Spy Versus Spy

Chapter Three

Kaoru placed her hand under the water to test the warmth. It was hot to the touch, but not burning. She then bent over the sink and placed her head under the running water, rinsing the color treatment from her hair. Spirals of red pigments swirled down the sink until the water was once again clear. Shampoo and conditioner was added to the mix before being rinsed and towel dried. The sound of bare feet against cold floors echoed through the vast loft as she made her way into the bathroom to blow dry any remaining moisture from her hair. She ran her slender fingers through her long locks as the hot hair hit the strands, watching the dark, damp hair turn to a soft, reddish brown hue. Kaoru looked at herself in the mirror carefully, checking her hairline to ensure no color was left there. After the inspection, she nodded with satisfaction. The color was different, but no so different it look unnatural. She then opened her medicine cabinet to reveal a small box which contained contacts of varying color. She picked out “Honey” colored ones and popped them into her eyes. Just one more change, she thought to herself, pulling out a bottle of self-tanner. She covered her entire body with the cream until her skin transformed from milky white to golden brown.

Kaoru gazed at her naked body in the long mirror and examined herself carefully. Something was still missing from her disguise. She went up close to the mirror and focused on her eyes. They were too slanted. She grabbed her eyeliner and fashioned the dark strokes into a style know as “the cat”, heavier at the bottom corner and thinning out to a line towards the top. For her lips, she opted for dark lip-liner with a light brown gloss. She puckered her lips together, then backed up once again to take in her new look. She turned her body around, inspecting the evenness of her tan. She would get a spray-tan later on, but she decided this would do for now. With her hair, eyes, make-up and all in place, she could now assume her new identity.

Paloma Yakoto, a young Half Venezuelan -Half Japanese girl going to school and working to send money to her family in Guiria.

“Paloma,” she whispered to herself, trying to get used to the name. It was quite pretty, she thought to herself.

Kaoru walked into her bedroom and dressed herself in a pair of dark denim jeans and a royal blue sweater. She grabbed her navy purse, shades and keys and made her way out the door, locking everything lightly. Instead of going down the main elevator, she went down a service shaft, which led to the basement. Deep within the bottom of the old warehouse was a very old train tunnel, which she had access to. Careful not to dirty her clothes, she made the short walk down the tunnel and opened a door, which led to the more frequently used subway tunnel. Just as she emerged, a train came screeching to a halt. She boarded and found herself on her way to Shishio’s headquarters. She had already found the location. Her paper already prepared, everything in order. All she had to do was make an impression on him and get inside.

Before too long, the car came to a stop again and Kaoru exited, noticing the terminal was empty. Her senses were tingling. She could feel others in the shadows. Everything in her was telling her to dash into the darkness and hunt her hunters...but that’s what Kayima Kaoru would do. She was not her. She was someone else. She was immersed in the role of Paloma, she had to be her, use her art and lover her forte. Kaoru walked cautiously to the stairs leading above ground when a figure waltzed in front of her, blocking her path. It was as if the person came out of no where. Kaoru stood her ground as the figure moved closer.

“Is there a problem?” Kaoru questioned, her voice wavering with false apprehension.

Her answer was given in the form of a arm coming from behind and wrapping itself around her neck. She pretended to struggle for a moment before grabbing the hand of her assailant at the base of the thumb and pushing the elbow upward in the same motion, breaking the strength of the hold. She then brought her elbow to her attacker’s side and turned to face them. Deciding it would be better not to hide her skill at this moment, Kaoru started moving her arms and legs in a swaying, dance-like motion. The attacker paused, watching her every movement before coming into her attack zone. He tried to kick, but she easily danced around him with a parry and landed two graceful flying kicks on her attacker.

“Enough. She is the one we are seeking,” t he figure spoke. It was obviously the voice of a man, but it was a velvety voice, most pleasing to hear. Not too light, but not too heavy either. The man moved forward and lowered the collar of his trench to reveal jet black hair worn in unbound and flowing well past his shoulders. His face was exquisite. Fine features almost becoming of female, but with the strength and spirit of a male. There was something else about his face that intrigued Paloma, but she couldn’t place what it was. Could it be the man’s eyes, the shade of amber indicative of evil...of a merciless killer. Serious eyes, eyes that have seen more than any god or demon.

“So, Yakoto...you are proficient in Aikido and Capoeira,” the man continued, interrupting her examination of his body.

“No, Aiki-jutsu and Capoeira. I simply chose not to shatter his elbow,” Kaoru stated with a thick, Spanish accent. The man smirked and extended his hand out to her.

“I am Shinta. I will be your guide. Yahiko here was just a test. The dear boy is still in training. It’s good you didn’t cripple him,” he explained, making the young man blushing behind his mask. “Go back to headquarters.”

The young Yahiko bowed and exited the area without a word, though he was tossing curses through his mind to the arrogant Shinta and ugly woman he has just fought. Damn that Shinta, he thought to himself. Shisho had only recruited him ten days ago and that man was already a higher rank than he. In fact, he tool the spot of several of the henchmen that were there years before him. Surely, he had let it go all to his head.

“Why would it have been necessary to test me? I could have killed that young man easily,” Kaoru said, concern in her voice, masking the amusement she found in the situation.

“It is our way. Follow me,” he said, turning around and extending his hand out to her, an obvious invitation for her to take it.

