When Minako arrived and rang the bell at SunTzu's apartment he and Rei had napped in on the sofa.
So much for staying up to counter Jetlag.
SunTzu jumped up and opened the door for their friend and the happily grinning Blonde presented a paper bag with various foodstuffs to him.
"Welcome back! As promised here are the Ingredients for your famous French Toast."
That said she stepped inside, and gave SunTzu a kiss on the cheek.
"Where's Rei? That spoiled bitch is sleeping off her Jetlag?"
"Who you're calling spoiled, you hoe?" Rei answered from the sofa, wiping the sleep out of her eyes.
"Ah, just like I assumed. I'm not gonna sleep till tonight because of Jetlag." The blonde mocked the black haired and walked up to the sofa. Mina leaned down and gave Rei a kiss on the forehead. Rei smiled.
"Welcome back Besty. From what you wrote you had the time of your life."
"It was a dream, for real. I have to tell you." Rei said and motioned on the sofa for Minako to sit down.
"Darling, can you start cooking, please?" She said to SunTzu with a pleading voice before she began to tell her holiday stories to Minako.
While SunTzu prepared Breakfast the girls where endlessly chatting.
The pilot didn't care as he was concentrating on his task, eager on making these French Toasts the best he ever did.
He also prepared the table and made coffee and when everything was done he told the two Senshi to sit down.
SunTzu put a plate full with fluffy Brioche Cinnamon French Toast, infused with chocolate milk and decorated with fresh fruit on the table and the girls began to beam.
"My god, this smells delicious!" Minako stated, almost drooling over the golden brown delicacy.
They ate and although he didn't have time to properly let them rest in milk and other ingredients SunTzu was quite satisfied with the outcome, they probably were the best French Toasts he ever did and the girls loved them.
"Like already stated, if you don't want him anymore, I'll take him, Rei." Minako stated grinning happily satisfied between bites.
"Not a chance, bitch." Rei replied with a superior smile and then making a kissing motion towards her smiling best friend.
After they finished and he cleaned the table and the kitchen, while the two women continued their seemingly endless chatting, SunTzu took a shower.
As soon as Rei heard the shower she changed topics.
"Minako, I think I'm at a place of no return. When he brought me to that rose petals covered hotel room in Venice I was expecting him to propose to me. And I'm afraid I would have said yes in an instant. What's happening with me? Me, Rei Hino, the man hating independent woman I used to be."
Minako giggled.
"Oh Rei. That's what loves does to you. And your relationship is a bit more… adrenaline packed than others so it's normal that the highs are way more intensive and you guys are already that close."
"Great, no i don't want to even think about the lows. But still, it's crazy. When you remember how things where with Yuichiro, all these on and off relationships before we finally got it right."
"Yes, these ons and offs and that relationship you had with that sexy blonde goddess." Minako joked about the brief carry-on the two Senshi and best friends had when they were nineteen years old.
"Which was awesome but didn't work out."
"Mainly because a certain black haired couldn't let go of her Ex. And now you are here Rei. Now you have someone you love as much as you loved Yuichiro."
"I know that. But I have fear of loosing him in this war. And that holds me back."
"You think it's different for him? Even if it wasn't for that war, you're a Sailor Senshi and don't life a live that is exactly safe. Don't be so hard with your love live, at least after you'll become Senator. Which is a matter of time if we're being honest."
Rei didn't answer but Minako could tell she was thinking about these words, judging from the look on her face.
SunTzu came out of the bathroom, refreshed as his phone on the table in front of the sofa began to ring.
Rei took it and had a look on the caller ID.
"It's Mamoru." She held the phone up and SunTzu took it and answered the call.
"Your Majesty?"
"Good Morning SunTzu. Usagi told me you're back. Listen, I need to talk with you two, when can you be at the palace?"
"Uh. I guess soon. We just finished breakfast with Minako."
"Good, tell her to come along as well. The more Senshi the better."
"I will. See you soon then."
"Yeah, hurry please."
SunTzu put his phone down.
"The King wants to talk to us at the Palace Rei."
"Probably because the mess we fabricated in Milan."
"Yeah."
"I'm sorry for you guys."
"Oh, he told that you should tag along too Mina."
"Me? I don't have time. I have a Meet&Greet at noon in Akihabara."
"Royal Order."
The blonde beauty let out a bigh sigh.
"Fine, just let me call my manager. This damn war will make me loose my fans soon."
Early noon the Pilot and the two Senshi arrived at the palace and entered the Crystal Tower, heading straight to the throne room.
King Endymion and a still quite tired looking Neo Queen Serenity were sitting on their thrones. Two Royal guards were standing guard near the door.
The trio bowed down and SunTzu rose to speak.
"You asked for us King Endymion?"
"Yes, I did. I fear your actions in Milan could have an undesired effect in Tokyo."
"About that destruction my King…"
"No, it's not that. It's regarding the safety of Sailor Mars."
"My safety? King Endymion, you know I can very well take care of myself." Rei chimed in.
"I do know that. But as for now, Sailor Venus, can I trust you with staying around Sailor Mars for some extra protection?" Endymion looked over to Minako.
"Of course." Rei was more dear to the Senshi of Love than even her fans and Mamoru seemed to be really serious about this.
"I fear of retribution. A team of Commandos already is guarding the shrine, while undercover."
"What about me King. I'm perfectly able of guarding Rei as well."
"I'm aware of that but I have a different… task for you."
"King?"
Mamoru sighed, he didn't like what he had to ask the loyal Warrior to do.
"Follow me SunTzu. I'll brief you in my private quarters."
SunTzu and Rei looked at each other, eyebrows raised. SunTzu shrugged his shoulders.
King Endymion stood up, looked to Usagi and she nodded supportive with pressed together lips. Her husband answered with a nod and motioned SunTzu to follow him.
The Pilot waited to fall in behind his King and and before he began to follow Endymion, he briefly took Rei's hand and kissed it gently.
SunTzu followed Endymion into the elevator to the Royal Quarters and while the stepped into the Royal Living Quarters the King's clothes transformed from his formal armor into a much more casual look of suit and shirt without a tie.
"Nice trick your Majesty." SunTzu commented.
"I'd rather go with telekinesis as you're able to do. And cut the formal stuff. As your friend I wish I wouldn't have to ask you what I'm about to ask you now."
They went into Mamoru's study and the black haired man hung his jacket around his seat and motioned SunTzu to sit.
Mamoru pulled out two glasses and a decanter with an amber colored liquid.
"I know it's not even noon but I'm sure it will help with you Jetlag." The young king poured scotch whisky into the two glasses and handed one to SunTzu.
"By the way, how bad is your jetlag? Are you fit enough for combat."
The King took a sip from his glass and SunTzu did likewise.
"Could be worse." A pause followed from SunTzu. "Mamoru, if I maybe talk freely?" SunTzu asked the king and he nodded.
"Cut the bullshit. What is you want me to do?"
Mamoru took a moment, it was clear that he wasn't to happy with the task he had to trust SunTzu with.
"As you know, I do care deeply for Rei, that why I fear that the Yakuza will retaliate. Interpol got many of the mobsters in Milan as well as all over the world following obtaining the data Rei and you secured."
"That is a possibility for sure. And I think we should prevent that."
"Exactly. And this were you come into play. See, an investigation from the law enforcement takes time and I don't think we have that. On the other side I cannot sent Commandos freely into another country and arrest their citizens, criminals or not. And we both know these individuals would resist which would probably lead to their deaths."
"I see. And I think I know where this is going."
Mamoru took another long sip of whisky.
"I don't like it but I guess I have to ask you to sent a message and neutralize a few suspects. Of course it's a more than risky operation. I cannot guarantee that you'll succeed or come home to put it objective. And the palace will deny any involvement in your doing should you get captured or die.
SunTzu nodded slowly, deep in thought.
"Killing people is not exactly the Jedi Way."
"I know this SunTzu. But you do it to protect Rei. And the alternative would be the Outer Senshi, if they'd be up for it. And I think at least Setsuna and Hot…"
"I'll do it. Keep the doctor and the kid out of it."
Mamoru nodded again, taking another sip.
"Thank you. Really though."
"I do this for Rei. But don't let the Jedi know. They won't like it." He stated with a severe tone in his voice. "Where do I get the target data."
"Ami has it. Intelligence is involved and will support you."
SunTzu nodded and the two man finished their drinks in silence.
