#chap17

[kpgleek13]

U. Brittany Pierce, a focused and struggling Dance student in NYU, meets Rosario Cruz, a wealthy and snobbish exchange student from Spain. They immediately clash and become enemies at first sight. However, as they grow closer together, Brittany discovers Rosario's deepest secret that could threaten to end not only their flourishing romance but also the future of a whole kingdom.

[frenchcirce]

Pride, Narcissism and Prejudice- Chapter 17

Luckily for the distressed damsel, Takigawa's alertness was excellent and the gentleman managed to catch the falling body on sheer reflex. After some seconds of stunned silence Ayako and Mai finally broke from their stupor and scurried to the slumped form of their friend, still in the clergyman's arms. John Brown, who had witnessed Mask's fainting, almost jogged to join their group, azure eyes wide from shock and worry.

"Takigawa, what happened to miss Hara? How could I assist?" he asked a bit frantically in what seemed a genuine display of concern.

"I have absolutely no idea Brown! Ladies, any suggestion?" prompted the clergyman, gingerly holding the young woman in what he hoped was a decent manner.

Ayako, who was gently patting Masako's cheeks to wake her, turned to the gentlemen and offered them relief through taking the reins of the situation.

"It may be a heat stroke, anemia, or just some fatigue. I suggest we take her in the closest shop for the time being," she instructed in a surprisingly calm and composed voice, eyeing the distant onlookers on the street, "it would at least shield her from the crowd. We shall decide afterwards if her condition needs some medical expertise."

"All right," obediently agreed Takigawa, his appraising gaze showing a newfound respect for the auburn-haired woman. "At my signal?"

Ayako nodded firmly and positioned herself at against Masako's flank, her hand under the black-haired girl armpit. The gentleman uttered a soft "now" and the two holstered up the unconscious lady in perfect sync, dragging her a few feet away to the mercery which happened to be the closest building.

Thankfully the little shop was devoid of customers and the old mercer promptly provided an ugly velvet armchair for Masako before disappearing to fetch her a cup of water. With a relieved huff the couple set the girl on the chair and symmetrically started to rub their sore shoulder, unaware of the perfect harmony of their actions. Despite her worry Mai cracked a smile at the sight, appreciative of the synergy provided by the bantering pair.

John Brown was quietly standing behind the chair, scratching his blond and slightly curly hair awkwardly, clearly trying to be think of a way to be helpful. His blue eyes suddenly lit up when he came up with a suggestion which he immediately submitted to Ayako, implicitly abiding her leadership.

"Miss Matsuzaki, I happen to have my cart not too far from here. Would you like me to send a word to the Haras, or to drive miss Hara back to her home? Or to fetch anything that may be of use?"

The lady assessed the situation and promptly decided that carrying her friend back to some familiar place would be the wisest option.

"Thank you very much, Mr Brown. Providing miss Hara a means of transportation would be extremely beneficial. There is little doubt that she may be exhausted when she regains her senses. Would you be kind enough to bring it closer to the shop?"

"Certainly!" exclaimed the blond with candid enthusiasm. "Takigawa, there are some woodboxes there that I need to unload. Your help would be appreciated."

"Excellent," approved Ayako, ignoring the clergyman loud groan. "While you gentlemen handle the logistics I will go buy some smelling salts for our sleeping beauty. Mai, would you mind staying here with her?"

Mai, who was dealing with the shopkeeper, shook her head and voiced her agreement. The others soon scattered to fulfill their duties, even the old mercer who delicately retired in the back-shop to provide the passed out lady some privacy. Just after the dry jingle of the bell above the mercery's door died, announcing the departure of the last of them, Masako cracked one preying eye open.

"Are they all gone?" she whispered to her sister, discreetly surveying their surroundings.

"Ye-yes, they are," responded Mai dumbly.

Then realization dawned upon her.

"Wait a moment!" she almost screamed, "Masako, were you…were you faking being unwell?"

Said lady had the decency to look ashamed, but soon anguish replaced her contrition. She sat straight on the armchair and replied in a haste.

