Takane no Hana - 1 Animosity
Title: Takane no Hana - 1 Animosity
Authors: Esana Bridges & akilei & lilblooskies & mpemba_effect
Note: I hope you enjoy it ~
"Don't worry, Ringo. I haven't forgotten." The young woman reassuringly patted the head of the black and white creature seated neatly her left shoulder. She reached down and very carefully pried the man's mouth open and dropped a tiny pill into his mouth. She then took out a miniature buzz baton and set the functions for the task she had in mind.
Leaning down, she lightly touched the tips to the man's throat and he swallowed convulsively. Smiling lightly, the woman put the buzz baton back into her belt purse. The pill would quickly dissolve and "redo" the man's memory so that he would have no memory of what happened to him for the past day or so. The empty bottles lying all around would probably serve as a stimulator for a possibility. Better yet, the pill was made of common things found in the body and any of the chemicals found inside the man wouldn't throw up any hints.
Ringo chirruped softly. The young woman sighed. "Yes, Ringo. I know." She readjusted her sunglasses, switching to lenses that would alert her to oil - to fingerprints in particular. It would also identify any fingerprints in its scanning area. She walked all around, looking everywhere, though she was sure she had left none - not with the white linen gloves on her hands.
Finally, she had finished her cleanup process. She pocketed the sunglasses and took off the wig, revealing long brown hair tied back into a bun. She pressed a button on the inside of the wig and the hair wound itself up into a very tight ball. She pocketed it and proceeded to redo her own wavy and layered hair into a single low braid, brushing her side bangs in front of her face again. She also took out the contacts and placed them in a solid solution that would preserve them until the next time she had to use them.
Checking to make sure she hadn't dropped anything, the young woman stretched in relief. "Well, that was fun," She murmured quietly to Ringo. "But I guess it's time to go." She walked out into the night, where the moon glowed bright silver. She lifted her head for just a moment and the light caught in her golden brown eyes, flashing like two miniature suns.
"What?! Why are we getting new recruits, Mitsuru?" The girl demanded. Her grey eyes bristled like storm clouds and lightning bolts seemed to dance in them and her long black hair.
"Yuzuki, I just told you. The government just thinks that - since we're a relatively small group - we might need some...assistantance with some more of our exploits," Mitsuru said, very patiently. In contrast to his angry friend, Mitsuru was very calm - it was his nature - and that calmness was reflected in his cool green eyes.
"We don't need help," Yuzuki spat out the word as if it was poison. "Not from people who are so green I can smell the fertilizer! All they'll do is get in our way, mess up, steal our credit, and get themselves killed so fast the government will be looking for new ones in a matter of minutes!"
"Ooo ~ Not a very nice person, is she?" Another young man murmured to the girl next to her.
The girl grinned, her eyes sparkling like the sun. "Well, Yuzuki isn't exactly known for her loving nature," She said back, voice teasingly, baiting Yuzuki's anger.
"Miaki! Ryuu! " Another girl said. "Stop teasing Yuzuki!" She hugged Yuzuki lightly around the shoulders. Unlike her friends, who were mostly average height, this girl was very tall, nearing six feet at least.
Miaki, her gold-brown eyes glittering with laughter, and Ryuu, yawning lazily, both grinned at her and said, in perfect unison, "Yes, mother."
Scowling, Yuzuki turned back to Mitsuru and opened her mouth to argue again, but Mitsuru began before she could. "Think of it this way," He said hurriedly. "You'll be able to get more challenging missions now that there are more of you, and you'll be able to refine your technology to suit the new recruits." He sighed and said, voice soft and only for Yuzuki, "Relax. I've checked them out, and they all seem fine. Really competent." Yuzuki said nothing. "Come on, Yuzuki. Don't you think I would know?"
Grudgingly, Yuzuki mumbled an affirmative.
"So when are we meeting them?" The "mother" girl asked.
Mitsuru checked his planner. "They should be arriving sometime next month. I just wanted to give you a warning."
"Are there any guys?" Miaki asked, eyes sparkling mischievously.
"There are going to two guys and one girl, and Miaki," Mitsuru said, his voice suddenly turning stern. "You're not supposed to break anyone's heart, okay?"
Widening her eyes, Miaki asked, "Me?" in her best innocent voice and then laughed - a sound like warm water. "Don't worry. They'll be our associates right? I won't play with them." She grinned. "Or at least, not much."
"Oh, Yuzuki ~ " Miaki stuck her head into the training hall. There was a simulation playing, but since Miaki had opened the door, the simulations darkened and the room itself lightened to reveal polymer metal walls.
