Capture the Three

Goemon’s hand flew to the hilt of katana and drew it out in a wide arc hoping to slash his captor. The blade met nothing but air. The recently drugged man attempted to stand but his shaking knees only proved that he was still not in full control of his body. The pounding ache in his head made it hard to retain his balance. He took a few experimental steps until a hand gently pushed him back down.

“You’re wasting your energy,” A soft slightly raspy voice said, “The drug that you ingested dehydrates. Beside you there is a bottle of water and fruit.”

The mouth of the cave was illuminated by the full moon in the sky and there right at the entrance was a ninja sitting on the dirt floor, back against the wall, and knees bent slightly. Hesitantly the samurai reached to his right and grabbed the bottle of water. The water was somewhat cool and moistened his parched throat.

“I do not remember accepting your challenge.”

“I did say I would give you the next day and technically we are in the ‘next day’ time frame.”

“However I do remember you writing in your challenge letter that you would not bother me while I was busy,” Goemon retorted. The samurai felt a wave of anger quickly overtaking his normally calm mind.

“You were done with your heist. I am not the one to blame for Lupin’s weakness.”

“Was your challenge just a trick too? All this trickery for a worthless…” He stood up quickly nearly launching himself towards Kaito.

“Before you jump to conclusions allow me to explain myself!” Kaito snapped as he pushed him back down, “You’re acting like a woman.”

Goemon stopped, closed his eyes, and began to breathe deeply, “Explain.”

“I wanted to challenge you, but it’s hard to track you down. Often Lupin will announce a target and usually on the following day your group is gone. The only way I would be able to confront you is if you staying in one location for an adequate time.” Kaito squatted down to Goemon’s eye level.

“You didn’t have to drug us.

“I did not want to that was my sister’s idea. Most of the time I leave the planning to her. Then again how was I supposed to approach this situation?” Kaito inquired as he squatted down to his eye level.

“Preferably without drugs,” Goemon muttered as was about to pop a grape in his mouth, but stopped the motion.
“Those eyes…are haunting.” Goemon thought. The eyes of this ninja was an extraordinary shade of brown not as light as honey but not mahogany either. Flicks of of amber played within the iris like dancing fire. The color was not the thing that struck him as odd it was his stare. Even in a relaxed position those eyes held so much…feeling. Those eyes were the gateway to his soul that contained this warrior spirit, such an intense soul. The eyes also acted like a radio antenna broadcasting his feelings, Goemon felt like he was drowning in them. Not so much drowning…but attaining a high off of them.

The ninja’s voice broke him out of this trance, “Oi!”

Goemon snapped back to attention, “Hm?”

Kaito stroked his chin then pointed his index finger into the air in a type of mocking way, “Was I supposed to go to you and ask ‘I would like to challenge to you to a duel. So, can you please drop everything you’re doing and fight me?’ Jigen and Lupin would’ve probably questioned me while putting a gun to my head and while that is happening my sister would step in and try to take out someone herself. I didn’t want anyone to get hurt.”

“You’re right about Jigen, but the diamond…”

“Was taken by my client who provided information on your future whereabouts in exchange for our services,” Kaito finished with a sort of troubled look in his eyes, “You have to understand…I did not like the circumstances, but how else was I supposed to track you?”

“You have a point, but why? Why did you go through all this trouble?” Goemon asked quietly, but somehow he knew the answer.

The ninja stood up and turned to him. The darkness of the cave and the few stray hairs partially covered Kaito’s passionate eyes. “That feeling…you must have felt it at least one point of your life…that feeling of fighting a worthy opponent. To give it your all, to use every skill at your disposal, to know there is SOMEONE in the world that is equal to you strength, your skill, and your speed.”

“I see.”

“I want to fight you clear and simple. Were you expecting another answer?”

Goemon shook his head, “That was a satisfactory reply.”

Goemon attempting to stand again found that he felt much better; his head stopped throbbing and he had regained full control of his legs. Kaito turned his head up watching the progress his hopeful opponent was making.

“So…” Kaito said, “What is your answer?”

“What will you do if I refuse?”

Kaito sighed as he felt his expectations quickly fading. “Nothing. I have no reason to; it would be selfish of me if I were to hurt you just because you decided to turn me down.”

“Even I go after my friends?” He pressed on.

“He’s really going to say no,” Kaito dejectedly thought, “I probably would’ve too I suppose. This is what I get for giving up hopes up. This what I get for rushing, for acting like a woman…”

The ninja swallowed the lump in his throat and tried saying calmly, “As long as you promise not to hurt Kiyumi. Then I would do nothing. You have my word. I mean…”

“I accept.” Goemon interrupted him.

“Because….you what?” The ninja just gaped like a goldfish.

“I accept your challenge under certain conditions.”

“Name them?” Kaito responded.

“No matter who wins you let my friends go no questions asked.”

