** Yakuza underground base’s corridors, Central Tokyo, Japan **

Ibuki and Sarai are leaving the corridor that leads to the office of the deceased Yakuza Lord Yashira. Ibuki is leaning against Sarai, her arm wrapped around her friend’s shoulder, whilst Sarai’s arm is holding Ibuki’s waist, this embrace successfully helping the tired Ibuki walk properly, while Ibuki’s gear bag is strapped around Sarai’s shoulder, as Ibuki is too tired to carry it.

“You sure you’re ok Ibuki? You look awfully pale? Maybe we should stop and call for help…” Sarai says in a worried tone, turning her head sideways to look upon her best friend. Her brown eyes reflecting great concern, her lips downwards, her sad facade matching the urgent and intense feelings of sadness Sarai feels.

Ibuki’s graceful face is very pale, her eyes are slightly dilated and her lips parted as she breathes heavily in shallow and ragged pants. To add to these signs of exhaustion are beads of sweat dropping down her forehead and covering her skin, leaving small streams of salty water all over her soft skin. Also Ibuki’s neatly tied hair is now messy and moist, it’s limp strands tied into a limp braid which sticks to her back, in between her shoulder blades. And finally Her uniform is drenched in sweat and blood and clinging tightly to her body like a second skin.

All these signs of very apparent weakness and exhaustion are enough to light up Sarai’s red light, sensing her friend is pushing herself all too hard. Ibuki suddenly coughs violently moving a hand to her mouth.

Once she stops coughing she swallows some bile and turns to Sarai “Sarai, *inhale* don’t worry, I’ve been through worse *exhale*…” Ibuki says and shuts her eye. She feels a stabbing pain in her lungs as she voice each word, each breath taxing her with great pain. She feels as if with each exhaling of air the vapor are pulling her entrails out.

Sarai nods, but her eyes don’t lose the worried glint, furthermore, Sarai holds Ibuki closer, letting her friend lean on her for more support, gulping and silencing her worries. ”Ibuki…you’re so stubborn…you really are in bad shape…I hope you hold on till we get you somewhere safe…I don’t anything to happen to you…please hold on…” Sarai thinks as they continue approaching.

Suddenly Ibuki stops her by squeezing her shoulder gently with her hand. Sarai is about to protest and ask why they stopped when Ibuki motions her to be quiet. “Wait here…” Ibuki whispers in her ear.

Sarai shakes her head repeatedly “No! You’re wounded…you can’t go fighting now” Sarai whispers urgently, looking very distressed. Ibuki smiles and shakes her head lightly “I’ll be ok…just wait there…it won’t take long” Ibuki tries to say warmly and calmly to reassure her, but her voice wavers, coming out in a shaky and weak way.

Sarai clings to her “No! I won’t let you!” she whispers. Ibuki sighs under her breath, but quickly regrets the action as it pains her greatly. “Ok…I’ll lead’em here…and you help me…will that be ok?” Ibuki asks.

“No! I’ll lead’em here…and both of us can take care of them.” She says, her words spoken in the “Don’t you dare argue with me” tone. Suddenly they can hear a feminine shriek “No! Let go of me! Stop it! Please!” Sakura’s voice cries out.

Ibuki’s eyes widen as she hears her friend’s cries for help, she can her the urgency and pain in the tone, She can sense Sakura’s fear and helplessness, He wild emotions lingers in the air, sending cold shivers down Ibuki’s spine.

Ibuki grits her teeth and nods slowly. ”D*mn this weakness! Saky…I can’t let them hurt you…Hold on…I’m on my way…” Ibuki thinks and knows what she must do.

“Oh my god Saky! We got to do something Ibuki! Hey Ibuki! What’re you doing?” Sarai asks, her voice frantic the worries for Ibuki and now Sakura making her panic and prevents her from thinking straight.

Ibuki then inhales deeply and concentrates on one of her basic lessons as a Shinobi. His voice fills her mind as she concentrates, filling her body with her life force, though it’s really draining.

