Samurai Love Ballad Party: A Series of Short Stories

A Christmas Manju (Part 2)

MC x Ishida Mitsunari
Including: Maeda Inuchiyo
Rating: G

The town is bustling with shoppers all in the Christmas spirit. Francisco and Luis can be seen in the distance explaining things to a group of children, all their faces lit with joy. I couldn't help but smile as well. "Isn't this wonderful, Lord Mitsunari?" I turn to look at the bookstore and see it's pretty busy. "Oh no," I mutter as I see the place packed with people.

Without thinking, I made my way through the crowds, barely hearing Lord Mitsunari yelling behind me. All I could think of was to pray the book I needed was still there. My focus was solely on getting to the bookstore, I hadn't had time to stop myself from being knocked over by a passerby. Fearing I would hit the ground, I squeeze my eyes shut and braced for impact. Only I didn't. I'm being held by strong, lithe arms and I can feel almost hidden as I'm being embraced into a lean muscular body. My face is on fire as I'm gripping his robes and see that Lord Mitsunari was holding me tightly. "M-milord?"

"Moronic simpleton. What could have possibly been so important as to risk breaking your neck for?" Though I was being scolded, I was glad it was Lord Mitsunari that caught me... until...

"Just what the hell do you think you're doing, you sour faced bookworm?!" Just as I'm able to stand upright on my own, I hear the distinctive bark of Inuchiyo and see his face clearly displeased.

Lord Mitsunari was calm as he let me go, his face the look of disdain. "Saving this unfortunate byproduct of not so bad upbringing from risking life and limb over a book. What does it look like I'm doing, you mutt?"

Those words only seemed to burn the ire that Inuchiyo was having over what he was seeing. "Really, Inuchiyo, it was my fault. I rushed to get to the bookstore and wasn't looking where I was going." I stood between the two and hoped I wouldn't get squashed by the raging testosterone.

"Why didn't you stay by her side, huh?" Inuchiyo was practically nose to nose with Lord Mitsunari before turning to me. "Why didn't you come look for me? I would have gladly gone with you than help with all this craziness. I'm tired of lifting crates."

"Because she would have had to suffer with your whining like we are this very moment," Lord Mitsunari stated matter of factly. "Besides, you're better at brute labor anyway." Grabbing my wrist, he briskly walked away from the other man with me being dragged behind.

"Where do you think you're going," Inuchiyo yelled as he tried to follow. A sea of pedestrians wasted no time filling the space that grew between us.

"I'm going to gain back the time I wasted talking to you, you filthy low bred," was all Lord Mitsunari said as we walked to the bookstore. There was silence for the next few minutes.

When we arrived at the bookstore, it wasn't so crowded. The shop owner recognized Lord Mitsunari right away and ran to get some books he thought might interest him. "Go look for what you dragged me out here for and make it quick." His face and tone rang with tired irritation so I scampered off to the cookbooks to make haste.

It was surprisingly quiet in this section so I was grateful to have all the space I needed to search. It took me a while and I was worried about taking too long when I found what I hoped was the one. Of course, the book I found was further up on the shelf and I was standing on tiptoes to get to it. As I thought I was about to get it, a large hand reaches over me and pulls it out. That's when I saw the shadow of a man coming from behind me.

"Usually, when someone needs help, they ask for it." The man was smiling down cheerfully at me as he handed me the book. "Here you go, miss," he said, his tone matching his smile.

"Thank you. I hope this book will help me out," I say as I start to flip through it and see.

"If Western desserts are what you hope to make for your home, then this is the book you need. And it's the last one, so you're very lucky." The man was rearranging the scattered books as he spoke to me. "Say, I've never seen you here before, but then I've only been here since a little before all this holiday stuff began. I'm Hanai, if you need more help, just let me know."

His kindness made my cheeks feel a little warm as I smiled back. I was about to thank him as he stood with a stack of books when I heard the familiar displeasure of Lord Mitsunari. "Vile succubus, what's taking you so long?" Looking between myself and Hanai, the shop assistant, he scowled and grabbed my wrist. "Let's go." I'm half dragged to the front while Hanai's protests went unanswered.

"I'm so sorry for having taken so long," I say as I try to keep up with Lord Mitsunari's long strides down the busy town street. He not only paid for the books he chose, he paid for mine and had it in the stack that he's been carrying with ease.

"If you spent more time talking to those that can educate you in something useful, you wouldn't have wasted the time talking to that errand boy." Lord Mitsunari referred to Hanai like he was a common peasant, which, to him, practically everyone was as far as intelligence went. I knew not everyone was as smart as he was, but he didn't have to say it like that. But wait...

"Did you just tell me to spend more time with you?" I think my eyes lit up because he seemed to lean back in shock and horror, which was kind of made him adorable in my eyes.

"I most certainly did not!" His scowl was deep and that hand in the hip was close to drawing his sword on me. In a few deep breaths, he calmed down and spoke in a lower tone. "I was merely stating the fact that you could do better. I may be one of those people of betterment, but I will not tolerate half assedness when it comes to anything regarding the mind." Lord Mitsunari continued walking back home, occasionally adjusting his hold on the books. I offered to help which he refused every time I asked the entire way home, saying my weak arms couldn't do any better than a bowl of noodles.

To Be Continued~!