Andromeda

Yuki and Saki did not know how they should react beyond their state of shock at hearing that Chiharu was the granddaughter of this elderly man and part of the entire estate. “Granddaughter?!” said the two of them as being all they could respond with at the moment.

Chiharu was visibly becoming bothered by the attention as well as the reactions that she was receiving. “Grandfather! This is none of their business!” She turned to him trying to get him to stop embarrassing her in front of a bunch of strangers.

“Don’t be rude, Chiharu! They’re our guests.”

The stunned reaction for Yuki was quickly passed by his own realization of a fact that he found too amazing to ignore. “So this house is yours, Chiharu? That’s so cool!” Saki was quick to snap out of her paralysis when she heard Yuki acting like his usual self. She stepped in and elbowed him again to get him to be quiet. “Saki!?”

The elderly man smiled and laughed finding the scene to be enjoyable. “My you have some lively friends, Chiharu.”

“They aren’t my friends! I would never associate with that weakling!” While she did not point out to who she was directing her insult towards, it was pretty clear to them. Yuki turned pale again getting hit with a heavy weight that broke his back.

Chiharu’s grandfather continued to smile and turned to look down at the young students. “Well let’s begin this proper. I’m Masahiko Chinen.”

Chapter 42 – Stranger Still

Yuki snapped back to reality seeing that there was a need for introductions. He stood up next to Saki looking straight forward to the old man. “I’m Yuki Hayashi, sir!”

“Saki Furukawa…”

They looked over at the still silent boy putting all of the attention on him hoping that the pressure would make him speak. However, the efforts did not seem to be necessary as he willing gave his name, finally. “Haruo Yoneda…”

‘Haruo, huh?’ Yuki thought as he was glad to finally have name to his face.

Saki turned her head back towards the front taking it in. ‘Haruo Yoneda… He’s got our school uniform, but I don’t recognize the name. I guess we do have a large school though…’ She had hoped hearing a name would have sparked something in her mind to know who the boy was, but he remained a mystery to her even now.

Masahiko nodded as he heard the names and smiled back. He gave them a warm voice keeping with the kind grandfather appearance that he projected. “All fine names. Well then. As I’ve said you’re our guests for the evening. I would like apologize for manner that had to be brought here, but our family is well known and wealthy making us the target of many enemies. Considering how you met my granddaughter, we had to be cautious, but any suspicions have been dropped. So as recompense for your troubles I welcome you to my home and have a fine dinner prepared for you.”

“Dinner?!” Yuki said with his eyes growing wide and immediately being drawn in by the idea of having a banquet feast in a fancy manor as he believed.

Saki let go a sigh knowing that it would be his reaction to the idea of food. He had already forgotten or forgiven everything that happened. “That’s such a gracious offer, but—“

“You don’t have to worry, Miss. We already contacted all of your families letting them know of what has happened. I spoke to them personally to assure them of your safety and that you’ll be our guests for the night.”

It had seemed that the old man had planned out everything in advance. Saki stepped back feeling her footing being taken out from underneath her. The way that it was being presented to them it did not seem like he was going to take no for an answer.

“What’s wrong, Saki? He said he already talk to our families. So there’s nothing wrong with relaxing. It’s Saturday so we don’t have to worry about school either!” He was almost too excited to contain himself, but he could see that Saki was still having a difficult time with everything. Yuki did not understand why she could not just accept what was happening and go along with it. This was a much more exciting time than they could be having somewhere else. “Come on, Saki!”

She did not want to have to listen to the whining of Yuki for much longer. The whole heavy handed manner did not sit with her very well even with the nice grandfather look that he had. Saki could not get rid of the unsettling feeling that she had about the house and the Chinen Clan. “Fine…” Yuki jumped over and hugged Saki forcing her to respond by grabbing him by the neck to get him off her.

They were escorted out of the chambers by Chiharu who lead them back to their room where they would wait. Only Masahiko was left in the room, but out of the shadows of the wall behind Masahiko entered the aged man that had spoken to Yuki in the park. Masahiko did not turn, but seemed to already know that he was present behind him. “So Tamotsu, what are your impressions of our guests?” The kind gentle expression that had been in his face faded away as more wrinkles seemed to develop in a stern look.

“They’re quite…energetic…”

“And the Hayashi boy?”

“He seems normal, but…”

“Yes, I couldn’t tell anything from looking at him. Either he’s a good actor or he’s a simple high school student.” While Yuki and the others had been in the car ride and waiting in the room for an audience with Masahiko, Masahiko had a background check run on all of them. As he had spoken to the children, he had his suspicions and if they were a threat to his family he would have had to deal with the problem. However, they all came up without any problems. “However, it concerns me when a record is too clean. He has almost nothing on record, even for someone his age.”

