Disclaimer : I own nothing but the plot. I don't own Sailormoon, neither do i own the name 'Mentos' (I bloody love that sweet!). The whole story is fictitious and I'm not getting any money for it. Any relevance to actual living persons or events is entirely coincidental.

A/N: I am really sorry this took so long to come out. I had it half written...and lotsa stuff happens in personal life. I would like to thank everyone who reviewed!! I love you guys! And seriously, I'm sorry this took so long. Personal stuff are...daunting. Okay abit on the story. I'm riding with Michiru thoughts in third person almost the whole of this chapter. Since Michiru doesn't know Haruka is a girl yet...that's why Haruka is keep getting called Tenoh (though i believe there's an occasion i switch it for a while) and referred to as a guy. Okay, ima stop talking now and let you read this.

Please tell me what you think of it! Love you reviewers!

Hino Rei's phone vibrated, indicating a call. She whipped it out of her pants pocket in that military suit she is donning for the 'damn drug bust plus capture Kou Yaten' operation which is failing, miserably. Somehow, the army now look like shit, thanks to the screwed ups of the police force. The caller ID is blank; but Rei knew better, she knew who it was.

"You."

"Hino-san, "a light chuckle from the other side.

"What is it?"

"I left you a present on the most secluded bench at Juuban Park. Make sure you collect her."

"What-"and the phone went dead.

Typical terrorist kidnapper fashion. Rei shook her head as she held up her hand and motioned for her squad to regroup. Whatever the present is, it must require her attention. The call is no joke, as always. She led the group out of the lake area and entered the park.

"…and now for the latest news the Japan Military had released a statement at midnight yesterday confirming an operation relating to drug dealing and Kingdom, with a possible sighting of Kou Yaten, age 24, one of the main leaders of Kingdom. No statements have been released on the success of the operation nor the capture of Kou Yaten though there are rumors flying around that Mentos Inc was involve in the drug transaction. Tonnes of heroin amounting to a staggering US 30 million worth have been found packed in boxes disguised as Mentos sweet, though it was reported that the military had only been able to recover less than a quarter of the goods. 7 casualties from the operation was reported from the Japan Military, while an estimated 13 died in the operation from Kingdom and 10 other captured. We'll bring you more on that and now let's look the world news. Mentos Inc. have recently announced-"

Abruptly, the television that was on the centre of the meeting table was switched off, leaving the room in total darkness. Footsteps could be heard and then the lights flicked on soon after. Michiru closed her eyes for a while to ease her eyes adjusting to the sudden change in lighting when a voice boomed over the meeting room. The voice was sharp and crystal clear, with a little bit of bass. Just a little to make it capable of being sexy and motherly, but it still sounded shrill to Michiru.

"So who should we blame for the failure of this operation? The police or us, the military?"

Michiru opened her eyes to meet deep purple eyes meeting hers briefly before it looked to her other colleagues.

Minako, Setsuna, Makoto and Mamoru all had to be subjected to the wrath of Hino Rei along with her. Hino Rei is the captain of military intelligence and espionage unit that was actually involved in the operation some seven hours ago. Hino Rei was dressed in brown military uniform for women and 

sported long straight black hair with neat by layered bangs, coupled with features that could make her look beautiful, or like a bit- no no, witch. It was a goddamned 3am on Sunday morning for Michiru and honest to all divine powers, was she horribly tired. But she couldn't complain, can she?

"I can't believe that I have to transport your member back here too! Since when did the special police corps became a bunch of losers?!"

Michiru closed her eyes again. Somehow, she knew Hino Rei didn't pull her out of the Juuban lake from the hands of a silver haired man, but the blonde person who saved her is Tenoh? How can Tenoh pull her out? How can Tenoh be the one who saved her? He's a civilian for goodness sake! It must be some…Tenoh-lookalike person? But Michiru was certain the person was Tenoh…she remember seeing his face, or a blurred view of a face she recognized to be his. Anyways, back to the point, Hino Rei has reportedly found her lying on a bench of Juuban Park covered by a wet black half leather jacket and brought her back here to the special police operations headquarters, where she woke up from her slumber an hour ago at 2am to the great relief of everyone.

