Excerpt: Dream Catcher

Prologue

Her green eyes carefully scanned around the entrance to the empty apartment. The empty walls were a creamy orange shade, the carpets a soft tan color. It was a nice apartment, bare with no furniture, but it was exactly what she was looking for. A place to start anew. Stepping inside she entered what would become her living room. It was a nice little place, a perfect size for her, the foreigner who just moved there. She decided it was just about time that she moved out, and went on her own way, started a new life, and this was her place. Her eyes scanned once over the apartment again, stopping on a small white box that was on the small island in the kitchen that she hasn’t noticed. She stopped at the island, looking at the box, studying it carefully, reading the note on top.

“N-new ten . . . ten,” she paused, scanning over the words, trying to figure them out. “Ant . . . tenant. New tenant.” She was unsure if she had actually read it right or not, but she paused, unsure what that actually meant. She paused, turning to her purse, and pulling out a small book. She began to flip through the pages scanning through the words.

“Shin karinushi,” she read aloud. She looked back down at the note then at the words she had just said. She smiled to herself, taking the box into her hands, opening it slowly. She stared inside the box, a confused lost expression on her face as she pulled out the object, looking at it carefully. Holding it above her slightly she let it drop however gravity let it. It was a wooden circle, painted over in a deep teal color. Around it were many tiny strings, a magenta color. All of the strings tied together in a whirl like a pattern. A round circle left free in the center. A few beads of teal and magenta freely dropped along the sides, at the tips both had colored feathers of the same colors coming out. She had no idea what it was, but it was beautiful.

“Did you find the place all right dear?”

She turned her attention to an older woman who stood in the door way. She smiled at her as she entered the room. The woman’s hair was a salt and pepper color, and was tied back in a pony tail that was long and trailed down her back. Her face was free from a lot of wrinkles, letting the world know that she was aging very well. Her clothing was pretty young too. Jeans, faded and worn, along with a nice powder blue tank top and a white blouse over top.

“Kazumi Nakamura, is it not?”

She thought for a moment, but nodded, replying, “Ah yes, I am Nakamura Kazumi. You m-must be Joshznee Martin, the lady land.”

Her land lady smiled. “Your English is coming along good. Just remember its Josephine. Joe-zeh-feen. And it is Land-Lady.”

Kazumi blushed hard, and bowed her head low. “Sumimasen.”
Josephine smiled warmly at Kazumi, and placed a hand on her shoulder. “It is fine, you are only just learning. And one needs to make mistakes to learn.” Kazumi stood, smiling, thanking Josephine for her kindness that she has shown her. Josephine’s gaze dropped to what it was that Kazumi was holding. She examined it closer, a smile grew on her lips as she pointed at it.

“I see that you got you got a dream catcher.”

“This?” Kazumi questioned, holding up the strange object to her land ladies’ view. Josephine nodded, taking the dream catcher into her hands, showing it carefully to Kazumi to see at a better angle.

“It’s a dream catcher. The aboriginal peoples believe that if you hang these over your bed at night it will capture bad dreams, and let you only have good dreams.” Kazumi took her small book out again, looking up a few words that Josephine had said and read them out loud.

“Yume soshite muma,” she read to herself. “I see, good dreams and bad dreams. It stops bad dreams.”

Josephine smiled. “That’s correct. You do learn quickly. Now, your truck is here. And your things are on the way up. Do you want me to stay and help?”

Kazumi nodded. “If it is not any trouble.”

The land lady smiled. “I am here to help. So why don’t we go help those movers?”

Chapter 1

Kazumi entered her apartment. Hers. It sounded so weird, no matter how much she said it in her head. It sounded wonderful to her. She never thought that this would happen to her. To move away, so far away from home, and to begin a new life. A new life, in a new country. She stepped into the living room, attached to her kitchen, found just on the left to the entrance. She moved to her couch, sitting down on the old and worn cushions. The seat wasn’t that comfortable, but she thought that it was better then nothing at all. She was lucky to have found it at such a good price.
She just began to settle into the couch, when she heard a door click close.

