Episode 11: Assassin, Part 1 *Life is cruel. Life is hard. The slums hold the lowest criminal scum there is. And this is where our story begins.* *In a seedy bar, where the smoke is so thick it's hard to see the menu(not that there's anything decent anyway), a young man sits, nursing a drink he ordered hours ago. Someone walks over and begins speaking to him.* "You're gonna have to leave. We're closing now." He stands and leaves the bar, walking into the dingy streets. He is a man who used to be well-known but now wouldn't be recognized as anything. His alias was Nightstorm.* *This broken, disgusting slummer was once one of the greatest assassins in the business. Now, he hasn't had a job in months, he’s an alcoholic, and he isn't half what he used to be.* *As he walks down the alley, a shadowy figure is seen tailing him.* Shadowy Figure: 'Ey... you there. Are ye Ken Kyuu? Nightstorm: Ken... Kyuu? That name... That was who I am, yes... S.F.: And ye were Nightstorm, as well? Nightstorm: *shakes head* You seem to know a lot about me... S.F.: I make it my job. Ye're needed once again. We've got to get you cleaned up, though... *The two of them walk off together....* *Cut scene to the next morning at the apartment.* Sakura: *is puttering around in the kitchen, working on the upcoming lunch* Sakura: *has a big meal planned, so is starting now* Kanoe: *is in kitchen, having her morning tea* Satsuki: *at the kitchen table, tapping at Val and muttering as usual* Kai: *snuggles Sailor Bob* Sailor Bob: *snuggles back, be's ravenous while food be's fixed* Shonkoe: *is helping make breakfast, having arrived early with Kai and Sailor Bob in tow* Sakura: *uses the help since she's working on lunch items, too* So, K-chan, are you gonna find a bounty soon? Kanoe: Yeah... sometime... Kanoe: I've got enough savings to fall back on for now... Satsuki: *cranky voice* E-chan, you're supposed to SAVE your savings. Not live off them. Sakura: Well, you Bounty Hunters aren't doing much hunting lately... You're just staying around the house and eating. Kanoe: Well, it's easier to live off 'em when we live in a rat-trap. Kanoe: And when we're not feeding Kai and Sailor Bob into the bargain. Kai: ^-^V Big savings there... Shonkoe: *sweatdrops politely* Satsuki: We are NOT giving up this apartment! Kanoe: Who said anything about giving it up? *sips her tea* I'm just saying it's a dump. Kanoe: You know that as well as I do. Satsuki: It's a lot nicer now than it used to be. Kanoe: Yeah, since we got the bug-zapper. Kanoe: But the vidscreen still doesn't work. *Meanwhile, after a sobering night, Ken wakes up with an awful hangover.* Satsuki: 9.9 Like we need it SO badly. Kanoe: *points at a TV that looks like it was made in 1967* It would be nice to catch bounty listings without having to stare at a computer screen. Nightstorm: Oh... shit... My head. Satsuki: Oh, come ON. Those listings are SO out of date... S.F.: Good... ye're awake. Kai: I don't see a difference. Satsuki: They don't have the best bounties, anyway. Kanoe: Okay, well, there's worthwhile stuff on there SOMEtimes! Satsuki: But Val ALWAYS has good stuff! Kanoe: Remember that movie we saw a couple years ago? Back before we sold the working one? S.F.: It's time to see if you're worthy of our business. *takes Ken into a training room* Kanoe: It was so sweet, and it was made-for-vs! Satsuki: I don't remember it... S.F.: Now... begin. *sits and watches* Shonkoe: *politely ignores them and helps Sakura* Nightstorm: *starting out slowly at first, but picking up speed, Ken goes through some of his normal routines* Sailor Bob: *waits for breakfast, his nose quivering like a rabbit’s at the faint smell of food coming from the stove* Nightstorm: *it's been a very long time since he's done anything* Kai: You and Sakura don't seem to have any trouble finding something to do, Kanoe-san. ^-^ Satsuki: >.< Sakura: Hey! You keep talking like that and you won't get anything to eat, Kai-san! Kanoe: Yeah, Kai. Don't be spreading OUR business around. Satsuki: Besides, you two are worse then THEY are! Kai: =p Tenshi-chan can have my food. Kanoe: *smiles nastily* Unless you want Satsuki to find out just what YOU have hidden in YOUR closet. Satsuki: >.