Misfit Mercs Saga

Pull Back the Curtain

Part 2

Unmasked

By Nick Maro

:: Writer's Note: [ ] Indicates speaking Japanese ::

Darkness had engulfed the room and she let her eyes adjust to dark. Within a few minutes she could make out faint outlines of the room. She rolled out of the bed and slowly made her way to the door. She looked back at one of the other beds where Stormer was soundly asleep. She tested the door to see if it was locked. The door slid open with ease.

Still in a sleepy daze she made her way out of the room. The hallway seemed familiar, but the last thing she could remember was being in a room with Daisuke Matsuura. He had shot David and then everything went dark. Where am I? she thought to herself. Cautiously she headed down the steps and that was until she heard the welcoming and familiar voice. She quickly hurried into the kitchen. Mariko was sitting at the table sipping her morning cup of tea. "Hi Mariko."

"Phyllis!" Mariko put her tea down and ran up to dazed woman. She hugged Pizzazz tightly. She then broke the hug and looked at the green haired woman. "Why aren't you dead?"

"Long story. Are David and the rest okay?"

"Yes, he's in his room with Techrat and a man who I don't know." She hugged Pizzazz again. "I'm just so glad that you're alive. Deep down I knew that David was okay. Ayumi and I found you in the dojo around dinner time last night. We couldn't leave you out in the cold, so we brought you inside."

Pizzazz sat down at the table while still trying to clear her head and make sense of everything. "Who else besides you and Ayumi know that we're alive?"

"Just us, I figured that you didn't want anyone else to know that you're alive." Mariko turned when she heard someone coming down the stairs. David reached the bottom of the steps and looked around in confusion at Pizzazz and Mariko. "David!" Mariko left her chair and ran up to her adopted son.

"Kasa?" he asked in confusion and slowly hugged Mariko in return. "Why are we in Osaka?"

Over the next hour each of The Misfits came down the stairs with each in the same state of confusion. David told Mariko and Ayumi everything since the Gabor mansion exploded. He then explained who Daisuke Matsuura was and why he was after The Misfits.

Mariko put a plate of food in front of Stormer. "There you go." She thanked her quietly as Mariko sat down next to her. "We need to call Kyoko and tell her about Daisuke. He may go after her now. I've never heard of him and I don't think Hiroshi had either."

"Hiroshi mentioned him once to me. We might as well call both Kyoko and Shin. I have a feeling that we'll need both of them." David slammed his fist on the table causing everyone to jump in surprise. "Dammit! I was so sloppy back there."

Roxy put her hand on his shoulder. "Hey relax you didn't know he had a gun. And judging that you don't have any wounds and you're still alive, it's a safe bet that it wasn't a bullet that struck you."

"Sounds like you were hit with a stun rifle, David. I've never seen one in person, only heard about them." Techrat refilled his glass. "As for how we got here, I don't know. Clash, Eric and I went to bed in Kashihara and woke up here."

"Mariko, call Kyoko and tell her to bring Shin over. Don't tell her about us on the phone, I think this is one of the things that she needs to see in person." David stood up from the table. "Meanwhile, the rest of us should shower and get dressed. I'm going to check our weapons." David went back up the stairs to his room. Mariko made the call to Kyoko and The Misfits took turns taking a shower and getting cleaned up.

Kyoko knocked on the front door and waited. The hairs on the back of her neck had been standing on end ever since Mariko had called her that morning. Shin waited next to his fiancée as Kyoko knocked on the door a little harder. The door finally opened. "[Hi, Ayumi, Mariko called and asked that Shin and I stop by. Is she in?]"

"[Mother is waiting for you in the dojo. She wants you to meet her out there,]" Ayumi said in her soft voice. She led her half sister and her old friend through the house. She was used to the arrangement of the furniture. Because she was blind it took her a few weeks to learn the way the furniture was positioned.

They were guided to the sliding backdoor when Kyoko and Shin saw Mariko standing in front of the dojo door. She smiled at the young couple. "[I called the two of you over because we need your help and to warn you of a potential threat. I should've learned years ago that things in life aren't what they seem. We have all been witnesses to such an event not too long ago. Now I'm about to show you the truth. You must swear that you will not tell anyone about this.]"

