"Ha, you got the old maid again."
Nagira and Michael sat in the lobby of the hotel, carefully tucked back into the corner of the room, out of sight of the clerks. The clock tower had just struck 5 outside the hotel, and people were starting to move in and out of the main lobby at an increasing rate.
Michael threw his cards down on the table, letting the joker flutter to the floor. "Can we stop now?" he muttered. "We've been playing cards for over three hours."
Nagira shuffled the cards expertly and set them back on the coffee table. "That's not that long. Besides, what else is there to do? We still have to wait till Amon goes out. How about another round of poker?"
"No thanks. You've already taken nearly everything but the clothes off my back."
"It's not my fault that you're horrible at poker," Nagira chuckled. "Alright then, what do YOU suggest we do?"
"I don't know." The hacker slumped back on the couch, kneading his temples with his long fingers. "I'd really like some sleep, though." Then a thought hit him. "Hey, what will Amon think when he gets to the STN-J and I'm not there?"
Nagira didn't get a chance to answer. At that moment, Amon walked out of the elevator and started across the main room of the hotel. "Shit!" Michael hissed, and dove behind the couch. Nagira stood up stiffly, shoving his hands deep into his pockets. Amon had spotted him and was now heading decisively toward him, his strides long and purposeful.
"Nagira, what are you doing here?" the black haired hunter demanded. "I told you to stay out of this."
"If you wanted me to stay out of this, you shouldn't have told me in the first place," Nagira said dismissively. "Anyway, I'm not here to see you or Robin. My friend from out of town is staying here, and I decided to drop in for a visit. So don't mind me; I won't interfere, your majesty."
"Cut the crap, Nagira. It's quite a coincidence that your friend would be staying in the same hotel I told you to stay away from. May I inquire as to the name of this friend of yours?"
Michael crouched behind the sofa, his heart nearly pounding out of his chest. How was Nagira gonna talk his way out of this one? Amon had him by the throat; and he knew it. The hacker decided to try and sneak away - there was a restroom no more than ten feet to his right - he could hide in there until Nagira gave him the okay.
"His name's Soujirou Yuki; he's here on a business trip," Nagira ad-libbed. "Perhaps you've heard of him?" He studied his half brother's face for any sign that he had caught onto the fib.
Amon just stared at him. "No, I'm afraid I haven't. What room is he staying in?"
Ok. On three. One…two…THREE! Michael's muscles tensed, then he sprang forward…smacking straight into Nagira.
"What are you doing?!" Nagira hissed, rubbing his forehead.
"That's MY line!" The hacker glared back at him, determined not to knead the already forming knot on his head.
"I'M fetching that quarter I dropped," Nagira answered innocently.
"Like fun you are!"
"Is everything ok back there?" Amon leaned around to look behind the couch. "I thought I heard you hit your head off something."
Nagira bounced back to his feet, using one foot to shove Michael further back behind the couch. "Yeah, clumsy me, I hit my head off the back of the sofa here. But I found my quarter." He waved the piece of metal in the air for a second then shoved it back in his pocket.
"Does that make me a piece of furniture, then?" Michael muttered to himself. But he scooted back a few feet anyway.
"You know, sometimes I really don't understand you." Amon hitched his overcoat up tighter around his shoulders. "I want you out of here, got it? Even if it means I have to drag you out myself."
"I'm goin', I'm goin'!" Nagira turned and headed toward the exit. Amon watched him the whole way, eyes narrowed in annoyance. After his half brother was out of the building, he took one last look around, then followed him out.
Shit. Now I'm all alone, and I don't even know what room she's staying in. Now what do I do?! Michael peeked cautiously out of his hiding place to make sure he was alone, then clapped a hand to his forehead, muttering various curses under his breath. Damn that Nagira. Figures he'd leave me alone as soon as he got the chance. He got to his feet and stretched. "Well, he'd probably have her in the top security room. After all, this hotel is famous for being the most secure place in Tokyo." A woman across the room stared at him and moved away. He clapped a hand over his mouth. Man, I've been cooped up alone so long that I'm starting to think aloud. Gotta stop doing that. Moving across the room to the elevators, he punched the button and waited for the car to come.