SunTzu left the Crystal tower and while he was on his way to the intelligence wing inside the eastern wing of the palace he pulled out his holo communicator and dialed up Hotaru.
"Hey SunTzu."
"Hi Kiddo. Sorry to disturb you. You got a minute."
"Give me a sec."
SunTzu heard a short muffled conversation and then Hotaru was back on the line.
Wait, did I just hear a boy's voice there?
"What's up boss? Why you calling?"
SunTzu forced a smile.
"I… I just wanted to ask personally and not with a text how you are. And how things are going on Coruscant?"
"I'm doing great, just having lunch in the city. I made some friends here. But don't worry, the important workshops are over. AICA is beginning to miss you, I'll guess we'll be heading home soon so."
Hopefully just friends.
SunTzu paused a second.
"That's good. I'm glad to hear that."
"Is there something else?"
"No. I just wanted to check up on my trainee, that's all. I'll see you soon, alright?"
"Sure, looking forward. Bye SunTzu."
"Bye Firefly, take care of yourself."
SunTzu sighed as he put his communicator back into his pocket and decided to have a cigarette first before he would check in with Ami and her staff.
On Coruscant Hotaru skeptically looked at her communicator for a few moments after the call ended. SunTzu seemed strange. She looked up to her date.
She knew, that she probably would break a heart today.
"Listen, I'm sorry but I think I have to leave for earth today."
In the Royal Court, sitting on his favorite bench SunTzu was smoking a cigarette, deeply sunken into thoughts.
While his mission wasn't something a Jedi would do, it definitely was for the greater good of the Kingdom and the world, if not more. And of Rei and that made it worth doing it, as grim as the task was. Especially since he didn't want Hotaru to be involved in it. The loyal little fairy of death wouldn't hesitate to take on any mission the Royals would task her with. And her mother also.
"It's funny, I haven't seen you for days, but once I walk past this bench I find you sitting there smoking a cigarette. Still not listening to my admonition, that smoking is harmful."
Speaking about the Devil, although it's a sublime one.
SunTzu turned around and nodded towards the dark green haired foster mother of Hotaru.
"Good day Setsuna. I'm glad that I get to see you. I think we have to talk about something."
"I hope it's about quitting smoking?"
She mockingly told and walked over, as he extinguished his cigarette.
He observed her as she sat down, wearing a mauve colored tweed Chanel costume and a white blouse.
"Actually it's about Hotaru."
"Really? What is it then?" The oldest Senshi asked surprised.
"I think she is having, you know, dates."
Setsuna broke into a fit of laughter and needed to tries to stop laughing before she could speak again.
"Oh my… SunTzu, she's sixteen years old. Of course she is meeting people. And not only friends. You know how teenagers are. I mean she already had boyfriends."
She laughed again as SunTzu blushed in embarrassment.
"I have to honor your worries about her though." She stopped to laugh and glanced at SunTzu with a warm smile. "Thank you for trying to watch out for her."
The Senshi looked at the pilot again, except the embarrassment there was something else that bothered him.
"SunTzu?" The Guardian looked over to her, he was looking tired. "There is something else going on, isnt it?"
SunTzu sighed and made a slow single nodded.
"Setsuna, listen. Your Hotaru's legal custodian so I want to ask you for a favor."
She looked at him with a questioning look on her face but then nodded.
"Hotaru loves flying, as you know. So, in the hypothetical case something would happen to me, I want you to make sure she finishes her training."
Setsuna stared at him for a second.
"What are you up to SunTzu?"
"A special task from the King himself. I guess it's better not to talk about it. It's not something one should be proud of." He paused for a moment. "If something should happen to me, I took the liberty to make sure Hotaru is financially cared off. Feel free to use parts of the money for an adequate trainer replacement for me. If Haruka wouldn't take on the job."
"That's… another very honorable thing to do."
"Hotaru is worth it. And she deserves it."
SunTzu put his hands on his thighs and stood up.
"I have to get going, I need to meet up with the Intelligence Service. Have a nice day Setsuna."
He began to walk off and Setsuna's gaze followed him as he left. He had walked a few steps when she stood up as well.
"SunTzu. If you get injured I'll be here to patch you up. Don't forget that."
He turned around and gave her an appreciative nod before he walked off.
Her gaze still followed SunTzu as he moved away.
"Damn troublemaker." Setsuna whispered to herself and shook her head, sporting a wry smile.
When SunTzu arrived at the Intelligence Service office Ami just had left for lunch but Agent Smith was there and briefed him.
Various targets, a smaller office downtown and a mansion a bit outside of the city were the locations he was supposed to strike at.
The agent also told SunTzu that there was a small something for him waiting at the armory. Armory was informed that SunTzu was allowed to take whatever he needed to finish the job but he was advised to rather not take standard Taskforce weaponry. Intelligence would also support him as much as they could without being traceable. At least a connection to the Tokyo Metropolitan Police would make sure that the police wouldn't trace the hits back to the Palace. Also a mean of transportation had been arranged for him.
As he headed towards the armory, down in the same wing, Rei called him and asked where he was. Since he had plenty of time before nightfall still he asked her if they could meet up for a cigarette although Rei was already busy with her work again.
A few minutes later he joined his raven haired girlfriend at the bench he left earlier.
He sat down next to her and lighted a cigarette with his zippo.
"You look tired."
"Must be the jetlag."
Rei nodded slowly, frowning.
"Of course. So you gonna tell me what Mamoru wants you to do?"
"I guess it's better you don't know."
"I see. I can figure tho. And I don't know if I'm okay with it. Or if your… watchdogs are. You're too good of a human for some things."
"I have my reasons to be okay with it."
"Well. If you say so." She nodded again with a stern face.
"And what if something happens to you?" She seemed to be quite calm but SunTzu knew that deep down she was really angry. Her calmness just was the proof. Quietly she extinguished her cigarette.
"Then it happens while I'm doing something with purpose."
I'm doing this for you Rei. Otherwise I wouldn't do it at all. I'm a pilot and a soldier. Not a hitman.
"Fine. Since I'm just gonna hear no Promises in War when I tell you to come back, I'll rather get back to work. Guess I'll see you around. Hopefully." She said calmly and straightened her outfit. Under her calm demeanor SunTzu could feel her fiery anger.
As she took the first step SunTzu grabbed her hand and pulled her around, pulling her into an embrace.
She clenched her fists and held them up at his chest but then opened them and let her head slump on his chest.
"Don't you dare die on some stupid mission Mamoru asked you of."
"How many times do I have to tell you, bad weeds grow tall."
"I'm starting to hate it when you say this. Why can't you just say, Sure Rei, I'll be back safe and sound at nine pm latest and feed you Fugu Sushi after I'll give you a foot massage?"
SunTzu's mouth curled up.
"Don't worry, part of my reason to do this is because I want to get back to you safe."
He began to stroke her head before he leaned down and kissed her head.
"You can tell Mamoru I'll burn down this palace if something happens to you."
Both smiled at each other wryly before they kissed.
After a bit longer of embracing each other Rei left back to her work and SunTzu went to the Armory.
Bob, the head of the Armory was already waiting for him.
"Don't know what you're up to son but they dropped a bullet proof suit, and I mean suit like a tuxedo, for you. The Royal Tailor is ordered to tailor it to exact measurements. Meanwhile I'm still waiting for more repeater blasters."
Bob called the Tailor and the man came over immediately, talking the measurements and the suit to finish it. SunTzu was told that the suit would be ready in the evening.
At least Mamoru had spent some money on his safety.
SunTzu then went over the armory room and gathered which weapons and ammo he needed and put them into a large black bag.
He took the bag and borrowed a Humvee at the motor pool, taking it to the range at the military base and spent the afternoon training.
On the way back he saw the Voyager coming back from a training mission and he briefly went over to the air base to say Hi to his two wingwomen over a coffee.
As he left Haruka leaned in to Michiru.
"He's acting strange today. Although from what he told Italy had been great. But something's up with him."
"Yes, I wonder what irritates him."
SunTzu went back to the armory and received the bow measure cut suit from the Royal Tailor.
A black two piece, where Kevlar brins had been incorporated for safety against pistol bullets and cut and thrust weapons.
The suit fitted like a glove.
He packed everything up and went to the main gate.
The guard handed him a car key and motioned towards a black Audi S7 with tinted glass.
