@->- A Rose by Any Other Name -<-@ -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- A special dedication for a great bloke and deservedly so! :) -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- The phone rang.. It was Okyo, "Hiya Sengoku, I've got some business to take care of, I'll be out of town for awhile." Sengoku barely awake, mumbled, "What's up?" "Sorry Sengoku my ride is here.. have to go.. will tell you all about it when I get back, bye!" "Uhh, alright!" Sengoku barely got a word in, "See you later then, bye!" He put the phone down quite firmly. "Shit! I wonder what that was all about?" Sengoku stumbled into the bathroom, he flicked on the taps and adjusted the shower, he kicked off his shorts and got in. (BEEP!) "Damn this fucking dog collar!" cursed Sengoku as he pressed the receiver on his electronic neck ring. "Hasegawa here.." came the usual and always unwanted tones of the head of Cyber Police Special Operations. Sengoku interrupted... "You goddamn shit, I'm in the fucking shower!!" "Listen up sunshine boy!" Sengoku hated that, Hasegawa knew it, the rotten bastard! "Get your sorry ass over here NOW!! there's some business to go over!" came Hasegawa's reply. "Oh great, I get to SLEEP IN till 6am then you fucking well bleep in, I can see this is going to be one hell of a day!" he moaned. Sengoku pulled his clothes on and wandered over to the mirror, he checked out his reflection, Heh! pretty damn good! He grinned. He combed his mass of thick shiny black hair, he pulled it back over his ears and tied his ponytail tightly. Lucky I was born with great hair! he thought, I don't care or have time for all that hair-gel shit! -<-@->- The traffic in Oedo was building to a full load, The car's computer console will take care of that! Sengoku keyed in the commands, Now just sit back, the traffic is pretty heavy, so it'll take about an hour or so! he thought, Sengoku stretched out, put his hands behind his head, "Yeah, this is cruisy" Sengoku pushed open the door to Hasegawa's inner-city office, Benten was already there, He's always early! scowled Sengoku to himself, What a suck-up! Hasegawa started, in his usual manner, "Listen up you two, Gogul is away on another mission, something about a change of scenery, especially after Sara's death!" "My, my, he does have a heart in there afterall!" mused Benten. "Yeah.." Sengoku looked at Benten, "As black as it may be!" he sneered. "Oh you think you're so good, well we'll soon see, won't we!" Hasegawa's eyes narrowed, "We have a temporary replacement!". "I hope he doesn't require on the spot training, that's the last thing we need!" hissed Benten. "Don't worry!" said Hasegawa, "this one comes highly recommended, one of the most successful in her field actually!", he grinned. "HER!!!" Sengoku reeled, "Oh Jesus Christ, a goddamn woman, she better keep outta my way if she knows what's good for her!". Benten smirked, he hoped that this woman WAS better than Sengoku. "If you can keep up.., I'm sure there'll be no chance of me slowing you down, THAT you can be sure of!". Sengoku and Benten spun around to see where that smooth velvety female voice came from. A tall sleek, tousled maned blond strode into the room, she was wearing a one-piece suit, almost seamless, black, shiny, smooth as silk. She could have been born in that suit. It seemed as though it were painted on, ..almost, except for the fact that it barely covered her well developed breasts, Sengoku had noticed that! Sengoku turned to Benten, "How the hell do you get into one of those things?" Benten laughed, "The girl or the suit?" "You fucking jerk-off!!" Sengoku gave Benten a killer look. "It's all in the wrist action!" Benten said all knowingly, afterall some of his best casual gear was designed in similar fashion. "Good morning Chief Hasegawa!" she purred and perched herself on his desk. Benten whispered to Sengoku "I bet the old fart wishes he were that desk!" "Ha!" Sengoku chuckled, "I bet!". Benten too, had the same wish. "Sengoku!, Benten!, this is Helena!", said Hasegawa. "Good morning boys!" Helena leaned over exposing a full on view of her endowments. "BOYS!! HA! we'll see!" hissed Benten! Sengoku laughed "You're just jealous!" "Oh come on now, let's be professional!", smiled Helena, "Hmmph! we'll see who's the pro!" muttered Benten. Sengoku sat back, "Maybe today won't be so bad afterall" he grinned to himself! "Varsus!, bring up the stats on today's business!" Hasegawa ordered, Varsus wheeled in... the little robot chirped in that monotone, computerised voice, "That mission has been wiped from the files and is completely unrecoverable!" "WHAT!!!" Sengoku, Benten and Helena spun around in amazement, even Hasegawa's usual demeanour was showing some form of emotion at this point. "What the fuck is going on?" Sengoku blurted out in astonishment. "Looks like this mission has been flushed down the