Hello all,
Happy Monday! I'm really excited by how much attention this story has been getting. Please continue to take care of me!
Best wishes,
K
CH2
Guns had nothing on the Demon Lord.
Kyoko sat in the passenger's seat of Ren's car, frozen in fear. She was more afraid than when she had been held at gunpoint earlier that evening.
After all, guns were a known quantity. Pompous lackeys were a known quantity. Tsuruga Ren when he was angry was a… a semi-known quantity – but Kyoko hadn't seen him this angry in a while. He was angry enough that he wasn't even smiling his fake gentleman's smile and was openly scowling.
The Demon Lord had returned after a long vacation…
"Tsu…Tsuruga-san…?" she tried to eek out in as small a voice as she could muster.
"Yes, Mogami-san." Not looking down, the agent continued to speed along his route from the rented Western-style mansion in Mitaka back to LME headquarters in Shinjuku.
Slightly emboldened by his acknowledgement, Kyoko burst forth with a multitude of apologies. Her head bobbled furiously with each statement as she bowed as best she could from under her seatbelt.
"Tsuruga-san! I, your worthless kouhai, DEEPLY apologize for disappointing you. I apologize for not ensuring the suspect was unconscious. I apologize for not immediately taking his weapon away. I apologize that you had to endanger yourself for someone like me. I apologize also because I just called myself your kouhai, and I am decidedly unworthy to be so presumptuous –!"
"Mogami-san!"
Kyoko paused in the middle of berating herself and her improvised car-seat dogeza, and dared to look up. Ren sighed a bit and glanced down at her, his eyes noticeably softer.
"Mogami-san, it wasn't entirely your fault. I'm sure you were going to take care of all that when Fuwa and I showed up and distracted you. It's partially my fault because I rushed the situation to check on you. I just… wanted to make sure you were safe," Ren said, a tender smile on his face.
Most women would have been enthralled by the warmth and vulnerability that graced the already swoon-worthy face of Tsuruga Ren, but Kyoko cringed away from the unearthly brightness of his face. It was a genuine smile, but it was no less unnerving. To escape her discomfort, Kyoko changed the topic.
"Tsuruga-san," she said, pouting slightly. "This is why protocols exist. Why did you allow a civilian upstairs at such a time? That stupid Sho was supposed to wait downstairs under protection…"
Thinking more about the situation and persons involved, Kyoko's brow knit together and darkened. She muttered viciously, "But knowing him, he probably just barged in without thinking about anyone else but himself. Rot in hell and go bald, Shotaro–!"
Kyoko cut herself off this time. Ren was angry again.
Long time no see, Mr. Demon Lord, Sir.
"I'm sorry! I'm sorry for lecturing you! Such an unworthy newbie as myself!" she moaned, tears forming at the corners of her eyes.
"It's not–" Her senpai caught himself and sighed, drawing a hand over his face. "Please do not be concerned, Mogami-san."
"But–!"
"Kyoko-chan~" Another man's voice came in over the car's Bluetooth system. "Don't worry about this manic-depressive guy. He's just jealous that Fuwa–"
"Yashiro-san…" Ren's gentleman mask was back. "What have I told you about eavesdropping in my car?"
More than 15 kilometers away, Yashiro Yukihito swore he could hear the agent's dazzling smile over the comm system. Yashiro wavered between fearing for his bodily safety and cackling in enjoyment. The three of them continued to banter lightly as Ren's silver sports car wound through the peaceful Japanese countryside back to the city.
-x-
"The FBI of Japan is a wolf with no teeth," the public often said about the Public Security Intelligence Agency. After World War II, anti-military sentiment and a popular demand for governmental accountability emasculated the then newly-formed PSIA. Eventually, Japanese civilians began to pride themselves in the idea that Japan was the only prominent first-world nation with no need for the dirty subterfuge of an intelligence bureau.
Therefore, fifteen stories below the gently sloping hills and meandering, manicured forest of Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden, the headquarters of the LME unit was a well-kept secret. Only a foolish nation (like perhaps the United States) would have an intelligence agency that loudly voiced its actions and existence to the public. Secrecy about the PSIA's exploits was a historical byproduct-turned-luxury for the intelligence agency, and by extension, the LME unit.
Due to its secrecy, as well as the high cost of real estate within the greater Tokyo area, when the PSIA Director-General commissioned Lory Takarada to form an elite undercover spy unit, the decision was made to build downward.
However, hiding out of sight was not exactly Takarada's style. His professional belief and the modus operandi of the LME unit was that hiding in plain sight with a flashy disguise was the best way to hide. People often remembered the flashy disguise – not the men and women underneath.
Therefore, considering her geographical position nearly half a kilometer below a highly populated public park, Kyoko shouldn't have been so astonished as she sat in an exact replica of a noble's room in Tokugawa-era Edo Castle.