"What is it?" Yuzuki snapped. She glared at Miaki. "I was in the middle of something."
Unfazed, Miaki walked in, examining the darkened simulations. "Nice design," She said, admiringly. "But why are you testing it? Where's Mitsuru?"
"He's not gonna be able to come in for a while," Yuzuki said, relaxing just a bit now they were talking about work. "Did you need something?"
Turning, Miaki flashed Yuzuki the winning smile that had worked on hundreds of enemy males. "We're supposed to be meeting our new partners, remember?"
"...I refuse."
Sighing, Miaki took Yuzuki by the hand and began dragging her toward the door. "It'll be fine. Come on. Mother will be very disappointed in me if I don't bring you. She gave me this specific duty."
"Tell Ren that I don't want go meet some - "
"No insults today," Miaki interrupted. "And you're coming, or I'm dragging you, Yuzuki." She smiled at the shorter girl. "Come on. It'll be over soon."
"Hello, it's nice to meet you," Miaki said, extending a hand to Dante, who blushing, took it wordlessly. She smiled at him and he blushed even harder, his face brighter then the tips of his very blond hair, which was graduated to bright pink. She turned her attention to the other boy. "And you are?"
"Kyuki Ishii," The guy said. He was very tall, taller then both Ryuu and Ren, and had a cool, confident air. "I'm going to be the bounty hunter."
Miaki raised her eyebrows. Even Ryuu opened one eye.
The?
"Uh, we have a bounty hunter," Yuzuki told him. "You're not needed."
Kyuki shrugged. "Doesn't matter. I'm better. And when I'm done, whoever you've got will the be unneeded one."
Oh. Cocky kid. Miaki thought, mildly impressed by his ego. I'm surprised that Ren's not blowing her top. She glanced and Ren and realized that the other girl probably didn't want add fuel to Yuzuki's fire, which was already running quite high. She was glaring at Kyuki though, who didn't seem to notice.
She turned her attention to the last recruit, this one a girl. She was around Yuzuki's height, maybe a little taller, with very striking eyes. They had black pupils and almost completely purple irises. The very inside edge of the iris, right next to the pupil, merged into gold-red which flashed every time she blinked. Her hair was striking too, a little above the shoulder, layered, side bangs brushed to the right and pure white with a single streak of light purple the same color as her eyes on the right side.
"So. What's your name?
The girl cast Miaki a look of complete distaste. After the slightest moment, she said, "Kazue Yasui."
"Oh. That's a pretty name." Miaki smiled and held out her hand. "I really like your hair."
"And if I cared, I would have asked you," Kazue said back, voice cool and cutting. "Also, I would rather not touch the hand of a filthy whore."
"What. Did. You. Just. Call. Her?" Ren's voice had turned to black ice and her amber eyes crackled with an impression of fire that was intensified by her short red-gold hair.
Kazue gave her a disgusted voice. "A filthy whore. Can you not hear properly? I didn't know that the government employed cripples."
Ren lunged at her. For a split second, Ryuu considered holding her back. But then he decided against it. If he did so, Ren would just turn her anger on him and her anger was more then considerable. What's more, if he wasn't mistaken, those calluses on Kazue's hands had not been gotten from just running her mouth.
Fury did not stop Ren from sensing the kick and blocking it before instinctively returning with a kick of her own. Kazue ducked and darted forward, pulling back to punch Ren in the stomach.
"Girls," The receptionist cut in, looking slightly nervous as both girls turned toward her, eyes cold and murderous. "If you must fight, please do not fight in the lobby. It's hard to get bloodstains out of these tiles."
"I can give you a special solution," Yuzuki said, not looking away.
The receptionist looked even more nervous as Ren and Kazue turned back to each other, eyes flashing. "Still - " She tried again.
Miaki grabbed Ren by the arm, her grip keeping the other girl from attacking again. "We'll leave. We're sorry for the trouble." She turned to the trainees. "Come on. It's about time you see our base anyways."
As they left, Miaki escorting the trainees out in front of her, Yuzuki's headphone vibrated. Mitsuru's tired, but cheerful voice came through when she picked up.
"Hey, Yuzuki."
"Mitsuru."
Mitsuru sensed the danger in Yuzuki's voice.
"What's wrong, Yuzuki? Was one of them disagreeable?"
Silence.
"Yuzuki?"
"Kazue is a bitch."
Ryuu tut-tutted next to her.
"Seriously, Yuzuki. Watch your language."
