Taika

At the peak of the night. The clouds blanketed the full moon over a quiet city with very few lights are up showing signs of people still awake and passing vehicles reaching their own destinations for their night jobs. Not too far from the center of this city is a few blocks of abandoned tall buildings originally built for homes and was under construction that was nearly done, but it was long abandoned when criminals and demons took over the entire block. Law enforcement could only do very little and patrol outside the boundary of the towering block with the criminals and demons heavily armed with black-market weapons.

But in this night, the silence was broken with the sounds of gunfire going off in the buildings with each gunfire ceased one by one like a snake slithering through the floors. Inside the building were criminals panicking and demons trying to recollect themselves from the chaos ensuing inside their base. The light bulbs in the rooms shattered as the slaughter on the criminals continued. Heads rolling the floor, bodies sliced cleanly in half with spurts of blood came from the demons and criminals.

The remaining criminals and demons barricaded themselves in their main room that was originally served as a penthouse on the highest floor. All of the remaining guards aimed their guns at the only entrance. They hear the footsteps of the attacker till it stop right behind the door. As soon the doorknob jiggled to be pried open. The guards open fire at the door when one of them panicked and fired at the door. None of them didn't let go of their trigger and emptied their clips. Dust and debris make it hard to see what happened. They don't know if the attacker was still alive or not. Many of the guards began to reload their firearm, but a dead body filled with bullet holes was flung from the debris at a small group and knocking them down on their asses.

Out of the smoke was a violet blur with a crimson trail. Faster than the eye can keep up, the first biggest demon was split in half vertically as blood spewed onto the ceiling and floor. The flash of the odachi blade cutting through the air with very little effort finding its next target. The attacker was no other than Taika slicing through her enemies. "My... How awfully rude of you boys to attack a lady~. No matter. A proper and permanent lesson will be delivered to you. Huhu..."

Most of the guards couldn't finish reloading their firearm and were slain like bees in a smoke room. With only the last demon remaining, the beastman desperately lunges at Taika with its razor-sharp claws and fangs. Taika easily thrust her odachi deep into the beastman's skull through its mouth and pierced its brain, immediately killing it. "Naughty demon~ Don't you know it's bad manners to make a ruckus at night. People are trying to sleep-- Oh, you're already dead? My, I guess the world is a little bit better now without your noises~"

Taika pulls the odachi out of the beastman's mouth as the body slumps onto the floor. The entire room was filled with corpses of criminals and demons. She moves towards one of the corners of the room and see stacks of heavy cases. Opening one of the cases revealed illegal firearms sold only in the black-market. "Another small gang with dangerous weapons..." Taika silent sighs before destroying the firearms. Her objective is to eliminate the small gang that's been recently terrorizing a quiet city in Japan. But there was also one more objective she had there. Words spread that illegal drugs were being experimented here on plants with demonic technologies. She found the plant as it was the only one. It was an Earthrealm plant, but its veins glowed faintly in a strange red color, signs of demonic technology and experimentation.

Taika puts the plant in the case, securing it for her travel back to Gosha Village. "Hm... The plant is secured, the weapons, destroyed, and all targets eliminated. Now... Time to head back home and make my report... Hm... Perhaps I could gather some ingredients along the way. Kitsuo has been wanting to try to make a specific soup. Do we even sell those in Japan?" Taika lost in her own thoughts as she takes the case with her.

"Hmm..." Taika looks at the plant she confiscated from her mission. Researching the plant back in Gosha Village beneath the academy in the research facility. She looks back at the clipboard she had in her hand.

The veins of the earth plant continue faintly glowing red. "Strange... Just on its own it functions just fine as an ordinary plant but..." She lowers the clipboard and looked at the dead rats in smaller cages. These rats were exposed earlier to the plant. Many of them went crazy and started attacking each other when grouped up. The ones by themselves either convulsed or ripping their own flesh with their own teeth. Roots already growing inside the rodents.

"Yet being close to this plant... It affects only the smaller species... That's troubling... Why make this plant in the first place?" She adjusted her lab coat after setting down the clipboard. "Anything small than the plant, then the plant releases a strange pollen... It's as if it's more aware of its surroundings and who to pollenate. Did they...manipulate an ordinary plant to act more as a fungus...? My, that's very concerning..."

It's the early morning. The sun rises past the horizon and peeks through the window that wakes up Taika. Her brows burrow for a moment and turns her body away from the window. She slowly opened her eyes and see her husband wasn't on the bed. Kitsuo was already long gone for an important meeting with other clan leaders from other clans.

