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DISCLAIMER:
JerichoGirl (says enthusiastically): Who's football stadium do you play in?
Straw Hat Crew: Shonen Jump's!
JerichoGirl: Who's your head coach?
Straw Hat Crew: Eiichiro Oda! (They jump and wave their pompoms) Yay!
JerchoGirl: That's right! My team is just visiting.
Chapter III
BOOM! Cat's rifle spoke as the bullet ripped from its chamber and to its target. The impact of the bullet forced the unfortunate man back as it slammed into his chest. He hit the wall of the hallway and slumped to the floor, dead. BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! She shot the rifle three more times, taking barely a second to pull down the hammer, as three more men entered the doorway. Three more bullets, three more lives.
They stopped coming and silence fell over the room.
Smoke rose from the nose of her gun as she trained it on the doorway. Nothing happened. She thought for a moment. No way, no friggin' way he had only sent four men to retrieve Jazz. Her eyes narrowed suspiciously. She knew him well. He was crafty. He wanted her to think that he had only sent four men, so he could catch her off guard.
I'm not stupid.
Jazz whimpered behind her. She was scared because it was too quiet, something was amiss.
Bloodcurdling screams came from the other guests when they discovered the four dead men lying in pools of blood in the hallway.
Shit. "Okay Jazz. We gotta get outta here because it's too cramped to fi—"
The awful sound of glass shattering resounded throughout the room when a darkly clad man burst through the window. Shards of glass sprayed everywhere, nicking Cat's skin when she turned her head towards the window.
"Jazz!"
The darkly clad man peeked around the corner and smiled behind his white featureless mask. She had let her guard down. He stepped into the doorway and flung his knife at her.
Sudden movement passed through the range of her peripheral vision. She stepped back just in time. The razor-sharp knife whizzed by her nose and embedded it's tip into the wall. She held her gun up to shoot, but it was too late. He was already upon her.
The steel of his large foreboding knife clanged against the embellished gold of her rifle as she held it up to block his blow.
Her eyes expanded and then narrowed into thin slits. He had scarred the ornate gold of her gun. "You friggin' douchebag!" She pushed him back.
Jazz grappled with the man as he tried to pull her out of the window with him. "Let go!" She pushed him back but he held her forearm tight, digging his nails into her skin. A pained groan escaped her.
Cat held her gun up as she strained against the man's knife. "Kill him Jazz!" She stomped her foot and a blade appeared out of the tip of her heavy black boot.
A small knife appeared in Jazz's hand. She wrenched her hand from his grasp and sliced him across the wrist, hitting his main artery and then plunged the knife into his leg.
He screamed as his blood gushed from his wounds like water from a fountain.
She pushed him out of the window.
Cat used the man's strength to push him backwards and then stepped to his side when he lunged at her with his knife. She shifted her weight to her right leg and delivered a sidekick to his side, rotating her hip at the last minute so that her foot slammed into his ribs. He wailed as his ribs broke from the force of her kick and stepped back, holding his side protectively. She couldn't see his face, but she knew he was glaring at her.
Swiftly she executed a high kick to his neck with her bladed boot. The razor-sharp blade in the boot stabbed into his jugular, piercing the vein. Red blood squirted forth, drenching the covers of the bed. She took in a breath and looked down at him as he fell to the floor, trying vainly to cover the wound with his hand, and began seizing. Damn.
Her sharp ears picked up fastly approaching footsteps. She held up her gun and its booming voice was heard once more when she fired. BOOM! The bullet whipped through the wall, scaring off their approaching assailant.
Jazz stood in the window. "Cat come on!"
She eyed the doorway warily.
"CAT!"
She turned and ran to the window. "You first."
Jazz leapt from the window, flipped in mid-air, and landed lithely on the sidewalk. "C'mon!"
Cat breathed in deeply and looked back at the door. A gasp escaped her when she saw a man. Shit! She jumped from the window
He hurled his throwing dagger at her.
The throwing dagger flew over head, playing in her hair, as she fell towards the ground. She landed next to Jazz and flipped her hair back when she stood. "Shit, that jerk almost scalped me." She took Jazz's hand in hers. "Let's go!" They bolted down the dimly lit streets as fast as their legs could move.
