A loud banging emanated from the other side of the door, and the voice of a mature woman followed, "Natsuki, are you home?"

The girl in question, having been knocked out of her pleasant mayo dreams, immediately shot up from her bed in urgency at the sound at the other side. Is that my mother!

"Natsuki, if you're here, open the door right this instant!"

That confirmed it. The girl with the exotic hair color of a midnight sky hue scrambled out of bed and cursed after pulling on a tendon due to the sudden movement. This was no time for a cramp, though, so she painfully stretched it out and hurriedly made her bed.

Damn it, why didn't she call up or something! My apartment's a shitty mess!

"Natsuki, if you don't open the door in the next minute, I'll be forced to use my copy of your key," her mother threatened.

Natsuki, realizing that there was no way for her to clear up all the objects scattered across her apartment in less than a minute, resigned. She quickly made her way to the door and opened it, letting her mom access her humble apartment.

Saeko Kuga sighed dejectedly. "Natsuki, haven't you done Saturday cleaning yet?"

I never have. "Not yet, sorry, I just woke up," Natsuki lied.

Saeko, seemingly a more responsible and grown-up version of Natsuki, pulled out a wooden stool with four long legs from below the kitchen bar table and removed some articles of clothing on the chair before seating on it.

"Honestly, Natsuki, you're a college student now," she lectured, massaging her temple. "You need to learn to be more... what's the word? Independent? Responsible? Clean? Well, there are many words you need to become. Or else, how will you land a husband?"

Geez, what are you—my mother? Natsuki thought in aggravation. Oh, wait, you are…

"Mom, are we here to talk about the lack of romance in my life?" Natsuki deadpanned.

"We might as well be," Saeko replied. "But that not exactly why I'm here… though it's not far from my purpose, either."

"Shoot," Natsuki said, taking a seat by her couch's armrest.

"As you know," Saeko began, taking off her glasses to alleviate the throbbing by the sides of her head, "I work for Japan Airlines as a flight attendant. I've been assigned a new job that requires me to escort the Fujino Corporation's heir from Japan all the way to Europe so that he can find a fiancée there."

Natsuki's left eyebrow quirked with interest, followed by a grin. "You mean the heir of the Fujino Corporation's G.A.L.S modeling agency? The most popular in the world?"

Saeko nodded and smiled back. "That's the one."

"That's so cool! Congratulations, mom!" Natsuki said, jumping off the couch and rushing to her mom to give her a well-deserved hug.

While they embraced, Saeko whispered into Natsuki's ear, "No. Congratulations to you, Natsuki. You're going to be the escort!"

Natsuki abruptly pulled out from the affectionate hug and her eyes widened skeptically. "WHAT!"

"Now, now, no need to be so altered," Saeko said soothingly, hoping her daughter would offer her some time to explain. "You've been a temporary flight attendant at times, you know how the airport functions, and knowing English, you can get by anywhere in the world. You'll be fine!"

"I know what I can and can't do, I just want to know why you can't go! I mean, you just told me this job was assigned to YOU!" Natsuki argued, leaning against the table and glaring at her mother.

Saeko sighed. "My daughter is so oblivious to her surroundings. Haven't you noticed that my right foot is in a cast?"

At hearing this, Natsuki immediately shot her gaze to meet with her mother's conspicuous white cast, some signatures scribbled on it. Natsuki instantly felt bad for lashing out at her mother like that.

"I'm sorry," she apologized, turning her eyes over to the television, which wasn't even on. "I-I didn't see it…"

"It's alright," Saeko reassured, patting her blushing daughter on the head, which only caused her to redden even more. "As you can see, with this big cast on my foot, I can't go anywhere, much less make international flights. I was just so happy when I heard about this, and somehow, during my joyous leaping, I sprained my ankle. It should heal soon, but apparently not soon enough for me to escort the heir. I already told my boss that I would try and find a replacement, so here I am, coming to my ever-reliable daughter!"

"And that girl is…?" Natsuki prodded, raising her eyebrows.

"It's you, obviously!" Saeko revealed, clapping her hands together.

"No," Natsuki declined with arms crossed. "I refuse."

