Sorry for not updating the fic for, like, half a year. After graduating from college I got a job and was really busy ever since. I made a promise to myself to finish this whenever I can find the time. Now that the busiest months have gone by, I decide to resume my work on this fic. (Hell, I have got it all planned out so it would be a waste to let this remain unfinished)
Enjoy!
With cramped interiors and dim lighting, the makeshift headquarters is kind of shabby for NOL standards. The room was hastily refurnished within short notice, so that's to be expected. Still, more than enough resources have been made available for the mission at hand and that is what really matters.
"Pardon my intrusion." A lean figure appears at the door. "We just received a transmission from the Imperator with critical information."
"Go on, Captain Hazama."
"The targets are sighted downtown near Valiant Hotel." Hazama takes off his fedora and runs his fingers along its brim. Seemingly he doesn't intend to go into the cramped room.
"Valiant Hotel… A fire broke out there yesterday, I heard."
"Right you are. And for the record that place is where I am supposed to stay during my time here."
"…You're suggesting that they were there for your life."
"Exactly." The Captain sets his back to the door frame and starts twirling his fedora with his fingers. "Now that the fugitives are openly opposing the order of law, don't you think we should start taking actions to kill them for justice?"
"Their betrayal of the Imperator is more than enough to deserve a death sentence." The low hum of the air filtering unit fills the air as the officer contemplates the appropriate response. "…But you are right that this sort of destruction must be stopped at once. Get the inspection team ready. I'm going to that hotel myself."
"That's good to hear." A sly smile forms on Hazama's face as he turns around to leave. "I trust that you will give everything you have to tie up those loose ends for the Imperator, for justice, and especially for yourself, Major Yayoi."
"Whaddaya see? Gimme, gimme!"
"Calm down a bit, babe." Kagura grabs firmly to his rifle scope and swats Makoto's arm away. "Everyone in the residence is going to hear you if you keep up with that loud voice. These halls echo a lot, you know."
Kagura locates his target rather easily. A guy with a blazing red jacket is not terribly hard to spot even in a crowd. It is beyond easy to locate him among the slate pillars of Kagura's residence. "Got him. Now get him on the line."
"HQ to patrol guy, HQ to patrol guy. We got you in our sights. Do you copy?"
"Yeah, yeah. Bugs already planted along the third floor hallway. And can you drop that military pretense? It's getting on my nerves!"
"Stay professional, patrol guy! This is an ultra-secret infiltration mission, and we cannot afford to reveal our actions and motives. Aaaaand you just have to blurt out about planting the bugs. Great job, man."
"Oh that…Not like there is anyone around to hear that, anyway."
"You can never to be too careful, dude. Remind us to give you a Frontline Operative 101 when you get back."
"Geez, fine! I will try to lie low from now on, okay?"
"You'd better, patrol guy. Now hide behind the pillar at your six. Big K spotted movements behind door November Victor. Expecting company within the minute."
As Ragna shuffles around the pillar hurriedly, the door to Noel's room swings open. Out came Noel Vermillion, still in her pajamas, holding a plain package in her arms. After casting a few hesitant glances around, she makes her way towards the staircase. She is too absorbed in examining her package to notice the patrol guy plastered to the pillar nearby.
"Well, at least she didn't spot you. We have clear sights on the target, but you should go and tail her at a distance. Be silent, understood?"
Ragna grimaces and swears under his breath. Nobody mentioned that being on patrol duty means doing all the work and getting ordered around. He takes a tentative step out into the open. The carpet completely absorbed the sound of his footstep. It may not be too hard to stay concealed, after all.
A few quick knocks on the door roused Noel from her sleep.
"Uhh… Coming." She reluctantly gets out of bed to answer the door. A quick glance at the mirror tells her that no miracle has occurred over the night. Without a word the girl outside enters the room. Words are not needed as she can recognize herself all right.
"Good morning, Major."
"Morning. This parcel came in just then." Jin says as he lays the package on the floor. "Did you order something this big sometime earlier? I think I should confirm it before opening the box."
"Well, let me see…" Noel turns the box over to read the delivery memo. Booboo Corp. Suction machine pro-3000. She ordered it a week earlier, no mistake about it. She quickly tugs the box away from Jin.
