Chapter 5 – Certified Fit

I thought over the gentleman's proposition very carefully but I did not need a long time to make up my mind.  Being an "agent" and the nature of the "work" sounded so intriguing that I was very much hooked.  Sure danger was lurking, however, I doubted that I would be so unlucky.  Did they not say that they have adopted many measures to keep their agents safe?  Well, experience not intelligence is what makes one develop and grow as a person.  However, I was very young then – you would not consider a seven year old experienced would you?  Having made my decision, I simply waited to be approached by the gentleman (I did not know his name and thus had to address him as such).

"Rui, look who's here?" I was in the midst of programming a new computer game when I heard my stepmother's voice.

"Hi Rui!"  Shizuka smiled as she popped her head into my room.  I slid off my chair and went to her – obviously the gentleman must be somewhere around.

"Rui, I'm bringing Auntie Toudou to my bonsai garden.  Make sure you get Shizuka a drink and entertain her for a while ok?"  Geez, one thing I can never stand is my stepmother addressing me like a five year old.  Yes, I have the appearance of a kid but my mind is far more advanced than that for goodness sake!  Anyway, she took my silence for consent as was her habit and left.  Shizuka waited for about couple of minutes before shutting my door behind her and locking it. 

"Rui, could I see your CDs please?" She smiled brightly at me and I led her to my collection of CDs as I frowned slightly, puzzled by her strange behaviour.  I was even more taken aback when she selected my own heavy metal rock CD and turned up the volume, letting the "noise" flood my room.  I thought she told me previously that she only listened to classical music and operas? 

Then she leaned towards me and spoke softly into my ear, "are there any cameras in your room?" 

"No," I shook my head realizing that she could not hear me through the "music".  She smiled as she passed me a set of earphones and gestured for me to put them on as she pulled out something that looked like a handphone from her pocket.  I obeyed and she flipped open the "mouth-piece", placing the device in my hand.  I found myself looking at a flickering screen that cleared the moment Shizuka pressed a button.

"Hi Rui!" I found myself staring at the gentleman who appeared on my screen.

"Hi."  To my surprise, he was able to hear me.

"So have you decided?"  I nodded.

"Good, good."  He almost beamed with satisfaction.  "I will arrange for you to see the psychiatrist tomorrow night at 8pm.  Keep most of your nights free – that will be when you will be having your training … … in secret of course … …" He added almost as an afterthought. 

"What about my parents … …" I started saying but he had disconnected and the screen darkened into nothingness.  "Darn … …"

"He loves doing that."  I turned to Shizuka in surprise as she shrugged nonchalantly, "he always does that to me when he gives me instructions." Instructions?

"You … …" I could hardly believe this beautiful young girl was also an agent.

"No, not what you think.  I'm just a messenger."  Shizuka said with a smile as she made a gesture indicating that she was not bright enough.

"Shizuka, can we turn this thing off now? I'm getting a headache." 

With a giggle, she turned down the volume, "Rui, I've never heard you say so much at one go.  Let's go to the garden!"

I was rather keyed up the next day, thinking about my "appointment" with the psychiatrist.  I wondered how my parents would react.  It turned out that I did not have to worry at all.  My father informed me that they were going out for an important dinner and thus would be leaving me at home.

"Oh, and we've got Mrs Lee to take care of you since it's Florence's night off.  She's taken care of Soujirou and Shizuka previously.  So don't cause any trouble, Rui."  I rolled my eyes the moment I walked out of the room – when have I ever caused trouble?  I found it ridiculous and demeaning in a way to be left with a babysitter.  How could I get her out of the way for my meeting tonight?  I came up with a scheme after some thought, but decided to shelf it for the moment to see what had been planned by the gentleman.  After all, they were the ones seeking me out and not vice versa.

"Now, goodbye and we'll see you tomorrow morning."  I simply stood quietly by the door as my parents left me in the company of a middle age lady whom they had introduced to me as Mrs Lee.

"So shall we go to your playroom, Rui?" She smiled at me. I nodded once and brought her to my rooms on the third floor.  I noticed that it was 5 minutes to eight as we passed by the grandfather clock in the hallway.  Only 5 minutes left for "them" to impress me with their "abilities". 

I held the door open politely for Mrs Lee and she beamed at me, "thank you sweetie."  I could barely refrain from rolling my eyes.  Grow-ups, especially ladies, are always so easily impressed by what they deem to be good manners.  I could tell that she was also also impressed by the size and the content of my playroom.  She took a seat at the large rose wood table in the middle of the room and gestured for me to sit next to her.  I complied unwillingly.

"Shall we play a game, Rui?" I was about to shake my head firmly when a mysterious smile appeared on her face.  "I know you love the games that you played in my good friend's, Mrs Toudou's, library."  My eyes widened in surprise for a moment.

"Nice to meet you, doctor." I slipped off my chair and bowed politely at her.  Two can play the game. 

A twinkle appeared in her dark eyes, "ah!  As intelligent as they say.  The pleasure is mine, Master Hanazawa.  Please call me, Jeannette."  I shook her outstretched hand.

"You know why I am here." It was a statement.  "So let's start.  I'll need you to sign some forms at the end of this session."  It was a pretty relaxed session – more like having a conversation.  I was not comfortable with the personal nature of certain of the questions that was asked especially those relating to my mother's death, but I knew she was assessing my personality, mental and emotion state through these questions and was not being inquisitive.  Thus, I managed to answer them in a rather detached manner and could practically see her radiating approval by the end of the session.

