Assurance
En route to British Columbia, Canada, Kunimitsu's personal chopper…
In order to make sense on what happened with Raven and Eliza, Kunimitsu wanted to know why Raven would betray their marriage. However, at the same time, she ordered her group of top ninjas to find and kidnap Eliza. Kunimitsu was conflicted on whether or not Eliza should die because she seduced Raven. That decision would be based on Kunimitsu's talk with Raven. If Raven really betrayed their love, then Kunimitsu would not only have Eliza dead, but him too.
Secret UN Ninja Training Ground, British Columbia Province, Canada…
Meanwhile at the training grounds, Phoenix kept a close watch on Raven. It had been 4 days since Master Raven scolded him for what happened back at the Manji Village. He didn't talk to Phoenix much, but he did keep himself meditated and eat when he needed to. For her it was sort of a good sign, but Raven could do off the deep end at any given moment. How many more days did Phoenix have to watch him? Hopefully, Master Raven would not forget about them both. After all, Master Raven did promise to speak with Raven again in greater detail about the incident with Eliza.
Another day begins. It was a very cloudy, foggy late morning within the British Columbia Mountains. Phoenix prepared some breakfast for her and Raven to consume. Raven was still asleep. By the time, Phoenix was done cooking, she could hear a helicopter from above the cabin as the noise grew louder and louder. This surprised Phoenix as she left the kitchen to go outdoors. Indeed, it was a helicopter descending into the open field from the thick fog.
Phoenix: "That's not Master! Who is that?" (Shielding her face from the flying dirt coming her way.)
Finally, the helicopter lands on the ground as its propellers slow down turning. Once the steps from the chopper were in place, out came two people, excluding the pilot. It was the last person Phoenix expected to see come to this place. It was the leader of Manji Clan, Kunimitsu, with a vigilant Shinomatsu standing right behind her.
Phoenix: "I do not believe it! Kunimitsu! Why are you here?"
Kunimitsu: "Raven is here is he not?"
Phoenix: "Don't come here like you can boss me around!" (Draws her kitchen knife. It was the only thing she was holding.) "You must be here to kill him is that it!"
Shinomatsu steps in to protect Kunimitsu, but…
Kunimitsu: "At ease!"
Shinomatsu: "But! My lady!"
Kunimitsu: "I want to talk with him. I have no intentions of hurting him. Please Phoenix!"
Phoenix: "After banning us from your village? How can I trust you now?"
Kunimitsu: "Because now I want to know more about why Raven was in my bedroom with Eliza! Would you rather be in a prison cell in my village instead? I do not believe you would like that! Now please! Let me talk to him alone!"
Phoenix was still fuming, but Kunimitsu did make a good point about being taken prisoner. That was worse than getting exiled no question there. Making up her mind she finally let her guard down, but never taking her eyes off the Manji women. Suddenly, the cabin front door opens from behind her. It was, Raven who still had on his long undergarments. He heard the helicopter come down too. Kunimitsu and Shinomatsu stopped their advance as the man they were looking for showed his face at last.
Phoenix (Turns around.): "Raven. Look!"
Raven: "Kunimitsu?"
Kunimitsu: "Yes Raven. It is me."
Raven: "You knew I was here all of this time?"
Kunimitsu: "I figured you would be here at this place. You gave me the coordinates a long time ago remember?"
Raven (Rubbing his head): "Yeah…I did."
Kunimitsu: "Can we talk…alone?"
Raven (Looking back at his wife.): "We can…give me a moment." (Closing the door.)
Phoenix (Worried.): "Raven."
After 5 minutes pass, Raven came back out of the cabin with a heavier coat and some warm shoes. Then he signaled Kunimitsu to come follow him into the woods. Kunimitsu does so leaving Shinomatsu and the pilot of their aircraft alone with a perplexed Phoenix. Phoenix wondered if this was still an elaborate setup. By the time the couple was out of sight, the pilot of Kunimitsu broke the tense silence.
Pilot: "Excuse me, is it alright if I use the bathroom?"
Phoenix (Looks at him.): "Number 1 or number 2?"
