“Did ya see dat, he just beat Lann.”

“I can see that you blustering idiot!” rebuked Grog to his slight companion, his patience running dangerously thin.

“Have you decided to give it up…?” Sasuke was trying his best to hide the faint sign of exhaustion that he was feeling. It took him too long to deal with Lann, the use of the ‘invisibility’ trick finally showing the strain to his concentration.

“Are you kidding? Just because ya took care of Lann with some fancy moves, doesn’t mean it’s over. We still outnumber ya two to one.” Somewhat turning to face his companion, Grog added with a whisper. “Burns, you go on and take him. I’ll wait here and look”

“W-Why me…?” wined the one called Burns.

Taking on a contemplating pose, frustration evident on his expression, Grog responded with a few decibels higher than usual. “Who’s the boss here?”

“Ah, you are?” answered Burns meekly.

“THEN STOP YER YAPPING AND GET TO IT!” Burns nearly jump with a start from Grog’s latest reprimand. With a renewed resolve, Burns turned to proceed to one responsible for all this fuss.

There was no need for Grog to get uptight like that to me. Burns thought, as began to move. But what am I to do? This kid is danger…Ahhhhh!

“What’s the matter?!” Grog flustered.

“My foot…My foot…Ahhhh!” Burns was hopping and wailing at the same time, with one foot raised and held by his hands. Just before him and below his feet, scattered on the ground, were tiny spiky metal devices that resembled caltrops. As a matter of fact, these prickly hazards were sprinkled right before the three, in a semicircular pattern. How they got there was anybody’s guess.

“You…” Grog looked toward the smirking youth, a bit of disbelief showing. “How…?”

“While I was dodging Lann,” Sasuke started. “I took the liberty of peppering the ground before you with tetsu-bishi. A precautionary measure, just in case any of you decided to intervene.” But Sasuke also considered the consequences if the woman, for one reason or the other, moved into the danger zone as well…The boy-ninja quickly banished the notion. Besides, it never happened. Sasuke mused, as the gamble he made paid off.

“Very clever. I must say that I’ve underestimated you kid. You had us played like fools…”

“Ooohhh…my foot…I’ll kill ya…I’m goin to kill ya! No, that’s too easy for ya. I’m goin’ to cut yer feet. Then I’m goin’ to use them as decoration for…” Burns was ranting like a madman, as he pulled out the last of the painfully annoying objects from his foot.

“SHUT UP BURNS! Why don’t ya be of use and see to the wench, while I take care of the lil’ trouble maker.” The patch-eyed brute passed the woman rather forcefully to his lean associate, while maneuvering around the caltrops.

The woman began to struggle once again, this time in Burns’ hands. “Stop yer squirming…” The woman did the opposite, and with more determination. “I said, stop it!” Suddenly Burns produced a dirk and had it drawn to the woman’s delicate throat. She immediately froze with a gasp, as the blade pricked into her flesh, causing a tiny crimson slit.

Seeing this, Sasuke almost jumped to action but stopped. The situation has become intense, as the life of the woman was on the line. But the boy-ninja could do little for the damsel at the moment, as there was still the one called Grog that the youth had to deal with.

“What are you doing?!” scolded Grog, his attention momentarily diverted to the dramatic scene.

“She’s wiggly as an eel. I had to do something.” Responded the lanky man with vindication.

“Well, take extra good care of her will ya. I don’t want my lil’ sweet peach all messy when I’m through with this. Now, where was I…”

Finally, facing his opponent, Grog began cracking his knuckles in expectation of conflict that was to come.

“Now, why don’t ya try that disappearing act on me kid.” Taunted the eye-patch ruffian, as he posed himself into a pummeling stance.

Sasuke noticed the coolness in Grog’s eyes, as if saying that he could handle anything the ninja-boy would throw at him. Perhaps the one-eyed man was merely showing a brave front, or could he have something up his sleeves. Sasuke felt he should be wary with this one.

All this chitchat that has be going on for some time, has given Sasuke the opportunity to regain his strength and wits. The time for action is now. Lets give him what he wants, then perhaps I’ll see what he’s capable of, Sasuke advanced forward, using the vanishing technique, maneuvering to the right of his opponent.

