Chapter 6: Settling the Score
It's now the morning after Karin made the biggest mistake of her life… especially at a time like this where her own zaibatsu is dwindling away at a very slow pace. Knowing Link, Karin fears for his safety. Now that she knows that he can actually feel her internal conflict just by looking at her, she only hopes that he won't be offended by what she has done last night. Ibuki's got her back, just in case. All Karin has to do… is wait… for both her Father and Link. Taking consequences is nothing new to her and she's not backing down now.
As she sits in the living room with her feet next to the still sleeping Kyxxtone, Britt, and Link, she looks down at the three, specifically Link, despite the TV turned on to the news. They were actually reporting what happened at the bar last night between her and Derryk. She was internally pissed at whoever gave her Father the anonymous tip and then, he reported the whole story to the newscasters. She was hoping Link wasn't hearing it in his sleep, but as soon as she was thinking the positive, he woke up with a soft yawn and looked at the TV wide eyed. This made Karin immediately turn her head away from him as he listened and watched the story on the news. She blushed a deep red when she saw Ibuki, Chun-Li, and Juli approach her with their respective breakfast platters, including Ibuki carrying one for Karin as she approached her first and took her seat next to her before Chun-Li and Juli. Karin spotted her plate and reluctantly took it, still keeping that frown on her face.
"Oh, no." Ibuki gasped as she saw the news report on TV, and then quickly looked down at Link, who remained wide eyed and frozen with shock. Chun-Li and Juli saw this as they took their seats and was just as shocked at Link was as the kunoichi continued. "Someone must've told the authorities about this."
"Yeah, my Father…" Karin groaned with sadness as she took her first forkful of scrambled eggs. "…some bastard told him what happened and now the damn news and the whole country knows about it!"
"And their not switching the subject at all… not even for a quick weather report." Juli added with worry. "This is not good."
"No shit, Juli!!"
"Karin, calm down." Ibuki encouraged. "Still, I'm sure your father understands this whole thing."
"Yeah, I know… but it's mainly Link I'm worried about. Look at him." Ibuki, Chun-Li, and Juli did so and frowned. "Now, he really knows what happened and I don't know what he'll do."
"Let's find out. Link?"
"Gaba?!" Link screamed out with anger as he turned towards the kunoichi fast, making her show a sweatdrop with nervousness.
"…………uh… never mind."
"You've really done it this time, Karin." Chun-Li warned. "Link, you have to understand that what Karin did on there was something she really couldn't control. It's not her fault."
"NAGA!! Karin don't care about meega or her zaibatsu!! She has no soul!!!" Link cursed to the four ladies, sending tears to Karin while the other three girls showed a look of extreme shock.
"Ow…"
"Link! Don't talk like that!!" Ibuki exclaimed. "There's a reasonable explanation for all this! Don't jump to conclusions just yet!"
"And what if meega does?! Hmm?! What then?! HMMMM?!"
"Link… please…" Karin begged, still leaking tears of sadness and shock. "…try to understand. It was a big mistake and I just want you to forgive me and pretend this never happened. Give me another chance! As soon as my father gets here, then you can make up your mind whether you can trust me or not."
"Mmmm……"
"Please?"
"……………………" It was silent for the next five minutes, except the TV. After the solemn silence, Daikenjuro and Shibazaki busted through the front door and froze when they saw how silent it was and how the ladies were staring at Link, who had his head bowed with deep thought. It was still silent by the time Ryu and Sean arrived and they were just puzzled.
"O... kay, guys." Sean started. "What… is with… the silent treatment?"
"Exactly what I would like to know." Daikenjuro asked. "Karin? What's happening here?" Then, he saw the TV. "Oh, no… This wasn't supposed to happen!"
"Really?!" Ibuki, Chun-Li, and Juli asked with anger. Karin looked at her father with the same frown as she slowly stood up and approached him.
