Long chapter ahead.

Also, I apologize for the delayed update. I've been quite ill but I'm doing better.

For hours, days, eternities, Mai remained trapped in the cell, staring into the darkness that surrounded her under the bright light from above as the water continued to drip somewhere, slowly but surely turning her mad. Her memories and her thoughts began to melt as she struggled to get any sleep, be it from the water dripping, random loud noises, or the intense but frigid light.

At the end of this, she wasn't sure who she was anymore. Everything around her was fading into incoherent meaninglessness. Mai hardly heard the footsteps that closed in on her. She didn't move, not that she could.

Above her, just outside of reach, Wolfgang stood with a proud grin on his face. His hands were clasped behind his back as he spoke. "You see, I believe in the best brand of loyalty comes from discipline. A woman needs to be disciplined; a lesson best learned in blood. As my property, it is important that you feel the ache of my affection. My brand of love is passionate and abusive, but it is pure and everlasting. Long after I am gone, you will still feel it."

Mai didn't understand any of it.

She couldn't see the logic behind it. She had nothing to say, only closing her eyes against the glare of the light and Wolfgang's proud smile. It was astounding how he switched between acts of vicious violence, beating her when she refused to suck his cock, and philosophical jargon while he stroked her hair but never bothered with actual care. At first, their battles had been exactly that; battles but as Mai was weakened, she could no longer fight back.

All she did now was to take the beatings head on and listen as Wolfgang told her all the while things, he'd do to her once she had sworn loyalty to him. He spoke with steely apathy yet the intense fire in his eye was apparent as he'd talk about keeping her on her knees to pleasure him and make her swallow his seed. Wolfgang livened up a little more when he'd speak gleefully about how he'd like to fuck her until she bled and screamed in anguish.

Early into her captivity, Mai became aware of what he'd try to do with her; disintegrating her until there was nothing but a weakened wallflower, ready for plucking. He never molested her private parts again but once had been one time too many. Mai had wondered if Geese knew what type of man his brother was. She wondered if he even cared at all.

The vanishment of Mai Shiranui would be a mystery forever left unsolved. Only Wolfgang Krauser would know what became of her. Only he would bear witness to the fact that the proud ninja would not be here much longer. It was quite telling that such thoughts began to flutter in Mai's mind. It spoke of the never-ending hopelessness she found herself in.

"My Liebling. I believe you're ready for the next stage," Wolfgang said and Mai remained quiet, opening her eyes as more footsteps came from the dungeon's opening, belonging to multiple sets of feet.

The bright light was turned off and she could see again as she lay eyes on several servants carrying a frame that was covered with a silk cloth. Wolfgang reached forward to remove the veil like he'd flip his cape. Under the silk was a painting of a woman that bore a striking resemblance to Mai although this was not how she would have imagined a portrait of herself. The woman in the painting was wearing a rosy chemise, kneeling on a marble floor with her head lowered and her eyes closed.

A veil lay over her shoulders, decorated by chains attached to her neck, ankles, and wrists. A brand had been put right above her crotch. An insignia that Mai had seen at points within the castle. Her expression was devoid of any life. A withdrawn and submissive toy, Wolfgang would keep her locked up so he could have her for himself. He'd do what he can to break her until Mai resembled the woman in the painting.

"Do you like it?" Wolfgang asked calmly like he had gifted Mai a piece of jewelry. "It is how I envision you from now on."

Mai remained still and closed her eyes again, hardly hearing the array of footsteps and the door to her jail being opened. When she dared to look again, she stared into several servants with one holding what appeared to be a long and thin tool with a strange shape at the end, glowing a menacing red.

Before Mai could even begin to think of what was occurring, the other servants surrounded her like vultures and pinned her limbs to the floor while the tool, now revealed to be a branding iron, was given to Wolfgang.

"This will mark you as Stroheim property," he said before he pressed the iron right into the skin between Mai's naval and groin. Instantly searing pain burned her flesh and shrill screams echoed through the room.

The adrenaline pumped sudden energy into her veins, and she wriggled against the hands holding her arms and legs down. Her vision began to blur as she stared at the ceiling and the sudden glare of the bright lamp. Her mind found itself forced to a blank under the burns, the sickening sizzling, the stench of burnt flesh.

Tears began rolling across Mai's temples in uncontrollable streams, blurring the sight of the wretched world around her although she couldn't tell if it was also due to her consciousness fading. Eventually, the branding iron was removed, having lost some of its glow. The servants let go of Mai afterward, but she could only lay on the cold floor, unable to do much else but slip into the void.