Taika completely understands the burden her husband carries on his shoulders but still can't help and sigh silently. Just wishing to see him again whenever she opens her eyes in the morning, but there's never any rest for Taimanins.

Taika got up from her bed with her arms stretched with a yawn before starting the day. She took her shower to wake herself up completely. Her mind drifting to what needs to be done today.

There's taking her kids to the Akiyama Dojo for them to train. After that, there's the academy to teach the Taimanins their English Language. Then there's still that plant in the lab beneath Gosha Academy in the Taimanin's HQ. The results she found on that plant was disturbing to her and raised so many questions why make such a dangerous plant.

As much she wants to discover those answers, being a mother is her priority right now and finished washing herself. Damping her hair and walked out in her teacher uniform for the day. Upon walking into the kitchen, she saw two prepared bento lunch boxes already left on the counter with a note. Taika picks up the note left on the bento and read what was written by Kitsuo saying 'For the kids. Be sure they don't forget. I'll try to make it back to prepare dinner. Love you.'

"Fuhu~ Kitsuo..." A small smile appeared on her lips with a small kiss she gave on the paper before setting it back down and began prepping breakfast for her two children before they wake up. Preparing a breakfast plate of pancakes with berries and orange juice.

Having breakfast already set and her children awake and had their breakfast, Taika took them to the front of the Akiyama Estate that held the Akiyama's family dojo. She handed the bento lunch boxes to Videl and Tadashi. She squatted down to their level to talk to her kids. "Alright now, be sure you behave and listen to the instructors. That also goes for you too, Tadashi. Don't try to pick a fight with the young girl Rinko."

"Yeah, yeah. I'll try not to cause a commotion again." Tadashi grumbled as he shifted his shoulders before leaving ahead towards the dojo.

Videl watches her brother leaves ahead of her already entering the dojo. She turns to her mother with her glasses slightly falling off. "He's going to challenge her again... He doesn't know how to take an L."

"Take an...L?" Taika raised an eyebrow with the question.

"Doesn't know how to take a lost." Videl immediately explained.

"Oh. Well... I'm sure he'll grow stronger and come to respect a young girl like her. He's a fast learner." Taika adjusted Videl's glasses before giving a gentle ruffle to the top of her head. "Don't worry too much and focus on your training, okay?"

Videl gave a final nod and went ahead with her bento, entering the dojo. Taika finally stood back up made her way towards Gosha Academy to begin her day.

A few moments later, Taika finally arrived inside the academy walked her way down the familiar hallways. Almost nostalgic as she thinks back of her younger years helping out her fellow classmates with their English before becoming a substitute here. Entering the teacher's lounge to prepare everything she needs to start the day before heading to the classroom and walked back out in the hallways with her today's assignments held in her arm for the students.

A month has passed since Taika has been examining the strange plant and testing its dangerous capabilities. During the month, she's been hunting down any clues and leads about anyone who made this plant or the reason why. She may have her answer well soon enough...

The next day, an important meeting was called to her telepathically by the Igawa Elder, the current head of the Igawa Clan. The telepathy almost startled her coming from nowhere, but understands it was the Elder's Ninja Art. The call was rather urgent when Taika picked up the message and may have relations to the plant that Taika discovered. Seeing this as a chance to discover more about this plant's origin and possibly the ones behind the experiments, she answered the call.

After Taika finished giving her children what they need for the day, she immediately left to the Igawa Estate. Small memories pass through her head of remembering the previous Head of the Igawa Clan, Asagi Igawa. A well-respected young woman and possibly the most skilled and powerful Taimanin she has ever witnessed. A true leader that had gain both fear and respect from enemies and allies. For a short time, Kitsuo was originally planning to move the Tora Clan under the Igawa's to solidify both protection and alliance. Kitsuo has great respect for the woman, but that didn't alliance didn't even get a chance to leave the Tora Clan's main room when it was announce that Asagi decided to retire early. Mainly to finding love and deciding to settle down with her fiancé.

That's when the Igawa Elder took her place as substitute till a new head can take the role. Kitsuo wasn't unsure about making any deals at all with the Elder, especially during his strange behavior during the Fuuma Revolt. So, the Tora Clan has continued to remain independent despite its small size. Kitsuo also thought about moving under the Fuuma Clan, but since the revolt that happened from the clan has long sailed away to even think about it.

Regardless, she knew she had a mission and objective to see through. She pushed the thoughts to the side for now and focus on the present, the plant and its origin. Arriving at the front entrance of the Igawa Estate, she calmly enters the front and quietly moves through the large empty spaces till arriving at the main room where the elder waited for Taika.