"What's the plan!" Jazz said between breaths as her feet pounded against the road.
Cat looked to her flank and was surprised when she saw five men following them on the rooftops. She looked to her left. Five more ran along the rooftops speedily, their shapes silhouetted in the light of the moon. They were surrounded. "Try to survive."
"A good plan." Jazz saw the figures out of the corner of her eye. She gulped the lump in her throat. Fear wrapped her up in its clutches. "Tell me you have a plan, please."
The gears in Cat's head began to spin. She could fight them off while Jazz ran to the docks, or at least to the-- Searing pain stabbed into her right shoulder and an outcry escaped her. She led Jazz into a moonlit alley. She clamped her teeth together and let out a throaty growl of agony. "Get it out." She wanted to cry out, but they were being hunted. Noise was the enemy.
Jazz walked to her rear and wrenched the knife from Cat's back with shaking hands.
She grimaced and hit the alley wall with the side of her fist. "How's it look?"
Jazz stared with teary eyes at the stab wound and the blood seeping from it onto her white shirt. "The truth?"
Cat's breath came in deep gasps as pain wove its way through her body. Dammit! She really couldn't afford an injury at the moment, but she would have to improvise. "C'mon." They exited the alley, ready to make a mad dash to the docks, but were stopped when five darkly clad figures, the Jabberwoki's, barred their way.
"This way!" Jazz turned to lead her the other way, but five more men dropped to the ground without a sound. "Oh no. Cat we're surrounded!" She began to panic as the ten men advanced forward. "What do we do Cat? What do we do!" Her eyes took on a hunted look as she gulped air down her throat tremulously. She grabbed Cat's shoulder and cringed behind her.
Shit. So that had been the plan all along, to wound her and then surround them in the street. She took in a breath. They couldn't run, at least not together, because that's what they wanted, that's what he wanted. They wanted them to run, so she would be too exhausted to fight back once they caught them. Then, they would capture Jazz and kill her. She was not going to run this time. She was going to fight.
The sheath hummed as she drew her sword. She grinned gratefully. Thank goodness she fenced with her left hand. "Okay." She stared past the men and down the deserted street behind them. "You have to run without me Jazz." She said casually.
Jazz's eyes widened. "What! No Cat I won't leave you." She held her friend's hand tightly. "We'll fight together." She drew her sais and brandished them menacingly.
Cat shook her head as she watched the men warily as they advanced toward them at a leisurely pace. "No! Listen to me. You have to go. I'll hold them off while you run."
Tears flowed down the teenage girl's cheeks as she realized that Cat was forfeiting her life so she could live. "B-b-but, but." She sputtered through a choked voice. "They'll k-ill you."
She closed her eyes and took in a breath. "Never forget that you saved me first Jazz." She smiled back at her warmly. "Now GO!"
Jazz wiped her tears and jumped into the air and landed on a roof.
Cat looked up and then at the men with a malevolent glimmer in her sky blue eyes. She gripped the hilt of her sword and brandished it dangerously. "Who gets to die first? Any takers?" She rolled her neck and eased into her fighting stance. So, began another fight to the death.
They formed a circle around her, shutting off her way of escape. There they stood ten men against one single woman. She breathed deeply as she regarded them with determined eyes. They were well armed, that much she knew, so she could not just fight to wound. She had to fight to kill "one strike one kill." A crisp breeze blew by penetrating the deathly silence around them.
One single Jabberwoki jumped forth. The battle was on!
Cat swallowed and struck. She slashed and swiped, lunged and thrust as they attacked her. Blood sprayed forth over and over as she swung her sword wildly in all directions, felling one man after the other. She grit her teeth as she swung her sword in an arc, taking limbs and lives. Her sword was an instrument of death, killing all that its master dictated, none were spared.. Adrenaline pumped through her veins as the battle escalated until finally it was over.
Deep breaths escaped her as she gazed down at the lifeless corpses at her feet. Blood was everywhere all over the road and all over her clothes. She wiped the blood from her face and took in a breath when she became aware of the throbbing pain in her right shoulder again. Droplets of thick sticky blood dribbled down the blade of her sword, giving testament to the battle that she had just concluded.
