Madam Shizue stood outside the entrance of the brothel she ran, a fan in her hand covering her face. Located in the red light district of Tokyo where prostitution was still legal, she had fifteen women in the establishment, not counting her... boarder, of course. The thought of that one who paid rent for the room at the end of the hall gave her chills. She could still remember the agreement; she needed a place to stay where others wouldn't think to find her, and she offered in return to pay rent and take care of any customers who got out of hand. After what she did to the second rowdy customer however, Madam Shizue told her to just pay the rent and leave it at that. Looking down the street to her left, she saw the Johns and the joro (prostitutes) walking up and down the street. She turned to her right, and saw a man in black standing not less than three feet away from her. "Ayii! O... O-niwaban!" she cried out as she quickly fell to her knees and placed her forehead on the ground in fear for her life. "Get up, woman. The Iga Clan has no vendetta with you, or anyone else in this house." The woman slowly got up, tears of joy in her eyes, "Thank you, oh thank you o-niwaban." "I'm here for a woman." Pulling herself together, she smiled as she wiped her tears away. "A woman? Why, why yes, of course. Please, come in. You shall have two women, ninja, two of my best for the price of one! Anri, Sylvie..." "No, you don't understand." he said. Shizue held her hand up and signaled the two to return to where they came from. "I'm not looking for a joro. I'm... I'm here for, for the betsushikime (woman warrior)." Madam Shizue's jaw dropped. "The... the betsushikime? Oh... But..." "Where is she, woman?" Terror gripped her heart. The woman had warned her under no circumstances to ever disturb her. She left her money outside the madam's room in a bag, always unseen, and ordered her food be left outside her door. It had been months since she or any of the joro had laid eyes on her. "O-niwaban, I..." "Now!" he shouted, grabbing her roughly by the wrist. "Show me to her room now, or I'll show you the edge of my do (traditional sword of a ninja)!" "Alright, I... I'll show you. This way." she said, as she grabbed a candle and led him down the darkened hallway. As they got closer, the apprentice could almost swear the hallway felt like it was getting colder. Reaching the end of the hallway, the madam fearfully raised her hand and knocked at the door. "Hai." a voice cold as death said from inside the room. Forgive me, but... but you have a visitor." A moment of silence followed, then, "Man or woman?" "M... Man." "Show him in." Madam Shizue turned the knob, opened the door a crack for the ninja, and then ran as fast as she was able back down the hall. The apprentice swallowed hard, and went in. The room was dark, lit by a hole in the ceiling and two candles on stands behind the nude woman sitting cross-legged in the floor. In front of her was a burning stick of incense. As the ninja apprentice's eyes adjusted to the light, he saw that the woman's arms were cut up and bleeding slightly as she seemed to scratch continually at them with her sharp nails. Her dark, wild and unkempt hair covered her face and breasts, and reached down to her rear in the back. Her skin was an almost chalk-white color. Everything about the betsushikime's appearance was unnerving. She was looking down, rocking a bit back and forth as she continued scratching at her arms. As the ninja closed the door behind him, she looked up and swept the hair back away from her face with one hand. Her face was white as the rest of her, except for the black eyeshadow and black lipstick she was wearing. She tilted her head as she noted the distinctive clothing of the ninja. As she got up and began to walk forward, the ninja quickly pulled out the scroll with trembling hands, falling to his knees as he lowered his head and held the parchment out to her. A shudder went through him as he felt her icy hands take the scroll from him. After reading what it said, she knelt down in front of him, sitting back on her heels. "Relax, o-niwaban of the Iga Clan." she said in a barely audible voice which was devoid of all emotion, "You shall not die today." The young apprentice breathed a sigh of relief. "It must be bad if the Iga Clan is seeking my help. Who do they need assassinated?" she asked. "The Knight Sabers." "I see. Do we know any of the names of their members?" "Just one; Sylia Stingray." "Sylia? Hmm... Now there's a name I haven't heard in a long time. Not since her and I trained at the dojo together." The ninja's heart fell at that news. Just as the members of the Iga Clan looked upon themselves as brothers, any and all members of a dojo, trained in a ryu (school or fighting style) looked upon each other as family. "Does... does this mean you will no longer take up your sword, now that you know one of them is a sister from the dojo?" The betsushikime smiled at him. "She was a sister once, but no longer. Tell your sempai I accept." ---Two nights later--- Sylia tended the fire as Nene came back with more firewood. The wagon was resting next to a spruce tree, the three tents set up underneath the forest canopy. Nene held the stack of wood with one arm as she carried her naginata in her other hand. The sounds of a forest at night were unnerving her. "Sylia, do you want first watch tonight or you want me to take it?" "I'll take it, Nene. You volunteered last night." Nene nodded, then looked anxiously over her shoulder