Chapter Text
On the low, only love myself, no more
Take you to the grave, I'll ghost
I know I can be so cold
K/DA - Villain
Bi-Han ducks into the tree line as he finishes surveying the area around the Fire Temple, stepping silently around the twigs and brush. Through the bushes, he watches the two warriors guarding the main entrance to the temple grounds, clad in the black and yellow gi worn by the Shirai Ryu. There are no doors but a decorate wooden arch over a stone path that leads into the Fire Temple grounds. Towards the far end of the grounds, straight down the path through the arch, is where Hanzo Hasashi resides, in the structure overlooking the cliff.
It’s been years since Bi-Han was last here and the circumstances were very different: he and a group of assassins hired by Quan Chi had infiltrated the Fire Temple in the dead of night in winter, not in the middle of the day during a summer heat wave. There also had been less warriors standing between him and his target, maybe no more than five dozen. Hanzo Hasashi has since tripled those numbers and the grounds are bustling with recruits training in the courtyard and more seasoned warriors meditating in the gardens. Sneaking in will be challenging but not impossible.
Bi-Han darts his eyes to the roof of a structure that juts out over the gate, no more than 12 feet off the ground. He could sneak in again, wait in the home Hanzo once shared with Harumi, and then confront the grandmaster of the Shirai Ryu without drawing the attention of the cannon fodder. He promised Harumi he wouldn’t kill anyone from her old clan and the easiest way to fulfill that promise is to avoid them entirely.
Pulling out the papers he brought with him from Los Angeles, Bi-Han glances down at the red seal on the bottom of the page. Harumi’s ‘hanko’, as she called it. Bi-Han recognizes the kanji for her name but he otherwise can’t read anything else in the Japanese document. He stifles a frustrated huff, folds the papers, and tucks them back into his black and blue gi. All he needs is for Hanzo to sign these and then he’ll never have to deal with him or the Shirai Ryu again.
Surveying the outer gate, Bi-Han once again debates sneaking in.
The idiot is too proud to reason with. He won’t sign these without a fight. Sneaking in would be a waste of my time, Bi-Han decides.
Bi-Han did promise he won’t kill any of the Shirai Ryu. He never said he wouldn’t bust a few noses to complete his mission.
Smirking underneath his mask, Bi-Han strolls out of the bushes towards the two guards.
“Yamete!” one of them orders, eyeing Bi-Han suspiciously. “Dare desu ka?”
“Ittai doko kara kitanda?” the other one mutters.
Bi-Han stops and cracks his knuckles, waiting for one of them to make a move. He has no clue what the hell they just said but it doesn’t matter: he’s getting inside.
“Where is Hanzo Hasashi?” Bi-Han growls.
Immediately, the two guards reach for their weapons. Before the one to Bi-Han’s left can withdraw his sword, Bi-Han jabs him in the gut, grabs him, and then flips him over his shoulder and into the second guard. The two guards crash to the ground, the fall knocking both of them out.
“Pathetic,” Bi-Han scoffs, stepping over their unconscious forms.
The commotion at the gate draws the attention of a nearby group training with wooden staffs. As Bi-Han strides into the gated village, two of the students stop their training and cry out as they see the unconscious guards, drawing the attention of more Shirai Ryu. With their staffs raised, the two students rush towards Bi-Han.
Time to teach the Shirai Ryu how a true warrior fights, Bi-Han thinks.
One swipes at him with her staff and Bi-Han easily dodges, then he side steps as the other student attempts to flank him. Bi-Han ducks to avoid the staff and the end of the staff catches the side of the female student’s face, sending her to the ground. This startles the other student, who frantically calls out to their fallen companion.
Bi-Han scoffs at how easily distracted the student is as he yanks the staff from their hands. He then trips the student by knocking their legs out from under them with the staff and then smashes the staff down, rendering the student unconscious.
Huffing in disappointment at how little challenge the Shirai Ryu underlings presented—Bi-Han expected better from Hanzo Hasashi’s prodigies—Bi-Han twirls the staff in his hands and glares ahead at the dozen of Shirai Ryu warriors blocking his path, their swords drawn. To his annoyance, he still doesn’t see the Shirai Ryu’s grandmaster.
“I’ll ask once again where is Hanzo Hasashi?” Bi-Han snarls. “The Lin Kuei have unfinished business with him.”
The ninja standing a step in front of the group raises her katana, matching Bi-Han’s glare. To her credit, she doesn’t even flinch.
“Come one step closer and I will cut you down,” she says in English.
More Shirai Ryu warriors join the group that’s formed in front of him.
As Bi-Han flits his gaze to other warriors in the middle of chores, all of them stop what they’re doing and reach for their weapons.
“Hanzo Hasashi,” Bi-Han shouts, ignoring the woman in front of him, “what kind of grandmaster hides behind his students like a coward?”
“You leave me no choice!” the woman threatens.
As she begins to charge at Bi-Han, a voice shouts from within the small crowd, “Fumiko, yameru!”
She halts three steps in front of Bi-Han, katana frozen in the air mid-strike.
Behind her, the crowd parts and a tall, hulking warrior with his hair tied back in a clean bun and beard neatly trimmed, stalks towards Bi-Han and Aiko. The barely veiled outrage on his face would be enough to make weaker men cower in fear. The leader of the Shirai Ryu, Hanzo Hasashi, is a force to be reckoned with and the Shirai Ryu’s enemies are few for a reason as most wouldn’t dare cross the clan, not even the Yakuza.
Bi-Han, though, is not Yakuza and he thrives on being at the top of everyone’s hit list. One pissed off ninja on some mountain in Japan is a drop in the bucket of people who want him dead.
“Hasashi-sensei,” Fumiko says, sheathing her sword and bowing in respect as Hanzo approaches the pair.
Hanzo gives a curt nod and Fumiko retreats to join the rest of the Shirai Ryu warriors.
With Fumiko no longer standing between them, Hanzo directs his glare at Bi-han. His expression becomes a look of pure hatred, like there’s no one on his earth he hates as much as the Lin Kuei leader. His shoulders shaking with anger, Hanzo snaps, “You and the Lin Kuei are not welcome here! Leave. Now!”
“Is this the might of the Shirai Ryu?” Bi-Han scoffs, darting his eyes to the unconscious students. He unceremoniously chucks the wooden staff at Hanzo’s feet. “You’ve gone soft, Hanzo. Your students are weak.”
A kunai is at his throat quicker than Bi-Han can blink. The tip of the blade digs into Bi-Han’s skin and he has to resist the urge to chuckle, the movement likely to cause the kunai to break skin. He settles instead for smirking underneath his mask, relishing the wild anger burning in Hanzo’s murderous gaze. He knows exactly what buttons to push to make the respected clan master lose his cool in front of his clan and he wants to keep pushing, to make Hanzo unravel and strike him.
