Taylor, Diane

by Shadow Demon (Triskelion) (lit)

  He shook his head, sending blood and sweat spraying everywhere. A line of blood trickled down from a slash across his stomach, staining his white polo shirt a telltale crimson. “Once I get done with you here, I’m going to slaughter each and every one that you have ever talked to or made contact with! I can do that, you know.”

  Stephen looked at his son, “Cosar! You wouldn’t dare jeopardize our position in Seattle.”

  Cosar cut his father words short. “Shut up, Father! You were always in control of everything. You made me what I am today, the four CIA men taught me the rest. You wanted power as much as I did. The only difference is, I’m willing to do my own dirty work to get it.”

  I grinned darkly. “In that, you failed, asshole.”

  He looked at me. “How so?” Honest confusion crossed his face.

  I crouched slowly, one blade high, the other low in attack and defend positions. The torchlight flickered over the blood stained steel. “You missed.” I said. “Here’s your chance to finish what you started. This time, though, you’ll have to do it face-to-face. No hiding at a distance, no helpless woman stands before you. This time, you’ll have to do this on your own and watch the light die from my eye if you kill me. But I’ll still win. Because You Missed!” I put as much scorn into those three words as possible.

  His face turned several interesting shades of purple before he attacked. This time, I knew, there would be no pausing, no taunts, just an all out brawl for it all. The only way this fight would stop, would be when one of us died. No quarter asked, no quarter given. He had speed and knew his way around a sword, but he had never fought a woman whose real father had been a cop. One that regularly trained me how to fight and defend herself with knives since childhood. Since that time, and several instructors later, my training took the best of every fighting method and made it into one fighting form. If it worked, it went into my bag of tricks, if it didn’t, it got tossed.

  It could have been a few minutes since the fight started, it could have been an eternity. Time ceased to have meaning for me. The people that watched the fight faded into the background as my concentration narrowed until it became only the blades before me. Cosar‘s polo shirt hung in bloody tatters on his chest, he was missing an ear and several ribs were visible through deep cuts in his flesh. He retaliated by slicing my bicep open to the bone, cutting the tank top from my body and leaving deep red rivers of blood flowing down my arms. Despite the deep exhaustion creeping up on me, I smiled. This fight had been in the making for a long time. Now, the satisfaction of actually getting my wish must have shown in my eye because Cosar looked worried. That was all it took. I used his distraction against him. My body turned as if in retreat and he fell for it with a straight thrust, designed to impale my heart. Before the tip reached my back, the heel of my foot jerked up with enough force to completely crush his balls. Screaming like a woman, he grabbed his crotch with one hand. He never let go of the sword he held. I avoided the cut by turning slightly to one side, allowing the edge to pass harmlessly over my left shoulder.

  I stepped back and watched him try and bring his sword back to a defensive stance. “You’re finished, Cosar. You’re a useless eunuch now. If I didn’t totally crush your nuts for you, there are some pretty boys in prison that would love to show you how much of a pussy you really are.”

  When he looked up at me, there was no sanity left in his eyes, only a deadly killing rage. The thought of defeat at a woman’s hands had driven him over the edge. That look saved my life because he glanced at something over my left shoulder. Shiro. A twitch from Cosar and both of them attacked at once. Instantly, I turned my grip on the swords so that both edges were facing outwards at throat level and spun in a complete circle. The blades were so sharp they never paused when parting the flesh of both men. Blood sprayed in a crimson shower, blinding me, soaking my clothes and skin before they fell to the bloodstained platform. I shook my head, spraying wet blood everywhere so I could see once again. Battle rage still had me in its powerful grip, giving me the energy to use both knives to impale their hearts to the wooden platform.

  The silence became complete as I stood and turned to face Stephen Mentari in all my blood-drenched glory. “Now you can truly bury your son.”

  He looked up at me with hate shining bright in his eyes. Even confined to a wheelchair he was dangerous, “You’ll pay for that, Montegard. When I get back to the states…” He stopped as I held up my hand.

