Warning: Violence, swearing, and will probably have some girl-on-girl action in the future. All the good stuff. ;)
Disclaimer: Don't own a single darn thing, either James Bond or Mai Hime. T'is a shame, really..
Thanks a bunch for your reviews/story alerts. Honestly, I wasn't too thrilled by this chapter, but it's late and everything seems to be grammatically correct, so here it is…
*Note: Japanese names were rearranged the western way (e.g. Jiro Doyama instead of Doyama Jiro) to make it easier for me. That is all, carry on.
Tokyo, Japan
Jiro Doyama glanced uneasily around the spacious room designated for VIP'S from his position in the corner. The walls were thumping from the loud music from the club downstairs, but none of the occupants around the table paid any heed, as they were too busy laughing, smacking cards down on the table, and downing expensive sake like it was water.
"All right, let's see your cards!"
"Wakashi, you go first."
The man called Wakashi placed his cards on the table one by one. "Ya…ku…za." (1)
There was a short silence before the entire table erupted in laughter.
"It's fitting you get the worst hand, Wakashi, since you're not the best oyabun either!"
"Shut up, Suzuki, that's not what your wife said last night."
A chorus of "ooohs" was heard. Jiro stifled a yawn. Being a bodyguard to one of the yakuza oyabuns, a head of a yakuza clan, paid well, but it was rather boring at times like this.
"Sato, what've you got?"
Cards were smacked down on the table.
"Sato, you lucky bastard, how do your cards always add up to nine?"
Jiro jumped when his boss called out drunkenly. "Neh, Jiro-kun, I want you to shoot this cheating dog!"
Jiro looked nervously between his employer, Tetsuo Wakashi, and the other yakuza leader he was pointing at, Ichiro Sato.
The leader of the Sato Clan snorted and raked all the money in the middle of the table towards himself. "Who are you calling a dog, Wakashi? You're scum, just like the rest of us."
One of the other yakuza heads shuffled and re-dealt the cards. "Anyways, you heard about this morning's bombing of one of VCS Tokyo's casinos? I heard they lost millions of dollars in revenue. I wonder who did it?"
Sato grunted. "It must've been someone new; we would've known if a yakuza group was behind it."
Jiro stiffened and didn't dare to look at his boss. Truthfully, the Wakashi Clan had been behind the attack on their enemy's casino, but it was without the knowledge of any other clan. Wakashi-san had said that taking the initiative against VCS Tokyo would give the Wakashi Clan more power among the other yakuza groups, especially since some of the other groups were getting tired of the Sato Clan's dominance among the Tokyo yakuza.
Personally, Jiro wasn't so sure striking against the Viola Crime Syndicate was the best idea. It may have worked a few months ago, when VCS Tokyo was just starting out, but now they had undoubtedly strengthened. However, he was just a bodyguard, so Wakashi would undoubtedly ignore his concerns.
The game of oicho-kabu started up again, rowdier than before, but Jiro noticed a curious lack of another sound. He cocked an ear. The music downstairs had strangely stopped. Straining his ears, Jiro relaxed when it started up again. What was that all about?
There was a sharp rap on the door. Jiro cautiously cracked it open to see a drop-dead gorgeous noirette. Behind her was an equally beautiful woman with red eyes. Jiro assumed they were waitresses from the club downstairs.
The beauty with honey-brown hair politely asked, "Is Wakashi-san there?"
He opened the door fully and gave them a flirtatious smile, looking the dark-haired woman up and down. "He's busy right now, but I could use some service."
The next thing he knew, he was flying through the air. He landed painfully on the table, causing the drinks and coins on the table to scatter. The yakuza leaders looked down at him in shock.
The green-eyed beauty stepped through the doorway, scowling heavily and dusting her hands off, followed by the red-eyed woman, who surveyed the room with wry amusement.
Sato's eyes widened in shock. "Viola-san!"
Jiro paled. Viola-san, as in Shizuru Viola? Oh shit.
