Chp. 6 – Kuroi Tori "A Kunoichi's Last Dance"
"Otacon!" David took hold of his friend's shoulders and paused to catch his breath. "Have you seen Ayane?"
Otacon shook his head.
"No. I haven't." When David cursed under his breath and looked around, Otacon placed a hand on his shoulder. "Something wrong Snake? What's wrong?"
"Otacon, I've done something wrong. I have to find Ayane."
With that, he left, leaving Otacon to stare in wonder. Otacon watched as David was smothered by his guests and disappeared into the headcount of dancers. Redirecting his gaze to the sliding door behind him, Meryl walked in, apparently undisturbed like his friend had been. She smiled and followed with a wave of her hand.
"Hey, Otacon."
"Meryl."
He stopped her with a hand on her shoulder. "Just a moment." He said, waiting for her to face him.
"You wouldn't by chance, know what just happened would you?"
"No."
"Oh." He nodded, looking off to the side.
"Something wrong, Otacon?"
"It's…uh… nothing." His eyes met hers. "Just forget what I said."
She nodded, and he turned to leave. He couldn't help but notice the gestures she used and the tone of voice she took. Both were conniving and misleading. Otacon pressed himself into a quiet room where he took a seat against a computer chair. He brought a hand to his ear and tapped into codec.
"Mei Ling?"
"…."
"Mei Ling, are you there? It's me, Otacon."
"...."
"Mei Ling! Stop avoiding me! This is serious."
A heavy sigh sounded on the other end of transmission.
"Oh god. what is it now, Otacon?"
"Oh, so you're there."
"Yep. I'm…here."
"Good. I need you."
"For?"
"It's Snake. Something happened."
"Snake? I've known a lot of things to happen to him…."
"…."
"What could possibly make this "something" any different?"
"He seemed pretty upset. Got any advise for me to give?" Otacon reached across the small desk for a notepad and pen.
"I need to know the situation first. You know that."
"Uh…there's this woman."
"Woman? Hm…he just couldn't keep his smile to himself, huh?"
"Yeah, well…ya' know. He has a way with the ladies." He listened to the deep sigh she conjured.
"What about him? uh… and this woman?"
"I'm guessing they're having problems. Relationship-wise."
"Relationship?" she laughed. "Snake? In a relationship? God, that's funny."
"Uh….right." Otacon sighed. "Meryl might have something to do with it."
"Meryl? She's in this too?"
Otacon nodded, then stopped, realizing that she wouldn't see his action. "Yep."
"She may be the cause of the downfall."
No sound came from the other end. Otacon felt the line went dead.
"Hello?"
"…."
"Mei Ling?"
"…"
"Helloooooo??"
"Uh… hello?"
"Where'd you go?"
"Sorry, I had to take the other call. My younger sister."
"Sister?"
"Yeah."
"You never told me you had a sister."
"You never asked."
Otacon frowned as he pushed the glasses further onto the bridge of his nose.
"Well…anyway, I think--"
"Just a second. I'm putting her on. Maybe she can help you."
"What's the frequency?"
"130.40."
"130.40…" he repeated. "Got it."
A small sound of interference emitted as the channel was switched. A younger voice came in, sounding that of equality to Mei Ling.
"Hello?"
"Hello, Mei Ling's sis."
"Hi. …Mei Ling?"
"I'm here."
Otacon listened.
"What's the problem?" asked Mei Ling.
"Is this the guy who you said always wore a lab coat?"
"Yep. That's him."
Otacon smirked. "Yeah. That's… me."
"Oh. So… how's it going?"
"Good."
"Otacon, this is Lee-Anne, my younger sister."
"Lee-Anne?"
"Yep. You got a problem with my name?"
"Uh… no. I just thought—"
"Hm." Lee-Anne sounded.
"…Nevermind."
"Otacon."
"Yeah, Mei Ling?"
"Since I'm no longer working alongside you and the Colonel, Lee-Anne will take my place."
