Disclaimer: El Hazard is owned by AIC/Pioneer LDC.  The author owns only the writing.

Fire and Lightning
Chapter 1: New Friends
Setting: Waterfront, night

Shikei slipped in silently through the air duct. The air intake fan was moving slowly 
enough for him to walk through. His black and grey igabakama (night suit) blended in 
perfectly in the dark shadows within the top of the warehouse. With an almost inaudible 
click, he switched his goggles from night vision to infrared. Below he watched the guards 
walk around stacks of crates. Inside some of the creates he could detect heat sources, but 
they weren't clear enough to decide if they were illegally imported animals or worse. 
Unmoving he counted the guards and tracked their movements. His mind already 
anticipating where they will go.

Shikei had no family name. He was adopted by Master Oba immediately after his birth. 
His biological family and the reasons behind his adoption were unknown to him. Master 
Oba, his oyabun (yakuza family leader), told him not to worry himself with it. So he 
obeyed. The motives behind Master Oba was none of his concern. Up until a few years 
ago his life was spent training, learning the secret art of ninjutsu, karate, stealth, 
acrobatics, and kenjutsu. Especially kenjutsu. While never truly competing in public, he 
had already bested several skilled fighters in back alleys on the order of Master Oba. The 
only sign of a loss was a faint straight scar on his right cheek, barely noticeable unless the 
light was just right or if you know what to look for. Shikei knew what to look for. Each 
time he looked in the mirror, that two inch scar became a hideous gash dominating his 
face, a badge of his failure. He relived that moment four years ago every time he saw or 
felt the scar. The dark alley, his katana wet with the blood of the rival gang members. The 
fourth hiding behind a car. A gun drawn, noticed an instant too late. A single shot fired. 
Hot, burning streak along the side of his face. Shrunkin thrown in reflex. Gun rendered 
useless followed by the owner. No one but him considered it to be a failure. Still, it drove 
him to train harder.

There was an academic aspect to his training also. All of it was related to his journey to 
become the sort of ninja/samauri Master Oba wanted. He learned Japanese and yakuza 
history to learn of his adopted family's past. Physics and chemistry had real world 
applications which had saved his life more than once. Knowledge of electronics and 
computers made breaking into secure places easier. But none of that science would be 
needed here. Tonight his mission was simple: destroy this warehouse.

Below him were smuggled goods from across the Pacific. What they were exactly was 
unknown. But they belonged to a greedy rival gang. It was a new gang led by those 
without experience or even basic common sense. Their guards were little more than 
common thugs in gang colors.

Whatever was in one of the crates clawed at the sides as a guard walked by. The guard 
yelled for quiet and kicked the side. Shikei fell from his perch. Well-oiled swords were 
pulled from their sheaths with not even a whisper. With a swish, the guard collapsed, his 
lifeforce vanished.

Shikei returned to the shadows in time to catch another guard unaware. This one, 
however, was better trained or smarter than the average cannon fodder. Any training he 
had extended his life by only a few seconds, but in that brief time he called for help 
before the point of a katana slashed his throat.

The three remaining guards appeared at the end of a row of packages. The leader pulled a 
pistol from his holster. Calmly and almost instantly, the man in the night suit flexed his 
right forearm and pushed a hidden button with his thumb. A zipping noise was heard and 
the leader was knocked down, a throwing spike imbedded in his forehead.

The last pair of guards panicked and tried to flee. But Shikei was faster, killing them 
before they could even reach the door. With no further complications, the intruder pulled 
several incendiary charges from his belt and began scouting for the best locations. Again 
he passed by the crate where the first guard met unforgiving justice and again there was a 
plea for freedom from within.

The infrared goggles were still unable to determine what was inside. Curious he found a 
crowbar and pried open the lid. From the first crack in the lid a strong order emanated. 
Shikei took a step backwards from the stench. It was musk mixed with death. Two ferret 
heads poked themselves out, ecstatic about a breath of fresh air. Carefully he pulled them 
out. The grateful ferrets climbed all over his body affectionately. He unwrapped the 
nutrition bar be brought as a snack and fed it to them. The slinky mammals ate hungrily 
and began nosing around inside his night suit for more food. Amused, he gave them the 
rest of the bar and let them drink from his collapsible water pouch. Exhausted and full the 
ferrets snuggled in the crook of his arm and fell asleep.

