Disclaimer: If you look carefully, I bet you'll find stuff I don't own in this story. Since I'm not getting paid for any of it, I suppose that's okay then. Thanks for noticing though.

Moon Cats, Fearful Symmetry.

Chapter 13

Artemis pulled his department car into the limited parking out of the Juban "Old Time" Deli. Climbing out, he looked around as though he expected an attack before he could even take a step onto the sidewalk. Seeing no ninja's in the mid-day crowd he strode purposefully for the door and entered.

Absently he wondered if he looked like as much of an American Western actor as he felt, with his long duster and his green eyes scanning the room like Clint Eastwood. Considering who he was looking for it seemed like an apt comparison. Unfortunately the dim lighting of the restaurant after the bright sunlight outside left him essentially blind. He needn't have worried.

His lunch companion waved, wanting to be found. "Over here my... good friend." The Gaki called from a corner table, for all the world like he was greeting an old friend.

Artemis growled and stalked forward, only to freeze when he got a good look at his enemy. "Like it? I'm told that it's one of the best wheelchairs on the market." The Gaki almost purred, causing the Moon Cat to frown in response. "It is comfortable, though I'd prefer not to require it. But enough about such unpleasantness. Sit! Tell me, how is Luna?"

Artemis sat, reluctantly, and growled softly so only the former assassin could hear him. "What are you playing at?"

Gaki chuckled, his smile if anything growing wider. "Why, didn't you know, my fine Neko-Jin friend? You are the only creature to ever beat me!" He replied just as softly. "I figured lunch would be a small but suitable reward."

"Maybe I oughta just take you in. That'll be reward enough for me."

"Tsk, Tsk, Artemis. You know me better then that." The crippled man opened his left hand, showing Artemis a small box with a softly glowing button, his thumb poised over it. "Try that and we all go to the next world in a most spectacular way."

Artemis's eyes darted around the crowded dinning room. "You wouldn't kill yourself."

Gaki's smile went cold. "Thirty drums of ether and our last meeting suggest differently." He closed his hand and chuckled. "But it would be a shame to miss my Ruben. This is a wonderful little shop, and it has fine corned beef considering we're in Japan. So, again, how is Luna?"

"She's fine." Artemis answered. He couldn't believe the creature in front of him actually meant to sit and act like was actually eating with a friend!

"I hear she's the director of CAPPA's personal secretary. She already has one heck of a reputation at city hall, or so my sources say." Gaki chuckled. "But that's nothing compared to you! A Lieutenant with the Tokyo PD."

"How'd you know that?"

"Friends Arty my boy. I've got lots of them." The conversation paused when a waitress brought Gaki's sandwich. When she left he spoke again. "I've been paying attention to you since I found out my legs were never going to work again. Your career, your life, you fucking dates! All while I lay helpless in a hospital bed."

"That was your choice, you bastard. You earned this."

"I EARNED death, cat boy!" Gaki hissed with rage. "I never suffered any illusions as to what I was. I knew that someday there'd be some one faster, and that I'd die at their hands! I welcomed and reveled in it." The assassin gestured at his dead legs. "Instead you leave me like this!"

"I'll finish you off now if you prefer." The white haired man growled, with a dark smile.

"No, I think we'll do this differently." Gaki said, suddenly back to being cheerful. He paused to take a one handed bite from his sandwich. "Good stuff. Anyway, back to the subject."

The assassin met the Moon Cat's eyes. "In three days I intend to start a wave of destruction on one of this city, and I don't intend to stop until I hit the other." He took another bite of his sandwich. "That is, unless your CAPPA can catch me and my men first."

"Just makes me think trying to take you out now might be worth the risks."

The Gaki sighed, for all the world like a disappointed parent, and clenched down on the box in his hand. "Well, now the trigger's armed." He chuckled. "I do love dead mans switches." He touched the stick of his electric wheelchair, turning towards the exit. "It's in the men's bathroom. If you're quick you might disarm it before the bomb fires. Good bye pussycat."

Artemis dove out of his chair and towards the bathrooms. By the time he found the stuffed white tiger with a noose and note reading "Oops, I forgot my bomb." Around it's neck, the assassin was gone.

___________________________________________________________________________________

"What do you MEAN he called you?" Hibuki yelled loud enough to shake the pictures on his office wall. Artemis winced at the yell and the looks both Shimaka and Luna were giving him.

"He said that if I didn't come alone he'd blow up a damn daycare! You all know this guy, I believed him and I know you wouldn't have let me go alone... especially since he wanted me to come right then!"

"Damn right!" Hibuki declared, then sat down. "On both counts. I believe he'd do it too. That, however, is no excuse for not informing anyone."

"I didn't see any other way."

Shimaka coughed, and interrupted. "We all agree that Artemis screwed up. Now let's move on to something constructive okay? What did he say?"

"Well, other then teasing me..."

"Teasing you?"

"Yes Luna, teasing. He ate a damn sandwich while telling me how much he knew about us... All of us!" Artemis yelled. "And he said that if we don't find him and stop him in three days time, he'd start killing people from one end of this town to the other."

That silenced the room for a second. Finally Luna spoke again. "You're kidding! I thought you said he was in a wheel chair."

"No, I'm not kidding."

"What, exactly, did he say?" Hibuki asked, calmer and frightened all at once.

"I don't remember verbatim. Moon Cat's aren't known for their memories. He did say he and his men, so obviously he's got help. Other then that I got nothing useful I can think of."

A knock on the door interrupted them. "Come in!" Hibuki yelled.

Ami entered, grease on her nose. "Captain, I finally got the cover off our robot..."

"Good work, but that needs to wait Ms. Mizuno. We've got bigger fish to fry."

"Actually sir, there's something you need to see."

"It can wait!" Ami took a step back from the yell, but didn't automatically leave. Luna realized instantly how unusual that was.

She also noticed the greasy piece of paper in her hand. "Ami-chan, what's that in your hand?"

"A note. I found it... In the painter." Ami paused, settled herself, and stepped forward. "And I think you need to read it sir. Now."

Hibuki frowned but took the note. His expression shifted from annoyance to horror quickly.

"Help." He read out loud. "A man in a wheelchair and his goons have taken me hostage. He's forcing me to build him armed robots! Please save me! Please stop him!" Hibuki looked at Artemis "Sound right?"

"Yes."

"Then good news. It's even got an address.

AN: So do you all still hate Gaki? For those who don't know who he is read "When the Senshi are Away, the Cats Will Play" The first in the Moon Cat's Saga. Damn, I guess it really is a saga by now. Oh, and just cause I couldn't help myself.

Omake, Omake...

Sasuke muttered as the white haired man bumped right into him without apologizing, before walking into the deli. "No one has manners these days. Oh well, might as well get these pictures of Akane Tendo to Master Kuno." With that the little Ninja hurried off down the street.

Hey, if they're ninja's you SHOULDN'T see them!