“I’ll monitor him, sir.”

“From a distance. For now it’s only a groundless gut feeling, no sense over reacting yet…”

“…very well…” Tamotsu disappeared into the shadows of the chamber leaving Masahiko alone once more with a now pensive face. He raised his thin fingers to his face trying to understand his dilemma better. In the end, he hoped that it would be nothing, but the cautious nature of an old man.

When the dinner was ready for them they were called out with escort by Chiharu, still very much bothered by the whole affair, to the main dining room in the main house. It was very traditional with them all sitting on the floor along a long dark oak table covered in a wide assortment of traditional Japanese food. It became very clear to them how old fashion the family was and focused on old values while others were keeping with modern times. The dinner went as to be expected with Yuki at the table. It was shared with Masahiko and Chiharu, but the others that they had seen were not present.

Yuki returned from the dinner dropping on the mats with his stomach filled and very pleased. He leaned his head back to look over across the floor at Haruo. “So you’re Haruo, huh? What class you in?” It had not taken Yuki very long to recognize the uniform, but the boy had been very unapproachable the entire time that starting a conversation proved to be difficult. The difficulty continued with Haruo remaining quiet in the corner. “Hmm…”

“Let him be, Yuki,” Saki said sitting down at the table with very little to do. However, that was quick to change as the door to the room slid open with the aged man, Tamotsu, at the entrance looking in at them. Saki was the first to stand and approach him, needing to do something. “Yes?”

“Mr. Chinen would like to inform you that the baths have been prepared for you. You will find clothes present in the rooms for after you’re done. Please leave your uniforms to be cleaned.”

The door began to close as Tamotsu was leaving when Yuki jumped up no longer looked fatigued from the meal. “Who’s going first?!” He looked around the room checking the reactions on the others faces to try to get an idea, but he seemed to be the only very enthusiastic about a bath.

Tamotsu returned back to the entrance briefly hearing Yuki. “I should let you know it is divided by gender and large enough for all of you.” He departed the room’s threshold disappearing into the halls leaving them to look around at each other.

“Well come on! Let’s go then. It’s no surprise that a place like this would have a huge bath.” Yuki grabbed up Haruo and dragged along Saki both protesting (one more loudly than the other). Their escort at the door showed them the way to the bath.

As they had been told it was divided with a clearly marked sign on both doors. Yuki waved to Saki as she entered leaving the two of them to go on by themselves. Saki could not help the weird feeling that she was getting as she undressed. There was a modest yakata left on the counter that she noticed remembering what she had been told. ‘What’s going on? This seems to be a little much for an apology. Though Yuki would probably say that he is just a really nice old man that wants to be generous. Yuki’s so naïve…’

She grabbed a towel holding it close to herself feeling like she was at a public bath. However, when she stepped out into what she thought was going to be bath she found that she was outside instead. She checked around suddenly feeling a little exposed, but saw the tall bamboo fence that gave the entire area privacy. In front of her was what looked like something she would find in a hot spring rather than a bath. Saki stepped forward feeling cautious and nervous knowing that this was someone else’s house.

“Who’s there?!” a young voice said disturbing the water as they turned upon hearing Saki approach.

Saki jumped back almost dropping her towel. She felt put on the spot being expected to give an answer to her intrusion to the girl that she could not see. “Umm…I was told that the baths were prepared for us and…”

“Oh it’s you,” Chiharu said coming out of the shadows realizing that it was Saki. She entered into the middle of the pool of water staring at Saki.

“Chiharu, I-I…” Saki froze on the spot feeling the glaring look from Chiharu. She normally would not have had a problem with Chiharu staring at her, but she felt more vulnerable at the moment. It did not help that the glare felt like she was checking her out.

“You going to come in? You’ll catch a cold standing out in the night air…”

“Oh! Right!” Saki nodded and entered the water feeling the heat coming off of the surface as her legs got the immediate taste. She eased herself in still feeling like she was an uninvited guest with the way that Chiharu was looking at her. “Umm…this is an impressive bath.” Saki tried to smile and change the mood that left a thick tension in the air.

Chiharu settled down into the water resting at the edge of the bath. “Grandfather had it put in wanting to imitate an open air hot spring that he visited.”

“Oh I see!” Saki could not help but feel some of the impressive awe that Yuki had been showing by how wealthy her family had to be. “Your family must to be very wealthy. What do they do?”

