Disclaimer: Author owns nothing. Mai-Hime belongs to Sunrise.
CHAPTER 20
JAPAN: DAY 32, 7:23AM
The superstar came out from her shower room. A velvet red bathrobe was wrapped around her lingerie clad body. Her tawny mane was still slightly dripping. A towel of the same shade of red with her bathrobe was held in her hand as she started drying her wet tawny mane. She was seated on her vanity when her personalized violet-cased iPhone suddenly rang. She retrieved her iPhone which was lying on the vanity counter and checked the caller ID. The name 'Director Kruger' flashed on the screen. The caller ID was courtesy of the caller's doing.
"Ara, I think I should change this soon. 'My Director' will be more fitting." The superstar frowned at the caller ID, not liking the registered name, before answering it. "Good morning, Natsuki."
"M-morning, Shizuru. You up already?" The person on the other line asked, seemingly startled, after a split second of delay.
"Ara, yes, Natsuki." The superstar answered as she continued drying her hair with the towel on her left hand as she faced her reflection on the vanity mirror.
"I'm outside your unit now. Can I come in?" The person on the other line asked unsurely.
"Ara, Natsuki is such a gentleman." The superstar commented, a smile graced her lips when she heard a groan on the other line of the phone. She sauntered out of her bedroom and carried the towel with her.
"Whatever. So, can I come in?" The person on the other line asked again.
"Ara, is Natsuki trying to do something indecent to me early in the morning? Why is Natsuki persistent on coming inside my unit?" The superstar inquired, trying to buy some times as she traversed the hallway and passed by the curvy swimming pool.
"Oi, Shizuru!" The person on the other line barked, earning her a giggle from the superstar.
"Ara, Natsuki has the access key to my unit. Why is she not using it?" The superstar asked, she was nearing the entrance of her unit.
"Well, unlike some well-mannered brat that I know, I fortunately know what privacy means." The person on the other line replied with sarcasm apparent on her voice.
"Ara, Natsuki thinks that I am well-mannered. I am glad. Ookini Natsuki." The superstar replied, giggling.
"Oi, I said you're a brat, Shizuru." The person on the other line barked before groaning. "Aarrggh! Forget it, woman. I'm going back now. Bye." She gave up before hanging up.
The entrance to the superstar's unit slid open and revealed a young director who was standing directly in front of it. Her personalized blue-cased iPhone still held in her right hand. She was clad in her navy blue bathrobe but her raven mane was dried up.
The superstar threw the red towel around the young director's neck before pulling the latter inside her unit. The young director immediately chucked in her iPhone to the lone pocket on her bathrobe before she was completely pulled inside.
"Ara, I thought Natsuki wishes to see me. Why is she going back?" The superstar asked as she stared at emerald orbs.
The young director wrapped her arms around the superstar's bathrobe clad body and pulled the latter closer to her before capturing her lips in a passionate kiss.
"Good morning, Shizuru." The young director whispered on the dazed superstar's face that was inches away from her.
"Ara,a pleasurable morning to you, too Natsuki." The superstar purred hotly on the young director's face.
The raven haired director scooped the superstar in her arms and carried her bridal style as she walked down the area that led to the bedroom. She captured the superstar's lips once again as the latter wrapped her arms around her neck. The towel and iPhone still held in her hands. She put down the superstar when they reached a pool recliner chair, breaking the kiss in the process. She grabbed the towel and iPhone on the superstar hand before throwing them on the pool recliner chair. The towel being the first one to be thrown followed by the iPhone that perfectly landed on the towel.
"Ara, so, Natsuki came here to do something indecent to me?" The superstar stared back at emerald orbs in front of her as she felt her robe being tugged and untied by the young director's hands.
"Do you trust me, Shizuru?" The young director asked as she slid the bathrobe off the superstar's shoulders, revealing her purple lacy lingerie beneath.
The young director shamelessly roamed her emerald orbs over the superstar's body as she started discarding her own navy blue bathrobe and let it fall down and pooled beneath her. She was left with her navy blue swimsuit on.