"Lee-Anne? Isn't she a little young to be—"
"Wasn't Emma a little young, Otacon?"
"Don't bring Emma into this."
"I'm just relating. Not offending you in any way."
"Oh."
"She'll be your advisor. She knows a wide variety of quotes to help you out. I figured, since your last quote session with Snake was horrible, she'd be a better successor."
Lee-Anne giggled and Otacon sighed.
"So you heard about that…"
"I hear everything Otacon. Well…I'm way past my time here, so I'll leave you two in peace."
"Mei Ling, wait!"
Too late. Her line went dead and the rusty air cascaded into his transmission. Lee-Anne sighed.
"I'm still here. What's the problem?"
Otacon hesitated. How could he talk relationships with someone much younger than him who may be just a bit older than Emma? He sighed and listened as she beckoned him for a sign of acknowledgement.
"Hello?"
"Sorry." he breathed.
"Okay."
"You heard about Solid Snake, right?"
"Yeah, the one who was supposedly responsible for the tanker incident a few years back."
Otacon paused. "Uh…right. Supposedly." He repeated. "Anyway, he's kind of in a bind between two women, one that he loved and one that he loves. I think."
Lee-Anne listened.
"I think the one that he loved is trying to destroy the relationship he's trying to form with the one he loves." Otacon shrugged in his seat. "I dunno. It's quite complicated." He heard a small sound of laughter on the other end.
"You're the one making it complicated."
"Sorry…"
"That's all right." She paused, trying to suppress the smile that tugged on her lips. "I think that Mr. Snake should choose from his heart. Now, I'm not trying to make him seem soft in any way, but, maybe he just needs to choose one. But if he wants to be greedy and have both, he can try. Which… in reality, wouldn't work out."
"So you're saying to choose from your heart."
"Basically."
"That doesn't sound like any ancient Chinese proverb to me."
"Give me time. I'm still working on a few, Mr. Otacon."
"Please, call me Otacon. Mr. and Dr. are waaay too formal."
He listened to Lee-Anne's giggle and smiled.
"Okay Otacon."
Ayane stopped when felt she ran far enough. She looked around, seeming to be in the heart of the city. Lights, car horns, and music filled her eyes and ears. Then she saw it, the train station. A nice long ride home, or rather, David's home, was what she needed. She needed to clear that head of hers, take a nice bath, and climb into her bed. And in the morning, she'll depart and head back to where she came and never look back. At that moment, that's how she felt. She wanted to leave and abandon the infiltrator. She wanted him to watch her walk away. She wanted him in pain, much like the pain she felt now. She hugged David's coat tighter around her shoulders as she shuddered against the chilly air.
Her fingers pressed each number carefully as her eyes read the piece of paper. There was a number written down that she'd forgotten for quite some time. An old friend, if she was still considered that. Ayane held the receiver to her ear with her shoulder and leaned against the glass of the phone booth. C'mon… pickup. I know you're there…
The phone awakened Kaplan out of a deep sleep. Instantly alert, she grabbed for it, nearly knocking over the remnants of a glass of wine—a rare indulgence for her. "…Hello?" she said, her voice thick.
The caller whispered something Kaplan couldn't understand. She frowned. "Kaplan here. Who's calling, please?"
"K…Kaplan? …it…it's …me."
"Ayane?" She glanced at the clock, noting that it was nearly 2:00am. Her heart leaped to her throat.
"What's wrong? What's happened?"
She listened. Ayane's sob became deep and broken, as if wrenched from the very center of her being. Alarmed, Kaplan sat up. "Ayane, What's happened? Talk to me."
For a moment, nothing but quiet sobs filled the woman's ear. She was left with no choice but to patiently wait until Ayane was ready.
"…I …It's David." She managed, the words choked. "I… just want to come home. …Now. Please, Kaplan."
Her friend dissolved into tears again, and Kaplan climbed out of bed and crossed to her closet, portable phone still clutched to her ear. She opened the closet and pulled out a pair of jeans and a light sweater.
