***Hey guys, This took forever for me to write out and type. This one is a little short. I wanted to get to the good stuff a little faster. I haven't figured out how I'm going to break up the last part. I'm either going to put all of the last chapters into this last section or break the chapters up ala twilight. Either way, Thank you to those that are still with me on this journey. Love you all!***
Raizo's bare chest rose and fell with the deep breaths he was taking as he rested in the center of one of the many training rooms located in the mountains. The sun had just peaked over the horizon filling the room with its light. Each breath let his mind stretch, and scatter in its mission to go completely blank. His consciousness slid into the empty darkness that was the shadow, and he allowed it to envelop him fully. He could feel the shadows slither and snake across his skin. According to the ancient scroll that Mika translated, the shadows were not only just to hide ninja. They allowed them to travel unseen. If the text were true then he should be able to teleport through the darkness to the Sand Tower without anyone being aware.
After about thirty minutes he felt a type of door in his head. He walked through and Mika was lying in bed on the other side. Her arms and legs a tangle of sheets and wearies. Apparently she was so exhausted from her days training that she had decided that she was going straight to bed. Raizo's lips tugged at the corner as he took in Mika's choice of bedwear. The plain cotton panties, and the white t-shirt that was most likely his hugged her in ways he wished he could. Asami would scream at Mika's choice of sleepwear. It was blasphemous for a Lotus to wear anything to bed that wasn't silk. However, Mika would always be Mika, and he loved her for it.
He stepped closer but hesitated to take the final step that would allow him to reach out and touch the star of each one of his dreams. It had been two years since she had made the vow to train with Asami. Raizo had seen Mika a handful of times, but always for business, and never alone. In the end, he skipped brushing her arms with his fingertips, and lightly dragged his lips across her exposed hip. Mika shifted restlessly within the sheets and murmured his name. His smile spread, and he allowed his palm to skim across her skin. Knowing that it was him that Mika dreamed of emboldened the clan leader's touch. He set about re-memorizing each curve of Mika's body. Yet it wasn't enough. In truth, he wished he had never started touching her. He knew it wouldn't be enough, it never would. He didn't bother to stop himself from climbing into bed with her. After he was sure that her legs were wrapped around his waist he trailed light kisses against the column of her neck.
"Mmmm Raizo, don't stop." Mika's voice was heavy with a mixture of sleep and need. Each word earned a kiss on her full beautiful lips. She stirred, and Raizo slowed his movements down. He knew his time was limited it. I was a wonder Asami hadn't come in already. Mika squirmed against him, and Raizo's head was almost lost to the sensation of her skin. "Raizo… please!"
"Depends, Have you been a good girl?" The stalling of his touch was as much for Mika's benefit as it was his. He was edging into that area of madness that would make him forget everything he knew about honor. He wasn't entirely sure he wasn't past that point.
Mika smiled sleepily and nodded indicating that she had been a good girl. Raizo inwardly groaned. Who was he not to reward Mika for being good? His touch dipped below her waist and traced over the material that separated him. She was so wet for him already. Raizo leaned over to press a loving kiss just below her navel. His amused whisper crawled across her skin. "Liar"
Mika twisted slightly, continued to speak to what she thought was a dream. "Raizo, please. I missed you." The sadness in her voice sobered the lust he felt, and he pulled his sleeping beauty into his arms. Cradling her against his shoulder as he laid them both back into bed
"Soon my love. When you are done I will taste every inch of you. We will never be apart again." Still coming down from the near physical demonstration of his need his hips rolled against hers as he pulled her into a hug. The resulting moan was almost his undoing. "Mika… what am I going to do with you?"
Suddenly without warning the door flew open and Asami floated through the door with her battle fan drawn. Dark angry eyes slowly moved around the room. Raizo could only call the expression on her face as thunderous. For a moment, defiance made Raizo want to continue the expression of his desire for Mika while the old woman could only watch. However, the respect that he had for both prevented him from doing any such thing.
