[FIC] Girl and Gang Visit Hinata: Havoc Ensues (part five)
Posted: Sat Dec 13, 2003 2:11 am
Kitsune was not having any fun, and fun was THE meaning of life. She liked causing trouble, not babysitting it. It was cold, dark, and damp in the tunnel alcove, and she had collected an impressive set of bruises, scrapes, and bite marks while holding onto Sara.
Things might have gone better if there had been sake. Lots of sake.
And Seta.
Fortunately for Kitsune, it was too dark for Sara to see her blushing. “You don’t have to be afraid, honey. I’ll take care of you. I can be like a mother for you.” That would be a good way to get closer to Seta. If only that man would notice her!
“What’s so good about having a mother, any way!” Sara exclaimed. She kicked the older woman in the shin, hard. Twice. “You just like my daddy. I don’t like anyone getting close to him but ME!!!. She bit Kitsune’s wrist savagely, causing her to loosen her grip. She took off running like she was shot out of a cannon.
Sarah ran right into the arms of Seta, who was just then stepping back into the hideaway. “Happy to see me, are you?’ Seta smiled, hugging Sara. “Was she any trouble?” Seta asked Kitsune.
“Uh…no…of course not. We get along very well. She can stay with me any time. Any place you go, I’d be happy to come along and watch after her….” Kitsune knew that Naru liked Keitaro.---her crush on Seta was over. She wouldn’t be hurting her friend if she tried to further her own cause.
“Heh heh heh” Kurz had watched the exchange. As amazing as Seta was, he didn’t have a clue how Kitsune felt. As for Kitsune, Kurz now had a little something he could tease her with if necessary. “There’s just something about caves. They’re so romantic. Don’t you think, Seta?” Looking at Kitsune’s face, Kurz laughed.
“Yes, they are. You’re quite a friendly fellow, aren’t you. I hope I didn’t give you any wrong ideas when we were spying.” Kitsune started laughing when she heard Kurz sputtering.
“There was a secret civilization in the caves under the Paramint Mountains in Death Valley. Their hieroglyphics told of many tales of romance.” Seta went on to describe those tales. He talked about the ancient city of Moenjadara in the Indus valley and its dating etiquette. He reminisced about the carved love letters found with the Rongorongo tablets of Easter Island. He had begun detailing the courtship rituals of the kingdom of Kush.
“Seta, don’t you think we should pass along our messages…see these ladies out of here…and go back and start work on our sabotage plans?” Kurz had hated history class. He had an urge to shoot someone or blow something up.
“Right! Of course, Sgt. Weber.” Seta mussed Sara’s hair and turned to Kitsune. “We have to find a way to get you and Sara to the surface. The Inn and the surrounding town are in great danger. You’ll need to brief Sgt. Major Mao and Sgt. Sagara. They’ll take things from there. Make certain to tell Haruka that this is just like Bangladesh.. Got that? Just like Bangladesh….”
“But, Daddy, I don’t want to go back with those LOSERS!!! I want to go with YOU!!!” Sara grabbed ahold of her adoptive father.
“Now Sara…”
“I can go too, Seta. I can watch after Sara.” Kitsune was insistant. Sara nodded her head. “We’ll be safe with you and Kurz looking after us. Besides, we’re lost, and probably can’t find a way out. The only way up is probably where those noises are.”
“You may be right about that….”
Suddenly, they all felt a slight tremor in the rock around them. Dirt sifted down through cracks in the rock. A few smaller fragments of rock shook loose. A faint rasping sound grew consistently louder. Soon, the stalagtites in the dome-shaped alcove area began falling, sending the four occupants jumping, dodging, and rolling.
“Let’s MOVE, people.” Kurz shouted, grabbing Kitsune’s arm moments before Seta scooped up Sara and ran. With a strong tug, the young mercenary pulled the startled girl into the tunnel, tripping and pulling her down on top of him.
“Sir, just what are your intentions…” Kitsune began, just before the noise became unbearably loud and a huge drill bit burst through the back wall of the alcove. The squeaking mechanical sound of tank treads echoed throughout the tunnel. Powerful lights illuminated Kurz, Kitsune, Seta, and Sara. “Oh…” Kitsune said. “She stared at Kurz for a moment. “Sugar, just how much did you tell me that a sergeant in Mithril makes?” She batted her eyes. If she couldn't have Seta, thre were things that other men could do for her.
A voice blared forth from newly protruded loudspeakers. “I, Kentaro Sakata, am here to rescue you lovely ladies!” A stairway lowered with a hiss of compressed air. Kentaro walked down the steps, a bouquet of flowers in his hand. “Are you happy to see me?” He ducked, befuddled, as Kitsune and Sara began throwing boulders and root fragments at him.
“There’s you ride, ladies.” Seta said happily. “Listen up everybody. Here’s what you need to tell the folks above ground….” He detailed his and Kurz’ observations. “Sgt. Weber and I have some work to do. If we can, we’ll join you later.”
Kurz and Seta passed along details about their discoveries. Melissa and Sousuke needed to be informed as soon as possible.
“Kitsune waved goodbye, then took one of Sara’s arm as Kentaro took the other. They carried the screaming young girl aboard the wealthy young man’s craft, battened down the hatches, and started the drill bit. Surging forward…scattering Seta and Kurz…the miraculous machine started to dig its own path of egress. Inside the craft, Kentaro’s and Kitsune’s voices could be heard. “NO! Don’t touch that, Sara….”
“Ready, Sgt. Weber? We have some work to do. Step lightly---I’m certain someone heard all that commotion.” Seta smiled.
“The Drill Tank…” Kurz said, nodding his head.
“Sara.” Seta said, correcting him.
***********************************************************
Shinobu was humming happily while she cooked. She was finishing up the last of her Nabe dishes, a flavorful Sukiyaki with raw egg for dipping. “After this, Sousuke, I’ll show you something about Yoshuko by preparing Korokke. If you like, I’ll let you help me with Kuri kinton too.” She was referring to a dessert made of chestnuts, sweet potatoes, sugar, and sesame sauce.
“I’m afraid I’m going to have to borrow Sgt. Sagara for a while, Shinobu.” Haruka stood in the doorway, a length of chain in her hand. Seeing the chain, Shinobu jumped. “It’s OK. This is not for him.”
“What do you wish to discuss, Miss Urashima?” Sousuke watched her eyes. He then purposely looked towards Shinobu, noting Haruka nod her head in return. “Let me just gather some things.” He loaded up his weapons. “I’ll leave you the P-90, Miss Maehara. I shall return when able.”
Following the older woman into the living room area, Sousuke noted that the long length of chain led to the near comatose forms of two of Keitaro’s friends from high school. Both were covered with mud and leaves. Their clothes were shredded and torn. They were mumbling incoherently. Ever so often, he could make out the word Haruka.
Haruka motioned for Sousuke to take a seat. “Before we get to those two fools, I want to talk to you about Shinobu.” She looked directly into Sousuke’s eyes, searching for any hint of understanding. She saw it.
“I believe I know where this is headed….”
“Yes, let me speak my piece nonetheless. I am not the manager here. Keitaro is, and that means that he makes the decisions regarding the building, the grounds, and the tenants. I still feel responsible for looking after the girls. Grandma Hina wouldn’t want it any other way.” She took the cigarette out of her mouth and placed it in an ashtray. “The way that thing is drawn, some viewers have a difficult time figuring out what it is” she added as an aside.
“I see.”
“I think that it is great the way that you have made Shinobu feel important and capable. I am not saying that just to be kind. She has taken quite a liking to you, just like she has for Keitaro. But I am worried about what happens when you leave. What then?” Haruka lit up a fresh cigarette.
“I take it you are not speaking about her feelings for me. You are speaking about her growing proficiency with weapons. Her aggressive tendencies worry you.” Sousuke was a specialist. He also specialized. He was most ignorant of Kaname’s feelings and desires. That did not me he was totally clueless.
“Yes. It will likely prove very damaging. She is confused enough as it is.” Haruka’s look grew intense. “It is so unnecessary. We have faced crises here before. The way that this show is written, no one gets seriously hurt.” She blew out a smoke ring. “Quite frankly, I find it hard to believe that Mr. Akamatsu has let things go on the way they have.”
Melissa walked up, flopped down upon the couch, and hooked a leg over the cushione-covered arm. “Do you want to run with the ball, Sousuke, or should I?” She took out a pack of cigarettes and shook one out.
“I’ll leave that decision up to her, if I may.” He nodded politely to Haruka.
“I’d like to hear your side of things, Sousuke.”
“Very well then. The threat that we all face has the capacity to extend beyond this Apartment building…beyond this city…and beyond this story. With that capacity comes a significant fact. The story guidelines are subject to change. We have been through the Love Hina phase of things. We are in the middle stages now. Soon, Full Metal Panic rules will go into effect.” He gave Haruka a moment to let things sink in.
Haruka sighed, deeply. “I was afraid of something like that. In other words, we can all be hurt…we can all be killed.”
“F@ck yeah!” Melissa said, simply because she could. She smiled. It felt good.
Haruka scowled at Melissa. Melissa shrugged her shoulders.
“I believe the Sgt. Major is trying to make a point.” Sousuke was not as certain as he sounded. “Limitations are changing. Physics will change as well, though it is too soon to judge how. The dangers we face will be significant, and the effects of our actions will be far-reaching.”
“You got that f@cking right!!!” Melissa chimed in happily. She knocked her cigarette ashes off, watching them fall onto the floor.
