"Hi there!"

"Good morning, miss. What can I help you with?"

"Well… I can't find my friends after using the bathroom." Swishing her tail, the young female beastkin lets out a wry smile out of embarrassment. "You know, those two blondes who were here just a moment ago? I think they were checking in when I was away… Ahaha…"

"Alright, miss. Do you want me to give them a call to pick you up?" The hotel concierge reaches over to the communication portal on the desk.

"No, please don't do that! They are going to laugh at me so hard for getting lost like a little kid!" The beastkin shakes her head in panic. "I know! Can I have their room number?"

"I'm afraid I can't help you with that, miss. Rules and regulations on customer secrecy, you know."

"Please, just this time? I really don't want to be embarr-"

"That's impossible. I'm sorry."

"I see…" The beastkin lowers her voice and pulls out a small stack of banknotes from a hidden pocket near her ample chest. "How about now? Let's say I overheard you around the corner. Deal?"

The concierge considers for a brief second, then he grabs a calculator and punches a few buttons. In a fluid movement he slides it across the counter and snatches the stack of notes near the beastkin.

"Thank you very much. Have a nice day!" With the newly acquired information, the beastkin quickly reverts to her usual chirpy tone. She walks to the elevators and hit the call button.

"Hello? Gnu reporting in."

"What's it, Makoto? You ran into trouble?"

"No, Professor. Everything is fine… I suppose. It's just…"

"Out with it already. I don't have all day."

"Well… The targets just checked into a hotel room. Should I really continue this?"

"Of course. Why would that matter? Your mission is to follow and protect them, remember?"

"I know! But I kinda feel like a stalker here… And not that they need the protection, methinks."

"What are you talking about? Of course they are gonna need protection if they decide to get on with it. Really, you should have taken your sex ed lessons more seriously."

"W-What?! That is not even remotely related! I was talking about this secret bodyguard mission!"

"Oh." The radio goes silent for a while. "Anyways just go on with your mission. I assure you that those two need the, um, protection. …On the safe side, you should go buy some contraception device for those two. I have no wish for any unwanted pregnancy here. That's an order."

"You can't be serious?! They are adults for fuck's sake!" Makoto shouts into the radio set, earning her some annoyed glances from the people nearby. No response returns from the radio however.

For the first time in her life as a spy, Makoto is overwhelmed by the sheer absurdity of the mission assigned to her.


Click.

Click. Click.

After making sure she knows how to operate the lighter, Noel puts it down on the coffee table. She would be lying if she says she isn't nervous about what is about to happen.

Actually the plan is not that complicated even by her standards. Jin has gone over it many times just a while ago. He will sneak down to the basement of the hotel to disable the ars magus regulator there, which controls the various systems operating here in the hotel. After that she will use the lighter to trigger the fire alarm from this room. With the regulator down, the emergency fail-safe would kick in and unlock every door in the hotel. Then she will head to Hazama's room and grab every important document she finds. Jin figured that in the chaos that follows they should be able to blend in and leave the building unnoticed.

The only catch is that they have to finish their jobs quickly, preferably within a quarter of an hour. There is only so much time before somebody contacts the NOL emergency service and they can't possibly wriggle out of it after the authorities arrive. All is for naught if they are caught in their acts.

In more ways than one, they are breaking the law. The mere thought of it is enough to make Noel feel giddy. To keep her mind occupied on other things, she picks up the communication portal and checks it out. Jin is supposed to contact her with the portal once he has done his part. Any moment now, as he has gone for quite some time already.

Noel turns the blue portal in her hands. This rather generic portal belongs to Jin. While their functions are almost identical, she finds her orange one decorated with stickers look way more appealing. As part of their disguise, they have not returned their portals to the original owners. It would be quite embarrassing if someone sees Jin using a portal covered with girly stickers.

Noel switches the portal on, looking for something to do to pass the time. She has no wish to browse through Jin's personal stuff in the portal, but the title of a certain photo gallery piques her interest. '23232323~3~'…? What on Earth could this mean? She couldn't help but take a peek…

She regrets opening it the instant she did so.

It is overflowing with hundreds of photos of Ragna the Bloodedge. Many are poorly photoshopped, however, with the head of Ragna spliced with some muscular bodies. To be honest, the entire gallery looks like an eerie mausoleum containing the deaths of the many twisted existences of Ragna…

Shit… She is going to have nightmares after opening this Pandora's Box.

At that instant, the portal beeped as a message arrived. Noel, still shocked by the disturbing images, fumbles and almost drops the portal.

