3 The Jorogumo
"This is what old man meant by partnering up..." Misaki in her all-black uniform, staring out the apartment window where she's supposed to wait for the others. She watches the wealthy people entering the huge building all dressed 'wealthy', a few blocks down to pass time.
"If it isn't Shi." A cheery voice intercepted the attention of Misaki as she walked in. Even with her mask covering half on her face, "Alice." She smiled to see a familiar presence.
Slowly the gang began to come together. "I see everyone is well and alive." a huge muscular man jokes with a bag hanging over his shoulder, "This reminds me of our past together." "You're making us sound old." Alice nags as she fixes her hair. He set the bag at the side and pour himself some water. "Waiting on two more members, big guy?"
At the same time, they heard footsteps approaching down the corridor, "Speaking of devils, I think it's them." The door cracked open, to her wonderment, Alice sparked up to who was at the door, "MIMI!" Sensing danger, he promptly shut the door in front of her face. "Oi, it's not nice to shut the door on a girl's face." leaning over toward his face. He pushed her face away with his finger, "How many times do I have to tell you to stop calling me that." She shrugs and turns her eyes and notice: "Oh. A new face. Didn't see you there." Her words stab him hard, letting out a dry laugh.
The new face then bowed and started introducing himself, "People call me Kaiki, 17 years old. A pleasure to be working with you."
"Oh, the same age as Shi." Reo walks up, " I'm Reo. The guy next to you is Kimi. This-"
"Alice." She said with an L.A accent, flip her hair to one side, and shook his hand. "Ah, hello." Both men rolled their eyes, nothing new here. Reo grumbles her name, "and lastly, we have Shi." Misaki looked at the newcomer and turned back to the window.
"Since we're all here. Should we get changed now?" Reo carries the bag he brought with him over to the table.
"Aren't we breaking in?"
"The higher up says 'to blend in' and not to make a scene. It's a mask party, we should be fine."
The organization has this policy of hiding our identity from one another to protect ourselves. The headmaster grants us with a new identity/ new names in this organization and every member's profile are all off-limit, only the higher up have access to. It's basically living double lives.
Misaki got interested in what's inside and rumble through the bag. Her face grew pale and paler as the moon outside, "I'm not wearing that..."
"Come on, you need to act like a girl sometime, Shi." Alice hiss.
The ladies went to the bathroom as the guys change in the opening. "You look, wonderful darling," Alice said as she did a few more touches to Misaki's hair.
"Think I'm gonna puke."
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"Here's the arrangement." Reo waves the instructions to get their attention, "Alice with Kimi and Shi with Kaiki… Reo, waiter." He gawks down on the paper in confusion and reads it again, "..Waiter."
"HAHA! It suits you very well." Alice said tearing up.
"AHEM! I'll be bringing your weapon over." He states as he goes around with the same bag he came in with to collect their swords. "So find me once you enter. Put these earpieces on as well."
"Are you okay?" Kaiki looked over to his side at the newborn fawn. "Mhm. Not comfortable with heels that's all." Trying to find her balance. "Um… Would you like…?" Offer his elbow. Peeping over, Misaki feeling shameful took the offer, "Thanks." He tries to start a conversation as they walk, "You look beautiful." She read his youthful face and reply emotionless, "Oh. my. I'm. flustered."
When they finally arrive, the security guards asked for their invitation and reads: "Mr. Takahashi" taking a minute to examine them, "Welcome."
"It's a good thing you're tall," Misaki sarcastic stated. They went in looking as normal as they could and look for Reo. "By the pillar, on the far right." Misaki instantly pointed out.
Away from the eyes, Reo passing their swords. "Alice's will take the garden and Shi's will take the ball. I'll do the second floor."
"Why do I have to listen?" Misaki growl as they went to their positions. "Did you say something?" Kaikai turned. "No."
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"Would you like a drink?" a waiter asked.
"Ye-"
"No thank you." Kaiki kindly rejects, pulling Misaki away, "We're underage." "They will find it sus if we don't take it." "I'll get you some fruits. Wait here." "Aww, Kaiki, such a gentleman," Alice overheard their talk. "Sigh, focus on the mission."
Misaki observes the people dancing. Someone in the distance walked up to her. "May I have this dance with you?"
