Chapter 3. Huh. Guess I have to write something. Or you could stop reading and we can all do something useful and meaningful. I'm just kidding, we're all nerds here.
If I wasn't writing fanfics I'm probably reading it.
This chapter might come across as having a lot of emotional ups and downs and odd twists, but I'm not use to writing drama so bare with me. I'm more used to comedy which can justify being random and odd.
Chapter 3: Half-Life
As the classroom empty Yui didn't move.
"Yui?"
Ritsu just couldn't figure out what to do. She was the Light Music Club President. She was supposed to lead. So why couldn't she help a club member and friend? Ritsu felt deflated and so powerless. Her ego and confidence was seriously shaken. She looked at Saito. He clearly knew what was going on. Why did he know? He just met Yui today. What could he possibly know?
Ritsu looked at Yui and made her decision. "Bob-kun, a word."
She grabbed Saito's arm and tried to pull him out of the room. Saito was 6 feet (183 cm) tall and weighted at 150 pounds (68 kg). Tainaka Ritsu was a scant 5 feet (154 cm) making her the shortest member of the club and only weighted 105 pounds (48 kg). The result was that Ritsu was pulled off her feet and fell to the floor.
"I still don't recall allowing you to call me Bob. Only my friends get to call me that and we only just met today," said Saito.
"Fine. Kamisaka-kun, but we need to talk," said Ritsu.
"If you say so," said Saito pulled Ritsu to her feet in a less than gentle fashion. They stepped into the hall. Ritsu had her back to Saito who leaned against the wall next to the door to the classroom. Saito had a few hunches as to what this conversation was going to be about, but he wasn't sure which one it was going to be. Still it was slightly assuming.
"I am the President of the Light Music Club," declared Ritsu.
"I am aware," said Saito. It was mildly entertaining watching Ritsu try to be tough and form an argument.
Ritsu seemed to be at a loss. Clearly she hadn't quite figured out what she wanted to say… no, she knew what she wanted to say just not how to express herself.
"I need to take care of my club members," she said in a less confident voice. She mumbled the last part. "They're my best friends. I don't know what to do."
Saito walked past her to the look out onto the field behind the school. "I wouldn't sell yourself so short. You're an irresponsible person, but not a bad leader."
"Don't act like you know me," said Ritsu annoyed.
"Tainaka Ritsu," recited Saito from memory. "Born: 21 August 1994 in Shimonoseki, Yamaguchi Prefecture. Age: 15. Oldest of two children, daughter of Tainaka Izumi and Kazuki. Younger brother Satoshi. Your mother got a job in Fukuoka when you were 4 and you moved to this city where you met Akiyama Mio at age 6. You have poor grades averaging 65 points. You speak no foreign languages. No ties to known terrorist organizations, criminal gangs, organized crime, government agencies, military units, or intelligence services."
Ritsu was dumbfounded. Even Mio didn't know that she was born in Shimonoseki, a port city on the Kanmon Strait. It wasn't a secret, but not a lot of people knew. How could he possibly know her age, the names of her parents, when she moved to Fukuoka, or her grades?
"I also know you had a secret boyfriend in junior high for two weeks," said Saito pulling a file out of his bag and show her the name in black ink.
Tainaka Ritsu
"I even have your sizes, but I have no idea why this was included," said Saito shaking his head. He didn't know how this had all been put together and he didn't want to know.
"Who the fuck are you?" shouted Ritsu. She was now scared.
"I'm a professional mercenary. I do every job to the best of my ability and I use every resource and asset I can get my hands on," said Saito. His voice was even, but his eyes were cold. "The Kotobuki family just happened to offer better information gathering than I've ever seen. And I've worked with the CIA and FSB. I will do everything in my power to do my job and that includes knowing as much as I can learn about the people closest to Kotobuki-san."
Ritsu absorbed that information. "So you know what's wrong with Yui."
Saito frowned. "Not until today."
"What's wrong with her?" Ritsu half demanded. She raised her fists. She looked frightened, but ready to fight. "I bet you have a gun and could kill me with your bare hands, but I can't stand by watching her like this."
Saito smiled. It was small, but warm and there was a gentleness she hadn't seen before. It gave her pause and she lowered her fists. Saito raised a hand and Ritsu went back on guard only. He ruffled her hair.
"Not bad. You don't have much book-smarts, but you are prepared to die for your friends."
Ritsu gulped at the word 'die'. She also scowled at the insult.
"I saw you out there. You protected your friends. You have the initiative to lead," said Saito. He walked back to the window. "I've trained, instructed, and lead my team into battle for years now. My teammates are my best friends in the world. I have worked every day to assure their survival and happiness."
Ritsu couldn't help but smile a little hearing these words. It was very calming. Saito seemed so much older than he actually was.
"So about Yui?" she asked. She wondered if Saito was deliberately leading her away from her original goal.
"Think about what's happened to her," said Saito looking her dead in the eye. There was a sternness now, but not wholly unfriendly.
Ritsu thought hard. "She was bullied by that girl, Nishimoto."
"Before that."
Ritsu thought hard. What had happened to Yui? A fuzzy thought started to form. It took on a more cohesive shape. "She was held hostage when we went to those interviews. And she was the only one who saw Mugi get kidnap. She's been exposed to danger several times."
Saito nodded.
"She's scared and freaked out," Ritsu said to herself. "But why not Mugi?"
"Kotobuki-san most likely got psychological treatment," answered Saito.
"But why didn't she say something?" asked Ritsu. Surely someone would have noticed something.
"Have you ever been shot at?" asked Saito. "I've been in the same place she's in now. She needs help and now. From what it seems like she's at the breaking point."
Ritsu didn't like the sound of that. "Can you help? She seems to like you."
"I'm not a listened therapist. Hirasawa-san probably gets a sense of safety that she rarely feels. It probably wouldn't matter whether it was me, Shawn, a soldier, or a police officer."
"I'm not so sure I completely agree with that," said Ritsu seriously.
"We'll see then. But I think you have a club to run and I have a person I'm paid to protect."
"Fine," said Ritsu. She then looked nervous for a second. "You don't know any details about my-"
"Just his name. Not that what you did with him. I don't even know how or why they know. And I don't intend to disclose this info to anyone. Even Kotobuki-san isn't privy to his intel and I would prefer the others don't know I have this kind of access," said Saito walking back to the classroom.
"Can I see Mio's file?" asked Ritsu slyly.
"What do you think?" asked Saito rhetorically with a smirk.
He opened the door back to Class 2-2. It seemed Mio had joined them and so had Shawn.
"Finding yourself a girl on your first day, Bob?" asked Shawn. While they normally spoke to each in English, Shawn chose to ask this in Japanese for no other reason than to embarrass Saito.
"Finding yourself a place to live and a job, Shawn?" asked Saito.
"Shutting up," said Shawn nonchalantly.
"How were your classes?" he asked Shawn. They were still talking in Japanese.
Shawn scowled. "What do you expect? I'm bored as hell. We know this shit already. I'm mean hell, Bob, you can do this on a college level."
"I hear you," said Saito taking his seat to Yui who still hadn't seemed to move despite attempts from Mugi and Mio.
