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 7

"Tachibana," the dark-haired stranger hissed, "why didn't you say anything to me when I first followed you to the bookstore? Why did you call your boyfriend without talking to me first?"

A long stretch of hot uncomfortable silence followed them all. An indigenous anger formed in her eyes, even though she maintained aloof calmness as the words formed. She was burning hot angry with a hard edge in her voice.

"I'm sure I don't know you without your little brother. It's difficult to know whose who in the dark... And, I'm tired of being kidnapped by the military academy's brethren when all they really need to do is approach me in the daylight, identify themselves and then I would have spoken sooner to you."

His voice softened. "Oh. You never had problems with it before."

"Yes. I did. I just never had the chance to explain anything."

"You didn't talk much about – "

"And you need to know that I still won't. It's depressing."

They were in the streets during one of her breaks at the bakery in the back alley – nearly in a shouting match for the passersby to hear. Kai looked dazed and far away as he stared back against the door, both hands in his pockets while one leg draped over the other, searching out over the dozen heads or so of people walking. Never noticing them otherwise, except when Mei grit her teeth and stood up, they looked like any normal people on an outing.

Man, Mei was grumpy when she hadn't eaten.

Sighing, Kai interjected, "So, what's the plan now?"

Mei huffed out her displeasure. Then counted on her fingers.

"Well, the camera guy is following Yamato today and throughout the weekend. I won't see him again until Tuesday, so this gives us time to plan a bit when it's our turn to tell a little bit of my story without headlining me. I can do things your way, but Yamato wants what he wants, so do a favor and listen to him during negotiations. I have a feeling he won't like this, but we need to be careful when reframing him with me instead of Megumi at the modeling agency."

Mei's hand went to her nose. She sniffled.

"I'm not afraid of much, but Yamato – he's a real challenger to you both. He's clever and knows the difference between right and wrong, imagination and reality. He'll know if you're lying to him, no doubt. Just however you frame me, don't make us look like we don't care about each other."

Kai glanced toward the sky at that moment to watch an airplane fly overhead.

"What's in it for us?"

Mei didn't understand, at first, the skepticism with her plan. It was solid, to her way of thinking.

"We're losing an asset to this man that we don't even know. What's in it for us?" Kai asked again, more seriously.

Mei thought for a moment.

"Well, actually, I was thinking about giving you access to my apartment to stage operations for about a year since we know each other. Might get socially sticky though if Yamato finds out without me presenting a satisfactory plan on all the reasons why I'm quartering a squad of undercover soldiers... without including him in either the process or why I'm entertaining you and not the agency's models and managers. I'm thinking about stunt doubling about a couple dozen projects right now with about three or four up and coming superstars. They're so unknowledgeable that they'll need me to be there to write script and words for the music videos."

The dark-haired man stood from his seated position on an upside-down bucket. "What else?"

"We will need more than one camera set up to receive us at different locations. I want as much privacy as possible, but I will give up some of the comfort I have in order to make this successful. I haven't been able to reach my contact, yet but people at the bakery talk and I listen. They talk some more, then I do the inquiry thing and then they spout hateful words at me, even when I'm polite and nice about my suggestions."

"Wow. That's a tough life – to go unheard." Kai spoke up after a few moments of dull thought. "So, big brother, what's your take on this?"

They all paused to hear as a throat cleared, waiting as though for a verdict.

"One world; Indian nation. We stick with the plan for one cameraman for now. She gets to keep her vision as a bonus, since we're not the ones she's technically working for right now, and we keep close enough to her until we finish the mission. We work the logistics – and if things have to change, then so be it."

A deal was struck and they parted ways. Mei hurried through the remainder of her lunch break downing some honeyed tea and a sandwich, then finished work and walked home alone while the sun was still on the horizon. When she arrived home, she dialed Yamato's number, thinking about university assignments.

"Hello?"

It had been awhile since she had spoken over the phone with him.

"Is the camera guy with you?"

"No. You have a plan?" He asked.

"Yes. I'll talk with you about it on Tuesday. I have a thousand things going on inside my head, but first, there are contracts that need honoring. I'll tell you more later."

He wanted to doubt her words but did not want anyone at the modeling agency to get a leg up on him for his own plans. He wished Mei would say more, but sometimes, as he was learning, print copyrights and gaining royalties for work already completed and unsigned for was harder when having to prove the source of creative work in this country. He'd talk in detail but right now needed Mei to know he cared about her.

"Mei?"

"Yes?"

"I want to see you this weekend."

He heard a high-pitched thwack on what sounded like skin – perhaps her face? He didn't know.

"Can't. I'll make it up to you, I promise. You'll have to deal with the camera royalties and edits on your own until next week. I can help this way, but the camera guy has you for the weekend, not me."

"Hnn. I really wish you'd just say what's going on right now, Mei."

Since the publications with Megumi appeared in stores and on magazine racks, both men and women – all fans – were on the streets stopping him in congratulations – since he looked more familiar to the public now – to find out if Megumi and he were getting married any time soon. He kept contending that no, he wasn't interested in Megumi. The mounting stress of more cameras monopolizing him and Megumi whenever all he wanted was to be with Mei... It was complete madness, to his way of thinking.

"I will. Once this is finished. I'll tell you afterward and things will turn out right for us. We have to do this while we're young enough to still do it, though. I think we can get Aiko and some of your friends to help with this. Know that I won't leave you to do this alone."

That caught his attention. Then he faked a yawn. He honestly wished she would just say it already – how she really felt about him. He had told her a dozen times – at least he had thought so – and she was still feeling out his intentions until her very attention-grabbing kiss at the university. It made his head freaking spin. And then, he didn't know what to do when the camera was on him and he was left alone again.

***oOo***