I would have had this up sooner, but I had the rotten luck to be given two essay assignments that were not only issued during the same week but to have them due at practically the same time. So I've been spending more time at the library than writing this. So sorry for the wait, hopefully that's the end of my essays this semester. Well anyway let's go over the reviews I got.

To medical motoko mcdowell: Sorry I like the name too. It just popped into my head when I created the character. You wouldn't happen to like the Mizore from Rosario vampire would you?

To kenakamatsu: don't worry I don't like sad endings in my stories, if I wanted something like that I'd just watch TV.

To katsoul28: Thanx for the update on your pen name being changed. Hope you like the new chapter.

Chapter 9)

Tsuroko told Motoko about the Succubus called Mizore and how she found out about her from what Yumi's father told her. After clearing up the incident the two of them met and discussed the matter. They met at Tsuroko's house since Yumi was terrified of her and wouldn't listen to reason. Little Yumi refused to believe that Tsuroko was innocent when she had seen Tsuroko kill her mother.

Tsuroko searched for Mizore, determined to make amends for what she did. She spent countless hours trying to find her, but to no avail. A year had passed and she still had no luck in her search. She, despite her best efforts, had failed and was left with no choice but to give up. It was with a heavy heart that she told Yumi's father that she had made no progress and could not continue.

When Tsuroko had finished she let her gaze sink to the floor, merely staring at it as brining up these memoires made her remember the shame that came with them. Motoko saw the look on her sister's face; the same face that was usually accompanied by a look of confidence and strength. Seeing Tsuroko so ashamed made something well up inside her. She stood suddenly, a look of determination on her face.

"I want to help."

Tsuroko snapped out of her trance and looked up at her younger sister.

"What?"

"I want to help you find this Mizore woman and defeat her for what she did."

"Motoko, it's been years since then, she's probably long gone."

Motoko had thought of that but didn't let it falter. "But there must be something we can do."

Tsuroko stood and placed her hand on Motoko's shoulder, "Motoko I admire and am grateful that you want to help, but by now it's too late. That succubus was clever enough to catch me off guard and use me like that, not to mention escape and leave me searching for a trail for an entire year. I highly doubt we'd be able to find her after all this time."

Motoko accepted the reality of it. Her sister was right. The odds of being able to find Mizore and catch her in Japan alone were definitely against them. And that was assuming that she was still in Japan at all.

Fortune smiled on them that moment. Shinobu came into the room that moment, looking very worried.

"Motoko! I think Yumi's in trouble!"

Motoko was at her side instantly, "What? What's going on? Is she alright?"

"I-I don't know! Her father just called and asked if she was here. He said she hasn't come home yet and she isn't answering her cell phone!"

Motoko turned to her sister, "Nee-san, you don't think that…"

Tsuroko nodded, "Perhaps she isn't as clever as I first thought."

Shinobu had no idea what they were talking about. Before she could question either of the swordswomen, Motoko turned her attention back to her.

"Shinobu, I need you to go and find Su. Tell her it's very important."

"Um okay, but why?"

"No time to explain, just go! Yumi may be in grave danger!"

That was enough reason for Shinobu to run off and search for Su, although she still didn't know what was happening.

A few minutes later Su came bounding down the stairs.

"Hiyas Motoko! Shinobu said you wanted to see me?"

"Yes, I have a very important favor to ask you."

.

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While Motoko and Tsuroko were organizing a search for Yumi, she was currently trying to plead with her captor.

"Please, leave them alone! They aren't the ones you want!"

Mizore smiled wickedly, "You're right. But I want to see you suffer a little first. So I'm going to kill them and bring their heads back as proof."

"No! Please don't! You can't!"

Mizore laughed, "I can and I will. And you know why? Because you love them. Before you die I want you to know that I killed the people you loved most and that there was nothing you could do to stop me."

"No! I won't let you!"

Yumi's eyes glowed and Mizore was caught in an illusion. Yumi vanished and the warehouse was in flames.

Mizore scoffed, "Pathetic. Is this the best you can do?" She walked through the fire, unharmed. "You do realize that the illusion only works if your target is unaware that it's an illusion right? Otherwise it will have no effect."

The illusion faded, the flames vanished and Mizore spotted Yumi trying to sneak out. She quickly positioned herself in front of Yumi and grabbed her by the throat.

"Now let me show you what a Succubus's true power is. Let me show you an illusion so powerful that it'll break you no matter how hard you try to fight it."

Mizore's eyes glowed and released her hold on Yumi. Yumi found herself surrounded in pitch black darkness. It was getting cold, very cold. Yumi could actually feel her body temperature drop with the surrounding environment. Soon she felt too cold to move.

Somewhere she heard Mizore cackling. The darkness seemed to amplify the sound, making it echo from all directions. It even seemed to be coming from inside her own head.

"It's rather sad really. You thought you could outsmart me with an illusion, but only ended up falling into my illusion instead. And all because you care so much about those closest to you." She cackled, "I suppose humans see that as admirable, but have you ever stopped to think as to whether those people return your love? I suppose your father does, but what about your little friends. Don't think I haven't noticed that you've also gotten the attention of that Aoyoma girl. How amusing you befriend the flesh and blood of your mother's murderer."

Yumi tried to ignore her. But in the end all she could do was stand there, frozen, being tormented by Mizore's disembodied voice.

