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 Eighteen

Saturday, December 24

4:34 P.M.

Organization Compound 32

Smith pounded the wall with his fist in frustration, causing both the girls to jump. They had never seen him this angry before and they didn't know what he was going to do next. Smith turned around and faced Kasumi, rage burning hot in his eyes. He grabbed a handful of spiked rings out of a small plastic box on the control panel. After he had put the needle sharp rings on, he walked up to Kasumi. She struggled against her restraints.

"No!" she cried.

Smith narrowed his eyes. "It was your sister's choice. You know the rules."

Ayane shut her eyes. She couldn't watch any more. She heard Smith's angry yell and Kasumi's anguished scream, but it came from someplace far away.

Smith had jammed his ring-bearing knuckles into Kasumi's shoulder wound, causing it to start bleeding again. She sobbed loudly as he slammed his palm down on the freshly re-opened bullet wound.

Ayane opened her eyes and was alarmed at the blood on Kasumi's shoulder. It's all my fault.

Smith waited for Kasumi to quit crying and catch her breath, before asking her a question.

"Where is the village?!" he yelled.

Kasumi winced. "I...can't."

Smith grabbed her chin and forcefully made her look at Ayane, like he had done earlier. "Look at her. Do you really want me to hurt her again?"

Kasumi gazed at Ayane's face. Her features were calm and composed and her face showed no sign of fear. But when she gazed into her sister's amber eyes, Kasumi saw worry and pain.

"Now answer me."

Kasumi shook her head away from Smith's hand and looked down at the floor. She wanted to take Ayane out of this, but she was powerless to do anything.

"I'll never talk, monster."

Smith slapped her hard across the face, making her cry out once again. Then he walked over to Ayane. She braced herself and waited for the pain she knew was coming. Smith struck her hard in the stomach, his rings cutting into her skin. She screamed loudly, and Smith watched in satisfaction as the red splotch on Ayane's shirt continued to get bigger and darker. He then slammed his palm into the center of the stain, just as he had done with Kasumi.

Ayane struggled for air as the blow knocked the wind out of her. She tried to hold back her tears the best she could, but a single drop escaped and slowly glided down her cheek. Smith laughed loudly when he saw Ayane's tear. He had finally done it. He had made her cry.

"Are you happy now?" Ayane sniffled as another tear slid down her cheek.

Smith continued laughing and again punched her in the stomach, just to see her cry.

"Stop!" Kasumi sobbed. "Don't hurt her anymore!"

Smith turned away from the crying Ayane and faced Kasumi, a dark smile still on his face, then he faced Ayane again.

"Maybe you could tell me where the village is now?" he asked in mock politeness.

Ayane shook her head. "Screw you. I'll never say anything."

Smith shook his head. "That's not the answer I was looking for."

He walked back to where Kasumi was and pressed a green button on the top of her frame. Kasumi screamed loudly as the electricity pumped through her. After about five seconds of this, Smith pressed a yellow button, shutting the electricity off.

Ayane watched in horror as Smith again hit the green button. "No..." she whispered sadly.

Soon, Smith hit the yellow button again and Kasumi went limp against the stretcher, passed out.

Just then Thomas again came into the room. "What's going on in here?

"You don't want to know. What do you want?"

"Come with me," Thomas said as he walked out of the door. Smith followed close behind and closed the door.

"Kasumi?" Ayane asked quietly. She gazed at her sister.

Kasumi slouched in the frame and never stirred. Ayane noticed the visible burn marks on her wrists and ankles. The cuffs must be wired, she thought.

"Wake up!" Ayane yelled, but it was no use.


Saturday, December 24

4:41 P.M.

Myamoto's Apartment

Jack looked at the man named Hayate suspiciously. What did the Shinobi want with Kasumi? And what does it matter now that she's dead? Or maybe it isn't Kasumi they're concerned about. Maybe this 'Smith' is the one they're after.

Jack's thoughts were interrupted by Myamoto. "Hey, where is the weapon you said you brought me?"

"I'll show you when you get done working on my computer."

Myamoto looked disappointed, but he turned back to the laptop and continued working.

Jack climbed to his feet and walked into the kitchen for another cup of coffee. He took a large drink and continued his previous train of thought. If the Shinobi are really after the 'Smith' guy, then that would mean that' Smith' had some leverage. What kind of leverage would he have? And why would he want to pick a fight with the Shinobi in the first pace?

He was again interrupted as Hayabusa walked into the kitchen. "Jack, I've been thinking and something in your plan is bothering me."

Jack took another drink. "What is it?"