"What's wrong with her?" asked Mio.
Ritsu put on a brave face and said in her usual loud voice, "Yui's just having a rough time, but don't worry. She'll be fine in due time, ne Bob-kun?
"Still don't remember giving you permission to address me by my given name," said Saito who was working on his crossword puzzle. Vietnamese holiday, 3 letters. Too easy. Tet.
Saito looked up and saw Mugi staring down at him.
"Hai?"
"Can you help Yui-chan?" asked Mugi. Her tone was sweet, but had an icy edge that made the hair on the back of his neck stand on end.
"Is that an order?" asked Saito.
"… hai."
"Understood, Ojo-sama," said Saito standing up. He walked to Saito's side. She didn't seem to really notice him. He smacked her lightly on the back. "Oi, get up."
Yui jumped at the sudden physical contact. She started to sputter as Saito grabbed her by the back of her collar and yanked her to her feet. The others, minus Shawn who was reading a magazine, looked on in shook at Saito's rough treatment of Yui.
"Kamisaka-kun," said Yui a little reproachfully. She looked a little hurt at this treatment.
"Stand," he said flatly. "On you're on two feet."
Yui tried to speak.
"Keep walking forward. It will get easier, I promise you that," he said. Yui noticed his voice was deeper now and more alert instead of the wearier voice. It full of confidence. Not arrogance, but like a man that spoke with true authority and wisdom.
"… okay," she said a little unsurely.
Mio looked like she was going to scold Saito, but Ritsu held her back. Ritsu decided to trust the mercenary for now. She could only assume that his was how he encouraged mercs and Saito probably knew more about trauma from violent experiences.
"Right, let's have our first club meeting," said Ritsu holding a first in the air. The pose reminded Saito and Shawn of Soviet era propaganda posters of V I Lenin. He didn't think Ritsu could do worse to the Light Music Club than the communists had done to the Russians.
"Unn!" roared Ritsu in some short of warcry. Saito bit back a laugh and Shawn let out a snicker.
Mugi looked between Saito, Yui, Mio, and then Ritsu. She decided to follow Ritsu's lead and imitated her warcry. Shawn broke out laughing.
"What?"
"Excuse him," said Saito fighting back tears. It was just too hysterical. "But that battlecry of yours. It just seems laughable compared to the ones we've heard."
"I remember you shaking back in Chechnya," said Shawn.
"I didn't shake," said Saito. And then said deadpan, "I shit myself."
They both laughed. Yui looked at Saito curiously. She couldn't tell if he was being serious or not. He's been scared too?
She could see him walk with confidence and hold his head high without fear. She didn't understand how Saito could still function. His main flaw just seemed to be a distain for interacting with people other than Shawn and a slight indifference for life. In actually Saito was extremely disfuctional.
"Let's get going," said Ritsu leading the way. Saito watched Mio give him a look before following Ritsu out with Mugi in tow. It was a complex one of fear, misgivings, and uncertainty. Saito didn't care much. As long as Mio didn't interfere with his mission it didn't matter what she thought of him. Shawn walked on ahead with Saito in the rear.
Saito suddenly tensed up feeling someone grabbed his sleeve. He reached into his blazer for the taser before realizing it was Yui. Yui was a little taken aback at Saito's reaction, but she didn't let go. Saito looked her for a second and then ahead to see Mugi watching over her shoulder. She had an expectant look and Saito knew that Mugi was expecting him to accommodate her friends in every way possible. That was just the kind of person she was.
Yui held onto his sleeve above the elbow with her thumb and index finger. She was vaguely aware of what this would look like to others, but she just wanted to get back that feeling of safety. It was somewhat comforting that Saito like her didn't seem to like being touched either. It made her feel less alone in this silent hell.
Saito tried not to think too much about Yui, but he had to admit it was kind of cute… it reminded him of an anime he'd seen, but he couldn't put his finger on it. Probably because too many manga and anime used scenes like this.
The Light Music Club Room
Yui sat down with the other girls. Tea was placed in front of her and she was starting to feel like her old self. She especially brightened up when an extra-large slice of cake was placed in front of her. She felt bad that everyone was giving her more attention than usual, but was grateful for her friends.
Just keep moving and everything will be fine, right, Kamisaka-kun? Yui asked silently.
Saito and Shawn were finishing up their homework. They didn't seem challenged by it in the least. In fact the only trouble that they seem to have was that Shawn had to look up a few Kanji characters in a dictionary.
"Damn, and I thought Mio was smart," said Ritsu. "Guess I have someone to copy from now on."
Mio puffed out her cheeks in annoyance. Annoyed that Ritsu was not going to do her own work and hurt that Ritsu was doing okay on her own. Mio had had a very bad day. She didn't know anyone in the class except Yui's old friend Nodoka, which was the only good thing to happen all day. Mio looked around the room. Everyone was unusually sullen. Things seemed fine until today when she got spilt up and now Yui was acting really strange.
She looked at Saito. He seemed to know exactly what was going on, but not care a thing about it. But Mio was too scared to confront him about it. She saw Ritsu talking to him earlier. She looked at Ritsu with jealous eyes because she had found the courage to speak with the scary looking foreigner. Japanese he may be, but he was born in the West.
The door burst open and they all looked up to see the large student from Class 2-2, Sumoto. Sumoto's nose seemed to have been reset and now bandaged.
"You!" he said pointing to Saito.
"What?" asked Saito looking up from his newspaper. Mio couldn't believe that he would speak to someone like this with total indifference. She saw Ritsu stand up and move next to Yui to place a reassuring hand on her shoulder. Mugi's smile faltered a little seeing the massive classmate storm the room.
Sumoto walked to the middle of the room. He leveled a finger at him and declared, "You think yourself worthy of Tsumugi-chan?"
"I'm her fucking bodyguard!" shouted Saito now thoroughly fed up with this school. He'd forgotten how much he hated teenagers. Didn't somewhere in their hormonal excuses for brains they have a god damn fucking brain? They were all so self assured and convinced they knew every fucking thing.
"Nani?" came a new voice. Saito looked up to see a gaggle of boys peeking around the door.
"So you're not her boyfriend?" asked Sumoto.
"No," said Saito sighing. "I am a professional mercenary and this is my associate, Callahan Shawn."
"I see, you defeated me because you have fought in real wars," said Sumoto. Saito could hear Ritsu and Mugi now having a conversation of their own, in total indifference to the situation.
"Right, now if you don't mind I have shit to do," said Saito reopening his newspaper.
Sumoto thought about this. It then occurred to him that Saito had been lenient with him. He could have killed him, but honor and love came first.
"I see, but still you have embarrassed me and stained my honor!"
What is this a fucking shounen manga? Saito wondered.
Do people seriously talk like that? Shawn wondered.
"Fine, but I really don't care," said Saito. He did have to admit this was kind of funny.
"Are any of you interested in joining the Light Music Club?" asked Ritsu.
"Ritsu!" shouted Mio.
"What? We can always have Bob-kun-"
"What have I said about using my name," said Saito coolly.
