Hello everyone! I'm back with a new story! Or well, the continuing adventures of Mitsuki and Hei from Black Dragon, Snowy Moon.
I also apologise for the long time between my last update. It's been one hectic year for me and busy, busy, busy! Things are starting to fall back into place and getting more time to be able to sit and write more, along with doing more artwork that I do with my normal job. So bear with me on the updates. I'll try to update fairly regularly with this story. And I'm going back and whipping the muses into shape to get the other stories I also have posted to be completed. It'll take a little time but I'll get them done.
Anyways, enough of my chit-chatting. Please enjoy this new story! Thank you!

Black Dragon, Snowy Moon: New Beginnings

-Chapter One-

"Man. The Chief sure is late," Saitou sighed as he, Matsumoto, and Kouno waited in their usual office area to start their day. "She's never late."

"Wait. Didn't she say she was bringing in a new member to the team?" Kouno spoke up with a sudden blink, recalling from a few days ago that she'd mentioned it at their team meeting.

"Oh yeah. She did say they'd be starting soon," Matsumoto nodded. "Though I can't recall if she said what the person's name was going to be."

"I don't recall her saying who it was," Saitou shrugged.

"Well, it's certainly not going to be Yuuki," Kouno pointed out. "Granted she helps us out whenever, she did say she wasn't going to join up with the team officially as a job." He gave a small sigh crossing his arms over his chest. "And we've already got Mao helping out."

"Maybe she's in the meeting room waiting already?" Saitou asked.

"I guess it won't hurt to go see if she's there," Matsumoto nodded towards the door.

Heading towards the meeting room, they noticed the doors were closed. They gave each other looks before going up to the door. Kouno reached forward and turned the handle before pushing open the white door. Inside stood Kirihara facing towards the door and another person in front of her with their back to them. The three furrowed their brows slightly as their superior officer stopped talking and looked up as they came in just before the other person turned around to face them.

"L-Li!" Saitou spoke up as a grin broke across his face. "What are you doing here?"

"Um..." Hei gave them his usual Li styled embarrassed laugh as he reached up and scratched at the back of his head while the other three blinked at him.

"Wait...are you...?" Kouno started to ask, pointing at the younger kid before him.

"Yes. He'll be starting as of today," Kirihara spoke up. "He's the new teammate I've told you about." The other three gaped at her in surprise.

"B-but you were deported right after the Tokyo Explosion happened," Saitou said, blinking. "W-when did you get back?"

"A couple of weeks ago," Hei replied, still scratching at the back of his head. "Sorry I didn't come to say hi right away." He gave a slightly nervous laugh. "I had a lot to catch up on and take care of." He looked towards Kirihara as he dropped his arm back to his side. "And a bunch of paperwork to fill out so I could start working here."

"What about the whole deportation thing? They got that all fixed up right?" Saitou asked. "I mean, it still wasn't fair they did that to you and the whole mess of information and panic that happened with the events at the Gate and all..."

"It's alright." Hei gave a shrug. "It was a bit of a hassle but they fixed it."

"Chief. You know that foreign citizens aren't really supposed to be part of the NPA," Matsumoto pointed out with a furrowed brow. "No offence Li." Hei gave an inclination of his head silently saying he understood.

"I pulled some strings," Kirihara replied and the others blinked at her in surprise. "After all, we're always in need of good help. Li has what I need for our team. Plus, he'll be a permanent citizen of Japan soon enough."

"Yeah. I want to stay," Hei replied, scratching the back of his head again as the other three blinked at him. "Not just because of Mitsuki but because I like it here." He dropped his arm back to his side and smiled softly. "And I'd like to protect those that live here, including even you three."

"Speaking of Yuuki," Kouno said. "You do know she's a Contractor, right?"

"Yes." Hei gave a nod. "I've known for a while now." A soft smile tugged his lips upwards. "But I don't care about that. Mitsuki is just Mitsuki. Just as each of you are your own selves. Isn't that what matters?"

"You have a point," Kouno replied with a small nod and inclined his head. He paused then put his hands on his hips. "Though Chief, isn't he the one that got knocked out that time when that Contractor was chasing you, Yuuki, and Li here?"

