Love Hina: Once Again
Twenty Five
Tennyo Masaki wouldn't actually admit it to anyone, but she felt a certain... awe when they met Sailor Moon. There was a kind of shimmering purity to the girl, as well as to her companions, and there was the whole magic issue.
YES, Tennyo also had a 'magic' sword, but even if others thought it was magical, she still knew it was merely highly advanced alien technology. All the special powers of the Jurai royal families were explainable by science, if you understood the forces they were manipulating. They had evolved a combination of extra-sensory perception and technology that let them do the incredible things they were capable of.
Sailor Moon, on the other hand, broke every physical law that Tennyo understood. And probably some she didn't. Just to start with her and her team entirely violated conservation of energy, not to mention other fundamentals of the universe. It was rather frightening, really to see it.
Of course, knowing a clutz had that kind of world-shaking power was frightening in itself. Tennyo sighed as Sailor Moon stumbled and fell, then sat on her butt and whimpered. Her fellow Sailors looked mortified, but thankfully Moon recovered fairly quickly.
Tennyo sighed, deciding she was just dithering. She was here in Tokyo for a reason, and it was not people watching. With a determined stride she left Sailor Moon and friends to fight a monster and headed for one of the many office towers in the core of the city.
Tennyo was faintly amused to see the name of the company she had been summoned to was "Jurai Interests Inc." and was in possession of the entire top two floors of the building. It was a bit obvious, in her opinion. Though she could understand taking the top two floors... it would help then conceal any starships landing.
The 'secretary' just inside the main doors was a Science Police graduate, Tennyo could tell from the way she moved. The physical strength enhancements and durability meant you had to be very VERY careful under normal conditions. Still, the pink haired woman smiled pleasantly as she said, "Miss Tennyo, good to see you."
"Thank you, Mitoto," Tennyo read her name tag. Clearing her throat to try to hide any nervousness she asked, "Is she in?"
"Yes," Mitoto agreed, "and she's waiting for you." She activated a concealed switch in her desk as she continued, "Go right in."
"Thank you," Tennyo answered as she went by her, the doors swinging open automatically. Dramatic, but it suited the woman she was visiting.
The office within was not terribly grand, but it suited the owner quite nicely. There was a lot of wood decoration and furniture, as expected from one from Jurai, and was lit subtly to bring out the lovely colors of the decorations. The way the room was laid out inevitably drew the eye to the desk and the green haired woman sitting behind it.
"Tennyo," Seto Kamiki Jurai smiled warmly at her, but with a subtle sense of menace as she said, "it's good to see you."
0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0
"So Tennyo is in Tokyo for a architectural meeting?" Kitsune asked, sounding disappointed. She STILL hadn't managed to press the other woman about the mysterious magic sword she had used earlier. Not that she wanted one for herself, exactly, but she at least wanted a better idea of what it could do in a emergency.
"Yes," Mutsumi agreed a bit guiltily. In fact Tennyo had confided to her that she was meeting with her relative, but didn't want the others to know. So instead she had spread around the story that she was dealing with selling plans to a client.
"Damn," Kitsune sighed. Then she shrugged, "Ah well."
The two women were sitting in the Hinata Cafe, that Kitsune kinda sorta ran. Well, really Shinobu ran it, but Kitsune still managed the finances as she was, surprisingly, quite good with money. Sometimes Kitsune wondered what the drunken, gambling Kitsune of just a few years ago would have thought of all this. They were sitting near a window enjoying the sun, in a lag time between various waves of customers.
Mutsumi looked at Kitsune thoughtfully. Ever since their last trip the other woman seemed... distracted by something, as if something was on her mind. "Kitsune, is something wrong?" she tried asking.
Kitsune started, then looked a bit sheepish. "I guess I have been distracted," she conceded after a moment. She smiled, "It's kind of complicated."
"Talking things out sometimes helps," Mutsumi offered gently.
Kitsune smiled as she realized that Mitsumi, with her relationship with Tennyo, might actually be the best person to talk about this. "Well, it's about Motoko, sort of," she admitted, then began to explain about the yuri story that Motoko had published that she suspected was about her and Kitsune.
"Can I borrow that magazine later?" Mutsumi asked cheerfully.
Kitsune chuckled as she answered, "Yeah, sure." She looked at Mutsumi curiously and asked, "What do you think?"
"Uhm," Mitsumi looked faintly uncomfortable, "are you really sure it's about you and her?" As Kitsune looked at her questioningly she shrugged, "I mean, it is a pretty common theme in books and movies. Remember when we all went to see Kamikaze Girls?"
Kitsune nodded thoughtfully. Mitsumi might just have a point, there were lots of books and stuff based on the rebel character falling for a more conservative type. Opposites attract and all that. There was no reason Motoko couldn't have just seized on that sort of idea for her first story.
"You might be right." Kitsune admitted. "I wish I could just ask her."
Mutsumi looked at her sympatheticalyy, "You're going to have to wait until Motoko feels comfortable enough to tell us she got published, I think. If you reveal you tracked her story down it might feel intrusive..."
