Chapter 2

The room was big and light; the most prominent thing was the broad mahogany desk in the middle. Takeo stood in front of the wooden furniture and looked at the other man sitting behind it. The man was in his late thirties, wearing a flawlessly fitted suit, perfectly trimmed hair, and modern black glasses. He had said that his name was Kim Young-Jae as they introduced each other, but for a few seconds, it had been silent. And the man looked straight at him.

Takeo knew that he was being sized up. The glance over his hair with slightly raised eyebrows, the look over his build, and the measuring glance over the way he held himself. Takeo didn't like being looked at like that. No, he hated it! And he would have said something if he hadn't known that the manager was doing it for Suyi's sake.

As biased as it sounded, he liked the manager exactly because he didn't instantly trust him but tried to figure him out for himself. Perhaps it had to do with the money Suyi brought him, but that wouldn't explain why he agreed to let her switch bodyguards at such a crucial time without further questions asked. He had to like her a bit in any case.

"Your hair really stands out."

Really? Like Takeo wouldn't have noticed it if that guy hadn't pointed it out. A soft snort and raised eyebrows were the only reactions the manager got to his words.

"I asked the headmaster if he could lend us the grey haired man, but he refused. You know your colleague? He was stronger than this bodyguard that brat Hansu brought from overseas. Something like that makes the rounds fast in our business. I would love to have him in my troupe."

"He is slightly better in hand-to-hand combat, but he is not fit for the entertainment industry. He don't like being in crowds." Takeo didn't feel too good about backstabbing M-21, but it wasn't really a lie. He would feel pressured by too many people too close. The manager only sighed, not really pleased with the outcome.

"At least you don't wear sunglasses like most of those wannabe bodyguards. But you're a security guard at a school. Do you think you can handle the work in charge of Im Suyi's health?"

"Yes, I'm positive. I know there is no way to persuade you, but I'm only here because I'm confident that nobody can harm her as long as I'm there."

Another pointed look from the manager, but Takeo didn't flinch. Sure, he couldn't tell him that he was enhanced, but a bit more confidence in his skills would be nice. A sudden thought told Takeo that it was a good thing M-21 wasn't in his position. That guy had a really nasty temper and being accused of endangering the children was one of the things that set him flying.

"Oh, so you're confident? Well, Suyi trusts you, so don't…"

Whatever the manager wanted to add was cut off as a knock was heard from the door, and it opened a second afterward. Suyi entered, wearing one of the most attention grabbing outfits Takeo had ever seen her wear up till now. The dress was bright red and figure fitting, although it wasn't too short or showed too much of skin. As far as Takeo could judge it, her hair lay in perfect waves, and the make-up was that of an expert. So she brushed up for just a rehearsal? That was what was on the schedule for today as far as Takeo knew.

"Takeo, you're already here?" Suyi's face instantly lit up the second she saw him, the relief clearly showing. It seemed like she didn't believe them a hundred percent when they said that they would take care of the problem.

"You said one o'clock. So here I am," Takeo answered. A smile lit up his face, too, as he looked at the girl. She not only looked glad to see him, but she also made sure that he didn't have to talk to the manager for longer than necessary. Even though he was grateful for what he did for Suyi, that didn't mean that Takeo had to like him.

"Ah, Suyi. You look as gorgeous as ever." The manager stood up to greet the girl.

Takeo almost snorted at the different way she was greeted compared to him, but he refrained from it so he wouldn't catch another measuring glance from that guy.

"Young-Jae, stop your flattery." Suyi's told him with a chuckle and a little wave of her hand. She seemed to be in a giddy mood today, and Takeo wondered if it had to do with the fact that she got away from her old bodyguard or if there was another reason. No matter what, he liked her this way far more than the timid, almost crying girl in Tao's room two nights previously.

There were a few more empty words between the manager and Suyi before he shooed them out of the room so that they could head over to the hall where one of the concerts would be held.

Of course Takeo knew the schedule Suyi had for today, no, even for the whole week. Tao had made sure of it. Even if he wasn't the one in charge of the girl's well-being, he took over the whole organization for the sniper.

Sure, he could have done it without help, but he had the feeling that it was important to Tao to do so. They all were protective of the children, and it was hard to sit back and let others do the all the work. Additionally, it was only a small thing he could do. If it would have gone the way M-21 would have liked, they would have visited that jerk of a bodyguard. Sadly, there were far too many reasons to let it slip by.

