Hey everyone. If you read the first chapter of 'Distant Memory' You realize that I loosely based Moriko off of my appearance. Her personality, however, isn't like my own. Moriko is a more serious, cautious character while I am mostly the opposite. Also, Microsoft word isn't working on my laptop anymore, so after graduation, it might be awhile before I can update. Anyway, enjoy chapter eight of 'The Red Death' and thank you for the reviews!
'thoughts'
"Talking."
Chapter Eight: Mission; information retrieval, part two
"Red to swan, do you copy?" Static went rampant before Kurenai's voice came on. "Swan to Red, loud and clear." Moriko, now disguised as a redhead bombshell, pulled on the long, elegant black dress, mindful of the thigh-high slit. She hated wearing dresses, they were so…. Annoying. At least the mission wouldn't last much longer. She pulled her hair into a stylish messy bun with a braid around it, shoving several senbon needles into it to not only hold the style in place, but to serve as weapons should she need it. "Red to Swan, almost finished." After she shoved the eighteenth senbon into her hair, she sat on her bed and pulled on strappy stiletto heels. Even her shoes were booby-trapped with weapons; a blade hidden in the front of her shoe and in the bottom of the heel.
Moriko pulled on a leather garter, shoving a set of obsidian daggers under it before standing, smoothing out her dress. After checking to make sure that her weapons would not be noticeable, she checked her reflection. She looked… decent, she supposed. She certainly didn't look like herself, so it was fine. "Red to swan, heading out now." She opened the door of her hotel room and stepped out, locking it behind her. "Miss Kyoshi, you look absolutely stunning tonight." Moriko turned to face her contact, smiling. "Thank you Mr. Satoshi, you look wonderful as well." He smiled, offering her his arm. "Ready to seduce the target?" She chuckled, wrapping her arm around his. "Ready as I'll ever be."
Moriko smiled indulgently, laughing and acting coy as several men flirted with her. She suppressed her irritation, 'I've got to keep it together. I can't give myself away.' "I think I can take it from here, gentleman." She looked up, smirking slightly. Men were oh, so predictable. 'Gai, looks like you owe me twenty bucks.' The other men, sheepish, nodded in her direction before slinking off. "I'm so sorry, ma'am, I couldn't help but notice you over here and had to help. A beautiful young woman like yourself shouldn't be subject to such… harassment." Moriko forced herself to giggle, acting coy. "Thank you, good sir. I came here with my brother, but it seems he has disappeared." She lightly fluttered her eyelashes, looking at him with bedroom eyes. 'You gotta do what you gotta do." He smiled, his eye color darkening to a deep green. "Well, perhaps you would like to accompany me?" She forced out another giggle.
"Perhaps I can get the name of my rescuer, first?" He smiled, lifting her hand to press it lightly against his lips. "My name, is Katsoya Higarashi." She forced a look of surprise on his face. "So You're the one who's throwing the ball. I was wondering when I would meet you." He smirked. "Perhaps, I could get the name of this beautiful princess before me." She blushed. 'Oh. He's good… But I'm better.' "My name, is Kiyoshi Niwa. It's a pleasure to meet you, sir." "Believe me my princess… The pleasure, is all mine." She faked a swoon, mentally dancing in joy. Soon, it would all be over. She heard a slight buzz in her ear. "Swan to Red, We're almost finished here. We only have three more rooms to go. Bite your lip if you can hear me." 'Haha, oldest trick in the book, Kurenai.' She lightly bit her lip, suppressing a chuckle as Katsoya's eyes darkened another shade. 'Too easy.' Just a little longer to go. "Miss Kiyoshi, are you fond of literature?" She smiled, her eyes sparkling. "Why, yes. I'm very fond of reading, Niwa-san. Why do you ask?" 'Ha! As if I'm really that stupid. I know what you're up to, ya perv.' "Well, would you mind if I showed you the master library?" "Why, not at all. Please, lead the way." She noticed 'Satoshi' watching them leave, smirking at her discomfort. "Swan to Red, we're in the library! I repeat, we are in the library! We found something, but we need you to stall him!" "Oh!" She swayed, the back of her left hand resting against a table. She nearly collapsed, but was caught in time by her companion. "Miss Kiyoshi, are you quite alright?" She glanced up at him through her lashes. "I-I'm alright. I just got a tad light-headed, is all." He lifted her into his arms, depositing her lightly onto a nearby armchair. "Luckily, we're by the kitchens. I'll get you a glass of water, wait one moment." He hurried into a nearby room and she huffed, muttering so Kurenai could hear. "Please hurry. I don't know how long I can detain him." "Almost finished." Kurenai said, static still heard through the earpiece. "And might I say, Red, You're quite the actress." She chuckled, murmuring as Katsoya came out of the room. "Oh, you have no idea, Swan."
He handed her the glass, which she gratefully accepted, sipping on the cool liquid. "Swan to Red, all finished. Coon is heading in your direction." She glanced at the end of the hall, seeing her companion. "There you are, sister. Father sent someone to call us home." "Satoshi. However did you find us?" He pointed back behind him. "Someone said you were heading to the library. I'm sorry, but I'm afraid we need to leave." Katsoya nodded, still looking at her with those green eyes. "Perhaps another time, miss Kiyoshi?" She smiled. "Definatly."
The two transported themselves back into the hotel, finally relaxing for the first time since the mission started. "I'll get started on the report. Nice job, Red." Kurenai complimented, her crimson eyes twinkling mischievously. "I almost believed that you were a high-class woman." 'She knows.' Gai, the bushy-browed wonder smiled, giving his signature thumbs up and twinkling smile. "You made a very youthful woman, Red! The power of youth is bright inside you!" And with that statement, Gai and the others went to the other room, leaving her alone with Kurenai. "I won't ask why you're hiding your identity, since it's obvious, but do you plan to always live behind the mask?"
Moriko shook her head. "Not really. I just want to make sure that this is a place I can trust, and that there are people here who I can rely on." Kurenai sighed. "I may seem biased, since I grew up in Konoha, but you can trust us Red." Moriko sighed. "Kurenai, you know who Orochimaru is, correct?" The dark haired woman nodded. "Yeah, he grew up in this village. Hokage-san was horrified to know what his student had been doing. He was exiled a long time ago." "Well, I thought I could trust him." Kurenai's eyes widened, her jaw going slack. "He adopted me. He seemed like a nice man, someone who wanted a child he could love. In his eyes, I was nothing but another experiment. But I thought that I'd finally have someone who I could call a father, and he betrayed me. Just like everyone else." Kurenai watched her, her eyes glimmering with sympathy. "But surely there must have been someone you trusted." The woman implored. "Another child, an adult, someone." "There was…. I haven't seen him since the day I left that damned village. I heard he was exiled, but I haven't seen him." Kurenai gently placed her hand on the younger girl's shoulder, trying to convey some kind of comfort. Moriko stiffened under the unfamiliar gesture, but relaxed after realizing that there was no threat.
After a few moments, kurenai removed her hand and turned to walk to the bedroom, where the others were. "Red?" Moriko looked to where the woman stood. "I just hope that one day, you can call Konoha your home." And with those kind words, she walked into the room, closing the door behind her.