Unexpected
A Weiss Kruez fan fiction
By Krysana
Disclaimer: Neither Aya nor Ken belong to me. And that's how it should be, 'cause they belong to each other! Weiss belongs to the great Koyasu Takehito and Project Weiss (whoever they are).
Summary: Yuriko's back in Japan to get married (don't worry – it's not to Ken!) and Weiss need to provide bodyguard services to them as part of a mission. Ken's secretly in love with Aya, but what does Aya feel?
Pairing/s: Aya/Ken
Notes: Yaoi. Ken POV. This fic's timeframe is somewhere after Yuriko and before Aya-chan wakes up. I've stretched the timeframe out, so it's been a year since Yuriko left Japan.
Big thanks to Moonraven who encourages my slow writing and listens to my Koyasu-sama obsession!
As always, R&R is appreciated by the author.
Chapter 1
The alarm clock beeped loudly in the stillness of the morning. Ken groaned as he reached out a hand to turn it off. Was it morning already? He was so damn tired. And those dreams were starting to become way too realistic. Today the alarm clock had gone off just as he was being pinned to the wall by his imaginary lover. His back was hard against the bricks as a slim toned body pressed closer and closer moving sinuously, grinding a welcoming hardness against his own groin. Firm lips and eager tongue exploring his mouth and a slightly callused hand caressing his nipples. And then the alarm clock had gone off. Damn.
Ken shook his head wryly. This had been going on for some time now, how long was it now? When had his feelings changed from comradeship and friendship to… love? But there was no chance that Aya would ever look at him in the same way and return his feelings. Aya was beautiful and sexy with violet eyes and striking red hair with those fascinating eartails that Ken wanted to touch and see if they were as soft as they looked. Aya was a hard worker and field leader, but he was fair and would never ask anyone to do something that he wouldn't do himself.
However Aya was also cool and aloof, keeping to himself, a perfect assassin for Kritiker. And he thought Ken was an idiot who was clumsy and messy. That wasn't without justification. Whenever Aya was around, Ken would inevitably become flustered and then he would drop stuff or say silly things. And so he wasn't the world's cleanest person and his room was a little disorganised? Ken knew where things were (mostly) and he just wasn't obsessed with neatness unlike others he could mention.
Still Aya wasn't as icy as he was when he had arrived on their doorstep with Birman on that fateful day, but the relationship between him and the other members of Weiss was nowhere close to what the other three shared. Yohji the playboy and Omi the schoolboy bishounen, they were like Ken's brothers. But Ken didn't want Aya as a brother and it was proving to be hard to get past the barriers that the stoic redhead had built around himself.
Ken thought Aya was melting, just very slightly, but hey it was a start huh? Now Aya didn't ignore everyone all the time and he would even come and watch television with them occasionally. Who would have guessed that Aya liked to watch Iron Chef?
Aya would even listen to Ken's ramblings in the shop when they were working together and occasionally make a rare comment. Ken couldn't stand silence, he was a talker. So Ken chatted about Yohji, Omi, the current day's work, how much the fangirls annoyed him (when they weren't around of course), the latest soccer game he'd watched, what the kids he coached soccer where up to, what he'd bought at the mall last week, the last mess that Yohji had made in the kitchen when it was the blonde's turn to cook dinner and other such things.
At first, Ken thought Aya was ignoring him until Aya had made a comment about something he said and he realised that the other man had been listening to him after all. Now it was a habit that the two of them had gotten into but Aya wouldn't say as much when Yohji and Omi were also working. Ken liked to think that he was special, but then Yohji or Omi talked a hell of a lot more than Aya, so maybe Aya felt he didn't need to waste his breath. But whenever Ken thought about his latest shift with Aya, no matter how inane the conversation had been, the warm feeling inside of him just couldn't be denied.
The clock beeped as the sleep function kicked in, ringing every 5 minutes after the initial alarm. Ken needed the sleep function else he'd go back to sleep and then he'd miss his morning run and have to do his workout in the gym set up upstairs. It was a simple room, cardio and weight machines on one side, free space taking up two thirds of the room. Ken used to enjoy working out in that room, until Aya had come along and decided that a morning workout would suit him at the same time as Ken. Aya practicing his kendo moves was a sight to behold. Slim and elegant, Aya moving the katana as an extension of himself, deadly and beautiful together at once, much like the man himself.
