Characters seen here are from the Usagi Yojimbo comics and "The Real World: Part 1" episode from the 2003 TMNT series.

Warning, violence picks up again here. Seriously.

The Neko began to stroke his chin. "So, you do not find my people scary?"

Usagi's ears twitched. He glanced up toward the rooftops. Several arrow tips were aimed at either Gennesuke or him. He looked back to the Neko clan leader and scowled. The ninja then sat down cross-legged in the street. "Now, now … Perhaps we can be more than scary to you … Perhaps we can make a deal."

"He needs a new sword."

Usagi glared up at Gen and opened his mouth. Nothing came out before the ninja leader chuckled. "We can certainly provide that."

Usagi turned his glare back upon the ninja leader. They would part with their own swords for such a dishonorable reason as this? He clutched the hilts of his own tighter.

The ninja's voice lowered and softened but sounded more frightening for it. "You think you can take all of us, Ronin?"

Usagi kept his mouth shut, but a voice came from above him. "I can take at least nine of you."

Usagi's mouth dropped open. He looked up to stare at his companion. Yet, he found he couldn't speak what his mind screamed. Gennesuke!

Even beneath his dark mask, you could see the ninja leader's eyebrow rise. "Really? How about we make a bet, Murakami Gennesuke? If you fight nine of my ninja, and win, we will let you and your friend go free. Lose, and … What was it your friend wanted? Ah yes, a sword. Lose, and you hand over your swords willingly to me and become our guest until tomorrow night. I will keep your swords with me all that time."

"Done."

Gen stepped forward reaching for his longest blade's hilt. Usagi watched with wide open mouth. He heard his friend murmur down to him. "Don't worry Usagi, hopefully they'll give me their toughest nine. Then if they cheat you can have the wimpier twenty or so. That'll give me time to catch my breath to fight the last batch."

The Bounty Hunter strode up to a group of nine ninja who had separated themselves out from the rest. Usagi stared wide eyed at the scene. As he came right up to them, Gen gave a slight bow he asked, "Anyone want to make any other bets on this before we begin?"

Usagi put his hands to the sides of his head to grip it. "Oh … Gen!"

Usagi glanced back to the archers. Some of the arrows and bows had been lowered. Others remained trained on him. His mouth pursed. That was shrewd. An archer couldn't keep a bow bent for long. Having them do so in shifts could keep he and Gen in place a lot longer. But he had fended off many arrows before. Maybe he could fight back now?

He looked back to Gen getting in a fighting stance as the Neko did the same. No. No, he couldn't do that to Gennesuke. He had to have his fight now. It was a matter of honor.

Three Neko leapt at Gen together. Three others stood back to watch and wait. The last three … slipped back into the main body of warriors …

Movement from the rooftops caught Usagi's eyes. He looked up again. His mouth dropped open. Three Neko were jumping off a nearby rooftop at …

Genesuke looked up from the three still bodies of Neko Ninja lying at his feet with a chuckle. Then his gaze met the sight above him. "Uh-oh …"

Usagi looked down. Sounds of a more distressed Gennesuke came to his ears as well as those from the Neko ninja fighting him. Usagi sent a sharp-eyed glance the ninja leader's way. The Neko answered the unspoken question without looking away from the fight. "I didn't say 'which' nine of my warriors Gennesuke would fight."

Usagi looked back at the sound of a shriek. The other three ninja hanging back till then leapt into the fight with their war-cry. Gen faltered under their joint attack. The three who'd caught him off guard backed away now.

Usagi's hands fell to his side. He watched with widening eyes. Of the three backing away, two reached into their robes and brought out chains … with weights on the end.

One threw a chain at one of Gen's arms. The other threw his own to wrap around a leg. Then they pulled in opposite directions. As they thus left him exposed another darted in with their sword poised to strike.

Gen used his free weapon and arm to block the strike. Another, tall, strong Neko dropped down and swept a leg out to knock Gen's out from under him. The rhino fell.

Usagi winced. He bit his lip. His heart fluttered and fell within him like a leaf to the ground. These were not petty thieves with swords. They were not opponents in the Battle Nexus Tournament. These warriors had been trained to take down a target together, each following a portion of a plan without a word exchanged, and not with just one type of weapon, but many, all working in harmony to pull off a strategy of weaken and defeat. This was not fighting. This was hunting.

Two Neko leapt at Gen swords lifted to plunge into his body. He rolled out of the way. Their sword-points pierced the dirt. Gen sat up. He planted one foot hard in the road and rose onto one knee. He pulled the chain on his arm. His free fist came up and connected with the head of the ninja on the other end.

Usagi's hands came down. His form relaxed incrementally. Then one of the larger Neko leapt onto Gen's back. Gen rose to both his feet again and tried to fall backward on the attacker. Two ninja leapt to grab the chain wrapped around his arm and pulled. The one holding the chain wrapped around his leg did the same. They turned him in the air. He fell more on his side. Usagi could hear the air leave his friend's chest.

The Ronin glared and stepped forward. An arrow landed before his foot. He looked up and scowled at the archer who'd released it. He stepped back and looked down. It had been more a reminder of honor more than anything else. The agreement had been nine against one not two to nine. He stiffened and looked up again.

Gen was on his knees, but the two Neko with the chain attached to his arm were pulling it up and around. Then they pulled straight out. A sickening pop sounded. Usagi flinched. He watched the ninja on the chain drop it and leap onto Gen too. They pushed the rest of him down onto the ground. Usagi winced again and bowed his head. Gen's shouts and struggles filled his ears.

When Usagi looked up again, the sounds had faded. Gen was finally pinned by five of the Neko. One had a foot pressing down on the arm still holding his sword.

Their leader strode out to them and paused part way. He bent down and picked up Gen's shorter blade lying in the dirt. Then he walked to Gen's hand still grasping the hilt of his longer blade and pried the weapon out of his fingers. The ninja then put both blades into his own belt.

Usagi glared at the Neko leader as he did this. Gen might not feel the same about his blades as he did his. But they were still Gennesuke's blades. Gen's. They did not belong in his enemy's belt.

The Neko leader stared down firm and cool at where Gen's breathing was raising a sandstorm out of the dust. The ninja's voice was low and steady. "You lose."

Usagi let his hands fall away from his face again and shook his head. The ninja leader then approached him. Usagi lifted his head to scowl at him again.

The Neko stared down. His expression was seemingly inscrutable behind the mask. A heavy feeling seemed to radiate from him, though. Usagi felt it pressing down on his form trying to pin it in place like the ninja on top of Gen did to him now. "Well, Ronin, what is it you wish to try?"

"I wish to tend to Gennesuke. Your warriors have caused him grievous hurt!"

"Of course. You both are our guests here. I could have him killed, but that would not be hospitable. You both are to stay here. Who knows who else might come to join you soon?"

He stepped out of Usagi's way. The Ronin bolted to his friend. It seemed the ninja had already bound their victims' hands behind his back with ropes. One was pulling the now lax chain away from his arm. The rhino was breathing heavily into the dirt but otherwise lay still. Usagi knelt behind his friend's shoulders and winced once more. His voice was low and hissed. "Ah Gen …"

What do you think will happen now?

God Bless

ScribeofHeroes