"I'm sorry, you'll need to leave your cell phones with me. Hahaue is still paranoid enough that outside phones aren't allowed into the top secret Board meetings." Stiletto, the dark skinned, slight guard of said person winked and held out his hand and waited, his face genial, his pose unyielding.
Since all three had been more than invited, they didn't have much choice but to hand them over. Stiletto also politely asked to go through the ladies handbags. Going through Isuzu's was a polite courtesy for the excuse to more sternly go through Melissa's. Everyone stayed politely ignorant of it.
Once Stiletto was satisfied, he quietly opened the door to the conference room a crack, checked on the room, then opened it far enough Isuzu, William, and Melissa could enter. They stayed silent, as the meeting was in progress. They were waved by Gareth, standing on the wall at the foot of the table, to sit in chairs along the wall by the door.
Isaac was standing at his chair at the heavy rectangular dark wood conference table that was wide enough to seat two at the head and two at the foot. Purrcy and Shiroe were both seated at the head of the table. That wasn't too unusual. They were the King and Queen to Log Horizon.
Purrcy was speaking now. "Very well, Isaac. Thank you for the update. We'll excuse you now. I'd like to hear back as soon as possible from your own meeting with the Development group as to what they think can be done. We'll need to know right away if we need to modify the product or have Marielle modify the expectations of the press and our customers."
Isaac gave a perfunctory bow. "Yes, ma'am." He turned from the table for the door. As he passed Isuzu and William, he smiled and mouthed a hello. They smiled back.
When the door was closed behind him, there was a little bit of summary business finished up, then they were being gestured to by Gareth to stand at the foot of the conference table. They were far too concerned to sit, and not members of the Board besides.
Melissa stood behind her employer, but where she could be seen by the heads of Log Horizon. She was quite used to board meetings, but Isuzu thought she was particularly nervous to be at this one, it not being one she was used to, and her only experience so far that one phone conversation with Purrcy.
Purrcy was quite obviously not Japanese, nor were any of the three guards - Stiletto, Gareth, and the burly Michael standing behind Shiroe and Purrcy. They were all three from the United States.
Isuzu wondered if perhaps she should have warned Melissa a little better about what they would be walking into, then decided that if Melissa hadn't done at least that much homework already after dealing with them since she'd started working for Isuzu, she wasn't worth what she was getting paid. It was just Isuzu's own nervousness, really, that made her think such things, for all it was her own guild.
"Mr. President," Purrcy said to Shiroe as the three walked to their positions, "Miss Isuzu has requested time before us today, if you'll allow it?"
"Of course. We're glad to have you today, Isuzu," Shiroe was pleasant, but Isuzu knew it was his neutral face.
Isuzu bowed, the others bowing with her. "Thank you for fitting us into your schedule." When she was upright again, she swallowed and tried to remember everyone in the room did care for her, even if they needed to help her fix her errors.
"I wished to let my guild family know that two nights ago, after my concert and our dinner, I spoke with William to accept his proposal of marriage. Yesterday afternoon we went to my grandparents, and in the evening his parents, to inform them and receive their blessings. We're relieved and glad to be able to tell you now as well."
Shiroe smiled at them kindly, as did most at the table, but it was still reserved, more reserved than Isuzu would have wished for but it was all she could ask for now. "Congratulations Isuzu, William. We will hope for many blessings for the both of you." Shiroe paused, then looked at William. "When did you actually propose?" The emphasis was slight.
"After the World Tree dungeon, when Isuzu came up to visit the last time," William answered honestly, while giving nothing away. He also was well trained to answering to boards and people in high places, not to mention he wasn't particularly afraid of either of the heads of Log Horizon, being equal to Shiroe in status in Yamato, save for one slight differential that didn't matter on Earth.
"Very good," Shiroe seemed particularly satisfied with that answer. "What can we do for you from here?"
Isuzu took a quiet deep breath, and clasped her hands in front of her. She bowed again, an apologetic bow. "I'm sorry to bring troubles on Log Horizon in not going about such an acceptance with wisdom. We spoke with Hahaue yesterday and she advised us in yesterday's actions, and required we attend today's Board meeting so that further discussion could take place with everyone."