"You're lying!" Karin spat out. "You meant for this to happen… even at a crisis like this!! Now you really want that company to take Link, don't you?!"
"Wha… how did you-"
"SHUT THE HELL UP, DAD!!! I'M NOT FINISHED!!!"
"………………………!!!" This sent all of the Street Fighters running into the living room with shock. Karin got in her father's face as she continued as if nobody was watching.
"Ever since I was a child, you've been treating me like this!! Everything I've done for you to keep our zaibatsu from going under has all been life-risking and this is how you thank me?! Well, you got a lot of nerve doing this to me!!! What I experienced last night with Derryk is none of your business and that goes for the rest of Japan!! Now, Link thinks I'm careless, he doesn't think I could really make a good friend, and he probably knew that this would happen way before he woke up!! Now, I've gotten Derryk involved and you know he provides support just as well as Link does and you do this just to kick his ass out of my life!!! I may be your only daughter, but I am a grown woman now. I can take care of myself, and whatever you do, won't stop me!! Just be thankful that it was one night and one night only!! I promise you that it won't happen again, but if you still don't believe me, then…" Karin paused as she saw Link approach her with an apologetic frown before she kneeled down and picked him up with all the love she could give as she continued. "…you can kiss… my… ass…" Karin got as close as she could get towards her Father's face and finished by saying: "…because you just don't… have… a soul."
After that long speech, she and Link left for Derryk's summer house, leaving a silent and shocked crowd of Street Fighters, her steward, the two zakamon, and her father. After about five minutes, Ibuki shook her head with disappointment before she disappeared in a puff, following Karin. Rose shook her head in the same manner before she spoke.
"This was not supposed to happen." She said to the fighters.
"What's not supposed to happen? Karin's sex with Derryk or Karin's dad bringing out all the gas?" Yun asked.
"Daikenjuro's news, of course! I did expect the two to have sex, but not this early. Chun-Li, are you sure that wasn't her fault?"
"Yes, I'm positive." Chun-Li replied. "She said so herself. All that happened because she had one too many, if you catch my drift."
"Yikes." Dan muttered. "I don't blame her."
"But the fact that a company that used to work for her zaibatsu is attempting to do whatever it takes to get Link just for the money is true as well." Rose concluded. "In other words, this fact is the cause of the bankruptcy."
"Oh, no…" Ryu muttered with worry. "I wonder which company it is…"
Meanwhile, at the VanoDragon Manufacturing Incorporated headquarters in Downtown Tokyo…
"Ha, ha, ha, haaaaa!!" The boss, who was a mid-thirties man dressed in a brown suit, chuckled in his chair while he watched the news. "This is all too funny! Karin's really done it now!"
"Sir?!" The assistant manager came in. He was dressed the same way as his boss, only he was younger by a good ten years. "Our sales figures have been going through the roof since we kicked ourselves out of the Kanzuki zaibatsu! Is it because of this news here?"
"Tee, hee, hee… exactly, my friend." He turned himself around to face his young assistant. "Karin doesn't know what slammed her!"
"Sir? Are you… saying… that you reported the news?"
"Yes. I promised Daikenjuro that whatever happens between his daughter and her Japanese-African American boyfriend must be reported to keep her safe, but I'm sure that at this point, Karin feels like Link can't trust her and she'll have no choice but to give that alien up."
"…… M… Marshall! This is cheating! If we wanted money for this, we could've just given our partial sponsorship back to the zaibatsu!"
"Heh, heh… that's just as fun."
"I can't believe you!"
"Now, now, Jason. Don't be so naïve. If you wanted to lose, why don't you let them adopt you and Karin can have a brother?"
"…… sorry, sir."
"That's better. Now, make yourself useful and bring me a newspaper!"
"Yes, sir."
Later, at Derryk's summer home…
"Say-say-say-say what now?!" Vancogh exclaimed as he sat in a chair across from Karin crying like a baby in Derryk's soothing and muscular arms. Link just stood at Derryk's feet with watery eyes and the glued on frown. "Dis news report we watchin'… is just shot out dere?! Like a nationwide forum or somethin'?!"
