A Whiter Shade of Grey

Part 7: When Am I Not Careful?

The Okinawa Beachside resort was literally crawling with agents from every nook and cranny in the civilized world and every intelligence acronym devised by man. It was a hodge podge, an alphabet soup of undercover cops, spies, operatives, contractors all descending in one place, turning the refuge of holiday makers into a ticking time bomb. It could scarcely be a coincidence. No doubt they were all after the same thing, a private interview with the mysterious Anna Westford, the woman allegedly tied to Lucien Blair's untimely death.

From his prime vantage point at the outdoors bar about a hundred meters away from the centre of attention, BK-201 was watching it all unfold with indifferent professional interest. If he gave any thought at all to showing his emotions, he would have chuckled with amusement at the antics of his rival agents, gathering around the target like a herd of clumsy elephants. Whether the situation turned explosive depended on how one took advantage of the opportunities.

Anna Westford, on the other hand, appeared happily oblivious to the spies' picnic gathering around her. Dressed in a black and white striped bikini, she was sitting by the pool sipping cocktails and engrossed in what appeared to be a fashion magazine. From observing her, Hei determined that her habits were simple and regular: 8 o'clock breakfast, followed by 2 hours at the pool swimming or reading, lunch and then the afternoon at the beach. Everything she did, she did alone – a fact that piqued his interest. Experience told him that she was waiting for someone but it was odd that an attractive woman like would be alone in a place like this. It was then his thoughts flew immediately to Misaki.

To get Westford alone for some in-depth interrogation was proving impossible with all eyes on her. The only consolation to be had from this situation was that no one else could get to her either without being seen by everyone else.

For some minutes now, however, Westford was not the object of his attention. A pale, bespectacled Japanese woman was occupying the deck chair next to Westford's. Her long black hair was up in a top knot. Out of her usual garb of pant suits, he almost didn't recognize her. While she looked distinctly uncomfortable in her swimmers, not being accustomed to revealing so much skin, her slim figure and bare legs was drawing unwanted attention from passers-by. Not used to being admired for her physical assets, Misaki was looking more vulnerable than usual.

Hei had been hoping against hope that Misaki would sit this one out. He had deliberately kept vital information from her but knew from the start that it would only slow her down rather than deter her completely. Of greater concern to him was whether he could protect her if matters got out of hand fast.

Knowing her as he did, her pride would never allow her to ask for help. She would've been offended if he had openly followed her. Technically, he wasn't obliged to act as her bodyguard but as they were in some kind of partnership, he felt compelled to watch her back.

Like it or not, someone had to keep an eye on Misaki... she was taking plenty of risks working with him.


Going undercover went against the grain for Misaki. She bemoaned the fact that her life as a law enforcement officer was becoming increasingly complicated. All this boldface deception was wearing her down. Having to mislead others in order to do one's job was not really what she had signed up for. Moreover, having to display her feminine assets in such a matter only compounded her discomfort further.

Under stress and under observation, Misaki switched to auto pilot as she reached for the large bowl of chips she had brought along with her. Gloomily she stared into the pool, wondering how she was to make contact with the target and mowed down the chips absentmindedly. Her presence didn't go unnoticed, however.

"A whole bowl of chips? Wow... aren't you afraid to put on weight?"

It was Anna Westford, who was looking surprised and faintly amused at Kirihara's no holds barred approach to snacking.

Misaki was relieved that she did not have to break the ice. Socializing was not her cup of tea. Anna Westford gave her the opening she needed.

"Not really... I eat a lot of oily foods and I never put on weight."

"Lucky you."

Misaki scrambled to keep the conversation going. "I have a high pressure job... it helps to keep... er... the weight... er under... control." I sound ridiculous. After waiting for an opportunity like this... I'm stammering like a fool.

"What do you do?" Anna Westford seemed friendly and eager to talk.

"I'm a government worker..." Well, it's not untrue.

"A public servant?"

"Yes... nothing special really. Writing reports and doing what I'm told." Misaki giggled nervously. It's close enough to the truth.

"So what brings you here?"

