The Green Tiger
by Froggie Lover

Chapter Two: Rediscovering the Recent Past

"What in the world brought us back to this damn place?" Billy Ray asked. They were at Mom's, the place where he and Guile had met Kim Matsuda, an undercover FBI agent whose boss was working for both sides of the operation. She had gotten caught in the middle, just like they had. Guille sighed, remembering when he had met the woman who had changed his life.

"Let's just hope Kim was wrong about the food," he said with a small laugh.

"We can only hope."

The two walked into the small bar and immeadiately saw the owner, Mom, at the bar serving a customer. He looked up and shook his head.

"Back so soon?" he asked. "Last time you were in here you got in a fight. What's going to happen now? Guns being shot from every side?"

"Last time," Billy Ray started. "We were being chased after and we didn't know it. But now, they're off of our backs. Got a problem?"

"No."

Billy Ray smiled. "Good." He continued into the restaurant and sat down on the stool he had been in the first time he was there. Mom glanced over and shook his head again.

Guile took the seat beside his partner and smiled idiotically at Mom.

"We meet again," he said, tilting his head to the side.

"Yeah, and I hope you pay for the food this time," Mom replied.

"Isn't there such thing as a tab?"

"Not in this restuarant."

"Shit," Guile muttered, exchanging a glance with Billy Ray. The latter just shrugged his shoulders.

Mom laughed a bit at Guile's discomfort. "Alright; I'll make an exception. Just remember that one day, you are going to pay for the food."

"Don't worry. We're not ones to forget," Billy Ray answered. Mom nodded in response, then walked away to serve a customer.

"So, think we're going to find something tonight?" Guile asked, turning towards his partner-in-crime.

"As sure as the sun will rise in the morning," Billy Ray answered, smiling from ear to ear.

"I thought so."

"Hey, maybe we should head back to that warehouse. There could be money still hidden there or something. Remember, Micheal wasn't the most intelligent man in the world."

"But his boss was."

"Not that smart. He allowed himself to be upstaged by a small-time thief and an F.B.I agent. Is that all that smart? Didn't think so."

"True. Wonder if there really is something back at that warehouse," Guile answered, setting his chin on his fist.

"That's what we're going to find out."

~*~*~*~

The theif ducked under the table as the door to the room opened again. They sighed, frustrated. Voices were heard from the door, but they weren't the same as before. After a few moments, the room was again silent with the exception of the sound of footsteps.

Guile looked around the room. It was the same room that the laptop and the fake access codes had been in; only the laptop wasn't there anymore. Instead, the desk was empty. He walked behind it and started looking through the drawers. On the third one he tried, there was a box in it. The box looked extremely familiar to the theif...

"Billy Ray, take a look at this!" he exclaimed.

"What is it?"

Billy Ray walked over to the desk and saw the box. His eyes widened at the sight of the object.

"Is that what I think it is?" Billy Ray asked.

"Let's find out."

Guile reached for his lock picks and pulled out the appropriate tool and began to unlock the barrier on the box. Just before he finished, a force flipped him onto his stomach, causing Guile to moan in pain. Billy Ray looked up and saw a woman standing over his friend, one foot on his back, and fists in a defensive position. Billy Ray went to punch her, but she blocked the attack. The woman retaliated by attempting to upper cut into Billy Ray's jaw, but her attack was also blocked. The next few moments was a battle of arms, and neither of the two thieves managed to gain the upper hand. It was almost as if they knew exactly what their opponet was going to do next.

Guile coughed from underneath the female's foot. "Hey, could you let me go now?"

She looked down. "Whatever."

The pressure was released and Guile rolled over onto his back. "Ow."

"So, what were you two doing trying to get into the box of MY diamonds?" the woman asked.

"Your diamonds? They're ours! We stole them, then we got chased after, and ended up with the fake box," Billy Ray answered.

"I noticed that much. I must admit that my employees were quite pleased with your spur-of-the-moment stupidity," she replied.

"Those guys were working for you? How did that come about?" Guile asked.

"That's for me to know, and you to keep your nose out of. Wait a minute; do you hear that?"

"Hear what?" Billy Ray wondered.

The woman silenced him and moved closer to the door. She peered into the outside and noticed a few guys roaming the hallway. "Shit."

"What is it?"

"If we don't find a way out of here soon, we're definitely caught."

"Just wait for them to leave the hallway," Guile suggested. "What is your name, by the way?"

The female looked at him and rolled her eyes. "Denise Kendall. And we can't wait. They're coming this way."

"Then what do you suggest we do, Miss Kendall?" Billy Ray asked.

"Run into them head on."

"Are you nuts?! We could be kill-"

Billy Ray silenced Guile by putting a hand over his mouth. He nodded and indicated towards the door. Guile rolled his eyes as Billy Ray and Denise opened the door.

"Did you hear something down the hall?" one thug asked.

"Ranco," Billy Ray whispered.

Denise nodded and listened further.

"No, I didn't. Now come on, we have to get out to that airfield," another of the two replied.

Denise raised an eyebrow at Billy Ray, but the latter shook his head. Guile watched the two for a moment, and smirked to himself.

"Let's go," Denise said.

"Wait a minute, let's think this through-" Guile replied.

"We don't have time to think it through," Billy Ray said. He knew exactly what they had to do, but Guile was always one to want to think it all through before making any sort of move.

Guile again rolled his eyes. Denise and Billy Ray made their way out onto the hallway, slow and sneaky. Guile followed precautiously behind them. By the time that all three were in the middle of the hallway, Ranco and the unamed man were gone. Guile sighed with relief as they walked outside.

"See, I knew we'd make it through," he said.

Denise glared at him. "That is, because we followed my plan. Shit."

"What?" Billy Ray asked. Denise was looking around, as if she lost something.

"My car's gone. One of those guys must've jacked it. You guys got a ride?" she replied.

Billy Ray nodded. "Just over here. I'm driving."

"Fine, whatever."

Billy Ray and Denise got into the front seat of the car while Guile hopped in the back. As they drove off, all three were unaware of the car precautiously following behind them.