The Fox & The Bookworm
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Modern Japan

The Hanai Family Estate - Main House

The Hanai family has built a multimillion dollar corporation on snack product lines. Known for everything from instant ramen and steam buns to melon breads and dipped cookie sticks.

Here in the main home the eldest of the clan, Grandmother Hanai Keiko, lives with a few servants. A cook, a maid, and a very special personal servant who see's to her every needs. How will they feel when her second Grandson, recently graduated from college and a published author, comes to stay while he works on his next book?

The long black pony tail moved with every move of the sharp blade. The sound of the knife slicing through the vegetables and hitting the wooden board.
When the kettle made a sound, to alert the surroundings that the water was now boiling, he put the knife down, dried the long fingers in the white apron around his waist and turned to pour the water in to the small tea pot. There was no need for the larger one as most only had a single cup before or during breakfast.
As the steaming water drew the colour and taste from the tea leaves. He returned to the chopping board.
It was like every other day for him, so he didn't really take a second to think about his movements. The sharp silvery eyes glanced towards the door way. It wouldn't be long to she'd be up and demanding her cup of tea. Soon the last bit was chopped and now sizzling away in the pot, while he got her cup. Filling it with the light golden tea, still steaming as he carried it to the table. Pulling out her chair the way she liked it before returning to the dish he was cooking.
The long haired male planned to take a shower while the meal was being eaten, then he could do the dishes when done and then head to bed.

What was it about coming back to a place from your childhood, that made the world seem so eerie? Michio Hanai wondered this to himself as he stared up at the tall gate that sprawled as far as he could tell to the left and the right. All morning he'd had this creepy sensation rolling slowly down the back of his spine. The scenery outside the windows during his late night train ride. The long hike out of the small village when he couldn't find a cab. All up to his Grandmother's gate. It was all familiar, and yet everything was different.

It was unsettling, and yet it had been his choice to come here. He'd practically begged his Grandmother for a place to stay while he worked on his next book. That's right, Michio was a published author. His first two romance mystery novels had been best sellers, prompting his family to allow Michio some leeway in joining the family business... For now. But if he didn't keep up this streak, he knew there was a desk and a tie in his future.

It was this delicate balance of his life that had lead the young Asian man out to a place he thought he might find real quiet and solitude to work in peace. Putting his bags to the side, he took in a breadth and rang the doorbell. Grandmother was expecting him today, not for another few hours, but what could that hurt showing up early?

The silvery eyes darted to the door way as there was knock, he focused back on what was ad hand. Making sure things were okay before he with soundless steps made it towards the door. Sucking in a deep breath he reached out and opened the heavy door. It only took a few seconds before the light eyes fell to the floor and he bowed deeply “Hanai-sama, forgive me for the wait, I did not expect you this soon” He apologized and moved to the side and gestured to leave the bag and coat for him to take care of “Breakfast is almost ready if you so desire” The long haired Japanese stated still keeping his eyes on the floor.
He shouldn't really be surprised, it seemed this family only took appointments or given times for things as a setting for a , with a few hours of that time.. Maybe.
This all meant he'd not be able to get any sleep any time soon. Though he felt annoyance, it didn't show on his face and he was till bowing low.
He did not expect to really be talked to or even really noticed, he was use to it and in a way it had become an escape, they didn't care about him, he didn't have to care about the stuff they might have to rant at him if they had been on talking terms.

Having a servant greeting him at the door wasn't an unusual sensation, being a part of his family after all. But even as he was used to it, his laid back nature did not really allow him to pay much attention to strict differing of classes such as servant and master.

"Domo. I wasn't really waiting, and don't worry about breakfast. You all weren't expecting me yet so-" Michio was interrupted by a slow gurgling deep from within his stomach that slowly whined it's way out of existence.

Michio was silent for a moment after his rumbling stomach finally stopped, the sounds of cicadas chirped along through the trees and a breeze ran past the two of them standing there, ruffling their hair. Then Michio stepped back with an embarrassed cough, looking away while adjusting the thick purple framed glasses sitting on his nose. The honey brown eyes behind them peered cautiously back down at the servant who had come to the door as he mumbled mildly.

