Fatal Fury Fan Fiction ❯ Kage no Mai ❯ The Blade and the Cherry Blossom pt1 ( Chapter 5 )

Notes. Greetings and salutations. This is my first attempt at writing an actual story with someone else. That it is Vegeta should come as little surprise to those who have read our previous ventures into hentai-dom. This story was brought about by the simple fact that Mai is my favorite game/anime girl (anyone reading the rest of my stuff will realize this as obvious) and Leona is his favorite KoF character (she'd qualify for more if she was in any more I'm sure). As for all the warnings and trademark crap I'll leave that to my capable co-writer. For a bit of warning and advice this is a crossover of Mai from my series Kage no Mai and Leona from Vegeta's story A Matter of Control. If you haven't read either of those then go read them right now. I mean it! Now! Back already? Good, now you should have some idea why certain things happen or are taken for granted. Also we are using one of Vegeta's personal characters by the name of Tanaku Shinokawa who was introduced in the Fighting Girls Lemon Mega Mix. Ask the V-man for more info about him.

Hiei shinomori69@hotmail.com

A quick note from Vegeta : Hello everyone out there...As explained, this is a co-authored effort by Hiei and myself. My part will be coming up next. HOWEVER...this is the time for me to WARN all of you out there that is a LEMON story...Which means, of course, that he depicts scenes of sex and violence not intended for people under the age of 18! Now then...you see that nice, shiny, candy-like button on your browser that says "Back"? If you don't want to read the LEMON, click that button and poof, it'll be gone. Otherwise, please enjoy! All of the below characters that have names are property of SNK or Ruroni Kenshin, SAVE ONE! Tanaku Shinokawa was created by me, and he's mine...property of Vegeta@AMX.net and Vegeta4@Yahoo.com. Just for everyone's own reference, I'm going to include a little bio on him. That's all for now, I'll see you all in my chapter!

"We know how to get an internal high in the center of the lightning speed waltz see our soul struggling to survive as we head down for the self-destructive edge" Information High, Sharon Apple

*****

Tokyo, Roppongi district, late night

*****

Water dripped inceasently from the steam pipe, adding it's swealtering dampness to the already dank alley. The bright light of the city was relfected into this secluded place, diluting it and casting long, dark shadows across it's walls. Leona crouched low and slide forward silently, ignoring the water seeping into her gloves and green shorts. She had been awake for almost forty eight hours now, subsisting these last several hours on a diet of pure adrenalin. The blue haired young woman was tired, hungry, cramping from over-exertion, and now, wet. Leona felt better than she had in weeks.

Her heart slammed a jack-hammer beat against her chest with a combination of excitement, fear, and joy only a warrior could understand. Her senses were sharpend to a razor's edge, every drip of the condensing steam echoed deafeningly, every shadow held no secrets to her, everthing was sharp, defined focused. For Leona was doing what she did best, stalking another warrior with the firm intent of seeing his last drop of blood spilled at her hands.

*****

Brazil, one week earlier.

*****

"So Commander Heidern, what's the mission?"

"Tanaku Shinokawa."

Leona noted this in her mission book with some interest. It wouldn't be the first time they had gone after this psychopath, but Leona wanted it to be the last. His sole goal in life was to kill all the Orochi on the face of the Earth and she was one of them. While they had never fought directly Leona was aware of his style and wanted his death at her hands. Like her mentor Heidern, the blue haired fighter didn't take well to threats against her life.

"Are we going to sanction him?" Leona asked almost hopefully. Her commander and mentor eyed her impassively with his one good eye.

"Not this time. We believe he is after two women. You are familiar with them, they fought with Iori Yagami in the 1996 tournament." It was not a question nor did it need to be one. Leona was very familiar with the women Heidern had mentioned. Their names were Mature and Vice. While formidable fighters in their own right they also were Orochi and so targets of Tanaku Shinokawa's mad quest. The scarred commander continued. "We want to you to follow him and ascertain whether or not he is aware of their location or even if they are indeed still alive. At last reports they had died at the hands of Iori Yagami, but Shinokawa's intrest may dispute that."

At Iori's name Leona fet her breath catch in her throat for a moment. If the one eyed military specialist noticed he said nothing. The night she had spent with Iori was still burned in her mind. Leona would lie awake at night unable to sleep for the memory of his touch, the heat of his lips against her skin. She had never been with anyone since and longed for the next tournament when she might see him again. The descion she had made to leave him was the hardest she had ever made but Leona would have nothing in her life that she could not control, and what Iori caused in her was totally uncontrolable. In the meantime she suddenly focused on her commander who was speaking again.

"If indeed these two women are alive they have information on Rugal's finances that could be very beneficial to us. The old crime lord kept most of his funds in hard form and not aboard his "yacht". If they can tell us where these are it will make another mission unnecesary for years."

Despite her momentary lapse in concentration Leona was as sharp as ever. "Why would they do that? What can we offer them in return for such an amount of money?"

Heidern looked at her. Approval never came near his stone set face but he felt it just the same. That was exactly the question he would have asked had their positions been reversed. "Protection. Whoever this Shinokawa is, he's got the funds to keep himself going and the power to do whatever he likes. We can shelter them from this maniac, possibly even kill him. The fact we would do this anyway does not need to be known to the secretaries."

Sudden sinking realization sank in on Leona's shoulders. "So basicaly what you want me to do is follow a psychopath around and not get in his way the slightest then babysit two over-sexed office women and bring them back here so they can tell us where a lot of money is. Is that about it?"

Heidern stiffened slightly. His face turned slightly stormy. "Yes it is Leona, do you have a problem with that?"

The blue haired young woman stood and saluted sharply. "Sir no Sir!"

"Good your tickets for Narita are waiting outside. Your flight leaves tonight, so you'd better get you gear together in a hurry."

Like a thunderbolt she heard the name of where she was heading. "Narita? I'm going to Tokyo?"

"Yes, that's where Shinokawa was last sighted. You are to acquire him there."

The mere chance that this trip might bring her back to see Iori made it more than a mission. This was a pleasure.

