Midorikawa Seijiro (Fuma Kotaro) x Valeria

Rating: G

Please note that MC is for an OC for SLBP so her characteristics are not typical MC. Also, the way I've written Fuma as Seijiro is totally how I would see him as the gardener outside the castle setting and giving a care for someone else.

I've been sent off to get some things for my witch of a mistress. That horrible woman yelled and demanded I go get the most elusive tea in all the province and I barely know Japanese! I'm trapped in this backwards land thanks to my father and his inabilities to stay out of debt. I sigh as I walk in my tattered maid's kimono. One thing I can be grateful for is not wearing those insufferable corsets. Doesn't help me find the tea I need and stay out of trouble though.

As I enter the town market, the streets are bustling with people all shopping for goods and socializing. I could use some socialization, but my studies into the native language are staggered thanks to that vile woman's constant need to call upon me for nothing more than to remind me that my life is not my own. Losing count how often I've sighed this day, I begin my mission to find that tea and pray it doesn't take me all day.

I'm not sure how long it's been since I got to town, but it feels like forever and I still haven't any luck with my search. I'm about to give up, thinking it was some wild goose chase when a shadow lingered over my hanging head. "Why so down, little miss?" The gentle tone of the gardener, Seijiro, linger in the air and a tiny bit of relief fills me.

Seijiro always managed to pop up when I'm in a bad situation. One would think that a bad omen but not really when he's been the only one that's ever been there for me so as far as I was concerned, I could use all the good omens I could get and I always feel relaxed a little when he's around. "Mistress sent me out on what feels like a wild goose chase. I've been running around all this time looking for this tea I swear doesn't exist because practically all the shops I've been to don't have it." I hand him the paper with the name of the tea. "The last thing I need is to hear her yell at me again. I might as well not go home..." I'm so frustrated, I ball up my fists as if that will help stave off the tears of frustration welling up in my eyes.

I can see Seijiro is thinking hard on this as he analyzes the paper I gave him. I'm so sure he'll tell me it's not sold here that I mentally prepare myself to get punished when it's not even my fault. "I know exactly where we can get this." Even though I'm standing still, I stumble forward in disbelief. There on his face was that gentle smile that may have been lopsided, but to me it was the answer to my prayers.

"Are you sure? I don't wa-" I'm cut off with a wave of the hand.

"Of course I do!" Seijiro says this so matter of factly that I feel as if things might be okay. "We just have to head to the next village over."

There it is. The other sandal fell. "B-but that's..." I feel myself pale a bit. The next village is at least a couple days walk if I was lucky enough to get there without incident. I'm totally crestfallen now.

"Not that village, silly mouse." Why does he have to smile so reassuringly? "There's one I know much, much closer. Come!" And without delay, his long legs start taking him down the road and I hurry to catch up.

I must have been very tired from my earlier running because it felt like we were walking for hours. I know i'm falling behind, but I can't seem to muster the will to move faster. I didn't even notice I wasn't looking where I was walking until I bumped into Seijiro. "Oh! I'm so sorry!"

He turned and smiled at me then turned back around and squatted down. "Hop on," was all he said in that light cheerful tone he always seems to have.

"I couldn't! Surely I must be too heavy now for you to carry..." I fidget. The only man that ever offered piggy back rides was my father before he fell addicted to gambling. Here was this kind gardener who surely has enough pain doing daily errands that he'd want to take on a sack of rice like me.

"Nonsense," he said as he looked back with that ever sure smile. "You look as light as a feather. Best hurry or we'll both be in trouble."

Not wanting my only friend to get in trouble because of me, I make haste in climbing onto his back. With swift movements, we're suddenly taking flight. Seijiro is running as if like lightening dancing over river rocks. I cling to him tightly and I think I heard him whisper "good girl", but it was stolen by the rushing winds.

In a short time, we're at a village sooner than expected. Seijiro was right in there being a closer village but...When we enter, something felt off. Not off, but it didn't feel like we entered a normal village. Their smiles didn't reach the eyes like Seijiro's smile does. I'm suddenly standing much closer to him. "S-Seijiro?"

He turned to me with that reassuring smile. "Stay close and nothing will happen. Promise." He held his hand out and even I know that that could be seen as many things, regardless of culture. However, getting lost was not an option and I'd sooner wish for death than that because that witch would find a way to kill me if I did lose my way. Taking his hand, he led the way down the street that centered the village.

Looking around, it seemed like a normal village. Yet, why do I feel like a fish out of water? "Here we are!" I'm snapped out of my thoughts as we stop in front of an herbalist. A sultry woman seemed to be the proprietress leaning on a door frame and a very handsome young man sat a short distance from her. They both had shockingly white silver hair. I found myself staring at the young man as the the gardner approached the shop owner.

"Well, what's this I see? Hojo making you team up for once or did you actually grow sane?" The woman slowly stood straight from her perch and slowly made her way towards us. "She's pretty and foreign. However did you manage that, Fuma?"

"Huh?" I had to tear my gaze from the beautiful man to look at the woman then Seijiro. Why was she calling him that name?

Seijiro simply kept that smile on. "I don't know who that is or what you're talking about. I'm merely here to find this tea." He held the paper out to her and I nodded in emphasis.

