Disclaimer for my own sanity:
I wrote this story back in 1999. I don't think it's too bad, but I don't know what I was thinking way back then either so don't be too harsh on me :P
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I rate this chapter PG-13 because it has sexual references, but I can't say it's as bad as the last chapter. I wouldn't be surprised if many people disagree with my choice for the new character entering this time. But if you think about it, he's the only one left ;)
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A Senshi's True Lies
- Chapter Three (revised) -
Haruka is at work looking through pictures of suspects. She stops at one and looks into his eyes. "That's him."
They call over the boss and explain to him their findings.
"Chiba Mamoru. He's here somewhere in Tokyo," Yaten explains. "The man's a real psycho. He's been involved with dozens of recent bombings. I'm tellin' ya, this guy's a major player."
"Now he's formed his own group. I guess he thought the other terrorist groups were a little too warm and fuzzy for his taste," Taiki adds.
"Well, this is impressive. Of course, it would be even more impressive if you actually knew where he was."
"We'll find him," Haruka assures.
-.-.-
Later, Haruka and Yaten are driving around the city.
"Pull over here."
"What's up?"
"Well, I really screwed up with Michiru last night, and-"
"Screwed up or screwed around with?" Yaten interrupts, laughing.
"Lay off, smart ass. I'm just going to run in and see if she's available for lunch. Y'know, smooth things over a little bit."
"So, Haruka-san, you just want me to hang?"
"Yeah, just hang."
"Kay buddy, I'll just be hangin'."
Haruka enters the studio and looks for Michiru. She's surprised to see Setsuna sitting at a desk taking calls. In the background, she can hear many instruments playing and being tuned, but one melody stands out above the rest. It is the sweet music of a violin being handled by a true expert. Haruka steps behind the doorway in the next room, listening to the haunting performance. The music ceases, and she is brought out of her trance.
"That was great Michiru-san, but why are you playing such a sad song?"
"Well, you know how I am, Setsuna-san. I usually play to reflect my mood."
"So your expressing unhappiness at the moment, right? What's wrong?"
"Oh, it's nothing really. Things just didn't go as I had planned last night. That's all."
"Uh, oh. Better tell me what happened."
"Well, it's just that I had everything- hey! I don't need to bring anyone else into this. You don't need to play referee anymore, Setsuna-san. Besides, we're trying to solve our own problems from now on."
"Have you made up with Haruka-san yet?"
"No."
Setsuna lets out a giggle. "See. You do need someone to talk it over with. Don't worry though. Before you know it, she'll be inviting you to dinner to make up for her fault."
Michiru smiles. "Arigato, Setsuna-san."
Haruka laughs to herself. "Oh, Setsuna-san. You know us so well." She is just about to enter when the phone rings and Setsuna answers it.
"Moshi moshi… Yes. Hold on please." She turns to her friend. "Hey, Michiru-san. Want some cheering up? It's your mystery man."
"Seiya-kun!"
Setsuna nods her head as Haruka mouths the name in puzzlement.
"Oh my God! Give me the phone… Hello? Seiya-kun?… Yes, I can talk… You mean right now?… Yes. I can meet you… Okay. I'll be there… Bye." Michiru gives the phone to Setsuna. "Can you cover me for an hour?"
"It's your decision..."
"I won't be any longer than that."
Setsuna sighs as Michiru is leaving. "Have a good time."
Haruka forgets her plans and walks out without letting them know she was ever there. Yaten notices the despair on her face and helps her across the busy street.
"Hey, what's going on? You sick or something? You look terrible."
"It's Mi- it's Mich- Michiru."
"Michiru-san? It's got something to do with Michiru-san I'm guessing."
"Michi-"
"Michiru…"
"Michiru… is having an affair."
After a moment of shock, Yaten recovers, and tries to cheer Haruka up. "Welcome to the club. No one thinks it can happen to them the first time, but you've got to face facts."
