Hello!! For the few of those who reviewed and/or read this story, I am sooo sorry that it took me sooooo long to update. Other stories, lots of ideas, you know how that goes. So to make it up, I'll try to make this a long chapter. That's kind of hard for me to do so hang in there for me.
Disclaimer: I don't own anything except my cat and my pony. Everything else is somebody else's.
Kagura shuffled a deck of cards opposite her boss on a plastic table. Their business wasn't a very profitable business. Actually, it was non-profit. At least, their side was. There were higher ups that got a lot of money...they just didn't feel like sharing.
"So what's the next target?" Her boss, also known as Kar, pulled out a file and pictures. We got the info in 45 minutes ago. Kagura stopped shuffling the deck.
"Why wasn't I informed? The target could already be out of our reach." Kar pushed the file towards her side of the table. The single light swung from the ceiling and barely allowed her to read the paper.
"They won't strike until Friday at 12:00 midnight. That's when the guards switch shift. Some of the guards have gotten lazy and started leaving early. Thanks to you stealing that paper, Toyer doesn't know what they're looking for. So instead they're going to break in and take whatever they can get their hands on." Kagura growled at the name. Toyer was the mafiya of New York. Miroku, who she encountered many times, was their top thief who disguised as a NYPD detective. Hence, all the trench coats and lingo.
"Three days from now. So when do I go in? I don't particularly want any trouble. If I can avoid seeing Toyer trash then I will." Her swift eyes scanned over the papers, memorizing the particulars, blueprints, and guard stations.
"You'll go in right before they do. If you time it right and nothing goes wrong then you're all clear. If you go anytime before, the theft will be all over the news and they'll come looking for us. After you take it, jet to D.C. and stash it in the White House. I send people there to meet you. One break in is enough for one night." Kagura took out the red queen of diamonds. Red queens weren't good when it came to fortune telling.
"I've been meaning to ask you, Kar. When do you think Toyer will get tired of the small jobs and go for Washington or over seas to steal?" Kar sat back in his chair and took a deep breath.
"When the time comes we'll follow them wherever they go. But I don't want to talk about it until then." Kagura nodded. Something like that was a strict order. Worry about this steal and not the next.
"Friday then." She said as she let the deck burst from her fingers.
Friday 9:00 Lauder Building and Company
Kagura's low comfortable heels didn't make a sound across the span of concrete leading up to the stairs and building. She didn't need to attract attention with appearance as she sometimes did. Because of this, she was dressed in baggy close with her oily hair pulled into a bun at the nape of her neck. She felt like an old school teacher. Three guards came into her sight as she ascended the stairs. They all seemed ready to go home. She approached one of them and flashed him her fake ID. He nodded without even looking at her. She glanced at his name tag. Apparently, Carter didn't get very much action for a big guard. She stepped through the revolving doors and came into an airy room. It was big, expensive, and full of people.
'Great. Just what I need.' she thought. She looked around the room for signs or needed get away routes. In the far back there was a wall length desk with five or six women behind it. Blondes. All of them. They were probably what drew in the clients. The marble floor made it hard to conceal secrets and unwanted people.
'This would have been easier of the roof. Even if the target is in the middle of the building.' She decided that her mind was too crowded and shut off her thoughts. You learned how to do that after a while. Every door and hallway had a golden label plate beside it that explained what it lead to. It didn't take her long to find the storage and vault.
Kagura glided over there. She tried to make herself seem as natural as possible. The storage and vault door was placed at the back next to the desk. She took out a key before she got to the door so practically everyone saw it. The blonde on the very end gave her a dazzling smile. Kagura stopped and stared at her in faked awe before diverting her gaze quickly. The blonde gave a smug look and flipped her hair over her shoulder.
'That's right. Make her think nothing of it. Do the same thing when you come out. Bigger ego.' She unlocked the door and stepped in making sure to glance at the girl again.
'Sucker.' It was completely dark once she shut the door but her vision adjusted quickly. The room was filled with cardboard boxes. She needed the vault. Actually, she needed the vault behind the vault. The room was oblong and extended far into the building until it reached another door. She approached the entrance to the second door. The golden plate read "vault". This one didn't take a key. She grabbed the cool handle in her velvet glove and strode into the steel room. A circular opening was to the side with bars sticking out of it.
'Classic vault.' she thought. 'The ones in the movies.' She grew anxious with excitement as she leered over the target. She stopped herself before breaking it open and checked for stalkers, lasers, and your basic alarms. After she was all clear she pushed a button on the wall and a keyboard shot out to her. She smiled in accomplishment. This seemed way too easy. The business had put the target in the most unlikely place thinking that it'd be safest there. That wasn't a very smart thing. There were already two companies vying for it.
Kagura took out the paper she had stolen earlier and read the password to the vault. She didn't need it. The guy who had opened it before her apparently had, had too many fudge bars and had smudged the keys. Still, just to make sure.
After she had typed the password in, it was pretty simple; Janette Lauder, the owner's daughter, a green light went off on the vault and it opened automatically. There was the first vault. Inside were you basic business jewels. Important papers, extra computer tech stuff, etc. etc...
Kagura's hair floated behind her as she searched the area but it turned up empty. She stood up from her bent position and placed her hands on her hips.
'There's only one non-hidden vault on this floor. I am never wrong.' She gave the room a final sweep for anything unusual. Her eyes landed on a single rug in the corner. She smirked
'Now why would someone keep a rug in a vault? Even if it isn't all that pretty.' She took the edge of it and flung it off the floor. Under it lay a pair of steel doors with a single lock at the bottom. It would be easy to pick. Even easier to break. Kagura opted to pick it so that she'd be less likely to get caught.
