Chapter 19

Ryu ran through the Black Spider territory, hoping that he would find who is truly behind everything.

As he ran, Canna's smiling face popped into his mind.

"Ryu!" She called and waved.

Narrowing his eyes, he stopped as five spider ninjas appeared in front of him.

"Look who we have here." One said.

"We will be needing both females Ryu Hayabusa." The other one smiled and drew out his sword.

Ryu also drew out both his swords and watched as more ninjas began surrounded him.

"Goodbye, Dragon ninja!" They all then leaped at Ryu, ready to kill.

Seconds later, Ryu cleaned his bloodstained swords as several Spider ninjas' bodies laid around him.

"What are you supposed to be, some type of hero?"

Quickly turning around, Ryu shielded his swords to see no other than Rig. The hooded man chuckled and lifted his head to meet eye to eye with the ninja.

"You ninjas are startin to give me a pain in the ass." Rig sighed and glanced behind his shoulder.

"Why are you here?" Ryu asked.

"Same reason to why you're here, I guess." Rig smiled.

Narrowing his eyes, Ryu grabbed a hold of one of his swords as two hairy fiends dropped down near Rig.

"These ugly things." He sighed yet again. "Why do I even bother?"

Both the fiends screamed in unison.

Smirking, Rig turned around, heading back towards his destination.

Right before he left, Rig turned around for the final time.

"Don't get in my way." He said and disappeared down a path.

Ryu then grabbed hold of both his swords and leaped at both of the monsters.


Once Ryu killed the fiends, he soon left the area and tried to avoid any other distractions as he continued his way towards the elevator.

An hour later, Ryu came to a stop when he reached the large elevator. He then reached in his pocket to pull out the elevator card he took from a defeated Spider ninja.

Sliding the card over the scanner, the elevator opened and Ryu walked inside. He looked over to a keypad that was attached to the wall inside the elevator.

He then looked at the back of the card, where it had a 4-digit number printed on it.

"4523"

Punching the numbers in, a voice echoed as the doors were closing.

"Welcome Master Daichi."

Ryu leaned against the wall of the elevator as it ascended upwards.

"Be careful, Ryu. We all worry about you." He heard Kureha's voice inside his head.

"I'm not leaving without them. I know what I came here for."

Crossing his arms, he sighed and hoped he'd get them back as soon as possible.


"Victor Donovan, the Dragon ninja has access to the elevator and is on his way up as we speak." The intercom in the room, where Spidor and Donovan stood, announced.

Donovan walked over to the security camera tapes that played on several screens. Suddenly, three out of six screens disconnected as he watched them. Quickly, he walked over to the intercom and pressed the button.

"Dammit! Fix cameras one to three. Lost connection." Donovan ordered.

"Uh, yes, sir. But the ninja-"

"Is not the problem."

"You're right, sir. But the main control is in the laboratory, where he is headed."

Groaning, Donovan looked up at screen 4. The Dragon ninja got off against the wall and walked off the elevator.

"Just make sure that my daughter is the first one to greet him on his arrival." Spidor walked up towards the screens. Hayabusa appeared in screen 5 as he searched the area.

"Is she already there?" Donovan asked Spidor, letting go of the button.

Laughing, Spidor looked at the screen to see a female ninja coming into view in front of Ryu Hayabusa.

"Let me introduce myself. My name is Hikaru. Daughter of the Master Spidor of the Black Spider Ninja Clan. Now, let's have some fun." Hikaru smiled at Hayabusa.

Spidor then threw his kunai at the last screen, before anything else could happen.

"She's there...and I hope that we can trust her enough to finish her tasks without watching her." He paused and looked over at Donovan.

"Am I right?"

Donovan frowned under his mask as he watched the scene.

Pressing the button on the intercom, he spoke again.

"I'm coming down."

"Yes, sir."


The elevator finally stopped and opened up for Ryu the enter.

Keeping his senses alert, he walked out the elevator and checked his surroundings.

