Bee-uty and the Beast 2: Intro

Introduction

Iho adjusted her belt as she walked down the long corridor with its limestone floors and whitewashed walls. The cleats on the bottom of her ANBU boots clicked loudly across the hard surface and left an array of small chips in her wake. She must have walked this patrol thousands of times – another part of her job that had become a monotonous task.

15 years ago she was assigned to this small, secluded island off the coast of what remained of the once great Whirlpool Country. It was Hokage Hiruzen Sarutobi himself who assigned her to be one of the many guards of the island's sole prisoner. And after the first five years, she was promoted to warden; the only announcement of which was a simple scroll delivered to the island via courier hawk.

The three ANBU women who worked under her as additional jailers had become trusted and close allies. Over the years, they had bonded together in a close-knit sisterhood. For Iho, she had come to care for these women more than those of her own blood-kin and she would spill a river of it if anyone dare harm them.

She walked to the end of the hallway and stopped before a large metal door that showed signs of early decay from the harsh oceanic air. Plastered over its front was a two by two foot paper seal with the sign of "lightning" printed across it. Deftly, Iho reached up and took a firm grip on the small handle of the door's slatted window and yanked it open harshly. She leaned forward and peered in to check on the status of the room's inhabitant. In the back of her head, Iho hoped this would be the time she would find her prisoner had finally succumbed to mortality.

Within the room, sitting before a small wooden table kneeled a lithe, feminine form. With her back to the door, the woman's arm was outstretched delicately as she dabbed her simple bamboo brush into the ink-coated slate before bringing it to a piece of parchment and meticulously painting a single kanji. She wore a bleach-white muslin shirt and pants. Her feet were bare, dirty and callused from being forced to walk her prison cell barefooted for years. The most noteworthy quality of her appearance and the only thing Iho could see clearly was her absurdly long, obsidian-black hair. It draped across her shoulders, down her back and covered over the vast majority of her small room like a darkened spider's web. When the prisoner was brought to the island, her hair had already been extremely long. But after 15 years of exile, the woman's hair had grown to unimaginable lengths.

Iho clenched her fist as her mind wandered to a fantasy she and most of the women in her charge shared. It would be a simple task to enter the room and finish off what nature was too slow to take care of itself - end the life of the convict and free the true prisoners from their duty as jailers on this godforsaken island. No one would be the wiser, and Iho was quite certain the other ANBU women would agree to any excuse she would come up with as an explanation. The only thing that stilled her hand was her overwhelming sense of duty to her Hokage and her village.

"Plotting my murder, Iho?" asked the prisoner in an even tone.

Not surprised by the woman's perception, the ANBU scowled, "Am I that obvious?"

"I can sense your true intentions through the door."

Iho shifted her weight, "You don't seem too worried."

The woman placed her brush on the table before taking her ink stick and swirling it methodically across its base, "If you truly had the resolve to kill me, then you would have stopped giving me food years ago."

"I wouldn't be so cowardly."

"Sneaking into my room and slitting my throat while I am defenseless is not considered cowardly?"

Iho narrowed her eyes. "That is hardly a topic you have any right to speak of."

The prisoner's only reaction to the Warden's words was the shifting of her eyes. "What you call cowardice, I call self-preservation."

"Disobeying the Hokage's direct orders; attempting to sell your daughter's virginity and outright attacking your own people – that is hardly self-preservation. That is self-destruction."

The raven-haired woman laid her calligraphy tools on the table and solemnly placed both of her hands in her lap. "Iho, have you ever seen an uncut diamond?"

Not knowing where her prisoner was going with their conversation, she entertained the woman with a simple and safe answer, "No."

"A raw and uncut diamond is an ugly thing. It is rough and shows very little sign of its inner beauty. Even the barely-precious quartz is more beautiful in its natural state." She took a silent moment to stand gracefully; her hair sliding against the stone floor making the only sound. "However, when you take a raw diamond and cut away at its imperfections … its weaknesses, that is when it truly becomes beautiful and precious." She turned her head towards the doorway and gave Iho a violet-eyed stare. "The decisions I have made in my life have been that of a well disciplined gem cutter."

Iho looked around the dark cell, "A diamond doesn't sparkle without light, Hidama. You're a prisoner here – this isn't much of a life you've made for yourself - a member of the infamous Hachi Clan."

"Ah," said Hidama with a slight tilt of her head. "That is where you are wrong."

