Chapter 21: Family Affairs
Yumiko P.O.V., 23 hours, 14 minutes following "Shadows Die Twice"; 9:45 A.M.
For the better part of Yumiko Kobayashi's life, she had lived under the fear of disappointing her father, constantly striving to gain his approval. Such fear had led her to join the military, and later her father's own private mercenary company. When her father had "disappeared", she knew better, deciding to change her surname, but still serving in the private military force.
Yes, Yumiko was indeed the daughter of the famed Justin Cryptor, a secret known only by Marasu Enatsu, and Kenshi. To the rest of the world, she was a nameless ghost, a helping hand extended only to those who could afford her services, known only as Hibana.
Now, she was on the run, hiding from her own family, running from the place she had called home for years, until she met Enatsu.
Speaking of Marasu, it was a miracle she had met him in the first place. Had it not been for her recklessness, and his unwillingness to leave squad members behind, she may not have survived to see her twenty-seventh birthday. After, they had stayed friends for years, saving each other's lives so many times they couldn't even count, until Enatsu's transfer to Atlas, where he finally worked up enough courage to ask her out.
That, was four years ago, and now, instead of walks down the streets of Tokyo, they were running through the alleys of Ninjago, hundreds of miles away from home. And despite Yumiko knowing that there was nowhere she would rather be than with Marasu (even if it was a life or death situation), she sometimes wondered how her life would have been if she had just decided to listen to Mei Lin and gone to M.I.T. and became an engineer, like she had dreamed and actually had a chance to pursue when she was younger.
A hand suddenly shook her out of her thoughts.
"Hey, don't go spacing out on me now." A kind face appeared beside her, and she took his much larger hand, gripping it tightly, as if she was about to lose the love of her life forever.
"Yumiko? Are you alright?" She turned to him, forcing herself to relax when she saw Marasu's concerned expression.
"Yes, yeah. I'm fine, don't worry. Relax Marasu, you worry too much for me." She laughed, albeit with a nervous edge.
Marasu's brow furrowed. "I have every right to be worried, especially after what happened to you." He muttered, a certain apprehensiveness lacing his voice.
Before either could say anything else, Enatsu's phone began to ring, an unknown number as the ID. Picking it up, he cautiously answered. "Hello?"
The same young voice from before replied. "Hey, you ready to go? We're outside you flat, in the old blue truck."
"Yeah, we'll be out in two minutes."
The voice went silent, then a muffled exchange of words, and a brushing noise against the microphone. "Yeah, ok, but hurry, Jay thinks he sees a tail." Then the phone hung up.
Yumiko glanced at Marasu. "Time to go?"
"Yup. Grab your bags, we have two minutes to make it down."
The pair quickly began to grab their packs, before sprinting out, and down the stairs, quickly clearing six floors within time, before running out, loading their bags in the bed, before hopping in themselves, and tapping the side, signaling for driver to get moving.
Half an hour later, they had lost their tail, and arrived at the base of the Bounty's anchor, where Kenshi and the rest of the ninja awaited.
Zane P.O.V., direct following "Shadows Die Twice"; 9:16 A.M.
"Give me one reason not to blow your brains out."
Zane stilled, knowing that if he turned his head unexpectedly, it would surely lead to his demise, this time more permanently.
"I am going to slowly raise my hands, and I am going to turn to face you. Are you alright with that?"
The voice grunted, and the barrel eased off Zane's temple. He raised his hands, and turned to face the source of the voice. A young man faced him, although grey hairs were already settling in.
"Do you know who I am?" The man asked.
The nindroid shook his head. "Should I know you?"
The man sighed. "My name is Wolf. I'm the one that pitched you off your ship. I should've kil–"
Zane leapt onto the man in an instant, his short blade at Wolf's throat in a flash. He struggled slightly, the blade digging into his skin, causing him to bleed, a small trickle slipping down his neck.
Cold fury was visible on the white ninja's face, although it was well contained. "You are the one that threw me off? Why? Why did you have to separate me from my family a second time?" Pain flashed across the ninja's face, and he let go of Wolf. Stumbling back, Wolf extended a hand, hoping to help the nindroid.
"Look, I know I did some things that you probably won't forgive me for, but I have a degree in electrical engineering. At least let me patch you up."
Zane grimaced, but nodded, sitting down and opening his control panel. Kneeling down, Wolf scowled at the sight before him. "Dammit, this will be harder than I thought. Get comfy, because we might be here for a while."
Both shifted until they comfortable, and Wolf got to work immediately. After a while of sitting in silence, Zane finally spoke up. "What is your name?"
Wolf looked up, a quiet surprise on his face. "Oh, uh, my name is Ryan. Ryan Ashina. You?"
Zane smiled. "Zane. Zane Julien. I apologize for lashing out earlier, that was slightly unnecessary."
Ryan shook his head. "No, I get it. I would've done the same in your position. I probably deserved anyways. I shouldn't have gone through with the mission."
"Then why did you?"
The soldier hesitated. "Well, when a merc dies on the job, but still completes the mission, their family get the soldier's pension, and a lifetime bonus, depending on how long they had served with the company. I've been trying to get out for a while, ever since we got the assignment with the Big Man, so I figured, if I can make them think I finished the mission, and fake my death, my wife and kids will get my pension, and I'll just start my life again somewhere else, maybe contact them after a few years."
Zane nodded. "I understand. I am sorry, but if there is any way the ninja can help you, I assure you we will try after this is all over."
Ashina smiled as he closed the panel, signifying his completion. "Thanks, but I don't think there's much you can d–"
Zane felt the blood before he processed what had happened.
Hearing choking noises, he glanced up, only to see Ryan staring back at him, choking on his blood, an arrow lodged in the center of his neck. Slumping over, Ryan lay silent as he heaved his final, pained breath, staring at Zane, an arm pleadingly extended toward the nindroid. Zane shot up instantly, sparing nothing but a quick glance back, before sprinting off into the darkness, his blade in one hand, a handful of shuriken in another. Tossing a random shuriken, he heard a yelp, then a curse, as the loud footsteps following slowly faded away.
Panting, Zane leaned against a tree, sliding down, his mind desperately trying to process what had just happened. I must find a way to contact my brothers.
Deciding to just run like hell, he sprinted south-bound, until the sun finally broke through the trees, and in the clearing, Zane found a small village. For the first time in what felt like eternity, he was safe.
Hey fellas! So I'm on spring break now, so if insomnia decides to play this week, chapters might come more often than they should, but I guess that's good for you guys. Pulled an all-nighter writing this, and I'm writing starting another as I finishing uploading this one, so I hope you guys enjoy this week, because my tired ass won't.
Anyways, I won't keep y'all long.
Have a good day!
~The Titan's Shadow