Bee-uty & the Beast

Kraen

Chapter 20

"You have no idea how glad I am to see you are alright," sighed Makoto as he clasped Gai's hand.

"Likewise," smiled Gai.

Makoto eyed the battered and bruised ninja briefly before a worried expression crossed his face, "Where's Hani?"

"I'm here," sounded her soft voice. Everyone in the room turned to see her small frame standing at the side of the doorway.

Makoto gave another relieved sigh before his breath caught in his throat. His eyes darted over her blood-stained clothing; his expression slightly panicked.

"I'm alright," she said sheepishly. "A little worse for wear, but I'll live."

Makoto turned to Gai and gave the shinobi a stern stare.

Gai watched his partner, "We ran into some trouble on the way over here."

"Sergeant, see to her wounds," said Makoto as he waved a hand in Hani's direction. He turned back to the jounin, "Who?"

Gai watched as one of the guards took Hani's arm and led her to a bench. "Many foes … but most recently, Nishin and his goon. We ran into them in the last wing and faced them in battle. Though it may not look like it, we were victorious." He gave Hani a considerate look, "They will not be an issue for either of us again."

Makoto nodded, "I'm glad to hear it – I never liked that shifty bastard."

Gai turned to the captain, "What the hell is going on here, Makoto? We have been under attack all night." He pointed to Hani, "She even saw Hakanza at her door just before he sent his rogue ninja to attack her."

Makoto's face became very serious, "I wish I knew. My men and I returned to the mansion after settling things with the village for the night. When we arrived here, we were met by soldiers from Hakanza's army. They wouldn't let us enter the building saying it was per Hakanza's orders." He patted his belt, "Made me turn in my Captain's sword and told us to leave." He looked around the room at his fellow guardsmen. "When we stated we would leave quietly after we retrieved our families and possessions, the soldiers became aggressive." He crossed his arms defiantly, "My men and I snuck our way into the mansion through a secret entrance. If we have been fired, fine! But they can't hold our families hostage!"

Hani couldn't hide the worry in her voice, "Your family?"

Makoto looked away, "I don't know. We haven't been able to make it to the servant's quarters yet."

Hani spoke after a long pause, "Umeko is a strong woman, Makoto. I'm sure she and the children are alright."

The captain nodded in agreement. "She is at that."

After a silent moment, Gai looked around the room at the various armor and weapons that littered the racks, "What is your plan?"

Makoto snapped from his worried thoughts and quickly walked to a nearby table. "We have been working out different routes for us to search out civilians." He rolled out a map scroll, "We want to make sure there isn't anyone being held here against their will."

Gai looked over the man's shoulder, "And Hakanza?"

"The civilians were our first priority. An explanation could wait. But now that you are here and tell us that Hakanza himself attacked you … perhaps we should rethink our priorities."

"Is Hakanza known for being a tyrant?"

"Of course, but not to his own people." Makoto rubbed at the tension between his eyes, "And why he would attack you? I have no idea."

"They tried to take me alive," said Hani as the sergeant handed her a first aid kit. "… If that fact has any significance."

Makoto shook his head, "The most Hakanza deals with in human trafficking is purchasing, not the sale. And he is not ignorant enough to risk kidnapping a kunoichi to become his plaything, no matter how beautiful she was. That is a risk he would never be willing to take."

"Could Nishin have paid Hakanza to kidnap her?" asked Gai.

"Absolutely not. Hakanza would tell Nishin to do his own dirty work."

Gai clenched and unclenched his sore hands as he considered their situation.

"We'll discuss all of this in a bit – let's get you both tended to," said Makoto who eyed the ninja's wounded knuckles. He waved to a young guard, "Go get an extra set of under-armor clothes for our shinobi friends." He looked at Hani, "Be sure to grab the smallest pair we have for her."

"Yes sir," nodded the man.

He looked at two other guards, "Take a few blankets and set up a changing room for the Lady. These may be times of war, but there is enough time for us to have a little class too."

"Hai."

Hani took a couple rolls of gauze from the kit and tossed them to her partner, "We also ran into Yamada, Sugi and Kazuo."

Makoto looked to her, "You did?"

"Yes, and they knew I was an imposter," added Gai.

"I'll be damned," balked Makoto. "Who knew those men had enough intelligence to act?" He gave them a stern look, "Are they … ?"

"Yamada is dead and the other two will be lucky if they remember who they are in the morning," replied Gai.

The captain considered things for a moment, "Good."

"And Muta," said Hani.

Makoto lifted an eyebrow, "The cat? What about him?"

"He was a rogue shinobi, Makoto. A shape shifting specialist," said Gai.

Makoto's jaw dropped. "You mean that fat cat was actually a man, transformed into a cat?!"

"Yes," nodded Gai.

"That BASTARD!" said Makoto as he rolled up his sleeve and started to walk to the door. "Now I know why that damn animal watched Umeko bathe all the time!"

Gai held up his hand, "We took care of it. He won't be a problem for you again."

"Oh," he looked between the two ninja and wondered at their skills. "Then good," he said, feeling somewhat self-conscious about his own abilities. "Anyone else I should know about?"

Gai and Hani exchanged a glance. "Other than Nishin and Brugo – no," said Hani.

"Here are you, Sir," said the young guard as he handed Gai a set of black clothes. "And you ma'am."

Hani took the offered clothing, "Thank you. Much longer in this bloody outfit of mine and people will be able to smell me coming." Her eyes widened as he unfolded the clothing.

"Youngblood, is that the smallest we have?" asked Makoto who pointed to an outfit that looked like it would fit someone twice her size.

"I'm sorry, but it is Sir."

"Hmm, sorry Hani – a man who was as petite as you wouldn't make for a good guard," said Makoto sheepishly.

She looked the clothing over: a set of black linen pants, shirt and a padded vest. The whole outfit was similar to ones worn under a suit of samurai armor. She smiled back, "It's alright … I'm sure I'll work … something out."

Makoto nodded to her, "Alright, you two get dressed and we'll discuss more about what we should do next."

Hani gingerly peeled back the makeshift bandage from her wound. She bit her lip and winced as the fibers of Gai's old sleeve tore free from the dried blood of her injury. With one held breath and a sharp yank, the last of the fabric was pulled free and Hani was now able to get a good look at the parting gift Nishin had left her with.

Her body froze as she stared in disbelief at her injury. She had tried to be optimistic up to this point, hoping the wound would be small and heal with no scarring; but the burned gash that now marred her stomach would leave more than a faint line.

Hani quickly brought her hand to her mouth and pressed it painfully against her lips as she stifled a wail. Her burning eyes brimmed with tears as the horrific realization finally sunk in. She was damaged, scarred, blighted. Her body was now ruined by this horrible, scarring blemish across her stomach.

All her life she was taught that her beauty was her life and must be preserved at all costs. Like Gai's need for exercising to stay fit, Hani had to take extensive measures to keep her appearance at its finest. But now? Maybe if they had a healer – one of Tsunade's level, there would be a chance the injury could be repaired with little sign of its existence. But they were days away from Konoha. And by the time they reached their village, it would be too late for any medic to help.

Hani could always use a transformation jutsu to hide the injury – that was an option; but unfortunately, the more transformation jutsus she uses, the easier it was for chakra sensitive people to detect her. She would be taking a gamble if she tried to hide it; but in the end, she may have no choice in the matter.

