Chapter Eighty Five: Claimed in the Dirt
Christina's Arc: Bend or Break
There was an inner courtyard in the center of the estate that acted as a corridor to all the estate's wings. The sun was warm against my face, and the various fruit-bearing trees were proof that more than death bloomed. I sat on a stone wall with little desire to do anything. It was like this garden was soothing the fight in me. I closed my eyes and inhaled. Then a dark shadow blocked the sun.
"Are you enjoying yourself?"
I nodded.
"Well, stop it. You've been sitting here for nearly fifteen minutes. Are you trying to get darker, or some shit?"
"Ayame—"
" It's Master Tetsuzaki."
"We need to pick a section and chat them up."
She pressed her hands against her waist. "That's such a stupid idea, even for an idiot."
The ambiance started to feel less welcoming.
I brushed my hair back.
"What's wrong with—"
"I mean, why the hell would they talk to you when you're no one to them. No pedigree, status, or favor."
A nerve twitched in my forehead.
"Then what do you suggest?!"
…
"Eating those fucking words because you can't do shit for me."
I crossed my arms.
"Stop cutting me off! Talking is the best way, and I was picked by their queen, so I do have… Did you compare me to a dog?"
"Well, dog, fetch me a boy, or roll over and play dead."
Why, Christina!
She looked down at me in more than one way. Her hair hung in her face.
"You…need to get laid."
"You first."
I feel like I'm losing…
I stood up. "I'm going this way," I said, pointing. "I'll ask around there."
"So, you are going to find me a boy who likes playing in the dirt?"
I lowered my hand.
"What?"
She pressed her fist to her forehead. "Fucking shit. Just go."
***
I walked down a hallway lined with doors that were too close to each other. There wasn't much activity. No eerie sounds from behind the door, or people walking up and down the halls. There weren't any pictures on the wall either.
"Hello… Is anyone around?" But nobody responded.
Is this what Ayame was talking about?
A door closed behind me. I turned to see a man in a funky-looking hat and brown overalls walking my way.
"Hey, guy, can I ask you something?"
He stopped a good distance away from me. He rubbed his eyes.
"I didn't know," he yawned, "they brought gaijin here, too."
…
"Wow, I haven't heard that one in a while. So, who is the other gaijin?"
"Who are you again?"
"I'm Carter…" He brushed past me, hitting my shoulder and giving me a nasty look.
Another jerk…
I followed him closely.
"Hey, don't ignore me; I'm asking you a question!"
He yawned again, not even bothering to cover his mouth. He didn't even look at me, which I didn't mind because being othered like this usually gets me attention. But now I wanted his attention, and he just kept walking!
"Hey, friend, how about you slow the hell down?"
He stopped with raised brows and turned slowly toward me.
"Wow, you've got a mouth on you. You must be the kind who enjoys being hit by women," he said, brushing his hair from his face. "Unfortunately for you, I don't. So stop following me if you want to talk like that."
"Well, if you'd stop—"
He walked off again.
"Where are you going?!"
***
I followed him outside to the backyard, where I found at least thirty more men. They were pulling weeds, trimming branches from trees, cleaning what looked like an obstacle course, and planting an assortment of things. He walked toward a shed. The path was lined by berry bushes.
So, is this what she meant by playing in the dirt?
"Hey, buddy."
He looked at me with irritation and continued walking.
"Can I ask you a question now?"
He bit his bottom lip while raising a brow. He seemed more annoyed than angry.
"My shift starts soon, and I'm shoveling manure today. Unless you want to help, get lost, buddy."
I frowned.
"Aren't you the son of a noble, or something?"
He rolled his eyes, and a desire to slap him crept within me.
"The son of a 'noble' woman, not a daughter. Also, I'm nineteen and unmarried."
"So?"
He opened the door to a small white and blue shed.
"So, what planet are you from? My parents sent me here to be claimed by one of the women here, but it's been two months, and no one looks at a boy who smells like crap. Why are you here?"
A breeze blew by us.
"Is that so?"
"I don't know who you are or which family you hail from, but I've answered your questions, so are you going to help me, or not?"
I smiled.
"If shoveling shit drives women away, then hell yeah I'm in."
He walked into the shed and returned with two shovels. He passed me one and gave me a faint smile.
"Your mouth alone should drive women away."
He closed the shed.
"You might want to change into something you wouldn't mind throwing away if you had to."
We walked across the yard, shovels in hand, and met with fifteen other men. Their instructions were simple: Shovel manure into the wheelbarrow, and transport it to different sections of the yard. If the guys there needed help spreading it out, do it. After four hours of playing in the dirt, I learned how to make pretty nice flower arrangements.
"Okay, stranger. That's it. Overalls look good on you," he said with a smile.
