There's Something About Nishimura
Apr 26, 2023 5:35:23 GMT -5
EpicToaster1, Greywall, and 2 more like this
Post by Sophie on Apr 26, 2023 5:35:23 GMT -5
Yuu Nishimura was the first maid in history to serve as the head maid of the Palace under more than a single Empress. She had served as the head maid for twenty-eight years. Being only forty-nine years old, this was the second grandest achievement of her life, the first being assigned head maid at the bafflingly young age of twenty-one.
Yuu stood alone in the now Empress Reito’s bedroom. It was the same room she had slept in as Princess. Reito said she did not yet feel ready to change rooms to her mother’s. Her mother’s bedroom had been left entirely untouched and cordoned off.
The maid and the Empress were diligently attending to Reito’s appearance as they prepared her for the first meeting of the cabinet, a necessary meeting for a new Empress. Reito tried not to flinch as Yuu Nishimura diligently plucked extraneous eyebrow hairs off her face. “I’m not hurting you am I, Your Highness?”
“N-” She stuttered as Yuu yanked another hair out. “OW!” The young Empress covered her face with her hands in a reflexive defensive maneuver.
“I am so sorry, Reito-kama.” Yuu retreated and wiped the young girl’s face with a warm towel. “Do you want to rest a moment?”
“No... no.” Reito moved her hands, allowing the maid to clean her up. “Just, can you distract me? So I won’t focus on the pain so much?”
“I can try.” Yuu agreed. “Would you like me to tell you a story?”
Reito nodded. “Sure.” A pause permeated a moment as Yuu tried to think of a story to tell. “Yuu-sen? Could you tell me how you came to work for my mom?”
“I haven’t told you that story?” Yuu laughed softly as Reito shook her head. “Well, there’s nowhere to start this story but at home.”
Yuu was born to her mother as the fifth daughter and eighth child. Her family was near completely destitute. Her mother and father worked full-time jobs, and all her siblings over the age of ten had at least a part-time job. Most nights, at least half the family went without food. Priority was given to the youngest, and so for the first six years of Yuu’s life, she never missed a meal.
The family shared an ever-dwindling three-bedroom apartment. The boys shared one room, and the girls shared another. The kids three and under shared the parent’s room. Everyone had their share of chores to do. Cleaning, cooking, fire watching, laundry, grocery shopping, and, when someone was sick, nursing. It took everybody working together to keep the home functional.
Once Yuu turned six, she was obligated by law to attend school. However, the school in her borough reflected its surroundings. It was poor. Calling it a school was generous. It was a daycare that handed out worksheets. However, it was there in the most disadvantageous of situations that Yuu began to shine.
Yuu was placed into one of the few classes with a teacher that actually cared to at least try to educate the overfilled class. The first subject to truly garner her interest was math. On her first test, she managed a one hundred percent score. She picked up shusugiris as if she had been tutored since birth and history as if she had lived it.
After four years of excelling in her school, her teacher made a home visit. She explained to Yuu’s parents that Yuu had managed to test into an exclusive private school for gifted girls. Yuu knew hope wasn’t a color, but she saw it glimmer in her parents’ eyes. They seemed only to get more and more excited as the teacher explained that Yuu qualified for a scholarship as well as a student metro pass to commute to school.
The moment the teacher left, her parents threw a meager party. None of her siblings seemed to share in their joy. There were daggering glances thrown at Yuu as her parents explained to everyone the new situation. “Wait, so she doesn’t have to work?!” “I know maths too! How come I don’t getta go ta that school?’ “Whys she get special treatment?!”
Her parents tried to quell the growing child insurrection, and it worked well enough, but Yuu would never again feel like she was the sister to her siblings. Even less so once she overheard her parents talking privately about uniforms and supply costs. Everyone in the apartment heard the rainy day fund being opened.
On her first day at the new school, all of Yuu’s siblings stared at her in pure jealousy. None of them ever even dared dream of having clothes as nice as the ones Yuu was now wearing. Everyone was wearing drab hand-me-downs as they saw Yuu off to her new private school. Her father had even taken a sick day to walk her to school so she could get a feel for the route.
Once there, she was immediately an outcast. She didn’t have the poise, posture, or eloquence of the other girls there and was all but immediately outed as a commoner. She made no friends. Even those who were sympathetic to her couldn’t show her any kindness for fear of becoming an outcast themselves.
Still, Yuu persevered; she learned how to carry herself like the other girls and even deliberately changed her speaking style. Not that any of that would change her status. She was already marked.
Thankfully this malaise did not carry over to the teachers. During class, Yuu thrived. Her natural intellect was finally being backed by an education system that gave a damn, and Yuu immediately became the top of her class. This status is what actually began to change her status as an outcast. Other students began to come to her for studying and homework help.
A few years in, Yuu’s status as an outcast was all but erased as she did everything she could to help others around her attain academic success. After school, every day, dozens of other girls joined her in the library to listen closely as she guided everyone through the day’s lessons.
Yuu’s life finally began to feel stable, safe, and balanced. Until her mother fell extremely ill. With over half of the household income gone and now new medical bills on top of that, the family could no longer afford the periphery costs associated with attending such a school. If Yuu were to continue here, she would have to front the costs herself.
Her first idea was to begin a proper tutoring service at her school, but it, unfortunately, bore no fruit when parents instead opted to pay premiums for accredited tutors rather than just another student. In a full-blown panic, Yuu broke down in the library. One of her teachers saw her and pulled her aside to figure out what was wrong.
