Chapter 11
A Noble Cause
Sae was dressed in her best uniform, as were all the other members of Noble Team gathered behind the stage. Suits, ties, belts, police hats, all very militaristic in design and presentation. The suit was tight, uncomfortable, itchy, she had to put in significantly more effort just to move normally. The morning sun beat down on them behind the stage, causing all of Noble Team to worry to varying degrees whether they were sweating through their clothes or not.
The morning had been hectic preparing for the award ceremony. Everyone was gathered before six a.m. at the station, all having gotten up before five to get dressed and done up. They were walked through the itinerary for the day, the proper demeanor to display when accepting the award or mingling with people of influence and paparazzi, where the reception would be held, etcetera. Sae was barely able to pay any attention to the briefing, focusing more on the nature by which she was now being paraded around like a hometown hero. Having gotten to look at the information about the ceremony, she already knew the details of the mission had been skewed into a more positive light. "Placating the masses," the commissioner had told her. "Their sheltered minds couldn't begin to understand what you went through, but that does not reduce your accomplishment, Niijima."
Sae was unable to respond to that, not that Murakata gave her much chance to do so. He quickly left to check in on Akechi, who had voiced reservations about appearing with Noble Team given the altering of information on the mission. He had not elaborated on his misgivings to anyone except the commissioner, but it was known that his issue stemmed from the "downplaying of the hardship the Sawamuras went through". He claimed that the violence that ensued, and he caused, was not being properly presented, and he wished he did not have to take part in the ceremony. Yagami claimed there was more to it, but was unable to elaborate. The commissioner and Akechi came to some kind of understanding, and the younger officer claimed that was the end of it.
Kaz Miller was allowed to sit on the sidelines. His rationale being similar to Akechi's, saying that glorification of violence is never needed. "But at the end of the day," he had said, "it's you guys who did all the heroics. This is your moment. Don't let an old analyst like me steal your spotlight."
And now, Akechi stood next to Sae, her "Noble Two" at her right hand, just as he had been in the daring, heroic mission. Despite expressing great reservations about appearing at the ceremony, Akechi stood more prim and proper than anyone else present. Yagami wiped the sweat from his brow, letting out a long yawn. Kenjiro looked contemplatively at his feet, and Tanimura stood with a slouch, hands in his pockets and letting his eyes wander. The air of discomfort was palpable and uneasy, as they all silently thought on what had brought them to this point.
Murakata was still giving the introductory speech on the other side of the curtain as the Nobles waited for their cue. They all listened, some more intently than others, as the old commissioner spoke on the nature of their mission "to the best he was aloud in the current context", as he had explained before going up to the podium.
"The loss of life," he orated eloquently, "is never to be praised or admonished. And I assure you all, my friends, that we are not here to do so today, nor shall we ever do so as long as the city is under my watch. I will not lie to you, a child was orphaned that day, and the loss of her mother, leaving her alone in this world, has weighed heavily on the hearts of not just myself or Noble Team, but on all in the Kamurocho Police Department. We have done all we can to help her start a new life, even paying forward all expenses and requirements to get her moved away from this city safely and securely. Though, for the sake of her said safety and her personal privacy, we are not able to elaborate on her whereabouts further, so I request that no one ask today."
Yagami's eyes lowered. "Does anyone even know where they shipped Haruka-chan off too?" he asked incredulously.
Akechi did not move to look at him before responding, keeping his attention squarely on the speech itself. "That was classified the moment we brought her back, Yagami. Even I do not know where she was taken."
"What about you, Niijima? Did the boss give you any details? You are 'Noble One', after all."
This was a question Sae had not been looking forward to answering. "No," she said slowly, "he did not. I know just as much as you do."
"No one thinks that's a bit weird?" Tanimura shook his head, looking off to his side.
"She attracted the attention of organ traffickers, Tanimura," Akechi replied promptly. "Her location and identity must be kept under the utmost security."
Kenjiro coughed into his hand. "We're on soon, everyone."
"Of course," said Akechi, seemingly on behalf of everyone.
"But enough from me, I think," Murakata continued. "Please join me in welcoming the heroes of the hour, ladies and gentlemen."
"Here we go," Yagami whispered.
"Please join me on the stage, you all so deserving of your title," he gestured to the side of the stage, "Noble Team!"
