Arrietty 5 Years Later Chpt. 4

Later that night, as Sho lay in the same bed when he first met Arrietty he reached under his shirt and pulled out a delicate silver chain.  At the end of the chain was a small hair clip, which Arrietty had given to him five years ago, 'for luck' she called it for his then upcoming operation.  When Sho found out that he was going to survive the heart surgery he promised himself that he would never lose that hair clip.  Arrietty had given him the will to live, and the luck to survive.  She was more to him than she would ever come to understand, of that, Sho was sure but he wanted to at least let her know just what a large role she played in his life the past five years.
Holding the hair clip in his massive fingers, he thought about Arrietty and just how beautiful she was.  Everything Sho did after the operation was for her.  Before she left she wished him to have the 'best life ever' and Sho did everything in his power to become someone she would be proud of seeing.  He didn't tell her yet, but that was part of the reason it took so long for him to come up to his Great Aunt Sadako's again.  His Great Aunt had passed but she had left him the cottage and first thing Sho did was fire Haru.  If it was not for her (and admit tingly, his) meddling, the Borrowers would still be living in this house.  The cottage and all the land was now his and this he did this for Arrietty.  He became strong for her and worked hard in school so he could graduate two years early and get a job so he could live in the cottage on his own means.  The dollhouse still sat in the room and Sho couldn't wait to see Arrietty walk about inside of it.  So much was for her.  Tucking the hair clip under his shirt, Sho then got up and grabbed a smaller notebook filled with writing.
The front page read,  
"If I were older when I met her, I would have told her I loved her."
And it was true, Sho told her she was beautiful the moment he finally got to see her, her beauty took his breath away and even as a twelve year old boy he couldn't believe how amazing someone only six inches tall could look.  He smiled at the memory and flipped to a very specific page in his notebook, one he may have to write over again because of the ink fading from him thumbing the page so much.
"What are you reading?" a soft voice asked and Sho jumped, dropping the notebook.  He jerked his head to find Arrietty sitting on his windowsill, soaking wet from the rain.
Sho leapt off the bed and dropped to his one knee in front of her.
"What are you doing here?" he asked quietly.
Arrietty kicked her dangling legs out in front of her.  
"Well, I went home," she began shyly "But I couldn't wait to see you again.  I left…" and then she grabbed her now stringy auburn hair, "and as you can see it began to rain.  It was too late to turn back, I was going to be soaked either way…so here I am." And she smiled at him.
"How long have you been sitting there?"
"Not long.  I saw you were about to read something," and she looked past him to the floor where the fallen notebook lay.
Sho scooped up the notebook and dropped it into his pocket.  "Well it's still raining pretty hard, so I guess you will have to stay at least for a little while."
Arrietty stood up, "At least."
Sho gently reached out to touch her hair, she really was soaked.
"You need to dry off, before you get sick," he commented and held out his hand for her to climb on.  Arrietty looked hesitant at first and started looking around the room.  "What's wrong?" he asked her as she finally stepped on.  Sho could hardly feel any weight on his hand; she was still so small and so delicate.  That overwhelming urge to protect struck him then and he protectively used his free hand to shield her from falling as he walked over to the dollhouse area.  She stepped off him palm then and stared at him.
"Go ahead," he said, "the towels are for you after all,"
'Isn't anyone else here?  What should I do if someone comes?"
Sho chuckled softly and Arrietty felt the rumble in her own stomach as she walked into the dollhouse bathroom to get a hand towel.  They were wonderful, just her size and not too thick.  As she began toweling off her hair and skin, she watched Sho walk to the other side of the room and grab a chair.  She listened as his footsteps hit the wooden floor and creaked under his massive body.  Sho certainly wasn't the boy she remembered.  She recalled for a moment when he called her 'beautiful' and now Arrietty thought she owed him the same compliment.  He was beautiful; tall and strong.  When Sho pulled up a chair next to the dollhouse and sat down, Arrietty felt a strong urge to jump into his lap so he could hold her.  But she held back.  She had no idea how Sho thought of her now.
"There's no one else in the house.  In fact, it is my house now.  I'll be living here from now on." Sho said slowly looking up at Arrietty with his piercing brown eyes.
Arrietty stopped and stared at him.  "Your house?"
Sho let out another low, rumble chuckle.  "Yes, beautiful this is my house now.  My Aunt Sadako left it to me and everything in it."
"And Haru?" Arrietty asked slowly.
"Gone.  Just me now."
Arrietty smiled to herself trying to process all of this new and exciting information.  But wait…