"Now the situation is perfect. Perfectly screwed up. We lost Kou Yaten,we lost 3 of our men who died in the operations, we lost the man in Mento Inc that could lead to anything and to top it off, we let the damn terrorist group get away with most of the goods and the cartons we recovered in our hands has already amounted to 20 million US dollar. All because this damned team screwed up in storming the alleyway due to a silly flash bang!"

"And a smoke grenade-"Mamoru interjected but fell silent immediately as Rei's eyes bore down menacingly on him.

"Any more excuses this team can come up with?" Rei's shrilly voice turned to that of mocking.

No matter how much Michiru didn't like the 'meeting' or rather the scolding session; there was no way to dispute. Hino Rei was correct, at least, in Michiru's extent. She slipped after getting sneaked upon by the flash bang, and subsequently pulled into the water in her half clear state of mind. Which comes to the question again, who, exactly who saved her? Who was the one who punched her assailant with silver hair? Who was the one who gave her CPR to revive her? Who-

"Kaioh Michiru-san, would you care to elaborate who left you on the bench at Juuban Park?"

Michiru look up to see Rei glaring at her then looked around across the oval shaped wooden meeting table that all her colleagues in the team sat around. Everyone's eyes were on her.

"Well, I don't know who saved me…I only know that person has short hair," and Michiru added mentally, has a comfortable body warmth and sweet lips.

Makoto raised her eyebrows quite noticeably at that little description, though she stayed silent.

"Minako-san, would you care to elaborate what you saw?" Rei now directed her glare at Minako, who rolled her eyes in defiance as she spoke.

"I saw Michiru being drowned by a silver haired man whom now I know is Kou Yaten himself before a hooded man whom is armed with an AK-47 slung on him sprung a surprise attack on Kou Yaten, rendering Kou Yaten to release his hold on Michiru. Subsequently, I last see Michiru getting dragged towed away on the other direction of me by the same man."

Rei now did an evil smirked at Michiru, "Any idea who might be your terrorist friend?"

Michiru stayed silent. Her mind was in a whirlwind. Tenoh, terrorist? It can't be. Tenoh is her manager for goodness sake, earning a high salary for sure in Mentos In- wait wait, Tenoh might be connected to Mentos Inc. drug dealings! But then again, why did she think the blonde person was Tenoh? It might be his lookalike, for all she knows. She had no evidence. And whoever this person was, he or she saved her life. She shouldn't repay him or her in this way.

"Kaioh?" Rei repeated, and Michiru snapped back into reality. Her mind made up.

"No."

"But you were thinking," Michiru smiled at Rei's reversal accusation. Always an interrogator eh, Hino Rei?

"I was scanning through my head all of my friends from my whole life and no one resembles any remotely to whoever who saved me."

"How do I know that is true?" Rei said as she leaned closer from the north end of the oval table to Michiru's position.

Michiru didn't want to lose. Michiru challenged her gaze by putting her elbows on the table and placed her chin on her palms as she leaned towards Rei. Her deep blue eyes now dancing with a little mysterious aura as it matched suspicious deep purple ones of Hino Rei. "You can do a background check on me, I don't mind. But if you do that I take it that you are suspecting me to be a double agent. Wouldn't it result in a little…infighting?"

The intense gaze between both of them lingered before a loud, really loud yawn broke their gaze to stare at the perpetrator.

Minako stopped in mid way yawn, "Eh?"

Setsuna put a hand out and snap Minako's jaw shut by pushing it up and gave an awkward laugh.

"You got the goods?" Yaten heard his brother's voice over the cell phone.

"I lost about 15 percent of it," Yaten gulped but answered quite calmly, his voice not giving any emotions.

"Fuck you. Didn't I tell you the money is bloody fucking important! Every damn cent is!" Taiki's voice boomed over the telephone.

"I know, I'm sorry, I'll retrieve the goods."

"You better, or else don't let me see your fucking face or I'll blow the shit off your asshole."

The phone clicked off.