*****

Leona had not found Tanaku Shinokawa, he had found her. She had been returning to her hotel room one night when she saw him exiting the same building with a look of extreme, bordering on maniacal, satisfaction on his face. Leona had lain in wait for him that night, but something had gone wrong. Somehow he guessed her trap and evaded it, escaping into the depths of downtown Tokyo. She had followed him, and the chase had begun.

What followed was a deadly game of hide and seek played between two consumate killers. They had taken turns, it seemed, at being hunted and hunter. Neither was willing to face the other unless they knew they had the advantage. However neither Leona or Tanaku Shinokawa was able to truly surprise the other and the chase continued. For Leona it was a release. All the emotional turmoil she had been feeling about Iori, their night together, and what she could say to him if they saw each other again was gone. She instinctively pushed it aside and let her more basic, primal parts of her mind and soul take over.

Though she was as close to death as she had ever been, Leona felt more alive now than she ever had.

*****

Bored. Bored, bored, bored, bored, BORED! Mai thought to her self as she slumped to the couch in Aoshi's living room. Things had been going so well since he had returned one night with his friends, bruised and tired but happy. Terry and Joe had stopped by later that week, and though there seemed to be some hosility between the three of them Mai was just glad to know her friends were okay. She had heard from Blue Mary that Andy was last seen getting on board a plane for Tibet and she had wished him good riddens.

Now however, she was lonely and above all else bored. With an exasperated sigh the red haired kunoichi flipped to her stomach and propped her chin up on some pillows. She knew that Aoshi was a courier and that his job took him places all over the world and could make him disapper for amounts of time he couldn't guess. He had taken this job with the promise of it being the last for a while so he could spend time with her. Until then however she was stuck in his apartment with nothing to do.

It wasn't like he had told her she couldn't go anywhere, or even that he would be angry with her if she was gone when he got back. As long as she came back to him he knew her life was her own and let her live it as she pleased. However Mai wanted more than freedom, she wanted companinship. What had happened with Kasumi had been very good for Mai in many ways. The younger kunoichi had taught her how to feel pleasure without the guilt Mai had always associated with it. Mai had enjoyed the experience intensely but now Kasumi was gone with her brother off training in Hokkaido (the most northern island of Japan). Even Ibuki, though a bit immature, had been fun, but she was gone too helping an extremely abashed Kisaragi Eiji recover from his injuries and eager to learn whatever he would teach her.

What Mai wanted now more than anything else was someone to talk to, someone to have fun with. She wasn't used to being left alone and was finding she didn't like it. The with sudden resolution she bounced (in more ways than one) up. Mai broke into a smile as she stripped off her short tank top and customary cutoff jeans. The ninja girl began merrily sifting through the vast wardrobe she had brought to Aoshi's home looking for something, anything that would go well with her mood.

Right now Mai didn't want to be alone and she knew no better place to be with people than the dance clubs of Roppongi.

*****

Leona crept forward toward the edge of the brick wall. She was sliding toward a corner that led into a dead end alley. The blue haired fighter had seen Shinokakwa enter the alley and wasn't eager to jump him if he was ready for her.

<*Just a few feet more and I can take him by surprise...*> thought Leona, pushing past the exahaustion her body was feeling. Neither her or Tanaku had slept in the past two days, both unwilling to give their opponent the opprotunity that would present. Leona was preparing to swing around the corner when a voice hissed in her ear.

"Nice try Orochi, but not good enough!" To her credit Leona didn't even blink. She just threw her body forward and up lashing back with one leg to try and keep Shinokawa off her. Tanaku had other ideas. He sidestepped her foot and latched onti her foot stopping her momentum.

The blue haired young woman hit the ground and lay still as if stunned. Anticipating an easy victory Tanaku released her leg and dove forward for the kill. As soon as he let her go Leona slammed that leg down and swung her other into his face, the impact whipping his long black pony tail around. As he span Tanaku let his own kick fly catching Leona in the stomach.

The young woman gritted her teeth with the pain but got to her feet in a blink just the same. Shinokawa faced her a maniac grin on his face as he sank into his stance, feet wide apart, hands equal level even with his chest. Leona cursed herself for her hurry. Now she was in his terrain, for Snake was a close style and there was no room in this alley. Her style didn't need the room some others did but she wanted to be someplace Shinokawa wasn't comfortable with. She raised her hands into her own fighting stance for a moment, and studied her opponent.

His hair was cut short in the front and top, so not to interfere with his vision Leona guessed. It grew long in the back, twining into a Chinese style braid that slithered past his shoulders. His features were sharp but attractive nonetheless. His black eyes burned with a hatred she had never felt before. He wore his customary jacket, t-shirt, snake leather boots and green pants. All in all it looked like he hadn't changed his clothes since the last time she had seen him. Now his smoothly muscled body rocked side to side, a barely audible hiss of breath coming from his insanely grinning face. Leona sank her rearward knee back slightly, then exploded forward.

Low to the ground, one hand cocked back and already knifehanding the blue haired girl shot forward. Tanaku smiled wider and prepared to block. He hadn't expected her to open with such an obvious attack but wasn't about to let such an opprotunity to pass. Sure enough Leona twisted and arced her hand over her shoulder, trailing ki with the sound of air being cut apart. Tanaku gritted his teeth but took the impact with style. He was loosening his arms when he noticed she hadn't stopped moving.

Leona vaulted herself up her hand arcing a reverse path still trailing it's deadly cutting energy. Shinokakwa was caught comepletely off gaurd by her new move and howled in pain as blood flew from his arms where the attack scored. As she flew over his shoulders Leona allowed herself a small smile. Using her momentum she hooked an arm around a nearby firescape and began vaulting upward, taking the fight to the rooftops.

Tanaku growled on psychotic rage and frustration and loosed a blast of green flame at her retreating form. The blast ripped apart the fire escape but the young woman was too quick to be caught by it.

"Not this time Orochi!" screamed Tanaku and dashed forward, his booted feet clattering loudly on the cement. He jumped, planted both feet on the brick wall and pushed off and up. Repeating this twice more he was past the edge of the building and over Leona. He saw her eyes widen in surprise as he descended toward her arcing his foot back in preperation.

