Twelve | Extension and Exploitation
At the Ootori mansion, the master of the palace sat in a high backed leather chair, leafing through files needed for his business trip in three days. It was mid afternoon and the sun stretched the shadows forwards to deformed shapes of monsters. Even Yoshio Ootori casted an in-human shadow of himself. He was taking his third son; who was clueless of the greatness of the opportunity for the Ootori Empire and himself.
He felt the buzz of his private phone, only given to family and the top end business tycoons of the world, him included. "Yes?" He paused as the speaker on the other end of the phone explained a slight change in plans, "Two weeks… No, it fits to my schedule fine. Sir Benedict I'll inform my son right away. Then, in two weeks. Yes, delighted."
The location is Shibuya Prefecture; Tokyo. One of the 23 wards of Tokyo, it is a central business district, tourist area and a popular place for fashionable young people to gather and leisure. It is like the New York City of Japan.
In one internet café, a group of young men met up. They took their stations at the computers, logging onto the same site; LovuMee. It was an internet chat room dating site. Their eyes goggled at the screens as they stared at beautiful women, flaunting their stuff, competing at popularity polls and talking sensually to any stranger they meet. Their goal – cash by body and dates. These young men who felt miniscule in the real world felt they had a purpose here. There was no discrimination or status, as long as they had the money. Here they had charm and humour and picked women like fruits from a stall as they placed their bids.
One man licked the drool threatening to slip on the side of his mouth, "Aah, Miko-chan is playing hard to get eh…"
"Miko-chan?" another leaned on the back of his chair to take a look. There was a girl on the screen, dressed as a Japanese priestess. On her profile, her catchphrase was, 'Let me cleanse you'. "Ah, the traditional type eh? Clever… it's like… a forbidden aura… like doing a nun…" his cheeks went rosy at the perverted thoughts.
"Dude." said the guy who started the conversation, "There's just something different about her. She's not shallow… and she cosplays!" For some reason the hypocritical thought of being shallow never occurred to these boys. He clicked to her albums, "A Arabian servant, an Egyptian queen, a medieval maid, and a lady police officer…"
"Oh, kinky." The guy turned back to his own screen and searched this Miko-chan. He clicked on 'subscribe' and began talking to her in the chat room. In the corner, her 'hits' flash player was reaching 19,000.
The Host club was in session. As Ouran was closed for the last day of October, the Host club held the Halloween Costume session early. This year, they wore the same costumes as before, for Kyouya found it important for guests to feel a sense of familiarity in the western festive season.
With help from Nekozawa; the club's walls were adorned with black netting and cobwebs. Ominous sound effects were given off by speakers at regular intervals and Hollywood rated set designs such as realistic bats, coffins and skeletons dined with the ladies.
Mei's outfit was considerably simple compared to the hosts. It was essential not to out shine them. However she still had to look acceptable as she was only a trainee. Alike to Nekozawa, she wore a black cape but kept the hood off. She found she had perfected the skill of movement in heels with a drape of fabric just waiting to trip you up whenever.
She spotted the twins sneaking up to Tamaki's tea cup while he was tending to a guest, "Hikaru… Kaoru…" she said, in a light warning tone.
They both made a 'tch' and threw the toy spider behind them which landed on Hunny's head, causing him to karate chop it to pieces.
"You know…" started Hikaru,
"At least let us get away with that…" finished Kaoru
"Since you didn't let us have the real bats and real tarantulas…" they both leaned their elbows on Mei's head, making her sink.
She shrugged them off, "Look; do you know what kind of mess that would make of everything? All the guests would be clinging on the curtains to get away from them!"
They gave a scheming grin whilst nodding. "Exactly." They acted out a twincest scene where Hikaru protected Kaoru from the creatures.
She ignored their performance, but Mei couldn't help but grin along, "It would be hilarious…" she snapped out of her daze, "BUT! Do you know how bad that would be on me?" she had an image of evil Kyouya giving her an hourly rant about the costs of importing the creatures and other details.
"Sixty bats imported from the Himalayan caves and One hundred tarantulas from the Amazonian rainforest. Tell me, Mei-san, do you understand the costs of transport and import tariffs? Oh and how thoughtful, a medical insurance team and animal caretakers are hired too, would you like me to explain how much foreign specialists are paid… and individually? My, this is a stretch in the club's budget indeed… This will be taken out of your pay and added as a debt to…"
Mei shuddered, "Do you know how terrifying it would be? Dooo youuu?" she put on a ghostly voice, waving the long sleeves of her cape at the twins as they scattered off, shivering at the thought of an angry-Kyouya.
She smiled, then took out her clipboard and seeing everything was done, she went to the store room (which had been converted into an office for Mei – the store room was big enough to be three offices). As she took a step she felt a tug on her cape behind her.
Kyouya had his foot on the cape. "Mei-san," he said, his arm in a sling, "I need to talk to you,"
"Sure…" she looked at his wrapped arm; the bandages were loosening. "Come to my office." A small laugh escaped her lungs; she always wanted to say that.
"Mei-san," began Kyouya, but pausing when he saw her take out a first aid kit.
She looked up and saw his expression of impatience, "Kyouya-senpai… you need RICE for a strain, remember?"
"Rice? My diet is full of carbonates."
"No, not that, R.I.C.E." She spelled out the word in English, "Rest, Ice, Compression, and Elevation. Your bandages and sling has loosened so we need to strengthen the compression and elevation."
