Paradox Key:

Chapter Eleven: Boxers or Briefs?

Startled by a nightmare, Hei awoke to be surrounded by nothing but black clouds. Feeling as though he was floating on air, he was watching someone else's life unfold before him. However, it was his body. Heartless and ruthless; that was how he was during Heavens Gate and he would have killed anyone that got in his way. With no powers, he was scared of himself.

To know he could have ended the life of someone important to him was true terror.

Seconds later, a light approached him. It was Izanami glowing in her black jump suit.

"Enjoying your new life without Misaki?" she asked, as she moved before him. She wrapped her arms around him, pulled him closer to her, and kissed him.

Hei pushed away and gave her a deadly glare.

"That's just a taste of things I can create and show you, but I haven't decided what I want for you. How about a life without even becoming the Black Reaper, who wanted nothing more than to protect his sister? I'm sure that's a life you would love more than anything. One where you wouldn't have to kill.

"It's so simple. All I have to do is prevent the Syndicate from taking you and making them wipe your memory of taking your sister."

"I will not let you take my sister away from me!" he yelled, grinding his teeth.

"Very well. Perhaps I should create a world as I showed you. Where you never gained your sister's power. You were so feared back then. You showed no mercy to anyone. It was beautiful. Until you met that woman! She changed you. Preventing you from killing that man who tried to kill her. Who does she think she is telling you what to do? I bet you would love to go back to being your old self. Heartless, ruthless, and feared by everyone."

"I'll show you no mercy. Send me back to Misaki!"

"Can't happen. However, I could make it appear that you were killed during the Izanami incident, to where Misaki wouldn't pursue you. Perhaps I shouldn't change a thing about you and just kill Misaki."

Hei's anger skyrocketed as he grabbed a hold of her with his hands to choke her.

Suddenly, Yin appeared in her white suit in place of Izanami.

"I'm not going to fall for it. Stop using her to get to me."

"Hei!" she said with saddened eyes.

"No, I won't. It's not her."

"I'm truly… sorry… Hei!" she said, gasping for air. He felt a different energy around her: calm and peaceful.

"Yin?" he asked, quickly letting go of her, as the black clouds were whooshed out by white ones. Yin smiled and said, "I couldn't stop what she had done to Misaki. However, I can help send you back. Back to her. Forgive me, Hei.

"I love you!"

White angel wings appeared on her back, spread out, allowing her to fly into the sky while facing him until she faded away.

"YIN!" he called out.

Hei didn't understand what was going on. How was Yin able to appear? Was this a world between Heaven and Earth? Before his mind could ponder on anything else, his vision went black and he began falling into an endless sleep.

Xxx

Hei awoke to the feel of something wet but sweet on his lips. Noticing what felt like a female on top of him, he went to wrap his arms around her to bring her closer to him. "Hmmm… Misaki," he whispered. "Good morning… I had the worst nightma…"

"BK-201," said a female voice that was not Misaki's.

Hei jolted up as he pushed her away from him. There was nothing but black before him, and then he felt a hand slap him across the face.

He waited for his vision to focus. When it finally did, he couldn't believe the scene before him, as he looked beyond where Hazuki was standing.

The moon? he thought. It couldn't be? Did Izanami destroy the Gates?

Hei noticed he was laying on a futon with red silk sheets.

"My payment," he heard Hazuki say.

His vision became clearer. "The simulation room? How did…?" questioned Hei. He looked around the room to see Misaki was nowhere to be found and wondered why the hell he was in a love room with Hazuki. "Where's Misaki?"

"Misaki? Why would you care?"

"Why do you think? Have you seen her?"

"I wish. I would love to get my hands on that tight ass of hers again. I never understood how she could obsess over a man whom she didn't even know. You're not even a great kisser."

"You're no help," he growled, glaring at her.

"At least I answered your question. How about answering mine."

Hei ignored her comment, ran outside to see the sun had set, and started running down the streets looking for Misaki.

"BK-201?"

He looked toward puddles, and yelled, "Yin. Yin, are you there? Help me find her."

He gazed around everywhere, but she didn't appear.

"BK-201," said Hazuki behind him. "What's wrong? You're acting crazy. You killed Yin."

