-1"Ayame." Rikimaru sighed.
"We can take them, Rikimaru… but the one…"
"He's a demon, Ayame, not quite your expertise."
Ayame's face hardened and turned away from Rikimaru. He was right, after all. "Well, then, dear Sensei, what do you think we should do? They want the girl, Rikimaru, and possibly her son too. I wont let you risk everything we have."
"Don't be foolish. The girl only set into motion what Fujii had been planning for years. If he didn't strike now, he would have definitely next year. You're forgetting I read the plans, you didn't."
Ayame nodded and picked up her weapons. They had been hiding out in a hut 20 miles from Lord Godha's castle, waiting for their next orders. "This is stupid, this waiting around. Rikimaru, let's just go. Kill the bastards who are hanging out in our castle, drinking our sake and eating our rice!" She sheathed her weapons at her hips and waited for Rikimaru's reply. His back was turned to her but still he said nothing. "Rikimaru?"
"I cant stop you Ayame. But if you go it most surely means death. I know Godha will forgive you for going against his orders, as he wont have much of a choice when you don't come back."
"Then it's settled. I leave tonight."
II.
Two patrolling the outside perimeter, three guarding the gate and seven on the rooftops. Lovely. Ayame crouched down on the tree branch and sighed. She jumped down and made her way slowly through the forest towards the wall. She approached a Kitsune from behind and took off his head, then jumped to the top of the wall guarding Godha Castle. She ran along the perimeter, hoping to find the other scout before he found his comrade. It was close, but as he was approaching his fallen friend, Ayame jumped from the wall and lodged her knife into his skull.
"What's that?" She heard from the other side. Ayame pressed her back against the wall and made her way around the corner before a ninja could jump over and see her. No such luck. "Well, what do we have here?" He said as he drew his sword. Ayame unsheathed her weapons and got into battle stance. "Silly Azuma." He ran at Ayame, but was way too slow. She spun around him and stuck her knife into his back, then pulled up as hard as she could.
"Silly Kitsune." She retorted, before kicking him off her blade. Good one, Ayame. Alert the whole clan. That will be cute. She jumped back up on the wall and scouted the remaining ninja guarding the gate. She took out a poison dart and shot one, then jumped down and stuck her blade through the others heart. I know this castle better than all these bastards put together. She snuck silently to the base of the castle, then made her way around until she found the hole leading to the basement. She slithered down this hole until she reached the other side. Empty, not a ninja in sight. There was not even a ki. She made her way up the stairs and to the first floor. Still nothing. What is this? Some sort of trap. Not willing to let her haste get her killed, she stealthed along the wall and up the stairs to the second floor. Also nothing. This is getting ridiculous. The little hairs on the back of Ayame's neck stood straight up. This isn't safe, I need to get out. She peered out the nearest window and felt a ki coming from the left. She waited until he was in sight, and threw a shuriken in his neck, killing him.Six more. She stepped out onto the roof and slowly made her way up, where another ninja met his fate. There were three more on the next lever and two at the very top. She waited until one walked above her, and then slashed her twin blades through his heels. She watched as he writhed off the roof. Ayame climbed to the next level and couched down. She rolled forward and saw a ninja to her left. She watched his movements, and when the moment was right she stuck a blade straight through his heart. She quickly took out the last ninja with a blow dart. Now for the tricky part. She looked up at the two ninja's at the top, covering each other perfectly. Ayame sighed as she took her blow dart out and shot them both. As much as I love the kill I'd also love to be out of here as quick as possible. She was glad Rikimaru wasn't there to watch her cop out. At the top of the roof there was a trap door, with a narrow passageway leading to the hallway. The entrance was hidden behind a shelf, the perfect escape plan for Godha and Kiku. Ayame made her way to the hall. Still no sign of anyone. She reached her ki out and found a spirit in Godha's room. She opened the door to see a woman in a pink kimono sitting cross legged.
"Ah, Kunoichi, I was afraid you wouldn't show." She stood up and stared Ayame down.
"I'm not one to miss a party, especially after I RSVP'd." Ayame put her hands on her sheathed blades.
"Of course." Ayame's back stiffened as she felt the ki's of 20 ninja standing behind her. "Now, if you'll excuse me, I seem to be getting a little tired." The lady threw a smoke bomb, and all Hell broke loose.
Matching kick for kick, blow for blow, she managed to kill five of them before the remaining 15 made a circle around her. Ayame jumped up to the ceiling and then came down on a neck, breaking it in between her thighs, while simultaneously cutting off the head of another with her blade. She dropped down on her back and cut the legs of three. 10 more. She clenched her jaw and grabbed one by the throat, using him as a human shield. She threw him off her and took out two more.
There was a sharp pain in her butt, and the world went black.
