Chapter 18 Fated exchange

VVVVV

Megumi sat there and let Maya, the lunatic play with her.

“There I’m done” Maya stood up. “I really like your underwear, but we’ve had enough fun. Takahiro will be pleased seeing you now”.

“Can I at least have my shirt back?” she asked.

“You look cute like that” and she got the key from her pocket. “Don’t think of trying anything funny” she whispered releasing the first cuff from the headboard, but not her wrist. “Don’t forget that your sister and that other one is still alive, so cooperate”.

“Sure” she sighed and the cuff came of her hand and Maya leaned over her thighs to get the other one and as soon as it came off, Megumi attacked, but she wasn’t expecting to be thrown off the bed and she was on her feet while Maya was still kneeling on the bed.

“I told you nothing funny” she said.

“I give orders. I don’t take them” Megumi stood straight.

“You want to fight me?” she asked.

“I certainly don’t want to kiss you”.

“But wasn’t that fun” she got on her feet. “Just so you know I was holding back during her spar” her whole demeanor changed.

“So was I” she admitted and launched at her, but Maya didn’t move and she punched her hard in the ribs, but that did nothing to Megumi. That just made her angry and she drove her knee up, but Maya stopped it with her other knee.

She wasn’t counting on Megumi driving her hand under and throwing her over, but Maya hooked her arm round her neck and two of them went down and Maya was quick to curl round both her arms.

“You should just have behaved yourself”.

Megumi groaned and she heaved herself forward, trying to stand up which Maya knew would be impossible. Imagine her expression when Megumi got on her feet and she was used to hit the wall and she let go instantly.

Megumi delivered punches and kicks and whatever she had in her arsenal.

But for the military background Maya that wasn’t enough, and it was time for her to hit back. And she hit back twice as hard and soon there was a lot of blood.

Maya pushed her away and jumped, her knee hitting her chin making her cut her tongue and she fell, all the fight taken out of her. She had been beaten.

“Will you behave now?” Maya asked.

She was silent.

“I’ll take that as a yes” and she reached her hand out to pull her up, but Megumi latched onto her turning it into a triangle and Maya struggled for a while, but she was up and just like their spar. Maya said she had been holding back, so she might be one with the floor soon.

So she used a last ditch effort and changed her body direction leaning forward. All her weight round Maya’s neck and she still had one hand bound, and she may have been super, but she couldn’t handle that and she went falling, but again she switched her body direction just a little bit to the left and she landed on the edge of the bed hard.

There was a ‘CRACK!’ and then a ‘SPLAT’.

She moved away from the prone body and she heaved a huge sigh of relief. When she had enough and Maya wasn’t going to rise in a freaky way, she got her shirt from the bed and then searched for Takahiro. She wasn’t with a gun and she didn’t know who had her gun.

Well she had to get out because today she was going to kill Takahiro.

VVVVV

Jun knew something was wrong. What was she meant to think when one of hers just began to act weird and then tried to touch her, and then talking all slurred like he was drunk. And not just him, some others. Now she was just confused.

She had to see what was happening since everyone was just useless. And then she heard some whispers.

“What do you mean out?” Karou hissed.

“Well it was only for a few people, not a troop”.

Jun aimed. Boss didn’t have use for them anyway. Takashi was pushed out of the way and Karou fired causing Jun to take cover.

Sachi took Takashi away and had to find another way around to the top.

“Hope you’re not still mad that I couldn’t remember your face” she taunted.

“Good for you” she said. “How many bullets do you have before you run your mouth?”

Unfortunately not much. They were all so inefficient.

“Why don’t I make it easy for you?” she asked and Karou could hear the gun sliding against the ground, and past her feet and Karou threw hers, and they both came out from behind the pillars they had taken cover and stood before the other.

“We have unfinished business” Karou said.

“Yes” Jun replied and ran forward.

