By Richard Palmer

Marcus ran across the airfield towards Hanger C. John Crawley sat there, waiting for him.

"Okay lets go." Marcus said as he approached.

Crawley shook his head, "no can do, pal." He motioned toward a large man working on the second engine on the right wing, We’re doin’ some final repairs on the engine."

"Look pal I’m paying you top dollar to get me out of here on time!" Marcus steamed, "I don’t want to hear anything about a busted engine!"

"So you’d rather fly with nearly half the jets workin’?"

"Don’t be naive, just fix this damn thing pronto."

Mr.Big’s limousine pulled up to the airport entrance. The door opened and Billy got out.

"I’ve already got airport security trying to track down Boss. They’re also going to call Crawley and tell him not to leave the airfield unless he gets the word from me personally. You just get down there fast as possible, got it?"

Billy smiled weakly, "Thanks Big, I guess you’re not such an asshole after all."

Big smiled back, "No, I am, I’m just your kind of asshole."

Billy nodded in reply as he dashed off down the terminal.

Crawley sat back and sipped on a cup of black coffee. Marcus was pacing around like a nervous wreck. It was really starting to get on Crawley’s nerves. Sure, he hated delays too, but he never made as much fuss about it as this jerk. If Boss hadn’t paid him so much up front, asking only to keep silent and never question him, Crawley would’ve given him a kidney punch he’d never forget.

"Crawley, you got a phone call." Said one of the mechanics in the hanger handing John Crawley a mobile phone.

Crawley grabbed the phone, "Yeah, What?" Marcus listened intently to Crawley’s conversation. "Fine, but I’ve got… No you see…I’m on a deadline. Just tell him…" finally, John Crawley sighed, "Yeah whatever." He hung up and then added, "Fuck you too."

"Problems?" Marcus asked.

"Possibly, but it’s my concern not yours." He motioned at a young man at the other end of the hanger, "Don’t worry, Boss, you’ll be taking off on time." The young man wandered over to them. "Hey, Alfred, You ever flown a CC-22 before?"

"I’ve flown a CC-23, good enough?"

"The 23’s are out already?" Crawley questioned.

"You’re way behind the times, man." Alfred answered and then looked at Boss, "He the cargo?"

"S’right one man passenger flight from Southtown to Tokyo with a pit stop in Maui."

"And I’m in a hurry." Boss said as he pulled out his wallet.

"Well I still have certain procedures to go through…" Alfred began. Marcus handed him a wad of $100 bills. "But, procedures suck, lets get going."

Almost as if he’d been cued at that moment the mechanic at the Engine shouted, "Finished!" He walked over to the group, "Engine’s all done, your all set."

"That’s the thing I like about you Franco," Crawley smiled, "You’re a fast worker."

"Speaking of fast work," said a voice just outside the Hanger, "You’re going about to see the fastest casualty of my career!" Yamazaki stepped into view with a sneer on his face.

"I don’t have time for this." Marcus said, "Deal with it, Crawley."

Crawley looked at Marcus, then at Yamazaki, and finally back at Marcus. "No way," he said, "I’m crazy but not that crazy."

"I’ll take him." Franco said, Crawley stared at Franco in disbelief, "It’s been awhile since I had a good workout."

"Uh, Franc, this is Ryuji Yamazaki, Southtown’s resident social-psychotic." Crawly said.

"I'm well aware of who he is," Franco went into a boxing stance, "And I've been Waiting a long time to KO this bastard"

Alfred and Marcus started for the plane. Yamazaki started after them. Franco quickly stepped into his path. "You have ten seconds to step out of the way," Yamazaki sneered, "and just to show I’m serious you have two seconds."

A puzzled look came over Franco’s face just before he was hit with a hard left to the Jaw. Franco shook it off and threw a few jabs at Yamazaki. Yamazaki just yawned and stuck his left hand into his pocket.

Franco executed a dash punch narrowly missing Yamazaki’s head. Yamazaki’s right hand grabbed Franco’s throat, but before Yamazaki could do anything He received a hard blow to the gut. He doubled over for a second, then stood up and smiled. His opponent had some skill; this was a fight he was going to enjoy.

The engines on the plane started up. Ryuji’s attention went towards the jet just as he was hit with a hard overhead right. Ryuji sneered, He didn’t have time for this. His right hand flashed out of his Pocket and slashed at Franco with his knife. Franco dodged in time to only receive a few superficial cuts. Yamazaki was surprised to see that Franco was fast enough to avoid his Redemption Blade attack. He readied another attack.

