DISCLAIMER: (insert standard fan fiction disclaimer here)

A/N: Yes dear readers, I admit the last chapter was extremely dark. Here is more back story on our agents.


Headquarters

Austria

FIVE YEARS AFTER THE SIEGE

In a house somewhere in the Austrian mountains, two women sat drinking tea.

"Hey Ice Wolf, do you have any coffee? I really don't like tea," Chie asked.

Natsuki craned her head around the room, searching for something, or more specifically, someone.

"Shhh…yeah, I do. I keep a stash of my favorite blend hidden from you-know-who," Natsuki whispered.

"You know, you are really whipped," Chie chuckled.

"Hey! I AM NOT!" Natsuki growled.

"Ara, you are not what my beloved?" Shizuru asked as she sat down on the couch beside Natsuki.

"I-I-I am not drinking coffee," Natsuki lied poorly.

"Is The Blue Rose trying to get my beloved to do something forbidden in this house?" Shizuru asked.

"No, not at all Ms. Fu…Shi…Beguiling Stranger," Chie said quickly.

Shizuru giggled as Chie frantically searched for the proper way to address Natsuki's fiancée. Chie always did this when she was nervous, so Shizuru knew something was going on between the two friends.

"I'm sorry, it's going to take me awhile to get used to calling you by your C.O.D.E. name," Chie said sheepishly.

"I understand this, however Blue Rose, I have been a C.O.D.E. agent now for three years," Shizuru said and giggled.

"Who would have thought one of our clients was a member of the secret Sakura sect. Being a high ranking lady samurai, why did you request an armed escort from C.O.D.E.?" Chie asked.

Shizuru smiled and looked at Natsuki. Ever sharp, Chie understood, but as usual, it went over Natsuki's head. Shizuru and Chie laughed.

"What? What? What's so funny?" Natsuki asked upset and confused.

"You know Ice Wolf, you're a top notch agent, but seriously thick in matters of the heart," Chie teased.

Natsuki crossed her arms, leaned back into the couch, and pouted. Shizuru smiled at her fiancée and ran her fingers through the younger woman's hair, which quickly diffused Natsuki's anger.

"Ano, how is 'L'? We have not heard any news since returning from our respective assignments," Shizuru asked.

"Didn't you and Ice Wolf check in with her upon your return?" Chie asked confused.

"Hai, however, we spoke to The Feared One and you know how forthcoming she is with personal information," Shizuru giggled.

"Yep, tighter than a virgin's…," Chie stopped herself embarrassed.

"We all understand why 'L' chose to leave The Feared One in charge while she recuperates, but some information would be nice," Natsuki grumbled.

"Hey, at least she didn't leave The Mouth in charge," Chie laughed.

"Ara, imagine the diplomatic nightmare," Shizuru giggled.

"We're all thankful for small miracles," Chie said.

"Don't you mean TWO small miracles?" Natsuki asked.

"I forgot. Now that The Mouth has taken it upon herself to be 'L's' personal bodyguard, she has left field service permanently," Chie answered.

"Ano, it is not nice to speak ill of those absent," Shizuru said.

"Come on dear, even you started referring to The Roaring Thunder by her nickname after meeting her," Natsuki teased Shizuru.

"My beloved is correct as usual," Shizuru smiled at Natsuki, causing the raven-haired woman to blush.

"Alright, enough of that stuff. There's a single agent present," Chie joked.

"Single, but not alone by any means," Natsuki said sarcastically.

"Are you insinuating something Ice Wolf?" Chie teased.

"If the collar fits…woof," Natsuki laughed.

"Speaking of being tied down, when's the wedding?" Chie asked.

"We decided to wait until 'L' is back," Natsuki said as she looked at Shizuru for confirmation.

"SO whipped," Chie mumbled under her breath.

Shizuru giggled and Natsuki glared at Chie.

"Blue Rose, when are you planning on settling down?" Shizuru asked.

Chie thought before answering "When pigs fly upside down and backwards."

"So not anytime soon," Shizuru giggled.

"Don't get me wrong. I would love to find someone and settle down, but I want something like the two of you have," Chie said suddenly serious.

Shizuru and Natsuki looked at each other lovingly. Natsuki reached out and took her fiancée's hand. Chie smiled brightly.