“Free your mind my pupil…grasp your Chi and feel it flow. Command it Ibuki…bend it to your mind’s will and feel it as it empowers you. Now Concentrate, concentrate on your target…see it…hear it…feel it…now release it…unleash your power and you attack!” Geki’s voice feels her sub conscience.

Ibuki’s eyes snap open, wisps of Chi dancing around her irises, a faint blue glow illuminating her eyes. She lets go of Sarai, a sudden rush of unbelievable adrenaline pumping through her veins. She knows that in her current state she’ll be unable to fight, So she now turns to a very risky move, she fuels her body with her life force.

Sarai looks in awe but still looks concerned “Ibuki don’t! You’re pushing yourself too far!” Sarai says, looking really frightened, her heart filling with fear, knowing such a feat might be too much for Ibuki at her current physical state.

Ibuki feels guilty but ignores her friend’s pleas. She is too concentrated on her goal now. ” Two guards…two guards…I will take them out…must reach Saky in time…must save her from the horrific experience. Hang on in there Ibuki…soon…soon you’ll be able to rest…but you gotta, gotta just hang on…just for a little while longer…” Ibuki thinks to herself and bolts forward in a sprint.

Her eyes narrow and her face shifts into a cold mask as she dashes through the corridor. She feels her body tense and muscles strain. Despite running at top speed her special ninja shoes make her footsteps totally stealthy as she approaches the two guards.

Sarai tries to keep up, but Ibuki’s speed is awe striking, she practically plows through the air, cutting through it like a knife through butter. Also Ibuki’s bag hinders on Sarai’s movement as she struggles to keep on Ibuki’s tracks.

When Ibuki reaches the doorway she can see one guard aiming a firearm at Chunli, forcing her to sit put while the other is holding an angry Sakura by the wrists. Ibuki chokes down an angry growl and calms herself down, knowing she can’t afford to be careless, and approaches quickly yet carefully, keeping out of the guard’s line of sight.

“Aww C’mon kid, it’ll be much more fun if you don’t resist…I will have you anyway…” He says.

”Never! Let go of me!” Sakura says, she could easily fend him off, if it weren’t for the other guard who’s holding a firearm ready. She feels his hand move up her abdomen and move toward her breast when suddenly the other guard gasps in pain.

This being due to the fact Ibuki has just rammed her fist into his ribcage with all her strength. She uses her feet to twist her body and add to her momentum, adding power and speed to the blow that is aimed with great precision under the man’s shoulder.

Sarai reaches the scene just in time to see Ibuki’s onslaught and gasps in surprise and shock, as only moments ago Ibuki could barely stand, moreover attack with such a powerful move as does.

As he fist connects it is covered with bright blue energy as it connects. A blue flash ensues and a sickening cracking sound is heard, as the guard’s ribs are broken under the awesome power of the blow.

Chunli’s blinks, surprised by the speed of the Shinobi and by the fact that her movements are almost blur like. A trail chi left behind her limbs as she moves with almost artistic grace. “What the? Well d*mn! That’s gotta hurt!” Chunli thinks and winces at the blow’s obvious pain, despite it’s recipient who had aimed a gun at her only seconds earlier.

Ibuki’s bares her teeth while opening her mouth and shouting ”Raida!” in a very cold and menacing shout, the mental and physical exhaustion added to the current Chi usage makes her force herself to be in complete control of her emotions and body, thus shutting them off to achieve this.

Ibuki would never let this happen usually, but drastic times require drastic measures. At the moment Ibuki’s self control is dwindling as she gradually weakens and is forced to urge and push herself more and more, straining against her instincts and body.

These fact forcing her to be keep this true complete emotional control intact for as long as needed, seemingly leavinher as a cold shell, yet a powerful shell, and a deadly one, a human weapon so to say.

The two women can hear this feminine battle cry and it sends a slight shiver in their spines, the tone quite unnerving.

Yet Sakura suddenly smiles since she hears the other guard collide against the wall heavily. Suddenly with the threat of the gun removed Sakura is now able to fight back.

She grins evilly and rams her knee into his lower regions with crushing force. The guard gasps and coughs and his grip around her loosens, the blow forcing him to bend down slightly to ease the pain. Sakura then swats his hands aside and rams both fists into his upper torso.

