In The Shadow Of Bane Pt 01

'In the Shadow of Bane'

(Part 1 of 8)

(This story is set in the world of 'The F.U.T.A.' It is a sequel to a story I co-wrote with squarepeg3d for his comic series. That comic is called 'Bane of all Things.' The title was a bit of a play on words. It was a joy to work on and I've been given his permission to take them all for another walk. It's the truest form of fan fiction. This new story was written with BillyBatson the actual mastermind and creator of Emiko Kasunaga and her guardian/bodyguard Mizu. I had plenty of back and forth with him about how his characters would behave and react in all the situations the story throws up. His input was priceless and is one of the reasons I'm so proud of our tale. So please enjoy what we've created... It's a bit of a biggy)

Chapter 1 "A Volunteer and Other"

"So let me see if I understand this correctly," said Shaylah. She was talking to her mobile as it rested on the desk, "you 'want' to be in one of our little superhero specials."

The phone call had caught her by surprise. Shaylah was used to manipulating things behind the scenes. Creating situations where a prospective 'actor' felt there was a debt to be repaid. Take Ingrid for example. She had played the part of Bane in one of their most popular productions, just to pay back a favour. The fact that Ingrid had such an intense bondage fetish had made her performance all the more convincing, and there was a fairly high chance she'd reprise her role if asked.

Then there had been Margaret Richmond. She had taken part in the same production as Wonder Woman. She hadn't actually owed Shaylah anything, but Marge was such an easy guilt trip. She worried so much about what people thought about her, and tended to get it wrong. In their FUTA contest, Marge had smacked Shaylah's nuts about to such an extreme she'd lost her concentration. The little blonde had ended up being the filling in an Amazon sausage sandwich. She hadn't minded of course, the sweet pain of the 'Nut-cracking' had lingered for days. The memories, a lifetime. She even felt herself starting to tingle even now.

Those were the risks and joys of a FUTA bout, one person's pain was often another's pleasure. Marge was such a worrier she'd been able to make her feel really guilty about it. To the point she felt she owed Shaylah some sort of compensation. To pay her back, they'd told her they needed her to play Wonder Woman and to dominate Ingrid. The dark eyed beauty had literally jumped at the chance. She was full of so much untapped lust.

Shaylah sometimes had the feeling, if they had started with the whole 'You'll be playing Wonder Woman' proposition at the start, it would have been a lot less work. Sometimes it was difficult to read people, and now this. Emiko volunteering. No leverage, no guilt tripping, nothing, She'd rung them up, out of the blue. Asking to. Unbelievable. Actually asking to be 'allowed' to be in one of their scenes. What was a production manager to do?

"You want to be in one of our superhero specials?" she repeated again, almost to herself. She really was just trying to get her head around the whole 'volunteering' concept.

"Yes," said Emiko Kasunaga. On the other end of the call she was walking nervously around her penthouse apartment, "come on Shaylah, me and Mizu, we'd be great Actors!"

"Mizu is the servant you want us to include," confirmed Shaylah.

"Yes," replied Emi again, "but don't call her a servant, she's more like my guardian."

'Perhaps more of a guard, she added to herself, and then felt guilty. Yes Mizu was keeping an eye on her, and yes Mizu was always there. Except right now ironically. Right now she was out grocery shopping. Mizu never actually prevented her from doing anything she wanted to. She wasn't always happy with her choices, but her reaction had been rather surprising on a number of occasions. She fully supported Emi competing in the FUTA. Had been elated when she won the Halloween cage fight with Sky, and massively disappointed when she was finally knocked out of the competition.

Though she thought conceding to Freia had been a very honourable thing to do. Then there had been the Fox incident. That had been amazing and had opened her eyes to certain possibilities. She had never considered including Mizu in her 'activities'. Okay that wasn't true, she'd considered it all right. She'd just never thought Mizu would go so far. Now Emi was wondering just how far Mizu would go. It was really hard to gauge what Mizu's reaction would be... to anything.

Emi had subscribed to Sunny and Shaylah's 'Sapphire and Silk' website instantly. It seemed anyone who had watched a FUTA contest had got an invite. They never used their actual names on the site, but 'Sapphire', the blue eyed blonde, was Shaylah Owens. An actual FUTA competitor. She was instantly recognisable, and Sunny, known on the site as 'Silk', did little to hide her identity.

