Chapter 4 - A Race of Sorts (Breaking In)

[junkuroki]

Bun~

"Oh, for the love of f*cking Hyne....!" Tomoe didn't swear often, but there were just some times.... "I can't believe it," she muttered as she watched Wildwish being thrown in front of a truck like he didn't even matter.

/Well, actually, he doesn't,/ Obsidian said rationally in her head. /Name one useful thing he's done./

Tomoe ignored her Guardian Force.

/Exactly!/ Obsidian chirped.

"Those two and their crazy ideas....I can't believe I'm even doing this."

"Then don't," Wolfe replied reasonably. "Except.....you will, won't you?" His voice was tinted with the sound of resentment and defeat. ".......Fine, I'll go with you."

"No you won't. You should join Zacke and Blaze in the truck--" Tomoe glanced up just in time to see the truck driver hoist the unconscious Ninja onto his shoulders and head back to the truck. She glanced back at Walker, the only other sane SeeD in their group. "You and Wolfe should go catch up with Zacke and Blaze and hitch your ride. I'll go see if I can stall that driver long enough for you two."

"Are you insane?!" Wolfe hissed. "What if he recognizes you?!"

Tomoe looked at the truck. Zacke and Blaze were halfway there.....and if they were spotted.....Tomoe glanced back at the driver, who had Wildwish on his shoulders and was turning back to the truck. Zacke and Blaze would be in full view if he turned around now.....

Blaze, you'd better thank me with a new "Weapons Monthly" for saving your a.ss this time..... Tomoe quickly pulled off her jacket and shoved the garment at Wolfe, followed by her weapon. "If I'm unarmed, they can't hurt me," she told him reasonably. "So when I get caught--"

"IF you get caught!" Wolfe cut in sharply.

"....If I get caught....the worst they can do is throw me in jail. Okay? Now go, both of you!" Tomoe didn't even wait for Wolfe and Walker to comply before she turned away and ran straight towards the driver.

Okay, let's hope I can act....

"Terry?!" Tomoe surprised herself with the panic in her voice. "Omigosh, Terry, honey, are you okay?!" She reached the truck driver and grabbed the man's sleeve, turning him to her just as Wolfe ran out from their hiding place like a bullet and sprinted after Zacke and Blaze. Tomoe focused her attention back to the truck driver. "You killed him!!" She forced conviction and horror into her voice and she pinned the driver with a stricken look. "Why did you--?!"

"Ma'am, you've got the wrong idea--" the driver began, but Tomoe cut him off.

"Is he still alive?!"

"He won't be if we don't get him to a hospital soon," the driver replied. "Ma'am, I'm heading into Esthar right now, and if you'd stop your yapping, I can take you and your boyfriend there right now--" He stopped abruptly and peered at her. "Wait.....you look familiar. Have we....met, ma'am?"

Tomoe froze inside, but forced herself to stay in the guise of the worried girlfriend. "I don't know, I just don't--!" She took a shaky breath. "Sir, I don't know who you are, but you'll help him, won't you? Please!" She grabbed at the man's sleeve again with both hands, forcing him to pay attention to her. Meanwhile, Tomoe's averted her gaze from the driver to Walker's direction.

Walker, if you're gonna make a break for it, please do it soon.....!


Wolfe caught up with Blaze and Zacke, pausing only once to see if he was being followed by anyone from their group. He saw no one, but Tomoe was still shrilling at the driver, so obviously she was still stalling for time.

Don't get caught, Baby.....don't you dare get caught, you know what they'll do to you.

[junkuroki]

Fox~

"Okay it's now or never, run as fast as you can but don't kick up too much dust." he grabbed Blaze by the arm and pulled her up,


Alaxzander ran over and got into the truck. " Are we going to go threw some of cargo to see if we can use anything??' he looked at Zacke

[junkuroki]

Auria~

Just as Zacke's hand grasped hold of the door on the back of the truck, he heard Tomoe cry out to the driver. His eyes widened and his blood turned cold. For a split second he hesitated.

/Get into the truck you fool!/ Iris voice boomed in his mind.

He swung the doors open and threw himself into the back, Tomoe's shrill cries of panic heard outside. He fumbled over a few boxes, making room for the others he knew were coming. He was concious of Blaze crawling onto a box to his left.

He heard Alexzander say something to him but barely listened. He didn't mean to ignore, he just had his mind on other things.

What is she doing?! What is Tomoe doing?! He turned around and saw Wolfe climbing into the truck, with hard expression of determination on his face.

"Wolfe what is she doing out there?!" he meant to whisper but it came out as more panicked and harsh.

/This is why you shouldn't exercise half-assed plans./ Iris commented in a serene voice.

[junkuroki]

Bun~

"Wolfe what is she doing out there?!" Wolfe clambered into the truck just as Zacke asked the question. There were four of them in there. Not enough. Where the hell is the rest of the team?! The worrying and anxiety pissed him off, and Wolfe turned to Zacke, his expression close to hate. Wolfe's grip on Tomoe's sword became tighter, but eventually loosened and Wolfe threw Tomoe's jacket and blade to Zacke.

