Protection Not Needed

Even though I have no shield

Chapter 4 – A.C.T

Time flowed by rather fast and finally it was Saturday. The day of the wedding. The day I have to behave. I looked at myself in the mirror. Black and red hakama and black boot. Simple. My black hair was let loose and I carried a katana (sword) along. Just for safety reasons. Well, Tetsu agreed to stay with me in the car and just look for someone suspicious coming in or out. So no need to worry much.

Hiroto came few minutes after that and we set off to the wedding venue. Tetsu was wearing a simple dark blue hakama that matched his light blue hair. I tilted my head when we arrived. It was a big hall with a fancy chandelier hanging just above our car. There are many people wearing hakama and kimono or anything of that sort. Anything traditional. I prefer wearing hakama since wearing kimono will prevent me from moving fast and fierce. I have to be like an extra-courteous woman so i hate it.

Tetsu opened the door and stepped out. "Tetsu ?" I called. He glanced at Hiroto and looked away.

"My deepest apologies Ryuuki-sama. I just received a call from your father to fetch Blizzard from the airport. He's injured from his mission, so you and Shadow need to go inside ." Hiroto slightly bowed his head. My mouth dropped open.

No. No. No. No this is not happening. NOOOOOOOOOOO~~~~! I want to cry T_T To prevent me from further explosion of frustration, Tetsu grabbed my arm and we were outside. Hiroto drove off.

"We'll hide in there ." Tetsu said. I nodded then followed him inside. We hid behind a big replica tree. Then we observed everyone there. In a corner, I saw a guy with red hair wearing black hakama, his face calm, staring into the water in the glass he held.

"There's Akashi ." I pointed and Tetsu merely nodded. I observed again. Among the many people, I spotted a man in his mid twenties with an eye patch on his left eye. His right eye is grey in colour. And he has dark brown hair. I tch-ed, frowning.

"Kazuki !" I hissed. I reached for my katana on my left side but Tetsu stopped me.

"I know he's there but don't make rash decisions. You don't want to barge in there with a katana suddenly and pointed to him like that. Besides, I don't think people will believe that he's a villain. Surely, he already disguised as a noble man ." Tetsu advised. I sighed then continued watching him.

Surprisingly, Kazuki went to Akashi and chatted with him. Obviously I can't hear what they were saying and Akashi appeared to be friendly. Mm, on second thought, not really. He did smile but his smile is somewhat like a praticed smile.

"Ladies and gentleman ! Welcome to this wedding ceremony, thank you for coming !" the host spoke through the microphone. (I seriously don't know what the host will say). I glanced at Akashi. Kazuki's gone and Akashi continued staring at the water.

/(=_=)\

I yawned. "Tetsu ! This ceremony is killing me !" I almost screamed. The host has been talking for about an hour, babbling about the history , about the politics, blah blah blah blah. "I'm going to the washroom ." I said then walked away.

I stopped dead at my tracks as I saw Kazuki right in front of my eyes when I am about to enter the washroom. He was in front of the men washroom which is the opposite of the ladies'.

"Hoho, what a surprise to see you here, Hisashi Ryuuki ...?" he lifted his left eyebrow. "What are you doing here ?" he asked, suddenly became serious. I clutched my katana tightly.

"Akashi Seijuurou, I see ," he said. "Shou is fast just as I expected. But I did not expect him to send you ."

"You sure knows everything ." I said.

"My purpose is clear : I need Seijuurou ." he replied then glanced at the men washroom's main door. I have a really bad feeling about this.

"This might be the last day for your job ." he smiled.

"What did you do to him ? Don't touch Akashi !" I hissed.

"I didn't touch him, not me though ." he said then walked away. Dammit ! Something must have happened. I barged in the men washroom and i saw it. My body reacted even though I'm quite scared. Eventhough I know I have no shield. Eventhough I know I would die.

"Stay back !" I warned and ran in front of him.

Akashi's POV

The man with an eye patch who called himself Yamamoto had been talking to me. Although, I only heard a few of it. It doesn't matter to me. I just want to go home.

"I heard from your father that you're an amazing shougi player. Let's play together someday ." he smiled and I smiled back, nodding. When the host started talking, he left and I continued to stare at the water.

Suddenly, her face popped up in my mind. That spy, Hisashi Ryuuki. The spy father sent to find out what's behind these attacks and at the same time, my bodyguard. I don't need bodyguard. I can settle everyone myself. No one opposes me. And I'm sure she's already here with Tetsuya. What a bothersome person, troubling herself to protect me. Like I need it.

Then I realized that the host was talking non-stop so I decided to go to the washroom. It's quite far from the main hall. My footsteps echoed as I walked into the washroom.

"Don't move ." a voice warned. I stopped myself and looked up. A guy wearing a black suit with a mask that covered his face except for his eyes was pointing a gun at me. A revolver to be exact. He was 2 meters away from me. I did not tremble nor did I get scared. I frowned.

"You're one of Kazuki's ." I said.

"Hmm, how do you know ?" he asked.

"Just guessing. I wonder why Kazuki need me so much ?"

"You don't need to know that ."

We fell silent. And suddenly,

"You sure knows everything ." I heard a familiar voice. Ryuuki's. It's from outside of the washroom.

"My purpose is clear : I need Seijuurou ." a male voice answered.

"This might be the last day for your job ." he continued.

"What did you do to him? Don't touch Akashi !" Ryuuki lifted her voice a bit.

"I didn't touch him, not me though ." then silence.

"Say goodbye, red prince !" the guy in front of me said and smirked. I heard the door being opened.

"Stay back !" as soon as I heard that, the guy pulled the trigger 3 times and Ryuuki fell on the floor. The guy cursed then ran away. I snapped back to life and knelt down beside Ryuuki who was already crying in pain. I held her head in my left arm. She closed her eyes tightly, frowning. She was shot at the chest 2 times and on her left leg one time.

"Why the hell did you do that stupid ?!" I scold her. She grasped my sleeve, trying to fight the pain.

"Aaaarrghh !" she groaned and coughed blood. For a second, I was panicked. My mind gone blank. I couldn't think straight.

"Ryuuki don't close your eyes !" I said. She might as well die if she close her eyes and fell asleep.

"I... can't ...!" she tried to speak. I cursed under my breath and suddenly her phone vibrated. I took it and quickly answered the call when I saw the caller ID is Tetsuya.

"Ryuuki. What took you so long ?" He asked.

"Tetsuya. I need you to come here to the men washroom and call your agency's paramedics !" I ordered.

"Akashi-kun ? What are—"

"Now !"

"Got it ." he quickly said then cut the call. I looked at Ryuuki.

"Aka... shi..." she buried her face on my chest. "It ... hur...ts..." she cried silently. Obviously she can't hold it any longer but what can I do.

"Aka...sh..i.." she groaned, her grip on my sleeve tightened. Please don't call my name when you are in pain. I'm getting more panic. Tetsuya came after a while.

"Akash- Ryuuki !?" he panicked. "Paramedics are outside ." he told me and I carried her to the ambulance.