Love Hina Fan Fiction ❯ Fallout ❯ Fallout: Kaolla's Pride ( Chapter 9 )

[ X - Adult: No readers under 18. Contains Graphic Adult Themes/Extreme violence. ]

Chapter 9

Kaolla's Pride

“Uh huh. Right. Sure. Right. Fine. You know my office? Yeah, we'll meet with you. I won't bother to warn you, its embassy property. Yes, that's what that means so be on your best behavior,” cautioned Motoko.

“So its come out, has it?” asked Kaolla Su, looking up from a soldering iron. She was working on something on her bench. The Molmolian Embassy in Japan was the former Manjou shop on the corner closest to the train station. It was a convenient location and only six blocks from the Hinata Sou. They both lived upstairs. Motoko enjoyed Kaolla's children as they reminded her of her own. She spent as much time practicing the Art as she did lawyering and laying down terms for Kaolla's contracts. They were both very happy, and Keitaro visited often. This was much more satisfying than living in some sterile space in Tokyo. Motoko marveled at how much she had changed from her first meeting with the young man, when she'd been a mere teenager. How scared she'd been of the man, and how she'd come over several years time to love him. Hers was a pure love. Contrast that to Kaolla, whose love for him was almost mechanical on the surface, yet in private showed its strength. She sometimes wondered what would have happened if he'd dedicated himself to the Princess of Molmol. Would he be the heir apparent? Would he be more responsible? Or was that impossible?

Keitaro stumbled into the Embassy/Law Office, tripping over the edge of a carpet and destroying a 400 year old platter before he came to rest. Motoko sighed. Accepting Keitaro, warts and all, was trying at times. Still, there was something about him she just couldn't let go.

“Kei-chan!” cried Kaolla, flinging herself crotch first into his face. Keitaro mumbled under her dress. Kaolla shivered. “I love when you do that, but the reporters are coming. We just don't have time for naughty stuff now!” She leapt into the air and dragged him upright, her strength still preternatural. Kaolla was even more energetic in his presence than normal, a quirk of her personality. Like the other women of Hinata Sou, he brought out something hidden from each of them.

“Reporters?” asked Keitaro, looking a little bewildered. “Should I hide?”

“No silly. You should be here. They're going to want to see me with my concubines,” grinned Kaolla. Motoko blushed. Keitaro blinked. Kaolla grinned wider.

“Oh dear,” said Keitaro.

“This is going to be so much fun,” announced Kaolla.

“Remember my family honor, Kaolla-san,” reminded Motoko coolly. Kaolla pouted for a moment. Then grinned.

A small group of people approached the doorway from the station, opening it and stepping inside. Greetings were exchanged.

Keiwana peered around the corner and grinned. “Daddy!” cried the little boy and pelted towards him on his short little legs. Keitaro bent and swung his son around and around before settling him in his arms.

“I went to playground! Merry Go Round like daddy!” he gabbered easily. Keitaro lavished some attention on his son. Leilani soon toddled out, Ahana peering from a carrier worn by Kaolla's nanny. Her wizened eyes clearly saw much. And she was starting to talk, despite being less than a year old. Keitaro was reasonably sure that Ahana was another Su genius. Keitaro found himself a seat near Kaolla Su and Keiwana crawled out of his dad's lap and into Kaolla's. Her eyes turned from maniacal to maternal instantly softening as her eldest son quietly met her gaze, then turned to regard the reporters. Keiwana was also very smart. Leilani clambered up into Keitaro's lap. Motoko stood to the side, her katana, the Hina Blade, quietly held in her left hand ready for quick draw if called upon. Yellow glowing eyes peered out of the corners of the large workroom, mechatama's Keitaro was sure. It wasn't the sort of space one expected for formal meetings of heads of state, but Kaolla wasn't a normal Princess either.

“Okay, we are ready. With your permission, we would like to begin the interview,” requested the reporter, a young man with a penchant for hard hitting news stories. He was a veteran with the Japanese Self Defense Forces who'd served on the northern border, dealing with incursions over disputed islands with Russia. Kaolla knew more about him. That he was homosexual and had a poor relationship with his estranged mother who abandoned his family when he was only 11.

Kaolla hoped she wouldn't have to use that, but they were playing hardball despite appearances. Motoko understood the situation. Only Keitaro was in the dark on this, and he knew enough about Shinobu's situation to understand the threat to the Urashima family name. While he was the heir to the family fortune, it being Hina's will, he was also burdened with carrying its respect. She hoped he had some plan for when this came out. Because eventually, it would come out. And eventually seemed sooner rather than later.

Kaolla held no fear of exposure for herself or the royal family. Polygamy was perfectly legal for royalty and insured heirs. The very point of Keitaro becoming an official member of the Su house was to enable what had already happened without raising legal issues later. She winced internally at what he will say when he learns he fathered the crown princes too. She knew that Kitsune knew, but she was reasonably sure she hadn't told her husband. Our husband, she reminded herself. She was glad he'd shown up for this interview.

“You are Su Kaolla, Princess of Molmol and owner of the Su Electronics firm, correct?” asked the reporter.

“That's right.”

“Can you describe your relationship with the man beside you, Urashima Keitaro?”

