A/N: I've been without internet for a good while now because my provider wouldn't come down on pricing and all the other businesses aren't much better. Long story short I hope to get back proper internet soon. I've been going over the Ninja Gaiden games and got DOA Xtreme 3 from Amazon so I got a shot of creativity.
Disclaimer: Dead or Alive owned by Team Ninja and Tecmo. Tramps Like Us owned by Ogawa and Tokyopop.
Kunoichis Like Us
Chapter 26
The kunoichi sisters traveled down the cramped elevator in thick coats. Ayane was stuffed in her dark purple parka while Kasumi wore a light blue coat with mittens. A full day of moving boxes had left them with throbbing arms and aching backs. A youthful vigor was all that kept them from collapsing into blobs of disjointed bones and muscle.
"It should be just one more trip after this." Ayane said. "Then I'll be out of your hair."
Ayane had found a new apartment not too far from Kasumi's current home. Her drab new dwelling needed more than a fresh coat of paint but it would suit her needs. Despite reasonable rent, Ayane made sure to grease the right palms to ensure the information she wrote on the lease was pure fiction. No paper trails.
Alex had, begrudgingly, offered Ayane to stay at the Kane household for as long as needed. She replied that she could not mooch off the Kane family forever and she needed to have her own place. She also made a few choice remarks about 'getting in between' Alex and her sister often followed by a wink. It made Alex uncomfortable, but Kasumi knew to let it roll off her back.
"Are you sure you don't want to stay an extra day?" Kasumi asked. "You're still healing, and I would feel better keeping an eye on you."
"Aww, my sister cares about me." Ayane cooed and leaned her head on Kasumi's shoulder. "I'm so blessed."
"I'm being serious."
"I know, I'm just playin' with ya." Ayane put her head back up. "I'll be fine. I'll take it easy for a while. Besides, the longer I stay the harder it'll be to leave. And I can't afford to go soft with the easy life."
"It's not hard to keep sharp as long as you don't neglect your training."
"Yeah, but I'm not used to sharing stuff. And I hate to be the third wheel in your lovers' den." Ayane's smile was all teeth.
Kasumi sighed and rolled her eyes.
The elevator doors opened at the ground floor and the pair walked into the lobby and out the door. The city had become a depressing gray. The clouds had smothered out the sun and the cold had a sting that no amount of clothing could soothe. Flakes of white danced in the streetlights and filthy, hardened snow caked the sides of the road.
"Damn." Ayane looked up at the sky. "It's dark already?"
"It is winter." Kasumi acknowledged. "So night does come sooner."
"Thanks, weather girl." Ayane muttered. "I'm not sure I want to move Wakana over so late."
"I'll text Alex and tell him you'll be staying for dinner." Kasumi said without waiting for Ayane's reply.
As the two started the trek back home, Ayane pulled up her hood. "God, if you told me a year ago that you'd be helping me move into a new apartment like we're besties I'd call you crazy. How times change."
"True." Kasumi whispered.
An awkward silence came over the two. Ayane bit her lip as she felt all the odd emotions bubble up, only to simmer back down. The tension between the sisters, the irony of their situation, and the shame of all the brutal encounters that lead to nowhere. She could not let go of all the hatred that had gathered in her soul, but she could not hold onto it, it was so tiresome.
They rounded the corner and came upon two men in coats and motorcycle helmets. Ayane and Kasumi paused, and years of instincts kicked in. They analyzed the two men. The coats, gloves, and boots they wore; all bland, nothing that would make the men stand out. Judging by their height and stance they were young, probably in their twenties. The one on the left held an aluminum baseball bat.
There was no doubt they were not looking for autographs.
"I got Mr. Baseball bat." Ayane smirked and made for her target.
"You were attacked? By who?" Alex asked as he put the first aid kit back together.
While Kasumi had drilled the basics of medical care into his brain, Alex still felt like a bumbling dolt when the sisters came to his doorstep with fresh bruises. He had help haul Kasumi to the living room couch while Ayane did most of the work.
"I told you they wore helmets." Ayane adjusted Kasumi's shoulder bandage.
"They knew us." Kasumi stated. "They knew where we would be and when. That means they were watching us and we didn't notice."
"We're slipping." Ayane countered bitterly. "Told ya this place makes you soft."
"I'll remember that next time you need a place to stay." Alex dead panned. "So what happened?"
"I fucked up again." Ayane hissed and held her side. "I thought I had the guy but my injuries flared up."
"You should have stuck with the more conservative strikes instead of the more flashy moves." Kasumi replied.
