A Meeting in Secret [S.S. Chained Guard][Closed]

"What is it you wanted to talk to me about, Jijo?" Shizu asked, leaning back in her chair as the Vale cityscape unfolded outside the window behind her. In front of her stood a mohagany desk, a small black telephone as well as several legal documents resting on it as Shizu looked at her bodyguard, who was currently standing in front of the desk. Shizu had explained to Jijo earlier in the day that if the girl had wanted to talk to her about anything, all she had to do is ask. And as such the bodyguard had somehow managed to ask for this specific time.

This is rather interesting. Just when I thought I knew all of Jijo's personal fluctuations she throws me a curveball. I honestly thought I was going to have to order her to tell me... although it is still a bit late to tell. Shizu thought, chewing on a pencil absently as she thought, one of her impulses that she had found annoyingly difficult to control as of late. As she awaited Jijo's reply, she glanced over at the papers on the desk and examined them with a trained eye for any loopholes she could exploit.

Jijo bowed respectfully before speaking "I... Was just going to ask if I... Could have a day off, mistress..." she asked...

"Jijo... You wouldn't have asked for an hour and a half of time in the schedule to ask for a day off," Shizu said, crossing her legs over each other as she glanced up from surveying the documents. Out of the five on the table she had already found loopholes in the first three. All of which were contained in the first paragraph of each.

Jijo gulped quietly in anticipation "A-And... If you say yes... I'd... Like to ask you out on a... Date...." she said, getting more and more meek as she spoke, betraying her usually stoic appearance, she almost seemed like a shy schoolgirl...

Shizu smiled for a few seconds, having heard the whole thing but wanting Jijo to say it a bit louder. "What was that?" She asked, looking at Jijo with a playful smile, as she sat up further in her chair. She was, of course, going to grant Jijo's request for a day off. She had worked almost non-stop all week, and Shizu felt Jijo deserved a day to herself.

Jijo blushed deeply "I-...I s-said... I'd... Like to.. To ask you on a-... A... Da-date...." she said timidly...

Shizu smiled. There we go, She thought, leaning back once more into her chair. She slowly took the pencil out of her mouth before slowly placing it down on the desk. It took five seconds, which normally meant yes to anyone who knew how Shizu operated. Numbers and Logic. Shizu closed her eyes in mock thought as she willed herself to not get excited.

"Sure," Shizu said simply.

Jijo looked at Shizu with hope, confusion and relief "E-Excuse me?..."

"I said 'Sure', Shizu replied calmly, her face not betraying anything as she spoke, despite the fact that she was silently scolding herself for getting excited over the prospect of going out on a date with Jijo.
Why is it just the prospect of going on a date with JIJO that causes my heart to speed up?

Jijo gave a small smile and lowered her head "P-Permission to be ecstatic, Mistress?" she said with a blush obvious on her face...

"Permission granted," Shizu replied, smiling despite herself as she rested her head on her hands, the palms facing down to her desk as she read the first paragraph of the remaining two documents. She mentally made note to make full use of the loopholes she was provided with for future use as she stood up.

I'm going to have to see about whom my trade partners are working with on the side.

Jijo's usually stoic demeanor finally crumbled away to reveal a child-like joy "ThankyouMistress! Iswearthatyouwon'tregretthis! IpromisetomakethisthebestdaythatIcan!" she said quickly and excitedly before calming down almost supernaturally quickly "I have multiple places in mind, but I would of course prefer to hear if you have a suggestion, Mistress..." she said calmly, almost monotonously, just as usual...

Shizu giggled softly at Jijo's new demeanor, and calmly watched her companion as the girl went through what would seem like a minor freak-out. "Surprise me," Shizu said in reply to Jijo's last statement, "I'll notify the secretary to clear my schedule for the day as we leave."

And good riddance too. I was beginning to dread that meeting I had at six this afternoon.

"Well, Mistress, There are two ways we can start off today, we can either have a nice meal at a fancy restaurant, of which I have a few choices, or we can go among the common folk and go to a nice bar that I have no doubt you've heard of already, the Shooting Star Karaoke Bar, I hear it's a very popular place."

Shizu smiled as she fixed her gaze on the girl in front of her, sighing as she walked over to Jijo and placed her hand on the other girl's shoulder before replying. "It's your day off, right? I'm fine with either, to be honest. So I'll let you make the decision. Show me what you've learned by being around me," She said simply, glancing over at the singing trophy hung on the wall that Shizu had earned in gradeschool.

"After all, what sort of person would I be if I didn't let other people make decisions for me every once in a while."

Jijo nodded respectfully "Well... I have heard that it's more common for people to go to bars than it is for them to go to fine dining on their days off..."

Shizu smiled as she looked at Jijo, "Then we go there," She said, reaching down and closing the folder that had laid open on her desk before walking over to Jijo's side.

Jijo nodded once more "Yes, Mistress. As you wish."

[Timeskip, soon after they left]

Jijo had not spoken a word since they had left, she was looking unblinkingly forward, her obviously fake porcelain eye giving off an eerie air...

Shizu glanced over at Jijo, a small smile on her face as she slowly leaned in and gently bumped her friend. "You okay? You seem a little stiff," She asked, her voice holding none of its usual formality and intelligence. Shizu had decided that she was going to take the opportunity to just be a girl. Not the head of a business conglomerate; not a person who had just dodged a few meetings. Just a girl on her first date.

Jijo looked at Shizu with slight confusion "I'm... No stiffer than usual..."

"Don't lie to me Jijo. You seem far stiffer than you usually are, and you are usually pretty stiff," Shizu said, gently bumping Jijo once more before sighing. "If you're worried about meeting any 'expectations' I may have, don't. To be completely honest this is my first date. I would tell you to be yourself, but then it would turn into me giving you orders all the time, when what I've been trying to get you to do is develop your own sense of individuality. You don't have to obey everything I say Jijo, no matter what you believe you owe me. I'm just happy knowing that you will stay by my side."

Jijo stayed silent for a few moments before sighing "I... Mistress... it's nice to know you feel that way, but I have no interest in my own individuality..." she said bluntly, yet calmly "I'm not trying to meet expectations, and you're right, Mistress, if you said "Be myself" I would merely continue following your orders... But that's because I want to, I feel I have payed my debts long ago, I follow you to the ends of the world because I wish to, nothing more..."

Shizu sighed in defeat, "I see," She said simply, closing her eyes momentarily before she opened them again. While she found it touching that Jijo followed her because of desire, she had to admit it was a bit frustrating that her companion had given the expected answer. She silently cursed her genius as the pair continued to walk.

Jijo looked kind of sad at Shizu's sigh "Mistress... If there's anything else you wish for me to change, I'd gladly do it..."

Shizu shook her head in response, "Jijo, there is nothing wrong with the person you are right now," She said, kicking a stray pebble out of her path as she continued down the road with Jijo, "However, it does bug me a bit that you have yet to openly develop a sense of individuality. What is going to happen to you if I somehow die?"