The blue haired fighter ducked under the viscous roundhouse and responded with two quick slashes with her knife-like hands to Shinokawa's head. He knocked one away with his forearm but the other caught his cheek raising thin trail of blood in it's wake. Shinokawa growled sharply and locked her arm with one arm as his other darted forward landing two lightning quick pressure point strikes on Leona's shoulder and arm. She yelped in pain and responded by snapping her shin into the side of Shinokawa's head.

While Tanaku managed to get his arm in front of most the kick it still hurt enough for him to lose his grip on her arm. However he had enough concentration to slam the heel of his boot into her stomach and push her away. As she slid away Tanaku cocked an arm back felt the flame form in his palm.

"Shi-ne Orochi!" he roared and spread an arc of green fire at her. Leona jumped away from the flame, hit the ground, and rolled backwards to the edge of the building. Still kneeling she raised both arms behind her head and concentrated. The blue haired woman threw the focus of her cutting aura at her crazed assailint. Shinokawa ducked under the half-circle of energy the first time around but was caught by it's unexpected return.

Tanaku stumbled as he felt the crescent slash his back but kept moving forward. As the young Orochi woman recovered he threw himself into a spin, his body comepletely horizantal just above the ground, his foot catching fire and impacting into her raised arms. The impact from the blocked kick alone was enough to knock Leona off the roof of the building they were on and to the next. She rolled to her feet and raised her arms into her stance as Tanaku jumped over the distance with murder in his eyes.

*****

The rythm pulsed slow and steady, the only light on in the entire club bathed Mai's body in it's warm caress. She knew every eye was focused on her and loved it. The red head just kept her eyes closed and let her body respond to the music. It had been a simple task to convince the owner of the club to let her have run the stage for a few songs.

Mai got to bask in the attentions of hundreds of people, the owner made money, everyone was happy. Right now though Mai didn't care about anything else but the music, the energy pouring from her, and the cheers of those watching her.

She was dressed in a pink silk kimono with it's sides cut to reveal her legs, under that was a black spandex body suit with a dangerously low neckline and long sleeves that simply accentuated her innate sensuality. The red haired girl was so intent on her dance she nearly missed the ripple in her awareness that signaled two immense amounts ki being expended.

Mai almost paused in her dance but managed to keep going while her mind multi-tasked. One of the two forces seemed familiar, somehow, though the kunoichi could not immediately place it. The other seemed powerful and dark but she was sure she had never felt it before.

"It's not my business." Mai told herself. "I don't want to get involved with anything while Aoshi's away. Andy did that to me too many times for me to do it to my shinobi."

*****

Leona skidded along the gravel rooftop for a moment before she gathered her senses enough to catch herself and roll. The blue haired woman pushed herself slightly farther than her momentum was taking her, and heard with satisfaction the sound of impact behind her. Shinokawa's foot left a blackened circle of fused stone where his ki powered kick had impacted, his psycoticaly grinning face turned toward her as she gained her feet. Both fighters were torn and bleeding but Leona could feel exhaustion pulling on her limbs. The fight had taken a rather unexpected turn. No matter what she did it seemed like he knew it as soon as her mind concieved of it. The tall man sank back into his low stance, now obviously hissing like a snake.

As the two circled each other Leona became aware of her surroundings. Directly behind her was a large pyramid of glass that made up a skylight. From the rythmic way the roof was vibrating she guessed they were now on a dance club. She wondered if any of this could be turned to her advantage but wasn't given the chance to decide. Shinokawa slashed forward with both hands in a blinding double fingertip strike.

The Orochi woman managed to block the first strike but the other arced around her defense and impacted above her collarbone. Tanaku could see pain flash across the woman's emotionless mask, and grinned wider. The assasin's front foot hooked in and up slamming into the side of Leona's face. The impact spun her around like a leaf in a gale. Tanaku reached out with his mind and felt nothing from his opponent. He crouched low on his back knee and spread his arms wide, the palms bursting to life with green fire. Then the Orochi woman left the ground.

Leona didn't think about what she was doing, there wasn't the time, she just acted. Both feet pushed off the ground one arcing side ways the other trailing for balance. Her heel sank into Shinokawa's chest, knocking the breath from his body and stumbling him backwards. Leona wasn't about to let up and closed the distance powering off one leg, then the other crushing both knees into the tall man's gut. Shinokawa had a brief second to cough up blood before he felt Leona's hands latch onto his the sides of his head. Leona looked over shoulder and marked her target. Her feet shuffle stepped, and arms tightened as she torqued Shinokawa toward the skylight by his head.

However the second long pause had been enough for Tanaku to feel what she was doing. When he felt her grip tighten he vaulted forward with both legs, and caught her arm with both of his. The Orochi woman didn't even have time to gasp as his body spun and hurled her over his shoulder. The glittering panes of glass exploded inward as Leona hit them. Tanaku's momentum was carrying him toward the same destination, but he was too busy laughing at the blue haired woman to care.

*****

"Fire!" roared a man's voice as looped guitar riffs and pounding bass exploded into air of the club. Lights suddenly lanced out in a blinding multi colored display. The crowd went berserk. The sudden violence of the music was so intense that even Mai missed the skylight above her shattering inward. The sound may have been lost but the sudden wash of dark, powerful ki, wrenched her attention to the danger above. Instictively the red haired kunoichi lept sideways before looking upward.

As if in slow motion she saw Leona's body fall amidst a snowfall of glass catching and refracting the lights of the club. Mai watched helplessly as the blue haired woman's shoulder hit a light display and her body twisted with the impact. Somehow the woman stayed concious throughout this and she managed to land on her feet. Then Mai saw that her back, arms, and legs were criss-crossed with a lattice work of tiny cuts. Even Leona's normally emotionless face couldn't conceal the pain.

The kunoichi was about to move forward when Leona unexpectedly dove away from her. A half-second later Mai saw why. A blast of green fire hit where the blue haired woman had just been sending shards of glass flying, and roaring over the din of the music. A shadowed form alighted on the spot the fire had cleared, and Mai didn't need to see the wide manic grin on his face to realize he was the source of the ki she was feeling. As the red haired young woman decided what to do Leona acted.

