Blind Sided

~Jasmine-Fields-1979~

I Disclaim: I do not own the copyrights or trademarks of the respective authors, artists, and television programming of any Manga or Anime. Please note, with respect, that the images I use are clipped from open source images discovered on the Internet, with exception to photos pertaining to my own image and any business branding about my employers past and present.

Chapter 6

Yamato was stunned when he first saw Kai entering Mei's friendship circle.

He had thought to bring others into her world first – and he wanted to handpick who she might trust and befriend – but knew Mei well enough to recognize the stiffness in her back whenever Kai was around. At first, he wondered if Mei was trying to get revenge on him with the long work hours around the modeling agency. But then it was odd, because Mei's sullenness increased every single time Kai came around to start a conversation with her. She looked put out and annoyed but did not speak up about her thoughts.

Then one day, Kai and Yamato caught up and he finally recognized the boy he never defended when he had a chance to many years ago. He discovered that Kai was aiding Mei with some special project that he would not talk about with Yamato. All there was to go by his suspicions was pure conjecture of the relationship between Mei and Kai. He didn't know if he ought to be jealous or relieved that Mei seemed to respect Kai in a way that Yamato felt guilty to do after all this time apart. And Kai was a man that genuinely cared about Mei.

Did they have a history together? He wondered at that.

Kai had come dressed for an interview of sorts – showing to the modeling agency dressed in business attire.

Yamato – if he had a jealous streak – had become genuinely inquisitive with the managerial staff afterward. Kai had a discussion behind closed doors that Yamato found out about from a senior cameraman. He listened with interest. Apparently, Kai worked behind the scenes for someone – he didn't recognize the name – to do some stunt work through another studio that needed extra cameras and men doing some sort of work around for other projects that didn't even have names and focus to them yet. Negotiations for actors and actresses were not discussed in the initial meetings. The manager could not lose any resources currently due to the amount of coordination and activities required for stunts. Kai understood and wanted to discuss things with his boss lady. Who ever that was.

Huh. He didn't know Kai was a stuntman for the other studio. He hadn't realized Kai had his own connections. When did that happen? And how had it occurred right under his nose?

He would finish off the day and go home – without Megumi's second invitation to dinner. The rumors around university started to wear his nerves thin and Megumi's interest in him proved to be real.

He didn't like the idea of starting rumor wars while Mei worked the bakery and while things were heating up at the studio between the managerial staff. He would keep quiet for now and not discuss things as they were. There was a lot of stress with university studies and keeping up with his own career – and then the arguments with his little sister whenever he would find out Mei had called but then messages were deleted. He didn't like to complain or argue, and he really, really was starting to feel neglected.

A thought pierced his conscience.

Yamato decided to go home and consider his university career and weigh the cost of losing Mei versus the capital gains and profits of this particular studio with the short term benefits of having both social status and business acquisition without people in his ears whispering threats and rumors at every turn.

A week later, Mei rushed toward him with determination he had not seen from her since first meeting her with a roundhouse kick. What was she doing? He was with his other friends – the ones who cared nothing for her. Fire was spitting out of her eyes and he expected an untamed explosive argument with her to slap him or something.

Not silently grab his necktie then kiss him in public. Ohgodohgodoh – was that tongue?

When he opened his eyes, everyone was staring. But at who, he wasn't sure about most. What just happened? He knew she wanted him but held back. Mei was stressed about something she wouldn't speak of – and then he noticed Kai staring with some dark haired stranger and a cameraman from the agency. Those two were frowning, but the cameraman – he was smiling a Cheshire cat grin for some stupid reason. Megumi disappeared after that and Kai followed her. The stranger and cameraman remained at the university following them both around the remainder of the day. He was not amused. Then the stranger and cameraman followed behind while they walked to her apartment.

Neither spoke for about 10 minutes. The dark haired stranger and the cameraman remained silent.

"I know something about the power of an image, too," Mei finally spoke up huffing. After a few moments of silence, Yamato didn't pry, but just as curiosity met the tumbling words in his head, she spoke again.

"While I was at the military academy, there were cameras on me for a recruiting video. That's when I realized that I was cute enough for a commercial – but needed to remain on my best behavior because things could spin out of control very quickly, especially if I didn't have input into how business was determined. The cameras were never about acting for me. They were always used to help me acquire resources and do a sort of show and tell for the academy. Remember always, image counts in a lot of things, but my job, at the academy, was to establish good community relationships between the academy and the civilian population."

He understood. At least he thought he did. Then it clicked, that now was a good time to ask and get her true thoughts.

"Are you mad?" he probed for an answer.

"Not really," she sighed then began again, "I understand Megumi – at least a little bit. Are you mad, you know, about Kai?"

"Kind of. I didn't expect the camera crew to show to university today."

"I needed to do that to put an end to rumors and show reality to Megumi – for my own purposes," she huffed bitterly.

"Any chance those purposes include me?"

Her expression softened.

"Definitely."

The camera man suddenly walked backwards and blocked their path causing the pace to slow down. Smug punk was still smiling, Yamato thought. And... the camera was aimed behind them now.

"Did you get all that?" the dark haired stranger spoke up.

"Every word."

The camera man switched hands around the camera and focused the lens on the couple.

They were at the park now. Yamato slipped his hand in Mei's and asked quietly, "How long are they going to follow us around?"

She rolled her eyes at the camera.

"We have them for a week. So, start thinking about all those resources we need. For everything. And anything. I can tell you about the projects I've had in mind while at the bakery. We can combine my more creative expression with your practical business making skills. I want this Yamato. I want us to work together on these projects. I know the stress at work is hurting us, but if I have the cameras on me, then even though they'll be following us around, we can balance the workload better between us."

He wasn't sure what she was talking about but decided that she probably had reason for the cameras to begin with. And since she was outsourcing for the purposes of business, he was confident that she did know something about what she wanted. How were they to get all the resources they needed with only a cameraman and stranger? He didn't know. He'd have to think on it. Perhaps he'd speak with his father first – then his little sister.

"What's the catch?"

Looking down at her, he realized her spine was not stiff at all. She was relaxed for the first time in several weeks. Mei had prepared for this, he realized. She knew that there would be questions, even rumors about Megumi and him... yet he was curious –

"No real catch. Contracts are being discussed right now and you're the star of this show. The main thing is that old contracts are almost up and even interim contracts will help stabilize the larger companies. For instance, I want a contract between the military academy and all its affiliates and your father's company. But in order for that to happen, negotiations are necessary."

And now the cameraman was not smiling and the dark haired stranger was. Huh. Had Mei just done something the agency did not expect? He had phone calls to make, but first...

"Who will they be following, since there's only one camera and two of us?"

Mei looked to the dark-haired stranger. He passed a look to both Mei and Yamato.

"You first. And me, when we're talking in class together. Do this my way for a bit and you'll see that things will work out in a staged plan that lasts about 75 to 100 more years. You'll have work for you the rest of your life doing things my way."

A long-term business plan was the goal? Wow. Exactly, what did they teach the women in those military academies?

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