A/N: Back! I had to practice for a show this Friday, so I've been a little
busy. Marching Band can be such a pain sometimes...
Chapter Two: Surprise
"Aoshi-sama, what is that..." Misao couldn't finish her sentence, because she was struck in the ribs with a dull silver disc with such force that she was knocked from her perch. Aoshi had barely enough time to register what had just happened, when he too was smashed in the ribs and thrown from the rafters.
"Where's Misao?" he thought confusedly before plummeting into a stack of crates, his kodachis in their sheath clattering next to him.
"Nice aim, Ishtou. But, how did you know they were even up there?" Naku questioned, surveying the crushed crates and dust clouds Misao and Aoshi had created in their separate landings. "That had to hurt.." he quietly mused to himself.
Ishtou was quick to oblige. "It was quite easy. An old trick I learned for spotting animals in the dark. You look for light flashes off of their eyes. Because we have these flame lanterns, the light dances. It can cause strange reflections off of a creature's moist eyes. This way, no amount of camouflage can save them if they are watching you. Since I saw something sparkling in this filthy rat's nest, I assumed it wasn't a fresh trinket, but the rat itself." He started gathering his discs from the debris. "Shadows can't hide rats from me."
"...Shit..." Aoshi tried to sit up, but found a crate on his chest. The pounding in his eardrums wasn't helping very much, either. So he lay there for a moment, gathering his strength and his thoughts. 'Where am I? Tokyo, factory, Naku, disc... What the hell?! How in the world...? Wait, calm down. I'm not captured or dead yet. I think. Damn. Let's review the facts. How many men in the room? About sixty. Crap. Kodachis? I can feel them next to me. Good. Health? Mental, check. Body...' At this, he tried a small flex, and found that he could move fairly easily. He also became aware of the metallic taste of blood in his mouth. 'I'll live. I believe in my current condition, I can fight at seventy percent. Exits? Three. Three large doors. Layout of room? Rectangular. Misao? Shit! Misao...' At this, Aoshi was partially revitalized, pushing himself up out of the debris, gathering his kodachis, and formulating a plan to get himself and Misao out of this hellhole. Alive.
The sight that greeted him wasn't pretty, though.
Misao was already up, standing upon a small mountain of crates, shouting curses and threats down to the fifteen well-armed, but confused looking men surrounding her mountain. Some had firearms, others had traditional Japanese swords. They all looked oddly like pit bulls that had treed a cat.
"You better not come any closer, if you know what's good for you!" Misao screeched, brandishing her trademark kunai. "I'll tear you apart! You'll be sorry you messed with me!" She hopped up and down in a full blown Weasel War Dance, ready to defend her mountain.
Aoshi was about to slip behind some crate stacks, to ambush the line of men threatening Misao, when he sensed a ki that make him stop dead in his tracks. It was far too strong and...cold, to be mixed in with this lot. That only meant one thing: he and Misao were in serious trouble.
"Why don't you give up, and come to us quietly? You have no chance of escaping." Naku's sinister, wheezy voice carried through the factory, causing even Misao to stop and listen. "Even if you managed to get through my hand-picked men, my friend here would gut you very quickly." Naku waved to Ishtou, who was leaning on some crates, twirling a disc in his left hand.
Ishtou smiled, then thought to himself, 'Oh, don't do that. Where's the fun? I want an excuse to draw this out' Ishtou chuckled quietly, and ran his thumb over the edge of one of his killing discs, causing a small rivulet of blood to course along the steel. 'Perfect.'
As Ishtou was thinking his malicious thoughts, even Misao felt his ki flux a little. It sent shivers crawling up her spine, in spite of the relative warmth in the factory. She took a deep breath, drawing her eyes to his form, and thinking to herself, 'One bad guy...better watch out for him.' Misao involuntarily tightened her grip on her kunai.
Pressed against a stack of crates, concealing himself from view, Aoshi's agile mind was racing. He had to come up with a plan, before their enemies quit fooling around and decided to come after them in force. He had to get his priorities in order, and then the plan would formulate itself. 1. Get Misao out. She was so outclassed, she wouldn't stand a chance. 2. Get himself out. He could last longer than Misao, but due to his injuries, he would have to choose retreat instead of killing everyone in sight. 3. Cover their trail. No use getting hunted down. 4. Regroup, and go from there. Simple. Right.
With his outline in place, and trusting in his speed, Aoshi lined up a path directly to Misao, which happened to go through four goons. Perfect. With a rush of wind, he charged.
*End Chapter Two*
Another chapter done! Yay! Two things:
Many thanks to koishii-glory for the review. Someone appreciates my story!