As he turned around, his eyes caught sight of a large tube that sat in the middle of the room. The tube was full of a clear liquid, but a small body was floating within the tube.

"I see you like this antique of mine Hayabusa." A familiar voice called out to him.

Turning around, he came face to face with Hikaru. She wore her white ninja shinobi garb and a headband tied to the top of her forehead. Her name was written in Japanese on the metal part of the band.

"You're...?!" Ryu took a step forward.

"Let me introduce myself. My name is Hikaru. Daughter of the Master Spidor of the Black Spider Ninja Clan." She paused and bowed. "Now, let's have some fun." Hikaru smiled as she stood up.

"So, you actually belong here?" Ryu asked.

Placing her hand on her hip, she then turned around to show the large Black Spider Clan symbol printed in black ink on the back of her garb.

"Don't you love surprises, Ryu Hayabusa?" She tunred back around and stuck her tongue out.

"You of all people...You're going through hell trying to keep Mizuki and Canna from us." Ryu stated.

"For your information, Ryu Hayabusa, it was easier setting all of you guys up. To think, that I could be one of you...A Hayabusa. Who would've thought that?" She chuckled. "I'm a Black Spider Ninja. And with that, I'm going to kill you and the rest of your damned clan." She hissed at him.

Suddenly, he threw multiple ninja stars at her, which she quickly dodged in under seconds. She then jumped over him and threw three kunais at him. Eliminating them, Ryu launched at her, ready to make a piercing cut into her stomach.

A clashing sounded of metal was heard as his eyes narrowed. Hikaru smiled at him as she noticed that he was surprised that she got a hold of her own sword.

"You know, nothing's changed...then, or now. Everything will end like how it did back then, isn't it?" She asked him.

"What are you talking about?"

Hikaru smirked and did a roundhouse kick on him. Ryu flew across the lab and fell not far from her. She then launched at him and threw him upward. Ryu grunted as she threw multiple kunais and him. Trying to dodge them, one struck at his left arm. He then fell to the ground and struggled to stand up to get back at her.

"Dammit." He mumbled as he ripped out the kunai from his arm. Just then, his cursed arm began to grow in pain as he stared up to where Hikaru was standing on the large tube.

"Tell me this doesn't bring back memories!" She yelled and she punched the top of the tube. A bright yellow light shined on a small blonde little girl that laid inside.

Ryu's eyes widen in fright as he thought back to the tragic scene.


Ryu ran inside the lab to witness Canna inside the Goddess Egg. Regent of the Mask stared up at her, witnessing her beauty.

"What have you done?!" Ryu yelled at Regent of the Mask.

"You're late, Mr. Scary Ninja." He responded as he turned to face him.

"Let the girl go." Ryu ordered and unshielded his sword.

"This is the final act, Dragon Ninja. You were always fated to end in tragedy!" He said and unshielded his own sword from his palm.


"..Canna?" He coughed once he got a good look at the little girl.

His cursed arm then grew in agony as he couldn't get the thought out of his head.


"Why? Why did you kill my Daddy...? You...you MURDERER!"


Hikaru jumped down from the tube and landed in front of the weakened ninja.

"You will suffer just like we do, Hayabusa. Once we rule this goddamned world, your little daughter will be the reason of it all." Hikaru stated as she kneeled down next to him.

Ryu's eyes narrowed and he tried to take a hit at Hikaru, but quickly failed as she dodged multiple of his attacks.

"Face reality Hayabusa!" She paused and pulled her fist back, ready to punch him in his stomach.

"You will die by my hand." She whispered into his ear.

Suddenly, lightning engulfed the area once she whispered to him. Hayabusa groaned as he was sent flying across the lab, yet again.

Looking up at the tube, Ryu watched as she slept peacefully inside.

Hikaru leaped towards him, having a lightning ball fully charged in her palm.

"Die." She connected the ball to Ryu's body, and soon, the room was engulfed in a bright white light.

