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Chapter 29
X-X-X-X
I wonder if this is how some of the men I hunted felt, to be prey to an unknown enemy...well, then again, I didn't really fear for my life nor was I afraid of getting hurt. So I guess it was merely me playing with the false hunter, letting them think they were hunting me. I stepped around the corner only to see several men with guns. Ah, I see, it seems there are still idiots in the Triads after me. I threw several senbon at half of them before taking off. I wanted to avoid killing people, so I was only using paralysis poisons on my senbon. I played with them a few more hours before they managed to corner me to an unpopulated part of the city...wow, there's a lot more people here than I had assumed.
"Ara, I was wrong, not all of them are Triads..." I can tell most of them are just a bunch of thugs, probably friends of the idiots I beat in that underground fight. "You really don't know who you are messing with, do you?" I asked staring at them blankly.
"You can't talk! We have you cornered now, you little bitch!"
"You'll pay for what you did to our senior!"
"So this is about payback, how...boring..."
I didn't bother to unsheathe my sword, but I did ruin the paper of my wagasa since I was using it as a weapon. My clothing ended up with a few bullet holes and cuts...how embarrassing. There was a sudden sound from the back of the crowd and I heard someone shouting about a dragon. Eh? Eh? Who? I recovered from my surprise to grab the wrist of the man who almost stabbed me in the face. I broke the idiot's nose and it didn't take long before all of them were taken down.
"Ara, if it isn't a familiar face..." I stared at the male who came to my 'rescue'. His red changshan suited him, I might get one for my brother in the future. "I'm not that much of a damsel in distress that I need someone to save me." I said carefully stepping around a few of the fallen bodies.
"It wouldn't do if we made the Hibari family angry by attacking one of their agents. You have your own organization with dangerous information...Kuroyuki."
"Hn..." I reached him and I used my sleeve to clean away the small amount of blood on his cheek. He's taller than me by half a head, but I suspect he'll get even taller in the future. Dark colored hair and brown eyes that had a slight amount of red. I like his eyes. "At least you're not an idiot like the rest of them. Cuter too."
"Men aren't cute, Kuroyuki." The male grabbed my wrist, staring down at me with a hard look in his eyes. "You should mind your manners better too."
"Tough guy aren't you?" I sunk my knee into his gut to get him to release me before spinning on my heel to kick him in the face. I was unimpressed when he didn't even bother to counter me...when he could have. He is stronger than I am, I know he is. "Your men should learn not to touch what is off limits then. Just consider yourselves lucky I don't hold grudges easily."
I returned to the hotel to find out that Hu Li got Itachi drunk enough that he passed out. I rolled my eyes at their behavior while Hu Li stared at my ruined clothing with a slight frown on his face. I waved off his concerns to take care of the few injuries I obtained. I ordered room service before I took a shower, an order of tea and some cakes. I tugged on a simple yukata before heading for the balcony, file in hand pertaining to a drug trafficking ring that was messing with our country. I took a seat on the small table until room service came up with my order. I tipped the waitress and she smiled at me shyly before taking her leave with a bow.
"Do you plan on joining me or do you plan on sticking around on the rooftops all day long?" The young man from before jumped down. "Did you come to check up on me or did you come for payback for that last hit?" I asked staring at the mark I left on his face.
"If I was a lesser man, I wouldn't have hesitated to pay you back for that."
"I have no interest in a man who won't back up his talk." I poured him a cup of tea before offering it to him. He didn't touch it. I heard knocking at the door and I released a sigh. "These drunken idiots..."
"Wait." He grabbed my wrist, staring at the door with a frown on his face. "Do you not smell it?"
"...?" I remained silent until I smelled it. The thick smell of blood that's hard to miss. "Tsk, fine time for those two idiots to be drunk off their asses."
I grabbed the alcohol in the ice bucket before tossing the ice out and tossing the file in. I poured the alcohol on it before lighting it. I received a raised eye at my actions and I went into the room, grabbing my wagasa and wallet off my bed. I didn't get far when I heard the click. I clicked my tongue before rushing off to the balcony before jumping over the railing. I was joined soon after by the other male before bullets rained out.
"Ugh! I am so going to kill whatever idiot put that hit on me! They're going to ruin my clothing!" I growled angrily.
