Novels2Search
The Monster and the Rifle Girl
Chapter 2- Ghost Technique

Chapter 2- Ghost Technique

The Outlaw Sisters- Bad Tara and Kitty

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Nya Nya

Bad Tara’s Kung Fu studio, Chinatown NYC. Chinese weapons of all types adorned the walls of the small studio. Swords, spears, a Chinese dragon head costume for use in the Chinatown parades! Rica loved it. The pretty pre-teen chicana walked around and touched everything. She looked at each photo showing the history of the studio, to include pictures of Bad Tara and Kitty as little-little girls.

“Omg, so cute!” 

Rica could see that Tara and Kitty have trained as fighters since they were little eggs. Rica stopped on one photo as it puzzled her. A big black brother in the photo seemed to be in a lot of personal pictures of the girls.

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As Rica stared at the photograph a voice shot at her from the studio entrance,

“That’s our dad!” It was Tara followed by Kitty and two of their crew from the restaurant. 

Rica: Oh, I wasn't..

Tara: It’s ok! He was awesome! (Tara glanced at Reyna) The same way your mom is awesome! (wink)

Reyna: Hmph!

Rica: Heh, heh! She has her moments~

Tara: I know she does, you mind if I borrow her? I’ll bring her back.

Rica: Oh..umm..ok.

Tara: Cool, cool! Come on Reyna, I won’t waste your time!

Reyna: Empty promises.

Tara and Reyna walked to a private back office as Kitty engaged her new favorite loli, Rica-chan.  

Kitty: So Rica-chan, what anime do you watch?

Rica: You mean, what anime don’t I watch! Nya!

Kitty: Nya!!!

To a non-otaku their conversation sounded like a series of nya nya mixed with the word kawaii. No matter, their conversation made sense to them.

Terms

In the back office Tara and Reyna spoke about the current situation as Tara let Reyna know that she needed Reyna to find and kill a money man who fled to Texas before Tara could get to him. That's the favor. 

Tara: That’s what it is Reyna. That sum-bitch is in Texas, I’m not sure where exactly, but the rest of those slavers are hiding in the Bronx. Three of them and I think I know who’s protecting them. Either way, I can handle the three here.

Reyna listened to Tara and decided on her terms. Reyna moved closer to Tara, staring Tara in the face with evil intent. Tara backed away.

Tara: Hey man, I knew your terms would be difficult, but don’t be an asshole, Reyna.

That was Reyna’s last straw, she would take no more shit from Tara. Reyna walked up on Tara and pinned Tara’s hands behind her on the wall. Tara tried to look away but Reyna cupped her face and made Tara look in her eyes.

Reyna: Asshole? Me? Never that, but I can certainly be a cunt!

Reyna pushed her lips on Tara’s and forced her tongue into Tara’s mouth and kissed Tara hard. Tara (half assed) tried to escape even letting out a feeble, “Rape!” Reyna didn’t care and told Tara. 

Reyna: This is happening, and you better like it!

Tara: I don’t..umph!

Reyna silenced Tara’s with another tongue kiss. Reyna then opened Tara’s jeans buttons. Tara tried to push back, but wound up feeling Reyna’s breast. And then Tara felt Reyna’s other breast. 

Tara: Reyna?

Reyna: Shutup!

Technique

Outside in the studio, Rica spoke with Kitty and her two lieutenants, Marshall “Bling” a light skinned brother with corn rows and Ian B, a Bronx native Irish dude from the last of the Bronx Irish neighborhoods called Woodlawn.  

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These two men, Bling and Ian, were not stupid goons.  They were Tara and Kitty’s most loyal left and right hands, and their personal hatchet men. Rica understood this, but at the present moment, they were funny and cute!

Rica: Nya! it looks cool on me, see Ian!

Rica showed Ian the four finger gold ring on her hand encrusted with diamonds spelling out the name, “BLING!” Rica borrowed it from Marshall.

Ian: Whad’ya kiddin me? That ring’s as big as your head!

Rica: But that’s what makes it so cute!

Bling: Don’t talk to him, he ain’t got no style, just look at him with that army jacket. Steppin outta 1998!

Ian: Hey, that was the best year evah!

