Ranma Half Moon 2: Phrase White - Chapter 6 - Sweet With a Center of Evil - Part 1

Zoiki walks down the carpeted stairs leading to the tastefully furnished basement of Nephuyu's current adoptive parents.

The coordinator gives Zoiki a strict look. "Dahlia, glad you could join us."

"Sorry, I lost track of time."

The coordinator puts a picture up on an expensive top of the line wide screen television. The picture is of a distinguished looking middle-aged man. "This is our new target. Kobayashi Masaki. He is widely known as a gourmet and food critic. He also runs a business where he imports exotic spices. However, this business is a front for a drug smuggling and human trafficking organization. We need to snatch him and extract his information before people realize that he is missing. Tomorrow, he will be at a culinary fair. It will be very crowded and his absence won't be noticed for a while. We will set up in one of the hotel rooms. We should only need one person to lure Masaki away from the crowd to where he can be snatched. Who would like to do it?"

Jadero smiles. "Edelweiss, your new family has a long history with the culinary arts. Haven't they been giving you pointers?"

Kunochi nods. "Yes, Anemone, they have."

"Shouldn't you go then?"

"Well, I wanted to introduce our new band manager to you tomorrow. She's very excited to start."

Nephuyu raises an eyebrow. "Just send her to the high school. It's open and bustling on the weekends. Nothing will look suspicious."

"Hinagiku, She's an outsider. She needs to stay that way as well."

"Is that wise?"

"The more outsiders associated with the band the more innocent it will look."

The coordinator nods. "Edelweiss, I think the others can handle the band manager. Would you take the case then?"

"Yes."

...

Kino Makoto looks at the two pastries in front of her.

Two chefs in high white hats carefully study her expression.

Makoto tastes the first one, then drinks some water. She then tastes the second one.

The chefs stare at her in terror and anticipation.

Makoto smiles.

The chefs collapse in relief.

"Both of your work is much improved from last year. I think these stand a chance in the main competition. However, Mario, you are still letting the caramel heat too long. I know it's torture finding exactly the right amount of time, especially with different kitchens having different conditions, but this will come with time. And, Luigi, cinnamon is a very dominant spice and you need to be very careful not to add too much. You put a lot of really great ingredients into this pastry, but the taster is in danger of only noticing the cinnamon."

Both the chefs bow to Makoto. "Thank you! Thank You!"

Kunochi hears his controller's voice in his earphone. "Masaki will be tied up for another ten minutes. Try to mingle and enjoy yourself."

Mingle, huh? Kunochi walks up to Makoto. "Excuse me, I couldn't help but notice how highly those chefs valued your opinion. Do you work for a culinary magazine?"

Makoto turns bright red. "Well, actually, I'm just a Junior High School girl."

"Really? You're pretty tall, I guess that makes you look more mature."

Makoto looks down. "No, I'm just a nobody."

"Nonsense. It's obvious that the chefs felt that you have a very educated palate. Do you have a booth?"

"No, I'm just a guest."

"Well, sorry to have bothered you."

Kunochi walks away.

Baka, baka, baka, baka! I'm such an idiot. A hunky guy approaches me and I chase him away? Baka!

Suddenly a toy rabbit appears before Makoto.

"Mister Usagi says that you should cheer up."

Makoto looks down to see a blond boy holding the rabbit. "Why thank you, young boy. Are you enjoying the fair?"

A tall, dark-haired boy who stands next to the smaller boy speaks up. "Actually, distinguished young lady, both of us are older than you."

Hani-chan makes a peace sign.

"Really?"

"Yes, we'll be third year high school after vacation."

"Wow."

Kunochi comes back and clears his throat. "Actually, these two boys are part of my school's host club."

Makoto laughs. "No way!"

Hani-chan nods. "It's true. We would love to have you come and sample our cakes. We want our clients to have the best experience possible."

Kunochi smirks. "What he really means to say is that he eats cake all the time and wants to make sure that he is eating the best cake possible."

Hani and Mori glare at Kunochi, who glares back.

Oh my god! Are three hot guys really fighting over me? This must be a dream. Makoto pinches herself. Guess not. "I guess you guys are in rival clubs?"

Hani and Mori smile. "He's in a band."

"My band is playing next weekend." Kunochi hands Makoto a card with the gig information on it. "It's all ages so you're welcome to come."

Mori pulls out a card. "Here's the information for our club."

Makoto studies both cards. "Thanks. I will definitely try to check both of these things out."

Kunochi, Mori and Hani-chan smile.

Kunochi hears a voice in his earphone.

"Target is on the move. Play time is over."

"My apologies. I have an appointment and need to go. Your name?"

"Kino Makoto."

"Kunochi. Hope to see you at the show." Kunochi slips away.

"What a strange boy."

Mori half smiles. "You don't know the half of it."

"My name is Hani-chan, by the way."

"They usually call me Mori."

"Thanks."

"So, which booths should we go to?"

"Hani-chan, you do really eat a lot of cake?"

"Yes, I do! I love it!"

"Well, most of the booths have really good stuff. But, there were a couple of booths that really stood out. They're over here."

...

Kunochi takes a fake staff identification card out of his pocket. Time to go to work.

To Be Continued!