Disclaimer: Sadly I don't own Fire Emblem, but any original plot belongs to me so please don't steal.

The Team.

The first thing she did when she got home was to call Ryoma. In the end, Kamui had kept her silent oath and walked home. With the good weather and scarcity of the act (she kept in shape, in the Industry she worked in appearance was stressed, but tended to clock in an hour or so at the Gym with her sister-in-law and Oboro) the walk would have been welcomed, had she not been walking through a distinctly French portion of the City. Besides being rather unpleasantly sweaty and sore-footed, Kamui had not been hassled in anyway. In fact (sitting at her kitchen table later where she could more rationally mull over it) considering the network of dog-walking parks she'd strolled through it was highly unlikely anyone had recognised her as a member of Hoshido family at all. Still Kamui had felt targeted.

It was daunting when she brought it into perspective. If she felt like that when walking by a duck pond, how would that compare to being in the presence of Nohr employees who actively battled against her family on a daily basis? Not well, was the obvious answer. Nonetheless, she'd just have to deal with it.

Ryoma picked up on the third ring, "Kamui! Is there something wrong? Have Nohr called back again? You're still joining us for Family Dinner tonight, right?"

"Ryoma," Kamui began determinedly, "I've just got back from that meeting with Camilla Nohr and she's offered me the job, I start on Monda-eh? Family Dinner?" Kamui blinked, Ryoma's previous words just catching up to her, "B-but I thought, well, with everything that had happened…."

"Hmm," Kamui could imagine her brother as he answered; his expression thoughtful, arms crossed over his broad chest and nodding at no one in particular, "Of course you're welcome. You're my little sister, Kamui, and I'd never hurt the family like that for business."

Kamui shifted and unconsciously lowered her voice to a whisper as she asked, "what about Takumi? He must have heard the news."

Surprisingly Ryoma laughed at that, "He did. I've received enough dirty looks to prove it but, honestly Kamui, Takumi would be more upset if you weren't here tonight. Neither of you have ever missed a Family Dinner."

"And we never will, big brother, you count on me and Takumi," Kamui replied resolutely.

It was an indisputable truth in Kamui's eyes. Ever since they had been young she and Takumi had trailed after their elder siblings like ducklings, trying desperately to be as big and strong as they were. As the first two children of Sumeragi Hoshido's second wife, and only born two years apart from one another, there had been an unvoiced pressure to live up to the legacy of their father's first marriage. As a girl Kamui had been spared of it more than her little brother, who still carried that same air of perpetual struggle and belief of his own failure around with him like a dog nipping at his heels.

Sometimes she wondered if it had been easier when they were younger. Back when they were a united front in their effort to be of use, carrying Ryoma's Kendo equipment between them or one of them each delegated to a corner of a Hinoka's hand-crafted birthday cards. Back before Sumeragi's death, before Sakura's birth, before Touma University and her boyfriend and the break up, and her job and her little bungalow. Though, thinking on it younger Kamui would likely say she had it easier as an adult.

She'd taken a much more passive role as she got older and a part of Kamui wondered if Takumi ever felt betrayed by that. They didn't talk as often. He never let her do his hair like she had when they were children. She no longer came to him with scraps or bruises that she'd hidden from their other siblings. But at the heart of it Kamui still considered Takumi to be the sibling she was closest with. She admired Hinoka and Ryoma, she doted on Sakura, but she and Takumi understood each other on a level she couldn't with her other siblings (even if they were prone to squabbling with one another on a regrettably regular basis). That was not to say she didn't love them all fiercely; should any of her brothers or sisters ask, Kamui knew with a frankly unnerving certainty that she'd take a bullet for their sake.

Ryoma chuckled again, "So you both keep saying-"

"But it's true!"

"-I know, I know," his tone was amused and indulgent, "Just remember to go easy on yourself sometimes, and that goes for both you and Takumi. Now, what happened with Camilla Nohr?"

Kamui debriefed Ryoma on everything of import she could recall which-in hindsight-was not much. The bulk of the report was shaved further by her reluctance to divulge anything too personal to Ryoma. Telling her brother that she was starting on Monday was fine but telling him that there had been something oddly vulnerable and lonely about Camilla Nohr felt like a betrayal Kamui was, as of then, unwilling to commit. He seemed satisfied nonetheless, and left his little sister to her own devices until the Family Dinner.

Family Dinner was often capitalised in Kamui's mind. It was something about the way Ryoma said it, the brevity he placed on those two words like they were about to complete a ritual that helped stabilise his internal balance in this world. Thinking on it, Kamui found that an apt description. The weekly family meals were likely viewed as something sacrosanct by a man as family-orientated as her elder brother was.

The wool-lined indoor slippers were barely on her feet when something small barrelled into Kamui's legs, causing her to almost back step into the genkan altogether. A mop of spiky white hair tickled Kamui's bare knees for a moment, before her nephew lifted his face to give her a broad grin.

"Auntie Kamui!" Shinonome yelled, grabbing at her hands now. His palms were warm and mildly sticky, and it took Kamui no time or effort to pinpoint that the smell of caramel wafting through the house was likely the source. Mikoto liked to spoil her grandson. Rinkah did not seem to mind in the slightest since it usually involved leftovers.