Haruka shook her head. Melissa smiled.
“We will need every able body combatant we can find. In some anime shows, young innocent appearing girls often turn out to have an almost unbelievable aptitude for guns and other weapons. I had my suspicions about Miss Maehara, and they have been proven correct. She will have a large role to play, if I am not mistaken. I will not apologize for my decision.” Sousuke spoke with great certainty and determination.
“F@ck no!” Melissa said firmly, kicking her shoes off and putting her feet on a well-polished coffee table. "No need for any apologies. Shit!"
Haruka tried to speak. She stopped…swallowed…tried again. Melissa chuckled, infuriating her erstwhile drinking partner.
“Got a problem with that, babe?” Melissa looked smug. Sousuke was about to inform her how much she sounded like Kurz. He wisely decided against that course of action. “You are in MY world now. The sooner you understand that, the better.” Soon enough her words would be orders, and her orders would be absolute. It would be better if that point was established now.
Haruka looked at Sousuke. “Not certain how the laws of physics will change?”
“Correct.”
Haruka looked at Melissa while speaking to Sousuke. “Our effects will be more significant?”
“Also correct.”
“Please excuse me for a few minutes.” Haruka turned and left the room.
“Bring some beer when you come back. Make sure it’s cold!” Melissa called out. “What?” she asked sarcastically, noticing Sousuke’s look. “I’m just letting all of my pent up emotions out, Sousuke. You could learn something here. It’s healthier this way. Trust me.”
Haruka returned sans beer. She had a pitcher of water in one hand and her whip in the other. Sousuke wondered what Melissa’s concept of “healthier” included.
“Hey, Haruka. Where’s the goddamn beer? I‘m dying of thirst here. Some hostess you are!” Sousuke thought that Melissa was going too far with her attempt to be accepted as the dominant figure.
Haruka smiled. “How’s this.” She tossed the water on Melissa’s cigarette, dousing her in the process. She then flicked her whip, knocking the cigarette out of Melissa’s mouth, watching it bounch off the far wall. “Are we feeling better now?” She threw her cigarette on Melissa.
Melissa stood up, enraged. She kicked the coffee table over. Sousuke raised his hand, stopping her dead in her tracks.
“Sgt. Major, could you hold off for a moment?”
“Why?” Melissa was not going to be persuaded to calm down. She was in one of those moods.
“Unless I am mistaken, this is something the others would like to watch.” He put his fingers in his mouth and whistled loudly.
Not too long thereafter, Kaname and Naru walked into the room.
“I see you finally have Kaname trained to come when you whistle.” Melissa said, laughing at the look on Sousuke’s face. She winked at Haruka.
Kaname’s face signaled a tornado was on its way. “SOUSUKE SAGARA!!!” Her posture made it quite clear that she felt that all of the troubles in the world were do to one particular Mithril sergeant. The cursed item in the old Greek tale should have been named ‘Sousuke’s Box.’ Pandora got a bum rap.
Naru put her hand on Kaname’s shoulder. “You GO, girl!”
Sousuke looked like a deer caught in the headlights of a tractor trailer. Just what had he done? The halisen began its pendulum action. Melissa’s emotional outlet certainly did not look like it was going to prove healthy for him.
Keitaro walked up behind Naru. “Hi, Naru. What’s going on here?” His tone was very affable.
“You are so dense, Keitaro!” Naru’s fist began shaking. Her reaction was not all that different than Kaname’s. Why did she have to explain everything to Keitaro. Why couldn’t he just be a man and figure things out for himself. Anything she could do validate her new friend Kaname’s actions was fine by her.
Motoko walked in. “I do NOT like being around Keitaro or Sagara. But, this should be educational.”
Su ran in, carrying a large bowel. “I have brought the snack. Curry popcorn. Are we ready to start yet?” Tama flew in and headed straight for the popcorn. “Eat all that you want you naughty turtle. Eat until you feel you are…stuffed. I will get it back…later.” She smiled, thinking to herself: turtles are not the smartest of creatures.
Naru turned to Keitaro. “Go get Shinobu, Keitaro”
Keitaro ducked his head, cringing “Yes Naru. I’m sorry, Naru.” He tripped over Su’s feet. Reaching out to break his fall, he felt his hand touch something soft. He knew without looking that he was in big trouble. Very big trouble. His hand was on Naru’s breast. “Oh…I’m sorry…I’m so sorry…”
“Here, Naru.” Kaname handed Naru the halisen. “Don’t thrust straight ahead. Swing your arm in a tight arc. Visualize where you would like Keitaro’s head to land if you were able to knock it off….” She swung her own arm in demonstration.
“Like this?” Naru took a practice swing. Kaname smiled, giving Naru the ‘thumb’s up” sign. Naru thought a moment. What should she say this time? Decisions, decisions. She looked over at Keitaro. He was waiting so patiently. He truly did care for her. It had been an accident. “Don’t bother with any of your lame excuses!” A swing of the arm. A snap of the wrist. Just like a bumper shot in billiards, Keitaro ricocheted off a post and bounced into the kitchen.
Mutsumi walked in, carrying a watermelon. “What’s going on?”
“I think there’s going to be a fight” Shinobu said, walking up with a wobbly Keitaro. “Do you like fights, Mutsumi?” Shinobu was wringing her hands, but there was an eager look in her eyes.
“Oh, let me see.” Mutsumi said. “I like watermelons. And the hots springs. I like sitting at my heated table.” She smiled at Kaname and winked. “And. I really like Sousuke!”
“Good job, Mutsumi.” That was from Naru. “Thank you, Mutsumi.” That was from Kaname. “You should give him a kiss too, Mutsumi. Not that I approve of contact with men.” That was from Motoko. “This should be really really fun!” That, naturally, was from Su. “Wait…I uh…it isn’t really fair…” That was from Shinobu.
“If you don’t mind…I thought this was OUR fight. Kids these days….” Melissa sounded irritated. She passed her cigarette to Haruka.
“Sorry, Melissa. This won’t take long. I promise.” Kaname accepted the halisen back from Naru. “SOUSUKE! You…you…you…” She paused. Naru whispered ‘moron’ in her ear. “You MORON!!!” Kaname got better distance with Sousuke than Naru got with Keitaro.
“Well, at least we’ve learned that some of the anime physics has remained. The two of them DO look rather bruised, however. We should probably keep that in mind.” Haruka nodded in response to Melissa’s observation. Haruka loosened up her whip arm. Melissa put a clip of rubber bullets into her pistol.
Sousuke walked up with Kentaro, Kitsune, and Sarah. Kentaro had flowers---’for the winner’ he had explained. Kitsune cradled two bottles of sake. Sara carried a strange stone idol head.
“You guys made it back just in time” Naru said to Kitsune. She glowered at Keitaro, who was sitting way too close to Mutsumi and Kaname.
“Well, we certainly couldn’t miss this, could we? This could be more fun than Seta versus Motoko,” Kitsune looked a bit sheepish. “Perhaps I should have brought some sake for everyone else too.”
“Are they going to get started soon?” Shinobu asked. “I still have some cooking to finish up, and the table needs to be set.”
“That should be everybody.” Souske said. “Sgt. Major Mao…Miss Urashima…pardon me for the long interuption…if you may…”
“Wait!” Keitaro jumped up. “There’s one more thing.”
“Hurry up, LOSER!” Sarah said, stomping on Keitaro’s foot, giving him a pronounced limp.
Keitaro put a penant in Shirai’s manacled hand. The flag read Go Haruka! “As manager of the Hinata Apartments, I now declare urrrkkk” Sara’s idol hit Keitaro squarely between the eyes, knocking him backward over a stuffed arm chair.
Sousuke fired his pistol into the air. “You may begin!”
************************************************************
The sound of clapping hands was thunderous. The rhythm of stomping feet quickened pulses. The fever for fighting grew in each of the spectators. Each, except for Sousukuke. He saw the lights dim and looked for the source of the two spotlights that highlighted each of the two shapely combatants. There was the sound of a drum roll---where was that coming from? He looked at the rapt faces of his friends, old and new.
With a unknown threat waiting outside their door, why were they fighting each other? He raised his hand, getting the attention of Haruka and Melissa. “Please keep injuries to a minimum” he said. “We’re going to need every able-bodied fighter we can get.” Was this some plan of Melissa’s and Haruka’s? Or, was this the idea of a writer, pandering to a certain group in the readership.
Melissa replied first. “I’ll finish this quickly, Sousuke. There shouldn’t be too many major injuries. Except for her pride.” Melissa struck a pose. Haitani asked Keitaro if he had a pennant with Melissa’s name on it. “You’ve seen me fight before, Sousuke. How long do you think hat the manager of a Tea House is going to last?”
Haruka smiled. “Mighty confident, aren’t we? Looks can be deceiving . Maybe you’d like to place some kind of wager?” Shirai sounded as if he was going to shout himself hoarse.
“You tell her, Aunt Haruka.” The room grew silent. All heads turned to look at Keitaro. The spotlights changed over to him. “I don’t have the time for a distraction” Haruka said. “You girls take care of it.” Naru, Kaname, Motoko, Su, and Sara drew straws. Motoko won. She smiled for the first time all day.
“Secret technique, rock splitting sword!” This would teach that…that…that man. Motoko put all of her strength into it.
With two hands, Keitaro caught the blade. The crowd was stunned. “I can’t believe that LOSER did that” Sara was clearly disappointed.
