Note: sorry for the wait, my fair readers. And now, from Teru's perspective.

Teru had had a nerve-wracking week. She hadn't seen Kurosaki in three days because of his work and her cram school schedule. She hadn't even had the time to pow-wow with Riko about what to wear because of the extra work she'd taken so that she'd be free for today. She'd phoned Rena so much the past few days with questions that the other girl had started refusing her calls.

Riko had joined her that morning at the last minute. She'd talked her out of a skirted suit and into a pants suit, reminding her that they'd be sitting seiza-style for quite a while and that would be hard in a knee-length skirt. They'd gotten to the Tamane estate early and had just gotten to the room when Riko received an urgent phone call from work. Since the men weren't due for another 20 minutes, she stepped outside the doors that led to the garden area to take the call.

Teru was alone and fidgeting with nerves when Madam Tamane came in and introduced herself.

She pursed her lips at Teru's greeting and raised an eyebrow at her bow. "I see," She drawled as she slowly walked around Teru as she sat at the table. "I have heard quite a bit about you, Miss Kurebayashi."

Teru kept her eyes down and her expression bland as M. Tamane kept up her slow perusal. She recognized that tone. She'd dealt with it enough with the snobs at school through the years. The trick was to ignore it and keep on as normal. "Really, ma'am.?"

"Indeed." Madam Tamane sat down at the head of the table. "I understand your parents died when you were young."

"Yes."

" And your brother raised you after that, but then he died also."

Teru didn't even flinch at the rapid-fire questions. "Yes Ma'am."

"So, you are alone." Madam said baldly.

Teru looked up and met her eyes. "I'm not alone," she said evenly. "Riko was my brother's fiancée and I have the best friends in the world."

After a brief staring contest, Madam nodded approvingly. "Ah yes. And your brother worked with the young man who is attending the meeting today. He is also an associate of Riko-sama and Andou-sama," She said, mentioning the two who had written character references for both Teru and Kurosaki. She folded her hands serenely in front of her, "He was also part of the ministry team who saved miss Rena."

Teru wasn't about to tell this woman that she had been on that team, too. "Yes, Ma'am."

Madam Tamane took off her glasses and slowly set them in the table. "I don't normally interfere in our client's affairs, Miss Kurebayashi, but I wanted to make sure that you're fully aware of your position."

Here we go, Teru thought, reminding herself to keep her shoulders straight and to not roll her eyes. "My position, Ma'am?"

"Mr. Kurosaki is offering you a great service, Miss Kurebayashi. A charity, if you will." She nodded in approval as Teru humbly dropped her head to look at her hands. "The young ladies who utilize our services always have something to offer coming into a marriage; money, position, lineage, or even connections. You...," She paused significantly. "Your youth is an asset," she conceded. "But besides that, you have nothing to recommend you to a man in Kurosaki-sama's position." She a held a hand up when Teru looked up and opened her mouth to speak. "I'm only mentioning this to you because this meeting is not a guarantee that he will find you agreeable, despite the honor he holds towards your late brother."

"But, Kurosaki and I...", she started, but closed her mouth as Madam Tamane raised her hand once again.

"Do not," She closed her eyes as though in pain. "Be so familiar. Address him with 'sama'." She shook her head over Teru's manners. "Just follow my suggestions and you may find a way out of your deplorable condition with this arrangement."

Teru bit the inside of her cheek to stop from smiling as she thought about her 'deplorable condition'. The Tamane service obviously had no knowledge of the reason for this arrangement, or that she and Kurosaki even knew each other. She was about to tell her the truth when the lady stood up to pace while giving her a quick lecture on how a Japanese woman with nothing to offer secured a respected, well-established husband.

Apparently, she learned, men liked quiet, biddable women. That meant that she wasn't to contradict him, talk too much or interrupt him during the meeting. She was to praise his accomplishments and endeavors and steer the conversation back to him if stayed on her for too long. This, she was told, was a safety measure so as to draw attention away from her lack of experience or desirable qualities.

Teru nodded occasionally as she listened to the long list of do's and don'ts involving his work, socializing, and even family life. Mostly she tried to memorize everything so that she could share it with Kurosaki and her friends later...and grill Rena about what list she might have received. She snapped to attention as Madam Tamane abruptly stopped talking and took a seat once more.

"Do you understand, Miss Kurebayashi?" She asked as she put her glasses back on. "This is purely for your benefit, of course. Ah," she nodded as the door opened to the garden. "And here is Riko-sama."

Teru watched, bemused, as Riko and Madam Tamane greeted each other. She was glad Riko had been out of the room for the lecture. She had a feeling RIko would have listened politely then dragged her out of there on principle. As it was, she sat quietly as the two women traded compliments and discussed shared business acquaintances. The lady had just broached the subject of Riko utilizing their services when the man who had shown them in came in and bent to whisper in her ear.

"Ladies," Madam Tamane inclined her head as she stood up. "The gentlemen are here. I will show them in and make the introductions. Udea will bring refreshments in shortly after. Excuse me."

Teru and Riko bowed as she left, then turned immediately to whisper at each other as soon as the screen closed.

"DId you hear what she…".

"I have got so much to tell you…".

They stopped as their words ran together, then fell to giggling quietly.

Riko put a hand over Teru's. "Are you okay? You looked at little red when I came back in?" She looked at the screen where they could faintly hear Madam Tamane lightly lecturing Kurosaki. "Did that pompous woman say anything to upset you while I was outside."

Teru grinned. "How do you know she's pompous?"

Riko rolled her eyes. "Please. I am a psychologist, you know."

"She was fine." Teru shrugged. "She just gave me some tips for the meeting that I have to tell you about...later. Oh!" She tapped a finger on the portfolio she'd brought. "They don't seem to know that Kurosaki and I are already dating."

"Hmmm." Riko tapped her chin in thought. "If Rena's father was the one to call them, which would make sense, he may not have known. Rena may not have told him." The screen started to open and Riko waved her away in a whisper, "Just leave it alone. It shouldn't matter."

They stood up as M. Tamane came in and kneeled on the floor between both parties and bowed. "Ladies, may I present Kurosaki Tasuku and his friend, Masuda-sama."

Teru and Kurosaki's eyes locked for a moment, each thinking that the other looked amazing and their heart racing at what they were doing, before Kurosaki bowed along with Boss and repeated the traditional greeting, "Pleased to meet you. Please take care of us."

Riko and she bowed from their seats and repeated the greeting, then they all sat down at the table.

author's note: Sorry for the lack of action in this one. I needed to build some background for what happens next?