Maiya's family history as a member of the Hattori clan all but guaranteed that no one would question her pedigree, and to place the front that she had the money that the clan used to command was no big challenge for her as she knew clothing design and its marketable skills inside and out. It was teaching the more casual woman the niceties of high society associations and parties. Looking around the room for her "husband" she thought back to a week ago when she took temporary leave of her senses and agreed to this.
The lunch invitation from Vincent was a common thing for them when he was in town and off duty. Usually they would go for a walk to one of the near by cafes if the weather permitted, or they'd stay in at Maiya's if the weather was inclement. Today was strange as she would be going out in poor weather, picked up by Reno and Rude to attend a luncheon at the WRO headquarters. No longer full time specialists for the WRO, Reno and Rude were trainers for the advanced classes of specialists. Those who would have been Turks had ShinRa still been around.
In the 34 years since she met Vincent, she had seen great changes in the world. Most due to the efforts of the WRO once it got off the ground, not as a governing body, but as a semi-militant peace keeping force dedicated to what was right for the planet. Once the majority of the world understood that, they were more amiable to the idea of letting the group have more liberties in their towns and villages. What was good for the planet, reciprocated into what was good for the people.
Over the last few months however there had been rumors whispering about the city from the most unlikeliest of sources about end times and how the WRO was leading them all to slaughter like ShinRa had in the past. Rumors of militias forming for no other reason than to fight off the WRO and keep control of their own lands. Fear runs deep in the hearts of those who remembered the 5 year period of pain and suffering that started with the awakening of the people to ShinRa's true motives and the death of its President to the close call every life on the planet shared when Omega and Chaos were beckoned forth for their ultimate purposes. Fears that were coming to light again, this time in a younger generation. One that had never seen the horrors of a planet destroying Meteor spell or the potential for the end of the world at the hands of the final, and greatest weapon and protector.
Vincent had been the one to ask her to keep an ear out for this reason. She was known to associate with members of the WRO, but only in a friendly capacity. She was still trusted by all of her customers as she worked still, but shorter hours as her hands pained her with arthritis on odd weather days and her eyesight was getting worse as time marched on. From the looks she had been getting and from how she noticed Reno and Rude watching their surroundings more closely she figured this lunch would be more of a Q&A over really good food, than the informal gathering she was originally hoping for.
By the time the meeting was done Maiya wondered just what in the hell possessed these people to propose some of the things they did, and in her case, what had possessed her to go along with the idea?! She now had one week of intensive training by the people who knew her best to prepare her for the role of Hattori Matriarch. All to get Vincent, who now had the role of her MUCH younger husband, into the party where the WRO were convinced that one of the financial backers of the group or groups trying to upset the balance of things would be at.
While she ate lunch and listened to the others speaking she finally heard her name come up in the conversation. Looking up to indicate her attention, not that it had wandered, she heard. "Madam Hattori, we would like for you to participate in this mission in your position as Hattori Clan Matriarch."
Maiya nearly spat her soup across the table in shock before swallowing quickly and replying with her still sharp tongue. "I'm an old woman, not one of your operatives trained from early age to go sneaking around for information." Three of the people at the table had to suppress smirks knowing that the 'old woman' could put any one of their operatives in their place with just her vocabulary. Unfortunately the man at the head of the table was not Reeve Tuesti as the former head of the WRO had passed away from heart failure just a few short years ago. This new leader had the trust and leadership of the organization and understood her connection to it, but still did not understand completely that she did not take orders from anyone, not even her closest confidant Vincent.
"What the boss is trying to say is that we're in a tight spot where you'd be able to help us get into a place to get some information." Reno started, pulling a folder out after glancing at his partner and getting the OK. "Here's what we do know, Vincent should have called you last night to explain some of this."
Maiya took the folder and looked over at Vincent who shrugged slightly as if to say he didn't know what all happened. "I was out of my home last night. I had gone to see a performance and didn't get back in till late. Vincent probably got my answering machine and didn't leave a message as I didn't have any when I came back home." Flicking through the papers she read quickly after putting her reading glasses on.
"You want me to go to a high society event, and get this information alone?" Her voice dropped to warning tones that have Vincent, Rude and Reno all on alert. The man leading the meeting however either wasn't paying attention or didn't care that she was about to explode in a most spectacular fashion as he answered.
"Of course not. Reno and Rude will assign a team to back you up, Vincent will be going with you inside." Looking at the group he noticed that three of his table mates were on alert and watching the fourth carefully.
Sarcasm dripped. "Wonderful." Pulling her glasses off her nose she folded them up and used them as a pointer to emphasize her speech. "And just HOW are you planning on getting Vincent into this event?"
Vincent was the only one of three now that didn't look like he wanted to find a bomb shelter. Inwardly however he knew that this was going to get ugly real quick and interceded before the WRO commander sunk himself deeper than he already was. "The plan is fairly simple Maiya. I will be going in as your husband. The cover story will be that I married into the Hattori clan to preserve it after a romance that lead to a marriage based on love. There is some amount of old world thought to this but no one will argue it, as the Hattori clan is not one that anyone wants to see disappear."
Rude and Reno settled in now that the potential bomb in the situation had been defused. Maiya was listening, somewhat irritated still as it was obvious she didn't like the plan, but she was still listening. "Vincent, just how in Gaea's name did these idiots talk you into this? You do realize what this will require of you right?"
Vincent nodded, he had been to these functions before as a Turk, but this would be the first time he would be going under cover, and with someone he knew on his arm like this. This couldn't be messed up. If Maiya got hurt because they slipped up anywhere on this mission, he'd never forgive himself.
