The car pulled up in front of the main gate. The woman at the gate watched as a woman in a suit got out of the backseat, and held the door for another woman, wearing a kimono and holding a graceful posture. The two walked to the gate as the others in the car began removing luggage. The woman in the kimono lead the woman in the suit in bowing to the woman at the gate.
“Okaasama, I’m home.”
Rie, the girl in the suit, looked across briefly at the woman who had spoken. There was no genuine affection in the way the girl had spoken to the woman who lead them in. That wasn’t too surprising though, this was only their third time meeting. The way Minami had responded suggested to Rie that the woman had not detected the coldness of her step daughter’s greeting.
“Should you not have come with some bodyguards?” Minami asked as they made their way to another room to sit. Rie observed a man guarding each door, each bowed as they passed. Rie observed a measure of surprise in Minami’s movements, while Yui was unmoved by the bowing. She matter of factly answered the question.
“Rie is the only protection I need.”
Rie smiled a little hearing that. She didn’t think it wise for the mistress to rely on just her for protection, but she appreciated her confidence in her.
Yui and Minami took seats, Yui pointedly choosing a different seat to the one opposite her step-mother. Rie stood, guarding the door.
“Where’s Papa?”
“Away on business. He’ll be home tomorrow night.”
“I see.”
Rie knew that seeing her father was the reason the mistress had returned to the family home for her birthday. At least he’d be arriving before the day itself. As for her step mother, she wasn’t sure if Yui hated her or just needed time to form an opinion about her. The boss had been injured 18 months previously in another groups attempted hit, and spent the next 9 months in hospital. By the time he’d recovered that gang had been completely destroyed by his daughter’s efforts, with the one who actually attacked him being better off just dead than what had happened to him. A few weeks later the boss had surprised everyone announcing he was going to marry one of the nurses who had been attending him during his hospital stay, especially since the girl was only a year older than his daughter. That had been the first time they’d met, the second being at the wedding itself. And now this was the third.
Yui didn’t speak to Minami at all through dinner, except to excuse herself when they had finished. Yui lead Rie straight to her own room at the estate, now only rarely occupied by her. Rie entered alone while the mistress told the man guarding that if he or any other male member of staff was at the door when she returned he would personally regret it, asking for Miyazawa. She got her wish of course, and wouldn’t have needed to threated the guy anyway seeing as her word was law. Rie suspected she got a sadistic pleasure out of threatening people who would already obey her.
Once they were alone in Yui’s room the mistress ordered her to stop guarding her. This wasn’t something she could actually do, for Rie it just meant she was now to talk with her.
“What are you going to do?”
Yui, sat on the bed, having changed into sleepwear, looked up at her.
“Wait for Papa to get home and then enjoy my birthday with him, then head back after another day or so. Work isn’t going to stop for my birthday.”
“That’s not what I meant. What are you going to do about Minami-san?
"Oh her. I’ll think of something. Make sure we understand each other.”
“I see.”
“But before anything else, I confirmed with Miyazawa that that woman normally sleeps in the room next door to us. So you’re task for right now is to use whatever you can find in that bag,” she indicated a bag the contents of which both were intimately familiar with, “and myself,” she laid down on the bed, her shirt not fully buttoned up, “to make tonight as uncomfortable for Okaasama as possible. Make sure I make a lot of noise OK?”
It was that time of the day, where Yui would immediately stop what she was doing. Why? Because she was lovely. What’s the point having eight wives, just to be cooped up doing work all day? All work and no play is not her motto. Placing her writing utensil down, and organizing the previously read and signed paperwork, she stood up and stretched her body. Sore from sitting for hours on end, she groaned as her body popped and creaked back into place.
Walking around her desk, she glanced out of the window located behind he work area, based on the height of the sun, it was a little past noon, the perfect time to find any of her lovers, and maybe enjoy a quick lunch together.
Smiling at the thought, she picked up her pace and quickly exited the room. The halls of her home were long and detailed, anyone who didn’t come here on the regular would get lost easily, which is what Yui wanted, why would she live in a simple home where anyone would possibly break in and kill her family? That wouldn’t be smart one bit.
Plus with having such halls, she could have shortcuts built, that only she and her family would know. Speaking of one, there was one coming up right now, one that would lead to the basement under the kitchen, the most direct route to get to the dining hall in a shorter time frame. Climbing down, she ducked her head, as she crawled with practiced ease, there were no light sources, but it was still the middle of the day, the light of the kitchen was her only goal.
A few moments later she could see the light and the trap door. Once she was under it she applied enough pressure to push it open without much noise, and climbed out. Dusting off her clothes, and pushing her hair out of her face, she huffed. She’s only been home for a few days, and it felt like she’s been gone for years.
Exiting the kitchen basement, she ignored the looks of her kitchen workers, all except one, who beckoned her over to taste something, a spoon in her mouth, Yui all but hummed in pleasure at the flavor explosion in her mouth. “Gods, yes, you never fail to impress me, Haruu.” She praised her head cook.
“Thank you, Commander.” She teased, going back to work, purposely ignoring the ‘Hey!’ directed at her, she was a close enough friend to not have to address her formally, but Shimada Haruka chose not to listen due to how embarrassed Yui would get.
“Anyone eating already?” She asked nonchalantly, looking for something to grab and snack on. Haruka didn’t bother to turn back around, before she replied. “Yes, your second in command is out there having a light lunch, maybe you can catch her and convince her to eat something hearty for once.”
Yui chuckled at the semi offended tone her head chef had, grabbing a bowl of whatever she just tased, a loaf of bread and sorme fruits, she placed it on a tray before disappearing out of the kitchen. Just as described, Rie was eating alone, snacking on some fruit while reading over some documents, probably something she gave her upon their return home.
“Mind some company?” Yui asked, a warm smile on her face, at the look Rie gave her a wide eyed look, that morphed into an equally warm smile. She looked a lot more happier since they’ve gotten home, it seems that secret of hiding her feelings was really killing her. Shaking her head of that past elephant in the room, Yui sat beside her betrothed, and quickly took her hand in her own. “How are you this fine day, Rie?” She asked while going to kiss her bare ring finger, one that will soon wear a custom ring in the next few weeks.
“I’m doing good, better than you’re here with me.” Rie replied, cutely leaning over to recieve a better greeting, she even playfully bit Yui’s lip while parting from the kiss. “I need that.” She sighed, going back to her lunch.
Recovering slowly from the kiss, Yui couldn’t help but want another. But as she was about to act on that urge, her stomach painfully reminded her of what she was here to originally do. So instead she grabbed her spoon and took a sip of the broth before her.