< E-chan, those aren't LEGAL! Sailor Bob: !.# Kai: =p You're bluffing. Satsuki: *having bad closet flashbacks from the one time she tried to clean up E-chan's room* Sailor Bob: Don't push her, Kai-chan... Sakura: *having her own good closet flashbacks* Mmm... Satsuki: >.< Nightstorm: *as he continues to work himself, sweating the alcohol from his body, faint traces of what made him great begin to reappear* Kanoe: *sticks her tongue out at Satsuki* That's my business. Satsuki: >.< Sakura: *nudges Shonkoe* Get the food on the table, they're getting restless... Shonkoe: *nods, quickly serves up breakfast* Sailor Bob: ^____#V *digs in* Nightstorm: *by the end of the workout, his body is glistening, and he looks at least twenty years younger* Kanoe: XD *digs in, too* Satsuki: *eats distractedly, still working on Val* Kai: *eats slowly* Kanoe: *between bites* Some of it was VERY hard to get. S.F.: Yes... Ye definitely be what we need. We'll have ye ready soon enough... *said mysteriously, then he exits* Kanoe: And expensive, too. Satsuki: I bet it WAS, you PERVERTS! Kanoe: Hell, we could sell one of them and live off it for a year. Satsuki: Do it, then. Kai: Why don't you, then? I'm sure you have enough. Nightstorm: Hmmm... This guy seems to want me back in top shape. And I really have let myself go. I think it's time to come out of retirement. Sakura: You can't sell any of *OUR* things, K-chan... Kanoe: Hey! I'm not lettin' go of any of that stuff! Kanoe: I just told you, it was EXPENSIVE! Kai: *gives his extra food to Sailor Bob, careful not to get his hand close or it might get eaten* Satsuki: True. It might end up in WORSE hands, and God knows what would happen to the city. Sailor Bob: *kisses Kai's hand, then goes back to eating* Kai: ^-^;;; Kanoe: *cuddles Sakura* Don't you worry, 'Kura-chan. I would never sell those off. Shonkoe: *politely stays out of the conversation* Sakura: *cuddles back* Good. ^^ Shonkoe: *doesn't eat anything* Nightstorm: *spends the rest of the day training in this room. He doesn't leave and only takes brief water breaks.* Satsuki: *looking up from Val briefly* Hey, Shonkoe-san - you okay? Shonkoe: Hmm? *looks confused* Nightstorm: *Soon, his fighting form has returned and he is nearly ready to begin training his body back to shape.* Kai: *at Shonkoe* ~.- Satsuki: You aren't eating anything. *Watching from a hidden viewfinder is a group.* Yes. He will kill our competition. Shonkoe: *smiles sweetly* Oh, I am fine. Group: Nary a one will stand against us with him on our side. Shonkoe: If I eat anything before breakfast, I get sick, that is all. Kai: ?.? Satsuki: @.@ Shonkoe-san... anouuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu... Satsuki: Have you - er - anouuuuuuuuuuu... *blushes furiously* Kai: ~.- Shonkoe: *realizes what she's implying* Oh, no, Satsuki-san... Shonkoe: *blushes deeply* I have always been that way. My mother was like that, too. Shonkoe: Any food before noon made her sick. Satsuki: *breathes a sigh of relief* Okay... if you're sure... Time: *skips forward a few uneventful days until a week has passed* Messenger 1: *arrives in front of a restaurant* Hmm... This looks like the place. M 1: *enters and looks around, trying to find a waitress* *Meanwhile, across town a ways...* Messenger 2: *arrives in front of an apartment building* Hmm... This looks like the place. M 2: *Heads for room number 153. He has a special package to be delivered.* M 1: *continues his search for a waitress, one who is password ready* Kanoe: *Is filing her nails. Must keep up her appearance, after all.