She took one step forward but stopped when she heard slow rhythmic clapping. Please god no. Not him. Please not him. She begged mentally. Fearfully, she turned to face her opponent and gasped. It was him.
He stopped clapping and then grinned at her. "That was most impressive my beauty. But then again you are always impressive when you fight." He stalked towards her. She was so beautiful, and he couldn't wait to feel her blood on his body. He drew his large serrated edged sword and gave her a darkly sweet smile. "Let's play."
She quivered slightly. She couldn't beat him, and she knew this fact. She had never been able to beat him, ever. They had fought ten times and each time she had only gotten away because of some unexplained miracle. Shit. She tightened the grip on her sword and planted her feet.
"Is that a yes sweetheart?" He asked excitedly. She jumped into the air and brought her sword down upon his. CLANG! Their swords sounded off as the steel of each blade clashed against the other. He grinned dementedly. "I guess it is." He pushed her back effortlessly and then smiled when she attacked once more with a different move. "Somebody's been practicing rather hard I see." He swung his sword into a wide arc, breaking her guard, and slammed his foot into her stomach.
She flew back from the force of his kick and skidded to a stop twenty feet away. She gripped her weapon and thought about Zolo. A sigh escaped her. She wished he was here, but then again maybe it was better this way. He did not need to get involved. "Are you going to kill me Xane?" She got to her feet and held her weapon menacingly.
A lopsided grin twisted across his lips as his eyes glinted evilly. "Maybe."
She glowered at him. "Then don't be disappointed when I don't beg for my life."
He chuckled fondly at her. "I wouldn't expect you to."
They charged each other head-on, like two rams fighting for mating rights. Their swords clashed together. Thus, began their dance. Back and forth they moved across the street. Lunge. Thrust. Swipe. Slash. Punch. Kick. They looked more like two dancers rehearsing an intricate dance routine instead of two opponents locked in a savage battle.
Damn. He was too fast. Every move she made he met with impeccable precision. She became desperate, and began to take risks letting her sword slip trying to catch him off guard. But it was to no avail, because he warded off her attacks effortlessly. A cry escaped her when he sliced her across her right arm, drawing blood from the flesh. She bit back the pain in her right arm and gave him a right hook to the jaw.
His head turned and he laughed at her derisively. "Good job." He turned his emotionless eyes on her and wiped the blood from his lip. "Very good job." A shaky breath fled him as he licked his lips. "That's my girl."
Cat's eyes rounded widely. Xane was a crazy mothershutyourmouth. Their swords crashed together as she beared down on him with all her might. She pushed against him with all her strength but he did not budge. He was way stronger and just stared down at her with sadistic eyes. He was toying with her!
He smiled and pressed a thumb against the wound in her right shoulder mercilessly.
She screamed in agony and her grip slackened.
An evil expression passed over his face and he sliced her across the belly with the tip of his blade. He sighed in wanton pleasure when she cried out and stepped back. "You still want to play don't you love?" He asked hopefully.
She took in deep breaths as her heart drummed rapidly in her chest. He was going to kill her, but she was not going down without a fight. She hung her weary head and took in a breath, summoning her strength. She leapt at him, hoping to land a blow.
He held his sword up to meet hers and they began again. Left and right they glided over the hard pavement of the deserted streets, their weapons crashing together repeatedly. Again and again he snipped her with the tip of his sword, making small cuts over her limbs and belly. The sight of her blood excited him. She was his. He would not kill her. He would never kill her. Her blood gave him too much pleasure when he spilled it.
She stepped back and glared at him. The small cuts on her limbs and abdomen stung mercilessly, adding to the pain that she already felt. "You're a psycho monster. Ya know that."
A blush spread across his cheeks. "You always know the right words to say my beauty." He stared at the blood seeping from the cuts he had inflicted and licked his lips hungrily. She was an angel. Ragged breaths escaped her, telling him that she grew weary. "Are you tired yet my dear?"