Motoko was appalled. To make matters worse, she heard that noise. “Ooo-ooooo-oo.” That damn turtle was flying straight for her. She swung her sword again. This time, it was Tama who easily stopped the blade. Motoko went weak in the knees. It looked like she was about to pass out. No, not this. Not AGAIN!!!
Kaname walked up and put an arm around Motoko’s shoulder. “Here. Try this. You don’t need to focus your ki energy to use a halisen. Make your sister proud.”
Motoko hesitated. That wasn’t any fun. Kitsune called out “Motoko, honey. Do you remember the time that Keitaro ran across you in the laundry room, changing? Did I tell you that he said you have a really nice ass?” Keitaro started moving his hands frantically. He shook his head. Then he saw Naru. He bowed his head. Motoko would be gentler.
Her face red with rage and embarrassment, Motoko swung the fan sword-style. She got little distance, but Keitaro ended up partially embedded into the floor. She handed the halisen back to Kaname, smiling.
“They’re getting rather pumped up, aren’t they?” Melissa asked. Haruka nodded her head.
“Indeed. We were talking wager. You chicken?” Haruka spat out her cigarette.
“Hell no. I have the perfect bet.” Melissa smiled. It wasn’t original, but it certainly fit the mood. “The loser has to run around the Hinata Apartments. Naked.” Shirai fell of the couch, babbling incoherently. Haitani and Keitaro had nosebleeds. Kitsune whistled and clapped her hands. “No referees.” She looked pointedly at Sousuke.
Haruka laughed. “Deal.” The spotlights back in place, she loosened a few buttons and assumed a fighting stance. The whip was wrapped around her waist like a belt..
Melissa unbuttoned a few buttons as well, purely out of style. She placed her pistol inside her back waistband. She saluted. She charged without warning.
There was no subtlety in that first attack. Melissa intended to stun Haruka with a fierce body slam, bringing her to the ground. She’d make fast work of her after that. Haruka had other ideas. She flipped forward, over Melissa, initiating a no-look leg sweep when she landed.
Melissa tumbled forward in controlled fashion, shocked. “What the f@ck!” she cursed. Naru put her hands over Su’s ears. Mutsumi put her hands over Keitaro’s ears. Shinobu’s eyes began spinning, then stopped. She practiced the word under her breath. No no no no no. She would only go so far with this transformation.
“Seta was not alone when he was learning the ancient techniques.” Haruka clarified. “Still want to go through with this?” She made a brushing motion, hand on shoulder.
“Sure, why not. We can’t disappoint the crowd.” She walked forward slowly, hands held out away from her body. Her movement a blur, she grabbed her pistol and fired three shots in rapid succession.. Haruka leapt upward, kicking off of a pillar, avoiding all shots. Melissa fired again, wide of Haruka. The purposely placed shots caromed of another pillar, hitting Haruka in the back of the head, right mid-back, and left calf. She stumbled forward in pain. Straightening up, she saluted Melissa.
Haruka kicked an end table. Melissa’s earlier uncouth actions threatened to be her undoing. Rice bowls, cigarette butts, beer bottles, and a thick cloud of cigarette ash obscured her vision. She fired quickly, missing with all shots. Where was Haruka? An instinct…a slight sound…a disturbance in the air. MOVE, Melissa she thought to herself.
Melissa’s flank was exposed. In one smooth motion, Haruka pulled the whip from around her waist, snapping it out viciously. Melissa, hand on Keitaro’s shirt, pulled the startled young man to her, feeling his body spasm when the whip hit. That one would have hurt she thought. Holding a moaning Keitaro in front of her, Melissa walked towards Haruka, gun hidden behind him.
The whip lashed out again, wrapping around a telephone. The phone was pulled back hard, impacting the back of Melissa’s head. She stumbled forward. Keitaro fell to the ground. Near unconscious, he still somehow managed to pull down Shinobu’s shorts. Teddy bear panties.
The whip twitched at Haruka’s side, like the tail of an angry cat. “Are we having fun yet?” Haruka asked.
“I know I am.” Kentaro was smiling. This was better than sumo or prizefights. “Hey, wait…what are you doing. I’m not a part of this…” Melissa grasped him by the nape of his neck. “Haruka! No. Don‘t. Isn‘t $1.50 an hour punishment enough?!!!”
“There’ll be a little something extra in your paycheck.” Haruka said. She rolled quickly to the side just as Melissa’s finger tightened on the trigger. Hefting an end table, she threw it lamp and all. She moved quickly to follow-up behind that move.
Melissa pushed Kentaro forward, knocking aside the tumbling table. She had to bend slightly to the right to avoid the lamp and cord. Her gun hand overly exposed. She heard the snap of a whip. Shit! she thought. But also opportunity. The whip knocked her pistol from her grip, leaving her grimacing in pain. Her other hand grabbed hold of the whip, wrapping it around her wrist in a quick instinctual reaction.
Both women pulled strongly at the whip. Neither budged. Haruka smiled. Melissa chuckled. “On two?” she asked. “Yes” Haruka answered, “1...2...3...” The whip fell to the ground. So did a grenade pin.
Yellow smoke filled the room, quickly.
Soon, it was difficult for anyone to see what was going on. The sounds of a titanic struggle could be heard. Furniture was breaking. Fists and feet thudded against flesh. Objects were bouncing off of walls and pillars.
“Keitaro! I can’t see a thing. You’re the manager. Fix it!” Naru was not making a request.
“But Naru, there’s nothing I can do. How…oooppphhh. Keitaro’s glasses flew off when Naru’s elbow caught him in the gut.
“You are SO useless. Hmmmpppfff!!!” Naru stuck her nose in the air.
“He is, nonetheless, quite correct, Miss Narusegawa” Sousuke explained helpfully.
“She wasn’t talking to you, Sousuke!” S-M-A-C-K
“Kaname…that hurt!”
“Oh, you poor baby.” Mutsumi’s voice, somewhere in the colored fog. “Here, let me make it better for you. Mmmmmm.”
“Mutsumi’s kissing, kissing, kissing….” Shinobu sounded near frantic.
“Let me see, let me see.” Su was bouncing across the room, trying to find Mutsumi and Sousuke.
“Some guys have all the luck.” Kentaro sounded dejected.
“Sousuke better be lucky. Very lucky….” Kaname said in an ominous tone of voice.
“B-b-but Kaname. She was kissing me…” Sousuke protested.
“Good. You admit it. That makes things so much easier….”
The smoke was clearing. Shinobu stood over Sousuke, P-90 in hand. Kaname decided that she could wait to deal with Sousuke.
“Naru, aren’t you proud of me.” Keitaro was sitting next to Naru now. “All that smoke. So much opportunity for misunderstandings. I didn’t do a thing!!!”
“Who asked you!” A backhanded swat bowled Keitaro over.
“It’s more fun to watch them, isn’t it?” Haruka’s voice.
“Damn right!” Melissa laughed.
Everyone turned to look at the two non-combative combatants. “WHO WON. WHO WON. WHO WON!!!” Haitani and Shirai chanted, getting a better view of Melissa and Haruka from behind.
“We called it a draw” Melissa said. “The scene had gone on for far too long already.” “That’s for sure,” Haruka said, hand on the other woman’s shoulder. “We have a big enough mess to clean up already.”
The fog completely gone, Shirai had a perfect view. Both Melissa’s and Haruka’s clothing was torn. He had a glorious view of Haruka’s partially exposed buttock. He started babbling again. Haruka…Haruka…Haruka…oh, Haruka…Haruka…. He became more and more inchorent, muttering all sorts of names.
One of the words he said was KASHIM.
************************************************************
Sousuke was numb. For a moment, he felt as if he were the zoom lens on a camera. Everything rushed in, feeling closer, overwhelming. He felt as if he could reach out and touch everybody in that large room. At the same time he felt isolated, as if time had frozen, and he was the last man standing.
Kashim. Shirai had said KASHIM
It could be a coincidence. At some point in his life, Shirai could have met someone named Kashim. He could simply have read that name somewhere. It did not necessarily mean that he had come in contact with someone who knew Sousuke from Afghanistan.
It did not necessarily mean that he had met Gauron.
Yet, it could mean just that. The man never seemed to die. Whenever he was involved, it was something big. Something very bad. It would dangerous enough to face him accompanied by a team of trained Mithril operatives and soldiers. He had seen more than his share of death and loss in that setting. What would happen if he ran afoul of that monster with these boys and girls? He had made steps with Shinobu. There was a chance that she could help defend this house against average soldiers. But against someone like Gauron? He could picture Su running up to play with that devil. He could picture him taking her neck in his hand….
“Sousuke? Are you OK?” Kaname was concerned. Her eyes looked very vulnerable. She was frightened. She held both of her hands together, behind her. She moved one foot absentmindedly.
“This place is very…busy. They do not train us to put up with this kind of insanity. It does not make sense. It serves no purpose. I am too busy reacting. I hate not being able to plan things actively.” Sousuke clenched his jaw. His eyes looked distant. He heard echoes of past battles in his mind.
“That which doesn’t kill us, makes us stronger,” Kaname said, quietly, trying to make eye contact with Sousuke. “Didn’t you tell me that, Sousuke? But that’s not what I mean. You’re thinking about HIM, aren’t you?” She bowed her head and trembled a moment. “I’m scared, Sousuke, very scared.”
