"Target in sight," Keiko mumbled into her ear piece.
The gaze she had on the back of Taykoe's head could have melted a hole through it. If she was lucky enough to obtain laser vision. Keiko's hand went to the bracelet on her arm. Nobu had a matching one. There was only one difference. The stone on his was red, for fire. Hers was blue. For water.
Once more, Taykoe's phone rang.
"Look, I already know-"
"It's not wise to associate with my sister."
Taykoe stopped.
"What are you talking about? And who are you?" she asked.
"My name is Arisa Okami."
Taykoe's heart froze. Was this it? Was her cover blown?
"I'm afraid you are a victim of association," Arisa went on. "You see, it's all my sister's fault that what's going to happen to you, does."
"What do you mean?" Taykoe asked, puzzled.
As if in response to her question, the ocean rose up. Taykoe snapped her phone shut and sprinted away from the water as it slammed against the ground behind her. Taykoe tripped, landing against something. Looking up, she discovered a woman standing over her, brown hair in a tight bun. The woman's eyes were black and emotionless.
"Hello Miss Taykoe," the woman greeted. "I'm Keiko."
"I'm impressed," Nobu said.
Ariha was surprised he was awake. When Kei had carried him home, he was out. Of course, the drop down the stairs to Haru's lab had probably jostled him a bit. Or knocked him further into a coma. Now he sat in a desk chair, blindfolded, bound but sadly, not gagged.
"Impressed by what?" Ariha found herself asking.
"You managed to rein in Kei."
Ariha's heart froze.
"I don't know what you mean," she lied.
Nobu laughed.
"I'm blindfolded, not deaf. You don't think I haven't heard him talk before. Your voice I'm having trouble pin pointing. It's familiar but I can't put my finger on it."
"You know Kei?" Ariha asked.
Nobu snorted.
"Who doesn't? Besides you it seems. See, Kei's full name is Kei Shin Graye. He has a little sister who's probably 16 or seventeen now. He's about 23 maybe 24, I'm not sure. All Arisa told me was that she ran him over one night and he lost his memory. Poor guy," Nobu said sarcastically.
Ariha glared at Nobu.
"I'm going to believe you," she said.
She smiled.
"But I'll leave you alone so you can understand the term solitary confinement as well as the term ice prison."
She kicked the desk chair and it sailed into the large freezer.
"What are you doing!?" Nobu spazzed.
Ariha laughed.
"Giving you a taste of you own medicine."
"How are you going to sleep at night?" Nobu asked.
"Very well, knowing you're not on the streets. By the way, thanks for the bracelet."
With that, she closed the freezer door, locking it. On her wrist was the bracelet.
"Man that was a bitch," Ana declared.
She didn't dare move sit back in Haru's car though. Her back still hurt a bit.
"I suppose so," Misha remarked, looking into the backseat from where she sat shotgun.
"Now Ana, since you're injured this may be a good time to think and reflect on your actions," Hachi lectured.
Ana glared at her.
"I will have my revenge," she said. "End of discussion."
"But-" Hachi began.
Ana held up her fist.
"End. Of. Discussion."
"Yes ma'am," Hachi whimpered.
Realizing the fun in the backseat was over, Misha turned in her seat, turning on the radio.
"There are reports of a woman attacking a teenage girl down by the beach," came the announcer. "The woman appears to work for Okami Corporation."
Ana groaned.
"I suppose we're heading to the harbor," she assumed.
"Actually, we have a backup. Two actually," Haru said.
He and Misha shared a smile.
"Oh, bad feeling," Hachi said.
Taykoe ducked behind a bench, managing to avoid the full force of the water but still getting sprayed. Her hair was dripping and stuck to her face.
"I must ask you to please stop running. You're growing intolerable," Keiko said, lifting her arms.
The water, at her command, ripped the bench to shreds. There were very few things for Taykoe to hide behind on the boardwalk and that bench was one of few options. Keiko waved one hand forward and the water surrounded Taykoe but did not close in. Instead it swirled around her. She should have transformed but she couldn't. No she wouldn't expose the fact that she was a mew. Not now and, if possible, not ever.
It was then Keiko emerged from one of the walls of water. Her fist flew forward, smashing into Taykoe's face and sending Taykoe flying into the side of the boardwalk.
"Denounce Ariha Okami as your friend," she ordered.
Taykoe glared at her through her wet hair.
"No," she said, purely just to disobey.
Keiko raised her hand, the water rising with it.
"So be it," she said.
Taykoe got to her feet, ready to transform. She had no other choice. Keiko smiled a bit and then the water surged forward. Suddenly, what looked to be a shield, cut through the water. Taykoe watched, wide eyed as Kori landed in front of her.
"Never fear, for I'm here. To pound your face," Kori said, pointing at Keiko. "Into dust!"
Keiko smiled again, amusement in her cold eyes.
"You, my dear girl, are delusional," she declared.
"Hardly," Kori said.
She put her hands on her hips defiantly.
"I doubt you can beat me! Because water is nothing against a dolphin," she declared.
Keiko's smile vanished.
"We shall see," she said, the water once again rising.
Kori's hand glowed and a shield appeared in it. Before Keiko's water had time to recollect itself, she attacked, throwing the shield with the accuracy of Captain America. Keiko threw up her arms to shield her face, leaving her bracelet exposed. The shield clanged against the metal and vanished, leaving Keiko soaked in water. Keiko dropped her hands.
"Little brat!" she growled.
She lifted her hands again but the water didn't rise. Panic flashed across Keiko's face as she realized that her bracelet lay broken in half in a puddle. Kori smiled at her.
"I think I win this round," she announced, waving her hand.
The puddle swallowed the bracelet and zipped over to Kori, leaping into her hand. Kori then grabbed Taykoe and leapt over the boardwalk's railing, the two disappearing into the surf below.
"I'LL GET YOU!" Keiko screamed.