"Where's Misaki?"

"How would I know? I haven't seen her for two years."

"WHAT?"

"When your star disappeared."

Hei looked up at the sky to the location Misaki had shown him many times to see his star was gone. He looked on flabbergasted.

"Am… am I… human?"

"You… are you all right?"

"What year is it?"

"You're acting strange; stranger than usual. Did you get hit in your head a little too hard chasing that Contractor in there? She must have hit you really hard. You're bleeding."

She pointed to the top right of his head. Hei reached up to feel a small bump and looked down at his hand to see some blood.

"I'm fine." he replied, and then tried calling on his powers, but he didn't highlight in blue nor did his eyes burn a bright red color. However, electricity had sparked from his hands.

"What? How did I do that?"

"Two years ago, idiot. What's wrong?"

"Two years ago?" repeated Hei, looking back at her. Did two years go by? "What happened?"

Hazuki handed him his white mask with the purple lightning bolt. "The Izanami incident." He looked at her stunned. "Somehow you managed to get your powers back. Your star, it shined bright for a few minutes, and then fell. We think you still have your powers because of Yin. It's possible she merged her doll power with your Contractor power. You're the biggest miracle that Goro or I had ever seen. We think you're what a complete evolved Contractor would be."

"You mean like what Amber had talked about. That the way Contractors are now is just the beginning of something bigger?"

"I wouldn't know about that. I never had the privilege of meeting her. Is she more delicious than Misaki?"

Hei gave her a disturbed look.

"Does Misaki know?" he asked.

"Know what?"

"That I'm alive?"

"Misaki? She thinks you died that day, along with everyone else in the world. She watched your star fall from inside the gate after you disappeared into a white light and never returned. Anytime someone gives a description or they find out someone has been electrocuted, she thinks it's an imposter."

She thinks I'm dead! he thought. That didn't make sense since Misaki was part of the Key too. Wouldn't she remember just like him? "Is she still working for Goro?"

"No. She went back to work for the police. Goro had her memory of working for us and your identity wiped. Hei, are you all right?"

"WHAT?" Hei started running off.

"Wait, Hei!"

Xxx

Hei waited across the street outside of her apartment hiding behind a tree. Noticing her blue Porsche parked in front of the building and her lights on above, he located her in her place to see she was getting ready to leave. She had her usual blue business suit and glasses on with her hair pulled back into a ponytail. A half an hour later, after watching people entering and leaving the complex while others walked by, Misaki exited her apartment, talking on the phone. He checked his appearance to make sure he looked presentable to Misaki, but noticed he had on his black trench coat and blades. However, he was wearing dress pants and a black button up shirt under it. Quickly removing his coat and blades, he hid them behind a plant, jaywalked across a non-busy street, and casually walked towards her with his hands in his pockets.

He needed to make sure she could get a close look at him without being too obvious in case she didn't know him. In addition, he hoped it wasn't too late in the evening to where it was too dark.

He prayed Goro didn't know that Misaki had figured out he was BK-201 before the Tokyo Explosion, and hoped she still had memories of Li-kun.

As he started to approach, she noticed he was in her path and moved to her right. Shifting slightly to his left, he gently bumped into her left side, hearing her say, "All right, question any witnesses…"

"Pardon me," he said.

"… I'll be there soon," she finished saying in the phone while looking at Hei, bowing. There was no sign of her recognizing him, especially after he smiled and nodded at her. She turned her attention back to her task.

He turned around and paused briefly, as he waited to see if she would remember him. Taking two steps away from her, his heart began pounding heavily while it pleaded for a response, feeling as though a few seconds felt more like minutes. He stopped and turned around to watch her enter her car, hoping she would turn around to look back at him. He thought that perhaps she didn't notice it was he at first, but he had made sure that their eyes had met. Any other time she would have stopped to greet him. He hoped he wasn't jumping to conclusions, but it seemed that her memory of Li was gone as well.

There was a chance she was in a hurry and did not recognize him without his white shirt and blue jeans.