"Eh heh. Uh...well...I was caught off guard and all..." Hei started to say nervously as he put his hand up to the back of his neck. It wasn't really lying. He had been caught off guard by Mitsuki having powers after all. Plus, after returning back to Tokyo, he had cleared up the whole ordeal, telling Kirihara his part of what had happened that night and how he couldn't have acted by using his power to take care of the Contractor with her there and blow his cover. But he also hadn't counted on Mitsuki doing what she did either just to protect his identity.

Kirihara gave a small shake of her head at her team. "We can discuss more of that later. Right now, let's get this meeting started. Got it?"

"Yes ma'am," they spoke up before taking their seats at the table that was in the room. Kirihara read off a few key points Kanami and Ootsuka had given in reports of the latest star activity since Ootsuka was off that day. Once finished with the meeting, they headed down to the office.

"And this will be your desk Li," Kirihara spoke up as she pointed to the desk across from Saitou's.

"Cool. You're right across from me," the older cop spoke up with a grin just before the sound of a jingle caught their ears.

"Well look what the cat finally dragged in," Mao spoke up as he walked into the room, over to Hei's desk, and jumped up on it. He had a new collar that was blue with the same golden type of bell and the little bead that Mitsuki had given him for good luck. But there was now a small tag hanging off his collar that had a specially stamped police badge tag clipped to it with his name.

"You're one to talk," Kouno spoke up with a small shake of his head at the feline's ironic statement.

"Anything new to report about Mao?" Kirihara spoke up looking at the cat Contractor.

"Nope. Just came to greet the new recruit," Mao grinned as he sat down and looked at Hei. "Harassing the newbies is just what I love doing." He gave a cat grin at the dark haired Contractor. He and Kirihara had chosen to keep the fact that Hei had worked with Mao previously when he first had been brought in to work with Kirihara's team. Though Mao had said that he had indeed also worked with BK-201 previously in the Syndicate, he refused to say who he was just as Mitsuki hadn't spoken about his identity either.

"Well it will be interesting to work with you Mao." Hei gave him a small smirk. And it surely would be just like old times. At least getting to have one teammate to work with him.

"You're not surprised by a talking cat?" Saitou asked, blinking at Hei's lack of reaction.

"I was already notified by Kirihara that Mao worked with you," Hei replied with a shrug. "And given all the different types of Contractors out there and their abilities, it's really no surprise." He gave a pause. "Plus, he comes and goes at the apartment since Mitsuki's been watching out and feeding him so..." Basically Mao lived with them full time now that the tobacco shop safe house was no longer in use by Yin.

"Geez. You really are prepared to handle this job aren't you?" Kouno asked, raising an eyebrow at the dark haired kid.

"Well, panicking really doesn't help make a situation any better," Hei replied with a shrug. "I mean, after all, the ones in movies and such that panic the quickest usually get in trouble or killed off first."

"You do have a point," Kouno said.

"I ought to go show you where you'll be picking up your gun," Kirihara spoke up as she gave a small shake of her head at her subordinate. "After that, I'll have you get some range time in. Shall we?"

Blinking then inclining his head, Hei followed her after nodding his goodbyes to the other three. Mao trotted along with them.

"Um...about the gun," Hei started to say. "I mean...do I really need to have one?"

"It's standard protocol," Kirihara replied. "Whether you use it or not is up to you."

"I know what you're thinking," Mao chuckled at him. "But if you use your knives, you know they'll figure out who you are immediately."

"I...I know." Hei gave a small sigh. "Just...guns are so noisy."

"Well you are going to have to get used to that," the police chief spoke up. "Remember, you're not part of the Syndicate anymore."

"Old habits die hard," Mao quipped for Hei. "You know being in the Syndicate for as long as we have, it's just second nature to do what we do best."

"I understand that." The policewoman gave a nod. "Just give it a try, okay?"

"I guess." Hei gave a small nod as they finally made their way to the check-in for firearms. He got his and some bullets before following Kirihara to the small firing range in the basement. Mao decided to bow out knowing it was going to be too loud for his ears to handle.

