Magi Modern!AU…so I hope you'll like it. Fem!AlixMei

Disclaimer: I own nothing in anime just my crazy imaginative brain.

Title: Pens and Papers

Genre: Romance, Friendship, Family

Characters: Alibaba Saluja, Ren Koumei

Summary:

He's lazy and the kind who likes to bury himself inside his work station room with all the books he got and the smartass she'd never imagine she would meet that one day she shared her umbrella to him.

(***)

It was cloudy and windy that day when she met him – it was cold and dull like the dark clouds would shed its tears any moment now but he doesn't seem to mind the weather approaching the town that day and just continued to read his book in hand – too deep into it like his whole being just flew inside the book and his body remained intact solid to the world.

Her hand twitched when she heard the thunder growled lowly…the wind started to get wet and after contemplating for a minute she tucked the loose gold strands of her hair – she slowly and quietly walked closer to the young man with long disheveled red mop hair who is sitting in one of the benches in the park. Even when she's practically within reach in the back of the young man – he didn't even twitch and just flipped another page of his book. She, on the other hand can't really understand herself as to why she's here – standing and waiting for something to happen.

Another rumbling of thunder rolled, it's going to rain soon…yes…if he got caught in the rain he'll catch a bad cold after…She nodded to herself and convinced herself though…yet the real reason she stopped by is when her eyes landed on his whole physical being – she caught herself intently gazing at him like he's the most interesting man in the world which is by that moment felt like he is to her.

What a simple man.

Actually he's not the prettiest man not with those big freckles he got on his face just below his eyes and that long disheveled red hair just made him like he hadn't gotten a cut for years (or maybe he is) but the thing is she was captivated how his lips would slightly quirked upwards when he read something good and the way his red eyes would shine in wonder while reading…

He's just looked so content…such a simple person with simple needs…oh so true.

She remained standing there like a post when the first droplet of rain fell on her nose – without realizing it she suddenly pulled out her folding umbrella from her school bag and opened it just exactly the time when the rain poured down in a slow beat. Hovering over the young man, she sighed in relief as she just shielded him just in time from the cold rain.

Noticing the shadow over him – the young man looked over his shoulder and saw a young lady with long wavy golden hair with a pair of golden eyes, wearing cotton fuchsia blouse partnered with white slacks pants and sandals.

He kept staring at her when she spoke, "It's raining…" Without replying, the young man slightly lifted his head and finally noticed the wet droplets falling down from the dark cloudy sky.

"Uhh…" He uttered almost inaudibly.

Fisting her hand on the leather handle of her bag she offered a soft and kind smile, "You may come with me…?" His red eyes bore on gold eyes blankly. "Instead of staying out here…uhmm… I know a café near here…you can continue reading there without catching a cold out here." She offered.

The red haired young man thought of it for a few seconds and decided to get up from the cold and almost wet bench he's been sitting on for the past hour or two. That's when he noticed how small the golden haired lass is…her height is just barely his shoulder.

Surprised by the silent response, she took the liberty to hold the umbrella and she ushered him to come with her, "Let's go."

They went inside a rather spacious and cozy café – it's warm and has good lighting that is just right for him to read his book. Turning to his female companion who deposited her wet umbrella to the guard and walked to him with a small smile – he sighed and went to the counter with her.

"What would you like?" He suddenly asked startling her out of her trance.

"Huh?" She looked at him then to the menu, "Oh…no need…I'll pay my own…" She laughed wryly at him but he can't have that.

"I insist…" He said dully and almost authoritatively. She's been kind enough to remind him of the weather and the least he could do is offer good companionship. "Just a small thank you for the umbrella and reminding me of the weather…"

She blushed and stammered a bit but the stare he gave her said otherwise and without any choice, she reluctantly gave in and nodded, "Well…I'd like the American Chocolate Coffee…"

"What about a snack?" He asked.

Looking at him again then back to the menu she then sighed, "Almond Vanilla Cake please…" He nodded then turned to the cashier and stated their orders. "I'll find us a seat then…"She gestured a hand which he nodded in reply.

What a man with few words…

When she found a seat near the window she called him over and both of them sat down, facing each other and waited for their orders to come.

The young man remained quiet and dull but didn't start reading for some reasons and just kept staring at his female companion while the said 'companion' fidgeted on her seat looking everywhere but him.

Finding her voice box again she cut off the pregnant silence engulfing them, "Uhh…" She started. "By the way I apologize for not introducing myself earlier…my name's Alibaba…" Well that's a first. "It's nice to meet you…" She bowed slightly to him.

After a few moments of observing, "It's okay and I'm Koumei…and it's nice to meet you too…" He introduced rather dully, "And again…Thank you for the umbrella…"

Alibaba blushed again that didn't go unnoticed to Koumei, "N-no…it's fine really…It was just a spur of the moment and also I'm worried that you might catch a bad cold and your book would get wet then…I just kind of act unconsciously…I guess…?" She almost cussed herself when she noticed it ended as a question.

"Hmm…" He hummed then both of them turned to the waitress who got their orders and thank her for it; they started their silent conversation and ate their fill slowly. "You're a student?" He asked while holding his Arabian Cappuccino in hand.

"Oh…yeah…actually I'm a working student." She replied while getting her school notebook out of her bag. "I'm taking Economics and Livelihood in Toran University." She smiled at him.

"Oh…Are you a scholar then?" He sipped his coffee.

