DISCLAIMER: I don't own anything, including my life.
A/N: This chapter was getting long, so I decided to break it up.
Japan
Monte Carlo
PRESENT
Sitting across from Shizuru, Chie stares out the private plane's window lost in her thoughts. Shizuru glances up from her novel, looks at Chie and smiles.
"Unfortunately, it never gets easier," Shizuru says.
"Huh?" Chie says startled out of her thoughts by Shizuru's voice.
"Unfortunately it never gets easier…being away from them," Shizuru repeats.
"Great," Chie says sadly.
"Duty is just as powerful as love," Shizuru says and adds silently, "Sometimes."
SEVERAL YEARS AGO
Baccarat, the game of gentlemen, and this evening in Monte Carlo, one beautiful lady. Shizuru Viola was playing quite well, even though her mind was not on the game. As she looked around the table, she sighed deeply. Usually, there were beautiful women around for her to admire and if she felt so inclined, take to her bed. Tonight, she was the only beautiful woman at the table and she was quickly growing irritated by the men's lecherous stares.
She was about to leave the game when an alluring woman smoothly entered the Baccarat room. Shizuru's eyes drank in the tall beauty. She was dressed in a modified man's tuxedo. The jacket was shortened and cut to accentuate her female curves. In the lapel sat a rose. Under the jacket was a form-fitted white tuxedo shirt with traditional black tie. She was not wearing a cummerbund. The traditional tuxedo pants were replaced with tight black leather pants tailored to match the jacket and hugged her ass perfectly. Shizuru had to consciously fight her urge to jump the woman right there on the Baccarat table.
The woman smoothly sat in the seat next to Shizuru. Both women smiled seductively when their eyes met. The other woman unconsciously bit her lower lip as her eyes slowly took in the beautiful chestnut-haired lady in a short slinky purple dress, with slits up both sides, providing a teasing view of the long tone legs encased within. The plunging neckline went clear down to her navel. Primal sexuality reflected in the other woman's eyes and caused Shizuru's cheeks to blush a bit. The woman played well and Shizuru was forced to pay attention to the game; however, every single time their eyes met, Shizuru was awash with lust.
After several hours of play, the two suddenly found themselves alone at the table. Time had stood still for them. The woman smiled seductively at Shizuru, which caused every nerve in Shizuru's body to come alive all at once.
"My, my, it looks as if we are the only ones left," Shizuru purred.
"Well, it is late," the woman replied as she looked at her Rolex Submariner wristwatch.
"One last game? Winner takes all," Shizuru asked wickedly.
"The stakes?" the woman asked seductively.
Shizuru just smiled.
The next morning, Shizuru woke to the sound of knocking on her hotel room door. She slipped her silk robe over her naked body and went to the door.
"Yes?" Shizuru asked.
"Room Service," a female voice called out.
"I didn't order Room Service," Shizuru replied and reached for the letter opener on the room desk.
"Someone ordered breakfast for this room," the Room Service attendant said.
Shizuru opened the door to a cheerful young woman dressed in a hotel staff uniform with a breakfast cart in front of her. Shizuru motioned her to enter the room. As the Room Service attendant set up the breakfast cart, Shizuru intently watched her, making sure to keep the letter opener well hidden up the sleeve of her silk robe.
"Thank you," Shizuru said and handed the Room Service attendant a tip.
"No miss, I've already been compensated," the Room Service attendant said as she refused the offered tip.
Shizuru let the young woman out and walked over to the breakfast cart. A perfect single rose stood in a slender vase. Leaning against the vase was a hand-written note. Shizuru opened and read it:
Dear Beautiful Lady,
I figured you would be hungry after last night, so I took the liberty and ordered you breakfast. I hope you like it.
Thank you for an incredible night.
Shizuru smiled as she remembered what an incredible and responsive lover the other woman was the entire night. She looked at the breakfast set before her. Apparently, her mystery lover was also a mind reader, because all of Shizuru's favorites were there, as well as tea, instead of coffee.
After breakfast, Shizuru lounged by the pool with her dark sunglasses on and ears open. She reclined on a poolside chaise in a skimpy lavender bikini, drinking a cold tea drink from a bottle. Shizuru preferred to drink from the bottle, because of how sensuous the smooth cool glass felt on her lips. Several hotel guests lounging near Shizuru, mostly male, but some female, watched in rapt awe as the chestnut-haired beauty sexually charged something as simple as drinking cold tea from a bottle. One of the women enthralled by Shizuru's special talent was a certain dark-haired woman, who sat at the poolside bar with her comrade in arms.
