A/N: Hi again! This is mainly an introduction chapter, so not much
action. But there is a small scene where action comes into play. Anyway,
enjoy! Oh, and thanks to my three reviewers for taking the time to say
something! Love ya lots!
Disclaimer: Don't own it, never will.
* * *
"You did WHAT?" Sana clutched the cordless phone with her slender fingers, her eyes wide with disbelief.
A sigh was heard on the other end.
"Your mother and I hired you a bodyguard," Fuka explained to her best friend.
"Fuka-chan, I told you I didn't need one!" Sana yelled, exasperated.
"Sana-chan, you've gotten three letters so far. There was one in your dressing room, one in my bag, and one in Aya-chan's make-up carrier." Anger swept into Fuka's voice as she tried to convince Sana of how serious these disturbing letters were getting.
Sana's fingers grasped the phone tighter as she looked down at her lap, a black envelope lying in the folds of her robe. 'Four,' she corrected in her mind. That one had been the worse. Sana recalled the spine-chilling letter, grasping the envelope with her free hand.
' "Kurata," ' it had began, like usual.
' "I dreamt of you last night. I could almost feel your cold, dead body encased in my arms. I always try my hardest to make my dreams come true."
A shiver racked Sana's body as she fought to respond coolly to her friend. "But he hasn't done anything yet, right?" she protested. 'You and Aya-chan are involved in this as it is,' she thought to herself, not wanting to put her friends in danger.
"Yes, and let's keep it that way!"
Fuka's curt reply left Sana with a knowingly feeling that her friend wasn't going to give up.
"So," Fuka continued when Sana stayed silent, "He's coming to your house tomorrow."
Sana's head bowed down in defeat. "I can't believe this," she muttered.
"Hmph. You better believe it Sana-chan, because tomorrow morning at ten o' clock, one hell of a hunky muscle man is gonna be arriving at your door!"
Sana didn't miss the twinge of excitement in Fuka's voice, along with the delighted squeal at the end of her sentence.
"So, am I to expect you to be here as well, Fuka-chan?" A grin tugged at the actress's lips.
"Of course!" came Fuka's huffy reply. "What, you thought I would actually stay home and let you have him all to yourself?"
"You can have him all to yourself. I'm not interested," Sana said flatly.
"Oh yeah," Fuka drawled. "I forgot that the great Kurata Sana doesn't date."
Sana fidgeted nervously with the hem of her short robe. "Fuka-chan," she warned in a low voice.
"Right, right." From the tone of Fuka's voice, Sana could detect that she was nodding at the other end of the line. "Still waiting for the 'right person,' eh Sana-chan?" she asked, putting extra emphasis on 'right person.'
Sana shrugged, more to herself than to her best friend. "Well, I guess. I'm fine the way I am. I wouldn't have time for a relationship, anyway."
Fuka elicited another sigh. "You've done it before, Sana-chan."
A blush tinged Sana's cheeks. "Yeah, but Naozumi-kun is an actor too," she declared. "And as you can see, we're not together anymore! So HAH!" she finished, determined to win this argument they had at least once a week over the telephone.
"Hmph."
Sana smiled saucily, leaning back against the sea of pillows on her bed. "I have to go now, Fuka-chan. I'll talk to you tomorrow, apparently."
"Count on it," Fuka said reassuringly. "Bye!"
"Bye!"
Sana let her hand fall from her ear, still clasping the phone. She looked up at the ceiling, a blank expression on her face. 'A bodyguard..why me?'
* * *
The elegant grandfather clock in the living room of the Kurata household struck three o' clock, in the morning. Sana stepped down the stairs as quietly as she could, not wanting to awaken her mother or Rei. Her throat felt parched, and she was desperate for a glass of water.
She switched on the lights in the kitchen, immediately pulling out a glass from the cupboard. Sana held the glass under the faucet, bringing the cold water to her lips once it was full. The liquid slid down her throat refreshingly.
Sana set the glass down beside the sink, staring out the window above the sink in a daze-like fashion.
It was a serene night, with the moon illuminating the backyard as the breeze blew gently, causing the trees to sway slowly in the calm draft. Stars were dancing in the azure sky, fireflies were wafting through the clean air, and a shadow-like being was leaning up against a tree.
