Agents of HIME
Two: Mai Tokhia
Guilt was a powerful motivator, Mai Tokhia had found. At a young age her little brother had nearly drowned while under her care, and the medical bills nearly drowned their whole family in debt. To try to relieve some of that pressure Mai left school early, despite her parents (weak) protests, and went into cooking in a professional way, sending some of each pay cheque back home to her parents. It was a hard life, no question, but it was also a satisfying one.
The light brown haired woman looked around in awe at the mansion, one of several belonging to the Suzushiro family, as Mai accompanied the caterers into the building. There was apparently a high level corporate meeting tonight, and the Suzushiros wanted to impress their guests. Mai assisted in preperations and helped set up the trays of food, then removed her outer apron to reveal the maid outfit underneath.
"So," Mai whispered to her co-worker Akane, "who's idea was this?"
Akane smiled cynically as she whispered back, "Apparently one of the women we're serving has a thing for pretty ladies."
"Really?" Mai looked scandalized.
Miss Midori, the head of the catering company, cleared her throat as the perpetually seventeen redhead said gruffly, "Let's get to serving, girls,."
Out in the main hall the tables were lined by the rich and powerful, men and women of note across the head of the center table Haruka Suzushiro was a energetic, powerful young woman, the inheritor of her father's construction company which she had built into a nation wide powerhouse. Beside her was the power behind the throne, her adviser Yukino who was said to temper the president's more enthusiastic notions.
Beside the two women at the upper table was Shizuru Fujino, a beautiful if somewhat more mysterious figure. She was of noble birth and moved in the highest circles of society, but people seemed to know very little about her. The brown haired woman was beautiful and graceful, had a Kyoto accent and had the eccentric habit of wearing a katana occassionally, but other than that little was known.
Moving along the table Mai offered up her tray of food, passing out delicacies with expert skill. She silently put up with the men peering down her maid's top, schooling her expression to a cheerful smile. Reaching the head table Mai offered the snacks to the three women, then noticed a tall black haired woman standing off to one side.
Thin and angular the tall black haired woman looked like she'd just been through a growth spurt, her pants and shirt new and uncomfortable. Her blue eyes swept the room warily, not lingering on any one thing as she stood in the shadowy corner.
"The woman standing at the back," Mai murmured to Shizuru descretely, "would you like us to bring her out something, too?"
"You noticed her?" Shizuru looked at Mai thoughtfully, "Most people don't pay Mikoto much attention." She smiled, "She could probably clear a full tray herself, but you can certainly bring something out for her."
"Will do," Mai smiled as she continued passing out the food to the members of the head table.
Quietly Haruka addressed Shizuru, "I still don't see how Kazahana's plans will make us money. Isn't this sort of thing illegal?"
"Companies like Blackwater and others do quite well at it," Shizuru answered her mildly, "and I believe we will be covered under international law. We shall simply have to be careful operating at home, is all."
"That's simplifying things a great deal," Yukino noted mildly as she worked her blackberry, "but I think they are correct. We could even handle bodyguard duties at home, as long as we are careful in how to arm our operatives."
Finishing up with the food Mai left the main table, heading back into the kitchen with her empty tray. Looking up at Midori she smiled, "Could we put together a mixed tray, too? There's a woman at the back who hasn't eaten yet."
"She's a body guard," Midori noted with some amusement, "she's probably not supposed to eat anything just yet."
"A bodyguard?" Mai repeated, surprised.
"Mai, have all the guests arrived yet?" Akane asked brightly, the young woman carelessly intruding on the conversation.
Mai frowned at the interruption but answered, "I think so. At least all the tables were full."
"Good, then I'd better get to work," Akane trotted over to talk to her boyfriend, a tall, sullen boy named Tate Yuuichi.
"What was that about?" Midori started when Tate suddenly whipped out a sub-machine gun from from under his apron and raked the room with bullets, killing her in a instant
Mai gaped as Midori's blood splattered her cheek, then reflex took over as she dove for the floor. Tate was smiling coldly as he shot people, sending cooks and maids falling to the stones in splatters of blood. One young man, his face still looking stunned, fell on Mai, splattering her with more blood as she lay there, deathly still.
"Is that all of 'em?" Tate sounded disappointed at the end of the slaughter as they strode through the kitchen towards the inner door.
"Yes," they walked by the blood splattered Mai as Akane continued, "and Kazuya should have lead the team taking the hall. We're gonna be rich, baby!"
Mai lay there in the blood a moment, then once she was sure they were gone crawled towards where the phone hung on the wall. Hearing no dial tone she hung it up, looking around her wildly. She didn't look at her coworkers, not ready to deal with that, instead she found her gaze sweeping the walls and landing on the antique, cast iron frying pan hanging there. It was heavy in Mai's hands as she took it down, but she had built muscle working in the kitchen. A heavy cleaver was suddenly in her other hand, and Mai silently followed Akane and Tate out.
Carefully opening the door Mai swept the room, taking the situation in the main hall in. Two armed men were holding Shizuru and Haruka, and a third held Mikoto at gunpoint. A few other more casual men watched pver the other wealthy guests while Akane and Tate watched proudly from near the kitchen, Tate's machine gun slung at his side.
Somehow, just looking at them Mai knew that all Shizuru and Haruka were waiting for was a distraction, and then they would act. Silently she crept out of the kitchen, tucking the cleaver into her belt as she hefted the frying pan two handed. Easing it back over her shoulder Mai took a deep breath, then she swung with all her might.