"What the hell are you staring at?" the short-haired woman asked as she playfully smacked the dark-haired woman in the arm.
Normally, this behavior would have earned the short-haired woman a quick trip across a room on her backside, but not this time.
"Her," the dark-haired woman motioned to Shizuru with her head.
"Yeow! Mama hurt me," the short-haired woman let out a wolf call.
This earned the short-haired woman a swift trip off her barstool and into the nearest bush. Unfortunately, this also caught Shizuru's attention. She tipped her sunglasses down with her index finger and peered at the source of the commotion. She giggled when she saw a woman extricating herself from a bush. By the time the angry woman returned to confront her dark-haired friend, the other woman was already gone. The short-haired woman frantically scanned the immediate area, but didn't see her friend.
The angry woman was mumbling to herself as she unlocked and opened her hotel room door. As she entered the room, a familiar voice startled her.
"Hey Red, you really shouldn't talk to yourself. Others will think you're crazy," the dark-haired woman chuckled.
"Fuck!" Red froze mid-step and glared at the dark-haired woman who was seated with her arms crossed across her chest.
"Took you long enough," the dark-haired woman said.
"You bitch! What's the big idea throwing me into a bush?" Red complained.
"You nearly blew our cover," the dark-haired woman bit back.
"What? Is the infamous Ice Wolf scared of a little Naicho special investigator?" Red taunted.
"Naicho?!" Natsuki exclaimed surprised.
"Yep, and apparently their best," Red grinned and after seeing the blush on Natsuki's cheeks teased, "…at everything."
"What the hell are you insinuating?" Natsuki narrowed her eyes and growled.
Red knelt down in front of Natsuki and snaked her upper body up Natsuki's, until her lips were next to the raven-haired woman's ear.
"I can still smell her," Red hissed softly in Natsuki's ear, causing the latter to shudder. "Tea and something…else," Red continued.
"Stop it," Natsuki said half-heartedly.
"C'mon Natsuki, I know you want it as badly as I do," Red hissed softly in Natsuki's opposite ear as she continued to snake herself around Natsuki's upper body, "I can feel it."
Red flicked her tongue quickly in and out of Natsuki's ear, eliciting a low growling moan.
"Nao…stop," Natsuki said weakly, closing her eyes.
Nao smoothly slid her hand under Natsuki's shirt and ran a long fingernail over a very erect nipple straining against a lacy bra.
"Natsu-ki…," Nao hissed as she quickly unbuttoned Natsuki's shirt and wrapped her mouth around the raven-haired woman's painfully erect nipple through the lacy bra.
Natsuki threw back her head, moaned deeply, and buried her hands in short red hair. Nao playfully bit down on Natsuki's nipple.
"Damn it," Natsuki growled. She grabbed Nao by her armpits, stood up, and threw Nao backwards on to one of the two beds.
Natsuki glared at Nao, who was lying on her back in just her lacy panties, beckoning Natsuki to join her. Natsuki stood her ground; she glared at Nao for about a second before throwing off her shirt and jumping on top of the red-head. Natsuki growled as she wrapped her mouth around the side of Nao's neck. She grazed her teeth against the soft flesh. Nao threw her head back and moaned loudly.
"Natsuki, harder…PLEASE," Nao begged and raked her long fingernails across Natsuki's back.
Natsuki woke up sore and achy. Beside her, facing in the opposite direction, Nao slept curled up in the fetal position. Natsuki rose, stretched, and walked into the bathroom. Under the harsh fluorescent lights, Natsuki saw all the scratches, bite marks, and small bruises on her naked body.
'Sex is always so rough with that woman,' Natsuki thought as she stepped into the shower.
Natsuki felt a little less achy after her hot shower. She dried herself and got dressed for the evening. Natsuki was tying her black tuxedo tie in front of the mirror facing the beds when Nao spoke.
"Another evening of Baccarat? Or something more exciting?" asked Nao, her voice tinged with venom.
"More exciting, I hope. You?" Natsuki replied as she looked in the mirror at Nao, lying naked in bed, propped up against the headboard.
'That tattoo never fails to give me the creeps,' Natsuki thought as she looked at the detailed black widow spider tattoo perched above Nao's left breast.
"Definitely something more exciting," Nao grinned.
"Use the communicator if you need me," Natsuki smiled as she grabbed her tuxedo jacket on the way out the door.
"Oh…I will," Nao hissed after Natsuki was out of the room.
