Minerva Solo: You know, I actually had to use a dictionary to find out what quandary meant? O.o but anyway, we'll see when we get there, nee? IF we get there.. .
Asurahime: Already said this in MSNM (nother fic of mine, which most of you guys know). Check my e-mail. That's in honor of the boys I dubbed the Omi clones, who are Omi himself, Shuichi and Hisoka.
Aphrael: Of course we do… Girls rock. Guys do too. ^_^ I have an affinity for both… Uh… Wait, that sounded wrong… O.o
Xin-chan: Don't ask… XD I was feeling weird when I wrote that paragraph…
Sugarmonkey: Well, she was just starting out at that chapter, so everyone kept clear of her even when she was IN the evil time… And it sometimes overlaps into the timeframe anyway, I think… My sis becomes OC with cleaning before and during her cycle, with chocolate cravings all throughout… Wow… If she knew I was saying this for the world to see, she'd kill me…
Ryuuen Chou: I have read some of your stories… They made me cry ;_; I hate crying, crying is evil! But that just means that I liked them XD
Misura: Well, there's something wrong with SOME girls, but most of them are good. Omi's terrified of thinking like one because he/she's a guy…
Black Mirror: Wah! You reviewed!! ^__^ *huggles you*
This may be disappointing, but missions aren't my forte. Then again, you guys be the judges… I'll try better next time.
*gives award to BlueBreezeDragonWing for giving me review 100* I am truly flattered (and actually a bit terrified) of this fic's current stats. Your reviews are all beautiful ;_; Saying stuff I didn't think would be said to me…
I'm getting sentimental… This is bad… *decides this is a convenient time to start the chapter*
Chapter 6
"It's… so… tight!"
"Omi, quit it…"
"But it's tight!!"
"Just bear it til we're done."
"But it's still so friggin tight!"
"Damnit, Omi!" Yohji sighed. "It's not our fault your breasts have to be so large!"
At that, Omi scowled, then reached up to whap Ken's head with a gloved hand. "Ken-kun, stop snickering!"
Ken made no effort to stop. "He's got a point."
Omi gave up and whimpered, hugging her arms tight around her chest. "Remind me again why we have to bind it?"
The three men glanced at each other. Finally, Ran sighed and explained, "You know the dangers of going on a mission as a female, don't you, Omi?"
"Aya-kun, I can take care of myself. Me changing into a girl doesn't exactly change that."
"Omi, we know that," Ken frowned. "But we're not taking any chances."
"It's not like I can't shoot my crossbow…"
"That's not what we're worried about…"
Yohji shook his head. "We have to pass you off as a guy. We haven't exactly been able to experience what kinds of perverts we're up against when we were all men, so we don't know what they'd do if there was a girl on the team."
Omi bit her lip and nodded. "…… Hai… Manx told me…"
After the mission briefing, Manx had taken Omi to another room alone to tell her. She honestly didn't believe that they should worry too much. She was very capable of taking care of herself, especially since she was the most experienced. But, apparently, they all were thinking of a different type of threat.
She did somewhat agree with them, though in all honesties, she had thought that if there were any danger in something like that occurring, she had already been prone to it… even as a guy.
Then, the memory with Manx continued into her lecture on how to look out for men, how to be a girl, what being a girl was like in this world of men.
Omi had no idea that Manx was such a feminist.
And then there was the issue of female hygiene………
Omi decided that the lecture on how to shave your legs took way too long… Not to mention she didn't exactly want to get 'practice'. She winced slightly, reaching down to lightly touch a small cut she had inflicted on her own calf.
And then there was the issue of actually binding Omi's chest. When Manx asked for volunteers, Ken's nose burst in blood again, Omi screamed at Yohji when he raised his hand, and Ran just stared blankly. It finally came down to Manx asking for the help of the two girls.
It was the most humiliating fifteen minutes of her female life…
…… aside from Ken almost seeing her naked.
"Not to mention, that it could be damn uncomfortable to be jumping and running around the place with those things attached to your chest."
Omi blinked, then turned and yelled. "YOHJI-KUN!!"
"And besides, we don't want Ken to fainting from blood loss in the middle of the missio-… OW!" Yohji yelped as Ken kicked him in the shin. "Hey! What are you doing?!"
"We're on a mission, Yohji," Ken snarled.
"Exactly! We have to be in top form! I can't be seen walking around limping! They might think that I'd just been…"
Omi gasped, blushing even more. Ken's eyes widened.