Hani rubbed her eyes with the back of her hand – she had cried so many times that day that her eyes ached and her tears felt boiling-hot as they rolled down her cheeks. She quickly took some gauze and wiped her face and blew her nose – she needed to get a hold of herself and act more professional. Yes, she had a hideous wound, but that would have to be dealt with later. There was nothing she could do about it now except clean it and bind it.

But when she returned to Konoha, she was definitely going to make an appointment with Tsunade.

Gai tightened the wrap around his new pants as Makoto listed off the tactical and political information he knew on Hakanza. Gai would be lying if he said he retained it all, but he did remember key factors like troop size, loyalists and enemies. Some of the names were familiar to him, but nothing more than what he would have heard in passing or read on a report.

"…And that's about all I know," finished Makoto.

Gai nodded silently as he considered the new information, "That still doesn't explain why he would attack his own mansion."

"I agree," said Makoto. "And it certainly doesn't explain why he hired you in the first place." He shrugged, "Maybe he was expecting an assassination attempt and hoped you would be their target or would eliminate the threat – I'm not sure."

"Then why would he attack us?"

"Well, technically he only attacked Hani and she stated they tried to take her alive. Maybe he had worked out a bargain with Nishin to capture her for him and when you woke up the next morning and found her gone, we would all assume it was a kidnapping or murder by one of Hakanza's enemies?"

"That still doesn't explain how Yamada, Sugi and Kazuo knew I was an imposter."

"Hakanza could have told them ahead of time that he was going out of town and that you were taking his place?" Makoto rubbed his brow in exhaustion, "This is the way I see it – Hakanza suspected another assassination plot against him, so he hired a ninja – someone he knew would be able to defend against stealthy attacks. If you warded-off the attackers, then they were no longer a threat – he would pay you for your time and it would be finished. However, if you were killed, then it was no skin off his nose. He doesn't have to pay for your services and another assassination attempt was thwarted."

Gai put his hands on his hips, "But—"

Makoto held up his, "I'm not finished. Though you were hired for this mission, you did not come alone – and that changed things."

Gai furrowed his brows.

"Now Hakanza had two ninja to deal with -- a jounin from Konoha is one thing, but a beautiful kunoichi specialist is a completely different thing all together."

"You think Hani's presence is the cause for all this?" asked Gai in a hushed voice.

"I didn't want to say this in front of her, but I know Hakanza well enough that he enjoys a woman just as much as the next man and when he saw Hani he probably put out a few feelers with his people. I'm not surprised that Nishin showed up at the banquet, even though he wasn't on the guest list."

"But Hani said Nishin knew I wasn't Hakanza and even tried to poison me."

"I doubt that was per Hakanza's orders. Nishin is … was a selfish cur of a man. When he arrived and saw it was Hani who was here, he probably wanted to have you killed so he could have her to himself -- Hakanza and his scapegoat plan for you be damned."

"And when Hakanza returned home and found I was killed, he would have suspected it was another assassination attempt on his life," said Gai in realization.

"Exactly," nodded Makoto. "And with Hani missing – he would just assume she was collateral damage."

"But it didn't work out that way," said Gai.

"No. Hani stopped you from being poisoned and saved your life." Makoto grew very stern, "And that changed things completely."

Gai anxiously watched the captain.

"Nishin must have witnessed Hani drink the poisoned sake – he knew what was in there. He knew how potent it was – but she survived? That must have thrown Nishin for a loop. She wasn't some piece of meat anymore; she was a now a priceless weapon."

"What do you mean?" asked Gai.

"Someone who can detect poison and also immune to its effects? People like Hakanza and Nishin who work in corrupted circles would sell their left arm for that kind of a resource."

Gai rubbed his stubbled chin for a few moments, "But that means that someone would have told Hakanza of the failed poisoning attempt – and I highly doubt Nishin would have relayed that information."

Makoto considered his words, "It could have been anyone -- Yamada, Sugi and Kazuo? Maybe they were in on it too. They did attack her in the garden, maybe they were planning on kidnapping her for Nishin too?"

"I don't think they were thinking of anyone but themselves in that moment, Makoto," said Gai sternly.

The captain looked off to the side as he riffled through his thoughts. "There are too many factors at play here –"

"We still haven't come up with any reason as to why he would keep you from returning to the mansion," added Gai.

Makoto shrugged, "He's extremely paranoid … maybe he suspects one of us is a threat and decided to start over again? I don't know …" He looked to the ground sharply.

Gai placed a firm hand on his friend's shoulder, "Don't worry, Makoto. We'll find Umeko and the boys."

Makoto kept his eyes to the ground as he nodded silently in return. "I had always thought being a soldier would give me the skills to defend my family. But now …"

"Sir?" came a voice to their side. "You wanted me to inform you when we had everything set up."

"Ah. Good," cracked the captain's voice as he turned to a welcomed distraction. "Let me have a look."

Gai sighed as he watched Makoto walk to the other side of the room where his guards had set up a table with various maps and schematics. He couldn't imagine the hell Makoto must be going through not knowing if his family was safe, or even alive. He turned back to the bench he was using for a table and took out the gauze Hani had given him and went about wrapping his battered knuckles.

Hani pulled up her new pair of pants and sighed in irritation; they were clearly too large for her. With one hand holding the waist, she reached down and took the black cloth belt and wrapped it a few times around her before cinching it off. To prevent her movement from being restricted she bent down and tucked the pant legs into the tops of her boots. 'This looks ridiculous,' she thought as she looked herself over. 'Oh well, enemies can't kill you when they're laughing at you.'

She let her hair down out of her hair sticks and took a washcloth to clean herself. She wasn't used to these types of fights. When the going got rough, she would always get going. She was no fighter. Sure, she could defend herself when she needed to; but she was nowhere near Gai's level -- someone who treated taijutsu like it was more important than breathing. Some might think her methods were cowardly; but if you're a liability, then you're doing no one but your enemies any good.

"How's it coming?"

"Geezus!" squeaked Hani as she covered her chest with her arms. She looked over her shoulder, "Learn to knock, Gai!"

He gave her an innocent look, "On what?"

She looked at the cloth makeshift walls of her changing room, "Okay, you have a point. But turn away! I'm not decent." He immediately turned his back to her, but not fast enough to hide the slight blush in his cheeks.

"How is your wound?"

Hani took a long strip of cloth and used it to bind her breasts. "It's hideous."

"Don't worry about it. I'm sure it will heal fine."

"You'll have to excuse me if I'm not use to having my body mutilated," she snapped back. She felt Gai wince at her words.

"Do you really think that about me?" he asked softly. "Is my body that ugly?"

Hani frowned, "I didn't mean it like that." She released a long sigh, "I'm sorry – I shouldn't have … I just …"

"I know," said Gai. He waited a moment before speaking again, "I'm sure the medics back home will be able to help you, Hani. Don't lose hope just yet."

"My beauty is my weapon, Gai. A warrior who fights with a dulled sword is a fool."

Ignoring her privacy, he silently turned to her and took her arm; pulling on her just hard enough to lead her to him, "A warrior who relies on his sword alone is a fool."

Hani blushed as she looked up into his face, all the while holding her chest bind to keep it from unraveling.

He placed his large, bandaged hands on her bare shoulders and rubbed them comfortingly, "It will be fine. I promise."

Hani watched his warm expression shyly. "I told you I wasn't decent," she said softly.

"I'm sorry," he half-grinned. "I have a tendency to get caught up in the moment."

"Are we having a moment?"

"Are we not?"

