Rebel Encounter
folder
Original - Misc › General
Rating:
Adult ++
Chapters:
10
Views:
2,045
Reviews:
5
Recommended:
0
Currently Reading:
0
Category:
Original - Misc › General
Rating:
Adult ++
Chapters:
10
Views:
2,045
Reviews:
5
Recommended:
0
Currently Reading:
0
Disclaimer:
This is a work of fiction. Any resemblance of characters to actual persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental. The Author holds exclusive rights to this work. Unauthorized duplication is prohibited.
Chapter 9
Chapter 9
Tatsu’s knee was shaking impatiently, waiting for Itachi to choose the game. He had already inspected the dice, and found them clean and un-weighted. He knew all the methods of cheating employed by the Yakuza because he had broke up several gambling rings in recent years. His ‘former’ friend held his ground behind Itachi, holding his bounty captive. Shinra continued to hold the blade to Yume’s throat, her hair wrapped tightly in his hand. He watched as a single tear left a trail down her right cheek, glowing in the lantern light. It was hard to tell what caused her sudden show of emotion, the physical pain of the knife at her throat or the mental strain of the situation surrounding her. This woman had suffered things he would never understand, and hopefully that would end in the next few moments. They had the rest of their lives to erase all the harsh memories, if only they could survive this night.
“How about a simple game of Odds and Evens?” Itachi asked. Tatsumaki nodded, and Itachi reached for a nearby cup, throwing the dice inside. Itachi made a motion with his head, and the four guards took posts around the entrance. “Kill anyone who tries to enter. This is a game between two men, and we need no distractions,” he barked, and the men assumed their positions by the door. They dimmed the lanterns, leaving only light around the scene itself. Yume started to struggle, fear of the darkness clear in her eyes. Shinra moved the knife from her throat, and pulled her closer to his body. He bent forward, whispering something in her ear that pulled a whimper from her mouth. Tatsu’s eyes widened, “Just a little longer, aijin, we’ll be on our way home soon.” He hoped his words would soothe her, maybe calm her spirit until he could set her free.
Itachi laughed, “Oh, how charming, you really want her to think her life will be easier with you? And I thought she was the expert with fantasies.” He shook the dice in the cup, slamming it down on the table. “Place your bet, inspector. Odds or evens?” Tatsumaki started to think. It had only taken one moment in her arms to completely fall for her, one moment to forget where he came from, one moment to realize that this life was worthless if she was not by his side. One spring evening in the rain had revived his heart, and one summer frolic was enough to heal his tortured soul. Years of war and innocent bloodshed all seemed to disappear when he was with her. He couldn’t afford to lose that now. He winked at the nervous woman, hoping he wasn’t overconfident in his actions. “Odds,” he said, making eye contact with Itachi. The Yakuza boss grinned, “You know, even if you are correct, that doesn’t mean you will make it out alive. Her life was the only one you were bargaining with.” Tatsu turned his attention back to Itachi, “I know, now show me the roll.”
Itachi removed the cup, and both men looked down at the same time. Months of investigations and man-hours were all coming down to this instant, this single roll of dice was going to determine if it was all worth it. He didn’t like staking a life on a roll of dice, especially one that was not his own to gamble with. She had to make it out alive, if nothing else but to have the wind in her hair again, the spring rain on her face. Itachi saw it before Tatsu did. He rose from the table and put a pistol to Tatsu’s head. Tatsu just laughed at his luck, two and one, odds. Suddenly the door slid open, and the night air blew out the remaining lanterns. Tatsu caught sight of Yume before the darkness ensued. He mouthed three words to her, then gunshots tore through the darkened room.
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Shinra kept his arms tight against me, and I fought him with all the breath I had in me. “Let me go, Shinra! Let me go! Tatsu! Tatsu! Where are you?” I screamed before Shinra grabbed my throat one-handed, and shoved me against the wall. I struggled against his grip, kicking his torso, trying to find a vital area to wound him. Placing both feet against his chest, I pushed with all the strength left in me, hoping my legs were long enough to displace his hands from my throat. I must have looked like an ant trying to budge a mountain. Shinra laughed at my efforts, and stood firm in place. My lungs were pushing harder in my chest, wanting more air, wanting to live.