Taika entered quietly, sensing the tense atmosphere. She sat down on her knees on the pillow across from the Igawa Elder and waited for his response. He told her that there has been a recognizing pattern happening throughout Japan that are far from each that doesn't raise suspicion among the public. Very recently, a transportation went terribly wrong in the mountains near a city. Animals have been acting more aggressive and some words spreading around about seeing herbivore animals cannibalizing themselves or attacking stray animals. As well a strange rumor and a blurred image running through the internet like a ghost.

The Elder handed Taika a folder with the information she needs as well as the blurred image. As soon Taika opened the folder and saw the image, she had no doubt in her mind despite the blur from the unfocused camera, the silhouette was clear as air. It was small bunches of the same plants growing around the trees. Even more disturbing of another picture that sent a cold sweat down the side of her head was a deer with a bloody mouth and the plants growing out of one of its eyes. Just how dangerous this plant has become, is it possibly evolving like a fungus? The thought of it scares her.

The mission was clear to her, investigate what is happening in the forest near the country city. Find and eliminate any threat. And collect any of the plants that may be useful to collect data from. The rest are to be burned into ashes, so it doesn't grow.

And now, she's here at the edge of the forest with her mask on to breathe the air without having to worry too much of the scent coming from the plants.

The mission was over in the forest. The plants burned and a few more contained for further testing. The infected animals lay lifeless with the plants withering under the flames. The flesh charring as the plants' roots singe before being claimed in the rest of the fire.

Taika had fought the wild infected animals. Most weren't a problem and easily fell like flies, but the infected predator wild animals were different. When she fought them, their intelligence was boosted and almost ambushed her. Giving her a cut on her left arm from a bear. More troubling to the matter that the plants seemed to react to the predators more differently compared to the herbivore animals. The plants growing off the bear acted like extra limbs with their branches and vines. The red spores continuously sprayed out of the bear's flower in the forest like mist till the body was finally burnt.

Once the threats were eliminated and the plants burned in the forest, Taika picks up the cases that held the new evolved plants/fungi. She covered the wound with a simple gauze bandage. Testing her arm, she noticed her fingers twitch at time as the covered wound still ached, possibly a nerve damage from the surprise ambush. She blames herself for not reacting fast enough to use her Ninja Art to block the attack, but she can't ponder on that right now.

She takes the three cases with her back to Gosha Village. It was a long journey back but finally back home and entered the Taimanin's HQ beneath Gosha Academy to begin her research on the new evolved plants. The first plant closely resembles to the original plant she first found but grown significantly with many buds that bloom blood red flower petals. The veins of the plant glowed much stronger like pumping blood to release stronger spores.

The second plant grown a large number of vines from the roots, coiling around the main stem like a barrier or skin to protect. Taika saw firsthand what this one did when an animal approached the plant. It's vines immediately snatching the animal and latch onto it's back if it's a predator type to control. If it was an herbivore, it would immediately paralyze the animal and root it to the ground or nearby tree to grow much larger till it finds a suitable size predator animal.

The third plant... Was a rather large flower bud. Big as a human. Taika probably wouldn't have found this if she didn't travel further in the forest to find a large number of skeletal animals. Their flesh wrung dried like a packaged drink through a straw. The scene was very unsettling. The process was very long to excavate the plant to do further research which led to the ambush from the bear.

The first two still don't respond to human presence, but Taika doesn't take the chance to leave these out in the open at all. Locking them back up and focused on the third flower. Taika inspects the large flower bud. The bud is still closed and tough to open. Another thing she noticed about the plant is that it was becoming...heavier as time passed. Curious to see inside, she conducted an x-ray with the plant.

To her amazement and horror, she saw what resembled a deer, but the veins looked...more like the plant. A mixture of flesh and plant. Was this an animal being transformed or.....was it the plant itself creating a new life by using the samples and blood it collected? The thought was interesting and horrifying.

As Taika writes down the results and her knowledge, her left hand twitched again which she was holding her clipboard. The twitch causing a miswriting on the paper. "Tch... Damn it..." Taika muttered under her own breath. Placing her right hand on the faint aching wound on her left arm.

"Perhaps I should take my rest... It's been a long time I focused on my work..." Setting the clipboard and pen down as she stretched and held back a long yawn. It was probably close to night or is. There's still much work that needs to be done, but she needs the rest and will be back. Taika finally putting the third plant away, sealing it in a tight lock room and shuts the lights off before closing the door behind her, leaving the lab room with her lab coat hanging next to the door.