Minutes later...

Hikaru stared down at the unconscious Dragon ninja. Her eyes were cold and dead as she glanced down at her hands.

"I actually did it." She mumbled.

The sound of clapping startled Hikaru as she turned to see Victor Donovan walking down the stairs and towards her.

"Well done, Ms. Hikaru."

She placed her hand over her heart and let out a heavy sigh of relief.

"Thank you, Mr. Donovan." She slightly bowed and looked up to see him directly standing in front of her.

"Come." He gestured towards the doors in the far back of the room. He then walked over Ryu and began to make is way over towards the doors.

Hikaru glanced over her shoulder and then walked over Ryu's body as well.

"What's your next idea?" She asked him as she followed after Donovan.

"Something similar to what was originally planned out." He answered once he got to the doors. He then placed his hand on the hand scanner and waited for access.

"Welcome Victor Donovan." A voice echoed as the doors opened.

Walking into the next room, two very large tube was inserted into the wall in front of them. One of the two tubes lit up a bright blue color once they walked up to the keyboards that were not far from the tubes. A chained female body floated inside the lit-up tube as the fog inside began to dial down.

"What is that?" Hikaru asked in awe as she watched the female float.

"This is just a little experiment we will use before we begin Goddess Project C." He explained and began to press several buttons on the keyboard.

The tube color changed to a green color as Donovan continued his process. The female's body slowly changed into a female fiend with long black nails and hair. The fiend was completely naked, but the chained around her body covered her up in some way.

Hikaru brows furrowed as she watched her transformation.

"Once she finishes, we will inform the others." He stated and looked down at Hikaru, who was slightly frightened.

"That was Mizuki, right?" She smiled. "C-Can..Can I consume that type of power like you did to her?" Her lips drew a wide smile on her face.

Donovan smirked and placed his hands on her shoulders.

"When the time comes, Hikaru Alpha." He said.

Suddenly a loud scream came from the fiend. Hikaru's right eye turned black as her pupil turned a red color, making her eye look ghoul-like.

"..Okay!" Tears spilled from her ghoul-like eye. "Thank you, Victor Donovan." She smiled.

"Donovan, change of plans." Spidor's voice suddenly came from the intercom speaker. "Switch to Plan B."

Donovan sighed and looked back down at Hikaru. He then walked over to a small red button and pressed down on it.

The tube, where Mizuki floated, suddenly began to slowly freeze. The room's vents then began to leak dry ice as the liquid froze her up.

"What are you doing?!" Hikaru asked and was about to reach out to Mizuki, but was quickly stopped when Donovan grabbed her arm.

"Bring the ninja back to the village." He ordered her.

"What?"

"He's not dead, is he?" He asked.

"Something like I did, it couldn't kill him that easily." She answered.

Back in the room where Spidor stood, he narrowed his eyes at screen 6. His eyebrow then twitched in annoyance once he heard Hikaru's response. He then punched the table next to him.

'She isn't capable of killing anyone, yet. What a damned brat.' He thought and clenched his fist on the table.

Pressing the button again, Spidor spoke.

"Bring him back to the entrance of our village, Hikaru."

Hikaru's eyes widen once she heard her father talk to her. Her eyes changed back to their original grey color as she clenched her fists.

Donovan then released his hold on her arm and turned back to the frozen fiend.

"You heard him. The task shouldn't take long." He said, with his back facing her.

"Yeah..." Hikaru backed away as she stared down at her feet.

Turning to leave, Hikaru paused when she heard Donovan call out to her.

"Don't disappoint your father again."

Her eyes widen with shock. Tears filled her eyes as she bowed down.

"I won't disappoint you guys, I promise." She responded and ran out the room, tears spilling from her eyes.

Donovan then walked over to a small microphone and flipped the switch on.

"Satisfied?" He asked in the microphone.

"She isn't capable to do anything. I will be once both of your project are a success." Spidor replied into his own microphone.

