Author's Notes: Fictionpress somehow hates my previous style to break the scenes, so now the breaks will be replaces by the initials of the title show "...T/B...". Blame their stupidity for making my life hard.

Gunshots; it shall echo,
Melee weapons; shall pierce a body,
A hard duel; a power struggle,
A battleground; in an apartment.

...T/B...

16th May 2006; 5.45pm
Current Status Of Assignment – Temporary Report By Raquel Schmidt

After the failed attempt of arresting the suspect with the car chase, we have been led by an officer from Shinjuku by the name of Hyun-Su, who was instructed by Chief Craken to lead us to the suspect's possible whereabouts; his own apartment. We were somehow skeptical about the possibility of Raito Musume to seek cover at such a place, but we were proven wrong when the same black sedan back in the car chase was spotted near the stated apartment at the outskirts of Chuo.

Nothing has been executed as of yet; we are to organize our plan to infiltrate the apartment with minimal problems, and at the quickest possible time. We intend to delay our operations till 7pm, where night falls. This hence, as I have assumed, will decrease the chances of direct assault, and fully utilize the dark surroundings to our advantage. As of now, we are stationed in a secluded road adjacent of the suspect's apartment.

...T/B...

3rd Chapter
Struggle

16th May 2006; 7.05pm
Location – Nearby The Suspect's Apartment At The Outskirts Of Chuo.

"Raquel, it seems that either you have miscalculated your assumptions, or you're just a blithering idiot," Claire scowled, her right fist trembling with subdued anger.

"Why is that so?" the albino replied, cocking her old Mauser handgun.

"If you intend to storm into the suspect's apartment after night falls, wouldn't the suspect switch on the lights in order to see? Then hiding in the shadows to your advantage is deemed null," the blonde implied, shooting a glare at Raquel.

"Stop trying to be a dumb blonde..." the wavy haired woman paused before continuing. "You blonde. A suspect would be stupid to signal his presence in the apartment by turning on the lights; they would rather lay low."

"Stop yapping, cat and dog," the North Korean broke the duo's conversation all too suddenly. "We better head out. It's dark enough."

It had been almost two hours of waiting for the sky to turn dark, gaining to their advantage, as what Raquel has assumed, though had never used the theory till now. Hyun-Su took the lead with a TT-33 handgun in her hands while swiftly slipping through the shadows by evading the lit lampposts with ease. Claire followed suit behind, though not equipped at the moment while Raquel took the opposite side of the path armed with the Mauser. Since this particular section of Chuo was somewhat 'quiet', the trio had no problems about dealing with civilians, hence the urge to end the operation quickly before anything strikes to complicate the matter. The brunette paused, dead in her tracks the moment she maneuvered her way into the residence. The building was a typical two-storey flat with several apartments, each belonging to a different family. Deep crimson eyes stared at the one on the second floor, on the far right door; the suspect's. Claire and Raquel took notice the moment the petite woman showed various hand signals.

"Follow me, be on standby for assault," the albino muttered out the meanings of the hand signs.

Hyun-Su took the lead again, this time, cocking her firearm while doing so. Her eyes peeled for possible signs that could trigger the suspect from causing a ruckus, even a foreign sound like an audible footstep might even be a trigger. She gazed at the grainy tarmac, then at the low concrete fence; nothing worth mentioning. She turned around, stealing a glance at Claire- no one. Damn, she thought. Of all times, the blonde had to disappear from sight, when she was supposed to be on her tail. She swore under her breath before Raquel came into her sight, opposite of where the entrance into the residence was. The albino remained calm, though her forehead broke out in cold sweat. Her eyes turned to the gate, most probably trying to signal the brunette to enter first before Claire came into view, from inside. The two women outside gasped at that moment before shutting their mouths to minimize the noise they had made. Raquel aimed a finger at her partner, literally poking the blonde's left temple on purpose. That had the Swiss retorting with a faint grunt and pinching her partner's nose, literally ignoring the North Korean's presence.

