Sometimes he truly wondered what deity he had offended to deserve this.
Well, he had always been a bit of a troublemaker as a child and during his teenage years, maybe even a bit cruel, but nothing could be compared to the torture he was about to go through.
He gently sighed as he tucked his now waist-long light brown hair behind one ear. He almost winced when he felt the length. His once shoulder length hair was now cut intricately in layers, the shortest one just beyond his ears and the longest one nearing his waist.
The young man felt like banging his head against the limo's window, but that would make the driver suspicious. He gently adjusted the light yellow headband on his hair and readjusted the lily/headphone device near his ear. Feeling rather uncomfortable in his attire, he also tugged down on the end of the yellow spaghetti-strapped dress he was wearing, the white frills tickling his lower thighs.
Still not getting anymore used to his new condition, he began to cross and uncross his now shaven legs and pulling on his long hair. Suddenly the lily by his ear spoke.
"Syuusuke, your left thigh is showing, not the ore-sama minds."
Fuji grimaced, stupid Atobe, stupid limo camera. He softly spoke into the lily/microphone pinned on his left "breast".
"I'm sure you don't, anything else wrong?" Fuji asked irritably.
"Not really, you know you actually make an attractive girl, keep it up and you just might get ore-sama interested now." The other voice replied arrogantly.
"Thanks, but no thanks" Fuji replied dryly "Besides, Kuni-chan will have your head for that."
Atobe huffed "As if he could compete with ore-sama, you know you love ore-sama, who doesn't?"
Fuji actually chuckled at this " You know if we weren't partners and I didn't have a relationship, I might actually consider it. You amuse me."
Fuji could practically hear Atobe's smirk.
"I knew you would eventually, ore-sama is irresistible. Now back to the mission." The voice now turned serious.
Fuji nearly groaned, "How could I forget?"
1 year ago…
At age 23, Fuji Syuusuke received his title of Magna Cum Laude in the areas of criminology and law from the prestigious Oxford University, two months later he returned to Tokyo being offered a job in his specialty with high earnings that a graduate could only dream of. After his long and intensive interview, he was declared as the only man for the job. Pleased with himself, he went to the address given to him the next day, granted it was a rather odd address. Fuji Syuusuke was very surprised when he was informed the he was now a federal agent of the Japanese government.
His new boss, Hitako-san introduced him to his new partner.
"Fuji-kun, this is your partner, Atobe Keigo, from now on you will work together until further notice." My boss declared with finality.
I gave my usual smile and bowed "Fuji Syuusuke-desu, it is a pleasure to meet and work with you." I offered politely.
Atobe smiled at me and offered his hand "Likewise"
I took his hand and shook it.
We both walked together back to our new office in silence. Finally he turned to me with a smirk. "You know you are quite pretty for a boy." That's Keigo-kun for you, always the flirt, one of the reasons we get along so well we are similar in that aspect.
I couldn't help but chuckle amusedly "You think so? I daresay my boyfriend thinks so too."
I couldn't suppress my laughter when he gave a rather adorable pout.
10 months later…
Atobe and I had solved the minor cases we had together flawlessly. In fact we were actually the best of friends, seeing as I had to keep my distance from most of my old friends since I wasn't allowed to let anyone know my occupation, it's protocol you know. I still kept in touch every once in a while with my other two good friends Eiji-kun and Taka-kun, but it just wasn't the same. I still kept my close relationship with my boyfriend Tezuka, who was still blessedly oblivious to what my real job was. Other than the fact that Kuni-chan and Keigo-kun hate each other's guts (it's actually kind of funny) I had everything I could wish for.
Until the faithful day Hitako-san gave us our biggest mission yet…
"Excuse me?" I asked faintly not quite getting over the initial shock.
Hitako-san frowned at me " You heard me the first time Agent Fuji, your new mission is to protect the tennis star Echizen Ryoma who has been coerced to engage into one of those reality shows as a publicity stunt. The one called the Bachelor, we have been tipped off that a large criminal organization is behind Echizen and we decided you and Atobe are perfect for the job. Atobe will be disguised as the show's host whereas you will be a participant and will reach the last round at any cost to ensure Echizen's safety"
I swallowed softly, "Excuse me Hitako-san, but isn't the show made up of Female participants?"