"Ara, yes. I trust Natsuki." The superstar wrapped her arms around the young director's neck as she looked on those enchanting emerald orbs.
The young director swept the superstar off her feet again. She looked at the superstar in her arms before asking. "Do you entrust your life to me, Shizuru?" she asked as she started going down the curvy pool's stairs. Just one more step and they will be totally submerged in pool water.
"Yes, Natsuki." The tawny haired replied as she focused on the young director's face.
"Good." The young director said before totally submerging their bodies in the pool water.
"Natsuki." The superstar panicked as she held tighter on the young director's neck and buried her head on the latter's shoulder. Her heart started pounding rapidly as she started to panic. She can feel cold sweat coming out of her body anytime soon.
"I've got you, Shizuru. I'm not letting you drown again." The young director soothed the superstar in her arms as the water level rose above her waist. "Tell me, Shizuru. Did you know how to swim before?" she asked as she kept striding towards the deeper part of the pool. Her emerald orbs were focused on the superstar in her arms.
"Yes, before the accident." The superstar replied as she kept holding on to the young director for her dear life. Her heart started to beat faster than normal like it wanted to come out of its confinement any minute.
"You never swim after that, Shizuru?" The young director asked again, halting in her step when she was satisfied with the depth that they were in which was below her chest level.
"I don't want to." The superstar shook her head as she kept clinging on to the young director. Her head was still buried on the latter's shoulder, not wanting to see where she was. She felt herself being submerged in pool water.
"I'm putting you down now, Shizuru." The young director announced before gently releasing the superstar from her hold.
"Please don't." The superstar panicked as she wrapped her arms around the young director's neck but she was too late for the young director had already released her.
The young director tilted the superstar's body so that the latter will be facing the vast view of the curvy pool. "Let go, Shizuru." The young director instructed as she started prying the superstar's arms off her neck.
"No, please." The superstar begged as she clung and tightened her hold around the young director's neck.
"Shizuru, look at me." The young director urged the superstar as she held the latter's waist and started putting distance between their bodies. "If you really trust me, you will let go and look at me. Come on, Shizuru." she encouraged the superstar.
"I-I…" The superstar whispered as she finally untangled her arms from the young director's neck and stared back at the young director's face.
"You're safe with me, Shizuru." The young director reassured the superstar before holding the latter's head in her hands and diving in for a slow gentle kiss. When the superstar was distracted, she broke the kiss and held the superstar's right hand as she started treading backwards. The water level was rising to her shoulder as she kept walking. "Come, Shizuru."
"I can't." The superstar froze on her spot.
"You can, Shizuru. You still know how to swim. Come on. Take a step to me." The young director looked at crimson orbs as she encouraged their owner before continuing. Her husky voice was soft and gentle like she was talking to a four-year old child. "Tell me, what do you know about buoyancy, Shizuru?"
"I-It s-says human b-beings will a-always float o-on or n-near the top of the water due to the b-bone and b-body de-density." The superstar stuttered as fear crept to her heart.
"And that my brilliant Shizuru will not sink and her body will naturally rise to the top of the water, am I right?" The young director further encouraged the superstar as she nodded at her.
"Y-yes." The superstar uttered as she took a step forward after she mustered her confidence. Her right hand was holding on to the young director's left hand.
"That's my brave Shizuru. Now, take another step closer, Shizuru. I'm not moving anywhere. I'm staying here." The young director said as she kept looking at the superstar's face. "Don't be afraid Shizuru, it's just water. I'm here. I'm not letting go of your hand."
"But it's getting deeper." The superstar frowned as she glanced at the water level that had reached her chest area.
"Does my Shizuru know about self preservation instinct which is genetically inherent in humans?" The young director asked at crimson orbs which seemed to flash an understanding of what she was talking.
"I-it's like a guardian angel that protects us from dangers." The superstar replied with a little bit of confusion plastered on her face, not knowing what the young director was trying to say.
