Sakura - 20 yrs old Macc - 38 Syaoran - 21
In the huge office building, people rushed back and forth, some greeting the other, some just passing by, too absorbed in what they were doing. In a small office thrown to the side, facing the busy city streets of down-town Tokyo, a tall slender girl sat back in her leather chair with her feet casually crossed up on the desk while she starred unseeingly out the huge window.
She sensed someone's presence and looked up when a manila folder landed heavily on her messy desk. She starred at it and then at the person in front of her hiding her annoyance.
" What's this Takouya? " she asked dryly.
The tall young man with brown hair and blue eyes smirked as he looked her up and down. Sakura never dressed to reveal her curves and her body like most of the girls she knew did. She didn't see the point and she never considered herself really beautiful enough to dress that way. So sitting there in her faded blue jeans and white long sleeved, cotton shirt, long honey-brown hair tied up, she starred patiently waiting for the jerk in front of her to speak.
" It's the Black Wolf case. Macc wants to re-open it. "
Sakura frowned and sat up straighter, placing her feet on the ground.
" The Black Wolf case? As in the one from three years ago? I thought they closed it because it ended in a dead
end? "
Takouya smirked and leaned on her desk.
" Yeah well, some new evidence has popped up hasn't it? "
Sakura rose her eye brow unimpressed.
" More lies on your behalf Masaki? Or are you just trying to stir up more trouble? "
" What lies? " he smirked. " I call 'em like I see 'em . "
Sakura stood up and stretched, fully aware that he was watching her still. Shooting him a cold glare and snatching up the maila folder, she stepped around him and stopped in the doorway. He turned to look at her.
" I'd love to know how you come up with these assumptions Masaki. Exactly what type of crowd are you getting mixed up in? " she lifted her chin waiting.
He threw his head back and laughed and stepped closer to her.
" Poor Avalon, always suspicious and wary. But that's what I like about you. Can't you just except that I'm one of the best at what we do? "
She shot his hand a withering look as he stroked her cheek tenderly.
" Do you need my hand to teach you again that I don't appreciate your adorations? " she demanded stepping back.
He cringed at the rememberance of his stinging cheek.
" Ah, Avalon you play hard to get. But oneday - "
" Why don't you go back to doing what you do best? " Sakura snapped, cutting him off.
" Go crawl back to the sewer in which you slithered out of. I'm sure it'll want your company more than what I do. " she walked away. " And I'm sure it'll welcome you're forked tongue Masaki. " was her parting shot as she disappeared down the hallway towards Macc's office.
" Why are you re-opening this case? " Sakura demanded as she slapped the folder down in front of Macc who was talking away on his phone.
Macc shot her a warning glance and swivelled around in his chair, so his back was facing her. Sakura tapped her nails impatiently on the desk and waited. It wouldn't be long. She saw him tense and stopped as he swung around and glarred at her.
" For God's sake! No - look, I'll finish this up later. " he hung up the phone.
" What?! " he demanded.
" Do you realise that you go a slight tone of purple when you're really stressed? " Sakura asked, her mouth curving into a smirk.
" Avalon, you have the count of three to get out of my office. " Macc shot back.
Sakura planted her feet and leaned heavily on the desk glarring at her boss.
" I want to know why you're re-opening the Black Wolf case. It was closed because no one could get the proper leads. Not even Masaki's lies could fund it. " she stated.
Macc sighed and rubbed his temples tiredly.
" I've re-opened it for a good reason. "
" Which would be? " she demanded.
" The Black Wolves have re-surfaced. There was a huge gang fight last night. Several members from the Black Wolves were killed, but that was nothing compared to the carnage that was left of the other gang. "
Sakura blinked." You mean to tell me that this gang - the Black Wolves - actually exists? Masaki wasn't making it up? " she blinked in disbelief.
Macc shot her a exasperated look.
" You know this thing between you and Masaki - "
" There is NOTHING between that poor excuse and me. " she snapped back angrily. " He- "
" Either way, " Macc cut in. " I want you to save your resentment for outisde this building. I will not risk either of you screwing up because you were both too busy sniping at each other. Save it for your own time. Don't come in here and waste mine and the others time. Understood? "
Sakura bit her tongue and then sighed.
" So what are you planning to do? Why did Masaki bring this to me? " she indicated the file.
" Because I told him to. Because I knew as soon as you found out, you'd be in here like a bull with your horns sharpened, looking for blood. " he smiled. " And I was right. "
" Is that the picture you've created of me? " Sakura demanded. " I just can't see - "
Macc held up his hand.
" Look Avalon, you know I put up with you because I know you're one of my best. But that doesn't give you any liberties. My word is still final, and when I say I want you to jump - "
" I ask how high master. " Sakura shot back dryly.
" Exactly. " Macc replied. " Now your dismissed. I have important things to get to. "
Sakura opened her mouth, but closed it when she knew it was pointless. He was right after all. She didn't have any liberties, so she went to pick up the file, but Macc stopped her.
" No, leave that here. I want to go over a few things. "
Sakura starred at him for a moment and then nodded and walked out of his office, closing the door quietly behind her.
Macc looked up as the door closed lowering the ready phone he had in his hand. She had spirit that Sakura. He'd known it since the very first day he'd laid eyes on her. It's exactly the sort of spirit he needed. Picking up his phone and holding it between his chin and his shoulder he dialled and waited. . . .