The voices of anguish echoed through the room as men on both sides met their unfortunate ends. I couldn’t see Itachi or Tatsumaki, but I could hear them. Their sounds of metal against metal signaled that both men were still alive. They were fighting with swords in hand in the true Bushi style, Itachi’s gun discarded at some point for the more honorable weapon. Fighting in the darkness was a true test of their skills, but there was no way to tell who would come out on top. However, the periodic sparks from gunpowder provided me an opportunity. My struggles against Shinra were enough to make him move from side to side, and I could see the glint of his knife tucked in his waistband. I slowed my struggles, pretending that my body was finally shutting down. I started to relax in his hand, my breath more shallow in my throat due to the pressure of holding my own weight. Shinra leaned into me, and placed his ear to my chest. With speed and slight of hand that I had only recently learned, I slipped the knife from his pants. I just hoped my heart didn’t reflect my movements. He must have been satisfied with what he heard because he released his grip on my throat, and my body dropped to the floor.
The gunshots had stopped, and the fighting had filtered into the streets. Shinra turned away from me, and walked in the direction of the sword fight. As my eyes adjusted to the darkness, I saw one figure backed against the wall and the other striking with his sword in a downward slash. I could feel the tears in my eyes, my voice fighting to release a scream that would give away my façade. The dark figure turned to Shinra, wiping the blood from his blade on his sleeve. At the hint of a whispered conversation, I pulled myself from the ground and into a crouching stance, holding tight to the darkened area, careful not to signal them to my movements. I slid against the wall, drawing closer to the men, and I was still unsure of the victor. Was that my warrior’s corpse bleeding on the floor? Was his rescue all in vain?
“You are not worthy of a death by my sword….” I heard the smaller man say as Shinra lunged forward. I watched as the man who had to be Tatsu toss his sword to the ground, and thrust his fist into Shinra’s chin. The large man staggered momentarily, then tackled Tatsu, slamming him into the wall. I moved in the shadows, sliding closer to the fight with Shinra’s blade tight in my right hand. Shinra pulled away to punch Tatsu in the stomach, causing him to lean forward for Shinra to place a knee in his face. As I drew closer, I could hear Tatsu’s silent laughter. “Is that all you’ve got?” he said. Shinra swung again, punching Tatsu across the left side of his face, knocking him to the ground. Tatsu coughed against the dirt floor, choking on the blood his body discharged. Shinra laughed, bending forward to pick Tatsu up by the front of his shirt. This was my only chance, the only time Shinra would drop his guard. In long and quiet strides I sneaked up behind Shinra, and thrust his blade into his back. I twisted the blade inside his flesh, then ripped it away in a gush of blood. I stabbed two more times before he dropped Tatsu and turned on me. I started to back away, afraid to turn and flee, not wanting those giant hands on my body ever again. Before he could move, steel pierced his abdomen, narrowly missing my chest. Shinra dropped to his knees, the sword still protruding from his body. I looked behind him to see Tatsu hunched over, coughing furiously. “Finish it, Yume,” he said between coughs.
Tatsu was giving me another chance to take revenge. I smiled as I thought of the words he mouthed to me. I hoped what he had said was true, and by him giving me this opportunity, he trusted me to handle something he could not do on his own, not to someone he once called a comrade and a friend. I moved closer to Shinra as the man struggled to stand again. Before he had the chance, I grabbed his head by the hair, exposing his throat. His blade slid smoothly along his flesh, separating it to allow his life to flow away in a river of blood.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Police agents flooded the abandoned warehouse. The bodies of Yakuza members and policemen laid defeated along the ground, soaking in their arrogance and honor. “Sir, they’re not here, not among the living or the dead!” said one agent. The new Chief of Police nodded to the young man as he returned to his pipe. He turned to the sky, watching the stars fight against the impending morning light. “Tatsumaki, where are you? Did you accomplish your goal?”
