Crimson Shadow (Akabane Love Story) Ch. 2 A job with the Jackal

‘Punch your lights. Hit the pavement, that’s what I call entertainment…’

I groaned and rolled around in my bed; I slapped my hand around my nightstand and grabbed my ringing phone, which was blaring, ‘Lights Out’, by Mindless Self Indulgence.

“Hello…” I said groggily, not even checking the caller ID.

“Good morning Hex,” Kazuki said from the other, “I assume that you’re ok since you answered.”

“Yeah, I’m fine.” I sighed and slowly got up from my bed. “I tried calling you last night and you didn’t answer, is everything ok?” He asked with a worried tone.

‘Yeah, I just killed a few people, you know delivered a stolen painting…’

I chuckled to myself and said, “Sorry, I went to bed almost as soon as I got home, I had some major jetlag.” “It’s good that you got some sleep then, do you want to meet me at the Honky Tonk for breakfast, I’ll come pick you up if you want.” Kazuki said, making me smirk, “Sure, and actually I had my motorcycle shipped out here, so I’ll meet you there.” I smiled as he said goodbye.

Stretching I quickly ran through the shower, scrubbing off some of the left over blood that had escaped me last night. Getting dressed in some black jeans and a tank top that read, “I’m only smiling because you’ve all finally driven me insane!” and zipped up my signature black jacket.

I walked to my garage and quickly typed in a code. The metal door silently screeched open, reveling my black and red motorcycle. I threw on my black full face helmet; I quickly ran back into my apartment and put my sword in my saddle bag, you never now, right?

Starting up my red and black vehicle I quickly got on it and sped away from the now empty garage.

Other then being a transporter, my favorite thing to do was to speed through traffic on my motorcycle. I dodged several cars; going at least 80 miles an hour. Some people honked and yelled at me, but I left their blaring voices far behind, smiling behind my black helmet.

In about 20 minutes I pulled into a parking space in front of the Honky Tonk. I set my helmet down and walked into the restaurant, the little bell chiming over the door.

But as soon as I entered I saw Ban and Ginji fighting over a bagel, as they screamed at each other I tried to find Kazuki. Suddenly my phone went off; I quickly answered it, seeing that it was Kazuki.

“Hex, I’m sorry, but there’s been some trouble at the Limitless Fortress,” Kazuki quickly said, he sounded almost angry.

“That’s fine… I’ll find something to do.” I sighed, “I might see you tonight, bye.” Was all he said before hanging up.

“Bye.” I groaned to myself.

I walked to one of the furthest booths and sat down, letting out a long breath.

“Would you like anything to drink or eat, Hex?” Natsumi asked, she had a little note pad in her hand.

“Sure, I’ll take a diet coke and a salad,” I smiled at her as she quickly wrote it down.

“Okay Miss Hex, I’ll get that out for you right away!” She happily replied and ran off.

“Well, well Miss Hex, what a surprise meeting you again so soon.”

I looked up and saw Akabane standing there, still smiling like a creeper.

“Oh hi Akabane, yeah, I was supposed to have breakfast with Kazuki but he had to go do something… do you wan to have some breakfast with me?” I bluntly asked, smiling at the tall man.

“That sounds delightful Miss Hex,” He said and sat down, removing his hat. “You can just call me Hex,” I said, thinking that it was strange how he addressed most women as ‘Miss’.

“Here you go Hex,” Natsumi suddenly said as she set a glass of diet coke and salad in front of me. “Oh, thank you.” I smiled and slide them in front of me.

As she left I asked Akabane, “So, what do you do for a living Akabane?”

“Oh, me, I’m simply a transporter, if you know what that is,” He said, still smiling; but it didn’t have the same affect when his hat was off.

I almost gasped when he told me he was a transporter, but quickly recovered, “Oh, I actually know what a transporter is, that sounds like quiet an exciting job,” I grinned and took a bite of my salad.

