By EliadS

Author's note: I'd like to thank Phil.U for letting me use his char, and for helping me on the interrogation scene, so I kept his char in it's true way of acting.  Thanks for your time and now for the chap!

** Howard INC office building's construction site, Outskirts of Tokyo, Japan **

Pain, confusion, distraught, anger and hatred, all these emotions were currently running through the mind of one Adam Winters. For a moment he is left disorientated and forgets his place, then he remembers what happened and moans weakly.

His eyes are closed, and his head is pounding, also a horrible throbbing invades his ears and makes it hard for him to think straight. To add to these is a sharp, dagger jabbing like pain at the back of his head.

He opens his eyes slowly and blinks a few times, his vision is hazy and blurry and it takes him a few seconds before he can see his surroundings sharply. What comes to view is Ibuki standing in the shadows. She is semi illuminated by the moonlight, only half her body barely illuminated, giving her a quite eerie look.

"Good morning sleeping beauty, how's the head?" Ibuki asks with subtle amusement, her hands crossed and her foot tapping on the gravel and dirt floor lightly. Her Ninja shoes making no sound whatsoever.

Adam snarls and tries to lunge at her, but to his surprise he's unable to. He looks down at himself and notices he's not where he was knocked unconscious, instead he's tied to a large wooden support pole of the construction worker's bucket elevator.

He strains a little and notices he's stuck, so he tries something else instead, he begins channeling his chi and try and teleport, but to his surprise his Chi fails to respond, instead a wave of nausea and dizziness engulfs him. Then his attempts are totally cut short by pain, stinging pain.

Ibuki rams her foot in his Diaphragm with extreme force, causing him to bend over and cough, his face turning red. "Ah, Ah, Ah, not this time Winters, you're staying right here till I SAY so...besides, you can't work your chi for the next 10 hours, I made sure of that..." she says, her voice commanding and stating facts that are obviously not up for discussion.

"F**k you, I won't talk..." Adam says weakly, finding it hard to stand, but being tied he doesn't really have a choice.

"First of all Winters you will talk, eventually. And second I wouldn't try that again, I've introduced your body to a drug we Shinobi have invented and call the "sleeping hunter". It taints the part of the mind which is responsible for the Chi projection for a while, making it useless. So you see Adam, you're quite stuck here, with lil' ol me, ain't life grand?" Ibuki says, smirking under her mask.

Ibuki then walks up to him, standing close to him and cups his chin gently, "I was hoping you'd refuse by the way, cause I'll take great joy in kicking you arrogant a** till you talk..." she says lowly, her eyes full of sharp and cold malice and menacing venom.

Adam doesn't respond to the cold look, and decides to remains silent. Ibuki smiles and presses her fingers into the nerve points in his jaw lightly, sending him some uneasiness, subtle pain, not too sharp but quite annoying at that.

"Who sent you to get the part?" She asks, her voice neutral and her eyes matching this, Adam does not see a lady before him, he now looks at a full fledged Assassin, a ninja who's seeking knowledge, he knows and feels that remorse won't be given to him as quickly as he'd like it to.

"Why should I tell you?" he asks hoarsely.

Ibuki exacts some more pressure "Guess..." She says sarcastically and glares into his eyes with a chilling look, so intense and serious, so much threat and venom behind her brown eyes, Adam is a little taken aback.

"I don't sell out clients..." he states simply, exhaling tired.

Ibuki smiles under her mask "I don't think, you understand your position quite well, I am going to get the info out of you, either we do this nicely, or I'm going to have to make you regret the day you were born. You choose, either way is fine with me," Ibuki says.

"Hah, you won't kill me, you need the info, so first off, if you want it, let me go..." Adam says, not phased, knowing he's got the upper hand.

Ibuki chuckles softly "You've got guts Winters, I'll give you that...but I'm not amused, you see, I really don't need to interrogate you NOW, come to think of it..." she says, moving a hand to cradle her chin.

"I wonder how Geki-Sensei would feel if I let him do this..." she muses, more to herself than to Adam, she's bluffing through her teeth, but she's trained enough to not give in any hints, mental or facial.

