Disclaimer: Author owns nothing. Mai-Hime belongs to Sunrise.
CHAPTER 18
10:00PM
Natsuki was inside a studio room where her interview with a late night show host was about to begin. She was behind the cameras waiting for her cue to walk to the small set in the middle. Everyone behind them was scampering around, doing last minute checks. All the crews were clad in black with big rectangular portrait identification card hanging on their necks. Cameramen were already behind their lenses as they focused on the show.
"Hey, Mai. Can I beat him up on camera if he tries to do anything funny?" She asked without taking her emerald orbs from the black haired handsome host who was seated behind a silver arc-shaped table and smiling dazzlingly at the cameras' direction.
Installed on the set was a silver arc-shaped table. To its right was a cream plush sofa with the maximum capacity of three guests. Behind these was a view of the city lights which was obviously a painting. Sitting behind the silver arc-shaped counter was the show host who was clad in silver tuxedo with black polo underneath matched with a slim silver tie that was clipped neatly in place.
"It's a she, Natsuki and no. I don't want you to trend on social media sites for being barbaric." Mai looked at the young director who snapped her head to her.
"What are you saying, Mai?" She furrowed her brows in confusion.
"She's androgynous, Natsuki. She's a female but can dress up like a male and looks like one." Mai looked at the host with her eyes squinting in an attempt to examine the host like an x-ray machine.
"How did you even know that? Did you stalk her?" She looked at the show host in front of her, eyes blinking before turning her attention to her manager beside her.
"I don't have to, Natsuki. This is the first time that I see her. At a distance, she might look like a man but take a closer look and you'll know what I mean." Mai squinted her eyes further like she was zooming in the image.
"I am seeing a perfect model for some stupid toothpaste advertisements, Mai." She squinted her eyes in an effort to see what her manager was trying to show her but failed miserably so, she just ended up saying what was visible to her.
"Looks can be deceiving, Natsuki. We should never rely on what our eyes are showing us. Our perceptions can always be distorted with our pre-notions." Mai spoke without taking her eyes off the host who was holding a paper on her hands. "You believe her to be a man because that's what she wants you to see. Her choice of clothing helps her in achieving that." She paused as she glanced at the young director who was looking at her with confusion apparent on her face. To provide some enlightenment and to prove her points, she resumed. "Look at her hands, they're too fine and slim to belong to a man." She said before casting her gaze up the host body. "Her black polo is hiding her chest well. There's still a slight bulge on her chest area, though." Her slim eyebrow furrowed as she pursed her lips. "Her shoulders aren't too broad. I think it's the foam behind her tuxedo that is making it appear like she had a broad shoulder." Her gaze went to the host's face and she frowned before murmuring. "Her smile doesn't reach her eyes."
"Oi, Sherlock Holmes, where's Mai? What did you do to her?" Natsuki held her manager's shoulders and shook her lightly. She noticed her manager's face got somber and that was the last thing that she wanted for the night.
"I'm just trying to tell you my observations, Natsuki." Mai looked at emerald orbs.
"Sometimes the brave ones are not always those who wear their emotions on their sleeves, Mai. Wearing masks is harder. Smiling when you are breaking and laughing when your heart is crying." She smiled at her manager. "I think it's starting, Mai." She informed when she heard the show director giving the cue.
"Alright. Don't be a party pooper, Natsuki. Cooperate, okay?" Mai took a last check on the Natsuki's dress which was a midnight blue long gown with a high slit on the right leg that reached her mid thigh.
The gown was hugging the young director's lithe figure as it exposed her entire back but left her front torso covered. A ring-like silver accessory with glittering diamonds on it was strapped around her neck to fasten the gown on her. The gown's design came with a slit on her chest area, exposing some of her flesh therein but not her entire cleavage. The gown's design made it inappropriate for her to wear any bra on without ruining it. Her long slender arms were left exposed. A pair of high-heeled shoes was strapped on her feet while a pair of diamond earrings glittered on her ears. Her hair had more volume than usual as a few inches starting from its tip was curled. Her already beautiful face was enhanced with make-ups. She was wearing designers from head to toe. Well, leave it to her manager who spoke Prada like it was second nature to her.
