When Rose woke up to the sound of her sister's alarm, she remembered Verte came back really late and really wasted. Shaking her head to express her high disapproval, she turned on the heater in the bathroom before going to the kitchen to prepare a salad sauce and cut French hard cheese into dices. Because, after a really drunk night, Verte would strangely become a hollow pit only attracted to salad and cheese. She would be really hungry, but only salad and cheese would be able to stay in her stomach. Rose smiled as she heard her sister grumble a "thanks" as she went into the heated bathroom. She prepared a sandwich for her own breakfast, then took out two lunch boxes as she ate, to prepare their lunch.
A punchy music began in the bathroom as the shower began to run, and Rose let out a sigh of relief. Because, if her sister hadn't had started her music, it would have meant one thing: she wouldn't have been able to do anything except sleep all day. When the music cut and Verte got out of the bathroom in her bathrobe, she almost had a fresh look on her face. Almost. Rose let out a small laugh and showed her the full salad bowl waiting for her on the kitchen table. With a thankful wave, Verte dived into her salad while Rose began to fill a compartment of their lunch boxes with rice. After a minute, Verte put back her tools next to the empty bowl and walked to the sink, drinking from the tap almost a full liter.
- Better ? Asked Rose with a playful look.
- Way better. Lucas wanted to challenge me at the arcade bar yesterday... I litterally stepped on his face on every game, but playing GH with high alcoholic level isn't the best thing to keep your scores high. I have been utterly and violently defeated, answered Verte sadly.
- Bah, you can still invite him over and take your revenge, offered Rose with a smile.
- Nah, he pretends real talent only shows in neutral terrain. Yeah right, added Verte smugly, he's just afraid to lose if I play at home !
- Ha, that's for sure. He didn't use his powers to deconcentrate you or something like that? Asked Rose, curious.
- No, gaming, that's a serious matter Rose. Maybe Kaito and you might do that, but for gamers, not cheating is an important thing. By the way, I'd like to know how yesterday went, with Kaito...
- Of course... And here I was thinking, it was weird that you wouldn't talk about it. I spent the day in Boss's office until the middle of the afternoon when I met up with Kaito. From what Boss told me, the first idea of separating us came from someone in our office, to evaluate our progress separately. When I texted him, Kaito immediately offered Lucas' application to work with you, and after calling a few persons, Boss announced me that he would be the one to work with you. Kaito's really incredible, I don't know the boundaries of his network, but it's huge if he's able to intervene that quickly. Then, as I knew we could ask for specialized apprenticeship during working time, I asked the Boss to do one directly with Kaito. At least I'll be working with someone I know, I clearly don't see myself doing missions with a stranger. I didn't need to send the usual letters of application and stuff for the interviews, Kaito accepted almost immediately.
- Yeah, sure, he saw your name and didn't even need to think it through, grumbled Verte.
- You're exaggerating. He always stayed perfectly well mannered with me, and believe me I am not the one slowing things down... Anyway. He spent the afternoon showing me where he worked and what he did, told Rose, admirative. It's impressive, he works with three mega-computers, and from what I understood, he watches over administrative agents from different cities, to assure everyone does his work. His office isn't very big, right in the middle of a floor where the people working have nothing to do with him, like he's hiding. Then he began to look for the information you asked about Lila. I admit that I didn't understand why you wanted these information. But when I saw that, the more he looked for it, the more he hacked confidential information, the less he found information, I understood you suspected her to be the mole the Boss was looking for since a few days ago. Believe me, Kaito was furious to find nothing. He stopped looking when a red light turned on, then he shut off all his machines without touching them.
- What, what's this guy anyway, even the Men In Black can't do those things! Exclaimed Verte, flabbergasted.
- Oh, he often works with them, they give him regular reports on their local activities, answered Rose. Then, he began calling people for our mission. We'll be in official administrative control visit, and Lucas and you will be escorting us. He called the Boss on a direct private line, he called him Cam, it was really unusual, I was sure "Boss" was his real name. Anyway, he directly asked him if you and Lucas could accompany him on an official mission and Boss accepted right away from what I understood.
- Ok. So either Kaito, when spying everyone, know all their weaknesses and ask them services in exchange, or he helped REALLY many people in his life, explained Verte ironically.
- Either way, whatever I say you'll find negative points in him. It's useless talking with you, told Rose, unhappy.
- Of course it's not, I can talk about it normally too. Does he kiss well?
- Is that a trap ? Asked Rose, doubdtful.
- Nah. I know that whatever I do, I won't prevent you from going near him, well I can't prevent YOU from doing it. So, as a big sister and friend, I'm asking you, is your boyfriend good at kissing? explained calmly Verte.