Her eyes just caught the door to her balcony, closing on its own. She yelped and jumped off the couch, her eyes, staring, unsure what to make of what she had seen. Fearful, she crept toward the door, staring at the balcony through the clear door. She didn’t see anyone, but someone had to have been there. The door couldn’t have opened and closed on its own. Doors didn’t just do that. Speaking of which, windows didn’t do that either.

The last few weeks had been the worse for Kazumi nerves. Windows’ were opening and closing on their own, right in front of her. And twice during the night she even heard her kitchen sink turn on and off. She ran out once with a heavy prop sword, to protect herself, but there was nothing there. Just her feeling like she was going insane.

Kazumi stopped at the glass door, glancing outside for only a moment, then she turned an away, glancing back at the rest of her apartment. She didn’t like the feeling this place gave her sometimes. She felt like she wasn’t alone. She was not scared, only that someone else was there with her. Someone who didn’t want their presence to be known. She glanced around once more, looking for something out of place. Something to explain what was going on. Everything was in its place.

‘Sleep will do me some good,’ she thought.

Taking in a deep breath she entered her room, turning on the lamp beside her bed as she entered inside. Closing her bedroom door behind her, she began to undress out of her clothing. First she removed her white lacy blouse, carefully folding it and placing it on a chair. Then she slowly removed her dress pants, also folding them and putting them on the chair. She reached under her pillow next, taking out a pair of pajamas. She took them, and put them on, starting with the pants on her chilled legs, then quickly putting on the tank top to stop the chills running up her spine. Once dressed she yawned wide, realizing just how tired she actually was. It had been a long day at work. She had gotten a job as a receptionist for calls from Japan. Perfect for her since her first language was Japanese. Once she did her job, she’d do her best to translate it into English and give the messages to her boss. Then she’d call them back. It was fairly simple, and it was a job that she was able to do.

Kazumi curled on her soft bed, the softness of the blanket warming Kazumi’s body. Rolling onto her back she began to glance at the ceiling, a small hook was inserted right into the ceiling, and hanging from it was the dream catcher she had gotten from the pervious tenant. It looked very beautiful as it hung from the ceiling. It felt like ti was protecting her in a strange way. She use to have nightmares back home all the time, but since she had moved she didn’t once have a nightmare, only strange experiences. She yawned again, her body telling her it was more then ready for bed. It needed sleep, and Kazumi knew it. She moved slightly, tugging at the blankets as she lifted her body, and shifting her body under the blanket, rather then on top. Once settled she reached out to her lamp and turned the light off. Once in darkness she felt better as her body relaxed and she slowly began to drift off into a peaceful slumber.

* * *

Kazumi awoke with a start after some strange noises had awoken her. She kept her eyes down, just listening to the noises, hoping it was just her imagination.

“Dammit! Come on, let go of me!,” A tiny voice swore. She could hear soft noises of something creaking, and the sound of plastic hitting plastic. The noises were close by, coming from up above, between her and the ceiling. He heart began to race heavily as she slowly turned her head, looking up at the dream catcher. Her eyes widened as se stared at her head, looking up at the dream catcher. Her eyes widened as she stared at a tiny little man with the tiniest of wings, struggling with all is might to get free. His body was struggling to get free from the dream catcher, that Kazumi realized was glowing white around the whole thing, stretching out and taking hold of the tiny man, like a spider in a web. His body flailing about, his turquoise blue hair was going in all directions. Kazumi’s mouth hung open, unsure if she was dreaming or not.

“Who are you?”

The tiny man stopped struggling , his eyes stopping to look at he. Panic ensued, and he began to struggle harder to get free, clawing at the white light. Kazumi jumped up, still unsure if she was dreaming this or not. She took hold of the tiny man on one hand, the dream catcher in the other. He was a small man, no bigger then the size of a Barbie doll, but he didn’t resemble that of a doll. Just a man, a very small man with the lightest shade of pink wings. Once her hand touched the dream catcher however, the white aura disappeared. The little man was fee, and once he was, he took off, flying off out of the room. Her eyes widened, unsure what had just happened.