When Mai awoke again, all she could feel was pain but she was alone to wallow in her agony. Her hands were shaking as she moved them over her abdomen, hissing at the tender, scorched flesh. It took slow, methodic tracing to figure out that the mark which had been branded onto her was not an S for Stroheim.

It was a W for Wolfgang.

In the worst way possible, she had been marked as his plaything. Branded like cattle.

Bitter tears almost pressed against Mai's eyes, and she angrily wiped them away. Despite the torture she had endured, she was still a Shiranui ninja. The legacy of her name was her duty to carry. She would not let him or anyone take it away from her. All flowers withered one day, even the yellow chrysanthemum but even if that was the fate befalling Mai, she'd never allow herself to bow down to him or anyone.

The last thing she had left in this world was her pride. As if she could physically feel it, Mai curled where she lay, bracing herself for the cold of the stone floor and the throbbing of her new scar. The door to the dungeon was opened, breaking the constant sound of the dripping water. Yet again, Wolfgang stood in front of her with a red apple in his hand, swaying it a bit as if to entice her.

He had been hand-feeding her minuscule meals to keep her from starving although Mai seldom ate them because he insisted that she ate from his hand like a pet. Thanks to the branding, Mai no longer had an appetite.

"Wolfgang, what the fuck have you done?!" a familiar voice sneered from the opening of the dungeon and the earl soured, staring at the source of the hasty footsteps coming closer. Through her partly blurry vision, Mai spotted a bald head and a fur coat.

"Thanks to you, our plan has fallen apart! Geese and his goons took out all our forces and we have accomplished the square root of absolute jack shit!" the man continued and soon, Mai recognized who he was.

"I am a man of honor. I got something far more important than Geese crumbling under the weight of his own filth," Wolfgang dismissed Mr. Big's concerns.

It seemed they were talking about the coalition.

So, they had been behind it this entire time. Despite the melting state of Mai's mind, everything was beginning to become clearer. It put her experiences in a new context. It explained how Wolfgang knew of her involvement with Geese. It explained that strange incident in the Blue Moon Factory. And maybe, in the middle of it, she was a tool after all.

Big sneered, tipping his glasses down the bridge of his nose. "You say that while also aiding him. Whose side are you on anyway? He's already suspicious of me and I'm not about to get murdered by him before I kill him myself. We almost had him. Now what?"

"You can do whatever. I care for the squabbles of vermin no longer," Wolfgang was flippant in his scoff. But he had joined the coalition to try and take down Geese yet lost interest somewhere along the line. Suppose his brother should count his lucky stars then.

"You motherfu-" Big's nostrils flared before he turned to the cell, spotting Mai laying under a bright lamp. "Holy shit, isn't that Geese's secretary? Why is she here?"

"I acquired her."

"…So you ruined our alliance to get some pussy. Thought I was supposed to be the lady's man," Big removed his shades entirely, revealing his eyes to be a cool, dark grey. "I mean, yeah, she's a nice piece of ass but that's hardly worth the effort, is it? Certainly not if the broad is dead."

"She is not dead."

No, Mai was very much alive but she lay so still and breathed so quietly that she did indeed appear as a corpse. She must have been paler than powdered sugar as well. In front of the gate, Big squatted to get a better look at her, narrowing his eyes for a bit before he came to his own conclusions.

"Nah, she's fucked, mate. And what's with the dripping water? Isn't someone like you able to fix that shit?"

Having heard enough, Wolfgang pinned the man with a furious stare. The likes of which, Mai imagined only Geese was capable of giving.

"Leave," the earl growled and Big stood up, shrugging before he vanished from sight. Because Mai had not responded to the sight of her meal, Wolfgang put the apple on the ground a few feet outside the opening to the jail cell and left as well without another word.

It was such a strange logic, Mai concluded. It was his way of telling her to work for her food if she wasn't going to be a good dog and come to him when he wanted her to.

Hours (or so it felt like) later, Mai woke up to the sound of metal scraping against metal. She fluttered her eyes open, watching the blurry image of Mr. Big picking the lock and sliding the door open.

"Hey there, little lass," he smiled, tipping his head down somewhat to stare Mai directly in the eyes. "Wow, you look banged up. I got an idea. How about I release you and you find a way back to South Town? Tell Geese that the opposition he's facing is squarely Wolfgang's idea. You'll have to if you want to live."

There was a gleam in his eyes as he spoke, making his intentions loud and clear. He sought to use her, just like Wolfgang…and Geese. Fury boiled in her stomach, and she wished she had the strength to spit in Big's face for trying to use her as a bargaining chip.

"…Fuck you," she whispered, her throat sore and burning. Big's eyes darkened as his smile widened and he slapped her across the face with such force, she saw stars.