The crowd erupted into applause as the five members of Noble Team walked single file onto the stage. Sae kept her gaze forward, occasionally glancing at the eighty guests present with the hundred officers in attendance. Akechi, however, fully illustrated his tendencies toward showmanship as he waved to the crowd with a bright, inviting yet confident smile. Tanimura followed suit in a much more casual, off-hand sort of way, while Yagami and Kenjiro kept everything strictly businesslike. They lined up at each other's side, with Sae standing closest to the commissioner. She turned to look out over the crowd, her expression cold and blank.
What did I even do to deserve this? She thought, looking down on the crowd admonishing her with proud smiles and a standing ovation. I did nothing. Akechi did all the work. He's the one that fought off the traffickers, and yet we're all here getting awards for… watching him? Caring for a traumatized kid? A police officer handed Murakata a case of medals off to her left. They bowed to each other before Murakata stood before her, smiling proudly. Why the hell am I here?
The commissioner bestowed the medal upon her chest, a proudly gleaming star of gold and blue. "To the fearless leader, noblest among the nobles," he proclaimed emphatically, almost theatrically. "Let us all sleep sounder at night, knowing that her watchful eye is looking out for us." Sae bowed her head respectfully, but in truth was trying not to vomit at the implication that she succeeded in being some proud sentinel of justice.
The crowd applauded again, and she looked out over them sternly, a confident and imposing expression adorning her face as her eyes narrowed. Truly, she felt more like a zoo animal on display for the masses, rather than a heroine of justice and righteousness. Medals were bestowed upon the other animals on display, all with much the same lack of expression, save for Akechi. His winning smile that garnered the respect of men and the swoons of women was on display for all to see, and he was such a good actor that Sae had no idea if he was faking, or just enjoying the spotlight. He was a good kid, yes, but he did have a great love for being the center of attention. Hours earlier, he decried the nature of this ceremony, and now he was eating it up like a buffet. The young man was a mystery to all, and there were some who found his boyish, borderline cocky behavior charming. Sae was not quite one of them.
Except for sometimes, when the mood shifted, and the breeze blew in that one specific way that makes one lose their normal sense, wistful…
Murakata finished giving out the medals and returned to the podium. With a great grin, he gestured to the police officers at his side. "Please give one more show of appreciation to the heroes that risked their very lives to save a child, as they would for any of our children. Surely, they have proven themselves worthy of their title: Noble Team!"
Once more, there was a standing ovation as Noble Team stood at attention on the stage. Murakata bowed to the attendants, and Noble Team followed his example. Sae finally felt some small semblance of accomplishment as she looked over the people applauding her and her partners. Photographers took photos, officials and police officers cheered, and despite the omission of some of the harsher details of the mission, she could tell that most people present were genuine in their praise. A ghost of a smile appeared on her face, and she let out a slight out a slight sigh of relaxation.
Upon the commissioner's closing of the ceremony, they all exited the stage and made their way out to the limousines that would take them to the reception at Ikanari Steak across town. There would be few present at the reception save for them, due both to the sensitivity of the subject matter and a desire to keep the paparazzi away for much the same reason.
Sae was seated in the first limousine with the commissioner, Akechi, and one Masuno Sugiwara, a conglomerate president with ties to all manner of industries, including that of politics. His brown hair and beard with a hint of red glinted in the morning sunlight atop his gently aging face, narrow and knowing eyes set below a wrinkled forehead. The first thing Sae noticed about him, however, was how his suit likely cost as much as a small car.
"Sugiwara-san," Murakata nodded to him as they took their seats, "your attendance today is greatly appreciated. And I'm sure I needn't mention the monetary contributions you made to help with the event, especially given the short notice."
"We are in the company of heroes, Commissioner," the man spoke proudly, his voice deep and resonating. "Given everything that's going on in this city recently, the people need to know that there are still some in law enforcement who will brave any danger that slinks its way into our community." He looked to Sae with a grin, that same grin so many businessmen exhibit when preparing to strike a deal. "I must admit, I was very excited to finally meet the woman of the hour. Not every day you meet a real hero in the flesh."
