Meimei: *Sighs*

(Just how many more guys are there who want to marry Mei Ling?)

I'm so exhausted from many days of arranged marriage meeting plush work. I lie my head down on the table in the break room.

Chisato: "Meimei, are you okay? You look tired."

Meimei: "I'm fine... don't worry about me."

Sakiko: "You've been like this a lot lately."

Sakiko: "And the VIPs from the penthouse suite are always calling for you."

Chisato: "That reminds me... weren't you talking to some VIPs the last day of the I.V.C.?"

Sakiko: "Ahh, I'm so jealous! I want the King to fall in love with meeee!"

Sakiko: "And then he can invite me into his private suite... ehehehehehe..."

Meimei: "Sakiko... that sounds perverted."

*BUZZZZZ*

Meimei: "Seriously!?"

Chisato: "Ooh, speaking of the devil!"

Sakiko: "The pager for the penthouse!"

(God! I can't even enjoy my lunch before I get called up there! Thanks for the pager for ruin my lunches!)
__________________________________________________

I have to change into a cheongsam again because I have another marriage meeting.

(Now I just have to wait for Ryosuke to come pick me up.)

Baba: "Ooh, a cheongsam."

Baba: "The design emphasizes the feminine form, that teasing slit up the side..."

Baba: "All men dream about them. Right, Sor?"

Soryu: "Don't ask me. Must be your girl craziness talking to be interested in this woman."

(Hey, he said this dress looked good on me!?)

Eisuke: "I like long dresses on women."

Ota: "You're interested in Meimei too, Eisuke?"

Eisuke: "I'm tired of beautiful women."

Meimei: "Hey, what's that supposed to mean!?"

I turn away to escape everyone's gaze... but I'm met with a cloud of smoke from behind.

Meimei: *COUGH, COUGH*

Meimei: "WHAT THE HELL!?"

Soryu: "Hey, Kishi. Don't smoke in front of her."

Mamoru: "Looks like somebody likes their new toy."

Soryu: "I just don't want her to smell like smoke. It'll ruin the marriage meeting."

Mamoru: "Hmph."

Soryu: "...Did you not hear me?"

Mamoru: "...What's that?"

(Oh great, now they're fighting! Those two really don't get along. Now what should I do?)

Meimei: "Hey, stop fighting! I'm fine, okay!?"

Mamoru: "You heard her."

Soryu: "Oh? If you want to be bathed in smoke so badly, how about I tear that dress off you right now?"

*SMACK*

I smack Soryu's arm hard with my hand.

Meimei: "You better not!?"

Mei Ling: "Let her relax!"

Meimei: "Mei Ling."

She walks from the back of the room carrying some cards.

Baba: "You do realize you're the reason Meimei is suffering now, right?"

Mei Ling: "Yes, and I'm very thankful to her! Because she's a mafia granddaughter as Fire Dragon when she protect me."

Mei Ling: "Hey, there's a bunch of us here now, so let's play Old Maid!"

Ota: "Haha, Baba's such a womanizer as I bet he'd even go for an old maid."

(Looks like Mei Ling's getting along well with the other guys.)

(But I'm glad she's enjoying her time in Japan.)

Soryu: "Sorry, but I have to take the woman to the marriage meeting right now."

Mei Ling: "You're leaving already?"

Meimei: "Yeah... it's about that time..."

Ryosuke: "Sir! Miss Lee! I'm sorry for taking so long..."

Ryosuke: "...Huh?"

Ryosuke's eyes widen as he catches sight of Mei Ling.

(Oh no... he's going to find out our plan!)

(Soryu said in order to make the enemy fall for it, we have to fool the Ice Dragons, too!)

Ryosuke: "Are you..."

Mei Ling: "..."

Ryosuke: "Are you a friend of Miss Lee's?"

(Huh? He doesn't suspect anything?)

Mei Ling: "I'm Meimei Yae. Nice to meet you!"

Ryosuke: "Nice to meet you! I'm Ryosuke Inui."

Mei Ling: "Inui... like a Shiba Inu! Can I call you Puppy?"

Ryosuke: "Um... not Shiba Inu.... my name is Inui..."

Eisuke: "Hey, dog. Stop barking."

Ryosuke: "I'm not a dog, I'm Inui!"

Baba: "Hey, Inui."

Ryosuke: "Like I said, I'm not Inui, I'm a dog...!"

I facepalm.

Meimei: "REALLY RYOSUKE!"

Ryosuke: "...Wait, what!?"

Ota: "You walked right into that one."

Mei Ling: "You are so cute, Puppy!"

(Is it really okay for Ryosuke and Mei Ling to be talking? I don't like people are teasing to Ryosuke...)

When I look up at Soryu, but he doesn't look the least bit worried.

Soryu: "...He's an idiot."

(Don't tell me that's the reason he chose Ryosuke to be my bodyguard!)
___________________________________________________

A few hours later...

President: "Please! When can I see you again!?"

