by Sally Keira
“We’re inside. We’ve commenced taking out the guards,” Kazuo’s voice updated over the radio.
“Message received,” Kaiya replied. “We’re still on our way.”
As her team neared the rear of the facility, Kaiya paused in the shadows and lent down against the fence. She lined up the sight on her gun and took out an unsuspecting security guard in the distance. Due to the silencer on her MP5 automatic sub-machine gun, all that could be heard was a series of rapid light clicks as she fired. Not far from her Nao used his samurai sword to slice an entry point for them through the barbed wire fence.
The four of them quickly entered the facility and ran along the inside of the fence line, to remain hidden in the shadows. Once they reached an unlit area they raced silently across the facility toward the buildings. Kaiya took out two more security guards whilst running at full pace.
Nao was impressed with her accuracy whilst in motion. He himself needed to get down on a knee to achieve a similar shot over that distance. He had also seen Kazuo do that before too and knew they had learnt to shoot on the run during their mysterious Mizuchi Ninjutsu training.
Kaiya pressed the push to talk button on her radio.
"We’re inside. Kazuo, I'm beating you now, I've taken out three already."
There was a pause over the frequency.
“Copy that,” one of the other ninjas said over the radio, sounding amused.
Kazuo did not reply, probably because he did not want to encourage her to misuse the radio. But she could do what she pleased whilst she was in charge.
“How do you know that you’re beating him?” Nao asked.
“Because he didn’t reply,” Kaiya said.
Nao and the other two ninja's running with Kaiya chuckled. They were always entertained by Kaiya's competitiveness with Kazuo.
Kaiya's small team took out two more security guards as they weaved around some buildings. They finally reached a secure rear door to the building they needed to enter. One of her ninja's worked on breaching the security code lock, whilst the other three of them stood alert for further targets. Kaiya was pleased to be nearly inside without incident so far.
Several minutes passed outside the door, but this was to be expected.
“I’ve nearly got it,” muttered the ninja working on the lock.
Suddenly one of their other ninja's voice came over the radio frequency.
"We're under fire from a single ninja.... he's good...."
There was a tense pause while they all waited for more information. The complex was large so Kaiya and the three ninjas with her could not hear any of the commotion going on, on the other side of the compound. The voice returned after a couple of minutes, panting heavily.
"He's taken out the other two, I've gone for cover. I think it's Yoshito...."
They could hear more heavy breathing before the ninja behind the voice cut the transmission.
"We're heading over to support you. Kaiya, what's your update?" Kazuo's voice came over the radio.
"Entering," was all she said. Her team finally had the door opened.
“Good. Everyone minimise communication in case he's taken a radio,” Kazuo commanded from his end. Kaiya did not need to reply, she was fine with his decision.
Kaiya's team headed inside, closing the door behind them. The corridor was dimly lit but they could see that it branched off into to a series of corridor passages. One of her team led the way, while she stayed at the rear alert for signs of movement behind them. Kaiya was surprised to only come across a single guard inside the building. The guard was easily taken out by Nao before he even saw them coming.
“The lights are off in the lab, so there shouldn’t be any more guards inside,” Nao said.
“I’m conscious of time, with Yoshito trying to reduce our team. Nao, use your grenade and blast us through the security doors,” Kaiya commanded.
“Ok, take cover,” Nao said, tossing his grenade at the doors.
There was a loud explosion as the doors were destroyed. After the smoke and debris cleared they easily located the chip inside, because it was the only chip in there and it was securely locked up. Kaiya placed the chip in a small case and handed it to Nao.
"Zip it up in your pocket. Yoshito would expect me to have it so make sure you get away with it. If Yoshito stops me, I order you to keep going. I know how to handle him."
“Are you sure?” Nao asked.
Kaiya raised an eyebrow at Nao.
“Ok. I’ll keep going,” Nao reluctantly agreed.
