Rurouni Kenshin Fan Fiction ❯ The Getaway ❯ Rendezvous pt. 2 ( Chapter 3 )

Chapter three: Rendezvous pt. 2: Sorority bash

Arcia plopped down on one of the free couches around the living room. She had been chatting with her new friends throughout the night and she's totally depleted with all those twaddle and games. A small sigh sounded on her mouth as she laid her head back to the silky davenport.

The whole house was filled with college students including to those Theta and Alpha Chi members from different universities. As a matter of fact, the place was owned by a few seniors of Alpha Chi namely, Sayo's long time boy friend Sagara Sanosuke, her brother Shogo and of course not to forget that free-lancer as well as an artist, Sano's best friend Tsukioka Tsunan. They're all nice and totally fun to hang-out with, but of course a woman who's not used to such parties like her should take some time to recharge before completely exhausting her self to the edge.

Her eyes slowly fluttered its lids and gingerly looked down at her bearings. Lana had suggested each and every clothing she was wearing… however; she did implied what usual color she fancies. A slipdress, chocker and shoes… all in black. Weird in aspects but completely mouth-watering in everyone's eyes. Her hair was free from any tassels leaving it like a black cascade behind her back. Her hand was holding a huge cup of punch, merely halfway from the bottom.

And then her visions started to roam around the whole scope. People were dancing, talking, playing games like Sayo and the others with their `suck and blow'. At the end, she ended up emerging from her stool and found the open porch a nice place to escape the loud blast of Metallica in the huge speakers placed around the area.

Pushing through the mob of swaggering teens, Arcia finally made to step outside the veranda. She walked and leaned over to the metal blockade, smelling the fresh air of nightfall with tiny bits of hardcore music as her background. `Definitely unnecessary' she sighed at the thought at the same time, watching blankly on the empty courtyard of the penthouse.

"I didn't expected any company."

Arcia's eyes popped out like big blue saucers once the voice and words came to register on her mind. `What the-?' she wasn't aware that someone was lurking around the patio, `Damn… just when I thought I was all-alone…' she fulminated and gathered all the action of glancing beside her and found an ultimately familiar figure of a man stagnant beneath the shadows at the corner side. "You?" she shrieked out loud in stun. Her sight straightway saw something she had never expected to behold. Her stare stayed constricted on those narrowed turquoise pools who was gazing back intently at her. "What are you doing here?" she became still with her composure, not moving even an inch to approach him.

"I'm invited in the party, is there any other reason of why I should be here?" Aoshi countered an answer.

"Are you stalking me?" Arcia knew it was too awkward to ask, but that's how exactly it appears within her perspectives.

"My friend encouraged me to show up and I did. I have no intentions of stalking you." That was partly true but of course he was glad enough to know that she's also here. He'll be able to discuss her next task early than expected. Of course he'll put forth effort in drafting more information about Himura's contingency.

Arcia glared at him, tyrannically doubting his words. "Who's friend are you referring to?"

"Sagara Sanosuke. I'm one of his seniors."

"Really?" she said in an agnostic and miffed way of speaking. "Twist of fate."

"I guess so." Aoshi flawed. Both remained silent, completely unease having each other's presence, "How about you? Why are you here?" a smooth questions with a very impassive voice.

"Sano's girlfriend invited me and my dorm mate. Both no relation with the Theta sorority."

"I see…"

The silence was overpowering that even the plagued lady cannot take up tightness between the two. No one even bother neither talking nor even exchanging glances, all they did was to make an endless gaze at the lush quadrant.

Although of course Arcia was still in the middle of doubts and confusions that she desires to solve right this very moment. "Since you're here… do I have any assignments to do considering the CIA? I'll be leaving the country tomorrow morning, I may not be able to meet you up."

He took the cue and nodded, "Completely dangerous." She's quite a skeptic her self, Aoshi thought. No wonder why CIA discriminated to keep her as their own spy.

