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Chapter 22 – Black Spider Fortress
"This is it." Mishu pointed at the location Ryu and the other immediately traveled to after a short rest in the forest. The Black Spider Clan's fortress.
Mishu, Ryu, and Ayane spoke more on the sacrifice, and the good news is, one of the hierarchs would be out of their hair. From what Mishu told him, and if he's correct, Gamja, the strongest of the hierarchs should be dead. One less thorn Ryu and the others would have to worry about.
The bad news, which seems to be the worse news, his sacrificial death, probably has restored Mitsuri to his original state and his immortal body reformed. If this has happened, Mitsuri will be a force like none other Ryu has encountered. Primarily, because of his immortality, Ryu would have to conceive some type of plan to kill someone that cannot die.
Unfortunately, their travel to the Black Spider Clan's domain was not as pleasant as they hoped. They were greeted by Black Spider ninjas hiding within the depths of the forest. Mishu, Ayane, and Ryu took the fight into their hands and using their excelled ninjitsu skills, they were able to dispose of all threats with no problems.
Ryu was even able to witness some of the magical powers that Mishu held inside of him. This was Kaki. An ex-hierarch of the Black Spider clan. Master of Fire as Mishu burnt many of the Black Spider Clan ninjas to an ash corpse.
Ryu watched Mishu easily distinguish the remaining of the ninjas his Fire Magic. Then he watch Mishu distinguish the flames that surrounded his body, then flinched his neck allowing the bones to crack internally within his neck. Mishu turned his head to Ryu, and to his surprise there was still a spark of flame residing within his pupils.
Those flames quickly diminished from his eyes as Mishu stared directly at Ryu filled with seriousness. "Let's keep moving."
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The four heroes ran down the hallway, Mishu immediately yelled out, "The throne room is down this way."
They weren't for sure if there were any remaining Black Spider ninjas coming after them, but they couldn't hold back on any delays. Mishu knew if Gamja sacrificed himself to the Dokugumo-Ureeru, their chances on taking out Mitsuri would probably be very slim, if not completely distinguished.
They dashed through nearly every hallway of the fortress and burst through every door to make it to their destination. Mishu kept the lead of the bunch and Ryu still maintained a close eye on his so-called ally. This was the time of reckoning. If Mishu was truly on his side, Ryu would come time find out very soon. If not, Ryu had already mentally vowed that he would be the first hierarch to die by his hands.
"Wait!" Mishu yelled and halted in his tracks; bringing the others to an abrupt stop as well.
"What's wrong?" Ryu asked.
Mishu pointed his finger forward as Ryu followed the direction to see an individual standing before them.
Maindokontorooru.
He slowly paced from the darkness of the hallways making his presence known in the dim light. "Kaki." Was all he said as his corpse-like face gave Mishu an evil and cold stare.
Mishu was beginning to draw his sword readying himself for battle. This was a fight he longed for, especially since his actions towards Ayane. His sword was almost drawn until he felt a hand grabbed his wrist preventing him from completely wielding his blade. Mishu gave a quick glance to see it was Ryu.
"Go after Mitsuri." Ryu said. "Dokon and I have unfinished business."
Mishu shook his head. "No, we have a past, and I will not let him get away with what he did to Ayane." Ryu noticed Mishu was right. He knew he cared for the young kunoichi. How much did he care for her? He didn't know. But he knew it was a great deal to comfort her throughout everything she has gone through.
"Do not worry, I will make a quick disposal of him and regroup before your battle with Mitsuri becomes too intense."
Ryu first gave an eye to Dokon, whom only stood there staring at the rest of the group. He nodded. "Make him suffer."
Mishu returned the nod and turned his attention back to Dokon and was about to draw his sword again until another hand on his wrist. This time it was Ayane's.
"If anyone should make him suffer, it's me."
Dokon gave a smile. "Now I like that idea."
"Ayane, no." Ryu demanded.
Ayane pierced at Ryu with ice cold eyes and only spoke. "He raped me." Keeping a stone face.
The angered look on her face told Ryu that nothing would get her to change her mind. No pleas, no demands. Her sights was to have her revenge on Dokon after dastard approach he took against her, and now the only thing that has fueled her blood as the time past was payback against the man whom completely violated her.
Ryu looked at Mishu. "What do you think?"
Mishu gave a slight smile, "I too think it's a great idea." He gave Dokon a smirk as well. "It's time Dokon learns a lesson in respect."
Mishu's remark only made Dokon give a sarcastic chuckle.
Ryu looked towards Ayane. "Are you sure?" Ayane replied with a nod. Time was getting slim; Ryu knew they needed to hurry. "Very well. Once you are done, head for the throne room."
