Insertion

 

    Part 68

 

    Vahn's Revenge Part one.

 

+++++++++++++++++

 

    Usagi Hibiki sat in front of her mother with a
grin 
on her face as she ate breakfast. The woman
was frowning at her and looking 
thoughtful. The
morning lesson had gone off without a hitch,
Yusaku 
included. It had been that way for several
days now. Though no one spoke of 
the incident that
had occurred two weeks before.

 

    "What are you so happy about?" grumbled the
woman 
irritably.

 

    "Nothing," said the girl cheerfully.

 

    "Right," muttered Yohiko as she turned her
head 
away.

 

    Inside the woman's mind, the group was
speculating 
what had occurred.

 

    "You know, she's been real happy for the past
week or 
so," commented Dan.

 

    "She's probably overjoyed that I'm getting
laid," 
grumbled Xianfu.

 

    "Yeah, you don't seem to share the mood," 
said
Carrot.

 

    "Maybe if I was enjoying it I might," said the
woman 
in retort.

 

    "Yeah, but you keep coming back," said 
Carrot
cheerfully.

 

    "You're convenient. Four hours a day isn't
enough to 
find a boyfriend and start a
relationship on my own."

 

    "Yusaku would be happy to oblige," 
commented
Dan.

 

    "You stay out of this!" snapped Xianfu.

 

    "Whatever," muttered Ranma angrily.

 

    Pissant kept silent, not wanting to anger his
fellow 
'roommates' unnecessarily.

 

    "I think it's just that I'm a better lay,"
commented 
Carrot indifferently.

 

    "Yeah, that does help," said Xianfu with the
same 
indifference.

 

    "Well, at any rate, she's acting like you
should be. 
I wonder who the lucky guy is?" said
Dan.

 

    "Don't even joke about that!" snapped Xianfu
in 
shock.

 

    "It's too easy," said Dan with an 
amused
chuckle.

 

    Ranma arched their eyebrows slightly as they
turned 
to look at their daughter again. "You know,
that kinda makes sense."

 

    "What?" muttered Xianfu in horror. "No! 
She
wouldn't?"

 

    "Hey, don't forget who her mother is. We
modeled her 
after the real one," commented Carrot
with a frown on their face.

 

    "..."

 

    "It's time to go to work," said Pissant hoping
to end 
the discussion.

 

+++++++++++++

 

    "Miss Hibiki!" said a familiar voice as 
Yohiko
entered the school grounds. The woman winced as
she turned to see a 
very cheerful Akane Tendo
rushing up to them.

 

    "Good morning, Akane," she said with a 
false
cheerfulness on her face.

 

    "I'm glad to see you're well," said the girl
as she 
bowed to her.

 

    "Well, anyone can catch a little flu now and
then," 
said the woman as she returned the
formality with a much lighter bow.

 

    "Yes, it was terrible while you were gone,"
said the 
girl sourly. "That substitute just wasn't
the same."

 

    "You're bordering on brown nosing, Akane,"
replied 
the woman with a playful smirk.

 

    The girl blushed and laughed slightly at the
jab. 
"Sorry."

 

    "Don't worry about it," replied Yohiko as 
she
strolled towards the building. "Aren't you here a
little early 
today?"

 

    "Yes, I'm...not going to class today," replied
the 
girl with a blush on her face. "I'm
transferring out of Furinkan. I'll miss 
this
place, and I'll really miss you. I hate to leave,
but..."

 

    Yohiko blinked dumbly. "Pardon?"

 

    "I'm moving in with my fiancee," said the girl
a 
little sadly. "My father doesn't know yet."

 

    "Fiancee?" said the woman as her face suddenly
became 
serious. "I thought that..."

 

    "No, not him," said the girl with a sudden
pain 
flashing on her face. "You know him, it's
Shinnosuke. We're old friends from 
when I was very
young. We've been keeping in contact through
letters, 
and..."

 

    The older woman blinked and smiled at her.
"So, he 
asked you to marry him?"

 

    "Yes, a month ago. I just recently accepted,"
said 
the girl as she turned away from her.

 

    Yohiko smirked and laughed gently. "I'm
surprised he 
remembered."

 

    "Really?" said the girl as her face fell.