"Ugh," Kitsune nodded.
As things started to pick up in the cafe Shinobu signaled for them to get back to work. Mutsumi excused herself and Kitsune helped with serving too for a bit. It was always fun watching the fanboys congregating at the cafe... she had her fans, of course. Even with her mostly average bust and long legs, she drew guys in. But the big draw (literally and figuratively) was Mutsumi. Her large breasts and sweet manner earned her many fans. In a different way Shinobu also had a following, though in her case it was her shy, sweet personality and great cooking.
Once the rush died down again Kitsune slipped away, knowing she had to get some paperwork done for Phantom Quest Corp. It was very enjoyable, running her own company, but the paperwork was a pain. Entering the Hinata Inn she slipped on her interior shoes, then headed up to her rooms.
Speaking of mysteries, Kitsune nodded a greeting to Utena and Anthy as they headed out to the Inn's hotsprings. She had recruited Anthy as a psychic on her team, and the woman had shown unpredictable but powerful abilities. Along with her came her lover Utena, who was something of a enigma. She knew Utena had a magical sword, and seemed to be able to match Motoko in battle. But other than that...
For a moment Kitsune thought of following them out into the springs to talk, but she also knew Utena was kind of shy of nudity. Su, to Kitsune's annoyance, had spied on the two of them in the baths and had told Kitsune about the extensive scarring along Utena's back, which probably explained the shyness. Su, a notoriously savage girl, had actually been a bit green describing the extensive wounds.
"Kitsune, hello," Kanako smiled warmly, the black haired and dressed woman nodding a greeting.
The cat perched on her shoulder looked at Kitsune and noted, "You're late with rent."
"Hush," Kanako told the cat.
SUPPOSEDLY the cat talked with just ventriloquism, but at times like this Kitsune really wondered. "Sorry," she apologized, "I got caught up in other work. I'll get you the money now."
"No rush," Kanako said with calm dignity, "I know you're good for it."
It was VERY hard to guilt trip Kitsune, but oddly Kanako's quiet faith in her good intentions got her every time. She wondered if the girl did it deliberately, or if it was just something she had picked up? Anyway she led Kanako to her room, got the rent envelope and gave Kanako the money.
"Sorry for the wait," Kitsune said as she handed it over.
"No trouble at all," Kanako answered mildly. She tucked the envelope away as she noted, "I saw a copy of Wildrose in your rooms. Did you enjoy Motoko's story?"
Kitsune's eyes widened slightly. "You know too?" she asked.
Kanako nodded slightly as she admitted, "I ran into a copy while shopping earlier." She looked at Kitsune thoughtfully, "Are you going to tell her about having the magazine?"
"She doesn't seem comfortable talking about it," Kitsune admitted, "until she is, I don't think I'll bring it up."
Kanako sighed but nodded slightly, "That was pretty much what I thought too."
0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0
Lightning seemed to flash between Tennyo and Seto as their wills silently clashed, then Seto relaxed, sitting back with a sigh. "You're going to be difficult about this, aren't you?" she asked.
Tennyo continued to meet her eyes defiantly, "Hell yes. I have done my best to stay out of imperial politics on Jurai for years. No way am I letting you pull me in to them." Silently she added, 'ESPECIALLY trying to betroth me to a ally, damn it. Not interested.'
Seto looked at her calmly, "You know I can make things VERY difficult for you..."
"Then maybe I'll stop being a architect and become a waitress," Tennyo answered calmly.
A smile quirked Seto's lips, then she let it go and smiled fully. "All right, you're as tough as I expected," she conceded cheerfully.
"Huh?" Tennyo blinked.
"This was a test," Seto admitted calmly, "I needed to see how serious you were about that girl you're seeing." She saw Tennyo's eyes narrow in anger at the reveal they knew so much of her life and added, "Don't be stupid, Misaki. You are a relative of the Emperor of Jurai, of COURSE we are going to keep a eye on you."
Tennyo really wanted to get cranky about that, but she had to concede the older woman had a point. She sort of expected it, really. "So, how long have you been watching?" she asked.
"Not directly, only by remotes," Seto smiled, "none of your friends are spying on you. And we've only been watching since you left the Masaki Shrine." She frowned slightly, "Why couldn't you have just stayed there? It's safe!"
"Exactly," Tennyo said dryly.
"Heh," Seto smiled, nodding slightly. Every bird had to leave the nest eventually, after all. "I also wanted to tell you that a reaction team will be ready to help if something comes up, much like with Tenchi," she said, "but I can't promise a response faster than a few minutes. Can you hold out in a emergency that long?"
Tennyo though of her new friends back at the dorm, and some of the things they had already shown they were capable of. "I don't think that'll be a problem," she said with a smile.
"Good," Seto agreed. She leaned forward and dropped her voice, "Now, about this girl you're seeing. How serious are you? Because I could help out a bit..."
'Oh hell no,' Tennyo thought, dreading what the most active matchmaker on Jurai might come up with...