"Yes, I bought this last week. But well… I prefer to keep it under wraps for now. Ahaha…" Definitely not going to admit buying a machine that…
"…A machine that claims to enlarge your breasts." Jin slowly shakes his head. "You never learn, do you. I remember I told you…"
"Y-Yes you said these machines or ars or whatever wouldn't work. But still! If it helps even the tiniest bit, I…"
"Really." Jin plants his hand on his forehead and lets out a very audible sigh. "Why are you building your own image upon your cup size? Pathetic! It doesn't matter at all. If someone truly likes you, they will like you regardless of your size. If someone hates you to the core, they are going to keep loathing you anyways. Nobody can judge you by that as long as you don't judge yourself likewise."
"T-That… That's-" Deep down Noel agrees with him. Her dearest friends never judge her like that. Her classmates and colleagues never said a word about her size. Actually pretty much everyone she has met never taunts her for being flat. Apart from a certain feline, that is. "That's true! But… But I really want them to be bigger! Every woman wants that. This doesn't change with others' opinions of me!"
"Now that is just an unhealthy obsession on-"
"If I have to get over it, why don't you get over your obsession towards your siblings too? Judging people just because they look like your sister is so much worse!"
"…Don't you dare bringing up my sister, you scum! Who are you to-"
"Well, I'm sorry if you feel offended. B-But I'm not your subordinate anymore!" Noel gulps nervously. "I brought that up because…because I care! As your comrade, as your…friend!"
That line leaves a tense silence in the air, almost too thick to be punctured by words. For a seemingly long moment both of them are stuck in place, staring at each other.
"A friend…huh." Jin, setting himself down on a chair, breaks the silence first. "Never thought there would be a day I call you a friend. But here I am, stuck in your body for who knows how long."
"Hmm… Fate has its own ways… I suppose."
"Heh. More like cruel fate." Jin lets out a small chuckle. "Not that I need a friend, mind you, but given the circumstances I suppose I can be your 'friend'. For the time being, that is."
"Really?" Noel beams. "T-That's great, Major.. Jin!"
"Move it, delivery boy! Double time!"
"Goddammit! I am going as fast as I can without making a sound! And since when did I become 'delivery boy'?"
"We're gonna miss everything if you don't deliver the bug soon! Big K will spank your ass if you fail your mission!"
"Shit! That's the last image I want in my mind right now! Can you just stop blabbering for a moment?" Ragna tiptoes along the hallway right outside Jin's room. Just a few more steps…
"Alright. I see him setting the bug on the door." Kagura smirks and elbows the beastkin next to him. "Let's turn up the volume and see what we got here."
"Aye, aye, Big K."
It is all static at first, but as Makoto tunes the frequency some vague voices start to come up on the channel.
"…great…watch…take a bath?…"
"…no…take long…so hard…"
"…get down…effort…"
"Hey, babe." Eyes squinted, Kagura turns to Makoto. "Is it just me, or are they talking dirty in there?"
"That…That's…well…"
"Guess there is only one way to find out. I'm gonna spook them."
"What? But how-"
A soft 'click' answers Makoto's question. Kagura pulls the trigger of his scoped rifle. A soft rubber bullet races across the courtyard and lands squarely on… Ragna's butt.
"Ow! What the fuck!" Ragna howls as he cradles his bum. "What in the fucking hell just hit me?"
The door in front of him soon swings open and Jin and Noel emerge from the doorway. Both are visibly shocked to find Ragna stooping down and stroking his butt.
"Um…well…hehe…" The young man in blue is barely holding his laughter.
Noel Vermillion, meanwhile, circles around to check behind Ragna. "What's the matter, bro-R-Ragna? Why are you bending over? Something wrong with your butt?"
"N-No! Just that someone-" His hands still on his bottom, Ragna glares at where Kagura and Makoto are. "-played a trick on me. I'm alright though. Don't worry about it, Noel. What are you doing in that jerk's room, anyway?"
"I just handed back a curious parcel that is delivered to me by mistake. Ahem. You can ask him for the details." She put up a wry smile and turns to Jin Kisaragi.
"W-What?" For some strange reason Jin is getting quite flustered. "T-That's totally none of your business, Ragna! Uh…We'd better go! C'mon, Ji…Noel!"
"…Never knew him as the shopping type. That prick…" Ragna murmurs as he staggers away from the hallway. He is too busy working out ideas for getting even with 'Big K' to notice the pinch Jin gives Noel as they walk away.