"Yohji-kun!!"
"Yohji!!"
"Injured…" Yohji shook his head, smirking. "Really, you two, what were you thinking?"
"Yohji, shut up," Ran finally cut in after a long period of keeping silent. Yohji immediately obeyed, though still grinning lopsidedly.
"Um…" Ken's cheeks were as red as Omi's as he quickly changed the topic. "So… What's the plan?"
Omi glanced down at the small factory they were supposed to infiltrate. She frowned at the two men that were patrolling the area. "The targets are usually in the offices in the back of the building. They have a few guards, but nothing that we can't handle. The layout of the place is similar to that of the last mission, but with less people and less equipment."
"Are the missions connected?"
"Only slightly. Manx said that there was no cure yet, but when they were looking into it, they found this place," she squinted a little to examine the exterior. "This is where they do initial test sampling, most of which is obviously illegal."
"Let me guess," Yohji frowned. "They kidnap poor innocent victims to test their stuff on?"
After Omi nodded, Ken groaned. "So the same old thing, huh?"
"I suppose you could say that. Inside they perform research on formulas similar to the ones we found in the previous labs. It's like a minor branch, but otherwise hardly interacting with Yutaka's group." She glanced at her teammates. "We might find some leads in here, aside from finishing off the two executives."
She turned around, "We'll be going in through down there. Once inside, we'll split up. Aya-kun, Ken-kun… You two will take the right to get to the targets and eliminate them. I'll go for their main computer. Hopefully, I can get some information from it. Yohji-kun can be my back-up. After we're finished, we regroup back here."
The rest of the group nodded. Yohji fingered the watch on his wrist. Ken released his bugnuks and Ran stroked the hilt of his sword. Omi loaded her crossbow, and checked for her darts. She nodded back toward them, then glanced downward.
"Let's go…"
Down below, two guards met, nodded to each other and turned again.
One of them yawned, looking about, then paused at an odd sound behind him. He spun around. His eyes widened at the sight of a crossbow bolt lodged in his companion's throat. Another figure was before him, fist buried in his stomach. The arm retracted, revealing long deadly claws.
"What the hell?!"
He tried to grab for his gun but before he could, a stretch of wire unraveled and wrapped itself around his wrist. He almost yelled, but it was cut off as a sword plunged deep in his chest.
Ran pulled out his katana and shook off the blood as the man slumped forward. Yohji retrieved the wire, letting it run back into his watch.
After the two guards had fallen, Omi ran closer to the door, while the others kept watch. She hooked a small machine to the adjoining control and waited for it to break the code.
Soon the it was opened and they piled inside. Two guards abruptly spun around, alarmed at the sight of the intruders. But before they could alert any others, they had been struck down. Ran pulled back his sword and Ken shook blood off his claws.
"Looks like this entrance was guarded," he muttered.
"Be on guard for more, then, just in case., Omi agreed. She glanced to the left, then up at them again.
"Omi, you go on ahead," Yohji suggested. "We'll catch up."
Omi nodded, pausing to shoot a bolt into an oncoming opponent. The man screeched a little before Yohji's wire looped around his neck. Omi didn't stay long enough to see the rest as she found her opening and ran in.
She ran down the hall, pausing to conceal herself in the shadows every now and then, but finding no threat. She finally found what she was looking for: a set of stairs leading up. On the higher floor were the control room, and the computer she needed.
Glancing around once more and seeing no guard, she began her climb up the stairs, in a hurry.
There was a yell and her eyes narrowed. She drew back an arm, sidestepped and flung a handful of darts at her assailant. The man screeched and fell to her feet. She sighed a bit and stepped out of the way again, holding out her arms for balance.
Miscalculation. Apparently, becoming a girl slightly affected her balance.
"Omi!"
She was falling again. She closed her eyes tightly, bracing herself for the impact. But she didn't feel herself hit floor.
Omi cringed, then slowly opened her eyes.
Opened her eyes to…
A pair of beautiful ones looking down at her. Her breath caught her throat momentarily and her heart stopped. She dazedly scanned the image above her, recognition failing to set in. She very slowly took in the warm eyes, the slightly tanned face, and the dark hair.
Then her eyes widened as she realized what she was thinking.
She shut them again, gritting her teeth.
Wh-what the… OMI! Snap OUT of it!! You're a guy… You… are… a… GUY!! And you're on a mission!! You are NOT thinking that this vision in front of you is absolutely gorgeo- ARRRGHH!!!