"…I can't let you do that, Ayane. You don't belong here." Kaplan said, fighting to keep panic out of her own voice. She paused, listening to the extent of the other's pain. "You have to tell me what happened. What about David?"
For several moments, Ayane was quiet save for her very audible struggle for control. Then she spoke, her voice a tinny whisper. "I… He—…It's nothing." She sighed. When she looked around, her voice rose. "I want to come back, Kap. Please!"
Kaplan glanced at her watch, calculating. "Where are you?"
Ayane directed her eyes toward the on-coming train. "Train Station."
Propping the phone to her ear with her shoulder, Kaplan shimmied into her jeans. "Where are you going?"
"…I… I don't know yet."
"Listen to me," Kaplan started, switching the phone to her other ear. "I want you to go back—"
"I…I gotta go. The train's arriving."
"Ayane!"
"Bye Kaplan."
Kaplan paused, bringing a hand to her head. She stood a moment, listening to the dead line at the other end of her receiver. Slowly the cordless fell from her ear and was placed onto the base. A disappointing frown fell upon her lips as she glanced around her room. "Damnit."
Ayane slipped out of the phone booth. Fishing around in her coat pocket, she found the ticket she purchased before she made the call and walked toward the boarding director. With a smile, she handed him the ticket and started inside the fourth car. She passed through many cars, greeting people and their young until she found hers. When she opened the door to her room, she found it occupied by another. A man, ruggedly dressed as if a bandit looking to vandalize. She noticed the trench coat, the baggy trousers, and heavy boots. Blonde hair. She straightened, voiced an apology, and started back out. It would have been an easy success if he hadn't of placed his hand on the door and pulled it from her grasp. She stood back as he held out his hand.
"I'm sorry if I scared you. You have the right room, by the way."
She hesitated and he pressed on.
"…The name's Liquid."
A gasp slipped past her lips. He noticed her surprise and smirked. This couldn't possibly be the same Liquid that David talked about. The resemblance was uncanny. The only thing that set him aside from David was the blond hair. She cast her eyes elsewhere.
"Liquid." she lowly repeated.
"Yes." He grinned. "And you are?"
"Leaving." She murmured, turning away to start back the way she came. He caught her arm.
"Wait." He turned her to face him and she pulled away, snatching her arm from him.
"Don't touch me."
"Look, I'm not here to cause trouble. I need information."
"Information? I don't even know you!"
"But I know you. We need to talk, now."
Before she could protest, he covered her mouth with his hand and pulled her inside, kicking the door shut with his foot. He held her close to him and stared her down, whispering into her ear. She struggled against him and he tightened his grip, pulling her arm even further behind her back. His British accent filled her ear with a deep, tart, tone.
"If you attempt to make a sound that would alarm anyone on this train, you'll be dead before they even hear it. Got it?"
She nodded, watching him from the corner of her eyes. Once he was sure she'd cooperate, he released her and stood back. She hugged herself as she fell back against the cushioned seating, her eyes averted onto the table before her.
"Where is he?"
"…Who?" she meekly asked, still with her eyes on the table.
"You know who. Snake."
"I don't know any Snakes."
He frowned, leaning forward, staring into the dark eyes that would never greet his own. "Don't play games with me. Where is my brother?"
"…I told you, I don't know."
He chuckled, leaning back with his eyes briefly shut. "you don't know…" he repeated, mocking her tone.
"Fine, I'll refresh your memory," he said, reaching behind him to claim the semi-automatic handgun that hid beneath his trench coat. She listened as he cocked the hammer back. It was then that her eyes met his. He lifted his aim to her head. "Either you start talking, or you start bleeding."
She frowned. "I-I don't know. Honest."
"Wrong answer."
The trigger fell back and the chamber exploded.
[Chapter 7 is almost complete and Ch.8 is in the works. R/R this one. ^^]