"Can't promise you that, Mai." She smiled at her manager who gave her a disapproving look but she continued before she got an earful of lecture. "Let's get this over with."
The show director gave his cue by holding out his right hand on his side. "Everyone on standby. We're going live in three…two…one…" He finished, pointing to the late night show host who took her cue and started the show.
"Good evening, Japan! Welcome to the 'Tonight Show Starring Harada Chie'." The late night show host beamed, flashing her blinding toothy smile to the camera. "This is Harada Chie. Obviously. And tonight's episode is special. Keep those eyes of yours open folks. This is a rare opportunity for us to be graced by our guest's presence. I'm much honored to tell you that I will be the first host to interview our amazing guest for tonight." She paused, straightening up her tie. "Let's not keep the suspense hanging in the air. Our special guest for tonight is none other the Hollywood's genius director who won the recently held Oscar Awards for best director category. Ladies and gentlemen, let's welcome the dazzling lady in navy blue gown, Director N. Kruger." She announced as she stood up from her sit and walked towards the young director to escort her.
"Welcome to the show, Director NK." The late night show host said, holding out her right hand which was gladly taken.
"Thank you, Harada-san." The young director smiled at the late night show host.
"Have a seat, Director NK." The late night show ushered her to the cream colored plush sofa.
"Yes, folks. You're eyes are not deceiving you. The gorgeous young lady in front of me is the infamous Director NK of Hollywood and she is in Japan right now." The late night show host settled behind her counter again, eyes looking at the camera. "Why did you not inform me that she'll be wearing blue? I could've worn something to match her dress." She playfully glared at her crew which just earned her a round of laughter. She then turned her attention towards her guest, flashing her toothy smile. "Director NK is definitely sizzling hot tonight." She then turned her attention towards the camera, posing a challenge to her audience and to her crews. "I'll let anyone who will disagree with that to take over my show." She turned her attention to the crews behind the cameras. "So, anyone?" She asked but received no reply.
"Harada-san is a flatterer. By the way, nice wedding ring. Congratulations." The young director gestured towards the late night show host's left ring finger. A hidden smirk crossed her feature when the host in front of her stiffened before composing herself. "Got you." She added in her thought before crossing her slender creamy legs, exposing her right one to the audience.
"Ah. Y-yes. Thank you. Cough*" The late night show host got flustered, suddenly remembering that she was indeed married because she had forgotten that important fact of her life the moment she saw the young director who was hidden behind the blinding camera lights before the show had started. "I love you, baby. Sleep early. Don't wait for me." She faced the camera and winked before composing herself again.
"Whipped!" The young director thought dryly.
"Enough about me. Let's talk about you, Director NK." The late night show host recovered. "So, how do you find Japan, Director NK?" She smiled at her guest.
"I haven't seen much of it but Japanese cuisines are exquisite. They're great. I'm sure the people are as well." The young director replied casually.
"Yes, yes. You can never be wrong on that, Director NK." The late night show agreed, nodding her head before continuing. "So, what brought the infamous Hollywood award winning Director NK to Japan? Our reliable source informed us that you are working on something with our Bewitching Smile Amethyst. How true is this, Director NK?" The late night show host faced her guest.
"Yeah. I am co-directing a project with Director Zhang. I'm not telling anything about it though. It will be a surprise treat to everyone." The young director replied before smiling at the camera like she was talking to the audience. "So, just stay back and relax as we prepare our present for you."
"So, it is true that you are working on a project with Japan's pride Bewitching Smile Amethyst, Director NK?" The late night show host tried confirming.
"Yes, Harada-san." The young director replied, flashing a small smile to the host.
"How do you find our showbiz royalty and Superstar Shizuru Viola who is also known as Bewitching Smile Amethyst, Director Kruger?" The late night show host inquired but held her hand out to halt her guest from answering. "Before you answer that, let us welcome our second guest. Tonight must have been my luckiest day, folks. For our second guest is none other than our very own Bewitching Smile Amethyst, Ms. Shizuru Viola!" she announced with all the giddiness in her voice, her excitement was becoming apparent as her next guest walked towards the set.
