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Creed's Firecracker	By : Polymer Category: X-men Comics > Het - Male/Female Views: 4069 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own X-Men comics, or any of the characters from it. I make no money from from the writing of this story.

Chapter List
- 7
- 8
- 9
This contains language, and adult situations, but nothing beyond an R rating. And now more of the action�

Takin Care of Business

Disclaimer: I don't own X men, Marvel Comics does! This is FANFICTION, not for profit, but for entertainment only! This applies to ALL the following chapters as well!!!
***

Club Nightingale was small and smoky, yet still upper crust. Victor Creed stepped out of the limousine he had ordered for the evening, and held out his hand to his young charge. Jubilee, AKA Juliet Ling, enclosed her hand in his massive one and let him tug her gently out to stand next to him. He drew her arm through his, and strode impressively into the front entrance. Other cars and limousines pulled up to the awning in a similar manner, parking at a premium in the crowded streets of downtown Tokyo. Dress code was black tie, and a big band played music from the Glenn Miller era.

"What kind of place is this?" Jubilee whispered.

"It's a fence fer high priced client's t' trade info. Dis place is one a da cleaner ones run by the Yashida family. Kinda a market fer info. Where the bad japs meet da good," he whispered. "Stick right next t' me an don't leave my sight. Even if ya gotta take a powder, lemmie know. Dey'll eat ya for breakfast, pretty young thing like you."

"So, I'm your escort?"

"Pretty much. Ya see all dese birds? They're wives, girlfriends, or high priced hookers�"

"Geishas?"

"Nope. Dis place is more like da American clubs. Da Japs got a thing for American pop culture, suckers for Americana. So dis place is where the rich cats come t' play and chase birds, info, and deals. Most are legit customers, but the Yaks keep an ear to da ground and entertain. Other places like dis one are a WHOLE lot more colorful. Stick with me, an follow my lead."

"Keep my mouth shut?"

"Make nice-nice convo� an keep yer eyes open. Far as they're concerned yer my woman, so make with da hand holdin' and stuff. Act friendly like� but nothin' crazy. Now� let's go�" Victor whispered out of the corner of his lips. Jubilee squeezed his arm, and he tugged her closer. Her head only reached the height of his shoulder, and her legs were trembling under the short skirt.

"Good evening sir," said the man in American English.

"Nice night to ya too. Got a table?"

"Reservation?"

"Creed," he said quickly. "An guest."

"Nice� I haven't seen her here before�"

"She's new in town. Wanna take her out an paint da berg red, and all�" Victor rambled. "Now, gimmie a table where I can smoke a stogie in peace an still see a piece a da action�"

"You'll fit in well here," he said. "I have a table by the band, near the ballroom floor� this way, sir and miss�"

Jubilee walked alongside him, slipping off her shoes and slipping on a pair of sequined slippers Victor dropped from his coat pocket. He surrendered his coat and her wrap to the coat check girl, revealing his black suit underneath. He pulled out the chair for her, and she sat down, before he took the seat cattycorner to her. His knee bumped up against hers because his legs were so long. Even though she saw some Caucasians, the majority was all Japanese or other Asians. Likewise, the tables were slightly smaller, and while she had no problem, Creed had to straighten his legs out, and his leg brushed her knee.

"Anything to drink?"

"Champagne," Victor said. "An' make it quick."

Jubilee folded her hands in front of her, and glanced at him, giving him her attention. "You want a smoke?"

"Sure� ya mind?" he asked, shoving his zippo lighter out with one of his cigars. The cutter on his keychain snapped and made her unnerved. However she held up the lighter and flicked it, and he inhaled slightly. Smoke curled out of the tip, and he let it out of his mouth to direct away from her face.

Jubilee's hand was shaking, because she sensed that she was being watched. She slid her hand over and lightly overtop of Creed's. He lifted his hand and enclosed hers, feeling hers sweating. Bringing her chair closer she leaned in and whispered in his ear, "So now what?"

"We wait an' let 'em come out into da open. Just relax an look like yer havin' fun�"

"Sir� ma'am, your champagne," he said, in English. Creed grunted and nodded for the man to pour them each a glass. Jubilee wrapped her fingers around her glass, and saw Victor lifting his. Lightly she tapped hers to his and he took a good-sized swig. His green eyes watched and she slowly took a small sip, knowing she couldn't let on that she was younger than her ID said.

