AN: I had this story on the back burner for a while, not to mention the multiple rewrites. My original draft was to have Yukari as a seemingly ordinary civilian before she turns out to be a spy as well, but I felt like that constrains the interactions between her and Minato, so I decided to have them be two agents from two different agencies having to work together, which makes their interactions more interesting. Anyways, enjoy and don't hesitate to drop some feedback!
The Harabah Lounge was one of the most popular establishments in Tatsumi Port Island, located at the heart of the city's red-light district. But it did not simply open its doors to anyone, if the décor was of any indication. It was a place reserved only for those with lots of money to spend.
Minato sat alone at the bar, nursing a drink. He had ordered a simple highball with a slice of orange. Not exactly the most sophisticated choice of drink, but it should keep him sober for the night. After all, it would be unbecoming of an operative from Public Security to get drunk while on the job.
Every few minutes, he would steal a subtle glance at the man sitting alone at a nearby table. He was a hawk-faced man in his early forties, dressed in a black suit and a white shirt underneath, complete with a simple red necktie. It was your typical Japanese salaryman ensemble, but there were subtle differences that reveal his true nature. The first was that his loafers belonged to a designer brand, made of high-quality leather and even had gold-plated buckles. On his left wrist, he wore a watch that appeared to be either a Rolex or a Grand Seiko. Far too expensive for an average salaryman to wear, but still subtle enough to prevent him from sticking out like a sore thumb.
His name was Jurota Katsuragi. From what Minato learned from his superiors, this man seemed to be your run-of-the-mill Japanese salaryman, but that was merely a well-crafted front for his real job – weapons dealing. Whether it be the Yakuza or the Korean mafia, Katsuragi wasn't picky about who he did business with as long as it lined his pockets.
The top brass would normally leave the likes of him to Organised Crime or even Foreign Affairs, but they had recently received intel that Katsuragi has contacts with the domestic terrorist group Strega. That was when it became a Public Security matter.
Not much was known about Strega. Initially, the group owned an anonymous website called "Revenge Request" where people could request Strega to perform low-profile assassinations. But Strega had recently upped its ante by conducting terrorist attacks, the most recent one being last week's bombing of Port Island Station. Whether it was for a favour for one of their clients, an act of vengeance against a society that wronged them, or simply for shits and giggles, no one knows. The fact of the matter is that for all of Public Security's resources, they had yet to find any leads on Strega… until now.
According to an informant of theirs, Katsuragi was planning to meet up with a representative from Strega tonight at 9 for a weapons sale here at the Harabah Lounge. The plan was to nab both Katsuragi and the representative as they were about to make the deal. This might be Public Security's only chance to get a lead on Strega, which was why Minato had been chosen. He was, after all, the best man for the job.
But to Minato's chagrin, his superiors informed him that he was to rendezvous with an agent of the Shadow Operatives. They were a newly established branch of Japan's intelligence agency, much like Public Security. But while Public Security answered to the Minister of Justice, the Shadow Operatives reported directly to the Prime Minister himself.
Minato didn't like having anyone, especially some crony from another organisation, breathing down his neck while he's doing his job. But if his superiors say white is black, then black it is.
Minato wore on a dark grey windowpane suit for the mission, complemented by a white dress shirt and black tie. Form-fitting enough to give off a professional appearance, yet still enabling enough mobility should he get into a scrap. Concealed underneath his suit was a shoulder holster that held his SIG Saur P230. If things go smoothly, Minato wouldn't need it.
He glanced at his watch. It was already 8:30; only half an hour before the sale was about to go down and his liaison had yet to show up.
Just as he was about to take another sip of his drink, a feminine voice call out to him. "Minato Arisato, I presume?"
"Who's asking?" He asked as he put down his drink.
