Dark Waters

Chapter Twenty Nine: The Black Mistress

Chapter Twenty Nine: The Black Mistress

The cloaked figure stepped forward, flanked by the two Black Elite Guards, and lowered her hood, revealing a pretty but cool face. The woman eyed Rainier and his brothers for a long moment, and then looked up at Rainier suddenly. There was an edge of calculating assessment in her dark eyes that made him vaguely uneasy.

“Is this the so-called Mizu Clan?” she scoffed. “Too bad. I was expecting a group of warriors, but instead I find mere children.”

Leopard frowned in confusion. “Sister, what...” He started to approach the kunoichi but was stopped by a cold glance.

“Stand down, brother.” Kara Kuraihi coldly warned. “That’s an order.”

Leopard gave the female ninja an unsure look but stepped back as Kara stepped forward. Rainier tilted his head as he looked at her. She walked the way he saw Leopard did when he knew he had to kill someone, intent and wary at the same time. He didn't recognize her, but he recognized the way that she moved and knew that she was a real threat.

“I am Kara,” she announced. “Adopted daughter of Kuraihi Natsu, Black Mistress of the Dark Flame branch in Japan.” She paused as she eyed the Mizu Clan. “I seek to challenge the leader of the Mizu Clan in a duel. Step forward and face me."

Rain stepped forward, reluctantly, raising both hands. "Look, I don't know what your deal is with lady." He began. "But I don't go fighting women..." He wasn't able to finish his sentence when the kunoichi suddenly knocked him off the ground with a low sweep, causing him to land on his back.

***

"Rain!" Daniel shouted in concern, he and the others was about rush towards their brother and friend when they suddenly found their path was blocked by sharp blade. "What-?"

Leopard didn't even spare them a glace as he held out Rapidfire at them, blue eyes focused on the fight in front of them. "Don't." He warned in a soft voice.

Danny and Mikey looked unsure, but Kenny looked furious. "What and let her kill my buddy? I don't think so!"

Kenny growled and swung his fist, a really beautiful straight punch that probably would have concussed the man had he connected. And considering the fact that Kenny was a hell of a lot faster than you'd expect from a man his size and an experienced and deadly fighter to boot, it logically should have connected.

He didn't even come close. Leopard leaned, ducked, and was quite simply gone, just like that. Kenneth Johnson started to pivot, dropping into a fighting crouch and trying to locate the ninja again.

Something slammed into his side. Hard. He staggered sideways, and before he could regain his balance a foot neatly swept his legs out from underneath him, and an elbow slammed down between his shoulders, driving him face-first into the floor. He growled and went to surge back to his feet, only to have a knee plant itself on the back of his neck and his arms jerked back at a really uncomfortable angle. He growled and tried to get his feet under him. This just earned him a sharp heel to the pressure point at his coccyx, effectively shutting down all function below his hips. His legs went pins-and-needles for a second, and then just numb.

Crap.

"That was a bad idea. I did warn you." Leopard sounded way too calm, as he stepped on the other guy's back, effectively pinning him down.  He turned his attention towards Michael and Daniel. "You two, still want to take me on?"

Daniel gulped and nervously glanced towards their oldest brother. Obviously, the fight is not going to go well for them.

***

Damn, Rain told himself as got up, wiping of a trickle of blood from his mouth with the back of his hand. This lady's good! She's way better than any of the Dark Flame ninjas we've fought before.

He launched himself on the kunoichi, but that latter evades him easily, with series of blocks from her sword and knocked him again on his back with a roundhouse kick.

Kara then leaps towards the fallen Rainier, but before she can strike, he kicks her, sending her flying.

***

"Yes! Go Bro!" Mike cheered. Daniel, on the other hand, nervously glanced at Leopard. The other ninja seemed to be too calm and unconcerned for someone watching their 'sister' get beaten up by the enemy.

Daniel frowned. Something isn't right...

***

Rainier took a few seconds to catch his breath before getting up and walking towards the fallen female ninja. "Look Lady, I don't know what your game here is but I don't like..." He began only to find his breath knocked out as Kara suddenly knocks him down to the ground with another strong kick.

"Rain!" He hears Mikey cry out in dismay over the ringing in his ears.

"That's it, no more mister nice..." Rainier began only to have his voice trail off upon seeing the sharp pointed tip of a naginata a few centimeters away from his throat.

Kara glared at him, before glancing at Daniel, Mikey and Kenny. "Mizu Clan, I order you drop your weapons, or watch your leader die before your eyes."

Leopard lets out a sigh, lowered his sword at Kenny and the other Mizu siblings. "I'd suggest you follow her orders, Mizu." He whispered. "My Sister always means what she says."

Mikey, Dan and Kenny glanced at each other before reluctantly dropping their weapons.

Kara narrowed her eyes. "Black Elites take their weapons and restrain them all." She ordered and then trained her dark green eyes at Leopard. "My little brother and I need to talk."

Kenny watched Leopard visibly tried not to flinch and nervously followed the female ninja to a secluded corner on the rooftop.