Spy Versus Spy

Chapter Seven

Yumi was intolerable the remainder of the evening. She had spent a half hour with Shinta, playing a game of chess before Shishio returned to her. She was not at all please to find her lover oddly disinterested when she offered to rub his stomach and do that little thing he liked. He had never turned her down. Never. She, who had made him feel attractive when no other woman would touch him. She, who listened to his deepest and darkest secrets and tucked away the fears that he could barely admit to himself. There was not much she could lie claim to, except for his mind and heart...and most of his body. Yet, so quickly she was turned out for some young tramp that could fight? She had to sleep with him...that’s the only reason he would turn her away.

Yumi confronted Shishio, demanding to know why he would sleep with Paloma then return to her chamber. She was answered by an amused glare and haunting laugh, then finally the words that brought her down several more notches. Paloma refused to have sex with him. Not, “No, my pet, I would not dream of sleeping with her,” but rather...she refused. Meaning he tried and failed. Meaning that the denial engulfed his thoughts and tickled his mind.

She knew he slept with other women, but she held the delusion that she was number one. No, it wasn’t just a fantasy, she was his lover and he was hers. It was her bed he laid in every night. It was her feet he rubbed and body he kissed tenderly as he made love to her. And, in two days that bitch was taking that all away from her?

“Do you not love me anymore?” Yumi cried, unable to contain her hurt pride and anger.

“What a silly question,” Shishio laughed as he poured himself a glass of wine.

“Just answer me. Why is she so much better than me?”

“It’s not about being better, my sweet,” he replied.

Yumi could take no more. She fled out of the chambers, drying her eyes as she walked briskly down the hall. No one could know her master had upset her, not that anyone would dare question her. She found the balcony that hung high above the street and opened the large glass doors. The brisk night air hit her hard as the sounds of the busy night filled her ears. The sparse lights in the surrounding buildings gave the appearance of a sky on earth, except without the harmony. She needed harmony, she needed escape...

“Are you alright, Yumi-dono?” Shinta asked, standing behind her. Yumi jumped, surprised by his presence...and his sudden concern.

“I am fine,” she replied tartly, remember their encounter earlier that night. “Don’t worry about me.”

“I have seen you angry before, but never in tears,” Shinta quietly admitted as he stepped closer to her.

There was a tenderness about him that was missing before. Shinta pulled Yumi closer to him, pressing their bodies together, draped in the darkness of night. Her mind was racing, she was suddenly unsure of what was going on and what she was feeling. The protectiveness of Shinta was reassuring and soothing, much like the way the syllables of his name rolls off the tongue.

“I think he has fallen for that girl, Paloma. And, you can call it jealousy or what not, but I simply do not like her,” Yumi confessed, though it really wasn’t any breaking news.

“You do not like me, either,” Shinta said, rubbing her smooth, bare arm.

She shuddered at his touch. It was surprisingly soft and warming, despite the chill that ran down her spine. Becoming aware of her reaction, she shrugged him off and turned away from him to peer down at the moving scene below.

“No, I don’t. I am suspicious of everyone, I suppose. I know people want to kill Shishio-sama. I thought maybe you were one of those people,” Yumi said. Now there was a confession.

“Me? Kill Shishio? How?”

“I don’t know. I just...got this feeling,” Yumi said more to herself than to Shinta.

Shinta walked behind her and put his arms around her. She could feel his hard chest against her back and his breath upon her neck. She wondered how since she was easily four inches taller than she, but she didn’t notice that her knees buckled when he touched her.

“And what is that feeling, Yumi-dono?” he whispered to her, planting butterfly kisses on her neck.

She closed her eyes and moaned, forgetting who and where she was for a brief moment in time. She clasped her hands around his and sucked in more air as he tracing a line with his tongue from her collar bone to her ear. Shinta’s hand moved to explore the cream satin that was her skin. He slid it down in between the folds of her kimono and she gasped when he bit her neck and cupped her breast at the same moment.

