Unknown No More by Rei ^death^ Himura

Disclaimer: Characters don't belong to me.

***

"Err... Miss Fuuko."

"Just Fuuko. Geez Carly, I've known you for seven months, you could knock it off."

"Oops. Sorry. Mi-Fuuko then. Did Johnson know who you are? I mean... I'm sure he would have done background checks or something." The duo paused at the elevator and waited as it descended from the twentieth floor. Fuuko, decked out in simple shirt, jeans and combat boots whereas Carly wore a one-piece suit. She looked much suited to be a prosecutor than a homicide agent. Fuuko grinned.

"Ahh... you see. Johnson was the one who helped me. Of course, I just twisted my problem a little bit." She didn't want to add the fact that her unknown benefactor and pseudo-godfather was the one who arranged things for her. Carly nodded her ehad thoughtfully side-stepped to allow the passengers out before stepping. Fuuko did the same, greetings familiar faces and then leaned against the metal railing. Just as the door was about to close, a hand stopped.

"Hey, go and wait for your own lift!" Fuuko snapped. The doors opened, her lips set into a thin line. Then her eyes widened.

"Kaoru-chan?"

*

What was it with Fuuko that she seemed to know cute and good-looking guys? Carly mused. She trailed behind the excited duo who babbled all the way from lobby to the thirtieth floor. He doesn't look much older than seventeen or eighteen at the most. As the pair walked along in front, Fuuko's partner lapsed into reverie behind.

"Oh... I see. You're here to help him. But what about Univeristy?" Kaoru grinned, head giddy with the fact that here he was, standing face-to-face with his object of admiration.

"I finished. I was going to graduate in a few days time, which would have been tomorrow. But niichan did some arranging and I graduated a week early and voila! I'm here." She ruffled his hair and then paused before entering the homicide section.

"Geez. Forgot my manners again. Kaoru, meet Carly my assistant. Carly, this is my friend Kaoru from Japan." They shook hands, Carly blushing slightly as Kaoru grinned fangedly at her. Introductions done, Fuuko pushed the doors open and welcomed the stale aroma of coffee, doughnuts and plain bagels that the department reeked off. She was about to head over to Johnson's office when a familiar figure stepped into her path.

"Morning Tyriel."

"Morning my darling. How are things today? And ooh... who's that hunk behind you?" Fuuko chuckled and shook her head. Tyriel was a gay officer who did his job efficiently and with the same dogged determination as the rest did in the department. Clad in a cashmere sweater and khaki pants, he eyed the stranger behind Fuuko. He had a pretty boy face that had many women swooning at his feet, pity that he too would swoon with them if he saw himself as a delectable piece of meat.

"I'm fine. This is my friend, Kaoru." They shook hands. Just then Johnson stepped out of his office and beckoned the trio to come in. Tyriel moved away, eyes lingering appreciatively over Kaoru before heading back to his desk to work.

"Wow. He's cool." Kaoru whispered. Fuuko merely smiled.

"He's an angel. Now come along, I'm not sure if he told you about Johnson - the department boss."

*

Mikagami was waiting for them - in a polo shirt beneath a v-necked jumper and casual jeans. He eyed her coolly as she sat down and then turned to face Johnson.

"Okay. The Japan Bureau sent you, Mr. Mikagami, so that you could apprehend Yamaguchi Touya and bring him back to Japan for trial. So we have Miss Kirisawa here to help you out. Yamaguchi was last seen at a warehouse on 54th avenue. Witnesses say he was dealing drugs there. We dispatched a team earlier but we found nothing that said so. Although what they did found was just a small portion of white powder. Opium. So now we confirm that Yamaguchi's dealing drugs. Here are the folders, take time to go through. You'll be working together and I hope there aren't going to be any problems with this arrangement. Now if you'll excuse me, I have to head on down to court." It was a sort briefing, Mikagami, Fuuko, Carly and Kaoru ushered out and then Johnson heading off to the courtroom that was across the road.

They headed over to the lounge where they could better discuss strategies and plans.

