53Chapter 1
A solitary figure meticulously studied the pictures scattered across his desk. "This looks too familiar." Commented the young blonde as he examined a picture of a corpse lying in the bed. It had been the third time he's seen this pattern. Like the two men before him, the latest victim had a single shot to the chest, cuffed and a single Casablanca lay across the chest. From this, he established that the killer might be a woman; then again, it could be a man with a fetish for Casablancas.
"Another one?" Asked a voice from behind him. The blonde turned around to see his braided friend enter along with two other men. He just nodded in response as the three men crowded around his desk eyeing the pictures.
"Do we know who did it yet?"
The blonde Arabian shook his head in response to his Italian friend's question. The police had no lead with regards to the killer's identity. Though their data was far more accurate and extensive than the police's, they too had no leads. There was absolutely nothing that would help reveal the killer's identity. Not a name, a face, absolutely nothing. "No leads yet and I doubt there ever will be."
"Can't say I'm not happy they're dead though." Commented an onyx- eyed Asian. The three murdered men were members of the infamous crime syndicate known only as Oz, a group responsible for the deaths of high- ranking government officials, CEO's of various prestigious companies and wealthy socialites. The group also smuggled guns and drugs. Whoever the killer was, he had to give applaud.
"Where's Heero?" asked the braided haired boy as he looked around for the brunette.
"Well, since this specific killing happened in a hotel room, he went to check who rented it out."
"Must be loaded since it was in the penthouse suite. I hope it's a hot babe!"
"How can you even think of girls at a time like this, Maxwell?"
"I can't help it, Wu-man, I'm a born lover."
Agitated, Wufei unsheathed his katana, "For the last time Maxwell, it's WUFEI!" Seeing the anger in the other man's eyes, Duo quickly hid behind Trowa, using him as a human shield.
"Step aside, Trowa, I need to show that baka a lesson!"
"Let's not kill each other yet, okay?" asked a concerned Quatre, frantically waving his hands. For a moment there, he could have sworn Wufei was going to kill the insolent American, not that he could blame him. Thankfully, he listened to Quatre's plea and sheathed his katana. Duo let out a sigh of relief knowing that he could still live another day.
"I have the results." Declared a Heero as he entered. There was frustration etched in his usually cold and emotionless face, obviously the results were not good. He carelessly threw the folder in the desk and it landed on top of the many pictures.
Quatre opened the folder and started reading the contents, a frown made it's way to his angelic features and he set the folder back down. The only thing they've managed to establish was that the killer was in fact a she, but that was all.
"It's an onna?" Wufei asked, disbelieving. The sexist Asian could not believe that a mere woman could take on members of such a dangerous and feared group.
"Ha! In your face, Wu-man! So, do you still think all women are weak?" Duo teased. Wufei's trusty katana made it's way out of its sheath yet again.
"Maxwell, unless you have a death wish, do not call me Wu-man again!" he swung his sword and was dangerously close to cutting off Duo's braid.
"Hey! You almost cut my baby!" Duo exclaimed as he affectionately patted his long braid.
"That was what I was aiming for, baka!" he said as he swung his sword again.
"Quatre, help!" he ducked behind the young Arabian effectively stopping Wufei's attacks.
"You're a coward, Maxwell."
"Heh, at least I'm alive and my baby is safe!"
It had frustrated Heero not knowing who the killer was. He was too engrossed in his thinking, he paid no mind to the ongoing war between Duo and Wufei. The hotel gave him the name of the person renting out the suite: Ayame Megumi. He knew it couldn't be true. Ayame Megumi has been dead for almost three years now. He and Trowa met her personally. She was like them, an agent for The Alliance. She was an unfortunate victim of Oz. Her death, like the others, had not been painless; there were signs of rape; her back had several dark bruises, almost cutting the skin; her thighs had been scorched, branded with the groups emblem; finally, there were three deep stabs to the stomach, the weapon used was blunt, making the injury much more painful. The body was suspended by the legs from a park's Sakura; blindfolded, naked and gagged. No one can survive that and her coming back from the dead for revenge is out of the question.