-000-000-
Shizuru looked around at the sea of shocked faces and internally grinned in glee. "Ara, Sato-san, it's been a long time. Did you miss me?"
Sato was still gaping at her. "Forgive me, Viola-san, but I had no idea that you returned to Japan."
Shizuru eyed the pale faces of the yakuza heads, Tetsuo Wakashi especially. He looked like he had just seen a ghost. "I arrived just recently, as Wakashi-san should know."
Everyone's heads turned to look at the head of the Wakashi Clan. Wakashi gulped nervously, but couldn't look away from Shizuru's captivating gaze. "Viola-san, it's nice to see you again. I have no idea what you're talking about, unfortunately."
Natsuki snorted, but a look from Shizuru kept her quiet.
Shizuru looked at him imperiously. "No? Perhaps this will jog your memory, Wakashi-san." She pulled out the pack of cyanide cigarettes and slid them across the table.
The pack stopped right in middle of the table, in sight of everyone. Sato took one out and smelled it. He looked at Wakashi in shock and anger.
"Wakashi, what the fuck did you do?"
"I—that's—"
Shizuru pleasantly cut it, "Ara, Wakashi-san so rudely sent his men in an attempt to kill me and my companion."
Natsuki internally rolled her eyes at being referred to as the "companion."
Shizuru continued. "Not only does this incident point to Wakashi-san's extreme lack of manners, it also breaks the "no direct violence" contract that was drafted between the VCS and Tokyo yakuza before I left."
Wakashi continued to stutter and throw his eyes around nervously. "Well—no proof—"
Natsuki finally decided to add in her two cents. "Oi! I met a guy named Watanabe." She casually twirled a finger around her head. "He had a great, big, fucking fish tattoo on his fat head. Sound familiar?"
Wakashi seemed to shrink in his chair as the other yakuza heads glared murderously at him.
Shizuru stopped pacing and paused to lock eyes with Wakashi, her cold red eyes drilling into his trembling form.
The temperature in the room felt like it had dropped at least ten degrees. Natsuki could barely suppress a smirk. Oh, she's good.
Shizuru glanced at every yakuza leader around the table. Most were obviously afraid, but trying not to show it. Only Sato dared to meet her steely gaze, and even then only for a few seconds.
"Sato-san, because you seem to be the most competent, I will tell you what I think." Crimson eyes gleamed. "I think this is a declaration of war on your part."
Sato shook his head frantically. "Viola-san, believe me, the last thing we want is a war with you! We will punish Wakashi accordingly—"
Shizuru smiled sardonically. "Ara? I was under the impression that loyalty is highly treasured among the yakuza. Aren't you supposed to stick together?"
"But—"
"Starting from this point on, there will be total chaos for all of Tokyo's yakuza clans. VCS Tokyo will not stop until one side is completely decimated, be it yours or ours. This is the only warning you all will get, Sato-san, so please make sure you pass on the news. Have a nice night."
She turned towards the door. "Let's go, Natsuki."
Wakashi suddenly stood up, drawing a revolver. "Well, if the war starts now, Viola-san…" He aimed directly at her back.
Shizuru stopped at the sound of a gun being cocked and gave a dark chuckle. "You can shoot if it makes you feel any better, Wakashi-san. In the end, you will still end up dead. I guarantee it."
Sato also pulled out a handgun. "Actually, Viola-san, this might be the best idea Wakashi has had yet."
The other yakuza heads and bodyguards followed his example. In a matter of seconds, Shizuru and Natsuki found themselves staring at the barrels of nearly twenty guns.
Natsuki glanced at Shizuru. "Nice going. Ideas?"
Shizuru gave her a dry look. "Cover your ears, close your eyes, and try to keep up."
Natsuki looked confused, but immediately did as she was told when she spotted a round object in Shizuru's hand.
"Sato-san."
The man looked confusedly at Shizuru's smug face.
"Catch."
With that, Shizuru lobbied a small grenade at the oyabuns. They yelled in shock and immediately dove for cover; a split second later, it detonated.