"[Mariko, I don't understand.]"

"[Kyoko, just swear that you won't tell a soul and trust us on this.]" Ayumi told her who was now standing next to her mother.

Shin and Kyoko promised that they wouldn't and Mariko's smile widened. She slid the dojo door open. It was dark inside the dojo. "[Step inside and don't light a candle or turn on a light until I say to.]" Kyoko and Shin went inside the dojo and did as instructed giving each other a confused look. Mariko and Ayumi closed the door behind them. "[You may turn on the lights.]"

Kyoko flipped the light switch. When the lights came on, she took a step backwards into Shin. David and The Misfits stood before them. Kyoko felt a tear run down her cheek. "I knew you couldn't really be dead." She ran up to David and hugged him tightly then hugged the rest of The Misfits. Shin shook David's hand then embraced his brother in martial arts. Kyoko hugged David again. "So what happened? I was at the funeral and saw your caskets get lowered in the ground." David gave Shin and Kyoko the quick version of all the events.

Eric stayed back from the group of friends since he felt out of place even more so now. These were people who actually cared for The Misfits. It was partly because of David also. He was their manager when he first introduced these people to The Misfits. The people who Eric introduced The Misfits to wouldn't have cared if they had lived or died. He sat on a bench in the corner wanting to leave when Mariko sat next to him. "You looked lonely."

"I'm not lonely just a little jealous of David. He's been fully accepted by The Misfits. Meanwhile, all I ever am is the butt of a joke or seen as the enemy. I know I did some cruel things to them but I'm not that man anymore. I'm really trying to change." Eric adjusted the crutches that were resting next to him.

Mariko watched him for awhile and then looked at the cast he wore. All of The Misfits had signed it. She found her own marker and wrote something in kanji. "There you go. That's my advice to you." She smiled and walked away.

Eric looked at the message. "Hey! I don't read Japanese!" Mariko didn't turn around. "I swear, it's pick on Eric Raymond wherever we go," he mumbled. The group was beginning to move out of the small dojo to the house, he followed after them at his own pace.

David noticed that Eric was still moving slower than usual. He ran to Eric and walked beside him. "I see Mariko signed your cast. What did she write?"

"I don't have the slightest clue. She wrote something, left and discovered her selective hearing." Eric hopped up onto the single step and went into the house as David followed.

"Hang on, I'll translate." David read the message to himself first after Eric stopped. He then read to Eric. "It says, Tenjo o nuru hitsuyo ga aru. I need to paint the ceiling."

Eric looked at David with a confused look. "And that means?"

David smirked and winked. "Ask Pizzazz. It's actually good advice." Eric left mumbling under his breath about how difficult David and the rest of his family were.

Eric found Pizzazz in the family room talking to Shin. He laughed at what Mariko had written. "Um, Pizzazz, Mariko wrote I need to paint the ceiling on my cast. What the devil does that mean?"

"Well, she got the idea right. The saying is ceiling needs painting. It's something my mother would say when something was tough or keeping us down. It means that if something is difficult or bothersome, don't go crazy over it. There's always something more annoying coming your way, so you shouldn't worry about this one," Pizzazz explained.

Eric thought about it for a minute and then laughed to himself. "That is good advice." He raised his eyebrow suspiciously. "Are you sure Mariko isn't a blood relation to you? She sure acts it at times." Pizzazz offered Eric a spot to sit and made the introduction to Shin.

Later that night, Shin and David planned what their next move should be.

Ayumi knocked on David's open door. "[Hi David, what's wrong? You've been trying to hide the fact that something's bothering you. So what is it?]" She entered the room and sat on the bed next to him.

"[Lots of things, Daisuke beating me way too easy for example. I'm not that out of practice. I know it. But there were so many things I should have noticed before he pulled the gun. Like the weight of the gun in his robe sleeve or the fact he didn't wear his katana.]" He leaned against her. "[I just want to be in Kimber's arms right now. It's been so long since I saw her last.]" He sighed and sat back against the wall.