"Beautiful…" she mumbled.  "Did you just call me beautiful?"  She lowered the towel to a chair even though she was still wet and stared at him.  
"Yes," Sho whispered.  "It's what you are.  I thought you were beautiful the moment I looked at you five years ago.  Every other woman I've looked at, I always compare to you, but no one's beauty struck me the way that yours did."  Sho reached across the gap and with one finger brought one of Arrietty's hands up to his lips and he touched the two together.  "You have no idea how much you meant to me these past five years do you?"
"I guess not" Arrietty breathed losing control of herself.  Sho gently let go of her hand and pulled away and she almost fell out of the dollhouse by his pull on her.  Sho dug into his pocket and pulled out the notebook he hid earlier.  Reaching over her he placed it on a table in the dollhouse and beckoned her to his hand once again.  
Arrietty climbed on and Sho stood up and brought her over to the bed and he sat down leaning against the wall, still sitting up while stretching out his legs.  As gently as he could manage he dropped Arrietty into his lap and watched her crawl and situate herself comfortable against his stomach.  Arrietty could hardly believe this was happening to her, it was all so perfect.  She closed her eyes and took a deep breath, realizing that Sho was now here to stay, in the house she always felt at home in.  She felt his hand cup around her and press her even closer to him.  His fingers gently touched her damp hair and Arrietty's pulse quickened at his delicate touch.  His heartbeat was strong and steady now, she couldn't believe how much healthier he was only five years later.  Arrietty took a deep breath and looked up at Sho's chin.  He was looking forward and breathing slowly.
"Sho," she asked and his face tilted down to look at her.  "Is this really your house?"
Sho gently pulled her closer, "Yes, and it can be yours too, anytime you want."
Arrietty pulled away and smiled disbelievingly.  "Mine too?"
"Anytime you want.  I got this house for you after all.  In fact everything I've done since my heart surgery has been for you.  But you will soon learn that without me telling you all the time."
Arrietty smiled, "What do you mean?"
With his free arm, Sho pointed at the notebook in the dollhouse.  "I want you to read that Arrietty.  It's everything I've done, felt, anything about you.  The decisions that I have made the choices I made, everything I've done has been for you and I want you to know that.  I want to you to read that journal any chance you get unless you are embarrassed to read it in front of me.  It's important for you to know just what an impact you made on my life.  I wouldn't be here if you hadn't changed everything.  In fact…" Sho continued now digging into the front of his shirt and pulling out,
"Oh my gosh Sho," Arrietty breathed and pulled away completely from Sho's chest.  "Is that what I think it is?"
Hanging on a delicate silver chain was the hairclip Arrietty had given five years ago when she and her family had to emigrate from the home she was now in.  She had given it to him in hopes of luck helping out his operation turn out well. Well it must have worked because Arrietty now stood before a beautiful strong man who was telling her how much she meant to him.  Sho smiled gently and tucked the hairclip necklace back under his shirt.
"It is.  I never leave it out of my sight.  So many of my friends and peers don't understand it, but they don't have to.  It's for me.  From you; and that is all that matters to me."
Arrietty had to say something in return.  She couldn't stand having Sho say all of these wonderful things about her and things she had done for him without letting him know that she was special to him as well.
"You're beautiful too." She said quietly and shyly.
"Thank you, love."  He responded just as quietly.  He scooped her up then, and walked to the window.  "Rain's stopped." He said and looked down at the enchanting tiny woman in his palm.  She grasped his finger and turned to face him.
"One chapter of your notebook, and then I'll go." She said.
"Diving right in are you?  Well you asked for it," and with that he transported her back to the dollhouse and watched as she sat down and opened the first page.  
"If I were older when I met her, I would have told her I loved her." She breathed out loud and even Sho could see her face flush in the dark.
Sho cleared his throat, obviously more embarrassed than he anticipated.  "Why don't you read that to yourself while I get ready for bed?" and he stood up, the chair creaking under his weight and walked to the other side of the room to get changed.  Arrietty tried her best to keep her eyes glued to the pages as Sho changed but she couldn't help but stare at the large strong figure in front of her.  There was a lot of him to start but there was even so much more now.  His muscles strained as he lifted his shirt over his head and replaced it with something more casual.  Slowly he climbed into bed and pulled a book out from under his pillow.  It was then that he snuck a look at her and smiled.  Arrietty flushed again and flipped to the next page.

