Author's note: I've uploaded two chapters in one go so if you haven't already gone back one chapter you're missing one.
Special part 2
"Onwards men, onwards!" called out Hoxha as the men jogged in unison along the pathway leading to the source of the explosion.
"Commander Hoxha!" called out Farkas. The leader of the group came to a halt, the other members coming to a stop in union.
"What is it Farkas?" asked Hoxha.
"Look, more people heading in the same direction," replied Farkas.
"What is so bad about that?" asked Dubois.
"They all appear to be armed," said Farkas. "And they appear to be wearing the insignia of one of the ninja clans of this area."
"Ninja clan?" asked Dubois. "Why would any ninja be here?"
"Perhaps they are on a mission to assassinate the person we're looking for," suggested Farkas. "We were warned that people were looking for her…and in this land if you want something done you normally get a ninja to help."
"Are we going to allow these ninja to harm the girl we seek?" asked Hoxha.
"No sir!" said the four together.
"Can…we stop…running yet?" asked an out of breath Chiyo.
"I think we're getting closer," replied Kagura. Her reply didn't give Chiyo much of a lift.
"Let's hope whatever caused that explosion is linked to why we are out here," said Yomi. "It'd be nice for something to go easy for once, and get to kill two birds with one stone."
"You kill birds with stones?" asked a concerned looking Kagura.
"It's just a saying Miss Kagura," said Chiyo.
"Halt right there villains!" shouted an indignant voice. Surprised Chiyo and Kagura came to a halt, watching as a man with an eye patch stood before them. He was soon joined by four more men, two either side of him.
"Can we help you?" asked Minamo, stepping in front of her students.
"Help us? Oh how about turning around and leaving?" asked Hoxha. "That would be a great help to us."
"We can't, we have to go and help up there," said Chiyo pointing in the direction of the explosion.
"So you are planning to interfere up there and hurt her!" yelled Farkas, jumping in front of Hoxha and to conclusions.
"We're doing a what now?" asked Minamo.
"Foul villains, we'll never allow you to get her," said Hoxha clenching his fist. "Your nefarious plan won't succeed!"
"What are you talking about?" asked Yomi.
"We're also heading in that direction, and we know the foul intentions you have for that poor innocent girl."
"I think we might have a misunderstanding here," said Yomi. "A major misunderstanding."
"Whatever you call it, we cannot allow you to advance."
"We have to get up there to help!" said Minamo, sounding aggravated. Hoxha shook his head. "We really should warn you, if needs be we will have to fight you- we can't walk away and leave people at risk."
"There's no way these people are up to any good," said Kagura to Yomi who nodded her head.
"Dubois, Costa, forwards!" said Hoxha. Dubois and the man with the sabre stepped forwards. "Gagnon you are with me, in case I need strength!"
"Gagnon is glad to help!"
"Farkas, what about you?" asked Hoxha.
Chiyo could see the small man looking from Hoxha to their group and back. She could almost say that the man called Farkas looked slightly worried…maybe even scared. She recognized the faint look of fear in his eyes.
"I'll…come with you sir!" said Farkas. "We could run into further problems up there!"
"Of course," said Hoxha. "Dubois, Costa you have fifteen minutes! Any more then that and there will be a penalty involved!"
"I understand Commander!" said Costa as he took a step forwards and drew his blade. Dubois stood beside him, cracking his neck once in preparation as he stretched it.
"Onwards!" said Hoxha. Still feeling slightly dumbfounded, Chiyo watched as three of the group vanished just as soon as they had arrived.
"What just happened?" she mumbled quietly.
"So uh, what now?" asked Kagura.
"Now we fight!" said Costa. He lifted his sabre and pointed it towards the group.
"Really?" asked Yomi.
"Lets humour these people," said Minamo with a tone more reminiscent of Yukari. "I'll take the sword freak, you take the big guy," she said as she drew her own blade.
"Very well, come at me wi-," Costa was interrupted as suddenly Minamo was at arms reach, just about blocking her attack. He took a step backwards as the two blades crossed again. Minamo glanced down momentarily, looking shocked. The sabre seemed completely blunt.
"Is that a toy?" asked Minamo. Costa looked hurt.
"Slicing and slashing is so crude," stated Costa as he took a step backwards.