Sae nodded, crossing her legs in front of her. Quickly, she cast her gaze to Akechi, who was staring out the window at the crowds gathering to catch a glimpse of the "heroes". Her Noble Two barely seemed to be paying any attention; his gaze was distant, unfocused, as if his mind was entirely elsewhere. "Just doing our job, sir," Sae turned back to their guest. "Though I can't possibly take all the credit for the mission."
Masuno chuckled deep in his throat amusedly. "The generals in the army always have the praises of recent battles heaped on them, my dear, yet it is the finest among them that disperse those praises onto their soldiers."
"I'm no general, sir. I am just a civil servant, like all the others around me. It is not the glory of any one officer that matters, but simply that justice was served, and lives were saved."
"Is that you're teachings, Murakata?" Masuno asked the old man next to him. "And here I thought that virtuousness and idealism had died out in Kamurocho."
"Most would agree with you, my friend. But it is the very people whom I gave those medals to that lets me hold onto the hope that that notion is not true. I'm very thankful that in my final years as an officer, I was ablet to bring together a team of such stature."
"Any man would be proud of such an accomplishment. Okumura-san will say the same when we arrive, no doubt. If you were able to impress me, Niijima-san, then you will have no trouble getting into his good graces."
Not like he has a choice to at least act like it. I'm sure this will cause his approval ratings to skyrocket over the next couple days. "Knowing the girl is safe is reward enough, Sugiwara-san."
"Is it your intention to always be so proper, Miss? Come now, we are behind closed doors. You can spare us the formality."
"There is no act, sir. I am just proud to serve justice."
Sugiwara chuckled again, nodding approvingly. "Where did you find this one, Murakata?"
"In Shibuya, actually. Some had reservations about bringing a woman onto the force, and promoting her to such lofty heights so quickly, but her credentials far eclipsed any other male applicant in the city, and there was nothing that could stop me from bringing her onto my team. Not only does she have the convictions of a true officer, but she too has the gumption, skills, and understanding of the law and all its facets to make her the crown jewel of our outfit."
Sae was growing more uncomfortable by the second, and doing only a menial job of suppressing her physical reactions. "You flatter me, sir."
"Flattery could not be the farthest from my intent, Niijima. I am simply making known to the gentlemen here your accomplishments."
He's like an entirely different person from earlier this week.
Masuno nudged Murakata in the arm, wearing a friendly grin. "And I will make sure that all in my sphere of influence will be made known of her accomplishments, as well. You really lucked out with this one, Murakata."
"Indeed, I did."
Akechi, at last, seemed to focus his attention on the events at hand. "She is a fine leader indeed. I've never served under a better commander, now one so virtuous. If anyone can provide a symbol of 'righteous judgment', shall we say, for this city, it's her."
Sae was growing nauseated by the constant praise she was receiving. "You act like you offered no contribution yourself, Akechi." The events and actions to which she was referencing flew over Masuno's head completely, but Akechi and Murakata knew exactly what she was implying.
"The… messiness that comes with the job needn't concern the common folk, Niijima-san," he spoke with a sense of bashfulness strangely combined with a matter-of-fact tone, like an audible contradiction that only she was privy to. "We are to provide security to the civilian populace, and a great deal of that security is peace of mind. Wouldn't you agree, Commissioner?"
"Absolutely. What the public knows is important, yes. But what they do not know is equally important. We sometimes must work in the dark so the light may shine brighter, and through our great efforts, the people of this city sleep more soundly at night. That is our goal as law enforcement."
Akechi continued, resting his chin on his fist. His gaze was uncharacteristically lazy, tired, callow, in spite of the heavy subject matter they discussed. "That too is why I agree with you, Niijima-san, that one officer's contribution is not what's important. It is the results we bring about that matter, especially to the public. We can afford to prop people up from heroes, I think, from time to time, such as yourself. But that is often more for general peace of mind of the civilians."
Sae raised an eyebrow his way. "You're talking about propaganda."
"So what if I am? Not all propaganda is like what the Nazis spit out. And even if it is propaganda, is there anything wrong in promoting the rescue of a child from demented degenerates? We are not advocating for racial cleansing or the purging of the lower classes." Akechi sat up straight for the first time since departing. "We are instilling hope in people when they need it most, are we not?" he addressed all present. "After the shootout on the highway last night, who knows what the yakuza are planning? Folks need heroes, as you said yourself, Commissioner. It is an honor to simply be able to aid one."
