Countdown in Business
Chapter 9
They came. They saw. They conquer?
Suddenly Mai wondered in what way Natsuki knows Fujino-san. "By the way Natsuki do you know who this is?" She said while motioning to Shizuru.
"Huh? Yeah that's Shizuru. Why? Don't you know her?" Natsuki responded.
"Natsuki, do you know her last name?" Mai said with a worried look.
"It's Fujino right?"
"Yes it is." Frowning Mai said and repeated. "It's Fujino."
"So?"
"It's FU-JI-NO!"
Fujino… Humm…. That her last name right? Fujino, sounds kind of familiar. Fujino. Hmmm… Red eyes… That guy at the party… Fujino. Business…. FUJINO! THAT FUJINO!?
Natsuki thought and spoke her thoughts.
"FUJINO?! THAT FUJINO?!"
Mai slaps her hand against her forehead. She looks up at Natsuki through her fingers and sighs.
"Yes Natsuki, this is Fujino Shizuru of the Fujino Corporations. Did you just notice this now?"
The poor once clueless raven hair girl couldn't believe what she was hearing. The girl that she had somewhat befriended, now that she'd admit it, was one of her enemies. No, she wouldn't, at least until she confirms it herself, she decided while Shizuru was watching all this unfold.
Ara? Did she not know since the beginning? I do remember telling her my full name… But…. Natsuki is so cute when she's confused!
However, not long after that worry sneaked into her mind.
What if Natsuki acts differently because she now knows? Or worse… SHE'LL ACT LIKE THE FANGIRLS! Ara, I cannot let that happen! However, I wonder what Natsuki's and Tokiha-san's relationship really is… It didn't seem like they were just singing partners….
Shizuru snapped herself out of her thoughts and decided to take things into her own hands.
"Ara, is there something wrong with that? I thought Natsuki already knew what my last name was?"
Natsuki stared at the student council president straight in the eyes and asked.
"Shizuru, are you the daughter of Kamatari Fujino?"
"Yes, I am."
The raven hair girl was to say surprised is an understatement. Her jaws dropped and her emerald green eyes never left the ruby red ones, that is until Shizuru did what she always did.
"Ara, I don't mind Natsuki staring so intently at me but she should not drool."
As one would expect, Natsuki turned tomato red and as if on instinct she used the sleeves of shirt to wipe away the drool that was supposed to be there. Realization hit her, there wasn't anything there and she had just been fooled.
"I do not drool! And I wasn't staring!" Natsuki exclaimed.
"Is Natsuki implying that she does not wish to even look at me because I'm not even worth looking at? I didn't realize that Natsuki thought of me like that!" Shizuru faked sobbed into her hands which of course cause the raven hair biker to panic.
"What?! NO! That's not what I meant! Ahrr!!"
Seeing that she had overdid it a bit Shizuru reverted back to her polite smile and ever graceful pose.
"Ara, if that is so, then I forgive Natsuki. By the way why was Natsuki so surprised a moment ago?"
"Ughh… Anyone would be??" Natsuki lied, hoping that Shizuru would believe her.
"Ara, if Natsuki says so. Does Natsuki have any other questions she wishes to ask? I would be glad to answer them for her."
"Well… Yeah…" Natsuki hesitated. Should I ask her? What if she gets suspicious?
Oh well… It can't hurt to ask a few questions because it'll be even more so if I don't ask any at all.
"Hmm… Hey, since you and Mai are here is anyone else?"
"Since Natsuki did not notice, there are other students and teachers here as well and…" Shizuru said before Mai interrupted her.
"I'm sorry for interrupting, Fujino-san, but I think Natsuki means other business associated students or staff."
"Ara! She should have just said so!"
"But I did!" Natstuki grumbled.
Ignoring Natsuki's little comment Shizuru continued.
"Well let's see… I am Fujino Shizuru from the Fujino Corporations… and there's Mai Tokiha-san from…"
She said but was once again someone, being Natsuki, interjected a comment.
"Oh, you can just skip Tokiha, she's not important." The raven hair girl jested.
"HEY!" Mai pouted.
The student council president giggled at Mai's and Natsuki's childish two-bits.
"Natsuki it is not nice to say that but setting Tokiha-san aside, there's also Nagi Homura and Takeda Masashi. There are many others as well but I'm assuming Natsuki means the top five corporations correct?"
Natsuki nodded.
"Well if we count Tokiha-san, Humura-san, and Takeda-san, and I that makes four of the five companies, as for the Kruger family's daughter, I'm afraid to say I don't think she goes here."
Shizuru ended with a smile while Natsuki nervously laughed along with Mai.
"Haha… Uhhh… Thanks, that was…. Interesting…."
Natsuki thanked Shizuru while just thinking how wrong Shizuru was when she said that Hirohito Kruger's daughter wasn't here, not knowing that Natsuki was indeed the one she was speaking about.
