((Okay... okay standard disclaimer and all that....
Nokoru: C'mon Kat! You gotta do this correctly!
Me: ~glares and struggles against the ropes binding her to chair~ I would do it right if you hadn't tied me to the CHAIR!
Suoh: ~smirk~ Even Kaichuu couldn't get out of those knots.
Akira: You know I still think its mean. ~comes to stand by Me and ropes fall away~
Me: Thank you Akira-chan! I knew there was a reason you were my favorite!!!!
Akira: ~blush~
******
Akira walked onto the CLAMP Academy campus, listening to the normal chatter going on around him. It was a whole new school day and almost everyone was talking about Amaya Kobayashi's kidnapping.
"Yeah, so she was returned later that night. Found tied and blindfolded outside the police station with a thank you note in her hands. From Twenty Mensuo of course." Said one local gossip to the crowd of people gathered around her.
"Thanking her for what?" Asked one giddy student who Akira recognized as a rabid Twenty Mensuo fan.
"For delivering a private performance to him. She told police and reporters that was all he had wanted and he had behaved himself like a proper gentleman thief the entire time." As Akira walked by them the chatter faded and left Akira with something to think about.
~Flashback~
"You want me to WHAT?" Akira asked staring across the room at his cousin.
"To drop me off by the police station, with my hands tied and a blindfold on. Doesn't matter how we get there but that is how you have to leave me." Amaya said, crossing her legs and looking at Akira over steepled fingers. Her silvery eyes glinted at him and Akira fidgeted uncomfortably, okay he knew that he had to get her back somehow but still...
Nonetheless Amaya, and his mothers, eventually wore him down enough so that he acquiesced to her demands.
~End Flashback~
"Ohayo Akira!" Nokoru chimed and jolted Akira out of his reverie, he hadn't noticed either his Kaichuu or Takamura-senpai walk up behind him. From the looks of it Takamura-senpai had managed to drag Kaichuu in early for some long overdue paperwork. Of course judging by Kaichuu's heavy breathing and Takamura-senpai's glower, Akira thought, they've just been through another escape attempt.
"Ohayo Kaichuu!" Akira said happily, his smile bright as the morning sun. "Did you have a relaxing weekend?"
"No." Nokoru said shortly, and ran a hand through his hair as Suoh looked on worriedly. Suoh had been with his Kaichuu during the weekend and it had been harrowing at best and apoplectic at worst. Looking back Suoh remembered the numerous meeting with Kobayashi-san's lawyers and agent and then the meetings with the press. It was no wonder his normally elegant Kaichuu had some circles under his eyes. But that didn't hold back his mood.
"Akira! I've created a special treat in the council room would you like to see?" Akira smiled and cheered. Then the two raced off, leaving a sputtering Suoh behind.
"Special....Treat.....COUNCIL ROOM!" With this Suoh ran after the two members of his three man council.
Akira and Nokoru were found skiing over collapsing mounds of Nokoru's paperwork and looking like they were having the time of their lives. However once Suoh arrived Akira wondered if it was possible for a Takamura to kill his one.
"KAICHUU! NO! SIT! DO THE PAPERWORK!!!!!" Suoh shouted, and Nokoru looked at him from atop a basically solid stack of paper. He had never seen his golden eyes friend so upset. Leaning over Nokoru tried to look steadily into Suoh's eyes as the blue haired boy tilted his head slightly to catch his gaze. "Did you forget?" Suoh half-snarled half yelled at Nokoru. Behind him Nokoru noticed that Akira had stopped skiing and had climbed down a while ago. "We have another meeting with Kobayashi-san's representatives today. In a half hour." Nokoru blanched, and cursed himself for forgetting. It appeared that Miss. Kobayashi's lawyers were going for the jugular, threatening to charge them for not protecting her fully. From the statements Amaya-san had made to the press she thought no such thing but her Agent through it made great publicity.
"Okay." Nokoru said, climbing down and taking off the skis. "I'll get to work." Nokoru flipped open his fan to read 'Obedient' and then proceeded to sit down and do the paperwork.
******
At his desk Akira worried as he stumbled through the treasury report. He had never seen Suoh act as he had in the council room. Sure he had yelled at Nokoru but this morning he had looked really pissed. Was it because of Amaya-san? What about her had unnerved Takamura-senpai so badly, unless it was the fact that her lawyers really were that much of a pain. That Akira could deal with.