The Warden's eyes narrowed even more, "This I've got to hear."

"We have something in common, you and me. We are both captives on this island and neither of us are here by choice."

"That isn't true," snorted Iho. "I was asked to be stationed here. Not forced."

Hidama grinned knowingly, "Were you? Tell me, what would have happened if you refused Sarutobi's request?"

Iho was taken aback at the question. Refuse a request by the Hokage? Impossible.

The prisoner's smile widened, "You cannot answer, can you?" She crossed her arms gracefully, "You were never given a choice, Iho, because you were expected to give only one answer. Ninja are nothing if not obedient and when they are not, then they are banished or slain for insubordination. We are only allowed to live if we play by the rules and fight for the village we are born into. No longer being bound by my duty as a ninja of Konoha is what makes me more of a free woman than you. I would much rather be a prisoner, than a slave."

The Warden felt a vein on her forehead begin to bulge, "Ninjas are not slaves! Earning and wearing our hitai-ate and swearing allegiance to our village is an act of honor!"

"Should a slave feel pride for his life when he is forced to live in servitude?"

The Warden pointed an angry finger at her prisoner through the iron slats in the door's window, "You chose that life too!"

Hidama's expression grew dark, "That is not true." She returned Iho's stare. "Your family doesn't have a kekkei genkai, so I cannot expect for you to fully understand. I am sure if you had a bloodline legacy, then your ancestors would have decided your fate much like mine did for me."

"I'll be sure to cry a river for you later," said Iho with a sneer.

Hidama chuckled, "And I am certain you will try to drown me in it shortly thereafter."

There was a moment of tense silence as they stared at each other unwaveringly. It wasn't until Hidama had grown bored that she finally turned away and reassumed her place at her table. "By the way," she said with an impish grin. "It sounds like you and Moanna are getting along quite swimmingly."

Iho's body tensed.

"Do not worry," said Hidama with a bit of sarcasm. "She has not spoken to me in some time." She took her ink stick and returned to the task of replenishing her supply. "But I can still hear her voice at night when you two share company. The acoustics in this tower carry sound amazingly well."

The Warden immediately shifted into defensive mode, "Leave Moanna alone, bitch! If you do or say anything to her then I will cut your throat out with the dullest knife I can find!"

Hidama tilted her head. "Place your hand on the door's seal, Iho. Place your hand on it and finish it here and now. Use your lightning to kill me and free yourself from this place," she taunted.

Iho's hand was already on the door, her fingers pressed firmly against the paper seal. It would only take an instant before it was all over – imbue the seal with her chakra and Hidama's room would explode with electric energy, destroying the Hachi woman and everything inside it. But as soon as her bloodlust was about to peak, Iho's remembrance of her oath and years of devoted servitude stilled her actions. She was the jailer. Not the executioner and she wouldn't let Hidama sully her devotion by turning her against everything she believed in. "The last thing I want to do is what you want me to, Hidama. While you are in this room, you are of no threat to me or anyone else in the world."

The prisoner smirked. "I have no desire to come between you and your lover, Iho. Or to harm her. However …" she turned her head so she could give Iho a sultry glance. "I do like to think that I live vicariously through her."

Iho recoiled at what the woman was implying and immediately slammed the window shut as if to cut off any spell the seductress was attempting to cast on her.

"Come by more often, Madam Warden. I do enjoy our talks," chuckled Hidama from the other side of the door.

Iho clenched her fists. "Hurry up and die, Hidama!" she shouted before turning away curtly and storming back down the hall from which she came.

It wasn't until the sound of Iho's footfalls had faded when the prisoner finally spoke again. "My name is Kisaki," she snarled.

-- / --

Iho closed her eyes and pressed her face into the woman's bare shoulder that lay next to her. "Don't let that monster get to you," said the woman softly.

The Warden sighed as she looked up into her partner's eyes, "I know Moanna, but it's hard not to. I've been here for so long and after all these years, I still haven't learned how to disregard her taunts."

Moanna rolled onto her side and looked back at her partner through her thick, red curls. "Hidama is no more than an animal in a cage. She's done terrible things and if she didn't have those damnable pheromones, she'd still be in Konoha's prison. Besides," she smiled as she ran her fingers through Iho's short, wavy, light-brown hair. "The only woman I want you losing sleep over is me."

Iho grinned back as Moanna affectionately.

"You only have six months until Shihono replaces you as warden, after which you get to return home to Konoha for good."