Adam is a little phased and gulps silently. The rumors on the Ninja master were vastly branched, nobody, absolutely nobody ever escaped him without giving the info, the thought of facing the formidable Shinobi lord was more than a little frightening, even to Adam.

"So...you still won't cooperate, eh?" she asks, moving to stand straight, flexing her arms slightly, some soft pain from the fight still there and bugging her. Adam doesn't answer, not stating the obvious with his silence, still his pride strong, and doesn't want to help her in any way.

"Ok then...I'll just have to do some Kunai practice, I got some minutes to burn before I go call Geki over...mind you, I'm gonna experiment a lil. You don't mind me aiming with m'eyes closed, do ya?" she asks; though it's obvious he has no word in the matter.

Adam blinks, feeling a little uneasy, a shiver of fear running up his spine, she said she'd call the shinobi master, but she never stated in what state he'd be in when the Ninja lord would interrogate him.

Then Ibuki takes out a Kunai while closing her eyes, while still in one fluid motion she sends it flying toward Adam. He closes his eyes, fearing the results and bracing himself for the pain.

To his surprise none comes, he sighs in relief but then looks down and gasps in shock. He sweatdrops as he sees it's a mere inch from giving him a permanent sex change. His face turns ashen and pale and he inhales shakily.

Ibuki opens one eyes and grins evilly, how bout I try while turning around, heighten the stakes a lil, it'll be fun, I promise," she says, his tone sinister and her eyes gleaming with mischief.

She takes out another one and holds it ready. This is when Adam reaches a key decision, his life and most likely his future generations are more important than one freaking client. "WAIT!" He says just as her hand curls back to throw the blade.

Ibuki's hand is left in mid motion, signaling if she's displeased she's only a second away from exacting her will. "You have 1 minute to amuse me, go...I'm listening," she says coldly, turning her gaze to look at him, her brown eyes once again devoid of emotion and neutral.

"Her name's Vibora, she's a Spanish Aristocrat from Barcelona, she has a mansion at the outskirts of town," He says quickly, not taking time to breathe or think much.

"Appearance?" she states, her voice commanding once more, her hand moving to retrieve the Kunai to place. Turning to him and moving to retrieve her other Kunai.

Adam inhales, rearranging his breath "Around her late twenties, 5'11, Caucasian, long blond hair, green eyes...usually wears expensive wares..." he says quickly while swallowing and panting lightly.

Ibuki then inhales deeply, her head is killing her, and her stomach isn't helping. She was currently suffering by the antagonizing and painful effects of PMS. This fact makes the usually mellow and calm young woman to be quite impatient and easily tempered.

Unfortunately for Adam, he'd been "lucky" enough to encounter her on one of her bad days. That's why Ibuki is acting like this. Her abnormal hormonal level making her moody, her own anger and frustration at other things beside Adam winters, his attitude and her physical pain are enough to make her snap like this and turn this cold and deadly.

Ibuki smiles and stands up, "Thank you Mr.Winters, I appreciate your cooperation, though I'm disappointed at the time it took you. Had I been any other Shinobi, you'd be in much pain by now, just so you know" Ibuki says while moving to get her bag.

"Hey! What about me? You can't just leave me here like this!" He shouts after her.

Ibuki stops for a second "The drugs will wear off in several hours, then you'll be able to free yourself," she says and continues walking.

"Hey! Come back here you b*tch! What about my work!" he shouts after her, quite angry and upset at her behavior and remarks.

"The Embargo has already been lifted, you have also been paid a confiscation fee of 10 thousand dollars for your troubles, the Shinobi will trouble you no further." she says and melts into the shadows.

Adam curses in several languages at her, struggling with the ropes holding him. He then sighs and slumps back against the wooden pole.

"Well isn't this convenient, I'm stuck here and that b*tch has once again humiliated me. Oh f*ck it, least I've got something outta this, they're off my back and I can work again, for once in m'life I think I'll let my pride rest, I don' think I wanna meet her again...Geez..." He thinks. And with that sighs again and leans against the poll, waiting for his Chi to get back to him.

** 10 to 9am, several hours later, Geese Towers, Howard INC Office building, Central Tokyo, Japan **

A man enters the lobby floor of the building; he is wearing a sharp Black business suit that fits his muscular and lithe frame perfectly. He is wearing some square spectacles that cover a pair of bright blue eyes and his hair is a mane of black wavy hair.