“That’s ‘Grandmaster,’” Hanzo whispers, his voice quaking with rage. “You will address me as such when on Fire Temple grounds.”
“I see no Grandmaster here. Only a fool too proud to accept his wife left him for an enemy clan—”
With a snarl, Hanzo attempts to slice Bi-Han’s throat with the kunai but Bi-Han anticipates his reaction, swivels out of the way, and grabs the Shirai Ryu grandmaster’s arm. He twists to try and force Hanzo to drop his weapon but Hanzo refuses, elbowing Bi-Han hard in his side to escape Bi-Han’s hold. Bi-Han swallows a hiss and sneers as Hanzo frees himself.
Some of the Shirai Ryu warriors witnessing this fight rush forward to attack. But they make it no more than a few steps before Hanzo snaps at them in Japanese, stopping them. Hanzo then turns back to Bi-Han, wielding a kunai attached to a chain.
“This is between Grandmaster and Grandmaster,” Hanzo says in English. “Let’s settle this once and for all.”
He begins to circle Bi-Han and Bi-Han mimics him, the two rivals carefully studying one another, looking for the moment to strike. Hanzo’s more reserved than Bi-Han remembers but still just as angry. He might act like he can control his rage but Bi-Han knows how to stoke his flames.
“When I defeat you in kombat, you will leave Japan and never return,” Hanzo says.
“When?” Bi-Han chuckles. “Keep entertaining your delusions. I’m not leaving until you give me what I came for.”
“A fool’s answer,” Hanzo says.
His expression darkens. With lightning quick reflexes, he flings the chain with the kunai at Bi-Han and shouts, “GET OVER HERE!”
+
“I can’t believe I let you talk me into coming,” Kung Lao complains, swatting at mosquitoes as the group walks through the woods. “It’s a million degrees out here and there’s no noodle house around for miles. If I don’t eat soon, I’m going to pass out.”
“How are you still hungry? You ate before we left,” Raiden points out but Kung Lao’s stomach grumbles loudly. Suchin cocks a brow and Raiden sighs. “Perhaps the Shirai Ryu will feed us when we arrive.”
“Don’t count on it,” Johnny says. “Something tells me the super secret ninja clan hiding out in the mountains isn’t used to playing ‘host’. If Takeda, your sister, and Kung Lao’s cousin weren’t part of their clan, my money’s on the Shirai Ryu showing us what happens when America’s favorite action star fucks around and finds out.”
“Don’t be so dramatic, Cage. The Shirai Ryu are not like that,” Kenshi says. “The clan has protected the nearby village since the Heian period. They have a healthy suspicion of outsiders but Grandmaster Hasashi is willing to hear out those who seek the clan’s help.”
“Kenshi is right,” Suchin’s voice app chimes in. “The clan is not known for seeking trouble.”
“Try telling that to Junichi’s old fixer,” Johnny says, thinking of the events from the night before.
“Whatever business the Shirai Ryu had with Tremor was likely started by the Yakuza,” Kenshi says.
Suchin nods in agreement but Johnny can’t shake how it feels as if they’re missing the plot. For someone with a clan of ninjas after him, Tremor wasn’t making an effort to hide last night. He seemed as surprised by the double-cross as Kenshi and Johnny were as he lay dying on the floor.
“By the gods, it’s hot. Can we take a break yet?” Kung Lao groans.
“You should be used to this. It gets hotter in Fengjian,” Raiden says.
“Why do you think I left Fengjian?”
“Here, Lao Man. Stay hydrated.”
Johnny hands Kung Lao a bottle of water from his backpack. Instead of drinking from it, Kung Lao dumps the contents onto his head. Raiden squawks at him in Cantonese and then snatches the bottle from him using his good hand. Kung Lao tries to wrestle it back from him but Johnny gets between the two before it escalates and their arguing scares away all the local wildlife.
“You kids stop fighting in the back seat or so help me, I’m turning this car around,” Johnny warns.
Kenshi sighs. “Remind me why we brought them again.”
“Fujin said she is busy training at the temple and can’t make the trip into Tokyo. I’d like to see her before we return to Los Angeles,” Raiden answers, perhaps not realizing Kenshi is being rhetorical. “Kung Lao is here to make amends with Jin.”
“All I said was I want to see why he chose to continue his training at the Fire Temple instead of Wu Shi Academy. We’ll see if what he’s learned so far can impress Wu Shi’s greatest student,” Kung Lao says, stopping to deliver a series of quick strikes at the mosquitoes buzzing around him.
Raiden shakes his head at him.
The group soon comes to the base of Mount Oyama, where the hiking trail forks. They agree to take a break and Johnny hands one of the energy bars he brought to Kung Lao so Kung Lao will stop complaining about his hunger. Johnny’s never made the trip up but Kenshi informs them they still have another hour before they reach the Fire Temple.
With the late-morning sun bearing down on him, Johnny heads for the shade of the trees as Kenshi and Suchin pay their respects to the Takahashi clan at the Taira shrine. Sweat trickles from his hairline down into his sunglasses and he wipes the remaining beads with the back of his hand. His shirt sticks to him like a second skin and he knows it’s not just the heat that’s getting to him: the Advil he took earlier helped stave off the headache but the withdrawal symptoms and lingering hangover make the humidity even less bearable. They haven’t even started their climb to the Shirai Ryu temple up Mount Oyama and Johnny already feels more drained than when Liu Kang puts him on an intense training regimen to prep for a role.
Pulling out his phone, Johnny uses the camera to fix his hair and then snaps a few selfies next to the hiking trail leading up the mountain. He uploads them to his socials and browses through some of Tomas’ and Syzoth’s recent posts. Tomas is promoting a registration event that will be held at the Lin Kuei school next month. Bi-Han is supposed to give a special demonstration to attract new students.
Johnny guiltily closes the app. With things finally back to how they should be with Kenshi, he really doesn’t want to get hung up on whatever he had with Bi-Han.
His phone buzzes and he sees more messages from Sonya.
Right. Bi-Han’s not the only person he’s avoiding.
Sorry, Atomic Blonde. Johnny Cage is on vacation. Try calling my agent and maybe she can pencil you in, Johnny thinks.
Putting his phone on silent, Johnny joins Raiden and Kung Lao in the shade. The two are speaking in Cantonese and watching something on Raiden’s phone. His curiosity piqued, Johnny walks up behind Raiden and peers over his shoulder. He gives a low whistle as he watches a masked woman in yellow and black armor disarm her opponent—a tall warrior Johnny recognizes as Kung Lao’s cousin, Kung Jin—and then grapple him to the ground.