"Well, it's a bit late to refuse, Natsuki," Saeko said lamentably, pulling out and unfolding a sheet that came off as an official-looking document. "I already signed you up!"

"MOTHER!" Natsuki reproached, face-palming and then glaring daggers at the woman who brought her into this world through her fingers.

Saeko's gleeful expression morphed into one of guilt, and then she asked, "Are you mad, Natsuki?"

Oh, I don't know, does the glaring give you any hints?

"Mom, I just want to know why you're doing this, sending me of all people," Natsuki responded, feeling that if she was going to go through with this, she might as well know the reason behind it.

"This is where my other semi-truth comes in," Saeko informed. "Natsuki, you've been single for far too long. And what better man for you than the Fujino Corporation's heir? He'll be a gentleman and with all that money, you'll never have to work a day in your life!"

"I rather like working, thank you very much," Natsuki countered defiantly. "And instead of a gentleman, all I'd be getting would be a cocky-ass bastard who'll think he's too good for me!"

Saeko cleared her throat harshly. "Watch your language, Natsuki."

The blue-haired girl muttered a "Sorry" and hung her head.

"So, you are doing it then?" Saeko questioned, needing the confirmation before checking in one last time with her boss.

Natsuki didn't answer, but turned her head to the side in aggravation.

"Come on, you're in summer break, so it won't get in the way of your schoolwork!"

Natsuki began to turn her countenance towards her mother slowly.

"Pretty please?"

"Fine, I'll do it," Natsuki consented reluctantly.

"Great!"

"But I am NOT going to try and land the guy," Natsuki said matter-of-factly. "I mean, he's going to Europe to try and find a fiancée for goodness' sake! He doesn't need another chick hitting on him!"

"Well, my daughter is very attractive, maybe you'll make him change his mind before landing?" Saeko said suggestively.

"Ewwww, no, no, no, and HELL NO!" Natsuki inserted her finger into the far depths of her mouth and pretended to gag.

Saeko pouted. "Oh, well, maybe it'll be you who changes her mind once you see him."

Her mother's comment brought about another question to Natsuki's mind. "What does he look like anyhow?"

Saeko pondered this for a while, and then returned to Natsuki. "To be honest, I've no idea."

Natsuki stared at her disbelievingly. "How can you not know what he looks like? I mean, isn't he the most successful company's heir? And if it's a modeling agency, there should be various articles on the guy, right?"

"I haven't bothered to check yet," Saeko admitted shyly.

Natsuki flicked her hair back, and pondered over her mom's answer. "You'd expect the escort to be interested enough in the client to look him up. Ugh, I bet he's going to be butt-ugly!"

"Love overlooks appearances," Saeko said wisely, raising a finger for emphasis.

"Yeah, well, I don't love him. I don't even KNOW him!" Natsuki reminded.

"Well, you loved Takeda once, you could learn to love him, too," Saeko said.

"Puagh, please don't bring that guy into this," Natsuki pleaded, now she really felt like gagging. "I already told you our whole relationship was a fake."

"To him it wasn't," Saeko replied, feeling sorry for the guy.

"Tch, well it was his fault, then," Natsuki said, grimacing. "Let's not talk about this anymore."

Saeko rose from the stool, wincing a bit due to her injured foot, and then limped over to the couch littered with clothing, the one closest to Natsuki's house phone.

"I hope you don't mind me using your phone, I left mine in the car," Saeko said with a shrug.

"Yeah, sure, but what for?" Natsuki questioned curiously.

"To inform my boss that you've agreed to be the escort," Saeko revealed.

"Oh… wait, doesn't he already know that?" Natsuki said dubiously, arms akimbo. "And didn't you already sign me up?"

"Well, yes, I did. But if you had been dead set on not going, I could have cancelled," Saeko replied nonchalantly, dialing the number on the number keypad.

"I could have cancelled!" Natsuki screamed out cynically.

