Disclaimer – Purchase price of currently antiquated computer - $1500; annual Fan Fiction membership fee - $25.00; time spent in chair in front of antiquated computer - $100 per week if I hired a housekeeper to do my housework; reviews from readers who care enough to send their very best – priceless. (hugs to everyone)

I own only the storyline and even the basis for that I had to borrow. Thanks, Wendy, for allowing me to run with this AU. (hugs nice lady from Carmel).

Hugs to Ziptango for beta reading this chapter, too! My own personal security blanket! LOL

Anyway, enjoy – Bwahaha!

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Femme Fatale

Chapter 4 – The 'Falling' Season

Although Thomas was never able to decipher the strange tones from Don's answering machine, he had kept the recordings for future reference,making copies so as to refer to them whenever an idea to their meaning came to him. Over the course of the next several months, he would occasionally listen to the CD that he madeand, when he had a new thought or idea, he would jot them into a notebook before putting the recording away again.

Initially, though, after Don returned from Russia and discovered the call, Bara hadn't remembered it when he asked her about it.

"Honestly, Don, I – truly don't remember getting the call. I must have been too busy with the contracts and the lab work."

Obviously, Don thought it all quite odd, yet he decided to dismissit, believinghis wife was probably just too busy to recall something as mundane as a phone message.

Then, a month after their wedding, Don intercepted two more calls similar to the first. For him, it was an easy matter of just recording the tones as they played through the speaker and then handing the tapes over toThomas for review and comparison. Although they were similar in tone, they weren't exactly the same, further confusing Thomas as he tried to discern the new recording as he had with the first one.

Now, months later and as Thomas listened to the musical messages yet again, he sighed, "Just can't figure it out. Yet, it has to be a code of some sort," he declared softly under his breath. He and Don were currently sitting in Don's downtown office, with the mutant working on a variety of contracts and other ventures while his human valet and friendfrustrated over the recordings yet again.

"It's probably nothing more than a fax machine dialing up the wrong number, Thomas," Don explained with a grin. He leaned back in his chair, one hand grasping a contract, "My brother Mike gets them all the time." Don then went back to reading the paperwork in his hand.

"No, I don't think so, Mr. Tello," the man countered, causing his employer to look up from his work once again, "It's…different; seems too direct. I've heard fax machines before, and they're too complex and sporadic with their buzzes and rings." He thumbed through his notes,quickly reading a few, as he sat opposite from Don with the desk in-between them. Shaking his head, "This is just too…focused and simple."

"Well, I'm certain, Thomas, that if there is anything to worry about, you'll get to the bottom of it." Don then resumed his work while his valet played the collection of tones once more on his portable CD player. After a while and still not getting any type of epiphany, the man decided to put it to rest – for the time being, anyway.

After pulling his earpohones fro his head and then slipping the recordings into his CD case, the man turned towards his employer as he said, "By the way, sir, I'm going to be taking my wife out to dinner for her birthday this evening. Will you need me for anything?"

"Ah, yes," Don looked up from his desk, "That's right, it's Hiromi's birthday." Sitting up straighter now, Don smiled broadly as he gave a friendly gesture with his hand, "As my gift to you lovely wife, she may pick one item from any of my stores. Everyone ther are well acquainted with you, so just tell them it's au gratis."

Thomas smiled as he thought about Hiromi's previous shopping experiences at his employer's clothing establishments. "Mr. Tello, she will be most pleased and appreciative. Thank you."

"Well, her isobe maki that she made for my birthday warrants an entire store, but then you would have the dubious task of carryingit all home, so…"

Waving his hands dismissively, Thomas went slightly wide-eyed as he said, "Don't ever let my wife hear you say that, Mr. Tello; she'll take your word for it and clean your stores out! Our apartment will be filled to the ceiling and then I'll have no other choice but to move into my car."

Both men laughed at the thought with Don suddenly remembering, "Oh that reminds me. If you do take Hiromi shopping today, could you please pick up an item for me from Tiffany's? They have it on hold for me. I am giving a little present to Bara. It's our six-month anniversary and I wanted to give her a gift. Just run by the penthouse and leave it on our foyer table if you can."

Thomas quirked an eyebrow as he said, "A…six month anniversary gift, sir?"

