Two days before the practical exam.
I was called back to the Shadow Knights' headquarters. And the reason for it? Well, another troublesome matter.
"Intruder?" I asked, frowning.
That should be impossible. Not at Saint Stella Academy where the security was so tight that even a rat would have a hard time entering it's ground—let alone in Saint Isle island itself.
Bottom line is; the intruders this time must be highly skilled.
"I'm also appalled by this," Jin said, shaking his head.
Appalled? What blatant lie. He was clearly enjoying this. This guy really have something that attracts trouble. It's all and good if it's only that. Problem is; he throws that trouble at me to solve.
"How about Alexandra and Vince?" I proposed emptily. I know already that he was set on giving this one to me. Still, asking wouldn't hurt.
He shook his head. As expected.
"Unfortunately, no can do. Both of them were out with a mission. You know how rampant the unregistered ones are going, no? Alexandra and Vince, together with the other division's reps are out to supress them."
That issue really grew into this state, huh? I heaved a sigh of exasperation.
"So? What do you expect me to do?" I have a bad feeling about this. And when I had this feeling, it's always on track. At least when it comes to Jin and his awful whims.
"It helps that you get things fast! It's quite simple.'' Jin said beaming with a naturally irritating smile. "Find this intruder as we wait for our Princess Maria. This kind of work should be like a walk in the park for you, no?"
My cheeks twitched with his wording.
"You really know how to enslave your subordinates, you geezer." I heaved another sigh. "Well, I don't have any problem with it. If I leave it alone, it could indirectly harm Sofy." While that danger lurks nearby, we can't just let our guard down. Not when my little sister's well being might be compromised.
"Good! As expected of my precious little Ren! You're so reliable!"
"Don't call me that!'' This shitty old man...
He was grinning ear to ear. He knew that I won't decline and that's why he smack this assignment to my face again. How many times had he done this kind of things already? I've lost count.
Ugh, damn it!
"Tell me, Jin. What exactly do you want me to do?"
"Hmm? It's very simple, sweet, sweet little Ren.''
"Shut it up and just out with it! And stop calling me that! It's gross!"
"G-gross?!"
This old man really had a knack at annoying me. He's qualified to enter the Olympics if irritating me was the competition.
"Now, now! You're really are impatient, aren't ya'? Well, I get it. Like I said, your job this time is easy. Just take back the stolen map and decide what to do with the intruder. All I want was that map. The uninvited visitor? The decision is yours."
Up to me, eh? Seems like he already knew who that person is, though. Meaning, Jin had some connection with this so-called intruder—or if he doesn't, the Academy itself. That must be the reason why he won't lift a finger to do something about it himself. Now that it came to this, I've no choice but to do it.
"Got it. I'll look into it."
"Alright!"
He sprung out of his seat; throwing his arms up in the air as if hitting a home run. Then, suddenly remembering something, he shifted to me.
He and his eccentricity and all.
"Oh, I almost forgot. We had a newly hired girl, no? You can ask for her help as a part of her training. She's quite a catch. She works as Kyouka's assistant as of now."
Newly hired member? Who? Dunno about that.
"As long as she doesn't interfere too much, it should be fine. Just let her watch from the sidelines."
"Yep, yep. As you say, my little Ren! I will tell Kyouka about our conversation. With all that said and done, I'll leave this matter to you! Ka-ha-ha-ha "
I was hit so hard by his useless enthusiasm.
I looked above and greeted the white untainted ceiling and another sigh escaped.
***
Rooftop. Saint Stella Academy.
"So, what do you plan on doing to me?"
She, miss Tokugawa; aka, the sexy intruder, muttered; her countenance grave. She was holding her knees while curled up in one of the black cubes' corners. I can no longer discern any traces of Miss Tokugawa Shinra's calm beauty when I glanced at her. She now only had the appearance of a typical girl sulking; the kind of which her parents refused to give her permission to leave the house. Yep, that sort.
"Nothing at the moment. Honest" I raised my hand in promise to try to reassure her. However, instead of being relieved, she just gave me a skeptical look. She's a tough nut to crack. She's basically hiding beneath a tortoise's shell.
I cleared my throat. "Ahem. But you have to return the map. What to do with you comes after that. What, or are you still thinking you can escape? Just so you know, as long as there were shadows, I can catch you whenever or wherever you are. So, don't even think about it."
She gritted her teeth. And with a voice filled with needless resolved, she glared at me and raised her tone. If raising her tone alone was enough to shock me, I'd be done for—but that's not the thing that blew me unguarded. It was the content of her words;
"So, you're saying that I am already your slave?! So be it! Do anything you want with me! You beast! Have your way with me! Degenerate! Pervert! Jerk!"
