Chapter 9: Stolen Moments: Kunimitsu II

Jin and Reggie had waited for Rhima and Josie to came out until Sugar had smelled their presence knowing that Leroy was there to assist them.

"It's okay, you two. I have no plans of barging around that infiltration you had made."

Therefore, Rhima and Josie along with Tessie to see them which makes Jin surprised over the latter's presence he pointed at her.

"Rhima, that woman... she's..."

"It's okay, young man. I had no plans of taking advantage over you." Tessie said in a manly which makes Jin stopped panicking knowing that he is a man.

"I think she knows about Harry. Now tell me what happened to Harry after he was disowned by his parents."

"I already told to my game partner about this and I guess I'll tell you personally." Tessie said and he explains. "Harry Bravante had faked his death so he decided to have a sex reassignment along with cosmetic surgery to become a transwoman like me. What matters to me that she was on my side back then as she became as Veron Almas. When Raquel had learned that Harry is also Veron, she tried to stop the wedding between her and Broadie. It was my fault for creating her as a monster. Because of his true revelation of his identity, She gunned Raquel down to her death. I knew her attitude becomes horrid. I try to stop her but I couldn't. She becomes obsessed with Broadie."

"Because of her intervention as well as exposing the real identity. All they can see from her are lies and deception." Rhima said and Tessie pointed out on Rhima's appearance.

"You were so lucky that you have a close resemblance to Raquel. Her parents wanted to put Veron behind bars but he has nowhere to be found. Those men who were heavily guarded here in Rosewood are called themselves as Black Devil."

"These are the mercenaries who sent to kill me, my dad and even my mom. Because their leader had a huge grudge over my father from getting defeated. I don't know how to say this. They really want me to get me safe. But I was forced to get back to see what is happening here in the Metro." Rhima said and Tessie tells her why she releases Kunimitsu II in the first place.

"My game partner is very cheeky and serious. She's not like her mother in terms of stolen objects. But she and her mother Kunimitsu are a lot a like in person. Although she is more fast agile than the squirmy guy. I think she might ended up encountering your father and trying to take on your side."

"This is going to be a one hell of a disaster. A sassy woman who turns into a real murderer." Leroy said knowing that Veron is a real threat.

"Actually, Broadie had learned it from her because I informed him with my cellphone to stop her from visiting him."

"Thanks for telling me that tragic story. I like to serve justice for Raquel and that guy who really wanted to turns things the wrong way needs to be taught a lesson." Rhima said wanted to serve justice for the late Raquel and Tessie decided to come with them.

"I like to come with you, I know this place is no longer lived since you got here. I knew that she was here and why she decided to let those mercenaries to guard this place."

Therefore, Jin gets his cellphone from his pocket and receives a call from Lars.

"Lars, what is it?"

"There is a problem, Jin. The mercenaries are gone hostile and it looks like they are here to find Broadie. However, their leader is a woman and I'm sure she's'-."

Jin realizes who it is and he informs Rhima about the incident.

"We have to get back, Rhima. Looks like the entire surroundings becomes chaotic."

"What's that supposed to mean?" Josie ponders as Rhima, Reggie and Leroy knew she was targeted again. "Hey, wait for me!"

As they get out of the place, they were cornered by the mercenaries as both Jin and Leroy took them down as both Rhima and Josie fend them off immediately. However, Rhima saves Josie from getting shot which scratches her shoulder.

"Rhima!"

"Rhima, you're wounded." Josie said who is concern for her which she tells her.

"No, it's only a scratch."

"I would expect to see my target is right in front of me." the woman appears and she horribly surprised to see Rhima who has a resemblance to Raquel. "Raquel. Akala ko patay ka na? (I thought you were dead?)

Rhima became angry to see it was really Veron Almas who is actually Harry Bravante.

"So you're Harry Bravante, who now became as Veron Almas. Di ko akalain sa ugali pala. Maitim na pala ng budhi mo. (I never expect for your behavior is already filled with dark on your conscience)"

"Take that back!" Veron gunpoints at Rhima which she allows Jin and the others to help Lee, Lars, Alisa and Meng.

"You have a rotten behavior to kill your former wife. She deserves to expose who you are. Just because you really think yourself as a woman and you are actually a guy. How dare you killed her because of your liking for yourself and becoming deranged once your real identity is exposed. Di ba, nandyan ka rin kasi ako ang target niyo. (You know very well that I'm here because I'm your main target.)

Veron attempts to shoot Rhima who dodges and immediately beats her to the ground. Both had fought each other brutally as Rhima is able to overcame her and seeing that she is a man and knocks her out with a kick to the face.

"Everyone doesn't know me... I became a prisoner on Harry's body. Why is everyone didn't accept me for who I am."

Rhima was pity over her and seeing her deception to get the knife on her back. She dodges the attack and grapples her into the ground, knocking her down.

"What you're doing is nonsense and you cannot understand that you just hurt because you like Broadie, didn't you? He knows how dangerous you had become." Rhima said becoming pity towards Veron as more mercenaries came to capture her. Lee arrives to knock one of the mercenaries with a leaping side kick and it was revealed to remove his dyed purple hair from the pool due to his dye being washable.