Several people got out, then the hacker stepped in and pressed the button before anyone else could board. She's probably on the top floor. His sharp eyes scanned over the buttons. Hmm…If it's top security, then they definitely wouldn't put the button in a public elevator. I wonder… He fished his handheld cpu out of his pocket and started running his fingers along the walls. "It should be about…here!" A tiny groove passed beneath his fingertips; one that couldn't be detected unless one expected it to be there. A smirk spreading across his face, Michael set his small computer against it. Tiny tendrils poked themselves into the cracks. A clicking noise could be heard inside, then a panel slid back, revealing a keypad.
"ENTER ACCESS CODE."
Michael hit a few more buttons on his computer.
"ACCESS APPROVED. PLEASE WAIT."
The elevator lurched into motion again. Michael sighed and leaned back against the wall, letting his head drop against the cool side of the elevator. This was the easy part; now he had to get into Robin's room.
The elevator slid to a silent stop. The doors opened, revealing a long dark hall. The hacker stepped quietly out of the car and started forward, letting the doors close behind him. Down at the end of the corridor, a small black box was attached to the wall. Sighing, Michael walked up to it and prepared to start working on figuring the out the access code.
But apparently he didn't need to; the door had slid open, revealing Robin in a long silken hotel robe. She held a takeout box in one hand and the doorframe in the other. Her azure eyes went wide when she saw who was standing before her. "M-Michael?!"
"ROBIN!" Without knowing what he was doing, he threw his computer to the side and threw his arms around her in a tight embrace. "Thank God you're alright!"
Slowly she raised her hands and pushed him away a bit. "How did you find me?" She whispered.
"I got your transmission in the STN-J building," he explained quickly. "I didn't know where you were at first, but then I ran into Nagira and he told me that you were here-"
"No no no! I was so afraid this would happen!" Robin sank back against the wall clutching a hand to her mouth. Her eyes studied Michael, pain all but screaming from her green irises.
"What do you mean? I'm here to help you, not capture you!" Michael reached out for her and took her arms in a firm hold. "You have to believe me!"
"It's not that I don't believe you," she said shakily. "It's just the fact that you DID come to help me that I'm upset about. Why couldn't you have stayed away?"
He looked at her incredulously. "Gee, that's a fine welcome. I risk my ass to get here and you tell me that I shouldn't have come?" He shook his head. "Why do you think I came for you?!"
She didn't say anything, just stared at her bare feet that poked out from under her long robe.
"It's because I love you, Robin Sena." The words had passed his lips before his mind gave the consent to say them. Before he knew it, he had leaned forward and presses his lips against hers. His tongue darted out and tasted her soft lips, arms drawing her ever closer.
Her eyes went wider than they had ever been in her life. Thousands of thoughts swam into her mind all at once. Michael? What? Amon said…Don't let anyone in…if they do…kill them. Kill. KILL! Her hands, already flaming, shot out and shoved Michael to the floor. He yelped, clutching his smoldering jacket sleeves.
KILL!!! her mind screamed. She drew her hand back, ready for the next blast. The hacker scrambled back, pressing himself up against the wall of the corridor.
"No Robin, stop!" He pleaded.
"Die," she hissed. Then the flame burning in her palm lanced forward.
The aim was dead on.
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^______________________^ Heheheheheheh. Thanks for all your predictions last chapter! I'll have to say that Alaksandra was pretty close…Orbo bomb to you! ^_^ *boom* You're welcome! :-D Now for my question of the chapter. Should we shave Michael's mullet and send him off to join the marines for kissing Robin? Gimme your votes, and if I get enough, I'll do a blooper chapter and do just that! ^_^ R&R!!!