"Have you seen babies thrown to pools but did not drown, Shizuru?" The young director asked again.
"Yes." The superstar whispered as she tightened her hold on the young director, afraid that the latter might let go of her hands.
"That's because babies have diving reflex that prevents them from breathing underwater, Shizuru." The young director explained. "But my baby knew how to swim, right?" She paused as she looked at the superstar who nodded at her. "And she won't sink because humans are naturally born floaters plus I've got her hand and I'm not letting go of her. Now take one step forward, Shizuru."
"But…" The superstar uttered as she took another step forward, her crimson orbs were focused on the smiling young director.
"Just one more step, Shizuru. Remember, you knew how to swim. My brave Shizuru still knows how to swim. I'm here and I'm not letting anything bad to happen to my brave Shizuru." The young director cooed like she was talking to child. "Take another step forward, Shizuru."
The superstar took another step before latching her arms around the young director's neck again. "Natsuki…"
"See, Shizuru? You made it. You are still safe." The young director cooed as she wrapped her arms around the superstar and secured her. "Open your eyes and look at the water around you, Shizuru." she urged, knowing that the superstar will more likely than not seal her eyes closed. "Are you looking at it now, Shizuru? Don't lie to me. I can tell when you are lying."
The superstar opened her eyes and her hold tightened around the young director's neck. "Yes, Natsuki."
"It can't harm you, Shizuru. You know how to swim. You were not afraid of water. You still are and will never be afraid of it." The young director cooed before she retrieved her arms from the superstar's body and let them stay on her sides. "Show me that you are not afraid of it, Shizuru. Release your hold on me."
The superstar hesitantly retrieved her arms and faced the young director who was smiling at her lovingly. "Natsuki…"
The young director placed her right hand over the superstar's left chest, right above her heart. She felt the superstar's heartbeat which was still beating fast but not too rapid like it used to be the moment she brought the superstar inside the swimming pool. "Follow my instruction, Shizuru. Breath in." She inhaled some air to show the superstar who did the same. "Now, breath out." she exhaled the air that she took in. "Breath in." She inhaled some air again. "Breath out." She exhaled the air again. "Take a deep breath, Shizuru." She took another lungful of air. "Now, release it slowly." she released the air slowly. "Good." She said when the superstar's heart beat went back to normal. "Now, look at the water around you again."
The superstar roamed her crimson orbs at the pool water surrounding them. Her heart was relatively calmed. A ghost smile graced her lips when she did not feel the extreme fear that she used to feel when her crimson orbs caught a sight of any body of water. Her fear was still there but it was relatively at minimal level.
"Good." The young director praised the superstar as she lowered down her right hand from the latter's chest area. "Always remember to stay calm and relax when you are in the water, Shizuru. Panicking will not help you. Do you know how long an average person in a totally relaxed state can stay under water without breathing, Shizuru?" She asked the superstar whose brows were furrowed in contemplation.
"It's approximately one hundred sixty to one hundred eighty plus seconds. If my memory serves me right, Natsuki." The superstar answered as she remembered her swimming teacher's lesson when she was seven years old.
"Do you think you can do that, Shizuru?" The young director asked the superstar who immediately shook her head in disagreement. She held the superstar's neck with her hands before speaking. "Do you trust me not to drown you, Shizuru?"
"Yes, Natsuki." The superstar replied as she leaned in to the touch.
The young director glanced at her wristwatch on her left hand before speaking. "We're going down the water, Shizuru. I want you to keep your eyes open for as long as you can. Now, take a deep breath. Inhale." She ordered as she took a lungful of air before slowly guiding the superstar down the pool water. She kept her hold on the superstar's neck as the latter hold on to her wrists. Her emerald orbs were focused on crimson ones.
"Beautiful." The young director thought when she saw the superstar's tawny mane floated around her. She started caressing gently the superstar's cheeks before nodding at her to assure her that she was safe.