"..."
I stared at her blankly. Hiding my churning thoughts. Is your head okay, girl?! No, seriously, this woman had been reading too many weird books or mangas, or wherever she got that idea. Well, uhm, her insults do have their charms in them. Hehe.
Ah, she's sobbing again. Are you a grade schooler or something?! Aren't you a spy?! Tough mind and spirit should be your special traits, no?!
I hid my inner thoughts as I went towards her.
"Miss Tokugawa, let's talk about this seriously for a bit." I said, flopping myself next to her. "Miss Tokugawa, do you have a family back in your country? It was the government, right? The one's who ordered you to become a spy and come here to steal the map?"
"!?"
Her expression gave her away. She really need to supress her facial expressions. Maybe her ability to become imperceptible led her to slack on her training as a spy?
"There were many cases like this that already occurred in the past, especially here in Saint Isle. So, answer me, miss Tokugawa. What to do with you depends on your answer."
I know I'm being naive here. No matter who ordered her to do so or whatever the sobbing-story for a reason she have, her deeds makes her a criminal in need of a sentence. A spy had only few choices when caught: Die in their own hands—or be tortured to death untill they confessed all that they know about their clients—about the one's who ordered them.
Would I do the same? As I had said, I'm a sucker for a beauty. Let me be naive; let me be a fool. It is within me that someone as beautiful as Sofy can never be a bad person. Plus, think about it—an instructor with a shapely, luscious ass gone; can I focus on class? No!
Thus, the proposal. "I promise to make an exception for this case. Should you return the map and answer my questions; I swear to my Ability and to HARMONIA to let you off the hook. Considering that you are my homeroom teacher—and that I like your butt. The choice is yours."
She pulled a face hearing my thoughts about her rear. She glared at me her expression trained with a bit of repulse.
Thank you very much!
She looked down. Her eyes glued to the floor.
"I…have a sister back home. She's the only family I have. I was told that if I do these kind of jobs, they will provide all her needs and she will be able to live in a comfortable life. But if I fail…"
I see. So, she was just like me. For spies like her, failure means death, worse it could also include her family; her sister.
"I see. I get it now." I told her. My hands fidgety on my smart phone. "But if you have someone that special to you, why was it that the first thing on your mind was to kill yourself after getting caught? You're good at martial arts, aren't you? You could have resisted even a little. And I was waiting for you to fight back, too."
"…Well, hiding it now won't help."
She exhausted a sigh. She raised her face and let out a dry laugh.
"I put too much faith in my own ability. Never in my life had I been caught. And when I was put in that situation, I was unable to do anything, not even my ability has proved useful—so, of course, I'd panic. When I was in disarray, I couldn't think of anything. And when I think about what becomes of my sister when I get caught… I just…"
I let out an exasperated sigh. Just how many sighs do I have to exhail for this insufferable of a woman?
"You really are stupid."
"What did you say?!"
"In the first place, you don't even know what I'd do to you. Then, you jumped into conclusions about too many things. Too many that it was even funny. Are you sure you're not hooked with weird novels out there?"
"Well, sorry about that! You don't have any idea how scary it was to be in the dark and can't even use your ability. I just don't get how the school could go on giving you an F-rank! I want to curse this whole school for deceiving me with that F!"
She said in her sulky tone. She's the type that complains a lot, isn't she?
"Well, let's forget about that. Miss Tokugawa, why don't we have a deal?"
She stared at me; her expressions puzzled first but it turned serious as sooner.
"Miss, is your sister an ability user just like you?"
She shook her head.
"No, she's not. She's just a normal girl. If she was, then I could have brought her with me."
I returned to fiddle with my phone.
"I see. Well, that makes sense. Luckily, while in this space, no one could see us or hear our about our conversations. Here's the deal, miss Tokugawa; I will do something about your sister. I might not look it, but back in Japan, I lived with Yamada Jin. You know him, don't you?"
"Of course! 'The headmaster Jin the storm'! There's not a person alive that doesn't know of him!"
I nodded to her answer.
"I could ask that Jin to protect your sister. Provide anything that she needs while at it. Her education, comfort in life and anything she would ever need. I swear to make sure she's safe. How does that sound?"
She had a look like that of a distrust. Well, understandable. No one should jump in for a deal that sounds too good to be true. At least she knows the basics.
"Why…would you do that? Why are you willing to take so many risk for a spy like me?"
"Tokugawa Shinra, you must know how valuable you are. Your ability and as a person. And you have a nice ass, too."
"…"
"Ahem... Anyway, I am not doing this for nothing. I am not some kind of charity. While I promise to protect your sister and provide anything of her needs, she will also serve as a hostage."
She's opening her defenses. Good.