"Although if you have something already prepared.."

Standing at 5'9, Michio wasn't exactly the tallest man around, but he did not necessarily find himself short either. Hoisting a duffle back up over one shoulder on his long and lanky body, and took the handle of his rolling suitcase in the other, preparing to take his own luggage as he followed this person inside. But as the other stood up to guide him, Michio realized he'd still yet to see the man's face clearly.

"Hmm?"

He leaned down just a little curiously, then spread his lips into a most alarming smile. Alarming in the fact that it laid like an open book on the young college graduate's face.

"I guess you know my name since you were waiting for me. And you are?"

The servant took a soundlessly deep breath of the fresh air, having enjoyed the light gush of wind and moved back in to the house. It had always been beyond him to why anyone would need so much space. But then most people didn't seem happy with settling for what they actually needed. The door closed with a creaking and then a thud.

“I shall set the table for you, forgive me for having you wait” not that it was really his fault, after all the other had not suppose to be there yet.
The silver eyed male straightened up a bit and was about to show the other towards his room, the long pony tail danced lightly behind him again.

Then came the question, so this was one of those people that would talk to you and not treat you as part of the furniture. But that did not mean they would see you as an actual person either.

“I am Hara.. Hara Kioshi, Hanai-sama” He made another bow before again straightening up.
He was a slender man, pale skinned with intense silvery eyes, the dark lashes made them seem even bigger than they were.

The slender face turned towards the other male for a moment, the soft pink mouth told Michio to follow him. Each step was soundless, the kimono seemed even darker blue then it would on most do to the light skin “Is there anything else that you'd need Hanai-sama, feel free to ask” there were no real emotions to the soft voice.

"It's nice to meet you Hara-kun."

Michio met Kioshi's face with that same easy going smile as before, and he was the type that looked directly in the other's eyes when Kioshi finally glanced upwards. Ah, so that's what his face looked like. The eyes were a curious color, pretty. These absent minded thoughts rolled through Michio's head as he followed the other down through the long hallways of the house, dragging his rolling luggage while another duffle bag hung across his shoulders. This would be all he would need while he was here.

While his mind was wandering the one way, he let his eyes wander another, taking in the old artwork pieces lining the halls sparcely. So clean and so plain, these huge hallways.. why did this old houses have to be styled this way? Michio found it rather dull, but he couldn't help feeling a small pang as well. He remembered these walls a little, and more than anything he remembered the smell of this place. It brought back memories of him running through these same halls, looking so much bigger then.

Who had been the hired hands around here back then? He glanced to the back of Kioshi's head. He didn't look very old, maybe even around Michio's own age, early twenties? Then, had he just replaced someone?

"Well since you're offering, I wouldn't mind if you stopped calling me Hanai-sama. That's my father or my brother. Call me Hanai-san at the very least. So, have you worked here long for Grandma?"

“As you wish Hanai-san” Kioshi answered with a small nod of the head.
So the kid did not remember, that was for the best.
Back then he had more than once accidentally called the boy by his father's name. They had been rather similar in looks at that age, but no child enjoyed being called by their parents names. Thankfully it had only been when he had been alone with the kid, had he called the boy not only by first name but the wrong one, he would have been in trouble.
The child was Manai-sama from the day he was born. It was probably another thing from the old woman to remind him of his place.

“Well I think the concept of what is long is different from person to person, but to me it sure feels like a long time” He replied to the question as they reach the room that belonged to Michio when he came to stay, though it had been very rarely.
Honestly Kioshi wasn't sure how much the boy had been there as a child, he had been busy with some job assignments that had in the later years declined in frequency also he had gotten the sensation that there were other reasons he was kept away from a curious kid.

