In the dock, Tsubaki and Kaede await the return of their slaves.
"There goes the backup," Kaede comments the second time the lights go out.
"Excellent," Tsubaki grins malevolently. "The hunt can begin."
"You're not going to wait for Maria?" Kaede asks.
"I have no need of the childwoman anymore," Tsubaki informs. "She's yours to do with as you see fit."
"And there I thought you wanted revenge on her," Kaede reminds.
"And I received it," Tsubaki informs. "Thanks to the Kage Byōgenkin, she is instrumental to destroying so much of what she and her friends worked for, and when the mind control wears off, she'll have to live with the guilt. I can't think of anything more satisfying than knowing she'll hate herself until the day she dies. She'll never be a threat to us again."
"Remind me to never get on your bad side," Kaede comments.
"Let's go," Tsubaki instructs.
"Actually, I'll stay here and wait for loverboy and the childwoman," Kaede decides. "And let's be honest, you don't need my help hunting and killing Chika."
"No, I certainly do not," Tsubaki agrees.
Kaede watches the tanuki disappear into the dojo. Arrogant bitch.
A few minutes after Tsubaki's departure, the enslaved Maria and Danny reunite with Kaede in the dock.
"Mission accomplished, my mistress," Danny greets.
"Where's Mistress Scary?" Maria asks.
"Tsubaki's set out on her own mission," Kaede informs. "You're now under my command until notified otherwise."
"Yes, mistress," Maria accepts.
"We'd better get out of here," Kaede decides. "But first, I'm going to examine this tiny submarine someone crashed here," she adds, making her way to the hastily‑repaired compact two‑person craft at the top of the boat ramp. "Tsubaki thought it unimportant, but something's bugging me about it…"
Maria and Danny wait patiently while Kaede analyses the submarine. Hasty build, probably overnight. Two seats in a one‑man cockpit. Not exactly built for comfort: must have been designed with stealth infiltration in mind. Is someone else working against Mizu‑dojo? Kaede climbs into the cockpit to get a better look at the seats. The fur on these seats… Silver on the front, orange on the‑ "Oh no. No, no, no! Not those two! Oh, this isn't good. This isn't good at all!"
"Something the matter, mistress?" Danny asks.
Kaede jumps out of the sub and rejoins the enslaved duo. "I need to contact my dojo ASAP. Let's get out of here."
Thirty minutes later, Kaede and her slaves are behind the frontlines, laying low in what's left of the warehouse she parked in before joining Tsubaki to infiltrate Mizu‑dojo. While Maria and Danny wait patiently in the car, Kaede is at the back, working with a long‑range radio transmitter. It takes a few tries, but eventually, she establishes a radio link with Tsuchi‑dojo. "Dai‑sensei Himura to Tsuchi‑base. Come in, Tsuchi‑base."
"Tsuchi‑base here," the radio operator at Tsuchi‑dojo replies. "Good to hear from you, sensei."
"Has anyone intruded into the dojo since I left?" Kaede asks.
"Two of the guards attempted to restrain a couple who broke into your inner sanctum, but they escaped," the operator reports.
"Describe them."
"A silver hare and an orange vixen."
"What were they there for, and did they take anything?"
"They claimed to want to 'uncover the truth' about you. We don't think they took anything though."
"OK, this is extremely important. Normally, I wouldn't permit anyone into my lab unsupervised, but I must know: where is my notebook with 'Kage Byōgenkin' on the cover?"
"We'll have to perform a search of your lab."
"Fine. Just get it done!"
Fifteen minutes later, the radio bursts back into life. "Tsuchi‑base to dai‑sensei Himura. Come in sensei."
"Did you find it?" Kaede demands.
"No such item was found," the operator answers.
Kaede shuts off the radio. For several moments, she stands in total silence, shaking slightly at the shock of knowing Hanna and Rob had not only infiltrated her dojo, but also found the notebook that could ruin the entire plan.
"Mistress?" Danny asks.
Kaede jumps in surprise. "Sorry, I was uh…" she starts, still reeling from the news about the notebook.
"Is something wrong?" Danny presses.
"Yes," Kaede confirms. "Something is very wrong."
"Anything we can do?" Danny asks.
"Both of you, stay with me at all times," Kaede commands. "Never let me out of your sight, and protect me at all costs. I have need to… procure equipment from someone very dangerous."