"Did you ask them for a description?" asked Trowa knowing all too well that it wasn't the deceased agent.
"Yes."
"So? Is she hot?" Duo's question earned him glares from both Heero and Wufei. "What? I was just curious."
"Blonde and blue-eyed."
Wufei shrugged. How were they supposed to find her if that was all the information they have? Aggravated, he asked, "Is that all?" Heero crossed his arms over his chest and nodded.
"Well, that sure narrows it down!" Duo said sarcastically.
"Ayame Megumi… she was a great agent." Murmured Trowa as he skimmed through Heero's research. He and Heero were lucky enough to have met the infamous agent. Unfortunately for Duo, Wufei and Quatre, they came a few months after her death, thus they have not personally met her but her reputation surpassed death and everyone in the agency knew about her.
Quatre eyes went back to the pictures in his desk. He sighed in resignation. Once again, they had nothing. "Yes, she was. But we know for certain that the killer is not Ayame. There's just no way."
"So where does that lead us?"
"Nowhere." Answered the Heero as he exited the room. There were too many unanswered questions it was killing him. The perfect soldier hated not knowing everything.
The water was warm, candles have been lit and the room smelled of jasmine. The perfect ambiance for a much deserved relaxing bath. A shapely leg gingerly made its way to the warm water, followed by another until the whole body was immersed. Comfortably positioning herself in the tub, she closed her eyes and allowed herself a moment of tranquility. No such luck.
Flashback…
Upon learning that her next target had a weakness for gambling, she immediately rented the penthouse suite in his favorite casino. The little escapade cost her more than she thought, but then again, revenge always comes with a price. He was by the poker table, playing and loosing miserably. When he stood up to leave, she knew it was time to make her move.
"Looks like you're running out of luck." She said as she seductively sauntered beside the man. Dressed in a tight fitting black dress that exposed her back as well as cleavage, she knew he simply could not resist.
"Yes, lady luck seems to have wandered away from me."
She stopped right in front of him and seductively brought her gloved hands up his chest. "Maybe I can change your luck…" Inside, she was disgusted with herself but she knew she had to keep up the flirtatious façade if she wanted to eliminate this man.
"Maybe…" he murmured as he brought his lips down to hers. His tongue probed her warm mouth, forcing her to open for him, he moaned when she did. The urge to bite his intrusive and disgusting tongue was strong. Her anger intensified when she felt his hands in her back descend towards her butt. That was the last straw. She pushed herself away from his chest despite the man's protest.
"I have a room upstairs…" She reached into the small pouch dangling at her wrist and pulled out they key to the suite. She waved it in his face suggestively before turning around and getting in the elevator. He eagerly followed. The executive elevator closed with a swipe of a card and as soon as the doors were closed, he continued his assault on her lips. She couldn't take it anymore the man was disgusting! Her hands were clenched at her sides, ready to pound the intrusive man but before she could, the elevator doors opened and they both stepped inside the massive penthouse suite.
"Be a good boy and lie on the bed for me…" She pushed him roughly to the bed before retreating to the bedside table and pulled out a pair of handcuffs. She smiled and playfully twirled the cuffs in one slender finger. He was easier than she thought. A couple of moves from her and he was under her control. His lust was getting the best of him.
"You're a naughty little thing…" he was panting heavily now, his arousal becoming more evident.
"You have no idea."
She went to him and motioned him to raise his hands. As soon as he did, she cuffed him to the bedpost. "Comfy?" she asked as she retrieved a briefcase carefully hidden under the bed.
"Yes.." He breathily moaned. He saw her turn around and open the briefcase. His mind was too aroused to register anything. The only thing in his mind at the moment was the pleasure the beautiful blonde would bring him. He could not even hear the sound of bullets being carefully loaded into a gun's cartridge.
"Good, because in a while, you wont be." She turned around and in her right hand was a gold-platted Colt 1861 Army Steel revolver. He was instantly snapped out of his reverie when he saw the gun and the fire burning in her cerulean eyes.