Franco threw a kick and the knife flew out of Yamazaki’s hand. Yamazaki threw a quick series of punches, taking Franco by surprise. Franco threw a Jab with his left while trying to deflect the punches with his right. That’s when Yamazaki grabbed him by the throat again and hammered him with three quick headbutts. Franco staggered back and Yamazaki rushed at him with an uppercut. Quickly Franco dashed out of the way of the attack.

Yamazaki smiled, this man was giving him an adequate challenge, and if he weren’t so pressed for time he would’ve enjoyed this. Yamazaki let his left arm dangle and muttered the word "Ikuze."

"What?" Franco said, he let his guard down slightly.

"IKUZE." Yamazaki said again. Franco looked around puzzled, he had no idea what Yamazaki was up to. "IKUZE!" Yamazaki screamed "YAAA!" Before Franco knew what happened Yamazaki’s hand flashed out of his pocket and shot at Franco, his fist crashing into Franco’s face. Franco hit the floor, unconscious long before his head hit the pavement.

Yamazaki turned towards the plane. It was already too far down the runway, in fact it was in the midst of takeoff. Yamazaki knew he was too late, but this wasn’t over.

"Okay," he said turning back to John, "Crawley, is it? Where were they headed?"

"I swear I don’t know." Crawley said. Yamazaki picked up his knife. "Look just because you’re insane and have a reputation for bloodlust doesn’t mean I won’t fight you if it comes down to it." Crawley said as he went into his fighting stance.

Yamazaki looked around. Some of the other people in the hanger, looked like they were prepared to back Crawley up if they needed to. Yamazaki flipped his blade shut and stuck it in his pocket. Being feared didn’t always mean being respected. If they felt Yamazaki was the real enemy here he wasn’t going to get anything out of them. He had other means however. "Alright, I’ll disregard you this time." He turned and left the hanger. As he did he added, "You’re not worth the trouble."

Crawley sighed as Yamazaki left. He didn’t relish the thought of fighting that maniac, he was actually very glad Yamazaki backed down.

Just then Billy Kane ran into the hanger. He ran right up to Crawley. "Good," he panted, "you’re ‘ere. Now where’s that bastard, Boss?"

"I don’t know who you’re talking about, man." Crawley said. Billy looked around; Boss was obviously long gone. It was now just a matter of getting the information out of Crawley. Billy heard a motorcycle screech to a halt just outside the Hanger. He knew who it was.

"He’s not ‘ere." Billy said as Mary entered.

"What?"

"Boss flew the coup." Billy managed a smile, "Don’t worry luv, we’ll catch up to ‘im. Just as soon as Crawley tells me what I want to know."

"I’ve got nothing to say to you, Man." Crawley responded, "But as for the lady here, If she asks me right I might spill a detail or two."

"Or I could make you spill your teeth and we’ll call it even." Terry said as he entered.

"Just give us a destination Crawley." Billy said impatiently.

Crawly looked at Kane, then at Terry, "Have you flipped?" he said, finally, "you’re working with him?"

"I’ve got me reasons," Billy responded, "Whether I like it or not He’s along fo’ the ride." He walked up towards Crawley, "You, on the other ‘and, I’m getting’ tired of, Where’s Marcus Boss."

"Why should I tell you?" Crawley replied.

"Because I’m telling you to." Came a booming voice from the entrance to the hanger. Everyone turned to see Mr. Big as he casually walked up to Crawley.

"B-Big, you’re involved in this?" Crawley stammered

"Where’s Boss?" Big said in a no-nonsense tone.

"I-I don’t know."

"Oh don’t lie to me Crawley, you know I hate it when my employee’s try to lie." Big said, "You can’t hide anything from me Crawley, and you know what’ll happen if you try."

"T-Tokyo," Crawly stuttered, "He’s headed for Tokyo, Japan."

Big smiled and looked at Billy, "I’ll get you on the first plane there."

"Thanks again, Big." Billy said. He turned to Mary and Terry, "I’ll fit you up with tickets for yourselves. We’ll continue the search in Japan. But remember one thing, Boss is mine!"

In the Hospital, Lily sat in the recovery room. Billy was at her side. "Don’t worry luv, I’m going after the bastard who did this to you. And rest assured he will pay." Billy grabbed her hand and held it for a moment. A tear formed in his left eye and slowly trickled down his cheek. "I’ll be back, luv. Everything will be fine."

Mary rummaged around the bar, grabbing a few things she thought she’d need. It was early morning now. And her plane left in a few hours. Suddenly she heard a familiar voice coming from the entrance, "You and Terry planning a little trip? Do try to get out of the hotel room now and then!"