Our First Encounter

It's funny looking back on it that it took several days before I got my first good look at her.  The first time I saw her I was falling asleep in bed when I heard the sound of tissues ruffling.  I took a peak after hearing a small giggle that belonged to a young girl and before I could get a good look at her face she ducked behind the tissue.  She was so small, I could imagine that she must of have been terrified of me.  I asked her not to be afraid but I could hear that she was running away.  I remembered a familiar character in the garden a few days ago and told her just that but I think that only scared her more.  I heard her and another person of her same size moving away as I tried to explain myself without moving out of my bed.  I didn't want to scare these tiny people but by the time I sat up in bed, she was gone.  The next day I found a sugar cube near the nightstand and assumed that it belonged to this tiny girl.  It was pouring outside so I figured she wouldn't be outside but I had to find her.  I grabbed a small piece of paper and quickly scribbled, "You Forgot Something" in hopes that she would see some humor in the note.  I left it at an opening in front of the house.  It was a long shot, but I had to take a chance.  I hadn't talked to anyone close to my own age in about a year.  I wanted a friend and with this girl being so small maybe she could see that I could protect her.  I spent my whole life being watched and waited on my whole life; I wanted to help someone else for a change.  Maybe this girl would be that person.

Our Second Encounter

She came back!  I couldn't believe that she actually came back!  I couldn't even see her face yet, but I saw her small frame hidden behind the shade of a leaf.  Her voice was proud and strong, she didn't seem as afraid of me of I once thought.  In fact she was coming to tell me to stay away from her.  I just wanted to talk to her.  Couldn't she understand how badly I just wanted to be friends with her?  Finally, after almost begging her she agreed to finally let me look at her, when suddenly a crow attacked her and flew through my window screen.  I couldn't believe it!  With all the strength I could manage, I jumped out of my bed and ran to the screen hoping that she had not already fallen.  Glancing over I caught a glimpse of red hair and a red dress but didn't have the chance to look too closely before scooping her up in my hand.  She was safe!  When Haru burst in and scared the crow away I was so relieved!  I was finally going to have the chance to see this beautiful human being after Haru left.  I sat on my bed excited to get to know this girl but when I pulled my hand out…she had ran away from me again.  What could I do to get her to trust me?  I saved her life and she still ran away.  Maybe I couldn't protect anyone.  I was a sickly child to my own kind and a monster to this tiny girl.  

Some people just don't belong in this world I guess.

