A/N: This work does not take place in either the My-HiME or Mai-Otome universes. I just borrowed the characters from both, put them in a martini shaker, and pulled a 'James Bond' ("Shaken, not stirred"), so please don't kill me.
I am a HUGE fangirl of Chie Hallard, so I decided to write a fanfic for her.
Yeah, yeah, I'm SUPPOSED to be over in the Strawberry Panic universe working on my series, but I find myself once again, playing over here.
Assembling The Team
PRESENT
In a small, obscure hotel room somewhere in the Middle East, The Blue Rose stood beside a small rickety bed quietly getting dressed. Still asleep in the bed is The Blue Rose's informant. The young woman stirs and murmurs something in her sleep. The Blue Rose freezes and waits. When the young woman does not awaken, The Blue Rose finishes dressing and slips out of the room. As she walks down the dank hallway, she pats the breast pocket of her dark suit jacket and smiles.
The Ice Wolf stands on the balcony outside the master bedroom of her Austrian home, well hidden in the mountains, and silently sips her cup of tea. She looks down into the cup and knits her brow.
'When the hell did I start enjoying this shit?' she thinks to herself and shakes her head.
A soft murmuring sound catches The Ice Wolf's attention and she moves into the open doorway of the sliding glass door to the master bedroom. She leans against the door jamb and lovingly stares at the source of the soft murmurs. Asleep in the bed is The Beguiling Stranger. As The Ice Wolf admires the beautiful sleeping woman, The Beguiling Stranger opens her eyes.
"Good morning my beloved," The Beguiling Stranger stretches awake.
"Good morning my dear wife," The Ice Wolf replies as she walks over to the bed. "Did you sleep well?"
"Yes, very well," The Beguiling Stranger mischievously smiles and raises her arms to The Ice Wolf.
The Ice Wolf places her cup of tea on the nightstand and leans down into The Beguiling Stranger's arms. The special communicator in The Ice Wolf's pocket begins to violently vibrate. She reluctantly pulls herself away from The Beguiling Stranger.
"Kruger," Natsuki roughly slides open the communicator and gruffly speaks into it. "Yes, I'll be there right away," Natsuki concludes, closes the special communicator, and shoves it back into her pocket.
"What is it my beloved?" The Beguiling Stranger asks as she sips from Natsuki's tea cup.
Before Natsuki has a chance to respond, the special communicator lying on the nightstand begins to violently vibrate.
"Viola," Shizuru gracefully slides open the communicator and in her lilting voice speaks into it. "Yes, I'll be there shortly," Shizuru concludes, closes the special communicator, and gently places it back on the nightstand.
Natsuki takes the tea cup from Shizuru's hand and places it on the nightstand.
"Looks like duty calls," Natsuki says as she takes Shizuru in her arms and kisses her deeply.
To the outside world, the headquarters of Covert Operations – Deployment and Espionage looks just like any other office building, standing alongside all the other office buildings. Inside, C.O.D.E.'s commander, 'L,' sits at her desk reading through the latest assignment packet. Across the massive office, 'L's' trusted bodyguard and longtime partner is running a trace report at the computer.
"Haruka, is the trace report completed?" 'L' asks as she peers over her glasses at Haruka.
"Yes Yukino," Haruka states and brings over the completed trace report.
Haruka places the trace report on Yukino's desk.
"Thank you," Yukino says lovingly.
Yukino looks up at Haruka and their eyes lock. Haruka involuntarily leans down to gently capture Yukino's lips.
Just as their lips make contact, Yukino's office doors blow open and they look towards the door. The Blue Rose sweeps in to the office with Yukino's trusted secretary, Mai Tokiha, following close behind trying unsuccessfully to stop her.
"I'm sorry Commander, I couldn't stop her," Mai apologizes.
"It's okay Toki. Return to your work," 'L' replies quietly.
"What is the meaning of this Hallard?" Haruka growls and protectively places herself between 'L' and The Blue Rose.
"'L,' call off your pet," The Blue Rose says amused.
"Ruka, it's okay," 'L' states and places her hand on Haruka's arm.
"Chie, must you give poor Toki a heart attack each time you report in?" 'L' asks exasperated.
Chie flashes her most charming smile. She smoothly flips the chair in front of 'L's' desk around and glides into it, straddling it backwards.
