Vol. 12 Shadowing a Shadow

-Tsukiko-

I was getting dressed slowly. I didn't want to wake up Fuu on my way out, or anyone else for that matter. I picked up my sandals so I could put them on outside. My sword was pressed along my spine, the only place I could hide it and have it not be seen. My hair was down, just to make sure it was covered up. Women weren't supposed to carry anything other than a tonto, unless they had special permission by the government. Which I did not, and if I did get caught with it –something that was unlikely- I would pay dearly. My kimono was still hanging up, I was wearing my ninja clothes tonight. I tied my mask just around the lower half of my face so that I wouldn't be recognized later. I padded carefully across the smooth wood floor and opened the door as quietly as I could. When it was shut again I started out. I had to get back before anyone noticed my absence.

-Mugen-

"She's leaving," I announced to Jin when I heard Tsukiko's footsteps fade out. We woke up a few minutes ago when we heard Tsuki start to get ready. I lifted my head from the soft pillow and looked to Jin. He was putting his glasses on and sitting up.

"I know. We should follow her. I don't want to know too late that she is working against us."

"I thought we were going to be done with this shit for a while after Ikitsuki." We got up and put on our clothes. Jin put his swords into his belt with a sort of a determined look. What was that all about?

"Don't forget that we may need to kill her tonight. Fuu won't be pleased."

"What's new? Too bad that we might kill her though, she's pretty good-lookin'."

"Yes, but we can't let these things get in the way."

We left, running quietly to catch up before we lost her. We caught up a few streets away. She was in her ninja gear. There was nothin' she could do at this hour, in this part of town, in those clothes, that would be good. It was way more than shady. Warnings were going off in my head like crazy. Jin put an arm out to stop me when Tsukiko stopped in front of an alley. She was waiting.

"There ain't nothin' good that's gonna come out of this," I whispered to Jin. He nodded.

A second later a man came out of nowhere and they started talking. The man was recoiling as she was advancing. Tsukiko looked like she was intimidating him. That was interesting. I couldn't see her being a hired thug.

"I think that we need a better vantage point," Jin suggested. I agreed. He pointed up and I nodded. We climbed carefully onto the rooftop and snuck our way closer until we heard voices. We squatted and peeked over the edge of the roof.

"Look, I said last time I was here that you had until next time I came to get me my money. I gave you enough time," Tsuki said to the man. She was standing with her arms crossed and her head tilted to the side a little.

Jin and I frowned at each other. She was pressing someone for money? How did she even know anybody in Osaka? There were too many questions and no answers.

"Please, I just-" the man begged.

"You just what? You have no excuses. It isn't my fault that you have a gambling problem."

"I need it to pay off a debt," he babbled. Tsukiko laughed at him. It wasn't her normal chiming, warm laugh. This one was wicked and harsh.

"You're right, you need it to pay me. You know if I didn't take what was owed now then you would spend it on booze, you drunkard. Don't try to deny it either."

"Please ma'am."

"Why? What excuse do you have that would convince me to allow you to keep my money?" It was a long time and the man hadn't answered. I was starting to think that maybe she had killed him when she started talking. "That's what I thought. Do yourself a favor, stop drinking and gambling. You're going to get into a lot of trouble if you keep stiffing people for their money."

The man ran away stumbling as he went. He was already drunk. So she was right, he was a drunkard. Tsukiko put something into her clothes and started off to another location. We got off the roof and went after her, wanting to see where else she had to go. She went into the public gardens next and disappeared into the trees. Jin and I went in slow, looking around. We didn't know where she had gone. It was like she just up and vanished.

"Did you see where she went?" Jin asked me as quietly as possible.

"No, I lost her after she passed those trees."

-Jin-

I didn't think about it until that moment that we had somehow forgotten she was a ninja. She was well versed in the art of discrepancy and disappearing. She could be anywhere around us. We kept silent as we searched for her. Finally we came to the edge of a large pond. There was a structure in the middle that looked almost like a meditation area. Tsukiko was laying across it staring up at the sky. Her hands were trailing through the water, creating gentle ripples.

"I was waiting for you two," she said to us, just loud enough for us to hear. Mugen looked at me out of the corner of his eye. He didn't like the situation either. We could have just walked into a trap. "I'm not surprised you followed me. Come join me if you want." It was a challenge.

"I don't think that would be wise," I told her.

