The museum was dark, the lights dimmed to protect the precious art that adorned its classic marble walls. The sofas in the center were dark shadows, creepily lurking, frightening by night but a haven for tired tourists by day. In the central room of this palace of art, there were the traveling exhibits, the things that brought in people from all over the world when the glossy reputation of the Art Geyser could not. On this particular night, the exhibit was of rare and famous jewels. The chief attraction was a legendary stone called the Devil's Eye.

It was simple, red stone, very much like something from a bad horror movie. It hung on a fine, twisted gold chain. The stories of the Devil's Eye were as varied as the people who told them, and indeed its historical significance was a matter of great debate. But the tourists that piled in, sweaty and camera-laden, cared not for history or fine art. They wanted to see the stone that so many movies had featured, so many books had told of. It was like the desire to obtain the autograph of a celebrity- not because of that person, but because they were famous.

The guards that patrolled around the room were wary and alert despite the hour. The bright moon shone through the skylight, and it allowed them to reserve their flashlight batteries. Like silent wraiths in a tomb, black-clad security prowled the room for an intruder. They didn't think anyone would actually attempt to steal the Devil's Eye, or anything else, not in the best protected museum in the world.

When the skylight went black, as though someone had snuffed out the moon like a candle, they were very surprised. Fumbling for flashlights, they discovered to their immense dismay that their only source of light was dead. They stayed still, waiting for the intruder to enter from a door. But the thief, cleverer than thy expected, came from above, from the skylight he had covered with a tarp.

It was child's play to steal a security card from the neck of the head guard and open the case where the Devil's Eye resided. Hanging the deadly stone around his neck, he began easily climbing the rope. The guards continued to stumble around, not realizing that the stone was gone. The thief, wrapping the free end of he rope around him as he went upwards, escaped through the skylight with the greatest of ease.

The headlines of the next morning screamed with glee in dark, bold letters: 'BATTOUSAI' STRIKES ART GEYSER; STEALS DEVIL'S EYE. The articles told of a black envelope, left in the case where the jewel had been, signed by the thief. No one had ever heard of him, and the public would have forgotten him soon enough.

Except that two weeks late, another museum was robbed. The item in question was a sword that had supposedly belonged to a Japanese assassin, and held lore of curses and souls being sealed into it. The thefts, of dark objects with horrific pasts,continued for months. At last, an international task force was brought together to deal with the problem. The American agents were chosen from various government organizations, including the FBI. The most unusual one was a young, hardened woman named Kaoru Kamiya. She was one of three females on the delegation from America, and had the best track record.

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Kaoru leaned against the wall, panting heavily. She was holding her gun in one hand, loaded with tranquilizers, and a tiny, super-sensitive mike in the other. She controlled her breathing and waited.

The expected target was the shorter blade that went with the one Battousai had stolen earlier. It had only recently been displayed at a museum, and they were sure a strike would be soon. She and five other agents were scattered around the room, waiting for the room to go dark. When that happened, they would activate several hidden floodlights. Hopefully, the light would both impede and stun him, allowing them to make a successful arrest.

She started when the room went dark. Pressed flat against the wall, she felt something move soundlessly by her. Battousai was as silent as rumors said- she was lucky to have felt his presence. When she was satisfied that he was far enough in that they could block the exits, she lifted her mike to her mouth.

"Seal and flash." She whispered. The exits wee sealed with a hiss, and then Kaoru hit the light button. Nothing, but they were expecting that. She tried the three backup buttons. Still complete and utter darkness. Creeping around the corner into the main room, she navigated by touch to the center display case. Keeping her hands on either side lightly, she waited for it to open. As it rose, she lunged and grabbed onto an arm.

What followed was reminiscent of pro wrestling, except that they were both short and thin, and it was completely dark. She held her own at first, but all of a sudden her wrists were pinned above her head. When she tried to move them, she realized the thief had tied her to the case. She wriggled around, getting loose and climbing up to where she thought he would be.