“Oh yes, sometimes it can be quiet exciting, and if I recall there’s actually a new face appearing in my line of work. I believe they call her, ‘Shadow Hunter’.” He said, still smiling and sounding excited, kind of in a sick and twisted way. “And what do you do, Miss Hex?” He asked, making several lies fly through my head.

“Well…” I didn’t want to lie and say that I was something lame, for some reason I felt obligated to tell him what I really did. “Actually I’m a transporter too….” I suddenly said, he actually looked surprised.

“Ah, how surprising, then I assume that you’re Shadow Hunter?” Akabane stated, getting over his surprised expression.

“Yeah, I don’t want to sound err… secretive, but I would really prefer it if you didn’t tell anyone,” I sweat dropped and took another sip from my drink.

“Of course Miss Hex, I do look forward to working with you,” Akabane smiled, I gave a sigh of relief and asked, “Hey, do you want anything?”

“No, I’m fine, thank you though,” Was all he said as I continued digging into my light breakfast.

Suddenly Akabane pulled out his phone with a somewhat excited look, “Of course, yes, I think I have just the person. Yes.”

I stared at him with a questioning look, until he said, “Well, Miss Hex if you’re interested, a client of mine wants me and Lady Poison to transport a special artifact for him. But it appears that Miss Himiko is sick, so there’s an opening, if you’re interested that is.”

A smirk played on my lips, “I think that, that’s an offer I can’t refuse,” I said, “When?”

“Right now,” He said and got up, putting his hat back on.

“Oh, ok then,” I quickly got up and put some money on the table.

He told me where to go and I quickly jumped onto my motorcycle, taking off, going through the busy street with an excited vigor.

At the meeting point

I walked into an abandoned toy factory, supposedly where our meeting was to take place.

I lingered in the shadows, waiting for Akabane to reappear. I lightly traced the handle of my sword, until I saw Akabane walk in through the large open doors.

“You’re late, Dr. Jackal.” I heard a gruff voice sneer from above me, “And where is your partner?”

“Shadow Hunter, would you like to step out and introduce yourself?” Akabane asked, looking at me in the shadows.

I walked out and stood next to him; looking up at our client I introduced myself.

“I’m Shadow Hunter.”

“I need you two to take an ancient Mayan tablet that my team has dug up and transport it to our safe house about five hours away from this location. It cannot be damaged so it has been placed in this chrome steel back pack like case. Also, it is required that you get this to our safe house before tomorrow, a driver has been assigned for you.”

“We should be able to take care of this quickly, right, Shadow Hunter?” Akabane asked, “Of course Dr. Jackal.” I replied, hiding a smile.

Our client said nothing more and left us to do our job.

Walking out of the warehouse I saw the same green semi truck from last night.

As I jumped in I asked, “Mr. No Brakes?”

“Oh, it’s you again, Shadow Hunter,” Was all he said as he pulled away from the factory.

As I settled in back Akabane sat across from me; I lazily held onto the metal case.

“So, you know No Brakes, Miss Hex?” Akabane smiled looking up at me, “Yeah, last night I went on mission for someone and Mr. No Brakes was my driver,” I smiled and moved my sword so that I wasn’t sitting on it.

“My, that is quiet a strange weapon you use there, may I ask what it is?” Akabane asked, “Oh, it’s a chain sword, it’s not my main weapon but it comes in handy for fighting someone weak. What do you fight with, if you don’t mind me asking?”

“You’ll find out soon enough, Miss Hex.”

I smiled and put in my ear buds, listening to some Green Day.

I must’ve dozed off, because the next thing I knew was that I was thrown forward from the truck suddenly lurching to a stop. I almost flew face first into Akabane, but he stopped me by grabbing my shoulders.

“Thanks,” I sighed and stood up, “Dr. Jackal, Shadow, we’ve got some company,” Mr. No Brakes grumbled.

“Shall we, Miss Shadow?” Akabane smirked and jumped out of the truck.

Following close behind him I saw about twenty men standing there, all with masks and guns.

