Deeper Connection

That evening, Shika Clan Compound, Morotsuka, Miyazaki Prefecture, Japan…

Hide: "You guys are leaving now?"

Omani: "Yes, we are. Time is of the essence. And besides, you probably should take a little time off from traveling and work Hide."

Hide: "Well…I guess I can. I can see how you have developed the boys here."

Omani: "Exactly. My training methods have helped a lot I know! But you can mold them even better Hide! Urenna! Are you ready?"

Urenna (With her duffle bag.): "I'm coming!"

Omani: "Alright! Boys you be good okay!"

Santi: "Yes Omani!"

Bryce starts crying, Hide had to hold the boy from running to the hovercraft…

Omani smiles at the boys while Urenna buckels herself in from the hovercraft…

Omani: "Okay. Now how to launch this thing."

Urenna: "Press the auto pilot button and it will automatically launch."

Omani: "Alright. Here we go!"

The hovercraft takes off from the dirt open space of the compound…

On auto pilot, Omani and Urenna traveled to Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam overnight. By the time they arrived at the city, Omani had no idea on where to land the aircraft, but Urenna instructed her on where exactly to land the planes in such a vast urban environment. They received special clearance to use a helipad by a company that is affiliated with the United Nations. It was too far from the downtown area. So, they would leave the hovercraft from there. Then the ladies would examine the leads that were passed down to them by Hide. The main question would be, where to start looking for Cain first.

Urenna: "These are some of the leads that Hide and I found while we were in China."

Omani: "The notes here say that he was doing trading within these distribution companies. Perhaps we should ask locals about these spots and find their addresses."

Urenna: "Yes. That sounds like a good start."

Omani: "Okay. We should not leave too far from our hovercraft, but let's come back here within 6 hours. Under shade of course. This place is hot already and it's just morning time."

Urenna: "Ugh. Yeah, the humidity is sticky here."

Omani: "We can ask the people here at this base to give us a place to cool off before we go. So which direction should I go first?"

Urenna: "I'll take the north and east locations. You can handle the south and west places."

Omani: "Okay. Let's get to it."

From their position, Omani and Urenna went their separate ways. Omani would focus her efforts in the old downtown area of Ho Chi Minh. While Urenna searched along the banks of the Song Sai Gon River. After about two hours of eavesdropping in various conversations, Urenna followed a young group of teenagers who were about to make a drug deal out at a local park overlooking the river. Urenna found a good spot to hide in some thick bushes as she listened closely to the deal. The seller was a heavier set man, who looked like he was in his mid forties or fifties. The deal lasted about 15 minutes, but Urenna decided to target the seller once he was by himself. Urenna followed him until the man walked into a small alleyway. She quickly ran at the man until it was too late for him to do anything against her. Urenna pins him at the wall and demanded that he answer her questions.

Urenna: "Listen up if you don't want to get hurt! I have some questions for you! Answer them and I will let you go!"

Seller: "Ok! Ok! I will!"

Urenna: "Good. Just what were you giving those teens just now? Cocaine? Opium?"

Seller: "Cannabis!"

Urenna: "Cannabis? That's one of the drugs on that list. Tell me where do you have this Cannabis?"

Seller: "At the old warehouses at the Port! Near Downtown! Don't kill me!"

Urenna: "One last question! Do you know a man named Cain?"

Seller: "Noooo! Never heard of him before!"

Urenna: "Are you sure?"

Seller: "Y…yes! I'm sure!"

Urenna: "Fine! Go on!" (Letting him go.)

The seller scatters away in fear…

Urenna (Talking to herself.): "Old warehouse ports near downtown. Maybe Omani may have found out about them too. Well, I guess I better keep roaming around." (Stomach growls.) "What? Hungry already?"

The last two hours of searching remained uneventful, so Urenna felt it was time to head back to the private company and meet with Omani for her investigation. At the meeting place, the two kunoichi would arrive at the same time. Then while having lunch thanks to the employees there, the ninjas would talk about their findings so far.

Urenna: "I didn't hear much about Cain in particular. I just found out from a local drug dealer about a large stash of cannabis at the old warehouses. They can be found outside of downtown he said."

Omani: "Funny I heard similar things from 2 druggies I asked nicely. Some kingpins are using them as their base of operations. One guy even said that some foreigners have been spotted there for trading deals."

Urenna: "Really?"

Omani: "Uh huh and that even government officials are present during these deals. There will be a meeting tonight at one of those warehouses. So, for now, I'd say we relax until dusk. Then we can make our way to the port and find the old warehouse district."

Urenna: "Wow! Way to go Omani. You can still get a lot of information easy."