"You got an ugly mouth in contrast to that pretty little face of yours. Maybe some shame would shut you up," his hand landed on her collarbone and slid to her bra before grabbing its middle section and tearing it off. Instantly Mai wrapped her arms around herself and Big took the opportunity to wrap a hand around her neck at lightning-quick speed, fingers denting her skin like a beartrap.

"A shame Wolfgang decided to beat and burn you to submission. I would have just raped you. That'd be much easier. I might just kill you now to piss 'im off. Blame it on him and make the two assholes duke it out. They'll both be weakened and whoever comes out on top, I'll kill 'im. South Town will be mine again and you, my pretty little cunt, will be the key to the kingdom," The demented smile on his face only broadened as he began to squeeze, slowly but surely choking Mai, almost crushing her throat.

It was as if he wanted to see the life leave her eyes beat for beat. Mai should have felt terrified but above all else, she was furious. Enraged at being used like this yet again. Even in death, they'd continue to use her for their ambitions. She was just a pawn to fuel their own personal glory. No, not any longer. She was a Shiranui ninja above all else. Fire began erupting from her hands, scorching Big and setting his sleeve ablaze.

"Argh, what the fuck?!" he cursed, falling over backward while he fumbled with tossing his coat to the ground. The door to the jail cell stood open and the promise of freedom fueled Mai with energy, she didn't know she had any longer. As quickly as she could, she climbed to her feet and sprinted out through the gate, looking around to formulate a hasty escape.

In her current state, fighting for prolonged periods wouldn't do her any good but that didn't stop Mai from spin-kicking Big into the wall when he lurched at her. She slammed the jail shut, before choosing the other entrance to the dungeon, praying to whatever god was kind enough to play the odds in her favor.

Mai sprinted down the corridor, hardly hearing Big pulling the door to the cell open and chasing her or the slurs he hurled at her. Nearing the wooden door, she didn't have time to try and see if it was unlocked, summoning a fireball that blasted it from the hinges.

The cool night air and ensuing downpour hit Mai like a tidal wave, but she ran through it, ignoring her legs burning under her or her lungs about to collapse behind her chest. She did not know where she was or in what direction to run, so she simply sprinted across gravel, then grass, running deeper into the looming darkness. If she stopped, it would be all over.

Soon, Mai no longer heard Big behind her, nor did she feel the neatly cut grass under her feet. Instead, was the dense treachery of a forest, branches, and roots that nearly caused her to fall. Wherever she was going, it was far enough from the castle eventually, leaving her with no idea of where to run but she'd rather be anywhere else but there.

Trees surrounded her like a maze and there was too little light to navigate properly. The icy wind brushed against her bare legs and the dirty ground edged into the soles of her feet. The damp scent of fallen leaves and hardwood would have relaxed her but instead, it unnerved her as she hurried in the direction of fate.

Too exhausted to continue, Mai stopped, her legs collapsing under her as she fell onto the cold forest floor. Her chest burned, struggling to keep her heart pumping. Wet dirt and leaves clung onto her, and the branding began to sting but Mai was filled with euphoric pride. She had done it. She found a way out. Even if she was lost, she had accomplished something.

Nearby, there was the promising sound of running water. Mai had never been stuck in the forest like this before, yet she recalled that Andy would often give her survival tips. One of said tips was to "follow a body of water for it will most surely lead to civilization."

Thinking of Andy began to ache yet again, although not for reasons of longing. She had become far too corrupted to dream of his love. But being alone in the forest reminded Mai of how she came across his corpse. It wasn't quite in the middle of the night like this.

Pricking in her eyes caused Mai to bury the memory.

Without Andy, her friends, or Geese, Mai would have to find a new place in this world – alone.

When Mai walked to the stream, the moon had broken free from the dark clouds hovering above her and its reflection appeared next to her, wavering in the water. The moonlight was weak but it was better than nothing when it came to lighting. The forest was quiet now sans the critters of the night and the sound of Mai's heartbeat hammering behind her chest. But the fear continued to brew in her, and she forced herself to keep walking.

Her feet sank into the soft soil, slowing her down somewhat. Being only dressed in her undergarments, the chill was beginning to get to Mai and she struggled to walk, her energy being drained within moments. When the moon would vanish, she accidentally stepped into the stream. Time itself felt as if it had come to a crawl when Mai stepped off a ledge, her life flashing before her eyes as she tumbled through brushes, rocks, and fallen tree branches.

Even though just a moment had passed, it felt like an eternity before Mai landed on hard stone, shrieking at a sickening crack in her arm. Momentarily she remained still, listening to the rain and the wind rustling in the trees. Her arm had gone numb and sharp pain impacted her breathing. Something within had been broken.