Upon receiving the full story, the teacher offered her a lifeline. The teacher had a second job and offered to get Yuu an interview. The job was for a maid service. The interviewer was thrilled to have someone as intelligent as Yuu on the job and hired her on the spot. At this company, there were two types of services offered. A general cleaning and maid service that would come to your home as needed to service, and a live-in maid service.
One of the live-in contracts was for a home two blocks away from her school. Yuu jumped on the opportunity. The owners of the home seemed to be quite kind, and after getting to know Yuu even offered to pay the periphery costs of attending her school in addition to her salary.
However, it wasn’t all glory and roses. The owners of the home were also the parents of Yuu’s most aggressive and abusive bully. Now equipped with the knowledge that Yuu was her new live-in maid, she promised to make her school life hell unless she acted as her personal slave at school.
Yuu no longer had the time to host her afterschool study sessions, and she soon dropped out of the limelight though not back to the status of an outcast. Desperate to stay out of that status, Yuu did everything her bully said. Including her homework, helping her cheat on tests, and even standing guard as she bullied other girls.
Her bully wasn’t exactly incredulous and covering up her new method of cheating. After two years of successfully cheating off Yuu, both of them were called into the academic integrity office. Yuu had gotten a question wrong on an exam for the first time. Both of them got the same answer wrong in the exact same way.
Immediately Yuu’s bully accused Yuu of bullying her and forcing her to let her cheat. Of course, Yuu’s family still desperately needed the money Yuu was earning, and she had no choice but to agree to save her job.
Yuu was immediately expelled. Once she arrived at her boss’s home, they sat her down. Yuu desperately tried to explain everything to a seemingly sympathetic ear. However, it was fruitless. The parents explained they knew of the situation, but to keep their daughter in the school, they’d have to fire Yuu to keep up appearances.
At only fifteen, it was completely understandable that she had a full-on meltdown. The two promised to write an exceptional recommendation to anywhere she wanted to work and even would do everything they could to cover up the cheating scandal. They even paid her double her monthly rate for her last paycheck.
All but completely shattered, Yuu returned home. There she found her entire family gathered around her mother’s bed. She had missed her mother’s death by a single train.
Yuu went fully catatonic. For over a week, she was completely bedridden, unable to move, and barely even think. She couldn’t even get up for her own mother’s funeral. Her brothers and sisters desperately tried to get her out of bed, as all of them depended on her to pay the bills. None of them could do anything to get her even to blink.
The only time Yuu responded at all was when her father sat with her and told stories about her mom. That always elicited a smile. After a few weeks of her near comatose state, her dad again entered the room. He wasn’t alone this time; Yuu’s old boss from the maid agency was in attendance as well.
They had extraordinary news. Thanks to the incredible review and recommendation from her previous employers, Yuu had been selected to replace a retiring maid from the Empress’s palace.
“Honey, I know you’ve been through a lot. More than any young girl your age should ever have to. But this is the chance of a lifetime. A job like this could set you up for life and really help me and your siblings. Please, for your sake. With a job like that, you will never have to worry about another thing for the rest of your life. You will rub elbows with the most important women on the planet.”
Yuu finally moved, looked her dad in the eye, and nodded. “Okay, Daddy. I’ll do it.” She finally climbed out of bed and followed her boss out of the apartment.
After only being prepped for a day by her boss Yuu was in the back of a taratect drawn carriage being shipped off to the palace. Her hair was done up perfectly, her maid outfit was classic and perfectly pressed, and her makeup was meticulous. Once the carriage parked in front of the palace, Yuu was shuffled out and immediately searched by the palace guard before being allowed in.
Immediately at the entrance, she was introduced to the head maid. Yuu bowed deeply, and instantly the maid began to criticize her form. “Your back must be straighter, as a hairless Kumo you must polish your exoskeleton more often, your bow should be deeper, your legs should be more symmetrical.” It continued for nearly a full ten minutes.
“I can’t believe I accepted you as her replacement.” The elderly maid sighed and pressed her fingers to the bridge of her nose. “Its too late now, the Empress is waiting for you.”
“Th- the Empress?” Yuu stumbled. “I- she needs to meet me?”
“She needs to know all her employees.” The maid answered as if she was correcting a child on what two plus two equals. “You will be quiet. You will only speak when spoken to. You will address her only as ‘Your Highess’ or ‘Madam Empress.’ You will bow all the way to the floor. Do you understand me?”
“Y- yes, ma’am,” Yuu answered while artificially straining her back to be straight.
“Alright, let's go. I won’t let the Empress think I picked a tardy maid.” She turned and began marching while continuing to train the young maid. “You will learn every other staffer's name as well as how they rank over you. You will stop whatever you do whenever you spot any royal, bow, and pay your proper respects. You will not allow the Empress to see any dust, dirt, or grime in her palace. You will always be perfectly groomed when on palace grounds.” The orders just kept coming and coming as they continued down the labyrinthian halls.
“We’re here. Are you ready?” The maid’s eyes pierced Yuu’s soul.
“Uh...” She hesitated.
“Too bad.” She opened the door and marched inside the throne room.
Yuu followed behind her like a lost puppy. Fear and anxiety plagued her face. Once the head maid stopped, Yuu stood in line abreast and bowed until her hands were on the floor. “I... it is an honor to be in your presence... Your Highness.” The girl barely stuttered out.