Regardless, Hei knew Izanami was jealous of her, and believed she had rewritten their history so that they would not be together. What was he thinking anyway? There was no way he could live happily with her, especially since her friends know she is alive and working for the police again. Even in their own world, he would have been constantly chased by enemies, which put her life in constant danger.

He watched her as she pulled out of the parking spot, did a sharp U-turn and headed off.

There was no reason to give up. This was what Yin had done for him. He would try one more time, and if she still did not remember him, he would get acquainted with her.

Besides his unusual powers and Misaki's lost memory, what else was different? When he arrived in this alternate world, he was wearing his black attire and appeared to be on a job for Goro.

That was not like him. If people had thought he was dead, he would have made his way to a secluded island somewhere and worked as a chef.

Regardless, he had to make sure of whom he was working for, where he lived and how to get Misaki to remember and like him. However, would this Misaki, who has no idea who the Black Reaper is, welcome the idea? Perhaps if he found the Key, he could get her to remember.

First thing's first: he needed to find out about himself. When he was Li, he had carried fake papers on him incase he ever got stopped and was asked for his cards on the streets, as Misaki had when they first met. He checked his pockets, finding a wallet and, surprisingly a cell phone since he never carried one due to security reasons. Opening his wallet, he checked for an identification card. Even if he was working for someone, he had to have an undercover identity.

He pulled out a driver's license, and to his surprise, it had his real name: Li Hon Wong.

After many years with living with code names and false identities, why would he take on it?

There was an address on the license. He fished through his other pockets to find a key. First thing he was going to do was grab his coat and head over to it.

Xxx

After traveling on the JR line, Hei walked down the street to find the address on his card. When he arrived, he saw it was a two-story apartment complex similar to the one he lived in before. He wasn't sure which room was his, but he figured he should start with room 201. Actually, it might be easier to try and peek through the windows to see which one lacked furniture and had a sink full of dishes.

He approached a set of steps, headed up them, and went over to room 201. With his coat wrapped around his arm to hide his blades, he was about to put the key into the keyhole when the door opened.

On the other side was a startled young short female in her late twenties. She had long black hair and glasses, a piercing on her upper right lip and three sets on each ear.

"Li-san?" she questioned surprised, as she took in his attire. "You look nice this evening. Got a late date?"

"Ummm?" At least he knew he did live here somewhere.

"Who's the lucky girl? Your girlfriend?"

"Eh…ah… no."

"Then how about taking me out tonight," she smiled.

"Eh?"

"I'm just joking Li-san. You know my boyfriend would come and kick your ass if that happened. Is there something you need?"

He stood dumbfounded, as he tried to think of something to say.

"Oh, did you finally have time to look at my T.V. again? Great, I was only going out shopping, so I have a few minutes. Come in." Grabbing him by the arm while he held onto his coat, she pulled him into her apartment to guide him over to her television. "Just do that thing again?"

Hei placed his hand on his head, and inquired, " Ummmm… what…?"

"You know, where you keep hitting it. I swear your body has its own static charge, and when you hit it, it comes back on."

"That was luck!"

"Luck? Whatever. Just do it!"

Hei laid his coat on the ground and went to go slap the television a couple times while making sure not to use his powers. "See… Nothing."

"Nothing? But it worked the three other times. Just keep hitting it."

Three times? Hei thought to himself. "It seems its something different this time."

"Ah, damn!" she exclaimed, hitting the television herself. "Well thanks anyway. I guess I'll have to save up some money for a new one. But college eats all my money, so I guess I'll be without one for a while. Oh well."

Now she was making him feel guilty.

"Maybe I just need to build up some static electricity," he commented with a chuckle.

She giggled back. "Build up? I would have thought you were one of those Contractors if you weren't so sweet."

After rubbing his hands together, he went to slap the television again. "Nothing, sorry."

"Damn!"

"I'll come back some other day and see what else I can do. I'm in a hurry though, and it seems like you were going somewhere."

"Yeah, I'm running late for a movie and you a date," she winked, and headed for her front door. Hei grabbed his coat and followed her out so she could lock up. "Bye! Have fun!"

"See you later," he said, as he pulled out his key again and wondered which room was his.

There was only one way to find out and that was to try his key in every door.

