Setsuka wondered if she should have waited until the morning to enter the shrine, as it was pitch black inside. She had been treading very carefully which was lucky, because a few metres in, the ground suddenly descended into a set of very steep steps, leading underground. There were no torches hanging on the walls as she had expected and the continuous darkness made her contemplate turning around and coming back when it was daylight. However, she felt herself being drawn deeper and deeper inside, like an invisible chain had coiled itself around her waist and was pulling her closer. The steps seemed to go down for miles and she started to wonder if this was a trap. Was it possible that the fisherman had led her all this way to trick her? Had he been following her all this time? No, surely not. She would have noticed him. She could sense people following her, it was a gift.

Finally, she reached the bottom of the staircase. Reaching out to touch the walls at each side for guidance, she slowly made her way forward, carefully feeling for anymore sudden drops. After a few minutes, the walls at her sides seemed to disappear and she had no idea where she was or what was ahead of her. Taking a few careful steps forward, she felt a stone slab beneath her sink slightly. Alarmed, she jumped backwards and was shocked to watch the shrine illuminate itself. It turned out that there were torches everywhere. At each side, they made themselves known, one by one until the circular room she was in became visible. She paused for a moment to take in her surroundings. She was standing on a long, narrow red rug which led straight to the altar ahead. Behind it sat an enormous statue. It seemed to be a mile away. Looking around, she could see there was an alcove in every space between the torches, but a lot of them looked like they had taken a battering. Some of them were badly cracked and the rubble was scattered about on the floor below. Ahead, she could see that the large statue at the altar had been vandalized, like the two guarding the entrance.

She paused for a second, sensing movement behind her. Gripping her parasol at both ends, she pivoted just in time to block the woman’s attack. She appeared to be a ninja, with half her face covered by a mask and she was stunned by Setsuka’s speedy self-defence. She lifted her sword as swift as lightning and lunged forward. Setsuka successfully dodged her attacks, though she did not expect the ninja to kick as rapidly as she did. She wore a skin-tight blue bodysuit and moved like water. Her attacks were so sudden, Setsuka hadn’t had the chance to unsheathe her own sword and continued to block the woman’s attacks with her parasol. Finally seeing an opportunity, she opened the parasol, causing the woman to step backwards in surprise. Quickly whipping out her sword, she threw the parasol to one side and the two women conversed in battle. Both exceptionally quick, they were an equal match, though the ninja did appear to be much stronger than she. Setsuka focused all her energy on guarding the woman’s attacks rather than attacking herself, as her blows came from all angles. She finally had the chance to counterattack, striding forward with her weapon, but the ninja promptly back flipped out of her reach and, lowering slightly on her muscular legs, launched herself into the air, turning upside down and flying straight over Setsuka’s head, landing neatly on her feet directly behind. It happened so quickly that Setsuka did not have time to register her movements and the second she landed, the woman kicked her in the spine and sent her falling to the floor.

