READER'S DISCRETION ADVISED
THIS STORY CONTAINS MAN ON MAN, WOMAN ON WOMAN, GRAPHIC SCENES, RAPE, GORE, SMUT, STRONG LANGUAGE, RACISM, AND USAGE OF DRUGS.
DISCLAIMER
I DO NOT OWN THE FINDER SERIES OR A MAJORITY OF THE CHARACTERS OR SOME OF THE PLOT.
Don't play games with a girl who can play better than you
^anonymous
Kirishima stifles a yawn and stands a little straighter.
He and a few other underlings are patiently waiting in the lobby while the boss is in a meeting with the board directors and shareholders. The directors can be tricky, sometimes they might want to see how superiors reflect on their subordinates by calling someone up for an opinion. Kei looks through the glass-paned window into the huge room, it appears the meeting's progress is going good so far. Asami can be seen standing in front of a white screen as he showcases his current presentation slide from the projector, the members all give him their undivided attention. Kei is rather confident that if the boss can just finish this final presentation he'll be sealing a very important business deal.
The secretary then feels his phone start to vibrate in his shirt, in a fluent movement he pulls it out and answers. "Secretary Kei."
"It's Suoh. Sorry for disturbing you, but I just wanted to inform you that the photographer has arrived."
Kirishima checks his watch. "They weren't expected for another hour."
"She said that they wanted time to get a quick tour and set up."
"Yes, go ahead and do that. We should be there in about a half-hour or so."
"Hai."
After the call ends and the secretary puts his phone away a sudden thought comes to him. Wait a minute, did he say "she"?
Suoh resists the urge to rub his temple as the photographer keeps asking as many questions as possible, and he struggles a bit to politely answer them. He's gotten this mild yet annoying migraine ever since the little gnat walked through the doors. Yet at the same time, he keeps getting this strange reoccurring feeling that he knows the girl. As if he had seen her in a half-forgotten dream. Familiar yet strange.
"I understand you guys have some security precautions, and that Ryuichi-sama wishes to have the cameras erased out." Tori looks up at the ceiling, then out of courtesy says. "I have a couple ideas, but am certain your boss would rather give the go ahead to that."
"Asami-sama would most certainly do that." Suoh responds, knowing that the boss will be here soon enough to observe the young woman. "I will allow you and your crew to set up while I go tend to other duties. We will be around if you need anything."
With a bright, warm smile Tori nods.
But instead of turning to leave immediately, Suoh keeps looking at her. Again he feels as if he had seen that smile somewhere before. After a short moment he bows and quickly turns to make his way out.
"What was that?" Tora asks as she walks over.
"I don't know?" Tori simply says as she pretends to fiddle with the camera in her hands.
"Do you know him or something?"
"How is the set coming along?" Tori quickly changes the subject, her signature way of saying 'We'll talk about it later'.
As the two walk over to the set area, Tori steals a quick side glance at the large man. How I miss that big old teddy bear.
Judging by his look just now, she can safely assume that Suoh doesn't remember her, and to be honest she didn't at first. Time has certainly been cruel to him; turning his once bleached-blonde hair to a gray scruff, putting a few wrinkles in his once solid chiseled rectangular face. Which kind of has a bit of a skeletal look what with his skin having a gray tint and rings under his tired eyes- which were always sunken deep in his skull. But despite all that he is still the same man who took a couple bullets for her over a decade ago. And plus he's kept up his figure quite well for someone his age.
But the fact that Suoh is working here must clearly mean that he has resumed his position in the organization. Poor guy, Tori's been… somewhat of a subordinate many times before and she can't possibly imagine what it must be like to work for that bastard Ryuichi Asami. She grits her teeth, trying to keep her anger under control.
While dropping off Akihito's camera yesterday, she just so happen to be in possession of his phone as it received a text message.