"Yeah, whatever." Ayane grumbled. "I'm…sorry that you had to cover for me."
"You're my sister." Kasumi said with finality.
Alex had lived with Kasumi long enough to see the signs of something eating at her. "What's wrong?"
"Those men. They knew Mugen Tenshin." Kasumi confessed darkly.
"What? You're kidding."
Kasumi kept her hard gaze forward while Ayane grimly worked on her sister's bandage.
"They were amateurs. Unrefined, but I recognized it." Ayane broke the silence. "Tenjinmon to be specific. It's the prevalent fighting style."
"So…what does that mean?" Alex asked.
"Someone's teaching our clan's ninjitsu to outsiders. Unlawfully." Ayane spat.
"Anonymity is the reason our clan has survived for so long." Kasumi continued. "Even during the Dead or Alive tournament, we kept as much from the public we as we could. Our agents spread false information to keep the media from digging into our history."
"Even a shred of our history can be destructive." Ayane continued. "Especially our fighting styles. It's more precious to us than anything in our arsenal." She took a breath to even her voice. "This means we have a leak. One I'm probably going to have to plug."
"A pity they ran." Kasumi said. "We could have interrogated them."
"Yeah. Instead, you had to stay with me because my dumbass tore open my stitches…again." Ayane clenched her jaw and cast her eyes down. "And you got hurt because of me."
"It looks worse than it is." Kasumi soothed. "It's not your fault."
"Yes it is." Ayane bluntly replied.
A heavy moment hung over the three until a thought crossed Alex's mind. "So someone trained two guys in your clan's ninjitsu and sent them to attack…both of you? I mean, why? I know they're after Kasumi, but why'd they go after you too?"
"Because I attacked first. Because I'm just collateral damage. I don't know." Ayane met Alex's gaze with fire in her eyes. "But I am going to find out."
"Man, this is just what I needed." Seiji stretched his arms and straightened his back. "You have no idea what two solid weeks of working in a noodle house will do to a man. Open to close. Slaving over a hot stove. Jam packed with customers. Old man riding my ass. If I didn't get any time off, I'd swear I'd burn that dump to the ground."
Alex gave a small condescending grin to his friend as they walked into Seiji's favorite store, Otaku Emporium. A family-owned store that specialized in pop culture merchandise, video games, manga, odd foreign products, and a hodgepodge of zany items fit to put on a collector's shelf. Back in grade school, Alex, Seiji, and the others would come by after school to browse and gawk at all the things that they thought were cool but would never buy. Thankfully the owners never ran them out for loitering, but made sure the kids would tell their friends and family about the place.
The owners, an old man in thick glasses with a feather duster and a squat woman with her nose buried in a book shouted a greeting before they returned to their jobs. The store was cramped and the shelves stuffed with products, but Seiji loved it because of the atmosphere, according to him. The small town, privately owned, untouched by corporate sterility, personal familiarity of it all. And the chance of finding a porno video or ecchi manga tucked away somewhere.
"I'm surprised you wanted to hang out with me." Alex said as he looked over a set of figurines of cute girls dressed as sexy samurai warriors. "I'd figure you'd want to blow off some steam with one of your girlfriends."
In truth, Alex had some reservations about leaving Ayane and Kasumi alone after the attack from the day before. However, they insisted that they could handle themselves and that he did not need to put his personal life on hold.
"Oh, come on, now. Don't be like that. I love hanging out with ya." Seiji put Alex in a playful headlock and gave him a gentle noogie. "Besides I want this to be a guys night out, ya know? Two bros having fun and stirring shit, like the old days."
"They're all pissed off at you, eh?"
"Nah, some are just busy with other things." Seiji let Alex go and stood in front of a sculpted bust of a colorful 70's era giant robot. "At least what they told me. Sometimes fuck buddies just grow apart. And sometimes they get on your nerves with constant texts and calls like you're already married or some shit."
"Woe is you." Alex dryly replied. "What about that one girl you were gassing on about last time?"
"Kinda on pause with her right now." Seiji admitted. "Turns out she's planning on going to college soon, so we're debating on how we're going to…uh…well on whether there is a 'we' at all."
"Shame. Thought you two were going to be something." Alex prodded. "Guess you won't need me or my camera."
"Oh, now that's still on the table." Seiji's perverted grin returned. "Might be our last hoorah. Something worthy of film, ya know?"
Alex could only guess what kind of kinky shit his friend had stewing in his head. Although the thought made his face grow hot.