Saeko beckoned her daughter into silence by placing a finger atop her lips. She held the phone closer to her ear when she heard the receiver being picked up. "Hello, Mr. Yoshiaki? Yes, It's Miss. Kuga. Oh, no, I'm only calling to inform you that my daughter has agreed to make the trip to London, England as the Fujino heir's escort. Mn-hmm. Yes, she said she's be honored to do it."

Natsuki groaned inwardly.

"Oh, the flight's tomorrow? I thought it was scheduled for next week? Well, my daughter is very flexible. She has all the time in the world!"

Natsuki wanted bang her head on the table.

"I see, so the Fujino heir and my daughter will meet at Tokyo to take off from there, correct? Well, we're already in Tokyo, so aren't we lucky!"

Natsuki rolled her eyes.

The flight is at 11:30 a.m? Roger that, Mr. Yoshiaki! Oh, my foot? Yes, it's better already. Thank you for your concern and time. See you at work, sir. Good-bye!"

"Tomorrow?" Natsuki questioned, having already drawn her act together. She shouldn't stress herself over what she had no control over, right? Just let it take its course.

"According to my boss, yes," Saeko said cheerfully. "So don't you think you should start packing?"

Natsuki knew that it could no longer be helped, so she nodded. "I will. Just let me call the place where I part-time at so that I won't get in trouble for not being there the next… how long will it take to get to Europe? I mean, England?

"Hmm, there will be many connecting flights, and there's also the return flights to consider, so I think maybe about a week? Take two weeks off just in case there are delays, you won't miss work and the days left you have free will serve as resting days to get over your potential jetlag."

Natsuki nodded, and walked into her room to retrieve her cell phone.

Saeko decided she'd help out her daughter with the Saturday cleaning since she would need time to pack for Europe. Though, being the escort, did she really need much? She chose not to think too much into it. Natsuki would only take the essentials. And concerning the Fujino heir... well, Saeko trusted that her daughter would make the right decision concerning the person.

It was finally the promised day.

Natsuki stood at the entrance of the airport with her baggage, which was just a large, cylindrical sports bag hanging from her shoulder and a carry-on bag. Her mother had already bid her farewell, and so had left. It was strange, since she seemed to walk rather fine for someone who had just gotten her ankle sprained. Natsuki doubted her mother would fake it or anything, though. Why would she, right?

The college-bound student accessed the Narita International Airport, where she would meet up with her wealthy client.

Natsuki made her way to the desks of Japan Airlines so that she could check-in her baggage as well as herself. Her bag was very light, so she didn't have to pay the overweight fee, just the amount of yen that was required of every person.

Hmm, later on, I'll probably have to get some dollars, pesetas, euros, and… What was England's currency again? Ugh, I'll worry about it later.

Once she received her plane ticket from the self-check-in machine, she retired from the desk with her carry-on and searched for the security identification display areas, where her stuff would be x-rayed and she herself would be checked.

Once arriving at the Air Line security, she showed her passport and entered, taking one of the tubs to put her shoes and bag in. She didn't have a laptop, so she needn't to worry over getting a tub for it.

Once her turn finally arrived, she passed through the door frame-like thing that would detect any suspicious objects.

Just when she thought she was free to go, she heard a beeping emanating from the computers that the officers were monitoring.

Oh, shit.

It was none other than her bag.

Many people turned their attention over to her, and her face grew hot in an instant. She always hated being put on the spot. Now, all the people that were standing idly in front and behind her, stared at her with interest. Not the good kind, either. It sucked when everyone was weary of you just because of that dreaded beeping.

"Miss, will you please come here?" one of the officers asked, though it was very much a rhetorical question.

Natsuki nodded and headed his way. "Is something wrong, sir?"

The officers pulled out her bag and opened it without asking permission. Natsuki was irked by this, but she remained silent, since at the moment, she was practically the criminal.

The officer pulled out a water bottle and smiled. "Please refrain from putting any liquids in your bag, our detectors are sensitive to this, and it will make the alarm go off."

"R-right, thanks," Natsuki said abashedly, snatching her bag and water bottle from the officer and bowing before retrieving the rest of her stuff.

She really wanted to get away from that place as fast as she could, since people were beginning to shake their heads at her ignorance.

