Of course we know who the assassin is! I am writing it, aren't I?
Okay… I'm sorry. But he would come in somewhere else. You just know he would.
Hope you enjoy!
Soon enough, they were standing outside a western restaurant. "Here you are,"
"Thankyou again, sir. You don't suppose that I could ask you to lunch to make up for my rudeness?" she asked politely, again with the undertone of amour. He thought about it for a split second, before shaking his head.
"I apologise, my presence is expected elsewhere. I thank you for your offer, however,"
"Shame," she dropped her head, seemingly downcast. "After all, I'm in your debt because of your kindness, it would be the least I could do…"
Another pause. He really doesn't want to offend me, does he? She thought to herself as he reluctantly nodded and sat down opposite her. Oh well, makes my job that much easier.
"So," she started conversationally when realising that he wouldn't be saying anything in the near future. "Tell me a little about yourself. Name?"
He gave her a look that told her that he could figure that something was odd about her but didn't know what it was. "I am Ryu. And you are…?"
"Chieko Taniguchi. Pleased to meet you," she stuck out a hand, and to her surprise, he took it. His handshake was firm but not dominating. Even as she mused over that, she noted how he didn't give her a last name. Not that she needed one, but she saw that he was being cautious with how much he did divulge. "Nice area around here. Suburbia, but not too busy,"
He nodded, but didn't say anything.
"Ah, excuse me. Do you want a drink or anything?"
Pause. "Water will be fine, thankyou,"
A waiter soon came over. "We're still looking. Could we have a water and a glass of white wine in the interim, please?" she asked. The waiter nodded and disappeared, soon coming back with the requested drinks. She took a sip of the wine. "Delicious. Not a drinker?"
"Rarely," was the answer. Simple and to the point. Much the way she would normally answer, but couldn't as Chieko, anyway. "What brings you to this area?"
"I'm a live-for-the-moment sort of person, and I wanted a change from Osaka. So I moved here, basically. Simple as that,"
Damn, I hate acting like Chieko. She has to talk too much. I know I would have to anyway to collect information and all, but… it's so exhausting and petty. Stupid ridiculous conversation… a total waste of time. Forget about relationships. We all die, anyway, so what's the point in spending your life pleasing someone else?
Ryu shifted slightly, and with a start she realised that he was seating himself in a perfect position to draw down on her with.
He's realised that something's up already? Wait, no, I'm probably reading too much into this. Besides, ninjas are all traditional, etcetera. He wouldn't carry a gun.
"So," she started in an attempt to clear the uncomfortable silence. "You live around here?"
He shot her a bemused look. "You know I do. We collided outside my house, remember?"
Shit! We did too! I'm losing track! Bloody Chieko!
She tossed her head carelessly in an attempt to distract him. "Well, I'm just an average girl… an average girl with a pretty bad memory,"
A cold emerald gaze was her response. "I can see that,"
"That's just rude!" she exclaimed before she could stop herself. Oh well. Doesn't sound like me usually, so I guess that's alright. "Do you always go around and insulting girls like that? No surprise to me if that's why you don't have a girlfriend,"
She was hoping for hurt, anger, or something. But she got nothing. Simply a cool stare.
"Perhaps that is so,"
"Not a people person, huh?" she tried fixing him with her best Chieko-stare.
I think that came out cute, not to mention slightly squishy. Damn bloody Chieko.
No response. He simply removed his hand from the table to his hip.
Shit! He can't be about to draw on me! Not in a restaurant!
But she was disappointed. He simply pulled out something from his pocket, before glancing at it briefly, looking deeply into her eyes.
Not even the light blue contacts could veil the icy cold stare she knew that she shot back.
Damn it all. Chieko is not my best acting job.
"Do you have a problem, Miss Chieko?"
No, there was no way in hell she could mask that glare. "Not at all,"
He leaned closer to her, both elbows on the table. To anybody else, it looked as though they were in the process of something intimate. However, a quick flick of his wrist revealed a knife, which he held at her throat. The action was so discreet that if she had yelled, he could have easily hidden the knife and nobody would be any the wiser.
"Miss Chieko, I know that you are not who you say. Who are you and what do you want?"