"We must not – any 'moment' we share usually results in you nearly breaking my spine in a hug."

His grin widened, "Am I too rough with you?"

Hani casually tilted her head as she considered his words, "It would be nice if you were a bit gentler. I'm a fair more delicate than most people, you know."

He lifted his eyebrows, "Was I not gentle enough with you earlier?"

Hani's head snapped up to look at him with wide eyes; a bright blush spread clearly across her face.

He smiled back, "I'll take that as a 'yes'." He brushed a small piece of hair away from her face and let a ringlet wrap around his finger, "I like your hair down. It brings out your eyes."

Hani turned away from him sharply and tried to finish tying off her chest bind, "What are you doing?"

Gai furrowed his brows, "What do you mean?"

"You said you just wanted to be friends," she said over her shoulder.

"I never said that."

She gave him a confused look.

He smiled in returned, "I said, 'I wanted to be your friend at least'."

She looked away and frowned – that was what he had said.

"And did you ever consider," he added. "That you're not the only 'touchy-feely' one here?" Hani's breath quickened as she felt the back of his hand stroke her shoulder gently, "Besides, things were cut short for us." He tilted is head, "Call me a hopeless romantic, but I think the time spent in each other's warm embrace after a passionate moment … is the best part." He slowly trailed his hand down her shoulder blade and chuckled faintly, "I guess this old sap is yearning for it – I'm sorry." He took his hand away, "I'll keep my distance." He noticed Hani's head lower slightly. "Is that something you've never experienced?" he asked softly.

Hani took her shirt and put it on, "Experienced what?"

"Intimacy."

She paused after sliding her arm through a shirtsleeve, "Before tonight? … No."

Gai watched her with a sad expression, "Are you having regrets?"

Hani stood in silence for a long moment, "I can't answer that."

"Can't? Or won't?"

"It doesn't matter. You won't get an answer either way." She heard Gai sigh in defeat.

"I wanted to ask you … one thing. Actually, I want to ask you a lot of things, but I think I'll only be able to get away with one question right now."

She wrapped the shirt flaps around her waist and started to tie it off, "What?"

Gai whispered his next words just barely loud enough for her to hear, "Could you get pregnant?"

Hani quickly gave him a mortified look.

"Because if you do – I want you to know I will be a man and take full responsibility --"

"No Gai," she rolled her eyes. "I take the necessary pills to prevent that from happening."

"But it still happens sometimes, Hani. There have been cases of --"

"No!" said Hani with a chopping motion of her hand. "Not gonna happen! Got it?!"

Gai blinked, "Yes."

"Good! Don't ask again!"

"I just want you to know –"

"It doesn't matter! I'm not pregnant!" she huffed.

One of the blankets to Hani's changing room flew open. "Could you two please keep it down?!" whispered Makoto in a dangerous tone. "This room is a secret – I'd like to keep it that way!"

"Sorry!" said both Hani and Gai in a hushed voice.

"Good!" He looked between them both, "Now … what's this about Hani being pregnant?"

Hani's eyes flashed with anger, "I'M NOT --!" Gai instantly threw his hand up and cupped her mouth. "Only speculation, Makoto," he said calmly.

One of the captain's eyebrows lifted, "Ah … well … Congratulations if you are. My apologizes if you're not." He looked over his shoulder at the guards gathered around the table, "I'm going back to the meeting – we're trying to work up a safe route to the servant's quarters." He pointed a reprimanding finger at the two shinobi, "Keep your voices down!"

"Won't happen again," said Gai as he ignored Hani's attempts at prying his hand from her mouth. After Makoto had left and the blanket had fallen back into place, Gai returned his attention to his partner and her glare from over his hand. "I just want to be sure you know that when we return to Konoha and you find you are with child that I, Maito Gai, am not a coward and will take full responsibility for having sowed my oats and spread my seed within you." Hani immediately shot him an infuriated look and numerous muffled sounds could be heard; Gai could only guess the profanities she must have been uttering into his hand at that moment.

"Owie!" came a pained cry from within the changing room.

"Damn those ninja!" cursed Makoto as he threw a look over his shoulder. "I'm going to tan their hides if they don't use their inside voices!"

"Sir, there is no way around it," interrupted a guard. "We will have to go through the grand room."

"I agree," nodded another guard. "These hallways are too dangerous – a large offensive group could easily hide within these rooms."

Makoto rubbed his chin as he looked over the map for the hundredth time. "That grand room is huge – I just don't like the idea of being out in the open like that."

"We can take the underground tunnel to the hidden door behind the dais. From there, we can cross the great room and go straight to the servant's quarters," said the sergeant. "I agree with the men – I think this is our best plan."

Makoto shook his head, "Damn. I think you're right. Fine. We'll go through the grand room – but I want two men armed with a heavy crossbow, just in case."

"Hai," nodded the sergeant.

"Have you worked up a route?"

The group turned as Gai approached. Makoto eyed the jounin who appeared to be rubbing his peck in pain. "Yes, we're going to go through the grand room," said the captain as he took a piece of chalk from a small box on the table and detailed a path on the map.

Gai furrowed his brows, "Out in the open?"

"No other choice."

"How are we going to get there?"

"It's not on the map, but there is an underground tunnel through here," Makoto traced his chalk along the paper. "That should be safe – we can all travel through there undetected, enter the grand room and from there, the servant's quarters. And we'll have to wait and see what we find there before we can decide on what we're going to do next."

Gai crossed his arms, "And what is our main goal?"

"To make sure our families are safe."

Gai gave Makoto a firm stare, "And Hakanza?"

The captain stared back, "I don't give two shits about that man – I just want to make sure my family is safe." The other men at the table nodded in agreement.

"Alright," said Gai. "When do we leave?"

"As soon as Hani is ready."

"I'm ready."

The guards and Gai turned towards the changing room and watched in silence as the petite figure approached.

Hani twirled three hair sticks in her hair to make her customary bun as she walked toward the table. The clothes she now wore were similar to Gai's -- the black pants with the legs of which were tucked into her boots. The black long-sleeved wraparound shirt and black padded vest that was only laced halfway because her large bust made it impossible to tie it any higher.

Even though she was a seductress and use to wearing revealing clothes -- in this outfit, she felt extremely self-conscious.

"It's too big," she said feeling somewhat embarrassed. "And …" she glanced down at her chest which looked like it was barely being contained. "Too small in key places."

"Looks like it fits perfectly," said the youngest guard who quickly winced as a piece of chalk was chucked at this head.

"Eyes on the prize, Gentlemen," said Makoto who was eager to get back to work.

They continued to stare at her. These men were used to country girls – who were beautiful in their own way; but Hani, with her bright blonde hair, purple eyes and extreme hourglass shape – she was an exotic beauty.

Makoto banged his hand on the map, "This prize, THIS PRIZE!"

"Sorry Sir," said another guard as they returned their attention to the middle. They understood his urgency – their captain wouldn't care if the most beautiful woman in the world was walking by … the woman he loved was still unaccounted for.

"I say we take your suggested route, Makoto," said Gai. "No one knows this mansion better than you. If you think that passage will be safe and isn't compromised, then it is certainly our best bet."

The captain nodded, "Then let's make this happen." He took the map and rolled it up, "Get ready to move out, men."

"Hai!" they said in stereo and jumped up to grab their things.

Gai looked Hani over casually, "Will that outfit restrict your movement?"

"No more than a kimono and you know how fast I can move in one of those." She looked at him, "And you?"