"Come on! Come on!" he tugged at her, "I need to show you my new move, Uncle Takumi and Aunt Oboro have already seen it."

"H-hang on, Shinonome," Kamui managed through laughter, "I need to say hello to your father first."

"Eh? Blah, what do you wanna talk to him for?" Shinonome stuck out his tongue like the idea of someone wanting to speak with Ryoma before him offended his very taste buds, "My move is much cooler, come on Auntie, I've been practising and its awesome!"

"Alright then, Shinonome, lead the way," Kamui relented.

The eight year old puffed his skinny chest with pride, chattering to her excitedly as he led her out to the family dojo. Kamui heard adult conversation murmuring away from further inside the house, but she did not regret watching her nephew tumble about on the practice mats with her. She'd always had a soft spot for children, and although tiring, Shinonome was animated and bright company.

"-and then he went like this," Shinonome demonstrated a rough attempt at a high kick, "and the bad guy was all 'wahhh' and it was so cool! I asked mom to teach me but she said I had to know the basics and stuff first, do you know the basics, Auntie Kamui?"

"Me?" Kamui smiled, "You probably know a lot more about it than I do, Shinonome."

"Oh? That's okay," he grinned and patted her hand in a reassuring manner that made Kamui's heart melt a little, "I'll look after you if any bad guys come, alright?"

Kamui fought her urge to giggle, the way he held her gaze and the seriousness of his expression indicated Shinonome would only find the gesture condensing. Instead she placed a light kiss on his forehead.

"I will, Shinonome, thank you."

His next grin threatened to split his face, though he managed to rein it in as he bobbed his head once, "Alright then. Hi Uncle Takumi!"

Takumi nodded in greeting before being subjected to the 'Shinonome Knee-Height Bear Hug' and Kamui swiftly reached out before her nephew toppled them both over.

Takumi sighed with exasperation, reaching down to retract the eight-year old's grip, "Calm down, Shinonome. One of these days, you're going to hurt yourself or someone else doing that."

When he carefully set Shinonome down, the boy proceeded to stare expectantly up at his uncle as Takumi fidgeted, his stern mask of disapproval twitching.

"….What?" he finally relented.

"You want to say something, right Uncle?" Shinonome prompted innocently, "You and dad were arguing, and you said you'd talk to Auntie Kamui."

Takumi's embarrassment was as swift as it was predictable. Kamui had always found her brother's self-consciousness privately endearing (an opinion she felt rather guilty about considering the personal discomfort it brought Takumi), but was too concerned about the news of him and Ryoma arguing to relish the reaction. She glanced at Takumi, her brows the exact shade of grey as his own scrunched with distress. He caught her gaze before stiffly looking away again. The message was clear: he didn't want to discuss it right now.

"Eh?" Takumi looked affronted, the tips of his ears turning the same red as his cheeks, "I-I…just that…Your grandmother wanted you, Shinonome."

"Eh? Granny Mikoto? Has she made more caramel apples?" Shinonome clearly prioritised the important questions first.

Takumi crossed his arms over his chest and nodded his head, a small smile cradled in the corners of his lips as Shinonome dashed out towards the kitchen as fast as his little legs could carry him. Takumi and Kamui followed at a more sedate pace.

"You've been arguing with big brother?" Kamui whispered when certain that Shinonome was out of earshot.

"Yes," Takumi frowned, "….Mother was worried."

Kamui smiled to herself, knowing her brother well enough to translate his reply: 'I was worried'.

"I'm fine, Takumi. Ryoma was right, really, and I guess it's about time for a change. It's nice that you asked though!"

"I never asked," he huffed.

Kamui giggled at that, though quietened when her brother shot her a glare, "Ah…sorry, Takumi…"

He sighed again though this time there was a hint of a smile in the gesture, "It seems like you're already looking for a new job. Good."

"Huh?"

Takumi nodded to her outfit, a formal though light dress with the silk scarf still tied about her throat. It was not something Kamui would wear casually, although she'd always had a taste for prim clothing.

"Oh, yes, I…" she hesitated. Surely they'd be no harm in telling Takumi, he was her brother after all and as unlikely to betray the family as he was to stop the Earth was turning.

"Listen Takumi, you trust me and Ryoma, right?"

They both drew to a halt while he watched her warily, finally giving a cautious nod.

"There's something I have to tell you about-"

"K-Kamui!"

They glanced up as Sakura reached forward to shyly tug at her sister's sleeve, "Erm, h-have I interrupted something?"

Kamui smiled before shaking her head, "No it's fine. What's wrong, Sakura?"

"Mother needs help in the kitchen," she explained and with that they were gone. Kamui cast one last glance at Takumi over her shoulder, simultaneously thanking and cursing the interruption. It wasn't her place to pull Takumi into this. But at the same moment she did not enjoy the notion that he was being left out the loop, something she knew her younger brother detested. Refocusing her attention on Sakura, tried to put it out of her mind for now. She didn't want to taint what time she had with her family.

Kamui and Sakura helped with cutting vegetables and soup-stirring, while simultaneously attempting to divert their nephew's attention away from a plethora of sugary snacks for their older brother's sake. Their mother, Mikoto, had made the wise choice to back neither side in the ongoing confectionary war. Instead she chuckled quietly to herself at their antics, as if she were under the strange impression that the curtain of steam rising from the pan would block out any noise she made too.

