"Morning, sunshine!" Iori says on the other end of the phone.

I glance at the clock, it's barely 6 a.m. 

Groaning, i sit up on my bed. Not a morning person, here.

"Mornin'" "Good morning, Kuin!" "Morning!" "Ohayo! Lillie!" colleagues greet me as i walk through the hall way. I smile to all of them. 

Boss: Kuin, today i need you to direct six models we have today for an article.

Lillie: sure thing. Um, are they famous models?

Boss: No, just some people we scouted. They're no one famous.

We rarly use models who aren't celebrities, these people must be really good-looking to be in our magazine. 

I get to the shooting hall and see six men doing all sorts of poses to cooperate with the photographer. But no matter how they do it, it just never seems right. The staff all look at me for help.

Lillie: The blonde one and the ocean blue-haired one sit on the couch; the one with orange hair, give him a pair of glasses and he'll be at the right back corner of the couch; you, at the middle behind the couch and pose as putting a jacket on; you, put on one of those caps and tug onto it while posing at the left corner; the tall one, sit at the left side of the couch while tugging on your suit.

When they all posed as they're told, the picture turned out perfect.

Photographer: Oh Ms. Kuin! You're so talented! We won't know what to do without you!

Thanking him while smiling, I glance towards the models. One of them left, so that leaves the five of them. 

They walked over and greeted me.

Orange hair: Hey, pretty lady.

I smile at him cutely. If he's going to keep this on i'm gonna smack him with a smile on my face. 

Another one that looked older than the rest says to me: nice directing back there.

Ocean-blue hair: not bad.

Lillie: Thank you! 

Brown hair: Anyway, it's a pleasure to meet you, I'm Kenshi Inagaki.

Old guy: Atsumu Kashiwabara.

Ocean blue hair: Riki Yanase.

Orange hair: And I'm Hiro Sarashina!

Blonde: ...

He refused to speak so Hiro said

Hiro: And that's Takuto Hirukawa.

Lillie: Lillie Kuin. *bows*

After a quick chat, they left and I got on with my work of the day.

Black Fox's POV

Riki: you guys saw it, didn't you?

Hiro: Yup. Right on her index finger.

Atsumu: It's definitely the one.

Takuto: i can't believe the woman we've been looking for all this time is a girly girl, she'll just get in the way.

Kenshi: come on, Takkun, don't say that.

Hiro: She's pretty and sweet.

Riki: Anyway, everything else aside, she's the one we're looking for.

*** 

 "You know that ring of thieves? The Black Foxes? The ones that are all over the news lately?" my friend, Ranko, says to me. She's a newspaper reporter, she knows everything that's going on about everything.

Me and her and Iori all work in different places, but we're good friends. We're here now at a restaurant bar called Le Renard Noir. 

Iori: Yeah, I've even heard about them at my publish building.

Lillie: not sure i've heard that before. (i say as i take a drink of my shochu)

Ranko: Lillie, you really need to follow the news more! You need to know what's going on around you.

Then, both Ranko and Iori's phone rings at the same time. After they hung up, they both said they had something urgent going on at their work and they need to take a look. I nod and smile at them.

It's pretty coincidental to have two phones ring at the exact same time. I think. It's a habit of mine, i like to take in my surroundings and get suspicious of things naturally.

"What?! You're all out of pork noodles?" i heard someone yell. I glance down, I just ordered a bowl of pork noodles, this must've been the last bowl.

"Hey," i heard someone say. "Yes?" i answer. And i see Hiro and Takuto standing beside my table.

Hiro: you here alone?

Lillie: Hiro! Yes, now. My friends just left for work. (I put on the voice i use to greet people)

Hiro: Then may we have a seat?

Lillie: Sure. 

They sat down across from me. Takuto kept on staring at the fresh bowl of pork noodles i just ordered.

Lillie: Um... you can have half of it if you want. 

Takuto: Who would want left-over noodles? (Jeez this person's got a attitude, i was just trying to help)

I shrug, "suit yourself, but i haven't even touched the bowl." I take a pair of chopsticks and are just about to stick them in my noodles, Takuto gave in, "whatever, I'll just take out half." 

I smile warmly at them, and snicker mentally.

 Hiro: pardon his attitude.

Lillie: No problem, I've seen worse.

At the end, we talked about random stuff till kinda late. Well, mostly just Hiro talking, with me responding, and with Takuto throwing in some insults once in a while.

