Author's Note: Apologies if anyone gets confused by the title of this chapter. I actually changed the title of chapter 18 because I realize that "France Again" is more appropriate for this chapter. Once again, many thanks to my lovely reviewers … … you keep me writing!

P.S. I noticed that stupid me forgot to use Shizuka's and Rui's code names in Rui's conversation with J.  Corrected that!

Angel 310: Thanks once again for your lovely and kind comments! I'm really glad you like this multi-faceted Rui. That's somehow what I always see him as. I guess the other reason for his behaviour is that he is really autistic. However, somehow his reactions in the manage always made me feel that he's really not such a simple person. More that he is somehow crippled emotionally or crippled with regards to his ability to express emotions. Your questions really hit the nail on the head !!! I think there is really a thin line between being in love and being in love with the idea of being in love! Especially if the other party involved is someone whom is easy to fall in love with – beautiful, kind, understanding and a good friend. Do you mind if I don't answer them now? Because if I did, it will be giving away the plot directly! :) However, you're definitely on the right track to ask those questions *hint hint*. It was extremely discerning of you!

*Yan*: Hi hi, thanks for dropping by!! :) Yes, I've always felt that Shizuka had a selfish streak in her. I mean she can be nice, kind, understanding etc but the way she acted especially with regards to Rui made me feel that she is quite self-centered and stubborn in a way. I'm glad that you feel the same way!

Blackcat: Thank you for giving me such lovely reviews – it made me feel like writing more and more and more !!!! Cool, I didn't realize that you were from Australia as well. :) With regards to Shizuka, yes, I've always felt there was an underpinning selfish streak in her. A person who can break away from her family and friends to chase after her ambitions would need to have a determination of steel, and to be emotionally independent on others. Hence, the ability to be practical to such an extent that could be viewed as being rather "emotionless".


piglet: Excellent observation! I noticed that you have always been extremely accurate in your observations about this story !!! Wow, are you reading my mind ? ;) Thanks so much for dropping by! What reasons could Shizuka have for Rui to fall for her? Is she just being selfish? Is she really in love with him? Or is it something more? Of course to be fair to Rui, Shizuka is one person who knows the full extent of Rui's capabilities. It is hard not to fall for someone drop-dead gorgeous with brains to boot, and they do not even have any barriers with regards to social status!

kensingtonkid : Did you really want Shizuka gone? Or you like a R&S pairing? I must so apologise for my silly mistake! I meant to write R&T pairing but I guess my mind was so much on Rui that I actually wrote R&R! oops !!! Unfortunately, as you will realize, Rui is not exactly falling into Tsukushi's arms currently for comfort – I do hope you won't get too disappointed ne! Thanks again for commenting !!! :)

Toinks: Hi there!!!! Must really say I was disappointed that your new story is a once off – there was so much promise !!!! Sorry what is "YIM"? I must say I probably do not use it if I don't know the acronym. I do apologise for being so technologically challenged! In a way, what (at least I think) Tsukushi did for Rui did touch him quite deeply even though he did not exactly fall into her arms immediately. No no no … … more twists, more angst to follow !!!!

Sheen: Rui wait up *panting*. Ah I finally caught up with you.

Rui: What do you want?

Sheen: There are rumours that Shizuka is going off to France and leaving you behind.

Rui: *stiffen defensively* so?

Sheen: Is that an indication that you find charms of our cute Tsukushi preferable to our beautiful Shizuka?

Rui: *sarcastically* I must really applaud the ability of your mind to drawn conclusions from random events – you deserve a Nobel prize for that.

Sheen: *gushing happily* Why thank you so much, Rui! You're so kind! You're the first person who has ever acknowledged my talents … … now where did he go?

Chapter 19 – France Again

I was walking around like a zombie not knowing where I was headed. My mental state was partly due to the sleepless night that had resulted from my "sparring" with Shizuka. I could still feel her fingers touching my face gently, and then the stinging imprint of her hand on my cheek. I knew that she probably did not mean to hit me for such a paltry reason – we both simply got carried away in the heat of the moment. However, the uncertainty was tearing me apart and I had to admit that my pride was badly hurt. Somehow, I found myself near a gate when a familiar voice caught my attention.

"… … for Hanazawa Rui's sake please stay in Japan … …" I froze completely at the words coming out of Tsukushi's mouth. My blood drained from my face when I saw the person she was addressing – Shizuka!

"It's impossible … …" I stopped listening as a wave of pain and humiliation swept through me. Thanks to Tsukushi, Shizuka probably thought that I had gotten my friends to try to keep her in France as well. How desperate for her company did this make me seem! I felt anger rising in me as I watched Shizuka remain firm in spite of all the begging and groveling that the foolish girl did on my behalf.

