Chapter 14: Kuro Taiffuu Strikes Again
Nobu attended the conference with other members of the Japanese government, listening to them speak with each other while he remained silent. He heard their discussions of the Japanese government building relationships with England and the other Western countries. When mention of the missing English men came up, Nobu focused more on what was said between them.
"Forget about those English scum," Nobu said in Japanese.
"Nobu-san, what is the meaning of this?" one man demanded.
"Why do we have to form relations with that Western country? We as a nation can stand strong on our own. Japan has already won Korea over defeating China. Why not defeat England and show the rest of the world what we are capable of?"
"Are you saying that we start war with England?" another man asked.
"Hai." Nobu remained calm when the other men murmured amongst themselves nervously. "I have found means of winning any war against any country, and there will be more."
"Nobu-san, what you say is madness!" The man who spoke first slammed his fist on the table. "There is no possibility that we could defeat England in war! Even with our improved weapons, we stand no chance against such a power."
"Madness?" Nobu showed no emotion as he stood up and approached the man. "You are a fool." He pulled out a pistol and shot the man at close range in the head, blood splattered outward and everyone gasped.
"Before anyone else speaks," said Nobu smoothly, "if you don't believe that I have arranged for better weapons to arm our military, you should leave before you meet your end like this fool. Maybe our Emperor wishes to make alliances of peace with the West, but I suggest a better plan. The nation of Japan has always been strong, if we take out another powerful nation, the rest of the world shall bow in respect to us."
Few of the men glanced at each other, at Nobu, the dead man, the blood, and at the pistol in Nobu's hand. Some of the men got up and hustled out of the room, the rest remained without saying a word.
"Gentlemen," said Nobu, "I knew you'd see it my way." He wiped his hand and pistol clean of blood with a handkerchief. "Now, the English government has sent a League to rescue the hostages, I say that we should prepare to deal with them."
Tom panted for breath, he had really gotten himself bruised, strained, and exhausted in the practice fight. With the back of his hand, he wiped the sweat from his face. The League had been practicing the basic fighting techniques and against opponents. However, it was the later that was difficult, Tom already knew how to punch, block, and kick, but against someone more used to it was a challenge.
"Are you alright, Tom?" asked Mina's soft voice.
"Yeah," said Tom, "just need to catch my breath."
"In a real battle," started Satoshi, "there will be no time to catch your breath. The minute you stop fighting, you'll be dead."
"I'll keep that in mind," groaned Tom.
"I would like to know," said Skinner, "is how to take down someone without using up so much strength."
"It's simple," said Megumi as she approached Tom, "it is a matter of finding the right atemi waza." She grasped Tom's arm with one hand and pressed fingers of her other hand into a space above Tom's elbow.
"Ow," said Tom, wincing at the pain shooting up his arm.
"The body has many nerve points," explained Megumi, "it's always a matter of how you strike them that would give you complete control over your enemy." She forced Tom to bow forward with a simple twist. "However, it requires lots of accuracy."
"I think I understand," said Henry, "when I was treating patients, they would often mention discomfort in different places. It was mostly due to pressure being applied directly at those points."
"Perhaps we should expand our knowledge on these nerve points," said Mina, "we'll need to use them if we face Kuro Taiffuu again."
Meru and Junji had recently finished their daily practice and were just walking home. As they walked, Junji noticed that something was on Meru's mind, he could tell that her features were pinched with worry.
"What is wrong Meru-chan?" he asked.
"Oh," said Meru, "it's another vision. Someone will be arriving to our village, someone we cannot trust."
"Are you sure that your visions are true?"
"I had a vision that the foreigners would come and they came. There is a possibility that someone will come to our village. I fear that it might be soon."
"Why not tell your brother?"
Meru nervously bit her lip, considering the question. Satoshi was already concerned with teaching the Westerners the way of the shinobi, should he learn about another vision of hers?
"I might have to figure out how to tell him," she answered. "So much has happened already with the foreigners, he already has a lot on his mind."
"If your vision is true," said Junji, "then your brother should know immediately."
"I know."
Later in the evening, the guards were at their post outside the village perimeter. The night was silent except for the forest life of insects and birds. One guard watched the forest path, keeping an open eye out for intruders.
The was a figure moving up the path, darkly clad that it was merely a shadow. Quickly acting, the guard demanded the approaching the figure to halt. The figure stopped on the path. When the guard demanded for the figure's identification, the response was a dart in the guard's neck.