It is Jin alright. Time to get into action.


"Alright… That should do it."

With a final rub, Jin pockets the used alcohol wipe. Now no trace of his tampering is left on the regulator. He has carefully cleaned everywhere that he has touched near the device. Even if anyone suspects sabotage, there is no way it can be traced back to him. Actually it would be absolutely impossible to trace this sabotage to Jin Kisaragi. His body has never set foot in this little basement after all. Still, it is uncalled for to leave loose ends here.

Of course, it would be all for nothing if he is caught red-handed right here. Time to leave.

As he carefully climbs the stairs back to ground level, panicked screams and shouts ring in his ears. It seems the girl is successful in stirring up chaos and troubles. Just what she is good at.

Doors are unlocked everywhere, so Jin doesn't have a lot of trouble finding his way out. Nobody cares about where he is going, too, as everyone is busy running for their lives. Really, it's just a fire drill. He had done it countless times back in the 4th Squadron. There is no reason to run around like headless chickens.

As Jin strolls out from the entrance of the hotel, flocks of people are gathering nearby. They are all panting and exhausted. A few are sitting on the ground, and some are hugging their families and friends.

Something isn't right here…

As if in answer to Jin's rising confusion, a pungent smell of soot enters his nostrils, almost making him choke on his breath. Wait… Why is there a real fire breaking out upstairs? Everyone knows a tiny flame from a lighter is enough to trigger a fire alarm! Did that bitch screw up big time? He turns his head upwards in utter annoyance.

Smoke and soot billows out of the windows a few floors above him. Reddish flames flicker as they lick the brick walls outside the broken windows. The blazing inferno is quickly spreading to the higher levels. Those people did have a reason to run away in panic after all. Jin hopes no one is trapped inside the building…

…Oh fuck there is. At least one anyway.

Jin quickly tries calling Noel on the communication portal. No one answers. Impatiently he tries once more, but still to no avail.

"Why is it always like this?" He mutters as he quickly dashes back into the hotel.

Jin grabs a wet towel from a nearby service cart as he goes up the service stairs. It smells funky and has more holes on it than a wheel of Swiss cheese, but it will have to do. The fire has not spread to the lower floors at the moment, but time is critical.

Tirelessly he climbs the flights of stairs to the sixth floor, where Hazama's room is located. As expected, the air is suffocating and it is next to impossible to find his way around. The smoke from the fire has found its way up here. Wrapping the wet rag over his mouth and nose, he set off to find the room as well as the damsel in distress.

It is not an easy task, feeling his way around in the smoggy hallway, but eventually he locates Hazama's room. From what he can see, the place is in a mess. Clothes, bed sheets, suitcases… all kinds of junk are scattering everywhere. No one is in the room though.

Jin punched the door frame in frustration. Where else could she have gone off to? He certainly didn't see her outside the hotel.

"Noel Vermillion!" Gritting his teeth, he shouts into the empty hallway. "Answer me if you can hear me!"


It doesn't look good at all.

Noel has no idea why she is stuck here. Everything was proceeding according to plan. Fire alarm triggered, doors unlocked, people getting out… yada yada yada. She has even retrieved Hazama's portable terminal in his room. Why did a real fire break out all of a sudden?

That can wait, however. Saving herself takes priority right now.

Noel got to the main staircase a while ago, but the smoke was too much for her. From what she remembers from the fire drills back in the old days, she should go somewhere with good ventilation and sealed from the fire. All windows in rooms are sealed, so it is not a good idea to get into one of those condos. The best place she came up with was the roof.

So here she is, pulling herself up the service staircase. Not a long way up, but not exactly a short trip however. Carrying a ton of loot does not help either, but the real deal is the lack of oxygen. In hindsight she should have left everything behind, but she decides to carry on anyway. She is almost there…

In the darkness she trips over something and loses her balance. She yelps and braces herself… but strangely it doesn't hurt. Then everything starts to whirl around her, and the lack of oxygen is finally getting to her. Before long sleepiness overcomes her and she loses conscious.


"…ke up."

Is someone calling for her? Her eyelids feel so heavy though…

"No… hol… urself…ther."

Huh…? Who is it?

"… flat chest… board… nothing…"

"Stop talking about my breasts!" Noel shoots up and yells.

"Heh. That always works."

Noel turns around to see herself… or Jin in this case. They seem to be on the rooftop already.

"I take that you are alright?"

"No… I'm not flat-chested…"

"Tch. I mean are you hurt in anyway?"

Noel moves and stretches her limbs. "Nothing serious I suppose. Are you okay then?"