Bling: Yeah, the year you bought that jacket!

As the four of them laughed, Rica could see Reyna and Tara step out into the hallway from the office and into the studio. Something was wrong, Reyna appeared…

Rica: Mom, why is your hair all messed up?

Reyna: Eh? (blush)

Snarky Kitty explained to Rica.

Rica: Her hair is like that for the same reason that Tara’s glowing!

Tara: What? I’m not..Shut up, Kitty! (blush)

This time Kitty, Ian and Bling laughed while Rica didn’t get the joke “Hunh? o_0”  Tara ended the laughter and barked a strange order to Bling and Ian. 

Tara: Boys, you see that little girl. Don’t let her leave this room.

Bling and Ian looked at Tara for further instructions. They heard her, but weren't sure what she meant. Until Reyna spoke.

Reyna: Rica, those two men are your enemies now. Get past them and get out of this room!

Rica heard Reyna’s order, and normally she would have reacted faster, but Rica needed to pause and adjust herself. She understood Reyna’s order, but she didn't want to hurt Bling and Ian. Both of the men looked over at Rica and then positioned themselves in front of the only exit door to the studio. Ian spoke.

Ian: Let’s go kiddo, let’s see if you ain’t all talk.

Rica looked around at all of the faces. The only one not serious was Tara, who kept a friendly smirk. Kitty crossed her arms and watched with analyzing eyes. Everyone waited to see what Rica would do.

Rica: Bling-san, Ian-san. Forgive me in advance. But I won’t hold back.

Bling: Glad to hear it, but you ain’t gettin past us.

With that statement Rica’s bangs fell in front of her eyes, and she smiled evil and moved into a running- fighting stance, the same way Reyna would. No sound could be heard in the room as the tension built...And finally.

Rica: You shouldn’t underestimate me!

And then she leapt in the face of Ian, real fast!

Ian: SHIT!

So fast! Rica’s first move, a blinding fist to Ian’s face caused the experienced Ian to use both of his arms to block his face and midsection, just as Rica expected. Using the momentum from his block, Rica pushed off of Ian and swung a kick at Bling’s face. Bling saw it coming, blocked and countered with an attempted strike to her midsection, but Rica was too fast for that.

Rica spun from Bling’s midsection attack and swung a backhanded fist toward his face. He reacted with a block but Rica dropped low and continued her spin and kicked Bling’s knee, moving him sideways. But Ian was right behind him, waiting for Rica with a forward kick!

On pure reflex Rica spun away from Ian’s kick, dropped again, spun and attempted to sweep Ian’s leg. No good, Ian lifted his leg, causing Rica to miss the sweep. And Instead Ian brought his foot down on Rica to stomp her, but she’s a quick little mongoose and evaded the stomp and jumped back to where she started.

Tara: Wow! She’s fast, you see that Kitty? Yeee!

Kitty: I’m watching her (Looks at Reyna) She’s still rough, room for improvement.

Reyna: Tch!

Kitty infuriated Reyna with her statement, no one talked bad about Reyna’s precious baby. Reyna yelled at Rica!

Rica: Rica! Stop fucking around! Ghost Technique!

Ghost 鬼 Technique. Reyna’s signature style. Rica got serious. She glanced at Ian and Bling who both stood in front of the exit door and made the hand gestures of, “Come on little girl, let’s see what you got!”

Rica took a moment to gauge the distance of her opponents, and once again, flew at them with blinding speed. This time Ian was ready. Rica, again, attempted to punch Ian and again, Ian double blocked…

Only this time he never felt the punch, in fact, Rica vanished from his sight, like a ghost!

Ian: Crap!

In the split hair second it took Ian to look for her, Rica’s foot struck from below and kicked Ian dead in his stomach, knocking the tough guy backward on his ass. Stunning him. Rica  lured Ian into exposing his stomach with her fake punch to his face.

Ian: Huh! Not bad!  

Ian sat on his butt and didn’t get back up, he wasn’t hurt at all. He just wanted to see what Rica would do to Bling.

Bling backed up to better cover the door and  took firm stance, he wasn’t going to go easy on Rica. Fine, Rica didn’t expect him too. Rica could tell Bling was a smarter fighter than Ian and kept his eyes on Rica and her movement.

