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Continuation of last journal.



Chapter 3:

Two days had passed since Scott had dropped in. His wounds were quickly closing, much quicker than Ichi had ever seen. She was able to remove his stitches and just cover his chest with a simple gauze wrapping, allowing him to get up and wander as he pleased; which she thought he would take advantage of.

Ichijin also moved him upstairs to a guest room with a proper bed instead of the cot, but as persistent as she was, Scott refused to budge from the parlor couch. Complaining that he was still sore and moving away from the fire place was bothersome and he'd rather just lay where he was.

"Oh come on Scott." Ichi sighed. "You've been in that same spot for two days." she crossed her arms and tapped her foot gently on the floor in sheer annoyance of her stubborn guest. "Could you at least exsert enough energy to move upstairs to your bed so I can clean this room?"

She hated messes, and Scott...Well...he was making a large mess on her favorite couch.

"You can clean around me." He protested sarcastically as she rolled her blue eyes.

"You're never going to get better if you just lay there" she replied, " You need to get up. I bet once you get outside and breathe some morning air you'll be good as new." She paused. "I mean your gashes are pretty much completely healed already."

"Outside?, I beg to differ."

"Scott..."

"Nope."

"Please? Just to upstairs at least?" She pouted.

"Fiiiine..." He grumbled and slowly swung his legs out into the air, knees popping loudly as he set his feet to the ground. Just as he pushed his weight onto his feet, he rolled off of the couch and into the floor with a loud crash. "Well, I'm off the couch."

"Very cute Scott." Ichi shook her head and wandered off into the other room to gather her vacuum and a duster.

He jumped up as Ichi returned to the room and brushed off the old pants she had put on him two days earlier, "Don't you have anything more fitting" he groaned, pulling them up to his skinny waist, "Or...stylish?"

"Don't complain. That's all I have...male clothing wise." She spoke as she moved about the room, dusting off various knick knacks and shelving. She thought for a moment. "If you make yourself useful and vacuum the couch cushions and the ash in front of the fire place i'll take you to get some new clothing, seeing as I threw out the clothing you were wearing previously."

"What? I liked that jacket, come on, it only had a little blood on it" he replied as he stretched his back, " But I guess I could vacuum." He said as we wandered over towards the machine and turned it on. "Only if you get me some decent threads."

"The jacket was ripped to shreds and disgusting." Ichi scoffed at the mental image of the bloody mess of leather she stripped off the man's back just days before. "And yes. If you help I will take you shopping. All on me." She turned to look at Scott as he was going to plug in the loud machine. "You also have to promise that you'll bathe."

"I'll bathe when I please" he said as he proceeded to smell his shirt.

"Ohh. Uhh...maybe before we leave", he then started vacuuming up the cushions he had spent the last two days on, to avoid the wrath of his new hostess. Ichi peered over her shoulder to spy Scott diligently cleaning his area. She smiled to herself and finished up her dusting. Soon after Scott finished.

"See, that wasn't so hard." She smiled to him and wheeled the vacuum away from her guest. "The bathroom is on the second floor, on the main hallway. First door on your left going up the stairs. Give me your clothes and I'll wash them out while your in there." She closed the closet door and walked back to where he was standing.

"Now?" he laughed, "Whatever you say Princess." He then started to pull his shirt up above his abdomen.

Ichi gasped and covered her eyes. "Not now!" she wailed. "When you get to the bathroom! leave them outside the door for me." She could feel her face turn bright red in embaressment.

He pulled back down his shirt, "Ok" Scott chuckled as he started up the steps "Second floor on the right?, or left? My house was never this big" he asked his hostess, who was still bright red in the face.

"U-uh, Left." She pressed her hand to her forehead and started up the the stairs after her strange guest, pointing out the door to him as he reached the top of the staircase before her. "There are towels in the closet. Wash cloths and soap as well. I'll get you a tooth brush." She hurried off to the far end of the long winding hall to a small linen closet. Carefully raising up onto her tippy toes, she grabbed a small box and pulled out a brand new tooth brush for Scott to use. She quickly walked back and handed it off to him as he waited for her at the bathroom door.

"Just leave your clothes out side the door and I'll get the when I go back downstairs." She scurried off into a room, closing the door behind her.

