Disclaimer: I do not own the characters of Rurouni Kenshin, whose personalities I have laid into my own twisted plot.
When We Are Alone
By Faablen
Chapter Three: Reshuffling
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"Ladies," Megumi ushered the twins over to where the Battousai stood. "I would like you to meet your new partner."
The identical twins gaped at Megumi.
"I work alone." The man with crimson hair stated without any hesitation or intention to compromise.
"Not any more, Battousai." Megumi retorted curtly. "You're our best, but you lack the artful charm that these two can offer."
"Charm?" Battousai questioned rudely, raising an irritated eyebrow. "Did you hear them coming down the hall?"
"Check your mouth, punk, before I do it for you!" Kaoru had stepped forward, a scowl pulling at her lips. Her sister was similarly eyeing the new intrusion. Tomoe and Kaoru had always worked as a pair: a duet that reigned over high society and powered the underground reconnaissance of this Agency. And Tomoe saw no logic in disrupting the delicate balance of lies her twin had helped to spin as an on-going cover in the highest form of public exposure.
"Cool it, Tanuki. Both of you. If you'll follow me, I think we should continue this in my office." Megumi snatched some papers from the counter and led the way down the hall. Battousai turned to follow, trailed by Tomoe and Kaoru – who sent the red-haired man mental death wishes.
All three assassins lined in front of her desk. Megumi smirked at the trained killers who looked like children told to play nicely.
"Your target is Jinei Udou, who is rapidly gaining power in high society by carrying out dirty favors himself. The man is a very gifted swordsman, and he isn't stupid. His system of protection has proved uniquely impenetrable. Most importantly it is based around his constant public presence."
"Doesn't the man ever sleep?" Kaoru interrupted.
"Not alone."
Kaoru huffed, irritated. She knew very well the "company policy" on innocent bystanders: no one but the target was to be harmed; the innocent are to remain just that, innocent. Kaoru had always held a hidden level of respect for that one rule. In actuality, the reason she had left her position with the government – dragging her sister with her – was for the lacking of such a rule. Kaoru bit her tongue on this argument, noting the sharply cast gaze Megumi had shot her way. Kaoru knew well that she was already in a certain level of violation over the attack of last night, more specifically, the boy that Kaoru had carelessly met under the thinly veiling darkness. Time would tell if the boy had any substance of memory to point any fingers…
"In short, the twins would be perfect of this job---"
"So why not let us have it," Tomoe glanced at the Battousai, "as is?"
"--- if you had the experience to better him with a katana."
Both women squirmed with displeasure. Few Hitokiri preferred to hear the basis of their careers being insulted.
"Battousai, on the other hand, has none of the mild-mannered qualities to pass undetected in anything high-class."
He scoffed as he folded his hands into his trench coat.
"Tanuki here will be Battousai's escort to all public affairs and help him establish a reputation in the public eye."
Kaoru coughed suddenly as though she'd choked on something foul. "You can't expect me to work with that punk!"
"Believe me the feeling is mutual." Battousai sneered.
"Look!" Kaoru turned her angry blue eyes on flame-haired irritation. "I don't want to have to cover your ass when your foul mouth saunters into civilization!"
"Kaoru's right," Tomoe turned to Megumi, with the composure her sister lacked. "Battousai has no etiquette training."
Megumi nodded, once again appreciating Tomoe's control. "As his escort, Kaoru will be responsible ---" She didn't get to finish.
"HELL, NO!" Kaoru threw her hands up in violent protest. "I ain't gonna baby-sit some arrogant piss-ant just cuz …!"
The Battousai's voice attempted to overpower his attacker's. "I've tolerated insults long enough…!"
Tomoe attempted to rationalize with the two, her voice joining the overly audible fray.
"SHUT UP!" Megumi had slammed her fist on the desk, as it creaked in a protest of its own. She stared down those responsible for her headache. Taking in a slow breath, Megumi pursed her lips and recomposed. "This is nonnegotiable. You are Hitokiri for this Agency – some of our best – but you forget your place. You will cooperate on this assignment or necessary actions will ensue. Now, Kaoru, you will respectfully assist our Battousai with his manners until further notice. Battousai, you are to absorb every word she dictates. I want him acting a true gentleman by the upcoming party at the Seta's. Tomoe, your escort will be arriving shortly. He is more than presentable in society, so take the next few days off."
