I was in Tokyo. I looked around and took in my purchases before I bought them. They were a kimono set, beautiful lavish brocade and painted silk, an obi, okobo, several black, dark burgundy, and red silk kanzashi or hair pins, Tabi, or socks, a rectangular bag, a fan, and many other things that the little women assured me I would need. My hair was long enough, they assured me, to have it styled properly, and I had booked a makeup artist and hairstylist to come and make me look proper. Our Hotel, The Cherry Blossom, had a kimono dresser who would stop by to help me get tied up. I paid the woman and gave her the hotel�s address, and my room�s number. Since the Hotel was in Tokyo, I wouldn�t have to pay extra for delivery.
As I stepped out, I remembered how the lady had been distrustful of me at first, a young american wearing a burgundy motorcycle jacket, jeans, and an ivory button-down under a black t-shirt with kanji script. I walked down the street, weaving though the shopping district. I ate always at off times, avoiding the lunch rush and large crowds. Earlier today I had visited my last temple for the trip, finally perfecting my hand and mouth-rinsing technique. The team was due to leave Japan tomorrow, and a sort of part was planned tonight. At one of the tea houses, from 7 to 9, then at a Japanese dance club called orange that doesn�t shut down until 5 AM.
It was just the team going to Orange, because we wanted a fun way to leave off the trip. At the tea house, we were all supposed to wear traditional or professional dress. Before Orange we would change into club wear.
I had yet to find my club outfit, so I darted through the crowded allies of the old town, finding my way into the modern part of the city. There, small shops hocked their wares. Gothic style, recent trendy knockoffs, and unusual and hard-to-find styles were here.
I stopped and went into a cyber gothic store. Earlier this week, I had made friends with some kids at the square Sunday, and they recommended this alley to me. They were right. Platform boots, corsets, cyber kimonos made of PVC, and wigs lined the shelves. I looked around the store and a mannequin caught my eye. It had a pointed underbust corset over a dark burgundy silk kimono with short, angled hems and long furisode sleeves. It was trimmed with black PVC to match the corset. I kept glancing at the dummy while I sorted through wigs and platform boots on a shelf. I picked up a 4� high pair that would reach my knee. Turning them around in my hands, I knew that I had found my club outfit. I brought the boots to the boots and a pointed-hem kimono to the girl behind a tiny counter in the corner. The teen Japanese girl smiled at me, stretching out her array of piercing. Looking at the wall behind her, I saw pictures of punk and goth Japanese teens. Before she finished ringing me up, I asked her about the corset in Japanese. She nodded, and asked my measurements, then disappeared into the back of the small, three-sided shop. Minutes later, she emerged, holding an exact replica of the first corset that was still wrapped in a clear plastic bag. She rung up the boots, kimono, and corset, and I paid her. She put the shoes into their box, folded the kimono, and put everything into a large black bag with long shoulder straps. I slung my sling pack across my back, and stuck the straps of the shopping bag on my right shoulder, thanked the girl, and continued down the alley. I stopped at another store, one, that sold hair dye, so Brianna could put burgundy dye into my brown hair. I also bought two black shirts at the next shop, one said �Warrior� and the other �I <3 Kyoto�, along with a long gauze skirt, fishnet tights, and an excellent grommet belt with chains, and a spiked collar.
I decided to head back to the hotel. I left the alley, stopping to eat a late lunch before returning to the Cherry Blossom with my shopping.
I checked in at the front desk, and a bellboy scrambled to take my bags, putting them on a cart and following me to my room. Each one of the team and I had our own suite. Our boss, who had brought us here, had the penthouse just above us. We hadn�t seen him much in the last two weeks because he was here on business. The last time I had seen him, he had briefed us on our impending departure and the dinner party beforehand. The boss wanted us to attend in either traditional dress or something professional. Erik decided that we should make like the local teens and party at one of the clubs. Of course, if we needed to leave between 11PM and 5 AM, we could call the limo.
The bellboy and I reached my suite, and I unlocked it for him to bring my shopping in. He piled it on the small, squat dining table. I tipped him, and he left. I walked into my separate bedroom and threw my bag and jacket on the bed, wondering what to do next. My cell rang.
It was a great phone, and all of us had one retrofitted to work anywhere in the world but still seem commonplace. I had different rings for all six of my team members and my boss. Aimee�s ring, Super chick�s �shot�, went off and I lunged for the phone. I pulled the familiar sleek black and burgundy flip phone out and popped it against my ear.
�Hey, Aimee, whasup?�
�Have you got your stuff ready for tonight?�
�Ya.�
�And?� she drew it out, wanting me to answer.