“What is it you feel!” Shinta demanded as Yumi tried to remember herself and her station.

No...no, she couldn’t be doing this. Not after the anger she had felt from Shishio doing much the same thing with Paloma. She parted her lips to protest but they were quickly covered with Shinta’s, and she forgot herself again. She turned to him and put her arms around him to deep the passionate exchange. Yumi could not make sense of her actions as they were happening. Just an hour before, she hated Shinta, now she was ready for him to take her on that very balcony, not caring who saw them. What was wrong with her? No, she had to control herself. She had to. With a burst of energy, she tore herself away from Shinta and turned her face, wishing he would disappear.

“I feel...too many things to know what’s real right now,” Yumi said, holding back tears.

“I hope I am not interrupting anything,” a female voice asked.

That female’s voice.

Yumi scowled as "Paloma" entered the balcony. What did she want?

“As a matter of fact, you are. I do not want you anywhere near me,” Yumi spat as she stormed off, not bothering to look back at either party.

“What’s eating her?” Kaoru asked, though she really couldn’t have care less.

“Hmmm, how do I put this? What’s eating her is who’s eating you,” Shinta said with a wink.

“Is your mind always in the gutter?” Kaoru spat, rolling her eyes.

“Is yours?” he retorted.

“Look, you can play kissy-face with the boss’ girl all you want, it’s none of my concern,” Kaoru said, turning her back to Shinta.

“Then why did you interrupt us? Jealous?”

“Jealous? Why on earth would I be jealous of anything you do? You give yourself too much credit,” Kaoru said in a tone none too nice.

“So I can depend on your silence?” Shinta asked drawing the younger woman close to him.

Paloma snarled and pushed the handsome man away from her. He was simply too much, to hit on her and on his boss’ woman. Though she was certain Shishio wouldn’t care who “Paloma” slept with, he would care if he were tagging both his favorite fighter and favorite lover. He would take it as an invasion on his territory. Shinta was playing a very dangerous game with Shinta...and with her.

“Why would I tell?” Kaoru asked, rubbing her arms in an attempt to warm herself in the chilly air.

Shinta shrugged and put his jacket around her. Though her first instinct was to shrug off the article, she decided against it. Perhaps a love-polygon would make Shishio’s assassination a colorful affair. The only drawback would be she would have to get close to both Shishio and Shinta, and there wasn’t a lot of information on him to go by. Well, it wasn’t the first time “Paloma” had to play things by ear. She smirked to herself as she ran the plan through her head. It was crazy enough to work.

“I still say you are jealous,” Shinta said, whispering into her ear, pressing his body against her round rump.

He truly was a whore of a man, Kaoru thought to herself. Only moments ago he was doing the same thing to Yumi. She wondered if he thought of anything other than pursuing tail, because that’s all she’s seen him do her short time within the organization.

“I don’t care what you say, Shinta,” Kaoru replied, handing the jacket back to him as she walked back inside. “And I don’t care what you do with that high-priced whore, as long as you don’t think you can do the same to me.”

Shinta watched as the young woman returned to the warmth of the indoors, leaving him to whatever it was he thought about. He shook his head and laughed, knowing that the next few days would be quite interesting, and good for him. He loved a good side-challenge After throwing the jacket over his shoulder, he went back into the hallway, which appeared to be empty. The soft carpet made a soft crushing sound beneath his feet as he came towards two feminine figures in the shadows. He could tell one was Yumi, but he couldn’t identify the other. Shinta took two cautious steps forward to see the other face.