It had been Emi's opinion that being 'Sapphire and Silk' meant Sunny and Shaylah had freed themselves of their inhibitions. They had unburdened themselves of their responsible personas and could now express themselves completely.

This hypothesis had lasted all of thirty seconds when she thought of who she was talking about. Shaylah Owens, and the word inhibition, didn't belong in the same sentence, and Sunny was Ginny's sister. Ginny, who with Bunny, had created the FUTA. Ginny who had refereed a no holes barred, sexual wrestling match, between Freia and Emi. Ginny who had been more than happy to take a thoroughly hands on role in that particular contest. No, inhibited was not a word you would associate with any of the personalities involved in 'Sapphire and Silk'.

"Okay we'll call her your assistant," said Shaylah, "and we have to 'involve' her as if it's her own idea, and ease her into it?"

"Yeah, we have to be all sneaky Ninja," agreed Emi, wondering if this was a good analogy, considering what Mizu would probably do to an actual ninja, "we can't push her into it."

Ah, Shaylah relaxed, blessed gods of duplicity would be served. Emiko was volunteering, but her beautiful assistant would have to be seduced into the situation. Now that was a challenge. A test of her scheming and coercing abilities. Delightful.

"You understand that these productions can get pretty wild?" asked Shaylah.

"Oh I hope so," giggled Emi, "I've watched the one you did with Ingrid about a ka-zillion times!"

"And you think this Mizu would let herself get involved with a bondage domination scenario in front of cameras?" inquired Shaylah, "has she seen one of our productions?"

"Well I know she's seen me watching them, not sure if she actually watched them herself though," replied Emiko, "but I can tell you she can get pretty wild when she's in the mood, you know. She's good with ropes and bondage."

"Really?" asked Shaylah.

"Er.... so I've heard," replied Emi, feeling suddenly like she shouldn't have said that. There was something about talking to Shaylah that made her think of a shark, but she couldn't place it.

"Well if she's such a wild child why not just ask her to join you?" said Shaylah, "why all the cloak and dagger?"

"If I ask her she would probably refuse," answered Emi, "even though I know, once she gets into it, she'll really let herself go." Emi crossed her fingers behind her back. She wasn't lying.... probably. "You won't be disappointed."

"I see," answered Shaylah in a non committal tone, inside she was doing back flips. If truth be told she'd imagined Emiko in a number of 'Sapphire & Silk' productions. She just couldn't think of any leverage that would get her to do one. Asking if she'd like to, well, that had never come to mind. Silly really, now that she thought about it. Emiko didn't need to be in the FUTA, but there she was. She did things because it was fun, because she wanted to, not through necessity. A thought struck her, Emi was asking to be in one of their productions. Hmm... What was she willing to pay?

"And what do we get in return," asked Shaylah, "aside from, as you put it, 'action that will melt the camera lens'?"

Emi had been waiting for this question and she knew she had the perfect payment. She pressed a key on the laptop sitting on the breakfast counter. A listing for 'Vision Crucible R&D' appeared. Another click, an identification inquiry, and a password confirmation, Emi was looking at a customer waiting list.

"Well I see that 'Sapphire and Silk' productions are looking to purchase the latest VR interface units from Vision Crucible R&D. That's an interesting piece of kit," stated Emi, grinning widely. "If I were to get my hands on one for you, would that do?"

There was a long pause, before Shaylah answered carefully.

"You're not going to steal it are you?" asked Shaylah.

"No! Nothing like that," answered Emi immediately, "but if you can manoeuvre Mizu into your next production I'll get one for you."

"And she can't know we're manipulating her into this situation?" asked Shaylah, "we have to trick her into choosing to be a part of it?"

"That's exactly it," giggled Emi bouncing from one foot to another waiting for confirmation.

"Okay, I'll have to discuss it with Sunny," said Shaylah, there was a moan of disappointment from the other end of the line, "but I reckon we'll probably do it."

She heard a 'Yay!' and a girlish giggle from Emiko.

"I'll get back to you," said Shaylah, touching the pad and ending the call. She turned to Sunny who had been listening, "What do you think?"

Sunny was standing in front of a large 'Hollywood Style' dressing mirror. They kept it next to the costume assembly table. An industrial sewing machine, and a large cutting table could be seen in the room beyond her. She was making the final adjustments to her bonnet. It matched in with her dress. A very short and extremely revealing version of a little Bo Peep costume she had just finished.

"Oh I do declare!" she stated, striking a shocked pose before shifting to one that was more provocative.