�You�ll find out then.�
�Oh, come ON! I have to know. I�ve seen all the guys�.�
�You can wait. Mwahahahahhahaha!� I disconnected the call, not worrying if she thought me rude. Aimee had chosen a bright yellow phone with a swarovski crystal faceplate. That, along with her mini-chock charm, made her seem much more girly than my spy darkness. That is why Erik and I get along. We love the James Bond feel of black and sleekness. For his phone, he was always trading up. I like my gadgets, too, but it comes through more in my clothes: sleek jeans, pantsuits, my motorcycle leathers, button-downs, and my favorite shoulder bag all had an edge of coolness and a futuristic quality to them. I looked at my watch. Nearly 4:30. At five my hair and makeup would be here, and at 5:45 I had the kimono dresser. By 6:20 the team would meet in the lobby to take the limo to dinner.
6:10
I was done early, the make-up lady giving me the traditional geiko look of douran and kyo beni, after the hairstylist had dyed and coifed my hair into a futuristic shimada mage style. The Kimono dresser and his assistant had wrapped, tied, and tucked me to within an inch of my life, but it was worth it. I wore a refined box bow on my back, and carried excess kimono and a rectangle bag holding my phone, passport, and money on my right arm. I slipped on my geta, and left as soon as the room was cleared. I clip-clopped my way down to the lobby and waited for the others, happy to see the surprised looks on their faces. I took poll of attire. Aimee had also worn a kimono, but since she was a dark blonde, chose a refined know to offset the large brocade maiko knot that reached the floor. She did not wear the make-up either, because the kimono was a bright yellow-and-pink concoction. Also joining the kimono club was Andrew, in a green-dragon print one, and Bryan, in a blue ocean motif. Both wore obi, but had their hair styled normally. Marco had forgone Japan entirely and wore a dark gray business suit, I guess because he is tall. It echoed early James bond with the silver cufflinks and a pocket scarf. Erik wore a newer Bond look of a Black suit with a red vest and necktie, with similar onyx and silver cufflinks to match his tie pin and rolex.
We all went into characters, Aimee and I giggling and covering our mouths, and Marco and Erik opening doors for us. Sitting in the limo, talking turned to our boss.
�I wonder what the big deal is?� Bryan though aloud. �Maybe we�re going to meet some geisha!� He looked excitedly around.
�Well, the wouldn�t be in here.� Aimee said. Bryan frowned.
�I think that it�s a mission.� I retorted.
�No, but it could be. I�m leaning toward our weapons and gadgets. Japan is the forefront of tech.� Erik added. Agreements all around.
The teahouse was typical Tokyo. Aimee and I went in first, and were greeted by the owners with the usual bowing. They led us to our room. Sliding open the screen, Aimee and I stepped in wearing our tabi after taking our shoes off at the door, and were surprised to see our boss there already. He wore his black suit with a silk lapel, and a black vest and tie. He wore a tie pin with out emblem and matching cufflinks. Upon seeing us, he jumped to his feet, preceeding his company, a group of three Japanese men. We all bowed to each other and were introduced by our boss. Sitting down as gracefully as I could, I presented the bags of plum sweets to the men. They exclaimed with delight at the rare temple sweets and wondered aloud how I could come across such a special treat. My friends were quiet. Apparently they had forgotten a gift for our hosts. Each one of the men took a bag to bring home to their family, and shared the last with us. Our meal was brought in and we ate. They gave �the Americans� forks but we were all adept at chopsticks. Except for Marco.
Finishing our meal later on, our boss and the men pulled out several boxes and packages, then handed them out.
Marco gripped the box in his hands, and nice one of ebony wood with silver filgeree. He flipped the latches and pulled out the object inside. A war hammer, but not just any hammer. A large one of silver metal, it had a flat head ringed with Aztec and inuit designs. Andrew was next.
He opened his box, a copper filgereed light wood, and picked up a staff, two pieces that screwed together to form a 5 � foot long oak quarter staff. He weighed it in his hands., then spun the whole piece in the air a few times.
Bryan was next. He had a trident, a forked weapon of silver with gold inlay and filigree, along with turquoise and sapphires.
Erik went after him, receiving an ebony bow, quiver and fighting knives.
Then Aimee unwrapped hers, a boomerang and abstract hammer with a sling pouch to hold both.
I was last. Mine was wrapped in a black silk cloth. I felt the object(s?) inside it. Swords. Definitely. I slowly unwrapped the swords, gazing in awe as the dark burgundy scabbards and the cross-wrapped handles so similar to katana handles. I held the two swords horizontally in front of me and sneaked them both out of their scabbards a bit. I fully sheathed them again, and turned my attention to the leather harness that bound the two together. They would be worn around my hips, two two-thirds long katanas. The boss looked at his watch. �Well, it�s nearly nine. Didn�t you kids want to go to some party or something?�
I wrapped my swords up.
�Yeah. Guys?� Everyone was putting their weapons away and we left. On our way out, we saw geishas--real ones--coming in. They gracefully inclined their heads toward us, and Aimee and I did the same.