AN:
One more chapter to go! Thank you all who have been keeping up with this story!
Tatsu’s knee was shaking impatiently, waiting for Itachi to choose the game. He had already inspected the dice, and found them clean and un-weighted. He knew all the methods of cheating employed by the Yakuza because he had broke up several gambling rings in recent years. His ‘former’ friend held his ground behind Itachi, holding his bounty captive. Shinra continued to hold the blade to Yume’s throat, her hair wrapped tightly in his hand. He watched as a single tear left a trail down her right cheek, glowing in the lantern light. It was hard to tell what caused her sudden show of emotion, the physical pain of the knife at her throat or the mental strain of the situation surrounding her. This woman had suffered things he would never understand, and hopefully that would end in the next few moments. They had the rest of their lives to erase all the harsh memories, if only they could survive this night.
“How about a simple game of Odds and Evens?” Itachi asked. Tatsumaki nodded, and Itachi reached for a nearby cup, throwing the dice inside. Itachi made a motion with his head, and the four guards took posts around the entrance. “Kill anyone who tries to enter. This is a game between two men, and we need no distractions,” he barked, and the men assumed their positions by the door. They dimmed the lanterns, leaving only light around the scene itself. Yume started to struggle, fear of the darkness clear in her eyes. Shinra moved the knife from her throat, and pulled her closer to his body. He bent forward, whispering something in her ear that pulled a whimper from her mouth. Tatsu’s eyes widened, “Just a little longer, aijin, we’ll be on our way home soon.” He hoped his words would soothe her, maybe calm her spirit until he could set her free.
Itachi laughed, “Oh, how charming, you really want her to think her life will be easier with you? And I thought she was the expert with fantasies.” He shook the dice in the cup, slamming it down on the table. “Place your bet, inspector. Odds or evens?” Tatsumaki started to think. It had only taken one moment in her arms to completely fall for her, one moment to forget where he came from, one moment to realize that this life was worthless if she was not by his side. One spring evening in the rain had revived his heart, and one summer frolic was enough to heal his tortured soul. Years of war and innocent bloodshed all seemed to disappear when he was with her. He couldn’t afford to lose that now. He winked at the nervous woman, hoping he wasn’t overconfident in his actions. “Odds,” he said, making eye contact with Itachi. The Yakuza boss grinned, “You know, even if you are correct, that doesn’t mean you will make it out alive. Her life was the only one you were bargaining with.” Tatsu turned his attention back to Itachi, “I know, now show me the roll.”
Itachi removed the cup, and both men looked down at the same time. Months of investigations and man-hours were all coming down to this instant, this single roll of dice was going to determine if it was all worth it. He didn’t like staking a life on a roll of dice, especially one that was not his own to gamble with. She had to make it out alive, if nothing else but to have the wind in her hair again, the spring rain on her face. Itachi saw it before Tatsu did. He rose from the table and put a pistol to Tatsu’s head. Tatsu just laughed at his luck, two and one, odds. Suddenly the door slid open, and the night air blew out the remaining lanterns. Tatsu caught sight of Yume before the darkness ensued. He mouthed three words to her, then gunshots tore through the darkened room.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Shinra kept his arms tight against me, and I fought him with all the breath I had in me. “Let me go, Shinra! Let me go! Tatsu! Tatsu! Where are you?” I screamed before Shinra grabbed my throat one-handed, and shoved me against the wall. I struggled against his grip, kicking his torso, trying to find a vital area to wound him. Placing both feet against his chest, I pushed with all the strength left in me, hoping my legs were long enough to displace his hands from my throat. I must have looked like an ant trying to budge a mountain. Shinra laughed at my efforts, and stood firm in place. My lungs were pushing harder in my chest, wanting more air, wanting to live.