Yaten sighed as he removed the cell phone from his ear and looked at it. His other hand rubbed the side of his face that was sorely punched by who he deemed to be a double-crosser from his side. But strangely, the men about 50 or so, now left 26, all had been handpicked by him. He really couldn't tell who had stopped him from drowning one of the police agents. He cannot imagine anybody betrayed him, in fact. All fifty guys were the loyalists that followed him to training in the island. They managed to move all the cargo they stowed away with back to their secret warehouse somewhere in Tokyo. Yaten didn't know exactly where, he just knew how to drive there from memory. His phone rang again. Yaten motioned or the remaining guys to rest as he walked away from the crowd and picked up the call.

"Yaten!"

"Seiya?"

"You're okay! I was worried when I saw the news. I heard the operation was half failure half success! How many men did we lose?"

Yaten smiled slightly a little, "13, 10 other were captured but we'll get them out. The rest are fine. I'm fine…too."

"Taiki gave you the dressing down huh?"

"Yeah…"

Seiya chuckled, "Don't worry, I know you did your best. Kous always do their best, like our father, even though he…died in an unfashionable way."

"…You know I don't see a point in the war, much less this drug dealing means to get money for it. We can always extort Yano Ethan for more," Yaten added nonchalantly.

"So we can all get caught one by one after that."

"He didn't do anything the last 3 times we did it!"

"For the better good, we have to sell drugs. And don't let Taiki hear how much you don't like fighting or we'll both be in deep shit!" Seiya now hissed over the phone.

Yaten became quiet.

"You know how much he wants to become King of Japan again. Our father was murdered by those bloody politicians. He is the true King of Japan, and we should be ruled under the King! After that we'll both be princes and we can have everything we want, women, fame, fortune, singing, you name it! Isn't that good?"

"A bit unrealistic, isn't it?"

"Yaten, if we succeed Japan will be ruled by us."

"…I'm tired, Seiya."

"At? You can't be tired of our goal! Even if you are we have to kill the silly puppet king and all his damn politicians to avenge for Father!"

"I mean tonight."

"Oh, rest well, Yaten" and Yaten clicked the phone off even before before he said any farewell to his brother.

Yaten is really tired of this…useless battle. But yearly Taiki and Seiya just managed to convince so many people to serve them. Their army of 20 or 30 saboteurs when Yaten was still a kid now has grown to a bulky size of a thousand five and God knows how many splinter cells supporting the same cause in just twelve years. If this money can't buy them their much needed last resort, then nothing else would work.

Michiru, finally arriving home at 6am in the morning when the sun has already half risen on Sunday morning, just laid back on the couch with all tiredness as her fatigue crept up on her. Michiru was very proud of the apartment she bought and furnished on her own. Moving out of her parents' home in somewhere at the edge of Tokyo where her father supported her mother and her by working as a neighbourhood police officer, she bought her own apartment in Tokyo after she saved enough from her job. Juuban hill, was the apartment block name. Which reminds her, Ethan stayed near her at Juuban heights, though he claimed the orphanage as his home earlier as well.

She pushed herself off her maroon velvet couch as she walked on her sand colored tiled floor that fitted the white wash painted walls that hung various paintings, all about the seas or the sky, mostly blue and a little greenish. Some she painted herself out of her free time, some bought in the 2nd hand art shop. Only one picture hung on the wall, which is her proud family portrait in black and white. She turned to the kitchen and poured herself a cup of water on the wooden shelves and sipped it, in deep thought.

Tenoh Haruka. Is it any possibility her marketing manager is a terrorist in disguise? But if so, why did he save her? But why, why does she even associate the blonde green eyed who saved her as him? It might be anybody else. Plus, she bet Tenoh's lips would taste more like bitter than sweet, and his warmth is definitely as disgusting as what comes out of his mouth.

But could it be him?

Michiru walked back into her living room and picked up her cell phone. Sure, she got his number, because all employees are supposed to have their bosses' number, isn't it so?

Michiru let her finger rest on the green call button.

To call, or not to call?

It can't be him! Michiru shook her head. No way, he is just a snobbish male chauvinist with a perverted fetish for her giggle. Which reminds her…she left the office on Friday fully expecting her spy job to end by then, and that means…Monday blues. All the work she has leftover from Friday would be piling up like a mountain full of...shit.

Her grip on her phone tightened unknowingly.

Oh no, Tenoh is going to give her hell on Monday. He is never going to reduce her work, and who knows what that perverted man would want her to do this time to let her off for the day. Friday it was just giggle…what would be Monday? Michiru frowned and sighed. Monday blues, for sure.