They were lucky it was only a stun grenade, and not a grenade that would've blown them into little meaty chunks. At the same time, it was unlucky that it was a stun grenade, since now everyone was blinded except for Shizuru and Natsuki.
In a flash, Shizuru grabbed the wrist of the man nearest to her with one hand and socked him in the jaw with the other.
Natsuki laughed. "That's what I'm talking about!" She pivoted and slammed her fist into the throat of the nearest gangster.
"Shit, I can't see!"
"Shoot! Just shoot!"
Natsuki grabbed another bodyguard by his tie and positioned the man in front of her, using him as a shield against the wild bursts of gunfire. "This is a good time to get going, I think."
Shizuru ignored the gurgling of the dying man that was blocking the bullets meant for them. "Ara, I think so, too."
Natsuki patted the dead man on the shoulder. "I'm sorry we can't bring you with us, my good man, but you're somewhat of a deadweight."
She tossed the body aside and sprinted out of the room, closely followed by Shizuru.
Natsuki blinked repeatedly at the pulsating lights that assaulted her eyes. They were on the third floor of an enormous nightclub, and below them on the dance floor were hundreds of bodies writhing and twisting to the music. Long, ceiling-to-floor poles on raised bases were positioned randomly throughout the club, acting as both supports for the ceiling and a way to show off the scantily clad women who were dancing provocatively on the bases.
Shizuru didn't hesitate. Stepping onto the railing, she raised an eyebrow at Natsuki. "Coming?"
"What—"
Shizuru jumped off. Natsuki gave a startled shout, but relaxed when she saw that Shizuru had latched onto one of the tall poles and slid down to the first floor.
A burst of gunfire behind her prompted Natsuki to follow Shizuru's example. She leapt for the closest pole, letting out an 'oomph' when she hit the pole harder than she had expected.
Natsuki quickly slid down the pole and landed smoothly at the feet of one of the scantily clad women. She smirked. "Well, hello there."
The dancer returned a shocked-yet-intrigued smile, but Natsuki was quickly pulled off the stage before she could respond.
Annoyed crimson eyes glared at her. "Now is not the time!"
Natsuki opened her mouth to argue, but a quick glance behind her, revealing a whole bunch of gun-toting gangsters thundering down the stairs, quickly changed her mind. Shizuru kept a firm grip on her wrist as she led them through the multitude of bodies surrounding them.
They emerged into the dazzling nightlife of downtown Tokyo. Shizuru continued to pull Natsuki down the sidewalk, weaving effortlessly in and out of the pedestrian traffic.
Natsuki chanced a glance behind her. The frustrated yakuza members had managed to get out of the club, but now they were fruitlessly scanning the sea of pedestrians for them. She sped up a little to walk side by side with Shizuru.
"Shouldn't we, you know, take a car or something?"
Shizuru continued walking. "Look at the street. If those men don't kill us, the traffic will."
Natsuki relaxed as the adrenaline began to leave her system. "I guess that's Tokyo for you. So now where are we headed?"
"VCS Tokyo's classified headquarters."
"Oh, a secret hideout? Is it invisible to bad guys? Do I need to know the password to get in?"
"No, but it does have guard dogs trained to attack sarcastic spies."
"If I ever see one, I'll be sure to warn her appropriately."
"As opposed to warning someone inappropriately? Ara, I wonder what that would entail."
The crime leader and the secret agent continued to banter playfully as they disappeared into the crowd. None of them noticed that Shizuru was still holding onto Natsuki's wrist.
Akane Higurashi scowled as she read the latest reports on the casino bombing. Damnit, the cops were obviously dragging their feet on this investigation! The pretty brunette darkly promised herself that the Tokyo Police Force would find a majority of their patrol cars to be vandalized tomorrow.
She was pulled out of her thoughts by a knock on the door. "Come in."
The door opened to reveal a familiar figure. Akane stood up in delight.
"Shizuru-sama! When did you return to Japan?"
Shizuru smiled at her protégée. "This morning. Although, I was delayed because of some trouble with the yakuza."
Akane's scowl immediately returned. "Yeah, they've been causing us some problems too, although none that have broken the contract yet."
