Chapter Two. Setsuko Togu and the Platinum
His platinum was beautiful. She was remarkable and would definitely be remembered. Ryuunosuke Ishitaka had chosen her at the beginning of the year. Her name was Miu Aoki and her father owned a large firm in Tokyo. Apparently, it wasn't doing so well and the Ishitakas had offered to help. Being that their one connection would be an arranged marriage between their fifteen-year old children. Although she was Miu Aoki, current platinum, and I am Setsuko Togu, I must say even she makes me jealous.
Miu Aoki had stood a few steps behind the rest of the student council. Obviously she was angry that everyone was going to leave without her.
"Ryuu-sama, were you really going to leave without me?" Miu asked with hints of sadness and being deprived of attention in her tone.
"Ah-Miu-san, I'm dearly sorry," Ryuunosuke bowed his head, politely. He was a fifteen-year old of much charm and knew the key to girl's hearts.
"Hmph, you should be, koutei," Miu held her head high and stomped past. Though she was depicted as platinum, she happened to be very snooty as platinum but when it came to council related subjects like planning the two day school festival; she became wise and possibly smart. Not to mention, she was absolutely gorgeous. Her mother was heard to be a secret beauty during the time of Setsuko's father being emperor. She wasn't talked too much about because she was only a bronze during her time in the Imperial Academy.
"I hope Miu-chan is all right," Setsuko said, quietly and the other council members just nodded solemnly. "You will go after her, right, Ryuunosuke-sama?" Setsuko stared up at Ryuunosuke, who was slightly taller than she.
"No, no I'm not," Ryuunosuke ducked his head down and shuffled off on his own. Some outsiders, watched, wondering what was going on between the emperor and his platinum. Surely, gossip would travel fast and the newspaper would spill the story by tomorrow.
"That guy is so insensitive," Keiichi murmured once Ryuunosuke had passed leaving the three by themselves.
"So breakfast, still?" Kichiro broke the thin ice covering the three of them.
"Yeah, sounds good," Setsuko nodded, chipper.
"I feel bad for Miu-san," Keiichi admitted feeling relinquished.
"Ryuunosuke-sama said he was sorry," Setsuko bristled, glaring at Keiichi.
"So, you're taking sides?" Keiichi asked, defensively.
"What? Stupid dummy, I never said that," Setsuko alleged, looking to Kichiro for help. "I was only pointing out what's obvious." She explained as Kichiro just softly looked at her.
"Whatever. I have stuff to do. I ordered your breakfast though. Go eat it with, Kichiro-kun," Keiichi sighed and then walked off, following the direction Ryuunosuke walked.
"Guess it's just us now," Setsuko muttered when Keiichi was hurriedly walking down the path that Ryuunosuke had just wandered down.
"Yeah, everyone's so moody this morning," Kichiro observed. He began to be a bit more talkative after everyone left. His job in the council was secretary just like his mother had been while Shizumasa Togu was emperor. (A/N – sorry! I forgot to write what Kichiro-chan's job was in the first chapter.) Kichiro was the only one of the council that had basically gotten in for doing his job. The others had either paid their way in and had done their jobs well. Of course, they still had help with their parents though they were elected, quite, for their other reasons. Kichiro and Setsuko silently walked down the paths when another Kichiro admirer came up to the two of them.
"Ki-Kichiro-sama," the girl stuttered as if cold although the season was autumn and it was a rather warm day at the academy.
"Hello, Takatsuki-san," Kichiro smiled, even his eyes had smiled at the girl. He had a firm recollection of every student and of their names and ranks memorized. Unlike his mother, he was very pro-school and always did his best to do his part. The tiny first year girl blushed and her pale skin was suddenly tainted with color.
"Uh, this is for you," the girl bowed politely and held out her arms, holding a heart shaped, handmade box. It was probably filled with chocolates and what not. All the members of the council always got these types of gifts from admiring fans. Even Setsuko had scored some recognition from boys at Imperial Academy.
