I know nothink. I own nothink.
I hate old-fashioned Japanese architecture.
The deeply sloping roofs, the fragile construction, and the loose tiling.
It is among the most dangerous terrains for combat in the world, despite what animes and martial arts movies would have you believe.
I throw a lunge punch at my adversary, and she nimbly twists away. Expecting this, I shift to a modified knife strike and swing. She blocks in the crane style, before letting loose with a magnificent Mawashi roundhouse that sends me crashing to the roof on my back, a judo slap sparing me from serious injury.
"Batwoman… Mutsumi, really. This does not concern you," the young woman with the cat-like eyes, black bodysuit and short, black hair advises. Grumbling I get back to my feet with a lunging punch that connects with Kanako's stomach, knocking her back.
"Oof… You remembered." The younger woman smirks at me. "Nice costume, by the way. Is the mouth opening open or filtered?
"Filtered, though I keep a gas mask on my belt at all times," I reply politely, sending a flurry of kicks at Kanako, every one of which she easily blocks. We're both using the same school of martial arts-Urashima-do.
Fortunately, I've picked up some other fighting styles to help retain an edge, as I switch to a drunken boxing stance as she attacks with another roundhouse kick.
"Ah. Good idea. But, back on the other subject," Kanako replies, as she elbows me in the face. I manage to knee her in the side before breaking off. We circle each other, carefully eyeing the other, analyzing their body language to try and determine the next move.
"Kanako, you're an assassin. One of the best. You're in Hinata Springs, incognito. It's difficult to believe that you're here for a family reunion," I answer simply. She smiles slightly.
"Do you hate me, now, Mutsumi-chan? For my profession?"
"I hate your profession, Kanako. You know my stance on taking lives." Kanako shrugged.
"It's business. I'm getting rid of bad guys anyway. I never take down the innocent."
"Still Kanako, while you're in my city, on my island, my rules are retained." Kanako looked somewhat amused.
"You're claiming all of Kyushu as your own? That's not very polite, depriving a friend of her livelihood."
"You have other skills-Make use of them," I argue. Kanako sighs, and shakes her head.
"Sorry. It is, unfortunately, what I do best."
"Who are you going to kill?" The youngest Urashima shakes her head sadly.
"Sorry Mutsumi-chan… I can't tell you." With a burst of a smoke pellet, she vanishes. I sigh, knowing it's pointless to pursue her now. I may be a more rounded fighter, but for stealth she is easily my better.
"Then I'll have to stop you. By any means necessary," I murmur, looking out over the city bathed in the light of June's half-moon.
The same old routine, for mornings at the Hinata Household. We're all around the table, eating the delicious breakfast a blushing Shinobu prepared, while Motoko sits silently, occasionally glaring at Keitaro, who is trying, bless his heart, to keep out of trouble. Naru is sitting next to him, talking about his most recent failures. Kitsune is drunk, and chuckling and making naughty comments every so often. And Suu is gobbling up everything in her sight.
Me? I'm just sitting there innocently.
"Mutsumi-chan? Are you allright?" I blink and look up. Keitaro looks concerned. I flash him the ditz's smile and nod.
"I'm fine, Kei-kun. Nothing to worry about."
"You just… Look preoccupied," Keitaro notes, frowning. I resist rolling my eyes-He is really quite observant, despite what Naru says about him. He's just often too wrapped up in his own inner demons to pay much attention.
"Ara… Just tired. I had a long night," I explain without a hint of irony. Kitsune chuckles.
"Maybe you had too good a time last night studying with Keitaro, hm Turtle Sister?" Keitaro blushes and stutters what could be an apology, while Motoko's glare at him increases. I shrug happily and keep up the ditz smile.
"Oh yes, of course." I then realize what I just said, just before Motoko and Naru, each exclaiming shouts of anger and disbelief, before they advance on the trembling and pleading Keitaro.
"No, please! It wasn't like that! It wasn't like that at all!"
Truthfully, as much as it pains me, I would have let him get pummeled usually. I can't help it-If anyone saw me, an "anemic", using advanced martial arts techniques, they might start to connect some dots I'd rather no one connect.
But I'm REALLY not in the mood for this militant feminist bullshit right now. So, I take a deep breath, let go of the meditation and chi energy management blocks Granny Hina taught me, and essentially turn my anemia back on.
Predictably, I faint.
I come to some time later, to the sight of Keitaro and Naru worriedly looking down on me.
"Mutsumi, are you allright?"
"Oh, yes… You know, another fainting spell…" I laugh slightly, which puts them at ease. I quickly turn my anemia back "off". No sense fainting again so soon.
After breakfast, I go back to my small home with the fish statue on top of it and begin some research. My database is filled with the profiles of thousands of criminals, that I've encountered or Interpol has. And Kanako's right-Her targets to date have only been crime lords, serial killers, rapists, terrorists-That kind of scum. I must agree that we do have similar goals-Except that I'm not on my crusade for money.
And I don't kill.
This was odd. No outstanding persons with warrants were out in the Hinata area. I frown, and type through the records on my little laptop I hide in a trick panel under the floorboards.
