I SWORE I WOULD UPDATE FOR EVERY SHINEE MEMBERS' BIRTHDAY AND I'M NOT ABOUT TO BREAK THAT TRADITION SO I WROTE THIS CHAPTER AS FAST AS I COULD SO I COULD POST IT BEFORE DECEMBER 9TH WAS OVER HERE IN CALI.

Dear Dork,

Well, congrats on celebrating your second birthday as a character on S.M. Spies.  Happy 23/24th birthday!  (I know it was technically your birthday in Korea yesterday, but time differences so whatever)  Geez, if I could explain how much trouble you've given me these past few years, you wouldn't hear the end of it -_-  Anyways, I hope you had an awesome day of celebration with your friends and family and I hope this coming year brings you lots of luck, good wishes, and good health.  Continue to work hard in whatever you do and don't forget your mentality of never giving up no matter what the situation looks like.  Also, do me a favor and remember to rest every once in a while (at least, whenever you get the chance).

You're quite the character.  I'll admit that a lot of the time you do things that I don't understand and that make me question you more than I already do.  You're the cause of the daily war I have with my friends and one of the biggest dorks I've ever seen.

But, then again, if you weren't, I guess you wouldn't be you.  So thanks again for playing the part of Yuki's Keroro in my story and Happy Birthday once more!

The SM Building was quiet.  It was 1 AM.  The spies had all gone to their respective dorms.  Only one room was lit in the entire building.

Soo Man stared desolately at the file in front of him. Yuki's blank-faced pictured gazed back up at him, the familiar glint of determination lying just beneath the surface of her dark eyes. For seven years, he had watched her grow into one of the best spies South Korea had ever seen. And yet. . . here he was today, forsaking the one person he had come closest to considering his child. "I have no choice," he said, bowing his head. His first and foremost duty was protecting the lives of the 51 million people that weren't even aware that he existed. With Yuki gone and her security compromised, Soo Man's hands were tied. He kept numb for four months with the sole hope that the girl would somehow be found.

Yet his hopes were in vain.  

He reached for the landline next to him and picked it up, beginning to dial President Geun-hye's number.

Then his door was knocked completely off its hinges.  It collapsed to the ground with a dull thud as the five SHINee members tumbled in.

He jumped up abruptly.  "WHAT IN THE WORLD IS THE MEANING OF THIS?!" he demanded.

"WAY TO GO, KEY, YOU BROKE THE DOOR."

"I BROKE IT?!  YOU RAMMED YOUR SHOULDER AGAINST IT JONGHYUN."

"In all fairness, Key, Jonghyun doesn't really have the physique to break down a door on his own."

"THANK YOU, Jinki Hyu- WAIT WHAT IS THAT SUPPOSED TO MEAN?!"

"SILENCE!" Soo Man shouted, making the bickering members become still.  Before Soo Man could speak again, a female voice rang out from outside.

"Was breaking the door really necessary, you guys?"

Soo  Man's eyes widened.  It can't be. . . 

Jinki noticed the look on Soo Man's faced and grinned.  "You might want to put that call on hold, Soo Man-ssi," he said.  The five boys parted as Yuki stepped through the threshold.  She stopped a few feet away from Soo Man and snapped a salute.

"Sir," she said crisply, "I understand that my careless actions placed the entirety of S.M. in danger.  It was indeed an unforgivable mistake and one that I encourage you to not let go unpunished.  All that I ask is that you permit me to be reinstated.  I can assure you that such stupidity will never occur again on my part.  No information, I repeat, no information, left my lips from the second I stepped out of this agency to now; I understand if you can not take my word for this and am willing to go through the necessary lie detector tests to prove that this is so.  Still, if you believe that I need to be put away or put down- (a hiss of disbelief left the mouths of the five other SHINee members) I will come quietly."

Silence followed Yuki's speech.  The girl didn't move, standing tall as she waited for Soo Man to reach his verdict.  The boys held their breath as well.  This could go one of two ways.  And if things went sour. . . 

Well, they weren't going to let Yuki be taken away, no matter what.

Soo Man looked at Yuki caluculatingly, his eyes betraying nothing as he sized her up.  "How can you guarantee you haven't betrayed us?  That you haven't joined North Korea or any of its allies?" he asked.  A cry of outrage left Taemin's lips.  Yuki held up a hand, meeting Soo Man's eyes without wavering.

"The only option I can think of is the lie detector test.  Either that, or you wait it out to see if you're attacked within the next two weeks or so," she replied calmly, "in which case, I will not resist interrogation or arrest."

"You're not going to ask me to take your word for it?"

"In this world, word of mouth just doesn't seem to cut it most of the time."

"Is there anyone that can verify your location for the past four months?"

"Soo Man-ssi," Minho protested, "don't you think that you're going to fa-"

"Yes, the people I stayed with," Yuki said, cutting Minho off, "however, if you think they'll defend me by default, ask anyone in the Underworld about Park Kota; that's the alias I was known by."

Another hard glare and about thirty seconds of silence passed by before Soo Man spoke again.

"Jinki," he said sharply.

"Sir?"

"Take her to the interrogation room and get that lie detector test set up.  I can't afford any mistakes.  You'll have to administer the test.  As my head interrogator, I can't afford you to be soft on your team mate.  Is that understood?"