"Yes," Don smiled wide, "Bara has been a dream come true for me, Thomas, and the least that I can do is to show her how much I love her. A once a year celebration just doesn't seem fitting with how I feel about her."

Thomas chuckled, "I don't mind picking up your gift, Mr. Tello, but I'm going to have to be quite careful about telling my wife what it's for!"

"And…why is that?" Don replied, somewhat puzzled.

"Hiromi and I have been married for five years, sir," Thomas explained, "If she learns about your views on such matters, I will have to buy five more presents to make up for not honoring her in the same fashion!" He smirked a little, "She sort of admires you with the way you handle things. Romi's always telling me that I should follow your example."

Don grinned then, imagining the look on the woman's face and the resulting 'conversation' she would have with her husband. As Don smiled, Thomas gave a wary look, "Please, Mr. Tello, you would not blackmail me with that, now, would you?"

"Me?" Don replied, as he placed a delicate hand across his plastron, "Use it to my advantage? Now, why would I ever do that?" he grinned evilly at his valet.

The horrified expression on his valet's face gave Don one more reason to chuckle, which – of course – convinced the man of his employer's humorous dig.

"Thank the gods you do indeed have a sense of humor, Mr. Tello!" Thomas smiled as he shook his head, "you had me worried there for a second."

Don's sudden quirk of his eye and abrupt halt to his mirth told Thomas that he had, with one simple sentence, meted out equal justice to his employer's idle threat. Suddenly, laughter erupted between the two men, each enjoying the momentary levity, but then, just as quickly, they returned to their immediate tasks, the shopping trip - and the mysterioius tones - forgotten.

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As he rode up toward his penthouse in his private elevator, Don sighed in weariness and rubbed at his eyes; he was tired and glad to be home. It had been a long day. The only thing that made it worth his while was coming home to his beautiful and charming wife, Bara. He thought about the diamond necklace and earrings he had bought for her from Tiffany's, and he hoped that she would like them. Don truly hoped that Thomas would be able to swing by the penthouse later that night with the package, before turning in, The turtle truly wanted Bara to discover her gift first thing in the morning. He smiled at the thought and knew that he was probably one of the luckiest men, or mutant,in the worldto have such a mate as Bara. To think that someone such as she would find him worthy of her time and attention, only swelled Don's heart to bursting. He sighed deeply once more. This time not in weariness, but with the fullness that only true love could create.

As he walked through the front door, Bara greeted him witha hug and a kiss, asking him, "How was your day, Sweetheart," she asked as she then took his jacket from him, putting the garmet neatly into the nearby coat closet.

Don watched as she hung his coat up. He smiled as he admired the red silk dress she wore. It was form-fitting and accentuated Bara's attractive physical features. She was currently wearing her house slippers, which allowed her to stand just a little shorter than Don was tall.

Then, smiling contentedly and as he worked his shoulder muscles around to release their tension, Don replied, "Oh, things went well enough, but the two meetings didn't resolve our problems." He suddenly said as an afterthought, however, "Also, I might have to drive up state tomorrow morning. One of my satellite labs had a scientist commit suicide the other day."

Closing the coat closet door, Bara turned around with widened eyes, "Oh, that's just horrible! What happened?"

"No one knows exactly," her husband answered, "She's been sort of a loner, not very friendly. Her colleagues said that she had been experimenting on some sort of genetics breakthrough over the past year, and had been acting strange for several months." Don worked the inside of his cheek a little in thought, wondering what exactly the woman had been working on. He then continued as he sighed, "Anyway, from what the lab manager told me, she flung herself out the window of her apartment. When her colleagues checked her place,her pet was missing, as well. I don't know what it was exactly, but her associates said that she was quite fond of it. It's all very strange, but I should be back by evening."

Bara exclaimed as she looked up at her husband, "Oh, that's just so sad. Did she have any family?"

"No," Don replied, "she wasn't married. Her parents are dead and, where she was an only child, she didn't have any siblings either." He sighed then, "I only hope it wasn't the work that overwhelmed her; I would feel very badly about that."

"Well, you can't monitor everyone, dear." Bara remarked.

"I know, but – still, it's very sad. No one should ever take their life like that. I'm certain that had she shared her problems, I would have encouraged her to seek counseling."

