By: FiendisHSerapH
- Part One -
"There, there! I've finished a large pile of files for today!" Nokoru stretched his arms to relieve the tension straining his back due to prolonged sitting. Though exhausted, he's still able to smile blithely.
"You're doing well, Kaichou. I never knew you could do a job seriously for thirty minutes straight." The azure-haired boy named Suoh affirmed as he walked toward the working table.
"Me, serious? Oh, come on…" He paused as he gathered his thoughts.
"Wait, you should go and visit Miss Nagisa in their house."
"Miss Nagisa? Why, Kaichou?"
"Don't you know? She's sick!" He asked in a baffled tone. "What kind of a boyfriend are you to her?" he teased shortly.
"Eh? Didn't know that…"
"Go and visit her then; it'll be a straight way to her heart." The blonde winked as Suoh turned away.
"Matte, how about you, Kaichou?"
"I'll be fine out here. Don't worry." He smiled carelessly and that was the last thing he saw of their president for that day.
I know he isn't okay out there. He just wants to put up a front to cover his tiredness. That guy… he's so selfless. He always cares for women up to the extent that he himself is also hurt. Or was that the meaning of his words,
I don't think it's really a nice idea to leave him there. But what can I do? He had just let out a command, therefore I should comply.
But then, there's something bothering me inside, and I don't know what it is…
"Kai… chou?"
"Konnichiwa, Suoh!" Nokoru grinned and sat on his desk in his usual way.
"Nan' desu ka?" Suoh pointed to the box sitting in front of their President's table.
"I asked Akira to make this for Miss Nagisa. By the way, how is she doing?"
Suoh was surprised on the gift. It's a box, probably an exquisite cake from the junior chef.
"She's doing well. She has slightly recovered from her flu, although it's not yet that full. She needs some more bed rest to pull through."
"Yokatta, but she needs more. So will you please deliver this to her when you visit there again?" their President's grin took a piece of eternity from him as he was still caught flabbergasted.
"It's been four days. I've grown worried of her"
The descendant of Takamura just nodded.
"It's my special recipe for Swiss chocolates. I hope Miss Nagisa will like it." Akira popped out like a mushroom at the door side.
"I'd better go." He turned and walked away. He was already right beside Akira when Nokoru called him.
"Hai?"
"Ki o tsukete, kudasai." His smile was so intoxicating that he almost dropped his package.
"H-hai." Almost unnoticed due to his bronzed color, a deep blush crept on his cheeks.
With that, the door closed.
Is he trying to push me away? Doesn't he remember my promise to him?
Why is he like that? His reason is always Nagisa. I knew he wasn't joking when he wanted me to go to her house, but why so often? I know she needs me there because she's ill but isn't he the one who needs me much more?
I am his secretary… and I am his defender.
What if those guys spring out like posies by the school and kidnap him just like what they did three years ago? And worse, I'm not with him? That'll be an eternal disgrace to my honor as a descendant of the honorable Takamura family.
Worse than that, it'll be a shame of me not being able to protect him.
The one I am destined to meet someday, the one I will always safeguard.
It's been three days. Akira noticed that their President had almost finished the stack of files on his desk.
"Here's your milk tea, Kaichou." Akira served him his favorite.
"Domo." Nokoru grinned as he eased the strain on his eyes by gently rubbing his forehead.
"Where's Suoh-sempai, Kaichou?" The raven-haired boy inquired.
"He hadn't been around for quite some time."
"I told him to take a break from all the work here…"
"Demo… Kaichou?' Suoh was surprised to hear the President's suggestion.
"Yes, you heard me right. You may take a break just so you could take care of Miss Nagisa and visit her often."
The ninja's silence bothered the president so the latter talked more.
"I'm okay. You don't have to always trail around with me to assure I am."
"But I just can't leave you alone here…" Suoh revealed.
Nokoru's brows twitched in question, his smile still there.
"What do you mean alone? There's Akira with me, and he'll always make me cakes and all…"
"Demo…"
To his surprise, the blonde stood, approached him by his side and placed an assuring hand on his shoulder.
"Don't worry about me. I promise, I'll do all these papers if that's what you're so worried about." He whispered on the ninja's ear, his breath tenderly touching the side of the tanned boy's neck.
"Kaichou…" his blush was still oblivious to Nokoru's eyes.
"Kaichou, aren't you bothered about out duties as detectives?" Akira asked after a lapse of silence.
"There's no point on worrying, Akira." said the President, "Besides, we don't have any new case to solve."
"Better yet, aren't you troubled about Suoh-sempai?"
He paused, infinity eating him.
"Nope." He smiled again. "I know he can handle himself, Akira. I believe in him."
His eyes landed on four more tall piles of papers to be read, signed and compiled. It's considered to be few because he had finished five stacks.
"So I guess I should go on with all of these now. He'll come, sooner or later."
"But, Kaichou," Akira yawned. "It's past bed time. Aren't you going to rest?" He was anxious for the President's welfare, but Suoh's anxiousness will weigh thrice than that if he were there.
"Iie…" Nokoru shook his head from side to side. "I made a promise to him and that shouldn't be broken this easy."
"SUOOOOH!"
"NOKORU!" The azure-haired lad sprang from his bed. From the wall, twenty daggers flew to his direction. It was another test from his mother. He jumped up high, thus dodging them with no effort. He then looked around. It was morning, he realized.
"Suoh, haven't got enough sleep? It's bad for an active boy like you to lack rest, you know." Takamura-san interrogated him across the breakfast table. Suoh clutched on his ocha as he formulated his query.
"Oka-san…?"
"Hai?"
"Are we Takamuras supposed to always stay by the ones we should defend?"
She laid her tea down.
"Musuko, I know it's hard but yes, we should, no matter how we like or hate that person."
"No matter how he or she pushes you away?"
His question hit his situation precisely.
Takamura-san smiled.
"Suoh, are we talking about what's going on in you here?"
Suoh stooped down, then finally nodded firmly.
"A ninja doesn't give up easily, remember that. Therefore, if it's his duty, he should stick with it, no matter how outside forces prevent him from doing so."
"But it's the one whom I should protect who commands me to leave. Should I follow?"
Her smile grew livelier, as if she knew what her son's going through.
He stopped.
I never thought I could get well with that person the first time I saw him around campus. He seemed so carefree and easy-going about life, the attitudes I've never learned to acquire. He has this deep reverence for women which is by that time seemed so odd to me. There's something in his smile that made me feel so queer, so different.
But when I saw him there lying on those stranger's arms, those strangers who want to claim him for themselves because of his brains, I felt like he's alone. He needs someone out there, he's like a fragile glass held by strong hands that were wanting to crush his soul ever since.
He needs someone to protect him...
His smile
That was the most unforgettable part of his being.
Despite of my hate and uneasiness when I'm with him, I came there to rescue my newfound, if it was, friend. When he braced his arm on mine, I found out that his smile had become livelier than ever.
I know he can't do away with his principle of not having a friend because loneliness floats in his eyes no matter how hard he tried to conceal it through his grin.
Due to that I have decided...
I'll be the one who'll safeguard him always... wherever he goes.
But the mystery in my mind hadn't ceased yet. There's more to it, right?
MEANINGS:
Kaichou - President
Matte - wait
Konnichiwa - Hello
Nan' desu ka? - What is that?
Yokatta - Good thing
Hai - yes
Ki o tsukete, kudasai - Take care, please
Domo - Thank you
-sempai - senior
Demo - but
Iie - No
Takamura-san - Mrs. Takamura
Ocha - tea
Oka-san - mother
Musuko - son