Author's notes: Wow. I never expected so much replies in one chapter! *runs around with glee* hehehe… well, I'm still having that problem with who's gonna be the rival. It was so close!!!! I can't decide!! *bawls* score right now is:
Aoshi – 9
Enishi – 6
Well, the others want Soujiro and another one is undecided but… eh. *sighs* Very well. I'll just see how this comes out. ^_^ Thanks for voting minna-san!
OH MY GOD! MUSICA IS SOOO HOT!!! *grins like a demented being from Pluto* wahahaha! With his cut hair and that face… very drool-worthy! WAHAHAHA! [okay, that was weird but I'm watching Rave now so what the heck. *wink*]
Ahhh… well, hope y'all enjoy this chapter! ^_^
Disclaimer: ah. Do I HAVE to put this in every chapter? Sheesh. Well I certainly don't own Rurouni Kenshin and its characters. But I own the plot! *pffft*
Mission: Frustration!
By Tesuka- chan
Chapter 2
And the Race is On!
"So?"
The old man looked closely at the symbol, observing the lines and the curves with his eyeglass. "Hmm… this is a very interesting symbol. But quite hard to understand." He shook his head, leaning back on his worn leather chair.
Misao tapped her foot impatiently. "But do you know what it symbolizes? What it means?"
The old man squinted his eyes and perched his glasses at the bridge of his nose. "Vaguely." He leaned forward and signaled Misao to come closer. "You see this line here that goes across there? It symbolizes a flame. The rigid stroke here means ice. Both from the old language, the ancient way of writing. I haven't seen this kind in years." Having stated his point, he leaned back once again and poured a cup of tea for himself.
The woman stared at the symbol in wonder. A flame… and ice. Flaming ice. Very interesting. She smiled. Very interesting indeed.
"Arigato for your help, Oji- san!"
Misao bowed, waved goodbye to the old man, and left.
The old man smiled fondly. Even though many things had happened in her life, she's still the same old Misao. He took a sip from the steaming cup of green tea. Demo… his eyes became sad as thoughts ran across his brain. I wonder… will you be able to keep your integrity, especially now that Flaming Ice comes into the picture? Be careful Misao. You do not know his full potential.
The sound of liquid pouring into an empty cup echoed through the silence.
Misao flopped down on her couch and sighed. She was tired, and all that work for nothing. She held up the card between her fingers. Flaming Ice, eh? She smirked and tossed it aside on the coffee table nearby. Somehow, that sounded familiar.
She stood up and headed towards the bathroom. Her apartment wasn't bad… in fact, it was actually one of the better ones in this run- down city. One bedroom, a small living room – cum – kitchen and dining area, and a bathroom. Everything she needs. Simple and affordable. Practical. But sometimes, she found herself wishing that she was back in that place, where there were wide, open spaces and beautiful huge trees. Where one can see the endless blue of the sky and smell the sweet fresh air. Not the blackened streets and smoky atmosphere in the city. She sighed and stepped inside the shower.
It has been years since she separated from the Oni gang. They were rogues, the lot of them. Those were the good 'ol days, when petty crimes were a big deal, and money didn't come too often. But at least we were a family, Misao thought as the warm water pelted down her face. It was fun, and weirdly enough, we were quite happy.
She remembered their leader, the strong silent type. One whose gaze can freeze you cold, colder than a glacier… or could send shivers up and down your spine. She definitely felt the latter. She was in love with him, that she was sure of. He was tall, handsome… deadly. But he never noticed her. Even though she was only five years younger, he ignored her attentions towards him. Still, she had kept hoping, kept wishing.
And then, tragedy struck.
Their leader disappeared, and the rest of the members were brought in by the police. She was the only one who escaped the raid, being out on errands. Spy stuff. She hid for three months before she heard any news about their leader. And that was in the news… when he was given a medal for bringing in the deadliest gang ever – the Oni gang.
