Diamond Skin[DISCONTINUED]

Pandora's Box, and the woman herself...

As soon as Scythe got past security, a skinny girl with fluffy black hair tackled her into a hug. Her twig like arms wrapped awkwardly around the other woman's waist and arms.

"Mariko!" She cheered happily, jumping with excitement.

"Rosa." Scythe smiled faintly.

The woman huffed with a strange laughter at the child's clingy behavior. Rosa rushed off of the elder woman, her cheeks a bright red,

"Sorry Mar, I...I forgot about...rules..."

"Don't worry kid, in all honesty you're probably the only person that can hug me."

She smiled brightly, her fuzzy hair bouncing with every step.

"The Big Boss Lady wants to see you. After that little stunt you did when going dark she freaked out!" Her voice cracked due to puberty, but unlike most she didn't seem to care as her bright hazel eyes relived the moment in her story, "She even punched Robert! Best Day Ever!"

Mariko let a ghost of a smile tilt her lips upwards as she strode closer to the glass elevator, she pressed her hand to the scanner and let her eye be analyzed. The girl with oversized glasses waved at her as she stepped inside of the glass container. Letting a faint smile curl up her plump lips as she waved back. shooting upwards. It only took a moment to reach the top floor. When the doors opened, Mariko stepped into a pristine office in muted colors. A lightly tanned woman with a pinched nose looked up from her paperwork. Her face had a few wrinkles in it but from a lifetime of smiling, her long black hair with a faint few silver streaks were in a neat bun, kind brown eyes met her cold ones, and thin lips covered in a dark pink lipstick tilted into a relieved smile. She wore a simple black dress with long sleeves and red dangling earring.

"Mariko," She smiled, "You look well for someone who took on a few Avengers." Her rough, accented voice teased lightly.

"Sergi is dead. You can tell his victims they won't be bothered again." Mariko answered, all business.

"My Messengers are already on it. Medical bills have been payed, and children being properly cared for."

Mariko bowed slightly, "Is there anything else, Ma'am?"

Pandora shrugged, "I would ask how are you but, you never seem to be able to answer truthfully."

"That's because you need to focus on bigger things than me, a simple Reaper."

"Trust me, I have all the time to worry about you. Things are calm for the time being." Pandora frowned.

"That bothers you." Mariko noted, striding closer to the woman's white marble desk. Placing her hands on the smooth surface and leaning in closer to the older woman, "What's happening out there that I don't know about?"

Pandora smiled sadly, "Nothing I can tell you my dear. Even the Deathstalkers don't know what's happening, five of the greatest hackers in history have only cracked one file in a year out of hundreds."

"Put Rosa on the team. She's the best hacker and handler I know, all she needs is your permission to be labeled as a Deathstalker and all of those files are practically yours." The assassin purred.

"She is too young!"

"So was I." Mariko growled quietly, having to take a deep breath to sooth her temper, "Rosa has been giving me information on my most recent targets." She admitted while ignoring Pandora's glare, "If the girl can keep up with me then she's ready. Give us the hardest mission you can think of, and if we succeed you give her a real title and me the information I'm missing. Make me head of the case as well."