Chapter 2: Training for Spies
"It looks like we'll just have to train her all over again!" said the man Mamoru.
"Does that mean I won't get any romance tonight?"
All of them ignored me.
"Get some sleep. You'll meet me tomorrow at 400 hours. It's almost midnight. We have a lot of work to do." cried Mamoru.
As they all turned to leave, I held onto Mamoru's shirt with my forefinger. He turned his head slightly and raised an eyebrow.
"Well? Don't I get my romantic interlude?"
"I don't think there is any time for that. Besides, romance was supposed to be your code for "LET'S GET BACK TO WORK!". And with that, he shrugged me off and walked away.
So, one thing was clear. Although I have forgotten that I was once (and still am) a member of a spy secret organization and that my occupation as a librarian was actually a cover-up of my real job, I had and always have been allergic to romance and love.
But then forgetting that I was a member of this secret organization is still a mystery.
How did I come to forget everything that I really did?
These were the only things left in my mind as I drifted off to sleep.
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I woke up at the feeling of cold water splashed on my face. It was 4:00 in the morning. It was time to train.
Training was like boot camp. Mamoru set me to work first thing. I did everything --- push-ups, sit-ups, doing jumping jacks, boxing punching bags ---the works! I was dead beat when I was asked, no rather, commanded to jog around the entire mansion.
"We're just getting started and you're already tired. The Ami I know would have been able to do this as if it was just a walk in the park."
"Will you quit it? As you've said, I've been on vacation for so long, I hadn't done any exercise."
"No wonder you're getting fat! Ami, you've been pigging out, haven't you?" snickered Mamoru.
That really did it! To put my name together with 'fat' and 'pig' ticked me off! This guy may be cute, but he's definitely high-handed.
"Well, at least I'm not as pig-headed as you!"
Gnashing my teeth, I stormed my way inside the mansion, up the stairs and into my room. Well, I guess I could call it my room, for now.
Falling on the sofa, I was satisfied with the continuous shouting and banging on the door. He must have followed me. Well, let him stew! I'm not in the mood to be in the same place with him right now!
"You should get the door, babe! He'll just break down the door!"
Startled by the voice behind the sofa, I looked behind it to see a man on the floor with a cowboy hat covering his face. This guy must have been the driver from last night. Unlike Mamoru's ebony hair, this guy was blonde.
Pulling the hat aside, the intruder stood up, walked towards the doorway and smiled. Just like Mamoru, this guy was also cute. How did this secret organization get to recruit these pretty men? Was it once a modeling agency?
"You know, you should take it easy on Mamoru! He just wants you to be ready for the mission."
"How are you sure I'm staying here long enough to do that? I have a life now and I like it. I have no plans of changing that!"
"Because you've waited a long time to catch him."
"To catch who?"
Flicking something in my direction, I surprisingly caught it deftly between my fingers. It was a gaming card.
"The Ace of Spades?"
Hiding his eyes with the cowboy hat, the blonde guy smiled even wider.
"Yup. You've been after him for the longest time."
Before I could ask why that was so, Mamoru had barged in and, as the blonde did predict, broken down the door! Just like the big bad wolf ready to eat the little pig, Mamoru was ready to have me as well --- for breakfast! Just then, the cowboy clamped his hand on Mamoru's arm. With that one gesture, Mamoru seemed to be less tense and instead barked.
"You're so lucky, Zoicite is here. Otherwise, you'd really get a whipping! It's chow time and I suggest you move your lazy butt now!"
I scampered away quickly, looking back to find Zoicite giving me a wink. Sigh!
I went down in the kitchen to find the rest of the group already assembled. Minako and the "odango" were already taking their breakfast. Muffins, scones, English tea, and pancakes with syrup were served. I got a plate and grabbed all I could find. But before I could gorge on the food, Mamoru swiped the plate away.
"Hey, that's MY breakfast! Get your own!"
"You're on a strict 24-hour DIET. No fattening foods for you!"
And with that, he gave me a plateful of celery, carrots and oatmeal for breakfast.
"This will help you LOSE all the pounds you've gained."
Seeing my frown, Mamoru added.
"Of course, if you don't want it…"
"No, no. I want it."
Grumbling, I ate the meal grudgingly as Minako, Mamoru and the "odango" have their breakfast. Even with the vegetables and oatmeal, my stomach still felt empty. Well, at least this is better than not getting any meal at all!
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After breakfast, Mamoru and I continued our training. This time it was a meditation class. I actually almost dozed off with the session and I got a few heavy slaps from Minako at the back every time I did so. After which, Mamoru showed me some karate moves and asked me to lunge towards him. Happy to have the opportunity to beat him senseless, I lunged swiftly, only to thrown on my backside with a kick on my leg.
"You're still too slow. Do that move again and attack with everything you've got."
I fell on my backside 50 times before I got to pin him down with my forearms. But it was worth it.
We had lunch on the veranda. It held a spectacular view of the London bridge. It would have been more spectacular were my lunch fillet mignon, orange juice and crème brulee. Instead, I had to settle for gruel for lunch.
After lunch, there was more meditation before we had a dancing session with the odango". I only found out later that her name was Usagi and she was a superb dancer.
"If you can learn how to dance…"
Sashaying her way towards Mamoru in a quick step, she made a pirouette turn before Mamoru held her waist and dipped her on the floor, as her right leg extended upward.
"…then you can definitely charm, seduce..."
Not breaking eye contact with Mamoru, she laid her fingers on his jacket and swirled away from him across the floor. Out of her left hand was a roll of film.
"And spy."
Smiling coyly at Mamoru, she then turned to me cheerfully and tried to teach me the trick as well. Since Mamoru was Usagi's dance partner, I was left to dance with Zoicite. The cowboy was even cuter up close, his long lashes almost touching my own. His eyes were so mesmerizing that I had to mentally jog my feet to actually move rhythmically with his.
After dancing the afternoon away, we had dinner and more meditation. Although my feet were sore from dancing, my butt was killing me from falling on it and the rest of my body felt like pins and needles, I was glad to be on this secret mission business. This was the last thought I had before I fell asleep.