Chapter 26: Unwanted Guests
Observing Mika and Eva perched in a tree, one could witness Soifon and Kakashi seated by the fire, rummaging through their bags for food. 'Can they not hasten their pace?' Eva queried, to which Mika responded calmly, 'Patience is key.' He leaned in closer as Soifon sweetened her tea.
As Eva sighed impatiently at Soifon enjoying her rice ball, Mika assured her, 'It seems the wait is nearly over.' He observed the two companions by the fire consuming their meal. 'Our primary target is the female,' Mika remarked, contemplating how to handle Kakashi as Danzo's instructions were unclear.
Separating Kakashi from Soifon seemed challenging, but Mika suggested a plan to Eva once the pair had finished their meal.
'I have a strategy in mind for when they are done eating,' he revealed, capturing Eva's attention. 'Please share your idea,' Eva urged, prompting Mika to elaborate on their forthcoming actions.
Upon narrowing her eyes, Eva expressed her desire to confront Soifon, although she refrained from voicing it and simply nodded.
She mentioned, 'I'll go get in position, good luck,' before utilizing flash step to move from their concealing location to prepare to ambush Kakashi once he was away from the small captain.
Mika responded with a nod as he redirected his attention to Kakashi and Soifon, who had concluded their meals. 'Alright, it's show time,' he declared, taking a deep breath and awaiting the opportune moment.
《 Soifon's P.O.V 》
As Soifon sat across from Kakashi, sipping her tea and only consuming half of her meal, Kakashi offered, 'You know you should eat more than five bites,' while observing the captain with a raised eyebrow.
Soifon nonchalantly shrugged as she set her cup down, conveying her typical minimalistic eating habits by replying, 'If you say so,' upon which Kakashi stood up from his position.
'I'll be back, I have to use the bathroom,' Kakashi announced before departing, leaving Soifon alone by the fire. 'Okay,' the petite woman acknowledged as she stood up, disposing the plastic and paper into her bag to discard later.
Upon realizing her fatigue, the captain released a sigh and extended her arms, contemplating the idea of freshening up before retiring for the night.
She retrieved her Zanpakuto and proceeded towards the nearby running creek from the campsite. Soifon observed her trembling hands with a confused expression, speculating on the peculiar sensation.
'What the hell?' she murmured, momentarily considering the notion of the Sharingan. Dismissing the thought, she attributed it to mere exhaustion.
Removing her captain's coat and draping it over a rock, Soifon began to unfasten her Soul Reaper uniform until a noise caught her attention from behind.
Letting out a sigh before turning around to see who it was, 'Kakashi, if that's you peeking behind that bush,' she called.
'I swear I will stab you with Suzumebachi,' she threatened upon hearing about how the gray-haired man can be a slight pervert, although nobody needed to tell her that since she saw the book that he reads.
Soifon had to leap from the spot where she was at when a red and blue blast headed her way, watching as the blast slammed a bit behind where she was at.
The captain's eyes narrowed as she looked to where the attack had come from, glancing towards where her sword was, lying on a rock. She had to jump back and block a kick that was aimed at her head.
Soifon bit her lip as the force knocked her back a bit, and she pushed the figure away, causing them to land a few feet away from each other.
The female captain glared at the male with brown hair and green eyes, wearing a white and green jacket with a headband on the top of his head, who stood in front of her.
"Who the hell are you?" Soifon demanded, glancing towards her sword a few feet away before focusing back on the man.
"You do not need to know that," he replied, lifting his finger to point at her. Soifon clenched her hands at her sides and cursed her body for wanting to give out at the wrong time.
"You're coming with me, little one," Mika said, his green eyes watching the small captain starting to sway due to the sleeping pills slowly kicking in her system.
"I am not," Soifon said as she backed away, her head spinning and her body threatening to give out, searching for an escape route.
Upon taking a step towards her, Mika shook his head and warned, 'If you do not accompany me, I may have to resort to the use of force,' narrowly evading an incoming foot to his face.
The captain, consumed by a surge of anger, leaped at Mika without understanding his intentions or reasons for wanting her, firmly expressing her defiance by stating, 'Good luck with that.' With irritation flickering in his eyes, Mika attempted to grab the captain, but she swiftly maneuvered away using flash-step, eluding his grasp.
Observing the situation unfold, Soifon stood her ground and awaited Mika's next move, to which he sternly remarked, 'You have chosen the difficult path,' before launching a blue and red fireball towards her by extending his arm forward.
