Five – Dinner

Linea was hesitant at first to step into the room. All of the maids were looking at her in anticipation, waiting for her to do something. Taking a good swallow, she finally bottled the courage to enter the room and get this over with. She was beginning to tire from waking up at five-thirty that morning to go to school and take a very short Calculus and an Advanced English Literature reading quiz.

She took a few steps forward and was in the room when the maids bowed and left the room, sliding the door closed behind themselves. Now completely alone with the man Kanahan, Linea was ready to leave.

"Welcome, Linea. You look rather nice."

"Well, I didn't have a choice in the matter. I'd rather be in a pair of sweatpants and a baggy shirt, but that ain't happening."

A small spread across his face. "That sounds relaxing."

"Hecks yeah! Like heaven engulfing you," Linea stated matter-of-factly.

Kanahan found himself staring intently at her, his head on his fist, elbow in the kotatsu as they had seated themselves for dinner. She had been rather awkward in the kimono; she was probably afraid of hurting it. From the moment he set sight on her, he couldn't help but stare. As she was from a different place, she looked not like himself and spoke differently. Different made him entertained.

"So for starters, Linea-san, where do you come from? I distinctly remember the word 'world' escape you."

Linea picked up the pair of chopsticks placed at her setting and looked at them. They were a dark wood color with engravings filled with gold and ivory settings all the way down the length. They felt so smooth to the touch; almost as if they were dipped in wax to keep them from rotting away. She set them between her fingers and began the task of collecting some of the sushi on the place before her.

"You have them set up incorr-"

He was stopped short by her menacing glare as she readjusted them slightly and was able to retrieve a small ball of rice with fresh kelp adorning it. She popped it into her mouth and lifted an eyebrow.

"You were saying?"

"Ah, yes," he shook his head, recovered. "I remember you sating earlier you were not from this 'world.' Would you care to explain that?"

Linea popped another rice ball into her mouth and swallowed before answering. "Yes, I would. My name is Linea and I am not from here in Japan. My family—"

"Japan?"

"Yeah. Where I come from, this is fifteenth century Japan."

"Huh." Kanahan was very intrigued now.

"My family consists of my father, mother, and two twin siblings who are younger than me. I was born Linea Wickam on June fifteenth, nineteen ninety-three in Toledo, Ohio, United States."

Kanahan's eyes widened as he heard this. "My dear, this makes you a very old woman—"

"Actually, you've been dead about seven-hundred years before I was born. I believe I was actually transported back in time, but this part of Japan does not fit my history and culture-studies program."

The man was silent as Linea popped a sushi roll into her mouth. She was only being courteous as she was still full of steak and potato.

"What is it like, the future? Do you still have monarchy and the system?"

She shook her head as she swallowed. "Died out long ago. Royalty now are just for show. A lot of the countries now are run by individuals elected by the people. Some still have monarchy, but it isn't lasting."

Kanahan's hand fell to the kotatsu. "Run by the people? How absurd! Does this United States you come from have appointed persons?"

"Mhm. First country in the world to do so."

The man was speechless. "That is revolutionary! Purely breaking the bounds of tradition."

"America has been that way for two-hundred plus years. It all started after we declared independence from our parent nation of Britain."

"Interesting," Kanahan rested his cheek on his fist again.

Linea popped another bite of sushi into her mouth and noticed the man had not touched the food I front of him. She set the pair of sticks down and folded her hands in her lap. Bowing her head, she muttered a small apology and asked if she could leave for the night.

Silence.

"Are you not hungry? Surely a girl like you could eat more than a little bit of sushi."

Linea looked up at him, her head still bent.

"I think that question should be directed at you, my good man." She lifted her head now. "I have not seen you do anything but look at me since I first set foot in your sight. It's really starting to freak me out."

Kanahan could only smile softly. "Forgive me, Linea-san. You are a very mesmerizing girl."

She felt her cheeks heat for a moment. He's flirting with you! This is your anniversary with Nathan. What are you doing?

Shaking her head to rid herself of those thoughts, Linea stood up and gave a small bow. It's for the good. Sleep first, then worry about the family. She turned away from him and headed for the door.

"That was her favorite combination."

Stopping abruptly, Linea turned around, confusion evident on her face. "The heck are you talking about?"

"That kimono was my nee-chan's favorite. She used to wear it all the time. You remind me of her a lot."

Linea raised an eyebrow. "You thought your sister was 'mesmerizing?'"

"In a way. She was very independent and curious. Nee-san walked her own path, just like I believe you do."

Uh-oh. He's going with the compliments again.