"But Michiru."
"Hey, Haruka-san. Hey, listen, Michiru-san still loves ya. Y'know, she just wants to see this guy for a while. It's nothin' serious. You'll get used to it-"
Haruka pushes Yaten against the car. "Stop cheering me up!"
Yaten just stares at her. "What'd you expect, Haruka-san? Michiru-san's a flesh and blood woman and you're never there. It's just a matter of time."
- later that evening -
The family of three sit at the table having dinner. All is quiet except for Haruka's violent use of the utensils, which is a sign she's in a bad mood.
She looks at Michiru. "I came by the studio today… I was in the area and I thought you might want to have lunch."
"Really? Well you must have just missed me."
"That's what Setsuna-san said. She said you had to run out or something."
"Oh, well the organizer of my concerts stopped by and told me he'd planned another for tomorrow night, and…"
Michiru goes on with her story, as Haruka listens in disbelief. "So, did it work out okay?"
"… Yeah. Sure. Great… Um, I'll check on dessert." Michiru exits the table to leave Haruka puzzled as to how she can lie to her so easily.
- the next day -
Haruka is back at work with Yaten speaking to her.
"You see the great thing is that they practically give us a blank check in wiretap. I've set them up on all the shipping agents and their clients. Taiki's made a list of all the possible contacts with Mamoru's group. Now all we have to do is sit around-" Yaten notices she's not listening. "Hey, this national security stuff boring you?"
"Put a tap on her phone."
"What are you talking about? I already did that."
"I'm talking about Michiru's. Put one on the studio's line and the line to my house."
"Y'know, I have only two words to describe that idea: in-sane! An unauthorized wiretap is a felony and-"
"And we're doing it twenty times a day! So don't give me that crap. Do it."
-.-.-
Later, Haruka finds the papers which have recorded all conversations on those phone lines. She discovers only one time Seiya has called, and reads the conversation.
Michiru: Moshi moshi.
Seiya: Hello, Michiru. It's Seiya. Is it safe to talk?
Michiru: Yes. Go ahead.
Seiya: Listen, I can't talk long. Can you meet me for lunch tomorrow? I must see you.
Michiru: I suppose so. Where?
Seiya: Same place. One o'clock. I have to go now. See you tomorrow. Remember, I need you.
Haruka shuts her eyes and crushes the paper in her hands.
- later that evening -
Haruka returns home and finds Michiru in their room, reading. She enters and faces away from her, taking clothes from the dresser. "I was thinking maybe we could have lunch together tomorrow."
Michiru looks up from her book, startled.
"Oh, uh…y'know, uh… I'm going to meet Setsuna-san tomorrow. We're going to go shopping. Gomen."
Haruka smiles to herself. "No problem." She covers Michiru's purse with a sweatshirt and walks into the bathroom. She drops it out the window to Yaten who has been waiting. He takes it to the van and drives away.
- the next morning -
Haruka wakes up earlier than usual and says she's going out to get the mail. She meets Yaten who has placed audio transmitters and trackers into Michiru's purse. Haruka takes it back inside and places it back where she found it the night before.
-.-.-
Later, Yaten and Haruka are in the car with a laptop computer which displays a map of the city area they are in. With aid from the transmitters, they locate Michiru's car and follow it at a distance to where she is to meet Seiya. She parks and heads into a tea shop.
"Turn on the audio," Haruka tells Yaten. He flips a switch and the audio transmitter allows the two agents to hear Michiru and Seiya's conversation.
"Are you sure you weren't followed?" Seiya asks.
"No. I kept looking behind me like you taught me but I didn't see anyone."
"Okay, it's just things are just a bit hot right now. If I get a signal I might have to leave suddenly."
"I understand."
"Look, it's my job to take risks. Not yours… I feel bad about bringing you into all of this, but you're the only one I can trust."
"Were you out on a mission?"
"Covert Operation. And this one got rough."