as an owl hooted. "Do you think they're still after us?" "What a silly question. Of course they're still after us. They're an o-niwaban Iga Clan hunting party. They will come after us until they're all dead." "But... But why don't they just attack? They must have caught up to us by now." "Because after the attack at the bar, they know we could take whatever's left of their party in a fight. Try to understand; a ninja is ninety percent reputation. They rely on fear and surprise. Most of their attacks come from the side or from behind. Coming straight at an opponent face to face who isn't scared of the o-niwaban usually evens up the odds. They must be either planning to try to separate us and take us out one by one, or..." "Or?" "Or they're planning on getting some sort of help, perhaps a ronin or group of ronin, better trained for straight-on fighting." Just then, some giggling came out of the tent nearest the wagon, followed by a deep moan. "Humph, they don't seem too worried. How am I supposed to get any sleep tonight with that racket going on in the next tent over?" "Well," Sylia said smiling, "You could always go over and tell them to quiet down." The image of what Priss would do to her should she be stupid enough to interrupt her lovemaking suddenly presented itself in her mind, causing Nene to shudder. "Ummm... That's okay. They're not being too loud, I guess." Sylia chuckled a bit at that, as Nene crept into her tent. They were already in Kyoto, and at the rate they were traveling, she estimated they'd reach the temple sometime tomorrow. She was still working out in her head what they'd do when they arrived, when another sound coming from the tent Linna and Priss were sharing interrupted her. 'Hmm, I see what Nene means' she mused. 'Still, at least it will help me to stay awake until my shift is over.' ---Meanwhile--- Taking off from Tokyo, and following the shoreline, the Dutch fishing vessel was making its way to the docks of Tsu, from there by river to Lake Biwa, and the markets of Kyoto. Captain Drewes was getting antsy to be done with this trip. There was something going on, something bad. Four of his crew, including his first mate, were missing from the boat and presumed dead. He didn't know what was going on, but he didn't like it. Unseen by him, two of his men snuck into the hold beneath the ship's poop deck. "Do you have it, Sven?" one of the sailors asked. "Of course, Egan." Sven said, as he pulled the whisky bottle out of his heavy jacket. Egan produced a tin cup, and they both commenced to drinking. As they were laughing at nothing in particular, a wave caused the ship to tip just enough to move the lantern on the crate they set it on. In its light, they now saw a hand emerging from the shadows. Sven picked up the lantern and walked over, to see the body of the first mate, his body cut in half at the torso. "Oh... Oh my... My God." Sven managed to get out before throwing up. "Sven, what is it? What's wrong?" "Egan, we have to get out of here now!" Snnkt. "Hurrkkk...." "Egan? Egan, what's wrong?" A woman dressed in a tight, low cut black corset that showed off her bosom came out into view, her white skin, black lipstick and eyeshadow making her look like a ghost. Her hair was tied back in a tight bun, and in her hand she clenched a katana sword, blood dripping from the blade. She smiled as she saw the fear and horror in Sven's face. "Wh... Who are you?" he asked, reaching into his pocket for a knife. The young woman's smile broadened. "Call me Galatia." she hissed, before charging him. A few seconds later she pulled the lantern out of Sven's hand, tossed the hand over to the lifeless body it came from, and blew the light out. ---The Next Morning--- Linna woke early, and looked at Priss' sleeping form. She looked so peaceful, so serene. It was hard to imagine it was the same warrior she'd seen in battle a few days ago. As silently as possible, she slipped out of her lover's arms and put her kimono on. She then quietly made her way to the small river Priss and her found yesterday. She disrobed under the cover of an ash tree, and slipped in the cold water for a morning washing. As she was coming up out of the water, she suddenly heard footsteps coming up the path not thirty-five feet away on the opposite side of the stream, and a voice saying something. She quickly scrambled out of the water and behind the ash, keeping her eyes on the opposite shore as she quickly dressed. "Namu amida butsu (Buddhist chant, asking for mercy in the afterlife)." An elderly Buddhist nun chanted as she walked to the water's edge carrying a basket of laundry. She began cleaning the clothes when she saw Linna tentatively walking out from behind the ash. "Ohayo, child." the nun said, her recently shaved head shining a bit as the early morning sun shone down on her. "Buddha bless you." Linna joined her hands together and bowed as she returned the blessing. Rising once again, she smiled as she met the nun's kindly, gentle eyes. "Nun-sama, do you have a moment to speak?" "Hai, child. There's a small foot bridge over a bit to your right." Five minutes later, Linna was bowing before the nun once again. "Please child, that's enough. Now what did you want?" "Please, me and my friends, we seek the Nishi Honganji Temple. Have you heard of it?" The nun's countenance darkened. "Hai, child. That is where I am from. The temple is on the other side of the hill over there." She said, pointing in the direction she'd just come from. Linna's heart skipped a beat at