Chapter 2: The Typical Life of a Thief

(Kunimitsu II's POV)

A new day with new hope. As I sat up in bed on this peaceful morning after Gon and I shared one more free day together, I kept a smile of confidence as I was looking at nothing in particular. It was mostly because I'm currently thinking about this mysterious American ninja named Colby. I realized that, judging by the descriptions Gon and I shared, he seemed like we both share the same status as a ninja, but under different circumstances. I was practically born into the ways of the ninja while Colby had to study for it somewhere in his life. Personally, I don't find that threat to me at all. I'm technically much more professional than he is, so I'm in no real competition. Still, something about him strikes my sixth sense with extreme shivers that literally made my hands quiver for only three seconds as I looked at them.

I'll… definitely have to keep my sharp grey eyes open for him while he's still here in Japan. In the meantime, however, I've got clients to obey and money to make.

(Colby's POV)

Three years of settling in and I already got very comfortable with the people and culture of Japan. I love it! As I just got finished eating breakfast with my parents, they had already gone on their way to work after we shared a family hug. It's the usual tradition in my family. The only difference this time is that I'm gonna need to find someway to make this freelance thief thing work. I'm currently home alone right now thinking hard about it. With these new ninja skills that I got, I'm sure that if I think like the thief, I'm sure to land a job immediately just by taking back the stolen. Mm! It sounds confusing. So, since that's the case…

"Stealing isn't my latte." I said to myself as I was currently staring out the window. I was dressed in a pair of baggy blue jeans with my favorite pair of purple and black sneakers. "I can still help out with the Japanese police somehow. I'll figure it out. I always do." After that last word, I finally got up from the kitchen table, went out the front door, and made my professional leaps and bounds to nowhere in particular until trouble reared its ugly head.

The basic description of a freelance hero rather than a thief.

(Kunimitsu's POV)

Minutes after I finished my breakfast with Master Raven and Leroy at the mansion's kitchen table, I pulled out my expensive smart phone and waited patiently for my first client of the day to call. During the wait, I just simply looked down memory lane at the many feats my Mother has done through some old footage that was sent to me from one of her doctors. I was dressed in my urban ninja gear without the mask. I had it in my pocket with me and ready to go. As I watched this footage, I just couldn't believe it. It's no wonder Mother fell ill in the first place. She struggled immensely, just to get the many, many years of a hateful grudge against Yoshimitsu off her back. Fortunately for me, I killed him easily compared to this and nothing but my missions should hold me back. Also, during the wait, Master Raven had left the kitchen and it was just Leroy and I with his precious dog, Sugar, sitting obediently next to him. Despite not making any eye contact with the man, he still struck up a conversation with complete confidence.

"Lookin' back at ya Mama's ventures, eh?" He started casually. His voice made me smile a bit as I still kept my grey eyes on my phone and nodded twice in response. "Yeah, I see ya. I heard from Kazuya that she was quite the legend. You bein' her daughter must be an honor."

"More than anything else in the world." I replied. "It's just sad to see her in such a state now due to these thefts she's done, all just to get back at Yoshimitsu for kicking her out of the Manji Clan. I would've made an excellent leader, if it hadn't gone extinct."

"Now that would've made your Mama prouder than when you brought her the sword." Hearing that phrase never made my smile cease. In fact, it grew a bit with my eyes slowly getting moist with joy, but no tears escaped. "Ya got any plans for today?"

"I'm currently waiting for a client to call me. I'm a Freelance Thief."

"Huh! Didn't know there was such a job. Ya rich from it?"

"Yes."

"Damn! I ain't mad at ya. What exactly do ya do?"

"I basically steal back what was stolen from the client and return it. As payment, I get the cash value of the item returned. So far, I haven't gotten anything extremely priceless yet."

"That's pretty badass, Kuni! Well, good luck to ya…" He paused as he stood up and Sugar followed, even as he stopped on my left side to place a hand on my shoulder as he finished his statement: "…and may your Mama recover with a healing power that even God would be jealous of." I giggled at that latter statement and looked up at him with sincerity.

"Thanks, Leroy." He left after that was said from me and just in time, too. My phone finally rang and it was from a usual client of mine. It's not like he doesn't keep his valuables safe, but for some reason or another, he remains a target for thieves because of an impressive collection he has. "Hello. Kunimitsu, thief, at your service."

"I need you once again, Young Kuni." The familiar gruff male voice of a man in his sixties replied on the other line. "Thieves just love my diamond collection and it's really getting out of hand!"

"But as usual, Mr. Kakashi, I'll get right to getting it back for you. So far, you've been the most generous client within my list, despite the hefty thefts."

"Glad you finally noticed. Anyway, I've already called the police to track down the thief and I haven't heard back from them yet. This case is a little different than usual and ironic to say the least. My excavation crew dug deep into the Dragon Cove Caverns just last week and came across a very rare sight: Not one, but two 24 carat black diamonds at the size of baseballs! One of them has been stolen along with one of many of my priceless pink diamonds. (Sigh)…I really need to upgrade my security at this rate."

