The noon day sun filtered through closed curtains of a small apartment in London. The apartment was sparsely furnished with a pile of dirty plates sitting in the sink waiting to be washed. The sole occupant of the room stirred from sleep, blinking as she glanced at her alarm clock.
:: Shit :: she thought, :: twelve thirty, I'm late! ::
She got up quickly, now feeling rather awake despite only 5 hours of sleep. She quickly stretched before pulling on the first things she could lay her hands on, a pair of cut of jeans and a blouse. Stuffing her feet into a pair of sneakers as she grabbed the bag containing her Gi, she hurried out the door, glancing longingly at the fridge. She was almost out on the street when she realized the front of her blouse was still open, a quick knot fixed that just as she stepped out on to the street.
It was only a couple of blocks to the Dojo, Ryder-sansei would be slightly annoyed at her for being late, that would only mean she wouldn't hold back too much. As she mounted the steps she pauses a moment to admire a good looking Asian youth wearing loose cloths and a yellow bandanna, walk out of the Dojo. She smiled slightly ::Hmm, if I wasn't late for the bout..... :: she shook her head and her thoughts returned to reality. By this time she was in the hand reached for the door.
"Kei, come in, your late." A female voice said with a slight German accent. Kei opened the door, and steeped through. "Ryder-sansei, I apologies for may lateness, I over-sleeped... "she said as she bowed deeply and respectfully. "You had a late night" Sam continued her sentence. "I understand. If you are ready, shall we begin?"
Samantha Ryder was a good four years her senior and whilst not quite as quick as Kei, she had that much more training. The bout was long, they where relatively well matched, but Ryder-sensei still had the advantage. By the end of the bout Kei was bruised, and favoring one leg and sweating profusely, Sam however only had the odd bruise, and was hardly out of breath. Relaxing, she listened to as Sam gave her some pointers.
"Kei, you eaten yet?" Sam inquired, after a quick shower and change of cloths.
"No, I was in too much of a hurry to get here, I could murder a dozens burgers." Kei grimaces at the thought.
"You know it's not good to fight on an empty stomach, but no matter I could do with lunch myself, shall we go next door?"
A handful of minutes later, Kei and Sam are next door at a cafe. Kei is eating like there was no tomorrow. Sam being slightly more sedate in her eating habits, shakes her head, "I don't know where you hide all the food you eat, it doesn't seem to affect you figure. Or your fighting for that matter."
"I dunno, I've been lucky, so far I haven't really had to work for this figure, the training helps a bit I guess." She thinks for a moment, demolishing another burger in the process, "Sam, when I came in, there was this cute Asian guy leaving, does he train at the Dojo?"
Again shaking her head, "You really should try to control your flirting, you could get into trouble one of these days. But, no he doesn't train at the Dojo, he was lost, looking for Furenkin High School."
"Never heard of the place"
"You shouldn't have it's in Tokyo."
"Tokyo? Now that's what I'd call lost"
Later that evening Kei is strolling the streets, still limping. She still had three hours till they needed her at the Bar. :: May as well grab some Chinese for dinner, then off to work. :: She had been wanting to check out a new takeaway store, `Neko Hanten' anyway. Pausing briefly to pick up a copy of the evening paper. Whilst waiting on her order of egg foo yong she lets her eyes wander around the room, checking out the other customers. A faint sigh escapes her lips when she realizes there are no cute guys there.
Back at her apartment, she lounges on the floor, paper spread in front of her, food within easy reach. Skimming over the paper, she is not too surprised to find an article regarding last nights excursion. ::Costumed figure...wraith like specter...group of muggers... :: Kei allows her self a smile, then thinks ::Wraith, I could possibly use that...:: smiling once more.
Dinner finished and paper read, she hits the shower, letting the hot water relax her mussels. Once out, she starts to reach for her towel, stops, concentrates for a second, sighs and towels off. A quick ruffle through the wardrobe, a grab of a bag, and she's out the door again, heading off for work.
It was comparatively quiet at work, the bar had about the normal crowd for a week-night. She had just finished serving a drink to a red-head women and her friend when the band started up, she stopped to listen to them for a minute, but figured they weren't as good as the bosses band. Miss Asagiri's group was attracting quite a following, but they generally saved themselves for a bigger crowd.
The only real trouble was around closing time, some jerk was causing problems near the bar, she wandered over just as he was lining up on somebody else at the bar. "Right you shit, you'll get yours" the thug yelled pulling back his fist, then he got tapped on the shoulder, he turned to see a cute redhead in a waitresses uniform giving him an annoyed look.
"I'm sorry sir, but you'll have to leave now."
He leered back, "Sure honey, you and me can go anywhere you want." He reached out to grab hold of her arm, ::Sloppy:: Kei thought, as she gracefully sidestepped and quickly grabbed a hold of his wrist, at the same time pushing him to the floor, arm held almost vertical. He blinked in stunned surprise, thinking for a second that he had tripped, then winced in pain as pressure was applied to his arm.
Her voice had gone ice-cold, "No, just you ... now you can walk out of here, or... would you prefer a cast?", for the last her voice was back to normal, with just a hit of enjoyment.
One thing could be said for pain, it sobered him up in a hurry, "Yeah ... sure." he felt her let go of his arm, and slowly stood up, looking at her. She still seemed the same cute girl she had been before ... but there was just something about her, a faint smile. He just had the feeling that if he did anything else to her, it would go really badly for him. "Ah ... I was just leaving." For a change he didn't have the urge to add an insult to the end, instead just limping out of the bar.