'Huh?' Sana leaned forward slightly, the shadow directly in her vision. She gasped when it moved, taking agonizingly slow steps toward the mansion. The glass tipped over as Sana stumbled backwards in surprise, making an ear shattering noise on the marble floor.
The hallway light turned on, averting Sana's gaze to said corridor.
"Who's there?" a sleepy but clear voice demanded.
"Rei-kun," Sana whispered hoarsely.
Rei walked into the kitchen, clad in his pajama wear. His hair was tousled, and his sunglasses were, not surprisingly, still shading his eyes.
"Sana-chan? What's the matter?" he inquired, gaining a look of concern for his actress.
Sana glanced back out the window fervently, backing up towards Rei. "I-It's," she stuttered, keeping her gaze locked on the approaching figure.
Rei followed Sana's gaze and stood before the window, peering out into the backyard. Sana saw him look from left to right, then turn around to face her. "I don't see anything."
Sana ran to the window, searching for the figure. A frown creased her brow when she found it not there. "It was right over there, up against that tree," she whispered, knowing how crazy she must sound.
Rei laid a hand comfortingly on her shoulder. "It's been a rough couple of days. Why don't you get some rest, Sana-chan?" he suggested.
Sana nodded slowly, before returning to her bedroom. 'I know I saw someone there,' she thought to herself. She draped a hand over her chest, feeling the rapid beating of her heart. 'Stop beating so fast!' she commanded. 'You shouldn't be afraid. He still hasn't done anything.'
The canopy bed creaked as Sana slid under the rich feather quilts. 'He still hasn't done anything,' she repeated, it being her only comfort that night.
* * *
"This must be it," Tsuyoshi commented to Hayama, eyeing the mansion.
"Yeah." Hayama strolled casually to the front gate, inspecting it for security purposes.
He pushed the door gently. The bar door gave way immediately, allowing for the two teenagers to enter. 'And anyone else,' he criticized.
"Come on," Hayama ordered to his companion, sauntering into the front lawn.
The two trudged up the marble staircase, glancing around now and then for security devices. Tsuyoshi smiled approvingly at some of the statues lined up against the railing.
Hayama pounded the mahogany door loudly, signaling the occupants inside that he had arrived. 'Here goes nothing,' he thought carelessly as the door flew open.
The woman who greeted them at the door surprised the two bodyguards. An open fan was held up in front of her face, covering her nose and mouth. A squirrel was perched happily on her head, riding a miniature Ferris wheel.
"Come," she stated calmly, turning around and heading back into the mansion, the hem of her kimono trailing on the smooth floor.
Hayama and Tsuyoshi followed the strange woman wordlessly, entering the elegant living room.
Hayama seated himself on the plush velvety sofa, leaning back comfortably. Tsuyoshi glanced nervously at the semi-rudeness of his partner, but took a seat next to him.
Across from the two bodyguards was another velvety sofa, seating three young women. The two sitting on the outside were staring at the ones across from them with polite smiles on their faces, while the one in the middle stared down at the cup of tea held between her palms.
'That must be Kurata,' Hayama reasoned, spotting the weary actress.
Sana slowly brought her gaze up to meet Hayama's, a tired smile forming on her face. "Which one of you is on the job?" she inquired softly.
"I am," Hayama responded flatly.
Sana bowed her head politely to her bodyguard. "Nice to meet you," she stated. 'He's around my age. I was expecting someone a bit older.'
Hayama noted the doubtful look in the actress's eyes, and folded his arms across his broad chest. "Hayama Akito. The police chief offered me this job."
Sana's bowed her head again before returning her gaze to the cup nestled in her hands. "Kurata Sana," she murmured.
A paper fan made contact with Sana's head sharply as she shrieked in surprise. She glanced accusingly at Fuka, the fan clutched in her best friend's hand.
"What was that for?!" Sana demanded.
"For not showing proper hospitality!" Fuka declared, aiming to swat Sana again.
Sana quickly pulled out her toy mallet and blocked the incoming fan. The two sat there, struggling to hit the other one with their ridiculous weapons.
Hayama rolled his eyes. "I didn't come here to watch children's games," he muttered to Tsuyoshi.
Tsuyoshi stared at him warningly. "Don't be like that, Akito-kun. I'm sure they're just letting out some built-up tension." He caught the slight nod of the third girl, who had been quit thus far.