He went to the next door to try it, but it didn't work. Hei scooted over to room 203 to have the same result, as well with room 204. It did no good in 205 either.

Feeling a little irritated, he sighed to extinguish it and headed downstairs to step before room 101. Hei inserted the key, turned it and opened the door. He stepped into the apartment, revealing it was empty, except for a futon, small table with a lamp, and dishes in the sink.

His own living style wasn't going to help answer any questions about him.

Hei walked over to a closet, spotted some loose floorboards, and removed them to reveal weapons, masks, and two coats. He laid his coat and weapons inside, and closed it. Apparently, he was working for someone. If it was Goro, he actually welcomed the idea, verses Madame Oreille.

But then again, maybe this was all an illusion caused by Izanami like the one before. On the other hand, perhaps this was a dream and he would wake up in Misaki's arms in the simulation room.

He laid on the futon and fell asleep.

The next morning, he was awoken by the sunlight beaming through the window. He tiredly stood and headed over to the bathroom. After relieving himself, he went to wash his hands, and noticed in the mirror his hair was long and pulled back into a ponytail with a little stubble on his face.

Sighing, he wondered if he started drinking again or if he ever stopped in this world. More to the point, how did he not realize this yesterday? Perhaps that was why Misaki had not recognized him when she was in a hurry last night.

He looked through his vanity drawer and found a pair of scissors. First thing he did was cut his hair, followed by shaving, and then bathed.

After he finished, he heard a knock on his door. He wrapped a towel around his waist, walked over to the door, and opened it to find Madame Oreille on the other end.

Damn, thought Hei.

It appeared he had been suckered into working for her.

"Hi," she chimed a little too cheery. He would love to slam the door on her, but her being here would help answer some questions. "Hard night last night?"

"What are you doing here?" he asked.

"You look good. Like the new hair."

He glared at her angrily.

"Relax. I've come by to update you on the job you agreed to help out with."

"And?"

"Well, since you let your target get away last night, four other people have died." Hei's eyes widened. "What happened yesterday? Mina said you were acting funny."

"Nothing."

"I know nothing had happened, that's why I'm here."

"So do you have information on where he is so I can kill him?"

"You mean her." He eyed her devilishly. "Same place. For some reason she likes to take her prey there."

"The simulation rooms?"

"No, the bar next door." Now he knew why he was dressed up. He must have had to pick the girl up at the bar. "Are you all right, Hei?"

"I just fell and hit my head last night," he played off. "Everything is just a little blurry right now."

"I'd say. I thought you would be at work at your restaurant."

My... Restaurant?

"I was looking forward to some of your cooking today, oh well. She'll be there around eight, but get there earlier. Don't forget."

"My restaurant?" he pondered to himself, as Madame Oreille left the room.

How was he going to find out where his restaurant was? Perhaps he had some work clothes in his closet.

He went over to his closet and opened it to find dozens of white button up shirts, a few graphic t-shirts, black pants, black shirts, and two weeks worth of pink underwear and blue jeans.

Hei eyed the pink underwear; wondering who he really was in this world. They would have to go.

He looked around for some boxers to wear but didn't see any. He sighed; displeased that he would have to do some laundry. Until then, he would have to go commando.

He slipped on a pair of black pants and threw on a dress shirt. At the corner of his right eye, Hei spotted a black cat pawing at the window. Hoping it was Mao, he went over to it to let him in.

"Why aren't you at work, Hei?" said the cat, who sounded like Mao.

"I'm not feeling well."

"Your employees are worried since you never called."

"Employees?"

"Yeah, Hei! Those people that are going to run your restaurant for you."

"And why were you there?"

"Checking up on you."

Mao's stomach growled.

"Are you sure you weren't looking for a free meal?" questioned Hei.

"Well, I haven't had anything to eat all day. But without you there, there was no one to cook the food."

"I'll call them," he said, remembering he had a cell phone and hoped the number was in there.

He pulled out his phone, flipped it open, and started looking through the numbers. Unfortunately, there were only three in his phone, and they all said, work one, work two, and work three. If he met his other self, he was going to electrocute him for being disorganized.

He sighed as he hit work one. A female voice answered, "Li's kitchen. This is Hotaru."

