I got inspired to write this while I was at the dentist... weird, huh? Anyway, it's rather short but I hope that you enjoy it. Things are starting to shape up and I have some idea for a plot, as opposed to just winging it now. :D I can't promise when the next chapter will be, but I'd like to say soon. Then again, who knows. This time, I was also not lazy enough to actually fix the html to my liking! Hurray!
A thank you to tiakall and anyone else who helped me with the Japanese! Yes, I had to ask for help on those few words. I'm just that sad.
- SporkGoddess
Chapter 3: Blue Eyes
Azami sighed as she stared at her closet. "I don't have a fashionable bone in my body," She muttered as she reached out and stroked the silky material of a particularly fancy evening gown. "How am I supposed to know which of these... things... to wear?"
"You're a girl. It should come naturally."
She turned and glared at Jarek, who was smirking at her confusion.
"What are you doing here? You're supposed to be getting ready." She hissed.
"Aren't you observant?" He made a grand gesture towards his suit. "It's a known fact that men get ready faster than women."
"You're just asking for an ass-kicking." Azami told him.
"You're not proving me wrong even if you did that. Your hair isn't even done yet. And jeez, aren't you going to wear makeup?"
"Are you saying that I need it?" She growled.
He made a mewing sound. "Down, girl."
She rolled her eyes
"Anyway, come on. We can't be late."
*************************************************
Azami had at least been hoping for nice scenery on the shuttle to Neo London, but that was not to be the case. Because the next thing she knew after she stepped on board Sai Sici's private shuttle, Jarek was leaning over her, shaking her shoulders.
"Az, I mean, Emiko! Wake up!"
"Wha...?" She asked, groggily sitting up.
"We're here, and it's almost time to go. The flight took long enough, we have to hurry!"
She groaned as she stood up, wincing as the blood rushed to her head. "Since when are you so dedicated?"
"It won't make a good impression if we're late... then again, it won't make a good impression if you fall asleep during the concert either."
"I get your point. Let's just go already." She said pointedly, and began to walk away.
"Hey, wait up!" He called, picking up the glitzy purse that she had left behind, obviously not used to having to carry one.
"I hate this colony," Azami grumbled. "It's so dismal."
"Says a girl from Neo Japan," Jarek smirked, looking appreciatively at the giant buildings the car they were in was passing.
"I'm actually from Neo Hong Kong, genius. But even if I wasn't.. Neo Russia's no sunny beach," She snarled. "So how are we supposed to find Sai Sici, anyway?"
Jarek shrugged. "I'm assuming we'll just meet him outside. Even if we can't find him, it's not like a council member's going to abduct you or anything. They can't risk it."
She snorted. "I know the council, and they'll do anything so long as they can get away with it."
He sighed, wondering if she knew how many people on the council she'd already met, a long time ago. And he also knew that her parents would not approve of her disowning them as she had.
"If you have a problem with your parents, Azami, that's not my business. But don't you insult the people you once referred to as aunts and uncles. Because even if you don't anymore, I still do."
Her eyes narrowed. "Oh yes, they should be canonized. They're cowards! All of them! Too preoccupied with their own damn country to worry about Neo Japan. They're just blaming us so that no one will blame them!"
"It's not that simple, Azami."
"That's what everyone says when the solution's so easy that everyone overlooks it." She said coldly.
"Er, excuse me sir and ma'am," the driver up front said, "but we've arrived at the concert hall."
Suddenly realizing that they'd practically given away their identity in front of some Neo England driver Sai Sici had hired for a night, a man whose loyalty was ambiguous at best, Azami turned bright red. She muttered a thank you, trying her best to sound polite, and as soon as she and Jarek were out of the car kicked him in the shins.
"What if he heard us? What if he's going to go report us at this minute!?" She whispered so harshly that she may as well have been shouting. "Next time when I start to give away our secrets, don't let me!"
Jarek rolled his eyes. "I don't think we have much to worry about. Plenty of people are opinionated on the subject of Neo Japan, and not just our people. I'm sure he hears that stuff a lot."
"You'd better be right," She said stiffly.
Jarek was about to tell her that yes, he was right, but as soon as they'd entered the lobby they were accosted by a short Chinese man.
"Vladimir... how wonderful to see you!" He said loudly. Azami vaguely recognized this man, but even if she hadn't it was easy to guess that he was Neo China's Representative, Sai Sici. She was a little taken aback at how they didn't have time to discuss things seriously; they had to jump right into the act.
Fortunately, Jarek seemed to know perfectly well what he was doing. He said in a solemn tone that Azami hadn't know he possessed: "Thank you for getting the tickets for myself and Emiko, sir."
"Is this the new girlfriend your father told me about?"
He nodded, his expression the same. "This is Emiko Fukao. Although I guess to you Asians it would be Fukao Emiko, hmm?" The last question wasn't in good humor as Azami would have guessed Jarek to use; instead, he said it almost condescendingly.
Sai smiled at her, and Azami with a start remembered that she wasn't just watching the show-she was a part of it.
Hastily she curtsied, almost falling over (damn high heels, she thought.)
"Hello sir," she said, trying to sound exceptionally sweet. Sai seemed unsure of what to say to her next; she felt uncomfortable under his gaze. Did he recognize her?
Fortunately, that was the moment that Asano arrived. Azami would have known him anywhere; from his picture on the screen of the dinky TV in the DJN headquarters to the coffee-stained newspaper articles she'd had to borrow from Kuroi since she was too poor to afford a newspaper subscription. She, like every other member of DJN, had followed his political career from day one, in hopes that he would be the saviour Neo Japan so desperately needed.
But even so, in person he looked different. Tall for a Japanese man, although small compared to Jarek, well-dressed and clean-shaven. He looked every inch a politician, she thought wryly, although she could tell that he lacked the security and wisdom that only came with age and experience.
Sai Sici smiled warmly. "Asano? To what do I owe the pleasure of your coming over to speak to me?"
He sighed heavly, running a hand through his hand. "The fact that you're the only one here who's not sucking up to me, looking down on me, or trying to manipulate me? Have you ever known of the Hatanaka. Par..." He stopped short when he saw Jarek and Azami. "Oh, forgive my rudeness! Is this the family friend that you mentioned to me?"
Sai nodded. "May I introduce Vladimir Morozov and his date."
"Hello there," Jarek nodded.
Azami had an idea. "Ohayou gozaimasu," she said sweetly.
Her attempt to catch Asano's interest worked; after nodding politely in return to Jarek, he immediately turned to her.
"You are Japanese?"
"Hai. Ethnically only, however. I was born in Neo Japan, but I was raised in Neo Hong Kong."
He smiled sadly. "I do not blame your parents for leaving. The colony is in a sorry state."
She sighed. "Indeed."
"Oh, I am making us all down, am I not? I do not like to see pretty girls cry. My apologizies, Fukao-san, and to your date as well for having such an uncouth interruption. Shall we proceed inside now?"
Azami nodded. Jarek, giving her a warning glance which said that she had to do this for the sake of their mission, took her arm and led her inside. She resisted glancing back, but Jarek's willpower was not as strong.
"Asano's saying something to Sai," he muttered.
"I hope that's a good sign." She whispered back.
It was not until they were seated that Sai was able to relay the message to Jarek, who leaned over to Azami and whispered:
"He said, 'I hope this is not overstepping my boundary, but I must say that I have never expected any Japanese woman to have such beautiful blue eyes.'"