To be continued!
Notes: Just touching on Tennyo and her connections to Tenchi Muyo. And trying to resume the romance subplots around Motoko. Heh! It always struck me as DEEPLY unrealistic that Tenchi and Tennyo, both of whom are in line for Jurai's throne, are shown living with no guards or other security.
Twenty Six
"YOU LITTLE PERVERTS!" Rei Hino roared, running down the hallway at a breakneck pace, her long black hair flowing down her back.
Koalla Su heard her coming as she exchanged a glance with Sara. "I think she found the camera I stashed there," she noted.
"No shit," Sara noted. "Run?"
"Run," Su agreed, both racing off down a hidden tunnel in her room.
Rei slammed the door open looking around with a deadly glare. The two girls weren't there, of course, and a quick look confirmed there were no obvious traces. However, Rei wasn't without her own talents. Focusing her concentration she chanted, deliberately bringing her esper talents to the surface.
In her minds eye a fire flickered and danced over a panel in the wall. Kneeling down she pushed at it, then slid it aside, peering in to a suspiciously clean looking passage. "Ah ha," she murmured, then crawled in after them.
"Oh hell," Su muttered as they crawled faster. She had found the passage a LOT faster than Su had counted on.
Motoko Aoyama was calmly sweeping out her room, even as she plotted out her next story. The magazine that had published her earlier one had expressed interest in a follow up, and she was trying to decide what to do. She didn't want to repeat the last one...
There was a clunk sound, then the floor popped up as two girls hurried up out of the floor. "Excuse us," Sara smiled weakly.
"What did I tell you about using those passages?" Motoko demanded indignantly as she reflexedly got out of their way.
"Sorry, emergency," Su said as she and Sara bolted out of the room.
"Hmph," Motoko growled as she started sweeping again.
This time the trap door thumped open, and a visibly angry Rei Hino errupted from the passage. "Where did they go?" she demanded.
Motoko blinked then pointed out the door.
"Thank you," Rei growled, racing after the girls.
After a moment Motoko shut the hatch, then shook her head as she sighed, "I am nailing that thing shut..."
Rei hurried out into the hallway, looking around. The two girls had apparently vanished, and this time she wasn't getting any vibes as to where they were. With a frustrated sound she turned around, stalking back to the room she shared with Ami.
"Well, that was interesting," Ami said, holding two small cameras. "There were just these, and no sound as far as I can tell."
"Little creeps," Rei scowled as she stompd in and flopped down on her bed.
"They're just curious little kids," Ami said. She paused, "Though admittedly they have a disturbing access to high technology."
"I'm more worried about what else they may have seen," Rei said flatly.
Knowing she was talking about their Sailor identities Ami said, "We never transformed in here, so the only risk is if they can read lips."
"Ugh," Rei growled. She looked around their room in annoyance then asked gruffly, "What do we do now?"
"Do you want us to move?" Ami offered, looking at her girlfriend compassionately.
Ami really loved living at the dorm, as well as the people here, so Rei knew how big a sacrifice she was offering to make. And, honestly, Rei liked it here too, with two notable exceptions. "No," she said, "it's too convenient to the Shrine, not to mention Tokyo U."
Ami hid a smile, knowing Rei was justifying a mostly emotional decision.
"I would like to change rooms, though," Rei added. "It would feel... creepy, staying here after knowing we were spied on."
"Agreed," Ami nodded. "I think if we just tell Kanako what happened, it should be fine."
"Probably," Rei agreed.
Kanako Urashima's reaction was pretty much what they expected when Rei went to her suite to tell her what they had discovered. The goth looking young woman went pale, then got clearly angry. "I'm so sorry," she apologized, "this should never have happened. If you and Ami want to move out, I will refund the last months rent and return your damage deposit, as well."
"No, no, that's not necessary," Rei reassured her. She puffed out a breath, "We would like to change rooms, if that is possible."
"Certainly," Kanako nodded, "there's a empty unit on the second floor I can move you into, once it's been cleaned."
"We can help Shinobu, if she needs...," Rei started.
"No, no, it's fine," Kanako reassured her, "I'll be paying Shinobu for her efforts, anyway." She got up gracefully, "Now, if you'll excuse me?"
"Of course," Rei got up too.
Kanako cracked her knuckles ominously as she said, "I need to find Su and Sara and have a little talk with them."
Somehow, Rei figured she'd have a easier time finding them than she would...
0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0
"What the...!" Kitsune BARELY choked back a swearword as the emergency meeting of the residents got underway.
Shinobu, Kanako, Kitsune, Mutsumi and Motoko were there, while Su and Sara were both sitting in the middle of the room, looking miserable. Kanako had just finished summarizing what they had done, and everyone was reacting.
"That was very rude of you," Mutsumi said mildly.
Motoko rolled her eyes. "What were you thinking?" she demanded, "Do you WANT Rei and Ami to move out?"
"Uhm, that was really not a good thing to do," Shinobu agreed. She looked over at Kanako, "How upset are they?"