"Ara, we did not get together easily. It took several months of getting through this thick skull," Shizuru said as she tapped Natsuki's head.

"Oi, like you were any easier," Natsuki chided and stupidly added, "Especially after Catherine…"

Natsuki clamped her hand over her mouth after realizing she said too much, again.

"Especially after Catherine, what?" Chie asked and added, "I only know how it ended. How did it start?"

Natsuki gave Shizuru a look that told the elder, the younger one deferred to her. Chie stifled a snicker.

Shizuru sipped her tea while she contemplated whether or not to share the story with Chie. After several minutes, Shizuru spoke.

"As you already know, after the siege, all the agents returned to their assignments. 'L' and Toki were immediately placed under medical and psychological care. The Mouth left her current assignment to stay by 'L's side. The Feared One was given temporary command. Fortunately, both agents did not need to be replaced, since you were able to handle your current assignment without The Mouth and The Feared One did not have a current assignment…"


Two days after the siege on C.O.D.E.'s headquarters, Natsuki returned to her current assignment as Shizuru's armed escort. Shizuru put her business matters on hold while she assisted the C.O.D.E. agents with clean-up, actually one C.O.D.E. agent in particular.

Today was Natsuki's first day back as Shizuru's armed escort. After going through the siege and subsequent clean-up with Natsuki, Shizuru's feelings for the agent deepened and she hoped to pick up where they left off. Unbeknownst to Shizuru, at the same time, Natsuki consciously decided to bury all her feelings for her client. She decided, after the siege, those emotions were a liability in her job.

As usual, Natsuki was ready to leave long before Shizuru, so as she sat waiting for the businesswoman, the agent's thoughts and emotions drifted dangerously close to that which she consciously decided were a liability.

"That damn woman," Natsuki grumbled softly. "She takes forever to get ready. It's not like she needs to do a lot. She's naturally beautiful, so why does it take her so damn long?"

"Ara, my Ice Wolf thinks I am naturally beautiful?"

Natsuki jumped hearing Shizuru's voice suddenly.

"Wha? How? Why do you do that?" Natsuki sputtered.

Shizuru arched one eyebrow and smiled at seeing the agent flustered.

"Shall we go? I would not want to be late," Shizuru teased.

Natsuki groaned, shrugged her shoulders, and followed her client out the door.

Once again, Natsuki found herself sitting in a chair a few feet away from Shizuru's business meeting, waiting for it to conclude. As Natsuki wished she could be doing something, other than just sitting there, her wish was granted when Catherine walked in to the room. The lovely young woman headed right for Natsuki with a huge smile adorning her cute face.

"Hello again," Catherine oozed as her eyes consumed the raven-haired agent.

"Hello to you," Natsuki smiled.

A few feet away, crimson daggers were being flung at the two women. Shizuru was doing her best to pay attention to the meeting at hand, but failing miserably.

"Babysitting duty again?" Catherine teased.

"Be nice now," Natsuki warned.

"I was disappointed we didn't get to dance more that night," Catherine pouted.

"You could've asked," Natsuki joked, knowing full well Shizuru would not have allowed it.

"Oh yeah and risked the old lady's wrath?" Catherine said as she hooked her thumb towards Shizuru. "Look, she's giving us the evil eye again."

Both young women laughed a bit too loud, eliciting a stern warning from Catherine's father.

"Come on, let's get out of here," Catherine pleaded and took Natsuki's hand.

On the opposite side of the office, Shizuru sharply took in a breath when she saw Catherine take Natsuki's hand and lead the agent out the office door.

Fifteen minutes later, an extremely irritated Shizuru uncharacteristically burst through the office door, frantically searching for her armed escort.

"Looking for me?" Natsuki asked nonchalantly from her seat next to the office door Shizuru just barreled out from.

"You are not supposed to disappear in the middle of my meeting," Shizuru reprimanded.

"Were you in any danger in there? No. Was I completely bored out of my mind? Yes," Natsuki said sarcastically.

"It does not matter if you were dying from boredom; you are not to leave my meetings. Understand?" Shizuru was barely able to contain her jealousy-fueled anger.

"Yes Ms. Fujino, I understand," Natsuki said with a touch of sarcasm.

