DISCLAIMER: I DO NOT OWN ANY DEAD OR ALIVE CHARACTER. THOSE CHARACTERS BELONG TO TECMO, LTD. AND TEAM NINJA. I AM IN NO WAY INTENDING ANY COPYRIGHT INFRINGEMENT AND I'M NOT MAKING A PROFIT FROM THE USE OF THESE CHARACTERS. ANY CHARACTER NOT A PART OF DEAD OR ALIVE IS MINE AND MINE ALONE.

Chapter Six

Thursday, December 15

1:06 P.M.

Organization Compound 21

Kasumi had been laying awake for hours in the icy water that had gathered underneath her. She was freezing cold and couldn't stop shivering, and there was nothing to keep her warm. The back of her white T-shirt was soaked from the pool of water, as was her blue skirt. The cold had numbed her aching muscles, but it did not completely drown out her pain. She didn't dare move again, knowing that she would never be able to suppress the pain, so she just lay in a miserable heap on the frigid table, trying to find some way to keep from freezing to death.

Shark walked in and saw her in this state, but said nothing. He then took a seat by the cart and sorted through the various objects on its surface, looking for something that would quickly get him an answer without fail.

Kasumi expected him to mix up another chemical and drug her up again, but to her complete horror, he turned to face her with a sharp jagged tool of some sort in his hand. It had a long curved blade with tearing teeth etched into the razor-like edge, and four long piercing spikes coming out of the hilt. There was a button on the grip with a green symbol on it. As he drew closer to her, she turned her head away, pretending that she was somewhere far away. But Shark's cold voice shattered her hopes.

"Are you ready to tell me where the village is?"

"Y-you have n-no control over me," Kasumi said, her teeth chattering.

Shark shook his head. "No Control? Really?"

He lightly dragged the blade over her bare arms. Kasumi closed her eyes, holding back tears that threatened to give away her fear.

"If I had no control, then why are you so scared? The truth is you know I hold all the cards in my hands. You're powerless to stop me. I could kill you right now in such a way that you'd wish you were never born."

Kasumi swallowed hard. "I-I won't submit m-myself to you. You c-can't make me say anything, n-no matter what you do!"

"We'll see about that."

Shark lifted the knife from off of her arm and pressed the green button, which started to heat the blade up. After almost five minutes he sunk the hot knife into Kasumi's thigh, making sure not to go any deeper than a few inches, avoiding any major blood vessels.

Kasumi bit her lip when she knew Shark was going to stab her, but when the burning metal pierced her skin there was no holding back her screams. After a few seconds, she ran out of breath and went silent, gasping for air.

Shark didn't move the knife from the shallow wound. "Now, where is the village?!"

Kasumi tried to speak, but all she could do was cry from the horrible torturous pain.

Shark shook his head and slowly dragged the blade downward, making a long gash in her upper leg, crimson fluid gushing down her sweating skin and staining the ripped skirt he had just cut through. Ignoring her total misery and desperate pleas for him to stop, Shark removed the dagger after making the cut.

"N-no more....p-please..." Kasumi sobbed.

"You can make it all go away at any time. Just tell me--"

"No! I won't!"

Shark was almost taken aback by the emphasis she used. He simply sighed and slowly cut into her waist, tearing into her damp white shirt with the jagged edge of the blade.

Kasumi heard her shirt rip and she felt the tip of the knife cut into her. But she was prepared for the magnitude of pain that was coming, and this time she managed not to scream, but stopping her tears was impossible.

"Shall I continue?"

Kasumi clenched her good hand into a tight fist and howled in agony as Shark used the serrated edge to rip into her skin, causing her blood to soak into her tattered white shirt and ooze down the side of her body.


Thursday, December 15

2:30 P.M.