I found that after being a woman for so long...that I really like wearing nice clothing. There's so many designs and colors that I could wear without anyone looking at me twice for it. The clothes I have brought with me are my favorite kimono and hakama! Those cost over seven digits! They're custom made! I saw from a floor down, two figures jumping out, well one jumping with the other over the shoulder.
"At least you had a chance to grab your suitcase." I said staring at the really sick looking Itachi.
"I'm going to puke..." Itachi muttered dropping Hu Li.
"You crazy ass Japanese! Who the fuck jumps out of the window?!" Hu Li asked shouting at him.
"Ugh! You're both useless! Hu Li." Hu Li stopped shouting and I tossed him my wallet. "Head for the safe house my family set up. Show them my ID. Tell them this. On blackened nights, she comes when it snows for her footprints disappear by dawn."
"Got it."
"Kiku...sama..."
"Just go, Itachi. You're no help to me now."
"Sorry..."
"Really though...What I hate most..." I loosened the top of my yukata until my upper body was exposed, to the Triad male's surprise. I reached into my sarashi to produce several senbon, each dipped in my deadliest poisons. I keep them on hand as a precaution, not like anyone is brave enough to check me there. "...are bugs!" I threw the senbon with precision, hitting the men who looked over the balcony at us. I watched dully as they fell before opening my wagasa. "So, you going to stick around or are you planning on leaving?"
"I was sent to ensure your family doesn't do anything in retaliation. I hope you never return after you leave."
"Too bad for you. Also, my name is Hibari Kiku."
"Just call me Fon."
I opened my wagasa and I licked my lips. These hitmen are so...so...weak! It didn't take that long to deal with them and I changed into a simple kimono before shoving the slightly ruined suitcases into Fon's arms with a smirk. The man was quite offended to be reduced to bag boy, but I didn't care. I took my senbon out of the bodies. I frowned, they're Japanese. I can tell from the facial features and...the way they spoke. They had a Kansai accent...who did I piss off in Kansai?
"Oh, no you don't." I grabbed Fon's arm when he tried to leave after we arrived at the safe house. "You're coming with me as a precaution. I don't need the Triads finding out about one of our safe houses so easily." I said dragging him inside.
I was playing with fire, I knew this...but I want to mold him into one of my possessions really badly. I liked his eyes, I want him. Physically...and mentally. I found Itachi puking up his guts in the bathroom, Hu Li counting bills...and the two men my family stationed here looking less than amused. I had Fon sit with Hu Li when I got told I had a call from home. Hu Li was cautious and didn't make a move on him, probably because he's the same person he warned me about.
"Chichiue." I said holding the phone to my ear.
"What are you doing?" Chichiue asked and I can just see him frowning.
"Having fun and playing about. Doing as I wish."
"You're going to get yourself killed out there."
"So? This is my right, I won."
"Kiku."
"...Sorry..." I leaned against the wall and I felt a pair of eyes on me. I glanced at Fon and I released a sigh, turning my gaze away. "Who, who did we piss off this time? I had a hit squad from our own country after me."
"Drug lord, he wants to make an example of you. We had a leak on our end. They made their move after setting you up. I assume you were attacked twice."
"Yes...Patch me into Tarumi and Suzume on a secure line." I waited a few minutes before there was a click. "Situation?"
"Kiku-sama..."
"Hime..."
"The situation, now." I listened to them talk and I released a sigh at the end. It seems two of my bases in Japan were attacked as well. A few of my possessions ended up in the hospital, but they didn't die thankfully. "Got it...give me 24 hours to deal with things on my end"
"I'm sorry...Kiku-sama..."
"It's not your fault."
I hung up before looking at Itachi, still puking before whispering my orders to the two men in charge of this safe house. They nodded their heads and I got changed in my usual Kuroyuki outfit. I replaced the paper on my wagasa for a pure black one with white snowflakes. Itachi, upon realizing what I planned on doing, came into the room I was borrowing...and he laced up my boots for me. I could never tie them just right like him, it's either too tight or too lose whenever I did it.
"Sorry, I could come with you, but a drunken sniper is one that misses..." Itachi said hating himself right now.
"It's fine." I gently placed my hand on his cheek. "I need you to watch Hu Li anyways. We both know that idiot might come after me despite having zero skills in fighting." I said with a small smirk.
"I'll see you out, Kuroyuki-sama." Itachi said standing.
"...Thank you..." I went downstairs and I headed for the exit. The two men were waiting, heads bowed. The smaller of the two offered me a file and I skimmed through the contents. It's filled with locations, layouts, and estimated number of people. "Good work. Burn it." I said handing it back to him.
