Kyo and Adel casually walked up to the ticket booths of the Dream Amusement Park, where the 'rest of the team' was waiting.

"So what do you think of the men I have brought in to assist us?" Adel asked, gesturing Kyo to see whom he had recruited.

"You have got to be kidding me," a shocked Kyo responded. He glanced over to Adel, giving him a look of 'What the f**k is this s**t?'

"Quite the team we have here, wouldn't you say Kyo?" Adel nudged Kyo on the shoulder, quite proud of himself.

"Adel," Kyo sighed. "When you said 'proven professionals,' I was kinda thinking along the lines of mercenary soldiers who do stealth recon and all that other military stuff. You know, like the Ikari Warriors. But Yamazaki and Billy Kane? Seriously?"

"Yeah about that . . . The Ikari Warriors were actually first on my list for this operation; but I was informed that they are already working on another mission. So I have enlisted the services of Mr. Kane and Mr. Yamazaki. They both have extensive resumes; serving some of the most powerful people in South Town."

"These guys are thugs who worked for some of the world's most notorious criminals."

"You say 'potato,' I say 'potato.' Now why don't we go over and meet our fellow associates, shall we?"

"Great . . ." grumbled Kyo.

"Oi, you guys are here!" Billy called out when he saw Kyo and Adel approaching. "Hello mates. We staked out the place like ya' said. The love birds ain't here yet, so we're right on schedule. I have to admit though; never thought we'd be working with the likes of you two. But given that business ain't what it used to be, I guess we'll take what we can get. Beggars can't be choosers, right?

"Speak for yourself," Yamazaki sneered. "Only lapdogs beg. And I'm not a mindless lapdog like you are! Gyah, ha, ha, ha!"

"Hey! Watch what comes out of your mouth there, friend!" Billy shot back, poking Yamazaki with his cudgel.

"I'm not your friend, BUDDY!" Yamazaki replied with an equally forceful shove.

"I'm not your buddy, PAL!"

"I'm not your pal, FRIEND!"

"I'm not your friend, BUDDY!"

A few cycles later Billy and Yamazaki were on the ground brawling it out. They created quite a scene as Adel and a couple security guards had to come in and break them up. Kyo just looked up at the sky like an old horse waiting to be put out of its misery.

"Just kill me now."

"Well, here goes nothing," Shingo took one big deep breath and gave three good knocks on the door of Sky Noah. Though trembling in fear, Shingo looked rather sharp in his midnight blue tuxedo, matching vest, white collared shit, and light blue silk tie.

The door was answered a few seconds later by a butler. "Ah, Master Yabuki," he greeted. "Lady Rose has been expecting you. Follow me, if you please." He led Shingo to the common room and sat him down on a fancy looking recliner. The butler then walked to the base of the stair case.

"Without further ado, Master Yabuki," he announced. "May I present to you Lady Rose Bernstein."

On cue, the bedroom door opened and Rose majestically walked down the stairs. Shingo was blown away by what his eyes were gazing upon: Rose dawned a long flowing pink gown that complimented her fair white skin. Her hair draped a little past her shoulders, resembling golden steams by the way the light reflected over her. Her eyes, which were usually squinting as to show her general disdain for things which were not to her liking (practically everything), on this night glistened like bright rubies.

"Uhmm, good evening Rose - I mean Mrs. Bernstein, wait-no," Shingo stuttered as he tryed to recollect himself. "Because 'Mrs.' would imply that you're married, when clearly you're not. But that's not to say that no one would want to marry you seeing that you-"

"It is all right, darling," Rose playfully laughed, sensing Shingo's uneasiness. "Rose is perfectly fine. I must say, for a commoner you certainly do know how to clean yourself up. Ah! Are those for me?" She snatched the bouquet of flowers from Shingo's hand and held them to her nose, reveling in their amorous scents.

"Red and white roses! My favorite! How did you know?"

"Uhh . . . lucky guess."

"They smell divine! Oh, Shingo!" out of nowhere Rose clasped her arms around Shingo and embraced him with surprising strength.

"Glad you like them," Shingo gasped amidst Rose's suffocating hug. Rose let go as Shingo was starting to turn blue.

"Now with the formalities out of the way, shall we proceed?" Rose reached out her hand. Not knowing how to respond, Shingo glanced down at his hand and then up at Rose. She returned his confused look with a soft and gentle smile.

"Okay . . ." Shingo cautiously reached out for her hand. As they're hands were about to meet, she surprised Shingo yet again with a quick kiss on the lips.

"Well then, what are we waiting for?" Rose cheerfully declared. "Heinrich, be a dear and kindly escort us to the limousine." She wrapped her arms around Shingo's shoulder and rested her head on his chest. His heart started to beat faster and faster as the butler led them toward the limo. But it wasn't out of tension or nerves.

Is it 'cuz I like her? Shingo thought. Gradually, he began to loosen up and feel more relaxed. Just before he entered the car he looked up at the sky and smiled, the same smile he would have when training with Kyo.

"Maybe this date won't be so bad after all."

"Alpha team. This is Bravo," a man dressed in camouflaged army fatigues spoke into a walky-talky. "I just spotted our targets. They are now on the move. I repeat: they are now on the move. Do I have permission to follow?" He and two fellow soldiers sat in an SUV parked in the airport lot. From their vantage point they had an unobstructed view of the hangars where many aircraft, including Sky Noah, were docked.

"Permission granted," answered a voice from the other end. "We will follow closely behind. Be sure not to lose them. Alpha Team out."

"Roger," the man turned off his walky-talky and proceeded to start the car.

"Really Clark? Do you have to be so serious?" complained the soldier who was sitting in the front passenger seat. "I mean it's not like we're rescuing hostages or bringing down an entire crime syndicate or anything like that. For Pete's sake, our client is a spoiled lil' teenage chick who tells us to follow some dude around and sabotage his date. Now if there's anything I hate more than taking orders from kids, it's being a cock block."

"It's not like we have any choice Ralf. There hasn't been a war in some time now. And no war means no money. So if you got any other suggestions on how to improve out current business situation, then I'm all ears."

" . . . . . . . . . . . ."

"That's what I thought. Operation Wilted Rose is a go! Buckle your seat belts, guys! This is gonna be one wild ride!"

"Hey! There's a girl here!" another soldier screamed from the back seat. "So I would appreciate you say either, 'people' or 'guys and gals' or even-"

"Shut the hell up Whip, no one gives a crap what your feminist ass has to say!" Ralf snapped, as he threw an empty water bottle in her direction. Whip returned the favor with quick flick of her whip on Ralf's hand.

"Ow! That really hurt!"

"Goddamnit! Cut the bullshit right now and focus on the mission! Or so help me God, I will run us off the first cliff I see!" Clark's blow up (which occurs about once every blue moon) was more than enough to silence Ralf and Whip for duration of the ride.

"Where the hell is Orochi Leona when you need her?" he mumbled to himself.