"It will be bittersweet without you," pouted the older woman.

Moanna chuckled, "Just wait another year, Iho. And then we can be together again." She gave her love a mischievous look, "Just try not to get wooed by some man while we're apart."

"You don't have to worry about that," laughed Iho who had never in her life had the desire to be wrapped in a man's arms. "I'll wait faithfully for you." She leaned forward and lightly kissed Moanna's freckled cheek.

"No you won't," taunted the redhead. "You'll meet some pretty jounin and fall head-over-heels for her."

"I already did," grinned Iho.

The blush in Moanna's cheeks glowed brightly next to her blazingly-red hair. "Ever the sweet talker."

Iho watched the young woman's blue eyes and marveled at how they looked like two deep pools. "I could drown in those eyes of yours," she smiled.

Moanna moaned melodramatically, "You're already in my bed, Iho. You don't have to flatter me now."

The Warden chuckled at her silliness before falling eerily quiet. "I don't want you near Hidama's cell anymore."

Moanna gave her an uneasy look, "Why?"

"I don't trust her."

"No offense, Iho, but who does? Don't worry so much. Her room is sealed and warded against chakra use. There isn't anything she can do from behind that door."

"I know, I know," sighed the older woman. "But I don't feel comfortable with you being exposed to her. She's extremely manipulative. And I think she's taken a liking to you – which concerns me more than anything."

Moanna propped herself up on her elbows and gave her partner an angry look, "I would never have been assigned here if I was a simple push-over."

"I know that."

"Then why don't you trust me?"

"I don't trust her!" snapped the Warden. She immediately winced and rubbed at her brow. "I'm sorry, Moanna. I know you are strong. But please … please … stay away from her. Have one of the others take your shifts with her and take only patrols. I would really feel more comfortable if you do what I ask. Please."

The redhead furrowed her brows in concern. "If that's what you want."

Iho relaxed visibly, "Thank you." She fell back heavily onto their bed and let her eyes drift to the ceiling. She took the hand that rubbed at her stomach reassuringly. "I'll be fine."

"I'm still worried about you."

"And I worry about you." She took a long breath, "Just six more months."

Moanna opened her mouth to speak when the sudden sounds of the island's emergency bell reverberated throughout the entire building.

"That's Shihono!" said Iho as she jumped out of bed and grabbed her gear.

"The supply boat? Or another shipwreck?" wondered Moanna as she got dressed in haste.

"We're not expecting supplies for another week and there shouldn't be a shipwreck when the weather is calm like it is tonight."

They were both dressed in record time and sprinted down the hallway towards the guard station where their comrade awaited them.

"Shihono!" shouted Iho. "What's the alarm?"

The tall, tanned-skin woman turned and pointed towards the northeastern coast; her long ponytail whipping through the air as she moved. "Look!" she pointed. "I count 15 sailboats, 200 yards from the coast!" She brought a pair of binoculars to her eyes and observed the ships' inhabitants, "A fair amount of them appear to be armed."

Iho narrowed her eyes as she strained to see the figures in the night's darkness.

"Are we under attack?" asked Moanna apprehensively.

"They're certainly not fisherman," huffed Shihono. "Bastards waited for a moonless night."

Moanna looked flabbergasted, "Who on earth would attack us with such a large force?"

"Someone who doesn't fear a war with Konoha," sneered Iho.

"Could it be a mercenary band?" asked Shihono as she looked at her commander from over her shoulder.

"Not with 15 ships – this must be a part of someone's military." The Warden tensed her jaw, "Where's Hane?"

"On coastal patrol," answered the tall kunoichi.

Iho pointed to an area under a copse of trees near the coast, "Signal her to meet you there. If their intentions are aggressive – which I suspect they are, then use your earth spike technique to eliminate as many of those ships as possible and have Hane guard you from ranged attacks with her vacuum abilities."

"Hai," nodded Shihono before she disappeared in a swirl of dust.

"Moanna, let's take our stations and if any of them make it through Shihono and Hane, then it's up to us to stop them."

"Hai!" nodded the young woman.

-- / --

Hidama was still awake when the alarm bell sounded. Though she didn't have any windows in her cell or any way of knowing what went on outside the four walls of her room, she did have a clear sense of the energy in the air. She grinned devilishly as she hurried out of her bed and moved to her calligraphy table with its numerous stacks of kanji printed paper.