There were other animals being smuggled inside the crate, but they had all died from 
starvation, the journey, or each other. He closed the lid again and began to check the 
other crates for anything else which might still be alive. He came across an assortments 
of illegal girlie mags, weapons, even another crate of poor animals which didn't make it.

In the distance a truck was approaching. Obviously they were the owners of the 
contraband and were coming to collect their ill gotten goods. Shikei worked quickly 
placing the charges. His assignment was to destroy the shipment, not to attack the yakuza 
lieutenants. He knew there was a reason for those orders. He trusted that he would be told 
them in time.

Slipping unseen out the window he jumped to another warehouse, found cover, and 
detonated the charges. The structure burst into flame instantly. Doors were ripped from 
their hinges and windows shattered. The truck barely managed to dodge a burning chunk 
of debris. Its occupants could do nothing but watch helplessly as tens of millions of yen 
were destroyed.

Satisfied his job was finished, Shikei carefully left the scene to return home. One of the 
ferrets stirred, but remained silent and unmoving as if aware of the man's desire for 
stealth. He decided to name them Yoroi and Toshi, the two parts of the name of a type of 
Japanese dagger.

Upon his return he was told Master Oba, was away on business for a few days and that he 
was not to leave the complex until his return. The saro-kai (advisor) never liked Shikei, 
treating him like an outsider. The feeling was mutual. In a way, he was. Adoption aside, 
his training was always done in private, never with the others. He was allowed more 
freedom of movement, though he was monitored constantly. He was forbidden to get 
tatoos or any other identifying mark of the yakuza. Shikei heard the rumors, that he was 
an illegitimate relative of Master Oba, that he was in training to be a special assassin-for-
hire or spy. Shikei himself considered another reason, that Master Oba wanted him to be 
sheltered and protected from the dark realities of the yakuza. If that was his goal, then he 
failed. This gang was different than most. While all modern yakuza gangs commit 
crimes, his also protected the citizens and considered one of the more legitimate gangs in 
the city. They did more of the 'victimless crimes' like gambling. That's not to say they 
were non-violent, this mission an obvious example, but they turned their swords to other 
gangs taking or destroying their stolen loot. It was not profitable enough for some, but 
stealing from criminals helped keep the police at bay.

The first thing he did when dismissed was to return to his quarters. Next to his sleeping 
roll was a small shrine. It was generic, featureless save for the required Shinto symbols. 
Shikei allowed the ferrets to eat and drink and sleep as much as they wanted as he 
kneeled and prayed an hour for each life he took. When he finished, both ferrets were 
asleep, snuggled on the bed roll. He took advantage of the opportunity to learn about his 
new pets. Ferrets were the current pet craze with the societal upper crust so it was an easy 
matter to find a vet with the appropriate knowledge. Both ferrets were in good health and 
were already neutered and descented. They were probably bought or stolen from a pet 
store in America. There was also the possibility they were operated on before being 
smuggled on the logic they would recover during the trip.

Regardless the animals had a strong attachment to their rescuer and refused to leave his 
side for long. They mirrored his mood, cherry and playful when he was happy, silent and 
still during his ninjutsu practice, and docile when it was required he show respect to the 
other residents of the complex. Training them, was another matter. Matching their mood 
to suit his was just strong animal empathy, getting them to obey his commands was 
another matter. They acted as if they were listening, but still did whatever they pleased. 
At most, he trained him to watch his back in a fight and warn him with a yip about 
immediate threats. Further training would take time. But it might not matter if Master 
Oba did not allow it.

When Master Oba finally arrived he immediately sent for Shikei. Shikei bowed deep until 
Master Oba finally allowed him to rise. "Your mission?"

"A success."

"I see you came away with two friends, Shikei."

"They were smuggled into Japan, the only ones who survived the trip. I couldn't leave 
them--"

Master Oba raised his hand and Shikei fell silent instantly. "You made the right choice. 
But even without their oil glands, their smell will still linger on you."

"I will insure that will not become a problem, Master Oba"

"Of course. <sigh> However it is a moot point."

"Master?"

"Shikei, have you ever wondered about your real family?"