"Yes, Kuroyuki-sama. The car is ready."
"Good. Ah, that's right. Fon." He looked at me, a brow raised. "When you leave. Please inform your people to ignore any problems I cause in the next 24 hours. I can clean up my own messes as well."
"We won't help you if you are arrested."
"Who do you think you're talking to?"
"Kiku-san?"
"Hu Li, stay. I don't need any assistance for this."
I took my leave, entering the car that was prepared for me. The driver didn't ask where I was going and I allowed him to take me halfway to my destination...while I walked the rest of it. I opened my wagasa, covering myself despite the fact it is night and there is no rain. I was angry...quite so...because I hate it when people touch what belongs to me. 24 hours was all it took for me to take care of their overseas connections and...Tarumi and Suzume handled the rest on their end as well. The bodies would be handled by my family so it wasn't that big of a deal.
"I'm back." I said entering the new safe house.
"Welcome back, Kiku-sama." Itachi said smiling at me.
"You're still here?" I questioned staring at Fon with a slight frown.
"Why do you look so disappointed to see me?" Fon asked returning my frown.
"...who cares already...Itachi, is the bath ready?" I handed him my umbrella, undoing the ribbon in my hair. "I want to bathe, eat, and then head to bed..."
"Kiku-sama..." I sat down on the stairs and he helped me out of my boots. I flinched when he took off my left boot. "You sprained your ankle..."
"I'm fine." I stood up despite the slight pain. I stopped when I heard the phone ring and Itachi left to answer it. He turned to me with a serious look upon his face. "...I got it..."
I spoke with my father about my situation and it seems that the leak was dealt with. I also got told off for going too wild...but I got a nice reward too for increasing my reputation. I also asked him to handle procuring the land around Namimori along with any empty residences for a few pet projects I have and that I'll force upon Suzume and Tarumi to handle while I'm away. I released an amused laughter when my mother took over the phone, questioning why I hadn't sent her anything yet.
"Okaa-sama, I procured some lovely silk recently. It should arrive in the next two weeks. Yes...yes...alright, have a nice day as well. Please give my regards to Onii-sama." I said before placing it down.
I released an annoyed sigh before getting ready for some well-deserved sleep. I soaked in the tub, the smell of cherry blossoms coming from the water. Itachi used my bath oils...but I don't remember packing this one. I thought my face flushed from the heat of the water. I had to keep my ankle out of the water, since Itachi would get angry if the swelling got worse. Itachi came to get me after I finished soaking and pulling on a thick light blue kimono. He carried me to the living room area, placing me on the couch before wrapping up my ankle, placing an ice pack on it. That's when he got to work drying and brushing out my hair.
"...Why the heck are you two staring at me?" I asked seeing Hu Li and Fon staring at me.
"Kiku-san and Itachi-san, very close." Hu Li said looking amused.
"Do you normally let a man touch you so intimately?" Fon asked with a raised brow at his servant like behavior.
"Itachi is my possession. Normally one of my female possessions would do this for me, but she's not and Itachi does it instead."
"Kiku-sama's normal handmaidens cannot be at her side anymore. They desire her to grow her hair out, but she deems it too annoying to deal with. I only do it because they would nag at me to no end for it."
I could tell both men thought it was weird how I was treating the man. Suzume normally dried and brushed my hair for me since I was growing my hair out again, but was way too lazy to deal with it. Itachi was used to the way I treated him, but he's thankful I still think of him as a man so I never made him do anything I would make Saki or Suzume do. Speaking of those two, I should really purchase a lasting gift for both of them. I want to shower my precious bird with many and many gifts she can make use of or sell if she needs the money. Suzume never needed them, but I love adorning her in beautiful dresses since she rarely wore anything feminine.
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Chapter 29 Ends
Kiku and Fon has met~! Fon might be calm and level-headed in the future...I bet he'd be more of a loose cannon in his youth. I can just see Kiku teasing and messing with Fon, testing his patience until he snaps. Kiku would enjoy trying to make him bend to her will...until he becomes how he is in the future and she's the one getting annoyed since he's not as much fun to mess with. Itachi...you suffer a lot under Kiku, but it's a necessary evil when you're stuck with a Hibari. A female one at that. Welp~! Nothing to add at this point, bye-bye~!
