Alex parried her strikes with casual grace, using minimal effort to deflect her attacks, while Colleen moved with deadly precision—her style crisp, honed from years of practice. Each time she struck, he blocked. Each time he countered, she dodged.
But something was different.
Neither of them was truly trying to win.
They were dancing.
Testing. Reading. Reacting.
At one point, Alex caught her wrist—but Colleen twisted, slipping from his grasp and driving her knee toward his ribs. He blocked it, stepped in, and their faces were suddenly inches apart.
The dojo had gone silent.
Colleen exhaled through her nose. "You're holding back."
"Why would I want to injure my beautiful girlfriend?" Alex replied with a teasing grin.
Colleen rolled her eyes, though a small smile betrayed her amusement. She stepped back. "Okay, then—I guess we're done here."
Turning to the rest of the dojo, she called out, "Alright, that's it for today, everyone. Class dismissed!"
The students began filing out, some still sneaking glances at Alex and Colleen as they whispered among themselves. Meanwhile, Alex walked over and grabbed a towel, handing it to her.
"Here," he said as she wiped the sweat from her forehead.
After the last of the students left, Alex stepped closer and hugged her from behind, placing a light kiss on her neck. Colleen froze at first, startled—but then relaxed into his arms, turning around and kissing him back softly. The moment lingered.
Eventually, they pulled apart, breathing lightly.
"Haa…" she sighed and looked up at him. "So, what brings you here today, really?"
Alex shrugged. "I missed you. And I also came to check in on something."
Colleen raised an eyebrow. "Let me guess—this isn't just about me, is it?"
"I wish it was," Alex admitted. "But I heard something… about Bakuto. He's back in New York. Someone mentioned he's planning something big… involving a test subject."
Colleen narrowed her eyes. "You think it's Sue?"
"I do," he said seriously. "She might've taken something—or stumbled onto something the Hand wants. If they've got her on an operating table… it means she's important."
Colleen frowned and pushed Alex lightly on the chest before sitting down on his lap, looking him in the eyes. "Why would Sue be their test subject? She's tough, yeah—but this sounds serious."
"I don't know," Alex said, holding her close. "But I've got a really bad feeling about it."
Colleen let out a sigh.
"It's not even been a full day since we started dating, and you're already stressing over another girl in front of me," she said, pushing a finger lightly into his chest.
Alex chuckled nervously. "I didn't mean it like that. I just… want to protect her. She's kind of a friend."
Colleen stared at him for a moment, then softened. "I know. That's why I'm helping."
She grabbed his hand and pulled him toward her desk. "I might have something. One of our informants picked up chatter. Bakuto's been seen at a cluster of abandoned hostels in the east district. It's not just one building—it's a block. Practically a fortress."
Alex glanced down at the printed map she slid across the desk. His eyes scanned the highlighted sector. "So many buildings…"
"Bakuto doesn't do anything halfway," Colleen said. "He's paranoid, so he's likely spread his people thin across multiple safehouses. Layers of misdirection."
Alex frowned. "Figures. That makes it harder to know which one they're actually keeping her in."
Colleen nodded. "We'll have to hit it smart—or we'll alert him, and Sue might be moved again. Or worse."
Alex's expression darkened. "Then we start planning. Tonight."
"But are you really coming with me?" Alex asked.
Colleen nodded. "Yes. I've done… a lot of bad things in the past. If there's even a chance this helps balance the scale, I'm taking it." She gave him a soft, weary smile.
Alex didn't press her about what she meant. He just nodded, accepting her decision.
Smack.
"Okay, guys, get ready!" Alex called out—only for Colleen to slap the back of his head with a smirk.
"That's for smacking my butt," she said, narrowing her eyes.
Alex grinned. "Worth it."
Nightfall.
The city was draped in velvet black, broken only by the cold gleam of streetlamps and the distant pulse of neon signs. A subtle fog rolled over the ground as Alex and Colleen made their way toward the location Colleen had quietly gathered intel on—an old warehouse near the river docks. Supposedly abandoned. In truth, one of Bakuto's hidden strongholds.
Alex walked in silence beside her, dark jacket flapping in the wind, his posture relaxed but his senses razor sharp.
Colleen, however, was a different sight entirely.
She was dressed for war.
Her suit was pure white—sleek, tight-fitting, and reinforced with light armor along the joints and chest. It shimmered faintly under the moonlight. A ninja's uniform—but not the kind meant for hiding. This was a statement. Her dual katanas were crossed at her back, hilts peeking just over her shoulders. Her hair was tied up in a tight, efficient bun.
"You look like trouble," Alex muttered with a slight smirk.
Colleen glanced at him. "I am trouble. And you're the idiot who asked for backup."
They stopped at the edge of a rooftop overlooking the warehouse.
From this vantage point, they could see the Hand ninjas patrolling in near-total silence. Some were cloaked in shadow, others nearly invisible in the dark—ghosts trained to kill without a whisper.
"There's more than I expected," Alex said, narrowing his eyes. "I count at least three chi users below. Maybe more inside."
"Bakuto always liked insurance," Colleen whispered. Her tone was heavy with history.
Alex didn't comment on it. He simply cracked his knuckles, faint energy building in his palms.
"You ready for this?" he asked.
Colleen turned her head slightly, moonlight catching her eyes.
"I've been ready since the day I left the Hand."
They moved together, fluid as shadows, disappearing into the night—toward the lion's den.
Inside Bakuto was looking at the extracted marrow of Sue as he continued to find the trace of Serum that can make his lifelong wish of immortaily come true.
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