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Chapter 17 – A Kunoichi Reborn

The Black Spider Clan were masters at mind play, especially Mitsuri's hierarchs. First, Widow humiliated Aileen. Then, Yung broke Ryu's spirit. Then, Dokon shattered Ayane's. Now, it was Aisu trying to destroy Mishu's. Or was she? Did she mean the words she said to him yesterday? Mishu pondered on this thought but once again he found himself sitting next to a sleeping and traumatized Ayane, only this time he was alone with her.

After explaining the events that occurred at the lake to Ryu, while leaving out a few details, the Master Ninja felt it would be best if he began to train Aileen. This was a good sign. Not only had Ryu accepted him back, but there was trust. Either that or Ryu had become so angered that he wanted to taste the Black Spider's blood without having Aileen as a distraction. It also meant that just maybe his mission wasn't going to be postponed after all.

There were only three things holding him back that could cause his mission to thwart against his favor. Number one, Aileen. Sure Ryu maybe training her to become a stronger fighter but there is no way he can teach her to become a Master within a matter of days. Mishu was afraid that Aileen would still become a distraction in the later bouts. There's a very small chance that she may learn to fend off a few ninjas, but there were also the hierarchs to take into consideration. Regardless, Mishu would still pass the suggestion of leaving Aileen at Migu Village.

Number two, Ayane. Raped, traumatized, distressed, and then to continue their antics by trapping her in a lake of ice. Here she lied peacefully, as Mishu well knew that when she woke, his face would be the last face she would want to see. But he needed Ayane. He needed her to complete his mission. She is a very strong athlete both physically and mentally, but emotionally, she's fragile and her will been shattered and broken into millions of pieces. Without the balance of all three, he knew she would be useless, and there was only one way to fix it. Mishu would have to play the Black Spider Clan's mind game on her as well. Hopefully, it would work. Hopefully…

Number three, himself. Yes, he noticed that his own emotions were starting to become a distraction. He vowed to never fall in love again due to the past emotional torment he suffered when Aisu left him for Widow, but there was something about Ayane he couldn't dismiss. Beautiful, strong, independent and aches to be loved. Maybe it was because he realized she reminded him a lot of Aisu. Maybe that is why he felt so strongly for her. Maybe his feelings are purely infatuation filling the void Aisu has left him with. Point of the matter is, his emotions are becoming a distraction, which may have a strong disadvantage on their mission. Somehow, someway, he would have to deal with it.

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Ayane stirred before she slowly opened her eyes. Misu had a reminiscence of Déjà vu when they popped open in partial fright.

"What are you doing here?" She yelped. Yes, Déjà vu indeed.

This time Mishu decided to take a different route, it was time for him to play his own mind game. "Good morning sleepy head."

"Where is everyone? What happen to me?" Ayane spoke in the same frightful tone she had after her awakening from Dokon.

Mishu gave a smile and politely spoke. "First off, calm down. Good news is you're not dead." Ayane arched her eyebrows. "Ryu took Aileen for some training and you…" He said with a pause and gave a little chuckle. "Let's just say water hasn't been your best friend these past few days."

"What do you mean?"

"You don't remember? Aisu trapped you under a lake of ice when you went to take a bath." Mishu wasn't for sure if telling her was the right thing to do, but he would soon find out.

Ayane then burst into tears. "Why do these things keep happening to me?"

Mishu rushed onto the bed and held her, "Shhh, it's okay. They are not just after you." He said rocking her.

"They're not?"

He looked down to her and shook his head with a smile. "No, Ayane. They're trying to break us."

"I don't get it."

Now was the time to play the mind game. "When Ryu lost to Yung, how did Ryu feel?"

"Hurt." She paused. "No, it was worse than hurt…"

Mishu interrupted. "It's hard to describe isn't it?"

She nodded.

"That's what they are trying to do to me as well."

"What did they do to you?"

"They tried winning me back through past feelings for a former lover."

"You were in love?"

Mishu knew he was speaking half the truth. The only thing he didn't mention was that he wanted to go back and postpone his mission. But when he said those words his smile left and a blank expression replaced it. Even though that emotional expression was entirely true, he knew it was playing well for his act. "Yes, to Aisu."

"A hierarch? You were in love with a hierarch?"

He chuckled. "It's not forbidden, Ayane. Ninjas can love hierarchs and vice versa." Her eyebrows shot up in astonishment. "That was a long time ago." He looked at her. "So you see, they are only trying to break us, so they can have the advantage over us."

Ayane stayed quiet soaking his words.

"Remember that Jacuzzi dream?" Ayane turned her head and Mishu felt her body begin to shake. "No, look at me." He said gently lifting her face by her chin. "It wasn't real. It was only an illusion. That's all."