He's holding a briefcase as he walks into the entrance. He walks up to the receptionist and smiles a warm smile. "I'm here to meet with Mr.Howard, I have a meeting with him at nine" he says in a kind voice.

The receptionist smiles and nods "Let me check please..." she says and types rapidly on the keyboard of her computer. She looks at the screen and then at him "Mr. Nosib? That's an odd name?" she says, looking at him curiously.

"Blame the folks, It ain't my fault they're queer," he muses with a strained chuckle. His blue eyes glaring at her slightly.

She gets the hint and directs him to the location of the office, chuckling nervously and smiling apologetically.

He nods politely and goes on his way. He grunts impatiently soon after, his grips the handle of his briefcase tightly. He mutters angrily under his breath. Then he walks up to the elevator. Once the door closes he snarls.

"Insolent woman, if you had worked for me, you'd be out on the street by now with that attitude" he muses angrily as the elevator keeps on climbing up the sky scrapper's floors.

He rearranges his glasses lightly and steps out of the elevator once he reaches the top floor. He looks around and notices nobody else is on the floor, it really isn't a floor with that, only one big room is accommodating it, hidden behind a set of double doors.

The man scans the doors; he traces his fingers on it and hmms, very expensive wood, old as well, with a very nice antique and Baroque look chiseling. His eyes trail over the tiles of the floor, “Indian marble, how…interesting…” the man mutters as he pushes the doors open.

The double doors creak and then open slowly under the man’s push and reveal the interior of Geese Howard’s office. The man is hit by a wave of cool air, the air filled with the soft smell of incense.

The man looks around, his blue eyes scanning the surroundings of the office quickly. “Awww, Mr. Nisob I presume?” A deep voice speaks from the bowels of the room.

The room is large and lavish, a very expensive colorful carpet covers the floor, the walls are painted in soft green and there are many cabinets and shelves on the walls of the room.

In the center there is a large circular glass table, around it lay several leather couches. The source of the voice comes from a man sitting on one of the leather couches.

Nisob turns his head to the source of the voice and smiles. He lays eyes a middle-aged man, with a very impressive frame and build; he is wearing a sharp business suit.

His eyes are blue and his hair is smooth mane of blond, brushed back and smeared with Gel apparently. His face is handsome, not showing much signs of age, though Howard is known to be in his late forties.

“Why yes, and you must Mr. Geese Howard. It is indeed a pleasure to meet the head of such a industrial success such as your company” Nisob says and bows his head slightly in a sign of respect.

“The one and none other yes, on the phone you mentioned you have you have a proposition for me, please sit down so we talk” He says and motions for Nisob to sit in one of the couches opposite to his own.

Nisob walks over and does as gestured, his back melting into the soft and comfortable leathery texture of the couch. He cradles his chin in his fists, his elbows leaning against the handles and smiles.

“Mr. Howard, my associates have found great interest in one of your recent purchases, they are interested in acquiring it, they’re ready to pay up to double the original price if needed.” Nisob says and puts his briefcase on the glass table.

Geese raises a bushy blond brow and rubs his chin “Whatever are you talking about Nisob, I have no idea what purchase you are referring to” Geese says calmly, his face impassive and not revealing any emotion, just calculating cold seriousness.

“You’re quite a good liar Mr.Howard, but I know for a fact you’ve recently purchased a computer microchip from a old worldwide espionage project code named “Venom blade”” Nisob says.

“I will not repeat myself, I have no knowledge of such a microchip, or this “venom blade” project you speak of…so tell your employers I have nothing to offer them.” Geese says and shrugs.

“Mr.Howard, I will not ask you again, my Employer, will NOT be pleased, and believe me, you do NOT want him displeased with you, Mr.Howard” Nisob says.

Geese laughs, obviously bemused “Tell your employer this, or try to when I break all your teeth in a second, NOBODY threatens Geese Howard” He says and then his face turns cold again.