Again, because of her cousin's part in investigating and exposing criminal activity, it's not uncommon for Tori to get jobs involving the photographer. The same can be said for other hitters in surrounding regions. Even though most are smart enough to not hunt in her territory, they'll try to be slick by getting the target to come to them. It's because of that why Tori also always keeps particularly close tabs on her cousin's jobs by tapping his cellphone and computer. Nowadays when she checks them out they are legit, but still one can never be too careful.
But when she saw that accursed name on her cousin's phone she was beyond furious. She would have smashed the phone to pieces if Xin and the others weren't around. But thinking on her feet she quickly deleted the text, and then after leaving used her mad hacking skills to get Akihito a job at another club. And the money she makes here she'll just transfer to his bank account as a 'bonus'.
"No Pinball, move the reflector over there." Tori says.
He groans as he complies. "You're not paying me enough for this."
"Technically we were in advance." Gan quips as his skilled hands adjust the height of one of the fill-lights.
Yesterday Tori had to go shopping for some equipment and ended up running into Pinball and Gan on the way. Of course the two had to cause trouble, and Pinball's days as a free snotty rich kid would have been numbered should his dad find out. But Tori happily paid for the damage in exchange for the boys to be part of her 'crew'.
"Alright boss, how do you want the lights?" Xin asks.
"Facing up, I'm gonna do some test shots with the ceiling," Tori says as she decides on her best option on this elite club.
But honestly the place doesn't need the advertisement, the owner himself is more than enough. And the patrons are just like him, in Tori's opinion at least. A bunch of old, stuffy geezers with young walking bags of botox on their arms.
Makes me question the real reason why Akihito was recommended for the job to begin with…. Tori thought with clenched teeth.
It can be safely assumed that because she and Akihito look so alike that Asami thought of using him, along with Tora, as part of his plan to get her in his grasp. But the last thing the young assassin wants is for her dear cousin to be in his sights. No doubt the topic of the photographer may come up in the form of a casual conversation, which she is more than prepared to partake in.
After doing the test shots up towards the ceiling the girls go through the basic layout on what to do with the security cameras, Tori just decides to do the first shots before consulting with the owner.
When Asami finally arrives at the club, he feels a mixture of amusement as well as erotism at how the photographer lays on the floor shooting the ceiling. His imagination takes flight as he watches the man angle himself slightly, after a few clicks of the camera he then turns onto his side and whistles. Asami's eyes drift upward to the familiar redhead as she quickly strikes a pose- crossing her elegant legs and curls a lock of hair around her finger while sparing a side glance- and with a quick flash her beauty is captured.
He recalls the encounter he had with the fashionista back at the party when he introduced her to Anna Wintour. The way those forest green eyes scrutinized him made him almost feel a tightening of his own fire. If Kirishima hadn't already had his eyes set on Tora, Asami would keep her to himself for later. Just in case things didn't work out with his current target of course.
As he begins to wonder why the girl is even here the photographer moves up to his feet like a trained dancer, truly graceful. When he turns the yakuza immediately spots the black mark- a phoenix tattoo on his neck. And soon he is met by not the expected familiar light blue eyes, but instead violet.
"I'm guessing you'd like to see what I have so far," Tori says as she saunters over to her laptop and hooks up her camera.
"Yes," Asami confirms with a raised brow as he goes over to her.
"You look a little surprised to see me," Tori observes.
"Well, I honestly wasn't expecting you here." Asami chuckles then spares a glance at his secretary.
"Yeah, I was called up when the other guy had to do a sudden last minute reshoot or something," Tori explains.
"Hmm." Is Asami's only response. He sits down beside the girl, his groin area practically titters at the proximity of her.
"Your cameras are more noticeable when the lights are fully on." Tori begins, pointing the things out. "Though with the spotlights and such on, it does gleam off them. So I'm thinking of something to really cover them up in a much more tasteful fashion."
"Why not blur them out?"
"Because in any other club it would be passable. I noticed your ceiling has a beautiful and unique design without that gaudy texture of being overdone."