Yes. She was tired, she was in pain, and she was hoping to goodness that Jazz got away. She had to keep fighting. Jazz was counting on her. So, she sucked up the pain that wracked her and gripped the hilt of her sword. "I'm fine." She glared at him with as much hate as she could muster and lunged towards him.
He sheathed his sword and spun into her lunge and the opening that she had revealed. He put an arm around her neck and rammed his knee into her left rib case with brutal strength.
Her eyes widened and a soundless scream escaped her when she felt her ribs cave under the pressure from his blow. Her grip slackened and her sword fell to the ground.
He closed his eyes in took in the melodious sound of her ribs breaking. Only her bones could produce such music when they splintered. He ran his large hands through her black hair lovingly. "Such sweet music my dear." He whispered softly in her ear and then nuzzled her cheek. "You're so beautiful." Drool and spit remained on her cheek when he ran his tongue over it affectionately.
Excruciating pain burned through her ribs, increasing her agony. She took in a breath and then let out a snarl of pain. It hurt so bad. Tears pooled in her eyes but she blinked them back. She would not give him the satisfaction of seeing cry. She loathed him.
He slipped a dagger from the sheath on his hip and held her tight. A twisted smile rolled over his lips as he plunged it into her thigh
Bone chilling screams hitched in her chest when the knife stabbed into her thigh. Ohmigod! She screamed louder as he turned the blade, rending flesh and muscle as he widened the wound.
He kissed her lips softly and released her.
She fell to the pavement like a sack of potatoes. Her body shook uncontrollably as her multiple injuries pounded into her over and over bombarding her with pain. She doubled over and pressed her forehead to the paved ground as her blood seeped on the street like a red stream.
He ran a hand through his white hair and tilted his head to the side. "It's sad really."
She kept her head down, supporting herself on her hands. His voice seemed far away as pain began to overreach her. She was tired, so tired. She just wanted to lay down and drift into the sleep she so much deserved. No, she had to be strong. Jazz needed her.
He loomed over her. "The little girl is headed straight towards the dock, right where Fox is waiting for her."
Her head snapped up and she looked at him with wide eyes. "N–"
Xane nodded with a grin. "That's right." He squatted next to her. "Why do you think that the Jabberwokis did not pursue the girl when she fled?"
She wanted to gasp but the pain in her ribs prohibited her.
"That's right." He grinned wickedly. "You took the bait."
That had been the plan all along, to separate them, wound her, and capture Jazz at the docks. She had fallen for it like and idiot. God no. She had sealed Jazz's fate. "No." She growled in pure agony as she swallowed all the broiling pain that tormented her and slowly, painstakingly got to her feet. "This is not over."
He chuckled and then laughed maniacally. "Oh my sweet little kitten you are so funny sometimes." His face grew serious. "It's over. Your ribs are broken, you're losing blood, and you can't even stand. Face it my dear, you have failed."
She put all her weight on one leg and wobbled a bit as she maintained her balance. "It's not—"
He buffeted the corner of her forehead with the hilt of his dagger.
She fell to the ground in a heap, stunned.
"Try to survive this my love." He towered over her like a nightmarish hellion bent on tormenting her. "I wish to play with you again. Oh and practice a little more, so next time I will have to fight hard. Okay?"
She could see only the back of his thick black boots as he strolled away.
Jazz stopped at the docks and gazed for a single moment at the various ships bobbing in the current. Which ship did she choose? A cargo ship? Or a military ship? She looked over her shoulder. Where was Cat? Something pricked the back of her neck. "Ow!" She reached back and retrieved the item. It was a dart, full of sedative. "Shit!' She fell to the ground as everything went black.
Fox, a beautiful blonde headed woman wearing the trademark blue and white pirate garments walked to the unconscious Jazz and hefted her onto her shoulders. "Let's hurry and get to the flying machine. You know how punctual Xane is." She said to the two hulking men behind her.
They headed off towards the hidden flying machine around the left bend of the docks.
Tears spilled over Cat's cheeks. She had failed. Jazz had been counting on her and she had failed her. "No. I'm coming Jazz." She lifted her arms, her wounds screaming in protest, and began to crawl on her hands and knees in the direction of the docks.
