Hey, y'all! So... classes are already horrible. It sucks that I'm the youngest in all of them by a full year (hooray for accelerated tracks) but I really hope to keep on top of my homework. There have been a few bumps in the road already, but I'm handling them okay, at least. Campus food is good, at least. I'm actually eating some healthy stuff. It's weird.
Thank you Momochan77 and queenglitch for your reviews on my previous chapter! It means a lot to me that you like the story so far. I promise to get to the chase really soon!
R.A.R.E. Central Base
Exact Location: Classified
Conference Room 3
05:57
I am a morning person.
I know that's probably a huge surprise to you and all, considering my attitude from yesterday, but I'm actually a pleasant person to be around in the morning... when no one's pissing me off. I don't know why, but I've never really hated waking up early. Sure, I might be tired and sluggish if I only get a few hours in, but most days I don't even need an alarm to get up on time.
Jensen is constantly horrified and impressed by this fact.
That's why I wasn't so upset about having such an early call time for this meeting. But, if they try to take my bagel away from me, they're in for a fight.
"You're early."
"You're surprised? I thought you wanted me on my best behavior?" Livia spread her arms, gesturing to her whole self. "I'm early. Best behavior!"
The Director hummed, returning his attention to the papers in front of him. "Well, you're earlier than our client, which is good."
"Hmph." Livia collapsed into the empty chair beside her Director, taking a large bite out of her breakfast. "Fink I can finisf thif before he does?"
"God, I hope so."
She did, licking the last traces of melted butter from her fingers when the door opened, a stern-faced man walking through flanked by two R.A.R.E. personal. He had greyish-black hair that matched his mustache and goatee, thin glasses, a thin nose, and an even thinner face. Yoshio Ootori looked like he might have been very handsome when he was younger, but time and stress had worn him down into a very angry and bitter looking man.
Director Mathias stood up and shook hands with Mr. Ootori, the two exchanging silent nods of acknowledgement before turning towards the girl. Livia stood up as well.
"Agent Trasic, this is Yoshio Ootori. You two met four years previously."
Livia let her lips twitch into a small smile, one that spoke of recognition, but not familiarity. "I do recall. It's a pleasure to see you again, Mr. Ootori." She offered her right hand in a handshake and mentally thanked her foresight to use her left hand to carry her breakfast. As the two shook hands, she discreetly held her once-butter-covered-and-then-licked hand behind her back.
The glasses-wearing man nodded his head before taking a seat at the other side of the table. Livia regarded him as she and Mathias sat down across from him. Mr. Ootori was doing a decent job of appearing relaxed, but Livia's well-trained eyes picked up on the little tells. The way his right side was tenser than his left probably due to the placement of the door. But did that mean he was expecting an attack? Or did he just want complete privacy and didn't want to risk someone overhearing?
Mathias noticed the tension too, for he waved his hand to dismiss Mr. Ootori's guides. They nodded respectfully before slipping silently out of the room. It wasn't until the door boomed shut that Mr. Ootori's shoulders sank in true relief. He was anxious.
But what caught Livia's attention the most was the way he would occasionally look towards her. Every time he did so, the hard lines that emphasised his weary eyes would relax, if just by a hair. He was pleased that she had taken the job. But what Livia couldn't figure out was whether or not the man in front of her actually believed that she was pleased to see him again.
She was anything but.
Yoshio inhaled deeply. "Let's skip the pleasantries, shall we? I am hiring Agent Trasic to protect my youngest son, Kyoya."
Livia blinked, but didn't react otherwise. In her head, however, she pondered whether she had heard the man correctly. Kyoya?
Quick little backstory here for y'all. I don't know if this is going to create more or less work for whoever's reading this, considering it was already reported for mission JPN-T1, but if it'll help there's no reason for you to be completely lost.
So, you already know that I was hired by Yoshio Ootori four years ago, right? Well, back then I was protecting Yuuichi, his eldest son. Yuuichi was in his third year of university schooling at the time, and apparently he had come up with an idea to start constructing resorts under the family name. It had been a gold mine, so to speak. One of the family's rivals had grown nervous in their standing, as the natural heir would clearly keep the Ootori Group running at the top of it's game... and perhaps above. Apparently they were nervous enough that their morals took a backseat and they hired a hit on him.
Yoshio heard about this and went looking for help. He found us.
Or, technically, he found me.
Back then I was only 13 years old and Yuuichi was 21, so it was a little difficult to find a convincing cover story that would let me watch out for his safety. It was eventually decided that Aikio, Yoshio's second son, would have to play a part in the excursion. He was in his final year of high school and his father had him tutor me in Japanese. After a pretty background was painted behind my character, one with filthy rich American parents and possible tight business bonds, I was given pretty easy access into their home life. Or, in other words, Aikio wasn't really given a choice in his agreement to tutor me in the language.