“Chotto matte kudasai!,” Kazumi stood from her bed, tripping once, but continued out into her living room where the little man had gone.

“Where are you? Are you alright?” She felt so odd running around her apartment, looking for a tiny man with wings and blue hair. She ran around, frantic, knowing she had to find some sort of evidence that there was a little man, to ensure her sanity. She paused when she was sure that she had heard some voices. She listened carefully.

“Robyn, please calm down. This isn’t as serious as you are making it out to be,” a female voice was heard, forcing Kazumi to leap around, trying to find the voices origin.

“It is serious. She saw me! A human girl saw me, this is the worse thing that can happen to a dream herder!” the same male voice was heard, Kazumi listening in, still trying to figure out where the voices were coming from.

“Calm down, you said she was pretty calm when she saw you. She probably thinks it was a dream. Maybe she won’t even notice us.”

Kazumi slowly headed over to her island in the kitchen area. She closed in, taking her time so that she wouldn’t be found out. She didn’t want to startle anyone else. She came in closer, stopping and staring down at two people, the man she had seen, and a young woman, a little shorter then him. She had long curly tan shaded hair, and yellow wings to match her yellow eyes. She wore a olive green sleeveless dress, with a matching pair of pants, but no shoes.

Both were floating in mid air, both their wings were flapping hard to keep them up. Kazumi gasped. Both of the small beings turned, the man looking rather angry as he looked up at her, while the young woman covered her mouth, unsure how to react. Kazumi stood still, unsure if she should dare move or not. She didn’t know what to do, the three of them were frozen in place, staring at the other. The female being, flew forward, pushing the male forward. He glared at her quickly before he glanced back at Kazumi, continuing to stare her down.

“Robyn, explain things to her.”

“Why should I?” he asked, not impressed by the other.

“You’re the one she saw, you’re going to be together for a while, that’s why.”

He sighed, lifting himself up to her eye level, his wings still flapping away to keep him up. She watched him, unsure what was going to happen. He still didn’t look please one bit, but he did finally speak to her.

“I’m Robyn, and I am a dream fairy.”

“Fairy?” Kazumi questioned. She did not understand the word. She still had quiet a bit of English to learn yet. She searched for a moment, looking fo the book she had boughten. She found it on the kitchen table and started to flip through it.

“What the hell is she doing?” Robyn asked.

“It’s a Japanese to English Dictionary. She doesn’t understand what the word fairy means. So she’s looking it up,” the female fairy replied. “She probably just migrated here. Poor girl, she looks so young.”

“Yo’sei,” she told herself. She closed the book, but kept it in hand as she returned to her place. “Fairy, you’re a fairy then?”

The female fairy flew over, joining the two. “Both of us are. I’m Goldwin.”

Kazumi felt strange talking to little beings, who were saying they were fairies, but she felt this couldn’t get any stranger, so she bowed low.

“I am Kazumi Nakamura,” she said, staying low in her bow.

“Its nice to meet you Kazumi. Now I think we need to discus a little problem we have here,” Goldwin started. “There is a law among us fairies you see. That humans can’t see fairies, and if they do, well the fairy the human see’s will have to stay with the human until the day the human dies, to make sure they don’t tell anyone about the fairies. Do you understand?”

Kazumi carefully thought about the words the fairy had spoken, and nodded. “Understand yes.”

Goldwin continued, “Robyn is the one who you saw. So Robyn is going to have to live with you. For more then likely the rest of your life.”

Kazumi did not understand. “Rest of life?”

“Forever,” Goldwin reworded.
Kazumi’s eyes widened, understanding what that word meant completely. “Live with fairy forever! I need to live alone.”