“Yuu Nishimura, daughter of Yuji Nishimura, and... oh, your mother recently passed. I’m sorry.” The Empress’s voice boomed throughout the room. “Grew up in poverty yet still managed to attend the Fuyonouso school for gifted girls.” The Empress paused as Yuu peeled herself off the ground to meet the Empress’s gaze. “Until recently, that is.”
Yuu couldn’t help but try and swallow the anxieties bubbling inside her. She stood up straight and tried to hold her back straight as her eyes nervously scanned the room. She was a bit surprised when her eyes landed on the Princess. Princess Shiraori Tetsu Kumo. Pictures of the Princess were common enough, but nothing could ever properly sell the girl's pasty white appearance. ‘She looks like a ghost.’ Her eyes snapped back to the seemingly furious Empress.
“What happened?” She asked, continuing her previous thought.
“I... Um...” She stuttered enough to have the head maid glare daggers into the teen maid.
“You were expelled for cheating.” The words seemed definite. “Tell the truth.”
“That’s not true!” Yuu screamed. “Another girl cheated off me, and then I got blamed!”
The head maid smacked Yuu across the back of her head as hard as she could. “Your Highness, I am so deeply sorry for bringing before you such an ingrate. I assure you no such thing will happen again.” She grabbed the teen by the hand and began to yank her out of the room. Until...
“Stop.” The voice wasn’t the Empress’s, and both maids stopped in their tracks. “Mother, I believe her.” The princess’s voice stuck up for the maid.
“Come back here.” The Empress commanded.
Both maids turned back and returned to their previous standing position. “Yes, Your Highness.” The head maid answered.
“Nishimura-kas, do you swear to me that is the truth.” The Empress commanded.
“Yes. It is your highness, but not the whole truth.” Yuu admitted. “Please forgive me for my outburst I swear upon my ancestors it will not happen again.”
“What is the whole truth?” She inquired.
Yuu tried to quickly sum up the totality of the circumstance that led to her expulsion. She could see the Princess’s eyes contorting in thought as she spoke.
“Did you know Nao Tomori?” The Princess interjected.
“Y- yes, I did. She was in my class.” Yuu answered diligently.
“Are you the girl who helped Tomori-kas pass her pre-calculous final?” The Empress questioned.
Yuu stumbled for a while before answering. “I... I tutored her and some other girls... b... But she passed on her own.”
“Extraordinary selection then. I approve of your hiring. Nishimura-kas, your primary duty will be tutoring my daughter. Why don’t you two get acquainted?” The Empress already began to order. “Shiraori-kan, go show her your room.”
“Then your mother and I became quick friends. Since she was a bit younger than me tutoring her was easy, which left us a lot of time to just, be kids, you know?” Yuu Nishimura continued speaking as she plucked another hair. “It was then she promised that when she had a daughter, she would be the best mom ever to her. When I told her this story, she cried so much and hugged me. Even decided on your name right then and there. ‘Reito,’ after my mom.
The maid spun the princess around. “And we’re all done. You look perfect.” She said until she noticed the river of tears falling from the Empress’s eyes. “Oh my. Reito-kama did I hurt you?! I’m sorry I got lost in thought and-”
“No. No.” Reito assured while wiping her face. “It’s just... such an incredible story. Its really nice to hear about that side of my mom.”
“Oh, deary...” Yuu cooed and hugged the Empress tightly. “I didn’t mean to make you cry.”
“Um, Yuu-sen..?” Reito asked hesitantly.
“Yes? What is it?” The maid pressed.
“W- when did you and her become girlfriends?” Reito looked up at her rather expectantly.
Yuu choked on the air. “Achg-! Wh- what?!”
Reito tried to look Yuu in the eye, but she wouldn’t meet her gaze. “I... saw you two kissing.”
“Wh- when?” Yuu pressed.
“A... a couple of times,” Reito admitted.
“W- well I was just comforting her! The job of Empress is a stressful one and it is the head maid’s job to keep her calm when at home.” Yuu waved off.
“Please Yuu... I want to know more about her.” When Yuu didn’t immediately acquiesce, Reito brought out her trump card. “On her birthday... I saw you and her... kissing in her bed... n- naked.”
Yuu sighed and squeezed her eyes shut tightly. “It... it was a few days after your father’s funeral...”
Empress Shiraori Tetsu Kumo was alone in her study diligently working on ratifying a new deal the Koians had sent over. Yuu Nishimura entered with a platter of extravagant foods, including a rare Elenrian red wine. “Your Highness, I can understand your desire to bury your feelings in work, but you must at least eat once a day.”
“Yuu, I already ate. No, thank you I don’t have the time.” Shiraori denied firmly and continued writing.
Nishimura slammed the platter on the desk. “I understand pocky is all the rage these days, Your Highness, but in no world will I consider it a meal.”
“Nishimura-kas.” Shiroari broke out the honorific. “I am the Empress. I am not hungry. Do not treat me like a child.”
Yuu couldn’t help but feel sadness in her heart, and her face showed it. Even though she knew Shiraori hated it when Yuu pitied her. “Shiraori-kama... I can’t begin to understand the pain of losing your spouse.”
“Don’t even start, Yuu.” Shiraori warned in an almost toxic voice. “Not now.”
“I know you loved him, but you can’t just escape the pain by working non-stop without a moment to even breathe.” Yuu pushed the platter forward. “This isn’t the sort of life he’d want you to live.”
