WARNING! Now hopefully I've got your attention. So I decided to re-write this story, because it has been more than a year since I updated. But if you are just starting to read it now... I haven't finished re-writing the second chapter yet, so it probably won't make alot of sense. And I probably shouldn't be posting this until I get it all sorted out, but I couldn't wait any longer! So just kinda ignore the second chapter for now... Thanks for reading!


Chapter 1

A small whimper escaped my throat. Oh god, what am I doing here? Why the fuck did I agree to go through with this? What is wrong with me?

Well, actually there is nothing wrong with me. Just my dear old grandfather, Voltaire Hiwatari, again, being crazy as usual. I mean, really. The stupid old bastard knows I am afraid of heights. And planes. And come on, the two of them together? He wants to kill me, I swear.

But really, he's not the one I blame. It's not really his fault he employs bad people, who can't even run a stupid company properly. So in truth I blame Boris Balkov, the man who is supposed to be in charge of my Grandfather's company in New York. I really wonder sometimes what goes through his head when hiring people. I mean, even someone really stupid would be able to see there is no way a man like Boris could ever hope to run such a complex company such as this one. You need some one with actual brains, like me, for instance. I could do it with both hands tied behind my back.

Hence me going to New York.

Apparently, according to my grandfather, all I have to do is skip over to America, teach that idiot how to run the company properly, and fly back home, nice as you please. But he fails to realize all this could have been avoided by firing Boris and getting someone new, like I have been telling Voltaire for years. Or he just shouldn't have hired him to begin with. Who cares if he is an old family friend? That doesn't make him a genius. I mean, really. And now, I have to pay for their stupidity. Both Boris and Voltaire. Life so isn't fair.

"Come here, Grandson."

Sighing resignedly, I trudged over to where Voltaire was waiting. "Yes, Grandfather."

"Now, Grandson, remember. You will, of course, be flying in first class, but under so circumstances are you to tell anybody what your name is. No one must know you are flying to New York, however temporarily. The stewardess who will be serving you is under strict orders not to mention your name either. And I shouldn't have to tell you this, but don't remove your sunglasses or hat under any circumstances."

Yes, this is a part of my oh so brilliant life. Secrecy. Incognito. Disguise. Flying everywhere my Grandfather asks me to. Sorry, did I say asks? I meant orders.

"Now, when you arrive at the airport, Boris will have sent someone to pick you up. They will take you straight to the mansion. Don't leave with anyone who doesn't know the password."

The password. How juvenile, but necessary.

"Since the plane will get in at about 11:00 at night, you will go straight to the mansion. The next day you will meet with Boris at the company, and I will have further instructions waiting."

That really means he doesn't want to discuss business with me where people might be listening to his secret plans to take over the world.

Voltaire looked over his shoulder. He too was wearing sunglasses and a hat, if you can believe it. But although the airport was crowded, no one had noticed who we really were yet. Which is good, mind you. I would hate for the six or seven bodyguards stationed near by to actually have to work.

He sighed, a frown crossing his face. "I don't know if I like this. Too much could happen while you're up in the air, and you wouldn't have any protection. Maybe I should send Brian with you after all, just to be sure. It really isn't safe for you to go without at least one bodyguard." Brian was my personal guard, and usually he went everywhere with me, but I had begged off this time, giving him and me a break. It had taken a lot to convince Voltaire, but in the end when I threatened not to go entirely, he reluctantly agreed. Personally, I'm still expecting him to try and sneak Brian onto the plane in a duffle bag, or something.

"Grandfather, you promised. I'll be fine on my own. Besides, Brian deserves a break." He really does. The poor guy usually has to follow me around 24-7, which, trust me, gets really tiring for both him and me.

Voltaire scowled. "Fine. But if anything happens you'll only have yourself to blame. Go now. The plane will be taking off soon." He shook my hand briefly, before walking off towards the exit.

He really does care for me, you know.

---

"Hey, you alright?"

I turned to look at the person sitting next to me. He had long black hair that was braided down his back, while bangs fell into his face, flopping into his golden eyes. His skin was dark brown, tanned from being out in the sun to long. A tight white shirt covered his chest, and he was wearing baggy dark green pants.

He was staring at me intensely, and I shifted uncomfortably under his gaze. "Yeah, I'm fine," I replied. "Why?"

A smile tugged at his lips. "Well, you have a pretty strong death grip on the arm rests of the chair. Is this you first time flying?"

Who does he think I am? "Of course not," I snapped, loosening my grip a bit. But only a little bit.

He shrugged a real smile on his face now. "Whatever, kid. Calm down."

I frowned. He couldn't be more than a few years older than he himself. "I'm seventeen," I said, annoyed.

He blinked. "No kidding! That's only two years younger than me! You can't be that old."

My grip on the chair's arm tightened again. I hate being told I look younger than I am. It doesn't happen that often, because people are usually too much in awe of my presence to notice much else, but when it does, it really gets to me. I don't really look that young. People are just stupid. Like the one sitting next to me.

Maybe if I just ignore you, you will stop talking to me.