With a crash, they both slammed into the floor from on the case. She landed on top of him and pressed the barrel of her un against his head.

"Going to shoot me?" He asked.

"This is all tranquilizer. Gets absorbed through the skin, so you can't guilt me out of it."

"Guess I'll have to try something else." He mused and then twisted beneath her. She fought to keep her gun on him, but he grabbed her arms and pinned her smoothly to the floor. It took her a minute to realize that she was once again being tied up. Once she was suitably trapped, he left. She glared at the ceiling as the skylight was uncovered and Battousai escaped.

"Bastard." She grumbled. The other agents ran out.

"Hey, Kamiya, what happened to you?" One of her comrades, Sagara, asked.

"I got into a fight with him. Somehow he tied me up again."

"Again?" Misao asked in amusement. The shortest one of the team came over and began untying her.

"It happened before. I almost had him, dammit. Stupid code..."

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It was at times like this that she understood why her aunt was so against her job.

Kaoru Kamiya was able, and clever, and instinctive.

And yet she was trapped in a cave-in with her rival: the thief Battousai.

After almost a year of chasing him, of his constant narrow escapes and incredible ability to mess up their plans, all the agents on the team trying to catch him were frustrated. But she had a unique problem.

He kept hitting on her and it really, really pissed her off.

"You look morose."

"I lost my gun on the way down." She replied flatly. "Lucky for you."

"I can think of worse things then being trapped in a dark, soundproof place with you."

"I can't. Isn't that weird?"

"Still in denial about me, precious?" Where had he gotten the pet name?

"I'll kill you."

"Come closer and try it."

"I'll enjoy killing you."

"Like I said, Kaoru, if you actually came over here we'd see what your intentions really are."

"I feel unsafe coming over there. You might hurt me, criminal that you are."

"Unlike you, precious, I have the self-control to not check you out while on the job. Although technically I can't do my job while locked in here...and I stole the knife already."

"I wasn't-when- where are you getting this from? When did you steal the knife?"

"You're cute when you're all flustered. I stole it a month ago; I just like messing with you."

"Shut up."

"Make me, precious."

Kaoru ground her teeth. Why couldn't he be quiet? For someone who moved so silently, he sure had a big mouth on him.

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"We have a meeting with the higher-ups." Megumi told her as soon as she came in to the medical center to refill her prescription.

"Great. Just what we need." Kaoru sighed, taking the now full bottle from the tall woman and staring in distaste at it. "Do I really have to-"

"Kaoru, I faked your records so no one knows you're on this stuff. Not taking it would ruin everything."

"I know." She sighed absently and dry-swallowed two white pills. "I'm not crazy, you know."

"Of course not." Megumi said. "Come on, let's not be late."

They sat, the full task force of thirteen, and waited as the Commander, the most hated person in the room, paced back and forced, whipping his pointer here and there.

"You all have been assigned only one mission." He paused. "Catch and arrest Battousai."

He shook his head sadly, hitting a wall with the yardstick. "And yet he s still at large. From what I understand, Agent Kamiya has actually had contact with the target several times. How is it, then, that no one even knows who he is?"

He rapped Kaoru's chair loudly. "In my office, Kamiya, now."

"Sir?" She asked.

"You're being let go. We have no use for traitors."

"Excuse me?" She said coldly. "I am not a traitor."

"Right. You're just screwing him. In my office, get your walking papers."

"I beg your pardon, sir, but I believe we have a misunderstanding. Oh, and I think that last comment was worthy of a lawsuit for slander."

"So it's true?"

"If it was, it wouldn't be slander." She turned and stomped from the room. As soon as he Commander was out of the room, everyone began talking at once.

"Kamiya? A traitor? No way."

"They just need to blame someone."

"Looks like Battousai's little thing for her is bothering the higher-ups."

