Another place

ACT FOUR Warriors death

Chapter 10

-An ally-

"You wished to see me…?" Rikimaru had started his sentence as he had stepped in the conference room. He didn't know what the issue was as Kiku had sent a word to him that she wanted to see in here. Was it something about yesterday evening, probably not…

Kiku saw Rikimaru come in. Bit of nervously she glanced Onikage who was sitting at the floor and had just opened his eyes, watching Rikimaru walk in.

--- Previously that morning Kiku opened her eyes. She was laying in her bed. Again another day of loneliness and misery was waiting for her, she thought. Then she felt someone move next to her. Kiku turned to her other side and saw someone smiling back at her. That someone was Onikage. "Morning princess" ---

Rikimaru nearly thought that he had something wrong in his eyes, when he noticed Onikage sitting at the floor. Onikage had managed to hide his presence until now. "What is he doing here? Are you all right, Kiku?" Rikimaru asked worriedly.

--- Onikage kissed Kiku like he had kissed her many times during their first night together. Kiku remembered now that it wasn't going to be any ordinary nor boring day. Like many of her days had lately been. "Good morning…" She answered to him, not sure what would she call him.

Onikage didn't care how pathetic or dull would it make him seem, when he smoothed her hair. Smiling her like an idiot. "So it is, a good morning…Glad to hire you say that…" "Me too… I'm glad, that you are… still, here…" ---

"Onikage has come here to join us." Kiku said.


"Is that so?" He watched him like useless old cup. Onikage couldn't really give him back any better look. He rose up from the mat. "I'm afraid it is so…"

This isn't going all so well, Kiku thought watching them stand face to face.

--- "Get up from the bed, so I can keep my promise to you, my princess." Onikage spoke. He was already in his clothes. Kiku had stayed in bed, observing his dressing.
"Why can't you call me by my name?"

Onikage watched her by far. Seeming to be all too serious person, he crossed his arms. He sighted deep, thinking that she was just another woman to him. Just another woman… whom he liked?
And maybe…
"What ever do you want, Lady Gohda."

Kiku gave him back a wondering look. "I meant…" She didn't want to cling herself on him. Maybe I should have just kept my mouth closed… Would he even want me… anymore…?

Letting the words hang in the air Onikage walked beside the bed. He run his finger over her cheek saying: "I think…" ---

"I would like to talk to you, alone." Kiku said to Rikimaru. Onikage walked out of the room in to the corridor. When he was out Rikimaru asked again. "Are you all right? He could have killed you. Where are all of you guards?"

--- "… You should get dressed," Onikage watched her disappointed but keen look. "… Kiku…" He said finally like tasting her name, seeing would it fit on her.

As Onikage still hold her, they watched each other like some kind of spell had captured them both. It felt impossible to breathe. After some time, almost hugging her he then pulled away to let Kiku do as he had suggested. ---

"Calm down… He could have, I can tell that myself, but he didn't…"
"How long has he kept you here?"
"He didn't keep me here. He arrived about three hours ago and offered me a
…collaboration. He was very
…frank, whit me."

"Well now you don't have to stand him anymore, not when I'm here…"

--- Kiku sat on her bed watching his back. He was occupied by his thoughts and she didn't want to bother him. Before starting to get ready for witting Onikage in lives of villagers and her friends, Kiku smiled to herself. She had a reason to do that and it felt nice. ---

"I think that we need him, Rikimaru."

"Kiku, honestly. How could you ever trust him?"
"Everyone has to earn they trust. Besides he holds no resentment towards me. All that, like my dad is now gone in the past. It's time to build new aliments."

"Maybe you are right, but still…"

"I know that my supremacy is going to be questioned, there is now doubt about that. It will be better to have him beside us than against us, don't you think?"

"You have thought about this a lot?" Rikimaru said surprised. "But I guess you are right, in someway…"

"I'm pleased that you feel that way." Kiku said smiling "Could you call him in?"

Rikimaru walked to the door. He hesitated for half a second, but opened the door.

"Onikage!"

--- Kiku rose from her bed getting to her dressing corridor. She needed to look as convincing as she could. Onikage looked outside. Sun had rise up. It didn't much matter anymore if someone would see him. ---

Chapter 11

-Home-

Rikimaru needed to talk to Kiku about the matters of management. It was already midday they wouldn't have much time to get ready if the rumours were correct. He had been looking for Kiku some time now and he had no idea where she could be.