Sighing Maiya looked at Reno and Rude. "I want you two on site the night this happens. I don't care how good your rookies are, I want people I know there. I haven't done a high society gig since I told them that the Hattori clan was stepping down as Cloth Masters nearly 46 years ago. The WRO is also compensating me for the time I have to keep my shop closed to prepare for this. I read that file. I have a week to prepare clothing for myself and Vincent that would be appropriate for this. Not to mention get him caught up on clan politics and everything else he needs to know to pass off as a wedded member of the clan."
As Maiya started fuming about how much work she had ahead of her in the coming week Rude looked over at the WRO leader and tilted his head to the side. Reno followed his lead. "We told you she wasn't going to take this well. You have to give her time to prepare if its going to involve anything where she's going out in public and has to be in the correct fashion. Another week to prepare for this would have probably made her more amiable to this idea."
Over time Reno and Rude had come to know the woman and knew what made her tick socially almost as well as Vincent did. This did much to help smooth over rough spots between her and any dealings with the WRO. Reno's no beating around the bush means of talking to her helped as much as Rude's stolid manner. They were two she trusted almost as much as she did Vincent. Nodding in agreement that another week to prepare would have helped she signed as she closed her eyes for a moment to try and pull costuming ideas together. Vincent would be easy and jotting down the notes on the back of one of the operations papers while her eyes were still closed she also jotted down what she'd need to make her own outfit for the night. "Get me this by tomorrow and I'll be able to do it."
Taking the paper Reno glanced over it before passing it on to the WRO commander. As he looked at it he nearly turned purple. "We can't get this on such short notice. Some of these materials are costly, and rare to find, you of all people should know that!"
"Not my problem. You wanted my help, that is what I need to give it." Reno tapped the woman's hand and winked. Maiya took the message that the eternal trickster and the others would make sure she had what she needed, she stood. "I think I've had enough lunch. I need to get back to my shop and prepare to close down for a week." As she left Rude looked at the man still looking at the paper at the head of the table.
"You would get her help more often, and easier if you learned to get along with her. She doesn't ask for much." With that he, Vincent and Reno stood and followed Maiya out to get her home so she could work out her plan for the week.
Now here she was, making small talk with women who ranged from half her age to nearly 20 years older. Her 'husband' was across the room making conversation with the men, having also been intensely trained in the last week about the history, traditions, tactics, and means of the Hattori clan.
Having known him as long as she had Maiya could tell that he was barely hanging on to his patience. There was a tightness about his shoulders that screamed it that most wouldn't look for as he looked relaxed and seemed to be enjoying the company he was in. However he would occasionally glance back across the room to check on his 'wife' and could see that she was only slightly more comfortable in her position than he was. When he heard that background music get progressively louder he smiled and excused himself from the group.
He cut a fine figure this evening dressed in a custom tailored tux. Instead of cummerbund he chose to wear his red dragon scale vest that complimented Maiya's look effortlessly. Instead of his hair being held up and back by his bandanna, he allowed for Maiya to pull the majority of it back into a braid, leaving two thick locks to frame his face. It was this look that drew the eyes of people around the room as he walked across the floor to Maiya. For this occasion he dredged up the clawed gauntlet and bracer set that made his hands match when he had first woken from Hojo's horrific experiments. Tonight it served to his disguise as he had been an amputee young in life and the replacements he had gotten were all he could afford to get and upkeep until he had met and wooed the Hattori Matriarch. Not a whole truth, but not a whole lie either. Holding his hand out to her he asked, "Would the lady honor me with a dance?" And returned her smile as he pulled her up from her chair effortlessly and lead her out for her first dance of the evening.
Maiya was a knockout herself that evening, dressed in a dark red ball gown that drew the eye with its gold bead work and corset style lacing that snugged everything in for her. Her hair was pulled back in a simple french twist that looked like it had been frosted as her body was starting to catch up to her age and had started to silver her hair. Vincent wasn't going to say a word, but she had caused him to nearly choke on himself when he had seen her as she opened the door to her apartment. Still, he had managed appropriate compliments that made his oldest friend blush to rival his vest before offering her his arm for the evening. She grabbed her cane, as it would be her affectation for the evening, as well as may prove necessary if her knee decided to bum out on her at an in opportune time. Ever style conscious the piece had been a gift from Vincent a few years back out of the vaults of the mansion, allowing her to maintain her independence once her knees decided they didn't want to play nice so often anymore.
Both were by no means the most fancy dressed couple there, but their movements and time worn knowledge of each other lent them a grace and elegance that allowed them to surpass the expectations of those that had attended to see the reemergence of the Hattori Clan. As they moved across the floor one could see that they were in conversation with each other, and given how they looked it was pleasant lovers conversation. Nothing like most had expected of a relationship between the elder matriarch and a man all but half her age.
Had anyone been able to hear them though they would have heard something entirely contrary to how they looked. As agreed upon they used the dances to keep in touch and keep information flowing between the two of them. Maiya had an amazing memory for things mentioned that didn't sound right and when added together with everything that Vincent had picked up they were able to paint a startlingly complete picture of how things were put together.
Continuing this way, Maiya laid down law as leader of the Hattori clan, and Vincent charmed the women around her with his manners, speech and good looks. With the men, they played in reverse with Vincent laying down the law and Maiya charming the men, and when they were questioned about their faithfulness to each other they provided a unified front that no one in the room could break.
By the end of the night, Maiya was exhausted but doing her damnedest to hide it, while Vincent made excuses for them both and charmed them out of the ballroom to collect their things. By the time they were both in the limo and on their way home Maiya was resting against Vincent with his arm wrapped around her now that he had removed his gauntlet and bracer. Pulling out his phone he called into headquarters only to leave a brief message, "Mission success, briefing in the morning."