Scott closed the bathroom door behind him and turned towards the large room as he made his way to the large clawed tub. It was a beautiful pristine white with what he thought were solid gold fixtures. He reached over the golden lip and pressed the stopper down, then reached up to twist the hot water on. As the tub filled he stripped out of his clothing and slowly unraveled his bandages. Opening the door a crack, he flung his dirty clothes across the hallway, landing them in a small pile in front of an opposite facing door. Closing it behind him he turned back towards the tub. He stopped in front of the vanity mirror to examine his marred, pale flesh before slipping into the hot soapy water.



Chapter 4:

"I see you're all nice and clean." Ichi smiled as Scott emerged from the bathroom. He had tied a towel around his waist and slung one over his shoulder. Ichi handed him some clothing. "I found another pair of pants and a different shirt while I was doing laundry." Careful not to look directly at him while he was almost naked. "There is also a belt and some socks in that pile."

"Thank you." He smiled back and took the pile with him back into the bathroom and closed the door behind him. Ichi walked back into a room near by and looked through closets as if she was looking for something.

Scott held the pants up to his waist. "At least these fit better..." He muttered, pulling the belt tightly. He leaned over the vanity and picked up a small comb set out on the counter and began to comb out his dark, wet hair. Noticing his bangs were a tad too long he opened a drawer and pulled out a small pair of trimming scissors. Snipping gently he brushed his face off and shook out his hair, then pulled the shirt over his head. It was soft, and made from woven cotton. The long sleeves draped comfortably over his muscular arms. He nodded to himself in the mirror and opened the door, making his way down the staircase.

Ichijin had beat him down the steps and waited for him in the parlor. Pleased with his appearence, she held up a lump of dark cloth. "It's cold out." She stated, walking over to him, handing him off a long, warm cloak. She herself had changed. Her dress was ankle length and the sleeves were long and thick. The same black gloves covered her hands and a coat was slung over the back of the couch.

"Well, now that your dressed and neat, I suppose we could go now?" She questioned, admiring his dark hair.

"I suppose" he said as he slipped on the cloak she handed him, pulling the hood over his head. He headed to the front door and allowed her to leave before him as he stepped out into the windy air. Ichijin closed and locked the door behind them.


Chapter 5:

The two had soon arrived in the city of Durem. "Where would you like to go first?" She questioned politely.

"Well" he coughed "You're a girl, you should be better at shopping than I am. I've worn the same jacket for a year....before you threw it away" Still sore from losing his favorite coat.

Ichi sighed "The jacket was beyond repair and disgusting." She grabbed his arm and led him down the street towards Durem depot. "We'll get you a new jacket first." She said softly as the two walked inside the shop.

"Wasn't my fault" he scoffed, as she led him into a shop by the arm, saying hello to the shopkeeper as they passed, making their way to the racks with jackets. Ichi let go of Scott's arm and immediately started rummaging through the metal rack brimming with male outer wear. She picked up a long black coat and held it up. Shaking her head she placed the hanger back into the rack and picked through a few more. "You can pick out your own coat, you know..." She said slightly annoyed as Scott stood there silently as she worked her way through a rack.

"Fine" He turned around to sift through hangers as he watched Ichi over his shoulder. He quickly found a coat he liked. Mid-length, to his waist, with silver buckles across the front. He put it on and walked back up behind Ichijin as she was looking through racks. "You like?"

She stopped and turned around. Her eyes widened as she gazed over Scott slowly. The coat he had on was very fetching on his slim frame. The fabric was accented by handsome silver buckles down the front. she nodded slowly, still looking him over. "I like it." She looked up and met his silver eyes and smiled softly.

He smiled back and quickly turned his attention back to his jacket to distract himself. He took it off and handed it to the younger woman as she headed towards the counter to pay. Scott took the bag from the cashier and looked down at his partner. "Where to next?" He questioned curiously.

"Well, you need some clothing." Ichi stated bluntly. She ran her gloved fingers through her hair and looked up at Scott. "I guess H. R. Wesley. Unless there is somewhere else you'd like to go." she cleared her throat. "I need to pick up a few things there as well."

He slowly stepped back and fixed his hair as he pulled the hood back over his head and stepped outside. "H. R. W. is a little too high class for me," he coughed.

"Oh." Ichi bit her lip. "W-well, a little class wouldn't hurt anyone, right?" She questioned, hoping to persuade him into shopping there without seeming too persistent. She looked at him and waited for him to reply, adjusting her own hood.

He sighed "Well you have been too kind to me for the past few days." he looked down and scuffed his foot along the pavement.