"Sunny, were you listening?" asked Shaylah, "do you think we should involve ourselves with Emiko's reluctant assistant?"

In response Sunny picked up the Shepherd's crook that had been leaning next to the mirror and twirled it like a majorettes baton. "Oh Shaylah you sweet little baby girl," smiled Sunny innocently. She planted the crook firmly upright and began to circle it, caressing the curved head suggestively, "I believe it's our duty to assist Miss Emiko, to help this lost lustful little sheep to find her way."

"You're a terrible corrupting influence Miss Boudreaux," said Shaylah with a smirk. Sunny stopped abruptly at this comment.

"Oh my, I am shocked and disgusted at your implication," replied Sunny, her tone going full southern belle and with every indication of righteous indignation. She began to circle the pole once more. "I regard myself as one of the 'finest' corrupting influences around."

Shaylah grinned, concurring with Sunny's correction. Her movements and the costumes suggestive nature put an idea in Shaylah's mind.

"But how to get someone in the mood to take part in one of our little movies," asked Sunny, suddenly leaning the crook at an angle and grinding against it like a perverted hobby horse.

Shaylah slipped out of her chair and moved over behind Sunny, also straddling the crook. "Well, how about we make her a killer costume, tailored to fit," she suggested. She slipped an arm around Sunny grabbing the shaft of the crook. She then pulled it higher causing the red head to rise up onto her tiptoes, "I know they always get the wearer in the mood for some fun and games."

Shaylah pulled Sunny in close and began to jack the crook in a highly suggestive way, kissing an exposed area of neck under Sunny's bonnet.

"I believe you would be quite correct in your assumption madame," smiled Sunny looking at their reflection in the mirror, "I'm always feel like have'n fun and games when I gets all dressed up."

"Hold that thought," grinned Shaylah, slipping a hand up under Bo Peeps dress, "I feel the wolf inside me looking to ravage a lonely shepherdess"

"Oh my!"

Chapter 2, "Placing Pieces"

In the weeks that followed Emiko and Shaylah exchanged information via text and email. Mizu was given a secret designation and 'Project Goddess' was born. Comics and concept art began to arrive via the mail. Emiko deliberately left them everywhere, much to the annoyance of Mizu. All of the material featured two particular characters.

'Cheshire,' a Sai wielding martial arts expert, who frequently worked for Ra's Al Ghul's league of shadows, and 'Lady Shiva'. A martial arts 'Grand Master' of somewhat dubious alignments.

Late one afternoon a package arrived. As Mizu signed the delivery girl's touch pad Emi appeared behind her at the apartment door. She made an extravagant "Wohoo!" Snatched the package from Mizu and ran off to the kitchen. Mizu glared after her as she left and apologised to the delivery girl for her ward's childish display. After politely closing the door she stalked after Emi.

The package lay torn open, discarded on the counter top. Emiko was spinning a pair of Sai clumsily, looking frustrated.

"How is that for you to behave," said Mizu sternly, "I would have thought a young lady such as yourself would have learned to control such impulsive behaviour."

Emi looked at her quizzically before realising she was talking about her little bout of impatience. "Sorry Mizu, but I've been waiting for weeks for these to arrive," she said by way of apology. She flipped the pair of Sai again but caught them awkwardly.

"Why do you need a new pair of Sai?" asked the guardian, "you have four sets already. One that was crafted by the great Koga Risako."

"Yeah, I know," replied Emiko, "and they're pretty good."

"The work of Koga Risako is.... pretty good?" Mizu replied incredulously, "One of the finest makers of Okinawan martial arts weapons, the world has ever seen. Is... pretty good?"

Mizu's mouth opened and closed a few times as she looked for words to convey her thoughts. 'Stupid, stupid, stupid girl' seemed to be winning the race to become vocalised.

"But they can't do this!" said Emi, suddenly throwing both heavy looking triple pronged weapons with deadly accuracy at Mizu.

In an instant Mizu's stance changed. Her right hand swept left to right, deflecting the first Sai, open palmed, away from her face. Her left hand followed, actually catching the second Sai. She instinctively spun it into a weapon ready position. She was about to question Emiko's shocking behaviour, when her mind pointed out certain things to her. The Sai in her hand was very, very light and, she gave it a squeeze to confirm, quite squidgy. Now that she thought of it the first Sai behaved oddly too. Instead of smashing into the wall where it had struck, it had bounced harmlessly off. Emiko was grinning from ear to ear.