Appreciating the compliment, Asami watches Tori as she does a few things on her computer. And soon enough the cameras become perfectly camouflaged. "That's good. I like that."
"Also I won't put it on a type of paper that will age the club to the point of the 1800's." Tori throws him a wink.
Chuckling, Asami gets up suddenly so to keep their interaction professional. "In that case, I have another offer to extend to you. A professional one seeing that the work here so far is frankly positive."
"Shoot."
"I have another area that needs to be photographed. A really small job that will only require one person. Interested?"
Tori simply looks at the yakuza for a moment.
"This is total bullshit!" Chi complains.
"Lower your voice," Chung says.
A woman had stopped dead at the end of the aisle, horrified, then gives the young man a disapproving look for his level of noise. Chi simply glares back, while Chung gives her an apologetic look. The two hitters are sitting in a bookstore, the place isn't packed but it's not empty either. There are tables around some bookshelves, providing places for people to lounge. The two are settled near the back by a large window that provides a nice view of the city.
"I just don't get why we don't snatch the bitch?" Chi says in a low voice.
"Look, I want to be over and done with this job just as much as you. But with the main target close by we must proceed with extra caution."
"They're just a couple of little girls, what are the-"
"Listen," Chung cuts him off in a stern tone. "You have no idea who you're dealing with. The main target is the deadliest woman in the world, and the bait may be just as dangerous. Now you are to remain inconspicuous until further notice. Do I make myself clear?"
"Fine!" Chi then gets up and storms off.
Outside he keeps his head down, scowling at the ground as he moves with the flow of foot traffic.
And to think that by now I'd be in Cuba surrounded by a bunch of hot babes.
Honestly the two are getting paid a fortune for a job that should have only taken a couple days. After all the target is on foreign soil so it ought to be a cinch. But so far these past three days were nothing but just observation.
Damn old buzzard, afraid of a couple little girls.
Chi sighs and when he looks up he sees a bus at its stop. He speeds up his pace a bit and is able to board the transport. He finds a seat in the back and sits slouching. As a few more people board Chi looks out the window, and sees… them.
The two women are sitting at a table outside a restaurant.
Chi grits his teeth. Fuck that old fart. I'm making my move!
Tori tosses a piece of shrimp at the redhead, and it disappears down inside her blouse. "For the hundredth time Kitty, I'm not mad."
Earlier while the boys were packing up the gear Tori and Tora were adding some final touches to the advertisement. Asami's secretary approached them, and after giving Tori the information he then turned to Tora and asked her out. Tora hesitated to answer, quickly glancing at her best friend who was also a bit surprised. Of course the redhead agreed.
"So… you're okay with me seeing Kirishima?" Tora says as she fishes the crustacean out from within her blouse.
"Hell no," Tori says in deadpan. "I've never approved of the men you went out with before and not gonna start now."
Tora rolls her eyes. "They're not all the same Chickadee. Maybe if you actually give Asami a chance,"
Tori looks at the redhead as if she had just spoken in some alien language.
Tora clicks her tongue. "Oh don't look at me like that! I'll admit that the way some guys approach you may be vulgar, but they have class and-"
"Oh please, Kitty!" Tori cut her off. "Class or not, they all just make women notches on their belts."
"I'm just saying, there are a few good ones on that side."
Tori sighs and looks up at her. "Anyway uh, about your date. I think you should wear the necklace."
"Huh…? Oh that old thing. I don't know,"
"I'd feel a lot better if you did, Kitty."
Tora bites her lower lip. She knows that Tori is only concerned for her safety, but it's really not necessary. She knows how to throw a few good punches.
"I'm sure I'll be fine." Tora says reassuringly.
BRIEF WORD FROM THE AUTHOR
*sigh* Clearly Chi wasn't taught to respect his elders. Chung is right to proceed with caution when it comes to Tori. What do you think Chi will do?
Until next time, as always, stay awesome!:)