It was as though a taboo had been spoken. Chiharu’s look narrowed and tightened up turning away from Saki. She tightened up her lips not saying a single word. After that it did not take a hint to get the point across to Saki that she had touched on a sensitive area. She choked on her words trying to find something that would be safe to talk about. “Umm…You’re pretty strong, Chiharu…”

“So? What’s your point?”

Saki tried to smile becoming uncomfortable and embarrassed by the way the conversation was going so poorly. She could not remember how long it had been since she had this much trouble talking to someone. ‘If it was Yuki I could just talk and he’d pretend to be listening…’ She looked up crossing her eyes a little regretting her fortune and then focused back down. “Who trained you?”

“Grandfather,” said Chiharu shortly still not giving into idle chatter.

“Your grandfather? He must be really strong!”

“Yeah…but I’ll beat him one day. I promise you!”

Saki could see a slight glow in Chiharu’s eyes as she talked. She had found something that was easy to talk about. “What’ll you do when you beat him?”

“I’ll look for someone stronger!”

‘Sounds like a typical response.’ Saki could not help be sweat a little at hearing the simplistic answer from Chiharu. It seemed that fighting and getting stronger was the only things that she focused on. They also seemed to be the only things that got her excited and loosened up her words to speak. Saki was not going to try to rock the boat as much as she disagreed with the view.

Chiharu shifted in the water and threw her hand up dismissively. “Well I guess I’ll take over as head of the clan, too.”

“Head of the clan? That sounds like a lot to place on you…”

“I’m the only heir to the clan. It’s my chosen duty…” The manner in that Chiharu was speaking made it clear that she was not pleased by the responsibility.

Saki felt a little confused and sorry for Chiharu. She did not realize that she had such a weight that was placed on her at such a young age. However, there was something that bothered her still. “But what about your family? Your father and mother? Can’t they lead the clan?”

“They’re both dead.”

“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean…”

“I don’t care. It happened a long time ago.” Chiharu’s voice was so cold and empty when she spoke about her parents. It almost seemed unnatural leaving a jarring aura through the bath. There was no caring in her voice, but Saki held her words for a minute as she stared.

Saki was not certain what she should say at the moment. The flat reaction that she got from Chiharu made her feel like it was a sensitive subject, yet the tone in her voice seemed to be contrary to that. She wanted to think that Chiharu did care, but was just hiding it to be brave. “You’re very strong, Chiharu. I don’t know if I could ever be the same…” Saki’s voice trailed after she her mind suddenly flashed to Yuki making her choke up. She closed her eyes regretting where her thoughts traveled.

“I’ve been trained to not have emotions. So it’s not a big deal. Besides I hardly remember them.”

It sounded like some cliché from an action movie when Saki heard Chiharu say it. She could not really believe that it was true. The fact that Chiharu had some difficulties with people was clear, but not to allowed emotions. ‘What sort of training is that?’ She could not let it go ignored or dismissed so casually. “You can’t just get rid of them like they’re a possession! Emotions are necessary!”

“I don’t need them! They just make you weak!”

“They make you human!”

Chiharu narrowed her eyes at Saki staring at her intently for a moment. Uncertainty rose up through the tension as they held in contact by the eyes. She then broke it off and stood up from the water. “I’ve had enough of the bath for tonight…” The door of the bath slid open and closed quickly leaving Saki alone in the water to her thoughts.

The night passed on in solitude as Saki returned back to their room. Yuki and Haruo were already back waiting on her. They had been given sleeping arrangements to provide Saki with another room next to them for privacy. Yuki read his manga and Haruo remained his usual quiet self. Saki was left quiet weighing her conversation with Chiharu on her mind. It made it difficult for her to sleep into the late hours as she stared at the ceiling.

‘There’s a lot that I’m missing about this family. That feeling still hasn’t gone away…’ Saki was finally getting sleepy and ready to close her eyes when there was a disturbance that brought her to her feet. She heard several people running by the room bringing her curiosity to open the door of her room. ‘The guards are gone…’ She looked over to see that the noise had gotten Yuki up as well as he opened the door staring at her.

Suddenly Chiharu came running through the hall with an unmistakable look of shock on her face. Saki and Yuki agreed to themselves and followed behind her. They did not recognize most of the place, but eventually they came to a room that was stained with blood on the doors. Yuki and Saki had become more than accustomed to the sight that it barely fazed them until they looked in the room.

“Grandfather!!” Chiharu shouted as she ran to Masahiko’s bed side where blood was pooling out from his lifeless body.

To be continued…