“I don’t want to live with you either,” Robyn mumbled.

“I know it sounds terrible to you both, but I assure you, I lived with a woman her entire life, and it wasn’t as bad as you may think. We got along just fine once we got to know the other.”

Kazumi took a seat on one of the chairs at the island, her mind racing with thoughts. Her mind screaming with many questions she wasn’t sure how to ask.

“What is dream fairy?”

“A dream fairy protects all dreams, from dream catchers,” Goldwin explained.

“Dream catcher, what I have?”

Godwin peered into Kazumi’s room, seeing the dream catcher from the island. “Yes, a dream catcher. You see, humans need their dreams. Good or bad. And bad dreams aren’t bad like people think. You need the good and bad, and the dream catcher captures the bad dreams. So, dream fairies help free these bad dreams. However, dream catchers are very powerful, and sometimes if dream fairies aren’t careful we ourselves will get caught in the dream catchers.”
“Like Robyn-san did?”

“Yes, like Robyn did.”

“I wouldn’t have if it wasn’t so full of trapped dreams,” Robyn shouted. “Seriously, I have never seen so many trapped dreams in one catcher before!”

Goldwin ignored Robyn’s outburst and simply smiled as she looked up at Kazumi. “There are a few things that will need to change before Robyn can move in. Nothing big, but the first being, the dream catcher will have to come down.”

“A gift from last person living here.” Kazumi cried.
“A gift, well you can keep it, but you can’t let it hang free like that. What if you frame it on the wall. The dreams wouldn’t go near something on the walls.”

Kazumi nodded, a smile planted on her face as she nodded, getting off he chair and entering her room, unhooking the dream catcher and bringing it back out to the kitchen.

“I will get fame soon as possible,” Kazumi exclaimed

“Fantastic Kazumi!” Goldwin smiled. “See Robyn, things will be great. You and Kazumi can compromise things. You two will be great room mates.” .

“Compromise?”
“Talk things through,” Goldwin answered.

“She can hardy understand English,” Robyn growled. “Its like talking to a kid.”

Goldwin raised he eyebrow, “Then you’ll get along even better.”

“What you say?” he yelled.

“Anyway, Kazumi, I must go, but I’ll check on you regular bases. So I want you and Robyn to be on your best behaviors while I’m away. Robyn keep your temper in check. If her English bothers you so much, why don’t you teach her yourself?”

With that Goldwin waved good-bye, flying towards Kazumi’s window, waving her hand, the window opened. She flew through the window, and once on the other side, then waved her hand again, and the window closed on its own again. Then she was gone.

Now that left Kazumi and Robyn alone. Robyn was still hovering beside Kazumi, watching where Goldwin disappeared. Kazumi had her eyes on Robyn, his body floating in mid air. His blue hair was tied back in a pony tail, with some bits of hair hanging loose, dropping to both sides of his head.

His clothing was brown. Brown pants, loosely fit his body, and a brown sleeveless shirt. Brown work like boots to match. Very plain, but it wasn’t her place to judge what he wore. Kazumi was unsure if she should say anything or not. It would be rude to ignore him, but he didn’t seem interested to even acknowledge her existence

A yawn escaped her lips, telling her that she was still very sleepy. Robyn turned to her, studying her for a moment, then turned away once again.

“Get some sleep,” he said.

She was surprised by him saying that, but her body began to tell her that it was the perfect request, so she listened. She bowed.
“Oyasuminasai,” she said, turning around and going back to her bedroom. Robyn stayed put, tolling his eyes as she left the room.

“I can’t understand you,” he mumbled.

Chapter 2

Kazumi rolled over, opening her eyes slowly as she stared around her bedroom. He eyes stopped at the empty hook where her dream catcher hung last night. It was there when she had gone to bed, and now it was gone. She flew out of bed, running out into the main part of the apartment. He eyes catching her table with the dream catcher on top.
“Not a dream” she told herself, whirling around looking at her apartment. She saw him Robyn sound asleep on the couch most of his body taking up a pillow. She stared at him as he slept. He seemed to be out cold, sleeping on his stomach. It was fairly chilly in the apartment, and he didn’t have anything covering him. So, she grabbed a quilt that was folded at the end of her couch and placed it on him. It was a simple gesture, and she hoped that he would at least have done the same for her.