"Don't worry. Hikaru won't be like she is now...after I'm through with her." Donovan chuckled.

"Perfect." Spidor smiled.


Meanwhile...

Hikaru stood in front of Ryu's body. Tears constantly ran down her cheeks as she looked down at his body.

"Don't disappoint your father again."

She repeated Donovan's words over and over in her head.

"Damn you!" She cried and kicked Ryu's body multiple times.

She then fell to her knees and grabbed the side of his garb.

"I am a disappointment, right, Ryu?" She asked him.

No response.

A wide smile then crept on her lips.

"I am a disappointment. And that's why we are Black Spider Ninjas! We are all disappointments!" She laughed and stood up.

She pulled out a scroll that had Japanese words written in black ink on the paper.

"Mezameru!" The scroll read.

Once she dropped the paper, it dissolved into his chest. Red flames surrounded his body for a few seconds before the faded elsewhere.

Sighing, Hikaru threw him over her shoulder. Seconds later, they were both gone in a flash of lightning.


Hayate ran through the village, making his way to the Meeting Hall.

'What are you planning on doing Father?' He thought as he finally reached the entrance of the building.

Teleporting inside, he walking into the main rooms to find Master Shiden and many other men sitting inside.

"Father, did you call a meeting with Master Joe?" Hayate asked once he entered the room.

"Hayate, do you know what we are dealing with now?" Master Shiden asked as he sat up straight in his seat.

"I'm pretty sure he has a slight idea of what's happening as of right now."

Hayate quickly turned around to see the blind ninja standing behind him, with many men behind him as well.

"What have you heard Hayate?" Master Joe asked as he passed by him to take a seat next to Master Shiden.

Hayate hesitated to answer him. Taking a deep breath, he answered.

"Canna Higgins is the main issue. She is M.I.S.T next project prototype."

Master Shiden clenched his fist and glanced over at Master Joe.

"That girl..." Shiden muttered under his breath.

"They are going to recreate the Greater Fiend by using that girl, correct?" Joe asked Hayate.

He nodded.

"The Dragon blood and the Dragon sword is in their possession." Joe thought aloud and sighed.

"If anything, our real problem is the enemy." Hayate interrupted.

Everyone paused to look up at him.

"Working alongside M.I.S.T is Master Spidor, of the Black Spider Clan. I'm assuming...there was too many Spider ninjas surrounding the organization, so they must be together." Hayate explained and sat down in an empty chair.

"We need to get more details from the Spider Clan." Joe turned to Shiden. "Before chaos begins to spread."

Shiden nodded and turned to his men.

"Reply this message to the others. We are entering their territory." Shiden ordered them.

"Hai!" They obeyed in unison. They were just about to leave, when they heard running coming towards the room.

"Master Shiden!" A female voice called outside the room.

Ayane threw open the doors. Her purple dress was stained with fresh blood along with both of her swords. Her lavender hair was covered with dirt as she panted heavily.

"Ayane?!" Hayate was shocked at her state.

Ayane looked up to see Master Joe and Master Hayate all in the room.

"Master Hayate! The village...!"

Suddenly, the sound of explosions was heard from outside the building. Screams followed along with the chaos.

"What the hell?!" Master Shiden shot up.

"Spread out!" Shiden ordered his men.

"Yes Master!" The all disappeared in a flash.

"Help within the village!" Master Joe ordered his men.

"Hai!" They followed after the Mugen ninjas.

"Shit." Hayate turned back at both Masters.

"Check above ground, Hayate! Joe and I will cover you guys." Shiden stated and ran past them, followed by Joe.

Hayate then turned to Ayane and nodded. They both then disappeared and reappeared on top of the roof.

"Spider ninjas all over the village." Ayane told him.

Hayate scanned the area to see many Spider ninjas and Mugen ninjas attacking one another.

Ayane grunted as she fell on one knee.

