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Chapter 23 – A Kunoichi's Vengeance

Dokon and Ayane were already in the midst of their battle with the young kunoichi's katana slamming against the samauri's grand sword. The clinging of the metals could be heard from the echoes throughout the hallways of the fortress. So early in the battle their match was already so intense that the two fighters battled from room to room until they both made an standfast location in Dokon's own quarters. The battle came to a slight pause after Dokon delivered a swift kick forcing Ayane's back to smash against the wall.

Ayane looked to Dokon, already panting from the intensity from a battle that lasted no longer than three, maybe four, minutes. Her rage for serving Dokon a well-deserved death, made her more aggressive and abrasive than she had ever fought before. Her own saliva tasted of an early victory, she had more hate for Dokon that may have matched to the hate she has for Raidou, DOATEC and their experiments toward Genra, even much so her hate for Dokon may have even amounted to the hate she has towards Kasumi. That is what fueled her so early in the match to herself as the victor in the bout. Though as much as she tried, Dokon managed to sway death mighty close, bypassing Ayane's blade to survive for another swing of his own.

But she wasn't the only one that was tiring. Ayane's aggressiveness did, in fact, get the best of Dokon as he too was tiring. Ashamed to admit it, he hid his exhaustion by trying to stand tall with a smirk of enjoyment on his face. Though as much as he tried to continue his act, nothing could stop his lungs from heaving as heavy as they were breathing.

"So you're a worthy match after all." Dokon said to her.

"You're just realizing that?"

Dokon gave a smirk. "Well, I must admit. Our last meeting I didn't give you a chance to express your skills." He then extended his tongue from his mouth to lick his lips. "I was only interested in one thing."

Ayane's lip curled in anger as she charged in again, the cutting edge of her katana again smashing against Dokon's blade as the two engaged into another fierce battle to the death. Within Dokon's quarters, where they fought, the room was lit only by tall candlesticks, arranged to give the best illumination. It was all the brightness Ayane needed to fight her opponent. Maindokontooru. The man, or monster, whom she still has those horrific nightmares about. The same monster that killed her soul within a matter of minutes. She only saw blood while she fought him. His blood. His blood splattering on the ground, or even the wall, or even to put out the candlelights within his quarters, just as long as it was his blood that exited from his body in any manner. She was driven by fury, hate, disgust, and vengeance. All to reclaim her dignity that Dokon took from her.

To express her anger, she yelled at practically every swing she made towards Dokon. Using all of her might to try to end the life Dokon as quickly as possible, only so she can savor the victory minutes where she is poised over his dead body as she looks down in triumph. That's what went through her mind as she fought. She never desired to taste victory in so long it was what was beginning to blind her.

Dokon noticed her aggression and he took advantage of it. Maybe it was a trend of the Black Spider Clan to play mind games against their opponents, but it was the reason why he taunted her with his sexual antics while they battled. Whether if it ranged from a random remark that would remind Ayane of their encounters, or even a sexual action to where Dokon would touch and rub on Ayane's body, only forcing her blindness to become even more blurry by the rage that took over. Ayane believed she was quick and cunning throughout her match, but Dokon knew that in actuality it she was already digging her grave with her wild and random swings, and her inattentive approaching attacks, including her lack of defense. Dokon's mind games on Ayane were working wonders to where he had the match in his favor and best of all Ayane believed that she was the one who held death in her grasps.

The battle came to another pause after one of Ayane's wild swings. Dokon quickly dodged from the attack and swung his knee upwards to connect hard against her gut. Through her exhaustion, Ayane had no choice but to clench her stomach in pain. Moaning and coughing from the resulted impact.

"Ahhh," Dokon spoke with a smirk. "Those sweets groans brings back such sweet memories."

Ayane looked up to Dokon with anger in her eyes. She knew that he was only humiliating her all over. She fell to the floor and scurried and dragged her body to wall, using the pause in the battle to recompose himself.

"My sweet dear Ayane," Dokon began to speak shielding his sword back to his scabbard. "Regardless if I was in your mind or in this physical world, you cannot defeat me." He continued speaking with a rotten tooth smile. "Didn't Kaki tell you? I was probably the greatest samurai of my time. I have battled and ended wars nearly single-handly until the Dokugumo-Ureeru originally took my life." Ayane only continued to stare at him full of rage, still holding her stomach in pain. Dokon only gave a chuckle at her nuisance. "I got you something."

