File #06There was no doubt that something was watching. Some creature, some
hunter, with ill intent. There was no mistaking the unease that followed as one darted from corner to cranny, seeking to throw the pursuer off their trail.
It was more than just a malicious sense of watching, a kind of insidious surveillance that shook one to the soul. No living thing would have enjoyed being pinned by such a gaze.
"Ai, stop trying to intimidate my fish." A weary voice chided her with an easy familiarity.
The target of the scolding pouted, turning her attention away from the enormous aquarium that covered the entirety of one wall. The harried fish that had been under her scrutiny darted away gratefully, disappearing into an artificial reef.
"You're 21, not 12, so stop that." The sharply dressed man in a business suit raised one eyebrow at her, but Ai only stuck her tongue out at him.
"You're not my dad, Ta-kun. Or do you want me to start calling you old man too?" Ai replied impudently, striding forward to flop into the leather armchair, spinning around restlessly as she rolled around in it in front of the mahogany desk that belonged her adoptive brother and sometime-sensei.
"You're restless today." Takeda Shinryu (originally known as Takahashi Ryuuta, but he changed his name) noted, looking away from his screen to eyeball his favorite little sister.
"Gimme something to do, I'm bored." Ai rested her chin on folded arms, making puppy eyes at her adopted brother/father/boss/teacher. They had a complicated relationship, of that there was no doubt.
To Takeda though, no matter how dangerously competent Ai had turned out to be, she would always be the same adorably pouting little girl whining at him. Like right now.
"Didn't I give you a target a few days ago?" He shuffled through some papers. Ai rolled her eyes.
"He's way too ugly. No fun at all. Gimme another one." Ai started peering at her fingers, picking absently at her hangnails. Takeda gave her a look.
"The point is to kill him, not screw him. Don't be picky." Ai pretended to sulk as he said that.
"
Fine. Be that way." Deftly, she stole the file from right under his nose, glancing rapidly at the information. Takeda merely watched her blandly; he had half expected her to do that.
"By the way, did you pinch my Jaguar XJ220 the other day?" He added as he turned back to his screen. Ai smiled lazily.
"Not yours anymore. I stole it fair and square." She flipped through the file some more, memorizing the details. "Shouldn't be too difficult to get rid of this guy the regular way."
"Problem is, the request was for something a little more...subtle." Takeda added. Ai sighed.
"Yeah. I can't pull the same trick like with that politician's brat. This guy's practically a
monk." She paused, before adding. "A very rich one though."
"Think of something. You're creative." Takeda replied flippantly, waving a hand dismissively at her. His overall attitude was oddly familiar; Ai herself exuded a similar aura, just subtly different. No doubt that he had been her teacher.
"Yeah, whatever. There's gotta be a loophole in his lifestyle somewhere..." She started muttering to herself. "If only the client hadn't stipulated that bloody clause...I rather just put a bullet in his forehead or maybe spike his drink. This guy bores me."
"I'm sure you can do it." Takeda said encouragingly. He grinned suddenly. Ai gave him a suspicious look. "What?"
"Nothing, I just remembered how motivated you used to get when I said I would bring you to Disneyland if you succeeded. Guess I can't use the same bribe again..." He neatly dodged the flying pen aimed at his eye. Ai huffed indignantly.
"That was when I was 13! 8 years ago! Sheesh..." She folded her arms, leaning back in the chair as her forehead creased in deep thought.
"Hey, a man who doesn't drink, gamble and womanize would probably be a good family man, wouldn't he?" Back to business again. There was no mistaking the contemplative note in her tone. Takeda nodded, waiting for her to explain her idea.
"Well, there's no way I can get close to him normally. The guy's paranoid on top of being a monk. I mean, seriously, he doesn't let anyone unfamiliar get close to him. Even the part-time help at his home are screened." Ai shrugged. "As expected from a former spy, I guess."
"You have something on your mind." It was not a question. Takeda had spent more than 10 years training Ai, and he knew her better than most. Ai smirked, steepling her fingers together and resting her chin on them. Takeda narrowed his eyes.
"Why do I suddenly have a bad feeling about what you're planning?" Ai grinned, putting on her most harmless, adorable face, complete with puppy eyes and pouty lower lip. He sighed.
"What now?"
Ai winked roguishly at him. "Let's just say I just figured out a way to have a little more fun with this mission."
He eyed her suspiciously. The pair locked gazes, and would likely have stayed like that for the next 15 minutes had not the doors opened slowly behind them, a hesitant head peeking from behind it.
"Um..." Even the voice was uncertain, as if ready to bolt. Ai broke her staring contest with Takeda immediately, spinning around with a genuine smile on her face as she greeted the intruder.
"How have you been, little one?" Taking the initiative easily, Ai strode over to the door and pulled the young girl into the room.
"Ai-neesama! I've been good!" Ai grinned and ruffled the girl's hair affectionately.
"You're getting taller, Yuukarin." Yuuka beamed at her adopted older sister and idol. Takeda looked on with amusement at the pair.
"Have you finished with your practice?" Takeda asked, taking on the stern role of teacher and trainer. Yuuka jumped and hid behind Ai, before replying in the affirmative with a certain amount of apprehension. Ai shook her head and patted Yuuka's shoulder comfortingly, the younger girl flushing cutely as Ai put a casual arm around her shoulders.
"I'll take her down to the firing range, would that be alright
onii-chan?" Ai winked outrageously as Takeda spluttered. She only ever called him that to tease him, and only because she knew that Takeda wasn't used to her doing that, ever.
"Fine." He coughed, trying to regain some semblance of dignity. "Don't forget about your own job though." Ai only casually waved him off as she steered her younger "sister" out of the room.
Takeda watched them go, wondering what kind of a monster he had unleashed in Ai, and wondering if he could repeat the same thing with Yuuka.
"Oh well, we'll see." He gave his desk a once over, a compulsive habit whenever Ai came over.
With good reason.
"Damnit Lovely, stop stealing my car keys!"
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Enter...Yuuka.
A break from the drama, setting up for the next event. Hohoho. Comment muchos, amigos!