- We're not together.
- Excuse-me ?
- We're not together. He doesn't touch me, well never on professional places, and the only physical contacts we have are when he insists on helping me in a vehicle or when he kiss me on the cheek to say hello or goodbye. Like I was a kid, grumbled Rose.
- Then you have to act depending on that. Prove him you're as much as an adult as him. After all, you're allowed to drink alcohol, go inside bars and clubs, and drive a hover. And I'll try to make him understand that he can, in fact, touch you. But it'd be better if he decided about it himself. It would be really stupid if he asked me permission each time he wants to do something to you...
- You're contradicting yourself... well, we'll see. At worst we'll send Lucas to talk to him. By the way, Rose went on with a wink, how's it going with him?
- It's going. Come on, finish preparing the bentos, we'll get dressed and meet them at the office, I think we lazied around too much, answered firmly Verte, ending their conversation.
Rose made a face in her sister's back. Either way, she would know it soon enough. She walked to the dressing room with her once she closed up the two boxes, then thought about what she could wear. She wanted to look mature, but she still wanted to be able to move freely if she needed to defend herself physically in case it came to that. Pulling unconsciously on her hair as she thought about it, her eyes followed Verte and saw she was putting on the same outfit she wore on their last mission before meeting Kaito and Lucas. Rose smiled. Either her sister wanted to impress the other cities's Order Agents, or she wanted to impress someone else.
Still smiling, Rose turned to her own clothes, stopping pulling at her pale pink hair. She put on a white long sleeved tunic with enlarged skirt, then pulled a zipped sleeveless hoodie over it and a dark plated skirt assorted to the hoodie. She added white heeled black boots, then tied her hair into a high ponytail before braiding it until the end, only letting her fringe over her face. Verte approved with a nod as she put on her black boots and assorted leather mittens. They were ready. Slipping her goggles in her emerald hair, Verte opened their apartment's door as she picked up the backpack with their lunches, followed by Rose.
Getting to the office only took them a few minutes, and, as Lucas and Kaito welcomed professionally their friends, Lila nodded as she saw them arrive before typing on her holographic keyboard. Dressed really soberly with a black shirt and assorted jeans, his outfit completed by black mittens like Verte's, Lucas still wasn't overshadowed by Kaito's classy style, dressed with black suit pants, a white shirt with a black tie not too close to his already opened collar. The Boss got out of his room for the first time since Verte began working there, dressed with his white suit, and walked to greet Kaito, to whom he took at least a head, with a preoccupied smile.
- Hello. I hope those agents will suit you and that they'll know how to behave. I bid you luck for this mission, my friend.
- Thank you so much, replied Kaito as he bowed slightly. I know about their competences and chose them knowingly.
- Lila wanted to book you a taxi, but I know you're uneasy with this kind of transportation, so I personally selected some fast mounts so your trip would be more agreeable, answered Boss with a grimacing smile.
- Thank you very much for your kind help. We'll go right now, so as to end this case as fast as possible, replied Kaito as he looked at the Boss in the eye.
The higher man relaxed a bit, then nodded to them and went back to his office under Lucas, Verte and Lila's surprised look. Said girl had her mouth slightly open, then frowned and typed furiously on her holographic keyboard as Rose and Kaito watched her, surprised. Lila looked up, noticed their stares, then smiled politely before going back to her typing, more calmly. Rose relaxed immediately after, but Kaito frowned and stared at the secretary for a few seconds before leaving the office, taking the others with him. He kept his doubdting look until they were out of town, on the East gate of the city, next to some sort of stables.
Thinking she would see animals, Verte was surprised to see the place was in fact a renting hover-cycle garage. Kaito greeted friendily the manager, who shook his hand with a wide smile. The place was managed by an unshaved, browned haired man corresponding exactly to Rose's idea of a thief, and, as she saw Kaito being really close to him she couldn't help but wonder what linked them. But Verte shouted happily to the man, apparently recognizing him, and he gave her a big slap in her shoulder, which she returned, laughing. The she turned to her sister and Lucas, who didn't get what happened.
- Rose, I met this dude when I began working in the Order. He's harmless, don't worry. That's the the most honest thug I've ever known. He's still on the good side, but under a less official form. He offers transportation certified without tracking or spying possibilities, explained Verte to her sister.
- And I have encountered him so many times during my work that I now ask this creep directly if I need to move out of the city, added Kaito, laughing.
- Well, I love her, justice I mean, replied the man with an apologetic tone, but her interests and mine weren't often on the same board. It's that big squinted-eyed Kaito that found me this more or less official job. His idea got many positive feedbacks, and here I am, managing a place that keeps ready any furtive transportation for Order agents or important personalities.