"So where are you from?"

Well, so much for that plan. "Russia."

"Really? I'm from China myself. Why are you going to New York?"

This guy sure talks a lot, doesn't he? "Business."

The guy blinked. "Business? At you age? What do you mean, business?"

"My grandfather needs me to go help run his company in America. The man he has hired now isn't doing a good enough job, so he needs me to go help him."

"Holy crap! How old are you?"

"Seventeen." For some reason I thought we had already established that.

"Fuck." The guy leaned back in his chair. "You must be pretty smart to be able to do that."

"Hmm." Shut up, shut up, shut up, shut up, shut up, shut—

"Hey, you look pretty familiar. Have I seen you some where before?"

Oh crap. "No. No you haven't."

The guy frowned. "Are you sure?"

"Positive. I definitely haven't met you before. "

He leaned a bit closer to me, peering into my face. "Say, what's your name?"

"Umm… do I have to tell you?" this isn't looking good. Of all the places to sit, why did I have to get the seat next to him? Why couldn't I have gotten the seat next to the nice old granny, who doesn't read the paper, or watch TV?

"Why not?" he asked.

"Because."

"That's not a good enough reason." He was starting to get annoyed. I could tell.

My eyes darted around wildly. A name! Any name! "Luke. Luke Hiwatari."

The guy raised his eyebrows. "Really? Hey, you have the same last name as Voltaire Hiwatari! What a coincidence!"

I laughed nervously. "Y-yeah. Funny how that happens."

He grinned at me. "So, your not related to him, are you?"

I snorted. "Yeah, I wish," I said, trying to keep my voice from shaking. "That would be a lucky break."

He laughed and leaned back in his chair. "Yeah, it would. Imagine being related to one of the richest men in the world! You have anything you wanted! Do anything you liked!"

"Yeah, it would be great," I said sarcastically. He didn't notice.

"But," he continued, "You must be pretty well off anyways to afford a flight like this! Are you?" he asked, then added quickly, "If you don't mind me asking, of course!"

I shrugged. "I guess," I replied, fully aware I was lying through my teeth. "We also saved up a lot though. And… my grandfather helped."

"Are your parents rich?"

Umm… "I suppose… it's not that great, though," I quickly added. This topic was getting a little uncomfortable. "Most of the time I wish I wasn't."

"Well, it is better than having no money at all. I know what that feels like," he said, running a hand through his already messy hair.

I frowned. "If you have no money, then how did you get enough for this flight? Like you said, it isn't exactly cheap."

He looked away, a small blush spreading across his cheeks. "I… well, you see…"

I looked at him, waiting for an answer.

"Never mind," he mumbled. "A little kid like you doesn't need to hear about such things."

I kicked at his ankle and he yelped, drawing stares from the people in front of us. I waved at them, and when they had turned back around, I looked over at him, smiling sweetly.

He glared at me. "What was that for?" he snapped.

"You deserved it," I said simply. "I'm not a kid. I am seventeen, and have probably seen more in one year than you in a whole life time!"

"Oh, I doubt that," he said.

I grinned. "Wanna bet?"

He laughed. "You'd loose."

I just rolled my eyes and turned to look out the window. Ooh, bad mistake. All those clouds, and air, and little tiny towns way, way beneath us… I think I'm going to be sick.

A hand was stuck in my face. "It's nice to meet you, Luke," the guy said. "My name's Rei Kon."

I stared at his hand for a moment, and then finally shook it. "I guess it's good to meet you," I said.

Rei laughed again. "You guess?"

"Well, I'm still deciding," I replied.

He nodded. "Well, let me know when you've finished," he said seriously.

I smirked. "I will." We sat in silence for a few minutes, before I decided to try and talk to him again. Maybe he would spill what he was going to say before. Without the little kid comment, mind you. "So… erm… why are you going to New York?" I asked.

Rei looked a bit surprised that I was the one initiating the conversation this time. I don't blame him. If I was him, I would be surprised I was talking to me to. "I have a friend over there," he said. "I haven't seen him in a while so I decided to visit him."

"But what about work? Are you taking time off?" Ok, that was obvious, wasn't it? I'm not being very subtle here. Need to work on that.

"Well…" Rei looked embarrassed again. "I can basically do my job anywhere. It doesn't really matter where I am."

Hmm. Well, that didn't help at all. "What do you mean?" I asked. "Do you have one of the home business things, where you do all your work at home on a computer?"

"Not exactly," he said slowly. He looked over at me, and saw I was still watching him, waiting for an answer. "Look," he finally snapped. "Just drop it, ok?"

"Fine!" I snapped, turning away. "No need to get so bitchy about it." See if I try to talk to you again, bastard.

Rei didn't say anything, so I slipped my headphones from around my neck up onto my ears, just in case he was going to try and talk to me again later. Pushing play, I leaned back in the chair and closed my eyes. I really didn't want to be here, sitting next to a guy who probably hates me, and on my way to boss around a guy I know hates me. I sighed, and kept my eyes closed, trying to ignore the miserable feeling that was building up inside me.