Meanwhile, in the tunnel, Tsubaki and Kaede finally arrive at Kaede's car.
"Thank the spirit of the kitsune!" Kaede sighs in relief, climbing into the passenger seat.
"Where's the gear?" Tsubaki demands.
"Can I just rest my leg for a bit?" Kaede protests.
But Tsubaki doesn't wait: she shoves her hand down Kaede's top, recovering both the key to the trunk and the vial of scarlet liquid. "What is this?" the tanuki asks, holding up the vial.
"I knew you'd succumb to me eventually," Kaede purrs seductively. "Everyone does."
Tsubaki slaps Kaede hard across the face. "Insolent worm! Tell me what this is now!"
"OK, OK, keep your tail on!" Kaede pleads, rubbing her cheek. "By the spirit! First you cop a feel, then slap me so hard, you nearly break my jaw! That's some seriously mixed signals there!"
Tsubaki grabs Kaede by the throat, gripping tightly. "Tell me what this is!"
"Shade Virus!" Kaede gasps, struggling to breathe, desperately trying to loosen Tsubaki's grip.
"We're not going to get them back under control, you know," Tsubaki growls.
"I know," Kaede wheezes. "It's… a different strain."
Tsubaki's grip loosens slightly. "What effect does it have?"
"Don't know."
Tsubaki hides the vial in her ample cleavage, then drops Kaede into the seat. "Think I'll keep hold of it."
"I'm officially and permanently withdrawing my offer to give you the good hard fucking you so desperately need," Kaede informs, rubbing her throat, her voice raw.
"Is that meant to be a punishment?" Tsubaki asks mockingly. "It's no fur from my pelt, you refusing to do something I don't want you to do anyway."
"Just get your glowing knives and leave me alone to rest," Kaede pouts, slumping in the passenger seat and hiding herself under the blanket from the back seat.
"Gladly." Tsubaki heads to the back of the car and opens the trunk. It's a shame I can't use the Fire Sword to slay that infernal vixen, her pathetic husband, and her ridiculous friends. But needs must. Tsubaki places the Fire and Water Swords inside the trunk, then takes out the katana stolen from Brevon. So, how do they work? Tsubaki inspects the handles, and finds a small switch under the guards. Aha!
Tsubaki thumbs the switches: the blades ignite with a cool electric blue glow. "Well, this is a surprise. You've manage to impress me a second time, Kaede."
"You used my first name," Kaede murmurs. "I'm surprised you even know it."
"Don't be like that," Tsubaki encourages. "I've used your name several times."
"Sod off and leave me alone," Kaede commands, hiding under her blanket.
"What if the Yamakasai forces find you?" Tsubaki asks.
"Then I'll surrender, and hope for a merciful sentence," Kaede answers.
"What if the vixen finds you first?"
Kaede remains silent.
Hanna leaps out into the tunnel, nunchaku twirling with murderous intent. "Ancients dammit! They're not here!"
"Of course not," Rob confirms, walking out into the tunnel calmly. "They know they can't fight us while we have the Crystals."
"They'll think of something," Hanna retorts.
Rob is about to answer, but is interrupted by an incoming radio summons. "Hold that thought." Rob unclips the radio from his belt and answers it. "Rob here."
"Hey Rob, it's Danny," Danny replies, his voice distorted but still clear.
"How are things at the front?" Rob asks.
"Hideyoshi thinks we've done enough, so he's sending us to help you," Danny explains. "Me, Maria, and Xander will be with you as soon as possible. Where are you?"
"Lava diversion tunnel hachi," Rob reports.
"Any way to get vehicles down?"
"None that I have seen."
"We'll manage. I must warn you: if Tsubaki and Kaede have got back to their car, don't engage them until we get there."
"Why not?" Rob asks, confused.
"They have weapons stolen from the Absolution," Danny explains.
"What‽" Rob exclaims in shock and surprise.
Hanna snatches the radio from Rob's hand. "You better not be fucking with us," she snaps.
"Trust me, I wish I was," Danny replies. "I'd rather face you when you're angry than anything Tsubaki and Kaede have stolen from Brevon."
"What did they take?" Rob asks, taking the radio back.
"Twin katana and twin tekko‑kagi, all fitted with devices that surround the blades with some sort of energy field," Danny informs. "Also, two pendants inscribed with the logogram 'dùn', and a vial of Shade Virus."
Hanna and Rob exchange concerned looks.
"Why do I get the feeling that, before this ends, we're gonna have to remove these headbands?" Hanna thinks aloud.
"I'm hoping it doesn't get that bad," Rob replies.
"Because of me?" Hanna asks.
Rob remains silent.
"When we get there, it'll be five against two," Danny reminds. "We'll have the upper hand for once."
"How long before you get here?" Rob asks.
"Hard to say," Danny replies. "Does your radio have a beacon mode?"
Rob activates the beacon. "Just turned it on."
There's a moment's silence while Danny locks onto the signal. "We can be with you in fifteen minutes."
"I'm not waiting that long," Hanna decides, setting off at speed down the tunnel.
"Let me guess: she's more interested in revenge," Danny guesses.
"Looks that way," Rob confirms.
"We'll try and get there as quick as we can," Danny promises.
"And I'll stop her getting herself killed," Rob replies, then sets off in pursuit of Hanna.
"We can't hang about," Danny informs Maria and Xander. "Hanna's not waiting for us."
"Typical," Maria remarks, unable to hide a smile of amusement.
"We need to find a way to get our trikes down to the tunnel," Danny decides, opening a connection to Hideyoshi Takenaka. "Hideyoshi, any way to get trikes down to lava tunnel hachi?"
"Let me guess: Hanna's going rogue," Hideyoshi guesses.
"In a manner of speaking, yes," Danny confirms.
"I had a feeling she would," Hideyoshi sighs. "There's a suitable access half a mile ahead of you. Stay on the radio, and I'll guide you to it."
"Follow me," Danny instructs Maria and Xander.
A few minutes later, Maria, Danny, and Xander emerge into lava tunnel hachi, and immediately turn towards Rob's beacon signal.
"This is much better!" Danny exclaims as the trio push their trikes to top speed. "We'll be with them in just a couple of minutes!"
A couple of minutes later, Hanna slides to a halt, Rob stopping beside her.
"I hear engines," the vixen reports. "They're coming up behind."
"They found a way into the tunnel then," Rob smiles.
A minute later, three trikes come to a halt in front of the waiting Hanna and Rob.
"Glad we caught you before you did anything stupid," Danny greets.
"Me or him?" Hanna asks.
"You, of course!" Maria teases. "Now, stop being a silly meanie and jump on!"
Hanna jumps on the back of Maria's trike, Rob onto the back of Danny's.
"Punch it!" Hanna commands.
In near‑perfect synchrony, the three trikes accelerate away.