Then Dokon interrupted. "I promise to deliver her body personally, young ninja."
Ryu gave Dokon a cold glance. He wanted Dokon. After what he did to Ayane, Ryu wanted to be the one to end his life merciless. But when it boils down to it; Ayane was the one that was offended, Ayane was the one that suffered, Ayane was the one that experienced the torment, and Ayane should be the one to give Dokon what he truly deserves. He turned back to Ayane.
"Be careful."
"Just go." She replied. "I'll be fine."
It was hard for him to pull away leaving her alone with the monster, but eventually he forced himself to. "Come on Mishu, let's go."
Mishu gave a nod and turned to Ayane. "He raped you. Make him suffer like he made you suffer." He said with his hand held out.
"Will do." She said grabbing his hand in return. They both gave a nod to each other, and Mishu turned away and the other left her behind alone to face Maindokontorooru.
Ayane turn her head with cold eyes and evil intent towards her opponent as he stood before her with a grin on his face and his hand on the hilt of his samurai sword. "Remember what happened the last time we were alone, Ayane?" Ayane's response wasn't with words, but rather the curl in her lip in anger as she slowly pulled her katana from its sheath. "This time, I may make it pleasurable for me." He ended with a chuckle as he drew a grand sword from his sheath, clenching it tight and eyed down the female ninja as his eyes began to glow the color green Ayane remembered from her dream. "Ready when you are precious."
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"Are you sure she'll be okay?" Ryu asked Mishu as they began an upward dash in the fortress.
"Of course, she's a better fighter than he is." Mishu replied. "Just as long as she can keep him out of her head."
"What do you mean?"
"I can't make any promises of what will happen to her if he enters her mind again."
They continued running, but Ryu completely forgot his feet were even moving. Mishu's last comment on Dokon entering Ayane's mind again scared him. Ayane is a strong individual and have seen more tribulations than he has himself. The only difference is that Dokon broke her. And he knew exactly how to break her. He gathered the information he needed about Hayate and Kasumi, and used them against her. If he were to do that again and break Ayane's spirit, she would once again succumb to the control of Dokon.
In the split second and suddenly, Ryu's instinct kicked in as he instantly ducked and dodged from an unknown attack. He didn't know who the attacker was, whether it was a hierarch, ninja, or Mitsuri himself. His only concern was Aileen as he found her laying on the ground…safe. Probably dodged away from the same attack.
"Are you okay!" He yelled out to her.
She gave a quick nod and Ryu stood to his feet to see Mishu's back towards him, staring at something unknown. Ryu readied his sword and ran next to Mishu's side. "Something's come up." Mishu spoke feeling the presence of Ryu just behind himd. "Go to the throne room without me."
Ryu didn't even have to give Mishu an odd glance, because he already seen his original attacker that broke him away from his thought.
Aisu. Her chest were panting heavily with an angered look in her ice-blue eyes, even her hands were still breathing the ice cold frost, probably an ice projectile thrown at him.
"Mishu let me help you on this one."
Mishu turned his head to Ryu as he lifted one hand to Ryu's view. "Trust me Ryu," He said with a smirk and suddenly before Ryu's face, Mishu's hand was engulfed in flames from the Fire Magic blessed to him by Gamja. "This is one fight you don't want to participate in." He said as gave a battle yell and aimed the blazing hand in the direction of Aisu. To Ryu's surprise, a river of flames left Mishu's hand and quickly streamed towards Aisu.
Aisu was swift as she quickly leaped over the floating flame river, and landed on a storage box that sat not too far away, her eyes still full of anger.
"I would love for you to stay, Ryu." Mishu said as now Ryu saw the flames ignite his other hand, as well, as the fire began to spread from his hands and began to cover both of his entire arms. "But this is going to get pretty messy."
Ryu was somewhat in shock. This is the fullest Ryu has ever seen Mishu use his powers as long as he has known him, and he was very anxious to know what other tricks the Fire Ninja was capable of. Ryu may have been useful for this fight, but there was more to this fight than Ryu could put his finger on. Fire and Ice, there had to be some type of relationship in the past when Mishu was a Black Spider Clan hierarch.
Ryu gave a quick nod and ran to grab Aileen. "Come on, we have to get out of here." He said as Aileen stood to her feet and, without a single hint of hesitation, the two dashed off.
Mishu made sure Ryu was out of sight before he turned his attention back to Aisu.
"So I see the mystery man finally told his secret." Aisu spoke.