"Well we can always have him get rid of them," said Ritsu. "Plus we can do background checks."
That caused the boys to back out before Ritsu could even look back to the door.
"So he's not her boyfriend," said one boy walking down the hall.
"Hai, but he's still going to be a problem."
"We need a plan."
"But background checks? We might be in trouble."
"Damn," said Ritsu back in the club room.
"It's for the best," said Mio. At least Saito served well as a scarecrow.
"That was interesting, eh?" said Shawn.
"Shut it," said Saito. Still, a grin formed on his lips. As much as most teenagers annoyed him they were fun to screw around with. Ritsu decided to call an end to another unproductive meeting.
"This is my address," said Saito handing a note to Shawn. "Right, I have my truck in the lot."
Shawn owned a Ford F-series pickup truck that he drove for everyday purposes. The truck was red and white and was outfitted to transport heavy weapons and ammo. It was mainly a utility vehicle, but was rugged enough to be used in combat missions.
"Where the Vic?" asked Saito. Shawn had current custody of the Crown Vic.
"Being shipped from England. It won't be here for a while."
"Right. See you soon."
"Yeah."
Shawn split off from the group and headed for the parking lot.
"Now what?" asked Mugi.
"Hmmm," said Ritsu crossing her arms in concentration.
"Don't hurt yourself," said Mio.
"Urusai (shut up)!" barked Ritsu.
"We could go to my house again," said Mugi.
"Hmm, we've been to you everyone's house, but…"
Oh hell no, thought Saito.
"Oh yes, we could visit Kamisaka-kun," said Mugi. "I haven't seen your place fully unpacked."
"I don't think that would be highly appropriate," said Saito. This was true and he didn't want them there. Plus he still needed to figure out how to separate Yui from him. He hoped this wasn't going to be a habit of hers.
"I don't think we should be alone with a boy," said Mio.
"Right, what she said," said Saito.
"You just don't want us there," said Ritsu.
"Your friend underestimates your intelligence," said Saito dryly.
"Flattery won't get you out of this," shot back Ritsu.
"It was a veiled insult and I don't work for you."
"I think this will be a good experience for you," said Mugi. "You need to get to know my friends better."
So the four girls sat on a train with Saito standing and ignoring them. He was listening to music now. He was pissed and needed to calm down. In his experience angry guy plus gun equals any number of bad outcomes. He listened to Zac Brown singing about being knee deep in the water somewhere without a care in the world.
I should have taken a vacation first, thought Saito. He listened next to Keith Urban. Keith Urban, a New Zealand born American Country music singer, had pretty upbeat lyrics and that was what Saito wanted to here.
Yui could see his lips starting to form words as he hummed along to Who Wouldn't Want to be Me. She was a little worried that they had upset him, but he seemed to be calming down. Taking advantage he wasn't paying much attention to her, also he wasn't radiating anger, she scooting a little closer to where he was standing. She couldn't hear what he was listening too. Yui had to admit it was ironic how little music she knew despite being in a band. She could barely name any Japanese bands let alone foreign ones.
She could just hear him say gently under his breath as the chorus came up:
The sun is shinin'
The road is windin'
Through the prettiest country from Georgia to Tennessee
I got the one I love beside me
My trouble behind me
I'm alive and I'm free
Who wouldn't want to be me
Yui ran that through her mind translating it. It sounded like a nice song. I'm alive and I'm free? Well I'm alive, but I feel trapped.
They arrived at Saito's apartment. The door was unlocked. Shawn had moved his stuff in already and he was sitting on Saito's couch watching TV and cleaning an M14 on the coffee table.
"Shawn! What have I told you about cleaning guns on my table?" backed Saito.
"Huh? Oh, right." Shawn picked up the parts and put it under a cloth so oil and grease wouldn't get on the old table. The girls sweat-dropped that Saito didn't care about the gun being out, he just didn't want it on the table.
Yui looked around the apartment. Saito had hung up posts on the wall of what appeared to be his favorite TV shows and movies. She saw a number of anime posters including Eden of the East, Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood, and Skip Beat. Then there were ones that must be American shows like Burn Notice, House, and something called South Park.
"Ah, I wouldn't have taken you for an otaku," said Ritsu.
"An otaku that can send your head through the drywall, Tainaka-san," said Saito taking off his blazer. It was the first time they saw the weapons he had been concealing. Mio let out of moan of fear.
Yui was looking at the autographs hanging on one wall.
"That's a band called Green Day. They're very famous in the United States," said Saito from behind. If Saito loved to talk about anything it was history, politics, and the things he collected. "That is from Miranda Lambert, a country singer. This is lead singer from Asian Kung-fu Generation. You've heard of them, right? They are a Japanese band."
"Um. I don't listen to much music," admitted Yui.
"Oh," said Saito. "This one I bought online. It's an autograph photo of Johnny Cash. He died some years ago."
"Who's that?" asked Yui. She was happy to see Saito talking to her of his own volition.
"Ah, that's Leonardo DiCaprio. I did a job for his agent and he got me that. He's a very famous actor in the US."
"Oooh, he's pretty handsome," said Ritsu looking at him.
"You and most women in the US would agree," said Saito.
"What movies was he in?" asked Yui. Saito indicated for her to follow.
"He was in Titanic, that was one of his first big roles. Tbe Man in the Iron Mask and Gangs of New York. I don't own those. I do have The Aviator, but the man's best acting I'd say was in The Department, Blood Diamond, and most of all Shutter Island. That last one is still in theaters (2)."
As he named them he pulled out DVDs for Yui to see.
"He's got that new one coming up, don't he?" asked Shawn.
"Inception? Yeah, this summer. Looks good."
"Is he your favorite actor?" asked Yui. She wanted to learn more but not sure why.
"One of them. He, Tom Hanks, Leslie Nelson, Will Smith, Nathan Lane, John Cleese, Robert Downey Jr…" His voice trailed off. He was talking too much. Yui wouldn't know any of these people. He looked at her. Ritsu had moved on to investigate more of living room, but Yui was looking at him with fascination. There was a light in her eyes he hadn't seen and he could only assume that this was what she had been like before. Something seemed to compel him to keep talking.
"Those are my favorite movie actors. This guy, Hugh Laurie, is my favorite TV actor. He plays a doctor named Greg House," said Saito pointing to a photo of an older man.
Mio was seated next to Mugi on the couch watching a TV show. It was in English and she couldn't understand it at all. It seemed to be in some kind of hospital and there was some guy who limped around with a cane and popping pills that seemed to be the main character. But she couldn't figure out what he was doing there, he didn't look like a doctor.
Ritsu emerged from Saito bedroom. "Damn can't find anything."
"If you're looking for porn I don't buy any," said Saito grabbing a can of soda from his refrigerator. He was glad he'd locked most of the important files away and secured his gun locker. "Why bother when internet porn is free?"
They all turned to look at him, but no one wanted to comment.
"What? You think I'm an unfeeling robot with no human urges?" asked Saitio with a raised eyebrow. "Anything good on?"
"A rerun of the one where they killed that African dictator," said Shawn. "But it's almost over. SVU is on next."
"Cool," said Saito taking a seat on a recliner.