"Damn, baby." Derryk muttered as he embraced his sad girlfriend. "Dis won't suppose to happen! You sayin' yo dad did dis?"
"He's the only one who would worry about his daughter like this!" Karin cried. "He doesn't care about our zaibatsu at all! He just wants Link kicked out. You should've seen how he first reacted when he saw cute little Link."
"He didn't like 'im, didn't he?" Vancogh asked. Karin shook her head in Derryk's strong chest. "Dayum! Dat's how my Mama used to be when she met my ex-wife befo' Karolyn. Personally, all dis is just crazy! I'm pretty sure the sex didn't happen instantly!"
"Naw, Dad. It didn't." Derryk confessed. "We were just having any innocent conversation 'bout her battle wit Kunimitsu. Dat's all."
"And?"
"Karin just had one too many sips of her Red Bull. Dat's all how it went down, man."
"Hmm! At dis point, I'll believe everythang. But, answer dis question, Karin…"
"I'm listening." Karin sniffled.
"If yo' fatha wasn't involved with all dis, but Link still found out 'bout it, would you still feel the need to kick him out fo' safety reasons?"
"………… is that a rhetorical question?"
"…whoa…"
"Damn. You… you like Link that much, huh?" Derryk asked with concern.
"Derryk, he's more than just financial support for my zaibatsu." Karin paused as she picked up Link and embraced him with all the love she could give. "He's my friend. I haven't had any friends lately and he's the first and only friend. I wouldn't give him away, even if he was critically ill. I'll take care of him, I'll bathe him, I'll comfort him… I'll do just about everything in my spirit to raise him like he's my little brother. Right now, I just wanna know why my father would do this."
"Because he doesn't know the value of love." Ibuki came in by a dust cloud, dressed in her normal clothes, which consisted of a gray tank top, yellow pants, and red and white sneakers. "But, aside from all this, I'm happy to hear you say that."
"Because… I love Link, Ibuki. Just as much as I love Derryk."
"Awww, baby. I love you, too." Derryk replied before he squeezed Karin and Link with all of his strength and love. Ibuki and Vancogh smiled at this scene and, while they watched, Ibuki grabbed the TV remote and turned off the news report that will be forgotten forever. When she placed the remote back down on the table, she jumped in realization.
"Mm!" Ibuki jumped, making Vancogh look at her in high alert.
"What is it?"
"I don't know why, but I have the slightest feeling that Karin's father is not the real criminal behind this. Someone's pulling some strings somewhere and it's the jealous type of business. They want Link just as much as Karin does."
"Oh, hell no. Where dey at?! Let's stop 'em befo' dey break my stocks!!"
"They're not here, but they are in Tokyo somewhere… and I'll look for them. Just keep Karin and Link here until I get back."
"Sho' thang, Ibuki."
"Thanks." After that was said, the kunoichi used her smoke bomb to change into her ninja Gi before she dashed out in a hurry.
Five minutes later, in a tree near VanoDragon Manufacturing Incorporated Headquarters…
Ibuki was crouched down on a branch as she secretly watched some activity happening near the entrance. While she was watching, she never noticed a fuzzy eight inch tree worm with big black eyes and no mouth slithering up her right leg. When she did notice, she saw her tanuki, Don, holding it by his paws gently. She smiled when she eyed the worm and carefully took it in her hand before she examined it.
"Thanks, Don." She said to her giant raccoon pet. "I was wondering what was crawling up my leg. Hmmm…" She paused as she took a closer look at it. "…you're a little furry to be a worm. Maybe you're another one of those zakamon creatures Karin mentioned. Don, keep this creature on your back and stay in this tree. I'll be right back."
