Author's Note: My apologies for the lateness of this chapter.
Chapter 10: The Storm Starts
Nobu sat in his furnished sitting room, sipping at his sake and thinking of his two English prisoners. Ever since he sent Akane and Yuki to disguise as geisha to lure those politicians into the trap, both the powers of Japan and England were under extreme pressure over the situation. Eventually the prisoners would be used as leverage to bend both the Japanese and British Empires.
Passing himself as a representative of the Japanese empire, he was able to use his position to gather information for Kuro Taifuu and sabotage the Japanese government from the inside. So far, Nobu had never been suspected for his treachery.
Eventually his plan will unfold, the British empire will accuse the Japanese for treachery and then Kuro Taifuu would use the weapons purchased from a power thirsty arms dealer should war occur between the two countries. Most likely for the Japanese empire to rely on the power of Kuro Taifuu in dark times, even the Emperor of Japan would bow to the organization.
However, there was the team that the British Empire sent to Japan to take care of the problem. Nobu realized that the League of Extraordinary Gentlemen would be an obstacle in his plans, not even Akane, Yuki, Awajiumi and those extra shinobi could successfully kill them.
"Enter," said Nobu as he heard his guest outside.
"Nobu-san," said the dry voice of the spy, "I have much to tell you." The man wearing a gray kimono came into the room and bowed before Nobu.
"What is it Katagiri?"
"This League of Extraordinary Gentlemen as they call themselves," said Katagiri, "recently left Kyoto with two shinobi from one of the villages. They must be trying to learn more about shinobi combat from locals."
"Can you describe these two shinobi?" asked Nobu, arching his black brows.
"One was a young man, the second was an older woman, probably a teacher."
"Megumi," Nobu whispered, "I wonder what my former comrade is intending to teach this League."
Evening was falling as the League approached the village, the trees on the outer perimeter glowed with autumn colors of orange, yellow and red in the sunset.
"Yame!" a voice hissed nearby. Out from the shadow of the trees came several men in brown uniforms similar to what the assassins wore, only these men were on guard duty.
Megumi and Satoshi approached the brown clad men and begin speaking in quick Japanese and gesturing to the League. The guards glanced at the League members before speaking.
"What could they be talking about?" asked Tom in a whisper.
"They are probably mentioning the details to the guards about us," said Mina quietly. "We'll probably need to be ready to speak the greetings we learned earlier."
When the Japanese had completed speaking, Satoshi and Megumi turned to the League.
"Bow," Satoshi whispered in English. The League immediately bowed to the guards as a sign of respect.
The guards recognized the formality and allowed Satoshi and Megumi to pass with the League. Without another word, the League members followed their escorts.
Inside the village, there was an arrangement of houses, in the center was a wide space where there were a few people still training, and there were other structures within the area. As the League followed their Japanese companions along the path between the rows of houses, they received stares from everyone just like in Kyoto. The guards quickly departed from the group as they advanced closer to the center.
"They're staring at us," Henry whispered to Skinner nervously.
"Don't worry," said Skinner, "they'll get used to us."
As they neared the center, there was a girl waiting for them. She appeared to be in her adolescent years, her black hair hung down over her shoulders, and she wore a dark blue kimono. The girl's face brightened when she glanced at Satoshi.
"Satoshi-onii-san," she said, bowing slightly to Satoshi before grasping his hand between both of her tiny hands.
"Meru-imouto," said Satoshi, gently stroking the girl's black hair.
"Is she your sister?" asked Tom with arched brows. The American had not expected Meru to be only twelve years of age. His question received several reactions, Henry and Rodney were shaking their heads, Mina rolled her eyes, Nemo frowned under his beard, and Megumi and Satoshi glared at the American.
"Hai," replied Satoshi before turning to Meru. "I found them," he whispered in Japanese.
"Kumbum-wa," the girl said bowing to the League. "Watashi no namae wa Yamoto Meru desu. O-namae wa nan desu ka?"
"She is asking for your names," Megumi whispered to the puzzled League members.
"Tom Sawyer," said Tom, making a bow. "Os." The American heard the girl giggle at his greeting.
"Captain Nemo," said Nemo with a bow.
"Mina Harker," Mina said as she gracefully bowed.
"Rodney Skinner," Skinner said, "gentlemen thief."
"Dr. Henry Jekyll," said Henry with a bow.
