Author's Notes: Wow, the K.N.D. got their butts handed to them last chapter, didn't they? Sorry if any of your favorite characters got roughed up a bit. Ginsu's a tough customer who means business, so he's not exactly like the goofier villains we've grown accustomed to on the show. Speaking of Ginsu, I made a neat little b&w sketch of him shortly after writing the previous chapter. I wish I could show it to you, since it would give you a clearer idea of what he looks like. Oh well. On a final note, some of you are asking me to add in some 3/4 romance. Since you asked so nicely, I'll throw in a dash of 3/4 in later chapters.=)

CODENAME: Kids Next Door

"OPERATION: N.I.N.J.E.R.K."

Nearly Invincible Ninja Joins Enemies Rivaling Kids

Part 4: "In My Father's Honor"

"What do you mean you didn't destroy the Kids Next Door?!" hissed the Delightful Children from Down the Lane. Ten minutes had passed since Numbuh 3 was once again taken away from her friends by the hands of Ginsu. She trembled as she tried to hold back the tears which streamed down her face, but had no such luck since was completely tied down to a chair. "At least they can't see or hear me..." she thought to herself, her sobs muffled by a long piece of duct tape plastered over her mouth. Numbah 3 could only listen helplessly as her six captors decided the fate of her and her friends. Their forms were barely recognizable in the pitch black room, the only light coming from a door barely left open.

"Settle down. Everything is under control." the calm voice of Ginsu echoed. "Settle down?! How do you suggest we settle down when those meddlesome insects are planning our defeat at this very moment?!" shouted the enraged Delightfuls. "You have disregarded orders and blatantly failed your mission! What kind of ninja are you anyway?!" Numbuh 3 winced and shut her eyes as the angry chorus of the Delightfuls echoed throughout the room. Then she heard something she never would have expected to hear at that moment: laughter. The sound of Ginsu's soft laughter floated through the air. For a moment, Numbuh 3 even felt comforted by it until the Delightfuls began shouting again, sucking the comfort and warmth right out of her and replacing it with cold and lonesome dread. "What is so funny?! What do you find so amusing about our current situation?!" the outraged Delightfuls yelled. Ginsu's laughter stopped as he began to speak again. "Allow me to explain why I did what I did. You see, if I had attempted to destroy them within their base, I would've been no match against their defense system and their weaponry. By instead taking Numbuh 3, I knew that the others would eventually come for her. By forcing them to come here, they will have to play by our rules. Sanban will be added incentive that they follow our demands. That's when we'll have them right where we want them, and that is when we will destroy them all."

Silence loomed over the room for what seemed like forever to Numbuh 3, until the Delightfuls' snickering sent a shiver down her spine. "We like the way you think, Ginsu. The Kids Next Door will have to do whatever we tell them to do. That should provide some satisfying entertainment before we destroy them. We can even force them to disclose the location of the Kids Next Door homebase. Then we will never have to worry about those brats ruining the lives of adults ever again." "I'm glad you understand why I had to abandon the original mission. I didn't mean any disrespect." replied Ginsu in a humble tone. Numbuh 3 could make out the shapes of the Delightfuls as they walked towards the door. "No, you did well Ginsu. After we destroy the Kids Next Door, we will see to it that you are paid for your services. But until then, we need you to watch over Ms. Sanban. Don't let her escape." they chorused. Then, the door closed and all was dark again.

A minute later, a row of cieling lights was turned on overhead, stinging Numbuh 3's eyes with its sudden brightness. Her eyes adjusted and saw that she was being held in a large storage facility the size of a small airplane hanger. Crates, cardboard boxes, and pieces of unidentifiable machiney littered the floor. Its size suggested to Numbuh 3 that the room was used to house one of the Delightfuls' many deadly machines whenever one would be in need of repair. Its emptiness made Numbuh 3 long for the company of her friends. The presence of her captor magnified that feeling tenfold as she remembered that he was left in charge to watch her.

