Chapter Eleven

Kasumi clutched a hand full of her ninja stars. She only had a few of them but was particularly skilled in their use. She could hear the men step ever closer to her position and knew that it would only be a matter of seconds until they could see her legs cowered behind the red barrel. She needed to act now.

A figure dressed in blue suddenly leapt into the view of the mercenaries. Kasumi jumped from behind the barrel and rolled across the ground. She knelt on her knees, facing the men.

"There she is!" Chad yelled.

His men raised their AK-47 assault rifles up into firing position. Pascal was back near the broken up wooden door with his protectors.

"Hey wait," he screamed. "Don't shoot her; we can't kill her, yet."

Kasumi was close and prepared to hurl a shuriken but Pascal's words had stopped her. She suddenly remembered that these guys weren't looking to kill her.

Chad seemed annoyed.

"Okay don't move," he yelled at Kasumi.

He whispered something to his men and then they started to walk towards her. As they closed in Chad spoke;

"Just because I can't kill you Kasumi don't mean I can't shoot you!"

He aimed his pistol at her leg and released the safety. Kasumi knew exactly what to do. She stood up and in a swift movement launched a ninja star at Chad's thigh. It made contact with his leg almost instantaneously and he howled in pain before falling on his face. Kasumi then raced at Chad's three men. She knew they wouldn't fire at her.

The kunoichi raced into the middle of the men. One tried to strike her with the butt of his rifle. She evaded the wooden frame and drove a knee strike into the man's chest. He stumbled back as another came charging from Kasumi's side. Kasumi fell to the ground and brought out her left leg. She spun it around, sweeping the mercenary from his feet. Kasumi then leaped back to her feet and blocked an incoming jab from the third gunman. She clutched his arm and turned around. She then bent down and threw him over her shoulders. By the time he had landed the other two men had got back up and Kasumi jumped up and performed a sideways split in midair. Both her legs made contact with each man as they came running at her from either side. She landed gracefully as the men fell down to her sides.

Her work wasn't done and the man she'd hurled over her shoulder had got back up. He swung a left hook which Kasumi had no troubles countering. She clutched his wrist and bent it, forcing him to go with the pressure and jump into the air, spinning around and landing on his back. Kasumi could tell he was going to try to get right back up so as he begun to move she drove a punch directly into his face. He was out cold.

Kasumi then looked to the other two mercenaries. One was showing no signs of life, lying limply with his arms wrapping around his chest. The other was stumbling to his feet.

"Don't come any closer," Kasumi warned.

She hated having to fight people who she knew, deep down, had no chance against her. This wasn't big headedness on her part, it was compassion. The man didn't take any notice of the warning and stormed towards Kasumi in a position that suggested he was going for a rugby tackle. Kasumi simply launched a front kick, her foot striking his head. The man fell down onto his front and didn't get back up. Kasumi turned around and looked at Chad who sat with his pistol aimed straight at her.

"It's been fun watching you deck my men," he said. "But now it's time to end this show. This is for my thigh."

He aimed his gun at her leg and laughed grimly. Kasumi pounced into the air as high as her strength allowed her just at the instant where Chad fired a shot. A loud boom echoed out, a plethora of birds fled from the rooftops. The bullet whistled into the sky, missing its target. Kasumi had flipped in the air in flawless elegance and landed behind Chad. Before he could react Kasumi had put her tanto to his neck.

"Drop your gun," she ordered.

Chad complied in an instant.

As Kasumi watched him shiver by her feet she looked towards Pascal. He was some distance away, still by the hangar door. His two men had removed their black jackets, stretching in preparation, gearing up for a fight. Kasumi then looked back at Chad, unsure what to do with him. He was clutching his thigh, the metal star still embedded into the flesh.

"Kasumi," yelled Pascal. "Don't even think about running away. I've got a gun in my hand and trust me I could hit you from here without any troubles. And I don't think your toy stars can make this range."

Kasumi knew not to underestimate the power of a gun and treated the threat deadly seriously. She put her tanto back around her back and kicked Chad's pistol further from his grasp.

"Stay away from me or I'll be forced to injure you further," the kunoichi said.

Chad nodded in defeat. He had no intention to do much more than just see to his wound. To him Kasumi was just a name; he had nothing personal going on and had only come for the money. Kasumi then started to walk towards Pascal. She flexed her fingers and rolled her head around her neck in brief preparation. Pascal's bodyguards stood in front of Pascal in a line going forward. This was obviously the order she'd have to fight them in, the larger man first, the pony tailed figure second... and then Mr. Durron.