He turned around and saw a beautiful young woman – probably around his age – standing behind him. Her light brown hair was coiffed into a bob haircut, with both ends curling inwards past her delicate jawline. She wore a pink off-the-shoulder dress with a bow attached to the back, as well as a pair of pearl earrings. The dress itself was spliced on both sides, revealing her surprisingly toned legs and silver high-heels. In her right hand was a pink clutch bag, made of what appears to be velvet. But the most striking article of clothing was the white heart-shaped choker around her neck.
"My name's Yukari Takeba," she spoke with a friendly yet professional tone, "I'm to be your liaison for tonight."
"A pleasure, Takeba-san." Minato said coolly, offering a hand. All traces of irritation at his liaison's tardiness had vanished instantly, for reasons he wouldn't disclose to anyone.
As Takeba accepted the handshake, Minato could feel the callouses around her slender fingers, a tell-tale sign that she's had plenty of experience with firearms.
"Any updates?" She asked as she sat down next to him, one leg crossed over the other. Minato tried his best not to stare.
"Katsuragi's already here," he answered, subtly gesturing to the man now impatiently checking his watch. "But his business partner hasn't shown up yet."
"You think he'll show?"
"The deal won't be going down until another half hour, so it's too early to tell. Until then, you want anything to drink?"
Takeba frowned. "Wouldn't it be better to drink once the mission is done?"
Minato chuckled darkly. "Trust me, in this line of work, you'll be needing a stiff drink every now and then. Besides, one glass wouldn't hurt, would it?"
Takeba looked at him hesitantly for a few seconds, sighing in resignation. "Fine. I'll take whatever you're having."
With his own glass nearly empty, Minato beckoned the bartender over and ordered two more highballs – one for Takeba and one for himself.
"So," Minato began, "what's a beautiful girl like you doing in the Shadow Operatives?"
"Is that supposed to be your way of flirting with me, Arisato-san?" Takeba asked, furrowing an eyebrow.
She wasn't exactly wrong, even if that was only half the reason. "Just trying to break the ice," he explained with a low chuckle, "I need to know who exactly I'm working with before the mission."
"Fair enough." Takeba sighed as she set down her drink. "I'm sure you already know that the Shadow Operatives are funded by the Kirijo Group, right?"
During his time in Public Security, Minato had been privy to rumours that surrounded the Shadow Operatives. Although they were a branch of the government, it was said that they were being privately funded by the Kirijo Group.
The Kirijo Group was a powerful multinational conglomerate, specialising in manufacturing and luxury goods. But the company didn't have the most stellar reputation over the past two decades. There was talk about the Kirijo Group being involved in some shady stuff, though its newest CEO has publicly vowed to steer the company towards a more benevolent direction.
Minato simply responded with a nod, prompting her to continue. "My dad used to work for the Kirijo Group. He was one of their top researchers."
"So you decided to follow in his footsteps?"
Takeba shook her head, though a ghost of a smile appeared on her face. "Not exactly. My dad would've wanted me to go down a different path, anyway. The reason why I joined the Shadow Operatives was because of Mitsuru-senpai."
Minato's eyes widened. "Wait, you mean the Mitsuru Kirijo?"
For the first time since they started talking, Takeba broke out into laughter, no doubt finding amusement at his surprised expression. "The very same. My dad and her dad – the current CEO – knew each other back in the day. Mitsuru-senpai and I first met when my family came over to her place to visit, and despite getting off on the wrong start, we became close friends. We even went to the same schools all the way until college."
"Well, how about that…" Minato murmured as he swirled his drink in bemusement. "Pays to have friends in high places."
Yet, something didn't sit well with him. It felt like Takeba was still not telling him the whole story. Oh well, it wasn't his business to pry.
"Okay, now it's my turn. Tell me more about yourself, Arisato-san."
Minato gave a shrug, leaning against the counter. "What's there to tell? I was born and raised in Tatsumi Port Island like most of the people around here. Once I completed my education, I decided to join the police force and because of my specific set of skills, I was assigned to Public Security."
Takeba shook her head. "Come on, I'm sure you can do better than that."