"You were almost seen, you brainless son of a b.itch," he said in a steely voice. He shot Blaze a poisonous look. "You and your hotheaded little girlfriend there. The only reason you managed to make it into this truck is because she went out there to stall for you. Do you know what they'll do to her if they found out who she was?!" Wolfe's anger rose, but amazingly his voice stayed level, almost eerily soft. "She had better return to take her stuff back, Mercutio, or I swear on Sorceress Hyne you're not living to see tonight."

Wolfe shifted slightly and leaned against a box, then raised his eyes to meet Zacke's.

"......By the way....was this part of your plan?"

[junkuroki]

Auria~

Zacke caught Tomoe's things and took Wolfe's verbal beating with the look of a scared child in his eyes. He deserved it all.

"...she went out there to stall for you. Do you know what they'll do to her if they found out who she was?!" Wolfe continued harshly.

Zacke's blood turned cold at the thought. They can't--

"She had better return to take her stuff back, Mercutio, or I swear on Sorceress Hyne you're not living to see tonight." Wolfe finished, his tone dripping with the sincerity of his promise.

Zacke glanced down at Tomoe's jacket, his heart beating rapidly. I don't know what to do...Iris what do I do?! I can't do anything now...wait here?! She's out there...her sword, it's not with her, it's in my lap...it should be with her, oh Hyne she's unarmed...they can't find out...they can't...

Wolfe's eyes locked with him. "......By the way....was this part of your plan?"

His eyes widened, his next words came out in a hoarse, angry tone. "What?! Tomoe stalling for us?! How can you even imagine--I wouldn't make her do this!! I don't want her out there any more than you!!"

He took a deep breath and looked down at the jacket in his lap. Now is not the time to panic...think...think...one driver...we can silence him, kill him...one of us could put on his clothes and masquerade as the cargo truck driver...Tomoe wouldn't be at risk, we could all get into Esthar safely...

He stood, hunched over so his head wouldn't hit the top of the truck. He thrust Tomoe's jacket back at Wolfe, but kept her sword. "I'm not just going to sit here." he stated, and jumped out the back of the truck.

He turned the corner to see Tomoe, fake tears streaming down her face as she knelt over Terry, next to the driver of the truck...

"Hey!!" he shouted harshly, the driver's head turning to him. He drew Dizzy. "Yeah, you," he strode forward quickly. The driver stood. Tomoe too.

His gaze met Tomoe's and he silently threw her sword to her

[junkuroki]

Bun~

"I know who you are!" the driver suddenly said, as Tomoe knelt down beside Wildwish. "You're that girl.....the heiress....there's a reward for your capture!"

Tomoe's head snapped up and she met the man's eyes, ready to step back in case he tried to go after her. Before either of them could move there was a new voice.

A familiar voice.

"Hey!!" Tomoe's eyes widened as she saw Zacke appear from behind the truck. The driver turned to look at him, as well. "Yeah, you," Zacke continued, striding forward, his weapon at the ready. Tomoe rose to her feet and caught the sword Zacke threw at her.

"SeeD--" the driver began, but he didn't finish his sentence.

Tomoe quickly crouched and knocked the man off his feet with a sweeping kick. He fell, but he was quick, and Tomoe had just drawn her sword when he managed to catch her off-guard. He backhanded her across the face and she stumbled back a step, before counterattacking with a punch to the truck driver's jaw. The man went down hard, and Tomoe groaned, her free hand covering the left side of her face.

Oww......that guy's got fight in him.

The driver was down, but he wasn't out. He staggered to his feet and lunged at her, murderous.

[junkuroki]

Auria~

The man rose to his feet and took a step toward Tomoe. Zacke swung Dizzy around once, and cracked the man in the side of his head, a sick crunch resounding as the silver metal bar hit the man's skull.

He fell to the ground soundlessly, unconcious. Zacke took a few steps back and extended a hand.

"Death..."

A black reaper rose from the earth and brought it's sickle down upon the man's body, any life left in the man now taken by the demon.

His gaze shifted to Tomoe, his voice quiet and low. "Thanks. For having our backs."

[junkuroki]

Bun~

"Thanks. For having our backs."

Tomoe shook her head, stopping short. She suddenly had a headache. "It was the least I could do," she answered, resheathing her blade. "I haven't been doing anything else in this mission other than bitch. And stand around....." She returned his gaze. "I'm sorry for that, by the way."

She then sighed and glanced down at the dead man. "So what are we going to do about him?" Her eyes shifted to Wildwish. "....And him, too."

[junkuroki]

Auria~

Zacke ran a hand over his hair.

"It's okay. You had good reasons to b!tch." he sighed. "I'll put on this guys coveralls and hat and act as a one of the truck drivers to get us in...we can put his and Terry's body in the back of the truck.

"And...once we're inside we'll have to play by ear. I don't know whats its going to be like inside the warehouses. And there's going to be men inside there unloading the trucks. We can't let them try and unload this one or they'll see everyone...and we obviously can't just kill all the Estharian's in the import/export department of Esthar..." he sighed. "...and there's most likely going to be soldiers in the place, all the more inconvenience to us..."

He stared at the body of the truck driver for a few seconds. "I'm running out of ideas."