Oh, like you guys are all perfect! Natsuki thought bitterly. I just haven't gone to the airport in a long time, so I'm a bit rusty on this stuff…

Now past security, she headed to the food court, looking for a McDonalds or some sort fast food place.

After ordering her happy meal, she sat down and began to chow down her burger while wearing a frown.

"I haven't eaten any breakfast, since I didn't have time to cook," she muttered to herself, resting her head on the palm of her hand while her elbow withstood the weight.

As she ate, she'd look to her watch every now and then to see if the Fujino heir would be arriving soon. She had to meet with him as soon as he disembarked the plane and into the gate, because they needed some time to find the gate that would lead them to L.A, the first stop of many connections they'd have to make in order to get to London, England.

Let's see, the place ticket says that it'll take about 11 hours and 18 minutes to get there… Oh, goody, were her thoughts, dripping with sarcasm. And this is only the first connection...

"Flight number 1375 from Kyoto is now landing, passengers of flight 4862 please be ready to board" rang out from the intercoms in the area.

Natsuki shot up from her seat. Oh, crap, 1375? That's Fujino's flight!

The rushed girl threw away her happy meal and briskly walked over to the McDonals counter.

"Excuse me, could I get some pen and paper?" she asked impatiently. "Preferably a big piece of paper, please."

The lady working at the council wasn't very pleased with the way Natsuki ordered her around, but at least she said please, so she complied with the altered girl's request.

"Here you go, thank you for always choosing Mc—"

Natsuki left before the girl could finish her service line.

The passengers were disembarking the plane and filing out from the jet bridge that connected the airplane and the gate.

Natsuki had used the piece of paper she'd gotten to write in massive, bold letters "FUJINO."

Hopefully, Fujino'll see the sign, Natsuki thought, lifting the paper up and letting rest on her bosom.

As more people kept walking out, Natsuki searched for a man that looked overdressed or possessed a gallant walk that practically screamed, "Hey, look at me, I'm the shit!"

Just then, the aggravated girl felt a tap on the shoulder, and so she turned, only to find herself face-to-face with a beauty. Her countenance was pale, but a vivid one, overflowing with life. Her hair was a clash between a rich chestnut and glowing honey color, with curls bouncing at the ends every now and then to comply with the laws of physics. Her figure was that of a supermodel's, and the smile she was displaying was that of an angel's.

Needless to say, she was drop-dead, you're-so-getting-rejected gorgeous!

Natsuki gulped. With a great deal of effort.

"Yeah?" She tried her best to sound nonchalant.

"I apologize for bothering you, but do you know what time it is?" Her accent, which Natsuki identified as Kyoto's, resounded in her ears.

Natsuki was about to check her watch, but then noticed that the time was displayed on the far wall. Was this girl blind? Or just plain dumb?

Yeah, I guess her pretty face would make up for her lack of brains. What did I expect?

"Um, the time is over there," she deadpanned, pointing her finger beyond the girl.

The girl followed Natsuki's finger and turned around. "Why, you're absolutely right!"

Natsuki nodded in acknowledgement and returned her attention to the passengers, still filing out of the plane.

Again, she was tapped in the shoulder.

And again, she turned.

"Yes?" Natsuki said rigidly, trying her best not to seem irritated.

"My apologies for bothering you again, but I'm near-sighted, so I can't rightly see the time from that far-off distance," the girl admitted, flashing another smile, but this one more abash.

Well, why don't you get closer to the darn thing?

Natsuki sighed. "Don't worry, I'll just check my watch." Natsuki did so. "It's 10:30 a.m."

"Thank you very much," the girl said, bowing.

"Uh, yeah, no problem," Natsuki dismissed. Once again, she turned to the gate.

"You know," the girl began, "I'm here to meet someone."

So is everybody else, Natsuki thought. "That's cool."

"Tokyo is not really my destination, I'm going somewhere else," the girl added conversationally.

Natsuki really didn't feel like talking, since now she feared that she may have missed Fujino, since the number of passengers exiting the gate were diminishing. She really didn't have time for this girl.

"Oh" was all she said, hoping the girl would get the hint and scram.

