InuYasha Fan Fiction / Gundam SEED Fan Fiction / S-CRY-ed Fan Fiction ❯ The Enigma Called Love ❯ New Undercover Assignment ( Chapter 3 )

The Enigma Called Love

Part 3 - New Undercover Assignment

 

By Robster80

 

 

 

“Hey, Ryuhou, where's Cherise?”

 

Ryuhou, Kari, and Davis looked at Urizane as if he had grown two more heads. “That's what we wanted to know,” Ryuhou replied to the pudgy watermelon-obsessed HOLY member. “She had a meeting with Commander Zigmar, but she was supposed to rejoin us for reconnaissance out in the Lost Ground.”

 

Urizane shook his head. “Not out of uniform, she wasn't. She left earlier dressed casually, like she had a date or something.”

 

This surprised the three, especially Ryuhou. Cherise, on a date? Maybe I WAS too harsh with her about the coffee incident.

 

“Officer Adjani is working on Missing Persons' Case 52XZ.”

 

All eyes fell on Commander Zigmar, and arms went up quickly in salute to him. “She requested to take over the case due to the fact that Officers Motomiya and Yagami failed to even try looking for Ms. Takaishi's son. Officer Tairen, you need to supervise your people more efficiently.”

 

“Sorry, commander,” Ryuhou said, feeling guilty. His obsession with Kazuma was now taking its toll. “Where is Cherise now?”

 

“She went undercover into the Lost Ground. She believes she'll find Mr. Takaishi out there. I couldn't stop her.”

 

“Permission to go after her, sir!”

 

“Denied. Officer Adjani requested to handle this case solo, and I granted her permission. Besides, you and your team will be doing some paperwork as punishment for allowing this case to be left alone for so long.”

 

“Sucks to be you guys,” Urizane sneered.

 

Zigmar smiled at him. “And thank you for volunteering to assist them, Urizane.”

 

Urizane looked at the Commander in utter disgust while Kari and Davis snickered at him. Ryuhou, however, hung his head as anger surged through him, both towards Kazuma and himself.

 

 

**************

 

 

“Damn that Cherise,” Kari cursed aloud as she, Davis, and Ryuhou rode out on the Lost Ground in their transport. “We stayed up almost all night doing paperwork because she had to tell the Commander about fucking TK!”

 

“You should have been doing your job and looking into the case,” Ryuhou said as he drove. “Commander Zigmar is upset with all three of us now.”

 

“Who cares about TK,” Davis said, sulking. “Nobody misses him, except for his mommy. He's a loser, anyways.”

 

“Sounds like you two have a history with him.”

 

“Nothing worth mentioning, Ryuhou. Though I don't know why Cherise even cares about finding him. She doesn't even know him. Hell, he's not even as good-looking as either of you two.”

 

But she shouldn't have come out here on her own like that! Ryuhou thought. What if she gets capture by a gang again, like when I first met her? What if that Kazuma has his way with her?! His grip on the steering wheel tightened at the thought of Kazuma raping Cherise. If he lays one hand on her, I'll-! “Davis, get off your ass and take a look around!”

 

“Whatever,” Davis replied as he went over to the periscope and started to check the area around the vehicle with it. Half a minute later, he stopped in the direction of northwest. “I think I see something. Lemme magnify it… It's a dune buggy… with that Kazuma and Cherise inside it, and she's all tied up!”

 

That was all Ryuhou needed to hear: Davis and Kari held on for dear life as he quickly turned the transport into the direction of the dune buggy and floored the gas pedal. “He just signed his death certificate!”

 

 

**************

 

 

“You think we got their attention?” Kimishima asked while driving. Kazuma was in the seat beside him with Cherise tied up and sitting on his lap in a way so that Ryuhou and the others could see her and him.

 

Looking back Kazuma smirked. “Let's see, Kimishima; I'm riding shotgun here and Cherise is bound in my lap. If this won't get Ryuhou's attention, nothing will.”

 

“Kazuma, hold me more threateningly! I'm supposed to be a hostage here.”

 

Kazuma put an arm around Cherise menacingly, or trying to make it look like he was. “Sorry, but kidnapping really isn't my forte. I am a fighter after all.”