That helped Sousuke focus. Kaname was scared. Kaname needed protection and reassurance. “It is not a problem. I will protect you as best I can, Kaname. That is not my primary duty, as I must protect many more than you today. But that does not mean you need to fear for your life.”
“I’m not just frightened for myself, Sousuke. He wants you. Your very existence is a challenge to him. You have messed up too many of his plans. I can’t stand the thought of you going out of here and never coming back….”
“I know that, Kaname. It is something I face every battle, as a soldier. First, we must find out whether or not he is actually involved. Before that, we must find out what we face here. We have heard nothing from Kurz or Professor Noriyasu. That in itself is worrisome. I do not understand how the others returned and they did not. We have not been told everything that those people know yet. I must address that after we are done with these two.”
Sousuke looked over towards Melissa. She and Haruka had finished rigging a rudimentary block and tackle system with wooden posts and the chains attached to Keitaro’s two friends. Grunting and straining, the two women tugged on the chains, lifting Shirai and Haitani off the ground. Melissa gave each a rough shove, sending them swinging like beef carcasses in a butcher shop. The knife she took out only added to that illusion. “Would you like a flank steak, Haruka? How about some brisket? I can’t get you any tongue…they’ll need those…at least for a while.” The two boys began to sweat.
Melissa waved to Sousuke. “Sgt. Sagara, I’ll let you handle the interrogation. You are far more forgiving than I am.” Sousuke walked up and stopped the captives from swinging. His look was bland, almost soulless. It frightened the boys more than Melissa’s look of eagerness and capriciousness.
“Haruka. I’ll answer for Haruka!” Shirai called out, half scared, half hopeful.
“I have handled this kind of thing in the past on multiple occasions” Haruka said, snapping her whip between her two hands. “Seta discovered some methods that are particularly effective.”
“No, he might enjoy it. Besides, it will be easier if we do the asking. We know the questions that are necessary.” Melissa gave Sousuke the signal to proceed.
Sousuke looked around the room. Good. Shinobu had gone back into the kitchen. Kitsune had wandered off with her bottles. The rest of the Hinata group were setting the table for dinner. “Kaname, you may wish to assist the others.”
“No, Sousuke. There are too many people involved already.” As if on cue, Keitaro went flying by. “I want to hear this first hand. I know you. I trust you. I won't be shocked. I won't judge you.”
Sousuke nodded his head. Once again, Kaname had somehow known what he was concerned about. He focused his attention on his prisoners. “I will ask questions. You will answer the questions that I ask. You will not ask me questions. I will not provide you with answers. Are we clear so far?”
Haitani nodded his head, silently. He just wanted this over. Shirai was a different matter. “I said I would answer to Haruka. Only Haruka.”
“If that is so” Sousuke began, taking out his pistol. He quite deliberately showed them a clip before sliding it home. “You will likely serve as a good example.” He walked up and put the nose of the gun to Shirai’s temple. “After your unfortunate death, I am certain that your comrade will be more than eager to tell us everything he knows. At first glance, he appears to be the intelligent one. No doubt he has all the answers that we need.” Sousuke pulled the hammer back.
“Oh! Did I say Haruka? I meant Haruka and anyone else with her. I hope y-y-you didn’t m-m-misunderstand me.” Shirai seemed very eager to talk.
“I am very glad that we have cleared up that confusion.” Sousuke did not remove his gun. “There is far too much damage to repair here, already. Blood is very difficult to get out of carpets. It does, however, add a distinguished coloration to hardwood floors.”
Shirai looked ready to faint. His eyes closed tight, then opened widely. He looked embarrassed. Drops of pungent liquid fell from his pants leg, forming a small puddle on the floor. Haruka sighed.
“I am very good at sorting truth from lies” Sousuke added. “The truth is your friend. It will keep you free of pain.” Shirai and Haitani nodded their heads vigorously. “Falsehoods are very unfortunate.” Sousuke fired three shots into a large potted shrub. Haitani developed a plumbing problem similar to Shirai’s
Kaname gasped. Sousuke turned to look in the direction that she did. A remarkably large white alligator was walking into the room, heading straight for them. Melissa reached for her gun, but Haruka held her arm down. The creature walked up to Sousuke and stopped. It moved its head up and down, then slowly looked at Haitani and Shirai.
“I see. You wish to have the two boys.” Sousuke did not feel in the least bit strange addressing an animal. Not in this place. “If they do not answer sufficiently, you may have them with my blessing. However, if they are helpful, you will have to wait for another opportunity. Are we agreed?”
Shiro waddled up to Sousuke and rubbed his head up and down his leg, giving forth a reptilian hum much akin to purring. “Good” Sousuke said. Haruka smiled at Sousuke. Kaname looked shocked at first. Then she smiled. Only Sousuke could do that….only Sousuke….
The questioning got off to a bit of a rocky start. More accurately, the answering did:
“Shirai and I were out cruising for babes, hoping to get lucky as we usually do….” Haitani sounded smug. It did not take a trained operative to notice he was lying. Shiro roared. Sousuke lowered each chain by two feet. Purring…purring…purring. Snap. Snap. SNAP.
Sousuke looked at the alligator. “Two more lies, and you will be able to reach the short one.”
“SOUSUKE!!!”
“Yes, Kaname?” Sousuke was about to insist that Kaname leave.
“Make it one more lie!!!” Kaname smiled sweetly. She forced herself to remain smiling when Shiro walked over to express his gratitude.
The questioning went very smoothly after that.
Haitani and Shirai had indeed gone out cruising for female companionship, with the usual results. No one would give them the time of day. That is, until they ran across a new shop in town selling comic books. The women behind the cashiers were total knockouts. The store was packed with young men, with the line extending out into the street.
The two college students had each grabbed random handfuls of comics, not even certain of what that had selected. When they made it up to the counter, they were pleased to see that they would each be given a free comic. It was a first issue. The cover showed an elephant with three eyes, along with many indescribable contraptions, all with a similar motif. The cashiers were each very excited about the comic…it was THE new thing. Anyone who was anyone liked it. They SO wanted to meet anyone who had seen that three-eye pattern before. It was based on something very real and very important.
Naturally, Shirai had seen that pattern before. Su had plenty of inventions with that theme. Her adult form, their beloved Magical Girl, had clothing with that design. Haitani was only too glad to tell the girls where Su lived. The girls looked ready to swoon. They shooed everybody out of the shop, closing up two hours early. Arm in arm with the two ecstatic young men, they left through the back door. There was someone they all just had to to meet.
Sousuke’s worst fears came to light. The man they described---the girl’s uncle---had an appearance that fit Gauron all too well.
The man was very generous. He gladly handed out free movie passes, liquor, and adult videos. Drugs were available, if that was what they craved. Seemingly by accident, he let it slip that his two nieces were very lonely and looking for suitable beaus. They trusted HIS judgement exclusively---he truly loved the girls, and was hoping to find too dependable young men to give meaning to their lonely lives. Would the two of them know anyone who might fit that description?
Haitani and Shirai had been eager to please. They told the man everything he wanted to know about the town, its inhabitants, and the local law enforcement. They hunted down blueprints for city sewers and underground waterways. The snuck geological surveys out of the local town hall. They brought him tide charts and references to ocean depths in nearby seaside areas.
With very little prompting, they told everything they knew about the residents of The Hinata Apartments. The man became particularly interested in Su, once he realized that she was the inventor he was searching for. As he described himself, he was a philanthropist---he wanted to bring new energy sources to the masses...something that everyone could afford. The haves would no longer be at the mercy of the have nots. He had to sneak these discoveries past the watchful eyes of Big Business. He was stymied, however. He needed to find an intrepid and discrete pair of young heroes. Young unattached heroes….
Because he was very busy, he let his pretty young nieces show the two boys a number of meeting points behind the Annex Building. While visiting such spots, Haitani and Shirai had heard what sounded like construction noises---under the ground. Loud pounding. Drilling. Grinding . The girls made it clear that their uncle was a very proper man. His word was his bond. He expected his associates to behave in a similar fashion. There should be no mention of those noises. There should be no snooping around. They would have promised those girls anything.
Over the next few months, the two college boys took whatever opportunity they had to visit Keitaro. They never stayed very long…at least not in plain sight. It had taken some doing, but they had managed to sneek out a large number of Su’s creations and deliver them to their contacts. They had brought the man everything that he had been interested in finding, with one exception. They had recently been ready to swipe that, but ended up looking at the business end of an alligator instead.
Sousuke told the fortunate young pair that they were alive only because they did not make that delivery.
Shirai had made no specific mention of KASHIM. Sousuke specifically asked where he had heard that name. The boy looked frightened for a moment, before telling the listeners that they had once arrived too early at one of the the meeting places. They had seen the man leaning against a tree, smoking a cigarette. He had been speaking to himself. Oh, I can’t wait to meet you again, Kashim. Things are close to being ready. Soon, an anonymous warning can be sent. Your bosses are SO predictable.
He had heard their quiet footsteps. It was the only time they had seen him angry. Those eyes…those eyes were the stuff of nightmares. Those eyes and that smile. He had apologized diffusely, explaining that he was fighting his way through a migraine. He actually called it a splitting headache, as he kept ramming the knife into the tree.
The questioning went on a little longer. Nothing else of value was learned. Melissa decided that the two informants should be restrained for their own sake. Haruka decided that they should mop the floor first...and apply a new coat of fragrant wax.
