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Angela looked at the stoic man who stood in front of her. Genzo was tall for a Japanese man, about 6'2'', and his short black hair was impeccably spiked in a cavalier messy style. He was also extremely muscular which she could see even under the thick cable knit of his sweater. His jeans clung like second skin to a pair of strong thighs and one of the nicest asses she had ever seen on a man. Had she not met Noboru, she would have had a difficult time concentrating under his gaze. As if sensing her physical appreciation for her new bodyguard, Noboru shot her an amused look out of the corner of his eye and cleared his throat loudly. "Oh, uh, nice to meet you, Genzo. I'm Angela Baek." She held out her hand. Genzo looked at it, then at Noboru who nodded silently in permission before taking her hand in his and shaking it. He had a strong, commanding grip.
"I will let the two of you talk in privacy," Noboru informed her before exiting the room. He said a few things in Japanese to Genzo that she couldn't quite understand, which he responded to simply by bowing.
"Shall we sit?" She motioned to the couches.
"If you wish it." His accent also indicated that he was born in Japan.
"How old are you, Genzo," she asked as he sat down.
"I am three hundred and twelve," he replied offhandly.
Obviously he shared Noboru's condition. "So you've known Noboru for a long time, then?"
"I have."
After becoming accustomed to Noboru's warm and affectionate manner, it was odd to talk to someone who did behave in the reserved manner that was indicative of the Japanese. "How do you feel about having to follow me around?"
"If Noboru-sama requests me to look after your safety, I would not deny him."
"No, Genzo. I asked how you felt about it."
"I do not have the luxury of indulging my feelings about things," he said pragmatically.
She shouldn't have been surprised by his response. "Well, I appreciate your taking the trouble." He nodded but said nothing. "I only ask a few things." When he remained silent, she took it as a cue to continue. "The first is that you have to remain in the waiting area. The second is that if anyone asks you what you are doing here, you have to tell them that you arrived early for an appointment."
After a period of silence, he spoke. "Is that all?"
"Yes."
"Very well." He stood up. "If Noboru-sama agrees, I will abide by your wishes."
"Thank you." She had intended to get to know him better but apparently he didn't consider this a social visit.
As if on cue, Noboru walked into the living area. "Well?"
"I have received my instructions, Noboru-[donno]." He saw Angela look up in surprise when he referred to Noboru as "lord".
They exchanged a few words in Japanese and Noboru turned to Angela. "I will return in a moment. I have a few things to discuss with Genzo." Walking outside his apartment, Noboru closed the door behind him and regarded Genzo with curiosity. "So, what do you think?" he asked in Japanese.
"It's not my place to say," Genzo replied politely.
"Genzo, you're my friend and I value your opinion. Please, speak freely."
After hesitating a moment, he said, "I'm not accustomed to her ways. She will resist my presence." He paused, the remarked, "She asks very peculiar questions."
"Such as?"
"She asked how I 'felt' about my assignment." He scoffed at the idea of asking something so ludicrous. "Pointless."
"She's concerned about the feelings of others. That's how she is."
"I don't understand why we can't simply install security cameras in her office," he suggested with a hint of irritation. "It's far safer and much more efficient."
Noboru found it strange that he was reacting so strongly to his new appointment. "As a physician, she must maintain the trust of her patients and to surveille them without their knowledge could result in a great many legal problems for her. Her life has already been thrown into disarray because of me. I don't wish to make it any worse for her."
"[Wakarimashta]. I will return tomorrow. [Oyasumi-nasai, gozaimasu.]" Bowing his leave, Genzo stepped into the elevator and was gone.
"He's an interesting one," Angela commented archly when Noboru had come back inside.
"Genzo is very Japanese, if you had not already been able to surmise," Noboru agreed.
"How did you meet him?" She patted the spot on the bed next to her.
Sliding onto the bed, he put his head in her lap and played with her hair, enjoying the silky feeling of the strands between his fingers. "Genzo, like most Japanese, is extremely private. I would not divulge anything about him without his permission out of respect. What I can tell you is that he is [shinobi]."