In the house of Yamoto, Meru held onto the scroll that featured her most recent vision. As her brother, grandfather, and the Westerners entered, she greeted them with a bow.
"Kumbum wa," greeted Satoshi. "What is that scroll?" he asked.
"Another vision," replied Meru. She handed the scrolls to Satoshi.
Satoshi unrolled the scroll, revealing an ink drawing of a man in a black kimono and rice hat. He was about to ask Meru what it meant until voices started up outside.
A man in a brown kimono came to the entrance of the house and hastily bowed to Akira. The man was frantic and was panting to regain self-control.
"Master Akira," he said to Akira in Japanese, "a stranger has entered. He already has paralyzed the guard with a dart and has another hostage. He insists that he won't leave until he speaks with the Westerners."
"Hai," responded Akira. "Send for Megumi, Satoshi and I shall speak with the stranger. The Westerners shall come with us."
Even though they only knew a few Japanese terms, Jekyll and Skinner realized that it was about them. When the man at the door left for Megumi, Satoshi rolled up the scroll and handed it to Meru.
"Remain here," he said, "you must stay safe. Dozo?"
"Hai," his sister replied, her face turning chalky pale.
Outside, a man in a black kimono and a rice hat that concealed his face stood in the middle of a large circle of armed villagers. Even though the villagers were armed and capable of taking out the single man, they dared not make a move since the black robed man held one of the village guards with a knife to the throat. When Akira, Satoshi, Megumi, and the League arrived, the armed villagers bowed and stepped aside.
"You may release your hostage," said Akira in Japanese, "we have brought the Westerners if you insist on speaking to them."
The man in the black kimono crudely shoved his hostage on the ground and sheathed his knife.
"Who is in charge of the gaijin?" He asked coldly in Japanese.
"He is asking which of you is in charge," translated Megumi to the League.
"I am in charge," said Mina as she stepped forward. She bowed gracefully as a form of respect and that she had no fear.
"My master wishes to make a bargain," the black robed man said in accented English. "We'll give back your government buta, if you find a treasure of great value and power."
"What kind of treasure?" Mina asked.
"The legendary katana of the Tengu, it is within an ancient warrior's tomb high in the mountains. The place is haunted by creatures and spirits of unnatural powers. Those who venture there do not make it back alive. You'd be fortunate to survive the journey there."
"That does sound like a challenge," said Mina. "If we agree to obtain this katana of legend, then the men we came searching for will be released?"
"Hai. My master shall give you five days to bring him the katana, you will meet him at the Iwashimizu Hachiman Shrine by sun down of the fifth day. If you fail, your government fools shall die." The man clasped his hands toegether that they were hidden within his kimono sleeves. "Do you accept the agreement?"
Mina glanced at her fellow League members, they only looked to her to decide unable to say anything for themselves. As their team leader, her decision would be the one they would have to trust. Akira, Satoshi, and Megumi had doubtful expressions, Mina could tell that they didn't trust the words of the intruder. The vampire decided that as leader of the League, she'll make the decision and take the gamble.
"We'll accept," she replied.
"Excellent," the intruder said, "starting at dawn, your five days start." He bowed and retreated out of the light of the near by houses. Nobody said a word until the intruder was gone.
"Are you crazy?" Skinner asked Mina. "We can't pull it off in five days!"
"I made the decision that I thought would be a solution," said Mina, "I was unable to do anything else about it."
"I think Mrs. Harker did alright," said Tom, "besides, if we prevented the bombing of Venice within a three day journey, we could make it this time with five days."
"Will our training be enough for this?" asked Henry. "What if we do run into trouble out there?"
"Satoshi and I shall accompany you," said Megumi, "it will be an opportunity to finish your training."
"You'll need someone who knows how to travel in the mountains," said Satoshi, "I've been there on training missions before, yet it will be a challenge since it will be in the more forbidden place."
"Forbidden?" asked Skinner.
"Those who venture there," said Akira, "never return. Many shinobi in training are warned to never go there unless they want to die."
"It sounds like a dangerous journey," said Nemo, "but we will be prepared to face the obstacles."
"Which is why we should make our preparations tonight," said Mina.
To be continued...
End Note: Oh I do apologize for delaying this chapter, I've been busy, and it is quite tricky putting the ideas down into words. Hopefully this chapter will be okay. I'll try to get the next up soon.