CHAPTER 42

目つぶし Metsubushi

Smoke and Mirrors

Only a minute had passed since the power went out. Takumi figured Jet was still underground as she needed time to rescue Soji and Hiro. He put himself in her mindset. She would have to get to the ground floor to escape. The elevators were out. If they climbed the cables, they would encounter guards on every floor. Jet, her cousin, and uncle were sealed in.

His men wanted to use nightscopes, but Takumi was against it. The images weren’t good in a closed space, and they could mistake each other for the enemy. He had them use flashlights and laser targets instead.

How in the world did she get out of her cell? he wondered, leading his men down the stairs. Saiminjutsu? He realized he was enjoying this in spite of himself. As long as she was free, he could see her as the enemy. And he knew what to do with the enemy. He could be the trained assassin he’d always been. On the other hand, when she was captive, he felt a crushing sense of responsibility and a fear of the emptiness that awaited him when she would be gone.

Yes. Let her be free for now. At least I’ll have a worthy opponent.

“Separate into two groups,” he commanded the six guards with him at the door. He worried that he was running out of men. “Half of you come with me to search this floor. The rest stay here. Whatever you do, don’t shoot without my command.”

“Yes, sir!” they replied in unison.

He felt a fleeting sense of satisfaction and the hope that things might go his way after all.

He braced himself and kicked the door open. Flashlights and laser beams crossed in the dark space. The door to one of the cells was open. Someone was there. But who? Jet and the boy knew how to mute their auras, so it must be the priest.

Takumi flashed a hand signal to his men to release smoke into the room—metsubushi, smoke and mirrors, or as the ninja called it, eye blinders. A canister released heavy mist. The men waited, breathing through gas masks.

One, two, three, Takumi counted in his head.

Then, illuminated by flashlights, a shadow emerged, covering its face with both arms. The red lights of dozens of lasers targeted the man as he staggered toward them.

“Stop. Don’t move!” Takumi called out as two guards grabbed the man’s arms and pulled them down. Takumi rushed to the man, astonished to discover that it was Rossi.

His blond footsoldier was coughing and swearing. His unexpected appearance shocked the men, who immediately lowered their flashlights and lasers.

“Give him a mask!” Takumi shouted. “We’ve been tricked!”