Across The Years (CITRUS)

Four - Is She Or Isn't She?

Yuzu's Pov

The more I read the journals, the more I'm taken with Mei. She's bright, cheery, upbeat, and cares deeply about others. She loves walking in the park on sunny days and reads romantic stories. Maybe not the attributes a lesbian Goth would look for in a woman, but after having my heart crushed by Akane she's like a breath of fresh air.

I continue my odd work for Shiraho working about 3-4 days a week. She has me run odd errands around London frequently. She'll have me get a circuit board or some other piece of computer equipment. Sometimes she has me fetch a particular book or scientific journal. I've been doing a lot of data entry, but most of that is just numbers into a spreadsheet.

I did some research and learned that my employer is Dr. Suzuran Shiraho, who graduated near the top of her class from Cal Tech. She has doctorates in both Physics and Math. From what I've learned, she was always a person that went against the grain and some of her theories had been ridiculed by her peers. Her specialty seems to deal with wormholes. Holes in space and time that can take a person across far distances in an instant.

But that's not all that relevant, as this is only a job. As long as I get my free Chinese food and paycheck, I'll do anything that doesn't involve me getting naked or dead.

In the journals, I'm up to Mei's 16th year. She works in the Tavern/Inn her father owns as a waitress and spends a lot of time with her friend Himeko. I said this before, but I've noticed something recently in the journals. It's subtle but hasn't escaped my attention. I had previously noticed her sister being man crazy, but Mei not nearly so. But lately, I've noticed an odd thing.

When she describes men, it's usually not very descriptive. She gives only the most basic descriptions, such as "he was tall and thin with curly brown hair."

But with women, she often goes into much more detail. Such in this entry.

December 14th, 1866.

Father, Eri, and I were blessed with an invitation to the Christmas Party at Himeko's parent's estate. It was a wonderful affair with excellent food, good conversation and we even danced. Hime introduced me to her cousin Ichika Barry, who was from Coventry. She was a saucy sort of girl and rather fun to talk to. She was about my height with an oval face, green eyes, and narrow lips. Her hair lay in tight, dark brown ringlets. She was what they called a full-figured girl with a large bosom. Ichika and I spent most of the night just talking and getting to know each other. Her father, Hugo Barry was the owner of one of the coal mines in the area. He was a rather short round fellow, but a friendly jovial sort.

Eri spent time talking to the newly commissioned Lieutenant Akers. He was tall and handsome with short brown hair. With a laugh, I watched as she tried to goad him in to ask her to dance. Father spent time talking to Mr. Momokino and the other adults where the subject of Business was the main topic of conversation. We had a wonderful night.

Now that the fact that she describes women in much more detail may mean nothing. But something inside me tells me it's because she prefers to look at women. It's not just that, but lots of other little things.

But with each entry, I fell more in love with Mei. 

A lot of the entries were just day to day life inVictorian England. She went to the grocer, attended school, but some were her deeper thoughts. But even I felt like she was holding back.

The next summer was a very interesting entry. Much to my disgust, I learned that Mei's father had arranged for her to marry Hiroshi Amamiya.

July 3rd 1867