Grog merely stood his ground, feigning defense as he SAW the movements of his opponent. The patch-eyed man held his position till the last moment, when the dark-clad youth was beside him. He suddenly turned to his right, unleashing a left jab aimed for his adversary’s head.

Sasuke was horrified by the uncanny anticipation and the speed of his opponent’s attack, which nearly connected. What? How could move so… Too late, Sasuke failed to counter the second lunge from the ruffian’s free arm. Everything seems to turn white, as the world that Sasuke viewed spin into a visual jumble. He felt the force of the blow; strangely enough he felt no pain save for a numbing sensation of where the fist struck him in the face.

Grog was satisfied by the surprised look on the boy, who obviously never expected his quickness and skill. His last attack sent Sasuke flying and rolling for the ground a couple of yards away from him. That’ll teach the lil’ punk to mess with… Grog was astonished to witness the youth picking himself up, after receiving a blow like that.

Sasuke felt the pain settling in, felt the swelling of his cheeks where the blow struck, felt the slight dislocation of his jawbone. The boy-ninja was still feeling wobbly after that hit. He couldn’t believe someone like Grog would be that fast, but how?

“See this kid? It’s a double-beat rune. It enhances my reflexes twice to that of an ordinary man. That’s why I could see yer moves as if they’re nothing more than strolls. In any case, if my first strike won’t get ya, the second one would probably will. What do ya say to that?” Grog held out the back of his right hand for Sasuke to discern the sigil markings on it, definitely a rune and one that gives the patch-eyed ruffian the distinct advantage over the situation.

Shoot, what am I going to do?! Can’t get close enough without being pummeled. Think Sasuke…Think! An idea was forming in the boy-ninja’s head. It’s a long shot but I only hope it works. Getting the sword from his back, Sasuke unsheathed it from the scabbard and struck the weapon into the ground, leaving it there jutting. He then slid the scabbard into his sash in the manner how samurai do it.

What’s he up to? Has he given up? inwardly muttered Grog, as he observed the youth preparing to make his move. Nah, he’s too clever for that. If I know him, he would do somethin’ unexpected.

Sasuke was once again on the move, maneuvering to get to the Grog’s right flank. As before, Grog followed the boy-ninja’s movements quite easily, readying for anything the boy would come up with. As Sasuke was about three feet from his foe, he made a great shout and exerted all his energies into a charge.

Startled by the sudden ferocity of the youths advance, Grog reflexively went for a defensive stance, bracing for a possible powerful attack by his opponent.

Now’s my chance, Sasuke drew the scabbard with his right hand, flipping it till its front end faced forward. Jamming the butt with his left hand to serve as a support, Sasuke lunged forward, striking home with the scabbard’s end to Grog’s gut. This caused the patch-eyed man to be thrown back a couple paces backward, falling flat on his back.

He’s down. Please stay down. hoped the boy-ninja as he collapsed to his knees, exhausted. The ‘invisibility’ technique was never to be combined with any other action as took too much from the person. Such was the case of Sasuke after performing such stupendous feat.

To Sasuke’s consternation, Grog eventually began to stand up. The young ninja however noticed Grog grimacing as if in pain and holding his belly, indicating that his efforts were not all for naught. But Sasuke was in trouble. He hasn’t recover fully yet, not fast enough, as Grog lumbered toward the kneeling and panting youth.

“That was a good one…very good indeed. Ya never stop…to amaze me. But…as they say, ‘all good things must come to an end’…Burns! Your knife!” Grog made a signal with his outstretched right hand.

With the skill only knife-throwers were known for, Burns dexterously toss his dirk to Grog who in turn nimbly caught it with the signaling hand. Grog then quickly threw the weapon at the somewhat unprepared boy with such power and accuracy that would have killed an ordinary person.

But Sasuke was no ordinary person, but neither was he invincible. He was only human, and humans have their limitations. His adrenalin fueling his survival instincts, Sasuke tried but couldn’t fully dodge the incoming missile. The blade plunged an inch or so above his heart, just between the after mentioned organ and his shoulder blades.