"Well, they're not happy, but they want to stay," Kanako said. "They want a different room, though, which I think is understandable."
"I'm sorry they got upset," Su said a bit mulishly, "but it's not like I hurt anything."
Kitsune bit back another comment and sighed. She occasionally forgot that Su came from a totally different culture. Worse, Su had no parents to set limits for her... other than the women in this room, anyway. And clearly they weren't doing too good a job.
Sara, interestingly, seemed more aware that yes, they had screwed up. "I'm really sorry," she sighed. She added softly, "I'm glad they aren't leaving, too."
"Su, I know you're used to living where you ran around naked and no one cared," Kitsune addressed her, "but here, it's a really big deal when someone sees you naked. People get really upset when you do that."
Su pouted, but nodded, "I guess so."
Motoko grimaced, "And if you have cameras in anyone else's rooms, get them out. I don't want Tennyo or Utena beating you to death."
"They wouldn't get that cranky?" Sara paled.
"I wouldn't chance it," Motoko noted.
As the two girls hurried off to presumably de-bug any remaining rooms, Kitsune puffed out a sigh. "I wish Naru were here, she's better at handling this kind of thing," she noted.
"I thought you did all right," Shinobu said, patting her on the shoulder. Reflectively she added, "You know, we're so used to Su's hijinks I really hadn't thought how it might effect someone else."
"Yeah," Motoko agreed. "Do you think we should tell Utena and Tennyo about this, as well?"
"Ugh," Kitsune groaned. She thought about it, "Yeah, but let's get them drunk first. They'll be less likely to want to do Su bodily harm at that point."
"Sounds like a plan," Mitsumi agreed.
"I think we should also take steps to close up those passages Su uses," Kanako noted with a sigh. "I actually don't want to, as they date back to at least Grandmother's era at the Inn, but..."
"Lock them down, somehow?" Shinobu offered.
"Can you think of a way we could do that that Su couldn't figure out a way around?" Motoko asked them wryly.
"Point," Kanako agreed, "I'll call up a contractor."
The group dispersed, even as Kitsune walked out by Motoko. "At least now you won't have to worry about Su randomly popping into your room," Kitsune noted.
"That will be a relief," Motoko admitted with a smile. "That, and she won't interrupt when I'm trying to write."
"How's that going?" Kitsune seized the chance to ask, knowing it was a delicate subject.
Motoko blushed. "Well, I've gotten a story or two published," she admitted then shyly added, "I have a copy of the magazine, if you want to read it."
"I'd like that," Kitsune agreed.
To be continued...
Notes: The idea of Su spying on the others kinda worked in a 'Love Hina' context, but upon reflection I decided the characters from the other series would get a little upset.
(Tho Rei Hino is NOT one to talk, considering she and the other Inners spied on Usagi and Mamoru about to kiss. Still, rule of funny. Anyway...)
I was originally going to write a longer chase scene, but I decided just to show what I did. If you like you can imagine Rei chasing them through the dorm, popping out of tunnels, and startling the other residents.
Twenty Seven
"Well, Anthy, Utena and Tennyo took it pretty well," Kitsune noted as they relaxed out in the hot springs, steam flowing around them.
"Tho Anthy is hard to read," Shinobu noted, "she could be murderously angry and still have that pleasant smile on her face."
"Also true," Motoko agreed, the tall samurai relaxing nearby. She and Tennyo had had one of their most epic practice fights yet, bouncing all around the building and hot spring.
"And Su and Sara are keeping their heads down," Kitsune sighed. "Hope they learn a lesson from all this."
"They'd better," Rei noted as the black haired miko and her girlfriend Ami walked up to the pool in nothing but long towels.
"Now, Rei," Ami addressed her gently, "they ARE just young kids you know."
Rei grumbled something uncharitable as both girls settled into the water.
Motoko smiled wryly, "I'm sorry. We had kind of gotten used to how out of control Su and Sara could get, and we didn't think of how bad it might be for you."
"Well, we do stupid things as kids," Rei sighed. "Not that I ever did of course..."
Ami snorted at that, then Rei stuck her tounge out.
Kitsune snickered softly at that. "New room set up?" she asked curiously.
"We just finished moving," Rei agreed, "Kanako helped out."
"I have to admit, I changed my opinion on her," Motoko admitted, "she's a much nicer person than I thought."
In a moment of good timing Kanako emerged from the steam, looking amused. "She's just lulling you until she strikes," her cat, Kuro, commented impishly.
"Hush," Kanako bopped Kuro gently on the head even as she saw Motoko blush faintly. It was really kind of cute.
Kitsune was... faintly annoyed to see Kanako making Motoko blush. Why she wasn't quite sure, but it bothered her. She sipped her drink as she added, "No evil plots, please. I have enough oddness to deal with at Phantom Quest Corp."
"Having problems?" Ami asked curiously.
"Just a odd job request," Kitsune admitted, "I'm not sure we should take it."
"Tell me more?" Rei asked curiously.