"I did," she admitted reluctantly. "But Mai you have to understand…"

Her sister didn't let her finish her sentence, as she exploded in righteous anger.

"Masako, how could you? We were all so worried! What on earth possessed you to do that?"

Mai had always known that her sister was a bit on the coquettish side, but she would never have pegged her the type to resort to such means. Was she thriving attention that much? It was true that she had been deprived from being the center of her family's conversation lately, with the arrival of Takigawa, but she wasn't that petty. Besides, Mai was certain the paleness of her friend was genuine, so something must have really triggered some faintness. But why going as far as collapsing into her cousin's arms? Mai gasped in surprise when an unexpected explanation hit her. The awkward coldness, her sister's visible irritation when she heard the gentleman compliment any other woman, it could be…

"Oh my, could it be that you are…with Takigawa…that you wanted him to be interested in you?"

Masako, who had been uselessly trying to place a word and stop Mai's ranting to offer an explanation to her behavior stopped short, mouth agape.

"Heavens forbid! What exactly gave you this silly idea? I have absolutely no inclination for your cousin! Moreover, his intentions are crystal clear, and they do not involve me."

"Oh" was Mai somewhat surprised reply. She wondered briefly who the gentleman had his eyes on. He had never mentioned any lady, and she was quite certain he hadn't met many families other than the Haras…But these interrogations were for another time. She wouldn't let herself be distracted from the topic at hand.

"Then, what is the reason behind this masquerade?"

Masako deflated a bit, her features contorted into an alien mixture of shame and fear. Seeing her so openly affected when she was known to be a master at reining her emotions in immediately appealed to her sister, who insisted more gently:

"What is it exactly Masako? You know you can confide in me."

After some moments of painful hesitation the dark-haired girl, finally surrendered.

"John Brown," she sighed. "I wanted him to stay away from Yasuhara and Shibuya. I saw them down the road and I needed to avoid their meeting at all cost."

Mai raised an eyebrow at the use of the gentleman's first name, but chose to let it slide. She had been wrong about Mask's supposed inclination for Takigawa after all.

"But why? Is it because he is catholic? I cannot speak for Shibuya, but I'm sure that Yasuhara…"

"No, that is not the matter," interrupted Masako, shaking her head. "I cannot possibly explain everything to you at the moment, we do not have enough time, nor privacy. I promise I will, later. But now I really need your help. Or my reputation…" She inhaled shakily, obviously distressed. " If word got around that I…if he he heard about…he will never…" she stopped there, her tightened throat making her unable to finish.

The young orphan stayed a moment speechless. Her sister was the embodiment of propriety, someone who never let herself open for criticism and gossip, what could she have done to make her fear for her reputation so badly? But really, it was so easy for a lady to be ruined, her little fortuity meeting with Shibuya in the gardens was a blatant example of it. Had it not been Ayako the one to stumble upon them…

Had her sister encountered such a delicate situation? She decided that whatever had happened, she would take Masako's side and help her with the best of her abilities. Which were meager, she had to admit, but at least she could provide emotional support.

"All right. You can count on me."

Something akin to gratitude and hopeful disbelief shone in her sister's somber eyes and but Mai raised her hand in an admonishing motion.

"However, you shall tell me everything tonight," she warned, to what Masako nodded eagerly. "Pray tell now what you need me to do, and rest assured I will give it my best."

Masako took a deep breath and wasted no time for thanks and apologies.

"Naturally this little display of acting of mine should remain a secret. It would be embarrassing otherwise. And whatever happens, do not let Shibuya speak to Brown alone. That is my only request."

"How am I supposed to prevent them from speaking?" asked the young orphan, bewildered. "Brown and I are not acquainted well enough, and Shibuya and I are… "

"I beg of you Mai."

The plea was almost a whisper, but the urgency and despair in the tone had Mai sighed resignedly and agreed.

"Well, I suppose that I am infamous for being lose with social manners anyway. I guess I will rudely interrupt them if needed then."

