| [Dec. 1st, 2011|07:41 am] |
“What?” Genma asked, arching one eyebrow at Katsuko. “I thought I was the distraction on this mission, and you were killing Lord Fancypants while I kept his philandering bodyguard occupied.” He glanced at Hajime for confirmation and got a slight nod.
Katsuko shrugged, tossing an almost childishly innocent expression at him that spoke of years of practice. “I can be the backup for your backup. I mean, at some point an explosion tag will have to go off, right?”
The briefer cleared her throat. “Actually, Ueno, no.”
Katsuko looked crestfallen.
“The whole point of this exercise is for Lord Kiyama—” She glanced at Genma, emphasizing the name. “—to be found dead in his bedchamber, with his very expensive Suna bodyguard still alive. So an explosion—” Her head swiveled back towards Katsuko. “—would not actually serve your purposes.”
Genma caught Katsuko’s eye and mouthed, “Lord Fancypants,” at her.
The other agent stifled a chortle behind a cough when the briefer glared at her, pasting her innocent face back in place.
Hajime sipped his coffee, as calm as a sunny meadow, just like an eros handler should be, but his eyes crinkled at the corners with amusement.
His team for the mission, Genma decided, was going to be good.
As for his target... Genma studied the photo of Tsuda Gyousu: thirty-seven years old, a little taller than Genma, dark-eyed, and dark-skinned with that exotic look of the desert tribes of Wind Country. A bingo-book ninja from Sunagakure who liked to take off his wedding ring and play with boys when he was out of town.
It had taken months of work, months of rehabilitation and effort to get here. He flexed his hands in front of him pushing one against the other, stretching at tight tendons, feeling scars pull and nerves tingle.
It had taken months of work, and a lot of heartache. And some serious soul-searching, given how things were with Raidou now. How different everything was. But he was glad. He was finally remembering why he liked eros missions, and this was promising to be a fun one. |
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