"Well, if the entrance that we are breaking into is the only entrance , there would be some kind of surveillance system set up, right?"

Jack nodded. "Where are you going with this, Hayabusa?"

"I was just wondering what you were planning on doing when you see that they're ready for you."

Jack thought about this for a second. "Well, I guess I'll find the cameras and try to shoot them out before they see us."

"And if you miss one?"

Jack sighed. "If I miss one we'll all be in deep shit, okay? Just trust me. I know what I'm doing. I used to be a private investigator. I think I know how to break and enter."

Hayabusa shook his head and walked back into the living room. Jack followed and took a seat on the couch. He looked at Hayate who was watching Myamoto.

"Hey, you never told me what you're doing here. I'd like to know who I'm working with."

Hayate looked at him. "I'm sure you would."

Jack waited for him to continue, but Hayate started watching Myamoto again.

"C'mon, at least tell my what this 'Smith' did to make you go after him?"

Hayate sighed irritably. "You first." He already knew the answer, but Hayate wanted to hear how much Jack had cared for his sister.

"He killed Kasumi. The one person who means everything to me is gone because of that son of a bitch, and I'm going to kill him for it. You probably didn't know her, but Kasumi was so kind and innocent. I don't know why anyone would want to torture her, but I'm going to make him feel the same things that he made my best friend feel."

Hayate expected to hear something along those lines, but Hayabusa had just told him that Jack was a close friend of Kasumi. But it seemed like she meant more to him than that. "I want Smith because it is in my best interests to get rid of him."

Jack got up. "Well, you can forget about killing him. He's mine."

"It doesn't matter to me. As long as he's dead."

Jack was still curious about the exact reasons for Hayate's presence. The guy was obviously dancing around the issue, which told Jack's instincts as an investigator that Hayate had something to hide. He was going to check into this further. "Hey, Hayabusa, I need to ask you something," Jack glanced at Hayate. "Alone."

Hayabusa nodded and they returned to the kitchen.

"What is Hayate doing here?"

Hayabusa knew exactly where this would lead. "Leave it alone, Jack. It's for your own good."

Jack shook his head. "I don't care anymore. Just spill it."

"Sorry, Jack, but some secrets need to be kept." Hayabusa walked back into the living room.

Jack refilled his cup of coffee. "Some secrets need to be kept," he muttered mockingly. This was going to be a long day.


Saturday, December 24

4:51 P.M.

Organization Compound 32

"Well, its not going as quickly as expected," Smith said nervously into the receiver.

"What do you know at this point?" the distorted voice on the other end of the line asked.

"Nothing. But--"

"Nothing! Why did I even bother hiring you?!" the voice yelled angrily.

Smith flinched. "I'm so close, though."

"You had better know something by the time I arrive in Tokyo, or you'll be very sorry." There was a sharp click as the man hung up.

Smith slammed the receiver angrily onto the hook.

"That bad, eh?" Thomas asked.

Smith shook his head. "We have to hurry, before he comes here and kills all of us."

Thomas nodded towards the room. "Then go get the info."

Smith stormed into the room. Kasumi was still passed out and Ayane's face was still wet with tears. He needed to step it up a notch. "Forget this stupid game. I'm just going to keep hurting people 'til I get what I want! You hear me!?"

Ayane didn't move a muscle. She looked at Smith and saw something besides anger in his expression. "You're afraid of something."

Smith punched her in the stomach, where her still fresh wounds were located. Ayane coughed loudly as her breath escaped her.

"I fear no one," Smith said coldly.

Ayane didn't shut up, seeing that she had clearly found a tender spot. "Yeah, I can see it in your beady little eyes. Your scared and I--"

"Shut up, you little bitch!" Smith yelled.

He wrapped his fingers around her throat and slowly squeezed. Then he took his free hand and pounded her as hard as he could three or four times. Ayane struggled desperately to breathe as Smith continued to smash his fist into her belly, but she didn't yell like Kasumi had done earlier.

Smith wanted to make her scream, so he grabbed his hunting knife and pressed the point against Ayane's bruisedwaist, drawing a tiny amount of blood. He was seriously thinking about gutting her like a fish.

Ayane saw that Smith was ready to kill her, and she became very afraid, despite her best efforts to stay emotionless. She wasn't ready to die yet. There were so many things she wanted to do. On the outside, she hid her fear well, except for in her amber eyes.

Smith was just about to jam the sharp blade into her skin, when he noticed that Ayane was terrified. "Now who's afraid, huh?"