*****

The blue haired woman went skyward her arms crossed at the wrist behind her. She brought them froward a trail blue cutting energy trailing them. Tanaku had read this attack the moment she had started it and simply decided not to be there. His side stepped, turned on one leg, the other raising and impacting into Leona's back as soon as she landed, sending her flying forward. When his foot touched the ground Tanaku's hands became claws, his kamae shifting slightly and his mind becoming the Tiger. The Orochi woman rolled to her feet, turned, and let a punch fly that ripped the air behind it.

Tanaku raised his forward hand and caught the blow, feeling the impact with insane satisfaction. In a voice dripping evil pleasure he spoke.

"Baka tare!" the words were accompanied by his rear hand slamming forward, jade fire erupting into life from his palm. Leona felt the impact in her diaphram and all of her air was knocked from her. Then she felt the ground leave, and her lacerated back hit the stage. Shinokawa remained in Tiger stance half laughing, half growling. Leona tried to gain her feet, but her legs weren't working. She saw a shadow approach and dove to the side as a roundhouse kick passed through where she would have been.

Tanaku slammed the kick to the ground and vaulted off it arcing his body up and slashing his heel toward the Orochi's body. The blue haired woman scrambled away from the assult, gaining her feet and snapping out with a high roundhouse kick in single smooth motion. Tanaku's grin never wavered as he dropped low under the kick and slammed a palm strike into her thigh. The force of the blow span the young woman around. She rode it well and let her deadly hand lead the way toward him. However the impact against the lights had injured her more than even she had realized. The strike jolted her arm with pain before it had completed half it journey, making it a simple task for Tanaku to catch her arm in another tiger claw. His free hand raked down her back tearing through the tough cloth of the Orochi woman's uniform and drawing blood.

Leona gasped as pain screamed out from her already wounded back. She felt her knees go weak and stumbled forward, dazed from the last strike. Suddenly she realized that her arm was now free. Through the haze of agony she saw Shinokakwa's back spinning in front of her and recognized why. When his boot slammed into her stomach it was all Leona could do to stay concious as she hit the ground and rolled. Gasping in pain the blue haired warrior gained her feet and tried to focus forward. Through blurred eyes she saw the maniac charging forward.

With what little energy she had left Leona pushed herself forward, and launched a stepping elbow with whatever deity rules battle behind it. The strike carried all her weight and considerable muscle behind it. Shinokawa's form closed as if in slow motion.

The voices in Tanaku's head for once all agreed on what he should do. Following their guidance he dropped slightly and let the Orochi woman's brutal attack pass over his head. Tanaku left his right palm close to his body, continued his foward motion, and simply ran into the young woman's stomach. He felt her breath leave her and spun around again lashing out with his forearm and catching her in the temple. The Orochi's legs gave out and she began to fall.

Tanaku caught her long blue hair in his left hand pulled back on it forcing her to her knees while tilting her face to him and exposing her neck. Her eyes were barely open and unfocused. Shinokawa Tanaku knew he had won. His right hand raised above his head and formed into a knife hand, green fire bursting into life around it.

"Ima no jikan wa omae no shi o! (Now is the time of your death!" Tanaku roared.

"KA-CHO-SEN!" he heard from somewhere behind him. Something heavy and hard slammed into his elbow, numbing his arm. Growling in pain Tanaku turned, his mind reaching out for who had assulted him. He found nothing. Then with a sinking realization he realized what he was feeling. The Void opened wide before him, blank and featureless.

*****

With the pounding music that no one had bothered to turn off it would have been impossible for Shinokawa, or anyone else for that matter, to hear Mai's approach. In fact it's likely even without the music he wouldn't have heard her running toward him. She was after all kunoichi and silence was second nature to her. What Mai did next however, was not silent.

"RYU-EN-BU!" her flamming assault threw Leona's attacker into the wall of the back of the stage with speed that would have made any proffesional baseball player envious. The concrete cracked and splintered with the impact and a white cloud erupted from the wall. Through the haze the red haired kunoichi saw the tall man stumble forward unsteady and obviously hurt.

"All right, I don't know what's going on here, but I'm not going to let you kill Leona!" Mai yelled loud enough to be heard over the bass.

*****

Tanaku tried to find his center and failed. Even the voices were silent now, drowned out by an incredibly loud ringing. Everything was spinning, blurry and unclear. The Void remained in his mind mocking him with it's silence in the midst of all this tumult. He heard the woman's voice and painfully raised his head. Tanaku blinked.

"Utskushii... (Beutiful)" He trailed off as he took in Mai's form. She was dresssed in her battle outfit (which had appered with characteristic speed and unexplainableness) and stood highlighted by the remaining lights. Some degree of sense returned to him. He remebered who she was. A kunoichi from the Shrianui ninja clan. She was a warrior who had done well for herself in every King of Fighters tournament. Under other circumstances he would have looked at meeting her with passionate interest but now she stood between him and the death of one of the Orochi. Indeed she had attacked him in the Orochi woman's defense. However he was a forgiving man and mistakes could happen. Besides in his current state Tanaku realized there was no way he could defeat her.

At this point the song ended and no one was around to play another. The only sounds were the sounds people leaving the club, very, very fast. Tanaku tried to stand straight but found the pain and dizziness to be too much.

"Shiranui Mai, do you not realize who this is?" Tanaku asked unsteadily.

"Of course I do. She's Leona and she's competed with me in the King of Fighters tournament. Who are you and why are you trying to kill her?" Mai responded matter-of-factly.

Tanaku blinked as if his brain was digesting her questions. Still not able to focus he responded. "Who I am is not important, but I am trying to rid the world of the curse that is the Orochi bloodline! Do you not see that they will be responsible for the destruction of the world!"

Mai didn't looked convinced. "Last I heard she was trying to see that the world DIDN'T get destroyed. Regardless I'm not letting you kill her. To do so you'll have to come through me!"