Isuzu summarized the problems that had happened and what had come out of the meeting, what had happened when they left William's apartment in detail so everyone would know what was said to someone outside of the parties in question, and gave the summary of what they'd actually done while talking to her grandparents and then at William's parent's house. She decided to include her surprise to learn who William's family was, since he hadn't told her. Then she very carefully repeated what Mr. Suzuki had said they would be allowed to do by their family's requirements.
She repeated again what the concerns were for the music industry and for the future of her career, although it was almost more to let everyone know she already knew she'd messed up in not considering it properly before, as much as it was because it was the restrictions they needed to work around and through. When she was done with everything she could think of, she stopped talking and waited.
Finally Shiroe folded his fingers together in front of him, his elbows still resting casually on the arms of his lightly upholstered chair. "Miss Isuzu, thank you very much for the personal invitation of Log Horizon to your final concert of the tour two nights ago. We enjoyed it quite immensely. Your progress in your chosen field has continued to advance admirably."
His eyes sharpened just a little. "We were particularly grateful to be gifted a personal song for your encore, and pleased to hear you still consider us family to you. Tell me, has that song been placed under copyright yet, or is it already under negotiations to be purchased?"
"Ah...no. That was my first performance of it on Earth."
An eyebrow went up. "It was written before you were under contract?"
"Yes. I wrote it after I left Susukino after the World Tree, wanting to express how it had felt to be a human among the elves of Faldil."
Shiroe turned a slight smile on Purrcy, who leaned forward, her eyes taking a turn to bore into Isuzu. Isuzu wasn't sure where this was going and felt more confused than anything else. "Miss Isuzu," she was almost purring! "Because you offered the song to us as a gift, we would like to accept that offer and request that you sign a contract with us giving us exclusive rights to own and use it in our upcoming product update.
"Specifically, we would have Miss Henrietta draw up the contract before you leave today stating that you will have to our Technology Department the digital master of the acoustic version within four weeks and the fully supported song within eight, although we'd much prefer six weeks from now."
Isuzu's mouth dropped open. While under normal circumstances, she would be willing, she needed to recover, not work harder. It was a bit more than she could handle right at that moment. "I-I'm not sure I can find supporting band members within that time, since I'll still need to write their parts. I've only done the acoustic so far."
Purrcy shook her head. "We're already under pressure to get the update released properly. I can't relent on the timing." As Isuzu's panic climbed, Purrcy's eyes went to the person behind Isuzu.
"You have someone who can help you in finding the band members you'll need, don't you? And it surely doesn't have to be a full-on band, merely sufficient to fill out the sound properly. You have four years of experience doing that now, I would think."
Isuzu was trembling now. It was true, she could cut corners, but she'd never have the time to interview, audition, find the time to write the parts, practice her own part, practice with everyone else, then find a recording studio that wouldn't charge more than she could pay - since she wouldn't be allowed to use her label's professionals. Her head spun.
William shifted and Purrcy gave him a slight nod. William stepped a little closer to Isuzu and put his hand on her arm. The touch helped a little. "I've been given vacation until Monday to be with Isuzu. If she could be allowed at least that long to recover from her touring just finished?
"I'm sure she'll need something to occupy her beginning Monday regardless. Working on only one song that she's already begun will be far less strenuous than having to immediately begin her entirely new album, and will prevent her from becoming lost to the depression that the reduced activity brings every artist coming off of tour."
Isuzu had to let that digest, since he'd both supported her, and told her she had to do it anyway, which her fiery spirit wanted to be angry at. William wasn't done. He turned to Melissa. "Ms. Melissa, is your contract with Isuzu an exclusive one?"
"Only during touring season. During seasons such as she's decided to begin this time, I'm allowed to take on other clients, as long as they aren't about to begin a touring season in the near future, or if it will be a single season set of local tours."
"So you're already planning on interviewing and holding auditions in the near future?" Melissa indicated she was. "So, of those in this coming week, likely you could find a few, perhaps ones you've had in the past even, that might be convinced to join in for a single song? Any decent artist can learn a new song well enough for a sound booth production within a couple of weeks." He said it dismissively and Melissa agreed to it easily. Isuzu suddenly found herself relaxing, almost in surprise.