He released her throat, and Ayane's knees went weak as Smith put away the knife. Tears began to build in her eyes, but she closed them before any of them could escape her grasp. Smith enjoyed seeing her fear, but it was not enough. He walked over to the control panel and looked through the variety of buttons available to him, but none of them seemed to be appropriate for the magnitude of pain he wanted to unleash on Ayane. Finally, he decided that quantity would have to be more than quality.

Ayane opened her watering eyes just in time to see Smith pick up the plastic rod and slip on a few rings.

She shook her head as he approached her. "You have no honor."

Smith nodded. "I know. If you tell me where the village is, I won't hurt you as badly as I want to."

Ayane kept silent.

Smith howled angrily and punched Ayane in the face, cutting her lower lip and causing her to yelp in pain. Then he used the plastic rod to beat her mercilessly. Ayane held back her cries and tears as best she could, but after only a few blows, she broke down and began to cry, unable to control herself.

Smith paused. "I will keep doing this until you give me an answer. So just let me know when you want me to stop whipping you."

"Can't....breathe...." Ayane sobbed.

A few hours later, Kasumi groggily moved her head, but there was a kink in her neck causing her to gasp. Smith stopped working on Ayane when he heard this slight noise. He quietly walked over to Kasumi, grabbed her hair, and jerked her head up to face him. She clenched her fists and let out a sharp cry as the intense pain in her neck increased dramatically.

"Well, well. I see you're finally awake. I guess I can start on you now. Your sister probably needs a break anyway."

Kasumi looked at Ayane for the first time and noticed that her bottom lip was bloody and her hands and ankles were burned, just like her own. There was a bruise an her arm in the shape of Smith's fingers, and the stain in her shirt seemed slightly bigger. She was passed out and lay loosely in her bonds. Her face was still wet with fresh tears, and Kasumi couldn't help but feel responsible for her sister's pain.

"What did you do to her?" Kasumi sobbed.

"The same thing I'm about to do to you if you don't tell me where to find the village."

Kasumi closed her eyes as even more tears rolled down her face. "Please....don't hurt me anymore...."

Smith shook his head and slapped Kasumi across the face. Then he hit the green button on the frame. She screamed loudly in horrible agony, and then Smith hit the yellow button.

"You know the beauty of this electrical device? It's specifically designed to avoid any major organs. The current just passes through your wrists and ankles. I could hit this green button all day long and it wouldn't kill you. So tell me where to find your home and I won't have to do that."

"No!" Kasumi sobbed.

Smith laughed. "Are you really so foolish as to think I will just give up? After all the work I've put in?"

Kasumi just continued crying until Smith hit the green button again. He drowned out the girl's anguished screams and thought about what would happen if he didn't get the information by the deadline.

Kasumi went limp as Smith hit the yellow button again, not even having enough strength to hold her head up. Instead of hitting the green button again, Smith used his knee to hit her in the hip. Then he threw a strong right punch and pounded her in her wounded shoulder.

"Stop!"she screamed. "It hurts!"

Smith smiled. "You know, maybe I should make your sister watch this. Just for the hell of it. What do you say?"

"Please....no....more...." Kasumi whimpered weakly.

Smith looked at Ayane's limp body and shook his head. "I think I'll just let her sleep anyway. She obviously doesn't care about you."

He grabbed Kasumi and punched her again, making her cough and cry out in pain. While she was panting and struggling for air, he hit the green button. Smith let the electricity pump through her until he was sure she was unconscious. Then he reached for the smelling salts...


Saturday, December 24

6:50 P.M.

Location Unknown

Smith was going far too slow for his liking. He picked up a poster for the last DOA tournament that he had found. It was about time someone started a DOA4. Then he reached for the phone and dialed a special number. If he could get the ball rolling on Dead or Alive 4, then he could get the information he wanted for himself.

"You know what they say," he muttered, "If you want something done right, do it yourself."

Donovan had been a baffoon, just like Fame Douglas had been. It was time someone did something right around here, and he was planning on being that someone.


Sunday, December 25

12:01 A.M.

Myamoto's Apartment

The hours passed slowly, but eventually, the clock struck twelve and Myamoto had completed his work on Jack's computer.

"Finally, I thought you'd never get done," Jack said.

"Okay, so now what?" Myamoto asked.

"Empty all your pockets of any loose change or keys, and follow me. We want to be as quiet as humanly possible."

Hayabusa and Hayate didn't need to empty their pockets because obviously they had no change or keys, but Jack and Myamoto did. Jack grabbed his keys and walked out to the Jeep followed by the others. He planned on leaving his keys in the Jeep.

"So where's my weapon?" Myamoto asked.

"It's in the back. Be careful with it."