the news. "But you must not go there child. Evil men have brought wickedness and corruption into the once sacred structure." "Wickedness and corruption... and the Emperor?" "How... How do you..." "That is why my friends and I are here, nun-sama. We've come to rescue him." "Rescue? Oh child, it is impossible. They let no one in or out of the temple but the monks and nuns who tend it." "Really... hmmm... Nun-sama, do you have your razor on you?" "Hai, child. That I do." "And do you have any nun's robes that would fit me in that basket?" "Hai, child, I have that too." "Good." The old nun suddenly realized what Linna was getting at. "But, child, surely you're not thinking of..." Linna quickly walked into the small river, dunked her head in the water, and came back up. "Start cutting." she said. ------ Priss turned over in the tent she and Linna shared. She reached over to put her arm around her love, when she realized Linna wasn't there. She bolted up, dressed, grabbed her dotanuki and ran out into the morning chill. Looking around, all she saw was Nene at the sentry post, fast asleep. She walked over and shook the blond girl awake. "Uh... Huh, wha... Who goes there?" "Nene, you idiot, you fell asleep." "Hey, stop picking. I only rested for a second." "Good. Then did you see where Linna went off to?" "Linna's gone?" "Terrific." Priss growled, trying to keep her fear in check. She ran over to Sylia's tent, and shook the shoulder of the Knight Saber's leader." "We have a problem." Priss said, Sylia immediately picking up on the concern in her voice, "Linna's missing." Sylia grabbed a katana and ran out to join Priss. Nene was putting on her Knight Saber armor, when she spotted two bald-headed women in robes walking toward the camp. "Hey Sylia, we've got company." she announced. Sylia and Priss whirled around, swords at the ready. They both immediately relaxed when they saw what it was. "Nuns." Sylia said. "Wait here, I'll ask them if they've seen her." Priss said, as she ran up to the two women. The older one saw Priss coming toward them and smiled. "Buddha bless..." "Yeah yeah, whatever. Listen, a friend of ours is missing, someone very important. Have you seen a young woman who..." her voice trailed off as she now saw the face of the other nun. In the several stages of promotion in the okiya from novice to maiko to geisha, the hairstyle each woman wore was used to denote what stage she was at. Linna was so proud the day she was allowed finally to wear her hair in the style of a mature geisha, she had told Priss the story maybe five or six times by now. Priss thought of this as she looked at her lover's shaved head. "Linna... Why?" she asked, a tear starting to run down her cheek. Sylia and Nene were now equally shocked as they too recognized their fellow Knight Saber. "The temple is located on the other side of the hill across from the river. They let no one but monks and priests in or out. Try to understand, koibito (beloved), I had no choice. Not if we wish to get to the Emperor and the gun." Priss tearfully cupped Linna's cheek in her hand, "You should've let me do this. You..." Linna pulled Priss over and allowed her to cry on her shoulder. As she held her, she looked over at Sylia and motioned her to come over. She then turned her attention back to Priss. "I couldn't let you, Priss-chan. Don't you see; you're only half Japanese. In a Buddhist temple this far inland, you would've stuck out like a sore thumb." Looking back over to Sylia, she took on a grave expression. "Alright, sensei. What's the plan?" ------ "Why do we not attack them, sensei? Why do we continue to wait?" "Because we're still waiting for her." "This was a bad idea," a third ninja complained, "All this fuss about a single woman we're sending out..." "You don't send her out." The leader of the hunting party declared, "You aim her, and then you get the fuck out of the way." "We still don't know that she's even coming. We have yet to hear back from the apprentice." "You mean I beat him to you?" a woman's voice asked from the woods. The other o-niwaban noticed their leader take a step back, a look of fear actually showing itself in his eyes. A woman of European descent wearing a tight-fitting corset now emerged from the forest into the clearing, carrying two large travel cases. "Right, which one of you is the leader here?" she asked in a low voice. "How... How did you manage to track us down? We were covering our tracks as we went along." A younger member of the o-niwaban Iga Clan asked. Galatia smiled. "If you knew me, you wouldn't have to ask. Now, who's in charge?" she asked again, this time a bit more volume to her voice. "I am." The leader said, stepping forward. "Good." She said, "Well, shall we get started?" ------ "Halt, who goes there?" "Just two nuns, good sir, bringing back laundry." "Namu amida butsu." The younger one chanted, a string of prayer beads clutched in her hand. "Hmm... Right, go in, but don't try anything funny. Understand?" "Yes, good sir. Of course, good sir." "...amida butsu. Namu amida..." "It's good. They're nuns." He called to the guard, who allowed the two to enter the temple grounds. The younger one continued chanting, her robes hiding the dotanuki she had on her. ---To Be Continued--- End Notes: Alright, first off; I forgot to acknowledge Rezonating Out of Phase for telling me what Sempai meant. Also, yes, I got the idea for Linna disguising herself as a nun from a scene in The Seven Samurai.
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