’t speak up to say otherwise. This man was a god!! What was she here for again? A lease? A checkup? Well, whatever it was, it was totally obliterated. Lita politely coughed, “No, this is my close friend, Mina Aino. I am Lita Saotome, and this is Darien Chiba, you two talked on the phone.” “Oh yes, I do apologize. Now please, come inside,” he flashed them a confident, cool smile. Darien followed him, leading the way while Lita had to tug on Mina’s arm to get her to walk. Oh yes, that was why she was there. Her good friend Lita. “Please have a seat,” and they did, “I understand it that--” That was the last thing Mina heard. She watched him intently throughout the whole thing. He worked so diligently and smoothly, it was like this profession had been made just for him, and this was only a meeting! His eye was laid sternly upon the goals and he meant to met them, come hell or high water. Soon, it was all over and Lita was giving him some information, “Now this number is where I work....” “Oh? I know the shop. I buy my tea from there,” Mr. Hiroshi smiled, “I’m very glad that we were able to work something out. We’ll be talking very soon.” Lita breathed a grateful sigh and thanked him, and that was it. - - - - - Back at the shop Lita seemed to be in the highest of moods, thanking Darien every five seconds when she was down stairs. “This nightmare is finally going to end!” She cheered several times, almost coming to tears. Bunny hugged her, “We’re soo happy for you!” “I know,” the brunette smiled then danced her way upstairs. Unlike her, Mina seemed to be brooding about something. “What’s with the mood, Mina? Aren’t you happy for Lita?” Ami asked her. “I am! Don’t get me wrong.... I’m just thinking about how I can slip and fall and make it seem like an accident and then get Montag as my lawyer....” She said, chewing on her left thumb nail. “Oh? You’re going to sue me?” Bunny inquired. “Bunny! You should have SEEN him! He was just too good to be true.” Mina nearly melted just thinking about him. “Yes, he was a very good lawyer,” Darien commented as he flipped through the news paper. “That’s not what I meant and you know it....” He just chuckled, causing Bunny to look at him. His voice was like velvet.... *Twinkle* “Momma!” A girl who looked to be around seven or eight with light pink hair bounced into the store and ran towards... Bunny?! Darien saw this and it gave him a funny feeling in the pit of his stomach. So this was her daughter, then where was her husband? And why hadn’t he seen her yesterday? Perhaps she had been at a friend’s house.... “Hi Rini!” The two embraced as the girl jumped up into her awaiting arms, “How was school?” “It was good. I have tons of stuff to show you,” the girl smiled. *Twinkle* Another girl about the same age walked in. She had short black hair and icy violet eyes. A woman had walked in with her; she had long, dark jade hair. “Hello, Helen, Sigourney,” Bunny smiled at them and then put Rini down, making a joke that she was getting too old to pick her up, “Thanks again for watching her yesterday. Everything just seemed to want to happen that day.” “Oh, no problem,” Sigourney, Helen’s mother, smiled, “You would do the same.” The two girls spotted Darien watching everything as it unfolded and decided to see who he was. They took pride in knowing just about everyone in town, it was their business to know. So, much to his surprise, they sat down, staring at him with wide eyes. “Who are you?” Rini asked. “Darien Chiba. You?” “You don’t ask the questions here, we do.” He had to smile. “Where did you come from?” Helen asked. “Tokyo, Japan.” “How old are you?” Rini asked; they were like machines! “Twenty-eight.” “What do you do for a living?” “I’m head of a corporate company.” “Do you have any kids?” “No.” “Are you married?” “No.” The two interrogators looked at each other and nodded. Their serious faces turned into smiles. “I’m Rini Kou and this is my best friend, Helen Meioh.” Rini explained and Helen waved. “We’re both seven and we go to Gleenbrook Elementary,” Helen said. “Rini, Helen. Leave Mr. Chiba alone,” Bunny came over and saved him, giving him an apologetic smile. The woman known to be Sigourney Meioh called her daughter and the two left, waving good bye. *Twinkle* “Rini was just checking me out,” Darien and the girl shared a wink. Bunny looked down at her daughter, “Did he pass?” She nodded and smiled, “He’s Darien Chiba from Tokyo, Japan who works in a company and who’s twenty-eight without kids!” “Sounds good to me,” her mother smiled, “Now, do you have any homework?” The little girl wrinkled her nose, showing a yes. She got up and retrieved her backpack from the store counter in the back, then bopped back to the table, “Sorry to break it to you Mommy, but it’s math.” Bunny sat down, “Well, we’ll just have to try our hardest.” Rini leaned forward and whispered to Darien, “She’s not very good at math.” “Oh, okay,” he whispered back, amused by this little girl. “YES!” Mina came bursting out of the back curtain, drawing their attention, along with the customers. “Mina?” Bunny asked in curiosity as her bubbly cousin came bouncing over. “Guess who just called me?” She pulled up a chair and sat down, “Well, not me, but the store?” “Uh, who?” “Montag! And guess who he asked for?” Darien rolled his eyes, this was too easy, “Who?” “ME! And guess who has a date tonight?” She bit her lower lip. “You and Montag!” Rini cheered. “That’s right!” The elated woman rocketed out of her seat then gained her composure again, due to the customers’ glances, “Yes well, I’ll be helping Ami if anyone needs me.” They had to laugh, but did Lita know about it? They couldn’t be sure until she said so. “So, Momma? How do I do this?” Rini shoved her paper over to her obligated mother. Darien chuckled at the clueless face that came across the poor mother, “May I take a crack at it?” The girl looked at her mother, “What do you think?” The two peered cutely at him to see if he had what it took, and decided that he could handle it. So Rini hopped over one seat to be right next to him while Bunny watched them with a maternal grin on her face. After the math was done, it was time to show them the puppets they made in art that day. And thus, the story of Cinderella began to unfold in front of their eyes, with a rabbit prince and a carrot and everything! Bunny would steal glances at Darien and Rini.... It was strange how she treated him so warmly. For the longest of time, it was just them two and their own little world. Then came along a handsome stranger and it seemed to grow a satellite or perhaps gotten bigger.... |