Don gently embraced his wife and hugged her, nuzzling her neck a bit as he did. He pulled away and looked deeply into Bara's attractive face, "You know...you are either an amazing dream, or the most incredible creature to ever grace my presence."

"I hope I'm the latter. Some dreams tend to go wrong!" she smiled sadly, giving him a peck on his snout.

"Hmm…yes," Don nodded solemnly as he studied her thoughtfully, "it seems strange that you'restarting to have these nightmares again." He hugged her for a second time and sighed.

Don was fully aware that Bara's dreams had returned, again, seemingto coincide or even following Don's business dealings whenever he would go out of town. He had rationalized that it was just his wife missing him and nothing more.

Sighing, Bara, slipped her arm around her husband's, as they turned and walked into the living room. "Last night, though, it was different," she admitted softly.

"Why so?" he asked as they both sat down on the couch next to each other. Don wrapped his arm around his wife's shoulder, the two of them sitting side by side, as they relaxed into the divan.

"Well, I remember images this time, things happening that I can't explain, and then there was…" she looked up at Don and grimaced, "blood. A lot of it."

Nodding a little, Don studied her for a moment, and then said, "Well, maybe my explanation as to why Raph and I go to Europe has affected you more than you care to admit?" He wondered if it had been wise to tell Bara about his business ventures overseas. Months earlier, he shared with her how the trips oftentimes involved quelling threats from mafia-like gangs, groups of opportunistic crime lords whodisguised themselves as innocent entrepreneurs as they took advantage of the less fortunate.Although Bara had been upset at first with Don's vigilante side-business, she couldn't help but admire her husband for trying to defend the downtrodden victims of such organizations.

In any event, Don ended up sharingvery little with her regarding the full details of his trips. He felt it unnecessary to expound on the type of danger he frequently put himself in every time he flew to Russia or China.

Shrugging a little, Bara sighed, "I…don't know, Don. I mean, I understand why you do what you do, where your business partners over there are without any support from local law enforcement agencies." From where she sat on the couch, she could see the samurai print with the sword showcased just below it on its wooden holder. Bara suddenly changed the topic, "I really don't like that picture. I…I don't know why, it just…gives me the creeps."

Don looked over at the artworkk and then back at his wife again, "It's just a painting, Bara; certainly it isn't influencing your dreams, is it?" He quirked his head a little, "And, Samurai warriorsare part of your Japanese heritage, so it should not bother you that much."

"I know, but…all that blood and then that sword that you insist on displaying," she moaned in rising irritation, turning her face away. "Maybe that's the reason why my dreams have become so – vivid, so...violent?"
she moaned.

Don's expression grew serious. Cupping his wife's chin and turning her face around to him again, his words were precise and deliberate as he gently explained to her, "That sword is part of my clan's history, Bara. It symbolizes a very pivotal point in our existence." Gently rubbing her chin with his thumb before releasing it, Don looked once again at the object in question, "Our sensei's greatest enemy was felled by that sword," he turned back to face his wife once more, a bit of pride showing in his voice, "Leonardo's katana will forever remain on display as a symbol of our victory." Smiling, he added as he chuckled lightly, "Although he still complains about my 'borrowing' it. Just the same," Don straightened up, "it reminds me of how very fortunate it is to be where we are today. I - will – not – remove it…my love." Don gave a determined but compassionate expression to his wife, not trying to be overbearing,per se', but to make his point perfectly clear with how he felt.

Bara sighed as she leaned into his embrace, "I guess I'll have to get used to it then." Bara knew when Don postured himself, as he was doing now, there wasn't any hope of dissuading him. It was obvious her husband would not be convinced otherwise from his decision.

Despite his insistance, though, Don could still sense that she was not the least bit happy with his position. He hugged her and nuzzled her neck with his snout, "I love you, you know."

"I know, and I love you, too," she replied, leaning into his affection. Then, changing the subject, she asked, "Well, I have dinner waiting. Are you hungry?"

Don smiled wide as he gave his wife a visual once over - and then quirked an eye ridge. Gently caressing one of her arms with his right hand, causing the skin to goosebump, he commented huskily, "For many things, my dear, but – yes, I believe my stomach would appreciate some 'sustenance!'"