Gai lifted one of his pants leg and showed her he was still wearing his leg weights, "Speed is never an issue for me."

"I don't know if that's something I'd brag about, Gai. Especially to a woman," grinned Hani.

Gai cocked his head to the side and chuckled at her quip. She could be ruthless, but he was, in a way, glad they were back on teasing and taunting terms. At the very least, it helped take his mind off the current chaos. If anything, it reminded him of his rival Kakashi and the verbal jabs they would make at each other while on the job. It was a way for them to cope with the stresses of their elite and often dangerous position.

"If there is one woman who shouldn't complain about my speed, it's you," he said just loud enough for her to hear. "If I recall, I lasted long enough for both of us."

"As far as you know," said Hani with a grin.

Gai gave her a shocked look. Was she joking?

Hani was able to give him one last smug look before Makoto approached. "I'm going to put a crossbowman in the back and the front of the marching order. If it is alright, I would like for you to be up front with me, Gai. I could use your knowledge of ninja tactics close by."

Gai nodded, "Understood."

"I'll take up the rear," said Hani. "My abilities are mostly defensive – I will be able to protect our flank in case we are ambushed."

"Good," said Makoto. He looked over his shoulder at his men as they armed themselves. "I know you barely know us and I know you owe us nothing – especially if you're not going to get paid for this mission, which is why I am grateful for your help." He looked back at them, "I know my men feel more confident with you accompanying us."

"It's alright, Makoto," smiled Gai. "Konohan Ninja have a hard time standing idly by while innocents are in danger."

"And we want to make sure Umeko and your children are safe too," smiled Hani sympathetically.

Makoto smiled in return, "Thank you." He put his hands on his hips and chuckled, "I don't know why I'm worried about her – Umeko can be more dangerous than a mother bear protecting her cubs. If anything, I should feel sorry for any foe that gets in her way."

"It's still good to be sure," said Gai reassuringly.

"Is there a place she could hide outside the mansion?" asked Hani.

"One of our daughters and her husband has a house in a nearby farm. If Umeko needed a place to run to, that's where she would go."

Hani furrowed her brows in confusion, "Daughters?"

Makoto gave Hani a grin and a wink before turning and walking to the weapons wrack to arm himself.

Gai smiled down at Hani, "That's what happens when two people love each other, Hani. The gods bless them with precious gifts."

"If the gods wanted to give us 'gifts', then they wouldn't have allowed us to develop birth control," said Hani casually.

Gai shook his head and chuckled. She may be a seductress, but she lacked a great deal in romance.

Makoto tucked a wooden-handled katana into his belt, "If you two need a weapon, now is the time to grab one."

"Not unless you have kunai and shuriken," replied Hani.

The captain shook his head, "I'm afraid not."

"We'll be alright," smiled Gai.

"Have it your way," shrugged Makoto. "Alright men," he said as he looked his guards over. "Let's move out."

"Hai!"

"I count 30 men, Sir," said the sergeant in a hushed voice.

The captain, Gai, Hani and guards were silently tucked behind a wall a few dozen yards away from a small force of Hakanza's solders who stood guard in one of the anterooms. "Same," whispered Makoto. "Unfortunately, I don't recognize anything of those men from earlier."

"That means we have no idea how many forces he has in the mansion?" asked Gai.

"Unfortunately," replied Makoto. "And he has two rogue ninja in this group too – that will make things more difficult."

"I think we can take out 30 between the 8 of us. Most of those men hardly look seasoned," said Hani. Her eyes grew wide as every man in the group turned and gave her a harsh glare. "What?"

"We can't kill those soldiers, Hani," whispered Gai.

"What?! Why the hell not?!" she whispered forcefully.

"They are good men – only following their leader's orders like good soldiers are suppose to. Our quarrel isn't with them."

Hani watched him in disbelief, "Nonlethal combat? Gai, you're going to make this really difficult …"

He gave her a pleading look, "Please Hani?"

She furrowed her brows at him before looking away sharply, "Tch!"

"Sir! We might be able to go around them," said one guard who waved them towards a doorway. "This room has a back entrance that will take us to the secret tunnel."

"Good," whispered Makoto. He nodded for everyone to move in the guard's direction. "The tunnel shouldn't be far off."

They moved like a well-trained special ops troop, peering around doorways and even using hand signs to manipulate the movement of the group. After the second room, the sergeant who peered through the crack of a closed door held up an open hand to halt their movement. Then he clenched his fist to show there were hostiles in the next room. After a few seconds, he held up four fingers to indicate the number of threats.

"We're too close to the anteroom," whispered Makoto. "If we fight them here, they'll alert the others."

Gai clenched his jaw as he considered their options.

"I'll take care of it," whispered Hani as she stood.

Gai immediately grabbed her sleeve and yanked her back down. "The hell you are!" he said in a forced whisper.

She jerked her arm free, "Subtly is my specialty, Gai! If you need those men taken out quietly, then I'm the one to do it."

Everyone in their group froze as the soldiers in the next room broke into laughter at something humorous in their conversation. After they grew quiet, Gai spoke again. "I won't authorize that," he said through clenched teeth.

She narrowed her eyes at him, "It's not your decision to make." She looked at Makoto.

He watched her for a moment, "If you think you can do it quietly, then do it."

Gai shot the captain a look before standing up after Hani. He grabbed her arm again, "Don't kill them!"

"Don't worry. I'll just make them take a little nap," she said as she held her arms up and formed a seal with her hands. She instantly transformed to look like an average household servant. "You can even time me if you want."

Gai furrowed his brows as she walked to the door and waited till everyone was tucked out of sight before opening it.

"Who goes there?!" said a soldier as they stood in alarm.

Hani threw her hand up to her face in a demur fashion, "Oh! I'm so sorry!"

Upon seeing her appearance the soldiers relaxed, "What are you doing here?"

Hani stepped into the room and shut the door behind her. "I'm – I'm looking for my sister," she said weakly. "I haven't seen her since the soldiers arrived and I'm very worried!"

One of the soldiers took her arm gently and led her to the center of the room, "You shouldn't be here Miss. There is a ninja assassin loose in the mansion. All civilians have been evacuated."

Makoto and Gai exchanged a look at the soldier's words.

Hani grew weepy-eyed, "Oh goodness! I hope my sister is alright!" She buried her face in her hands and made a few sobbing sounds.

"There, there, Miss," said the soldier closest to her. "We'll have someone escort you to the village – I'm sure you'll find her there."

"That's alright," said Hani with a small smile behind her hands. "I can go alone," with that, she took her hands away like she was blowing a kiss; from her mouth came a billowing purple mist. Before the guards could react, they were caught up in the heavy haze.

Gai couldn't help but grin slightly as he heard four bodies fall deftly to the floor.

"All clear," whispered the now untransformed Hani from the doorway.

"Good work," said Makoto as they moved through the room.

Gai made a quick glance of the soldiers to make sure they were still breathing before following after them.

Hani came up to Makoto's side, "Did you hear what they said about the civilians?"

He nodded, "Yes."

"Then maybe Umeko is at the village?"

Makoto grew very serious, "Hani – I came from the village after the fire. There were no evacuated civilians down there when I left."

She gave him a worried look before growing silent.

"Sir! Here is the passage!" whispered the sergeant as he waved them towards a wall. After everyone had gathered around and they made sure no one was watching, the sergeant took out a tanto and jammed it between two boards. He used the blade to pop a wide, wooden plank free from the wall. With the help of another guard, they moved the board to the side, revealing a set of stone steps leading into a pitch black tunnel. Another guard took numerous sticks from a bag and handed it out to every other person; each struck it against the wall, igniting the flare.