Eventually Oboro turned up and had none of the reservation that Kamui and Sakura did about ushering the eight year old out the kitchen. Easily, Kamui slipped into the evening with that same sense of practiced familiarity she threw herself into her favourite chair or nestled up in her duvet at night. All underlying tension fell far below the radar as the world seemed to cease movement outside the walls of the Hoshido family's ancestral home. Perhaps there was a brief moment of tension when Takumi and Ryoma spoke. Perhaps Kamui paled when her mother asked her what she was planning to do for work in the future. Perhaps Sakura's shoulders curled into herself at Oboro's comment about continuing the Hoshido legacy at Touma University. But as a family they kept the peace because every single one of them needed this one night a week. There was a comfort in the routine. A sweet ache that warmed Kamui's chest with a sense of identity, of belonging to something. Meeting Ryoma's eyes across the table, Kamui prayed that next week's Family Dinner was as wonderfully uneventful. After all she started work at Nohr on Monday.

/

Nohr Labels was intimidating in appearance, a relic of that stiff-lipped Victorian architecture that towered over its surrounding buildings with a cool, baleful front. While Kamui was accustomed to the wide-open spaces, modern furnishing and focus on projecting natural light at Hoshido Label, Nohr seemed to savour the same sense of dark, decadent wealth as their clothing line. Back dropped by early morning grey light, Kamui suspected that she'd arrived when the building was at the pinnacle of its menacing capacity. Even the pigeons were too terrified to soil the brickwork.

Kamui took a deep breath, released it and attempted to smooth her reflection into something resembling steely determination. She could so this. She was in control. Or so she tried to tell herself, holding onto the archaic belief that if repeated often enough it would become truth.

The door swung open before clipping primly back on its hinges with a softness that belied its weight and size. The atmosphere of the room washed up and over Kamui in a wave of whispery jazz music, oil-lamp lighting and the smell of furniture polish. Kamui felt as if she'd stepped into the 'Drawing Room' of an old manner house. The potent mix of Antique furniture, dark colour schemes and mahogany wood combined to create less of a sense of 'welcoming people,' and something more along the lines of 'welcoming the right people'. Only a swift mental reminder that her own family history was as equal to that of the Nohrs', kept Kamui from dipping her shoulders.

Sitting at a desk (planted directly in Kamui's path like it was issuing a personal challenge) was a blue-haired receptionist. A pang of homesickness hit with sudden, unexpected force at the sight, then was gone again seconds later leaving only a dull throb in its place. She swallowed Aqua's name back hastily and smoothed down the smile that had quivered along her lips. Fortunately the Receptionist was still staring unblinkingly at her Monitor, pale, thin fingers flying across her keyboard.

"Yes?" the not-Aqua spoke in apathetic tones.

"Good Morning," Kamui smiled pleasantly, "My name is Kamui Hoshido. Miss Nohr said she'd meet me down here at 8?"

Whether the woman believed the credibility of Kamui's claim or not was impossible to garner from her expression. It was like ice. Not so much of a muscle twitch or a blink broke across the serene mask.

"I see," she replied, "One moment, please."

Kamui took the opportunity to check her reflection in the glass of a nearby cabinet. Her hair as usual was being as stubborn as Takumi's, though she'd attempted to keep the worst of its rebellion from her face with a hairband rather than tying it up (she'd never relished the sensation of it pulling on her scalp). She brushed along her black pencil skirt, plucked invisible lint from the bow at the neck of white dolly blouse and generally fussed over appearance. She wasn't exactly competing with Camilla (an endeavour she'd be sure to lose anyway) but if the Reception area was any indication, visible imperfections would not be tolerated. Kamui did not want to turn up looking like some bumpkin.

"Miss Hoshido."

"Oh!" Kamui startled, blushing guilty at being caught trying to check her teeth in the glass, "S-sorry about that."

The Receptionist's face softened into a smile, the transformation was so seamless and the end result so beautiful that Kamui found herself staring, "Please, if you would follow me."

Kamui nodded and hastily followed her into a little meeting room down the corridor behind her desk. Camilla Nohr was already seated inside, she rose to stand when Kamui entered before immediately enveloping the shorter woman in a hug. What proceeded was the lengthy process of educating Kamui through the safety procedures at her new place of work and the signing of many official documents. Nohr employees worked longer hours and for less pay than Kamui was accustomed to, which immediately struck her as odd. It wasn't necessarily bad pay, but it wasn't exactly in keeping with a company of Nohr Label's size. Perhaps the company finances were not in as healthy a state as the Label would have her initially believe? Or perhaps they simply didn't put as much emphasis on their workers as her father and older brother had? She wondered if her new co-workers were aware of this, and if they were if they were satisfied.

"And here is your new office," Camilla smiled, swaying to a halt outside a door on the second level, "I hope you enjoy working here as much as I enjoy having you."

"I will, thank you Miss Nohr," Kamui smiled.

"Camilla, please," she replied before something sharp edged her gaze, "Now, remember, if anyone gives you any trouble you'll come right to me won't you, dear?"