She had grieved, yes, but only for a while. Soon, her blood screamed revenge and total annihilation. She had met Sano, weapons and equipment specialist, and put up her own "company". She had worked her way up until she became what she is now. The infamous Jade Jaguar.
Jade eyes squinted as she speeded through memory lane. Her hands formed into fists as she pounded the tiled walls. Someday, I'll find him. That bastard who ruined everything.
"Aoshi Shinomori"
The name tasted bitter in her tongue. She turned off the shower and changed into her tank top and pj's, prepared to go to sleep. But she knows that sleep will not come, like any other nights. Sleep will never come peacefully to her.
She lay in bed, staring at the peeling paint of the ceiling, thinking back at the card. So, he wanted to challenge me? Hahaha! The nerve… if he wants a race, I'll give him one. She suddenly smiled and jumped up, looking for her copy of the most recent Time magazine. I never could understand why these filthy rich people advertise their luxuries like this. It's like they WANT it to get stolen. Hmph. Good thing for me. She flipped the pages until she came upon what she was seeking for.
The headline read: WORLD'S BIGGEST RUBY.
She took a red pen and encircled it. Her next target. She's very sure this will cost nicely when the bidding starts. And she's almost certain that the Flaming Ice or whatever his name is will be out to get it. But I'm getting it first.
And the race is on.
"Whoa, whoa, WHOA! Check this out, weasel!"
"FOR THE UMPTEENTH TIME SANO, I'M NOT A WEASEL!!!"
"All right… geesh. Well, anyway, take a look at this! You're all over the news!"
"What? Really?"
Misao unceremoniously flopped down the couch beside Sano, still holding the parts of her gun that she was cleaning. Sure, she seldom get to use it but it doesn't hurt keeping it clean once in a while. She stopped rubbing the shiny metal as she watched the news in her flat television. This is what she heard and saw:
"For the past five months, a total of seven major robberies have occurred in Tokyo," a voice from the female reporter stated. "This ranged from the largest ruby in the world to platinum bars, all private property. The police suspect only one burglar is the cause of this, but Head Inspector Saitou Hajime thinks otherwise."
A commotion just behind the newscaster halted her report.
"Head Inspector Saitou Hajime is coming out right now."
The camera bobbed up and down as the cameraman obviously tried to catch up with the reporter… who tripped and almost fell in front of the whole Tokyo watching. She wobbly straightened up, her cheeks crimson, and ran inelegantly after the inspector like the rest of the reporters whose flocking around him.
Misao watched in amusement. Geesh. People are so graceless nowadays.
"BWAHAHA! That tanuki reporter sure is clumsy!"
"Shut up Sano! I'm watching!" A *bonk* was heard throughout the apartment.
"Iteee… Misao...!"
"SHHHH!!!"
Having recovered from that faux pa earlier on, the reporter shoved the microphone in front of the inspector. " Inspector Saitou! Who do you think is responsible for these burglaries?"
The inspector stopped short and glared menacingly at her and then at the camera, a lock of his hair falling between his wolf- like eyes.
Ehhh… he looks scary. Must be someone new from the top. Misao smirked. At least they're bringing in real professionals now.
"In my opinion, there is not one but two burglars involved in this game," he said in an overweening way. "We observed the cases and there seemed to be a similarity in every other burglary. I'm willing to bet that the two are having a game on their own. I'm pretty certain that the notorious Jade Jaguar is behind all this."
Hmmm… he got it all figured out! Not bad, inspector, but you have yet to catch me! The said person looked pleased with herself. There's nothing more satisfying than scaring the hell out of people when they hear her name. Especially on television.
"So what is the national police doing to prevent further burglaries?"
"For now, we're tightening security. But we will catch them, I assure you." With one last deadly glance at the camera, he strode off to his car and slammed the door on the reporter.
Slightly flustered but not losing her cool, the newscaster faced the camera. "It seems that Jade Jaguar is on a roll, along with another mysterious burglar. Stay tuned for more updates for this issue. This is Kamiya Kaoru, reporting live for the Tokyo News."