"What do you want me to do in exchange…?"
"Nothing much." I replied. "You will work directly under me and do anything I ask of you, no complain. However, the moment you betray me, you won't be able to see your sister again."
Her face contorted as I said this. I won't cut any words. That would only cause misunderstanding.
"If I agree to this… If I serve you… will you be able to keep my sister safe?"
"You don't need to worry about that. The moment I caught you, we already have your sister invited to the Yamada estate. I already also convinced Jin to take you as my subordinate. This way, you won't have to die or get caught, or have to worry about the ones who ordered you."
"You… how long have you been planning this?"
I tucked my phone in my pocket. Everything was in place. I've contacted who I need to connect with; about her sister and her current disposition.
"Just now. I was already suspicious of you the moment the record of the theft came out. And also, the way you gather data concerning the student's ability on that practical exam was quite obvious as well. You really believed that if you tried to act as if you didn't care, I wouldn't catch up? Well, you're misinformed if you really believed so. However, I have no concrete proof to support my suspicions. Nonetheless, at the time you conversed to me earlier, I was able to complete my puzzle. That you were a spy."
"…"
She was left speechless with her mouth gapping.
I've already thought of a way to handle this. I am unable to act, though, since I lack reliable proof. So, as soon as I was assured of it, I contacted the HQ to begin executing the plan. That's why I was stuck with fiddling with my phone as I talk to miss Tokugawa. Who gave her the orders to take the map and gather information, as well as her sister's identity and circumstances? All of this has already been settled. I just need her to confirm it, that's all. One more thing; as long as it was happening on the campus, that Jin wouldn't do anything. That's why he left everything up to me. That old man truly is a slave-driver.
Miss Tokugawa was left silenced for a while, but after thinking about things, she spoke.
"Why go this far? There should be many disadvantages in taking me in. This just sounds too good to be true. By taking me in, you would have to face many assassins that will be sent to take my life before I could spill all the beans. You would deal to much trouble and will be put into danger yourself. So, just why? My ability might be special, but there are many people that can be compared to me or even better. So... why would you risk yourself for me?"
She inquired. Right now, she's experiencing the surge of mixed emotions as I can see on her pretty face. She might be right. I hate troublesome things. I don't like dealing with things that would seem really bothersome. But this time the reason is simple.
"You have a really nice butt that I thought not seeing it anymore would be very regrettable!"
I said with a thumb's up. She stared at me as if I was a can of milk that has gone spoiled after being left in a locker for weeks.
"…"
Honesty is the best policy... Right?
I cleared my throat.
"And besides, you don't have to worry about the risks that you were talking about earlier, miss Tokugawa. Just so you know," I grinned at her, "I'm quite strong."
"…"
"As long as you serve under me, I won't let anyone take you away from me, much more hurt you. As long as you are with me, I will keep you safe."
Her eyes widened as she heard my words. She was really astounded that all the worried look on her face was blown away. Then, seemingly composing herself. She smiled and then said under her breath.
"It seemed like I got myself a strange man to serve."
"Well, sorry for being strange." My face slacked off. I felt the sense of relief.
"If you're willing to go this far, then I will have no reason to refuse." She stretched her arm towards me.
"I might have already become a traitor, and I have betrayed my country—but this time I will serve you with all my best."
I took her hand to mine and shook it.
"I'm glad to hear that. Now then I'll release my ability."
Before I could even do that, she tightened her grip on my hand. Then with a force that's as if stronger than the pull of gravity, she drew me towards her. As I was surprised on the suddenness of her action, she held the back of my head and put her lips to mine. She kissed me.
Mother—father... Right now, your dear son is taking the stairs to adulthood.
This time it didn't taste like blood—not at all —It tasted like the promised lemon.
She was stronger than I thought she was and her hold was solid. I can't seem to get away from her (nor that I'd even tried resisting). At first it was a simple touch on the lips, but then all of the sudden she begins to use her tongue.
I'd never would have thought, that in my sixteen years of existence, on my second kiss… I'd have a French one and it was from an adult woman, too.
She released me, a line of saliva bridged between our lips. Then as she took her distance, she licked her lips. Seductively.
"Wh-what was that for..."
I quizzed in daze. Still savoring the taste of her sweet, smooth and luscious lips.
"My first kiss was a fiasco, huff, so I had to redo it."
She said in between heavy breath. I was left in silence.
"…"
"Hehe. You let your guard down, my master." She smiled impishly. Her eyes were glowing and her expressions filled with determination.
Now, that was the Tokugawa Shinra that I know. Cool and beautiful and mature.
Somebody tell me... how the hell am I going to out to Sofy about all this?
With such thought at the corner of my mind, I released my ability.