In the clearing among the trees.

“Kyoko.” Yagyu Yuichi interrupted the stifling silence. “You’re a disgrace to all of Japan. How can you betray our people? What do you get from doing this? What is it that is so attractive that you’re willing to forsake your roots and the Bushido spirit?!”

Tsukino Kyoko did not answer right away. After a pause, she began to speak, “When I was begging on the streets and humiliated every single day. Why didn’t anyone come to tell me that I was Japanese and a people of the state? Father had rescued me when I was on the brink of starvation and he was Chinese. He sent me to your dojo. And it was because that you owe father a favour that you were willing to take me in and teach me ninjutsu. When I was bullied by the other brother disciples every single day, you did not bother to hear me out. When I fight back, you always punish me instead of them. What I’ve learnt all along had come in exchange for my hard work and effort. You’ve never once thought about cultivating me into an excellent warrior, right? But even so, you have my utmost respect in the past and present. If you die under my blade, I’ll still visit your grave every year to pay my respects.”

“Hmph!” Yagyu Yuichi’s wrath was written all over his face. “As expected from a woman. Bold of you to try to get my sympathy with the past. Let me get this straight, you will not receive a single ounce of mercy from me! Answer me, now. What is he offering you that’s worthy of treason?!”

“Is my answer very important to you?” Tsukino Kyoko narrowed her eyes.

“Yes, I wish to know.” Yagyu Yuichi was persistent.

Tsukino Kyoko answered, “He gave me everything I wanted. Do you understand what I’m saying?”

Yagyu Yuichi was silent. Judging from his darkening expression, this answer was evidently unsatisfactory.

Surprisingly, the corner of Tsukino Kyoko’s lips were curved into a gentle smile. “Before I met him, I was nothing but a killing machine. My world was dark without a hint of warmth or content. Everything felt so empty to the point I questioned my existence. But after meeting him, I finally felt rays of sunlight in my life. He makes me feel alive. He was also the one who let me have a taste of what it meant to be a woman. I’ve experienced what it means to love and be loved by someone. Now, he’s the only thing in my mind. I’m willing to do anything for him and I’m more than willing to sacrifice myself for him. Is that clear enough for you?”

“How shameless can you be?!” Yagyu Yuichi roared out in pure fury. “You’re one hell of a shameless bitch!”

Tsukino Kyoko lightly rolled her shoulders. “I was already expecting you to scream. This is nothing new to me. If you’re done screaming, let’s begin. Or else you won’t stand a chance at beating me up after my team comes for me.”

Yagyu Yuichi had no idea that if Xia Lei had willed for him to die, he would’ve already been a dead man. He would even have gotten a word in edgewise

Without warning, Yagyu Yuichi abruptly strode forward, right hand tight on the handle of his katana. With his left palm around the sheath, his torso was angled to the right like a tensed archery bow ready to deal a deadly hit at any moment!

Tsukino Kyoko moved. Her actions were a perfect mirror of Yagyu Yuichi. She picked up the speed, right hand over her katana while her left grabbed its sheath. She too looked like a mobile tensed bow.

In a flash, the two tense bows collided with each other. While no arrows were released, two katanas were unsheathed in its stead.

Clang!

A crisp sound of metal rang out, accompanied by fiery sparks.

The two spun themselves away. In an instant, the katanas clashed again. Like a dangerous tornado, their swords never failed to catch each other regardless of the wielder’s angle and slashes. They were fast. So fast that all the human eye could see were moving shadows. The rate of sword clashing was so frequent that it sounded like the pitter-patter of heavy raindrops against a glass window. The sparks that resulted from their collision had never once ceased!

A feral Tsukino Kyoko was like an agitated female tiger filled with vigour and unhinged strength. While Yagyu Yuichi was of a certain age, his refined movements were agile and extremely fast when in battle. Contrastingly, his absolute power resembled a male tiger in fury!

No mountain could house two tigers and these Iga-ryu tigers would battle to their deaths.

Clang!

Another crisp sound.

Both katana wielders bounced apart.

Tsukino Kyoko felt blood seeping out. There was a gash across her lower abdomen! If she had been a tad bit slower, her insides would have spilt onto the floor!

Yagyu Yuichi was not unscathed either. There was an obvious wound that ran along the length of his right shoulder. A considerable amount of blood was pooling out of the freshly-made opening. If he had been just a tad bit slower, his entire right arm would’ve been sliced off clean!

The battle came to a temporary pause.

The murderous intent in their glares would’ve been enough to slice the air open.

Yagyu Yuichi’s two-hundred-year-old katana was chipped off at odd places. Weirdly, Tsukino Kyoko’s sword still looked as good as new. Which was why Yagyu Yuichi seemed to have suffered relatively bigger damage from their exchange earlier.

“How is this possible?! How is my katana not as strong as yours?!” Yagyu Yuichi’s eyes were wide with disbelief.