But as he saw Suyi almost skipping to the elevator, Takeo got the feeling that this was all they had to do to protect her and make her happy again. It was a relief to see her smile after these last two days. Seeing her with a straight but sad face next to her friends had been kind of disturbing.

Takeo was sure that Suyi didn't notice the small things that were different now compared to any other day. They walked together for awhile, like when they walked home with the kids after work. Now, he made sure to be a half step in front of her when the elevator doors opened, he would make sure to have her back in a crowd or to be the first one to enter a room. Maybe it was kind of stupid to behave like this, but he said he would keep her safe and he would make sure that she was. Not only for the reason that he would never be forgiven if something happened to her, but because it was something he wanted to do. It wasn't that he expected an assault every instant, but there had to be a reason that they provided a bodyguard for the idol.

"Are you ready, Takeo? No intentions of going back to Young-Jae to tell him that you decided to not take this job?"

Suyi's words were playful and teasing, but he knew her well enough to see the anxiety behind her fake smile.

Whatever lay behind the elevator doors when they arrived at the ground level, he would take it head on. When would this child get it that he wouldn't desert her? It seemed like the incidents with the other bodyguard had given her self-confidence and especially the ability to trust others a heavy blow.

The man had been a person of trust, someone who she depended on, and he had hurt her. That wasn't something she would be able to shake off in a day or two. She was a child after all, even if she now wore a layer of make-up and a pretty dress more fitting for a woman. Well, he would make sure to show her that she could trust him and the others to have her back.

"I'm going nowhere. You're stuck with me for the next two weeks," Takeo said nonchalantly.

He tried to keep the situation light as the girl didn't need to be reminded of the harshness of the past few days. He wasn't sure how she was coping, but the girl smiled slightly. This time it was a true smile that reached her eyes. Suyi wanted to add something, but at that exact moment the elevator stopped, and its doors opened. Instantly, her face lit up in a professional smile, and Takeo stepped outside first.

There were the two big glass doors a few meters away that lead out the building the way Takeo had come in an hour ago. At that time, he had seen two men with cameras, but now there were a bunch of photographers and young teenagers waiting for someone. And that someone seemed to be Suyi as hinted a sign one of the young girls held.

Takeo had expected some people, but this was more he thought he would see. As far as he could tell, there seemed to be nobody out of the ordinary. Not that he wouldn't be confident to keep Suyi safe. Always assuming that someone wanted to harm her as far as he knew, the management only ordered bodyguards as they did with all their idols or starlets.

"You don't need to be afraid. I'm one step behind you."

"I'm not afraid," Suyi said and turned around, smiling brightly.

It was the truth, Takeo could tell so much from the way she held herself. No, she was looking forward to this! As much as she had been afraid of the other bodyguard, she seemed to actually like this part of her work genuinely.

Takeo had to say that the girl behaved professionally. She smiled, gave some autographs and answered some questions the reporters asked. The whole time she seemed to have fun. Takeo didn't see something that would bother him.

The only time he felt he had to act was as one of those reporters wanted to grab her hand to keep her from heading to the waiting car that would take them to the concert hall. It only took Takeo's restraining grip around the other man's wrist and a head shake to keep him from further trying to hold Suyi back. After a few minutes Suyi sat safely next to Takeo in the car.

"You have to go through this every day when you're on concert tour?" Takeo asked with amazement. That really seemed to be hard. Smiling the whole time, waving, giving autographs, and being perfect in front of the cameras. To his surprise Suyi smiled brightly at him.

"I love it! Not so much the media and getting attention part, but singing, meeting people and seeing them smile because of something I did. It just makes me happy whenever they are content with my songs."

She really loved it. Takeo didn't know how you could like being on stage or surrounded by so many people that wanted to see you perform or wave, but this girl really liked it. That much was clear the way Suyi after hearing her talk and seeing her with reporters and fans. Even if he wouldn't protect her for her own sake, he would do it for the enthusiasm she showed just now. That someone loved something this much was a fascinating thought.

Ningen: Thank you so much for your review! The psychopathic creeper parts are going to build up slowly, so you'll have to wait another chapter. But I promise you a bit of action sooner or later. And for butchering somebody... hehehe... before this story is over, you're going to see blood ;)

all: I would appreciate it, if you could leave a short comment about my OCs. I'm trying hard to make them realistic, so what are your opinions about Young-Jae, Eun-Mi and Mr. Creep? What do I have to do to make them better?