"I see you've been practising again," a voice said behind Kei, "that was well done." Kei turned to face the bar's owner, "Thank you Miss Asagiri ... he wasn't much of a challenge." She slowly nodded, "Well, you still did a good job, no big fights, just got him out ... remind me to give you a raise one of these days ... see you tomorrow." As she drifted off though the crowd, Kei looked down at her watch, ::Ah, almost time I was out of here::
The bar closed and locked behind her, Kei headed back to her apartment, a relatively nice half hour walk especially at four in the morning. She was instantly aware someone was following her, ::Hmm, this might be entertaining... :: she thought as she slowed her pace slightly and innocently yawned. After a couple of blocks she was starting to think her shadow wasn't going to do anything, when a burly form stepped out from an alley way, "Well, if it isn't little miss bouncer" he said as he stopped under a street light. "Ha, is this all that gave you a bad time tonight, Jake?" a voice came from behind her, she could also hear at least five snickers after that comment. "Yeah, well, I was outa it wasn't I, an she took me by surprise. That ain't gonna happen this time, is it honey?"
Glancing around quickly, Kei responses grinning, "Seven to one, good odds in my favor don't you think?"
"Well aren't we cocky. Lets teach her a lesson, Frank, grab her!" He starts forward towards Kei as a pair of rough hands grab her by the shoulders. An elbow to the guts followed by a palm to the chin disabled Frank, while a swift kick to Jake's face sent him staggering back hands over his nose trying to stem the flow of blood. "Me nose, the bitch broke me nose!"
With cries of "We'll get ya good" and "You'll pay for that", Jake and his five remaining flunkies descended upon Kei who, was now in a fighting stance just waiting for the first attack. When it comes, she easily avoids the blow and catches her assailant in the ribs, cracking a couple in the process. Recovering quickly she spins out of Jake's reach, grabs another flunkies right arm with hers, braces herself and pulls him across her body, landing her left elbow against the base of his neck, incapacitating him. Two more fall quickly, leaving a nervous Jake staring after the quickly retreating form of the last standing would be assailant.
"Cocky am I?" Kei says, casually walking forwards, "Perhaps you do want that cast after all" a grin appearing.
Jake gulps, and staggers backwards as Kei continues forward, soon enough he has his back against a wall. "Come on gimme a break, we where only meaning ta scare ya, honest." Beads of sweat where noticeable on his brow and he was glancing around for some way of his predicament.
"Now why don't I believe you." Kei reaches out and gently lifts his hand, "You should have left well enough alone. Now, this won't hurt... much." She whispered softly in his ear. Deftly she spins him around and quickly snaps his arm. He starts to scream, but faints a fraction of a second later.
::Damn, I hardly broke a sweat, I was hoping for a bit more of a challenge...::
Yawing again, this time for real, she surveys the carnage, noting that no major damage had been done, at least none that couldn't be fixed with good hospital care. She continues back to her place, limping noticeable again. By the time she get back to the apartment, the adrenaline has drained from her system, leaving her half asleep. Fishing around for her keys she fumbles for the lock, her hand disappearing into the door. Unaware she twists her hand as if unlocking the door and staggers through the closed door, attempting to close it behind her. Her cloths fall into a heap as she steeps out of them. She collapses through her bed, groans slightly and pulls her self through her bed, asleep as soon has her head hits the pillow.
Early the next morning the Phone rings.
Kei groaned and reached for the phone. As she brought her hand up to her ear, she wondered why the phone was still ringing. Glancing at the phone she groggerly realized she was still intangible.
:: Baka :: flicked through her mind as she became more awake. She reached for the phone once more, this time remembering to become substantial.
"Yes?"
"Miss Kuonji?" a foreign voice asked.
"Hai. That's me, what do you want at this ungodly hour?"
"this Oliver Dubois's secretary. Mr Dubois will be in London this afternoon, and wishes a meeting with you. would 1:30pm be convenient for you?"
"I'm sorry, I've a training bout arranged today.", she paused for a moment, considering something before she queried "Might I enquire what this is about?"
"I'm sorry about the time, working cross time zones can be... difficult. Mr Dubois has a job proposition for you that he wishes to discuss with you in person. can your Training bout be rescheduled? Mr Dubois can not stay in London long.
"I could reschedule the bout, but, I'm perfectly happy with my present job, so I belive that a meeting would just be a waist of Mr Dubois and my time."
"I have reliable information that would indicate that you would be interested in this offer and that it would let you enter a new 'phase' of your life" she replied
"A new 'phase' you say?" Kei said after a short pause.
"Yes that was the term I was instructed to use."
"You are rather persuasive, I might have spoken hastily before. Hai, I will listen to what Mr Dubois has to offer. 1:30 you said, ne?"
"Yes that is correct, he is staying in Penthouse 2 of the Park Royal, I assume you know the way."
"The Park Royal. Nice" she said with a low whistle. "I'll be there."
"Thank you, I will see you then."
After hanging up, Kei laid back in her bed, ::Ryder-sensei will understand, expecially as this is in regards to my talent::, sighing she reached for the phone again...
---------
By quarter to one Kei was almost ready to head for the meeting. Not sure what to expect she decided to wear her costume, along with a pair of Tonfa concealed in a sheath in the small of her back. Over this a loose fitting blouse and a pair of tight black jeans. A brown leather bomber jacket completed her outfit. As she checked her self out in her mirror, she thought ::...well, it'll have to do, at least It looks good, perhaps a bit too casual for the Park Royal, but then it's the best I've got...::
As she turned the tops of her boots over to hide the red band, she noted the time. ::40 minutes, plenty of time, and I can get in lunch::
She reached for the keys to her cycle...
----
39 minutes, a leisurely ride, and a rather large lunch later, Kei stepped out of the elevator and walked down the hallway towards Penthouse 2. She paused to check if her costume was showing in a polished wall panel. Arriving at the door, she checked the time, and knocked...