Ayane suddenly stopped pacing and looked down at her beaten foe.

"So you're all used up? Well I've got use for you yet," she said.

Endal no longer had enough energy to care about what was coming. He was just concerned over the pains in his head that were beginning to affect his ability to think straight. He'd taken too many blows to the head for one day.

"Oh yeah..." He replied.

"I'm not absolutely certain where this airport place is. Since your now the expert you can take me, and I'm sure Kasumi would be pleased to see her kidnapper again, wouldn't you?" Ayane giggled.

Ayane's feelings regarding Kasumi were still the same as ever, she despised her, but she had still felt compelled to act against this sinister plan to capture her. If anything she wanted to get a hold of the guy who'd planned it more than she wanted Kasumi, although the thought of catching up with her half-sister was very appealing to the young girl. She just refused to allow a bunch of criminals to con Hayate into buying Kasumi from them.

Hayate wasn't even aware that Ayane had gone on this undertaking. He had planned to make Shake think he'd won, by coming to the location Shake would have invited him to go to but then simply dealing with Shake and taking Kasumi – not to pay him. The location of Hayate's home Hayate's friend had given Shake was a fake but one which Hayate had planned to wait at for when Shake or whoever he sent came along. This was the plan, but Ayane wanted a more direct approach.

Endal seemed concerned about Ayane's decision and closed his eyes.

"I'm not moving an inch," he whispered.

Ayane was quick to reply;

"You've got a choice Endal," she said. "...Either you take me to Kasumi or I kill you, right here, right now. Don't think I won't do it."

She stood over him, looking down with a deadly serious expression.

"You mean very little to me Endal," she continued. "You're now treading on very thin ice. Now all I ask of you is to take me to Kasumi, then we can go from there."

Endal started to realise that he would be foolish to resist any further. He slowly sat himself up. As he moved he realised quite how sore his bruising was becoming.

"I guess I've got no choice," he said.

"Now that's more like it," the girl replied.

Ayane walked over to where she had thrown her sword and picked it back up.

"Well no time like the present, let's get moving, Endal," she commanded.

Endal clambered up slowly. He ached like an old dog but still had something left.

"You can leave your blades here," Ayane said. "Got anything I should know about still on you?"

Endal shook his head.

"I'm clean... Ayane," he sighed.

Ayane looked around his clothing to make sure. She seemed satisfied.

"Well get moving then, I'm following you now," Ayane replied.

Endal then watched as the girl picked up his bag of money and put the strap around her shoulders.

"Now," she demanded.

Endal begun to trudge back in the direction he'd come from. The fog was still dense but he knew the area well enough to remember what way to go. Ayane remained close behind him. She'd put her sword around her back but kept a close eye on her catch.

Distance raced along as the two figures trundled through the forest. Endal knew that they were heading very close to the airport now and he really didn't like the idea of actually making that destination. He had no idea what would be going on there by now but expected Kasumi would already be half dead. He suddenly paused in his tracks. Ayane had been so concerned in her own thoughts that she hadn't noticed and almost bumped right into his back.

"Hey," she yelled. "Get moving Endal."

Endal felt some race of adrenaline pump inside. His refusal to accept defeat was his weakness and he suddenly tried to turn the tables. He moved his head back quickly and managed to strike Ayane in the face with the back of his skull. She was partially stunned by the strike and clutched her forehead. Endal turned around and drove a punch square into her right cheek. She fell over from the blow. Endal then ran away with as much speed as his legs would allow for. He wanted to reach the airport but with enough time to warn Pascal of Ayane's presence.

Ayane pounced up from the grass in anger. She'd noticed the way Endal had darted off and without any delay chased after him. The young girl had no trouble in running a fast continuous pace and soon spotted a dark figure disappearing in and out of the trees ahead. It was now a question of pace and stamina.

Chapter Twelve

Kasumi slowly scuffled towards her first opponent. He had removed his jacket and tie revealing a white shirt with the sleeves rolled up. The man seemed focused and raised his clenched fists. His stance seemed like a boxers, although his fists were flat palmed. Pascal leaned against the warm wall of the hangar and watched the kunoichi.