Shizuru stormed out of the building with Natsuki right on her heels. The limousine ride was dead silent. Shizuru sat with her eyes closed as she attempted to regain her lost composure. Natsuki sat and watched Shizuru in amusement.

As soon as they entered the penthouse suite, Shizuru immediately disappeared into her bedroom. Natsuki decided to go to the gym. Several hours later, Shizuru emerged from her bedroom and searched for Natsuki. She knocked on Natsuki's bedroom door.

"Come in Shizuru," Natsuki yelled.

Shizuru entered and found Natsuki in the last stages of dressing.

"Ano, going somewhere?" Shizuru asked.

The tone of Shizuru's voice told Natsuki the businesswoman was still upset, but the agent wasn't in the mood to discuss it.

"Yes," Natsuki said as she pulled on her suit jacket.

"Where are you going?" Shizuru inquired, trying to mask her jealousy.

"Out," Natsuki responded cryptically.

"Where?" Shizuru asked exasperated with Natsuki's evasiveness.

"I have a date," Natsuki said absently as she secured her wristwatch on her wrist.

Shizuru could not hide her shock, but luckily for her, Natsuki had her back to the older woman.

"With who? How do I reach you? In case of an emergency," Shizuru spoke in measured tones in order to maintain her composure.

Natsuki sighed deeply, "I have a dinner date with Catherine. You have my mobile number. I promise to leave it on."

"Catherine!" Shizuru exclaimed unable to control her jealousy any longer.

"Shizuru, I'm not going to argue this matter with you," Natsuki said as she walked out of her bedroom and through the front door, leaving a speechless Shizuru standing in the middle of the suite.


Natsuki was distracted throughout dinner. Images of Shizuru's shocked face tormented the agent. She felt guilty for leaving Shizuru without any explanations, but Natsuki knew she couldn't tell the businesswoman about her sudden change of heart. The agent wished the situation were different and Shizuru wasn't her client, but Natsuki was too jaded to believe in wishes.

"Nat-su-ki," the brunette moaned.

Natsuki passionately kissed the soft full lips beneath her, eliciting another moan from the brunette. With her left hand, Natsuki cupped and caressed the other woman's right buttock, causing her right leg to snake around the agent's left thigh.

They filled Natsuki's bedroom with their moans. Nails dug into Natsuki's well-defined back as their kisses grew more passionate. The agent lightly sucked on the businesswoman's neck, causing her to cry out.

"Nat-su-ki!"

Sweat trickled from where their tone abdomens pressed together. Thrashing legs threw the covers off their hot writhing bodies. Natsuki let out a soft yelp as nails dug into her well-developed buttocks. The unusual tattoo around the agent's hips seemed to come alive in the moonlight that lit up the bedroom.

"Natsuki!"

"Natsuki?" exclaimed a shocked Shizuru.

Suddenly hearing Shizuru's voice was the equivalent of being doused with ice cold water and it jolted the passion right out of Natsuki. She quickly spun around and glared at Shizuru, who was standing in the agent's bedroom doorway, shocked.

"WHAT THE HELL?" Natsuki yelled as she scrambled to cover her and Catherine's naked bodies.

Shizuru suddenly felt a sharp pain in her chest. She grabbed her chest and ran to her bedroom as tears streamed down her cheeks.

"SHIT!" Natsuki cursed and tried to figure out her next move.

Catherine urged the agent back to bed.

"Catherine…," Natsuki began.

"I know. You'll call me," Catherine finished.

"I'm sorry," Natsuki apologized.

Catherine quickly dressed, called for her limousine, kissed Natsuki, and quietly left the penthouse suite.

The next morning, Natsuki sat at the dining table drinking coffee and reading the morning paper by the time Shizuru emerged from her bedroom still dressed in her nightgown. Her eyes were still red and puffy from crying. Natsuki was shocked at the sight.

"Ms. Fujino, you have a meeting in an hour," Natsuki stated.

Shizuru finished pouring her tea and sat down across from Natsuki at the dining table. The businesswoman silently stared at the agent, but Natsuki could tell Shizuru wasn't really looking at her.

"Ms. Fujino…," Natsuki began to repeat her statement.

"I heard you the first time," Shizuru said calmly, cutting Natsuki off.

