Meet Miki!
"Miki-san! If you are in that tree again, so help me, I will put you on bread and water for a week!" I heard Mistress Ikeda from my favorite perch in my favorite tree in our expansive backyard, and paled. I knew that it was unlikely that Mistress Ikeda would put me on bread and water, but just in case... I easily flopped out of my tree, and ran full tilt towards the house. I knew that she couldn't see me beyond the hill, where the tree was, so I had a 50/50 chance she knew I was there. I skidded in front of the back door, and caught sight of the women standing there, unmerciful in her stature. Mistress Ikeda. Mistress Ikeda was, portly, at best, but she was kind. Having taken care of me since the time I was five, she was the 'enforcer' in this household.
"Hello, Mistress Ikeda." I bowed at the waist, and hoped that she wouldn't notice my shoes had a grass stain.
"Miki-san," Mistress Ikeda began, and raised a hand to the top of my head.
"You have a twig in your hair." I stiffened, and dared a look up. But instead of a grim face, I encountered a pleased smile.
"I should probably punish you, but today I have happy news! Your mother and father are coming home!" I stood up straight and clapped my hands.
"Mistress Ikeda, are they coming home today?" Mistress Ikeda nodded.
"Oh, joy! I have to clean up my room, and have a bath, and, oh, will you please send a maid out to buy fresh groceries, you know what to buy, don't you Mistress Ikeda?" As I spoke, I slipped off my shoes, and ran through the house to the staircase, slapping the stairs on my way up as Mistress Ikeda puffed her way behind me.
"Of...course, oh, these stairs are going to kill me," Mistress Ikeda muttered.
"Haven't killed you yet, eh, Noriko?" called a saucy voice. It was none other than Kaisha, one of our butler's. He was quite handsome, and at sixteen was the son of our main driver, Master Shiro. I pointed at Kaisha.
"Kaisha, go make sure all the maid's are cleaning. And make sure they dust in the show room!" Mistress Ikeda stifled a laugh, but Kaisha gave a smart salute and said,
"Aye, Aye, Captain!" I giggled at his antic's, and ran to my bathroom. It had the equivalent of an Olympic swimming pool in it, and these were spread all over our property. I shucked off my clothes, and dove in. And abruptly came up, sputtering.
"Mistress Ikeda! It's c-c-cold!" I sputtered. Mistress Ikeda rolled her eye's and turned up the heat.
"Miki-san, really! You can't expect me to keep the bath warm all the time!" I rolled my eye's and dove down to the warm jets at the bottom. An hour later, I was dressed in my fancy yellow dress, my hair was brushed, and the house was clean. I was just sitting, in the front room, waiting for the limousine's to arrive.
"Miki-chan!" I heard the voices, and turned to see my mother and father coming in the door. They had obviously come in the side door, because I hadn't seen them come in.
"Momma! Papa!" I ran over to them and gave and received many hugs. As we ate our dinner, they told me the stories of their travels, but seemed more interested in my schooling than usual. I didn't go to school, I stayed at home, and Mistress Ikeda tutored me. Finally Momma cleared her throat, and said,
"Miki-chan, you know how in many, many year's, after Momma and Papa are gone, you will inherit the Kabayashi fortune?" Ok, I've been being told this since I was five, and momma has been explaining it the same way since then. I'm twelve, (just in case you didn't know that) and momma and papa still treat me like I'm six.
"Of course, momma."
"Well, your father and I were thinking that you might want to go to formal schooling?" Momma blushed and looked down.
"Really?! Like, go to school with other children?" I yelped. I'd always wondered what it would be like going to school.
"Of course!" Papa affirmed. Momma looked at him and shook her head.
"Which school would I go to?" I implored, nearly bouncing up and down with excitement.
"We were thinking about the ones that were closest to home, and we thought you might want to go to Ouran? It's highly recommended, and there is a secondary school as well as a primary school. It's has very, very wealthy student's, and it's only a few miles away from the house, so you may come home after school quickly. What do you think?" Momma said. Papa slid me a pamphlet across the table, and I descended upon it quickly.
"I think it looks spectacular! But isn't the semester already begun?" I paused, with a frown. "Won't it be weird if I go now?" Momma shook her head.
"Strange, not weird, darling, and yes, the semester has begun, but the principal said that he will allow you to go now, since you are so advanced in your studies anyway." I began bouncing again.
"When may I go?" Momma and Papa shared a conspiratorial smile.
"What about next week? The principal and your mother and I have a meeting in two day's, and if you wish, you may have a tour of the school then." Papa nodded. Then, I leaped from the chair and shrieked excitedly. Momma gave me a look, so I sat down demurely.
"May I please be excused?" I asked politely. Papa nodded, and I leapt out of my chair and ran to find Mistress Ikeda and the rest of my friends. Running to the closed door, I pushed, and heard the collapse and cries of about ten people. Peering through, I saw Kaisha and a bunch of other young maids sprawled over the floor holding their heads and moaning.
"Kaisha! I'm going to school!" He rubbed his forehead, and smiled politely.
"I heard. That's exciting, congratulations!" He began helping the other maids up while I waited for them to get out of my way.
"Where's Mistress Ikeda?" I ran on the spot quickly as the maid's pulled each other up. Kaisha bit his lip and then said,
"I think she might be upstairs."
"Thanks Kaisha!" I ran through the hall, up the stairs, and into my room, to see Mistress Ikeda dusting my various collectibles.
"Mistress Ikeda, Momma and Papa have decided I'm to go to school! At Ouran! Here's the pamphlet." I handed it to her and she looked through it, smiling to herself.
"That is very exciting, though your mother and father already ran the idea by me just a few weeks ago, Miki-san. I told them that you were doing well at your schoolwork, and that you were very healthy, and that it would be good for you to be with other children your age." Mistress Ikeda winked at me and I giggled.
"Young lady, I believe it is time for you to get ready for bed."