Chapter 7 - INCOGNITO: Weasels and Chickens and Tanukis (Oh My)
Disclaimer - You know the gist and if u don't shame on you!
A.N- Wow it's been a while! I've been so wrapped in work, school and edumacation that I've been neglecting my babies! Aka Spies in the Shadows (The fic u just decided to read) and Striking a Chord! I can't say I'm going to be spitting out more chapters faster, probably slower so keep patient I'm trying to balance everything out! But I assure u this chappie is going to be an epic!
~*~*~
Today had overall not been a super day for Makimachi Misao. She couldn't quite pinpoint where it had turned to shit, but some how it did ultimately leading her to this catastrophe. She could hear Megumi's crackly and static cries of "Get out of there now!" Misao sneered at this wishing to say a snide comment to the amount of "If I could don't you think I would?" but unfortunately the sharp silver blade on her jugular had impeded her speech.
Here she was standing in a dark room only illuminated by the solitary glow of a computer monitor, her hands up, a colourful disk in her hand and a rather looming figure with a sword at her throat. She could here the stomps and shouts of men running up to the room she and her soon to be murderer occupied and all she could do was think 'Where exactly did today go wrong?'
~*~*~
Misao eyes blinked open as the rather rude stream of sunlight hit her face. She immediately looked at the time on her cruddy VCR, which flashed 12:00. She had yet to figure out how the damned thing worked, she have could but she was lazy.
"Crap" She muttered unraveling herself from the cocoon of thin sheets that covered her and her couch. After ending up with herself on the floor with a loud she managed to stagger to her feet. Rubbing her whirlwind reminiscent hair and smacking her dry lips Misao made her way through the rubble that was on her floor and into the kitchen.
"CRAP!" She had stepped on a green house monopoly piece, "What the hell? I don't think I even own a monopoly game!" She cried inspecting her now throbbing foot. Misao moved on, making her way to the fridge that smelled like soggy sponges. She immediately grabbed for the first liquid substance to parch her dry mouth, but unfortunately after time in the fridge's womb the substance was not exactly a liquid any more. She spat the curdled milk at the peeling paper on the kitchen walls and scrutinized the faded date on the carton.
"Crap" She grumbled sticking her tongue out in disgust. Now she was still thirsty AND had the horrid flavour of sour milk in her mouth. She made her way to the rusted kitchen sink and twisted the stiff taps. There was a horrible creaking noise. Instead of water streaming out of the taps it bubbled up from the drain.
"CRAP! CRAP! CRAP!" Misao screamed stomping her small bare feet on the cold tile.
There was a small ringing noise. It was Misao's cell phone; the only phone line she had which now buried in wreckage of her apartment. She bulldozed through the garbage throwing everything from wrinkled t-shirts to moldy take out boxes trying desperately to unearth the phone.
She moved a couch cushion and there sat the phone.
"WHAT?" She yelled into the receiver as result of sleep deprivation, frustration and aggravation.
"MAKIMACHI! Get off your lazy ass down to the garage or do feel it necessary for me to through you back into jail where I found?" Misao immediately winced. It was Saitou. Boy was she in for it.
"Right away." She muttered.
"I don't need any screw ups today weasel. If this goes down the tubes you might fine yourself behind bars yet again." And with that very serious warning he hung up.
Misao sighed miserably grabbing the wrinkly shirt strewn about and some ripped jeans. She quickly dashed for door, snatching the long wrapped dress hanging on the back of it.
~*~*~
About 3 hours later after a visit to the make up artist, the manicurist and the explosives expert, Misao was back at Sano's garage waiting for the others to arrive from their own beauty exploits that Saitou had sent them on. Personally for Misao it was not enjoyable. She had never been one to be dolled up or pampered, years of being a tomboy and years of living in poverty had made her this way. Not to mention that she had to manage in her Chinese style dress she had to fit in 2 Discs, a microphone, a belt, a flash bomb, a gas bomb, lock picks and her own personal MD player, all concealed to the visible eye. Luckily for the mission and unluckily for Misao, the majority had been crammed into her bra as fake padding. She at the moment she was trying her best not to fall over from the imbalance her newfound bosom had bestowed upon her.
But, Misao had to admit she had never felt so glamorous in her life. The Chinese style dress was made of the finest teal green silk covered in beautiful silver and pink embroidery that wound all the around the dress and up on to the mandarin collar. Her long thick hair was surprisingly enough in a French braid, which although different felt much like her normal hairstyle giving a little comfort to her. This was probably the closest thing she would ever get to a prom. Standing on the oil stained concrete in the cold eve air Misao felt melancholy crept into her marrow. This wasn't anything like a prom, she was going on a mission to steal some information from a psychotic guy and pretend to be a hooker. There was no Okon and Omasu melting at how their little Misao-chan was growing up before their eyes. There was no Okina running around making old perverted man jokes, giving bone-crushing bear hugs and snapping her photo. There was no shy, blushing Prince charming offering her a matching carnation, muttering words of beautiful and wow in his speechlessness. There were no smiles.
"Why so sad?" A soft voice placated to her. Misao looked up into the face of Takani Megumi; there she saw a warm smile laced with concern. Immediately Misao put on the "Happy Face". Misao supposed it was a defense mechanism she had developed over the years.
"Oh I'm okay!" She chirped. But somehow Megumi seemed to see right through her. Megumi turned away and stared out onto the street awaiting Sano, Kaoru and Saitou. She was dressed casually sneakers, light cotton pants and a sweatshirt with her University printed in big bold letters on it. Megumi was going to be manning the electronics and communication in the back of a cramped van, so what was the use of her getting dolled up? Misao heard her let out a loud sigh.
"What?" Misao asked letting her curiosity get the better of her. Megumi didn't look at her, but began to speak.
"It must be really lonely for you-" Misao felt like she should pipe up and deny it, but decided to let see where she was going with this, "I've read your files. Saitou let me at my request, I'm not much of Psychologist but I am a doctor. I've seen the pictures of your apartment, read the records about your Guardian's illness. He's really quite sick you know-" Misao was tempted to go 'No duh' but somehow felt that Megumi didn't do these things often, " I found out you dropped out of school. You were really smart. All sorts of Physics professors were begging you to take up with them. You have so much potential yet you live like this." She said sadly. Misao eyes began to sting with tears.
"It's the best way I know of to survive Megumi-san, I don't need pity because of it."
"I know. That's not my point. I suppose what I'm saying is you remind me of myself when I was younger." Immediately Misao head snapped up, "Only I had a family, friends and other people there to help me along the way. You don't. And I guess what I'm trying to say here is, when this is over if you ever need any help don't be afraid to ask."
Misao was shocked but manage to whisper,
"Thank you"
Just then a stretch limo pulled up and Kaoru and Sano stepped out. Megumi walked on to greet them and to bicker with Sano.
For the rest of Misao's life she would never know why Takani Megumi said the things she said that night. But Misao would always remember this moment. For it was the moment Takani Megumi became her friend.
~*~*~
Misao had to admit Kaoru looked simply stunning. This fact concerned Misao, this was supposed to be an in and out mission, Kaoru's part was to be inconspicuous intelligence. Inconspicuous was impossible looking like that. The dress looked like a million bucks and Kaoru herself looked like she was worth a billion at least. Dark eyeliner shaped her eyes making them see all that more blue when her eyelids were dusted with a violet eye shadow. Her lips were a dark ruby colour and her hair was set in a half bun with the remainder of her hair cascading down her bare back. The least to say was Misao was green with envy.