After that was said, Ibuki professionally flipped out of the tree and landed perfectly on her feet before she snuck into the ten foot tall gates of the headquarters. When she was beyond the gates, she dashed towards a wall and hid herself from any employees for about three seconds before she saw an opened vent at her feet and crawled inside, closing and locking the vent's door behind her before she proceeded.
A few minutes passed since Ibuki started crawling through the clean vent. After about four more steps of crawling, she heard distant voices from another opening below her and she kept quiet. She was right above Marshall's office as she listened carefully while she watched through the metal bars.
"Heh, heh, heh… I can see that look on Daikenjuro's face now!" Marshall chuckled as he continued to watch the news report he started. Ibuki took a good look at the TV as the boss continued. "This story is never-ending and Karin fell right into it. Now that Link found out, trusting her or leaving her are his only two options at this point. He might as well leave her, if he wants to live peacefully with us."
"I knew it!" Ibuki whispered. "Someone was pulling some strings! And I'm guessing that Karin's father agreed to place it out in public! So, Karin was right about one thing: her father is responsible, but not fully. This must be the company that rejected the Kanzuki fortune for this! I can't believe them!! It's no wonder Karin's crying crocodile tears!"
"Sir?" Jason came in, making Ibuki get silent quickly. "This news has been going on for a while now. Don't you think we should try something much more drastic?"
"Like?" Marshall asked, facing his assistant.
"Well, according to some sources, and despite this news report, it seems like Karin and Link will be inseparable."
"WHAT?!"
"Yes, sir. Karin will not give up Link for anything… even if it means her life."
"You got that right!" Ibuki whispered with confidence.
"This… this is not necessary! We must obtain Link at any cost!"
"But, how?"
"Simple. We'll just have to ambush him where he will least expect it. He'll never know what hit him!"
"Not if I get there first." Ibuki whispered with anger. "I have to inform Karin and Derryk about this now!"
Three minutes later, back in the nearby tree…
"Don, we gotta get back to Derryk's house!" Ibuki exclaimed to her pet. "This company's cheating their way into obtaining Link and we have warn the two!" Don nodded in response as he got onto his owner's back before she jumped out the tree and headed back to Derryk's summer house in a hurry.
Five minutes later, back at the summer house…
"So, my Father was responsible!" Karin exclaimed as she just heard with Ibuki explained. "And he was bribed into it! I can't believe him!!"
"And that's not the worst part." Ibuki agreed. "It turns out that they'll stop at nothing to steal Link from you. They're planning an ambush somewhere!"
"Oh, no…" Derryk muttered. Link looked at Karin with determination as he spoke.
"Meega not scared!" He exclaimed with bravery. Karin smiled, but was frowning on the inside as her experiment friend continued. "Meega remember Stitch teaching me about shaka."
"Shaka?" Karin asked in wonder. "What does that mean?"
"It means keep calm and stay loose. Meega know how you humans perform ambushes, but meega no tell until one actually happens. You will be surprised."
"Hmmm… are you sure?"
"Ih! Double ih!"
"Okay, if you say so…"
"He sounds confident, Karin." Ibuki protested. "Don't doubt him too quickly, but before you do make a decision about this…" Ibuki carefully picked up the fuzzy worm that was on her tanuki's back before she handed it to Derryk, who examined it immediately with interest. "…Don found this worm in a tree I was spying from. I felt it crawl up my leg before he caught it, though."
"Maybe he was frisky. Tee, hee." Derryk chuckled as he saw the big black eyes on the mouthless worm squinting with happiness, agreeing with Derryk. "Awwww. I guess he was. Anyway, this is clearly another zakamon. I'll determine his species later. Right now, we need to pull some strings ourselves. Karin, what do you think we should do?"
"Well, now that Link has the confidence, we can move on to what I planned to do to that VanoDragon Company." Karin replied as Link hopped into her arms. "Ibuki, I will need your help on this one."
"Consider it done." Ibuki agreed. "So, what's the plan?"
