The Unceasing Path
Ch 10 : 天若有情
A Moment of Romance - wherein everything else could wait until tomorrow
"WARNING" - this chapter skews towards being rated M for vaguely sexual content.
[2am. You know where.]
There it was, room 1314.
Makoto pushed the keycard the slot. The lock flashed green. The nondescript wooden door unlocked with a soft beep as expected. She carefully opened the door of the hotel room. The lights were off, but she knew the room wouldn't be empty. Ami sat at a corner desk, hunched over a laptop like a gargoyle.
"Get in. Shut the door."
A metallic click told Makoto that a gun had been returned to its holster. The keyboard clicks told her that Ami had returned to work.
Makoto sighed and did as she was told. So Ami was in that type of mood tonight...
"Hello to you too." No response. The keyboard taps continued unabated. "I was listening to the radio on the way here. Why am I hearing they found a bomb at Happy Valley racetrack this evening?"
"Not a credible bomb threat without a bomb." Ami didn't bother to look up from the screen. "Don't worry. The blasting caps were duds. No one's in any danger – unless they decide to eat it or something. Don't eat the plastic explosives Mako."
Makoto pressed her fingers against her temple in a vain attempt to stop the headache that was forming.
"What the-? I wasn't going to- You're insane! You're completely insane! Do you have any idea how-"
"It's over. We did it. Chiba got the CCTV footage we needed. It's here, on the screen. We have a name. We know who the Boss is."
"WHAT?!"
"See for yourself."
Ami stood and stepped back from the laptop. Makoto ran over, crossing the floor in eager strides.
She never made it. Makoto realized her mistake the moment she felt Ami at her back. A sharp kick behind the knee caused her to stumble and a split second later, she was bent double over the desk. Ami leaned on her back top, pressing down hard and fully in control of the situation.
Makoto chuckled nervously. "Is that a gun in your pocket or are you just happy to see me?" She felt cold metal press against the base of her neck in response.
"It's a gun." Ami whispered in her ear. "Tell me. How did you and Haruka know about the jewelry heist this morning?"
"You have got to stop doing that every time we meet!" Makoto stalled, trying to get a feel for just what the hell was going on now. "If you wanted to be on top tonight, you could just ask you know?"
"I'm not playing around." The barrel dug in harder. "How did you know about the jewelry heist this afternoon?"
"What the hell!? Ami, it's me. You can't be serious."
"I told you we had a problem. Now answer me. How did you know about the jewelry heist this afternoon?"
"This is ridiculous! I didn't know! Haruka called and told me to back her up on a car jacking. Didn't know it was you until you stuck your head out the window. For fuck's sake, You trust me! I'M YOUR PARTNER! Remember?"
Ami held her down for a few heartbeats longer, then loosened her grip.
"I'm sorry. I had to know."
That was probably the last thing Ami should have said. After everything they have been through together... this was unforgivable.
She broke Ami's hold with all of her considerable strength. She stood, pushing hard up off the desk and throwing Ami backwards into the window behind her. Makoto rushed forward, and now it was her turn to have Ami pinned. The floor to ceiling window panel shook and threatened to pop out with the force the two women pressed up against it's cool surface.
"Don't lie to me. You're not sorry. " Makoto hissed in Ami's face. "That's just the kind of person you are."
"Then I'm sorry for that."
They stood so close they were breathing the same air. Face to face, just daring each other to make the next move. Makoto could feel Ami's pulse pounding through the wrists she gripped tight in her hands.
Tension mounted with each passing second. Mounted then snapped.
They kissed. Hot, brutal and suffocating.
Makoto shot forward as Ami surged up. Their lips crashed together with bruising force. Their tongues battled in the heat of each others' mouths. Makoto tasted blood as she poured all of the frustration, the anxiety, the stress of the day the kiss. Ami took it all in and demanded more. Her hands, once released, reached under Makoto's shirt and practically tore it apart in her haste to get it off.
"I'm sorry." Ami panted out between the suckling bites she was placing on Makoto's now exposed skin. "I mean it. I'm sorry."
"Shut up." Makoto pulled Ami's hair back, forcing her to look up into her eyes. "You're a liar. I've had your back these past three years and you still don't trust me? Did you lie about knowing the Boss' name too?"
"No!" Ami gasped as Makoto slid a thigh between her legs and ground up harshly "Not a lie! It's Kazte. Artemis Katze!"
A name, so they finally had a name. This was huge. This was the very thing she had spent the last three years of her life working towards.
"Tell me about him."
Makoto asked even though she didn't really care right now. The higher priority was undoing Ami's belt and all the confusing straps of her gun holsters. The thing she cared about was the feeling of Ami's fingernails scrabbling at her back.
"German business mogul." Ami growled impatiently. She shoved Makoto away and took matters into her own hands. "Owns Omni Consumer Products and various import/export enterprises in Hong Kong." she said as she put aside a knife that was hidden god-knows-where. "Mostly in gems and luxury goods. More importantly, he owns the private box that Tenoh Haruka was seen entering at 1900 hours today."
"That's great, but none of this is admissible in court, thanks to your little act of terrorism, so we're still stuck at square one." Makoto laughed bitterly as she flopped down onto the bed. "What do we do next?" She leaned back, waiting as Ami took off her belt, her guns, and then all the rest of her clothing.
"Later." Ami stepped forward, leaving everything behind. "I don't want to talk about work right now. Please. I don't want to think anymore."
Makoto nodded. Ami climbed up on top and ended all conversation.