"Nope…my father is supporting my college fee but I fend for my living expenses with my job salary." She laughed softly and good-naturedly. "It's my second year now actually." Alibaba then put down her notebook on her lap and took a bite of her chiffon cake. "What about you?"

"I'm a writer…" He noticed the shine in her eyes but silently ignored it. "More on realistic fictions…"

"Wow…that's amazing then…!" She looked awed and childlike. "I do like books since I was a kid…well…may I know your works if it's okay?" The curiosity in her eyes is visible. "Not much though…" He took out a book from his jacket and gave it to her, "Here."

"No kidding!" Her smile widen in delight. "You're the one who wrote the 'Blasphemy of Wisdom'?" She looked at the cover and there at the center end printed the pen name of Koumei, "So you're 'Renmei'… you're one of my favorite writers!" Then she paused and gasped. "Oh my…is that supposed to be a secret?"

Koumei didn't expect that remark from her, "No, it's alright just don't blurt my name out in the open and thank you." It was the first time he got such comment face to face since he's not a people's person and would never go to book signing events and just kept on track by the comments of his fans in the social media sites.

"Such a coincidence to meet you…it's a real pleasure to finally meet you then." She bowed again to him. "So what have you been reading since I met you in the park?"

He lifted the thick book with a title 'Camellia' – a mystery crime book his brother gave to him, "It's one of the works of Scheherazade."

"You got the newly published book of Lady Scheherazade when it was just released this morning?" She looked at him in disbelief. "Wow…that's one hell of a book you got there…!"

"My brother gave it to me." He replied.

"You might as well continue reading then…if I'm not a bother to you." She gestured and resumed devouring her free treats.

"It's fine…I've been reading for the last hour so resting my eyes is not a bad idea." This time he smiled to her that caught her off guard. "What kind of books do you have then?"

Composing herself Alibaba put down her cup on the table, "I have a little collection of children books…" She said shyly.

"Children books?" Well, that's kind of old school.

"Original children books or what they seemed to be with the kids nowadays." She scratched her head wryly. "You know the original anthology of the Grimm's Fairytales and Hans Christian Andersen."

"Ah…I see…" He chuckled lightly. "It's a bit different than what we have been told when we were kids right?" Maybe it's not a bad idea coming with her and letting his reading time be wasted.

"Yeah…totally different but the thing is I like it original since unlike the remake fairytales – reality does not work with rainbows and ponies…we're humans after all." Her eyes turned liquid gold for a second, "I really like classic novels like Alice in Wonderland, Howl's Moving Castle, Little Lord Fauntleroy and the Nobody's Girl. Do you think that I'm childish?"

Koumei looked at her and sighed, "I don't think you're childish…but you're emotional or easily moved by emotions and spur of moments." Running a palm over his book he continued, "And I assumed you liked adventure-themed books the most."

Alibaba gaped for a good ten seconds before she stammered a reply, "Wow…you read too much that you can actually read someone even you just met me this day…I can't even think of an excuse to deny any of it." She chuckled. It's not like he's offending her but he just nailed the description of her personality without sweat. "Well…if I read you I my own way…I say…" She then looked at him more intensely almost making him uncomfortable. "You're nerd and good in communicating with others unless necessary or you just felt like it. And I can feel that…you're lazy…sorry about that but it's just you're so dull…" She can't help but criticized him.

"That's priceless coming from you." He remarked making her to pout. "Not that I'm complaining about what you said. It's human nature to judge after all."

"Sorry."

"No need."

Silence then fell between them for a few seconds before Koumei opened his mouth again, "But I do am lazy…for the most part of it…" Alibaba smiled. The most rainy afternoon was spent with them talking about every books they've read and have not read; by the time they finished it was already night and the rain finally stopped.

"Well…I certainly had a good time with you Koumei-san." Alibaba sat up from her seat with Koumei following her. "It's a shame that we'll have to part ways from here." She took her now dry umbrella from the guard and both of them went outside the café.

"Part ways here?" Koumei frowned. "I'll take you home from here by then we can both part ways." He can't just leave a lady by this time of night. "And don't try to say you're imposing me..." She shut her mouth in attempt. "I have a sister almost your age and your safety is important."

"That's close to being a gentleman." She remarked with a smile. "But thank you." He looked at her with his amusingly dull eyes. They both walked silently together in familiar roads near a penthouse building. "You're just near here?" Koumei asked.

"Yeah…just a little corner there on the left." She pointed a lamp post where an alley road is. "Why?"

"That would be just a short trip to the penthouse building then…"

Oh…so lives in a penthouse building…how lucky for him then but of course what do you expect from a successful writer himself. Unlike me…she thought sullenly. She suddenly stopped in front of an old apartment then turned to him with a sad smile, "Well…thank you again for accompanying me home. See that corner door…" She pointed the dark part of the apartment. "That's my little home." Koumei grunted as a reply. "And I hope I can borrow one of your collections…it's really nice to read something before going to bed or just relaxing."

Koumei looked at her again, "My penthouse is in 4th floor and my front door is easy to find since it has a name plate so you don't have to worry about getting the wrong door…"

"You mean…?" She looked at him with a gaping mouth.

"Yes…you can come in my house anytime you want or better…" He took out a small card and gave it to her. "Just call me or text me…but don't expect a reply…" She almost laughed outright there but controlled it. "Well that's helpful…" She quirked a smile and looked up at him brightly. "I'll see you later then…?"

With one last glance with each other Koumei left with a small smile on his face while Alibaba has a delightful face while walking towards her apartment door.

(***)

Mind telling me what do you think of it...?