Omani: "A little flattery goes a long way." (Winks.) "Now let's enjoy our gracious meal. The pho noodles is so spicy but yummy!"

Later into the evening…

Urenna and Omani took their time venturing to the very area in question within the crowded streets of Ho Chi Minh. The sun was setting down into nightfall as the two kunoichi finally made it to the port. Now it was just a matter of figuring out the old warehouses from the newer ones. From across the street, they could see cars and people going in and out of the entry gates. However, from their point of view, the security was very light. They just needed a safe space to clear over or cut through the fences.

Omani: "Well we can't enter the front, but everything else seems easy to get across. How about we find a blind spot and get past the fence."

Urenna: "Not a problem. Let's find one."

After walking another 2 minutes or so…

Urenna: "I see some containers over here Omani. We can easily hop over them."

Omani: "Alright. I'll follow you."

Urenna carefully jumped on the first container as Omani did the same thing. Due to her age, Omani needed to be more careful about her landings. But she kept up with the spryer Urenna. From the highest container they could briefly survey the rest of the port. Everything could be seen at this spot.

Urenna: "We can see everything from here. Now which area is the old warehouse district?"

Omani: "Hmm… look over there."

Urenna: "Where?"

Omani: "Just past that cargo ship. Some of the buildings are not lit up with lights. Maybe that's the old warehouse district."

Urenna: "Its worth taking a look. Let's be careful though."

Omani: "Of course."

Ho Chi Mihn, Old Port Warehouse District…

By the time Urenna and Omani made to the old port warehouses, they could see a group of men walking towards a Warehouse with the number fourteen painted on the outside façade. Most of them were in casual attire except for a few who wore business suits. Not all of them appeared to be locals either judging from their looks. So Urenna and Omani knew that this was no ordinary get together.

Urenna: "I bet one of those guys is him! It has to be!"

Omani: "Relax Urenna. I know you have been waiting for this moment. But at this point we cannot be careless. Let's find a way in quietly and continue watching."

Urenna: "I will." (Shaking her head out of frustration.)

Inside Old Warehouse No. 14…

Hanging from the rafters, the kunoichis could oversee the meeting between the local cartels and the merchants who were offering weapons in exchange for the drugs provided to them. It was a black market auction meeting. However, no Cannabis was present in this warehouse. Then an elderly Vietnamese man appeared with two bodyguards standing right behind him as he began to speak in front of everybody sitting around him. He began a roll call. It the middle of it, Cain's name was yelled out. But no one said 'present'. Then another man said that Cain had left Ho Chi Minh yesterday going into Laos.

Urenna: "What? He's in Laos now?"

Omani: "Ssssshhh…you will give us away Urenna. Control yourself."

Just then, another familiar name comes up…

"Kiril Dragunov."

Kiril: "Present."

Urenna: "Huh? Did he just say Dragunov?"

Omani: "Yes. I think Hide told me he fought a very strong guy by that name. Are the two related?"

Urenna: "They have to be. Tch." (Getting angry again.)

Omani: "I know that look again. Do you really insist on attacking these men?"

Urenna: "It's better than just hanging on top of these rafters."

Omani: "Crashing parties was never my style. But if it means finding your family's killer, then I will aid you Urenna."

Urenna: "Omani."

Omani: "Our master sometimes told us that direct conflict can hasten the answers we seek even if they are bad ones."

Urenna: "So you understand?"

Omani: "I do. Let's make a statement right here. Oh, and do mask up please."

Urenna: "Oh yeah." (Pulls her face cover over her nose and mouth.) Here I go." (Unseathes her kodachi blade.) "Kkkkkkkkkiiiiiiiyyyyyaaaaa!"

Everyone looked up as a black figure landed hard on one of the tables. Urenna then dashes at the old man who was conducting the meeting. The two bodyguards tried to attack her only to quickly get stunned by Omani from behind. The petrified man was in complete shock as a menacing Urenna kept the kodachi blade near his neck as she demanded that no one move.

Urenna: "Don't do anything foolish! Or I will take this man's life!"

Random rich guy: "Just what is going on? Who are you!"

Urenna: "Shut it!" (Puts the kunai on the neck of the host as his skin started bleeding.)

Host: "Don't kill me!"

Urenna: "Answer my questions and I may let you all go! Is that clear?!"

Some men did not seem phased by Urenna's threat…

Urenna: "Now! Tell me! Where is Cain?"

Some whispers begin to circle amongst the men…

"Who are these b*tches?"

"She knows Cain?"

"They are both pretty, Cain has good taste."

"Are they police?"

Urenna: "Answer me!"