Organization Compound 21

Smith walked to the basement door and opened it briskly, feeling the cool air and hearing the tortured screams of the captured Shinobi girl. Shark had let her rest considerably before starting his next session, but he seemed to be holding back. Smith believed that Shark could do much better. He thought about the events that had occurred earlier this morning, and in his opinion, Shark had gone way too easy on the girl. Smith thought he had done much better by drenching her. Maybe then she would learn not to resist.

He continued to walk down the dimly lit hall to the small storage room where the anguished sobs were originating. He heard her voice weakly begging for him to leave her alone, but Shark only asked her what he wanted to know.

He opened the door and watched with satisfaction as Shark slowly made a large gash in the girl's shoulder with a very ugly knife. Under his instruction, Shark had switched to a more physical form of pain and suffering. Her shirt was in poor shape. The sleeves had been torn off and the lower half of the stained garment had been hacked away, leaving her bloody midsection bare and bleeding. Her skirt wasn't in any better condition. The once long blue material was stained and ripped, bringing the end of the tattered skirt well above the knees, showing the many lacerations on her bloody thighs. Kasumi's waist had a large gash in it, which was still gushing with vital juices.

Shark had noticed when Smith had walked into the room and sat down by the door to eat a large sandwich he had been holding.

What kind of a monster watches these things and eats his lunch at the same time? Shark thought.

He picked up a small bottle of rubbing alcohol out of a large container full of them on the floor.

"Where is the village?" he asked casually as he unscrewed the cap.

"I can't...I..." Kasumi muttered weakly. It was obvious that she was losing her strength.

She had an amazing spirit. Shark had never seen the likes of it in his entire career. He slowly poured the rubbing alcohol into her shoulder wound and watched in silence as she sobbed.

"Stop." Smith got up from his chair.

As he walked closer to her, Smith noticed more than the injuries that were on her upper legs and torso. Her arms were cut up as well, although the wounds were much smaller and a lot less serious that the ones on her waist and legs, and her right hand, the one that he had stabbed, was bleeding again. She had balled it into a tight fist, reopening the deep wound.

Shark put down the blood stained instrument he had been using and scooted his chair back. Smith had talked to him earlier about what he planned to do, but it still ticked him off that he wouldn't just let him do his job. Kasumi glanced at Smith and started to sob, knowing what was coming.

Smith popped his knuckles and looked down at her. I don't believe the strength this young woman possesses, he thought to himself.

"Tell me what I want to know right now!" Smith yelled at her.

Kasumi didn't move or say a word. She quickly braced herself against the blow she knew was coming and closed her eyes as Smith raised his fist high, and smashed it into the fresh wound Shark had just made in her shoulder. She bit her lip and clenched both her hands, but didn't stop herself from crying out when his fist slammed into her.

"I'll never say anything," Kasumi managed to whisper.

Smith grinned and grabbed some salt out of the bag that his lunch had been in. He unscrewed the cap on the small shaker and dumped it on the gash in Kasumi's shoulder. The mound of salt went from white to red in a few short seconds as it absorbed her blood.

"Now, where is the village?" Smith asked in mock politeness.

Kasumi winced as the salt burned into her wound, but she still said nothing. Smith didn't ask again. Instead he took the palm of his hand and slammed it down hard on the small pile of salt, grinding it into her. Kasumi couldn't help but wail in agony as Smith continually placed more pressure on the wound.

"You're a monster!" she cried.

Smith felt his face turn red in rage as he raised his hand again and slapped Kasumi across the cheek leaving a large red welt on her face. She gasped, and flinched as he raised his hand to strike again.

"Stop!" she cried.

Shark watched in disgust as Smith smashed his fist into the girl's hip making her scream again. The force of the blow was so great, that even Shark flinched. There was a sickening popping sound as her leg was thrown out of it's socket, and Kasumi let out a long tortured howl with tears rushing down her face.

He could tell that this last blow wasn't to get an answer, but a way for Smith to unleash his anger and frustration on the defenseless girl. In a fair fight, he doubted Smith would last two seconds. He was nothing but a cowardly little man who had no sense of honor or mercy.