Kung Lao makes a sound of disapproval.
“Jin would’ve had her if he hadn’t dropped his shoulder,” Kung Lao says.
“Jin’s a good archer but he’s never been able to defeat Fujin in kombat,” Raiden says and Johnny thinks it’s the first time he’s heard Raiden sound smug.
The masked woman pulls back her black hood, freeing her long braid. She removes her yellow mask and beams at the camera. “Ani, ii deshita ne?”
Johnny does a double-take. “Whoa, whoa. Hold on. That’s your sister?!”
The woman in the video grins and waves before helping Kung Jin up. Johnny almost can’t wrap his head around the fact that this is the same woman who murdered Tremor in the nightclub.
Raiden tenses and gives Johnny a glare that silently says, ‘Don’t even think about it’. “She’s a teenager.”
“She’ll be twenty next month.” At the withering look Raiden gives him, Kung Lao shrugs. “She’s not a child anymore, Rai.”
“She’s my little sister!”
Realizing Raiden thinks Johnny’s hitting on her, Johnny quickly recovers. “Chillax, Rai-dude. Just admiring that badassery on display. Johnny Cage is happily spoken for.”
Johnny glances back to where Kenshi is bowing before the Taira shrine. His heart is still heavy with uncertainty for their future together but in spite of those fears, his lips tug in a wistful smile. When he looks back to his friends, Kung Lao is making a face.
“Right, tough guy, like you don’t simp this hard for Rai-dude every time he fights at Outworld,” Johnny quips.
Both Raiden and Kung Lao flush and quickly look away from each other.
Point Johnny Cage.
Suchin and Kenshi join them in the shade, Kenshi lingering close enough to Johnny to discreetly brush his fingers against the inside of Johnny’s wrist. The gentle touch makes Johnny’s face heat and his heart race faster.
“Ready?”
The climb up isn’t nearly as bad as Johnny expected. The dirt trail seems like it’s used frequently enough that it is clean of debris and leaves. There are only a few moments where Kenshi places his hand on Johnny’s shoulder and allows Johnny to help guide him on an incline but from the way Kenshi’s lips quirk, Johnny suspects Kenshi’s doing that as an excuse to touch the actor. Johnny doesn’t blame him: if he were in Kenshi’s shoes, he’d also have a hard time keeping his hands off walking thirst trap Johnny Cage.
About three quarters of an hour up the path, the dirt trail inclines steeply and the unmarked trail is replaced by a wide cobblestone walking path. The cobblestone soon leads to worn, stone steps. The group pauses briefly to drink from their water bottles.
“That is a lot of steps,” Raiden remarks.
“Welcome to Japan,” Kenshi says, dryly.
Johnny squints through his sunglasses but sees no break in the hundreds of steps leading up to what is presumably the entrance of the Fire Temple. He whistles.
“And I thought those leg drills Liu Kang makes me do were torture,” Johnny says.
“Stalling won’t get us up there faster,” Suchin’s voice app says.
She slides her phone into her pocket and begins walking up the stairs, showing no sign of breaking her momentum. Unlike the rest of the group, she’s barely broken a sweat since this hike started.
“Remind me never to introduce her to Liu Kang,” Johnny whispers to Kenshi, who chuckles.
Not a minute up the stairs, Kung Lao starts complaining.
“Why...did it have to be...stairs?” Kung Lao pants.
He finishes his water bottle, this time actually drinking from it, and huffs as he tries to keep pace with Johnny.
“This is why you need to stop skipping leg day,” Johnny chuckles, clapping Kung Lao on the shoulder.
When they finally reach the summit, Johnny is ready to collapse and Kung Lao loudly declares he lost all feeling in his legs halfway up the mountain. Kung Lao collapses in the middle of the path and asks to be carried the rest of the way, earning him an eye roll from Suchin and Raiden looking mortified by his friend’s behavior.
Kenshi jabs Kung Lao with his walking cane and mutters, “Get up. You’re worse than Cage.”
Johnny pouts. “Oh c’mon, I haven’t complained that much since we started this death hike—”
“All you’ve done is complain,” Raiden sighs.
“Yeah? Well, who the hell builds their secret ninja clan village on top of a freaken mountain?!”
“Stop arguing. The Fire Temple is up ahead,” Suchin says.
Johnny wipes the sweat from his forehead and glances around. He can see the red rooftops of traditional buildings peeking above the trees and smell the scent of sulfur in the air, likely from a nearby hot spring. Straight ahead, the cobblestone path leads to a two story gate marking the entrance of the mountaintop village. At the gate itself, there are two warriors dressed in yellow and black helping two injured guards: the Shirai Ryu.
The group approaches but the closer they get to the guards, the more Johnny gets the sense of something being off.
“Don’t know about you, fam, but I’ve got a bad feeling about this,” Johnny whispers.
Kenshi becomes more alert, canting his head so his ear is facing towards the entrance. His brows furrow until they nearly disappear behind his sunglasses and he says, quietly, “...there’s fighting in the village. Something’s wrong.”
As soon as they get within three yards of the gate, the two uninjured Shirai Ryu draw out their weapons and position themselves between the group and the entrance. One of them snaps a warning in Japanese and motions for them to leave.
“Whoa, fellas, is that anyway to treat a VIP guest?” Johnny says stepping in front of the group. He leans forward so his sunglasses slip down to the tip of his nose and gives them his red carpet smile. “Johnny Cage, international super star and world famous martial artist. Maybe you’ve heard of me?”
The two Shirai Ryu look at Johnny and then at each other in confusion.
“...or not. Wow, tough crowd. If anyone needs me, I’m gonna go find my ego under that rock these two have been living under.”
“Let me speak with them,” Raiden offers.
Raiden bows and speaks to the warriors in Japanese. But the more he speaks to them, the more suspicious they become, eyeing the group like they’re expecting an attack.
“Look,” Johnny interrupts, growing impatient, “we’re just here for Takeda—”
“Takahashi Takeda?”
“Takahashi Takeda is my son,” Kenshi says in Japanese. He bows his head. “I’m Takahashi Kenshi.”
The two warriors speak to each other rapidly in hushed whispers. Johnny’s pretty sure one of them says, “Isn’t Kenshi dead?” as he glances at Kenshi suspiciously.
The other Shirai Ryu warrior glances at Kenshi’s tattooed hands and his eyes widen. “Yakuza!”
“No,” Johnny says, holding up his hands, “we’re not Yakuza—!”