Meanwhile, at the Beijing Nature Park…
Marshall and Jason were already there, but were well hidden behind a huge bush, preparing the trap for Link. Jason had his doubts about this and decided to talk about it.
"Sir, are you sure about this?" He asked his boss. "Aliens pretty much inhabit our planet and they're getting smarter and smarter by the second! Link couldn't possibly fall for this trap."
"Oh, shut up, Jason!" Marshall spat back. "You're acting like the alien's blood is actually highly explosive nitro. Get a grip!! He'll never know what hit him! Heh, heh, heh, heh!"
"I don't know, sir…"
"Besides, this is no ordinary trap. I've heard of these zakamon creatures crawling about."
"Those are the aliens I was referring to."
"Hush! I'm not finished!"
"………………….."
"Now, one of these zakamon I've found is literally a living horror movie… and even looks the part. Introducing…" Marshall paused as he pulled out a dog-carrying case, opened it, and a bulky peach colored snake slithered out of it. He was approximately fifteen feet long and one foot thick with three inch blue spikes going down his back. He had blood red eyes and a set of four fangs completely replacing his mouth. The saliva dripping from the fangs was giving Jason more fear than when he first took a good look at the snake. "…the vyper. I just love how this is named, even though I named him Blackard. This isn't like Zak… to create such a sinister creature."
"My… my God! This… this snake… is dangerous! What exactly is the trap?!"
"Heh, heh, heh… you'll see. Are you ready, Blackard? Link should be here any moment." Blackard hissed in response, making his saliva drip at an even faster pace.
Meanwhile, at the very entrance to the park…
Derryk, Link, Karin, Ibuki, and Don were hiding behind a bush of their own, plotting the game plan for their own ambush.
"Now, Derryk," Karin started. "I know these zakamon are made to battle and be loyal pets at the same time, right?"
"Yeah, but the battling part may seem like a game to some of them." Derryk replied. "Why?"
"Because maybe… just maybe… this fuzzy worm Ibuki found might help us."
"Hmmm…" Derryk pulled out the same brown fuzzy worm from his coat pocket and saw how small he was. "…I don't know, Karin. He's only a foot long and four inches thick. Besides, I've just discovered that it literally chokes itself to raise its physical defense."
"You're kidding me!" Ibuki exclaimed with shock. "How can it fight then?"
"Oh, it can, Ibuki." Karin replied. "It can. What is this species called?"
"A tailhensle." Derryk replied. "It really does look the part. It's actually a living tail of a kinkajou."
"That's good then… because I just overheard those VanoDragon bastards saying that they are using a vyper as a part of their trap. You have any information on that?"
"OH, NO!! The vyper?! Are you sure?!"
"Yes."
"How did she-?" Ibuki was about to ask before she saw that Don just came back with a confident smile before he squealed in response, telling his owner that Karin was right. "…oh. Good boy, Don. I guess Karin is right, but the vyper is nearly twice this worm's size. How can it possibly battle?"
"Easy. Derryk?"
"Way ahead of ya, baby." Derryk replied before he pulled out a set of four small boxes in the palm of his hand. "Watch and learn, ladies, Link, and Don."
Back over at the VanoDragon's bush…
Jason took a good look at where Karin and her team were hiding. He couldn't make out what they were doing, but he kept a sharp eye on them as Marshall finished setting up the launching device with Blakard on the lower end of the small catapult.
"Heh, heh, heh, heh… this is gonna be sensational! Once we launch this deadly snake into Link's neck, not only will he be ours, but he'll be sucked out of his life forever!! I'm pretty sure Karin wouldn't want to keep a blob of alien skin once the trap has been successful." Marshall said with confidence. "Don't you agree, Jason?"
"Yeah, yeah… I got it, chief." Jason muttered nonchalantly. Marshall was offended by that.
"Were you listening to me?"
"Uh… sh-sh-sure… sure… I was listening."