* Waitress: *goes up to the first messenger* May I help you? Satsuki: *still working on Val* Sailor Bob: *is trying to help Shonkoe solve a difficult problem she's having with one of her neighbors* Kai: *tries to help also* Shonkoe: *is grateful for their help* M 1: Yes... I have a confession for the Priest... *hopes he did it right, this is his first big job without his twin brother, too* M 2: *knocks on 153's door* Hello... Package... Kanoe: Ooh! *gets up and goes to the door* Kanoe: Maybe Tetsuya sent us some more gardening tools... *grin* M 2: *waits* Kanoe: *opens the door* Yes? Waitress: *thrown for a moment, but recovers* Let me see if he's in... Waitress: *goes to Joker and tells him to check out the messenger* M 2: Package. No return address. You accept? Kanoe: You speaking English? Sure, I'll accept. *a little wary of this guy, since most packages get sent through the mailman* Joker: *casually saunters out into the restaurant to the first messenger* You wanted a priest? M 1: A- are you... Tetsuya? I have a message for you... Joker: Sure, you can call me Tetsuya. *does not connect the name to the boss* M 2: Yeah, I speak English... *isn't used to working with customers, his brother's the nice guy* Kanoe: Good. Do I have to sign something? M 2: Nah, all they said was to make sure you got it. Although you can give me a tip. Kanoe: Sorry, kid, can't afford it. Kanoe: Come back next time, and I'll double your tip. As long as next time isn't next week. Satsuki: *from the kitchen* Careful opening that thing! It isn't from Tetsuya-san... M 1: *gives Joker a sheet of paper* Here... Just read this. *then exits as quickly as possible* M 2: Yeah yeah... Lousy cheap-skate... *he mutters as he walks off* Joker: *takes the paper, confused; goes to the kitchen to read it and mooch food* Shonkoe: Anou... I have some money... Satsuki: Jeez, it's a POSTMAN. You don't tip postmen. Kanoe: Hey, YOU'RE the one who usually just rips packages open, not me! Satsuki: ^-^ *innocent look* Shonkoe: *is very generous, gives the guy a tip* Here you go. Paper: *assuming Joker has looked at it* "Dear Tetsuya: It has come to our attention that you have... hindered some of our recent endeavors. We are just giving you fair warning. Next time this comes up, you will pay. IPR" Kanoe: *rolls her eyes* You're too nice, Shonkoe. M 2: Hey, all right. Thanks, lady. *continues on his way* Kanoe: *closes the door with her hip, then goes into the living room with the package* Satsu-kun, get me the med-kit, will you? Satsuki: Hai, hai... *goes to get it* Kai: Med-kit? Shonkoe: Med-kit? Kanoe: Yes, med-kit. *said impatiently* Joker: *sneers at the paper, crumples it up and throws it in the trash* Heh. Don't they wish. Package: *sits there, being a package, not a paper* Kanoe: Satsu-kun, hurry up, come on! Kanoe: *looks agitated* Satsuki: *brings in the kit* Jeez, E-chan, relax... Paper: *As it lands in the trashcan, a marking can be seen on the back... One that hasn't appeared on anything for years* Joker: 0.0! Symbol: *It appears, in all due respects, to be a simple shurriken. But, written in Japanese is the word "Nightstorm" and the word "Death."* Joker: 0.0 *decides, upon consideration, that this one the boss DOES have to know about; goes to tell him* Kanoe: *takes out the scanner and runs it over the package, checking for any strange noises that indicate it's not just an innocent package* Satsuki: *taps foot, waiting for the scan's results* Package: *has nothing harmful or strange in it* Kanoe: *puts the scanner down and opens the package* Sakura: *wanders in from the bedroom* Who was at the door? Kanoe: A messenger. *Inside the package is a note and a small object wrapped in newspaper.* Shonkoe: *looks at package* ?.? Kanoe: ?.? *picks up the note and begins to read* Satsuki: ?.? Kai: ?.? Kanoe: *reads it aloud, of course* Note: "Dear Associates: It has come to our attention that, even though we have sent much against you, you have managed to survive. That will not persist for long. We have something very special planned for you in the near future. Be on guard. IPR." Satsuki: !.! Kanoe: !.! Shonkoe: !.! Satsuki: The NERVE of those guys! Sailor Bob: !.