Blaze Of Shadows [A World In Embers]

A Shadow's Imitation III

"Kage no Shūen Kage no Shūen" Ryu began softly and felt that the darkness eating away his soul receded a bit. "Kage no Shūen Kage no Shūen" Ryu repeated and fired it back towards Kage, who having seen it coming, promptly leaped out of way...

After the dust cloud settled, Ryu saw Kage approach him." All that in a day's work, your ancestors called that the shadow imitation technique" he smiled. " It was used to mirror someone's attack back at them but a somewhat shadowy variant"

" Can it be used to mirror fire related attacks" asked Ryu. " Hmm... Tricky... Yes probably but you might need some help from the entity though.

***

" Kazuki Masahiro, twenty years old with a slight build. An expert at Intel gathering and reputed to be the head of the Savage Lions, sure enough he and Hikari were buddies" Hanzo declared.

Hayato smiled as he borrowed a phase from Ryu. " Why am I not surprised?" " Yeah his best friend as it turns out, his gang specializes in bank robbery, Burgling and theft. It's quite possible that Hikari had saved their hides a few times."

" They stay in a highly fortified building and consist of approximately twenty men" Hanzo continued. Ryu's tactical mind was already at work. " So a forceful entry maybe with a small elite squad would be possible".

" We'd actually be doing the cops some good" Kasumi chimed in and got a nod of approval from Kenshi. " It's a win win for both the police, we -as we would be getting some invaluable information- and the Earth as a whole as we would actually be ridding it of some jerks" Hayato observed mildly

" No, this operation won't be about killing so you will have to refrain from killing except strictly necessary" Kenshi frowned. " Ryu and Kasumi would have to go seeing that Ryu already is a deployment equal to three men..." Kenshi stared pointedly at Ryu and noting his determined expression added. " Bring him back in one piece."

***

Hikari received a message notification and opened it to reveal a text from Kazuki;

" Makuso Dagahashi professional archeologist, my sources claim he has some recent information concerning that ring you wanted, His picture and address can be found at the end of this message..."

He digested this latest information with a stoic expression on his face and pushed his tall frame off his chair in preparation for a man hunt.

***

Ryu blended with the surrounding darkness and quietly surveyed the expanse where the building was situated. He had already guessed that the Savage Lions also got operations from corrupt government officials.

His Hypothesis got confirmed when Hikari mentioned, earlier that afternoon how difficult it was get the information he had on Kazuki since all his court cases had been dismissed and most criminal records had been erased.

" Darned scumbags!" Hayato raged, like Ryu he loathed the idea of injustice. " Forty five minutes before midnight" Hanzo's voice floated through the earpiece embedded in Ryu's half mask. " It also seems like your guys are home" Hanzo added.

" Kasumi how do you read?" Ryu probed and got silence. " Kasumi?" " Loud and clear" she whispered from the southern side of the building. " You seem to develop bad hearing at night missions" Ryu mummured.

" I can protect myself" she retorted. " Yes and I must say you were doing a very good job at Black Fox's place seven months ago" Ryu fired back with a sardonic bite knowing fully well that Kasumi would have throttled him if she had the chance.

" Total darkness coming in three... Two... One!" Hanzo said as a large grey cloud slid over the half moon. Ryu ran forward and scaled the high fence with impeccable ease and landed with the agility of a jungle cat.

He scanned his surroundings, felt for the hilt of his katana and crept stealthily forward. " I am in" Kasumi informed his over the line. " So am I, these guys won't know what hit them" Ryu smirked.

Ryu moved swiftly with fluid grace and speed, fully using his shadow powers to his added advantage. All things considered, he was therefore the first to approach the main building where the members of the game were mobilised.

Ryu pushed the door open a crack and peered in. " Seems they want to step out" Ryu remarked drily. " Probably deciding on a course of action over a mission" Kasumi offered.

" Hmm, a get together, if I had known I would have been generous enough to bring some Yakitori." Ryu commented with any hint of a smile at the joke.

Hanzo who was listening back at the base admired humor on the face of danger but unable to detect a smile in Ryu's voice, checked his chuckle, unsure if he was actually joking. Ryu pushed the door open further and managed a couple of steps before he was detected by Kazuki who alerted the others.

Ryu raised his arms harmlessly in the air. " I am not here to cause any trouble..." suddenly the door at the other end of the open room flew open to reveal an approaching Kasumi whose position sealed the pitcher's trap. " ... unless absolutely necessary." He added icily.

" What is the meaning of this?" Kazuki barked and pulled out his pistol at Kasumi who remained unconcerned. He was followed a few microseconds later by the other members of the gang who raised every weapon they could lay their hands on: baseball bats, pistols, knifes and so on.

" I am not here to cause any trouble." Ryu repeated and dropped his raised hands. " I'm only here for your leader, he has some information that has rather... Caught my interests." " This I a joke right?" A member of the gang spoke up.

" We leave you an option of handling over Kazuki or facing immediate execution." Kasumi added menacingly. " Do you think you could actually sway us away from our leader?" One asked. " That will be over our dead body" Another yelled with a snarl.

Ryu gave a sigh. " I was hoping some of you would see sense, but I can now see that you might have to be reborn to get that" he unsheathed his sword and Kasumi followed immediately, unsheathing her dual daggers...

How many would he have to decimate before capturing Kazuki? And would he succeed?