Chapter 48
With midday a few minutes away Munro was bored, reading from a book as Ayumu practiced again. He was happy in that she seemed to have found the element she possessed the greatest ability to use. Though not a trained ninja himself, he knew enough to know that most ninja would have an affinity to one of five natural elements (lightning considered the fifth). And Ayumu appeared to be able to use wind.
A short time earlier he had allowed her to test it on him outside. Even though she 'took it easy' on him, he was still thrown back against the small isolated building. She had apologized but he doubted she meant it. Not that he truly cared- if she was willing to hurt her allies, who knew what she would do when it got serious. That could be interesting.
However now she had taken to practicing by herself and Munro had nothing to do. There were plenty of menial tasks he could do, but his excitement about the upcoming plans meant he was too distracted to do them. He felt slightly jittery when he thought about what he would be able to do.
He quickly glanced up at Osaka who was stood close by the door performing finger scrolls, and muttering phrases to herself. He looked up again suddenly as the wooden door suddenly flew inwards, knocking Osaka to the ground. She lay still, seemingly unconscious as the man who had attacked Iroto's factory stood in the doorway.
"I don't suppose you have heard of knocking on the door?" asked Munro, putting a book mark into the novel and placing the book down on the floor.
"It took me a while to place you, but I know who you are Munro" said the figure. "Even though it may have been on another continent I know of the terrible things you have done."
"What can I say? I'm not much of a people person" said Munro. "Besides you have been the one going around killing people if I recall correctly."
"I have a task at hand" said the figure in black.
"Oh really? And what is that?" asked Munro as the figure stepped towards him.
"I am ridding the world of ninja. When they are gone peace will be far more likely- I will be the last ninja left. When that day comes I will kill myself and free this world from their evil."
"Wow, now aren't you a little saint?" said Munro. "I'm trying to change the world too" he stated. "Not for any particular reason other then my personal enjoyment. And I think I have a better chance then you."
He stood still as the large sword was unsheathed. Munro stood waiting.
"Didn't anyone ever tell you size doesn't matter?" asked Munro, removing a knife hidden under the fabric of his chair. "It's all about what you're willing to do with the thing."
"I will do all that it takes."
"Come on, you gotta lighten up" said Munro. "You need a sense of humour" he continued, ducking out of the way as the large sword swung through the narrow room. It smashed into the wall, tearing easily into the thin wood.
"Hey, I happen to like having a wall" said Munro. "I'd thank you not to go around smashing my things, it's most rude" he said, jumping away from another sword slash. He blocked one attempted slice with his knife, so much smaller.
"Ha, I think that's a score me for Mr Cloak head" said Munro. "Tell me are you actually planning on doing anything? If you can't score a hit against me how can you change the world?"
He ducked the sword and slashed out, tearing through the black sleeve, drawing blood. He laughed, jumping back and looking at the knife.
"Blood. Your blood. It's not much of a wound, but I bet it stings a bit right?" asked Munro. "I know it would smart if it happened to me."
"Are you crazy or just putting on an act?" asked the figure. "What's with all these stupid comments?"
"You gotta put on an act. If you don't put on an act I end up boring- like you. Honestly you have no charisma at all my nameless friend" said the man. "Also being a bit more talkative is a great idea."
The figure grunted and swung the sword again narrowly avoiding Munro's legs.
"Now you're just getting annoyed" said Munro. "That isn't going to get you anywhere. You just have to relax and get the job done."
The figure froze as he sensed movement. Behind him Ayumu pushed the remains of the door off of her and stood up. She stared at the former ninja coolly. She crushed a chunk of wood that rested in her hand and threw it to the floor. The figure turned to face Munro who smiled.
"Or I could just sit back and allow a colleague to do the work far better then I could" said Munro. "I do appreciate you dropping by, but I'm afraid you have to pay for this damage to my house. Also all the emotional stress you've put me through, it's so hard to cope."
"Who is this?" asked Ayumu, not moving an inch.
"I'm afraid to say this isn't a friend of mine" replied the man. "He appears to be most insistent on killing me. This isn't an enjoyable ending to the morning at all."
"So he is an enemy?" asked Ayumu.
"Yes" said Munro. "He has been killing innocent people, and now he's here to try and stop us."
"That can't be allowed can it?" asked Ayumu.
"Oh my no" replied Munro. "Just think of the bad things that would happen if he does stop us."
"Bad things? Bad things that would happen?" asked Ayumu.
"Just imagine the evil deeds that the town will get away with" said Munro, deflecting a strike with his knife. He paused for a moment. "Now that just isn't nice at all, attacking someone when they are trying to hold a conversation. It's just plain…rude I say."
The figure grunted as he was suddenly lifted up into the air. Ayumu generated a strong wind, throwing him into the wall. Munro let out a sigh as some of the wood panels snapped. The large sword fell to the ground, the shock of impacting causing him to loosen his grip.
"You seem to have recovered Ayumu" said Munro. "Looks like some rest did help."
Wind continued to blow strongly against the figure, who grunted as he tried to free himself. He raised one arm, reaching out towards the girl. She quickly did some hand signs, and the flow became stronger, snapping the man's arm back on itself. It flopped about slightly.
"That's going to sting" said Munro, standing back and enjoying the show.
"Munro" said Ayumu in an emotionless voice.
"Yes my dear?" asked Munro inquisitively.
"Is it ok to have fun while carrying out justice?" she asked. "Is it ok to enjoy yourself?"
"I insist on it" replied Munro.
All of a sudden Munro felt the pressure in the room die down as the wind suddenly faded away. The figure fell to the floor, breaking his fall with his unbroken arm. He started to push himself up. Sudden a strong gust reappeared, smashing him back into the wall. It died again, Munro smiling as the two events continually happened, a cycle of pain. Ayumu smashed the man constantly into the wall with little more then a finger movement.
Munro smiled as he stepped forward. He looked across at Ayumu, almost with a sense of pride. She didn't show any sign of a response, merely holding up a finger, pointed to the attacker who stayed pinned to the wall.
"I know someone who possesses a similar power to you" said Munro. "Of course he's older, so has perfected it more- but you have the potential to gain a great level of power."
"I see" said Ayumu. Cold. Emotionless.
"Ayumu could you please hold our friend here in place?" he asked. "I think it's time to see who hides behind the mask."
"Of course." Munro felt his ears pop as the pressure changed again. Now she had one strong stream of air directed at his torso, holding him against the wall. Munro could now approach.
He approached the black figure, keeping a watch on the unbroken arm. Having got this far Munro didn't want it all to fall apart because he was careless. One day he might be defeated- but he wasn't planning on being defeated by a potential assassin with a broken arm.
He reached up and pulled off the fabric mask. A pale scarred face looked back at him. One part of the man's lip had been torn, two teeth visible even though his mouth was closed. Munro laughed as he dropped the mask, watching it blow into the stomach of the man.
"No wonder you go around wearing that" he said. "That's not a face anyone could easily forget."
"I'm not afraid of you" said the man, coughing up blood. "I'm not afraid of you."
"I'm sure you aren't. And I'm sure you aren't going to scream. But even so I'm still going to do this" said Munro eagerly. "Ayumu could you close your eyes for a bit?"
"Why?" asked Ayumu.
"This could be a bit gory, and there's no need for you to see such things yet" said Munro.
"Very well" said the detached Ayumu.
Quietly and quickly Munro set to work with the knife, the weapon in constant movement. Blood dripped to the floor of the small building, Munro no longer caring what happened to it. Soon he would be leaving this place, and wouldn't be returning. He was right about one thing- the man never screamed, even as the blade pierced his eye.