"You can't run anywhere girl," he yelled. "If you try I'll shoot you in the legs. Let's have ourselves a little three on one tournament!"

Kasumi prepared herself for further combat and watched the largely built bodyguard close in on her. The man entered her personal circle and brought out his left leg. He attempted a straight buffalo kick directed towards Kasumi's waist. She sidestepped out of the way and then bent low to sweep the man from his feet as he stood with one leg in the air. Kasumi ducked down and kicked the back of the man's knee. This forced him to fall backwards and land into the dry soil, a puff of earth rose up into the air from the contact.

The man jumped to his feet and tried to grab Kasumi by her arms as she got back up into her stance. Kasumi wrestled with him but his strength was too great. He threw her arms to her sides and quickly wrapped his arms around her body in a bear hug. He then picked her up from off her feet and tightened his grasp around her waist. Kasumi gasped for breath frantically. She hadn't responded to the man's attack fast enough and had allowed him to grab hold of her. She was not suited for wrestling and this was one of her few weaknesses. She put her hands to his biceps as they wrapped around her underarms and pushed with all her might. The man seemed unconcerned with her resistance and laughed whilst pressing down tighter across her body.

After only a few seconds more of this hold Kasumi could tell she was losing her strength and beginning to feel feint. In a wild last pitch effort she started to swing her legs and managed to strike the man directly into his groin. He instantly lost his grip on the girl and dropped her, clutching his groin his both hands and bending down in agony. Kasumi fell onto the ground and took a few long deep breaths before leaping back up and striking the man in the head with a fast roundhouse kick. The blow hit him in the side of the head as he bowed down recovering from the knee strike. He fell to his right and hit the deck with a menacing thud.

The man now seemed angry and stormed back up. His face had gone red and his eyes revealed blistering aggression. He attacked and tried to kick her in the stomach again. Kasumi evaded this by clutching his leg as it raced towards her body. She then jumped up and drove a fly kick into his face as he hobbled on one leg. He fell down and Kasumi resumed her stance. The man got up but wearily. Her blow had broken his nose and he bled.

"That was sneaky," he yelled.

He charged at her and attacked like a thing possessed, launching punches and kicks in wild succession. Kasumi evaded, blocked, and dodged his attacks as they came one after the other. He tried to sweep her but she simply glided over his leg without any real effort. He couldn't touch her. It was obvious that the girl's skill was beyond the level of grading now and entering truly spiritual levels. She just glided as if it were a dance. She realised that she was not troubled or putting her full effort into this and it suddenly emerged on her quite how adept her very own skills had now become. Kasumi continued her ballet of Ninjutsu, and then she counter attacked.

The man drove a kick at her which she ducked and then he swung a jab at her which she countered by clutching his arm as it raced towards her. She then leapt into the air and, using his own body as her support, managed to get so high that she proceeded to kick him repeatedly in the face with the soles of her boots until he crashed to the floor with her standing over him. He was in pain from this move and more blood started to ooze from the many bruises that had formed and callused around his face and body. He seemed driven by some wild energy and got back up. Kasumi wasn't going to let him attack her again.

The kunoichi struck him in the stomach with her clenched fist, then launched a combo of punches, pummelling into his chest and head. She finished off with a jumping back kick which spun around from her left side in a full circle before coming around and smashing him across the head. He stumbled back and fell down onto his back. Kasumi could tell by the way he fell and landed that he was limp and lifeless, likely dead. She didn't want to think about it and just walked by him as he lay, focusing on her next opponent.

The man with ponytail seemed cool and calm even though he'd just watched his friend take a beating. He got in a stance as he watched the girl walk towards him. Her brown hair swayed in the light summer wind. For a moment the man was mesmerised by her radiant sophistication and grace as she stirred towards him, but he soon snapped himself out of the spell.

"Welcome to stage two," he declared.

The man started to shuffle on the spot. His style seemed like a form of freestyle, possibly linked to the French kickboxing art, Savate. He raised his right knee and brought forth his arms.

"Let's see what you've got, ninja girl," he said.