Sano on the other hand was looking quite unrecognizable, altered to fit the role of cocky rebellious son of a mob man. Which wouldn't be too hard to pull off except for the facts that the son had long jet-black hair and a goatee. Sano seemed to pull it off well and looked almost exactly like the man himself, apart from the warmth and friendliness that shone in Sano's eyes.
It looked like they were already for battle. Misao could feel the jar holding the monarch butterflies being twisted open in her stomach.
~*~*~
They had gone through the plan like clock work, each time reviewing the possible escape exits, the best view points, the faces and names of the each of the guards and the history of their characters in and out. If they bombed this now then they would probably never be let off the hook to do what they really wanted. Kaoru's desire was to be an adventure seeking do good cop, Megumi's was to be free from her past, Misao's was to rebuild her crumbling family and Sano's was to be out from under Saitou's thumb. A lot was riding on this mission and none of the ones wanted to be the screw up.
Misao hung laxly over a very suave looking Sano who's arms were both occupied with being wrapped around both girls' slim waists. Kaoru handed the invitation to the doorman and gave him her most alluring smile. The man gave a curt nod and they were in. The French doors above the red velvet carpet swung open revealing a huge hall. All three spies tried not to gape too much for this image was not what they expected see. There occupying the hall was people dancing wildly to fast club beats and thick bass lines illuminated by only the constant flashing of the strobe lights, neon glow sticks whirled in their hands and the bar was glowing with it's own neon lights.
"And they said this was a black tie affair." Sano muttered miserably pulling at his own aforementioned tie.
"And it still is-" A voice cut in. Kaoru, Sano and Misao's heads immediately whipped backwards to put a visage to this unknown voice. It was the one and only Yukishiro Enishi, wearing his black sunglass hanging on the bridge of his nose, a black suit with his virgin white shirt pulled out and unbuttoned with the untied bowtie hanging limply around the collar. Misao gulped deeply, that man was a looker even more so in person.
"- If you just look past the doors at the end of the room you'll find a rather different function." They peered past the slightly ajar door to see a well lit dinning room where there was a string quartet, champagne and waltzing couples, "I like to make sure everything suits all my guests' tastes." He smiled deviously, teal eyes flicking back and forth from both girls on either side. Misao and Kaoru were both finding difficulty in holding down their blush.
"By the way I'm Yukishiro Enishi, host of this little gathering." Giving what almost looked like a bow.
"It's a pleasure Yukishiro-san, I am Kogara Firu." Sano said in his most charming voice, "These lovely ladies are Fujiko," he gestured to Kaoru who bowed low, "And this is.uh-uh-" SHIT! Sano had forgot Misao's code name, wracking through his chicken sized brain he blurted out the first female that came to mind, "And this is Bambi, that it's! Sorry baby can't remember all your names." He said winking at Misao, recovering from being a suspicious character to just an asshole womanizer, which was who Kogara Firu was anyways. That being said, still didn't give any relief to Misao's rage at being named after a cartoon deer! Either way Enishi seemed amused with the girl's name,
"Well Fujiko-san and BAMBI-san I encourage you two to explore what this party offers while I talk to Kogara-san about some private matters."
"Yeah chicky-pies, you girls go and mingle while the men talk about important things." Sano said getting really submerged into his role, so much so that he gave both girls a good pat on the ass.
Kaoru and Misao would plan revenge soon enough.
~*~*~
"I'll take the other room and you take the club scene, BAMBI." Kaoru giggled a little as the two girls tried to work out a game plan. Misao could feel the steam rising from her ears,
"I swear I'm going to kill that sorry bastard when we get back."
"Well at least he gave you a good hooker name." Kaoru placated with another set of giggles.
"Hey who said that we were even supposed to be hookers? AND HEY! Why do you get the fancy party while I get to bump and grind with all the lock jawed ravers!" Misao stomped, her temper flaring even more.
"Now now, Bambi, no need to get upset. Most of the people in the ballroom will be more intellectual- and even as smart as you are you don't know 7 languages and finish War And Peace when you were 8." Misao sighed at these very good points,
"Touché" She muttered, "I'll stay here. At twelve I start."
"Good Lu-" Kaoru tried to say but got cut off by Misao's slender hand.
"Don't wish me anything. Last time someone said that to me I ended up shot in the leg. Be careful. See ya!" Misao hopped away from the stunned Kaoru and out into the crowd.
It was her time to be invisible.
~*~*~
Being unseen is an art, it truly is, be wonderful, witty but utterly forgettable. At least one thing was going right for Misao, half the people in the room were so inebriated that they didn't even remember how they got here let alone who they tried to hit on.
But before she could even get to her objective there had to be a few steps taken.
Step One: Get your lay of the land
Misao sat lazily at the bar eyes flickering back and fourth taking in everything. The men eyeing her would be a good escape route. Just grab one, act drunk and flirty, and out the door, if he gets fresh then WOMP and in the morning it will all be some bad hangover nostalgia. Misao pretended to sip on the rum in her crystal glass. To get to the bathroom she would have to up the staircase through the other hall. The security system is high tech, she could see the tell tale signs of steel doors that could lock everybody in the room. Misao shuddered; she had been in that situation before during a job. Everybody rioted; she had a black eye for a month. But it was no time to get off topic.
Step Two: Identify any possible threats
This consisted of Misao scanning the room looking for anybody else scanning the room like her. Or just people not having a good time. She saw the guards in black stand like pillars of stone.
'Can we say Obvious?' She laughed to herself. Then something caught her eye, in the murky corner curtained by gray cigarette smoke and she saw him. Tall, dark , handsome and staring right at her with hidden eyes. Their gazes locked on each other and for some strange reason she remembered a huge warm hand engulfing her smaller, a school uniform with a rather irritating skirt, a cool chain link fence under her fingertips, and a man with hidden eyes and a ghost of a smile.
Misao immediately spun around to face the bar top, feeling all of a sudden very very uneasy. She slammed back her rum, to calm her frayed nerves and numb the dull pain thumping her chest. Misao rose slowly and looked back to the corner, to see nothing in the vale of smoke and strobe lights. She looked at her delicate jewel incrusted watch on her slender wrist. It told her the time was 11:55, time to go
Step Three: Never Keep Soon To Be Swindled Waiting.
She moved swiftly weaving like a ribbon in and of the crowd heading towards the entrance of the hoity toity party. She stepped through and was sent to a completely different place, glowing with white marble, prismatic crystal and gold lighting. She strode past the eyes with determination. In the corner of her eye she saw Kaoru dancing with a handsome but rather menacing redhead (even for his height). They were in a deep conversation. Misao eyes flickered forward; she'd interrogate Kaoru later. Misao smoothly grabbed a slender glass of sparkling champagne from a passing by bus boy. She tasted with a gentle sip and then knocked back the rest.
"Misao we didn't send you on this mission to get drunk!" Hissed Megumi in her ear. Misao was unfazed, her tolerance for alcohol was better then most. She kept walking, making sure that there was the hitch in her step that made all the boys stare. Who said she didn't have sex appeal? She smirked and walked toward a stern looking guard and began her act.
