Well incase someone gets too shy to introduce herself, I'm hereto tell you about the evil queen Ekaterinn. Yes she's a queen, and she's evil. She murdered her own husband! Well that's one side of Ekaterinn, at least the side you see in Eternity, but then again, the Lady Ekaterinn herself is a bit different. Unlike Bejiin-Chan, who wishes to be *ahem* is a prince like princess, Ekaterinn, well she's I don't know what to say. Any thoughts Ekat?
Chapter 2: A Wolf in Designer Clothing
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Be careful and take heed
the spirit is willing,
but the flesh is ever so weak.
And the tremulous soul is delicate
like the wings of a butterfly.
But Oh! Those wings can do such damage
on the other side of the world;
so be very careful
and take the greatest of heed.
~ Bejiin Ripley 1997
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The restaurant was light and airy, with plenty of windows to let the springtime sunlight pour in. Freshly cut roses of every conceivable color were arranged all around the room. In the east windows, a perfect red rose with a green stem was done in stained glass. In the west windows, a white stained glass rose of equal splendor faced the red one. Ekaterinn and Hotohori glanced around and spoke an awed "Wow…" They glanced at each other shyly and looked away quickly. Ekaterinn blushed //That doesn't mean ANYTHING…we just happen to share an appreciation for beauty// she told herself firmly. An appreciation for beauty that Bejiin did not share…at lest not when she was hungry.
"Move away from the doors, you two!" she hissed, exasperated. "I, for one, would like to get out of here before those valet get any ideas about my precious baby. Besides I'd like to see if their food is as fantastic as you seem to find the décor."
Ekaterinn glanced at Hotohori and laughed softly, a melodic sound similar to soft bells. Ekaterinn and Hotohori hurried to follow Bejiin into the front part of the restaurant and waited for the hostess to come from the back to see them. Suddenly, Ekaterinn's eyes caught hold of sunlight glinting off of glasses on a pale heart-shaped face. "Nicholas!" she cried out in delight, embracing the slender man.
"Ekaterinn Duval! It's been a long time indeed." His soft voice still had traces of his native Russia in it as he let go of her. "How are you?"
Hotohori looked at Bejiin, completely bewildered. "What is going on?" he asked plaintively "How the hell should I know?" she muttered back. "Well, she is YOUR girlfriend." Hotohori muttered in his defense. "Is not!" Bejiin vehemently retorted.
Ignoring both of them, Ekaterinn spoke again "I didn't realize you were back in L.A. Does that mean you have new fashion line coming out?"
He laughed softly. "Yes, indeed. In fact, Miss Nuriko
"Wow I didn't know models were allowed to eat." Bejiin said to Hotohori as she snickered. Hotohori, however, looked warn by her statement and just shook his head. "Be nice, Bejiin." He said in the warning tone, which hinted that he would loose his patience soon.
Ignoring Bejiin, Nicholas glanced behind and pulled forth a gorgeous girl with long purple hair and violet eyes wearing the height of Chinese fashion; a red silk button up robe with golden embroidery all over it.
"Miss
The girl extended a hand and smiled. "It's a real pleasure to meet you at last, Miss Duval. Please call me Nuriko." //So this is the famous Ekaterinn. Gods, she's got so many connections that if I can become friends with her I can really make it big in this city. And it won't even matter that I'm a guy under this clothing…not that anyone would ever need to find out.// Nuriko glanced around at Ekaterinn's companions giving Bejiin a short smile and a twin smile to Hotohori.
'Wow, her hair is longer than Hotohori's!' Ekaterinn thought as she took Nuriko's hand with her own and smiled back "And you must call me Ekaterinn. A friend of Nicholas's is a friend of mine." A cough from Bejiin reminded of her two companions. Flustered, she said "Oh and Nicholas, Nuriko, these are my friends Hotohori
Hotohori didn't listen to the rest of the pleasantries. His eyes were focused on Nuriko 'By Suzaku's wings, she's beautiful.' He raised her hands to his lips "It's a true pleasure. I never thought that I would meet someone as beautiful as I am" Bejiin almost gagged at his words //That's our vain Hotohori for you// while Nuriko forced a smile out.
After appraising the model and her cohort Bejiin began to grow bored and hungry again. However, Ekaterinn was apparently in the middle of a very important reunion, and the vain Hotohori, well he was probably deciding how best to propose to the model. All of this left Bejiin to glance around the restaurant some more. She had heard that the chef was quite a hunk, and that this restaurant had been built in the place where his parents had first met. //Hmm, maybe I can get a special tour, being such a great person and all. That is if my car will survive that long.// Then Bejiin frowned. //No, he wouldn't be interested in me, I look like a man. Someday my agent will pay for all of this. I'm so tired of it. . .//
In the midst of all this, there was a sudden "Ring! Ring!" In unison, all five pulled out their cell phones and said "Hello?" but only Nicholas continued speaking. Four phones were put back in their places in disgust. In a few moments more, Nicholas turned off his phone, looking mildly aggravated. "That was the president of that major clothing company, Zelgadis, you know the one darling. Nuriko, I'm afraid that I'll need a rain check on our lunch." Nuriko nodded sympathetically, if not somewhat disappointedly.
There was an awkward pause as the group waited for someone to say something. Ekaterinn was the first to break the silence saying "No problem. You can eat with us. My treat."
//Typical// Bejiin thought //Leave it to Ekat to have a big heart, and a bigger wallet.// She was about to laugh and make a mean comment but thought of Hotohori's earlier statement. Looking over at him, Bejiin noticed that his eyes were glued to Nuriko. He was never that spellbound by anything.
"Oh yes please do." Hotohori added as if his stares weren't obvious enough.
Bejiin looked at the woman in the red dress. She was certainly on someone's mind at the moment, however, she was so pleased that the woman hadn't started hitting on her yet that she decided allowing Hotohori to fall in love with her would be all right. After a brief pause she decided to add "Anything is fine with me as long as I don't have to pay. But I swear if my car has so much as a speck of dirt, I'll hurt the valet."
Nuriko pressed her hands to her face, looking for the entire world like she'd won a million dollars "Oh would you, Ekaterinn! It would be a real honor to have lunch with the star of the soap 'Starlight Nights'. I've heard so much about you!" //It's working already! I'm going to be BIG!// Ekaterinn looked strangely at her but nodded. Then Nicholas left and the hostess led them to their table. She flashed strange looks at ALL of them //The redhead can only look at the brown-haired guy who only has eyes for the purple-haired girl and the hunky blond looks a bit out of it, if not a bit bored but as long as they pay//
Comments? Questions? Flames? :::Shudders::: Send em to the Lady Ekaterinn Duval