"Under other circumstances that would not be an unpleasent challenge," Tanaku leered gaining his center of balance. Mai blushed furiously but didn't move from her stance. "but not now. You have this round Shiranui Mai but you will not be able to protect her forever. Maybe next time we meet it will be under more 'friendly' situations!"

With that he turned and ran off the stage toward a side exit.

----------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------

"Not likely jerk." growled the red haired girl. Though she wanted to make sure he didn't hurt anyone else, Mai knew that Leona would need help. She turned to the bruised, bleeding form of Leona. Mai chewed her lip in worry. If she left the blue haired girl with a hospital that maniac would probably go after her and he had been right, Mai couldn't protect her all the time. She needed to take Leona somewhere safe and knew of only one place.

Mai gathered Leona up in her arms, surprised at how light she was. The blue haired girl always seemed larger than she was because of her imposing presence but now that she was unconcious Mai realized Leona was actually a very small young woman. With that thought the red haired kunoichi left the stage and ran for Aoshi's apartment.

*****

Tanaku waited at the top of a building next to the club and watched Mai bounce to a roof top and begin to run carrying Leona in her arms. He grinned evily and tried to follow only to collapse as soon as he shifted his weight forward. The tall man's mind screamed at him to get up and follow them but his body betrayed it and quietly shut down. Tanaku's brain raged furiously at this for all of thirty seconds more before sleep claimed him.

******

Flames roared around her but she was calm. They could do her no harm. She studied the fallen forms before her with cool eyes. They had been soft, and weak but she had killed them, why she could not remember. Their blood was still warm on her cheeks and hands. Something in her growled in contment at that realization. She heard a voice behind her and saw another one approach speaking but she could not understand the words.

The thing in her roared again and her vision turned purple. When it cleared again she was standing over the body with more blood on her. Unconsciously she licked her lips and tasted something warm and salty there. The thing inside her was now howling with pleasure. Then her gaze moved to this one's face. Something else cried out fighting the darker voice. For a long moment she stood there as the two voices battled. The lighter voice then called out one word that totaly overwhelmed the darker voice.

"Mommy..." said Leona's child voice.

*****

Leona sat up with a start and a gasp, reflexively stifling a scream before it could tear from her throat. It took her a while but the blue haired young woman slowly took in her surroundings. She was lying on wide futon-style bed with white silk sheets. The room was white, spartan in design and decoration, the sign of an organized mind. Dim light filtered from heavily shaded windows casting a dim look on the wide empty space. Leona was very near to shocked when she realized that she was wearing a red silk robe with a beatiful flower pattern on it. For someone as accustomed to the hardships of millitary life as she was such luxury was incomprehsible.

Then the various aches and pains began to come into focus, and Leona became aware of all the bandages she was wearing. Her lower arms were wrapped in white cloth as was her entire torso. She reached up and touched her face. For some reason she was relieved to find her face had somehow remained untouched. It was sore, that was certain but no cuts registered on her fingers.

Almost silently the door swung open and Shiranui Mai walked in carrying a tray with some water and a steaming bowl of soup. The red haired girl was wearing a tight cutoff t-shirt with a large "shiro" (white) kanji scawled on the back and her customary tight cut-off jeans. She saw Leona sitting up and smiled widely at her. Leona blinked. What was going on? Where was she? What was *Mai* doing here? And why did that bowl of soup smell like the best dish ever prepared?

"Ah you're awake! Good I was starting to get worried about you." Mai said as she kneeled next the bed where Leona lay, setting the tray down next to her. Leona blinked in response. She had no idea how to respond to this. The Shiranui kunoichi must have noticed the puzzeled look on her face. "You've been asleep for almost two days. After the fight with that weird guy you were beaten up pretty bad I didn't want to see you get killed in the hospital or something."

Leona's eyes widened as memory flooded her. The chase between her and Shinokawa, the fight on the rooftops, the seemingly endless fall from the skylight and explosion of pain that was her last memory. What had kept Shinokawa from killing her? The blue haired girl reached one inescapable conclusion. Mai had.

"You, saved me?" Leona asked slowly as if unsure that her mouth would work. Mai nodded and smiled dazzlingly. The blue haired young woman thought for second. "Thank you."

"<*Not much for conversation.*>" thought Mai. "Well it didn't look like a fair fight, and I wasn't about to let you get killed in front of me so..."

Suddenly all of what the red haired girl had said sank in. Leona straightened sharply. "*TWO DAYS!*"

Taken aback by this sudden out burst Mai paused in her explanation open mouthed. "...um, yeah. That guy tore you up pretty bad. He fought something like Iori."

Leona seemed to be paying her no attention and was looking about wildly. She started talking to herself as she looked for her uniform. "They're going to think I'm dead! Where's my uniform! And what about the mission! That freak Shinokawa better not have gotten to those two idiot secretaries...." she trailed off realizing what she was saying and who she was with. Mai was looking at her with a totaly baffled look on her face.

"Um..." started Leona skillfully. Mai smiled and shook her head.

"Don't worry I'm not going to tell anyone about whatever mission you're on. My boyfriend does things like that all the time. But as for your uniform I don't think you'll be able to wear it again." Leona blinked slowly again and slowly returned Mai's wide smile with a very tentative one of her own.

"I'm sorry Shiranui-san. I know I've been rude but I'm not good at this. You've been very kind and I thank you for all of your help, I just didn't expect to get it. I don't deal well with things outside my control." Leona's own words shocked her. Why had she just told Mai that? Previously all she had ever know about Mai was that she was a fighter who wore far too little clothing and had a body most women would kill for. In retrospect she realized that it was hasty descion but Mai had always seemed to be, well, a flake.

The red haired young woman's smile widened. "Don't worry about it. You act weird after you get hit like that. Trust me I know." at this Mai's voice dropped slightly and she looked rueful for a moment. The moment passed quickly and the wide smile returned. "But really don't worry about it. I only ask one thing in return."

Leona's eye's narrowed slightly. "And that is?"

"Call me Mai." the grinning kunoichi ordered. Leona smiled slightly again.

"Of course... Mai."

"And eat some soup you've got to be starved!"