Shiraori’s face contorted and twitched as she fought off the feelings that Yuu was enforcing on her. But when Yuu walked around the desk and held the Empress tight the dam broke immediately. The Empress, the single most powerful woman on the planet, began to bawl like a newborn.
“It’s okay, it’s okay.” The maid assured the Empress. “Just let it all out Shirry. It's okay.”
Shiraori clung to her friend tightly as she let the wave of emotions flow freely. “I can’t do all this alone Yuu! Why did he have to die?” She wept. “I can’t be the Empress and be the best mom I can for Reito.” She gasped for air between sobs. “I don’t wanna be like my mom was. I’m scared that without his comfort I’m going to be.”
“You are nothing like your mother,” Yuu spoke calmly while petting her snow-white hair. “No matter what happens you won’t be like her.”
“I’m so scared of being alone. No matter what I feel like everyone who talks to me has an agenda!” Shiraori wailed. “But he loved me for me, now he’s gone. I’ll never find another guy who loves me just for me.”
“I love you just for you, Shiraori.” Yuu continued to assure her friend. “I have no agenda aside from helping you in any way you can.”
Shiraori shook her head in the bosom of her friend. “Not like you, Yuu. I mean romantic love. A true love.”
Yuu steeled herself. From the second she met Shiraori, she knew the feelings she had in her heart. In her logical mind, she knew there was no worse time to admit her feelings than mere days after her crush’s spouse’s death, but her emotional mind just wanted the love of her life to feel better. “That’s exactly how I feel, Shiraori. I love you.” She softly grabbed the Empress's face and forced her to see the seriousness she felt. “I’m in love with you.”
Shiraori froze as the tears fell freely from her face as she stared into her maid’s eyes. “Y... wh...”
“I love you. In the same way he did.” Yuu continued to explain.
“I don’t...” Shiraori stumbled. “But you’re... You...” Her brain felt like it was rewiring itself. “Yuu you’re my best friend. Y... you’re a girl!”
“I don’t care if I’m a girl, a boy, a kumo, or a human. My love for you goes beyond all those things. There is no one I could ever love more than you.”
Shiraori searched Yuu’s eyes and felt her face almost magnetize forward. It didn’t feel like she was in control, but she didn’t try to stop herself either. Not until she felt something warm press against her lips. Both of them closed their eyes and let their bodies take over and melted into the kiss.
“Once your mom broke the kiss, she asked me for some space and time to think. She barely talked to me for almost a month. I was getting ready to be fired and maybe even arrested for what I did.” Yuu sighed. “Then she pulled me into her office and kissed me again. I don’t think I’ve ever felt as happy as I did then. She told me we’d have to keep it a secret, but that she wanted to be with me.”
Reito laughed, she had a smile on her face and tears in her eyes. “I’m glad my mom had someone to love after dad died. Especially someone as great as you.”
“That is very sweet of you to say, Reito-kama.” Yuu smiled.
“You know you don’t have to use honorifics with me when we’re alone,” Reito said.
“You are definitely your mother’s daughter, Reito.” Yuu cheered as she began to set out all of Reito’s makeup.
Reito fidgeted a little. “So, is it bad to be in a relationship with a girl?” She pressed a bit. “I mean why did Mom have to hide her relationship with you.”
“Well, there are a lot of reasons.” Yuu ramped up to explain before she grabbed the Empress’s face. “Wait, this isn’t about Rui, is it?”
“N- no!” Reito lied.
“Reito. You can’t see her ever again.” Yuu’s voice was firm. “Her mother murdered yours and is vying for you next.”
“I know that! Damn.” Reito pouted. “I just...”
“Reito, you can tell me anything,” Yuu promised. “I may scold you, but you can tell me anything.”
“I don’t think I like boys,” Reito admitted. “Like... at all.”
“Oh.” Yuu pursed her lips. “So you’re a lesbian then? Like me?”
“Y... yeah.” Reito nodded. “A... and like mom, right?”
“Well, no. Your mom liked girls and boys. However, she didn’t know about the girls until she met me.” Yuu explained Shiraori’s sexuality in more precise terms.
“Oh.” Reito thought for a second. “Not like me, then.”
Yuu shook her head. “Not like us.” She paused for a second. “Does that worry you?”
“That I’m not like Mom?” Reito asked.
“That you don’t like boys.” Yuu clarified.
“Oh... um...” Reito looked down nervously. “Yeah... because I have to marry a boy, right?”
“What makes you say that?” Yuu questioned as she began to brush the Empress’s hair.
She bit her lip as her head pulled back from. “Yesterday’s headline... ‘Reito’s succession crises.’”
“Fucking gossip rags.” Yuu spat a bit too informally. “You’re a fifteen-year-old girl. You do not need to worry about things like that yet.”
“But... someday I’ll have to, right..?” Reito dry swallowed. “H... have sex with a guy?” The mere thought repulsed her that if someone just heard her tone, they’d assume she was talking about festering vomit in a hot dumpster.
Yuu sighed and sat in front of the young Empress. “Oh, Reito... I... I want to lie to you and say that you absolutely won’t have to do that, but I really don’t know. Right now, you have more important things to focus on. We must focus all your incredible intelligence on countering Kure’s every move.”
Reito paused. “Y... yeah. You’re right. We can worry about that in the future.” Reito looked in the mirror as Yuu returned to her work. “Can I ask you something else?”
“Of course,” Yuu offered a smile. “Anything.”