"I know it's probably a stupid question to ask but you have shot a gun before, right?" Kirihara asked once they'd gotten inside and she'd set up targets for each of them. Thankfully they were currently alone.

"Yes. But mostly when I first started out in the Syndicate," Hei replied as he loaded his gun, though not as fast as Kirihara had. "But due to my smaller size and agility, they decided I'd be better suited for stealth. After all, being my sister's protector, I was the one they sent in first to take out as many in the way as I could to clear a path for her to reach her targets given her limitations because of her obeisance."

"Yeah. That is true," Kirihara nodded, recalling what both he and Mitsuki had told her about his sister's powers and obeisance. She slid her ear protection on and looked at him. "Ready?"

Nodding, Hei slid his ear protection over his ears before checking the gun over once again and clicked the safety off. He then raised his arms, narrowing his eyes slightly as he looked down towards the targets about sixty metres away. With a quick squeeze of his finger to the trigger, he easily popped off several shots as Kirihara did, emptying the magazine quickly. He reloaded before emptying another round as she did.

"Geez. I thought you said you only really shot a gun when you first started in the Syndicate?" Kirihara asked with a surprised blink when she had the targets come back forward to switch out. She had most of her shots right at the chest. Hei had narrowed his shots down to create a large hole where the heart and centre of the forehead had been.

"It's not much different than when dealing with targeting with knives," Hei replied with a shrug. "Just with knives, you have to practice throwing them efficiently. Guns sort of do the work for you. All you have to do is learn to aim and deal with the kickback." He gave a small pause. "And just because knives are my speciality doesn't mean I didn't slack on learning to shoot. Just...like I said...guns are so noisy."

Sighing as he came into the apartment after work ended, Hei slid off his shoes and headed down the hall for the kitchen. Mitsuki was at the stove making food as he came over to her, wrapping his arms around her waist from behind.

"How did your first day go?" she asked, stirring the soup as he lightly kissed her neck.

"Well I showed Kirihara that just because my speciality is knives doesn't mean I don't know how to shoot," Hei replied between soft kisses. "She had me use the firing range with the gun they issued me."

"She was pretty surprised you knew how to shoot?"

"Yeah. I just told her I still preferred knives because they're less noisy."

Mitsuki gave a chuckle. "So how did the others take you joining the team?"

"They were surprised to see I was the one that was joining." Hei gave a soft smile as he leaned his chin gently on her shoulder. "But I think even they were glad to see I was back from my so-called 'deportation'."

"And Mao? Was he there?" She knew Mao frequently went to headquarters to check in since he was inclined to while working with Kirihara's team.

"Yeah. He stopped by when I got shown to my desk." Hei gave a small chuckle just before the sound of a small buzzer went off by the slider door. "And speak of the devil..."

Pulling back from her, Hei went over to the slider door where Mao sat on the other side of the glass. Hei unlatched the lock and slid the door open enough for him to wander inside before shutting it once more.

"Any fish on the menu tonight?" Mao spoke up as he meandered towards the kitchen with Hei just behind him.

"Fresh mackerel coming right up," Mitsuki chuckled. "Give me a few minutes and I'll get it started alright?"

"Fine by me," Mao replied. "I'll just go watch some television."

"If you want, you can grab a shower and relax," Mitsuki spoke up as she turned and gave Hei a kiss on the cheek while the feline wandered out to the living room.

"Sounds good to me." Hei returned the kiss before going towards the hallway. He paused at the coffee table in the living room to take off the holster holding his new gun and set it down after double checking the safety was on.

"So how bad did you school Kirihara at the range?" Mao asked as he clicked through the channels while laying on the couch cushions.

"I think she understands that I've got pretty deadly accuracy," Hei replied with a smug look.

"Well if it's anything like your targeting with knives, I'm sure she won't harass you too much on needing a ton of practise like a newbie." Mao gave a grin as Hei gave a small shake of his head while setting his new badge down next to his gun as well.

"Still wish I didn't have to wear this suit though." Hei gave a small sigh of relief after loosening his tie. "It's too constricting."