 

Suddenly, they noticed the transport had turned their direction and was picking up speed like crazy. Kazuma could only guess that Ryuhou was behind the wheel. “Well, it's working for far. I just hope he doesn't run us over.”

 

“At least he spotted us so far from your place, so Kanami and TK are safe.”

 

“Uh, guys? I can't get this thing to go any faster and they're gaining very quickly!”

 

This neither Kazuam nor Cherise had factored in the plan. Thinking quickly, Cherise said to Kazuma, “Well, this is where I get off. Catch you later, and say goodbye to TK and Kanami for me. And take good care of them both!” With that, she threw herself out of the vehicle, much to Kazuma and Kimishima's surprise.

 

“She's crazy-!”

”Sometimes crazy works, and besides, she's helping us getaway, Kimishima. Now floor it!”

“I am! I am!”

 

As they sped off, Kazuma turned to look back at Cheirse, to see if she was okay. Seeing her sitting up, he mentally sighed with relief. “Hope you'll come back and visit,” he said.

 

“Don't tell me you're two-timing on Mimori, Kazuma.”

 

“Hey, I was only thinking about TK, alright? There's a chance they'll hook up, you know?”

 

“And when did you become cupid, huh?”

 

 

**************

 

 

The transport skid to a halt several feet in front of Cherise before Ryuhou came barging out of it and right up to her. After cutting her loose, he looked her over. “Are you okay? Are your clothes still in tact? Did that bastard touch you anywhere?”

 

“So NOW you care about me,” Cherise said bitterly, standing up and dusting herself off. “Or do you only care if it was Kazuma who kidnapped me?”

 

I deserve that. “I'm… I'm just relieved you weren't hurt or anything, Cherise. However, I am also mad that you came out here on your own.”

 

“Well, somebody had to find Takeru Takaishi.” Cherise had said this in the direction of Kari and Davis, whom had joined them outside the transport. “And since I wasn't too busy with holding a grudge or that it wasn't that I didn't care about the guy, I decided to investigate on my own.”

 

“And because of your tattling, we had numerous paperwork to fill out,” Kari snapped. “Thanks a lot!”

 

“Well, excu-use me if you ruined your manicure doing actual work, cousin!”

 

“Not that we care, but did you even find TK?”

 

“I did find a lead on him,” Cherise lied, but nobody realized it. “However, Kazuma the Treasoner and his partner found me before I could check it out.”

 

Ryuhou pounded his fist into his other hand. “He'll pay for that, Cherise, I promise you!”

 

“Whatever. Let's just go home. I need a shower now more than ever.”

 

Nodding, Ryuhou turned to Kari and Davis. “You heard the lady, we're heading back.”

 

“Fine, but this time I drive,” Davis replied, escorting Kari back to the Transport. Trailing behind Ryuhou, Cherise took one last quick look in the direction of Kazuma and his friends' home. Kanami, TK, please take care of yourselves.

 

 

**************

 

 

“I'm home!”

 

Kanami rushed out of the kitchen, dragging TK with her, to the front door to greet Kazuma. “Welcome home, Kaze-kun! How was work today?”

 

“Not bad. How are you two holding up?” This question was mostly directed at TK.

 

“We're doing okay. It's leftovers tonight, though. But we did save you some pancakes from this morning.”

 

At this news, Kazuma rubbed his hands together. “Fantastic! When do we eat?”

 

“As soon as Koga-kun, and Dearka-kun get back,” Kanami replied. “But, what happened to Cherise-san? Didn't she leave with you this morning?”

 

“Yeah, but she got picked up by her friends at HOLY. Don't give me that look, Kanami; she did have to go back anyway. She didn't belong out here. Wish she stayed, though.”

 

Hearing this, even though Kazuma had whispered it, Kanami frowned at him. “Kaze-kuuun! It's bad enough I have to share you with Mimori-san, do I have to share you with Cherise-san.”

 

It was TK, however, who spoke next. His arms were crossed as he, too, frowned at his friend. “You're safe, Kanami. I think Kazuma plans to try and hook me up with her, but it won't work. She's Ryuhou's woman, remember?”

 

“Well, we could use some more females in our group. I mean, Dearka's gal hasn't been by in how long-.”

 

“Look, Kazuma, get it straight: I NEVER want to fall in love again!”

