A/N- The sequel of TTFB will be written by the resplendent Destinies Entwined! Thank you so much for reading the one-shot, I'll maybe even brush it up one day!
This is another story that was collecting dust!
This story will be published in bite-sized installments, so enjoy as old idea gets refurbished grammar, language, and sophistication...oh wait, you can't refurbish what you never had! LOL.
Thanks you guys!
Bleu Tsuki~*
Win
Part 1
"Your new mission is to train this woman for the Syndicate." Huang said, "Misaki Kirihara is someone we need to recruit, so she'll need to be trained by the best, understand?"
That was what Huang told Hei a few hours ago. It was 11 am and Hei was still in his room deciding what he should do. How was he supposed to carry this out? Hey, Misaki, I'm Li, the Black Reaper, so do want me to teach you stuff for the illegal organization you'll be blackmailed to join? No, no, no! Misaki would feel betrayed, and Hei hoped his identity wouldn't have to be compromised yet. He was friends with the police chief, a friendship he didn't want to give up. Maybe, Li could help him out with this. He'd be teaching Misaki as Li, and as a friend.
As he stepped out onto the street, Hei saw Misaki walking in the opposite direction. Taking a deep breath, he haled her:
"Misaki! What are you doing?"
She blinked, startled, as his usually shy demeanor was broken by his outburst, but quickly smiled and waved to him.
"Hi Li, I was just on my way to get something to eat...do you want to join me?" The idea was sudden, and yet so golden.
Hei smiled, of course he did.
"Why not?"
They took a short walk together towards the Home Run Noodle House near the center of town. The air outside was warm enough as it was summertime, and the few tress were lush and verdant. Inside, the television blasted applause for a rare homerun.
"Hey!" Rika called, peaking her head out of the kitchen. (Li tensed inwardly, but no one noticed) "It's Li! Do you want your usual?" She led them to a small table and quickly took Misaki's order.
"Misaki, what type of stuff do you need to do when you're work?" Li asked circuitously in an attempt to steer the conversation over towards martial arts. So what if his conversation skills were somewhat lacking? He didn't really need to learn to file a report, just have her say something he could work with, such as,-
"I catch criminals, write reports, and sometimes get a bit of the action." Misaki answered tiredly, though she seemed content enough with the work. Probably a hate-love relationship, thought Li, but then, he liked (maybe love was too strong) his Syndicate team, though didn't particularly like having to kill per se.
"Like fighting?" Li asked innocently, his eyebrows raised in curiosity.
"Yeah, you can look at it that way. But I'm by no means the best fighter." Misaki modestly digressed, nodding to Rika in thanks as she delivered their steaming bowls of noodles.
This was the moment...
"I bet you're great at fighting!" Li exclaimed overenthusiastically, "But if you want, I could help teach you some stuff."- there was the word again, stuff, suggested to him by Mao to un-intimidate and relax the conversation. "I, uh, picked up some martial arts from my family." He completed the effect by scratching the back of his head shyly.
He seems so innocent, and naive. Him, teach me to fight contractors?! Then again, Hourai and Nishajima did comment on my self-defense a day ago, how I should really get some adequate training after the VI-952 incident. Misaki thought, and it was with Li, so what did she have to lose?
"Thanks, that would be wonderful Li! How about tonight at 5?" Misaki asked. Hei smiled: Mission Complete.
"Great! I'll meet you at the park."
Li paced about the park waiting for Misaki to arrive. Would she show? Would she be suspicious since one didn't usually spring self-defense lessons on a friend? He finally spotted her walking towards him dressed in jeans and a rich blue t-shirt. He had rarely seen her dress so casually before and was amazed at the transformation. Her hair was still in a high ponytail with two tendrils framing her face.
"Hi Misaki!" Hei called to her as she approached him. She smiled again, and began to walk faster.
During the trip here, Misaki had been wondering how much Li knew about this type of combat. From time to time, she would see him around town in a shirt that revealed a bit of his well-toned (and sexy) muscles. Other than that, she had seen no sign of Li being a fighter, or even mentally able. Just recalling the batting cages, and she could very well laugh right then to his face; you expect me to learn from you? But that would be entirely uncalled for, even in a joking manner, and Hourai did seem adamant she get training from SOMEWHERE.
"I really appreciate this, Li! My bosses have been telling me to get more training for ages!" (But with the work I do, most trainers are less capable than me!) Misaki finished in her head.
Interesting, thought Hei, So Hourai had told her to get some more training. Hourai knew that Hei was in town, (as did the rest of the police), perhaps he had planned this from the beginning to mesh with Hei's mission... It would be more useful to have your pawns trained by the Black Reaper, after all.
"Oh, it's no problem! What do you need me to help you with?" Hei asked kindly.
"Well, how about defensive moves?" Obviously.