She decided to get dressed fo the day. It was her day off, and she had a few things to do for her new room mate. First off she was going to make him his own bed.

* * *

Less then an hour later Kazumi sat on her bed her short black hair hung mostly wet, but slowly was air drying. Her pink highlights becoming brightly colored as they dried. She paid no attention to her hair though and was busy sewing together scrap materials she had laying around her closet. She had some bits of cotton and stuffed the materials with it. She was already done the second pillow when she turned to stuff a large bundle into a much larger pillow she had guessed and hoped was his size. She stuffed it heavier and fuller then the other pillows, making it as even as he possibly be, doing her best to make a mattress. She sewed it evenly and carefully making se it would last a while. Once that was completed she turned to her scrapes. She had no cotton lining fo the blankets.

She decided it was time to go out and get some so she could complete the blanket. She got off her bed, leaving the sewing mess behind on her bed. She reached fo he coat, and purse, putting them both on, then headed out of the apartment, locking the apartment door behind her.

* * *

When she arrived home, she was surprised to find Goldwin and Robyn, both waiting for her. She stepped inside, only for a moment later Robyn was in her face screaming at her. She couldn’t make out anything he was yelling about, and quickly dodged him, to get free from his yelling.
“Robyn, back off, let her in the door,” Goldwin warned him.

“I just needed material,” she jumped up, running into the living room for more space.
“What the hell Kazumi! Why did you need materials so badly?”

She put the plastic bag on th table, taking out the materials she had bought. “I needed them to finish bed.”

“A bed?” Goldwin questioned. “What for?”

“Robyn-san. If he lives here, he needs bed.”

“What!?” Robyn yelled.

“Kazumi, what a nice gesture. Can I see it?”
Kazumi smiled and nodded, leading the two fairies to her room, to her bed where Robyn’s bed was in pieces, but almost done.

“Mattress,” Kazumi pointed out. “And pillows.”Goldwin took a seat on the mattress. She smiled, dragging Robyn down on the mattress with her. She forced him to sit, and become comfortable on the mattress. She sent a smile Kazumi’s way.

“Its comfortable,” Goldwin smiled. “Isn’t it comfortable Robyn?”

“I suppose,” he replied.

“Kazumi that was such a kind thing to do,” Goldwin said, poking him hard in the gut. “I believe that was your line.”

“Its fine, Robyn-san doesn’t need say anything.”

Goldwin leapt into the air flying up to Kazumi’s eyes level. It was probably the right time to change the subject.

“Kazumi, I believe there is something else we should be discussing,” she began. “The reason why Robyn was so upset when you came in is because when a human and a fairy are bonded like you and him are, you must always be together. He has to watch you. It is rule.”

“Won’t people see him?”

“No, fairies are invisible to humans unless they are using magic. Robyn was using some magic when you saw him, and from then on you became a believer, and from now on you will always be able to see us.”

“Stupid dream catcher,” Robyn mumbled.
Kazumi only nodded, unsure how to react to what Goldwin had told her. It seemed to make sense. If she hasn’t seen Robyn when he was opening and closing her doors and windows, because he was too quick, and she didn’t see the exact moment he used magic. And when he was trapped in the dream catcher he was using all the magic he could to get free, and she had seen him. It made perfect sense. She did her best to smile at Robyn.

“Sorry Robyn-san. If I had known, I would not have put the catcher up,” Kazumi bowed her head in respect. “I did not want to trouble anyone.”

Goldwin smiled and patted Kazumi on the back, and turned to Robyn with a snug smile on her face. “Robyn, Kazumi is trying to make this work, perhaps you should try and make this work too.”