"Didn't you use a studio when you were in self-production at the beginning?" William asked Isuzu.
"I did, but I'm not sure their quality is sufficient."
"I have a few studios I could recommend," Melissa offered. Isuzu nodded mutely, accepting that help as well.
"Very well," Purrcy said, pleased. "It sounds like it would be possible, then."
Shiroe pushed up his glasses. "Miss Isuzu, what are your plans for after your touring is done?"
Isuzu carefully said, "To continue to write songs and perform them for the secondary entertainment industry. That being, selling songs to creators of movies, anime, video games and the like."
Shiroe nodded. "I appreciate this opportunity to see if we might be able to work with you when you reach that point in your career. If that song is received well by our customers, and you find it pleasing enough to work with us, we would be interested in considering signing you on exclusively. It would help us if we could have one source of music that understood our preferences, and that we could call on in such a way."
Isuzu slowly stiffened. Melissa stiffened more quickly, understanding faster what Shiroe had just offered. Exclusive contract meant she would have guaranteed employment and income during the years that were usually feast and famine. Almost purring now himself, Shiroe asked, "And just when were you planning on submitting your marriage papers?"
Isuzu swallowed with difficulty. "That's what we've come to you today to determine, however...," she left it open, feeling rather helpless.
"What do you need, Isuzu-chan?" Purrcy asked gently.
Isuzu looked at her, feeling rather lost and still very overwhelmed. She almost couldn't bring up the energy to suppress her tears and she knew her eyes were glistening. "I need to rest, Hahaue. I waited too long, and I need my healer. That is William. I can only hope that one weekend will be sufficient." Her fingers twisted together. Not sure she should say it, she whispered, "I don't know if it will be." She had to look down and away from Purrcy's compassion or she would drip tears.
"And William, what do you need?"
Isuzu glanced at him from the corner of her eye. He stood firmly to face Purrcy and Shiroe. "I need my wife, to know that she is ready to face walking forward again. My personal preference would be to have the marriage papers signed and registered today to protect my family and her reputation."
"Isuzu?" Purrcy asked gently again. Isuzu nodded, still not able to look up.
Purrcy shifted back in her chair. "Ms. Melissa. What do you need?"
Melissa shifted in surprise, then considered the question when the room faced her with the same soberness as before, and waited to hear what she had to say. Finally with a sigh, she said, "A vacation." It was said with the lilt of one who didn't expect to ever receive it.
"Very well, that is the easiest to grant," Purrcy said immediately. "You will not return to the label today, instead you will 'lose your phone', sneak out of town, and spend the rest of the weekend until Monday at your uncle's cabin and rest on the beach. That way, when you return on Monday, you'll be able to face their board calmly and with your own resolution, and they will have had that same time to sweat and worry about exactly what was talked about in this board meeting."
Isuzu looked up in surprise again, and then at Melissa until Melissa went to a small smile. Isuzu blinked.
Purrcy continued, "You will tell them, in brief honest summary, what we've talked about to this point, but not beyond. I'm sure you already understand that letting them fill in their own details will get what you and your client want faster than handing them details that will harm your contract." Melissa bowed her head.
Purrcy turned to Shiroe, then spoke to William. "William, I don't know if you're aware, but there were two laws passed within the last two years here, and most of the world over, regarding Adventurers who've returned to Earth. One of them is in regards to marriages on Theldesia. If you were to write, and both of you sign, a letter stating that you wish to register your marriage effective roughly around the time you were discharged from the hospital, the office will allow for backdating the registration to that date."
Isuzu's eyes were as wide as William's. She wasn't sure how that was going to help her, and she had technically only just accepted now.
Shiroe's eyes went to Melissa as he said, "The second law makes it illegal to discriminate against a person who was stolen away to Theldesia. I'm sure you understand that actual practice isn't the same as the law in discrimination cases. However, if they backdate their registration, you'll be able to use both to capture the label into the requirement to at least go along with us and the Suzuki's in keeping their marriage a secret until we can come to a mutually agreeable public wedding date.