Sae crossed her arms, looking out the window herself. "Thank you all for your input," she said flatly.
"I did not know I was seated with philosophers," said Masuno. "Now, my great thinkers, what are you all thinking for lunch—"
All four were nearly thrown from their seat as the limousine screeched to a halt. The driver picked up his walkie talkie, checking with the armed escort truck ahead for details.
"The road is obstructed, sir," said the driver in the truck in front of them. "There's a man standing out in the middle of the road."
"Probably some druggy," their driver responded. "Just get him to move his ass or arrest him."
"Sir, uh… I'm not sure quite how to tell you this…"
Murakata motioned for the driver to hand him the walkie talkie. Upon receiving it, he said, "What are you talking about, officer?"
"Commissioner, sir, well… the guy has a katana."
Confusion was promptly written on everyone's face.
One officer in the truck at the front opened the sunroof and poked his out of it, holding his gun to the strange man before them. He long, jet black hair was tied back in a ponytail like a samurai, yet he was not Japanese. He wore an ornately designed reinforced vest over his chest, with orange and red designs travelling from the arms to the pectorals like wings. A red sash was tied around his waist, which held a lavish metal sheath that housed a long katana. He scratched the scruffy, short beard around his wry, decidedly mischievous smile as he stood in the middle of the road, tapping the hilt of his sword.
"Remove yourself from the road!" called the policeman. "If you do not, we will be forced to arrest you for obstructing police business!"
The strange katana-man looked to him confusedly, then made a slashing motion across his neck and shrugged. "[Sorry, compadre!]" he called out in English. "[I don't speak your tongue well yet!]"
"Commissioner Murakata," the driver called over the radio, "the man does not seem to speak Japanese. We can tell he's speaking English."
Akechi shook his head with a scowl. "I can deal with this joker. I speak English."
"Dammit, Akechi!" Sae grabbed his arm. "You're still injured! Let me do it. I can speak English just as well as you."
Akechi looked almost offended, then sat back in his seat. "Ever the caring hero," he remarked.
"Oh, shove it up your ass." She got out of the limousine as Murakata informed the driver what was happening. Sar walked around to the front of the cars, taking in the sight of the strange samurai-like person. "I'll be damned," she muttered. "He really does have a katana." Confidently, she stood directly in between the man and the police envoy. In English, she called to him, "[In case you haven't noticed, this is official police business! Walk away or you will be arrested!]"
The samurai man laughed heartily, throwing his head back as he gripped his sword. "[You're the lady from the television broadcast!]" he proclaimed. "[My, my, you are even more beautiful than you looked on TV!]"
Sae took out her revolver, pointing it at his chest. "[If you don't remove yourself right now, I am going to arrest you myself!]"
The samurai man lowered his stance slightly, smiling devilishly her way. "[Oh, I'd love to see you try, just not with that shitty weapon.]"
"[This shitty weapon compared to your sword?]"
"[If I had time to show you, I would.]"
A gunshot from somewhere behind her caught Sae's attention, and the police officer with his head exposed collapsed back into the truck, a large bloodstain left on the roof of the vehicle. Sae looked back to the samurai man as he threw a canister the size of a soda can her way, causing her to dive backward on reflex. More canisters landed on the ground from all angles, emitting hot smoke into the air. Sae turned around to the truck, making sure no one else was hurt. The limos peeled out behind them, with the rear escort truck accompanying them. "Well, shit," Sae muttered.
Four officers poured out of the remaining truck, brandishing their weapons. Sae readied her own as the samurai began to charge them. They were about to fire when one officer cried out in pain as a knife was embedded in his shoulder, piercing an artery with calculated precision. He toppled to the ground, trying to stop the profuse bleeding fountaining from his shoulder.
Appearing from their side, holding up a silenced submachine gun, was a woman. Her long hair was blond, with her bangs falling over the side of her face, obscuring her right eye. Her expression was uninterested, unimpressed, skeptical, as she came into view. She was not Japanese, as indicated by her skin tone and facial structure. Sae recognized her as being European, with large, blue eyes and pale skin. Her attire was a flowing, dark cloak over a deep blue reinforced armor vest, with bandoliers of ammo and knives snaking up her torso.
"There is nowhere to go," she spoke up in Japanese, though with a strong Russian accent attached. "Your little party today is at an end."