"Well, it's time to return the favor. I ended the contract between us. They were starting to irritate me."
"Oh…and they accepted your reason just like that?"
"Well, the Wakashi Clan tried to kill me. I'm just returning the favor."
Shizuru smiled easily and entered the room, sitting down on the plush sofa. Akane was surprised to see a dark-haired woman follow Shizuru into the room, although she chose to lean aloofly against the wall instead of sitting.
Seeing Akane's curious look, Shizuru waved a hand towards Natsuki. "This is Natsuki Kruger, a business associate I picked up along the way."
Natsuki scowled at Shizuru. Ignoring her, Shizuru continued. "Natsuki, this is Akane Higurashi, the head of VCS Tokyo."
Akane mentally noted the lack of the usual honorifics as per Japanese custom attached to Natsuki's name.
Natsuki nodded at Akane. "Miss Higurashi. Despite the dubious introduction, I can assure you that I'm an ally…for the time being."
Akane appraised the woman carefully. An exotic beauty, with dark hair, pale skin, and green eyes. Her slender frame belied her obvious strength, as Akane could see the defined muscles revealed by Natsuki's rolled up sleeves. Akane's trained eyes also noticed that Natsuki, although seemingly relaxed, was actually positioned slightly on the balls of her feet, a typical stance in preparation for a fight. Shizuru-sama always brings along the strangest acquaintances.
Akane walked over to her mini-bar. "So, does anyone want a drink? Scotch, mojito, martini, tequila?"
Natsuki opted for a glass of scotch. Shizuru's expression remained polite, but her eyes lit up. "Tea, if you don't mind."
Natsuki muttered under her breath, "A whole list of good drinks available, and yet the woman chooses tea."
Shizuru shot Natsuki a mock-annoyed look, which Natsuki returned.
Akane raised an eyebrow at the camaraderie that was apparent between Shizuru and this mysterious foreigner. It was unlike her boss to be so…playful.
She shook her head when she noticed both women staring at her strangely and began preparing the drinks. "Right then, shall we get down to business?"
Shizuru sipped the tea in her hand, savoring its soothing warmth. "Actually, Akane-san, I think I'll pay a visit to Irina-chan first."
"Uh—of course, she should still be in the lab. We can discuss everything later."
Shizuru gracefully rose from the couch and headed into the elevator that was on the other side of Akane's office, which would lead to any floor of the syndicate's headquarters. Natsuki silently followed, her green eyes ever alert.
Akane thoughtfully drummed her fingers on the desk as they disappeared from view. She wasn't blind; there was obviously something going on between her boss and Natsuki Kruger. The question was, what? Ah, whatever. Shizuru-sama obviously trusts Kruger-san, and I trust her judgment.
Her thoughts turned to the conflict between the VCS and the yakuza, and her brow furrowed as she thought of a certain intriguing yakuza member. Kazu-kun, I hope you're safe right now, whatever you're doing.
-000-000-
Natsuki observed a variety of experiments occurring as she passed behind pane and pane of clear observation glass. "So this is your technological lab? It's almost on par with MI6's."
Shizuru looked pleased. "The best crooked scientists that money can buy. Their gadgets are certainly useful."
"Useful for what? To help you with your human trafficking, drug smuggling, illegal arms trade and whatnot?"
Shizuru looked surprised at Natsuki's blunt question. She looked at the agent, who at a fire burning in her viridian eyes.
"Ara, I had no idea that Natsuki was such an activist."
"I'm not."
"There's nothing worse than a hypocrite, wouldn't Natsuki agree? Our sins are the same."
"Are they? I'm only one person. You embody the crimes of an entire organization. How many people are members of your syndicate? I bet hundreds, if not thousands. It can't be too easy knowing that you're responsible for the crimes of all of them."
"It's not my fault that those same people are so willing to be corrupted, Natsuki. I'm just the puppeteer, if you will."