One day a few weeks ago, Aya had removed his shirt after his warm-up. It was summer and the weather was hot. This was too much for Ken, the pale expanse of skin on the half naked redhead, so near but yet so far. He'd made some excuse and left the room before Aya could notice the sudden change in his physical condition.
From that time on, he'd changed his exercise routine to a morning run with weights every second day in the afternoon. He used the excuse of enjoying the fresh air and nobody had questioned him. Ken didn't know what Aya thought when suddenly he had stopped working out in the gym, but since Aya didn't say anything to him, Ken thought he didn't care much anyway. And besides it was no big deal. Everyone changed their exercise routines. But the dreams still came nightly, and there was a familiar redhead who now appeared half naked in them, tormenting him and causing him to wake up needy with a full erection.
So Ken got up and went for his run, controlling his body's urges and just ran until he was exhausted and dripping sweat. Returning home, he showered and dressed for his morning shift in the Koneko. Assassins who moonlighted as florists – he'd like to know who in Kritiker had thought of the bloody idea.
Breakfast was ready and on the table waiting when he arrived at the kitchen. Omi was a bit of a mother-hen. The young blonde had cooked breakfast this morning and had prepared a traditional Japanese breakfast of rice, miso and fish. Ken's first thought was that Aya would be pleased as this was his preferred morning meal. Yohji liked Western style breakfasts, waffles and pancakes whilst Ken was more into healthy food from his time of being a professional athlete, so he liked eggs, cereal and fruit. Ken always wondered why Omi bothered but if it made Omi happy then who was he to deny him?
Soon afterwards Aya entered the kitchen, followed closely by Yohji. Breakfast passed quickly. Yohji wasn't awake yet without the addition of several strong cups of coffee. Aya never talked much to begin with and Omi had to run off to school after eating.
The day progressed to be pretty much another ordinary day at the Koneko flower shop. During the day, they worked on ordered arrangements as well as tending to the passing business. Ken did the deliveries and Yohji tried to get out of working as much as he could. Which wasn't much when Aya was also working, but you had to give the man credit for trying. Ken wasn't sure how many smoking breaks Yohji took and he always wondered how Yohji could smoke so much and still maintain the aerobic fitness required for an elite assassin.
Ken groaned as he looked at the clock. It was nearly time for school to finish and the shop seemed to attract millions of fangirls who massed around their favourite florist, chattering, laughing and trying to get some personal attention. Sometimes they even bought things which made Aya happy.
Ken was generally annoyed by the hindrances but secretly deep inside he was amazed that he had as many followers as the other three males. Aya was beautiful so it was a given that he would be popular. Add in his cool no-nonsense persona and there was a challenge no girl would resist to be the one to melt his icy exterior. And Yohji, he was sexy, flirtatious and handsome. He was smooth and charming and always knew exactly what to say to all the girls. Lastly there was Omi who was so kawaii with those big blue eyes and ever cheerful demeanour. Ken had yet to meet someone who could withstand Omi's eyes when the boy was trying to get his way. And that left Ken. He would describe himself as athletic, brown haired, blue eyes. A bit short tempered, hard worker, soccer coach, nothing special really.
After the dreaded hour had come and the expected crush had eventuated, Ken found himself swamped helping some girls who were actually buying flowers. Unfortunately for him, the girls were highly indecisive and asked him questions about every flower on display. "Ken-san, do you have this flower in any other colour?" He was beginning to suspect it was all a ploy to occupy as much of his time as possible. One of the girls, what was her name, Michiko, Mika or something, put her hand on his arm as she gazed adoringly up at him. Ken gritted his teeth and pasted on a smile as he answered the mindless questions.
"If you aren't buying something, then get out!" Aya yelled from his position behind the counter as he glared at the giggling girls near him. Of course, the girls ignored him, "Oh isn't Aya-san so sexy when he yells!" and continued their questions, comments and not-so-innocent touches where possible. Ken did note that some of Omi's fanclub were giving apprehensive looks at the frowning redhead.