‘Who are you?’ the ninja demanded, ‘Who sent you?’
‘No one sent me,’ Setsuka replied, sprawled out beneath her. She attempted to stand, but an armoured boot struck her on the chest and pinned her down.
‘Toki sent you, didn’t he?’ she snarled.
‘Who?’
The woman forcefully pressed against Setsuka’s chin. She could feel sharp shards of metal pressing against her throat.
‘Stop playing games with me,’ she demanded, ‘You’re clearly not a Fu-Ma ninja as I had thought, no Fu-Ma ninja fights like that. So who are you? Did Toki send you?’
‘I swear, I don’t know who Toki is,’ Setsuka struggled for breath, ‘Please, I’m looking for the Azure Knight.’
The woman lifted her foot and allowed Setsuka to sit up.
‘You’re too late,’ she said, bitterly. ‘Why are you looking for Nightmare?’
Setsuka paused.
‘That’s his name?’ The ninja said nothing. She simply stared at her, waiting for an answer. ‘I’m trying to find someone who is pursuing him.’
‘Who?’
‘His name is Heishiro Mitsurugi.’
The woman laughed.
‘Oh, him.’
‘You know him?’
‘Our paths have crossed before. I haven’t seen him for many years though.’ She examined Setsuka, ‘What do you want with him?’
‘Revenge.’
Starting to chuckle, the woman held out a hand and helped Setsuka to her feet.
‘I’m sorry for attacking you, I thought you were a Fu-Ma ninja in disguise.’
‘What is a Fu-Ma ninja?’ Setsuka asked, brushing down her kimono.
The woman retreated to the altar, where she kneeled and gestured for Setsuka to join her.
‘I was an orphan,’ she began, ‘taken into the Fu-Ma clan and raised as a ninja. My name is Taki.’
‘Setsuka.’
‘I was sent on a mission by Toki, our leader. He told me that the former leader, Hachibei, had stolen a weapon from us which contained shards of Soul Edge. He told me to go and kill him, along with his daughter, Chie. She was a childhood friend of mine.’
‘That’s awful.’
‘I agreed, but when I got there, Hachibei told me that Toki had become obsessed with Soul Edge and was gathering as many pieces as he could. I was so confused, but I believed him. I could see Toki was slowly descending into madness and he was captivated by the evil energy of the sword, so I tricked him. I sent him after Li Long, Chie’s lover instead, to buy them time, but of course he found out. Luckily I managed to escape and I have been a fugitive ever since. Fu-Ma ninjas are still looking for me and I heard they were nearby. I thought maybe you were one in disguise.’
‘I understand,’ Setsuka looked around at the rubble. ‘What happened here? Why did Nightmare come here?’
‘He was here yesterday,’ Taki explained, ‘I already knew the Fu-Ma were around here somewhere, so I stayed hidden for a few days. I didn’t want to risk being seen outside, but yesterday I heard a clattering sound coming down the steps. I assumed it was them. They’re very efficient, they seek out every hidden space and I knew it would be no use hiding from them in here, so I decided to ambush them. However, when the torches lit and I was ready to attack, I was faced with the terrifying vision of Nightmare instead.’
‘What does he look like?’ asked Setsuka, fascinated.
‘He is a giant,’ Taki continued, ‘he was almost twice my height, covered from head to toe in azure armour. His eyes are deep red and seem to burn into your flesh.’
Setsuka shuddered.
‘What did he do here?’
Taki gestured towards the cracked and empty alcoves.
‘I am a demon huntress, Setsuka,’ she explained, ‘and those alcoves once contained the demons I had sealed. Nightmare released and devoured them.’
‘To fortify Soul Edge,’ Setsuka finally understood. ‘So, you fought him?’
Taki nodded.
‘I’m amazed to still be alive,’ she said, softly. ‘I tried to fight him. I’m not as strong as he is, but I’m quick and I had him going for a while, but he was just too powerful. The last thing I remember was being thrown against the wall. I woke up and the place was empty. Nightmare and the demons were gone.’
‘He didn’t kill you?’
Taki shook her head and slowly rose to her feet.
‘I don’t understand why he didn’t,’ she said, ‘I can only guess that the demons were more of a challenge than he had anticipated and that he was more interested in them.’
‘You’re very lucky,’ Setsuka exclaimed.
‘Where are you from?’ Taki asked.
‘Originally, I have no idea,’ Setsuka replied, ‘but I’ve been travelling from Tottori.’
‘You must be exhausted,’ Taki helped her to her feet, ‘come, you can rest here for the night.’
She led Setsuka through a hidden door to a sleeping chamber.
‘I wouldn’t have guessed this would be here,’ Setsuka smiled, eyeing up the futon which looked very appealing.
‘This shrine was built by the Mori clan,’ Taki informed her, ‘they lived here for a time.’
‘Thank you for being so kind to me,’ said Setsuka.
Taki grinned.
‘Well,’ she started, ‘it’s the least I could do after the greeting I gave you.’

That night, Setsuka slept comfortably for the first time in weeks. But if Nightmare had already been and gone, where could he be heading next? He must be travelling at an inconceivable pace, to have reached the shrine a day before her and who knows where he was now. Setsuka had already come a long way from home and it looked like she was going to be travelling even further than she had originally expected.