  “When you get back to the states, Stephen Mentari, you will find all your assets are frozen. Your house has been confiscated, and the photos of your son and several well-known underworld figures have been plastered across every political magazine in the US. I have it on good authority that those little hidden `play rooms’ you have in that mansion of yours, have been found and their living contents taken from you.” I smiled, “I’d be more worried, Mentari, about how I would explain all that, the pedophile porn website, and the slave trade documents in your safe.” I turned my back on him. “Go home, Stephen. Go home and own up to the wrongs you have done and the lives you have stolen.” I looked at Ohito, then glanced over my right shoulder. “Go home and put your son in that empty coffin you buried.”

  Looking at the corpses cooling on the ground, I made my way to them, stumbling from loss of blood and exhaustion. My gaze met Ohito’s after splaying Shiro’s hand so his pinky extended completely. He nodded his acceptance. I slid the blade from Shiro’s chest and brought the blade down, severing the complete finger. I turned on my knees and looked at Stephen. “Your son followed the Yakuza way. Do you agree?” He nodded. “In their world, when a man has dishonored his family and his clan, it is custom to remove part of a finger as a way of apology and a request for forgiveness.” I spoke calmly as I laid out Cosar’s’ pinky. “In this case, your son took a life. An innocent life that had no involvement in this affair at all. She was kind, beautiful, and funny. Yet he touched her with his filthy fingers, beat her with these hands. Drugged her with pure heroine.”

  At his widened eyes, I nodded, pulling the sword from his son‘s chest. The sucking sound of blood warm steel being removed from the flesh almost had Stephen turning green. “I know for a fact that if the blast hadn’t killed her, the heroin would have done the deed. Your son owes Ashi Nogura more than a finger, Mr. Mentari.” With those words, I brought the blade down twice more, severing the thumb, followed by the pinky

  Standing, I had just turned to face Ohito when a shot rang out. Something tugged at my shoulder, causing me to glance downwards to see blood pouring from the same area where the splinter had gone through. My blood joined the wetness on the platform, adding another slick spot to the redness already there. A second report sounded out and I spun around, crouching, ready to defend myself. At least, that’s what it should have been. Shock and blood loss took effect and it became a pratfall, sending me into the congealing mess between the two bodies. Slowly, my head turned to look at Stephen Mentari. The man had a hole in his forehead freezing that final snarl on his face. I looked at the hole in his head then slowly tried to stand once more. Bleeding, exhausted, with both blades hanging down at my sides, my weaving stance let me know that the next collapse would be my final one for the night. I gathered my voice and addressed Ohito in Japanese.

  “This clan feud ends. Here and now! I don’t care what or who started it. Or how many years ago it happened, Ohito. But it ends tonight. No excuses, no explanations. It ends.” I pointed the dripping blade at him. “Or by the Goddess Amaterasu, I will seek justice on each and every Nakamura clansman here for the heinous crimes they have done to innocent people.”

  His eyes widened at the mention of her name. “And what army do you think you can muster to enforce that demand.”

  A familiar voice rang out from the shadows down the path, “She does not need an army, Nakamura-san. She only needs to call upon the Kage Oni.” Shock nearly put me flat on my back again. Markus.

  The name made it’s way up and down the ranks as all of the
m pasted their heads to the boards in supplication. Ohito even paled at that voice. One pup thought he would be cocky and raised his gun to fire down the straightaway, but a crossbow bolt from the trees pinned him to the platform, causing me to blink. Several more bolts turned the body into a pincushion. Markus did not have the talent to be in several places at the same time. To be on the safe side, I stood perfectly still while trying to check the trees, but the torches ruined my ability to see into the shadows.

