He completed his search of the redhead. "This one doesn't have the papers."
His partner acknowledged the comment with a nod, intent on getting the stocky Kuritan's body to roll over. Dechan busied himself with the tall one, hoping that Jenette's diversion would keep the crowd away from their back-alley business long enough for them to get clear.
"Panati." The armored man's tone was flat and final, making the name into a sentence of death. "You will not escape this time."
Dechan looked up in shock. It seemed impossible that they had at last brought down a long-sought quarry. His partner seemed reluctant to take action. Very well, my friend,Dechan approved silently. Savor your good fortune.He turned back to his task. Dechan's surprise at his companion's discovery was replaced by awe as he recognized the man he himself was searching. "Unity!"
He straightened from his crouch, dropping the Kuritan's arm. As the fallen man's hand hit the pavement, a groan escaped his lips. Dechan took two steps back and bumped into his armored companion, who stood staring at the man he had identified as Panati.
"Forget your assassin. We've bagged Theodore Kurita!"
The armored man elbowed Dechan away and stepped over to confirm the identification.
"What a break!" Dechan exclaimed. "We've got Takashi's son in our hands. You can get your revenge against Kurita now."
"No."
Dechan was surprised by the monosyllabic answer. "I thought you believed that the whole family was responsible for the actions of one member."
"It is true that the group is responsible for the actions of an individual member."
"Then we can kill this one and finish it now. A Kurita life to fulfill your revenge. We won't have to risk our necks going after the Coordinator."
"It is not that simple. This is a vendetta. Only the responsible individuals are eligible targets."
A groan from the subject of their conversation brought it to a halt. The armored man's gun snapped down to cover the reviving Theodore as he rose unsteadily. Dechan moved to restrain the groggy Kuritan.
"He must have been screened from most of the charge by the redhead."
"You're scum, Bounty Hunter," Theodore croaked. "A murderer. You have no claim to vendetta."
"It is not my wish to kill you, Prince Theodore. The man Panati must die whether you surrender the papers or not."
"I have no idea what you are talking about. If you kill Panati -san, you will be hunted down like the dog you are."
"I have the right of vendetta to kill him," the armored man insisted.
"You have no such right. You're slime! A hired murderer!"
The armored man stood stock-still for a moment. Then he removed his left hand from the forward grip of his weapon and slid it up under his helmet. Dechan recognized the sound of the suit seals ripping open. In a smooth motion, the armored man lifted the helmet clear of his head and dropped it ringing to the pavement.
Dechan felt Theodore start as his partner's face was revealed. The armored man no longer had the fair regular features of his youth. A ragged scar ran up his left cheek, across the orbit, and disappeared beneath his raven hair, now slicked to his skull with sweat. The eye had been savaged by the vicious wound. Its milky white iris was a shocking contrast to the deep brown of his other eye.
"I am Michi Noketsuna," the armored man said. "Most of my past is of no consequence. For years, I served Minobu Tetsuhara as a staff officer. He was trapped into a situation from which there was no escape. I stood at his side in the seppukuforced upon him by his honor. Dishonorable men brought him to that end, and I swore that they would pay.
"I hunted the Warlord Samsonov who betrayed him on Misery. I wished also to hunt the Warlord's agents who arranged the events leading to that final betrayal.
"Regrettably, the principal agent of my lord's unnecessary death, Jerry Akuma, died on An Ting. But he was aided in his schemes by two men: Quinn and Panati, assassins who maimed and would have killed my lord in an effort to frame Wolf's Dragoons as traitors. The man holding you had the honor of causing the deaths of Akuma and Quinn. Panati, however, has eluded me until now. It was he who planted the bomb that crippled Tetsuhara -sama, and I require his death."
Michi fell silent. Time stretched, long enough that Dechan began to wonder if his partner had decided to conceal the last of his prey. Then Michi took a deep breath and continued.
"My vendetta has one more target: Takashi Kurita. He was the one who set into motion the plan to discredit the Dragoons. It was he who ordered Tetsuhara -samato command the forces assigned to destroy the Dragoons. He knew that my lord had befriended Jaime Wolf, and that to face off with his friend on the battlefield would be intolerable. Had Tetsuhara -samawon that bitter battle on Misery and killed his friend as his duty required, he would have been shamed. Tetsuhara -samaknew that Jaime Wolf and his Dragoons were innocent of the heinous crimes laid to their name. There was no honor in bringing a friend, a man he considered closer than a brother, to ruin. Even so, he obeyed his orders as best he could.
"I need not elaborate on the penalty for a samurai who disobeys his lord. However the battle on Misery might have ended, Tetsuhara -samawas faced with seppukuas the only honorable solution."
"I apologize," Theodore said. "You have cause for vendetta. Panati is yours."
Michi bowed, then stepped over to the unconscious assassin. He cocked his wrist, and a blade slid from his vambrace to lock in place with a soft snick. Michi knelt by Panati and whispered, "The death I give you is too good for the cowardly murderer you are. You will not suffer pain, as you should, in payment for what you have caused."
He slid the razor edge into the soft tissues of the man's neck. The blade hesitated only an instant before slicing through the cartilage between two cervical vertebrae. Panati's head fell free from his body, and blood spurted out, befouling both corpse and pavement. Michi snapped his wrist, flicking the blood free from the shining steel. The weapon hissed back into its concealed sheath.
Dechan, absorbed in his partner's actions, was surprised by Theodore's sudden move. Almost as soon as he felt the Kuritan's hands upon him, he was flying through the air. Theodore snatched at the pile of weapons, grabbing the uppermost, a katana.The blade hissed free. Michi whirled, the muzzle of his Crowdbuster rising to cover the newly armed Theodore.
"Go no further, Noketsuna. I must oppose you."
Dechan struggled to his feet, pistol in hand. Unwilling to risk a shot past Michi, he waited for his partner to make a move.
"Do you believe that Takashi Kurita is innocent?" Michi asked the defiant Theodore.
"I don't know. But I must stand against you for my honor and for the sake of the Combine. I cannot allow you to go free so that you may attack the Coordinator."
"You have no chance against my weapon," Michi said quietly. "I can cut you down and walk away."
"I must attempt to stop you here if you insist on pursuing your vendetta at this time. If you walk away from here and leave me alive, I will hunt you down."
Michi stared up into the taller man's eyes. Neither moved for a full minute. Dechan shivered. He hated it when the malking Dracs went mystic.
Michi lowered his weapon, then slung it into carrying position on his left shoulder. He bowed, stiff and formal.
"I salute your resolution."
Theodore reversed his grip on the sword. He relinquished his right hand's grip and let his left arm fall to his side. The sword rested loosely in his hand, edge toward the sky. He returned the bow.
"The Combine cannot be deprived of the Coordinator at this time," Theodore insisted.
"I will stay my vendetta if you can prove that Takashi Kurita is innocent in this matter," Michi offered.
"That is impossible right now. I have other, more pressing business: the continued survival of the Draconis Combine."