SunTzu stored everything in the car and went home to change clothes.
Before he left his apartment he sent a voice message to Rei, that just said "I love you."
He stepped out of his apartment, shortly after nightfall, wearing the black suit and a black fitted shirt and a black tie.
Stored in his jacket was a silenced USP-Pistol in Caliber .45. and in his appendix holster he carried a subcompact Glock 26.
Both guns, including the extra magazine for each were concealed. As was the black sheathed Tanto Knife that was hidden in his jacket as well. Not exactly a light saber but at least it fit the place.
SunTzu went to a burger shack in Shinjuku, near the famous Kabukichō-Red Light District.
If I'm gonna survive tonight, i really have to get back to proper eating and exercising again.
He smiled. This didn't mean to make his potential last meal any worse.
On the table next to him a group of young women, around twenty years old, were having dinner as well and from their chatting it seemed that they thought the black clothed foreigner on the next table wasn't able to understand Japanese or they wouldn't so openly talk about how handsome they thought the westerner was.
SunTzu thought that the Senshi probably had been behaving the same when they were younger and gathered together.
I hope the Senshi had good times like this as well.
SunTzu finished his meal, cleaned his mouth with a napkin, and got up, getting rid of his tray.
On his way out he passed the table with the five young woman and shot them a wink, which made the girls giggle nervously and blush.
Clouds were gathering over the city, but it wasn't hot and humid, rather the temperature on this august night dropped down, a herald of the storm that this night would hit the whole Japanese main island.
SunTzu stepped out into a night where the air already seemed to be charged with electricity and put on his black leather gloves before he pulled out a cigarette and lighted it, all while he walked towards the red light district.
For Rei. And for a safe life together. One day.
After a few minutes into walking in the concrete jungle, lighted up by flashy neon lights, overrun with tourists and locals looking for a good time in the restaurants, soap massage parlors, bars and Love hotels, he came to an Yakuza run Information Center.
These places basically were trading hubs if one needed information regarding illegal pleasures like drugs or prostitutes.
An obese man, at the end of his forties, and with loosing hair, dressed in a brownish-green suit, left the center and went into a dark alley to smoke a cigarette and make a call.
SunTzu began to smile, he definitely remembered that ugly fucker, the man was one of his targets, and he just presented himself as the perfect target.
Why do these guys all have the same horrible taste of fashion?
The man just had ended his call when SunTzu entered the alley and the Yakuza thought that the European man just got lost as SunTzu motioned with his hands where to go. Of course the Yakuza thought SunTzu wasn't able to speak Japanese.
With a friendly smile and while telling him in Japanese that the Gaijin wasn't worth the dogshit under his shoes with a polite tone in his voice, the man pointed behind him, behind the alley were some bars.
SunTzu bowed down friendly and the man replied the bow and told SunTzu to suck a donkey cock, again in his most friendly sounding voice.
Just as the newly appointed hitman passed the man he swiftly grabbed inside his jacket, draw his Tanto and pushed it into the man's left ear.
The man was dead before he hit the floor and after cleaning his blade on the dead man's shirt SunTzu dragged the heavy body into a dark corner.
SunTzu had to admit that this cold blooded murder was easier than expected, but after all this guy was a major player in running underage prostitution over Maid Cafes in the city.
SunTzu smoothed his suit and stepped out of the alley again, heading back to the Information center.
He entered the small office and went up to a desk where a black haired woman, she could have been twenty as well as forty, SunTzu couldn't tell, was smiling at him and bowed down.
In broken English she asked him how she could help him.
"I'm looking for something to… relax me."
The woman nodded and turned around, walked to one of two doors behind the desk and knocked before she entered.
She exchanged a few words with a man in there and then went back to the counter.
The woman smiled and motioned him towards the room, which door was still open.
Two middle aged, smeary looking guys in ugly suits were sitting on a desk and smoking. The ashtray in front of them was overflowing and the air reeked of cold smoke and sweat.
There was a door leading to the second office as well.
They both nodded towards SunTzu with neutral looks on their faces as he entered and motioned him to sit down before they asked what he was looking for.
"A young maid fulfilling all your wishes? Or a nice soapy massage with Happy End? Bets?" One of the mobsters asked.
"Actually I was looking for something to relax and make my stay in your awesome town even better."
The man smiled, showing crooked teeth and pointed to SunTzu.
"I see. I can help you Mister Longnose."
He nodded towards the other guy and that man stood up and went to wall safe. He opened it and pulled out a few bags and dropped them on the table.
SunTzu took a look at the bags with Marijuana, two white powders, probably Coke and Speed and a bag with pills.
"So, what do you want my friend?"
"Your scalp." SunTzu replied as he draw his silenced pistol and shot the spokesman into his temple, the second man's jaw dropped and SunTzu jumped up from his seat and double tapped the man with one bullet in the face and one in the chest.
Contrary to belief a silencer doesn't completely silence the shoot and the bullet, if they were not special subsonic ammo, made a lot of sound breaking the barrier of sound as well.
SunTzu didn't loose any time so and rushed through the door into the next room.
There were two guys inside and one just draw an .38 revolver but was shot down with two shots to the chest before he could even take aim. The second guy, a younger man in a white suit pounced at SunTzu with a tanto drawn. SunTzu blocked the blade with his pistol, undergoing a strange déjà-vu, except that this guy wasn't nearly as strong as the one he encountered in Milan.
He kicked his knee into the guy's guts and then punched the blade away.
The Guardian was raising his pistol to end the younger man but he at least was determined and jumped at SunTzu again, slashing at his throat.
SunTzu dodged with a step back and sideways as the next slash followed immediately.
The young man did something wrong and had his foot directly under the barrel of SunTzu's Heckler&Koch Pistol.
The caliber fourty five bullet impacted into the man's foot and ripped two toes apart.
The young guy buckled and this was enough for SunTzu to end it with a flat contact shot to the man's left right head side.
Blood, bone and brain tissue spewed on the wall behind the man.
But he was dead immediately and died fighting. SunTzu had at least granted the junior Yakuza a noble death.
SunTzu took a deep breather and checked the room if anyone was hiding somewhere.
The room was empty so he left through the door to the front desk and as he opened the door, pistol in hand, ready to scare the desk clerk away he was stopped dead in his tracks.
The woman laid slumped over the desk, blood was dripping on the table.
SunTzu raised his pistol and carefully scanned the room but it was completely empty.
He walked up to the dead woman and saw that below her neck colored tattoos began.
A Yakuza as well.
Next to her on the floor lay a pistol and she obviously had to try to call someone up as an opened book with numbers and data laid next to the telephone beside her. She only was able to type one digit. Good thing she couldn't warn anyone.
SunTzu lifted her head and saw the cause of her death.
Something had left a deep slashing wound in her forehead.
SunTzu looked up again and out of the office.
Whoever did this probably saved my ass, the woman with her gun could have been a nasty surprise for me.
SunTzu checked the ammo on his pistol and then stowed the gun in its shoulder holster again, still feeling the warmth of the silencer.
The black note book beside the dead female Yakuza caught his eye and he took it.
Leaving the office and quickly disappearing back into the crowds and alleys in Kabukichō, he didn't notice the two black crows sitting on the roof of a building nearby, watching him.
He went back to his car and drove to another part of Shinjuku. In front of a Ramen Shop he opened the note book and flew over a few sides.
It was mostly foreign customer data, contacts but at the back of the book, marked in red he found Japanese names, numbers and addresses.
Some of them were buisness addresses and had been commented with call when in trouble.
SunTzu snapped the small book close and began to grin. Why just hit up two target sites.
A few moments later he stopped the Audi in front of a two story soap massage parlor in Shibuya. This secret brothel was not only Yakuza run but also almost exclusively visited by Yakuza members.
SunTzu wished AICA was around to scan how many people were inside, of course he could tap into the force but using the force for this kind of job wasn't something he wanted to do as it would be another very deep flirt with the dark side.
Somethings you need to do the old fashioned way.
It had begun to rain, and it was rather monsoon like. SunTzu went to the trunk and opened it, he pulled out a minimalistic chest rig with just a flash bang, a smoke grenade and two spare magazines for the short barreled, modernized and fully tricked out AKS74U he took out the trunk as well.
He slipped the gun's sling around him and hide the short barreled rifle under his jackets. From the massage brothel's roof the same two crows from before we're watching him.
