A/N: AU / probably OOC. I jump forward a bit, not by much and I reveal the ghost leader. Applause and confetti for those who guess right:-)
Tried to make the chapter longer, so here it is.
I gone through it a couple of times, but pls let me know if there are errors.
Notes for this chapter: Mostly all military jargon
Recon – Short form for reconnaissance which means spy, but do not engage with the enemy
Perp – Short form for perpetrator (read, bad guy)
AK-47 / Glocks – Weapons
Flashbang – Grenade explosive that releases blinding white light to blind people
Again, thoughts are in Italics
Chapter 2: Operation
The plan was executed well. We moved in and dispatched the terrorists with our usual efficiency. Swift, silent and deadly, thank goodness that we have the best of equipment, silenced automatic rifles made sure that our progress remained stealthy and since my squad is made up of seasoned marksmen, no terrorist was able to escape to warn the others. The plan was simple, recon than action, no redundant movement, no waste of time. We lucked out this time as the terrorists do not have short range radios for communication, so they had no way to alert their comrades of incoming danger. It is something that the recon queen had spotted allowing the plan of recon / action to work flawlessly. The ghost leader mused while waiting for Chie to report in the status for the next target room, and it didn't take too long before the familiar crackle of the radio transmission resounded through her headset.
"Captain, found them, 12th floor, main conference room. The Fujinos are in there. Orders?" Chie radioed the leader while skillfully using the optic fiber camera to spy though the ceiling vent looking down into the conference room.
"Chie, positions, I need their positions." The ghost leader relayed the command in a low tone to minimize sound that may give away their positions.
"Total 5 perps. 2 perps on each of the double doors, north and east. Single south door is not guarded. Fujinos are at the west side of the room furthest away from all doors guarded by the last one. There is one Fujino missing, it's the daughter."
"Crap… Weapons?"
"North door, shit, they have AK-47s, glocks for the rest"
"Right, Nao. Nina, position yourselves for assault through the North door, I will be moving in from the East. The moment I bust the east door, wait 3 seconds and then engage. I will draw the attention of the perps with the AKs. Chie, on my mark, terminate the perp guarding the Fujinos. Are we all clear?"
"Clear" Nao and Nina confirmed.
"Captain, we may put Fujino junior at risk from this assault, we do not know where she is"
"Chie, understood, I will take your concerns under advisement, but all hostages are already in danger the moment top brass decided on this operation. We have our jobs soldier, we just have to avoid having collaterals"
"Understood Captain," Chie knew what her captain said was true, it is to uphold her government's stance of non-negotiation with terrorists and perhaps for the greater good, but all these moral justifications did not make her feel any better about the situation, so she took a deep breath and said "I am ready anytime you are, ghost leader."
Boom! Crack! The ghost leader kicks open the door, "Now Chie!"
Sounds of suppressed gun fire, agonized grunts and small screams spread throughout the conference room, as quickly as it had started, the assault had ended.
"Clear" "Clear" "Clear" All 3 members of the ghost squad called in to their leader as per standard procedure.
"Right, Nao. Nina, secure the safety of the Fujino family and escort them out of this building. Chie, come down from the vent, you're with me."
"You must find my daughter, one of them took her through that door, pls find her before she is harmed" The ghost leader turned to find a refined lady of about forty years, speaking in a hoarse voice pointing to a small door to the south. "You must keep her safe" She continued with pleading yet commanding eyes.
"I will find her and kill the bastard who took her" With an affirmative nod, the leader then signaled that they all have to get a move on.
After Nao and Nina left the conference room escorting the Fujino seniors, the remaining two discussed their plan of action.
"It appears that this is the last of the terrorists, just knew that they will put the most valuable hostages at the highest floor" grunted Chie.
"Chie, if I remember correctly the south door opens to a couple of flights of stairs into a storage area that is connected to the fire escape."
"Yes, captain, and the fire escape is covered from the outside, so no one can escape from there."
"Chie, take up position at this door and shot anything that comes out that is not a friendly."
"But, Captain, we have to pla-" Chie is cut off.
"There is no time, she is in trouble and I am pretty sure what the bastard wants from her. You have seen her photo. She is a pretty girl. So, take up position at this door and shoot anything that comes out that is not a friendly, I will not repeat this again."
"Understood, Captain!"
---Through the South door---
"… touch me! Leave … alone!" A disjointed female voice reached the ghost leader's ears. I can hear the stress and weariness of the voice, but what gives? She's been held hostage for almost 24 hrs without food certainly and most probably without water as well. Hmm, nice Kyoto-ben though. Eh? What am I thinking?
"Shut up and stop struggling, you want me to tell my comrades to kill your parents? Cooperate so that I can have some fun!" A maniacal voice followed by raucous laughter also filtered up the narrow stairway. A short while later, the ripping to cloth is heard as well. The ghost leader gritted her teeth at that sound moved down quickly but silently
Coming close to the small storage room, the leader surveyed the situation practiced eyes, she saw that the perp's back towards her, standing over his victim, one hand grabbing her wrist, the other with a glock. I cannot risk firing right here, his gun may go off and hit her. Think! Yes! I know what I can do. Decision made, the leader removed a flashbang from her combat belt.
Ping! In an instant, blinding white light illuminated the whole room, that is followed by three silenced gunshots and a thud on the floor. Shizuru didn't know what was going on, she was still lying on the ground but she couldn't see and started screaming and lashing out when she felt strong hands taking hold of her shoulders. She stopped struggling when she heard a strong yet soothing female voice.