" I just don't understand why they keep persisting in going after them. I mean, they couldn't nail them the last time; and that was three years ago! What makes them think they can now? Besides, I've gone over that case a million times over and I can't pin-point anything that they've supposed to have done wrong? Sure ok, a few robbed stores here and there, it's your typical standard gang stuff, that's to be expected, but blaming them for what happened three years ago? When they have no evidence? I just don't get it. " Sakura sighed exasperated.
The young woman beside her, dressed in a business suit a navy jacket and skirt and high heels with long brown hair and sharp, knowing eyes giggled as she crossed her long, elegant legs.
" I don't see what's so funny Nakaru. " Sakura asked frowning clutching her take away coffee.
" Sakura haven't you ever heard of a egotistical male's stubborn pride? " her eyes danced playfully. " Once that kicks into over drive, look out. Nothing will get in their way or be able to steer them. It's pointless to argue. Just let them go. "
" If I did that, God knows what Macc would have me doing. " Sakura shot back.
Nakaru smiled and sipped her coffee.
" Don't worry. It'll be alright in the end. Isn't that what your always telling me? "
Sakura sighed and then raised her head and smiled.
" I knew those words would come back to bite me one day. " she smiled and leaned back on the park bench on which they were sitting. " I should do this more often. " she sighed.
" What? Enjoy nature? " Nakaru asked smiling.
" No - maybe - Just get out more. Enjoy fresh air. "
Nakaru smiled and then Sakura's pager went off.
" Oh great. What now? " she took out her mobile and rang Macc.
Nakaru smiled as she watched her long time friend as she heard Macc pick up.
" Yeah, have you ever heard of a lunch break? It's the break that makes people stop going crazy. " there was a pause. " Of course I'm on the urge of going crazy. After being under you for three years who wouldn't be? I'll be as sassy as I want to be. Someone has to keep you on your toes or you'll end like Officer Kale. " she held her mobile away cringing. " Ok, ok, I'm sorry. Ok, ok, what do you want? " she shook her heard at Nakaru. She groaned and then hang up.
" Gotta go. " she said standing up and stretching.
" In trouble? " Nakaru asked standing up also.
" Nope. Worse. " Sakura smiled. " We've got a meeting. "
Nakaru smiled.
" Tough break. "
" Tell me about it. "
Nakaru gave her a brief hug and then waved good bye as Sakura jogged over to the Avalon GXI and sped off.
An hour later :
" . . . So to wrap this up in Lamen's terms, we need five of you to volunteer for this mission. We're going to try to get in amongst the Tokyo gang society. We need any leads we can secure to find these Black Wolves. To do that we need to act like them, think like them and dress like them. This is a highly dangerous mission, so I want you to be a hundred percent certain that you're willing to do this. You screw up, you screw your team mates as well as us.
This mission will require at least one of you to win the ' Chimeiteki na Fungai ' street race which we know for certain is this weekend. We'll supply the cars, and you'll be instructed on how to drive them. If you're found out, you must make certain that they cannot trace you back to us. They cannot find out who you are. We've waited three years, but now I think it's time to put these bastards behind bars for everything they did three years ago. "
Sakura sat back in her chair bored. She had no intention of offering her services for this. It wasn't right. She didn't know what inspired her, but for some reason she believed that the Black Wolves had nothing to do with what happened three years ago. Ok, sure it was a mass murder, but to her; something just didn't seem right. . .
" . . . So who's up? " the Super Intendent asked scanning the wall.
" I'm in. Could be fun. " a tall girl with black hair and green eyes spoke up, raising her hand. " Agent 1235248 - Saola Lin. "
" Count me in too. " A tall man with blonde hair and hazel eyes spoke up. " Agent 5658790 - Saito Wantanabe. "
Two more volunteered and there was silence.
" Anyone else? " The Super Intendent asked.
" If I may - ? " Macc coughed politely from the side of the small room. They all turned to look at him .. . except Sakura.
" Yes . . . ? " The Super Intendent asked.
" May I request that you make an exception and allow me to put in the last member? "
'" I suppose. But who do you have in mind? " he asked curious.
" Only one of my finest sir. May I introduce you to Sakura Avalon? "
Sakura's head shot up.
" Huh? "
Everyone was starring at her in surprise. She blinked and starred at Macc in shock.
" You can't be ser - "
" It's settle then. " The Super Intendent stated satisfied. " They will be put straight into training and given the low down. Under no circumstance are you to repeat any details about your mission to your co-workers or partners. Is that understood? "
" Now hang on a min - " Sakura started.
" I think they understand Sir. " Macc cut in, glaring at her.
Several people crowded around the small hallway as they listened to another:
" ARE YOU OUT OF YOUR MIND?!! "
There was silence and then it started again.
" I WOULDN'T KNOW THE FIRST THING ABOUT BEING IN A GANG!! YOU WANT THE RISK OF ME SCREWING UP - NO I WILL NOT CALM DOWN!! IF YOU WANTED TO SACK ME WHY NOT JUST COME OUT AN TELL ME! AT LEAST I WOULD BE ABLE TO HANDLE IT! BUT A STREET RACER?!! YOU ARE CRAZY! "
The door sudden flew open and a angry Sakura fighting back tears stormed out of Macc's office and ignored his commands to come back, as she dashed down the hallway. She didn't even bother to glare at Masaki as he stepped out of his office.
To Be Continued . . .
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