"Would you be so kind as to direct me to the closest lady's room?" She batted her fake eyelashes at the man, who merely grunted and thrusted his gorilla like hand to the farthest door up the stairs.
"Thank you ever so much." She said beginning to feel sick with all this sweetness. Misao gracefully climbed the alabaster stairs.
"Megumi?" She asked into the air.
"Yep." Megumi's voice buzzed into her right ear, Misao walked down the long stretch of velvet carpet and into the bathroom. Misao looked at herself in the mirror and felt sick. She slowly shut her eyes and took a deep breath to calm the urge to vomit. A voice echoed through her head.
'Never forget who you are Misao-chan'
Misao's eyes snapped open. Her stomach had stopped churning and her heartbeat slowed down. She pretended to adjust her makeup, while Megumi coached her through the ear radio.
"Video feed through loop in 5.4.3.2.1! Move Misao!" Misao instantly began to strip of her dress revealing short black bike shorts and a black work out halter-top show her midrif. With one fluid motion Misao unrolled the tool belt hidden in prosthetic bosom and wrapped it around her tiny waste. Misao dug out a pair of black gloves and snapped them on, then quickly tying on the black mask while quickly twisting her braid into a tight bun. Misao ripped off the heels she was forced to wear and place on flat leather dance shoes stowed on her hips. She gently wrapped up her dress and threw it in the garbage for a three pointer.
"Status" Megumi said in an orderly voice.
"Ready to rock n' roll" Misao said placing on two headphone onto her ears, she pressed play on her mini disc player that sat on her tool belt. The music blarred.
"What do you think your doing Misao!?!?" Megumi demanded, Misao smirked and said,
"Bringing a little music to work."
Misao slipped open the window and looked down, eyes taking in every factor for calculation. Misao through her leg over the windowsill and sat for a moment looking up.
"Proceeding to climb" She stated firmly trying to hide the trepidation growing her lungs.
"Be careful" She heard Megumi whisper over the thumping music. Misao stood up on the ledge and gripped at the brick's groove. There was no room in prosthetics for rope. But luckily enough the grooves on between the blocks were deep enough to get a grip on, but that didn't mean the climb would be any easier. She pulled her body up. Misao always was good with upper body strength since she was so small, but if it wasn't enough to hold her up tonight, it would mean a broken neck. The music blasted giving her the enthusiasm she needed to climb on.
Misao would now have to jump to a corner ledge. This was always the tricky part. Her lips curled. She pushed herself away from the wall and flew towards the ledge, hands spread wide ready to catch the concrete outcrop. Only one managed the feat and it was beginning to slip. Quickly Misao through her other arm up and pulled until her muscles screamed bloody murder. She hitched her leg onto the outcrop for support and finally pulled the rest of body onto the concrete slab. She panted, her mind chanting annoyingly 2 more floors to go.
~*~*~
Misao landed flat on the balcony, breathing heavily, acid eating away at her muscles and sweat making her sticky. She pushed herself up to a standing position and turned off her mind numbingly loud rock music.
"Climb complete continuing through balcony." She puffed miserably.
"Good job Misao. Now take out the device labeled black out and stick it on the balcony doors. This should send a impulse charge that should black out everything in a 50 foot area out for approximately a minute, giving time for you to pick the lock and slip inside undetected." Megumi replied. Misao set up the tiny box, unrolled her leather pick case and pressed the red button. She worked quickly, tongue sticking out as she slipped the two picks in. She released a tiny "AHA" when the door lock snapped open. She removed the "Black out box" and rolled up her picks. She looked at her watch.
"Ha! 15 seconds that's a new record." Megumi laughed,
"No wonder you come so highly recommended!" She said. Misao smiled and slid into the sleeping chambers of Yukishiro Enishi. Taking note of a huge four- post bed, a huge TV system, a huge Rembrandt, a huge safe, this was every thief's dream, but unfortunately she wasn't that kind of thief anymore.
"Okay Megumi I'm in now what do I do?" She whispered, looking around the room.
"I want you to go and find his computer, lap top or phone line."
"Okey Dokey. It's sitting right on his desk, just begging to be hacked into." Misao chirped, skipping happily towards it.
"Yep and I'm just the girl to do it!" Misao could hear Megumi cracking her knuckles; "Now Misao I want you to put a phone tape behind the phone line jack on the wall." Misao did as she was told,
"Done."
"Okay, now turn on the computer. I want you to insert the disc I gave you, now encrypted on that disc is a virus that will enable for me to see anything on his computer whenever he connects to the internet. Sort of making a back door to his hard drive. A window should appear with an 'OK' button and a 'Cancel' button-"
"And Press OK?" Misao cut in blandly.
"NO! Whatever you do don't press OK, it'll erase everything on the computer. I put that virus incase anybody got their greeby little paws on it. You want to press Cancel."
"Done." Misao said as the loading bar filled with blue.
"Now eject that disc and put in the green one and this time hit OK. It should take a few minutes to download everything."
" I don't see why we need to put on to disc if we have the back door into his system?" Megumi just sighed in exasperation,
"Misao a man like Yukishiro Enishi will discover the virus eventually. He does make some of the most advanced technology in the world!"
"Oh" Misao replied sheepishly, "Any who it looks like it took shorter than we expected because the disc is done." She ejected the green disc and switched off the computer. That's when she felt it. The shiver zigzagging up her back.
"Somebody is in here." She whispered.
Before Megumi could manage a reply and Misao could spin around, Misao felt the press of cold steel against the hollow of her throat.
There was a buzz; the alarm had been set off.
Her hands were up with the green disc and the other was sitting on the desk.
Megumi's voice was echoing in her ears screaming for her to get the hell out of there.
Unfortunately Misao was in no position to flee for her life.
~*~*~
So here she was where she had started. Hands ups, life in danger and her decision was to play on her whim and contemplate the hours behind her. Misao's mind finished calculating the events of the day.
"Sour milk" She whispered.
"Huh?" A deep mellowing voice asked. Misao could swear she had heard that voice before.
"I think I pinpointed the exact moment my day decided to turn to shit."
" Just give me the discs and it won't get worse." The stomping footsteps of the guards became louder and louder.
" I don't think either of us are in a position to be heckling." Misao said in her most cynical tone.
"Give me the discs."
"What will happen if I don't? You going to kill a poor misguided girl in cold blood?" The blade pressed deeper against her skin. She squeaked,
"Okay, Okay no need to get hasty." There was a deep growl that made her shudder; she swallowed feeling it press on the blade.
"Girl I don't have time for this."
"HEY! WHO SAID I DID-" Just then the door burst open by the guards, Misao took this moment to drop her arms, and lob a smoke bomb towards the guards. The coughs began as the smoke filled the room. Misao tried to get away but a huge hand grabbed her wrist. There was a flash of a chain link fence. Misao looked up. It was the man who had pressed what now appeared to be a Kodachi against her throat. She instantly recognized him in the dim smoky light; it was the creepy guy from the corner. They both grabbed for the disc, but she got it first, she quickly began to kick at him but he ducked. Misao flipped away, dashing for the patio doors. As she kicked them opened the smoke began to dissipate, giving Misao enough visibility for a guard to take a shot.
"MISAO!" Megumi screamed hearing the shot. But Misao couldn't hear anything, her shoulder was burning as the bullet ripped through it. Tears burned her eyes as pushed herself forward towards edge of the balcony.