"Will you…go out with me?" the brave Takatsuki, as Kichiro had called her, asked. Kichiro hesitantly took the chocolates from the girl, was this acceptance? Setsuko idly stared at the two of them. She was quiet so it was as if she weren't even there.
"Sure, Takatsuki-san," Kichiro kindly said. Setsuko's ocean blue eyes had widened to their maximum. This was the first time her best friend, Kichiro had ever accepted a confession. She was taken aback, had he known this girl before?
"You can call me Ayako, by the way," Takatsuki had kindly told him, her smile sweet as Kirchiro was for accepting her confession and chocolates.
"Oh, uh—okay, Aya…Aya…Aya," Kichiro stammered, he had never been less polite to people unless they were Setsuko because he had known her all her life.
"Uh, if it's too much trouble you can just call me Takatsuki," Ayako said, seeing Kichiro in his strives to skip formalities. Kichiro sighed, a content smile on his face.
"Well, me and Setsuko-chan were just headed to the aerial garden. I'm sorry that you're not allowed in there but do you want to meet for lunch?" Kichiro though being a bit harsh at this point in time still even managed to sound nice in this matter.
"Yes, of course," Ayako mumbled, her face turning red just as when she had asked Kichiro the daring question. "I'll see you later, Kichiro-sama." Ayako ran off to meet a few of her friends, who had decided to wait for her a few paces down the path. Setsuko watched as Ayako opened her mouth to speak with her flustered cheeks and then the four girls including Ayako had begun to dance happily.
"She's cute," Kichiro said beneath his breath. "I think I like her." Kichiro lifted his head, revealing his eyes that looked at Setsuko as Ushio, his mother, would look at Haine, Setsuko's mother. Setsuko beamed upon seeing his eyes.
"Yeah, she was. But I'm starved. Let's go eat and talk up there," Setsuko stared up admiringly at Imperial Academy. It was definitely a site to see. The two made their way across the academy. Rumors flew quickly about Kichiro's new love interest and wondered of Setsuko had been the rival all along.
"I just love this place," Setsuko said, opening the gates to the beautiful hanging garden. It resembled that beautiful place in Setsuko's mother's picture book so much; it was as if it was exactly depicted from it.
"Yeah, it truly is something," Kichiro said, tugging off his ribbon that he would switch with Ayako's tie during lunch. Amongst the gorgeous hydrangeas and leafy trees was a table under a large canopy tree. Three years ago, it was discovered by the council at the time and there they set up a table only to be found by the council. It was tradition that the student council prior would set up clues so that the following one could find it. Eventually, and the three years later, the canopy tree hideaway was decorated beautifully with a table, chairs, even a cabinet to hold books and jackets. Kichiro set their two bags of breakfast filled foods towards the entrance and slipped off his jacket, hanging it in the closet. Along the way, they had managed to pick up their food at the back entrance.
"It's so surreal, sometimes," Kichiro flung himself in a chair and slipped off his glasses, perching them atop the table.
"I guess so," Setsuko shrugged, slipping into the seat next to him. "Let's talk though, Kichiro-kun. Why her?" Setsuko asked as if the direct object, her, had been something tarnished and stained. Ayako Takatsuki was only a bronze student but that didn't matter because Kichiro was not emperor so it didn't necessarily look bad. She was a star on Imperial's tennis team and a top student. There was a surprise that she wasn't silver but that was probably because her parents didn't exactly have such high standards. Apparently, Ayako Takatsuki had come from a bad family of terrible Yakuza (A/N – Japanese mafia) but made her way through the ranks at Imperial academy. Unlike her rash parents, she was pure and honest and another one of those darling council fan girls.
"I don't know," Kichiro leaned his chin against his palm as he elbow rested on the table. "I felt something though. Between us." Kichiro made a gesture with his hands.
