One Piece

Rob Lucci

Sitting on the rooftops, the CP-9 crew scanned the area rather quickly.
Jabra scampered to another roof, looking down at the streets in disgust.
"What's wrong now you mutt?"

A silky voice rang behind him as he spun around.

"What was that?!"

"You knew exactly what I said." The feline slunk closer, taking in the dark around him and slowly pushing forward.

"Whatever, just some stranger wandering the streets...maybe we could kill her..."

Lucci hissed. That damn dog always jumped ahead of himself, no need to go outright and kill someone for simple walking.

"Don't get too ahead of yourself dog breath, we were sent out here for a specific reason, not to target little girls for your viewing pleasures."

The dog growled, practically lunging at the cat. It was a mess of teeth and claws before anyone could speak up.

"Could you idiots calm down? You'll get the attention of the passersby and we don't need any unwanted attention, remember what happened last time.."

The crew shook their heads and sighed together in unison.

"No thanks, I think I'll stick to this dumb plan we have."

Jabra jumped behind Kalifa, secretly eyeing the woman that was walking ever so slowly.

"Lucci, go follow that girl, there isn't a good reason for her to be out this late."

He nods, jumping down from the rooftops and onto the pavement, pressing himself closely to the walls and slinking about in the darkness close enough to the girl to get a good, clear picture.

Dull e/c eyes that were framed with h/c hair that seemed untamed. Her s/c illuminated by the full moon that shone in the starry night sky.

He looked up, not seeing any of the prior CP-9 he quickly ducked behind a alley and watched as she passed him by without as much of a knowing glance.

'I've seen her somewhere before...but where?'

He thought long and hard, something inside of him itching to tell him what the girl oh so reminded him of.

'Maybe a name with a face?...I'll have to get a better look..'.

He looked around once again for confirmation that none of the other agents were following him before simple following closely behind her.

The woman was definitely familiar, just something about her stuck out.

Perhaps her eyes? He's never seen that color of hue before...

No that couldn't be it...too....simplistic...

Maybe it was...her lips? Something was even familiar about those! But what!?

"Damn..." He muttered softly.

But not soft enough. The woman soon turned around and stopped right in her tracks, causing Lucci to bump into her.

"Oh I'm sorry..I don't mean to come upon you like this."

The lady shook her head and smiled gently.

"No...its...alright..?"

Lucci could feel her uneasiness, and stepped away quickly.

"Sorry to startle you, Miss."

She waved it off.

"Its quite alright, I was just out for a little walk, its always nice to walk around once in awhile, ya know?"

Lucci nodded.

'Strange, chatting up a random stranger..'

"Quite."

The woman held out her hand.

"My name is Y/n by the way."

Lucci looked down at her.

Y/n? Y/n. This couldn't be her...it just couldn't be. He hasn't seen her in over fifteen or so years...he can't be meeting her again....like..this.

"I'm Rob, Rob Lucci. Nice to meet you."
He gently grasped her hand in his, with a firm shake he broke contact.

"Nice to meet you, Lucci. Sorry we had to meet this way, you know all....uh...creepy ish like?"

She chuckled, a small tint of pink blossoming on her s/c cheeks.

Lucci felt the corners of his mouth twitch upward, something like that of a small smile.

Interesting.

"Well, I'm about done with my walk, want to help finish it up with me? Its always nice to have some company while walking.."

So innocent...

No. He needs to focus. Focus at the task at hand. Then again, what was the task again....

"I'd love too."

He answered rather calmly, strolling on beside her glancing down every so often.

He couldn't get over how much she'd changed over the past fifteen years. She was a woman, a young beautiful woman at that.

And here they both were, one was completely oblivious of the other and other completely helpless.

A messed up game of cat and mouse.

However, the roles were switched.

Y/n was the cat. The cat that wasn't trying to catch anything, living out what she wanted .

And Lucci, Lucci was the mouse that wanted to be caught, he wanted to feel that rush of fear, yet happiness as the expression on her face changed.

But no, the cat stayed as oblivious as one could be.

Her unknowing smile when she talked and the small giggle that left her lips once in awhile.

That was enough. All he could and would ask for. He had a chance those fifteen or so years ago, but he didn't act. And now here they were, just as it should be, but it couldn't. He wouldn't.

But just right now, he just wanted that feeling of cat and mouse.