"[Kimber is all right, David. I spoke to her the other night. My English is getting better. I only asked questions about what she said every other question.]" She giggled lightly and leaned against the wall next to David. "[Don't worry about failing to notice what Daisuke was doing. Everyone makes mistakes every now and again. If you didn't you wouldn't be human. Look on the bright side. Now you'll have friends like Shin and Kyoko to help you out.]"

Opening his eyes, David watched a bug on the window. "[You're right. I can't believe how much you're like Mariko. Now how are your paintings coming? Tell me all about them.]" Ayumi's face brightened as she talked proudly about her art works. They talked until after midnight.

Jerrica sat in her office chair and looked out at the silver building of Misfits Music. She was happy that Evelyn had kept it running. In fact, she was happy that Suzaku had started recording their first album. It was good to see Kimber with a smile on her face. Jerrica had an idea that was bound to put a bigger smile on her face, if she ever showed up that was. As usual, Kimber was late meeting Jerrica in her office.

A soft knock came from the door and Jerrica spun around in her chair. "Come in, Kimb-," she stopped when Shana entered. "Oh, hi Shana. Sorry, I was hoping it was Kimber. She's late again."

Shana laughed as she walked up to the desk. "It's okay. And you should know that Kimber is always late to meetings." Shana laid a portfolio in front of Jerrica. "I wanted to bring my new designs to you. If Kimber agrees to these we can use these for the event. I even did some for Suzaku as a gift."

"What am I agreeing to? What event? And I'm not late, I'm temporally impaired." Kimber walked through the open door. "Sorry I'm late though. We ran over in recording since I was having trouble pronouncing a few words. Singing in Japanese isn't easy." Kimber sat in a chair opposite of Jerrica.

Jerrica slid a flyer across the desk to her younger sister. "It's just a mock up flyer. I wanted to know if you and Suzaku would be interested. If not, don't worry about it."

Kimber read what was on the flyer carefully. "I'll talk to them. But I'm not promising anything. The rest have families who they might want to spend the holidays with. But a free concert on Christmas night is a great idea."

"Here are the designs I did for Suzaku, Kimber." Shana turned a page in the portfolio for her. "Even if you don't perform you can use them for your tour in the new year. Think of them as an early Christmas gifts from me."

Jerrica looked at her watch. "Ah dammit, now I'm late in meeting Rio for dinner. If I don't get going now he's bound to think Riot has clubbed me over the head like some caveman and dragged me off to another deserted island," she mumbled while getting briefcase and keys. She put the flyer in her case. "Kimber, you need a ride?"

"Nah, I was hoping to play catch up with Shana."

Shana began to put her portfolio away. "Sorry, Kimber, I have a dinner date myself. I was just on my way to meet Anthony. I'll call you this weekend. That is, if you're not busy."

"I'll be home all day Saturday, but we're recording all night." Kimber rode the elevator to the parking garage with Shana and Jerrica.

"Okay I'll try to stop by, Kimber." Shana split from Jerrica and Kimber. "Glad you liked the designs, Jerrica."

Jerrica waved good bye to her old friend and pulled out her cell phone to call Rio. Kimber leaned against the roadster and waited. Jerrica finally finished her call and shut off the phone. "Well, Rio was trying to call my cell phone when he couldn't get through to me on my office line. Phone company was doing some repairs. What he wanted to tell me was that our reservations are now cancelled, so he's going to cook me dinner at his place." She turned to her younger sister. "Can I give you a lift home, Kim?"

Kimber got off of the roadster's fender. "Nah, Jeff is picking me up at Misfits Music."

"You're seeing an awful lot of him lately." Jerrica started to get into the car. "Anything I should know that's going on between you two?"

"Not that it is any of your business but Jeff is taking me to meet his new girlfriend."

"What happened to his last one?"

Kimber started laughing softly. "I really shouldn't laugh. She went insane, like actual insanity. Complete with a straight jacket, rubber room, and everything. Jeff won't say why."

"Oh. Well, are you coming to Thanksgiving dinner next week?"

"Definitely, I'm not missing that for anything. Mind if Suzaku joins us? It'll be their first Thanksgiving in the States."

"That was my next question. Well, you take care." She hugged her sister good bye. "And good luck with the album. Bye!" Jerrica pulled out of her private parking space and drove off.

