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RPC Background Stories Part 4: Evanescent Loyalties (sec.1) |
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Staring at the same point on the wall was beginning to get a little old, but Rei couldn’t think of anything else to do. The meetings that were held once a week were intended to be for distributing missions only. Nothing else, but it looked like Ichiro didn’t get the memo. The meeting had started two hours ago. Ichiro had started talking one hour and fifty-five minutes ago.
This is getting old, Rei grumbled to Kuro. When is he going to shut up?
When he’s done, Kuro groaned. He had made himself a small dragon and he was currently sprawled across the papers in front of Rei in an attempt to sleep.
When will he be done?
Soon, I hope.
The door behind Rei opened and a girl who appeared to be in her late teens came in through the smallest opening possible. A red wolf slipped in the door behind her and the girl quietly closed the door. She was of medium height and of slightly smaller than average build. Her skin was slightly sun-tanned and her eyes were bright green. She had mid-back length dark red hair that was feathered around her face and her bangs fell to her eyebrows. She wore a collared, black button-up shirt with long sleeves, a dark red tie, a short, pleated black skirt with a wide, brass-studded brown leather belt that was tilted sideways a little, black boots that reached just below her knees, and a light brown jacket made of thin leather. Rei had never seen this girl before.
The girl motioned to the empty seat beside Rei and asked (in English rather than Italian, which was what Ichiro was speaking); “Can I sit here?”
Rei nodded and the girl sat down. It took Rei a moment to place the girl’s accent, but when she did, she realized the girl was from the United States.
An American, eh? Kuro said when Rei told him. There are not many of those here.
I heard a rumor that some Americans from the American estate came here recently.
Maybe she’s one of them.
Most likely.
After a couple minutes, the American leaned over and asked Rei, “How long has that guy been talking? He sounds like he’s rambling.”
“Nearly two hours.”
“How long is the meeting?”
“So far, a little over two hours.”
“That’s all I needed to know.” The girl raised her hand and said loudly and clearly, “Excuse me. Can I ask you a question?”
Ichiro looked up from the paper he was reading from and looked at the American girl crossly. “Yes. What is it?” he asked, switching to English.
“Well, you see, I was told that this meeting was supposed to be short and that it was just for distributing missions, but when I came in I found that you have been rambling for two hours. So, if you don’t mind, could we please get down to business? I have stuff to do. You know, places to go, people to see?”
Everyone stared at the American with shocked expressions on their faces. No one ever told Ichiro to stop one of his speeches before he was ready. Unless they didn’t value their life, that is.
The vein in Ichiro’s temple pulsed slightly. “And just who the hell are you?”
Darius, who was sitting at the head of the table, dozing, suddenly came-to and said as if he had missed nearly all of the conversation, “Oh, hello, Miss Harris. Glad you could make it. I apologize for the short notice about the meeting.”
“That’s okay, Mr. Darius,” the American girl said, smiling while Ichiro glared at her darkly.
“Everyone, I’m sure you’re all aware that a family from the American estate has come to live here in Japan recently. This is Miss Kimberly Harris, their eldest daughter,” Darius said to the group assembled in the room.
“I go by Kim, actually.”
“I apologize. I didn’t know.”
“That’s okay.”
Ichiro glared daggers at Kim. “All right, Miss Harris. Just who are you to tell me to stop one of my speeches?”
“Oh, I’m sorry. That was a speech? I thought you were trying to slowly kill us all.”
Ichiro’s face turned beat red. “I’ll have you know rhetoric is an art!”
“I know some people consider killing to be an art, but I don’t,” Kim said coolly. She seemed to be enjoying this.
“You dare to speak to me this way?”
“Looks like it.” Kim smiled like the cat that ate the canary and added, “My rank in the family is nearly equal to yours, F.Y.I.”
“Oh really? And why is that?”
“My aunt is the head of the American estate.”
“You’re lying.”
“Nope.”
At this point, Stella Mare started laughing. She was leaning back in Ichiro’s chair with her legs crossed. “Looks like you’ve met your match, Ichiro,” she said, sounding amused. “Congratulations, Miss Kim. Not many people can out-do Ichiro in an argument.”
Kim smiled. “Thank you.”
“Well,” Darius said, standing up, “now that my son has finished his…riveting speech…”
A couple people chuckled.
“…it’s time to get down to business and distribute missions.” Darius took out a pile of folders and began handing them out.
Ichiro opened his folder and read something, shut it, and tossed it across the table. “No,” he said sternly.
“What’s wrong?” Ciro asked. He was perched on the back of Darius’s chair.
“I am not working with her,” Ichiro replied with a glare at Kim.
“Do you think I want to work with you?” Kim scoffed.
“We’ll discuss this in a minute, you two,” Darius sighed. “If you have any questions or complaints about your missions, stay. If not, you may leave,” he said to the group before sitting down.
Everyone got up and left except for Darius, Ichiro, Kim, and Rei.
“What’s wrong, Rei?” Ciro asked.
“Um, I’m on the team with Kim-san and Ichiro, so I figured I should stick around.”
“Rei, do you think you could keep these two from killing one another?” Darius asked. “There’s no way I can put together another team before you have to be there.”
“But Dad!” Ichiro protested.
“Ichiro, Miss Harris, listen to me because I’m only going to say this once. You three are the best team for this assignment. I will not be making any changes,” Darius said. He sounded tired when he spoke. He turned to Rei and asked, “So, Rei, think you can bring them back alive?”
“I think I can,” Rei replied.
“In that case,” Darius said, standing up again, “I wish you luck.”
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 Kyokiri · Sat Mar 15, 2008 @ 02:07am · 5 Comments |
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