Rica baited Bling by engaging him directly, she knew he wouldn't step too far away from the door or she would get past him. With that knowledge, she laid her trap.

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Rica punched, kicked and parried with Bling, forcing him to move from left to right to engage her. His eyes swung back and forth following her combinations. Then Rica stepped in to make a powerful punch with her left to his right side, he saw the punch coming and positioned to counter with a textbook block. But Rica read that same textbook.

With Bling’s eyes focused on Rica’s left fist, the loli dropped low again and all but vanished from his eye sight!  When Rica dropped, she spun on her left foot and kicked in Bling’s right knee toppling him.

Bling: What the?

On instinct Bling put his hands out to stop his fall. That’s what Rica wanted, and now she had him. As his arms reached for the ground Rica forward kicked Bling in his chest into the exit doorway. As his body flew back he reached out and grabbed each side of the doorway with his butt and back hanging out the door. bad luck for him, as Rica looked dead in his eyes and told him.

Rica: I win.

Rica threw a hard sidekick at Bling’s chest, forcing him to move his arms to block the kick. The momentum of the kick pushed him out the door, and onto his ass. Rica stepped out into the hallway with her fists at the ready.

Bling: Whoa, you right, you win! You a bad motherfucka!

Rica wasn’t happy.

Rica: But Bling-san, you held back!

Bling: Whaaaaat? Who told you that lie?

Bling lied, him and Ian totally held back. But Inside the studio Kitty,Tara and Ian clapped while Reyna cracked an evil smile of maternal pride and stepped in front of Rica to inspect her face and rub her hair. Then Reyna silenced everyone.

Reyna: Even if you boys did go all out my little anime girl would have still beaten you, because she’s my daughter!

Reyna looked in Rica’s eyes.

Reyna: Good job, baby, you showed em what Rifle Girls are made of!

Rica beamed with pride, acknowledged by Reyna, she felt invincible. Tara was sincerely impressed, and let Reyna know.

Tara: You win Reyna, if she can track and shoot as good as she fights, I can use her.

Reyna: Hmph!

Rica: A job? Tara-senpai, I’m more than useful I have tracked over 20 men I..

Reyna: Rica! Compose yourself!!

Rica: Yes ma'am!

Rica felt embarrassed. She she got so carried away with her little victory and the thought of working a job with Tara and Kitty, that she’d forgotten one of the strictest rules of an Assassin. The Shut the fuck up about past jobs, rule. If the person you are speaking too doesn’t  know your resume, then they don’t need to know.

Tara gave Reyna grief in defense of Rica.

Tara: Take it easy Reyna, we already know about her, we just wanted to see for ourselves.

Tara turns with a smile and pats Rica’s head.  

Tara: You really take after your mom. I bet she’s strict! ;)

Rica: As a teacher, yes, very strict! As a parent, nya, not so much!

Everyone laughed and Kitty also walked over to touch Rica’s hair. *Gun Girls like touching Rica’s hair, like she’s a baby doll or something. But Rica didn’t mind, she wanted to touch Tara and Kitty’s hair too, just like she rubs and pulls Reyna's hair. Could be a Gun Girl thing, she supposed.

Kitty: Well, she certainly has heart.  Her moves aren't perfect because she's using your style Reyna. (Rubs Rica’s hair) Personally I think she needs her own style.

Reyna: And personally I don't give a damn what you think, Katya!

Rica: Katya? How pretty, is that your real name?

Kitty: (giggle) Thank you, and yes it is.

Rica: That makes sense now. I was going to ask you about Rule #3 of the Gun Girls! 

Kitty: Ha, ha, do you follow those arcane, homemade internet rules of the “Gun Girl” that some internet dweeb posted on the dark web?

Rica: Yes, don’t you?

Kitty: Of course I do! We all do. But none of us know why. Go figure!  0_o  

Rica looked around and the acknowledgment of the Gun Girl rules were in the face of Kitty, Tara and Reyna. They all followed the rules, but Kitty was right. These rules were totally fabricated online. Along with the term Gun Girl and Rifle Girl.

