By: Ochako107
Standard Disclaimers ApplyAround eight in the morning the following day, the six new team mates came together at Megumi's computer lab. Kenshin spoke up, "Okay so Megumi-dono, Sano, fill us in with research."
Megumi and Sano got up eyeing each other, almost growling. "From what we gather, the ten drug dealers are formally known as the Juppongatana. Though, one of them has left the team. He ran away before Shishio could take his or her life, remaining as an unknown member of the society. I guess technically, there will only be nine, hua?"
"Shishio has a lover, Yumi. She is always at Shishio's side and is currently holding a small get-together later tomorrow for her friends. She is more of a party girl." Sano said.
Kaoru nodded for Sano and Megumi to sit down. "Aoshi? Misao?" The ninja girl stood up next.
"We got around the grounds yesterday; there are two main doors in the front, and one in the back. It's not very conspicuous except by the mote, I found how they smuggle in the drugs. They have a small trap door with a green handle hidden the grassy areas. Aoshi and I were almost caught, but fortunately... got away." She coughed. "Anyway, there's still one problem, how are we going to get in? The trap door is bound to lead where the drugs are, but will be heavily protected. The main door also will be protected."
Aoshi got up making Misao sit back down. "I've been thinking about that actually."
"Wow, ice block is actually saying something to a crowd." Megumi stepped on Sano's toe. "OW!"
"Like you were JUST saying, Sano," Aoshi said voice almost as smooth as glass, "Yumi is having a gathering for friends, most likely women. I'm sure she'll like to have three more new friends." He turned to Misao whose eyes just got large.
"No way, Shinomori! What if they catch us?"
Kaoru tapped her temple. "Actually, that's a good idea. We didn't even think about it!" Kenshin turned to her confused. "You boys are really something, come on girls, we have to go out and shop for cocktail dresses and mini cameras."
Megumi rose an eyebrow. "This isn't making any sense, tanuki...why are we shopping?"
"Tomorrow, we are attending a certain party in order to get invitations inside the factory for the party on Friday." She winked at Aoshi. "Good idea. You guys stay here tomorrow. Megumi will hook up miniature cameras to our dresses so you can record any information. Also, Aoshi will map out the grounds for you." She and Megumi got up. "Misao let's go."
She held onto Aoshi for dear life. "No! Don't let them take me, Aoshi!"
"Misao, it's just a dress!"
"Noooooooo!"
Sano watched as Megumi hooked the cameras onto her friend's dress. "So how do you use these things again?" He asked.
"Simple. You and Ken-san watch the monitors and record. Uses this button to zoom in and out, got it?"
"Sure."
Kaoru spun around in the dress making sure the camera was snug. It was a silvery gray dress that came down to her knees fluttering around when she moved. A splash of gems flowed from left to bottom right, enough to camouflage the camera on her dress. "Okay, it's pretty stuck on." She watched Megumi place a few stick-on gems to her temples.
Her attire was an off white tight long skirt and red tank top with a matching red cardigan that went three fourths on her arms. Her makeup done nicely, the gems were just an added effect. She finally added the last gem that contained the camera onto her face. Both girls turned to the bathroom door.
"Misao, come out."
"No."
Megumi pulled out a pin and unlocked the door. "No, close the door!" She young girl squealed. They dragged her out anyway. She wore a skirt reaching her mid thigh and a big soft green cow neck sweater. "I hate it; I look like a damn Barbie!"
"Take that silly braid out, it's supposed to be a formal, upper class party!" Kaoru yanked the hair tie out and untangled her hair. She giggled when she was done. "There ya' go, now you really are a Barbie." Misao laughed not being able to hide her angry face any longer. Megumi came over and replaced the gold necklace Misao always wore with a silver necklace containing the camera.
"Okay Sano we'll be on our way now." Kaoru called out. "Remember to turn on the cameras, bye!"
They reached the Makato estate and Misao whistled. "This place is huge!"
