Chapter Two: The New Neighbor
The Leverage team arrived at 1235 Cherry Street and stood apprehensive at the door that said B36 above it. Nate finally knocked, giving three quick raps. There was giggling from a female and the team heard the same feminine voice say that she got it, before the door was yanked open and there stood a very undressed woman.
Her playful smile dropped and she appeared confused as she scanned each person at the door as if looking for something. They in turn glanced over the woman and couldn't help but notice the lack of clothing she wore. She was clad in what could only be lingerie, sexy red lingerie with spiked heels adorning her feet. Her strange red eyes didn't take away from the sex appeal she exuded and her short hairstyle only accentuated her angular face; the dark color drew attention to her fair complexion. She was speaking, her plump rose lips the focus of everyone.
"You're not the pizza guy." Her voice was naturally low and only added to her erotic image. They all stared at her, dumbfounded. The pizza guy, this lady comes to the door in racy underwear and sexy shoes and just says that she was looking for the pizza guy?
It was Nate that spoke; his cheeks oddly flushed a light pink. "Uh, no. We're here to speak with a Kitana—"
"Oh!" The woman opened the door wide and gestured for them to enter, which they all did and immediately took stock of their surroundings, Eliot sighting any potential exits while Parker checked quickly for anything worth stealing. Hardison continued to stare at the woman as did Sophie, while Nate followed her to the couch where she motioned for them all to sit.
"So, who are you?" She tried to stare Nate down, but he didn't look away. The staring contest was interrupted by another voice that was just a bit higher than the woman.
She came into view and the team took a breath at the sight. Gone was the innocent and pretty girl, and in her place was a sensual woman much like the erotic red-eyed woman. Her raven hair was wavy and long, falling just below her waist and her bright blue eyes were enhanced by the lacy lingerie she wore, an electric blue the same shade as her eyes. It was sailor themed, even had a tiny sailor hat atop her head. She carried in her hand a bright red lollipop—the same shade as the lingerie the other woman wore— which she popped into her mouth, her eyes closed as she came around the corner.
"Kagura, is the pizza here?" She still hadn't looked up from her lollipop; her eyes were still closed as she enjoyed the flavor.
"Can I have one of those too?" The blue-eyed woman eyes snapped open and she pinned Parker with her intense gaze. The thief only continued to point at the red sweet in the other woman's hands. The woman's gaze softened from the harsh glare and a lazy smile made its way onto her face as she sauntered over to the thief seated near Hardison. The woman stood in front of Parker, whose gaze hadn't dropped from the candy. She slipped the treat from in between her lips with a pop and offered it to Parker.
"We can share…if you want..?" she looked at the thief from underneath her long eyelashes, giving her a sultry look. Her hand still outstretched to the thief who took the sucker without hesitation and popped it in her mouth, giving a moan at the flavor and her eyes slipped closed at the taste. It had two flavors; there was cherry and minty toothpaste along with something else; a slightly cinnamon-like taste. Parker had a thought; this was a flavor she had never encountered before, something new and she liked it. A lot.
Hardison could only stare as the woman and his girlfriend continued to swap spit by sharing a sucker. He didn't know what he should do, what he should feel. Hurt that his lady love was openly flirting with someone, a woman, which meant he wasn't man enough? Happy that his lady love was openly flirting with a woman, which was damn sexy? Jealous? If he had to be honest then he had to say that what he was seeing was hot as hell especially when the red-eyed woman, Kagura came up behind the one that could only be Kitana and moved her long raven hair before she placed a kiss at the nape of her neck.
The hacker glanced at the hitter who was stood transfixed with the two women, Parker and the shared lollipop forgotten once Kagura had wound her arms around Kitana's waist. She turned the woman around to face her and leaned in to kiss her, their audience ignored. The kiss was stopped by a loud cough from Nate who was subjected to glares from both Eliot and Hardison; the hitter looked ready to kill the mastermind.
"Uh, I can see that this is a bad time. We'll be leaving now." He stood, but was waved off by Kitana who shook her head.
"No need; Kagura was just leaving." She gave the red-eyed woman a nod. Kagura nodded in the affirmative. She made her way to the door, her heels clicking on the hard-wood floor. Kitana joined her at the door, seeing her out.
"We'll have to reschedule, doll. Tell the husband I said hi. Maybe he can help you out." She leaned in to give the woman a peck, but the innocent and chaste kiss soon turned into a very heated make-out session before Kitana pulled back and gave the woman one final kiss. Kagura donned a trench coat and stepped out into the hall, stealing another kiss right before the door closed.
Kitana made her way back to the couch, a smug Eliot trailing behind.
"Now," she leaned forward unaware or uncaring of the fact that her breasts were on display. "What can I do you for?" Eliot's snicker was ignored.
"Can you please clothe yourself?" It was Sophie and she refused to meet Kitana's eye as she spoke with her. A moment later, a silk robe was thrown over the racy underwear, the sailor hat removed, and her long hair was gathered atop her head and placed into a messy bun.
"Do you know who we are?" Nate asked her, gesturing to each of his teammates. Kitana shook her head in the negative.
"You know who I am." Seeing how it was stated rather than asked, Nate said nothing, but Hardison nodded. The woman narrowed blue eyes on the mastermind. "Why?"
It was odd that she asked why and not how. Nate paused, considering. "It is my business to know who comes into my city." Nate could see Kitana was confused. "I run a crew and this city here is—"
"—Let me guess. It's yours?" She gave a shake of her head, as one would to a child when he does or says something silly.
Nate stiffly nodded his head then immediately forced himself to relax. He had the information; he was in control. "I thought to get to know our new neighbors. We need to know if you might be a threat to our organization, privacy wise," there was an unspoken you're no real threat.
"Mm. And if I am, a threat to you, privacy wise?" She gave a slightly mocking lilt to her tone. What are you gonna be able to do about it?
"You're not are you?" Nate gave her a look. Tread carefully.
"I don't know; am I? You know me, right." She returned his look with a slight smile. As if I need to.
This was getting them nowhere; the going back and forth with no questions answered and the secret messages that meant nothing to either party. "I need to know if you might become a problem to us in the future."
Kitana sat up straight in her seat, crossing her legs. "Who are you?"
"I'm Nathan Ford and this is Parker," he pointed to the blonde thief who sat licking the sucker. "Sophie Devereaux," he motioned to the silent classically beautiful brunette who seemed to be observing everything. "Alec Hardison," the black man waved and smiled. "And that's Eliot Spencer," the hitter gave a wolf's grin and glanced at her with dark eyes, his brown shoulder-length hair falling boyishly in his face.
"I'm Kitana Taisho," she smiled at each of them. "But you know that already. So, that brings up the question as to how." She glanced expectantly at Nathan Ford.
Nate relayed to her how he had researched the tenant living in the building after seeing the suspicious activity that could have been a problem to them, omitting how he had researched her and what was disclosed.
She nodded slowly then suddenly leaned forward in a move that startled Nate, yet he hid his surprise. She arrested his gaze with her unnaturally bright eyes in an unsettling stare. "What do you know about me Nathan Ford?"
"Call me Nate," he said automatically, not a bit unnerved by the intense glare. "I know that you, Kitana Taisho live here on 1235 Cherry Street in Apt B36. I know that you are not a modest woman. I know that you are affiliated with the Yakuza, Catherine."
A/N: Thanks for reading. Please leave a review telling me what you think. I'll try to update soon. Thanks and good night (I stayed up writing this until midnight so I apologize if it's crappy) or day or afternoon, whatever, -_-
Kitty says Ciao