Author's Notes: Well, here is the real update. I hope you didn't have to wait that long… I was having a hard time thinking of the appropriate words and descriptions as I wrote this so… Gomen… I typed this in a hurry so if there are any mistakes in the spelling or grammar, please ignore them. ;
And to answer a few questions… Engel Star 13: Mutsumi is Aoshi's cousin and she's Tsunan's wife. They're just having some sort of a siblings' quarrel. Get it? Misao Silent-mode: The story is loosely based on Jude Deveraux's An Angel for Emily. :)Disclaimer: Kenshin and all the others that you recognize are not mine…
Models at Work
"KENSHIN no baka! Why did you have to bring Kenji here?!"
Misao heard Kaoru Himura's demand as soon as she had entered the office of KR Mokei, Inc., the modeling agency that Kaoru runs and whose models exclusively wear her designs on fashion shows. She couldn't decipher Kenshin's reply though but she's sure he's trying to calm his wife down and explain his reasons.
She was greeted by the sight of Sayo Muto kneeling on the floor, playing peek-a-boo with Kenji and Pai.
"Ohayou!" Misao said, as the two toddlers ran to her when they saw her.
"Ohayooo!" Kenji and Pai greeted back, as she picked them up, one at a time, and gave them a kiss.
"Mutsumi-san is fetching the new recruits," Sayo told her as she put Pai down.
She nodded and turned on her heels to the private office that she shares with Sayo and Mutsumi. Kaoru gave them the former conference room for their use when they need to work in the agency. She put down her bag on the table, picked up her cell phone, and went out to join Sayo in playing with the kids. She was surprised to see, however, that the two children had already found someone else to play with.
She tried not to laugh as she joined Sayo on the cushioned seat and watched the scene before them.
"Ne, Misao, what's Shikijou doing here?" Sayo asked, as she suppressed a grin when Kenji and Pai pleaded for the bodyguard to lift them up.
"He's here with me," Misao answered, before laughing when Shikijou spun the kids around as they hang on his big arms.
"Personal bodyguard?" Sayo asked further.
"Hai."
"Because of the theft?"
"Hai."
"From Shinomori-san?"
"Hai."
"Hmmm…" Sayo muttered.
"Huh?" Misao asked with a glance on the woman beside her.
"Shinomori-san sent one of his bodyguards to you," Sayo stated.
"Yes… What are you getting at?" she asked.
"Nothing," the other woman answered with a laugh.
Shaking her head, Misao changed the topic.
"How's the photo shoot going?" she asked Sayo.
Sayo Muto is the Editor-In-Chief, General Manager, and Executive Editor of Ryûko, the magazine published by Amakusa Publications, Inc., which is owned by her brother Shougu Muto. The magazine is the only publication that can publish Misao's line of clothes. The three women, Kaoru, Sayo, and Misao work almost exclusively with one another. Misao designs the clothes, Kaoru showcases them on the runway, and Sayo features them on the magazine. Only Kaoru's and Sayo's companies can use Misao's creations.
Misao and Sayo were busy discussing the photo shoot regarding Misao's latest designs while occasionally stifling their laughs as they watch the fearsome bodyguard being bullied by the two toddlers, when Kaoru walked out of her office with her husband in tow. Kenshin reddened slightly when he saw Misao and Sayo glance up to their direction and he offered them a small smile, to which the two women grinned in return, before following Kaoru to the other side of the room. Kenji, upon seeing his parents, released his hold on Shikijou's leg and ran to them.
"Ne, Kenji, behave while you're here at your mom's office, ok?" Misao and Sayo heard Kenshin say to his son as they looked on at the Himuras.
Pai, seeing that her other playmate has left, tugged her small hand from Shikijou's big one and ran to where Misao and Sayo are, and the bodyguard walked over near the main door of the office and stood watch.
"Oba-san, where's Okaa-san?" Pai asked Misao.
"She'll be returning soon, ok?" Misao answered with a smile.
"Hai," the little girl answered before promptly running to Kenji's side when she saw his father walking towards the door.
"I'll get going," Kenshin said as he glanced at the occupants of the office before giving Kaoru a peck on the cheek and rumpling his son's hair and headed out.
Misao and Sayo burst out into giggles when they saw the dazed look on Kaoru's face as she walked towards them.
"What?" Kaoru asked them irritably as she took a seat beside them.
The two women just laughed in answer.
"Mou!" Kaoru exclaimed, knowing what's on their mind. "So, what have you discussed so far?" she asked, changing the subject.
"Well," Sayo started haltingly, as she tried to calm herself. "I was trying to convince Misao on being on the cover for the issue that we're currently doing."
"And what did you say?" Kaoru looked at Misao.
