Chapter 9

"Ayane!" Momiji called as she entered the Hajinmon temple. She then looked around the temple to see the kunoichi practicing her short sword technique.

"What is it now? I've already done my job for you.." Ayane mumbled while strapping her swords back on her thighs.

"Master Ryu..he's in danger and I was hoping you would assist me in this small mission. Hayate has already left to their location not long ago. He won't be able to manage for long..." Momiji explained as Ayane finally turned to face her.

"How come you can't assist Master Hayate?"

"I..need to find someone.." She hesitated.

"Don't tell me you are going to find that traitor."

Momiji then let out a slight sigh and crossed her arms.

"Ayane, yes I'm going to find Kasumi. If you were going to decline, then she'll be my next choice."

"Whatever. Where is Master Ryu?" Ayane asked walking past Momiji.

"Held back at the lab...to create the Greater fiend."

Ayane stopped in her tracks once she heard the last words Momiji spoke.

"The Greater fiend...?" She mumbled once again.

The kunoichi grabbed her Flash kunai and quickly turned around to throw it at the back wall.

"Please Ayane, this is for Canna's sake and his. She's going to become the fiend if we don't do anything about it!" Momiji told her.

"Fine. I'll help you." Ayane then finally gave in and turned to walk past Momiji.

"By any chance, did you see Kasumi walk past here or at the village?" Momiji quickly added before Ayane could disappear to Hayate.

"I don't know where that traitor went..plus that's not my problem." Were the last words that came from the kunoichi before she disappeared into violet Irish petals.

'What's up with that?' Momiji thought as she began to walk out the temple.

As she was leaving the temple, she thought about stopping by the village just to make sure Kasumi wasn't there. Also she could inform Master Shiden about their next mission about the Greater fiend.

Minutes later, Momiji arrived at the entrance of the Mugen Tenshin village. The two guards shielded their weapons as she came closer to the gates.

"Miss Momiji, we weren't expecting your arrival.." One of the guards said in shock.

"I'm here for Master Shiden." She told them.

The guards nodded and opened the gates for the maiden to enter.

Momiji bowed and began to walk towards the meeting hall in the village.

"Momiji-san!" She heard several children calling her.

She turned to be stumbled over three small little girls hugging her legs.

"Oh, hey guys. What's with all the excitement?"

"We've missed you Momiji-san!" One of the girls said and looked up at the maiden.

"It's been months since you've came to visit." Another added.

"Can you train with us?" The third one asked and released her embrace on Momiji.

Momiji slightly giggled then sighed as she kneeled down to their level.

"I missed all of you guys..but I can't stay sadly. I'm here looking for Kasumi actually."

"Princess Kasumi hasn't come back yet..is she hurt?" One of the little girls asked as her eyes began to tear up.

"Don't worry. No one got hurt during our mission." Momiji told the girl and wiped a tear that rolled down her cheek.

Momiji then rose from her position and looked back down at the children.

"I promise when I get back I'll train with all of you."

The three girls then clapped and smiled with excitement.

Minutes later, the children ran back to their homes while Momiji walked towards the meeting hall.

'Probably not the best idea..' She told herself and quickly turned to walk away from the hall.

"Momiji?" She heard a familiar voice behind her.

"Kasumi?" The maiden turned to see Kasumi dressed in her black ninja attire.

"Where are the others? I thought Hayate would of made it home by now.." Kasumi said and glanced behind Momiji.

"That's why I came here. I need your help with this next mission..whether you want to or not."


"Aarrgh!" The dragon ninja screamed in agony as the Grip of Murder started to grow up his right arm.

Since he distracted, the Omega Fair fiend knocked him out by hitting him with its long tokkosho.

Ryu went flying across the lab and hit his head against the wall. Seconds later, his vision began to blur as he looked to see the fiend walking over to him.

'I'm sorry Mizuki..' He told himself as he felt something sharp stab him in his chest. Ryu slowly looked down to see the tokkosho inside his chest area, covered in fresh blood.

"Goodbye." Was the last words Ryu heard coming from the fiend as he fell unconscious in his own puddle of blood.


Rig Donovan entered a small cell waiting area with Canna in his arms. He then gently laid the girl down on the bed just as the automatic door closed behind them.

"Ryu? Is..that you?.." Canna mumbled as she turned to see Rig smiling down at her.

"Ryu...heh. The ninja will be joining you soon, blondie." He replied and slightly glanced at her expression on her face.

Canna then lifted up from her position and began to slowly move towards the end of the bed as he began to walk closer to her.

"You're afraid of me blondie? Is that it? Don't expect that ninja to come and rescue you now." He told her and raised his fist up.

"What do you think you're doing?" A voice asked behind him.

Rig turned to face Christie, Mizuki, and his father entering the room.

"If you expect me to do nothing with these two..." Rig mumbled and groaned then lowered his fist.

"You're such a pain in the ass." Christie said and turned to Donovan.

Mizuki then looked up to see Canna clinging to the sheets at the end of the bed.

"Canna!" She called out and tried to escape the chains.

Donovan released the chains and smiled under his mask.

"I'll let you see her for the last time." He told Mizuki.

Mizuki glared at him but then ran towards her daughter and wrapped her in an embrace.

"It's alright Canna. I'm here now.." She whispered into her ear.

The girl nodded and buried her face in her mother's chest.

Christie watched and rolled her eyes at the scene and soon walked out the room.

"Where's Ryu?" Canna asked her mother and looked up to face her.

"Hayabusa is dead. Well that's the plan." Rig quickly answered before her mother did.

"What plan?" She asked and looked over at Donovan, who was walking over towards his son.

"The plan where we will take over this world. Ah yes, I just need a dash of that Dragon ninja blood. To create the magnificent god.." Donovan answered.

"The Greater fiend will be the first step to demolishing everyone and everything." Rig added and walked over the Canna and Mizuki.

"This blondie can become the fiend..if she just believes in herself and all her hatred." He told Mizuki and grabbed Canna's arm then pulled her away from her mother.

Before Mizuki could pull her back, she fell to the ground. She looked up to see Donovan with her chains in his hands.

"Don't worry, you'll be able to see her all grown up when the time comes." Donovan laughed and pulled her back.

Rig then grabbed Canna's chin and studied her face.

"So blondie, are you ready?"

Canna shook her head and closed her eyes to avoid contact.

"Don't close your eyes. Ya know, those might be the sexiest thing on you..except for your other features." Rig said with a smirk on his face.

Mizuki glared at Rig then back at Donovan.

"Give me back my daughter." She told him.

"As soon as your husband is done, we might consider." Donovan smiled and lifted her from the floor.

He then walked, with Mizuki, out the cell room after several minutes.

Canna opened her eyes to see her mother walking out the room.

"Don't leave me here.." Canna whispered and reached her arms out to her.

Rig then grabbed her arm and stared into her eyes.

"I hope you listen." He told her.

Before Canna could do anything, he slapped her across her face..hard enough that she fell unconscious once again.