In response, the captain evaded the initial fireball only to find herself bombarded with multiple subsequent fireballs, forcing her into constant evasive movements. 'Damn,' Soifon thought as one of the blasts seared her skin upon impact in her left shoulder.
Soifon winced as she applied pressure to her wound caused by Mika, who did not allow her enough time to process before attacking her again with fireballs, forcing her to retreat.
'I suggest surrendering, little girl!' Mika yelled at Soifon, who flash-stepped away to a rock, where she felt sweat forming on her forehead due to the tension.
She closed her eyes and had to jump off the rock to avoid being hit by another blast that shattered it. Soifon criticized herself for continuously retreating, but Mika was not leaving any openings.
Approaching behind Mika, she raised her sword, whispering, 'Sting all enemies to death, Suzumebachi,' as she activated its shikai form. Mika turned to Soifon and taunted, 'Little captain, how much longer can you endure?' as he observed her somewhat unsteady movements.
"STOP trying to give out on me, body," Soifon growled at herself, her vision blurred. "Are you already feeling the effects of the sleeping pills? I must say I'm impressed by your strength." Mika's words caught the woman's attention. Soifon looked at him sharply. "What?" she demanded.
"I had slipped some sleeping pills into your drinks while you were preoccupied," Mika smirked as the raven-haired woman clenched her fists. "You'll pay for that," Soifon vowed.
As she thought about Kakashi's whereabouts, she didn't have the luxury of time to fret, even as she attempted to use flash stepping to evade Mika's attack.
The confrontation ensued, with both of them exchanging kicks and hits. After a strenuous exchange, Soifon landed on her feet, panting, while crouching down to observe Mika a short distance away, breathing heavily with visible cuts and bruises. "Not bad, little one," Mika complimented, wiping blood off his lip before noticing a black mark shaped like a butterfly appearing on his chest.
Upon observing blood dripping from the tip of the needle on Soifon's finger, he inquired with a shocked expression, 'What's this?' Soifon, noticing the impressed look in Mika's green eyes, smirked before stating, 'Nigeki Kessatsu is the first step; a second hit in the same place will result in instant death.' She then swiftly leaped and vanished into thin air, reappearing to strike him in the arm.
'If I were you, I wouldn't allow myself to be hit in the same spot,' she taunted, evading a fireball he shot at her. Mika, glaring at her, retorted, 'It won't come to that.' As he watched the blood drip from his arm, revealing the same butterfly mark, 'Tsk… looks like you won't –' Soifon's taunting was interrupted as her body stumbled slightly.
Upon approaching the small captain's falling figure, Mika inquired, 'What was that, little one?' Soifon reacted with a whispered exclamation, 'What the hell?' She then noticed a senbon protruding from her stomach, colored purple from a mixture of blood. Soifon, biting her lip, pondered how Mika managed to plant the senbon in her stomach.
'Surprised?' Mika asked, sporting a smirk. 'I was taken aback when you struck me with your claw for the first time. I am certain the poison has already begun to flow through your veins due to your movements,' he remarked.
'Moreover, I am aware that your sword's ability involves poison, so it is advisable not to move too much, as it will accelerate its spread.' Soifon found herself collapsing to her knees, wincing in pain. 'Damn it, I lowered my guard,' she thought.
She proceeded to pull out the needle and discard it, then readied Suzumebachi in her hand to stab her arm in an attempt to counteract the poison. However, before she could finish her sentence, she lost consciousness.
Upon catching the small captain in his arms, Mika remarked, 'You performed admirably despite your diminutive size,' before lifting her and throwing her over his shoulder, coinciding with Eva's arrival wearing a grin. 'You appear tired, Mika,' Eva quipped, surveying Mika and Soifon.
'Please refrain from commenting, Eva; she displayed considerable resistance,' Mika responded. 'Given her combat prowess, she likely holds a rank of Jonin or higher.' Eva, rolling her eyes, teased, 'Defeated by a petite woman, I see?'
She tailed Mika back to the leaf with Soifon draped over his shoulder, questioning, 'And Kakashi?' to which Eva, leaping onto the tree after him, confidently stated, 'I managed to subdue him. Despite his initial obliviousness, he presented a decent challenge. Nevertheless, once I outwitted him, he stood no chance against me,' she smirked.
Upon receiving Mika's nod with a smirk, he replied affirmatively while quickening his pace with Eva following behind. He suggested, 'Let us return her to Lord Danso,' as they both chuckled and headed back.