"If they still will be obstinate, then I do have a back-up plan." Shiroe leaned forward, his eyes focused on Melissa, a rather daunting thing since his eyes were sharp to begin with. He waited to hear if Melissa wanted to know it now or later.
She hesitated, then nodded. "I think I'd like to hear it now so I know what my options will be."
Shiroe glanced at Isuzu, then said, "I think I will summarize it and we can discuss it later if it becomes necessary. Do you know of other young artists who, like Isuzu, come from families that were harmed by the way the music and entertainment industry abuses artists?"
"Of course," Melissa answered quietly. Being one herself, and already fighting alongside Isuzu, she certainly did.
"I would recommend that those you bring to help Isuzu in the next two months come from that pool of talent, so that they can begin now to form an understanding and friendship. If after the full year's worth of time that Isuzu is working on her new album you can't find any label to take her because they will look at her marriage as a harm rather than a neutral benefit, then begin to form a small rebellion.
"We will sponsor a portion of an indi tour, expecting you to gain the remaining funds from adults who are or were in the same situation. Hopefully you can get three large names to openly support it as well. Use that as the opportunity to bring to the country's attention the ills of the system.
"Isuzu already has enough fan base they'll go to that one more concert, and many others out of sympathy for the cause. You can then continue to champion the cause quietly from the background while she works for us on exclusive contract, excluding what she creates for that same cause."
Isuzu wanted to cry all over again. Shiroe had just handed her the way to fulfill her most secret dream. "I would fund that from my father's fund, and put his name as one of the sponsors," she said almost without thinking about it, since she'd already decided that long ago. "And I would do it now."
Both Purrcy and Shiroe shook their heads at her, making William's tension disappear almost as soon as it started. "You are marrying into a house of the industry. They'll overlook a brief protest of an unjust situation - being shut out of your own career because you married on Theldesia before having the chance to even try here.
"If you openly rebel, they'll have to refuse you. You need to decide which goal is more important to you. The slow pressure on the system I've recommended brings better, longer lasting results than brief shouts in the streets that can be swept under the rug six months later."
And then Isuzu understood why Shiroe wanted her to say she'd accepted William before. If the label had already hired her, a married woman, and publicized her, and then wouldn't suddenly, only because they'd suddenly discovered that marriage, it could be used as a weapon against them in more than one way. To say she'd only agreed just now would flaunt in their face that she would be obstinate and do things her own way, leaving her no legs to stand on.
It was common to drop someone if they discovered a hidden marriage, but in this case they were back-filing, and there was an anti-discrimination law in effect they could call on if they needed to. Isuzu relaxed. There was a way to do it, although they would still have to see what her label would do once they had all the information in hand.
"Ms. Melissa," Purrcy's voice gave a stern warning. "When they ask you about the marriage, you will only say you cannot confirm nor deny it. They will do their own research. Don't get involved in that part. If they wish to bring it to us directly, they may. We've already been fighting that fight, and would gladly use them as our example case. As far as they and you are concerned you were only here for the initial negotiation."
"Yes, ma'am!" Melissa was instantly obedient.
Purrcy looked at Shiroe, who looked at Akatsuki. "Is there more to today's meeting?" he asked.
Akatsuki looked at the notes in front of her. "Action items from the most recent discussion are that Henrietta will write up the contract for the single from Isuzu, to be signed as soon as it's ready. William will write up the letter stating they request a back-filing on the marriage and both Isuzu and William will sign it."
Akatsuki looked up at the couple. "The registration requires you to present your birth certificates, photocopies made, and the package to be notarized if they are mailed in. I have Isuzu's birth certificate here. Do you have your's William?"
William took the simple manila folder he'd been carrying all morning and handed it down the table to Akatsuki. She opened it and gave one of her small smiles. She looked up at Shiroe. "Shall we end the meeting with a marriage?"
Shiroe smiled back. "Certainly. I think that sounds like a good idea."
Akatsuki clicked the back of her black pen and began writing on the blank form in front of her. She copied carefully from William's birth certificate, then pulled Isuzu's from another folder and copied from that. She pulled another form from her own folder, filled that one out briefly and signed it. Then she pulled a stamp out from her pocket and notarized the copy of Isuzu's birth certificate.
