Sorry that I'm taking so long on this one. RL has dumped on me and I've been trudging towards the shore lately. Almost there, promise.
004. Insides.
It was the first mission since the new bond between Ken and Aya had been set, since Omi's plan had worked. The two had talked for at least an hour before voices rose again and Omi finally unlocked the door. At least they had gotten along for that long. Turns out Aya had refused to answer Ken's more personal questions even though Ken had answered his own questions first. Ken was an open and honest person and usually expects others to be the same way. When Aya had refused to cooperate, Ken persisted until Aya refused to say anything to him at all.
Now at the mission, Omi had paired the two up to go get the target themselves. Yohji and Omi had gotten rid of the bodyguards, paving the way for the pair to get up the steps before them and get the man in his office before any alarm was set off.
Aya crept up the steps behind Ken, his insides wrenched into knots. Would this mission bring him closer to Takatori? Would it bring him closer to the one and only mission he had really signed up for? This anticipation tuned his senses, his hearing and vision, that feeling of a sixth sense somewhere working over time.
Ken opened a door and silently peeked around the door frame and down the hall both ways before motioning Aya to come with him. He slid through the door and down towards the door they had figured the target would be through.
It was eerily silent to the red head as they crept with weapons out and at the ready. He glanced behind them for the hundredth time as Ken got closer and closer to the door. That feeling of dread, of something coming, just wouldn't leave him alone. Ken reached for the door handle and Aya reached for the boy's shoulder to tug him back and away from it. He knew Ken's plan. The boy always charged in without a thought. This time, though, Aya wouldn't let that happen. Aya motioned for Ken to stay right there then crept to the other side of the door and swung it open loudly. Both men cringed as the sound of an automatic weapon burst through the dimly lit hallway, dozens of holes appearing in the wall across from the door.
Ken's wide eyes watched the patterns the bullets made as he came close to hyperventilating. That could have been him. Those wide eyes turned slowly to look at Aya across the door from him. Aya met his gaze, his own face still as hard ever, even with the knowledge that he was right and probably just saved Ken's life. Ken took a deep breath and closed his eyes, looking down as the hail of bullets just kept coming. He did his best to calm his breathing and that instant panicky feeling of fight or flight. The man inside was probably wild with fright at the thought of someone coming to get him. But just how did he find out?
The bullets stopped. Silence.
Aya and Ken waited for another few moments. The noises inside the office said that the man was getting up from an office chair and coming towards the door, frightened that there might still be someone out there that he hadn't gotten, yet. The muzzle of the firearm made it's slow way out the door, but didn't get any further. The man found a katana in one side of his chest and three blades from a fist in the other side.
As he gurgled his last, the two assassins pulled their weapons out and let the target fall to the ground. Aya knelt to use the man's suit coat to clean off his katana as usual. Ken knelt with him to use the man's sleeve. He glanced up at Aya a few times but never met his eyes. As the two stood up and Aya sheathed his sword again, Ken finally opened his mouth, "Uhmm…"
Aya looked up at him, one eyebrow raised in silent questioning.
Ken looked away from that gaze, then back to him with a bright smile, "Thanks."
Aya blinked then nodded and headed back for the door to get out of here. They had to meet the other two at the specified place at a specified time before they decided the two were lost and left without them. Besides, there was nothing much to say back to the boy. He was a teammate. The rest of the team would be in danger if they were suddenly down one.
005. Outsides.
"Ooooh, poor damsel in distress!" Yohji knocked on the bathroom door with a grin, "You have to hurry, you know, it's almost time for our date!"
"Shut up, jackass!" Ken yelled right back at him from inside the bathroom as he fixed his wig. He huffed at his image in the mirror, cursing his size and wishing he were as tall as Yohji or Aya. Then he wouldn't have to do this. But of course Michiru's life is worth it, right? He raised an eyebrow at himself then huffed again. Barely. But it is.
He opened the door a few moments later and stopped short as his face met with Yohji's chest. He looked up at the taller man and blinked, "What?"
Yohji lifted a hand to caress the boy's cheek, "Why, you're gorgeous! You should do this more often! Maybe you can sway me to the male side of the fence, ne?"
Ken smacked the hand away, "Will you shut up? I need to act like her, not be embarrassed by your slutty ways." He pushed past the laughing blond and stood very un-girl-like in the living room, "I still don't see why -I- have to do this!" His slightly sweaty hands pushed down the pinkish mini skirt and fixed his top.
Omi looked up at the boy, barely holding back a giggle from his place as lookout at the window, "I told you, though! We need the longer ranged attacks to get to the first of them while you distract them by running!"
Ken crossed his arms under his new… chest… and huffed again, "Fine… fine, whatever. Are they coming, yet? Get this over with."
Omi shook his head, "I don't see anyone out there." He raised the binoculars again and went back to gazing outside.
Aya pushed away from the wall he was leaning against and came to stand beside Ken, one hand pushing at the boy's hip, "Stand like her, not like you. This mission depends on your distraction of them, so get into character already."
Ken held back a meep as Aya touched him, then shifted on his feet nervously and finally took up Michiru's mannerisms. The girl herself watched him, amazed that the assassin could pick up on her attitude with only knowing her for a day or so. They must be great at observation, these boys. Aya finally nodded in approval and moved away again.
This mission was going to be hell for Ken until he can get out of these boots and this damn mini skirt. Why women wear this stuff is beyond him. He liked the comfortable feeling of jeans and a good shirt, especially on a girl. If she's comfortable, then she'll be in a better mood, and probably have a better time on a date! Besides, it's not the outsides, not what they look like or what they wear, how much make up they put on that makes someone like them. Not that he's dated in quite a while, or anything. With that thought his eyes drifted to follow Aya as the man took a few more steps then turned to lean against the wall again. Yohji was always vocal about what he found attractive, but not Aya. Did Aya find it funny that Ken was dressed as a girl and that Yohji actually thought he was attractive this way? Or did he find crossdressing attractive. Ken snorted quietly and looked away from the red head, cheered by the thought. Like hell the stoic man could be attracted to something like that!
The lights were turned off and within a few minutes of silence, Omi gave the signal. Yohji helped Michiru into her place and everyone filtered out of the room to take their places. Ken took a deep breath, ready to meet these murderers head on. Here we go.
