Tracking

Present day

Tsuki watched the circling eagle with growing apprehension. She stood just below the crest of a grassy hill, out of the view of the band on red ninjas.

"He's been following them for hours," thought Tsuki, "they're bound to have noticed him by now…"

No sooner had this thought passed her mind than she felt a presence moving up behind her. So engrossed in her observations of Kazuki and the men he was following, the stranger had managed to get within a few metres before she felt the heartbeat. In a blink, Tsuki drew her dagger, the chain cracking off into the air by her side. She whirled around, lashing out with the blade, and found the dagger hovering against Aya's throat. The girl's deep red eyes showed no hint of fear or surprise.

"You took your time," said Tsuki, calmly putting weapon away.

"We were delayed," a deep voice butted in from behind Aya.

She moved away, revealing a man, invisible save for his hair, eyes, beard and the long brown trench coat he wore. Aya coughed.

"Sorry," she apologised, "hope we haven't missed the action."

Tsuki smiled forgivingly. "'Course not," she said, indicating the distant eagle over her shoulder, "'Zuki-kun's still tracking them."

Aya nodded. "I'll get a message to him."

The girl focused her gaze on the eagle slowly flapping against the strong, high altitude wind.

Kazuki fought against the wind that was attempting to knock him from the sky, his wings beginning to tire. Bleary eyed, he peered at the men below, noting with unease that the landscape was beginning to look familiar.

"Jesus…" he cursed in his head, "I hope they're not going where I think they are…"

"Kazuki?" a shrill, feminine voice suddenly pierced his thoughts, almost causing him to drop out of the sky in surprise.

"Aya?" he thought back, unable to disguise the irritation from her.

"Duh…" came the reply, "how ya doin' up there?"

The eagle rolled its beady eyes as a suitable word came to its mind.

"Er… OK…" Aya replied, "we're ready back here if you need us."

"Kaito there too?"

"Yeah," answered Aya, "so what's the plan?"

Kazuki didn't reply.

"You'll have to tell me," Aya told him sarcastically, "remember, I still can't read your mind unless you actually talk to me in your head."

"Just stay with us," Kazuki finally answered, "this may have just got complicated…"

"Huh? Why?"

Kazuki hesitated and then told her his theory. He sensed Aya's unhappiness at the prospect.

"Are you sure?" she asked.

"Luckily, no," Kazuki replied, "hopefully they've finally gone solo…"

"And what if they haven't?"

Kazuki stared at the red stain on the landscape. "Then we might be having a reunion with him…"

Aya didn't send any messages for a while. "OK," she sent at last, "I'll tell the others and we'll stick by you until you say."

Kazuki felt Aya's presence slip away. Grimly, he descended for a better view.