Rikimaru opened a door and glanced over the room. There was bed, kimono rack, cushions and some junk, but not Kiku or anyone. He closed the door and looked at the other room, across the corridor. Rikimaru almost closed the door, but then he noticed some woman standing in behind one of the armours.
"Sumimase, have you seen the princess?"
"Not yet" She spoke softly and not until now he recognised her.

"Ayame?"

Rikimaru stepped in the room and closed the door behind him. Ayame was wearing light blue kimono and her hair was down. She looked like real woman in that. Rikimaru looked her from toes to head and realised how much had he missed her in those couple of days that she and Tatsumaru were away.

"…Was it a nice trip, did you two enjoy it?"

"Yeah, we did… Tell me now; what is all that talk about Onikage being whit us? Is it true?"
"Yes."

"Are you insane?! That man has always been after Gohda's head. How could you or Kiku trust him?"
"It was her idea."

"Kiku's idea?"

"I know what you are thinking, but he could have killed her for days ago; When he was alone whit Kiku, in her room, whit out no-one knowing it. If he would have wanted to get Kiku dead…"

"My god…" Ayame said in fright. "When did that happen?"

"Sometime in the morning, Day after your wedding."

"And Onikage has been here ever since?"
Rikimaru nodded. He had forgotten about his hurry to Kiku when he had seen Ayame.

"It's really not that bad... I have keeping an eye on him… and I'm starting to be quite convinced that he has no tricks in his sleeves… But still, I doubled the guards and some maidens have been sleeping in the same room whit Kiku."

"And Kiku was okay whit it?" She asked not so worried anymore.

"Yeah well, only for one night. Guess she wanted some privacy…"
Ayame sat down at the bed. "You seem to be doing well in Tatsumaru's shoes."

Rikimaru didn't care to answer for that. "It wasn't hard to replace him, not at all hard… In matter a fact, I wouldn't mind to replace him in all the things that he is taking care of…" Jealousness coming out very clearly of his voice.

"Rikimaru, don't start…"
"Me, I thought it was you who started it at the first place."

Ayame watched him and unwillingly she leaned back when he came closer.
"You are forgetting that I'm married now…"

"Whit a man you don't love… and does it really matter? You were engaged when we…"

"When I told you to come meet me at the spring?"
"And when we meat at your room or the Ronin village… or the way back home or… at the shed, should I continue or… am I making you feel uncomfortable?"

She interrupted him for second. "Or in the temple of dreams…That is all that this is, a dream?"

Rikimaru sat next to her in bed as Ayame lay down. "I can live in a dream. The question is, can you?"

"This is more like a nightmare than a dream… I'm in love both of you, but in a different way… I don't want to hurt neither one of you… Can you stand the thought of me being whit him?"

Rikimaru tried to conceal his feelings, but couldn't. He just blocked the whole thought of Ayame and Tatsumaru together.
"I would come back from the death for you, Ayame." He said it and leaned over her so he was at the same level as she.

"Kiss me then…"

Toughing her soft cheek Rikimaru reached to her lips. Before getting further to the affair Ayame interrupted him. "Did you lock the door?"

"…You know me…"

Chapter 12

-Demon inside the castle-

Like Rikimaru for a moment ago had been looking Kiku was Yami now doing the same. She rushed true corridors. Panic crowed inside of her as she run between rooms and halls.

Yami almost well off as she didn't care to look where was she going. Hurriedly she pushed her self off of the fall and kept moving. For some reason she stopped before the corridor took the next turn. She stood still and quiet.

She heard nothing. Maybe it was nothing and she had just pictured the voice. Before she had time to take any steps, Yami saw movement in the floor. Her pulse humming in her ears.

Red line curling at the yellow mat. She froze. Her insides making twisting kind of moves she howled for air, as she tried to be quiet. By incitingly she moved backwards and but her hand to her diaphragm. Even as now; she didn't hear any voices at the next corridor.

Slowly Yami got her curiae together and started walking. She beaked over the corner and saw what she had expected to see. One of Kiku's personal guards lay at the ground. He didn't move.