"The guy's a spook," Yaten comments.
"But who is he working for?" Haruka asks.
"He could be undercover too. Working through her to get to you."
"Did you read the papers this morning?" Seiya asks Michiru.
"Hai."
"Sometimes the story's a mask for Covert Operation… See. Two men killed and two in a running shoot out."
"That was you?"
"You see. You're very good. A natural at this."
Michiru blushes at his comment.
"The guy's a fake. He's taking credit for our moves," Yaten complains.
"What happened?" Michiru asks.
"Hardly worth talking about. Two of them won't bother me again."
"You chased one?"
"Something came over me. I just had to get this guy, no matter what the cost. I thought he had me a couple of times, but I really can't take credit."
"Why not?"
"It's the training. It shapes you into a lethal instrument. You learn to react in a microsecond without thinking."
Yaten starts laughing. "I'm starting to like this guy." He glances at Haruka's expression. "Oh, but I mean we still gotta kill him. I mean, that's a given."
-.-.-
They follow Seiya's car through the streets after he's done with Michiru. He pulls into a lot full of used cars. Yaten and Haruka pull up on the street.
"The guy is a god damn used car salesman. This keeps getting better and better!" Yaten laughs. "I'm sorry, Haruka-san, I know this has got to be painful. But you've gotta admit it's pretty damn funny. I mean if it was just some idiot and not you, you'd be laughin' your ass off."
Haruka wants to find out everything she can about this guy. She walks up to the lot and acts interested in the cars. Seiya spots her and expects only the usual conversation.
"Hey, how about a little spin?"
"Sure." Haruka and Seiya get into the car and drive off.
"See, it's not just a car, it's a total image; an identity you just have to go for. This isn't like some high tech sports car. In fact, it doesn't even handle that great. But that's not the idea is it? What are we talking about here? Wooin' the ladies, right?" Seiya laughs, and Haruka pretends to go along with it.
"Absolutely."
"Let's face it, Haruka-san. The 'vette gets 'em wet. But, it's not enough. If you want unlimited access, you gotta have an angle."
"I'm sure you have an angle?"
"Oh, it's killer. I mean look at me. I'm not that much to look at. But I've got 'em linin' up."
"So what's the angle?"
"Just ask yourself, 'What do women really want?' You take these board housewives, married to the same guy for years. They're stuck in a rut and need release. Promise them adventure; a hint of danger. I create that for them."
"So basically you're lying your ass off the whole time. See, I couldn't do that."
"No, no, no. It's like playin' a role; a fantasy. You gotta go with it. Get them out of they're daily routine for a couple of hours."
"What about their husbands?"
"Dickless! I mean, if they took care of business, I'd be out of business. You know what I'm sayin'?"
"Haha. Those idiots… Hey, can I drive?"
"Sure, man. Get a feel for the wheel."
"So who're you working on right now?"
"Ya know, I've always got a couple on the line. But there's this one right now, I got her panting like a dog. It's great!"
"What does she do?"
"Oh, some kind of musician. A violinist I think. So proper and everything. I don't get it. I mean, she could get any man she wanted. But no. Once again she needs something new. Married to some boring jerk."
"Married to some boring jerk?"
"Yeah, ya know, he doesn't appreciate her. I can't understand why though. She's got the most incredible body. Just makes ya weak in the knees."
Although she's about to rearrange this guy's face, Haruka decides she'd better ask the question that will surely determine this guy's fate; and hers. "So...she must be really good in bed then, huh?"
Before Seiya can answer, he points out the turn to Haruka, who expertly spins the car into park. Seiya is still quite the businessman after he recovers. "See. You and this car were made for each other. I've got a couple of dealers on the line, but I like your style. What do ya say?"
"Let me think about it. Hold it for me."
"I gottcha."
-.-.-
That evening, Haruka is driving with Yaten to the headquarters. Yaten gives her the day's transcripts. "Not much going on."