"There's been some odd events over in the Ikebukuro district of Tokyo," Kitsune said, "and a contact I have there has offered us a job hunting a Dullahan."
There was a beat of silence. "Okay, I'll confess my ignorance," Motoko said wryly, " and ask what's a Dullahan?"
Rei chuckled, "A headless horseman, actually. Though I thought they were European?"
"This one apparently ended up in Tokyo," Kitsune said. "Anyway, it's been running around awhile, but it appears to be at least somewhat beign."
"Somewhat," Rei echoed.
"Yeah. Anyway, the client wants us to engage the critter in battle but not defeat it," Kitsune noted, "and that bugs me."
"That is odd," Shinobu agreed.
"The client is trying to find out how powerful the Dullahan is," Ami guessed reasonably. "But why? What's their interest?"
"That's what bothers me," Kitsune agreed, "and my first instinct is not to take the job. On the other hand the client is also my contact in the area, and he's been very reliable to me. I don't want to spoil the relationship."
"Do you trust him?" Motoko asked.
"HELL no," Kitsune laughed, "but that's not the point."
Somewhere in the Ikebukuro district, Izaya Orihara sneezed suddenly.
Namie Yagiri, his assistant, frowned as she asked, "You're not getting a cold are you?"
Izaya waved that off, "Someone must be talking about me."
"Wouldn't you be sneezing all the time?" Namie snarked.
"No one likes a smart ass," Izaya noted dryly.
Back at the Hinata Inn, Tennyo Masaki was climbing the steps up to the inn, having returned from her own Tokyo trip then went out running errands. She was tired, cranky and was wondering if she shouldn't just run away to somewhere very remote and away from her relatives.
'Of course to achieve THAT I'd have to be half way across the galaxy,' Tennyo admitted to herself with a sigh.
"Tennyo-san!" a happy cry rang out then she was nearly bowled over by the other woman.
"Mutsumi." Tennyo smiled as she hugged her bouncy girlfriend. On the other hand. HERE was a good reason to stick around.
"Missed you," Mutsumi smiled as she kissed her enthusiastically.
"Eep," Ema had been coming around a corner before quickly turning around. Not that she had any issues about that sort of thing, but a kiss like that deserved some privacy.
"I think we shocked Ema," Tennyo kept a arm around Mutsumi as they headed towards the main building.
"She needs to get a date," Mutsumi shrugged slightly.
"She does give the impression of being just a bit repressed," Tennyo admitted.
"We could always hook her up with Shinobu," Mutsumi suggested after they ended up in Tennyo's room. The graceful white haired woman was changing out of her suit to some casual clothes, while Mutsumi was enjoying the view, so to speak.
Tennyo paled a bit, "No matchmaking, please."
"Bad experience?" Mutsumi had to ask.
"Actually, my Aunt wants to marry us off," Tennyo noted wryly, "if she had her way you and I would be on a plane to Hawaii right now."
"Aww. I think I like her," Mutsumi smiled impishly.
Tennyo smiled wryly, "Maybe, but... I'd like to get to know you before we get married. Old fashioned, I know..."
Mutsumi smiled back as she answered, "Fair enough. By the way, are you in a hurry to get down to the hot springs?"
"Why?" Tennyo paused with a t-shirt in her hand.
"Because I was thinking we could... do something else," Mutsumi purred, lying back on Tennyo's bed.
"Hot springs can wait," Tennyo agreed.
Outside, the women were reluctantly climbing out of the springs. Dinner had yet to be cooked, and while the cafe was closed for the day Kitsune felt a responsibility to check on it. Growing up, she decided, was a bitch.
"I really liked that story, by the way," Kitsune noted to Motoko once they were alone.
Motoko blushed again. "Thanks," she said, "uhm... the topic didn't bother you at all?"
"Nah," Kitsune waved that off, "I've been around the block a few times."
"Really?" Motoko gave her a look.
Kitsune shrugged slightly, "Admittedly it usually involved a few drinks, but I have made out with a few women." She looked thoughtful, "There was even a girl I knew who wanted to go steady, but..."
"You were a drunk and ran away?" Motoko guessed.
"Pretty much," Kitsune admitted willingly enough.
"Ha," Motoko smiled, surprised she'd so willingly admit it.
"I should look her up," Kitsune admitted, "last I heard she had gone into publishing. She could be a good contact for you."
"Really? I'd appreciate it," Motoko agreed as they headed back to the inn.
"Mikuriya Shizue," Kitsune recalled, "I might even still have her number somewhere..."
To be continued...
Notes: Yeah, I'm setting up a crossover with Durarara. Assuming I can figure out the mechanics of where and when to slot that in. Also, Kitsune's one night stand is also a crossover, from Ghosttalker's Daydream. I had featured them over in Arisugawa's, so I figured why not tie them in here.
Twenty Eight
Ikebukuro District, Tokyo
Namie Tagiri, former high powered executive and now lowly secretary to a con man and informant, entered the office with a slight frown. The brown haired woman was attractive, in a way, but her eyes had a certain coldness to them. She was the type who could stab someone to death if needed with no hesitation.
