As the small group made their way past the sooty buildings and piles of burnt chaff, Sara replayed the encounter with Ada in her mind.

She was exactly as Sara had imagined her: attractive, but aloof and egotistical. It came as no surprise that Leon had fallen for her; Ada was the type of woman men often desired―a dangerous seductress who could lure a man to his ruin.

What had Leon really felt, seeing Ada again after so long? He had never lied to Sara, and she did believe he loved her; it was evident in everything about him―his actions, his touch, gaze, and tender words. But it was common knowledge that where fire once burned, embers often remained. What if Ada still kindled desire within him? Strangely, Sara felt no jealousy toward Ada; only repulsion at her lack of conviction and her devil-may-care attitude. Still, the barb of uncertainty stung her heart.

Sara forced herself out of her reverie, chiding herself. This was hardly the time to be nursing romantic doubts. They had far more serious concerns. The sound of incoming data from her comm device made her start slightly. She shot Leon a dubious glance as she drew it from her pack.

"You got mail again?" asked Jake, seeing them pause.

"Yeah, and I doubt it's Hunnigan," Leon replied stiffly.

The device rang insistently. Irritated, Sara activated it. Her stomach dropped as she stared at the screen in dismay.

Looking back at her was a black-clad figure wearing a black oni mask bearing short horns and hematite fangs. A deep masculine voice laughed sinisterly.

"I'm impressed," the masked man said. "You survived the Jubokko and the Ōmukade."

"What the hell is this, a damn party line?!" Leon growled, glaring at his screen. "Who the hell are you?"

"Very witty, Agent Kennedy. I admire a man who greets death with defiance. I am Kuroki, the Black Demon; Lady Osakabe's right hand and seeing-eye."

"Congratulations," Sara returned. "You're the one who fired that RPG," she said.

"Yes; a failed first attempt, unfortunately. But I promise you this: you won't be leaving Fukushū alive. Wherever you run, wherever you hide, I'll be watching."

The image changed, displaying photos of the trio walking through the houses in the outskirts of Fukushū. Sara's breath caught in her throat as she studied zoomed-in images of herself. Another shot showed Leon talking to his companions. Lastly was a closeup of Jake inspecting one of the houses.

"Shit…" Jake muttered, peering at the screen over Leon's shoulder.

Kuroki returned to the screen, chuckling darkly. "There's no escape for you."

The transmission ended and the screen went dark.

Sara shoved her device back into her pack. "How? How can he be watching us? The place is dead. Where could they possibly have cameras?!" she queried frustratedly.

"Fukushū is dead to us, not them. This is their turf. We're the pawns on their chessboard," Leon said.

"Gonna have to keep an eye out for tricks," Jake said. "Whatever sick game these bastards are playing, they're just getting started."

"We gotta keep going," Leon said. "If our luck holds up, we can rip off Osakabe's 'right hand' then deal with her directly."

"I've been wondering," said Jake. "The lady you're looking for―Hana what's-her-name―don't you think she may have already killed her? These people here are definitely psychotic, and that masked woman said she was dead."

"We don't have any proof of that," Sara said. "Or reason to believe her."

"I'm sure Hana's still alive. I doubt they would've gone through all the trouble of a kidnapping just to kill her," Leon added. "Osakabe must have some use for her. But I do think we might be running out of time to save her."

"Okay. Let's move out, then," said Jake.

The group walked on in tense silence. 

Sara's eyes darted over the ruined landscape, watching for the slightest movement. Her searching gaze fell upon a glassless window on the ground floor of a ruined building. A doll was propped up against the open pane, leering at her.

"Look, another doll," she announced.

The men paused to look.

"More of those damn things?" Jake grumbled. "What the hell?"

Leon stared at the doll for a moment then walked over to it decidedly, brow furrowed. 

"Leon? What're you doing?" Sara called after him.

Without answering, Leon yanked the hideous doll out through the open pane.

"Hey, Hero, this ain't the time to play with dolls," Jake quipped.

"Shut up," Sara snapped.

She watched Leon draw his knife with an angry flourish. He then plunged the blade through the doll's face, ripping the fabric apart before thrusting his hand into its head. 

Leon tugged and tore for several seconds. At last he wrenched something out. He turned to his companions, showing them the damaged remains of a small camera. "I knew it. These aren't just dolls; they're spies."

Sara frowned. "Oh, hell…"

Jake took the camera and analyzed it. "So that's how they've been watching us." He tossed it to the ground and crushed it underfoot.

"We'd better keep a lookout for those things," Sara said. "Osakabe and company know too much about us already."

