In The Shadow Of Bane Pt 02

'In the Shadow of Bane'

(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 our tale... It's a bit of a biggy)

Chapter 5, "The Countdown Begins"

It was mid afternoon when Emiko let out a spontaneous yelp of glee. "This is so exciting, we're going to be superheroes!" Mizu smiled at her charges exuberance, then pointed out that "Actually we will be portraying the villains of the piece. Batgirl and Catwoman are the heroes."

Emiko snorted and rolled her eyes at Mizu's insufferable correctness. Then squealed in delight all over again. Though she suppressed it well enough, Mizu too was dealing with expectations.

She had to mentally compartmentalise it. Minimised the reality of the situation. She broke down her day into the various tasks that needed doing. Mentally ticking items off a list, so she could get Emiko's stuff organised. If she didn't, she inwardly acknowledged, she'd probably be as giddy with excitement as Emiko. Even so she did catch herself daydreaming several times. A series of what ifs kept springing to mind. She set them aside... fantasies rarely became reality.

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They arrived at the set location in the early evening. It was a series of derelict warehouses, once part of an ill fated manufacturing project. Filming was scheduled to begin once the sun had set. All the lighting would be artificial. Shaylah had explained that this was best for editing and reshooting... not that they'd need reshooting. They had rarely lacked for footage or creative invention from their performers. Mizu's imagination had been running away with itself the last few days. She had initially imagined what sort of sequence herself and Fox would come up with for the fight. However, having studied the directions for the entire shoot. As well as watching a large chunk of 'Sapphire and Silks' back catalogue, her thoughts had become decidedly sexual in content. She couldn't make up her mind if that was a good thing or a bad thing.

They parked next to a number of cars which Mizu recognised. There were also a series of generators whirling away happily. Multiple power leads disappeared under a set of roller doors.

Two makeup trailers sat by the entrance. Mizu quickly spotted Sunny, already dressed as Batgirl, climbing down the steps from one of them. They headed towards her and were greeted by a scream of joyful recognition.

"Why, hi there Emi!" waved the little red head as she broke into a run. Emiko ran to meet her, the two embracing in a friendly hug.

"And hello there Ms Mizu," she said, her voice much lower, verging on seductive, "my you are looking divine. I already feel heart strings all a flutter. I'm so glad it's Fox you'll be duelling, for I'd surely melt before your eyes."

The older lady was unsure what to say to that. Sunny just fluttered her eyes at her, took her by the hand, and led her towards the trailer. Mizu felt a dream-like disconnection, but shook herself back to reality when she saw Emiko's grin.

"Thank you Miss Boudreaux... I mean Sunny," said Mizu, slipping her hand free. She quickly tried to turn the conversation around, "I didn't realise I looked so imposing to you."

"Oh imposing ain't the way I describe you," replied Sunny. She looked at Mizu, her tongue running along her bottom lip, before she spoke again, "let's just say, if you was a dessert, I'd eat you all up and beg for seconds."

She casually turned and walked ahead of the guardian towards the trailer. Mizu's eyes couldn't help but drop to the redhead's rear. Her pert little ass was encased in a skin tight leather bodysuit. Behind her eyes, various images of Sunny Boudreaux in action, began to fill her imagination. Riding, being ridden, sucking, licking, fisting, all with various expressions of joy, pleasure or lewd appreciation. The phrase 'eat you up,' had all sorts of meanings. Having watched Sunny Boudreaux's work the last few evenings, one meaning was front and centre. Mizu could feel an insistent stirring in her loins. She tried her very best to ignore it. Perhaps she could change the subject.

"That is a very nice costume you have," said Mizu and realised almost immediately that this wasn't going to help her situation. Emiko gave a giggle beside her.

"Why thank you Ms Mizu," said Sunny, casting a glance over her shoulder, "but exactly which part of my costume is it you're looking at?"

Sunny abruptly came to a halt, forcing everyone to stop or walk into her.

"Shaylah, always says it draws the eye to some of my finer features," said Sunny. She leaned forward slightly. creating the perfect angle to present her derrière. Her face looked critical as she inquired, "Would you say that's true?"

"Em....er..." started Mizu, trying to think of an answer that was neither insulting or sexually provocative. She was saved from having to reply as Emiko lunged forward and slapped Sunny hard on the ass.

