Shuichi's Personal Assistant

Umiko had been working as a personal assistant to Shuichi for two years. It wasn’t as glamorous as she had originally thought it would be, but more emotionally satisfying than she had ever dreamed. Shuichi was a talented young artist whose star was on the rise. Everything he touched turned into a masterpiece, everything but his love life.
Umiko was only twenty-three, two years Shuichi’s senior, but she fell easily into the role he required of her. She became his big sister and mother rolled into one and she loved him dearly.
“It’s our anniversary and I want to do something romantic, but not too corny. Something simple,” he said to her. She stared into his desperate green eyes. Oh, Shu-chan, she thought, can’t you come up with anything on your own? Instead, she told him, “Something simple? That could be anything. Candlelight dinners are always romantic. I can have it prepared for you by eight o’clock.”
“Yes, that’s what I want. But, make it nine. Yuki is never home before nine.”
Umiko mentally rolled her eyes. Yuki-san was never home if he could help it.
“Rose petals on the bed? It is your anniversary…”
Shuichi squeezed her so tight it hurt to breathe. “Oh, yes. Umi-kun, you think of everything. And I want this night to be perfect. Things have been rough lately and this will be my chance to make everything better again."
Umiko disentangled herself from his grasp, forcing a smile on her face. It was getting more difficult to keep the pity from showing on her face. She was amazed at what a good actress she was becoming.
“I’m sure things will be as beautiful and romantic as they can possibly be. Now, let me go so I can make everything perfect for you”.

While Shuichi was in his studio, Umiko surveyed the rose petals she had strewn on the bed. She had to admit, it was beautiful. She sighed, sank into the overstuffed chair and gazed out the window. Eiri-san had become increasingly distant lately. He was usually a cold emotionless man, but now he seemed more so. Umiko shivered whenever she thought of him. He always seemed to peer through her soul as if he wanted to own pieces of it. Shu-chan absolutely adored him and there was nothing in the world that make his devotion waver. She admired him for that. Eiri, on the other hand, seemed to take Shuichi for granted. Always sure that he would be there, like a faithful lapdog. Admit it, Umiko thought to herself, he is a faithful lapdog. But, love makes us do strange things. And who am I to say that Eiri-san doesn’t feel the same? I’m sure he loves Shu-chan. He wouldn’t be here if he didn’t, right? Umiko shook all the negative thought from her mind. She had her own lover to think about.
Umiko was a tall woman of five foot ten, and, “pale as the stars”, according to Shu-chan. She was curvy, as any woman associated with the moon should be, but not plump, and only recently had admitted to herself how good she looked in her growing collection of lingerie. She had thick hair, usually coiled up in a braid on the top her head, but when she took it down, it was her crowning glory. It fell just past her waist and was the most unnatural of natural hair colors. Spun silver, spreading all about her. Her brunette parents were fascinated with it and would never let her cut it. Now, as an adult, she couldn’t bear to do it either.
Umiko shook herself out of her reverie and prepared to leave Shu-chan and Eiri-san’s apartment. She certainly didn’t want to be here when Eiri-san came home. And frankly, Shuichi’s gushing was beginning to wear her down. She needed to go home and relax.
"Good-bye, Shindou-kun!"
The whirling tornado that was Shuichi came bounding from the next room.
"You're leaving? Now?"
"Yes, I have to leave before Yuki-san gets here. I wouldn't want to ruin the romantic moment."
"Yeah, I guess so," Shuichi pouted. "I'd better get myself ready." He whirled his hyper self back to the other side of the apartment. Sighing, Umiko gathered her cell phone, notebooks, and handbag and put on her shoes. She put her hand on the doorknob and glanced at her watch.
"It's later than I though," she screamed in her head and rushed out the door, crashing into the one person she'd wanted to avoid. Everything she'd been holding was now scattered about her feet, two strong arms were holding her tight.
Umiko didn't want to look up, didn't want to see, but she had to. She couldn't afford to be rude. She slowly lifted her violet eyes and found herself staring into a pair of leonine ones. Oh God! Those eyes! They COULD see her soul!
"I...I'm so...s...sorry, Yuki-san," she stammered, looking quickly away. "I...I wasn't watching where I was going."
She dropped to the ground, picking up everything as quickly as possible. Cell phone. Where was her cell phone!? She looked frantically around her.
Eiri was on one knee in front of her, dangling the cell phone in front of her face. She felt herself turn crimson.
"Is this what you're looking for?"
"Yes, thank you." She took her phone and continued looking at the ground.
Eiri placed his finger under her chin and lifted her face, forcing eye-contact.
"If you always look down, you will never see where you are going. You'll run into me again, and we wouldn't want that. Would we?"
"No, sir," Umiko whispered.
He bent down and placed his lips close to her ear. His closeness was maddening.
"You know you are replaceable?"
"Yes."
"And you know that I hate you?"
"Yes."
"Then why are you still here?"
"I'm sorry."
Eiri moved slightly to the side and watched her walk to the elevator. His eyes narrowed as she pushed the button.
"Umiko!" he said.
She turned around.
"Yes, Yuki-san?"
A half smile formed on his mouth.
"I may hate you, but for some reason, you intrigue me. That is the only reason you still have the position you do. Shuichi may care about you a great deal, but he will always love me more. Remember that."
Eiri turned and went into the apartment. Umiko stood, speechless, until the elevator arrived. She got into the elevator, pushed the button and wished. Wished she could drown out the cries of joy, the happiness of Shuichi, from her ears.