Chapter 10 (also known as chapter 9 part 2)

…My sense of humour got the better of me last chapter I'm afraid.

A few things made themselves known thanks to the reviews:

Longer chapters: - I'll try but the whole point of starting this fic was to just throw short chapters out there, not something of epic length. I appreciate that people actually like what's happening (which I didn't really think would happen) but it was always meant to fit around the important things. I won't be abandoning it but life has to come first.

Um…does anyone actually know what 'Shigo' means? I just chose the phonemes randomly but know I'm wondering if it means anything in particular…?


Kyoko stood clutching her hand to her heart and breathing heavily. She wasn't sure how she had managed it but somehow she had managed to scramble across the seating area and away from the person standing behind her in less than two seconds.

The person hand not moved from their position other than to lower their hand. Kyoko took these moments to let her brain play catch up. As her heart slowed to a more respectable pace her eyes finally registered exactly who the person was.

"Shi…Shigo-san?"

"Correct."

Kyoko suppressed a shiver at his blank gaze settled on her.

"How…how did you…?" She looked back towards the hallway she had been staring at before. There was no…there was no possible was that he could have walked out of that office without her seeing him.

Then how…?

How had he managed to get behind her?

She swallowed past the sudden lump in her throat. What exactly had the president gotten her into? What on earth was he thinking putting his man in her care? How was she going to cope watching out for this man who could, at a seconds notice, disappear?

She had a feeling that she was going to fail.

She was also curious. Just who was this man and why was he here? This brought up the question of why the president had chosen her…

Was there something going on? Something that included her and she just wasn't getting?

"Never mind…"

She waved it off. After all, what bad thing could happen? It was better to take one day at a time and get through anything that did happen that way.

Shigo was still staring at her, unblinkingly. It was very disconcerting and she diverted her gaze to stop an embarrassed flush from spreading across her cheeks. Well, either that or a cold sweat, she wasn't entirely sure.

After she had managed to calm herself down it finally clicked that Shigo had not said a word since the affirmative. She glanced back at him to try to gauge what he was thinking.

He was still staring at her, unblinkingly.

Creepy…

She shook her head. No! This was the president's friend.

He had been entrusted to her!

If she kept repeating that then she was sure that she could make it through this. After all, there had to be something fun about this guy! He was friends with the president for goodness sake!

…There also had to be something weird about him too…

After all…he was friends with the president…

"Our transport is ready."

Kyoko felt a cold chill at the sound of his voice, her shoulders tensing up automatically. She forced herself to relax; going over the rules that Sho's mother had taught her long ago.

It's okay to feel a certain way on the inside – but never let the customers see…

She could do this! If she treated Shigo-san like a customer she would be able to get through this without insulting him!

…well…insulting him even more than she already had…

"Okay Shigo-san! Let's go!"

She practically bounced down the stairs, Shigo following sedately. It occurred to her that she might be putting a little too much joviality into it but she brushed that thought off. When can you ever have too much joviality?

They reached the foyer and sure enough, a discreet, black, company limo was waiting for them. Kyoko half wondered why the president hadn't set up one of his friends with a gilded horse and carriage or some such.

A glace behind her, at her charge, convinced her. There was no way that anything other than a nondescript black car would ever be 'Shigo' and there was probably no way that Shigo did anything that wasn't 'Shigo'.

She would probably bet that the president hadn't even tried to get Shigo driven around in something else.

The depth of their friendship brought a tear to her eye.

They both got into the back, Kyoko nodding and smiling to the driver whilst Shigo just stared straight ahead.

"Where to, Ma'am?"

Kyoko blushed a little at being titled so proper. It made her feel like a princess on the inside! She glanced covertly at Shigo and found him still staring straight ahead.

Well, this wasn't going to do! He was meant to be enjoying the sights, not the upholstery in the company cars!

She huffed a little in annoyance and thought for a moment. Where would he like to see?

Nothing sprang to mind and she felt herself on the verge of breaking out into a cold sweat.

Maybe she was looking at this the wrong way? Maybe…instead of thinking what he would like to see she should be thinking about what might interest him?

After all, it wasn't as if he had ever been to Tokyo before and she hadn't known him long enough to know what his tastes towards sightseeing would be.

Think like this she was able to come up with an easy answer.

"Maybe we should get a closer look at Tokyo Tower?"

The driver nodded and started up the car. Kyoko discreetly collapsed back into her seat when she heard no objections from Shigo and stared at the scenery out of her window.

This was going to be a long day.


There we go.

Next chapter shouldn't be out for a couple of weeks and there IS a reason. Just thought I'd give you all a head's up!

Review and tell me what you think please!