Ekobean: This is probably going to be the last chapter. Or not. I don't know at this point, I really don't have the order planned out.

Thanks to Red Hawk K'sani, Dark Eco Freak and Shady Fetish for their reviews. More please!

Midnight Flight chapter 7

Rioichi somersaulted immediately to the right. There was a powerful gust of air that rushed through his fur from the daimyo's passing. Rioichi slid across the dry floor planks of the room, previously undisturbed dust kicking up into the air.

Masaiya stood with his back to Rioichi, his tail twitching in an almost serpentine motion. He turned toward the waiting raccoon and smiled a toothy grin. "I must say that I am impressed," he stated matter-of-factly, "many other thieves have tried to steal from me, and I have impaled them with that very attack. The Thievius Raccoonus has indeed gifted you with great abilities. But it has given them to me too." The daimyo curled himself into a ball and rolled top speed at Rioichi.

The Raccoon Escape-Roll! Thought Rioichi as he heaved himself over the daimyo's fast attack. Masaiya righted himself in a heartbeat and drew his katana. Rioichi held his position, his canes raised in a defensive pose; one held firm out in front of him, and the other high above his head for a quick attack.

Masaiya knelt, ready to spring at any moment. His shining katana rested an inch from his face, the point held steady outward. His pale, venomous eyes were closed to mere slits, the red pupils glowing in the center of the alabaster.

The daimyo charged forward. In a split second he was halfway across the room. But Rioichi was not slow either. He reacted just as fast, his canes meeting the weasel's lightning-fast sword strike in midair. The weapons were mere flashes of silver and gold, meeting in midair only to part and meet again in another area. Rioichi deflected one of the daimyo's swings, and with the other cane rammed him in the solar plexus. Masaiya bent for an instant, only to have his jaw met with a sharp blow to the jaw with the other cane.

The daimyo looked up at Rioichi with pure hatred running through his eyes. He wiped a string of saliva that had escaped between his teeth from his mouth and retaliated furiously.

The normal silence of the room was shattered like fragile glass. Sharp clangs of metal-against-metal echoed through the small room, and escaped through small cracks in the wood.

Though their skills in the ancient arts of war were equally unparalleled, Rioichi was slowly being pushed backward toward the wall. The daimyo's natural agility and flexibility served him well. He was able to dodge the sword swings in almost unnatural movements. He bent backward and forward almost snakelike.

This natural ability, along with Rioichi's wound, built up slowly against the raccoon into increasing odds.

Grimacing, sweat pouring down Rioichi's brow, the raccoon began to believe that this may actually be the end. His defensive blocks began to slow, while Masaiya's remained at the same, rapid pace. Rioichi bumped into something. He could tell just by feeling it that it was one of the large, wooden pillars that held the room up. Even as he fought a simple yet desperate plan began to form in the back of Rioichi's mind. He had to choose his moment carefully. The slightest mistake could mean instant death at the hands of the daimyo.

Finally the perfect moment came. Masaiya had raised his sword with both hands, preparing to attack with a sideways slash. This split second was Rioichi's moment.

Rioichi spun around the pillar and dived forward, making a beeline for the Thievius Raccoonus. He heard the sound of hot Japanese steel slicing through age-old wood, followed by the collapse of the pillar. Quick footsteps pounded after Rioichi, gaining quickly. It was going to be close.

Rioichi came to a screeching halt, kicking up another cloud of heavy floor dust. He snatched the sacred book from its golden pedestal and made for the window, not even looking behind him. The window frame was covered with a thin layer of paper, as were all windows in Japan. From observing the structure from below, Rioichi had discovered that the very same rope he'd used to enter the palace could be used for an escape. If he was correct this window lined up almost perfectly.

If he could direct himself in midair he would probably be able to catch the rope without too much trouble. He dove through the thin paper of the window, somersaulting along the heavily shingled roof of the palace. He was free! He straightened himself in midair and dove head first. "Another day, Masaiya-sama!" he hooted.

"Not this time, Cooper!!" echoed and angry scream. A clawed hand squeezed about his ringed tail.

"No!"

Rioichi's momentum meant nothing in this moment. The laws of physics were reversed somehow. Maybe it was the power of the Thievius Raccoonus, maybe it was the daimyo's rage, but whatever it was, it was horrifying.

He was swung backward and nailed headfirst into the palace and slumped with the daimyo baring savagely over him.

Ekobean: Nope, not the last chapter, but the next one is. Promise!