Ninja Assassin: Attraction

by Sally Keira

  “You ruined my fun,” Lawso whispered in her ear.

  Lawso picked up his glass and downed another sake in time with Yoshito, who was sitting on Lawso's right.

  “You should see your face,” Yoshito laughed at Lawso's expression from the liquid burning his throat.

  “I can’t see me acquiring a taste for this shit any time soon,” Lawso grinned. “But you made a good choice of restaurant at least. I like the atmosphere in this place.”

  “I’m a local. Of course, I know where to eat out,” Yoshito said.

  If Kaiya had not spent a bit more time with Yoshito over the past weeks, his choice of restaurant would have seemed unexpected. Yoshito had occasionally hung out at Lawso's house when she was also staying there. Kaiya had sensed a more relaxed shift in Yoshito's attitude toward her after everything that had transpired. Yoshito was not always so serious around her anymore.

  Yoshito and Lawso had both resigned from Tadao's employment, so both had a lot of free time lately, just like herself. Kaiya was glad that Yoshito's hands had healed nicely from her explosion the night of Tadao's party. Yoshito showed no resentment toward her about that. If anything, Yoshito respected that she had outwitted them that night.

  Kaiya looked across the table at the final occupant, Satoshi, who was chatting to Kazuo and Mariko. Satoshi was the one who had requested that they all get together tonight. Kaiya knew now for sure that Lawso had signed on to work for Satoshi. Lawso had not mentioned yet when he would be leaving for the USA. At least she had enough money in her account to be able to fly over and visit him when she wanted to. Kaiya suspected that Satoshi had also offered Yoshito a job, and that he would be leaving with them. When Lawso left, Kaiya would have to figure out what she was going to do with her own life.

  Their old world had really ended. There was no more Takahashi blood feud for starters. Kaiya had even met up with Tadao twice and had decided that she would be interested to get to know him more over time.

  Kaiya looked around the table at her sister and the four most deadly men she knew. The six of them were clearly enjoying their meals and a few more drinks together.

  “What are you smiling at, Kaiya,” Satoshi asked her from across the table.

  “I was just thinking that this is the first time us five Mizuchi Ninjutsu ninjas have been in the same place altogether since we left the dojo,” Kaiya said.

  “And none of us are fighting each other anymore,” Satoshi smiled.

  “Who was fighting each other?” Mariko asked.

  “Your little sister smashed up the dojo kitchen and gave me a black eye because I teased her for kissing Lawso,” Kazuo smirked.

  “You didn’t, Kaiya?” Mariko was taken aback.

  “Yeah, but your boyfriend punched me in the mouth and split my lip open,” Kaiya said.

  “Is that so?” Mariko narrowed her eyes at Kazuo.

  “She punched me in the face first,” Kazuo said.

  “And then Lawso broke up their fight,” Yoshito said.

  The men all started laughing loudly about that, and Kaiya blushed.

  “You enjoyed my method of breaking up your fight,” Lawso whispered in her ear.

  Lawso threaded his fingers through Kaiya’s fingers, smiling amusedly at her.

  Someone changed the subject, and they all continued reminiscing about their time at the dojo. Kaiya noticed that no one brought up Anton, and she was glad. She did not want to think about him either.

  Later in the evening, when they were finishing up their meals Satoshi caught the group's attention.

  "I asked all of you here tonight not just to catch-up, but also because I have something to offer all of you. With the exception of Mariko of course, who I've just met for the first time. I thought it was important that you were here too, Mariko. Because, I am aware that you would largely influence Kazuo's decision about my offer.” Satoshi politely nodded at Mariko.

  All eyes were on Satoshi and he smiled secretly. Satoshi passed out envelopes to each of the ninjas. Lawso did not open his yet. He knew what was in there and wanted to watch Kaiya open hers. When Kaiya opened her envelope, she was stunned to pull out an American passport with her photo on it. But she had an altered surname. She was now Kaiya Raymond? Her eyes flicked to Lawso, who was looking expectedly at her.