Karou wouldn’t fall behind and they must have anticipated the other’s move because they both launched a kick. Jun launched her other leg and her heel made contact with Karou’s cheek and it was just kicks from there on.

Karou was able to dodge most. Looks like she had been training because she knew she was alive. She caught her leg and delivered a kick to her knee, and that was able to buy her some time because she needed a breather.

Jun turned it into a split.

She didn’t just know when to quit, did she?

And she launched both her feet which caused her to fall back, but she had a lot of floor control and spun and was on her feet again.

She wished she had taken her chance with just that bullet. They launched at each other again.

Sachi and Takashi were able to find a way around them.

“I’m going to find Takahiro and you will take care of the rest of his lackeys” she said.

“You are going to fight him?”

“I can do that until Megumi gets there” and she continued without a single word. Takashi had to get to his room and stock up. The effect he had on everyone wouldn’t last forever and then Karou would be in trouble. He headed back determined.

VVVVV

Sachi walked into the training room. It was empty apart from Takahiro who sat on the worn couch, legs crossed and eyes partly open with a lazy smirk.

“Takahiro”.

“The mad one” he said and stood up.

“You really want to fight me? I was expecting your sister” he said.

“Well for now you’ll have me” she said.

“You were the one meant to takeover, right” and he removed his jacket folding it and dropping it on the couch.

“…yes” she replied. For an old man, he was really packing. Wasn’t he meant to be in his fifties? She had been out of action for a while, and she wasn’t so sure she’d be able to face him. He looked menacing. A dark polo and then a bullet proof vest just enhancing his muscles more.

She was sure she was taller or if she wasn’t, they were the same height, but now he looked to be towering over her.

“Don’t tell me you’re scared” he said advancing towards her.

“Of all of the people in the world to be scared of, you?” she asked.

She attacked, but he blocked her touch just with one forearm. That did nothing to stop her confidence. She kept attacking and he kept blocking everything. Her punches, her kicks and chops and she wasn’t able to land just one hit.

“My turn” and she ducked a blow, and was able to block his knee. But she wasn’t expecting the back of his legs to hit her face. She ducked just the last minute which had her leaning back, but he raised his leg and brought it down on her chest and her whole body arched making her wheeze.

He knelt beside her head playing with her hair.

“You’re not just going to give up are you?” and he pulled her up easily twisting his fingers multiple times in her hair and moved her round the open space like an animal. A very stubborn goat. He was leading her to a pillar and she knew what was coming next.

She shot her leg out and pushed back with all her might and he had to go back, and that enraged him and he threw her backwards and she landed hard on her shoulder.

Takahiro was over her and held onto her head and banged it against the mat. That made her dizzy.

He held her up and his arm was round her neck and she tried pulling at his arm. Black spots were dancing in her vision. She couldn’t breathe.

She leaned back and did a standing front split and her foot hit him in his face. And he let her go. She lost all feeling in her legs and she felt lightheaded, that she couldn’t fight him when he put his arm between her legs and she was sideways in his arms. His other arm under her ribs and he ran towards a wall and she hit the structure spine first.

He did it again on the same structure and then another one and then he threw her against another one, and her rib took the hit.

Takahiro sighed and pulled her up. She was out hopefully and he pulled her back to the couch and he’d wait until Megumi showed up. He knew something was wrong when everyone stopped responding. Jun included and then Sachi walking in.

Megumi would be here very soon. He was sure of it.

VVVVV

Karou was on her hands and knees and Jun brought the back of her knees down onto the back of her neck, making her face plant on the ground.

“Isn’t there a device to help you this time?” Jun taunted.

Karou got up. She didn’t have anything on her right now, but she knew where the gun was.

“Ahah” Jun kicked the weapon away. “How would that be fair?” Jun pouted and she placed her foot on her chin and shook it really hard and Karou knew what she was trying to do. Remove her head from her neck.

And now she was just stretching like she was a ballerina.

“S-showoff” she groaned.