"I'm having a holiday. My first one in five years." Also not untrue.

"Alone?"

Misaki nodded. At least she didn't have to prevaricate about this one. Inwardly she lamented... At the end of the day I'm always alone.

Anna smiled sympathetically. "I'm alone too. Although I'm waiting for someone..."

"Waiting...?" For whom? Lucien Blair? Doesn't she know he's dead?

"Yeah, it's as if we've spent our whole lives waiting for each other..." Westford commented wistfully.

"I'm sorry," Misaki said suddenly, genuinely sorry for this woman who was right in the middle of something that she probably had no idea about.

"Huh..."

"You sound so sad."

"Do I? I have some regrets I suppose but nothing I can't live with."

"I'm a little envious..." Misaki ventured. "At least you have someone waiting."

"Don't you?" Westford looked surprised.

Misaki shook her head regretfully. "I'm afraid I'm married to my job."

"Sometimes I think being married to a job is better than being married to a man."

"I don't think you would say that if you had to return to an empty apartment every night."

Westford thought for a minute before saying, "I was married once... to a very special man... but something happened..."

"To him?"

"No... to me..." Westford's demeanour changed momentarily. For an instant, her expression turned emotionless but just as quickly it returned to the friendly, engaging manner at the start of the conversation. "I really shouldn't go on and on about it. The past is past..."

"At least you had one, right?"


BK-201 observed with some satisfaction that the two women were giggling like schoolgirls and from all appearances, getting along like a house on fire. Whatever Kirihara was doing, it was working.

Not bad, Misaki... not bad at all.

Her innate vulnerability was working for her. The police officer mask was off and all her natural allure was shining through. Kirihara Misaki was really a beautiful woman who was desperately trying to suppress her natural assets. The glasses, the clothes and the hair were all part of the masquerade. It was inevitable that a woman who had so much to prove would have to deny her best qualities to get ahead in what was largely a man's world. With another woman, she could be herself. There was nothing to prove and so there was little need to suppress her feminine qualities.

"Yin..." The contractor lightly touched the miniature earpiece he was wearing.

"Yes, Hei?" The Doll answered in her usual bland fashion, sitting by her bedroom window.

"Keep an eye on Kirihara and that Westford woman. Keep me posted on how they get on. I'm going to have a closer look at Anna Westford's room."


Misaki returned to her room and immediately collapsed into the neatly made bed with some degree of jubilation. She had done a good day's work. Hence, she had reason to be satisfied with the progress she had made. Anna Westford had invited her to have dinner with her which was something of a major coup. Still, it wasn't the occasion to rest on her laurels just yet.

Her superiors were constantly breathing down her neck on about her lack of success in apprehending BK-201 and her father was still trying to convince her to pay a visit to the police counsellor. Nobody wanted her to take a trip to Okinawa so, in defiance she took some time off.

And then there was that contractor. What to do with him? She had half expected him to show up already as he was in the habit of doing so. He had always managed to stay one step ahead of her so it was quite likely he was somewhere in the restort. That he was nowhere to be seen or more likely avoiding her was a little... disappointing.

At the end of the day, their partnership was a tenuous one. Their relationship was forged by necessity and there was no obligation, spoken or unspoken, to take the partnership to the nth degree.

Moreover, Misaki was feeling drowsy after an especially sumptuous lunch. The buffet at the resort was almost worth all the embarrassment she had to go through. She yawned and closed her eyes. BK-201 could go jump off the nearest cliff and electrocute himself for all she cared. At that moment she had no thought for him. A nap was just the thing to take the edge of the fatigue she had been feeling and after achieving a small degree of success, she felt sure that she had earned it.


Hei swung in through the balcony window and saw at once that the inspector was sound asleep in bed. His first instinct was to rouse her but noting her log-like posture, so completely dead to the world, he could see that she was enjoying some much needed rest. So he pulled up a chair and waited. Whatever he wanted to say to her could wait.