Gai looked at the captain and indicated the tunnel, "After you."

After every man and woman was in the passage, the sergeant took hold of a set of handles on the inside of the board and pulled it back into place. He looked up at Hani and gave her a small nod as he unstrapped the crossbow from his back. "I'll watch your back if you watch mine, Ma'am."

She gave him a small smile and slight bow in return.

"Makoto, does this tunnel have only one entrance and exit?" asked Gai as they moved down the musty corridor.

"As far as I know, yes." He chuckled sheepishly, "I've never actually been down here – I just know about it."

Gai paled slightly, "That's not good."

"Desperate times, My Friend," said the captain as he held up his flare to better see ahead of them.

In the back of the group, Hani tilted her head at the sound of an out of place echo. Hearing the same, the sergeant turned to the direction they had come and aimed his crossbow. "AMBUSH!" he shouted as a small handful of rogue shinobi came sprinting towards them – their only visible part being the flare-light reflecting off their marred headbands.

The sergeant got off one well aimed shot; dropping a ninja before Hani threw a kunai towards the next where it was deflected easily.

Two of the rogue shinobi tossed a half dozen hard-packed balls the size of oranges towards them. "Shit!" shouted Hani as they rolled to her and the sergeant's feet. The guard didn't need to ask as the burning wick attached to the explosives told him exactly what they were.

Hani rammed her shoulder into the guard, knocking him back a few feet before forming a series of hand signs and slamming her palms against the floor. The guard felt five years taken off the end of his life as a wall of thick amethyst crystal formed between them and the explosion just barely in time to save their lives.

"Go!" shouted Hani through her now ringing ears. "Before the tunnel caves in!" At her words, the sound of sifting rock could be heard between them and the rest of the group. She gritted her teeth through the dirt and debris in the air. Even though the wall of crystal she had formed was at least five feet thick, she could still hear the shinobi on the other side throwing bomb-tagged kunai at them. "Hurry!"

Makoto grabbed the jacket of the nearest guard and pulled him towards the exit. "MOVE, MOVE!" he shouted as he herded his subordinates towards safety.

"Run, Sergeant!" yelled Hani over the mini explosions against the crystal wall. "Follow your Captain's orders!"

"What about you?!" he shouted as he jumped to his feet.

Hani was still pinned to the ground, channeling her chakra into her jutsu to reinforce it. "Forget me, just go!"

"I would listen to the Lady," came a strained voice.

Both looked over their shoulder to see Gai standing with is arms braced over his head. His muscles strained as he struggled to keep the whole mansion from caving in on them.

The sergeant looked at Hani and gave her a quick nod before sprinting past Gai and towards the exit.

"Hani, go!" grunted Gai.

"I can't! I have to hold this wall!"

"No, you stubborn woman! GO NAO!" he shouted in irritation.

"But the ninja –!"

"It doesn't matter! The tunnel is caving in anyway!" he growled as he pushed up against the stone ceiling hard enough to make it shift.

Hani broke free from the crystal wall and ran towards the exit. As she passed by Gai, she reached out and touched his stomach to let him know she was clear.

Gai waited a second before releasing his hold on the ceiling and running after her. With its main support now gone, the tunnel quickly started to collapse in on itself.

Hani looked over her shoulder in fear as the sound of falling stone roared up behind her. She wasn't going to be able to outrun it. But before she could react, a strong arm wrapped around her waist and picked her up off the ground.

"MOOOOOVE WOMAAAAN!" called Gai over the roar of the collapsing tunnel as he raced forward.

Makoto jumped out of the way as Hani's small form tumbled ungracefully through the trapdoor, followed by Gai and a substantial dust cloud as the tunnel collapsed in on itself.

"Ow!" coughed Hani as she tried to pick herself off the floor. She rubbed at her now bruised rear, "Did you have to throw me like a sack of potatoes?!"

Gai wiped the dust from his face with the back of his arm, "I wouldn't if you weren't such a slow poke!"

Makoto closed the trapdoor, "We can forget about using this route again."

"It shouldn't matter, Sir," said the sergeant. "We're close enough to the servant's quarters."

Gai looked around the room. They were behind the dais and separated from the grand room by a set of simple curtains. He already felt uneasy about their location. "Let's keep moving," he said as he helped Hani stand.

"Right," said Makoto who parted a small section of the curtains and peered out. He looked over the grand room with its shiny, wooden floors and large columns. The ceiling was three stories tall and on either side of the room where a set of massive, metal double doors. Both were closed. "It's clear."

The group moved silently and cautiously through the room. The guards wielding the crossbows aimed their weapons toward the farthest door. "Sir," said the sergeant as his eyes widened to the sight of the disturbed light coming from the crack under the far double doors. Makoto looked to where his sergeant indicated. Every hair on the back of the captain's neck stood up, "My God."

At his words, everyone in the group turned to hear an echoing "clank" as the giant, metal doors were opened. From the doorway billowed dozens and dozens of samurai soldiers who drew their swords and roared a war cry as they rushed forward.

"Can we kill these?!" shouted Hani as she drew her bladed fans from her sleeves.

"No! Only disable them!" replied Gai as they all back-stepped closer to the other door.

Hani cursed, "I make no promises!"

Makoto drew his sword and parried the first attacker and then punched the man in the temple; sending him to the floor.

Gai sidestepped a downward slash from one soldier and immediately rammed his knee into the man's gut.

Hani knocked away a sword and brought a closed fan to the man's face before snapping it open with a deafening ripple. The man flinched visibly at the sound and immediately cried out in pain as Hani spun and sent the heel of her boot into his kneecap.

The sergeant aimed his crossbow and fired a round into a soldier's leg, before reloading and dropping another man.

Every step closer to the door was hard fought. Hani was right; fighting without inflicting any fatal harm to someone was extremely difficult. There were so many times she could have slit a throat or stabbed a liver. And since she didn't have the raw power that Gai or even Makoto had, she wasn't very good at hitting someone hard enough to make sure they couldn't get back up. If she cut a tendon or a muscle, there was a good chance the man would bleed to death before he could get help – not to mention her blades were coated in poison, and not the gentle kind either.

Makoto grinned as he watched the youngest of the guards hold his own. He was a good swordsman and had potential to rise in the ranks fairly quickly – granted, if only they still had a job. "Not bad, Youngblood," he chuckled as he jammed his scabbard into a soldier's stomach.

The man smiled back, "Thank you, Sir!"

Makoto was about to remind the guard to stay focused when a soldier wielding a spear caught his attention. "Watch it, Youngblood!" he shouted as he shouldered the man out of the way and cut off the spear's tip. Unfortunately, the soldier was a better fighter than Makoto credited him to be as the man didn't waste the opportunity to stab the cut spear shaft clear through the captain's leg. "ARGH!" cried Makoto in pain.

"Captain!" shouted the sergeant who aimed his crossbow at the spearman and ended the man's life with a bolt to the throat.

Makoto gritted his teeth as he cut away at the spear shaft as close to his leg as he dared. The young guard quickly caught his injured leader and hauled him to the back of the group where two other guards took their place.

"Hani! Help Makoto!" shouted Gai.

She kicked away a sword and punched a soldier in the lower abdomen, "Are you crazy?! I can't do that now!"

