Disclaimer: I don't own Tenchi Muyo or surrounding characters. Any character not associated with the Tenchi Muyo series is my own creation. I do not own any of the quotations, they are property of their rightful owners. So please don't sue me….
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Living On The Edge - Chapter Two
* Distant Memories *
~ Hold a friend's hand through times of trial,
Let her find love through a hug and a smile;
But also know when it is time to let go-
For each and every one of us must learn to grow. Sharon A. Heilbrunn ~
People say life is full of choices. No one ever mentions...fear.
Or how the world can seem so vast.
On a journey, to the past. Journey To The Past-Anastasia
The human spirit is stronger than anything that happens to it. C.C.Scott ~
* * *
Riley placed her hands on her lower back and stretched out backwards, a loud and sickening 'pop' rewarding her efforts. Her tired eyes rested on a picture she had found while digging through the junk in her attic.
Kneeling back down she picked it up and held it in the sunlight that peered through the small air vent at the end of the room. It was a fairly old picture of her and Zack's father before Zack was conceived. Riley scowled at it and threw it back down to the floor, a loud crash echoing in her ears.
She covered her face with her hands and began to weep at the distant memory the picture had brought back to her.
"RILEY?! Is everything okay up there?"
Riley quickly wiped away her tears as Micki's head popped up from the stairwell leading into the attic.
"Yeah. Just fine." Riley replied swiftly.
Micki cocked her head. "You sure? I thought I heard something break up here."
Riley kicked at something with the toe of her sneaker. "Oh, that?! I dropped a picture frame. The glass covering broke."
Micki shrugged and turned around. Casting another concerned look at her friend, she went back downstairs. Riley bent and picked up the frame. Her eyes narrowed and she traced a fingernail over the top left corner of the frame. Being curious, she pried the back of the frame open.
She pulled a piece of photo paper that read 'Kodak' on its smooth back from the glass shards and turned it over. She gasped and dropped the frame a second time. The picture she held was different from the first. Tears welled up in her eyes as she took in the photo.
Numerous faces lined together in front of a house along with a fading mountain range behind the group that made the picture entrancing. Riley swallowed her past thoughts and memories. She wanted to forget about her past. To forget the family she had known, the family she stood smiling with in the photo.
Anger built up in her as she ripped the photo in half and tossed it into a nearby trashcan.
"Stupid memories. I wish I didn't have any of them at all." Riley muttered.
"Mom? Uh, Aunt Micki wanted me to tell you lunch is ready."
Riley looked up. Zack stood in the stairwell watching her with contentment. Riley nodded. She stepped towards her son and wrapped an arm around his neck.
"What did she fix? It's not that Eggplant Parmesan crap again, is it?" Riley asked teasingly.
Zack shrugged.
"Just between us, don't tell your Aunt that, that Eggplant crap, is thick enough to plug a bear's butt." Riley added.
Zack snickered loudly and stepped back. Riley sighed and grasped the boy's waist. She drug him down the steps and into the kitchen, where she deposited him in his seat at the table.
"What's with him?" Micki questioned, her eyes transfixed on her snickering nephew.
Riley shrugged. "Dunno. Some kind of past joke resurfaced, I guess."
Micki gave her an odd look but set a plate down before her anyway.
Riley examined it. "What do you call this?"
"It…is called Stir-fry." Micki sneered lightly.
"Oh." Riley replied. She looked at Zack and grinned. Balling her fists tight, she screwed her eyes shut and clenched her teeth together giving the impression that she was straining. She bent her knees slightly and shook her fists a bit. Zack fell over laughing at his mother's constipation mimic.
Zack cleared his throat suddenly and began to whistle unknowingly. Riley opened her eyes to see Micki, her arms crossed and a foot tapping the floor.
Riley laughed nervously. "Hehe, uh, sorry. It's one of those days."
She quickly sat down and hid her embarrassment in her hands with Zack's giggles making their way to her ringing ears.
* * *
"Okay people...today we have our backup coming in. I want you all to show respect and to be courteous to our guests. We are very lucky that the director of TSS has consented to lending us the undercover agents for the Treaty Signing. We'll go over the plans once more so we don't blow it."
Elisa's lecture bored Riley. She had heard the same speech three times in the past two days. She knew every plan, idea and crack of the operation they were to be performing tonight at the City Hall. Tokyo's Secret Service Agency was flying three undercover agents in within the hour.
Riley was a bit curious on how they would function and react to their plan. Would they laugh? Agree? Or be amazed? Riley wasn't sure, but she knew that if any of the foreign agents made fun or mocked their efforts, she'd give them something to laugh about.
She was still steamed over the fact that the Secretary of the State had suggested foreign undercover agents when they were well capable of performing a sting without any slip ups. But, like Elisa had said, there wasn't anything they could do about the matter. So, Riley let it go.
Cracking her neck, she leaned back in her seat as Elisa continued with her lecture on proper attitudes and actions during the operation. Riley yawned. She spotted a pair of gray blue eyes watching her with intensity. Dark brown bangs hung over the two intriguing eyes as they studied her.