Ayane arched an eyebrow as Dokon turned his back to her. Here they were supposed to be engaged in a fierce battle and now he talks of gifts. And to her surprise, Dokon retrieved a garment from closet quarters. It a long and beautiful purple gown made of thin material, possibly silk. A dress made to fits Ayane's body perfectly. Ayane did adore what was presented to her, but she refused to allow Dokon receive that satisfaction.

"When I first saw it, I thought of you." He said holding the dress in full view. "And it's yours to keep."

Then she finally spoke. "What games are you playing?"

"No games, Ayane." He replied. "I am only providing you an opportunity to save your life by admitting defeat. You know you cannot beat me, so why try?"

Ayane then slowly stood resting her back against the wall.

"And I know you're type because I have fought many like you. You'll believe that you can defeat the stronger man, when in fact you'll only die trying. Then some idiotic prophecy your kind lives by believe dying holds a sense of honor." He said. "It is how Ryu is, it is how Hayate is, and in fact, I even believe your friend Kaki is the same way." He held out the dress for Ayane's reach. "Take it and admit defeat."

Ayane looked at the dress in admiration again, but returned her cold eyes back to Dokon. "And if I do?"

"Then the Black Spider Clan will welcome you with open arms, and then I wouldn't have to trespass into your mind to get what I want."

"Admit defeat and become your slave?" Dokon gave a quick smile from her comment, but then turned when he saw her reach for her blade. "You must have one sick little mind if you actually thought I would agree to those terms."

Dokon became angered as he let the dress slips from his hands and retrieved his sword from his scabbard. "IMBECILE! I give you a chance to live and you choose death?"

Ayane only readied herself into her stance.

"Very well little ninja, if you don't want to succumb to me, I will only bring my force upon you again." He said as he charged in with his attacks.

Early in the fight, Ayane, then, had the upper advantage. Her rested time cleared her mind as she was more focused on her attacks and placements. It didn't take Dokon long to realize this and rebuild the rage that existed in Ayane's heart. Again, he used forceful advances only to remind Ayane of their first encounter which only angered her. Once he felt comfortable with her state of her, he deceivingly taunted her fighting skills, with playful dodges and sways from her attacks, only to reticule her fighting style, and heighten her furiousness even further. After he accomplished that, everything else was easy for him.

Dokon assured that every swing from Ayane's blade made connection with either his blade or the thin air, but after some time of toying with her, he was growing bored and wanted to bring the battle to an end, without killing her, of course. The perverted being still had other plans with Ayane in mind after their battle.

So he quickly took the first initiative he saw, as Ayane again wildly swung her blade towards him, Dokon quickly ducked under the attack and as expected, Ayane went for a reverse swing, to where Dokon blocked by letting the hilt of his sword made a hard connection with her wrist. The maneuverable impact cause Ayane to forcefully release her blade and she was now rendered weapon less and helpless to the monster.

Dokon wasted no time in his charge to end the battle as he ran towards with the blade ready. But every swing and every attempt he used to bring Ayane to a weakened state only proved useless as she dodged and swayed from each attack. The blade of Dokon only gave a swoop sound through the thin air as it swung past her face.

Dokon did not quit. He intent was weakening her, and that was what his mind was set to as he continued his offense, driving the kunoichi to a wall not too further from them. When he noticed her back had, indeed, touched the wall, he quickly gave a thrust towards her body in an attempt for a deep, lethal, yet non-deadly stab.

Unfortunately for Dokon, his blade only managed to drive into the wall as Ayane dodge from the attack at the last second. To finish and without hesitation, she gave a quick and strong kick to the back of his head, to which Dokon gave a grunt from the surprise attack, then she leaped and rolled to recover her own blade.

It was a bit of a struggle, but Dokon managed to free his blade from the wall and turned to view the kunoichi holding her blade once again with kneeling in a crouched stance waiting for Dokon's next attack.

"You winch!" He yelled.

"You play a crafty game Dokon." She said with her continued stare. "I don't know what is it with you and your mind games, but this game almost cost me my life."

Dokon snarled. "What are you talking about?"

"Pissing me off to have the advantage." She then gave a smirk. "I didn't realize it until I lost my blade and was forced to defend myself." She said. "That was your first mistake."

"Very perceptive, indeed." He replied. "And my second mistake?"

"Your second mistake was showing me your skills." She gave a chuckle. "All of those pathetic swings and you didn't manage to land a single blow." She stood now with a devious smile. "Are you sure you were the best?"

"Better than you will ever imagine, ninja."

She smiled playfully holding her katana. "Now I'm anxious to see what the mighty Dokon has to offer a lady." She said preparing herself into her stance.

Dokon replied back with a smile of his own. "You've already had that experience, ninja. Now I will just kill you."