How the hell she was she supposed to climb down now? More shots ricocheted of the iron bars.
"OH SCREW IT!" She screamed and with that she jump over the balcony railing. She landed lightly taking the inertia in a summersault.
She pushed herself to standing. Her shoulder throbbed and she looked up at the balcony before quickly dashing over to where the bathroom window was.
"Misao? Misao are you there?" Megumi asked softly, it sounded like she was about to cry.
"I'm here! I was shot in the shoulder. I still have the discs. I don't think I can climb back up to the bathroom. What should I do?" She asked, a bit at loss whether to try and go back to the party or make a break for it.
"Saitou says to get your ass out of there, the guards are on alert now, they'll catch you if you don't high tail it." Megumi answered, Misao could swear her voice was tinged with the sound of relief.
"What about the others?"
"They can handle themselves. Just get out of there before you get any more damage!" Megumi ordered. Misao started to run towards the entrance to the mansion all the while clutching her left shoulder in pain, vainly trying to stop the flowing blood. If she weren't careful she would lose too much blood to get out of this death trap. She needed a mode of escape fast.
And there it was. A Kawasaki Ninja just begging for the taking. At least she had a little luck left! She quickly straddled the motorcycle and began to hot-wire it. But before the engines could roar she heard the sound of rustling leaves. She looked to the trees and saw a shadow.
'CRAP!' It was Mr. Mysterio (Misao now named him) from Yukishiro's room. Misao forced her fingers to work faster for the fear of him catching her in her weakened state was too great. Just as he landed from the trees about 20 feet away from her the Motorbike jumped to life with a loud roar. Misao kicked up the throttle and flew out of there as valets leaped out of her way. She neared the closed gate.
"Megumi I need an exit!" Misao cried over the drone of the engine.
"Already on it!" The electrical gates opened with ease and Misao breezed past them and continued down the winding private road. She was home free!
Misao spoke too soon. She then saw in her side mirror a light coming up from her rear! It was a motorcycle and its rider was none other than our dear Mr. Mysterio.
"DOSEN'T THIS JERK EVER GIVE UP!?!?!" She whined loudly, speeding up the bike. He was gaining on her fast and the wind was cutting into her wound. Misao couldn't keep this up for long.
Then came her biggest mistake. Misao looked back at her pursuer and when she turned forward she saw to her horror she was headed right for a cliff edge. She tried to turn but lost control, the motorcycle fell to its side running along the road sparking something fierce. Misao had fallen too wiping out on the tough road, the asphalt was like a cheese grater on the exposed skin from her outfit. She rolled a bit before coming to a stop. Her whole right side was torn up from the spill. Everything hurt. Everything seared and burned to no end, but Misao pushed herself up again. The man had stopped his bike and dismounted. Misao tried to run, but was ultimately hobbling away at a snails pace. She bit down the urge to scream when his hand clamped down on to her injured shoulder. Misao immediately spun around and attack, but only to find his blocks. She was in no condition to fight.
"Give me the discs." He commanded. She went for his face but his fist connected with her stomach.
"They're mine!" She coughed holding her gut and stepping backwards away from him, until bumping into the railing that fenced off the edge of the cliff, she tried to kick him but only ended up keeled over on the ground. She rolled away from him and inched towards closer to the fence until she was touching. Misao had to think of something! Then it came to her like a bolt of lightning. With back turned she quickly flicked open her Mini Disc player, removed the music disc and placed in the green info disc into it, snapping it closed as Mr. Mysterio hauled her up to her feet.
"Who are you and who do you work for?" He questioned. Misao did not comply. He pushed her against the railing. He noticed the disc in her hand and immediately took it. Misao stood very still.
"Where's the other one?" Misao bit her tongue, "Don't play games girl! I don't want to hurt you but I will if I have to!" Misao slightly tilted her head in the direction of her belt. He opened a pocket on it and removed the disc.
"Now that you got what you wanted let me go!" She hissed with all the venom she could muster.
"Not until you tell me who you are and who you work for." He shot back coolly.
"NEVER." She snapped.
"Fine." He reached for her ear and pulled out the radio receiver, never on relenting on his hold on her. "I'll find out from them." He held it up to his ear. Then as much to her shock as his he loosened his grip. He dropped the radio. She could hear Megumi screaming for her to come in.
"Misao?" The man whispered in stun looking deeply into her eyes. This was her chance, still pinned in between his arms Misao pulled her flash bomb from her belt, shut her eyes and whipped it as hard as she could onto the ground making a burst of light blind the man. She slid through the opening through his legs and ran to his motorcycle and got on. She revved the engine and took off, never once looking back.
~*~*~
It was nearly dawn when Misao pulled up to the garage. She had ridden full tilt all the way there. She was beyond exhausted. Her head swirled with questions; who was that man and why did he say her name like that, and why was he so famaliar? It was all too much to handle with her body falling apart.
She pushed the door open. There was a loud gasp.
"Hi everybody. I still got the disc." She said meekly, she held the disc in her small scraped up hand, trying her best to stay standing. Kaoru ran up to help her along with Sano, who now had his disguise off.
"Misao! We were so worried!" Kaoru cried out.
"Jesus kid what happen to ya?" Sano asked inspecting her from head to toe.
"Well it's kind of a long story. First when I woke up I fell on the floor, then I step on a monopoly house when I don't even own the game. I drank sour milk, got yelled at by Saitou, then fast forward a few hours, I posed as a hooker named Bambi, I got a sword held to my throat, then got shot in the shoulder, then fell off a speeding vehicle and I got ruffed up a little by a guy who wanted to know who I worked for who I've named Mr. Mysterio. Now if you don't mind I think I'll pass out now!"
And then everything went dark for Misao, but somewhere in the blackness she could feel a cool chain link fence under her fingertips, the wind up her skirt and a warm hand engulfing hers. She could feel herself beam at the man with the hidden eyes and a ghost of a smile.
TBC
~*~*~
HOLY MOLY! That has got to be the longest chapter I have ever written in my short career of writing! I told you it would be an epic and boy did we have action! This was fourteen pages on Microsoft word! Thank you for being so patient with my lazy updates!
Okay some notes! There are going to be sooooooo many mess ups in this thing because I suck at editing and I don't really like anybody else doing it. What can I say I'm fanikity. Yeah I know this chappie was all about Misao. DO NOT FEAR! THERE WILL BE MORE KxK and SxM next chapter I promise! I plan to do it from the guys points of view and reflection about the party. And if you can't guess Who Mr. Mysterio is (pardon my rudeness) Well duh! It's Aoshi! And boy did he get a surprise this chap, could this be his little Misao-chan? OFCOURSE IT IS! But he doesn't know that for sure. About the little flash back episodes, of Aoshi basically walk little Misao-chan to school this will be explained further and has a lot of significance.
About the Motorcycle bits, I've never driven a motorcycle ever and I don't know much about them except that they're really pretty! So pardon me if the wipe out part was a bit unrealistic.
I haven't be shot either! Hahaha I hope I never will be. Misao's shot wound in my minds eye would be pretty shallow but enough to bleed a lot, she shouldn't be in a sling or anything in future chapters.
PHEW! I talk a lot don't I?
So read and review because I sweated blood into this chapter! Please inform me if there any factorial mistakes or grammar errors! I want to improve! Review it's good Karma!