One sip fizzled like ginger ale, and she was glad he'd chosen the beverage. Also the man brought a single malt whisky and set it down next to his elbow. Menus were provided, and Jubilee mumbled as she struggled to decipher the English and what she could read of the Japanese characters. "You read Jap?" he whispered.

"Nope. Just Chinese. I can speak Mandarin and Cantonese though� not Japanese�"

"Might come in handy den," Victor whispered back.

"Hope you weren't asking me to translate."

"No flamin' way. I speak da lingo good enough. But dese people don't need t' know dat. I also read Jap. But dat's our little secret see�"

"Okay, gotcha," she nodded, prodding at her salad that was just set before them. Victor noted she had released his hand to keep one on her lap, and she was sitting up straight and formal. Also a good sign, that she knew how to act like a lady in public instead of a rowdy teenager. That gown and hairstyle put at least three or four years on her, making it no question she appeared legal.

"Excuse me, but may we join you?" asked someone who stood up straight.

"Champagne or whisky on da rocks?" Victor asked, and Jubilee's hand reached for his.

"Your choice," came the answer. The suited gentleman sat down, and they saw the blend of Japanese and Caucasian features. Oddly he reminded Jubilee of someone she had seen in the X men's file.

"So, ya knew I was in town, right? Sent da reception which was so warm n' all� didn't ya�"

"Wasn't my idea that she had other ideas, Creed. However you should consider yourself fortunate for our hospitality� after all, you wouldn't want your new lady to have a poor visit," said the man. "And I haven't had the pleasure�"

"Da bird's Juliet Ling. First time in town, an I'm showing her da sights�" he said as the man kissed her hand. His blue eyes sparkled with intrigue, something that reminded her of Gambit's charisma.

"The pleasure is mine, Miss Ling. Allow me to introduce myself. I am Mr. Shinobi Shaw� an old friend of Mr. Creed. I'm to understand that you had some travel difficulties�"

"Victor's taken good care of me, right sweetie?" she said as she stroked Victor's hand. He nodded.

"Yep. Ya made sure we got settled in ok. But since I was in town, thought I'd pay ya a visit."

"Considerate of you. You and I have a reputation to keep, after all. And you have not failed to deliver in the past, although your methods are� unorthodox, and you lack a certain je nes se quos� but you get the job done."

"Always. Fer the right money. But enough of da small talk� ya wanted to meet up with me, and I figure we have the same goal in mind�"

"A certain problem has happened. It seems someone has the idea that I aspire to somehow become unpopular with some very close friends� certain revelations have come to light� which you are doubtless aware of�"

"Yeah. I heard. An' also seems like I'm a popular guy�"

"So I've seen. We have a common rival. It would be a shame to have something happen to a certain young lady, which we both know well� since she has only just come back out of obscurity. Seems intriguing how she has suddenly returned to Japan when she is most needed�"

***

Back at the Yashida Ancestral home, the banquet had wrapped up. Logan and Lady Mariko had been escorted to her private chambers, in the heart of the palace main building, and left alone. Both were sitting or rather kneeling by a low window that overlooked the garden from the third or fourth level of the massie building. Logan could see the inner courtyard not far away, and other buildings adjoining theirs. Now, dressed in a less impressive yet still ornate kimono, she sipped a bit of saki, and watched him pace the chamber.

"Darlin I need to know just why in the hell Creed would want to be mixed up in all this. Sure I know there's money and power an' all with the Clan� and that he accepted you as some sorta payment for something, but why in HELL would he suddenly help YOU? I thought you melted the fucker's face�"

"That's what I want to know, Logan-chan," Mariko shivered.

"Ya shoulda let me skewer that goddamn Cajun� I wanted to waste him so badly," Logan growled, and then kneeled next to her.

"That would accomplish nothing. Like it or not, he DID the Clan a favor by recovering the sword, albeit by stupid luck, and as such we owe him much�"

"Even though the stupid shit brought more trouble on us?" Logan asked.