“Sore loser” she said.

And then she stretched more and she could feel the bones in her neck straining. Karou held onto her ankle and tried pushing her away.

Jun wasn’t a messy fighter. But when your opponent refused to stay down you had to fight messy.

She removed her leg and she planned to stomp on her face, but Karou moved out of the way quickly. Takashi had given her an antidote earlier, but she hadn’t taken it because it didn’t seem to affect her. She got the vial from her pocket and she squeezed it and threw it against her face and it broke.

Jun screamed, steam all over the side of her face that the bottle broke.

She ignored that fact that that wasn’t meant to happen. That that was an antidote and it wasn’t meant to hurt her face like that. Takashi had tried to kill her again. Or was that the antidote or she had swiped one again?

“You piece of…..”

Jun ran towards her and Karou sidestepped her tripping her in the process and she stumbled, her head hitting the rail. A loud ‘CLANG’ bouncing off the walls. And Karou ran and launched her foot forward and she fell over.

Karou smiled and she could rest only for a little while. Looking down she could see the bodies that littered the floors. She was filled with nostalgia and seeing the bodies she felt like she was back in the mansion. She had never gotten over what happened that day.

She felt nauseous and when she looked down again Takashi was looking up at her. She would still kill him later.

VVVVV

Megumi walked into the room to see Takahiro drumming his fingers against the arm of the couch and her sister was by his feet.

“She was fun” he smiled at her.

She noticed the bulletproof he was wearing, and knowing him he should have padded all over his body. She didn’t want a quick death for him. She wanted him to look at her as he bled out and as she shot more bullets into his body.

“Looking for this?” Takahiro asked twirling the gun in his finger and he tossed it to the side standing up.

She circled the room and she got her sword from the post.

“Where’s Maya?” he stood up.

“Dead” she replied. “Which I’m sure almost everyone is” she said unsheathing the sword slowly, but that didn’t scare him one bit.

“Doesn’t matter. I have a lot of them” and he was advancing towards her. She held it out. “You’ve been anticipating this day, right?” “Ever since the unfortunate accident for you that killed your father, but it didn’t kill you. I hope you won’t disappoint him”.

She swung it and he ducked and then she noticed the pad on his arms.

“I’ve also been dreaming of this moment. And it would happen the way I dreamt it”.

And she kept swinging and parrying and he kept dodging. For an advanced man, he moved fast and faster than her. Her hands were getting tired and he held her wrist using his knee to hit her elbow. She let go of the sword and then the knee to her stomach.

Then her chest.

Neck.

Finally face and she fell backwards.

“Your sister was better” he said.

“Yes I was” Sachi supplied and she was on his back. Like he didn’t know. And he tossed her over and she landed on her sister and when two of them were groaning, he got the sword.

“Killing two sisters with one sword” he said. “I wonder why you two refuse to die”.

Sachi rolled off her sister and she slid between his spread legs and she kicked at his ankles and he was down on one leg, and Megumi gave him a kiss with her boot and Sachi delivered both her boots to his back.

Megumi got her sword back but Takahiro ducked, and she halted so she wouldn’t accidentally slice her sister.

Sachi stepped back and Takahiro held her sister’s hand and she fell over his shoulder, he stood up and he threw her at her sister, who caught her but want fast enough to dislodge her and Takahiro gave her a pretty nasty kick to her tail bone. And with her slumped against her sister, that gave him an opening to kick Sachi in her face.

He pulled Megumi back by her hair and threw her to the pillar and did the same to Sachi.

He got the sword and did a little trick. Light and quick. He turned to the older sister and placed the blade under her neck. He wanted Megumi to witness the death of another loved one.

Sachi again was knocked out, but Megumi wasn’t. She couldn’t afford that when she wanted to kill him? He tilted the sword and he groaned turning to the door to see Takashi and another girl.

“Do the two of you refuse to die?” he asked and the dropped the sword advancing towards them.