Gai looked over his shoulder. "Get those doors open!" he shouted.

The sergeant and other crossbowman shouldered their weapons and tried the doors. The guard paled as he looked to his sergeant, "It's locked."

Makoto clenched his arm around the young guard's neck tight enough to make the man feel light-headed, "What do you mean it's locked?!"

"Hani, can you pick it?" called Gai.

Hani looked at the door before disabling another soldier, "That lock is as big as my hand! There is no way I can pick it!"

Gai grabbed a soldier and then spun him full rotation around before throwing him into a group. "Cover me!"

The sergeant grabbed his sword and took Gai's place as the ninja ran to the doors and placed a hand on either handle. He planted his heels hard enough to leave indentions in the wooden floor as he pulled on the doors with all his might; but they didn't so much as budge.

"What the hell are these made out of?!" cried Gai as he pried his fingers from the now bent door handles.

"I don't know," said the sweaty and ashen captain. "All I know is that one set of doors is worth half as much as the whole mansion."

Gai looked to his friend and the small pool of blood that was building on the floor beneath his injured leg. He had to hurry or Makoto would soon bleed to death.

Amidst the sound of clanging weapons and cries, Gai ran his hands over the doors to find any weakness; but they seemed as solid as a mountain. He looked back at the group; they were struggling to maintain the front line against the onslaught. If he didn't do something quickly, then they would all be dead.

He looked up to the top of the doors; they were easily over 20 feet high and each door was nearly 6 feet wide.

"Just blow a hole in the wall!" shouted Hani.

Gai quickly considered her words, but if he made a hole in the wall, then that would leave an opening for them to be followed; he had every intention to seal these doors after they escaped. But just as he was thinking there was no other option, Gai noticed something out of the corner of his eye. He hurried to a side of the door frame and slammed his palm into one of the door hinges. Under his strength, it broke away like old cheese.

Hani could feel sweat dripping down the sides of her face and her back. She was exhausted and didn't think she, or the guards would be able to hold out much longer. And by the looks of Makoto's increasingly crumbled body, he didn't have much time either. "Gai!" she called, but her next words were cut off as a large orange banner was raised from the back of the room.

Once the soldiers caught sight of the signal, they immediately retreated; grabbing their downed comrades and dragging their wounded bodies across the shiny floor. Hani and the guards all exchanged wide-eyed looks – this couldn't be good.

As if it was orchestrated, the sea of soldiers parted down the middle and moved as far to the other side of the room as possible. From the doorway rolled something Hani never thought she would be caught in front of. "G-Gai?!" she said weakly.

The jounin jumped down off the wall after breaking away the last of the hinges on one side of the doorway. "What?" he asked, but no longer hearing the sounds of combat made him immediately turn around in question. His jaw fell open as he walked to the front line and stared at the other doorway in disbelief.

"Am I delusional from the pain, Youngblood? Or is that a cannon I see over yonder?" asked Makoto.

The young man swallowed the lump in his throat, "It's a cannon, Sir."

Makoto pouted his lower lip and nodded, "Yep … we're screwed."

"Gai, you need to get that door open right now!" shouted Hani as the soldiers loaded the large gun with canister shot; ammo designed to spread like a shotgun. She took a step back, "We'll be blown away!"

The sergeant and three other guards ran to the doors and attempted to open them from the side with the broken hinges.

"Hani, give me a kunai!" said Gai as he held out his hand. He watched a soldier hold a torch over the cannon's wick. "Quick!"

"I don't have any more! I'm out!" she said as she frantically patted-down her sides.

Gai looked around desperately for any thrown weapon. "Wait," he said as he suddenly got an idea. He grabbed the top of Hani's shirt and pulled her to him before jamming a hand down her cleavage.

"Hey!" shrieked Hani as she grabbed his arm.

The sight was so shocking that even the cannon's torch bearer froze in surprise.

"Gai," said Makoto nonchalantly. "I am glad to see you two are getting along better, but now is neither the time nor the place." He looked at the young guard, "Though you really can't blame a guy --"

It only took Gai a few seconds to extract what he was looking for. "This!" he said as he pulled off the leather sheath to her "Bosom Buddy".

"Geez!" said Hani as she held her shirt closed in embarrassment. "All you had to do was ask!"

Gai ignored her as he took the small blade delicately in his hand. The last thing this weapon was designed for was being thrown and he would only get one shot. He made eye contact with the torch bearer and for a brief moment, they shared one collective thought: 'Bring it.'

As the soldier dropped the torch, Gai threw the blade and in a blur, the weapon soared through the air and cut the wick perfectly flush to the cannon's lip. Gai smiled in triumph but the chastising voice next to him immediately made him regret his decision.

"What are you doing?!" cried Hani. "You should have killed the soldier!"

Unfortunately … Gai did not realize a cannon could fire without its wick.

Now it was the soldier's turn to grin as he brought his torch to the hole at the top of the cannon, instantly igniting the black powder and blasting the room with enough noise to make the walls crack.

Hani was huddled in a ball, cradling her ears. The sound from the cannon was so loud that she was completely deaf for a few seconds. However, she could feel the concussive vibrations as the numerous ball bearings bounced off harden surfaces. But there was no pain.

Was she dead? Did she suffer so much damage that she died instantly? She placed her hands on the floor. It felt real. But things were so dark. Did the cannon take out the grand room's light source or was she really in the underworld?

But she wasn't alone. She felt something or someone on top of her, holding her … shielding her. She reached up and felt the arm that was around her; its familiar muscles instantly telling her who they belonged to. The thunderous pounding of Gai's heart against her shoulder affirmed it.

She turned to his face and looked into his worry-filled eyes. He didn't need to say anything for her to realize he was concerned for her wellbeing. She looked down at his mouth and her brows furrowed at the sight of blood lining his lips. Was he injured? She brought a hand to his mouth and gently wiped away the blood with a fingertip. Taking her cue, Gai brought his arm up and wiped his mouth off with the back of his hand. It was then that Hani saw the source of his bleeding.

She took his thumb and held it up so she could get a better look at it. It had been bitten, that much was clear. But for Gai to bite his own thumb would mean …

As Hani's eyes looked up, her jaw fell open. They were incased in what appeared to be a giant, hollowed-out turtle shell. It was at least 2 stories tall at the center and wide enough to shield all of the guards, Hani, Gai and still had enough room for another 20 people. If it wasn't for the obvious spinal ridges on the inside of the shell, she never would have believed her eyes.

"It will be alright, Hani," said Gai as he walked to one of the sides and took hold of a set of ridges. His body shook visibly as he struggled to lift the colossal shell off the ground. For Gai to have difficultly lifting anything, Hani could only imagine how heavy it must weigh. The floor creaked under Gai's feet as the shell rose higher and higher over his head. From the outside, the soldiers stared wide-eyed as the giant shell, embossed with numerous carvings and covered in dozens of seals, lifted enough for them all to see that a single man was lifting the monstrosity all on his own.

Gai roared as he pulled on the shell to get it to tilt on its side. Once he took hold of its massive edge, he lifted it high over his head. "ORYA!" he cried as he yanked the gigantic shell downward and slammed it into the ground; sending it through the floorboards and a good 10 feet into the foundation of the very mansion.

Hani watched him in awe as he stood, panting from the strenuous effort of moving the colossal shell by himself. But as he turned around, Hani immediately stumbled backwards in shock at his appearance. His eyes were fully white; his skin a dark red and across his forehead bulged a set of large veins. He looked like a man possessed.