Kaiya deliberately talked up her ability to manage Yoshito because she did not want Nao to come to her aid. She needed him to get away with that chip. Her father needed that chip and they would not fail him. Kaiya was relying on her gut instinct that Yoshito would not kill her if it came to it. Doubtful that it would come to a show down between them anyway. She was confident that Kazuo would keep him busy while they retreated with the chip.
“Burn the lab,” Kaiya commanded after Nao zipped the chip up in his pocket. “Tatsuya’s orders.”
The four ninjas set about using available chemicals to douse and set fire to the lab. Tatsuya had told her that he wanted no trace of the research remaining.
Once the lab was burning and the smoke was building up in a thick haze, they all quickly exited the lab in single file. Kaiya remained at the rear, just behind Nao. They raced through the maze of corridors and kept well in front of the smoke. The other two ninjas had run up ahead out of sight but Kaiya and Nao were not far behind them.
When they approached the last T intersection bend into the corridor leading to the exit door, uneasiness set in.
“Nao, stop,” Kaiya commanded just before they turned the final bend, because she realised that she could not hear her other ninjas moving up ahead.
Nao was slowing down when she glanced over her shoulder to check that no one was behind them. When she turned her head back around Nao was out of sight. He had been right in front of her.
"Nao?" Kaiya whispered and was met with eerie silence.
Kaiya edged slowly forward with her finger on her gun's trigger, as she neared the turn. Keeping close to the wall nearest the exit door, she cautiously peered around the opposite turn first. That direction seemed clear other than the two bodies on the floor! Kaiya's registered in disgust that the bodies were the two ninjas who had been running up ahead of her and Nao. She swore internally. Her heart rate increased but she was spurred on with adrenaline. How many enemies were in that corridor? Surely there must be at least two fast opponents to take out the rest of her team so quickly and silently.
Kaiya slowly pushed the barrel of her gun past the corner and heard a piercing clang sound. Her gun vibrated in her hand. Startled, she watched as the end of her gun slid right off and fell onto the floor with a loud thud. Someone had sliced the end clean off, most likely with a samurai.
A flash of light reflected on the walls from a sword, which must have been held by whoever had just decommissioned her gun. She could sense the figure retreating further down the corridor. Springing out into the corridor, she pegged her now useless gun in her enemy’s direction. As she rotated through the air she accurately launched all six of her ninja stars at the retreating figure, and landed gracefully on her feet. The flash of movement and clanging of metal surprised her, when the unknown ninja blocked every one of her stars with his wrist guards.
Kaiya realised that there was just one ninja facing her. Her hands were already reaching behind her for the handles of her two samurai swords. The sound of metal scraping echoed as Kaiya unsheathed her twin weapons from her back and spread them in front of her. Kaiya made a mental note that Nao’s body was lying on the floor closer to the exit.
The opposing ninja held his single samurai sword in two hands, as he stepped soundlessly toward her. The ninja approaching her was also dressed entirely in black and had his face mostly covered. She knew this man was larger than Yoshito. He would have a much longer reach of his sword than her
, so she anticipated instinctually that she must block his first attack.
He swung his sword downward at her and she crossed her two swords in front of her, blocking the blow with a loud clanging scrape of metal. Unfortunately, the force of his downward thrust was so powerful that Kaiya was thrown backwards onto the ground. The ninja waited and allowed her to jump back up to her feet, which she did so gracefully. Oh my god, who is this guy?! She thought to herself, startled that she had been knocked down from a single blow.
The corridor was narrow so they did not have enough room to circle each other. Kaiya realised that she could not give this ninja another chance at striking her. Swinging both of her arms in rapid succession, she propelled forward landing five clanging blows against his sword. She could not believe how quick this ninja was in meeting each of her dual slicing thrusts with his single sword.
Kaiya swung one of her swords at the ninja's face, which he effortlessly blocked. Kaiya simultaneously thrust aggressively forward with her other sword in an attempt to stab him in the chest. The ninja was quick and moved just slightly enough for her blade to pass straight through under his arm. The ninja trapped her hand and sword handle by crushing her hand against his body with his arm, and grabbed the end of her sword handle in his hand. Kaiya was forced to drop that sword when the pressure on her hand increased, it clanged loudly on the floor. Her hand remained trapped in the ninja’s armpit when he grabbed her wrist.
