(Note: I appreciate the positive reviews thus far. Thank you. I am aware that there are instances where I've used the wrong words to describe things (Sore instead of Saw for example) but am currently unsure how I can edit my submissions without having to completely go over the formatting again. If this is possible and you know how to do it, please mail me, anyway, The Hunted Kunoichi, resumed.... Phonesis)
Chapter Five
Shake was growing impatient. He resorted to watching the small television that transmitted a weak signal bombarded with scan lines and interference. He didn't have a clue what it was he was watching. It seemed like some endurance game show of sorts. A wacky, laconic, presenter in tinted pink sunglasses wailed in excitement as a group of obese men pounced into a pool of green liquid. Shake was from the west but could speak Japanese well enough to make out the bizarre dialogue.
The man's patience then entirely diminished. He stood up and switched the box off. His cigar was long spent. He brought out a packet of cigarettes from his trouser pocket and put one into his mouth. He lit the stick with a silver lighter, its head shaped as a skull, the flame coming from the eye socket.
The airport was small and its interior only consisted of a few rooms and a corridor leading to a spiral staircase heading into the basement. Shake strutted down the corridor towards the door leading out into the clearing outside. His two bodyguards watched him walk towards them. One of the men, the larger built of the two, spoke:
"Going somewhere sir?"
Shake seemed enthralled by his cigarette and didn't make eye contact with his men.
"Yeah, I'm going outside for some fresh air, don't bother following me, its okay," he mumbled.
"As you wish sir," the bodyguard replied.
The old wooden doorway churned open in reverberated protest as the aged rusty hinge squeaked with motion. Shake only partially pushed it open and squeezed his way through the gap, dusting off his jacket once outside. The sun rained down upon the overgrown clearing and the heat rays bobbed from the many dumped metallic barrels that scattered around the lost air strip. Shake took a few paces up a rough path until he was outside of the airport and entering the wild woodland that wrapped around the dwelling from all sides like it was a siege. He puffed away at his smoke stick whilst raising his face to the sun and soaking in its warmth. The cerulean sky was perfect, without a single cloud to blemish its clarity. It was at this point he noticed a speck of blue in an otherwise green world. He looked to his right and noticed with more prominence a blue shade within the woodland, amongst the trees. He decided to investigate in his usual flamboyant manner and swaggered towards the display. He took one final wisp of tobacco smoke before hurling the filter into the grass. With each step he took he could make out more detail. It wasn't until he was only a matter of metres away until he finally realised that the blue tone was clothing, it was Kasumi.
Shake was very fast to react to this. He knew exactly what to do and ran as fast as his tight suit trousers allowed his legs to stretch back towards the hangar. As soon as he reached it he prized open the wooden doorway to the surprise of his two hired protectors.
"What's wrong sir?" The larger man asked.
"Where's the dart gun? Where is it?" Shake yelled.
The smaller of the two bodyguards, his hair wrapped in a ponytail, replied;
"It's here dude, you asked me to carry it."
He revealed a small firearm from his jacket, pre loaded with a blue dart. Shake belly laughed as he took hold of the weapon.
"Stay here boys, I'll be right back. I've got some game to catch," he laughed.
The man pushed open the wooden door again, creating a large enough gap to twist through. The bodyguards watched him disappear back up the dirt track, the sounds of mocking laughter fading with distance.
As the rope wore away Kasumi started to plan in her head what her next move would be. She felt an urge to simply escape and get away but another part of her wanted to find out where Endal had been planning to take her. Endal continued to saw away at the fibres until eventually the loops were all cut loose. With the slack Kasumi was able to bring her hands out of the web of rope and swiftly moved her arms away from each other in liberation. Endal then dropped the knife and continued to lay still.
Kasumi knew that she was still in a sticky situation. Her feet were still tied and this meant she was still at a major disadvantage.
"Endal remember what I said," she directed. "Don't try anything."
She quickly grabbed her tanto from Endal's belt and rolled to one side. In a flash she hacked at the rope with her instrument which cut across the thread with total ease. Finally, she was free. She pounced to her feet and looked to Endal. The shady figure had rolled to a tree and sat against it, smiling.
"Well done," he said aridly.
Kasumi looked around the area and then back to Endal.
"Where were you going to take me?" Kasumi asked inquisitively.
Endal stared into the soil and played with it in morbid contemplation.
"Somewhere," he said.
Kasumi sensed this conversation wouldn't be heading anywhere useful.
"Somewhere huh... Really?" Kasumi said sardonically. "Where exactly?"
Endal smirked. He was about to continue his abstract cover up when he noticed a cream coloured suit pop in and out of view from the trees behind Kasumi. He quickly realised it was Shake sneaking his way towards them.
Endal then looked Kasumi in the eyes.
"I can't tell you Kasumi. All I will say is that we are very near the place, very near..."
