Is This Love?

Chapter One, Is This Love?


It's your typical day in Kisruke, your average barmaid is working, and her male acquaintance is there as well. The barmaid is lean, a bit short, and has icy blue-grey hair. The man is young, about the age of seventeen, average height and weight with his muscles evenly spread out across his body. He isn't super buff, but a punch from him would obviously hurt. A moppy hairdo, leather vest, jeans, and some messed up Converse Chuck Taylors completes his look. The story mainly centers around this man. The barmaid is done her daily duties, and decides to take a walk, the man follows her outside. It wasn't before long they ran into a girl about the same age as the man. The barmaid decides to inquire the girl, who isn't exactly there at that moment.

"Are you lost?", the barmaid started.
"No...I'm in school, Mrs. Lily.", replied the girl.
"This isn't a school, it's an open area near the Kisruke Inn, what's your name?"
"Miyami, Mrs. Lily, I'm in your English class, remember?"
"My name is Mimi, not Mrs. Lily..."

The girl seemed to snap out of it, she looked at Mimi with dazed eyes. The man hadn't introduced himself yet, for he seemed quite taken away by Miyami's beauty. She was a bit shorter than he was, long, red hair and a body like an hourglass, with two cat ears atop her head. Considering she thought she was in school still, Miyami wore her uniform. The man managed to give a quick wave to the girl before she walked off. Quickly following behind her, he waved Mimi off and walked into the forest. Miyami seemed to fall back into a daze, only to think that this man was her principal.

"Hello Mr. Takanashi, I just love Koto High School.", Miyami said cheerfully.
"My name is Erik, and I'm not the principal, I'm a traveling gambler. This is a forest.", the man acknowledged.
"Oh...stupid nurse giving me that headache medicine, nice to meet you, Erik."
"W-Wait, I'll get you some food at the inn, i-if you'd like."
"Well....okay."

Erik lead the way back to the inn, Miyami following. Mimi already went back inside the inn, she was playing Solitaire at the bar. Erik and Miyami entered the inn and walked to the bar, where they both took seats and sat down. Erik, looked at Miyami, well...he stared at her, actually. Miyami turned to look at him, and his head lowered to look at the floor before he turned in his seat to face Mimi.

"Mimi, get me two sundaes, please?", barked Erik.
"Sure, I'm taking a guess the other is for Miyami?" Mimi retorted.
"Yes, unless she doesn't want one."
"Oh, that sounds nice, I'd like mine with chocolate, Ms. Mimi." Miyami laughed.

Mimi went back into the kitchen and began to make their sundaes. She already knew what Erik wanted, caramel like he always had. Back at the bar, Erik continued to stare at Miyami. Why was he feeling this way? He couldn't love anyone, he was a product of a broken home. It was just lust, he thought, nothing more. When Mimi returned, she had both sundaes in her hand and placed them on the bar infront of them. While Miyami dug right in, Erik let his sit, instead admiring her. Without even noticing it, he placed his hand overtop of hers, and after a moment, he pulled it back, his cheeks turning a deep red.

"I-I-I'm sorry!", he stammered.
"What, oh...it's okay", answered Miyami.

Figuring it was best to just not even bother with her, Erik went to eating his sundae. Miyami, on the other hand, was almost done, but she decided not to finish considering she was full. He continued eating though, but no conversation was taking place. When he finished, however, the talking began.

"So, Miyami, you go to school?", Mimi inquired.
"Yes, Koto High.", replied Miyami.
"Don't you go to school, Erik?", Mimi would ask, only this time to Erik.
"No...I never cared to."
"It's fun."
"Is it?"
"I went to school, Erik, it was okay.", added Mimi.
"Yet I have more money than you."
"Quiet you."
"Do you have anywhere to go, Miyami?", Erik empathized.
"No...not really."
"If you'd like...I'll pay for a room here."
"There's no need, Erik.", insisted Mimi.

Mimi reached under the bar and handed Miyami a key. Erik looked over at Miyami, who yawned and got out of her seat. She started walking up the stairs, most likely to her room. When she was out of sight, Mimi looked at Erik, a wide grin on her face.

"She's cute, Erik."
"If you say so."
"Do you like her?"
"She's alright."
"Do you LIKE HER?"
"What?! No way, I just met her anyways."

Mimi laughed and went into her room. Erik waited about fifteen minutes, figuring that both of them were asleep. He made his way over to the piano and sat down, his hands gliding over the ivory keys. It was a warm-up more or less, he was playing a bit of Beethoven's Fifth. After warming up, he just began to mess around on the piano. He couldn't exactly write a love song, nor did he have an idea on where he would start. Okay, so maybe he did develop feelings for her. Was he in love...? As the night went on, he seemed to get the hang of it, even managing a few lines. However, it came to an end when Mimi awoke and came to find Erik at the piano. She walked up behind him and looked over his shoulder before talking to him.

"Erik, why are you still up, it's almost four in the morning."
"Pipe down, I just wanted to play the piano."
"Oh really, then why do you have these papers with words written on them?"
"I was writing a song, okay? Now leave me alone."
"I never knew y-"
"Just go away, alright?"

Mimi didn't say anything more and went back to her room. Erik looked over his papers, examining them to make sure it wasn't anything too sappy. After looking them over, he layed his head down on the piano and went to sleep.