"That's enough," Shark said in a frigid, calm tone.

Smith backed up and spat at the girl's shivering bloody body.

"Enough!" Shark yelled.

Smith turned and faced him. "She's all yours."

Shark followed Smith outside and slammed the door behind him.

"What was that?" he asked.

"What are you talking about?" Smith asked innocently.

Shark glared fiercely. "You know exactly what I'm talking about. We agreed you could hit her, but that last punch? I know you weren't trying to get an answer, Smith."

"You didn't set any rules," Smith said. He purposely ignored the last part of Shark's comment. He looked down at his stained shirt. "Now if you don't mind, I've got to change my shirt. The girl has ruined this one."

Shark stared angrily at Smith as he walked back to the upper floor of the structure. He walked back into the cold room and took a good look at Kasumi. She looked back at him, her amber eyes pleading with his hard blue ones. He shook his head and walked over to his cart, retrieving the blanket he was going to use before from out of the bottom. He knew that if he continued with the knife she would die, so he decided to leave her alone for now, and wait for the bleeding to stop.

She said nothing as Shark draped the warm dry blanket over her. She immediately felt warmer and let out a sigh of relief. Her muscles were still very sore, but not nearly as bad as before. She was tired, but couldn't sleep, and she longed for Jack's warm apartment, and his friendly smile.


Thursday, December 15

2:45 P.M.

Forest Park

Jack had found nothing at the site of Kasumi's disappearance, as he had suspected. He really didn't know what he was expecting to find, but he was disappointed all the same, knowing that every second he wasted probably increased the odds that he would never see Kasumi alive again.

He was torn apart inside, feeling like crap because she had come to him for help, and he had let her down. Technically it wasn't his fault, but he should've gone with her. If he had accompanied her that night, none of this would've happened.

Or you both would've been captured or killed, a voice in the back of Jack's head said.

He sighed. The best he could do was keep looking and pray for a solid lead. After about three hours of combing the area, his cell phone rang loudly from his jacket pocket.

"Hello?" he answered.

"Jack, you have to get down here as soon as possible. I've found something else on the disc you gave me," Myamoto said.

"What is it?" Jack asked. "Do you know where Kasumi is?!"

"Sorry, man, but that's not it."

Jack became irritated. "What's more important than finding her?!"

"Chill out, Jack. We'll find her. It's going to be all right."

Jack calmed down. "Sorry. I didn't mean to jump all over you like that. What do you have?"

"It's better if you see it for yourself."

"I'll be there soon," Jack hung up the phone and ran to his Jeep.

Myamoto was always reluctant to share information on the phone. He always thought that someone might be listening in. However, Jack never dismissed such beliefs as simple paranoia. Just because you think someone's out to get you, doesn't mean there isn't. Kasumi was a good example of this, and he never once thought she was just overreacting. Jack started his car and quickly drove to Myamoto's.

When he arrived at the apartments, Myamoto was waiting for him in the hallway outside of his apartment door. When he spotted Jack, he turned and opened his door.

"What took you so long?" he asked.

"Nothing. What did you find?" Jack asked as he followed Myamoto inside.

"I've deciphered more of the information, found some more pictures, and one name."

"A name? What is it?" Jack asked.

Myamoto shrugged. "Hayabusa, but that's not what the important part is. Check out this picture!"

Jack looked at the computer screen. "They're all blurry. What's the big deal?"
"Have faith. There's still a lot of mopping up that I have to do on them, but what do you see?" Myamoto asked excitedly.

Jack looked at the picture that was currently on the screen carefully, trying to distinguish all the shapes.

"This is just like a stupid ink blot test!"

"Just look harder. You'll see it."

After a few seconds, it started to come together. It looked like it had been taken at night, somewhere deep in the forest, which is what he could tell from the dark green splotches in the background. The camera that took this picture must've had a night vision or low-light capability. He could make out a group of people dressed in black, and it looked like they were chasing something off-camera.

"Can you tell where in the woods this might have been taken?"

