A Game Of Cat and Mouse

chapter Ten

(picture is Jack Gray!)

Observing Soifon's departure from the living room, Erin couldn't help but yawn. She then reclined and placed her head against the back of the couch, audibly expressing her discomfort from the pain in her neck resulting from having slept upright.

Erin leisurely massaged the back of her neck in order to alleviate the discomfort. She then rose from the couch and proceeded towards the bathroom with the intention of cleansing herself. Upon arrival, she emitted a soft sound of contentment as she discerned the sound of water cascading from the shower.

Soifon remarked in jest, poking her head out and observing Erin's entrance into the bathroom, 'I notice that someone is finally in motion.' Erin responded with a playful glare, 'That was quite humorous, Soifon.' She muttered while rubbing the back of her neck yet again.

"Erin, would you care to accompany me in the shower? It would expedite our efforts as we are already behind schedule," Soifon said, maintaining eye contact with Erin, who responded with another yawn. "I suppose it wouldn't cause harm, and it may even contribute to saving water," Erin replied as she began to undress while Soifon resumed washing. "Indeed, I assure you that I am not one to bite," Soifon reassured.

Erin found herself unable to suppress a light chuckle in response to Soifon's remark. "Are you certain of that?" she inquired, prompting a playful response from Soifon. As Erin stepped into the shower and felt the warm water cascading onto her body, she emitted a gentle sigh of relief when the water reached her neck and imparted some alleviation.

"Do you have a cramp in your neck?" Soifon asked, prompting Erin to engage in a playful banter, as she moved her hands towards Erin's neck and began to administer a soothing massage. "Indeed, I do. Don't you remember? We fell asleep while sitting on the couch," Erin quipped, feeling a soft groan escape her lips as her partner continued to massage her neck.

"I do recall, and someone could have easily mentioned the idea of retiring for the night," Soifon remarked with a pleasant expression as she softly applied pressure to Erin's neck for a few additional minutes. "That may be so, but I am not the sole culprit," Erin objected, voicing her discontent when Soifon ceased the massage.

"Are you experiencing relief in your neck?" inquired the woman with raven locks. "Indeed, I am grateful," responded Erin with a satisfied exhale. "Your touch is truly enchanting," complimented the older woman, her smile widening as she rotated her neck from side to side.

"I am deeply honored that someone regards my hands as magical," Soifon responded, a radiant smile adorning her face. Erin couldn't resist reciprocating the smile. Subsequently, both individuals concluded the process of cleansing themselves and proceeded to attire themselves for their professional obligations.

Once both women had finished dressing, they proceeded to exit the bathroom. 'How about we acquire breakfast as we commute to work?' Soifon suggested. Erin contemplated the idea while fastening her boots. 'I see no reason why not. Considering we are already behind schedule, it would be a more favorable choice,' the brunette concurred, glancing at her phone. 'Moreover, I am certain that Voight will be contacting me to inquire about our whereabouts.'

Soifon found herself unable to suppress her amusement at that statement. "Indeed, I concur that it would be unwise to provoke his anger, given that he seldom becomes angry with you." she responded, while accomplishing the task of donning her boots and draping her coat over her shoulders. "What items are we supposed to procure?" inquired the woman with black hair, as she joined Erin in heading towards the vehicle, each of them securing their respective keys and bags.

Unaware of the fact that someone was across the street taking pictures of them, Soifon entered Erin's car after it had been unlocked. 'Let us grab some breakfast brottios,' Erin proposed. 'That sounds agreeable, considering we had donuts last time,' Soifon concurred. Both women then fastened their seat belts prior to Erin driving away from her parking spot.

" Ace's P.O.V*

"So you are requesting my assistance for what purpose?" inquired the blond man, who was serving him breakfast and coffee, as they sat in a booth at a small restaurant. Ace, sitting across from him, raised the matter at hand. "I require your aid in locating and bringing back your adopted sister and her significant other," Ace serenely responded, lifting his coffee cup for a sip.

