Disclaimer: Mai-Hime belongs to Sunrise. Author owns nothing.

Warning: This fanfiction contains themes that are inconvenient for those readers with innocent and untainted mind. Readers must proceed at their own risk.

CHAPTER 8

12:34PM WING B 27TH FLOOR SFV ENTERTAINTMENT RESIDENCES

The raven haired young director was beneath a shower head. Cold water was running through her naked body as it washed away her foul mood due to the earlier incident that happened in the set. Her iced-black-tea-stained t-shirt was already discarded. Her right hand instinctively travelled to her previously gashed lip and memory of the earlier rough kiss involving a certain tawny haired superstar came rushing to her.

"Soft lips…taste like jasmine…" She muttered reliving the moment as she tapped her lips with her slim pointer finger. "But kissed roughly…then, slapped me…hard." She groaned at that. "But she kissed me back, right?" She asked no one in particular before she looked up at the shower head above her and closed her eyes. Allowing the water to attacked her delicate face meaning it to wash away the slight tug that she felt in her heart upon remembering the hard slap that she received from the tawny haired superstar. Then, realizing something. "She never did a real kissing scene on screen. Why? She doesn't look like the innocent type to me. After what she did that night…" She continued musing out loud before turning her face forward and punching the tiled bathroom wall in front of her. "Aaaarrgghh! I really don't understand her! Damn it! Why do I even fuckin' care!?" she paused in her thought, punching the innocent tiled bathroom wall again. Getting agitated as confusion blurred her thoughts. "She's freakin' stubborn…but beautiful especially in that kimono. Her inviting soft creamy neck…" She continued before another realization hit her. "Shit! Shit! Shit! Get a hold of yourself, Kruger. That woman is complicated. Yeah, she's a brat. An annoying selfish brat! Not to mention a stuck up one who does not share elevator with commoners. Yeah. She's nothing but trouble." She paused. "But I like trouble. Does that mean that I like her?" She mused, her brows furrowing as she contemplated on that thought and a small frown marred her beautiful feature. "Fuck! Hell no! I don't like her. Yeah. I certainly absolutely completely undeniably definitely don't like her!" She nodded her head vigorously in agreement, convincing herself. "Okay, stop thinking about her. Think about shower. Shower. Shower." She uttered in a mantra before continuing her bath.

The raven haired young director was now clad in her black Victoria's Secret limited edition lacy lingerie. A navy blue bathrobe was secured around her. A hair blower was in her hand as she dried her wet raven mane. She was seated behind a vanity. Suddenly, she heard the sound of her phone ringing. Turning off the machine, she retrieved her personalized blue-case iPhone from her bed. She looked at the caller ID before sliding the screen to answer the call.

"Mai." She answered shortly.

"Natsuki, join me for lunch? I know you haven't eaten yet. So, please have lunch with me." the person on the other line begged like a child, earning her a chuckle from the raven haired young director.

"Fine. Fine. I'll join you. Anyway, I'm also starving. So, where to?" she asked before she remembered something. "Anywhere but at Kanzaki's, Mai. That's one hell of a long ride from here" She added.

"I know. I'm not planning on going there, Natsuki. I saw a decent mall ten minutes away from where you are. We can do some of your shopping there. I'm sure you haven't brought much clothes with you." The person on the other line replied.

"Yeah. That's a good idea." She agreed before remembering what the person on the other line said. "From where I am? Aren't you in the building, Mai?" She finished, eyebrows knitting together in confusion.

"I was Natsuki but I am on the road now . Knowing how long you take a shower, I don't want to wait for you. I know you can come here in five minutes with your mad driving so, I went ahead." The person on the other line replied, knowing full well how the raven haired director loved staying in the bathroom when preoccupied with her thoughts.

She glanced at the digital clock on the nightstand."Huh? It's 1:20PM already. How long have I been in the shower?" She spaced out then, remembering that she was still on the phone she spoke again. "Okay, I'll be there. Just send me the coordinates."