"I don't know what you mean." He replied nonchalantly.
"First off, you're just reading off your dossier. I know because I've already read it up before I got here."
Minato let out a sardonic chuckle before taking another sip of his drink. "Well, that makes one of us, because I don't recall getting your dossier."
"Which is why I'm telling you more about myself," Takeba huffed in indignation. "More than you should have any right to know, if I were to be completely honest."
Not everything, Minato mused, though he can't deny that she had a point. "Alright then," he conceded, "what is it that you want to know?"
"A bit more about your life before you were in Public Security would be a good start. I can tell even without looking at your dossier that you haven't really been around here for that long."
Minato raised an eyebrow, keeping his surprised reaction in check. "What gave me away?"
"Your accent. It isn't from around here." She then put a finger to her chin, a thoughtful look on her face. "If I were to guess, I'd say that you're from somewhere in Honshu."
Minato couldn't help but smirk. She's intuitive, he'll give her that.
"You hit the nail right on the head for that one. It's true that I was born in Port Island, but after I lost my parents, I moved to Akita to live with my grandparents."
"Oh…" Takeba murmured as she tried to avert her gaze from him. "I read about what happened to your parents in the dossier. I'm sorry…It's insensitive of me to have you bring up your past like that."
Minato simply waved a hand reassuringly. "It's fine. It was bound to come up sooner or later."
Takeba still appeared uneasy, though he could see that her shoulders had relaxed somewhat. So to lighten the mood, he decided to change the subject. "I only came back to complete my studies, and I joined the police force soon after. But I didn't like spending my time behind an office desk, which was why I joined Public Security as a field agent."
"For a field agent, you're pretty open about your personal life." Takeba deadpanned. "I thought spies are supposed to be secretive."
Minato shrugged. "What can I say? I've a weakness for beautiful women."
Takeba rolled her eyes. But as she averted her gaze, he could see a faint blush on her cheeks and the corners of her mouth curl upwards. She picked up her drink and took a swig from it. She coughed a bit, no doubt from downing too at once, before setting the glass back down on the table.
Minato honestly found it kind of cute.
He checked his watch, which said 8:50. Only ten minutes left. The other guy should be here by now.
Sure enough, as he glanced back to where Katsuragi was sitting, Minato saw a bespectacled young man approach the weapons dealer. He had dark blue hair – much like Minato's own – that was slicked to the side. He wore a green jacket with a chin-high collar and navy blue pants, which made him stand out from the rest of the club's many patrons. In his hands was a briefcase.
The young man glanced around cautiously before whispering something into Katsuragi's ear. Katsuragi gave a curt nod before beckoning a nearby waiter over for the bill.
As that went on, Minato turned to Takeba, who had noticed their target as well.
"So, what's the plan?" Takeba asked.
"They'll probably go somewhere more discreet to make the deal. I'll follow them while you keep your distance in case something goes wrong. I take it that you're armed?"
Takeba simply tugged at the right slit of her dress, away from peering eyes besides Minato's. The pistol holster strapped to her thigh was all he needed to know.
She then opened her clutch bag before taking out… a lipstick.
"I'm sure there's time to do your makeup later." Minato deadpanned humorously.
"Hush, you." Takeba huffed. Her fingers delicately twisted the casing, revealing a hidden compartment containing a pair of earpieces, each one no bigger than a marble. She gave a gentle shake and the earpieces tumbled out onto the palm of her hand.
She then leaned forward to insert one of the earpieces into Minato's right ear. With their faces mere inches apart, Minato couldn't help but be transfixed by her beautiful hazel-coloured eyes. He could feel the heat rise in his cheeks as he felt her fingers brush past his blue locks, though she didn't seem to have noticed, fortunately.
"This is a Bluetooth communicator designed by the Kirijo Group." Takeba said as she placed the remaining earpiece in her own ear. "It can't be tapped by a third party, and has a range of more than a hundred metres."
