The way you love me [private for me and MsJacobL]

[zajawa]

Akira looked at Sangre and then at Harumi. Their reactions to each other made him smile. A bit ago he wouldn't see that as he didn't know anything about such things.. but now he was able to.. thanks to what Master and mostly Snagre told him. He bowed, not really sure if it was good idea to wave, and then started to write. 'Good afternoon, Miss Harumi. Master is asking for the wedding list.'

[RedRose4]

Harumi was unsure where to look. Whenever her eyes met with Sangre’s she’d look away bashfully, although as she looked back at Akira she was hoping nothing was wrong. Once he wrote about the wedding list, Harumi nodded with a small frown on her face.
“Of course.” She smiled despite the situation and went towards the back of the greenery. “I have most of the things needed. I’m…making the bouquet now, making sure the flowers will be ready and bloomed for next month.” She spoke softly before grabbing the paper and smiling.
“Here.” Harumi passed Akira the slip of paper before fiddling with her fingers and asking with a shaky voice. “Is she here? Elizabeth I mean...” She spoke, saying the name under her breath as though Elizabeth could somehow hear.

[zajawa]

Akira blinked few times after he took the paper. It was clear to him Harumi was scared of Lady Elizabeth. Yes.. Akira was timid, self doubting and few other things but he really didn't want to see other people fear something. Letting go of Sangre's hand he approached Harumi and touched hers arm shyly. 'She isn't here. Is something wrong?' He wanted to be useful.. and help people if he could. Nobody helped him.. but as he was picked by Master from the street everything was just.. making him happy. And Sangre was really nice.. and if he liked Harumi so much Akira believed she was too. And if there was anything he could help with he would do that. Green eyes observed Harumi innocently though really carefully.

[RedRose4]

Bringing her head up a little to look back at Akira and Sangre, Harumi took a sharp breath in before closing her eyes and shaking her head when Akira put his hand on her arm and asked her that. For a few seconds, she stayed silent but once she looked up at Sangre she couldn’t lie.

“She just really…doesn’t like me.” Harumi swallowed a lump in her throat before looking at Akira. “I think she’s just really jealous of anyone that’s close with Master…especially woman.” Looking at some of the flowers, Harumi smiled sadly before whispering.
“It’s not that bad, she just likes to put me in my place I guess.”

Sangre looked stiff, as though he froze and was unable to breath or move. Taking a deep breath, he closed his eyes and gritted his teeth before opening his eyes to look at Akira. “I think Elizabeth is the one who’s a bitch.” he mumbled.
Widening her eyes, Harumi looked at Sangre in shock before frowning. “I wouldn’t say that.” she said wearily before once again bringing her gaze to Akira. “Really it’s not that bad.”

[zajawa]

Akira.. almost not being himself, frowned as well. As he looked at Sangre and back to Harumi he started to write. 'Can you please describe how she acts towards you? Maybe I can't do much.. but..' Akira rubbed his eyes as the tears welled up in them. 'Sangre was so kind to me.. and he is a good man.. and you are good too.. Maybe I can tell Master something. Maybe he would listen to me..' Gulping Akira shivered. 'Even if he would be angry at me.. I would tell.. So please.. tell me, Miss Harumi. Only the kindhearted person could make all those flowers bloom.' Akira felt something swelling in his heart.. and he wasn't sure what it was.. but.. he knew he needed to help. He had a feeling something really wrong could happen if he would just.. let it be..

[RedRose4]

Moving so that he was beside Akira and in front of Harumi, Sangre looked into Harumi’s eyes and nodded. “Listen to him Harumi. Tell us what’s wrong.” With a very tense, yet troubled look on his face, Sangre put his hand out to hold hers while rubbing his fingers over the back of her hand.
Nodding her head, Harumi looked back at Akira, noticing just how much he cared, and how his words made her feel. He cared about her. It was a pleasant yet odd feeling she hadn’t felt for a long time ever since her parents left, only Josh and Sangre showed that kind of respect for her.
“She comes in here on purpose….” Harumi looked down, closing her eyes tight while resuming. “Whenever she visits she waits until I have work to do to ensure I’m here. Then she brings me to the back so no one can see.” Harumi opened her eyes and looked around.