Myamoto grabbed the shotgun excitedly. "Cool! This rocks, Jack. It's just like an action movie or something."

Jack hadn't really thought about it. "Yeah, I guess so. But be careful. This isn't scripted. We'll have enough trouble without having you shoot off your foot or something."

Jack drove with the lights off and soon the arrived at the warehouse. He attached the silencer he had found when he went to get the shotgun for Myamoto. He had gotten the silencer when he was an investigator, and hadn't used it since. But now he was very happy he had gotten it. After he had finished twisting it on, he checked his ammo supply. He had four 10 round magazines plus the one currently in the gun. He turned to everyone else.

"Stay here until I secure the area," Jack whispered.

Myamoto stared at his pistol. "What kind of gun is that?"

Jack looked at his pistol. "It's a Beretta. What does that have to do with anything?"

Myamoto shrugged. "I was just curious."

Jack rolled his eyes and quietly got out of the Jeep. He made sure not to shut his door, because the noise might draw attention. He had learned many things as an investigator. Now it was time to put them to use.

He scaled the front wall of the warehouse slowly, taking out the closest streetlight with ease, bathing the area in total darkness. Soon, Jack arrived at the main entrance and he quickly spotted a small security camera above the big door, scanning back and forth. He waited until it faced his direction then he destroyed it with a single precision shot through the lens, showering sparks down over him. He then quietly peeked through the crack at the bottom of the warehouse door. There were no guards inside the old building, but all of the lights were on anyway. Jack swore under his breath and opened the door slightly. He soon found what he was looking for. There was a camera on the inside of the door frame, and he took it out as well. Then he shot every one of the three bright lights on the warehouse roof, making it just as dark inside as it was outside. Jack quietly walked inside and slowly closed the door behind him. There were no more red blinking lights to indicate the presence of a camera. He let out a relieved sigh and walked back out to the Jeep.

"Okay everyone. I've taken care of any cameras that may have been a threat. Let's go," Jack whispered.

Myamoto grabbed the laptop and the shotgun, then he climbed out of the back of the Jeep. Hayate followed and Hayabusa got out of the passenger's door. After everyone was inside, Jack activated the secret door like he had done earlier.

Myamoto powered up the small computer. "Okay, this might take a few seconds."

Jack nodded. His plan was for Myamoto to break into their security system and make an entry for him. That way, Jack could just open the scanner himself, instead of having Myamoto try to hack his way past it.

Hayabusa thought about Ayane. She's missing. I hope she hasn't suffered the same fate as her sister.


Sunday, December 25

12:10 A.M.

Organization Compound 32

Thomas entered the room just in time to see Smith hit the yellow button on Kasumi's frame, and she slouched limply in her restraints once again. Thomas noticed that there were many dark bruises on her arms and her nose was bleeding. Instead of reaching for the smelling salts as he had done before, Smith faced Thomas.

"What do you want now?"

Thomas grinned. "He's back. I haven't really seen him, but the cameras watching the entrance of the warehouse just went blank."

Smith smiled. "It's about time! Go tell your men to take their positions and I'll prepare the girls."

Thomas nodded and started talking into his hand held radio.

Smith waited until Tom had left, then he opened the box in the corner of the room. He slowly pulled out two IV bags filled with a luminescent red liquid. Every time he saw this stuff, he always thought of lava. He hung the bags on a hook near the top of the girls' frames. Then he connected them to their arms.

"Wake up!" he yelled loudly, but neither one stirred.

He walked over to Ayane and hit her as hard as he could with the plastic rod he had used earlier. She yelled loudly as she snapped awake, her eyes watering. Then he walked up to Kasumi, and slapped her as hard as he could in the hip. Kasumi let out an agonized squeal, tears streaming down her face.

"Now that your both awake, I'll tell you what these bags of red stuff are. They are a drug, an a very powerful one at that. I won't tell you what they do, because you will know soon enough."

Smith grabbed a small black remote and shut off all the lights. Then he walked out of the room locking the door behind him.

Kasumi looked out of the window as Smith turned of all the lights in the larger room, leaving the small room glowing red from the IV bags.

Kasumi noticed that there was a small electronic valve preventing the fluid from entering her system. "Ayane, I'm scared. What's going to happen?"

"I don't know," Ayane said quietly.

She was scared too, but she would never let Kasumi or anyone else see it. Her wrists and ankles hurt from the burns the electricity had given her, but she had a feeling it was all going to end soon.

Kasumi closed her eyes against the tears. She knew something was going to happen. She knew it probably had to do with Jack, and she was worried. She was worried because it was obvious they knew he was coming. And they would be ready for him.