The warrior moves to strike Johnny with his blade but Suchin’s faster, blocking the strike with one of her short swords. She quickly disarms the Shirai Ryu warrior and Kung Lao kicks the blade from the second warrior’s hands and grapples him to the ground. Raiden elbows one of the injured guards who attempts to flee inside and Johnny follows up with a drop kick, knocking the guard out. As the remaining guard runs for the gate, Kenshi cants his head, collapses his walking stick, and flings it. It smacks the back of the guard’s head and he drops to the ground.
With all the guards out cold, the group enters into the grounds of the Fire Temple. To Johnny’s surprise, no one seems to notice what’s happening at the gate: all of the Shirai Ryu are surrounded in what must be the training area. Johnny can hear cheers and insults coming from the Shirai Ryu but he can’t see what’s going on.
“Over here,” Johnny says, touching Kenshi’s shoulder.
The group makes their way to the edge of the crowd. As Johnny peers through the gaps, his eyes widen behind his sunglasses and he loudly exclaims, “Bi-Han?!”
“What?! Bi-Han’s here?!” Kenshi says, bristling beside Johnny.
Johnny’s not sure if Bi-Han hears them but at that moment, Bi-Han darts his face in their direction. It’s enough to distract him for the weapon being flung at him. To Johnny’s horror, a kunai on a chain cuts through the air towards Bi-Han’s head. Bi-Han only just realizes what is happening in time to crane his neck and avoid being impaled. The kunai’s edge still catches the exposed skin above his face mask, cutting his cheekbone and drawing blood.
“No!” Johnny shouts, unconsciously grabbing Kenshi’s wrist and digging his fingers in. “What’s going on?! Why is Bi-Han fighting him?!”
Kenshi cants his head to listen to the crowd. After a few moments, he scowls.
“It doesn’t surprise me that Grandmaster Hasashi challenged him to kombat. Their feud goes back years,” Kenshi answers, leaning in closer to keep his voice low. “The Lin Kuei are banned from the Fire Temple. Bi-Han knows better than to show his face here.”
Johnny hears the tension behind Kenshi’s words and knows his reaction must piss Kenshi off. Still, he can’t help but ask, “Tomas and Kuai never said anything about this! Not even Harumi—!”
Kenshi grabs Johnny’s shoulder and whispers, urgently, “Do not speak her name while we are within earshot of the Shirai Ryu.”
“But...!”
Johnny’s voice trails off as Suchin signs, “Drop it before you draw more attention to us.”
Next to him, Raiden and Kung Lao exchange a worried look.
In the center of the crowd, the two grandmasters exchange blows. It’s difficult to watch the fight as people in the crowd shift and stand on their toes, cheering on their clan leader and booing whenever Bi-Han strikes Grandmaster Hasashi. Johnny tries to peer above their heads but some of the Shirai Ryu warriors match him in height. Frustrated at being trapped in the nosebleed section of the crowd, Johnny begins pushing his way to the front.
“Move aside! Pushy American tourist coming through!” Johnny says.
“Cage,” Kenshi hisses, grabbing Johnny as Johnny pulls away from him, “get back here!”
But Johnny doesn’t listen, moving closer to where Bi-Han and Grandmaster Hasashi are fighting and dragging Kenshi along with him. His heart pounds loudly in his chest and he swears it drowns the cheering around him like an ominous siren ringing through the night. Almost like a man possessed, he makes it to the front in time to see Grandmaster Hasashi kick the side of Bi-Han’s face with enough force to send Bi-Han crashing to the ground.
“Bi-Han!” Johnny shouts.
Grandmaster Hasashi’s eyes dart to Johnny’s panicked face. Murmurs echo around him as Johnny hears some of the Shirai Ryu whisper, “Johnny Keiji?!” excitedly. The affirmation of his star power is lost on Johnny as Johnny watches Bi-Han struggle to get up onto his hands and knees. A kunai on a chain slices through the air and Bi-Han just manages to grasp the chain as it wraps around his neck, trapping his hand against his throat.
“Your friends can’t help you,” Grandmaster Hasashi says, tugging the chain tighter, watching with murderous glee as Bi-Han wheezes. “Submit and I may allow you to return to your clan in one piece.”
Bi-Han’s dark eyes meet Johnny’s through Johnny’s sunglasses, drops of blood from his cut cheek trickling onto his mask. He’s wheezing heavily, his hand the only thing preventing the chain from squeezing all the air from his lungs. Johnny’s never seen anyone bring the Lin Kuei clan leader to his knees like this. For one terrified moment, he truly believes Bi-Han has finally met his match.
“S-Submit?” Bi-Han gasps, glancing up at Grandmaster Hasashi who looms over him, ready to deal the winning blow.
Then, grabbing the chain with his free hand, Bi-Han tugs it hard.
Grandmaster Hasashi stumbles forward, his grip on the chain loosening as he fights to keep his balance. But it’s enough for Bi-Han to free himself and snap the chain across the Shirai Ryu’s leader’s back. As Grandmaster Hasashi falls forward, Bi-Han wraps the chain around him. The clan leader crashes to the ground, his arms bound to his torso by the chain and pinned by Bi-Han.
Pressing the attached kunai to Grandmaster Hasashi’s exposed throat, Bi-Han glares down at the Shirai Ryu leader. A gasp goes through the crowd and even Johnny expresses his shock at the sudden turn of events, though deep down he’s relieved.
“Now,” Bi-Han hisses, “sign the goddamn papers so I can leave.”
“I don’t take orders from a Lin Kuei mutt!” Grandmaster Hasashi snarls.
Grandmaster Hasashi struggles and curses in Japanese, fighting to free himself. But all his struggling does is causes the blade at his throat to draw drops of blood.
“You either end your marriage or I will end it for you! Do not make me break my promise to Harumi and kill you!” Bi-Han snaps, his patience growing thin.
A hush falls over the distressed crowd. Though Johnny doubts most of them understood what Bi-Han said, it’s the name ‘Harumi’ that seems to make everyone react as if Bi-Han spoke ill of the dead.
“Holy shit, Harumi’s married?!” Johnny whispers loudly. “Geez, how badly do you gotta fuck that up to send her halfway across the—ow!”
Kenshi elbows him and Suchin gives him a warning look.
The vicious look on Grandmaster Hasashi’s face goes from enraged to merely pissed off as he gives a resigned sigh. “Fine. I will sign the papers. Then, you can return to your clan,” he hisses it like the Lin Kuei are an insult to the word, “and warn them that if any of the Lin Kuei step foot in Japan, the Shirai Ryu will kill them.”