The thought had occurred to Misaki that Li was a more defensive person and would therefore have more knowledge of blocking and dogding. Li knew exactly along which lines Misaki was thinking, but it didn't bother him because he had already had first hand experience on her messy defense jobs. And yes, they were messy by Hei's standards.
"Misaki, try and block me. I'm going to aim for you right shoulder okay?" Hei waited for Misaki to nod before slinging a medium impact punch to her right shoulder. Misaki held her arms in an X shape to try and block it., but as soon as Hei's fist came in contact with her X, he stopped.
"Misaki, if someone aims for a non-vital area, you can attempt to dodge first. However, if you don't have time, you should try to misdirect the hit." Hei instructed her. She seemed to be absorbing it, it did make sense. Avoid damage or minimize it by misdirecting, simple enough, so why on earth was her first instinct always to back away with barred arms? "I don't pretend to be the best at this, but can you aim for my right shoulder? I'll try and misdirect it." Hei instructed her.
Misaki aimed to punch his right shoulder, trying to hold back at the same time as prove herself.
Meanwhile, Hei decided to have deliberate "Li-slow" reflexes so as not to blow his cover. Imagine: Black Reaper's identity compromised for showing off to chief of police.
Li tried to misdirect it by shoving his right arm into hers making a T. But Li's reflexes were too sloppy, and Misaki landed a hit squarely on his shoulder. Li staggered backward, a stunned expression of pain on his face.
"Oh my gosh! I'm so sorry!" cried Misaki. God! What was she thinking? Just because Li said to hit him didn't mean she had to go all out! Li must be in some serious pain right now!
Hei was unaffected, but his duty to be a good actor made him clutch his shoulder with a slight cringe.
"It's alright Misaki... I did tell you to punch, didn't I?" Hei reminded her through a pained face. Misaki nodded; yeah it wasn't entirely her fault. Just because her instinct weren't good didn't mean she didn't have the strength to pack a punch!
"Right, how about you try dodging this time?-"
Just then, Hei's cell phone rang. Misaki looked at his vibrating pocket with curiosity. "Oops, I'm sorry but I have to take this call- it's for work." Hei said quickly as his smile slipped instantly from his face.
"No problem." said Misaki suspiciously. Who was calling that could make him upset? Hei turned around and walked towards a cherry tree that was in the field part of the park where they were training.
"What is it?" Hei asked keeping his voice low so Misaki couldn't hear. Yet, Misaki's superb hearing skills allowed her to eavesdrop without too much difficulty. She didn't mean to, but she thought it odd of Li to have to take a call, and then walk away supposedly out of earshot. She wanted to make sure he wasn't in trouble, that someone wasn't blackmailing him or a gang wasn't after his hide. They were far fetched ideas, but it was just so odd for Li to be acting even the slightest bit precautions, that she decided she might as well listen.
"A rival Syndicate group wants Misaki on their team. The higher ups have made it sort of a challenge game for their entertainment. Any group that wants Misaki will have to fight to get her on their team. Watch your back." Mao said through the phone.
"Why does his happen now? I'm still Li!" Hei whispered furiously into the mic.
"Hei, protect her, I want her on our team." Yin spoke clearly and calmly through the cell. "I'll warn you by my specter, now go! The first will arrive in 40 seconds." Yin warned before hanging up. Why did he have to fight for Misaki?
He had to fight for everything he loved- that's why.
But why now? His identity was sure to be compromised.
"Something wrong?" Misaki asked standing suddenly beside him. Hei was startled at her sudden appearance and nearly jumped out of his skin.
"No, just trouble at work." replied Hei nonchalantly, though his dark eyes belied his discontent. "Misaki, people are after you. I'll explain everything later, just head for my apartment and don't leave." Hei ordered her.
30 seconds.
"WHAT?" Misaki protested. "Wait, who was on that phone?" she demanded.
"Misaki, I'll explain later, now go!" Hei growled. Misaki was taken aback by his sudden display of aggressiveness. It was so unlike him, so unlike Li...
10 seconds.
"I said go!" Li pleaded, giving her his apartment keys. Hei looked over his shoulder quickly in case of trouble.
"Fine." Misaki conceded in a defeated voice. She knew whatever it was, was important, and Li did care about her to some extent yet to be named. Her line of work did put her into quite a lot of trouble, but that didn't explain how Li knew that people were after her. He said he'd explain later, and she agreed to stay at his apartment so that''s where she was headed. She walked slowly towards the sidewalk but when she was sure she was out of Li's eyesight, crept back and hid behind one of the many cherry trees. She needed to know...NOW
Li watched her head for the exit, before turning his attention to the playground entrance that connected to the Sakura Field.
0 seconds.
Thank you guys and ladies so much for reading! Please Review because I love them nearly as much as I love chocolate! Actually, that's a lie, chocolate is nothing compare to the joy I receive when reading your reviews!
- Bleu Tsuki 3