Tokyo Deception

29

Mimi started to think about Shigure and wondered what he was doing. Sadness filled her as she thought about the last time they were together, and how hurt he looked when she told him she needed more time. Mimi didn't understand what was stopping her from being with the man she truly loved. Mimi started to retreat deeper into her thoughts when they entered the bathhouse and she washed herself, then she began to wonder if there was something wrong with her and if deep down she didn't want to be happy. Mimi asked herself "Why was it every time happiness is handed to me on a plate I push it away."

Mimi was chewing on this thought as they got into the large bath and Mimi was settling in and enjoying the hot water, when Rei snapped Mimi back to reality when she asked "Mimi how did you get those scars? Your husband didn't do that to you did he?"

Mimi looked at Rei. She could hear the concern in Rei's voice and could see it in her eyes so Mimi didn't take offence that Rei had asked.

Rei took the fact that Mimi didn't answer as a sign that she over stepped the bounds and quickly said "That's okay you don't have to say anything. I know I can be nosey at times. It's just my nature. I didn't mean to offend you." then gave Mimi an embarrassed smile, "Just tell me to shut up if I do it again."

Mimi smiled at Rei she wanted to ease Rei's embarrassment. "That's okay you really didn't offend me." Mimi sighed she really hated the scars they were a constant reminder of something she desperately wanted to forget, Mimi put on a fake smile and replied "No, Hatori did not do it but I don't like to talk about it so let's just leave it at that."

Rei nodded and Mimi could tell Rei's easy nature was a little more reserved so Mimi decided to throw Rei a bone, "Maybe when we become closer friends I will tell you about these scars okay."

Rei perked back up and started to ramble on asking Mimi questions about her life in Tokyo. By the time they finished bathing and got back to Rei's house Mimi was worn out. Mimi made her excuses to Rei and went to her room, and when Mimi's head hit the pillow she was asleep.

Rei woke Mimi up early the next morning and took her over to introduce her to Toshiro so that they could meet him before he went to work. Mimi thought she was going to meet a local builder. What Rei did not tell Mimi was that Toshiro was the owner of a very huge building firm and it turned out that it was Toshiro's company that built Mimi and Hatori's house in Tokyo. His firm had also built many of the new buildings that the Kanzaki group owned. This made Mimi feel a little uncomfortable as she really did not want word getting back to Hatori about where she was and she also did not want Toshiro knowing her personal business. Luckily for Mimi Rei instantly picked up on this and explained that the house was Mimi's private retreat and that it was of the utmost importance that no one knew about it.

Toshiro agreed to keep everything quiet and Mimi hired Toshiro to repaint the whole house inside and out and do any other repairs that were needed. Because all of the work was going to be kept local and hush-hush all Mimi had to do was go down to the local paint shop and pick out the paints and wall paper she wanted and take the samples back to the house and meet back up with Toshiro by four o'clock that afternoon when he had a some free time. Normally Toshiro had his assistants do this and he was very rarely involved in a build unless it was a very important person but Toshiro knew that all of his assistants were well acquainted with Hatori and he figured it was better if he saw to everything that needed Mimi's personal involvement himself. By the time four o'clock came around Mimi and Rei were exhausted and Mimi had a whole new appreciation for what Motoko did for a living.

Mimi had decided to stick with the houses original paint scheme that was on the outside. Mimi thought that the house would look very stunning when it was repainted white and yellow with sea green trim. The inside decoration was a different matter Mimi deicide that her office would be duck egg blue and the living room and dining room were to be white, the kitchen was going to be painted and tiled in a green and white combination. Mimi wanted her bedroom to be painted lilac and white and the other guest rooms were to be painted soft yellow and white, blue and white and peach and white, the bathroom was to be painted and tiled in a light blue and white combo as well. Mimi wanted all the hallways to be painted white and downstairs Mimi wanted the original floor boards uncovered sanded and varnished. Upstairs Mimi wanted sandy carpet throughout except in the bathroom which she wanted tiled in white and light blue.

Toshiro told Mimi that the work could be finished in a week but the kitchen needed replacing as well as the heating system; and some of the floor boards in the living room and dining room needed to be ripped out and replaced and all of that work would take another week, especially if Mimi wanted the high speck kitchen. Mimi agreed to all the work and the high spec kitchen, and a new bathroom as well, she told Toshiro money wasn't an issue and that the faster he could get her into her home the better. Mimi knew he might take advantage of her but she didn't care. The only thing Mimi wanted was to move in to her new home and start her new life.

It might have been because Mimi had been so lonely for such a long time and Rei had such a warm and friendly personality that made Rei and Mimi bond very quickly over the three weeks Mimi stayed with Rei. Mimi was delighted that she had made such a close friend in such a short amount of time and it felt like Rei was the perfect combination of Ritsu and Erika. When the time came for Mimi to move back into her house she was excited about it but she was also sad to be leaving the comfort of Rei's home. To Mimi's delight Rei was constantly over at Mimi's house after she moved in that it felt like Rei had moved in and Mimi rarely felt lonely during that time.

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