Suddenly one of the men in the back drew out machine guns right at Urenna. Omani was fast enough to throw a smoke bomb from her utility pouch just before the men blasted their ammo directly to Urenna's direction. The smoke was very thick as it clouded everything in the warehouse. Nobody could see a thing except for the women who were trained to fight in heavy smoke.

Omani: "Urenna!"

Urenna: "Right!"

Urenna used the hilt of her kunai to knock out the old man she briefly held hostage by hitting his jugular vein on the neck. Then she joined her elder mentor by attacking all of the men who refused to give her a straight answer about Cain. Urenna fended off nine men as the smoke started clearing away, while Omani took down as many as eleven men. Only one man tried to fight Urenna directly and it was Kiril Dragunov. He was a tall man, but surprisingly quick on his feet as successfully tackled Urenna. Urenna was strong enough to not get forced into the ground, but Kiril's momentum pushed her back into the side of some storage boxes.

Urenna: Agggghhh!"

Kiril: "I will never let you see him! Prepare to die!" (Grabs Urenna by her neck.)

Omani: "Tooooohhhh!"

Omani performed a cannon screw like kick hitting Kiril on his left side as the impact made him separate from Urenna. Urenna drops to the ground coughing due to the neck grab.

Omani: "Are you ok?"

Urenna: "I'll manage."

Omani: "This one is rather strong here. And he has a killing intent that I don't like one bit."

Urenna: "No surprise to me, he's a Dragunov!"

Kiril: "I don't know who you two are! But you are making a big mistake by hitting me!"

Omani: "Awww, did that kick hurt you that badly?"

Kiril (Reaching from behind.): "Take this!"

Kiril uses a special bomb of his own and it was a poisionous mist in which he had an immunity for.

Omani: "Get back! Get back!"

The kunoichis both backpedaled as the green mist began to spread. Omani knew it was bad and kept telling Urenna to move out. However, Kiril quickly dashed at Urenna once more. Drawing out his knife from his left pants leg holster, the Russian started to throw knife strikes at Urenna in which she blocks them. The two exchanged trading knife attacks until the green mist was getting closer to them. Urenna was aware of the danger, so she jumps to the side of the walls and leaped on top of the various storage boxes until that green mist could no longer reach her.

Kiril: "Don't you run from me woman!"

Omani: "Who is running?"

Kiril: "What?"

Omani avoided the mist as well as she charged at Kiril with all of her speed and strength. Her tackle pushes Kiril into the wall so hard, the impact caused their body weight to break open the corrugated wall, creating a hole. They both hit the outside ground hard as the green mist began to leak out. Urenna waited until the mist disappeared before hopping down from the storage boxes. However, Kiril was already on his feet before Omani could do the same. He was going to use his weapon to impale Omani. But Urenna used her hidden kunai to stab Kiril from behind his back. To finish him off, Urenna leaped in the air to slash his throat before he could fight her back. Blood spewed out of his neck as he collapsed. He was dead right there and then.

Omani (Holding her right shoulder): "Urenna?"

Urenna: "I'm right here! Are you alright?"

Omani: "I think my shoulder separated after hitting the ground. How stupid of me huh."

Urenna: "No! No! Don't say that! I can pop it back in place for you!"

Omani: "You remember how to do it?"

Urenna: "I do, but it has been a while. Are you ready?" (Getting her right arm up in the air.)

Omani: "Agh! It hurts too bad already!"

Urenna: "Hold still." (Pops Omani's shoulder back into the socket.)

Omani: "Oooowwwwww!" (Yells.)

Urenna: "Wait a moment." (Uses some cloth from her pouch to brace the shoulder tightly.) "All finished."

Omani: "Wow! You did remember. I am impressed."

Urenna: "It was my second time doing that. I did the same thing for a young boy some years back in Honduras. Santi's home country."

Omani: "I see." (Looks at Kiril's dead body): "Looks like you killed him."

Urenna: "Damn! I wanted to ask him questions, but its too late."

Omani: "I don't believe he was going to talk truthfully anyway given his personality. We better get out of here."

Urenna: "Okay."

With one of the top members of the Dragunov family now deceased, the word of his demise would not reach his older brother's ears until days later. In the meantime, it was decided that the kunoichis would return to Japan so that Omani could recover from her injury. Hide was surprised to find out that another Dragunov family member was present in that black arms market auction. At the same time, Urenna really wanted to travel to Laos and continue the search for Cain. Hide wanted to make certain that this source of info was legit. He briefed his commanding officer back at the UN on these latest findings. So, after a week had passed, it was confirmed that Cain might have a base of operations in Laos. Hide decided to let Urenna go out alone this time. Hide would continue training the young boys and look after Omani.