Kimber walked out of the garage to Misfits Music. She waited in front and wished David could've been around for Thanksgiving. Jeff pulled up a few minutes later and handed her a helmet. She put it on and got on the back of his motorcycle. They sped off to Jeff's new girlfriend's apartment.

"[…and in international news, the terrorist group Cobr…]" Roxy turned off the car radio as Kyoko pulled into the parking lot. "I can't believe you got tickets to the Nanase Aikawa concert! Kimber would be so jealous right now."

Kyoko pulled into a parking spot and shut off the engine. "Well, this was supposed to be a surprise for Shin. But since he and David had to go to the Arashikage Clan home I had a free ticket. Besides Stormer said she had a headache and didn't feel like going out." They walked to the entrance and gave the girl the tickets. Kyoko held the door for Roxy. "Anyway, I figured you needed this."

"What I really need is a massage. I'm tired and sore. Just ache all over." Roxy followed Kyoko to their seats. "I hope we can get home soon."

"Oh ye of little faith, everything will turn out fine." Kyoko backhanded Roxy's leg excitedly as the lights began to dim. "It's starting!"

The Arashikage sensei waited for David and Shin on the front porch to his home. David couldn't help but smile at the kind old man. "[It is great to see you again, Uncle. I just wish it was under happier circumstances.]"

"[As do I, David. We will talk inside where prying ears cannot hear us.]" The old man smiled at Shin. "[Again, I'm happy to hear about your pending marriage to Kyoko, Shinobi. She'll make a wonderful wife for you.]"

"[Thank you, Uncle. I just hope I make a good husband for her.]" He followed his Uncle inside to a private office. Shin shut the door behind him and knelt beside David.

A servant poured David and Shin a cup of tea. "[Thank you.]" David sipped the tea and nodded his appreciation.

The sensei smiled as the young woman left the room. "[Would you believe that woman is my great-granddaughter? Where did the time go for this old fool I've become?]" The sensei gave a wry smile and waved his hand, dismissing his thoughts. "[You're not here to listen to me reminisce about my age. You said the man who arranged to have you killed was named Daisuke Matsuura?]" David nodded as he sipped his tea again. "[The Matsuura Clan has been at war with the Arashikage Clan for many generations. For all the years we've been at war, we still don't know much about them. Just that they're very deadly and very dangerous. None of us have been inside the stronghold and lived to tell about it. Tell me what you saw.]"

David gave a detailed description of the areas he had seen. As he described it Shin drew a floor layout. "[David, Kyoko and I are going to confront Daisuke, Uncle. I ask on the behalf of myself and David that you send fellow Arashikage Clan ninjas to help out. We can hope to end this clan war for once and for all. Please agree to this.]"

Sensei Arashikage thought about the request while he sipped his tea while he was in thought. He finally looked at the two men. "[Yes. The Arashikage Clan will help you out. The Matsuura Clan has attacked one who I consider Arashikage in spirit. They will pay in blood. I'll gather a group of our best students, Shinobi. You have my blessings. Good fortune to you both.]"

"That went perfectly, Shin," David spoke into the microphone in the helmet. He rode on the motorcycle next to Shin. "When do you think we should attack?"

Shin let a car pass him up and then got back next to David. "We should train for at least a week first. If Daisuke defeated you that quickly, then we to have to be careful and prepared."

David laughed as he shifted the gears on the motorcycle. "It's not like he beat me with a sword, he used a stun gun on me. But I would feel better if we did train for awhile." He raced the bike past a slow moving car then slowed down again.

"We might as well let Kyoko go with us. I don't think you know this but she's about as deadly as the two of us. Her father trained her well and I taught her a few Arashikage tricks. You know if we don't include her she'll go anyway." Shin pulled up next to David.

"I already figured she'd want to go." David hit a bump and instinctive felt for his katana. It was safely strapped along the side of his bike. "The thing I'm concerned over is how to tell Roxy and the other Misfits that they can't go this time. They're all stubborn as hell. I can't keep an eye on them while I'm fighting Daisuke and his clan."

Shin was silent for a moment. "That's exactly how I feel about Kyoko coming along. But I know she can hold her own just from sparring and training with her. Tell them they can't come with, but don't argue if they insist on coming along. One of the my clan broth—" Shin cut his sentence short. "David! Duck! Now!"