Sousuke apologized to Shiro. As he watched the alligator wander back to Su’s room, Sousuke asked Kaname if her apartment building allowed pets.
Kaname had decided it was a good time to help set the table.
************************************************************
End of part five
Things might have gone better if there had been sake. Lots of sake.
And Seta.
Fortunately for Kitsune, it was too dark for Sara to see her blushing. “You don’t have to be afraid, honey. I’ll take care of you. I can be like a mother for you.” That would be a good way to get closer to Seta. If only that man would notice her!
“What’s so good about having a mother, any way!” Sara exclaimed. She kicked the older woman in the shin, hard. Twice. “You just like my daddy. I don’t like anyone getting close to him but ME!!!. She bit Kitsune’s wrist savagely, causing her to loosen her grip. She took off running like she was shot out of a cannon.
Sarah ran right into the arms of Seta, who was just then stepping back into the hideaway. “Happy to see me, are you?’ Seta smiled, hugging Sara. “Was she any trouble?” Seta asked Kitsune.
“Uh…no…of course not. We get along very well. She can stay with me any time. Any place you go, I’d be happy to come along and watch after her….” Kitsune knew that Naru liked Keitaro.---her crush on Seta was over. She wouldn’t be hurting her friend if she tried to further her own cause.
“Heh heh heh” Kurz had watched the exchange. As amazing as Seta was, he didn’t have a clue how Kitsune felt. As for Kitsune, Kurz now had a little something he could tease her with if necessary. “There’s just something about caves. They’re so romantic. Don’t you think, Seta?” Looking at Kitsune’s face, Kurz laughed.
“Yes, they are. You’re quite a friendly fellow, aren’t you. I hope I didn’t give you any wrong ideas when we were spying.” Kitsune started laughing when she heard Kurz sputtering.
“There was a secret civilization in the caves under the Paramint Mountains in Death Valley. Their hieroglyphics told of many tales of romance.” Seta went on to describe those tales. He talked about the ancient city of Moenjadara in the Indus valley and its dating etiquette. He reminisced about the carved love letters found with the Rongorongo tablets of Easter Island. He had begun detailing the courtship rituals of the kingdom of Kush.
“Seta, don’t you think we should pass along our messages…see these ladies out of here…and go back and start work on our sabotage plans?” Kurz had hated history class. He had an urge to shoot someone or blow something up.
“Right! Of course, Sgt. Weber.” Seta mussed Sara’s hair and turned to Kitsune. “We have to find a way to get you and Sara to the surface. The Inn and the surrounding town are in great danger. You’ll need to brief Sgt. Major Mao and Sgt. Sagara. They’ll take things from there. Make certain to tell Haruka that this is just like Bangladesh.. Got that? Just like Bangladesh….”
“But, Daddy, I don’t want to go back with those LOSERS!!! I want to go with YOU!!!” Sara grabbed ahold of her adoptive father.
“Now Sara…”
“I can go too, Seta. I can watch after Sara.” Kitsune was insistant. Sara nodded her head. “We’ll be safe with you and Kurz looking after us. Besides, we’re lost, and probably can’t find a way out. The only way up is probably where those noises are.”
“You may be right about that….”
Suddenly, they all felt a slight tremor in the rock around them. Dirt sifted down through cracks in the rock. A few smaller fragments of rock shook loose. A faint rasping sound grew consistently louder. Soon, the stalagtites in the dome-shaped alcove area began falling, sending the four occupants jumping, dodging, and rolling.
“Let’s MOVE, people.” Kurz shouted, grabbing Kitsune’s arm moments before Seta scooped up Sara and ran. With a strong tug, the young mercenary pulled the startled girl into the tunnel, tripping and pulling her down on top of him.
“Sir, just what are your intentions…” Kitsune began, just before the noise became unbearably loud and a huge drill bit burst through the back wall of the alcove. The squeaking mechanical sound of tank treads echoed throughout the tunnel. Powerful lights illuminated Kurz, Kitsune, Seta, and Sara. “Oh…” Kitsune said. “She stared at Kurz for a moment. “Sugar, just how much did you tell me that a sergeant in Mithril makes?” She batted her eyes. If she couldn't have Seta, thre were things that other men could do for her.
A voice blared forth from newly protruded loudspeakers. “I, Kentaro Sakata, am here to rescue you lovely ladies!” A stairway lowered with a hiss of compressed air. Kentaro walked down the steps, a bouquet of flowers in his hand. “Are you happy to see me?” He ducked, befuddled, as Kitsune and Sara began throwing boulders and root fragments at him.
“There’s you ride, ladies.” Seta said happily. “Listen up everybody. Here’s what you need to tell the folks above ground….” He detailed his and Kurz’ observations. “Sgt. Weber and I have some work to do. If we can, we’ll join you later.”
Kurz and Seta passed along details about their discoveries. Melissa and Sousuke needed to be informed as soon as possible.
“Kitsune waved goodbye, then took one of Sara’s arm as Kentaro took the other. They carried the screaming young girl aboard the wealthy young man’s craft, battened down the hatches, and started the drill bit. Surging forward…scattering Seta and Kurz…the miraculous machine started to dig its own path of egress. Inside the craft, Kentaro’s and Kitsune’s voices could be heard. “NO! Don’t touch that, Sara….”
“Ready, Sgt. Weber? We have some work to do. Step lightly---I’m certain someone heard all that commotion.” Seta smiled.
“The Drill Tank…” Kurz said, nodding his head.
“Sara.” Seta said, correcting him.
***********************************************************
Shinobu was humming happily while she cooked. She was finishing up the last of her Nabe dishes, a flavorful Sukiyaki with raw egg for dipping. “After this, Sousuke, I’ll show you something about Yoshuko by preparing Korokke. If you like, I’ll let you help me with Kuri kinton too.” She was referring to a dessert made of chestnuts, sweet potatoes, sugar, and sesame sauce.
“I’m afraid I’m going to have to borrow Sgt. Sagara for a while, Shinobu.” Haruka stood in the doorway, a length of chain in her hand. Seeing the chain, Shinobu jumped. “It’s OK. This is not for him.”
“What do you wish to discuss, Miss Urashima?” Sousuke watched her eyes. He then purposely looked towards Shinobu, noting Haruka nod her head in return. “Let me just gather some things.” He loaded up his weapons. “I’ll leave you the P-90, Miss Maehara. I shall return when able.”
Following the older woman into the living room area, Sousuke noted that the long length of chain led to the near comatose forms of two of Keitaro’s friends from high school. Both were covered with mud and leaves. Their clothes were shredded and torn. They were mumbling incoherently. Ever so often, he could make out the word Haruka.
Haruka motioned for Sousuke to take a seat. “Before we get to those two fools, I want to talk to you about Shinobu.” She looked directly into Sousuke’s eyes, searching for any hint of understanding. She saw it.
“I believe I know where this is headed….”
“Yes, let me speak my piece nonetheless. I am not the manager here. Keitaro is, and that means that he makes the decisions regarding the building, the grounds, and the tenants. I still feel responsible for looking after the girls. Grandma Hina wouldn’t want it any other way.” She took the cigarette out of her mouth and placed it in an ashtray. “The way that thing is drawn, some viewers have a difficult time figuring out what it is” she added as an aside.
“I see.”
“I think that it is great the way that you have made Shinobu feel important and capable. I am not saying that just to be kind. She has taken quite a liking to you, just like she has for Keitaro. But I am worried about what happens when you leave. What then?” Haruka lit up a fresh cigarette.
“I take it you are not speaking about her feelings for me. You are speaking about her growing proficiency with weapons. Her aggressive tendencies worry you.” Sousuke was a specialist. He also specialized. He was most ignorant of Kaname’s feelings and desires. That did not me he was totally clueless.
“Yes. It will likely prove very damaging. She is confused enough as it is.” Haruka’s look grew intense. “It is so unnecessary. We have faced crises here before. The way that this show is written, no one gets seriously hurt.” She blew out a smoke ring. “Quite frankly, I find it hard to believe that Mr. Akamatsu has let things go on the way they have.”
Melissa walked up, flopped down upon the couch, and hooked a leg over the cushione-covered arm. “Do you want to run with the ball, Sousuke, or should I?” She took out a pack of cigarettes and shook one out.
“I’ll leave that decision up to her, if I may.” He nodded politely to Haruka.
“I’d like to hear your side of things, Sousuke.”
“Very well then. The threat that we all face has the capacity to extend beyond this Apartment building…beyond this city…and beyond this story. With that capacity comes a significant fact. The story guidelines are subject to change. We have been through the Love Hina phase of things. We are in the middle stages now. Soon, Full Metal Panic rules will go into effect.” He gave Haruka a moment to let things sink in.
Haruka sighed, deeply. “I was afraid of something like that. In other words, we can all be hurt…we can all be killed.”
“F@ck yeah!” Melissa said, simply because she could. She smiled. It felt good.
Haruka scowled at Melissa. Melissa shrugged her shoulders.
“I believe the Sgt. Major is trying to make a point.” Sousuke was not as certain as he sounded. “Limitations are changing. Physics will change as well, though it is too soon to judge how. The dangers we face will be significant, and the effects of our actions will be far-reaching.”
“You got that f@cking right!!!” Melissa chimed in happily. She knocked her cigarette ashes off, watching them fall onto the floor.
Haruka shook her head. Melissa smiled.