Desperately, Kaiya thrust her free hand upward to smash her remaining sword against the other ninja’s sword again, now above their heads. Panting, she glared up at her tall opponent fighting close against her. Kaiya breathed in heavily in shock when she saw his bright blue eyes.
"Lawso?!" She exclaimed, and he released her trapped hand.
Stunned, Kaiya retreated several steps backward.
"You finally figured out who is smashing you," Lawso said fluently in Japanese, but she could still detect his Australian accent.
Kaiya was furious to see him again after so long, furious to find out that he must be working with Yoshito, and furious that he had probably killed some of her ninjas! Violently, she charged him but he again managed to block her attacks. Kaiya’s samurai kept swinging and Lawso found himself edging backward toward the door. She kicked him hard in the chest and he grunted, irritated by her kick. In Mizuchi Ninjutsu training she had often snuck a kick in whilst they fought with swords, and if she focused her anger she knew she could beat him.
"My turn," Lawso told her harshly as he fiercely pushed her sword aside once then several more times, as he advanced toward her in a series of attacking thrusts of his own.
Kaiya was forced to retreat backward down the corridor whilst she blocked his hard blows. Somehow she managed to dodge his own kick attempt to her thigh. By now Kaiya had taken to swinging her sword with both hands to meet the force of his stronger two-handed slicing swings.
"Why are you here?" Kaiya demanded.
"For the chip."
"No!" She yelled, "Why are you working for Tadao?"
There was a pause to their words as they concentrated on the clanging clash of their deadly swords. During Mizuchi Ninjutsu training they had practiced with blunt sparring swords. Now they were using the real thing and any mistake could be fatal. Lawso kicked Nao's body on the ground.
"Why are you dating this useless, unconscious man?" Lawso taunted Kaiya in an amused voice, deflecting her question with his own.
Nao started groaning on the floor. Lawso roughly grabbed him by an arm and rapidly dragged him along the corridor, bursting backward through the door, outside into the night.
Kaiya kicked open the door and charged outside after them. Lawso harshly dumped Nao on the concrete.
"It was getting smoky in there, good of you to join me outside,” Lawso told her, still speaking in Japanese.
Kaiya looked back over her shoulder in hesitation.
"Leave them there, I've already killed those first two. I'm still deciding whether to kill your boyfriend. My main reluctance is that he has not put up much of a fight yet."
"How do you know he is my boyfriend?" Kaiya asked with an eyebrow raised.
"Because one of my clan texted me footage of you kissing him tonight. We wrongly figured you were too preoccupied to make a move for the chip yet. Since you're here now though, I can't help assuming that this boy couldn't last the distance with you then. Did he finish prematurely on your ride home?"
Kaiya hid her shock that Lawso had seen footage of her earlier that night. Lawso's words got under her skin but she faked a smile.
"Jealous, were you?" She asked with a cock of her head.
Lawso’s response was to frown and smile at the same time.
“You didn’t answer my question about why the hell you are working for Tadao! What did I ever do to you that justifies you killing my friends?” Kaiya demanded.
“It is nothing personal Kaiya. Yoshito made me an offer I couldn’t refuse. You shouldn’t play with the bad boys, my beautiful little killer, if you’re not prepared to lose some of your team. I wouldn’t be surprised if you’ve killed more people than me tonight. My count is just two. Although, I am thinking about making that three,” Lawso said as he looked suggestively down at Nao.
Kaiya stood there still fuming at him. She felt like running him through with her samurai. But more importantly, she needed to get him away from Nao. How she was going to pull that off, she did not know.
"Kindly hand over the chip. I'm done playing with you for now, because unfortunately this burning building will attract attention shortly,” Lawso said.
There was a lot of smoke coming out of the building by now. Kaiya could not see the orange flames yet but knew the fire was raging inside. Lawso raised his samurai high above Nao's neck.