"SVU?" asked Yui sitting on the arm next to Saito. Saito wished she would keep a little more distance. He knew it was a mistake when he got on showing off his collection, but he couldn't help himself. Now he basically fed a stray animal and she was going to keep coming back.
"Law & Order: Special Victims Unit. It's a crime drama about the US system of law enforcement and prosecution. Special Victims Unit is specialized on sexually based crimes and child abuse."
"And you like this show?" asked Mio in shock.
"It's a pretty accurate show," said Saito. "And discussed many real issues in our country. It's one of the most popular crime dramas in the US."
"Do we have to watch it?" asked Mio. She could barely stand a horror films let alone a crime drama with such a disturbing plot. "We don't even understand the language."
"I do," said Mugi.
"I understand a little," said Yui. She'd never really told them she could speak English.
"Hmff, we don't need English. We will be fine with Japanese," declared Ritsu.
"Yeah, that's the spirit," said Saito sarcastically.
"Yeah, what have English-speaking people done aside from creating two of the greatest military and economic nation-states in the world? Or destroy the Japanese Empire, that took decades to build, in three years," said Shawn wryly reminding Ritsu the might of the United States and United Kingdom and who had one World War II.
"Bob-kun, you're Japanese," said Ritsu.
"Nikkeijin and Virginian," corrected Saito. Saito liked the Japanese, but never really felt assimilated in their culture. He was more at home with Americans and preferred to think of himself as one.
Yui looked at Saito and then to the little American flag in a plastic stand above his TV. Also in the stand was the Japanese flag and one she didn't recognize, but the American flag occupied center position making it clear that Saito was American first.
Saito was American first, Virginian second, Japanese third.
"Maybe we could watch one of those movies you were talking about," suggested Yui. Saito looked at her. He sighed.
"Shawn, you have anything in mind?"
"We could watch The Bourne Identity," said Shawn.
Saito wished Jack was here. Saito was good with computers but Jack was the best in the team. He eventually managed to figure out how to add Japanese subtitles to the movie for the benefit of Mio and Ritsu.
Yui had never seen a movie quite like the Bourne Identity. The Japanese had movies like it, but Yui just hadn't seen them. They were at the scene where Jason Bourne was in his Paris apartment. It then occurred to Saito that he should probably warn Mio about…
Mio screamed at the top of her lungs as an assassin came bursting through the window of Jason Bourne's apartment clutching a SIG 552 carbine.
Too late, thought Saito. He saw Shawn trying to pry the terrified girl off him since she was starting to strangle him. It was then that Saito aware that Yui had not reacted. She seemed to watch this scene with mixed emotion and fascination.
"Can you do that?" asked Ritsu.
"Kill a man with a pen? I stabbed a Serbian officer with one once, but it didn't kill him," said Saito. Snapping the Serbian's neck did kill him.
"Anya did, remember?" said Shawn.
Saito nodded. Once in Uganda Anya got separated from the others and was assaulted by an officer for one of the local warlords. She was pinned to the floor and went for the first thing she could, a ballpoint pen. She stabbed him in the neck into the carotid artery, one of the most vital and vulnerable blood lines in the human body. He bled out in seconds and was unable to stop Anya from pushing him off and running away since there was no longer blood flowing to the brain.
"I think that was her strangest kill," said Saito.
"What was yours again?" asked Shawn.
Saito didn't answer. He didn't feel like sharing that. They kept track of things like greatest shot, longest shot, most elaborate kill, and strangest kill. They also had strangest accident, weirdest encounter with a local, most pissed off they got Berman, and a few others.
Jack had the longest kill being the sniper. He assassinated a Uganda warlord at 2 miles with a CheyTac Intervention, a special sniper rifle that was capable of hitting a target at 2 km.
Anya had most elaborate kill using a highly complex booby-trap that looked like it belonged in a Looney Tune cartoon. She blew up an entire one-story shack in the process.
Shawn had strangest kill. They had been given a contract to find a Taliban leader and him kill him. Shawn had been leaving a small restaurant in northern Afghanistan and got into his pickup truck. He back up and ran over the guy they had been looking for by accident. While they did it by accident they still got paid.
Saito had greatest kill.
Ritsu was pretty pumped by the car chase through the Paris streets as Bourne evaded Paris police in a beat up old Mini Cooper.
No big deal, they're only Frenchies, thought Saito and Shawn together.
Mio and Mugi were taken in by the romance between Marie and Bourne started to develop.
As for Yui… it was still hard to say what was going through her mind. She just asked questions to Saito when she didn't understand something.
"Why did he fire his gun?" asked Yui.
It was the scene where Bourne had his encounter with the Professor in the marsh towards the end of the movie.
"To scare the birds," explained Saito. "The birds took flight they will fly away from danger. So they flew away from the sniper. Not saying that's the smartest play, but it's what he was trying to do."
At the movies conclusion Saito stood up. It was getting late.
"I think you guys need to get going," said Saito. "And I'm not feeding you four. As for you, Shawn, I haven't decided yet."
Shawn laughed at the joke. He assumed Saito was joking about not feeing him.
"Get dinner started, Shawny. I have to escort Kotobuki-san back. If I don't report in 20 minutes-"
"Come in hot," finished Shawn holding up a HK Mk. 23.
Ritsu and Mio headed for the station. Predictably Yui followed Saito as he escorted Mugi back to the front gate. He waited for the front gate to close behind her before heading back with Yui in tow.
"Hirasawa-san, you need to go home," he said stopping her in the street. "I am not your bodyguard or friend. I am a mere acquaintance. Now, go home… please?"
This was what Yui had been dreading. The walk home alone and at night too! Saito watched as Yui was being paralyzed with fear.
Horrific scenarios ran through her head. She could be abducted, raped, murdered, mugged… Saito didn't seem too sympathetic to her. He probably didn't like her since she had been clinging all day. He was probably a soldier who thought of her as weak. She tried to fight back tears. Her legs gave out, probably because all her strength was directed at keeping back tears.
Saito watched Yui implode before himself. He could see her terror driven imagination was running into overdrive. He felt cold guilt grabbing at him. He pulled out his phone and sent Shawn a text that he was going to be late and probably miss dinner.
The fear was now so overwhelming that Yui was losing her ability to see, a condition known to soldiers as hysterical blindness. This only intensified her fear into a self-perpetuating cycle since she didn't understand what was happening.
"I can't see," she whimpered. "… I can't see. I can't see. What's h-happening to me-e-e? Am I dying?"
Saito's eye widened in horror now. Yui's PTSD was progressing into very dangerous areas.
He picked her up, but Yui resisted not knowing who or what was happening. Her senses were starting to shut down.
"Hirasawa-san. Hirasawa-san. Yui! Relax!" ordered Saito.
Yui went still. Saito felt his heart stop. Had she passed out? Did her heart give out from hyper-stress? No, she was still breathing. He breathed easier. He had seen these situations go very badly in the past. The human body could do amazing things, but it was also very fragile.
He picked her up and carried her to a bench. Her situation had gone on too long without being addressed.
"Breath," he said gently.
