"So, you believe we can do business?" Detective Daichi Akita had his elbows on the table; his fingers steepled just under his chin and an eyebrow raised inquisitively.
Bushido was sitting on a chair before his desk; confusion etched on his face. The young swordsman cast a questioning eye to the female officer stood by the door to their office.
Fujita Ibaraki rolled her eyes. It was obvious Akita had watched one too many gangster movies. She walked briskly over to the desk and, placing her hand on the tabletop, leaned over her partner.
"He said nothing of the sort, Akita. Now would you let him speak; and turn on the lights."
Akita mumbled something under his breath as he switched on the room's lights and turned off the table lamp. Ibaraki ignored it and focused her attention on Bushido.
"Okay, so you say this assassin was sent by some criminal who doesn't like you interfering in his business. You know that for certain?"
Bushido gave a small nod.
"I see no other reason as to why someone I do not know would want to attack me. He never gave any name, or stated his purpose for being there; which leads to the conclusion that he was a hired sword."
"What do you think you're doing getting involved with guys like that anyway?" Akita asked.
"It's my duty." The boy replied simply.
"No, it's our duty." Ibaraki cut in. "We're police officers. You're a civilian."
"How old are you, anyway?" Akita added.
"Sixteen."
"And a minor on top of it." Akita aimed this comment at his partner.
Bushido's gaze suddenly hardened; however his tone remained respectful.
"Regardless of my age, I am honor-bound to protect this country from whomever or whatever may threaten it. But I do not know who the threat is at this time."
"So what; you want us to give you police information so that you can go off and play vigilante?"
Ibaraki noticed Bushido's hands, which had been placed lightly on his lap, clench at this comment. She nudged her partner, motioning for him to hush up. She then spoke to the boy.
"Why don't you just tell us what you want here?"
Bushido's brow furrowed in thought for a moment. He tried to think of a way to phrase his plan without the male officer laughing at him.
"I was hoping that you could help me find this assassin's employer, and then I will help you apprehend him."
It didn't work.
"Ha ha ha ha! You're kidding, right?" Akita leant forward on the desk, snickering like a hyena. At a glare from Ibaraki, he cleared his throat and straightened himself up. "Look kid, we appreciate your community spirit; but we can't and won't allow you to put your life in danger. End of story."
Bushido gave a small sigh and stood up.
"Very well then. If that is your decision." He turned to Ibaraki. "May I have my sword back please?"
The female officer unlocked a small cupboard and retrieved the boy's weapon. As she handed it back to him, Akita sat up and cocked an eyebrow.
"Hold on. You're not letting him go, are you? There's a man out to kill him. We should keep him under police protection."
"That will not be necessary." Bushido answered calmly. "I can defend myself, should the assassin return."
Ibaraki shrugged at her partner.
"If he doesn't want protection, we can't force it on him."
"What are you talking about? Of course we can. He's -" Akita fell silent as Ibaraki made shushing motions with her hands. Bushido didn't notice as he was slipping his sword back into his belt. Akita wasn't sure what Ibaraki was up to, but decided to trust her.
"Alright, fine." He said with a shrug. "If you want to go, Mr Superhero, go. I suppose you'll be wanting to leap out the window."
Bushido opened the office door.
"Well, considering we are on the top floor, I'd rather use the front entrance." He stepped out the door, then turned to face the detectives one last time. "And I do not have super powers."
He gave a small bow as a gesture of farewell and was gone.
Akita now cast a questioning look to Ibaraki.
"Are you really going to let him go out there alone?" He asked.
"Of course not." His partner replied. "We're going to follow him."
Akita blinked a couple of times as Ibaraki slipped on her gun holster. He then spoke up again.
"So… you're actually taking him up on his offer?"
"In a way." The woman replied, pulling on a jacket. "This is the best lead we've got on those smuggling cases. But I'm not going to let this kid be the one to call the shots; ancient warrior dynasty or no."