Bara playfully pushed her husband away from her in mock indignation, "Is that all you think about, Don," giggling as she did and then stood up.

Don joined her and rolled his eyes up as if givingher wordssome serious consideration. Then looked at Bara and grinned, "Just about."

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Later on that evening and as they were preparing for bed, Don slipped up behind Bara as she stood before their bathroom mirror. She was currently combing her long, raven-black hair. Snuggling up to her and putting his arms around her waist, he asked as he whispered along her neck, nuzzling her affectionately, "Still mad at me?"

Bara involuntarily shivered, continuing to brush her hair as she smiled shyly, "A little, but…" she pivoted around to face him, "I love you, and I respect your reasons. I just…wish the sword could be displayed somewhere else other than in our home."

Don brought her closer to him and in response, she laid her head against his plastron. She nestled into his shoulderas he spoke softly to her, "I will try to find a less conspicuous place for the sword tomorrow; maybe in my office downtown."

Bara kept herself entrenched within his arms, her words gently vibrating against Don's right shoulder as she said, "Thank you, Don-san. That…means a lot to me."

He smiled and pulled away to look at her,"I love you, my sweet, and I'm sorry for becoming so stubborn earlier, but," he sighed, "the sword is very special to me."

"I know, and I do understand," Bara replied,but then changed the topic, "By the way, what do you have planned for tomorrow?" she asked as her eyes sparkled with a mischievous smile growing on her face.

"Whhhyyy?" Don inquired suspiciously, cocking his head curiously.

"Oh…I don't know," she traced her finger along one of the groves in his plastron, "maybe go for a drive, have lunch at the house in Croton," she suggested coyly, tipping her chin up as she batted her eyelashes at him.

He chuckled knowingly and kissed her forehead, correcting her, "You mean, lunch, dinner, and…maybe breakfast?"

"Well, since you mentioned it…" Bara laughed in return, receiving a hug from her husband.

"I…guess I could spare that much time from my business, now that I'm a married man," Don replied eagerly, "Maybe, we can try again to make some babies, eh?" he released her as he raised a tempting eye ridge at her. They had both wanted to have children, but for reasons that were more obvious to Don than he cared to admit, his wife had remained barren. Maybe it was because of the differences in their species, but part of him had hoped his mutation would have made it possible for her to conceive.

Nevertheless, he saw absolutely no harm in at least trying - and as many times as necessary, too.

Bara giggled, now pulling herself away from her husband and leading him back into their bedroom towards their bed. As Don followed along, his grin widened as his wife enticed seductively, "Why wait until then, my love?"

Chuckling under his breath, Don smiled wider, "Why indeed, my lovely wife."

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A few hours later, Bara was dreaming again, only this time the dream was different. It seemed as if it had come from her past, when she had lived with her grandfather. She recognized the setting and the feel of it. It was when she was quite young and living in Japan. It was a time of learning and training for her. As she watched her dream play out, she smiled with how familiar things seemed to be, even though this particular dream was quite new. Yet, as sometimes happens in dreams, she was only an observer, watching herself as a little girl.

The pre-adolescent female stood in the courtyard, her doji swarming around her legs, as a gentle wind wiped through the secluded training area. Her face glistened with perspiration, proof that she had been exerting herself for some time, now. She stood erect and bold, her small wooden sword held high as she prepared to deflect her would-be assailant. Her eyes flit about, searching for his unseen attack.

She was smiling expectantly. She knew he was one with the shadows, now.

Her attacker was her sensei, her grandfather, and he was showing her another lesson, another way to advance upon an enemy and, at the same time, a way to deflect that same attack.

"Pay attention, Bara," he called out, hidden among the blackened veils of night as he prepared his next move, "it is important to listen, to taste, to sense where I am." he directed. "Do not be distracted by the moonless night; it shall one day be your friend and your ally."

Then, without warning and coming from a place other than where his voice had been only a moment earlier, a dark form lsuddenly eaped out at her.

Surprised, yet expectant, Bara easily deflected his jutting sword, but she had been unprepared for the leg that swept hers.

As she hit the ground with a sudden 'thwump', she called out, "Ojiisan!", her ten-year old voice protesting the unexpected maneuver.