As Natsuki walked through the casino, making her way to the Baccarat Room, she heard familiar laughter, scanned the area, and spotted her target. She was having dinner with an older well-dressed gentleman in one of the hotel's fine restaurants, at a table outside the main dining area. Glancing around, Natsuki located and settled into a prime surveillance spot. She reached inside her jacket, took out her palmtop computer, and connected with C.O.D.E.'s mainframe. After an hour, the couple left the restaurant. Natsuki covertly followed them.
Early the next morning, Natsuki entered her hotel room. She was exhausted from an entire night's work, but it proved fruitful and Koto had more information to work with now. Natsuki flipped on the television for the morning news and stripped for bed.
Several hours later, Natsuki woke with a start. The television was still on and now some idiotic situation comedy was blaring on it. Natsuki silenced it with the remote and stretched. She looked at her watch and realized she had slept longer than she wanted. As she glanced around the room, she noticed Nao hadn't returned yet. She showered and dressed casually for dinner. After dinner, on her way to locate tonight's target, the special communicator in her pocket violently vibrated. She quickly moved to a secure location and slid open the communicator. Her eyes widened as she looked at the photo displayed on the screen.
Shizuru felt intense pain shoot through both arms. She slowly opened her eyes, which were greeted by a bright light shining on her. Her wrists were bound together above her head and she was suspended about two feet off the ground. Shizuru narrowed her eyes and saw a figure with its back to her. Using one of her arms to shield her eyes from the light, Shizuru was able to see the figure was a woman. The woman's backless shirt revealed an intricate tattoo across her upper back and over each shoulder cap. The pain in Shizuru's arms increased as the blood continued to drain down. Involuntarily, she left out a groan. Upon hearing this, the woman quickly spun around to face Shizuru.
"Ah…you're awake," the woman said amused and walked over to Shizuru.
"Who are you? Why am I hanging here?" Shizuru asked.
"Special Investigator Shizuru Viola, I brought you here for interrogation," the woman hissed into Shizuru's ear.
"Who are you with?" Shizuru asked, her voice cracking a bit.
"That's none of your damn business. You can call me The Red Spider," Nao spat.
"Do you realize who you're dealing with here?" Shizuru said angrily.
"Yes, Naicho. Japan's intelligence agency," Nao dismissed Shizuru's show of force.
"Then you're aware they will come for me," Shizuru said returning to her normal lilting voice.
"Only IF they can find you…or your remains," Nao hissed and flipped open her knife blade.
Nao ran the extremely sharp blade against the front of Shizuru's blouse to demonstrate its sharpness. The blade sliced through the fabric and Shizuru's blouse opened to reveal a lacy lavender bra.
"Nice. Very nice," Nao said as she looked at Shizuru.
As Nao reached out, Shizuru involuntarily flinched. Nao flashed an evil grin.
"I'm not going to hurt you…yet," Nao hissed in Shizuru's ear.
Nao unsnapped the front clasp of Shizuru's bra, freeing Shizuru's breasts. Nao smiled broadly at the sight. As Nao reached for a breast, a commanding voice stopped her.
"Don't you dare touch her!" the dark-haired woman commanded as she approached Nao.
"What are you doing here?" Nao hissed.
"I knew I couldn't trust you," the dark-haired woman expertly disarmed Nao.
"I wasn't going to do anything…much," Nao said with an evil grin.
"Sure you weren't," the dark-haired woman said sarcastically as she looked at Shizuru.
Shizuru struggled to see the other woman's face, but it was obscured in the shadows. She thought she heard the voice before, but could not place it.
"What do you want with me?" Shizuru asked.
"We have some questions for you," the dark-haired woman replied.
"I am Special Investigator Shizuru Viola…," Shizuru began.
"Well, it looks like we're not going to get any answers the easy way," the dark-haired woman sighed and sternly added, "Throw her in a holding cell." The dark-haired woman returned Nao's knife to her.
Nao watched the dark-haired woman walk away. The knife blade sliced through Shizuru's bonds, dropping the chestnut-haired beauty violently to the floor. Shizuru recovered quickly and stood.
"Don't make me kill you…yet," threatened Nao, holding her knife by the tip of the blade, between her index finger and thumb, poised for throwing.
Shizuru stared at Nao while she rubbed her sore wrists. With her eyes locked with Nao's, Shizuru rubbed both wrists at the same time. She stealthily hooked her fingertips onto the throwing knives hidden in her sleeve cuffs. With lightening speed, she threw two throwing knives at Nao. One knife embedded in Nao's throwing wrist, disarming her and the other in her thigh, bringing her to one knee. Shizuru swiftly tackled Nao, pinning the red-head to the floor with the knife from Nao's thigh pressed against the red-head's throat.