Karou wouldn’t wait for him to attack them. She attacked and he caught her leg and his other hand wound round her neck.

Takashi had one of his devices which Takahiro recognized instantly. “You shoot and you will hit her” he said.

He was skilled and so was Takahiro to be currently taking on four of the most capable people he knew. Karou was fading and Takahiro was unrelenting.

He dropped his weapon, but he didn’t stop. Her eyes closed and seconds later she stopped struggling and she fell.

“So you’re going to kill me to avenge your parents?” he asked.

“Yes” he replied and he was coming closer.

Takashi stood straight and waited.

Megumi wasn’t out. Just hot and she was up and got her sword and thrust it forward.

Takahiro groaned.

Megumi’s eyes went wide. It didn’t penetrate.

Takashi tried attacking and Takahiro sidestepped him quickly, and he had to stop so he wouldn’t impale himself on her sword. He punched Takashi and attacked her elbow again and she dropped it for good this time.

Takashi watched as his hands were around Megumi’s neck, this time and she wasn’t fighting that much. He had fallen close to the sword and he picked it up and he sliced.

Takahiro kicked his leg back and it caught his chin and he fell. He focused on Megumi who he still had in a chokehold and lifted her off her feet and threw her hard onto the floor, and now he could focus on Takashi.

He was on Takashi and he was choking him. “A gun would have been better, don’t you think? It’d be fast and you’d go out just the way your father did. What do you think your father would say if he saw you, right now? You didn’t know your father, but he was a man driven by his will and determination, and he wasn’t forgiving just so you know. But he wouldn’t want this life for you, just so you know. He’d hate for you to follow in his footsteps, but here you are”.

“Going to die like him. In the end you’re just a failure like him. Too trusting and now you’re here underneath me and you’re going to die. So pathetic, so naïve, and now leaving the world like him. He’d be ashamed”.

He flailed his arms, but he couldn’t even get a weapon because his knees were on his arms. He was going to die. He knew he was going to die, but not like this. Well not at the hands of Megumi either, but…he couldn’t breathe.

There was a click and, ‘BANG!’

Takahiro was no longer squeezing his neck.

He scampered back massaging his neck and coughing and looking at Megumi who held a gun. And not just any gun. The gun she said she’d use to kill Takahiro and others who betrayed her. He could tell she wasn’t done yet.

There was another click and then she shot again.

When he had sliced earlier he had cut off the straps of his vest, and it slipped during his fight and Sachi woke up at that exact moment and before she passed out, she slid the gun over to her and she fired.

With her colt single action revolver and she couldn’t be happier. She had finally done it. She had done it, but he was still alive making this so thrilling.

She cocked the hammer and she fired another shot and his whole body jerked as he was crawling to the door, and he turned to see her and the look in his eyes was what she had dreamt about. Takahiro was too proud to show fear, so the smile on his face and all the blood was satisfying.

“Anything to say?” she cocked the hammer and fired.

“You’re just a brat” he smiled and she fired.

And fired.

And kept firing till she was satisfied.

Takashi was disgusted at the inhumanity, but this was what she had been chasing since the age of eight. He was happy for her, in a sympathetic way.

He looked round the room to Sachi who was unconscious and Karou looked to be breathing.

A bullet whizzed past his cheek and that broke the window. He looked to the window, back to Megumi his hand on his cheek.

“I won’t miss next time” she said cocking the hammer.

He stood on shaky legs and looked between the broken window and the door, and the window would be better and took a running start and she fired. She fired and kept firing, but none of the bullets hit him. He jumped out the window and she dropped the gun.

Her legs buckled under the pressure of her weight and tears flowed down her eyes.

She saved her tears for this moment. Was it tears of joy? Fulfillment? Sadness? She didn’t know, but now she could rest. She could….

She screamed long and hard till her throat was raw and she fell onto the ground. The events of the day weighing on her and she slept.