After their little conversation they continued with their lunch peacefully aside for the occasional teasing from the student council president, blushing bright red from the biker, and poor little confused Mai. As dense as Natsuki was she could tell, from knowing Mai so long, that Mai wanted an explanation and she wanted one now however she just couldn't ask with Shizuru there and Natsuki wanting her identity to be kept a secret. Unfortunately, for Mai and perhaps fortunate for Natsuki, Shizuru was the student council president and took that as an excuse to skip class and follow Natsuki along the rest of the day.
The day was ending and Natsuki's last class was about to begin when all of a sudden the door to the classroom slammed open, revealing Nao in all her glory, if there was any that is.
"Hey Pup!" Nao exclaimed.
Natsuki was surprised by Nao's sudden outburst but considered it was better than class. "Yo spider. What's up?"
"You'll never believe what-!!" Nao began but was caught by Midori.
"Now, Nao-chan class is beginning! So for justice and love I shall begin the lesson!" She said and threw Nao out directing her to her classroom.
"Midori! Let me go! I don't have time for this! The pup needs to know!" The red head tried, but Midori wasn't listening, probably due to her overdose of alcohol.
Class ended after Nao's intrusion and the long and boring history lesson Midori gave about the emperors and what kind of wine they drank.
Ring!
Ring!
Ring!
The bell signaled the end of the school day but that was not what the students were rushing out of school for. Everyone in Natsuki's class, except Mai and herself, ran out of the doorway like there was gold on the outside or something.
"What's up with them?"
Natsuki questioned the only other person awake in the classroom, Mai.
Mai was just as confused as she was.
"I don't know but I think this is the perfect time to talk about…"
The raven hair girl wasn't paying attention to Mai, not on purpose of course, but she was too shocked to actually. Mai noticed this and shook Natsuki.
"Hey! Natsuki, are you listening?!"
"Mai…. Look… Look outside!"
Natsuki said while pointing out the window.
Mai frowned thinking that Natsuki was just trying to avoid answering her but she did look. What she saw was just as a surprise to her as it was to Natsuki.
Many cars or black limos coated with gold and silver lining, to be more accurate, surrounded that school, parking in front of the gates. Shuffling off the cars behind them were dozens men in black suits and ties with guns and sunglasses, the usual bodyguard types. Out of the limos four figures got out. Natsuki couldn't believe it. Everything was happening too fast. First her dad tells her she had to get married soon and makes her go her, everything that happened in the school and now this. She didn't know how much more she could take.
In order to prevent her secret from leaking out she ran, with Mai in tow, out to her locker and put on her tennis shoes. Considering that there was no back doors and only one exist, the front door in clear view from the gate, Natsuki had to make a choice, either to hid inside the school and hope that nothing would happened or take a chance and run for it. Regrettably, she was one of the four figures that got out of the car so whatever choice Natsuki chose it would end badly, but the raven hair biker choose. Staying inside the school would only help them corner her so she prayed to god and dashed outside. With the crowd around the four one would think that they would not see Natsuki but they did.
"Tsuki-chan!! It's been sooooo sooooo long!!"
One of the figures exclaimed when she sighted Natsuki.
Natsuki was like a mouse that was being cornered she ran as fast as her little legs could carry her with Mai in tow but that was not fast enough. She was caught. Her whole body tensed up not knowing what to anticipate but as they moment drew near when she had to face her horror but fortunately it didn't come, yet due to the help of one of the other figures that existed the car.
"Now, Lu-san I don't think Natsuki-chan likes being chased around and getting bone crushing hugs the moment she sees you."
The young dark black hair man said in an ever calm and gentle voice yet with enough control for Anh Lu to back off.
"Mou! Reito, you're making it sound like I'm going to kill her or something! I would never do that now would I, Tuski-chan?!" The blond hair girl, Anh Lu said.
Now Natsuki was officially caught and had no choice but to stay.
"Thanks Reito and Anh of course I don't think you would do that…"
Anh exclaimed.
"I knew that Tsuki-chan wou-!"
She was cut off by a sigh from Natsuki.
"If let, you'd do something worst, and Reito just Natsuki, no chan got that?"
Reito offered a charming smile.
"Anything for you, Natsuki."
"By the way why are you h-"
Before she could finish Natsuki was tackled down to the floor.
"Mikoto! Get off me!"
Natsuki said despite the fact that she was under the cat-like girl.
"Yup! Natsuki is the same!"
Mikoto replied and got off.
Too bad for Natsuki but that wasn't the last of her problems, behind Mikoto was a lady in a nun like dress and had white and gray hair.
"Natsuki-san, get up that is undignified for a person of your standards."
The old lady said.
As if lightning struck her Natsuki jumped right up.
"Yes, Ms. Maria!"
"Now, we need to talk about some things, let us be on our way."
Ms. Maria said.
This is only the beginning for Natsuki and her 'luck'. Soon after hearing about the reason of her 'friends' visit, the fun will begin as the fight for the bride officially starts.