"Ah, welcome," Izaya Orihara smiled cheerfully. The black haired young man flung his arms out, "It's a lovely day isn't it?"
Namie looked outside at the pissing rain and decided Izaya was in one of those interesting moods again. "So, what are we working on today?" she asked.
"You're no fun, Namie," Izaya pouted sweetly. "Just look at the throng of humanity out there," he gestured to the people scurrying by, "all plotting to screw each other over or do another wrong. Ah, humanity, how I love you."
"Except for Shizuo," Namie needled him.
"Yes, him I hate," Izaya admitted willingly enough.
Namie sighed, seeing his aggressive good mood appeared unbreakable. "What are we doing today, sir?" she asked again.
Izaya chuckled softly. "All business, as usual," he shook his head. He sat back in his seat, looking at the chess board in front of him, covered with checkers pieces, shogi pieces and others in a intricate pattern only he understood.
Personally, Namie thought he was full of it, with his crazy chessboard and mixed up game pieces. Still, he paid pretty well AND offered protection from her various enemies. For that, she would put up with a lot.
"All right, we've got the Phantom Quest Corp in play," Izaya mused, touching a queen chess piece, "they'll be here in the next day or so to go after Celty."
"I thought you had uses for her?" Namie mused. Also, he had the Dullahan's head, but that was another story.
"Oh, I don't expect they can kill her," Izaya waved that off, "but we really only have the most limited idea of what she can do. This will give us that information."
"Hmm," Namie nodded obediently like a good minion should. It had been in the job description when he had hired her: nod and make noises to encourage me to carry on.
Izaya flashed her a smile. "But I want to keep Celty off balance, or she'll realize it was me who set them on her," he mused aloud.
"Isn't everything in Ikebukuro your fault?" Namie pointed out sweetly.
"Not always," Izaya said slightly mockingly, "just usually. Anyway, there's a federal agency that also looks into supernatural events... we're going to get them into this too, just to confuse the issue a bit more."
0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0
Tokyo, Kitsune decided, really was THE most fucked up and crowded city in the world. The light brown haired woman looked over at her navigator, "Does anyone know where the hell we are?"
"I THINK so," Utena Tenjou said as she read the map. "We go straight ahead, then turn on the next street. The business man's hotel should be there," the pink haired woman in jeans and a loose sweatshirt reported.
"You'd better not have booked us into a love hotel," Rei Hino noted darkly, the black haired young woman sitting in back with her lover Ami. She wore a white blouse and a long skirt, possibly to hide the talismans she had brought.
"I wouldn't think you'd mind," Kitsune noted, in white shirt and pants.
Anthy snickered softly at that, while Motoko Aoyama looked disapproving. The sword swoman tried to get them back to business, "So, the plan is that we check in to the hotel, then begin the hunt for the headless horsewoman?"
"I still can't get over someone saying that with a straight face," Ami noted mildly. The casually dressed woman was mostly along to keep Rei company, tho she claimed a scientific interest in their target. If she really was a headless horseman, imagine the differences in her biology.
"It IS a bit surreal," Kitsune conceded as they inched along through traffic. She kept a eye on the other cars and the crazy predestrians as she continued, "That's the plan, tho we may rest up a bit before we head out."
"I read in the briefing papers we got that the Dullahan goes out all hours, do we know why?" Ami asked in a business-like way.
"I pressed my source about it," Kitsune acknowledged, "and he says that she works as a courier and transporter."
"I guess if you have a magic steed it sort of makes some sense," Utena nodded thoughtfully.
Kitsune looked back at the road, for a moment wishing they could have brought a bigger team. But Tennyo had flatly refused to join this caper, citing a past connection to the Dullahan, interestingly enough. Motoko was eager to test her family sword style against the Celtic being, while Rei had reluctantly agreed to try to contain it. Anthy wanted to try to communicate with it, and Utena was along as her bodyguard, pretty much.
"All right, looks like this is it," Kitsune noted as they pulled into the parkade, narrowly avoiding clipping a car as they got the battered old van inside.
They checked in, where Motoko got a unpleasant surprise. "Wait," she looked at Kitsune, "you only booked three rooms?"
"Well, yeah," Kitsune shrugged as she tried to explain, "I mean, Ami and Rei only need one, as do Utena and Anthy."
"She put you two in the honeymoon suite. Nice touch," Rei noted sardonically.
"It was the last one available," Kitsune said defensively.
Motoko looked at the front counter staffer as she asked, "You're booked solid?"
She shrugged eloquently. "There's a convention in town," she explained.
Motoko ran a hand over her face. With a put upon sigh she said, "Let's see the room."
"Oh dear," Ami murmured as they peeked in.
The room was adorned with red lace, flowers and, best of all, a large, heart shaped bed and even matching pillows. It CLEARLY had been designed by someone for whom the words 'over the top' had no meaning whatever.
"Kitsune..." Motoko gave her a deadly look.
"I didn't expect THIS!" Kitsune said, taking a step back and holding up her hands.