 

    "Well, I suppose I shouldn't be, I did tattoo
it on 
the back of his hand after all," she
amended.

 

    Akane smiled. "Yes, thank you."

 

    "Well, when will you be leaving?"

 

    "I'm going to pack now," replied the girl.

 

    "Well, good luck to you then," said the woman.

 

    "Miss Yohiko?" asked Akane as she turned to
face the 
woman.

 

    "Yes Akane?"

 

    "You never did tell me why you were there. 
At
Ryuugenzawa I mean."

 

    The older woman's face fell and she blinked.
"Oh 
that." She scratched the back of her head and
laughed nervously. "I'm afraid 
it's quite simple.
I saw you leaving and I was bored, so I 
followed
you."

 

    Akane blinked. "Huh?"

 

    "There really isn't much to do outside of this
town 
you know," said the woman with a shrug.

 

    "You followed me all the way there?" gasped
the girl 
as she stared at her. "That's like..."

 

    "Yes, well...I didn't come across anything
more 
interesting while I was after you," she said
as she chuckled.

 

    "Oh," replied Akane with a small shrug. She
grabbed 
the woman around her waist and hugged her.
"I'll really miss you, Miss 
Yohiko."

 

    "It won't be the same without you here dear,"
replied 
the woman with a short nod. "It'll be a
lot more peaceful," she thought to 
herself.

 

    "Yes," said Akane as she let go and stepped
back with 
a blush on her face as she realized that
the woman's breasts almost 
completely enveloped
her head.

 

    "Send me an invitation to the wedding all
right? I'll 
try to make it. It would be nice to
see the boy again, he was very nice, if a 
little
absent minded."

 

    "I promise I will!" said the teary eyed girl
as she 
turned and dashed away suddenly.

 

    "That was unusual," commented Yohiko as she
noted the 
abruptness of the girl's exit.

 

    Yohiko smirked to herself and stopped walking
towards 
the building. She turned and noticed that
the students were starting to file 
in. "Hmmm..."

 

++++++++++++

 

    "Why are you standing here?"

 

    Tatewaki Kuno turned to look at the woman who
had 
asked him the question and nodded his
greeting. "Ah, my beloved..."

 

    She punched him in the gut and stopped the
speech 
rather quickly. "Just answer the question."

 

    "I await my love, Akane Tendo, so that we
might spar 
this day. I must prove my love..." He
was cut off as she leveled a glare at 
him. "Off
school grounds of course."

 

    "Of course," she said with a smirk forming on
her 
lips. "Sorry to tell you, Akane Tendo isn't
coming to school anymore."

 

    "So, she has sought the path of an 
honorable
housewife to prepare for her life with myself! Oh,
I knew it 
must be so. She pines away for me in her
bridal training!"

 

    "You know, you're not that far off the mark,
but no. 
She isn't at home pining for you. She
decided to move in with her 
fiancee."

 

    Kuno froze. "Pardon?"

 

    "She went to live with her fiancee," replied
Yohiko 
calmly.

 

    "So! The cur, Saotome, has decided to return
at last? 
I shall destroy him..."

 

    "Actually, it isn't Ranma. I believe the boy's
name 
is...Shinnosuke. I think that's right."
Yohiko pondered for a moment. "He 
lives in some
legendary valley or something, no big deal. She
left this 
morning."

 

    "What?!" roared the boy. "I shall not 
allow
it!"

 

    "There really isn't anything you can do about
it," 
said the woman cheerfully. She was enjoying
this a little too much. "She's 
already gone, and
she seemed quite happy with her decision."

 

    "Base lies!" snarled Kuno.

 

    The woman put him into a rather painful
headlock. 
"Are you calling me a liar?"

 

    Kuno started to sweat nervously. "No, you must
have 
been fooled by the foul sorcerer's illusion!"

 

    "Oh, well then," she said as she released him.
"I 
suppose I can accept that."

 

    "I must go and save her from..."

 

    "Well, you don't know where she is," said
Yohiko 
cheerfully.

 

    Kuno stopped moving and looked at her. "What?"

 

    "You don't know where she is," repeated 
the
woman.

 

    By this point, students who were absorbing 
the
information for spreading within the student
population surrounded 
them.

 

    "Tell me! I must save her..."