"T-trouble?" Kamui echoed with confusion, "Why would anyone give me trouble?"

"My little brother should keep an eye on you," Camilla sighed and pressed a hand to her cheek, "But you know how men are, especially around such a cute girl."

Kamui spluttered again, but Camilla was already sashaying away again.

"I'll come collect you for lunch. Till then, dear Kamui," she called over her shoulder.

"Oh, goodby-"but she was already gone, leaving Kamui alone in the chilly corridor with only the accusatory photo gazes of generations-dead models and executives for company.

She felt very small and very alone outside that door. Camilla's ominous parting words aside and despite knowing the importance of her task, Kamui was well aware that she had not come here with the best of intentions. Doing something dishonourable for an honourable cause, Kamui wondered if the motive balanced out the act. Or was she merely trying to convince herself of the 'right thing' moments before she entered that office and played the wolf in sheep's clothing?

Kamui firmly reminded herself that the time for doubts had passed, her elder brother had given her plenty of opportunity to reject the task he'd assigned to her and still she had accepted. Instead, she carded through those reasons. Because Ryoma trusted her. Because she wanted to protect the company that her family had built and her friends poured their dreams into. Because she wanted to know that she could do more-be more than semi-convenient. Kamui exhaled and glared at the door as it were the manifestation of those earlier twitching worries. She twisted the knob, moved to stride inside and immediately felt rather silly when she realised it was locked. It was as Kamui leaned her ear against the door in hopes of catching any muffled voices that might be persuaded to open it, that a figure far more resembling a wolf than she interrupted.

"What do we have here?"

So absorbed was she in mentally rallying herself, Kamui had made the grievous sin of completely overlooking the arrival of Mr Zero Jondrette. Most women working at Nohr could have told Kamui how erroneous that was, or as the saying went 'when Zero was in a room it was wise to keep one eye on what you were doing and the other on what his hands are doing'. Fortunately for Kamui, the eye-patched man was clearly feeling merciful and kept his sticky-fingers away from her person. That, however, did not stop the leering grin he aimed at her backside.

"Oh," Kamui straightened and smiled sweetly, "Good morning, my name's Kamui Hoshido. It's my first day so I'm afraid I don't know your name yet, though it's a pleasure to meet you."

The grin shrunk back into a small, knife-like smirk but besides that Zero made no move to reply. Still leaning against the wall with his arms crossed against his chest, the navy blue silk waistcoat unbuttoned and the sleeves of the dress-shirt underneath rolled up to his elbows, he was a picture of leisurely observation. Kamui just wished he wasn't trying to observe her bra through her shirt.

As much as she endeavoured to be a good girl like father had asked her, and always tried to find the good in people; Kamui could admit that upon first meeting Zero it was…difficult. The man seemed to reek of trouble. It winked at her from the curl of his smirk. It lingered about him in a haze of cigarette smoke. It lurked especially in that strange, almost animalistic eagerness in his eyes. He looked hungry. It put Kamui on edge because whether it he wanted flesh in a fight or in a (hopefully) less…aggressive manner no one was going home happy.

Frantically resisting the urge to hide her chest from his view lest it offend him, Kamui attempted to shake off her initial opinion of the man and treat him with the same courtesy she would afford anyone else.

"I-I'm sorry, but are you in this office?" she asked, pointing back at the door.

"I am," he replied.

"Oh good!" Kamui sighed with relief, "Do you have the keys to the door, it seems to be locked and-"

"I have the keys," he cut in, his smirk twitching and his gaze lighting with a malicious kind of mirth that made Kamui feel a little like Red Riding Hood in the presence of the Big Bad Wolf.

"You do," she beamed, "That's great! Could you please open it?"

"What do I get in return?"

Kamui blinked, "Eh?"

"I said," Zero drawled, pushing off the wall to prowl closer as his smirk stretched to a lupine grin, "what do I get in return?"

"Erm…." Kamui's eyes darted to and fro while Zero seemed to bask in her anxiety.

"M-my gratitude?" Kamui offered shakily with a hopeful smile.

"I was thinking of something else of yours," Zero replied.

By this point, Kamui had belatedly clocked the silver-haired man's slow but sure effort at herding her in. While she wasn't exactly helpless, Kamui hadn't exactly ever relished the need to fight either. No matter how badly she'd wanted to hurt someone at the time, she always felt her control slip and it was not worth the stomach-roiling guilt afterwards. She couldn't exactly hit him but she couldn't let him touch her with that intent either. Plus, Kamui suspected that the man would enjoy either outcome equally. He tracked her backwards another step, and when the small of Kamui's back bumped the door knob she glared at him. Enough was enough. According to Takumi, Kamui might have a certain reputation for being a bit of a pushover but she wasn't about to be sexually harassed by a stranger when she was already so on edge. This wasn't exactly the affectionate overtures of Camilla Nohr, the man's fingers were clearly twitching towards her pencil-skirt-covered-derriere.

"Sir," Kamui said sternly, "I'm afraid if you don't stop I'm going to have to hit you."

"Oh," Zero breathed, evidently pleased, "kinky."

"Zero, that's quite enough."