"Even so, he'll be able to make it up to me� to us," Mariko said softly, stroking Logan's face. "And the other X men, if they stand by me in this� they'll have to have the proper training as you will get in Clan etiquette and customs� I know that you've trained Kitty Pryde in martial arts� and I know Gambit is quite adept at hand to hand but Kurt and Colossus�"

"They'll learn. Both are scrappers. And ya gotta admit they aren't trained in the same martial arts I'm guessing as the Yakuza. You know as well as I do that in Weapon X they taught us the styles to counter whatever we were up against�"

"Dirty and deadly� and I fear that Colossus and Kurt will have to face the possibility of killing� I know the X men swore never to take lives� and I only fear their sense of duty�"

"Gambit can deal. So can Kitty. She may look innocent, but that kid's faced a nasty couple of things already. Her parents are all screwed up. Divorced. Lots of stuff that she didn't tell nobody but me� an'�"

"I have seen you two occasionally sparring� you've taught her much Weapon X knowledge� and she has the necessary intelligence and a maturity that comes out in a pinch� I know we can count on them� but asking them to fight for me�"

"You're still leader of X men red. They chose to come here, and the Professor I'm guessing didn't raise holy hell. If Hydra's involved, and Lady Deathstrike we'll need other mutants fighting with us� I just wish that I knew who ELSE was going, and where the FUCK Creed was�" Logan muttered, his hand forming a fist.

"Ironic, isn't it? Thinking that I'd never be drawn into my family's problems again, and here I am being expected to lead� Logan, I'm scared. Terrified. And I don't like it� I mean I was terrified before, but now�"

"I'm here darlin'," Logan shushed her, seeing the vulnerability in her dark eyes. "You're a scrapper too, remember�"

"In this culture, for women� nobles to fight is an anathema. Only if my very life was threatened� that's the need for a champion. If this were 16^th century, you'd do all the fighting on my behalf�"

"Then ya gotta let me fight these bastards. You gotta stay alive. I'm not an expert on Japanese culture. Hell what I learned was pumped into my head for some mission, and half of its� damn� but my gut tells me they're expecting ME to slice n' dice, and you to act all prim an' proper. And I know ya hate it after being able to fight your own battles� you did the right thing pickin' me� cause all these guys are male chauvinist shitheads, no offense� and you bein' noble blood will make sure if ya even lift a finger to fight� they'll lose their respect or whatever for ya�"

"You are more correct then you know�" she said, frustration burning in her dark eyes. "The martial arts I learned before Weapon X were only because my father thought it best for me to know basics in case I had nobody to defend me. Shiro and my half brother learned FAR more than I."

"I've seen ya scrap. You're deadly�"

"Only because I continued to train, and the necessary knowledge was forced into me, by Creed. He helped make me the warrior I am. The other techniques were reinforced by my cousin Shiro. He taught me what he know because he was a mutant� the rest I developed through my exposure to Creed and his own skills�"

"I didn't know the bastard knew any martial arts other than Weapon X� we used some other katas� but with half my memory gone�"

"Creed never forgot. I think he's FAR more familiar with Japanese culture than he'd admit. He hated Japanese with a passion, because he mentioned he'd served in WWII as an OSS operative for hire. And he mentioned you a few times� alongside him and the other X 5 series. In fact he speaks fluent Japanese and a considerable number of other Asian languages. Though he acts the bigot, he knows his 'enemy' well."

"Still can't get my head around the fact that he wants to HELP you? He wanted to kill you� unless� that asshole thinks in some sick way that he can make you HIS�"

"I think that might be so. And yet if he knows, he must know we're together� and there is no way in hell to get to me unless through you� but there might be another reason he's helping me�"

"He sometimes likes to save his enemies so he can have revenge his own way, darlin'," said Logan with a shiver. "Or else it's that you two have the same blood."

"Wouldn't he kill his own flesh and blood?"

"No. Not if they're mutants like him. Yeah the jerk thinks ya betrayed him, but that pack instinct and the fact yer a female might be enough to get that son of a bitch to have some damn loyalty� otherwise why would he have kept ya alive?"

"Alive and suffering is a far greater revenge. To live with the dishonor is worse than dying," she said quietly. "If I were still the Lady Mariko they knew, I would have committed hara-kiri a long time ago� killed myself� but because I've been an X man and been exposed to western ways, I see that dishonor can always be changed. And as Michelle there is no stain of dishonor� for I have a new purpose to live� but Logan� I miss it so much� and to never�"

"Don't say never. For all we know yer uncle may still be alive, an' maybe he'll let us both go back to that life�" Logan said as he cupped her face. "You're the best that's happened to me that I can remember, baby, an' that's gotta mean something in this screwed up world."

She slid her arms around his neck and he gripped her upper arms in his strong hands. Afraid to dig his fingernails into the silk of her robe and ruin her ceremonial garments, he tugged her towards him and received what he thought was going to be a dainty kiss. However it was deep and full of the passion that he had shared before. Under the surface she was very much not the dainty and proper lady, but a wild and passionate woman simmering under the façade.