Tsukino Kyoko offered him an answer with nonchalance. “My blade contains piecesAlloy X, the toughest metal in the world. He did this for me during his off-time. He even promised that he’ll gift me a full Alloy X katana if I successfully defeat you. That katana could even pass airport security checks. You should learn to accept new things.”

“Damn you!” Yagyu Yuichi’s foot left the ground and his body lunged forward like a raging spear, the tip of his katana aimed directly at Tsukino Kyoko.

Tsukino Kyoko stomped her feet against the ground and sent her body forward, the tip of her katana aimed directly at Yagyu Yuichi.

The katanas met each other halfway. Just as they made contact, Yagyu Yuichi abruptly inclined his sword to the side. Ignoring his obvious opening, he bit the bullet and pierced for Tsukino Kyoko’s chest!

If he dies, she’d have to come with him!

Hovering above the ground, Tsukino Kyoko was out of leverage mid-air. Her body lurched forward in the state of a moving arrow. It was spilt milk with no chance of recovery. There was no way she could avoid their mutual death!

Their blades slid against each other and their bodies came into flush contact.

Tsukino Kyoko pierced her master’s chest in one blow, the tip of her katana exiting cleanly.

Yagyu Yuichi too drove his ancient katana into her chest.

Clang!

A crisp noise.

Crack!

The ancient katana broke in the middle and its tip fell for the ground.

Their bodies landed with a thud. Tsukino Kyoko held Yagyu Yuichi up, not letting him hit the ground.

“What…” Yagyu Yuichi struggled to finish his sentence around a mouthful of blood. “What the hell?”

Tsukino Kyoko inched closer to whisper into his ear. “This too is something he made for me. I’m wearing a bra made with Alloy X. That’s why your katana failed to pierce me through. Look at how much he loves me. He has thought everything through as soon as he learnt that I was going to fight you.”

“You fucking whore… Bitch…” Yagyu Yuichi stared at her shielded breasts. He refused to accept that this was his fate!

“Oh? You want to see it?” Tsukino Kyoko smirked. “Sorry, he’s the only one who can see my boobs. Also, you’re never going to be able to call me bitch again.”

Yagyu Yuichi spat blood, finally succumbing to the sweet release of death.

Tsukino Kyoko released her hold and allowed her master’s limp body to lay flat. She lifted the corners of her shirt to reveal a silver bra. While it had suffered a blow, there was not a hint of a scratch on its surface. But still, Tsukino Kyoko had to admit. This bra was too tough and crazy uncomfortable. She disliked it.

Sadly, Yagyu Yuichi would never catch a glimpse of this deadly brasserie.

“You should learn to accept new things.” Tsukino Kyoko mumbled under her breath as she stared at her master’s body.

Footsteps were heard in all of a sudden.

The abruptness of it prompted Tsukino Kyoko to whip her head around, allowing her to catch the sight of Qian Jun emerging from among the trees. The man was caked in dirt and littered with small injuries. It wasn’t hard to tell that he had experienced a tough battle. No one had it easy in this fight. Xia Lei was the sole exception. After all, their opponents were the elite force of the Japanese samurai community. It was destined to be a difficult battle from the start.

Qian Jun spared an uninterested glance at the motionless Yagyu Yuichi. “Are you done?”

Tsukino Kyoko nodded. “Are you all done on your end?”

Qian Jun answered, “Yeah. Anjum Khan and Sa’im will be joining us soon. Where’s the boss?”

Tsukino Kyoko replied, “Probably hunting Hattori Mei down now.”

“Let’s go look for him,” suggested Qian Jun.

Tsukino Kyoko lightly nodded and they both began venturing deeper into the woods. Before long, Anjum Khan and Sa’im had managed to catch up with them. The four of them resumed their journey without concerns of getting lost. The Chinese Zodiac Battle Team had their own secret code to be used in the woods. If an outsider were to interpret it, it would’ve definitely directed them to the wrong direction.

Meanwhile, Area 51’s military base, Thompson’s office.

“What?” Thompson was in the middle of a call. “A gunfight near Las Vegas? Explosions? That’s bullshit! My men are in the middle of a drill!”

“Sorry… It’s just… A driver was the one who reported this to the patrolling unit. He mentioned that he couldn’t get signal coverage and can’t contact the police.”

“Idiot! Get that driver here! I’ll ask him myself!” Thompson was irritated.

“Right away, sir. I’ll bring him over now.”

With a huff, Thompson placed the phone down. He began to pace around his window as his heart screamed, “Mister James… You better fucking leave that place soon. I can no longer buy you any more time…”

Immediately, he picked up his phone and redialled the earlier number. Gruffly, he spoke, “Nevermind, I’ll come to meet him instead. He can’t come in anyway. Have him wait there for my arrival.”

“Understood, sir.”

Thompson placed the device down once again and pulled a drawer open. Rummaging through its contents, he retrieved a Brazillian cigar from its box. Languidly, he chipped its end and lighted the roll and inhaled the deep smoke in.

The globe on his desk began to spin around slowly.

Thompson stared at the spinning globe dreaming of his soon to be owned island.