The door chime made Alex and Seiji's heads turn to the entrance. Someone bundled in thick winter clothes stumbled into the store, a woman, judging by the shapely legs in black leggings. Her hand braced the doorway to steady her wobbling frame.
The owners bellowed out their greeting and returned to their work. The girl stepped in and removed her hood. Violet hair spilled out.
"Ayane?" Alex said, dumbfounded.
Her eyes immediately locked onto him, bristling in panic. "Alex? Good. You're OK." She pushed out between haggard breaths. "They didn't go after you."
"Who?" Alex helped Ayane stand. "What happened?"
"It's…the ones who attacked us. They came back. More of 'em." Ayane said through gritted teeth. "They told Kasumi to get in the car or they'd hurt you. I'm still too messed up to fight. She…" She snarled, either in pain or anger. "Damn it, she went with them. Because of me. God-fucking-dammit."
Alex's heart raced. "What?! Who?!"
"I…I don't know." Ayane hissed. "They showed up in front of your complex. They knew about you. She made me promise to go find you to make sure you were safe. And I…I…"
"There was nothing you could do." Alex said. "You know that."
"We gotta call the police. "Seiji joined in. "This is kidnapping. This is way bigger than we-"
"No!" Ayane snapped. "If they know about us this well, the police won't be much help. Plus we can't have them nosing around our clan's business."
"So we do, what? Sit around with our thumbs up our asses?" Seiji fumed. "I ain't letting her-"
"We're not giving up." Ayane snapped. "But we need to think this through." Her eyes flickered behind her. "I'm going to the bathroom. Gimme a minute."
Ayane pushed past the two and disappeared into the aisles.
"The fuck?" Seiji huffed. "All this going on and she's gotta take a dump?"
Alex turned to the front of the store. A man with sunglasses and a green wool cap stood outside the storefront window, pressed against the glass. When the man met Alex's gaze, he turned and shuffled away.
"She was followed." Alex broke for the door. Seiji trailed behind on instinct.
The two rushed out the door. The man ducked into a nearby alleyway. Adrenalin coursed through Alex's veins as he pursued. The pressure in his chest deflated when he rounded into the alley and saw the man on his side with Ayane standing over him.
"Bathroom, eh?" Seiji puffed.
"Decided I could hold it." Ayane smirked. "Sorry to lie but I couldn't have you two tip him off before I got into position." She softly kicked the man as he struggled to get air into his lungs. "Not that it was any problem with this useless lump."
"Who is he?" Alex asked. The man looked in his twenties with a patchy goatee and a splotchy face.
"A flunky. A bad one at that." Ayane snarled. "Pure street trash."
"Fuck you, bitch." The man coughed.
Seiji motioned to Alex and the two seized the man by the collar and hauled him up. The man's sunglasses slipped off and clattered to the ground. Frightened eyes zipped between the three.
"Where's Kasumi?" Ayane grilled.
"See my first answer." The man ripped out of the boy's grip. He backed into the wall but made no attempt to run.
"Start talking or I start hitting in places the really hurt." She countered.
"I ain't no rat." He spat on the ground.
Before Ayane could continue Alex kneed the man in the groin causing him to slump. He pinned the man to the brick wall with his arm across his throat.
"5 pounds" Alex stated coldly.
"Wh…what?" The man choked out.
"That how much force it would take to crush your larynx. Not sure how long it'll take for you to choke to death." Alex said with an ice-cold tone.
The man's eyes darted from Alex to Ayane to Seiji. He licked his lips and started talking.
No one in the car spoke. Kasumi kept her composure relaxed, but ready to strike if need be. Aside from a black suited driver, two other men shared the ride with her. She recognized them, from their builds and clothing, as the two who assaulted Ayane and herself. One had bandages covering a broken nose and the other had a black eye.
I didn't think we did that much damage to them. Kasumi thought.
The slick sedan pulled into the enclosed parking lot. The thick clouds had swallowed the sun, yet enough light came through to show the day had some life left. A trio of men emerged from the back of a building and approached the car, the middleman leading the other two. The man on his left opened the door and Kasumi stepped out.
"Ah, Kasumi!" The lead man said with open arms. "Long time, no see."
Kasumi's eyes widened. "Tamotsu?"
Five years had passed since Kasumi had last seen Tamotsu. He had changed since his days as an apprentice ninja at village, a few inches taller and more muscular. His jet-black hair nearly shaved off his head and a neatly trimmed mustache filled his upper lip. He had changed his ninja garb for a dark dress jacket and a white turtleneck.