******

Two hours later Leona stretched as Mai brought an armful of clothes into the room. The blue haired girl was finding it easier to relax around this young woman than she had in a long time. As she ate the soup Mai had made for her (which was the only food she had eaten in almost three days) Leona had realized that HQ was used to her not repoting in and would wait at least another seventy two hours before writing her off. When she had again asked for her uniform Mai had shrugged and brought what remained of it to her.

Regretfully Leona had to agree with Mai's opinion. Her uniform was completely unwearable. That it had stayed on her during the fight with amount of damage she had received was just short of miraculous.

"Oh don't worry! You can wear something of mine!" Mai cheerfully told her. Leona had doubted anything that would fit Mai's generous figure would come close to suiting her but held her tongue. Now the red haired girl playfully hoped next to Leona and dropped a pile of T-shirts, pants and dresses.

"First we take off your bandages and see how you're doing. Give me your arm please." Leona could just have easily done it herself but realized that Mai was thouroughly enjoying taking care of her. She was also sore and stiff and was slowly not minding being taken care of. Mai's delicate fingers danced over the cloth gently and efficiently removed the covering. Leona studied the pile of clothes next to her host attempting vainly to find something slightly respectable.

"Huh? This is odd." Leona heard Mai say. She turned to see Mai holding her arm carefully and looking at it intently. Where two days ago there had been a network of scratches and light cuts there was now nothing. "Oh well, I guess you heal pretty good. Unfortunately your back is going to be different story."

Leona raised her head in slight alarm. "Um, Mai, Do you, uh, have to check there right now?"

Mai sat back and raised an eyebrow. "Don't tell me that tough girl Leona is shy?"

For one of the first times in her life Leona's cheeks colored slightly in mild embarassment. "Well, no, it just that..."

The red haired girl waved her protests off. "Don't worry we're both girls right? Besides it's not like I haven't seen you before."

The heat in Leona's cheeks intensefied and she sat up sharply. Mai giggled slightly at her reaction. "Hey relax I had to bandage you up in first place remember?"

Leona blinked in response and then smiled slightly in embarassment. Before she could say anything else, a giggling Mai swung around her and pulled Leona's robe from her shoulders. The blue haired girl gasped but didn't move, not knowing what she should do. She felt Mai's fingers untie the bandages and reach around her carefully undoing them and in the process taking away the small covering those badages gave her. Despite what she had said Leona was very nervous about Mai seeing her body. The fact that the red haired girl had before when dressing her wounds only seemed to make things more embarassing.

The odd thing was Leona couldn't find a single reason for why she felt like this. As Mai had said they were both girls and this was just a medical necessity. So why did she feel so strange? Then Leona's attention was focused on the fact that Mai had just pulled the last bandage that covered her away and that her breast was now exposed. Then she heard the kunoichi take a deep breath in and felt her fingertips against her back. For a reason as equally unexplainable as her emabarassment Mai's touch seemed very warm, almost hot.

Leona cleared her throat hurriedly. "Um, whats wrong?"

Mai was staring at Leona's smooth unblemished back. Not a trace of any wound remained. Where there should have been a mass of small cuts and barely closed slashes there was nothing. If Mai had not personally watched Leona's fight she wouldn't have believed it had occured. Mai traced the skin where she had seen the tall man rake his fingers slowly in disbelief.

"Wow." she said breathlessly.

Leona coughed slightly. "I'm healed aren't I?"

Mai shook her head as if waking up. "Uh yeah you are! I don't see how but you are."

"It's my Orochi blood. I don't take very long to recover. Um, Mai, can I put the robe back on now?"

With another start the red head realized that she was holding the robe down with one knee. With a slightly embarassed giggle she pulled the bandages off, and slid the silk back up Leona's shoulders. She patted the younger girls back appreciatively.

"Well I wouldn't have thought you'd be ready this soon but you'll be good to go pretty quickly." Mai draped an arm around Leona's shoulders and leaned against her. "Then you'll be ready to start breaking hearts and kicking butt again!"

With that Mai burst into musical laughter. Leona felt her temprature rise again, still having no idea why, but Mai's light hearted mood was infectious even for her and she smiled wider this time.

"Thank you Mai-san. I hate to be trouble to you." Leona said apologeticaly.

"Don't worry about it." the red head insisted. "With my boyfriend away it's nice to have someone to talk to. Speaking of which," Mai's voice dropped to a conspiratorial tone and she narrowed her eyes playfully. "is there anyone in your life Leona-chan?"

Heat immediately retuned to Leona's face. "Um... well... sort of..."

The bouncy kunoichi laughed in delight and she squeezed Leona's shoulders tighter. "Who's the lucky guy? C'mon tell me! Please!"

The blue haired girl couldn't help but smile in return. "Um, it's kind of, Yagami Iori, more or less."

Mai's eyes widened and she sat back slightly and released the other girl's shoulders. "Wow. I've met that guy, he's, something else. I'll give you this Leona, you're braver than I am."

*****

"Um, Mai are you sure about this?" Leona said an hour later. After a the Shiranui kunoichi had emraced her self-appointed task of making Leona as stylish as possible with the same zeal she did everything else. It seemed that her efforts had paid off, though Leona was by no means comfortable with the choices Mai had made.

The young woman's blue hair was done into it's characteristic pony tail, and Mai had convinced her to accept a minimum of eyeshadow and lipstick. Though as she had remarked several times, Leona hadn't needed any and what little she wore simply accentuated her already beautiful face. It had taken her some time, but Mai had eventually located a top that would fit her guests slightly less generous figure. Now Leona was dressed a black spandex top with a dangerously low neckline. The top showed off the young woman's toned stomach well, and the thigh length dark blue skirt did the same for her shapely legs. To complete the outfit Mai had grabbed a leather jacket Blue Mary had left with her. The red haired kunoichi stepped back and nodded like a sculptor finishing her work.

"Positive Leona. You're absolutely gorgeous! If we see Iori tonight he won't be able to keep his hands off you!"

"But Iori and I are already, uh, close." Mai giggled musicaly again.

