Chapter 3

He didn't feel like the knight she described him to be when he found himself swinging at her head. But in all honesty, it was for her own good. Momo dodged, rolling to the side, and swinging right back at him. It was leading him to assume that she was sneaking out or finding a way to get combat without the knowledge of anyone else in the house. Or she was naturally talented in combat. The need to draw blood wasn't there like it was in the normal training, it was different with Momo. He didn't actually want to land the hit either. It was as though all the anger that grew during his training had been evaporating.

Todoroki was actually getting excited, Momo was moving in a way that she might've won over him, but he had a competitive spirit, he wasn't quite ready to lose either. Momo swung again, her foot moving to behind his foot, a moment too soon. He managed to escape, but any slower and he would've been flat on his back. Momo swung again, he grabbed her wrist bringing her down with him. Momo laughed, "You know you had the perfect opportunity to take the advantage."

Todoroki glanced towards the floor, her weight crushing his chest, "Sparing or not I'm still your bodyguard I can't let you get hurt."

Momo laughed, "That's not what you said when you landed those first hits. You let me win! I thought we said we were going to have an even match!" She shifted her weight off of him moving next to him. Todoroki took a few extra breaths. If she wanted to she could probably manage to break a few ribs.

"Are you sure you haven't had any formal training?" He glanced towards her, she was covered in just as much sweat as he was and panting heavier than he had been. She was also right about him not trying as hard as he was capable of. But he was wrong in judging how much strength she possessed.

A maid arrived at the door, face reddening at their positions. Todoroki sighed, pushing himself up. They would be the morning gossip of the staff. "Scandal" they would whisper. They would likely pull Momo to the side to whisper words against him. Fine. Let them talk. His eyes moved towards Momo wondering what her reactions to him would be within several hours. What words they would say about him. It wasn't like he had asked for a friend during this internship. It was enough to have someone to talk to. He didn't expect to find someone with such a cheery outlook on life.

"Let's go get breakfast." Todoroki stood up brushing his hair to the side.

The staff moved, several pairs of clothing in their arms, "Sir, I'd recommend you two get a shower first."

He nodded that made sense. He glanced towards Momo. That brought up another concern. He wasn't some heathen, but there was going to be moments when he couldn't exactly be right by her side. And if the person who was trying to kill her started becoming smarter before they got caught then he was going to have problems. He needed to figure out how to handle these situations before the perpetrator did. "Where are the showers located?"

"A crossed the hall."

"Both men's and women's?"

"The men's is right a crossed the hall. The women's is a bit farther down."

Todoroki nodded, "Is there anyone on guard outside?"

"It's not typically normal."

He nodded. It was a larger house, but he expected more guards. It was likely styled similar to his home, without the servants it would've been just as barren. ¬He removed himself from the floor heading towards the door.

"Sir, please. Sir, please don't go in the women's bath."

"Is it public? How many people use it?"

"Just the mistress and Momo, but that's not the point."

He pushed open the door, glancing around the room carefully, through draws, and in the shower. Todoroki pushed the curtains closed, it reminded him of the time the paparazzi had broken into their home and managed to place cameras everywhere. He and Fuyumi found every single one of them and froze them. They were returned the next day with fried SD cards. Fuyumi had been furious, but to him, at his young age, it was just a game. Or maybe he had known why she was furious, but he also needed control of something. And the ability to destroy those cameras gave him the smallest bit of control in his suffocating life.

"It's clear. I'll meet you back here in ten minutes."

Momo nodded, receiving clothes from her maid, and heading in to take a shower.

"Keep a guard posted outside. Preferably one capable of combat."

The woman nodded, motioning for the butler. He began walking. Whispers ran down the corridors. "I don't understand why we have to follow his orders."

"But they make sense."

"Fine, but only for now."

He moved away, he didn't have time to be part of the staff's petty gossip. They can change their minds just as rapidly as someone would come to replace them. People would swoop in similar to vultures to take advantage of each other.

He had told Momo that he would be back at the door in ten, then he probably should be back in five to replace the staff. Todoroki threw his clothes down on the sink, turning the water on and running it through his hair. He didn't have long. Also, it was weighing on his mind how irresponsible her father was. If someone was after her life then it was unlikely that simply one guard was going to help. Todoroki ran the soap through his hair taking a shower just long enough to wash the sweat off, and throwing on his clothes again. He would have to give her father a piece of his mind for not having at least one more guard so that they could be respectful of privacy. Todoroki slipped his pants on and threw on a button down-a scream resounded through the halls.

He darted rushing down the hallway, only to find one of the maids hiding behind Momo as she guarded the maid from a smaller dog. It was no bigger than a Palmerian. "Miranda, I had no idea. It must've followed me back. I'm sorry I didn't know you were afraid." Momo apologized, then turning to lean for it.

"Don't." Todoroki moved towards it, glancing it over: A small tracker laid in its collar. He squished it.

"Todoroki! What if that was the only way to find where he belongs! He's no bigger a couple weeks old! What if-"

"I'll find where he belongs, with or without this. But right now we don't want anyone following anyone around."

Momo nodded, embarrassment quickly flushing on her face and rapidly fading.

"Also, don't go touching dogs that you don't know."

She nodded, "Stay still." Momo whispered, coming back from the bathroom with a towel and running it through his hair, "Who's going to guard me if you wind up with a cold?"

He was sure there were several other guards out there capable of doing the job. It didn't have to be him. It had made him curious about what kind of ulterior motive her father had. He reached up taking the towel. "It's okay, go back to your shower."

Momo shook her head. "Take care of yourself Todoroki. You're the only one that's going to be around with yourself forever, for better or worse."

He nodded, letting her shut the door and leaning on the wall next to it.

"Oh my, what awful burns." The staff whispered.

"Do you think he did that to himself? Or maybe some form of gang initiation?"

Todoroki reached down buttoning his shirt, his business was his own, other people had no right to demand that he explain his own past to them. But what he needed to know was who was after Momo's life and how to stop them. And would six months be enough time? He didn't care what happened to the rest of this staff, but Momo seemed honest enough. Todoroki nodded, he would take on this ordeal, complete the task, and have his father beg for mercy about thinking he was incapable of such a mundane task.