Natsuki hesitated. "I know better than most that the world is not a nice place, and it never will be. I lie, steal, cheat, kill…but in the end, I chose to live that way." She looked askance at Shizuru. "Did you?"
Shizuru's face was momentarily surprised before it was hidden behind an expression of neutrality. "Why wouldn't I?" She continued down the hallway.
Natsuki frowned. "That wasn't an answer!"
"It wasn't meant to be. Now hurry up, my best inventor often retires early."
Natsuki gritted her teeth in annoyance, but followed Shizuru into a brightly lit lab.
A teenager with short red hair and glasses was shouting impatiently at two lab assistants carrying a metal device.
"Put that over there! No, not that way—you'll break it!"
Shizuru and Natsuki came up behind the girl. Shizuru cleared her throat.
The teenager spun around. "What is it now—Shizuru-sama! You're back!" She beamed at the crime leader.
Shizuru smiled. "Irina-chan, it's good to see you again. How have things been?"
The redhead was bursting with excitement. "I have forty new prototypes I've been meaning to show you, and there's also—"
"Hold up." Natsuki interrupted. She pointed at the short teenager incredulously. "This kid is your best inventor?"
Irina huffed at being called a 'kid,' while Shizuru gave a noncommittal shrug.
"Irina Woods is a technological prodigy. I discovered her after she tried to hack into one of my databases." Shizuru gave the teen a fondly reproving look before walking over to inspect the tables across the room.
Irina laughed sheepishly before scowling at Natsuki. "I run this entire lab, not too shabby for a sixteen-year old, right? Who the hell are you, anyways?"
Natsuki bristled at the rude tone. "Natsuki Kruger. And when I was sixteen, I killed a man with a Ziploc bag; not too shabby, right?"
Irina glanced nervously back at Shizuru. "She's joking."
Shizuru sighed. "One can never tell with her."
Natsuki snapped her fingers. "Oi, I'm right here, you know."
Shizuru slyly crooked a finger at Natsuki. "Ara, that sexy British ass should be over here, next to me."
Both Irina and Natsuki's eyes widened. Natsuki began to sputter in outrage, while Irina tried not to laugh.
"Wha—Shizuru!"
"Yes, Natsuki?"
Irina's eyes widened even further. No honorifics? Man, they're totally hot for each other. Too bad for Shizuru-sama that Kruger-san's a jerk.
Natsuki grumbled and walked over to where Shizuru stood inspecting a strange gadget in her hands.
Irina scurried after the two women to make sure that they didn't break anything.
"So, Shizuru-sama, what do you need?"
Shizuru raised an eyebrow. "Can't I just visit my favorite scientist for no particular reason?"
Irina let out a dry laugh. "In our line of work, Shizuru-sama, nothing is strictly social."
"Too true. Actually, Natsuki has to make a phone call to MI6, in London. The line must be absolutely untraceable. Can you do it?"
Irina scoffed. "In my sleep. Give me a few minutes."
Shizuru turned to Natsuki. "You can tell Armitage what you had for dinner, the status of the global economy, whatever. Just don't tell her where we are."
Natsuki narrowed her eyes. "Why are you letting me contact her?"
"I promised, of course. Besides, she may have some information on my cousin."
Irina beckoned Natsuki to come to a LED screen. "I rigged up an untraceable video conference instead of a phone call, so MI6 can see you. I estimate that we have five minutes before they're able to trace the IP address, so make it snappy."
"Gotcha." The screen flickered to life, revealing a busy Haruka reading through papers. "Hey there, H."
Natsuki snickered as Haruka jumped violently in her seat and looked up.
"Kruger? How the hell did you turn on my computer?"
"Well—"
"Never mind that, where the fuck are you?"
Natsuki glanced at an impassive Shizuru standing off screen. "Apparently, I can't tell you that. I'm with Shizuru Viola, though."
Haruka growled. "I know that. What I want to know is: ARE YOU OUT OF YOUR FUCKING MIND?"
Natsuki, Shizuru, and Irina winced at the sheer volume of the blonde's voice.
