It was no easy thing to organize a party. It was supposed to be a small gathering, Akito, her editor and a few friends. But somehow, her apartment was packed wall to wall with strangers. Not that she was complaining; being a manga artist was a very solitary job and being surrounded by people like this, Kimiko felt like she was a part of the real world again.

It was overwhelming, but the thing with such gatherings was that once there were enough people, the party just made itself happen. The only task was to make sure people didn’t get too excited. Everyone was enjoying themselves though, and her Erotic Netsuke collection had become a huge hit. She had told Akito to remind her to put them away, but of course he had instead gone and made it a point to bring all the guests’ attention to it. People had made a drinking game out of whether they had tried those positions themselves or not, which was all Akito’s fault. 

But where was the man in question?

Kimiko walked around the table filled with pleasantly drunk people, making sure she took their keys and wound her way to the balcony through the laughter and the music. She was right. There he was being all broody and lonely again, a glass of whiskey in his hands. How had he gotten to the good stuff? Kimiko needed to think of a new hiding place.

“Akito! There you are, I was looking everywhere for you.”

“Ah, sorry” he said, as he pulled his shirt collar down, “too many people.”

“I know! Which is exactly why I need you in there. You can’t expect me to manage them all by myself. Go parade yourself around the house for me. Distract the girls, huh? Please?” She draped herself on his arm and pouted in the way that he found insanely irritating. He smiled, looking down from the balcony at the pedestrians that were passing by. He was still worried about his job, even though he didn’t  have any reason to.

“Uh Kohoko? There are some new guests,” someone said from behind her, and Kimiko hit her head against Akito’s shoulder repeatedly.

“It’s Kimiko, and are you sure it’s not the pizza guy?” She hoped it was him because they were quickly running out of the food Akito had prepared. The man, whom Kimiko had seen only once in her editor’s office shook his head.

“Dunno, but the hottie seems kind of important so hurry up and invite her in, will ya?”

“Fine,” Kimiko groaned, and dragged her feet to the entrance, pulling Akito along, “this is just great, more people I don’t know.” A group of four stood at the entrance. Three men dressed in formal suits and a gorgeous girl in a Kimono.

They were making all the other guests apprehensive. One of them was talking to her editor, who was desperately trying to calm them down. They were speaking another language that no one understood, but the threat in their tone was hard to misinterpret.

Kimiko squeezed through the gawking guests. But she was pulled to a stop, Akito who she was dragging along, had stopped dead in his tracks.

“What is it?” Kimiko frowned, he was standing there as if nailed to the ground. The men’s attention shifted to Kimiko, and they began yelling at her as well.

“Quiet.” the girl in the Kimono said, her voice barely even raised, but the effect was instantaneous. The men complied immediately, ceasing their advance.

“Suzuna…” Akito whispered from behind Kimiko, he stared at the girl in shock and confusion, and she stepped through the human barricade made by her men.

“Himura-San,” the girl bowed elegantly, “and you must be Amai-San.”

“Yes…” Kimiko said,  “I’m sorry but I don’t think I know yo-”

“My name is Suzuna. I’m Rein’s younger sister…and very sorry to intrude.”

Oh. Kimiko’s stomach dropped. No wonder the girl looked familiar. She was beautiful as he was, all slender and delicate in the same alien way. “No please, come in!” she said quickly. Something about the girl made her want to be very formal and dignified even though she was probably four or five years younger, “And your…friends?” Kimiko gestured awkwardly at the men around her as they looked at her impassively.

“They won’t stay,” she said. The men stared at Kimiko some more, and then eyed Akito for a bit before they bowed to Suzuna, leaving reluctantly.

“What’s happened?" Akito asked her, he took her gently by the arm and tried to make it look as inconspicuous as possible, which only made it appear more so to Kimiko. She could sense that there was something wrong, something big.

“Let’s go up to my room.” Kimiko said.

***