"You actually think those girls love you? Fool they're only attracted to you because they are under your spell. All Succubi are capable of entrancing humans. You find them attractive and are subconsciously using your powers to seduce them. There is no such thing as true love or love at first sight. That's all just a load of sugar-coated fairytale bullcrap that humans tell their children to give them a pathetic feeling of hope in an otherwise cruel world."

Yumi's will was beginning to waver. For a split second, she almost believed what Mizore said. She managed to snap herself out of it. There was no way it could be true, even if it made sense. No! Yumi kept telling herself it was all a lie.

Mizore's twisted smile grew as she saw Yumi weaken. She only needed to keep this up a little longer and she'd break Yumi's spirit.

Minutes later the deed was done. Yumi's will had been broken. Mizore ended the illusion and Yumi collapsed to the floor. Mizore approached her and kicked her in the side.

"Well that was disappointing. I was hoping you'd last longer than that. Hopefully killing your father and friends will prove to be more fun. I think I'll kill your father first since he's the one to blame for all this in the first place."

She turned to leave. As she approached the door it flew open, revealing one Motoko Aoyoma. She saw Yumi lying on the floor a distance away and fixed an ice cold glare on the obvious culprit: Mizore.

"What did you do to her!?!"

Mizore was taken by complete surprise, but did not lower her guard.

"How did you get here? I made sure no one followed her when I lured her here!"

Motoko smirked and held up a small hand held device.

"I know a girl who's very good with machines. She made this tracking device to home in on the signal from Yumi's cell phone. All I had to do was input her phone number and then it led me here, like a GPS."

Mizore just gawked at the young swordswoman. She never would have anticipated anything like this. She shook it off and used her wings to dash back to her captive and use her as an impromptu shield if necessary. She knew better than to pick a fight with anyone from the Aoyoma lineage.

"So you found me, that doesn't change the fact I've got the little halfbreed in my clutches. Make one false move and she dies!"

Motoko merely stood there, and looked on. Mizore wondered why she hadn't even made a reply to her threat. She got her answer when she noticed the presence of someone else.

"I beg to differ. It's you who shouldn't make any false moves Mizore."

Mizore's eyes widened with shock and realization. Tsuroko Aoyoma was standing near her, holding her sword with the tip just centimeters from her throat.

"You! But how…"

"I was visiting my younger sister when Yumi's father called saying she was missing. Having the feeling you might have been behind it all, Motoko and I immediately set to work. Now step away from her, slowly."

Mizore did as she was told. She slowly moved away from Yumi, making sure not to do anything that might provoke Tsuroko to attack. Tsuroko followed, keeping her blade positioned near the other woman's throat, ready in case she tried anything funny.

Once she led Mizore a safe distance away, Tsuroko signaled it was okay for Motoko to move in. She ran straight to Yumi and checked to see if she was in need of medical attention. She first checked for a pulse and immediately pulled her hand away.

Yumi did have a pulse, but she was freezing cold. Motoko picked her up, carrying her bridal style.

"Nee-san, I'm going on ahead. Yumi may need medical attention!"

Tsuroko nodded to her, "Then get going, I'll handle the rest."

In the second that Tsuroko turned her attention to Motoko, Mizore made her move. She flapped her wings as hard as she could, launching her away from the older Aoyoma sister and her blade. She landed a short distance away, casting a menacing glare at Motoko.

"Oh no you don't! I'm not letting you escape so easily!"

Tsuroko quickly positioned herself between Mizore and Motoko. She took an offensive stance and returned Mizore's glare.

"I don't think so. You've caused enough trouble for that poor girl. It's time you paid for your crime."

Mizore's eyes glowed, casting her illusion on Tsuroko. It was similar to the one she put Yumi in. Tsuroko found herself in total darkness and felt the temperature drop rapidly. She calmly closed her eyes and steadied her breathing.

Mizore felt a smug sense of satisfaction as she saw the illusion take affect. Not hesitating she rushed towards Tsuroko will the intent to kill.

Tsuroko stood her ground, listening for Mizore's approach. She knew that she couldn't rely on her sight when in an illusion. So she had trained herself to use her hearing for situations like this, especially since her last unfortunate encounter.

When she heard Mizore closing in she smiled; with cat-like reflexes she swung her blade, sending a wave of chi toward the oncoming Succubus. The attack hit Mizore with the force of a wrecking ball and sent her hurtling through the air and crashing through a window.

Mizore landed outside; she had seen the attack just in time and manage to defend herself, but was still hurt by it. She got back up to her feet and saw Motoko, still carrying Yumi, as she left the warehouse. Motoko saw her. She set Yumi down gently and then drew her blade.

Mizore didn't have a chance to do anything before Motoko came at her and hit her with a second attack, this one knocking her upwards and sending her flying into the atmosphere, much like Keitaro after one of his 'incidents'.

Motoko looked on as Mizore shot out of sight. A bead of sweat ran down her face.

"I think I may have overdone it."

Tsuroko had come out of the warehouse just in time to witness what happened. She walked up to her sister, "It would seem so. You should really work on self control Motoko."

Motoko blushed, slightly embarrassed. She picked Yumi up again and immediately set off for the hospital.

TBC.

Okay, sorry to leave you hanging like this but I didn't know how else to end this chapter. Anyway, next up will be Yumi's recovery, don't worry it won't be anything serious. Like I said earlier, I don't care for sad endings, too depressing.