Redemption Moon : Hi everyone, thanks for reviewing the last chapter. Please continue doing so. I daresay that this chapter is the one I like most so far cos it's been so much fun to write. :) as always, please review.
The accommodations were nice enough. His room at the first floor was pretty large, with oak floorboards and a comfortable-looking mid-sized bed. Floor to ceiling windows provided an unimpeded view of the large garden at surrounding the house before ending in thick hedges, tall trees and a large electrified metal fence that ran around the compound.
Ken quickly changed into a black button up shirt and jeans.
The Agency had recalled him so quickly from his last job that he barely had time to throw in some clothes before a standard, nondescript car hustled him to Schuldich Schwarz's place.
He supposed he could send for more clothes; Ran Fujimiya, his chief at Cross Agency knew his value as an agent and wouldn't mind such petty requests.
His thoughts turned back to Schuldich.
Schuldich Schwarz.
The bastard looked arrogant enough, then again, he was used to that. Celebrities, and especially rock stars were like that.
It was why he chose his jobs to his preference; which were diplomats and ambassadors.
Good pay, no fuss.
They all seemed to know how highly-recommended he was and usually, more often than not wanted him permanently in their payrolls- which he was quick to refuse. He didn't like the thought of staying at a particular job for too long. For one, it was never too good to get attached to a client and another was he was too afraid of getting lax and getting a client – or himself – killed.
With a small exhalation, He checked and holstered a Beretta at his waist, tucked a smaller gun at the base of his spine and another in the band of his left sock.
He hated this getting-to-know you shit. Mostly he just got to know that his employers were prime-rib bastards who did nothing but look down on him. Well fuck them. He knew his job and he knew how to do it well.
He wasn't lieutenant of the murder unit of his district at 20 years old for nothing. His father had taught him the tricks of the trade at a very young age; and his influence and pull had gotten Ken what he truly deserved without all the bureaucratic bullshit and political red tape protesting about his age.
Of course he would've reformed the whole department and made it to captain if...
"Shit." He muttered, giving a small sigh. It was no use thinking about it now. It's been two and a half years and it would do him well to forget all about it.
He stood at the window of his room for a moment and surveyed the area. His job was made a little easier because the place was protected by Cross Securities and he trusted their work - although he'd check the grounds himself to be sure a little later.
He wanted to see Schwarz's driver first because he could prove to be the weakness in the security if worst comes to worst.
With his agenda carefully laid out in his mind, he strode out purposefully out of his room.
† † †
Schuldich Schwarz was not in a good mood.
He asked for a new, qualified bodyguard and he got what looked to be a rookie with fresh gills.
What annoyed him more was the fact that Crawford didn't seem to mind and even said that Hidaka Ken came highly-recommended.
He fumed and seethed. He hated the thought of being vulnerable and more so the thought that Nagi could get hurt through Hidaka's inadequacy.
He took an angry swig of his Budweiser and paused at the large French doors of the kitchen.
He saw Nagi seated at the cobblestone path watching something interestedly. Curious, he followed the youngster's gaze and saw the object of his ire.
The new bodyguard apparently had asked his younger brother to summon Marcel because there they were; the hulking, ominous Marcel, his Swedish driver and semi-permanent other bodyguard facing-off with the wiry, shorter an infinitely smaller Hidaka Ken.
They seemed like a funny pair to make a study of. Marcel was more then 6 feet tall with the bulging muscles of a wrestler. He was bald and a large scar that ran across the center of his hairless head, traversing through his forehead, right eyelid and stopped at the top of his upper lip. He really did look like a bulldog; hence his nickname (he had gotten it from Schuldich years ago.)
By contrast, Ken was shorter. He wasn't built like Marcel, in fact, he really did look a little trim but there was some evidence of hard muscle underneath all that black cloth. He had youthful good looks you wouldn't guess that he was in his twenties even. In fact, if Schuldich hadn't known any better, he would have thought the boy was a commercial model or a professional athlete instead of a bodyguard.
Right now, these two polar opposites were facing off in what looked like a dangerous hand-to-hand combat exercise. He knew how well Marcel could handle himself because he had already proved his worth several times while protecting Schuldich and he was rather amused that Hidaka would try to challenge the man to a match. He was obviously out of his league but Schuldich managed to admire his guts for trying.
The exercise started, the two combatants circled on the fine grass.
Smirking, Schuldich stepped out and settled on the ground with a surprised Nagi. This little diversion would certainly prove to be interesting.
Neither of the competitors looked willing to make the first move; but Hidaka proved to be more patient of the two because after half a minute of circling, Marcel lunged to make the first move. He was more agile than he looked his left hook arched and looked lethal as it headed straight for Ken's right ear – but Ken was infinitely more agile. He made a round arc and ducked to his left and downward before making a graceful pirouette on the ball of his left foot, his right leg shot upward in an expertly-executed roundhouse kick and bore down upon Marcel's back with a devastating force that sent the bigger man to his knees with a grunt.
All these proceedings happened within a matter of a few short seconds.
Both spectators' eyes were wide with disbelief, their mouth agape in surprise.
Ken paused and backed a few yards away as he waited for his gasping opponent to stumble to his feet; his hands non-threateningly at his sides. He patiently waited for the big man to get his equilibrium before he closed in again. Now Marcel knew his capabilities and eyed him warily, considerably more cautious now.
After a few seconds of staring at each other, it was now Ken who made the first move. He grabbed Marcel's extended hand and, knowing that he could not lift the sturdy weight on his own, turned to avoid Marcel's racing fist and kicked the back of Marcel's knees.
The big man buckled and gave a large feral howl as his arm was twisted above and behind him. Ken released the arm quickly and with chilling force, elbowed the bald head at its very center and crashed the back of his fist across Marcel's left temple.
Schuldich's driver/bodyguard collapsed in a large ragged heap, wheezing desperately.
The battle was over just like that. Less than 5 minutes in the making.
Schuldich was quickly on his feet, his Budweiser momentarily forgotten as he clapped in amusement. "Very beautifully done, although I must say I initially thought you were sent here to beat up potential attackers, not my own bodyguard."
So maybe the kid was more capable than he looked...
Ken paused, not a drop of sweat on his brow, and stared piercingly at him. " I didn't do that for your enjoyment, Herr Schwarz. It was merely a demonstration to Marcel here of how a quick opponent can incapacitate him with his current style of hand-combat."
Schuldich closed his lips, rebuffed, and ignored Nagi's delighted chuckling. So the little bastard has a sharp tongue as well as quick fist. Not knowing what else to say, he merely threw out "Well then, it would do us all better if you taught him how to use guns."
" That was exactly what I was going to do before you so rudely disturbed us." Ken said coldly, offering a hand to Marcel which the larger man begrudgingly took.
Nagi suppressed a hoot of laughter. It wasn't often that anyone managed to render his cocky elder brother speechless. Snorting, Schuldich picked up his Budweiser and entered the house through the kitchen door.
Only then did Nagi burst in a fit of uncontrollable laughter. He really did like Ken better than all the other bodyguards that came into their employment. "That was great!" He exclaimed, referring to both Ken's superior fighting skills and his witty lashes to Schuldich's ego.
Ken glanced at him and offered a wan smile before he hauled up Marcel to his feet and proceeded to teach him some moves.
Redemption Moon : Thanks for reading, and please review. :)