Taika finally steps out of the HQ and out of the academy, she looks at the time to see it was close to dinner time. Realizing that made her eye widened from her tired expression. Remembering tonight is her husband's cooking tonight. A night her, Kitsuo, and the children get to be together as an actual family. "Oh, no! I'll be late!" Taika starts rushing towards her home to make it on time. Her heels clicking fast on the concrete floor to spend her night together with her family.

For the next two weeks, Taika focused on studying and experimenting with the plants while keeping the third plant well maintained. The plants she contained have changed their behaviors. The first plant stopped puffing out spores. The second plant was less hostile to say the least. So, less hostile that she could actually touch it without it reacting in aggression. The second plant acted more...friendly if that's the proper word with its vines freely swaying slowly to feel its surrounding in its curiosity.

The third plant remained the same and continued focusing on the deer inside. The exact origin of the deer is still unknown if it was captured by the plant and being turned into more closely to a plant or it was a new species made by the plant itself using the bloods and samples of the animals.

Taika placed her hand on the large flower bud containing the deer. The plant doesn't respond in aggression nor defensive which confused her. Before, it would retaliate when she tried to secure the plant when it let out a distress to the infected animals. So many question rose in her thoughts. "Strange.... Why are you like this now? Is it aware of it's surrounding enough to know it can still continue its process?"

She lets her left-hand trace the veins on the one of the petals that encased the deer inside. "What is the entire reason of this plant to be created? And most importantly, who? It must've been a demon, but that's still too soon to confirm..." She muttered those questions as she tried to figure out the reason but no real answer comes to mind. Only speculations with no evident.

The large double door opened and hears the steps approaching behind her. She turns to see the Elder. Taika lowered her head in respect towards the old man as he questions about her discovery. She didn't feel confident to share such information yet but complied. The Elder noticing the twitch in Taika's left hand but remained silent acting he didn't see it.

"There's another mission I have for you. It's another solo mission and may actually lead to more about the plant's origin from its experimentations. There's a recent discovery of an underground lab that's connected to the sewers on the outskirts of another city that's conveniently near another forest." The Elder brush his white beard as he looks at the large flower bud containing the deer.

"There's no signs of the plant in the forest, but there have been confirmations from the scouts that suspicious individuals entering and leaving out of the sewers wearing protective hazmat suits with cases of the same plant. You might be able to get your answers from those people and grab whatever documents they have kept." The Elder said to Taika before looking at har.

Taika nod her head. "Right. I'll take my leave and begin my investigation."

"This is still a solo mission. Meaning no one is to know of these missions." The Elder told her.

"Eh? But what about the other researchers? Shouldn't they be informed about this plant? It's becoming rather dangerous." Taika explaining to the Elder but didn't care and reminding her again about the mission. "........" All Taika could do is stay silent and nod, having to accept it knowing that if she would've refused the Elder would simply replace her for someone else to take the mission and her research altogether.

Hours later, Taika was inside the sewer tunnels. Her heels being the only company to break the silence and echoing through the tunnels. With a final turn she spotted the exit to the forest knowing the underground lab is close.

Not wanting to risk it, she pulled out her Nodachi blade. The faint light in the sewers catching the clean sharp steel as she made her steps silent towards her destination. Her mission begins now...

"......... a... a, hah...." Taika only saw darkness in her vision, slowly waking up and realizing what has happened. "......ah, ha.... e.... eh..."

She thinks back what happened earlier in her mission in the sewers. She found the lab hiding in the tunnels and infiltrated the lab. The security was practically a joke that even a trainee taimanin could clear pass the security on the first try. She found the few scientists and to none of her surprise, it was a mix of mad scientists working with demons and their demonic technologies. Further confirming the lab's work of the plants that she discovered in the lab were growing in abundance in the facility.

Taika finding all the proof she needs she didn't waste any time slaying the security guards, demons, and the cheap security drones. She detained the researchers and scientists. Soon after, she went through the files in the papers and computers. Again, the security was a complete joke that she found it hard to believe that this team of scientists could stay hidden this long.

After going through the files and hacking the computers, she found almost everything she was looking for. But the one question still remained, who made this and why? Neither file gave Taika those answers.

"Tch. You got be kidding me... Why is there no source to the one who funded this project--" Taika working on finishing and copying the files in the computer till a loud siren in the lab rang. A hidden alarm system? But she didn't detect any hidden traps. There was no time to think about it and hurried.

Soon as she finished copying the files in the mini flash drive and tucking it in her pocket, the alarm stopped which only confused her more till she heard the sound of footsteps approaching her. The steps closing in towards the computer room she was in as she took her stance to fight her way out.