She hummed to herself as she took a bobby pin out of her hair and stuck it in the key hole. She twisted it around for a while, her pink tongue slightly sticking out of her mouth. She opened the doors to find a shallow bank under it. There was only one thing in it. She smirked in accomplishment.
"Gotcha." she said audibly.
"No. Got you." came a tenor voice from the shadow. Kagura went rigid while holding her treasure. A string of curses ran through her mind and nearly out of her mouth.
"You're early." She said while glancing at her watch. It was only 9:45. The hair on her arms and neck stood on end as Miroku's form stepped into her vision.
"I don't work on a schedule. It gives me an air of mystery. Don't you think." he said wistfully. She could only imagine the smirk of conceit on his face. Kagura stood up and glared at him.
"No. I don't." Her grip tightened on the rolled up pages. Now was not a time to be messing around with Toyer. Ironic isn't it.
"Ah, well, you're not my type anyway. Too overpowering." Miroku studied his nails as if he was bored with her and their mutual interests. She noticed that he looked off into the corner behind her briefly.
'So the coward isn't alone.' she thought. She shifted the large cylinder to her front and held it close to her body.
"I'm getting so tired of hearing your voice all the time. Don't they have someone else?" she scowled. He always wanted to play this little taunting game and she always fell for it. Maybe she enjoyed it too. Especially when she won.
"Well, this is my area of expertise." the thief said while eyeing Kagura and the paper. She rolled her eyes.
"And what would that be?" She really didn't want to know. Miroku was known for snide and perverted remarks.
"You." he said simply as he made eye contact. But not with her; with something behind her. Kagura was all ready for a sarcastic comeback but before she could utter anything someone grabbed her from behind and pressed something cold to her throat.
"What happened to playing fair?" she said smugly. She inclined her chin as the knife was pressed further into her skin. Kagura felt drops of blood roll down her neck. Well if that didn't look suspicious...
Miroku had approached her and had grabbed the rolled up papers out of her hands.
"Thank you. You saved me a lot of trouble." Miroku looked back at her when she chuckled.
"How do you know that's the right one?" Kagura asked. Maybe she could pull one over him.
"Because you wouldn't go for the wrong one even if there was a fake." Kagura didn't let her facade down.
"Maybe I tricked you." She almost growled when he shook his head.
"You couldn't have come up with a plan and a trick. Besides your all about scheduling. You knew I'd be here a twelve. I knew, you knew." Kagura was taken aback by the insult. Did he just call her stupid?" Miroku gestured to the man behind her with the target.
"Take her away." Kagura began struggling as the very large man started pulling her farther into the building.
"Wait! The secretaries will get suspicious if I don't come out. They'll call the cops. We'll both get caught. And I know Gear doesn't like to get caught." she ended with a smug look. Miroku stiffened at the mention of his boss. He slowly turned around with a deadly look on his face. Kagura returned it. She really did despise the man. And his boss.
Miroku stalked over to her until he was inches away from his face. Kagura was leaning forward against the hold of the henchman.
"Fine." he said softly and deadly. "You go out the way you came but meet us outside." he used hand gestures as he talked. Kagura looked down at the target wondering if there was any way she could get it. Miroku put a finger under her chin and lifted her head back up to meet his glare.
"If you try anything, you'll be begging me to kill you. Is that clear?" Kagura jerked her head out of his hold.
"Crystal." she said with disdain. She forcefully pulled her arms away from man's big hands and fixed her clothing. She turned away right as both men faded into the darkness. Kagura rolled her eyes and rubbed her wrists. She scowled at the red marks that wrapped around her wrists. She couldn't hate Toyer more now.
She stepped through the vault door, closed it and then slowly walked through the room past it. There was no point in her rushing. She was just going to take her time, enjoy the scenery, think of a plan. She was actually confused by the fact that they were waiting for her outside. Usually, once they had what they wanted, they left her alone. Her hands snaked out and grabbed a crate full of files. No sense in leaving without a coverup. She'd just place it in another room later.
The light that emanated from under the door made her pause. What if it all was a trap? What if they didn't really want the blueprints. Sure, they were important. Her target for that evening were the blueprints for an international station. Everyone would eventually be registered there. Everyone, including, companies and government agencies. Even the Mafias, gangs, and terrorists would be recorded. But what if Toyer didn't care about that? Well, she'd soon find out.
Kagura's ivory hand clutched the door knob and twisted it open. She blinked as her eyes adjusted to the light that she was soon bathed in. The same receptionist was there to greet her.
"Find what you were looking for?" the blonde said in her soprano voice. Kagura patted the crate with a grin.
"Right in it's place." she said assuredly. The woman nodded and then returned to whatever she was doing. Kagura smirked as she turned away. She was just too good.
As she decided, she went to another door whose label said 'offices' and opened the door. She placed the crate in the very first cubicle and then returned back into the lobby. Miroku was probably wondering what she was doing by now. She briskly walked out the door and stood on the steps. The wind blew at her loose skirt and whipped at her fallen bangs exposing her face. She just loved special effects.
None of the guards were standing at position. They were getting really lazy to be leaving this early. So what if your job was boring. There might be blueprints involved. The thought brought Kagura back to the present. Miroku wasn't out standing in the middle of the street dancing. He was never easy to spot. A fume of smoke bled out of the corner of her eye. She turned toward the alley and spotted movement. She walked toward the alleyway. Her head was screaming suicide but just this once she didn't listen to it.
When she approached all she saw was Miroku and that damn grin. When she came farther in all she felt was her head smashed between two pieces of metal. That'd hurt in the morning.
I don't know if this is what you consider long but I think so. It took me a while to write it. I had to wing it at the end. I don't have much to say except keep reading and reviewing!! I guess you've come to expect that. I say it all the time.