Kazumi studied Robyn who was hardly looking at either of them, but was rather, studying the pillows that Kazumi had made for him. He put the pillows aside and let himself stand up right from the mattress and looked at her carefully. He had a very series expression on his face, which made Kazumi feel uneasy as she watched him.

“Fine, but only because we’re going to together for a long time.”

Kazumi felt herself smile as she bowed low. “Arigato Robyn-san!”
“English woman! English!”

“Robyn!” Goldwin yelled.

“I-I’m sorry, I meant thank you.”

“Be patient with her Robyn,” Goldwin lectured.

“Fine.”

“Good. Now Kazumi, why don’t you finish the bed. That way Robyn will have a bed to sleep on tonight.”

“I will.”

* * *

Kazumi tied the last knot as she finished off the last bit of the blanket. She looked it over, shaking it to make sue it was even. She was happy with it, and looked over to the clock to see what time it was. It was barely ten o’clock, but it felt like it was a lot later then it was. She covered her mouth as she yawned, smiling for a moment as she viewed the completed bed set. She was just missing something to put it in. She stood from her sitting position, her legs were stiff and it hurt slightly as she walked over to her closet. She opened it, and peered into the closet. She pulled out a large shoe box and examined it, studying it, unsure if it was long enough.
“Robyn-san,” she called.

He had been in the living room, just peering out her window, silently thinking for as long as Goldwin had been gone. Now she was calling him to see if this was long enough. He fluttered into the room, his eyes darting around to find her, stopping on the floor at the closet entrance.

“What is it?”

“Right size?” she questioned, waving the shoe box in the air. He sighed but moved in front of her, examining the box. He struggled, unsure if it was the right size fo him or not.

“Put the bed together and we’ll see,” he suggested.

“Hai!” she jumped to her feet and headed back to her bed, grabbing the pieces of the bed she had made. She assembled it, starting with the mattress, then adding the blanket, tucking it in as she went. She topped it with the small pillows. She turned to him, and showed him. Landing on the bed he examined it for a moment, before he removed his boots, then he climbed inside. He let his head hit the pillows and let his legs stretch out to see if they had any room. He had a good half an inch more of room, which for him would be more then enough room.

“I think this will work,” he told her, sitting up right, looking up to meet her gaze. Her face lit up, a smile that was from ear to ear crossed her face. Robyn felt uneasy as she bowed, thanking him for the kind words. He lifted himself out of the bed, back onto her bed, recovering his brown boots.

“Where did you want bed?” she asked.

He raised his brow, “Does it matter?”

“No...suppose not.”

She lifted the shoe box and peered around her room. She stopped at her dresser, with its clean top and nothing on top of it. It was perfect. She placed the tiny bed on top, and turned to look at Robyn for his approval.

“Good place?”

“Yeah, it is fine.”

“I am glad,” she smiled, turning back to look at the bed she had worked all day on, using mostly scrap materials she had laying in the back of the closet. She smiled to herself. It felt good to have done something like that. Sleepily, she yawned again. She was so tired.

“Are you working tomorrow?”

She nodded, rubbing her eyes slightly. She turned back to her bed, beginning to clean up the mess on her bed. Throwing out a lot of the extra scrap pieces from cutting the materials. She put away her needles and thread, cleaning up her mess. Once that was cleaned up she laid back on her bed, relaxing her body as she rested.

“Get some sleep then,” Robyn flew over to her lamp, turning the switch and turned off the light. The room went black, and Kazumi felt her body relax even more as she felt herself begin to drift off into a deep sleep.

* * *

Robyn was laying awake in the bed Kazumi had made him when he began to hear some strange noises coming from Kazumi. He sat up, looking over at her, her body was shaking from side to side, her mouth mumbling words he could not understand, as they were in Japanese. Robyn’s eyes scanned to over the room, near the ceiling where small puff’s of glowing clouds circled up above.