Meru watched as they introduced themselves, the kunoichi in training recognized them from her vision. Even though she knew very little English, she understood their names quickly and matched them to each face.
"Meru is the one who saw visions of your coming," said Satoshi.
"Quite a talent for one so young," said Mina.
"She's been practicing ever since she started getting visions," said Megumi, "her talent will eventually be an advantage as a shinobi."
"When did she start getting visions?" asked Tom.
Satoshi and Meru exchanged nervous glances, before Satoshi could speak, Megumi quickly answered.
"That's not important for now," she said, "first thing is to arrange where you will be spending the nights. Harker, Nemo, and Sawyer shall come with me, Dr. Jekyll and Skinner shall go with Satoshi and Meru."
Henry glanced at Satoshi, then at Meru nervously. Already Hyde was rumbling for a chance to be released and present himself to the girl. Swallowing hard, Henry tried to ignore Edward, not wanting to think what would happen to him if Edward got a chance to frighten any child living in the village.
"Megumi-san," said a new voice. An elderly man in a dark gray kimono approached the group. "I was informed by the guards that you and Satoshi had arrived."
"Akira-shihan," said Megumi, bowing.
"Sofu," said Satoshi, also bowing. Meru quickly mimicked the bow.
Not knowing what else to do, the League quickly bowed to the elderly shinobi.
"I see that the ones sent from the West have come," said Akira in English, reading each League member's face.
"We were making arrangements for where they will stay for the nights they are here," said Megumi.
"Hai, they must be weary from their travels. Perhaps I could speak with them over tea before night falls." Akira glanced at the League members again, taking an interest in all of them.
"This is outrageous," sneered Akane after hearing of Katagiri's report, "we should go after them and be done with them!" The kunoichi still wore an elaborate kimono with her hair up in pins, but she lacked the white make up revealing her natural complexion.
"Patience," said Nobu, "we cannot storm into a village occupied by well advanced shinobi." He stroked his short beard as he thought of his next words to settle the angry Akane. "Perhaps Megumi teaching them the way of the shinobi may give us the advantage."
"What advantage Nobu-san?" asked Awajiumi, rubbing a huge fist with his other hand.
"If they want the English politicians back," said Nobu smiling, "then they would have to bring something of extreme value in return. I intend to take power over Japan using modern methods kindly provided by the Fantom, and sometimes the ancient powers as well."
"You don't mean..." started Akane with arched brows.
"Hai, I want the League to risk life and limb for an ancient item of value buried among our ancestors, a place isolated from the living world and infested with yokai."
Yuki, who was standing behind Akane and Awajiumi, cackled at the thought of the League attempting such a dangerous task.
"You were fortunate to survive Kuro Taifuu's assassination attempt," said Akira after hearing the League's story about coming to Japan. He, Satoshi, Megumi, Meru, and the League members were seated in the main hall of the Yamoto house, drinking tea that was assured not drugged.
"Hai," said Nemo without difficulty pronouncing the Japanese. "We are already skilled with abilities that makes us very unique. I'm already skilled in the martial arts of my own country, Sawyer is quite capable of using fire arms, Skinner is skilled with stealth and invisibility, Dr. Jekyll has a darker side to him equipped with speed and strength, and Mrs. Harker is a vampire."
"Kyuketsuki." Akira glanced at Mina as he said the Japanese translation.
"We were told," started Tom, "that if we train as shinobi here, we would be able to improve our skills. When do we start?"
"Tomorrow," answered Megumi, "Satoshi and I will teach you the basics and then we'll work our way up to more advanced teachings."
"Can't wait to get started then."
"First we should rest," said Mina softly, "most of us will need our strength when we start our training." She glanced at Tom, then to Nemo, then to Skinner and Jekyll.
"Neru-yoi," said Meru in Japanese. She smiled casually at the guests.
"What did she say?" asked Skinner.
"She said," answered Satoshi, "'sleep well'."
To be continued...
End Note: Oh my God, I think I made that one long. Okay, maybe those who wanted Meru to have more lines might be a bit disappointed, but right now she has just met the League and they realize that her English is not as advanced so she speaks a few Japanese words to them. Yes, I did write more on Kuro Taifuu and what Nobu intends to do. The mystery of this item that Nobu wants and the part about Kuro Taifuu getting weapons from the Fantom will be explained later on.