[junkuroki]

Bun~

"And...once we're inside we'll have to play by ear. I don't know whats its going to be like inside the warehouses. And there's going to be men inside there unloading the trucks. We can't let them try and unload this one or they'll see everyone...and we obviously can't just kill all the Estharian's in the import/export department of Esthar..." he sighed. "...and there's most likely going to be soldiers in the place, all the more inconvenience to us..."

Tomoe listened to his concerns, feeling anxious. There had to be some way to get the group through Esthar without being hassled by Estharian soldiers.....

/There is,/ Obsidian said. /But do you think they'll go for it?/

It's not their decision, is it? It's mine, Tomoe replied to her Guardian Force.

Zacke stared at the body of the truck driver for a few seconds. "I'm running out of ideas."

"What about a decoy, then?" Tomoe suggested. "I could go into the city first, get Esthar to follow me around for a few hours while the rest of you find the emerald. It's the easiest way. The entire city will all have their eyes on me. Embarrassing, but then you guys are in the clear."

[junkuroki]

Ash~

You and your hotheaded little girlfriend there?

"You did NOT just say that!" Blaze lunged foward and knocked Wolfe down as Zacke left to go assist Tomoe. She grabbed a handful of Wolfe's shirt and dug her nails painfully into his chest. "The last time someone called me his girlfriend.... was the time when he ended up in jail. Now unless you want the same fate-" Blaze turned around and realized that Zacke had left the truck. Releasing her death grip on Wolfe's shirt, she got out of the truck as fast as she could and her eyes widened.

Hell no! They did not just kill someone without me! Blaze thought in horror, looking down at the dead truck driver. Taking a running start, she jumped up and landed hard on the driver's head with both of her feet. The side of his skull cracked with the impact and started to leak blood.

"Can't let you have all the fun." Blaze scoffed as the blood flowed freely. "Too bad I wasn't wearing golf shoes."


"I could go into the city first, get Esthar to follow me around for a few hours while the rest of you find the emerald. It's the easiest way. The entire city will all have their eyes on me. Embarrassing, but then you guys are in the clear." Tomoe suggested.

"There's only a 99% chance that you'll get caught, you know. But you are very good at stealth, something I could never master. It might work. Thanks for that by the way. Back there, that deserves a weapons monthly magazine at least." Blaze grinned.

/something you could never master? Stealth? I wonder why./ Deathstrike said, her voice dripping sarcasm

[junkuroki]

Bun~

Wolfe followed as Blaze jumped out of the truck and ran over to where Zacke and Tomoe were standing. He managed to make it out just in time to hear Tomoe's suggestion.

"I could go into the city first, get Esthar to follow me around for a few hours while the rest of you find the emerald. It's the easiest way. The entire city will all have their eyes on me. Embarrassing, but then you guys are in the clear."

"There's only a 99% chance that you'll get caught, you know. But you are very good at stealth, something I could never master. It might work. Thanks for that by the way. Back there, that deserves a weapons monthly magazine at least." Blaze grinned at Tomoe, and Wolfe rolled his eyes.

"You're not going," he stated, glaring at Tomoe. She turned to him calmly. "You're just not," he repeated. "This is Esthar we're talking about here, Chick, not some weenie country. This is the biggest d.amn city in the world, and if you think you can elude the entire Estharian army just to let them--" he shot a look towards Zacke and Blaze--"get into the city without notice, then you're as insane as this girl."

Tomoe shrugged. "She is my best friend."

Wolfe chuckled sardonically. "I bet she was thinking about that when she decided to make a break for the truck without thought that you might have to do what you just did right now. She knows how dangerous it is for you to even be here..." He trailed off and looked at Tomoe. "You told her what they'd do, didn't you?"

No answer.

"You didn't tell her?!"

[junkuroki]

Auria~

Zacke crossed his arms and looked from Wolfe to Tomoe. "Why exactly do they want her in the first place? I mean I know all about her family's--" he stopped short, choosing his words carefully. "I know about her family's line of business," Thanks to your wonderful little scene at the ball, Wolfe.. "But how is she so well known that an average truck driver would recognize her? And if it's this dangerous for her, why wasn't any of this mentioned until now?"

[junkuroki]

Ash~

Blaze crossed her arms and looked off into the distance as she usually did.

Now that Zacke mentions it... why WOULD an average truck driver recognize her?"Feel like sharing anything Tomoe?" Blaze asked.

[junkuroki]

Seiferfetish~

Before Gaiea could blink, Zacke and Blaze were off and running, tossing the prone 'ninja' in front of an oncoming truck. Her eyes widened and she ducked out of sight, just as the driver stepped out. She caught Tomoe's gaze as she stalled but something in her wouldn't move. This wasn't right...

The decision was made for her as the driver recognized the heiress, and as he was kicked to the ground, Gaiea stood and jogged over to the group. "Sorry about that," she murmured, quietly, eyes full of a newfound respect for the girl.

As she listened though, her curiosity peaked and she too turned to look at Tomoe, as Blaze asked,"Feel like sharing anything Tomoe?"

I don't like not knowing what's going on.

/Then you're going to hate this/

I don't like it when you're right either