-- / --

It didn't take long to realize the true intentions of the island's new arrivals as an array of arrows soared through the air towards Shihono and Hane's position.

"I've got it," said Hane from behind her hawk-themed ANBU mask. She armed herself with a white feathered hand fan and slashed at the air. On command, a powerful gust of wind blasted the weapons away where they fell harmlessly into the ocean.

Shihono was already on her knees channeling chakra into the earth. Her bared teeth resembled those of her snarling bear mask as she created a series of giant earth spikes from deep under the water and pierced them through the bottom of one of the boats. Dark figures fell from their disabled vehicle and splashed through the water's surface; filling the night air with cries of distress. "Hane!" grunted Shihono.

"Already on it!" said the white haired woman. She holstered her fan before forming a series of hand signs. Soon after, a tumultuous whirlpool swirled to life and after a few seconds it swallowed the unfortunate intruders and doomed them to a watery death.

"Nice," applauded Shihono as she watched their enemy's number slowly dwindle. She brought a finger up to her neck and pushed the button to her microphone. "Iho, we've taken out one of their boats – they don't appear to be ninja."

"Good," said Iho over the headset. "How many are there?"

The female ANBU attempted to make a quick count of their numbers, "I'm not sure -"

"Watch it!" shouted Hane as she grabbed Shihono's collar and yanked her a few dozen yards from where they stood to avoid a flaming projectile that soared downwards from the sky. Iho and Moanna flinched as the echo of a loud crash reverberated throughout the island.

"Shit!" winced Shihono after the ruckus settled. She rolled onto her side and placed a protective hand over the new wound on her arm.

Close by, where they once stood, now blazed a chemical fire that burned violently. Hane held her arm up instinctively to protect herself from the toxic gas that quickly filled the area. She looked over the waters to the boats and spotted that a few of the vessels were armed with large catapults. She looked down at her friend and saw the new injury that seemed to melt the woman's flesh away.

Knowing that using her wind technique would only make the fire worse, Hane grabbed Shihono's uninjured arm and pulled her roughly towards the tower. "Iho, they're using catapults to fire chemical bombs on the island!" she shouted over the walkie-talkie. In response, the small forest behind them ignited.

"Bombs?" gasped Moanna as she quickly released a small falcon into the air. She watched anxiously as the winged figure floated off into the distance, its small backpack securely fastened around its body.

Hane looked at her partner's pale face, "Shihonos been hit with the chemicals too."

"Bring her to me and I'll heal her," said Moanna quickly.

"No, I'm fine," grunted the tan-skinned woman over the mic. "We're the first line of defense, Hane. We need stop the attackers before they set the island completely on fire."

There was a silence over the headsets before Hane responded, "Iho, what are your orders?"

The Warden clenched her jaw as she considered their options. Defending the island against a small force of intruders was one thing, but fighting off an army with only one squad was something else. She knew her comrades were strong, but even they had their limits. If she ordered Hane and Shihono to maintain their posts, then they would probably be overwhelmed. But fleeing the island wasn't an option. It was their duty to defend the prison with their lives or die trying. But having to make that decision for them was something that weighted heavily on Iho. "Hold your posts," she said as calmly as she could manage.

Shihono grinned wickedly from behind her mask and unsheathed her sword, "Gladly. I've never ran from a fight before, and I'm not about to start now."

"And I'd better stick around to keep her out of trouble," said Hane with a fatalistic chuckle.

Iho closed her eyes and smiled, "I'm proud of you two."

"Good luck," said Moanna weakly.

"See you on the other side," said Shihono with a laugh as she and Hane sprinted towards the coast; weapons armed and chakra blazing.

-- / --

"My Lord, we've already lost three ships," said a man clad in dark samurai armor as he watched a gigantic spike of earth destroy another vessel in their fleet.

"Which ones?" replied a calm voice.

"Three of the vessels in the orange regiment."

"Good, that's what they are there for," smiled the man.

The captain looked over the nobleman who stood poised by the ship's railing in his lavish garments. "But my Lord Fukazawa, they were good men."

The aristocrat brought a small, delicate handkerchief to his nose and sniffed at its fragrance like he had a thousand times before. "I've already explained it to you, Miyake. There would be casualties as a result of coming to this island."

The captain steadied his weight to accommodate the ship's tilt. "Forgive my ignorance, my Lord. But please explain it to me again," he said with a hint of impatience.