"And what has Soifon done this time?" the blond inquired, his tone reflecting a profound disdain for his adopted sister. "I will provide an explanation as we proceed, but please remember, Jack, that Soifon was responsible for the death of your sister Julie last year when she fled from me. Consequently, I assume you desire retribution against her," Ace stated, observing Jack's facial expression. The older man witnessed as the blond rhythmically tapped his fingers on the table. "I suppose you are correct," Jack responded with a sigh. "I do wish to impart a lesson to that troublesome woman."

Ace acknowledged Jack's agreement to join him with a nod of approval. 'Very good,' he replied, 'and I assure you that you will have the opportunity to exact retribution on Soifon.' Savoring his coffee, he finished his meal and settled the bill. As he prepared to leave, Jack inquired about the timing of his assistance. 'When do you need my help?' he asked, rising from the booth. Ace responded with a sinister grin, 'If you have the time, you can accompany me now to recruit one more individual, and I will provide further details en route.' 'Alright,' Jack agreed, 'let me retrieve my coat and inform my father that I'll be absent, so he can find someone to cover my shift.' Without waiting for Ace's response, Jack made his way back to the kitchen.

After retrieving his coat and notifying his father of his departure, Jack gracefully walked out of the kitchen and approached Ace. The man with black hair inquired, 'Are you prepared to proceed?' As they made their way towards the exit, Jack promptly responded, 'Indeed, let us commence.' Subsequently, both gentlemen departed the restaurant and entered Ace's Mustang.

Ace assumed the position of the driver while Jack occupied the passenger seat. Jack inquired, "Could you enlighten me on the reasons behind your apparent fondness for Soifon?" As he fastened his seatbelt, Ace responded, "I suppose I can disclose that information to you." Ace proceeded to exit the parking lot.

Ace was explaining the game of cat and mouse to Jack, emphasizing that he had instructed Soifon to keep it a secret and that's why they were now after Erin. "Brain is monitoring their activities while we retrieve Thomas. Once Brain has gathered enough evidence, we will rendezvous at the hideout to devise a comprehensive plan to capture the women." Ace concluded, glancing at Jack's reaction.

"So, Soifon is spending time with Erin again? Well, I suppose they are a fitting match as both of them seem to be incompetent," remarked Ace with a smug expression, to which Jack nodded in agreement.

"After we apprehend them, Soifon will face consequences. As for Erin, I have yet to determine an appropriate course of action," Ace stated. Jack smirked confidently and replied, "Leave that to me." Ace nodded approvingly, saying, "That sounds acceptable to me."

* Soifon's P.O.V*

After arriving at Headquarters and having breakfast on the way, Soifon and Erin ascended the stairs of the ballpen. "Let us assess the tasks at hand for today," Erin remarked as she proceeded towards her desk upon reaching the upper floor. Pondering the matter, Soifon expressed uncertainty. "I am uncertain if there are typically consecutive cases. We have just recently concluded one yesterday," the lady with black hair pointed out as she draped her jacket over the chair and took a seat.

"Indeed, it is common for us to encounter cases on an occasional basis. However, it would be preferable if we had periods where we could focus on our paperwork without any interruptions," Erin responded as she took her seat. "I concur," Soifon smiled, logging into her computer to check her workload. She was too engrossed in her tasks to notice Voight approaching the two of them. Erin continued speaking, but Soifon remained focused on her computer and did not look up.

"So what is your reason for being tardy?" inquired Voight, glancing back and forth between Soifon and Erin, who exchanged looks before returning their attention to their boss. "We unintentionally overslept," confessed Erin, flashing a mischievous grin at Soifon, who reciprocated with a smile of her own. "Is that the case?" queried Voight, crossing his arms. "Indeed, we vow to ensure it does not occur again without a valid excuse," pledged Erin. Soifon looked at her partner, her blue eyes filled with astonishment. She did not know how Erin managed to come up with explanations that Voight might question, but to her surprise, the silver-haired man nodded in approval. "Ensure this does not repeat," he advised, before walking away, leaving Soifon and Erin to release a sigh before indulging in laughter.