"…Yeah, yeah… The electricity bill? Kagura can take care of it… Of fucking course he is paying, he invited me here in the first place… Uh-huh…" Resting her head on the headrest, Kokonoe sticks her lollipop back into her mouth. There is always time for lollipops, even during a phone call. "…Don't worry, I've got this. It wouldn't be long… Alright. Talk later. Got some guests right here."
"Did you find any useful information in Hazama's documents, Professor Kokonoe?"
"Yeah. Nothing too big though, so don't get your hopes up high. Come over and grab yourselves a chair, you two."
As Jin and Noel clear the chairs from the packets of junk food and lollipops, Kokonoe gets up and retrieves a bag of documents from a desk nearby. It is the same bag Noel dragged all the way to the roof back in the hotel.
"Most of these are useless. Just some obscure documents about routine operations or communication records. Nothing I didn't know already." The professor pushes those useless files away, and takes out Hazama's portable terminal. "This computer is better. I have downloaded everything and ran some analyses. Take a look at this."
A long text string appears on the screen as Kokonoe opens a file on her computer. As Jin and Noel lean closer to have a look, she highlights a few rows of text in the middle.
"This is an automated correspondence list generated by the system. Do you recognize this address?"
Noel gasps. "T-That's Tsubaki's mailbox!"
"That's right, young man." Noel is about to get angry again for being called a 'man', but then she realizes she is indeed a young man right now. Not sure how to deal with her feelings, she just pouts and turns away. Kokonoe, meanwhile, goes on nonchalantly. "And after a search I have located one interesting record. He had sent a large number of photos to Tsubaki Yayoi a few months back. I think-"
"It must be those photos." Jin grits his teeth and snarls. "Terumi, you bastard! When I get my hands on you…"
"There's one more thing I want to show you." Kokonoe places a design draft on the desk before the two blondes. "Drawing parallels between your case and my previous research on human soul and body, I think I can create a device to temporarily nullify and reverse your condition. You should be able to return to your own body and summon your weapons. No promises though."
"That would be awesome, Professor. Thank you so much!"
"Yeah, yeah. Whatever. You two stay safe, okay? At least before I finish this device. Now go. You two are distracting me more than you have the right to." Another lollipop is ripped from its wrapping, ready for Kokonoe to enjoy.
"Argh! Just stop it, will you?"
Makoto knew trouble is coming when Ragna came back fuming. Now she finds herself having to break a fight between two full-grown men.
"He shot me in the ass, dammit!" Ragna has his arm locked around Kagura's neck, all the while trying to knock him down onto the floor. "Ask him to shoot you too if you want to know how much that hurts!"
"And I told you I missed my mark! I was aiming at the door!"
"Like hell I'm believing that! I was standing ten feet away from that door!"
"Enough!" Makoto shouts at the top of her voice. "If you don't drop this stupid quarrel I am gonna tell Rachel and Professor Kokonoe all about it! You just wait till they zap your sorry ass for being such a handful!"
"Tch! Fine!" Ragna grudgingly releases his grip and shoves Kagura away. "I'll settle the score later, dude. You better watch your ass. Literally."
"Yeah. I'd love to see you try."
"Okay guys. Why don't we get back to topic? We have some debriefing to do." Relieved that she doesn't have to resort to force, Makoto promptly seats herself between the two men. She will make sure those two don't pick up a fight again.
"Right. Did you two find evidence proving my little brother is a panty thief?"
"Nothing of the sort, sadly." Kagura rubs his chin. "If anything those two seem to get along fine. A little too friendly, if you ask me."
"Yeah, that. And do you remember how Jin let her in without a word this morning?" Makoto joins in excitedly. "And Noel locked the door behind her. They must have something to hide."
"Keen observation, sweetie. But they look pretty decent when they were spooked by Ragna's girly scream." Makoto has to press down hard on Ragna's shoulders to keep him from getting up and hitting Kagura again. "You know, if I don't know them better I'll think they are secretly dating or something."
"We have a breakfast meeting tomorrow, right? Let's get to the bottom of this then." Makoto gives Ragna a final push, and he falls back down painfully on his bruised butt.
"Well, babe, I can get to the bottom of you anytime if you wan-"
"Just die already!"