"I said I don't want to," the woman answered.
"Why not?" Kaoru demanded.
Misao looked at Kaoru as if she's lost her mind for not knowing what her reasons might be. After all, they've been best of friends for years. Kaoru, on the other hand, just rolled her eyes at her.
"Aside from the fact that you're a designer," Kaoru continued, putting emphasis on the last word. "And that being one means you're supposed to stay 'behind the scene'… What's stopping you?" she insisted.
"It's Aoshi," somebody answered.
The three women looked up to find that Mutsumi Tsukioka has arrived and was smiling mischievously at Misao. Mutsumi is the only living relative of Aoshi and the wife of one of Aoshi's lawyers and friend, Tsunan Tsukioka. She works part-time for Kaoru's agency as scout and trainer of new models and heads Misao's fashion shows.
"Aoshi?" Sayo asked with a frown just as Pai exclaimed, "Okaa-san!"
Kaoru just laughed and Misao hung her head in defeat as Sayo realized what Mutsumi had meant as the latter turned around and picked the little girl up.
"Pai, I want you to go with Okon and behave while I work, ok?" Mutsumi said.
"Ok," Pai answered before giving her mother a loud kiss, wriggling her way down, and running to where Okon was.
"Kenji, go and play with Pai, alright," Kaoru was saying to her son.
Kenji nodded and followed Pai towards Okon.
The two children grabbed on to each of Okon's hands and the three went to a separate room, which Kaoru's models had dubbed "The Pillow Room" because it contains different sizes and softness of pillows where the kids play while the adults work.
"Alright… Now to business," Mutsumi said and she motioned to Shikijou to let in the four people she had arrived with.
"Soujirou Seta, 18," Mutsumi started as a smiling young man entered. He was wearing an open blue short-sleeved polo over a white long-sleeved shirt and loose jeans. He has jet-black hair and his bangs partially conceal his twinkling light-blue eyes.
"Chou Sawagejo, 20," Mutsumi continued, as another young man entered. He was sporting a tight red sleeveless shirt and black sweatpants. His blond hair was all spiked-up, his forehead was covered with a red headband, and he was carrying a black jacket.
"Kamatari Honjou, 19," Mutsumi said as a striking young woman entered. She was in a yellow, boat-necked, three-fourth sleeved shirt and white jeans. Her short brown-black hair was flipped out and she was smirking.
"And Yumi Komagata, 29," Mutsumi said finally, as the fourth and last person entered. "If you remember, she used to be on a lot of commercials on her younger days. She didn't want to join us at first," she continued. "But I think the other three persuaded her."
The said woman had her hair on a bun. She was wearing a red kimono-type blouse over black slacks. She eyed the three women looking at her passively and joined her three companion in the line-up.
Kaoru, Misao, and Sayo looked at each passing person in front of them differently. Kaoru was thinking of how to wipe the grin off of Soujirou because it seemed plastered on his face, how to improve Chou's walk, how to take the haughtiness that seemed to radiate from Kamatari out from her, and how to make Yumi love being in the limelight again. Misao was thinking which clothes would look best on each one and which of her new line should Yumi wear first. And Sayo was thinking of where she can use the pictures that they will be shooting in the next few days.
"Well…?" Mutsumi said impatiently after some silence.
"Aside from Ms. Yumi, has anyone else had experience with any kind of modeling?" Kaoru asked.
Kamatari stepped forward. "I did."
Kaoru nodded and Kamatari stepped back into the line.
"All right. From now on, you'll be representing this agency, KR Mokei, Inc., every time you appear on the catwalk, on magazines, commercials, billboards… everything," Kaoru said, as she stood up and paced in front of the new models. "It's only, what, 10AM? Be back in this building at one and that's when your training will begin. Head to the floor below this and look for Mutsumi. Understood?"
"Hai."
"Are there any questions?" It was Sayo who asked it softly.
Chou stepped forward. "Who are you? She didn't quite tell us your names and business," he said as he jerked a thumb to Mutsumi's direction.
Misao and Kaoru saw red at that gesture and sensing that, Sayo immediately stood up, went to Kaoru's side, and answered Chou's question.
"I'm Sayo Muto from the magazine Ryûkô. This here," she said, patting Kaoru's shoulder, "is Kaoru Himura, the proprietor of this agency. And that lady over there is Misao Makimachi," pointing at the frowning Misao. "And I guess you already know Mutsumi-san," she finished smiling.
"So, I'll be seeing you later," Mutsumi addressed the new recruits. "And if you have any more questions, I'll answer them later. You know where the exit is."
And with that, the four walked out of the office, one after the other.
Misao stood up from her seat and walked over to where the three women are.
"I didn't like his tone, Mi-san," she told Mutsumi.