David looked up to see another motorcycle rider coming at him who held a katana out at his neck level. Lowering his head, he hoped it was just enough to avoid the deadly blade. He felt the blade of the oncoming sword bounce off of his helmet. David started to loose control of the bike. He fought for control and pulled to the side of the road. "Shin, you okay?"

"I'm fine. What do you plan to do?"

"Fight, I'm not letting Daisuke get away with this." David strapped the scabbard of the katana to his belt. He made sure the wire connecting the katana and scabbard was attached and out of the way. Shin pulled up next to David who revved the engine and turned the bike around in a semi circle, kicking up gravel and making a dust cloud. He tossed Shin a cell phone midway through the spin. "Call Roxy and tell her to get home. It's not safe right now." David pulled his katana so it was loose in the scabbard and saw that the other motorcyclist was coming at him. David sped off toward him while pulling the katana free.

"David! Are you crazy?! No one has ever fought with swords on a motorcycle!" Shin yelled into the helmet's microphone.

"No. I'm pissed off."

David let the tip of his blade run along the asphalt causing sparks to fly. He maneuvered his motorcycle so he would pass on his right side. As the two bikes got closer, he brought his blade up as the other rider did the same. The two got closer and David braced for the pending shock and impact. The bikes passed each other and the swords were met with a loud clash, sending shockwaves went up his arm and hand. Trying as hard as he could, he had to drop the blade.

Stopping the bike David yanked on the wire making the sword fly back to his hand. It was an old samurai trick he had learned. The blade was scratched up from bouncing on the road. He looked to see that the would be assassin was retrieving his sword but had to get off his bike to do so. David watched the other man rush to get back on his bike. They faced off for a minute then raced towards each other again.

David held his sword up at neck level while he raced forward. The other cyclist once again mimicked him. "God dammit, David, this is suicide!" Shin's voice echoed in the helmet. David ignored his friend and kept rocketing toward his attacker. They were about four feet apart when David ducked his head and lowered his sword. The front wheel of the attacker burst into flying shreds of rubber as the katana connected. The motorcycle went of control and slid on the ground. David spun his motorcycle around. His opponent was beginning to stand when David turned off his motorcycle and leapt off. He immediately burst into a run towards the other man.

He threw off his helmet to the road and ran faster. Traffic was now dodging out of the way for the two combatants. David rushed towards the other man who was now waiting with his sword ready. David took the initiative and attacked first. He brought his sword down while the cyclist blocked quickly but barely. David shoved his opponent back a bit.

The sound of metal clanged into the dusky night sky. Small sparks flew as David and his attacker fought on the side of the road. David finally found an opening and slashed the other cyclist diagonally down chest, starting at his right shoulder. Blood sprayed into the sky as David's jacket was coated with spatter.

The attacker dropped his sword where it clattered quietly on the street. David grabbed the man by his shredded jacket and roughly removed the helmet to find he was still breathing. Fury he hadn't felt in a long time raged in David's eyes. His voice was a demonic growl when he finally found the words. "[Daisuke Matsuura sent you, didn't he assassin?]"

The man's smile was a bloody one. "[Yes, I die knowing that soon he will kill you.]" He wheezed a shaky breath, and then opened his mouth to say something but only his dying breath rattled out. He cursed to himself and threw the dead man's body down in frustration. David closed the man's eyes then picked up the man's sword and shattered it on the ground.

Shin rode up carrying David's helmet. "We have to get the hell outta here. Someone is sure to have called the police."

"I was just thinking that myself." David began to put on his helmet, but paused when he noticed something. Where his attacker had first hit him, a piece of the helmet was cut off. He put it back on and ran to his bike. He revved the engine and took off with one wheel in the air. "We'll take the back roads."

"That's just what I was thinking." Shin was quiet was for a long time. They were on a vacant street when he finally spoke again. "David, are you okay?"

"No. I'm not. I'm fucking far from okay." Anger and rage still coursed through his veins.

Roxy paced back and forth in the living room. She was annoyed that she had to leave the concert but more than that she was worried for David and Shin. Shin was vague in telling her what was happening. Looking at the clock, she figured they should have been back by now.