Hyun-Su paused at that moment, simply staring at the duo with her glazed, deep crimson eyes before she decided to something about it. Silently, she paced her way towards the tall lass, and gave a slight tug to Claire's shirt, just enough to catch the blonde's attention. The Swiss did respond by turning around, only to cease what she was doing. The North Korean simply stared coldly without uttering a word, all too similar like a spirit would do. Blue eyes gazed into deep crimson ones while Raquel simply froze, not too sure what was occurring.

"Idiot," the brunette commented, just loud enough for Claire to hear.

The tall woman jolted in response by the sudden comment before Hyun-Su entered the residence. Raquel followed suit, passing by her stunned partner; the albino had to nudge her several times before the blonde took notice.

"Quit staring into space like a goon," the wavy haired woman implied. "And get yourself armed. I hate to see my partner having gashes or holes on her body."

...T/B...

The Academy

Chief Craken was busy as usual; most of it was simply notices about more assistance by other prefecture headquarters. The National Police Agency, on the other hand, seemed to be strained on recruiting more officers. They had intended to employ those who barely made the cut, but Chief had gone against it. He did not like the idea; it will only degrade the NPA's outlook in the long run. His decision was often disputed, but it stood throughout.

"Damn it," he cursed. "This is the first time I've felt so pressured to the point of breaking out from my calm composure."

The middle aged man then glanced at the telephone; somehow maybe… maybe there might be another way to reduce the pressure on The Academy. However, that itself could be a controversy. But after all, 'she' was initially from The Academy, so there might be a chance 'she' would agree. Hesitation kicked in before Chief Craken dialed the number quickly; he did not want to change his mind halfway through.

"Hello?" a familiar voice from several years ago was heard on the other end.

"It's been a while, partner," the Chief replied, followed by a sigh of relief.

"I've been expecting your call actually, after all the yapping from the news about the NPA's current poor status, and The Academy being the temporary support of nearly 80 percent of the time," the woman implied before a faint chuckle was heard.

"So, I've heard about it. But no matter, I'm sure you know the reason why I called you, after a long time. You want in? I'm sure your presence would fire up The Academy again, especially from the ones from our generation, Kikyo Takayanagi," the American went to the main point.

"Oh, so that's your plan right now, even though I'm now a caretaker of a small Yakuza clan after my father passed on due to old age?" she countered, this time using her usual boyish tone.

"It's ironic that your father can pass on, while you can't in any way. All thanks to the constant blood transfusion, which literally altered your system in some way or another; you were always in a bloody mess after the missions we had. Sounds like science fiction, eh?" Chief implied with a monotonous voice, striking the nail.

"I've moved on from being such a stupid, emotional asshole. I've accepted this fact, you saw me change in behaviour, right?" Kikyo sputtered.

"Guess so. Anyway, let's cut to the chase. How about it? Do you want to wreck havoc again with that… M1918A2 BAR, and nodachi of yours? I'm sure the small Yakuza clan is able to maintain on its own for now,"

"You got me there," the Japanese sighed, before responding. "Is my room in the dormitory still vacant?"

"Untouched, and out of bounds except me," the middle aged man replied, now grinning, knowing the outcome.

"Then I'm coming back from hell."

...T/B...

16th May 2006; 7.15pm
Location- Outskirts of Chuo, Suspect's Apartment

After that… meaningless stint back at the entrance of the residence, the trio resumed to their current operation; right now on the second floor, heading towards the felon's public housing. Hyun-Su, who still led the way, kept her TT-33 close to her, though her fingers were not touching the trigger. Still without a word coming out from her mouth, her deep crimson eyes scanned the path ahead. For a two-storey flat, it seemed unusual to have an unlit corridor; a possibility that the lights were not replaced. The concrete flooring was bone dry with minor fissures; due to wear and tear several years after the flat was constructed. Faint dust and sand kicked up, as if making an obstacle in terms of vision. The North Korean took a glance at the other two officers that were tailing behind. Raquel was right on her tail, while Claire seemed to have a rather bothered look, and still not equipped with her handgun. Hyun-Su would have pointed out to that blonde to draw out her firearm right now, but being close to the suspect's hideout, it was literally impossible.