"Alright, see you, Natsuki! Drive safely, okay? Bye!" The person on the other line replied cheerfully before hanging up.

The raven haired young director was now sitting inside a restaurant corner located at the third floor of a five-storey mall. A light green zipped-up hooded jacket was covering her upper torso matched with a pair of denim jeans and a pair of navy blue Chuck Taylor's shoes. Opposite her was her orange haired manager who was wearing a light pink dress shirt with matching denim jeans and a pair of high-heeled shoes on.

Their chosen wardrobe was for them to blend in with the crowd, not wanting to attract attention. It failed miserably though in serving its ultimate purpose judging from the number of onlookers that were glancing at them every now and then. It also did not help that the orange haired manager's well-endowed chest was accentuated by her choice of clothing. Add the fact that that said manager was offering the onlookers her polite smile thus, encouraging them further. Her cheery aura and attitude were attracting more attention. Not to mention these two young women were dazzling in the real sense of the word.

"I swear if you will not stop smiling like some kind of a stupid politician there, I will leave you here and just grab some burger there." The raven haired young director spoke in a threatening manner as she thrust her right thumb to her right where a fast food restaurant was located. She pulled her jacket hood over her head, to cover herself from the curious eyes of those onlookers.

"Come on, Natsuki. I'm just being friendly. Besides they're not doing any harm. It's good to feel at home." The orange haired manager tried cheering up the now scowling director in front of her.

"At home? Oi, you've been here for like what? Three days? And you already consider Japan as your home? Just how easily can you be persuaded?" The raven haired young director asked, as she leaned her back on the backrest of the soft plushy chair.

"Unlike you who have never stepped on Japan until recently, I come here often times, Natsuki." The orange haired manager explained then, noticing the bored demeanor of the raven haired young director in front of her. "Don't slouch, Natsuki. It's bad for your posture." She finished with a disapproving mark, reprimanding the raven haired young director in the process.

"Yeah. Yeah. You come here often to see that Kanzaki guy." The raven haired young director taunted before straightening up once again. Her emerald orbs were looking at the now blushing orange haired manager.

"I don't." The orange haired manager denied as she reached for the glass of beverage laid on the table and drank its content to hide her embarrassment.

"Oh? Is that why you are lighting up like a Christmas tree there? You're putting Rudolf's red nose to shame and it's not yet even Christmas, Mai." The raven haired young director continued with her taunting, amused at the color that her manager was sporting on her face.

"Natsuki, you're mean." The orange haired manager pouted her lips childishly, earning some more attention from the other diners.

"Okay. Okay. I'll stop. Don't do that." The raven haired young director relented when she noticed that the onlookers' eyes were on her.

"Here's your order, lovely Ojousama." the waiter came with a trolley filled with food. He carefully laid all the exquisite cuisine on the table. "I hope you take delight in them." He finished before going his way.

The two dug in merrily after giving their thanks to the hardworking waiter, enjoying their food. After a few minutes the orange haired manager spoke.

"So, what do you think of Ms. Viola, Natsuki?" The orange haired manager asked out of nowhere while still poking on her food, earning her a groan from the woman in front of her.

"Snotty brat." The raven haired young director replied without even batting an eye, continuing with her food.

"What made you say that, Natsuki? I don't think she is that bad." The orange haired manager asked, a small frown was forming on her beautiful feature. She wasn't expecting such quick reply neither was she expecting such offensive remark.

"That woman does not share elevator with anyone, Mai. Everyone avoided her like a plague." The raven haired young director replied with displeasure lacing her voice, pausing from her food.

"Natsuki, you don't know?" The orange haired manager asked tentatively, her eyes were focused on the woman in front of her.

"Know what, Mai? That she's stuck up? Yeah. I completely know." The raven haired young director snorted, now completely leaving her food. Her appetite vanished into thin air with the topic they were currently discussing.

"She has a mild case of claustrophobia, Natsuki. Everyone knows that. It's a common knowledge." The orange haired manager informed the woman in front of her, her eyes were focused on the young director's face that showed surprise but immediately recovered.