Kasumi seemed ever so apprehensive about this new information and decided that it was likely the best she'd get out of Endal. She put her tanto back behind her waist and spoke:
"I'm going to go now Endal but I need you to understand one thing. If I even as much as see you again I won't show any mercy. I'm not going to harm you now, for that you should thank me, but just remember that if you try anything like this again I won't hold back."
Endal nodded in quick succession.
"Bye then," he commented.
The kunoichi ignored Endal's sarcasm and turned to race away. But as she turned she spotted a man walking towards her from the swaying tall trees. He was holding a gun in his right hand, a devious expression forming on his tanned face.
Kasumi paused dead in her tracks. An expression of shock formed on her pale Japanese face. Her brown eyes widened and she took a few paces back slowly. Shake stopped once he was a few feet from the girl, gun poised.
"So you must be..." Shake put his hand to his head in false concentration. "Kasumi... Ah yes Kasumi, the ninja girl."
He laughed and then looked to Endal.
"You having fun down there Endal?" He mocked.
Endal stood up and walked closer to his boss.
"Yeah... Funs the word I'd use to describe my day, hell yeah!" Endal seemed tired.
Kasumi was studying Shake. She could tell intuitively that he was behind all of this and was ultimately who Endal was working for. She stared into his eyes, a dry look on her face. Shake just glazed back, his round sunglasses reflecting bright sunlight.
"Moments like this are really worth time to take in," Shake said. "Victory is just so final I'd say, would you say that Kasumi?"
Kasumi didn't have the energy to reply with anything profound.
"Battles can be won or lost, what matters is the final outcome."
Her words alarmed Shake.
"The final outcome huh? Hmm, enough chat," said Shake.
Without warning he raised his gun and fired a single shot into Kasumi's thigh. A blue dart sped out of the barrel with a whistled flare and embedded itself into the kunoichi's white stocking. She recoiled like a wounded animal and plucked the dart back out but the action was complete and the liquid remedy had already entered her system. She stood for a few moments blankly then felt her strength fail. She fell into the grass, her last sight Endal and Shake standing side by side, both laughing.
Chapter Six
Kasumi woke up in a small room. Her first sight was that of a white ceiling. As she slowly woke up and regained her faculties she discovered she was stretched out on a table with her hands and feet bound together and tied to each end of a flat surface. She slowly became more aware of her surroundings and begun to cautiously look around the confines of the room. There was little to see. It was dimly lit although visible enough to see. The walls were bare and the door on the other side of the room seemed metallic and sturdy. Kasumi then started to struggle and wriggle against the rope that tied around her wrists and ankles. She put all of her strength and effort into it and wildly fought her restraint. She knew quite quickly that there was no chance of her managing to break free from the bonds and submissively stopped her struggle and just lay perfectly still. Her boots had been removed as had all of the items and weapons that she had been carrying. Her white stockings failed to keep her warm, her feet were cold and she begun rubbing them together as they stood side by side.
Her thoughts focused on who it was who'd done this to her, and where precisely it was she'd been taken to. She had a clear memory of how she had been shot by a dart and remembered what Endal had said about the place being near to where they already were. The table was metallic and reflected the light from a strip above. It made an electrical hum. Kasumi could spot flies swoop around the light source above her body. Kasumi just closed her eyes and entered a meditative state. It was silly to waste energy, she needed to focus.
Endal sat smugly on an old wooden rocking chair. With every rock and sway the wooden frame whined an annoying squeak.
"You best stop rocking on that God damn chair before I throw it out the freakin window man," Shake snapped.
He was sitting on a decrepit red sofa on the other side of the room. When this airport had been in use this room had more than likely been used as the reception area.
"Where's my money Shake?" Endal enquired.
Shake coughed.
"Endal I didn't bring a suitcase full of the good stuff with me here you know. I needed to make sure this area was secure. But don't worry your money is near by, I've sent my two men out to fetch it. They will be back soon, and then you can go."
Endal wasn't particularly impressed with Shake's words but accepted them all the same.
"Sure, you've said that already pal. I need to book out of here as soon as... you hearing that?" Endal was lively.
"Man I'm hearing that, just chill. It's all good," said Shake.
A few minutes of awkward silence went by as the two men sat in wait for the bodyguards to return from wherever it was Shake had got them to go. Endal had a few questions, and concerns, and just couldn't resist talking out:
"So, why do you want this girl anyway?"
"She's going to prove profitable to me," laughed Shake.
"How's that?" Endal asked.
Shake took a smoke from his gold packet and lit it in slow methodical style before replying.
"That girl, Endal, that girl is dynamite. I heard around town, in Tokyo, that she is being hunted down by an army of other, erm, I dunno, ninja's," Shake said. "She is being hunted down and this is major news in the warrior circuit. I found out her brother wants her dead, some guy called Hay-ya-tea or something. Quite frankly I don't care who the mother is."
"So..." Endal was intrigued.
"Well isn't it obvious? Shake asked.
Endal fumbled around in his chair and sat up with his head in his hands.
"Nope," he said.