Pilot: "Both actually."
Phoenix: "Go inside and it will be on the left hallway, first door to your right."
Pilot: "Thank you miss!" (Runs in the cabin.)
Phoenix (To Shinomatsu): "You need to go after him?"
Shinomatsu: "I can do it outside. I rather not smell another man's waste." (Walking in the woods too.)
Phoenix: "O…kay?"
Deep in the woods, near a ravine…
Raven approached the nearby ravine that was far enough for only him and Kunimitsu to talk. The lingering mist of fog will make things more secure for them. Now is the moment for Kunimitsu to express her feelings to her husband about that awful night.
Kunimitsu: "Did you know I was coming here?"
Raven (Folding his arms.): "No. I did not."
Kunimitsu: "Do you know why?"
Raven: "Can I guess?"
Kunimitsu: "You know. Now explain. I need to understand this."
Raven (Shakes his head.): "That night. I was mind controlled. It was against my free will to have that encounter with Eliza. Knowing you Kunimitsu, you would not listen to reason. For you were too emotional."
Kunimitsu: "Mind controlled how Raven? You mean Eliza has that ability to control people's body with minimal effort?"
Raven: "I did not know at the time until it happened to me. She had never displayed anything like that to me or my master. I was simply caught off guard."
Kunimitsu: "If what you are telling me is true. How should I go about on testing this theory?"
Raven: "Just talk to my master. Eliza is with her I think. It has been some time since they left here. I do not where they could be at this time."
Kunimitsu: "Then I must confess. I sent some of my best ninja to go capture Eliza and take her back to my village."
Raven (Unfolding his arms.): "You did what?"
Kunimitsu: "I will deal with Eliza because of her transgression. She must be punished for stealing you from me!"
Raven: "Kunimitsu…that is wrong. You need to call off the mission."
Kunimitsu: "Why? Are you lying to me about her?" (Begins shedding tears under her mask.)
Raven (Walks close to his wife.): "I have no reason to lie. But understand this Kunimitsu. If you were to take Eliza and kill her. Then that is going to make our clans enemies. My master will go out her way to not only arrest you, but also force the good people of the Manji Village to leave their homes, for good. Courtesy of the United Nations Troops."
Kunimitsu gasps…
Raven: "If you really care about us. And our son, then please. Do not end Eliza's life. We need her power."
Kunimitsu: "Oh Raven!"
She hugs him tight, still crying…
Kunimitsu: "I love you!"
Raven (Returning the embrace.): "I love you too."
Kunimitsu and Raven held each other like this for a good long while. The longer she stayed there, the more at ease she felt. At least Eliza and maybe Master Raven were not around to see this. Because of the long flight to Canada, Kunimitsu's stomach began to growl. Raven could hear it and asked her if she ate anything.
Raven: "Are you hungry?"
Kunimitsu: "Hai."
Raven: "Phoenix was making breakfast. We might have to warm it up again though. Let's go back."
Kunimitsu: "Ok."
Back at the cabin…
Phoenix: "You guys can eat! Go ahead! It's not poison!"
Pilot: "I will thanks!" (Eats some oatmeal)
Phoenix (To Shinomatsu): "Hey come on! Dig in!"
Shinomatsu: I will wait for my master and besides. It still could be poison."
Phoenix (Facepalms): "It's not poison! Look! I'm gonna sample." (Puts a mouthful of oatmeal inside her mouth with a spoon.) "See! It's delicious!"
Shinomatsu (Pouts.): "Hmph."
Phoenix: "Suit yourself. It's just gonna get cold by the time your master is back."
Pilot: "This is very good. Again. Thank you!"
Phoenix: "You are so welcome Mister?"
Pilot: "Just call me Choi."
Phoenix: "Choi, got it!"
The front door opens…
Phoenix (Turning around): "Raven you're back!"
Raven: "Yes we are. That smells nice Phoenix. Is it oatmeal with pork sausage again?"
Phoenix: "Yep. Kunimitsu you are more than welcome to have some."