Be it out of stubbornness or a fear of death, Mai climbed to her feet and continued, her body shivering with every step. The rain picked up in intensity and roars of thunder rolled across the sky, so stratospherically loud, she could hardly hear her shuddering breathing.

For a moment, she wished she could teleport herself back to Japan, in a nice, warm bed. How she wished to reverse time before Andy, Geese, or anyone. Just for a day, she'd like to be a little girl again, unaware of pain, grief, and exploitation. How she wished she didn't have emotions at all.

The moon appeared again, casting its light in ribbons between the thick and tall trees, distorted by the endless deluge. Eventually, the uneven forest floor diminished into a hard, leveled surface and a distinct smell overpowered the petrichor.

Wet asphalt.

Elation pooled inside of Mai as she looked at the ground under her feet, seeing the moonlight's reflection in puddles. She could almost have cried in joy. Then, through the darkness, two bright lights came towards her at a high speed. For a moment, honest fear paralyzed her, and she knew she'd be doomed if Wolfgang had sent one of his goons to retrieve her.

She had no power to run or fight. She could only stand here by the side of the road and shiver. The car's headlights almost blinded her and upon casting its glare upon Mai, its engine revved and zoomed right past her, almost running her over.

Now, alone, Mai stood with no idea of where to go next, total desolation eroding her previous joy. If she had her phone, she could at least navigate to the nearest village and call for someone to bring her home but instead, she was partly nude, destitute, cold, wet, and hurt. Stuck in a country she was not familiar with and fleeing from a mad earl and his slimy ally.

The moon vanished again and so did the last of Mai's strength after she walked down the road for a few hundred meters. She stopped and sat down by a nearby tree. The ground was too wet for her to light a fire, thus she could only curl into herself to retain some warmth. Slowly, Mai closed her eyes, praying she'd be alive by sunrise.

With a jerk, Mai jolted to a sit, hauling breath after breath. Her chest heaved, trying to ease her racing heart. A pressing headache and the pain from her injuries throbbed through her entire body, nearly causing Mai to fall out of bed as she tried to push the blanket away. It had just been a nightmare born from terrible memories. Mai had been lucky to escape with her life when she fled from the dungeon.

Considering what had occurred, Mai was fortunate even if she felt like she had lost herself in the process. But she was alive above all else. Mai looked around, finding herself in strange surroundings that didn't resemble the tower or the hospital even if she stared at the looming skyscrapers of South Town. Her memory since running away was fragmented and she only recalled bits and pieces of nurses, doctors and a car almost running her over.

Gingerly, Mai tried to slip off the bed, trying to take a deep breath but had to stop when the pain in her ribs got too great. Her footing was shaky as she stepped onto the carpet and moved to the floor. It took a moment for her to realize that part of her pain came from the IV drip in her arm. The tubes attached to her nostrils made moving away from the bed impossible and so she sat down, staring at the oxygen tank that stood by her bedside.

It was small enough to be carried around but the thought of it made Mai shudder with exhaustion. Over the top of the bed, she noticed a button, which she scooted over to press, just to see what would happen.

Moments later, a door opened, and a dim light spilled into the room. Upon quick inspection, it became quite clear that Mai was no longer at the hospital. A nurse dressed in blue stepped in. She was an elderly woman and a tall one of that. Broad-shouldered and fit.

"Hey. I see you're awake. Is all well?" she asked, raising her hand in a wave as she came to Mai's bedside and sat down next to her.

"Where am I?" Mai asked and the woman answered with; "Geese Tower."

Mai couldn't help but grimace at that, unsettled and displeased. Normally her next question would possibly be where Geese was but right now, Mai couldn't care less about him. Next to Wolfgang and Big, he was the person she least wanted to see.

"Oh. I need water and a way to get out of here…for a bit," she looked at the nurse who hopped down from the bed like she was four decades younger and headed to the end of the room, returning moments later with a wheelchair.

"I got you covered!" she announced, taking the IV drip and the oxygen tank, and attaching them to the wheelchair before she helped Mai into its seat and pushed it with ease. Soon after, they emerged into the corridor, and instantly Mai recognized where exactly she was; the floor of the apartments. A bitter taste formed in Mai's mouth as the feeling of entrapment was almost overwhelming.

"There ain't much to see here. Where would you like to go?" the nurse asked as she pushed way to the door of the elevator, which opened soon after she pressed a button on the panel.

"The top floor," Mai answered. She had little idea of what the time was, but she could imagine that the top of the building would be empty at this hour. Such assumptions were confirmed when the elevator took them to the rooftop of the tower and the corridor was empty with not a soul in sight. Here was quiet, even with the endless buzz of traffic far below.