"Agreed," Leon stated.

They continued their journey, coming across two more concealed dolls as they advanced. They destroyed them immediately with single shots to their faces.

The trio finally arrived at the Shiroi Yoake building, weary, but without further incident. They stood staring at the sprawling single-story edifice, each taking a health tablet to restore vitality.

The building had once been pristine white with large, broadly-latticed windows, and glass doors and panels over the entrance. The conflagration had reduced it to a begrimed wreck. Most of the windows had been shattered or blown out. Only a few shards of glass remained, hanging precariously from the upper panels like stalactites. A smoke-hazed sign reading:
"緑の葉" spanned over the entrance.

Jake huffed. "'Shiroi Yoake'," he read. "You really expect to find something in this coal mine? If there was anything, it's probably disintegrated."

Leon listed his head thoughtfully. "Maybe, maybe not. C'mon."

He led the way toward the building, Sara flanking his right side while Jake came up behind them.

A distant whirring sound made Sara pause. "Hey, do you hear that?" she asked.

The men halted, listening.

The noise grew louder, coming in overhead from the direction in which Deddoraito castle lay. Sara looked up. "What the… ?"

The others followed her gaze, their eyes trained on the disconcerting sight above them.

Two large drones were flying in, each bearing an enormous, heavyweight storage container. The drones hovered briefly before dropping their cargo and departing.

The containers hit the ground with a resounding metallic thud, obstructing the trio's path to the building.

Everyone drew their weapons immediately, backing up slowly as they stared warily at the containers. 

For a moment everything was still as the dust and ash settled back to the ground silently. Tension hung heavily in the air as the three waited with bated breath. Suddenly, the containers began to tremble, slowly at first then violently.

"Shit…" Leon muttered. "Here we go."

The container doors burst open, and the foul odor of decaying flesh, mingled with that of some caustic chemical, filled the air. Sara retched loudly, and even Leon and Jake coughed at the stench.

The occupants of the containers emerged at last. Sara was flabbergasted at the sight of them.

Two large, crimson-skinned blobby creatures shuffled forward. They stood at approximately eight feet, but barely had a humanoid shape; looking more like melting clay figures. Their faces were almost featureless with only two slits for eyes and a perpendicular hole for a mouth. Sara recognized their appearance as that of an evolved version of the mythological Nuppeppō.

The group opened fire instantly.

Blood sprayed forth, showering the cracked pavement and the containers. The Nuppeppō staggered and emitted high-pitched squeals of pain, but their flesh absorbed the bullets, and they lurched on menacingly.

"What the f―" Jake muttered.

The next instant the creatures shot their arms out, stretching them like rubber, to seize the fighters.

Sara spun away with amazing speed while the men ducked and dodged to evade being snatched up.

The Nuppeppō followed up their attack by slapping the empty ground ahead of them and launching themselves forward as though playing a deadly game of leapfrog. Everyone scattered aside to avoid being crushed.

Jake boldly stepped up to one of the Nuppeppō. "C'mon, Gumby!" He dealt it a powerful left hook then a high spinning kick.

The monster stumbled backward slightly.

"Jake, get away from it!" Leon shouted to him.

Too cocky for his own good, Jake prepared to assault the Nuppeppō again. In a flash it grabbed him and breathed out a stream of violet gas directly into his face. 

Leon attempted to shoot the creature to free Jake, but the second Nuppeppō   arrested his attention, forcing him to leap and roll aside to avoid the same fate.

Sara quickly fired several rounds into the creature's neck. It shrieked and dropped Jake immediately as blood spewed from the wound. Sara ran to Jake who lay writhing and retching violently. She seized his arm, trying to tug him to his feet, but he resisted her efforts.

Realization dawned on Sara that Jake had received a shot of psychotropic gas similar to the Ōmukade's acidic fumes. The results would be unpredictable and dangerous.

"Leon!" she cried. "Watch out for the gas!"

Leon struggled to evade the other Nuppeppō. "I know! Get in the building. We need to get some distance!" he shouted.

Sara tried again to help Jake rise. "Jake, you've gotta get up!"

Jake shook Sara away irritably and stood up unsteadily. Tottering slightly,  he raised his magnum and fired two more shots at the first Nuppeppō. A bloody mass of bullet-riddled flesh, it finally keeled over with a thud.

Sara turned to see Leon quickly draw his knife and duck under the other creature's reaching arms, hacking at it as he twisted aside. The Nuppeppō shrieked as the stroke severed its fleshy left arm. Sara hesitated, torn between helping Leon and assisting Jake inside.

