He took a deep breath and held it,  wincing in pain as the heated melt touched his skin. Exhaling he looked down at his waist, the blood sucking parasite releasing its hold on his hip and falling to the floor.  He stared at it for a few seconds before squashing it beneath his sneakers. He hated ticks, parasites in general. Shaking off his disgust he began to clean and treat the bite wound.

His shower had exposed the pest, and as he dressed he pondered where he could have picked it up from. It was almost eleven in the morning, Monohan would be arriving at that time to take him to the Mansion. Although he had been enjoying his freedom as of late he did make a promise to check it out. After his encounter with Aura he could think of a few places he'd much rather visit. He had done some research on his new friend via google, he had acquired a powerful ally. Though the chances of them meeting again would be slim depending on how this meeting went, he didn't know much about the School but he was sure they were against him hanging out with wanted felons. 

He sighed as he focused on continuing to get ready. Removing the Tick was probably the least painful thing he did today.

It wasn't long before Agent Monahan arrived, the familiar government tags on the all black Crown Victoria was a dead give away. Sam was dressed in a black polo and khakis, Monohan suggested wearing an outfit that would "look more professional" as if he was interviewing for the school. His hair was pulled back into a neat ponytail, he even bought a pair of "personality" glasses from a vendor to help add swagger to the look.

"Well don't you look fancy." His handler complimented half sarcastically. He wore his working black suit and tie, and a pair of black Ray-Bans. 

"Could you look anymore like a Fed?" Sam replied with a joking smile.

"Oh someone's in a good mood, here I got something for you." Monohan tossed Sam a small block box in with a red bow on it.

"It's a phone…" The Agent ruining the surprise as Sam caught the box. "...just keep it charged and on your person. I'll take care of the bill."

"Thank you" Sam replied as he made his way to the passenger side door. Making a mental note to program Aura's number into it later.

"Don't mention it." He replied as they both entered the vehicle. " When did you start wearing glasses?"

Their car ride up state was filled with random yet fluid conversation. Sam and Monohan had developed a bond since they first met in Africa five years ago. He was the closest thing Sam had to a friend. So when Monhan said he'd be dropping Sam off he didn't take it well. The last ten minutes of the drive Sam's attitude had been on full display. Despite his age he was still rather immature and they arrived at the school in silence.

"Listen this Shin guy is a good friend of mine, okay, just try and be nice." Monohan spoke as he put the car in park, and announced they're arrival to the speaker. Sam, although silent, was impressed with what he saw so far. The gates would open leading to the long driveway. Thrilled through slowly and Sam had to admit he was impressed by the compound. Before long they parked.

"Wait here, I'll be back." Monahan exited the vehicle and proceeded to exchange pleasantries with a shorter Asian man. They spoke for a bit before Monhan looked to the car and motioned Sam over. 

He took his time exiting the vehicle, wiping a nonexistent smudge from his glasses before shutting the

He took his time exiting the vehicle, wiping a nonexistent smudge from his glasses before shutting the door and walking over.

"....And this is Sam, the kid I was telling you about. I really hate to cut and run on you guys but…" Monohan's phone interrupted his sentence. Mouthing the words sorry he backed away and answered the call, leaving Sam and Shin alone. In terms of size Sam was a lot taller and thicker than his current mentor.

"So do I call you Mister or what?"

Monohan was a cool guy. Busy busy, but he still too time to help people adjust in nasty situations. As a handler.

They’d met a summer or so ago, during a complicated situation. Diplomatic problems, maybe? He was not going to get into the specifics, if anyone asked. His lips were sealed!

They chatted for a little bit, and Monohan had given him the rundown. Then, he’d been called off. As previously mentioned, busy busy.

Shin nodded as the man backed off to field an important call. Then, he looked to the other guy. Sam.

Sam was wearing a black polo and khakis. Shin was wearing a black polo and khakis. The only real difference was that while Sam wore sneakers and glasses, Shin wore comfortable dark shoes and shades. To mask his triangular pupils.

The 20-something kid sized him up, then said "So do I call you Mister or what?"

Tetsuya Shinbo smiled at him. The kid was bigger than him, but size matters not.

”Shin is fine. Or Mister Shin, if you’d like... either way. One of us is going to have to change.”