The nobleman sighed in irritation, "Our wonderful Daimyo has demanded that I scale back the numbers of my military force for fear that I will revolt against him. I knew coming to this island would come at a cost of life given the fact it is defended by a group of Konoha's lustrous ANBU. And instead of paying a large sum of money to hire powerful enough mercenaries to combat the ANBU, I've decided to fight them in a battle of attrition. Some men will die in the process of whittling them down – yes. But only the strongest of my military will survive and that prevents me from having to relieve them from service and having a large number of unemployed men in my district and destroying my economy like the Daimyo wants."

The captain clenched his fist in frustration as his liege continued.

"In addition," he held the handkerchief in his hand like a baby bird, "This island harbors a woman who has been imprisoned unfairly. It has taken the better part of two decades for me to find her again, but now that I have, I will not let her be caged like an animal. I will set her free and she will stand by my side." He looked off into the distance, his mind lost in thought, "Together, we will rise in power and become a respected force in the Tea Country." He promptly snapped from his revere. "And those who support me, shall be rewarded well for their loyalty," he said with a small nod towards the captain.

The man watched the nobleman in silence. Though he was pledged as an officer in the man's army, he had little respect for him. Masao Fukazawa had fought no wars; earned no victories. He was simply the only son of a nobleman who had recently inherited his father's wealth after the man died of old age. He was a spoiled brat, one who knew nothing of loss or defeat. Everything in life had a price on it and unfortunately for Masao Fukazawa's people, their lives had little value to him.

When Masao was younger, he spent most of his days either in school, or gallivanting around the Tea Country enjoying his life as a privileged member of society. It wasn't until his twenties that he had returned home with the elegant handkerchief he held in his hand today. It never left the man's side and he often spoke of its owner as having been that of a queen. His queen – one that he would one day take as his bride.

Even 15 years later, Masao's obsession with finding the woman consumed him. He spent a fortune to anyone who might have information on her whereabouts, nearly putting his father in the poor house. It wasn't until a year ago when he learned anything substantial on the woman. He had come across a rogue ninja who was once a member of Konoha's ANBU. The man had information stating the woman was being held on a tiny island outside of the Whirlpool country. After the man's sources were verified, Masao hand-selected 500 of his troops and put them on boats towards the island. And here they were today.

"I don't understand why men have to needlessly die," responded the captain.

"And I don't expect you to understand the intricacies of politics, Captain. I expect you to obey my orders and not question me at every turn."

The armored man's eyes averted to the ground more of anger than shame. "Yes, my Lord," he said as evenly as he could.

"Good," huffed the Masao as he brought the handkerchief to his nose again. "Now, torch the island, but leave the tower untouched. Be sure to fight the ninjas from range as much as possible. Even they cannot fight forever. Once my queen is recovered, inform me immediately."

"Yes, my Lord," bowed the captain.

-- / --

"There are too many of them, Iho," gasped Moanna as she held a glowing hand tightly to her bloody side and barely managed to keep up with her lover who supported her weight up a level of stone steps.

The Warden held the woman's arm tighter, "Don't talk like that." She tried to ignore the pain in her lungs from having fought nonstop for what seemed like an eternity; even the sun could be seen rising in the east through the tower's small windows. Both she and Moanna had burned through most of their chakra, struggling to fight off the overwhelming number of forces that had already pushed through their defenses. They fought mostly at ranged – not Iho, nor Moanna's strength. Their aim was frighteningly accurate and it wasn't until after knocking away countless arrows that Moanna was finally struck with a soldier's lucky shot. "Hane and Shihono are still out there. They'll catch up –" She was interrupted by the sound of the metal door between them and Masao's forces being rammed harshly.

"They're no longer responding to our calls on the walkie-talkies, Iho." She sniffed back a few tears, "I'm sure they've been overwhelmed, otherwise we wouldn't be fighting now."

Knowing that was probably the case, Iho couldn't respond – she couldn't bring herself to recognize the fact that her friends were already dead and they would soon follow suit. "Moanna, I'm sorry," she said, her eyes and throat burning from unshed tears. She looked away in shame, "I'm sorry I wasn't strong enough."

Moanna quickly looked to her lover. "Don't apologize!" she snapped. She placed a hand on a nearby wall and pulled her arm free. "You are the strongest person I know, Iho!" She grabbed at the Warden's vest with a bloody hand, "And I do not want my last memory of you being that of a weakness."

Iho watched the woman in stunned silence.