Arrietty closed the book with a small tear in her eye.  She had forgotten those times when she ran away from him but obviously he hadn't.  She never gave a thought to how that must come across to him.  Sho was a human but still a boy at the time, how terrible it must have been to want to meet someone and them always running away from him.  How could he even look at her now with all of the terrible things she did to him?  How helpless and alone he must have felt that week at his Aunt's…
"Sorry, I was kind of down on life early on Arrietty…"Sho interrupted her thoughts in his gentle tone and looked over and saw Arrietty hunched over in her chair.  The book was closed.  "What's wrong?" he asked her and knelt in front of the dollhouse.  Slowly he reached in and gently touched her back with his forefinger and stroked her hoping to make her feel better.
"I'm horrible," she mumbled and Sho almost stumbled backward.
"What do you mean?' he asked softly, "Come here."
Arrietty stood up but didn't come any closer.  "How can you even look at me after all of those horrible things I did to you?  You must have felt so alone…and I?  I could have tried to talk to you; I shouldn't have run away after you saved my life.  You always talked about protecting me and you did protect me!  I always talk about you helped save my mom's life and here I am so stupid as to forget how you saved my life as well!"
Sho bit his lower lip and wondered if maybe she shouldn't have read his journal entry.  It was true, he was sad and lonely then, but he didn't want Arrietty to read this words if it made her feel bad.  He wanted to show how important she was to him, but it seemed now all he was doing was making her regret.  If he could just get her to come to him, he would make her feel better but he would never force her.  Sho watched as she stood in front of him, her tiny fists balled up as if she had even more emotions inside of her and tried to think if there was anything he could do.  Arrietty took a step closer to the edge of the dollhouse and continued to cry softly.
"Why?  Why did I do that?" she whispered in a voice Sho couldn't have possibly heard.
"Look at me," Sho asked.  Arrietty shook her head violently.  
"I should just go.  I'm sorry Sho." She muttered when suddenly a great, but gentle force pushed her chin upward forcing her to look into Sho's brown eyes.  They were as soft as they had ever been, but Arrietty couldn't understand for life of her why he still wanted to her around.
"That's better," he whispered.  "Arrietty, you only read the first few chapters.  I wasn't expecting to come running into the arms of a giant you never met before.  Please, just keep reading and you will see how this all turns out."  Arrietty lowered her eyes again, "Hey," Sho insisted, "I wouldn't expect you to accept me right away.  I liked that you were proud and strong.  Now come here," and with that he gently wrapped his fingers around her tiny frame and brought her over to the bed.  "I don't want you reading any more of that tonight.  I was at a horrible time in my life, and I promise you it only gets better from there, but let's just sit for a little while." And with that he tucked her gently into his lap and waited for her to get comfortable.  He watched in fascination as she nestled against his stomach again, her weight feeling like almost nothing against him.  He saw her tiny hands grab the fabric of his shirt as if she was trying to be even closer to him and Sho let out a sigh of relief knowing that she still wanted to be near him.  He cupped his hand around her and gently stroked her head and back a she finally stopped crying and settled down.  He gazed longingly at her feeling like the luckiest person in the world to have found her and whispered,
"You didn't do anything wrong.  I'm just glad that you are with me now," and Sho smiled as he felt her pulling closer to him.  His hand cupped around gently pressed her to his stomach and he decided to take an even bigger risk.  "Are you happy to be with me?" he asked.
Arrietty looked up and Sho adjusted his hand so he could see her beautiful face.  "Yes" she said simply.  Sho touched her auburn curls and tried to look into her eyes as he mumbled,
"Then why don't you stay with me tonight?"
Arrietty stood up in his lap then with what looked like surprise.
"You want me to stay?  The whole night?" she asked.  "Where would I sleep?  In the dollhouse?"
"No." and with that Sho scooped up Arrietty in his palm and laid on his back and placed her down on his chest.  Arrietty continued to stand, but she knew what he was getting at.  
"What if you roll over in your sleep?"
"Are you kidding?  I've been waiting for this for five years.  I know how to sleep on my back without moving around by now.  Please, stay with me."
Arrietty stared at him, thinking about the consequences of her actions.  She knew that her parents wouldn't mind, she'd disappeared for days before to go on her own Borrowing expeditions.  She was an adult now and they finally respected that.  But Spiller was a different story.  Spiller not only would wonder where she was, but he would also know where she was.  Would he tell her parents?  Would Spiller come himself in the middle of the night and try to take her away?  How would Sho even react?  As far as Arrietty knew Sho and Spiller had never met so she wasn't sure how either of them would react to the other.  Spiller was a very strong Borrower, but Sho was a human and she couldn't stand the idea of Sho accidentally hurting her best friend.  Still, looking at Sho she had to do what felt right in her heart.
"I'll stay." She said quietly and lay down on his chest.  Arrietty felt Sho give a huge sigh of relief and watched as one of his massive hands settled down on top of her like a blanket.  He gently stroked her back and with that and the gentle moving up and down of his chest, and strong heartbeat Arrietty quickly fell asleep.  Sho snuck in one more peak of her before he closed his eyes and was amazed at how quickly she had become comfortable with him again.
"I really do think I'm falling in love with you all over again," he whispered and fell asleep.  If Arrietty was a little bigger, Sho might have heard her twitch after those words, but due to their size difference no one knew any better.