"……………………"
"………………hmmm… what the hell are they up t-?"
"JASON!!"
"WHAT?!" Jason turned around fast towards his boss in response.
"Listen to me, damn it!! Planning an ambush means we keep our eyes, mouth, nose, and business to ourselves. No spying!!"
"Sorry, sir."
Back over at Karin's bush…
"Done." Derryk announced as he just finished implanting four zakamachines into the tailhensle's body. Karin rubbed her hands together with anxiety and a smile.
"Yes. Those zakamachines taught him some pretty impressive fighting moves. Luckily, for us, he's a ground type, so controlling the ground is what he'll do." Karin announced. Ibuki, Don, and Link nodded with understanding. "Now, here's the plan. Ibuki, you will stay in the trees. Only throw your kunai when you need to, but be careful not to hurt Link."
"Got it." Ibuki replied as she quickly changed into her Gi and continued to listen.
"Now, Link and Don, you two will walk out there as casually as possible and Don, you will carry Mynifuzz on your back."
"Mynifuzz?" Derryk asked.
"What? Can't I name this adorable worm?"
"…nevamind."
"Thank you. Now, where was I? Oh! Now, Don, you will carry Mynifuzz on your back and pretend you're gonna eat him for a snack, but do not bite him. Get it?" Don nodded. "Good and as for you, Link, keep a sharp look out there while you act casual. I hear the vyper is so dangerous, it'll attack without thinking!"
"Yikes." Ibuki muttered.
"You got it, Link?"
"Ih." Link replied. "What will you do, Karin?"
"I'll just watch you very closely. The vyper does love to suck the life out of humans as well… and believe me when I say he attacks without thinking."
"You're really thinkin', baby." Derryk agreed. "You be careful out dere, lil' Link. 'Kay?"
"Ih." Link replied before he turned towards Don and Mynifuzz before he placed the tailhensle on the tanuki's back. "Ready, friend?" Don nodded with a squeal in response before he and Link walked out of the bush, looking as casual as possible. Ibuki commenced her part of the plan by gracefully leaping into the nearest tree and swiftly dash towards tree after tree until she reached the perfect one for the sneak attacks. Derryk and Karin remained the bush, watching all four of them carefully… especially Link in Karin's case. She mentally prayed for this plan to get exactly as she explained.
Over at the VanoDragon bush…
Jason nearly gasped when he saw Link walking out there with Don and Mynifuzz, but no Karin. Marshall just noticed this and smiled with greed.
"Yes." Marshall cheered. "He's walking right into my trap… but that tanuki next to him looks vaguely familiar. Hmmm… it doesn't matter. He'll be in the trap with him. Heh, heh, heh."
"If you say so… sir…" Jason muttered with worry as he spotted Mynifuzz on Don's back. He knew he was a zakamon as well and he just kept quiet, knowing that his boss hates smart backtalk.
"They're almost in range." Marshall prepared the small catapult by grabbing the launch string below where Blakard was eagerly waiting as he hissed through his four fangs. After about five more seconds, he started counting down. "5… 4… 3…"
Outside the bush…
Don just started pretending he was about to eat Mynifuzz while Link kept a good lookout. A few seconds later, Blakard was launched out from the bushes behind Don and it was all in slow motion as he sensed the snake leaping for his neck. He took a careful grip on Mynifuzz with one of his paws before he threw the fuzzy worm at the snake, which was taken aback by it for a split second before Mynifuzz performed Groundachoke, a mixture of using his body and the power of the Earth to choke the vyper. It was back to normal speed again by the time Blakard and Mynifuzz landed on the grass, having the tailhensle continue to choke the huge vyper. Link smiled with relief as he quickly ran towards the tree Ibuki was hiding in for safety and looked up at her, prepared to take the leap of faith towards her arms.
"Hurry, Link. Jump!" Ibuki pleaded as she held her arms out, ready to catch him. Link began to leap for her, but he was a bit short. He kept jumping with everything he had for the next two minutes.