"Are you kidding? Unless there is a distinct landmark in the picture, it could be anywhere on the mountain. And we both know that the pictures are still too foggy to make out any small details." Myamoto said.

"Great." Jack muttered. "Who do you think these people are?"

Myamoto grinned. "Duh, the Shinobi. Who else would be running through the forest at night? Do you know what this means! We have proof of the existence of actual Shinobi!"

"Don't get too excited, Myamoto. These could be pictures of the special forces unit you told me about earlier. Or it could be absolutely nothing at all. The photo is too hazy to know for sure that these are really Shinobi," Jack pointed out.

"Why do you have to drain all the fun out of this? Okay, I'll prove it to you. Give me about six hours and you'll see the Shinobi are real."

Jack nodded. "Great, and while you're at it, could you prove the existence of alien life?" he said sarcastically.

Myamoto frowned at his skeptical friend and turned back to his computer.

Jack paused. "Could you look specifically for a location or an address in any new information you find?"

"Yeah sure," Myamoto said waving Jack away as he studied his pictures.

Jack walked out the door and down the long hall. Jack knew the existence of Shinobi was real, as his encounter last night had proved, but he wanted solid, rock hard proof instead of a blurry photo. But the Shinobi wouldn't be easy to find, even with a photo, but Kasumi's life depended on it. If they took her, this was the only chance he had to rescue her.

"Hayabusa," he muttered to himself as he grabbed his keys from his pocket. What a strange name, he thought as he walked outside.

When Jack returned home he switched on the lights, only to find that they didn't work. Wonderful, he thought. This day wasn't getting any better.

"We meet again, Jack," a dark figure said from the back of the room.

"I am really starting to get tired of this." Jack said as he hung his jacket up. "What the hell do you want from me?"

"I want to help you. I need to find out what happened to Kasumi."

"I know what happened. Your buddies kidnapped her."

"I already told you the Shinobi aren't involved."

Jack thought about the name Myamoto had given him earlier. "Do you know of a Hayabusa?"

The man in the corner never moved. "Why do you want to know?" he said calmly.

"Why can't you just answer a simple question?" Jack asked irritably.

"Why do you have to ask so many questions?"

"That's it. I'm leaving, and when I come back you had better be gone," Jack said coldly.

"Wait." Hayabusa decided that if he were to get any information, he would have to give some first. "I am Hayabusa."

Jack slowly turned around. "You're Hayabusa?" he asked incredulously.

"Yes," he replied.

"Well, that's one step in the right direction, Hayabusa. You have a first name?"

"Yes."

Jack clearly saw that this Hayabusa wasn't quite ready to give away too much information, which was something he easily understood as a private detective. But the fact that Hayabusa gave his name at all showed him that he was willing to help.­­­


Thursday, December 15

9:16 P.M.

Organization Compound 21

Smith finished washing his hands as an angry Shark stormed out of the basement stairwell.

"Did you get anything out of her, yet?" Smith asked.

"No, but you should give her more time. Maybe until next Monday?" Shark's voice was cold. He was obviously still bitter about the beating he had given Kasumi this afternoon.

"I don't think so," Smith said. "You said she would talk by the end of the week and tomorrow's Friday. If she doesn't talk by midnight tomorrow, There will be consequences for both of you."

Shark laughed at the thought of Smith trying to enforce anything on him. It was an entertaining thought.

"Is something funny?"

"No," Shark said.

"Oh, come on, what are you laughing at?" Smith asked, but Shark had already gone downstairs. This was his chance. He picked up the phone and dialed a familiar number. It was almost time.

Shark had to think of something that would be sure to get some answers, because he had no desire to take the life on an innocent person, especially a young woman. He may be a torturer, but he was no murderer. As he walked back into the room that contained the prisoner, he was trying hard to think of something creative to get a response.

Kasumi looked up and tried to say something, but it was very faint and he couldn't hear her. Shark leaned closer.

