Authors Note: Hi everyone! I hope there are actually people out there reading this story. And if you are please drop a review by. I'd really appreciate it. You guys all rock!
Chapter 2: Meetings and Surprises
Mimi checked the apartment number one more time. "13," she smiled grimly. "How appropriate." The starlight filtered dimly through the windows as she darted in quietly, the doors sliding shut behind her. She quickly checked the desk and smiled, unattended just as she was promised. She didn't bother wondering what had happened to the night watch man. Things tended to go smoothly on jobs like this one. In the elevator Mimi pressed the button with one elegant black gloved finger. The lift rose up smoothly and she stepped out onto the carpeted floor. She raised an eyebrow at the décor noting the dimly lighted chandeliers, the plush feeling of the maroon rugs and the pot plants standing like silent guards in the corridor. "Luxurious," she thought. Her chosen destination was the very end of the hallway. She closed her eyes before she entered, this wasn't her job, it wasn't what she was trained to do but still…it was the Boss's wish.
From her pocket she pulled out what looked like a little golden key. Inserting into the keyhole she pressed a button and a small blade popped out cutting through the lock like a knife through butter. Mimi slipped the gadget back into her pocket and twisted the doorknob. It gave as she knew it would and she stepped carefully into the apartment. She had memorised the floor plans and she knew the bedroom was the second door on the right, she was betting he would be in there, but she had even prepared for the eventuality of him being in the kitchen or of course the bathroom.
What she wasn't counting on was him being behind the door, stepping out and pressing a knife to her throat. Instinctively she flinched and felt the cold metal cut a little into her skin. "Don't move," instructed a voice from behind her.
Mimi concealed her surprise. "How did you know I was coming?" she asked her voice as casual as if she was asking about the weather.
He laughed a little harshly. "Did you think I was going to just forget about what happened this morning? I had a few extra security measures put in, including cameras in those plot plants."
Mimi's eyes widened and she felt like hitting herself. She was a spy for goodness sake! Rule No. 2 was to stake out the place, check for hidden cameras, trip wires, defence mechanisms, how could she be so idiotic?
The man behind her continued, "Still I didn't expect they'd send a girl."
Mimi bit her lip. This guy thought she was an amateur? She'd dealt with worse then this before. Taking a deep breath she prepared herself, the most important thing was to judge your opponent's reaction time. If you could knock them down before they could cut you, everything else was pretty much in the bag. She let her breathing quicken as if she was scared, her body shaking a little in mock terror. She felt the man behind her hesitate, his grip on her loosening…just one more second now…quick as a flash she jabbed her elbow into his stomach, twisting at the same time as he fell to the ground. The knife skimmed her throat leaving a shallow cut and she winced as it stung but immediately she kicked the weapon away pulling out her revolver.
The man's eyes stared at her, hair messy, clad only in boxers. Mimi looked at him curiously; he was a very handsome target, definitely one she'd look at twice in the street, ruffled blond hair, startling blue eyes, nice muscles and besides…he looked sexy in boxers…
Mimi shook her mind out of the gutter and tightened her grip on the gun.
"You know," she said conversationally, "I didn't expect them to send me either. Assassination isn't really my thing if you must know. Way too messy and sometimes way too simple. It's amazing what lengths people go through to protect things yet when it comes to personal safety…What can I say? Ladies always did get the tougher jobs."
The man took a deep breath. "They'll hear the shot. They'll be in here before you can jump out the window or anything."
The woman looked amused. "You think I'd jump out of the window when I'm on the 21st floor? I'm a spy but that doesn't mean I'm suicidal." Her voice changed from light banter to business. "But you see this little thing here? It's called a silencer. It's useful for cases like these when you're in a hurry. Can you guess what it does?"
He just looked at her with disgust but that didn't phase Mimi one bit.
"I bet you can so I won't waste time telling you. I think some of the last things you hear or think should be good things right? Did you know you're very handsome and look sexy in boxers? What's your name again? Y-something I know. Just give me a minute."
He gaped at her.
"Yamato, that's it! Can I call you Yama? I suppose it doesn't really matter though. Now just think happy thoughts and it'll be over before you know it. I promise I'll make it quick."
"You're a monster," breathed Yamato meeting her gaze full on. "You're a monster and you know it."
Mimi hesitated. "Now that's a little callous isn't it? I'm just doing my job."
Matt spat at her feet. "Some job."