"Listen, H, you have to trust me. Reito Kanzaki is the one out of his fucking mind, and if we don't do something, then we're all going to die."
Haruka glared at Natsuki. "So you fractionalize with Viola? That's fucking fantastic."
A light voice cut in on Haruka's side. "She means 'fraternize,' Natsuki."
Natsuki nodded in understanding. "Ah. Thanks, Yukino."
Haruka shook her head darkly. "Viola is both smart and untrustworthy, a very dangerous combination. How can you trust her?"
Natsuki slightly frowned. "As long as I keep my end of the bargain, I trust that Shizuru will do the same."
"S-Shizuru? What, has that woman gotten to you already? Good god, I thought you were stronger than this!"
"What are you talking about? Of course I'm strong, why wouldn't I be—"
"That viper seduced you, hasn't she?"
"WHAT?"
Natsuki's expression turned incredulous, not if a tad bit offended. Can't it be me seducing Shizuru, instead of vice-versa?
Shizuru decided now would be a good time to cut in.
"Ara, you wound me. 'Viper' is a little harsh, don't you think?"
Haruka recoiled from the screen with such intensity that Natsuki almost laughed. "YOU!"
Shizuru calmly smiled. "Me?"
"You better not double-cross Kruger, or you'll seriously regret it."
"I didn't know Haruka cared for Natsuki so much. Does Yukino know?"
A curious face popped over Haruka's voice. She looked troubled to see Shizuru, but smiled politely nonetheless. "Hello, Shizuru."
"Ara, Yukino! How have things been?"
Haruka turned red. "None of your business! Better enjoy your morally depraved lifestyle right now, as I'm making sure it's coming to an end very soon."
Red eyes looked amused. "What is with you secret agents and your annoying self-righteousness?"
"I'm not joking. I even know about the mole you planted in our headquarters." Haruka smirked victoriously.
"I didn't have a mole planted at MI6."
Haruka sputtered. "Then how the hell does VCS seem to anticipate our every move?"
"Ask Reito."
"Right, let me just call him up, because he's on my speed-dial."
Natsuki and Irina exchanged bewildered glances. The two heads of their respective organizations had reverted squabbling like children.
Irina coughed. "Shizuru-sama, do you know this woman?"
"Unfortunately. Armitage-san has been a thorn in my side for as long as I remember, Irina-chan."
Haruka looked outraged at the sight of Irina. "Child labor? You make me sick!"
"Says the woman sleeping with her secretary."
Yukino, Haruka, and Irina all flushed at this one.
Natsuki impatiently interrupted. "Are you two finished?"
The light in Haruka's eyes seemed to dim as she remembered her grudge towards Shizuru. "Hurry up with your mission and return to London, Kruger. Getting rid of the VCS is taking much longer than I thought."
Shizuru's expression turned neutral. "Good luck with that."
Haruka snorted. "I don't need anything from you anymore. Go drown in tea."
With that last snippy remark, the screen went blank. Natsuki looked at Shizuru to see a nostalgic expression on her face.
"Ara, I guess she's still angry…"
Natsuki turned to fully face Shizuru. "How do you know H? And don't tell me through work, because that is such bullshit."
Shizuru glanced at an obviously curious Irina. "I'll gladly tell Natsuki, but only if she asks nicely."
"Ask nicely? I don't do nice—"
"Ara, then it's a good thing I'm not nice at all. So Natsuki would rather do me instead?"
Natsuki threw her arms up in frustration and stalked off. Shizuru chuckled, but stopped when she noticed Irina was smirking knowingly at her. "What?"
"Oh, nothing. It's just that if Kruger-san had pigtails, you'd be pulling on them."
Shizuru frowned. "What's that supposed to mean?"
"You're like the little boy who picks on the girl he likes because he doesn't know how to express his feelings for her."
"I'm a little boy?"
Irina rolled her eyes. "Not the point, Shizuru-sama!"
Shizuru absent-mindedly patted Irina on the head as she followed Natsuki. "You're a smart kid, Irina-chan, but what would you know about liking someone?"