Her left brow arched from the sudden manifesto, "You know what? This is the first time I've ever met a guy underestimating my capabilities."

"Same here."

Arcia turned her head to look up at the taller man standing still beside her, "What do you mean by `same here'?" her left brow elevated, prying. They're sure lots of mysteries behind this man. Weird but she's quite interested in revealing them all. And to think that she had never noticed him looking even damned good with those pair black sweater and pants. What was she thinking?

"First time of being persistent, frantic…" he glanced over her as his eyes clashed with her superb ones, "… and most of all, talking and spending time with a stubborn woman like you." For some implausible incentives, he was caught off guard right when he saw her appearance this close. She was definitely an ainoko; most of her exotic blood conquered her looks, viewing her more ravishing than any other Japanese women. Whereas he didn't bother continuing his daze. She may look fragile but her senses are stronger than any other normal human being.

Arcia saw him turn his head on the side. She suddenly gets this weird feeling that he's trying to hide something for her not to behold. "Can I really trust you?" she didn't know where that question came from in spite of the fact that it's the very same words she wanted to dispute.

The sudden bombardment of her scrutiny forthwith snatch his thoughts, "It depends." He shrugged. Something might have happen since her voice sound so somber. It was quite difficult to figure her out. She's skillful of hiding down her nominal actions.

She knew this guy wasn't so bad anyway. Since CIA trust him enough to handle her, maybe she should give him even a little insy winsy cooperation just for him to stop doubting her, "I'm serious… can I really trust you?" she asked again, not minding whether she sound galling or not.

If she's willing enough to accept his offer, then it's a great opportunity Aoshi needed not to trash. He looked at her nodded, "I'm just doing my job… you can trust me…" he was deadly firm to what he had just spoken. It is not like he'll be able to destroy his honor by not clinging to his words. All the facts he might gain to compile will be placed to the CIA's hands.

"Schneider warned me…" Arcia started.

"Schneider?"

"Also a double agent handled by Saitou. He's also my sister's husband."

"So, you still have a relative left." He wasn't aware to such information. All he knew was she was orphaned since her parents were killed in a gun shot ten years ago.

"She's safe in France. But I had never got the chance to visit her again." She incoherently responded. Aoshi discerns where he stands and certainly he's not allowed to intrude in anyone's lives especially to an agent like her. Nothing else was left no other than to change the topic, prompt and swift, "What did this Schneider said to you, then?" he asked in stead.

"That I should be careful…"

Aoshi managed to raise his head and took a glimpse to the woman standing next to him; "Do you happen to know why he said that?"

Arcia shook her head; "No." she sighed as a solitary frown line came across her forehead. "It is possible that the SCO's starting to have doubts on me. Do you think Shishio's already informed about me being a double agent?" just to be honest, she could not stop thinking and wondering about that concept. SCO had always been deceitful and who knows that CIA's custody wasn't enough to keep her secret? But then again, why on earth haven't those bastards tracked down her brother-in-law first before her?

"It's not possible. CIA had been securing your identity." Aoshi narrowed his eyes suspiciously. Saitou had said it for him self that Arcia Rinslet was way too important to lose that's why they had hired the most skilled deputy around the department. There's no way they'll end up betraying her.

"I swear, SCO's having qualms on my allegiance on the organization. I even noticed a couple of men following me these past few weeks."

"Enlighten me." Aoshi folded his arms over his chest and waited.

"I saw one when I was about to enter my car this morning. I gave him a punch or two although he made a successful escape before I could beat the bloody pulp out of him." she was terribly intimidating and quite fascinating in Aoshi's opinion. First time he had seen a woman act so valiant, almost too much to threat her enemies.

Aoshi cleared his throat and scarcely convinced with her doubts. "I'll go ask Saitou about that. Meanwhile, you should really be observant and cautious for your own safety. Splinter Cell has so many surprises that we couldn't name." Inwardly, he had to admit to being concerned as well, but that wasn't an excuse for him to totally trust her. He's still in the brink of divulging everything she knew about Himura's death.