"Hello?" A faint voice sounded from somewhere beneath.

"Eh?"

A while of silence ensued. Michiru was hearing things?

"Kaioh-san?"

Her name?! God is she so tired she's hearing things from below? Michiru froze awhile on the spot, before she finally took a deep breath and look down to the source of the voice.

"Kaioh-san?"

Oh, no wonder. "T-T-Tenoh-san?" Michiru quickly put the phone to her ear.

A light husky chuckle formed at the other end of the line, "6am is not a good time to call your boss."

"Uh…well…but you picked up." Michiru hit herself hard mentally.

"It's only manners?"

"I uh, just wanted to tell you Sunday morning, rain is falling," Michiru blurted out of nowhere.

"…okay."

"I…nothing Tenoh-san, sorry for this call" Michiru said and within a second, Michiru heard something she found extremely rude.

Click.

Bastard, not even a goodbye before he hangs up. Michiru rolled her eyes and scowled at her cell phone. Then her cell phone sounded a message alert. He is rude, obnoxious, and irritating. Definitely the one who saved her wasn't Tenoh; the person who save her was warm and nice, a far cry from this…irritating boss. She unlocked her cell phone key pad and opened the message-

'I forgot to say goodbye. I'll see you on Monday morning…alert and well rested. –Tenoh'

Okay, Michiru stopped scowling.

He's a little bit cute…like this.

The first thought on Michiru's mind when she stepped into her office at Mentos Inc. building on Monday morning at half past eight, was her bed. Honestly, she rather would throw away all her status and reputation in Mentos Inc. and in the police division for an hour longer in bed. But time decides …otherwise. She was so tired from the events that transpired on Saturday that she spent her whole Sunday doing almost nothing but lazing at home all day. Oh, oh, and she did painting out of frustration yesterday night due to Monday blues. It was red and splashed in black, in all sense the painting was her vent machine. Walking into the office to be greeted by ten smiling faces…fake smiling faces. Michiru found nothing to smile about on a Monday morning at Mentos Inc.

Nevertheless, she waved back and smiled…or tried to smile. It turned out a little contorted between a blank sleepy look and a smile.

Out of the corner of her eye, she could see Tenoh glance at her and stood up from his seat in his room as he picked up the office phone at the same time. She sat down on her seat and packed her things away to begin a hellish work day when Tenoh opened his office door and walked out of the room, distracting her. Blonde hair in its usual messy look, adorning a black suit, shirt and pants but his tie was maroon red. Nice colours…but it dawned on Michiru that they are almost wearing matching colours. Michiru was also in a black shirt and knee length skirt. That was quite pleasant; never thought Tenoh would actually have the same colour preferences for working clothes with her on the same day-

Wait, pleasant?! Michiru frowned at her own thoughts. Screw that! It's just pure coincidence-

"I have an announcement ladies and gentlemen; we got a new lady joining us today. Ami-san, bring her in," and Tenoh motioned his hands in a gesture to come in.

Michiru stared dumbfounded. There was no more space in the office for another person! Where was she going to sit, or why did they hired another person? Michiru was sure she was doing her work and all-

"I'm Hino Rei, please to meet you all," a long straight black haired woman appeared from the doorway into the office sporting a very serious yet friendly look, wearing a very professional looking pure white suit, though Michiru thought the bright blood reddish bag Hino Rei was carrying was thoroughly mismatched.

Oh, that's why.

At eleven thirty, just half an hour before lunch time, Michiru and Rei exchanged like the tenth glare at each other across their table.

"Haruka-san, where am I going to sit?" Hino Rei hummed in a sweet voice to Tenoh.

Michiru tried her best to keep her straight face and not to scowl like some barbarian.

"Oh right, no free tables. Kaioh-san, you wouldn't mind sharing until we can work something out, do you?" Tenoh said, in all authority and politeness that signaled it would be illegal in Mentos Inc. societal law to refuse.

"Of course not," Michiru smiled the fakest smile she could come up with that time and said it in her sweetest voice to imitated Hino Rei.

"There, Rei-san, sit opposite Kaioh-san for the time being, till the HR department gets the arrangement sought out," and Tenoh smiled a boyish but obviously, genuine smile to Hino Rei, which churned Michiru stomach, somewhat.