"Good, you remember me." Tamotsu took off his thick sunglasses to reveal brown eyes hardened with time and experience. A far cry from the timid but determined eyes of the boy she witnessed sparring on the training ground with the other Mugen Tenshin students. "I was afraid you had forgotten most of us back home."
"I never have. And never will." She replied looking around, trying to determine what part of the city he had brought her to. "What is this? Why am I here?"
An odd smile came across his face, forced and ashamed. "Ah, that. Well, I do apologize for the rather…urgent way I had to get you here, but…you are a runaway. A traitor."
Kasumi regarded Tamotsu cautiously. She could not tell what her former comrade was capable of. Or willing to do. "Did my brother send you?"
"No. It's…complicated." Tamotsu politely motioned to the door. "Please. Why don't we go inside and discuss it?"
"And if I refuse?"
Tamotsu did not answer.
Kasumi fell in with Tamotsu's entourage as he led the way. The men he came with flanked his sides while the men from the car escorted her. She took in her surroundings with the calculated mindset of her ninja upbringing. Escape routes, things that could prove as makeshift weapons, anything she could use in case things got violent. She noticed the two men that followed Tamotsu dressed in unassuming black suits with slicked hair. Both carried themselves with a discipline of those well versed in martial arts. The two that followed her on the other hand, did not hold up. The one on her left favored his left side, possibly from his injuries. The other had a subtle slouch, a weakness anyone could capitalize on.
Tamotsu led the way to the top floor. The narrow hallways and tight corridors put a pit in Kasumi's gut. Such confined spaces would limit her movements and handicap her speed.
They entered an office, sparse and bland. In the center sat a single desk with chairs on either side.
"It's been sometime, Kasumi." Tamotsu took the larger chair, forcing Kasumi to take the smaller one. When her weight settled, she noticed a slight wobble. Textbook psychological intimidation. An uneven chair facing away from the entrance, minimum light, and Tamotsu in a dominant position. All designed to make someone in her situation uncomfortable.
The two men she traveled with stood at either side of Tamotsu while the men in suits stood behind her.
"Indeed." Kasumi countered, keeping herself calm. "You're an agent now. Intelligence and reconnaissance?"
"Correct." Tamotsu nodded. "I had hoped to be in Lord Hayate's elite forces, but I go where I am needed. And ever since my assignment, I've been coming up with new ideas to expand our clan's abilities and efficiency in my profession. We've always…employed others outside our group in our endeavors. I simply took the extra step of training them."
She now had the opportunity to appreciate the unsettling realization of Tamotsu being behind the illegal teachings of her clan's fighting style.
"You broke our code. Gave away our secrets." Kasumi countered. "You put our clan in danger."
Kasumi noticed Tamotsu's jaw clenching for a brief moment before he answered. "I will admit I took some liberties with our rules, but only calculated ones. The training I gave was only in the most basic steps. Guidelines. Nothing as serious as what you did."
"Is that why you sent these men after me? They attacked Ayane." Kasumi shot a quick glance to the men behind him.
"Yes, I know." Tamotsu's sour tone matched his face. "There was a…miscommunication." He turned his head to glare at the injured men to his sides. They turned away with smoldering annoyance. "Some disciplinary action had to be made."
A moment passed before Kasumi could respond. "I have made peace with what I have done. I am not proud, nor am I ashamed."
"How…eloquent." Tamotsu somberly replied. Tamotsu played with a pen. The tube spun across his fingers. "But that doesn't change the fact that you must be punished."
"If you were going to kill me, you wouldn't waste time with talk." Kasumi challenged.
"Not necessarily." Tamotsu admitted. "You see, Hayate is a fine leader. I and many others are proud to serve. But there is an issue. You."
Kasumi quietly waited for the man to continue.
"You're like a dark cloud over his head. We don't speak of it, but we all see it. I understand why he drags his feet. Family. But the Mugen Tenshin clan must have a leader capable of making those types of choices. It must have someone who can be a cold-hearted bastard."
Suddenly two pairs of arms restrained her. Cold metal snapped around her wrists. Kasumi tried to squirm out of their grasp, but she could not break their grip.
"I'm going to present you to your brother. And then he'll have to make a choice. You or the clan. Only then will the dark cloud vanish."
Kasumi grit her teeth as the men hoisted her out of the chair and slammed her face down on the desk. As they placed restraints on her ankles, Tamotsu rose from his chair. "I am not sorry about what I must do. But…I am sorry that I must."