"Natsuki." The superstar thought as her blinking crimson orbs focused on the young director's face which was surrounded by her raven mane.
The young director glanced at her wristwatch when the superstar started releasing the air that she held in the form of bubbles. "It's been eleven seconds. Not bad." She thought as she pulled the superstar's head towards her and gave her own air to her. Emerald orbs stared at the surprised crimson orbs which owner did not anticipate the gesture.
What was supposed to be just an act to prolong the superstar stay underwater turned into a heated kiss as the superstar kissed back with vigor. Her mind suddenly lost track of their current situation. Her fear had dissipated into thin air. The only thing her mind can think of was the emerald orbs that were staring at her and its owner's hands that went down and wrapped around her body instead to secure her and assure her of her safety. The superstar's arms were wrapped around the young director's neck as she pulled the latter's body closed to her. They broke the heated kiss after a few more seconds and the young director decided to emerge from the pool water.
"That's a total of twenty seconds." The young director announced breathlessly after glancing at her wristwatch. She looked at the superstar in front of her who was trying to catch her breath. "Not bad, Shizuru."
"Ookini, Natsuki." The superstar replied as she kept gasping for much needed oxygen.
"We'll have a five-minute break then, we'll start with floating. Do you think you can do that, Shizuru?" The young director asked as she looked at the superstar in front of her. She started guiding the superstar back to the pool stairs which was composed of four flights of curve stairs installed inside the pool.
"Ara, yes. I can do anything with Natsuki beside me." The superstar smiled at the young director, her breathing returning to its normal pace.
"You can always do anything even without me, Shizuru." The young director commented. They were finally outside the swimming pool.
"Ara, I was able to get in the water because I know Natsuki will not let me drown. Natsuki is a kindhearted beautiful woman. I trust her." The superstar looked at the young director who was picking up her navy blue bathrobe from the floor.
"You praised me too much, Shizuru." The young director looked down at the superstar who was settled on the pool recliner to her left.
The superstar was about to speak but was interrupted by the sound of a mobile phone ringing.
The young director fished out the iPhone from her bathrobe pocket and checked the caller before answering it.
"Natsuki! Good morning!" The person on the other line greeted with enthusiasm and high spirit.
"Mai, will you tone it down. You're killing my ears." The young director held out the phone from her left ear before returning it back.
"I have great news for you! Guess what it is, Natsuki." The person on the other line spoke with overexcitement on her voice.
"What? You won million dollars in a lottery? Is that why you're so hyper early in the morning?" The young director rolled her eyes before her face hardened and spoke through gritted teeth as she remembered her manager had went on a date with a certain restaurant owner man. "Don't tell me you let that guy get in your pants, Mai. That guy looks anything but good news, Mai."
"Natsuki! What are you talking about!?" The person on the other line shrieked before composing herself. "Reito-san is just a good friend of mine. He's a gentleman, Natsuki. Even if I will seduce him, I don't think that will work." She spoke with her voice losing its energy.
"Oi, Ms. Tokiha! Don't you dare do that. I swear to hell that I will kill him if he dares disrespect you in any manner, Mai." The young director threatened before she remembered how the person on the other line's energy had dropped drastically when she delivered her last sentence. "Listen, Mai. You're beautiful, okay? I mean it. You're amazing in and out. Sometimes I think you're too kind for your own good. Don't go on throwing yourself like that. Any guy who will ignore you is a freakin gay. That's a hundred percent guaranteed. I can bet my Ducati bike on that." She finished, nodding like the person on the other line was in front of her while completely forgetting the presence of the superstar to her left who was now arching a slim eyebrow.
"Oh. Does this mean that you have a thing for me, Natsuki? I can just marry you. It will save us both the trouble." The person on the other line spoke playfully.
"I can marry you anytime and anywhere you want, Mai. I'm sure Mom will be in cloud nine with the news. But when we're already married, I'll make sure that you won't get a single glimpse of that guy's face nor will I ever let you step on Japan land again. You'll be with me twenty-four hours a day and seven days a week just like how you want it to be." The young director smirked when she heard some sputtering on the other line.