"The last few days have been hectic," Aya told them.
Tsuyoshi nudged Hayama gently, shooting him a stare that read, 'She heard you.'
Hayama responded with another look. 'I don't care.'
Tsuyoshi grunted at his stubborn partner and turned back to Aya as the other two girls started to settle down after realizing that Sana's tea was spilling over.
"Is it only Kurata-san who is getting these letters?" he asked her.
Aya nodded. "Yeah, but some of the letters were placed in mine and Fuka- chan's bags."
"Has he shown up anywhere?" Hayama asked, staring at Sana.
Sana furrowed her eyebrows, looking back down at her tea. "Well, I saw someone last night. But when Rei-kun went to check, he saw no one."
"There probably was someone there," Hayama informed her, recalling how easily the front gate had opened. "Your front gate wasn't closed all the way when Tsuyoshi and I arrived," he stated after getting a look of confusion from the actress's eyes.
"So someone really was here," Fuka commented, leaning back abruptly with a loud "plop."
"It's so creepy." Aya followed Fuka's movement, adding a visible shudder.
"Don't worry," Tsuyoshi said, reassurance consuming his voice. "Akito-kun won't let anything pass by him."
Aya gazed at Tsuyoshi, a questioning look in her eyes. "What about you?"
Tsuyoshi smiled. "I have another case for the next few weeks," he replied.
Aya returned his smile while Fuka gagged, allowing Sana to notice only.
"So," Sana started, her face brightening slightly. "Will you take the job, Hayama-san?" she asked hopefully.
Hayama's expression was blank as he stared into her deep brown eyes. He nodded brusquely.
Sana sighed in relief. "Great. I wasn't too thrilled about the idea of having a bodyguard," she admitted, "but after last night, I'm a bit frightened."
Hayama shoved his hands in his pockets and walked towards the front door.
Sana stared after him, her eyes slightly open with surprise. "Where are you going?"
"I'm going to get my things. I will be residing here, correct?" Hayama asked, looking over his shoulder.
Sana nodded, confused about her bodyguard's coldness. "Yes."
"I'll start today," he called, and walked out the front door.
* * *
A/N: Well, that's it for now. I'm sorry if there are any spelling or grammatical errors, but I didn't have time to check. Please review!
Disclaimer: Don't own it, never will.
* * *
"You did WHAT?" Sana clutched the cordless phone with her slender fingers, her eyes wide with disbelief.
A sigh was heard on the other end.
"Your mother and I hired you a bodyguard," Fuka explained to her best friend.
"Fuka-chan, I told you I didn't need one!" Sana yelled, exasperated.
"Sana-chan, you've gotten three letters so far. There was one in your dressing room, one in my bag, and one in Aya-chan's make-up carrier." Anger swept into Fuka's voice as she tried to convince Sana of how serious these disturbing letters were getting.
Sana's fingers grasped the phone tighter as she looked down at her lap, a black envelope lying in the folds of her robe. 'Four,' she corrected in her mind. That one had been the worse. Sana recalled the spine-chilling letter, grasping the envelope with her free hand.
' "Kurata," ' it had began, like usual.
' "I dreamt of you last night. I could almost feel your cold, dead body encased in my arms. I always try my hardest to make my dreams come true."
A shiver racked Sana's body as she fought to respond coolly to her friend. "But he hasn't done anything yet, right?" she protested. 'You and Aya-chan are involved in this as it is,' she thought to herself, not wanting to put her friends in danger.
"Yes, and let's keep it that way!"
Fuka's curt reply left Sana with a knowingly feeling that her friend wasn't going to give up.
"So," Fuka continued when Sana stayed silent, "He's coming to your house tomorrow."
Sana's head bowed down in defeat. "I can't believe this," she muttered.
"Hmph. You better believe it Sana-chan, because tomorrow morning at ten o' clock, one hell of a hunky muscle man is gonna be arriving at your door!"
Sana didn't miss the twinge of excitement in Fuka's voice, along with the delighted squeal at the end of her sentence.
"So, am I to expect you to be here as well, Fuka-chan?" A grin tugged at the actress's lips.
"Of course!" came Fuka's huffy reply. "What, you thought I would actually stay home and let you have him all to yourself?"
"You can have him all to yourself. I'm not interested," Sana said flatly.