“Done just as long you don’t lose on purpose, because if you do…I will kill you.”

“I understand.”

Kaito nodded and led the samurai out of the cave. “I’m not going to go easy on you.”

“I know you won’t.”
…………………….

The kidnapping went according to plan; using Lupin’s weakness for women Kiyumi was able to switch the sparkplugs in the car for one’s created by her younger sister Yukiko. Using the information they received from their client about Lupin’s diamond heist plans they fixed up an old house on the abandoned roadway and used that as a temporary hideout.

Kiyumi leaned in the doorway smoking a cigarette with Kuro looking expectantly outside. Every once in a while the black Siberian Husky would whine for a few seconds and sniff the air for signs of his other owner.

Kiyumi sighed softly, “Don’t worry boy,” The gun mistress ruffled the dog’s fur atop his head, “Kaito will be fine.”

The black dog seemed to disregard her words and trotted back into the house. Kiyumi figured it was just to mope over his owner’s disappearance some more.

“Kaito sometimes I don’t get ya,” The blond said to herself quietly, “Then again I’m as close as anyone would get.”

A creak of wood sounded into the house alerting gun woman causing her to quickly draw her python revolver and turning around simultaneously only to have a large metal barrel already touching the temple of her head before she could turn completely. Her eyes met the shaded ones of Jigen.

“Dammit all,” Kiyumi grumbled, but didn’t lower her gun, “Somehow I figured this would happened. Looks like you gave me a challenge. That bitch of a client did warn me…”

“Don’t move another inch or I’ll blow off your head,” He threatened as he clicked off the safety.

“Now now young man,” She berated sarcastically as she lowered her revolver, “That’s no way to treat a pretty young lady like that especially if you want to take her out later.”

“I wouldn’t joke around if I were you,” Jigen growled, “I’ve had it up to here with you.”

“Tch,” Kiyumi gazed up to the side and smirked evilly causing Jigen to raise an eyebrow in suspicion.

“Hmm?”

“Put that gun down if you want your friend’s balls intact.”

The shaky voice of Lupin carried down the hallway, “Her dog’s teeth are really really close to taking out one of my more important organs. Please do as the pretty lady says!”

“As much as I would like Lupin to be castrated,” Jigen responded after pondering about it for a minute, “I don’t think he would appreciate the gesture on my part.” He lowered his gun.

“Kuro heel,” She ordered. The dog backed off and walked to Kiyumi’s side. “So, what do you want?”

“Where’s Goemon?” The master thief asked.

“I don’t know.”

“You lie,” Jigen spat out.

Kiyumi lit another cigarette and calmly blew smoke into Jigen’s reddened face, “I’m just as concerned for my brother’s wellbeing as you are for your friend’s. I want to know as much as you where they are…and if Kaito is alright.” Kiyumi used her light stick and waved it in Kuro’s direction, “The only one who knows is him.”

Jigen growled, he had just enough of this cocky woman. “You expect me to believe the dog…”

“Will track them,” Lupin finished and then shrugged, “Fine lead the way.”

“Lupin! This could be another trap. This bitch is obviously lying.”

Kiyumi forcefully jabbed Jigen in the chest after each wrong, “Call me a bitch one more time and my heel will come in contact with your ball sac….if you have one that is.”

“I’m going to…”

“It’s not a trap.” Lupin interrupted their spat.

“How do YOU know?” Jigen retorted still glaring at Kiyumi.

“She could’ve had her dog attack me turning your attention from her to me, but she didn’t,” Lupin walked up to Kiyumi and looked her straight in the eye. “Either her job is done and has nothing to gain from us or her client did something to piss her off.”

“More or less one of those,” Kiyumi answered, “But truthfully I’m worried. So I’m going to find Kaito…tag along if you wish if you want to find your friend.”

Jigen’s eyes beneath the rim of his hat began to twitch violently. This had to be one of the most stressful heists he had ever been on. His patience was first wearing thing with Lupin and then with this woman. This woman was even cockier than Lupin if that was even possible.

Kiyumi dug into her breast pocket and withdrew a piece of black cloth, “If I were a betting woman the samurai will be with Kaito.”

Lupin smiled roguishly, “You and I in the dark woods all alone….”

“Ahem…” Jigen interrupted.

“With a grumpy old man of course spying on us while make out,” Lupin interjected.

“I’m gonna ignore that,” The gun mistress replied under her breath, “Kuro target slow.”

Kuro took a few experimental sniffs of the cloth and jogged out the doorway with Kiyumi, Jigen, and Lupin following behind.

“You think he’s okay?” Jigen asked while following the overgrown fleabag with his bitch of an owner.

“He’s fine,” Lupin smiled assuring at his partner, “I have a gut feeling all of this will turn out okay.”

“You sure it’s not a groin feeling?”

Lupin glared at his friend, “YES I’m sure.”

The gunman sighed, “For once…I hope your gut is right.”