Omi, after returning from school, was trying unsuccessfully to move some of the outside plants into the storeroom. He had been cornered by a large group of schoolgirls who kept trying to help him in his duties. They were arguing over who would be the one to help him. "Maa maa, it's okay, I wouldn't want any of you girls to get your hands dirty," he said trying to placate them and escape them at the same time.
Out of the four men, Yohji was the happiest, flirting with the clientele and making dates with those that were over the age of eighteen. "So Rika-chan, it's your birthday tomorrow? Look like I'll be taking you out tomorrow night then. Are you ready for the experience of a lifetime?" Ken could well imagine the seductive smile that Yohji would be giving the girl and it made him smile. Yohji was so predictable sometimes.
At last the time on the clock was 6pm. The sign was turned to Closed and the shutter was pulled down in relief by Ken.
However a pair of red sandals worn with white socks appeared in view just before the shutter could touch the ground. There was no mistaking that strange footwear accompanied by a series of sharp raps on the shutter.
"Manx. Damn. And here I was looking forward to a nice quiet night," Ken grumbled to himself as he let the red-haired Kritiker agent into the store.
"Siberian," Manx smiled at the disgruntled look on Ken's face overhearing his comment, "Good evening to you too. Go and call the others, I'll be waiting in the basement."
After letting his teammates know that Manx was waiting, Ken settled onto the sofa to wait for the next mission's details. Omi entered the basement first, calling out a happy greeting to Manx, and settling on the sofa next to Ken. Aya was close on his heels. He nodded to Manx and assumed his standard position next to the wall. Yohji was last. As always, he couldn't resist flirting with the Kritiker secretary. "Manx, you couldn't stay away from me for even one week? You could have just told me, y'know. So what are you doing after this, babe?"
Manx ignored him and pressed the button on the remote control and the video screen lit up with an image of Persia.
"Weiss, today there is a slightly different mission for you. Hiroshi Kawasaki, the head of Kawasaki Motors has been receiving threatening messages over the past weeks. It seems he had been lured into meetings he thought were genuine with politician Yoshihito Sato. Sato has recently been discovered to have connections to an international drug cartel and links to the gang Black Devils. He has since gone into hiding, with his underworld connections. Kawasaki-san is concerned for his family especially as his youngest son is getting married next week. From the messages received, the specific threats are against the young couple. There may be a kidnapping attempt anytime up to and including the wedding. Weiss apart from your normal duties in regards to Sato, you will also be providing bodyguard services to the Kawasaki family until the threat has been negated. Hunters of the light, do not let these dark beasts destroy the future of this family."
Manx switched the lights on. "Are you all in?"
Everyone nodded and Manx handed out the folders to each of them.
"So we have to take out Sato and babysit the young couple, huh?" asked Yohji.
Manx nodded. "Correct, but as they are about your age, it should be easy to make it appear as if you were friends, rather than bodyguards. I must stress that this will be a very high profile society wedding. Kawasaki has been prominent in the media lately with his support for harsher penalties for drug offences. The sooner we can remove Sato, and if possible, the head of Black Devils the better. Only two of you will need to be with the couple, and only when they need to be out of the family home. I was thinking Omi would do the research and determine where Sato could be located. The other person can monitor the security arrangements for the house and wedding location and provide backup to the others. I'll leave you to organise yourselves as you see fit. The Kawasaki family has been briefed and I'll be over tomorrow morning to take you for introductions and so schedules can be organised. Omi, please report to me on your arrangements tomorrow."
As Manx left, Ken flipped open his folder and skimmed the page on Koichi Kawasaki then turned to read the next page about the intended bride. The photo was of a familiar face.
"Yuriko Asou…" he murmured to himself.
Aya looked sharply at him. "Do you know this girl, Ken?"
Yohji and Omi turned to Ken expectantly.
"She's the girl I met when we were involved in the mission with that Freude water. She went to Australia and I never heard from her again."