Without a word, she ran to him and in the quickest of movements, he pulled her close as they emerged together, arm in arm. They walked the street, Kaoru giggling as Shinta kissed her behind her ear and whispered sweet nothings. Kaoru squeezed his hand tight and took off running with him behind her. He stopped her and pulled her into his arms and kissed her deeply. She knew they were just role-playing, to seem innocent and inconspicuous...but there was something she enjoyed about that. She knew should shouldn’t, but she did just the same. This Shinta kissing her. She quickly pushed her adolescent thoughts out of her head, remembering her place and what her goal was.

“We’re here,” Shinta whispered as he nipped her neck, making Kaoru release a meek cry.

“Don’t ever do that again,” she said through her teeth, only making Shinta smile as he led her into a building that looked like a hotel.

It wasn’t until she was inside that she realized it in fact was a normal hotel and not a farce. How bold this Shishio was, she thought to herself as they entered an elevator shaft and rose to the top levels of the building. The ride up was an extremely uncomfortable one. Shinta had positioned himself on the opposite side of the car, making her feel uneasy. Just a moment ago, they were side by side, his lips touching the soft hairs on the nape of her neck. Kaoru blushed. Why the hell was she thinking about that when her life would be in grave danger from this moment on? She couldn’t afford to get close to anyone, not that has ever been a problem in the past. Never before was he mind plagued with such unprofessional thoughts.

“Nervous?” Shinta quizzed.

“No,” she replied.

“Lair,” he chuckled as the bell rung and the elevator doors opened wide.

Even Kaoru was taken back by they extravagance of the space. The walls were a rich red color with gold foil accenting to top boarder. Mahogany furniture with strong, angular profiles sat in the “welcoming” room, the quality of the wood evident in the swirl of the grain, which was clearly visible under the varnish. A tall woman stood in front to two double doors. Her hair was dark and pulled into a bun surrounded by a strand of pearls. The mole on her face was slightly obscured by the long bang she combed over to the right side of her face. She wore a loose-fitting kimono that fell of her shoulders to reveal skin the color of mountain snow. The tall woman looked down onto Kaoru, a sneer ran across her beautiful face the more she examined her.

“You sure this child is the one?” she hissed.

“Would you like to find out for yourself?” Paloma bit back.

The woman turned her nose up and Shinta chuckled. He motioned for her to open the doors and let them see their leader. She had no choice but to oblige. The trio entered a hallway that was quite long and winding. The woman led in her group with a slow, shuffling pace before stopping not far from the end of the hall. She knocked twice before a voiced bellowed within, allowing her to enter. The door opened and Kaoru, for the first time, saw the most powerful man in the world. He was not the way she had pictured him. He was a thin man, but athletic in build. He lay in a bed, clad in only a red robe, surrounded by pillows and women. His hair was dark brown and pulled up into a high ponytail, much like traditional budo instructors wear it. His eyes are dark and piercing, his lips upturned in what seemed to be a perpetual smirk only disrupted by long puffs on his cigarette. He exhaled, then turned to the tall woman and bowed his head to her.

“Thank You, Yumi. You may take your place by my side,” he said. Yumi quickly complied, moving the other women away with little more than an evil glare.

“If I may be released also?” Shinta said, bowing before Shishio.

“Did I tell you to speak?” Shishio glared.

“No.”

A giggle came low from Yumi’s throat, but failed to reach the level of full laughter. Shishio rose his hand to quiet her and turned to his new assassin.

“Shinta, you have made few errors in your short time here. I will forgive your outburst this time, but it may not be the case in the future. You are free to go,” he said calmly, waving the young man off. Shinta bowed to his master, then to Kaoru and exited, leaving her all alone.

Kaoru had never been so afraid in her career...in her life, playing this role. A part of her wanted to leap out of her skin and leave this assignment in the dust. She should be on her own private island right now, listening to the sea break against the sand, feasting on boiled peanuts under a blue umbrella. Instead, she was on this mission. A mission that had to be complete. A mission she knew she could complete. After all, she was the best at what she did. Then, why was she so worried? Kaoru pushed her fears away with the arrogance of her skill. She was the best. She knew it. She had to stop with the childish dramatics and get the move on.

“Paloma?” Shishio beckoned.

“Si...I mean, yes?” she said, the nervousness laden in her voice.

“Come to me, my young one. I do not bite...unless you want me to,” he smirked, making the young Paloma blush. She walked closer to the man and stood before him and his head wench.

“I am honored you took me into consideration, Shisho-sama,” Kaoru said, bowing respectfully, remembering her Japanese manners. Yumi sneered and turned her head away from the young woman, an obvious sign of jealousy.

“I am honored you wished to join. You have proved yourself to be very skilled, but more training will come. I trust you have never worked for an organization quite like this, correct?" Shishio asked

“That would be correct," was the response.

“Well, you will fight each of my top assassins to acquire your ranking. Then, you will be given an overview of what it means to be in the Juppon Gatana. Do you understand this?" was the next question.

“Yes, Shishio-sama," came the respectful reply.

“You learn quickly,” Shishio smirked while bringing his wine glass to his lips. He turned to Yumi and kissed her cheek softly, whispering something in her ear before she rose to open the big door behind Kaoru. “Yumi will take you to your chambers where you will rest until the morning. Then the fun will begin.”

Shishio laughed, which in turn made Yumi laughed leaving Kaoru feeling she was the butt of a horrible joke. What had she gotten into...she would have to wait for morning to see.