Next - - -> (Chapter Two)
Authors: Esana Bridges & akilei & lilblooskies & mpemba_effect
Note: I hope you enjoy it ~
"Don't worry, Ringo. I haven't forgotten." The young woman reassuringly patted the head of the black and white creature seated neatly her left shoulder. She reached down and very carefully pried the man's mouth open and dropped a tiny pill into his mouth. She then took out a miniature buzz baton and set the functions for the task she had in mind.
Leaning down, she lightly touched the tips to the man's throat and he swallowed convulsively. Smiling lightly, the woman put the buzz baton back into her belt purse. The pill would quickly dissolve and "redo" the man's memory so that he would have no memory of what happened to him for the past day or so. The empty bottles lying all around would probably serve as a stimulator for a possibility. Better yet, the pill was made of common things found in the body and any of the chemicals found inside the man wouldn't throw up any hints.
Ringo chirruped softly. The young woman sighed. "Yes, Ringo. I know." She readjusted her sunglasses, switching to lenses that would alert her to oil - to fingerprints in particular. It would also identify any fingerprints in its scanning area. She walked all around, looking everywhere, though she was sure she had left none - not with the white linen gloves on her hands.
Finally, she had finished her cleanup process. She pocketed the sunglasses and took off the wig, revealing long brown hair tied back into a bun. She pressed a button on the inside of the wig and the hair wound itself up into a very tight ball. She pocketed it and proceeded to redo her own wavy and layered hair into a single low braid, brushing her side bangs in front of her face again. She also took out the contacts and placed them in a solid solution that would preserve them until the next time she had to use them.
Checking to make sure she hadn't dropped anything, the young woman stretched in relief. "Well, that was fun," She murmured quietly to Ringo. "But I guess it's time to go." She walked out into the night, where the moon glowed bright silver. She lifted her head for just a moment and the light caught in her golden brown eyes, flashing like two miniature suns.
"What?! Why are we getting new recruits, Mitsuru?" The girl demanded. Her grey eyes bristled like storm clouds and lightning bolts seemed to dance in them and her long black hair.
"Yuzuki, I just told you. The government just thinks that - since we're a relatively small group - we might need some...assistantance with some more of our exploits," Mitsuru said, very patiently. In contrast to his angry friend, Mitsuru was very calm - it was his nature - and that calmness was reflected in his cool green eyes.
"We don't need help," Yuzuki spat out the word as if it was poison. "Not from people who are so green I can smell the fertilizer! All they'll do is get in our way, mess up, steal our credit, and get themselves killed so fast the government will be looking for new ones in a matter of minutes!"
"Ooo ~ Not a very nice person, is she?" Another young man murmured to the girl next to her.
The girl grinned, her eyes sparkling like the sun. "Well, Yuzuki isn't exactly known for her loving nature," She said back, voice teasingly, baiting Yuzuki's anger.
"Miaki! Ryuu! " Another girl said. "Stop teasing Yuzuki!" She hugged Yuzuki lightly around the shoulders. Unlike her friends, who were mostly average height, this girl was very tall, nearing six feet at least.
Miaki, her gold-brown eyes glittering with laughter, and Ryuu, yawning lazily, both grinned at her and said, in perfect unison, "Yes, mother."
Scowling, Yuzuki turned back to Mitsuru and opened her mouth to argue again, but Mitsuru began before she could. "Think of it this way," He said hurriedly. "You'll be able to get more challenging missions now that there are more of you, and you'll be able to refine your technology to suit the new recruits." He sighed and said, voice soft and only for Yuzuki, "Relax. I've checked them out, and they all seem fine. Really competent." Yuzuki said nothing. "Come on, Yuzuki. Don't you think I would know?"
Grudgingly, Yuzuki mumbled an affirmative.
"So when are we meeting them?" The "mother" girl asked.
Mitsuru checked his planner. "They should be arriving sometime next month. I just wanted to give you a warning."
"Are there any guys?" Miaki asked, eyes sparkling mischievously.
"There are going to two guys and one girl, and Miaki," Mitsuru said, his voice suddenly turning stern. "You're not supposed to break anyone's heart, okay?"
Widening her eyes, Miaki asked, "Me?" in her best innocent voice and then laughed - a sound like warm water. "Don't worry. They'll be our associates right? I won't play with them." She grinned. "Or at least, not much."
"Oh, Yuzuki ~ " Miaki stuck her head into the training hall. There was a simulation playing, but since Miaki had opened the door, the simulations darkened and the room itself lightened to reveal polymer metal walls.