"That's good Ken-kun. That will make it much easier for you to be around her then. We won't have to pretend friendship, because it'll be genuine. You can be the bodyguard for Yuriko." Omi was quick to see the advantages of Ken's previous relationship.
Yohji groaned. "Kenken gets the girl? I don't want to be stuck guarding some guy. I'll back you guys up and do the security checks. Aya, you can go hold the hand of Kawasaki junior."
Aya gave Yohji a hard look then sighed as Yohji just blinked back innocently. "Fine. I'll do guard duty on the other party. Weiss, read your files tonight and make a note of any questions for Manx tomorrow."
"But first let's eat dinner Aya-kun! I've prepared beef sukiyaki." Omi piped up.
"Ah Omitchi! You'll make someone an excellent wife someday!"
"Yohji-kun!!!"
Even Aya had a slight grin on hearing Omi's affronted tone.
Ken waited behind as the others trooped up the stairs, heading to the kitchen. He sat back down heavily on the couch, thoughts running through his head. 'I never thought she would be back in the country. And now she's part of a mission again? What if she says something? What am I going to do? Why do these things happen to me? But… maybe… if I'm lucky, she won't remember…'
Lost in his memories, Ken jumped when Aya's voice called him from the doorway.
"Ken. Is there a problem with this mission? Do you see any issues because of your previous relationship with the target?"
Ken's head snapped up and he smiled in what he hoped was a convincing manner. "Nah, just remembering old times with Yuriko. It sure will be interesting seeing her again after so long. Wonder if she remembers me."
Hoping he had successfully diverted Aya, Ken stood up, intending to follow the redhead to the kitchen. But he was stopped by the returned comment.
"I'm sure she will. Anyway dinner is ready."
Ken stopped breathing for a moment as the comments registered. Did that mean Aya thought he was memorable? Maybe Aya was just being nice to him. But Aya did come to call him to dinner and he'd never known Aya to do that for anybody. He looked up in puzzlement at the redhead, but Aya was already gone.
He climbed the stairs with a smile on his face. Aya had gone out of his way to make an effort for him. No worries about the past could bring him down today.
~ tbc ~
A Weiss Kruez fan fiction
By Krysana
Disclaimer: Neither Aya nor Ken belong to me. And that's how it should be, 'cause they belong to each other! Weiss belongs to the great Koyasu Takehito and Project Weiss (whoever they are).
Summary: Yuriko's back in Japan to get married (don't worry – it's not to Ken!) and Weiss need to provide bodyguard services to them as part of a mission. Ken's secretly in love with Aya, but what does Aya feel?
Pairing/s: Aya/Ken
Notes: Yaoi. Ken POV. This fic's timeframe is somewhere after Yuriko and before Aya-chan wakes up. I've stretched the timeframe out, so it's been a year since Yuriko left Japan.
Big thanks to Moonraven who encourages my slow writing and listens to my Koyasu-sama obsession!
As always, R&R is appreciated by the author.
Chapter 1
The alarm clock beeped loudly in the stillness of the morning. Ken groaned as he reached out a hand to turn it off. Was it morning already? He was so damn tired. And those dreams were starting to become way too realistic. Today the alarm clock had gone off just as he was being pinned to the wall by his imaginary lover. His back was hard against the bricks as a slim toned body pressed closer and closer moving sinuously, grinding a welcoming hardness against his own groin. Firm lips and eager tongue exploring his mouth and a slightly callused hand caressing his nipples. And then the alarm clock had gone off. Damn.
Ken shook his head wryly. This had been going on for some time now, how long was it now? When had his feelings changed from comradeship and friendship to… love? But there was no chance that Aya would ever look at him in the same way and return his feelings. Aya was beautiful and sexy with violet eyes and striking red hair with those fascinating eartails that Ken wanted to touch and see if they were as soft as they looked. Aya was a hard worker and field leader, but he was fair and would never ask anyone to do something that he wouldn't do himself.
However Aya was also cool and aloof, keeping to himself, a perfect assassin for Kritiker. And he thought Ken was an idiot who was clumsy and messy. That wasn't without justification. Whenever Aya was around, Ken would inevitably become flustered and then he would drop stuff or say silly things. And so he wasn't the world's cleanest person and his room was a little disorganised? Ken knew where things were (mostly) and he just wasn't obsessed with neatness unlike others he could mention.
