Second Strike [Arc Part 2]

Pinned against the pavement, the assassin was running low on options. Even with his strength he couldn’t quite wiggle free. He had never anticipated one samurai to be this much trouble. To think he had first figured this woman for an average weirdo... No, clearly she was an advanced weirdo. A fruit user most likely. Would explain the wind tricks. He barely managed to crane his head towards his partner, only to find more bad news. The captain was proving to be more than his reputation had suggested. A heavy sigh escaped his lungs. This job was going down the drain fast... Luckily, he still had one more surprise up his sleeve...

Suddenly the foe tensed his entire body and twisted it into a single motion. An awkward elbow strike aimed somewhere best left unmentioned. [LT][Low Blow] Yumiko’s eyes widened. She managed to deflect the blow away. Surprise, confusion, even disappointment shot through her mind like a jolt of electricity. “Where are thou aiming, coward?” However, it was just a diversion. In the heat of the moment, the gray-skinned managed to slip one hand free. With honed dexterity, he pulled a hidden blade from his loose sleeve and violently jammed it into the samurai’s thigh. [LT][Hidden Blade] She caged the pained yelp behind gritted teeth. To think she had figured this man for an honorable swordsman... Nay, clearly he was an underhanded assassin through and through.

As Yumiko staggered from the pain, the foe slipped free yet again. His hand found the heavy blade, while his gaze found the target. But before he could take even a single step, a sudden swing of a sheathed sword stole his legs from beneath him. [LT][Storm Chaser] And again he kissed the pavement. “Thou shall not interfere!” The marine grabbed the scoundrel by the collar and drove him against the ground. Hard. Grace went out the window as their dance turned into a wrestling match. [UT] [UT] The throbbing pain on her bleeding thigh served as a grim reminder of what happened when she got careless... Still, her superior had commanded her to take him alive. She would suffer as many wounds as necessary to fulfill that command.

Tumbling back and forth, the brawlers fought fiercely over dominance. It was close, but the assassin found himself slowly overpowered. The samurai’s arms coiled around him like snakes, trying to find enough grip for a chokehold. So, when raw strength wasn’t enough to win, the assassin took another stab at his foe. [LT][Sneaky Shank] This time, however, she was ready. With trained quickness, she caught the blade within her hand and stopped it inches away from her chest. Crimson dripped between her fingers, but she ignored the pain. Despite the close shave, she managed to twist it out of his grasp and fling it aside. A clatter of metal bounced across the pavement.

As if allergic to the concept of giving up, Death Metal continued his struggling. He tried to wiggle his leg between them and boot the woman away from him. [LT][Launching Kick] Unfortunately the position was much too awkward to give his maneuver the power needed. He barely succeeded in bumping his knee against her jaw. [UT] The taste of iron slowly seeped into her mouth as she bit her tongue.

That was the infamous last straw.

Yumiko’s steely glare grew colder. Her brow furrowed and grip tightened. Suddenly a massive gust of wind picked up both fighters and launched them high into the sky. “I told thee...” The wind fell silent. Gravity took hold again. “...to stay down!” She slammed the foe into the street with a hefty crash. [LT][Rushing Gust] Finally the assassin fell limp. Between several cracked ribs and a nasty concussion, his body just couldn’t keep going anymore. Imaginary stars twirled around his aching head as he spiraled deep into dreamless sleep. Lights out.

Good night.

After recovering from the impact, the marine hurried to check upon her foe. She brought two fingers to his neck... waited... and finally allowed herself a sigh of relief. Still alive. Exactly as the Captain had ordered. The thought stirred a realization. “Captain!” Her gaze darted towards the wounded and winded men. She didn’t even need to ask. It was clear he wasn’t okay... Gritting her teeth together, she forced herself to stay still with pure willpower. Even as her protective instincts screamed at her to go and help, her sense of honor wouldn’t let her. Interfering with a duel... would be unforgivable... So she kept assuring herself. Whispering it beneath her breath like a maddening mantra. Unforgivable...

When Anton delivered the decisive blow, peace and quiet returned. Yumiko could finally allow herself to rush to his side. “Captain!” She wrapped her arms around him, trying to guide him gently yet firmly to the ground. “Please, lay down, sir. Thy wounds are severe. We must hurry and stop the bleeding.” This insistence would only intensify until he humored her. Or denied it completely. No half-hearted answer would get him out of this. Her eyes blazed with determination as she resolved to tend to his wounds the only way she knew. ...Whether he liked it or not.

Suddenly the swordswoman removed kimono top and tossed it into the air. Only the white sarashi remained as the last line of defense. Showing so much skin was nothing short of scandalous, but her dignity was a small price to pay for saving her superior. Her hand sought the blade and her gaze narrowed with intense focus. A flurry of slashes cut the removed clothing into long strips. Armed with the improvised bandages and barely basic medical knowledge, she practically pounced on the captain. Her goal was to bind his every injury and cover his every wound as quickly as possible. If he didn’t order her to stop, he would soon end up looking like a mummy with all those wrappings.

While the samurai... erm... helped, the other marines rushed out of the inn. They surrounded the culprits, crushing any hope of escape. Not that either of them was in any condition to try. Shackles rattled and locks clicked. The marked captain had survived a second pair of assassins, but the trouble was not over yet...