Bi-Han gives a curt nod and rises to feet. He drops the chain, allowing Grandmaster Hasashi to free himself, and then tosses folded up papers onto the ground in front of the Shirai Ryu leader. Grandmaster Hasashi gives him a look of disgust.
“Grandmaster,” Bi-Han says, his tone and the bow he makes mocking.
Dusting himself off, Grandmaster Hasashi then barks something in Japanese and the Shirai Ryu hastily return to whatever duties they had been doing before the fight started. Johnny hears some of the Shirai Ryu curse angrily under their breath at Bi-Han and he is low-key impressed how easily Bi-Han can steal the spotlight from Johnny by making everyone hate him so much, they forget Johnny’s even there.
“Come. I will sign these papers and send you on your way,” Grandmaster Hasashi orders. He pauses and glares in Johnny’s direction. “Take your friends with you when you leave.”
“They’re not my friends,” Bi-Han growls.
“I’ve got more beef with him than Kendrick Lamar has with Drake,” Johnny says, matching Bi-Han’s frown. “Follow me on Twitter if you want the Tea.”
Bi-Han mutters something Johnny is sure is an insult and stalks off after Grandmaster Hasashi.
“Hasashi-sensei, chotto matte!” Kenshi calls out, using his walking cane to guide him towards Bi-Han and Grandmaster Hasashi.
The Shirai Ryu clan leader stops and watches as Kenshi approaches him. He studies Kenshi for a moment and then does a double-take, like he’s seeing a ghost. “Takahashi Kenshi-san?”
Kenshi bows in respect and speaks quietly with Grandmaster Hasashi in their native tongue. The shock on Grandmaster Hasashi’s face fades to joy as the two reunite. Johnny only catches bits of what is being said but most of Grandmaster Hasashi’s questions seem to be about how Kenshi survived his clan’s slaughter and where he’s been all this time.
Their conversation lasts only a few minutes before Bi-Han rudely interrupts, “Catch up with Takahashi after I leave. I have business back in Tokyo.”
Grandmaster Hasashi gives Bi-Han an acerbic looks. He then says something in Japanese that earns him a chuckle from Kenshi.
“Where is Takeda?” Suchin’s voice app asks. “Is he here?”
A troubled look appears on Grandmaster Hasashi’s face. “Come with me and I will explain everything.”
+
The inside of Hanzo’s home is just as Bi-Han remembers, sparsely decorated with furniture and a few weapons on display. The only thing that’s new is the small altar set up against wall: an old stuffed animal, an offering of food, and recently burned incense are set within it next to a photo of a smiling child.
Satoshi.
In an odd moment of guilt, Bi-Han quickly averts his eyes before Hanzo catches him staring.
Bi-Han should’ve been smarter, should’ve anticipated Quan Chi’s deception. If he had known, he would have stopped Quan Chi from killing Satoshi. Harumi has long since forgiven Bi-Han but Hanzo will forever see Bi-Han as the assassin who aided Quan Chi in raiding the temple grounds and not as the man who had a change of heart and turned on Quan Chi when Quan Chi ordered Bi-Han to murder Harumi and Satoshi. Where Hanzo places the tragedy’s blame on Bi-Han, Harumi blames Hanzo for his past ties with Quan Chi, a falling out that brought Quan Chi to the Fire Temple. It was enough that Harumi Shirai, daughter of the clan’s previous Grandmaster, left the clan that had been home to her family for eight generations and also left her husband.
From the corner of his eye, Bi-Han sees Johnny standing next to Takahashi. Johnny’s sunglasses hide his eyes but Bi-Han can just tell they are following him, watching him. Bi-Han’s been at odds with Cage many times over the years, in a friendly rivalry that was sexually-charged with tension building until Takahashi’s ‘death’ brought them together. This time, though, the tension between them is different and Bi-Han is eager to flee before Cage does or says something that puts Takahashi back in Bi-Han’s cross-hairs. Bi-Han’s had enough of dealing with Cage’s drama.
“Here,” Hanzo growls, slapping the divorce papers against Bi-Han’s chest. “Now, get out.”
Bi-Han sneers and folds up the papers, shoving them inside his gi. Hanzo doesn’t need to tell him twice.
Refusing to stay any longer than he needs to, Bi-Han stalks towards the open sliding doors of Hanzo’s home. Takahashi’s head cants towards him, listening to Bi-Han leave while wearing that signature scowl that Bi-Han can’t understand why Cage finds so attractive. Cage could do so much better than either of them, if the idiot would take two seconds to use his singular brain cell to realize why getting mixed up with an ex-Yakuza or Shao Khan’s attack dog is a horrible idea. But relying on Cage to think anything through is a lost cause, as Bi-Han’s learned.
“Bi-Han,” Hanzo calls to him as Bi-Han reaches the door.
Bi-Han stops and bites back the urge to snarl back, “What?”. Instead, he waits in a tense, prolonged silence until whatever inane thought sitting on the edge of the Shirai Ryu leader’s tongue tumbles from his lips.
“Does Harumi…?”
Bi-Han glares back over his shoulder at Hanzo. The vulnerability on Hanzo’s face makes the clan leader look like he’s seconds from shattering. However, perhaps seeing the judgment on Bi-Han’s face, Hanzo seems to think better of what he is about to ask and instead, awkwardly finishes, “...I hope she found peace in the Lin Kuei.”
Harumi has found peace but it was a long and uneasy journey. Without Kuai Liang, Bi-Han doesn’t know if Harumi would have learned to endure the sorrow of her loss and accept that she is allowed to have moments of happiness in her grief. Maybe she would have become the shell of who she was, like Hanzo, or consumed by her rage like Takahashi and inflicted her ire on the world until it resembled the pain inside of her. Whatever Kuai Liang did, he brought her back to herself and made her part of the Lin Kuei family.
But none of that is Hanzo’s business and it’s not Bi-Han’s place to fan the flames of curiosity. All Bi-Han says is, “She has,” and then he leaves before Hanzo gets the courage to ask him to elaborate.
“Cage, where are you going?” Takahashi hisses angrily.
“Just...gimme a minute. Gotta clear something up with Grandmaster Bossypants.”
Predictably, Cage is hot on Bi-Han’s heels, following him out of Hanzo’s home and through the grounds of the Fire Temple. If Bi-Han didn’t detest this place so much, he would almost want to stop and admire the view from the mountaintop.
“Hey, Ice-Man. Slow down,” Johnny calls, panting as he fights to keep up with Bi-Han. “M-My legs are really starting to feel that climb—”
“I no longer work for you, Cage. We have nothing to discuss,” Bi-Han growls. “Go back to your boyfriend.”
