temple. Even as he fell, another shot came right on the heels of the

first, striking Fugisawa in the head.

“Down!” shouted Modred as gunfire erupted all around them.

Men dressed in black ninja suits were springing up out of the

bushes, firing automatic weapons.

They dropped down flat as bullets whizzed around them.

Kobayashi’s men started to return the fire, but they had been

caught standing out in the open and Nishikawa’s assassins quickly

cut them down.

“You bastard!” swore Takeo, pulling his gun, but before he could

fire, Wyrdrune made a quick gesture with his hand and the pistol

was torn out of Takeo’s grasp.

“Don’t be an idiot!” said Wyrdrune. “They’re shooting at us, too!

Kira?”

“I’m all right!”

“Where’s Master Yohaku?” asked Katayama.

The old mage had disappeared.

“He’s teleported, ” Modred said. He crawled over to Fugisawa’s

side and quickly examined him. He shook his head. “He’s dead.”

“So is Don Kobayashi, ” said Takeo. “It was a setup! But if not

you, then who…?”

“I intend to find out, ” said Modred grimly, glancing in the

direction that the shots had come from. “Kira, stay here with

Katayama. I’m going after that sniper. Wyrdrune, Merlin, can you

take care of those men?”

“Count on it, ” Wyrdrune said through clenched teeth. “Go!”

Modred vanished.

Takeo picked up his gun. Akiro already had his in his hand.

“Stay here!” said Wyrdrune. “Merlin!”

“I’m with you, ” Merlin said. An instant later they had teleported.

Akiro started to get up, but Kira pulled him back down. “Stay

put, damn it!”

“I must go help them…”