"Thank you," whispered Masako, her features relaxing in a small watery smile. "Sometimes I truly believe I do not deserve a friend such as you. But I bless the day you came into our family."

Mai gently took her sister's hand in her own, truly moved by her touching confession. The dark-haired girl wasn't one for grand declarations and was known for guarding her feelings zealously. The sole fact that she had made an exception for her gave the words more weight. The light pink dusting her cheeks was also speaking volume about her sincerity.

"Oh Masako…" she started, her heart swelling.

The words had just passed her lips when the high-pitched jingle of the door's bell rang, interrupting the moment. Masako quickly composed her expression while Mai groaned inwardly: she wouldn't get anything out of her sister now. Ayako's confident voice douched her last hope to pursue the conversation.

"Thank the Heavens, you are awake!" the older woman exclaimed when she caught sight of a seated, rosy-cheeked Masako. "I guess these will not be of any usefulness then," she added while shaking a little flask of smelling salts. "You owe me one shilling by the way."

The dark-haired girl rolled her eyes and managed to hide her fluster with a snarky comment.

"I suggest you keep them to wake Takigawa up next time you decide to knock him unconscious with your purse."

"My, my, is it not sarcasm that I am hearing? At least it tells me that you are feeling better!" the lady huffed. "But," she added after a pregnant thoughtful pause, "I have to admit that according to your suggestion they could prove to be of service. I may keep them indeed."

The soft chuckles of the three women dissolved the heavy mood into a lighter one as the ladies were imagining what sorts of physical tortures the poor clergyman would have to suffer from Ayako's hand. The thoughts were entertaining indeed and when the gentlemen came back from their task they had the pleasure to find the ladies chatting joyously.

"Miss Hara," bowed Brown with a timid smile. "It is a relief to see you are faring better."

"Mister Brown," responded the woman in kind, "I am really sorry we had to reunite in such circumstances. I apologize sincerely about any inconvenience I could have caused you."

"Rest assured I am not inconvenienced in the least!" replied the young gentleman, waving his hands in frantic denial. "Not at all! Right, Takigawa?"

"Of course," mumbled his friend reluctantly, rubbing his sore arms with a sour look. Apparently the load in the cart had been heavy. "No inconvenience at all."

"Shall we go now?" impatiently demanded Ayako. "I was thinking about going to my house. We could have a luncheon there to restore you strength dear."

Then she leaned toward Mai and added conspiratorially:

"I suppose it would cause a scene to go back to the Haras with a Catholic, no matter how candid and charming he is. My place sounds like a better option."

The cinnamon-eyed girl approved silently. Lord Hara certainly wouldn't even bat an eye, but Lady Hara had an irrational and virulent hate towards his co-religionists. She wasn't sure the presence of the slick-tongued Takigawa would be enough to tame her rage if the poor Brown was to show his cherubic face in her house…

"Everything is settled then. Masako dear, can you walk on your own?"

"Yes, I feel perfectly fine."

To demonstrate the veracity of her statement she got up the armchair and walked confidently towards the counter. After finding the shop owner and thanking him profusely for his help and discretion, their little crew headed towards Brown's vehicle.

To Mai and Masako's utmost relief, Yasuhara and Shibuya were nowhere to be seen.

AN: Barely 2000 words and it took me forever and a half. And these characters have taken a life of their own, I swear, because they never act accordingly to my plans! I’m always trying to wrangle them in line, and I find myself rearranging the storyline each passing chapter. Anyway, I hope you enjoyed the fruit of my hard labour.

This was supposed to be twice as long, finally I chose to make John’s backstory a legit chapter. This one should be aired soon, as it’s already half-written. To those who still read this: thanks for your patience!

[hello-holden-caulfield-blog]

What a mess is Sally..

I was heading down to Broadway about bought a record called “Little Shirley Beans" of course I got it for Old Phoebe. Later then I went to go meet up Sally at the Biltmore Hotel, although she arrived late she looked attractive. Sally then irritated me once we got to the ice skating arena she began to flirt with others. She then was angry and I left without her.