"And who might you be?" Sae pointed her gun to the woman next.
"A contractor, appearing on behalf of a client."
"A mercenary, huh?"
"Not just one!" A pitchy, raspy, cocky voice sounded off from behind her. Sae and her fellow officers turned around, and walking up to them was a gangly, lanky man in a black hooded coat with red tribal designs colored into it. He smiled at her with narrow, knowing eyes; his lips were curled in a conniving, snake-like grin, showing off his teeth. In his right hand, there was a long-barreled, ornately decorated revolver, which he raised to aim directly at Sae's forehead. "Greetings and salutations, Ms. Hero! We have come today to celebrate your great accomplishment of eliminating the small-time shitstains, the Venom Flower, with pre-meditated acts of vicious violence!"
"And who in God's name are you jokers!?" Sae shouted.
"Well, my companions are representative of the Desperado Organization, and joined by the White Witch herself! But me? I, sugar tits, am Terumi," he bowed to her, his grin widening like a snake fully expanding its jaw to take in its prey. "Just Terumi."
"And what do you plan on gaining by holding up police officers, Terumi?"
"It's not about what I gain. It's about what the boss wants, and he wants a real big, loud, fuckin' bash of a story for the nightly news!"
From behind him came two men, causing Sae's eyes to shoot open wide as she saw them carrying rocket launchers, aiming directly for the truck behind them. "Oh dear god," she muttered.
The female mercenary Terumi called "The White Witch" cartwheeled backward, gaining distance from the police. Terumi pointed at them with a gleeful grin. "FIRE!"
"HIT THE DECK!" Sae shouted, diving backward with her fellow officers as two rockets collided with the truck, exploding on impact, and nearly deafening the police. The rounds were not overly powerful, but they did cause the truck to fall onto its side with a crash and explosion of glass raining onto the ground.
"Oh yeah!" Terumi pumped his fist in the air. "Fuckin' beautiful! [Sam]," he called to the samurai, "[this is why I like guns!]"
"Sam" shrugged casually at the comment, which Sae caught a glimpse of as her vision blurred and her ears stopped ringing. She slowly got to her feet, pointing her weapon at Terumi. "You think…" she struggled to say, "that you'll get away with any of this?"
"Of course, I fucking do! It's why we're doing it! C'mon, hero, keep up, will ya?"
Sae pulled back the hammer on her revolver. "Oh, go to hell." Suddenly, her arm was pulled back behind her, locking it in place. The female mercenary, the White Witch, was subduing her, her petite frame betraying her considerable strength. The shock of having just stared down two rocket launchers was likely impeding her physical abilities, but even so, this woman was incredibly strong, and Sae was unable to break free of her grasp.
"Do they not prop you as a hero?" she asked in Japanese, though with a distinctly Russian accent. "Why, then, were you so easy to defeat?"
"Because I don't have a goddamn rocket launcher!" Sae wrenched in her grasp, but to no avail.
"Are you calling us cheaters?"
"I'm calling you cowards. That's all terrorists are." She glared daggers at Terumi, who was seemingly having a wonderful time. "Your kind won't fight unless you know you can win, and that's why you use cowardly schemes and tactics. Worthless shitstains infecting the gene pool, all of you!"
Terumi whistled, followed by a short burst of laughter. "Harsh words coming from a woman literally called 'Noble'."
"You shot me with fucking rockets!"
"Point taken. Verona," he called to the woman, "we should be on our way before we get too excited."
Verona roller her eyes, but still said, "As you wish."
"Very good." Terumi put a finger to his ear. "Get us out of here." He paused, then nodded. "Looks like the party's gotta break up before we really break the pinata. [Sam, be kind enough to deal with the stragglers.]"
Sam put his hand on the pommel of his katana, his lips curling into a smile. "[You're the boss,]" he acquiesced.
A large, unmarked black van pulled out from the turn at the end of the road. Terumi and his goons made their way to the van, with Verona following after slamming Sae into the ground. She cried out as her chest made impact, knocking the wind out of her. "You are lucky this was just an entrance," said the mercenary. "The real show starts soon." They piled into the vehicle, and it drove off with Terumi leaning out the passenger window, howling like some kind of cowboy.
"[He's all yours, Sam!]"