Akatsuki looked up. "If you two will come and sign, and chose your witnesses, then I'll go photocopy and notarize William's birth certificate. We'll only need the letter to enclose with the other documents."
William's hand was taking Isuzu's and they were walking around the table. Isuzu was still trying to catch up. It wasn't until the pen was in her hand and she was looking at the blank line that needed her signature that it all flooded in. She froze, then sought for her parents.
Both Purrcy and Shiroe smiled happy smiles at her and nodded their encouragement. It would be okay. She could have both her husband and her career. With tears of happiness streaming down her face, Isuzu signed on the line and backed away from the paper to not drip on it too badly.
William's arm came around her shoulder and she wrapped her arm tightly around his waist, holding onto the anchor as everything tried to overwhelm her all at once again. "Who do you want as your witness, Isuzu?" Akatsuki asked.
"Hahaue." Akatsuki nodded and passed the pen and document over.
"I get to put my kanji on another wedding document!" Purrcy said happily, although she put her English name on it, too. Isuzu had to laugh at her. She did get so childishly delighted, and it helped Isuzu's happy come out as well.
"William?" Akatsuki asked.
"Shiroe-sempai, if you're willing," William requested respectfully.
"I would be glad to," Shiroe slid the paper from in front of Purrcy to in front of him and she passed the pen over. When Shiroe had signed it and was passing them back to Akatsuki, he gave a teasing smile to William. "After all, if we both have signed it as the witnesses, I think mouths will shut a lot faster on the other side of the table."
William's smile was quite satisfied, as was the smug look on Melissa's face. Isuzu was just too happy to have it happen at all, that she couldn't care about that just yet.
Shiroe turned to the back of the room again. "Gareth, we'll have you hand deliver it to Crusty so he can enjoy a better board meeting than the one he had to sit in on. You can then make sure, from a distance, that it actually arrives where it's supposed to - without interception."
Gareth gave a firm nod. William went a little pale. "Um, does Crusty really need to hear all the details?"
Shiroe pierced him with his eyes. "Yes. He's my parent company."
"Oh, right." William slumped. "Very well, then."
Isuzu felt a little depressed again. She'd also forgotten that in getting Log Horizon into trouble, they'd also brought potential troubles on Crusty's family's companies ...and they were a large company. That wouldn't have been good at all.
"I think that's all," Akatsuki said, looking up from her notes.
"Um, if the label agrees to keep silent and continue with their contract with Mrs. Isuzu, what shall I tell them if they ask about a wedding?" Melissa spoke up and asked.
"Postponed," Shiroe said shortly.
William nodded. "Log Horizon and the infamous postponed weddings."
Smiles went around the room. Marielle suddenly perked up. "Then..., that means we get to start planning it right now! That's great!"
"It will likely have the longest running planning time, too," Isuzu said a little dryly. "If I can keep my career plans afloat as long as I want."
Marielle shrugged. "That's okay. It's also going to be the biggest and most publicized one." She looked very happy about that.
Isuzu groaned slightly. William groaned loudly. "We'll leave it in your capable hands, Guildmistress Marielle," he bowed and dropped it completely in her lap. The said guildmistress didn't even blink an eye, and the rest were also just as content to let her run with it.
"We'll meet later, maybe next week then, Isuzu, okay?" Marielle said cheerfully.
"Yes, ma'am," Isuzu answered obediently, relieved Marielle would at least ask for her opinions. She also wouldn't have a brain to consider it ...maybe ever.
"We'll have the meeting adjourn, then," Purrcy said. "Ms. Melissa, Isuzu, William, Tetorō, Michael, and I will be meeting in here next."
As people rose to return to their offices, congratulations were passed around, including a happy big brother hug from Naotsugu. Isuzu was glad to get the hugs to bolster her for what had just happened and the more to come. She was already ready to hide in the quiet with William.
As Shiroe passed through the conference room door, he said to Stiletto, "We'll have you escort Ms. Melissa to her car and out of the building when it's time for her to go."