Mimi's eyebrows drew together. "Oh and I suppose yours is better? You just trot around, doing what your boss tells you, depriving people of money, ruining lives while you live in a posh little apartment overlooking the Nile."
"The Nile's in Egypt."
"Shut up! How dare you call me a monster? You're nothing but a filthy hypocrite who deserves what's coming to him!" Mimi knew she was overreacting. This is why she preferred getting information, knowing things, staying away from people. She could be too emotional and she knew it.
"Do I really? And will you be able to live with yourself knowing you killed me? That you took my life away? Or will you wake in the night and think that maybe you were wrong, and that you did a terrible heartless thing that night."
"You're trying to play on my conscience."
"It's working."
Mimi turned her head away. "I have to kill you, you know. You've seen me, I can't just waltz out of here and let you live. Besides I have my orders."
Yamato narrowed his eyes. "Whose orders?"
But Mimi ignored his question; face brightening as she came to a solution. "I know! I'll take you and the papers! We can be partners! And that way if worse comes to worse at least I won't have to kill you."
"Oh joy. My prospects are looking so much better."
Mimi beamed. "You're lucky they sent me you know. Ken wouldn't have been nearly so merciful. In fact you'd have been dead ages ago. But now walk in front of me so we can go grab the suitcase, then we can head out. It's getting late."
Yamato stood up slowly. "Can I put on some clothes?"
Mimi cocked her head thoughtfully, then ducked down and picked up the knife. It happened so fast Matt didn't even blink. "Ok here's the thing. You get dressed and grab your case. Make one move I don't think you should make and I throw this lovely knife of yours and shoot at the same time. Odds are one of them will hit you."
Matt stared at the sharp blade seeing his bright blue eyes reflected back at him. Eyes which no matter how hard he tried to conceal it were flashing fear. Gulping he nodded.
A few minutes later they walked out of the apartment Mimi's arm around his waist inside his coat. He could feel the gun pressed against him warningly as she gave a cheery wave to the returned night clerk. "Lovely night isn't it?" he called out. Mimi nudged Matt fiercely.
"Beautiful!" he called hurriedly as they walked down the steps.
"We'll catch a taxi," said Mimi calmly hailing one down. "You're paying."
Matt stared at the girl behind him unbelievingly, in return she only grinned, blowing him a kiss before pushing him in. He sighed. It was going to be a long night. Mimi settled comfortably in her seat and looked thoughtfully at the handsome male beside her. She had already broken Rule No. 2 but what worried her more was Rule No 1.
Don't let your feelings interfere.
"The thing is," thought Mimi, "I think I already have."
OXOXOXOXO
Tai stared at Jyou angrily. "You're saying you found nothing? There's a whole bloody scuffle in one of the highest ranking apartment buildings around, a man that was previously, if I have to add, part of a very suspicious car crash disappears, so apparently does some of his clothes and you find nothing? Not one single strand of hair or spot of blood or some sort of evidence?"
Jyou shrugged his shoulders apologetically. "Sorry Tai. There's nothing there except the victim's personal items and markings." Seeing Tai's apoplectic face he tried to look a little reassuring. "You know, if it is who you think it is, you should know by now that they're professionals. They're not going to be leaving behind fingerprints."
Tai tried to calm himself down. "I know…it's just so damn annoying to have them slip out of my fingers every time. It feels frustrating."
Jyou looked if it was possible even more serious. "It's more then that. It's frightening to think that these people can just take whatever they want, whoever they want and not get caught. It makes us think, are any of us really safe?
Tai looked down a bit worried. "I think I should be heading home. I haven't been there in a while." He scratched his head feeling a little ashamed. "It was Kari's birthday today. I promised her I'd spend the day with her, no interferences but then this came up…" Seeing Jyou's look he groaned. "I had to come didn't I? No one else had the experience to handle it! It's not my fault I have to handle everyone's incompetence!"
Jyou hung up his lab coat not meeting Tai's eyes. "It's not your fault Tai but it's not Kari's either. You should consider what's more important. Your sister or your job."
Tai stood in the fading light and watched him go in silence.
Well there you go! You got your first bit of Matt/Mimi interaction and a little insight into Tai's life. Next time there's
. More between Dai and Kari
. Tai gets caught up in a surprising new plot
. And the verdict falls on whether Matt should live...or die.
If you want to see all this and more tune in next time!
Crystal