"Will you be attending?" Natsuki asked.

"I will," Shizuru replied.

"I'll have the…," Natsuki began.

"Ice Wolf, you have been relieved of duty," Shizuru stated, cutting Natsuki off again.

"What?" Natsuki exclaimed and added, "I wasn't notified of this."

"You should be receiving notification soon. I spoke to 'L' this morning and requested you be replaced," Shizuru stated in the same eerie calm tone she had all morning.

"Did you tell…," Natsuki began.

"No, I did not," Shizuru answered.

"Thank you," Natsuki said.

"Do not thank me. I did not remain silent for you," Shizuru said as her mask and voice began to slip.

"Thank you anyway," Natsuki said and got up to leave.

"Sit down," Shizuru ordered.

"Wha?" Natsuki asked surprised.

"Sit down. You owe me an explanation and at the very least, an apology for last night," Shizuru said, her voice full of hurt and anger.

"No," Natsuki answered and walked towards her bedroom to pack.

"Sit back down!" Shizuru yelled as she stood and grabbed Natsuki's wrist.

Natsuki's eyes were wide with shock.

"No," Natsuki stated and pulled her wrist out of Shizuru's grasp.

Shizuru's eyes now matched Natsuki's and as if in slow motion, she slapped the agent across the face. Natsuki held her sore cheek and stared incredulous at Shizuru, who was now on her knees and crying. Instinctively, Natsuki fell to her knees and held Shizuru as the businesswoman cried.

"Shizuru," Natsuki said comfortingly.

"Natsuki," Shizuru said as she looked up into the agent's eyes. "Why?"

"Y-y-you're my client and it's against protocol to get romantically involved with clients," Natsuki stammered softly.

"Ano, in case you forgot, you have been relieved of this duty, so technically, I am no longer your client," Shizuru said.

"I CAN'T…," Natsuki exclaimed.

Tears rolled down Natsuki's cheeks.

"I-I-I can't lose you again," Natsuki said softly.

Shizuru instantly understood and cupped Natsuki's sore cheek in her hand.

"I love you Natsuki," Shizuru said and kissed Natsuki gently on the lips.

"NO!" Natsuki screamed and pushed Shizuru away, causing the businesswoman to land on her backside.

Natsuki ran in to her bedroom and slammed the door. Shizuru got up and followed the agent. Shizuru found Natsuki packing.

"STOP!" Shizuru ordered.

"You can't give me orders. I no longer work for you, remember?" Natsuki said sarcastically.

"You do until you receive notification," Shizuru countered.

Shizuru knew she won the battle as Natuki's shoulders drooped in defeat and she ceased packing. Shizuru motioned for Natsuki to sit on her bed.

"Natsuki, I am NOT the woman you loved and lost," Shizuru began.

As Natsuki opened her mouth to respond, Shizuru held up her hand to stop her.

"Please allow me to finish before responding," Shizuru asked.

Natsuki nodded and Shizuru continued. The businesswoman spent the next fifteen minutes laying out her reasons why they should be together. After she was done, she waited for Natsuki's response. Natsuki looked deep in Shizuru's eyes before speaking.

"Shizuru, I love you too, but I refuse to drag you into a life with a C.O.D.E. agent. It's no way for someone like you to live."

"Natsuki, should this not be MY decision?"

Reluctantly, Natsuki agreed with Shizuru, so the agent spent the next thirty minutes detailing what life with a C.O.D.E. agent would entail.

Shizuru beamed as she cuddled in Natsuki's arms.

"Natsuki, I love you."

"I love you too, Shizuru."

Chie wiped her eyes as Shizuru concluded her story and sipped her tea. Natsuki had her arm draped over her fiancée's shoulders. Amazingly, Shizuru never disclosed Natsuki's real name throughout the story.

"So what about the name change?" Chie asked.

"Ara, we could not have the CEO of the Fujino Corporation running all over the globe playing secret agent, now could we?" Shizuru giggled.

"But why Viola?" Chie pressed.

"After some serious digging, we finally discovered Special Investigator Viola was my twin sister. We were separated at birth and sent to two separate orphanages. I thought it somehow fitting to assume her identity," Shizuru said.

Shizuru finished her tea and excused herself from the room to give the two friends time to catch up in private.