Shake puffed away and pressed the ash into the tray.
"This guy wants her dead bad. Now I've got her. All I need to do is tell him I've got her and he will jump at the prospect of coming to me to get hold of her," Shake laughed. "I'll charge him of course; he'll pay me for her."
"You're selling Kasumi?" Endal was hardly impressed.
"You liking that scheme?" Shake asked.
"I've never heard anything so stupid in my life," Endal stated. "For a start how will you contact Hayate, I've done my own research you know. He's not exactly going to drive down here in a Subaru!"
"We live in a digital age Endal. Do you know what that means, it means mobile phones and even the modern day ninja's own them," Shake was arrogant. "And yes I do have his number; I have my ways of getting that type of information."
Endal begun to feel cheated and used, like his warrior pride had been abused and used for some common kidnapping. He slowly felt less bothered about his financial incentive.
"Right okay, so what in the name of Jesus makes you think Kasumi's brother will have the kind of money your be asking for? He's a warrior, not a banker," Endal investigated.
"He's got money, he can sell things, priceless swords, shrines, all sorts," replied Shake.
With that there was a sound of violent thudding from outside the room. It was the front door opening up. The bodyguards were back.
"Finally," said Endal.
The two men were swift to enter the room and both walked to Shake's side.
"Sorry Pascal, got lost," said the larger protector.
"Hold up," Endal said, sitting up. "Pascal?"
"Oh," giggled Shake. "Yeah that's my real name, Pascal Durron. Shake is just some random contact name I often use, do you really think I sign my cheques Shake!"
"Right I see," put Endal. "So, Pascal, let's see this cash."
Pascal nodded to his men. They both knelt down and placed a black suitcase on a wooden coffee table situated in the centre of the room. The smaller man with ponytail applied the combination to the lock and the case flicked open.
Endal watched as the case revealed its content. It was only half full.
"What's this," the assassin raised loudly.
"Well this, my friend, is what you have earned. Did you really think I would pay you the full price for a half completed job?" Pascal was serious.
"What do you mean half completed?" Endal asked.
"I found you sitting by a tree with Kasumi about to bolt back into the woods. You didn't bring her to me, I had to jump in to sort that part out, you just managed to bring her to this area before getting waylaid like some punk amateur," Pascal yelled.
Endal let it sink in and moved to the case. The cash was in wads of $50 bills. He picked up a pile of the paper and flicked through it cautiously. Pascal watched him whilst his bodyguards stood to his side.
"You accept my logic?" Pascal shuffled in his sofa.
Endal was perplexed at this outcome but knew that he was dealing with a crafty character who, in the pettiest terms, was actually right. Endal hadn't managed to get Kasumi to him. He'd been outsmarted by her and it was Pascal Durron who'd actually saved the day. The more he thought about it the more he accepted it.
"Fair enough," Endal glumly put.
Pascal nodded and stood up with his arm out stretched;
"Well now I guess you can leave then. You've done your part."
The two men shook hands and Endal took the money from the case and put it in his own black holdall.
"So what will you do with Kasumi?" Endal was curious.
"I have someone coming down here, he should arrive soon. I'm paying him to, ha, keep the girl company until I get this deal with her brother sorted."
"Keep her company huh..." Endal said.
"He'll likely half kill her, I don't like to get my suit dirty," Pascal replied.
Endal realised that Pascal was as sadistic and cold towards others as he was meticulous and obsessed about money. He didn't need to hurt Kasumi, he could just keep her in the basement until whoever it was that wanted her, or gave the best price, turned up to take her. But instead Pascal had hired someone to come and torture her, for no reason. Endal felt sickened by the man and felt dry about being anything to do with his plan. He took his bag and walked to the room's doorway then spoke:
"Bye then Mr. Durron."
"Thanks for your services Endal," Pascal replied.
Endal looked to the two bodyguards who both gave him a respectful glance. He then left the room and walked down the corridor until he reached the doorway out. After cranking it open and edging out of the gap he sighed, he knew he had some bitterness burning inside him regarding Pascal Durron and his plans for Kasumi. Endal respected Kasumi for being such a skilled and honourable warrior. He disliked seeing her dragged down into the level of Pascal's prize.
Endal started to walk away, up the rough path which led back into the feral surroundings. As coincidence would have it he suddenly spotted a person walking towards the hangar from the direction of the woods. They were dressed in a black trench coat which drooped down across their body. Whoever it was they must have been hot in the intense heat as the sun continued to pour down sizzling rays. The figure got closer and Endal realised it was a man with short blonde hair. Just as the two were about to pass one another Endal spoke;
"Who are you?"
The blonde haired figure didn't stop moving and walked by Endal.
"Who are you?" He muttered, whilst passing.
Endal watched him as he walked down and reached the hangar door. He fiddled with the handle and then slipped inside, out of view. Endal then turned to face the woods. A mist was forming around the foliage. It was a long walk back to Tokyo.
(Stay tuned for Part 4)