"No arsonists… Or terrorists…" I lean back slight, rubbing my chin thoughtfully. Who would Kanako be here for, then, if there wasn't anyone here right now?
Right now… I switch to airport records of persons entering and leaving the area by plane. Then, I cross-reference these files with Interpol's database. I blink.
"No way. You're kidding me."
Seta Noriyasu was busy working on his workstation in his office, entering the details of at least twenty new artifacts he'd recovered from his last expedition to Mol Mol. He smiled-The clues that could lead to the greatest archaeological discovery, since the finding of the Dead Sea Scrolls in Israel in 1949.
"Dr. Noriyasu." Seta blinked, and turned in his chair. Standing in the doorway was a black-clothed figure, with a black cape and a cowl with pointed ears.
"Er… Batwoman, I presume?" Seta guessed. The shadow walked forward.
"You're in danger, Doctor. I believe you should come with me." She reached out her hand, as Seta rose to shake it.
"From who?"
"An assassin. She has been employed by the Mol Mol government, to execute you for the desecration of the tomb of their first king… Among other archaeological sites." Seta nodded, frowning.
"Okay… So, what should I do?" Batwoman produced a dart and stabbed it into Seta's chest. He cried out in surprise, as he sank back into his chair. Batwoman smirked.
"Die, of course."
She removed her cowl, revealing herself as Kanako. She then begins to drag the body of the doctor away.
"Going somewhere?" Kanako cursed, and turned around. The real Batwoman was barring her way in the doorway.
"Look Batwoman, it's over. I took him down. You're too late."
"I don't think so," Batwoman said flatly, as she lunged for Kanako. The two women fought furiously, punch to punch, strike to strike, kick to kick. They smashed through the office, probably destroying a lot of priceless artifacts in the process.
But finally, Batwoman emerged victorious, standing over the beaten body of Kanako.
"And now, you're going to jail," Batwoman snarled, hefting Kanako by the collar. The assassin hit her in the face, her possum act finished, before she threw herself through the window and vanished into the darkness below. Batwoman growled, and turned away, going over to the body of Seta, and quickly injecting him with a syrgine from her belt.
Seta, after staying deathly still for a few moments, began to cough and breath again. Sighing in relief, Batwoman helped Seta up to his feet.
"Easy, easy… it's going to be okay…"
I saw Seta safely home, and returned to my own.
And, standing in the center of my living room, was a scowling Kanako.
"Did you have to hit so hard?" She questioned, popping her neck with a grimace. I scowled back.
"You didn't exactly pull your punches either."
We stared at each other a little bit longer, before we broke into identical smiles.
"When can I expect my payment?"
"It's already deposited." Kanako looked skeptical.
"And the artifacts?"
"On their way back home." Kanako nodded, smiling.
"I think the security camera tape will convince Queen Amara that Seta was punished sufficiently. And be glad to know that those artifacts were fakes." I nodded.
"I don't suppose we could make the same agreement regarding your next mark?" Kanako shook her head.
"Sorry, Mutsumi. Too many misses, and people start taking their business elsewhere." She sighed. "That's… Just how it is." I nod.
"Allright then… However. No more jobs on my island, clear? I will not tolerate any of that, anymore."
"Allright, allright Batwoman, keep your bra on… Sure you can spare the money?"
"Yes. Quite sure." Kanako smiled softly.
"I'm… Not ready, to go see him again. Does he… Talk about me?" I nod.
"Sometimes." Kanako smiled.
"In that case… There's still hope." She then glared at me.
"But no putting the moves on him while I'm gone, got it?" I smile good-naturedly.
"Allright, allright, I promise…"
"And keep that demon bitch away from him."
"I'll do my best." Kanako nodded, and turned to head out the door.
"Allright then. See you later, Mutsumi."
"Likewise, Kanako-chan." She smiles at that, before leaving. With a smile, I lay down on my futon and snuggle into the blankets.
I then freeze. Someone's in my house. I can hear their nervous breathing. I sigh deeply.
"Come out, Shinobu." A moment later, and the small, pale blue-haired girl shuffles into the light of the moon shining through the window. I stand and cross my arms.
"I, er… I, um… I came to ask you, about some material… And, you weren't here, so I decided to wait, and then that woman came in… And, er…" She trailed off. I sigh deeply again, shaking my head.
"So… You're Batwoman?" Shinobu asked nervously. I nod.
"Ah… Um… Okay… So…"
"So…?" I prompt. She laughed nervously, wringing her small hands.
"Are you going to kill me now?" I sigh.
"Shinobu… I don't kill. Never have. Never will. Deliberately, anyway." I look up coyly.
"You're not going to tell anyone else about this, however, are you?" The girl shook her head quickly. I nod.
"Good. Now then… What are you going to do about… What you know now?" She starts a bit, looks at her feet, then back up at me. A small, pleading smile.
"I… I was wondering if… If you… Could teach me… How to do… The things you do?"
I don't think I've been that surprised ever since I walked in on Granny Hina and a girlfriend of hers… I shudder.
"Um, okay…"
Haruka is going to kill me...
Mwahahahaha! I'm SO evil! Look for a third chapter, everyone! And don't forget to review, please!
Retconning is more fun than it should be, really.