 

    "My! Tatewaki, you aren't planning to skip
school 
today are you? You don't look sick to me.
I'm sure your father would be 
delighted to hear
that!"

 

    "Indeed, he understands the concept of Honor
on some 
level then..."

 

    "I understand he just bought a new set of
barber's 
sheers and is just itching to try them
out!" said the woman happily.

 

    Kuno froze and went as white as a sheet.
"Perhaps, I 
shall wait until later to rescue my
love. It would not do for such a noble 
person as
myself to fall behind in his studies."

 

    "Quite," replied Yohiko.

 

    The boy staggered towards his first class in a
rather 
pathetic display.

 

    "Next," said Yohiko to herself as she noticed
Shampoo 
and Ukyo approaching.

 

    "Hello girls," said the woman as she walked up
to 
them.

 

    "Miss Yohiko?" said Ukyo dumbly. It was very
unusual 
to see her outside of the room this late
in the morning. Especially since 
Ranma had left
them.

 

    "It's nice to see you today," said the woman
as she 
grinned at the pair.

 

    "What is teacher wanting?" said Shampoo as she
looked 
up at her. She was wearing her usual
Chinese clothes, but had a school bag 
slung over
her shoulder. Enrolling in Furinkan was one of
Cologne's ploys 
to keep the girl occupied and away
from her 'Airen'.

 

    "Well, I thought you might want to know that
Akane is 
leaving," said the woman.

 

    "Huh?" muttered Ukyo.

 

    "Yes, she's moving in with her new fiancee."

 

    "Shampoo not care," said the girl sourly.

 

    "I knew that Old Man Tendo was a jerk. He's
gotten 
her engaged again?" snapped Ukyo angrily.

 

    "Actually, he doesn't know yet. She stopped by
to say 
goodbye before she left and told me,"
replied Yohiko cheerfully. "His name 
is
Shinnosuke. He's a very nice boy, I met him once.
I think she'll be 
happy with him."

 

    "Is good," said Shampoo with a shrug.

 

    "I guess," muttered Ukyo. She had no real
anger for 
the girl, and even considered her
somewhat of a friend. The information had a 
plus
side as well. Akane was out of her way in her
revenge on Ranma.

 

    "It seems the troupe is drifting apart," said
Yohiko 
with a wistful smile on her face as she
watched them leave.

 

++++++++++++

 

    "You're late, Miss Tendo," said Yohiko as she
sat 
behind her desk and remained looking down at
the book in her hands.

 

    Nabiki handed her a note from the office 
and
shrugged. "I had some personal business to take
care of at 
home."

 

    "Yes, Akane told me she was leaving today.
Take your 
seat," said the woman as she pointed at
the desk. "I think everyone in the 
school knows
about it by now."

 

    Nabiki's jaw dropped like a rock. "Huh?"

 

    "I told them. What are you gonna do about it?"
said 
the woman's confident smirk as she eyed the
girl for a moment. "Are you just 
going to stand
there?"

 

    Nabiki hung her head and slowly stalked
towards her 
desk. She was out of the loan
sharking, gambling, and photo business. 
Selling
information wasn't illegal though, and she had
continued that part 
of her business despite the
fall of her blackmailer.

 

++++++++++++++

 

    "You had no right," seethed Nabiki as she
glared at 
the woman during the lunch break.

 

    "Oh? Didn't I?" said Yohiko calmly as she
watched the 
girl coolly. They were standing in the
hall, opposing one another.

 

    "Akane was my sister," said Nabiki 
in
frustration.

 

    "Really? What do you think Kuno would have
done when 
you told him?"

 

    "What does it matter?" snapped the girl as she
turned 
her head away.

 

    "You'll notice that he's still here, whether
or not 
that lasts all day is still in question,
but he is still here."

 

    Nabiki blinked. "What?"

 

    "He'd have gone charging off after her. You
would 
have worded telling Shampoo and Ukyo
differently, making them think that 
Akane was with
Ranma," continued the woman as she turned her head
away 
from her in a mocking gesture. "Sending both
of them after her as 
well."

 

    Nabiki looked at the floor. "It's none of 
your
business."

 

    "Akane is something of a friend, at least to
Miss 
Yohiko," replied the woman with a shrug.

 

    "She hates you," snapped Nabiki.

