Swan Song Sung By A Faded Crow #3

From part I, "Neo-Saitama In Flames": "Swan Song Sung By A Faded Crow" #3

(It took six tries to kill the salaryman. Only one of them got cruelly killed, and one of his pals got badly hurt in his shoulder. "...Namu-Amida-Butsu." [Okay], Smiling Jii is heard over the communication device. [And now, go to the corpse and take a picture of it.] "What? Me?" [Hai.])
("Do I really have to go now? The mappo's going to come any minute." [Hai.] "That's too much trouble." [Please do.] "Send someone..." He doesn't finish. "Okay, roger that. But I expect a bonus for this." [Hai, otasshadee.] Silver Karasu gets up, shakes his head with a fed-up expression, and jumps down from the rooftop. "YEEART!")

"Abah... Abah... Konachi=san? Why? Abah, I can't move, why?" The injured salaryman, surrounded by the bodies of his colleagues, mutters before Konachi's corpse. The passers-by surround the houseboat at a distance. The other customer salarymen and service oiran have fled. They're no longer here. "...Why?"
"I wonder. Neither me nor you would know. Maybe it's because Buddha is a gay sadist." A quiet voice answers the injured salaryman. As the injured salaryman raises his head, he screams. "Aieee! Ninja!? Why ninja!?" "YEEART!" "ABAAH!" Namu-Amida-Butsu! With a single flash of the katana, the head flies off, instant death!
Silver Karasu sheathes his katana after wiping the blood from it, then quickly kills four passers-by who don't quite understand this disaster yet with surikens. Ruthless! "Namu-Amida-Butsu", he mutters and quickly takes a picture of the sniper suriken's victim's corpse. He frowns. An emblem on the dead salaryman. It spells trouble.
The dead salaryman was a Takedathic Agaki employee. A company well-known in the underground society for using its ninja agents as escort. If these salarymen had high positions in the company, it's very likely that the loss of vital signals have been transmitted to their ninja agents. What might their current location be...
"Order! Order!" The sound of the mappo sirens is drawing closer. Silver Karasu sighs. "YEEART!" Without a second thought, he jumps straight into the Nobidome canal.
After swimming for a few minutes in a chillingly cold water near the shore, the "Order! Order!" siren sounds disappear. They lost him. As soon as he thought about that, a suriken is thrown into the water, grazing him as he swims. (It's them.)
"YEEART!" Silver Karasu quickly puts his hand on the coast and jumps out of the water, as if from an ambush. "!" There is a ninja on the nearby warehouse. Silver Karasu's unexpected actions catch him off-guard. "YEEART!" Spinning in mid-air, Silver Karasu throws two surikens. "GWAAH!" A hit in the shoulder!
Silver Karasu lands on the opposite side of the warehouse and quickly bows. "Doomo. I am Silver Karasu." The enemy ninja returns the bow. "Doomo. I am Buzzkill." He pulls out a short dagger. A motor sound rings, as if in a dentist clinic. The blade vibrates at high speed. "Bastard, were you hired by the Yanamanchi?"
Yanamanchi? "So what if I am? Sir salaryman-ninja of Takedathic Agaki," Silver Karasu slightly tilts his head. Buzzkill jumps. "Die!" He swings with the vibrating knife! "YEEART!" Having a bad feeling about this, Silver Karasu blocks with the guard rather than with the blade. Before his very eyes, many cracks spread over the guard!
"I did test this knife, a long time ago," Silver Karasu mutters and pushes it away. "YEEART!" "GWAAH!?" Surprised by this sudden burst of incredible strength, Buzzkill stumbles. That is more than enough. "YEEART!" Silver Karasu swings his aforementioned Ubasute! "GWAAH!" Namusan! A diagonal cut separates Buzzkill's upper body!
"Sa, SAYONARA!" Buzzkill explodes, scattering his ashes on the winds! But then! "YEEART!" "GWAAH!?" A rope with a metal hook is thrown from below, coiling up around his left ankle! "YEEART!" "GWAAH!?" ZZZT! Silver Karasu is struck with electricity! An ambush of a new ninja!
"How do you like my shock arm! Damn Yanamanchi!" Silver Karasu can barely see the person who attacked him from below. The enemy ninja's right arm has been replaced with the steel rope that is currently stuck to Silver Karasu. What he assumed to be a hook is actually a cyber-arm. "Doomo, I am Electric Eel."
"YEEART!" Gathering all his ninja willpower, Silver Karasu cuts the steel rope with sheer spirit. "What!" "YEEART!" Jumping to the ground, Silver Karasu delivers a hellish heel drop to Electric Eel's head! "GWAAH!" Unable to avoid the strike completely, Electric Eel take the hit with his shoulder!
Silver Karasu attacks staggered Electric Eel once again! "YEEART!" "GWAAH!?" Struck into his solar plexus with Ubasute's handle, Electric Eel is in torment! "YEEART!" And a roundhouse kick! "GWAAH!" He flies straight into the canal! "GWAABAH, ABBAABABAABAA!?" Namusan! He's electrocuted!
"Namu-Amida-Butsu, you picked a bad place to use that weapon, pal," Silver Karasu mutters and swears, "Damn!" Although he managed to quickly escape the rope by cutting it with his katana, the damage from the shock is not easily ignored. "Order! Order!" The sirens approach again... But now it's coming from the water. It's an armed houseboat!
"Hey, are you listening? I've been attacked by two ninjas. All because of your damn setting. The bonus better be great," Silver Karasu tells Smiling Jii through the communication device. [It would've been even better if you killed them with the sniper suriken], Smiling Jii says calmly. [Well, understood.] "..." Silver Karasu starts running.