"Don't be such a tease Sunny, I thought you were supposed to be a professional," laughed Emiko, "I'm sorry Mizu, but she can be such a little tart sometimes."

"Ouch! That really hurt," said a pouty Sunny, "you'll have to kiss it better, or maybe I'll just add it to my little list of vengeance come time."

Mizu frowned at Emiko's rather impulsive behaviour, but then thought better of it. It was Emiko's way of sticking up for her, looking out for her. She felt grateful. In fact she felt pleased. Pleased to be here, pleased to be part of her latest project. She had enjoyed her wards performance in the FUTA, but she, Mizu, had only ever been a spectator. Here, though, here she was getting to participate. To be part of it. It felt good.

"What I should have asked was," started Mizu, in an attempt to refocus, "Did you make your costume yourself, and did you have one made for Fox?"

She was pleased to have moved the conversation away from a purely sexual topic. Though even as she thought this, images of Sunny Boudreaux, attempting to deep throat Ingrid Fedova, played out in her internal cinema. She had made a valiant attempt.

"Well actually Shaylah created this costume, and I made hers. It was the only way to work it. They're so tight and figure fitting. I just love the way it feels," replied Sunny.

She skipped, pranced and posed to show it off as they reached the steps of the trailer. "But it gets very hot and I'm glad I don't have to wear it very long under the lights." She couldn't help but wink at Mizu as she said this. Emiko rolled her eyes at Sunny's continual flirtation.

"As for Fox. No, we didn't make her one." grinned Sunny, "there didn't seem to be a lotta point."

It took a moment for Mizu to process the information. The realisation that emerged caused the stirring to progress towards a swelling. Fox wouldn't be wearing a costume... Fox would be completely naked when they fought. She'd be striking at Fox's naked form. Her blows would be raining down on Fox's unguarded, unprotected body. She'd be pounding.... beating.... thumping... Fox. She felt herself rapidly hardening and hoped she'd find a chair to hide herself in soon. Her pants weren't going to keep this secret long.

At that moment the door of the trailer opened, and Fox appeared. She wore a flowery patterned silk dressing gown. Her feet were clad in a replica of Sunny's boots. As yet she hadn't put on the rest of her costume.

"Right you are ladies," said Fox, her cockney accent very much to the fore. "I've got room for one mega vixen in 'ere."

"Hi Fox," said Emiko, "glad you made it to the party."

"Emiko," replied Fox with a curt nod.

"Oh, I'm guessing I'm not the mega vixen you had in mind," grinned Emiko. Fox's head had turned towards Mizu.

"Evening Mizu," said Fox. Her face appeared neutral, but the edges of her mouth were fighting not to smile.

"Good evening Yuki," replied Mizu, trying to control her voice. She averted her eyes trying not to make contact, but they were continually drawn back. Sometimes a crush could be a real curse. Fox stood above them on the entrance steps with her arms folded.

"Fox here is going to do your make-up Ms Mizu," said Sunny, chirping in, "I hope that's okay."

Mizu was surprised and a little taken back. She loved the style and application of the 'Geisha style' make-up Fox used in her FUTA bouts. She had attempted to replicate it in secret, but just didn't have the flare for it. Her first attempt could have been described as 'Angry Panda.' It had improved since, but was still amateurish. She often contemplated asking Fox to show her how she did it, but had never found an excuse.... or the courage. It was very unlike her, but Fox made her feel... Well, very unlike herself when she was around.

"Oh, it is an honour," replied Mizu, her face betraying her delight.

"So melodramatic Mizu," said Fox, but her face had broken into a smile, and her eyes added only humour to the comment. She stepped aside to let Mizu enter.

"Your costume is already in there," said Sunny, motioning towards the trailer's interior, "We'll do Emi's make-up in our trailer. Hopefully Shaylah will give me a hand if she ever gets off the phone."

Mizu caught a slight tremor in the redhead's voice as she spoke.

"Is there some problem," she asked

Sunny paused, "Nope. No problem... that I'm aware of," she replied. It was an obvious lie, but Mizu thought better than to push the point. Her mind began to turn over possibilities.

Chapter 6, 'Make-up and revelations.'