"Don't make me kill you…yet," Shizuru said evenly as she pulled out the knife in Nao's wrist.
Nao's mind raced as she scrambled for a solution to her predicament. Shizuru pulled Nao up, keeping the knife blade pressed against the red-head's throat.
"Get us out of here and don't try anything," Shizuru said and pressed the knife blade into Nao's throat for emphasis.
They made their way slowly through the complex toward the exit. Shizuru held the knife blade against Nao's throat as she pushed Nao forward in front of her. As they passed yet another doorway in the hall, Shizuru felt a sharp pain in the small of her back and she blacked out.
"Can't the infamous Red Spider handle one little Naicho special investigator?" the dark-haired woman taunted.
"Fuck off," Nao hissed.
Shizuru awoke naked and strapped spread-eagle to a table. Nao was glaring down at Shizuru.
"The little bitch is finally awake," Nao called.
"Good," the dark-haired woman answered as she approached Nao.
Shizuru struggled against her bonds, but they didn't budge an inch.
"You were a bad girl," the dark-haired woman lightly scolded Shizuru.
Shizuru's eyes widened as she recognized the woman.
"Special Investigator Tomoe Marguerite! What is the meaning of this?" Shizuru demanded.
Tomoe's lips slowly curled into an evil smile as her eyes lustfully licked Shizuru's naked body.
"As I said before…we have some questions for you," Tomoe said sarcastically.
"Regarding what?" Shizuru asked.
"Your activities as a Naicho traitor," Tomoe spat.
"A WHAT?!" Shizuru yelled angrily.
"You heard me," Tomoe said as she unconsciously ran her hand up Shizuru's thigh.
"Don't touch me!" Shizuru commanded.
"Like you can stop me," Tomoe smirked.
"I am NOT a traitor!" Shizuru exclaimed.
"Ah yes, traitor is such a harsh word. How about double agent?" Tomoe said and she roughly twisted one of Shizuru's nipples.
Shizuru stifled an outcry of pain.
"Hurt?" Tomoe taunted.
"I…am NOT a traitor," Shizuru repeated masking her pain.
"Bitch! Give it up! Our investigations led us to you," Nao interjected from across the table.
"You're wrong," Shizuru said.
"Just tell us who you're working for!" Nao demanded.
"I am NOT a traitor," Shizuru repeated.
"The hell with this! Let's get started!" Nao yelled frustrated and flipped open her knife blade.
"STOP!" Natsuki yelled.
"Ice Wolf! We caught her!" Nao yelled triumphantly.
"What the hell are you doing here?" Tomoe asked as Natsuki approached the table.
"Putting an end to this farce," Natsuki growled in Tomoe's face.
"Ice Wolf?" Nao asked puzzled.
"Shizuru Viola is NOT the traitor," Natsuki said and looked at Nao.
"But…," Nao stuttered.
"You're wrong, Ice Wolf," Tomoe said to bring Natsuki's attention back to her.
"…the investigation…," Nao continued.
"Is correct," Tomoe said as she locked eyes with Natsuki.
"No," Natsuki said staring down Tomoe.
"Perhaps Ice Wolf's judgment is clouded by her feelings for Shizuru?" Tomoe hissed as she searched Natsuki's eyes.
"Ice Wolf?" Nao asked hurt and shocked. "You…and…her?"
"My judgment is not clouded by anything," Natsuki said firmly as she continued to stare down Tomoe.
"Ah, but I think it is," Tomoe said as she moved away from Natsuki, slowly making her way closer to Nao, never breaking eye contact with Natsuki.
"She's just another one night stand," Natsuki said sternly, hoping her eyes weren't conveying otherwise to Tomoe.
"Really?" Tomoe questioned as she caressed Shizuru's cheek, watching Natsuki's eyes for a reaction.
Shizuru moved her face away from Tomoe's hand.
"Yes," Natsuki narrowed her eyes.
"Honestly?" Tomoe questioned as she caressed one of Shizuru's breasts, the same one she tortured earlier.
Natsuki continued to stare down Tomoe, who had now made her way next to Nao. Tomoe violently twisted the nipple, causing Shizuru to cry out in pain. Natsuki tore her eyes away from Tomoe to check on Shizuru. When Natsuki looked back at Tomoe, she saw Nao staring incredulously at her.