# Sakura: !.! Val: *beeps angrily* Satsuki: Oooooooooooh...! *clenches her fists* Object: *sits there, begging to be opened* Kanoe: *picks up the little thing that's wrapped up and slowly opens it* Kai: That is kinda bold to just announce it like that... Satsuki: They are going DOWN. Object: *is an actual black ninja star, with the silver Japanese lettering "Nightstorm" and "Death" printed on it* Shonkoe: *at the shurriken* !.! Satsuki: *looks at the shurriken, unimpressed* Shurriken: *is very sharp and deadly looking, gleams in the light* Shonkoe: *cannot read Japanese very well, but knows what that means* No! Satsuki: Pretty. Kai: Heh, old-fashioned... Satsuki: Eh? What's wrong? Kanoe: Hmm, not bad... I could use this... Sakura: *just kinda looks at it, not getting any real feel one way or another* Kai: ?.? Shonkoe: *Snatches the shurriken from Kanoe's hands, cutting herself in her hurry. Ignores the cut and examines it.* Sailor Bob: Schwester...? Satsuki: !.! Shonkoe-san, doushita no? Sakura: What is it, Shonkoe? Shonkoe: Ken... Shonkoe: He's coming... to kill us... Kai: ?.? Shonkoe: *starts shaking* Satsuki: !.! WHO?! Nightstorm: *Sits, zen-like, in the middle of his training room. His original ninja garb shrouds his body as he meditates.* Sailor Bob: Shonkoe! *stands up and shakes her slightly* Who? Nightstorm: *raises his head and smiles darkly, then reaches behind him and pulls his mask on* Shonkoe: Nightstorm... Ken... He'll kill me, I know he will...! Shonkoe: *is all panicky now* Satsuki: *thinks* Nightstorm... I've heard that name... Nightstorm: *the white eyes stand out against the black of his outfit as he rises to his feet* Soon... very soon. Kanoe: Yeah... Wasn't he an assassin a couple years back? Kanoe: Made quite a ruckus in the bounty hunting community. He killed quite a few bounties, then turned them in without datmarking them. Satsuki: Oh, yeah! NOW I remember... Satsuki: And then he just disappeared... Kanoe: Lots of people were mad 'cause they lost tons of money... Kanoe: Yeah... Sakura: *Is just listening at this point. Finds it all very interesting, especially since she hasn't heard of him.* Kai: *same* Shonkoe: He's going to kill me... He's going to kill all of us...! Satsuki: Not a chance. *waves one hand negligently* Satsuki: Now that we know he's out there... S.F.: He's ready. *The heads of the IPR enter the training room.* Shonkoe: You don't understand...! Shonkoe: He's the best assassin in the world! Satsuki: Yeah, and we're the best bounty hunters. And there's more than one of us. Satsuki: I'd almost like to see him try something with us... S.F.: Ye know who ye're going after? ’Twon't be easy... Nightstorm: *nods, his simple, silent fashion returned* Shonkoe: *looks like she's going to cry* I left a note... I did... Shonkoe: But he never found it... Satsuki: ?.? S.F.: Good. Now, be off with ye. 'Ave your fun... Shonkoe: I loved him, I did... and I left a note... but when I came back, all my stuff was outside and there was a note on the door... Satsuki: @.@ Oro? Shonkoe: I left a note... *starts to cry* Sailor Bob: *huggles her comfortingly* Sakura: *walks over and comforts Shonkoe* It'll be alright... Satsuki: @.@ *be's confused* Kanoe: Hmmmm... Val: *shows a swirly-eyed graphic, also* Kai: *pats Satsuki on the head* Satsuki: ^-^;;; Kanoe: I think we should take some safety precautions. Kanoe: Since we got the bug-zapper, there haven't been any roaches on the floor. Shonkoe, Bob, Kai, you're staying here tonight. Satsuki: Makes sense. Kai: OK... Kanoe: Then Satsuki, Shonkoe and I can take shifts during the night. Sakura: Hey, what about me? I'm not defenseless! Kanoe: I know you're not, 'Kura-chan. Kanoe: But I don't want my precious flower to get hurt. *said very softly and gently* Kai: None of us are defenseless, really. Except Tenshi-chan, of course. ^-^; Satsuki: >.< Sakura: *looks down at the floor, then looks at Kanoe's eyes* All right... Sailor Bob: *at Kai* :P Kanoe: *pretends she didn't say anything* So, that's settled. Shonkoe: *still crying slightly, but a little more comforted* Satsuki: ^-^V We're good. Nightstorm: *at the IPR's command, he has disappeared from the training room and is stalking the night* Kanoe: Anyone want some dinner? Satsuki: ME ME MEEEEEEEEE! *End apartment scene.