jon!" Hasegawa replied without so much as a blink, he was always this cool. "You heard what the tin can said, ..go home, take a break, I don't care what you do, I can assure you, you won't get off so lightly next time!". Sengoku could hardly believe his ears was this the same Hasegawa that would pop your head off in an instant, even if the coffee was ever so slightly cold. What is going on? He thought And what about Okyo and Gogul, what were they up to? Okyo had been visiting Gogul a lot since Sara's funeral, she's just being a good friend, Okyo is nice like that! he justified to himself, If Gogul so much as touches her, I'll break his thick fucking neck in TWO! the prick!. Benten strolled out the door with Helena, not one to let a chance go by, "So you're new in town!", he smiled, "Yes, quite!" She said with a smirk. Sengoku was quiet all the way down to the ground floor... He called out as the lean twosome walked down the street, "Hey! See you two gal pals later, I've got better things to do!". "Please your fucking self!" came Benten's cool reply. Sengoku walked over to where is car was parked, flipped open the door, jumped in, and took off. "Is he always that pleasant?" asked Helena. "Yeah, you'll get used to that"! answered Benten. -<-@->- Sengoku arrived at the door of his apartment, he unlocked it and went in... something was different, he pulled out his magnum, ..a strange odour wafted through, he looked over to the kitchen from his open-plan dining/living room. On the counter-top, all neatly arranged in a sculptured glass vase were a dozen roses, sleek, velvety looking, and BLACK!!! Sengoku carefully checked out the place for intruders, although what crim would break in, then leave flowers, fuck knows, there's a whole world of sick bastards out there. This seemed more up Benten's alley. Hmm no-one here... But who the hell... maybe Okyo is back, he eased up, he wandered over to the counter where the roses were, he leaned over and smelled them, unusual perfume he thought, almost sensual, What was Okyo playing at, there wasn't any note, this was unusual for her! He poured himself a big stiff drink, "Ahhh...." that's better, may as well have a bath, Hasegawa that miserable prick ruined this mornings shower!. He began to lighten up. Sengoku walked into the bathroom and got the bath started, he turned on the stereo and got undressed. The bath was ready, he stepped in and lowered himself down, oh god that felt so good, he sank down even further into the water, the bubbles rose up over his smooth muscular chest, he lay back and relaxed. What a fucking weird day! he thought. Sengoku stirred, "HEY!!! What's that???" he sat up with a start, "It might be Okyo!", he grinned, "Perfect timing!". He called out, "Okyo? ..that you??" ...no answer... "Oh fuck it! so much for this goddamn bath!" he grunted in a perturbed manner, he grabbed a towel and wrapped it around himself, he grabbed his gun, can't take any chances. Sengoku cautiously opened the door, he could see a little movement, he burst in, eyes wide, all senses on full alert, gun at the ready, He yelled, "PUT YOUR HANDS UP, you goddamn mother fucking pervert!!!" he looked straight into the big blue eyes of Helena, He blinked "What the hell are you doing here??" his towel dropped, he was too stunned to care, "Hello there big boy!", she chuckled "HA! you should be so lucky!" Sengoku smirked, he grabbed his towel and wrapped it back around himself, he put his gun down, but the rise in his towel showed that his weapon was still at the ready. .."Err.. um, I'd better go and get into something a little more comfortable!" Sengoku grinned sheepishly. "That's okay!", laughed Helena, "very nice view!" Sengoku didn't know whether to trust her, but his gut reaction (or was that something a little lower down) was to go with it. He came back from the bedroom dressed in a black singlet/t-shirt that seemed to fit snugly over that lean muscular frame and a pair of tightly fitted jeans that left little to the imagination. Helena couldn't help but notice. "I thought you and Benten were doing the party scene!" he quizzed, "No! I prefer something a little more private!" came her deep sensuous reply. Sengoku looked about the place, she had it all set up for dinner, wine, candles, the lot, the cushions were all neatly arranged for comfort around the low, glass top dining table. What would Okyo say, I hope she doesn't notice, ahhh, I'll sort it out later!, he thought. Dinner smelled great and he was hungry, oh well, what the hell, sit back and enjoy while it lasts, you can never tell in this business. (1)"So what's a nice girl like you, doing working for that creep Hasegawa?" Sengoku chimed in. (Ed. note 1: These blokes have all the old lines ^_^). "You don't know me that well to go making statements like that!" smiled Helena. "Err.. it's just that you seem nice!" Sengoku smiled, he took a sip of