Woohoo~ We're getting to the fuuun stuff now~ ^__^ This is the intro to the next couple chapters!!

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Chapter 29

Misaki was sitting at her office desk when she felt her phone vibrate in her blazer pocket. Grimacing slightly, she knew exactly what that meant. Only one person text messaged her and she was surprised that it came so quickly. It was barely two weeks since their last meeting…

Glancing up at her coworkers, it was to see that they were doing their own work. When she stood up, Saitou glanced up at her and she stated that she was going to take a quick break. He nodded in reply and turned back to his work.

Making her way to the door of their office, she was torn between dashing to the ladies' room and dragging it out to take eternity. Part of her wanted to see what he said because of the implications of the message. For the most part, he was actually compliant with her wishes. The only one she couldn't get him to correct was his improper use of her given name.

At the same time, she didn't really want to read the message because she knew that it would involve meeting him at some point in the near future. For the most part, she had been able to ignore what happened between them. The memory only surfaced during the random situation, but it still lingered in the back of her mind; the fact that it wasn't completely erased bothered her.

In the bathroom, she entered a stall and locked it behind her. Hiding in the bathroom seemed like something she did a lot… Despite it, she rested her back against the door before pulling the phone from her pocket. The front screen indicated one message, something she already knew based on the vibration alert. If it were a phone call, the ringer would have gone off.

Sighing softly, she finally flipped open the phone and opened the message. There was no point in putting this off. After all, she had been the one to tell him to contact her directly. It was hardly appropriate to ignore him at this point. She could be a civilized human being and put their differences aside.

Skimming the contents, she could only sigh once more. Just as she had expected, they were going to get together… She just wondered what he had up his sleeves now. His instructions had been relatively vague. Without any options on the matter, all Misaki could do was shove the phone back into her pocket and get back to work.

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"You're really getting together with him?"

"Well I have to," Misaki stated, as she was sitting with Li. "That was part of the deal."

"But so quickly?"

"He's the one who contacted me. I'm surprised at how quickly it came, but who am I to question the time if he says he has information?"

"Where does he get the information from?" Li couldn't help asking. "I mean to think that he works this quickly… He couldn't be trying to trick you, could he?"

All she could do in response was shake her head as she didn't know. Even so, November had given her instructions. He already said the first time that he wouldn't waste her time. If he had been considerate of that fact the first time around, she didn't think he would change in that regards – as much as she hated to admit it.

"I don't think so," she finally answered. "As for how he finds out the information he does, I don't know. Obviously he wouldn't tell me. If he did, there would be no need to go through him and that's hardly advantageous to him given his overall goal."

"Well… Whatever you do, be careful around him," warned Li. "I won't be there or anywhere close by since I have to work. Besides, it's not like he would speak with me there… Even if I don't like the idea of you anywhere near that man."

"Thanks, but I'll be fine."

"It's never you I'm worried about, not directly," he grumbled. "It's what that no-good November is up to. It sounds like a trick to me, but it's not like I have a true say in the matter. You be extra careful and on your guard at all times, you hear me?"

"I heard you the first time," Misaki replied with a grin. "Thank you."

Li shook his head in reply since he was partially to blame for the whole scenario to begin with. He was the one who knew what a smashing success she would be after Kanami had prettied her up. If he had anyone to blame, it was only himself – for having too much fun, initially, with the idea. If he had said no all along, Kanami could hardly fault Misaki for not carrying out the plan.

"You shouldn't thank me since I'm the one who got you into this mess to begin with," Li stated as he took her hands in his. "I should be the one thanking you and apologizing as well. If it weren't for me, you wouldn't be here now talking about this."

"Nonsense. It's my own fault for not guarding my words, even if I was angry and upset with all the hurt and heartache Kanami had gone through. It was my own recklessness that started this and I'll take full responsibility for my own actions. Seriously, Li. I promise I'll be extra careful. You won't have a single thing to worry about. We are meeting on equal grounds, and definitely not in the middle of the night."

"Then I guess I'll have to be satisfied with your promise, especially since you won't even tell me where you're going to meet him."

Misaki grinned as he sounded melodramatic. It wasn't that she didn't want to tell him, but part of the instructions had stated that she wasn't allowed to tell anyone where she went. Even if she did tell someone, she wasn't sure how November would find out. That didn't matter though because she was a woman of character and she kept true to her word – even for a man like him.

"Never mind him," she finally stated. "How have you been? How is Yin?"

"Easier said than done… But I've been doing well and the same goes for Yin. If she's not talking about you, she's talking about July. And if she's not talking about July, she's talking about something she did at school. To hear the cheerfulness in her voice when I get home every day is more than I could ever have asked for."