"Gai?" she asked in shock.

He hurried past her and ran to the door. "Move!" he commanded as he pushed a few stupefied guards out of his way. He didn't waste any time as he flattened his hand and stabbed it like a sword into the solid metal of the door.

"Impossible!" gasped the sergeant.

Gai gritted his teeth and he pulled the door towards him. The doorframe creaked and moaned in protest, but under his freakish strength, it didn't stand a chance. "Go!" he shouted as a man-sized gap formed wide enough for them to fit through.

Everyone rushed through the opening, especially with the sound of encroaching soldiers coming from behind.

After the last person was safe, Gai went through the hole himself and repeated the process on the other side. Once the gap was closed, he went to the doors' lock and slammed a clenched fist directly into it; effectively disabling the device permanently.

"There," he pant as he turned to the group who watched him in amazement. "That should hold them off for awhile." As soon as his last words were uttered, his knees gave way and he collapsed to the floor.

Hani reached for him, "Gai!"

The sergeant was faster and caught his shoulder just in time to keep him from falling face first to the floor.

"I'm alright," said Gai weakly as Hani checked to see if he was conscious. "I just need a second to catch my breath." He nodded to the side, "Check on Makoto."

"We can do that later," said the captain. "We're close to the servant's quarters."

Gai let Hani help him up. "Then let's go. I'll be alright in a minute."

The sergeant took point and the rest of the unhindered guards took a defensive stance around their wounded comrades.

Hani tightened her grip on Gai's waist. "What the hell was that?" she whispered.

"Which part?"

"All of it."

"That shell is my strongest personal defense jutsu. It summons an ancient turtle shell from one of the first ninkame to ever live. It is impenetrable and warded against the five elements. However," he winced. "It's so heavy, anyone who doesn't use the gates technique will be unable to move it."

She placed a gentle hand on his stomach, "Was that why you looked so … different?"

He looked down at her, "Yeah."

She watched him in silence.

"Did it scare you?"

She looked away, "Kind of."

"Here we are!" said the sergeant as they neared a set of double doors. He opened them cautiously and peered inside. "It's empty."

"Good," sighed Makoto. "But tread softly – it may be a trap."

"Hai," agreed the sergeant.

"I'm okay now," said Gai as he took his arm off Hani's shoulders. "We need to be on our guard here."

They hugged the wall as they walked along the empty commons room, waiting for any signs of a threat or clues to where the servants had run too. After a few tense minutes, they finally came to the first doorway.

"Sir, we're here," said the young guard who adjusted his hold on the captain.

"If Umeko is in there, she is going to rip me a new asshole for getting hurt," he cringed.

The sergeant entered the apartment first, leading with his crossbow. He went towards the kitchen while the next guard went to the living room. As everyone checked the apartment for any sign of Makoto's family, the young guard helped his captain to the kitchen where he sat the man down on the low-lying table.

"Hani, help Makoto," said Gai as he helped the guard remove the injured man's armor.

She took the first aid pack from the young guard's belt and kneeled at the captain's feet. "I need something to make into a tourniquet," said Hani to the guard. "Could you go find a belt or something, for me?"

He nodded, "Sure."

Hani took hold of the torn fabric of Makoto's pants and ripped them open so she could get a better look.

"She tearing my pants off, Gai – are you going to stand for that?" he asked with a chuckle. But his voice was immediately choked as the pain overwhelmed him.

Hani eyed the wound; it was grotesque and looked extremely unnatural for a two inch diameter wooden shaft to be bulging from the skin with muscle fibers protruding from the exit wound. As she took the whole sight in, she could taste a small hint of bile in the back of her throat. But the urgency of the situation was more ingrained in her senses than her queasy stomach and she went about preparing the necessary bandages. "Thankfully the bone doesn't look damaged," she said out loud to herself.

Makoto, who had been struggling to not look at the wound, looked to Gai instead. "How bad does it look?" he asked softly.

Gai furrowed his brows; he had seen similar wounds before. The captain would be lucky if he didn't lose his leg, let alone be able to walk normally again. He didn't know if he should be truthful to his friend or be kind instead. "It will leave a scar," he said gently.

"Good … chicks dig scars," said the captain with a weak smile. He wasn't stupid. He used jokes and banter to lighten the seriousness of the situation; but he was fully aware of the severity of the matter too.

"Gai, do you have any more hemo-pills?" asked Hani.

"Yeah. One," he said as he reached into a pouch on his leg weights and handed it over to Makoto. "Eat that. It will restore some of your lost blood."

"Nifty," said Makoto as he swallowed it without question. He stuck out his tongue in disgust, "Eh! They could have at least made it a better flavor."

"Here is a belt," said the young guard who returned hurriedly. He handed the cloth to Hani and took one look at Makoto's leg. The next thing that came out of his mouth was, "Oh god …" before his eyes rolled to the back of his head and he fainted to a heap on the floor.

Makoto looked casually at his unconscious subordinate, "Man down."

"Gai, help me with this please," said Hani as she wrapped the belt around Makoto's leg. "Don't tie it too tight – it needs to be just enough to slow the blood flow -- not cut it off completely."

"Right," said Gai who would be lying if he said he had never tied a tourniquet before.

"Sir!" said the sergeant firmly as he entered the room. "We did a clear sweep of your quarters – we didn't find anyone."

"I know," replied Makoto.

Everyone gave him a confused look.

He looked around, "No – I'm sorry, I should have explained." He pointed to a painted scroll hanging on the wall of their kitchen. "See that? Umeko knows that if they have to evacuate when I'm not here, then she is to turn that scroll upside down to let me know they have left safely."

Hani and Gai exchanged a smile at the efficiency of Makoto and Umeko's relationship. Ninja couples in Konoha often left the same subtle hints for each other in times of crisis.

"Umeko must have sensed something was wrong and snuck everyone out before the shit hit the fan." Makoto chuckled, "Sometimes, I think she'd make a better guard than me."

The sergeant sighed in relief, "Good. I'm glad to hear it." He looked over his shoulder, "I've left a man at the back door to guard our flanks till we decide on further action."

"Good," nodded Makoto. He winced loudly as Hani placed gauze on various spots of his wound. "I know this goes against everything I've been trained to do in first aid, but I really want to pull that damnable stick out!" he grunted.

"Don't! You'll bleed to death," scolded Hani as she wrapped his leg. "Only a surgeon can help you now."

"The nearest one is 10 miles away," said the sergeant.

"I'd better get walking now if I don't want to pay weekend rates," snarled Makoto sarcastically.

The sergeant nudged the unconscious guard on the floor, "Hey – on your feet!"

"Nah, let him rest," said the captain as he waved his hand. "He's gonna need his strength if he's going to carry me to my doctor's appointment."

Gai knelt down to the young man's side. "Hey Hani, is there any smelling salt in that kit?"

She took a small vile out of the pouch and tossed it over her shoulder without looking.

Gai caught it effortlessly and uncorked bottle. "Wake up, kid," he said as he waved it under the guard's nose.

"Uh?! Wha?!" he moaned. He suddenly snapped to attention and sat up quickly. "Did someone knock me out?!" he said as he rubbed the welt on his forehead.

"Nope, you fainted," said Makoto with a grin.

The guard's eyes shifted to his captain's wound. "Uhhhhh," he moaned as the color drained from his face. Gai stepped in his line of sight and sat the young guard against the wall. "Try not to look at it, kid," he said with a faint smile.