'Pierce.' Riley thought happily as she identified the eyes.
She glanced up and smiled at him causing him to blush slightly.
"Riley?" A loud voice called her sternly.
Riley lifted her blue eyes up to see Elisa frowning at her. Elisa shook her head and sighed causing a few of the other agents to chuckle.
"Riley, you and Pierce are to report with me to the airport to retrieve our bait. Once they have arrived, we will return to headquarters, fill them in on the operation even though they have gone over it ahead of time, and then, if all goes well, we head out to City Hall. Got it?" Elisa asked firmly.
"Yeah. I've had it for the past week. Can I be excused, I need to go." Riley quipped quickly.
Elisa waved her hand and watched Riley retreat from the briefing room. She looked back and nodded and Pierce got up and followed Riley into the hall.
"Hey! Riley?" Pierce called after her.
Riley sighed heavily and turned around to face the man. "What is it? Did Elisa send you out here to find out why I wasn't listening to her?"
"In a way...but actually, I was a little worried. For the past week you haven't been yourself. You've been down and quiet. You're normally hyped about stings, but now, you act as if you were being told to take the garbage out."
Riley scoffed at Pierce's answer. "Whatever."
Pierce frowned at her attitude. "Look, I'm sorry that you were recruited as Elisa's partner. But, give her credit...she's the Director for crying out loud! She's trying to give you a chance to become something better than a agent."
"Like what?!" Riley asked harshly.
"Like a replacement for my position." Elisa's voice floated to Riley softly.
Riley glared at her. "You can't resign, Elisa. You're the best director we've had."
"Unless you prove me wrong, Teavin. I'm putting all my faith in you, don't let me down." Elisa commented as she walked away from the two figures.
Riley smacked Pierce. "You could have said that she quitting, ya know! Instead of making me think she was a total bitch or something, gosh! You're so lame!"
Pierce shrugged. "I wanted it to be a surprise."
"Like hell you did! You're still dense." Riley muttered as she walked away.
Pierce chuckled and followed her. "So, what's been bothering you lately?"
Riley stopped dead in her tracks. "It's none of your business."
Pierce rubbed his chin. "More than you'd like to think?"
Riley narrowed her eyes. "Butt out, Pierce."
"Riley, come on. You're my friend and I hate it when you get like this. For some reason you get down about this time every year. Why?" Pierce asked.
Riley sighed with frustration. "Like I said, it's none of your business."
"So, if it's 'Noneya', then why haven't you walked away yet?" Pierce teased.
Riley let out a strangled growl. "Damn you, Pierce. Why do you got butt into my business? It's my life to run, not yours to dictate."
Pierce shrugged sullenly. "You know how I feel about you, Riley. You and Zack both. I'd do anything to take your pain away, you know that. It's been four years, it's time you moved on. Stop remembering your past."
Riley turned around sharply. "Listen here, Mr. Ego. I never asked for your help to begin with. What you did that night, has remained with me. It always will. While I'm thankful for an extent of your actions, sometimes, we just don't forget."
Riley started to storm off when Pierce stopped her. "Riley, about that night...I have my regrets. Okay, I regret doing what I did. But if I hadn't of done it, someone else would have. No one liked him, or what he was doing to you. It was bound to happen, I just made the first move."
Riley hung her head. The memory of the night Pierce shot and killed the man she loved weighed heavily on her mind. He was right, it was bound to happen. Someone was bound to kill him and she often feared that it would be someone she was close to. A friend, perhaps would solve her problems.
And Pierce had done it.
He obviously cared enough to put his career and future on the line for her and Zack's safety. She thanked him and the God that allowed things to turn out for the better, but she still couldn't forget how much she had cared for him. The man who captured her heart…and then shattered it.
"I know, Pierce. And part of me is thankful for what you did. I myself think that I would have snapped one day and thrown him into the meat grinder. You saved me a lot of trouble by doing what you did. Thank you." Riley stated apologetically.
Pierce nodded and moved closer to her. "Anything, for a friend."
Riley grinned at him. "So, what do you think our undercover agents are going to be like?"
Pierce shrugged as he and Riley walked down the hallway towards Elisa's office, to once again be lectured and prepped on the upcoming sting.
* * *
Riley tapped her foot against the marble floor impatiently as she awaited for the plane to unload. Pierce and Elisa stood close by also waiting the arrival of their guests.
"What happen? One of them fall through the toilet?" Riley questioned impatiently.
"Riley!" Elisa reprimanded her lightly.
"WHAT?! They should have been here by now." Riley said smugly.
Her eyes darted across the many faces of people that swarmed off the exit ramp and into the lobby of the airport. A young man in the crowd caught her attention and she leaned forward just enough to get a better glimpse of him.
She licked her lips as he came closer, a look of complete and utter lost confusion on his face. She grinned. This was going to be fun. She stepped forward causing Pierce and Elisa to look at her funny.
"Where she going?" Elisa asked curiously.
"Dunno." Pierce replied briefly before going after the blonde woman.
Riley approached the man and smiled at him. "Hi there! You look lost, can I help you?"
