Going through the streets of Tokyo at night, you are walking back to your hotel. A local pointed you down an alleyway that is a shortcut back to the street you hotel is on. You make it to the alleyway, and it is dark. Maybe this isn't such a good idea, but being unfamiliar with the city, you have to take the word of the local man you just spoke to. After about 15 or so slow steps down the alleyway, someone grabs you from behind, and holds a rag to your face. As you start to nod out, you hear a monotone, smokey, feminine voice quietly say. "Nete kudasai, mō mukae ni ikimasu..." You wake up not sure what time, day, or year it even is. You are tied to a chair, and hear a familiar monotone voice say. "Okiru jikan desu." You are still disoriented, but nonetheless, the woman walks behind you, and holds a katana to your throat. "Foreigners. All of you are the same. You come to my land, and think you can run the city. I know that you put the hit on Akira. Tell me who put you up to this, and if you don't? Well then... Shi ga chikai..."

The blade presses against your throat harder as her voice becomes more menacing and unemotional. "Akira was my sensei, the one who took me in when I had no where else to go. He meant everything to me. If you don't tell me what I want to know, then you will die right here." The pressure on your throat increases as you feel the blade bite into your skin.

"Please, tell me who sent you!" she whispers through gritted teeth.

The blade remains at your throat as she studies your expression. "You aren't very good at lying." Her voice is cold and uncaring. "I can tell you aren't from around here. You don't know how things work in my city. Now, I will ask one last time; who sent you to kill Akira?"

Her hand grips the handle of the katana tighter as she waits for your reply.

The blade draws closer to your throat as she narrows her eyes. "You are not leaving this room alive unless you tell me what I want to know." Her voice is ice cold as she holds the katana at your neck, ready to strike.

"Dead." The word comes out as more of a cold hiss than an actual sound, and the blade presses against your skin harder. "I want to know who authorized this hit, and why they thought it was necessary!" Her grip on the katana tightens further, her knuckles turning white with the effort not to slice you open right then and there.

You can feel warmth trickling down your neck as blood begins to flow from the shallow cut she's made.

The blade retracts slightly, the pressure on your throat easing up just enough to let you breathe again. "You lie poorly, foreigner," she hisses through gritted teeth. "I know you're here for a reason, and I will find out what that is."

With her free hand, she reaches into the folds of her dress and produces a small wooden box. Inside are several thin needles, each etched with symbols of death and destruction. "This will make it easier to get answers from you,"

The needles glint in the dim light as she holds them out to you. "I want the truth," she says coldly. "And if these don't make you talk, then I will find someone who can." Her grip on the katana remains strong and steady, ready to strike at a moment's notice.

Her other hand carefully pinches one of the needles between her fingers, preparing to plunge it into your skin if necessary. "You have until the count of three," she warns. "One..."

Hearing your dismissive tone, her eyes narrow further and the blade presses harder against your throat. "Two..." she whispers through clenched teeth. "Three!" With a sudden thrust, she drives one of the needles into your shoulder. You cry out in pain as adrenaline floods your system.

"Now," she hisses, her voice venomous, "tell me what I want to know." The blade remains poised at your throat, ready to strike again if necessary.

Your attempt at humor falls flat as her eyes remain cold and unyielding. "I'm not interested in your phone number," she says with a sneer. "Tell me who put out the hit on Akira, or I will keep putting these needles into you until you die screaming."

Without waiting for an answer, she plunges another of the needles into your side, causing intense pain to shoot through your body. You cry out in agony as blood begins to seep from the wound.

You're not very good at taking hints, are you? "I will give you one more chance to tell me what I want to know," she growls, her voice edged with anger. "Who put out the hit on Akira?" She slowly removes another needle from its box and holds it poised above your other shoulder, about to strike again if necessary.

Her grip on the katana tightens almost imperceptibly as she waits for you to answer her question.

"Very well," she says coldly as her hand moves to pinch another needle between her fingers. "You leave me no choice." With that, she plunges the needle into your shoulder once more, causing fresh pain to shoot through you. Her grip on the katana tightens further as blood drips down onto the floor from your wounds.

"I will ask one last time," she rasps, her voice barely recognizable now. "Who put out the hit on Akira?"

Her eyes narrow slightly at your tears, the coldness in her voice deepening. "Then you leave me no choice," she says with a sigh, her grip on the katana tightening further still. With one swift motion, she brings it down towards your neck, intent on ending your miserable life once and for all. But as her blade meets your skin, something unexpected happens; there's a sharp click, followed by a metallic sensation against her wrist as the katana's edge grinds to a halt.

Her eyes widen in shock as she looks down at her useless weapon, then back up to you. You've somehow managed to deflect her strike with some kind of hidden weapon or ability. Before she can react further, you grab the katana and use it to disarm her, sending it clattering across the floor. She glares at you in disbelief as blood drips down from several shallow cuts on her arms and hands.

"Who... who are you?" she whispers, still unable to process what's just happened.

Her expression turns to one of barely concealed contempt as she looks at you. "An American? Figures," she mutters under her breath. "So you're the one who killed Akira..." She trails off, her voice growing quiet and cold once more. "You have no idea what you've done." With that, she launches herself at you, attempting to grab you around the throat with her bare hands and choke the life out of you in a fit of rage.

Her fingers wrap tightly around your throat as she growls in your ear. "I don't believe you," she says through gritted teeth, her words barely audible over the sound of your own labored breathing. Her nails dig into your skin, drawing blood as she squeezes tighter.

You feel yourself starting to black out from lack of oxygen when suddenly she releases her grip and falls backward onto the floor, coughing violently.

She looks at you with wide eyes as she gasps for air, then glances down to where her fingers were just moments ago. Realization dawns on her face as she sees the thin needle protruding from between your shoulder blades. It's clear that you managed to stab her while she was distracted by your other injuries. "You... you tricked me..." Her voice is barely a whisper now.

Her eyes narrow as she looks at you, trying to gauge your sincerity. "I suppose... we can try," she says slowly, her voice still cold and unemotional. She reaches up with her free hand and gently touches the needle embedded in her palm, wincing in pain as she does so. "But if I find out that you were lying..." Her words trail off threateningly.

Without waiting for a response, she turns and begins to walk away from you. "I'll be going now," she says over her shoulder.

The assassin pauses and turns back towards you, her expression unreadable. "You have my word that I will not interfere with your business," she says coolly. "But remember this; the Yakuza are dangerous enemies, and they won't hesitate to end your life if they suspect you of betrayal." Her voice is calm but stern, as if she's warning you against something far more important than yourself.

Her eyes widen slightly in surprise as you confess to killing Akira. "I see," she says slowly, her voice still emotionless. "Then perhaps I should help you deal with the Yakuza. They will not rest until they've avenged Akira's death." The offer hangs in the air between them, an unexpected twist in this tangled web of vengeance and betrayal.

Her gaze doesn't waver as she looks at you. "I will not kill you," she says simply. "But if you cross me again, I won't hesitate to defend myself." There's still an edge of coldness in her voice, but it seems to be softening ever so slightly. Perhaps there's some small chance for understanding between them after all.

"Come with me," she says, turning and leading the way back out into the alleyway. "We have work to do."

She glances back over her shoulder at you as she continues walking. "Follow me closely and stay silent." Her tone is still cold, but there's an undertone of authority in it now. As you follow her out of the alleyway, she begins to lead you through Tokyo's dark streets, moving with a grace and purpose that belie her earlier confusion.