Rival Forever?
Chapter 8
"Yuka!!"
...
A Week Before"Target: Mario Guerrimo, the boss of one top mafia gang in the world, Le Cruz." Said Noro as she read through her file. We all hurdled around the table of our hotel room. Photos, maps, and classified folder lay in front of our eyes. My eyes caught the picture of a Latin guy in his forties getting out of a car, dark curly hair with a thick mustache and sun glasses. His hands were holding on a wooden walking cane with a metal carving shaped like a bat on it.
"Mission: Exterminate him and retrieve the Eye of Pablo." Said Yuka as she threw in a photo. It looks like a regular red ruby from the museum, but something was different somehow to me..
"The eye of Pablo is a magical artifact created by the ancient societies of south america hundreds of years ago. The color of red came from the blood of Spanish conqueror that were sacrificed in the process of making it. It's power is still mysterious, but it is believe to be one of the container of chaos power that caused the epic plague in Mexico that happened a century ago. " Explained Yuka as she went through one of her thick books that she had brought along. My eyebrows rose up, kind of sounded ridiculous to me if this was read to me before I knew the task force. But, this time my brain managed to absorb the unusual information now.
"Bloody piece of rock.." I commented, everyone stared at me then.
"Sorry. Just continue please.." I apologized.
"Pablo Guerrimo him self was said to be a descendant of the priest involved in controlling the Eye of Pablo. Making him also one of the toughest mafia on the planet since he can eliminate his enemies by his power over the stone. And not only that, he also got some mysterious bodyguards by his sides.." said Umeda Ayaka, throwing in four snapshots of each different person. One caught my eyes and made me smiling a little bit.
"Nice eyebrows.." I compliment, "kind of hard to find a woman with a thick eyebrows."
"Yeah.." added Yuko. The other midget rolled her eyes and took a sip of her drink, looking unsatisfied.
"Can't you both see the similarities of the bodyguards?" asked her boringly,
"They're all females." Yuko said.
"They're all looked Asian." said Noro.
"And they all looked Japanese.." I simplified, my eyes widely opened when I realized it. Yeah, they all have white skins, dark hair and the way they dressed.. Kind of teenage girls that hung out in Shibuya.
"Bingo." said Umeda Ayaka, putting down her drink. "Apparently, Mr. Guerrimo likes to recruit foreigners as his bodyguards. Especially Japanese."
"Why would he? Need an opponent or something for a sumo wrestling competition?" I asked sarcastically. I mean, that guy seriously looked pretty much like a Latin sumo wrestler already.
"He adores the Japanese since we have a hell of great mafias that he can make a deal with. From illegal Tobacco to drugs, all exported from him." explained Yuka before throwing in another picture to the table, my heart drops a bit when I saw the guy in the picture. Reminded me of the days before my betrayal.
"Sata Masaki, eh?" asked Yuko sheepishly. "Former bikers in the old days and now the head of 100.000 members of Yakuza that spreads across the country.."
"Not forgetting he's your ex-boss, Natsumi." said Umeda Ayaka as she sipped her drink again. My hands clenched and started sweating, remembering the day where I betrayed the guy that has took care of me. The day I pointed my gun at him..
"Any news about him?" I asked Umeda Ayaka, trying not to sounded so worried. But the girl just raised her shoulders
"So far the Government hasn't heard anything about his death yet." said her. I looked down, thinking what would happen to the old man once he's recovered. Hunting me down would probably be his top "things to do" list.
You're safe as long you stick with these guys.. I assured myself.
"Okay.." cut Yuka, "let's stick to the subject shall we?"
"Here's the plan, tomorrow Guerrimo will be having an open recruit to be his bodyguards. Yes, our source has sniff some Japanese most wanted criminals arriving tomorrow and we're splitting up. Two teams, different undercover.” Explain Noro, “One team will join the recruitment, the rest will join in later on.”
“Okay, cool..” I commented. Noro grinned at me, and somehow I don’t like that grin on her face.
“Glad you said that, because you and Umechan will join the recruit tomorrow as a team..” she said happily, while my jaw dropped instantly.