Sae struggled to her feet, looking back to see her men strewn about, most of them barely conscious. One, however, was on his walkie talkie, calling in backup. Sae knew the Kamuro P.D. would want information on just what the hell was going on, and her only option to do so was by taking this "Sam" in alive. Her eyes met his, and he only smirked her way as he approached, hand still resting on the pommel of his blade.
"[So, all this… was just a distraction for something?]"
"[Not quite, senorita. More like, well, a red-carpet entrance.]
"[By shooting up a bunch of cops?]"
"[Hey, only one of your men are dead. So I think that's a bit hyperbolic,]" he grinned at her.
"[What do you want?"]
"[Right now, a stiff drink, an easy woman, a large paycheck, and a good fight.]"
Sae raised her revolver once again, her strength returning to her body. "[You want a good fight? I got one right here.]"
"[Oh, come now, that's far too fast. You ladies don't like a man who's too quick on the job, and I feel the same about my fights. You really want to go at it,]" he reached down on his belt behind his back, pulling out a sheathed short katana, "[then try this one on for size!]"
Sam tossed the katana at Sae's feet. She looked down at it without lowering her own weapon, raising an eyebrow. Nearly breaking into laughter, she replied, "[You can't be serious!]"
Sam started drawing his sword, slowly taking it from its sheath. "[Do I look like I'm joking?]" he asked in a lower, menacing tone.
Sae put her revolver back in its holster, then slowly picked up the sword by its sheath. "[No, no you do not.]"
"[Humor me then.]"
The weight of the katana was… perfect in Sae's hand. It was exactly her size, heavy enough to keep her stance steady and deliver some power in her strikes, yet light enough to allow for complex movement, quick changes between offensive and defensive stances, and quicker strikes.
"Ergh, ma'am!" a police officer cried out. "We can arrest him now! We're right behind you all the way!"
"Negative!" she called back to him, only looking his way for a moment before returning her gaze to Sam. "Reinforcements will be arriving soon. Guard the perimeter, go and meet our men, watch out for any other assailants."
"Ma'am… are you sure?"
She did not look his way, but instead held the katana out in front of herself in both hands. The sword in its sheath extended horizontally just past the span of her shoulders. Even after the shock of the previous attack, her breathing began to steady, her nerves calmed. She would not sit idly by this time as others defended the people of this city in her stead. Verily, it was on the surface for the sake of the city that she would fight the man herself, not putting her fellow officers in danger. But alas, Sae was being directly challenged to a contest of will, of might, dexterity and resolve.
And Sae Niijima never backed down from such a challenge.
"[You've harmed enough of my people today,]" she declared. She slowly drew the sword from its sheath, the immaculate steel ringing like a musical instrument as it ran along the interior of the wooden sheath. The moment the edge of the blade left the sheath, she held it at full length at her side, the steel reflecting the sun's rays in a dazzling display. "[For the sake of the innocents under my command, for the people you've put in danger, I will end this myself.]"
Sae lowered her stance, holding the blade in front of her. As she brought the hilt back next to her face, the blade extending out directly in front of her, her glare met Sam's, and he became visibly excited at the coming duel. "[Let's get this over with,]" she said, her voice lowering, her gaze narrowing.
Sam's grin extended into a full, exuberant, cocky smile. "[Now, we're talking!]"
The air seemed to still around them as they stepped forward slowly. With twenty feet between them, Sae stood up straight, twirled her blade around in her hand confidently, and resumed her lowered stance.
"[Shall I cut in?]" Sam asked.
"[If you won't, I will.]"
"[Then let's dance.]"
With great cries, they rushed forward, and their blades clashed in a hail of sparks. Already, Sae was nearly thrown off balance, but kept on her feet. The man before her was even larger and more imposing up close, easily twice her size and all muscle, but she remained steadfast. She backstepped before slashing downward, followed by a vertical strike upward. Now Sam was left off balance for the slightest moment, which he smiled that cocky, shit-eating grin for.
"[Now, I'm getting excited.]"
"[Then shut up and fight.]"
"[Famous last words,]" his grin disappeared, and he charged her.
Sae blocked the blow, but was nearly thrown to the ground by the impact. Regaining her footing, she flung her body around in a circle, slicing all the air around her and preventing Sam from immediately getting another strike in. In that brief moment, she lunged forward, feinting a jab before bringing her blade down to her side and slicing diagonally upwards. Sam blocked the attack and kicked her in the gut hard, and she keeled over onto the ground, saliva pooling in her mouth.