"This was very nice, Kanahan-sama. I would love to stay, but I have had a long day and am very tired. May I please return—"

"You're running away because I would not eat, am I correct?"

Daaaang!

"Please sit, Linea-san. I want to talk some more."

Linea thought for a moment before making her way back to the kotatsu. He sounded honest. He sounded…lonely.

She knelt back down and watched as he reached over and grabbed his pair of ornate chopsticks and picked up a sushi roll and popped it into his mouth, gaining the approval from his female companion.

"So, um, Kanahan-sama—"

"Please do not use that formality when it is just you and me. Just call me 'Kanahan' if it would please you."

Linea opened her mouth to utter a response, but snapped it shut and glared at him.

"We are not going to be alone like this. If we are, I will not cater to your whim. I will call you 'Kanahan-sama' and you will refer to me as 'Lin'."

Kanahan leaned in close to her. "This isn't a negotiation. If that is the case, you may call me 'Kanahan-sama,' but then I get to call you my little 'Neko—'"

Out of nowhere came a flash of movement and a slight pass of air in front of his face. Before he knew it, Linea had her pair of chopsticks in front of his nose, just barely touching him, her arm bent a little too indicate she had the distance for a purpose. Kanahan gulped and his eyes crossed looking at the chopsticks, his hand a few inches from his face.

"I told you the next time you called me that I would end you."

"I-I seemed to have put you in a dangerous mood," his voice wavered slightly.

"Uh, yeah," her tone stated matter-of-factly.

"I apologize."

The sticks didn't move.

"I sincerely apologize?"

Still no movement.

"I apologize…Neko-chan—"

Linea sharply jabbed the sticks against his nose, causing him to hiss in slight pain. She took her sticks back and began to eat again.

He could only look at her. Just then, he felt like he was playing with his older sister, Rima. She would do the same thing—only not as hard.

"My nee-san would do the same thing," he told Linea, quickly rubbing his nose.

"Actually, what did happen to her? No one can tell me so I only assume she was married off."

He was hesitant at first. "You can say that."

Linea nodded her head as she popped the last rice ball into her mouth. "That's good.

"I wanted to ask you something about what Taro-kun said to me earlier."

Kanahan's head tilted slightly. "What has that disobedient mongrel said now?"

"He said I was here because you were bored and needed entertainment. Is that really the case?"

There was a moment of silence before the mumbled answer of "That fool went too far…but—"

"'But' what? Seriously, I want in the loop—"

"He went against the contract and brought someone from a faraway place. And…" he fell silent again momentarily, "I think I am starting to like your presence here. I dearly hope I am never bored of you.'

Linea was shocked to stammers. "I…ah…no, no way—"

"When you jabbed me with your utensils, I consider it a resemblance of an indirect kiss."

Really? So this is what happens in those silly graphic novels I hear so much about.

"Come here," she leaned forward, indicating to him to do the same. He leaned forward as she whispered, "Want a real kiss?"

As he leaned in close, Linea struck him across the face with great force. Kanahan's head snapped to the side, forcing him to gaze at the wall for a while. Linea was panting form rage.

"How dare you! You have the gall to suggest this to me and expect me to hand you affection?" She stood up fast, ignoring the black spots dotting her vision. "I have a man in my life already, a man who I love greatly, and I will not give that up for a pompous, lecherous ass like you! Tell your foolish minion to let me go home because whatever I say escapes him and all he cares about is getting into my pants.

"Good night, Kanahan-sama. I hope your meal lodges in your filthy throat and impairs you!"

Angry beyond the veil of red, Linea pulled the kanzashi form her hair and threw it at the ground as she made her way to the door and forcefully slid it open. Sitting on the stairs waiting for her was Yuni, who looked upset at Linea's furious expression. Yuni watched as Linea pulled at the remaining hair done up, not caring that she pulled hairs from her own scalp and ignored the stinging pain.

"Lin-sama—"

"Please," Linea was harsh but apologetic with her tone. Yuni followed Linea all the way back to her wing, where she quietly changed into a nightgown and slid into bed, crying herself to sleep, crying over how this was most likely a dream she would wake from, she hoped.

Right after she left, Kanahan touched the cheek that flamed with stinging heat. He knew he deserved it. He knew he should not have made the night worse.

He began to mull things over in his head. Where she came from, her family, her lifestyle. Even the rant she yelled was insightful.

At that moment, he fell in love with her.

~~ ARGH! It took me an hour to type this and I'm just so glad to get another chapter down. Good lord I'm tired (it's just after one in the morning when I'm finishing this…and I have to wake up at nine…like just under eight hours…and I wait until after sleeping to post this...blarg). Thanks for reading. Hopefully I get this or other things posted soon!