wine from a long stemmed glass he'd picked up off the table. (2)"Why don't you get to know me better!" Helena said with a gleam in her eye. (Ed note 2: more old cues, sheesh! who writes this shit! ^_-) . A big grin made it's way across Sengoku's face, Well, he thought, if that wasn't a come on, then I don't know what one is! He was warming up nicely to this and not only in spirit, the stiffening bulge in his pants was a dead giveaway! Helena got up and wandered over to the huge floor to ceiling lounge windows, she gazed out over Oedo city, "It is very breathtaking!" she sighed, the tall skyscrapers were reflecting the intensifying sunset like huge columns of fire, Sengoku nodded in agreement, "One of the perks of the job and better than being left in that hell hole of a prison!". Helena turned around to Sengoku, she put her arms around his neck and planted a long deep kiss on his mouth, oh man that was great, his knees weakened and he couldn't think straight, he reciprocated, and they were locked in passion for what seemed the longest time. They finally managed to separate. Helena looked over toward the bedroom, "The view from there must be impressive!" she grinned. "Why don't you check it out! said Sengoku in all calmness, belying the hormonal rush he was experiencing just now. Helena casually walked over toward the bedroom, and then looked back over her shoulder at Sengoku with a smouldering look that meant only one thing. Sengoku followed on, you didn't have to ask him twice or even once on this one! Helena walked around the far side of the bed, it was fairly plain, but it was big, she kneeled down and pulled the covers back, Mmmmm.. nice soft black satin sheets and a lovely big red duvet. She wondered how much action this bed had seen. She stood back up and proceeded to undo the zip that went right down one side of her sleek suit, "Need a hand with that?" Sengoku asked eagerly, "No thanks, this is one job I can handle on my own!" she laughed, Sengoku quickly peeled his clothes off, Helena, glanced over, Veerrry nice! she thought, His beautiful smooth bronzed body showed off every inch of his training, plenty of muscles but not overdone, niiice, that mass of shiny black hair that begged to be touched, a finely tuned specimen and a feast for the eyes. He had definite sex appeal, not only in looks but there was that certain something else too.. that boyish charm, even that huge ego, that over confidence, that wickedly awesome red coat of his, it was hard to pinpoint. Sengoku got into the bed and lay back, he looked up at Helena just as her suit just sort of fell away from her body, Oh baby!, a heavenly goddess! so smooth, pale milky skin, he looked on with anticipation. She slipped between the sheets in one fluid action. She moved in a little closer beside Sengoku, they gazed into each others eyes and soaked it in. Helena slid her hand under the sheets, "Oohhh Sengoku!" she cried, Sengoku lay back and closed his eyes, "Oh baayyybee, this was oooooh soooooo gooooood!", He opened his eyes for a moment and looked at Helena, "Lets see if your abseiling skills can get you through this one!" he said with a grin, "They haven't let me down yet!" she whispered, she leaned over and in one smooth move she mounted with ease. "Oooooohhhh god, oh baby!", he moaned, Helena tossed her head back and let out an equally satisfied moan, "Ooooooohhh myyy god!" She leaned forward and spoke softly "I hope you can handle these mountains!" she pulled his hands to her firm full breasts, Sengoku suddenly wished he had more than one pair of hands. Helena's hair draped across Sengoku's face, it felt soft and silky, it smelled wonderful. He caressed her arms and soft pale shoulders, he continued caressing over and down her back, mmMMMmmm... he moved his hands back down to her ample bosom and gently squeezed. Helena's movements were fluid and rhythmic, her breasts softly touched his face, "Oh my god!" he moaned, If ever there was a way to die, then this is heaven, "Ohh baby" he moaned again, Helena sat up and started to lean back between Sengoku's well muscled legs, he grabbed her hands and as she lay back he leaned forward until he was on top, this was a very smooth move he thought, it felt amazing. Now this was more his scene. Sengoku worked up the rhythm, Helena raised her smooth shapely legs, Sengoku positioned them over his broad shoulders. he leaned over even closer until her legs were almost pressing against her own shoulders, Helena moaned heavily, her chest rose well up and back down, He eased up to give her some breathing space. Sengoku's pace was building, their moaning was getting a lot more intense.. "OHH MYY GOD!!!" -<-@->- It was nearly 5am when Sengoku awoke, a contented grin painted across from ear to ear, he gazed over to where Helena was, except for himself the bed was empty! "Helena!" he called out, no reply, maybe she's in the