"It’s work related, Mai," Mary said as she turned around, "Besides I’m not as sex crazed as you are."

"Ooooh, that stings," Mai said as she approached, "but I already heard about you’re latest client from King. Why? Why risk you’re neck for Billy?"

"I guess you haven’t heard the full story," Mary said as she shoved a few papers into a backpack, "His sister was shot, nearly killed. She’s his only family, so naturally this goes beyond how I feel about Billy himself."

"Lily was shot?" Mai said. Mary nodded. "This is really going to set Joe off."

"Joe’s back too?"

"Yes, me and Andy just got back from Joe’s latest Match in Thailand, He came back too to say hi to Terry… and to see Lily."

Terry was in Lily’s recovery room, paying his respects before he left. Billy and Lily had lost their parents at a young age too, however, unlike Terry, Billy just headed straight to crime. Terry worked hard to get the strength for his revenge, he never took the easy road. But then again Geese wasn’t the one who killed Billy’s parents, so Billy had no reason to turn away from Geese.

"I heard." Came a voice from the doorway, Terry looked up and saw Andy standing there. "But what I don’t understand is why you’re mixed up in this?"

"We both know what it’s like to lose family, Andy." Terry said, "Billy’s getting into this for almost the same reason that you and I are after Geese."

"But still, He’s Geese’s lead crony, do you really think we should trust him?"

Before Terry could answer, Joe burst into the room. "All I want to know is who did this! Cause I’m gonna kill him!"

"Joe?" Terry said.

"Who is he, Where is he at!"

"His name is Marcus Boss, He’s in Japan," Came a voice from the doorway. They all turned to see Jubei Yamada.

"Sensei?" Andy said

He walked in the room and looked at Terry, "But the real problem is in Italy."

"Italy?" Andy said.

"Marcus Boss is working for a man named Michael Straus, a man from Germany who has similar ties as Geese." Jubei said looking at Andy, "His criminal organization is the largest in Europe at the time being, and he’s working on expanding his business here." He looked back at Terry, "But Straus shares something else in common with Geese… his love of power."

"What do you mean?" asked Andy.

"Billy’s parent’s had mob ties themselves, although I’m sure neither Billy or his sister are aware of it. Their father was working right under Straus as Straus was rising up in the ranks of the Mob. Straus was determined to find a site that he believed held the Key to obtaining god-like power. From what I know Billy’s Father found the location, but was terrified of how Straus would use it and went to the authorities for protection. He and his wife were killed while trying to flee the country."

Jubei sighed and then looked at Joe, "I don’t believe that the assault on Lily was a random occurrence. She must have had something that revealed the location. Marcus is not as much of a threat as Straus at this point. Straus is a remorseless man whose ability can only be compared to Bernstein Rugal’s, and we all know how powerful he was. But the problem with Straus and his associates is that the have no code of fighter’s honor that many of the people working for Geese do. They may go to greater lengths to get you out of the way."

"So there is another Geese Howard out there. Destroying lives just as Geese did to our father." Andy said. Jubei nodded. Andy turned to Terry, "Terry I’m going after Straus, If he’s as bad as his reputation we should strike now before he knows we’re onto him."

"Don’t be insane." Jubei replied, "Straus is too powerful for you to fight alone."

"Well, then count me in!" Joe replied, "Might as well go to the heart of the matter if I want my revenge!"

"I still can’t allow you to…" Jubei began.

"Andy!" Came Mai’s voice from the door, "So you already heard, huh?"

Andy nodded, "Were going after the man behind it all, some European mob Boss called Michael Straus."

"In that case I’m coming along!" exclaimed Mai.

Jubei sighed, "I can see it’s useless to try and argue with you, but I still think you need more than the three of you to defeat Straus. Therefore I’m going to try and contact Takuma Sakazaki and see if his student’s can offer any help."

Andy nodded, "Right." It’d been awhile since he had seen Robert and Ryo, and their skills would come in handy in this situation.

A large man walked through the glass doors to the airport; he was dressed in black except for a very expensive white coat that hung off of his shoulders. He walked up to the ticket counter and set his bag down.

"Can I help you sir?" the clerk smiled.

Yamazaki smiled back at her, his grin made her nervous. "I’d like a first class ticket to Tokyo, Japan…" He reached into his pocket and threw a large wad of cash in front of her, "Today, preferably."

The clerk looked down at the stack of money; there was easily twice what it cost for the ticket there. She looked up at him, "Would you like a window seat or a seat by the aisle?"

Yamazaki just grinned.

To be continued.