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"Hello?"

Sitting at home after work, Misaki had been surprised when the phone rang. Immediately, a sense of attentiveness took over as it was already afterhours. When she checked the display, she was relieved to find that it was Kanami and not another alert for a Contractor in action.

"Hi Misaki!" she exclaimed cheerfully.

"What is it now?"

"Hey! What's with the weary tone?"

"I know you well enough to know that you're up to no good," Misaki replied.

"It's not no good – it's called shopping! The time limit is up, as you so kindly pointed out last time. You can't say no. Let's go this weekend!"

"I can't…" answered Misaki.

"What? Why not? You knew I would ask the moment the restriction was over!"

"It's not that… I already have plans this weekend…"

"With who?" Kanami asked suspiciously. "It can't be that convenient! Unless it's Li…?"

"No, he's working. I have a meeting with an informant."

"You are totally joking! On the weekend?"

"I'm not joking. He was the one who set it up for the weekend," she stated.

Misaki could only inwardly sigh as she didn't mention that her informant was actually November. Kanami didn't need to know that part. But it was still true. After all, that was the only way to define their relationship. Unfortunately, her friend didn't believe her – and why should she? Most informants only met under the cover of the night and on normal work days…

"Fine… Just this once I'll believe you," Kanami finally said. "But next time… That is not even a valid excuse…"

"You know I wouldn't lie to you."

"I know… But still… That's so lame! Now who is going to go shopping with me?" she whined. "I wanted to go with you!"

"Only so you could purposely pester me," Misaki retorted with a grin.

"Well… That's part of the beauty of it!"

"Thanks a lot," grumbled Misaki.

"Next time, for sure – no more funny business; I won't take no for an answer!"

"Warning noted."

"Alright, then I'll talk to you later!" Kanami exclaimed.

"See you."

Hanging up the phone, Misaki could only shake her head in disbelief. Why was it that everything had to happen at the same time? If it weren't enough that Li already knew about her meeting with November, Kanami had to find out as well – even if she didn't know exactly who she was going to meet. She couldn't have called the next week…

Sighing softly, she should have known. She had already surmised that Kanami would be on her case the moment three months was up. At this point, she didn't know if she should be thankful or resentful… It was a difficult choice deciding between which she would want to do more (or more accurately hate more) – meet up with November for information or go shopping with Kanami.

Sighing a second time, she pushed aside that information. It wasn't time to think about that. It wasn't like she had a choice anyways. All she could do was turn her attention back to the files in front of her as she didn't know which one November would have found information on. Either way, any information that was helpful was welcome. The faster she solved the case, the sooner it would be out of her hair; she just hoped Horai didn't push yet another one onto her shoulders after that.

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Humming to himself, November puttered around the apartment as he was cleaning up the place. He was in a good mood as he had fired off a quick message to Misaki regarding the time and meeting place for their get-together. There was information to relay to her. Because of it, he was able to carry out the next part of his plan.

Actually, he had discovered the information a couple days ago. He had waited because he wanted to come up with a plan of attack before forging on into the battle. After all, she was only in it for the information but there was much more at stake for him. Not only did he have to find the information first, but he had to prolong their time together.

If she didn't expect to work for her information – in a way – then it wasn't his fault. His intentions had been clear from the get-go. Even if she did forget, he would quickly remind her of that fact. He had already come up with the perfect plan. She wouldn't be able to resist...

Grinning to himself, he was behaving like a young girl in love, but he didn't care. He went to his bedroom to ransack his closet. There was still time before he had to start his plan of attack. Until then, he would pick his brains to come up with the perfect outfit. As he was pulling out suit tops and examining them, he wished there was some way to force Misaki to dress up.

Recalling that work outfit of hers... He shuddered just slightly – not that she looked bad in it, but she could look a million times better. He already knew that as she had looked jaw-droppingly stunning the first time he had met her at the club. She should dress like that more often! Or not, he decided, letting out a low growl as he remembered how every man present had been staring at her.

Even so, he couldn't help himself from imagining her in something more flattering and more feminine. Perhaps a dress... A long, evening gown with just the right tease of skin. Her skin was flawless and it was a shame to cover it up. It didn't take him long to think of more than one outfit that he would love to see her in. The issue there was actually getting her into even one of them...

Chuckling to himself, he was actually enjoying this. Since one plan was already formulated, he could always start on the planning for the next. Already, he knew there was going to be a second date. After all, he had waited to double check the validity of his information. It would also be a good way to spend the rest of his evening; place the finishing touches for the first date and think about ideas for the second one.

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A/N: I hope you're waiting with anticipation to see what plans November has up his sleeve! hehe~