In her bunk with the other girls, Kaoru packed roughly. She didn't have much, and most of it was work-related. Work clothes, weapons, paperwork, and a small box of personal items, plus her ills. Scowling at the white bottle, so innocuous yet evil, she punched the bed angrily. After the work she had done, even falsifying her records so no one would know about the pills, and her little mental issue, she was going home because of one pervy thief.

Men, she thought, were so sexist sometimes. What if Battousai was gay and insecure?

The thought made her laugh, and she grabbed her suitcase and walked through the halls of the residential area of the building. Her friends were waiting for her.

Sano, Megumi, and Misao all hugged her and promised to write even though they weren't supposed to. The all said they were sure that this whole thing would clear up soon. She'd be back.

Kaoru just smiled. She didn't think so.

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"Did you get it?"

"It's in the vault."

"What's next?"

"You tell me. I thought you were handling the translation."

"We need to get ahold of the Azure."

"Do you even know where it is?"

"You can't find it?"

"I can, but it'll take a hell of a lot of work."

"Start searching. I'll help. Someone else is looking for it as well. Someone unfavorable."

"I'll go out tonight and see what I can do. Thanks."

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Kaoru came home with a headache. She had been temporarily suspended while she was investigated, but was still getting a pension to live off of. Unfortunately, she was bored out of her mind and had spent the entire day in a dark corner of a library reading. The dim light and the eye strain made her head hurt, and now she was starting to hear things.

Her pills. She just needed to take the pills, right?

The bottle, the hated bottle, sat on her bathroom shelf. Empty.

Empty.

She picked it up and turned it over, knowing nothing would come out but shaking it anyways.

What to do? Now that the medication she'd resented was gone, she had no idea how to deal with it. Her mind was free, but was that a good thing?

"I'm not crazy." She murmured, staring into the mirror. She looked the same: tense, stiff, a little pale, but Kaoru Kamiya was the reflection al the same. "I'm sane."

The voices were louder now. She recognized a few: her elderly neighbor, the kids skateboarding outside, a businessman reading the paper in the park cross the street. Focusing, she made them softer and softer until she couldn't hear them at all.

"See? Not crazy. Just different."

Satisfied with her mental state, Kaoru threw the bottle in the trash and headed to bed.

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"I have news."

"Are the papers genuine?"

"Yes, unfortunately. Some unsuspecting woman has possession of the Azure right now. I'm getting hold of her records right now."

"No need. I know who she is. An FBI agent, Kaoru Kamiya. She was the one I tangled with while she was trying to catch me."

"What happened?"

"She's being investigated for possibly working with me. They'll have to drop it soon enough, as they still can't catch me- but that's beside the point. And she's hardly unsuspecting."

"Can you get it from her?"

"Yes."

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The New Derricked Times Dispatch

December 2, 2007

Azure of Purity Inherited By Citizen

The Azure of Purity, a rare and famous jewel thought to be the counterpart to the stolen Devil's Eye, had been found.

Locked in a safety deposit box for several years, the death of the owner, Benjiro Kamiya, has led to its opening. Imagine the surprise when his last will and testament were found wrapped around this sparkling gem. The will leaves all his worldly possessions to his beloved niece, Kaoru Kamiya, who disinclined to comment. The Azure was delivered to her yesterday by unknown means. While the late Kamiya's assets are otherwise impressive- including a manor house on the outskirts of the city and a considerable sum of money- the Azure is perhaps the finest.

However, it comes with its own perils. Will the infamous Battousai, the thief who has already claimed the Devil's Eye, seek the Azure? If so, Miss Kamiya may well decide to donate it to a museum where it may be safer.

The legends of the Azure say that can heal sickness and bring hope to the desperate, even conjuring food and money for the needy. In the modern day, there is no magic involved: simply go to an auctioneer and wait for the bidders to come in. With that kind of money, food, medical care, and hope are easily found.

What will Kaoru do with the Azure of Purity? That remains to be seen.

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