When a Gun Girl says, “There is no such thing as a Gun Girl” or Rifle Girl, they are not lying. The eight Gun Girls never woke up and had a meeting and said, “We are Gun Girls!” Nope.

The titles, the sigils, the rules of the Gun Girls, were something that just appeared on a page on the darknet one day. On a site where someone listed the exploits of the individual girls, without saying their names in full. This person (or persons) then placed Chinese characters- sigils- totems of a kind next to each girl’s name to signify their individual abilities.

Law enforcement, always and forever behind the curve, to this day knows nothing about this darknet site. But elite criminals do, and these criminals, do seek out Gun Girls, for precisely the strengths each girl possesses.  

Rule # 3 of the Gun Girls:  What Rica referred to in the case of Kitty, is an obscure and strange rule. The rule states that only girls whose name ends with the letter “A” can be Gun Girls. Not a problem, as all of the known Gun Girls have an “A” ending name. Except Kitty. Rica always wondered why she was the exception, but now she knows “Kitty” is just her nickname, and her real name, Katya, is a perfect and pretty name for a Gun Girl.

Rica: Kitty-san, would it be ok if I called you, Kitty-ne-chan?

Ne-chan, is a short cute way of pronouncing, “Oh-neh-san” the Japanese word for “Older Sister.” Otaku-Kitty loved the sound of it. 

Kitty: Of course! We're already sisters, see we share the same Chinese character on our sigils!

Rica: We do?

Kitty pulled out one of her sigil cards, Rica did the same and was shocked. Rica could not read Chinese but just now noticed that Kitty’s sigil 猫 Cat was the same prefix for Rica’s sigil 猫鼬 Mongoose. Kitty explained.

Kitty: You see your first character is 猫 Cat your second character 鼬 is Ferret.

Rica: Oh, wow! So in chinese, you say Cat-Ferret for Mongoose?

Kitty: Um..in a roundabout way yes. Lost in translation a bit (giggle)! All it means is were sisters!

Rica: Oh Yesh! Kitty-ne-chan, i won’t disappoint you on this job...Umm..whatever it is.

Reyna: Rica!

Kitty: Calm down Reyna! (back to Rica) I believe you little sis. It’s not my call anyway. It seems Reyna already decided for Tara that you were on this job. Ain’t that right, Reyna?

Reyna: I wouldn’t recommend her if she wasn’t ready, Kitty!  (Turns to Rica) Rica!

Rica: Yes mother?

Reyna: Let’s go, you have school in the morning.

Rica: Oh!

Reyna: Don’t worry, you’ll be back down here tomorrow. You’re new found “sisters” will brief you on their less than perfect plan.

Reyna, being Reyna, then walked out of the studio without saying goodbye to anyone, leaving Rica. Rica, excited about working with her new sisters, turned and bowed and thanked them all. And to Kitty.

Rica: Kitty-ne-chan, I know I need work, just...please have faith in me.

Kitty: No worries little sis, I believe in you!  

And with that Rica ran down the staircase to chase after Reyna, leaving the four North Bronx Crew members (who for some reason hung out in Chinatown) alone to discuss the little Rifle Girl.

Kitty: So cute, and she is a little prodigy, maybe I'm just being overprotective of her.  

Tara: Yes, you are! Did you see the way she moved? Not that it matters because she’s working with us. Reyna made it clear that if we want that hit in Texas, we have to employ her little mongoose.

Kitty: So Reyna’s gonna handle that Texas thing? Good, she’s way better at that sort of thing than us. And goddamn you Reyna I’m so Jealous! Oooooooohhh!

Tara: About what?

Kitty: I want a precious little loli student who can fight like that. I would teach her her own style and make her sooo perfect! Nyaaaaaaa!! :’(

Tara and the boys laughed till their bellies hurt. But Kitty made another observation that they all agreed with.

Kitty: Rica is a diamond in the rough. A prodigy. Give her time and she’ll surpass all of us.

Tara: Yup, she’s way stronger than we were at that age. 

At that moment Tara and Kitty fully acknowledged Rica Reyes as a fellow fighter. The Outlaw Sisters knew, what Rica lacked in experience, she made up for in prodigious talent and the ruthless heart to win, at all cost. 

....