Monster Hunter Memoirs: Wolf and Red

Chapter Twenty Three

"You're SURE I can't talk you into staying?" Chief Shiro Azuma asked as he and his wife said goodbye to the two Hunters.

"We'd feed you well, and free housing," Hitomi, his wife added.

"Yeah, living with you two? Pass," Red laughed.

"Hearing you guys have sex the one time was enough," Wolf added teasingly, referring to their first Japan visit years back.

Shiro blushed, while Hitomi just looked amused.

"Isn't there an official Monster Hunters International team in Japan?" Red asked, frowning. "Why not call them instead of using us?"

"They're rather... green," Shiro said with a sigh.

"They're incompetent," Hitomi said bluntly. "The previous leader, Jiro Yamada, fancied himself a modern samurai and got the team slaughtered by a band of lich."

"I heard about that!" Wolf noted. She added, "They had to send in a team from the US to mop up that mess."

"Which is why I avoid relying on our local team," Shiro admitted.

"If you don't use them, they won't learn," Red pointed out.

"Point," Shiro conceded.

Hitomi hugged both women as the first boarding call echoed, "Come back soon, you two. Japan gets dull without you."

"Will do. Keep safe," Wolf hugged her and Shiro.

"Stay out of shit. You have staff for that," Red added to Shiro.

"Yeah, yeah," Shiro chuckled. "Don't get into anything you can't get out of," he ordered.

"We'll do our best," both girls hurried to board the plane.

"Think they'll stay out of trouble?" Hitomi asked dryly.

"Doubt it," Shiro smiled.

0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0

Susan Bishop ended up renting a place out in Maple Ridge. It was farther than she liked, but the commute wasn't THAT bad into Vancouver, esopecially as she could take the train into the city.

"How's your new place?" Dolores Clark asked as they sat in the office.

"Nice, if a bit bigger than I need," Susan admitted. "I've got a option to buy if this works out, too."

"If this works out?" Dolores teased.

"This IS a dangerous job," Susan pointed out.

"Speaking of dangerous jobs, we need to get you checked out on our various guns," Dolores changed the subject. "There's a shooting range out near Langley we use."

"Works. Do we wait for Nic and Gail?" Susan asked.

"I gave them the day off, other than being on call," Dolores said.

"Knowing young women, they're almost certainly getting into shit," Susan added wryly. As the two got up to head to the gun range she asked, "Why are you so intent on me getting gun trained?"

Dolores shrugged, "We're monster hunters, things can get VERY bad." She added, "Worse case, you can grab a weapon and bug out."

"Oh joy," Susan said dryly.

"Come on, let's go shoot some weapons and I'll buy us lunch," Dolores offered.

"Best date ever," Susan joked.

"Trust me, I can do better dates than THAT," Dolores snickered as they locked up the office and headed out to the team truck.

Susan smiled back even as she found herself wondering 'Was she flirting with me...?'

0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0

Mimi Johnson puffed out a sigh of relief as she got the news Wolf and Red were headed home.

"When are they back?" Mr Smith, their contact with the city, asked impatiently.

"They're flying in tomorrow, but it'll be a few days before they get back to work," Mimi told him firmly.

Smith grunted.

Curious Mimi asked, "Why wait on THEM? There are other BC teams."

Smith frowned but admitted, "Out of the various Monster Hunter teams lopcally, they're most reliable. Plus, I prefer that they're NOT connected to Monster Hunters International."

"Don't trust the US?" Mimi teased.

"Somewhat," Smith agreed.

Mimi made a mental note NOT to tell him she was friends with Earl Harbinger.

"How urgent is the job?" Mimi asked. "Biship's Butchers aren't THAT bad..."

"It's more... something we need kept discrete," Smith admitted. "A sex demon of some sort and a local billionaire."

Mimi raised her eyebrows, "Yeah, that sounds messy at the very least."

Smith got up, sighing. "Please have Wolf and Red contact me as soon as they're back to work."

"Will do," Mimi waved as he stomped off.

Once Smith was gone, her friend moved for where she was spying to join her. "No problems?" Ms Fisher asked.

Alex Fisher was a friend, and was a police officer in New West. She met the three of them when a case interesected with monsters, and had become a friend. When Mimi had meets with clients and Wolf and Red were away, Mimi called Alex to keep a eye out.

"It's fine, thanks," Mimi smiled. "I'll get you lunch for your trouble."

"Thanks," Alex smiled, The brown haired woman asked, "You don't REALLY think a guy like that would try anything?"

"Never underestimate the quiet ones," Mimi noted as they ordered from Nando's, "they'll surprise you every now and then."

"Point," Alex admitted. "Join me? I know you get squirrelly when they're away."

Mimi pouted, "I do not... but yeah, sure, we can catch up."

0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0

"It did WHAT?" Sebastian blinked.

"Like magic Viagra," Nic Carter laughed, sitting in the local pub with her landlord and his husband.

"Damn, can we borrow that for our next swinging party?" Anthony smirked.

"Not if you want every animal in range going full Cujo on you," Nic pointed.

"Ok, that'd be bad," Sabastian agreed.

"Just imagine Ms Hendrix' poodle up the street attacking people," Anthony chuckled.

"Arf arf arf!" Sebastian mock bit.

Nic snickered softly.

Anthony waved down the bartender, "Another round."

"Hold your horses," the older woman called back.

Sebastian noted, "If we were women we'd get faster service." He grinned at Nic, "Flash your tits, that'd get her over here."

"I'm not that generously equipped," Nic noted, looking down at her b cups.

Anthony offered, "What's the old saying, anything over a mouthfull is a waste anyway?"

The bartender returned before Nic could comment. "Beers all around?" she asked briskly.

"Please," Nic nodded and took out a twenty, "This round on me."

"Got it," the woman took the bill.

"Keep the change," Nic added, knowing it was only $15 for the three drinks.

The bartender grinned, "Thanks, cutey."

"Clearly, the way to a woman's heart is money," Sebastian teased.

Nic chuckled, "Can't really argue with THAT."

"So, why are you here hanging out with two queens instead of hanging out with your friends?" Anthony asked curiously.

"I haven't made any friends yet," Nic pointed out, "and my coworkers are all busy."

"Your boss is off training your asccountaint with guns," Anthony noted.

"And Gail?" Sebastian asked.

"Out with her girlfriend," Nic shrugged, "or girlfriends, according to rumors I've heard."

"Oh HO," Sebastian chuckled.

"Exactly," Nic agreed.

To be continued...