His lips curled to a smile at her thoughtfulness, a certain warmth breached his cold barriers.
Her voice a know-it-all tone, she said "I am your apprentice," she mocked the customers, "Kyouya-sama."
Kyouya felt a sink in relief, as if he felt a burden of some sort. What was it? "Yes…of course." He adjusted his glasses, "Of course," he repeated like he was convincing himself, "I take nothing but exemplary."
Mei tied up the last bandage and fitted his sling. She felt Kyouya trusted her more now, and it made her happy that this senpai who she had come to fear, challenge, and respect had less stress on him. "So, what is it?" She had a feeling it was about her leaving the club. After all, her services were almost complete for the past month. There were three days left.
"My business trip has been prolonged for two weeks." Before Mei could give any reaction, he continued. He was afraid her reaction would be negative. In his mind he saw her complaining and storming out of the room. "So before you complain… you do not need to worry. Your contract remains and your services will be over." He got up slowly, heading to the door.
Mei was infuriated. She felt like she was being dumped. Oh no, she had more pride than that. She studied Kyouya's figure, his back slumped. "What is with him?"
She grabbed the sleeve of his uninjured arm and sat him back down on the chair, swivelling it to face her as she blocked the entrance. "Excuse me?"
This was a slightly different reaction than he expected. But by her demanding tone to the 'senpai' she said he was; he was slightly ticked. He kept his composure but had power in his voice. "Is there anything you're not happy with, Mei-san?"
"Yes." She went forward, her finger in a poking stance.
Kyouya backed away, thinking she was going to attack his tickle spot again. He felt a prod on his forehead, which made his neck bend back a bit.
"You're smart, Kyouya-senpai. Think." She prodded his injured arm, "This arm is immobile so you type slow, therefore your work is slow, therefore the club becomes slow, then progress is slow."
Each 'slow' felt like a bullet at Kyouya, for he always got the job done fast and he was taught to work efficiently. He grimaced.
She prodded his arm again, in which he gave her a glare to stop. "And this arm! R.I.C.E, Kyouya-senpai, so you need rest. Who's going to do the work when you're resting?" She waited for him to say 'you' but he didn't and just stared blankly at her. "I'm staying to help the club no matter what you say."
Kyouya's face remained expressionless. What did this mean? Was it an act of kindness? How did this benefit her? Did she expect pay? He lifted an eyebrow in suspicion.
Mei returned the look with a sense of determination in her eyes. There was no budging. "How about an extension of the contract, Kyouya-senpai?"
"Ah, I see." He let out an amused breath which turned into a heartfelt laugh. He remembered laughing this much the first time he met Tamaki. "What an interesting development!" His composure settled, "That's fine… and the price?"
Mei gave no reply. A smile was plastered on her face as she absorbed what just happened. Kyouya laughed! And properly! "Wow…he looked like a child…" He called her again, in which she snapped to attention. "Yes! Well… you can decide." She felt she should give the guy some slack.
"Hmm… half of the price on your contract then." He magically whipped out the contract, jotting down notes that would be printed at a later date, "So that's settled," he got up and opened the door gentlemanly as if nothing happened, "shall we join the rest?"
Mei nodded happily; glad she got her way, more or less. "Sure."
Several minutes before the Host club began; the bell ran for the end of the school day. The heirs and heiresses, and future world leaders and business tycoons exited the school gates in a rush of expensive cars.
In one sparkling, chrome limo sat Akane Hiroshima. Sitting opposite her was her personal attendant; Seiichi Wataru. Returning a folded piece of paper to her from his shirt pocket, he gave her a troubled look.
"Ojou-sama… is it necessary to bring this to the Principal?" He was an honest looking man of twenty seven, quite gullible but a hard worker whose family had always served the Hiroshima family. "I understand the importance because you said it might affect the future of the country but…"
"But?" snapped Akane in a challenging tone, "Wataru-san, Wataru-san…" she whipped the piece of paper lightly on her hand, for dramatic effect, making Seiichi cringe, "What is the definition of 'exploitation'?"
"U-um…" he took out a dictionary, "The act of employing to the greatest possible advantage …advertising or a publicity program…Utilization of another person or group for selfish purposes, for example…"
"That's fine!" she cut him short, "Employing to the greatest…Greatest, Wataru-san. Meaning the greater good. You, and me, are doing a wonderful deed to the society. Just listen and learn, we are helping people, revealing the better truth… it's good, Wataru-san."
"But, Ojou-sama…"
"Did I say listen, learn and talk? No." She brushed her hair back and crossed her leg, hitting Seiichi's in a belittling gesture, "Wataru-san… what is the first Hiroshima worker's policy?"
"The master of Hiroshima's word is all." He recited word for word.
"Nicely said. And I… am the daughter of the current Hiroshima-sama, correct?" she laughed inwardly, "Therefore… I will succeed the Hiroshima Company. So… technically speaking I am the Hiroshima master already. So listen and learn, Wataru-san." She gave a sure, convincing smile. "Exploitation is a good thing."
Awesome feed back guys :) So, improvements? You know I love them XD
Thank god for baby name sites and wikipedia... honestly I'm no good at choosing names at all so I always ask the internet XD Random info (most manga readers probably already know this) Miko is 'Priestess' in Japanese.
Question: is the plot too easy to read? Thanks :D