"You shouldn't have stepped-in, Sayo," Kaoru agreed.
"If I didn't, all hell will break lose," Sayo countered.
"What?! You don't want them to know whom they're dealing with?" Misao said.
"They're just new and you're already letting them get away with it?!" Kaoru added.
"Maa, maa…" Mutsumi interrupted the two hotheaded women's reasoning. "There'll be plenty of time to teach him a lesson, ne?"
At that, Kaoru and Misao grinned while Sayo sighed with relief.
"Chou! You're not doing it properly!" Kaoru cried out. It was her turn tow watch the new models while Mutsumi worked with the regular ones. And for her, it's payback time. "Your steps are too big and your arms swing like a robot's! Yahiko, come over here and show him how it's done," she called on one of the male models.
"Why me, busu?!" the said model shouted.
"Because Yahiko-chan, I said so," Kaoru shouted back. "Now go over there and show him!"
Yahiko walked grudgingly to the end of the platform, but the minute he stepped up on it, he changed. He walked effortlessly, as if he had all the time in the world, yet he looked graceful as he did so. His arms swung freely but not overly. And his steps are just about right. He slowed down as he neared the edge and stopped just before it. Then he glared at Kaoru.
"Arigatou, Yahiko," Kaoru smiled a little too sweetly at him.
"Keh," he said, before hopping down.
"Now, you do it," Kaoru turned to Chou.
The lower office of Kaoru's agency was teeming with people. On one side, Sayo was watching a photographer taking shots at a group of models. On another, Mutsumi was talking with another group of models, Yahiko being one of them. Near the door of the only room on the floor, Misao was grinning as she inspected the clothes of yet another, though small, group of models. And Shikijou was watching everything closely, as he leaned against a wall.
"A little better than the last time," Kaoru was telling Chou as he finished his walk. "But your neck was too stiff. Try to relax, alright? Now do it again, this time, with the others," she continued, nodding to the other new models.
They were at the center of the office, where a makeshift catwalk was built and where models practiced and trained. Kaoru was sitting at the front of the ramp and was overseeing the training of the new recruits.
The models-in-training walked down the ramp, with Kaoru giving either a small praise or yet another correction. But when it was Chou's turn, she returned to being a raving banshee.
"Where was the improvement I saw earlier?! Your upper body's all stiff again!" Kaoru yelled out.
Chou stopped in the middle of his walk and glared at her.
"That's it! Break time! Everybody, out!" Kaoru ordered. "Thirty minutes, everyone."
All the models scurried out of the office, not wanting to be the object of Kaoru's anger. All, except Yahiko, who walked over to where Kaoru was and sat at the elevated platform.
"I almost pitied the guy, Kaoru," Misao commented, as she was pulling a chair to where the others have already gathered, and promptly laughed when Kaoru made a face.
"You were constantly yelling at the poor guy," Sayo added with a grin.
"Poor guy? Wait till Sanosuke hears that," Kaoru teased.
"Kaoru!" Sayo protested, as her cheeks reddened at the mention of her boyfriend's name.
Kaoru, alongside Misao, just laughed.
"Ne, busu, why were you so hard on him anyway?" Yahiko asked, breaking the women's laughter.
"Why?! I'll show you why," Kaoru said, and she imitated Chou's behavior just a few days ago.
"He did that?" Yahiko asked Mutsumi, who nodded at him. "Eh, busu, why did you have to bring me to your revenge?"
"Yahiko-chan, would it really kill you to call me 'Onee-san' in front of them?" Kaoru demanded as she glared at the young model. "And to answer your question, he really was doing it wrong, and you know you're the best there is to show him how," she continued with a smirk.
"Busu, don't call me Yahiko-chan!" Yahiko told his sister. "And I know I am the best." And he smirked back.
"Now, now, Yahiko-chan, it was your sister who polished your work," Misao reminded him as she grinned mischievously.
"That's right, Yahiko-chan," Sayo chimed in.
"Will you all stop calling me Yahiko-chan?!" Yahiko shouted.
The three women just laughed at him
"Maa, maa, Yahiko-chan," Mutsumi soothingly said with a grin.
Yahiko stared at what he thought would be his savior from the three crazy women with disbelief. And thus ensued another bout of laughter.
Last Notes: The anime sort of influenced me as I wrote this, how they all teased Yahiko and how Kaoru's and Misao's moods suddenly flares. Because you might notice that Misao has been timid and very lady-like in the past chapters. But then, you must also remember that she's only like that when Aoshi is around. So I guess it was just ok.
I know there are only a few of Misao here. Don't worry, the next chapter will be more about her and the danger that she's in. Ja! And, oh! Don't forget to review. Arigatou!