How are they so friendly when we've only met once? 

When all of the other customers had left. I said: "It's getting late, i should probably go back now."

"Wait." someone said behind me. Now i'm starting to feel a bit anxious. I turn around with a calm face.

Riki: we have something we want to dicuss with you.

I look over to the main entrance, Kenshi was standing near there. If i broke into a run from here, he'll definitely block me. 

Well. If all else fails, i could always fight these guys off :) no problem. 

I stood up, just getting ready to battle mode if any of them tries to do anything to me.

Then, I see Atsumu pop out from the back of the counter. Shoot, he owns the place.

I look around and see that I'm at an disadvantage, i say, "what is it?"

The next thing i knew, i find myself sitting at a big round table with the other five guys. 

Riki: That ring you're wearing. (I look at my hand) It's from your grandfather, isn't it? He was a famous painter.

Lillie: Ah!

My sudden outburst put the rest of the guys into panic mode. Kenshi and Riki stood up, while Hiro sat up straight in his chair. I burst out laughing: "I wasn't gonna attack you or anything!"

Lillie: *clears throat* so let me get this straight. You guys wanna retreat a painting or some that was painted by my grandpa and do something with it. (I'm almost using a teasing tone as i speak) Cuz you're the Black Foxes. *tilts head slightly*

Kenshi: How'd you know all that? (It's adorable! He looks genuinely surprised!)

Lillie: I can connect the dots. 

Atsumu: But how'd you know we are the Black Foxes?

Lillie: I wasn't sure, but you just vertified that for me! *smile sweetly* Actually, Le Renard Noir means 'black fox' in French, doesn't it?

Takuto: You're smarter than i thought.

Lillie: Thank you Takkun!

"cough, cough!" he choked on his food. Hiro pat him on the back, but it didn't seem to work. I walk over and hit him on the back.

Takuto: OW!! You hit so hard!

I smiled, "you stopped choking didn't ya? Be greatful."

The guys were mostly in shock as i return to my seat. "So, what do you want from me?" i ask.

Riki: we need your finger print to get access to that piece. So we'll need you to join the Black Foxes.

He says matter-of-factly, it just makes me wanna laugh!

Riki: I'll give you 5 minutes to think about it and--

"Yes!" I say, "I'll join!"

Riki: That was fast!

Lillie: Hehe, I've finally made you lose your composure, too! All this time you were so stiff, getting surprised once in a while's good for you. Working in the governor tenses you up, huh? (i poke him by the arm)

They all stare at me in awe and i can't help it anymore, I burst out giggling, then laughing.

Atsumu: Well, clearly you're not the kind of girl we thought you were.

When things calmed down, i got into my serious mode and started talking business. 

Kenshi: so, what can you do?

Lillie: You'll see. *smirk* (I can make all the tables turn)

Takuto: Like what?

I thought of a song lyric and sang it out to answer Takuto: "cuz darling I'm a nightmare dressed like a daydream."

The sweetest (fake) smile appeared on my face. 

Riki: Oh right, you'll be staying here tonight. (it feels like he's trying to surprise me. Ha, tough luck)

Lillie: 'Kay, do i need to stay with someone?

Haha, he seems disappointed. 

Atsumu: Right, pick someone to share a room with.

I look around the room.

Black Fox's POV

"Hiro and Takuto go in first, keep her there until closing time."

"Roger." "Got it."

"Kenshi'll block the door when all the other customers have left."  "Got it."

"This's gonna be easy." Riki says as he stretches out his fingers, "every little girl will react like surprised, then protest, slightly scared, and finally has no choice but to agree."

"You're such a sadist sometimes, Riki."

Unfortunately, of course Lillie Kuin has out of his imagination. He hasn't dreamt of a girl that mighty. She's different from all of the other women on the street.

The other members all agree.

She's so strong. 

She's not a flower. She's a rose grown out of a concrete wall, if you know what i mean.

We never know what you're saying, Hiro.

I'm saying she's not just a delicate flower that's only for show!

She's fortitude, isn't she?

I've never met a girl anywhere near her before.

Agreed.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I see that LLFTX is pretty popular. I'm writing about it!

But it'll probably be really different from the original story. I've only read half way through every route, or just two episodes and i got bored and cut off mid-way :) and skip directly to the super happy end.

BTW, happy sheep year!

--Lillie