I didn't ask for this. Of all people, why me? Thoughts similar to this bounced around in Tsuki's head as she rode the train heading toward her new job and new life. She accepted a job at a laboratory that was far from her homeland. I just had to be interested in sciences investigating magic. I just had to decide to become a lab assistant. Now I'm a world away from my home, my family, and my friends. At least Baldroy is with me.

Tsuki had befriended Bard at one of the new member orientation sessions she had to attend a few months back. She was instantly captivated by his mussed dirty blond hair, aqua colored eyes, well muscled body and undeniable rustic charm. Unbeknownst to the man in question, Baldroy had Tsuki wrapped around his little finger the first time he flashed a smile her way.

A male voice interrupted the young woman's inner pouting session. "Are you alright there, Tsuki?" Baldroy asked with a concerned look on his face. Tsuki snapped herself out of her little pity party. "Umm, yeah I'm fine, Baldroy" she said. The older man chuckled. "Hey now I told you to call me 'Bard'. You're nervous about being so far away from home right?"

Tsuki nodded shyly in response. Bard smiled. "Don't worry. You'll be on the same grounds as me so I'll be able to check in with you now and then," he promised. The raven haired woman returned his smile. "Thanks, Bard."

As she muttered words of bashful gratitude, the train came to a halt. "Ready?" the blond asked with a smirk. Clearly he was amused by Tsuki's worrying. "As I'll ever be," she sighed. Tsuki piled out of the train along with the other passengers and walked side by side with her friend to the Institute.

The Institute had an intimidating façade. The black and silver stone structure had the likeness of a European medieval castle. Interminable walkways, manicured courtyards, and grand archways composed Tsuki's new home. Goosebumps speckled her caramel colored skinned as her anxiety threatened to skyrocket.

Bard stopped in front of some black granite steps in front of one of the department buildings. "This is your building, love. Mine is on the other side of the grounds so I really need to get going. The head of your department should be waiting to meet you inside."

Tsuki's hands were trembling at the thought of being left on her own. Noticing that his companion had gotten so nervous that her feelings were visible, Bard took the girl's hands between his own and kissed her on the forehead. In a soothing voice he said, "I know everything will be fine if it's you, Tsuki. You're pretty much the smartest person I've ever met and people can't help but fall in love with your personality. If you ever need me I'll come running."

Tsuki could feel the blood rush to her face. Pure amusement was reflected in Baldroy's brilliant, turquoise eyes. He released her hands, digging a cigarette out of his pocket and lighting it. The man took a drag from the cigarette between his lips, sporting a roguish grin. "See ya' later," Bard called out over shoulder as he strolled across the courtyard to the military building. Before Tsuki could utter a coherent response, he was gone.

The young woman took a minute to calm down lest she were to walk in and meet her new boss while her face was on fire. She took a deep breath. I should get going too. Bard's on my side even if he's not here with me. Who knows, this might be a lot more fun than I thought. Tsuki continued to think optimistically as she slung her bag over her shoulder and dashed up the steps. With another deep breath, Tsuki summoned enough courage to enter the building.

The inside of the facility was nothing less than exquisite. The floors were a sand colored hardwood. The golden tint of the walls complemented the silk crape fabric painstakingly arranged into the shapes of a dragon, a phoenix, a butterfly, and various other creatures. The commons area was spacious like the lobby of a luxury hotel. The room was fairly quiet except for the hum of a few people chatting and the trickling of the fountain in the center of the room.

A woman with bright red hair sitting on the edge of the fountain caught Tsuki's attention and motioned for the girl to sit beside her. Tsuki smiled and made her way over. She seems nice, the young woman thought. Bard was right. I have nothing to worry about.

Tsuki took a seat of her own next to the smiling woman on the gleaming black and gold fountain only to discover that she wasn't exactly what everyone would call a "woman". This person appeared to be an effeminate male with lovely pale skin, bright green eyes, and an eye-catching red coat with high-heeled ankle boots to match.

"Good afternoon. I am Miss Grell Sutcliff," the man greeted pleasantly. "I haven't seen you around here before. Who might you be?" Tsuki bowed politely. Sensing that it would be easier to go with the flow, Tsuki decided to think of Grell as a woman. "I'm a new lab assistant for one of the departments. My name is Tsuki Amaterasu". Grell raised an eyebrow. "You mean 'tsuki' like the moon and 'Amaterasu' like the sun goddess?"He asked with a quizzical expression.