And the worst of all, Hino Rei smiled back in that same manner.

Now the reminder of what happened this morning just irritates Michiru. She couldn't help sending glares to Rei. One, Rei's presence signaled that the Japan army and the Japan police force cum narcotics agents are at war. Two, Rei obviously pissed her off in the weekend, and now Michiru has to see her face the whole week! Three, what the hell did Rei do to Tenoh to make him…smile like that?! Michiru haven't really talked to Rei yet since she came in the morning, except or the grunts and occasional fake sounding questions on the arrangement of things on their table. Their glares started ever since Rei took her seat and their stuff kind of clashed with each other, overlapping each other's stuff. Each time their hand reach out to shift something they always share a glare. Luckily for Michiru…Rei was using a laptop, while Michiru, a desktop computer that could completely hides her face from Rei when she needed it.

The office phone rings on now Michiru/Rei's desk. They share the eleventh glare, before Michiru swiftly picked it up at the fourth ring.

"Kaioh-san,"

That husky voice, "Tenoh-san, what's up?"

"Get ready for a lunch, you're coming with me today," Michiru noted Tenoh said that in a metallic voice.

"What?"

"We're going to have lunch together," same tone.

"Since when did you ask me?" Michiru, full of doubt.

Michiru heard a sigh, before Tenoh repeated slowly and deliberately pronouncing each word clearly "We, are, going, to, have, lunch, together, today. It's not a question, Kaioh-san."

Irritating guy, Michiru thought. "What? You can't just drag me out for lunch-"

"Oh yes I can, ten minutes," and click, the phone was hung up.

Michiru took the receiver off her ear and stared at it in disbelief.

"Lunch date with Haruka-san?" Michiru look up to find Rei's purple eyes staring intently at her.

"You eavesdropped me, Hino," Michiru in a defeated voice.

"What about me? Who am I going to lunch with today?"

"What? You expected me to lunch with you?" Michiru put the receiver down but her disbelief expression remained on her face as she shifted her eyes from the phone to Rei.

"Don't you wanna know why I'm here as well?" Rei narrowed her eyebrows.

"I do, but we can talk anytime?"

"Come on what's better than lunch time to discuss our…real jobs."

"You can look for others for lunch we can talk later," Michiru insisted.

"I…uh-"

"Ami-san will go with you."

Both Rei and Michiru look up at the interruption of their conversation to find Tenoh smiling quite brightly down at the both of them. Michiru instantly gets annoyed again…it's another one of his 'oh so charming' smile that every girl in the office she knows can't resist except her. As Michiru expected, Rei was a little dumbfounded by the sudden interruption and the bright green eyes on her.

"I…I…uh…" Rei stuttered, looking completely at loss.

Michiru felt Tenoh grab her arm and gently pulled her up and away from her seat. "Won't want to be late, do we?" Tenoh said as he pulled her away from the seat to the doorway.

"Tenoh! I haven't gotten ready yet I still need my wallet and-"

"I'm paying, and I've got all you need," Tenoh replied as he pressed the button for the lift and let go of Michiru's arm.

Michiru eyed him suspiciously, "Where are we going, why me and what do you have that I need?"

Tenoh chuckle and look at her with his bright green eyes. For the first time that day, Michiru truly looked at his face. The most prominent thing that caught her attention was the faint dark circles around his eyes, which signified he either had a wild night…or a tiring one. But then again, she remembered he actually picked her call up at 6am on Sunday morning. She had to…ask, because it was biting her about the call, and…if there was any chance he was the one who saved her. "What…were doing at 6am on Sunday?" she asked, breaking the short momentary silence between them.

Tenoh looked thoughtful for a while, as if he was playing with different answers in his mind. Michiru narrowed her eyes; not that it helped to read his thoughts or anything. Finally, he sighed and answered, "I don't want to lie, let's just leave it at…I just got home."

Now the first part piqued Michiru's curiosity. "Why won't you lie?"

Tenoh chuckled as he stuck his hands into his pants pocket. Michiru felt that posture made him look…cute. Again. "I don't know, but I don't like lying when I don't need to. You lied to me before?"

Tenoh cocked his eyebrows and looked at her.