"Don't ever put your hands on Rhima, you filthy morons."

Rhima looked on to see Lee beats the mercenaries as Veron gets the gun and attempted to shoot her.

"I'm not gonna let you put me off this easy, you bitch!"

Lee sensed this and he quickly tackles Rhima to safety as Veron pulls the trigger which shoots his right shoulder.

"Mr. Lee... you're hurt."

"It's all right, Rhima... ugh..." Lee said while clutching his right arm because of the gunshot wound and Rhima became angry for what she had done.

Rhima then charges at Veron who soon escapes using a smoke bomb to escape as the mercenaries immediately leaves the premises. Jin and the others arrive to see Lee was shot and Lars decided to inform the security to get some medic.

At the district hospital within Taguig to Pateros, Lee's gunshot wound was immediately treated and luckily that Rhima is able to cover up for him being as a elderly man as Jin had thanked him for saving her.

"Thanks for saving her, Lee. It's pretty weird that Rhima had said about you being an elderly man like Heihachi to be admit in this district hospital."

"What!? She say that?" Lee reacted horribly as he looked on his silver hair. "I maybe less creepy, she thinks that I'm an old man because of my silver hair. Oh well, she is a genius to cover up my real age."

"I didn't expect that she is a man who lead with those mercenaries. It's not just to go after Broadie. She came here to assassinate Rhima. Probably she had replaced those two after their failures." Lars said noticing of their true motives.

"That witch... how dare she replaced us because we haven't get our jobs done, it's not fair." Meng angrily reacted as Margie arrives to see them.

"Thank goodness, you're here Rhima. I heard the Panganiban family had gone out. Josie told me everything."

"I came here to investigate about Broadie's former girlfriend who is actually a transgender. What kind a man would do such a thing just because somebody interferes on his enjoyment for being a woman. I was so pissed." Rhima said getting angry over Veron's behavior as Lee tries to calm her down.

"Take it easy, Rhima. You would definitely beat her next time. I can see her because she is very deranged and obsessed over your sparring partner. I'm glad that this manly woman who spoke to you had decided to join up to our cause."

"Rhima, I'm glad you're okay. Mama Tessie had told me everything. I never seen that she became deranged because of me. I wouldn't expect that you were their real target. I'm sorry for bringing up my mess to you." Broadie said as he was emotionally upset for what he did which Rhima tells him.

"You don't have too. I wanted to make this tranny to clear up this mess. I think it's because his parents didn't understand more about his sexuality which is why he was imprisoned within the man's body to follow them."

"She actually say that crap. I'll never forgive her for all the things I've done and was deceived from her lies."

"Rhima, are you sure about what you're going to do? You're going to look after the latter's parents after what she did to you." Jin said getting worried to her and Rhima decided to take research.

"I'm going to take research to find the whereabouts of the latter's parents. They need to know about their son is alive and is now a transwoman. I can't let him put this way."

"I think they lived in Eastwood City within the Le Grand condominiums. I found this from my intel." Margie said and decided to look after Lee. "I'll take good care of this injured silver guy."

"All right..."

At Sathorn Garden, Hunyo, Rolento, Sally and Julia were surprised to see Armor King II has a companion which happens to be Kunimitsu II who attacked them earlier.

"Seems like this woman knows about your enemy."

"She seems different. I know Kunimitsu always wore a kitsune mask." Hunyo pointed out on her appearance as Rolento remarks.

"Hunyo, that was ancient history. And now Kunimitsu is now wearing a half-kitsune mask."

"You people know my mother... I was surprised. If you need a thief like me, then I'm your woman."

Hunyo noticed her actions and realizing their differences because Kunimitsu and Kunimitsu II are different.

"So Kunimitsu is your mother, right. We all know about her. But next time, don't try to ambush us like your stunt earlier. You think of us being victims in theft."

"She was seeking for Yoshimitsu's cursed sword but I manage to clarify her that we're in the real world." Armor King II roars to inform the group that Kunimitsu II came here to seek for Yoshimitsu's sword.

"I'm not going to deceive you, Mr. Panganiban. I was sent by Ms. Garoa to find Veron Almas and I heard she must be working on that organization."

"Hunyo, looks like we had someone to help us." Rolento said nicely as Sally welcomes her.

"Welcome to the group, young lady."

"On my mother's name... I'm Kunimitsu II, at your service." Kunimitsu II decided to help Hunyo's group to deal against the Black Devil organization while they take refuge.

Trivia:

*Veron Almas makes her appearance in this chapter and she is based on the character Venus Hermosa-Bravante being played by her actress Thea Tolentino in the teleserye Asawa Ko, Karibal Ko and her name is a play on the main antagonist, Veronica Santos played by veteran actress, Sheryl Cruz in the other Filipino teleserye, Magkaagaw (Broken Faith).

*His past life looks similar to the plotlines in Asawa Ko, Karibal Ko.

*Lee finally removes the purple dye on his hair and it is revealed to be washable and wears a long openly robe to rescue Rhima.

*For the first time, Lee was jokily mistook him as a old man as part of Rhima's cover up from his game appearance.

*Kunimitsu II had decided to aid Hunyo's group after learning that they knew their mother and predecessor, Kunimitsu.