They heard a, "Yessir," as the door closed behind the last person to leave.
Purrcy motioned to the three guests-by-requirement to sit at the table this time. Michael had moved to sit next to her, although not in Shiroe's seat, which was left empty. "Tetorō."
A large pile of photos was pulled out and spread out on the table. Isuzu, William, and even Melissa stared at them in growing despair and horror. Not only was it more than the three Melissa had shown them the afternoon before, but it was many more, and many from their trip to their families' homes. Some were from Melissa's home, indicating they'd followed her as well after she'd dropped off the two young adults.
"They will be watching all four houses, and now this building, constantly for about six months," Tetorō said heartlessly. "Once they think they've memorized the basic patterns, they'll back off a little, but your statement at the concert and these actions have made both of you the hot topic and that doesn't die down for at least six months, if not twelve."
"They've already questioned every neighbor, your mother and grandmother's local grocer, the newspaper boy, the dog down the street, and the local gossip, asking for everything from what you ate as a child, to what horrible thing you did to them in grade school, to what crazy and illegal things you've been up to in the last two to three years. And most of what they hear, they'll blow out of proportion and word in the worst way." Michael was no less harsh.
Purrcy took her turn. "Once we've told you how much you really need to worry about, how much of your patterns to change or not change - and mostly it's not change - and how to disguise yourselves so you can sneak away from them, we will give you your wedding present. We'll teach you how to stay happily married regardless of the lies they throw at you. We've had plenty of practice now with that one."
She looked at them with some sympathy, then. "Then you can rest and recover here where you're protected to some degree. First, though, we need to know. When your father left you two alone in the living room, to test you, how much time passed from when their bedroom light went on to when the living room light went off and two more bedroom lights were turned on?"
Isuzu paled and William wasn't much better. "Less than five minutes. Likely three. I was already about to fail that test, so decided I'd better retreat quite hastily."
"Good." Their instructors relaxed. "At night, that is what they are looking for as their evidence their made up story is right. And that is the kind of information they will sell to the competition of your parents and their companies. Please use this example to remember just how important the little details are."
William and Isuzu both nodded enthusiastically. Isuzu hadn't even realized it was a test. She was very glad William had.
Tetorō pulled out a laptop and opened it up. "I thought we'd start with a video of what mistakes people typically do that lead to horrible things ending up in the press. I got rather upset one day and decided a training video to combat the paparazzi would be a very useful thing to have."
He rather glared at them. "I would have shown it to you before, if we'd known, you know. Isuzu, you could have used it long ago. We've made Melissa protect you until we could get you in here."
Isuzu felt very small by the time the scolding lessons were over, but she felt much more able to cope into the future. Melissa thanked Log Horizon profusely as she left the conference room. They understood now why Shiroe had ordered Stiletto to escort her to her car, and they understood why Gareth had been ordered to watch the sensitive documents to their destination, and they knew that only in Log Horizon's walls would they be safe - as long as an interior apartment was set aside as William's.
He signed up for one with Henrietta while Isuzu tried to read the song contract and signed it. Then it was on to Akatsuki's office to hand over the required letter to her and get his birth certificate back from her and their copy of the marriage registration. Then the two newlyweds were allowed to escape to Isuzu's room. Isuzu collapsed onto her bed. "I don't think I can move, think, and barely breathe. That was too much."
William sat down on the bed next to her and ran a hand over her head. "You did very well. I think you'll do just fine facing my extended family, actually. They're not likely to be scolding us."
"We can hope our lessons just past are things we can properly hold to," Isuzu agreed fervently. She held her arms out for William. "Can you forgive me if I just have to nap for about three hours as my next agenda item?"
William leaned over and took her in his arms. "Of course. I don't mind watching you - awake or asleep." It was a light tease. The next thing wasn't. "And you haven't been to the doctor's office yet."
Isuzu's eyes flew open wide. That was just one too many things. As the sobs wouldn't stay down, William froze. "Ah, sorry," he said gently. "Shall we add condoms to the shopping list as the temporary solution, then?" Isuzu nodded, unable to speak.