Still Aya wasn't as icy as he was when he had arrived on their doorstep with Birman on that fateful day, but the relationship between him and the other members of Weiss was nowhere close to what the other three shared. Yohji the playboy and Omi the schoolboy bishounen, they were like Ken's brothers. But Ken didn't want Aya as a brother and it was proving to be hard to get past the barriers that the stoic redhead had built around himself.
Ken thought Aya was melting, just very slightly, but hey it was a start huh? Now Aya didn't ignore everyone all the time and he would even come and watch television with them occasionally. Who would have guessed that Aya liked to watch Iron Chef?
Aya would even listen to Ken's ramblings in the shop when they were working together and occasionally make a rare comment. Ken couldn't stand silence, he was a talker. So Ken chatted about Yohji, Omi, the current day's work, how much the fangirls annoyed him (when they weren't around of course), the latest soccer game he'd watched, what the kids he coached soccer where up to, what he'd bought at the mall last week, the last mess that Yohji had made in the kitchen when it was the blonde's turn to cook dinner and other such things.
At first, Ken thought Aya was ignoring him until Aya had made a comment about something he said and he realised that the other man had been listening to him after all. Now it was a habit that the two of them had gotten into but Aya wouldn't say as much when Yohji and Omi were also working. Ken liked to think that he was special, but then Yohji or Omi talked a hell of a lot more than Aya, so maybe Aya felt he didn't need to waste his breath. But whenever Ken thought about his latest shift with Aya, no matter how inane the conversation had been, the warm feeling inside of him just couldn't be denied.
The clock beeped as the sleep function kicked in, ringing every 5 minutes after the initial alarm. Ken needed the sleep function else he'd go back to sleep and then he'd miss his morning run and have to do his workout in the gym set up upstairs. It was a simple room, cardio and weight machines on one side, free space taking up two thirds of the room. Ken used to enjoy working out in that room, until Aya had come along and decided that a morning workout would suit him at the same time as Ken. Aya practicing his kendo moves was a sight to behold. Slim and elegant, Aya moving the katana as an extension of himself, deadly and beautiful together at once, much like the man himself.
One day a few weeks ago, Aya had removed his shirt after his warm-up. It was summer and the weather was hot. This was too much for Ken, the pale expanse of skin on the half naked redhead, so near but yet so far. He'd made some excuse and left the room before Aya could notice the sudden change in his physical condition.
From that time on, he'd changed his exercise routine to a morning run with weights every second day in the afternoon. He used the excuse of enjoying the fresh air and nobody had questioned him. Ken didn't know what Aya thought when suddenly he had stopped working out in the gym, but since Aya didn't say anything to him, Ken thought he didn't care much anyway. And besides it was no big deal. Everyone changed their exercise routines. But the dreams still came nightly, and there was a familiar redhead who now appeared half naked in them, tormenting him and causing him to wake up needy with a full erection.
So Ken got up and went for his run, controlling his body's urges and just ran until he was exhausted and dripping sweat. Returning home, he showered and dressed for his morning shift in the Koneko. Assassins who moonlighted as florists – he'd like to know who in Kritiker had thought of the bloody idea.
Breakfast was ready and on the table waiting when he arrived at the kitchen. Omi was a bit of a mother-hen. The young blonde had cooked breakfast this morning and had prepared a traditional Japanese breakfast of rice, miso and fish. Ken's first thought was that Aya would be pleased as this was his preferred morning meal. Yohji liked Western style breakfasts, waffles and pancakes whilst Ken was more into healthy food from his time of being a professional athlete, so he liked eggs, cereal and fruit. Ken always wondered why Omi bothered but if it made Omi happy then who was he to deny him?
Soon afterwards Aya entered the kitchen, followed closely by Yohji. Breakfast passed quickly. Yohji wasn't awake yet without the addition of several strong cups of coffee. Aya never talked much to begin with and Omi had to run off to school after eating.