  Yoshito grinned at his new passport. "Satoshi, why have you given me a Caucasian surname? I'm Asian!"

  Satoshi just laughed in response. Kaiya grabbed Lawso's envelope because she wanted to see what he was going to be called. Lawso let her rip it open and she eagerly flicked open his ID.

  "Nicholas Raymond! What the hell Satoshi?!" Kaiya asked.

  "She's already protesting that we're married before she even knows why!" Lawso enjoyed her reaction, laughing loudly. Satoshi and Yoshito found that funny too.

  Kazuo and Mariko were quiet.

  "Satoshi, is this a job offer?" Kazuo finally asked.

  Satoshi nodded and decided that he was happy with their reactions. He finally offered them all an explanation.

  "This is indeed a job offer. I have been given instruction to put together a small team of elite secret assassins. We will be covertly working under a branch of the CIA that is not part of public record. This is a long-term contract that will take us to several parts of the world. Our team will mostly be active in the Asian region. We will travel a lot, be under cover and of course kill unofficially for the USA government. You can pretty much name your salary. However, if any of us ever get captured or arrested, we will only have each other to bail us out. The US government will never acknowledge that we exist. You will be amazed at the resources and downtime we have at our disposal though. I have booked us all on flights to the US for tomorrow night, because we will do some initial training there. Mariko is welcome to tag along while we're in between missions, if she keeps this team secret of course."

  The ninjas all looked at each other expectantly.

  "Why don't I get my own undercover surname?" Kaiya responded first.

  Satoshi tried not to smile about Kaiya still being fixated on having the same undercover surname as Lawso.

  "Because that is one less single man travelling alone that I have to figure out how to blend in each time. Female assassins are rarer, so you'd actually be providing cover for our token white boy. Also, your other passports will have different names on them,” Satoshi said.

  Kaiya narrowed her eyes at Lawso.

  "Lawso asked you to give us the same surname, didn't he?!" Kaiya asked Satoshi.

  "As if you don't want to sit with me when we're travelling together!" Lawso shrugged, clearly amused by her reaction. Kaiya rolled her eyes but knew he was right.

  "So, are you accepting the job Kaiya?" Satoshi asked her. "Lawso and Yoshito have already accepted."

  "I have one more question before I decide,” Kaiya paused thoughtfully. “Who is second in command?"

  Satoshi signed loudly and considered her question seriously. The other ninjas were just as interested in his answer.

  "I suppose I will probably pick, Yoshito,” Satoshi decided.

  "What?!" Lawso protested.

  Kaiya smirked at Lawso’s reaction. Lawso with his massive ego, had probably assumed that he would be second in charge. But Kaiya would not have been happy with Lawso or Kazuo being ranked higher than her. She would not have been able to stand either of those power dynamics. It was satisfying to know that neither of them would be pulling rank on her.

  Satoshi gave her a knowing look. Kaiya realised that Satoshi had based some of his decision about his second-in-charge on team dynamics. Satoshi would be a very good leader. Kaiya decided that Yoshito was probably a fair selection for second in command, he was obviously the most disciplined one of them all. To Kaiya’s further amusement she realised that Kazuo was openly frowning at Yoshito as well.

  "I'll tell you why I'm second in charge," Yoshito piped up, slightly tipsy from the sake. "Because the three of you are more reckless than me!"

  None of t
hem could argue with that.

  Kaiya made a decision and turned toward her sister.

  "Mari, I'm going to take this job. I know you have trouble accepting that I'm a killer. But eventually I’m going to need an income if we want to keep our luxurious apartment. Plus, I need to get out of Tokyo for a while. My spirit hungers for more adventure. I haven’t seen much of the world yet. But I will come and visit you as much as I can."

  Mariko nodded quietly. Lawso reached over and kissed Kaiya in front of them all.

  "Good decision, Mrs. Raymond," he laughed.

  Kaiya playfully punched Lawso on his arm. Lawso wrapped his arm around Kaiya’s waist, pulling her chair close to his.