"I wish." She rolled her eyes, finding it positively ludicrous to find security underneath SCO's shadows.

"Here, take this." Aoshi snaked his hand upon the cold railing with a piece of a chip grasped in his hand. Arcia stared at it for a few seconds before uplifting her head with her eyes glimmering to its quizzical state. "What am I supposed to do with-" just even before finishing her sentence, three to four sloshed men barged into the veranda, completely staggering the two out from their conversation. That's when she realized the overpowering music of hard core vanished and was replaced by a soft, euphonious melody of Sophie Hawkin's `As I lay me down'.

She barely heard Aoshi's groan of nuisance in the sudden fracas. He then walked towards her and abruptly took her small hand. "Let's go." he firmly said, pulling her steadfastly behind him.

"Where are you taking me?" Arcia demanded an answer. It's not everyday you find your self being hauled by someone so inexplicable.

"Dance floor." He took her to the small mass of lovers dancing at the first intro of the tune. Before she could react beyond anything else, Aoshi placed his right arm around her small waist with the other guiding her hands to the places where it should be fixed. He pulled her closer, approximately letting both the side of their faces meet. Arcia could be much more embarrassed as her cheeks started to flush in deep red.

She could do no more less but to be stagnant and dance with him. Her eyes shut tightly, too afraid of seeing the gazes of the people lurking around her. "I-is this how you ask a lady to dance with you? I'm telling you, you're not gentle enough to do so!" how she wish to just dissolve there and fade away from everyone's sight.

"No, but it's the only way to discuss this quickly as possible." Her hand was cold and he could feel her stiffen against him. `Who would not be numskull? You dragged her here forcefully.' He thought to him self, absolutely not used to calling him self-such dim-witted names. "Listen, once you're inside Joris' bootlog, CIA will be able to track down whatever connection Alejandro Morales mended with the SCO. Download everything in this chip, alright?"

"Got it." She was still desolated with the dancing idea. He was conducting her moves, and the song was still halfway to its end. She closed her eyes and let the music chime around her ears. The melody was soothing and to think that it was one of Kaoru's favorite songs. `I wonder how she's doing right now…' its been a year since she first last saw her and she in fact was not comforted with the thought of Kaoru being secured by SCO's protection group. If only she could save her and take her to CIA, then she'll be less than relieved. No one knows how much she prays every night just to reassure her safety. Kaoru always had stood as her friend and a very trustworthy best friend. She can't afford to lose her, same as to Enishi who might end up demented if anything bad happens with his beloved.

Aoshi noticed her silence; no doubt that she was deep in her thoughts. He perceived the deep fret on her expression, among her lips were pressed together just as though she was thinking of something or getting fed up on the images inside her head. At any rate, no one can blame her. She was still very young to encounter such risks and hazards of death and bloodshed, and she could count on his respect for that. If she was just some mere ordinary woman, she could have at least died out in stress from facing such catastrophes. Saitou was right; he's just completely getting ambiguous. It's just that no one could erase the tyrannical pain those Splinter Cell had done to him.

"You still have doubts on me."

Aoshi compressed his eyes; "Quite." is that it? Is that the reason why she suddenly stupefied a few seconds ago? She was still thinking about the incident from the warehouse. He knew he was discourteous from the first time they met. He never meant to be rugged, it's just that he couldn't persuade him self to trust someone from SCO.

"Look, to be honest… yes, I was hardly caught up in their dilemmas and love triangles but I had never gotten the chance to ask Enishi on what was his real plans for Kenshin." She wasn't sure if she should have said that but it's the only way to end this wariness between them.