"Go!" Leon exclaimed.

Reluctantly, she complied. "C'mon, Jake!"

Jake clutched at his head, muttering and swearing. Sara took his arm again, pulling him with her, but he pushed her away. "Don't touch me!" he snapped.

Sara frowned worriedly. "Okay, just… get inside. Please," she said.

She ran into the building, Jake following somewhat unsteadily. Once inside, she turned back to check on Leon who was racing across the lot toward them.

The Nuppeppō was catapulting itself after Leon. Despite its missing limb, it was actually gaining on him.

Hurry! Hurry!  Sara silently urged him, her heart pounding thickly.

Leon crossed the threshold, whirling about quickly to face the rapidly-approaching monster. He glanced upward at an overhanging shard of glass from a shattered window, standing his ground as the creature advanced steadily. 

"Leon, what're you doing? Shoot it!" Sara exclaimed. 

"Trust me."

Leon aimed at the Nuppeppō, tilting his head slightly as it bounded closer. Sara bit back another exclamation, the scene racking her nerves.

The Nuppeppō squealed loudly as it took one final leap forward. Redirecting his aim, Leon fired at the window's head jamb. The enormous, jagged sliver of glass broke off, plunging downward and impaling the creature's neck, nearly cleaving its head off completely.

A gush of blood sprayed forth as the Nuppeppō dropped prostrate to the floor with a wet, gurgling whine. It spasmed once before going still.

"That's one problem solved," Leon said darkly. He turned to Sara. "You okay?"

"Yeah, but he's not," she said, gesturing to Jake. 

Jake was doubled over against the sooty wall, breathing heavily and clutching his head. He was muttering unintelligibly.

"The gas that thing released; it's got psychotropic effects just like the Ōmukade's acid. The Nuppeppō got him good," Sara said grimly.

Leon holstered his gun and approached Jake slowly. "Hey, listen: you're gonna be all right. Just hang in there, okay?" He touched Jake's shoulder lightly.

Jake snapped his head up and batted Leon's hand away. "Don't touch me!" he shouted. He straightened up, glaring at Leon fiercely.

"Be careful," Sara warned him. "He's erratic."

"You shut up, bitch," Jake growled, jabbing his index finger at her.

Sara saw Leon's jaw tense. "Jake, calm down. I'm sure the effects of the gas'll wear off soon," he assured him quietly.

But Jake went on, heedless of Leon's  words. His pale blue eyes flashed with unwarranted rage as he burst into a frenzied tirade.

"Who the hell do you think you are? You think you can outsmart me? You really think you can take me down? Well, c'mon, hero boy; show me what ya got."

Jake swung at Leon who managed to evade the blow just in time.

"Jake, stop!" cried Sara, rushing toward him.

Leon held his hand up to stop her. "Stay back."

"Yeah; you don't need your sidekick to save your ass… or do you?" Jake taunted. 

He struck out at Leon again, and thus began a skirmish between the men.

Sara watched in horror as they traded blows, both equally matched in skill though not in style. Leon kept his offensive shots to a minimum in order to avoid hurting Jake badly, but his aggressiveness made it increasingly difficult.

"Jake, c'mon! Get a hold of yourself. That gas is messing with your mind!" Leon said urgently. 

Sara watched in alarm as the situation escalated.

Jake snarled in reply and attempted a sweep kick, which Leon escaped by leaping backward.

"I don't want to hurt you," Leon pleaded.

"Hurt me?!" Jake scoffed. "You really think you can?"

He lashed out at Leon again. Time seemed to suddenly halt as Jake landed a hard blow to his face, causing him to stagger dazedly. Jake jumped at him, seizing him in a vise-like chokehold. Leon gasped, struggling to break free.

Sara had had enough. The familiar surge of power erupted within her. She leaped at Jake from behind and grabbed him in a stranglehold. Electricity coursed through her body and over Jake who immediately released Leon.

Bright orange currents of electricity lit up the room as Jake's body convulsed. Blinded by panic and anger, Sara held Jake fast, scarcely aware of what she was doing.

"Let him go!" Leon cried hoarsely. "Sara, you'll kill him!"

Leon's voice broke through the haze in Sara's mind. Her eyes went wide and she immediately released Jake. She watched, terror-stricken, as he crumpled to the floor, writhing and groaning softly. The power within her ebbed away, leaving her cold and weak. 

Leon quickly knelt beside Jake, examining him briefly. He looked up at Sara in some consternation. She stared back in wide-eyed horror.

"Oh, God. What've I done? I didn't mean to―" her voice broke.