"Natsuki! You just wasted my tea!" The person on the other line exclaimed before coughing and speaking again. "Anyway, I called to tell you that I found a good place where you can do your suicidal hobby of skydiving. I'll make the reservations now if you want. I'll have it on your free day this week. So, do you want to go, Natsuki?" She went on telling her agendum before their conversation can go somewhere else again.
"Hell, yes, Mai! I haven't done anything exhilarating lately. I thought I might die of boredom soon. You're the best, Mai. What will I do without you?" The young director spoke with all the giddiness in her voice like she just received the best news of her life. Well, she really did.
"Stop exaggerating things, Natsuki. I'm sure you'll do just fine without me." The person on the other line said, dismissing the young director's overt gratefulness.
"I'm just saying, Mai. Thanks." The young director smiled like the person on the other line will see it.
"You're welcome. Okay, I'll make the reservations now, Natsuki."The person on the other line announced before speaking again when she remembered something. "By the way, are you in your unit now? I'll send you some breakfast. I am currently busy so, I can't cook for you."
"No, I'm in Shizuru's unit now. Doing a little swimming lesson." The young director said before turning her emerald orbs to the superstar who was now glaring at her. "Eh? Why is she suddenly looking at me like she was mad or something?" She mused in her mind as her emerald orbs blinked at the enraged superstar.
"Natsuki, don't tell me you are talking to me with Ms. Viola near you." The person on the other line said, dreading the answer that she will be receiving.
"Yeah. She's actually standing near me now and she looks like…" The young director trailed off as a towel was smacked on her face. "Ow!" she yelped before grabbing the retreating superstar's left hand with her free right hand, halting the latter from moving away.
"Mad." The person on the other line finished as a sound of dejected sigh was heard on the other line of the phone.
"Yeah. I think she's mad at me now, Mai." The young director said as her emerald orbs looked at glaring crimson ones.
"Natsuki, you're really hopeless. You might have given her the wrong idea when you talked about marrying me." The person on the other line tried to give some enlightenment, knowing how the young director can be a little insensitive sometimes when caught up in her expression of her overtly protective nature.
"Oh. I see. Thanks, Mai." The young director said as she kept her hold on the superstar's left wrist.
"I'll just send over your breakfast, Natsuki. I'm hanging up, now. Good luck, Natsuki." The person on the other line spoke before the line went dead.
The young director threw her phone on top of her discarded bathrobe before glancing at her wristwatch. "Three more minutes." She added in her thought.
"Hey." The young director looked at the superstar who was trying to free herself from the former's hold.
"Let go of me." The superstar said as she tugged her wrist towards her.
"Later but now? Nope. Not a chance." The young director said as she pulled the superstar towards her and wrapped her left arm around the latter's waist. She inched her face closer to the superstar's face, smiling at the glaring crimson orbs. "Ready for you next lesson?"
"No. Let go of me." The superstar commanded coldly.
The young director jumped into the pool, carrying the superstar with her. She started letting go of the superstar's body but the latter held on to her neck for dear life when they emerged from the water. The young director chuckled when the superstar was looking at anything but her. The latter's head was turned away from her. She kept wadding her feet to keep them afloat.
"Ara, what does Director Kruger find funny?" The superstar said as she lightly pounded on the young director's left shoulder without looking at her.
"You, Shizuru. You're cute when you're jealous." The young director let out a chuckle as she held the superstar's waists.
"Ara, isn't Natsuki getting ahead of herself to think that I am jealous?" The superstar said without looking at the young director.
"Oh. So you don't mind if I will marry Mai?" The young director asked, a slim eyebrow was rising to the superstar who snapped her head towards her.
"Natsuki is mine." The superstar declared with finality before embracing the young director possessively. Her arms were wrapped around the latter's neck. "I'm not cute. I am bewitching." she murmured earning her a hearty laughter from the young director.