"Hmm... You know, the only way we can nail this fella down is if we go incognito and whack him upstyle." Mikagmi raised an eyebrow at Fuuko's suggestion, taking note of the way she crossed her long slender legs and the knitted eyebrows as eyes glanced through the few pieces of paper within the folders. Carly was bent at the waist reading over her shoulder, hand on either side of Fuuko.

"You're right. You have to mingle with the Underworld. He's possibly already on guard, knowing that the cops are on his tail. But this is strange; we're homicide specialists not the narcs. Why do we have to-" Carly paused as Fuuko pointed her finger at a statement.

Suspect has murdered 14 people as of date. Each time leaving behind an ace of spades from a simple playing deck.

"Ace of spade?" Kaoru pondered aloud. Why did it sound so familiar?

"Oh." Carly muttered.

"That's a lot of people."

"Yeah."

"So? Everyone agrees to this?" Fuuko's eyes were locked on to Mikagami's waiting for his approval. Heck, she didn't need his approval, she could just go head-on and it would have come out the same. But no... she had to work with him. The one person whom shed happily rip his gonads out and feed it to the precinct dogs. He inclined his head slightly in a half-nod and she snapped the folder shut.

"Alright then. Let's get moving."

*

"Err... Fuuko, are you sure about this? He's killed 14 people."

"Which is why the homicide people are on it. C'mon and help me here Carly, I've forgotten how to wear these things." Carly blushed as she walked into Fuuko's room, the occupant wearing a black lacy bra and underwear. She was trying to put on a corset and was cursing under her breath trying to lace it up.

"Oh come here. I'll help you."

"Thanks."

"Are you sure this is necessary? I mean... we should be working on the case and getting ready to infiltrate the Underworld. But we're going to a ball?"

"A gala. Or something of that sort. Geez, was I the only paying attention reading the folder? Yamaguchi is well-known in the Underworld. He's well-established and apart from the blemish of murdering people to appease his psychotic brain, he's well-respected there."

"The ball? Or gala?"

"I know a friend there who could pass along some information. Plus, we're here to masquerade as equally wealthy and well-established Underworld dark ladies."

"Or lords."

"Whatever. Ouch. Are you done?"

"Almost. There."

"Urgh, this was one of the reasons why I completely swore off the family business. All these stupid galas and balls, wearing constricting clothing of which I would faint five minutes after getting my fat body in it."

"You're not fat." Carly protested. Fuuko snorted and then adjusted the ruffled skirt. Her face was slightly flushed, she didn't need that much make-up, just eye-shadow here and there and lipstick. Done. Her hair could just be easily pulled back into a simple French twist. No fuss. She turned to face Carly, holding her arms open so that her partner could critique and comment.

"How is it?"

"Spectacular."

"Haha. You look amazing." Carly blushed at her simple silk lavender gown, courtesy of the Japan Bureau. It was held up by a lot of straps that criss-crossed down her back. Her arms were encased in matching silk gloves and her short paige-boy hair was swept to the side by glittering hair clips.

"You mentioned family business..."

"Oh. That. My father dealt with shipping and trade. They all don't know it of course, I lived with my guardian." Carly was tempted to ask who they were but kept silent.

"So yeah. Everytime he had to attend these stupid galas and balls and if my mother wasn't feeling well, I'd have to go in her place. Ergh, you can imagine the atmosphere there. Racked to the nineties with snotty factor. That's why I lived with my guardian. She hates those things with a passion as well. Done. Let's go."

"Wait. Weren't we supposed to be waiting for them?"

"We'll meet them at the lobby. No come on, I need to do some last-minute checking." She glided into the living room, apparently because of their strategy to infiltrate the Underworld in such a way, they're living situations were changed and altered. Both detectives and assistants were booked into New York's most prestigious hotel. All expenses paid by both the department and by the Bureau. Fuuko walked to a case that lined the floor of the living room and snapped it open. Inside it was a Colt with which she slid into the holster at her thigh. A knife was strapped to the other thigh.