------

"Kagi=san!?" "What, are you awake? Children should be asleep this late." "Those wounds!" Silver Karasu tries to calm Yamoto down, "Got a smoke? Of course you don't," and closes the door behind him. "It's work. I'm not a white-collar, you know. Moreover, we should decide what you should..." He rushes straight into the bathroom and vomits. Blood.
Yamoto grows pale. "Ah khah, this blood?" Silver Karasu wipes his mouth and opens the faucet. "It's not because of the wounds. So it's fine." "It's not fine at all!" "Ah, basically, since this is not due to the wounds, and the wounds aren't as bad as this blood, it all balances out in the end..."
"You have to go to the hospital!" "I already have! Shut up!" Silver Karasu shouts, and apologizes. "Sorry." "..." Yamoto's eyes swell with tears. "Hey, don't cry. I said I'm sorry." "It's not that! Kagi=san!" "I'm going to take a bath now. Or do you want to go together? ...Go to sleep already." He pushes Yamoto out of the bathroom.
Silver Karasu takes off his clothes and checked the wounds from the cop guns and Electric Eel's burns. He pulls out the bullets. Although the burns really hurt, ninja endurance will take care of them in a few sessions of Agra Meditation. The problem is the lung hemorrhage. He forces a smile in the mirror. "I see, so that's how it is."
He coughs, and groans. He did receive a great shock. The grim reaper's shadow, once distant, has suddenly become very real, gripping his heart with its hand. How many months? No, how many days are left? Having at least a single week would be great. He wanted to let Yamoto sleep in his room and continue the lessons.
Is it the mystical karmic retribution, as the merciless murderer decides to show some unusual good intentions? In the first place, it's hard to realize whether these good intentions were caused by it. Let's just consider it the mere desperate struggle of the ego. "Suddenly, there isn't much I want to do even if I want to. Sir Buddha," he mutters. ...The lone LED of the mobile terminal lights up.
He picks up the terminal. It's a notice from Smiling Jii. His eyes go over the message. "Oh come the fuck on." The message gives the details of a new mission from Soukai Syndicate. This time, it's not a tsujigiri. This time, it's a straight-up murder request. The target is a female ninja hiding in the neighborhood. In other words, Yamoto Koki.

【NINJASLAYER】

(Is it the mystical karmic retribution, as the merciless murderer decides to show some unusual good intentions? In the first place, it's hard to realize whether these good intentions were caused by it. Let's just consider it the mere desperate struggle of the ego. "Suddenly, there isn't much I want to do even if I want to. Sir Buddha," he mutters. ...The lone LED of the mobile terminal lights up.)
(He picks up the terminal. It's a notice from Smiling Jii. His eyes go over the message. "Oh come the fuck on." The message gives the details of a new mission from Soukai Syndicate. This time, it's not a tsujigiri. This time, it's a straight-up murder request. The target is a female ninja hiding in the neighborhood. In other words, Yamoto Koki.)

【NINJASLAYER】

"I just can't calm down," Silver Karasu says. "That's weird," says Nonako. "Especially now. Hey, do you want me to calm you down? Aka-chan." "No smokes, either..." "Are you still looking for it?" "Anything else is no good. I guess they no longer produce it, if they're even still in the market." "But that's weird! Just buy some different ones!" "I said it's no good."
"And you've even taken in a girl, too!" Nonako laughs. "Are you jealous?" Silver Karasu rises up and puts on his shirt. "But, I mean, It's weeird. You, a guardian? Ueeeh, you've been quite weird recently." Nonako looks in his eyes. "Well, weird? I am dying, you know." "That again? Weird." "..."
"Okay then, me too." Nonako turns on the TV monitor. The annoyingly empty jingle of "Late Night Happy Message" spreads across the room. "I thought about quitting this job." "...I see." "I got money, too. I want to move somewhere warm." "Like a resort or something? Wanna get a tan?"
Silver Karasu puts on his coat and takes up the katana. "You were wonderful," Nonako says as Silver Karasu opens the door. "Well, see you next time." "Will there be one?" "Yeah, if I don't die."