"If you'd just plonk yourself down here we can get started," said Fox, indicating the left chair of three the trailer held.

An array of make-up was set out on the table in front of it. Mizu noticed the wonderfully crafted costume. It hung in a clear dust cover on the wall. Directly behind the chair.

Next to it, behind the middle chair, hung Batgirls gloves, utility belt and cowl. The cowl already had a long mane of 'Sunny' like hair attached. The make-up in front of that position was fairly sparse. Mizu surmised this was all Fox had needed to replicate Sunny's Batgirl look.

Intriguingly there was a third costume hanging adjacent to Foxes Batgirl replica. The dust cover was a dark shade of blue. It only took a moment for Mizu to recognise its cut as a second Shiva costume. This must be for the allusive Tori she thought. She was surprised at the emotional response it produced. Disappointment.

No. Not just disappointment, there was jealousy as well. She had started to hope that Tori wasn't real. That secretly this had been some complex scheme to trick her. It was foolish, stupid even. So like herself to hope for the unattainable.

She sighed and 'plonked' herself down. The mirror in front of her was surrounded by lightbulbs. She grinned in spite of the thoughts of a moment ago. Was this what it was like to be a movie star?

Fox moved in and began the process of cleaning off the little make-up Mizu felt compelled to put on. She started to chat about what look she was going for. How it had to be striking enough to distract from her actual features, but be easy enough to replicate onto Tori. Normally Mizu would have hung onto every word Fox said, but right now she was only half listening.

Instead she was watching what was going on outside in the fading light. There was a gap between the mirrors. The window beyond looked directly at the entrance of the second make-up trailer. It had initially caught her attention because of who had walked past. She had just seen Ingrid and Rose, both dressed head to toe in black. She hadn't understood why. There certainly weren't any more characters in the script.

They had come from the direction of the set. They leaned into the trailer and there had been an exchange of 'hellos' and a few other mundane pleasantries. The two then left, returning the direction they had come. Perhaps they were there in some sort of technical capacity.

Next, Nurse Handy had appeared. This hadn't surprised her at all. Her name regularly appeared in many of the 'Sapphire and Silk' credits. Mizu felt her face breaking into a smile as she remembered what Emiko had told her. Apparently Nurse Handy had actually begged Shaylah to let her work for them. She'd even offered to work for free. As the story went, Shaylah had reluctantly agreed. Later on though she'd revealed to Emi that Nurse Handy had actually been their first choice. They paid her handsomely. Reliable people like Nurse Handy were gold dust. Medical specialists even more so.

As interesting as these comings and goings had been, it was what was going on now that held her attention. Everything that Fox was chatting about was consequently unheard. Shaylah had suddenly appeared and was talking rapidly to those inside. She looked angry and frustrated. Sunny appeared, stepping down from the trailer and the two began to have an animated conversation. Several seconds in, Shaylah indicated the phone in her hand and Sunny's eyes went wide in shock. At this distance and even with the door closed Mizu clearly heard Sunny scream the words 'How could she!'

Next Emiko appeared in the trailer's doorway. She looked extremely worried at what she was hearing. Shaylah indicated the phone several more times as she explained the situation. It wasn't lost on her just how often the three conversationalists' eyes flicked towards this trailer, her trailer. Mizu was aware that Fox had stopped talking, and was instead listening intently to what was going on outside. Now that there was complete silence Mizu could hear the rise and fall of the conversation, going by the surprised look on Fox's face though it seemed her hearing was even better.

"Oh shit balls.... that ain't good," said Fox below her breath, before looking towards the unused position in the make-up trailer.

"What is it?" whispered Mizu, following Fox's gaze and guessing exactly to whom she was referring.

"She's only gone and stiff'd them again," said Fox almost to herself, "this is going to be expensive."

'Stiff'd them again?' thought Mizu. This suggested that Tori, she assumed it was Tori, had done this before. She couldn't be sure, but Fox seemed to know.

"Who has, as you say, 'stiff'd whom'?" asked Mizu, her eyes not leaving the scene as it developed out the window, "and is this a habitual thing that they do?"

Fox picked up a foundation brush, loaded it, and started to apply it to Mizu.

