As The Moon Sees It
The Bureau
Japan:
The walls of the bureau were crafted in steel, glistening in the day's sun and glowing underneath the moon's gentle caresses at night. Black, onyx windows never let viewers from the street see in on the important matters discussed there, but always allowed the country's eyes to watch over all affairs. It was a tall and imposing infrastructure that was purposely put in the middle of one of Japan's most bustling cities. It's capital, Tokyo.
As Kenshin stared out onto the city from the roof top, he didn't notice anything particularly different or interesting about this evening. Cars honking, loud advertisements playing from large television in district crossroads, and the occasional siren of an ambulance or squad car as it passed were very familiar sounds of this city.
A slight breeze played with the collar of his shirt almost seeming to try and pull him over the edge of the ledge he stood by. Behind him there was a loud cracking sound and the wail of a full grown man in pain. Grinning, he turned around in time to catch a man in a business suit fall to the ground with a bloody nose.
"Good evening Mr. Jakov." He spoke coolly, leaning back on his elbows against the rough ridge. Amber eyes flickered over to the edge of a shadow cast by a neighboring building, catching the outline of another person. "I see my partner was able to get you up here without too much of a commotion."
"Fuck you." The man spat, blood dripping from the corner of his mouth. Jerkily, he wiped his mouth and muttered a dark curse in his native tongue when he brought a sleeve dyed in blood back to his line of sight. He pushed himself up, standing shakily.
Kenshin watched, a disdainful smile stretching across his lips, as the older gentlemen reached into his coat and pulled out a revolver. "Do you intend to shoot me, Aleksandr?" He asked with brow rose mockingly.
Face red, Aleksandr lifted his arm and shot into the air. "I'll kill every last one of you!" He swayed slightly whenever he turned to keep the figure standing silently in the shadows within sight. "You will all die!" He shouted, voice swallowed by the wind. Then, he pivoted and shot into the shadows at the tall figure. Bullets whizzed through the air, all missing their intended target.
The expression on the gentleman's face was so comical that Kenshin couldn't keep his chuckle to himself. "Guns won't kill Shinomori." He laughed, amber eyes falsely light in amusement.
Aleksandr spun, gun already firing at Kenshin. He froze when the cool touch of metal came across his throat. A dark voice sounded behind him. "I wouldn't do that if I were you, Jakov." The distance in the voice sent a shiver of fear down the Russian's back. A streak came out from his peripheral vision and slapped the gun out of Aleksandr's hand and into some nearby shadows.
Another laugh sounded from behind him. "I didn't mention that they couldn't kill me either, did I?" Kenshin called out from the other side of the roof. "Shinomori, could you offer Mr. Jakov a seat please?"
Before he had time to blink, Aleksandr was turned and on to his knees with a kick to the back of his legs. A hand grabbed the back of his head, entwining in his graying hair, and thrust his face to the ground. Stars raced across Aleksandr's vision before he was able to make out the shape and lines of what appeared to be a knife placed in front of him.
Kenshin turned the knife in his hand, a speculative look in his amber eyes. "What is Russia planning?" He asked, hunched over in a squat.
If his quiet companion hadn't currently been holding down the older man's head with more force than what appeared to be necessary, Kenshin was positive that Aleksandr would have shook his head in the negative. "I-I won't speak."
The knife flashed when the moon's light struck its smooth surface. Kenshin smiled at it absently before turning burning eyes onto the dumbstruck man. "That's really a shame."
(-)
Not too long ago…
(-)
People shuffled in their appropriate lines, every so often turning to make a pointless comment to the person to the side of or behind them. Everything just reeked of absolute boredom and if she hadn't been standing in the horrible line for the past forty-five minutes, Kaoru would have most definitely turned and left without regret. Now, after her extended stay, she had become quite familiar with this building and felt that breaking up with it after so long term of a relationship would be unfair to the bureau and herself.
Sighing, she shifted her bag, impatiently clenching at the fabric of her skirt. She was never one to drop a commitment anyway. As her roommate had once put it, she was someone who dreaded confrontation. Cobalt eyes drifted inattentively to the ground. Her shoes were more interesting to look at than anything else with the way they were so shiny and cute with those little ribbons…
Shaking her head, she managed to break her train of thought. "Careful, Kamiya. The dullness of this place seems to be messing with your head." She muttered as she once again shifted her bag.
The key to surviving the grueling wait in line, Kaoru found, was to play games with oneself. Out of experience, if anyone had the gumption to ask, Kaoru would highly recommend the game where one spied an object of a certain attribute. Feeling sleep begin to pull at her suddenly heavy eyelids, she began her game.
Dark eyes cruised over the masses of lifeless people all silent like sheep before the butcher.
'I spy with my little eyes…'
Kaoru's line of sight landed on a figure not a couple of meters ahead of her in line.
'Something hot!'