"My child," he now stood tall before her, his black doji playing in the same gentle breeze. The girl lay sprawled along the ground below him. As he sheathed his sword, he admonished, "You did not expect anything more than my weapon...and that is why you failed! Always expect the unexpected, regardless of what weapon is used." He then corrected her, "Never think about what will happen, just react to it as it happens."

As ten-year old Bara sat up, deflated, she bowed her head low before him and whispered in shame, "Hai, sensei."

The 'observing' adult Bara smiled, somehow remembering the scene, and yet, a part of her seemed to see it for the very first time. It caused her to wonder a great deal about it, but – as the dream continued – she dismissed it easily. Then,in her dream, she heard her grandfather's voice again…

"Now, it is time for our 'other' lesson," The young girl's grandfather waited until she had stood again before him, and then he directed her towards what appeared to be a short stand of trees. They grew so tightly together, however, that they almost behaved as a solid barrier. Yet, as the two approached the living fence, Bara's ojiisan suddenly pushed part of it aside to slide the 'trees' away, revealing an opening or gateway. The trees were not true, growing trees, but part of a blind, constructed to fool anyone on the other side that what lay beyond was only a grove of saplings, rather than a hidden training yard.

As young Bara and her grandfather passed through the opening, the child asked, her little-girl voice filled with innocence." Why do we practice in secret, ojiisan?"

"Because, my child," he replied, "we have enemies that would want you." He closed the 'gate', and then turned to urge his granddaughter foreward.

"Why would they want me? I have done nothing to them?" she exclaimed with wary concern. She huddled into him a bit, the breeze chilling her and causing her to shiver just a little. The thought of anyone snatching her away from her home frightened the girl terribly. She had already lost her parents years earlier. To lose her grandfather, too, was a thought that gave her nightmares.

Sensing her fear, the man gently laid a hand upon her back and accepted her need for assurance, "Ah, Bara, my rose, you are special; you have sensitivity to 'ideas', or thoughts, and an ability to hide these thoughts from those who are our enemy and who would take you." He sighed, then, "However, your training is not yet complete, and until it is…you must stay hidden." He then explained, "Your mother and father did not understand this. It is only by chance that their death allowed me to show you the wonders of your kunoichi heritage."

"What…is a kunoichi, again?" the girl asked innocently, looking up at her grandfather,as they walked up the wooden steps to the temple. She then looked down at her feet and tried to match her grandfather's stride but found her legs far too short. Consequently, she had to step a little faster to keep up with him.

Smiling, the grandfather patted her back affectionately, not answering right away. He continued climbing the steps with his student, asthe scene before them to come into view. The building was a place of worship,a simple Buddhist temple built onraised wooden terraces, eachlarge and imposing, with the entire structure surrounded by trees. The trees clustered around the building protectively, bathing the structure in deep shadows. Only the subdued and soft glow of lanterns brightened the inside of the temple, warming the various doorways and opened windows with their inviting light.

As they reached the top of the first wooden terrace, only a few steps remained to enter up into the main anteroom. Greeting them solumely, a host ofpriests bowed before them.The men stood in a half circle, all wearing the orange robe of their order, half their face covered with the same color of cloth, while leaving only their eyes and hairless head exposed. They hummed a sort of chant, each priest holding a staff , from which the top-end hungincense burners. The priests' musical monotoned 'song' seemed hypnotically pleasant, like a mantra. Smoke gently billowed from the burners, filling the upper reaches of the temple with a bluish green haze. Upon the wooden floor in the midst of the circle of priests, sat a large, red pillow, big enough for a child – such as Bara..

Finally, the girl's grandfather stopped and turned towards her as he answered her question, "A kunoichi, Bara, is a warrior, a female ninja with very special talents. You will one day use these talents for a very noble cause, all for the honor of your clan." He gently stroked the girl's hairless head. Since he had adopted her, he had it shaved clean so as not to draw attention to her gender. Where she had not changed yet to womanhood, she would remain hairless, yet he sighed, knowing that soon, he would have to let her hair grow out once more. His granddaughter would not remain a little girl forever; Bara would have to learn how to manage such a thing as hair, teasing it into alluring styles as to be pleasing and attractive.

Bara smiled up at him and then said eagerly, her eyes bright and proud, "My clan's The Daughters of the Dragon, right?"