"I respect and love you because you always do the right thing … always. You have always kept your word and you're the greatest leader I have ever worked under. I never expected you to protect me because I've been trained to protect myself." She released her hold on Iho's vest and used her bloody finger to paint a seal on the wall next to her. "It's my duty to protect this island and I will proudly die in doing so." She looked back at her partner, "And you have your duty too. And I won't let you go back on your word now."

It wasn't until then that forbidden tears were allowed to flow down Iho's cheeks. "Moanna …"

"Do your duty, Iho," said the red-head solemnly. "Don't let the enemy have the prisoner."

The older woman closed her eyes and nodded in understanding. She quickly embraced her partner as she felt the woman's arms wrap around her. She kissed her bright red lips deeply, "I love you."

"I love you too," said Moanna gently. "Now … please go," she said, her own eyes filling with tears.

Iho's hands held on to her partner's clothing tightly; not wanting to release their hold.

"Go!" shouted the younger woman over the sound of the metal door being smashed free from its hinges.

Iho's eyes shifted from the stairs and the sound of rushing footfalls back to Moanna's deep-blue eyes. What she wouldn't give to drown in those eyes now – it would certainly be a more welcoming end than what fate had decided for her.

"GO!" screamed Moanna as she pushed her lover away and began to form a series of complicated hand signs.

Iho hesitated painfully, stealing one last look at the one she loved before turning and rushing up the stairs to the top of the tower.

Moanna smiled weakly as she turned towards the sounds of the intruders and raised her hand till it was just inches away from the bloody seal she had drawn. She waited until they were in view after rounding the spiral staircase. They shouted warcries at seeing her; drawing their weapons and hurrying forward to cut her down. She waited until they reached one step away from her before placing her hand on the wall. "You are going no further," she said simply before the seal erupted and a surge of summoned water gushed into the stairwell and flooded the lower tower in mere seconds.

-- / --

Iho flinched at the sounds of fear and water that echoed up the stairwell. She knew that flooding the tower was Moanna's last act as guard on the island. Just as it was the last act of Hane and Shihono to die defending it.

Iho's legs found new strength as the anger within her ignited. None of them would be on this island if it wasn't for the damnable demon-woman Hidama. If she was dead, then Moanna, Hane, Shihono and Iho would be back home in Konoha. Not isolated in the middle of nowhere. It was time for Iho to promote herself to a new position. When the island was compromised and the prisoner was at risk of escaping, it was Iho's job to ensure Hidama wouldn't leave alive.

Iho was no longer the warden. She was now the executioner.

She clenched her fist tightly as she reached the top level and sprinted towards the metal door that stood between her and the one person she hated with every fiber of her being. Her eyes grew wide with rage and her lips snarled viciously. Halfway down the hall, her arm began to glow with glints of electric energy; her element attunement's strength growing with her wrath.

Once she reached the door, she threw open the slatted window violently and peered in like a woman possessed.

Hidama stood in the middle of the room with her arms crossed – a look of silent amusement on her face. "I have been expecting you," she said calmly.

"You have no idea how much I want to do this," said Iho who shook with rage.

"Then do it," smiled Hidama.

Too angry to think clearly, Iho slammed her hand into the seal on the doorway and sent more than enough chakra to activate it. Instantly the symbols began to glow with white light, but instead of the room filling with lightning like it was suppose to, the metal on the door turned from steel-gray, to red-hot.

Iho was just barely able to notice something wasn't right before the door exploded in a flash of lightning and chakra before her; the force of which sent her and the door back half a dozen feet.

Iho was thrown roughly into the stone ground, her body twitching violently from the lightning-based attack. She could feel her feet begin to grow numb as the nerves within her body melted. She struggled to gain enough control of herself to look at the scene before her - her eyes growing large as she looked at what remained of the door and why the seal malfunctioned.

Plastered across the door from the inside were hundreds of papers, each painted with kanji. Alone, they were nothing more than simple words on paper. But when pasted together with god knows what adhesive, they formed a complex warding seal – one that when Iho imbued the door with her chakra, it empowered the ward and caused her own attack to backfire.

With the door now gone, Hidama wasted no time in exiting her cell; her hair following like a dark, ominous cape behind her. Once her body was free from the chakra-forbearance room, she brought her hands together to form a simple hand sign. "Ah, much better," she said as her body slowly transformed to that of a woman in her middle-aged years, to that of a woman in her mid-twenties. Her wrinkles faded, her skin became smooth and even. Her hair glistened like polished onyx.