He entered the building and a huge bloated guy was guarding the door next to him, that immediately straightened up when the door opened.
A short, underhung guy in a cheap suit with huge glasses immediately rushed towards SunTzu, looking angry and cursing.
SunTzu let go of the Russian rifle in his jacket and draw his silence pistol, immediately shooting sideways and hitting the huge man in his throat and chest.
Before the short guy could react a bullet entered his jaw and exited through the back of his skull.
So far so good, but what SunTzu didn't know was that apart from the suitors of the parlor there was also a group of Yakuza in a hospitality room in the back of the first floor, getting drunk together.
One of them heard something and while SunTzu carefully moved on, looking for targets the man opened the door to the room and got out, looking if everything was alright.
As he slipped through the doorway behind the manager's counter, in mid of the two pairs of stairs leading up to the massage and shower rooms he saw SunTzu with his pistol checking the staircases.
A surprised yell escaped the Criminal's mouth and made SunTzu immediately turn towards him.
The Yakuza turned around and jumped back to the hospitality room where the other eight Yakuza were sitting.
SunTzu rushed after him and finally got him into his pistol's sights as the man was about to open the door to the room.
Three bullets stopped the man and he fell through the traditional Shoji door.
The remaining Yakuza jolted upwards and immediately draw their handguns, one was even armed with a small Czech Sub Machine Gun.
SunTzu saw the man standing up through the demolished door and draw their weapons and immediately ran back to the counter jumping over it just in the moment as the Yakuza opened fire.
While bullets hit the desk and whizzed past him, SunTzu cocked his Kalashnikov.
He waited till the gun fire ebbed down and then blindfired the rifle over the counter, emptying out almost the whole magazine.
He heard a painful scream, more near than he had expected. They were closing in and this meant he had to get out of his cover and find out how near they were before they swarmed him.
He changed the magazine and jumped sideways out the counter as suddenly the light in the first floor went out.
He could hear screams. Some were muffled, others were not and the sounds of blades entering human tissue and the dropping of corpses mixed in.
Within a few seconds everything fell completely silent.
SunTzu turned on the flashlight on his AK and got up, Rifle raised. Cautiously he moved towards the room the Yakuza had been in. In front of him lay dead Yakuza and cut off body parts, even a head. Blood splatters were all around.
SunTzu had no idea what just happened but as he moved in to the room he didn't find a living soul. Not even with the force he could feel something.
As he entered through the broken door and stepped over the corpse of the guy he shot, something landed right behind on both his left and right side.
He immediately drew his pistol as well and turned around raising both weapons and both guns were blocked.
The pistol by the three blades of a Sai and the rifle by a Katana.
"Avast, Master SunTzu!" A female voice sounded off.
The light on his rifle pointed to the roof now and lighted up his surrounding.
To his surprise two figures, clothed in traditional Ninja or rather Kunoichi clothing as they clearly were female, were standing in front of him, blocking his guns.
Their faces were covered so he could only see their eyes.
A pair of red and a pair of violet eyes were looking at him.
"Phobos, Deimos, what the hell are you two doing here?"
"Mistress Mars sent us to look over you." The violet eyed Deimos said.
"We decided to step in after it became apparent you would need help."
The red eyed Phobos continued.
"Thank you girls. But maybe next time you let me know in advance. I could have hurted you."
And I almost got a heart attack.
Rei's two guards pulled down their masks revealing their fair faces.
"We're sorry Master. But it was clear that we needed to act immediately to save you from harm. We neutralized all the threats on this floor." Both of the young women or rather Koronians said.
SunTzu nodded.
"Good work. And cut it with the master, I'm just the boyfriend of Sailor Mars."
"Princess Mars."
"Princess Mars then. Anyways how come I couldn't feel you through the force?"
"We've been trained for years to move undetected on Koronis. This is also goes for techniques that stealth one against detection In the force, even if we're not force users per se." Phobos answered.
"It is highly secretive though. And for the sake of Koronis we would deeply appreciate it, if you would keep it a secret."
"Will do. I owe you one anyway."
A technique that shadows you from detection through force users would be highly sought after, SunTzu thought.
"There is more humans up on the second floor. You want us to neutralize them as well?"
"I'll join you. Only kill people that are either male or resist, don't kill the masseuses.
"As you wish Master." The two black clothed women pulled up their masks again and with a high jump disappeared to the still lighted second floor.
Within in minutes every male on the second floor was killed. SunTzu shot a guy that took cover behind a naked and completely frightened masseuse. The man sticked his head out a tad bit too much and SunTzu put a bullet into his head with his pistol.
SunTzu took a towel from a rail and wrapped it around the shaking woman before he told her, he meant no harm and that she was good to go.
The guardian also told the slowly calming down woman to gather the rest of the masseuses and wait for the police. They would further take care of them.
The rest of the six rooms had already been cleared by the two Kunoichi and just as the first police car came rushing in towards the massage parlor the Audi turned into the next street, leading away from the site of the massacre. The rainfall had eased up but the nightly streets were almost empty.
SunTzu, pushing the black Audi through the neon lit skyscraper canyons of Tokyo, while the lights reflected in the puddles from the monsoon like rainfall earlier, called up the number saved as information desk in the phone Royal Intelligence provided him with.
Almost instantly Agent Smith picked up.
"Lieutenant. I was about to call you. Regarding to the Metropolitan police's radio it seems you found more targets."
"I did. Quite a bunch actually. And I'm not alone anymore. Is there a place we can meet up?"
"Of course, just let me set up something. I'll sent you the location soon."
Time for a small break so. The clock in the car told it was 23:08 as the Audi crossed over the Shibuya crossing. Even the most busy crossing in the world was pretty empty that night.
SunTzu looked up in his rear mirror, where the two Koronian Women on the backseat had their hoods and face masks pulled down, showing off their long black hair as usual in space buns, braids over their shoulders and openly hanging down their backs, and looked out of their respective windows.
"You girls drink coffee?"
The girls rather opted for tea and SunTzu pulled up at a small night cafe a few minutes away.
The two young women left their weaponry in the car as SunTzu opened the door for the two of them and helped them out.
Even unarmed the two identical looking guardians of Sailor Mars immediately began to scan the area for threats.
"Don't worry. I'll got you." SunTzu said and motioned towards the door of the cafe.
Good thing they were in Tokyo, probably everywhere else in the world the two females in Ninja Outfits would have raised suspicion but here nobody really cared, except a middle aged business woman on a table that told her coworkers that if she would have gotten twins she would dress them always up identically as well.
It turned out that the two deadly Koronians had a sweet tooth and were different in at least some things.
After being told to take whatever they wanted, both ordered pieces of sweet cake but while Deimos opted for strong black tea, the red eyed Phobos took sweetened matcha milk tea.
SunTzu tried to find a bit more out about the two identical looking guardians.
"Our purpose is to serve Princess Mars as Guards and servants, very similar as her purpose to Neo Queen Serenity. We have been trained for this purpose almost since our birth and began our task when Princess Mars was still a child. Since a few years, after being asked by the Mistress we also serve as Mikos in the Hikawa Shrine, taking care of and guarding it as well as Shinshoku Hino. A task that we have great pleasure in."
"Apart from our duties at the shrine we stay training in the arts of bladed combat, bow and arrow and martial arts. Like today, we are also at Mistress Mars's disposal for combat missions."
The two women explained to SunTzu and he couldn't help but feel a bit sorry for the two slender young women on the other side of the table. All their purpose in life was to guard and serve, just like the Senshi.
"If you want anything more just order it."
"With pleasure Master."
The two women announced grinning, finally showing off some emotions.
"We don't leave the Shrine much, as we're supposed to guard it, so it's pleasurable to experience amenities."
Having cake at night in Shibuya is more unusual for these two than killing Yakuza in a massage parlor. The galaxy sure is a weird place.
The two girls had another sweet delicacy each and just had finished their plates as SunTzu's telephone began to vibrate.
Agent Smith had sent him the Adress of an exclusive hotel in Shinjuku, near the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Office.
Within fifteen minutes they were at the spot and Agent Smith, surprised to see the two young women accompanying SunTzu, was already waiting for them in the lobby.
He told SunTzu to follow him upwards to a safe room.
The two black clothed women followed SunTzu at very turn, right behind him.
In the elevator the agent leaned towards SunTzu as the two women stood behind them.
