Upside Down 53 Chapter 51: Party Time

[Sunday, May 31st]

I suppose I've become accustomed to getting up this early, because I wake up slightly after 6. It's not that I have anywhere to be until 2:30, when the four of us have our appointment at the salon to have our hair and makeup done. Originally, our appointment was to be this morning, but adding Honoka made us have to take a later appointment.

Since Mama hasn't been feeling well, I've taken over making breakfast and lunch for everyone with Chinatsu and Honoka helping. Mama still wants to make dinner, but I'll also be helping with that most of the time.

In case you're curious, after Mayumi stopped crying, she covered my face in kisses and hugged me for a really long time. All the kisses had me giggling and well, you know me, I love hugs, so I crawled onto her lap and let her hug me as long as she wanted. I'm praying the treatment works for her. I know how badly she wants children.

I plan on going to TGR on Tuesday to introduce myself, if Dad allows me to go. Sooner would be better because TGR is basically being ran by the department heads. I can just imagine all the infighting going on at the moment, not to even mention the amount of resistance I'll probably meet simply because of my age. I'd rather not have to act like a little b.i.t.c.h, but if they force the issue, watch me. Hopefully, it won't go to the extent of having to fire one, or more, of them to get the point across.

Oh, yes, I'll need to remember to get the research note on the treatment my parents developed, so I can read up on it. This is going to be a very busy week for me.

Before anything else today, I have something in mind to start the day off right with my girlfriend.

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I'm grinning like the cat who ate the canary while Chinatsu and I make breakfast for everyone. She didn't wake up when I softly kiss her, so I work my way down to her b.o.o.bs. The moment I lick her nipple she snaps awake with a loud, "Hah!" and we carry on from there. That's why I'm grinning like this.

I don't know if it's my imagination or what, but it seems as if her b.o.o.bs are bigger. If so, good for her. She has a complex about her b.o.o.bs. Personally, I love them just the way they are, I don't care if she has big b.o.o.bs or not.

Anyway, oatmeal, ham steak, and toast along with some sliced fruits is breakfast today. I thought it would be easier on Mama's stomach. The TV is turned on to the news. Another gorgeous day and evening forecasted. The next item captures my attention when I hear the name Akiyama. Apparently, they found out it's going to be a closed trial and they are boohooing about restricting access for the press.

We're just finis.h.i.+ng up when Mama and Dad enter the dining room.

"Good morning, girls." Mama and Dad tell us.

"Good morning." We reply.

"Chinatsu, would you mind getting Nee-chan?"

"Sure, be right back." She tells me and heads out the door.

"Dad, Tuesday I would like to go to TGR to introduce myself, is that alright?"

"Okay, don't forget what I told you. You're not to take any chances with those people."

I smile. "I'll remember. Umm… It occurred to me earlier, but some of them might not like the idea of a thirteen year old boss."

He nods. "Quite likely. How do you plan to deal with it?"

"Well, honestly, probably the only solution is to enter like a lioness. If the department heads refuse to see me as their boss, then tell them too bad, I am and if you don't like it then you're free to find employment elsewhere. I might even be forced to fire one of them. I know I have to show I'm the boss from the beginning or I'll be ignored."

He grins and nods. "That's right. You might even have to fire more than one. Call me before you fire them though. I imagine I'll agree with you, but I'd rather you consult with me first. If you have to fire one or more you send them back to their office, call security to come with you and fire them there. Immediately, have security escort them out of the building. Make sure you revoke their access privileges before you head down to fire them too."

"I almost forgot. I have a little present for you to take with you. It's in the bedroom, but it's a level two administrative AI. Her name is Hestia. Plug her into the network at TGR and she'll take it over for you. She'll only answer to you, me or your mother. You can set up additional access as you see fit once she's taken over, but they'll never be able to exceed or revoke our authority."

For those of you who might not be too up on AI levels, there are five levels. Five being the lowest and they are much smarter than the average person. Levels ones are far beyond geniuses. Only governments have level ones.

"An admin AI, a level two at that. Their network won't know what hit it. Wasn't that a little expensive?" I ask as I'm setting the last of the serving platters on the table.

He shakes his head. "Don't worry about it, cost isn't an issue."

Chinatsu and Honoka come in right as he's answering me.

"If you say so. Well, sit down everyone, let's eat."

After we eat, I shoo Mama and Dad out if the dining room so we can clean up. After that Honoka, Chinatsu and I spent the morning cleaning the house. I made a light lunch for everyone at 11:30 and after we clean up, Chinatsu and I took a nap. There's no way I would make it through the party without one.

Honoka wakes us at 2 so we can make it to the salon on time.

I'll save you from a lot of boring details about it, but basically here's what was done.

For me my hair was curled, both sides loosely fishtail braided, and everything pulled back into a loose woven bun which is pinned into place with my b.u.t.terfly hair clip at the base of my neck.

Mama's hair was done in a retro french twist, but it's a s.e.xy look for her if you ask me.

Honoka's was pulled back away from her face and woven into a small bun on one side. Really nice honestly.

Chinatsu's was done in a reverse french braid and made into a bun on top. I wasn't too sure about it until they were done. It exposes her slim neck, which is kinda s.e.xy for her.

For the first time in my life I'm wearing eyeshadow, blush, and lipstick. I look even cuter. Regardless, I won't normally be wearing it. I'm fine without it for everyday purposes.