The nurse was mercifully silent as well, diligently rolling May towards the staircase that led to the rooftop. The nurse opened the door and circled Mai to tip the wheelchair and push it up the stairs like it was made from Teflon. Soon, they emerged onto the highest point of the tower. The darkness was almost overwhelming, and Mai almost felt as if she was being cast into the void.

She realized that being in the dark without even a spark of light left her more anxious than usual, she reflected as the nurse rolled the wheelchair to the railing. The night air was chilly, and goosebumps began spreading over her skin as Mai overlooked the entirety of this accursed city.

Somewhat warm was placed over her and she realized that the nurse had given her a coat. It was a nice consolation for the whirlwind beginning to build inside of Mai as she stared over the endless lights of South Town. Geese's child. The one place he loved more than anything or anyone else.

Mai initially didn't want to believe Wolfgang's claims about her just being a tool, but she had come to find herself wary of the world around her and the people in it. Perhaps her torture embittered her and she needed something to blame. Logically, Geese knew Wolfgang better than she did. Did he agree to send her there despite knowing what he was capable of? Perhaps, if they were brothers.

"You look so down," the nurse remarked, breaking the silence which had been so soothing.

"Well, I'm stuck in a wheelchair. I don't think anyone would be happy about that," Mai shrugged, pulling her legs under her. She noted they had gone thinner. In fact, she had become much thinner in general.

The nurse sighed. "True, true…"

And then silence once again. But Mai appreciated her kindness and so sought more of it. God knew she needed someone in her corner for one, even if it was just a false sense of solidarity.

"But you're right. I feel awful. I hate this place. I hate that I am even here. I wish I could just reverse everything."

"But you're alive and you can fight another day," the nurse quipped with optimism and Mai couldn't help but scoff at that. If only she knew how things had occurred, she would not be spouting such idealistic nonsense.

"Ah, I'm kinda sick of that sometimes. But I can't die either for the people waiting for me on the other side wouldn't want anything to do with me. And those here just want to use me," Mai almost curled into herself but stopped with a wince when her ribs ached. Moving her torso too much turned out to be her biggest obstacle.

Her eyes began to sting from the pain of her wounds and the bitterness that began to erode her. "It's like I finally found a place where I could pick myself up again and then I met someone and-and I thought he cared about me. He's been good to me…until now, that is."

"Yeah, Mr. Howard does have a reputation for being a bastard. He was quite unapproachable when I met him too," the nurse sighed. She moved to stand next to the wheelchair, resting against the railing. Which was quite fortunate as Mai stared at her in shock.

"You should have seen his face when I entered your room," the nurse continued with a knowing smirk on her face. "Men like that are good at hiding their emotions until the subject hits too close to home. In my lifetime, I've seen such behavior plenty of times and I see right through it. Didn't say a word about it or he'd probably kill me."

"What?" Mai blinked.

"It was…how can I describe it? I arrived early so I walked in on him sitting by your bed, holding your hand and just staring at you. It was quite the mournful expression, almost as if you had died."

Mai huffed at that. Somehow she struggled to believe it. "I almost wish I had. Then I could haunt him as punishment for all he put me through."

The nurse laughed at that and so did Mai. Laughter felt good, even if it was born from something awful. Even if it caused her ribs to react violently, forcing tears to roll down her cheeks. It helped that the nurse reminded Mai of Hanzo.

For a moment, Mai wished that she could hug her grandparents again. Make mochi for New Year's and watch the fireworks together. Breathe in their wisdom and kindness. Just for a moment, she felt as if she could close her eyes and they'd be standing there, ready to greet her with daifuku and tea after a long day.

In the afterlife, there would be no one waiting for Mai however.

Somehow, she'd have to find a new place in this world on her own. New friends, a new home. Something to do after she left this tower – and South Town in general. All Mai could do now was to hold onto the memories, the good ones, and carry forth, no matter how much she wanted the easy happiness and carefree freedom back.

The cold breeze that occasionally blew chilly gusts over them was a reminder of the present. An anchor that held her in place, constantly pointing out to her that no matter what, she couldn't change the past or bring its people back.

"So, miss," the nurse cleared her throat. "Isn't it late? And cold? You'd like to back inside?"

"It hurts too much to sleep," Mai sighed softly.

"I'll bring you some painkillers," the nurse moved behind the wheelchair as Mai put her feet back down again before being rolled away from the railing.

"Thank you…" Mai leaned back, her eyes stinging again at the aching loneliness filling her to unbearable levels. At that moment, she quietly surrendered to the rules of the world.