Actually it was more Kobayashi-san that irritated Suoh then her lawyers. Whenever he had a meeting with her or her lawyers he got the feeling that she was hiding something. Just like Akira was. Or maybe he just felt paranoid. Running a hand through his azure hair Suoh watched Nokoru through worried gold eyes. Since his outburst, which he was quite ashamed of, Nokoru had been doing his paperwork non-stop. Looking at the clock Suoh realized that the meeting with Kobayashi-san would be happening in five minutes. "Nok-Imonayama-kaichuu." Suoh said, stumbling when he almost called out Nokoru's first name. Nokoru looked up at Suoh and smiled slightly, flipping his fan open to read 'On Time'. A knock sounded from the door, and Suoh watched as Akira went to answer it.
"Hel...lo" Akira said as he stepped away from the door to admit Amaya-san but no lawyers or agent. "Hello Miss Kobayashi!" Akira bubbled, quickly recovering. He knew Amaya would not give away that they knew each other but he might just accidental reveal it. Deciding that they would have to reveal their relationship eventually.
"Ohayo Iyjuin-san." She said smiling politely in her eyes Akira could read amusement and understanding. Turning to Nokoru and Suoh she bowed her head. "Imonayama-san, Takamura-san." She said and looked up at them, easily reading the surprise in their faces. Suddenly Amaya burst into a tinkling laugh, which threw off both Akira and Suoh, but Nokoru smiled slightly as if he understood the reason behind it. And, knowing Nokoru, he just might have. "Sorry to show up without my entourage, but they honestly got a tad irritating. I mean, it was only a few hours!" Suoh blinked at her.
Akira blinked at her.
Nokoru led her over to a chair.
Amaya smiled at Nokoru and faced him as he took a seat across from her behind his desk. Suoh and Akira quickly recovered from their surprise and flanked him. Suoh wondered if Amaya wondered about the large stacks of paperwork surrounding Kaichuu's desk. "Miss Kobayashi I again present my most sincere apologies about the kidnapping." Nokoru said gravely.
"And this time Imonoyama-san, since the evil people who work for me aren't here, I can tell you that you honestly do not need to apologize. I actually had a wonderful time." Amaya smiled and both Suoh and Akira face faulted. Nokoru however remained calmly poised though a large sweat drop appeared over his head. "Twenty Mensuo was a most gentlemanly gentleman thief."
"I'm...sure he was." Nokoru said bravely and his blue eyes showed both confusion and a strange type of enjoyment. They were really pretty blue eyes, Amaya admitted to herself, and she didn't know that Nokoru was admitting to himself the same thing; about her.
"What I wish to say this time around Imonayama-san is that I am completely willing to hold another concert at CLAMP campus. In fact I would enjoy it. In all honesty there are a few other concerts to make in Japan before I can schedule it but I promise to make one last stop here before my tours over." Amaya's grey eyes shone with happiness and behind Nokoru Akira's smile grew brighter. Suoh caught its increased wattage and wondered why it was. Did he like Amaya's singing that much? Of course Suoh was happy about Amaya dropping the charges and was happy that his Kaichuu was happy but he still did not like Amaya. The way he tilted his head conveyed suspicion but he did not voice any of it.
"That, Kobayashi-san would be delightful." Nokoru said laughing. Indeed, it would be nice to have her come back and actually give the planned concert.
"Now that that's settled I will tell my agents and lawyers what we agreed upon and they shall call you and Rijouchu to make sure everything can be planned properly." Akira tilted his black head at his cousin, his hands sweating slightly. He was afraid that at any minute he would make a mistake and give them both away.
"Kaichuu?" Akira questioned, maintaining his cheery behavior. "Some tea perhaps?" Nokoru turned and smiled and him almost telling him to go prepare some but Amaya interrupted him.
"Oh, I wish I could stay for tea but I have an unfortunately busy schedule." Amaya said in an aggrieved voice, and her eyes conveyed the same sense of disappointment. She had tasted Akira's cooking last night and was unhappy to have missed another chance for it, but she did have things to do. Nokoru merely smiled and inclined his head before standing.
