At the Katō houshold
Tsukiko thrust open the door to the house and leapt up the stairs, ignoring the worried maid. She ran into her room and slammed the door, leaning against it. She slid down to the floor and put her forehead in her hands.
A small knock could be heard from the other side of Tsukiko's door, and she instantly felt bad for ignoring her maid. She stood, brushed herself off, and opened the door a small amount.
"Miss Katō?" The maid asked softly. "Are you quite alright?"
Tsukiko opened the door all the way and smiled warmly at Mika Saitō, her maid.
"I'm fine, Mika, I promise." Tsukiko's smile was as convincing as if you'd seen the truth its self.
"Good, good, because, you know, you have an important meeting with the agent tonight." Mika said hurridly, peeking into Tsukiko's room. "Have you prepared? You need your dress, and you need make up. Your hair needs to be dome, and-"
"I understand your worry, but I have my outfit at Mrs. Hitachiin's home." Tsukiko turned back into her room and lay on the bed.
"You mean the fashon designer? That Mrs. Hitachiin?" Mika asked in awe.
Tsukiko nodded, and Mika came over to her. She sat on the bed and ruffled Tsukiko's hair.
"Okay, I'll leave you to get ready to go over to Mrs. Hitachiin's house. But be ready in twenty minutes, we're on a somewhat tight schedule." Mika got up, leaving Tsukiko to prepare in peace.
Tsukiko heaved a sigh and changed out of the boy uniform. Why did she wear a boy uniform instead of a girl's? The boy uniform was simply made up of a blazer, black pants, and black shoes. She did not care for a big, hulking yellow dress that put clowns to shame. Too frilly, too girly, and much too yellow.
Her maid had mentioned an agent meeting, which was normal for Tsukiko. Normally, it would be something like, "Will you perform at my uncle's wedding?" Or "Would you be an opening act?" You know things like that. Or maybe you don't. Oh well.
Tsukiko slipped on a pair of faded jeans and a white T-shirt. She flouned down the stairs and into the kitchen, where her maid was working tirelessly.
"Mika, I'm leaving." Tsukiko said, and Mika turned. She scoffed.
"Here," She said, walking to the closet by the door. Mika pulled out a maroon hoodie. "It's supposed to get cold about the time your meeting is over."
Tsukiko sighed and started to protest, but her maid looked at her seriously. "Please? This is for your health, Miss. Katō."
Tsukiko sighed again before pulling the hoodie over her head. "Your welcome." She said. Mika giggled happily and shooed her out the door.
"Be good to the agent, Miss. Katō. Remember, you need the money, too." Mika called as Tsukiko climbed into the limo and drove away.
At the Hitachiin houshold
"Mother, you still haven't told us who you will be treating tonight!" Kaoru whined. Hikaru nodded vigerously.
"I don't have time for that!" Mrs. Hitachiin said tensley. "She'll be here any minute, and I still don't know where her dress went!"
"Oh, you mean that dress?" Hikaru pointed to the one hanging up near the make up section of the house.
"Ah, yes, thank you Hikaru." She huffed exasperatedly.
Hikaru pouted. "I'm not Hikaru, I'm Kaoru!"
"Don't mess with my mind tonight! This girl is very popular in Italy, Brazil, and even America! I can't mess this one up, boys." She said, waggling a finger in front of their faces.
"Brazil, Italy-" Hikaru stared, shooting his brother a stunned gaze.
"- And America?" Kaoru finished.
"You don't think..." Hikaru's eyes flickered to the door.
"... Is it Tsukiko Katō?" Kaoru whispered. The twins both jumped in sync when the door bell rang.
Their mother rushed to the door, and smoothed her clothes while she was oblivious to the twins, who were sneaking upstairs.
Mrs. Hitachiin opened the door, a huge smile plastered on her face. "Hello. You must be Miss Katō."
"Yes, but call me Tsukiko. I get enough of the 'Miss Katō', just in general." Tsukiko said flashing a fake yet heartwarming smile.
"Alright, Tsukiko." Mrs. Hitachiin said almost hesitantly. She guided Tsukiko into their home, and over to where her dress was. "Here it is! You like?"
Tsukiko examined it closely. A beautiful, silk down that led down to the floor once she picked it up off the bed. The sleeves made it to her elbows then flared out in a turquoise dance. The neckline was cut into a V-neck, with a small, dark blue flower dangling from the far right in the waist line. Tsukiko turned to Mrs. Hitachiin –who was silently praying the famous Tsukiko would approve- and smiled widely. Kaoru –who was hiding upstairs, yet in a space they could watch the scene unfold- felt like his heart was running a marathon, just after seeing her smile like that.