A small smile played up the corners of her lips. It was certainly a welcomed sight, if anything. The first thing that was blaringly obvious was his hair. It was a vibrant red, vermilion if anything, and incredibly long even when tied back at the base of his neck. It was clear that he was either a visitor, or had strong foreign genes running through his blood. Through his simple button up shirt she could make out the lines of a set of broad shoulders. This was someone who must frequent the gym.
Kaoru continued her investigation, unaware of the ocher eyes that were now focused on her. The line moved forward, snapping her out of her daydream. Sighing again, she stepped forward, closing the gap that formed during her moment of distraction. Unable to stop herself, she found her eyes wandering back to the man. She nearly jumped whenever she met his tawny eyes with her own.
Blushing in embarrassment, Kaoru turned her head away to look at a dreary painting hung up on the wall closest to her. 'Smooth move, Kamiya.' She mentally berated herself.
Out of the corner of her eye, she saw the line begin to move again and thoughtlessly took another step forward. The hairs on the back of her neck stood on end and Kaoru could swear that someone was watching her. A quick glance up through her dark lashes over her shoulder confirmed her suspicions. He was still watching with her, eyes unreadable.
Uncomfortable, Kaoru moved her bag to her other shoulder, shifting on the balls of her feet.
'Please stop staring…' She silently wished for him to turn back around and ignore her. A thought realization had almost had her in quiet laughter. 'How hypocritical.'
A sudden warmth and weight landed on her bare shoulder. "Miss?" It was a man's voice that was asking the polite question.
Putting on her normal, every day smile, Kaoru turned, ready to answer before her voice seemed to leave her underneath the piercing gaze of amber eyes.
He didn't seem to notice or care that a huge blush swept over her cheek and she could only manage to open her mouth before quickly shutting it. "I've been in this line for quite some time and I was wondering if I could bother you for the time."
'Bother me all you want…' The thought came unbidden into her mind as she cast a cursory glance down at her wristwatch.
"It's ten minutes until five." She said in a relatively even tone.
His shoulders seemed to droop slightly before returning to their normal posture. "I feared it would be later than I would have liked." His gusty sigh rustled the tips of his long, fiery bangs. He made to turn and leave, but quickly spun and grasped her hand. Warm lips brushed across her knuckles.
"Thank you, Miss." He murmured, warm breath tickling her hand.
Kaoru's heart leapt before coming to a stop in her chest. A foreign custom, she reminded herself before giving a small, flustered bow. "No problem." She stammered, retracting her hand from his grasp whenever she realized he was holding it for longer than necessary.
He flashed her a warm smile before turning on his heels and heading to the stairwell near the back right corner of the room.
'I can die happy now, I think.'
(-)
The office was relatively dark, the only source of light being the decent sized window on the wall across from the door. As Kaoru stepped into the room, the familiar scent of a perfume wafted in her direction. It was a perfume that was a stirring combination of white plums and some other indistinguishable scent that was perfect for the user.
"Come in, Kaoru." A woman called out from behind the large mahogany desk in the middle of the room.
Smiling, she pushed the door shut and walked toward the desk, her shoes making sharp clicks against the wooden floor. "It's been awhile, Megumi." Kaoru grinned, blue eyes lightening. "Has Tomoe been here recently?" She suggested, taking a moment to breath in the trace of perfume.
"Yes, she has." The woman at the desk, Megumi, leaned forward, a catty smile on her ruby painted lips. "As for not seeing you for quite some time, I can honestly say that I'm happy that is the case." She stood up, motioning to the two plush chairs before her with an inherited grace. "If we were to see each other too often, that would be bad news for Japan, now wouldn't it?" She chuckled, returning to her previous position of sitting back in her chair.
"It wouldn't hurt if you stopped by my place every once in awhile when you got the time, though." Kaoru joked lightheartedly as she took a seat.
A moment of complete content drifted between them and neither seemed to mind the silence. Both studied the other, gauging how the elapsed time had been treating their friend. It was Megumi who was the first to break the peace. "What news have you brought me today?" She asked, a small smile still on her face as she leaned back into the comfortable leather back of her seat.
Kaoru relaxed into her chair as well, pulling her bag into her lap at the same time. "Nothing that could cause a national panic, I assure you." She rolled her eyes.
"Anything and everything is helpful at this point in time." Megumi returned smoothly, picking up a strand of her long hair and beginning to play with it.
"The sect of yukuza from the Okinawa region have moved temporarily into the area." Kaoru stated in exasperation.
Megumi's hands halted their movements and her eyes narrows in concentration. "Any idea as to why?" She asked, lips pursed.
Kaoru shrugged. "I do have one."
"Please share."
Gently biting her lower lip, forcing herself to remember any overheard conversations at the restaurant she had discovered this news. "I believe the leader Shishio Makoto plans to form an alliance with the Okinawa sect."
Megumi stayed silent, digesting the news with her normal seriousness when working. She rose from her chair and went to the window, gazing out over the bustling city below. "Is this the Shishio Makoto who has been involving himself with international leaders as of recent?" The question was asked in a hushed tone, a perplexed look beginning to form over the young attorney's face.