"Wait… no… don't kill me…" the man pleaded. Her grip on the gun tightened and her finger itched to pull the trigger.
"Afraid to die? Now you know how the other half feels, you despicable animal!" She finally pulled the trigger, successfully lodging a bullet to the man's heart. Again, she turned to the briefcase and took out a Casablanca. She tossed the beautiful bloom and it landed on the dead man's chest.
"Rot in hell."
After the shot was delivered, she quickly put the gun back into the briefcase and hurriedly took off the skimpy black number. Hastily, she put on a pair of black slacks and a white halter-top. The dress joined the gun in the briefcase. She desperately wanted to remove the annoying wig and they irritating contacts, but that would blow her cover. A quick check in the mirror and she was out of the suite and out of the casino.
"So much for relaxation." Rei got up and dried herself off with a fluffy white towel. After securing the towel around herself, she got a smaller one and started drying her long, raven tresses. Four long strides took her to the makeshift kitchen where she opened the refrigerator door and got herself a beer. She made herself comfortable in the couch and took the newspaper by the table. The headline wasn't hard to miss; the large bold letters read 'CASABLANCA KILLER STRIKES AGAIN', Rei could only smirk at the stupid alias they have given her.
She did not enjoy killing, information gathering was more her forte. It was her job to supply Ayame with details regarding her latest case, since her agency's info was insufficient. In return, Ayame would train her whenever she can, teaching her everything she learned from the academy. Rei learned everything she was taught, and in as little as three years, she was transformed from simply being a pretty girl to deadly and dangerous fighter. Her fighting techniques were flawless; her gun handling, superb. She could've passed for an agent. But Ayame wouldn't let her. It was a risky occupation and she did not want Rei getting hurt. Now, she was gone and nothing could ever bring her back. Killing the people who caused her suffering was her form of retribution. There was no other way. Rei will not allow her efforts and death to be in vain.
Getting herself out of the couch, she strode to her desk, located in the other end of her moderately sized loft. She flipped open her laptop and proceeded on gathering info on her next target.
From a small, dimly lit room, one could hear the constant clicking of a keyboard. Inside was the perfect soldier trying his very best to find anything that would help reveal the identity of the killer. So far, the only thing they were able to establish was that it was a woman, blonde and blue- eyed, she had a car but the hotel failed to identify what it was. He cursed himself for not knowing anything. First there was Oz, who they were also having a very hard time dealing with; then the mysterious 'Casablanca Killer' who somehow managed to eliminate their targets. He didn't know if he should feel grateful or insulted. How could the killer know more than him? Where does she get her information? Those questions plagued Heero's mind as he frustratingly glared at his computer screen.
'There must be something I missed!'. He decided to check the name again. The results were still the same, but he examined her profile closer, hoping there would be something that would lead him to the killer. He read everything. File after file after file. All of Ayame's cases, the agency's information on the deceased agent, her track record which was very impressive, her biodata, even going as far as reading her scholastic records. There was nothing that linked her to the mysterious killer. He sighed in frustration. He wasn't finding anything, probably because he didn't know what to look for. One last time, he read her file. One bit of information caught his attention. She had a living family member. 'How the hell did I miss this?' Rei Megumi. He had to find her. He just had to. She could be the missing link to Oz and the killer.
TBC…
AN
JUST A LITTLE TWEAKING… HOPE YOU DON'T MIND… haishi and jijuka… well, they didn't sit too well with me so I changed them to OZ and the ALLIANCE… I'm fickle… I know…
I've had this in my computer for years… literally, years… maybe about three years… I never got the guts to post it but since my other fic got good reviews… well, here it is… I made this after I stumbled into this site (a very long time ago...) … finally, it made it's way out of the folder…
Though this had been in my computer for the longest time it is still unfinished… I might continue or take it down… depends on the reviews…
Just something to read while I work on Caught in the Middle…
Review, k? If you flame… well, I can't really stop you, now can I?
Hope this doesn't suck too much…
Luv ya'll
Ja!