At his words she felt that gentle breeze again, the same one that seemed to guide her towards his office earlier. She was filled with relief, warmth, and a sense of belonging, all because he wanted to walk down that same path with her, regardless of where it ultimately led them. She still couldn’t grasp how the man –still practically a stranger- could elicit such feelings within her.
A laugh wasn’t quite the reaction she expected to her question about how he was going to protect her. She just quirked her brows at him, as if to ask ‘okay buster are you going to let me in on your little joke?’ She guessed that his sense of humor would take some getting used to. ‘But you did get used to it before’, a little voice in her head reminded her.
“You are direct and to the point. I like that…As for what I have in mind, why don’t you come with me?”
“It’s a good thing you do like directness, because I’ve been told by others that trait is annoying.”
She then smiled at him, warmly, responding to his invitation, “Don’t mind if I do, Captain. Please lead the way.” When he opened the door, letting her pass through first, she gave him a little nod of thanks, quite pleased that the man had manners. If she believed some of that office gossip she heard, she would have expected him to stomp off briskly, leaving her to try to catch up to him.
The two walked in companionable silence -a silence that felt as though they’d experienced it together many times before- through the labyrinth of hallways, elevators and side tunnels that was the DOJ. She was truly glad that he was by her side, because if left by herself, she knew she would be hopelessly lost for days in this mega maze.
He finally spoke, as they stepped into an elevator. She listened intently to the background information he gave her about the building set up, taking in every little detail he offered. It was as though he was sharing classified information with her. It made her feel like he…valued her…she realized with surprise, as she followed him off the car when its door slid open with a hiss.
This place was stark and dark, quite a contrast to the rest of the building. It was almost unsettling to think a place like this existed in the DOJ. The dimly lit corridor sent a chill down her back. If she’d been here alone, she would have worried about what was around the bend in the hallway that lay ahead of them. But as long as he was by her side, she *knew* there was no cause for concern, ever.
Being here, where the assault, tactical and intercept squadrons obtained their weaponry, seemed to enhance his concentration and sense of purpose. Yet although he now walked briskly, she realized that he took care not to leave her behind. She couldn’t help but feel he was giving her a kind of consideration that he rarely afforded to others.
It wasn’t until they passed through the ominous looking door, which required a DNA scan for entry, that he began to speak of things that literally made her blood run cold. This man knew much. If she hadn’t respected him before –and she had- she would surely respect him now.
She really couldn’t help the hitch in her breath, nor the cold sweat that seemed to erupt on the back of her neck when he began to explain his theory about what happened at the Sunshine Cafe, voicing who he thought was responsible. She had *no doubt* that his assessment was correct. He was a very competent man. She’d heard that around the office; she’d experienced it first hand at the diner.
“considering that this is the same syndicate that is responsible for the death of your predecessor and his entire family, I very much doubt that yesterday’s encounter was accidental,”
She barely processed that they went through a second palm-activated security door, and had entered another elevator. She was just following him now, trying to process all that he told her.
“Standard issue protection and normal security procedures will not be sufficient if you wish to remain alive.”
Saitoh’s assessment of yesterday’s carnage made her skin feel clammy and cold, as she realized that life as she knew it, was over. The syndicate worked fast. It had taken them only a week to put a hit on her. No wonder her brother, Mori, was so against her coming to New Meiji. The sobering reality of what her life would now be like struck her deeply. She was glad that the man beside her had put his arm around her to steady her as the elevator rumbled to a shaky stop. Instinctively, she leaned into him for more support and to try to capture some of his heat to warm her chilled body. How did he know that she needed his touch right now?
What if she had never encountered Captain Saitoh? What if he hadn’t been at the café yesterday? She paled at the thought, because she knew the answer. She…would…have…died…period. Was it fate that brought him to that particular café at that particular time?
“If you don’t mind me asking, and I know it is none of my business, but what brought you to the Sunshine Café yesterday?”
His arm was still around her. She was still pressed to him, struggling to make sense of the quicksand that was now her life. She was close enough to reach over and press the button, ‘close door’, waiting for him to answer.
His voice was soft, firm and reassuring as he reminded her that he had promised to keep her safe, but his face was as ferociously intense as that of a warrior heading for battle. An image of blue and white, a top knot and katana skimmed though her mind.
As soon as she released the ‘close door’ button, he switched on the intercom. After a bit of haggling between the Captain and someone named, Minato, they stepped through the doors and were confronted by an odd-looking little man. In spite of the words he and the captain exchanged, she could sense camaraderie between them.
Even though she was in a humorless situation, she couldn’t conceal the little laugh that erupted at the old man’s words. She bit her lips and put a hand over her mouth to try to hide her amusement, but the words spilled out before she could stop them, “Ornery old wolf?” she questioned, looking right at Saitoh with a sparkle in her grey eyes. Now *where* had she heard *that* before? Probably from *your* own lips a little voice answered her.
no subject
At his words she felt that gentle breeze again, the same one that seemed to guide her towards his office earlier. She was filled with relief, warmth, and a sense of belonging, all because he wanted to walk down that same path with her, regardless of where it ultimately led them. She still couldn’t grasp how the man –still practically a stranger- could elicit such feelings within her.