She fell asleep rather quickly then, not really having the energy to cry that much either. It was enough to know he was going to be with her, watching over her: a thing she'd been grateful for from the moment he'd come rushing to greet her on her very first entry into Susukino.
-:-:-:-:-
William learned very quickly that Tetorō was the person to ask to buy condoms for him. He followed the internal warning voice that first day that said he should ask someone before just walking out the door to meet Isuzu's requirement. Tetorō had to give out the subtle hints to his family he might be interested in women. William had to hide from the public he was married.
Isuzu did make it to the doctor eventually - the ladies of Log Horizon making her fit it into her schedule along with all the other wedding arrangements that did go on for a very long time. He was grateful there were married women to support them in their new learning experiences of being married.
In the press lessons, William had been told he had two choices. Keep his apartment and let the press learn his patterns, and then figure out how to have Isuzu visit in disguise, using strategy to keep the press guessing. Or he could move into the apartment in Log Horizon Systems with his name on it. He wanted the former if at all possible. It was an excellent location and he'd gotten a very good price on it.
There was one thing he had to do as a test before he could decide. The press had certainly talked to his landlord and the apartment manager. He talked to the manager and honestly told him that the paparazzi were going to be hounding him. It was a breath-holding moment to see if he would be an ally or if he would demand that William move. William had never caused trouble and he was able to win the manager well enough, relievingly.
It turned out that the former option became very difficult. Isuzu really needed one location from which to focus, and having to hide her entry and leaving was as difficult emotionally as it was practically. She wasn't a cat to lock up in an apartment all the time, either.
William talked it out with his landlord, then Isuzu's landlord (Henrietta and by extension Shiroe). He became one of the young nobility of Japan with two apartments. He moved his computer equipment, some clothing, and his futon to the apartment in Log Horizon Systems, and really moved in with Isuzu in her apartment.
The rest of his belongings he left in his first apartment and when Isuzu needed to breathe somewhere other than in her home, he took her - in the daylight - to that apartment. And they left rather obviously in the daytime as well on the same day, to make the point they were "just friends" to the neighbors.
When Isuzu was let go by the label three-quarters of the year later because they'd found a replacement for her on their books, William immediately moved her and his things back into his first apartment and they could finally relax. Log Horizon and to a smaller degree the Suzuki's, let out the long standing marriage and Isuzu and Melissa began the campaign to find any entertainment label that would support young married entertainers who still had many years of production and potential in them.
Log Horizon also took the label to court, but that was a side issue that lasted about three years, and ended in punitive damages paid that were only about a tenth of what the actual damages were. Still, it was a won case and Log Horizon took it as a win for them to build on later in their continual efforts in behalf of all Adventurers.
One year after her album was completed, Isuzu ended the last concert of the Abuse of Entertainer's Awareness Indi Tour. They'd gotten a lot of funding from entertainers, and those who worked with and for them in the entertainment industry, that were small enough to not have their names so publicly displayed. They'd also found two past big names to put up as sponsors, and Isuzu's father's name added the third name they needed.
Having Log Horizon as a smaller underwritten name gave them the cross-over advertising and support they needed. When her next new album was exclusively the soundtrack to their released update to the game, and the pilot songs for the new game that was scheduled to come out another year later, they picked up twenty percent more gamers, thirty percent if they included the ones who tried the one month free trial of the game and then quit.
Isuzu's albums did well, and proceeds of both went to fund the organization that Melissa headed and the two of them had founded. Mostly the funds went for psychological counseling for abused artists, or for their surviving spouses and children if they committed suicide before they could be properly helped. The rest went for awareness programs.
Eventually Isuzu and Melissa had enough funding to also pay for certain legal cases against the companies who overstepped the bounds of reasonable employee-employer relationships. They kept that to extreme cases because it was more confrontational, but it also kept the companies paying attention so they might back off on some of the worst of the abuse.
Eventually, Melissa found a politician to champion their cause in the parliament. Then they were doing a lot of letter writing to encourage their patrons to write letters to their local politicians so that he could get his proposed legal changes through parliament. That was pushing molasses through a straw, but slow progress was better than having the issue ignored altogether.