Zero pulled away instantaneously as if on muscle memory. Now with the space vacated, how dangerously close he'd managed to lurk in was illustrated so clearly to Kamui she could not help but blush. Like scolded children, both Kamui and Zero looked to the figure watching the proceedings with evident disapproval marring his otherwise smooth features. From appearance to the very air he exuded, he was an oxymoron to his co-worker. While Zero had projected an almost unrestrained sense of the more primeval human compulsions, the blonde to his left was all about control and an intellect unfettered by mortal imperfections. His suit was sharp, tailored and utterly spotless; a trophy from Nohr's glory days that not only commanded awe but also a sense of intimidation. Both men were handsome, and although Kamui had spent enough time around attractive men to gain some form of resistance to their affect she found her eye lingering on the blond.

"Mr Nohr," Zero said as Kamui blushed and folded her hands behind her, "good morning."

"Good morning, Zero," he replied with a nod, "Though it would have been better had I not arrived to find you harassing our new Team Member."

Zero's one eye darted snake-quick back to Kamui with renewed interest, "She's the new girl?"

"If my sister's description is accurate, yes, though Miss Hoshido should be recognisable from last week's newspapers," the blond stated drily.

"So you're the little princess big brother Hoshido fired?" Zero smirked.

Kamui scowled at that, hating the way her family name dripped from his lips like some filthy secret and hating more the way it seemed to imply Ryoma as some great, bumbling fool. Seeing that Zero had gained some private sense of enjoyment from her bristling, Kamui attempted to calm herself before she continued.

"Yes, my name's Kamui Hoshido," she smiled, "I'm looking forward to working with you all!"

That loosened all remaining interest Zero had in her, and the man turned to unlock the door with a flat expression. The other man, however, turned to her.

"My name is Leo Nohr, I'll be your Team Leader here."

"Team Leader?" Kamui echoed, "You're the Head of the Supplier and Customer Relations?"

"No," he replied without preamble, "I don't know how you did things at the Hoshido Label, but in Nohr we have an office for each Team and each Team is constructed from a member of each department."

"I see," Kamui nodded, then jerked, "Oh, I forgot! T-thank you…for your help with…."

"Mr Jondrette?" Leo offered, when Kamui nodded he frowned, "Don't thank me."

Kamui almost swallowed her tongue, feeling illogically stung by the sudden iron tone that had chilled his voice. She barely knew this man, had no idea what his issues were with her family (if he had any despite his last name being Nohr) and had no real sense of his character yet; but the weight of his condemnation was massive nonetheless.

Leo continued on, undaunted by Kamui's slightly crestfallen expression, "I understand you come from the Hoshido family but I'll expect you to pull your weight just like the rest of us. In future, you need to know what you're capable of and act appropriately. Don't always think you can rely on others to save you."

With that said, he moved to stride past her in clear dismissal.

"B-but," Kamui's bravery almost fled when he turned his head slightly over his shoulder to indicate she had his attention, "…aren't we meant to be a Team?"

Leo paused before saying, "We are. That's why I told you to pull your weight."

The sound of the door closing behind him was as clipped and unapproachable as his words had been. Kamui stared at it, her earlier trepidation clawing its way back up from her stomach. Takumi had said she was a pushover. But her younger brother had also said she was persistent. Kamui Hoshido pushed the door open after Leo Nohr, hoping that persistence did indeed prove itself to be a virtue.

/

For her first morning working at Nohr, Kamui forgot there was even an element in the make-up of her life called 'find the corporate spy'. It was not through any pure absentmindedness. Kamui's brain had been stretched that thinly attempting to understand and organise Nohr's current Supplier/Customer information, that any thought of scenting out shady characters had nowhere to hook itself. Nohr's method of recording, organising and updating data was completely alien to her, and incredibly twisting. She'd been tasked with updating the database for her Team with 11am as her deadline, something Kamui would have felt was perhaps overly simple at Hoshido but was now looking unachievable. There seemed to be no master sheet or indicator for what went where or what category it came under, even the layout for each one was inconsistent and attempting to update information on a single Customer could (and often did) completely alter or, worse, erase the information on several Suppliers.

Office conditions had not been a help either. Although the morning had begun with skies clothed grey for the promise of rain, as time passed Saturday's rare appearance of sunshine had made a revival. Ordinarily Kamui would have welcomed its reappearance with a smile and perhaps the thought of a Pub Garden dinner out with Kaze and Oboro after work; but not so in these circumstances.

Firstly, the layout of the office consisted of four large desks stationed in the centre of the room back-to-back therefore leaving the walls and two storage cupboards available for any necessary materials. Kamui's desk and Zero's desk (which was planted behind hers) were pushed against window and the blinds had become tangled thanks to the fourth member of the Team, an overzealous man Kamui had yet to meet. The sun's glare magnified through double-glazing and reflected from her computer screen had been gluing itself to Kamui's eyeballs since 9am. Her attempts to divert it included (but were not limited to) moving, make-shift shade, hunting in her bag for sunglasses and pinning the blinds closed with safety pins, but all proved unsuccessful and the sunlight proved unignorable.

