Between Two Roses - Chapter VIII

“Jurina must be working…”

It was one in the morning when Matsui Rena decided to turn on the television since her eyes couldn’t afford closing at all. She wasn’t a light sleeper, let alone an insomniac. Being an early riser and going to bed at the right time was a practical daily routine she used to. But ever since things went crazy in her life where she ended up living together with a person she would never imagine to be around with, Rena had a right to state that her sleeping schedule was kind of messed up as well. Though she thought this actually couldn’t have happened by any means.

From one channel to another, though she had seen it a lot, varieties were never been in her cup of tea. She prefers animations and dramas which Yuasa thought sort of weird for a person like her. Rena stopped at a comedy show where two people were joking and one of them would smack the other with a giant fan when the partner did a lame one-liner. The heiress suddenly remembered she was in Kanto region which she found watching a show with a total usage of Kansai dialect would be interesting.

Though her eyes focused on the now two jumping comedians, Rena’s mind seemed to wander to the other girl who was now probably doing whatever she wouldn’t want to think about since there was always this unexplained embarrassment coming from her, making a barrier which always told her not to think about what her savior was doing for a living.

The part of her brain unconsciously recalled the time the kitchen in the flat finally be put on use again since the last occupier, which much a surprise to the heiress that Jurina never bothered to dirty herself with a task such as cooking.

“Here, just like what you wrote on the list.” A huff followed by a sound of paper bags being put altogether made Rena averting her attention from the screen.

“Oh, thank you!” Jurina, instead of responding to the expression, commenting about what the older Matsui was religiously watching.

“You…are watching anime?”

“Yes.”

The first seconds Jurina only replied with an odd stare before her lips formed a mockery smile which gradually turned into laughter. The other party’s face instantly reddened.

“W-what’s so funny about it!”

“Aren’t you too old for that! Sorry!” Jurina managed to answer after her laugh turned into giggles. Rena’s cheeks got even puffed hearing the same testimony she had got from Yuasa back then.

“What are your favorites?” despite the fact that she didn’t watch any, Jurina could remember several titles of the latest series. After the 9^th anime title coming out from the heiress lips, the escort lifted her hand, gesturing to stop while still giggling.

“Okay, okay. Your level is unbelievably off the chart. You remind me of someone though.”

“Who?”

“Oh, just an acquaintance in the past. She was so smart but slightly arrogant. She loved anime just like you!” Jurina’s mind instantly comprehended to a couple of things in her flat which she had hidden from the heiress.

“Anyways, you need to save up more. Takeouts are fast and easy, but it will drain your money out before you realize it!”

“Hmm, now that you mention it, they indeed cost much. But I have no time for cooking you know. 

This room I rent practically because I only need place for my clothes. What are you going to make anyway?”

“Your favorite dish.”

Matsui Jurina didn’t realize when she took the spaghetti box at the store back then. Suddenly, as if there were clouds in her head, they immediately casted away in seconds, and a warm sensation which came out from nowhere filling up her stomach, giving her a peaceful and serene feeling.

“What is this for?” with a smile which she failed to hide, Jurina cautiously asked.

“I can’t thank you enough for anything…”

The smile faded in an instant, “…ah I see. So that’s how it is…”

“What’s wrong?”

“Nothing.”

“Nandeyanen!”

The giant fan landed on the shorter comic’s head followed by recorded laugh which was usually heard in comedy shows. Rena smiled lightly, not because of the act of two comedians just showed now, but for the reaction the younger Matsui was displaying when she tasted her cooking which she tried to bring to mind.

“It’s almost done. Want to do a taste test?”

Distracted from the magazine she was thoroughly reading, Jurina looked up at the older girl who was standing behind the counter, cutting vegetables.

“Sure.” Jurina said. She got up and stood behind Rena, peeking the prepared sauce over the heiress shoulder. She happened to notice Rena wasn’t wearing her pendant this time, which made her wonder where the older Matsui would be putting away that necklace since she didn’t perceive anything like that around her flat.

“Smells good.” The escort hesitated whether she had just thrown a compliment for the food or for the natural fragrance of the heiress she just inhaled. It had a hint of flowers and fruits which Jurina couldn’t figure out what they were. Aside from that, it was a lovely scent.

Matsui Rena took a spoonful of the sauce and directed it to the younger girl’s awaiting mouth.

“What do you think?” without even looking at Jurina’s face, Rena kept cutting the carrots. After five seconds and still got no single answer, the older Matsui turned her head only to find Matsui Jurina was in tears.

“Are you okay?!” Rena dropped the knife and turned her body to examine the teary-eyed girl.

“…picy…”

“What?”

“Spicy!!!!”