“What?? I’m partnering with her??” I asked sarcastically to the chubby ninja. She nodded and as for my assigned partner, she just continued sipping her drink. “What can this midget do anyway?” Ume’s eyes bulged when she heard the word and stopped sipping her drink.
“Oi!” she stood up and faced me angrily. “Don’t ever call me that!” she yelled. I couldn’t help myself not to grin though, after all I just found another thing to tease her with.
“Aren’t you one?” I asked innocently.
“Okay that’s it!!” she pulled out a gun from her pocket, which my body responded spontaneously by also pulling out El-Draco that hung on my waist all the time. We then ended up in a stalemate; she got her gun pointed to my head while my sword is just a few inches away from her neck.
“That’s enough you both!” spoke Yuka loudly, in a Kansai dialect. Making both of us stopped staring at each other and ended up staring at her, making her blushed slightly. “I mean it!” she added.
“Yuka’s right..” said Yuko throwing her soda can into the trash bin. “You can’t kill each other when you are both assigned as partners.” She said, but then she tilted her head slightly as if considering something. “Well, maybe you can but not now..”
The brown haired midget then eyed me dangerously before pulling back her weapon, to my surprise her brown eyes changed color slightly from deep purple before changing back to brown. I froze for a second there before realizing how odd situation has become, so I put back El Draco in it’s sheath.
Deep purple eyes.. Where have I seen that..?As I tried to figure out the answer the meeting continues until Noro said it’s time to go to bed. But Umeda Ayaka then excuse herself to go outside for some fresh air when there’s actually a balcony in our hotel room, but then she said that she needs to have a walk around the city of Mexico first before the undercover just so she can get used to things. Yuko went to the bath and from the sound behind the door (not that I’m eavesdropping on her) she seemed to be on the line with someone and started giggling unusually. Noro went to the hotel’s pool downstairs to have some swimming, leaving me and Yuka still sitting around the table, examining the folders again.
It was awkwardly quite between both of us until I decided to start the conversation.
“So..” I changed my sitting position slightly, “You and Ume going out together or something?” I asked innocently. Yuka blushed again, this time her face was redder.
“It’s not like that really, Natsumi..” answered Yuka quietly and still blushing. I could tell she’s hiding something.
“Then why do you have to lie to Sayaka when she asked you about why you came late?” I asked straight forwardly to her. Yuka’s eyes widened in surprise when I confronted her with such question.
“How did you..”
“Forget how I know it. Three of you were hiding something and probably Yuko knows it too, you all hiding something from me and Sayaka..” I confronted her, making the girl looked disturbed suddenly. “I may be new to this task force, but we’re a team now. Please don’t hide stuff from me, Yuka.”
“Natsumi, it’s not like that..”
“Then what is it?” I asked back. Yuka looked worried and disturbed more than ever now. She had put down her folders and leaned on her chair.
“I.. I can’t explain it to you..” I’m about to protest but Yuka still continuing her words, “yet. I promise I will tell you once it settles. Just don’t tell Sayaka, okay?”
I considered before finally giving in to her offer, I’m not going to push her further I think. “Fine.” I said, “But why would you lie to Sayaka? I mean she’s the captain of Team K, right?”
“The thing is Natsumi.. Sometimes being a leader like that carries big responsibilities. Not just for missions, but also to Team members too and sometimes it can led to unwise decisions.. “
“What you don’t trust her?” I asked. Yuka shook her head furiously.
“No! It’s not like that.. We just couldn’t let her be involved, since she has a lot of burdens already in her hands.” said Yuka.
“What do you mean?”
“You’ll find out later on, Natsumi.. But for now..” Yuka faced me, “Please get along with Umechan, Natsumi. I know she could be a sharp tongue and easily offended when it comes to height..”
“Not to mention slightly arrogant and kind of annoying when she used her melodic voice..” I mentioned, Yuka glowered at me then. “Sorry, continue please.”
“Sigh.. I guess that too.. But the thing is, she’s a really kind person deep down in her heart. I know she is.. And also she might look strong but she’s actually weak, Natsumi..”
“Wha? What do you mean?” I asked. I’ve heard that before I think..