She looked over her now pristine hands and marveled at their returned beauty. "Do you see how I sparkle, Iho?" she asked, not taking her eyes away from examining her own body.

The Warden struggled to roll onto her side; her legs no longer under her control. There wasn't much time before her body would cease to function. "You deserve to die!" she spat.

Hidama's head snapped to look at the injured woman. "You have prayed for my death for 15 years – I have wished you no ill-will for the entire duration of my imprisonment." She walked to her warden's side, "I never claimed to be a saint. I am sure you have never lived your life as one, either. Why am I so more deserving of death than you?"

"You … are … evil," groaned Iho.

Hidama grinned, "I am a woman who wishes for a better life than I was born into. If that makes me evil, then so be it." She crossed her arms triumphantly, "But even if I am the evil one, it is I who will survive this day."

"Not … If I … can help it," grunted Iho as she threw out an arm and grabbed at Hidama's ankle. Knowing she wouldn't live to see another day, she used the last of her chakra reserves to send a bolt of lightning up and over the woman's body.

Hidama shrieked in pain as the jolt of electricity rushed up her leg, body and face. Desperately, she kicked the woman's hand away before stumbling back against the wall; her hands cradling her face in agony.

"I'm coming … Moanna," said Iho softly with a grin as she watched the growing darkness from the corners of her vision envelop her.

"My face! My beautiful face!" keened Hidama. The smell of burnt flesh and the excruciating pain that ran up her body told her she had been seriously injured. She patted gently at the burns that ran along her cheek and screamed in horror. "You bitch! You ruined my face!"

Out of pure rage, Hidama's hands became claw-like; crystal quickly encasing her arms. "You will pay for this!" she roared as she slammed her hands into the limestone floors and sent her chakra into Iho's body. The warden's remains exploded in a spray of blood and innards as crystal spikes sprang from the ground like an urchin. But Hidama wasn't finished there. Any recognizable piece of Iho was disintegrated under Hidama's fury. The Hachi woman's wrath wasn't sated until the hallway's bleach-white walls ran red with the Iho's blood.

-- / --

"My Lord, I think it would be wise if you return to the ship," sighed Miyake. "We are not sure if all the threats have been dealt with."

Masao ignored him, "She's in that tower – my Queen. I am so close … I have waited so long for this."

Miyake followed him to the base of the tower. It was impossible to reason with him as he was on the brink of raving like a madman. Perhaps they would all be lucky and something unfortunate would happen …

"Open the door!" commanded Masao to a group of soldiers.

One man looked at him apprehensively, "I'm sorry Sir, but the tower has been flooded." He indicated the bottom of the door where water could be seen leaking under the narrow crack.

"Nonsense," scoffed Masao. "I said open it, now!"

There was a quick exchange of looks before the nearby soldiers stepped back cautiously. Captain Miyake nodded to one of the men to have them do as they were ordered. The man took a rope and tied it around the handle before moving a good distance away. With a hard yank the door burst open and out gushed a small lake's worth of water. All that poured from the doorway at first was a series of mundane items – chairs, books, papers; then something more horrific washed out. Miyake lost count of all the bodies that rolled out from the doorway – all of them were soldiers; the unfortunate few who fell under Moanna's trap. It wasn't until a few minutes after the last body poured out that anyone spoke.

"Now that is out of the way," huffed Masao as he picked up his robes and marched towards the doorway.

Miyake kept up with the nobleman easily, especially after the fourth floor of ascending stairs.

"I can sense she is close," panted Masao as he struggled to keep his pace.

"Indeed, my Lord," said Miyake cautiously. It didn't take him long to catch the overwhelming scent of blood. He quickly rushed past Masao and hurried to the top of the tower to see the morbid sight before him.

Covered in blood and kneeling on the ground was a raven-haired woman who cradled her face; her body wracking in hard sobs.

"My Queen," gasped Masao who was blind to the horror scene before him. "I have found you finally!"

The woman stared at them from between her clawed fingers; her face not clearly visible. There was a long moment before she finally spoke. "Masao?" she said with uncertainty.

The man was nearly brought to tears, "Yes – you remember me!" He looked her over, "What is wrong? Are you injured?"

Hidama clenched her fists painfully as she altered her appearance to hide her wounds and restore her beauty through a transformation jutsu. "Yes, dear Masao. I am injured." She struggled to stand, "I will need a doctor."

