I glared at my computer screen for the hundredth time, and for once I wasn't watching anime, reading manga/Fanfiction, and or fangirling over one of my many hot guys. No, this time I was actually working on my story I haven't worked on in forever. Oops.

My door swung open and an enraged Marysa bustled in. I'm guessing she used her spy skills and strength to open my door. Yikes... freaking out, I hid under my desk.

"AH! I'm sorry I haven't updated but don't kill me!" I screamed.

Marysa raised her eyebrows. "What are you talking about? Honestly haylo, it would be better if you DIDN'T update." She frowned.

"Haha, what?" I asked nervously, confused and wondering what the heck she was talking about. At this, Marysa turned red.

"You, YOU, made me KISS that pervert! I'm so horrified I could die!" She cried, waving her arms around in distress. "At this point I won't-"

"Ah, don't spoil anything! Readers are looking at this, baka!" I jumped up from my safety place. "But I really should be explaining why I haven't updated... though I am quite embarrassed." I mumbled.

"Just tell them." The ever-so-sensible Marysa said.

"O...k..." I grumbled. "Well, I haven't been updating because I've been obsessed with new mangas and anime and have turned to trash over them. Don't get me wrong, I still love Maid-sama, I just added more to my obsessions... it's become really bad. Plus, I've been obsessing over new ships and OTP's and etc. AND there are quite some attractive guys..."

"Am I not good enough for you?" A suggestive voice asked, and lo-and-behold Derek appeared out of nowhere, interrupting my blabbering.

"Get away from me!" I exclaimed, pushing him away because he was WAY too close. "You are supposed to be with MARYSA!"

"NO, I REFUSE!" Marysa shrieked.

I glared at her. "Geez, so you're saying that you want to crash my story?"

"You haven't been working on it, so I'm sure your readers don't care anymore!"

"You know what, next chapter I will let them have a bonus in the intro." I argued back, miffed. "Now before we start the story again, I'm going to give a brief explanation. I am NOT quitting Universal Secrets:) I will continue to update a bit more now. Things have been busy and I've been a lazy person, so sorry! Most likely updates will occur on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and possibly Wednesdays, so look forward to those weekly updates. Also, I have a Tumblr account that I'm literally trash on, but if you want, you can follow me and I will post my update dates... hopefully! Lastly, I have been working on my own series/stories called Akemi on fiction press and maybe some contests. I'll have the same username as I do on here. Haven't published yet, but look forward to them. The first story is called Akemi, featuring a character called Takumi... You can PM or email me for more info on Tumblr or on here, though I prefer Tumblr. Oh, and in case you didn't know, there's an app for this website out now! I also use that, so you can friend me and PM me, and I'll receive it quicker on there...! Anyhooo, thank you if you're still reading this stupid intro, now on with the story!

Marysa rushed through the halls, her heart beating frantically. Whether it was because of what just happened or because she was being called down to the headquarters of MCIA, she wasn't sure. However, she hoped this call wouldn't be because of that... kiss.

Just mentioning it to herself made her blush... Honestly, what was she doing because of a little... kiss? Boys didn't mean a thing to her, yet why was her heart pounding so much, her slender cheeks flushed? She knew it couldn't just be because of running at full speed. Training hard everyday made her endurance tough, so even if Marysa ran 2 miles, no one could tell. Besides, what good is a panting spy?

When she reached HQ, Derek was already there, leaning against wall across from the heavy wood doors, and she felt faint. Did he already talk to Miss? Was she going to be exposed of because she broke the rules? Well, she didn't exactly, it was his fault, but if your partner dies, you are most likely to die too - nobody is there to watch your back... that's just how it is the field.

"Ready?"

"Wh-what?" Marysa stuttered. Ready for what? Escaping? That would be a joke.

"To go in." Derek said, avoiding her eyes, which only made her more nervous.

"Y-yeah." She mumbled.

She didn't know that Derek was avoiding her gaze because he was kind of regretting what he did to the boy-hating girl.

Little did they know that this is the moment their lives changed.

Miss stood at the end of a long, mahogany desk. HQ looked like where office workers would hold a meeting. She nodded slightly at them, indicating the young teens to take a seat. Marysa gulped nervously.

She wanted to blurt out "I'm sorry!" or make up an excuse, but her spy mind and training helped restrain her. A spy should never blurt out things, because once something is said, it can't be taken back. Instead, she sat at the edge of her seat, literally, and stared nervously at the head of MCIA.

She became even more worried when several of her teachers entered HQ and sat down. Were they all here to dispose of her? Marysa steeled herself though, it wasn't right to let anxiety show or even feel, because these experienced spies could even sense the feelings in the air. Finally Miss spoke.

"I know you two are inexperienced young spies." She began, gazing at each of them intensely. "However, I believe the time has come."

Marysa clenched her fists. She couldn't lose this. Not after all these years of working hard and trying to earn her scores at the top of the board. Not after being abandoned as a young girl. She couldn't abandon her sister. No, she wouldn't let this end. But she would wait until Miss delivered the death sentence to protest. At least she could try to persuade them that this would never happen again. Marysa vowed she would always fight until her last breath, and she was glad she had sworn that ever since she was young.

