Uh, hey. College and work have engulfed my life completely and I wanted an escape, so with my friends' encouragement, I tried writing again. It's been a while since I've written anything (half a decade?!) so it'll be a bit rusty, but I wanted to get something -anything- down on paper... Metaphorically, of course. I know this fandom is dead, and I don't have too much of a plan for this story, but I thought I'd share what I have regardless, just in case it was interesting to at least someone out there on the interwebs.

As for the setting of the story, I've taken some artistic liberties. I'm no expert on the Victorian Era and am probably going to let Chikane get away with a lot more than a woman during this time period would ever be allowed to. I'm more interested in writing about cute gay girls doing cute gay things than being absolute with my historical accuracy, and I hope you'll allow me to be liberal with my interpretation. I don't have a specific year or country in mind, but think around 1870s-ish?

Anyway, I hope you enjoy reading this as much as I've enjoyed writing it. :)

toji - Housekeeper; Head Maid

Beta'd By: RevalisPyross

Himeko Kurusugawa was certain she had used up all of her luck for this lifetime. How else could she possibly explain being employed to the Ototachibana Manor, home to the Himemiya heiress? It was only by chance that the Himemiyas were in need of a replacement for a recently retired chambermaid while Kurusugawa was looking for a new job. Still, Himeko doubted she would have made the cut – the position was highly vied for, what with the amount of money earned and the reputation one would gain when working for such a prestigious family.

And Himeko was certain her own tarnished reputation preceded her…

No, don't think about that. Himeko shook her head to help clear it, golden locks moving in an out of view before she re-doubled her efforts on sewing the fabric in her callused hands. Instead, her thoughts drifted back to that near-constant question that had plagued her mind for the past four months: with the odds stacked so high against her, how was it she was able to acquire such a sought-after position?

Well, whatever the answer, it was only by the Head Maid's good graces that Himeko had been allowed to keep this job. Himeko couldn't tell if Otoha Kisaragi had the patience of a saint, or if the Himemiya household was too focused on the upcoming festivities to bother hiring anyone new. She figured it was the latter.

And what festivities had the whole manor in a tizzy? Why, it was the youngest Himemiya's twentieth birthday celebrations! Nobles and society's most elite would be arriving from far and wide with their families tomorrow so the whole manor, and especially the ballroom, had to be utterly perfect as to not blemish the Himemiya's good name.

At least, that's what every other servant on the estate was tending to. Himeko, given her less-than-stellar track record, was delegated to a chair tucked away in a corner of the room, out of everyone else's way, doing the seemingly one thing she was decent at: sewing.

Amongst the flurry of preparations, another maid briskly entered the room and made a beeline to the center where Otoha was giving everyone else instructions. Himeko snuck a few inquisitive peeks at the newcomer, but ultimately went back to her task. She didn't want to face the Housekeeper's wrath just in case she was caught 'slacking off'. She did, however, manage to overhear their conversation:

"Kisaragi-toji," the maid started with a polite, yet obviously rushed curtsy. She anxiously fidgeted with the long hem of her uniform's black skirt while she waited for the other to acknowledge her.

And she was indeed acknowledged, but she was met with such a terse reply that it caused the younger of the two to flinch, "Misaki-chan? Can it not wait? I have a million things to do and not enough time to do them." Himeko didn't fault Otoha for her petulant attitude; most of the time the Head Maid was strict but fair. That said, most of the time she wasn't at her wits end trying to coordinate the entire mansion's staff in preparation for tomorrow's gala.

"I beg your pardon, but it cannot," Misaki replied, forcing herself to meet Otoha's fierce gaze. "Something has come up."

Even amid the frantic chatter of seven other maids trying to clean the room, Otoha's silence was deafening. Himeko chanced another look and found that Otoha was staring down Misaki who could no longer hold her stare. "What happened?" Otoha said, her voice eerily calm in spite of the panic that she was most likely feeling inside.