“Not until you tell me why you took my side when I sucker punched Shang Tsung,” Johnny demands. “You said you put yourself on the line for me and something tells me it’s not just for a paycheck. Makes a guy wonder why take the risk against an asshole with Shang’s connections.”
Bi-Han’s pace falters and he slows. Of all the things he expected Cage to confront him about, Bi-Han’s motivations from that night were not it.
“You are reading into something you do not understand—” Bi-Han starts.
“Cut the ‘I don’t give any fucks about anyone’ bullshit. We’ve done this song and dance before and guess what? It’s fake news,” Johnny interrupts. “Like it or not, you ‘n me are friends and if the Spice Girls have taught me anything, it’s that friendship never ends.”
Leave it to Cage to learn his life lessons from an annoying 90s song.
“What the hell do you want from me?” Bi-Han asks, annoyed. “I did what I had to—”
“I get that. But you still used me just as much as Shang did for Shao Khan’s revenge plot,” Johnny says. “The way I see it, this can go one of two ways: we can keep ignoring each other or you can make it up to me. Try starting with a goddamn apology.”
Bi-Han glares at Johnny. From his peripheral, he sees some of the Shirai Ryu watching their interaction and part of him would rather throw Cage off the mountain than be caught apologizing to anyone. But if there’s anyone who should have never been involved in Shang Tsung’s plot, it was Johnny. Johnny’s owed more than a five-letter word.
“Well? Cat got your tongue, Frosty?”
Bi-Han curses under his breath and wills his face to not heat. Sure, Johnny is owed an apology but Bi-Han doesn’t want to do this in front of the Shirai Ryu.
“That doesn’t sound like an apology…”
“I regret I did not tell you of Shang Tsung’s deception,” Bi-Han mutters through gritted teeth. “Is that sufficient, Cage?”
“Wow, you’re really bad at this—”
“That’s all you’re getting,” Bi-Han says, giving Johnny a dirty look. At Johnny’s pout, Bi-Han swallows his pride and adds, quietly, “...if Shang Tsung attempts something like that again, I will inform you.”
“I knew it! You do care!” Johnny exclaims, launching himself at Bi-Han and wrapping his arms around him in a tight hug.
Bi-Han’s face flares bright red and he snarls as he tries to push Johnny off of him. He sees some of the Shirai Ryu smirking and whispering as they watch and is someone recording this on their phone?!
“Let go of me!” Bi-Han orders.
“Relax, Big Guy. Nothing wrong with two bros in touch with their feelings and hugging it out,” Johnny says, laughing.
“One of your fans is filming this.”
“Ooh! Think he wants a selfie?”
Johnny glances around and waves at the person recording them. With a huff, Bi-Han shoves Johnny off of him. He tries to leave this damned place for the third time but he makes it only another two steps before Johnny grabs his shoulder.
“Whoa, we’re not done here,” Johnny says.
“Yes, we are.”
“The apology was step one. If you want us to be Gucci, I’m gonna need you to take all that lone wolf badassery for the rescue team we’re putting together. See, Kenshi’s kid went after the Black Dragon—”
Bi-Han snorts derisively and looks at Johnny as if he’s lost his mind. “What makes you think Takahashi wants my help to save his brat?”
“He’s not asking for your help. I am,” Johnny says, “and I know you’ll do it cuz you’re not as big of an asshole as everyone thinks you are. Takeda and his friends—they’re just kids trying to do the right thing. But you and I both know the Black Dragon won’t lose sleep over unaliving a bunch of teenagers.”
Bi-Han glares at Johnny, silent as he mulls over getting involved. He doesn’t want to do any favors for Takahashi but this wouldn’t be for him, it would be to make amends with Cage. Plus, if he brings Kano’s head to Shao Khan…
“Please, Bi-Han,” Johnny whispers, giving Bi-Han a soft look that the actor must think will win Bi-Han over.
Bi-Han’s...enjoyed the times he had Cage but Cage has never had that kind of power over him. Still, playing along may work in Bi-Han’s favor.
“Fine,” Bi-Han relents. “I do this, we’re even.”
“I mean, yeah, after you replace those sunglasses you broke—”
“We’re even,” Bi-Han repeats, glaring at Johnny.
Johnny grins and claps Bi-Han on the shoulder. “Great! So, uh, which of us should break the good news to Ken doll?”
Bi-Han exhales in frustration.
What the fuck did he just sign up for?
+
Kenshi bristles as he hears Johnny’s retreating foot steps and wills himself to not chase after the actor. As much as he hates Bi-Han, Kenshi trusts Johnny to make sure Bi-Han doesn’t cross any lines. If he tries anything, well...Bi-Han will have Sento to deal with.
“Can I offer you tea? Water?” Hanzo asks in Japanese.
Kenshi cants his head towards the sound of Hanzo’s voice.
With a polite bow of his head, Kenshi says, “With all due respect, Grandmaster, this isn’t a social visit. We know the Shirai Ryu are looking for the Black Dragon. I’m here to stop Takeda before he gets himself killed.”
“Then I regret to to inform you that you’re too late: Takeda left to pursue Kano this morning explicitly against my orders,” Hanzo says and Kenshi can hear the frustration in the Grandmaster’s voice. “By now, he and his friends are likely in Osaka.”
Kenshi curses under his breath.
Dammit, Takeda. Why couldn’t you wait for me?
“How could you send children to fight your war with the Black Dragon?” Suchin’s voice app demands.
“The Shirai Ryu are not at war with the Black Dragon. We do not involve ourselves in Yakuza affairs...a move which I have come to regret after what they did to the Takahashi clan,” Hanzo answers and Kenshi can feel the clan leader’s eyes on him as he mentions Kenshi’s dead clan. “Every action that Takeda has taken against the Black Dragon has been in violation of the Shirai Ryu code that the rest of the clan follows. I’ve tried disciplining him, lecturing him, and even expelled him from the Shirai Ryu. But his heart is as stubborn as his head: he wants revenge and cannot be persuaded from that path.”
“I need to try,” Kenshi insists. “I don’t care what happens to Kano: he’s made enough enemies that he won’t last much longer hiding in Japan. I just want to bring Takeda home.”
“You said he is in Osaka?” Suchin says.
“Yes, and though he has shown nothing but impatience thus far, he’ll wait until tonight to make his move against the Black Dragon. I was preparing to go to Osaka and bring Takeda back when I was...interrupted,” Hanzo responds, his words edged with irritation. “There may still be time to stop him if we leave immediately.”
“Sorry to interrupt, Grandmaster Hasashi, but my friend and I are here to see my sister Fujin and his cousin Kung Jin,” Raiden cuts in. “If you will excuse us, we’d like to go find them.”
