Chapter 2: The Meeting

Bureau of National Security Headquarters

Yuki glared at the people rushing about the department as he donned his street clothes. Today was not he cared about remembering, but the wounds he received from the Russian bullets wouldn't let him. As he passed by the workers, he could make out small conversations.

"there goes that rookie officer-"

"-to believe he is the only human special agent here-"

"-this business should be for youkai and hanyous, not him-"

"-waste of space-"

Deciding to shrug off the insults, he headed alone for the chief office, only to be stopped by a humanoid apparition with grayish green hair and a tan sand mantle which somewhat covered his light blue jeweled right arm. "Hey Yuki!" he said in a gruff but kind tone.

Hiding his disgust, Yuki faked a small smile as he responded, "Elazul….when did you get back from Central America?"

"Few hours ago," he gave a serious expression as he then asked, "I heard you had a mission." Giving a twisted sneer, he patted Yuki on the back roughly as he added in, "You did bring back the turncoat, right?"

Yuki avoided eye contact and stared interested at the ground. "Well…that is…uh…"

Elazul sighed then smiled normally, which of course surprised the younger boy. "You know…" he began, his tough-guy persona temporarily forgotten, "If we are gonna be partners, then you shouldn't let minor problems like blundered missions dishearten you."

"Hmph!"

"See what I mean…don't let failure bother you." Whipping out a pair of rectangular paper, Elazul waved them in Yuki's face. "Especially with these."

Yuki became annoyed by the movement and snatched them away. Glancing at them closer, he did a double-take as he read the info upon them. "These are tickets-"

"Yep, Boss Enma said it's part of our new mission."

"A stakeout?" Yuki looked hopeful as well as excited. Agents that went on stakeouts normally were the ones who were gonna experience the most hard-core action. Especially if there were ladies present…

Elazul snickered as he shook his head. "Stakeout? We aren't Ototo, you know."

Yuki frowned in annoyance and began to walk towards the exit. "Of course we aren't like 'Ototo'. He's the perfect secret agent…"

"Gee, if you were more sarcastic, we could open a insult store." Elazul noticed that his partner had walked over to the equipment area and was currently inspecting their gadgets in their suitcases.

"Junk…junk…" Yuki kept browsing through the broken or second-rate tools they acquired for their mission. "I swear, the BNS wants me to quit. I don't even get half the good equipment that Ototo gets…"

Elazul noticed the crazed anger look that the 16-year old had crossed all over his appearance. "Don't act like that. It's not that bad…you just got promoted to special agent about the same time as me, remember?"

Yuki gazed up at the older boy, a mocking smirk appeared on his face. "Two months ago, and at least they treat you with some respect."

"We're only a year apart," Elazul retorted back, knowing where this was heading automatically.

"Which makes me the youngest agent. Plus, it helps that you're a spirit-"

"Jumis are NOT spirits, we are apparitions…"

"Whatever." Yuki glanced at the suitcase right next to their own. It was filled with much more updated high-tech items than almost any other agent. Making sure no one was watching, he snuck the watch and a few bombs into his blue jean jacket before turning back around innocently. "You know what, Elazul…we should be going finding out our mission." He hastily sped towards the main office, grabbing his partner's left arm and dragging him along.

A casino in Las Vegas, Nevada

Irwin Gundars was gambling man.

Okay…maybe man wasn't quite the word we're looking for.

Perhaps hanyou was more descriptive of a word.

Yes, Irwin was a red haired hanyou who loved gambling.

But not the type with cards and chips. No, Irwin is your average villain who likes to watch boxing matches and screw small countries out of money. Now, with the stealth plane Switchblade in his hands, he could get enough money to finally get that extreme makeover that ABC kept advertising all the time. Even hanyous had to look their best for their loves and Irwin was no exception.

Anyways, Irwin was currently visiting the estate of his favorite middleweight champion wager token, thinking of how he was going to introduce himself. Standing at the front door of the mansion, he obviously had thoughts circling his crimson topped head.

"This will be quite interesting to see him again…I wonder how much he changed over the years…I hope I really don't look too gross to him-"

The door creaked open in a scary movie-type manner as a tall orange Elvis-styled haired man in a black bodyguard uniform glared intimidating at the same heighted guest. "You were expected, Gundars-san…Youko is in the meeting room awaiting your presence." Moving aside, he allowed Irwin entrance to the manor.

He promptly found our main boxer chilling with his associates and a few 'unforeseen' guests. In fact, there were at least 4 or 6 (Irwin never bothered to count) of those female guests, fawning and drooling over the silver kitsune, who had removed his mask and had his silver ears currently perked in pleasure.

"Youko! Long time, no see!" Irwin cheerfully yelled in a happy-go lucky attitude. Like many short-lived old friend reunions, this one was abruptly halted by a tall wall of majestic blonde hair.

"Yusuke!" Youko's hand raised up suddenly to stop his companion. "He's a friend." Arching his head towards his friend, he brushed away the women ogling over him and the pair embraced in a friendly hug.

Irwin smiled friendly. "What has it been, twelve years? You've grown so much!"

"You look good too!" Youko quickly pushed away the other man, as mostly cute sequences must stop. Gaping at the well-dressed hanyou, the kitsune motioned away his companions and the lady harem as the two sat down on separate couches facing each other.

After a while of mindless catching up talk (*yawns*), the duo turned to more important matters. "I heard you're going to Hungary in a few days…"

Youko instinctually raised an eyebrow in boredom, not knowing where this was going. "Well, that's what they're saying on the news. Having TV trouble?"

Irwin smirked in a sarcastic air as he handed a white envelope to the kitsune. "I wanted to give this to you personally…as we were close childhood friends."

"What's this-" Youko broke the seal on the envelope and skimmed the paper he pulled out. "You're throwing a party in Budapest? I didn't know you had a house in Hungary…"

"Well, having a party to celebrate my friend's 57th win, is that unusual?" Youko became quiet in a second, mostly from surprise. Irwin continued cockily, "I've been watching your boxing career…something of a hobby really…"

"You need to get a new hobby."

Irwin laughed heartily and brushed his hair from covering his face. Both of them standing up, Irwin turned his back to his friend, smiling almost innocently. "It may be a weird hobby…but I insure you it is a blessing in disguise." Under his breath, he muttered quietly enough so that the kitsune couldn't hear, "Especially for me."

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Think I should continue? Review and I'll think about it! See ya!