“He's the father of my children, and Royal Consort in my country,” she explained cheerfully.

“Isn't he married to someone else?” asked the reporter.

“Yes. That's right. Daddy allowed it, for their sake,” said Kaolla in her usual singsong voice.

“So you're not married to each other?” asked the reporter. “I just wanted to be sure.”

Kaolla nodded.

“Is that a nod of `Yes you're married to each other' or `yes, you're not married to each other?” he asked, confused.

“Yes,” Kaolla, Keitaro, Motoko, and Keiwana all said simultaneously. The reporter blinked.

“Uh… moving on. Is your husband a good father?” asked the reporter carefully.

“Oh, he's not my husband. He's my Royal Consort. Its much more official,” said Kaolla as if that were an explanation.

“I make an effort to spend time with my children,” said Keitaro, butting in. Kaolla gave him a warning eye so he shut up immediately, returned to smiling vacantly.

“Yes, that's right,” she said, loudly.

“I see. Mr. Urashima, perhaps you could answer this question yourself.”

“It could be considered rude to request an interview with royalty and lose interest halfway through,” threatened Motoko darkly, a black aura throbbing around her for those with wit enough to see.

“Uh, yes, that's a good point. Your Highness, recently you annulled your business contracts with your prior firm…,” he began.

“Someone didn't read the fine print. I established contracts with exceptions for sole representation via my childhood friend, and ONLY my childhood friend. They tried to be naughty and they got caught. Aoyama-san and I are working night and day to correct these errors for mutual benefit,” she said.

“And the established firm has sued, correct?” confirmed the reporter.

“Yes, and they've already lost in arbitration,” said Motoko. The camera swivelled to record her. “The contracts were very good, and very clear. Perhaps if they practiced Kendo rather than Golf they'd have sharper minds,” taunted Motoko darkly. “Golf is a game for a muddled mind. Kendo seeks openings, flow, and requires fine concentration. Far more appropriate for legal negotiations.”

“Well said, Motoko-san,” replied Kaolla.

“Thank you, Kaolla-san,” bowed Motoko.

“You've known each other a long time, I take it?” said the reporter.

“Yes, since I was a child and first moved to Japan to broaden my education. My years at Hinata Sou did a great deal for my growth,” explained Kaolla. “Motoko was also here, studying Kendo. She's a national champion, you know.”

“Really? Women's champion?” asked the reporter.

“National champion 3 times. Women's champion 6 times. National finalist 4 times,” recounted Motoko, glaring at the reporter, who dropped a bit of sweat off his temple. “Very few men have ever defeated me.”

“She's very good. She's been my bodyguard and friend for as long as I've been in Japan. So you see, I wouldn't be separated from her if I could possibly help it,” explained Kaolla. She met the eyes of Keiwana once more as he fidgeted on her lap.

“I see. Is that the extent of your relationship? Friends?” asked the reporter, digging. While technically of little interest if women were closer than friends in Japan, skinship being both common and privately accepted practice it was something to sell this story and so far the interview had little saleable material.

“Lifelong friends,” insisted Motoko. Kaolla smiled in agreement. The reporter considered asking another question, as to whether they shared everything. A lesbian swordswoman and lawyer would not be so comfortable around her girlfriend's man unless she was sharing him too. The pieces fit.

“I understand you were in the Self Defense Force,” said Kaolla, suddenly changing track. The reporter mentally stumbled. “On the northern border. It must have been cold there.”

“Very. It was deadly in the winter,” he said.

“I'm sure you can understand the need for companionship then,” said Kaolla innocently with eyes that implied a great deal more. Like knowledge of his own bishounen interests. He gulped, then observed the katana loosened in its scabbard. He weighed the cost of a ruined camera worth 1.4 million yen and possible bodily harm. Harm to his reputation as well. His career was on the line. That much was clear. He backed off. This was also an embassy. He could be legally killed here and these two women would be protected by diplomatic immunity. Not good.

“Absolutely,” smiled the reporter, bowing slightly to the princess. I know you know. And you know I know.

“Our viewers are interested in the products you create through your company, Su-san. Would you care to talk about any of them?” he asked, changing the subject to safer territory. Motoko smiled in approval and Kaolla went into product demonstration mode, citing the world electronics expo for further information, or her website for demo videos and product specs.

“Urashima-san, we would be interested in interviewing you soon. Would you be available?” asked the reporter. Keitaro eyed Kaolla, who shook her head.

“Not at this time,” said Keitaro. Motoko and Kaolla urged the reporters out with fake smiles and cheesy grins. Keitaro sighed. Once they were gone he turned to his two women.

“So, what now?” he asked.

“It's getting closer to the time to start dealing with the media directly. Kaolla, how long can we keep Keitaro out of the spotlight?” asked Motoko. Keitaro looked back and forth between them, holding his son.

“Indefinitely. They're digging for dirt. If he doesn't give an interview there's no neat or tidy wrap-up for their project. Without a tidy ending for a TV documentary, they can't sell it. Even begging questions like this will eventually cause a loss of public interest and the next big story or scandal will draw away attention. Time is on our side. The more effort they spend on this, the more it will cost them. Shinobu's plan works and we'll stick to it,” said Kaolla thoughtfully.