"Nothing from Seiya?" she asks, looking through them.
"Um, no."
Haruka violently drives the car to the side of the road. She gets out and walks over to the passenger side as Yaten gets out.
"My turn to drive?" he asks nervously.
"Where's page ten? It jumped from page nine to eleven. Where is it?"
"It must be a typo."
"Give me the God damn page!"
"Okay, okay." Yaten takes a wrinkled paper out of his pocket.
Michiru: Moshi moshi.
Seiya: Michiru, I need your help. Can you meet me tonight?
Michiru: What's happened?
Seiya: It's serious. Meet me at the Tokyo Tower at eight o'clock sharp.
Haruka looks at her watch. "Shit. It's almost eight."
They get into the car and turn on the tracker.
"She's still at the house."
Yaten sighs. "The purse is still at the house."
"Shimatta… Unit seven, immediate role. Acquire subject at Tokyo Tower. Vehicle is a red sports car, and you've got exactly eight minutes."
"Tyotto matte. Are you out of your mind, Haruka-san? You can't pull agents off a priority surveillance to follow your wife. It's a breech of national security. You hear me? You're losin' it big time. I have to stop you… God damn it, both our butts are on the line here. So your life's in the crapper, so your wife's bangin' a used car salesman, it's humiliating, I know, but damn it, take it like a- err, just live with it!"
"You tell on me, I tell on you. Remember that time you blew a two-week operation cause you were busy with your ex-girlfriend?"
"You know 'bout that?"
"Hai."
"… Okay, let's take the bridge, it's a lot quicker."
-.-.-
Michiru drives her car through the shadows under the tower. She parks and gets out, waiting for Seiya. He pulls up in his red convertible.
"Hurry up, get in, let's go." Michiru gets into the car and Seiya drives off.
-.-.-
"Unit two here, suspect vehicle in sight. One male, one female."
-.-.-
"Now don't be alarmed. If I'm spotted it'd be best if they didn't see you. You should keep your head down 'till we're out of the city… Here, let me help you."
-.-.-
"Okay, now the girl has her head in the guy's lap. They're still heading south from the tower."
-.-.-
Seiya and Michiru drive up to an old cabin hidden in the woods on the outskirts of town.
"Okay, this is the safe house. My place in the city's just a little too hot right now."
They go inside and Seiya pours them some champagne.
"What is it exactly you want me to do?"
"Michiru, I want you to be my wife."
"Demo…I'm married!"
"No, it's just for the operation in America. I need to be married. They'll be looking for a man traveling alone. As a double agent, you're the only one I can trust. Can you get away, just for a couple of days?"
"I…I just don't know."
"Of course, I'm rushing you. Forgive me. Sit down. Make yourself comfortable."
After a while, Michiru speaks up. "Okay, I'll do it."
"You just saved my life. You are incredibly brave. I must remind myself of the fear you must be feeling. See for me, fear is not an option. Now, to pull this cover story off, we must look like two people who are completely intimate with each other. The enemy can spot a fake easily." Seiya places his hands in Michiru's hair and on her leg, which makes her jump.
"You see what I mean? That reaction could get us both killed."
"Gomen ne."
"We can't afford that."
"No. I'm sorry."
"Try to relax."
"It's…it's just been a long time since anyone but Haruka's touched me like that. It's a little difficult."
"I know. It's awkward for me too."
"I'm sorry."
"It's alright."
"I'm okay."
"Just sit back."
"Mm-hmm."
"Just let yourself slip into the mood." He lays Michiru back and begins kissing her neck. "That's it… Good… Just let yourself go… Yeah… Yeah, that's great…"
Hearing this, Michiru begins to have second thoughts. She violently kicks Seiya off her. "I cannot do this!"
"Michiru, I can't go undercover without-"
Just then the entire side of the cabin is broken open, and a dozen masked agents barge in, Yaten and Haruka included. Them and the others force the two into vans, and drive away into the night.