"Rui, there's nothing to keep you from being an agent in spite of your age."  Jeannette placed her report in front of me.  "I need you to sign here to confirm your identity and your consent to indicate that you have not been coerced into undergoing this examination." I read through the report quickly and signed it.  "Now, this is your contract."  She passed me a thick sealed envelope with "Strictly Confidential" stamped on it.  "J told me to pass it to you.  You don't have to sign it now.  You can read it through carefully and he'll contact you." 

"Who is "Jay"?  Is he the gentleman who has been contacting me?" I could not refrain from asking.

"Yes, he's the head of the branch that he's trying to recruit you for."

"His name is "Jay"?"

"That's what he wants us to call him.  I don't know what it stands for.  I don't think he would let us call him by the first alphabet of his real name though – it's probably a code."

"J, not Jay." I muttered to myself as she looked at me in puzzlement.  I guess they both sounded the same.  Anyway, I did not feel the need to provide her with an explanation and instead turned to the thick contract and started reading very carefully, watching out for loopholes and clauses.  The full implications of the responsibilities of an agent started to sink in when I read the document … … the oath of silence … … Confidentiality … … Nation's Secrets … … War Secrets … …  In the case of injuries … … Compensation … … Death … … Punishment for Treacherous behaviour … … Death … … My hands were slightly shaking when I turned the last page.  A warm hand covered mine and I looked up into Jeannette's compassionate eyes.

"Do you want to talk about it?"  I shook my head – I could not talk to her, not at that moment.  I needed to think over things alone.  Suddenly, it was no longer a game. 

"Here's my card," she slipped me an ordinary looking card.  I inspected it carefully but I could see nothing extraordinary with it.  A small smile hovered on her lips, "it's just my ordinary consultation name card with my contact details are on it.  You can call me anytime. Just be sure to state your name clearly if you receive my answering machine."  I nodded quietly.

"We'd better get you in bed – it's past eleven pm.  Your parents will be back in an hour's time."  I looked at my watch in disbelief, not realizing that so much time had passed with having the session with Jeannette and reading the contract.  Like any other baby-sitter, she helped me wash up and tucked me into bed.  She sat with me until she thought I had fallen asleep because of my breathing patterns – indeed I was almost asleep.  Then she leant over and gently brushed a lock of hair from my forehead.

"Poor child … … such heavy responsibilities … … look at him sleeping … … he's just a child after all … …"  I heard her muttering softly to herself before she sighed heavily … …  The next thing I knew, it was morning and Florence was gently shaking my shoulder to wake me up in time for lessons with my tutor.       

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Dear All,

Thanks for reading and all your comments! Between Rui was actually 7 years old as per the last chapter. I guess it wasn't really clear, but a year had passed since he first met the rest of the F4 and Shizuka :)  Sorry, some of my answers got cut off so I re-posted this chapter again.  My apologies for those who got cut off!

Angel: It's a bit of a cliff-hanger at the moment ne! However, I guess it's at the same time rather obvious whether he will accept the job or not ;) Thanks so much for your encouraging comments!

Lian: I'm glad it's getting less confusing! I'm glad to know it wasn't my account but the problem is with this website. I was a bit concerned for a couple of days.

Fresh8: I was also posting it in www.winglin.net/fanfic/Sheen3.  However, it is really quite messy there, so I don't think I have posted my last chapter there nor chapter 5 as well!  Sorry I got a bit confused – were you suggesting that Rui's "emotionlessness" should be written as being due to his character and not because of his training as an agent?  Sorry me stupid *hits head*!

*Yan*: Are you talking about "A Beautiful Mind" as in the movie?  I heard it was really good, but I've never watched it before.  It thought the main character was an autistic mathematician who slowly became mad.  Did he ever help decipher coded messages?  If he did, then geez my story is indeed similar to the movie… … :)

Chris:  Thanks for your kind comments!  Actually Rui was a baby only until Chapter 1.  I think he was already 3 years old in chapter 2.  However, indeed it is quite surprising that he knows so much since he is only so young.  Just that you know one always reads about babies knowing more than we expect them to and hear parents complaining how "manipulative" babies can be ;)

Lily: Thanks so much for your encouragement! I do hope the plot is not unfolding too slowly . . :)

Chi: That show really sounds interesting! Unfortunately I have not watched the show that you were describing before. The IQ around 200 is actually from another manga Itazurana no Kiss. The boy is meant to be extremely intelligent with an IQ of around 200 from what I recalled. With regards to men being more intelligent than women, I guess it really depends on the nature of the questions that are asked. Because women are expected to utilise the right brain more and men the left brain (if I didn't get them mixed up). Hence, women are expected to be more verbose, communicative and more emotional, whilst men are expected to be better at analysis ;)

Kensingtonkid: Thanks so much for all your encouragement! This is definitely going to be a Rui-based fanfic. So for once Tukasa, Tsukushi and the rest will remain in the shadows ;)

Piglet: I hope this chapter meets your expectations! Let me know if the story is unfolding too slowly ne. I tend to overdo the details ;)

Pure Innocence: Makino is definitely going to appear - I don't think a HYD fanfic will be complete without all F4 characters, Shizuka and Makino making an appearance at least once. But that's only my opinion so those that disagree, please don't flame me!