"I…" and Michiru thought of the things she said she said to him before…and for sure, she did lied to him before. "Well, I-"

The lift bell rang and the door opened. Tenoh walked in first and held the door open for Michiru. Quite gentlemanly, Michiru felt, and she was pleased by that action.

Silence evolved in the elevator. The ride felt like forever to Michiru. But even forever has a stop to it, doesn't it? The lift bell rang again and the door opened, with Tenoh stepping out first. But this time, he turned around and faced her fully. "It's okay, you don't have to admit. It would make my blood boil only."

"Do you hate liars so much?" Michiru questioned Tenoh as they walked across the lobby, nodding and smiling to everyone who passed them by in all fake-ness to reach the entrance/exit of the Mentos Inc. building.

"Yes and no?"

"Why?"

Tenoh nodded to the security guard that replaced the one that she secretly caught to the police station as he replied "I don't like…false hopes."

Michiru so took that the wrong way. She tried not to smirk at the statement as she lowered her voice on deliberate and asked again, "got cheated by a girl lying to you before?"

Tenoh gave a bewildered look as they pushed the door out of the way of the entrance of Mentos Inc. and walked across the carpark.

"I have never been in love," Tenoh said, somewhat nonchalantly.

"WHAT?"

"I have never been in love." Tenoh repeated again, in the same tone he used to say the previous time. Michiru noted Tenoh's lack of understanding what is called 'shock reaction'.

Tenoh pulled out his keys as Michiru went wide eyed in shock silence. Kidding? Charming Tenoh Haruka whom the whole population of girls in Mentos Inc. had tried flirting or courting in that short one month he's been here has never been in a relationship? And he's not even afraid to admit it! Or…is he lying? Wait, didn't he say he didn't like to lie when he-

Michiru heard a loud beep and some locks unlocking itself. And it the sounds were coming from black stylish BMW Z4 M Roadster car. Michiru stared in disbelief again. She noticed she had this...disbelief look already quite a number of times today.

"You own this?!" Michiru exclaimed.

Tenoh nodded and motion for her to get in as he walked around it to the driver' seat.

"Oh my…" Michiru got in the smell of leather wafted and filled her noise and senses. A simple, rich and elegant car. "You, don't have a girl friend or anything, well you might be gay I know, but you never been in a relationship when you have all these? Don't…people just flock to you?"

Tenoh chuckled as he started the car. Michiru still staring bewildered at him. He is handsome, he is rich. That's more than enough reason to make a lot of girls go after him and surely he-

"I can't love anyone, and no one will love me."

He said that in the straightest voice Michiru has ever heard. "How do you know-"

"Put on your seatbelt and grab the handle; I do drive fast," he put his left index finger to his lips in a cute action and smiled. With that, he stayed true to his words. He sped out of the car park and down the highway, with Michiru staring intently at him the whole ride in silence.

If Michiru knew it was a business lunch, she wouldn't have come along so easily. No wonder, no wonder no wonder. Tenoh won't be that nice to bring her out for lunch out of the blue in is typical 'I don't care what you think' style. She should've remembered, he was as annoying as he was every bit before she suspected he saved her.

Here she was, seated at a big table in a posh restaurant in the middle of Tokyo rich district with a notepad in her hand and a pen in the other. She was tasked by Tenoh to take the minutes of this lunch meeting…as Tenoh put it. She should feel honoured she was her, eating posh food and working at the same time. She's getting paid to eat posh food. Michiru should've known, Tenoh says disgusting things sometimes. She mentally stuck her tongue out at Tenoh who was seated right beside her with his eyes closed in resting.

What the hell.

Tenoh looked please with himself just now to be the first to arrive in this empty ten people table. Michiru sighed as she stared in silence at her surroundings.

Oddly, silence with Tenoh wasn't boring nor uncomfortable, but comforting and rather…easily used to. And with his eyes closed beside her…she could really get used to this. He looks like a calm little boy asleep with his head bowed and eyes closed, face still and expressionless…somewhat innocent looking, and to top it off, he was cultured enough to actually sleep quite nicely with his lips together. He is…well bred, for sure. Just that he lacks emotions, from the interactions between him and her. That probably is the root of the things Michiru didn't like about him. But why is he so emotionless? Had he had a troubled childhood like her?