Asami stepped further into the room and closed her fan with a decisive snap. "I don't know how you accomplished this Ozouno Raizo, but see to it that it doesn't happen again." The tone of her voice left no room for argument or dissension. The elder Lotus turned and imperiously floated from the room with an annoyed huff.
Raizo's lip curled in chastised annoyance. He slid from the bed, and his gaze swept over his sleeping love once more. Mika was as beautiful as the day that he left her. There were more scars, but they were few. It was enough, however, to tell him that his orders for her not to learn combat were being ignored. She was too tired to just be learning how to pour tea. His traitorous hand sifted through the natural curls of her hair. His name spilled past her lips once more, and he knew it was time to go. After placing a soft apologetic kiss to her forehead, he slid back through the door that he came through. Noting that it seemed smaller than when he had come through.
When he went back through the door he was alarmed to note that it was now nighttime. When he stepped through the shadow he dropped to one knee. His body was completely drained. His pulled in deep breaths that seemed to be actively trying to elude him. He could see why this trick was not in practice by the Black Sand. It left the user too vulnerable. The reports Mika had given him said that at one time the black sand had an army of ninjas that were only called warrior shadows. They would kill without leaving a trail or trace. Unfortunately, they became too strong. They began killing members of their own clan.
He didn't blame them. The train for the Black Sand had been not only sadistic but will erasing. Good soldiers didn't ask questions after all. He knew only too well the hate that sort of training could produce. Soon Aki came in and rushed to his side as he saw Raizo on the floor. Raizo waves Aki off and concentrated on getting up off the floor. Though he was tired he was at complete peace. It felt strange. It was if the world and all of its troubles had subsided. Raizo stood and stretched. He frowned and at the moon's position in the sky. He had a job to prepare for, and a letter to write to Mika. It was the only way he was allowed to contact Mika during her training, and after his little stunt, she deserved one with at least four pages.
Mika frowned at the letter she received from Raizo. It wasn't the normal 'less business, I'm going to make you drop your panties in the first paragraph… then pretend I didn't' loveliness she was used to. The last technique translation she sent him seemed to go well, but he wanted her to check their archives for anyone who had either died, gotten addicted, or just never came back. Mika blinked at the list of things she was cross-referencing turned to her computer with a puzzled frown.
White teeth nibbled worriedly a she began searching their records. Doing her best not to be grumpy about the lack of scriptural cuddling that she thrived on from Raizo. The Lotus in training was languishing without his touch, but she shrugged it off. For Raizo to forego the flirting meant that something went very wrong with the trial run of the scroll. She tapped the keys going through the notes in the system with a fine toothcomb. It was taking a little longer than normal because her heart wasn't in the game.
There was not a ninja in the world that did not know whom she belonged to. It was just sometimes she wondered if Raizo remembered. A deep sigh released her frustration as she as she looked for the information Raizo asked for. It took a good 3 hours to cross reference the information before she found what she was looking for. Her eyes widened as she read about ghostly shadows that would wage war, but would die because they spent too long in the shadows. Those that didn't die soon after because they kept going back. Soon forgetting to eat or sleep in favor of staying in the shadow.
Another sigh escaped from her lips as she moved that into the forbidden to practice list. That particular list was starting to get very long. Mika worked herself to death looking for techniques that would give the Black Sand the edge they needed in their war with the other nine clans. Most notably the Stone Fox. She just hoped that in their quest to keep evil they didn't become evil themselves.
"It is time for training." At the sound of Asami's voice, Mika looked out the window to see that the day was half over. Mika looked up to see that a severe looking Asami and a cheery looking Mai had interrupted her. They had been training every morning for well into two and a half years. Though Mika could say that she had a handle on the art part the martial was much harder to come by. She could hold her own against a normal foot soldier, but against a ninja that had been trained since birth, she would not last long.