"No no, think nothing of it. Please?" Ichi spat out quickly. She shoved her hands into her fur-lined pockets and looked up. "...It's nice having someone to go shopping with. Y-you don't know how incredibly lonely i've been. It's nice getting out with someone. Even if i'm not spending money on myself. It's just nice." She bit her lip and hoped Scott would understand. "There's something about you. I don't know..." She trailed off.

"I understand, but thanks anyways. So Edmund's?" he asked, changing the subject.

She nodded and shivered. "It's cold." She mumbled, walking towards the next stop. Upon entering the store, her eyes were immediately drawn to a display of elegant looking vests. She grabbed Scott's arm and trailed him behind her as she walked her way over to the racks behind the display. "Look at these! Aren't they wonderful?" she questioned, smiling as she held a royal blue coat up to her.

"Beautiful" he replied as he slowly made his own way through the racks, finding a steel blue pinstripe vest in his size, "Eh?" he asked.

Ichijin smiled at his reply and nodded as he held a vest up to himself. She thought it was a nice color. She held up a single slim finger signaling for him to wait a moment and disappeared behind an isle of racks of dress shirts. She emerged moments later with a crisp cotton button up. Taking the vest from him she slung it over the hanger of the shirt and nudged him towards the dressing room. "I want to see."

He took the items from her hands and entered the dressing room, coming out moments later wearing the shirt and vest unbuttoned . He ran his hands down the sides of his waist and looked back up at his peer. Ichi nodded and approached him, slowly buttoning up his vest. "I like it." she smiled, not noticing her hands were resting flat on his chest.

"I think it suits me" he smiled as he turned to the mirror to view his figure. Ichi quickly removed her hands and blushed to herself, shoving them deep into her pockets.

"Ok, I'm done" he replied as he grabbed and few more shirts and a couple pairs of pants and some undergarments. He walked up to the counter and placed them down, turning to the young woman. "What did you come here for again?" He asked, remembering her saying she wanted to get a few things.

"Oh yes! Thank you for reminding me." She turned and walked over to the women's clothing, picking up a few new lacey dresses and a pair of brown, fur trimmed boots from a display rack. She put them on the counter on top of Scott's pile and proceeded to pay for their purchases.

"Your too kind, really" he awkwardly smiled, grabbing the new bags as slung them over his shoulder along with the other ones, brushing his loose hair away from his face.

"No no." Ichi giggled. "I just do what pleases me, really." Watching him brush his bangs from his face she turned towards him.

"Any other stores we should see?" He questioned, smiling slightly.

"Maybe you should get a hair cut." she pursed her lips together and dug into her purse, pulling out some money and placed it in Scott's hand. "You go and do that, and I'm going to go do a little shopping of my own."

Walking off on her own, Ichijin made it to a small accessory store. There she picked up a few things for Scott and a few things for herself. A couple of new hair clips, a strand of pearls, a new bracelet, 3 pairs of earrings and a new pair of gloves.

He took the money and shoved it in his pants pocket. "jeeze..." he thought to himself "I've known this woman for two days and look at me now" he glanced down at his new figure in clean pressed clothes. "At least I have a place to sleep and hide" his thoughts concluded as he pulled the cloak's hood farther over his head. He made his way to the Durem Salon, paid the stylist and was soon sporting a new hairstyle which just barely reached his eyes much shorter than it was before. He made for the exit and entered the market square just before he spotted Ichijin walking towards him.

Ichi smiled as she approached her shopping partner. His hair was neatly cut above his eyes, exposing both at the same time. They were such a lovely shade of silver she thought to herself. Reaching up, she ruffled his hair and giggled. "I like it." Happily she looped an arm around Scott's and sighed. "Well, I'm done shopping." She held up three brimming bags from her short trip while Scott was getting his hair cut.

"Well, where now?" he asked, fixing his hair.

"Ummm.." She paused and thought for a moment. "Unless you need to go somewhere else, i'm ready to head home." She nodded as she finished her sentence. She laughed to herself. "I rarely ever get out like this, you know. Sorry I tire so easily."

"Well, I've got enough clothing to last a while, permitting I don't get into anymore trouble; I'm ready to go home if you are." he said as he looked towards the outskirts of the town.

Ichi smiled. "Well then. Let's head home." she walked along with Scott to the train station to catch the next train out. One in particular stopped less than a mile from her home. It was a lovely path up to her mansion from the small platform where she and her new friend got off. Upon arriving home She took the bags from Scott and sorted them out as she walked up stairs. She placed five bags onto Scott's bed for him to sort through later, and she put her own purchases away in her room as she went to change.