Secondly, despite the heat Zero seemed to be suffering from hypothermia. Every half an hour or so, he'd leisurely slink over to the thermostat and raise the temperature again. The man made no comment on his bizarre behaviour (in fact he'd been silent all morning) but Kamui could feel his eyes on her back (or more often, her calves peeping out from underneath her chair). Leo Nohr had left the office shortly after he'd arrived, citing a meeting with the rest of the Financial Sector of the Label, and as such left Kamui and their one-eyed co-worker unsupervised. Recalling their previous encounter she felt a twinge of apprehension at the notion, but Kamui mentally reprimanded herself for it. She was twenty-four year old with work to do, how could she ever hope to prove herself if she was capable of being bullied about by some blatant perversion.

"Excuse me," she swivelled in her chair to face the man still watching her with an expression of languid disinterest, "isn't it a little hot in here?"

Zero propped an elbow on his desk, carelessly crumpling several papers and an A5 envelope as he did so, "why? Are you getting sticky?"

Unfortunately, as Kamui happened to be one of those people who failed to recognise euphuisms unless they were painfully spelled out to her, she took his remark with all seriousness. The young woman giggled, "A little, yes, I'm a bit worried my make-up might run off my face."

"Well, if you're too hot," Zero smirked, "you could always just take your top off."

"Eh?" Kamui chocked, "M-my top….but I'm not wearing anything underneath…it'd be improper."

"I know," Zero replied without a single inch of shame.

Kamui desperately looked about for some other form of relief, "Maybe we could….could open a window?"

"Can't," he shrugged, "all broken."

"Is there a fan in here, maybe?"

"Stolen."

"A…." there was nothing else, though that did not stop Kamui for fervently twisting her head about searching.

"Your mascara's running," Zero's glee doubled as Kamui flustered and began trying to scan her mortified face for tell-tale black smudges in her reflection on the computer screen. Of course, said computer screen, was still blanked out by the sun's glare and thus the exercise proved useless.

"I…" Kamui hesitated after standing, before finally a smile unfurled across her lips, "I think I'll just get a bottle of water from the vending machine, that'll be fine right?"

"Should be," Zero shrugged.

"Okay, thanks," Kamui replied earnestly, "would you like anything while I'm there?"

The young man didn't appear as though he was inclined to grace her with a response, until some thought rippled across his face and narrowed his single visible eye with humour again, "….Yeah, actually could you get me a can of that Lucky Seven Dark Hot Chocolate?"

"Lucky Seven?" Kamui echoed with confusion, "I don't think I've ever heard of that brand."

"It's French," he replied blandly, "They only sell it in the vending machines here."

"Oh, is it nice?" she asked, honestly intrigued.

"Oh yeah," Zero grinned his lupine grin, "It's really thick and creamy, but you have to be careful not to be too rough with it or it'll squirt all over your face."

"Really? I'll be careful, I might even get some myself," the perceived overture of friendship had perked Kamui up again considerably, making her next smile wide and guileless, "thanks Zero!"

Pulling her bag over her shoulder, Kamui exited the sweltering heat of the office with the smoothness restored to her gait. Despite a rocky start, her co-worker seemed to be warming up to her and she reasoned that perhaps his earlier behaviour had been a misinterpretation on her behalf. Five minutes away from that mindboggling database could do the world of good, maybe the method that had alluded her all morning would suddenly emerge if she looked at it with fresher eyes. Kamui's thoughts continued on their upward optimistic route, unhampered by the fact that she couldn't see a can of Lucky Seven Dark Hot Chocolate in the first vending machine she encountered. She decided to buy her water only after she'd purchased Zero's drink, and journeyed onwards.

Three vending machines later Kamui was beginning to feel like a boat without its rudder. She had no clear internal layout of the building, and even less of an idea of where the vending machines were located. Everyone else appeared to be hard at work, or so she assumed as every corridor, office and recreation room was deserted. It was only then that a sneaking suspicion began to come creeping softly into her head but Kamui shook it back and focused on her task, intent on giving Zero the benefit of the doubt. She turned a corner and felt her shoulders drop with relief at the sight of not only a fourth vending machine but also another living soul. The messy-haired blond peering into the array of chocolate bars, crisps and fizzy drinks did not react to her approach; instead still thumbing the pound coin between his fingers as he carefully mouthed the name of each brand. From high-polished shoes to the slightly crumpled dress shirt, the man was clothed entirely black bar the blindingly yellow tie about his throat.

"E-excuse me," Kamui called, speed walking the last couple of steps towards him, "I'm sorry to disturb you, but I've been all over the building and I was wondering if you could help."

"Help?" he blinked before drawing himself up with a wide grin, "Of course, I'd be happy to lend my strength to a college in distress! Speak now, and we shall see what can be done."

Honestly, Kamui was not entirely sure she'd heard him correctly. He stood there, sombre-faced and awaiting her response attentively which had to mean he had and she wasn't suffering from dehydration.

"Ah…..right. Well," she blinked, her words as stumped and ineloquent as her thoughts were until Kamui just resolved that perhaps just carrying on regardless was the only functional approach at the moment.

"I was looking for a can of Lucky Seven Dark Hot Chocolate but I can't seem to find it anywhere," Kamui gave a little helpless shrug and smile.

"Lucky….?" Something seemed to click in the man's head and he turned to her sharply, "who asked you to get it for them?"

