Trying to Kill Each Other Doesn't Count as Flirting (or Does it?)

Chapter 3

"Shut up!" she snapped. "Don't analyze me calmly while I'm fighting for my life!"

His sword whizzed by her throat, and she took another step back, searching for any way to escape, only to feel her back hit a wall.

She froze.

Backed into a corner, out of weapons, with Okita blocking her only exit. She was done for. There was no way she could possibly make it out alive.

(F/N) screwed her eyes shut, bracing for the final blow, but it never came. Instead, she heard a 'thunk' by her head, and looked over to see his sword imbedded in the concrete wall, inches away from her throat.

"Calm down," he muttered. "I'm just playing with you."

She stared at him, at the sword in the wall, and her shaking hands still in front of her face.

"That's your idea of playing?"

"Obviously. I'm a member of the Shinsengumi. Do you seriously think I'd try to kill an innocent civilian?"

"Yes. I've literally seen you try to kill your boss on the news—like—ten times."

He waved his hand dismissively. "Out of context. Anyway, I'm curious. What's a spoiled rotten rich girl doing throwing kunai around like a ninja?"

She hesitated for a moment. She'd never actually talked to anyone about it before, but withholding the truth seemed like it might lower her chances of survival at the moment.

"That's because of my last bodyguard," she answered, taking a deep breath and casting her gaze to the ground. "He was a ninja. His name was Hattori Zenzou."

"So this guy trained you?"

"Yeah." She nodded, a smile reluctantly creeping onto her face. "You see, there was this one time when some guys tried to kidnap me, just like now, and he saved me. It was the first time I'd seen him fight. I thought it was amazing, so I asked him to train me. To my surprise, he agreed." She looked down at her hands, still shaking and covered in blood. "My parents never would have approved of it, of course, so we trained in secret. It went on for several years, until one day...he suddenly quit. I don't know why. He didn't say anything, didn't seem unhappy...he just disappeared, and I haven't seen him since."

"I see...and I'm guessing you didn't finish your training?"

"No..." For a moment, she let a sad, troubled expression slip onto her face. Then she remembered who she was talking to, squared her shoulders, and looked him in the eye.

"I may not have finished my training, but as you can see, I don't need a bodyguard. Goodbye."

She clenched her fists, and brushed past him, only to feel his hand close around her wrist.

"Sorry," he said, a grin creeping across his face, "but as much of a pain as this is, I'd like to keep my job, so how about we make a compromise?"

She hesitated.

"...What sort of compromise?"

He let go, and they turned to face each other. There was a devious look in his eyes, and (F/N) thought that could either turn into something really good, or downright evil.

"So," he said, taking a step towards her, "how would you feel if I took you to work with me?"

"Huh?"

(F/N) stared at him. He couldn't be serious, right?

But the look on his face was perfectly serious.

"You like adventure, don't you?" he continued. "That's why you trained to be a ninja. Meanwhile, I don't like being stuck playing make-believe babysitter. If you come to work with me, you get adventure, and I get to go about my normal life. You can even train with us to improve your close combat skills. That sound good to you?"

(F/N) thought for a moment. Working with the Shinsengumi...that did sound nice...

However...

"I assume this would be a secret from my parents?"

"Yes."

"And I assume this is ninety percent to piss off your boss?"

"Definitely."

"Okay, then, deal, but I have one condition."

"What's that?"

"I don't want you to be my bodyguard," she answered, holding out a hand. "I just want you to be my friend."

He raised his eyebrows. "Friend?"

"Yes. That means we have fun with each other, support each other, and talk to each other as equals. Understand?"

For a moment, he hesitated, but after thinking it over, he let out a sigh, and clasped her hand in his.

"Okay, then, it's a deal."

Author's Note: Hello! Thank you so much for reading my story! I hope you're enjoying it so far. If you are, please remember to vote! Thanks!

-Marguerite Partello