"Michiru-san?" A familiar gentle male voice sounded.

"Yano-san?" She looked up to dirty blue eyes.

Ethan chuckled and took a seat beside Michiru on the table. Michiru noted Ethan was wearing a black coat and pants with white shirt with a blue striped tie that matches his eyes. His hair is combed back nicely and he is well shaven…looking very refine. A stark contrast to the him she saw on Saturday at the orphanage. Wait wait, janitor in suit at a posh restaurant?

"Aren't you a janitor shouldn't you be working?" Michiru blurted out, a little too loud, because Tenoh opened one eye to look at Michiru after she said it.

"Janitor?"

"So you are not a janitor! My first instinct about you was right!"

"He never was," Tenoh interrupted, looking at Michiru in doubt.

Ethan chuckled in his seat. Michiru turned suspicious again. Could Ethan be any involvement in the whole drug thing of Mentos Inc.? If he is…that explains a lot of things. How he know about Makoto and stuff…to think Michiru trusted him!

Seeing Michiru's eyes widen, Ethan could guess roughly what was running through Michiru's head about doubts on him. But before he could say anything Haruka cut him to it. "Ethan's the CEO of Mentos Inc., don't you know that?"

"WHAT?"

"Ethan's the CEO of Mentos Inc.-"Tenoh repeated but was cut off by an equally familiar voice like Ethan's, to Michiru, in a distance.

"Who said what so loudly? Uugh, disgraceful." The voice had its source from the entrance of the restaurant.

"Nay, madam, but be sure we will trace it," the waiter replied at the entrance.

"Don't let small things like this bother your mood for a lunch meeting with the Mentos Inc. board of directors, Beryl-sama!" Michiru frowned. That lecherous old man's voice! Royston Houton, the one who was involved on Saturday's drug transaction with Kingdom! And Beryl…oh goodness, the one Michiru pissed off at the boutique on Saturday!

Saturday is haunting her, Michiru concluded.

Michiru gulped, as she prepared herself for the loud faithful accusing tone. "YOU!" there! That evil screeching sounding voice Michiru heard on Saturday was sounded here again.

Tenoh and Ethan glanced at each other, then to Michiru, then to Beryl and then back to Michiru in confusion.

"You are an employee in Mentos Inc.? Damnation!" Beryl shouted so loudly that Michiru was pretty sure the whole restaurant could hear.

Tenoh eyed Michiru suspiciously as he went up with Ethan to invite Beryl who was dressed in wine red dress and exaggeratingly luxuriously to sit. Michiru sighed and ignored everything in her surroundings closing her eyes to enjoy a few seconds of peace as Tenoh and Ethan handled Beryl. Today is too much of a shock for her already. First, Hino Rei at Mentos Inc. spying with her, then Tenoh dragging her off to somewhere and the increased possibility of him being the one who saved her, and then Yano Ethan being actually the one who pays her salary at Mentos Inc. job…and now, this Beryl woman is actually in this meeting involving her.

Michiru opened her eyes to find the rest of the board of directors have actually arrived and are taking their seats, as Ethan and Tenoh struggle to convince Beryl to sit. Finally after about five minutes, they did succeed, and the awkward silence revolved around Beryl, the ten board of directors, the owner of Mentos Inc., the marketing manager and the stand in secretary.

"I guess I should do introductions, Beryl-sama. I believe we all have met once, but you haven't met the stand in secretary? Our current secretary is on medical leave today hence there was a need for an urgent replacement," Ethan started.

Beryl looked at him skeptically with her black shiny eyes.

"Her name is Kaioh Michiru. Michiru-san, this is Beryl-sama, a long time customer of our sweets in shelves in her department store, the Daimond grand store."

Oh, no wonder she's that rich and snobby. "Beryl-san, I am here-"

"Kaioh…Kaioh is really familiar…"

"Beryl-sama, my family name is not-"

"OH, it's that family! Kaioh Yoshi, that tycoon turn drug addict and then wasted his fortunes, now back to normal family guy, but cannot stand up anymore as glorious as he used to be. Are you his daughter?"

Michiru's shock look says it all.