Just a few minutes after Kaede retreats from Mizu‑dojo, Rob and Akiko arrive at the dock.
"Good, the sub's been repaired," Rob observes. "I must warn you, getting in the passenger seat won't be easy‑"
"Then I'll drive," Akiko decides.
"No offense, but I think it's better that I drive," Rob argues.
"None taken, but I've lived in Mizutani all my life, and I know all the secret waterways," Akiko reveals. "I can get us out without any risk to ourselves."
"And I guess it would be easier for me to get into the back seat," Rob admits. "OK, you drive. But you'll have to belt me in."
Rob and Akiko carefully manoeuvre the sub down the boat ramp and into the water. Once afloat, Rob climbs on top of the sub, opens the canopy, then begins the laborious process of sliding into the back seat. It only takes him two minutes to get in position compared to Hanna's three, but it's no less difficult.
"It's a good thing I'm driving," Akiko comments once Rob is finally seated. "No way I'd be able to bend like that!"
"I'll admit, I'm wondering whether being a third your age is a blessing or a curse right now," Rob jokes as Akiko secures the harness. "I have to commend Hanna on how well she handled being in this seat."
With Rob securely strapped in, Akiko gets into the pilot's seat, a task that proves tricky, but she manages. "Ready to go?" she asks as she shuts the canopy.
"I can't move, so yes," Rob confirms. "Head twenty miles upriver: Hideyoshi Takenaka will be expecting us."
Akiko starts the engine and points the sub to the dock exit, submerging as soon as possible. Once out in the moat, she locates one of the secret waterways, and before long, they're safely on their way out of Mizutani.
During Kaede's retreat, Tsubaki has been working her way deeper into the dojo. Using all her stealth skills to avoid the Mizu ninjas stationed all through the dojo, progress is slow. But after an hour, Tsubaki finally reaches her destination: Chika's inner sanctum. The tanuki draws her swords, takes a deep breath, then kicks the door down. "Prepare to die, you traitorous‑"
The sanctum is empty.
"Kitsune dammit! Where are you, otter?"
As Tsubaki reaches the sanctum, Hanna, Xander, and Chika, having covered two‑thirds of the dojo, reach the dock.
"Dammit! They're not here either!" Hanna exclaims, observing the dock is empty. At least it looks like Rob and Akiko got away. Hopefully they're on their way upriver.
"This random searching isn't working," Chika realises. "They'll be hunting me while we're hunting them."
"Random searching won't work," Xander agrees. "But we may be able to follow their scent trails."
"I hate following scent trails," Hanna sighs. "It always looks so undignified. Plus, it kinda leaves you defenceless."
"We won't find them any other way," Xander informs.
"I know," Hanna admits.
Hanna and Xander both holster their weapons and drop to all fours, searching for the tell‑tale scents of Tsubaki and Kaede. However, Hanna finds another scent first. "Maria was here!"
"Danny too," Xander informs. "But we can't worry about them until we've dealt with Tsubaki and Kaede."
The two canids continue their search, and soon Xander picks up another scent. Tracking its path, he scampers around the dock for a few moments, but doesn't leave it. "Kaede isn't hunting us," he concludes. "Her scent trail never leaves the dock."
"But Tsubaki's does," Hanna informs, following the tanuki's scent trail back out the dock.
Over the next hour, Hanna follows Tsubaki's scent trail, with Xander and Chika following. After touring half the dojo, they arrive at Chika's inner sanctum.
"This is where the scent trail ends," Hanna announces. "And that has me worried."
Suddenly, a flashbang grenade lands among the trio, exploding on impact. Blinded by the flashbang, Hanna, Xander, and Chika are unprepared for the smoke grenade that follows.
With her targets blinded and gasping for air, Tsubaki strikes. She first targets Hanna, slamming her face down to the floor. Hanna attempts to fight back, but it's to no avail: Tsubaki quickly binds the vixen's wrists behind her back, then binds her ankles to her wrists.
With Hanna secured and helpless, Tsubaki targets Xander next. His bulk makes him harder to pin, but a few pinpoint blows make him fall as hard as Hanna did. Once he's secure, Tsubaki jumps Chika. But this time she only binds the otter's arms securely, leaving her able to walk.
"You're mine now, traitor!" Tsubaki spits, pulling Chika to her feet. "Walk!" she commands, pushing Chika forwards and out of the sanctum.