Five minutes later, Tsubaki halts her practice with her new swords. "Kaede, grab your gear: enemy inbound."

"Not interested," Kaede replies, still under the blanket.

Tsubaki returns to the car and whips the blanket off Kaede. "Grand Masters never surrender!"

"They do when the battle is lost," Kaede retorts.

Growling in frustration, Tsubaki fetches a pair of binoculars from the trunk and looks towards the source of the engine noise. "Shit. All five of them are coming."

"All five of‑ Shit!" Kaede leaps out of the car and equips herself with the tekko‑kagi and second shield generator from the trunk, activating the weapons and pendant.

"And you wanted to surrender," Tsubaki sneers, activating her pendant, surrounding herself in a white sparking cocoon.

"To Yamakasai!" Kaede reminds. "Not to the Elemental Protectors!"

"They're not going to turn into those creatures of legend," Tsubaki informs.

"I know that," Kaede affirms. "But they do have the Crystals."

"And we have energy weapons and personal shields," Tsubaki reminds.

"Don't take victory for granted," Kaede advises.

"Don't worry," Tsubaki assures. "This time, I won't stop until I've hacked all five of them into several pieces, just to be sure they're dead."

"That's… yeah." I can't believe I'm on the same side as this psycho.

The three trikes halt fifty feet from Tsubaki and Kaede, their riders and passengers dismounting. Hanna Skarlett takes the lead, her figure sheathed in a writhing coat of flame. Rob Stiil follows on her right, his body coated in a shimmering film of liquid metal, with Danny Brock on his right, protected by a swirling skin of gravel. Maria Shanmao follows to Hanna's left, her wooden cladding giving the impression of a walking tree. And on her left, Xander Lykos and his protective water‑ice shell.

The Five Scarves halt in chevron formation, Hanna just ten feet from Tsubaki and Kaede.

"If I were you, I'd surrender now," Hanna smirks confidently. "If you do, I might just show a little mercy."

"You may outnumber us, but you can't outfight us," Tsubaki retorts.

"You think you're better than the best hand‑to‑hand fighter in the Red Scarves?" Hanna boasts.

"When I'm the finest warrior the Gotoshi has ever seen?" Tsubaki counters. "Yes, I do."

"Prove it," Hanna challenges. "One‑on‑one. Me and you. To surrender or death."

"I never surrender," Tsubaki growls.

"Nor do I," Hanna smirks malevolently.

"Hanna‑" Rob begins.

"Save your breath," Hanna interrupts in a tone that forbids argument.

Rob sighs in frustration and defeat. "Do what you must," he relents.

Hanna and Tsubaki move into the centre of the tunnel, their eyes locked on each other without the slightest waver. Once in position, they adopt combat stances.

"I should have slain you in Mizutani," Tsubaki growls.

"Likewise," Hanna growls back.

Tsubaki is first to charge, twin energised katana swinging to slice, but Hanna is too quick. With Crystal‑enhanced speed, she dodges the attack, and counters with a flame‑wreathed swing of her nunchaku. However, the nunchaku bounce harmlessly off Tsubaki's shield. The two combatants pass, then turn to face each other. This time, Hanna is first to charge, her twirling nunchaku creating two fiery discs. Lacking Hanna's enhanced speed, Tsubaki is forced to rely on defence to fend off the vixen, blocking the nunchaku with her katana.

Suddenly, Tsubaki shifts sideways. The move takes Hanna by surprise, and she stumbles slightly. Sensing an opening, Tsubaki swings a katana at Hanna's legs, aiming for a double amputation. But Hanna anticipates the move, allowing her stumble to turn into a controlled fall. The vixen rolls as the katana hisses harmlessly overhead, ending on one knee in time to block Tsubaki's follow‑up downward swing with the second katana.

"I have you now," Tsubaki growls.

"No, you don't," Hanna smirks.

Before Tsubaki can bring the free katana to bear, Hanna diverts all the Crystal energy to her hands and nunchaku, blasting Tsubaki back ten feet with an intense fireball. The tanuki lands hard, but recovers quickly as Hanna stands.

"Nice move," Tsubaki reluctantly compliments.

"Less talk, more dying," Hanna replies.

With a bellow of pure rage, Tsubaki charges Hanna again. The vixen attempts to block the trusting katana, but Tsubaki is wise to the move: with a deft flick of her blades, the nunchaku are sent flying out of reach. The tanuki follows up with a brutal shoulder barge, slamming Hanna backwards several feet. The vixen lands hard, sliding to a halt as Tsubaki leaps for the kill. However, Hanna isn't going down easily. The vixen again diverts all the power of the Crystal to her hands, unleashing a dense fireball that deflects Tsubaki harmlessly overhead. The tanuki lands in a roll, returning to her feet as the vixen stands.

"Surrender, foul vixen!" Tsubaki demands.

"Nah," Hanna dismisses.

"You are disarmed!" Tsubaki reminds.

"That just makes me more dangerous," Hanna smiles maliciously, extending her claws to their fullest.

As Hanna and Tsubaki engage once more, Maria turns to Kaede. "Developing a conscience?" the lynx asks cheekily, noticing the pika's pensive look.

"This has gone so much further than I thought it would," Kaede admits, deactivating her tekko‑kagi.

"Then why did you hatch this plan?" Danny asks.

"To bring down Hideyoshi and Chika," Kaede answers.

"Why?" Danny presses.

"We both faced far harsher sanctions than them, even though we were all equally guilty," Kaede explains. "We both felt it was a miscarriage of justice, and… it got way out of hand."

Suddenly, Xander grabs Kaede by the neck and lifts her off the ground. "Give me one good reason I shouldn't tighten my grip," he demands.

"Put her down, Xander," Danny commands.

"But‑"

"Put her down."

Xander drops Kaede roughly to the floor. "You're lucky I'm no psycho," he growls.

Kaede turns to Danny. "Thanks."

"Save it," Danny snaps. "After everything you've done to us, it's a miracle you're even alive."

"Danny‑" Rob interrupts.

"It's OK Rob," Danny assures. "I know we're taking them in alive."

"R‑Really?" Kaede asks, her voice bright with hope.

"We're not monsters," Danny explains.

Kaede visibly relaxes. "I can't thank you enough for showing mercy," she replies softly.

"Don't make us regret it," Danny cautions.

"I won't," Kaede promises, picking herself up. "In fact, I'd like to show my gratitude in a more… personal manner," she adds flirtatiously.

"You have got to be kidding me," Danny sighs in frustration.

"Is she really doing this now?" Rob asks in disbelief.

"Come on loverboy," Kaede beckons. "You know I can service you in ways your spiny toy can only imagine."

For the first time in his life, Danny snaps. With a bellow of pure unadulterated rage, he slams a stone‑clad fist into Kaede's chest, throwing her backwards into her car so hard she dents the trunk.

"No‑one insults Sally and gets away with it," Danny growls. "And that counts double for you."

Kaede pushes herself off the car. "You're turning me down?"

"You are the most disgustingly perverted and manipulative bitch I've ever had the misfortune to meet," Danny growls. "Plus, I've hurt Sally enough already, thanks to you."

"Fine!" Kaede growls back, igniting her tekko‑kagi. "If I can't have you, no‑one will!"