During that time, Jason and Marshall were shocked to see what was happening.
"WHAT THE…?!" Marshall screamed. "THIS WAS NOT SUPPOSED TO HAPPEN!!! WHAT THE HELL IS THAT WORM?!"
"That… appears to be the tailhensle, sir." Jason guessed. "Looks like Karin somehow already knew of our trap."
"IMPOSSIBLE!!"
"Not exactly." Protested a cute, but deep female voice from behind the two. They both turned around to see Ibuki with Link in her arms, having her gently stroke his head between his antennae as she continued. "When a kunoichi eavesdrops on this info, nothing is impossible."
"Wha…?! How did you…?!"
"Hee, hee, hee… lost for words? I laugh at you… calling yourself a boss."
"Sh… shut up, you bitch!! You'll pay for this interference!!" Marshall pulled out a gun in a split second after he said this and pulled the trigger with his eyes closed. After the gunshot, he looked at the result, but he ended up seeing a shot down tree before him. He looked up at the tree adjacent to it and saw Ibuki and Link, completely unharmed. "HEY!! HOW DI-?!"
"Let me ask you this." Ibuki said calmly, having Link show the same look of confidence. "Why tell the whole public about Karin's private matters?"
"That's none of your business!!" He fired his gun again and again, he missed completely as he saw that Ibuki moved to another tree, still holding Link in her arms. During that time, Link finally realized that Ibuki never got shocked by his ANGEL security anklet. He kept that to himself as the kunoichi continued to tease the nervous boss. " DAMN IT!! By the way, then, since you heard about our little plot, you should know that we really want Link for the pricey paycheck he holds within his blue book account."
"Yes… but Karin has already figured that out long before I snuck into your facility."
"Grrrrr… bitch."
Outside the bushes…
Mynifuzz was still choking Blakard for the next five minutes before the vyper finally came to his senses and used one of his claws to grab the tailhensile and throw him towards the bush Karin and Derryk were hiding in. Behind the bush, Karin caught him perfectly and checked to see if he was okay. She smiled and sighed with relief after the quick examination.
"Damn." Derryk muttered, referring to Blakard's comeback. "At least, it brought us some time."
"Yeah, but look at how weak the vyper is." Karin reassured. "I always knew these zakamon were stronger when compared to their sizes. This vyper might as well surrender."
"It's… not that easy, Karin."
"What?!"
"The vyper can get really defensive by da time it realizes how strong its opponent is."
"Describe 'really defensive'." After that was said, as if on cue, Blakard pushed his way into the bush and literally poured out saliva down his fangs when he eyed Karin. She noticed and got on the defensive before she gave the snake a good punch to his nose in a split second, making him hiss with extreme pain before Derryk vigorously grabbed him by his neck and twisted him hard, breaking his back in half and killed him. Karin smiled with confidence while Derryk dusted his shoulders off in the same manner as he stood up with his girl. "Now, that was defensive! But, damn… you're strong, Derryk. You just… twisted him like a pipe."
"Well, ya know me, baby." Derryk gave Karin a high five in celebration after that was said. "Zakamon don't scare me not one bit, Karin."
"Well, I am envious. Let's go see how Ibuki's doing."
Over at the VanoDragon bush…
Jason was already rubbing his wrist where Ibuki slightly sliced as a warning. Marshall was already feared by this and took a cautious step back while she had three kunai in her hand in a threatening gesture. Don, Link, and Mynifuzz were at her feet behind her, having Don in charge.
"Keep that slash on your accomplice as a note to yourself: Don't… mess… with Ibuki. Or it's his whole hand that's getting decapitated." Ibuki warned professionally. Marshall was sweating bullets as he stared at the three kunai pointing right at his eyes. "It'll be your eyes next if you don't comply next time as well."