"All talk, no action." Ayane concluded as she charged.

And as quickly as the fight restarted was the exact instance where Ayane finally had the match in her hands. Even regardless, of the sexual attempts used by Dokon to anger her, this time Ayane was not going to allow herself to fall for his mind play. She knew she wanted to become angry, but she ultimately knew the result of the battle if she were to allow her fight to be controlled by her rage. Dokon would win and would win easily, if it were to happen.

But in this instance of the battle, the tables have turned and Ayane was now proving to be the victor. She remembered when Mishu told her and Ryu that Dokon was not as powerful as perceived. He was a great samauri, but he could not match the skills of highly-experienced fighters. During her bout, she was beginning to see how correct he was. The only reason why he was a hierarch was because of his ability to trespass into a person's mind. Other than that, his fighting skills were pretty much useless.

The fight came to its final halt, after Ayane toyed with Dokon for a while longer. Dokon then attempted for another thrust, to which Ayane dodge the attack and cleverly wrapped her arm around his and shoved her blade into his stomach.

The wide-open eyed look on Dokon's face told her fight was over, but in the hold she had him in, he couldn't move. Suddenly, the rage began to build back inside her as she twisted the blade in his stomach, finally receiving the vengeance of her humiliation from Dokon. His blood splattered on her hands and clothing before it touched the ground. He grabbed her hair and pulled in and attempt to get her to release him, but to no avail, she held herself close to him. Even to remove the blade from his body, and shove it into his ribs piercing his lungs. Dokon gave a painful cry as Ayane twisted and mutilated him even more.

When she was pleased with her mutilation process, she gave him a strong kick forcing him to the ground. Dokon fell to his back and more of his blood began spurting and flowing to the ground beneath.

"I truly hope you really weren't the best in your day." Ayane said with a chuckle as she stood over him. Blood was beginning to form from Dokon's mouth as he looked to her. He was definitely dying. He knew it and she knew it. "If so, there must have been some pretty pathetic wars during your time."

"You can insult me if you want. But you will never understand my skills were unmatched by none."

Ayane only gave another chuckle with a shrug. "Regardless of how good you were back then, you are pathetic now." She then reached to grab Dokon's own blade and gently placed the point on his neck. "Now it is my turn to give you a deal." She said. "I can kill you now and relieve you from your pains or let all the blood drain from your body and you can die within the next few minutes." With a smirk. "Your choice."

Dokon chuckled then stared at her with a smile. "Our fight began when we first encountered. I had all of the advantage when I was in your mind. But here, I will admit that your skills surpasses me. I admit defeat. I cannot defeat you here. You are the victor."

"Is this another one of your tricks?"

"No trick, Ayane. You are the supreme in this world as I am the supreme in my world. It is how the Gods set it to be. It is boundaries that cannot be crossed and rules that cannot be broken. Nature's mother allowing its daughter to contend its course."

"What in the world are you talking about?"

Suddenly, Dokon eyes began to glow that same horrific green color Ayane remembered from her dreams and in that instant a strong wave of wind pushed Ayane from Dokon's dying body. Shocked looked towards the body of Dokon's corpse to see Dokon's ghost form retracting from the lying body.

He hovered into the air staring deep at Ayane and she sat, stricken from the sight as he roared, "YOU CAN BEAT ME IN THIS WORLD, LET'S SEE HOW YOU STAND IN MY WORLD!"

Ayane already predicted Dokon's next action as she quickly stood with both blades ready. He quickly flew towards her with no hesitation. She waited for the right moment until he was close enough to give Dokon the final blow. There was no way that she was going to let him take over her mind again. In an instant he was in the position need for Ayane's final attack, she made no hesitation to deliver her death swing.

But unfortunately, the transparent ghost form of Dokon flowed through the blades as if he was air himself. The ghost felt no pain as Ayane's mouth dropped from the shock of her unsuccessful. That's where Dokon found his opening and used the opportunity to enter Ayane's body through her mouth. Ayane quickly dropped the blades and held onto her throat. She was choking, her throat burned, she coughed to try to feel some sense of relief but the burning continued.

It was only after a short while when the burning stopped. Ayane's face was blank, dazed even. Her eyes burned the same green color as Dokon's trademark.

"Do not worry my sweet." She heard a voice speak from within her. "Relax and sleep, our fight has only begun."

Ayane legs felt limp as she feel to the ground. She couldn't give him what he wanted. She refused to allow herself to fall asleep. "Do not resist me." The voice continued. Ayane was losing consciousness, the powers Dokon was using against her were to strong for her to resist.

"You will soon belong to me."

Then everything went black.