"Earning the top highest scores is an honor for anyone, especially you, Derek, as a young man. Marysa, you have maintained first place ever since you entered MCIA. Therefore..." Miss paused dramatically.

Marysa held her breath. Perhaps studying until she was drop dead tired would pay off everything. Maybe earning top scores would help save her now...

"... I have decided to send you two on a top secret mission." Miss finished, allowing a small smile to flicker across her lips.

"Pardon?" Marysa asked, shocked.

"You two, with the highest scores, are to go on a mission, a real-life mission."

Marysa blinked, was this a joke? She looked at Derek, who's eyes looked equally shocked, yet thrilled at the same time.

"A real-life mission." Marysa and Derek breathed out, simultaneously.

"Yes. You will know more if you both accept, however, because it's real-life, it could mean death." Miss said gravely.

Just seconds before, Marysa had been terrified because she thought her life would end without ever going on a mission, and now she was getting offered to go on a real-life mission. A spy lives for missions and dies for honor. She wasn't afraid of mission-death.

"I accept."

"So do I."

Miss nodded approvingly. "Then follow me." She instructed, walking to the other side of the room towards the seemingly blank wall was in front. Most people would think that she was crazy, but Marysa and Derek followed without comment. What spy isn't crazy, anyways?

Touching the wall, Miss knocked five times in a confusing rhythm. A creak sounded from somewhere in the walls and on the other side was a hallway. Marysa wondered if this was the lab where top spy agents would report to get ready for the missions. She heard that it was an impressive place concealed in the walls of the ancient academy.

She wasn't displeased. Around the corner, several people ran back and forth in a brightly corridor with hundreds of doors along the sides. A pretty young woman with blonde hair tied in a perfect bun broke away followed by a middle-aged man with graying hair and a stern face. Miss introduced them.

"This young woman is Lilly and her accompaniment is Hal." Of course these names were fake - most likely code names."

Lilly smiled kindly at Marysa. "Congratulations for making it to TSA HQ." Top Secret Agent's Headquarters. It seemed surreal to the dazed Marysa. She let the bright, bubbly woman carry her away towards one of the doors. "I'll let Hal take care of your handsome hunk of a man." She giggled.

Derek stiffened as he turned to face the cold-faced Hal, who without a word, pointed towards a door several doors down from where Marysa disappeared through. Silently, Derek followed.

"So, I have all the details on the case you are to be assigned." Lilly said, turning serious. She was sitting across from Marysa in a room that looked like the dressing room for celebrities, with the bright bulb lights around the mirror and a huge rack and shelves of accessories and clothes. It would be the envy of the richest woman on earth.

Marysa nodded, indicating for Lilly to continue.

"A local family, descendants of a great lord Chiro castle, is very wealthy. There's a suspicion that they are not the true descendants of the lord and have instead, massacred the real Chiro's. However, someone is said to be staying in the castle, disguised as a servant, and is the true heir of Chiro. We want you to find who it is and determine if the rumors are true. If the current 'Chiro' is the real one, or not."

"It seems pretty easy, though I know not to ever think that." Marysa admitted, finally speaking.

"True." Lilly agreed. "But no one who's been on the case has come back unscathed or even alive. The plan is for you to sneak into the party for the 'heir' that is coming-of-age. There will be an overnight stay at the castle for a week. The Chiro's have known that spies have been in the castle in previous parties and somehow manage to locate who they are. That makes them even more suspicious."

"I see." Marysa nodded. She thought for a bit. "Then I'll have to outsmart them somehow."

"As a team." Lilly reminded gently. "Now, time to get your disguise ready."

Marysa's shoulder-length raven hair was turned golden and lengthened to her waist. Light freckles were added to her flawless face, and her curves were more enhanced. Lilly could sense that the young spy was a bit of a tomboy, and instructed her to keep her nails polished properly and hair curled. Marysa knew this, and said not to worry because she took her spy work very seriously - even if she had to add makeup. After she was done, Lilly handed her a spy gadget case. Marysa went to open up, but was stopped.

"Do not open this unless you need to. This case requires your thinking instead of spy gadgets." Leading Marysa to the door, Lilly smiled. "I know you'll do just fine, Misaki." With that sentence, Marysa's fate was sealed. On this case, she would be Misaki. It was time to leave the academy Marysa behind.

Marysa met Derek at the end of the hallway Well, hopefully it was Derek - only with black hair and ice-cold blue eyes. This shocked her, unused to such different eyes. Smiling nervously, she approached the new Derek.

"Hey." She mumbled. Derek's eyes widened. "The codename's Misaki."

"Misaki..." Derek murmured. "Mine's... Gerard."

DUM, DUM, DUUUUUM! Their ready for their first mission, but what's in store for them?!

Hehe, I did it, finally got to where I wanted this to go, get ready for suspense. I hope my writing style hasn't changed or this story doesn't sound different. Please review! Don't forget to check me out on Tumblr and/or PM/friend me on app. Love you guys!

P.S. I've reached almost 4,000 views on this story... thank you so much!

Xo,
haylo4ever