Zolo leaned on the railing of the starboard bow gazing up and the starry night sky. He was in turmoil. Half of him screamed that he should go help her while the other kept playing her betrayal continually in his mind. What should he do? Help her? Or let her face her own mistakes? What if she died? He straightened and leaned his forearm on his swords. "Yeah." He hurried towards the gangplank.
"Going somewhere?" Sanji asked as he poured the remains of the day's meal into the water.
He grunted and made his way down the plank at breakneck speed.
Sanji cracked a lopsided smile. It was good to finally see Zolo going beyond his natural inclinations. He wondered if the girl was pretty.
Cat sobbed bitterly. She had finally gotten the strength to stand, but now she felt even worse as she limped down the street. Agony encircled her as she walked. Her ribs pulsated, the stab wound in her shoulder and leg burned like fire, and the tiny cuts on her stung and throbbed. Blood from her head wound threatened to dribble into her eye. She winced pitifully. The rifle on her back felt as if it weighed a ton and her boots were like lead weights around her ankles. Fatigue was setting in. Her vision began to blur and she began to wobble. She just wanted to sleep.
No! She shook her head. She couldn't sleep, because she had a job to perform. But her body was so tired. A quick nap would do her good. Her steps became sluggish and soon it was a chore to put one foot in front of the other. The gentle lapping of waves reached her ears. The docks were just down the street! She began to hope once again.
Not now baby. Don't give up. Not now.
Her legs faltered and she fell to her hands and knees
Don't give up girl. The docks are in sight.
She tried to stand but her body would not move. Teardrops spilled down her cheeks as she wept profusely. Determinedly she put one foot on the ground and then both, only to fall right back to the ground flat on her face.
Come on baby. You can do this.
The pavement grated as she put her weight on her fingers, but her body would not cooperate. She fell back to the street.
Tired. So tired.
I'm so sorry Jazz. She laid her head on the cool pavement and closed her eyes.
Zolo's boots pounded the pavement as her ran down the street. He hoped he wasn't too late. He would never forgive himself is she died.
Faster Zolo. She needs you.
He skidded to a stop when he saw a woman laying in the street. God no. Please god no. She had black hair, just like Cat. It wasn't her. Cat was safe. He strode to her limp body on numb legs, his heart hammering away in his chest rapidly. He knelt next to her and just gazed at her body, afraid to turn her over. His stomach twisted into knots and timidly he turned her to her back. His heart fell to his knees.
It was Cat. It was his little Kitty Thief.
She was a mess. Tiny cuts caked over with blood riddled her appendages and abdomen, like some sadistic jerk had tortured her out of sheer pleasure. A large gaping wound was in her thigh where someone had stabbed her and turned the blade mercilessly. Another stab wound was in her right arm, but it was nowhere near as bad as the one in her thigh. The gash on her forehead was bruised and swollen.
Damn. She had needed him, but he had flatly refused, and now she was badly hurt. Who had done this to her? Why had they done it?
Do something idiot.
He nestled her in his arms and kissed her forehead. "I'm so sorry Cat." He held her close and stood with her limp body in his arms. "I'll make it up to you, I promise." Whoever had done this to her had better pray that he never found out their identity, because if he did he was going to carve them up like Thanksgiving turkey. He took off down the street at full sprint towards the Merry Gold.
JerichoGirl:
Whew!! Finally through. Okay so it didn't take me a long time, but still this chapter means a lot to me. (I'm not very good with action sequences, but still I try.) Anyhow, I hope y'all like it and I hope I didn't make Xane too nutzoid. Oh and sorry, but I had to rough Cat up a little bit, okay I lot. Please don't hate me. (Puppy dog pout with the dreaded and irresistible batting of pretty little eyes)
Shout out to Starlette14 and Princessdianagreeleaf! Thanks for the reviews. Sorry I didn't thank you in the second chapter, but I didn't read them until I started my third. I'm vewy, vewy sowwy. (Tee hee). I don't know when, but some day I'll be posting a fanfic about the Gunsmith Cats. Peace to all my readers and reviewer. (While I don't like being flamed, I do like constructive criticism.) Tickle, tickle! (If anyone wants to know what that means just ask.)