The man cocked his head and something in the back of Riley's head flickered a quick feeling of deja vu. His black hair was cropped short except for a shoulder length ponytail that hung down his back. His deep brown eyes held a puzzled look but yet, they seemed kind and gentle.
It was a feeling that Riley felt she had had before. As if she had seen this man's eyes somewhere else. Maybe in her dreams. She wasn't sure though. She was about to introduce herself when Elisa pushed past her.
"Mr. Marikoto, I presume?" Elisa asked, her hand extended.
The man nodded. "You must be Ms. Mezro?" He questioned in reply.
"Yes. You can call me Elisa though. We all are partners, no?" Elisa asked.
Marikoto nodded. "Then you may call me, Jett. It's a pleasure to meet you, Elisa."
Elisa nodded in return. "Weren't there three of you?"
Jett smiled nervously. "Yes. My two bookends are actually standing in line at the cafe over there. They've been talking about something called a 'Chile Dog' and they refuse to leave the airport until they get one. So, you'll have to excuse their childish behavior."
Elisa chuckled. "Quite alright. New York is famous for their Chile Dogs. Perhaps we should let them try funnel cake, hmm?"
"What is funnel cake?" A young female voice asked eagerly.
Elisa, Riley and Pierce turned to see a girl no older than 20 standing with a Chile dog wrapped in a napkin in her hands. Her shoulder length auburn hair glistened from the sunlight spilling through the large class window beside her. Her innocent hazel eyes were wide with curiosity at Elisa's statement.
"Funnel cake is a dessert we New Yorkers like to boast about. It's like a sweet pastry fried in oil, and when it's done you cover it in powdered sugar and viola. You have a funnel cake." Pierce explained to the young woman.
"Cool. Sounds like something I'd like to try." She answered sweetly.
Elisa titled her head. "You must be one of the other agents from TSS. I'm Director Elisa Mezro. I'm heading the operation for tonight's raid."
The woman shook Elisa's hand firmly. "I'm Alex Keaton. But, everyone calls me Lex. New York is a very nice city. Very different from Tokyo. It's nice and quaint, but different." Lex implied seriously.
Elisa agreed. "It is, isn't it? So, where is the last member of your party?"
Lex pointed to a tall woman a few feet away. She was standing with her back to Elisa, her head tilted ever so slightly as she studied some graffiti on the far wall of the lobby.
"Hey! Jess, over here." Lex called to get the woman's attention.
The woman identified as 'Jess' spun around, her waist length hair encircling her body as she turned. She smiled at Lex and sauntered over.
Riley noted her deep green eyes. They were small, a lot smaller than a normal Japanese woman's and they held an expression Riley had once known. She figured it was intellect or melancholy, but which one, she couldn't place.
"Sorry. I was just intrigued by the symbols and drawings on the wall."
Elisa shrugged. "And finally, we have the Super smart agent, Jess Bartow, extraordinaire. Rumor has it that you are the smartest agent in the TSS. If you have such a famous brain as they say you do, why don't you become a scientist or something?"
Jess sputtered and then chuckled nervously. "Too much solitude. I'm a people person."
Lex and Jett shot Jess looks that made it evident to Riley, that Jess was lying. She seemed familiar, the ego did anyway. And her eyes, they held a passion and a familiarity that bothered Riley. It made her skin crawl with uneasiness.
Jess apparently seemed uneasy around Riley too, because she kept glancing at her every few minutes. Elisa smacked her head playfully.
"Allow me to introduce you to my partners. This is Pierce Stahley, the second in command of the TSF. And of course my close partner, Riley Teavin. She's the best agent we have and I think that you'll find working with her is a treat. One you won't soon forget." Elisa remarked cheerfully.
Riley snorted and turned around.
"So, Miss. Teavin...do you enjoy working here with the TSF?" Jess asked.
Riley scoffed at her. "Truthfully...yes."
Jess eyed her. "You swear?"
Riley grinned. "Every damn day."
Jess stifled her laughter. "No, I mean do you swear that you enjoy being an agent of the TSF, because I think we could use someone of your quality back in Tokyo."
Riley snorted. "Thanks, but no thanks. I've been an agent with the TSF for eleven years now. I don't think I'm ready to leave them just yet. Besides, I'd never fit in at a place like Tokyo. Not my style."
Jess nodded knowingly. "Very well then. Just thought I'd give it shot."
Riley chuckled. She was going to like this woman, it was easy to see that.
Jett stepped forward. "I do believe that we have a debriefing to attend ladies. You know how Mr. Gindai gets if we screw up with foreign affairs."
Lex snickered. "That old coot can't even decipher an American from a Japanese person if they came up and kicked his ass."
"LEX!" Jett chided.
Lex stuck her tongue out at him. "I'm not a baby anymore, Jett. Besides, we're in America now. We should drop our Japanese habits and live like the Americans until we go back to Tokyo. Wouldn't you say, Jess?"
Jett stared at Jess with a pleading look in his eyes. She grinned. "I'd say that's about right!"
Jett hung his head and groaned. Riley couldn't help but laugh at the trio of odds and ends.