Disclaimer: Don't own.

IMPORTANT NOTE: Please read the blurb at the end. It's important to the well being of both this fanfic and you.


Rei blinked at the sight of bright orange-red hair in his vision.

"Brooklyn!?!?"

He didn't know whether to be surprised, delighted, or confused. At the same time, he felt little twinges of disappointment worm their way into his heart, as he had been rather enjoying his time with Kai.

While Rei was busy sorting his emotions, Kai and Brooklyn continued their staring/glaring contest. If looks could kill, both would have made their way through the seven levels of hell, only to be reincarnated again. It was that bad.

The breeze passed by again, trying to relieve the awkwardness and tension of the moment.

Snapping out of his daze, Rei suddenly remembered his manners.

"Er…Brooklyn! Um…This is Kai. Hiwatari! Yeah, Hiwatari. I'm working with him on my, uh, mission. I mean, mission to, uh, reorganize the bank accounts of the Bank of the Soviet, cuz, you know, the bank accounts are unorganized and need to be reorganized. And we're also going over the files of the bank accounts cuz they are unorgan…"

"That's lovely, kitten." Looking smugly at Kai, Brooklyn leaned over and kissed Rei on the mouth, effectively shutting him up and showing his dominance to Kai at the same time. Brooklyn always did everything for a reason.

"Now…" Brooklyn looped his arm around Rei's waist and steered him towards the wrought iron gate that led to the street. "My fiancé," he intentionally stressed the word, "and I have business to attend to." He flashed another smug smile at Kai. "If you'll so kindly excuse us, Mr. Hiwatari."

Kai resisted all urges to bash Brooklyn's face in as he watched him lead Rei away. Correction: lead HIS Rei away.


Rei contentedly smiled as he felt Brooklyn's fingers stroke up his spine.

"Mmmm…Brooklyn?"

"Yes?" He looked up from his book. After a lavish dinner, extravagant shopping and a (naughty) shower, the soon-to-be-couple were lounging in bed in the best hotel Moscow had to offer. Rei had called in for a break, which was begrudgingly granted.

Rei yawned, snuggling into the pillows. "Why are you in Moscow?"

He missed Brooklyn's slight frown and look of annoyance.

"Because I have…business…to attend to."

"…Hm." By the time Brooklyn's answer left his lips, Rei was already sound asleep.


"Kypirno!" The director flinched at the harsh sound emitted from the cordless phone.

"WHAT do you THINK you're DOING?!?!"

"I-I…."

"NO! SHUT UP! Don't wanna hear your useless whining…"

"…." Kypirno waited for the other's response.

"I told you. I need them both in top condition! You hear me? As in NO BREAKS!!"

"Y-yes."

"Good. Or else this isn't gonna work. And you aren't gonna get your goddamn 100 grand."

The line went dead. Sinking into his office chair, Kypirno put his head into his hands.

Shaking with anger, he began thumbing through his files. He forcefully grabbed the one he wanted, bending the corner. Then he shredded the folder that read "Operation Griffin". It didn't matter anymore; what was done was done.


The bank was all commotion.

More accurately, everything but the bank in the bank was all commotion. Business went on as usual on the first floor. Customers cashed in checks and withdrew sums of money…

But on the eighth floor…

"HAIRSPRAY!!" The yell echoed down the hall.

A few seconds later, an attendant sprinted to room 868 with a green can of hairspray. Shaking, he peered around the corner…

And was immediately confronted by Mariah's seething features. And lots of pink.

"You're lucky I'm in a GOOD MOOD today!" She huffed, grabbing the can. The attendant breathed a sigh of relief as his life was guaranteed safe for the next 20 minutes.

Mariah turned back to Rei, who was standing awkwardly in the middle of the room, having just been forced into his outfit. He was shivering; the AC in the bank was rather unforgiving…

"Now," she purred, "We'll just put on the finishing touches." She gently set the can on a dresser, and then picked up some powder foundation. Rei backed away slowly…

Elsewhere, everyone was also preparing for the mission. Technicians made sure their computers were up and running, supporting agents were briefed for the final time, and black cars regularly left the bank's secret underground parking lot, heading for the airport. Even the bank's cat, famous for sleeping on top of register number 8, was outfitted with a camera on his collar, packed away into a pet carrier, and then shipped off to the airport to be loaded on the plane.

No one was taking any chances.

Kai fidgeted. He stood alone in the hallway, outside of the fitting room. After the whole incident with Rei, he had figured that it would be best if he wasn't inside the room.