Jinki's eyes hardened.  His personality shifted from caring, squishy tofu to Agent Lee Jinki, S.M.'s heartless interrogation specialist.  He saluted Soo Man and turned to Yuki.

"Come with me," he said, his voice betraying no kindness.  Yuki nodded silently and followed him out the door.

Jinki and Yuki did not communicate with each other as the man hooked her up to the machine.  When he was finished, he looked at her.  "You understand that even if you try to trick the machine, you can't trick me," he said, "no matter how hard you try, I will catch all of your lies.  Understood?"

"Yes," came the curt response.

Jinki asked Yuki a few test questions to make sure the machine was working properly before beginning.

"What is your name?"

"Bul Yuki."

"Gender?"

"Female."

"Eye color?"

"Brown."

Jinki eyed the results.  Positive.  "Okay," he said, "now we can start.  Ready?"

Yuki nodded.

"Did you leave the hospital volutarily?"

Yuki's jaw clenched.  "Yes."

"Was it because you were recruited by another agency?"

The girl looked Jinki straight in the eye.  "No."

"Was it because you wanted to resign?"

"Yes."

"Did you lose faith in S.M.?"

"No.  I lost faith in my ability to protect the country."

"Did you leave Korea at any point in time during your absence?"

"No."

"Did you have any form of interaction whatsoever with enemy bases during your absence from S.M.?"

"No."

"Did you, at any point, disclose any information to anyone regarding S.M.?"

"No."

"You stayed with Block B during your absence, correct?"

"Yes."

"And you admit to being involved with the Underworld?"

"Yes."

"What activities did you partake in?"

"Street racing, drug and weapons dealing, and patrolling."

"Patrolling?"

"I walked around the streets keeping an eye out for troublemakers."

"Was working for a café a cover?"

"No.  I was trying to earn money to pay back Block B."

"Why the sudden desire to come back to S.M.?  Kind of sudden, don't you think?"

"I had no intent of coming back until I accidentally bumped into four idiots at the café I was working at."

Jinki's lip twitched very slightly, but immediately regained his focus.

"And your decision was made then?  By simply running into somone you knew?"

"No."

"I understand that you were planning to leave the country."

"Yes."

"Reason?"

"I wanted to start afresh and forget everything I had here in Korea."

"Why didn't you leave, then?"

"Remember those four idiots?  Well, a fifth, even bigger idiot, perhaps the biggest of them all, decided to come up with a plan to make me come back.  And here I am."

"If Lee Soo Man required you to risk your life for the sake of this country, would you do it?"

"I wouldn't even blink an eye."

"Do you pledge your full allegiance to S.M.?"

"Yes."

"Will you ever turn your back against this country or its inhabitants?"

"Never."

"Do you regret your decision to come back?"

Yuki noticed Jinki turn off the lie detector.  His eyes were soft.  Yuki looked at him and smiled.

"No."

Without another word, Jinki got up and hugged her.  "We missed you so much, Yuki," he said.

"I know," the girl replied, hugging him back, "I'm so sorry."  When they broke away, Jinki grabbed the papers.

"Let's go report back," he said, "it's time to re-welcome you to S.M."

The SHINee members looked at Jinki and Yuki anxiously as they walked back inside Soo Man's office.  Minho in particular looked at Yuki's face for any signs of discomfort or worry.  He relaxed slightly when he saw nothing of the sort.  Jinki wordlessly handed the papers to Soo Man for him to read.  Then, he and Yuki went and stood with the other SHINee members.  Minho grabbed Yuki's hand and interlocked their fingers.  The girl smiled slightly and squeezed, silently telling him she was okay.  

"Well then," Soo Man said, "it appears that you passed the test with flying colors."  Yuki remained silent.  "What you did was extremely irresponsible," the man continued, "a spy never lets their emotions get the best of them.  Ever."

"I understand, sir."

"However, given the nature of things, I believe you have already suffered enough.  You will be monitored for the next month.  Your phone and any other forms of communication will be tracked.  One step out of line, Ms. Bul, and I will personally make sure that you are thrown in the darkest jail cell in this country."

Minho's hands clenched into fists at the threat.  Yuki simply nodded.  "Yes, sir, I understand fully."

I KNOW YOU GUYS PROBABLY ALL HATE ME FOR THE AMOUNT OF TIME IT TAKES ME TO

UPDATE AND I'M SO SO SO SO SO SORRY <3  I really hope I'm not disappointing anyone with

these chapters.  ANYWAYS, it looks like things are finally ready to go back to normal :)  YAY~!

I don't really have much to say for this chapter, so WITHOUT FURTHER ADO, let's welcome our

new flurries!! :D

Mayieng

Avarince

Thank you soooo much for subbing!! <3  DON'T HESITATE TO UP-VOTE YOU GUYS!! IT WOULD BE

APPRECIATED <3

AND OF COURSE I WOULDN'T FORGET:  SPAM FOR THE BIRTHDAY DORK!

WELP, THAT'S IT!! PEACE OUT, GUYS!  I'LL SEE YOU HOPEFULLY SOON WITH THE NEXT

CHAPTER

~Yuki ❄