"Now someone's being vain." The young director commented as she wrapped her arms around the superstar's waists instead.
"Ara, but Natsuki said so herself during our interview with Harada-san. Did Natsuki lie then?" The superstar murmured again.
"Yes, Shizuru. I lied." The young director stated like she was just talking about the weather.
"Ara, Natsuki is mean." The superstar pouted as she loosened her hold on the young director's neck and looked at the latter's face instead.
"Because if I am to describe Shizuru-Ojousama it will be 'without wax'." The young director smiled before kissing the superstar's nose tip.
"Ara, Natsuki is a flatterer." The superstar said as a blush crept to her cheeks.
"Oh. So, Shizuru-Ojousama knows what it means?" The young director looked at the blushing superstar in her arms.
"Ara, yes, Natsuki. It means pure." The superstar said as her melodic voice faded to inaudible volume. "Digital Fortress written by Dan Brown." She added in her thoughts.
"So, Shizuru-Ojousama has already finished her book." The young director stated as a matter-of-factly, having seen the title of the book that the superstar used to read. "Does this mean that I'm relieved of my duty of having to pry the book off of you every morning?"
"Ara, if I remember correctly. I still have a collection of unread books with me, Natsuki." The superstar said with mirth in her voice, earning her a groan from the young director.
"Shizuru, I am your movie director and not some annoying babysitter." The young director said with a hint of exasperation in her voice. "Read your book at night, Shizuru. Not first thing in the morning when we have scheduled taping."
"Ara, I don't find Natsuki annoying in any manner." The superstar retorted but continued when she was faced with a roll of the eyes. "I am too tired to read at night, Natsuki. I prefer doing my reading in the morning because that is the time of the day when my brain is active. Would Natsuki prefer it if I come to the shooting venue with heavy eye bags on for staying late at night reading?"
"Nerdy bookworm woman." The young director muttered, not having anything to say. She continued when the superstar was about to open her mouth. "Don't go on lecturing me about the benefits of reading, woman. I had an earful of them." She paused before getting serious again. "Let's start with your floating lesson. You ready?"
"Ara, yes, Natsuki." The superstar nodded her head.
"Alright. Let's make you relaxed first. I want you to be calmed. You can do that right? Just inhale then, exhale. Repeat that until you are relaxed." The young director released the superstar and started distancing herself from the latter while still holding both the latter's hands.
The superstar did what was instructed to her.
"Remember when we dove in? We were eventually pushed up and lifted from the pool water, right?" The young director asked as she wadded to a shallow part of the pool. She stopped when she reached the area where the pool water only reached up to her chest level.
"Yes." The superstar agreed. Her focus was once again on the young director's face that never ceased to entrance her.
"Now, stay still and let your legs float." The young director instructed which was followed without protest by the superstar.
"You're doing great, Shizuru. Hold your breath and try to float your entire body as I released your hands. Let them float beside you." The young director instructed before releasing the superstar's right hand. "The water is shallow and you will not drown. Just keep relaxed and let your body float." She finished before completely letting go of the superstar's hand. She went beside the superstar to prevent her from floating to deeper part of the pool.
"Wow! She's a fast learner. Is she a freakin' mermaid?" The young director blinked her eyes looking at her wristwatch. "It's been forty-two seconds. Don't tell me…" She thought dreading the implication of the superstar's behavior.
"Shizuru, you can stop floating now." The young director said as she went closer. "Shizuru?" She called once again. "Shit! She's not answering." She scooped the superstar who seemed to have passed out. "You should have stopped when you can't go on!" She barked at the unconscious superstar in her arms as she hastily laid her on the pool side and pried the superstar's mouth for resuscitation. She immediately blew air into the unconscious woman's mouth before applying pressure below the said woman's chest area. "Come on, Shizuru. Breath." She said before prying open the superstar's mouth and blowing air into it.