"What was that? Who asked you to do that?" The rage in my voice was palpable as Tuskushi spun around, turning away from Shizuka's disappearing figure. "For my sake?" I continued harshly, ignoring her expression of shock and hurt combined with just a trace of fear. "Give me a break and stop doing such ridiculous things!" Then I recalled how she had knelt down in front of Shizuka. "How could you prostrate yourself like that! Don't you have any dignity at all or did you brain simply stop working?" However, my anger was slowly dying as I continued to take out my frustrations on her. Somehow, the pale stricken face reminded me that the reason why she did this was because she had thought it would be best for me, because of her affection for me.

"How are you able to do something like that?" I sighed tiredly as I lowered my face into my hand, rubbing my temples. "I can't believe you … …" Then I heard the sniffles start.

"You've been looking so sad … … you may not see her ever again … …" Tears were pouring down her face. I turned away, unable to face the pain reflected in those dark brown eyes.

Then I hardened my heart, "it's none of your business. Leave me alone!" When I finally looked up, she was no longer around. Serves that nosy busybody right, the devil on my left shoulder sneered. She only did that because she cared for you, who else would have bothered to butt in and even degrade herself as she did? And keep in mind her feelings for you, can you image the courage and pain it takes to ask someone you love to chase after another? And then she had to put up with your temper, the angel was whispering insistently in my right ear. Unfortunately, the dry voice in my mind had to agree vehemently with the angel. Guilt poured into me like acid. Overwhelmed, I sank onto the ground and slammed a fist into the ground in frustration, "dammit!" No longer able to maintain my cool façade, I buried my face into my knees as I hit the ground with my bleeding hand repeatedly, hoping that the physical pain will reduce the tumult of my emotions … …

I was not really surprised when a strangely familiar black car pulled up next to mine on my way home. The window was wound down and I saw J looking at me. Almost automatically, I ordered my chauffeur to stop the car and to go back first. Within moments, I was out of the car and facing J in the other. There was a short silence and I found my eyes roaming the insides of one of the most luxurious cars with the latest technology that I had ever seen. There was the usual bar, television, plush seats, DVD player and fridge. In addition, it contained tracking equipment, a telephone screen, a computer with internet and a small armoury. My eyes finally met his.

"You know why I am here." His blue eyes appeared calm as usual. I simply nodded.

"She has our consent." My expression turned wary.

"Why?" I finally said.

"Did you think we were some kind of mafia? That no one leaves the government agency unless they are dead? Cleo is not that unique, Stein."

My breath caught and my eyes narrowed, "as in she's expandable?"

"Well, she has consented to help us out if we ever need her overseas anyways." In a way I felt more relieved after hearing that – I knew there had to be a catch somewhere. "She's building her reputation and may be more useful to us in future," he continued smoothly. "In the meantime we don't need her. We have lots of such agents."

"What about me?" Just the right words to make his head snap up as those icy blue eyes bore into me.

"What about you, Stein?" His tone was cautious.

"Am I expandable too?"

He hesitated, "agents of your caliber are difficult to find. You are an extremely valued employee."

"Meaning that I am much less expandable," I let out a mirthless chuckle.

"Actually, there's another reason why I am here besides the obvious one." I narrowed my eyes slightly. I should have known that the fox would have something up his sleeve.

"How would you like to go to France with Cleo?" I felt my jaw go slack. He gave me a quick glance and continued, "we have another agent in France. Currently, he's on a rather big project and he has communicated to us that he requires some help. You could use Cleo's departure as an excuse to follow her to France. Of course his identity is on a need to know basis, so this is something that you need to keep strictly to yourself."

"Then, the entire world would be under the impression that I followed Cleo to France because I … … I … … because of my feelings for her … …" I stuttered a little.

The light blue eyes held a glint of amusement as they met mine, "and that would be bad because?" I kept silent. "Professionally speaking, this would be the best cover for you … … excepting the fact that your pride might suffer a little bruising because of the unfortunate little episode that took place last night … …"

My eyes flew to his face as a wave of anger swept through me, "you were spying on me!"

"Not at all my dear boy, we were merely following Cleo to ensure that the press did not pick up anything untoward … …" His logical explanation acted to defuse my anger a little.

I thought for a moment, "let me think over it more carefully."

"That's fine. Just remember that this is a good learning opportunity for you too. The project is something different altogether and the agent handling it is one of our best." Then he added smoothly, "and there are times when we should not allow our emotions to overcome logic especially in the face of duty." I frowned slightly as his remark hit home, that guy really knew how to push my buttons.