It was Kamatari, also known as “The Great Scythe”

A truly interesting fighter. Very skilled and ruthless. Kamatari was not beyond killing the very old, the very young, or just for the fun of it. Once a mercenary and a spy for the United States, working with Makoto Shishio was a better fit. If only he wasn’t a flipping cross-dresser...and a sexy one at that. For some reason, he would not go “all the way” in order to be a woman, though he lived as one. He desired his master as a woman would a man, and thus would do anything for him. Absolutely anything. That’s what made him being in the same vicinity with Yumi all the more interesting. Shinta dipped into a doorway, close enough to hear the conversation between the pair. Yumi’s eyes were red with hot tears, her expression still hurt and angry. She was obviously waiting for Kamatari to speak, the urgency lingering in her short breaths. Her companion simply scoffed at her.

“I still want to know what’s in it for me.” Kamatari demanded, putting his right hand on his hip.

He was wearing a kimono more stylish and Yumi’s, something she noted earlier, but decided she would refrain from mentioning. It was dark blue with silver sakura floating down to the bottom hem. Kamatari certainly did look like a woman. A very beautiful woman.

“Shishio-sama does not like the newcomer. You will be in his good graces if you eliminate her tomorrow,” Yumi lied, folding her arms under her chest, emphasizing her real breasts.

“It seemed he was very pleased with her after she killed Cho,” the fighter replied darkly, his reluctance to trust her apparent in his velvety tone.

“He told me in confidence he felt she was up to something. Since I am not a skilled fighter, there is nothing I can do. But, you...you can,” Yumi said, looking up at the beautiful, cross-dressing fighter.

“What are you not telling me, Yumi-san? It is no secret you do not like me because of my closeness to Shishio-sama,” Kamatari said, his eyes arched, waiting to hear the truth.

“I do not want some...some man all over my lover. But, do this for me, I can put aside my dislike. We both win,” Yumi offered.

“I may be in his good graces, but I will not win, not unless I get him. Add on top the fact you are still hiding your real reason, I have to pass,” Kamatari said with a smirk on his face.

Displeased, Yumi snarled turned her back to him, her universal sign of dismissal. Kamatari laughed and waved his hands in the air. This woman was just too funny. She expected him to do as she said, right out the blue? No, he would much rather her hate him than be in cahoots with her. Besides, he didn’t need an offer to kill the new girl for him to actually do it. Kamatari could tell how much Shishio liked Paloma and it bothered him. He was the closest thing to a female fighter in the Elite Ten. He much liked his distinction there, dispelling the myth that gay men are weak and incapable of fighting...even thought he felt himself to be more female than a gay, cross-dressing male.

This was the reason he would not go all the way with his transformation. He loses the precious producer of testosterone, he loses his strength. He was on hormones for a short time and it greatly decreased his ability to wield his weapon. So, until he ensures his place at Shishio’s side, the reminder of his external gender had to remain. It was a great oxymoron for him. To be Shishio’s woman, he would have to stay a man.

“No, Yumi, I will get what I want on my own terms,” Kamatari said to himself as he disappeared into his quarters without noticing the small audience.

Shinta arched a brow as the processed what he just witnessed. So, Yumi was going to try kill a killer, all because of jealously. How fickle women were! At least Kamatari didn’t take up the offer, not to say he wasn’t thinking of killing her at any rate. Shinta recalled the graceful movements of Paloma in her fight with Cho. She used very little Capeoria, but the fight was almost dance-like. Kamatari had the same kind of fluid movements when he welded his unique weapon. The fight between them would truly be interesting. But, he had his own business to attend to...and that business was Shishio.

It was the right move to put Paloma to the side and focus on Yumi. She was actually a good judge of character. Too bad she was so easily distracted. Yes, he was there to kill Shishio. And, he would do it, it was only a matter of time before the deed would have to be done. Shinta touched the left side of his face and smirked. Just a little bit of concealer goes such a long way. This was the first time he actually bothered to cover the damn scar, deciding to try a different approach for this particular kill. So far, he was having an extraordinarily good time, though being a killer in the cover of darkness was still his preferred method of operation. Still, Kenshin had made a commitment to the role of Shinta, and he would defiantly enjoy the ride. Speaking of ride, he thought to himself, he wondered where Paloma had wondered off to.