“Just please watch her back for me, Natsumi. Do me that favor and I’ll tell you what you need to know later.” asked Yuka. “I swear I will.”
I looked at her in the eyes, that gentle dark irises of Yuka. It calmed me somehow, making me nodded to her calmly.
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Later that night, I crashed myself into one of the bed and took the ride to the dream world. But then the sound of flapping wind woke me up from my sleep slightly. I turned and saw the balcony door was open, the incoming wind made the curtains flapped which caused the noise. Luckily, my bed was located beside the door and I could hear people speaking there.
“She hasn’t come back from hunting?” the curious sound of Oshima Yuko was heard in my ear.
“Nope.” Said Yuka.
“Unusually long.” said Yuko. I could hear Yuka sighed then.
“The seal..” spoke Yuko. “It got loose didn’t it?” Yuka sighed again.
“Yeah.. Took two nights to tighten it.” answered Yuka briefly.
“And you’re not telling Sayaka?” asked Yuko.
“I can’t. She has enough burdens already in her hands, if she knew about this. She could lock her away for real.”
“Or kill her.” said Yuko. Making the tension goes silent somehow.
“I’m trying to figure out a way, okay? Been talking to Meetan and Kana about it..” said Yuka started to sound tired.
“Relax Yuka.. She’ll be fine. The seal got tightened again, right? And plus if there’s anything that’ll happen..”
“Yuko, I don’t know how Natsuki saw it. But that thing is dangerous!” said Yuka angrily somehow.
“But it’s the only chance to stop her if the seal goes off.” fought Yuko back. “I may not be good in magic and supernatural stuff, but I’ve seen what’s inside that thing Yuka. We both have.”
“Sigh.. I’m going to bed Yuko. This discussion is over.” said Yuka before I heard her coming closer. I close my eyes and pretended to sleep again, but then suddenly fatigue pulled me back into the trip to the dream world..
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The Next Day"Guerrimo's base is located on the country side of Mexico, takes probably two hours to reach it." said my partner when we finished breakfast. She had put on her black coat and a pair of boots. While as for me, I've put on a long sleeve jacket over my tank top and a camo pants that goes to my knees. I was surprised how the jacket actually made me feel chilled instead of boiling hot.
"It's heat proof, cold proof, fire proof, water proof, and bullet proof." said Yuka. "It deflects your heat temperature when your surroundings are cold and it charges battery for the mini air conditioner in the jacket by being under the sun.
"Whew.. Conventional." I commented. "Now how are we going to reach his place?"
"I was happy you asked." grinned Umeda Ayaka. "Our ride is in the lobby."
After saying our goodbyes to Yuka, Noro, and Yuko, we headed down to the lobby with our backpacks and found our ride parked just outside the lobby. A black Ferarri with some white paintings and some touches of green. on the wheels and some parts of the car.
I whistled, "Sweet.."
"Yep." she pulled out the car key and pressed the unlock button.
"I'm on the wheel!" I yelled excitedly when I grabbed the keys from her hand and got in the driver seat. She just rolled her eyes and got into the front passenger seat. I turned on the ignition and drove to the country highway. We were both silent for a while, until I decided to follow Yuka's suggestion.
"So.." I began while my attention is still on the lonely road. "Is it easy for your eyes to change color?" I asked easily. She turned her head towards me, I took a glance. Her expression was surprisingly nervous somehow.
"Did you see?" she asked back. I nodded.
"Well, it might only be my imagination. But since you asked just then, I assumed it's real." I answered back. "Spill it out, Umeda. If we're going to be a team, we need to know each other more. You know mine, now let me know yours." I said sharply.
"You can't." she said quietly.
"Why can't I?" I asked still focusing on the road.
"Well at least not yet.." she added. And with that answer, I stopped the car on the side of the road.
"Does it have to do with seals?" I asked. I peeked again and found her staring at me in surprise.
"How did you.."
"Look, doesn't matter how I know it. Like I said, if we are going to be a team at least let me know more about you." I said grumpily. She shook her head and looked away to the open side window.
"Tell me Natsumi, do you ever fear if there's something big inside of you?" she asked quietly in melodic tone. "Like an eternal anger that will never calm? You always feel angry all the time." she sounded sad.