"Megumi," Tomoe bore a questioning look in her eyes, "I have an escort: Akira. Is he not ---"
"Akira is no longer relevant to your situation." Megumi stated clearly but with a hint of sympathy behind her eyes. Tomoe saw it as the blood drained from her face.
"Are we understood?"
Everyone nodded regretfully.
"Very well. You may go."
All three captives hastily strut from the confines of Megumi's office.
Outside the door, Kaoru turned to confront the Battousai with forced dignity. "Battousai, I would request you contact information."
"Do you have a pen?" The red-head forced out through clenched teeth.
Battousai jotted down the number of his cell phone, provided through the Agency.
"Thank you." Kaoru coughed. "I will contact you at my earliest convenience to set up a correspondence for tomorrow."
"I look forward to it." It was all he could do to bite back the stinging sarcasm.
Continuing down the hall, the Battousai took a sharp left, and the twins a right. They disregarded any semblance of proper farewells, as neither party would have mourned a fatal accident of the other.
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Tomoe and Kaoru walked in synchronized steps through the parking garage, Tomoe rummaging through the bottomless pit she called her purse.
"You drive," Her head still bent over the bag, "I have a call to make."
"Fine with me," Kaoru smirked. It must have been a very important call because Tomoe never placed her life so carelessly at the hands of Kaoru's 'driving style'.
Tomoe clutched to the dashboard as the lowered black Jetta dragged around the corner. Kaoru grinned as the lights flashed to green in obedience. The creases in Tomoe's frown deepened as she pressed redial for the fifth time.
Ring.
Ring.
Ring.
Ring.
Hey! You've reached Akira. I'm not avail---
Tomoe flipped the phone shut, twisting to face her sister. "He's not answering." She stated simply though her panic was mirrored transparently in her voice.
"Who?" Kaoru questioned almost flippantly.
"Akira!" Tomoe pressed more urgently, demanding her twin's attention. "Akira is not answering his phone!" She turned to the windshield more submissively. "…He always answers when I call…"
Kaoru rolled her eyes. "Maybe someone finally caught wind of his stupidity and administered the coup de grace. Though, knowing him, probably less of the grace bit---"
"KAORU!" Tomoe hissed with obvious fear. "Don't say such things!"
"Tomoe, and I mean this affectionately, you have hella bad judgment in men. Seriously! I don't know what you see in the guy…"
"Well, Kaoru, and I mean this affectionately, I don't care what you think of Akira! The fact is that he's not answering. And I know you saw the look in Megumi's eyes when she off-handishly mentioned that he was 'no longer relevant'. What am I supposed to think of that!"
Kaoru, more than mindedly irritated, huffed an angered retort. "Look! Not my problem!"
"I'm your god-damn sister! What's my problem is YOUR problem!"
"AUGHH!" Kaoru unconsciously added pressure to the gas pedal. "Don't get all familial on me now! But really, the dumbass probably just went to take a piss and got caught in his zipper. Do you really expect to the man to take his phone everywhere!" Kaoru glanced meaningfully at her sister, who shrugged in half-defeat. "Obviously, he's gonna at least turn it on vibrate when he's creeping with that cute girl next-door." Kaoru flashed a grin just in time to see her sister aiming a potentially lethal fist.
Kaoru ducked to the left, pulling the steering wheel with her. The Jetta veered into a lane not its own as blaring horns ensued. Kaoru looked out the drivers' side window to see a well manicured finger displayed in an unkind gesture.
The agitated assassin shouted out the window. "It's New York bitch! Go to Wisconsin if you want gentle driving!" She then unceremoniously cut in front of the offending white Mercedes and sped for the on-ramp. The two women glanced toward each other, and broke into abandoned laughter.
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The Battousai sailed through the darkening streets unnoticed or ignored. His apartment building appeared around the corner as his pace quickened at the thought of relief from the encroaching world.
Safe inside, the Hitokiri checked the premises before locking and double-bolting the door. Fixing himself a humble, though adequate, dinner, the red-head thought of the strange coincidence that had not gone unnoticed that day:
The nicer of the twins, Tomoe, who had the unfortunate devil of a sister, had mentioned her former escort. Nothing abnormal, standard questioning for a briefing. Strange, only because her man carried the same uncommon name as the man that had laid harm to his face. The Battousai ran his finger along the forming scar on left his cheek.
Akira
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AN: End Chapter Three. to be continued…
For my sister, whom I know reads though refuses to review and will be turning 16 this month: Happy Birthday and god help anyone who meets you on the road!
Faablen