"Y-ye-yes, ma'am." Marshall stuttered in surrender. Karin and Derryk arrived seconds after that and Karin smiled with appreciation and satisfaction at the same time. "K-karin?"
"Hello, Mr. Marshall Jarvek." Karin greeted smoothly as she stood next to Ibuki with confidence, picking up Link and nestling him in her arms on the way. "Ibuki's sources warned me about this life-threatening trap of yours. If you wanted the money back for your company, all you had to do was rejoin my zaibatsu."
"Never!! You scammed my company by using our profits for some damn Street Fighter tournament! This is merely an act of revenge for what you did to me and my employers!"
"WHAT?! My zaibatsu would never use your profits in such a manner!! You're lying!"
"Ohhh-ho-ho! You are so wrong, my blonde heiress. You see, Daikenjuro, your father, placed his biddings on your victory by deliberately siphoning some of our tax money and profits out of our system and into his account. Ever since then, you've been winning and our money was draining drastically. Then, Shibazaki had the nerve to contribute to this by permanently linking our payment system to yours and now, practically every victory you win slowly bankrupts us. Fortunately, we're not bankrupt yet, but we want to obtain Link in any way we can before then. What do you have to say to that now?! Huh?!"
"………………………!!!" Karin was speechless. She couldn't believe what she just heard and took a step back with fear, hugging Link closer to her chest while she did so. Ibuki remained where she was, but lowered her knives with shock while Derryk grew pissed and vigorously turned Marshall towards him.
"WHAT DID YOU JUST SAY?!" Derryk asked with anger, preparing for a punch. "You gonna wish you neva said dat, man!"
"Heh, heh… threaten me, if you must, but the truth is the truth… and it will never change. It's actually surprising to know that Karin doesn't know about this whole scam. Now that you have a genuine alien as your companion and since you know that Link is worth more than you can handle, I'll be more than happy to take him now while you can still forgive your father for what he and Shibazaki has done for the past three years."
"Maaan, you talk too much!"
"No… Derryk… let go of him. I'll sort this out." Karin protested calmly. Derryk looked at her with just as much shock as Ibuki and Link before Karin approached Marshall and escorted him to his car, which was a black Lincoln Navigator. Jason reluctantly followed the two back to the SUV, still holding his bleeding wrist for partial relief. As soon as Karin, Link, and Marshall got in the SUV, Marshall immediately attempted to snatch the experiment from the young Street Fighter, but she intervened just as fast, being careful not to hurt Link as she spoke. "Don't cheat your way through this, Marshall! I want proof of this whole tale you call 'the truth' and I want it now!!"
"Still don't believe me, eh?" Marshall asked with a cocky smile. "Well, if you're really procrastinating about all this, why don't you ask your father himself?"
"And only get his side of the story with no evidence?! I refuse to ask him! I want your proof first!"
"Ugh!! Fine!" Marshall paused before he pulled out his payment record sheet from just last week! Karin took it with one hand, still holding Link in her other arm for security, and took a good look at it. After about three minutes of examination, Karin gasped when she saw where the payments were going to. "This was the recent payment report from last week. According to the facts, the recent bidding was on your victory over that monster that Kunimitsu was trapped in. Since you allowed Kwik, that small alien, to do the killing and it resulted in an explosion, the payments tripled. Do you believe now?"
Karin remained silent as she continued to read the report. After about two more minutes, she looked at Marshall with a look of displeasure. Her brown eyes were glossy with intense anger before she stuffed the report in her shirt and dashed out of the SUV. Marshall tried to stop her, but she was too quick and she was gone by the time he fell face first onto the concrete from trying to tackle her. Jason just saw her dash past him and he shook his head with shame.
"You revealed the truth behind the reason why we're after Link, didn't you?" Jason dared to ask. Marshall shook the dizziness out of him before he stood up and dusted himself.
"I sure did, but now she knows about it. It'll be harder for us to obtain Link now. We have to think up something much more drastic." He replied. "Hmmmm…"
To be continued…