The pale hand reached out the nails were lightly pointy, he opened the door and moved to the side, so that Michio could enter.
There was not a speck of dust in the room and except for new sheets and a larger bed, the room hadn't really changed much from the last time he had been there. His grandmother had wanted it to be the very same.
“I will come get you as soon as the table is set” He stated softly and made a small bow before he turned and left the room again.
The dark kimono with the white flowery pattern made the man seem almost timeless, like he could fit in to the past, the now and the future as well.

"Eeeeh? That's quite a long answer for just saying you don't feel like telling me."

Michio grinned, a slight crinkle in the corners of his eyes that made them appear even kinder when he did. He wasn't even pretending that Kioshi had gone out of his way not to answer and that he knew it. But he didn't seem bothered by the answer either, and quickly let it drop when they reached his room. Stepping into it, Michio nodded along and waved one hand carelessly after Kioshi.

"Hai hai. Don't worry, I can find the kitchen myself."

He turned and flashed another carefree smile at Kioshi just before the other left. Then he let his honey brown eyes really take in his room. There was that feeling again, like he knew the place but didn't. He could remember it just enough that it was an annoying flutter flying freely around in his brain.

Michio ran a hand back through his short dark hair, pushing back the long bangs that constantly flopped into his face if not kept under control. He ran a long finger across the edge of the desk in the room, then paused to glance out the window. Yes, it was all very familiar. This time he smiled just to himself. it would be a good atmosphere for writing, he could already tell. and that Kioshi man, he was just the kind of person that could get ideas turning in an author's head.

Turning away from his thoughts, Michio took a moment to unpack just a little, getting some clothes in the rooms dresser and his writing things spread out across the desk. On the table beside his bed, he placed an alarm clock that looked like a fat yellow chick hugging the clock to it's belly with tiny wings. He poked it's little beak with a chuckle, then glanced at the arms on it and decided he should probably go find that kitchen now. Now if memory served him...

He stepped out of his bedroom and glanced up the right side of the hall, then down the left before deciding to head in the direction they hadn't come. He hadn't seen the kitchen on the way there, so it must be somewhere around this way.

Right?

Kioshi had made his way back to the kitchen, worrying about whether she had awaken and was waiting annoyed in there before he returned. But he was in luck and managed to set the table for one more without having her there.
As he set the plate and hashi for Michio he wondered if he should make a bigger pot of tea. The silver eyed male had no idea to what kind or how much tea the other would take. And to be honest it brought a little annoyance to him, maybe it was also cause it was getting so late. Being over tired never made him happier, if he even recalled what that word meant.
He like to have the same order in things, so his mind could drift.
With a small sigh he looked the table setting over. Food was not just about taste, it was food for the stomach but also for the eyes, it might by now be an some what old Japanese way of thinking, but they so was he. To him he also enjoyed the scents to be a piece of art so to speak, even if his was better than most.
When foot steps suddenly sounded outside of the door, his mind was so distant and focused on the job at hand, he thought it might be her. But then the door opened and he scolded himself on the inside, even if it did not show on his pretty face.

"Found it!"

Michio grinned as he looked around the kitchen. His eyes half lidded in a relaxed state behind the purple rimmed glasses.

"Umah, it smells good in here. What did you make for breakfast??"

The tall Grandson wandered into the kitchen, and started looking around the counter. Really, he should have headed to the set up dining room once he realized he was in the kitchen. The kitchen was where servants hung out in such a fancy home. But Michio didn't mind in the slightest.

“It is a typical Japanese breakfast with the favorite choices of Hanai-sama, for lunch and dinner I can make some more.. modern dishes for you. Hanai-sama though enjoys the old fashioned ones. Since I did not yet expect you, I am sorry to admit I didn't make a bigger array of choices.” Kioshi bowed his head for a moment before the silver eyes looked up at the other male. He sure had grown, he was no longer the little child he had been glaring at that late night. If he had been able to.. Things would have been so very different.
“I should go make sure Hanami-sama is fine” Not that he really wished to do that.

"Whatever you make is fine."

Michio's eyes fell over Kioshi, watching the other move about the kitchen. He sure kept his head down a lot. What was the other thinking about?