That vision of Misaki lying in bed without the trappings of her job held a certain fascination for him. She was every bit the tourist, looking so peaceful... without a care in the world. It was so unlike what he had become accustomed to seeing: Kirihara Misaki was prone to carrying weight of the world on her shoulders. That elusive vulnerability that he glimpsed at earlier had not lost its attraction. Here she was... not a police officer, not tasked to keep secrets or to catch felons... she was just a woman in a hotel room asleep, oblivious to the dangers that were lurking outside those walls.

A shuffling sound coming from the room entrance broke through his stupor. Then the muffled noise of the door creaking. Someone was attempting to sneak in.

How the heck...

There was no time to lose. Hei leapt off the chair and took to the balcony in a flash. He disappeared behind a pillar in a stooped position and peered from the side in the hope of identifying the interloper.

As the door opened, a slight figure, dressed in a hooded robe much too big for the wearer, took soft steps inside the room. For Hei, there was something instinctively familiar about that individual which caused him to wonder then where they had crossed paths previously.

The hooded figure surveyed the room and evidently decided that it was safe to proceed further. At that point Hei was of two minds, wondering if a preventative measure was required or whether he should act only if Misaki's life was in imminent danger. He decided on the latter as he thought it worth some risk to unmask and determine the objectives of the mysterious visitor.

The stranger did not go straight to the sleeping Kirihara but searched the room first. The wardrobe, suitcases were the first targets followed by the bedside drawers. When there didn't appear to be anything of interest, the hooded visitor rummaged the handbag that was lying innocuously on the dresser. Apparently there was nothing of interest there either.

What is he looking for?

Perhaps someone is not convinced by Kirihara's cover story...

The intruder strode stealthily towards the bed, raised his hand and then for some reason stopped in mid-air.

Why is he hesitating? Second thoughts? Why Kirihara?

Through force of habit Hei readied himself for action and was prepared to release a moderate charge of electricity should it be required.

As those brief moments were ticking away, Misaki stirred and rolled over onto her right side. The intruder froze momentarily seemingly trying to decide what to do next. Hei thought it was time to intervene. He had waited long enough and it was evident that the stranger had sinister designs of some sort. While he was not ready to reveal himself, Misaki's safety was paramount. A scratching noise from the balcony stirred the intruder into action and saw him bolt out the door in a hurry. It was all quite odd.

Who the hell was that? What was he looking for?

Hei looked over Misaki's slender figure and noted to his satisfaction that she had been unharmed.

At least she's safe.


"Kirihara... it's time to wake up..."

The inspector sat up immediately dazed. "Huh... oh... it's you... what are you doing here?"

"Are you really surprised?"

" Huh... Nope... not really..." Misaki stretched herself and yawned. "But speaking of the obvious... what are you doing here? Can't be because you miss me."

"I have information that may interest you..." Hei said quickly ignoring the jibe. "And you had a visitor..."

"And you don't mean you..."

"No." Hei stared at her with more intensity than usual. He was taken aback by how Misaki was being rather cavalier about the whole thing.

"I suppose you'll get round to telling me about it sometime today." Despite the mask of indifference, Misaki was not as flippant as she pretended to be. Her fists had instinctively tightened under the sheets. It took all the willpower that she could muster not to show her true feelings.

"I couldn't identify the hooded figure but I was certain that we had encountered one another previously."

"I see... Did he... or she try to kill me?"

"It was hard to say. Perhaps." The contractor muttered thoughtfully. "But something caused him to change his mind."

"And you don't mean you..."

"No, it wasn't me."

"Well, I'm alive to fight another day."

"You don't seem particularly perturbed by the incident." Hei studied her mystified.

"Perturbed? Why should I be... when I have you to protect me..." Misaki flashed a grin to prove her point. "Anyway, I'm on holidays. Nobody will be inconsiderate enough to kill me while I'm on holidays. Now will you excuse me, while I get changed for dinner." She rambled on and then proceeded to stroll cheerily towards the bathroom, casually slipping off her evening dress from the coat hanger.

BK-201 knew from experience that women could be unpredictable but in Kirihara's case it was as if he had been talking to another woman altogether. She was taking all this far too lightly. Moreover she seemed distant... like she was a million miles away.