bathroom, he glanced back to the empty space where Helena had been, something was sticking out of the sheets, he picked it up, A black rose.. "OW" FUCK!! goddamn thorns!" he yelled, he dropped it on top of the covers. A small trickle of blood dripped from his finger. He threw on his robe and grabbed his magnum(this baby goes everywhere) He wandered about the apartment, he called out again, "Helena, are you there?" ... still no reply, "Shit-fuck!" he was pissed off and also a bit disappointed, "Fuck this! I'm going back to bed!" Sengoku grabbed a bottle of strong plonk from the kitchen, and walked back through to the bedroom, he tore back a big slug of the liquor, he needed it, he wiped his arm across his mouth, he flopped back onto the bed and passed out soon enough. -<-@->- The sun streamed in through the windows, Sengoku sat upright, "Uuuhhhhrrrgh.." a fucking hell-hole of a goddamn hangover, Oh great! he thought, Just what the doctor ordered, He stumbled into the kitchen, it had been cleaned up, well at least the bitch is tidy. Why did she leave like that though?, he was confused, he wanted answers, "Varsus get the fuck in here!" Sengoku demanded, "can you check out the location of Helena!" Varsus wheeled out of his overnight recharging/containment unit underneath the video control center in the lounge. "Her whereabouts are unknown at this present time!", came the mono-reply. "You useless excuse for a fucking coke can!" Sengoku gave Varsus a hefty boot in the side, It was just utter frustration nothing personal. "You know where you can shove your useless information, ....oh to hell with It!". Sengoku threw his clothes on, grabbed his long red trenchcoat and took off out of his apartment, Varsus will lock up. He walked down the hall and got into the waiting elevator. He got out at the underground level apartment car park, he made his way to his car, opened the door and jumped in. He pulled out of his park space and accelerated like a bat out of hell ..tyres screaming, straight toward the daylight entrance of the park, Sengoku just wanted to be alone, to collect his thoughts, he drove off in no particular direction, anywhere would do. Sengoku picked up the car phone, "Benten, it's Sengoku here, is Helena over there?" "No, not since yesterday!" replied Benten, Sengoku felt a bit of relief for that! "What's up? did you scare her off?" there was an air of cattiness in Benten's voice, "Go fuck yourself, ..I see you did a lot to keep her interested!" snorted Sengoku, "She's not my type anyway!" said Benten sounding rather annoyed, "Yes well we all know what your type is!" Sengoku sneered, ..Benten hung up! Sengoku laughed. "Well my day is shot to hell, I'm going back home!", he'd had enough, the lengthy drive had lifted his spirits at least. He got back to his apartment found his way to the fridge and grabbed an armful of beer bottles, he cranked up the stereo and sat back on the couch, he finally passed out sometime later. -<-@->- He woke to a loud knocking at the door, "Fuck it! who the hell is that!" Sengoku was not in a good mood, he dragged himself to the door, still dressed, he hadn't even managed to get undressed last night, to far gone, so what's new. He opened the door and was greeted by one of those over zealous delivery boys, he was all of fifteen Sengoku thought. Never mind, give him a few years and some balls, Sengoku grinned. "Delivery for a Mr. Syunsuke Sengoku!" chimed the boy, "Yeah, yeah that's me!" grunted Sengoku! "Sign here please!" the lad handed him a pen and a signsheet, Sengoku managed a scrawl. "Thank-you!" The young fellow handed him a box of flowers, the box was well labelled, there was a note too, Sengoku handed back the pen and signsheet and shut the door! No tips today, he wasn't in the mood and couldn't give a stuff at this point! He looked at the note, It's from Okyo, brilliant, he read it out loud: "Sorry for the Hasty departure the other day, my father has been very ill, everything is much better now. See you tonight. I thought you might like these, my fathers specialty. Love Okyo.!" Sengoku opened up the box, his eyes opened wide, one dozen BLACK roses! Did I dream all that he thought, ..must have, ..I knew Hasegawa wasn't behaving as usual. "Fuck! that's the last time I go to one of Benten's parties!, ha! famous last words!" he grinned. "It'll be great to see Okyo, I know it's been only a few days, but I miss her about the place!", Sengoku sounded a lot happier. (BEEP!) "Hasegawa here!" "Oh for fuck sake, what a kick in the guts!" groaned Sengoku, "That won't be the only thing that'll get kicked, if you don't get down here ASAP, Gogul has a lead on that terrorist group that has been giving the heads of state a real headache, I need you here, yesterday!" Hasegawa clicked off. Sengoku got into his car and set the controls for downtown Oedo, he even managed a smile this trip. @->--<-@->--<-@