As soon the door opened.... Taika charged in at the target with her blade in both her hands. She swings, but at the last second her left arm completely stopped operating which messed up her aim and strength giving the intruder plenty of time grab her wrist and squeezed it hard enough to force her to drop her blade.

Taika tried to pry herself free, but her left arm still refuses to move as it just dangled like a paralyzed arm. She couldn't predict this would happen as she was about to look at the intruder's face but felt a deep blunt force in her gut. Before she could have the time to grab her stomach, her throat was grabbed and was slammed against the nearest wall that knocked the air out of her and made her vision go dark.

Now.... Here she was captured in the same lab. No one doesn't know about Taika's current mission except the Elder of the Igawa Clan. "ah.... Hhn.... geh...." She tries moving her limbs as her vision becomes clearer. She can move her left arm again, but felt her limbs are restrained in thick metal cuffed attached to some kind of machine. Taika was in a 'X' position, standing in the middle of this strange contraption that had the same plants growing on it. The vines coiling around the metals like extra wires for the machine.

"Geh, eh! Geh! Nnnghrrrgh!" Taika tries again to break herself free, but the metal was too thick and worst of all made in the same materials to prevents her using her Ninja Art rendering her powers pointless. "R... Release me... NOW!" She shouts with all of her waking breath, but the room was silent. The moment of silence was cut off when the sound of double doors sliding open with multiple footsteps walking through. Her eyes turning towards the sound to see the scientists she detained earlier were already freed and behind them was the attacker who knocked her out. The attacker stayed in the darkness of the room but the grin the attacker held showed the fangs. The attacker was a vampire. It was clear that it wasn't Edwin Black, the Vampire Lord. Most likely a vampire trying to reach the same power as him, but the vampire seemed...familiar the darkness obscured the appearance delaying Taika's confirmation.

The scientists on the other hand...started working on the computers and turning on the machine she was strapped onto. Whatever was going to happen next was unknown as she grits her teeth to prepare for the worst.

It has been days, possibly already over a week since she was captured investigating the underground lab hidden in the sewer tunnels. Taika was still strapped to the machine that had the strange plants attached to it with its branches and vines. Her hair was unraveled in a free mess, no longer in the same braid she kept. The amounts of torture and experiments being done to her has been a struggle.

The machine still kept her in place in a 'X' position standing up. The branches extended from the machine to her body, reaching down to her right side of her body. The few branches have already pierced her skin and dug into her muscles. To anyone, this would've been unbearably painful, but the plant attached to the machine constantly spewed out pollens that Taika is forced to inhale to breathe. The pollen had a mixture of pain relief and aphrodisiac that traveled through her system while the branches in her flesh drain her of her own blood.

"..... Not yet...." Taika said under her own breath to herself. Her mind fuzzy, struggling to focus as she tries to adjust to her surroundings if she was awake or asleep. Just saying those two words to herself felt like the only comfort and reassurance to remind herself she's still alive. Still alive to find some way out of this situation despite the weeklong torture and experiments.

During the experiments, one of the things she had taken notice whenever she had the chance to test something while the researchers weren't looking. She noticed that some of the vines on the machine coil gently around her left arm like a child holding onto her. Whenever she was by herself in the room still strapped to the machine, Taika would further experiment and test her theories about what's going on with her left on.

Ever since the ambush from the bear over three weeks ago, the strange plants had changed their behavior around her, mainly reacting to her left arm that was injured by the bear. The further she tested her theories, the more answers came to the horizon. She can control the plants to a limited extent with her left arm. The plants sensing her pain and distress comforted her left arm while ignoring the rest of her body.

"Not yet..... Hah.... Ge, geh-eh.... Not...yet..." Taika struggling to keep her eyes open from the pain reliever and the aphrodisiac putting her to the border of pleasure and sleep, a blissful sleep she fears she might not be the same if she falls asleep completely.

The sounds of the double doors slid open again with footsteps coming in, approaching her till it stopped right in front of her. Taika slowly lifts her head to see who it was. The one she sees was the mysterious vampire who knocked her out and captured her during her investigation here in the secret lab. His face fully revealed to be half-scarred with heavy burns that can't regenerate. His hair half burnt that almost revealed the burnt scars on his scalp. His fangs still showing in his mouth as he grins at Taika.

It didn't take long for Taika to recognize the vampire. The vampire had been part of a small well-organized group of vampires that worked in the shadows. While group was small and wasn't associated with the Vampire Lord, Edwin Black. This was a group working as one to gain their own footing to overthrow Edwin Black though other means knowing they had no chance to beat him head on.