"Ayane? Are you alright?" Hayate turned to help her. A flaming arrow cut its way towards Hayate. Nearly dodging it, Hayate drew out his sword. About fifteen Spider ninjas appeared on the rooftops, surrounding both Hayate and Ayane.

'At this rate, Ayane can't keep up with them.' Hayate glared at the ninjas.

"Hey, let's take the cutie." One of the ninjas said as he pointed at Ayane with the tip of his kunai.

"She'll be the perfect project type." He laughed and smirked at her.

Hayate gripped his hold on his sword tighter once he heard his outburst.

"What a pervert." Ayane stood up and pressed her back against Hayate's.

"And she's stubborn too?" Another asked.

"Yeah, definitely your type, Yuu." A third laughed and pulled up his mask over his nose.

The one named Yuu laughed and stood in his fighting stance.

"Let's play for a while Plum Cakes."

They then all leaped at the two ninjas.

Seconds Later...

Hayate and Ayane stood around the dead bodies.

"Baka." Ayane muttered as she stared down the fallen Yuu.

Hayate turned around to face Ayane, who was covered in blood from head to toe.

Black lines drew along Ayane's back and up and around her shoulders. Hayate glared at her shoulders then quickly turned to see another Spider ninja aiming a bow and arrow at her. Without wasting anymore time, he pulled out a kunai and threw it over at the ninja, ending his life.

Turning back around, he saw multiple ninjas leaping towards his sister.

"Ayane!"

"I know!" She then leaped up at them and killed them three at a time. Hayate joined her, and not long after that, the two ninjas landed back on the roof.

"Ayane." Hayate called to her, with his back turned.

Her crimson eyes widen with fear when she saw lightning dancing around his right arm.

"Stay close." He unshielded a kunai with his left hand, while his sword was in the other. Lightning then danced around both his arm and the sword as he leaped off the rooftop.

Purple flames burned on both of her shoulders as she stood up to follow him.

Glancing back at Yuu for the final time, a single tear fell from her eye as she jumped below.

"And you call me Baka."


Hitomi didn't realize that she fell asleep after Hayate had left her. Opening her eyes, she replayed everything that she said towards Hayate.

'I'm so sorry Hayate.' She thought and touched her forehead.

A sudden knock startled Hitomi once she struggled to sit up in the futon.

"Hayate?!" She was just about to get up from the futon when she saw a beautiful woman dressed in a silky green kimono. Her light brown hair was braided perfectly off to the side and her silver eyes were gentle when she looked up to see Hitomi. She came inside, carrying a tray of food and a glass of water.

"Feeling better Lady Hitomi? I brought you something to eat if you get hungry anytime soon. The women said, placing the tray next to the futon.

"Thank you...um-"

"My apologies, Lady Hitomi. My name is Yori. I was here nursing you back to your original self a little while earlier." Yori smiled and kneeled down next to Hitomi.

"Thank you, Yori." Hitomi flashed her the same smile back.

Yori then looked down at Hitomi's wrapped bandages, that were covered in dried blood.

"Good thing I patched you up while I could. Can I take a look?" Yori asked, kneeling down next to her.

Hitomi ran her hand over her wrapped forehead and ridcage.

Nodding, she laid back down on the futon.

Yori then began to unwrap her bandages.

"Ouch." Hitomi grimaced.

"Sorry, I'll make this quick." Yori responded and quickly took off all Hitomi's old bandages and replaced them with new, fresh ones.

After a few minutes, Yori had completed her task and left the room to find her some new clothing to wear.

Once Yori left, Hitomi glanced at the tray to see a cooked omelet sitting on the plate. Tasting it, she slightly smiled.

'Not bad. Could be better though.' She thought as she finished the last of the meal.

Yori came back with new clothes not long after she had finished eating.

"Here you go Lady Hitomi. Here is some new clothing that Hayate-sama had sent for you to wear." She said and laid the clothing out on the futon.

