Turn around

You don’t jump, even though you are surprised. You are far too disciplined for that. Instead you glance over your shoulder and smile coquettishly. “Just enjoying the night air,” you say in perfect Japanese. One of the reasons you were selected for this mission.

Behind you, standing in the doorway of the balcony, is Ryota Ishikawa , the NPA officer you've been partnered with. His arms are crossed and he is glowering at you. It is not very intimidating. One of the reasons Ishikawa had been chosen for undercover work was because of his remarkably bland looks. He was as Japanese as a man could get; short and slim, with black hair and dark eyes. He was also utterly humorless. “Get inside! The last thing we need is someone recognizing you.”

You roll your eyes. “Yeah, like that is going to happen.” Still you saunter up to him and gesture for him to move out of the way, not bothering to hide millimeter of your flesh. It isn’t like it is really yours anyway. You smirk when Ishikawa can’t stop himself from roving his eyes up and down your body before he moves out of the way.

You step inside and head for the bed. “I cannot believe how undisciplined you are. I had higher expectations of a CIA agent.”

You plop down on the edge of the bed. “The CIA prizes ingenuity and flexibility over unthinking obedience and conformity. If you NPA types thought that way maybe you wouldn’t need the CIA to take down your kingpins.”

“Who says that we do?” Ishikawa snaps. “The yakuza is a Japanese problem.”

“Wrong. The yakuza are rapidly expanding off-world, therefore they are a problem for the UA as a whole.” You tuck a strand of hair behind your ear. “I swear. You Japanese turn a blind eye to criminals as long as they don’t make a fuss in public.”

Ishikawa’s face is red. “Will you put on some clothes?” he snarls between clenched teeth.

Changing the subject? You count that as a victory. You kick your legs and grin. “What’s the matter? Don’t forget, this body is just a tool.”

“Yozora Tainaka is a Japanese citizen who is doing us a great service by letting us use her body. You should treat it with respect.” You snort a laugh before you can help yourself. Letting us? The NPA had kidnapped her off the street and **** her. Her brain was currently cooling its heels in your original body, albeit in a medically induced coma. If everything went right, she’d be back in her own body and out on the streets in a couple days with no idea what had happened.

“I think I know what really happened,” you say teasingly. “I think you developed a little crush on Yozora-chan.” Ishikawa doesn’t respond but you can tell he is seething.