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

(What a shame.) Taoshi Wantsei speaks with regret. Facing his teacher's sour face, he replies. (You have nothing to be ashamed of. I'm already a ninja, you know. Taoshi=Sensei, if I wanted to kill you, I could've done that right this instant. What am I supposed to learn in this dojo at this point? Nothing.)
(Did I teach you nothing about Iai?) Taoshi blames himself. (Sensei, please stop that), he sighs heavily. (We're supposed to celebrate my graduation, so don't say that.) (I hope), Taoshi says. (I hope that one day, your own Iaido will be able to find you.)
..."You see." Silver Karasu looks at Yamoto sitting right in front of him. Both of them are wearing Jiu Wear. "I don't actually have that much time left. It's no use hiding it." Yamoto wants to say something in response, but Silver Karasu continues. "I'm not a charity. I am. You see, I am, out of my own selfishness, sticking with you of my own will."
"Uh-huh," Yamoto nods obediently. The light of the morning sun fills the dojo through the window. The sky is clear, which doesn't happen more than a few times a year. Silver Karasu stands up and lets go of his wooden sword. Yamoto receives it. "My instruction is a bit rushed, but you better learn it well. In the future, you'll have to do it by yourself." "Uh-huh."
"Iaido is, in other words, the katana. Channel your karate through your katana. In other words, become katana. You are the katana." "Uh-huh." "That's the ultimate goal of Iaido. ...Well, somehow, it sounds a bit Zen-like. That's what my sensei used to say, and I honestly don't really get it, myself. But do remember this." "Uh-huh."
"The Soukaiya are after you, right?" Silver Karasu says as if he just remembered it. "..." "Sooner or later, they're going to come after you again. Most probably sooner rather than later. I know because of my job. And this time, they won't be alone. They have their own thing they call honor. They swore to kill. You, that is." Yamoto grips the wooden sword tightly.
"This is the last wazamae. The Zen-like Iaido. I'm not really used to doing it, myself. But the feeling of this wazamae... The movements... Make sure to remember it. If you remember it, do not forget it, my sensei will be very glad. And me too." "...Uh-huh." "Defeat them on your own. The enemy. ...Aah, wipe the tears." "Uh-huh."

-----------

That night, the two bought some mochi and sweets and had a makeshift Oozoni (translation note: New Year dish). The two had a light-hearted conversation about nothing in particular. With the synthetic laughter from the sitcom on the TV in the background, the uncertain atmosphere between the two has softened up somehow.
"And then bang! It got tough somehow!" "Yametee!" The synthetic voice goes on. "Fufufu," Yamoto laughs. Silver Karasu silently eats the Oozoni. He eats much more than he usually does. In his glass is the best sake they could find. Even though he offered it to Yamoto, she refused.
"For the time being, did you ever thought of going to Kyoto?" Silver Karasu wonders. "Or somewhere warm... If you get away from Neo-Saitama, maybe they'll even forget about you." If it's the money, I can share, it's not like I can take them with me... Is what he was about to say. "Me have nowhere to go", Yamoto answered, shaking her head.
"I see." Silver Karasu takes a sip of his sake. "Eventually, you'll get where you want to." Looking at the TV, he sees it broadcasting an ancient kung-fu movie. The protagonist wears black Jiu Wear and sunglasses, defeating his enemies with comical karate. Silver Karasu coughs. It won't stop. Yamoto rushes over to him. He keeps coughing.
"Kagi=san!" "Ghah, ah, damn, Buddha!" He starts coughing up blood. "Is this, too, that karmic retribution, inga-oho... Just a little more... Just a little!" He grabs the bottle of sake and gulps it down. "The medicine, come on!" He points at the packages lying on the counter. as he is given a few of them, he takes them along with more sake. "Aah, that's much better. Much better."
After that, he picks up the mobile IRC terminal. A notice has come. He quickly glances over the contents and raises his head. "You, you should probably leave right now. Can you?" Yamoto quickly understand the situation. "Yeah." She stands up. "Excuse me." "You don't have to apologize. Just run somewhere." "...It's okay."
"Otasshade", Silver Karasu holds out his hand. "Otasshade", Yamoto shakes it. "Thank you." "That's my line. Thank you." He pats her shoulder and brings his face closer. "I'm counting on you." "Yeah." Yamoto nods, picks up her backpack, resolutely turns around and leaves. "Goes both ways, I guess", he mutters.
The notice from Smiling Jii is a bounty that has been sent to some Soukai Syndicate ninjas, one by one. Third Eye of the Soukaiya can trace anyone with his Ninja Soul's power. Sword Dancer is a bounty hunter ninja whose dual-wielding shouldn't be taken lightly. Both of them are quite well-known.
Along with the information, the notice is sprinkled with Smiling Jii-like straightforward sarcasm, and also includes a strongly-worded request to do it without delay. "Sorry, but I'll leave it to you", he mutters while putting on his ninja suit. And then he puts on the cross-katana emblem. When taking part in the syndicate's biz, wearing the emblem is mandatory.
...Now, what's next. He considers his options. If it is Third Eye's detection ability, they will easily find this apartment, too. Even if they find out that he's been hiding Yamoto, it's not a big deal. Either way, he's going to die. However, that will be more troublesome.
"Until they come after me, I have to consider a lot of things, right? Sir Buddha." As Silver Karasu puts on his hood, the menpo appears. He grasps Ubasute. Silver Karasu has become Silver Karasu.

(From part I, "Neo-Saitama In Flames": "Swan Song Sung By A Faded Crow" #3: The End. To be continued in #4)