"See, The Ice Wolf does have feelings for Shizuru," Tomoe leaned close to Nao's ear and softly accused.
"How…could…you? You've betrayed us!" Nao said angrily.
"Damn it Red, listen to me!" Natsuki said sternly, "That bitch is lying."
"Am I?" Tomoe asked sarcastically and twisted Shizuru's nipple again, eliciting another outcry of pain.
"Don't touch her!" Natsuki growled.
"TRAITOR!" Nao yelled and swiftly moved towards Natsuki.
Nao delivered a right cross and sent Natsuki flying backward onto the floor. Nao straddled Natsuki and began pummeling her.
"RED! RED! Listen to me!" Natsuki said as she defended herself against Nao's blows. "TOMOE IS THE TRAITOR!"
Nao continued to pummel Natsuki, until Natsuki's words registered. As soon as Nao realized what Natsuki said, she stopped and looked into Natsuki's eyes.
"Are you sure?" Nao asked incredulous.
"Yes. Koto confirmed it," Natsuki assured and sighed.
Nao got off Natsuki and helped her up. Both women turned and faced Tomoe, who had her gun draw on them and was grinning.
"Perhaps The Ice Wolf should explain this to you?" Tomoe said as she threw a camera phone to Nao.
Nao caught the thrown camera phone, flipped it open and looked at the display. Her eyes glossed over, she closed the camera phone, and clenched it tightly in her fist.
"Red? What is it?" Natsuki asked tentatively, sensing Nao's state of mind.
"LIAR!" Nao yelled and plunged her knife into Natsuki's side.
When Natsuki felt the blade tear into her side, she knew Nao was running on pure emotion, because with Nao's blade skills, she would've otherwise delivered a deadly strike.
"Red…," Natsuki cried out.
Nao pulled her blade out and poised for another strike, but Natsuki stopped her with the barrel of her gun against Nao's forehead. Natsuki pressed her wound with one hand and held her gun with the other.
"Back off!" Natsuki said as she backed Nao further away.
With Natsuki's keen hearing, she heard the click of Tomoe's gun. Natsuki swiftly pulled her second side arm and pointed it at Tomoe. The wound on Natsuki's side was bleeding steadily now.
"I wouldn't do that," Natsuki threatened.
"How long do you expect to last?" Tomoe asked sarcastically.
"As long as necessary," Natsuki said through clenched teeth, as she tried to ignore the pain.
"Red, let me see it. Open it and slide it over," Natsuki said.
Nao slid the camera phone over to Natsuki and she caught it under her boot. She cautiously leaned down, picked it up between her pinky and thumb, and looked at the display. It was a digital photo of her and Shizuru locked in a lover's embrace. Natsuki went cold. There was no explanation for it and she knew it.
"Well?" Tomoe hissed.
"Red, I'm sorry," Natsuki said and staggered a bit from the loss of blood.
Tomoe seized the opportunity and pulled her trigger, but Natsuki, being C.O.D.E.'s firearms agent, shot and killed Tomoe first, with a single shot to the head. Unfortunately, in all the commotion, Nao was able to get to Shizuru.
"Drop it!" Nao demanded as she held her knife against Shizuru's jugular vein.
Natsuki quickly dropped one gun, pressed on her wound to minimize the bleeding, and drew the other gun on Nao.
"Don't do it," Natsuki threatened.
"Drop it," Nao repeated her demand.
"Red, check with Koto," Natsuki pleaded.
"LIAR!" Nao screamed and pressed the blade against Shizuru's jugular vein, breaking the skin a little.
"Red, please calm down. Just check with Koto and confirm what I told you," Natsuki pleaded, knowing Nao was dead serious about killing Shizuru.
"WHY? You lied about this bitch!" yelled Nao, her voice full of pain.
Nao drew her blade lightly across Shizuru's jugular vein, drawing blood. Natsuki saw Shizuru's eyes widen with fear. Natsuki cocked her gun's hammer.
"RED! Don't make me have to shoot you," Natsuki pleaded.
"Go ahead, shoot me. You've already killed me," Nao spat.
"Red...check with Koto…PLEASE," Natsuki pleaded.
"Why? She'll probably lie as well," Nao said.
Natsuki knew this was not going to end well.
"Nao…please," Natsuki begged.
"Natsuki…," Nao said and lowered her blade.
Natsuki moved towards Nao, jarring her back to the moment.
"BITCH!" Nao screamed and drew the blade across Shizuru's jugular vein as Natsuki pulled the trigger.