"Hey Kai." A girl winked as she hurried by with an armload of papers. The other girls following her giggled.

Probably some technicians. Kai pulled at his jacket. He was smartly dressed, with a navy jacket adorned with medals buttoned over a cream shirt. His slacks fit perfectly, and black leather shoes and a pilot's hat finished off the ensemble.

"GAAAAaaaaaah…" Something fell and clattered inside the room. Kai sighed as he checked his watch. If we don't leave in 30 minutes we'll be late…

After what seemed like an eternity and five minutes, the door slammed open, sending shock waves down the walls of the hallway. Mariah stomped out, breathing heavily. Her hair looked like it had just barely survived a tornado. Spotting Kai, she immediately marched over.

"Here!" She thrust the tube of lip gloss into his hands. "He's your partner. YOU take care of him."

Kai watched bemusedly as she huffed and puffed down the hallway, cursing and knocking down a potted plant in the process.

Twirling the tube of lip gloss in his hands, Kai sauntered into the room. His breath hitched in his throat.

Rei perched on the edge a sink in the corner of the room, with his back leaning on the mirror. He twirled his hat with slender fingers. Mariah had completely transformed him. Adding to the revealing outfit, which hugged his perfect body and accentuated his legs, winged eyeliner brought out his catlike eyes. Carefully placed foundation and powder contoured his cheekbones. His silky hair had been perfectly brushed and braided.

Seeing that it was Kai who had walked through the door, and not Mariah, Rei grinned ruefully. "She's quite forceful, isn't she?"

"To put it lightly, yes." Kai avoided the broken hair dryer and stepped over mirror splinters.

He held up the tube of gloss. "I have been assigned to administer this aid of cosmetic beautification."

Rei rolled his eyes. "Kai. It doesn't matter. It's not like I'm going to kiss the guy or anything…"

"You're really too relaxed for this mission. He's going to unleash a virus on the world, for Pete's sake."

"Don't evoke Pete with me." Rei kicked playfully at Kai with his heels. "Why be serious when we're spending the next twelve hours being serious? And who knows, maybe he's just full of hot air and money."

"Well, whatever happens, I need to get this lip gloss on you."

"Mariah won't know."

"Actually," Kai replied as he unscrewed the lip gloss, "she's at the airport right now. Screening and checking over all the other agents acting as flight attendents."

Rei groaned. "I knew it wouldn't be that easy to get away with it…"

"Come on. A little closer now."

Rolling his eyes, Rei used his hands to steady himself as he leaned in towards Kai. The hat sat untouched on his lap.

"Ok. Kissy face first."

Rei pouted his lips and closed his eyes as Kai ran the tube of gloss over his mouth.

"Now spread."

Rei mashed his lips together and rubbed them, spreading the lip gloss.

"Everything okay?" Rei queried, opening his eyes.

"Mmhm." Kai reached up and wiped some extra gloss off of the corner of Rei's mouth…

And for a moment, their faces were very, very close.

Rei could feel himself drowning in the crimson pools all over again. His heart started fluttering, beating uncharacteristically fast. His fists tightened on the edge of the sink.

Kai felt the urges that he had been working so hard to suppress as he stared into golden eyes. Unconsciously, he placed his hands over Rei's as he leaned in…

It would be so wrong…but feel so right.

Almost as if an intangible force was pulling them together, both moved closer and closer…

…and suddenly pulled apart.

"Er. W-we should get going. Don't want to be late." Kai broke off eye contact first, pulling his hands away. He fidgeted with his hat as he turned away.

"Y-yeah." Rei slipped off the edge of the sink, his heart thudding in his chest. The hat bounced a little as it fell off his lap and onto the floor. As he picked up his hat, he suddenly felt guilty about what had happened.

He slowly slid the hat onto his head.

Better fix this up…wouldn't want secrets between us. It's about time I told him about Brooklyn and me…

"Kai…"

But, looking up, he saw that Kai had already gone.


Ok. So here's the deal.

I have been going over my previous chapters, and I've noticed that they are quite short. However, the chapter count still reads "7" and I think that scares some potential readers away. Personally, I'm a fan of shorter works. If this fanfic goes according to plan, this will not top 10 to 13 chapters.

THUS I WILL BE COMBINING THE FIRST FEW CHAPTERS. Again: I will be COMBINING some chapters.

I'm not deleting anything, and the fic will continue to be updated. But I'm just combining a few chapters, so please be wary.

When I update next, I will put a remainder in the description.

Phew.

That aside, how did you like this chapter? Gives us some nice plot development.