Sasuke stumbled backward, falling prone to the ground, facing up. He could only lie there winching from the excruciating pain that was clouding his senses. He was practically at the mercy of his oppressors.

“NO!” a woman’s voice.

“Ahhh! She bit me! The stupid bitch bit me!” lamented a pathetic Burns as he examined the bite-marked hand that once held the beauteous prize.

“Stop this! For Kami’s sake he’s just a child!” In the haze of pain Sasuke heard a feminine voice, one filled with anguish and concern. He also felt hands, soft hands, holding him, in the manner his mother used to do to him when he was in a distraught mood.

“Then he should have never crossed me in the first place! Now he’s going to get what’s coming to him.” Grog hovered over the pair like a harbinger of doom, flexing his hands, readying to hurt somebody.

“So can I cut his feet now Grog! Can I, can I! Oh, can I cut his feet…” Burns had a crazed gleam in his eyes as he babbled with excitement.

“Not till I’m through with him. First I’m going to bust his kneecaps. Then after that, I’m going to break his arms. Then…”

“STOP!” a female’s voice. One with great will and passion shattered the melodramatic scene.

Standing several feet away from the foursome was a girl, perhaps a little older than Sasuke. She was garb in a long, tight-fitting dress of maroon shade, which was slitted on one side, giving her more freedom in movement and exposing one her more alluring assets from the thigh-down. In addition to her long reddish-brown tresses, some of its locks were fashioned into a pair of buns, which made her look more attractive. She wore a fierce look in her face, like that of a cat, ready to strike anytime.

“Women and children should be given the respect and consideration due to them! Picking on them for the sake of your evil amusement is unforgivable!”

“Huh?!” both men blinked in bewilderment, unsure of where this monologue was heading.

“In the name of honor and courage, you shall be punished for your despicable acts!” all the while the girl exhibited a series of twirls and swings with her obvious weapon, a quarterstaff, climaxing the dynamic dance with a dramatic battle pose.

“What was that?! Some kind of awful introductory speech?”

“Yeah. I know what you mean.”

Both of the ruffians’ sweat dropped.

“Hey boss! Catch!” it was Lann. Soaking wet from head to toe, the burly man came to assist his companions, tossing a couple of items to them.

“Lann! Good to see ya could join us! Thought ya were a goner?” responded Grog, catching a quarterstaff, while Burns received a bandolier of throwing knives.

“Nah! It’ll take more than a impudent whelp to bring ol’ Lann down,” bragged the burly man who wielded a cudgel. Lann’s sight strayed to the now helpless boy who was being tended to by the woman in kimono. He planned to get back at the youth for making a fool out of him, but decided to hold back his wrath till the present development was settled.

“What?! Thinking of taking on all three of us all by yerself, eh girly.” mocked Grog at the girl. The girl just stared banefully at the trio, showing no sign of backing down.

“Good! I like a woman with spirit! Alright boys lets show this lil’ wench what were capable of when we fight together.”

“Right!” cried Burns while Lann only nodded and grunted in response.

The next few moments were tense as the participants: three ruffians and a girl, waited for signs, searched for weaknesses or just tried to be intimidating.

Withstanding the pain, Sasuke tried to get up, to study the situation.

“You mustn’t move so much. Not with that wound…” warned the woman while helping the boy into a sitting position.

“You…alright…miss?“ inquired Sasuke referring to the minute gash on the woman’s neck.

“It’s just a scratch. I’ll be fine. Thanks for concern, but it seems you’re the one who needs tending to,” said the woman as her hand absently touched the slight wound near her throat, feeling the warmth of her very own blood that was lightly seeping.

“I…must…help….” Gritting his teeth, Sasuke braced himself as he gripped the pommel of the dagger.

“Wait! You’ll only worsen it…”

Mustering the courage and endurance, Sasuke started to pull…I…MUST...HELP!

“NOW!!” Grog gave the signal. Burn launched a pair of bladed missiles at girl, who amazingly deflected them with her staff. This however gave the two, Lann and Grog, the opportunity to charge for the attack. Lann was in the lead, going for a wild swing with his club. The girl merely sidestepped, completely avoiding Lann’s attack, but almost failed to parry Grog’s mighty smite with the staff.