There’s a pause and when Hanzo speaks, it’s with regret in his voice, “They have left the clan to join Takeda in his fight and are no longer at the Fire Temple. I’m afraid you won’t find them here.”
“What?” Raiden whispers, surprised. “Why would she do that?”
“Your sister puts loyalty above all else and made a promise to Takeda,” Hanzo answers. “Chihiro is also with them.”
Kenshi startles at the mention of Chihiro, his heart hammering in his chest. The name is common enough Hanzo could be speaking of anyone. He can’t possibly mean Kenshi’s younger cousin.
“You said Chihiro…?”
“Yes, your cousin Chihiro is alive,” Hanzo clarifies. “Some of your clan’s children also survived the attack, along with their mothers. One of my students is informing them of your arrival. The Shirai Ryu...I should have done more to protect your clan.”
Kenshi chokes back a sound, overcome with emotion. He’s not the last one. His clan still has a future.
Suchin touches his shoulder and Kenshi places his hand on top of hers, accepting the subtle comfort she offers.
“Thank you for protecting them, Grandmaster Hasashi,” Kenshi says, his voice thick and on the verge of cracking.
“Wait...did he say Kung Jin? What about Jin?” Kung Lao asks in English. “Can someone tell me what’s going on?”
To Kenshi’s relief, Raiden translates. For the moment, Kenshi doesn’t trust himself to speak as he processes everything he’s just learned.
Seconds later, Kenshi hears the excited squeals of, “Ojisan!” and hears the quick patter of footsteps rushing towards him. He has barely a moment to prepare before two sets of small arms wrap around each of his legs. Kenshi doesn’t need his sight to know they’re his cousin Enji’s twin boys, Kaito and Sota. He fights to keep from teetering over but he’s so elated to be reunited with his family, he’s torn between wanting to burst into tears or chuckle at their antics.
“Kaito, Sota! Stop it before you knock over Uncle Kenshi,” he hears their mother, Himari, order, followed by the sound of a baby wailing.
Himari coos gently to shush the baby and a thick lump forms in Kenshi’s throat.
“Aw, but we wanna show Ojisan how strong we are!” Sota says and Kenshi feels the seven-year old punch his small fist into Kenshi’s leg.
“Sota!”
“It’s alright, Himari. If these two want to fight, they can show me what the Shirai Ryu have taught them after they complete some sword drills,” Kenshi answers, mock frowning down at the boys as he hears them groan.
Himari shoos the boys away and Kenshi hears a baby crying to his left. He tilts his face towards the sound and Himari hums softly to the baby until their crying subsides to soft coos.
“You had your child,” Kenshi says, thickly.
“In the spring,” Himari says, her response melancholic. “I named her Etsuko, after Enji’s mother.”
“He...would have liked that.”
Himari was pregnant when the Takahashi clan was attacked. Enji had confessed to Kenshi that he hoped for a daughter but feared what would become of her if the Takahashi continued to serve the Yamada family. To think Enji died so his children could live...as painful as it was to lose his cousin, Kenshi knows Enji would be happy knowing his children can now grow up free of the Yakuza.
“Asako, get your brother before he hurts himself,” a woman says.
Koharu, Daisuke’s wife.
Kenshi hears nonsensical babbling and something touches his knee. Carefully, he reaches down and hears two-year old Takeru—Daisuke’s son—give a high-pitched laugh and then a gurgle as the toddler wraps his hand around two of Kenshi’s fingers. The toddler manages to say something that sounds like, “Oh-gee”, and Kenshi can’t help but tilt his head and grin down at him.
“Come here, Takeru,” Asako, Daisuke’s ten year old daughter, says.
“Asako.” Kenshi pauses to keep his voice even and then asks, “Have you kept up with your training?”
“Yes, Ojisan,” Asako answers. Kenshi can sense her bowing and she adds, “I practice my drills every day. Just like you taught me.”
Kenshi spends the next few minutes reuniting with his family, catching up with them after months of separation. Holding onto Takeru as he speaks, Kenshi startles when his sunglasses are pulled off his face and Takeru gives a mischievous squeal. An awkward hush falls in the room.
“What’s wrong with your eyes?” Kaito suddenly blurts out.
“You can’t ask someone that, Kaito,” Himari admonishes him.
“The Black Dragon did this to me and then made me fight in Mortal Kombat,” Kenshi says. He pauses and then, with a dramatic tone he may have picked up from Cage, Kenshi adds, “I defeated the Mortal Kombat champion, Kintaro, and took his place at Netherrealm.”
“No way!” Sota says. “No one can beat Kintaro!”
“I did,” Kenshi says, “and I did it blind.”
“Yeah right,” Kaito argues. “I’m going to beat Kintaro some day!”
“No, I’m going to be Mortal Kombat champion!” Sota says.
Kenshi shakes his head at the kids. Enji really shouldn’t have told them stories about Netherrealm. They took the wrong lessons from them.
Shifting his weight to balance Takeru on his hip, Kenshi asks Koharu and Himari, “I thought our clan was gone. How did you survive the attack?”
“We arrived at Motaro’s Inn after the attack started,” Koharu answers. “Chihiro fought off Oyabun’s men and led us to the Taira shrine in the forest. We wouldn’t have made it without her.”
“My students found them during a supply run to the village,” Hanzo adds. “I was in Tokyo that night and went with Kung Jin check on your uncle at the Takahashi dojo. That was where we found Takeda.”
Kenshi lifts Takeru from his hip and Koharu takes her son from him. With his hands free, Kenshi bows deeply. “The Takahashi are indebted to you, Grandmaster Hasashi, and the Shirai Ryu. My clan would be dead without you.”
“Do not thank me yet,” Hanzo says. “Save it for after we have reunited you with Takeda and Chihiro.”
More people enter Hanzo’s home and Kenshi immediately catches a whiff of Johnny’s cologne. He senses someone else, likely Bi-Han, but Kenshi’s not going to let that asshole’s presence ruin his good mood. His lips tug in a small smile as Johnny joins him.
“Whoa, who invited all the rugrats?” Johnny asks, amused.
The children fall into shocked silence. Kaito tugs on Kenshi’s arm and asks, in a loud whisper, “Ojisan, is that Johnny Cage?!”
+
When Jax suggested they stop wasting their time calling Cage and confront him about what happened last night, he wasn’t expecting to climb up a Goddamn mountain. Now, with the July heat bearing down on them and the sun hitting its midday peak, he and Sonya are losing steam as they climb the hundreds of steps towards the temple grounds, with little shade to protect them. To make it worse, Sonya’s vomited a few times already and brushes it off whenever Jax tells her they should take a break. He’s not sure what the hell she ate that gave her a stomach flu that’s lasted their entire trip in Japan but he’s making her see a doctor when they get back to Tokyo.