"The one and only."
"Very peculiar."
There was a quick knock on the door before Kaoru heard the tell tale click of the door opening and the soft footfall of someone entering the room.
"Megumi. Is now a good time to discuss an important issue?" It was a man speaking, his voice rich and oddly familiar.
Twisting in her seat, Kaoru managed to catch a glimpse of unforgettable red hair. She stomped down the urge to speak up and possibly make a complete fool out of herself, opting in favor of remaining where she was and keeping her mouth shut.
The addressed woman stayed still, seeming to not even notice the new arrival or the lack of response from her long time friend. As if sensing that the man was about to speak up again, she lifted a hand that silenced any comment he was going to make. "What do you know of the current yukuza activity, Himura?" She asked, cinnamon eyes still staring out onto the city.
A quick glance was cast in Kaoru's direction, unnoticed by her. "Nothing that can be discussed in the company of others." He returned pointedly.
Aware of when she was needed to leave, Kaoru stood from the chair. Several years of involvement with the bureau made one acutely conscious of when their welcome was over extended. "I'll head home now, Megumi."
As if called out of a trance, Megumi titled her head in Kaoru's direction. "Yes." She whispered, thoughts still preoccupied. "I'm sorry we couldn't talk longer, Kaoru."
Laughing, Kaoru shook her head, bangs brushing against her forehead in a playful manner. "Don't worry about it." She grinned. "It's not like I had much to talk about anyway." She headed in the direction of the door, pausing to offer a small bow to the man who now looked at her with a puzzled look. "It was a pleasure meeting you again, Himura." She couldn't help the small smirk at his surprised expression from her using his previously mentioned name.
Topaz eyes melted into a warm honey as a devilishly handsome smile stretched across his delicious lips. "The same to you, Kaoru."
Kaoru rushed from the room as quick as possible without seeming impolite. The way he said her name should be illegal.
(-)
"Do try, Kenshin, to not flirt with every woman that comes across your path." Megumi glared at the grinning man who was now perched on the corner of her desk. "It's unbecoming and even more so when it is with someone I happen to know personally." Her temper flared when she saw that his eyes were still on the door that Kaoru had not too long ago left through.
"I'll try, Megumi." He said, pushing off the desk to move closer to the window where she still stood. "Though you know I can't help myself whenever I encounter particularly beautiful women." He tossed her a wolfish grin. "Even if they are personal acquaintances."
Megumi spun on her heel, intending to go through the stack of papers on her desk. "What is it that you want, Himura?" She inquired, plopping into her office chair with a light sigh.
Kenshin trailed his fingers over the petals of a flower that sat in the sun coming in from the window. His eyebrow lifted teasingly. "Still dating him, I see." He noted the small blush with a bit of satisfaction. It was always good to note someone's weaknesses.
"Be serious please, Himura." She smiled icily.
"Aoshi will be here in less than ten minutes with the Russian agent."
It was stated so calmly that Megumi could have mistaken it for a comment on the weather outside. "What do you," She paused, peering questioningly at him, "intend to do with him?" The question was delicately posed.
Kenshin bent down to smell the orchid, an ominous look in his eyes. "It is more of a concern as to what we will do to him. Not what we'll do with him." He corrected before lifting his head and tossing her a misleadingly warm smile.
(-)
Getting out of the building was nearly as horrible as trying to get in it. The lines that refused to move when you were in them were reluctant to let anyone pass besides major city politicians and the rare celebrity. Huffing as yet another individual refused to move, Kaoru had her breaking point. "Move it." She snapped, eyes flashing.
The man moved to the side, stunned. Kaoru quickly passed through the small gap he provided, muttering a small thank you. She was home free. The door was less than a meter away and looking as inviting as ever.
Cold air swept across her skin, eliciting small goose bumps to rise up on her arms. Grumbling at her thoughtlessness, Kaoru covered what she could of her arms with her small hands. "What a lousy day to dress in a skirt." She remarked, walking away from the bureau. She reached the corner and stopped at the red hand that glared at her from across the street. Taking the moment, she looked back at the imposing tower, once again reading the sign on the front side of its façade.
International Bureau of Intelligence.
In other words, Hell, as Kaoru liked to think of it. Then again, who was she to complain when she had asked for a job as one of their informants? Not that it paid as well as she first imagined, but it got dinner on the table none the less.
Another chilly gust of wind reminded Kaoru of her current lack of appropriate clothes. She wanted to scream when she saw that the signal was still red. People across the street from her looked up toward the sky. Some gasped, other's began pulling out their cell phones, and one woman looked about to faint.
Kaoru turned just in time to witness a man fall from the top of the building and hit the ground.
First chapter is undergoing some minor revisions… For instance, actual breaks in the story! I did not notice that took them out until now.
Luv,
K