* Nightstorm: *making his way steadily towards the restaurant, using the rooftops* Tetsuya: *is in the dining room, casually overseeing operations* Nightstorm: *enters through the roof's air ducts, makes his way through the building* Nightstorm: *finally, he finds a grating that looks in on the dining room and he sees Tetsuya, standing near a table* Tetsuya: *looks perfectly innocent and unaware* Nightstorm: *Decides to at least give his prey some warning. He reaches into his top and pulls out a shurriken. He sends it flying down from the grating. It lodges in the table in front of Tetsuya, just like a real version of the mark.* Tetsuya: *pulls it out of the table, tosses it in one hand, then puts it in his pocket* Tetsuya: *looks at the grating* Come out. Now. Nightstorm: *smirks underneath his mask, thinks to himself* Mighty assured of himself... Nightstorm: *pushes the grating open and nimbly leaps down to the floor below* Tetsuya: *looks at him, one eyebrow raised* Most dramatic. Nightstorm: *decides to break his rule of silence on a mission* I try. So, you're Tetsuya? Tetsuya: *thinks* No. Nightstorm: Well... Then I guess killing you will just be like icing on the cake... Tetsuya: ~.- I did not say I was not the boss. Nightstorm: A fake name? Appropriate. Tetsuya: Whatever suits you. Nightstorm: They say you're good... one of the best. I've been out of it for a while. Are you really that good? Tetsuya: I am. *says this simply, without bragging or sounding proud* Tetsuya: I have heard of you as well. Have you been enjoying your vacation? Nightstorm: You could call it a vacation... But I certainly didn't enjoy it. Nightstorm: But enough talk. I came here for a reason. Your death. Any particular way you'd like it? Tetsuya: *bows slightly* However you feel you could accomplish it. Nightstorm: I'll be fair. You don't use weapons, I've heard. I won't use weapons. Tetsuya: Even enough. Tetsuya: Then I grant you first move. Nightstorm: *unsheathes his katana and stabs it into the floor, ruining the good carpet they stand on* Nightstorm: That's all I brought with me this time. You have my shurriken. You can keep it, if you like. Tetsuya: *eyes narrow fractionally; paid a LOT for that carpet* Tetsuya: I believe I will. Nightstorm: *gets into a traditional non-form stance* First move for me, you said? Tetsuya: Yes. Nightstorm: *rushes Tetsuya quickly, then sends a rapid fist towards his stomach* Tetsuya: *blocks, brings an elbow up and smashes it into Nightstorm's ribs* Nightstorm: *takes the blow to the ribs in stride, takes a step back* Solid defense... Not bad. Tetsuya: *takes a few steps back, towards the kitchen; cocks his head a little to one side, as if waiting* Nightstorm: *Nods and heads for the kitchen, although not the expected route. Hopping from table to table, he upsets a few very expensive meals.* Tetsuya: *eyes narrow a little more noticeably this time* Nightstorm: *when he arrives, he holds the door open* After you... Tetsuya: *backs into the kitchen, eyes focused on Nightstorm* Nightstorm: *throws himself back into the battle* *The two fighters exchange blows as they strive for control. They go all through the kitchen, neither gaining the upper hand. Every time Tetsuya lands a blow, Nightstorm lands a counter. Every move from Nightstorm, Tetsuya has a reversal.* Tetsuya: *finally, slams his fist against Nightstorm's head, knocking him into a nearby rack* Nightstorm: *Shakes his head, then spots something on the rack that might come in handy. He grabs a knife and, in one smooth motion, sends it straight into Tetsuya's arm.* Tetsuya: *unable to dodge, holds his arm, blood seeping through his fingers* Tetsuya: *looks incredibly cold* Nightstorm: Now... We'll see what happens next. *the tone of his voice matches Tetsuya’s look* *To be continued.* Credits: Kanoe: MokonaChiirushia Satsuki: Hokuto Kuzuki Kai: Ryuujin Tatsu Sakura: XvGigavX Shonkoe: MokonaChiirushia Nightstorm: XvGigavX Tetsuya: Hokuto Kuzuki Sailor Bob: MokonaChiirushia S.F.: XvGigavX Val: Hokuto Kuzuki Messengers 1 and 2: XvGigavX Waitress: Hokuto Kuzuki Package/Paper: XvGigavX Joker: Hokuto Kuzuki