With a few soft breaths, she looked back into Akira’s eyes with her own that were beginning to tear up. “She threatens me. She doesn’t scream because she knows someone would hear, but she tells me what she’ll do if I try anything with Master. And…” Harumi held onto Sangre’s hand a little tighter as she tried not to cry. “Elizabeth hurts me.” she whispered while wiping her eyes with the back of her hand. “She usually takes the pliers…” Harumi pointed with a shaky hand at the nearby tool and starred at it, reliving her memories. “And…”
Unable to continue, Harumi put her hand against her midsection and shook her head with closed eyes. “I don’t know why she’s so mean to me.” she finally whispered.

Sangre's body showed just how pissed off he was. The hand at his side clenched and unclenched, trying not to get upset although it was difficult t refrain himself. Josh had to know about this, and what if Elizabeth found out about Akira and him? Sangre then glanced at Akira with growing concern.

[zajawa]

Akira was listening and then his eyes teared up as well. Before he could think he hugged Harumi tightly and hugged her for few moments. Then he get back few steps and clenched his jaw. 'Nobody should feel something like this. I tell Master about it. He should stop her. Nobody..' Then Akira broke down a bit. Wiping the tears of his eyes he shook his head. It was clear he was really touched what he heard. 'I'll talk to Master about it. I'm sure he would..'

[RedRose4]

Harumi let out a shocked gasp, although her arms wrapped around Akira securely. Her brown eyes were tightly closed, letting out few soft sniffles while her eyes were still teary. When he took a step back and said that, Harumi hesitated, getting worried that if Josh knew then maybe he’d tell Elizabeth and she’d do even worse things to her.
“Okay.” Harumi nodded finally before putting her hand up to wipe under Akira’s eyes. “Thank you Akira. Thank you.” she said a few times under her breath before her eyes met with Sangre’s.
Without needing her to say another word, Sangre spoke with a rough voice. “You’re staying in the kitchen when Elizabeth comes over from now on. Josh would understand and I’m not leaving her with you okay?”
Nodding her head, Harumi looked at both men one last time before bowing her head. “Arigato, both of you. I’ll be okay just as long as she doesn’t return. Although she’s visiting this week, I’m unsure when exactly.” Harumi muttered.

[zajawa]

Akira frowned once again and started to think of all the bad things that happened to him. Then he looked at Sangre and back at Harumi. 'I don't know what means arigato.. but I sure try to do something. And with Sangre you sure will be safe.. Don't cry Miss Harumi..' and then he remembered something he read long ago. 'Womans eyes are too beatiful to be filled with tears.. Please give me the list and I will talk with Master.' Akira wanted to help.. though he just hoped master wouldn't be angry with him.. but he needed to try.

[RedRose4]

Harumi was feeling just a little better. She didn’t have to be afraid of working anymore, sometimes she hoped Josh would visit like he used to but it seemed that stopped and the threats increased. Looking into Akira’s eyes, Harumi was pleasantly surprised to read what he wrote, it was rather beautiful and she had to suppress more tears just from how nice he was to her.
“I appreciate it Akira, I really do. Just be careful….make sure you aren’t alone with her.” Harumi said worriedly for him before taking the slip of paper and passing it over to Akira. “Here.”

Sangre kept his eyes on Harumi until he saw the list. Looking back at Akira for a few seconds, his attention was brought back to Harumi before looking around. “Are you almost done?” he wondered.
Harumi gave a soft ‘mhm’ and touched one of the flower pots. “I have to just ensure all the flowers are properly watered then I can go….I’ll make sure to visit the kitchen before bed, I promise.”

Letting out a deep breath, Sangre gave a soft nod before looking down at Akira, being a little weary for his wellbeing as well. “You should see Master as soon as possible.” he whispered.