They were gaining a mass influence among other demons, but dealing with one powerful vampire was more than enough. The group can't allow to exist any further that would be a threat if left unchecked. So, the Tora Clan and the Kamimura Clan put in their effort to find the location of the group hideout. They found the location and set up the plan to ensure none of them are left alive.

The Kamimura and Tora Clan worked together eliminating the vampires while the last one almost got away which Taika encountered during his escape. She couldn't kill him herself since his regeneration was faster till Kitsuo arrived on time to deliver a fatal burn to his skull and a deep cut that ran across from his torso down to his hip, the blade, too, was also covered in the Violet Flames.

Her and Kitsuo saw him burn to death, so it was impossible, but here he was. Standing right in front of her with the unmistakable burned scars that covered half his face and across his torso. He looked more dead than alive.

"Ah. Now isn't this precious. Looks like the deal has been kept and snagged myself the 'Merciless Crimson' herself. You certainly have aged like fine wine." The vampire leaned in, inching close to her with his fang almost out. He inhales her scent at her neck, his eyes almost rolling back as he shudders. "Ah, yes... That's the smell... Your blood. How it reminds me of honeyed wine but even richer."

"As much as I want to taste you, I won't. Your blood is serving a much better purpose of what plan I have in stock for you. Plus, it would mess up the draining process and might kill you with the branches still in your arms." The vampire grins as Taika kept her eyes on him, grown familiar with that fake grin she carried and knowing very well it was just pure anger.

"My, what a surprise. You certainly have aged like the dead. I almost mistaken you as a ghoul." Taika grins back, not daring to break under her emotion.

"Hehehe. Ah, always having a blunt word to talk back despite that sweet voice of yours~." His hand coming up to cover his lips to prevent his giggle escaping fully. His hand then shoots out and gripped Taika's throat, tightening enough to hurt her, but not enough to cut off the air completely. "And whose fault does that falls to? That damn husband of yours, Kitsuo. I'll make sure he'll live through a fate worse than death. And your blood will be the most beneficial to this plan of mine. I'll make him watch what I'll do to your children, too."

"!?" Taika after hearing his words spilling about his knowledge not only about her marriage to Kitsuo, but the knowledge about her children. Her eyes widen in shock before being unable to hold back her anger. "How? How the hell do you about my children and husband?" Taika's calm voice slowly breaking into anger.

"Hehehe. Dear~ It's all thanks to a certain man who was willing to let me continue this operation. You see, I still plan to remove and take control of Black's influence. The Vampire Lord himself has stayed in power for too long. It's time for fresh blood to take the seat to really show how a vampire should operate things." He lets go of Taika's throat, no longer bruising her neck.

"It was the Elder from the Igawa Clan, wasn't it?" Taika never breaking eye contact with the scarred vampire. To her, it was obvious. The fact that it's been well over a week since her capture and no one came since this was a silent solo mission given to her by him was evident enough.

"Hehe. You certainly are a fast observer, aren't you. To say the least, I made a deal to kill you, and he agreed to fund me in secrecy of my project of what I'm going to do with your blood." His hand slowly cups Taika's cheeks, forcing her to look more directly at him and holding her in place. "But... I'm not going to kill you. No, no, no. That's far too easy. I want to break you into submission. Break that strong mind of yours and make you my little pet~ So, while you won't be killed, you still will be out of the Elder's head, no longer prying where your nose shouldn't be."

"You, my dear. Are the glue that keeps the Tora Clan whole. You are Kitsuo's heart and help him keep his head on straight.... And I'm going to destroy that structure." His hand tightened on her face before finally letting go and walks away. "Sleep well, pet~ You'll soon come to love your new life I have for you." His laughs echoes through the room as he left through the double sliding doors.

The machine whirs back to life. The plants that coiled around the metal machine begins to continue draining Taika of her blood while injecting pain reliever and aphrodisiac.

"Geh.... Geh, eh...... Ah-eh...." Taika writhing under the mixture pain and the aphrodisiac. Her mind trying to stay clear as she thinks about the one thing to keep going. Her family she built with Kitsuo. Her children. Being a mother. A tear threatens to spill out but held it back and grits her teeth. "Not yet..... Not yet...... Ah.... Gh... Kitsuo...... I'll... Will be back......... I swear...."

Months... Months has passed since Taika was captured and being experimented in the lab hidden in the sewer tunnels. Her blood being drained on tight schedules from the plants attached to the machine she was still strapped to.

Her mind on the border of breaking but still holding on with her family she has back home, yearning to hold her children in her arms again and feeling her lover's warmth. She held onto those as a lifeline.