“We will need every able body combatant we can find. In some anime shows, young innocent appearing girls often turn out to have an almost unbelievable aptitude for guns and other weapons. I had my suspicions about Miss Maehara, and they have been proven correct. She will have a large role to play, if I am not mistaken. I will not apologize for my decision.” Sousuke spoke with great certainty and determination.
“F@ck no!” Melissa said firmly, kicking her shoes off and putting her feet on a well-polished coffee table. "No need for any apologies. Shit!"
Haruka tried to speak. She stopped…swallowed…tried again. Melissa chuckled, infuriating her erstwhile drinking partner.
“Got a problem with that, babe?” Melissa looked smug. Sousuke was about to inform her how much she sounded like Kurz. He wisely decided against that course of action. “You are in MY world now. The sooner you understand that, the better.” Soon enough her words would be orders, and her orders would be absolute. It would be better if that point was established now.
Haruka looked at Sousuke. “Not certain how the laws of physics will change?”
“Correct.”
Haruka looked at Melissa while speaking to Sousuke. “Our effects will be more significant?”
“Also correct.”
“Please excuse me for a few minutes.” Haruka turned and left the room.
“Bring some beer when you come back. Make sure it’s cold!” Melissa called out. “What?” she asked sarcastically, noticing Sousuke’s look. “I’m just letting all of my pent up emotions out, Sousuke. You could learn something here. It’s healthier this way. Trust me.”
Haruka returned sans beer. She had a pitcher of water in one hand and her whip in the other. Sousuke wondered what Melissa’s concept of “healthier” included.
“Hey, Haruka. Where’s the goddamn beer? I‘m dying of thirst here. Some hostess you are!” Sousuke thought that Melissa was going too far with her attempt to be accepted as the dominant figure.
Haruka smiled. “How’s this.” She tossed the water on Melissa’s cigarette, dousing her in the process. She then flicked her whip, knocking the cigarette out of Melissa’s mouth, watching it bounch off the far wall. “Are we feeling better now?” She threw her cigarette on Melissa.
Melissa stood up, enraged. She kicked the coffee table over. Sousuke raised his hand, stopping her dead in her tracks.
“Sgt. Major, could you hold off for a moment?”
“Why?” Melissa was not going to be persuaded to calm down. She was in one of those moods.
“Unless I am mistaken, this is something the others would like to watch.” He put his fingers in his mouth and whistled loudly.
Not too long thereafter, Kaname and Naru walked into the room.
“I see you finally have Kaname trained to come when you whistle.” Melissa said, laughing at the look on Sousuke’s face. She winked at Haruka.
Kaname’s face signaled a tornado was on its way. “SOUSUKE SAGARA!!!” Her posture made it quite clear that she felt that all of the troubles in the world were do to one particular Mithril sergeant. The cursed item in the old Greek tale should have been named ‘Sousuke’s Box.’ Pandora got a bum rap.
Naru put her hand on Kaname’s shoulder. “You GO, girl!”
Sousuke looked like a deer caught in the headlights of a tractor trailer. Just what had he done? The halisen began its pendulum action. Melissa’s emotional outlet certainly did not look like it was going to prove healthy for him.
Keitaro walked up behind Naru. “Hi, Naru. What’s going on here?” His tone was very affable.
“You are so dense, Keitaro!” Naru’s fist began shaking. Her reaction was not all that different than Kaname’s. Why did she have to explain everything to Keitaro. Why couldn’t he just be a man and figure things out for himself. Anything she could do validate her new friend Kaname’s actions was fine by her.
Motoko walked in. “I do NOT like being around Keitaro or Sagara. But, this should be educational.”
Su ran in, carrying a large bowel. “I have brought the snack. Curry popcorn. Are we ready to start yet?” Tama flew in and headed straight for the popcorn. “Eat all that you want you naughty turtle. Eat until you feel you are…stuffed. I will get it back…later.” She smiled, thinking to herself: turtles are not the smartest of creatures.
Naru turned to Keitaro. “Go get Shinobu, Keitaro”
Keitaro ducked his head, cringing “Yes Naru. I’m sorry, Naru.” He tripped over Su’s feet. Reaching out to break his fall, he felt his hand touch something soft. He knew without looking that he was in big trouble. Very big trouble. His hand was on Naru’s breast. “Oh…I’m sorry…I’m so sorry…”
“Here, Naru.” Kaname handed Naru the halisen. “Don’t thrust straight ahead. Swing your arm in a tight arc. Visualize where you would like Keitaro’s head to land if you were able to knock it off….” She swung her own arm in demonstration.
“Like this?” Naru took a practice swing. Kaname smiled, giving Naru the ‘thumb’s up” sign. Naru thought a moment. What should she say this time? Decisions, decisions. She looked over at Keitaro. He was waiting so patiently. He truly did care for her. It had been an accident. “Don’t bother with any of your lame excuses!” A swing of the arm. A snap of the wrist. Just like a bumper shot in billiards, Keitaro ricocheted off a post and bounced into the kitchen.
Mutsumi walked in, carrying a watermelon. “What’s going on?”
“I think there’s going to be a fight” Shinobu said, walking up with a wobbly Keitaro. “Do you like fights, Mutsumi?” Shinobu was wringing her hands, but there was an eager look in her eyes.
“Oh, let me see.” Mutsumi said. “I like watermelons. And the hots springs. I like sitting at my heated table.” She smiled at Kaname and winked. “And. I really like Sousuke!”
“Good job, Mutsumi.” That was from Naru. “Thank you, Mutsumi.” That was from Kaname. “You should give him a kiss too, Mutsumi. Not that I approve of contact with men.” That was from Motoko. “This should be really really fun!” That, naturally, was from Su. “Wait…I uh…it isn’t really fair…” That was from Shinobu.
“If you don’t mind…I thought this was OUR fight. Kids these days….” Melissa sounded irritated. She passed her cigarette to Haruka.
“Sorry, Melissa. This won’t take long. I promise.” Kaname accepted the halisen back from Naru. “SOUSUKE! You…you…you…” She paused. Naru whispered ‘moron’ in her ear. “You MORON!!!” Kaname got better distance with Sousuke than Naru got with Keitaro.
“Well, at least we’ve learned that some of the anime physics has remained. The two of them DO look rather bruised, however. We should probably keep that in mind.” Haruka nodded in response to Melissa’s observation. Haruka loosened up her whip arm. Melissa put a clip of rubber bullets into her pistol.
Sousuke walked up with Kentaro, Kitsune, and Sarah. Kentaro had flowers---’for the winner’ he had explained. Kitsune cradled two bottles of sake. Sara carried a strange stone idol head.
“You guys made it back just in time” Naru said to Kitsune. She glowered at Keitaro, who was sitting way too close to Mutsumi and Kaname.
“Well, we certainly couldn’t miss this, could we? This could be more fun than Seta versus Motoko,” Kitsune looked a bit sheepish. “Perhaps I should have brought some sake for everyone else too.”
“Are they going to get started soon?” Shinobu asked. “I still have some cooking to finish up, and the table needs to be set.”
“That should be everybody.” Souske said. “Sgt. Major Mao…Miss Urashima…pardon me for the long interuption…if you may…”
“Wait!” Keitaro jumped up. “There’s one more thing.”
“Hurry up, LOSER!” Sarah said, stomping on Keitaro’s foot, giving him a pronounced limp.
Keitaro put a penant in Shirai’s manacled hand. The flag read Go Haruka! “As manager of the Hinata Apartments, I now declare urrrkkk” Sara’s idol hit Keitaro squarely between the eyes, knocking him backward over a stuffed arm chair.
Sousuke fired his pistol into the air. “You may begin!”
************************************************************
The sound of clapping hands was thunderous. The rhythm of stomping feet quickened pulses. The fever for fighting grew in each of the spectators. Each, except for Sousukuke. He saw the lights dim and looked for the source of the two spotlights that highlighted each of the two shapely combatants. There was the sound of a drum roll---where was that coming from? He looked at the rapt faces of his friends, old and new.
With a unknown threat waiting outside their door, why were they fighting each other? He raised his hand, getting the attention of Haruka and Melissa. “Please keep injuries to a minimum” he said. “We’re going to need every able-bodied fighter we can get.” Was this some plan of Melissa’s and Haruka’s? Or, was this the idea of a writer, pandering to a certain group in the readership.
Melissa replied first. “I’ll finish this quickly, Sousuke. There shouldn’t be too many major injuries. Except for her pride.” Melissa struck a pose. Haitani asked Keitaro if he had a pennant with Melissa’s name on it. “You’ve seen me fight before, Sousuke. How long do you think hat the manager of a Tea House is going to last?”
Haruka smiled. “Mighty confident, aren’t we? Looks can be deceiving . Maybe you’d like to place some kind of wager?” Shirai sounded as if he was going to shout himself hoarse.
“You tell her, Aunt Haruka.” The room grew silent. All heads turned to look at Keitaro. The spotlights changed over to him. “I don’t have the time for a distraction” Haruka said. “You girls take care of it.” Naru, Kaname, Motoko, Su, and Sara drew straws. Motoko won. She smiled for the first time all day.
“Secret technique, rock splitting sword!” This would teach that…that…that man. Motoko put all of her strength into it.
With two hands, Keitaro caught the blade. The crowd was stunned. “I can’t believe that LOSER did that” Sara was clearly disappointed.
Motoko was appalled. To make matters worse, she heard that noise. “Ooo-ooooo-oo.” That damn turtle was flying straight for her. She swung her sword again. This time, it was Tama who easily stopped the blade. Motoko went weak in the knees. It looked like she was about to pass out. No, not this. Not AGAIN!!!
