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Return to Me

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Ryo sighed as he walked home - his faithful bodyguard trailing behind him. That hadn't gone as he'd hoped, although she did seem to be warming up to him again. And he couldn't deny the shit storm that might come their way should they manage to uncover a vast conspiracy. He could get killed. Chiyo could get killed. The private investigator would probably get killed.

"You sure you want to open this can of worms?" his bodyguard said suddenly as though reading his thoughts, "I mean, I get that you like her but dammit son, you got kidnapped and almost died not too long ago. You want to go through that again?"

Choosing to stay silent, Ryo continued walking as he rolled his eyes. The bodyguard just didn't get it. There was something about this girl. He felt drawn to her - like...like they'd met before, almost a compulsion to keep her in his life, like they once belonged to each other, that they'd overcome worse things than this. It was fate. Or maybe he was overthinking everything. She sure as hell didn't seem to feel the same way. Maybe it was all in his head.

"She saved my life," Ryo answered simply after a few minutes of awkward silence, "Its the least I can do to repay her."

"Uh, it's her god damn job to protect people," the bodyguard damn near growled, "You don't owe her jack shit."

Huffing, Ryo turned to face him and glared, "What makes you so bold? You think you can talk to me like that?! I'm not your friend. I pay you to protect me. You've only known me for a few weeks. What makes you think it's fine to be so familiar?!"

Recoiling as though he'd been slapped, the bodyguard blinked at him for a few moments before shaking his head and narrowing his eyes, "You can fire me anytime you want. Yeah, I just met you but I like you. Excuse me."

Knowing by the attitude dripping from his tone, he had meant it more in a sarcastic way but putting on a cool exterior, Ryo pulled himself up to his full height and hissed, "Fine. You're excused. I'll find my own way home."

"Fine, be that way," the bodyguard hissed as he turned to walk the opposite way, "Get kidnapped or murdered. Like I give a shit."

It was irrational. Ryo knew it was. But at the moment, he couldn't find in himself to care. That comment had pushed his nerves to the breaking point. If he didn't understand. he should've kept his comments to his damn self. He didn't need a babysitter anyway. He was a grown ass man. Hiring someone was just a precaution. It wasn't like anyone was following him or had it out for him...yet. Pausing slightly, he ran his hands through his unruly hair and let out a shaky sigh. Once he started this nonsense, he'd have to hire someone else. It'd be stupid to go out wandering by himself at night. And in a designer suit no less. He was like a walking target screaming 'come mug me'.

Jumping slightly at the sound of footsteps approaching, Ryo picked up his pace - refusing to glance behind him. It was probably just a jogger or someone rushing to get home. Quickening his pace slightly, Ryo chanced a glance over his shoulder just in time to see a man with his face covered who stopped immediately upon being seen - something unseen but bulging in his pocket.

'Fuck,' Ryo cursed under his breath as he quickened his pace - of course he was about to get mugged the instant he dismissed his body guard. He was such a fool. The subway station was only a block away. Perhaps if he began running?

As soon as he looked forward again, the quick footsteps began once more and giving into his primal instincts, Ryo ran for his life until he heard a choked gasp followed by the sounds of a struggle. Chancing a glance over his shoulder, there stood his bodyguard restraining the man who was know wielding a knife in one hand as he struggled against the vice grip. Expertly removing the knife, the bodyguard thumped him once across the head - making the man go limp before unceremoniously depositing him onto the cement.

"I leave you alone for five minutes and you almost get mugged," the bodyguard answered breathlessly, "Good thing for you that I came back to give you a piece of my mind. What the hell were you thinking? Why didn't you run, you dumb ass motherfucker!?"

Deciding to overlook the profranity. Ryo shrugged as he rolled his eyes, "I was just about to run, thank you very much."

"So I'm gunna give you a piece of my mind, asshole," the bodyguard huffed as he approached, "You've got no friends from what I can tell. You bring home so many women that its borderline disgusting and you don't keep none of them more than a few days. You're a lonely little fucker who can't stand commitment of any kind and you have the audacity to turn away someone who actually wants to stick around - even one you pay - and you can just throw me away like that?!"

"I've only known you for a month," Ryo clipped back - not liking his assessment of his social life at all, "And I've got friends and I haven't brought back a women in weeks."

"Yeah 'cause you're head over heels for some bitch who wouldn't give you the time of day," the bodyguard spat back, "Now either you keep me around and deal with having an employee who gives a rats ass or go hire some fucker who wouldn't give a shit whether you died."

"Fine," Ryo spat back as he turned to head towards the subway before pausing and looking over his shoulder, "You coming or what?"

"That's what I thought," the bodyguard huffed angrily under his breath as he dutifully followed Ryo towards the subway - glancing back at the unconscious man with a suspicious look in his eye. That was strange. More than a little strange that the moment he was unprotected someone came after him. It was almost as if he'd been waiting.