"Well then Miss Kobayashi now that we have all that sorted out..." Nokoru led her over to the door, happy she was not one of those giggly girls who fell all over him. Indeed Amaya-san seemed possessed of extreme grace and pleasure...
Suoh watched as Amaya fell as she started to pass Akira's desk. It was strange, she wobbled and then suddenly her feet suddenly gave out under her and she started to topple. Reaching for Akira's desk the red haired beauty may have been able to reassert herself if not for Suoh and Akira's un-athletic Kaichuu she went down, knocking into Akira's desk and scattering some of the paperwork and picture frames.
Suoh was there in an instant his azure hair flicked negligently from his brow as he hauled Nokoru off of Amaya and assessed the damage to his One. Nothing, a little rumpled but nothing else. Amaya picked herself off the floor and looked first at her feet. "Je n'y crois pas!" She muttered, "Merde. Stupide charogne souliers." Amaya said inspecting her shoes, Suoh took a look at them and noticed that the right heel of her high heeled shoes had broken off. Nokoru, standing beside Suoh turned red at the long stream of curse words she kept muttering as she took off the shoes and inspected them. Akira began to pick up his papers, and watch Amaya with worry predominant in his eyes.
"500 dollars and you think they could design a better shoe." Amaya said standing up and holding both black shoes in her hands. Her look was half amusement and half annoyance, she turned to Akira and helped him pick up his papers. Flipping a picture frame the look on her face changed to extreme surprise. "Iyjuin-san? Who is this?" She asked, her voice breaking. Suoh watched her fight down some powerful emotion and wondered why it had been roused by a picture of Akira and his mothers.
"Um, my mothers." Akira said looking at Amaya confusedly.
"These...these look like my...aunts." She said and then looked at Akira as realization dawned on her face. Nokoru watched with obvious amusement and something resembling the same realization that lit up Amaya's face. Suoh was the most obviously confused one. His gold eyes watched Amaya out of curiosity and wariness. "Oh. Oooooh! You're little Akira-chan!" She said and then hugged him and the confused look on Akira's face intensified and was joined by a deep blush. "My fathers showed me a picture a while ago of those two women and a little boy and told me that they were my aunts and explained that they lived in Japan and...." She stopped suddenly and her smile was filled with the same innocence and naiveté that Suoh often saw in Akira's smiles. Despite the string of curses and the kidnapping she seemed to be as childlike as Akira, Nokoru thought, for now at least.
"So...we're related?" Then a look of realization flashed over Akira's face. "Oh! My mothers told me about some family members who had moved to America." Nokoru and Suoh both coughed and the two cousins snapped out of their reverie. "Oh! Sorry Kaichuu!" Akira said scrambling to his feet. Nokoru looked so peaceful right now, for some reason the slanting light of the sun had come through the windows and caught itself in Nokoru's hair forming a halo, and his beautiful blue eyes were filled with sincerity and understanding.
"Its okay Akira, but I do believe Amaya-san said something about having to be somewhere else?" Amaya flushed slightly and looked like she was fighting an impulse similar to that of Nokoru's fan club members.
"Thank you for reminding me Imonayama-san!" She said and placed Akria's photo on his desk. "I really must be going, Akira-chan I'll call you sometime!" She smiled at them all and left the room.
Nokoru watched her go and was amazed at her sweetness. Despite everything that had happened this weekend, she turned out to be related to Akira? And willing to do another concert? Obviously not a regular old snotty singer. As they all returned to their paperwork Nokoru noticed the occasional flush and smile cross Akira's face and the quick glances Suoh was sending his Kaichuu's way to make sure he was both uninjured and doing his paperwork.
Opening a packet sent to him from the CLAMP campus admissions office Nokoru stared in surprise at the file therein.
Well, he had not seen this coming.
******
Writer: Well, I know what it is and you can guess it but I want that to be kept a secret for a little while ^_~. The next story will contain Amaya-chan's next concert and(surprise) a new threat on Nokoru-san's life!
Suoh: ~glare~ Excuse me?
Writer: ~sweat drop~ Which of course never endangers a hair on his head and has nothing to do with Amaya and nothing to do with the fact that Suoh cannot keep up with his one's escape attempts....~falls down with shuriken buried in arm~ Ow!
Nokoru: Suoh! That's mean and we need to keep the writer happy! She needs to give my fans more screen time!