Ornate, gilded peacocks on a vast mountainscape adorned the muslin panels of the sliding doors. Her sitting cushion, which a kimono-clad servant had earlier motioned for her to take, was interwoven with real gold thread. The tatami mat beneath her cushion was very firm and well-made; not a single fiber strayed out of place.
Kyoko tried not to stare at the President in front of her. Last week he was an American drummajor, complete with a twirling mace and a substantial brass marching band. Who knew what kind of flashy look he had donned today?
A quick glance to her left told her that Ren was less impressed, which would make sense. As a senior agent, the legendary Agent T had probably seen inside the real Imperial Palace. He had probably been on important missions and had rubbed shoulders with all of the most consequential people in Japan.
Suddenly feeling awed and very humbled, Kyoko tried to straighten her kneeling posture.
"So…? How did your mission go?" President Takarada sat, expectant in his patterned-silk court noble's kimono. He waved an ornate fan with gold-foil trim at Ren to proceed.
Kyoko strangled the urge to dogeza on instinct. Both the royal setting and her own disappointing performance during the mission made it difficult not to go back on the promise she had made to Ren to save her dogeza apologies for more dire circumstances— even though she had already bowed her head to him on the car ride back.
As the senior agent, Ren went first, giving a detailed run-down of the events of the operation – from re-establishing the Hongo and Tachibana identities to the actual sting operation to capture the rival agent who had been sent by a currently unknown entity for its second attempt to kidnap Nanokura Mimori.
He noted that there were no issues reusing their identities from the previous mission. The only minor difficulty was a shorter than usual preparation period, which could not have been helped, given the urgent request from Fuwa Daisuke, the hotel mogul, to thwart the kidnapping attempt on his son's fiancé.
Ren continued with how the Target, Nanokura Mimori, had unexpectedly run off halfway through the operation, and with quick thinking, Iizuka had made up an excuse to send Kyoko after the heiress for protection.
When Ren had heard over his earpiece the alert from Yashiro that something had tripped one of the upstairs window alarms, he had, as Katsuki, excused himself to go to the restroom. The Fuwa family and dinner guests were left under the protection of agents Momose, Iizuka, Kijima, and Oohara. All the agents remained under the guise of the Hongo family for the benefit of the other guests, who did not know about the operation. Per previous experience, it was better to keep up appearances in case the "Hongo family" could be used again in the future.
Listening intently, Kyoko mentally interjected her own experience. She had also heard the alert from Yashiro, which had caused her to break character as Mio and sprint for the bedroom where Nanokura Mimori's tracker placed her. As Ren continued, Kyoko was not surprised to learn that Sho had made himself a nuisance by leaving the safety of the dining room and insisting on going upstairs with Ren.
After all, during the aftermath of the operation, the self-centered hotel heir made very clear to Kyoko his opinion that she was unqualified for her current line of work. Thoroughly infuriated, she had quickly rebuffed his offer to return to her former employment under his father.
She had also sworn, in no uncertain terms, that using her new position at LME, she would dig up some unsavory material and get her revenge on him.
Losing herself further in thought, Kyoko fumed. The last straw had been at the end of the mission, when that idiot had verbally accosted Tsuruga-san for no reason at all. Since Kyoko had been busy with Momose Itsumi confirming the criminal's drop-off to interrogation, she couldn't hear the words exchanged, but it was apparent that both men were angry.
"…Mogami-san?"
Startled, Kyoko snapped out of her thoughts and found both Ren and Lory staring at her. Apparently she had missed her cue to provide her own input on the mission outcome.
Catching herself mid-dogeza, Kyoko spluttered out, "Ah! My apologies, President and Tsuruga-san. I was just thinking about how much I hate that idiot Sho–." Realizing her audience, she tried to correct herself in a hasty rush of muttered words. "I-I mean, I was preoccupied, considering the… ungracious behavior of our most recent client."
Cringing, Kyoko prayed that the President would overlook her slip-up.
No such luck. The damage had been done.
With a flourish of his fan, Lory pouted mightily, shook his head in disappointment, and began his usual monologue.
"Mogami-san! Why do you think that we, the Likeness-Modifying Espionage Unit, exist? For love! Love of our fellow countrymen–" His court noble's hat bobbled on his head as he rose smoothly and strode around the room like a Kabuki player.
One glance at Ren showed Kyoko that he was trying to hide his impatience with the President. His gentleman's smile was out in full force.
For some reason, Tsuruga-san was very intent on the outcome of this mission, Kyoko mused. With each passing minute, her senpai's smile dialed up in brilliance.
Yes… very intent…
"Love for our tender Japanese society!"
Kyoko edged away on her cushion slightly, out of Ren's line of fire.
"Love for love's sake!"
She bit back a wince. They were going to be there for a while.
-x-
Kijima Hidehito sighed mightily for the fifteenth time that night.
The transfer of the hostile from LME to the Public Security Intelligence Agency was going smoothly. A transfer was necessary because, while the LME unit was known for its capabilities in reconnaissance, surveillance, and protection, their agents were neither equipped nor allowed to perform something as distasteful as interrogation. This, Lory Takarada, ensured in writing when first establishing the specialized unit in the late 80's.
