Ashes and Riches

By moonlight ray

Chapter 7

Misaki's Resolve…?

Disclaimer: Maid-sama belongs to Fujiwara Hiro, not me. But I can wish, can't I?

[A/N: Um, I have a sort of request for you guest reviewers. The majority of guest reviews I've received all use the penname "Guest". This is sort of a problem because it's all the same name, I can't really tell if the reviewer is one that's already reviewed or a whole other person. Also, it's kind of hard for me to address one of them, since there is more than one person going by the penname of "Guest". This has been brought to my attention a while ago, but now I actually want to reply to one of my guest reviews and I'm not sure I can convey the message to the correct "Guest" like this. I'm suggesting—well, more like recommending—that you either register an account or review through a more unique penname. Thank you, and please continue sending in reviews! They're very much welcomed and encouraged!]

"You want me to what?" Kanou looked puzzled, as if he hadn't quite heard her correctly.

"Hypnotize Katashi. He won't tell me anything, and this is the only way I can make him talk." Misaki repeated.

"But, uh, if he doesn't want to rehash it, shouldn't we respect that and leave him be?" Kanou knew he was treading on thin ice, so he selected his words carefully, not wanting to set her off.

"It's for the security for Seika."

"And for your own selfish reasons too?" Kanou spoke slowly, meticulously making his point.

"You didn't seem to have any trouble using your hypnotic skills on me for selfish reasons."

Kanou turned away, uncomfortable.

"I'm sorry. That didn't come out right. Please, will you help me or not?"

"Alright," Kanou agreed, still a little reluctant. "But I'm warning you, hypnotism won't solve everything."


Misaki managed to pull Katashi aside for a little talk during lunch break, although he was giving her the cold shoulder. "I'm not telling you anything." he stated firmly. [A/N: That's kinda a pun since 'Katashi' means 'firm, hard', in case you didn't know.]

"I'm not going to make you," Misaki said. He spun around to face her, surprised.

"Really?" he asked, voice laced with suspicion. If anything, Katashi had learned from his life that good things always came with a catch.

"I'm not," Misaki promised. "But he is." She stepped aside to let Kanou into the empty classroom.

Before Katashi could say anything, Kanou silently slid off his glasses, all the while holding Katashi's gaze. The blonde was frozen in a defensive stance—which Misaki suspected was, in fact, judo—with every muscle taut. Kanou spoke in a low, calm tone, lulling and hypnotic. "We are your friends." he began. "You can trust us. We want to help you."

Katashi's eyes seemed to glaze over, as he echoed, "I can trust you. You want to help."

"That's right," Kanou urged. "We're your friends. Now, tell us why you are here."

Katashi's voice was hollow as he answered, as if he was in a trance—which he was. "I was tired of the rich life. Of shallow people, who cared only of status and costly possessions. Where people judge you by what you are, not who you are. Where every person you consider a friend is just there for your convenience and every person you consider family is just there, using you for their convenience. Where everything is just one long competition, to see who can earn the most money, get the highest status, and reap the most benefits at whatever cost.

I wanted to try something new, since I thought there was much more to life that just that, so I came to Seika. I want to experience what it is like to live without servants, special privileges, and money. I want to see life through a normal person's ey—"

Kanou held up his hand, silencing Katashi. Misaki looked over to him, confused. "Why'd you stop him?"

"He's lying," Kanou didn't waver, didn't hesitate. He was certain of it. "The hypnosis has not taken affect."

"What?" Misaki's head snapped towards Katashi.

Sure enough, Katashi was smirking, the glazed eyes and hollow tone returned to normal. "Hmph, I've gotta admit, you're gifted, Spectacles-kun. Most hypnotists my father hired couldn't even tell the difference. And those idiots call themselves professionals."

"Wait, so all that you just said… it was a lie?" Misaki struggled to comprehend. It was like wandering through a maze of mirrors—just when you think you've succeeded, it turns out that it was just another illusion that you fell for… again.

"A very convincing and intricately thought-out lie," Kanou confirmed. "I take it you're one of those few who are able to resist hypnosis?"

Katashi nodded. He peered wearily at Misaki from the corner of his eye. "Why don't you just give it up already? From what I've heard, you, as Student Council President, have a lot more on your hands to worry about than employing a hypnotist to interrogate me." He rolled his eyes. "As entertaining as it was at first, it's starting to get tiring now. Save your energy. You're wasting it here." And with that, Katashi strode out of the classroom, leaving Misaki and Kanou staring after him.


The next morning, Misaki was staring at the television in disbelief. A blown-up photo of Katashi filled the whole screen, along with the headline scrolling across the bottom, "Igarashi Katashi, Presumably at Boarding School, Spotted outside Seika High". So that's what the reporters were trying to investigate… she thought.

The news feed continued, with the anchor explaining how Katashi was just recently spotted outside Seika, when his parents claimed him to be at a boarding school dedicated to training wealthy teens. A short video clip followed, obviously taken from a street camera given the low video quality, of a blonde figure entering the school among a group of other students. It wasn't a clear shot, but Misaki could tell it was him.

"We cannot confirm this rumor yet," the female anchor spoke to the camera. "But we have sent out the best of our crew to investigate. So far, there has been no further evidence, but the possibility lingers. We will keep you posted, so check back again next week."

The news channel switched to an infomercial, and Misaki turned the TV off. Stunned speechless, she dialed Sakura's number, to ask if she was seeing it too, or it Misaki was just delusional from desperation.