"I had kind of guessed, but remember a girl's always got to look her best. Makes the guy you're with appreciate you more. And if you're not with someone at that moment it's reassuring to know that you can still catch them!"

Leona smiled and returned Mai's laugh. A thought occured to her. "What do you mean, tonight?"

"Well as part of payment for me taking care of you, Leona-chan, you and I are going out to some clubs tonight. From what you told me about Iori he likes metal bars and I know a few myself that he might be at." Mai responded with a tone that left no room for questioning. "Think you can handle that Leona?"

The blue haired girl drew herself up resolutely. "Of course I can! And if it makes it more likely that I'll see Iori... oh, no. I'm sorry Mai but I can't!"

The red haired girls eye's widened in concern. "Why not?"

"Well I can't say too much about it but I'm supposed to be on assignment! I need to track down the man I was fighting again!"

Mai considered this for a moment then nodded with determination. "Well the first thing I'd do is call your base or whatever and make sure this mission, whatever it is, is still going. If it is then I'm going with you! This guy looks pretty dangerous and if I'm with you then you're a lot more likely to succeed!"

Leona was going to argue, but one look into Mai's fierce gaze told her that it would be pointless. With a wiry smile she aquieced. "Ok Mai-san. You win, I'll call HQ and find out what's going on, and if the operation is still a go then I'll bring you with me."

Mai bobbed her head again with bright resoluteness. "All right then. There's a phone in the next room."

*****

"What?" Leona almost yelled. "What do you mean the mission's been canceled?"

Even Heidern's stern, disapproving tone couldn't dispell her anger and frustration. "The two targets have been acquired by another orginization and command doesn't want to make an enemy of them."

"Who?" demanded the blue haired girl. "Who has 'acquired' them?"

"From everything we know, it's the Yagami clan." Leona nearly dropped the phone.

"Iori..." she trailed off.

"Not from what we've gathered." came Heidern's voice snapping Leona out of her daze. "It seems that the clan itself has taken an interest in these two. Given what we know of him Yagami Iori has little to nothing to do with this. Regardless you have seventy two hours to clean up any loose ends and to lie low. No more public battles. After that you will meet a contact at Haneda airport, thirteen hundred, and purchase your tickets there. Watch your back Leona."

With that the gruff voiced man hung up. Leona did the same, slowly, as if unsure what effect it would have. Mai was sitting on the couch watching her impatiently.

"Well what's going on? Is everything all right? Do you have to leave." Mai snapped the questions off without a pause. The blue haired young woman shook her head to clear it and looked at Mai with a slight smile on her face.

"No, everything's fine. The mission is no longer a problem. I guess we can go look for Iori like you suggested. "

"Lucky!" Mai said in English and grinned. "we've got a few hours before any of the clubs really get interesting, you want to get something to eat?"

*****

The music crashed into Leona like a tidal wave. She paused as her eyes adjusted to the bedlem before her. Beyond the steel cage that barely restrained it sheer pandemonium raged. While following Iori the first time they had met Leona had often entered bars or clubs similar to this, but this was the first time she was in one for the sole purpose of going there. Ralf and Clark had occasionaly atempted to bring her with them on their leave time but to no avail. The blue haired fighter had always thought she had better things to do.

Out of the chaos that raged around her Mai grabbed her arm and enthusiasticaly dragged her toward a realatively calm spot raised above the rest of the club. The kunoichi wore her hair as she usaully did, not even changing her hairpiece. She wore a two piece black satin outfit, the top was trimmed in red, with a throat covering neck, and a wide diamond cut at the top of her chest to show off vast amounts of cleavage. The skirt was more reserved, being knee length, save that it was slit up to the hip on her left side. Black elbow high satin gloves completed the affair. Leona instantly recognized the eye of the storm when she saw it.

The frenzied activity that went outside might not be going on in here but it certainly was started. The bar was crowded and alcohol was flowing freely. There were signs of previous fights that had been hastily, and not entirely effectively, cleaned up. Leona's interest began to increase. The red haired girl found two empty seats and nearly grabbed a bartender in her zeal.

"What are you having Leona-chan?" Mai yelled over the pounding metal. The blue haired girl shrugged, she hadn't really given it much thought.

"Uh, whatever you're having one-sama." Leona offered. Earlier that night Leona had said that she felt like she was Mai's younger sister. The red head had laughed at that and said it sounded good to her. After that the two had reffered to each other as if they were sisters. The result it had on observers was usaully extreme.

"Futatatsu o sake kudasai! (Two sake's please!)" Mai called out. Leona blinked in concternation again. Ralf had once convinced her to have a beer with him and Clark after a particularly succesful mission. She had drank it to be polite but had hated the taste. Leona had no expierence with alcohol other than that, but wasn't going to back down from something Mai obviously enjoyed. Two glasses of the slightly cloudy liquid appered in front of the pair along with a wide grin assuring them the first round was on the house.

Mai grinned impishly back and raised her drink to Leona.

"Kampai!" she cheered and downed her sake. The blue haired girl breathed deeply and followed suit. At first it wasn't bad, slightly sweet and with a pleasent tang, the she swallowed, and the drink suddenly turned to acid. It burned down her throat like liquid fire, finally settling in napalm-like form in her stomach. Despite all this Leona only blinked rapidly and breathed in through her mouth to cool her throat. Mai watched her with a wide smile. "Ready Leona-chan?"

The young woman shifted her gaze to Mai with a puzzeled look on her face. "Ready? What for?"

The red head laughed, grabbed her arm, and dragged Leona to the railing overlooking the open basement that was the rest of the club. Mai pointed with a look of glee on her face.

"That!" she said triumphantly.

If outside the bar was chaotic what Leona saw below her was closer to a small war. The scene resembled a cross between a barfight and a rave dance. Everywhere she saw bodies either slamming into each other or getting ready to. Some people jumped on to a stage where a four man band produced the sound that assulted her ears, only to jump off again and be carried by the crowd.

"It's just like a friendly fight!" Mai explained. "Just don't kill anyone and hit the person next to you on the downbeat. Ikuzo!"

With a deep breath Leona followed her guide into the pandemonium.