“How does sex work between two girls?” Reito asked with hesitancy.
Yuu lightly smacked the back of the Empress’s head. “I’m not going to tell you that!”
Yuu stood alone in the now Empress Reito’s bedroom. It was the same room she had slept in as Princess. Reito said she did not yet feel ready to change rooms to her mother’s. Her mother’s bedroom had been left entirely untouched and cordoned off.
The maid and the Empress were diligently attending to Reito’s appearance as they prepared her for the first meeting of the cabinet, a necessary meeting for a new Empress. Reito tried not to flinch as Yuu Nishimura diligently plucked extraneous eyebrow hairs off her face. “I’m not hurting you am I, Your Highness?”
“N-” She stuttered as Yuu yanked another hair out. “OW!” The young Empress covered her face with her hands in a reflexive defensive maneuver.
“I am so sorry, Reito-kama.” Yuu retreated and wiped the young girl’s face with a warm towel. “Do you want to rest a moment?”
“No... no.” Reito moved her hands, allowing the maid to clean her up. “Just, can you distract me? So I won’t focus on the pain so much?”
“I can try.” Yuu agreed. “Would you like me to tell you a story?”
Reito nodded. “Sure.” A pause permeated a moment as Yuu tried to think of a story to tell. “Yuu-sen? Could you tell me how you came to work for my mom?”
“I haven’t told you that story?” Yuu laughed softly as Reito shook her head. “Well, there’s nowhere to start this story but at home.”
Fuyonouso 1888
Yuu was born to her mother as the fifth daughter and eighth child. Her family was near completely destitute. Her mother and father worked full-time jobs, and all her siblings over the age of ten had at least a part-time job. Most nights, at least half the family went without food. Priority was given to the youngest, and so for the first six years of Yuu’s life, she never missed a meal.
The family shared an ever-dwindling three-bedroom apartment. The boys shared one room, and the girls shared another. The kids three and under shared the parent’s room. Everyone had their share of chores to do. Cleaning, cooking, fire watching, laundry, grocery shopping, and, when someone was sick, nursing. It took everybody working together to keep the home functional.
Once Yuu turned six, she was obligated by law to attend school. However, the school in her borough reflected its surroundings. It was poor. Calling it a school was generous. It was a daycare that handed out worksheets. However, it was there in the most disadvantageous of situations that Yuu began to shine.
Yuu was placed into one of the few classes with a teacher that actually cared to at least try to educate the overfilled class. The first subject to truly garner her interest was math. On her first test, she managed a one hundred percent score. She picked up shusugiris as if she had been tutored since birth and history as if she had lived it.
After four years of excelling in her school, her teacher made a home visit. She explained to Yuu’s parents that Yuu had managed to test into an exclusive private school for gifted girls. Yuu knew hope wasn’t a color, but she saw it glimmer in her parents’ eyes. They seemed only to get more and more excited as the teacher explained that Yuu qualified for a scholarship as well as a student metro pass to commute to school.
The moment the teacher left, her parents threw a meager party. None of her siblings seemed to share in their joy. There were daggering glances thrown at Yuu as her parents explained to everyone the new situation. “Wait, so she doesn’t have to work?!” “I know maths too! How come I don’t getta go ta that school?’ “Whys she get special treatment?!”
Her parents tried to quell the growing child insurrection, and it worked well enough, but Yuu would never again feel like she was the sister to her siblings. Even less so once she overheard her parents talking privately about uniforms and supply costs. Everyone in the apartment heard the rainy day fund being opened.
On her first day at the new school, all of Yuu’s siblings stared at her in pure jealousy. None of them ever even dared dream of having clothes as nice as the ones Yuu was now wearing. Everyone was wearing drab hand-me-downs as they saw Yuu off to her new private school. Her father had even taken a sick day to walk her to school so she could get a feel for the route.
Once there, she was immediately an outcast. She didn’t have the poise, posture, or eloquence of the other girls there and was all but immediately outed as a commoner. She made no friends. Even those who were sympathetic to her couldn’t show her any kindness for fear of becoming an outcast themselves.
Still, Yuu persevered; she learned how to carry herself like the other girls and even deliberately changed her speaking style. Not that any of that would change her status. She was already marked.
Thankfully this malaise did not carry over to the teachers. During class, Yuu thrived. Her natural intellect was finally being backed by an education system that gave a damn, and Yuu immediately became the top of her class. This status is what actually began to change her status as an outcast. Other students began to come to her for studying and homework help.
A few years in, Yuu’s status as an outcast was all but erased as she did everything she could to help others around her attain academic success. After school, every day, dozens of other girls joined her in the library to listen closely as she guided everyone through the day’s lessons.
Yuu’s life finally began to feel stable, safe, and balanced. Until her mother fell extremely ill. With over half of the household income gone and now new medical bills on top of that, the family could no longer afford the periphery costs associated with attending such a school. If Yuu were to continue here, she would have to front the costs herself.
Her first idea was to begin a proper tutoring service at her school, but it, unfortunately, bore no fruit when parents instead opted to pay premiums for accredited tutors rather than just another student. In a full-blown panic, Yuu broke down in the library. One of her teachers saw her and pulled her aside to figure out what was wrong.
Upon receiving the full story, the teacher offered her a lifeline. The teacher had a second job and offered to get Yuu an interview. The job was for a maid service. The interviewer was thrilled to have someone as intelligent as Yuu on the job and hired her on the spot. At this company, there were two types of services offered. A general cleaning and maid service that would come to your home as needed to service, and a live-in maid service.