"Hotaru, its Li," uttered Hei, happy it was his restaurant and not some other number.

"BOSS!" yelled the girl in his ear. "WHERE ARE YOU? WHAT HAPPENED?"

"Um, I'm not feeling well. I hope everyone is doing all right without me?"

"We're fine, sir. Except, we don't have you to cook."

"Well, I won't be in today, so just go ahead and close up."

"Okay sir, I'll let Aoi know." Hei hung up the phone.

Hei looked over at Mao to see him staring up at him stupidly.

"What?" Hei asked.

"You've cut your hair," Mao replied. "What's the occasion?"

"Just felt the need to."

"Needed to? Since when do you, 'just feel the need to?' You're usually kicking back on the futon!"

"I felt like a change! Do you know anything about my target that Madame O has me going after?"

"What do I know that you don't?" questioned Mao, slanting his eyes peculiarly.

"A description of her."

"Are you serious, Hei? You were the one tailing her last night, not me."

"I hit my head rather hard, and am having a hard time remembering the job."

"Really? That may explain the haircut. For one thing, she'll know you, so trying to pick her up like last night won't work. You'll have to watch from the sidelines. I think it will be best if you just hang out at the bar, or something along those lines."

"What does she look like Mao?"

"Slender and has some extremely nice ankles."

"You're a big help."

"It's my angle, Hei. It's hard to see passed the waist. If you want, wait outside the bar tonight and I'll give you the heads up when I see her enter."

Hei heard a knock at his door and opened it to see a lady in her mid twenties, with brown hair, and about the same height as he, on the other side. She was wearing a short blue mini-skirt with a white laced top.

"Yes. May I help…?"

Before he could finish his sentence, she wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him. She backed away shortly after smiling, as he stared at her dumbfounded.

"What's with that face, sweetie?" she inquired.

"EEHH?"

"I tried calling you a few times last night, but you didn't answer. Is everything all right?"

"I'm fine," he replied, wondering who the hell she was.

She took in his appearance, and then commented, "You finally cut your hair. What's the occasion? Taking me somewhere fancy?"

Was she his girlfriend? It would explain the pink underwear. Now he really hated his other self.

"You can't come," said Hei.

"What?"

"I have something I need to take care of."

"Hei!" Hei looked at her stunned. She knew his code name. "It's that woman again. She has you doing another job for her."

Hei's eyes slanted peculiarly, wondering how she would know about Madam O. It didn't matter and played along, saying, "Yes."

"I thought you said you weren't going to take more jobs and that you'd only rely on money from your restaurant from now on. You lied to me."

"I had no choice," he lied, walking over to his closet. Hei opened it up and removed the loose floorboard to pull out his black trench coat.

"Yes you do, Hei. If you take another job from her, I'll leave you, and you'll be alone again."

Is that a promise, Hei thought, as he folded up his coat and placed it in his right pocket.

She walked up to him, wrapped her hands around him and kissed him again. A few seconds later, she pulled away.

"There's something wrong with you," she said upset.

"I'm fine."

"Then why won't you kiss me?"

"I'm fine," he replied exiting his apartment.

"We need to talk later," she yelled at him, as he headed down the street.

Hei didn't know how to handle her. The best thing he could do was find a place to eat and then head over to the bar.

Mao walked up beside him.

"Who was she?" Hei asked.

Mao looked up at him with bulging eyes, as if Hei had sent twelve volts through him.

"Seriously Hei, I'm worried about you. Have you been to the hospital to get your head examined?"

"No. Who is she?"

"Hitomi. Your girlfriend."

"My girlfriend?"

"Yep!" nodded Mao, smiling. "And I have to say, she has some fine ankles!"

"I think you need your head examined."

"Tsk!" Scowled Mao at Hei. "You two met on a mission for Madame O. You two had to play wife and husband for an assignment."

"So that's how she knows Madam O. Is it still an assignment?"

"No. Truthfully, I don't see what she see's in you or you her. Especially your pink underwear. Although, she does remind me a little of the Police Chief."

Hei frowned, glared down at Mao, and inquired, "I bought them?"