"I love it, Mrs. Hitachiin!" Tsukiko draped the dress over her arm. "You are real talented, if I may say so myself. If you don't mind, I'd like to put it on now, if that is alright with you?"
"O-of course! There is a fitting room down the hall, second door to the right." Mrs. Hitachiin stuttered happily. Once Tsukiko disappeared behind the door, Mrs. Hitachiin breathed out a sigh and sat on the ped, putting a hand to her forehead.
A few minutes later, Tsukiko flitted out of the room, walking gracefully over to where Mrs. Hitachiin was preparing make up and such. The dress danced around Tsukiko, the bottom of the dress sashaying, nearly touching the floor, but covering her feet almost completely.
"Mrs. Hitachiin." Tsukiko tapped her shoulder lightly. Said person jumped and spun, putting a hand to her mouth.
"Oh, Tsukiko! You look gorgeous!" Mrs. Hitachiin started to smooth the hair on Tsukiko's head, but decided against it, thinking I'll make it perfect after I do make up!
"Thank you, but we're not done yet." Tsukiko smiled and sat in the chair in front of a mirror as Mrs. Hitachiin pulled out a lip stick purse.
She's got a whole bag of lip stick? Holy cow.... Tsukiko thought in mild amusement as Mrs. Hitachiin dabbed a crimson red lip stick on her full lips.
"So who is escorting you there? A friend?" Mrs. Hitachiin asked conversationally. Tuskiko repressed a sigh.
"I'm escorting myself." Tuskiko said simply.
Mrs. Hitachiin paused putting the eye shadow on her to look at her in surprise. "You don't have security, even? What if something happens?"
"I can handle it on my own. I'm used to it being that way." Tsukiko's expression remained impassive, but irritation was slowly bubbling in her soul.
Mrs. Hitachiin stared at her in sadness, but continued her work.
About an hour later, Mrs. Hitachiin stepped back to examine her beatufil work. Anyone would say Tsukiko was a goddess at first sight.
Kaoru was speechless, and even Hikaru was gaping. Tsukiko smiled at Mrs. Hitachiin and bowed.
"Thank you, I'm going to look fantastic at the resteraunt tonight. How much would you like? I only have three hundred yen on me right now, I'm sorry."
"Oh, my! No, no! Dear, this will only cost thirty yen," Mrs. Hitachiin said, taking the thirty yen from the younger girl.
"I appreciate this a lot, Mrs. Hitachiin." Tsukiko flashed a brilliant smile, taking the eavesdropping Kaoru breathless.
Before Tsukiko disappeared behind the door to leave, Mrs. Hitachiin called out, "Be careful and good luck, Tsukiko!"
Tsukiko looked back with an awe struck expression which soon turned to gratitude. "Thanks!"
Tsukiko slipped out the door and bolted to her car. She seated herself in the limo and gave her limo driver the directions to the resteraunt.
They arrived at the resteraunt and Tsukiko managed not to gape. Lights were hung around every visible corner of every visible border around the windows and the door. There was a top deck, and people in fancy clothing were sipping martinis and such.
The bar... She thought. For some reason, she felt more comfertable once she had a good perspective of the places she went.
Her eyes wandered around the resteraunt, and she saw mostly couples happily drinking and eating fancy food.
This agent seems big on appearance....
She walked in and paused at the host's desk slash podium thing. The hostess looked up and planted a smile on her face. "Hello! Welcome!" (A/N: Okay, don't hate me, but I couldn't think of a resteraunt name! Aaaah!)
"The Katō party of two please," Tsukiko smiled at her and she nodded, typing a few keys on her computor before looking at her quizically.
"I have a Katō party of three. No two here, though."
"Oh, then that's it." Tsukiko said confidently. Maybe he invited a guest?
The hostess lead her over to a table with two people already there, their backs to Tsukiko and the hostess. The hostess gave me a menu and bowed her head. "Enjoy."
At the sudden word, the two people turned around and stood up, meeting Tsukiko's height. Tsukiko once again held back a fit of gaping rudeness as she stared at her reservers.
No, no, no! That was the only thing going through her mind as she stared at the two people standing in front of her.
"You've grown so much," Her Grandmother said emotionlessly. Her Grandfather nodded in agreement.
The two people who Tsukiko hated more than anything were standing in front of her.
I would bet my bento they were here to take me in, she thought with a mental scowl.
They had custody of her now. But that wasn't a good thing.
How did she know that?
Just a hunch.