I dusted my overalls off. The noon air mixed with a hint of manure was disgustingly refreshing.
"That was better than sitting around all day."
"What do you mean by that?"
I don't know if I should tell him about my situation with the princess… Oh shit. I forgot about Ayame.
"Hey, um, what's your name?"
"Sure. My name is Jun Saito; it's nice to meet you."
"Cool, cool. My name is Antwon Carter, and I want to ask you a few more questions about what you are looking for in a woman."
He pulled his glove off and scratched the side of his head.
"Besides a pulse, I don't know how to answer that… When do I even think about something like that?"
"Well…do you ever dream about being married?"
"Every boy does, Carter. But the faces always change. And we need to shower and change as well. Then we need to get ready to eat."
I looked around. Most of the guys were gone.
"Okay, but I'm going to teach you some pickup lines. I'm also going to teach you how and when to use them."
He grabbed my shovel and headed back to the shed. "Pickup lines…for guys?"
"Trust me, Jun—"
"It's Saito. We're not that close."
"You're going to need it for who I have in mind."
***
I snuck back into the courtyard after showering in the servants' wing. I won't say it wasn't odd, since their shower was just a box with multiple showerheads. I crouched down near where I told Ayame to meet me.
"Yo, asshole. Where are you?" Ayame called out. She approached the bench and stared at it for a moment. Then she sat down and leaned back, letting her hair fall behind her.
I told Jun to meet her here in thirty minutes after he got dressed. I just hope that he doesn't flake on me.
Ayame looked up at the darkening sky, and for a moment, she looked like a normal girl. But I know better.
"Good evening," Jun said. And my heart started to race.
Be confident, Jun.
"What the hell do you want?"
He smiled and took slow, deliberate steps toward Ayame.
"A moment with you, Master Tetsuzaki, if you'll have me."
She didn't blush, but that wasn't meant to get a reaction. Jun's form was peak; he just needed to force the right reaction.
She frowned.
"May I sit down, Master Tetsuzaki?"
She shrugged, and Jun sat down.
"Are you…one of the boys who work in the back of the estate?"
"I am."
"Did Carter send you?"
She called me Carter!
"He did," Jun brushed his hair to the side.
The leaves rustled, and something snapped.
"He did. He also told me that you might not like boys who play in the dirt." He leaned in close, brushing shoulders. "Do you like dirty boys?" He sang.
The blush in her face started to rise.
"What kind of question is that?" She asked, turning to Jun.
"I cleaned the best I could, but maybe you could help me, Master Tetsuzaki," he said, dragging his pinky across his bottom lip.
"How?"
"By being the shine to my dull life."
Not what I told him to say but…
"W-what?" Her face turned cherry red.
Now finish that brat, Jun.
He gently held her cheek. He brought his face close to hers, and she started to shake.
I slowly exhaled. I hadn't realized that I'd been holding my breath.
He brought his nose to her neck and slowly inhaled.
She yelped like a scared dog. Then…he stopped. He pulled back and sat there. The improvising, the hesitation… He forgot what to do.
"Why did you stop?!" Ayame said, standing up. "Tell me now!"
"Well, I've never kissed a woman. It would be inappropriate for me to—"
She pushed him off the bench and onto the floor.
What the hell is she… Oh, good god!
She mounted him.
"I, Ayame Tetsuzaki, hereby declare my claim on Jun Saito! Now, continue!"
…
Seriously?
"I'm so happy for her," someone whispered.
"I don't know… I'm kind of waiting for her to be like, 'Just kidding."
"She wouldn't do that, and a claim is sacred, hani."
…
I turned my head to my left; Christina was crouched beside me. She smiled…
I turned back to Ayame and Jun…
She bent down, bringing her face closer to his…
I sprang from the bush and tried to run, but she grabbed me.
"Let me go!" I screamed.
"Carter," Jun called out.
Christina pulled me back, slinging her arm around my neck.
"We're so happy for you, Tetsuzaki, and a gaijin at that."
"What are you talking about, 'we,' Christina?"
She smelled of sweat and dirt. Christina let go of my neck and pointed to the bushes behind me. One by one, faces emerged from them. Eleven in total. But how were they so sneaky in armor?
"Tetsuzaki knew we were here," Christina said.
I turned to ask Ayame, but she was sucking the soul out of Jun.
I walked over to her, Christina by my side.
"Hey, you'll kill him if you don't let him breathe," I said.
She lifted her head, whipping her hair back, and stared at me. There was no love in her eyes when she looked my way.
"What—can't you see that I'm busy?"
"Did you know that—"
"Yes, I fucking knew you were there, mouth breather," Ayame said.
"So, Jun—" I asked.
"Is fucking mine!" Ayame sneered.
…
"Why are you still so damn mean?"