Kaname walked up and put an arm around Motoko’s shoulder. “Here. Try this. You don’t need to focus your ki energy to use a halisen. Make your sister proud.”
Motoko hesitated. That wasn’t any fun. Kitsune called out “Motoko, honey. Do you remember the time that Keitaro ran across you in the laundry room, changing? Did I tell you that he said you have a really nice ass?” Keitaro started moving his hands frantically. He shook his head. Then he saw Naru. He bowed his head. Motoko would be gentler.
Her face red with rage and embarrassment, Motoko swung the fan sword-style. She got little distance, but Keitaro ended up partially embedded into the floor. She handed the halisen back to Kaname, smiling.
“They’re getting rather pumped up, aren’t they?” Melissa asked. Haruka nodded her head.
“Indeed. We were talking wager. You chicken?” Haruka spat out her cigarette.
“Hell no. I have the perfect bet.” Melissa smiled. It wasn’t original, but it certainly fit the mood. “The loser has to run around the Hinata Apartments. Naked.” Shirai fell of the couch, babbling incoherently. Haitani and Keitaro had nosebleeds. Kitsune whistled and clapped her hands. “No referees.” She looked pointedly at Sousuke.
Haruka laughed. “Deal.” The spotlights back in place, she loosened a few buttons and assumed a fighting stance. The whip was wrapped around her waist like a belt..
Melissa unbuttoned a few buttons as well, purely out of style. She placed her pistol inside her back waistband. She saluted. She charged without warning.
There was no subtlety in that first attack. Melissa intended to stun Haruka with a fierce body slam, bringing her to the ground. She’d make fast work of her after that. Haruka had other ideas. She flipped forward, over Melissa, initiating a no-look leg sweep when she landed.
Melissa tumbled forward in controlled fashion, shocked. “What the f@ck!” she cursed. Naru put her hands over Su’s ears. Mutsumi put her hands over Keitaro’s ears. Shinobu’s eyes began spinning, then stopped. She practiced the word under her breath. No no no no no. She would only go so far with this transformation.
“Seta was not alone when he was learning the ancient techniques.” Haruka clarified. “Still want to go through with this?” She made a brushing motion, hand on shoulder.
“Sure, why not. We can’t disappoint the crowd.” She walked forward slowly, hands held out away from her body. Her movement a blur, she grabbed her pistol and fired three shots in rapid succession.. Haruka leapt upward, kicking off of a pillar, avoiding all shots. Melissa fired again, wide of Haruka. The purposely placed shots caromed of another pillar, hitting Haruka in the back of the head, right mid-back, and left calf. She stumbled forward in pain. Straightening up, she saluted Melissa.
Haruka kicked an end table. Melissa’s earlier uncouth actions threatened to be her undoing. Rice bowls, cigarette butts, beer bottles, and a thick cloud of cigarette ash obscured her vision. She fired quickly, missing with all shots. Where was Haruka? An instinct…a slight sound…a disturbance in the air. MOVE, Melissa she thought to herself.
Melissa’s flank was exposed. In one smooth motion, Haruka pulled the whip from around her waist, snapping it out viciously. Melissa, hand on Keitaro’s shirt, pulled the startled young man to her, feeling his body spasm when the whip hit. That one would have hurt she thought. Holding a moaning Keitaro in front of her, Melissa walked towards Haruka, gun hidden behind him.
The whip lashed out again, wrapping around a telephone. The phone was pulled back hard, impacting the back of Melissa’s head. She stumbled forward. Keitaro fell to the ground. Near unconscious, he still somehow managed to pull down Shinobu’s shorts. Teddy bear panties.
The whip twitched at Haruka’s side, like the tail of an angry cat. “Are we having fun yet?” Haruka asked.
“I know I am.” Kentaro was smiling. This was better than sumo or prizefights. “Hey, wait…what are you doing. I’m not a part of this…” Melissa grasped him by the nape of his neck. “Haruka! No. Don‘t. Isn‘t $1.50 an hour punishment enough?!!!”
“There’ll be a little something extra in your paycheck.” Haruka said. She rolled quickly to the side just as Melissa’s finger tightened on the trigger. Hefting an end table, she threw it lamp and all. She moved quickly to follow-up behind that move.
Melissa pushed Kentaro forward, knocking aside the tumbling table. She had to bend slightly to the right to avoid the lamp and cord. Her gun hand overly exposed. She heard the snap of a whip. Shit! she thought. But also opportunity. The whip knocked her pistol from her grip, leaving her grimacing in pain. Her other hand grabbed hold of the whip, wrapping it around her wrist in a quick instinctual reaction.
Both women pulled strongly at the whip. Neither budged. Haruka smiled. Melissa chuckled. “On two?” she asked. “Yes” Haruka answered, “1...2...3...” The whip fell to the ground. So did a grenade pin.
Yellow smoke filled the room, quickly.
Soon, it was difficult for anyone to see what was going on. The sounds of a titanic struggle could be heard. Furniture was breaking. Fists and feet thudded against flesh. Objects were bouncing off of walls and pillars.
“Keitaro! I can’t see a thing. You’re the manager. Fix it!” Naru was not making a request.
“But Naru, there’s nothing I can do. How…oooppphhh. Keitaro’s glasses flew off when Naru’s elbow caught him in the gut.
“You are SO useless. Hmmmpppfff!!!” Naru stuck her nose in the air.
“He is, nonetheless, quite correct, Miss Narusegawa” Sousuke explained helpfully.
“She wasn’t talking to you, Sousuke!” S-M-A-C-K
“Kaname…that hurt!”
“Oh, you poor baby.” Mutsumi’s voice, somewhere in the colored fog. “Here, let me make it better for you. Mmmmmm.”
“Mutsumi’s kissing, kissing, kissing….” Shinobu sounded near frantic.
“Let me see, let me see.” Su was bouncing across the room, trying to find Mutsumi and Sousuke.
“Some guys have all the luck.” Kentaro sounded dejected.
“Sousuke better be lucky. Very lucky….” Kaname said in an ominous tone of voice.
“B-b-but Kaname. She was kissing me…” Sousuke protested.
“Good. You admit it. That makes things so much easier….”
The smoke was clearing. Shinobu stood over Sousuke, P-90 in hand. Kaname decided that she could wait to deal with Sousuke.
“Naru, aren’t you proud of me.” Keitaro was sitting next to Naru now. “All that smoke. So much opportunity for misunderstandings. I didn’t do a thing!!!”
“Who asked you!” A backhanded swat bowled Keitaro over.
“It’s more fun to watch them, isn’t it?” Haruka’s voice.
“Damn right!” Melissa laughed.
Everyone turned to look at the two non-combative combatants. “WHO WON. WHO WON. WHO WON!!!” Haitani and Shirai chanted, getting a better view of Melissa and Haruka from behind.
“We called it a draw” Melissa said. “The scene had gone on for far too long already.” “That’s for sure,” Haruka said, hand on the other woman’s shoulder. “We have a big enough mess to clean up already.”
The fog completely gone, Shirai had a perfect view. Both Melissa’s and Haruka’s clothing was torn. He had a glorious view of Haruka’s partially exposed buttock. He started babbling again. Haruka…Haruka…Haruka…oh, Haruka…Haruka…. He became more and more inchorent, muttering all sorts of names.
One of the words he said was KASHIM.
************************************************************
Sousuke was numb. For a moment, he felt as if he were the zoom lens on a camera. Everything rushed in, feeling closer, overwhelming. He felt as if he could reach out and touch everybody in that large room. At the same time he felt isolated, as if time had frozen, and he was the last man standing.
Kashim. Shirai had said KASHIM
It could be a coincidence. At some point in his life, Shirai could have met someone named Kashim. He could simply have read that name somewhere. It did not necessarily mean that he had come in contact with someone who knew Sousuke from Afghanistan.
It did not necessarily mean that he had met Gauron.
Yet, it could mean just that. The man never seemed to die. Whenever he was involved, it was something big. Something very bad. It would dangerous enough to face him accompanied by a team of trained Mithril operatives and soldiers. He had seen more than his share of death and loss in that setting. What would happen if he ran afoul of that monster with these boys and girls? He had made steps with Shinobu. There was a chance that she could help defend this house against average soldiers. But against someone like Gauron? He could picture Su running up to play with that devil. He could picture him taking her neck in his hand….
“Sousuke? Are you OK?” Kaname was concerned. Her eyes looked very vulnerable. She was frightened. She held both of her hands together, behind her. She moved one foot absentmindedly.
“This place is very…busy. They do not train us to put up with this kind of insanity. It does not make sense. It serves no purpose. I am too busy reacting. I hate not being able to plan things actively.” Sousuke clenched his jaw. His eyes looked distant. He heard echoes of past battles in his mind.
“That which doesn’t kill us, makes us stronger,” Kaname said, quietly, trying to make eye contact with Sousuke. “Didn’t you tell me that, Sousuke? But that’s not what I mean. You’re thinking about HIM, aren’t you?” She bowed her head and trembled a moment. “I’m scared, Sousuke, very scared.”
That helped Sousuke focus. Kaname was scared. Kaname needed protection and reassurance. “It is not a problem. I will protect you as best I can, Kaname. That is not my primary duty, as I must protect many more than you today. But that does not mean you need to fear for your life.”