"Does Miss Hino know that these two are with you?" The Intelligence Service Man asked the Pilot.
"She sent them to support me. Or to keep an eye on me."
The agent nodded.
Making sure nobody else was on the corridor first, Agent Smith opened the hotel room, a spacious suite and motioned the deadly trio inside.
SunTzu stepped inside, closely followed by the two Koronians, that stayed a step behind him both, next to each other.
SunTzu was surprised to find Mamoru inside the room, as soon as the door opened the young King stood up from a armchair in the middle of the room.
To SunTzu's even bigger surprise the King was dressed in a black tuxedo, a top hat, a black cloak, with red linings, a bone collared vest, white tuxedo shirt and bow tie and a large golden medallion around his neck, hanging down on his chest. He also wore white gloves and held a cane in his right hand and wore a white mask covering his eyes.
The legendary Tuxedo Mask! Finally I come to meet this alter ego of the King as well.
The trio walked up to him and stopped a few steps in front of him, all three of them taking a knee.
"King." The two Koronians both sounded off at the same time.
"My King, I didn't know you were here."
"Rise SunTzu." He motioned SunTzu to get up before he looked over to the two women. "You as well my dear Phobos and my dear Deimos. A surprise to see you, but a welcomed one."
"The pleasure is ours. We were tasked to support Master SunTzu in his mission by Princess Mars."
"The Princess did very well to sent her two able servants to support the Lieutenant."
"They were a great help already. I do hope you're not here because we have overstepped our mission boundaries already."
"No, but I wanted to see how you are. Rei and Minako are at the Royal Quarters at well, waiting for information regarding you."
"I see."
The king had fled from his own palace because Rei made his being there hell until SunTzu and the Koronians were back.
"Agent Smith told me, you had new information and targets."
The Agent had meanwhile closed the door and stepped aside as SunTzu pulled out the small black note book.
"I found this, contacts as well as addresses of Yakuza sites and members. Why just take on two sites, when you really can send a message all over the city."
Mamoru took the notebook and gave it a look.
"You know this won't make it less risky. And your mission still is in no way officially endorsed by the Kingdom of Crystal Tokyo."
"Same Parameters as before except we can get more of the bad guys." SunTzu nodded.
"Exactly."
"Than I better get going." SunTzu told to Tuxedo Mask before he turned around.
"You don't need to follow me. I can guarantee that Princess Mars will understand."
The two Koronians looked at SunTzu and then at each other for a moment.
"We accompany you, Mas… SunTzu. Princess Mars would be heartbroken if something would happen to you." The two women began to smile.
"We both would like to help a friend and help to make the city safer."
SunTzu nodded with grin.
"Very well, let's make the crime rate drop then."
He turned around to face Tuxedo Mask again.
"You heard the ladies. We're off again."
Mamoru extended his hand and SunTzu took it.
"I'll take care." The Pilot told the King.
"You better do. Rei will turn me into a pile of ash if you don't get home unharmed."
"Don't worry, I have but two overseers now."
That said the trio left again, out into the cooled down, rainy night. Ready to inflict more violence onto Tokyo's underworld.
And how the two Koronians and the Bavarian inflicted violence onto the city.
The next stop was a bet office inside a pachinko place.
SunTzu, now sporting a black ski mask, and the two females didn't even think about decency this time and just marched into the bright lit place liked they owned it. The three guards inside the gambling joint were executed with a stab of two Sai, a slash of Deimos's Katana and two bullets from SunTzu's USP, and the four men in the back couldn't even proper react before they were cut down.
The most unbelievable thing was though that some of the gamblers either didn't care or not even noticed the assassination around them.
When the police arrived a few minutes later they were still gambling.
Next on the list we're four single individuals in their apartments and a office that did money laundry for a Yakuza Clan.
They decided to split up, Phobos and Deimos would take the skies to take on three of the jobs, they also would split up for the second and third, and SunTzu would do the rest. They would then meet up at the docks for the next job.
On the way SunTzu called Agent Smith, maybe a change of transport wouldn't be a bad idea, especially after the job in the office. SunTzu wanted to sent a real message.
The Guardians executed the neutralization of the single individuals fast, silent and efficiently. The two females just flew on the balcony of their first target, silently opening the door inside and killing the target.
SunTzu broke the door down at his first target's apartment and let his AK speak, the man, pistol in hand and cursing who would dare to brake into his place, died with a dozen bullet holes in his body.
For the second job he decided to be some more discrete but the guy apparently heard what was going on in the city and was waiting Gun drawn at the door.
SunTzu could barely roll around into cover before shots came flying through the door.
The pilot answered with what was called the ring trick in professional circles and used a hand grenade to neutralize the target. Or rather drove a few dozen sharp metal parts turned shrapnel into the man's body, shredding the man to pieces.
Within minutes SunTzu was speeding towards Roppongi and the money laundry place, disguised as software development company.
SunTzu parked and was whistling as he packed a backpack with some bottles of spirit, put fresh magazines into his weapons and put on his Chestrig again.
He broke open the fire door and entered the stairway. Thank god the office wasn't up to high in the building.
He kicked in the door to the office and after throwing a flash bang began blasting off.
Within three minutes SunTzu had cleared the whole five room office and killed six mobsters. These guys were waiting armed, also knowing what was going on in the city as even the news already reported about the violence in the city. Metropolitan Police were pulling in every guy they got and were out patrolling. Rumors of checkpoints being set up were to be heard.
In one of the rooms the cash was stored and after getting two of the biggest bags and pulling them over his shoulder, SunTzu spilled spirit over the rest of the cash and lighted a cigarette. After two long draws he threw the burning cigarette on the spirit soaked money and it immediately inflamed.
SunTzu left the building and stowed the two bags and his gun in the car as the fire alarm of the building went off.
On the way to the docks he was actually stopped by a police checkpoint and his heart actu allymade a big jump.
But apparently an European wasn't what the police was looking for and they didn't even wanted to see his ID.
As soon as he passed the police checkpoint he took a very, very deep breather and sent a small prayer as thank you to heaven.
On the island of Crystal Tokyo people got aware of what seemed to be a war between Yakuza Clans in the city tonight as well.
Guards were stocked up, the Kingdom's police patrolled around more and even sat up own checkpoints at the chokepoints leading into the city.
Crystal Tokyo Police and it's armed Forces even bid their official help to the Japanese and Metropolitan Officials.
Setsuna was looking at the news at a TV in the common room of the medical wing of the Palace. She had taken the Night Shift as Doctor on duty, as she fulfilled her promise to SunTzu to be there if he would need medical help. Also Hotaru told that she would come back tonight, so she could just come over to say Hi.
The spree of violence unknown to Tokyo before had everybody talking.
Intelligence was working double shifts but strangely Ami had been sent home by the king himself. The same went for Makoto, as commanding officer of the Taskforce's Special Forces.
What people didn't know, was that Mamoru wouldn't want both to be direct witnesses should something happen to SunTzu. Reluctantly both had agreed as the King ordered them to go home to get some sleep, but both of them knew why Endymion really had sent them home.
In the Crystal Tower Minako and Rei were in the Royal Quarters joining the Neo-Queen.
Rei was going nuts with concern about SunTzu and her Guardians and her two friends did the best they could to calm her down.
In the Royal Quarters, as well as in the hospital wing, the particular Senshi really much assumed who really was behind the attacks against the Yakuza.
When SunTzu arrived at the settled meeting point, Agent Smith was already there.
Standing next to a Lexus ES 350 he was smoking a cigarette.
SunTzu parked the Audi to front face the Lexus and got out.
"Lieutenant, you're causing quite the commotion in the city."
"You tell me Agent. I'll just had luck going through a police checkpoint. And it seems our friends from the Clans are aware by now also."
"Just the main target left. I got a secure route from our Contact at the Metropolitan Police for you."
"Where are the girls?"
"They were here overpunctual but there's a target of opportunity on the other side of the docks. They said they'll take care of it, since they had some spare time."
It was almost three in the morning.
The two men smoked their cigarettes, watching Crystal Tokyo's silhouette at the other end of the Bay.
Although the sky was clouded the lights of the palace and the shining Crystal Tower were still visible.
"The King sends his regards. He went back to the palace to personally lead any helping efforts the city would ask for."
"I guess we're helping the city quite a lot already tonight."
"You're probably right."