The times she fell asleep and woke up afterwards after the experiments were clear to see that the vampire who captured her did something to her body. Her body felt more...sensitive and responsive to his presence. Taika knowing fully well this was the vampire's doing to turn her into a submissive slave. Her mind fuzzy when she tries to think back. Vivid memories of herself acting like a completely different person in front of the burnt scarred vampire, looking at him like he was her savior sickened her and remembering the lack of control of her body as she pleasured him made her want to puke.

However, despite the danger she was in with her mentality and body, she didn't give up and continued experimenting her theories whenever the researchers and the scientists weren't looking. While they went on their breaks or done for the day, she tested the plants' behaviors that was part of the machine she was strapped to. Only the plants with the vines showing higher intelligence and awareness gave her attention, listening to her silent commands.

And with the long months it's been, some of the researchers have gone complacent on their procedures that are useful to exploit to give her the chance she needs to escape. She remembers that she was stuck here since the middle of summer but seeing what some of the researchers were wearing gave her the confirmation that she's been here till possibly the middle of winter or close to its end.

She knew she can't wait any longer with her condition, let alone the fact she's been left to rot when the Elder of the Igawa Clan sold her out to get her out of his way. She can't also ignore that her husband and children may also be in danger, too. Knowing her husband Kitsuo, he's probably desperately trying to find her. "Wait.... Just... Just a little longer, dear......" Taika said under her own breath, thinking about Kitsuo.

"I'll.... I'll be back.... I swear...." Taika vowing with her shaking breath. Trying to stay focus as long as she can to time her escape. "Tadashi.... Videl.... My sweet little tigers...." She thinks of her children she wants to hold in her arms again, daring not to shed a tear and hold on. She was more certain than ever. It was time for her to break out and burn this damn lab to the ground and get back home.

"WHOOOOOOOOOOOO! RING! RING! RING! WHOOOOOOOOOOOO!" The sounds of blaring alarms rang through the lab hidden in the sewer tunnels. "WHOOOOOOOOOOOO! RING! RING! RING! WHOOOOOOOOOOOO!"

Heavy smokes contained in the room Taika was still held with the door still sealed shut. The researchers quickly came running through the halls of the lab, immediately activating the emergency and grabbing the fire extinguishers with gas masks equipped. Slamming the emergency button to force open the door the researchers and scientist barged in to put out the fire that was spreading inside the lab room Taika was held in. The new hired guards came in, too with their firearms. The smoke clouded the room almost entirely.

Scientist quickly rushing at the computers and collecting the files to check later in hopes that the data aren't destroyed or burnt. The researchers quickly putting out the flames as they saw the source of the flames came from the machine Taika was originally strapped onto, but now she was gone. Missing. She broke out of the machine despite the machine is made out of the same materials that prevents her using her Ninja Art.

The guards stayed on high alert and focusing their surroundings to find Taika. "Where the hell did she go!?" One of the guards shouted, demanding an answer from the other guards.

"She must still be inside! We're still here at the door and no one hasn't entered nor left!" One of the two guards shouted back at the only entrance to the lab room with hands tightly on their firearms.

"Hey! Forget about that! Help us put out the damn flames already! The water sprinklers aren't working!" One of the panicking researchers commanded at one of the guards. The room was in utter chaos.

"AAAAAAA--!" A scream from one of the scientists was heard and immediately silenced in the smokes.

"Forget about the damn files! Get the fuck out. This bitch is-- HMMPHH!" Something coiling around one of the guard's faces and muffled his voice and immediately dragged in the smoke before silence fell from him, too.

"If you don't fucking get out of here now, then I won't hesitate to mistake you as the bitch and fill your guts with led!" The captain of the guards shouted at the rest of the foolish researchers and scientists.

They quickly fled the room despite their desperation of wanting to save whatever data and files are left in the room as the rest of the guards came flowing in to capture or kill Taika. The two guards at the door still stayed behind to ensure Taika doesn't escape.

The guards started scanning carefully through the smokes in hopes to capture her alive under the vampire's order that she needs to be kept alive for his works.

"H... H.... He...lp... me...." A drained voice is barely heard through the blaring alarming ringing through the lab. "H.... Hel...p me...." All the guards slowly approached the direction of the strangled voice and saw a silhouette. "C.... Can't.... m.... move.... B... Be...hind... me...." The smoke cleared just enough to show it was the first researcher who disappeared in the smoke. The man who looked alive and well now looked drained like a mummy. His clothes barely fit him, almost falling off with how thin his body has become. "Be...hind... m... me...." The researcher trying to say something to the guards but his body was being lifted by something.