An impressed smirk appeared on Minato's lips. "Not bad… I don't suppose they will ever think about putting these out on the market, will they?"
Takeba smirked back at him. "You wish."
Katsuragi, meanwhile, had already finished paying his bill. He got up from his seat, picking up a large metal suitcase from under his table, before departing with his mysterious partner.
"Well, I guess it's time to go." Minato said, handing the bartender a few thousand yen notes for the drinks as well as a generous tip.
As he prepared to get up, Takeba gently grabbed him by the wrist.
"Oh, and Arisato-san?" She said, a concerned look on her face.
"Yeah?"
"Be careful."
Minato winked back at her. "I will."
~.~
To Minato's surprise, Katsuragi and his client, who Minato decided to nickname Four Eyes for now, did not head for the exit as he anticipated. Instead, they made their way towards the club's back entrance. There was a bouncer guarding the door, but Minato saw Katsuragi slipping something into the bouncer's hand. The bouncer nodded before letting the two men through.
"Seems like they've headed to the backlot, but it seems the bouncer here is on Katsuragi's payroll. I doubt he'll let me through." Minato murmured for Takeba to hear.
"So what now?" Takeba asked through the comm.
"There should be a balcony on the second floor. You should be able to see them from there. I'll continue tailing them."
"I hope you know what you're doing."
As a matter of fact, Minato had studied the club's layout before the mission. There was another, albeit less dignified way, of slipping into the backlot. He walked into the men's restroom and opened one of the cubicles.
Locking the door behind him, he stepped onto the toilet seat and grabbed onto the ledge of the window above. He peered out the window for any potential witnesses and, once the coast was clear, hoisted himself up and slipped through the window.
Landing silently on the ground, Minato quietly made his way through the alley and to the backlot where his targets would undoubtedly be.
He peered around the corner and sure enough, he saw Katsuragi and Four Eyes in the midst of a conversation. But there were two more men in suits standing at Katsuragi's side, his bodyguards no doubt.
This complicates things.
Still, Minato strained his ears to hear what they were saying. Hopefully he was close enough.
"Takeba. I've got my eyes on the targets. What's your position?" He whispered.
"I'm on the balcony. I see them. Four men." Takeba affirmed.
"Good. Maintain your position until further notice."
"Right."
The bodyguard on the left opened the metal briefcase that his boss had been carrying, but Minato couldn't see its contents from where he was standing.
"I've got everything you need right here." Katsuragi said as if he were selling a car. "20 military-grade hand grenades smuggled straight from the mainland."
Minato's lips thinned. Military-grade? He knew weapons would be involved, but nothing of this calibre... If this deal goes down, who knows how many lives will be in danger?
"Not bad..." Four Eyes adjusted his spectacles as he bent over to examine the merchandise. He spoke with a strong Kansai-ben accent. "But I hope you haven't forgotten the 'special' order I had placed."
Katsuragi clapped his hands. "Ah, how could I forget? Tajima, if you please?
The bodyguard on the right pulled out a much smaller briefcase before opening the lid. Katsuragi reached into the briefcase with both hands and took out a revolver with an exceptionally long barrel.
"As you requested, I have here a Smith and Wesson Model 500, manufactured in the United States. Powerful enough to stop a charging rhino dead in its tracks."
"I must admit…" Four Eyes said as he took the revolver to inspect it up close. "You never cease to impress, Katsuragi. My leader will be most pleased."
Katsuragi chuckled. "I'm glad that my merchandise has proven satisfactory, Mr. Shirato."
A smirk crept up on Minato's lips now that he's finally gotten a name. Shirato, huh…
"Now," Katsuragi continued, "I believe it's time for us to discuss the terms of our payment."
"Of course," said Shirato as he handed the revolver back to Katsuragi. He then picked up his own briefcase and opened it. Judging from how Katsuragi's eyes lit up like a Christmas tree, Minato could only guess that it was money… a lot of money.