“Aaaaah! I’m sorry, I’m sorry!” Rena hastily marched towards the fridge to take a bottled water and passed it to the younger girl whose lips slightly swollen red from the fiery aftertaste. Worriedly watching Jurina drank the entire water in one gulp, Rena decided to ask.

“W-was that too spicy for you?”

“Gosh Rena, have you tasted that yourself?” Jurina stared at her in disbelief, her whole mouth felt numb and she took a can of juice to wipe away the still remained sweltering savor.

“Yes, and I thought it was okay if I use the same amount of chili powder I usually did back at home…”

“Usually? How are you still alive?!”

Sleep started to overcome her sense and since she didn’t really watch the television at all, Rena turned it off and threw herself to the bed. Apparently recalling her moments with Jurina was always successfully driving her to sleep. This activity had been unconsciously done by her for the past few days every time she experienced trouble sleeping. Strangely she didn’t suffer from any when the escort joined in the same bed with her when she was still in recovery. Rena found it odd if the absence of the younger Matsui at night was the one which had caused her disorganized sleeping habit.

As she snuggled comfily inside the blanket, her hand made its way to her hair, feeling that there was no more raven locks after her shoulders where it ended. She remembered she was the one asking for this; it was nothing to be regretted about. Jurina’s stories about the summer festival returned as she closed her eyes. Of course it wasn’t like something she never heard before, but listening about it from someone who had had real experience being there was much more interesting than the descriptions she had read from the book.

xxx

If it wasn’t because of Rena’s conservativeness, Jurina wouldn’t be spending half an hour fumbling through her wardrobe to find what attire fit the heiress the best. She had partly sorted all the dresses and because she didn’t have yukata which is what Japanese usually wear at summer festivals, Jurina had to dive longer to find something which both suitable for summer heat and also Matsui Rena’s preference because giving her a sweater or jacket sounded like a terrible idea.

“What do you generally wear at home?”

“I don’t have much clothes, when I do, they are similarly like the plain white gown I wore when I came here…”

“No way, didn’t they buy you clothes or something?” there was an image popped inside the escort head of 

Rena trapped like a princess who had a special room filled by her own clothes, shoes, and cosmetics.

“Not usually. Besides, who would be going to see me anyway?”

“I would,” The younger Matsui instantly turned her head, flashed a smile, “If I could.”

Rena said nothing.

Rolling her eyes, Jurina went back to the task while pondering why the heiress didn’t give any reaction to any of her flirtatious jokes and gags she had thrown so far. Though she was in a good humor, questioning the fact that Rena never even flinched for her charm, kind of bringing her pride down.

“Are jeans and shirt okay with you?” sighing, after going back and forth, her choice finally went back to the very basic thing of fashion Jurina ever found about.

“Never wear them before; I’ll see if they fit me.”

“Seriously? What era were you living in?” Jurina handed a sky blue collared sleeveless shirt and a pair of simple black jeans. Seeing Rena cautiously eyed the pile of garments in her hand as if hesitating to take them, Jurina threw her cheeky grin.

“Even a princess needs to disguise to see the world, eh?” It was another vague attempt from the escort to see if the charm she had used to many women would likely have an impact to the precautious heiress.

“What do you say?”

“Forget it,” Jurina pushed the other Matsui entering the bathroom “tell me if you need another size!” and slammed the door shut leaving Rena in confusion.

xxx

The older Matsui didn’t know why she had been holding her breath for almost all the time Jurina was behind her, who now was busy combing her hair. She was usually calmed and remained quiet all the time the escort was around, but something unknown had made her fidgeting in her seat when she felt the familiar presence behind her. Intended to break the somewhat uncomfortable silence, Rena initiated a conversation,

“So…did things go well yesterday?” Rena remembered that she woke up this morning finding Jurina fell asleep again with her head drowned between her arms on the table. Judging from the situation, Rena could assume the younger’s Matsui’s business had gone back to normal. The light touches on her hair suddenly stopped.

“One former client and one desperate beauty. So, nope.”

“Desperate?”

“Well…”

In that brief moment, the awkward tranquility between them slowly but sure melted along with each words spewing out from Jurina’s lips Rena was devotedly listening. Nothing less nothing more, it was almost like confession than a story.

“I guess it’s just my unfortunate then.”

Jurina had expected Rena to be quiet as usual, hiding her comments behind the meaningful silence she always wearing. It was considered lucky if she had managed Rena to speak out her modest statement which was usually no more than one sentence. However, it was turn out to be the opposite.

“Are people out there as good as you?”

That was meant to be remained unspoken, at least not with the voice Jurina could hear. As soon as she had realized muttering that out, the Matsui heiress’ cheek turned red for a second before she heard a distinct chuckle.

“You will change that opinion if you meet people other than me. I’m not as good as you think.” Jurina’s dainty hands brushed the silky tresses; she had tried different hairstyles to be applied to the other Matsui; ponytail, braid, but what looked best was indeed none. Her natural characteristics subdued any of her experiments so Jurina thought it was best to leave the locks down.