"W-what's happening?" she sobbed.
"It's called a Conversion Disorder. In the old days it was called Hysterical Blindness. You're so scared that your brain isn't able to process some things because the nerves are so overwhelmed," he said holding her hand comfortingly. "Once you calm down everything will return to normal."
"How do you know?" demanded Yui. Saito didn't even like her and she fought his grasp.
Saito didn't look at her, not that Yui would have noticed as she lay on the bench. This was calling for extreme measures.
"Don't tell anyone this."
"What?" asked Yui a little thrown off by his tone.
"I started in this business because of my uncle. My friends know that and it's in my file. What isn't in there are the full details of how it started."
"My uncle took me with him to hotspots around the world. My parents died when I was 7 so he brought me up with my aunt until they divorced. He took me all over the world. It was probably not the best place to raise a kid and I think… I know a lot of psychological damage was done. But I learned more about life and death than anyone my age."
Saito saw Yui now searching for him with an outstretched hand. Saito took it and placed his other hand on her head.
"You and I have had horrific circumstances forced on us. My father died of a genetic heart disease that runs in my family. In the same week my mother dropped dead of a brain aneurism that had gone undetected. No rhyme or reason. No terrorists or gangs. It just happened and it was something beyond anyone's control. Bad things happen to good people for no reason. I was just really unfortunate."
Yui now had her head on his leg. She listened to him carefully. She understood that this was something he didn't share, ever. Why tell her?
"Only Shawn and my family know. Jack and Anya, two of my teammates, know pieces. My grandfather couldn't handle the death of his only daughter and descended into depression, another thing that runs in my family. I didn't understand why I wasn't allowed to visit him or live with him at the time. He had Depressive Pseudo-Dementia."
"What's that?" asked Yui.
"… he was so depressed he became demented. It's like Alzheimer, only it was treatable. He got out a three year ago. My sister was still in college and couldn't take care of me. I don't think she really wanted to be responsible yet. That left my uncle."
Yui heard him choke a little on those last words. He sounded like he was somewhere between tear and rage. She silently started to cry. She was too numb and overwhelmed by emotions to really feel her own pain let alone even begin to empathize with him.
"I saw my uncle take a shotgun and blow a man's head off. I was 10. I didn't understand what he did wrong or why. I didn't understand how horrific damage a gun does. I understood even less why people were being tortured by warlords, terrorists, or governments. What rape was and why there were women crying in the streets begging for death. I didn't understand, but it happened all around me."
"Then when I was 12 I was in Bosnia. I was hiding with some of the other kids on base when the building was raked by a barrage of heavy machine gun fire," said Saito. This was one of two days that haunted his nightmares to this day. He felt his voice die. He couldn't say it. Years of therapy and anti-depressants and he still couldn't deal with it. He felt so weak. He killed for a living and couldn't face that? He calmed down some and in a monotone he described that day in Bosnia. His eyes between empty and he totally numbed himself. He didn't have to use drugs or alcohol. He's self-taught himself to detach and feel nothing.
"This was near the total end of Yugoslavia. It basically imploded upon itself as its people fought each other. Serbia and Montenegro were about to split. Bosnia was still reeling from the Serbian-Croatian War and the Bosnian War. A lot of Serbian soldiers were being discharged from the military or militia units. NATO was in the area to keep the peace with mercenaries to supplement the security forces since a lot of NATO troops were pulling out. Most of major action was over and they were just looking for a few rogue units and war criminals."
Saito took another deep breath.
"They knew that most of the fighters were out so a renegade unit came up. They knew ASI had been protecting UN relief workers and aiding the local security unit mostly made up of ethnic Bosnians Muslims. There was a lot of racial and religious tension along the Serbian-Bosnian border. Serbians don't like the Muslims and were pissed we were providing training for them.
"They just blasted away. A lot of the lucky ones were killed immediately. They found the UN personnel. They killed the men and the women…"
Saito couldn't even describe that. His voice started to waver.
"T-t-they really didn't care about age either. I saw an officer drag off a girl… barely… my age."
He took a deeper breath. His voice was getting shakier.
"I… still hear the screams."
Yui was perfectly still. Her eyes were screwed shut from revulsion and horror at every word she heard. How could this happen to anyone?
"Another officer found me," said Saito. His voice now resonated with white hot rage. "Took his sidearm and shot me in the leg. Then in the arm. Then in the chest. He sat down, lit a cigarette, and just watched me die. Like it was a fucking game. The sick fuck!"
"What happened next?" asked Yui. It was barely a whisper and she wasn't sure if she wanted to hear the answer.
"A Russian platoon was driving by. The Russian Army still had a company of motor-rifle soldiers in the Balkans. Some of the doctors were Russians. The Russians do not take kindly to people killing their citizens. They have a simple, but cruel method of justice. A surviving doctor treated me while they the soldiers used Molotov cocktails to burn the Serbians alive… I could see them do it."
Saito looked at the stars. He'd learn the craft of being a soldier for years by that time, but he started real training after he got out of the hospital. When his uncle went to Afghanistan Saito went there too. There he met Shawn. They were 13 at the time and fought the Taliban when they attacked the ASI base near Kabul. The ultimate result of the 6 years after his parents deaths was Saito becoming an angry bitter person who did not connect with those who hadn't experienced combat or some kind of trauma. He was warped and broken and only found solace in that he had a found career that he was good at. His job gave him purpose and he worked continuously to be a competent and proficient soldier. Everything else was secondary.
Yui opened her eyes. She was dazzled by the street light but she could see again. Her eyes were blurry from lack of use and tears still falling.
"I don't look back at that day when I can help it. I keep going forward. I have accepted what happened and I'm moving on. I'm broken, but I can function… sorta'."
"But I can't," said Yui hoarsely. "I never even had purpose beforehand. I see my little sister waste her life taking care of me, giving excuses for all my flaws, and giving up her life. She could have had a social life, a boyfriend, something. I shouldn't even exist."
"Don't go there," said Saito sternly. "It's a dark place Yui and many don't come back from it… I almost didn't."
"But what can I do?" wailed Yui.
"I don't know that. I can't say I thought I'd be doing this 6 years ago, but I found I was smart and able to think very rationally under pressure."
"I'm lazy. I don't adapt well to new situations. I'm slow. I get easily confused. I forget things easily. I can't focus."
"Sounds like a learning disability. I have one of those. Some specialized education and proper medication and you'll be fine."
"I'm allergic to air conditioning," said Yui angrily.
"Probably sensitive allergies. Better filters and you'll be fine."
"Oh come on. How could you possibly answer that?" asked Yui now getting annoyed. Who does he think he is?
"You weren't bothered in my apartment. I have bad allergies too. That's why I usually work in arid or cold places where my allergies aren't so affected."
That was true.
"Maybe medication can help too. It's pretty fucking amazing what they make these days. I should know I'm on like four different meds," he chuckled humorlessly. None of it was necessary to stay alive, but he had insomnia, migraines, regional allergies, and ADHD.
"Will I be okay?" she asked turn her head to look straight up at him.