Speaking of reviews, please review. I'm sitting here with wide eyes, waiting for the praises (or flames) that await me. Thanks!
Chapter Two: Surprise
"Aoshi-sama, what is that..." Misao couldn't finish her sentence, because she was struck in the ribs with a dull silver disc with such force that she was knocked from her perch. Aoshi had barely enough time to register what had just happened, when he too was smashed in the ribs and thrown from the rafters.
"Where's Misao?" he thought confusedly before plummeting into a stack of crates, his kodachis in their sheath clattering next to him.
"Nice aim, Ishtou. But, how did you know they were even up there?" Naku questioned, surveying the crushed crates and dust clouds Misao and Aoshi had created in their separate landings. "That had to hurt.." he quietly mused to himself.
Ishtou was quick to oblige. "It was quite easy. An old trick I learned for spotting animals in the dark. You look for light flashes off of their eyes. Because we have these flame lanterns, the light dances. It can cause strange reflections off of a creature's moist eyes. This way, no amount of camouflage can save them if they are watching you. Since I saw something sparkling in this filthy rat's nest, I assumed it wasn't a fresh trinket, but the rat itself." He started gathering his discs from the debris. "Shadows can't hide rats from me."
"...Shit..." Aoshi tried to sit up, but found a crate on his chest. The pounding in his eardrums wasn't helping very much, either. So he lay there for a moment, gathering his strength and his thoughts. 'Where am I? Tokyo, factory, Naku, disc... What the hell?! How in the world...? Wait, calm down. I'm not captured or dead yet. I think. Damn. Let's review the facts. How many men in the room? About sixty. Crap. Kodachis? I can feel them next to me. Good. Health? Mental, check. Body...' At this, he tried a small flex, and found that he could move fairly easily. He also became aware of the metallic taste of blood in his mouth. 'I'll live. I believe in my current condition, I can fight at seventy percent. Exits? Three. Three large doors. Layout of room? Rectangular. Misao? Shit! Misao...' At this, Aoshi was partially revitalized, pushing himself up out of the debris, gathering his kodachis, and formulating a plan to get himself and Misao out of this hellhole. Alive.
The sight that greeted him wasn't pretty, though.
Misao was already up, standing upon a small mountain of crates, shouting curses and threats down to the fifteen well-armed, but confused looking men surrounding her mountain. Some had firearms, others had traditional Japanese swords. They all looked oddly like pit bulls that had treed a cat.
"You better not come any closer, if you know what's good for you!" Misao screeched, brandishing her trademark kunai. "I'll tear you apart! You'll be sorry you messed with me!" She hopped up and down in a full blown Weasel War Dance, ready to defend her mountain.
Aoshi was about to slip behind some crate stacks, to ambush the line of men threatening Misao, when he sensed a ki that make him stop dead in his tracks. It was far too strong and...cold, to be mixed in with this lot. That only meant one thing: he and Misao were in serious trouble.
"Why don't you give up, and come to us quietly? You have no chance of escaping." Naku's sinister, wheezy voice carried through the factory, causing even Misao to stop and listen. "Even if you managed to get through my hand-picked men, my friend here would gut you very quickly." Naku waved to Ishtou, who was leaning on some crates, twirling a disc in his left hand.
Ishtou smiled, then thought to himself, 'Oh, don't do that. Where's the fun? I want an excuse to draw this out' Ishtou chuckled quietly, and ran his thumb over the edge of one of his killing discs, causing a small rivulet of blood to course along the steel. 'Perfect.'
As Ishtou was thinking his malicious thoughts, even Misao felt his ki flux a little. It sent shivers crawling up her spine, in spite of the relative warmth in the factory. She took a deep breath, drawing her eyes to his form, and thinking to herself, 'One bad guy...better watch out for him.' Misao involuntarily tightened her grip on her kunai.
Pressed against a stack of crates, concealing himself from view, Aoshi's agile mind was racing. He had to come up with a plan, before their enemies quit fooling around and decided to come after them in force. He had to get his priorities in order, and then the plan would formulate itself. 1. Get Misao out. She was so outclassed, she wouldn't stand a chance. 2. Get himself out. He could last longer than Misao, but due to his injuries, he would have to choose retreat instead of killing everyone in sight. 3. Cover their trail. No use getting hunted down. 4. Regroup, and go from there. Simple. Right.
With his outline in place, and trusting in his speed, Aoshi lined up a path directly to Misao, which happened to go through four goons. Perfect. With a rush of wind, he charged.
*End Chapter Two*
Another chapter done! Yay! Two things:
Many thanks to koishii-glory for the review. Someone appreciates my story!
Speaking of reviews, please review. I'm sitting here with wide eyes, waiting for the praises (or flames) that await me. Thanks!