"[Never send a woman to do a man's job!]" Sam brought his sword down, attempting to slice Sae's skull in two, but to his surprise, she jolted her head out of the way by just an inch, and blocked the sword with her own blade.
"[Famous last words,]" she retorted, kicking him away with both her feet, summersaulting backward back onto her own, and charging him with a flurry of quick strikes.
To her surprise and growing frustration, all the sword strikes were blocked with seemingly little effort. The bastard is toying with me, she thought. Thinks he can go easy on me just because I'm a woman. She quickstepped to the side, aiming for his off hand with her sword. The attack was blocked, but only barely. She struck again, and their blades locked, and thus, they stared into each other's eyes. Sam smiled down at her, and Sae glowered vengefully up to him.
"[Self-taught,]" he remarked, "[and not half bad. Still, your technique lacks something.]"
Unable to comprehend how he was able to deduce she was self-taught just by a few moments of fighting, she tried to push him away with her blade, but Sam pushed back before striking at her again. The blade fell on her own lighter than it had before, confirming that he was indeed just toying with her. He pushed her back before slashing at her from the side. Sae blocked this attack, keeping her footing as they blades locked once again.
"[I see now,]" said Sam. "[You deny your weapon its purpose!]"
"[What are you talking about!?]" Sae pushed back and advanced with three more strikes. Sam blocked them all and quickstepped backward. "[Who even are you people!?]"
"[I am Sam Salazar,]" proclaimed the swordsman, "[of the Desperado Private Security Organization. My… friends and I, however, make up a little group of specialists called Gambit.]"
Sae lowered her blade and her head as well, then threw it back with a hearty laugh. "[Sounds like something out of a bad anime!]"
"[And yet we're the ones with all the firepower.]"
Sae returned to a fighting stance. "[Oh, I'm going to enjoy interrogating you.]"
"[Like hell. You will never defeat me while you deny your weapon its reason for existence.]"
"[And that is?]"
Sam stroked the scruff of his chin, then beckoned her forth with his hand. "[To bathe in the blood of your enemies. Such as myself.]"
Sae's nose scrunched up in a feverish glower. Her lips pulled back, revealing her teeth as she readied herself. "[My weapons are tools of justice, as are my body and mind. Nothing more, nothing less!]"
Sam nodded, looking at her like an adult looks at an innocent child that knows nothing of the real world. "[Then you will not get out of this alive. But if you are so sure,]" he lowered his sword, holding his arms out casually, invitingly, "[then come at me, Sae.]"
Her instincts, her anger took over, and Sae cried out and rushed toward him, unleashing a flurry of blows. To her shock, despite his size, Sam dodged every slash with ease, and she was unable to land a scratch on him. She relented, resting her arms, and Sam did not move.
"[Come on, don't be shy.]" Sae grunted and attacked again, but Sam parried her this time, sending her reeling backward. "[If you gave into your blade's purpose, you'd actually have a chance.]"
"[Fuck you.]" Another feint, another serpentine strike from below, another parry. Sam grabbed her arm as she was set off balance and kneed her in the gut. Sae nearly dropped her weapon as her mouth hung open, saliva pouring from it and onto his leg. She was then kicked hard in the side, and landed on the ground.
She sputtered as she got on her hands and knees, propping herself up on her sword. Sae repressed the urge to vomit as she heard Sam's footsteps coming closer. "[I guess you're noble in title alone,]" he taunted her. "[I can't imagine how you took down the Venom Flower with such inhibitions.]" He stood over her, looking down on Sae as she rose to her feet, her chest and shoulders rising and falling with her deep, labored breaths. "[Nothing but an image for the people to look up to. I hoped for better.]"
Sae gritted her teeth, her knuckles going white as she clutched her sword with all her strength. "[I'll bring you to justice,]" she snarled, "[if it's the last thing I do!]" She cried out and brought her blade over her head. It came down in a strong, fast strike that cut through the air with a stinging shing…
Until it was stopped dead in the air, all of its momentum halted as Sam caught the blade between his fingers.
Sae's eyes widened in awe and shock. "[What? How?]"