***

Shinobi Shaw's green suit set him out against the other patrons of the club. Spiked hair fringed his forhead and the crown of his head, blending into a slightly modified long cut that fell past his shoulders. Blue eyes watched Jubilee and Victor carefully, his gloved hands long, slender and graceful, matching his equally tall and slender frame. A head and shoulders above the typical Japanese, his angular cheekbones suggested British ancestry, and his accent was laced with a hint of proper Queen's english. Immaculate manners added to the picture that he was a gentleman of fine breeding, who perhaps had a Japanese mother and an English or Canadian, perhaps even American father.

Sebastian Shaw's son. Creed had filled her in the details of this man, and what to say and what not to say. Only in his mid twenties he had resumed his father's financial empire in the East, while his father continued Hellfire club activities that privately funded parts of Weapon X program. The fact he was a son of a powerful benefactor spared him from the typical processing, and most did not know he was the son of a mutant. The old boys network DID protect its own.

"You seem disturbed, miss," said his lovely companion, and she turned to see a purple haired Japanese woman sitting in the chair next to him. Her wrapjacket smock was high collared and buttoned, her hair pinned up in a butterfly shaped comb. Violet eyes fixed Jubilee in a penetrating stare, and looked with some disdain at Victor Creed.

"May I present Miss Kwannon, my personal assistant. As you doubtless have guessed, she is a mutant with a certain eye for� authenticity. Your concern for the Lady Mariko seems touching�"

"It is heartfelt and genuine, especially coming from you, Miss Ling� rest assured we mean her no harm. Only the fools that would stand between her and a most satisfactory deal that would protect Yashida from dishonor�"

"Now� shall we dance with the rest of our guests� and perhaps you may show us how well you remember what I have seen last time," said Shaw. "Miss Kwannon� if you will do me the honor�"

"Yes Mr. Shaw," she nodded. He took her hand and slowly led her away. The men standing nearby made Jubilee nervous, and she took Victor's hand without question. The band music covered their conversation, and she noticed that they were surrounded by other patrons that seemed to resemble those he had walked in with. Even the ladies with them were carefully watching without watching.

"Um� Vic�" she asked.

"Follow my lead, Jujube," he whispered. "It's gonna be okay. We're just making nice�"

A slow waltz drifted out from the floor, and Shinobi tossed his coat to one of the other men who had entered with him. Reaching out a white-gloved hand, he extended it to Kwannon. Her long skirt was slit up to the mid hip, and spilled around her knees with purple silk. Her long hair in two buns had pieces hanging down from it, and Jubilee noted the butterfly motif woven in the silk, and in the twin combs. A purple ribbon belt was tied about her waist, and hung down her back. Shinobi and Kwannon moved with a fluid grace that came from a lifetime study of martial arts.

"Dance along with us, and we shall continue the conversation� uninterrupted. Those hear will not repeat what is spoken," said Shaw. "But dance close�"

Creed grasped Jubilee's hand and pulled her one arm around his waist, and clasped the other. She felt his hand at the small of her back, and began to follow his movements. Indeed he moved with a catlike grace that belied his bulk, and he was surprised to see her follow far easier than he figured for a girl her age. "Fine� as long as this ain't some waste of time�"

"It is good of you and your young companion to do us this honor�"

"Uh huh, pretty funny how dat works out, isn't it?" Creed nodded. "An' if ya know dat, I tink ya know why I'm here�"

"She has brought some friends, and it seems she's quite worried about where her poor uncle has vanished to. She suspects that perhaps I had something to do with it� but unfortunately it is only my own interest to have him returned safe and well. Now that his niece has returned home, it would be nice for them to have a reunion�" said Shaw as he twirled lightly around and moved in the same space near them.

"Lady Mariko," Jubilee said. Victor nodded.

"You are well informed. Lady Mariko is back, and she seems to think I have some stake in the disappearance of her uncle, Lord Shingen. At least she was given that impression that I was somehow� responsible� and I suppose it would be her cousin that gave her that impression� I only wish to reassure her somehow that I have only her family's best interests in mind. After all, I can help her ease the pressure and dishonor of certain� past unfortunate associations�"

"Yeah, I heard. So, ain't anything bad gonna happen to da Lady is dere?"

"Not at all. I'm sure you will see that she stays safely out of the way, and stays inside the palace where she belongs, whilst I assist her brother in the search. I know where he's disappeared to. And I also know why you are so popular�"

"Uh huh� why Pocahontas, da bird, an da maverick are on my tail, huh?" he nodded.