"Really? I mean, I'm just surprised because prior to today, you've never accepted any other girl's confession to you. And trust me, I know you. You've been confessed to more times than Ryuunosuke-sama goes through girls," Setsuko ranted, rummaging through the two bags of food and taking out a plastic box with pancakes and a small cup of maple syrup as well as her juice box sized strawberry milk.
"Stop that," Kichiro said, slightly irritated as he took out his chocolate milk size juice box. He took a large slurp. "I'm just going to be with Takatsuki-san, okay?" Kichiro reached inside the bag to find breakfast sausage and bacon.
"I never said it wasn't okay," Setsuko bristled, she just felt weird about Kichiro going out it was like drinking coffee and then taking a sip of orange juice. It was just weird and above all, different. "I'm just surprised, is all." Setsuko forked a big bite of pancakes and syrup into her mouth. "Is it okay to be surprised?" Setsuko asked, staring up from her food. Kichiro, in the mean time, was playing with is plastic fork and stabbing the sausage.
"I just wanted something new, I guess. I'm not saying I'll turn into Ryuunosuke-sama," Kichiro explained, picking up a piece of bacon.
"Who won't turn into me?" Ryuunosuke Ishitaka, the 59th emperor, lifted one of the dangling branches to reveal his smirk filled face. "Ki-chan?" Kichiro shot a glare at Ryuunosuke, his facial features turning into some of Ushio Narimiya's, his mother.
"Exactly, you're irreplaceable, Ryuunosuke-sama," Setsuko positively said, grinning cheekily. The quick inadvertent lie had cleared up any troubles. "Are you and Miu-sama still fighting?" Setsuko asked returning to her breakfast, reaching in the paper bag for scrambled eggs and reaching over to fork a piece of sausage and steal two pieces of bacon while she was at it.
"Quiet about that, Setsuko-chan. She could be around here," Ryuunosuke flatly said, being the utmost serious. His constant gaze into Setsuko's eyes was piercing.
"Be serious," Setsuko advised, raising her eye brows and stuffing her mouth. That's what you get for waking up late and skipping breakfast.
"I am. Now quiet while I hide under the table," Ryuunosuke rushed over and held up the lacey table cloth. Setsuko slapped his hand away and stuck part of her pancakes in his mouth with her fork.
"Jeez, can't you be more reasonable?" Setsuko contemplated and realized he probably couldn't unless this was an emperor's association meeting but it wasn't. It was Ryuunosuke, the emperor, running from Miu, his platinum. It could happen and it was.
"This is being rational," Ryuunosuke snapped, mixing up his words and ducking for cover under the table. And of course paranoia came through and Miu burst through the once calm atmosphere of the canopy tree in Waltz Hagen.
"Where is he??" Miu shrieked, storming into the hanging garden's private council spot. "I know he's here." Miu said, sure of herself.
"We haven't see him," Kichiro told her and Miu knew to believe it. Kichiro was honest and not a liar. He wouldn't lie about the emperor's whereabouts.
"Fine," Miu snapped once more and fled as fast as she came in.
"Kirchiro-chan," Ryuunosuke burst out from under the table after a few seconds of Miu probably walking up the secret stairwell and out of the aerial garden. "Thank you for vouching for me!" Ryuunosuke bowed his head. "Thank you, thank you!!" He said, acting like a little child who got the toy he always desired. He flung his arms around his council member and smiled, cheerily.
"You were going to rat me out, weren't you Setsuko-chan??" Ryuunosuke cried. He probably had to have been the most childish emperor in the history of emperors.
"Possibly," Setsuko smiled, slyly and licking stray syrup off her index finger.
"Setsuko-chan, you meanie," Ryuunosuke wept, jokingly.
"Ryuunosuke-sama," Keiichi had suddenly burst through the hanging branches. "Trouble for the council. We…we can't decide." Keiichi put a suffering hand to his forehead. "Can't decide what to serve for…lunch." Keiichi said, suddenly turning serious.