  Everyone turned to look expectantly at Kazuo.

  "Who will you replace me with if I don't accept?" Kazuo asked Satoshi.

  "I had hoped that we will operate in our team of five. However, we would probably just have to function as a team of four because you're not replaceable,” Satoshi thoughtfully answered.

  Kaiya could tell that Kazuo was torn. He wanted to take the job but he wanted to settle down with Mariko as well. Mariko just watched Kazuo, she had an unreadable expression on her face as she waited for his response. Kazuo grabbed Mariko's hand and spoke to her.

  "Mariko, I won't lie by denying that part of me wants to join these fools in their adventure. But a larger part of me wants to settle down with you and make you happy. I would always choose you over them," Kazuo said.

  Kazuo surprised all of them by getting down on one knee, still holding Mariko's hand as he pulled a ring box out of his pocket.

  "Mariko, I have been walking around with this in my pocket for several weeks, waiting for the right moment. If you will marry me, I will gladly devote my life to making you happy and looking after you. And I won't take this job, I want to be with you instead. Will you accept my ring?"

  Kaiya had never seen Kazuo look so vulnerable and endearing as he waited for Mariko's answer. Kaiya's selfish disappointment that Kazuo would not be coming with them gave way to joy when she saw the happiness reflected in Mariko's eyes. Mariko took the ring and inspected it. It was a massive diamond and Mariko clearly approved of his selection. Kazuo looked like he was actually sweating as he waited for her answer. Mariko realised that she had been so stunned, that she had forgotten to answer.

  "Yes, I will marry you!"

  It was not just their table in the restaurant that broke out into cheers and applause. Kazuo looked really happy as he kissed Mariko in front of his friends and all of the patrons in the crowded restaurant. After the congratulations died down and the other restaurant patrons went back to their meals, Mariko had something to say to Kazuo.

  "I am so happy to be engaged to you. I realise that the man I am marrying is strong, reliable and passionate. I know you will make me happy and protect me. However, I do not think you will be happy living in my apartment here in Tokyo. I am worried that if you don't take this job, you will feel caged in. My engagement present to you is that you will take this job. I will travel with you when it is safe for me to join you. I know what it is like to feel caged in by circumstance and I am tired of this life. I want to take a lesson from Kaiya, who I have always admired for her ability to embrace her wild side. I want to see some of the world too."

  Kaiya was stunned by her sister's words and so excited that this meant that Kazuo and Mariko would be travelling with them. Kazuo kissed Mariko again before he turned to Satoshi.

  "Looks like I am accepting this position too!"

  All of them broke out into excited cheers. Mariko smiled whilst the rest of them all yelled inappropriately loudly in the restaurant. Satoshi was the first to realise that they needed to tone down their celebrations for the sake of the other patrons in the restaurant. Satoshi quietened them down and raised his glass in a toast.

  "To us. The five deadliest ninja assassins, finally working together instead of against each other!"

  Epilogue

  4 Weeks Earlier, Approximately 4 Hours after Tatsuya Takahashi’s Death

  Itsunori Tanaka, the Japanese Minister of Defence stepped out of a Japanese military helicopter. His feet touched down onto the helipad at Tatsuya Takahashi’s private island. He had arrived on the island an hour or so after the joint Japanese Military and United States Air Force, task force had secured the island facility. Itsunori was greeted by Admiral Goto, who was in command of the Japanese Maritime Self-Defence Force. Admiral Goto was also an acquaintance of Itsunori’s.

  “What is your report Admiral?” Itsunori asked him, as Admiral Goto led him through the complex.

  “Seven bodies and two parachute harnesses were recovered outside the complex on the other side of the island. Six more bodies were recovered within the fenced complex outside the building. Another four bodies were inside the building, including Tatsuya Takahashi’s body. One of the American’s, probably the CIA operative who called this in, was able to ID one of the other bodies inside. Subsequently, we suspect the bodies belong to a group of for-hire Ukrainian mercenaries.”

