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Chapter Nine: Harder than Battle


"Father, who is that man?"

"Child, get out of here!"

Oroku Saki lifted his hand and quieted his aid. "Come closer. Take a good look Karai." She did as she was told, outwardly showing no signs of misgivings. "This man was trying to harm both myself and my corporation. Look closely and learn what happens to those who would try and threaten the Oroku family, your family."

"Karai?"

"All who threaten the Oroku family must be dealt with harshly."

"Hey, you still there?"

"I understand."

"Yeah, good to hear. Are you awake?"

Karai blinked as the room holding the prisoner faded into darkness. Soon all that remained of her father were the echoes of his memory. "I am awake." She finally replied. Although she couldn't be sure it sounded as if the mutant had let out a breath of air.

"Right. I have no idea how long we've been down here, but I doubt it's been twenty-four hours, so hang in there okay?"

"You must never show mercy to your enemies."

Karai frowned in the darkness and tried to push the memories aside. She needed to deal with the now and her father's words were confusing her. No, it wasn't her father's words it was the mutant's behavior… or was it just Karai?

"Karai?" She must have been silent for too long. Maybe this mutant just didn't like being alone? But weren't cats supposed to be independent animals? "Karai!"

"I am here."

"You know, if you keep this 'silent until it scares me' act up this is going to be a long entrapment… are you really all here? You sound kind of out of it."

Do not concern yourself with my welfare. I am perfectly capable of caring for myself without your intervention. "I am fine." To be honest Karai felt like she were on a small boat floating over a calm ocean. The waves weren't very large and the boat barely moved at all, but somehow you felt suspended and free. It had to be an old boat… like the one Haru used to take her out on when her father was away on business… that old motor had a tendency to give off the scent of gas… just like…

"Do you smell that?" Karai asked.

"Uh… yeah… I think a gas pipe was damaged in the explosion… it's been leaking for a while now. If you can smell it then it might be getting…thicker." There was a hesitation in the mutant's response.

"Why did you not tell me this earlier?" Suspicion began to rise. She still didn't remember much after her battle with Leonardo; just the other mutants shouting about something.

"There was nothing either of us could do, and I don't think gas can explode until humans can smell it clearly… at least that's what I was hoping." Kit's tone was thoughtful and just a little sheepish.

"Ah." Was all Karai could think of to reply. Unfortunately this lapse in conversation meant another silence, and the mutant wasn't about to let Karai keep quiet; but what could two sworn enemies converse over peaceably? What was a safe topic that wouldn't endanger either of them? "Do you…" Karai started hesitantly, she really wasn't very adept at speaking of anything other than the mindless party chatter or matters of importance to the company or the clan. "Do you enjoy sports?" She tried, inwardly cringing at the question.

"Not really. They kind of bore me to tears… you?"

"Likewise, athletics do not hold my interest."

Another conversational dead end.

"Well, I'd say we're getting nowhere fast, but I can't remember time ever crawling this slowly." The mutant finally ventured. It was a ludicrous statement considering their complete inability to tell time, but Karai could relate.

"Perhaps…" Karai began, but she realized she had nothing else to say. What had she and the mutants spoken of before the battle lines had been drawn between herself and the mutant clan?

Very little.

They had only spoken of Karai's plan and at the time both Raphael and the one called Kit had backed out for differing reasons. But maybe a plan… "Can you determine what direction the gas leak is in?" Karai asked. She couldn't help but feel slightly triumphant until…

"No, not really."

In the dark Karai pressed her hands over her eyes. If she were honest with herself she would admit that she herself was becoming concerned about her concussion. But that was always the problem wasn't it? Being honest with herself.

Do not go there. Karai silently ordered.