"We're really not being taken seriously today, are we?" Ryuunosuke asked with a dramatic sigh. "I take that back. We're never taken seriously."
"True!" Setsuko stuck her thumb up in the air.
"Yes," Kichiro stuck up his sign with a number ten on it. Ten points for never being taken seriously, then yes. "Exactly so." He nodded, sipping his milk and eating his egg, cheese and bacon sandwich.
"Well, then. That was fun. Let's get down to business," Keiichi swung out his chair, sitting down and crossing his legs. "First off, we have business to take care of for the first three periods of school. So, of course, we'll be excused from classes and having our notes taken for us by a couple silver student volunteers. And this Saturday is the emperor's association meeting." He tossed a concerned sort of sorry look to Kichiro. "I just had to clearly state that but here is the itinerary for the next for days." Keiichi mentioned to Kichiro and passed him a tiny stapled packet of papers.
"Thanks," Kichiro said, reaching over to take it.
"As always, everyone is invited to the association meeting," Ryuunosuke concluded, thumbing his fingers through a few papers he unfolded from his pocket. "As for the guest list, everyone should know that there will be famous emperors such as Shizumasa Togu-sama, surprise appearances from Kazuhito Kamiya-sama, both we know are related to our lovable vice president, as well as Arata Tsukishima-sama and Katashi Watanabe-sama. More are included of course but those are some memorable ones." Ryuunosuke flipped the page in his packet and then looked up at his attentive council mates.
"What should we do about the platinum, koutei?" Keiichi asked, becoming serious.
"Precisely, emperor. It'd be bad if she missed this," Setsuko added, putting a finger to her lower lip. The platinum had somewhat of a role in things the council did. For instance, the school festival was coming up and if there was no platinum then what were they to do? They couldn't get someone else to plan it, could they?
"I'm here, you morons," Miu burst through the leaves once more and took her seat, the last seat that was open. "Thanks for starting without me, koutei." Miu darted her eyes at the emperor who hesitated but then stared at his papers.
"Thank you for joining us, Miu-san. Continuing, today we will began thinking of ideas for the school festival play? Then our excursion is also coming up…after the emperor's association meeting. Following will be helping the graduating class plan for their prom as well as fundraising events for school renovations and books," Ryuunosuke took a breath and scribbled something down on his eight by eleven papers. "We'll be likely to have an auction or some sort of party where our guests will donate the money to the school." Ryuunosuke decided to stare into what breakfast items were stored in the two bags. He peered in a grabbed an apple from inside. He took a large bite.
"Sound good?" He said with a mouthful of apple bits.
"Great. I'll get working on the excursion plans," Setsuko suggested.
"And I'll start the festival planning," Miu said, helpfully.
"Kichiro-kun, I'm going to need your help with something and Miu-san, I need that file by today, okay? Setsuko-chan, come with me for a bit while we work on ideas and of course, Keiichi-kun, we need to discuss the finances of our upcoming charitable event," Ryuunosuke said, finishing up the conversation and flipping on his 'we mean business' mode as he turned into his actual emperor side of himself.
"Mhmm, let's begin!" Setsuko encouraged through her mouthfuls of food. She swallowed and stuck the rest back into the brown bags. "Looks like we'll have breakfast for lunch too." She smirked and asked Kichiro to help her bring one of the almost full bags back to the council room with her.
"Of course I'll help, VP," Kichiro smiled benevolently as he slung the bag over his shoulder and followed Setsuko out of the canopy tree secret room.
"What is with you?!" Miu screamed once she knew Setsuko and Kichiro and the following Keiichi had left successfully. "First, you have your way with me the night before and today you ignore me as if you've done nothing? You filthy scum. What do you take me for??" Miu snapped, tears shedding from her beautiful turquoise eyes.
"Jeez, Miu-san, calm down," Ryuunosuke shook his head, his silver blue hair shaking from side to side as he gestured for her to calm herself.