"Oh yeah, heaven forbid you should ever not be the one in charge." Akita remarked with a grin.
"Shut up and get your coat."
"Yes ma'am." The detective gave a mock salute and followed her out of the office.
--
Tengu strolled casually along the street, his hands in his pants pockets. His sword and gun were hidden by the baggy anorak he had on. He wasn't going to go on the prowl dressed to kill; he wouldn't get down one street.
Speaking of prowling; the assassin cast an eye to the roofs of the surrounding buildings. He thought for a moment that he had seen some movement, but he couldn't be sure. If he didn't know beforehand that the girl was somewhere up there, he probably would never have suspected anything.
Weng Chan's words echoed in his head from when the old man had spoken to him before they had left.
"Cheshire has her own way of doing things. It'd be easiest for both of you if you just allowed her her freedom. – Oh! And don't be alarmed if she disappears on you. She will return when needed."
Tengu shook his head and glanced at the surrounding rooftops again. There wasn't a sign of his "partner" anywhere. Why did people always have to complicate things? In his opinion, the simplest ways were the best. Ergo, he wasn't going to scour the city rooftops all night looking for the kid. Instead, it was simply a matter of trying to think like him.
Now, where would a Bushido warrior hide?
--
Akita was certain that he could feel something crawling along his back, under his coat. However, he daren't make a noise, as Ibaraki was on her stomach right next to him, and she was in 'stake-out mode'.
The two detectives peered through the long green grass at Bushido, who was sitting cross-legged in the middle of one of the wide fields that dotted Iiyama. The beautiful scenery they provided meant that many people would come out of the more urban areas and visit them for picnics and other relaxing pastimes. Although, never in the middle of the night; and Akita highly doubted that Bushido was just there to smell the flowers.
He turned his head to face his partner. His brow furrowed and his expression came of as;
'Is he really going to just sit there, and let the killer come to him?'
Ibaraki's returning look seemed to say;
'Yeah. I think he is.'
Shaking off the feeling that he was in one of those old samurai movies, Akita returned his attention to the boy. His hand rested near his gun in its' holster. If trouble did show up, that kid would need help. After all, how much good could he do against a professional assassin, if he couldn't even spot two badly camouflaged police officers.
--
Bushido was starting to wonder if the two officers, hidden in the grass behind him, were getting uncomfortable. He was certainly glad that they had accepted his help, but if he had known they were going to follow him, he would've prepared them a better hiding place.
Suddenly, all his wandering thoughts were swept from his mind. He uncrossed his legs and stood up straight in one fluid motion. At the same time, he picked his sword up off the ground and slid it into his belt; his left hand gripping the hilt.
Tengu stood about fifteen feet away from him; his anorak lying on the grass by his feet. A satisfied smirk was on his face. It was just as he'd figured:
Question – Where would a Bushido warrior hide?
Answer – He wouldn't.
"Nice little spot you got here." He said to the teen facing him. "Wide open, no places for me to hide; and no innocent bystanders, right?"
Bushido didn't answer. Instead he slowly drew his sword and held it in front of him with both hands. Tengu shrugged.
"Fine. Have it your way."
With astonishing speed, he drew his own blade and sprinted towards his opponent. Bushido held his ground, waiting for the attack to come.
At the same time, Akita and Ibaraki stood up and drew their guns. But, before either of them could even shout "Police!", their weapons were knocked from their hands and they were forced back a few steps.
Cheshire stood before them; the teeth of her mask's eerie smile seemed to glisten in the moonlight. She raised a hand and the sleeve fell back to reveal a set of metal blades attached to an arm guard. Shaking her head slightly from side to side, she wagged the claw like a disapproving finger.
The two disarmed officers each fell into a fighting stance; basic martial arts having been part of their training.
"Okay miss, remove your weapons and put them down." Ibaraki spoke in a commanding tone. "You're outnumbered, and we will use force if necessary."
Cheshire didn't answer, or give any indication that she had even heard her. She just pounced.