Mishu only gave a smile. "I only told him what he needed to know." Just then the flames spread from his arms to across his chest, up to his head, even down his legs, until his entire body was engulfed in the heating magic. The fire gave of much heat and light to where Aisu even had to cover her eyes as the flames illuminated brightly and roared loudly. Only a blackened figure of Mishu's form could be seen within the burning flames.
After a matter of seconds of the fire ablazing his body and just as quick as the flames appeared, they were gone. And Mishu stood with a smile as if he wasn't untouched by a single particle of the once wild and roaring fire. His eyes were closed as he snapped his neck from side to side announcing out a loud bone cracking sound from within. He opened his eyes placing them back in the direction of Aisu. "Who said he had to know everything." He said ending his original sentence.
Aisu only scoffed, "Show off."
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Ryu had seen such wonders as Mishu's & Aisu's magic, in fact he himself was knowledgeable to the Hayabusa's secret ninpo techniques, which were slightly similar to their skills. But their magic and skills went further beyond the ninpo Ryu has learned. Mishu and Aisu were able to maneuver and reconfigure their respected powers to attain needed attacks and defense desired. Ryu could easily predict that by just watching Mishu have his blazing flames crawl up his arm.
What type of past does Mishu and Aisu have? Ryu wondered. And in that instant Ryu took notice to realize how little of Mishu he really knew. An agent of an intelligence agency taken from birth and trained and placed undercover at a very young age only to destroy the Dokugumo-Ureeru Tsurugi. Then the sword popped into his head. Mitsuri. He has yet to see his face, but he has already caused so much trouble.
There the rage built into Ryu. The leader of his clan has caused him and the others so much trouble, that Ryu was pleased and prepared for the final encounter to which he was after. It was safe with the matter with Ayane battling Dokon and Mishu battling Aisu. It just left more energy for him for the leader of the Black Spider Clan. The final showdown between him and Mitsuri. While Ayane & Mishu are safe battling the ones that have caused him pain, Ryu is safe to know that as he approaches closer and closer to the throne room, his battle against Mitsuri would be an intense encounter. While Ryu, still had not yet derived a plan to kill a man that could not be killed, though it still did not stop him from rushing toward the location where the Throne Room awaited him.
"Ryu, please slow down." Aileen called out.
Ryu had completely forgotten Aileen was by his side. Here he planned to face and battle an immortal leader of the underground clan, but his thoughts were so driven on his final fight he had forgotten about his love. What will she do while he battle? Where can he place her within the fortress to where she wouldn't become a distraction? And by distraction, Ryu only meant, removing the factor where Mitsuri will use and capture her to his advantage only to render Ryu useless.
"Why are you in such a hurry?" She asked as she caught up with him. They both now stood outside of one of the gymnasiums Mishu told Ryu about. Extensive training went on inside. A stroke of bad luck would come to Ryu if he opened the doors to find the entire clan halting their daily training to see him and Aileen standing in the opening. But this was the only route Ryu remembered Mishu telling him to get to the throne room. Regardless, of what lied behind the doors, Ryu knew that he must overcome the obstacle and proceed to Mitsuri.
"I'm sorry, my love. We must continue on to the throne room." Ryu eventually replied.
Aileen gave a slight nod. She was frightened. Ryu could see it in her face. As he, she knew not what laid in store for the both of them as well as the others.
"Are you sure you want to go through with this?" Ryu asked her.
She looked up to give Ryu a small smile and nod, obviously fighting away fears. "It's too late to turn back now."
Ryu smiled back giving her a small kiss on her forehead. He then removed his secondary blade, placing it in her hands. "Take this." Aileen opened her mouth ready to protest, but Ryu quickly and softly placed his forefinger on her lips. "Just in case."
Aileen then gave another nod as they embraced.
Afterwards, Ryu turned to the door, praying that the gymnasium he was about to enter was empty, though doubtful, since the Black Spider Clan has proved to be a relentless bunch. He placed his hands on the large knobs and slowly opened. A stroke of luck? A trap? Ryu didn't know, but the entire gymnasium was emptied. Nothing or no one existed inside.
Ryu decided for the latter, and suspected a trap. He drew his Dragon Sword and clenched Aileen close to his side. He wasn't too far from Mitsuri, and few Spider Clan ninjas were not going to divert him from his path.
He whispered to Aileen. "Stay close." Aileen gave a nod but Ryu didn't even pay attention to her response as he slowly began to creep inside.
It was dark inside, only a few lights above gave illumination as well as the light from the opened door. Their footsteps even echoed throughout the large, empty area. This was perfect grounds for training, as well as a perfect ground for a trap.
"Ryu?" Aileen whispered interrupting his thoughts.
"Yes, Aileen."
She asked. "If Ayane is fighting Dokon and Mishu is fighting Aisu, and you're supposed to go after Mitsuri. Where does that leave Yung?"