"Sit down, Roxy. I'm going to get whiplash watching you pace!" Pizzazz moved over on the couch for her friend. "David and Shin can take care of themselves. So I wouldn't worry too much."

Letting her shoulders slump, Roxy sat down next to her long time friend and chewed her thumbnail. "You didn't hear how Shin sounded on the phone. His voice was worried and I could hear David speeding away on his motorcycle. Then Shin yelled and shut off the cell phone. Kyoko saw the look of concern on my face and we left."

"Here you go, Roxy." Kyoko brought her some hot tea. "It'll relax you a bit."

"Thanks." Roxy sipped the tea and put it on the coffee table. She was about to lean back when she heard the revving and shutting off of motorcycle engines. "It's them!" Roxy got up and ran past Kyoko and then Stormer who was waiting in the door way.

Roxy ran to the back door to greet her friends. David was walking to the house visibly angry about something. Shin was talking to David's back trying to calm him down. By the time they had gotten within earshot David went silent. When he reached the light from the house everyone could see the spray of dried blood on his jacket. As he passed Roxy she started to open her mouth. "Not now, Rox. I'm not in the mood to talk." He went up the stairs not speaking to anyone he passed.

Shin touched Roxy's arm. "Listen, he's really upset. He did something tonight that he's very ashamed of. Just let him be and he'll come to us when he's ready."

"What did he do?"

"I can't tell you, Mariko, that's for him to say. If you don't mind ladies, gentlemen, I'm going home and getting very drunk." Shin turned to Kyoko. "I'll call you in the morning. We need to start training right away. We attack the stronghold in a week."

Mariko watched Shin leave and The Misfits went back to the living room. Ayumi pulled on her mother's sleeve. She whispered in her mother's ear. "[I know my English isn't good, Mother. But I know what David did. He said that he had to kill a man tonight. A man who was sent as an assassin to kill both David and Shin that is why he's so upset.]"

"[I know, honey. I know. Hiroshi had that same look David did the first time he had to kill.]"

The door to David's room opened and he squinted as the light was turned on. "It's too damn dark in here." Jetta walked over to her friend and set four bottles of sake' down on the nightstand.

"Sheila, go away. I don't want to talk to anyone." David sat on the window bench and went back to looking at the stars.

Jetta shut the door to his room. "Oh no you don't you're not goin' to play poor little David tonight. Tonight you and I are havin' a drinkin' contest." She gave David a cup which he refused by pushing it away. "Take the bloody cup or I'll go to the press and show we're not dead!"

"Fine!" David yanked the cup from Jetta's hand. She filled to his cup's brim and he drained it quickly. "So why are you really here?"

Jetta downed her second cup and refilled his. "I recognized that look on your face. I had it back in England. The look of bein' disappointed with one's self. The look of not bein' certain with yourself anymore." She brushed some hair out of her face and locked her eyes with his. "Who did you kill, David?"

David turned from her quickly. "It was….I don't want to talk about it." He drank the cup of sake' she held and watched Jetta in the window. "Sheila, leave me alone."

"Nope." Jetta drank straight from the sake' bottle. "Sorry. No can do, luv. I'm not leavin' until you either tells me or you're drunk off your ass. Personally I'm rootin' for drunk off your ass. Never seen you drunk before."

"Alright! It was an assassin that Daisuke sent after me and Shin. I killed him with the katana I got in Kyoto. I left the body in the middle of the road. I'm probably a wanted murderer now." David then opened a new bottle of sake' and started drinking. He drank about half the bottle.

Jetta pulled David from the window bench and sat him on his bed. She took the bottle from him and wrapped her arm around his shoulders. "It's okay David, it was self defense. He attacked you. Everythin' is goin' to be just fine." He quickly hugged the British woman, sobbing softly on her shoulder as she just held him.

Pizzazz, Eric, Roxy, Stormer and Mariko were playing a game of poker when they heard the sound of old English drinking songs coming from upstairs. "I swear, David has absolutely no alcohol tolerance," Stormer muttered to no one in particular making Roxy laugh harder than she wanted.

TO BE CONCLUDED IN "ENDGAME SACRIFICES"

PART 3 OF PULL BACK THE CURTAIN