"Why? I'm unarmed." She pointed to her weapons that were lying on the ground near us. "I thought you guys might like to ask me any more questions that you might have. I have nothing to hide. I mean, you are following me because you don't trust me, right?

We sill hesitated.

"I give you my word that I have no intention of hurting you or Fuu. There is no trap here, nor will there ever be. I am here to do what I said. I want to protect Fuu."

"Good enough for me," Mugen shrugged. "She tries anything funny, I'll kill her.

He stepped carefully across the stones and over to her. She didn't move in the slightest. I followed, and took a seat next to Mugen. I leaned against one of the four red pillars. Tsukiko didn't make a move to get up. She just kept her hands in the water. Maybe to make sure she seemed harmless. She looked very ethereal basking in the moonlight like that with her hair spread out everywhere. Some of it had fallen into the water and was floating of its own accord.

"So what do you want to know?" she asked suddenly. She wasn't in the least modest despite her position.

"What was that with the guy, just now?" Mugen inquired.

"I came to Osaka when I first got to Japan. I bought into a gambling ring to earn some more money. He begged for me to give him an extension, so I did. I told him that next time I was in Osaka he'd better have my money."

"How much was it?" I questioned. Maybe it was presumptuous, but I didn't care.

"Enough to cover our rooms for another two or three weeks, plus food, plus anything else we might need."

"Hell yeah, does that mean I can-" Mugen began.

"No, I am not paying for prostitutes. Use your own funds for that."

Mugen looked at me knowingly and I shrugged. He would probably spend the last of his money on a girl even if he was starving. I didn't totally disagree with her policy, we needed the money for other things. Then Mugen asked another good question.

"What was up with the bitch transformation? You're usually not so…"

"Intimidating," I finished for him. Tsukiko took a large breath and stretched herself out. She didn't answer, I had a feeling she wasn't going to. Her omission only made me want to know more.

"Has everything you've told us, been absolutely true? I will take your word of honor, but know that if you lie, and Mugen and I find out…we'll have to kill you." I stared at her, waiting for her reply. She had to look downward to see my face, an awkward angle. Her dark lashes hooded her eyes. Her expression was utterly serious.

"I swear to you that I have told you the truth about everything. Like I said, I have nothing to hide. I like you guys, I really do. I know I'm distant, but that's just how I am."

"There is no way that you are more distant than this guy," Mugen chuckled, jabbing a thumb at me. I rolled my eyes.

Tsukiko sat up finally. She wrung her hair out gently and began to comb through it with her fingers. I watched as she carefully worked, paying attention to each knot she came across. Mugen and I weren't talking… we all sat in a comfortable silence. Finally she started to braid it. She was staring at her feet the whole time, but when no one was talking she looked up.

"What, have we all taken a vow of silence now?" she asked.

"I dunno," Mugen grumbled with a shrug. "I just ran out of shit to say."

As Tsukiko tied up the end of her braid we all froze. There were noises that should not be there. The occasional sound of a wooden geta on stone. The click of a sword being ready to be fully unsheathed. My earlier thoughts of this being a trap were coming back.

"We're surrounded," Tsukiko whispered, her lips barely moving. Her eyes were just a tad wider than usual, she didn't know anything about this. She reached into her clothes and pulled out the money she had gotten from the man in the alley. Careful not to make too much movement, she slid the small pouch of money into the water. Apparently she didn't think she'd be able to hold onto it. "Mugen…you need to get out of here and get Fuu. Jin and I will handle the distraction. Pack every thing up and hide at the nearest temple outside of town. Alright?"

"What? There is no way I'm backing down from a fight. We don't even know who these guys are," he hissed back.

"Mugen, Fuu needs you."

"How do I know that you aren't on their side and that when I leave you won't kill Jin?"

"Because I have both of you here now. If I was working for them then I could just have them do you in this second." She tied her mask on once more and stood up.

He looked at me, asking with his expression. I nodded once. Fuu needed him, in one way or another or maybe both, and Tsukiko needed me. Mugen got ready to go, crouching in position. I got to my feet, my hand on the hilt of my katana.

"What is the plan?" I asked her as we stared at things we couldn't see.

"Waste all the motherfuckers we can. Sound good?"

I had no problem with it. "If they are those piece of shit assassins from the government, I am going to be really mad."

"Too bad I can't stick around to find out," Mugen grumbled.

Please R&R!!!!!