Kamui backed up slightly at his zeal, "Erm, Mr Jondrette."

"Of course."

Kamui watched the man with mounting concern, concern that only grew when he suddenly laughed and clapped her companionably on the shoulder, "well, my friend, I'm afraid you've fallen foul of one of Zero's jests."

"…You mean he was joking?" Kamui asked, horrified that she'd spent the last ten minutes scouring every vending machine she came across for an imaginary drink.

"Indeed," he nodded sympathetically, "Do not take it to heart, even I-the great Odin-was too once taken in by Zero's trickery," his good natured expression instantly soured and Kamui wasn't sure whether his next words were truly for her sake or the memory of his injured pride, "but still, this attitude of his does stir my wrath!"

"T-there's no need to get so angry," Kamui soothed, "I'm sure he meant no harm."

The blond smiled and patted her head as if she were a child, "you are a kind soul to say so. Come, let us confront this pretender."

Kamui hurried to purchase her water and catch up to his long-legged strides, "Oh, I'm Kamui Hoshido by the way, it's a pleasure to meet you."

"They call me Odin," he replied.

"They call you Odin?" Kamui asked with evident confusion, "Does that mean it's not your name?"

"What? N-no…I just, er, thought it was a cooler way of saying my name's Odin," he mumbled.

Kamui giggled. Odin looked like a dejected puppy in that state, though he was back to his zany self by the time they reached the office. She'd no idea where he got his energy, enough to breathe life into the overly-theatrical persona and power his conviction of the illusion. On one hand, there was something admirable in that all the same. On the other, everyone she'd met at Nohr bar the receptionist was giving her whiplash, even Hoshido's loudest characters appeared sedate next to them. Upon arriving back at the office, Kamui discovered that she and Odin were not the only returnees. Leo Nohr glanced up from the veritable mountain of paperwork he was flipping through to give them both an once-over.

"Boss," Odin cheered, "How fared your meeting?"

"Horrendous," Leo shook his head, "but I'd rather not get into that."

"Now, where have you both been?" he asked, without concern or recrimination or any real curiosity. It gave the impression that he exactly where they'd been and was far too busy to be truly angry about it.

"I was needed," Odin answered before giving Zero a reprimanding look, "and brave Kamui here was wandering about looking for a hollow goblet."

"In English please, Odin," Leo was doing a commendable display of multi-tasking between dealing with his Team and steadily carving through a stack of papers larger than his head.

"I played a little joke on the new girl," Zero sighed, "it's nothing to blow your load over….not that you've ever needed an excuse, Odin."

"Why you!" sheer indignant rage propelled Odin forward a step, where the otherwise wordsmith spluttered like a cat dunked in water.

"Well, as long as your both here," Leo deposited the stack of papers neatly back on his desk, "Miss Hoshido, I'd like to speak with you for a moment."

"Of course," Kamui smoothly detached herself from where Odin was finally jawing out something that approximated as a comeback.

Still sitting at his desk, Leo nodding to her own desk which was next to his own and Kamui dutifully did as she was instructed. He spent a moment just inspecting her face, not too long that it could be considered rude but not too short that Kamui didn't become self-conscious under his scrutiny. There was nothing romantic in the gesture, not even a whiff of any form of sociable graciousness. Leo was observing her in the same manner someone would observe a half-price deal on a kitchen appliance, weighing up the long-term values against the length of time funnelled into growing accustomed to the thing. All in all, it was extremely unnerving until he blinked (those very long eyelashes, Kamui noted in passing, longer than most women's) and noticed her awkwardness. His expression still wasn't exactly open but it was far more human, and some clumsiness in his movements told Kamui that he regretted making her uncomfortable even if his words did not.

"You've been working on updating the Customer/Supplier Database this morning, correct?" he began.

"Yes," Kamui nodded.

"….It's completely wrong," he sighed, "I've had to delete your copies and restore the original before the damage spread, the entire process will need to be redone correctly before you can even begin organising it into something useable."

A burst of frustration welled up and popped somewhere in Kamui's brain. She wanted to call Ryoma or Takumi or Hinoka and ask them to whisk the issue away. More so, she never wanted to look at that damn database again. But she'd decided that she wasn't doing that, so she fought the itch and nodded.

"I understand. It'll be done by tomorrow, I'll get on it right away."

"Please see that you do," Leo replied, already returning to his own work.

"Who's the new girl getting on?" Zero interrupted.

"Zero, one day she will file for Sexual Harassment," Leo responded with a bloodthirsty smirk that made him look alarmingly like Camilla, "and no one here will stop her."

"….Understood, Mr Nohr."

/

The morning passed and Kamui did not move from her seat. Lunch came and went, and Camilla Nohr with it but Kamui did not leave her workstation. In the afternoon, the call of bathroom ripped her away from her desk for five minutes but she was soon replanted as if she'd never uprooted herself from the spot in the first place. Somewhere between the fifth system auto-delete and the sixth, the database had begun to metamorphosis from simple task into hurdle she'd have to overcome to prove to herself that she was serious about this. Kamui was mulishly unwilling to shift from it. She couldn't. She wouldn't prove to herself that maybe she'd be correct in thinking there wasn't much left to Kamui Hoshido than the pampered middle child of a privileged family.