‘Dreams,’ he thought. Examining them closer he began to notice one thing about them all. They were all outlined in a purple aura. All of them. ‘Nightmares. There all nightmares.’ One by one, each one drew down into Kazumi’s body, each time her body was shaking harder, until her eyes opened wide, a shriek escaping her lips as her body bolted up right. Her breathing was heavy and deep, her body shaking, and her face dripping wet in sweat.

“Kazumi, are you alright?”

She was shaking as she peered up at him. She shook her head. “No, no,” she cried, covering her face in her hands.

“Kazumi, it was just a nightmare. People need their nightmares, they need the good and bad dreams,” Robyn tried to explain.

“No! Bad dreams are bad. Don’t need them,” she told him sternly, tears falling down her face more and more. Robyn turned back to look at the nightmares up above. They were gone. Leaving with Kazumi’s awakening. They would be back though. Robyn returned to study Kazumi who was still very upset. Her breathing was easing however, and he body wasn’t shaking nearly as much as it was. Tears still fell from her eyes, and sobbing was still present.

“Do you want to talk about it?”

She shook her head again, not meeting her gaze. “Its normal. I have nightmares often.”

“How often?”

“Often,” she replied. “Maybe six of seven days of week.”
Robyn thought to himself listening to what she was telling him. “That’s too often. Did the dream catcher stop this?”

“Yes,” she replied. “Not one nightmare.”

Robyn wasn’t sure what to do. He knew the moment she went to sleep the nightmares were going to return. And the amount of nightmares were just too many. It was much to much for one person. Kazumi had something about her that was drawing these nightmares to her. Like a terrifying experience she can’t simply let go of.

“Kazumi get the dream catcher,” he told he. “Just until I can figure this out.”

“Get dream catcher?” she questioned.
“Just until I can figure this out,” he told her.

She nodded, understanding completely as she stood from her sitting position and left the room to retrieve the dream catcher. Robyn was unsure what else to do. Dream Catchers were considered terrible man-made objects that ruined the order of thing, but so many bad dreams in a week was not the order of things as well.

Chapter 3

Kazumi rolled over and moaned as the sound of her alarm clock went off breaking her sleep pattern and woke her up. She rolled over reaching out and turning he alarm clock off. Sitting up she looked around sleepily before she crawled out of bed and started to gather some things for the bathroom. She took a towel that was hanging on a hook behind her door, and grabbed some clothing before heading out of her room and into the bathroom. She shut the bathroom door behind her, and began to get ready for the day, starting with a warm shower to help wake her up.

Once she was dressed and had her make-up on, she brushed her teeth and started to towel dry her hair. She stopped at one point to open the door, letting the hot steam in the bathroom dissipate. Once the bathroom was more cool she was able to see better in the de-fogging bathroom mirror. She peered at herself as she started to style her hair, drying her hair slowly with her hair dryer, set on low, drying it slowly, playing with each strand of hair, styling it just the way she wanted. She put the hair dryer down and looked herself over in the mirror. She was satisfied with the way she looked, she grabbed her wet towel and pajamas, and took it back to her room. Folding the sleep wear, she put it under her pillow, and hung the wet towel behind her door to dry.

Robyn watched her from the island in the living room, awaking up very shortly after Kazumi had gotten up fo the day. She entered the kitchen grabbed a bento box from the refrigerator, putting it in her purse. Then she grabbed an apple and began to munch on it. She looked over at Robyn, and motioned him to take one too. He shrugged and went over, picking up the large apple and began to munch on it.

“Leave now for work,” she told him, picking up her jean jacket, and purse, preparing to leave for a long day of work.

* * *

Once at wok Kazumi took a seat at her desk, a large desk with a computer ans a phone with several lines. She had lots of paper and pen’s all set on front of her. Robyn took a seat next to her phone, staring around carefully at her things.

“I phone company for his company.”

“Companies,” he corrected. “When its more then one its companies.”

Kazumi nodded. “I phone companies fo this company.”

