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Chapter 13 – Mind Battles

So there they stood. Just outside of the Shadow's Temptation, Black Spider Clan's dubbed territory, Ryu, Mishu, and this demonic soul by the name of Maindokontorooru, also referred to as Dokon, stood on a hilly terrain, just outside of a lonely cottage. Ryu and Mishu weren't frightened at the fact that they stood and readied themselves to take on this "ghost", what frightened them was that now, this man named Dokon, possessed the body of their closest ally, Ayane. The female kunoichi known for her murderous intent. And before the two male ninjas, stood the female ninja, possessed and dripping wet from an earlier Jacuzzi bath.

Also, what frightened them was that they did not know how to defeat Dokon without bringing any harm to Ayane. At this moment, and before the battle even began, Dokon already had the match won.

He, the demon, was the first to reveal his power as he charged in with an attack. With his main focus on killing Mishu, he threw a devastating punch which connected to the side of Mishu's jaw. Ryu showed no hesitation as he attempted to attack the backside of Ayane's possessed body with a punch of his own. Unfortunately, Dokon was resourceful, as he quickly turned and caught the wrist of the standby ninja and used his opponent's own momentum to twist his arm and caused him to stumble to the ground.

Dokon then spoke to Ryu, "I told you, ninja. This is none of your concern."

Even though Ryu knew Ayane's body was possessed by this ghost, it did slightly spook him to see the female speak to him in such a manner and with such a thunderous tone.

Suddenly, somehow, Dokon fell to his back. When Ryu looked, he saw Mishu jump from the ground after a successful leg sweep waiting for Dokon to recompose.

The two stood face to face for a second, then began their own whirlwind of attacks.

Ryu only sat on the ground where he fell astonished to see Mishu move so fast. His block techniques, perfect. His attacking techniques, perfect. Athleticism, perfect. Everything expected out of a great fighter seemed to be in perfect balance. Whether offense or defense, Ryu was struck in awe as he looked at a mirror image of himself fighting the possessed kunoichi. Dokon was able to land a few punches and kicks, but it was Mishu that held and kept control of the fight throughout the battle.

Finally, Ryu came to his senses and realized he was sitting on the ground watching the battle as if it was some sort of entertainment. He stood, prepared to fight, that was until Mishu snapped his head at Ryu and yelled. "Stay out it!" He quickly returned his glare back to his opponent and commenced with the battle.

Stay out it? Ryu stood in wide-eye shock. It wasn't the fact that this ex-Black Spider Clan member was telling a ninja of honor what to do. It wasn't the fact that Mishu had just told him not to assist in protecting the kinoichi he has known for years of his life. Even though those thoughts crossed his mind, what surprised him most was the sudden blurt that came from Mishu's lips.

Ryu knew the two fighters had some type of awkward history. They expressed in their raging battle yells every time someone would throw a punch or block a kick. Maybe Mishu could be trusted after all. Maybe he was wrong about him. Here he stood in front of Ryu, battling one of the hierarchs. That had to mean something...

Unless if it's all part of their plan.

Their battle came to a brief end when Dokon managed to kick Mishu hard to his chest and sent the traitor flying away from his position. Mishu landed hard against the terrain and Ryu hurriedly ran to his aid.

"Are you okay?"

Mishu nodded propping himself on his elbows.

The two glanced at Dokon. He stared at both of them with eyes of rage. He panted heavily from the exhaustion and the fists of the young woman were tightly clenched as if he was preparing for another round.

Mishu looked to Ryu. "So what's the plan?"

"For what?"

Mishu gave Ryu a confused look. "For defeating Dokon?" He said as if Ryu was supposed to have an answer. "What were you doing standing there?"

Ryu didn't want to tell his true answer, which was enjoying the fight between the two fighters, instead he answered. "I didn't know I was supposed to do all the thinking." He said as he helped Mishu to his feet.

"Well we have to think of something. Quick." Ryu continued to listen as Mishu continued. "The longer he stays in Ayane's body, the longer he continues to torture her, and probably even kill her."

"I won't let that happen." Ryu spoke and turned his focus onto Dokon and retrieved his Dragon Sword.

"Ryu, no weapons. You'll kill her."

But Ryu ignored Mishu as he slowly began to walk towards Dokon.

I won't kill her. He thought to himself. Hurt her? Yes. Kill her? No. And just then he was standing only a few paces away from his enemy.

Dokon's breathing had slowed and calmed as he formed an evil grin over the kunoichi's face. "You hurt me, you hurt her." Ryu only readied his sword. "You kill me, you kill her." Dokon said allowing Ryu to hang on to his words.

But the ninja didn't budge. He stood with his blade ready.

"Very well. Let's see how bold you truly are." Dokon said and attacked fiercely.

Ryu swayed and dodged from every punch and attack Dokon attempted with his possessed body. At times, he would use his blade for counterattack measures, but stayed careful not to slice the flesh of Ayane.

"Ryu, be careful!" He heard Mishu yell out.

But that only distracted him as Ryu accidentally scratched Ayane's shoulder. Dokon stumbled back, not at the pain, but at the shock of the blade actually touching his skin. Would Ryu actually kill Ayane to win? Though rather than showing his shock as a weakness to Ryu, he instead gave him a mischievous taunting smile as he wiped the blood from his small cut with his two forefingers and placed them in his mouth.

"Mmm, even her blood tastes sweet."

He responded with gritted teeth. "You're sick."

"Even as we speak, I'm having my way with her. You couldn't dare imagine the things I am doing to her right now."

"You bastard!" Ryu was becoming furious.

"Don't listen to him, Ryu!" Mishu called out, but it was probably too late. Ryu's eyes already flared with anger and Dokon only continued his taunts.

"An excellent submissive performer." He said. "Maybe Aileen could be next."