"Don't beat yourself up, Mr. Kakashi. Those diamonds will be in safer hands after this is over. Before I go, though, I am curious: I've never heard of a black diamond."

"No one knows how many of those are there in the world, but just finding two in the same cave is as good of a start as any. They're as pitch black as complete darkness, but they still have the famous diamond shine when exposed to the light. Selling them for money would be absolutely ridiculous! You must keep them in your possession for bragging rights! That's why I need it back along with the pink diamond. You get both of those back for me and I'll only pay you the equal amount of the black one."

"Affirmative! No need to wait for police to call back. I can find the thieves myself."

"Thank you so much for your services as usual, Young Kunimitsu. I'll be waiting." After that last word, we both hung up simultaneously before I stood up, placed on my mask, and headed out the door to start my day. I already felt it as I stepped out and made my usual leaps and bounds westward into town. The temptation of stealing back something like a black diamond and not keeping it for myself will be a tough one since they're so rare. But, for the sake of the job I love so much and my mother's life, I must resist as much as possible. Mr. Kakashi isn't called my most generous client for nothing.

Fifteen minutes later…

I landed on top of a skyscraper downtown and used my enhanced vision that I've been training to use my whole life to scan all over the city limits below. The building itself is only about 100 stories high. Anyone with an extreme case of acrophobia would probably suffer immensely, but me? Fearless! Anyway, as I scanned through, I did actually see the aforementioned police cars making their way in a certain direction with great haste. I counted about seven of those vehicles total and their sirens echoed at their loudest, even from up here. I looked that way and my eyes saw it. The thieves were hiding in an abandoned factory that was supposed to be demolished five years ago and it looks like it'll happen today, if I don't stop them. They're planning to make this a permanent theft by burning it down with the two priceless diamonds inside! Glad I have the right mask on today.

With that in mind, I quickly continued my way towards that same building and I made it there within ten minutes, long before the police arrived. I ended up on top of the building and when I felt that they didn't hear my arrival, I carefully dropped down at the rear end of the factory. I managed to take a better look at it for a quick moment. It was a seven-story building at the size of a mall. Burning it down will take the strength of probably ten men…

…which is who I'm hoping is not in there. Every professional has its limits, you know.

I then snuck my way inside and heard some activity at the very top floor! Damn! They planned it out better than I thought. I got there the easy way by means of the surprisingly clean ventilation shafts. When I got to the right room within another quick five minutes, yes! I heard voices. The thieves are here! I peeked through the grid and counted them: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. Phew! Only half of the strength to burn down a building like this, but there's no doubt. They'll still try it. I have to stop them on my terms and mine alone.

Seconds later, I made good on that promise by first targeting a vulnerable thief with one of my kunai knives with swift precision through the grid. The strong stab killed him instantly, just how I like it. Of course, it didn't go unnoticed. As soon as they saw his dead body on the white carpeting, the remaining four Caucasian men looked up at me with expectancy and anger all at once. I wasn't afraid of them at all as I made my presence known right then and there by dropping down behind the corpse with my wakizashi and kodachi blades at the usual ready position. They never looked intimidated at all as the tallest man, who I presumed to be the leader, volunteered to step forward.

"Well, well, well." He started in a male voice that was extremely deep, but I never cowered. "If it isn't the fox pup that couldn't…"

"You better watch your mouth!" I exclaimed with my wakizashi only aimed at his face, right between the eyes. I took extreme offense to that. "You're staring down towards the daughter of a legend."

"Like we give a damn about that! If ya here for the diamonds, don't even try to take 'em back, bitch! We've got 'em locked up in a safe that's… not to fireproof. Heh, heh, heh."

"I knew it! You guys are that desperate to make this the first successful theft since I started. It's not gonna happen!" After I said this, I made a threat towards the leader by performing my famous rage art towards another one of his lackeys, which killed him afterwards as usual. The leader immediately fired back literally with a .45 Magnum and I dodged the bullet easily, making the rest of the thieves gang up on me almost immediately.

It was a pretty hard-fought battle for the next fifteen minutes or so. All three of these bastards had different pistols and knives of their own after they had wasted their bullets. The good news is that I was able to take down two of them, but the bad news is that the leader was still standing while I was kneeled down with fatigue and I felt that I had lost my mask within the fight. The leader crushed it to pieces before I could reach for it, pissing me off! All I could do was look up at him and saw that he had a pretty decent sized flamethrower that he somehow acquired from nowhere!

"I've gotta admit it, Kunimitsu: Like mother, like daughter. You fight with just as much skill." The leader continued casually. "But I win this round." He aimed the flamethrower at me and did manage to professionally roll out of the way, but it sent the room ablaze slowly. Without my mask, I was due to suffer from the smoke at any moment. He was going to watch me suffer, but… "Damn it! The cops! Here's hoping you burn in Hell!" After that last word, he made a hasty retreat through the main door in the hopes of evading the police on the way out. I had to escape myself, but first thing's first:

"Gotta get the diamonds! I'll try to hold my breath for as long as I can, too." And I did so quickly as I ran for the safe at the other side of the room. It was a combination safe, so I had to figure it out the hard way. As I started twisting the dial, the fire and the smoke was rising quicker than I thought. By the fifth minute of trying, I struggled to hold my breath as I was nearly done solving the combination.