Yami leaned her hand to the fall. The fear and the smell of warm insides were too much. She puked in the corridor and wept. She didn't dare to check was the guard still alive. She didn't think that he would have been. Killer was some where else by now. She had to keep on moving. She had to warn her princess.

Yami used secret paths that only few knew to exist. She comes in the rest room where Kiku was reading some scrolls. Kiku watched Yami run to her. "My Lady…" Yami pearly could talk.

"Yami? What is it? What has happened to you?" Kiku rushed to her maiden taking a hold on her.

"Your Hig…highness… Danger! You need to save you self…!"
"What danger? Calm down…"

Yami pointed her finger to the window. Kiku let her stay standing and shaking at the mat as she went to have a look. Yami mumbled something. Kiku couldn't say what had startled her so.

Kiku couldn't see anything out of ordinary at first. She looked to Yami who was too frightened to come any closer at the window. "..Look!..." Was the only word that made sense in her speech.

And she looked. Kiku saw various cottages, guards, villagers and everything that belonged there. She was about to turn away and ask Yami had she hit her head on something or had someone hurt her. Then she separated something that moved against a fall of one of the cottages. Not only there were one, but now Kiku could see three of them. She could only think how many of the ninjas hided them shelves better.
"…my god.." Kiku said backing of from the window. "Go… go…" Yami bleated, holding her hands to her face.

"We have to give the alarm!" Kiku turned being already top of the situation. But that wasn't quite enough.

Yami was laying at the mat her throat wide open and red lucid staining her face and hair. Live had already left her body. Kiku could tell that by the way Yami's eyes looked.

"Irritating, isn't it?" The black haired woman said. She kneeled to Yami's body and used the fabric of her kimono to clean the murder weapon. "I don't want your Highness to be stained by impure blood…" The woman said as she rose up and eyed her katana making sure that it had no stains on it. Kiku recognised the woman to be Kagami. She hadn't seen her for a long time.

"Kagami…?"
"Yes it's me, your destiny awaits you in the tip of this katana! I wonder have you been expecting this as much as I have? I have been waiting for so long that this seems to be unreal. But no, now it's just you and me… and your death that awaits you!"

"Why!? Why do you hate me so much…?"

Onikage heard two familiar voices at the other room. Soon he recognised who those two were; Kagami and Kiku. Door wasn't clocked so he could walk in there when ever he wanted.

"Hate you? I don't hate you, I feel nothing. You are an optical on my way. Don't feel yourself special, for it…"

Kagami thought that it was stupid to postpone inevitable. Situation was too perfect. But still she kept on speaking.

"The only person that you can blame is your self! You have ruled for, what… four weeks and how did you use that time that was the most fatal? You busied your self whit a silly little things that doesn't matter! Soaking in self bitty when you were supposed to reinforce your power as you -dad's- inheritor… I almost feel sorry!"

"You are in no place to judge me!"
Spicy, aren't we...? Onikage smiled his thoughts.

"Shut up!! I have all the motives that I need! You can not handle being a ruler… What are you? A little spoiled girl who thinks she can do a woman's biting? It's a miracle that no-one before me didn't care to take an interest this castle, maybe getting rid of you wasn't hard or even honourable enough…"

"You know nothing about me Kagami, or my dad or being a leader in that matter. I have been at the throne for four weeks and maybe I haven't acquired things that would have reached far… But how are you superior? After years of domination, your only achievement was to make those who were weaker than you, to serve and die on your behalf."

…Good one, princess…

"That's a nice try …princess. Who knows if you had been a good ruler… We will never know. I'm tried to hear you voice in my head!" Kagami said and stepped to Kiku. "There is no point screaming and fighting against me… but I don't mind if you do: No-one is going to hear you die." When Kiku still stand at the floor doing nothing, Kagami took a hold at her throat. She shakes her a little.

Kagami had a pored look at her face as this was all too familiar for her. Kiku hold Kagami's hand when she determent tightened the grip. Kagami walked pushing Kiku back.

"Wish Gohda would see you now…! I bet it would make him very sad and disappointed… "

As Kagami planned to thrust the katana in her small chest, a voice stopped her. "Kagami!" He had been there for a while or at least he looked like he had been. Hope rose in Kiku; she had a change to survive.