But suddenly, Shirato had snapped the lid shut. "But I'm afraid we'll have to postpone the deal to another date."
What?
Katsuragi seemed just as confused as Minato. "What?" He exclaimed, sounding almost furious.
It was then that Shirato turned his gaze towards Minato's direction. Minato quickly ducked behind the corner again, hoping that he wasn't seen.
But the next thing Shirato said made his blood run cold.
"Because it looks like we've got ourselves a spy."
Crap.
Minato's instincts told him to make a run for it. But he knew all too well that this was a one-in-a-million opportunity to get a lead on Strega, and he couldn't afford to blow it now.
So instead, he quickly drew his pistol and ducked out from his hiding place, aiming his gun right at Katsuragi. The weapons dealer turned as pale as a ghost as he retreated behind his bodyguards who, along with Shirato, aimed their own pistols at Minato. It appears that they were now at a standoff.
So much for trying to keep it clean… He thought.
"Who are you working for?" Shirato snapped. "The Police? Or are you one of Kirijo's cronies?"
Minato narrowed his eyes. How'd this guy know about the Kirijo Group? But there was no time to dwell on it right now. He needed to find a way to get out of this predicament.
"Takeba. I could really use your help right about now…" He murmured into the comm in a hopefully subtle manner.
As if on cue, the bodyguard on the left fell to the ground with a pained shout, a spray of blood coming out from his right shoulder. With the other bodyguard distracted by his comrade's sudden collapse, Minato fired twice. The first shot nailed the second bodyguard in his right hand, causing him to drop his gun. The second shot got him in the knee, which made him join his companion on the ground.
But before Minato could turn his gun on Shirato, the bespectacled man had quickly ducked behind the nearby garbage container, firing his gun as he did.
Fortunately, he didn't seem to be that good of a shot since his bullets missed Minato by a wide margin, though that might've been due to the fact he was ducking for cover at the same time. But Minato wasn't going to take any chances and took cover behind the corner again.
While the two were exchanging gunfire, Minato noticed Katsuragi trying to hobble away with the briefcase full of money in tow.
"Takeba, Katsuragi's making a run for it. You go after him while I cover you!" Minato said.
"Already on it." She said. Even through the comm, Minato could hear the sound of people screaming, no doubt terrified by all the gunshots.
As Minato ducked behind the corner again to reload, he noticed that Shirato had stopped firing as well. Once he reloaded his pistol, he carefully peeked around the corner and saw, to his horror, that Shirato had opened the metallic briefcase that Katsuragi had dropped in the chaos. In one of his hands was a grenade, its pin already pulled free.
"Take this, you bastard!" Shirato snarled as he hurled the grenade straight at Minato.
Shit!
Minato ran as fast as his legs could carry him, not bothering to look back even as he heard the grenade bounce against the wall and landed God knows where. An explosion of hot air and debris followed a split second later. The shockwave flung Minato off his feet and he landed on the pavement. Hard.
Minato laid flat on the ground, dazed, but still alive. His head and ears were ringing, and there was so much dust everywhere that he could barely see what's ahead of him.
He forced himself up, pressing his weight against the nearby wall or what was left of it after the explosion. He made the mistake of breathing in some of the dust and he ended up coughing like a diseased maniac.
He then felt something, a hand, grab him by his shoulder. He turned around only to find a fist colliding right into his face.
The blow sent Minato stumbling back, a knee to the gut caused him to keel over. Dropping back to his knees, Minato clutched his stomach in pain.
But he forced himself to look up, just in time to see through the dust cloud the familiar figure of Shirato about to deliver a kick to his abdomen again. This time, Minato was ready. Fighting through the pain, he grabbed Shirato's leg with both hands, halting its momentum. He wrapped his arms around the leg in a bear hug before swerving his body to the right with all his strength, the sudden jerk causing Shirato to fall to the ground with him.