“I’m not just frightened for myself, Sousuke. He wants you. Your very existence is a challenge to him. You have messed up too many of his plans. I can’t stand the thought of you going out of here and never coming back….”
“I know that, Kaname. It is something I face every battle, as a soldier. First, we must find out whether or not he is actually involved. Before that, we must find out what we face here. We have heard nothing from Kurz or Professor Noriyasu. That in itself is worrisome. I do not understand how the others returned and they did not. We have not been told everything that those people know yet. I must address that after we are done with these two.”
Sousuke looked over towards Melissa. She and Haruka had finished rigging a rudimentary block and tackle system with wooden posts and the chains attached to Keitaro’s two friends. Grunting and straining, the two women tugged on the chains, lifting Shirai and Haitani off the ground. Melissa gave each a rough shove, sending them swinging like beef carcasses in a butcher shop. The knife she took out only added to that illusion. “Would you like a flank steak, Haruka? How about some brisket? I can’t get you any tongue…they’ll need those…at least for a while.” The two boys began to sweat.
Melissa waved to Sousuke. “Sgt. Sagara, I’ll let you handle the interrogation. You are far more forgiving than I am.” Sousuke walked up and stopped the captives from swinging. His look was bland, almost soulless. It frightened the boys more than Melissa’s look of eagerness and capriciousness.
“Haruka. I’ll answer for Haruka!” Shirai called out, half scared, half hopeful.
“I have handled this kind of thing in the past on multiple occasions” Haruka said, snapping her whip between her two hands. “Seta discovered some methods that are particularly effective.”
“No, he might enjoy it. Besides, it will be easier if we do the asking. We know the questions that are necessary.” Melissa gave Sousuke the signal to proceed.
Sousuke looked around the room. Good. Shinobu had gone back into the kitchen. Kitsune had wandered off with her bottles. The rest of the Hinata group were setting the table for dinner. “Kaname, you may wish to assist the others.”
“No, Sousuke. There are too many people involved already.” As if on cue, Keitaro went flying by. “I want to hear this first hand. I know you. I trust you. I won't be shocked. I won't judge you.”
Sousuke nodded his head. Once again, Kaname had somehow known what he was concerned about. He focused his attention on his prisoners. “I will ask questions. You will answer the questions that I ask. You will not ask me questions. I will not provide you with answers. Are we clear so far?”
Haitani nodded his head, silently. He just wanted this over. Shirai was a different matter. “I said I would answer to Haruka. Only Haruka.”
“If that is so” Sousuke began, taking out his pistol. He quite deliberately showed them a clip before sliding it home. “You will likely serve as a good example.” He walked up and put the nose of the gun to Shirai’s temple. “After your unfortunate death, I am certain that your comrade will be more than eager to tell us everything he knows. At first glance, he appears to be the intelligent one. No doubt he has all the answers that we need.” Sousuke pulled the hammer back.
“Oh! Did I say Haruka? I meant Haruka and anyone else with her. I hope y-y-you didn’t m-m-misunderstand me.” Shirai seemed very eager to talk.
“I am very glad that we have cleared up that confusion.” Sousuke did not remove his gun. “There is far too much damage to repair here, already. Blood is very difficult to get out of carpets. It does, however, add a distinguished coloration to hardwood floors.”
Shirai looked ready to faint. His eyes closed tight, then opened widely. He looked embarrassed. Drops of pungent liquid fell from his pants leg, forming a small puddle on the floor. Haruka sighed.
“I am very good at sorting truth from lies” Sousuke added. “The truth is your friend. It will keep you free of pain.” Shirai and Haitani nodded their heads vigorously. “Falsehoods are very unfortunate.” Sousuke fired three shots into a large potted shrub. Haitani developed a plumbing problem similar to Shirai’s
Kaname gasped. Sousuke turned to look in the direction that she did. A remarkably large white alligator was walking into the room, heading straight for them. Melissa reached for her gun, but Haruka held her arm down. The creature walked up to Sousuke and stopped. It moved its head up and down, then slowly looked at Haitani and Shirai.
“I see. You wish to have the two boys.” Sousuke did not feel in the least bit strange addressing an animal. Not in this place. “If they do not answer sufficiently, you may have them with my blessing. However, if they are helpful, you will have to wait for another opportunity. Are we agreed?”
Shiro waddled up to Sousuke and rubbed his head up and down his leg, giving forth a reptilian hum much akin to purring. “Good” Sousuke said. Haruka smiled at Sousuke. Kaname looked shocked at first. Then she smiled. Only Sousuke could do that….only Sousuke….
The questioning got off to a bit of a rocky start. More accurately, the answering did:
“Shirai and I were out cruising for babes, hoping to get lucky as we usually do….” Haitani sounded smug. It did not take a trained operative to notice he was lying. Shiro roared. Sousuke lowered each chain by two feet. Purring…purring…purring. Snap. Snap. SNAP.
Sousuke looked at the alligator. “Two more lies, and you will be able to reach the short one.”
“SOUSUKE!!!”
“Yes, Kaname?” Sousuke was about to insist that Kaname leave.
“Make it one more lie!!!” Kaname smiled sweetly. She forced herself to remain smiling when Shiro walked over to express his gratitude.
The questioning went very smoothly after that.
Haitani and Shirai had indeed gone out cruising for female companionship, with the usual results. No one would give them the time of day. That is, until they ran across a new shop in town selling comic books. The women behind the cashiers were total knockouts. The store was packed with young men, with the line extending out into the street.
The two college students had each grabbed random handfuls of comics, not even certain of what that had selected. When they made it up to the counter, they were pleased to see that they would each be given a free comic. It was a first issue. The cover showed an elephant with three eyes, along with many indescribable contraptions, all with a similar motif. The cashiers were each very excited about the comic…it was THE new thing. Anyone who was anyone liked it. They SO wanted to meet anyone who had seen that three-eye pattern before. It was based on something very real and very important.
Naturally, Shirai had seen that pattern before. Su had plenty of inventions with that theme. Her adult form, their beloved Magical Girl, had clothing with that design. Haitani was only too glad to tell the girls where Su lived. The girls looked ready to swoon. They shooed everybody out of the shop, closing up two hours early. Arm in arm with the two ecstatic young men, they left through the back door. There was someone they all just had to to meet.
Sousuke’s worst fears came to light. The man they described---the girl’s uncle---had an appearance that fit Gauron all too well.
The man was very generous. He gladly handed out free movie passes, liquor, and adult videos. Drugs were available, if that was what they craved. Seemingly by accident, he let it slip that his two nieces were very lonely and looking for suitable beaus. They trusted HIS judgement exclusively---he truly loved the girls, and was hoping to find too dependable young men to give meaning to their lonely lives. Would the two of them know anyone who might fit that description?
Haitani and Shirai had been eager to please. They told the man everything he wanted to know about the town, its inhabitants, and the local law enforcement. They hunted down blueprints for city sewers and underground waterways. The snuck geological surveys out of the local town hall. They brought him tide charts and references to ocean depths in nearby seaside areas.
With very little prompting, they told everything they knew about the residents of The Hinata Apartments. The man became particularly interested in Su, once he realized that she was the inventor he was searching for. As he described himself, he was a philanthropist---he wanted to bring new energy sources to the masses...something that everyone could afford. The haves would no longer be at the mercy of the have nots. He had to sneak these discoveries past the watchful eyes of Big Business. He was stymied, however. He needed to find an intrepid and discrete pair of young heroes. Young unattached heroes….
Because he was very busy, he let his pretty young nieces show the two boys a number of meeting points behind the Annex Building. While visiting such spots, Haitani and Shirai had heard what sounded like construction noises---under the ground. Loud pounding. Drilling. Grinding . The girls made it clear that their uncle was a very proper man. His word was his bond. He expected his associates to behave in a similar fashion. There should be no mention of those noises. There should be no snooping around. They would have promised those girls anything.
Over the next few months, the two college boys took whatever opportunity they had to visit Keitaro. They never stayed very long…at least not in plain sight. It had taken some doing, but they had managed to sneek out a large number of Su’s creations and deliver them to their contacts. They had brought the man everything that he had been interested in finding, with one exception. They had recently been ready to swipe that, but ended up looking at the business end of an alligator instead.
Sousuke told the fortunate young pair that they were alive only because they did not make that delivery.
Shirai had made no specific mention of KASHIM. Sousuke specifically asked where he had heard that name. The boy looked frightened for a moment, before telling the listeners that they had once arrived too early at one of the the meeting places. They had seen the man leaning against a tree, smoking a cigarette. He had been speaking to himself. Oh, I can’t wait to meet you again, Kashim. Things are close to being ready. Soon, an anonymous warning can be sent. Your bosses are SO predictable.
He had heard their quiet footsteps. It was the only time they had seen him angry. Those eyes…those eyes were the stuff of nightmares. Those eyes and that smile. He had apologized diffusely, explaining that he was fighting his way through a migraine. He actually called it a splitting headache, as he kept ramming the knife into the tree.
The questioning went on a little longer. Nothing else of value was learned. Melissa decided that the two informants should be restrained for their own sake. Haruka decided that they should mop the floor first...and apply a new coat of fragrant wax.
Sousuke apologized to Shiro. As he watched the alligator wander back to Su’s room, Sousuke asked Kaname if her apartment building allowed pets.
Kaname had decided it was a good time to help set the table.
************************************************************
End of part five
Sousuke Interrogation Techniques, it'd be QUITE