Their staves locked together in the heat of the moment; the girl could only hold her ground against her opponent’s superior strength and advantage in mass difference. And as if things weren’t getting any better, the girl sighted Lann from the periphery of her vision, positioning to strike her from behind. She knew that if she didn’t turn the situation around in her favor, she would eventually be cut down.

Ceasing her efforts, the girl suddenly allowed herself to fall backwards to the dirt paved ground. Taken aback by the sudden yield of his quarry, Grog lost control of his balance as he began to lurch forward. Using her body as a lever and the momentum of her opponent’s fall, the girl planted a slipper-clad foot onto Grog’s stomach, and flipped him over to a surprised Lann. The two men collided with each other and were soon in a tangled mess, fumbling to get up.

Tsk tsk tsk. What a waste. mused Burns as he had a clear shot of the girl, who was only half aware of him at that time. Taking aim, the lanky-built man raised his weapon arm, ready to release a couple of throwing knives at the unsuspecting girl. This is going to hurt you more than its going to hur…”Aaaahhhh!!”

Two throwing knives fell to the ground, followed by droplets of blood.

Burns whimpered at his ruined good right hand; a strange, sharp, star-shaped metallic object was protruding from it, perfectly piercing through flesh and bone. But before he could recover from his present ordeal, he was suddenly assaulted once again

A length of a chain with a weight at its end was thrown and wrapped around the lean ruffian’s neck, threatening to extinguish his breathing existence.

Ignoring the consequences of his actions, Sasuke pulled at the chain that encircled the man’s scrawny neck, hoping to weaken him for the purpose he had in mind.

Seeing this, the girl silently thanked the youth for taking care of that threat for her. Now she could concentrate her full attention on the two remaining thugs.

Lann was the first to recover and the first to taste the girl’s retribution. Throwing her staff like a spear, the butt of the shaft struck Lann squarely on the face, leaving him stunned and with a bloody, broken nose.

“Lann!” cried Grog, shaken by his friend’s gory fall.

“AIIYAHH!!”

Grog looked up, startled to see the girl rushing toward him from midair, with a pair of broad-bladed scimitars, one in each hand, going for a double downward slash. Grog managed to parry the first blow, but the second one broke the shaft of his quarterstaff into two. Grog was momentarily dazed by combine force of the sword blows.

Perceiving his victim to have weakened from the strangle hold; Sasuke goaded Burns, pulling, pushing, and directing him toward the stone railing nearby. With a final prod, Sasuke sent both chain and burden over the edge and into the river below.

The wound at the left of his chest has gotten from bad to worse. The cut had gotten wider; blood flowed more freely now, staining his outfit in a crimson dye. Sasuke felt spent. He couldn’t do anything strenuous even if his life depended on it. He didn’t even cared if Burns was alive or dead. Sasuke even entertained the prospect succumbing to the darkness that waits to claim him. It’s so easy… cogitated the boy-ninja.

But fate didn’t give in to the boy-ninja’s request. Instead, soft but firm hands helped him to lie down on the ground. These same hands that tried to tend to his wound, only triggered more pain. The pain. It was the only thing that reminded Sasuke that he’s still alive, barely, but for how long…

I can’t believe it. Outclassed by wenches and younglings. How humiliating… a flash of steel brought Grog back to the now.

“HIYA! YA! YA! YA! YA!”

The girl went into a whirling frenzy, slashing in quick, random successions with her blades. The speed and energy of her swings created several tiny air pressures that sliced through both cloth and flesh of her opponent.

Weaponless, bleeding from several cuts, and unable to counter the deadly screen the girl was generating; Grog was forced to withdraw to one side of the sluice gate. Seeing that the girl had no intentions of slowing down, Grog could only do one thing…

“I’ll get ya for this! Just you wait, I’ll!!!” said Grog finally as he went over the side.