 

“You listen, kid; just because your folks ended up splitting up doesn't mean that you and your future wife will have the same thing happen-.”

 

“You two at it again? Can't I just come home to a nice quiet evening?” Dearka and Koga pushed past Kazuma and set their hard hats down on a nearby chair. “So what did happen this morning that you skipped breakfast, Kazuma?”

 

“Kimishima spotted Ryuhou's transport heading our way, so we had to divert them away. Luckily, Cherise suggested an irresistible bait for Ryuhou: Me holding her hostage.”

 

“And I take it he went for it?” Koga asked.

 

“Hook, line and `hello, sucker!' Unfortunately, it worked too well. If Cherise hadn't bailed out in time before Ryuhou caught Kimishima and me, he'd most likely have made us roadkill.”

 

Kanami then asked, “Will she be coming back?”

 

Kazuam could only shrug. “I don't know for sure, Kanami. All she said before she left was for me to take care of you and TK. Well, maybe one day we'll see her again, and hopefully not on the battlefield.”

 

“You'll see who again, Kazuma?”

 

Startled, Kazuma whirled around to see a woman with long black hair standing in the front doorway. “M-Mimori! What a surprise! It's good to see you-.”

 

Mimori, however, didn't seem to return the feeling. “Kazuma, are you seeing someone behind my back? Is that why you didn't visit me last night like you said you would?”

 

Kanami pointed at TK. “Blame him, Mimori-san. He cut his wrists yesterday and we had to rush him to the doctor's.”

 

Blinking at this information, Mimori quickly rushed ot TK and took his hands, examining his wrists. “Cut himself? But I don't see any marks-.”

 

“We were lucky that a member of HOLY was in the area, your childhood friend's partner Cherise. Her alter specializes in healing, which she showed us by fixing TK's wounds. And now we'll be keeping a closer eye on him, right, TK?”

”I can take a hint, Kazuma,” TK said, gently pulling his hands free from Mimori. Then he said to Mimori, “And now your boyfriend's thinking of hooking me up with that girl, even though she's Ryuhou's woman.”

 

“Only in her mind. Seems Ryuhou's clueless about how she feels about him-.” This earned Kazuma a hard stomp on his foot by Dearka. Realizing he had said too much, which earned him the stomp, Kazuma said, “Sorry, TK, I didn't mean-.”

 

“Whatever, let's just eat.” Heading abck to the kitchen, Tk suddenly stopped and whirled around to face the others. “And don't mention Cherise again! She's not coming back; not for any of you, and especially not for me.”

 

 

**************

 

 

There was a knock on the door just as Cherise had exited her bathroom wearing a robe. Her hair was concealed by a towel wrapped around her head. Opening the door, she gasped before giving a salute. “C-Commander Zigmar!”

 

“At ease, Cherise. I apologize if I caught you at a bad time.”

 

“Oh no, sir! I-I just got out of the shower. Please, come in and sit down.”

 

“Why thank you.” Zigmar followed Cheirse inside her room, closing the door behind him. Cherise pulled over her desk chair for him and he sat in it while she on her bed. “Ryuhou told me you weren't able to find Mr. Takaishi before you were captured by the Treasoner. So, what really happened?”

 

“Well, sir… I'm not sure if I should-.”

 

“This is off the record, Cherise. I already wrote the case off as closed, so whatever you say will not leave this room.”

 

Nodding, Cherise continued her story. “I did find TK, sir. He's staying in an abandoned clinic with Kazuma and several other refugees, one of which is a little girl. However, when I first saw him, he… he had slit his own wrists.”

 

Zigmar raised and eyebrow. “He was committing suicide?”

 

“Yes, sir. But it wasn't because he had been kidnapped or anything. It… it was a personal matter. However, I was able to save him using my alter, and his friends are going to keep a closer eye on him after that incident.”

 

“I see. This personal matter… I'm guessing it involves your cousin and her associate, Motomiya. Am I right?”

 

Cherise hung her head, almost as if in shame. “TK loved her, sir. But-.”

 

“But the feeling was not mutual. I'm no stranger to love and betrayal, Cherise, so I can somewhat understand the situation. …What are your feelings on this?”

 

“My… sir?”

 

“Never mind, forget that I asked. So, I take it TK does not intend to come home?”