“I should apply some makeup as well.” Jurina shifted aside to get her personal cosmetics box.

“Would it help?”

“I wasn’t talking about disguising. I was talking about you. But well, that could do too.”

“I never wear any.”

Jurina rolled her eyes.

“I’ve expected that.” She took a small bottle of foundation and when she realized Rena’s skin tone was slightly paler than the concealer, it dumbfounded her.

“You know, I’ve been longing to say this but, your skin is so pale. In a good way.”

“I guess I took it from my Mom.” Rena faintly smiled at the indistinct compliment. The escort started applying the liquid to conceal Rena’s mole under her eye and other complexion people could recognize as one’s true identity. When her fingers contacted with the heiress’ face, she realized Rena had a really soft skin, which was exquisite to touch.

Jurina had met many women who looked more like sphinx cat the time she woke up beside them in the morning when all the applied makeup had faded along her interest towards them the night before. This made her harder to find customer due to the unchanged picky attitude she had brought from the time when she lived in Tokyo and blended with Roppongi nightlife where her escort career started. When she went back to her birthplace in Nagoya since that yakuza district had brought many bitter memories, Jurina even found it harder to find girls who suit her category. However, things went differently when she met the girl she was now taking care in hands, Matsui Rena is indeed a beautiful being from the start.

And turned out she was the only one who Jurina couldn’t seduce no matter how many times she tried.

On the other hand, Rena, who finally calmed after the sudden discomfort, her heart skipped a beat and almost jolted in edginess knowing Jurina had moved and sat before her. Her previous agitation was returning when their eyes met for seconds. Jurina’s brief stare somehow drilled into her, as if looking inside her soul. Knowing she couldn’t turn her head to another direction since she was to stay still while being done, Rena chose to close her eyes.     

  

“Frankly speaking, this isn’t going to be a good idea.”

“I’m bothering you too much, aren’t I? If you feel like it’s best not to go then I won’t force you.”

“No, no, no. After all, it’s me who wants to take you there in the first place.”

“But you seem to be afraid of something. Well, me too actually…” Rena’s mind suddenly filled with the image of armies in black suit led by her father.

“What are we going to do if they caught us? I mean me.” Rena asked again.

“Nobody is going to get caught. Didn’t I say I’ll protect you?”

xxx

How tempting it was for Matsui Rena to let go off Jurina’s hand the time they entered the crowded venue. She felt like stopping at every corner and stall to try everything they sold and displayed but Jurina seemed to have her own destination of wherever she had planned to take the heiress to. Looking around, Rena found people, especially women, were wearing yukata, happi, jinbei, and other traditional attributes and she thought she and the other Matsui would stand out before she noticed there were many others wearing normal clothes as well.

After they had passed several game booths and yatai, Jurina brought them lining before a wooden stall.    

“I’m glad this old man still selling his famous yakisoba here! You should try it Rena-chan!”

The term –chan the escort just used caught the older Matsui’s attention. And this didn’t go unnoticed. Rena saw Jurina smiled through the glasses the escort had lent to her.

“You look even more beautiful tonight.” There’s satisfaction in her tone as the younger Matsui saying that. 

Unbeknownst to Jurina, as she averted her eyes when the old man taking their order, Matsui Rena was blushing. She had gotten the same flattering remarks many times before but it somehow felt different as she suddenly got a warm feeling in some certain parts of her body. And she could have sworn it didn’t relate to the weather.   

Having used to the festival atmosphere, despite of their cautiousness which not leaving one bit, Jurina had managed to take the escaping girl to almost every booth Rena was interested in. She let Rena to buy anything she wanted since things in festivals are cheaper but she determined not to have her hands full given that she was to protect the heiress and letting herself stay as close as possible was her main mission today as she might be losing Rena in such crowd location. Hence Jurina never let go of her hand.

“This looks really good…” Rena stared at the candied apple on stick in her hand. She never knew the actual thing was bigger than she saw in the anime. They sat on a bench to unwrap and review anything the Matsui heiress had got in hand and Jurina couldn’t help but giggle seeing Rena’s attitude just like a child being taken to Disneyland for the first time. She didn’t expect Rena to buy almost all of the street snacks in less than two hours like that.

“Look at this taiyaki, it shaped like fish, so cute…ah and I haven’t eaten yakisoba you bought. But I really want to try this too…what should I do?” Jurina quietly chuckled seeing Rena mumbling to herself like that. With that outlook, no one would believe that the girl who was busy deciding what to eat was actually six years older than her. Jurina finally got to see the same expression the older girl was showing like when she bought her melon bread, it was addictive.