Her ojiisan's face narrowed suddenly as he looked down at the girl, his eyes like blackened slits. Seeinghis angry expression caused Bara to go wide-eyed with fear. His face then darkened as the priests stopped their chanting, taking notice of the girl in like manner. A sudden and terrible hush fell over the child, causing her to nearly hold her breath in confusion and fear.

In a voice filled with warning, her grandfather replied between clenched teeth, his words hard and angry, "Baka child! Never – mention - that – name – again - EVER!"

"W-why?" she asked as her chin trembled. It had only been a few days since she had learned about her status, that she was part of a select group of young girls specifically chosen and privately trained from the rest of the clan.

As the adult Bara watched her dream unfold, she knew that she was familiar with this scene, yet Bara also seemed to see it anew, as well. A part of her wondered why she was remembering this aspect of her life, now, where in her waking world, she hadn't ever been aware of it. "Why does this all seem so familiar to me?" she asked herself in her dream-state.

Just the same, she sensed that her ojiisan wantedto backhand her, but then, in the next instant, she felt his resistance. She could almost read his thoughts as he said silently, "It would not do for me to abuse the child now, thereby compromising her future training."

The girl's grandfather softened his expressionm then, and bent down to eye level with her. With a voice only meant for her, he whispered as he gently but firmly grasped her delicate shoulders, "You are part of a secret band of ninja who have been hand picked to give their life and their allegiance to the Oroku family. My young lord, Saki, will have great plans for you. Although I am not privy to those plans and nor has one been picked for you, one day, my granddaughter, you will give of your self for the good of the Foot clan."

"What…shall I give to them, Ojiisan?" the girl asked curiously. She felt his hands suddenly squeeze a little tighter on her shoulders and it hurt, yet she did not evengrimace. Instead, she stood there quietly, obediently, waiting for her sensei to answer, while the priests prepared for her time with them. Floor-based incense burners along one side and in front of the red pillow now began to smoke,their transparent bluish clouds of fragrance billowing high into the room and mingled with the fumes already clouding the rafters. The child, Bara, felt a familiar light-headedness as the vapors enveloped her. She tried to shake its affects, trying to stay focused on her mentor, but the girl was finding it increasingly difficult with each passing moment.

Her grandfather's smile was gentle, almost compassionate, as he replied to her question in a near whisper, "You will give everything, my dear granddaughter."

The observing Bara narrowed her expression a bit at the man's words, "Everything?" she wondered questioninglyin her dream.

However, the girl just stood there, confused as her observing adult self seemed to be. Nevertheless, as the affects from the incense soon strengthened, a question perseisted in her mind, 'what did it mean to give - everything?', but she found it too difficult to express it as her consciousness wavered even more.

The adult Bara watched and knew this dream-child was thinking the same thing as she. Still, with the way her ojiisan had spoken, it implied that whatever it was to give 'everything' , it seemed giving everything was a noble act. The strangest part, though, was that she could not remember having this conversation with her grandfather…at all. In fact, she was certain that the entire dream sequence seemed far too surreal to be a memory of hers.

Nevertheless, as the child struggled to ask her question, her ojiisan turned her away, and then gently pushed her towards the priests, "Now, Bara, it is time for your meditation."

"I don't like meditating, it makes me tired," the girl whimpered weakly in complaint, trying to resist, but finding it increasingly difficult. She was slowly losing the will to fight as the smoky interior of the temple overwhelmed her. As in previous times before, the effectsfrom the incense became stronger than her determination and desire to resist.

"Yes, and that is the way it should be," her grandfather said, gently pushing her forward some more and bringing her closer to the priests, "We will be telling you wonderful 'stories'"

"But, I never remember them, Grandfather, no matter how hard I try!" the girl protested weakly, her eyes drooping, now, as her mind slowed even more.

"Ah, but these are special stories that you are not supposed to remember until they are needed, child. And, we will help you to keep then secret as well as your allegiance to the Dragon." He sighed as he continued, "For now, just enjoy the pleasant aroma of the incense and the calming words from my priests." The man smiled down at his granddaughter, a knowing smile that seemed detached, dispassionate, and not at all like the ojiisan that the observing Bara seemed more familiar with.