  The voice rang out again. “Your word, Ohito! Your word of honor on your ancestors that this feud ends. No more retaliations. No more assassinations or heinous crimes. Do it or this place will become bathed in blood!” Trust the Shadow Demon to be literal. The tone of his voice left no doubt that if Ohito didn’t give his word of honor, he would follow through with the threat.

  The Master of the Nakamura clan must have realized the same thing. Sitting on the chair, he seemed to wilt and fold in on himself. “You have it. On my honor, the feud ends. Should any of you defy me, I will send you, in pieces, to the bottom of the ocean! This is my word and my law!” He looked at me and apparently saw something he didn’t see before, and smiled.

  “You are truly worthy of the Shadow Demon’s support,” he said quietly. “Go now and let us tend to the dead.”

  “Thank you.” A wave of dizziness overtook me as I bent over to retrieve the three severed fingers. The kimono and scabbards carefully folded and put into a cloth bag for me by someone nearby. After bowing to those left on the platform and, gritting my teeth, I walked away from the carnage with the sack under my arm, leaving a trail of bloody footprints in my wake. I never noticed the fire as I walked back down the path on the other side. Markus met up with me halfway to the main gate, along with several others that appeared to be pieces of night moving through the jungle. My lips tried to form a smile but, at that particular moment, my body decided it was time to say good night and allowed me to collapse into unconsciousness. I never felt the arms that scooped me up to carry me away.

  Chapter Sixteen

  >The antiseptic smell of a hospital room and the scent of jasmine tickled my nose. “Not again.” I groaned in pain. My vision blurred in and out a couple times before the doctor’s visage clarified, causing me to chuckle. “We have got to stop meeting like this.”

  He smiled at me. “At least this time, I can tell you that the moment you have food in you and can stand up without tipping over, you’re free to go.” He checked my temperature, heart rate, the usual. “At least this time, you’re not trying to defend yourself or suffering from truly serious injuries.”

  “How long was I out?” I frowned slightly. “And how badly was I hurt?”

  “You came in last night, walking in under your own power, bleeding from a gunshot. Also, your right bicep had been cut open to the bone, plus some minor cuts and nicks. The small cut on your collarbone and the one on your hand are all but healed over now.”

  I frowned slightly. “You said I walked in alone? What did I look like?”

  “According to the orderlies, a dark green t-shirt and black jeans. You were suffering from blood loss and you were so exhausted, you weren’t coherent.” He sighed. “What did happen?”

  “Stray bullet from a drive by in Tokyo had me falling into a large glass window.” The explanation rolled off my tongue, “I have no idea how I made it to the hospital on foot, though. I‘m sorry.” I thought a moment. “How is Ashi Nogura?” I had to ask. I had to know. “Is he going to be okay?”

  He nodded. “It was touch and go for a while with the knife wound, but he pulled through just fine. He was released yesterday afternoon after we removed the scar tissue from his neck and put a skin graft on it. He was up and moving about before we even had time to draw up the discharge papers.”

  I swung my legs over the bed. “That’s good, Doctor. Thank you for taking care of him.” reached for the phone. “Now, can you tell me where my clothes are so I can get out of your hair and make room for someone who actually needs to be here?”

  ****

  Several hours later, with my hands warming around a cup of tea, I relaxed at the Ashi family home with my father and his family. This gathering had been quickly assembled to officially welcome me into the family, Japanese style. Happiness reigned in the house as everyone celebrated my inclusion, especially Nogura’s mother. She hugged me close, “It’s finally over,” she whispered. “Ohito’s mother managed to get word to me that peaceful talks between factions of our two families have begun.

  I smiled and nodded to Kichiko, then managed to snag my father. We went off to a side room for a more private chat. “You know what happened, don’t you, Father?”

  He nodded, “I do. I hate to say it, but I heard it all from my spies in Nakamura’s family who were there at the meeting.” His eyes were sad as he looked at me, “I am sorry.”