  “What about the four computer engineers you have in custody? One of whom is my cousin’s computer genius husband I might add,” Itsunori asked, trying to sound causally interested.

  “They have all been searched and are still being interrogated. We believe they were taken by Tatsuya by force. All are cooperating. They have voluntarily turned over footage of the events that took place inside this complex. This footage supports that they were here under duress. Most of the complex had video surveillance in use, except for the computer room and Tatsuya’s adjoining office.”

  “I would like to see all of the footage from after the male and female ninja you told me about arrived on the island. Do we have them identified yet?”

  “Certainly Minister. The woman was Tatsuya’s younger daughter, Kaiya Takahashi. She was formerly in charge of Tatsuya’s ninja clan. She clearly had a score to settle with her father. Interestingly, she did not kill anyone on camera. The computer engineers overheard the show-down in Tatsuya’s office. They believe it was the male ninja who shot Tatsuya and everyone else. The Americans identified him as Nicolas Lawson, an Australian citizen. The Americans have requested diplomatic immunity for him because they claim he was working for the CIA. The Americans have also requested leniency for the Takahashi woman, whom they claim was assisting their operative. Apparently, they’d sent him in to secure the chip, but Kaiya Takahashi instead destroyed the chip as soon as she had the opportunity. The pair have returned to the mainland. Given that the woman does not have diplomatic immunity, would you like her brought in for questioning?”

  “Not at this time. I prefer not to let her know that I am investigating her role in the events that have transpired. I would like to see the footage of their insurgence into the compound now. I would also like my cousin’s husband released into my custody. Send him to me so that I can speak with him in private. The Americans can otherwise continue to interrogate the other computer engineers if they wish to.”

  “Of course, Minister,” Admiral Goto agreed.

  Admiral Goto led Itsunori into the computer lab. Admiral Goto promptly cleared the room of the American and Japanese military officers standing around inside, so that Itsunori could view the sequence of footage in private. Itsunori sat quietly watching the video surveillance with his eyes narrowed. The footage showed Kaiya entering the compound with a hostage at gun and knife-point, despite her being vastly outnumbered. Following this, the Australian shot dead all of Tatsuya’s mercenaries. Finally, he watched Kaiya leave hand-in-hand with the Australian ninja. They left the island with a woman whom he recognised as Kaiya’s socialite sister and another man, whom he would request the identification of later.

  Itsunori had a cold expression of hatred on his face, as he watched the evidence of how dangerous Kaiya and the Australian ninja were. Itsunori recognised the Australian, who was apparently now working for the CIA. He was one of the two men who had secured the chip for Tadao Takahashi. It was hi
s fault that Itsunori had been forced into an unsavoury business deal with Tadao, in order to share in the profits from his own chip.

  Itsunori also knew now that Kaiya was responsible for having his private computer silence facility burnt down. She was responsible for destroying all of the expensive research that he had privately funded and owned under another name. This was the same woman who had seduced him and made a fool of him in front of international guests of importance at Tadao Takahashi’s mansion. Itsunori would relish the opportunity for revenge against them both.

  An officer knocked on the door and led the computer engineer (who was related by marriage to Itsunori) into the room, leaving them alone as requested.

  “What have you told them?” Itsunori asked him when it was just the two of them.

  “Everything the other three would have disclosed, but nothing of value. No one knows that I was the lead developer of your chip. Tatsuya snatched the other three technicians from other projects. The others did not know that you were funding their research. None one knows that I am working for you, or that you were involved other than your failed deal with Tadao Takahashi. Also, you will be very pleased to learn that the chip has NOT been destroyed. I managed to switch the chip just in time before the Takahashi woman destroyed the substitute. I retrieved it for you after I was bodily searched by the Americans. Here it is.”

  The computer engineer placed the chip, which was in a small case, into Itsunori’s hand. Itsunori’s fist gently closed over the chip.

  “You have done very well indeed,” Itsunori smiled with evil satisfaction.