"Are you waiting for someone, too?" The girl just wouldn't give up.

"You could say that," Natsuki replied.

"You could just wait in the baggage claim area… um…?"

"It's Kuga," Natsuki said. "Natsuki Kuga."

"Kuga-han," she finished with an enchanting smile.

The girl then noticed the sign the bluenette was holding. "Is that a welcome home sign?"

Natsuki finally snapped. "Hey, do you mind? I really need to pay attention to the gate, I haven't found the person I'm looking for yet, and I'll be in trouble if I don't."

The girl was a bit discouraged by Natsuki's rudeness, but she read the sign before a smile crept onto her face.

"Ara, Fujino?"

"Yeah, Fujino Corporation's G.A.L.S supermodel agency owner's heir," Natsuki said. "I'm the escort, and we're supposed to meet up here."

"Why, this must be kismet, Kuga-han," the girl said excitedly, clasping her hands together charmingly. "I'm Fujino Shizuru!"

Natsuki's eyebrow twitched, and she finally turned to face the girl with an incredulous expression. "...You're… Fujino?"

Shizuru nodded vibrantly.

"Where's your brother?"

"My, I'm afraid I'm the only child," Shizuru revealed.

"Your father?"

"He's back in Kyoto, of course!"

"Your Uncle?"

"In a better place."

"Your cousin?"

"Ara, his last name isn't Fujino."

Natsuki blinked in disbelief.

"So… you're the Fujino I'm looking for?"

"Ara, might there be any others?"

"But… you're a girl," Natsuki argued meekly, overcome by shock. "And… and my mom—ehem—I mean, my sources said you were a guy."

"Ara, one should not just assume that a heir is solely a boy, since nowadays heiress and heir are pretty interchangeable, yes?" Shizuru lectured sweetly.

Natsuki zoned out for the ending half of the lecture since all she could think to herself at the moment was: I just snapped at the Fujino heiress…. I just snapped at the Fujino heiress…. I just snapped at the Fujino heiress…. I am so dead… I am so dead… No, first I'm fired, then I'm dead…

"Is everything alright, Fujino-sama?" a very old and overdressed man questioned, seemingly the butler or something.

"Yes, Katamura-han, no need to worry," Shizuru assured, then turned to Natsuki. "This is Kuga Natsuki-han, my escort."

Katamura nodded Natsuki's way in acknowledgement, and the girl bowed deeply.

How cute, Shizuru thought to herself, her calm exterior not giving a hint on her thoughts, though.

"I see, then I am glad you have found her." He took Shizuru's hand and kissed it lightly. "I shall take my leave now then, Fujino-sama. I wish you the best on the search of your partner. I am sure you will make the right choice."

"Ara, what a gentleman, Katamura-han. Ookini."

"Kuga-han," he called to the escort, gaining the girl's full attention.

"Y-yes?" Natsuki responded.

The man's eyes grew intense and serious. "In the Fujino Corporation's name, please take good care of our Mistress."

Natsuki nodded countless times. "Yes, sir!"

With that, he promptly left.

Natsuki felt as thought she could breathe again.

"So, Kuga-han accepts that I am a female, now, yes?" Shizuru queried with a smile.

"Ah, yeah, you're fine," Natsuki reassured. "Just a mistake on my part."

"I'm fine?" Shizuru repeated, making the sound a bit more sensual than it should.

Natsuki, oblivious as she was, completely overlooked this. "Yes, you're fine."

"Ara, hitting on me already?" Shizuru said with amusement, pretending to shy away.

The innuendo finally sunk in. "Not that way!"

"If Kuga-han says so," Shizuru replied with a charming grin.

"Never mind, let's just get going," Natsuki huffed out, throwing the sign into the trashcan. I'm going to be dealing with this for over 11 hours and 18 minutes… someone shoot me now.

I've had this idea in mind for a while now. I'm glad I finally get to write it out! If you're going to be practically traveling the world with someone, you can't help but fall in love, right? Or so I hope... I would really appreciate some feedback. It pushes me to write, since I take lazy to a whole new level :p (no kidding, sometimes I don't update stuff in months :s). Thank you for reading!