"I'll come by in two day for your reply." He let me off at a park near my house. I stood there for a moment, making sure that no one was following us before taking a roundabout way home. It was always better to be safe than sorry … …

So here I am, four days later, standing in front of Shizuka's apartment in France, trying to muster up enough courage to ring the doorbell. Or rather, getting ready to pretend to eat humble pie, the dry voice in my head added. In a way, I had to thank J for this because if it were left to myself, my pride would have never allowed me to follow Shizuka to France after that slap, no matter how much I was dying to reconcile with her. J's plot had thus inadvertently provided me with an "opportunity" to take our relationship one step further (or forced me to do so), and I was partially relieved to have the decision taken out of my hands because this meant an end to the constant emotional turmoil that I had been under in the past week.

Just as I was about to press the doorbell, the door was flung open and I found myself facing Shizuka who was in the act of putting on a scarf. Her entire body stiffened with shock when our eyes met and her handbag fell onto the floor with a soft plop as it dropped from her nerveless fingers. For a long moment, we simply stared at each other. I felt unfamiliar butterflies in my stomach as I gazed into her lovely face, unsure of my reception. Then suddenly, there was a blur of movement and I almost fell back from the impact of Shizuka's body hitting mine as her arms wound around my neck. Almost instinctively, my arms closed around her as I caught her in my arms, preventing her from falling onto the ground.

"Rui, I'm sorry," her voice was slightly muffled as she pressed her face against my shoulder.

"I'm sorry too," I said without a single clue about what I was apologizing to her for. Well but that's women for you, their irrationality can be rather catching at times and an intelligent man would usually choose the easy way out, as I did. She lifted her head from my shoulder and her eyes met mine for a moment. My throat went a little dry at the intensity of her gaze. Then, I barely managed to grab my bag before she pulled me into her apartment. I stumbled in and found myself standing in a smallish living room that was joined to a kitchen. The furniture was rather new. There was a small white leather sofa set that looked extremely comfortable, a small table and a huge television and stereo set in a corner of the room.

"Nice place you've … …" I started to say when her hands pulled my head down for a long breath-taking kiss. My bag hit the floor with a loud thump. When the kiss ended, we were both breathing hard. I had to admit that my brain was not functioning all too well when I looked at her flushed and lovely face and saw that her eyes were reflecting the same desire that I felt. Well, there are certain girls whom you can have casual sex with. Blame it on my idealism if you wish, however, to me sex with someone important is more than simply a joining of the bodies but a joining of two minds and two souls. Shizuka definitely does not fall into the category of being a "bed playmate". She was someone important to me and I did not know if I was ready for that level of intimacy with her, despite the insistent signals that my body was giving me.

"Shizuka … …" I tried to say.

"Rui … …" she silenced me effectively with another kiss. When the kiss intensified and her hands started caressing me, I knew I was lost. You knew this would happen, the dry voice in my mind reminded me as we slowly made our way to Shizuka's bedroom in a passionate clinch, losing articles of clothing along the way. Déjà vu', I thought as we fell onto her bed and I looked down at her trapped between my arms. This was meant to happen. A kind of calm acceptance enveloped me as I lowered my head and tasted her slender swan-like neck. She arched her neck in further invitation as her hands pressed my head more tightly against her … …

I was holding her firmly against me as she pillowed her head on my shoulder, watching her fingers idly drawing circles on my chest as we both basked in the afterglow, tired and sated for the moment.

"Rui."

"Mmhmm … …"

"Do you think less of me now?" Her eyes lifted to my face. I instantly knew what she was talking about and decided that it was not a good time to fake ignorance.

"Of course not."

"You don't mind?" What right did I have to mind? To be honest, I guess I was a bit disappointed that I was not the first man she had been with. I mean which man would not want to be the first person to touch a woman special to him? However, although we may hope, it is not a pre-requisite to anything possible between a man and a woman be it friendship, love or marriage. And I, especially, am in no position to make such demands.

"No, I have been with others before too. So does that mean you should mind as well?" I added with a trace of humour and she laughed. Then the telephone started ringing insistently.

"Oh no!" She reached out immediately for the bedside phone.

"Hello … … yes … … I'm so sorry … … sorry … … something urgent came up … … sorry … … yes yes, I'll be down directly … … I do apologise! It won't happen again … …"

"I made you late for an appointment." I felt guilty recalling that she had been about to go out before my arrival.

"It's worth it, I was just meeting a friend. But I must run now … …" She took a quick shower and got ready as I got dressed. "I'll be back by 4pm to get you acquainted with this place. The room next to mine is empty, feel free to make yourself at home. Have a good rest!" With these last instructions, she gave me a quick peck on the cheek and hurried off. I went to retrieve my bag from the living room before making my way to the room that she had pointed out. It was simply but elegantly furnished in much the same way as the rest of the apartment. It also had a connecting bathroom. Still a bit overwhelmed by the events of the day and knowing that I still had to contact the agent some time later today, I decided to put everything out of my mind until I had a quick shower and a nap … …