*****

The next morning

*****

At first Leona couldn't remember where she was or why she was there. She tried to open her eyes but found the effort to painful to complete. The blue haired girl tried to take stock of her injuries but found that other than a few minor bruises the only injury seemed to be her head. As she tried to analyze why the wound throbbed so much Leona realized it was her own pulse making her head pound.

Memory slowly filtered back to her. The heavy metal bar. The intense, frantic pace of the mosh pit, the coursing adrenilan. Despite the pain Leona smiled at this, she hadn't had that much fun since her and Iori had been together. The "Pit" as Mai refered to it had been far more amusing than damaging so Leona wondered, why the pain then? Another memory surfaced, that of the red haired kunoichi's challenge that Leona match her drink for drink. And her slightly slurred response of yes. After that she only remembered a vauge feeling of exuberance and relaxation.

"Never again." Leona thought to herself. However much fun sake might be, nothing was worth this. A sound startled Leona out of her interior monlouge. The blue haired girl's first reaction was freeze, as the sound came from next to her and was clearly another person breathing. There was no change in the sound and Leona could feel no motion. The young woman decided that come what may she had to open her eyes.

With no small amount of pain or effort she did so. And stared at scene before, or rather next to, her. Leona was lying on her stomach in the wide bed that occupied Mai's bedroom. The sheet had been tucked around her in a haphazard manner and she was dressed only in the new underwear Mai had convinced her to buy before they went to the bar. But what really caught her attention, was that she was not alone in the bed. Cuddled next to her but on top of the sheet was Mai sleeping peacefully.

Miracalously her clothes were on and intact despite the violence Leona remembered her plunging headlong into. That they were still on now said something about the condition she had returned in, but right now Leona couldn't think clearly enough to deduce what. The blue haired girl's attention was focused instead, on Mai's face.

Though it was faint and smudged, there were definately the mark of two lips on Mai's cheek. With crystaline clarity Leona recognized that the shade was the same as Mai had picked out for her. Leona's heart suddenly began slamming fast in her chest and her stomach began it's own gymnastics routine. The blue haired girl's gaze trailed almost involuntarily to Mai's neck.

The collar on her dress was open, but covering that area of skin. With her mouth dry and her chest pounding Leona carefully reached out and gently pulled the material away. What she found made her freeze again. Not only were there more traces of Leona's lipstick, but there was a red mark that looked to be made by teeth, biting lightly. Leona let the collar back into place carefully and sank to her stomach again, unsure of what she should or could do.

The young woman could think of no reason she would have kissed Mai to begin with, and the second mark really bothered her. The blue haired girl turned the problem over and over in her head only to return to one conclusion. They meant that she, Leona, had decided to express her emotions physicaly. That was rare enough to begin with, as Heidern had taught her to remain in control at all times. They only other thing that instilled that reaction in her was Iori, and she couldn't feel the way she did for Iori and Mai could she? Leona squeezed her eyes shut and tried to convince herself that it had been somehow accidental, a random occurence brought on by the sake.

She was not making much progress when sleep reclaimed her and darkness mercifully embraced Leona.

*****

The blue haired girl woke to the smell of something delicous cooking. She looked around her and found that a pair of jean shorts and a t-shirt had been layed out for her. When she emerged, Mai was busy setting two plates on the table in the living room. The red head noticed her and smiled.

"Ohai yo Leona-chan! It looked like you were going to sleep all day again but I thought some breakfast would wake you up!" Leona saw that Mai's hair was slightly wet and that the bite on her neck was gone. If the kunoichi had noticed either marking she didn't say anything. The blue haired girl smiled and answered her.

"Ohai yo one-sama. I just needed to recover from last night." Mai nodded as she went back to the kitchen.

"Oh I know what you mean, I haven't partied like that for months! It was really fun though, ne?" Leona sat down on the couch in front of a plate of rice. Mai returned with a dish full of yakisoba (fried noodles, meat, and vegtables) and served some to Leona then the rest to herself. The blue haired girl thanked her.

"Yes it was, I can't remeber doing anything like that before."

"Your first time huh? Well you're a natural Leona-chan. Say why don't we get some movies out tonight! I just convinced Aoshi to buy a TV and haven't watched anything on it yet!"

Leona smiled sadly. "I'd like that Mai."

The red haired kunoichi noticed the look. "Dosh ta no Leona?"

"Well it's just that I've really enjoyed being around you. There aren't many women working with the company and most of them don't like me." she answered. "I'm going to miss you when I leave tomorrow."

Mai's eyes widened then softened and a kind look formed on her round face. "You're good company Leona, I've enjoyed having you here. I don't want to say goodbye just yet."

For a moment both women dropped their gazes, and were quiet, feeling the distance that would soon seperate them. Then an idea, unprovoked, and random formed in Leona's head. She thought it over wildly, not believing she was even considering it. Why would she even bother thinking of such a thing, it was impossible! Then another thought joined it. What would Mai say? She'd say: "Why not?"

"Mai," Leona said slowly. The red haired girl looked at her again.

"Nani?" she asked seeing the expression on Leona's face.

"How would you like to see what a mercanary headquarters looks like?" The blue haired woman asked. Mai blinked. She was amazed that her new friend had said that. She was more amazed that she was thinking it over very seriously.

"Can you do that? I mean, I could only stay for a few days..." Mai asked. Leona nodded hurriedly.

"Oh yes. I'm sure I could get commander Heidern's permission, I'll just say that you are an adviser on Shinokawa Tanaku, he's that guy I was fighting. Or, or, well, I'm sure I'll come up with something!" Mai could see that Leona had a lot riding on this gesture. The kunoichi's lips turned upward into a wide smile.

"Well how could I leave you alone! If I did that you'd just get yourself into trouble again! And someone has to find out if has any good club's in it!" Leona smiled wide, it was a rare event such an expression. Years of hardship and total self-control had almost made her face marble, beautiful but cold. The smile she gave Mai was like a flower blooming.

"I DO have some leave time coming up!" Leona said. Both girls looked at each other and started laughing for no reason other than they felt good.

*****