Til' Next Time
Disclaimer - You know the gist and if u don't shame on you!
A.N- Wow it's been a while! I've been so wrapped in work, school and edumacation that I've been neglecting my babies! Aka Spies in the Shadows (The fic u just decided to read) and Striking a Chord! I can't say I'm going to be spitting out more chapters faster, probably slower so keep patient I'm trying to balance everything out! But I assure u this chappie is going to be an epic!
~*~*~
Today had overall not been a super day for Makimachi Misao. She couldn't quite pinpoint where it had turned to shit, but some how it did ultimately leading her to this catastrophe. She could hear Megumi's crackly and static cries of "Get out of there now!" Misao sneered at this wishing to say a snide comment to the amount of "If I could don't you think I would?" but unfortunately the sharp silver blade on her jugular had impeded her speech.
Here she was standing in a dark room only illuminated by the solitary glow of a computer monitor, her hands up, a colourful disk in her hand and a rather looming figure with a sword at her throat. She could here the stomps and shouts of men running up to the room she and her soon to be murderer occupied and all she could do was think 'Where exactly did today go wrong?'
~*~*~
Misao eyes blinked open as the rather rude stream of sunlight hit her face. She immediately looked at the time on her cruddy VCR, which flashed 12:00. She had yet to figure out how the damned thing worked, she have could but she was lazy.
"Crap" She muttered unraveling herself from the cocoon of thin sheets that covered her and her couch. After ending up with herself on the floor with a loud she managed to stagger to her feet. Rubbing her whirlwind reminiscent hair and smacking her dry lips Misao made her way through the rubble that was on her floor and into the kitchen.
"CRAP!" She had stepped on a green house monopoly piece, "What the hell? I don't think I even own a monopoly game!" She cried inspecting her now throbbing foot. Misao moved on, making her way to the fridge that smelled like soggy sponges. She immediately grabbed for the first liquid substance to parch her dry mouth, but unfortunately after time in the fridge's womb the substance was not exactly a liquid any more. She spat the curdled milk at the peeling paper on the kitchen walls and scrutinized the faded date on the carton.
"Crap" She grumbled sticking her tongue out in disgust. Now she was still thirsty AND had the horrid flavour of sour milk in her mouth. She made her way to the rusted kitchen sink and twisted the stiff taps. There was a horrible creaking noise. Instead of water streaming out of the taps it bubbled up from the drain.
"CRAP! CRAP! CRAP!" Misao screamed stomping her small bare feet on the cold tile.
There was a small ringing noise. It was Misao's cell phone; the only phone line she had which now buried in wreckage of her apartment. She bulldozed through the garbage throwing everything from wrinkled t-shirts to moldy take out boxes trying desperately to unearth the phone.
She moved a couch cushion and there sat the phone.
"WHAT?" She yelled into the receiver as result of sleep deprivation, frustration and aggravation.
"MAKIMACHI! Get off your lazy ass down to the garage or do feel it necessary for me to through you back into jail where I found?" Misao immediately winced. It was Saitou. Boy was she in for it.
"Right away." She muttered.
"I don't need any screw ups today weasel. If this goes down the tubes you might fine yourself behind bars yet again." And with that very serious warning he hung up.
Misao sighed miserably grabbing the wrinkly shirt strewn about and some ripped jeans. She quickly dashed for door, snatching the long wrapped dress hanging on the back of it.
~*~*~
About 3 hours later after a visit to the make up artist, the manicurist and the explosives expert, Misao was back at Sano's garage waiting for the others to arrive from their own beauty exploits that Saitou had sent them on. Personally for Misao it was not enjoyable. She had never been one to be dolled up or pampered, years of being a tomboy and years of living in poverty had made her this way. Not to mention that she had to manage in her Chinese style dress she had to fit in 2 Discs, a microphone, a belt, a flash bomb, a gas bomb, lock picks and her own personal MD player, all concealed to the visible eye. Luckily for the mission and unluckily for Misao, the majority had been crammed into her bra as fake padding. She at the moment she was trying her best not to fall over from the imbalance her newfound bosom had bestowed upon her.
But, Misao had to admit she had never felt so glamorous in her life. The Chinese style dress was made of the finest teal green silk covered in beautiful silver and pink embroidery that wound all the around the dress and up on to the mandarin collar. Her long thick hair was surprisingly enough in a French braid, which although different felt much like her normal hairstyle giving a little comfort to her. This was probably the closest thing she would ever get to a prom. Standing on the oil stained concrete in the cold eve air Misao felt melancholy crept into her marrow. This wasn't anything like a prom, she was going on a mission to steal some information from a psychotic guy and pretend to be a hooker. There was no Okon and Omasu melting at how their little Misao-chan was growing up before their eyes. There was no Okina running around making old perverted man jokes, giving bone-crushing bear hugs and snapping her photo. There was no shy, blushing Prince charming offering her a matching carnation, muttering words of beautiful and wow in his speechlessness. There were no smiles.
"Why so sad?" A soft voice placated to her. Misao looked up into the face of Takani Megumi; there she saw a warm smile laced with concern. Immediately Misao put on the "Happy Face". Misao supposed it was a defense mechanism she had developed over the years.
"Oh I'm okay!" She chirped. But somehow Megumi seemed to see right through her. Megumi turned away and stared out onto the street awaiting Sano, Kaoru and Saitou. She was dressed casually sneakers, light cotton pants and a sweatshirt with her University printed in big bold letters on it. Megumi was going to be manning the electronics and communication in the back of a cramped van, so what was the use of her getting dolled up? Misao heard her let out a loud sigh.
"What?" Misao asked letting her curiosity get the better of her. Megumi didn't look at her, but began to speak.
"It must be really lonely for you-" Misao felt like she should pipe up and deny it, but decided to let see where she was going with this, "I've read your files. Saitou let me at my request, I'm not much of Psychologist but I am a doctor. I've seen the pictures of your apartment, read the records about your Guardian's illness. He's really quite sick you know-" Misao was tempted to go 'No duh' but somehow felt that Megumi didn't do these things often, " I found out you dropped out of school. You were really smart. All sorts of Physics professors were begging you to take up with them. You have so much potential yet you live like this." She said sadly. Misao eyes began to sting with tears.
"It's the best way I know of to survive Megumi-san, I don't need pity because of it."
"I know. That's not my point. I suppose what I'm saying is you remind me of myself when I was younger." Immediately Misao head snapped up, "Only I had a family, friends and other people there to help me along the way. You don't. And I guess what I'm trying to say here is, when this is over if you ever need any help don't be afraid to ask."
Misao was shocked but manage to whisper,
"Thank you"
Just then a stretch limo pulled up and Kaoru and Sano stepped out. Megumi walked on to greet them and to bicker with Sano.
For the rest of Misao's life she would never know why Takani Megumi said the things she said that night. But Misao would always remember this moment. For it was the moment Takani Megumi became her friend.
~*~*~
Misao had to admit Kaoru looked simply stunning. This fact concerned Misao, this was supposed to be an in and out mission, Kaoru's part was to be inconspicuous intelligence. Inconspicuous was impossible looking like that. The dress looked like a million bucks and Kaoru herself looked like she was worth a billion at least. Dark eyeliner shaped her eyes making them see all that more blue when her eyelids were dusted with a violet eye shadow. Her lips were a dark ruby colour and her hair was set in a half bun with the remainder of her hair cascading down her bare back. The least to say was Misao was green with envy.