"Here, drink this," said the sergeant who handed him a canteen.

Gai didn't need to ask what it was as the odor of the liquid burned his nose as it passed him by. "Drink slowly," he said with a grin.

The young guard took a sip and his complexion went from ashen white to rosy pink in a matter of seconds. The rest of the men in the room chuckled at his expense.

"So what's the plan now?" asked Hani as she finished taping Makoto's leg.

"Well," sighed the captain. "We get out of here."

"I will be sure you make it out safely," said Gai as he stood.

Makoto watched him, "You say that as if you're not going to come along."

Gai shook his head, "Hakanza is too much of a threat for me to not find out what is going on here."

"Don't worry, Makoto. We'll be fine," said Hani with a smile.

"No, you're going with them," said Gai sternly.

Hani quickly turned to look at him in shock.

"You're going with them," he told her.

"You're not going alone!"

Makoto furrowed his brows, "I agree with Hani."

"I'll go with you," said the sergeant.

Gai held up his hand, "No – I'm going alone. I'm use to working by myself. I can handle this."

Hani stood up and moved in front of him, "Can we at least discuss this?"

Gai looked down to her and told her in a matter-of-fact-tone, "No. There is nothing to discuss. You are going with them."

Hani set her jaw, "I refuse!"

Gai put his hands on his hips and sighed in irritation with her stubborn behavior. "Hani, I am your superior. Either you do as I tell you, or I am going to make a formal complaint in the mission's report that you disobeyed a direct order." He leaned closer to send his message home, "And I doubt you want the reprimand that comes with such a complaint."

Hani's eyes blazed in anger.

"It's because he knows they're after you, Ms. Hani," said the young guard who wasn't drinking from the canteen of whisky as slowly as he was told to.

Gai, Makoto and the sergeant collectively winced in disbelief at the young guard's thoughtless statement.

Hani's face fell. "W-What?" she asked weakly.

"YOUNGBLOOD!" shouted Makoto. "You have just lost the honor of haling my deadweight around!" He shook his head, "Damnit boy, you couldn't find your ass with a map!"

Hani looked up at Gai with a look of dread, "This is all for me?"

Gai took her shoulders and tried his best to salvage the moment, "We don't know that."

"We're just throwing ideas out, Hani," said Makoto. "That S.O.B. Hakanza is crazy. It could be anything at this point."

"It's because we don't know what he wants – that's why I want you to go with the guards. Plus, I think it will be good for you to be with Makoto, in case his wound gets worse."

Hani looked to the ground; her face full of worry.

Gai placed a finger under her chin and lifted her face to his. "It's not your fault, Petal," he said softly.

Hani watched him in silence for a moment before her face contorted in anger and she jerked away from him. Then she turned and walked out of the room and down the hallway to the back of the apartment.

Makoto looked after her and back to Gai who was clearly crestfallen. "I'm sure she just wants a minute to be alone," he said reassuringly.

"Promise me you'll take care of her," said Gai softly.

"Like she was one of my own," nodded Makoto.

A small grin crept over the ninja's face, "That's what I'm worried about."

The captain smiled in return, but his expression quickly fell. "Gai, I'm not going to lie to you – Hakanza is a monster."

Gai shook his head, "I have fought difficult foes before."

"I don't care," said Makoto in all seriousness. "You've never fought a man like Hakanza before." He turned more towards the jounin and spoke with a hushed voice, "I have seen this man wade into battle and cut down a hundred foes before I finished a single blink of my eyes!"

Gai furrowed his brows.

"He has no mercy and no remorse. He will not spare you no matter how much you plea. I know you are strong, Gai. But he is a devil to his very core – and he will defeat you if your abilities so much as wane for an instant."

Gai looked to the ground and nodded, "Thank you for telling me."

"You won't let me persuade you to change your mind about leaving with us … Will you?"

Gai looked him in the eye, "No."

"I guess there isn't much more to be said on it then," sighed Makoto.

In the hallway, Hani wrapped her arms around her waist tighter and tried to stop her body from shaking. She had eavesdropped on their conversation and had heard everything. Makoto was trying to tell Gai he wasn't going to survive a fight with Hakanza, but Gai had decided to go anyway.

Why? Why would he do that? Why would he go through with it if he knew it would cost him his life?

Hani felt the queasy sensation in her stomach again, only this time it wasn't from the sight of a horrible wound; but from fear and guilt. It was very possible Gai was willing to sacrifice himself – sacrifice himself for her.

And she couldn't let him do that …

Hani turned to look down the hallway at the man standing guard at the back door and frowned.

"We'd better get ready to leave," said Makoto as the sergeant and young guard helped him stand.

"Right," said Gai.

"Do you want a moment alone with Hani?" asked the captain gently.

Gai swallowed the lump in his throat, "Please."

Makoto nodded, "Sergeant? Would you please go get her?"

The man nodded, "Of course." He walked down the hallway to find her.

"We'll stay at the village for as long as we can – maybe the doctor can do something about this leg of mine," said Makoto. "We'll wait till morning – if we don't hear anything back … we'll just assume ...."

"Sounds reasonable," said Gai softly.

"SIR!" shouted the sergeant as he ran back from the hallway. He had a look of fear on his face, "She's not back there!"

Gai's eyes widened.

"What do you mean she's not back there?!" shouted Makoto.

The sergeant held out his hand and revealed a pair of bronzed fans.

Gai felt his stomach drop.

Makoto looked up at the sergeant in anger, "I thought you left a man back there to guard the exit!"

"I did sir," said the sergeant sternly. "But he's unconscious."

Gai took the fans from the guard with a shaky hand.

"Damnit! I didn't take her for the martyring type!" cursed Makoto.

"Why did she leave her weapons, Sir?" asked the young guard.

Makoto looked to the man, "Because she wanted to go unarmed, lad. She's turned herself over to the enemy!"

Gai's grip on Hani's fans tightened as his body went from shaking with fear, to shaking with rage.

Hakanza leaned over the priceless antique table and glowered at the blueprints. It disgusted him that his guard captain knew his own home better than he did. He knew nothing of the tunnel to the grand room and it infuriated him. He snarled as he gripped the edge of the table and flipped it towards the wall where it smashed in two. "Incompetent fools!" he growled at the cowering generals in his room. He paced in front of them and gave each a venomous stare through dark ringed eyes. "I should have you slaughtered for these failures!" He halted, "Or perhaps I'll just have your family gutted before your eyes instead!"

His generals exchanged looks of horror – they knew how serious their leader could be.

"This is your last chance, Gentleman," he said as calmly as he could manage. "I want that ninja's head before sunrise – or it will be your skulls decorating my bedposts instead!"

"Hai!" they all shouted with a salute.

Hakanza waved them away like they were a bad odor. "Out of my sight before I change my mind!"

"My Lord!" came a voice to his side. He turned as a set of doors to his room were opened and two soldiers and a captive were revealed. A slow grin crept over his face as the bound woman was brought before him. "Miss Hachi," he said in a pleasant tone. "It is a pleasure to have you in my company."

With her arms tied behind her back, Hani stood silently. But even in this dangerous and intimidating position, her posture was straight and proud.

"What brings you before me," smiled Hakanza triumphantly.

Hani lifted an eyebrow as she spoke in a formal tone, "I have come … to make you an offer you can't refuse."

Hakanza's smile turned to a devilish grin as his deep, throaty chuckle echoed throughout the room.

Thank you, for reading!