A laugh wasn’t quite the reaction she expected to her question about how he was going to protect her. She just quirked her brows at him, as if to ask ‘okay buster are you going to let me in on your little joke?’ She guessed that his sense of humor would take some getting used to. ‘But you did get used to it before’, a little voice in her head reminded her.
“You are direct and to the point. I like that…As for what I have in mind, why don’t you come with me?”
“It’s a good thing you do like directness, because I’ve been told by others that trait is annoying.”
She then smiled at him, warmly, responding to his invitation, “Don’t mind if I do, Captain. Please lead the way.” When he opened the door, letting her pass through first, she gave him a little nod of thanks, quite pleased that the man had manners. If she believed some of that office gossip she heard, she would have expected him to stomp off briskly, leaving her to try to catch up to him.
The two walked in companionable silence -a silence that felt as though they’d experienced it together many times before- through the labyrinth of hallways, elevators and side tunnels that was the DOJ. She was truly glad that he was by her side, because if left by herself, she knew she would be hopelessly lost for days in this mega maze.
He finally spoke, as they stepped into an elevator. She listened intently to the background information he gave her about the building set up, taking in every little detail he offered. It was as though he was sharing classified information with her. It made her feel like he…valued her…she realized with surprise, as she followed him off the car when its door slid open with a hiss.
This place was stark and dark, quite a contrast to the rest of the building. It was almost unsettling to think a place like this existed in the DOJ. The dimly lit corridor sent a chill down her back. If she’d been here alone, she would have worried about what was around the bend in the hallway that lay ahead of them. But as long as he was by her side, she *knew* there was no cause for concern, ever.
Being here, where the assault, tactical and intercept squadrons obtained their weaponry, seemed to enhance his concentration and sense of purpose. Yet although he now walked briskly, she realized that he took care not to leave her behind. She couldn’t help but feel he was giving her a kind of consideration that he rarely afforded to others.
It wasn’t until they passed through the ominous looking door, which required a DNA scan for entry, that he began to speak of things that literally made her blood run cold. This man knew much. If she hadn’t respected him before –and she had- she would surely respect him now.
She really couldn’t help the hitch in her breath, nor the cold sweat that seemed to erupt on the back of her neck when he began to explain his theory about what happened at the Sunshine Cafe, voicing who he thought was responsible. She had *no doubt* that his assessment was correct. He was a very competent man. She’d heard that around the office; she’d experienced it first hand at the diner.
“considering that this is the same syndicate that is responsible for the death of your predecessor and his entire family, I very much doubt that yesterday’s encounter was accidental,”
She barely processed that they went through a second palm-activated security door, and had entered another elevator. She was just following him now, trying to process all that he told her.
“Standard issue protection and normal security procedures will not be sufficient if you wish to remain alive.”
Saitoh’s assessment of yesterday’s carnage made her skin feel clammy and cold, as she realized that life as she knew it, was over. The syndicate worked fast. It had taken them only a week to put a hit on her. No wonder her brother, Mori, was so against her coming to New Meiji. The sobering reality of what her life would now be like struck her deeply. She was glad that the man beside her had put his arm around her to steady her as the elevator rumbled to a shaky stop. Instinctively, she leaned into him for more support and to try to capture some of his heat to warm her chilled body. How did he know that she needed his touch right now?
What if she had never encountered Captain Saitoh? What if he hadn’t been at the café yesterday? She paled at the thought, because she knew the answer. She…would…have…died…period. Was it fate that brought him to that particular café at that particular time?
“If you don’t mind me asking, and I know it is none of my business, but what brought you to the Sunshine Café yesterday?”
His arm was still around her. She was still pressed to him, struggling to make sense of the quicksand that was now her life. She was close enough to reach over and press the button, ‘close door’, waiting for him to answer.
His voice was soft, firm and reassuring as he reminded her that he had promised to keep her safe, but his face was as ferociously intense as that of a warrior heading for battle. An image of blue and white, a top knot and katana skimmed though her mind.
As soon as she released the ‘close door’ button, he switched on the intercom. After a bit of haggling between the Captain and someone named, Minato, they stepped through the doors and were confronted by an odd-looking little man. In spite of the words he and the captain exchanged, she could sense camaraderie between them.
Even though she was in a humorless situation, she couldn’t conceal the little laugh that erupted at the old man’s words. She bit her lips and put a hand over her mouth to try to hide her amusement, but the words spilled out before she could stop them, “Ornery old wolf?” she questioned, looking right at Saitoh with a sparkle in her grey eyes. Now *where* had she heard *that* before? Probably from *your* own lips a little voice answered her.