”No, sir. However, Kazuma and his friends are determined to see that… that he tries to move on with his life.”

 

“Curiouser and curiouser, wouldn't you say? We're finding a more gentle side to the Treasoner lately. I think we should investigate this further, though this will be between the two of us.”

 

Now Cherise looked at her commander strangely. “Sir, are you saying that…?”

 

“If you'll accept it, I'm thinking of assigning you to check in on TK at least once a week, for his sake. As well as for his little girl you mentioned. I will arrange for you to be driven to the border by Officer Cougar and you will have up to 48 hours to return to the border and Cougar will retrieve you so you may report to me personally.” Zigmar then stood up and made his way to the door. He paused, looking back. “You don't have to answer right away; take your time and think it over. My office door will always be open for you.”

 

Cherise bowed her head politely. “Thank you, sir.”

 

Zigmar opened the door, and to his and Cherise's surprise, there stood Ryuhou, who had his hand raised and ready to knock on Cherise's door. Zigmar gave him a nod of acknowledgement. “Ryuhou.”

 

Ryuhou's hand quickly went to salute. “Commander! Forgive me, but I wanted to check up on my fellow officer.”

 

“Good, I was hoping I wouldn't be the only one. She has been through a lot today. Now, if you'll excuse me…” With that, Zigmar moved past Ryuhou and left the room.

 

“What's up, Ryuhou?”

 

Closing the door behind him, Ryuhou walked over to the bed and Cherise. “I came to… Cherise, I'm sorry.” He hung his head and looked away form her. “I'm sorry for being rude to you recently.”

 

Sighing, Cherise got off her bed and put a hand to Ryuhou's shoulder. “You were working too hard in trying to catch that guy. I can forgive you for that.”

 

“But I can't.” Ryuhou looked right at Cherise, taking her hand into his. “I want to make it up to you. Why don't we go to the beach for two days? No team, no talk of work or… or of him, but just you and I.”

 

Cherise felt her heart skip two beats. This was what she had been waiting to happen; Ryuhou asking her out. She wanted to scream out “yes;” however, her thoughts suddenly turned to TK, sitting in his room, all alone. How could she think about going on a date at this moment while TK was still hurting from Kari's betrayal?

 

“I'm sorry, Ryuhou. My answer is no.” I must be crazy! And yet, somehow, my heart doesn't hurt from this.

 

She must still be mad at me. Slowly, Ryuhou released Cherise's hand from his own. “I see. I guess I deserve that. Well, if you change your mind, you'll know where to find me.” He turned to go, quietly exiting the room.

 

As if her legs had suddenly lost their strength, Cherise fell backwards onto her bed. Just what did she just do?! Ryuhou had finally asked her out on a date, a weekend date at that, and she turned him down. And why did she think about TK at a time like that? She barely even knew him. At this, she remembered the locket she had accidentally taken from TK, the one with his and Kari's pictures in it. Reaching over to her nightstand, she took the locket from the drawer and held it up as she laid on her bed.

 

“What kind of a turning point is this? All I did was get involved in one missing person case and I get more than I wanted.” She looked right at TK's picture. “This is kinda your fault, you know. I should get up and track down Ryuhou and take him up on his offer. I am in love with him after all.

 

“…Am I, though? And should I really blame you, when you've only been the victim of my vile cousin?”

 

At that moment, Kazuma and Kanami's voices rang in her ears, growing louder each time.

 

Interesting power you got there. Too bad you don't use it out here where a ton of people need treatment badly.

 

Because you're a nice person, and… and I was wondering… if you'd be Take-kun's girlfriend.

 

Still looking at TK's picture, she said to herself, “Maybe he does need a girlfriend, someone to help him mend his heart. I can't do that, but… maybe what he needs… what I can be to him… is a friend; a female friend, other than Kanami.”

 

 

**************

 

 

Commander Zigmar wasn't surprised to see Cherise at his door the next morning. “How may I help you, Officer Adjani?”

 

“Commander… is your offer for that assignment still open? If so, I'd like to discuss it with you.”

 

A smile crossed Zigmar's lips as he pointed to a chair in front of his desk. “Please, sit down, Cherise. Let's talk about your new assignment.”

 

 

To be continued…