"What is it?" Yuzuki snapped. She glared at Miaki. "I was in the middle of something."
Unfazed, Miaki walked in, examining the darkened simulations. "Nice design," She said, admiringly. "But why are you testing it? Where's Mitsuru?"
"He's not gonna be able to come in for a while," Yuzuki said, relaxing just a bit now they were talking about work. "Did you need something?"
Turning, Miaki flashed Yuzuki the winning smile that had worked on hundreds of enemy males. "We're supposed to be meeting our new partners, remember?"
"...I refuse."
Sighing, Miaki took Yuzuki by the hand and began dragging her toward the door. "It'll be fine. Come on. Mother will be very disappointed in me if I don't bring you. She gave me this specific duty."
"Tell Ren that I don't want go meet some - "
"No insults today," Miaki interrupted. "And you're coming, or I'm dragging you, Yuzuki." She smiled at the shorter girl. "Come on. It'll be over soon."
"Hello, it's nice to meet you," Miaki said, extending a hand to Dante, who blushing, took it wordlessly. She smiled at him and he blushed even harder, his face brighter then the tips of his very blond hair, which was graduated to bright pink. She turned her attention to the other boy. "And you are?"
"Kyuki Ishii," The guy said. He was very tall, taller then both Ryuu and Ren, and had a cool, confident air. "I'm going to be the bounty hunter."
Miaki raised her eyebrows. Even Ryuu opened one eye.
The?
"Uh, we have a bounty hunter," Yuzuki told him. "You're not needed."
Kyuki shrugged. "Doesn't matter. I'm better. And when I'm done, whoever you've got will the be unneeded one."
Oh. Cocky kid. Miaki thought, mildly impressed by his ego. I'm surprised that Ren's not blowing her top. She glanced and Ren and realized that the other girl probably didn't want add fuel to Yuzuki's fire, which was already running quite high. She was glaring at Kyuki though, who didn't seem to notice.
She turned her attention to the last recruit, this one a girl. She was around Yuzuki's height, maybe a little taller, with very striking eyes. They had black pupils and almost completely purple irises. The very inside edge of the iris, right next to the pupil, merged into gold-red which flashed every time she blinked. Her hair was striking too, a little above the shoulder, layered, side bangs brushed to the right and pure white with a single streak of light purple the same color as her eyes on the right side.
"So. What's your name?
The girl cast Miaki a look of complete distaste. After the slightest moment, she said, "Kazue Yasui."
"Oh. That's a pretty name." Miaki smiled and held out her hand. "I really like your hair."
"And if I cared, I would have asked you," Kazue said back, voice cool and cutting. "Also, I would rather not touch the hand of a filthy whore."
"What. Did. You. Just. Call. Her?" Ren's voice had turned to black ice and her amber eyes crackled with an impression of fire that was intensified by her short red-gold hair.
Kazue gave her a disgusted voice. "A filthy whore. Can you not hear properly? I didn't know that the government employed cripples."
Ren lunged at her. For a split second, Ryuu considered holding her back. But then he decided against it. If he did so, Ren would just turn her anger on him and her anger was more then considerable. What's more, if he wasn't mistaken, those calluses on Kazue's hands had not been gotten from just running her mouth.
Fury did not stop Ren from sensing the kick and blocking it before instinctively returning with a kick of her own. Kazue ducked and darted forward, pulling back to punch Ren in the stomach.
"Girls," The receptionist cut in, looking slightly nervous as both girls turned toward her, eyes cold and murderous. "If you must fight, please do not fight in the lobby. It's hard to get bloodstains out of these tiles."
"I can give you a special solution," Yuzuki said, not looking away.
The receptionist looked even more nervous as Ren and Kazue turned back to each other, eyes flashing. "Still - " She tried again.
Miaki grabbed Ren by the arm, her grip keeping the other girl from attacking again. "We'll leave. We're sorry for the trouble." She turned to the trainees. "Come on. It's about time you see our base anyways."
As they left, Miaki escorting the trainees out in front of her, Yuzuki's headphone vibrated. Mitsuru's tired, but cheerful voice came through when she picked up.
"Hey, Yuzuki."
"Mitsuru."
Mitsuru sensed the danger in Yuzuki's voice.
"What's wrong, Yuzuki? Was one of them disagreeable?"
Silence.
"Yuzuki?"
"Kazue is a bitch."
Ryuu tut-tutted next to her.
"Seriously, Yuzuki. Watch your language."
Next - - -> (Chapter Two)