Kunimitsu: "Oh thank you Phoenix. I am sorry for coming out here unannounced."
Phoenix: "It's okay now. I see Raven is in good spirits now. So that is good! Now come on and eat!"
After the meal…
Phoenix: "So? How was everything?"
Kunimitsu: "Very good. You must like to cook Phoenix."
Phoenix: "Hey I try hard. Though I'm not quite as good as Master Raven." (Shrugs.)
Choi: "Yes, this was delicious. Again thanks."
Phoenix: "And you?" (To Shinomatsu.)
Shinomatsu: "It was satisfactory. Arigato."
Phoenix: "Woo hoo! I even got her humbled!" (Stops celebrating.) "Sooo…are you guys staying here for the rest of the day?"
Kunimitsu: "Hmmm before that…I must contact my men and tell them to keep Eliza in her old house until Raven can contact his master to go pick her up."
Phoenix: "Wait? Your men were gonna kidnap Eliza? I thought you banned her too? What's going on?"
Raven: "Easy Phoenix. We talked it over. Eliza will be fine. This was all a misunderstanding. All I have to do is let Master Raven know about these developments. I bet the mission has already started. The point is we do not want anyone getting hurt out of this."
Suddenly, both Raven and Phoenix's wristcoms buzzed off...it was Master Raven with a message…
Master Raven: "Guys…I got some bad news. Eliza was taken from me by the Manji. I do not know why, but it can't be good. I need everyone except Finch and Tweet to contact me as soon as you can. I will be in Papua New Guinea if you want to meet me there. We need to get Eliza back before it's too late! Master Raven out!"
Phoenix: "Well? I guess that's that? And funny, the mastermind of it all is right here in our secret cabin."
Raven: "I will handle this. Just let me tell her okay?"
Phoenix: "Ok. I know she's gonna be ticked again."
Raven: "I'll bear it." (Walking outdoors again.)
Phoenix: "He is really something isn't he Kunimitsu?"
Kunimitsu: "That's an understatement."
Phoenix: "Are you guys finished eating? I will have to clean up the dishes."
Outside the cabin, Raven was able to contact Master Raven. His superior officer was surprised to learn that Kunimitsu discovered and knew about their secret compound. She was even more surprised to find out that Kunimitsu came to Raven and apologized. Out of that apology, Eliza would be released, but only if Master Raven showed up to the village. Regardless, Master Raven was not going alone. She wanted Raven and Phoenix to meet her in Papua New Guinea, but Raven said he wanted to stay with Kunimitsu. Phoenix would go instead. After the talk, Raven went back inside the cabin and told Phoenix what her orders were.
Raven: "Phoenix, I need you to go meet Master and pick up Eliza along with her."
Phoenix:" I'm going? What about you?"
Raven: "Let me be with Kunimitsu. We will spend the night together here and leave in the morning so you guys can be in Manji Village before us."
Phoenix: "Master Raven agreed to this?"
Raven: "Hai. Is there a problem?"
Phoenix: "No. I'm just making sure you will be ok Raven."
Raven: "I will and Kunimitsu will do the same."
That last statement made Kunimitsu smile from under her mask…
Kunimitsu: "Shinomatsu, Choi."
Shinomatsu: "Hai my lady."
Kunimitsu: "Get my stuff from out of the chopper. I want you and Choi to return for the village as well."
Shinomatsu: "Um right now?"
Kunimitsu: "You don't have to leave just yet, but do get my bag first please?"
Shinomatsu: "I will my lady." (Gets up from the kitchen table.)
Almost 30 minutes later…
Shinomatsu and Choi decided to leave, since Shinomatsu felt that there was no other reason to stay in the cabin. They left first. Then by the afternoon hours, Phoenix gathered her things as she left the cabin with her own hovercraft parked near Raven's ride. Now it was only Raven and Kunimitsu at the cabin. Kunimitsu offered to make dinner for Raven. It had been a while since Kunimitsu cooked a meal for herself, let alone for her husband. This meal would be made out of care and love. No tricks and no gimmicks. Kunimitsu was just happy to have Raven back again all on her own.