The younger Matsui silently unwrapped the paper cover of fish-shaped cakes and softly shoved one into the unaware heiress still mumbling mouth. Her words muffled all of sudden and she turned to the culprit only to find a playful grin shot back at her.

“Hnnn nnn nnn?”

Jurina couldn’t help but laugh.

“Your face is so funny! I should take a picture of that, wait.” Jurina hurriedly fumbled her jeans pocket and took her mobile phone out and aimed at the now confused Rena. With a quick flash, the escort giggled at the result which portrayed Rena with half of the pastry hung out from her mouth. She then showed it to the befuddled victim.

“W-why are you taking picture?!” it was embarrassing for Rena seeing that the other girl couldn’t stop the mischievous giggle while seeing her in such foolish state.

“It’s interesting to be able to see the other side of you.” Jurina retreated from her laughter and softly smiled. 

Rena was too bewildered to say anything in return.

“I really wanted to talk to you about many things. But somehow I couldn’t manage to keep up the conversation,” the locked box inside her heart burst open and Jurina decided to pour them all because she couldn’t hold it any longer, all her actual feelings towards the heiress “you’re so quiet and I didn’t want to say things that probably hurt your feelings. I never really had a company to talk to before.”

Rena only stared as she was trying to understand the sudden confession to where this conversation was heading at. Suddenly she forgot everything about the festival and she had turned her whole attention to the girl before her.

“Clients are clients. They don’t relate to my personal life. I always tell my made-up stories while listening to their problems as they are parts of my job. Hence I’ve been feeling lonely for quite long. Then you came, a total stranger who had no idea who I was and neither you to me.” Jurina paused to take a breath. Words kept pouring from her mouth yet her eyes were staring at somewhere else but Rena’s. Something just kept her from doing it.

A passerby wearing happi walked past them both with his Pomeranian. Jurina who likes dogs was distracted for a second as it reminded her that she owned one before. Back then when she still had a returning place called home.

“You’re different from people I’ve met. I’ve always hated selfishness. And there is none in your eyes which made me want to know you more. You’ve been a great company for this one month. And I can’t do anything to return the favor but taking you to see the world you always want to live in. I want to show you everything from now on.” Jurina ended her sentence with an appropriate bow. She really showed a great respect to the woman who now was supposed to be in a honeymoon trip with whoever old man was about to marry her beforehand.

However, Rena wasn’t expecting something like this at all.

“Thank you so much…I…I…” a finger landed on her lips, stopping the stuttering.

“It’s okay, I’m sorry for saying all that so sudden. It’s just…I haven’t found the right time doing it. I’m glad that I can now.” Jurina’s hand made her way to the abandoned taiyaki and once more, offering it to Rena.

“It’s best to eat it while it’s still warm.”

“Thank you…” Rena received it from Jurina’s hand and cautiously took a bite.

“What do you think?”

“It’s really good!”

“Glad you like it.” the time the escort had finished the sentence, she dived her head to the pastry in Rena’s hand and took a bite. Rena almost jumped reacting to the abrupt action.

“Hmm…yes, it’s good.” Jurina said while chewing. The appropriateness she just showed back then was suddenly nowhere to be seen. She had returned to her sassy self.

Rena raised brows at the taiyaki which now its tail and head went missing, thanks to Jurina’s unexpected attack.

“The fireworks will start soon. I’m sure you don’t want to miss this thing so, let me help you finish these.” The younger Matsui’s impish smile got even lively.           

Jurina found a hard time going through the mass of crowd which now gradually moving to the same area the fireworks was about to be lit at. They should’ve gone there half an hour before so they wouldn’t get stuck in the sea of humans like this. The escort made sure Rena was always behind her, the grip around her wrist became stronger.

“Rena! We’re there just a bit more!”

“I see!” they didn’t have choice but to shout as the way of communicating to each other since the venue was getting more and more crowded as today’s festival was the prime and also the closure with the last ceremonial of bon-odori and hanabi which always attract more visitors than the day before.

After few attempts of forcing their way out through the waves of fascinated tourists, Jurina finally inhaled a deep breath as she could find space of air again. She heard pants from the other girl she was still holding, probably trying to catch her breath as well since it was kind of hard moving through the cramped venue, let alone breathing properly. Jurina wanted to make sure Rena was okay, she let go of her hand and turned her body.

“Rena, are you ok-WHAT!? WHO ARE YOU!?”

Before her was a girl, probably in her teenager, judging from the way she dressed and how her hair was done. The astonished escort happened to notice the girl’s wrist had turned red due to the strong hold Jurina was doing all along. Jurina suddenly felt anger boiling inside her. Knowing that she had failed doing such a simple task and the heiress was completely nowhere to be seen. Seeing the anger in Jurina’s eyes, the girl immediately ran away scared.

Matsui Rena definitely went missing.