Masao grew worried, "Of course!" He turned to one of his soldiers, "Fetch the doctor immediately!"

"Yes, my Lord," said the man who was more than happy to leave the gore-ridden floor.

Masao quickly moved to Hidama's side and pulled off his robe before draping it around her shoulders. The Hachi woman's pain was forgotten as her hand traced over the silken patterns – to wear fineries again. She felt her sense of purpose returning to her.

Miyake looked around the hallway, "What happened here?"

"Don't bother the lady with stupid questions!" snapped Masao. "She needs to rest and recover."

The captain eyed Hidama; his skin practically crawling at the look of satisfaction across her face. Though she was indeed beautiful by appearance, it was hard to look past the fact that she was still covered in blood and found in such a gruesome setting. But he was soon distracted by a sudden rush of adrenaline that quickly surged through him; causing his heart to pump faster and his blood to race.

"Masao, I am surprised you remember me after all this time," she said sweetly as she took his hand.

Miyake's breath quickened as his annoyance for Masao grew. The man was so incredibly stupid and selfish. Why should he follow the orders of an idiot? A man who threw away the lives of his men like last week's garbage.

"How could I forget, My Queen?" Masao held up her handkerchief, "I have kept this with me always – just as you asked."

The captain didn't realize his hand was already on his sword's hilt, gripping it tightly. He was becoming so incredibly angry; full of rage, even. He no longer had control of his emotions and his mind had lost all forms of reason.

Hidama grinned at the proffered cloth in Masao's hand. It was one of the oldest tricks in her book: give a man a favor, one laced with her pheromone. Having smelt her scent for years, Masao was more addicted to her than a man could be to any drug. She had given such an item to numerous enamored men in her day – she wouldn't be surprised if Masao wasn't the only one still devoted to her after so many years. "I am proud of you," she praised. "Tell me, why did you come for me?"

"I am in need of your services, my Queen," said Masao eagerly. "I need your influence to help establish me in the Tea Country. You know a great deal about the diplomacy of our countries and I know you could help me."

Hidama's expression grew dark, "You want me to work for you?"

"In a manner of speaking, yes," said Masao delicately. "But of course, it would be for the betterment of both of us. With you by my side, we can both rise in power."

"Is that so?" grinned Hidama. She didn't even flinch as a sword suddenly sliced through Masao's sternum; spraying a small amount of blood on her cheek.

"Sir?" gasped the one of the soldiers who watched their captain in shock. Miyake maintained his stance, not removing his sword from his liege lord's back.

"Wh … why?" whimpered the nobleman as he looked down at the blade that protruded through him.

Hidama took his chin, "Because I work for no one. And if anyone is going to rise in power, it will be me." She palmed his face as Miyake suddenly withdrew his sword. She promptly pushed him to the ground where he fell in a huddled mass. "And it was your mistake to bring an army of men to my doorstep." She looked around the room at the other dumbstruck soldiers. "I am giving you a choice. Either choose to follow me of your own free will, or I will use my bloodline ability to bind you to me like I have your captain." She stepped forward and patted at the man's shoulder, "Either way … you will obey me in the end."

"But I came to save you!" cried Masao.

Hidama sneered as she looked down at the pathetic man, "And I thank you for that. But you will die for your foolishness." She looked around the room again before glancing back at the captain and his overly dilated eyes. "Kill them all," she said simply as she pulled Masao's extravagant coat tighter around her shoulders and headed towards the stairs.

There were no other soldiers nearby to hear the screams of their comrades as they were viciously cut down.

-- / --

"Captain, where is Lord Fukazawa?" asked a soldier as he and Hidama exited the tower. He glanced at the woman who walked past him with her long hair rolled around her arm like a muff. She wasn't even a few feet away before he felt a rush come over him. Soon after, the next soldier felt the same sensation and then the next. Hidama's face was one of determination as she walked through the crowd and allowed her body to exude her potent pheromone. She undeniably had the strongest Zeru-roiyaru in the Hachi Clan's history – easily ten times more powerful than that of her mother or her own daughter. And with the help of her chakra guiding it to all reaches of the island, there would soon be no man within miles who wasn't under her control.

With a portion of Masao's army at her command and the dead nobleman's wealth at her disposal, she now had the opportunity she had been waiting a lifetime for ... It was time to build her empire.

Thank you, for reading!