"Oh yeah," Fuka drawled. "I forgot that the great Kurata Sana doesn't date."
Sana fidgeted nervously with the hem of her short robe. "Fuka-chan," she warned in a low voice.
"Right, right." From the tone of Fuka's voice, Sana could detect that she was nodding at the other end of the line. "Still waiting for the 'right person,' eh Sana-chan?" she asked, putting extra emphasis on 'right person.'
Sana shrugged, more to herself than to her best friend. "Well, I guess. I'm fine the way I am. I wouldn't have time for a relationship, anyway."
Fuka elicited another sigh. "You've done it before, Sana-chan."
A blush tinged Sana's cheeks. "Yeah, but Naozumi-kun is an actor too," she declared. "And as you can see, we're not together anymore! So HAH!" she finished, determined to win this argument they had at least once a week over the telephone.
"Hmph."
Sana smiled saucily, leaning back against the sea of pillows on her bed. "I have to go now, Fuka-chan. I'll talk to you tomorrow, apparently."
"Count on it," Fuka said reassuringly. "Bye!"
"Bye!"
Sana let her hand fall from her ear, still clasping the phone. She looked up at the ceiling, a blank expression on her face. 'A bodyguard..why me?'
* * *
The elegant grandfather clock in the living room of the Kurata household struck three o' clock, in the morning. Sana stepped down the stairs as quietly as she could, not wanting to awaken her mother or Rei. Her throat felt parched, and she was desperate for a glass of water.
She switched on the lights in the kitchen, immediately pulling out a glass from the cupboard. Sana held the glass under the faucet, bringing the cold water to her lips once it was full. The liquid slid down her throat refreshingly.
Sana set the glass down beside the sink, staring out the window above the sink in a daze-like fashion.
It was a serene night, with the moon illuminating the backyard as the breeze blew gently, causing the trees to sway slowly in the calm draft. Stars were dancing in the azure sky, fireflies were wafting through the clean air, and a shadow-like being was leaning up against a tree.
'Huh?' Sana leaned forward slightly, the shadow directly in her vision. She gasped when it moved, taking agonizingly slow steps toward the mansion. The glass tipped over as Sana stumbled backwards in surprise, making an ear shattering noise on the marble floor.
The hallway light turned on, averting Sana's gaze to said corridor.
"Who's there?" a sleepy but clear voice demanded.
"Rei-kun," Sana whispered hoarsely.
Rei walked into the kitchen, clad in his pajama wear. His hair was tousled, and his sunglasses were, not surprisingly, still shading his eyes.
"Sana-chan? What's the matter?" he inquired, gaining a look of concern for his actress.
Sana glanced back out the window fervently, backing up towards Rei. "I-It's," she stuttered, keeping her gaze locked on the approaching figure.
Rei followed Sana's gaze and stood before the window, peering out into the backyard. Sana saw him look from left to right, then turn around to face her. "I don't see anything."
Sana ran to the window, searching for the figure. A frown creased her brow when she found it not there. "It was right over there, up against that tree," she whispered, knowing how crazy she must sound.
Rei laid a hand comfortingly on her shoulder. "It's been a rough couple of days. Why don't you get some rest, Sana-chan?" he suggested.
Sana nodded slowly, before returning to her bedroom. 'I know I saw someone there,' she thought to herself. She draped a hand over her chest, feeling the rapid beating of her heart. 'Stop beating so fast!' she commanded. 'You shouldn't be afraid. He still hasn't done anything.'
The canopy bed creaked as Sana slid under the rich feather quilts. 'He still hasn't done anything,' she repeated, it being her only comfort that night.
* * *
"This must be it," Tsuyoshi commented to Hayama, eyeing the mansion.
"Yeah." Hayama strolled casually to the front gate, inspecting it for security purposes.
He pushed the door gently. The bar door gave way immediately, allowing for the two teenagers to enter. 'And anyone else,' he criticized.
"Come on," Hayama ordered to his companion, sauntering into the front lawn.
The two trudged up the marble staircase, glancing around now and then for security devices. Tsuyoshi smiled approvingly at some of the statues lined up against the railing.
Hayama pounded the mahogany door loudly, signaling the occupants inside that he had arrived. 'Here goes nothing,' he thought carelessly as the door flew open.