At the hotel, I changed quickly, taking off the traditional kimono and geta, and putting on the burgundy one with the corset, fishnets, and boots, washing my face off, and doing some eyeliner. I kept my hair the same, and tied a matching koshi-himo around the corset.
I picked up the guys at their rooms and met Aimee in the hall. She wore jeans and a yellow halter tunic. Erik was in his goth japan black shirt black shirt with a fishnet shirt underneath, black bondage shorts, a grommet and chains belt, a spike and chain collar, smudged eyeliner, a cross earring in his left ear, a black leather cuff on his left arm and a black watch on his right, and clunky buckled boots that went to just below his knee.
Andrew wore black pants and a white shirt with �Bonsai� written on it in green. Bryan wore surfer gear, board shorts and a rash guard, and Marco wore grey pants, a heather gray � arm t-shirt, and a white shoulder bag.
Erik seemed surprised and happy to see me join him in style.
We made it to the club via subway.
Once there, it was great. Japanese pop was pumped through the huge speakers wile strobe lights flashed and colored lights danced with us.
Erik and I stuck together mostly because of our tastes. We tended to tire of parties at the same time. I bobbed my head to the beat and scanned the crowd for Aimee, Bryan, Marco, and Andrew. I spotted them on a VIP balcony. Typical Aimee. I looked over the crowd every thirty minutes to track my team. At 1:30 Am I scanned the crowd again and was disturbed by the look of about 20 guys. They were all wearing dark colors and scanning the crowd like I was. I averted my eyes from them and danced closer to Erik, putting my left hand around the back of his neck and pulling him closer. He seemed surprised at my display of affection, but I put my mouth close to his ear and yelled, �Yakuza wanna-bes! Look at the entrance.� I watched his eyes as he moved them over the crowd, settling on the Yakuzie�s. He put his mouth to my ear.
�What do you think? Evacuate?� I frowned, and shook my head, then mouthed, �Could be nothing.� Erik nodded. I watched the thugs as they rounded the crowd and edged toward Aimee and the guys, still on the VIP balcony.
Three drew handguns, and other drew various weapons such as shotguns, and collapsible billy clubs. Not nothing. Four split off from the group to search for someone else. I grabbed Erik�s hand and dragged him to somewhere darker ad quieter.
�I think they�re both looking for us.� I said in his ear, both of us facing the floor and watching the split-off group patrol the edge, handguns and shotguns down at their sides.
�Yeah.� he agreed, �Ready?� I nodded. We crept around to the side of the staircase where the four had taken to guarding it, lest anyone attempt to contact their quarry.
One had a phone. It rang and he look up at the balcony and answered it.
�Yeah?�
�We haven�t found the other two.�
A stream of Japanese and English curses that even I could hear came from the speaker of the phone.
�We�ll find them!� the guy said nervously and shut the phone.
�You sure will.� I said, hurtling out of the shadows, roundhousing cellphone, and decking the dude neck to him in the neck. Erik disarmed the other two and pick off their weapons. I did the same to mine. We both ran up the stairs to the balcony to find the others in a standoff. This was dangerous. I had a gun, and fired two shots into the air. Every civilian in the club screamed and ran for the exit. I approached the leader who had called cellphone and dropped him with a kick to the back of his legs and grabbed his hair, holding the gun to his head.
In Japanese, I told him them what to do.
�Put your weapons down, leave, and no more harm will come to you and your comrades. Stay, and I, and my friends, will tear all of you to pieces!�
But the idiots just laughed. Crunchtime. I hit the leader with the butt of a rifle and pressure point. Marco crushed a guy�s windpipe. Erik shot three guys quickly and ducked gunshots. Aimee broke a guy�s neck and knocked another down with an outside kick. Bryan grabbed a guy and threw him into another, knocking both off the VIP Balcony. Andrew had two billy clubs and beat two guys to the ground. We continued dodging the gang members then knocking them out. Finished. We took the magazines out of the handguns, removed the slides, and we left. Aimee called our limo on the way out.
Outside, we were surprised to see the limo already there. Getting in, I saw our boss who was in the back also.
�Nice Job.� he said, looking at me. �We�re leaving. You have an hour to pack and get ready to travel.�
Chapter Four:
On the jet, we were quiet. Finally, I could take no more, I went to the back compartment where we usually slept. I snatched a blanket and eyemask out of the cabinet, and plopped down into an overstuffed nap chair.
Erik followed me in, dressed in black sweats and a t-shirt. He sat down beside me and pulled me into a one-armed hug.
�You did good, you hear? We all survived.� He whispered.
�We shouldn�t have gone. We�re not normal. We�ll never be normal.� I said quietly.
�You�re right, we aren�t normal, we�re the Guardians, Assasins, spies, rescuers, and fighters.� He paused. �Tired?�
�Very.�
�Then I�ll let you sleep.