New Life : A Second Chance

Xing Han watched in fascination as Edward, using a brush, started 'painting' Kyle's hair. He pulled up the strands of hair on the top and the brush was placed at the roots of his hair until the tip.

"You're actually dyeing your hair?!" Xing Han gasped.

"Yup," Kyle replied.

"But whatever for?!" Xing Han said, then pointed at Edward, who had taken off the beanie cap. Underneath, his hair was the normal dark colour as he had only been wearing a wig.

"Why not?" Kyle said with a smirk.

Xing Han opened his mouth and closed it, not sure how to answer that.

"Xing Han, sir," said Lucka who was waiting patiently, "We should start on your disguise as well."

"Me?" Xing Han asked, "It's just wearing all that, isn't it? I'm not going blond or whatever like Kyle."

"We still need to apply some basic make-up to give your face a different sort of features. It's not much, but it makes a lot of difference," Lucka explained.

"Your eyebrows, some shadows at the cheekbones and of course, the freckles," Lucka continued, pointed at Xing Han's face.

It was then that Xing Han scrutinised Lucka's face closely, then looked in the mirror. At first glance, it didn't look like there had been much done and it appeared so natural so he didn't think much about it. Now that he looked properly, he realised that the small changes really did make a difference.

Xing Han sat down eagerly.

"Okay, Lucka! Do your magic!" Xing Han replied, grinning away.

"Please do not smile, sir," Lucka said quietly, "I need to apply the make-up evenly."

In the end, the one that took longer to get ready was Kyle, due to him dyeing his hair. All in all, it took Edward about 2 hours to dye, cut and style Kyle's hair. Kyle looked at himself in the mirror, finding it slightly strange to see a blond-haired, blue-eyed guy looking back. He liked it, though.

Xing Han was ready a long time ago and was busy admiring himself in the mirror.

"I don't look like me," he declared then pointed at Lucka, who had successfully altered himself to look like Xing Han,* "But man, I am handsome."

"I can look at myself all day long," Xing Han said with a sigh.

"You're really becoming more narcissistic," Kyle observed.

"That's because I've been living with you for two years," Xing Han countered, "I have learned to admire the goodness that is there and not be shy about saying or flaunting it."

This time, it was Kyle that couldn't refute it. After all, he would often use what he had to get what he wanted.

"Sir, the others are waiting outside now," Lucka reported.

"Fine," Kyle replied, putting on the sweater.

"Who's outside?" Xing Han asked.

"Zero, Akira and Yume," Kyle answered, "the bodyguards that will accompany 'Kyle' and 'Xing Han' to the airplane.

"So they are the diversion?" Xing Han asked, though it was more of a statement.

"More like, a misdirection," Kyle replied, "Lucka and Edward will go out first, then we shall leave later."

This tactic wasn't new. It was similar to what he had done when he and Kay needed to escape from Mall T the last time, after his rescue of Dahlia. It worked then, it should work now. Why not use a tested method, right?

"Why didn't you just use your team as the bodyguards to lead you to the airport? Why all this disguise thing?" Xing Han retorted, thinking of the extra work and time.

"I don't like the attention," Kyle said simply, "I know my team can protect me from them but ... I just don't like it. All those screaming girls and the stares ... urgh."

Xing Han blinked rapidly several times while Lucka and Edward's chest puffed out with pride upon hearing how Kyle trusted them so well to be able to protect him. Initially, the did feel a bit sad that Kyle wanted to go down this route for it felt like he was saying they couldn't protect him.

Now, it made sense and they were happy again.

"Really, Kyle," Xing Han finally said, "Your thought process is so weird sometimes."

"Thank you," Kyle replied with a smile.

Xing Han rolled his eyes and just gleefully rubbed his hands together.

"It's showtime!! Man, as luxurious as this place is, I can't wait to get out," Xing Han said with an eager smile.