It's takes quite a bit of time for all of this to be done. It's almost 5:30 by the time we call for the driver.

When we get back to the house at 6, Mitty is already there. The party starts at 7 which leaves us with with a little over a half an hour to get dressed.

You may or may not remember, but I'm wearing a silk lavender cape dress, sheer stockings, and black ankle strap heels. Mama and Chinatsu say I'm breathtaking in this.

Honoka's wearing the satin little black dress we just bought her, sheer stockings, and black heels. She's just drop dead gorgeous.

Mama's wearing a satin turquoise halter dress that falls to just above her knees, sheer stockings and cream colored heels. Elegant doesn't begin to describe her.

Chinatsu's wearing a linen maroon faux turtleneck backless halter dress which reaches mid-thigh, sheer stockings, and black ankle strap heels. Equal parts sophisticated and s.e.xy.

When we come down, Dad's and Mitty's reactions are enough to make us feel all of the preparation time for this is worth it. Mitty can't tear his eyes away from Honoka to save his life. It makes all the time we spent looking for her dress time well spent.

I found out we're expected to dance too. I have no idea how I'll do at it since all the ballroom dance lessons I had were taken when I was a boy. I know the steps of course, though, so we'll have to see how it works out.

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This place is huge and it's still quite full. For the first hour, Honoka and I are introduced to a dizzying parade of people, 95% of whom I doubt I'll remember more than their face.

I don't think I've ever been subjected to that much questioning in my life. Along with the usual comments from the men of, "My, aren't you cute," and from the women of, "You poor thing," after they hear the story of how I was adopted.

Although, one lady's comment nearly gets her a slap, I had to grab Mama's hand when she tells me, "You and your sister are lucky the Kobayas.h.i.+s are so charitable." I return the favor by telling her, "Yes, I'm sure people say the same thing about your husband concerning you." I give her a sweet smile, pull Mama away by her hand, and leave the b.i.t.c.h standing there open mouthed. We get about ten steps away before Mama begins to laugh. I'm no longer the pushover I once was: mess with me or someone I care about and you'd best watch out.

After another twenty minutes of this, Chinatsu must have realized how disoriented I'm becoming and wades in to save me. She leads me over to a table, sits me down, and hands me a gla.s.s of water.

After resting for a short period, the boys start coming over to invite us to dance. I have to admit I am nervous at first. Amazingly enough, I find I have no problems dancing. In some ways it's easier. The boys' hands drifting down to our b.u.t.ts is another story altogether, though.

Anyway, back to the table with Honoka, Mitty, and Chinatsu. Here we are, happily chatting, sipping our drinks, and resting after half a dozen dances, or should I say, taking a break from playing the ballroom version of whack-mole, when I spot a familiar face. "Chinatsu, why's Ryuichi Ueno here?"

"Oh, his family does business with Mr. Inoue. Well, his grandfather does, you already know his father has a dojo."

"I didn't know that. I would've thought his grandfather pa.s.sed the dojo to Ryuichi's father."

"No, his father started it. It made his grandfather mad when he did it too, since he expected Ryuichi's father to follow him in the business. They no longer speak to each other over it."

"That's kind of sad."

"It's not all that uncommon, but yes, it is. I think his grandfather is trying to get Ryuichi to follow him and take over the business rather than the dojo."

"Hmm… I feel bad for him. He's d.a.m.ned if does and d.a.m.ned if he doesn't."

Honoka cuts in to ask, "Sora, why don't you ask him to dance? It'll get him away from that for a short time and who wouldn't want to dance with a gorgeous girl?"

Chinatsu smiles. "Good idea, Nee-chan."

Okay, I think I'm out numbered here. Not that I would mind dancing with him. After all, I know he's a nice guy and he's not bad looking either. Alright, why not? The worst that can happen is him saying no.

"Okay, why not?" I say, then look around to see if I can spot him. Ah, there he is. "Excuse me. I'll be back soon."

Standing up, I head over to him. When I reach him. I touch him arm to get his attention.

"Excuse me, but would you care to dance?" I ask with a smile.

After he looks at me blankly for a second or two, a sweet smile appears. "I would love to, thank you. Excuse me, grandfather."

He leads me out to the dance floor and as we begin our dance, "Oh yes, I'm Ryuichi Ueno."

I smile coquettishly. "Sora Kobayas.h.i.+. Pleased to meet you."

"You as well. Kobayas.h.i.+? Do you know Chinatsu Kobayas.h.i.+?"

"Certainly, she's my sister."

"Chinatsu doesn't have a sister."

"She does now. My Nee-chan and I were adopted by the Kobayas.h.i.+s."

"Oh, I didn't know that. Sorry, that must have sounded as if I was calling you a liar."

I smile. "I didn't take it that way. I doubt you could have known. After all, it's only been a little more than a month and she's been out of school taking care of me."

He's just as easy to talk to as I remember. Same cute smile, same warm brown eyes, and same gentle voice. He's also an excellent dancer. I have no idea how long we dance and talk. Honestly, I don't care either. I simply enjoy the time we spend doing so.

As with all things, they must come to an end. They do for the moment when the musicians take a break and he escorts me back to my table. He leaves me there with a promise to come ask me to dance again soon.

I'm fairly sure everyone at the venue could see how happy I was due to my huge smile and slightly bemused expression.

True to his word, he comes back to invite me to dance when the band starts playing again. Of the five hours we are there, I spend the majority of them in his arms on the dance floor smiling, laughing, and talking.