"Idiot," she murmured under her breath before turning her attention to the albino. "You, the other side of the door; the blonde as well."

Raquel simply nodded in response before hand signaling her partner to follow suit while the brunette remained silent on her part. That had the duo from The Academy puzzled, but decided not to pester on what Hyun-Su might do next. Without a hint of sound, she paced her way in front of the door. By then, the albino had a thought that the brunette had the intention to kick the door open, and then storm in. It did not occur. Instead, the petite woman simply turned the handle of the door, swung it open harshly, then bursting into the apartment; all with minimal noise. Claire and Raquel gaped as a response; they never thought it would be possible, or was it?

The brunette, her fingers on the trigger, scanned the kitchen located just beyond the front door. No one, not even a sign of life. She spun around to the opposite direction. The main fluorescent light from the living room was lit, but no suspect in sight. The North Korean called out Raquel's name, just loud enough for her to hear; the trigger for the duo to enter the apartment.

"I'm done here. Both of you take over while I be on guard outside; there will be a possibility that the suspect might have fled and to his car again," the petite woman implied before pacing her way towards the main door with the same blank look as when the duo first met her.

Claire did not utter a word at that point; unusual for her to not respond. Blue eyes then took a glance at the albino, answering with a nod before they launched a search. The Swiss took her chances at the living room while Raquel went into the only other room; the bedroom. There was no possibility the suspect would have sought cover in the bathroom in the duo's mind, considering the translucent, blue fragmented glass as the sliding door with the place lit was well. The blonde entered the verbena, assuming the felon might have left signs of escaping there. A pair of slippers was spotted but its condition was too poor to be worn recently. Turning away while leaving the sliding door to the verbena ajar, Claire turned her attention to the living room's storage compartments. After all, for a suspect that desperate to be hiding from the police, it would have sought such areas- a gunshot was heard from the bedroom, followed by the albino's rousing voice.

"Claire!"

That was enough for the blonde to respond with a mad dash into the said room before a hard right fist from the suspect came towards her direction, straight for her face. The blow came into contact, literally had the Swiss stumbling backwards before hitting the wall behind her, back first. Raquel reacted by aiming at one of the suspect's legs, just hoping to prevent him from attacking, or fleeing. However, just before she could squeeze the trigger, as if he knew, the suspect, Raito, hurled a vicious backhand to her torso, then a boot at her navel. That had the albino trip up as a result, though landing on the bed, minimizing damage to her back. She winced at the searing pain that somehow shot through her midriff.

"Not now," she thought. "My old wound; it's opening up again."

Raquel swore she felt blood streaming out from the scar, but she could not attend to it right now. Grey eyes stole a glance at the suspect, who now seemed to be holding a melee weapon. Judging from its traditional hilt and its short blade, it was a tanto. That was enough to get the albino moving, while withstanding the searing pain that surged through her midriff. Raito, not a word coming out from his mouth, swung the short blade, stabbing on the particular place on the bed where Raquel was. Swearing under her breath, the albino aimed for the suspect, this time for his right hand that held the tanto. She squeezed the trigger, twice. Raito missed the first shot, but received the second, though it was lodged into his right arm, near the elbow. A yelp left his mouth, but that was it. Fear somehow embedded into the albino's mind the moment the suspect pounced over her, pinning Raquel down.

"You think a mere bullet is going to stop me?" his voice rang into her ears in a howl. "Never!"

A harsh left fist came into contact with the albino's right cheek, literally had her facing to the left at such velocity to the point her left temple hit the tatami flooring, hard. She wanted to simply shove the suspect aside, and empty the magazine of her Mauser into Raito's torso, but the rousing pain surging through her midriff literally had her frail in that current condition-.

"Raquel, lay low!" Claire's rousing voice caught the albino's attention before doing so.