For fleeting instant he gave me a sympathetic look, but it was gone as quickly as it had come "That is why I am informing you two months prior to your mission, you will go under special training by two specialists, Mizuki Hajime-san and Inui Sadaharu-san. Training begins tomorrow at 7 am. That is all" he said before standing up. "When he reached the door he said one last thing, "Given the conditions, your close relation, Tezuka Kunimitsu has been informed of all. He says he is fine with it." With that Hitako-san left.
I was rather surprised when Atobe came over patted my shoulder sympathetically "Ore-sama will get Kabaji to bring the limo over and take you home, you should rest, tomorrow will be tough." Oh yeah I forgot to mention Atobe is rich, and Kabaji is his limo driver, he used to be his body guard until we went through self defense training the first three months, although Kabaji will sometimes accompany Atobe to complete meager tasks such as shopping and such. Kabaji is actually a funny guy under all the 'usu's'.
I reached home and thanked Atobe for the ride, as I entered I saw Tezuka in the living room.
"Tadaima" I said weakly.
He simply walked over to me and gave me a hug, under all his stoic-ness; he really is a sweetie you know.
"I know, and I support you" he told me softly, isn't he cute? I love to tease him about it.
That night he made me dinner and we sat together and ate in comfortable silence, we then had dessert by my fireplace. Around 11 he stood up and declared it was time for him to go home, he gave me one last kiss before leaving.
"Good luck, call me." And he left.
Truthfully I felt like I could take on anything after that night, but the next day I was proved wrong.
Inui is a strange guy. He wears thick glasses and likes making vegetable juice, which tastes kind of odd, but that was ok with me I like odd things. I was actually starting to get along with him until he declared I had to lose a bit more than 10 pounds in the next two months.
"Excuse me?" actually I was kind of offended, I'm not as vain as Atobe, but I still don't like being called fat…
He seemed to read my mind " Please Fuji-san, do not take me wrongly, for a male you are actually underweight." Oh, I was? "But naturally it does not go the same way for a female, your body is too muscular. You are currently a 5"6 and weigh 116 pounds. You would need to weigh 103-106 pounds to achieve what would be the standard model weight for a female your size."
Wait a minute, model?
"Is it really necessary?" I asked warily.
"Certainly, if you need to reach the last round you need to be attractive in a feminine way." He declared.
I sighed; I really had no way around that.
"This is your new diet, you will follow that exactly for the next three weeks, and you will have martial arts training, since you need to know how to defend yourself but we can't have you being all muscular. Ii Data"
I looked over the menu, how charming each meal included a vegetable juice of his…
Next I met Mizuki…
He shook my hand " I'm Mizuki, I'll be your stylist and etiquette specialist." He told me while looking over the file Inui had sent him "Fuji? Do you have any relation to a Fuji Yuuta?" he asked casually.
I quirked an eyebrow at that " My younger brother goes by that name" I said suspiciously.
He smiled "So you are the brother Yuuta-koi and Yumiko-san speak so fondly of? How lucky to meet you under these casualties."
I froze. Yuuta-koi?
"Excuse me, you're dating my otouto?" I asked fiercely
"Yes, for about four months now." He responded fondly.
Ok I now officially hated Mizuki Hajime with all my soul. How dare he! Date my beloved Yuuta without his aniki's consent! He must pay!
"How come I wasn't informed?" I asked coldly.
He shrugged "Yuuta says he hasn't seen you that much since you graduated, in fact he said it reminded it of a time when you two barely spoke."
Ouch, I was hurting Yuuta again, during our teenage years we kind of didn't get along so well, but we got over it after a while, I didn't expect my job to interfere with my favorite (only) brother. Don't worry Yuuta, aniki will call you soon!
I still hated Mizuki though…
Well the first month went flying by, I easily lost all the weight in the three weeks, Inui was actually surprised (Ii data…) Mizuki (Who is a pansy, a pansy I hate) taught me how to eat, sleep, walk, talk, sit, walk in high heels and all the other stuff, he also made me watch one season of the Bachelor with him so I knew what it consisted of. I still hated him though.
Because of my training I rarely saw Tezuka (although I called him a few times to tease him saying I now had an affair with Atobe) and much less of Atobe (Who informed me he received a threatening call from Tezuka) since he was also in special training, truthfully he is a lot buffer than he used to be, apparently he'll be a host/bodyguard.