Whit out even looking to him Kagami said; "Onikage, perfect timing…"
"Kagami, loose your grip."
"Why?" Kagami looked Kiku wondering what was this bizarre change in her.

"…I have something to tell you…"

Kagami continued turning to Onikage and pushing Kiku violently, to the ground. "This is really a bad time to discuss our deal!?" Kiku hold her throat. She leaned on her hand and the other rubbed her throat so she could breathe. She was sure that she was safe. Not letting Kagami's speaking of deals stress her reality. Kiku had to hope that she had made a right decision, when she had put her faith in him.

Onikage walked closer, shaking his head. "Kagami, Kagami… I'm trying to say that… If you… wanna kill -her-…you have to come true –me-."

Thank you…

"What?" Kagami let out a sight. "Are you switching sides!? Why…?"
"We don't share the same visions anymore."
"And this castle, she, does?"
"Maybe..."

Kagami sneered. "Unbelievable… But so irrelevant." She started talking to Kiku as she watched Onikage. "You may got him to you side, but he can no longer protect you…It's too late to change a destiny." She sounded like she would attack to Onikage but made a move towards Kiku. Quickly Onikage tossed a vase from one of the shelves towards Kagami and she turned around. Kneeling down and crashing the vase to her katana. He fated her to get to him and by knock of a head he told Kiku to take a little distance.

Not showing her anger Kagami rose at the floor. "Fine then. I hope you would have gotten pas this… by now. But evidently I have to teach you a lesson."

She hit him in the chest, but Onikage took a hold on her and reaching to her smacked her on the face. She hopped back taking distance. Kagami could keep his hits far out of reach whit the katana and by moving fast, but didn't really get to strike him.

She made a full circle whit the katana. It had been stupid to postpone, so she thought not to make the same mistake twice. When she stopped, reluctantly she gave Onikage an open opportunity. Kagami tried to patch the mistake by doing a dash. It made the situation worse for her as Onikage took a clasp at the blade of her katana.

Kagami concealed her terror. Realising that she had underestimated him, for a second time. They both still kept their hands on the katana. Either one of them wasn't willing to let go.

He took another hand to the sword and moved the other to her fist. After Onikage kicked her on the back, throwing the sword away and chancing their sides Kagami finally get loose. I'm not going to die tonight, Kagami thought. Screaming with anger and pain she prepared to smack him in several pieces. Again she made wrong evaluation of him and he kicked her hard right on the middle of her chest.

Kagami flew against the doors, in to the corridor. Onikage walked to her picking up her katana from the mat. Kagami sat at the floor couching. Her back leaning at the bloody fall.
"Like what could she offer to a demon? Come on I wanna know…" Kagami wanted to by some time. Even as quite obviously the battle was over.

He gripped her hair and lift her up. Kagami grimaced. Onikage pulled the katana true her, sinking the end to the fall. Her ribs pushing all air out of her lungs and her head leaning down as she took a hold of the metal that pierced her. When Onikage let go, the katana hold her to the fall.
"…Something that you could never give to anyone; piece of heaven."

Kagami slide little by little downwards. Her own wait drawing her chest apart. She tried not to show that she was hurting.
"A piece of heaven…? Do you know how thick…and pathetic that sounds…" And then it hit her "My god!…You are the princesses little lap dog, aren't you?…" Thinking of those two together made her laugh and curled her lips in a smile.

Onikage leaned before her. "…Can't feel your legs, can you?"

"Look at your self Onikage!" Kagami snort angrily, from the bottom of her shattered heard she screamed; "What are you, a human wreck?!"
Kagami pulled a knife somewhere of her sleeves and tried to slice him.

Knife rolled at the floor. Onikage wasn't even surprised for that lame try. Not saying a word he watched Kagami.
Her body was more or less num when her speaking got more aching. "Pathetic being!" Her latest move had swaged her body against the sharp blade. Like Onikage had guessed, she couldn't move her legs. Wound was bleeding more and more as her heard didn't quite yet stop beating. Her face was death pale and her eyes hardly stayed open.

Kagami laughed and couched.
"You… I know now what are you after…" Kagami whispered her words "You are never getting it… least of all at her… she's too sweet…to care for a thing like you…"
Onikage saw her small smile and began to whisper.