"Please, Miss. The lady I work for is a shrewd woman who'll surely beat me if I don't return with this tea. I might as well die in the woods alone than return empty handed." I looked to her pleasingly as she gazed between me and the paper.

Sighing, she smirked with a hint of something I couldn't identify. "You're lucky I'm in a good mood today. And I have a soft spot for lost cases that aren't you..." She turned without another word, plucking the paper from Seijiro as she entered the shop. Her brother (I can only guess since they have the same shocking hair) watching us in stark silence. It was mesmerizing and creepy, but the former was more the reason I wanted to keep staring back.

I turn to Seijiro, clearly concerned for his well being. "Seijiro, what does she mean by all that?" I wanted to get away from here as fast as possible. Did I make him come to a place he wasn't wanted?

Again with that never worrying smile. "Some things are best left undisturbed, little mouse. Maybe I'll tell you one day, but it might be better if you didn't know some things. Ignorance is bliss, after all."

I had no time to reply when the woman returned with a sizable pouch and held it before me. "Here you are, Miss. I added a little... help in it so you might be able to gain a little more peace for as long as the tea is in supply. Come back and I'll give you more." She had a knowing smile on her lips.

Taking the pouch, I held it close to me. "What did you..." I must have paled slightly as she laughed a tinkly laugh.

"Oh, you needn't worry your pretty little head. I added some sleep aids to sort of help her sleep more. Nothing harmful, I promise." Somehow that felt like a lie and yet I trusted her.

"We'll hold you to it," was all Seijiro said. That smile didn't quite make it all the way to his eyes this time. With a few quick gestures, he produces a small pouch of coin, tossed it to the proprietress and turned to head back from where we came.

I blinked a few times before bowing deeply to the shopkeeper. I went to do the same for the other man as I was told it was customary and rude if I didn't. He seemed nice but mysterious. I feel as if I have seen that hair somewhere before. Unfortunately, he was nowhere to be seen. It's not like we went anywhere. How could I have missed him leaving without myself or Seijiro moving from where we stood? I'm baffled, but there's no time to waste as my impromptu guide was leaving me behind. I bowed again and scurried after him.

Daylight dappled the ground as we walked under the canopy of trees. I was amazed that we finally had the damned tea and, to be honest, I hoped that whatever the shop owner put in really knocked that witch out for hours. Maybe I could finally get a solid night's sleep...

But wait... What was that all about? I glanced at Seijiro, the only person that ever gave me brightness in a day, and tried to figure out just what about this man would bring about such veiled hostility.

I must have been staring again because I ended up tripping on a large root that was sticking up from the ground. I felt myself take flight and was ready for the hard fall, as I've done so many times before I was able to fix the hem of my hand me down kimono. I squeezed my eyes shut, ready to hit the ground when I feel myself land on something else instead. And... arms wrapped around me? I'm afraid for the worst: that I fell on some stranger I failed to see and will now be in new found trouble.

But, when I look up, I see that I'm on top of Seijiro. His large frame having embraced and taken the brunt of the fall. My eyes widen like saucers as I try to scramble up as quickly as I could, making things worse as it looked like I was fumbling with his robes. My face lit up like the fireplace father used to use on cold winter nights. I was sure I'd hear some complaint or worse, feel hands helping me up or pushing me away because who would want such a worthless woman anyway?

Warm arms embraced me and a calm hushing tone greeted me. I'm so shocked, I'm stunned into place as if turned to stone. "Sometimes, the best way to escape death is to play dead, little mouse. But, you know that already, don't you..." His tone was low, hinting at something. But what? He can't possibly be interested in me. At all! Can he...?

But, was Seijiro really sounding so... nice to me? My heart was hammering hard against my chest and I think that that was what causing a possible hallucination. Yeah, lack of oxygen? No, wait, too much oxygen! No... stop. Breathe. Taking a slow hesitant glance, I can see just how close our faces were, his still wearing that smile that melts away all the pain and suffering from me. What is it about this man that makes me feel safe with him? And what is it about him that made others seem cautious?

Unable to speak, I let the gardner handle me like a doll, lifting me up off him with ease and helping me straighten my kimono. "There, all better." The purse with the tea was placed in my hands and he stood there as if like a proud papa. "My, how my little mouse learns so fast. Definitely a keeper." What does that mean?! Damn my stupid face as I'm caught gawking at the comment. Seijiro leaned down a bit to peer into my face, still smiling as he lifted my chin to close my mouth. "If you're hungry, just say so. But it's best we get going. Food is wasted on the dead." And with that, he stoop and turned on his heels to head back home.

The tingling of his touch began to register as I stumbled on shock to get my baring together and hurry to catch up. This has truly been an ordeal and I certainly can't explain all the things that happened this day. But I am certainly grateful to have such a man as Seijiro as a friend. Maybe I am like a mouse. If I can be his mouse, I don't think that would be so bad. But surely he could find someone much better than I... My mind wandered again as I walk right into the man my thoughts got lost in. He spoke not a word as he kept smiling and tousled my hair.

From that point on, we walked all the way home side by side. A man and his happy little troublesome mouse.