"Just kidding," smirked Mao. "She's not an expert on keeping whitey-tighties separated from red clothes."

"I wear boxers."

"Ha. You did hit your head rather hard, didn't you? I've only seen briefs on your clothesline."

"How long have we been together?" Hei asked, trying to ignore Mao's comment.

"A year."

"Is she a Contractor?"

"No."

"Are we serious?"

"Hei, I can't say for sure, but considering that you two have been sleeping together for a year, I'd say… yes."

"Hmmm."

"You really don't remember her?"

"No."

"You aren't thinking about breaking up with her?"

"She's nothing more than a stranger to me, Mao."

"Are you sure you hit your head and someone didn't use M.E. on you?"

"I'm not sure."

"If you leave her, who will give me head rubs in the morning?"

"How about Madam O?"

Mao sighed.

"You know, I miss the old Hei. He was a little more down to Earth."

"Sounds more like he was a loser."

"That's why I liked him!"

Hei frowned, wishing he were back in his own world.

A couple hours after Hei ate forty bowls of instant ramen noodles, he decided to pick up some boxers and then headed for the bar. Still going commando, he went to lean against a half brick wall that sat in front of an apartment complex, and waited for Mao to show up. Fifteen minutes later, Mao jumped on top of it to sit next to Hei. Wearing the black clothes made it easy for him to put on his black coat and mask when he needed to later.

They sat for another hour while Hei waited for Mao to point out the target.

"Look at the ankles on that one!" commented Mao. "Damn she's attractive!"

"Where? Is that her?"

"No, that lady there with the brown hair and wearing a red dress."

It wasn't hard to find her, considering everyone else was dressed in black. Whether or not he could agree with Mao, he couldn't tell because her back was to him as she entered the bar. All that came to his mind was Misaki in her Chinese dress, so even if he did see her face, he would only imagine her in it.

Five minutes later, Mao spotted her, blabbering, "There she is."

"Which one?" Hei asked.

"The one with the nice ankles."

"Mao!"

"Oh, sorry. The lady with long blond hair and short black strapless dress. She's standing next to that chubby guy."

Hei spotted her, and said, "Thanks Mao."

He left Mao sitting on the brick wall, walked across the street when it was clear, and headed for the bar.

"Damn, such a waste," mumbled Mao.

Hei walked up to the bouncer, happy that it was early in the night and a line hadn't formed, and showed his Identification card to a rhino-sized bouncer who looked it over before handing it back.

"The cover charge is 8000 yen," the bouncer mentioned.

What a rip off! Hei thought, not believing the price, but shrugged it off while pulling out his wallet and handing over a credit card. The bouncer gave the card to a mini-sized rhino looking bouncer who ran Hei's card through a laptop. One minute later, they gave him back his card and let him pass.

Hei walked into a dark atmosphere, noticing the bar was rather unusual. It occupied the parameter of the room, except on the backside where two doors were marked toilets and an exit door to the right of those. Its counter was made to resemble a brick building's roof with rope lighting along the ledge and a few square flowerpots. Tables and chairs were formed around it.

A dance floor lay in the center of the room with a moon and stars simulation above it that shined around a city skyline and dimly lit up the room.

No wonder it was such an expensive cover charge. It wasn't as realistic as the moon simulation next door, but it was still beautiful to look at.

Hei looked around for the female Mao had pointed out and spotted her sitting to the right at a table with the chubby man. He made his way to the right side of the bar and leaned against it to watch them.

A bartender who had blond hair and wore a red jacket came up to him.

"What can I get you?" he asked.

"Just water, please," answered Hei.

"That's all? Would you like something to eat?"

"Only the water, for now."

"It's good we charge a hefty cover charge," the bartender mumbled and poured his drink.

Hei focused on his target.

"You have very attractive eyes," mentioned a thin, medium-height, blond-haired woman, sitting next to him. The woman was wearing a tight black dress that rested slightly under her buttocks and had a single thin strap that laced behind her neck. Holding a martini in her hand, she smiled and then glanced at the hint of his collarbone that was showing. "I can see you're everything that a girl wants. Would you like to buy a lady a drink?"

Hei slightly glanced over at her and then focused on his target.