The man grunts and is pushed back, Sakura takes advantage and brings her foot flying forward, her heel rams into the man’s nose and sends him reeling. The man coughs and holds his nose; blood sipping between his fingers before he goes wide eyed.

Sarai is watching the scene with wide-eyes, never seeing her friends fight like this before, but then again, she had never seen any of them in a live or death situation as this. While in contrast to her, Chunli watches on curiously, now having new appreciation for Ibuki.

” How the hell did she get here? And god…she neutralized all the guards too, Geez…I definitely am not underestimating her again…goodness…Ow…that’s gotta hurt” Chunli thinks and winces again as she watches Ibuki’s next attack.

Meanwhile Ibuki steps forward towards the dazed guard and pulls her fist back before beginning to pummel his body with a barrage of quick and powerful punches. Blow after blow being sent and hitting home at a frightening pace, each blow extremely powerful and accurate, inflicting the maximum damage possible.

The guard grunts and moans, his face being busted and deformed under the Shinobi’s attacks. Punches hit him all around his body, from face to abdomen, each hitting weak spots and nerve junctions, causing his more pain then any usual punches would.

Finally after a minute long onslaught that wouldn’t shame fighters in Akuma’s caliber she grabs his hair with one hand before pulling his face forward. With a sharp exhale she rams her knuckles forcefully into the man’s forehead, pushing his head against the metallic wall. A loud clanging sound accompanied with a sickening thud follows and the man is left quite unconscious and slumps to the ground as a limp heap at Ibuki’s feet.

Sarai is now truly shocked, never in her life had she seen Ibuki fight so viciously, the efficiency of the barrage frightening, but it pales near the cold and impassive glint in Ibuki’s eyes.

It is the first time she sees the dark brown orbs who are usually so full of life, so full of emotion and reflect such a tender and kind soul cold, calculating. She realizes the change, the look in those eyes was the look of the assassin, reflected best by the eyes of a ninja, in this case a Shinobi.

Ibuki pants as she feels the adrenaline flow begin to weaken, he body suddenly becoming heavy as she leans on the wall, her previous pains now much more intense and strong, her breathing now really labored. Her shoulder wound also sending shots of pain through her.

Sakura cups her hands and her hands shake slightly, She feels her energy flow through her body as wisps of Chi collect into her hands, they swirls and amass into a large sphere of bright blue electrical energy “Shinkuu…” she mutters while her eyes catch a soft blue glow.

Sakura then throws both hands forward and lets go of her Chi “HADOUKEN!” She shouts, as the sphere of Chi is unleashed forward, expanding to an impressive 4x3-meter size before slamming into the man’s body.

He cries in pain as the raging energy connects unto his skin, searing his flesh and burning his clothes, all while jolting him with energy. He is thrown off his feet as he falls onto his back unconscious.

Sakura pants and shakes her head, the sudden usage of her energy leaving her woozy and dizzy, as she isn’t accustomed to use it too much. She leans on the wall and wipes her forehead.

Chunli tries to get up, but her attempt fails miserably, as her feet still hurt her immensely, the mere pressure of her weight upon them causing waves of nausea and jolts of pain to rush through her. She grimaces and rises to a sitting position.

Sarai walks up slowly to Sakura “You ok Saky?” she asks, in a small tone, still a little dazed at Ibuki’s previous actions.

Sakura nods slightly “Yeah…thanks to Ibuki here,” Sakura says and smiles. She turns to look at Ibuki and raises a brow. “Ibuki? Are you ok?” she asks, her smile fading as she raises a brow.

Ibuki is breathing very heavily, leaning her weight on the wall. Her head is lying on the metallic surface, the cold metal sucking the heat from her now flushed skin. Ibuki shivers slightly in weakness and nods slightly.

Sakura looks concerned and unconvinced, but she knows Ibuki well enough to know it’s futile to argue now. She turns to Chunli and extends her hand. “Lemme help you Chun” She says.

Chunli nods and takes her hand while smiling. Sakura then pulls her up and hugs her waist to support her. “There ya go…it’ll be alright,” Sakura says and smiles.