"Chie, manners," 'L' reprimands her best agent.
Chie grins, rights the chair, and sits in it like a gentleman.
"I assume your cheerful demeanor means we are in possession of the data disk?" 'L' asks Chie.
"I dropped it off with Koto before I came up here," Chie replies.
"Good. We should have the results shortly," 'L' states.
"What's the latest assignment?" Chie asks.
"We're waiting for two more agents," 'L' answers.
Outside 'L's' office, The Beguiling Stranger is flirting with Toki, something she does each time she reports to headquarters.
"How is C.O.D.E.'s most adorable secretary?" The Beguiling Stranger flirts.
"Fine, Shizuru," Mai says and blushes a deep red.
"Toki, do you know how adorable you are when you blush?" Shizuru purrs seductively as she places her index finger under Mai's chin and lifts it to look into Mai's eyes.
"Shizuru, stop that!" Mai playfully pushes Shizuru's hand away. "You're a married woman now."
"I'm sure Natsuki wouldn't mind," Shizuru teases.
"Natsuki wouldn't mind what?" Natsuki growls from behind Shizuru.
Shizuru turns and smiles at Natsuki.
"How was the lab?" Shizuru asks, knowing this subject always distracts Natsuki.
"Koto has some new gadgets for me to field test," Natsuki's eyes light up.
"Wonderful," Shizuru says.
"Toki, please let 'L' know we are here," Natsuki says to Mai.
"You two can go right in, they're waiting for you," Mai states.
As Natsuki and Shizuru walk away, Mai overhears Natsuki ask Shizuru, "I wouldn't mind what?"
"The Ice Wolf," Chie stands and bows. "The Beguiling Stranger," Chie takes Shizuru's hand and kisses it.
"The Blue Rose," Shizuru says in a flirtatious tone.
"Now that everyone is here, let's get started," 'L' begins.
Natsuki and Shizuru sit in the chairs in front of 'L's' desk next to Chie.
"It seems our old nemesis, The Red Spider is back," 'L' continues.
"I thought I killed that bitch a long time ago," Natsuki growls.
"Language," 'L' reprimands Natsuki. Natsuki gives 'L an apologetic look.
"There's nothing worse than a former agent gone bad," Chie states sadly.
"Especially one as good as The Red Spider," 'L' says.
"What has The Red Spider done?" Shizuru asks.
"The Red Spider has managed to steal C.O.D.E.'s agent database," 'L' answers.
"WHAT?" all three agents yell in unison and abruptly stand.
Haruka protectively places herself between 'L' and the three agents.
"Down girl," Chie teases Haruka as she slowly backs down and sits in her chair.
Natsuki and Shizuru also return to their chairs. With all three agents seated once again, Haruka returns to her post beside Yukino.
"Now you three know just how serious this situation is and how important it is we get the database back," 'L' states. "The Blue Rose, you're in England. The Ice Wolf, you're in Germany. The Beguiling Stranger, you're in Japan," 'L' concludes as she hands each agent their assignment packet.
"Make sure to report to Koto after this. She will give you each some items for your assignments," 'L' dismisses her agents.
As the three agents walk to the lab together, Natsuki asks Chie a question.
"So, Blue Rose, how did your last assignment go?" Natsuki asks in aknowing tone.
"Ice Wolf, from the tone of your voice, I know you already know," Chie responds sarcastically.
"Yes, I hear you almost got caught having sex with a diplomat's daughter," Natsuki answers and adds, "Perhaps you need some lessons in discretion?"
"Like you and The Beguiling Stranger are such great role models. Remember the United Nations Dinner?" Chie spat sarcastically.
Natsuki choked and Chie silently claimed victory. Shizuru just giggled. The three agents enter the lab and find Koto with her head buried under the hood of a car.
"Hey Koto!" Chie yells cheerfully, which startles Koto and causes her to lift her head abruptly, thus smacking the back of it on the open car hood.
"Blue Rose," Koto glares at Chie and grumbles as she rubs the back of her head.
"What do you have for us?" Natsuki asks.
Each agent is given their respective gadgets for the current assignment and leave to prepare. As Chie drives back to her townhouse, her thoughts drift to a certain English beauty.