Saito felt an array of emotions fighting all out war inside of him. This was a bad situation. Yui was very vulnerable right now and he needed to choose his words with the greatest of caution. His anti-social side said push her away as far as possible. His sympathetic side he usually reserved for the people he trained or worked with said to say yes. His rational side said not to make promises you know no one can make, but don't destroy her hopes. He usually listened to his rational mind since he rarely failed him.
"I can't promise that, Hirasawa-san," said Saito. "I still haven't made peace with my past, but I can sort of function."
"That doesn't help much," said Yui dully.
"I know," said Saito smiling for the first time. It was a sad pained smile and Yui knew he wished he could do more. "Take small steps. What does your sister do?"
"Everything," said Yui turning away from him. It wasn't a pleasant thought of how useless she was. "Ui cooks, cleans, laundry, and still helps me with my homework."
"Maybe start by learning to do something yourself. Like make your own lunch," suggested Saito.
Yui thought about that. If she was a little more useful…
"I want to be happy again."
"So do I," admitted Saito. He internally kicked himself. Why did he keep sharing with this girl? Saito ran down the rational reasons. He was good at analyzing. Yui was an innocent person who had been scarred by two violent encounters. He empathized with her and related a little. Saito honestly could say he wasn't attracted to this girl. He didn't hate her, but didn't like her. At best he could be friends with her someday… maybe. He had not had very successful relationships in the past because of his work. He knew those girls were frustrated by his distance and lack of ability to relate. When he did share they were often revolted by his descriptions of his work. He was holding strong, but introducing someone into his life would upset the delicate balance and turn back into the cluster-fuck it had been.
He let go of her hand and Yui knew it was time to get up. She did. Saito was staring at the sky and she looked up too.
"I can't see the stars. But they're there," he said.
Yui just nodded. She had no idea if it meant anything. He just seemed to be rambling now.
"I'll give you a lift home."
Yui didn't ride in cars often. She got motion sickness, but Saito had tossed her a bottle of pills. It was for air sickness but it would work well enough for cars. Saito had shown her amazing compassion and probably was drained of any other compassion for the night. She could tell by his silence as he lead her to his car and drove her home this was not going to be something she could expect regularly.
It occurred to her that she never told Saito where she lived, but that didn't seem to perturb him. Saito in fact knew her address.
"Ui is going to be upset."
"That is your own fault," said Saito indifferently.
"I see we're still not friends," observed Yui with sad humor.
"No, we aren't."
"That's fine with me," said Yui.
"Really?" asked Saito with a raised eyebrow.
"You don't have to like me. Just know that I won't be going away from you. You make me feel safe."
"You don't like me that much either, do you?"
"Not really," said Yui with a smile that made her look both beautiful and pitiful. "You're the scariest person I've ever met. You're just one more thing I'm living off of."
Just like Ui and all my friends. I'm using Kamisaka-kun too, thought Yui. It surprised her how rationally her thoughts were becoming. But she was okay with that. She would use Saito and feed off his strength until she became strong enough to stand on her own. Then her relationship with her sister and friends could be give and take instead of just take.
"Fine by me," said Saito indifferently.
"I don't hate you either. You're not bad, just complicated. I don't really know what to make of you. You're cruel one moment, encouraging another, then stern, and then caring, then you become withdrawn again."
"Most just say I'm fucked up and leave it alone. That's why I don't make a lot of friends outside of the company," said Saito shaking his head.
"You're kind of a sick person."
"So are you right now."
"So what do you do?"
"I take up hobbies or lose myself in something like TV. Learn to relax. You play the guitar right?"
"Hai."
"Stick with it. When you take up a skill like that you find you don't have time to worry much."
Yui just nodded.
"You heard of Al-Anon?"
"No."
"It's for people who are family and friends of alcoholics."
"…"
"My cousin. She died. Liver failure."
Yui chose to say nothing. How could this guy's life sound any worse?
"First rule they teach you is that you can't help anyone, but yourself. Save yourself, Hirasawa-san. It sounds selfish, but once you have pieced yourself together then you can be of use to others. Start small and try to enjoy the small things in life… just pick a fucking goal and work towards it."
"Ok," Yui said quietly. Rude and insensitive, but he made sense.
"That's your house?"
"Hai."
"Good night then, Hirasawa-san."
Yui smiled sadly at the boy that made no promises, but offered some hope, something she craved now.
"Good night, Kamisaka-kun."
Saito drove away. Yui went into her home feeling… different.
"Onee-chan!" cried a frantic Ui. Ui was nothing short of in a total state of panic. She was about to call the police when her sister had walked in the door. She stopped short of her sister. Ui saw Yui was a mess. Her uniform was dirty and her eyes were still red. To further Ui's distress was Yui expression. She had a smile, but not her happy bubbly smile. It was small, calm, and mature, like the smile Ui normally wore. It was like Yui had become the big sister… or just the total absence of naïve innocence.
"I'm sorry Ui," said Yui. That apology was for far more than for just being late and Ui could tell that. Ui was unnerved by how gentle Yui's voice was. It didn't have its usual energy. Yui raised her hand and placed it on Ui's cheek. She looked at Ui full of love and sorrow. "Things have to change Ui."
"Onee-chan, what happened?" asked Ui now seriously scared.
"Many things, Ui," said Yui cryptically. "But don't worry."
Yui walked past her dumbstruck sister to the kitchen to find the dinner she knew Ui had made. Yui pulled out a chair and directed Ui to sit in it. Ui did and watched as Yui seemed to glide to her seat. Yui began to eat. Still unnerved Ui started to eat her own food, but her appetite was pretty much gone. When they were done Ui started to gather the dishes only to be pushed away.
"Ui, you worked too hard. Let your Onee-chan take care of this," she said. Ui wondered if Yui always had that tone like an older sister.
Ui pretended to leave, but watched from a crack in the kitchen as Yui did the dishes and placed them in the dish washer. She was a little clumsy, but seemed to have done everything fine.
When Yui finished she went to her room. She walked to her little window and looked up at the sky. Yui didn't get to see the stars often since she lived in the city. She wished she could see them now. She unbuttoned her blazer and hung it up. She was surprised to see a note in one pocket.
Per aspera ad astra. Through hardship to the stars.
Yui held it in her hands. She slowly stripped to her underwear and put on a T-shirt and sweat pants. Her energy was draining rapidly. Where she had found that strength to face Ui like that she didn't know. Some sense of calmness had overtaken her. Maybe it was the relief of venting most of her anger, fear, and confusion. But she knew one thing, that was the person she wanted to be and she had had a taste of it.
She opened the note again.
"When did you find the time to write this?" asked Yui. "Stop doing this. Be kind or be cruel. Pick one you bastard."
She fell asleep with the note in her hand feeling angry.
Elsewhere
Shawn awoke and sniffed the air.
"Shit," he muttered. He got up and walked to the balcony where Saito was standing. He was smoking.
"Bad night?"
"Old wounds," he said. His voice was devoid of emotion. Shawn knew it wasn't just indifference, it was total numbness.