Talk about an interesting part of the assignment, this battle rose took the cake. She was a very beautiful girl, although she didn’t strike him to be the half-mix she claimed to be. Her speech seemed genuine, primarily English with a dash of Spanish and Japanese...usually when cursing or for emphasis. She was defiantly an excellent fighter. The ease of her battle with Cho was almost comical. It was as if even when she held back, which she was, she still could take down her opponent without breaking a sweat. And it also seemed she took a great deal of pride in killing in itself. Most street-fighters were not like that. They liked to win, not kill. Maybe that’s why she desired a change of profession, he pondered. Whatever he reasoning was for joining, she intrigued him. He wanted know more about her. There seemed to be so much just under the surface just begging to be revealed. Just like when she showed him that razor under her tongue. He knew she was full of surprises.

Shinta made his way further down the hall when he came to Shishio’s door. He could feel more than one presence, though he only heard Shishio’s voice.

“Wonder what’s going on in there?” he thought to himself.

Perhaps he should start doing some more work and investigate further, perhaps make an opening to kill Shishio, then he decided against. There would be plenty of time in the upcoming days. And...he was having to much fun laying his plan out.

“Is that you, Shinta?” he heard Shishio call, his voice muffled through the density of the door.

Shinta opened it and stepped in the threshold to see Shishio in the room by himself, sipping on a glass of white whine. Shinta bowed and lowered his eyes to show respect to his boss.

“I felt your energy rise. Is something the matter?” Shishio asked, his lips unusually straight and taught. He looked as if something was worrying him, but only a bit.

“Nothing is the matter. I was looking for the new fighter,” Shinta responded.

Shishio cocked a brow and took another sip of his wine, keeping an amused eye on his hired killer all the while. There was a level of trust Shishio had developed for Shinta, but that trust did not border stupidity. Caution, at times, is a virtue.

“And why is that?” Shishio asked, motioning for Shinta to shit the door with his free hand.

Shinta complied and took two more steps towards Shishio. He could still feel the other presence. He began to wonder if he had just walked into a trap.

“To be honest, she interests me,” Shinta responded, this time, more relaxed since they were out of the critical gazes of the others in the organization.

“Hmmm, she interests you... I suppose that is not a crime,” Shishio said, swirling the crisp liquid in his glass until it appeared it would spill from the top.

“If you do not want me to have her, only say the w-“

Shishio raised a hand to cut Shinta off. He placed the glass down and rose to stand with Shinta. He put a friendly arm around him and walked him over to the window. He knew that Shishio did not have a balcony like most of the other rooms on the same floor, making the view spectacular..

“She is not the one I am concerned about, although it does seem we have the same taste in women,” Shishio said with a smile.

“Yumi?” Shinta quizzed.

“My dear Yumi. It seems she is jealous of my little dove. And because of that, she ran to you,” Shishio stated.

“Word travels fast,” Shinta commented.

“You have no idea.”

Then, there was silence between the two. Shinta wasn’t sure were this was going, but he was certain would create the perfect cause and effect he was going for.

“You want me to leave both alone, master?” Shinta quizzed again.

“Just pick one. I’ve earned the right to double-dip. You haven’t,” Shishio responded.

Shinta was about to speak when his bosses face seemed to turn to stone. His jaw was set, his ears almost perking like a cat’s to a noise that alluded Shinta’s hearing. After a few moments. Shinta smirked, seeming to analyze the sound as a non-threat.

“I know you felt that other presence. I did too. I thought it was you at first, but now I know who it is,” Shishio said, running nearly faster than the eye could see to the window.

He opened the top half and leaned out to the side to see a not-so-surprised "Paloma" somehow clinging to the exterior of the hotel. Shishio smirked and extended his hand to his killer and would be intruder. Oh, he thought, I would like to hear how she’s going to explain this.