"Not sure about it.." I replied. "But I do fear something like that to El-Draco." she suddenly snapped her head back to me.
"What?!" she yelled. "Don't tell me that Natsuki.."
"You've seen what's inside it haven't you?" I asked but then I remembered last night conversation that I heard in the balcony. "Yuko and Yuka have seen it too, didn't they?"
"Natsumi." she said once.
"Yeah?"
"Drive." she said.
"Tell me more, Umeda." I urged.
"JUST DRIVE!" she yelled. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath, "Sorry.. Just drive back okay? We need to be there in 15 minutes." she said. I scowled but I did what she asked, soon we're back on the road.
"Sorry." I apologized quietly.
"I'm sorry too." she said. "I can't tell you the details, but I just got something inside of me."
"Something fragile?" I asked, focusing on the road.
"Yes, fragile." she nodded. "We're here." she announced.
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The Guerrimo's base was huge. Like resort more likely to be located on the mountains in the country side of Mexico. We parked our car in the parking lot and walked to the lobby.
"Recruits?" asked the receptionist. We nodded before then he showed us the way to the pool. There, a bunch of people have gathered around the area. From a small genius looking to big bluff man like Togasaki, all gathered here. Like what information said, they all seemed to be Japanese and a nasty ones.. They all turned their attention to us as we came closer, some has that mocking face on to us.
"If they have something about height to talk about, I'll answer them with my bullet." said my partner annoyed.
"Look on the bright side, at least there's someone shorter than you." I said, eyeing the small genius looking man.
"Everyone has gathered?" asked a voice from the speaker, sounded like a female voice. There's murmurs of "yes" in the crowd, and considering it as a yes answer another group of people came. A four females around 18 or so, all dressed like teenagers in Shibuya, just like in the photos last night. One of them has the thick eyebrows that I compliment, she looked young but those eyebrows really gave a brutish look on her pretty face.
One of them stepped forward, a girl with brown straight hair and some weirdly purple extensions on it. "Welcome, recruits." she said. "As you all know, Mr. Guerrimo is looking for new employees to work for him. And since all of you have gathered around here, we can't recruit all of you at the same time, can we?" she smiled coldly. "A test will be lay out for all of you. But before I explained, please gather your ID cards to Yagi here. You'll get it back once you make it back here."
"Okay, get you ID cards and put it in this bag!" yelled another girl with the red extensions.She went around and offering a small knapsack to people and soon filled up with ID cards. I threw mine in too, AKB S.Q.U.A.D has secured the ID cards so that they have a fake identities once it got searched. Ume throw her's in too.
Once Yagi gave the signal that all ID has been gathered, the girl with purple extensions continued. "Now, we've seen some of your rides that you used to get here. Around a few miles from here, there's an abandoned town in the desert. A big stock of marijuana was stored there for some reasons and police are coming after it." she grinned. "We want you to get the stocks first before the police got it. First one make it, got the job."
"You're allowed to use your weapons and so on. You've seen how much payment you can get when you are recruited in the contract, so for those of you who were already used to things, look how easy you can get from killing people." she said sarcastically. I nodded, I read the contract last night, and oh boy.. I think I can buy three Ferrari each year with that much of money.
"We have some surveillance camera around the areas, so we can see how is it going. And we will be watching you all with this guy.." she continued, then a man came out from the door beside her. A man with messy hair and a white suit, he looked old to me and surprisingly childish since he's actually licking an ice cream in his hand, from the look of it it seems like strawberry ice cream.
"Welcome to Le Cruz, fancy an ice cream?" he asked offering the crowd his half licked ice cream. "Like Hell I'm going to give you." he then said coldly. His eyes suddenly went cold and glowering,which gave me a little goosebumps somehow. But there's more, his aura radiates some coldness to the air somehow..
"Okay you heard him. You got one hour to do it before the police started searching." announced the girl again.
"Your time starts now."
Sorry for the bad English, people. Fancy some pics? I hope you like it.
Matsubara Natsumi's El-Draco:
Umeda Ayaka's silver gun, Excessum 4:
Natsumi and Ume's ride: Ferrari F430 Toxic Splash (Green)