He stepped around the desk and approached the door. "You said you made peace with your choice. I disagree." He turned back to Kasumi. "Peace can only come after you face the consequence."
"This is beyond stupid." Seiji muttered. "I mean, you want us to play cops and robbers with real life gangsters?"
Ayane adjusted her hood. The two stood by the road leading to the Itagaki Apartment Complex that held the Kane apartment. The light from the sun waned as it sank deeper into the cityscape. Even with thick clouds, she could tell that they had less than an hour of daylight left. Some streetlights had already kicked on. "If you don't like it, then stay. I'd prefer it actually."
"And leave Alex and Kasumi high and dry? Fuck that." Seiji looked down at both ends of the street. "Only chicken shits turn tail when their friend needs them the most."
"This is out of your depth. You could die." Ayane countered honestly.
"I know." Seiji said, irritated. "I'm still helping, whether you like it or not."
Ayane huffed in amusement. Sometimes it was difficult to tell the difference bravery and stupidity with men. Still, Seiji had a spine. Rather sweet she admitted.
Alex emerged from the main entrance. He held a large black cloth bag, nearly as tall as herself, but thin as her arm. "Sorry, had to dig the bag out from my closet."
"We're okay. Our ride's still a few minutes away."Ayane checked her phone. "How's Wakana?"
Alex slung the bag over his back and placed the strap over his shoulder. "Hungry. Started crying out before I got inside. I used the last of that cat food you had in the fridge."
"I'll get more later." Ayane tapped out a message.
"Are you sure about this? I mean, I feel like we wasted time just coming back here." Alex asked.
"Blundering our way in without a plan or supplies helps no one." Ayane pocketed her phone. "I don't think she's in immediate danger, but…" She trailed off.
"But what?" Alex asked.
"Nothing. Just thinking." Ayane saw Alex's stern look and decided to continue. "Look, from what my sources tell me, this could be delicate. Which makes our job more difficult."
"How much more difficult?" Seiji prodded.
Ayane nodded to Alex's bag. "Enough to get that package."
"I can't believe this." Alex groaned. "Attacks. Kidnapping. Why now? Why is all this shit happening to us? Nothing like this was happening before you showed…"
Alex deflated when his eyes met Ayane's. A sharp pain dropped down her heart.
"I mean…" Alex cast his gaze down. "I'm sorry, it's not your fault."
"Maybe it is." Ayane admitted. "But it doesn't matter right now."
He shook his head. "She doesn't deserve this shit. And nether do you."
An uncomfortable moment passed. Alex shifted his weight. The frustration radiated from him like heat. Unable to act in the moment, Ayane could sympathize.
Seiji chimed in, possibly to break the silence. "So, what are we facing?"
"Not 100 percent sure, but my sources tell me a small number of men. A dozen maybe." Ayane answered.
"How reliable are your sources?" Seiji asked.
"The best." Ayane stated as an absolute fact. She looked down the street. "In fact, there he is."
A dull blue Toyota pulled up next to the trio.
"You two in back. I got shotgun." Ayane pulled open the passenger door. "No complaints."
Alex and Seiji got in without issue, only having to place the bag across their laps. A pair of piercing green eyes met his in the rear view mirror. Alex's heart flopped like a dying rabbit. The sharp image of Kasumi with the same man during his school trip to the beach flashed in his mind.
"Lord Hayabusa, thank you for coming." Ayane spoke with respect that Alex never heard before.
"I wish I could do more for Kasumi, "The man stated formally. "But since this is an internal matter for the Mugen Tenshin, getting further involved will lead to strife between our clans." He glanced into the mirror again. "Although bringing non-combatants isn't the best idea."
Ayane bowed her head. "I know, but our options are limited. Allow me to introduce Seiji Shimono and Alex Kane." She turned to the two friends. "Seiji. Alex. This is Ryu Hayabusa."
"Hello." Alex forced himself to say, his head still a flurry of thoughts. "And thank you for your help."
Ryu nodded respectfully.
"Whoa, whoa, whoa." Seiji waved his hands. "I'm sorry, but did you say Ryu Hayabusa? Like the Ryu Hayabusa from the Dead or Alive Tournaments?!"
Ayane's eyes darted away for a moment. "Y…yes."
"Holy sh-." Seiji's posture snapped to attention. "Mr. Hayabusa it is an honor to meet you. I'm a huge, huge fan. The fight you had with Jan Lee last year, got that memorized. I mean, that move where you toss him in the air and do that corkscrew thing, just badass man. How you do it is-"
As the words spilled from Seiji's mouth Alex gave his friend a sideways glance. Never had he heard his friend get so…worked up over anything.