"They are foolish pawns of the creature with many heads. An unholy alliance is using those that you trained. And it seems they are QUITE unhappy you are here, and that someone you knew well in the past has been chosen as her champion�"

"Uh huh. I know she got da urban cowboy to play Sir Lance," said Victor. "An he's dere now. He ain't gonna let anyone get close�"

"Indeed. But I am sure that he will have his hands full. I have been informed that there is a chance that your� Pocahontas knows that someone thinks our Lady would serve a better cause as a martyr� so it is in her best interest to keep well out of our way. Your job is to keep them guessing. Flies in the ointment as it were�"

"Shall we sit down and rest this one out, Mr. Shaw?" asked Kwannon.

"Indeed. Join us for a glass of wine to the side here�" said Shaw. He led them off the dance floor, his arm tucked in Kwannon's, over to the bar area. She sat down on a nearby stool, and Victor took the one next to him. He reached down and grabbed Jubilee by the hips, sitting her on one knee as he rested his foot on the brass rail. She felt his arm around her waist as he moved close enough to where Shaw sat in between him and Betsy.

"Cigarette?" Shaw asked, reaching into his coat pocket and pulling out a silver case.

"No thanks, got my own smokes," said Creed. Jubilee pulled something out of her purse, and set it down in front, since Creed's one hand was occupied keeping her in place on his lap. He watched her hold it up and seized it lightly between his lips, while she flicked his silver zippo lighter.

Kwannon reached over with a flash of purple in her fingers, and Jubilee saw a small disposable lighter in her purple-gloved hand. Shaw inhaled the smoke, and let it curl over the bar. "Two whiskies please� and whatever the ladies want�"

"Saki," said Kwannon.

"Rum and coke," Jubilee said, watching the violet eyed Japanese lady carefully. Something darn familiar about her, she figured.

"So, I keep 'em occupied� while all you guys beat up on each other and make nice, right?" Creed asked.

"Yes. And should anyone see fit to� take advantage and something unfortunate should happen to Lady Mariko, it is your job to see that her champion is suitably distracted, and somehow prevent her from coming to an untimely demise. They will suspect that I have some hand in his disappearance, and it would be very unfortunate if she were to disappear as well�"

"Where is this Shingen guy?"

"In Madripoor," said Shinobi Shaw, inhaling on his cigarette. "He is quite safe and protected, thanks to my associates. He merely has to consider a generous offer, and he will be granted safe passage away from the many headed monster who wishes his clan's resources for himself�"

"Um� sorry to interrupt, but we're supposed to what again?" Jubilee asked, and was afraid when Kwannon lifted an eyebrow. Victor squeezed her lightly and shifted her back onto his lap, because she had slid forwards.

"Da frail wants to know a little something� she's new to dis all. She kinda likes to be in da know if she's gonna help me out�" Victor explained. He did not seem angry, as he glanced at her and nodded slowly, smoke curling out of his lips while he rested his smoke in the ashtray before him.

"Granted. And I'm sure you'll make SURE she behaves herself�"

"I'm doing what big Daddy Vic says," Jubilee said, and thought how cheesy and lame that sounded.

"She's a good girly," Creed nodded, kissing Jubilee's cheek lightly and shifting as she slid her arm around his neck and sat sideways across both thighs.

"Well, Miss Ling� you and your 'daddy' have a big job for Mr. Shaw and friends. We saved you from the agents of Hydra� who wish Yashida's assets for themselves�" said Shaw. He tipped the bit of ash on the end of his smoke into the ashtray and peered at them through the haze generated by Creed's smoke sitting next to his.

"How do you help out�" Jubilee narrowed her eyes, sipping more rum and coke.

"I am prepared to offer them a compromise. Safe passage for the return of her dear Uncle Shingen, with her word of honor that she will cooperate with me� she can convince her cousin that a partnership with me and her dear brother is most advantageous�"

"Who was that lady with the long metal fingernails?" Jubilee asked.

"One of my bright birds. One of the best for hire�" said Shinobi with a smile.

"I got one question for ya, Mister Shaw. You aren't gonna end up wantin' to marry da broad ar ya?" asked Victor, tapping his smoke against the table.

"Who, Lady Deathstrike?" chuckled Shaw. "No. She is a fighter and a most good one. But no, my interests lie elsewhere� as you well know�"

"Mister Shaw is MOST generous," Kwannon answered, and Jubilee glanced at Victor with a puzzled look.