Was he really calling the kid out for wearing the same thing he was? He let the moment last a second, then laughed it off. ”Kidding. Come on, I’ll give you the tour. Bye Monohan.”

He waved over his shoulder at Monohan, then started walking towards the building. Monohan could catch up with them later, if he liked.

As Sam approached the large front doors of the building, a young girl around 17 rushed past him onto the mansion grounds. She nearly ran into him, but at the last moment a sort of pressure nudged them apart by the barest fraction of an inch. Like a small push.

She was shorter than the man with dreads, at around 5’7”. Fair skin, blue-Green eyes, and short brown hair that ended around her neck rounded out her features. Well. Other than the outfit. Black polo, khaki pants, and mismatched socks under orange sneakers. She also had a katana strapped to her back. It was unclear why she had a katana.

”Watch where you’re going better, Lenna!” the Asian called after the girl. ”Not everyone likes what you do.”

The girl called back, Colombian accent thick. She sounded like Shakira. ”You know I can not control it. Perhaps people should do better watching out for me.”

The Asian opened his mouth to reply, but... she was already gone. Fast little brat. Had she jumped over the hedge into the hedge maze? Or what?

He looked back to Sam. ”Sorry about that... some of our students can be hard to control... especially when they can’t control themselves. Let’s take a look an the mansion! Anywhere special you want to see?”

He lead them into the main entrance hall, with the hardwood floors and the wide rounded staircases leading up to dorms. Everything was nice, from the furniture to pictures on the wall.

One way on the ground floor lead to offices, another to halls and classrooms. And there was downstairs.

Shin is fine. Or Mister Shin, if you’d like... either way. One of us is going to have to change.”

If it were a wrestling match Shin's special would be the "Ice Breaker" and Sam would be down for the pin fall.

Sam didn't even notice their matching attire, a slight smile cracked his lips as he looked over himself and Shin. 

”Kidding. Come on, I’ll give you the tour. Bye Monohan.”

"I think it looks better on you personally, not really my style." The two shared a quick smile before he watched him wave to the busy Monohan. For a second Shin had made Sam forget he was angry, he side eyed his handler before following Shin.

Before Sam could really get a good look around he saw someone rushing towards him more importantly someone with a weapon. It would be too late to properly evade or counter so he braced for the impending impact. 

Instead he felt a gentle nudge. His brow raised in suspicion as he eyes Shin and the young girl. He wasn't sure who or what had just happened but apparently he was the only one surprised.  

"Watch where you’re going better, Lenna! Not everyone likes what you do.”

”You know I can not control it. Perhaps people should do better watching out for me.” 

Sam admired the girls attitude, and questioned her prowess with the blade. Already he could tell this place was going to be interesting so say the least. 

”Sorry about that... some of our students can be hard to control... especially when they can’t control themselves. Let’s take a look at the mansion! Anywhere special you want to see?”

"I am interested to see the classrooms and what daily life is like here. I'm sure that was the main purpose of dragging me here." His tone was cold and serious. He gave Shin a playful nudge, attempting to joke. At least he could practice his socializing.

"Are the students allowed to leave as the please?" Looking back to the hedge maze.

He smiled mildly at the comment about the clothes looking better on him. But he didn’t say something egotistical, like ‘damn straight.’ Politeness was to be observed. Except in the case of Lenna, of course.

Sam took the whole thing in stride. Good. Not everyone was okay with being moved by someone else’s mind’s will. He didn’t laugh it off, though. He was all business. From his attitude, shin would have thought his hair style would have been the mullet instead of dreads. Business, up front. And all of that.

He did attempt a joking tone when he realized his serious face came off distant.

”Of course. We can take a good look. No problem.” he said.

As for the second question. ”That’s what the pool and the other stuff on the grounds are for! As long as you go to class!”

Shin took a few steps towards the classrooms. ”This way!” He said cheerfully.

After the classrooms, they could look at labs and he could show him where the offices and bathrooms and all the important stuff was. Then, the fun stuff.

Shin pointed the bathrooms and offices out, especially his own. Then, he lead him into a classroom. It was a chemistry lab.

”We have top of the line equipment for teaching our students the sciences and stuff!” He chirped. ”If that’s your inclination!”

They’d seen a few students in passing, but there weren’t any in the lab that moment. Shin knew the schedule and they wouldn’t be using it for the next half hour. If he wanted to see students in class, they’d just have to seek them out.