Shawn took the pack and pulled out one. He lit it and took a drag. They rarely smoked. It was something they reserved for times when their past days came up to haunt them. None of the teenagers that worked for ASI were there because they had happy lives. For that reason Saito connected with them easily. It occurred to Saito that this was why he had empathized with Yui briefly… because at the climax of her crisis she was as unhappy as he had felt. The only difference was that Saito learned to cope.
"Life's a bitch," he said.
"And then you die," agreed Shawn.
Neither ate dinner that night.
The Next Day
Yui snapped up in her bed. She was breathing hard and drenched in sweat. She put her head in her hands as the nightmares swept over her. Dreams of her own ordeals were now made worse by images from Saito's own traumatic experiences. She kept seeing her own death coming only to be thrown into a worse dream before the blackness took her. Her head felt like it was spinning and she felt dizzy. She wanted to vomit.
"Dammit!" she cried hitting the wall. She was so frustrated. She looked at the note now wrinkled. "Some help you are."
She got up and went to the bathroom. She stripped off her clothes and stepped into the shower. She cursed Saito for giving her new and worse nightmares, his hollow promises, and the note that told her what? But the warmth of the water flowed over her and her body relaxed.
She leaned her head against the tile wall. She was starting to calm down. Her mind was clearing.
Take care of yourself. It's the first step.
The voice sounded oddly like the mercenary.
Enjoy the small things. Don't let them take anything from you.
"Fine. I'll trust you for now," she said somewhat halfheartedly. She got out and brushed her teeth, actually flossed for once, and dried her hair. She then carefully brushed her hair until it was straight and shiny. Yui had to admit being physically clean made her feel a little better. There was comfort in knowing she could take care of her own person. Next she walked into her room and dressed in a clean uniform. She pulled on her stockings and walked downstairs.
Ui didn't notice the bubbly smile was fake. She was just too relieved to see her sister acting supposedly normal again. Ui walked behind her Yui to make sure she had properly prepared for her day and was surprised that Yui had brushed her hair for once. Her uniform wasn't wrinkled and her ribbon was straight. Ui was actually didn't know what to do with herself.
"Arigato, Ui," said Yui brightly. Don't worry, Ui. I'll release you soon from this life. I'll learn to take care of myself and you can start on your own life. Then we can both be happy.
That gave Yui the most strength, the thought that she was working to become a better big sister. She had a clear goal to work for now. Be a good big sister, be a role model, and be a better friend. Again, Yui did the dishes. Ui still didn't understand, but she let it slide deciding that maybe it was for the best that her big sister wanted to do some household chores. But last night still worried her. What had happened? She didn't know where to find answers though. Who would know?
"So, shall we go?" asked Yui wiping her hands on a dish rag.
"Hai," said Ui.
Yui listened to her sister talk about her first day and all the friends she made. She absorbed this information like a drug listening to her sister that she treasured so much. Yui had managed to make it half way to school before she realized that she was relaxed and not looking for fictional danger in paranoid irrational fear.
She saw one dark alley with a man sitting on a stoop. She felt dread sink in her chest.
No! No! No! No! Don't think, listen to Ui, she screamed in her head.
Yui fought hard to concentrate on her sister. The man looked at the two high school girls for a moment before going back to his smoke break. He was just a baker that had been up since 4 am preparing for the day and couldn't care less about either girl.
Yui made it too school. She had to admit she still felt like shit, but better than she had in a nearly a month. She walked into the shoe locker room. There was Mugi and she knew that Saito and Shawn were nearby. In fact she had walked by Shawn without noticing, but he was trying to be inconspicuous. She saw Saito reading a newspaper, The Washington Post. He would periodically look at Mugi and do a quick scan of the students around her. Yui had to admit that it looked strange seeing a high school student read a newspaper, but Saito wasn't normal by anyone's standards.
He saw Yui. Saito's instinct was to ignore her, but curiosity got the better of him. He could see that her bubbly attitude was partly forced, but she seemed better off. In a few days Saito would be able to tell if she was really on the road to recovery, but for now he judged her to be stable. He could only be sure if he talked to her that and he really didn't want to do that.
Saito looked over at Shawn who nodded back at him. Shawn was now officially working for the Kotobukis under Saito. Shawn had also traded his .40 cal H&K for a 9 mm SIG like Saito. The teachers had received a notice from someone in the Kotobuki Security Staff that Shawn had been hired officially.
A few notes fell out of Mugi's locker. Saito knew them to be love notes and thanks to a camera in the locker and his access to the new security system installed in this building allowed him know all five of the boys that left her love notes. Mugi looked wonderingly at the notes. The otaku in Saito was sincerely curious as to what they said, but he couldn't ask, that would be unprofessional and none of his business anyways. What was his business was reporting the identities of the boys to the Kotobuki family intel corps and getting a background check on them.
"Ohayo, Yui-chan," greeted Mugi who was debating in her mind whether or not to turn the letters over to Saito. Saito had said to turn over any threatening notes immediately.
"Ohayo, Mugi-chan," said Yui. "Nani sore (what's that you have)?"
"Jā, I really don't know," admitted Mugi. "Do you think it could be dangerous?"
Yes was the answer in Yui's mind, but she just shrugged.
"Oooh, what's that Mugi?" asked Ritsu walking up to the group followed by Mio. "Love notes?"
"Oh my, do you think that's what they are?" asked Mugi who looked over to Saito.
"Would you like me to have them chemically tested?" asked Saito dryly. He doubted that was necessary. He could only do so much before his job of guarding became invasive into Mugi's life. "Open them if you like. If any of them are threats you give them to me or Shawn."
Mugi nodded and opened the letters one by one. Most of them were pretty generic and cliché Mugi saw with the other girls looking over her shoulder. One did freak her out a little.
"Ano, Kamisaka-kun," said Mugi holding out a letter. Saito took it and examined it. The author of this letter was more than a little creepy saw Saito. He didn't sign it, but gave a place and time to meet for Mugi. Saito didn't like the wording of the letter. It was too obsessive. Saito signaled Shawn who approached him and took the note.
"Shit," was all he said.
"Yup," agreed Saito.
"This kid needs help," said Shawn.
"Agreed. He didn't sign it, but we have them all on camera," said Saito. He took a picture with his phone and sent it to the intelligence unit of the Kotobuki family's security staff. He would let them sort this out and get a detailed psychological profile to determine if this was someone that needed forceful dealing with.
"What will you do?" asked Yui curiously. Saito jumped a little. One: because he hadn't noticed her approach, two: because she was too close for his liking, and three: because he was now pretty uncomfortable around her. Yui knew his greatest and darkest secret… well one of them. The one thing that made him feel weak and still made him cry. His parents deaths something only Shawn knew, his grandfather no one knew, only his team had met his brother, and the slaughter north of Bakovic, Bosnia-Herzegovina he never told anyone. Yui knew more than anyone outside of his immediate family and he hated it.
At least I haven't told her about Chechnya, he thought.
"I won't allow Kotobuki-san to meet this individual. Keep this quiet for now. I don't need the Kotobuki Tsumugi Fan Club rampaging around the school looking for this individual," said Saito.
"There a fan club now?" asked Ritsu overhearing this. "I thought Mio was the only one in our little group."