Ryu's eyes popped open at Aileen's response. Yung and Xia, how could he have forgotten? His mind was so focused on attacking Mitsuri, he completely forgot about the woman named Xia that defeated Ayane, and the man named Yung that defeated him in battle.
Almost as instantly as Ryu took notice to Yung's and Xia's absence, he heard the sound of something grinding against the concrete within the gymnasium.
It was a trap. A trap designed by Yung himself as Ryu saw the man a great distance in front of him. Blocking the only exit of the gymnasium leading to the throne room. The grinding sound of the concrete was Yung's own sword being dragged by the individual for the sole purpose of making his presence known and obvious to the Hayabusa ninja.
"Yung." Ryu spoke out.
"Hayabusa." Yung replied as the two stared each other down from their great distance.
Concerned for Aileen safety, Ryu used one arm to push her behind him. At least this time, he didn't forget about the other as he said aloud. "And wherever there's Yung, there's always Xia."
Yung only gave a chuckle as he lifted his sword from the ground letting the blade rest on his shoulder. His own taunting way of taunting the ninja. Just then, Ryu heard footsteps behind him. Ryu quickly glanced behind him, to see a figure standing in the doorway from where he first entered. The light from the hall that shone in to the gymnasium was too bright to make out the figure, but it was obvious who it was, especially when the figure let a long rope slide from its shoulder to abruptly hit ground. Then the figure too gave a small chuckle. The chuckles of a woman's voice that belonged to Xia.
Ryu had expected a final encounter with Mitsuri, not Yung, and especially not Yung and Xia. Is this how it was planned? Ayane versus Dokon, Mishu versus Aisu, and Ryu and Aileen versus Yung and Xia? It would be ridiculous to ask Aileen to assist him, he had to get her out, somehow.
"Ryu!" Aileen practically yelped and cautiously Ryu quickly turned still clenching Aileen close ready for any surprise attacks Yung had up his sleeve.
But Aileen yelp wasn't a warning of a surprise attack, rather a warning of Yung's disappearance as the mythical ninja was not standing in his original location where Ryu last saw him. Now Yung was beginning to toy with the ninja through the dark depths of the gymnasium.
A loud whip crack was heard as Ryu quickly turned for Xia, but she too was gone. Just as Yung, she disappeared within the darkness of the gymnasium now leaving Ryu and Aileen alone inside the large arena with two predators toying and stalking them.
Ryu quickly turned to Aileen. "Get out of here."
Frightened, Aileen looked back. "Why? What's wrong?"
"They're toying with us. I need for you to leave here now."
"But…"
Ryu interrupted. "Go back the way you came. Leave this fortress and don't look back."
"But what about you?"
Ryu already predicted that he could not beat Yung. Even if he could, he had Xia as another distraction. It was something about their powers that made sure that Ryu was the weaker fighter. He didn't know how this was, but it was how he lost in the forest, and this time, it would be no game of who would score to three first. He knew the first opportunity they saw to kill Ryu, they would take it. He knew he was going to die. He was up against the highest of hierarchs with skills to assure they were unmatched by none, and to make it worse, he was on their territory.
"Do not worry about me. I am only concerned for you." He eventually answered.
"Ryu, I'm not leaving your side."
"Aileen!" Ryu yelled, but when he saw himself become aggravated he calmed and gently stroked his hands on her face, speaking softly to her. "Please, this is something I don't want you to see."
Tears began to swell her eyes. "I don't want you to die." She cried burying her face into chest.
Ryu's eyes too were beginning to swell but he held back the tears for her sake. He had to stay strong for both of theirs. He pulled her away from him and looked into her eyes. "I will always love you." He said.
The two stared for a short time, until Xia's chuckle was heard echoing through the gymnasium. They were preparing for their attack and Ryu didn't have much time left. "Go Aileen. Leave this fortress."
He could tell by her expression she wanted to protest more, but ultimately nodded. Forcing herself to do something he knew she didn't want to do.
The two gave a final embrace as Aileen slowly walked towards the open gymnasium doors.
"Be sure to close the doors. I will try my best to keep them from following you." He said.
Aileen wiped the tears from her face, nodded, and said, "I will always love you forever as well, Ryu Hayabusa." It made him smile to hear her say the words as she exited closing the doors to the gymnasium.
Now almost all was dark. The only illumination to the gym were the selected lights above which gave more spotlights to the ground rather than light to the room.
Ryu gave a long sigh and looked up to the darkness where Yung and Xia hid. Gripping his sword tighter, he spoke out to them. "Okay, you two, let's see what you're made of."