"Be calm, I will not hurt you, you're safe and so are your parents. Now close your eyes, the sting will pass soon and you will be able to see again." Shizuru did that and when she finally blinked away the white spots, she saw goggles, and underneath it she saw eyes looking back at her with concern. Even though masked behind the slightly tinted and dust smudged goggles, she can almost feel the concern rolling off from the look.
Shit, she is looking at me blankly, can she see already? I better take of my goggles for a closer look. With that the leader removed her goggles and leaned in closer to the crimson eyes for a closer inspection.
Shizuru blinked again as the figure leaning near her face shifted. She reopened her eyes only to see a pair of emerald eyes staring deep into her own crimson ones. Such nice eyes, she must have been my saviour. Ara, ara, she thinks I still cannot see.
"Ara, my saviour, you can look into my eyes for as long as you want to," Came the teasing Kyoto-ben.
"Eh?" the leader immediately pulled back and looked away, pinking on the cheeks. Damn, I thought she should be shaken by this whole thing and the first thing she does is to say something like that? Briefly shaking her head to cool off her cheeks, she turned back only to see skin and a thin lacy white bra. While trying to clear her blush earlier, she did not know that Shizuru has sat up on front of her. Emerald eyes widened and immediately refocused anywhere else but Shizuru, all the while trying to fight down the blush on her face, but losing badly.
Shizuru noticed what has happened and silently giggled before releasing another teasing comment "Like what you see?"
The already red face turn redder, making Shizuru find it really amusing to see how these cute reactions are coming from someone who can kill another human being without blinking or flinching.
"Hmpf… How can you be saying these things when you are in danger?" Came the snappy remark.
"Well, I am not in danger anymore, you did tell me just now that I am safe and so are my parents." Shizuru replied calmly.
"Touche"
"Plus, I am also fairly certain that this situation has been resolved given your skills, so I am entitled to some stress release after all that I have gone through in the last 24hrs or so." Shizuru had put on sad face to bring across her point.
"Yah, ye… yes, point taken, and it is not just me, but my squad that cleared this building" the leader spluttered feeling a little guilty for snapping at Shizuru earlier, then in a softer tone she continued, "Look I have to get you out of here, so. erm, here, you can use my combat vest, your blouse is ripped."
The still slightly red-faced leader removed her combat vest and passed it to Shizuru before adding "Sorry it's a little heavy, due to the ammunition clips"
"Ookini, you're such a nice person." Shizuru said observing the red colour deepen out of the corner of her eye while slipping on the heavy vest.
"Whatever" the leader turned trying to hide her red face. "So, can you walk?"
"Ara, is that an offer to carry me?" Shizuru is pleased to see another shade of red, deeper and darker. I wonder how many shades are there?
"NANI! I asked if you cou-"
"Just kidding, er… Say, tell me your name, please. I am sure you already know mine and it is Fujino Shizuru." Shizuru asked.
"I am a ghost, you don't have to know my name, and I am here because I have a job to do. Come on, your parents are extremely worried." She turned and started moving towards the stairs.
"But it is difficult to talk to you this way" Shizuru pouted with no effect since the leader wasn't looking at her.
"Well then, just follow, no need to talk alright? We got to move"
Shizuru frown and started to follow. Hmm, one last try "Whatever you say, my saviour." Shizuru said while dragging out the word saviour in a lower and slightly sensual tone.
The leader froze as the Kyoto-ben reached her ears sending tiny shivers through her body. "Don't call me that! I'm just doing what I am trained for!"
"But you are still my saviour, and since you won't tell me your name, I'll use whatever name I think I should use. Perhaps I should use my hero or my knight in shining armor or…" Shizuru calmly replied, though inside she is quaking with silent laughter while watching the ghost leader twitch more and more. She's breaking alright. Fufu…
I have to find a way to get out and away from her. Man, why is it that I am blushing at almost everything she says and does. When I just managed to keep my head from exploding earlier from what I saw, she comes and says something like that again. But then again, that was a nice bra.. Bah!!! What am I thinking, again? I guess I should just tell her my name, so I can get this operation over and done with, before I pop a vein.
So the leader just said "Ugh.. Fine! I'll tell you my name, after that you let me complete my job to bring to safety, and no more weird conversations. Deal?" She spoke turning around to face Shizuru once more.
"Weird conversations? What did I say? I don't recall any weird conversations, but, never mind, I accept your deal." Shizuru smiled encouragingly.
"Name's Kuga. Natsuki Kuga. Can we go now?" The leader's shoulders slumped slightly in defeat.
"Ookini Natsuki, I can call you that right?"
"Yah, yah whatever, Fujino-san, this way, please" Flicking her thumb over her shoulder to indicate at the stairs behind her.
"Shizuru, just Shizuru"
Before Natsuki could make a reply, the familiar radio crackle from her headset draws her attention.
"Captain, do you read?"
"Yes, Chie, I read, Shi-, erm Fujino-san is safe, last perp's dead. I am coming up now, weapons safe."
"Glad that you are okay Captain, I heard the flashbang go off, but did not hear from you for a good 15 minutes, you didn't call in, I was worried"
"You could have said Shizuru you know. I'm glad you have already decided to call me so." Shizuru said with a twinkle in the eye.
Natsuki pinked again, clamped her month shut and shot Shizuru a glare before prompting turning around and started up the stairs, with the ghost of Shizuru's giggles following her.
"Hey, come on!"
"Hai hai, Natsuki." Shizuru replied before following her up the stairs.
TBC
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Notes: Natsuki probably quite OOC here, I always find that she is confident and cool when she's alone, but she always comes undone whenever she is with Shizuru.
I have some semblance of an idea on what is coming up, but next update will take longer. Sorry people… but…RnR pls…