"What is it today Asami? Slight of hand? If you make me steal one more wallet…" Mika's teeth gritted slightly. She found that she was getting angrier easier. It used to take forever for her to summon up the will to even strike out at her sparring partners, but now it was just another step on her way to Lotusdom.
"If you would stop returning them I wouldn't have to keep making you take them!" Asami sniffed just as angrily gracefully moving into the room with Mai in tow.
Mika threw up her hands in exasperation. "I'm not keeping stolen wallets! I'm an Interpol agent for cripes sake!"
Asami, ever quick with the comebacks smirked, and slowly looked Mika over. "Correction, used to be. You are now the property of the Black Sand. Specifically Ozouno Raizo. So once again, and I can't believe I have to repeat myself, it's time to train!"
Mika angrily took a deep breath to steady her nerves. Times like this she didn't know if she could do it. Unlike those of the Black Sand, she had been free since birth. The orders, the commands, and the outright demands grated on her nerves like nails on a chalkboard. But like basic training she had to remind herself that she chose this path. She would see it through to the end. "Hai"
Mika stiffly rose and made her way to her site to change. The sight of her bed reminded her of the dream she had of Raizo not too long ago. It had been so real. Her tongue darted across her lips as if she could still taste Raizo on them. A shake of her head and a roll of her shoulders did a poor job of clearing her thoughts of the one reason she was putting herself through this torture. She pulled on her uniform and turned just in time to block a strike from the happy ninja that had followed Asami in.
"Very good Mika-chan! Asami-san said you were taking too long and needed help getting ready. Mai was soon dropped to the floor by a sweep of Mika's feet. Apparently anger made her a better fighter.
"Oh, what's wrong Mika favored by Ozouno Raizo? You look upset." Asami came up behind her and stuck out at Mika's chest with the spike of her fan.
Mika Jumped narrowly escaping getting stabbed with the blades of the fan. Mika was trying to keep a lid on her anger, but it was a very near thing. Asami knew she wasn't in the mood and was trying to rile her up. She refused to give her the satisfaction. "Not going to work Asami."
"You have control. I'll give you that. " Asami struck out at her again. Never losing that terrible smile that told Mika she was about to say something bitchy. "You'll need it for when Raizo has to give the other perspective Lotus trainees the final test."
"Will he?" Mika knew exactly what the older ninja meant by test, and just smiled at Asami. Raizo would never touch another girl test or not. His word was his bond. She turned sharply, and knocked the fan from Asami's grip, and waited for her next move.
Asami saw that jealousy wasn't going to work, and Mika didn't have to wait long to see what other tricks she had up her billowy sleeve. "You think you're special because you have Raizo's body wrapped around your fingers?" Asami spits on the ground dismissing their bond. "Something any half decent Lotus can do. Wait till I show him what an incompetent ninja you are."
Mika reached out and backhanded Asami with her fist before she could stop herself. She was sure that the look of shock that was on Asami's face was also on hers. Mika wasn't aware of how long she stood staring at Asami, but she soon turned and made her way to the doors of her suite. She spent tireless hours making sure that she was worthy of Raizo, the clan, and the very tower she bled daily for. The very idea, that the last two and a half years were a waste of time made her see a shade of red that she wasn't even sure was on the chromatic scale. Once reaching the doors she jerked them open so that Asami and Mai could show themselves out.
Asami looked at the door and sputtered so angrily that she began to cough. "Who do you think you are to dismiss me this way? I have not finished…"
"Old woman. If you don't walk away from me right now I will throw your bony carcass out of the tower window. Training is over for the day. Mai, if you would show the Blood Lotus to the elevator." Mai gently took Asami's arm. Looking for the world as if she wanted to be anywhere but between them. Mika watched as the moved through the door. It must have been something on her face.
Asami gave her a withering look with the eye she had left and managed to walk through the door looking for the entire world like an irate empress. Gracefully floating in a way that made Mika hate her for its beauty along with what she said. Mika slammed the door and got ready for work. She had Raizo's company to run and she would be damned if she failed at the one thing she knew she was good at.