Robyn nodded, approving her improvement. She took a seat, removing her jean jacket and placing her purse aside. Then she began to search through her work load for the day. Checking her email for any messages from her box. With none she gladly picked up her phone and began to dial the phone, and began her first of many calls fo the day.

Robyn watched her and listened to her speck in her own language with ease and fluency. She spoke, writing notes in Japanese kanji with ease as she spoke. She seemed to be polite and spoke with much confidence, more then she did when speaking English. She finished a good two hours in, finishing her last call, immediately, peering down at her notes. Robyn looked at her curiosity.

“Now what?”

“Must translate for higher up,” she explained.

She took out clean pieces of paper and slowly looked at her notes, and began to slowly translate them into English. She continued on for a good hour and a half, stopping, having completing that task. Now she stood, gathering her notes.

“Need to take to my higher up,” she shook the translated paper, bringing them to he side. Robyn began to float just inches about her as she carried on. He stayed up to her pace, keeping up just fine. Kazumi looked around shyly, unsure what she should do if anyone saw him. Goldwin had assured her that no one would see him, but she worried still.

She headed into her boss’s office, peeking in to see if she wad thee. Her boss’s gaze met he’s with a warm smile. She waved Kazumi in immediately.

“Miss Nakamura, done translating already?”

“Yes Gazette-san.”

Lacey Gazette was a woman in her early thirties, who was a fashion designer, who at a young age was able to open her own fashion design company, and hired models from all over the world, showing off different designs that she created based on other worldly fashion crazes. She had long flame red hair, and stormy blue hairs to compliment her hair, both sticking out well. She was a tall woman, and her face was free from any lines and resembled a finely aging young woman.

A smile grew on Lacey’s face. “You’re getting very quick. I am glad to hear it.”

“I learn fast,” Kazumi replied.

“I believe you do,” she replied. “Now, what do we have for me?”

“Lolita Sakura company will send us order for te-ten t-thousand dollars,” she stumbled over the money values, stilling getting use to the terms. “Kyande’ Ko’te Model send four girl models for five thousand a model, not include hotel food.”
“Beautiful,” Lacey stood from her seat, studying Kazumi as she continued on with her reading.

“Usually make-up and light’s will do job at usual price,” she continued. “Photographers is unavailable.”

“That is unfortunate, “Lacey answered. “Do not worry however, I will contact one myself. Thank you Kazumi.”

Kazumi bowed and wished her boss well, turning and returning to her own work space. Robyn returned to his spot next to her phone. Kazumi sat, her face peering down at he numbers ready to return phone calls to these companies across the ocean. She finished much quicker, and sat back and stretched when she was done half an hour later.

“You’re good at you job,” Robyn commented.

She let her green eyes scan over and look at him, they gazes meeting.

“Thank you.”

“You seem to enjoy it,” he continued.

“I do.”

Before another word was uttered Lacey appeared before Kazumi, she peered down at Kazumi, or rather her shirt.

“Miss Nakamura, may I ask where you bought your shirt?”

Kazumi peered down at her shirt for a moment. “I sew it,” she answered.
“You mean you made it?”

“Yes,” she answered.

“Kazumi dear, it is lovely. I only noticed it when you were leaving,” Lacey continued. “Do you design?”

“Yes, most fo me,” Kazumi told her.

“Mostly for myself,” Robyn corrected once there was silence between the two.

“Bring some in tomorrow, I would love to see some more designs.”

“Yes Gazette-san.”

With that Kazumi’s boss left and Kazumi and Robyn by themselves once again. Kazumi sat again, looking over to Robyn.
“Mostly for myself,” she repeated after him. He nodded, approving of her language.

“So now what?” he asked.

She reached into her purse, pulling out her bento box and a pair of chopstick for her, and then a fork. She gave the fork to Robyn and opened the box.

“Now it lunch,” she told him.

“Now it is lunch,” he corrected once again.

“Now it is lunch,” she repeated.