"What can you do with a blunt s-,"
Minamo was interrupted as in a blur of movement Costa struck out with the sabre, striking her several times with the tip of the weapon. He stepped backwards. Minamo remained standing, with a smug smile on her face.
"See, you didn't even draw any blood," said Minamo looking down at her clothing. "You-."
She didn't finish her sentence, as with a slightly dreamy look she slumped face first into the floor.
"Pressure points," said Costa. "You won't die, but you won't be doing anything for the next half hour. We never kill, only incapacitate!"
"Dell isn't dat dice?" slurred Minamo, tasting dirt.
"Why is this happening?" asked Chiyo.
"Well well well, what was this I heard about the three of you taking me on?" asked Dubois.
"I'm pretty pissed right now," said Yomi adjusting her glasses. "Are you ready Kagura?"
"Just because you're big, it doesn't mean you scare us," said Kagura.
The fire burnt brightly in front of them, a house in front of them having already collapsed. But it looked more like it had been blown apart from the inside as opposed to simply collapsing from the fire. It burnt far more strongly then any fire Hoxha had seen before. How curious.
"Look around, if the girl's here we have to find her!" said Hoxha. "This is no place for a child!"
"Gagnon has found someone," said the giant man as he lifted up a heavy piece of burning wood with his bare hands. He leant down and picked up a young girl, the child looking even smaller due to the size of her rescuer.
"It is her!" said Hoxha and Farkas in unison.
Gagnon gently placed the girl on the ground, and she started coughing.
"Are you feeling ok?" asked Hoxha, crouching down in front of the girl. She suddenly looked startled, as though she hadn't noticed any of the men until that moment. She tried to push Hoxha back as she tried to crawl backwards.
"Stay back! Stay back!" she said.
"I mean you no harm," said Hoxha.
"Not you! If you get too close I could hurt you!" said the small girl. "I can't control it, it's too dangerous!"
Hoxha ruffled the girl's hair: "Don't worry, we've been sent here to help you."
"R-really?" asked the girl, her eyes lighting up slightly. Hoxha nodded.
"I wouldn't lie to you," said Hoxha.
"Commander, look," said Farkas pointing at the arm of the girl. A strange symbol was drawn on it.
"What is that?" asked Gagnon.
"It looks like a seal," said Farkas. "Seals are sometimes used in this land to…well seal things. Into other things."
"A seal for what?" asked Hoxha.
"I'm afraid I don't know," replied Farkas. "I don't have much experience at all with these types of things."
"W-will you be leaving me then?" asked the girl tearfully.
"No, of course not! We're not the ones to actually help you- we've been sent here to rescue you so we can get you to someone who can help."
"Someone can help me?" asked the girl.
"Of course," said Hoxha smiling.
"Perhaps we should be leaving now," said Farkas, looking around as the fire burnt in front of him.
"What are you waiting for?" asked Dubois. "The time for battle is here."
"I'm still very confused here," said Kagura as Minamo continued to lay prone on the floor.
"I think we're going to have to fight this guy," said Chiyo.
"My name is Dubois!" said the man loudly. "And what warriors am I facing?"
"I'm Kagura!" said the girl pointing to herself with a thumb.
"I'm…Chiyo," said the small girl.
"I'm not telling you my name," said Yomi.
"Very well then, let's fight. I'll give you the first shot for free," said Dubois. Not needing a second invitation Yomi charged at the man, smashing into his face with her clenched fist. His head turned as he caught the blow with his cheek, but he didn't step backwards.
Yomi jumped backwards as she finished her attack, landing in front of the man. Dubois turned to face her, blood dripping from his nose and mouth. He reached up and wiped the blood away with his hand. Yomi stood back, waiting for the usual comment about 'making me bleed'. Instead Dubois merely smiled.
"Haha! Blood drawn with the first blow! Ha this could be exciting!"
Yomi faintly raised an eyebrow: "What?"
"They don't call be Dubois the human shield for no reason!" said the man flexing his muscles. "Attack after attack is what I'm trained to take, the wall of the fighting squad! I've faced many people before, and the vast majority of them have never even managed to scratch me. So many dull battles- so when someone actually manages to draw blood they makes it very interesting."
"You're a very strange person," said Yomi.
"Perhaps so!" said Dubois arching back and flexing his arm again. "Now how about-,"
He was interrupted as Yomi struck again, and she leapt out of the way as Kagura charged too, smashing into the man's chest. He let out a faint splutter before Kagura smashed into him again. The two girls jumped back as Dubois stood back up straight.
