<strong>Then</strong><br/><br/>The bandits came in waves that washed against the forces standing on the temple again and again.  Each time, there were fewer Sohei to stand against them, but each time they extracted there price in blood.  Through the first few waves, Mai thought they were going to be triumphant.  Yes, they'd lost several good and kind men to vicious ambushers, but they'd rallied quickly to hold the front steps of the temple.<br/><br/>They'd turned back the first few waves with ease.  Mai had dropped two reavers at a distance, impaling them with icicles summoned by the magic she'd been assigned here to learn.  She'd done her part easily at first, her grandmother’s white steel naginata sniping in her hands, deflecting some strikes directly and others with the chill mists of arcane cold that swirled around her.<br/><br/>They only realized too late that the first few waves were mere fodder, sent to weaken them, to show onlookers their skills and—most importantly-reveal to the true enemy which few of them were skilled in the arcane secrets kept by the priests.<br/><br/>They learned their mistake when a dozen arcane strikes ripped across the temple steps in as many seconds, slaying a score of sohei and all but tapping out their magicians remaining strength to save what was left.<br/><br/>Realizing that she was almost tapped out, Mai began to carefully shepard her power, using what little zeon was left to her on shields and letting the enemy come to her.  The shields permitted her to defend against many enemies simultaneously, and to leap in the way of fireballs and rays of darkness to block what most of the men could only try to dodge.  Soon, the few survivors around her were dodging behind her when such strikes came.<br/><br/>Between spells and fire arrows the temple—her home since her gempuku at fourteen, and of and on for many years before that—was in flames.  Those who'd sheltered inside—men too old to fight and young women not trained in war—were forced to flee.  The raiders proved more than ruthless enough to target these non combatants in ways that forced the sohei into vulnerable spots to defend them.<br/><br/>By the time the enemy leader came on the scene, they were already reduced to a hardened core of their most dangerous fighters.  Mai's zeon was exhausted.  Her body glistened with fresh sweat—golden skin brazen ni the firelight.  Her round, full bosom heaving from the force of her breathing.<br/><br/>Seeing the darkly beautiful man appear in the firelight, the young samurai girl's heart leaped into her throat.  A sixteen year old virgin, she'd never dreamed of seeing a man who simultaneously filled her with such terror and such desire.<br/><br/>And he proved every bit the brutally powerful monster she feared!  They were bunched up in three groups, by then. With bone wings spread, his scythe cut a brutal trail through one group of defenders. Mai screamed in fury as more men who'd treated her with genteel kindness since she was a little girl fell into pieces and the other bandits swarmed past the bodies to cut down the ancient ones and seize the miko with lecherous hands!<br/><br/>The dark angel fought his way through the second group of defenders as the two men who stood with her were cut down.  Mai buried her naginata in a bandit's heart, then her hand went for her katana...<br/><br/><br/>Saphire eyes flared wide in despair as the leader of the temple went down, his entrails trailing behind his body as it was hurtled into the burning temple.  “Ojii-san!” she screamed in fury and despair, for the man was as much a grandfather to her as her own flesh and blood.<br/><br/>Then there was only her.  The sohei were dead or dying.  The miko were dragged down the steps of the temple, their red and white robes ripped from their bodies.  With at least a hundred of the deadly reavers remaining, Mai new she was dead.  Eyes like cold blue diamonds affiliated upon the leader as he approached her.  Her sanded foot ascribed an arc in the sand and her right hand seized her katana.  She stood, waiting, death in her eyes...<br/><br/><em>Gods be my witness.  I may die this night, but I will present this man's head to you when I come...</em><br/><br/>He charged...<br/><br/>She drew...<br/><br/>He struck...<br/><br/>“Oooof!” Mai's wind raced from her body as his rising fist took her beneath he breasts.  Her katana flew one way and she flew the other.  For a moment, all she could see was her own purple hair flared out in front of her...<br/><br/>Then her back hit the ground and she dragged several more feet across the grass...<br/><br/>Purple hair settled around her shoulders.  Mai gasped for air, her breasts heaving.  The man was over her and she lacked so much as the strength to spit in his eye!<br/><br/>His hands touched her lips and she swallowed hard as goosebumps shot across her body at the obscene mockery of intimacy.  She whimpered, but lacked the strength to struggle for anything but air as his deft touches sent warmth through her chilled blood.<br/><br/><em>”No, you don't need clothes.</em><br/><br/>“Don't...” was all she managed to moan as he undid her obi with deft hands and pulled her lavender robes wide.  The purple haired girl flushed, shame tightening her throat and forcing her heart to hammer.  She'd failed.  Her charges were dead. The holy sword was lost—either one of these men would soon have it or it would burn with the temple.  Instead of stopping this, instead of drying in the effort—she was exposed like a wanton whore before the man responsible.  Her huge breasts still jiggled from the force of her gasps.  Her rosy nipples tautened a little in the night breeze, only to stiffen to full rosy definition beneath her conqueror’s expert hands.  Her virgin white panties were the only modesty she had left, and somehow she'd rather he see her nude than have those innocent garments exposed to his eyes...<br/><br/>With a bit more wind now, she repeated the word, “Don't...”  This time it wasn't a gasp...<br/><br/>It was a moan.<br/><br/><br/><br/>