"Well as I understand it, Tori was supposed to have been in a previous production. Something about a tooth fairy, or some such," replied Fox, pausing to reload the brush. "But just hours before the shoot, she gives 'em a buzz. Says, 'can't do it luv, got something else on.' As you can imagine ole Shaylah and Sunny go completely ape, desperate for a stand in."

Mizu blinked at this information. They hadn't cancelled the production immediately, but had considered... other options.

"Did they find a stand in?" asked Mizu innocently. Her eyes darted from Fox, who had grabbed her attention momentarily, back to the scene outside. Emiko was sitting on the step of the trailer's doorway looking dejected. Shaylah and Sunny were having a heated conversation as Shaylah worked her mobile and then held it to her ear.

"Well they were in a bit'a luck that time. They persuaded the set builder, to ahem... step in, sort of thing," said Fox. She picked up a stippling brush and set to work again, "I think she's appeared in a few other productions since. Goes by the stage name of Constance Plunging."

The name rang a bell. The Doctor in the mask. The name had appeared in other credits, but she couldn't remember which. Hope began to form. She watched as Shaylah ended her call with a look of disappointment. Then her heart skipped a beat as she saw Sunny point at her trailer and say something to Shaylah, who in turn also looked up at the trailer. Both then turned and spoke to Emiko. Mizu could almost imagine what they were considering. Everything would rely on Emiko's response. If she was repelled at their suggestion. Then that was that. Out of a sense of duty she would refuse, but if she gave some other indication....

She watched as Emiko nodded her head rapidly, enthusiastically. Shaylah seemed to be asking most of the questions, Sunny would make a few additional comments. More glances to the makeup trailer. They asked one particular question and Emiko shook her head and leaned away. Mizu knew that particular look though. They had just asked 'Emiko' to do something 'she' didn't want to do. One corner of Mizu's mouth curled up into a smile. They had just asked Emiko to ask 'her' if she'd do something. She'd bet a year's salary on it, and Emiko had rightly refused.

Sunny and Shaylah looked at one another and then turned towards the makeup trailer, this make up trailer. They started to walk towards it. As they went out of sight Mizu could tell they were having a rapid conversation. That didn't interest her though. What did interest her was Emiko. Her young ward was sitting on the step of their trailer, quite obviously with her fingers crossed. Mizu felt her heart surge. Emiko wanted her to do whatever it was they were going to ask her, but just what that was... well she hoped...

There was a gentle knock on the door, and a creak as it opened. The next voice she heard was Sunny's.

"Well that is fabulous work Fox, it's so striking," said Sunny, her southern accent absolutely to the fore, "you'd be absolutely unrecognisable."

"I must agree, it is very stylish," said Shaylah, giving Foxes work a critical examination. She gave a slight smile and then seemed to remember why she was here. "It's such a pity that we may have to call a halt to the proceedings."

Mizu let her eyes move away from Fox for a moment, but was quickly admonished, "Eyes front Mizu, or this might go al la Panda."

Mizu returned her eyes to the appropriate position. She heard Sunny take a deep breath, this is it, the moment of truth, Mizu thought, this is when they ask me. Little did she realise that both Sunny and Shaylah, as well as Emiko and Fox. Were all thinking a similar thing.

This is the moment of truth, this is when we find out if we've done this right. This is when we find out if she'll do it. Everyone wanted the same outcome, and everyone at the same moment in time thought.... 'Play it cool, just play it cool'.

"Fox, would you mind giving Sunny and myself a few minutes alone with Mizu?" asked Shaylah quietly.

Fox frowned, not liking the idea of leaving her work half done, but just nodded. Put her brushes carefully away, before stepping outside. Sunny and Shaylah waited until the door was closed before continuing.

"Unfortunately it would appear our last performer has," started Sunny, but was interrupted by Shaylah's venomous outburst of "fucked us over!"

"Now Shaylah, we said we'd be professional," said Sunny sternly, chastising her business partner. Before continuing in a much calmer voice to Mizu, "has unfortunately decided not to join us on our latest production."

Mizu could tell from the strain in their voices that they were both extremely upset by the circumstances.

"We haven't told any of the other people involved tonight yet..." said Sunny.

"We were hoping that perhaps another option might be possible..." said Shaylah.

Here it comes, said the very excited internal voice in Mizu's head. She kept her face calm, passive, controlled.