A/N: Hey! Am so sorry that its been a while since I updated. I'm really busy preparing for my exams. But my birthday was 08 April so i made this for you guys.. Yay!
I read all your reviews and I'm sorry if I don't respond, but I love seeing proof that you guys enjoy my story, please keep reviewing, fav, following this story and me. I'm dedicating this chapter to 'Eterna the water Phoenix': thank you, I'm trying not to stress myself much, here is the third chapter, enjoy...
An elegant brow raised as full coffee brown lips turned up in a polite smile towards the pompous bald headed merchent sitting across her desk. His assistant standing right beside him (instead of sitting in the chair she'd offered) jotted down the man's long stream of demands. "-And I'll not be importing my peaches for 1000 ryo, I need to double the price you see. Restaurants are looking to me for their imported fruits now you understand, the country of Waterfall is just so-" " Mabei-san, if you won't take me seriously in accordance to this exchange I can very well find other merchents who will be more than willing to take less than you are asking to get me what I want just for the connections you are now enjoying from my successes. But you can still hire my private rooms for the parties you host, it's just business, you understand right?". Keeping her tone light and her smile indulging, Toshiba Koyuki stared him down.
Koyuki walked Mabei and his assistant ( she keeps forgetting the name of the petite pink haired young woman) out of her establishment and watched him climb into his carriage before turning around and walking into the kitchen. " Ume-san! I need a cup of tea to soothe my headache", a blonde woman with pupiless blue eyes laughed as she pressed a steaming cup into the hand of the toffee skinned beauty that was her boss. Taking a sip, Koyuki sighed in relief as the lavender and honey tea worked its way down her throat. " Tough meeting?" the middle aged woman asked kindly, powder blue eyes crinkling at the corners as she smiled sympathetically, " You have no idea, I don't know why I put up with Mabei-san, my last order of peaches were bruised and a few apricots had been rotten" Koyuki mused irritatedly. "Well, i'm sorry to say, but your work isn't over yet," a male voice intoned, Koyuki turned to see Hoshi, one of her servers,with a conspiratory look on his face. "What happened Hoshi?" Ume asked tiredly, knowing the young man only had gossip to tell. "Well the Daimyo's fiancé is here, and she only wants to see you", Koyuki blinked, a little surprised before turning and walking into the staff break room. Three people sat around the room, food in hand as they chatted amongst themselves, " Saki, Suuto, prepare the royal tea room, Kazue-san, please prepare a pot of white tea and cream pie, make sure you top it with strawberries" "yes Toshiba-dono". With her orders given she walks out on quick feet towards the front of the cafè, the shop was filled but quiet thanks to the privacy seals, the melody of the Koto the only noise in the background.
Sitting on a couch kept for guests waiting for her specifically was Hibai Bamiyo, surrounded by no less than two imperial guards of the Daimyo, and three elite jounin. On seeing the dark skinned woman approaching, Bamiyo stood regally to face her, " Hibai-Hime-" "Please Koyuki-san, I have asked you to call me Bamiyo", the plump woman acquised with an unassuming smile. " Of course, Bamiyo-Hime. I have prepared the royal tea room for your visit", Bamiyo nodded before walking ahead of Koyuki, navigating her way to the room on the end of the hallway. Koyuki stepped in front of the guards and the noble woman to pull open the shoji doors before ushering her guest inside. The guards arranged themselves on either side of the door as Koyuki closed them behind her. Suki, one of her servers bowed to the noble before taking her leave quietly, Koyuki sat to the right of her guest quietly as her guest arranged herself on her cushion. "Koyuki-san, i come with great news, my wedding to the Daimyo of fire country is being moved up to the third week of January, and I will be honoured if you would carter for the ceremony, you will, of course, be payed in full." Koyuki smiled at the blunt offer before tipping her head forward. " Of course Bamiyo-Hime, I wouldn't miss it for anything, thank you for the oppurtunity", Bamiyo nodded importantly as Koyuki served the tea and dessert brought by her employes as they talked about the selection menu and food theme for the wedding.
The fiancé of the Daimyo left late in the evening with promises of visiting in the coming week for the dessert tastings. "Toshiba-dono", Koyuki turned to see Namien, a portly middle aged woman who was a widow and worked as part of the kitchen night shift staff. " What is it Namien-san?", " Uchiha-san is asking for you again" " I'll be right there, thank you Namien-san". The woman nods before going back to the kitchen, leaving Koyuki to smoothen out her hair and walk towards her office where Uchiha Mikoto would be waiting for her...
A/N: Hey! Again am sorry for the late update and the short chapter, i know its not what you guys were expecting but I want things to move at a steady pace. You'll read of Minato in the next chapter though! I won't be updating till the middle of June, cause I have exams till then, and i need to focus on the real world. Have a great week!...
~Violent Scribbler