✿ First Class Lounge ✿

Outside, the crowd was looking in great anticipation at the three guys who stood at attention in a semi-circle at the entrance of the first-class lounge. When they had arrived, everyone's interest was piqued. With their crisp black suit, dark dress shoes, slim black tie, and that earpiece ... everyone knew that they were bodyguards.

They could only be there for one person.

The door swung open and the girls started screaming. It really was him!

Kyle came out with Xing Han, and though he wore sunglasses and his hoodie was up, everyone could recognise him. Especially since Xing Han was right there beside him. He just nodded at everyone and waved, then said, "Please make way. I need to get my flight."

Though the crowd didn't rush at them, they weren't really making way either. They could move, but it was slow.

'Kyle' was sandwiched between 'Xing Han' and Zero, with Akira in front and Yume at the back. Slowly, they made their way forward with the crowd basically surrounding them. If you could view them from the top, it was as if a circle was moving, with 'Kyle's' group being in the middle.

After they had left, the real Kyle and Xing Han exited the First Class Lounge.

"Remember, don't look up or at people's faces," Kyle cautioned in a low voice, "Walk at a steady pace."

"But no one is around anymore," Xing Han replied.

"There is always someone around," Kyle said.

Xing Han shrugged but obeyed.

As they walked off, a pair of hazel eyes were targetted right at them.

Kyle and Xing Han walked at a steady pace, with Xing Han animatedly talking to Kyle.

All the while, the girl was following quietly behind them, extremely pleased with herself that she was doing so well right now. The two boys in front of her had absolutely no idea that she was there, and that is how it should be.

The only thing she needed to do was follow them all the way to their destination, and she would have passed the first stage. The success of this mission would obliterate her failure in the last one. When she had returned with the photographed documents, Sensei had scolded her thoroughly.

Although she did get the items as per her mission, someone else had gotten to it first. Apparently, he had infiltrated the building before she did, so her actions no longer counted. She did get some points but it was not enough.

So, her second task was to pick a well-known person and follow him.

She had chosen Kyle.

By the looks of it, she would certainly pass this time.

Unknown to her, Kyle was well aware that she was following them. When they had exited, he had scanned the entire area quickly. He found that the majority of the crowd had already dispersed while the ones who didn't leave weren't really paying any attention to them.

Except for one.

She was actually trying not to make it look obvious and if it wasn't for Kyle's keen eye, she would have gotten away with it. Everything about her was pretty normal and rather low key - another face in the crowd.

She was wearing a simple white T-shirt with denim overalls, her brown hair tied in two and braided while her thick-rimmed glasses filled her face.

However, he noticed her slight turn of the head and the way she was staring at them as they walked by. Kyle could tell that she was studying them, and most likely had not been fooled by the diversion earlier. From that angle, he also discovered, to his amusement, that the glasses she wore were not prescription ones as there was no distortion when one looked through it to look at her clear, hazel eyes.

So she was in disguise as well.

Interesting.

He was on alert but seeing as she did not approach them at all, he didn't kick a fuss.

He did, however, contact Kay about it.

[Kay, do you notice this little tail we have?]

[Oh, you mean that cute little pet that is following behind you so obediently?] Kay asked with a giggle.

[See if you can find out any match on our database] Kyle said [Female, 151cm, hazel eyes, has some martial arts training as her steps are very light]

[That's not really enough to go on, dear brother] Kay said with a sigh.

Kyle sighed as well [It was worth a shot!]

[I am a miracle worker, yes but I still need something to work on]

[Fine] Kyle conceded [I'll just let it be for now. We'll see how it goes then. She doesn't appear to be of any threat at the moment]

[Be nice, brother]

Kyle stopped suddenly, surprised, making both Xing Han and the tail stop abruptly as well.

[Whatever do you mean?] he asked.

[I recognise that tone] Kay said with a laugh [You say one thing but you'll do another]

[Oh, you know me so well] Kyle remarked and didn't refute her.

Kyle couldn't help the smile that started forming on his face.

The Macbeth Smile ...