"Water," she whispered. "Please...."

Shark looked at the empty glass on the cart. He filled it up and gently tilted her head up. She quickly emptied the glass and closed her eyes.

Kasumi was utterly exhausted and frequently dizzy. When Shark had lifted her head, she almost threw up on herself. It was probably the lack of food compounded with her blood loss that was making her so sick. She was still sore all over, but now she could move without crying. Her wounds had stopped bleeding, but the effects of the fearsome dagger were still very strong.

"What time is it?" she asked hoarsely.

Shark took his watch out of his pocket and showed it to her. The faint light made it hard to see, but she eventually made out the symbols on the digital face. It was close to nine-thirty at night. She didn't even know what day it was.

"I'm going to need you to tell me where the village is. You don't have a lot of time left." Shark said slowly. Kasumi noticed that he looked tired and disheveled.

"You will never know," Kasumi murmured quietly. She had tried to muster a menacing tone, but it was no use. She was too tired for this.

"I'm not going to do any more damage for now, but I'm giving you a warning. The next few hours will probably be far worse than anything you've experienced so far. If you don't tell me soon, you will die tomorrow. Your body can't take any more abuse," Shark said.

He looked remorsefully at Kasumi, clearly seeing the misery in her eyes as tears welled up in them. He knew that the threat of something worse wasn't going to make a difference. She closed her eyes as a stray tear slid down her bruised cheek and Shark knew she was relieved to hear the end would come soon.

Shark got up from his chair and walked slowly out of the door. Smith was talking about something upstairs, but it was too muffled to make out. He walked slowly up the stairs, making sure he wouldn't make any noise, but Smith hung up the phone by the time he got to the top.

"What was that about?" Shark asked suspiciously.
"Business. It doesn't concern you," Smith said. Shark got the impression he was lying, but you could never be sure with someone like Smith.

"Business, huh? What kind of business?"

"I said it doesn't concern you!"


Kasumi closed her eyes and tried to fall asleep, not caring whether she woke up again or not. It wasn't going to matter anymore now, she was going to die in this dark frigid room, cold and alone. She never even got to tell Jack how much she cared and she never even got to say goodbye. Her heart ached for one last hug in Jack's strong arms, but it was not to be.

Another tear escaped her grasp as thoughts of her family entered her head. She cried when she thought about her mother and father and longed to see their faces once again, before her life was snuffed out like a dim candle in the harsh wind. And then there was Hayate and all the happy games they had played together as kids.

Ayane was the one she missed most of all, because she couldn't stand to have her sister hate her so much. As a little girl, Ayane had been her most beloved friend, and she would give anything to just have five minutes with her sister, knowing in her heart that Ayane couldn't truly hate her.

But, she had accepted her fate and no matter how much she hated it there was nothing she could do to prevent it. Well, she thought, Hayate won't have to worry about killing me anymore. I'm already as good as dead. The lights suddenly flickered off and she caught a glimpse of Shark closing the door as he left her alone in the frigid dark.

He wouldn't hear any more of her crying for now, he needed quiet. He needed a plan.


Thursday, December 15

10:49 P.M.

Myamoto's Apartment

Myamoto stared at the computer screen in disbelief. The photos remained an unsolved puzzle, but the list of people had finally been completely decoded. The extent of the list was immense, far bigger than he had anticipated. It had to be at least forty pages long. There were a few names other than the elusive Hayabusa now, but nothing he saw as urgent. Jack had asked specifically for a location, not a name. Most of the entries didn't have any names attached, anyway. But it was still a big break.

Myamoto quickly rushed to get a pen and some paper. He made a quick list of the names he had discovered starting with Hayabusa. Jack would be amazed at the extent of the database, even if it didn't have any addresses, there was probably something useful hidden in the list.

Suddenly his screen went black and a small picture appeared in the corner. It was a picture of a scull and crossbones, laughing hysterically.

"Oh shit!" Myamoto said as he dropped an old slice of pizza into its box.