Kiku led the young woman through the long corridor, with wooden floorboards creaking under their each step, and stopped in front of a paper sliding-door. He slid it opened and entered, his visitor following him inside.

"Please have a seat," the raven-haired man offered her while he himself remained standing.

(Y/n) nodded at him and sat down on a floor cushion in front of the low-table. "Allow me to bring in some tea," Kiku excused himself and left the room.

Left alone, (Y/n) took this opportunity to look around her and understand the unfamiliar setting.

The plain yellow walls didn't have anything decorating them besides wooden cabinets lined up against them and a single calligraphy art hanging in a corner. The floor was covered with straw mats which she remembered were called 'tatami mats', and another sliding door on the other wall revealing a backyard.

A typical small Japanese house.

"A house too simple for its owner to need a bodyguard," she thought.

Her mind wandered over the various possibilities this unsuspecting man would require protection for, but to no avail.

(Y/n) let out a sigh and aimlessly looked around from her seat when a small bark distracted her towards the backyard.

The silver-haired woman rose up from her seat and walked towards the source of the noise. She looked down and saw a small brown dog looking up at her and wagging its tail.

"Oh, are you alone here?" She bent down and petted the small dog with a smile. She looked up to see a huge Cherry Blossom tree shading the entire backyard with its delicate branches and blooming flowers.

"It's beautiful. You're lucky you get to live here, cute one," she said while gently stroking the dog's back.

"Miss (Y/n)?"

Upon hearing her name, (Y/n) turned back to see a surprised Kiku standing by the sliding door with a tray of tea in his hands.

The young woman felt a small blush creep on her cheeks again.

"I'm sorry! I didn't mean to look around like that!" She already felt she embarrassed herself a lot in front of him at this point.

"No, it's alright," the Japanese man replied. "It's just that I don't see Pochi coming out to meet strangers that often," he pointed towards the sitting dog.

"Oh, his name is Pochi? He is really cute! U-Uh, I mean he's a cute partner," (Y/n) cleared her throat, embarrassed, trying to act professional.

Kiku smiled and set the tray on the low-table. "Please have some tea."
"Oh, umm, thank you very much."

After a few minutes of peaceful silence, Kiku set down his own cup he took a sip from and looked at her. "May I know your purpose for being here, Miss (Y/n)?" he pointed towards the luggage at the doorway.

"Yes," Setting her cup down, she looked at him with determined eyes and spoke.

"I have been ordered to provide you with all-time supervision. Therefore, I have come here to live with you till as long as I am ordered."

Her words were followed by the sound of a cup falling on a hard surface.