"Sweet? I can be sweet too… You just never asked me to be…Listen to this…" She had no strength to fight, only to fine and curse her last words. Onikage leaned closer to her ear. He started bending her neck down and her vertebras began to crush together.
"This is the sound of sweet blankness, diarist…"

Onikage didn't take a second look at her body, when he turned around. Kiku faced him. Little surprised Onikage went to her. He didn't know how long had she been standing and listening there.
"Are you alright?" Kiku asked him looking for any cuts.
"I'm fine…" He looked her neck. Kagami's finger tips had left marks. "Your hurt…" he touched the vexed spot on her skin. "You are safe now. Kagami is dead."

Kiku gently said; "My wounds are nothing that wouldn't heal…"

"Back off, Onikage!" A man had jumped in from the window. Soon they recognised him as Tatsumaru. "Didn't you hear me?!"
Kiku stepped between. "I'm in no danger, Tatsumaru. It was Kagami that tried to kill me."

"Kagami? Where is she?"
"She is no longer a threat."
"She is dead, I killed her."

Tatsumaru watched Onikage in disbelief. Last time he had seen him they were at the opposite sides. He had heard the rumours, but hadn't been quite convinced.
"You killed Kagami? Where is the body?"

"At the corridor"

Tatsumaru was about to go to have a look.
"Tatsumaru…"

"Yes, what is it Lady-Kiku?"
"Have you seen Ayame or Rikimaru?"
"No…" Tatsumaru gave himself a knowing look. "…We have captured nearly all the attackers in the castle. I took the libratory to send guards at the gate and the falls."

"I want to know how many of us have been wounded or killed, but first we need to make sure that we know where our enemies are…"

"Yes, I do that. I don't want to leave you here alone… It may not be safe."

Onikage had taken a little distance to Kiku. He was acting like he should be cording to the etiquette.

"Onikage, will you stay whit me?"
Onikage pouted his head down for a sign of assenting.

Tatsumaru wasn't quite convinced of his locality. "You are sure, Kiku?"

"Yes, I'm sure…"

Chapter 13

-Confession-

Rikimaru and Ayame were in the sparring room. They fated the others to come to meet them. Both of them were nerves and quiet.

Room was really a hall than a room with four walls. Part of the floor was covered by yellow mat. Spares and swords had been lifted to stands. Stands leaned at wooden pillars that circled the lines of the mat. Behind the pillars were the corridors and the open doors. Only one wall was closed.

Tatsumaru walked at the sunny yard. He was late, but it was no accident. Carelessly walking and thinking. He wanted to see how bold would they be. He also thought about the issue of Onikage. It was unpleasant to know that he was around. Like putting a basket of bees under you're planked before going to bed. For some reason Kiku didn't think so.

Tatsumaru knew that it wasn't in his power to make the choices. Wish Gohda would still be alive… Tings are getting worse, he assured for himself. Kiku is far too trusting… And Onikage is way too comfortable around her... Who knows how does that demons mind work? The way he watches her it's not tolerable…

Tatsumaru had reached the castle's door, where you could see, the sparring arena. He rose up the two steps quickly and easily. Because of the reason that he had dissuaded to be late at the first place, he looked in carefully.

They hadn't noticed him yet. If anyone else would have seen Ayame and Rikimaru there they would have not suspected a thing. But Tatsumaru knew. He had seen them together.

He watched them talk. Still he was too far to hear their voices, but could see that there were two people in love. It was so obvious.

The way Ayame watched him and the way Rikimaru watched her back. The way he smiled at her, sparkles in his eyes or talk to her… the way he touched her gently.

Tatsumaru would have given anything to be at Ayame's place. To be with Rikimaru.

Watching them now, how they kept their distance. It was killing them both. They were so different, much more distant than back in the shed.

Yes, that was the time he had caught them, literally, in act. Tatsumaru didn't remember what for had he gone there at the first place. Maybe to vets something totally irrelevant. Just to kill some time as Ayame and Rikimaru seemed to have famished.

Tatsumaru was just about to push the door open when he heart or sensed them. Maybe it was some can that rolled over the table to the floor.

Curiosity made Tatsumaru lean to the door so it gave up a little. His eyes only making his daubs stronger.