"I'd offer to trade, but I'm not that noble," Utena noted.
Rei VERY quickly chimmed in, "Sorry, I think we'll pass on this too. Have fun you two!" With that, both couples fled to their rooms.
"Such good, good friends," Motoko said, shaking her head wryly.
"I really didn't expect anything this bad," Kitsune said weakly.
Almost instantly making a decision Motoko said, "I'll sleep out in the van."
Kitsune started, "I could..."
"No," Motoko shook her head, "I wouldn't feel comfortable with you out there." Picking up her knapsack of stuff she said gravely, "Excuse me."
Kitsune watched her stride off before muttering a curse under her breath.
0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0
Misaki Saiki was a medium, literally a woman who could channel a restless spirit, finding out what it wanted and hopefully helping it pass on. She was also a professional dominatrix, tho that rarely crossed over with her other job. Lastly she was an albino, with white hair, pale skin and the most striking looking red eyes.
"So what the hell are we doing out here?" Mikuriya Shizue asked as she followed the attractive white haired woman, the slightly taller black haired woman carrying a camera, her glasses gleaming in the morning sunlight.
"Thanks for volunteering to help me out," Misaki told her friend with a smile.
"No problem. I still owed you one for appearing in that photo shoot with no notice," Shizue smirked. As a magazine editor for a fetish publication, she worked with Misaki on articles and occassionally in photo shoots. She normally didn't help with ghost busting.
Misaki made a face at that.
"I repeat," Shizue said as they were jostled on the crowded Ikebukuro street, "what the hell are we doing out here this early in the morning?"
"There's been reports of a supernatural entity appearing in Ikebukuro District," Misaki said patiently. "Normally it wouldn't be something I'd deal with, but my boss owes a favor to someone, and he asked me to take a look," she shrugged.
"Makes sense," Shizue admitted, "so why do you need someone along with you?"
Misaki looked a bit sheepish at that as she explained, "I can get too caught up in the spirit I'm channeling, and it helps to have someone I trust handy to pull me out of it."
"You trust me?" Shizue smiled, "Why, thank you."
"Yeah, yeah..." Misaki blushed a bit.
Deciding to change the subject Shizue asked, "So what, exactly are we looking for?"
"Supposedly it's a headless horsewoman," Misaki admitted...
To be continued...
Notes: Namie Tagiri and Izaya Orihara along with Celty are from Durarara. Misaki Saiki and Mikuriya Shizue are both from Ghost Talker's Daydream, a manga and anime series.
Twenty Nine
Ema Maeda stomped her foot angrily as the teen complained, "You forgot me!" She had caught up to them at the hotel, just as the group was moving out.
"I'm really sorry about that," Kitsune lied. Honestly this case had been sufficiently weird that she had deliberately left the (mostly) defenseless young woman behind. Sadly she had underestimated Ema. The young woman had managed via Japan's efficient public transport to catch up with them in less than a day.
"All right," Ema said briskly as she opened her laptop, "have we encountered the headless horsewoman yet?"
Ami smiled wryly, again struck by how odd the situation was. "Not yet," she said, "In fact we were just trying to decide how to carry on from here."
"I'm debating between splitting up to cover more ground or staying as a group so we can respond as a team," Kitsune admitted.
"Haven't you watched horror movies? Splitting up means you get picked off one by one," Ema pointed out to them.
"We're not exactly in a horror movie though," Utena noted, the group of them standing on the street beside the hotel.
"This IS Ikebukuro," Kitsune pointed out, "it's a profoundly weird place." There was the Strongest Man in Ikebukuro (And some said in all of Japan too.), the mysterious Slasher and, of course, the headless horseman.
"Despite all that I DO think we should split up," Rei offered, "but check in regularly with Kitsune via cellphone."
"You and Ami," Kitsune nodded as she quickly divided them up into teams, "Utena and Anthy, and I'll take Motoko and Ema."
"Works," Anthy nodded. "Should we attempt to engage the Dulluhan on our own?"
"Oh hell no," Kitsune blurted. "We have no idea how dangerous or not, it is... if you see it, call then keep an eye out. Okay?"
The young man in the crowd didn't know who these weird people were, but he HAD heard 'engage the Dulluhan.' That mean Celty, which was not something that could be allowed. He covertly pulled out his cellphone and typed, sending a message. When he was finished he put the phone away and disappeared into the throng of people.
0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0
"Utena, are you all right?" Anthy asked gently as they walked together down a crowded street.
"I'll admit the honeymoon suite creeped me out a bit, Utena conceded, "but I'm fine."
Anthy took her hand and squeezed gently. They both had scars from their years at Ohtori, and they could manifest in odd ways. Still, both women were healing too.
"Do you really think there's a headless horsewoman, or do you think this is a wild goose chase?" Utena asked conversationally.
"Well, I know in general that they are real," Anthy admitted, "though I can't say for sure in this case."
Utena blinked at her girlfriend, "You met one?"