"Good aren't they?" she asked with a laugh.

Mizu examined the weapon carefully. Latex she guessed. It looked remarkably realistic. It would fool anyone, just so long as it wasn't close up.

"Why did you get these?" asked Mizu, as she picked up the second Sai.

"For larping," said Emi, "I mean I could use the real thing, but I feel it would totally disrespect the craftsmanship of Madame Risako, don't you?"

Mizu smiled and nodded in agreement at Emiko's response. She was pleased her charge thought of the works of past masters as being worthy of respect. Lost to this though Mizu spun the pair of Sai on her palm. The weight and balance was off, accuracy would be impaired. She spun the fake weapons through multiple grip positions both offensive and defensive.

"Anyway when we're larping the fighting can get a bit frenetic," continued Emi grinning, "with those I don't have to pull my punches."

Mizu twirled the weapons through a blur of motion. Spinning, repositioning, changing her stance in smooth easy motions. Displaying only a small part of the skill that she possessed.

"You make that look so easy," laughed Emi, watching with a smile.

"That's because it is easy," replies Mizu, tossing the pair of fake Sai back to her, "you just have to practise, but I prefer unarmed combat." Striking a pose and smoothly spinning into another with balletic ease.

"Well I'll practise later, right now we have to go to my custom fitting," said Emi, picking up the car keys and handing them to Mizu.

"We?" asked Mizu looking at the keys in her hand, "but I have dinner to cook and work to do, your clothes don't clean themselves you know."

"All that can wait," answered Emi, walking towards the door, "they are bound to ask me what sizes I wear, and other silly things I don't know."

"Why don't you look at the labels and tell them," said Mizu, but even as she spoke she was picking up her handbag and following.

"And I have to ask them directions," said Emi, as she headed to the lift, "I can't drive and talk on the phone."

"Use a Sat Nav, or google maps? You have heard of these things?" countered Mizu, closing the apartment door, locking it and then scampering through the elevator door before it closed.

"I don't need to," came Emi's voice, muffled as the Elevator descended, "I've got a driver."

Chapter 3, "Sowing Temptation"

Emiko stood naked with her arms outstretched as Shaylah measured the distance from the base of her arm to the top of her pelvis. She called out the measurements. Sunny noted them immediately on a pad she held. As she worked she chatted to Emi about her costume's cut and a particular wig design.

Just why Emiko had to be naked was a mystery, but Mizu had a suspicion it had been Emiko's choice. Certainly the two young ladies didn't bat an eye, though Shaylah had, on at least two occasions now, batted Emiko's cock out of the way. She hadn't been gentle either and to Mizu's embarrassment Emiko had begun to react in a predictable way. She was already at half mast. Aside from the show, which might get out of hand at any moment, Mizu had been left to her own devices.

She had wandered over to the large cutting out table. There are some bolts of cloth and leather under it. Greens, reds, greys and black. The table itself is covered with pictures of the character 'Cheshire'. Several she had seen before, being taken from the comics that were continually scattered about their own apartment. Others were ideas that Sunny and Shaylah had themselves. They were extremely good. In addition, there were multiple design drawings of the actual costume.

Next to these were pictures of 'Lady Shiva' and corresponding designs for that costume as well. Mizu couldn't help but look through them. She was impressed by the intricate level of detail. Sunny and Shaylah appeared to run a very professional operation. At least one of the two girls might have been an actual fashion designer.

A flashing light and then a buzzing sound caught her attention. Resting near the end of the table was one of the girls' mobile phones. The title 'Tori' came across the caller I.D. Mizu glanced about, but no one seemed to have noticed. It buzzed and flashed repeatedly and Mizu decided to call attention to it. "Excuse me Miss Sunny, Miss Shaylah," she said, everyone looked over. She pointed at the clearly ringing phone.

"Oh, sorry beautiful," said Sunny with a wink, as she stepped away from Emiko, "I sure hope this ain't Tori cancelling on us."

Mizu had the good grace to look away, but was aware of a sigh of resignation as Sunny read the display. The redhead picked up the phone and headed out the room for some privacy. Unable to help herself, Mizu strained her ears to pick up what was being said. She couldn't hear the conversation clearly, but did pick up its tonal ebb and flow. It seemed that Tori, whoever she was, was in the process of cancelling. The final phrase, "fucking bitch!" was pretty clear. A few seconds later Sunny stepped back into the room. She looked annoyed, but more than that she looked disappointed.