The young director, together with the late night show host, stood to welcome the additional guest who was clad in a very revealing red dress that hugged her curves perfectly while accentuating her crimson orbs. Her back was quite conservative, exposing only a little of her flesh but her plunging neckline was doing nothing in hiding a generous amount of her creamy cleavage. The red dress flowed down slightly above her knee. Her tawny mane was done in a neat bun with a few strands left loose on both sides of her face, exposing her neck. A pair of seven-inches-high-heeled shoes was strapped on her feat.
"Welcome to the show, Viola-sama. You look stunning and amazing as usual." The late night show host escorted her second guest to the sofa before going back behind the arc-shaped counter.
"Ara, Ookini, Harada-san. You look handsome yourself, tonight." The superstar smiled at the late night show host.
"Thank you, Viola-sama." The late night show host flashed her earsplitting grin as she adjusted her tie once more for added effect although there was actually no necessity for that.
"Going back to my previous question, Director NK. How do you find our Superstar Shizuru Viola?" The late night show host flashed her charming smile to the young director.
"She's fine. Just like all the Japanese women I've met during my first few days here, Harada-san." The young director replied, glancing at the superstar who was sitting to her left before turning her attention to the late night show host.
"Oh. 'Fine' you say." The late night show host stated like she wasn't satisfied with her guest's reply. "How about now, Director NK? What can you say about Viola-sama? Don't you think she's stunning? Beautiful? Gorgeous? Mesmerizing? Enchanting? Enthralling? Fascinating? Captivating? Entrancing?" She went on giving some descriptive words which she thought will give justice to the goddess' beauty before her.
"I think she is…" The young director paused, tilting her head to the superstar who was smiling at her, before continuing. "bewitching. Yeah. That's her title, right Harada-san? Bewitching Smile Amethyst." She stated as a matter-of-factly, earning her a not so satisfied look from the superstar who immediately composed herself and went on smiling at the host instead.
"Of course, Director NK. What word to best describe our lovely Viola-sama but her title itself. Bewitching." The late night show host agreed, smiling at superstar before turning her attention to the young director. "Evasive huh. Safe showbiz answer. Let's see what our Bewitching Smile Amethyst has to say about you, Director NK." She added in her thought before turning her attention to the superstar. "Viola-sama, what can you say about Director NK here?" she gestured towards the young director who turned her head to her right to look at the superstar.
"Ara, Harada-san, I think Director Kruger is looking amazingly stunning tonight." The superstar roamed her crimson orbs over the young director and took in her entirety before continuing. "Long slender legs. Mesmerizing eyes. Tempting neck. Sexy back…" She went on in her seductive melodic voice as she assessed her co-guest but she was halted when the young director interjected.
"Ahm. I-I d-don't t-think Harada-san is asking you to describe me in details, Ms. Viola." The young director started with a stutter as a blush started to visibly creep up her neck towards her face. She was just thankful for the blush-on that her make-up artist had put on because it somehow helped in hiding her embarrassment.
"Ara, but I am just telling Harada-san what I am seeing, Director Kruger." The superstar looked at the young director before turning her attention towards the late night show host who was smiling at her with a knowing smile on her handsome face. "Don't you agree with me, Harada-san?"
"I can never disagree with you, Viola-sama. Everything you said is right on the mark." The late night show host nodded her head as she held her chin, looking at the young director who was now visibly blushing before continuing. "Keeping that dazzling beauty and gorgeous body behind cameras should be considered a crime! I mean come on, folks. Any magazine model's body will be put to shame with Director NK's amazing physique." She whined playfully before another questioned popped up her mind. "Does Director NK have someone whom she has her eyes on? Like an important person maybe?" She asked with wiggling eyebrows and a grin while looking at the still-flushed young director.
The young director willed down her blush and composed herself before answering in a quite sensual manner. "Of course, Harada-san. I have." She drawled her words, with a mischievous smile on her face.