A small-satisfied smirk formed on Aoshi's lips, "Continue…"

Arcia stifled a sigh of defeat; "Enishi wanted to take revenge because Kenshin had killed his sister unintentionally. Kenshin told me that it was just an accident even so, Enishi still wants him dead. Kaoru was acquainted with Kenshin for a couple of years and couldn't help but to babble how she likes the guy and how much she wishes to be with him. That is when Enishi learned about their inconstant relationship and went planning on kidnapping Kaoru and take her as a bait for Kenshin to face him in a battle." She rolled her eyes finding it really boring to elucidate almost everything related within the story, "To make the story short, both Kaoru and Enishi fell in love and the abduction scheme went messed up. Kenshin on the other hand was so devastated that fear and hatred overcome him and ended up dying in a car accident." She takes in one draught and was relief to realize that the music finally ended. Arcia pulled away from the close contact and faced the taller man

She lifted her eyes and seen him arch an eyebrow. She slightly expected him not to believe her anyway even though she's already telling him the truth. With a heavy sigh she grumbled, "Satisfied?" Arcia found it amusing when he's in puzzled. He just stood there, his gaze glued in a void, thinking of things she couldn't theorize. Absence of fulfillment came when the deafening utter stillness enveloped the two

For some reason, he was quite confounded to what she just vehemently spoken. That would explain everything why Saitou had persuaded him to stop doubting her. She appeared totally inculpable with the whole plight. "I guess so." He said and finally extracted him self away from her. He then walked towards to the next room filled with debauched people.

Her blue eyes constricted from its lids and took a quick look at Aoshi. Upon realizing that she was all alone in the dance hall, she treaded her steps and chased him behind.

He could feel her presence and he knew that she was still following him. Arcia Rinslet had been very blunt and straightforward. To be frank, it's perfect enough to counterclaim his unanswered doubts and yet he did noticed that she didn't even give a damn of releasing such informations.

"What do you mean by `I guess so'??" she hollered since Sanosuke seems to replace the euphony with tumultuous sounds by Korn.

Aoshi halted his steps and then turned 180 to face the fussy double agent. "It's composed of three words and defined as an answer to your question." He corrosively replied.

"I know that!" She made a small expression of displeasure; "You don't sound like you're pleased." Men… why can't they just trash such rubbish comments and move on with more anti-sarcasm ones? Consequently she stance in a flash and deliriously walked off although she felt her self-stumbling back to someone's grip. She glances back and saw Aoshi clutching her hand, just as what he did way back from the storehouse. She gave him a dirty look and put forth effort in deliverance from his handhold. "Am I supposed to always find my self in the same situation like this with you forever?" her voice was nonchalant as her usual wary eyes turned dull to give him a placid gaze.

"I'm contented with your explanation. You don't have to get frenzied to such words." There was a fragment of causticity in spite of the fact that Aoshi's voice was still unperturbed as expected. He has no intent of releasing her until she pacifies her self. Even if she struggles more he'll be forced to use his strength if that's what it takes.

"Oh really."

"Why won't you believe me?"

"Because you don't believe me either!" she spat back

"Don't raise your voice on me young lady." his eyes constricted in the sudden animosity rippling on his disposition.

"Oh… sorry mommy, I didn't mean to." Arcia just wanted to burst out of laughter. She had never realized annoying someone would turn out to be such a wonderful past time. At least she's starting to enjoy the party more and more.

"You're really stubborn just as I thought." Aoshi mumbled under his breath. No one had ever dared to annoy him so much. Not until she came into his vermiculated life.

Arcia's jaw suddenly dropped and strenuously flexing her arm away, "What?" she shrieked out, not minding whether someone had heard it or not. That wisecrack just completely brought ire into her whole intrepidity. She looked up through his eyes and only saw integrity and confidence. His stupid greenish-blue pools almost enthralled her that she was forced to focus her eyes to something else. Probably if she starts blushing right now, she'd rather spat back and run away.

A smile broke on her lips, which Aoshi intently observed. He scrutinized further and particularly saw her having a bright smile beamed undeviatingly to his vision. Moreover… he found her quite good-looking, in spite of having that brusque attitude of hers. Whereas her incivility may subjoin to her advantages, kind of unique for mostly of all the women he met. His mystic abstraction was fluctuated away when her fine roseate lips opened to say, "I'm impressed."