Sarai walks up slowly to Ibuki “Are you sure you’re ok?” She asks in a small voice while putting her hand gently on Ibuki’s shoulder. Ibuki shuts her eyes tightly and stands straight.

“I’m fine…look…I’d love to stay but I’ve got to go…have something important to do,” She says, her voice slightly strained.

“You’re not going anywhere! You can barely stand d*mnit! You really got to take better care of yourself Ibuki…one day…one day it might cost you…and I don’t want that” Sarai says.

Ibuki feels her resistance crumble and sighs. “Ok…I’ll…I’ll go later…lets just get out of here…I’m sick of this place” Ibuki says.

“Feeling’s much mutual” Chunli says and smirks.

“Chunli…There’s computer in the western wing…it’s got a code protection I programmed, just input “determination”, then “discipline” and finally “Wisdom” and it’ll give you all the evidence and info on the Yakuza you’ll ever need.” Ibuki says.

Chunli raises a brow but nods “Well…looks like I’m in your debt Ibuki, I owe you one” She says.

Ibuki waves one of her hands weakly in a dismissing gesture “Don’t mention it, I only do what I need to help my friends, and the innocent lives in danger” Ibuki says sincerely.

Chunli smiles warmly and nods “You’re a very special young lady, that’s for sure…hehe…there aren’t too many gals who can kick a guy’s a** so hard and fast like that, impressive to say at least.” Chunli says.

”Don’t worry Ibuki, I won’t forget this day, one day I’ll repay you for all of this, all of this grief that you’ve saved me from enduring and cause of my mistakes, I swear I will.” Chunli vows in her heart.

Ibuki smiles weakly, still finding it hard to breathe, and now to add to this hindering factor, her vision goes blurry and her stomach threatens to convulse and spit out its contents, but Ibuki manages to swallow down the bile and sensations.

”Finally! finally I’ve earned her respect! Least one thing good came out of this h*llish ordeal, D*mn…my body hurts…and my shoulder…ugh…I need to rest…” She thinks as the four slowly begins walking towards the exit.

Ibuki instructs Sarai where to lead them, as Sarai is mostly pulling Ibuki forward, Ibuki finding it hard to balance her weight on her feet and stand. What’s worst is that with each passing minute her body hurts more while her head throbs with pounding pain.

”Now I know how a freaking nail feels, d*mn…been a while since I’ve been like this, actually It was exactly last summer, is this some kind of conspiracy to ruin my well earned vacation or something?” She wonders before the reach the elevator.

They enter and push the ground level button. Ibuki leans on the elevator wall, panting heavily still, her breathing ragged and irate. The three others look at her concerned as the elevator slides open.

A figure is watching the ladies enter the room from a shadowy corner. Its eyes are brown. The orbs narrow as they lay upon Ibuki and the figure slowly glides through the shadows, gaining a closer position to the ladies.

The four exit the elevaand Chunli locates a telephone. “Perfect…I can call for backup now, to collect these b*st*rd!” She says and grins. The other two nod and Ibuki just nods just barely.

As Chunli picks up the receiver Ibuki’s eyes rolls and she collapses into Sarai’s arms, the exhaustion, wounds and drain of her mission finally getting the better of her. Sarai gasps in fear and lies her down.

“Ibuki! Ibuki! Oh my god! Chunli call an ambulance!” Sarai says frantically. Ibuki’s breathing very heavily and her face is very pale.

Chunli nods “Saky…go find some towels! Sarai go buy some water!” Chunli commands, knowing that her bleeding wound must be tended to as soon as possible.

The two nod and dash off to find their respective items. Meanwhile Chunli turns around to dial the number of the nearest hospital. While she talks to the operator she turns around and goes wide eyed.

She closes the call and curses out loud “What the f**k?” she bellows, Ibuki is gone, Her bag also now left missing. She looks around frantically. “Sh*t!” she bellows as the others rush over to see what’s wrong.

The three women then begin scouring the area for Ibuki, but with no avail. She’s gone, where to, only the figure that is now walking in the shadows of the alley outside while holding Ibuki and her bag knows.