Sano on the other hand was looking quite unrecognizable, altered to fit the role of cocky rebellious son of a mob man. Which wouldn't be too hard to pull off except for the facts that the son had long jet-black hair and a goatee. Sano seemed to pull it off well and looked almost exactly like the man himself, apart from the warmth and friendliness that shone in Sano's eyes.
It looked like they were already for battle. Misao could feel the jar holding the monarch butterflies being twisted open in her stomach.
~*~*~
They had gone through the plan like clock work, each time reviewing the possible escape exits, the best view points, the faces and names of the each of the guards and the history of their characters in and out. If they bombed this now then they would probably never be let off the hook to do what they really wanted. Kaoru's desire was to be an adventure seeking do good cop, Megumi's was to be free from her past, Misao's was to rebuild her crumbling family and Sano's was to be out from under Saitou's thumb. A lot was riding on this mission and none of the ones wanted to be the screw up.
Misao hung laxly over a very suave looking Sano who's arms were both occupied with being wrapped around both girls' slim waists. Kaoru handed the invitation to the doorman and gave him her most alluring smile. The man gave a curt nod and they were in. The French doors above the red velvet carpet swung open revealing a huge hall. All three spies tried not to gape too much for this image was not what they expected see. There occupying the hall was people dancing wildly to fast club beats and thick bass lines illuminated by only the constant flashing of the strobe lights, neon glow sticks whirled in their hands and the bar was glowing with it's own neon lights.
"And they said this was a black tie affair." Sano muttered miserably pulling at his own aforementioned tie.
"And it still is-" A voice cut in. Kaoru, Sano and Misao's heads immediately whipped backwards to put a visage to this unknown voice. It was the one and only Yukishiro Enishi, wearing his black sunglass hanging on the bridge of his nose, a black suit with his virgin white shirt pulled out and unbuttoned with the untied bowtie hanging limply around the collar. Misao gulped deeply, that man was a looker even more so in person.
"- If you just look past the doors at the end of the room you'll find a rather different function." They peered past the slightly ajar door to see a well lit dinning room where there was a string quartet, champagne and waltzing couples, "I like to make sure everything suits all my guests' tastes." He smiled deviously, teal eyes flicking back and forth from both girls on either side. Misao and Kaoru were both finding difficulty in holding down their blush.
"By the way I'm Yukishiro Enishi, host of this little gathering." Giving what almost looked like a bow.
"It's a pleasure Yukishiro-san, I am Kogara Firu." Sano said in his most charming voice, "These lovely ladies are Fujiko," he gestured to Kaoru who bowed low, "And this is.uh-uh-" SHIT! Sano had forgot Misao's code name, wracking through his chicken sized brain he blurted out the first female that came to mind, "And this is Bambi, that it's! Sorry baby can't remember all your names." He said winking at Misao, recovering from being a suspicious character to just an asshole womanizer, which was who Kogara Firu was anyways. That being said, still didn't give any relief to Misao's rage at being named after a cartoon deer! Either way Enishi seemed amused with the girl's name,
"Well Fujiko-san and BAMBI-san I encourage you two to explore what this party offers while I talk to Kogara-san about some private matters."
"Yeah chicky-pies, you girls go and mingle while the men talk about important things." Sano said getting really submerged into his role, so much so that he gave both girls a good pat on the ass.
Kaoru and Misao would plan revenge soon enough.
~*~*~
"I'll take the other room and you take the club scene, BAMBI." Kaoru giggled a little as the two girls tried to work out a game plan. Misao could feel the steam rising from her ears,
"I swear I'm going to kill that sorry bastard when we get back."
"Well at least he gave you a good hooker name." Kaoru placated with another set of giggles.
"Hey who said that we were even supposed to be hookers? AND HEY! Why do you get the fancy party while I get to bump and grind with all the lock jawed ravers!" Misao stomped, her temper flaring even more.
"Now now, Bambi, no need to get upset. Most of the people in the ballroom will be more intellectual- and even as smart as you are you don't know 7 languages and finish War And Peace when you were 8." Misao sighed at these very good points,
"Touché" She muttered, "I'll stay here. At twelve I start."
"Good Lu-" Kaoru tried to say but got cut off by Misao's slender hand.
"Don't wish me anything. Last time someone said that to me I ended up shot in the leg. Be careful. See ya!" Misao hopped away from the stunned Kaoru and out into the crowd.
It was her time to be invisible.
~*~*~
Being unseen is an art, it truly is, be wonderful, witty but utterly forgettable. At least one thing was going right for Misao, half the people in the room were so inebriated that they didn't even remember how they got here let alone who they tried to hit on.
But before she could even get to her objective there had to be a few steps taken.
Step One: Get your lay of the land
Misao sat lazily at the bar eyes flickering back and fourth taking in everything. The men eyeing her would be a good escape route. Just grab one, act drunk and flirty, and out the door, if he gets fresh then WOMP and in the morning it will all be some bad hangover nostalgia. Misao pretended to sip on the rum in her crystal glass. To get to the bathroom she would have to up the staircase through the other hall. The security system is high tech, she could see the tell tale signs of steel doors that could lock everybody in the room. Misao shuddered; she had been in that situation before during a job. Everybody rioted; she had a black eye for a month. But it was no time to get off topic.
Step Two: Identify any possible threats
This consisted of Misao scanning the room looking for anybody else scanning the room like her. Or just people not having a good time. She saw the guards in black stand like pillars of stone.
'Can we say Obvious?' She laughed to herself. Then something caught her eye, in the murky corner curtained by gray cigarette smoke and she saw him. Tall, dark , handsome and staring right at her with hidden eyes. Their gazes locked on each other and for some strange reason she remembered a huge warm hand engulfing her smaller, a school uniform with a rather irritating skirt, a cool chain link fence under her fingertips, and a man with hidden eyes and a ghost of a smile.
Misao immediately spun around to face the bar top, feeling all of a sudden very very uneasy. She slammed back her rum, to calm her frayed nerves and numb the dull pain thumping her chest. Misao rose slowly and looked back to the corner, to see nothing in the vale of smoke and strobe lights. She looked at her delicate jewel incrusted watch on her slender wrist. It told her the time was 11:55, time to go
Step Three: Never Keep Soon To Be Swindled Waiting.
She moved swiftly weaving like a ribbon in and of the crowd heading towards the entrance of the hoity toity party. She stepped through and was sent to a completely different place, glowing with white marble, prismatic crystal and gold lighting. She strode past the eyes with determination. In the corner of her eye she saw Kaoru dancing with a handsome but rather menacing redhead (even for his height). They were in a deep conversation. Misao eyes flickered forward; she'd interrogate Kaoru later. Misao smoothly grabbed a slender glass of sparkling champagne from a passing by bus boy. She tasted with a gentle sip and then knocked back the rest.
"Misao we didn't send you on this mission to get drunk!" Hissed Megumi in her ear. Misao was unfazed, her tolerance for alcohol was better then most. She kept walking, making sure that there was the hitch in her step that made all the boys stare. Who said she didn't have sex appeal? She smirked and walked toward a stern looking guard and began her act.