 

    "The real me, yes," agreed the woman. "I find
myself 
liking her a little anyway. Strange girl,
hot tempered, even a little 
violent. Still, she
has a good heart, if not a good head on 
her
shoulders."

 

    Nabiki growled.

 

    "You don't have the right to ruin this for
her. She 
finally has the chance to be happy, and
escape from this place. Something 
I've noticed
you're longing to do."

 

    Nabiki's frowned deepened.

 

    "Akane got out first, and you're jealous.
Don't try 
to pass this off as something for the
family, or protecting her. Shinnosuke 
is
honorable, and a good man. He will make her happy
I believe."

 

    "What do you mean jealous?" snapped Nabiki.

 

    "You're as much of a brat as she is at 
times,
Nabiki," said the woman as her features lightened.
"You're throwing 
a tantrum because she left you
behind to move on with her life, instead of 
the
other way around."

 

    "I like Nerima fine," said the girl angrily.

 

    "Really? Then why are all the colleges you're
trying 
for happen to be as far away from here as
you can manage?"

 

    Nabiki froze and stared at her.

 

    "I've been keeping an eye on you, and your
academics. 
It is my job Nabiki. You show a lot of
promise, and you'll succeed I think, 
probably
quite easily. However, don't drag down your
sister's one chance 
at happiness now. You'll
regret it later."

 

    The girl turned away from her, angrily at
first as 
she stormed away. Her hurried walk slowed
to a snails pace as she moved away 
and mulled over
the problem silently.

 

    Yohiko smirked and strolled towards the
teacher's 
lounge for her lunch.

 

++++++++++++++

 

    "You goin to da date wit da big..."

 

    The door to the lounge exploded as Kochou Kuno
flew 
from the room. Yohiko strolled out and dusted
off her hands as she turned 
towards her next class
as the bell rang. "Give it up you loser."

 

    The rest of the day was uneventful.

 

+++++++++++

 

    Usagi frowned as she glared daggers into the
back of 
Jadeite's head. He was three feet in front
of her, sitting at his desk with a 
smirk on his
face as he ignored the lesson and seemed to
daydream.

 

    "Nothing, I can't do anything!" she growled
mentally. 
School had become one long frustration.
Her work was suffering because of it 
and she knew
it. "If only I could get that bastard, I could go
back to 
normal again!" She frowned at the thought.
Perhaps normal wasn't a good word 
for it, she'd at
least be able to study again.

 

    The boy glanced back at her over his shoulder
and 
smirked. It had frightened her the first time
he'd done that. She was 
wondering if he'd
discovered her secret. However, as much as she
watched 
him, she'd realized he did that to pretty
much all the girls.

 

    Most of them pined for him, asked him 
out,
practically threw themselves at him. She wondered
if they would if 
they really knew. "Well, Mitsuki
probably would, but not the others," she 
thought
to herself a little nervously as she took a glance
towards the 
quiet looking girl in the front row.

 

    Who knows what the school would think if they
knew 
the teacher's pet kept a leather bodice and
crotchless vinyl panties in her 
gym bag. She was
thankful that the deodorant the girl had asked her
to 
fetch for her in the locker room one day wasn't
any deeper than that. She 
didn't want to know what
was under those.

 

    The bell rang and the students stood up to go
to 
lunch.

 

+++++++++++

 

    "Isn't he dreamy?" said one of the girls in
the group 
she ate lunch with.

 

    Usagi frowned and glared at Jadeite on the
opposite 
side of the field. "No. I think he's a
jerk."

 

    The two girls on either side of her looked at
her as 
if she'd grown a second head.

 

    "What?" gasped the one on her right.

 

    "You can't be serious! He's always so polite,
so 
dashing! He treats all the girls so, so..."

 

    "Romantically!" finished the other as the
first girl 
struggled to find the right word.

 

    "That's just a front. He's a monster," 
growled
Usagi.

 

    "You sound like you know something," said the
one on 
her right with a seriously worried gasp.

 

    "It's nothing. I can just tell, he's 
hiding
something, and it isn't good," said the girl as
she continued to 
glare at the boy.

 

    "You're just being paranoid," said the 
other
girl.

 

    "I only wish I was," she thought to herself.
"I don't 
like him, besides, I've got..." she cut
herself off abruptly.

