Agents of HIME
Chapter Seven
"Mom! Dad! Takumi!" Mai called, and rapidly hugged them one by one.
"Good to see you, squirt," her father smiled warmly.
"It's been too long," Mom agreed.
"Hey, big sis," Takumi smiled up at her sheepishly. The young man looked fairly healthy, and had had pretty much recovered from his near drowning years back. They had also (FINALLY!) paid off all the outstanding medical bills from that.
"You didn't have to send us so much money, Mai," Dad noted to her quietly. "We would have managed, somehow."
"I can afford it," Mai said firmly.
Frankly, Mai was making a LOT of money working for HIME. She wasn't insanely rich, admittedly, but she was quite comfortable, and was putting aside a nest egg besides.
"Now," her father said briskly, "the important reason we came to visit."
"Huh?" Mai blinked.
"We want to meet your girlfriend," Mom added cheerfully.
"HUH?!" Mai blurted.
"You mentioned her last time you called," Takumi reminded her. "You thought Mom and Dad would miss that?"
Mai winced. She actually HAD hopped she could just slip in a mention, and they'd not notice.
"When can we meet her?" Dad pressed cheerfully.
Mai sighed, then smiled. "I was planning that we could all have dinner together, tonight," Mai explained, "after I show you around Fuka."
"I can't wait," Mom chirped.
"You are TOTALLY getting grilled about her, today," Takumi teased his big sister, as any little brother should.
Mai sighed, knowing that was true.
"Come on, show us this town you've moved to," Dad encouraged as they walked off together.
0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0
"Hmm," Arika murmured in her sleep as she cuddled Nina from the front.
"Awoo," Erstin made a sort sound, holding Nina from behind.
Nina Wong, herself usually an early riser, was in that special hell of being pinned between her two girlfriends.
'I wonder if I could wiggle free?' Nina mused silently.
"MORNING!" Chie Harada banged open the door.
"Ack!" Arika came awake and clamped her arms around Nina.
"OOOF!" Nina gasped.
"Up and at 'em," Chie added. "We've got an assignment."
"Morning," Erstin said drowsily as they all got up. Her breasts bounced distractingly in her nightie, and Nina had to look away.
"Oh HO," Arika teased.
"Oh shut up," Nina muttered.
They all got dressed, grabbed a quick breakfast snack, then met with Chie for a briefing on their new assignment.
"As you know, Mai Tokhia is taking some time off," Chie noted.
"Her family's visiting," Arika nodded.
"So we'll need to cover some of her normal bodyguard work. Since Mikoto is also occupied," Chie added.
"She's meeting Mai's family. That's SO romantic!" Erstin sighed happily.
Chie just ignored that, "So we'll need to pick up the slack. They were both booked to assist a popular idol, Alyssa Searrs."
"Isn't she really spoiled?" Nina asked warily.
"Apparently. But HIME contracted to keep her safe," Chie said.
"Will do!" Arika beamed.
"Erstin, you'll be the team's driver, Arika bodyguarding, Nina support," Chie added briskly. "You'll be heading out later today."
"Short notice," Erstin noted.
"Ms Searrs moved up her appearances, apparently. She'll be meeting you at Tokyo airport," Chie finished.
0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0
"I'm SO nervous," Mikoto Minagi admitted, the gangly woman dressed in a fancy shirt and dress pants.
"You'll be fine," Mai reassured her lover as they finished getting ready.
"But what if they don't like me?" Mikoto asked.
"Mikoto, it'll be okay," Mai patted her arm. Briskly she continued, "Now come on. We're meeting them at the restaurant."
"Yes dear," Mikoto said meekly and Mai laughed.
The local 'Anna Millers' knock off was a cosy family restaurant, and wasn't far from their apartment. The inn that the Tokhia family was in was also near, so that worked out well. They all met up, walking on the way there.
"Hi everyone," Mai said warmly, "I'd like you to meet my girlfriend, Mikoto Minagi."
"It's a pleasure to meet you," Mikoto said stiffly, bowing a bit.
"Nice to meet you," Dad shook her hand.
"Hello," Mom smiled gently.
They went into the restaurant, and were seated. They ordered drinks first, then Takumi looked at Mikoto, "Are you THE Mikoto Minagi?"
"The?" Mai asked
"She was Japan Kendo Champion three years in a row," Takumi said eagerly.
"Yes, that was me," Mikoto admitted a bit sheepishly.
"My girlfriend, Akira, was a huge fan," Takumi admitted. "Why did you quit competing?" he asked curiously.
"Well, that was when my growth spurt hit," Mikoto admitted, "I went from four foot to nearly six in a year. It badly threw me off, fighting wise."
"I can imagine," Dad blinked.
"So how did you two meet?" Mom asked curiously.
"She saved my life, actually," Mikoto admitted.
"I did NOT," Mai protested.
"Close enough," Mikoto said.
They then told a (edited) version of their first meeting. Overall dinner went well, and Mom and Dad seemed to take to Mikoto. Takumi, amusingly, seemed to think she was awesome.
One Mikoto got up to use the bathroom, Dad noted, "I like her. And she sure seems to think the world of you."
Mai blushed.
"Agreed, she's a sweetheart," Mom nodded. She smiled at Mai, "Are you two going to formalize things, eventually?"
"MOM," Mai groaned.
"If you do, we want a wedding invitation," Dad added cheerfully.
"Of come on," Mai groaned again, but she was smiling.
0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0
Alyssa Searrs disembarked from the private plane, the gorgeous blond woman catching everyone's eye. Her assistant Miyu Greer kept pace, her almost steel grey hair combed down forcefully.
"Ah, Japan, how I hate you," Alyssa sighed.
"Please don't let the fans hear that," Miyu noted mildly.
The two went through customes, then out into the airport were they saw three women, holding up a sign reading 'Welcome, Alyssa!'
"Well, that's... kind of sweet of them, actually," Alyssa blinked. "The HIME security, I guess?"
"Hmm," Miyu frowned, "let's confirm first."
They did the security password thing, confirming the three were from HIME. They introduced themselves, and Alyssa introduced Miyu.
"We checked over your car, no one's tampered with it," Nina said briskly, "Erstin will bring it around, while I and Arika go with you to collect your luggage."
"You're assuming there's going to be trouble?" Miyu asked curiously.
"We ALWAYS assume there'll be trouble," Erstin offered, "goes with the job."
"Let's go," Alyssa nodded, impressed.
To be continued...
Notes: MOSTLY just wanted to do the Mai/Mikoto bits. I also need to decide if Alyssa is related to the Kugas like in canon, or not.