Irina sniffed and pushed her glasses up her nose. "A lot more than you two baka-heads."
London, England
"Impossible, frustrating woman!"
Yukino peered sympathetically over her glasses at Haruka. "You two still get on rather well."
Haruka gaped at the shorter brunette. "I think you need stronger glasses."
Yukino sighed at Haruka's obstinacy. "The Shizuru we knew is gone now, but I'm sure that she's still out there somewhere."
"What are you talking about? Shizuru Viola has always been conniving and sneaky, even in school!"
"And you were ever so brash and reckless."
Haruka frowned. "Never mind that. What are we going to do about that mole? He or she is making me lose that competition with Sergay, and badly."
"MI5 doesn't have the same problem of a snitch?"
Haruka groaned. "It's even worse. Sergay wouldn't say, but I learned from one of his chiefs that Sergay's the one getting anonymous tip-offs. The VCS obviously want him to win the wager, since he's not going to do much against them."
Yukino looked worried. "It must be more serious than I thought, if the VCS are willing to sacrifice their own enterprises."
"The trouble is, they're only superficial, meaningless victories. Sergay is only catching unimportant VCS members and cargos, so it isn't as severe to the VCS. Unfortunately, the Joint Intelligence Committee is not going to count the quality of the 'victories,' just the quantity. Which means that I'm going to be out of a job soon if something doesn't happen."
Yukino could only gaze sympathetically at her overworked girlfriend. Catching Yukino's look of pity, Haruka gruffly waved her off.
"Give me some space, Yukino, I can't consummate around your presence."
Yukino blushed. "Actually, you can."
"What was that?"
"I said it's 'concentrate,' Haruka."
Haruka scowled, and Yukino left her office with a small smile.
The short-haired brunette pulled out Natsuki's file and began to scribble some notes down regarding the Double-0 agent's current status.
She paused when a shadow fell over her desk, and looked up to see Tomoe Marguerite smirking down at her.
"Ah, T.A. Marguerite. Can I help you with something?"
The teal-haired woman flashed what she thought was a charming smile at Yukino. "Just dropping by to say hello, Miss Chrysant."
Yukino returned a fake smile at the woman's attempt to be suave. Natsuki does it better.
Tomoe picked up a small globe on Yukino's desk and lightly spun it with her fingers. "You seem to be in a good mood, Miss Chrysant. Did H finally give you a raise?" She laughed at her own joke.
Yukino politely laughed along. "No, nothing like that. Agent Kruger was calling, and I just stopped by to say hello."
The motion of the globe was suddenly stopped. "007? What's that dog up to now, stirring up more trouble between the bed sheets?"
Although Tomoe said that in jest, Yukino noticed the woman's tone seemed a bit forced. She regarded Tomoe warily. "Agent Kruger takes her position as a Double-0 agent very seriously. Are you trying to imply otherwise?"
Tomoe's grin slid off her face. "Take it easy, I was just making a joke." Sharp lilac eyes honed in onto the file on Yukino's desk.
Tomoe gripped the globe tightly, her eyes flashing in rage. Her knuckles turned white from the strain, and the woman looked positively murderous.
"Agent Marguerite?" Yukino drew back a little, wondering what had set Tomoe off.
"Kruger is in JAPAN?" The last word had been snarled out.
Yukino swiftly shut the folder and gazed at Tomoe neutrally. "That is classified information, T.A. Marguerite. You should probably go."
The teal-haired woman set down the globe with barely controlled rage and stalked out of the room. Yukino shook her head. Weird.
-000-000-
Tomoe turned on the earpiece in her ear, not caring if anyone saw or heard her. Her whole frame was shaking with anger.
"Hello." A smooth voice answered.
"Kanzaki!" Tomoe nearly screamed.
"Ahh, Miss Marguerite. Anything new to report?"
Tomoe belatedly checked to see if anyone had heard her outburst. She was walking along the Thames. Throngs of civilians doing their everyday things passed by her unnoticed. Tomoe deemed it was safe, although she decided to lower her voice to a hiss.