Suoh&Akira: ~face faults~
Nokoru: C'mon Kat! You gotta do this correctly!
Me: ~glares and struggles against the ropes binding her to chair~ I would do it right if you hadn't tied me to the CHAIR!
Suoh: ~smirk~ Even Kaichuu couldn't get out of those knots.
Akira: You know I still think its mean. ~comes to stand by Me and ropes fall away~
Me: Thank you Akira-chan! I knew there was a reason you were my favorite!!!!
Akira: ~blush~
******
Akira walked onto the CLAMP Academy campus, listening to the normal chatter going on around him. It was a whole new school day and almost everyone was talking about Amaya Kobayashi's kidnapping.
"Yeah, so she was returned later that night. Found tied and blindfolded outside the police station with a thank you note in her hands. From Twenty Mensuo of course." Said one local gossip to the crowd of people gathered around her.
"Thanking her for what?" Asked one giddy student who Akira recognized as a rabid Twenty Mensuo fan.
"For delivering a private performance to him. She told police and reporters that was all he had wanted and he had behaved himself like a proper gentleman thief the entire time." As Akira walked by them the chatter faded and left Akira with something to think about.
~Flashback~
"You want me to WHAT?" Akira asked staring across the room at his cousin.
"To drop me off by the police station, with my hands tied and a blindfold on. Doesn't matter how we get there but that is how you have to leave me." Amaya said, crossing her legs and looking at Akira over steepled fingers. Her silvery eyes glinted at him and Akira fidgeted uncomfortably, okay he knew that he had to get her back somehow but still...
Nonetheless Amaya, and his mothers, eventually wore him down enough so that he acquiesced to her demands.
~End Flashback~
"Ohayo Akira!" Nokoru chimed and jolted Akira out of his reverie, he hadn't noticed either his Kaichuu or Takamura-senpai walk up behind him. From the looks of it Takamura-senpai had managed to drag Kaichuu in early for some long overdue paperwork. Of course judging by Kaichuu's heavy breathing and Takamura-senpai's glower, Akira thought, they've just been through another escape attempt.
"Ohayo Kaichuu!" Akira said happily, his smile bright as the morning sun. "Did you have a relaxing weekend?"
"No." Nokoru said shortly, and ran a hand through his hair as Suoh looked on worriedly. Suoh had been with his Kaichuu during the weekend and it had been harrowing at best and apoplectic at worst. Looking back Suoh remembered the numerous meeting with Kobayashi-san's lawyers and agent and then the meetings with the press. It was no wonder his normally elegant Kaichuu had some circles under his eyes. But that didn't hold back his mood.
"Akira! I've created a special treat in the council room would you like to see?" Akira smiled and cheered. Then the two raced off, leaving a sputtering Suoh behind.
"Special....Treat.....COUNCIL ROOM!" With this Suoh ran after the two members of his three man council.
Akira and Nokoru were found skiing over collapsing mounds of Nokoru's paperwork and looking like they were having the time of their lives. However once Suoh arrived Akira wondered if it was possible for a Takamura to kill his one.
"KAICHUU! NO! SIT! DO THE PAPERWORK!!!!!" Suoh shouted, and Nokoru looked at him from atop a basically solid stack of paper. He had never seen his golden eyes friend so upset. Leaning over Nokoru tried to look steadily into Suoh's eyes as the blue haired boy tilted his head slightly to catch his gaze. "Did you forget?" Suoh half-snarled half yelled at Nokoru. Behind him Nokoru noticed that Akira had stopped skiing and had climbed down a while ago. "We have another meeting with Kobayashi-san's representatives today. In a half hour." Nokoru blanched, and cursed himself for forgetting. It appeared that Miss. Kobayashi's lawyers were going for the jugular, threatening to charge them for not protecting her fully. From the statements Amaya-san had made to the press she thought no such thing but her Agent through it made great publicity.
"Okay." Nokoru said, climbing down and taking off the skis. "I'll get to work." Nokoru flipped open his fan to read 'Obedient' and then proceeded to sit down and do the paperwork.
******
At his desk Akira worried as he stumbled through the treasury report. He had never seen Suoh act as he had in the council room. Sure he had yelled at Nokoru but this morning he had looked really pissed. Was it because of Amaya-san? What about her had unnerved Takamura-senpai so badly, unless it was the fact that her lawyers really were that much of a pain. That Akira could deal with.