"Although I have to admit I'm doing this just for the safety of Diplomat Hino. For me it's all about sending a message to not mess with Crystal Tokyo and his inhabitants."
SunTzu took a draw of his cigarette and blew out the smoke as he took a glance at the Crystal Tower, where his beloved Rei was at this very moment.
A few moments later the Crows arrived back and transformed into their human forms again.
"Target neutralized. The storehouse is full of illegal goods, Master Smith."
"Excellent work Myladies. I'll make sure Police is getting tipped off. I guess it's time to get the main target.
The two women bowed down slightly and fell in step behind SunTzu, ever scanning the surroundings.
The Agent handed the car keys of the Lexus to SunTzu.
"I have some spare ammo and some extra firepower stored in the car. German made." He smiled.
"And I have a bit of a bonus for our shadow budget in the Audi. Just let me get something from the trunk."
SunTzu took out a small bag and his chest rig from the Audi and gave the keys to Agent Smith.
"See you in the morning Agent."
"I'll be waiting at the Palace. I'll make sure there will be fresh coffee."
Driven by the purpose to make Tokyo and more important to them, Rei's life, safer the deadly trio boarded the car.
SunTzu followed the route that led them in a wide arc around the city center and towards the rich suburbian area of Den-Enchofu southwest of Tokyo Downtown.
Staying away from main streets and avoiding police checkpoints took it's time and it was almost four in the morning till the trio rolled up to the traditional mansion, surrounded by high walls.
SunTzu parked up the block and his two Koronian companions got out, made sure they were alone and transformed into crows before they took off and executed aerial reconnaissance over the noble estate.
A few minutes later they were back at the car and in their human form.
"A dozen guards outside as well as some on windows. Electrical fence over the wall, remote sensors."
"This means we need to cut the electricity."
"Affirmative. But this would also mean they know we are coming."
"Any other suggestions so?"
Phobos and Deimos looked at each other.
"Leave this to us. And give us the number of your phone. We will contact you once you can move up."
"You girls do you know how dangerous it will be to get in there?"
"We're doing this for the Princess."
SunTzu nodded, he understood.
The two females transformed again and flew over to the mansion.
SunTzu geared up and slowly moved up to the mansion as well, staying in the shadows.
Agent Smith had procured him with a MP7A1 PDW, complete with Silencer, the caliber of the gun would even penetrate bulletproof vests. Nothing better than some Kraut Space Magic for self defense.
Thirteen minutes later SunTzu's phone rang, a call from a landline number.
"We secured the security office. Cameras, electric fences and sensors are off. We'll be waiting for you at the northern wall."
These two are awesome. We totally should bring them along more often.
SunTzu jogged up to northern wall and just as he was arrived and thought about a way to climb over the wall Deimos dropped down on the wall and offered him a hand while Phobos secured the area.
Both had their Ninja masks up again.
Within a few minutes they made it to the main house. The two Koronians had silently taken out three guards and hid the bodies in the shadows.
What the trio didn't know was that apart from within the almost twenty Yakuza there was one of the most dangerous gunfighters of the Clans.
A Middle aged Sadist that usually used a local produced Variant of the M249 SAW light machine gun was patrolling the inners of the ground floor of the main building, where the Clan Boss, the main target, was residing at. He was accompanied by his partner, that as well was a legendary Yakuza, but used a Katana and the accompanying Wakizashi. While the gunfighter was dressed in a suit, the swordsmen was dressed in a dark Kimono.
The trio neutralized three more guards inside the main building, looking for the stairs towards the second floor where the living quarters were located. And probably the Clan Boss. But finding the stairs wasn't that easy, the house was a maze of corridors.
The two Yakuza Elite Fighters we're finishing another round and then decided to check on the security central.
As they entered the room they found the two guards in there dead, cut down.
The two psychopaths looked at each other, the gunfighter cocked his light machine gun and the wannabe Samurai draw his blades.
A few minutes before, Crystal Tokyo Air Base:
Hotaru and AICA just had arrived, they had needed longer than expected to leave Coruscant as a convoy of Reserve Warships was granted absolute priority on crossing the space lanes and the rest of traffic off planet had to wait, even starfighters.
At least the AI and the young Senshi had each other to entertain themselves.
As soon as she landed in the hangar the teenage girl ordered AICA to locate SunTzu. Hotaru jumped out the cockpit and went over to one of the storage compartments.
She peeled off her pilot suit, revealing a black jumpsuit underneath. She grabbed her black chest rig, changed her boots into black tactical ones and took her Kriss Vector.
"You're going to join him, don't you?"
A voice that made Hotaru flinch sounded off behind her.
"Mom."
Hotaru turned around to face Setsuna, standing near the door to the Hangar, wearing her doctor's coat.
"I don't know what he's up to but I have the strong assumption he needs every help he can get."
"Yeah, I had that assumption as well. You might want to turn on the news to get an idea what SunTzu has been doing all night."
"You're not trying to stop me?"
"You'd go anyway. But promise me you take care."
"As always. Just gonna make sure my Sensei gets home in one piece. He has this his tendency to do something stupid and hurt himself."
"This might be true. And I'm usual the one that has to patch him up then." Mother and daughter shared a laughter before Setsuna turned around and was about to leave again.
"Mom?"
Setsuna turned around as Hotaru was putting on her chestrig.
"I'm glad to be back. I missed you."
"I missed you too, Hotaru. A lot." The doctor smiled.
Inside the mansion SunTzu was leaning against a wall and peeked around the corner, Phobos and Deimos were carefully moving up behind him. Around the corner there finally was the staircase.
Suddenly the force sent a shock trough his body and made him instantly take cover.
In that moment a machine gun began spitting death at where his head had been a second before.
Small bits and pieces of the wall were flying around and cut his cheek.
He got up, threw Phobos, who just arrived at the wall he was at over his shoulder and after a few steps of running, grabbed Deimos under his arm as well.
While the machine gun raked at the wall behind him and the gunfire followed him he ran down the corridor, trying to get to cover, carrying the two Koronians.
Down the corridor he rushed behind the next corner and let the two females down.
Patting he took a few deep breathers.
"Thank you Master SunTzu."
"This could have been our demise."
"You're welcome. Stay in cover."
The machine gun began to hammer again and bullets and pieces of wall were shot out of the corner of the wall the trio hid behind.
All of a sudden three Yakuzas, all armed appeared around the corner at the next intersection.
Both SunTzu and the thugs raised their weapons and probably would shot each other at the same time as suddenly the three Yakuza were gunned down in a full auto salvo.
SunTzu immediately recognized the sound of the gun.
"I see you're back Kiddo."
SunTzu told as Hotaru rushed towards their position from the corridor she came from and had shot the Yakuza, before he let off a salvo down the corridor they were getting incoming shots from.
AICA had dropped her near the mansion and left just a few minutes ago.
"I had the feeling you might need some help after you called."
A corridor separated them from each other. Hotaru leaned against the wall and reloaded, the Silence Glaive hanging from her back, slightly shortened in its length.
"Good timing then. Glad to have you back."
The teenage girl nodded towards the two Koronians behind SunTzu.
"Hey Girls."
"Hello Hotaru."
Gunfire kept them apart. Not only the machine gun but also other guns were keeping them pinned down.
"Guess they got us fixed here." Hotaru yelled over the gunfire, as she and SunTzu took turns exchanging fire with the enemy.
SunTzu reached for his back and pulled down the bag he had been carrying around.
"Hey Hotaru, although I'm a pilot and not a Grunt, here's an old Infantry Wisdom." SunTzu pulled out a M320 Grenade Launcher and loaded it with a High Explosive 40mm Grenade.
The teenager looked over to him after letting off a salvo down the corridor as the machine gun just stopped shooting again.
"Happiness is a loaded Grenade Launcher." SunTzu said and closed the chamber of the Launcher.
"Way to go, Sensei." Hotaru stated dryly as she switched her weapon to full auto and let off the rest of her magazine down the corridor.
This gave SunTzu the second he needed to peak out the corner and launch the grenade, while she reloaded.
The grenade impacted on a wall near the machine gunner and showered everything around with fire, smoke and shrapnel.
SunTzu handed the launcher to Phobos behind him, raised his MP7 and crossed the corner, a second behind him Hotaru followed, Weapon raised as well.
They moved up to the stairway and eliminated one more Yakuza that jumped out of cover but was immediately taken out by the two Guardians.