In that moment, Bara saw his smilechange toone of asneer, as if he was fully aware of a terrible and horrifying secret. It came to the woman in her dream, that regardless of how she felt or whatever it was that the priests were teaching the child to do, the little girl would have no other choice but to obey. The dreaming Bara wanted to stop the act, to intercede for the girl, and to 'save' her from something evil which, even in that moment, seemeda mystery to her.

Then, from the dream, a sudden distant tone sang forth, a sound which seemed to emanate from within the shadowed recesses of the temple. Its lyrical notes rose and fell along its register, its repeating melody almost hypnotic in nature. Almost instantly, the child's resistance changed to one of compliance. She now walked away from her grandfather, willingly sitting upon the pillow, completely forgetting her earlier hesitation. As she quickly settled down into the red cushion, sinking into the pillow, Bara quickly folded her legs into a lotus position.

The girl was now ready.

However, as dreams often do, the scene abruptly changed. It was then the observing Bara, the adult version of the child, saw the priests morph suddenly into something far different from their placid demeanor. Now, instead of wearing the orange robes of their order and with their heads shaved as bald as the child's, from head to toe they wore nothing but black. With their faces covered with the same dark oppressive color, red kanji letters decorated the front along a white band which tied around their heads. As Bara watched this new scene play out, she tried to read the writing. Suddenly, an image of a dragon came to hermind and inthat moment, everything in the dream beagnto make sense.

Yet, just as she came to this sudden thought, she awoke and found herself somewhere else entirely.

With a jolt, Bara sat straight up in bed, her skin glimmering with perspiration, but with the essence of the dream slowly fading fromher mind. However, unlike the other dreams, this one had left her a little ill, possibly even homesick. Suddenly, she missed her ojiisan and wished that he still lived, to see what wonderful things had happened to her, now that she was married to Don. She was still confused with the dream, since what she could recall confused her. For as much as she sat there and tried to remember, the scenes were quite unfamiliar, the priests, the trainingyard, the red pillow- and even her ojiisan, who seemed strange and alien.

"What does the word 'dragon' have to do with him or with me, though?" she asked herself silently.

Yet as she sat there next to her sleeping husband, as her dream dissipated, she concluded that it was nothing more thansomethinga subconscious mind would create. It was obvious that her worries and concerns about Don's business overseas was causing her surrealistic phantasms. She breathed deeply to dispel the affects from the nightmare and then Bara looked over at Don. She sighed in relief, glad that, this time, she had not disturbed him . She smiled down at her husband, his face filled with peace and serenity,and thought about how much she loved him!

Just the same, she was awake and restless. Carefully, so as not to wake him, Bara slipped out of bed. She quickly shoved her feet into her slippers and grabbed up her robe. After she shrugged it on, she padded silently towards their bedroom door.

However, Don's sleepy voice stopped her, "Wha's…wrong, Bara?"

"Nothing, my love; I am just restless," she replied sweetly.

"Come back t'bed," he half begged, still mostly asleep; yet awake enough to reach one arm out to her beseechingly.

"I will, I promise, I'm just going to get a glass of milk and then I'll return." Bara replied affectionately.

"Promise?" he begged, lifting his head. His eyes flitted around to see where she was in the room. When he saw her standing at the threshold of their bedroom door, he smiled at her. It was a half cocked, lopsided grin, and an obvious testament that he was still quite drunk with sleep.

Bara shook her head and smiled. Walking over to where he lay, she bent down and kissed him on his cheek, "I promise, Don-san, that I will return to you." With her hand, she stoked his face affectionately, "Maybe without my nightgown on!"

"Mmm…" Don grinned as he lay his head down onto his pillow again and closed his eyes, "That'd be worth waitin' for…" and then he sighed contentedly, falling back to sleep once again.

Bara cupped her hand over her mouth to keep from giggling and shook her head. He was so cute when he was like this, she thought to herself. The big, powerful Don Tello – maker of men and worlds – reduced to a puddle of lusty thoughts and stumbling sleepy words. She giggled once more at the irony.

Nevertheless, the glass of milk kept 'calling' out to her and so Bara left the bedroom and headed straight away towards the kitchen.