"It was formed yesterday. I've heard that there is an Akiyama Mio Fan Club," he said looking at Mio.
"H-how?" stuttered Mio.
"We have an intelligence directorate that do investigations and look for threats that could be coming our way. I was informed this morning by them that this group was formed. It was detected at 1849 hours local time through emails traced to local networks and computers owned by more than a dozen individuals at this school."
"And you know all that?" asked Mio in shock. Saito thought it would almost be worth telling her about the file he had on her just to see her freak out more. No wonder Ritsu loved to torture her. It was fun.
"I have access to all that. Your fan club was just something that came up through a series of other things," said Saito now following Mugi to Class 2-2. "If it makes you feel better your official club is made up entirely of girls, but it seems there is a male one forming in your class."
"Nani?"
"Ne, do I have one?" asked Ritsu.
"Ritsu, now is not the time!" shouted Mio grabbing her best friend by the throat and shaking her back and forth. "What do I do?"
"Ask Shawn. He's in your class and therefore more relevant to him," he said directing her to Shawn. Mio, forgetting her discomfort with boys and foreigners, dashed to Shawn.
"So you can access info on any of us?" asked Yui.
He stopped and said very quietly to her, "If you're wondering, I have read files on your four, Yamanaka-sensei, and even your little sister. There is no need to share that information with the rest of the class, Hirasawa-san. In fact there are many things I think you should not share with other people. Ever."
The coldness that he uttered that last word told Yui that Saito was referring to last night. There was also the implied threat of black mailing her for her silence.
"Ui hasn't asked any questions about last night. I think she's too afraid to ask."
"You'll have to address it someday."
Saito heard three clicks in the earpiece sent from Shawn. The radio they used was a well hidden one with an earpiece in his left ear and a mic up his left sleeve. They had long ago established non-verbal communication like the military used. One click meant yes, two meant no, three meant someone was following them, four meant regroup, five meant spread out, and six meant rally on their objective, in this case Mugi.
Shawn who had been ahead of Saito would periodically turn around and walk backwards looking as if he was talking to the frantic Mio that was questioning him about her newest fan club. In actuality he was checking Saito's six for a tail. This was why Saito had wanted a team so there was a group mutually supporting each other.
He saw Mugi go safely into the classroom and seeing no danger inside the them he pretended to head to the bathroom. As he passed a column in the wall he stopped and looked at the person tailing him. This person was not very subtle.
"Hirasawa Ui-kun, correct?" he asked. Saito used the address 'kun' for Ui since she was his underclassman. Ui gulped. This was the first time she had come up close and personal to the mercenary. She had only heard whispers from other first years of the mysterious Nikkeijin that seemed to follow Mugi around.
"Ohayo gozaimasu, Kamisaka-senpai," greeted Ui nervously.
"Why were you following me eariler?" asked Saito. "That was your sister and you are on friendly enough terms to not have to do so in such a covert manner."
Ui hadn't expected an American born mercenary who had supposedly repeated a year of school before and spent little time in a formal classroom to speak Japanese so well or so articulately.
"What did you d-do to my s-sister-r," she stuttered while trying to sound brave.
Saito raised an eyebrow looking mildly surprised.
"Nothing," he said simply.
"She came home late and was acting weird," she said quietly, but now sounding angry.
"Oh, I see," he said nodding. "You overheard our conversation. Well let me tell you something. Your sister has been through several traumatic events recently and to the best of my understanding as received no psychological attention."
"Onee-chan is not crazy!" cried Ui getting several people's attention. Ui turned red and looked down. Saito glared at the onlookers who quickly left them alone.
"Of course not. She's a human-being that went through inhuman experiences. Normal people are not mentally equipped to handle this situation."
He looked at her and felt a twinge of sympathy. Ui was just a scared girl who didn't understand what was happening to a beloved family member.
"She's been through a lot and it sounds like she has a few other problems from before."
"Why would she tell you anything?" asked Ui bitterly. She cringed knowing that this American could rip her head off and also because she hated talking so impolitely.
"Because we have both had painful experiences."
"Will she be okay?" asked Ui looking hard into his eyes. Saito frowned.
"She's on a better path, but there are no guaranties in life."
"Will you watch her?" asked Ui now sounding a little desperate.
"I have other responsibili-"
She got right in Saito's face and said in a low and dangerous voice. "I will do anything I have to in order to protect and save my sister."
Ui then became aware that something hard was being pressed into her and saw to her horror the barrel of a gun was being pressed into a spot level with her kidney. Such a wound at this range would kill her slowly and painfully.
"Please don't get so close to me so suddenly," said Saito in a monotone returning his SIG to its holster. "And I don't take threats kindly."
He walked away from Ui. He felt sorry for her, but he did not like having people get that close to him so suddenly. He also didn't like being threatened.
"Just try to talk to her. There are a lot of things you'll need to discuss… as a family," he said. He almost sounded envious. Ui nodded. He turned and went back to class.
"I'll keep an eye on her, but I don't have time to be her caretaker," said Saito over his back.
He entered the classroom and noticed some of Mugi's fan club was talking to her. They stiffened at the sight of him, but Saito ignored them and took a seat behind Mugi.
"Any problems?" he asked Mugi.
"No, Kamisaka-kun, everything is fine," said Mugi brightly.
"Okay, let me know if you need anything," said Saito pulling out his newspaper.
"What did Ui want?" asked Yui quietly. She had peaked out of the room to see what he was doing.
"She's worry about you and thinks I have something to do with it," said Saito without looking up from an article about continuing stalemates in the US Senate.
"I'll talk to her," said Yui.
"You do that."
"You're an ass," she said. Saito snorted and Yui smiled a little. "Thanks though."
"You're welcome," said Saito. He looked at her. Her eyes still looked bloodshot and the bags were still there. However, her hair was neat and shiny. Her skin had even taken on a better color. She was starting to take care of herself. "You look healthier."
"I feel a little better, but not better. I don't know how to say it," said Yui feeling frustrated just by the inability to describe her feelings.
"Don't worry. I understand," said Saito now reading an article on Greece and its economic crisis. As if the world didn't have enough problems. Yui didn't speak. She felt a gentle warmth settle in her and a feeling of content. She just smiled and he quietly read his newspaper. Neither friends nor enemies. They had begun a complex relationship of understanding with a safe mutual distance from one another.
I hope this starts to explain Saito some to you guys and start to see the beginning of Saito and Yui's relationship. This is probably going to be a long story folks. Anyways feedback is… sort of welcome. Honestly I dread reviews, but I guess I have to suck it up and take. But don't you guys ever feel anxiety about getting reviews from the people on this site?
Respectfully
J. H. Kamiya
Appendix
1. Note that this is before Nakano Azusa joins the club who is 150 cm and 46 kg, making her less than 4 ft 11 inches and barely 100 pounds in the English system. Azusa is obviously the smallest member of the Light Music Club across the board (height, weight, breasts, etc). According to K-on! wiki Ritsu is the shortest, lightest, and flattest of the girls in the club before Azusa joins.
2. Please note that April 2010 would be before the release of Inception and Shutter Island would still be in theaters.