One of the live-in contracts was for a home two blocks away from her school. Yuu jumped on the opportunity. The owners of the home seemed to be quite kind, and after getting to know Yuu even offered to pay the periphery costs of attending her school in addition to her salary.
However, it wasn’t all glory and roses. The owners of the home were also the parents of Yuu’s most aggressive and abusive bully. Now equipped with the knowledge that Yuu was her new live-in maid, she promised to make her school life hell unless she acted as her personal slave at school.
Yuu no longer had the time to host her afterschool study sessions, and she soon dropped out of the limelight though not back to the status of an outcast. Desperate to stay out of that status, Yuu did everything her bully said. Including her homework, helping her cheat on tests, and even standing guard as she bullied other girls.
Her bully wasn’t exactly incredulous and covering up her new method of cheating. After two years of successfully cheating off Yuu, both of them were called into the academic integrity office. Yuu had gotten a question wrong on an exam for the first time. Both of them got the same answer wrong in the exact same way.
Immediately Yuu’s bully accused Yuu of bullying her and forcing her to let her cheat. Of course, Yuu’s family still desperately needed the money Yuu was earning, and she had no choice but to agree to save her job.
Yuu was immediately expelled. Once she arrived at her boss’s home, they sat her down. Yuu desperately tried to explain everything to a seemingly sympathetic ear. However, it was fruitless. The parents explained they knew of the situation, but to keep their daughter in the school, they’d have to fire Yuu to keep up appearances.
At only fifteen, it was completely understandable that she had a full-on meltdown. The two promised to write an exceptional recommendation to anywhere she wanted to work and even would do everything they could to cover up the cheating scandal. They even paid her double her monthly rate for her last paycheck.
All but completely shattered, Yuu returned home. There she found her entire family gathered around her mother’s bed. She had missed her mother’s death by a single train.
Yuu went fully catatonic. For over a week, she was completely bedridden, unable to move, and barely even think. She couldn’t even get up for her own mother’s funeral. Her brothers and sisters desperately tried to get her out of bed, as all of them depended on her to pay the bills. None of them could do anything to get her even to blink.
The only time Yuu responded at all was when her father sat with her and told stories about her mom. That always elicited a smile. After a few weeks of her near comatose state, her dad again entered the room. He wasn’t alone this time; Yuu’s old boss from the maid agency was in attendance as well.
They had extraordinary news. Thanks to the incredible review and recommendation from her previous employers, Yuu had been selected to replace a retiring maid from the Empress’s palace.
“Honey, I know you’ve been through a lot. More than any young girl your age should ever have to. But this is the chance of a lifetime. A job like this could set you up for life and really help me and your siblings. Please, for your sake. With a job like that, you will never have to worry about another thing for the rest of your life. You will rub elbows with the most important women on the planet.”
Yuu finally moved, looked her dad in the eye, and nodded. “Okay, Daddy. I’ll do it.” She finally climbed out of bed and followed her boss out of the apartment.
After only being prepped for a day by her boss Yuu was in the back of a taratect drawn carriage being shipped off to the palace. Her hair was done up perfectly, her maid outfit was classic and perfectly pressed, and her makeup was meticulous. Once the carriage parked in front of the palace, Yuu was shuffled out and immediately searched by the palace guard before being allowed in.
Immediately at the entrance, she was introduced to the head maid. Yuu bowed deeply, and instantly the maid began to criticize her form. “Your back must be straighter, as a hairless Kumo you must polish your exoskeleton more often, your bow should be deeper, your legs should be more symmetrical.” It continued for nearly a full ten minutes.
“I can’t believe I accepted you as her replacement.” The elderly maid sighed and pressed her fingers to the bridge of her nose. “Its too late now, the Empress is waiting for you.”
“Th- the Empress?” Yuu stumbled. “I- she needs to meet me?”
“She needs to know all her employees.” The maid answered as if she was correcting a child on what two plus two equals. “You will be quiet. You will only speak when spoken to. You will address her only as ‘Your Highess’ or ‘Madam Empress.’ You will bow all the way to the floor. Do you understand me?”
“Y- yes, ma’am,” Yuu answered while artificially straining her back to be straight.
“Alright, let's go. I won’t let the Empress think I picked a tardy maid.” She turned and began marching while continuing to train the young maid. “You will learn every other staffer's name as well as how they rank over you. You will stop whatever you do whenever you spot any royal, bow, and pay your proper respects. You will not allow the Empress to see any dust, dirt, or grime in her palace. You will always be perfectly groomed when on palace grounds.” The orders just kept coming and coming as they continued down the labyrinthian halls.
“We’re here. Are you ready?” The maid’s eyes pierced Yuu’s soul.
“Uh...” She hesitated.
“Too bad.” She opened the door and marched inside the throne room.
Yuu followed behind her like a lost puppy. Fear and anxiety plagued her face. Once the head maid stopped, Yuu stood in line abreast and bowed until her hands were on the floor. “I... it is an honor to be in your presence... Your Highness.” The girl barely stuttered out.
“Yuu Nishimura, daughter of Yuji Nishimura, and... oh, your mother recently passed. I’m sorry.” The Empress’s voice boomed throughout the room. “Grew up in poverty yet still managed to attend the Fuyonouso school for gifted girls.” The Empress paused as Yuu peeled herself off the ground to meet the Empress’s gaze. “Until recently, that is.”