The day progressed to be pretty much another ordinary day at the Koneko flower shop. During the day, they worked on ordered arrangements as well as tending to the passing business. Ken did the deliveries and Yohji tried to get out of working as much as he could. Which wasn't much when Aya was also working, but you had to give the man credit for trying. Ken wasn't sure how many smoking breaks Yohji took and he always wondered how Yohji could smoke so much and still maintain the aerobic fitness required for an elite assassin.
Ken groaned as he looked at the clock. It was nearly time for school to finish and the shop seemed to attract millions of fangirls who massed around their favourite florist, chattering, laughing and trying to get some personal attention. Sometimes they even bought things which made Aya happy.
Ken was generally annoyed by the hindrances but secretly deep inside he was amazed that he had as many followers as the other three males. Aya was beautiful so it was a given that he would be popular. Add in his cool no-nonsense persona and there was a challenge no girl would resist to be the one to melt his icy exterior. And Yohji, he was sexy, flirtatious and handsome. He was smooth and charming and always knew exactly what to say to all the girls. Lastly there was Omi who was so kawaii with those big blue eyes and ever cheerful demeanour. Ken had yet to meet someone who could withstand Omi's eyes when the boy was trying to get his way. And that left Ken. He would describe himself as athletic, brown haired, blue eyes. A bit short tempered, hard worker, soccer coach, nothing special really.
After the dreaded hour had come and the expected crush had eventuated, Ken found himself swamped helping some girls who were actually buying flowers. Unfortunately for him, the girls were highly indecisive and asked him questions about every flower on display. "Ken-san, do you have this flower in any other colour?" He was beginning to suspect it was all a ploy to occupy as much of his time as possible. One of the girls, what was her name, Michiko, Mika or something, put her hand on his arm as she gazed adoringly up at him. Ken gritted his teeth and pasted on a smile as he answered the mindless questions.
"If you aren't buying something, then get out!" Aya yelled from his position behind the counter as he glared at the giggling girls near him. Of course, the girls ignored him, "Oh isn't Aya-san so sexy when he yells!" and continued their questions, comments and not-so-innocent touches where possible. Ken did note that some of Omi's fanclub were giving apprehensive looks at the frowning redhead.
Omi, after returning from school, was trying unsuccessfully to move some of the outside plants into the storeroom. He had been cornered by a large group of schoolgirls who kept trying to help him in his duties. They were arguing over who would be the one to help him. "Maa maa, it's okay, I wouldn't want any of you girls to get your hands dirty," he said trying to placate them and escape them at the same time.
Out of the four men, Yohji was the happiest, flirting with the clientele and making dates with those that were over the age of eighteen. "So Rika-chan, it's your birthday tomorrow? Look like I'll be taking you out tomorrow night then. Are you ready for the experience of a lifetime?" Ken could well imagine the seductive smile that Yohji would be giving the girl and it made him smile. Yohji was so predictable sometimes.
At last the time on the clock was 6pm. The sign was turned to Closed and the shutter was pulled down in relief by Ken.
However a pair of red sandals worn with white socks appeared in view just before the shutter could touch the ground. There was no mistaking that strange footwear accompanied by a series of sharp raps on the shutter.
"Manx. Damn. And here I was looking forward to a nice quiet night," Ken grumbled to himself as he let the red-haired Kritiker agent into the store.
"Siberian," Manx smiled at the disgruntled look on Ken's face overhearing his comment, "Good evening to you too. Go and call the others, I'll be waiting in the basement."
After letting his teammates know that Manx was waiting, Ken settled onto the sofa to wait for the next mission's details. Omi entered the basement first, calling out a happy greeting to Manx, and settling on the sofa next to Ken. Aya was close on his heels. He nodded to Manx and assumed his standard position next to the wall. Yohji was last. As always, he couldn't resist flirting with the Kritiker secretary. "Manx, you couldn't stay away from me for even one week? You could have just told me, y'know. So what are you doing after this, babe?"
Manx ignored him and pressed the button on the remote control and the video screen lit up with an image of Persia.
