Rain Woman

Chapter Two

        Emi woke up to the piercing sound of her alarm clock and grey rays of sun filtering through the window. 9 am. She glanced around for a moment and stretched. Everything looks normal... Maybe I dreamt everything that happened last night?

            There was a glass of cold water sitting on her night table, and an ice pad bandaged into her hand. Her art supplies were all organized neatly by shade and brand on her desk, and her art from last night was placed right behind the glass of water. Emi then saw there was a little note written with blue paint stuck on her bandage.

Hello Emmy! (I hope I spelled it right!)

        Humans are very odd creatures! You sleep quite soundly. I had to check a few times during the night to make sure you were still breathing and not dead or something. I also noticed one of the times that I checked on you, that a few of your fingers were calloused and swollen from all the drawing you were doing. I decided to help out and put ice on it. I called my brother Asahi and he said it helps. It didn't wake you up, which makes me glad, because you seemed very worn out.

        I organized your things last night because I mean, sometimes it got kind of boring just listening to you breathe and roll over every once in a while. Oh also, your hair looks very funny while you're sleeping. Anyway, last night you said something about school? I have no idea what that is, but you made it clear you had to wake up early for it, so good luck!

Mizuko 水子 ♥♥♥

                Called? Called her brother? Someone who didn't even know what candles are, she had a cellphone? Emi shook her head, confused, and climbed out of bed, dragging herself over to the closet to pick out her clothes for the day. The events of the night prior still had her head spinning. Rain spirit. What? Everything sounded so foreign. It didn't make sense, really. She decided that she'd have time to contemplate things later, but for the moment she needed to get ready for school.

            She put on her sweater and tights rapidly and pulled her hair into a messy bun, combing her bangs and two thick straight locks around her face. The decision was made that she'd pick up something to eat on the way to school and would shower when she got home.

            Throwing her art supplies, sketchpad, and laptop into a bag, she slung it over her shoulder and slipped on her flats before running out the door.

            Class didn't start until 10:30, so she had about an hour or so to get breakfast and get to campus.

"There's a café about a road down from here... I can get some milk tea and a strawberry creme crépe and that should hold me over until lunch..."

            While in thought, Emi bumped into someone and fell backwards before they caught her forearm and set her back upright.

"Oh god! I'm so sorry I wasn't looking where I was going and—"

            The man smiled down at her and she felt her face turn bright red. He was attractive, with dark brown hair and green eyes the color of emeralds.

"Wow! Aren't you a pretty flower. A lily, I'd say. Would you like to come in and look at the others? It looks like it's going to rain, I wouldn't want you to get wet. We have umbrellas as well."

            Emi looked to the side and realized they were right next to a flower shop, with a big cursive sign. He had about 3 daisies woven into his hair and a yellow carnation pinned on his apron, and Emi realized he was probably the owner. It made sense. She gave him an uneasy look before deciding that it would probably be best to get an umbrella to protect the laptop in her bag.