"This is for Midori!" Mai yelled as the side of Tate's head caved in with a meaty and satisfying thunk, the blow sending him lurching sideways.
"Tate!" Akane yelped, her face and side splattered with high velocity brain matter.
Right on cue Haruka punched her captor in the face, a shockingly powerful blow that sent him reeling backwards. Before he could try for his weapon Haruka followed up, rabbit punching him in the nose and dropping him with a bruising uppercut.
At almost the same time Shizuru kicked her captor, knocking him backwards as she smoothly drew the katana. Not a replica it shimmered with the watermark of a finely crafted blade, shining as she struck. The blade sliced through the man like water, splattering the area with blood.
Observing her mistress was safe from reprisal Mikoto attacked, the black haired martial artist swiftly grabbing her supposed guard and disarming him. Inspired by their example the rest of the guests turned on their armed captors, and while this time there were some casualties, there were far more guests than attackers.
Recovering in seconds from her shock Akane scrambled for Tate's fallen gun, but Mai was faster. Leaving the pan embedded in Tate's head she whipped out the cleaver, taking a swing at Akane's hand and forcing her to yank it back. Kicking the gun towards Yukino Mai paced after the retreating Akane, occassionally taking experimental swings at her.
Neither were aware of the ongoing battle as they stalked each other in front of the kitchen, Akane producing a deadly looking switchblade from her maid's uniform. Snapping the blade out she hissed, "It doesn't have to be this way, Tokhia."
"Do tell," Mai followed her relentlessly, looking for a opening.
Flicking the blade back and forth Akane said, "I never knew you were this capable, Mai. How would you like to take Tate's place by my side?"
Mai could feel her lip curl up, watching the woman and wondering how she could ever have thought that her manic smile was friendly. Clearly, there was something badly damaged in her personality somewhere....
"I'll give you Tate's share and a bonus!" Akane offered desperately, "I know you need money, I've heard you tell that idiot Midori that before...."
As Akane overextended her hand Mai saw her opening. The heavy, well sharpened cleaver could cut heavy sides of beef, it was no problem to sever the connection between hand and wrist. Akane opened her mouth to scream as her hand holding the switchblade flew by, then Mai brought the oak handle to her chin in a powerful blow as she growled, "My brother wouldn't want any of your damned blood money!"
Seeing their leader down the remaining would be kidnappers threw in the towel, throwing themselves on the mercy of their captives. Haruka, especially, looked ready to kill but her partner Yukino calmed her down long enough for someone to call the police off a cellphone.
"Miss Tokhia, is it?" the cultured, slightly accented voice asked, and Mai turned to look up into Shizuru's red tinted eyes.
"Mai, yes," she stammered as the woman stood beside her by the entrance, watching the coroner pulling the bodies of her coworkers out of the kitchen.
"Then you must call me Shizuru," she said seriously. As Mai was about to protest she added, "Anyone who saves my life is automatically on a first name basis with me."
"I didn't...," Mai blushed.
"You went after them because they harmed a friend of yours, I understand," Shizuru said, patting her on the arm. "But if you hadn't acted, I doubt Haruka and I could have handled our guards as easily as we did."
Mai still wanted to argue, but she could see her point. "I suppose so," she admitted.
As the final dead were removed Shizuru took Mai's arm, gently drawing her back into the building. "I couldn't help overhearing you talk to that... woman," she said the last with distaste then continued, "you have financial difficulties?"
"Yes," Mai sighed and added, "but I don't want charity, Miss... I mean, Shizuru."
Shizuru smiled, "And I have no intention of offering that." As they entered the main hall she said, "In fact, I would like to hire you for a certain venture I'm starting up. As a cook, to start with though I may have other jobs for you too."
"Oh?" Mai looked at her thoughtfully.
Shizuru smiled slightly, "I must confess, there may be other situations like today. The sort of lifestyle I envision will be... unusual."
Mai thought of the snippets of conversation she heard that night and guessed, "Mercenaries?"
"Brave, capable and intelligent," Shizuru murmured then nodded, "Indeed. Of the type that stop this sort of thing."
Mai thought of her boss Midori, a adventurous woman who would have jumped at the offer and smiled sadly. "I'll do it," she looked at Shizuru, "but I want a raise."
"Done," Shizuru said, taking her hand and shaking it.
"Miss Fujino?" Mikoto asked quietly as she walked up to the two of them.
"Shizuru, remember?" she chided gently.
"Shizuru," Mikoto agreed, then her stomach grumbled loudly. She sighed, "I'm hungry."
As Mai bit back a laugh at the girl-woman's sheepish look Shizuru explained, "Mikoto just finished a monumental growth spurt, nearly two feet. I think she's still recovering."
Fighting back a chuckle Mai took Mikoto's hand, "I'm sure there must be something left on the buffet tables. Let's go look, shall we?"
Mikoto smiled down at Mai as she eagerly followed, "Sure!"
To be continued?
Notes: When I wrote the Nao chapter I included Mai, not really thinking how a mostly 'normal' cook could have fallen in with the HIME. Keeping her background mostly the same I decided she might have met Shizuru shortly after she started up the HIME and got involved in a mission by accident. I like making Mikoto a tall grown up as a excuse to explain her eating, plus I think it's cool. If you want to imagine what she looks like, think of a more energetic version of Maggie from Read or Die TV.
Sorry to any Akane, Tate and Kazuya fans. I wanted to use 'name' Mai Hime characters as villains, Also sorry to the Midori fans. I had originally thought of her being a villain too, but making her a innocent caught in the crossfire made a better inspiration for Mai to continue on.