Of course, Aikio was also very short tempered and I got nothing useful out of him besides the lessons. All the real help came from Yoshio's only daughter, Fuyumi. Not only was she an absolute sweetheart, but she was so happy to have another girl around the house that she was more than willing to chat with me about... anything. Other than that, I had to rely heavily on surveillance to keep an eye on my Charge.
The mission only went on for two months before the case broke open. The assassins tried to sneak into the Ootori mansion to kill Yuuichi in his own bedroom, and possibly the rest of his family if they got in the way. They later confessed they thought they'd get a bigger reward for a bigger kill list.
Amatures.
Either way, I stopped them. Three in total. One got away, mostly because of the bullet that ended up in my leg, but he was caught two days later. And that was that. I got on a plane the next day, once the hospital released me, of course, and I hadn't heard from the Ootori's again.
Until now.
Director Mathias began scribbling down the name for filing later on, "How long have you suspected his life was in danger?"
"Less than a week. Perhaps 4 days in total. As of last week I decided to pass down my family's company to my youngest son rather than my eldest. He recently pulled my company right out from underneath my feet before it could be bought by one of our rivals." Livia watched the man's lips twitch in what almost could be labeled a smile. "He handed it right back to me, of course, which is when I made the decision. I was impressed, and realized my son's potential for expanding our company beyond what Yuuichi could ever accomplish."
OKAY! ANOTHER BRIEF INTERMISSION! WHAT THE ACTUAL FUCK?!
I almost puked when he said that, I swear! I wanted to scream at him, 'Is this the same son you smacked across the face when he didn't perform exactly like you wanted him to? That son? That's the one you're suddenly impressed with and finally realize is worthy of being your heir?'
Yeah, I remember Kyoya. After all, he is my age. And I also remember the way he was smacked to the floor so hard his cheek swelled and purpled. We had been 13 years old and I'd nearly gone 'Child Protective Services' on his father's ass. God, I never wanted that to happen again. I would've done something about it, too, but please remember I was 13 at the time. I wasn't nearly as outspoken and confident as I am now, and I was also trying to keep his older brother alive.
Doesn't mean I didn't sneak in some bruise cream into Kyoya's room that afternoon, though.
"Perhaps due to my son's potential to expand our company, it has come to my attention that there is a high price for his death." A yellow folder slid across the table, coming to a stop in front of Livia. She looked down at the photograph that was paper-clipped to the front.
From said photograph, a very handsome young man stared up at her. He had black hair and brown-grey eyes also hidden behind a pair of thin silver-framed glasses like his father. His nose was narrow and curved out in a bit of a point, his chin just as sharp. His lips were barely curved in a smirk as he eyed the camera. His face was sharp and intelligent looking, but she could still see the hidden trace of kindness in him that his father lacked.
Kyoya had a nice face.
"Miss Trasic, I am hoping to have the same agreement as last time. Keep the information of your protective detail on my son a secret from him and everyone around him, save for my son's personal bodyguards and select members of our staff and security guards. I've arranged to have you enrolled at Ouran Academy in the same year as my son. I must say, it was quite easy to do so considering your grades."
Livia took this new information in stride. It was normal for her to protect her Charge on the 'down low'. She'd gotten pretty good at coming up with reasons to suddenly start hanging around her Charge without telling them the truth. "Any additional information I need to be made aware of? Places he frequents? Close friends?"
"My son is a member of the Host Club at Ouran Academy, and he tends to hang around the other six members frequently. It would be in your best interest to keep an eye on him there, as it has become a rather large part of his daily schedule. I've added the names and information of the other club members into the folder as well. I believe it is there that you would best be able to watch him, other than in class, of course."
Livia nodded, already flipping through the folder to skim the other pages. Her Director began discussing payment as she flipped back to Kyoya's sheet at the top. Green eyes regarded one particular sentence of typed words with interest.
Vice President of the Ouran Highschool Host Club.
Hm.
End log.
Okay, important little note to make here! To make this story work, I had to adjust the age of Fuyumi and give the older boys ages as well. I know Fuyumi was supposed to be much older, but now she's not. Sorry. All three of the older Ootori children are either married or engaged, though.
Yuuichi - 25 (Married)
Aikio - 22 (Engaged)
Fuyumi - 21 (Engaged)
Kyoya - 17
Well, if you liked this chapter or the story in general, please take the time to favorite and follow, and maybe leave a little review? I do love reading the reviews I get.
See you next chapter!