“Hand over the artifact and no one’s gonna get hurt.” A man said in a somewhat threatening voice.

“I think that we’ll hold onto it just a little longer,” I smirked and reached for my sword, the men noticed this and raised their weapons.

Before they could make another move I appeared behind them and lashed at them with my sword; cutting some of their spines, killing them instantly.

I saw Akabane also appear behind several of the men, except he suddenly had three scalpels in his hands. Before the men could utter another sound large J’s were carved into their backs.

I heard someone moving behind me.

I rapidly spun around and stabbed the butt of my sword into his face; smirking as I heard a satisfying crunch. Throwing him to the ground I flung my sword around the unlucky person closest to me. As the gleaming silver weapon impeded around his stomach and back I used him like a human mace; swinging him at the people near him.

Before they could hit the ground Akabane slashed them down with his scalpels; which quickly retreated into his skin.

“Awww, there already all dead,” I groaned and shook the blood off of my sword.

“My, my, Miss Hex, I see that your fighting style is very violent,” Akabane smirked as we hopped back into the semi.

“Yep, I’m good at killing, and judging by the way you killed those men and smiled like a maniac I’d say that you enjoyed yourself too,” I grinned and wrapped up my weapon, returning it to it’s home on my belt.

I sat back down in my corner and continued smiling; I had a feeling that I was going enjoy working with Dr. Jackal.

After what seemed like hours of driving we finally reached our destination; a fancy looking mansion with several armed guards waiting at the gate. After we proved to them that we were the transporters the granted us entrance.

After we were escorted into the large house a sleazy looking man was there to greet us; he had greasy hair and smelled like too much cologne.

“Ah, you must be the transporters my cousin assigned to bring me my tablet! Just give me the tablet and I’ll pay you and let you continue on to your… duties,” He said in a gravelly voice, smiling at me with a lustful look in his eyes, “Or of course, you could spend the night here with me too.”

I ignored my sudden urge to rip out his tongue and shove it down his throat, “No, here’s your tablet.” Was all I said as I tossed the case to well built body guard standing next to him. He sighed and handed us each 3,000 dollars, but when he handed me my share he seemed to take extra time touching my hand; I complied by quickly pulling my hand away and walking out of the large mansion.

As I stepped back into Mr. No Brake’s truck I sat down with a sigh, “Is everything alright, Miss Hex?” Akabane asked, smiling as he sat across from me.

“No, he’d just better hope that I don’t come by and make a visit. I’ll rip out his goddamned tongue and shove it down his perverted throat,” I growled, leaning back.

Akabane chuckled and said, “What a foul mouth you have, Miss Hex.” I grinned, “Only when I’m irritated.”

Suddenly No Brakes chimed in, “Whose drop off point is closest.”

“I believe that mine is, do you mind if I’m dropped off first, Miss Hex?” Akabane asked, “Of course not, my motorcycle’s actually back at that warehouse anyway.” I said, slightly closing my; trying to catch a nap.

“Goodnight, Mr. No Brakes,” I heard Akabane say as he awoke me from a light sleep.

As I saw him exit the semi I called out, “Goodnight Akabane, thanks for letting me come along!”

“Oh, I think that I had more fun with you anyway, good evening Miss Hex,” He smirked as he walked down the empty street; it was about 1 in the morning anyway, wow, that job took a lot longer then I had expected.

“Same place as last time, Shadow?”

“Yeah,” I yawned and tried to stretch my stiff legs.

Finally, after about another 20 minutes of driving we finally reached the warehouse, I quickly wished Mr. No Brakes a good night and started up my motorcycle.

I sped through the empty streets until I reached my ‘home’; I did pass it several times before finding it again though.

Pulling my vehicle into the garage I slowly walked into my apartment, as I was getting ready to take a shower my stomach grumbled. I sighed and ran through the shower; quickly afterwards I took out a microwavable pizza and quickly ate.

Collapsing onto my bed I sighed. Too tired to even think about the days events I fell into a deep relaxing sleep.

(Hex's apartment)