"Weiss, today there is a slightly different mission for you. Hiroshi Kawasaki, the head of Kawasaki Motors has been receiving threatening messages over the past weeks. It seems he had been lured into meetings he thought were genuine with politician Yoshihito Sato. Sato has recently been discovered to have connections to an international drug cartel and links to the gang Black Devils. He has since gone into hiding, with his underworld connections. Kawasaki-san is concerned for his family especially as his youngest son is getting married next week. From the messages received, the specific threats are against the young couple. There may be a kidnapping attempt anytime up to and including the wedding. Weiss apart from your normal duties in regards to Sato, you will also be providing bodyguard services to the Kawasaki family until the threat has been negated. Hunters of the light, do not let these dark beasts destroy the future of this family."
Manx switched the lights on. "Are you all in?"
Everyone nodded and Manx handed out the folders to each of them.
"So we have to take out Sato and babysit the young couple, huh?" asked Yohji.
Manx nodded. "Correct, but as they are about your age, it should be easy to make it appear as if you were friends, rather than bodyguards. I must stress that this will be a very high profile society wedding. Kawasaki has been prominent in the media lately with his support for harsher penalties for drug offences. The sooner we can remove Sato, and if possible, the head of Black Devils the better. Only two of you will need to be with the couple, and only when they need to be out of the family home. I was thinking Omi would do the research and determine where Sato could be located. The other person can monitor the security arrangements for the house and wedding location and provide backup to the others. I'll leave you to organise yourselves as you see fit. The Kawasaki family has been briefed and I'll be over tomorrow morning to take you for introductions and so schedules can be organised. Omi, please report to me on your arrangements tomorrow."
As Manx left, Ken flipped open his folder and skimmed the page on Koichi Kawasaki then turned to read the next page about the intended bride. The photo was of a familiar face.
"Yuriko Asou…" he murmured to himself.
Aya looked sharply at him. "Do you know this girl, Ken?"
Yohji and Omi turned to Ken expectantly.
"She's the girl I met when we were involved in the mission with that Freude water. She went to Australia and I never heard from her again."
"That's good Ken-kun. That will make it much easier for you to be around her then. We won't have to pretend friendship, because it'll be genuine. You can be the bodyguard for Yuriko." Omi was quick to see the advantages of Ken's previous relationship.
Yohji groaned. "Kenken gets the girl? I don't want to be stuck guarding some guy. I'll back you guys up and do the security checks. Aya, you can go hold the hand of Kawasaki junior."
Aya gave Yohji a hard look then sighed as Yohji just blinked back innocently. "Fine. I'll do guard duty on the other party. Weiss, read your files tonight and make a note of any questions for Manx tomorrow."
"But first let's eat dinner Aya-kun! I've prepared beef sukiyaki." Omi piped up.
"Ah Omitchi! You'll make someone an excellent wife someday!"
"Yohji-kun!!!"
Even Aya had a slight grin on hearing Omi's affronted tone.
Ken waited behind as the others trooped up the stairs, heading to the kitchen. He sat back down heavily on the couch, thoughts running through his head. 'I never thought she would be back in the country. And now she's part of a mission again? What if she says something? What am I going to do? Why do these things happen to me? But… maybe… if I'm lucky, she won't remember…'
Lost in his memories, Ken jumped when Aya's voice called him from the doorway.
"Ken. Is there a problem with this mission? Do you see any issues because of your previous relationship with the target?"
Ken's head snapped up and he smiled in what he hoped was a convincing manner. "Nah, just remembering old times with Yuriko. It sure will be interesting seeing her again after so long. Wonder if she remembers me."
Hoping he had successfully diverted Aya, Ken stood up, intending to follow the redhead to the kitchen. But he was stopped by the returned comment.
"I'm sure she will. Anyway dinner is ready."
Ken stopped breathing for a moment as the comments registered. Did that mean Aya thought he was memorable? Maybe Aya was just being nice to him. But Aya did come to call him to dinner and he'd never known Aya to do that for anybody. He looked up in puzzlement at the redhead, but Aya was already gone.
He climbed the stairs with a smile on his face. Aya had gone out of his way to make an effort for him. No worries about the past could bring him down today.
~ tbc ~