"Long time ago," Anthy nodded. "Wasn't violent or harmful, exactly, but was a harbinger of death more or less."
"Well that's comforting...," Utena drawled.
"Oh wow, are you cosplaying!" a voice cheerfully exclaimed.
Utena blinked at the shorter woman in a cap, accompanied by a brown haired young man in a hoody. Bot seemed very peppy, possibly a little unhealthily so.
"Totally Rose of Versailles. Look at that hair!" the young man agreed.
"Are you Oscar?" the girl asked eagerly.
"It's natural, actually," Utena admitted, slightly befuddled.
"So cool!" the young man exclaimed.
"And you've got purple hair!" the girl cried as she got a good look at Anthy. She looked at her companion, "They are TOTALLY main character types."
"Totally Main Characters, but which type?" he agreed then asked Utena, "Are you a series, OVA, manga or light novel?"
"What?" Utena blinked.
Before things could get any more surreal a taller fellow marched up and grabbed both of the strangers by their collars. "Sorry about this," he said as he dragged them off, "my friends occasionally forget the difference between reality and their manga."
"But Kadota!" she whined. "I was about to ask then about appearing in the Yaoi and Yuri fandoms!" the girl complained.
"Hush, Erika..." Kadota sighed.
Utena looked at Anthy once they were gone and asked, "What was THAT about?"
For once Anthy was equally confused. "I have no idea..." she admitted.
0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0
"Okay, okay. Right. Thanks," Mikuriya Shizue sighed, then hung up the phone. "Sorry," she apologized to the woman beside her.
Misaki Saiki smiled back, her white hair falling into her eyes. "It's fine," she reassured her. "What happened?" she asked.
Shizue smiled wryly, "A author needed some hand holding."
"I of course would know nothing about that," Misaki winked, having done some writing for her friend's magazine.
Shizue snorted rudely.
"And I thought I was easy to work with," Misaki sighed, deliberately looking sort of pitiful.
THAT got Shizue to laugh aloud. "Trust me, you do not want to know how often I get complaints about your Mistress Misaki column," she told her.
Misaki looked at her curiously, "So why do you run it?"
"Because it's a riot, and it's popular too," Shizue smiled.
Feeling strangely comforted by that Misaki smiled.
Before anything else could happen a large, black man loomed in front of them.
"Eeep," Shizue eeped as she actually hid behind Misaki.
"Eat Sushi," he smiled as he spoke with a odd accent, "Russian Sushi. Is good for you."
Misaki took one of his fliers, managing to say "Thank you."
"Nice ladies have sushi?" he smiled in his Japanese Sushi making outfit, "Give good price."
"Maybe later," Shizue smiled weakly.
"Good luck hunting headless horsewoman," the big Russian waved.
Both woman stopped dead. Misaki turned back, "How do you know that?"
"Is all over town, that strange women are hunting her," the big man shrugged expressively. "You will need all luck you can get, I think."
With that he laughed and walked back to keep trying to sell Russian Sushi.
"That was VERY brave of you," Misaki noted deadpan to her friend.
"He surprised me," Shizue protested. She paused and added quietly, "What was that about?"
"Dunno, but I don't like it..." Misaki sighed.
0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0
"This is maddening," Motoko growled out as the group found themselves blocked by a (apparently) random street fight between a blond haired young man and a slim, dark haired man in a fur lined coat.
"IZAAAAYAAAA!" he roared, literally picking up a vending machine and flinging it towards his target.
"Shizuo, your timing is terrific as always," Izaya quipped as he dodged.
"This is the fifth random disturbance we'd had slow is down," Motoko noted. "If I didn't know better, I'd think it was deliberate."
Shizuo grimaced as he tore up a sign post, "Just hold still and all your troubles will be over!"
"I'll pass thanks," Izaya answered, dodging nimbly, his coat fluttering in the breeze.
"I think it IS deliberate, actually," Kitsune admitted wryly, "someone's blocking us by organizing these various distractions."
"But who?" Ema blinked as she looked around in confusion.
"The leader of the Dollars, I assume," Kitsune shrugged, holding up her phone and displaying a text message there.
"Huh?" Motoko blinked.
"I got the message because I joined up on their site too, a while back," Kitsune explained. She shrugged, "It's sort of a gang, but organized entirely online..."
Ema gave her a odd look, "And you didn't tell us this earlier?"
Kitsune shrugged eloquently, "I was curious how far they would go."
Motoko facepalmed, looking extremely aggravated. "Damn it Kitsune..." she sighed.
"So what do we do now?" Ema asked patiently as they moved away from the escalating brawl.
"I have a cunning plan that I am certain will succeed," Kitsune reassured them.
Both Motoko and Ema exchanged worried looks. "What?" Motoko asked.
"We'll hire her for a courier job..."
To be continued.
Notes: Writing a fic with Durarara characters is hazardous because they tend to take over the story. Heh. Walker, Erika and Kadota are the characters that ran into Utena and Anthy, Simon of Russian Sushi met Misaki, and Izaya and Shizuo had a fight in front of the others.