Still, the sting operation had been under LME's jurisdiction, so they were tasked with at least performing the mandatory security checks and transporting their own prisoner to the drop-off point. This required two LME agents to escort the captive to his obligatory medical physical and x-rays. The medical check ensured the guy wouldn't keel over from his injuries before the PSIA's interrogation specialists had a crack at him, and the full-body x-rays reassured everyone that there were no booby traps implanted in his body.
It was finally 2:34 a.m. when Kijima stood in a randomly chosen Tokyo alley, ready for the drop-off. With one hand, he held Nanokura Mimori's would-be kidnapper firmly by the shoulder, and with his other, he stifled a yawn. The criminal, now unmasked, stripped of weapons, and handcuffed, was barely conscious after the sedation required for transport.
Exasperated, Kijima sighed again. Why couldn't Ren take care of his own operations to the very end? Most likely, the senior agent just wanted to whisk "Mio" away from the prying eyes of that stuck-up Fuwa heir as soon as he could.
On his end, Kijima had had to postpone a date with a famous actress to serve as support for this last-minute sting operation, and his and Momose's task for the night was the one that tended to keep agents into overtime the longest. Not like there was much Kijima could do, since Ren was the agent on point for their current operation. And Kijima himself had just recently been promoted and assigned his own junior.
However, Kijima made a mental note to call in a favor from his colleague at a later date. Maybe he could ask Tsuruga for Kyoko-chan's cell phone number… Ren's protectiveness over his kouhai intrigued him. Maybe there was more to the newbie agent than met the eye…
Meanwhile, Momose Itsumi finished handing over the necessary documents to the PSIA agents and bowed crisply to them.
Noticing that his own kouhai had finished the transfer work, Kijima gave the captured kidnapper a slight shove into the hands of the awaiting agents. He had little respect for those who placed the delicate, fairer sex in danger.
To emphasize his distaste, Kijima called to the PSIA agents, "Get everything you can out of this piece of scum, will ya?"
The two nondescript men merely bowed crisply at the waist and turned with their prisoner to leave.
"Heh…"
The swelling in the kidnapper's jaw prevented him from speaking clearly, but his chuckle was still full of obvious malice. Ignoring him, the PSIA agents pushed him toward their government-issue black sedan.
Even though every rational thought told Kijima that he had the upper hand in the current situation, the hairs on the back of his neck stood up when the captured man slurred, "Scum? Me?! YOU all are the real scum – the obedient dogs who lick the feet of your government masters!"
"Come on, Kijima-san. We're done here," Itsumi turned and strode past her partner toward their own car, high heels clacking on the asphalt.
Kijima knew she was right – he was just being baited – but his instincts tugged at his stomach. The senior agent's eyes narrowed.
"Oh yeah?" Kijima called back. The PSIA agents paused from stuffing their prisoner into the back seat of their vehicle. "Who's your master then, you bottom-feeder lackey?"
For a moment, the man was silent, but Kijima could see him moving his mouth. The hairs on Kijima's neck stood up, and his body automatically shifted to lower his center of gravity. Itsumi, picking up on the tense atmosphere, took a step back and slid one hand toward her weapon's holster.
"Tell Lory Takarada," the man mumbled smugly, "that Delta says hello."
He bit down on something in his mouth.
A fiery explosion rocked the dark, Tokyo morning.
-x-
The intermittent sizzle of static echoed through the large, dark room. The only source of light was the flickering TV screen situated in front of two men.
"SIGNAL LOST" flashed in a muted red in the upper left corner of the screen.
The two men, who had been watching the screen intently only moments before, now sat back in their tall black chairs. One man glanced at the other, who was still staring fixedly at the screen before them. His stare was unwavering, but his fingers came up to steeple together, his mind obviously deep in thought.
"So? We lost Upsilon. What now?" The first man asked impatiently, running a hand through curly brown-blonde hair.
His dark-haired companion continued to stare at the screen. As he finally turned, glasses glinted on his nose in the screen's flickering light.
"It is a sad reality that every just cause requires a few martyrs," the dark-haired man murmured. "But a chess game cannot be won without sacrificing a few pawns."
The first man seemed put-off. He growled, "Was Upsilon's sacrifice within your predictions? It looks like Takarada has acquired more talent than we calculated."
"Worry not, old friend. Today was merely a declaration." Under his glasses, a cold smile slid over the other man's face. "A declaration of war."
With that, he reached forward and clicked off the television, enveloping the room in darkness.
Kouhai – a junior in school or a company, the opposite of 'senpai'
Dogeza – the bow of extreme formal apology in which the repentant individual kneels and bows their forehead to the ground – so basically, whatever Kyoko does when she's messed up
Tune back in next Monday for Chapter 3. Reviews and Faves are greatly appreciated!