Actually it was more Kobayashi-san that irritated Suoh then her lawyers. Whenever he had a meeting with her or her lawyers he got the feeling that she was hiding something. Just like Akira was. Or maybe he just felt paranoid. Running a hand through his azure hair Suoh watched Nokoru through worried gold eyes. Since his outburst, which he was quite ashamed of, Nokoru had been doing his paperwork non-stop. Looking at the clock Suoh realized that the meeting with Kobayashi-san would be happening in five minutes. "Nok-Imonayama-kaichuu." Suoh said, stumbling when he almost called out Nokoru's first name. Nokoru looked up at Suoh and smiled slightly, flipping his fan open to read 'On Time'. A knock sounded from the door, and Suoh watched as Akira went to answer it.
"Hel...lo" Akira said as he stepped away from the door to admit Amaya-san but no lawyers or agent. "Hello Miss Kobayashi!" Akira bubbled, quickly recovering. He knew Amaya would not give away that they knew each other but he might just accidental reveal it. Deciding that they would have to reveal their relationship eventually.
"Ohayo Iyjuin-san." She said smiling politely in her eyes Akira could read amusement and understanding. Turning to Nokoru and Suoh she bowed her head. "Imonayama-san, Takamura-san." She said and looked up at them, easily reading the surprise in their faces. Suddenly Amaya burst into a tinkling laugh, which threw off both Akira and Suoh, but Nokoru smiled slightly as if he understood the reason behind it. And, knowing Nokoru, he just might have. "Sorry to show up without my entourage, but they honestly got a tad irritating. I mean, it was only a few hours!" Suoh blinked at her.
Akira blinked at her.
Nokoru led her over to a chair.
Amaya smiled at Nokoru and faced him as he took a seat across from her behind his desk. Suoh and Akira quickly recovered from their surprise and flanked him. Suoh wondered if Amaya wondered about the large stacks of paperwork surrounding Kaichuu's desk. "Miss Kobayashi I again present my most sincere apologies about the kidnapping." Nokoru said gravely.
"And this time Imonoyama-san, since the evil people who work for me aren't here, I can tell you that you honestly do not need to apologize. I actually had a wonderful time." Amaya smiled and both Suoh and Akira face faulted. Nokoru however remained calmly poised though a large sweat drop appeared over his head. "Twenty Mensuo was a most gentlemanly gentleman thief."
"I'm...sure he was." Nokoru said bravely and his blue eyes showed both confusion and a strange type of enjoyment. They were really pretty blue eyes, Amaya admitted to herself, and she didn't know that Nokoru was admitting to himself the same thing; about her.
"What I wish to say this time around Imonayama-san is that I am completely willing to hold another concert at CLAMP campus. In fact I would enjoy it. In all honesty there are a few other concerts to make in Japan before I can schedule it but I promise to make one last stop here before my tours over." Amaya's grey eyes shone with happiness and behind Nokoru Akira's smile grew brighter. Suoh caught its increased wattage and wondered why it was. Did he like Amaya's singing that much? Of course Suoh was happy about Amaya dropping the charges and was happy that his Kaichuu was happy but he still did not like Amaya. The way he tilted his head conveyed suspicion but he did not voice any of it.
"That, Kobayashi-san would be delightful." Nokoru said laughing. Indeed, it would be nice to have her come back and actually give the planned concert.
"Now that that's settled I will tell my agents and lawyers what we agreed upon and they shall call you and Rijouchu to make sure everything can be planned properly." Akira tilted his black head at his cousin, his hands sweating slightly. He was afraid that at any minute he would make a mistake and give them both away.
"Kaichuu?" Akira questioned, maintaining his cheery behavior. "Some tea perhaps?" Nokoru turned and smiled and him almost telling him to go prepare some but Amaya interrupted him.
"Oh, I wish I could stay for tea but I have an unfortunately busy schedule." Amaya said in an aggrieved voice, and her eyes conveyed the same sense of disappointment. She had tasted Akira's cooking last night and was unhappy to have missed another chance for it, but she did have things to do. Nokoru merely smiled and inclined his head before standing.