Why had he then married Ayame. They really didn't have a choice. Their marriage was settled by Gohda and it also was an old custom. Of course they could have made a rebel against it. But then again, being with Ayame wasn't that bad than watching Rikimaru be with her.

He liked Ayame and even wanted her. But he loved and lusted the other.

Tatsumaru walked at the mat. Before he did have time to say anything Onikage walked in from another doorway. Onikage also had tried to come as late as he could. Even he felt their meetings awkward.

"Finally!" Ayame stated on her usual way.

"Sorry, I had things to run…" Tatsumaru said lovingly to her.
"Where have you been?" Rikimaru asked eying Onikage.

Tatsumaru's observation cleaned to Rikimaru. It had been a good decision to make him his successor. Even thought he was slipping a bit. But who wouldn't be when in love.

"I was at the garden, whit Lady Kiku, if you must know…"

"Really?" Tatsumaru looked him suspecting.
"I won't mind if you ask your Lady about it. It's not like I would lose my trust on you…"

Ayame didn't want to hear them carrel. "Does anyone of you remember why we are here at the first place, huh?"

All three 'boys' took a little distance to each other and Onikage said: "Because Kagami is dead… Because you three need to find a new ruler to Lady Kiku's side."

---

"Okay, if this is the best solution that we can come up with, I think that now we should tell Kiku and let her make the final call." Tatsumaru said.

They had discussed four hours for all the options. Kiku had wanted to know what they thought as a croup of her loyal friends and advisers, giving her a time to think before making decision.

"Yes, I think too that that is the best, for now…" Rikimaru agreed.
Can we finally go…? Onikage thought that the croup had been talking -what ifs- over and over again.

"Could I be the one to tell Kiku about it?" Tatsu had asked hurriedly, letting others wonder.
"Sure, you can go right now…"
Tatsumaru hoped that in that way he maybe could have an influence on the final decision.

Onikage rose from the floor and was about to leave. "I need to talk to you Onikage." But didn't get to leave soon enough as Rikimaru had already asked him to stay.
"I come with you." Ayame said to Tatsumaru rising from the floor and they walked away. Leaving Rikimaru and Onikage.

"What is it?" Onikage asked preparing not to lose his temper when hearing the lecture.
"You said that you were with Lady Kiku before you came hear? You spend awfully much time with her."
"Still don't trust me, …Rikimaru-san?"

"It is foolish to trust you, but I do, Onikage. I'm just saying that everyone isn't as convinced as I. You need to be careful, with your background… Lot's of people hate you and for a good reason."

"I can take care of my self."

"Don't forget where you are. In the Azuma-ninja village you have many enemies in here. Even as to be called allies."

"But I am just a ninja?" Onikage smirked.
"You are not just a ninja, you are a demon."

"But you trust me… Because Kiku does?"
"Yes."
"Short worded, are we? I thought you hated me."
"Well, I thought you would kill Kiku by the first change given to you. But you did the exact opposite. Guess I can trust you and let the others trust you too…"

Onikage turned away thinking his words. "And all because of her…, the Lady, I mean…?" Turning back: "You are pretty close, aren't you?"

"I served her father and now I am going to serve her… better than her father. Besides, she's my friend."
"Pretty close then..." Onikage commented with a grin.

"Don't twist it. There are limits what you can say about her…" He didn't get to finish the sentence as Onikage already said shortly. "I'm sorry."

"…Good. Show some respect to her, Onikage. She is above all this shit that we have to put up to… Could you at least behave when you are around her?"

"Your words have limits also, Rikimaru…"
They were interrupted by croup of little girls and boys. They had seen Rikimaru and Onikage on the futon and thought they were going to spare. When two of the most famous ninjas in the village were fighting against each other that was something you wouldn't miss out.

Girl with two ponytails stepped bit of out of the croup as she asked: "Are you two gona fight?"

Other children conjoined her voice, bleeding them to show some (anime)violence entertainment. "I don't think so, not this time kids…" Rikimaru said.

"Come on!...Please…!!" Yelled the little crowd for answer.
Then the girl who had spoke before continued on persuading. "My dad said that you, Onikage-dono, are not at all dangerous to us… If Lady's loyal protector would protect us… But my mom said that you are evil man, with evil thoughts and we should all stay away from you…"
"Is that so…?" Onikage said smiling the girl.