"No thanks," he declined. "I'm waiting for someone."

"Me too. But he's a no show; that is, till now."

"Not interested," he stressed, without looking at her.

"Too bad," she went to whisper in his ear. "I could have rocked your world, handsome. As I know you would have mine with that body." She tucked a piece of paper into the top pocket of his black shirt. "My number, incase you change your mind."

She walked off.

"Wow, I can't believe you let that one go," commented the bartender. "Your lady must be the brightest star amongst millions."

"She is," replied Hei, as he thought about Misaki. "She's the sun."

The bartender smiled. "You're making me jealous. But I guess that means I can ask that lady out. Can I have her phone number please?" Hei pulled the paper out and handed it over his shoulder. The bartender snatched it. "Thanks. All I have to do is dye my hair black and she will think I'm you."

"She wouldn't remember much about me, with as much as she has had to drink."

"Which was a lot. I may not even have to dye my hair."

The bartender went to talk to the lady in red who was in a conversation with a plump man.

Hei slightly tilted his head over to see him chatting away and smirked.

"Good luck with trying to get her too," Hei mumbled to himself.

Xxx

Misaki and Kanami entered the moon simulation bar while Misaki cursed Kanami in her head. They stood out like sore thumbs. At least she did, dressed in this red dress. In fact, everyone else was in black, which made her feel rather uncomfortable. Even Kanami wore a black miniskirt with a black top that hung low. If she didn't have a job to do, she would have run back home and changed into something more comfortable.

Not to mention, the discomfort of contact lenses she had in. One of these days, she would get used to them.

She still couldn't understand why Kanami had to come along. She liked bars too much. Misaki had tried to tell her no, that it was too dangerous, but she couldn't stop her from showing up at her front door with the dress, and persuading her to take her with her.

Her excuse was that she never could get her out to clubs anymore, and that this was the perfect opportunity to go guy hunting, that didn't involve BK-201.

"Fine! You pay the cover charge for all of us!" Misaki insisted.

Kanami wasn't pleased about the price, as she gave her friend a devilish glare.

"You could have warned me how expensive it was, Misaki!" yelled Kanami.

Misaki ignored her ranting, as they followed Saitou over to the right side and took a seat at the bar. The bartender in the red jacket that was talking to Hei approached them a few minutes later.

"Can I get you three something to drink?" he offered.

"Have you spotted her yet, Kouno?" Saitou asked the bartender.

"No. No signs of that Contractor yet. But I did manage to get a girl's number."

"You're here to work, Kouno, not pick up women," ordered Misaki. "Someone tried to kill our target last night and may try again tonight."

"I heard it was a man dressed in all black with a white mask," commented Kanami, with a wink to Misaki. "Perhaps you can get lucky tonight."

"Just an imposter," Misaki replied, with a slight irritation in her voice. She looked at Saitou and Kouno. "Keep your eyes focused on the target, not the women."

"Yes, Chief!" the guys responded, simultaneously.

Misaki sighed. "And don't call me Chief in here."

"Yes, Chief," said Saitou, "Err, Misaki-san!"

"Just Misaki," she sighed.

"Oh, look at that tall blond over there," said Kanami excitedly to Misaki.

"I'm not here to boy hunt, Kanami, I have a job to do."

"Ah… come on!"

"I'm tired. I was already here late last night after I got the news that Contractors were active here. I don't want to work more than I have to."

"Yeah, and you weren't going to pick up any guys wearing your typical suit and glasses."

"Hey, Chief, look at that guy!" exclaimed Saitou, as he pointed a few bar stools over.

"Not you too, Saitou?" Misaki sighed.

"Doesn't he look like Li-kun, Chief?" asked Saitou.

"Li-kun?" questioned Misaki, while glancing at Saitou, puzzled.

"Yeah, the guy from Alice's party."

"Li-kun?" butted in Kanami. "See, I told you it was a good idea to wear that dress. Where is he?"

"He's right over…" Saitou pointed over to a black haired-female dressed in a black dress. "That's weird, he was just there."

"Who's Li-kun?" inquired Misaki, as Saitou and Kanami gave her a puzzled look.

To be continued…