 

    Both girls squealed as they jumped in front of
her. 
"Tell us! You've met someone haven't you!
Details! Details!" They both said 
this in a rather
disturbing unison.

 

    Usagi blushed badly and turned her head away.
"His 
name is Ryoga, he doesn't go here."

 

    "What's he like?" cried one of the girls.

 

    "Just Ryoga?" said the other one in confusion.

 

    Usagi blinked and stared at the second girl.
"You 
know, I don't think I ever asked him what his
family name was."

 

    "You mean you don't know?" said the pair at
the same 
time again.

 

    "No," muttered Usagi in a sort of surprise.
"He's 
always been so mysterious..."

 

    "A mysterious and handsome man? Wai!" cried
one of 
the girls.

 

    "That sounds so romantic!" agreed the other.

 

    "Yeah, I suppose it is," said Usagi.

 

    "Where does he live? Can we meet him?" asked
the 
pair.

 

    "I don't know. We just sort of keep bumping
into one 
another," said Usagi as she blushed
again.

 

    "Um, you're dating right?" said the first one
as she 
looked at her friend oddly.

 

    "Yeah! Of course we are!" said Usagi crossly.

 

    "You don't know where he lives?" said the
other one 
dumbly.

 

    "It...never came up," said the pigtailed 
girl
lamely.

 

    "Usa-chan! I can't believe you!" said one of
the 
girls in a scandalized tone. "Secret
rendezvous!"

 

    "Yeah, kinda," commented the girl to herself.
She 
seemed to realize all at once that Ryoga had
no idea who she really was. He'd 
only known her as
Sailor Moon, he'd never even seen the real her.
Not that 
there was much difference, only her hair
color and outfit changed really. "I 
should do
something about that...but not yet." Doubt started
to form in 
her mind.

 

    "What if Ryoga only likes blondes? What if
he's some 
sort of bum? I've never seen his house!
What if..." She sighed and hung her 
head.

 

    "Hello," said a familiar voice.

 

    Usagi and her friends looked up to see 
Jadeite
standing over them with his confident smirk on his
face.

 

    "What is it?" said Usagi coldly. Her heart 
was
racing. "Does he know?" screamed her mind. Her
clothes shifted 
slightly against her skin, ready
to spring to action in defense of her 
friends.

 

    Jadeite ignored the two girls on either side
of her 
and stared directly at Usagi. "Have...we
met somewhere before? I keep 
thinking we have, and
it's been bugging me for a while now. I can't
place 
you."

 

    "No," said the girl firmly as she glared up at
him, 
her eyes challenging him to try something.

 

    "Are you certain? I'm pretty sure. I can't
figure it 
out though," he said as he continued to
look down at her a little harder than 
before.

 

    "I don't think so," she insisted calmly. A war
was 
going on between their eyes.

 

    "Hmmm. Maybe I've just seen you walking around
town 
before," he said with a shrug as he turned
away and left them.

 

    Usagi continued to glare at him as he 
moved
away.

 

    "Sorry to bother you then," he said as he
waved at 
them with his back turned as he walked.

 

    "Did...he just hit on Usagi?" muttered one of
the 
girls dumbly.

 

    "Waaaahhh! I wish he'd done that to me! He
would pick 
the one girl who doesn't like him!"
cried the other.

 

    Usagi merely looked down at the half empty
bento in 
her lap and growled. "Damn! Does he know?
Is he just toying with me? Is it 
that he suspects
and he's trying to figure it out? Or is it just
that he 
really thinks I'm someone he's just seen
before?" She sighed and slowly 
started eating
again, knowing the questions would go unanswered
for some 
time to come.

 

++++++++++++

 

    Jadeite turned around a corner to a deserted
area of 
the school grounds and smirked at the
figure who stood before him. "Hello 
Jadeite."

 

    "You're toying with her," said Xellos calmly.

 

    "So what?" he snorted casually as he leaned
against 
the wall and crossed his arms over his
chest.

 

    "You're treading on dangerous waters," said
Xellos 
with a slight anger in his eyes.

 

    "Are you afraid you might get blamed for
this?"

 

    "I'm not worried about this one, they don't
know how 
much of my power I've retained in this
world. They aren't a danger to me 
here."