Coiled around the researcher's neck was a large skeletal tail, hanging him higher and higher till he almost touched the ceiling before he was thrown at one of the guards to catch. The tail immediately disappeared back into the smoke as the guards fired at the direction where the tail was at. The guards couldn't see nor find where Taika was at. All they can hear was the blaring alarm and the blasts of the guns. A low and paralyzing growl rumbled through the room that almost froze the guards still but can't pinpoint the direction before all hell broke loose in the lab room.

Another guard who was at the corner was dragged by the feet into the smoke before his screams ended with silence. Then another was pulled in from another direction. Another one screamed and faded as the alarm overshadowed the scream.

"Boss! Get out of there! We need to regroup and rethink this!" One of the two guards shouted at his boss.

"FUCK! Fine. Call in th-- Ga-- ughguhrrgh!" The captain tried to escape the lab room when he turned around at his two remaining guards at the door, but something struck through the top of his skull. His eyes crossing as his body jerked from the sudden pain that entered his skull and pierced his brain. The two guards looked at their boss in horror to see the same skeletal tail that was in the smoke pierced their boss's head. His body being lifted by the tail before flung at the only entrance and knocked down the two guards. The second guard accidentally dropped his weapon and can't reach it with his boss's body now on top of him.

Both of them tried to push the dead body off of them as they heard the same paralyzing growl coming from the room with footsteps approaching. Out of the smokes was Taika herself in her 'Tiger's Wraths' transformation. The guard with the gun still in his hand immediately fired in his fear. The bullets hitting her exoskeleton armor but didn't do anything. In a flash, Taika appeared in front of the two guards on the ground still. Her claws finding her target and pierced his skull, too. An immediate clean death while the other one had his neck snapped with Taika's skeletal tail coiled tightly.

Taika finally broke out of the damn lab room she was kept in for the past months. She hurried through the lab to find the rest of her targets and slain them when they tried to escape. Taika made a turn down one of the halls and spotted a large double door. The doors sliding open automatically to show the results of what the researchers have been doing with her blood. Possibly ten or more of very large flower buds big as humans were settled comfortably in the lab room. Most of the buds were already open showing failed results of clones of herself. Majority of them disfigured with extreme faults during the process. This did nothing more than disgusted Taika to find the answers what they were doing with her blood and DNA. Viewing it as mercy, she killed the clones and the closed buds that hasn't bloomed yet that held other clones of herself and burned the room.

Taika set the entire damn lab into flames with the remaining scientists. She makes her way towards the exit of the lab to leave, but her path was blocked by the vampire who was in charge of this entire operation and experimented on the plants.

"You...fucking bitch... Not only you had the audacity to break out of your little box, but now you've and destroyed all of my work I've spent! IT COST A FORTUNE TO MAKE A CLONE!" The vampire snarled at her with his claws drawn out, fangs extending out of his mouth with rows of sharp edges that can easily tear off flesh. "I'll grind you where you stand and break every part of your body to make sure you don't leave. You're going to give me more of your blood ten times more!"

Taika took her stance in her 'Tiger's Wrath' and engaged in a fight that's almost impossible to win with a vampire that has insane regenerative abilities. She carefully lured the vampire during the battle into a room engulfed in flames and trapped him inside and watched him burn when she sealed the door.

Taika made a run for it now and left the collapsing lab behind and escaped out of the sewer tunnels and made it out into the forest just outside the exit of the tunnels. Her body screamed and ached as she leaned against one of the trees in the forest. Catching her breath and exhausted. "Hah... Hah.... Geh..." She swallowed and caught her breath again before walking again.

"It's.... It's over.... Geh.... Hah... Hah.... I... I need to....hurry back. Back... Back home....." She stumbles before leaning against another tree. "Kitsuo.... I'll.... I'll be home soon... Heh... You... You don't have to...worry no more.... Hah.... Hah...."

Pushing off the tree and continued her walking. Trying to get back home to Gosha Village. Her new home she had built with her husband. Each step felt like a mission to move one foot forward over the other to keep moving, to make it back home. "Tadashi... I wonder if he's listening and taking the proper advice at the Akiyama's Dojo..." A faint smile ran across her tired expression as she took her steps, remembering her son. The first joy she held in her arms when he was born.

"Videl.... Hehe.... Mommy will be home... I have no doubt...that...geh... You're scared....and probably crying. My sweet....little tiger... Mommy is coming home..." Taika holding her left arm as the pain in her left arm still ached like all the times before. "Kitsuo.... Tadashi.... Videl.... I'm coming home.... And we'll be together again.... One big happy family...."