Stopping abruptly, the girl looked over to verify the fate of her adversary. She saw the patch-eyed man swimming for the nearest wharf, occasionally looking back to check for pursuers. She also recognized the man called Burns, lying on his back on the docks, who seemed to be catching his breath.

“Aaaaooowww! Ya freakin’ brod! Ya broke my nose!” griped Lann, as he vainly tried to stop the bleeding.

Responding to the complaint, the girl faced the remaining ruffian and began to go for a crane-stance: one foot raised, arms outstretched, and scimitars ready.

“Huh? Wait I didn’t mean…I was just kidding...”

“HIYAAA!!” The girl feigned her attack, hoping to scare off the oaf.

Deciding that he had enough, Lann followed suit with his companions, cursing under his breath all the while.

The girl sighed in relief, glad that the battle was over. She then went about to retrieve her staff and eventually see to condition of the two remaining people at the scene.

“You alright Miss?” asked the girl to the kimono-clad woman, whom was busy tending to the boy-ninja’s awful wound, pressing it to stop the bleeding, with one of her handkerchiefs.

“I’m fine. And I thank you for your help in driving away those brutes. But this boy needs treatment…”

“Here, let me…” offered the girl.

Raising her right arm, concentrating, she called upon the power of her rune. A mystical symbol suddenly appeared over her, followed by an unexpected rush of air currents emanating from a zone where Sasuke lay.

Sasuke felt the magical energies that accompanied the wind gust, which was healing him, rejuvenating him. In no time Sasuke was up and about, invigorated. All his wounds and bruises, even the pain, have faded away.

“W-What happened?” Sasuke had a baffled look on his face.

“You were healed by this brave, young, lovely lady here.” said the woman, referring to the girl dressed in the scarlet Chinese dress.

“Ah, well, I guess I should thank you for saving my life.” said Sasuke while his hand absentmindedly rubbed the back of his head.

“It’s no problem. Say, you did pretty well back there earlier. Mei Lei would have helped sooner but Mei Lei was amazed by how you dealt that one-eye boor. Where did you learn all that?” inquired the girl, tilting her head and giving out her cutest smile.

Sasuke was feeling rather awkward. What am I going to say? Well I can’t tell her that I learned all those because I’m a ninja.

Seeing her for the first time this close, Sasuke couldn’t help himself but stare at the girl. She’s really kinda cute, especially with that smile on her face. I think she likes me… The boy-ninja’s gaze began to shift from the girl’s pretty face, to different regions…

“Oh, where are Mei Lei’s manners. Mei Lei is my name. Mei Lei of the Ni Jen Ping village.” Realizing of what he was just thinking, Sasuke quickly shrugged off the impure thoughts, his sense of morals returning. The boy-ninja was glad that the girl, Mei Lei, finally changed the subject.

Ni Jen Ping? Recalling the word, Sasuke was struck with interest.

“Well it seems only proper that I introduce myself to my rescuers. My name is Shinatori Kitsune, but it would please me if you just call me Kitsune.” said the woman, graciously bowing to the two.

…Ni Jen Ping…Why does the name sounds familiar? thought the boy-ninja, his mind trailing, unaware of the sarcastic looks both women were giving him, waiting for his turn to introduce himself.

“Ahem!” coughed the girl.

“Oh I’m sorry. I was in deep thought there, eh he he.”

Both women were still waiting.

Clearing his throat, Sasuke finally answered; “I’m Sasuke. Sasuke of Rokkaku…”

“What? Did you just say Rokkaku? Are you from that place?” asked Mei Lei with a spark of recognition in her deep brown eyes.

“Well yeah, is there something wro…ummmph?!” Mei Lei’s quarterstaff silenced the rest of the boy-ninja’s response.

Kitsune was shocked. Mei Lei wore a hate-filled mask. And Sasuke…was falling…

Stunned and surprised by the sudden reversal of fortunes, Sasuke failed to control his decent, pass the stone railing, and into the cold murky depths of the river below.

Why?!

When will the hurting stop…

Return to Sasuke's chapters Return to the chapter archive Return to the Suikoden 2 RPG main page
"Sasuke", "Kasumi" and "Suikoden 2" are (C) Konami This chapter was posted on October 10, 2000