"You-you wouldn't be at all evil and spooky if you would show us how to fight…, please…?"

"Yeah… Why not."
Children that stood at the edge of the futon, between the pillars seemed like going crazy of happiness.

"Onikage." Said Rikimaru's warning voice. Telling that it wasn't a good idea to fight in front of little children.

"Oh, Master Rikimaru is afraid…"
"Are you?" The little girl asked eyes wide and open.

"Noo-o… of course I'm not!" He said playing a long the game. I can't believe this…"I just don't want my new friend getting all embarrassed for loosing…!"

For a minute later were they putting up a show for the kids. It wasn't all fake, of course it wasn't.
"No blood then, they are kids for god's sake…" Had Rikimaru said to him in a low tone.

Cheering children seem to be having fun. When they watched two ninjas. Other seemed to have endless kicking-combo and the other just throw him time after another. In a low voice Onikage said: "Give it up already."
"Me? You were the one who started this."

Kicking him again; "So?"
Onikage grabbed a hold of his shoulders and punched Rikimaru's face against knee before kicking him on the ground.
"Every story has a lesson, Onikage!" This one Rikimaru had said out loud. It was time to get real.

---

Kiku had been busy somewhere else so Tatsumaru and Ayame wasn't able to give her the message and to discuss about it. Ayame had gone to her own paths and Tatsumaru; he just walked around hoping to pounce on someone. Then he walked past the building in which they had kept their meeting.

He heard noises. No-one shouldn't be in there on this time a day, at least not sparring. Better go to check it out… Who knows maybe Rikimaru can't keep his pupils in order…

No surprise that there were pack of children watching the training. But when he saw who exactly were fighting he got upset. Were they fighting on actual cause which would be bad? Or were they fighting just to spar or just to amuse the children, which also seemed bad. Onikage and children having fun didn't quite fit in the same phrase.

Their fight get quite violent, but the children didn't mind. Quite the opposite. Damn it! He use to spar with me, no I don't have even that any more?

"Come on! Give it up!!" Onikage yelled to his opponent. He bended Rikimaru's back against the mat and it actually hurt that much that it made him wince.
"…Never…"

Tatsumaru saw his opportunity to pull the curtain.
"Okay, show is over!" Children had no chance to disagree when Tatsumaru was already showing them the way out. Whining and pit of disappointed they left. Tatsumaru could still hear their worshipping comment's trough the door way. "I'll be Onikage and you'll be…" "Fine! But I don't wanna loose!"

Why would any one want to be a demon?
Tatsumaru thought shocked watching after the children. Then his attention focused on the other two voices that had been hearing on the background for some time.

"…That's nice. But what a fuck did you do to my back?"
"Don't be a whiner. You should have given up if it was too much."
"Like it would ever be." He said trying to get his shoulder feel normal again. "Honestly, what did you do?"

Unwillingly he finally said: "… It's quite simple thing …really… Let me put it on it's place…"
Before Onikage had time to grab him, Tatsumaru had come to the conclusion that this was too much him to watch.

"What a hell were you doing?!"

"Sure you two can short this out… I just remembered… one thing…" Onikage said and leaved the room, running away from Tatsumaru who looked like a train dashing down from tracks.

"Hey! What about this?!" Rikimaru bleated after him pointing his arm and shoulder that he had hard time to move. But obviously it was too late to yell at him.

"What was that all about?" Tatsumaru had come to the mat and talked to Rikimaru's back.
He turned: "That fucking bastard… We weren't fighting really, honestly… There is no reason why he could not be trusted… We were just playing… for the children…"

"He became children friendly all of a sudden, huh? Why is your arm then looking like that?"
"Oh… It's all my fault."

"What? You really should see your self…"
"I should have admitted my lost."

That's true, Tatsumaru thought when seeing him still twisting his shoulder.
"You shouldn't fight in front of the village children… That's all I'm saying…"
"Yeah probably right."

"… Come on, I'll help you whit that shoulder…"

END OF ACT FOUR

Authors note:
Ok… this was weird… in many ways. I first tried to make it serious but it was quite stupid kind of way funny when I read it. But who cares…! Oh… yeah! You! Probably… Well, hope you enjoyed it!