But Minato wasn't done yet. He rushed forward to plant his right knee just above Shirato's groin area while he hooked Shirato's right arm under his left armpit. With his opponent effectively pinned down, Minato curled his free hand into a fist before driving it into Shirato's face. A sharp cry came out of Shirato's mouth, and Minato could feel warm blood on his knuckles.
During his basic training as both a police officer and as a Public Security agent, Minato had been well-versed in various martial arts. Hell, he was part of the Kendo club back in his high school years. But in a survival situation such as this, years of discipline and finesse ingrained into him was thrown out the window. The first blow was followed by a second, and then a third.
But a combination of adrenaline and desperation had caused Minato to neglect Shirato's left arm, which remained free. Shirato used the opportunity to swing his fist into Minato's cheek with enough force to make him release his grip.
Minato stumbled to the ground, the ringing in his head even worse than before. He looked up and saw that Shirato had gotten back on his feet. Blood was trickling down the young man's nose, and one of his lenses was cracked. Although his expression was calm, Minato could see his eyes clouded with rage and the intent to kill.
Shirato's eyes glanced to the side and he crouched down to pick something up. Minato's eyes widened as Shirato proceeded to level a pistol, his pistol, which he had dropped in the explosion, at him.
The sound of two gunshots followed. Minato unconsciously flinched, expecting to be shot. But there was no pain, and he briefly wondered if he was already dead. He opened his eyes and saw Shirato fall to the ground with a pained cry, dropping the pistol as he did.
Minato turned around and was pleasantly greeted by the sight of Takeba, her gun still trained on Shirato's writhing form.
Once it's clear that the terrorist won't be getting up anytime soon, she immediately turned her attention to Minato and offered him a hand, which he gladly accepted.
"Are you alright?" She asked concernedly as she helped Minato to his feet.
"Never better." Minato remarked wryly, dusting off his suit. "But I hope you didn't kill him. We still need him for information."
"No, I just shot him in the kneecaps. He'll be fine once he gets medical treatment." She said plainly.
"And Katsuragi?"
"Already nabbed him. He wasn't exactly the fastest runner, especially with all that money he's lugging around."
"And where is he now?"
"He's in the Shadow Operatives' custody right now. I called backup the moment things went south. They should be here any minute."
"Speaking of which, I'll have to contact my superiors as well. They'll want to hear about this." Minato said as he pulled his phone, which miraculously remained unharmed despite everything that's happened, out from his pocket.
But to his surprise, Takeba gently lowered his hand, stopping him from making the call. "Actually, that won't be necessary."
"Excuse me?" Minato asked in confusion.
"Mitsuru-senpai – I mean my leader," she said, quickly correcting herself, "has already informed Public Security that they'll take over this operation."
"What? Why?" Minato exclaimed, trying his best not to raise his voice.
Takeba sighed, a guilty expression on her face. "We'll explain everything once they get here, I promise. Besides, my leader also wants to ask you a few questions, if that's okay…"
"Great…" he murmured, already getting a bad feeling about this.
~.~
It took less than five minutes for several cars, each one of them bearing the Shadow Operatives' insignia, to arrive at the scene. As the cleanup crew hauled away Shirato and Katsuragi's bodyguards, Minato found himself being questioned by Mitsuru Kirijo herself.
Even though Minato was no stranger to interrogations, having conducted plenty of them himself, never had he felt so uncomfortable as to squirm under Kirijo's watchful gaze. While the woman was undeniably beautiful with her flowing wine-red hair and a black business suit that accentuated every curve of her body, she radiated a chilling aura that could freeze over the world itself.
At the same time, she listened to him attentively as he reported every detail of the mission. Not once did she raise her voice whenever she asked him a question. Minato could now see why Takeba respected her so much.
Once the questioning was over, Kirijo politely excused herself, saying that she had some other urgent matters to attend to.
As soon as she was gone, Minato was approached by Takeba, still in her elegant pink dress. "How did it go?"