"But it felt so real."

"That's how it's designed. To fool you to make you a willing host so Dokon can take over." Again, half-truth, half-lie. "Trust me, he could never touch a soul as precious as yours." Then she blushed. It was working, he could see it. Now it was time to see how much of his mind play worked. "Starting tomorrow, we are setting for the Migu Village and ready ourselves to finally put this to an end. Now I understand that you have been through a lot, but please remember. All of us have. You can either sit and lay in this bed until we make it back, or you can swear revenge on Dokon and the Black Spider Clan and take back your dignity."

"Tomorrow? Why so soon?"

"We can't wait any longer, Ayane. They have done their fair share of torments now it's our turn. And honestly, we need you by our side." Half-truth, half-for-persuasion.

Ayane smiled. "Thank you."

"So will you be with us? Or stay here to weep?"

"With you, of course." She replied.

The way she replied didn't please Mishu. It wasn't the same monotonous tone he remembered when he first met her with her blade to his throat. She almost sounded like…like Aileen. He was being to easy with his mind games. He had no more time for delay. Right now she's useless and he needed her. He was going to have to either make her or break her.

"If you need any help getting rid of pains," He ultimately said, "Then do what I do."

"What's that?"

"Get angry. Get that blood lust look in your eye and picture Dokon's head on a platter to serve to the bats." He saw a flash a sparkle of anger in her eyes. "That is, of course, unless you are willing to let him get away with what he did to you." He looked at her with a sly smile. "Are you going to let him get away with what he did to you?" Mishu spoke in a soft harsh tone of his own to fuel Ayane's anger.

She shook her head staring at him.

"This man has raped your soul and left you for dead." His face cringed as he spoke. "He controlled your body and forced you to fight a dear friend. Aisu trapped you under a frozen lake and all you can do is shake your head?"

"No." She was now giving him a cold stare.

"Then let me hear you say it Ayane." He paused. "Are you going to let them get away with it?"

"No." Again she said in an almost quiet tone keeping her cold stare on Mishu.

"Is that the best you can do?" Then he grabbed her shoulder and yelled to her face. "ARE YOU GOING TO LET HIM GET AWAY WITH RAPING YOU!"

Without warning and with the kunoichi's sudden quickness, Ayane hopped out of the bed and pushed against Mishu until his body was against the wall. Also surprisingly, a blade was shoved against his neck.

Where did that blade come from? He asked himself.

"You've made your point, okay?" She spoke harshly. "Quit trying to con me. The game is over."

Mishu gave a smile, then a chuckle, careful not to let his Adam's apple rub across the blade.

"What do you find so funny?"

He looked at her. "You're back. My con worked." He said. Ayane now with a stone face arched an eyebrow to him. "I'm sorry, Ayane, but it had to be done. You are too strong of a woman to mope around like you have been."

"I WAS RAPED!" She harshly yelled.

Mishu gave a little jump in fright hoping Ayane wouldn't begin to take her anger out on him, especially with the knife pressing harder against his neck. The table have definitely turned, now it was as if Ayane was the dominant figure and Mishu should have been to one to hide under the blankets of the bed. "Yes, you were." He said giving her a cold stare for persuasion. "And now it's time to get that revenge. That is what I wanted you to realize."

Slowly her blade began to release his neck but she still kept herself close to him. Then she spoke with her teeth gritted. "If you ever try to play another con game like that on me again, I'll pretend you're Dokon and I will slice your wrists and your testicles like he did me just to see how you like it."

"Fair enough."

She gave him another cold stare then he felt the pressure of her body and the blade being released from him.

"I am not a test tube." She said point the point of her blade towards his face. "I am not your mold of clay." She then yelled. "I AM NOT A VICTIM!"

Aggressively, Ayane threw the knife at a random spot to the wall adjacent from where Mishu stood.

Mishu kept his eyes forward, he knew his mind game worked, but now he was worried if he went too far with it.

"Dokon, Aisu, and your entire clan will pay for everything that has been done to me." She then pointed a finger at him. "And if you're not careful, Mishu, you will be part of that list." Mishu only nodded as Ayane then repeated making herself clear to the ex-Black Spider Clan ninja. "Don't ever con me again."

Mishu was partially afraid to speak, not from fright of the actions Ayane would take against. He was afraid of bringing her to a more angry state than she already was. Her heart was fueled again, but to what extent? What she too angry? Will it blind her? He could do more to assure that his mind game indeed work, but to make bring her to a worse state than she was in now was very risky. He only nodded.

She turned and walk away. "Now get out of here so I can get dressed. There's a lot of training I have to catch up on."

Mishu nodded with a smile as he turned to leave the room. Just before he left he looked over his shoulder. "Welcome back, Ayane."