“What the hell is some has-been actor doing on a mountain in the middle of Japan?” Jax grumbles.
His lower back is really going to pay for this tomorrow.
“Think, Jax: why does Johnny Cage do anything?” Sonya asks rhetorically, giving Jax a look.
They didn’t even have to stalk Johnny’s cell phone signal because the idiot has been posting photos all morning of Mount Oyama on his social media. The most recent post was from thirty minutes ago, taken at the temple on top of the mountain.
“All for the likes, Real Steel,” Jax pictures the actor saying. “Hashtag: hot girl summer.”
Jax is going to murder him.
“Jesus, if all this is for another Instagram post, I’m throwing him off that mountain when we get up there.”
It takes nearly another twenty minutes to get to the top and once they do, both agents are red-faced, sweating, and out of water. Jax blearily sees the gate to the temple grounds up ahead and wonders if he’ll make it to the entrance before collapsing. He mentally notes to renew his gym membership when they are back in DC and this time, make an effort to go.
As they approach the gate, a group walks out, led by the man Jax and Sonya are looking for.
“You sure there’s no gondola we can take to the bottom? After the workout me and Kenny had last night, I don’t think my legs can take more stairs—”
“Cage!” Kenshi exclaims, his face going deep red.
“What? No, I meant that ass-kicking we served Tremor and his crew,” Johnny says, punching his fists in the air in front of him. “What were you thinking about, Ken doll?”
“No one cares what you and Takahashi did last night, Cage,” a man in a blue gi says. With his face half-hidden by a mask, it takes a moment for Jax to identify him as Bi-Han.
Someone in a gray, sleeveless hoodie and black tang vest says something in Chinese and smirks. The person beside him, whose arm is in a cast, blushes and smacks him.
“Ha ha, laugh it up, perverts,” Johnny says, looking pointedly at the person in the hoodie. “Tremor took the L, not the D. You shoulda seen it: Kano’s homeboy was so cooked—”
“What’s this about Tremor being ‘cooked’?” Sonya asks.
Johnny swivels around and groans when he’s met with Sonya and Jax’s glares. “Great, it’s my favorite stalkers. Don’t you feds have a government to topple using American tax dollars?”
“You were supposed to check in with us last night,” Jax growls. “You got a lotta nerve making us chase you up a damn mountain in the middle of Japan—”
“Excuse me, agents, but you are trespassing on private property and harassing my guests,” a tall man in yellow and black says, stalking to the front of the group. He stops in front of Jax and though he’s tall, he doesn’t quite reach Jax’s height and is force to cant his head slightly to glare up at the agent. “I would advise that you leave now or the Shirai Ryu will show you the exit.”
Behind the clan leader, Jax sees the guards at the gate and some of the warriors within watch the exchange, prepared to intervene if Jax and Sonya cause trouble. Bi-Han, however, makes a derisive sound and crosses his arms over his chest while Johnny and his friends uneasily wait for the agents’ reactions.
“Do you really want to make enemies with federal agents from the United States of America, Grandmaster Hasashi?” Sonya asks, her tone polite but with an edge that conveys she’s not about to stand down from a threat.
Before the clan leader can respond, Johnny cuts in, “Let me handle this, Grandmaster. They’re here for me. Ah, the curse of being famous.”
“Cage—”
“I got this, Kenny.”
Kenshi glares in Jax and Sonya’s direction but backs down.
Good. Jax really doesn’t want to explain in his report why he went toe-to-toe with a visually-impaired ex-Yakuza.
A petite woman with two short swords strapped to her back signs something to Johnny. Johnny gives her a quick nod and then motions Jax and Sonya to follow him. “This way, Lethally Blonde and Arms of Steel, before someone throws hands with the wrong hombre.”
They slip into the cover of the trees outside the Fire Temple grounds walls, walking far enough that Jax can keep an eye on Cage’s ‘friends’ without being overheard. As soon as they’re out of earshot, Sonya rips into Johnny.
“What the hell, Cage? I tried calling you twenty times since last night!” Sonya snaps. “Where do you get off thinking you can run from the federal government?”
“Whoa, whoa! Indoor voices,” Johnny says, groaning and rubbing his temples under his sunglasses. “That molly I took is still doing a number on me—”
“Save the theatrics for your next court appearance,” Jax says, also getting angry. “We’ll be pressing charges for all the bullshit you put us through.”
“Hey, c’mon, there’s really no need for that—”
“Falsifying a statement, bribing an agent, impeding a federal investigation—” Sonya lists.
“...okay, yeah, maybe I did some of that, allegedly...”
“You came to us telling us you’d deliver us Kano. Well, where is he, Cage?” Jax demands, gesturing to the woods around them. “Cuz he sure as hell ain’t here!”
“I was getting to that,” Johnny says quickly. “Look, you want Kano, he’s yours. No capping this time. I’ll take you to him right now!”
Jax and Sonya exchange a look and Jax knows Sonya’s thinking the same thing as him: do they really want to waste any more time chasing whatever lead Hollywood gives them when Kano could be about to make his big escape from Japan?
“One last chance, Johnny,” Sonya decides, crossing her arms over her chest. “Where is he?”
Johnny hesitates and then glances back at his friends through the trees.
“Why do I get the feeling you want something from us?” Jax asks.
“It’s...Takahashi’s kid. He and his friends went after the Black Dragon.”
“Johnny,” Sonya says, sternly, “we have orders to bring Kano back to the US using any means necessary—”
“But they’re just teenagers! Do whatever you want to the Black Dragon, trust me: I got no love lost for Down Under’s Mr. Clean. But if you wanna know where they are, you gotta promise me you’re not about to commit America’s favorite pass time of police brutality on a bunch of kids.”
Bristling at the disrespectful way Cage speaks about US law enforcement, Jax says, “The men and women in uniform proudly serve our country, Cage. They’re not trigger happy cowboys looking to murder children—!”
“I’ll debrief our team and let them know not to harm the kids,” Sonya promises.
Jax snaps his mouth shut and stops arguing. There’s really no point in lecturing Cage about the merits of law enforcement when it would obviously fall on deaf ears.
Johnny smiles in relief. With another glance over his shoulder, his voice drops to a whisper and he adds, “Look, I’m kinda in hot water with bae for recruiting my ex-side piece on this rescue mission. If one of you could let him know the feds are tagging along, you’d be doing me a real solid...”
Jax sighs.
He really needs to request a transfer.