"[Because your 'justice' demands you hold back.]"
Sae's mind was only able to think of tearing the blade from his fingers a fraction of a second after she was pushed back out of his reach, and her legs were kicked out from under her. Once again, she was on the ground, looking up at the mercenary. "[You are unworthy of the art of the blade,]" said Sam, preparing to end her. He smiled down at her, his smile returning to his face. Sae knew she should have ended it long before this, but something in her wanted this duel, something selfish and stupid.
And now, she would pay the price. Hopefully her men could end him in her stead before he did any more damage…
There was a gunshot, and Sam dove out of the way. "Police!" cried a familiar voice in Japanese. "You just signed your death warrant, asshole!"
Sae looked to her side, and sure enough, there was a police cruiser pulling up, and hanging out the side of the window with his gun in hand was Kaz Miller.
"Kaz!"
"Kept you waiting, huh!?" he called back.
Sam got to his feet, shrugging to himself. He looked to Sae with a disappointed expression. "[Lucky devil,]" he remarked.
"Get on your knees or you will die!" Kaz proclaimed. "This is your final warning."
Sam shook his head, thumbing his nose. "[Not today, compadre.]"
Faster than they could see it, Sam threw a grenade into the air, turned on his heels and ran down an alley. Instinctively, Sae jumped in the air with what little strength she had left, and caught the grenade mid-flight. Before even hitting the ground, she tossed it down the street three seconds before it exploded in a hail of shrapnel and fire. No one was hurt, that much she knew, as another cloud of smoke appeared at the alleyway entrance Sam disappeared down. Faintly, she could hear a car peeling out a few blocks over, its tires screeching as the engine noises dissipated into the distance.
Kaz was coming up behind her, adjusting his sunglasses as he looked down the empty alley. "Goddammit," he muttered. "This is beyond crazy at this point."
"I know what you mean. We need to build a case file back at HQ immediately. Has anyone else been hurt?"
"Not that we're aware of. Civilian casualties haven't been reported but… what the hell am I talking about? We need to get you to a hospital, Niijima!"
"I'm fine," she rubbed her bruising belly with her free hand. "The safety of the city is more important."
"You just dueled a fucking samurai, Sae. I think you've done more than enough for the city today."
"Like hell I have!" she shouted in his face before doubling over, clutching her stomach. The force that was needed to yell in such anger caused her bruised midsection to scream in pain, her nerves all over her body being alight in sharp anguish. "Oh, shit."
"You don't look cut up, that's good. We're at least getting you checked out back at the station, make sure nothing internal was damaged."
Sae had not even the strength to challenge that statement. "Fine, just get me out of here."
"Yes, Ma'am."
She was shuffled into the police cruiser, and they immediately drove off toward the station. "Any officers or guests hurt?" she asked.
"None," Kaz replied, sitting in the passenger's seat in front of her. "Save for Jukodo, at least. Some sharpshooter got him."
"Probably Verona."
"Verona? The White Witch, Verona?"
"You know her?"
"Yeah, and I know the asshole that ran away when we got there. International 'private security representative', Sam Salazar. Just a fancy title for a soldier of fortune. He's been most active in the Middle East and South America, though he's been all over the world at least once."
"And what are they doing in Kamurocho?"
Kaz shook his head. "I have no idea."
"You think it's the yakuza?"
"I wouldn't be surprised if it was."
"And I let our best source of information get away."
Kaz turned around in his seat to look at her. "Now don't go saying that, Niijima. You didn't let him get away, he got the better of you. You took on a giant and only got a few bruises, that's pretty incredible."
"Because I'm a woman?" she spat back, her hands over her belly.
"You know perfectly well that's not what I meant."
Sae leaned back in her seat, ignoring the pain in gut as she tried to calm herself. "You're right, I'm sorry."
"Don't be. God knows how much adrenaline is flowing through you right now. We'll get the whole story straight when we're back at the station." Kaz paused, returning to his normal seating position. "You're a damn good hero, Sae. Murakata was right to make you Noble One."
Then why can't I win in anything, she thought. She looked out the window, watching the press and concerned citizens line up to observe the aftermath of the mayhem. She knew they could not see her, but she still felt like they were judging her every move.
This city is going to hell, she thought. I need a fucking vacation…
[Reviews are always welcome. DM's are always open.]