They walked up the stairs and were greeted by Yumi. "You three...I've never seen you here before." The poised woman looked them up and down.
Kaoru cleared her throat. "Yes, well you met us at that resort in Florida, we were having drinks and having such a great time you invited us to your beautiful home in Chicago. Don't you remember Yumi?" She giggled.
Kenshin chuckled, "Yumi-dono will never fall for that lie that she won't." Sano hit him on the back while munching on popcorn.
"Have faith in jou-chan. She knows what she's doing." He offered some popcorn to Kenshin.
"Sano, this isn't a movie!"
"Aoshi said I could eat it!" Kenshin rolled his eyes and took a hand full. He was watching Kaoru's monitor, Sano: Megumi's, and Aoshi: Misao's. "Anyway, you should have seen 'em. They looked pretty sharp."
"Yes well, they are attractive ladies, Sano."
"Yeah, attractive. I see the way you can't take your eyes off jou-chan." Sano laughed stressing the word attractive.
"Oro? Of course not, I'm simply playing close attention to what she says; she is good at planning, that she is!"
"What about you, ice man? That weasel girl has got you talking out a little more than usual."
"We have to communicate, Sano."
"Sure, sure."
Yumi looked thoughtful. "We did?"
"Yes, don't you remember?" Megumi laughed. "Perhaps you had one too many drinks, hua?"
Yumi tilted her head. "I suppose so, I think I vaguely remember you three now. It's so nice to see you again. Come in come in."
Kaoru let out a breath and continued to walk into the large house. They sat down with two other women who called themselves Okon, and Tae. They had small talk with Yumi for about two hours. Misao thought she was going to go insane but continued to drink down her champagne. Another hour passed and she realized she had to go to the bathroom.
"Excuse me... where is your powder room?"
"Oh three doors to your left dear." Yumi smiled and continued talking to her guests. Misao got up and made her way to the bathroom closing the door quietly. She looked herself over in the mirror and pulled stray hairs out of her face. Well, she had to admit she looked pretty damn good.
"Oi, oi, Misao's in the bathroom!" Sano laughed.
"Sano! Turn off the monitor, you hentai!" Kenshin scolded.
"No way, we've endured three hours of houses, foo-foo dogs, cooking, and a bunch of other girly crap! Finally something interesting is happening! Come on Kenshin be a man!" Kenshin continued to 'oro' madly and Sano watched the monitor with interest.
Aoshi noticed Misao did look particularly nice in her clothes. He watched her fix her hair and her facial expression turn from a happy genki girl, to... well a not smiling genki girl. Suddenly her face got red and she began fumbling with the necklace. Sano began protesting and Misao turned the necklace to her face.
"Sorry you perverts, I have to use the restroom." With that she shoved the necklace into her purse where it was dark.
"Aw man!" Sano yelled. Aoshi glared at him, knocking the pop corn bowl on his head.
"Keep your eyes on Megumi's monitor you sicko."
"So, Kaoru, Megumi," Yumi took a sip of her tea, "lets get down to the juicy stuff. Do you two have boyfriends?"
Megumi blushed, "Um... well I..." She turned to Kaoru who lowered an eyebrow. "...I do! Yes, he is a real fun person to be with. One day we plan to travel!" If she said she didn't have a boyfriend, she wouldn't have an escort into the party. She had to get invited.
"Wonderful, I'll have to meet him! And what about you, Kaoru?"
"Oh, yes, he is smart and is always there when I need him."
Misao, in the nick of time, entered the scene.
"Misao, you too, do you have a boyfriend?" Misao stood rooted, thinking, okay what just played here while I was gone?
Sano was choking on his popcorn and Kenshin was grinning while trying to help Sano drink water. "What...the hell...what...the hell..." He muttered.
Kenshin grinned all too innocently, "Sano, I didn't know you liked to travel."
"I didn't know you were smart and always there when jou-chan needed you. Sounds like a dog, smart and loyal. We just need a leash for ya'."
