ENISHI'S Aftermath: SOMETHING TO LIVE FOR

CHAPTER #10

Walking up the loading plank, was hard in the kimono, but Sumi used the solid man beside her, to make it to the ship's deck. They were greeted by the captain, who welcomed them onboard. The Chief Mate was there too, bowing deeply to Enishi. This was the man who had ties to the Chinese Mafia and who was bought by Heishin on Enishi's behalf, to assist with smuggling guns and opium into Japan.

"Welcome aboard, we are almost done loading the ship and will leave shortly. We should be steaming into the Shanghai port by this evening, if the weather remains optimal."

"Thank you," Sumi said and bowed.

Enishi gave the two men a head nod, before walking onward with her. He could feel tension from the Chief Mate and wondered if the man had been part of Heishin's plan to overthrow him as the boss.

Leaving the harbour was slow, but calm, as the steamer headed out into the ocean. They picked up speed and put the shore behind them.  At first Enishi and Sumi stood watching the shore go by, leaning on the rail, then they began to walk to the bow of the ship. His senses warned him there was danger, before even his eyes saw the man. A fat thug pointed his pistol in their general direction and fired, but he missed. Enishi was already racing towards him, before the bullet had even buried itself in the railing. A perfectly executed kick made his foot slam into the back of the thug's neck, right where the soft turns to hard at the base of the skull. The man pitched forward unmoving.

Like a bear charging after its prey, Enishi closed the distance between him and a skinny guy that was trying to load his gun. He ran right through the guy, leading with his forearm held horizontally, sending the skinny man sailing through the air and beyond the ship. Not slowing his momentum, Enishi's right foot pushed off the rail and he sent an elbow into the bald man's face, causing the nose to explode with red, opening a deep gash across the forehead. The man fell to his knees, face coming to rest on the deck boards.

Men arrived from below with swords drawn, the first guy swung the blade too high, allowing Enishi to land a paralyzing kick to the kidneys. The sword dropped and the man bent over grasping his stomach in pain. Utilizing that moment, Enishi brought his knee up and rocked the guy's head back effectively knocking him out cold. Two more swords came charging at him, he ducked under with a knee slide and donkey kicked them in the back, they tripped over their comrade and sprawled on the deck. The last two sword holders were a little more cautious, but Enishi was a whirlwind, springing towards them, grabbing wrists and twisting them violently, rotating the arms to the point of tearing tendons and snapping their elbows. He didn't stop there and did the same to their other arms. They'd never be able to use a sword again.

The two men trying to untangle themselves and get back up, felt their spines pushed into stomachs, as Enishi jumped onto their backs. He stomped them, heals driving down like a hammer and crushing bones. They screamed, voices higher pitched than a little girl's.

He was facing the bow of the ship, but when Enishi heard the gun shot and turned to see Sumi pitch forward, for half a second his brain paused and then all he saw was red. He released a roar, which was part rage and part pain. In a flash he had arrived in front of the gunman, before he could reload. Grabbing the barrel of the gun, Enishi ripped it from the startled man's hand and used it to bash in his face. As the man began to sway to the side, his whole body was launched overboard, the gun following shortly after. Some part of Enishi's brain registered the splash of the man hitting the ocean waves. Automatically he scanned the deck and saw that no other man offered resistance or was even standing to launch an attack. Terrified that once again he had failed to protect someone he loved, Enishi slowly approached Sumi's body, while his heart hammered wildly in his chest. Dropping to his knees, he couldn't understand what was happening.

Sumi swore with rich profanity, struggling to get upright. Even going to her knees was restricted due to the long kimono. The pitching ship, didn't help. "Enishi help me up!" When he didn't assist, she turned almost angrily towards him, but then saw he was in shock. "Enishi?" She gently cupped his face, wiping the tears away. Then she kissed him and continued to do so, until his mouth finally responded.

"Please help me stand?"

He not only got her upright, but held her in a tight hug, "I thought you were dead."

"I'm wearing that metal-leather vest underneath, remember? I fell because of the swaying floor and this dress doesn't let me move much, so I lost balance. I'm sorry I scared you."

Releasing his arms slightly, he looked down on her, "I love you."

She smiled gently, "I love you too. For me it's been since you saved me from the hunters. But I didn't want to burden you with my feelings."

"You're mine forever... will you marry me in Shanghai?"

"Yes... and that will be one of the last times I'm wearing a restrictive kimono!" Sumi smiled.

To Enishi, it was like the sun shining through storming clouds. His heart opened and he finally felt at peace. This was what his sister Tomoe had always wanted for him. Finally he understood how his ex-brother-inlaw could defend and protect, without killing. This happiness that Sumi had brought him, was something he'd always wanted and needed. She was the reason he was a better man and could begin to atone for his previous sins. At last the Tomoe in his mind began to smile too.

THE END