Ginsu studied the raven-haired girl up until the very moment she noticed him leaning against the door. Although eerily calm on the outside, Ginsu's heart and mind began to race as he was finally alone with the enemy; free to do what he wished with her; free to exact his revenge. Ginsu could sense the fear in Numbuh 3's eyes as small teardrops slid down from them. He wanted to hear her beg for mercy. He wanted to hear the desperation in her voice and make her feel the same pain he felt for so long. Giving in to his desires, Ginsu walked over to Numbuh 3 and quickly peeled the duct tape off of her. The sudden flash of pain made Numbuh 3 wimper and allow a small stream of tears to run down her face. But even as Ginsu cupped her chin and lifted her head up to look at him, she found the courage to ask a question that surprised Ginsu enough to forget his thirst for revenge for the moment. "Why didn't you tell the truth?" she asked. The young ninja narrowed his eyes. "I have my reasons." he replied. Numbuh 3 wasn't satisfied with his answer. "Why did you take me away from my friends? What have I ever done to you??" "YOU DID ENOUGH!!" shouted Ginsu angrily. Numbuh 3 recoiled in her chair and meakly replied. "... whatever I did to you, I could try to help make it better." Ginsu growled and turned his back to Numbuh 3. "It's not that simple. It's not something that can just go away. You, of all people, should know that." Numbuh 3 was confused at what Ginsu was saying to her. None of it made sense to her. "It's not fair! You took me away for something I didn't do! I don't even know you!" she cried with frustration in her voice. Ginsu had all that he could take as rage exploded inside him. Grabbing Numbuh 3's green sweatshirt by the collar, Ginsu screamed into her face as tears began to well up in his charcoal eyes. "Do you think it's fair that I didn't get the chance to see my own father?! Do you think it's fair that he was taken away from me before I even knew him?!" Numbuh 3 was shocked. Not by this boy's sudden outburst of anger, but by his tears. The very person that snatched her from where she slept and easily beat her friends that had saved kids all over the world again and again from tyrannical adults, was crying.

Sensing his own weakness, Ginsu quickly let go of Numbuh 3 and retreated to a wooden crate where he sat. Numbuh 3, finally beginning to understand the pain and anger of the boy-ninja, spoke softly. "It helps to talk about things if they are bothering us." The moment those words were recieved by Ginsu's ears, he felt the last of his defenses crumble. Her innocent words touched his spirit in a way he couldn't understand, but he felt somehow comfortable at that moment. For once in what seemed like forever to him, hate didn't control Ginsu's heart and mind. Yet, part of him was confused and angry that he felt comfort from the words of his enemy. Despite this, Ginsu made up his mind. "... if you want to understand why I took you in the first place... then so be it." Numbuh 3 listened in awe as her captor began to unravel the mystery of his hatred and sorrow.

"Before I was born, my father became involved with a group who's business was selling weapons illegally to several parts of Japan. From what I understand, he was a powerful man. So powerful, that his enemies never even dared to challenge him. Well... one day, an adult fighting organization similar to your "Kids Next Door" inadvertantly exposed a friend of my father's, who was also involved with the weapons dealers. Upon imprisonment, that man agreed to reveal the names of everyone involved with my father, along with evidence that eventually sent my father to prison forever. Shortly after I was born, my father passed away when he fell ill in prison. The one who led the adult fighting group responsible for my father's arrest was your mother's baby sister." Ginsu looked down at his fists as anger slowly crept back into his heart. "My mother told me this on my 9th birthday. From that day forward, everything I held dear to me no longer mattered. My sole purpose in life had became vengeance. I took the lessons of my grandfather who had taught me the ways of ninjutsu since the day I could walk, and trained with them day after day until I knew that I was ready to accomplish the task ahead of me! I knew that from then on, I had to avenge my father and take my revenge on all the Sanban family by taking away one of their own! Just as they had done to MY family!!"

Numbuh 3 squeezed her eyes shut and shook her head from side to side, tears streaming down her cheeks despite how hard she fought them. " No! No! It's not true! My mom and aunt never told me these things! It... it can't be true!" she cried. Ginsu hopped down from the crate with cold hatred in his eyes. "Your mother and aunt probably never told you because they feared it would emotionally scar you if you learned the truth at such a young age. But my family raised me to be strong! And to honor the spirits of our loved ones! So, in my father's honor, I have no choice but to destroy you." Numbuh 3 could no longer hold back her tears, and her whole body was wracked by sobs and shaking. "That's not true! There's always another choice!" she cried. "Ginsu, I know how you feel! I never got to see my father either! I know it's hard, but I know that somewhere, my dad is looking down on me and I know he loves me! Don't you realize that even though your dad made some mistakes, he's looking down on you to? He wouldn't want you to hurt people like he did! He wouldn't want it this way!"

Ginsu turned his back to Numbuh 3 again and stood their for what seemed like hours to her. He then said, "That may be true... but you never knew my family or my father, did you? What makes you so sure that he is looking down on me instead of up at me?" With that, Ginsu returned to the door across from Numbuh 3 and watched her silently. All Numbuh 3 could do was hang her head, her eyes red and puffy with tears.

TO BE CONTINUED...