She was surprised when the superstar kissed back as the supposedly unconscious woman wrapped her left hand around her head and pulled her raven mane closer for a passionate kiss. Relief washing over her, the young director kissed back as she started hovering above the superstar's body. Their lower limbs were intertwined as her hand started kneading the superstar's bra-clad chest, earning her a moan as the latter arched her body forward. Her bodily desire getting the better of her, she started nipping on the superstar's neck and sucking the flesh therein, making the superstar turned her head to her right to give the young director more access. Her mouth travelled to the superstar's inviting collarbones and started sucking on it and showering it with wet kisses before something hit her."Shit! What am I doing? I am here to help her not to take advantage of her! Damn it! Get your head together, Kruger!" She cursed in her thought when things started getting out of hand. She halted in her assault and looked down at crimson orbs that were swirling with a lot of questions.
"Why did Natsuki stop? Did she find me uninteresting and lacking in any way?" The superstar asked in her hurt voice as she looked up at the young director.
"No, Shizuru. You're not. Don't ever think about that again. You're perfect, Shizuru." The young director firmly stated before kissing the superstar's lips gently. "I want your first time with me to be special and not like this." She paused before resuming. "You almost killed me of worry." She whispered as she started rising from her position and offered a hand to the superstar.
"Kaninna, Natsuki." The superstar said apologetically. She intended on playing around but forgot to end her antic when she was carried by the young director in her strong arms.
"Our session ends here. I don't want a repeat of this on our next sessions. We'll practice your swimming skill next time." she reached for the superstar's right cheek as she stepped closer to her until their faces were an inch apart before whispering. "I'm not mad, okay? Congratulations for today." She caressed the superstar's left cheek before kissing the superstar's forehead.
"Ookini, Natsuki." The superstar said, smiling at the young director.
"You're welcome, Shizuru. Now, go take your shower." The young director instructed.
"Ara, will Natsuki join me for a shower?" The superstar asked.
"No, Shizuru. I'll just have it in my unit. But thanks." The young director retrieved her navy blue bathrobe and wrapped it around her body. "Besides, it might take forever before we finish if I will join you." she added in her thought as she looked at the superstar who was staring at her.
"Ara, Natsuki, it's rude to turn down one's hospitality." The superstar insisted, a little bit frustrated that her free show was cut short when the young director wrapped the navy blue bathrobe around her body.
"I believe you have a ten o'clock show that you should be in, Shizuru." The young director announced while glancing at her wristwatch. "It's still 8:24AM. You can get there on time if you'll hurry up." She looked at the superstar who seemed to be not so pleased with the news. "I think that's your manager calling, Shizuru." She added when the sound of the phone ringing was heard.
The superstar retrieved her phone and looked at the caller ID. She answered the phone after holding the item at a safe distance from her left ear.
"Viola! Get drown here! I don't want you to be late. You agreed to guest a ten o'clock show." The person on the other line spoke in a not-so-tolerable volume.
"It's 'down', Haruka-san." Another voice was heard over the phone.
"Ara, good morning, too Haruka-san. I'll be down in a moment." The superstar replied calmly as she moved the mobile phone closer to her ear while looking at the grinning young director.
"You still have to stake your breakfast, Viola!" The person on the other line barked once again.
"It's 'take', Haruka-san." Another voice was heard in the background once again.
"Ara, I am aware, Haruka-san. Ookini for your concern. I am hanging up now." The superstar decided to end the call, knowing that it will just cost her more time to listen to her blonde manager's ranting.
"I'm off, Shizuru. Don't swim alone until you're good at it again." The young director said as she started striding up the stairs. "Don't be late on your ten o'clock show."
"Ara, but the queen is never late, Natsuki. It is just that the guests are too early or in my case, the hosts are just too early." The superstar smiled at the young director's retreating back.
The young director turned her head to her left before speaking. "Oi! You're the guest, Shizuru. It's bad for your image to be late on interviews. Not everyone is as good as Harada-san with covering you." She paused, looking at the surprise crimson orbs that were staring back at her. "Yeah. I know you were late during our interview with Harada-san." She finished when she reached the entrance. She took a side glance at the superstar and waved her right hand in the air. Her back was facing the superstar, before finally going out.