"Don't tell me what to do," Miu cried, muffling out her tears.
"I…I just, it's just," Ryuunosuke stammered, trying to get back into his player mode.
"Just what? Am I just another one of your lovers?" Miu asked, biting her lower lip. "No, I'm not. I'm your damn platinum, Mr. Koutei! You can have as many lovers as you want but don't treat me this way. I'm your number one. I'm your fiancé." Miu complained, glaring at him. Ryuunosuke stared at her, completely speechless. Meanwhile, Setsuko, Kichiro, and Keiichi had all found the path, leading to the exit of the aerial garden. Setsuko turned her head, her ponytail flopping to the front base of her neck. She kept thinking that Ryuunosuke and Miu would be behind them but they still weren't.
"They're not here," Keiichi broke the news and Kichiro nodded, agreeing.
"He's right. They'll catch up," Kichiro told her, sounding hopeful.
"Okay. Sorry guys, I just keep thinking that they're behind us," Setsuko explained herself and then followed her two friends since birth back inside the school. A half an hour later, the three had spilt up and commenced in doing their work as well as some school work. Setsuko had managed to contemplate a few ideas for the fundraiser as well as ideas for the school play.
She was thinking along the line of Disney's princesses or re-creating the story from The Unforgettable Song of the Witch. Of course, she had to get the rights from her father, Shizumasa Togu before anything would finalize. Setsuko had also been able to do her work for her math honors class and finish up some work for her honors chemistry class and even do part of her project for social studies. During this time, Kichiro organized the schedules for the council during the course of the rest of the week as well as finishing up some of his French homework as well as his math honors.
And Keiichi had accomplished the financial difficulties for the school as well as doing a few jobs upon Ryuunosuke's request. Kichiro and Keiichi were still working on their current projects while Setsuko had decided to go into the emperor's office to run her newest ideas by him. Politely, Setsuko had knocked on the large emperor's room door. She heard a few grunts inside, probably Ryuunosuke just stressing over the fact that his platinum was pissed off at him, for the time being.
"Ryuunosuke-sama, are you in here?" Setsuko urgently asked, clutching the flimsy papers to her hand. She heard a voice inside; it had to have been Ryuunosuke's.
"Ok, I hear your voice. I'm coming in," Setsuko said after a few silent moments.
"Wait—Setsuko-san!!" She heard Ryuunosuke cry but it was far too late, Setsuko had thrust the door open but her papers had clumsily fallen out her hands.
"Ah-oh damn," Setsuko muttered, collapsing to the floor to pick up her scattered papers. She shuffled when picking them up and looked up to see the emperor from where she was sitting. Ryuunosuke had his hands on either side of an unknown girl, obviously not the platinum, who was propped up on his desk. Her tie and his ribbon lie strangely on the floor and their clothes were disoriented. His especially made uniform was unbuttoned at the top and exposed his slightly chiseled chest.
Her cleavage was shown through her slightly unbuttoned collared shirt and her honey brown hair was ruffled and astray. By the looks of her vest, lying on the floor, she had to be a bronze or silver student and her skirt was hiked up way shorter than school rules had ever allowed. Her face was red all over and her lips were bruised slightly.
"Oh, my god," the girl gasped and quickly began to button up her blouse and adjust her skirt. "Setsuko-sama, I'm sorry." The girl obediently bowed her head as she grabbed her fest and threw her tie around her neck. "Good bye, emperor." She hurriedly said while rushing out of the room from the door Setsuko had opened.
She ran past Setsuko, embarrassed as anything but all Setsuko was feeling was shocked and bothered by all this. She knew perfectly well of the emperor's womanizer ways but he would go this far even with a platinum. Her thoughts of everything she thought she knew about this perfect emperor figure were destroyed in the matter of two seconds. Everything was now tainted and impure. Who was this koutei figure?