"Hand over the chip by the time I count to five or your boyfriend will lose his head."
Lawso counted to five whilst glaring at Kaiya, but she stood motionless calling his bluff. She cringed as he swung his sword in a downward path toward Nao's neck. Lawso halted his sword centimetres away from slicing Nao open, looking incredulously at her.
"Wow, you really don't care if I kill him, do you?! That's a bit heartless, now isn't it?"
Kaiya shrugged, feigning indifference. Even though Lawso had already killed her other two clan members, the Lawso she knew would not kill an unarmed unconscious man. At least that had not changed about him. Kaiya realised that she could not do anything to help Nao, so decided that indifference was the better strategy. Perhaps Lawso would lose interest in him. Hopefully Nao did not rouse to consciousness because Lawso would be looking for an excuse to finish him off.
Kaiya contemplated taking off at a run but knew she could not leave the chip behind in Nao's pocket.
Lawso turned toward her. "I bet you’re wondering how I took out your team so easily?”
He did not wait for her reply before continuing.
“Yoshito and I have been training together non-stop for six months. We are at the point now where we can work just as efficiently in a team of two or even solo. This is why Tadao's clan has been quiet for a few months, we've been preparing. You'll find that you can't beat me anymore. Hand over the chip now. If not, I'll enjoy searching you," he declared as he arrogantly started advancing toward her, with his sword pointed at her.
Lawso put so much force into his next sword swings, that Kaiya was forced backward and struggled to block each of his attacking thrusts. He smiled harshly when she was almost against a wall and he finally dislodged her samurai. Panicked, Kaiya listened to her weapon scraping loudly across the concrete as it was flung away from her. Kaiya was trapped as she backed up against the wall, so she pressed her GPS bracelet. Kazuo would know she was in trouble now and hopefully find her, without her having to use her radio.
Lawso sheathed his own sword at his waist.
“Come here,” he demanded.
In a flash Lawso grabbed her arms, and secured her wrists in front of her in one of his large hand
s. She tried to kick him but he deliberately stepped into her kick. He pulled her to him, forcefully pulling their hoods aside and slamming his lips against hers.
Kaiya was shocked that he was kissing her and tried to turn her head away. Lawso grabbed her chin firmly with his free hand and turned her head back toward him, so that he could continue kissing her. He deepened the kiss, his lips dominating hers and coaxing her to respond to him. Lawso boldly moved his tongue into her mouth, playing with hers.
Kaiya struggled against his hold and they both moaned when her efforts of resistance seemed to arouse them both. Kaiya was reminded of the games they played during Mizuchi Ninjutsu training together. Kaiya hated that she still liked him kissing her. Who did he think he was, that he could show up six months later and think he still had the right to kiss her like this; and after what he had just done to her ninjas! But oh, how his kiss was turning her on, the man knew how to kiss!
Lawso’s free hand remained on her chin, as he pulled his lips away just briefly to taunt her.
“You still crave my lips against yours, don’t you, Kaiya?”
Before she could answer his lips continued devouring hers.
Kaiya was acutely aware of when Nao regained consciousness. Nao started creeping toward Lawso's back and she internally screamed, No, don’t try it Nao! She hoped that she could keep Lawso occupied so that he would not realise that Nao was approaching.
Suddenly Lawso stopped kissing Kaiya.
“Your boyfriend is rude to interrupt,” Lawso said.
In a flash of movement Lawso grabbed Nao's arm with both hands, snapping Nao's bones in several places. Nao screamed out in agony as Lawso sent a series of further brutal blows over Nao's body. Lawso knocked Nao out cold by chopping a pressure point on his neck. Nao's unconscious body crumbled to the ground with a thud so quickly that Kaiya had not even moved away from the wall. She could not believe how deadly Lawso had become.
Kaiya swung her hand up and slapped Lawso hard across his face, turning his head with her blow. His eyes blazed briefly but he actually laughed. Lawso roughly grabbed her wrists again, this time pinning them against the wall above her head.