"Oh so you are! No wonder you have no manners, like your father! Are you a drug addict too?" Michiru, at the same time, noted the face of Royston Houton and Wayne Smith, as well as several other board of directors who raised their eyebrows, including Ethan at Beryl.

Tenoh raised his eyebrows too, but not at Beryl, rather, at Michiru.

Michiru kept her cool, "I'm not going to speak today as I will only be writing the minutes for the meeting-"

"No, no, speak! Tell me, how is your father now?" She said, though Michiru could sense sarcasm.

"He's fine thank you," Michiru replied smoothly.

"Really? But how sad his daughter can't even make it big like him and have to be a peasant who is a stand in secretary for MY meeting."

Michiru kept quiet again and kept her gaze on the table now. An empty white plate was set just blow her chin that clearly reflects her face on the shine of it.

"Uh, Beryl-sama, the agenda for meeting today is to show you the new marketing strategy-" Etan was cut off shortly.

"You clearly are a vermin, are you sure you belong even in this posh restaurant? Eew, the whole place stinks now that I notice you."

Michiru kept her head bowed. She will not give in to the taunts. They haunted her long enough.

"I even ordered my servants to burn all the music CDs your mother and your father had recorded together! They are all rubbish drugs now!"

Ethan looked lost at a Tenoh who seemingly expression is stuck in a blank look. Michiru in her brief glance up, then back down again on the plate. Was she that worthless to her parents? Yes, she agrees. She cannot even protect their namesake. She cannot even…emulate them. What can she do? She's nothing but a failure in the eyes of all he relatives. She did nothing to stop her father from the drug addiction, she did nothing to help. Her mother suffered so much, her father along with his addiction. And all she did…she don't even want to remember the tough times in her childhood. Mihciru clenched her eyes closed and let the abuse come.

"Now I see Mentos accepts vermin…the deal's off, so off! No more Mentos sweet in Daimond store! I will take them all out! I will not sell vermin infested things in it."

"No, no, no Beryl-sama! Please don't do that!" one of the board of directors plead.

"Please, Beryl-sama, we will sack her with effect from immediately!" another pleaded.

"Beryl-sama, I implore you to reconsider your decision," Ethan tried again, to talk to that woman.

Michiru remained clenched eyes but oddly, she felt a touch on her right hand that unknowingly clenched into a fist along with her eyes, under the table cloth. Michiru open her eyes to find Ethan's hand comfortingly on hers. That was…pleasant, to Michiru.

"No consideration, my word is final."

"Surely, Beryl-sama?"

All eyes land on Tenoh, as his clear husky voice sounded over the table.

Beryl glare at Tenoh with her big eyes and scowled.

Tenoh smiled. "Do you know what kind of effect your pull out Mentos Inc. products will have?"

"I don't care," her defiant answer back to Tenoh.

Michiru felt Ethan's hand on hers tighten a little, and was shivering. Is Beryl's business so important? Michiru had no idea this woman was so…influential. Tenoh continued, though "simple, this effect," and with that Tenoh threw his glass cup containing plain water on the floor, smashing it instantly creating a loud crash sound.

Beryl jumped visibly, along with the rest of the people around the table.

"But do you know what effects you had on Kaioh-san just now?" Tenoh, still smiling, said to Beryl; his brilliant green eyes locked with hers. Michiru found his smile a little…scary.

Beryl gulped visibly and audibly.

Tenoh chuckled at that response. Michiru let her eyes trailed over him; he was sitting perfectly calm and relaxed, totally in control of the situation now. What is he, a mind freak or something? Tenoh then took her glass of plain water with his right. "This I the effect…" Tenoh said and let his voice trailed off.

He held the cup by its rims, lifted it high, and smashed it hard on the table, breaking it in his own hand.

Michiru's eyes widened at the blood that was oozing out of Tenoh's hands. Tenoh fling his hand to get rid of the glass shards and coolly taking the napkin prepared for them to wrap his bloodied hand. His face show no sign of pain at all.

"This is how she might have felt inside. Might, it might be worse for all I know. Glad I taught you a lesson, Beryl-sama. Excuse me."

Tenoh stood up and walked away from the table to the exit of the restaurant in everyone's shock. Including Michiru. After a few moments of mouth gaping, Michiru brushed away Ethan's hand on hers and chased after Tenoh.