I also called Yuuta who was actually happy to hear from me I also told him he shouldn't date purple wearing pansies and that I could get him a better boyfriend, for some reason he hung up on me, wonder why? I called a flower shop and told them to send some roses to Yuuta and say it was from a secret admirer. I hope it works.
The second month went by fast enough (with much Mizuki torture) and soon it was only a week till the beginning of the show/mission and Mizuki, who I still hate, was showing me my new wardrobe, which was mostly made up of short skirts and a different assortment of shirts a couple of dresses here and there.
"The skirts will hide your boy parts" he assured me "and since you are so skinny it will explain your lack of breasts even though all your bra's and bathing suits are padded. About the bathing suit, it has a little skirt on the front, NEVER take it off you hear me. You will use closed shoes most of the time since you still feel a bit uncomfortable in heels, but you are obligated to use high heels to formal occasions. Do your hair either in the high ponytail I taught you to do or keep it down, try combing it to the side once in a while." He lectured me, I made faces at him every time he turned his back, Atobe who stepped in for a while had a hard time keeping a straight face. I still hate him (The pansy).
"Now it's time for waxing." He said in a positively evil voice. Luckily I had never had facial hair, although waxing my legs was probably the most painful thing I've done. The next day hair extensions were inserted (I messed them up a whole lot at first just to make Mizuki look bad in front of Hitako-san who was there watching), and for once they actually looked real. I also got a manicure and pedicure, it was awful.
"You know, you are actually luck that you have rather girly hands and feet." Mizuki remarked in a falsely innocent tone. I made sure to ruin the nail polish a couple of times to get him frustrated.
Did I mention how much I hate him? All the while Inui wrote EVERY single thing that happened to me, he said it was important data.
Important data my butt, he was just laughing his head off. I did get back at him mind you, he still has no idea who poured the wasabi into his toothpaste.
The rest of the days passed with no major drama (Mizuki's hair turned blue, he got hot coffee spilt on him, was sent a snake as a gift and got his water mixed up with some Aozu. But I had nothing to do with it… Really… ) and that's how I ended up in the limo driving me to the bachelor mansion in the Pansy's yellow dress, which I hate.
Present
"Well Syuusuke, shut up because according to my coordinates you will arrive in 2 minutes. Remember to constantly change the microphones in your clothes, ok? And good luck, I really mean it." Atobe said earnestly.
I smiled, he really is a good friend.
"I will, how do I look?" I asked innocently, I loved to tease people
"Good enough, now be quiet, you've arrived." He cut off the connection.
I fixed my hair one last time before I felt the car pull to a stop.
I said a polite thanks to the driver who opened my door and I stepped out as gracefully as I could.
I made my way towards the garden in front of the large mahogany doors. Weird there was no one there to greet me as I had seen usually happens in the show. I took a look at my surroundings and realized it would be a perfect opportunity to check the house out for anything suspicious, if anyone caught me I could just say I got lost.
I made sure the driver was gone before continuing to explore the garden, nothing suspicious out here in the front, might as well go out back.
Backyard had a pool and a Jacuzzi and a rather nice view of the city seeing as the mansion was located in the countryside. I kept going further back and was met with…
…A tennis court….
It was a hard surface court with a racquet and a basket of balls by the baseline.
How convenient….
I looked around once more, no one was around, and I knew Atobe was probably busy, so no interruptions. Moreover during these past 2 months I had been so busy I hadn't been able to play my weekly matches with Tezuka, I loved tennis I played it since I was a child and frankly two months without it had made me yearn for it. Now was the perfect opportunity.
Besides, the court was practically calling my name.
I carefully stepped onto the court and removed my high heels, what you think I'd play with those things on?
I grabbed the racquet and tried a few swings, I bounced the ball a couple of times to test the strings.
Not bad…
I tried a disappearing serve, it came out pretty well considering the fact I haven't played in two months and lost massive amounts of weight. It had a bit less power, but the same amount of speed. Satisfied I went to get another ball.
"Impressive"
I dropped the racquet, and jumped back in shock. Unfortunately this caused me to bump into the person who had spoken behind me.
I turned around and looked up to brown eyes and a smirk.
"Aren't you supposed to be inside?" he asked me
It then occurred to me that I was looking up at a very haughty Echizen Ryoma.
End Prologue
Just a random idea that popped into my mind, thanks for reading.