Raito, though had heard the blonde's yell, he had not have the chance to evade a wild right leg into his torso before a straight punch in the face. A crack was heard, but it was not sure whether it had the suspect's nose broken. It was; the felon had used his unharmed left hand to grasp his nose as a natural reaction, leaving him open for assault. The blonde took that chance; she hurled a quick punch into his torso, then a quick right kick to the same spot- Raito's left hand grasped her said leg without warning, and yanked, hard. The sudden force sent the tall woman towards the suspect, where her face, again met his elbow, enough to stun her momentarily. The albino, still on the ground, witnessed the whole event before her attention turned to the handgun in her right hand. There was a chance for her to lay a hit on the stubborn, hardy felon- she winced the moment a sudden piercing sensation ran through her midriff. Raquel swore under her breath, but she needed to react fast.

Using the iron sight of the old Mauser C96, she squeezed the trigger the moment she found the target, ignoring where she had aimed for. A bellow reverberated throughout the bedroom, as if like a sign of the end of a duel. Raito paused, just before he could swing his wounded right arm with the tanto towards Claire. He gasped at that point, before hitting the ground, realising where he had been hit; his bottom. His mouth remained gape, obviously a response to being shot at such a place on his body. A sigh left Raquel's voice before Claire regained consciousness from her stunned stint- a yell was heard from Raito before his wounded right arm swung, releasing the short blade.

"Claire!" the albino hollered in order to have her partner's attention.

It came too late. The Swiss was moments too slow to react at that point of time. The blade of the tanto dug its way into her right arm, at the deltoid. The blonde simply let out a faint yelp, as if used to such injuries. Blue eyes glared at the suspect at that moment before in an unsporting manner, kicked the daylights out of the suspect with her right foot.

"That'll stop you from going ape-shit mad like King Kong, buffoon." The tall woman hissed before turning her attention to Raquel, who was still on the ground, though now sprawled, as if powerless. "Oy, quit making yourself looking like a corpse."

"I'm already starting to look like one with this damned old wound of mine. Damn it hurts; as if a scalpel had ran across my midriff," the albino responded, forcing herself into a sitting position just before the blonde decided to carry her in her arms. "Hey! Don't forget your arm as well!"

"Screw it; I can last for a while with it still in me. I'll get Hyun-Su to deal with the suspect for now. We almost ended up in a bloody mess," Claire implied, pacing her way out of the apartment, noticing the North Korean on guard the whole time. "The suspect's on the ground with a bullet lodged in his backside, and his right elbow. He's knocked out for now. I'll call for a patrol car in the vicinity to cover you while we get ourselves back to The Academy for treatment-."

"Stay. I've already contacted the ambulance and back up the moment I heard the first gunshot. I'll take over from here," the brunette replied, as if ignoring the blonde's intentions.

"Wha-?" stuttered the Swiss after the petite lass entered the apartment. "Now I don't know whether she meant it, or just being cocky towards me."

"You're the one who's cocky to begin with. Try not to be a dumb blonde, blonde," Raquel replied 'as a matter of fact-ly.'

"Want me to put you down with that open wound of yours?" Claire threatened.

"No," the albino replied ever so quickly.

"Then zip it," blue eyes narrowed, glaring into grey ones before the sirens of both a patrol car and ambulance rang into her ears. "They're here."

"We'll report in after our wounds are tended. I'm sure Chief Craken is nervous on the status of the assignment," Raquel implied, knowing her partner would agree after 'Chief' was mentioned.

"We better, and get this damn tanto out of my deltoid; else the wound would be big enough for a bus to park into."

...T/B...

Chaos; brought to a minimum,
Contained; controlled in the apartment,
Wounded, stabbed; they expected to receive it,
The assignment; a success, a temporary victory.

...T/B...

16th May 2006; 7.45pm

The suspect, Raito Musume, has been successfully arrested by the group effort of The Academy and Shinjuku Police Station, located at his apartment, the outskirts of Chuo ward. He is guilty of several murder cases which involved the usage of metal rods and chains. However, it is still not known what had triggered him into committing the crime. Investigations will still continue, but without The Academy's help this time round. Currently, investigations are now collaboration between Shinjuku and Chuo Police Stations temporarily prior to this case.