Their formal wedding followed shortly after the benefit tour ended. Isuzu had her and William's son a year later. They were able to raise him together. Eventually the realities of life wore down William's resolve, and life isn't perfect for any couple anyway.
Whenever the stress between William and Isuzu would get higher than they could resolve on their own, Purrcy would call and invite them to dinner. Then she would make them tell her and Michael what that difficulty was and they'd have marriage relationship lessons on the couch.
It finally happened one day after William had been president of his father's company for about a year, his father having passed it on to him. Between work, extended family obligations, the son's school obligations, Isuzu's schedule, and everything else, when Purrcy called to invite them to dinner (actually one that wasn't going to be a scolding/lecture dinner), William refused to go, saying from his office that he was too busy and would be home very late that night.
Isuzu went, wanting to see her family. She hadn't wanted to say anything, really hadn't fully understood how much the stress of her husband was affecting her, but she broke down in tears before they even got all of the food on the table.
Purrcy's eyes narrowed. Michael reached out a hand to stop her, but she was already too far gone. "You will go and get him now. Take them all and drag him here. He also has to learn what the rest of my sons have had to learn to properly balance work and real life. We will not let this go on or he will lose his gift and his promise will kill him. Go!"
Michael bowed to the face of his angry wife and fetched his assistant guards. A black company car with four men in it pulled up outside William's company building shortly after. The company employees weren't sure they were going to ever see him living again, having the mafia show up suddenly, drag their president out of his office, carry him into that car, and disappear into the night.
Isuzu never did know exactly what scolding William got. Purrcy kept it private, but William was silently drawn for at least a full day after it, and he never told Purrcy 'no' ever again. Log Horizon privately agreed William had received the worst scolding of Hahaue ever.
Purrcy didn't let that little family out of Log Horizon Systems until they'd all properly learned how to be. They had to attend family dinners once per week after they were finally allowed to return to their own home until Purrcy and Michael both were satisfied they'd properly be effective at both home and work. (They were fine at one or the other, it was the combination that was hard.)
When William was getting ready to pass his company on to his son, later in the son's training years, he fell ill and was admitted to the hospital. He did what he could to coach his son over the phone. Isuzu stayed by his side, and kept him company.
As he became progressively weaker and weaker, his body unable to fight off his cancer, she sorrowed more and more until one day she sadly asked him one of her first questions. "William, how do I watch you leave me?"
William reached for her hand - the left one - and held it. "Isuzu, you remember that you will be coming to me, like always. I go first to prepare our home. I will wait for you to come to me. Please always remember that whenever or wherever you are, I will always be waiting for you to come home to me." He tugged weakly on her until she leaned over to give him the kiss he wanted and needed. "Never forget it," he begged.
"I won't," she promised, tears in her eyes.
She remembered his and Touya's words again when she left William's funeral. She wondered if William had understood a thing like Touya seemed to. Was Log Horizon - and maybe others of the Adventurers, too - destined to return to Theldesia again, regardless of what they'd wanted when they left?
It made her change her mind just a little. If William also had to return to Theldesia, and he was there waiting for her to come home to him, then maybe ...maybe it would be okay if Log Horizon didn't have a choice. It was her only hope in her lonely final years. She'd requested to not return and it broke her heart to think of William waiting there alone forever.
When Isuzu's doctor told her she had to have surgery or die within three months, she refused the surgery, told the doctor he wasn't allowed to tell her family, and moved in with her son to watch over his children so he and his wife didn't have to pay for child care. She enjoyed loving her family for the time remaining she had, never once complaining of pain or weakness. Her son cried terribly when he heard what her cause of death had been and that it had been treatable, but there was nothing he could do. Eventually he had to admit that given the opportunity, his mother would want to be with his father.
Minori stood at Isuzu's grave crying. She was the last remaining member of Log Horizon on the planet and she was so lonely for all of them, particularly for her brother. She moved in with one of her daughters, convincing her husband they should, and never really recovered. He sadly let her go when she closed her eyes for the last time. He was with his daughter and her family for comfort in his grief and for them to continue to see to his care.
The era of the Adventurers of Earth and Theldesia, and those who had championed their cause, had come to a close. The world felt a little bit emptier for it.