Tsuki avoided eye contact out of embarrassment. "My parents are a little strange. Please just call me 'Tsuki', Miss Sutcliff." Grell suppressed a giggle and smiled. "Alright then Tsuki, is there anything that you need help with?" The girl nodded. "Could you tell me where my department is?"

Grell's eyebrows knit together at Tsuki's question. "Certainly, darling, but truthfully your department head should be here to meet you. Which department do you belong to?"He asked. Tsuki fished out the identification papers issued to her by the Institute and handed them over to the red-head.

Grell's previous excitement intensified and blatant glee took its place. "Department 13!" he said in an animated tone. The red-head's reaction to her department assignment drop kicked all of Tsuki's hopes of any normalcy in her new life. Grell sighed dreamily, "I'll take you there." Tsuki was sure she heard him mutter something like 'lucky brat'. Sutcliff stood up and started down one of the hallways with a great deal of enthusiasm. Tsuki quickly followed but was definitely unnerved by her new acquaintance's shift in behavior.

Tsuki was lead down several more hallways. Each one belonged to a specific department. A lantern hung in each hallway and bore the color of the department. During their walk, Grell smiled as they passed a red and gold lantern. "I'm the head of this department. Department 9." The flamboyant man remarked, some warmth returning to his voice. It took a moment for Grell's words to sink in.

"You're a department head?!" Tsuki exclaimed. Before she could berate herself for being so informal with a superior officer, Grell burst out laughing. "Of course not, darling. I'm second in command. My dear Will is the boss."

Grell assured Tsuki that it was fine to be casual with him. The newcomer gave a sigh of relief. Miss Sutcliff was so kind to a complete stranger like her, even though he was such a high-ranking researcher. Tsuki couldn't help but wonder what her own boss was like.

"What kind of person is the head of department 13?" Tsuki asked innocently. Grell didn't answer right away. Tsuki felt the pit of her stomach go cold. Grell suddenly burst out," He's such an ice king! He's a beautiful tyrant who rules with an iron fist! An angelic devil!" The man's fire-red hair swung about as he danced while describing the head of department 13. Grell continued to ramble on and on about the man.

Tsuki had stopped listening to Miss Sutcliff some time ago. Grell's explanation was getting more and more uncomfortable as he went into detail about past encounters with Tsuki's boss. From what Miss Sutcliff says, my boss seems like a very capable person that I can learn a lot from. However, he seems like he might be quick to use violence. Tsuki worried inwardly as she pretended to listen to Grell's rambling.

"This is as far as I go," Grell announced, disrupting the younger woman's train of thought. The pair had stopped where the hall turned right. They had passed department 12 a while back so there were no doors other than supply closets. "Your department head has a restraining order against me." The red head explained. "For the time being, I'm not allowed anywhere near department 13." Grell said with a giggle.

This guy must be a real demon. Tsuki thought to herself. "Just walk down this hall and you'll find department 13." Tsuki thanked her superior for taking her this far. Grell gave an apologetic smile and placed a hand on his junior's shoulder. "If you ever need anything you know where to find me. If you really can't stand it here, there's always room in my department!" The man's encouragement did little to help reassure Tsuki.

With that farewell, Tsuki walked anxiously down the hallway to her department. Unlike the one she had left, this hall had candles lining the walls. It was comparatively darker here because the candles were the only light source. Tsuki stopped when she saw a black and silver lantern glowing intensely over a heavy door with a Goth script 13 on it. Just as she was about to knock, the door slid open.

A gorgeous man who appeared to be in his mid-twenties stood before her. He had silky black hair, bangs tastefully framing his face. The man was lean but he definitely had muscle obscured by a white dress shirt and black lab coat. He was about 6'1" so he towered over Tsuki who was 5'6" at best. Tsuki shivered as his crimson eyes bore into her soft brown ones. The stranger was a little intimidating. Even so, Tsuki thought he was handsome enough to rival Bard.

The man looked around and muttered, "I could've sworn that I heard Sutcliffe." He turned his attention back to Tsuki. "State your name," he commanded in a tone that was cold but not unpleasant. Tsuki wasn't unaffected by his silky voice but she answered confidently. "Tsuki Amaterasu, sir." The man raised an eyebrow. "Now that's a comical name. I was sure that there was a misprint in the paperwork."

The man's passive aggressive nature was clear in his patronizing tone. No one's gonna miss this bastard if I kill him, right? Tsuki mused. The man was unperturbed by Tsuki's glare and went on to introduce himself. "I am Sebastian Michaelis, the head of department 13."