Nosib, who was until now smiling and calm, turns cold and serious “Enough Charades Geese, I’m afraid I’ve lied to you. I am the head of my organization and I’m also afraid to inform you that you’ve displeased me greatly with your refusal. So now I regrettably will have no other choice but to “convince” you to comply to MY demand.” Nisob says in malicious tone, his tone oozing with venom.

Geese Howard topples over the table and lunges forward, aiming his fist at the man’s face. Nisob laughs and grabs his fist in his bare hand, exacting pressure on the larger man’s knuckles, giving Geese a douse of pain as he kicks him off him lazily.

Geese is thrown back and collides into the wall heavily. He quickly rises to his feet and growls, entering a martial arts stance. “You shall pay for this insult Nisob” Geese says and tears off his suit’s top, revealing a very muscular upper body.

Nisob smirks and gets up, he takes off his glasses and throws them aside “Very well Mr. Howard, I’ll indulge your little violent intent for the time being, but mark my words, you shall give me what I want” Nisob says and then enters a stance of his own.

Nisob’s face shows the cold calculating of a pro, a fact that interests Geese; perhaps it would be worth his time to pound this pest to dust.

He then chuckles evilly as he feels his life force flare to life, coursing through his body like liquid as he channels it into his hands.

“DOUBLE REPPUYKEN!” he shouts and his hands explode into blue flames and seem to shovel chi from the air itself. A bright blue trail follows his sweep like movements and forms a large crackling wave of blue chi energy.

Then he brings his other hand slamming into the ripple in the air and it explodes into brighter power before being sent forward with great speed. Geese then smirks as he waits for the powerful projectile to connect as it approaches Nisob, leaving a bright trail in its path.

** Meanwhile, Late Evening, City of Be’er Shevah, Negev Desert, Israel **

Joseph was in pain, his body was bruised and his muscle tone throbbing in protest to the mere action of moving, but nevertheless, Joseph limped, limped towards the house of the one ally he had in this country.

He ignores remarks and strange looks from strangers on the street, offers of help, and even some threats and mocking words. He pants tiredly, his silver hair a mess and his eyes forced into an illusion by his powers, assuming the form of normal brown.

His face is twisted and showing great pain as he crosses a road and walks toward a small, humble private residence, holding his side and looking at it through narrowed eyes, obviously his vision still dizzy.

That X’s powers had left an odd effect on him, his body was weakening, his mind was confused and his muscles tensing without reason, he needed to reach her, needed to reach the council and warns them of the upcoming tempest which threatened their very existence.

He reaches the door and knocks on it forcefully, being too tired to remember courtesies and afraid of what the maniacal Son of Bison might do to him if he should catch him.

Soon the door opens as a woman’s voice answers in Hebrew, her tone quite miffed “Rak, Regah, Ani Baah” (just a moment, I’m coming in Hebrew). A beautiful young woman is standing in the doorway.

She is around her late twenties; her hair is a long and blond mane of curly Green hair. Her eyes are brown and her skin soft and bright in its complexion. She’s wearing a pair of jeans and a white T-shirt.

When she sees Joseph her eyes widen and she quickly steps forward and holds onto him, hugging him and pulling him forward. “Joseph! What the h*ll’s wrong?” She asks in English, her voice reflecting her concern as well as her eyes.

“Quickly…I need a phone…need to call Raiko-San…” he says hoarsely. She looks very worried by nods “Let me help you” she says before slowly leading her to the other room.

Just when he’s about to pick up the receiver the door is pushed open. Almost torn off its hinges. Joseph and the woman turn to lay eyes upon a tall man in a pair of black jeans and a black Metallica T-shirt.

“Who the h*ll are you? And what are you doing in my house?” the woman shouts in Hebrew. Her face flushing with anger. The man looks at Joseph and then at her and then grins evilly.

“I am Jason, I am here to collect a one Joseph for my master” He says coldly, his voice impassive, his eyes devoid of any kind of emotion.

“Dana, run, warn the council that the destroyer lives!” he says urgently.

She looks at him and shakes her head “I’m not leaving you” she says before Jason steps forward, his pace quick as his hand swings forward. His fist rams into the woman named Dana’s abdomen sending her crashing into the wall heavily.

“I’m afraid that now that you’ve seen me, It’s time to die” he says and turns to the woman, lifting his fist and preparing to bring it crashing downwards. She surprises him by kicking his abdomen with immense force, enough to push him back.