Aoshi looked at him with that marked clue-less expression on his face. He was bewildered that the keen mercenary took the chance of removing his hand away from her reddening skin. "You're the first person to stand me out. Congratulations." She tapped his shoulder roguishly.

"Am I supposed to bounce up in joy with that compliment?" he was confused, barely not understanding what in heaven's name she's talking about.

"Nah. You don't have to it's just-oh… no!" her eyes splayed, her dark iris emerged pint-sized from the exposition of outrage.

"What's wrong?" Aoshi knew it was something serious that had affected her. That was one hell of a shriek she gave. And he did even notice her eyes staring past through him.

"Lana!" she yelled and stormed a march near the staircase. Aoshi turned his head and followed her with his gaze. He then saw a blonde girl with a guy strolling their way to the second floor. He knew exactly what was about to happen once they stepped to the upper story, where clean bedrooms are waiting.

"heyy… Arcy!" Goldilocks squealed. She was completely drunk and her right arm was firmly held by a brunette guy beside her. "Wwhat's up?" she was hiccuping like hell and Arcia couldn't help but to pity her at that state.

"Nothing… just dancing around. And you?" it wasn't essentially needed to ask that since she adequately knew what their up to.

Lana's eyes were half-lidded in intoxication, probably not even knowing what exactly she was doing. "We <hiccup> were just talking about some stuff…"

Arcia turned her head to the person standing next to her. He him self was also smashed out from alcohol, both out of their sanities. "We have to go home Lana. Let's go." She strenuously took the blonde's hand and pushed her down the first step. It's not that she totally cares about goldilocks here, but the fact that this stupid guy'll rape her while drunk doesn't suit her as well.

Unfortunately, the person beside Lana clutched her other arm, forcing her to stay. "Sorry babe, she has to stay. She's coming with-" before he could continue any further insipid spell outs, a strong punch strike his face, almost plunging down from the second stair.

"Don't you dare call me babe ever again, a-hole!" Arcia glared at the useless dump of lump lying beneath her before storming her way with Lana following her trail. Before stepping out from the crowded hall, she walked towards Aoshi who was quite amused on the imposing scene she made a few seconds ago. "See you at the warehouse, exact 21:00. I'll give the information you needed." After receiving a nod, she strolls forth, dragging Lana with her right hand.

Aoshi couldn't help but to let out a small chuckle. He shook his head and went leaving the party him self. That was something to remind him about this disconcerting night.

-=0=-

[Florence, Italy]

Entering the famed lobby, Arcia Rinslet in a brunette queue walked with bifocals concealing half of her reddish-brown eyes. She treads vertically to the receptionist, being warmly greeted in an Italian accent.

"I'm checking in." Arcia smiled back as her eyes started to skim the whole entryway.

"… and your name please?" the woman asked.

"Cassandra Vollois." A nom de plume, purely known as her mother's name. After watching the woman punching in a few keystrokes, she beamed warmly and handed her card key. Once finished booking her stay, she continued her meander further to where the most avowed people could be found.

After a long walk, she did finally found her target. David Joris, sitting quietly on the lounge with a couple of armed guards quiescent on each side. A small smirk formed on her mouth once her finger found the small switch at the corner of her eyewear.

She took the manipulation of the panchromatic film and procured tiny bits of snapshots of the old man sitting at the divan. "Got it!" latterly, she took a couple of steps backward and headed to the passenger elevator. Being all caught with her sitting duck; she had never realized someone verging closer to her gaits and softly collided against her side. Her head snapped to her side and saw a tall middle-aged man who was also quite overwhelmed with the sudden prod. He had a very dark hair, huge chestnut eyes and a cheek bristles on his face. He appears to be someone living in the middle-east. "Merci, merci." A word of sorry in Italian and it seems the stranger had understood her words. The man just nodded his head and instantly went on with his own business.