Seiji saw Ayane's glare. "Uh, sorry, Mr. Hayabusa. Got carried away." Seiji bowed his head.
"It's alright." Ryu replied. The trio buckled up as the car slipped back onto the road.
"Kasumi's being held at a small nightclub called Aquamarine. It's downtown by the business district." Ryu divulged. "However, it's true purpose is a front for a Mugen Tenshin spy ring."
"Spy ring?" Seiji repeated. "Spying on what?"
"It…sounds more glamorous than it is." Ayane answered hesitantly. "Anyone can be a spy. All they need to do is look and listen. We have them everywhere, even street level."
"Is this something you should be telling us?" Seiji countered. "I mean, we're not in your clan or anything."
She gave Seiji an amused smirk. "You gonna blab about us to anyone?"
"Just asking." Seiji turned away.
"The Mugen Tenshin operating from the Aquamarine had a new commander posted a few years ago." Ryu continued. "Tamotsu. He's been known to be unusually aggressive in his work."
"Tamotsu?" Ayane's brow furrowed. "I know him. He became a full-fledged ninja around the same time as Lord Hayate."
"Indeed. He's one of Hayate's most vocal supporters. Recently, though, he's become more hardline. He thinks the Mugen Tenshin should have a more active role in affairs. Specifically with Kasumi."
Alex's heart flopped. "Is that why he kidnapped her?" He pressed.
"I'm afraid I don't know for certain, but it would fit with what I know of the situation." Ryu replied. "Did you get the PDF of the building plans?" He directed to Ayane.
"Yes. I'm going over them now." Ayane's finger danced over her smartphone's screen. "I'm amazed that you have this information. How did you get it so quickly?"
"I may have someone I know who works in this ring." Ryu shrugged.
Ayane cocked an eyebrow. "Do you now?"
"Nothing insidious, I assure you." Ryu calmly retorted. "Just some people who owes me a favor."
"I see." Ayane smirked and went back to her phone.
Alex had to physically force his jaw to relax least he grind his teeth into powder.
After a few minutes of silence Ryu spoke up again. "Why did you take in Kasumi?"
Ayane and Seiji froze for a moment before turning to Alex.
"I…because…" Alex struggled. "It was…something that just happened. I guess. I really don't know how. But now…" Alex licked his lips. "Now I think it's…it was the right thing to do."
Ryu studied him in the mirror. "I understand."
Ryu's car lazily rolled down the street. The line to get into the Aquamarine wrapped around the block. People in gaudy clothing spoke in groups or had their faces buried in the phones. The front of the club had a simple neon sign, no fancy decorations, no velvet ropes, and only two men in black shirts and coats for bouncers.
"Looks packed tonight." Seiji regarded the scene while pressed against the glass.
"It's the weekend." Ayane answered.
Alex gripped his door handle, ready to bolt out the second the car stopped. The niggling doubts in his mind did not slow the surge of adrenaline in his veins.
"Drop us off here." Ayane pocketed her phone. "You two remember the plan?"
"Yes." Alex coldly replied.
"Ready when you are." Seiji nodded.
"Thank you again for your support, Lord Hayabusa." Ayane bowed her head.
"I'm afraid this is all I can do." Ryu applied the brakes. "But it is I who should thank you. Kasumi is just as important to me as your brother. And you."
Alex saw a hint of crimson in Ayane's cheeks.
"We will save her." Ayane declared and opened her door.
Once Ryu pulled away, the trio approached the entrance. Ayane took point. Alex zeroed in on the entrance, everything else fell by the wayside.
One of the bouncers saw the teens approach and held up a hand. "Hey, back of the line!"
Alex briefly glanced to his companions. Seiji kept pace with a clenched jaw and eyes forward. Ayane's saunter was a mixture of grace and precision. Neither looked like they were backing down.
Ayane had made it clear to everyone. The Aquamarine was too cramped for stealth, the timing was too soon, and the people and resources they had on hand where too low. They had only one option available. Brute force.
A few attendees in the line took a lethargic interest. The second bouncer tore himself from berating the young man in the front of the line to come the other's side. Ayane picked up her pace. The first bouncer reached out to her when she came within a foot of him. Alex saw Ayane move, he could not see what she did clearly, but both men fell. The crowd gasped and hollered. Cell phones popped up to record. The trio slipped into the door.
"We're coming, Kasumi." Alex thought. "We're coming."