"ORO!"
Aoshi on the other hand was watching the monitors passively. Two of the screens were faced on Misao, and the other was staring out onto the group of girls. "Well, Misao, what are you going to say?" He asked no one in particular.
"Um... I don't actually." She smiled and rubbed the back of her head. Megumi and Kaoru both slapped their heads in the background as Yumi tapped her arm.
"Really? What's not to like of you Misao? You're cute, polite, and seem to be a well rounded girl. Do you not like anyone?"
"Oh it's not that I don't like anyone." Megumi and Kaoru were pointing at their ring fingers. "I'm uh unavailable?" Misao was feeling more and more uncomfortable with all this prying. She felt like she was playing charades, trying to guess what those two supposed friends were relating to her.
Yumi caught Misao giving uneasy glances at Megumi and Kaoru. "Unavailable? My dear what does that..." she gasped, as did Okon and Tae. "My dear Misao...are you...a lesbian?" The whole room went silent.
Back in the room all three boys laughed hysterically, well Aoshi chuckled, but the other two were almost dying. "Wow, what's she going to say? She's a lesbian! AHAHA!" Sano laughed.
"Oh poor Misao-dono!"
"Actually," Misao began to say as the three men began to quiet down in order to hear her mumble, "I'm engaged!"
"Oh!" Yumi's eyes widened slightly. "That's wonderful! Certainly you are not a lesbian I'm sorry!"
The three men stopped laughing and stared at Aoshi. "Now tell me where your engagement ring is, dear?" Yumi continued as Okon and Tae hugged Misao in a bone crushing squeeze.
"Oh! It's um... in the shop, yes that's right; my poor fingers are so small we had to go get it resized to fit! Eh, silly me and my thin fingers!"
"I see! Now tell me who this lucky boy is?" They watched through Misao's monitor she was looking in the direction of Kaoru and Megumi who were holding in their laughter. "Go on, dear don't be shy."
"He's...he's..." Sano's face was so close to Megumi's screen his eyes could have popped out.
"He's who Misao!" Sano yelled at the monitor.
This Yumi character is obviously nosy... Aoshi thought.
Kenshin grinned. "Isn't if obvious Sano? It's Aoshi of course!"
Sano looked up, "Really?" They both turned to Aoshi who was watching the monitor still.
"He's Shinomori Aoshi the love of my life of course." She ended smoothly. "I'd love you to meet him sometime soon." She hinted at Megumi and Kaoru who were silently cheering.
"Good idea, you see my dear Shishio is hosting a party for my birthday on Friday."
"You're birthday?"
"Yes, and I'd love to meet your fiancé. And you two are to come also of course! Tae and Okon are already invited, and so are my other friends. It will be so much fun; I do hope you can attend." She smiled at Kaoru and Megumi.
The three girls acted enthralled with being invited to a birthday party but mentally enraged. So he's hosting a party... based on drugs... but his lover thinks it's for her party? Kaoru thought. How devious and awful! I almost feel bad for this girl. But why? Why is he having this party?
Kenshin was thinking on the same lines Kaoru. Sano nudged Aoshi with a sly grin. "So you're engaged hua ice block? Never thought that would happen-"
"Shut. Up."
A/N: Misao is just looking for an excuse to why she doesn't have a boyfriend, and as she's mentally trying to figure that out, Yumi thinks she's staring at Megumi and Kaoru while blushing because she's like one of them. Really, I have nothing against anyone who likes his or her same gender! Anyhow, I hope readers and reviewers alike are enjoying this so far... A nice review maybe? 00 only if you want to that is! I'm not pressuring you or anything!
Thanks to:
Eden- Yeay! You are very nice to review to me! [Almost cries in joy] And you'll just have to stick around to find out how the girls and guys react to one another, ne? Don't worry though, there will be much more action coming up.
Keruri1222- Keeeerrrrrrruuui! You are my very first reviewer, thanks a lot! I also appreciate your help and your long review.