The late night show host faced the camera with eagerness on her feature. "Did you hear that, folks? Director NK has an important person. So, keep those ears of yours attentive if you don't want to miss the juiciest news of the year and don't switch channel as she answers my next question." Her face lit up with excitement before flashing her toothy smile again and asking her next questions. "So, who's the lucky important person that Director NK has? Could it be your boyfriend or your girlfriend maybe if you prefer it that way?"
"It's actually a woman, Harada-san." The young director smiled at the now overexcited late night show host.
"Oh. I'm sorry ladies but it seems like Director NK is already taken." The late night show host looked at the camera before turning her attention back to the young director. "So, who is it Director NK? The lucky woman who holds your eyes and perhaps even your heart."
"This woman holds both my eyes and heart, Harada-san." The young director looked at the late night show host in front of her. She turned her attention towards the superstar, who was looking at her expectantly, and smiled mischievously before turning her emerald orbs to the camera. "Hey, Mom. I hope you'll see this interview. I love you and see you soon." She smiled at the camera before turning her attention to the superstar who looked liked a kicked puppy but immediately composed herself.
"Ara, Director Kruger is surely a loving daughter. How adorable of her." The superstar commented with a smile on her face, hiding her disappointment perfectly.
"Viola-sama is right, Director NK." The late night show host nodded at the superstar. "Damn! She's good." She grumbled in her thoughts, disappointed with the reply that she was given. Unrelenting, she persisted. "Of course, our mother is the most important woman in our life. I can never disagree with that, Director NK. But do you have some other important person? A boyfriend or a girlfriend maybe? Someone you have romantic relationship with." She spoke, a slim eyebrow lifting in a suggestive manner.
"I don't kiss and tell, Harada-san." The young director replied, smiling at the host.
The late night show host was about to insist again when suddenly a sound of the clock ticking was heard inside the studio room. "Oh! Save by the clock, Director NK." She announced with a hint of playful annoyance as she slammed her hands on her arc-shaped table. "That's our cue for our 'One-Minute Rush with Harada Chie' segment." She turned her attention to the camera. "Want to know more about the infamous Hollywood Director NK? Don't switch your channel, folks. We'll be right back after a short commercial break. Stay tuned!"
"Welcome back to the 'Tonight Show Starring Harada Chie', folks! Still with me tonight are our Bewitching Smile Amethyst and the infamous Hollywood movie director, Director NK, who is currently on our 'Truth Chair'." The late night show host gestured to the young director who was seated to her left.
A plush cream one-sitter sofa was placed to the left of the arc-shaped table. The young director was seated on it, facing the superstar who was still sitting on the three-sitter plush cream sofa. A flat screen was attached behind the sofa with the word 'Truth/Lie' flashing on it. Some wires were attached to her pulse points which will be calculated by the machine to show whether or not she was lying.
"Welcome to 'One-Minute Rush with Harada Chie'! As per tradition, we will be subjecting our guest to the 'Truth Chair'. Since Viola-sama had done this previously with us, she won't be doing it again tonight. We only do this during our guest's first appearance here. You missed Viola-sama's episode? Don't worry about it, folks! You can still view her episode on our official site at Tonight Show Starring Harada . Just search the #TSSHC-BewitchingSmileAmethyst. Oh! By the way tonight's episode is #TSSHC-DirectorNK as seen on the left most part of your screen. Let me know your comments and reactions for tonight's episode by using that hash tag." The late night show host looked at the camera to talk to her late night audience before turning her attention towards the young director to her left.
She held a cue card in her hand before flashing her dazzling smile at her guest. "So, here's what we will be doing, Director NK. I have some random words listed on my card and I'll be saying it out loud to you. You'll tell me the first things that come to your mind. That screen behind you will flash either 'Truth' or 'Lie' depending on your answer. We have a minute. Just tell me whenever you are ready, Director NK."
"Let's get it on, Harada-san." The young director smiled.
"Alright, let the clock start ticking on the first word that I'll be saying. Ready, Director NK?" The late night show host glanced at her cue card before looking at the young director whose emerald orbs were looking at the superstar.