Misaki closed the door quietly behind her and slid onto the floor, shaking like a leaf. She hoped that the devil-may-care facade had worked. There was no way between heaven and hell she was going to crumble in front of him.

So I'm the damsel in distress now. Her entire person revolted at thought. This is ridiculous. Has it come to this?

I'm turning into a pathetic excuse for a cop... I can't seem to do my job without him backing me up. If he hadn't been around...

I would have died.

Misaki allowed that thought to sink in. Some days she wondered if death wasn't preferable to the double life she was leading. It wasn't as if she was averse to putting herself on the line. She'd been doing it even before that contractor came on the scene. So why was this any different?

Kirihara had always been capable of looking after herself. She was prepared to face the enemy head on. Going down all guns blazing... that was more her style. But these silent stabs in the dark, cloak and dagger stuff was not something she had trained for or was prepared to do.

Tears rolled down her cheeks as she sank her head between her legs. It wasn't worth the effort trying to hold them back.

You're an idiot, Misaki. You let yourself get close to a contractor and now you're an emotional basket case.

It was pointless pretending any further that she didn't have feelings for BK-201. It wasn't as if either of them had planned the whole thing but their relationship was complicated and quite likely, in her mind, one sided. There was no reason to suppose a contractor could have normal relationships with anyone. Misaki was not that much of an emotional wreck not to know that. Of all the men in the world she could have fallen for, it had to be Public Enemy #1.

Misaki spent much of her adult life living in a man's world, working with men of different stripes. Thus far she had managed to avoid falling in love with any. Or more likely, most men avoided falling in love with her. She knew what the office gossip was and shrugged it off. Any men who may have harboured any intentions towards would always end of thinking that she was too aggressive, too bossy and too busy. She was a police officer in every fibre of her being and knew everything there was to know about contractors.

But when it came to love... Misaki was out of her depth. Then she sobbed quietly and bitterly on the cold tiled floor. She never felt lonelier in her life.


Hei, although adept at concealing his true feelings, was relieved when Kirihara finally emerged from the bathroom. The room felt eerily quiet and despite his nonchalant demeanour he had been quite prepared to smash down the bathroom door after about 20 minutes of pacing the room.

What was she doing in there?

At first she looked aloof and stunning in a simple red sleeveless dress that showed off all her curves. As she was glancing nervously and straightening the dress at 1 minute intervals, it was clear that she wasn't accustomed to such attire.

"Going to a party?" He asked with characteristic nonchalance.

"Me? No. Just a dinner date."

Oh. "Who's the lucky man?"

"Man? Oh no, no, no..." Misaki giggled nervously. "It's not what you think... I should be so lucky."

Lucky? Hei did not say a word in response which gave the vague impression that he disapproved of the entire idea.

Misaki felt his disapproval and felt that an explanation was in order. "It's Anna Westford... I'm having dinner with Anna Westford. I was invited and I thought it would be a good opportunity to... you know... find out more."

"I see." The contractor's face was emotionless but his eyes were intently searching hers.

I hate it when he does that. "I... erm... ah... should go... now."

"I won't keep you."

Misaki picked up her keycard and slipped it into her purse. Only just managing to find some balance on the new pair of high heels she was wearing, she wobbled unsteadily towards the exit.

"Misaki..."

"Huh..."

"Is everything alright?"

MIsaki turned to look at him and dutifully produced a smile. "Of course. Why wouldn't it be?"

"Be careful, won't you?"

She flashed him her most brilliant smile and said, "When am I not careful?"

And then catching a glimpse of that rare look of concern on his face, she waved it off saying, "It's only dinner."


Author's Notes:

In time honoured fanfiction tradition, dare I say it... I'm back! For how long, that remains to be seen.

I have always intended to finish this and was going to update this late last year when I was incapacitated by medical issues. Early this year, I started a new job and so all my energy was focused on learning the ropes, as it were.

Life is busy but I felt duty bound to those who have supported this story with lovely reviews to keep this going. Thanks for reading and reviewing. It does warm the cockles of this writer's heart.