"Would you be so kind as to direct me to the closest lady's room?" She batted her fake eyelashes at the man, who merely grunted and thrusted his gorilla like hand to the farthest door up the stairs.
"Thank you ever so much." She said beginning to feel sick with all this sweetness. Misao gracefully climbed the alabaster stairs.
"Megumi?" She asked into the air.
"Yep." Megumi's voice buzzed into her right ear, Misao walked down the long stretch of velvet carpet and into the bathroom. Misao looked at herself in the mirror and felt sick. She slowly shut her eyes and took a deep breath to calm the urge to vomit. A voice echoed through her head.
'Never forget who you are Misao-chan'
Misao's eyes snapped open. Her stomach had stopped churning and her heartbeat slowed down. She pretended to adjust her makeup, while Megumi coached her through the ear radio.
"Video feed through loop in 5.4.3.2.1! Move Misao!" Misao instantly began to strip of her dress revealing short black bike shorts and a black work out halter-top show her midrif. With one fluid motion Misao unrolled the tool belt hidden in prosthetic bosom and wrapped it around her tiny waste. Misao dug out a pair of black gloves and snapped them on, then quickly tying on the black mask while quickly twisting her braid into a tight bun. Misao ripped off the heels she was forced to wear and place on flat leather dance shoes stowed on her hips. She gently wrapped up her dress and threw it in the garbage for a three pointer.
"Status" Megumi said in an orderly voice.
"Ready to rock n' roll" Misao said placing on two headphone onto her ears, she pressed play on her mini disc player that sat on her tool belt. The music blarred.
"What do you think your doing Misao!?!?" Megumi demanded, Misao smirked and said,
"Bringing a little music to work."
Misao slipped open the window and looked down, eyes taking in every factor for calculation. Misao through her leg over the windowsill and sat for a moment looking up.
"Proceeding to climb" She stated firmly trying to hide the trepidation growing her lungs.
"Be careful" She heard Megumi whisper over the thumping music. Misao stood up on the ledge and gripped at the brick's groove. There was no room in prosthetics for rope. But luckily enough the grooves on between the blocks were deep enough to get a grip on, but that didn't mean the climb would be any easier. She pulled her body up. Misao always was good with upper body strength since she was so small, but if it wasn't enough to hold her up tonight, it would mean a broken neck. The music blasted giving her the enthusiasm she needed to climb on.
Misao would now have to jump to a corner ledge. This was always the tricky part. Her lips curled. She pushed herself away from the wall and flew towards the ledge, hands spread wide ready to catch the concrete outcrop. Only one managed the feat and it was beginning to slip. Quickly Misao through her other arm up and pulled until her muscles screamed bloody murder. She hitched her leg onto the outcrop for support and finally pulled the rest of body onto the concrete slab. She panted, her mind chanting annoyingly 2 more floors to go.
~*~*~
Misao landed flat on the balcony, breathing heavily, acid eating away at her muscles and sweat making her sticky. She pushed herself up to a standing position and turned off her mind numbingly loud rock music.
"Climb complete continuing through balcony." She puffed miserably.
"Good job Misao. Now take out the device labeled black out and stick it on the balcony doors. This should send a impulse charge that should black out everything in a 50 foot area out for approximately a minute, giving time for you to pick the lock and slip inside undetected." Megumi replied. Misao set up the tiny box, unrolled her leather pick case and pressed the red button. She worked quickly, tongue sticking out as she slipped the two picks in. She released a tiny "AHA" when the door lock snapped open. She removed the "Black out box" and rolled up her picks. She looked at her watch.
"Ha! 15 seconds that's a new record." Megumi laughed,
"No wonder you come so highly recommended!" She said. Misao smiled and slid into the sleeping chambers of Yukishiro Enishi. Taking note of a huge four- post bed, a huge TV system, a huge Rembrandt, a huge safe, this was every thief's dream, but unfortunately she wasn't that kind of thief anymore.
"Okay Megumi I'm in now what do I do?" She whispered, looking around the room.
"I want you to go and find his computer, lap top or phone line."
"Okey Dokey. It's sitting right on his desk, just begging to be hacked into." Misao chirped, skipping happily towards it.
"Yep and I'm just the girl to do it!" Misao could hear Megumi cracking her knuckles; "Now Misao I want you to put a phone tape behind the phone line jack on the wall." Misao did as she was told,
"Done."
"Okay, now turn on the computer. I want you to insert the disc I gave you, now encrypted on that disc is a virus that will enable for me to see anything on his computer whenever he connects to the internet. Sort of making a back door to his hard drive. A window should appear with an 'OK' button and a 'Cancel' button-"
"And Press OK?" Misao cut in blandly.
"NO! Whatever you do don't press OK, it'll erase everything on the computer. I put that virus incase anybody got their greeby little paws on it. You want to press Cancel."
"Done." Misao said as the loading bar filled with blue.
"Now eject that disc and put in the green one and this time hit OK. It should take a few minutes to download everything."
" I don't see why we need to put on to disc if we have the back door into his system?" Megumi just sighed in exasperation,
"Misao a man like Yukishiro Enishi will discover the virus eventually. He does make some of the most advanced technology in the world!"
"Oh" Misao replied sheepishly, "Any who it looks like it took shorter than we expected because the disc is done." She ejected the green disc and switched off the computer. That's when she felt it. The shiver zigzagging up her back.
"Somebody is in here." She whispered.
Before Megumi could manage a reply and Misao could spin around, Misao felt the press of cold steel against the hollow of her throat.
There was a buzz; the alarm had been set off.
Her hands were up with the green disc and the other was sitting on the desk.
Megumi's voice was echoing in her ears screaming for her to get the hell out of there.
Unfortunately Misao was in no position to flee for her life.
~*~*~
So here she was where she had started. Hands ups, life in danger and her decision was to play on her whim and contemplate the hours behind her. Misao's mind finished calculating the events of the day.
"Sour milk" She whispered.
"Huh?" A deep mellowing voice asked. Misao could swear she had heard that voice before.
"I think I pinpointed the exact moment my day decided to turn to shit."
" Just give me the discs and it won't get worse." The stomping footsteps of the guards became louder and louder.
" I don't think either of us are in a position to be heckling." Misao said in her most cynical tone.
"Give me the discs."
"What will happen if I don't? You going to kill a poor misguided girl in cold blood?" The blade pressed deeper against her skin. She squeaked,
"Okay, Okay no need to get hasty." There was a deep growl that made her shudder; she swallowed feeling it press on the blade.
"Girl I don't have time for this."
"HEY! WHO SAID I DID-" Just then the door burst open by the guards, Misao took this moment to drop her arms, and lob a smoke bomb towards the guards. The coughs began as the smoke filled the room. Misao tried to get away but a huge hand grabbed her wrist. There was a flash of a chain link fence. Misao looked up. It was the man who had pressed what now appeared to be a Kodachi against her throat. She instantly recognized him in the dim smoky light; it was the creepy guy from the corner. They both grabbed for the disc, but she got it first, she quickly began to kick at him but he ducked. Misao flipped away, dashing for the patio doors. As she kicked them opened the smoke began to dissipate, giving Misao enough visibility for a guard to take a shot.
"MISAO!" Megumi screamed hearing the shot. But Misao couldn't hear anything, her shoulder was burning as the bullet ripped through it. Tears burned her eyes as pushed herself forward towards edge of the balcony.