The woman who greeted them at the door surprised the two bodyguards. An open fan was held up in front of her face, covering her nose and mouth. A squirrel was perched happily on her head, riding a miniature Ferris wheel.
"Come," she stated calmly, turning around and heading back into the mansion, the hem of her kimono trailing on the smooth floor.
Hayama and Tsuyoshi followed the strange woman wordlessly, entering the elegant living room.
Hayama seated himself on the plush velvety sofa, leaning back comfortably. Tsuyoshi glanced nervously at the semi-rudeness of his partner, but took a seat next to him.
Across from the two bodyguards was another velvety sofa, seating three young women. The two sitting on the outside were staring at the ones across from them with polite smiles on their faces, while the one in the middle stared down at the cup of tea held between her palms.
'That must be Kurata,' Hayama reasoned, spotting the weary actress.
Sana slowly brought her gaze up to meet Hayama's, a tired smile forming on her face. "Which one of you is on the job?" she inquired softly.
"I am," Hayama responded flatly.
Sana bowed her head politely to her bodyguard. "Nice to meet you," she stated. 'He's around my age. I was expecting someone a bit older.'
Hayama noted the doubtful look in the actress's eyes, and folded his arms across his broad chest. "Hayama Akito. The police chief offered me this job."
Sana's bowed her head again before returning her gaze to the cup nestled in her hands. "Kurata Sana," she murmured.
A paper fan made contact with Sana's head sharply as she shrieked in surprise. She glanced accusingly at Fuka, the fan clutched in her best friend's hand.
"What was that for?!" Sana demanded.
"For not showing proper hospitality!" Fuka declared, aiming to swat Sana again.
Sana quickly pulled out her toy mallet and blocked the incoming fan. The two sat there, struggling to hit the other one with their ridiculous weapons.
Hayama rolled his eyes. "I didn't come here to watch children's games," he muttered to Tsuyoshi.
Tsuyoshi stared at him warningly. "Don't be like that, Akito-kun. I'm sure they're just letting out some built-up tension." He caught the slight nod of the third girl, who had been quit thus far.
"The last few days have been hectic," Aya told them.
Tsuyoshi nudged Hayama gently, shooting him a stare that read, 'She heard you.'
Hayama responded with another look. 'I don't care.'
Tsuyoshi grunted at his stubborn partner and turned back to Aya as the other two girls started to settle down after realizing that Sana's tea was spilling over.
"Is it only Kurata-san who is getting these letters?" he asked her.
Aya nodded. "Yeah, but some of the letters were placed in mine and Fuka- chan's bags."
"Has he shown up anywhere?" Hayama asked, staring at Sana.
Sana furrowed her eyebrows, looking back down at her tea. "Well, I saw someone last night. But when Rei-kun went to check, he saw no one."
"There probably was someone there," Hayama informed her, recalling how easily the front gate had opened. "Your front gate wasn't closed all the way when Tsuyoshi and I arrived," he stated after getting a look of confusion from the actress's eyes.
"So someone really was here," Fuka commented, leaning back abruptly with a loud "plop."
"It's so creepy." Aya followed Fuka's movement, adding a visible shudder.
"Don't worry," Tsuyoshi said, reassurance consuming his voice. "Akito-kun won't let anything pass by him."
Aya gazed at Tsuyoshi, a questioning look in her eyes. "What about you?"
Tsuyoshi smiled. "I have another case for the next few weeks," he replied.
Aya returned his smile while Fuka gagged, allowing Sana to notice only.
"So," Sana started, her face brightening slightly. "Will you take the job, Hayama-san?" she asked hopefully.
Hayama's expression was blank as he stared into her deep brown eyes. He nodded brusquely.
Sana sighed in relief. "Great. I wasn't too thrilled about the idea of having a bodyguard," she admitted, "but after last night, I'm a bit frightened."
Hayama shoved his hands in his pockets and walked towards the front door.
Sana stared after him, her eyes slightly open with surprise. "Where are you going?"
"I'm going to get my things. I will be residing here, correct?" Hayama asked, looking over his shoulder.
Sana nodded, confused about her bodyguard's coldness. "Yes."
"I'll start today," he called, and walked out the front door.
* * *
A/N: Well, that's it for now. I'm sorry if there are any spelling or grammatical errors, but I didn't have time to check. Please review!