"You won't touch her!" Ryu yelled out and charged in with a ready attack with the blade high above his head. His eyes were full of fire ready for a kill. Ryu was too angry to notice that Dokon didn't move. He didn't notice until he struck down for his blow.

The sharp edge of the blade stopped only inches of away from Ayane's body.

Dokon didn't move to dodge. He didn't even flinch. He just stood there, with that same smile on his face. The same glowing green eyes taunting him. "I knew you couldn't do it." Ryu had no words to reply with. All he could do was stand in rage, wanting so desperately to make his final kill. "You are not fooling anyone with your antics, ninja." Dokon said aloud. "If you want to kill me, then do it."

Ryu held the blade steady, aching to take Dokon on his offer and end his life quickly. The only consequence would be to take Ayane's life as well.

"DO IT!" He yelled out forcing Ryu to give a battle cry of his own as he manuverably smashed the handle of the sword against the face of the possessed body.

Dokon stumbled back and regained his composure. He pressed his fingers to his lips and withdrew blood that formed in his mouth. He spit the red fluid from his mouth and then stared at Ryu with an angered look in his eyes. "You are pathetic. A weakling. Always expected out of a ninja."

"We end this." Ryu finally spoke with his reply back.

"Very well."

Ryu threw his sword to the ground embedding the blade into the Earth's ground and readied himself into his fighting position. Then with no hesitation the two charged at each other and began a series of punches and kicks that were all blocked and swayed between the two fighters. Luckily, Dokon did not take up Ayane's Hajinmon abilities, or his match would've been harder than expected.

I hope you have a plan. Mishu thought to himself as he stood and watched the two fighters commence.

Maybe he wanted to tire Dokon out, that's if he could get tired out. Maybe he wanted him to surrender, which was extremely doubtful. He was the one that had the upper hand, but Ryu had no plan. Even as he fought, he only concentrated on coming out of the battle victorious. In fact, Dokon wasn't even a match for Ryu, though it would still take a very skilled fight to match and defeat Dokon, he lacked the strength to take down a force like Ryu. Ryu had complete control of the battle, but the fact that this unskilled samauri had Ayane's mind possessed, forced the ninja to take more caution than needed. If Dokon was in another body of no one's concern, this battle would've ended much sooner.

Now Ayane's body has been bruised and beaten throughout the battle and Ryu still had no plan on exactly how to defeat his adversary. He knew he couldn't abuse the body too much with the fear of a beaten death. Now Ryu was beginning to plan. This caused his tactics to slow which Dokon caught focus to and immediately took advantage of the bout. Left and right punches connected with Ryu's face and stomach. Dokon planned the end for Ryu as he struck a mighty kick against the side of Ryu's face.

A white light blinded Ryu as he went into an instant shock from the powerful kick. It was the same blinding light he saw when Doku had first killed him in his own village. It was the same light he remembered seeing when his soul was nearly taken and was turned into a Vigoor Fiend. It was the light of death, actually, more like, the light of near-death. The light he never wanted to see again. Ryu stumbled and fought for his composure, when his vision returned, he quickly jumped in the air and delivered a powerful thrusting kick to Ayane's chest which sent Dokon flying across the forest.

The body fell hard to the ground. And it didn't move.

What have I done? Ryu instantly thought to himself. He didn't want to kill Ayane. He attacked without thinking. His instincts took over. That's what the blinding light was. His instincts. It took control of him and…killed Ayane?

"NO!" Mishu yelled after witnessing Ryu's attack. "WHAT HAVE YOU DONE?" He stood and ran towards the body.

Please, no. I didn't kill her. Ryu prayed to himself. The body still didn't move.

He quickly ran next to Mishu, whom was now kneeling next to Ayane.

"Did I…?" Ryu didn't want to finish his obvious question.

Mishu looked at him. "She's breathing." He pointed to a rock. "She hit her head against that."

First, a wave of relief came over him. Thank you. He told himself. Then, a wave of wind pushed him and Mishu away from Ayane's body. The two fell on their backs and when they looked up, the saw Dokon in his true ghost form hovering over the unconscious body, enrage. "YOU IDIOTS!" He yelled. "I CANNOT CONTROL HER IN THIS STATE!"

Ryu then let off a smile. "I win."

Dokon hovered in the midnight sky and looked down at Ryu with a cold stare. "Yes, you win for now, ninja. But do not think this is over." He then yelled. "This is far from over!"

Ryu then gave Dokon an angered stare of his own. "I know how to beat you now, Dokon. I would suggest you go tell your master that he's next."

"I will see to it that you do not even have the luxury of facing him." He said and then flew off and disappeared into the night.

Ryu and Mishu sat in silence in the cold night looking at the stars where Dokon disappeared to. After a few seconds, they made their way to Ayane's body.

"How is she?" Mishu asked when Ryu placed his fingers on her neck checking for a pulse.

"She's unconscious, probably in shock." He said with a blank expression.

"Of all my years in battle with the demon, I never thought a simple knock out could have saved so many lives he's taken."

"I thought I killed her." Ryu spoke in a low depressing tone.

"But you didn't." Mishu tried comforting him. "That kick would've killed any normal man, probably even me. But we both know Ayane's stronger than that."

Ryu wanted to thank Mishu for the kind words, but his mind was set on his blood lust to kill. And Ayane was his target. There was nothing anyone could say to help him feel any better. The fact of the matter was he intended to kill to save his own life.

"Wrap her in a blanket and take her back to lodge." Ryu spoke. "Come and alert me when she wakes."

"Sure." Mishu replied. "Where are you going?"

Ryu closed his eyes. "I need to clear my head."

"Don't be too hard on yourself, Ryu. She's not dead."

"But she could be." He paused. Thinking. "She could be, because of me."