"Then, why does she always wear those suffocating clothes? Besides you've seen how hard she was during this morning's taping." The raven haired young director fired back, although she felt a little guilt gnawing at her for rendering unfair pre-judgment on the tawny haired superstar.

"She is a superstar, Natsuki. You of all people must know how difficult it is to live when you are chased by paparazzi. She needs those clothes to somehow hide her identity." The orange haired manager paused, looking at the raven haired young director who looked like a scolded child who was caught red-handed while snatching a cookie from a jar. "I think you should really apologize to her for what happened earlier, Natsuki." She finished with a note of encouragement.

"Mai, I already told you. I won't apologize for doing my job. She's being hard." The raven haired young director retorted. She had her ego to protect after all.

"I guess there's no helping then. I really want you to know this from Ms. Viola herself, Natsuki. That would only mean that you have earned her trust but I need to do my job. A little tip won't hurt, right?" The orange haired manager contemplated on her thought.

"Oi, Mai. You in there?" The raven haired young director snapped her fingers to get the orange haired manager's attention. The latter seemed to be spacing out all of a sudden.

"Ah. Yes, Natsuki. Like I said you really have to apologize to Ms. Viola." She started but continued before she can be interrupted again. "Natsuki, Ms. Viola lost her parents in a plane crash accident one year ago which caused her to suffer from a chronic case of Aquaphobia. She has no immediate family member now." The orange haired manager finished. A look of concern crossed her feature when she saw emerald orbs dilated in utter shock before its owner paled visibly and was frozen in her spot.

The raven haired young director felt like a bucket of freezing ice had just been poured unto her. She went rigid as memories of the pool incident came to her mind and the earlier taping incident.

"Are you alright, Natsuki? You look pale." The orange haired manager asked when the raven haired young director seemed to stop from breathing.

"Holy shit! I think I just screwed up big time, Mai. I really mean fuckin' big time." The raven haired young director uttered in horror as she slumped on the chair and leaned her head on the headrest.

"What are you saying, Natsuki? You just have to apologize to her. I'm sure she'll understand." The orange haired manager offered, trying to sooth the now guilt-eaten raven haired young director.

"I highly doubt that, Mai. I almost freakin' killed her with my stupidity!" The raven haired young director yelled in her thought before closing her eyes to calm herself, not wanting to worry the orange haired manager in front of her any further. After five seconds, she opened them again before straightening up and looking at the woman in front of her. "Yeah. I guess I can try that. Thanks, Mai."

"No problem, Natsuki." The orange haired manager replied then, remembering something she added. "Oh! By the way, you have an interview invitation from a late night show here. It's a courtesy call and Ms. SK wants you to show up. She also requested me to make sure you come in dress and not in your usual choice of clothing." She finished, earning her a groan and a glare from the raven haired young director.

"So, that's why we're here." The raven haired director's mouth formed an 'O' realizing the real motive behind why they were in the mall. "Shopping, my ass." She rolled her eyes.

"Yeah. You got me there. Ms. SK called me this morning. Sorry 'bout that, Natsuki." The orange haired manager sheepishly said. Then, an idea popped to her mind. "I saw a Victoria's Secret outlet here. We can go there after we pick your dress." She finished, her eyes looking at the raven haired young director whose face brightened up instantly like she had just heard the greatest news of her life.

"Got you, Natsuki." The orange haired manager thought, her damage control plan was working perfectly. She knew the woman's huge fascination for lingeries but the reason behind such obsession was still unknown to her. Not that it mattered at that moment.

"Alright, I guess it can't be help. Let's go now." The raven haired young director urged the orange haired manager with new found giddiness in her voice. Her earlier foul mood vanished into thin air replaced by anticipation of being surrounded by the object of obsession.

"Hai. Hai." The orange haired manager stood up not before leaving a wad of cash on the table. Albeit more than enough for the price of the food that they ordered.