"Thank you." Hitomi slightly bowed her head.

Yori smiled and took the empty tray, and soon, left after.

Sighing, Hitomi stretched out her arms as she finally got up from the futon. She then slowly began to change out into the new clothing.

Hitomi then walked up to a body mirror and studied her attire. She wore a black ninja dress, similar to Kasumi's, and with black boots plus black stockings. She looked down at her black gloves that she wore on her hands. Clenching her fists, she looked back in the mirror. She threw a clean punch in midair.

"Osu!" She said. A shooting pain shot up in her ribcage. Bracing it, she sighed.

"I'm not even healed yet..." She mumbled.

Her baby blue eyes caught sight of one sword leaning against the wall. Fixing her hair up in a ponytail, she walked over to the sword.

Just when she was about to grab hold of the sword, a voice was heard behind her.

"So, you're the one Master Hayate loves, hm?"

Startled, she turned around to see a tall ninja dressed in black from head to toe. His thin dark blue eyes scanned her figure up and down. Chuckling, he ran his hand through his fringe up black hair.

Hitomi stayed frozen in her spot as she tried to comprehend how the ninja appeared in the room.

"Damn, and to think that he didn't have taste in women after that maiden." He made his way over to her.

"...The maiden?" Hitomi repeated as he had a hold of her.

"What an idiot. He didn't tell you?" He caressed her cheek with his hand. "They were together for quite a while. Yes, that was long ago. But since then, I wouldn't think he would get together with an outsider."

Without thinking, Hitomi punched the man directly in the face. Taken back, he coughed and smirked under his mask at her.

"What a naughty one he chose too." He then ran up to her and pushed her down back into the futon.

"Takeo is what they call me, Lady Hitomi. I can only be nice for so long." He laughed and grabbed both of her hands and tied them together with the futon sheet. "Let's play a nice game, shall we?"

Hitomi managed to escape his trap and kicked the man off her in an instant. Quickly, she went to grab the sword and drew it out of its sheath.

"Hehehe. That sexy look you gave me just now. I wanna see more of that when I take you." He leaped at her and took off his mask.

"Show me more, lemme hear ya." He then pressed his lips against hers.

Hitomi dropped the sword as his lips connected with hers. Suddenly, a low moan escaped her throat as he grabbed her waist and pulled her up against the wall.

"You're so beautiful." He pulled away from their kiss and ran his tongue alongside of her neck.

A sharp pain was felt in her neck. Takeo slowly pulled out his razor teeth from her neck as he continued to lick around the bite mark her had made on her. Hitomi's vision had suddenly become blurry as she looked back down at the sword for the final time.

"...Hayate..." She fell unconscious.

Takeo stopped and looked up at the girl, whose eyes were closed.

"Took you long enough." Another voice was heard behind him.

Glancing over his shoulder, he found his fellow ninja, Delun, who sat on the sill of the now, open window.

"I actually might consider taking her as my own." Takeo said and lifted Hitomi in his arms.

"Not likely. She's property of Victor Donovan." Delun responded and jumped off the sill.

Takeo walked over to Delun and gave her to him.

"You're right on that." He ran his hand through her hair once more. "Take care, Lady Hitomi."

Delun watched him silently.

"So, what do you plan on doing?" He asked Takeo.

He laughed and grabbed his mask off the floor.

"Me? I'm going back to what I've been doing in this village." He fastened his mask around the back of his neck.

"Still training under the Haji Mon Sect? Those guys are the pain in my ass." Delun asked.

"There's nothing else for me to do back in the Spider village and you know that." Takeo responded and pulled his mask over his nose.

"I can't say that's wrong." Delun turned back to Takeo, who was sitting on the sill, getting ready to leave.

"Tell Master that I'll be visiting soon if that's what you're begging me to do." And with said, he was gone.

Delun frowned and looked down at Hitomi.

"So, outsider, let's see what you're really made of."

He then jumped out the window, with Hitomi in his arms.