Yuu couldn’t help but try and swallow the anxieties bubbling inside her. She stood up straight and tried to hold her back straight as her eyes nervously scanned the room. She was a bit surprised when her eyes landed on the Princess. Princess Shiraori Tetsu Kumo. Pictures of the Princess were common enough, but nothing could ever properly sell the girl's pasty white appearance. ‘She looks like a ghost.’ Her eyes snapped back to the seemingly furious Empress.
“What happened?” She asked, continuing her previous thought.
“I... Um...” She stuttered enough to have the head maid glare daggers into the teen maid.
“You were expelled for cheating.” The words seemed definite. “Tell the truth.”
“That’s not true!” Yuu screamed. “Another girl cheated off me, and then I got blamed!”
The head maid smacked Yuu across the back of her head as hard as she could. “Your Highness, I am so deeply sorry for bringing before you such an ingrate. I assure you no such thing will happen again.” She grabbed the teen by the hand and began to yank her out of the room. Until...
“Stop.” The voice wasn’t the Empress’s, and both maids stopped in their tracks. “Mother, I believe her.” The princess’s voice stuck up for the maid.
“Come back here.” The Empress commanded.
Both maids turned back and returned to their previous standing position. “Yes, Your Highness.” The head maid answered.
“Nishimura-kas, do you swear to me that is the truth.” The Empress commanded.
“Yes. It is your highness, but not the whole truth.” Yuu admitted. “Please forgive me for my outburst I swear upon my ancestors it will not happen again.”
“What is the whole truth?” She inquired.
Yuu tried to quickly sum up the totality of the circumstance that led to her expulsion. She could see the Princess’s eyes contorting in thought as she spoke.
“Did you know Nao Tomori?” The Princess interjected.
“Y- yes, I did. She was in my class.” Yuu answered diligently.
“Are you the girl who helped Tomori-kas pass her pre-calculous final?” The Empress questioned.
Yuu stumbled for a while before answering. “I... I tutored her and some other girls... b... But she passed on her own.”
“Extraordinary selection then. I approve of your hiring. Nishimura-kas, your primary duty will be tutoring my daughter. Why don’t you two get acquainted?” The Empress already began to order. “Shiraori-kan, go show her your room.”
Fuyonouso Palace, 1933
“Then your mother and I became quick friends. Since she was a bit younger than me tutoring her was easy, which left us a lot of time to just, be kids, you know?” Yuu Nishimura continued speaking as she plucked another hair. “It was then she promised that when she had a daughter, she would be the best mom ever to her. When I told her this story, she cried so much and hugged me. Even decided on your name right then and there. ‘Reito,’ after my mom.
The maid spun the princess around. “And we’re all done. You look perfect.” She said until she noticed the river of tears falling from the Empress’s eyes. “Oh my. Reito-kama did I hurt you?! I’m sorry I got lost in thought and-”
“No. No.” Reito assured while wiping her face. “It’s just... such an incredible story. Its really nice to hear about that side of my mom.”
“Oh, deary...” Yuu cooed and hugged the Empress tightly. “I didn’t mean to make you cry.”
“Um, Yuu-sen..?” Reito asked hesitantly.
“Yes? What is it?” The maid pressed.
“W- when did you and her become girlfriends?” Reito looked up at her rather expectantly.
Yuu choked on the air. “Achg-! Wh- what?!”
Reito tried to look Yuu in the eye, but she wouldn’t meet her gaze. “I... saw you two kissing.”
“Wh- when?” Yuu pressed.
“A... a couple of times,” Reito admitted.
“W- well I was just comforting her! The job of Empress is a stressful one and it is the head maid’s job to keep her calm when at home.” Yuu waved off.
“Please Yuu... I want to know more about her.” When Yuu didn’t immediately acquiesce, Reito brought out her trump card. “On her birthday... I saw you and her... kissing in her bed... n- naked.”
Yuu sighed and squeezed her eyes shut tightly. “It... it was a few days after your father’s funeral...”
Fuyonouso Palace 1920
Empress Shiraori Tetsu Kumo was alone in her study diligently working on ratifying a new deal the Koians had sent over. Yuu Nishimura entered with a platter of extravagant foods, including a rare Elenrian red wine. “Your Highness, I can understand your desire to bury your feelings in work, but you must at least eat once a day.”
“Yuu, I already ate. No, thank you I don’t have the time.” Shiraori denied firmly and continued writing.
Nishimura slammed the platter on the desk. “I understand pocky is all the rage these days, Your Highness, but in no world will I consider it a meal.”
“Nishimura-kas.” Shiroari broke out the honorific. “I am the Empress. I am not hungry. Do not treat me like a child.”
Yuu couldn’t help but feel sadness in her heart, and her face showed it. Even though she knew Shiraori hated it when Yuu pitied her. “Shiraori-kama... I can’t begin to understand the pain of losing your spouse.”
“Don’t even start, Yuu.” Shiraori warned in an almost toxic voice. “Not now.”
“I know you loved him, but you can’t just escape the pain by working non-stop without a moment to even breathe.” Yuu pushed the platter forward. “This isn’t the sort of life he’d want you to live.”
Shiraori’s face contorted and twitched as she fought off the feelings that Yuu was enforcing on her. But when Yuu walked around the desk and held the Empress tight the dam broke immediately. The Empress, the single most powerful woman on the planet, began to bawl like a newborn.