Then before he can react Joseph pulls his weight and slams a wooden chair in his face. Jason reels back and shakes his head, his hair dropping before his eyes and covering most of his face.

Then he brushes it aside, revealing a pair of glowing red orbs, “That…will cost you…dearly” he spits angrily and brushes his hair aside. Dana lunges forward, aiming her foot at his face.

Jason deflects her foot, catching it in his hand and pushes it down, while he does he brings his left foot sideways, ramming into Joseph’s abdomen and causing him to bend forward.

Then Dana’s eyes glow brightly in blue as she tries to force Jason unconscious, to her dismay his mind is blank, a shield of some sort deflecting her powers. She’s brought back to her senses by a powerful punch to the left lower ribcage.

An audible crack later and Dana’s body falls back and she is forced convulse in pain. She then brings a hand to lie on her ribcage as she feels her ribs burn in pain, Jason obviously breaking her ribs with the blow.

Jason then grunts as a sharp stabbing pain hits his back. He growls lowly as he feels heat, obviously the young psychic using his powers to try and incinerate Jason.

Jason then spins around while extending his arm, clenching his hand into a fist. His fist collides again Joseph’s shoulder, the momentum is so great that the bone cracks and breaks under Jason’s hand.

Then he brings his other hand forward and grabs Joseph who is holding his hand and wincing in pain. He then tries to pull him forward while swinging his other fist toward him, to most definitely knock him out. But before he can he cries out in pain.

He is sent flying forward, falling onto the floor his clothes burned at his back and releasing smoke. He lays still, unmoving. Joseph turns to see Dana holding a torn out electrical wire with a small grin.

The 220v current was most definitely enough to fry and kill the crazed man in her opinion as she crawls over to Joseph and hugs him closely “It’ll be ok, we’ll get to the council…and figure out what to do honey” she says.

He nods and holds on to her “Yeah…C’mon we need to…” he says before they hear a very inhuman growl from behind them.

“THAT HURT YOU B*TCH!” Jason says, not bothering to hide his synthesized voice, his eyes lighting up with bright red light. His teeth are clenched and his hands shaking.

Dana looks horrified “H…HOW? That’s impossible!” she says before Jason grins and does a small turn, showing them his now burned skin which has revealed his metallic back.

Then he walks over to them, Joseph lunges forward, trying to protect her with his body. Jason swats him aside like some bothersome pest and slams him into the wall.

Joseph slumps unconscious, Jason’s blow forcing his head into the wall and knocking him out. Dana cries in anger and her aura flares to life, blasting Jason with all her powers, forming a bright green ray of energy.

Jason crosses both arms and the beam hits him straight on. He grits his teeth as the energy engulfs him. Dana cries angrily keeping it up, but to her dismay Jason keeps on approaching, pushing her beam back, his arms’ skin melting and revealing metallic limbs.

Sweat drops down her forehead and she begins shivering, straining against the extreme usage of her life force and powers.

Jason then reaches a distance of around 2 feet from her and kicks her in the face. His foot rams into her nose, causing the bone to break with an audible cracking sound. The blow breaks the current of power and knocks her back, leaving her lying on her back.

She coughs as blood pours down her nose, staining her beautiful face. She looks up, her eyes unfocused but full of fear. She embraces the fact she is going to die and instead of begging for mercy on herself, she does for the man she loves. “Pl…please…don’t…hurt him…” she whispers.

Jason laughs and lifts her up by the hair, quite a painful gesture, suspending her in midair, the pain unbearable as she cries out in pain. Jason rams his fist into her diaphragm; silencing her screams and making her cough and convulse.

“Ok, I promise I won’t hurt him” Jason says, his voice sincere, even letting her sense he’s not lying.

She smiles “Th…thank you” is all she says weakly before Jason twists her neck with his other hand, killing her quickly and ending her life. Then he drops the now dead Dana and takes out a match.

“But I never said anything about the master…” he says and laughs audibly, lighting the match and throwing it on her. Then he walks over, lifts up Joseph on his shoulder and steps out of the residence, melting into the night the house lighting up in flames behind him.