The Meeting

Arania walked into the store on a Saturday in a good mood, carrying a box. Today she was wearing jeans and a sweater, with tennis shoes instead of her usual business dress attire. She had decided to take the day off and relax instead of working. She had warned Zen of this on Thursday and he agreed to work for her extra that day, on the condition he get this one outfit he had been eyeing for his girlfriend. Arania happily agreed to this. She greeted Zen and walked into the storage area, as usual, with Meow following her. She opened the box and looked in it, smiling as she saw the Greek costumes would fit the mannequins perfectly, she had decided that the Stan one would be cupid, with the others dressed as other Greek gods for valentines day. After closing the box and going back out into the store, she saw Zen busy with a customer, and sat in the armchair until he was through.

"Zen, I need you to get the mannequins dressed in the costumes in the box in the back sometime before you leave today." Arania walked over to him.

"Yes ma'am, now you go on and have fun. You work too hard during the week." Zen smiled and looked at Meow conspiratorially. "All right all right, I'm going." Laughing and waving to him, she walked back out to the car. She had a concert she wanted to go to that evening, but in the meanwhile, she had nothing to do. She started thinking as she drove. The store was doing even better than she thought it would, and soon she would be able to afford to give Zen a raise, and if she ever got another employee, the starting wage would be a little better. She was very happy about that, but sighed, she was a little lonely too. Meow was a great companion, but she was only a cat, and she enjoyed time with the ladies from APEC, but that wasn't the same. She shrugged, figuring time will fix that, she just needed to wait and see. She went back home for the rest of the time till the concert, and had a movie marathon, watching all her favorite movies. Then she went to the concert, and really enjoyed herself. On the way home she remembered some work she had to get done for the next day, so she went to the shop, knowing it was closed and Zen would have left by now so he couldn't yell at her.

She walked into the shop and noted that the mannequins were changed as she had asked, and she smiled, and reminded herself to thank Zen when he came into work. She walked into the back, turning the lights on as she went. "Might as well serve anyone who comes in since I'll be here a while" She thought to herself as she pulled the papers out she needed to work on. She sat in the chair behind the counter and started working. A little bit later, she heard the door open and looked up. She saw Mykai standing in the door. He was holding an envelope in his hand.

"Lady Arania, are you open, I wanted to get my mistress a gift, and saw the lights on." He stepped in and waited.

"Oh sure MyKai, feel free. What is that, another bill?" Laughingly asking as she walked over to him. "Do you know what you wanted?"

"I am sure I can find something. This does not appear to be a bill, as it was taped to your door." Handing it to her, he wandered off to the jewelry and started looking at it. Arania took it, and looked at it. It was addressed to her, but bore no return address or any other way of indicating who it was from. She opened it, and read it, then went outside and looked around. She saw nothing, so she returned inside to find MyKai ready to pay for his selection.

"Is there something wrong Lady Arania?" He asked as he set the necklace on the table. It was a pendant of a rose made of gold, and matching earrings for it.

"Not sure actually, the note said someone was watching me, but it didn't seem threatening." Ringing up his purchase and taking the money, she shrugged, not sure what to make of it. She put it in a nice box, and then a paper bag with the store logo on it. "Here you go."

"If you would like me to look around before I leave, I would gladly do so." He took it and looked at her. Arania nodded, and he set the package on the counter and walked outside, checking any area that a person could use to watch the store without being seen. She reread the note, still a little confused. When he returned five minutes later, she looked up to see him standing there, with another Kai who looked like he wanted to melt into the floor.

"This is who left the note. He says his name is MusiKai. He also says he means you no harm and did not mean to frighten you.

MyKai stood there with his hand on MusiKai's shoulder as if he was expecting something. Arania looked between them.

"If you mean me no harm, why are you following me, and why the note?"

"I didn't know how to approach you. I have not had much interaction with anyone and am not very good at social interaction." His voice was soft and almost musical.

Arania nodded a little. "That explains most of it, but what do you want with me?" She waited patiently for the answer, as he was quiet for a long moment. MyKai also stood there, watching and waiting.

"I would like to work for you," He said at last, "I do not have any references, as I have not worked before, but I am willing to prove myself." MyKai just barely shook his head but said nothing.

Arania looked at him, then went to the back returning with a clothing box. "I do need another employee, this is the store uniform, you can start Monday." She then smiled at the both of them.

"However, as it is now three in the morning, I need to go back home and get some sleep. Thank you for your help MyKai," handing him his package as well as another small box, "This box has a bracelet that matches the earrings and necklace you picked out. Give them to Dgrequeen with my thanks and apologies for detaining you this long." She picked up the papers she had been working on, and shut off the lights. She said goodnight to them both as she locked the door and went to her car. She looked back and saw the two Kais standing there talking as she pulled out. She sighed and drove home. Meow was sleeping on the foot of the bed when she came in. Arania patted her and closed the blinds before going to bed.

She did not look out as she shut them so she did not see the figure standing in the shadows across the street. He stood there kicking himself mentally, asking the same thing MyKai asked after she left. Why did he not tell her the whole truth? He had lost his nerve he admitted to himself. At least he would be near her, he thought. He swore to himself he would protect her no matter what, even if she never knew his true feelings.