"Ah. Maybe she's in the dining room. I'll go with you. I need to say hello to her at some point. If I remember, it's just down the hall across here, mm?"

Michio turned back towards the door but rather than taking the lead, he followed behind Kioshi when he started walking. Since Kioshi knew where to go first, it only made sense to him. Michio slid his thumbs into the back of his jeans pockets, his cream silk button down shirt hanging squarely on his lanky torso.

When the two of them reached the dining room, they found a small ceramic chibi fox with a note being held in it's mouth. Michio blinked at it. It was just like his family, to have cute things. Not standing on ceremony, he went over and took the note out, quickly unfolding it and reading it out loud.


Good morning Kiki-kun. I've decided to run into town early this morning to pick up some things for my arriving Mimi-tan. Chiha has driven me, make sure everything is ready for Mimi-tan when he arrives. xoxo Kei-chan

Michio blinked at the note before reaching up the scratch the back of his head.

"Eeh? She still uses such childish names for everyone? No one calls me Mimi-tan.. embarrassing."

The honey brown eyes swiveled around to face the one he'd come in with. And his lips spread into that relaxed smile. He didn't much mind that his grandmother had decided to do something last minute. It seemed punctual timeliness didn't really run in the family.

"I guess that means I'm in your hands for now, Hara-kun."

The servant let out a sigh and then offered a small smile to the other. It was as fake as could be, but with how rarely he showed emotions, it would be hard for anyone to tell.
"So you can enjoy your breakfast right away, if there is anything else you need?" Kioshi asked and bowed his head again. The time he had lived in this house have taught him, the longer and more often he showed he was below this family the better.

But then it seemed like most humans loved to have their ego stroked and be in power of others.
The silvery eyes closed for a moment. That old crazy woman, if she hadn't been this rich, wouldn't she be in those homes that some humans put their elders in, it was not like the family itself seemed very close.

Michio gave a small shake of his head. He was a pretty easy to please guy.

"Not really. Although I wouldn't mind some company, if you haven't eaten breakfast yet."

He took note of the constant head bowing, but he didn't say anything about it. He just smiled down at Kioshi. Whatever ideas the servant had about this family, he was getting stuck with the man who wouldn't stop smiling at him. Back when he'd been little, Michio had been a smiler then too. He'd flash the most unguarded of smiles as a child, full of teeth and cheeks pushed up high. It seemed that same unguarded abandon with his feelings and smiles, he'd never grown out of them.

Kioshi gave a small nod "As you wish Hanai-san" He answered.
He was never going to get any sleep today. Maybe she had left to torment him.
For him to be keeping this man company and having to stay up not just all morning but all day.
"Please sit and I do hope you will enjoy the meal" He added and gestured with his hand to take the seat that had been set up, furthest from the door. Though in a normal Japanese house the owner sat close to the door of the room so they could quickly leave without annoying the guests, to get what ever was needed. But in a home like this, the owners never got anything but had it handed to them.

"Are you sure you don't need help bringing it in? It'll make it go faster."

The tall lanky asian man stood there, looking ready to follow Kioshi back out to the kitchen. He was eying Kioshi curiously behind his glasses, one hand reaching up to adjust them again. For a young hired hand, Kioshi was really well trained.

"Hey, did you go to butler school? You got that 'yes sir' face down pat."

He tipped his head down a little, watching Kioshi's face straight on with those honey brown eyes.

“iie, that is not at all needed, I am more the able. So please sit and relax” Kioshi bowed before he turned to the door.
He could not yet make up his mind, whether the other thought he was not good enough at his job and needed help or if the other was messing with him because he was bored. The thought of just wanting to be nice and help was not at all in the long haired male's mind. He had lived here long enough to know, he should have ended that kids life, it might have cost him his own, but then at the least he wouldn't have to be there any longer.
As Kioshi moved in to the hallway and headed towards the kitchen, he let out a sigh. The lack of rest was really making him have some very dark thoughts.
Well that is what he got for believing that man, all those many many years ago. That humans were trust worthy. He had just been a kid and had put trust in the man and now..
“this is not the time nor place” he muttered to himself as he reached the kitchen.