"I know that she technically belongs to you. That voided any marriage proposal that could exist. I am no longer interested in the Lady. Merely her cooperation, and the loyalty she can assure. And it seems that your own claim is tenuous considering she has named a new Consort�"

"So, what's the deal?" Jubilee asked.

"Excellent question� Miss. Ling," said Kwannon. "I have no ill will towards Lady Mariko. She is Japanese as am I. We knew each other well. We only wish her to be safe, and remain in Japan, performing the duties she seems so adept at. And to be in harmony with her Brother, and safely greet her uncle when Mr. Shaw ensures his safe return. In turn we will help keep Hydra and the unsavory away, and protect the clan's honor."

"So all she has to do is stay an' behave, dat it?" asked Creed. "And ya want me to make sure of dat�"

"You are to watch her and the estate carefully. Stay close� and keep quiet�" said Shaw. "Use your skills to make sure nobody is foolish enough to get too close. We only need time to complete the deal. And arrange a meeting� so she and I, and her brother and honorable cousins can talk� in a weeks' time. Then we will send for her uncle�"

"Why a week?"

"It takes that long to come up with the necessary dissolution of funds to pay for the expense of his release from Hydra's tentacles. We are merely a go between."

"That would put him in yer debt�"

"Yes. But we only ask for partnership, the protection and blessing of the Clan, and we will provide our own protection of their honor. You stay in contact with Kwannon, and you stay out of the way, and keep Lady Mariko out of the way if she's foolish enough to try and leave. And if her champion fails to protect her� watch the house� and make regular reports�"

"How close?" asked Creed. His warm breath tickled Jubilee's ear, but his grip was only firm enough on her body to keep her from sliding forwards off his lap and bashing her chin on the bar, not a crushing embrace that indicated severe possession of a more than passing nature.

"Oh, just watch the social comings and goings� it isn't hard for you to somehow slip into state functions as a private security guard alongside myself and Miss Kwannon. Where I am not able to be, she will be. And you will grace her with your not so immediate but present company� as part of my business entourage� and there will be dinners at the Yashida complex�"

"Um� well how WELL does she know you guys� and um� does she um� care if two people she doesn't know show up?" asked Jubilee.

"I am to understand that is an issue. Her consort will not recognize you, Mr. Creed. I know that you use our product to mask your scent. One of Miss Kwannon's talents is telepathy� to blur the minds of others so to disguise appearance. If Lady Mariko or her consort should recognize you, they will not for long�"

"Nice trick," said Creed. "And does she know YOU, missy?"

"Lord Shingen knows me to be a fellow schoolgirl of his niece. I will be present at state functions to represent Shaw Industries as Mr. Shaw's personal assistant. And both of YOU will be my protection. But make no mistake� try to be foolish in ANY way, and I'll not hesitate to convey my disrespect to Mr. Shaw�"

"Okay, that's the deal then," said Creed. "So, we shake on it?"

"Yes," Shaw nodded, stubbing out his smoke.

Both hands clasped and shook firmly. Victor picked up his drink and took a last swig, then clinked the glass down on the bar for emphasis. Jubilee shifted in his lap again, because the slick fabric of her dress was making it close to impossible for her to stay put for very long on his dress pants.

"The price we agreed. The money, Miss Kwannon�" he said. She lay a handbag on the table, and slowly opened to show the contents. Shaw pulled out what appeared to be a stack of bills and folded them over double, pinning them with a moneyclip. Victor slid it into the breast pocket of his jacket, and nodded, still holding Jubilee's hand.

"One quarter up front, an' the rest in increments a 100," he nodded. "Pleasure doing business with you, Shaw."

"And please let us continue to spend the evening together. Perhaps in dancing� and provide safe escort back to your hotel, and transport to where you might find a good place to stay�"

"We'll see�" Victor said. "So, that all?"

"We shall see you tomorrow, at ten AM. There will be an ambassadorial luncheon and meeting in Tokyo. Miss Kwannon will arrive to escort you both as part of our team to sit at my table. I will meet you there� and we shall make ourselves visible. But I will not be on hand when she may ask what my corporation wants. Merely observe, and any further instructions will be related to you, by Miss Kwannon," Shaw nodded.

"All right then."

"I bid you a good night. A limousine has been ordered for you, and will drive you back to your hotel within the hour. A pleasure meeting you, Miss Ling," he said, taking Jubilee's hand and kissing it.

"Goodbye. We shall see each other again, young lady," Kwannon nodded meaningfully.

"Bye, and later, pretty," Victor waved.

***
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