"Of course. I hauled you out of there all by myself after all."

"Ah… Tha-" Noel stops awkwardly, remembering how Jin didn't appreciate the idea of being credited for saving her. But still, it would be ungrateful for her to let that slide without a proper acknowledgement. "Um… Thank you for… getting me out of there…?"

"…Don't mention it. Try not to get yourself killed next time, scum."

"S-Sure! But I didn't get into this mess myself…"

"Well, for a start you could have left all these behind." Jin turns his head to the large sack filled with documents and other junk. "Your life always comes first. That should be basic knowledge."

"Yes, I suppose…" Noel feels something different in Jin's words. Is it just her imagination or does he almost sound like he cares…?

"Let's find a way back to the ground. We are not yet in the clear."

"Yes Major!"


It was a tedious day at work for Makoto.

Not in the same sense of tedious as in monotonous office paperwork, though. She is worn out tracking down her targets in the city of Yabiko.

Truth be told, if it wasn't for the additional order from the HQ, she wouldn't have lost sight on her targets. Without this interruption, she would be right there to help her friends out when all hell broke loose in the hotel. And if she were there, she wouldn't have to spend the rest of the day chasing them down in the city.

At least her friends are now safely back in headquarters. That's good to know. Or else Kokonoe's gonna pay.

At long last Makoto is back in the NOL headquarters in the city. She was preparing to enjoy a good night's rest when she finds Ragna and Kagura gathering at a table, both having a serious look on their faces.

"Hiya guys! Why so serious? Whatcha talking abo… Oh my gaaaawd!" Makoto's eyes widens as a pair of white panties come to view, lying peacefully on the table between the two stern-looking dudes. "You! Perverts!"

"Whoa! Don't yell in my ears, babe." Kagura grins. "Don't get the wrong idea, though. This matter is of utmost importance."

"Like hell it is!" Makoto snatches the panties on the table.

"Why are you getting so worked up? It's not yours righ- Ouch!" Kagura receives a kick to the nuts before he can finish that sentence.

"Don't say it like you have seen mine! Bastard!"

"Calm down, okay? Dude has a point though." Ragna helps Kagura up, who is still recovering from the blow to his manhood. "This is something we need to investigate. I found this in Jin's room."

"Wait, what?" Makoto finds herself being surprised once again. "I don't think Major Kisaragi is into cross-dressing."

"Nice to know, I guess." Kagura shrugs. "But really, have you seen these panties before?"

"…" Makoto examines the undergarment closely and, hesitantly, sniffs it. "…I think it belongs to Noel…"

"Aha!" Ragna smashes his fist on the table. "We thought as such! I saw that prick come out from Noel's room this morning. All weird and up to no good, I thought. And here it is! He stole her panties! As sick as always!"

"Aaand you in turn stole it from him…" Makoto mutters.

"While I enjoy seeing ladies in lingerie, it is not a gentleman's way to steal it for his own pleasure." Kagura shakes his head slowly in disapproval. "We have to teach him a lesson! Maybe we can hang it outside his room, or maybe…"

Usually Makoto would not go along with Kagura's antics, but this time it gets her squirrel senses tingling. Jin stealing Noel's panties? No way in hell! He hates her nuts! …That would be her normal reaction. But if her earlier mission is of any indication, something is definitely up between those two.

It is decided. She will get to the bottom of this strange affair. As their friend, she has to be the first to know if something's up! A pretty good excuse to cover up her desire to snoop into their private business, really.

"Go get some rest, Makoto. Kokonoe must have been hard on you. We will call you when we come up with something witty. Here, lemme help you with your bags, sweetheart." Makoto snaps out of her thoughts as Kagura grabs her shopping bag. Shit! Those are…

"…Condoms!" Kagura smirks as he takes out a box of it from the bag. "Whoa! Whoa! Whoa! Are these for our date tonight? You're so thoughtful, Makoto!"

"Die!" Another trademark groin kick from Makoto. "Kokonoe ordered me to buy them!"

"That old hag's gonna get laid?" Ragna chuckles. "You serious?"

"…She said it is part of the mission today." Makoto sighs. "Secret mission, you know. Don't ask about the details, okay? Not exactly something I want to recall."

"No need to buy them, babe. I have quite a lot of them in my room. If you are feeling up to it, just tell me and I'll give you- Owowowow!"

"Keep it in your pants! Perv!"

And so Makoto embarks on a great journey to discover the truth behind Jin and Noel… and to dispose of the boxes of condoms at her hands.