Late night show host: Your first word is Japan.
The sound of clock ticking filled the studio
Director NK: geisha
Late night show host: hobby
Director NK: skydiving
Late night show host: age
Director NK: twenty one
Late night show host: baby
Director NK: Ducati bike
Late night show host: submissive or dominant
Director NK: dominant
Late night show host: color
Director NK: red
Late night show host: slow or fast
Director NK: fast
Late night show host: summer or winter
Director NK: winter
Late night show host: lights on or lights of
Director NK: lights on
Late night show host: musical instrument
Director NK: guitar
Late night show host: top or bottom
Director NK: top
Late night show host: romantic commitment
Director NK: complicated
Late night show host: inner beauty or physical beauty
Director NK: inner beauty
Late night show host: Shizuru Viola
Director NK: iced black tea
Late night show host: love
Director NK: black coffee
Late night show host: number of past romantic relationships
Director NK: I don't keep record
Late night show host: girlfriend or boyfriend
Director NK: either
Late night show host: private or public
Director NK: private
Late night show host: longest romantic relationship duration
Director NK: three years and seven months
Late night show host: pet
Director NK: Duran
Late night show host: Beautiful
Director NK: Shizuru Viola
Late night show host: tea
Director NK: traumatic
Late night show host: Name of longest past relationship
Director NK: It's…
The bell rang signaling that time was up.
"So, who was it Director NK?" The late night show host persisted, not minding the signal that the time was up. She inched her body closer to the young director whose emerald orbs were still glued to the superstar's face.
"I think time is up, Harada-san. That's your cue, right?" The young director turned her head to the late night show host before flashing her smile.
"Oh! Now, I think we should change this segment to Two-Minute Rush with Harada Chie." The late night host grumbled before straightening up again. "So, that was it, folks. Now, let's find out Director NK's honesty level. Honesty Meter, show us the summary of Director NK's answers. Exclude the last question." She finished.
The set floor split open and a small black box came into view. The box projected a hologram which showed all the words given by the host with the corresponding answers.
"Checking answers… Verifying pulse rate changes… Calculating honesty level…" A monotone static voice announced as figures and random letters were flashed on the hologram like squabbles. "Honesty level: Exceptional. 22 out of 22 questions were answered with honesty. Congratulations!" The static voice finished before the figure of the young director was flashed on the hologram. Confetti's were raining down on her.
"Wow! You're the second guest to have that 'Exceptional' honesty level, Director NK. Congratulations!" The late night show host beamed at the young director before another question came to her mind. "How did you do that?"
"Well, I just convinced myself that I was telling the truth even if I am not. Simple trick to stabilize my heartbeats and to put your lie detector to no use. But I can't tell you that now, can I?" The young director answered in her mind before composing herself again and relaxing her heartbeat, knowing that the lie detector machine was still attached to her. "I just answered with honesty, Harada-san."
"Oh. You have the same reason with the first person to have that honesty level." The late night show host commented.
"Who's the first one, if you don't mind me asking, Harada-san?" The young director asked, her curious slim brows arching up.
"Well, it's none other the showbiz royalty sitting in front of you. Our Bewitching Smile Amethyst, Ms. Shizuru Viola!" The late night show host announced with pride as she flashed her blinding toothy smile to the superstar whose crimson orbs were looking at the young director. A smile was plastered on the woman's lips.
"Oh. I see." The young director's mouth formed an 'O' before adding in her thoughts. "Either she is a freakin' honest holy saint or she just knows the trick. Whichever it is, at least she knows how to get-away with this kind of clever interview set-up."
"Time for a commercial break, Chie." A voice was heard on the earpiece attached to the late night show host's right ear. She turned her attention to the camera and flashed her toothy smile. "Alright, folks! Our 'One-Minute Rush with Harada Chie' segment ends there. Our exciting 'I Dare You' segment will be coming up next. Uh. Uh. Don't dare switch your channel, folks. Find out what our guests for tonight will be dared to do. We'll be right back after the short commercial break. Stay tuned!"