"Omi? Are you okay?"
Her eyes snapped open again.
No… It… can't be…
"K-ken-kun…?"
"Omi?"
"I… I…" She felt herself blush against her will.
I did not just think Ken-kun was gorgeous… I did NOT just think Ken-kun was gorgeous… Even if he is gorgeous… Oh GODS, he's gorgeous… DAMN THESE FEMALE HORMONES!!
"I-I'm fine!" She managed to splutter out. She struggled a little to get out of Ken's embrace. A bit surprised by her movements, Ken let go and she quickly got to her feet, trying to brush herself off. She turned away from him, hoping he didn't notice just how red her cheeks were.
"How'd you fall, anyway?"
"It's just… Well… Girls have a different center of gravity! I'm… still adjusting…" Omi suddenly turned back to him, narrowing her eyes. "And what are you doing this way, anyway?? I told you to go with Aya-kun!"
"Uhh… Well…" Ken sheepishly scratched his head. "Actually, he went ahead like you and I was about to go after him. But Yohji said that he was going to go with Aya, and that I'd be better help to you."
Omi groaned, rubbing at her temple with one hand. "Yohji-kun… baka…" She looked back up at him. That was a mistake as the earlier image returned to her. She looked away again to hide another blush. "It's no use then. I can't exactly send you back. Come on!"
Once again cursing the female hormones coursing through her body, she continued up the stairs, and this time, made sure she didn't fall.
-----*-----
"Almost done?" Ken asked, glancing over his shoulder.
"Un," Omi nodded as she continued watching the small screen. "Download is taking a little longer than I expected." She shrugged. "I don't know how much this is going to help, but… at the very least, we'll get some names."
"I guess we'll have Kritiker worry about that for now."
"I do want to check some of the data myself though, just in case."
"I figured you would."
Omi rolled her eyes, "And what's that supposed to mean?"
Ken cracked a small grin, though he didn't answer. Omi blinked and gulped a little. The smile made Ken's eyes light up, and he suddenly became even more hands-… DAMN IT!! You are on a mission, baka!! Stop thinking stuff like that!! And don't forget what sex you actually ARE!!
She quickly turned back to the device in her hand, and only now realized that it was finished. She unplugged it and just as she started putting it away, there was a crackle in the radio. Ken glanced her way, and paused to listen in as well. Omi adjusted the radio and murmured, "Hai?"
"Target's down, and most of the guards too." Yohji's voice confirmed over some slight static. "How's it going on your side?"
"Just finished," she told him as she took out the small disc, turning back for the door, and nodding a little at Ken. Both began to exit the room.
"Mission accomplished?" Ran murmured.
"Affirmative." Omi paused at the door. "Yohji-kun, that reminds me. Why'd you switch places with Ken-kun when I told you to come with me?"
"Well, I thought it made no difference if it was me or him with you or Aya. And then, I thought that you two might like a little alone time."
Ken stumbled a bit up ahead. Omi's cheeks turned crimson.
"Yohji!!"
"Yohji-kun!!"
"I assume you two didn't take advantage of my kindness."
"Y-Yoh-yohji-kun…" Omi sputtered. "Y-you… I… Yohji-kun, we're on a mission!"
"Not anymore actually."
She gave up, and kept walking. Ken kept moving as well.
It wasn't long before they had arrived back where they entered, where Yohji and Aya were already waiting. Yohji mock-frowned. "I'm disappointed in you, Ken. I expected to see Omi at least a little ruffled."
"Yohji-kun!!"
"Yohji!!"
"After the trouble I went through, this is the thanks I get…"
Omi ignored him as she pushed past him. Ken flipped him the finger. Yohji just laughed as he followed them outside.
"We're done here," Ran murmured.
"Hai. Let's go." Omi nodded, glancing at the disc one last time, wondering if there was something in there that would help her.
The others nodded back. They turned away from the factory after a job well done.
And so, the white hunters of light set home once more after another successful mission. They were as four cats, deadly panthers slinking away back to their den. The night was their hunting ground as darkness cloaked them in a shroud of anonymity.
The reverie was broken by Yohji's amused tone.
"Omi, stop swaying your hips like that; it might give Ken-ken ideas."
"YOHJI!!"
"YOHJI-KUN!!"
-----*-----
*glomps Omi* Gosh, I love you in serious mission/strategy mode… Even if you are a girl now.
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