Jake groaned. "Shit. What the hell just happened? I feel like I just got hit by lightning."

"As a matter of fact…" Leon remarked.

Jake looked up at him with realization. "Oh, man. Leon… Whatever I did… I wasn't―"

"I know. It wasn't your fault. Forget it," Leon replied firmly. 

Jake turned to Sara's blanched face, brows arched. "You were the lightning bolt. Damn, you pack a punch, Wondergirl."

Tears welled up in Sara's eyes. "I'm s-so sorry. I was just trying to protect― I never meant…"

Strangling a sob, she dashed off into the shadows.

"Sara, wait!" Leon called after her. 

She ignored him, rounding a corner and disappearing from view. She leaned against the wall and slid down to the floor. A hot jet of anger rose within her, quickly dissipating her streaming tears.

She had wanted so badly to excel at her job and complement her exceptional and beloved partner. Instead she was a liability; unpredictable and lethal.

"Sara!" Leon called. His footsteps rapidly approached, but she didn't answer.

Leon turned the corner. "There you are! We need to stay together," he chided. "I know you can handle yourself, but it's not wise to separate if we can avoid it."

Sara remained silent.

Leon crouched down before her. "I know you're upset about what happened back there―"

"No; I am freaking petrified! I almost killed Jake! If you hadn't snapped me out of it in time…" Sara shook her head and sighed tremulously. "I'm really starting to think this was a mistake."

"What?"

"Joining the DSO even though I suspected this might happen."

Leon shook his head gravely. "It wasn't a mistake."

Sara fixed a frustrated gaze on his austere face. "No? I'm supposed to effectively help you work this case and survive. What happens? When you need me to turn on my stupid power, I can't do it. When I finally manage to summon it, I almost kill an ally. I needed my abilities against the Ōmukade, but I couldn't do anything. Instead, we were getting our asses kicked until Spiderwoman Ada came along and, with one shot, single-handedly took it down."

"Sara," Leon began reprovingly.

Sara held up her hand. "It's not jealousy. I'm not a petty idiot. But while I went all punch-drunk, she swooped in and saved us all. I feel so―"

"Stop," Leon said sternly.

"Useless," Sara finished before lapsing into miserable silence.

Leon sighed. "Okay, first of all, that was a lucky shot. The Ōmukade's blood was flammable; that was its own deathtrap. Secondly, don't compare yourself to Ada. You're everything she's not."

That made Sara glance up at him in dubious surprise.

"Ada's been in the game longer than either of us; it's no wonder she deals with things easily. But you're the one who ventured into hell to save innocent people. Ada's just here for the damn virus. To her, it's only a job and a game of skill. That's not you; you're better than that."

Sara shook her head, averting his eyes. "Good intentions don't count if I can't get the job done."

Leon gently lifted her chin and made her look at him.

"I know that nothing I say will be very comforting, but for what it's worth, I believe you can do this. Your mind and will are amazingly strong. Once you learn to focus, I know you'll be able to control your power."

Leon leaned toward her, dropping his voice to a soft undertone. "Don't ever say this was a mistake. You're here because you're strong and capable, and because I trust you with my life, just like I trust you with my heart. Having that kind of partner is a privilege I've never had before. One I could never have with someone like Ada Wong."

Sara looked deeply into Leon's intense blue eyes as his encouraging words finally sank in. He never failed to remind her why she loved him so dearly. 

She smiled halfheartedly. "Thanks, Leon."

He nodded. "C'mon. We've got a bioterrorist to take down… together. Let's get back to Jake."

Leon rose and extended his hand to Sara and helped her to her feet.

"Just as a side note, it's not easy having a girlfriend with superpowers y'know? Puts a guy at an unfair disadvantage," Leon deadpanned.

Sara laughed softly. "Leon."

Smiling slightly, he squeezed her hand gently and began leading her back.

Jake sat on the floor in a corner, resting his head against the wall and toying with his gun absentmindedly. He glanced up as Leon and Sara approached. 

Sara looked at him somewhat sheepishly. "Jake, I'm so sorry I lost control. I hope you're okay."

Jake shrugged dismissively. "Don't worry about it. It'll take more than a few volts to put me down, babe. You did what you had to."

"I did warn you about pissing me off," Sara joked weakly.

Leon chuckled lightly, and even Jake smiled wryly. "Fair point," he acknowledged.

"Okay, then," said Leon, becoming solemn again. "We take five here then we move on. We'll see what we dig up from the past. If we can put the pieces together, we can figure out what's going on and finish this once and for all."