Taking one deep breath, Arcia stood to her posture and paced placidly to her destination. It appears like she still hasn't recover with her painful hangover.

-=0=-

That afternoon, Arcia laid perfectly underneath the venomous shaft of lights wearing one of her most abominated attires in the whole world… the two-piece bikini. A tigerlily swim suit, which she mostly despised to be clothed in. Thank the heavens for not seeing someone she's formerly acquainted with or she'll die swiftly in embarrassment.

`Enough with the bullshit!' she tried to soothe her self down and then immediately laid her attention to David Joris who was relaxing his way on the other side of the pool. "Just this once, be confident Arcy… you can do this." she told her self while in the act of emerging from her lay and headed straight across the whole area. Still harrowed from the thought of walking around in a bathing suit.

Joris was way too busy to what he was currently reading, never seeing the young agent's approach. Not until he took his eyes off from the book and witnessed her presence. He saw her extends one of her slim arms and said, "Hi, I believe we haven't met yet. I'm Cassandra Vollois. I just live next to your room."

He took the pale hand with his and shook it appropriately, "David Joris, nice to meet you."

Arcia revealed her most charming smile; "I would just want to say sorry about the earsplitting sounds last night. I bet you were quite disturbed with my blaring stereos." Her chocolate lenspieces attracted the man's attention where her long eyelashes seductively fluttered with her counterfeit innocence.

"Actually, I really don't know what you're talking about miss." He answered; the glint of being enamored by her was merely visible. Perfect, just as what she had planned.

"Oh my," Arcia shrieked. "Aren't you that guy from room 243?"

Joris chuckled and shook his head, "I wish I was, but you have mistaken me for that person. I leased the room 305, that's where I am staying right now."

"305… stupid me, all I along I thought you were living next door! My bad!" she giggled, not because of the foolish art of flirting. A cruel laugh of hearing the very objective of her forthcoming.

-=0=-

Arcia went dashing her way to the foyer of hotel rooms on her sweat pants and the bikini top she just wore from the pool. Running barefoot, she finally found the door with a marked 305 on the top. Taking cautious glances, she took the small card key from her pocket and slipped it through the knob.

Pushing the door promptly, a sight of technical equipment's welcomed her sight. Computers lay around and a bunch of compartments placed on each corners of the room. With a small groan of exasperation, she swiftly verged near one of the PC's and connected the small chip that Aoshi had given to her the other night.

She quickly pressed various of keystrokes on the console until the whole bootlog download on the mini-chip. Fifteen seconds or so, the bootlog was almost transferred on the disk. "C'mon!" her yell reverberated on every side of the cubicle. Her eyes wandered to detect any commodity regarding Alejandro Morales's medical attendant. And because of being engrossed with the contemplating, she didn't hear the door open and there appeared one of David Joris's wards, staring at her in shock.

"What the hell are you doing here??" the huge guy hollered and briskly took the handgun out from his waistband.

Downloading the files was a success and so, she withdrew the chip and placed it back to her pocket. A couple of bullets were directly fired on her direction in spite of the fact that she had exquisitely evaded each shots and went on with her summersaults, landing smoothly in front of the bewildered guard.

She kicked the man's hand, causing him to release the pistol out from his grip. After that, she gave him a punch or two until he was completely beaten. The big fat lard fell against the wall, thoroughly destroying the hard parapet into its blight.

That's when she saw a hidden room, secretly unseen from the public's eye. She leaped from the man's lying body and verge upon a scope filled with medical equipments. There was a small bed at the center and a monitor fixed against the mechanism. A sole image was seen at the edge of the mainframe. A man with pure ebony tresses, an age around 40 to 45, vast chestnut eyes and cheek bristles…

"Huge brown eyes…" her eyes bugged out from their socks once the image came to register on her mind. The picture totally looks exactly like the guy she had just run into last night. The same man who supposed to be Alejandro Morales's new front.

"Shit…"

TBC