Kasumi stood in her Ninjutsu stance and allowed him to come to her. She was a defensive fighter and always allowed the aggressor to come to her. The long haired man came at her without much hesitation and initiated a combination of knee strikes, followed by low kicks to her shins and knees. Kasumi dodged the blows by backing away step by step as he followed. He then tried to kick her in the side of her stomach. His kick was so fast Kasumi couldn't block it and it struck her firmly. She yelped in shock at the blow which partially winded her. The man then drove a front jab at her face. She grabbed his wrist and with her other hand struck him in the elbow joint. This caused him to close the arm up and as he done this Kasumi threw him over her shoulders. He was a skilled fighter and after he'd flipped over her body landed on both feet. Kasumi now found herself standing behind him. He had his back to her and bent low, raising his left leg back, striking her in the chest. She fell down to the ground.

The man turned and jumped into the air. He glided forward until he was destined to land on top of the girl as she lay. Kasumi looked up at the image of his legs falling down towards her face. She quickly rolled to her side and avoided him with fractions of a second to spare. She then swept him from his feet and he fell down to Kasumi's side. He quickly scrambled towards Kasumi and jumped on top of her, trying to pin her down whilst sitting on her chest. He grabbed both her wrists but Kasumi only put a struggle up with one arm. The man put his strength down onto that arm and fell for the old Judo trick. Kasumi then put her strength onto her other arm and pushed him over her side. She then got to her feet and watched as her enemy stood back up. He once again came at her with a series of low kicks but this time Kasumi was geared up to attack as well as defend. He raced into her but she had already made her move.

She pounced into the air and wrapped her legs around his neck before he even had time to react. Once she was in control of him she bent back and her weight caused him to flip forward. Kasumi's legs directed his head on its journey downwards to crash into the ground. The man landed firmly head first and Kasumi eased her grasp on his head and got up quickly. She looked down at him. He was lifeless.

Kasumi knew what was next and looked towards the direction of Pascal. Her eyes focused on the hangar and the broken wooden doorway. She studied the view carefully, Pascal was gone. She turned around and looked to all sides in a hunt to find the cream suited figure. Her attention changed once she'd turned around. She realised that two of Chad's three men had got back up and were walking towards her with machete's clutched. Kasumi felt her tanto's handle from behind her back and swiftly brought it out and forward in one movement. The two men ran at her in a wild war cry. The first to reach her swung his blade at her from a high angle as he raised the machete above his head. The weapon came raging down towards Kasumi but she deflected it with her tanto and spun around on her toes. Once she had fully spun her tanto blade came racing around with her and drove itself into the mans torso. A few spurts of blood gushed from the entry wound as Kasumi pulled the sword back out. The man fell down dead.

The other mercenary stood with his blade facing her. Kasumi noticed how the blade was wobbling up and down rapidly. He was shivering in nervousness. Kasumi resumed her stance and watched him carefully. He cautiously side-stepped around her but made sure he didn't get any closer. Kasumi then continued to watch his machete tremble like jelly as he faced her.

"Go home," Kasumi advised softly.

With that the man dropped his machete.

"This ain't worth it," he shivered. "To hell with this!"

He then turned and bolted off into the direction of the jeep the men had come in. Kasumi felt relief that she wasn't going to be forced to hurt yet another person. The kunoichi then turned to Chad who was still sitting down where she'd left him. He was smiling, his gun poised and aimed towards her.

"You know," he started to speak. "...I don't care what Pascal wants to do with you anymore, he seems to have bailed from the scene. I guess that leaves me in charge. Well guess what?"

Kasumi could tell he was about to fire his gun at her. She was fast to react and quickly managed to gain enough concentration and energy to pull off one of her more extraordinary skills. Her body turned to air and her essence glided with the breeze in perfect teleportation from where she stood to behind Chad's slouched position. All he saw was cherry blossoms blowing in the wind in this feat of skilful ability from the girl. This had been his last memory for once Kasumi had reappeared behind him she'd sliced her tanto across his neck and struck him to the head in a move that killed him painlessly.

Kasumi rose up slowly. She stood still and in total silence before eying the area she was in with astute scrutiny. She was standing amongst a growingly large pool of hot blood as it gushed from Chad's neck in waves. Kasumi felt sick about the fact she'd just killed him but knew that she'd simply had no choice. Her eyes rolled from left to right and then she turned around. The bolting mercenary had reached the jeep by now and was inside. The engine suddenly sounded and he was away, the old rusty wreck coughing up across the dirt track and off into the woods. A cloud of dusty brown soil climbed into the air as the tires screeched into the distance. Kasumi then looked to the bodies of those she'd been forced to slay. She counted five, Chad and two of his men, and both of Pascal's bodyguards. This then reminded her of Pascal, where was he?