"It sure is a change to what you normally wear." Mao gave a snicker. "Too bad they won't let you wear your coat. But that would be a dead giveaway."

Giving the feline a roll of his eyes, Hei turned and headed down to the bathroom to get a shower. The hot water felt wonderful as it pelted down on his back. Who knew that the first day would be so stressful and tense? Granted it hadn't had him out on the streets chasing down any Contractors and more just getting shown around the building and the firing range, but still. He hadn't been sure how his new teammates would react with him joining. After all, they knew him only as the exchange student of his former alias. He was just glad that they only really knew him by his family name from back then and not by the given name of his alias. It helped especially for his new identity as Heilong to blend in better. After all, how could he explain him having the name Shengshun back then and suddenly change it to Heilong without something being amiss?

Getting out of the shower and drying off, he headed down to the bedroom to get some lounge pants on before heading down to the kitchen again. Mitsuki was just putting the last of the food on the table with Mao sitting in his chair; the plate of mackerel he wanted was placed in front of him.

"If you don't hurry up, I'll start chowing down without you," the black feline quipped at him. Mitsuki gave a chuckle as she came over to sit down across from Mao and Hei sat down next to her.

"By the way, Yin says she likes her new job with Ishizaki," Mitsuki smiled as she started grabbing some food with Hei. Mao started eating his fish as well. "I called to ask earlier about how she was doing."

"I'm sure she'll be glad to know that with her help, Astronomics will be able to take care of the Dolls better and know what they're thinking," Hei replied with his own smile. He was just glad that Yin was happy to help Ishizaki out and that the older woman was trustworthy to take care of her. But there was still the matter of getting the paperwork finalised for her legal guardianship, even though she was almost old enough to be recognised as an adult. Just she needed records of who she was from the standpoint of the government's sake. Ishizaki said she'd be glad to take on the role but Yin insisted on it being Hei and Mitsuki.

"Mitsuki is like an older sister. And Hei gave me a second chance."

"Speaking of Yin, I know she's been staying with Ishizaki," Mao said between bites. "But if you two are going to be her legal guardians, wouldn't it be crowded with having three of you here in one apartment? I mean, there's only one bedroom."

"Well, I guess, we could look for a bigger place to stay," Mitsuki spoke up after swallowing her bite. "The expense shouldn't be that much more for a two bedroom." She gave a pause as she glanced towards the kitchen cupboards and appliances. So many memories had been made here though. It had been hard enough leaving her last apartment she'd shared with Yue after he disappeared.

"Don't worry. I'll look around," Hei spoke up with a soft smile as she turned her gaze towards him. Even he knew how much hassle it was not only to move but leave the memories of a place behind. "I'll let you know if I come across something, alright?" Mitsuki gave a nod.

Finishing up their food, Hei said he'd do the dishes while Mitsuki went to get a shower. Mao went to watch some more television before the other two joined him to watch a show as well. With yawns later on, they decided to call it a night; Mao curled up on the back of the couch as usual.

"I'm glad you had a good time at work today," Mitsuki smiled as she curled up in Hei's arms under the blankets.

"I'm just glad Kirihara has been so helpful," Hei replied, pulling her close. "Without her assistance, I don't know what I'd be doing right now." There was a brief moment of silence between them knowing just what Hei would be doing. He'd still be on the run and hiding.

"I guess you ought to give her some sort of proper thanks sometime huh?"

"Yeah. I guess I'll have to think of something." Hei gave a small chuckle before giving her a kiss on her forehead. "Goodnight. I love you."

"I love you too." Mitsuki gave a smile as she closed her eyes.

Well that's the chapter! Hei's back and ready to start a new life with a new job and a new team. And Yin with her new job as well helping Kanami with the other Dolls at the Observatory.
Oh and the little idea for Mao's lift came to me so he has an easier way to get to the apartment without having to buzz the front door. Mitsuki created it and installed it so it can also be easily dismantled if need be. It runs on a rechargeable battery, which Hei or Mitsuki can easily just zap and charge it up again. *grins*
Anyways, thanks again for your patience as I get this story up and going. Any reviews, comments, and critiques are wonderful! I'll update soon! *hands out pocky*