"Better than I thought it would be," he murmured as he pinched the bridge of his nose, "not that that's saying much."
A smile crept on Takeba's lips as she put a reassuring hand on his shoulders. "Mitsuru-senpai's actually a lot nicer when she's not on the job."
"I'll take your word for it." Minato dryly remarked. "Now, care to explain why the Shadow Operatives are now taking charge of this operation?"
Takeba glanced around suspiciously for a few seconds before speaking. "That guy from Strega, the one with the glasses… His name is Jin Shirato."
Minato frowned. "I don't recall his first name ever being mentioned. It's as if you already knew about him."
Takeba bit her lip before continuing. "That's because Shirato was a former employee of the Kirijo Group. And we believe that the same goes for other members of Strega."
Minato honestly should've been surprised by this revelation, but he already had a sinking feeling that the Kirijo Group had a hand in all of this the moment his superiors had informed him that the Shadow Operatives would be involved in this mission.
"When Mitsuru-senpai's grandfather was still CEO," Takeba continued, "he'd been manufacturing and selling military-grade weapons overseas, beyond what was stipulated in the agreements made between Japan and other countries. After he died, Mitsuru-senpai's dad took over the company and sacked those involved, which includes people like Shirato."
"Let me guess," Minato said, tucking his hands into his pockets, "these people decided to seek revenge against the Kirijo Group. That at least explains the bombing at Port Island Station – it was built by the Kirijo Group. And what better way to get back at your employer than destroying their legacy? Still, that doesn't explain the assassinations. None of Strega's victims were even remotely connected to the Kirijo Group."
Takeba sighed deeply. "My guess is that Strega needed the money to fund their operations. Otherwise, how would they be able to afford these weapons?"
She gestured to the damage caused by the grenade Shirato had thrown. Part of the wall was reduced to a pile of rubble and dust. With all that's happened tonight, Minato doubted that Club Escapade would be in business anytime soon.
A hollow laugh escaped Minato's lips as a sense of realisation set in. This whole operation was just cleaning up the Kirijo Group's mess. Its shady past had finally caught up with it and people got caught in the crossfire. And if Strega isn't stopped, those people who lost their lives at Port Island Station won't be the last.
He glanced at Takeba, who still had that concerned look on her face. "And what about you, Takeba-san? I know you didn't get yourself involved in all this just out of friendship."
She averted her gaze, though Minato could tell that she was conflicted over whether to answer his question or not.
Of course, she eventually relented.
"My dad was also part of the Kirijo Group's Weapons Programme," she explained. "At first, he wasn't aware of what Mitsuru-senpai's grandfather had been up to. As soon as he found out the truth, he tried to come clean to the authorities. But that crusty old bastard threatened to take my dad down with him, saying that he was just as guilty as he was."
"And if that happened, it won't just him, but also his family who'll end up taking the heat." Minato surmised, a touch of sympathy in his voice.
Takeba nodded sadly. "Yeah… After Mitsuru-senpai's grandfather died, her dad was the one who helped our family out. He disbanded the Weapons Programme and even reassigned my dad to another department." She turned to him, a wistful smile on her face. "He's now the head researcher in developing clean and renewable energy. Can you believe it?"
Minato couldn't help but smile as well. "Now I understand why you joined the Shadow Operatives. You felt like you owed Kirijo and her father something after all they did for your family."
It was now Takeba's turn to laugh. "That's right. When Strega began their attacks, Mitsuru-senpai's dad suspected that they were former members of the Weapons Programme. He believed that if he hadn't sacked them, Strega wouldn't have been formed and all those lives wouldn't have been lost. He founded the Shadow Operatives as his way of undoing his mistakes, and I joined in hopes of bearing the burden placed on him. The same goes for Mitsuru-senpai."
She let out a deep sigh as she observed the damages. "But seeing all this… I feel like it's still not enough."