As shewalked through the foyer towards the living area, she noticed a small package on the side table near the front door of the penthouse. Wrapped in gold foiled paper and tied with red, velvet ribbon, the box intrigued her. She stopped to inspect it. "This…wasn't here before," she thought quizzically. She smiled, then, "Don…that sneaky little scoundrel. What a sweetie he is." She picked it up and shook it gently. Hearing a subtle rattling from inside, she grinned bigger, "Jewelry?" Her eyes brightened a little as she began to slip a fingernail under the ribbon to remove it, but then she stopped. "Nope," and then placed the box back down on top of the table, "I'll wait until morning. I'll…pretend not to see it and see how long it will take for Don to get impatient." Giggling, she patted the top of the box affectionately, "But, I won't make him suffer too long; I really want to see what's inside!"

A few minutes later, Bara found herself with a full glass of milk in hand and heading into Don's office. After she flipped the light switch on, she walked over to the desk, and as she did, Bara suddenly scowled. There, lying along the top of the desk, she saw a thick collection of papers showing complex series of hand-drawn schematics. She knew thatDon had been working on his latest invention earlier, just before she called him to bed. Yet, she was perfectly aware that it was in his nature to be slightly absentminded. Sighing in loving acceptance, she quickly grabbed up the papers and filed them back into the cabinet behind his desk.

Then, the phone rang. Bara wiped around and stared at the device, her milk sloshing a bit in its glass. Some of the white liquid dribbled over the rim and down its side, a few drops falling silently onto the desk.

Unaware of the milky splatter, Bara wondered whether to answer the phone or let the automated recorder do its job. She was fully aware of the mysterious tones from months before, only because Don had brought them to her attention. Yet, even then, when he had played the recordings for her, Bara could only shrug and insist at the time that she had never heard them before.

As she stood there, now, trying to decide whether to answer the phone or not, the automated system finally took the incoming call. Bara stood there, curious as to who in the world would be calling at such an ungodly time. She noted the small clock on the desk and read the time - midnight, certainly far too late in the evening for such calls.

However, as the automated receiver took the message, a series of musical tones sang forth through the speakers.

As what happened seven months prior,Bara became rigid, standingstock still and transfixed. Completely unaware of what she was doing, she dropped her glass of milk,the glass shattering over the floor and spilling its contents. As the whistles and beeps continued through the speaker, they changed suddenly in pitch. Now, they had an almost desperate tone to them,and it appeared as if their desperationaffected Bara in like manner.

However, unlike her first experience, this time her eyes widened ever so slightly...almost in alarm, Yet, quickly and in the next instant, her face hardened into a stern expression and quite unlike her. As the series of tones and beeps ceased to play, Bara turnedand walked stiffly towards the office door, almostin a trance-like state. As she cleared its threshold, she automatically turned left, towards the living room. Approaching the samurai painting, she stopped, turned, and faced it – just as she had done months earlier.

Without hesitating, she stepped up to the wall where the painting hung, took the sheathed sword from the mantle below it, and silently slipped the blade out from its holder. As she quietly replaced the empty sheath back onto the mantle, she turned and then hesitated ever so slightly. Her face contorted a bit, almost in pain as if she were fighting some unwanted urge, or battling a subconscious enemy. However, almost as if that 'something' became stronger than she was, her determined expression returned once again.

Now, she took slow,but deliberately steps towards the master bedroom, her feet silent against the carpet.

As she walked, Bara brought the sword up in front of her. With its point facing away from her,she seemed prepared for battle,ready to strike down like a sprung trap. Her posture took on that of the well-trained child in her dream, long forgotten lesons now coming to the fore and overtaking the woman. Slowly, a small smile creased her face. Yet, it was a different smile from what Bara usually expressed. It wasvery much like the oneher grandfather had in her dream.

In that moment and as if blooming forth from her subconscious, Bara 'remembered' whom and what she was, what her clan had trained her to be since childhood…and what was now her mission.

She was kunoichi, a member of the Foot clan, and a Daughter of the Dragon.

She was an assassin, her one and only mission playing repeatedly in her head like a broken record, a tone telling her of one single…simple…command.

'Kill and die with honor'.

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Author's Comments: The next chapter will not be pretty. Yet, it still falls within the T rating.I felt it prudent to warn y'all. Bwahaha!