"Well then Miss Kobayashi now that we have all that sorted out..." Nokoru led her over to the door, happy she was not one of those giggly girls who fell all over him. Indeed Amaya-san seemed possessed of extreme grace and pleasure...
Suoh watched as Amaya fell as she started to pass Akira's desk. It was strange, she wobbled and then suddenly her feet suddenly gave out under her and she started to topple. Reaching for Akira's desk the red haired beauty may have been able to reassert herself if not for Suoh and Akira's un-athletic Kaichuu she went down, knocking into Akira's desk and scattering some of the paperwork and picture frames.
Suoh was there in an instant his azure hair flicked negligently from his brow as he hauled Nokoru off of Amaya and assessed the damage to his One. Nothing, a little rumpled but nothing else. Amaya picked herself off the floor and looked first at her feet. "Je n'y crois pas!" She muttered, "Merde. Stupide charogne souliers." Amaya said inspecting her shoes, Suoh took a look at them and noticed that the right heel of her high heeled shoes had broken off. Nokoru, standing beside Suoh turned red at the long stream of curse words she kept muttering as she took off the shoes and inspected them. Akira began to pick up his papers, and watch Amaya with worry predominant in his eyes.
"500 dollars and you think they could design a better shoe." Amaya said standing up and holding both black shoes in her hands. Her look was half amusement and half annoyance, she turned to Akira and helped him pick up his papers. Flipping a picture frame the look on her face changed to extreme surprise. "Iyjuin-san? Who is this?" She asked, her voice breaking. Suoh watched her fight down some powerful emotion and wondered why it had been roused by a picture of Akira and his mothers.
"Um, my mothers." Akira said looking at Amaya confusedly.
"These...these look like my...aunts." She said and then looked at Akira as realization dawned on her face. Nokoru watched with obvious amusement and something resembling the same realization that lit up Amaya's face. Suoh was the most obviously confused one. His gold eyes watched Amaya out of curiosity and wariness. "Oh. Oooooh! You're little Akira-chan!" She said and then hugged him and the confused look on Akira's face intensified and was joined by a deep blush. "My fathers showed me a picture a while ago of those two women and a little boy and told me that they were my aunts and explained that they lived in Japan and...." She stopped suddenly and her smile was filled with the same innocence and naiveté that Suoh often saw in Akira's smiles. Despite the string of curses and the kidnapping she seemed to be as childlike as Akira, Nokoru thought, for now at least.
"So...we're related?" Then a look of realization flashed over Akira's face. "Oh! My mothers told me about some family members who had moved to America." Nokoru and Suoh both coughed and the two cousins snapped out of their reverie. "Oh! Sorry Kaichuu!" Akira said scrambling to his feet. Nokoru looked so peaceful right now, for some reason the slanting light of the sun had come through the windows and caught itself in Nokoru's hair forming a halo, and his beautiful blue eyes were filled with sincerity and understanding.
"Its okay Akira, but I do believe Amaya-san said something about having to be somewhere else?" Amaya flushed slightly and looked like she was fighting an impulse similar to that of Nokoru's fan club members.
"Thank you for reminding me Imonayama-san!" She said and placed Akria's photo on his desk. "I really must be going, Akira-chan I'll call you sometime!" She smiled at them all and left the room.
Nokoru watched her go and was amazed at her sweetness. Despite everything that had happened this weekend, she turned out to be related to Akira? And willing to do another concert? Obviously not a regular old snotty singer. As they all returned to their paperwork Nokoru noticed the occasional flush and smile cross Akira's face and the quick glances Suoh was sending his Kaichuu's way to make sure he was both uninjured and doing his paperwork.
Opening a packet sent to him from the CLAMP campus admissions office Nokoru stared in surprise at the file therein.
Well, he had not seen this coming.
******
Writer: Well, I know what it is and you can guess it but I want that to be kept a secret for a little while ^_~. The next story will contain Amaya-chan's next concert and(surprise) a new threat on Nokoru-san's life!
Suoh: ~glare~ Excuse me?
Writer: ~sweat drop~ Which of course never endangers a hair on his head and has nothing to do with Amaya and nothing to do with the fact that Suoh cannot keep up with his one's escape attempts....~falls down with shuriken buried in arm~ Ow!
Nokoru: Suoh! That's mean and we need to keep the writer happy! She needs to give my fans more screen time!
Suoh&Akira: ~face faults~