Chapter Two:

We walked down the street until we reached the site of the shop. Left behind was a heap of charred timbers letting out wisps of smoke. "Has this happened before."

"Unfortunately yes." Akio replied. "The racketeers have gotten more aggressive."

"Then we need to do something."

"That's the spirit."

"Hey what are you doing." a voice rang out.

We looked and saw a group of Agni Kai Triad gangsters. Of course they would be in the area. They approached us rapidly and aggressively. "What do we do?" I asked.

"Fight." Akio replied.

I grabbed a bola and threw it at the gangsters. It wrapped around the legs of the lead gangster and tripped him to the ground. Some of the other gangsters tried to go over and around his prone form, while other just stepped on and kicked him.

We dispersed when they threw waves of fire at us, and then fired back with bolas. They to broke formation at the sight of the incoming projectiles. I threw a bola as a gangster threw a blast at me, then I ducked down.

The gangster's eyes widened as he saw the heated bola continue towards him. He covered up his face as the hot wires smacked across him. I heard the sizzle of flame above me, so I turned around and dodged to the side.

A gangster landed beside me and slammed a fiery fist into the ground. I clocked him in the face and gut, then quickly backed off. I hurled a bolo, but the gangster dodged and came straight at me, fists still coated in flames.

I ducked to the ground and his fist swiped over me. I looked up and saw Akio leap in front of the gangster. The two clashed, and Akio nimbly dodging the gangster's punches and punching back at his gut.

I grabbed the gangsters ankle and pulled as hard as I could. Akio's punches hit him and he fell down limply. Akio offered a hand and pulled me to my feet. "Time to go, better scatter so they don't follow us."

The resistance members ran down different streets, and Akio and I ran together. After going a few blocks we dashed down an alley. We crouched behind a dumpster and watched as a group of gangsters went down the street.

After they went by, we got up and continued down the narrow alleys. With each corner, we peered carefully to see if anyone was searching for us. We also tested out back doors of various buildings, but they all were locked.

As we peered down another corner, we spotted a trio of gangsters. Akio and I hide on opposite sides of the alley. We cautiously glanced again and I made a quick judgement on how long it would take for them to reach us.

I waited for them, shaking my shock glove in anticipation. As they grew closer, I heard them talking. "Can't you believe those guys." one of them said.

"Yeah, me neither." said another. "Once we find them, we'll show them what happens when they mess with us."

Another gangster let out a laugh. "Yeah they really have it coming."

Once the voices grew loud enough, Akio and I lunged out and swung at the gangsters. Our gloves hit the ones standing on the left and right sides. The two of the froze, then toppled over.

The gangster standing in the center was stunned by what he saw. His eyes snapped side to side, then he lept backwards. He shot fireblasts at us, and we retreated down the alleys. The gangster carefully approached the corner, and looked back and forth, keeping his bending stance.

I looked past him at Akio. We both stood watching eachother, and the gangster, waiting for his next move. The gangster turned towards Akio and I rushed at him. I prepared a bola, but he turned around and threw a fireball.

I ducked to the ground, and Akio came at the gangster with his shock glove. The gangster turned back to Akio and grabbed his wrist tightly. I skidded a bola across the ground and it wrapped around the gangster's ankles.

Akio punched the gangster with his free hand, then yanked his gloved hand free and shocked the gangster. We looked at the downed men, then continued to retreat deeper into the alleys.

A couple of Red Monsoon gangsters patrolled the streets when they saw a couple of Agni Ki members. Normally this would provoke a fight, but after the alliance such behavior had to be tolerated.

Still, this really irritated one of them named Isuel. He leveled an accusing finger at them, and watched as they stopped in their tracks and awardly stepped. "I know we all have to work together," he said. "But you two need a very good explanation as to why your walking around here on our turf."

"We got into a fight with some resistance members." one of them said.

"And we tracked a couple down of them to hear." add the other one.

The four of them walked down the street. One of the Agni Ki members pointed down an alley. "Three of our guys went down there. Didn't report back."

"Should we look down there?" said the other.

Qing leaned in towards Isuel. "Should we?"

"No!" Isuel loudly declared. "I've had enough of you hotheads walking around like you own the place. You two need to go flame off, before I put you out for good."

The Agni Ki gangster walked away while the Red Monsoons searched the alleys. "You really don't like those guys?". Qing said.

"Oh I really hate those Agni Kis." Isuel replied. "I don't care about the stupid alliance. I would kill them, whatever Arashi and his metal-eyed creep have to say."

"Tsume?" "I don't know about you, but I think that guy is one scary dude. His bad side is somewhere you want to stay far far away from."

"Oh absolutely, I'm a hardened criminal and he still scares me. Still I hope he wouldn't mind me putting out a few of those annoying little flamers, I'm sure he would understand."

The two of them found a trio of Agni Ki gangsters on the ground. "Get up!"

One of them glanced upwards. Isuel pulled him upwards and pushed him against the wall. "What happened to you, who was it, where did they go."

"We were attacked" the man said weakly. "Two of them."

"Who!"

"I didn't recognize one of them, but the other was Akio, a high ranking member."

"Where did they go? What direction."

"I don't know."

Isuel threw the man to the ground. "Useless moron." he looked towards Qing. "Gotta keep searching."

Akio and I sat in an empty backroom. We heard an occasional voice from through the wall but there was clearly very little activity going on. We heard nothing from the exterior walls, so we knew there was no one nearby in the alleys, but we still decided to stay put.

After awhile we stopped hearing voices through the wall, and light no longer shown from under the door. We stepped out into the front room of the building, a small shop. We then stepped out onto the streets and Akio guided me down a few turns.

Eventually we walked down a flight of stairs towards a door. A small peepdoor opened, and when the man recognized Akio he opened the door. "What are you doing out here?" the man asked, hen then pointed to me and added "And who is he?"

"New recruit." Akio replied. "Remember that guy from the arena."

"Oh yes." the man said as he lead us in. "I remember that very well, surprised they fished you out okay."

"I definitely am grateful for that." I said. "And who might you be?"

"A friend." the man replied. "I provide shelter for people in need like yourselves."