 

    "It still isn't wise to cross them too much,"
said 
Jadeite with a small chuckle. "I'll do my
job, don't worry."

 

    "Me? Worry about you? You can get yourself
destroyed 
on this world for all I care. We both
know not much will come of a death here 
for any of
us."

 

    "Hurt her, and L-sama could be angry. That's
unwise," 
said Xellos. "There are certain things we
can't do, and you know it."

 

    "What? You're worried about that? Ha!" said
Jadeite 
calmly. "I'm just pulling her chain a
little. I remember what I'm supposed to 
do here.
She's nothing more than an irritation. It's hard
to work around 
her that way."

 

    "Heh. I've been keeping up my end, it's almost
time," 
said Xellos. "Just don't screw up yours."

 

    "Right," said Jadeite casually. "You worry too
much. 
I'll make sure the brat is there. We still
have a little time before things 
come to a head."

 

    "Don't get careless and let her kill you in
that 
body. They need to be apart from the
beginning. Your current activity is 
secondary to
that, don't forget it," replied Xellos.

 

    "I'm..."

 

    "Seriously limited, unlike me. You need to
watch 
yourself, don't get cocky or careless. That
child is quite capable of killing 
you under the
right circumstances. I'm not telling you to stop
playing 
your little game, but don't get stupid. We
have other objectives."

 

    "Right," grumbled Jadeite as he turned away.
"Just 
don't forget that I'm not your servant
Jadeite."

 

    "I'll try to remember that," said Xellos as 
he
vanished into the shadows.

 

++++++++++++++

 

    "Oh, Tamahome! No! You can't..."

 

    "Sir!" cried a voice as the door behind Tanaka
opened 
suddenly. He jerked upright and quickly hid
what was in his hands under the 
desk. His back was
facing the door and he frowned deeply.

 

    "You didn't see anything did you?" he 
snapped
angrily.

 

    "No sir! I didn't see you reading your shojo
manga 
again sir!" said the man firmly.

 

    "Good. What is it?" snapped Tanaka as he
turned and 
looked at the man behind him.

 

    "They're here sir!" said the large man as he
stepped 
aside.

 

    "Good!" said the small Japanese man as he
stood up 
and dusted off his jacket lapel. He was
wearing a dark blue business suit. 
His tie was
perfectly in place and he stood up from the small
cluttered 
desk. "Is everything ready?"

 

    "Yes sir, everything is set," said the man
calmly as 
he motioned with his arm for the man to
move by him.

 

    "Excellent," replied Tanaka coldly as he
stepped out 
into the large warehouse.

 

    Inside were hundreds of machine parts, motors
and 
various other car parts were stacked high into
the air within the almost 
pitch black room.

 

    Standing in the center of the room, were
several men 
who were also dressed in suits. They
were grouped together defensively, with 
some of
the men carrying briefcases.

 

    Tanaka smirked as he noticed the older man
standing 
in the middle of the men. He was dressed
in what appeared to be samurai 
clothing. A sword
hung from his side and a scowl was on his 
aged
face.

 

    "Tanaka, what is this?" said the old man
angrily. 
"We've got business to discuss, and I
don't like waiting."

 

    "I apologize," said Tanaka with a small bow.
The only 
other man in the room was his own
bodyguard; the man who had fetched 
him.

 

    "Well, we should get this over with," snorted
the old 
man.

 

    "Yes, I agree," said Tanaka as he pulled a
pair of 
glasses out of his pocket and put them on
his face casually.

 

    "Your boss must relinquish control of the
southern 
pier to me by midnight on Friday of next
week," stated the old man calmly. 
"Those are my
terms, no negotiations. I hold control of the
surrounding 
area, and will take it by force if
need be."

 

    "So you say," said Tanaka calmly.

 

    "What is this?" snapped the man as his 
scowl
deepened.

 

    "My employer does not agree with that
assessment," 
said the small man with a serious
expression on his face. "We will hold the 
property
quite easily."

 

    "Bah," snorted the old man in disgust. 
"You
overestimate your resources, and underestimate my
own. Tell that fool 
that he is as stupid as he
ever was! Where is he! I was supposed to meet 
him
here. I didn't come all this way just to look at
your disgusting 
face!"