An advertisement with a freaky purple mascot replaced the news.
I hate freaky purple mascots! Misao turned off the television and shuddered. I had nightmares before about a freaky purple thing trying to eat my brain with those pathetic baby songs! Yech!
"Hmmm… looks like you're leading. The score's four to three." Sano sneered.
"Well, yeah, what can I do? I'm the best!" Misao cheekily grinned and sauntered off to her kitchen area. Hmmm… mochi balls. She rummaged the fridge. Damn… no more ice cream??? Grrr… She whirled around, looking in the cupboards when she got a glimpse of her front door.
And a white piece of paper slid under it.
Curious and alert, she took her Derringer with her right hand and held it behind her. Slowly and with stealth, she approached the fluttering piece of paper and grabbed it. Before reading it, she quickly opened the door and pointed her gun.
Nothing.
She quickly looked left and right at the corridors, finding no one. Well… except maybe the little old lady staring at her with shock, most probably wondering why that young woman is holding a gun.
Oops. "Ehehe… ano… my brother and I were just playing guns… have you seen him? I wanted to beat him this time around… ahehe… well, ja!" She quickly turned around and slammed the door behind her. The little old lady just shook her head, muttering under her breath. "Kids these days… suicidal… not value their lives… *grumble grumble*"
Phew. That was close. She heaved a sigh of relief.
"Who was that?" Sano peeped from the living room.
"Just the neighbor. I think I freaked her out again."
"Hmph. Oh yeah, you working tomorrow?"
"Yup. Got to make a decent living." She grinned at him.
"Yeah right." He snorted and rolled his eyes.
She finally looked down at her left hand where the paper was crumpled in her fist. She opened it and smoothed it out. It read:
Go to pier 109 tomorrow at 10:00. Don't be late.
Right. Like I've been late before. She went to the kitchenette and burned it on her stove.
"Hey Sano! We've got another job!"
"All right! A few bucks more and I get to buy that beautiful thing called the virtual reality set! Whoohoo!" The spiky- haired rooster punched the air and stared back into the television, watching his favorite show, CSI.
Misao shook her head. Hey, she couldn't complain. It's his money he's wasting anyway. Men. Big boys with their big toys. She laughed, excitement filling her whole being.
This is just starting to get good.
On the other side of town, a man just finished typing in his Mac laptop. He leaned back on his black leathered chair and sipped his red wine, swirling the red liquid around the crystal glass. His ice blue eyes twinkled in the dark, ideas swimming in his head.
I will not let you win, Jade Jaguar… or should I say, Makimachi Misao. You will lose this time. And I will get what I want in the long run.
The stoic expression never changed as he looked out the floor to ceiling window, staring at the black sky, the starless sky.
A/n: so what do you think? Eh… this is sort of a transition thing. Just went fast forward. Okay, I'm not so inspired. But this is the best I can do for now. Summer laziness is taking a toll on me. It's soooo hot!!! *melts and sizzles on the concrete floor* Gahhh… Mochi balls…
Anyway, I guess you already have an idea who I'm gonna pair her up with. Gomen nasai for the people I disappointed! Well, this is gonna be totally OOC so I hope y'all won't get angry at me and start throwing tomatoes. I'd be too lazy to clean myself up. *flies buzzed around Tesuka- chan's unmoving figure*
Errrr… so I made up some stuff here. Ehehe. Hehe.
Anyway, thanks to the reviewers! Since most of you just answered the poll, I don't think having detailed replies is appropriate now. So thanks to: copycat, Firuze Khanume, Darkfairy (hallo!!!), Fabi- chan, Silverstar, Tenshi528, JJ, Cheri- amour, Len, Chalce, Dynast, K- chan, Misao chan!, Chibi Mai, Kate (WHAT??!!!! Where's the hell is your story??? ~_~'), ZenryokuZ, Nekonomiko, Misao Shinomori.
Thanks so much! Any suggestions will be greatly appreciated!
PLEASE READ AND REVIEW! ^_^