They fell back together, losing themselves to their passion. For a few precious hours, they were only Ami and Makoto, nothing more, nothing less.
Everything else could wait until tomorrow.
[Hotel, room 1314. The morning after...]
It was the sun shining on her face that pulled Ami from the best sleep she'd had in recent memory. She squinted against the light, noting with some annoyance that she had forgotten to close the curtain the night before.
No matter. The bed was incredibly warm and soft. If she'd just close her eyes, maybe she could make this moment last just a little longer...
Dammit. Too late
Ami shuddered. The stress of who she was came rushing back with the force of a sledgehammer. She tensed. An jolt shot through her system in preparation for the inevitable shitstorm that she knew was coming.
"You ok?" A voice asked form above. "You seem more worked up than usual, and that's saying something."
Makoto's arm casually draped over her with that question. Ami was acutely aware of the physical contact. She took a deep breath, willing her heart to stop racing. It wasn't the first time she had spent the night with someone – that came part and parcel with her role as a free-wheeling gangster - but the novelty of waking up next to someone never wore off. Ami still felt this strange flutter every single time.
A flutter that redoubled and rebounded in on itself whenever she realized that the someone she woke up next to was Makoto.
Makoto was this mystery that made Ami nervous beyond words. Nothing about her made any sense. What kind of person volunteers for this life? How was it that Makoto was the strongest person she knew, yet the most gentle? How did she look out at the world with those compassionate green eyes despite everything she'd seen?
Those same eyes were trained on her now, waiting for a response to a question that Ami didn't want to answer.
Ami batted Makoto's arm away.
"Have you been watching me sleep?"
Makoto smirked. "Yeah. It's interesting. You seem almost normal. Less of a paranoid jerk."
"So what if I am?" Ami muttered as she rolled out of bed and started looking for her clothes. "We're both still alive aren't we? Remember those smugglers off the coast of Lin Tin Island?"
"What's that got to do with anything?"
"We're lucky you didn't drown. I told you they would try to kill you."
"Those bastards were smuggling girls! It was worth the risk. Besides, I knew you had my back."
Makoto said that like it was the most obvious thing in the world. Ami hated to disagree.
"Was it? Judge only gave them a year and a bit. 18 goddamn months for all that."
"I was talking about the girls. Last I heard, the courts granted them asylum. They're here now, building new lives for themselves."
"Oh. That's something." Ami reached for the belt Makoto held out to her. "Thank you."
Makoto snatched the belt back, holding it up over her head and out of reach.
"Not so fast. You're avoiding the question. What's got you so worked up? I'd thought you'd be happier now that we've finally have headway on our case. We just made a major breakthrough."
Ami opened her mouth, then shut it again. "It's nothing. I'm fine. Just thinking ahead." She went for her discarded sidearms on the ground instead. Where the hell was her knife anyways? "I need you to look into why you were ordered to ambush us the other day. If you can figure out who tipped Katze off, so much the better, but keep it quiet. Be careful."
"That's bullshit. How is this a priority? Why are you sidelining me?"
"Because I am your commanding officer!" Ami slipped her holsters over her shoulders. The familiar weight of her weapons gave an authoritarian edge to her voice that she desperately needed right now. "Just because we're sleeping together, doesn't mean we're equals. Are you questioning an order?"
"Hell yes! It's a stupid order!" Makoto yelled back. Ami reached out and caught the belt that came flying in her general direction. "We should be looking into Katze! Let's monitor him! Maybe we catch him doing something we can indite him for. Or we could go have a chat with some of his victims. I know who he's been leaning on for money. Maybe one of them will agree to testify or have some concrete evidence that ties him directly to the Hung Fa Boys. The jewelry case from yesterday? Waste of time. It's all hearsay at best, and at worst, you end up in jail for armed robbery, public endangerment, and that whole laundry list of crimes that you called 'Tuesday'." Makoto narrowed her eyes accusingly. "This is the first time in years you've pulled rank on me. You're pushing me out for a reason. What are you so afraid of?"
Goddammit. Makoto could see right through her. Every single time. Ami was afraid. She was afraid that they were being played, and that everything she and Makoto have sacrificed was for nothing. Once again, Ami wished she could tell the truth, let Makoto see her for who she was, but she couldn't. Not with so much at stake. She had to protect Makoto and those impossible green eyes.
"I need you to stop asking questions and do as I say. Do you trust me?" Ami didn't wait for Makoto to answer before continuing. "Keep it quiet. Don't tell anyone anything. Not even Chief Chiba. There's something I need to investigate alone." She put on her belt then pulled her jacket over everything. "I'm going to be out of contact for a few days. 3, 4 days max. I'll clear things up when I get back. I promise."
"Tell me what you're planning at least. You owe me, especially after last night."
"I can't. I just can't! I wish I could...but...whatever happens next, you'll know what to do. I'll make sure of that. I trust you. I have to go now. Stay safe."
She looked at Makoto one more time. She couldn't help herself. Ami leaned over the bed and kissed her goodbye. Softly and sweetly on the lips. As far as Ami was concerned, that was the only truth that couldn't be corrupted right now.
Ami hoped she was wrong, but she knew she wasn't. For Mako's sake, she had to work alone from now on. Out of everyone involved, she was the only one who deserved to walk away clean. If her soul was still worth anything, then Ami would gladly sell it to the devil to let that happen.
She walked out the door before she lost her courage and decided to stay.
A.N.
Ami! Are you writing smut? How embarrassed would she be if anyone else read this?
Cheers,
-Drift.
Up Next
Ch 11: 暗花 - Marked for Death – wherein the die is cast