The two Kunoichi followed and moved up fast.
A Yakuza, his leg almost ripped off was still moving near the stairs and was gargling as he struggled to breathe, a piece of shrapnel had perforated his lungs. Deimos quickly ended the men's misery while Phobos handed the Grenade Launcher back to SunTzu who stored it again.
"We'll secure the rest of the floor." Deimos told and she and Phobos rushed away.
SunTzu took the lead and carefully with weapon raised up began to climb up the stairs while Hotaru covered him from the staircase.
He was almost completely up when a blade suddenly slashed down, just because a last second warning of the force and his force empowered reflexes he could block the slash with his weapon. The blade was so sharp that it destroyed the laser module on top of the Personal Defense Weapon he used.
The sword man attacking SunTzu immediately slashed again and SunTzu could barely dodge the attack and almost fell down the stairs.
In the last moment he could catch his balance again as the next slash came. He wouldn't be able to dodge this one SunTzu knew in an instant.
Centimeters before his face the blade was stopped with a clanking sound.
The Silence Glaive held the Katana's blade away from his face and Hotaru stood there pushing her weight against the enemy's blade with her Glaive.
She managed to pull the blade away and SunTzu raised his weapon and began to shoot, which made the wannabe samurai back down and jump for cover.
SunTzu immediately followed him up the stairs but the man had already disappeared behind the next corner.
"I'll take this one, get the rest." Hotaru said, her gun slung over her back and Glaive in both hands.
As soon as she said that two Yakuza came around the corner and before they could squeeze their triggers both we're already shot down by SunTzu. He nodded his approval to her as he still had the gun raised and began to move up straight. The samurai was gone as they crossed the corner.
Hotaru, glaive raised, ready to defend herself, turned to the other direction.
A few minutes later, every few moments gunfire had been heard and making it a wonder the police hadn't showed up yet, Hotaru wandered through the top floor of the mansion looking for the Yakuza with the sword. She really hoped he proofed to be a worthy opponent. Searching for him she already stroke down another Yakuza that tried to attack her. The man lay dead on the floor now, a huge gash in his upper body.
"Hey Samurai, come out and play with me!"
She yelled out.
"Come and get me Child."
The black haired teenage girl began to smile as she walked towards where the voice came from with lightness in her steps.
SunTzu shot had his way through a few Yakuza members and finally came to what seemed to be the private chambers of the Clan Boss.
He opened a traditional Japanese door leading to the sleeping chamber of the man and was immediately attacked by a old man with a Katana.
Unfortunately for the man SunTzu was too fast this time and was able to let off a salvo long before the Clan Boss's blade was in range.
Five 4,6x30mm bullets struck into the man's upper body and although he wore a Kevlar vest he was already dead when he hit the floor.
SunTzu stepped up to the man.
Yup, that's the main target. Mission accomplished! Just need to collect the girls and we're out!
On second look SunTzu found that the guy looked pretty similar to the Yakuza that got his head roasted by Rei in Milan. Probably it had been his father. Now both were dead. Too bad.
While SunTzu had to smile because the fact behind the saying don't bring a knife to a gunfight had been proven once again, Phobos and Deimos had killed the last guards on the estate. They had moved fast and in the shadows and also had used their transformation for attacks quick as a flash on the overwhelmed Yakuza members.
On the second floor Hotaru just opened a door to a large meeting room with a giant wooden table in the middle.
On the other side of the table was the wannabe Samurai Yakuza.
He extended his blade towards Hotaru.
"Too bad you have to die so young child. You probably would have become a decent woman. But you didn't know your place."
"Oh please. Can we just get over with it?"
The Yakuza draw his Wakizashi as well.
"Oh, old man needs a second blade to fight with the teenage girl." Hotaru mocked him with a sarcastic laugh.
And she definitely hit a nerve.
"I'm gonna cut you in pieces and cook your heart! And then I'll share it with my dogs!"
"Oh my, aren't we a normal, sane individual." She mockingly laughed again. "Just make sure to not cook me in milk. I hate milk. If you find a heart at all that is."
There's someone on Coruscant who probably would say no to that. Anyways cut it, Hotaru. Focus on the fight.
The guy jumped on the table and stormed towards Hotaru, who in turn went for an assault rather than a defensive stance and jumped into the air, slashing down with the blade of the Glaive.
The Guy parried and a short sparring between Glaive and the two swords followed before both jumped back a step.
Not bad but definitely worse than what I expected. Maybe I can at least get some fun of it.
"Not bad old man. How long have you been training? Three months?"
The man, having trained with blades since his youth took this one personal and rocketed towards Hotaru, Blades drawn in an attempt to stab her.
The teenager didn't even use her weapon to defend herself but just took a sidestep in the right moment.
The man rushed past here and nearly fell down the table.
He immediately spun around but the black haired girl was worlds faster than him, and more agile as well, and kicked him in the back which finally did make him fall down the table.
She turned around, took a step back and swirled the glaive around as the man howled and stood up again.
"Whatcha doing down there? I thought we wanted to fight?"
"I'm gonna KILL you, you little Whore! I'll cut your head off and rape it!"
"Okay Boomer. But first you have cut it off then."
She waved at him to come get her.
"C'mon up or is your back hurting too bad?"
The man, his head now red in anger, jumped back on the table and spun towards Hotaru with his blades.
She smiled and parried the long blade. Using the longer Glaive as lever, she threw the Katana to the side before she did the same with the Wakizashi, than she swung the other end of the Silence Glaive around and hit the man between the legs.
The swordfighter was shaking in pain as she spun the Glaive around again and decapitated the man.
In front of Hotaru the headless body of the Yakuza collapsed and the head rolled from the table.
SunTzu was right to make me read the Art of War. If your enemy is quick to anger, seek to irritate him. Just proven to be effective. And now, let's get the fuck out of here.
SunTzu opened a balcony door and checked the situation. In the distance sirens were to be heard closing in. Lots of sirens.
Hotaru appeared behind him.
"We done here?"
"Yup, job is finished."
"Then we should get the hell out before the cops come."
At that moment the two Koronians appeared at the balcony in their crow forms.
"Girls, get to the car. We'll meet you there."
The birds flew away, over to the car parked at the end of the street.
SunTzu had an idea and went shortly back inside, he came out with a blanket under his arm, which made Hotaru raise an eyebrow at him. SunTzu just winked at her.
"For our retreat."
SunTzu threw a smoke grenade onto the balcony before he and Hotaru jumped from the balcony onto the roof of the passages to the other buildings and from there over the wall.
The two Pilots sneaked through bushes as the first police cars arrived at the mansion. The car was fortunately far enough away to be outside the perimeter the police draw and closed down.
SunTzu and Hotaru stored their weapons in the trunk as Deimos and Phobos, who had been waiting on a wall nearby, transformed.
"Get in the back." SunTzu ordered all three girls. "And pull down your masks."
"Just a moment." Hotaru wiped away the blood from the cut SunTzu had gotten earlier with her sleeve and both shared a smile.
As soon as all three girls were inside he laid the blanket over them so that their clothes weren't visible.
Then he started the car and drove away. As expected he didn't even got out the neighborhood without running into a police control.
He pulled down the window as a police man with a Maglite asked him if he was from here and why he was leaving.
"My Boss told me to take his daughters away from this warzone. Do you have any idea how much shooting there was?" SunTzu said with more foreign accent as he usually spoke and motioned to the backside, where three Japanese girls looked at the police man in a mixture of shock and tiredness.
The police man nodded and motioned SunTzu to move on with a wave.
Five minutes and after Hotaru gave him a acknowledging clap on his shoulder and a lot of fire department, police and ambulance cars rushing past them later, they were on a main road and SunTzu was on the phone with Agent Smith, who guided him away from the police checkpoints. The sun was already up when they were back in downtown and heading towards the nearest bridge to Crystal Tokyo.
They were waiting on a red light when SunTzu saw something on the side of the street.
"Anyone up for breakfast?"
"Yes!" All three girls said at the same time.
SunTzu parked and they got out and went to the breakfast joint SunTzu saw at the red light. It served American breakfast and although Hotaru didn't like milk she seemed to really like pancakes.
They all ordered pancakes, the two Koronians exceptionelly sweet ones and when asked if they wanted coffee, Hotaru was the first one to say yes. The Koronians, who sat across SunTzu and Hotaru went for tea.