As hurt as she'd been at first by the curtness of her Team Leader's words, he was right in that respect. She would have to pull her own weight or strangle herself in the slack. She'd never been spoilt, Sumeragi Hoshido would not have allowed that, but Kamui would be the first to admit that she'd had an easier life than most. She'd never really had to challenge herself, her elder siblings preferred a little sister that came to them with her problems and she'd indulged both her own weakness and their need for it. It was a potent mix of past anxieties and bad habits, stubborn resolve, and a flush of almost insidious curiosity about whether or not she could carry her own weight that kept Kamui deaf, dumb and blind to all but the task at hand.

"Miss Hoshido."

"Eh?" Kamui's gaze flicked up from her monitor to find the rest of the office already packing to leave. The streets of Touma outside were feathering themselves up for the oncoming night, while the parking lot below was already bathed in a rheumy film of the afternoon's dying light.

"It's late," Leo continued.

"I-I haven't finished," she replied, determinedly turning back to her computer.

"I see," he paused, "….it will still be there in the morning."

Kamui scowled, flashing the young man a quick look of aggravation, "I promised I'd have it done tomorrow."

He seemed to weigh her up for a moment before sighing, "Please yourself. The Night Guard will be on duty, I'll inform them you're here just tell them when you wish to leave."

"I will, thank you," Kamui smiled.

He nodded briskly, collected the rest of his belongings and left without any more fanfare. Odin, however, proved harder to unstick. The older man hovered about her fretting in a rather mother-hen manner that Kamui would have found comical had she not focused her complete attention on the database. So absorbed in her task was she, that she actually jumped when her bag began vibrating demandingly. Kamui fished her phone out of her bag, blinking at first to rid the black spots from her eyes and then later in surprise at the time.

Oboro: Are you still coming to the Gym? Being laid-off is no excuse to be lazy ;P

Oboro: Urghh :\ Jeez, sorry that was insensitive

Oboro: But you ARE still coming to the Gym, right? They've got Zumba class today~

Kamui bit her lip. They didn't know. Of course they didn't. She hadn't told Oboro, there her friend was texting her about Zumba meanwhile Kamui was sitting in her new office at Nohr Labels, the 'heart of the enemy'. What did she say? What could she say? She couldn't lie to Oboro but she couldn't tell her the truth either, a truth that her best friend would inevitably discover sooner or later. She pushed it from her mind, hastily stuffing her phone back into her bag as if it would brand her. Still she felt the heat of it there, so she threw her bag to the floor and pushed it under her desk. Kamui stretched her arms above her head until her spine popped, staring at the ceiling tiles as her mind filled with nothing but the guilt lying undisturbed like a tongue waiting to be pressed to the roof of a mouth. She had work to do and it was late, Oboro could wait.

An hour later, a gentle knock sounded. Kamui completed the very last of the entries, relief turning her bones to jelly while exhaustion set into the new softness.

"Yes?"

"It's dark now," a gruff voice muffled by the door spoke, "….are you almost done?"

"Oh, er, yes," prodded by what she guessed must be the Night Guard Leo had spoken of, Kamui rushed to carefully save her work and shut her computer down, "just finished the last one!"

There was a grunt of affirmation.

Rubbing at her sore eyes with one wrist, Kamui opened the door and almost immediately stumbled in the dim lighting. A hand, large and warm that felt more like a paw really, steadied her but withdrew instantly.

"T-thank you," Kamui peered at the huge, blocky figure in the gloom but he seemed reluctant to award her what little of his person she could make out and turned hastily. She made out a little guardsman's cap and a back like dining table. He was at least the height and breadth of two of her, and seemed to be fully of aware of it, hunching his vast bulk in effort to make himself appear smaller.

Hesitantly the man reached out and pushed a Styrofoam cup into her hands. Kamui felt the heat sinking through into her fingertips, and inhaled greedily at the scent of fresh coffee.

"….It's coffee," he mumbled, "I…thought you might be tired."

"I was, thank you," Kamui smiled up at the face shadowed up his hat's bill with earnest gratefulness, "that was very thoughtful of you."

He made an uncomfortable sound in his throat, before ambling off with Kamui following at his heels. She was naturally curious, but tired and respectful that if the Night Guard had gone far enough to dim the lights to provide himself with some privacy then she should respect it. Perhaps he was badly scarred and self-conscious about it? He was a Guard after all. He led her to the door and gently ushered her outside.

"….Goodnight," he mumbled, "try to get some sleep."

"I will, thank you," Kamui beamed, the late afternoon shooting through her, "Oh! What's your name?"

"….Benoit."

"Goodnight Benoit, pleasant dreams."

Kamui fought sleep the entire journey home.

Notes:

I apologise if it seems like I'm bashing Zero a little in this chapter, honestly that wasn't my intention. But this is an AU, and one where Kamui doesn't possess the weight of the Nohr Royal Family backing her so a few of the Conquest characters will react differently to her because of that. Also as a little bonus did anyone get the Eponine reference in Zero's last name?

Thank you VERY MUCH for all the feedback, honestly I didn't expect a lot and what I have received has been brilliant :D It's very encouraging on those days when I just can't seem to summon the enthusiasm :)