"You can tell me why, when you said that Shizuru returned to Japan, you failed to mention that Kruger was with her!"
There was a momentary silence on the other end. "Kruger is still alive? Ara, I had no idea."
"How could you not know this vital piece of information? Shizuru's your cousin, for fuck's sake!"
"Temper, temper, Miss Marguerite. I know you are enamored with my cousin, but that does not give you the right to shout at me."
Tomoe bit her tongue to prevent her from saying anything hasty. Reito's voice had a dangerous cadence to it.
Her own voice turned pleading. "Mr. Kanzaki, we had a deal: I pass on MI6 secrets, and you give me Shizuru."
The voice on the line laughed darkly. "You think you're the only informant I have? No, Miss Marguerite, you are just a pawn in my game, and frankly, I tire of your incessant whining."
"I apologize, Mr. Kanzaki—"
"12 hours."
"Pardon?"
Reito laughed cruelly. Ice crept into Tomoe's veins.
"You've outlived your usefulness. 12 hours before I get someone to kill you; be grateful I've given you that long."
He hung up. Tomoe stood in the middle of the sidewalk, her breathing labored. Her eyes were focused on the dark waters of the Thames, yet she saw nothing. Tomoe had been threatened with death before, but this was the first time she had taken it seriously.
Tomoe started to panic, like a rabbit in a trap. "Oh shit oh shit ohshitohshitohshit…"
"What's the matter, Marguerite? You look a bit scared; did your conscience finally catch up to ya?"
She whirled around and spotted two familiar figures. Zhang! Hallard! MI6 will protect me, right?
Tomoe's terrified expression turned into one of relief. "Zhang, you have no idea—"
Nao greeted her with a punch.
(1): The yakuza derive their name from the hand ya-ku-za in the card game oicho-kabu. It's the worst hand in the game.
Heh, readers seemed to enjoy my omake more than the actual story (but that's okay!) I wasn't sure whether to put this one up, as it's not as entertaining… but what the hell.
So when you watch James Bond movies, you wonder: Why do bad guys always attack one at a time, and why do they have horrible aim? I mean, you have thousands of bullets, just SHOOT the guy already.
Warning: A shitload of profanity near the end. (Oops, did I just write shit? Darn, I just did it again.)
—Omake?—
Natsuki: All right you bastards, come at me. Not all at once, though, it'll throw me off my game.
Henchman #1: Ooh, I call first dibs!
Henchman #2: [pouts] Aww, I wanted to get severely injured and hospitalized first!
Hench(wo)man #3: [coyly] Punish me as hard as you can, Agent Kruger.
Natsuki: [looks like WTF] Settle down, there's plenty of ass kicking to go around.
Hench(wo)man #3: Beat me like you own me, you naughty, naughty girl.
Natsuki: [seriously freaked out] Okay, you have to stop talking.
[Henchman #1 suddenly pulls out a gun and shoots her]
Natsuki: Jesus-fuck-me that hurt! What the fuck was that—You SHOT me? You're not supposed to actually hit me!
Henchman #1: S-s-sorry, but you're only two feet away from me! It'd be harder NOT to hit you!
Henchman #2: Question!
Natsuki: [aggravated] WHAT!
Henchman #2: How come we always miss when we fire thousands of rounds at you? I mean, c'mon, what are the chances of that?
Natsuki: It's called the Principle of Evil Marksmanship! Google it!
Henchman #1: Why can't I have a name? I want a name like yours! 'Natsuki' sounds nice.
Hench(wo)man #3: [lecherously] Especially when it's being screamed from my mouth.
Natsuki: [Flies into Christian Bale-esque rant] Are you all a bunch of fuckin' amateurs? What don't you fuckin' understand? No! No, you can't have any fuckin' names, that's not how it's done in this business! I'm gonna fuckin' kick your fuckin' ass!
Henchman #1: [whispers to Henchman #2] Isn't that the point?
Hench(wo)man #3: [dreamily] I love it when she gets rough.
—End?— -.-'
Questions? Comments? Click on that lil' link below