Rose watched her sister's smile, faithful echo of the man's, and, in a lesser way, Kaito's.
- So, will two be sufficient ? Half my stock's in yearly maintenance today, so I'd like to keep some in case a great celebrity would need my services.
- Of course Ben, no problem, answered Verte without losing her smile.
- Then it's settled. Kaito, Cam has paid in advance and asked me to send him any supplementary costs, you're hunting some high rank bandit ?
- Most likely, answered the blue haired man.
Ben winked to him and motionned towards two silver cycle hovers builts for speed. Rose jumped to them, all her usual composture forgotten, and turned around the engines gleefully, looking at each part with a delighted smile. She always loved those kind of engines. Kaito offered her to chose hers, and she jumped on the driver spot with a small cry of joy. Suprised, Kaito let out a small laugh before going on the engine behind her, and Verte simply dug her emerald eyes into Lucas' scarlet, letting him chose. He seemed to hesitate, then climbed on the driver's spot with a face that said either would be the same for him. Like the day before, a shiver sparked through him when Verte slipped her arms around him to hold herself in place, and he had to take in a long, deep breath to resist the urge of touching the girl stuck to his back. Kaito seemed to would rather be burned alive than touch Rose as he reluctantly put his hands around her, and Verte frowned.
The half an hour trip went by silently, and no one asked them anything when they left their hovers in the parking lot reserved for the Orders Agents, outside of Eastcity. Walking, Verte guided them while Lucas stayed behind everyone, they quickly got to the government's building where Kaito had an appointment, officially. Verte noticed he had a black leather case in hand which she didn't see when they left Centercity. A front desk host indicated him the office at his disposal and gave him a business card with visible hope. Seemingly, being on Kaito's good side was realy important for him. He accepted it with a small nod, then guided them towards the hole in the center of the building.
Once inside the really ordinary office, Verte and Lucas took position around the door they locked quickly. Then Kaito opened his strange case and three high tech holo-computers unfolded themselves on the previously empty desk. Kaito typed a series of codes on his holo keyboard, and a strange contraption unfolded, coming straight outside one of the screens. The thing, transparent but still visible, grew and covered the walls, ground, ceiling, and really small objects fell from places. Kaito just had neutralized some spying devices that Rose was picking up quickly. He entered a second code, then another transparent thing deployed itself in the room, stuck to every side of the room without doing anything else than shining slightly.
- There, now we're protected and soundproof, said Kaito. Now, to work. Rose?
- Of course, she answered. But I'd rather be sure. Well, as you said, they can take us out at worst.
- Without wanting to vex you, if you're able to communicate by telepathy, please do either the WHOLE conversation in your mind, or you TELL us everything. Don't do things half-assed, it's really annoying for us normal people, ranted Verte.
- Sorry, apologized Kaito. I was wondering what would be the risks if we got trapped.
- I'd simply open the doors for you, replied Verte as she shrugged.
Then her gaze crossed Lucas' and they exploded into laughter at the same time. Understanding nothing of what just happened, Kaito shrugged and turned to the screen on his left to type on his holo keyboard with amazing speed. Frowning at the beginning, a small smile began creeping on his face, before he lifted his hand to his ear to make a call.
- Cam ? Yes, that's her. But not willingly, unlike we thought. But that could be dangerous, this power can do harm without one knowing. She's constantly watched and threatened by someone in the shadows. Let me find this one and I'll call you back.
Kaito's slender fingers brushed his ear to cut the call. Seeing Rose's surprised expression, Verte couldn't hold it in anymore and called out to Kaito.
- Who're you to talk to Boss like that ?
- You're not the only ones on the planet being in a sisterhood, answered calmly Kaito while going back on his fast typing. Your "Boss" as you call him is my big brother from the same genitors. But we were three in fact, until our little brother's disappearance. Little brother whose power is closely tied to electronics, and whom I highly suspect of being the one threatening Lila and making her do all the front work to cover himself up. But, for now, seems like I can't get my hands on him.
Verte kept her mouth open, like a fish out of water, for a few seconds. Then her brain kicked back in. Kaito had slightly bigger eyes than their boss, with a darker shade of blue, but the shape was the same. They had resembling facial features. But Kaito was shorter than their Boss. Verte mentally shook herself. Her sister and her only had their face shape and height in common, but were still from the same genitors. She lifted her gaze on Rose, then shifted to Kaito. He just confessed a secret seemingly well hidden by the two men. And Verte finally put a finger on what was missing. She still had no idea what Kaito's power was. But a violent explosion from below them cut short her thinking.