"H-Himemiya-sama's tea," Misaki started. "Her afternoon tea has been prepared but there isn't anyone to s-serve it." With the deed done, Misaki finally looked back up to gauge her boss' reaction.

A few beats passed before Otoha let out the breath she was apparently holding. A slender hand lifted to massage her temples. "Do not scare me like that. I thought perhaps the catering had to cancel last minute." Otoha continued, sounding much more at ease, but now irritated. "And why can't Izumi-chan serve her?" Indeed, it was Izumi's job as one of the parlor maids to serve their charge tea, and heavens knew Izumi jumped at any chance to be in the young Himemiya's presence.

"You sent her off to the West Wing to help guide the maids there."

Otoha's frown furrowed upon recollection. "Yes, I remember now." She then gave Misaki a pointed look. "Can you serve her?"

Misaki shook her head apologetically. "I've been helping the scullery maids with the dishes. The cook pulled me aside to have me delivery this message. I have to get back or they won't be prepared for tomorrow."

"Then… Kyoko-chan?"

"She's in helping clean in another room."

"Miyu-chan?"

"Assisting the gardeners."

"Hitomi-chan?"

"Yes?" They both jumped when a third voice chimed from behind them. Apparently Hitomi was working in the same room they were standing in and Otoha had forgotten.

"I-nothing. Never mind, please continue." The Head Maid turned back towards Misaki and she was about to rattle off some more names when the other spoke up.

"You might have to pull someone away from their task in order to serve Himemiya-sama her tea."

Otoha sighed. "Yes, but everyone's tasks are vital to make sure the manor is in top form for Miss' guests, and there isn't anyone who can just stop what they're doing and—" A curious pause. "Unless…"

Suddenly Otoha's brown eyes met Himeko's purple and the chambermaid let out a quiet squeak of surprise before feverishly going back to her assigned duty. She hoped the Head Maid hadn't noticed her eavesdropping and tried to blend into the background, but she had no such luck. "Himeko-chan, I have a task for you. Put that down and come over here."

Misaki's light blue gaze moved back and forth between them before realization dawned and a look of horror crossed her face. "Wait, Kisaragi-toji! You can't possibly mean to have Kurusugawa—?"

Otoha raised a hand to silence her. "Did we not just discuss that no one else is available?"

"Well, y-yes, but Kurusugawa?" Misaki continued incredulously. "The same Kurusugawa that nearly toppled over the whole library? The same Kurusugawa that shattered fifteen sets of fine china in one fell swoop? The same Kurusugawa who tripped over a bucket and accidentally let loose all of the spooked horses onto the estate? That Kurusugawa?"

Himeko, who had been standing there for a good minute, was beet-red with shame. She'd rather not relive those memories from when she first arrived, but Izumi and her crew had no troubles rubbing Himeko's faults in her face whenever it pleased them.

Otoha, thankfully, only responded with a withering glare before turning back to Himeko. "I have an important job for you to do. While under better circumstances I wouldn't ever delegate this task to you, I am currently out of options and must rely on you to see this through."

Himeko, having been listening in to their conversation, knew exactly what was going to be asked of her, and quite frankly, was silently agreeing with Misaki (for once). Otoha wanted her to deliver afternoon tea to Himemiya-sama? She hadn't ever poured tea for anyone, let alone the daughter of the most influential family in the country! She had enough self-awareness to know this was a disaster waiting to happen!

...

And yet here she was, standing in front of the large, carved door separating her from the study. She was shaking like a leaf and it was a miracle that she hadn't toppled over any of the food or tea on the trolley on her way over. Other maids making their way through the halls cast a few curious glances her way, but they were far too busy to pay her any mind.

No, despite her thinking this was an absolutely terrible idea, she was here to deliver the young Himemiya her afternoon biscuits and tea.

Himeko took a couple deep, calming breaths before steeling herself, and she knocked.