 

    Tanaka smirked and shook his head. "He's not
here. I 
don't think you'll be taking that property
if you never give the 
order."

 

    The old man stepped back in shock. "What 
is
this?"

 

    "A trap," said Tanaka as a huge stack of
engines fell 
in front of him, creating a huge
burst of noise and hiding him and his 
bodyguard
from view.

 

    "What? You said the building was clear!"
snapped the 
old man as he turned to look at his
men.

 

    "There's no one in here but us!" cried the man
next 
to him as he showed the old man a thermal
readout on the small laptop 
computer at his side.

 

    A low humming noise suddenly started in front
of 
them. Something like a pressurized thump hit
the ground, and then the noise 
repeated. It
sounded like mechanical footsteps.

 

    "You are mistaken," said a new voice from 
the
shadows. It was a heavily accented gaijin voice.

 

    "Who is there?" cried the old man angrily as
he 
raised his arm into the air.

 

    The briefcases the men around him were
carrying were 
opened within a split second, all of
them were now armed with small automatic 
weapons.

 

    "You were supposed to come unarmed," said the
voice 
coldly.

 

    "Yes, a trap for my old rival, it seems we
think 
alike," said the old man with a chuckle.

 

    "Not really, my employer was smart enough not
to 
come," said Tanaka's voice from a speaker
system somewhere in the room.

 

    "A fitting deception. It seems we have a
standoff. 
We'll be leaving now," said the old man
calmly as he turned to walk 
away.

 

    The sound of automatic gunfire exploded from
the 
shadows and one of his bodyguards' head
exploded in a spray of red.

 

    "There!" cried the others as they fired in 
the
direction the shot had come from. Bullets filled
the air, ricocheting 
off of metal as they vanished
into the shadows.

 

    "You missed," said the old man as he started
walking 
away again.

 

    "No, I hit exactly what I was aiming for,"
said the 
gajin's voice.

 

    "What?" said the old man in disbelief.

 

    The strange mechanical sound started again,
much 
faster this time as it moved closer, still
cloaked in shadows.

 

    The men saw something moving towards them, a
huge 
mass of shadows and darkness. They fired on
it, but it didn't even stop its 
momentum as it
charged forward.

 

    The last thing the old man saw was a huge
metal claw 
reaching for his face.

 

+++++++++++++

 

    "Heh, our trap was better," said Tanaka as he
watched 
the scene play out before him. The muffled
sounds of desperate gunfire halted 
suddenly as a
large caliber weapon came to life and decimated
the small 
band of Yakuza.

 

    "Yes sir," said his assistant calmly.

 

    "Vahn, are you finished yet?" he asked over
the 
intercom.

 

    "They are dead," said the calm voice icily.

 

    "I can see that," replied Tanaka.

 

    "Good, I grow tired of this though," said 
the
voice.

 

    "Patience. You'll get your revenge," said
Tanaka 
coldly. "Your life belongs to us though.
Don't forget that. We gave you 
everything, and you
were dead when we found you."

 

    "I was alive," replied the voice. "Now I 
am
dead."

 

    "You might as well have been dead," snorted
Tanaka 
without much interest. "This 'Shadow' will
show up sooner or later. When he 
interferes with
our operations again, you can have him. We don't
need you 
tearing around Tokyo looking for him. As
strong as you are, it won't take 
long for the JSDF
to destroy you. You can't hide easily as you are."

 

    "I understand," said the voice.

 

    "See that you don't forget that," said Tanaka.
"We 
can protect you from that, you're quite useful
to us."

 

    "I can hide, but I will not forget my debt,"
said 
Vahn. "I will fulfill my end. I will destroy
the Shadow, and finally avenge 
myself and my
brothers."

 

    "Yes, do that," said Tanaka in a patronizing
tone. 
"Until then, you remain patient."

 

    "I do not like being patient," snapped Vahn.

 

    "Well, I could shut you down, and put someone
else 
inside that thing. It would be quite painful,
but I'm sure we could find a 
more willing
volunteer..."

 

    "No. I will wait...for now."

 

    "Good boy."

 

++++++++++++++++

 

    TBC...

 

    Next Time: Jadeite Strikes!


 

Perfect Carrot- Consuming the universe, one Aspect at a time.


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