"Me?" She did a slight eye-rolled. But he insists and took his hand out asking for hers. "No." She exploded it. "I mean... my feet have a mind of its own. Don't want to disable you."
"I like to see you try." He laughed.
She lifted her brow, "I'm not joking though." Few minutes in, Misaki seems to be enjoying it; stepping on him, that is. "Why don't… we take a ..break." He gasps trying to hide the pain every time she steps on him. "Sure. Gladly."
"Look like you were having fun." Kaiki welcome her back with the fruits. "I found the use of these heels. Didn't find any girls acting suspiciously in the crowd."
"Same out here. It's pretty quiet." Kimi responds.
Meanwhile, as Reo scrolled around the lobby with his detector, lonely sighed, "I also want to enjoy the party too."
"Hey, you! Servant-!" a man shouted across the hall, "Bring a new bottle of wine here!" And turn back to his thing. "Yes. Ser.vant. I would love some wine too." Reo comment.
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"Don't you feel like we being watched?" Alice whispers to Kimi. "The moment we arrived..." He answers, resisting her grip on his arm, "And...You don't have to be this close to me... I can..." He stopped talking. "Hm? You can what?" She has those eyes that know what he is gonna say but wants to hear anyway. "You're really too much for me..." He sigh.
Moments later, Reo's detector bulbs started lighting up, "Found out our target. Room V247."
As they were heading to the destination a figure stops Shi's and Alice's paths.
"Who are you?" Alice examines the figure in front of them.
"I don't do intro." and dash at them. Kimi pulled out his sword and block its attack. "Go find Reo. I'll follow after I finish her." Alice nodded and ran off. The intruder tries to attack Alice from behind. "I'm your opponent," Kimi said as he counterattack.
Alice climbs the tree and found an open window. "Poor security work."
-----
"This room?" She ran to Reo. "Yeah. Where's Kimi?"
"There was an attack. He said he will be here soon."
"The door is locked... Cover me." He bends down and monitors the door.
"You're using a card?"
"Shh. Concentrating." <<CLICK>>TADA!." and open the door. "Should we wait for the others?" Alice had this gut feeling that they should wait. "Lives are at stake here."
-----
"Excuse us." They both walked into the dim room. A strong stench fills the room. "What is that smell?!" "GROSS!"
The light reflects what appears to the spider web covering the entire place with bodies of skeletons being embraces. "W-What is this??" Alice's eyes continue to wander endlessly, not believe in the sight she's seeing.
"Ara, Ara. This room is already occupied." the creature crawls up the ceiling. "REO! ABOVE YOU!" The huge spider woman crashes down. He jumps back out of reflex, "I hate surprises."
"Honey, I love them. And my!" the jorogumo exclaims. "Don't you look tasty."
"What is going on?" The ceiling and wall started scattering with little spiders. "You're gonna become one of my precious collections.!!" It claims.
"REO, THEY'RE AFTER YOU!" He tries to fight them off but they kept on coming back. "AHH!"
"YOU BITCH! HAVE A TASTE OF THIS!" Alice quickly cast a shield around Reo blocking out the spidering and jumped onto its long ass legs. Pulling out her sword. The jorogumo swings its legs hard on Alice. Making her fly in the air and landing hard on the floor. "Heh, can't use your full potential can you now."
Alice glanced back at Reo and back at the jorogumo, "Oh. So you figure out." She gritted her teeth and launches at the jorogumo again. She slides down under its spider body and raises her sword. Making the yokai screech. "YOU!"
She kicks Alice and pins her on the wall. Raise her other leg ready to strike. "ALICE RELEASE YOUR DAMN SHIELD!" Reo demanded.
"ALICE!!-"
Just then, "HIYAA!" Misaki sliced its eye making her lose grip of Alice.
"SHI!"
Kaiki aid Reo as Kimi caught the falling Alice, "...Took you long enough."
Misaki attacks her endlessly and stabs right at her stomach. Return the jorogumo into a human form.
Catching her breath, Misaki's vision was a blur as she looks at the motionless Alice. "Ichika! A… A-Alice!" The group stared at one another and didn't comment.
"Ichika?" Kaiki mouthed it.
Reo puts his hand on Kaiki and shakes his head. "Before the cleanup crew comes. This silk web is priceless. And I know someone willing to pay however the price is for them. What do we say?" Reo tries to change the mood.