"Master, you raised me. You, sensei Nii, sensei Somo, saro-kai Nishi are my real family."

"You are just being loyal." Oba said with a smile.

"A family is not always related by blood, Master."

"Then let me rephrase that. Have you ever wondered about your biological family?"

"... On occasion."

Master Oba stood and began pacing the room. Shikei remained still and silent as he 
waited for him to continue. "As you should. It is time for you to know the whole story. 
As you have learned from your history lessons, the yakuza were once protectors during 
medieval times. Over the centuries they became corrupt, worse than the criminals they 
fought. I wanted to return to those days, revive the concept of katagi no shu (noble 
gangster) but was too old to capture youthful idealism. What I needed was an heir, 
someone who I can train in honorable ways, to use ninja skills to help instead of hurt. 
Seeing you now tells me I had succeeded. But it is too little too late.

"I had known your father, your biological father, for some time. When he was young I 
saved his life from a gang of muggers. He mistook me for a traveling martial artist and 
offered a debt of honor for my actions. I told him I would one day return to collect on the 
favor he owed me. I kept tabs on him from then on. Oh, I never intended to collect, 
merely to save a favor and have one thing in my favor when it came time for my final 
judgement. When I learned his wife was pregnant with twins, I reconsidered.

"The cleaving of the zygote, when for some unknown reason one potential human life 
becomes two, happened unusually late. By that time your genetic structures had stabilized 
and were identical. It was a time when science was debating if genetics or environment 
determined personality. I had read the evidence and wanted to see for myself. Your father 
was a hard worker, but could not afford twins that early in his life so I came to him with a 
deal. I would have his firstborn to raise to the best of my ability. He would be instructed 
in the same ways that allowed me to save his father's life. In return all financial debts he 
accumulated up to that point would be cleared. It was a painful decision, to defy me and 
dishonor himself while keeping two children he could not afford, or surrender his own 
flesh and blood in the name of giri so that his other son could live better. You know how 
he answered."

Shikei was stunned for a moment as he digested this turn of events. Finally he asked, "I 
have a brother? Why are you telling me this?"

"Because my mission to return the yakuza to what it was is over. I had failed. You were 
the best student I could hope for. If I had more time, you could have instructed others and 
spark this revolution. But it will not be. Our family is to be disbanded and redistributed 
among the other gangs. My ideas were considered too radical and unacceptable to the 
other leaders. Perhaps I have done my job too well. Your heart is not with the yakuza. 
Your spirit is too noble for even the basic yakuza activities. You are closer to samauri 
than ninja. You have taken pity on the victims of crime. I know you have saved innocent 
lives by putting yourself at risk. You have insured your actions do not effect the common 
citizen. You have the soul of a hero."

"You wish me to return to my biological family." Shikei said in a tone that bordered on 
asking.

"It is the only choice we have. I have kept your existence secret for as long as I can. You 
have no marks of the yakuza and your parents think you have spent your life in legitimate 
martial arts training. I do not have to tell you to maintain this deception."

"Yes, Master Oba. I ... I can't believe I have a brother."

"Unfortunately that may not be the case now. I have monitored your brother and 
compared your developments. Both of you are remarkably intelligent and good people, 
filled with compassion. However where your learning in the sciences had always been to 
the more practical aspect, he turned his attention to the theoretical. He vanished while 
performing an experiment."

"He ... he's dead?"

"Not dead. Disappeared."

"There's a difference?"

"Your brother was able to live a normal life, quite different from our line of work. I do 
not believe he was kidnaped or killed by people who wanted to harness his knowledge. 
You can learn the details later if you wish, but a device he created somehow caused him, 
two other students, and a teacher to vanish without a trace."

"I will find out what happened to him." Shikei vowed.

His now-former master smiled, "I'm sure you will. You are two of a kind. Here is the 
information about your brother and your family along with a train ticket. Pack your 
things, Shikei. You will leave in the morning."

Shikei opened the file when Oba finished speaking, curious about what secrets it 
contained. The first thing he noticed was a picture. It was like looking into a mirror, one 
showing him what might have been. He saw his happy face, without the regretful scar. 
His brother.... Oh the hair was not as short as he preferred, and it could use a serious 
combing, but it was still his own.

The second thing he noticed was his brother's name, his family name: Mizuhara Makoto.