  I reached into my jacket to pull out two small ebony boxes inlaid with mother of pearl motifs. “Don’t apologize. You did nothing to warrant making an apology to me. It is they who should make the restitution.” I placed both boxes on the desk in front of him. “And they have.”

  He opened first one box, then the other, closing each with a soft click. With the sweep of one hand, he made them fall into a drawer. “It’s over, then.”

  I nodded. “The Mentari’s are dead and there is no heir to the fortune. The Nakamuras are making peace with your Ashi clan. Your daughter is avenged and justice meted out to those who tried to do more than just kill us all.” A thought came to me as we talked. “ And your… pest problem?”

  “We‘ve found most of them, but not all.” He leaned back and sighed. “What do you plan to do now?”

  “I have to go back to Seattle and settle up with a few people. Ante’ up with a promise to a friend, and probably have words with the CIA.” I stretched and groaned while every bruise and ache complained. “I’m not fond of talking with the feds, because they’ll want to know the whole enchilada so they can use it later for their own personal gain.”

  Nogura grinned like a little boy with a secret. “Oh, I don’t think the CIA will be too interested in you at the moment. They’ve got bigger fish to fry.”

  I arched an eyebrow at him. “What have you been up to?”

  He chuckled. “Oh, nothing.” and the proverbial halo tilted off to one side, “except that certain operative files found their way to the top of the food chain. Certain documents about department heads and all their back turning and payoff takings have just been made known to the main director.”

  “You devious man you.” I laughed. “Oh that is too funny.” Sobering up, “I still have to make things right at home before I do anything else.”

  He nodded and said, “Michiko’s father will fly you home tonight. Your bags with the knives are already on board waiting for you.” He laid his hand on mine. “Don’t worry, Daughter. Your heart will fly again,” he whispered.

  I looked away from the tenderness in his eyes. Markus had not contacted me at all. Like his namesake, he seemed to have disappeared into the night with the coming of dawn, leaving my heart torn in two. “I think the wings to my heart have been broken beyond repair. So I’ll just have to hobble around on the ground for a while until they heal.” I tried a lame smile, which didn‘t get very far.

  He smiled, “Go. I will make your goodbyes for you because I know how you hate large crowds. Kichiko insisted on having things prepared for you just in case you wanted to sneak off.” He pointed out the back door, where a bodyguard waited patiently for me. We hugged each other with warmth and feeling, “Tell Grandmother Kichiko thank you for me, would you?” With one last look around, I stepped out the back door and left my new family behind. The scent of Nag Champa followed me all the way to the airport, to be blown away on a wafting of airplane fuel and exhaust fumes.

  Chapter Seventeen

  >Two weeks later, at dinner with Stephanie and her partner, the whole thing seemed all a bad dream. As we sat there, celebrating my birthday on Hallowe
en, it gave me time to reflect. Only twenty-six? I thought to myself. I feel like a thousand. Leaning back and trying to avoid jarring my shoulder, I gazed at the two lovebirds before me, and sipped my wine. My right bicep still twitched as I moved it, but with the stitches out, it seemed to be healing a lot faster.

  “You two look like a pair of teenagers who have just been bitten by the love bug.” I laughed.

  Rachel winked a sultry eyelid at me. “You should try it one of these times, honey. You might like it.”

  Shaking my head. “No, I’m giving up romance.” I sighed. “I’ve gotten burned one too many times by it.”

  Both Stephanie and Rachel gasped in mock horror and put their hands to their chests, making gagging and groaning noises. “The great picture taker herself? Swearing off romance?” Stephanie said, with mock swoon into her lovers’ arms. “Amazing!” Before lapsing into helpless giggles.

  I grinned at both of them. “Well, at least I’m not on the run anymore.” I sighed and reached over for some more candied yams and a few pieces of Baklava.

  Rachel looked at me and said, “Speaking of which, do you want to let us know what actually happened? Steph told me part of it, but I’m curious as a cat.”

  Stephanie looked at me as well. “You need to talk about it or it will eat you alive.”