The superstar was left staring at the sealed door. Deciding that no time must be wasted lest she will be late on her morning show guesting, she proceeded to her bedroom's direction.
NARITA Airport
5:07PM
A woman clad in designers of red hue slowly descended the private airplane. She was immediately greeted by men clad in black with sunglasses covering their eyes. A black sleek vehicle was parked few meters away from where she was.
"Good afternoon, Director Zhang. We are here to escort you to your temporary residence as ordered by Armitage-sama." One man announced in his deep voice after bowing.
"Nah. No need." She said, waving her hand dismissively as her eyes focused on the mobile device on her hand.
"I am afraid we canno-" The same man argued but was immediately cut-off by the woman.
"I got a place here." She explained as she continued tapping on her phone before looking at a direction with a plastered grin on her face. "Guess that's my ride." She gestured to a fast-approaching convertible red Ferrari car.
"Get your dumb ass here, Zhang!" The woman driving the car yelled in mild annoyance.
Director Zhang trotted to the vehicle as slowly as she can, fuelling the driver's annoyance further. She slowly opened the passenger's door before letting herself in.
"Cranky aren't we, Kruger? Did I just save an innocent Japanese girl from being devoured?" She smirked as she settled herself.
"Shut up, Zhang. Fasten your seatbelt." The driver barked as she gripped the steering wheel, ready to hit the gas.
"Oh. Guess I just hit the jackpot right. You fornicator!" She retorted, loving the driver's reaction.
Right then, the driver abruptly shifted in her seat as she slammed her left hand to the passenger's seat, settling it just near the woman's head. Her face was inches away from the woman that they can feel each other's breath. Emerald orbs stared into emerald orbs, neither backing up. "Or I could just devour your mouth to shut you up." She hissed as she looked at the woman's supple red lips. "I thought so." When she did not receive any reaction, she reached for the seat belt and fastened it around the woman before returning to the driver's seat and started driving away.
"What the fuck, Kruger?! How many times do I have to tell you that I don't fucking swing your way?!" The woman glared at here after seconds of being frozen. A good kick was delivered to the driver's direction later.
"Ow! Zhang, what the hell? That's a god damn heels and I'm driving! Are you trying to get us killed? Geez." The driver retorted as she tried to sooth her leg.
For whatever reason, her mood had turned a 360-degree after she received the woman's call earlier that afternoon. She was done with her skydiving when her phone buzzed and the news was delivered to her. She should be happy that she will be returning to New York, right? She wasn't even supposed to be in Japan plus the woman had already given her a heads up of her returned. Now, why was she in a foul mood? Why did she feel like she doesn't want to go anyway?
"You should really get your stupid ass back to New York, Kruger." The woman replied as she focused her eyes on the road. It was starting to get dark. "You know what?" She continued as she glanced at the woman whose eyes were focused on the road. "Why don't you take the earliest flight tomorrow morning? I'll be meeting the production team in two days for another status meeting. I'll just inform them that you got an emergency. Like it's an El Niño down there and you need to get laid ASAP." She retorted, wiggling her eyebrows.
"Oh my god, Zhang!" The driver almost choked in thin air as the vehicle screeched to a stop, reaching a red light. "Don't tempt me to make you walk miles in those heels of yours." She threatened.
"Fine. Fine." The woman waved her hand as she looked at the red light instead. "But seriously, you can go back to New York. I can take charge now."
"Hmn." The driver just hummed and nodded her head, not really knowing what to feel now that she was finally free. Her mind wandered elsewhere.
"There's a lit club somewhere and I'll be hitting it tonight. You know? Need a little boost before shit gets down. Tokiha will be joining me. Just drop me a message so, I can send you the address if you want to come." The woman spoke once again, earning her a nod from the driver.
The drive went on in a comfortable silence.