Meimei: "Like I said, I don't want to!"

Ryosuke: "We already told you, the answer is no!"

Ryosuke: "Just forget that this ever happened!"

The president of a loan shark operation has fallen in love at first sight with me... it's making me annoying... and he's coming on quite strong. Even though we gave him a very decisive no at the meeting, he's followed us...and now he's squeezing my hand tightly.

President: "Mei Ling! We're meant to be! You're my soul mate!"

Ryosuke: "Hey, get your hands off of Miss Lee!"

Soryu: "Mr. President..."

Soryu's been watching over us and he comes in between us.

Soryu: "She's clearly uncomfortable. Please stop being so forceful."

President: "Wha-!? Aren't you the go-between here!? Isn't it your job to set us up??"

Soryu: "My job is to find a suitable partner for her."

Soryu gently pulls the president's hand off of my wrist.

Soryu: "And she's very important to me."

President: "Grrr..."

(Hey... since when am I important to him?)

Soryu: "The Bell Crickets and the Ice Dragons have a very close association."

Soryu: "I've been given very strict orders by Mr. Lee... to swiftly take care of anyone who makes Mei Ling uncomfortable."

Soryu: "So you'll need to be prepared for that if you bother her anymore."

President: "...Grrr."

The president reluctantly leaves, he looking back at me many times when I spoke.

Meimei: "If you dare to look at me... I'll kill you."

President: "!?"

The president fleed because he's being fear.

(Hmph... Soryu meant Mei Ling is an important guest...)

Soryu: "Who the hell put that guy on the list of potential husbands?"

Ryosuke: "Sekine did!"

Soryu: "I'll have a word with him later."

Soryu: "I'm going to drop by the office. Inui, take her back to the hotel."

Ryosuke: "Yes, sir!"

Soryu leaves, Ryosuke and I head back to the hotel.
_________________________________________________

Ryosuke: "That guy was horrible, wasn't he?"

Meimei: "Yeah... and thanks for protecting me."

Ryosuke: "Miss Lee..."

Ryosuke: "It made my blood boil seeing him touch you with his filthy his hands!"

Meimei: "Heh... don't worry, it's all over now."

Ryosuke pressed his lips, he remembering the president's behavior.

(He was asking me prying questions and he looked at me like I was a piece of meat... ugh! I hate it!)

Meimei: "Well, I felt better when you got so angry like me on my account."

Ryosuke: "Miss Lee... you should really be more careful."

Ryosuke: "It's those kinds of men who turn out to be stalkers!"

???: "Mei Ling..."

Meimei: "Huh?"

I turn around to see the president standing there, because he panting.

Meimei: "Tch..."

Meimei: "I thought you left!?"

President: "I can't give up on you so I waited until Soryu left!"

Meimei: "Grrr!"

Ryosuke: "Tch. Over here, Miss Lee!"

Ryosuke senses danger in the president's eyes, so he grabs my hand and we starts running.

President: "Mei Ling!"
_____________________________________________________

Soryu: How many times do I have to tell you to make sure you're not being followed!?"

Ryosuke: "I'm sorry, sir!"

Soryu: "Apologies are cheap! Show me you're sorry with your actions!"

Ryosuke: "Yes, sir!"
_____________________________________________________________

As we run away, Soryu orders, Ryosuke to meet up with him at a designated spot.

Soryu: "He's still following us."

Meimei: "Are you serious?"

Soryu: "I see him in the traffic mirror."

(Oh he's right!)

Soryu: "Oh well. I've got no choice now."

Meimei: "Kyaah!?"

Ryosuke: "Sir!?"

Soryu puts an arm around my shoulder and we starts walking.
_______________________________________________________________

Soryu: "It's too dangerous for him to know you're staying at the hotel.

Soryu: "So I'm gonna have to convince him you're my woman so he gives up."

Soryu's brought me to his own house. The interior is decorated in a classical style and everything is clean and tidy, as if expressing it's owner's personality.

(But I imagined this place to be luxurious like the hotel, but it's actually very simple.)

Ryosuke: "Whoa, I've never been to your house before, sir! I'm really moved right now!"

Soryu: "There's nothing interesting about it."

Meimei: "But you don't have a lot of things here."

Soryu: "Less things for enemies to hide behind."

(He's even thinking about that inside of his house?)

*GROOOOWL*

As suddenly, I hear a loud noise and I look towards it.

Ryosuke: "E-Excuse me!"

Ryosuke: "I overslept today so I didn't eat anything..."

(Oh, that noise was Ryosuke's stomach. Poor thing...)

Ryosuke: "I'll cook something to make up for my mistake from before!"

Ryosuke: "It's already dinnertime, after all."

Soryu: "What about you?"

Meimei: "Okay, I'll help. What can I do?"

Ryosuke: "No, no! You two wait right here!"
___________________________________________________________

After a while, Ryosuke comes to the dining room table and he gives us...

Soryu: "...Charcoal?"

