Chapter Two: "Reluctance at its most"

Ino was still shaking by the morning. It was seven thirty and the house was surrounded with police vehicles and ambulances, even a fire engine at the edge of the drive.

Yeah, her father went a little bit mental, but now he stood sternly in front of an officer while his daughter sat under a blanket on her bed, breathing heavily and holding a cup of water in her trembling hands. Her face was white and she could still hear the subtle twangs of the weapon embedding themselves into the flesh of the wall. Ino looked up to her father who simultaneously looked down at her.

"Are you okay?" he asked in a mono tone. Ino knew he could have been working today, earning more money, but instead he had to worry about an attack on his daughter, what a pity.

"Yes, I'm alright" she lied, but tried a small smile, mostly to reassure herself.

"Well I hope you know this won't happen again" he claimed and she chuckled.

"Hopefully dad, you can't prevent everything"

"I can aid your safety; I have already arranged a bodyguard for you"

Ino took a moment to register the information, the smile still on her face as she gritted her teeth then looked up dangerously, grin gone and a look of fierce revelation crossed her face.

"Pardon father? I hope you didn't just say I now have a bodyguard..."

"Well you do, so you are not attacked again, and if you are, so you have protection"

"But I don't need a bodyguard!"

"What about last night, can you explain that or protect yourself next time?" he sneered bitterly and she felt a cold stab at her heart.

"It was a one off! If I just keep my guard on I will be fine"

"If you just keep your bodyguard on, you will be better then fine, so shut up and deal with it, you think I want you dying?"

"Don't make me answer that" she muttered, and gladly he didn't hear her as he to another investigator.

Ino sat there silently. Silently fuming.

Why did everyone think she was so useless? She had only been a little shocked and she would have been able to defend herself with a weapon or something, she had been weary and flustered, and although she knew it could happen just as easily with worse consequences, but...

She put her head in her hands.

Ino just hoped her body guard was a little good looking so it was less buff and more just-a-companion from a distance. She didn't want to carry on looking like the little rich girl who needed protecting.

About half an hour later, most vehicles had gone and a few men and women were left, inspecting the weapons, Ino's wounds and the general vicinity. Her father was silent through it all, as was Ino.

Pacing his way up to the door, Kakuzu admired the outside appearance. Modern, clean and wealthy. Nice.

Passing the cars and officers, he nodded his acknowledgement and ignored a few suspicious glances. What could they do? He was the new employee; an individual with high status.

The door was already open so he stepped in, standing aside for some police members, whilst ooking at the interior with a greedy glint in his eyes. Damn was he looking forward to pay-day.

Up a gold banister and white steps, was most of the drama, he could see Inoichi and headed up, marvelling at the polished metal work that slid so effortlessly beneath his grip. He had never been inside the house before and it was a privilege to do so.

Standing at the top, Inoichi was thankfully not in conversation with anyone so Kakuzu didn't have to stand round like an impatient idiot for any amount of time and carried straight on over to him.

"Greetings" he called in his naturally low tone and the blonde man turned to him with subtle relief.

"Ah, I wondered when you would get here, as you can see, things are a bit tied up around here, so why don't you just get it over with an introduce yourself to my daughter"

He looked weary and pale, bags beneath bright eyes, Inoichi could always be considered a rather handsome man at any age but right now, he looked like retirement was a first priority.

Kakuzu smirked beneath his veil, the introduction would be worth getting prepared for, and he didn't know what would be thrown at him in anger of sheer refusal at his presence and new duty.

"Of course, sir" he replied and turned to walk down the corridor to turn into Ino's room, the amount of professional members outside was enough to indicate which room belonged to her.

"I am so fucking tired" Ino muttered to herself, she had been cursing brutally under her breath for a while now, she was cold, aching and so tired.

Looking up at a heavy cough, Ino wondered what the hell they wanted now.

Her eyes widened and grew light in shade with sheer shock and horror as she scanned the member now standing before her in what could only be called, a very smug manner.

"Hey" he said, casually and his eyes glinted in amusement at her reaction.

It took a while for her mouth to find the words.

"What the hell are you doing here?" she growled.

"You are getting a body guard, am I wrong?" he cruelly echoed her words and she was momentarily bewildered.

"Yeah, how do you know?"

He spread out his arms.

"Surprise!"

"This is just one big joke, isn't it? A great fucking punch in the face!" she cried, making a few detectives peek through her bathroom door to see the commotion, but returned to their job when she glared at them with a look that could cripple.

"Sorry, but I am your new bodyguard, your protector, your guardian, your pain in the ass for as long as I am employed" his voice was so damn optimistic when he expressed the words with distant humour.

"I don't think so" she hissed "Dad!"

"What do you want Ino?" he came into the door, voice frustrated and voice thick.

"Is this really my new bodyguard" she claimed, pointing accusingly at Kakuzu.

"Yes, now deal with it and shut up, I haven't got time for more of your silly whining" and with that he disappeared.

Ino, despite everything, was a little embarrassed at how her father had spoken to her in front of this stranger.

Turning away, she sniffed. God, she was not handling things well right now. Even after being attacked, no one was even remotely pleasant, putting her in a gritty mood, making her unpleasant.

"What's your name?" she asked voice softer, sad and quiet. Kakuzu was a little surprised at her tone and replied.

"Kakuzu" he intentionally made his voice gentler, she did looked exhausted. "Look, you should get some sleep, is there a spare room in the house you can sleep in, without investigators snooping around?" he enquired and she glanced up.

"Err…yeah, sure, I didn't think of that"

Kakuzu rolled his eyes and she pouted. Getting up groggily she gathered a few of her pillows.

"Let's go"

Inoichi had thankfully sent the rest of the detectives and police on there way and sat down on a sofa in the hall to sigh and loll his head back onto the soft cream leather.

Shit morning. And he had done nothing productive, at all.

He wondered where Ino and Kakuzu were, they had left her room and that was the last he saw.

Even though he rarely showed it, he did care for his daughter, even if her nagging was unbearable. Smiling grimly, he ran a hand through his hair.

Ino had fallen asleep just as her head hit the pillow, Kakuzu sighed at her irresponsibility and pulled the cover over her with an apathetic throw.

Well fantastic start, she knew him as a bodyguard and practically loathed him. After a decent forty winks she would wake up to her bitchy, self centred self no doubt.

Sitting at the bottom of the bed he closed his eyes.

"Think of the money, think of all that glorious money" he told himself in a faint grunt that only he needed to hear as a source of motivation.

What did he do now? She was asleep but another attack was unpredictable and leaving her alone now was risky so he scanned the room he sat in. Plain pale blue and white, cream furniture and lined with darker blue were most of the pillows and covers. A dressing table, a wardrobe, a large window and a mirror against the wall behind him, the lights were dim so Ino could sleep better but Kakuzu caught the glimpse of his back when peeking at his reflection.

Turning to face the glossy glass fully he took a deep breath and removed his head attire and mask, messing up his hair with a tanned hand. His eyes scanned over his maimed face, scars all jutted with clumsy stitches, around his mouth and face, and his dark brown hair, flat from his head-wear.

As the room got a little lighter from the ascending sun, Kakuzu returned his attire to his face and glanced at Ino, she was quite a tousled sleeper, hair everywhere and face half buried into the cushion she slept on, one leg over the sheets and even Kakuzu widened his eyes at the smooth slender muscle that it was.

"Get off" a foot kicked the small of his back and he turned to see her subconsciously trying to remove him, he silently hit her ankle with some degree of strength and she coiled back up.

This woman wasn't even worth the money…

A/N: I finished this all in one go, am tired now so see you another time!

#LAW09