The voices of anguish echoed through the room as men on both sides met their unfortunate ends. I couldn’t see Itachi or Tatsumaki, but I could hear them. Their sounds of metal against metal signaled that both men were still alive. They were fighting with swords in hand in the true Bushi style, Itachi’s gun discarded at some point for the more honorable weapon. Fighting in the darkness was a true test of their skills, but there was no way to tell who would come out on top. However, the periodic sparks from gunpowder provided me an opportunity. My struggles against Shinra were enough to make him move from side to side, and I could see the glint of his knife tucked in his waistband. I slowed my struggles, pretending that my body was finally shutting down. I started to relax in his hand, my breath more shallow in my throat due to the pressure of holding my own weight. Shinra leaned into me, and placed his ear to my chest. With speed and slight of hand that I had only recently learned, I slipped the knife from his pants. I just hoped my heart didn’t reflect my movements. He must have been satisfied with what he heard because he released his grip on my throat, and my body dropped to the floor.
The gunshots had stopped, and the fighting had filtered into the streets. Shinra turned away from me, and walked in the direction of the sword fight. As my eyes adjusted to the darkness, I saw one figure backed against the wall and the other striking with his sword in a downward slash. I could feel the tears in my eyes, my voice fighting to release a scream that would give away my façade. The dark figure turned to Shinra, wiping the blood from his blade on his sleeve. At the hint of a whispered conversation, I pulled myself from the ground and into a crouching stance, holding tight to the darkened area, careful not to signal them to my movements. I slid against the wall, drawing closer to the men, and I was still unsure of the victor. Was that my warrior’s corpse bleeding on the floor? Was his rescue all in vain?
“You are not worthy of a death by my sword….” I heard the smaller man say as Shinra lunged forward. I watched as the man who had to be Tatsu toss his sword to the ground, and thrust his fist into Shinra’s chin. The large man staggered momentarily, then tackled Tatsu, slamming him into the wall. I moved in the shadows, sliding closer to the fight with Shinra’s blade tight in my right hand. Shinra pulled away to punch Tatsu in the stomach, causing him to lean forward for Shinra to place a knee in his face. As I drew closer, I could hear Tatsu’s silent laughter. “Is that all you’ve got?” he said. Shinra swung again, punching Tatsu across the left side of his face, knocking him to the ground. Tatsu coughed against the dirt floor, choking on the blood his body discharged. Shinra laughed, bending forward to pick Tatsu up by the front of his shirt. This was my only chance, the only time Shinra would drop his guard. In long and quiet strides I sneaked up behind Shinra, and thrust his blade into his back. I twisted the blade inside his flesh, then ripped it away in a gush of blood. I stabbed two more times before he dropped Tatsu and turned on me. I started to back away, afraid to turn and flee, not wanting those giant hands on my body ever again. Before he could move, steel pierced his abdomen, narrowly missing my chest. Shinra dropped to his knees, the sword still protruding from his body. I looked behind him to see Tatsu hunched over, coughing furiously. “Finish it, Yume,” he said between coughs.
Tatsu was giving me another chance to take revenge. I smiled as I thought of the words he mouthed to me. I hoped what he had said was true, and by him giving me this opportunity, he trusted me to handle something he could not do on his own, not to someone he once called a comrade and a friend. I moved closer to Shinra as the man struggled to stand again. Before he had the chance, I grabbed his head by the hair, exposing his throat. His blade slid smoothly along his flesh, separating it to allow his life to flow away in a river of blood.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Police agents flooded the abandoned warehouse. The bodies of Yakuza members and policemen laid defeated along the ground, soaking in their arrogance and honor. “Sir, they’re not here, not among the living or the dead!” said one agent. The new Chief of Police nodded to the young man as he returned to his pipe. He turned to the sky, watching the stars fight against the impending morning light. “Tatsumaki, where are you? Did you accomplish your goal?”
AN:
One more chapter to go! Thank you all who have been keeping up with this story!