The hot drinks arrived and Hotaru took a big sip from the steaming black liquid.
SunTzu looked at her with an eyebrow raised.
"No milk or sugar?"
"Nope. I like it black. Just like my soul." The teenager smiled happily and then laid her head against his shoulder.
The pancakes were great, fluffy and tasty as they should be and the warm coffee, SunTzu drank his with milk but no sugar as always, was a boon.
Hotaru, who actually had been good friends with Phobos and Deimos for a long time already, somehow managed to convince the two Koronians to taste her coffee.
Phobos didn't like it at all but Deimos loved it.
They were waiting for their bill when the door opened and four men entered. And they were armed.
The violence against the organized crime that night had made a lot of Yakuza members paranoid and fearing for their life. The four miserable individuals that entered the restaurant, one with a pistol, one with a shotgun, one armed with a knife and one with a bat, weren't an exception. They were looking for a store to rob to have some money to get away as fast as they could and the early opened restaurant away from the police checkpoints made for an easy target.
As the men rushed into the store and yelled that it was a robbery, making the waitress and the other guests scream in panic and lay down the three girls looked at SunTzu. He sighed, took the last sip of his coffee and fixed his tie.
I just wanted to have a nice breakfast with these girls…
The guy with the shotgun and the one with the knife were at the counter and yelled at the owner to open up the register, the one with the bat had an eye at the patrons while the one with the pistol guarded the entrance.
SunTzu stood up and slowly walked towards the men.
"Hey Gaijin Asshole get down or I'll bash your face in."
The man with the bat pointed the aluminum beater at SunTzu.
He flinched when he saw a small yellow glow in the westerner's eyes.
"Stop and get the fuck down! I won't say it again!" The man yelled nervously and looked back to his comrades. They didn't notice what was going on.
The man then decided to attack SunTzu and rushed towards him, bat up.
Only to be thrown over SunTzu's shoulder. He landed hard on his back and SunTzu grabbed the bat from the man before he knocked him in the temple with it.
The two guys at the counter turned around and were both hit by the bat SunTzu threw in their faces. Teeth and jaws shattered and SunTzu rushed forward grabbing the shotgun and used the stock of the rifle to beat the knife out of the Yakuza's hand. Two punches with the stock later the Yakuza were knocked out and the last guy wanted to just raise his gun at SunTzu but he already had the shotgun trained at him.
"Try me Motherfucker. You wouldn't be the first one today. And not the first one to end with his brain on the wall."
The man let his pistol fall and brought his hands up.
SunTzu looked at the owner.
"Call the police."
Then he turned to the table he had been sitting on.
"Girls, we're leaving."
SunTzu secured the pistol and made the guy kneel down. He gave the pistol to a customer and then handed the shotgun to the owner.
"Guard them till Police shows up."
Then he pulled out a large bill and put it on the counter.
"Thanks for the great meal. You make an amazing coffee."
That said he bowed down slightly and walked to the door and opened the door for the girls to go through.
On the way out Hotaru punched the kneeling Yakuza in the face.
"Thanks for ruining my breakfast, Fuckboy!"
After the girls were out SunTzu followed and they swiftly walked to the car and rushed off.
A few minutes later, sun finally was breaking through the clouds again and the rays of the sun made a rainbow over Tokyo the Lexus was speeding over one of the bridges to Crystal Tokyo.
When they made it to Crystal Tokyo, Hotaru, who was now sitting next to her trainer, and SunTzu fist bumped.
"Home, sweet Home." Hotaru announced and they smiled at each other.
They arrived at the gate to the palace and even here security had been upped.
The Sergeant on Guard, a new guy that just transferred from the JGSDF to Crystal Tokyo, wanted to check the car first and asked for IDs as he saw SunTzu and the three tired looking but friendly smiling girls in the car.
SunTzu was trying his best to stay friendly but it was really working on his nerves after a night like this and he was about to chew the guy out.
Fortunately a Intelligence Service Agent arrived at the door and made it clear that the car was not only cleared to pass but had priority. SunTzu remembered that agent back from Singapore and gave him a friendly nod before he pulled up the window and drove through the gate.
A few minutes later they parked the car at the front of the palace and got out. It was almost eight in the morning.
The tired group of four got out and walked to the Crystal Tower where they entered and went straight to the Throne Room.
The guards outside opened the door and the group stepped inside, Hotaru next to SunTzu and Phobos and Deimos a step behind them.
King Endymion was sitting on the throne besides a tired looking Neo-Queen Serenity.
Next to the throne were Sailor Pluto, Sailor Venus, Sailor Mars and a brunette woman with green eyes that SunTzu had never seen before.
Everyone was equally as tired looking as the quartet that wrecked havoc on the Yakuza tonight but they started beaming when they saw the group had finally made it home and that they were unharmed.
Phobos, Deimos, SunTzu and Hotaru walked up to the throne and took a knee. SunTzu shot Sailor Mars a wink and she smiled even more although she was visibly tired.
"Neo Queen Serenity, King Endymion, your faithful servants are back. We finished the task."
"You created quite the chaos within the Yakuza. Metropolitan Police is still engaged."
"Police forces are arresting more and more people and seized countless amounts of money, weapons and drugs." The brunette woman said.
"SunTzu, let me introduce you to Commissioner Saori Kobayashi, the head of the Crystal Tokyo Police Department." Endymion introduced the woman.
SunTzu nodded to the Police Chief.
"You did excellent, all four of you. Although it was a dangerous and ungrateful task, thank you. You did Tokyo and us a great service. I recon you guys are tired now. Get some rest."
I did this for the safety of Rei, the rest is just a bonus on top. And I guess the same goes for Phobos and Deimos.
"I guess I speak for all of us four that we are happy to have weakened organized crime in the city."
Usagi smiled.
"Okay, enough with the formalities, it's not that someone will ever know who was behind all that. Rei, I think your boyfriend and your Guardians could use some rest. You guys are dismissed."
"I could use some rest as well. All of us could." Rei said and walked over to SunTzu, who just had stood up.
She more or less fell into his arms for a tight embrace before she pulled him over into an embrace with the other three of his group.
"Thank you for taking care of him." The Senshi of Fire told to Phobos, Deimos and Hotaru.
Rei kissed SunTzu.
"And now, let's go to bed."
Sailor Pluto appeared next to them and patted Hotaru on the head before she leaned in and kissed her daugther's forehead.
"I'm glad you're back safe."
"Piece of cake. Tho I'm glad I'm home now Mom."
The two Senshi smiled warmly at each other.
"I don't know about you but I'm going to bed now." SunTzu said and suppressed a yawn.
The group said their goodbyes and accompanied by Sailor Mars and Sailor Pluto took the elevator up to the Senshi's quarters.
"What a night. The next time I stay put at my table at breakfast."
Hotaru began to laugh and even the Koronians had to giggle.
Rei opened the door to her quarter whiles Setsuna opened the one to hers and Hotaru's.
The younger women all went into the rooms. SunTzu and Setsuna were the last ones to enter their respective rooms.
"I'm sorry if I had you on the edge of your seat all night, Setsuna." SunTzu told. "And I feel sorry that Hotaru joined us but without her we wouldn't be here."
Setsuna turned around.
"She was so eager to help you. And you know her. If I wouldn't have let her go she would have sneaked away. I'm glad you guys weren't hurt. I have to admit I don't mind to not patch you up for once." She smiled. "I'll see you later, get some rest."
"I will. Good Night Setsuna."
"Good Night SunTzu."
She walked into her room and closed the door and SunTzu did the same.
When he stepped in the room, Rei turned around to him and held a finger up to her lips, motioning him to be quiet.
On a stand the two Koronians in their raven form were already sleeping, sitting on the rail while Rei petted them.
SunTzu smiled a warm smile towards her and motioned towards the bathroom. He would take a shower first.
When he was finished he silently went to the bed room. Rei was lying in bed and had her eyes closed.
He slipped under the covers and she embraced him, laying down her head on his chest.
"I'm glad you guys made it out unharmed."
"Rei, these two girls are awesome."
"They are. I just wished they would be a bit less dutiful and lived more. But what can you expect from someone that was trained to guard me since he was a child. It took years but at least they do something they really enjoy with working at the shrine. One day I hope they'll have a normal life."
"They deserve it."
"They do. And they seem to take quite the liking in you."
"Must have been the seconds of cake I treated them to tonight."