"Ah, okay."

Michio watched Kioshi leave, not putting up much of a fight if the other wanted to do it alone. He turned to look at the table and let his eyes fall on the little fox figurine. He picked it up with a small smile and carried it over to the far seat, sitting down while rolling it over in his hands. Finally he put the little guy in front of him with still room for a plate, so the little figurine was watching him as he looked back at it.

"Western tables are pretty nice, don't you think?"

He grinned at the figurine as he stretched his legs out under the table, enjoying the room that normal japanese tables didn't always provide him.

"Too bad it's not the right season for kotatsu yet though."

His one sided conversation continued idly on as he waited for Kioshi's return. Michio didn't find his talking to inanimate objects very weird. Firstly, there was no one around to gawk and thing him strange. And secondly, it was the creative author in him, that was always looking for new ways to put a story into even the most simplest of things.

Kioshi was use to this and it didn't take him long to get everything set on the tray, leaving out the second set of everything.
He wondered why the woman had left him to met her grandson on his own and it seemed she had known he'd arrive earlier than he had been told. Was everything always a game of some sort to this damn family.
Well at the least she didn't feat that he might hurt the other, but he was not sure if that was a good or a bad thing or what else she was planning.
With small soundless grumble he lifted the tray and made his way out of the kitchen.
How much of what ever the old woman had planned did the kid know?
The silver eyed male looked up at the door to the dinning room took a deep breath before he entered and did his job. The little fox figurine might seem to go unnoticed by him.
But really it did not at all. Taunting him

"Ah, Hara-kun is back! We missed you."

A smile. A wide and warm smile greeted Kioshi with a strange unyielding force when it came to responding to that straight faced expression that Kioshi continued to give him.

"Chibi-tan and I were just wondering about you."

Michio leaned back when Kioshi came to set the tray down with things, giving the other room to do his job. But he looked around curiously as he did at all Kioshi had brought along.

"You brought enough for yourself, right? You're eating breakfast with me?"

"Forgive me Hanai-san, it is not really place for a servant to do and also I do have a lot of things I need to get done. I did not think that it was a that important" Kioshi bowed his head.
KUSO! All those damn thoughts had made him forget, if that old woman find out he'd not hear the end of it.
But maybe this kid wasn't going to tell everything.. Who was he kidding, that was just what this family always did.
Pointing their fat fingers at others, like they themselves were some sort of gods.

"Oh.. well if you have things to do."

Michio nodded lightly, understandingly, his lips turning down slightly into a pout. But that quickly melted back into a softer smile that made the corners of his honey brown eyes crinkle up behind their purple frames.

"I bet you have a lot to do around here. You'll need your strength for that. -Have- you eaten yet this morning? If you haven't, you really should sit and eat with me. C'mon, we'll share. This is more than enough."

One long arm reached over and pulled out the chair beside him, then he patted the seat.

"Having eaten or not having eaten, that doesn't make me less busy Hanai-san, also it would be rude and a bit silly to eat the food off of your plate when there is more than enough left in the kitchen. Though it is kind of you to worry about your staff" Kioshi gave another bow before collecting the tray. He was not going to sit there like a good little dog and be feed some spoiled rich kid's silly whims.
Though in the end if the other forced it he might not have much of a choice. He hadn't really been told what the old woman set of rules for him around her grandkid

"You really are a stickler for rules, aren't you Hara-kun?"

Michio sighed softly and leaned back in his chair, one hand reaching up and running back through is hair. His long black bangs ruffled out around his glasses, falling to either side of the rectangular frames as he looked up at the other.

"Wakata. Sorry for keeping you so long. And this looks good."

He leaned back forward with a flash of a wider smile and put his palms together.

"Itadakimasu!"

After the quick prayer, he picked up his chopsticks and rice bowl and dug in. "Mmm!" his stomach almost grumbled in eagerness and soon he was gobbling down the breakfast bite by hungry bite. For a lanky sized man, he sure could eat.