How the hell she was she supposed to climb down now? More shots ricocheted of the iron bars.
"OH SCREW IT!" She screamed and with that she jump over the balcony railing. She landed lightly taking the inertia in a summersault.
She pushed herself to standing. Her shoulder throbbed and she looked up at the balcony before quickly dashing over to where the bathroom window was.
"Misao? Misao are you there?" Megumi asked softly, it sounded like she was about to cry.
"I'm here! I was shot in the shoulder. I still have the discs. I don't think I can climb back up to the bathroom. What should I do?" She asked, a bit at loss whether to try and go back to the party or make a break for it.
"Saitou says to get your ass out of there, the guards are on alert now, they'll catch you if you don't high tail it." Megumi answered, Misao could swear her voice was tinged with the sound of relief.
"What about the others?"
"They can handle themselves. Just get out of there before you get any more damage!" Megumi ordered. Misao started to run towards the entrance to the mansion all the while clutching her left shoulder in pain, vainly trying to stop the flowing blood. If she weren't careful she would lose too much blood to get out of this death trap. She needed a mode of escape fast.
And there it was. A Kawasaki Ninja just begging for the taking. At least she had a little luck left! She quickly straddled the motorcycle and began to hot-wire it. But before the engines could roar she heard the sound of rustling leaves. She looked to the trees and saw a shadow.
'CRAP!' It was Mr. Mysterio (Misao now named him) from Yukishiro's room. Misao forced her fingers to work faster for the fear of him catching her in her weakened state was too great. Just as he landed from the trees about 20 feet away from her the Motorbike jumped to life with a loud roar. Misao kicked up the throttle and flew out of there as valets leaped out of her way. She neared the closed gate.
"Megumi I need an exit!" Misao cried over the drone of the engine.
"Already on it!" The electrical gates opened with ease and Misao breezed past them and continued down the winding private road. She was home free!
Misao spoke too soon. She then saw in her side mirror a light coming up from her rear! It was a motorcycle and its rider was none other than our dear Mr. Mysterio.
"DOSEN'T THIS JERK EVER GIVE UP!?!?!" She whined loudly, speeding up the bike. He was gaining on her fast and the wind was cutting into her wound. Misao couldn't keep this up for long.
Then came her biggest mistake. Misao looked back at her pursuer and when she turned forward she saw to her horror she was headed right for a cliff edge. She tried to turn but lost control, the motorcycle fell to its side running along the road sparking something fierce. Misao had fallen too wiping out on the tough road, the asphalt was like a cheese grater on the exposed skin from her outfit. She rolled a bit before coming to a stop. Her whole right side was torn up from the spill. Everything hurt. Everything seared and burned to no end, but Misao pushed herself up again. The man had stopped his bike and dismounted. Misao tried to run, but was ultimately hobbling away at a snails pace. She bit down the urge to scream when his hand clamped down on to her injured shoulder. Misao immediately spun around and attack, but only to find his blocks. She was in no condition to fight.
"Give me the discs." He commanded. She went for his face but his fist connected with her stomach.
"They're mine!" She coughed holding her gut and stepping backwards away from him, until bumping into the railing that fenced off the edge of the cliff, she tried to kick him but only ended up keeled over on the ground. She rolled away from him and inched towards closer to the fence until she was touching. Misao had to think of something! Then it came to her like a bolt of lightning. With back turned she quickly flicked open her Mini Disc player, removed the music disc and placed in the green info disc into it, snapping it closed as Mr. Mysterio hauled her up to her feet.
"Who are you and who do you work for?" He questioned. Misao did not comply. He pushed her against the railing. He noticed the disc in her hand and immediately took it. Misao stood very still.
"Where's the other one?" Misao bit her tongue, "Don't play games girl! I don't want to hurt you but I will if I have to!" Misao slightly tilted her head in the direction of her belt. He opened a pocket on it and removed the disc.
"Now that you got what you wanted let me go!" She hissed with all the venom she could muster.
"Not until you tell me who you are and who you work for." He shot back coolly.
"NEVER." She snapped.
"Fine." He reached for her ear and pulled out the radio receiver, never on relenting on his hold on her. "I'll find out from them." He held it up to his ear. Then as much to her shock as his he loosened his grip. He dropped the radio. She could hear Megumi screaming for her to come in.
"Misao?" The man whispered in stun looking deeply into her eyes. This was her chance, still pinned in between his arms Misao pulled her flash bomb from her belt, shut her eyes and whipped it as hard as she could onto the ground making a burst of light blind the man. She slid through the opening through his legs and ran to his motorcycle and got on. She revved the engine and took off, never once looking back.
~*~*~
It was nearly dawn when Misao pulled up to the garage. She had ridden full tilt all the way there. She was beyond exhausted. Her head swirled with questions; who was that man and why did he say her name like that, and why was he so famaliar? It was all too much to handle with her body falling apart.
She pushed the door open. There was a loud gasp.
"Hi everybody. I still got the disc." She said meekly, she held the disc in her small scraped up hand, trying her best to stay standing. Kaoru ran up to help her along with Sano, who now had his disguise off.
"Misao! We were so worried!" Kaoru cried out.
"Jesus kid what happen to ya?" Sano asked inspecting her from head to toe.
"Well it's kind of a long story. First when I woke up I fell on the floor, then I step on a monopoly house when I don't even own the game. I drank sour milk, got yelled at by Saitou, then fast forward a few hours, I posed as a hooker named Bambi, I got a sword held to my throat, then got shot in the shoulder, then fell off a speeding vehicle and I got ruffed up a little by a guy who wanted to know who I worked for who I've named Mr. Mysterio. Now if you don't mind I think I'll pass out now!"
And then everything went dark for Misao, but somewhere in the blackness she could feel a cool chain link fence under her fingertips, the wind up her skirt and a warm hand engulfing hers. She could feel herself beam at the man with the hidden eyes and a ghost of a smile.
TBC
~*~*~
HOLY MOLY! That has got to be the longest chapter I have ever written in my short career of writing! I told you it would be an epic and boy did we have action! This was fourteen pages on Microsoft word! Thank you for being so patient with my lazy updates!
Okay some notes! There are going to be sooooooo many mess ups in this thing because I suck at editing and I don't really like anybody else doing it. What can I say I'm fanikity. Yeah I know this chappie was all about Misao. DO NOT FEAR! THERE WILL BE MORE KxK and SxM next chapter I promise! I plan to do it from the guys points of view and reflection about the party. And if you can't guess Who Mr. Mysterio is (pardon my rudeness) Well duh! It's Aoshi! And boy did he get a surprise this chap, could this be his little Misao-chan? OFCOURSE IT IS! But he doesn't know that for sure. About the little flash back episodes, of Aoshi basically walk little Misao-chan to school this will be explained further and has a lot of significance.
About the Motorcycle bits, I've never driven a motorcycle ever and I don't know much about them except that they're really pretty! So pardon me if the wipe out part was a bit unrealistic.
I haven't be shot either! Hahaha I hope I never will be. Misao's shot wound in my minds eye would be pretty shallow but enough to bleed a lot, she shouldn't be in a sling or anything in future chapters.
PHEW! I talk a lot don't I?
So read and review because I sweated blood into this chapter! Please inform me if there any factorial mistakes or grammar errors! I want to improve! Review it's good Karma!
Til' Next Time