Meimei: "No, it's not! They're donuts, right?"

Ryosuke: "I-It's fried chicken!"

Meimei: "Well... it's the flavor that sounts, right?"

Soryu: "..."

Soryu: hesitantly reaches his chopsticks out towards the fried chicken.

Soryu: "!!!"

Meimei: "Soryu? What's the matter?"

Soryu presses one hand against his mouth and then he puts his other hand inside his jacket pocket.

Ryosuke: "AAAAH! I'M SORRY!"

Meimei: "Hey! No guns!!"

Soryu: "..."

(Oh... he was just taking out a handkerchief...)

Meimei: "Hold on."

I quickly bring back some water from the kitchen and I hand it to him.

Meimei: "Here you go."

*THUD*

Soryu drums his index and his middle finger on the table.

Meimei: "What is it?"

Ryosuke: "Oh, apparently that means 'Thank you'."

Ryosuke: "He told me before that's what they do in Hong Kong!"

(Oh it's means "thank you". Silly me...)

(Even though he didn't say it out loud, it's the first time Soryu's thanked me.)

(I'm surprised he even tried Ryosuke's burnt food.)

Soryu: "Inui. This is disgusting."

Ryosuke: "Waaah.... I did my very best, sir!"

Meimei: "Hold up! How about I should make something?"

I volunteer, unable to stand Soryu being in a bad mood.

(I want him to cheer up, even a little.)

I make some omelettes with leftover eggs and I bring one over to Soryu.

(It should be pretty tasty...)

Soryu: "..."

(He's scowling...)

Meimei: "Do you not like eggs?"

Soryu: "...Tha's not it..."

Meimei: "Then try a bite."

Meimei: "I don't think it should be that bad."

Soryu cuts through the omelette and he silently takes a bite.

Soryu: "...Delicious."

Meimei: "Ah! Really!?"

Just when I think his expression has softened a little... his signature scary look returns as he continues eating his omelette.

(Wait... does this mean he's happy?)

Ryosuke: "I'll try some, too, Miss L-"

Soryu: "You wait."

Ryosuke: "What!?"

Soryu snatches Ryosuke's plate and he cleans it up in no time.

Ryosuke: "Sir, how cruel..."

(Hehe... Compared to how he usually is, he's not scary at all.)

Ryosuke: "Do you like omelettes, Soryu?"

Soryu: "Not particularly."

Ryosuke: "Now that I think about it, you do eat a lot of food involving eggs, sir?"

*BONK*

Ryosuke: "Ouch!"

Soryu: "Nobody asked you."

(Wow! He smacked Ryosuke on the head to hide his own shyness...)

Meimei: "Um... was I right?"

Soryu: "..."

After we finished eating, Soryu says he's going to take a shower... and so he leaves the room.

Ryosuke: "Well, I should be going, too!"

Meimei: "Huh?"

After he's finished cleaning up, Ryosuke heads towards the front door.

Meimei: "You're leaving?"

Ryosuke: "Yes! I'm on the night shift tonight at the office!"

Meimei: "Oh, no..."

(So that means Soryu and I will be all alone!?)

(Well, we did sleep in the same room until Mei Ling arrived, but still...)

(But I'm kind of nervous....)

(By the way, when can I go home...?)
_____________________________________________________

After Ryosuke leaves, I'm bored out of my mind alone... and finally Soryu comes out of the bathroom.

Soryu: "Where's Inui?"

Meimei: "Oh, he said he was on the night watch tonight so he left."

Soryu: "Oh."

Soryu says indifferently.

(It's been a long time since I've seen him with his hair down.)

(He was so intimidating when I first met him, but he's not as scary now...)

Soryu: "What are you looking at? Go ahead and take a shower if you want to."

Meimei: "O-Oh no, I was just thinking I should go home now..."

Soryu: "Are you stupid? That man could be waiting for you outside."

Soryu: "You'll sleep here tonight."

Meimei: "W-What!? Sleep here??"

(D-Did I have to spend the night in the same room as Soryu...)

Soryu: "Hurry up."

My heart pounds as I stand there bewildered, and Soryu sits down on the sofa and he motions with his chin.

(Now what should I do...!?)

(I guess I should just go take a bath...)
_____________________________________________________________

After I get out of the bath when I return to the living room, but there's no one there.

(What the? Where did Soryu go?)

Meimei: "Soryu?"

Meimei: "Where are you?"

Soryu: "Over here."

I walk into the room from which the voice is coming from. Soryu's sitting inside, he looking over some papers.

Meimei: "Is this..."

(The bedroom, right?)

Soryu: "Tch. Women take a long time in the bathroom."

Meimei: "Well sorry for taking so long."

Soryu: "It's fine."

Soryu: "It's late. You should go to sleep."

Meimei: "S-Sleep...?"

I look around the room and I gulp.

(Oh god no! There's only one bed!?)

~End of Chapter 5~

TO BE CONTINUED....