Another three minutes after that and I did manage to break in finally and I smiled while still breaking a sweat trying to keep my breath when I saw the two diamonds safe and sound. I took them and carefully placed them in my jacket pocket, but when I turned around, the whole room was pretty much in flames and even the door was blocked off. My only way out was the way I came in, but as soon as I tried to make a leap for the shaft, I couldn't hold my breath anymore and I took in a breath that brought in enough smoke into my lungs to knock me out. I coughed a few times and I couldn't move.

I'm as good as dead.

Several minutes later…

(GASP!) I'm alive?! I came to after an unsurpassed amount of time and found myself with a O2 mask on my face laid back in a stretcher inside a parked ambulance. After a whole minute to realizing that factor, I slowly sat up and saw that the police had the diamonds in a small glass chamber of their own. It shocked me and I needed those diamonds back for Mr. Kakashi. So, I made a break for those two particular cops as they were just chatting with some reporters, but when I was about four feet away from them, a massive 12-foot-tall silver-grey wolf blocked my way with a horrifying growl that sent shivers down my spine and I was wide eyed with absolute surprise!

Where the hell did this creature come from?! I've never seen anything like it! Besides the height, it had a rough and seemingly unkempt mane that stopped at the middle of his body, having the rough fur stop just inches before the base of its tail. It had muscular legs that probably had the strength of a million men with distinctive tribal black tattoos embedded on his right legs only. As we stared each other down, I noticed its eyes. They were green in the iris, but the sclera and pupil colors have been swapped! White pupils and black sclera in the eyes?! It fascinated me and yet, this wolf had perfect vision. Its growling grew soft as we looked at each other for one more minute before I heard the unexpected from an officer:

"Hey! Take it easy, son. We need to talk to her, now that she's awake."

The wolf miraculously eased off and sat like the most obedient canine in the world. He works with the police as a K9, but I feel like I've heard of this wolf before. Only in bedtime stories my parents used to tell me back when I was much younger. Before I could contemplate a possible guess as to what he could be, first thing's first.

"You're Kunimitsu's daughter, correct?" The same Asian officer asked me as he approached me with the wolf still sitting there like a good boy. This officer was also carrying the case with the two diamonds. I nodded in response as I cooperated. "You were sent here to subdue the thieves as well, right?"

"Yes, sir." I replied. "I'm a Freelance Thief sent here to get those diamonds for Mr. Kakashi. I'd like to have those back."

"Well, we appreciate that thought, but since these were stolen, we'll have to confiscate these until we receive word from your so-called 'client' and officially claim that they indeed belong to him."

"You think I'm a liar?! His name is Vaisakhi Tao Kakashi, a well-renowned diamond connoisseur with a five-star reputation. He keeps diamonds like those for sentimental and priceless value. He desperately needs those back, especially since he's got one other black diamond in his possession right now!" As I spoke those words towards the officer, the wolf made a deep growling moan that sounded observant, like he was really studying me for any future encounters. The officer even jumped forward, surprising me for a moment as well. This wolf pushed him with his massive fluffy tail and he looked at him with completely bewilderment.

"What was that for?! You agree with her?!" The wolf nodded twice before he lightly nudged his wet black nose towards the case of the two diamonds, trying to tell him to give them to me. I slightly smiled with appreciation, but alas! It didn't quite convince him. "I'm sorry, but those are the rules. I can't bend them here. If you want them back, you'll have to have a word with the sheriff at our police station tomorrow. I'll tell him that he'll be expecting you." Ugh! I couldn't believe it. I guess I have no choice in the matter. "Think you can give Mr. Kakashi our regards until then?"

"Fine. I'm sure he'll understand, but about this wolf, what is he?" I finally had to ask before making my departure towards my client.

"Ah, ya like him, eh? This is the fabled Midnight Wolf. You've heard of it, right?"

"Yeah. My parents used to tell me stories about him back when I was a little girl. I never thought it actually existed."

"Yep, believe it. He's the only K9 we need."

"Fascinating." I slowly dared myself to give him a few pats on the small tuft of three furs between his ears and, seeing that I was bit nervous about it along the way, the wolf himself nuzzled his head at my quivering hand and he then looked at me with a regal glare in those incredible eyes. It even appeared that he was smiling, like he knew who I was long before his fellow officer identified me. The feeling of the rough-looking fur surprised me. It was actually soft like the world's most luxurious pillow. Even his tail was wagging to tell me that he actually enjoyed this little meeting. It seemed to last forever while the officer left for his car with the diamonds. Pretty soon, it felt like it was just us two alone for the next five minutes. I… slowly started to feel a bond with him and it was unlike any other I've experienced throughout my lifetime so far. At the sixth minute, a whistle was heard from another officer and the wolf made a couple of soft barks towards them as a response before he reluctantly left with them, running with grace alongside the cars back to station. When he was gone, I sighed with a tone that said that I was completely at peace with the Midnight Wolf.

Usually, foxes and wolves don't really get along like this, but in this specific case…

…I'm willing to make an exception.

To be continued…