Two chappies in one day, well this ones kinda small cause the last one was so long. Thanks to all my reviewers and readers, please review! Oh, and please excuse my spelling in the last one, it was so long that I forgot to spell check it!

Ch. 10- Compensation

The sound of the doors shutting behind her made her want to run. She ignored her gut and stood up straight with her chin held high. Her muscles tensed involuntarily as she walked purposefully towards the receptionist's desk. People who were smart got out of her way. She had made her aura feel very powerful and dangerous and many people could sense this as they watched her stride confidently towards the center of the room, her blue-streaked hair trailing behind her in the currents of air created by her walk. Her boots made no sound on the shiny marble floor as she walked up to a long, carved oak desk with metal inlay.

The receptionist wasn't paying attention so Marina bored her eyes into the back of the lady's head. The receptionist looked up, startled, into cold blue eyes and stammered, "Oh, umm…door on the left. He's expecting you."

Marina moved toward the indicated door and opened it, not bothering to be polite and knock. She couldn't force herself too, her anger was just built up and she threatened to explode. The receptionist must've contacted 'him' electronically because a man in his mid-forties with short brown hair and a moustache waited behind his desk with his body leaned forward expectantly and his hands hidden under the desk.

The room was pretty bare and plain; cement painted white it was like a bomb shelter. There was a carved oak desk in the center of the room, behind which the 'man' occupied a cushy chair. There was a plain chair opposite the desk, a tall plant in one corner and giant maple bookcase adorned one wall. Another man Marina recognized from the other night as the 'leader' stood to the right of said 'man.' She was satisfied to notice that there were large purple bruises on his face and his nose was covered with a special bandage. [Huh, I must've broken his nose. Serves him right.]

"Ah, Marina," the man at the desk finally said, "Please have a seat." He gestured towards the plain chair opposite the desk but she made no move to sit.

"I'd rather stand," she replied coldly, trying to stay civil.

He shrugged then said, "I am the head of the CIA here in Japan. I control their actions and all affairs involving my agents here. My name is Mr. Marshall. It seems that we have made a mistake. I'm sorry if it has caused you any inconvenience. We want you to know that you have been removed from our list and you will receive compensation for out unjust actions."

Marina kept her face blank and devoid from any emotions while on the inside she was fuming and had subconsciously balled her hands into fists. [Sorry for the inconvenience? We've made a mistake? I'll say you've made a f mistake! You bastards helped to take a part of my life away and you say you're sorry? Just cut the crap and get on with it! I've heard it all before!] she thought viciously while Mr. Marshall opened his desk drawer and drew out a plain white envelope.

"I hope you realize that we are letting you off lightly," Mr. Marshall commented, "Normally we'd have you prepped for questioning right now, but you seem to have made some powerful friends." He toyed with the envelope in his hands before leaning across the desk and asking, "I am however, very interested in how you've managed to elude our agents for so long. You should be careful as you're drawing attention to yourself," he warned. "If we find out that you know of Voltaire's whereabouts -"

"If I knew where Voltaire was then I might just go after him myself," Marina interrupted icily. "As to your other question, I think that you should find better agents. I can smell them a mile away." She taunted, putting her anger to good use. She knew it wouldn't be wise to explode in front of them, as it would them an excuse to detain her.

Mr. Marshall looked disappointed in her answer, as if her had been waiting for her to slip up. "In here is a credit card. We've set up an account for you containing $5000 in U.S. funds," he said, handing her the envelope. "Oh, and your driver's license, as we know that you've acquired a fake one. Please hand it over." He held out his hand.

Marina smirked. [How did they know about that? I got it in Canada and it was a fraud.] She took the envelope and dug around in her bag for her fake driver's license. She threw it on his desk, rather than touch the hand of the man responsible for sending her running. [They could've at least sprung for more money. They took years of my life away.] Saphira tried to soothe her with her presence and it worked a little.

"Are you expecting to buy my silence?" the sixteen-year-old girl challenged the older man stonily.

"No," Mr. Marshall answered simply, "We are expecting you to be smart about this."

Marina smirked at his threat and left the room quickly. She'd known that they'd threaten her eventually. She walked through the lobby and all activity stopped to watch her angry steps leave the building. She saw that the van was still there but ignored it and kept walking down the street.

[Hey Saphira. Are there any bugs on this stuff?] she thought as she put the envelope in her bag for safekeeping.

/Tons/ Saphira answered.

[Fry 'em will ya]

/No problem/ her bit beast answered and Marina could feel Saphira's power grow and her blade hummed in her pocket as she disabled all of the CIA's tracking devices.

[You didn't damage the card, did you?] she asked Saphira.

/No, I just got rid of everything that they could track you with/

[Good. I'm thinking I'll, how do you say, turn over a new leaf.]

/You won't steal anymore?/

[No] she answered with finality.

/What about…/ Saphira began.

[No!] Marina countered aggressively.

/You're no fun!/

[Yeah, well, get used to it. What we used to do was wrong, and it was just like Voltaire taught us. I don't want to do anything he wants ever again. It doesn't mean we won't have fun demolishing blades in competition.]

/You actually going to enter one now?/ she inquired interested.

[I might, it depends. Just because national governments aren't after us, doesn't mean were still out of the blue] she sighed inwardly.

/I know/ Saphira said sadly, /But at least life is more adventurous with them/

[But I think that we deserve some fun, don't you? I mean blading gets pretty intense sometimes. If we can actually find some competition.] Marina had reached the corner sidewalk when she heard footsteps behind her.

Don't worry the fic isn't over yet. I still have a lot to add, and there is a lot about Marina's past to find out and unfinished business. Please remember to review, it makes the writing much more worthwhile.