"No," Minato said as he placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder. She looked at him confusedly, but he simply gave her a warm smile. "…but it's a start. You did great out there."
Takeba smiled back, a faint blush on her cheeks. "So did you."
The two agents stood there awkwardly for a few seconds, though in their eyes, it probably felt more like an eternity.
"So…" Minato cleared his throat to break the awkward silence. "By any chance that you're up for another drink? I certainly need one after all that's happened."
Takeba giggled. "No kidding… Too bad the place here has been wrecked."
Minato gave a shrug. "Not my fault the guy had a grenade."
"I know. Besides…" She proceeded to hook her arm around his, a coy smile on her lips. "I've got an even better place in mind."
Minato grinned. "I'm all ears, Takeba-san."
"Please, call me Yukari."
~.~
When Yukari had suggested a place for a drink, Minato didn't expect for them to head to a hotel just a few blocks down from where Tartarus Lounge was. He initially thought they would get a drink at the bar, but Yukari had instead walked up to the front desk and began chatting with the concierge for a room.
Meanwhile, Minato did his best to ignore the curious stares directed towards him, instead pretending to look at his phone. In his current wardrobe, he would have blended in perfectly with the crowd had it not been for the fact that he was still coated in dust from head to toe.
Eventually, a bellhop came to guide the two of them to their room.
As soon as they stepped inside, Minato couldn't help but whistle in admiration at the sight before him. The room was extravagant to say the least, resembling something straight out of a Victorian period piece. It had two full-sized beds, a pair of leather armchairs and a large mahogany coffee table, a plasma TV, and a mini refrigerator. Even the bathroom looked extravagant with its marble walls and flooring.
Minato guessed that this room would have cost as much as his monthly salary. He almost felt guilty knowing that he'll be staying here for the night. Almost.
Apparently, Yukari had read his thoughts because she flashed him a conspiratorial smile. "This hotel's owned by the Kirijo Group, so you don't have anything to worry about expenses. Let's just say that it's Mitsuru-senpai's way of rewarding us for tonight's mission."
Minato smirked, clearly impressed. "Looks like being a member of the Shadow Operatives has its perks"
"You have no idea. Now go take a shower while I order us some room service. You're still completely covered in dust, in case you haven't noticed."
"Okay, mom." Minato teased, ducking into the bathroom just as a pillow was sent flying his way.
Ten minutes later, Minato stepped out of the shower wearing a bathrobe, having left both his suit and holster on the hangar. He let out a contented sigh as he dried his hair with a towel. It had been a long time since he last felt this good.
Yukari was sitting on one of the armchairs, one leg crossed over the other. Like Minato, she had already changed out of her dress and into a bathrobe, though he noticed that she still kept that choker on. Resting on the coffee table was an open bottle of champagne in a silver bucket, as well as two glasses.
"I see you've made yourself comfortable." Minato said as he sat down opposite her.
"The same can be said for you." She giggled before gesturing to the champagne bottle. "Now, if you don't mind..."
Minato nodded and took the bottle out from the bucket. As gently and carefully as possible, he poured the champagne into both glasses, filling each one to a glass half-full.
"How about a toast?" He offered, raising his glass invitingly.
"And what shall we drink to?" asked Yukari.
Minato smiled. "To us?"
Yukari smiled back. "To us, then."
They clinked their glasses together and drank. It was at that moment that a contract had been forged between them. Once they have drunk their fill, they will retire to bed in each other's company. No more words needed to be exchanged that night; only the warmth of their bodies fitting together.
AN: I decided to have Minato speak in a Tohoku regional dialect because I read that in Japanese media, those who speak in a Tohoku dialect tend to be lazy due to their somewhat slurred manner of speech, which does suit Minato's character. I had him stay in Akita not only because it's where the Tohoku dialect is common, but the city of Akita is also where Akira Ishida, Minato/Makato's Japanese VA, was born. It's an interesting bit of trivia I decided to incorporate into the story.