"Very interesting," said Dubois. "Breuuugh!" yelled the man, clenching both of his fists. His stretched his arms outwards as he yelled again.
"What now?" groaned Yomi.
"Yelling helps to increase my battle abilities by seven percent!" said Dubois smugly. "Giving me the edge in battle!"
Kagura attacked again, but the man blocked her attack with his muscular forearm. The block seemed to cause more damage to Kagura's hand then to his arm. She fell back, holding her hand in pain. It was more like hitting a brick wall then a person.
"That's Dubois the human shield for you!" said Dubois noticing the girl wincing.
Yomi went to attack, the two older girls not noticing Costa approaching Chiyo. As they traded blows Chiyo started to back away as he held up the sabre. He pointed it towards her.
"Trust me, it's better for this to happen then to try and fight him," said Costa. He struck with the sabre again, striking in the same way he had attacked Minamo. Chiyo coughed in surprise as she uncontrollably slumped to the floor. Costa shook his head. "So young to be a ninja."
Yomi attacked again and Dubois swiped with his arm to block the attack. Despite being a defensive move it swept Yomi away, the girl smashing hard into the floor and rolling away. Dazed and still more then slightly confused she tried to push herself up, but nausea overcame her as her arms gave way beneath her.
"A lucky strike, but in battle all luck is welcomed!" said Dubois.
Kagura was on the move even as he started to speak, smashing into his jaw with a powerful punch. He took another step back and promptly spat out a tooth, Kagura shivering slightly at the disgusting sight. Regaining her composure she attacked again, striking the man in the face once, twice, three times. Each time he hardly seemed to move, and he continued to wear a look of excitement upon his face. She attacked again and he blocked, Kagura crying out in pain as she felt (and heard) some of her fingers crack. Leaving her right hand by her side she chose to lift up her left fist. She attacked again, but her weaker hand wasn't as strong.
She struck again, and this time Dubois merely frowned.
"Weaker!"
She jumped back and felt her shoulders slump. She didn't have much in the way of talent with bladed weapons, and her skills in jutsu and illusions did not exactly leave a lot to write home about. Her athletic ability, speed and strength were her main attributes. Now weakening every moment, and by herself, what could she hope to achieve? At the very least she could go down fighting.
Dubois reached out with one large hand as Kagura charged at him. In a flash she vanished, an illusion or possibly just speed and she jumped at him from the other side- to no avail as he merely grabbed her around the throat with his other hand.
"You are injured! At current ability and fitness levels you have no chance of defeating me, let alone being able to take on Costa as well! Defeat is not always pleasurable, but it is much better then pointless sacrifice!"
Costa nodded in agreement with his companion, the sabre already away. Dubois placed Kagura on the ground beside Yomi.
"Soon your friends will be awake again. I am sure you will fight many more battles in the future young ninja girl."
Kagura attempted to give a scathing reply, but felt the energy sap from her body. Unfortunately for her enough remained to ensure she still felt the pain in her hand.
Shuzo rested against the carriage as the small group marched towards him. He was slightly surprised by their appearance. One of the men seemed to have had his face smashed in, with a slightly ruined smile, while another looked as though he had just stepped out of a burning building. However Shuzo soon cared little for that when he saw the girl alongside the group. So they must have retrieved the girl without much of a fight from against what was within her- after all what she could do was a lot worse then a few broken teeth.
"Is this the man who can help me?" asked the small girl. Hoxha nodded.
"One of his associates," said Farkas.
"You can help me?" she asked Shuzo, from behind Hoxha, her face peeking out from behind the man.
"Oh I'm certain we can help you," replied Shuzo. "I'm certain very soon you won't have to worry at all."
"Doesn't that sound great?" asked Hoxha. The small girl nodded.
With a final look at the odd group the small girl approached the carriage and climbed up into it. She gave the five men one last wave and then vanished from view.
"Glad to have been of service," said Hoxha.
"Thank you, you have done a lot of work for us," said Shuzo. "But now I have to be going."
"Of course, of course," said Hoxha. "Time spent here is time wasted when you could be curing her!"
Without further words Shuzo climbed up into the carriage, and without a word the cloaked driver stirred the resting horses. As the carriage noisily left Hoxha turned to the others.
"Another successful mission!"
The group cheered as one.