“It’s okay, it’s okay.” The maid assured the Empress. “Just let it all out Shirry. It's okay.”
Shiraori clung to her friend tightly as she let the wave of emotions flow freely. “I can’t do all this alone Yuu! Why did he have to die?” She wept. “I can’t be the Empress and be the best mom I can for Reito.” She gasped for air between sobs. “I don’t wanna be like my mom was. I’m scared that without his comfort I’m going to be.”
“You are nothing like your mother,” Yuu spoke calmly while petting her snow-white hair. “No matter what happens you won’t be like her.”
“I’m so scared of being alone. No matter what I feel like everyone who talks to me has an agenda!” Shiraori wailed. “But he loved me for me, now he’s gone. I’ll never find another guy who loves me just for me.”
“I love you just for you, Shiraori.” Yuu continued to assure her friend. “I have no agenda aside from helping you in any way you can.”
Shiraori shook her head in the bosom of her friend. “Not like you, Yuu. I mean romantic love. A true love.”
Yuu steeled herself. From the second she met Shiraori, she knew the feelings she had in her heart. In her logical mind, she knew there was no worse time to admit her feelings than mere days after her crush’s spouse’s death, but her emotional mind just wanted the love of her life to feel better. “That’s exactly how I feel, Shiraori. I love you.” She softly grabbed the Empress's face and forced her to see the seriousness she felt. “I’m in love with you.”
Shiraori froze as the tears fell freely from her face as she stared into her maid’s eyes. “Y... wh...”
“I love you. In the same way he did.” Yuu continued to explain.
“I don’t...” Shiraori stumbled. “But you’re... You...” Her brain felt like it was rewiring itself. “Yuu you’re my best friend. Y... you’re a girl!”
“I don’t care if I’m a girl, a boy, a kumo, or a human. My love for you goes beyond all those things. There is no one I could ever love more than you.”
Shiraori searched Yuu’s eyes and felt her face almost magnetize forward. It didn’t feel like she was in control, but she didn’t try to stop herself either. Not until she felt something warm press against her lips. Both of them closed their eyes and let their bodies take over and melted into the kiss.
Fuyonouso Palace, 1933
“Once your mom broke the kiss, she asked me for some space and time to think. She barely talked to me for almost a month. I was getting ready to be fired and maybe even arrested for what I did.” Yuu sighed. “Then she pulled me into her office and kissed me again. I don’t think I’ve ever felt as happy as I did then. She told me we’d have to keep it a secret, but that she wanted to be with me.”
Reito laughed, she had a smile on her face and tears in her eyes. “I’m glad my mom had someone to love after dad died. Especially someone as great as you.”
“That is very sweet of you to say, Reito-kama.” Yuu smiled.
“You know you don’t have to use honorifics with me when we’re alone,” Reito said.
“You are definitely your mother’s daughter, Reito.” Yuu cheered as she began to set out all of Reito’s makeup.
Reito fidgeted a little. “So, is it bad to be in a relationship with a girl?” She pressed a bit. “I mean why did Mom have to hide her relationship with you.”
“Well, there are a lot of reasons.” Yuu ramped up to explain before she grabbed the Empress’s face. “Wait, this isn’t about Rui, is it?”
“N- no!” Reito lied.
“Reito. You can’t see her ever again.” Yuu’s voice was firm. “Her mother murdered yours and is vying for you next.”
“I know that! Damn.” Reito pouted. “I just...”
“Reito, you can tell me anything,” Yuu promised. “I may scold you, but you can tell me anything.”
“I don’t think I like boys,” Reito admitted. “Like... at all.”
“Oh.” Yuu pursed her lips. “So you’re a lesbian then? Like me?”
“Y... yeah.” Reito nodded. “A... and like mom, right?”
“Well, no. Your mom liked girls and boys. However, she didn’t know about the girls until she met me.” Yuu explained Shiraori’s sexuality in more precise terms.
“Oh.” Reito thought for a second. “Not like me, then.”
Yuu shook her head. “Not like us.” She paused for a second. “Does that worry you?”
“That I’m not like Mom?” Reito asked.
“That you don’t like boys.” Yuu clarified.
“Oh... um...” Reito looked down nervously. “Yeah... because I have to marry a boy, right?”
“What makes you say that?” Yuu questioned as she began to brush the Empress’s hair.
She bit her lip as her head pulled back from. “Yesterday’s headline... ‘Reito’s succession crises.’”
“Fucking gossip rags.” Yuu spat a bit too informally. “You’re a fifteen-year-old girl. You do not need to worry about things like that yet.”
“But... someday I’ll have to, right..?” Reito dry swallowed. “H... have sex with a guy?” The mere thought repulsed her that if someone just heard her tone, they’d assume she was talking about festering vomit in a hot dumpster.
Yuu sighed and sat in front of the young Empress. “Oh, Reito... I... I want to lie to you and say that you absolutely won’t have to do that, but I really don’t know. Right now, you have more important things to focus on. We must focus all your incredible intelligence on countering Kure’s every move.”
Reito paused. “Y... yeah. You’re right. We can worry about that in the future.” Reito looked in the mirror as Yuu returned to her work. “Can I ask you something else?”
“Of course,” Yuu offered a smile. “Anything.”
“How does sex work between two girls?” Reito asked with hesitancy.
Yuu lightly smacked the back of the Empress’s head. “I’m not going to tell you that!”