#A mutant thief finds herself in Tokyo; taking on a job like nothing she's ever done before. When romance blossoms, will it all get too much for her? #

Disclaimer: Don't own Gambit; do own Blaze

A/N: For xImmortalx, for being such a fantastic reviewer and great support of Corrinth's and mine work. I know you happen to be a fan of a bit of mush every now and again, so here's what happened after 'Nothing ever the same'…

The Tokyo Job 01

"Baileys, easy on the ice." The girl ordered, hiding her insecurity behind a careful mask. Her host's house staff bowed low from the waist, and went to fix her drink. The eighteen year old turned back to her host and risked a smile.

The Japanese lawyer beamed back at her. He seemed to instinctively know that the thief despised lawyers in all their guises. And he appeared convinced that he alone could persuade the redheaded Brit that she was wrong.

"Ah Miss Blaze," He crooned in his expensive suit and strangely luxurious apartment. "I hope only that your talent truly matches your beauty. Then I will be happy man."

"Its my job to make you happy." Blaze pointed out, her voice wobbly through jetlag. She felt physically and emotionally exhausted. Physically exhausted because she had just endured a hellish flight from Cape Town, South Africa, to Tokyo. Emotionally worn out because she had left behind the one person she had trusted and cared about since learning she was a mutant nearly four years ago. Everything seemed so much harder to bare alone, especially her tremendous and dangerous firepower that she tried so hard to totally contain.

"I pay you well to make it so, okay?" The Japanese lawyer agreed. "One thousand dollar now. Fifteen thousand dollar when you are done. Fifteen thousand to seven bank accounts opened on your instruction in Monaco, Switzerland, Cuba, France, Mexico, Australia and here in Tokyo. You happy with this Miss Blaze?"

It took the girl a moment to realise his words were a question. She nodded. Secretly she's much rather he forgo the good manners of using her natural tongue. If he spoke Japanese she'd have a chance of learning the language. Her skills in foreign tongues were somehow related to a photographic memory that she had had all her life, not that Blaze herself truly understood it.

The drinks arrived, and Blaze took her baileys with relief. Absently she brushed a ringlet curl out of her face, listening intently to the rapid chatter between the servants and their master. She wasn't able to learn much, but she hoped that she had interpreted correctly that the drink was not spiked. She took a sip.

"This my client." The lawyer was opening a file on his computer showing mug shots of a distinguished looking Japanese gentleman.

"He's in jail?" Blaze wanted to know, feeling that perhaps despite the money she was onto a loser here.

"In custody. He is charged with stealing priceless museum pieces from collections the world over." The lawyer boasted proudly, flicking to another file with his remote mouse.

"He must be guilty," Blaze decided, "Or you wouldn't need me."

"He has no alibi." The lawyer answered tactfully. "But if another crime was committed in the same manner of the others, right here in the city, his future freedom would be easier for myself to obtain. I print you these files, they will be all you need. But you must copy the strategy exactly, there can be no mistake that the same person has done all the bad things."

"I understand." Blaze took the printouts from the printer herself, placing her empty glass down at the same time. "And the money?"

At a snap of the lawyer's fingers, a stainless steel briefcase with combination lock was brought forward for her perusal. The staff member held it open whilst Blaze did her best to quickly count the money, trying not to be distracted by how cheesy this whole scene was. Hadn't she seen this in some gangster film not that long ago? Satisfied she wasn't being ripped off; she put the paperwork in the case too, and then snapped the locks back shut. With the case in her hand she bowed to the lawyer, who returned the gesture, turned and left the building. She had a lot of planning to do…