Tenchu Sorrows of the Heart
By: Tenchu Girl 27
Disclaimer: I don't own Tenchu wished I did.
~ In this chapter Lord Gohda prepares to make Ayame his successor and meets with Chief Royal Advocate Arata Bunji and his adversary staff to make it happen. While Lord Gohda is more focused on his personal issues at the moment than Japan's safety; Aikyo and Miyo the sister duo will launch their attack on Gohda's capital city of Tokyo. The question is will Rikimaru and Ayame help Gohda before all is lost. Stay tuned~
~Tenchu Girl 27~
Chapter Six: Ayame's Decision
The next morning Ayame awakes to the smell of breakfast. She opens her eyes and saw a tray of strawberry pancakes freshly made with a side of pineapples and orange juice. Ayame wraps herself with the white shite on the mat. As she starts to eat she feels a hand go under her sheet and gently rubs her stomach.
"Maru, I'm trying to eat."
"You still can, I'm not stopping you."
Ayame chuckles as she rolls her eyes slightly as she continues to eat.
"Have you had anything to eat" Ayame questions
"I have already eaten breakfast a few hours ago with Kagome and Kei."
"Why didn't you wake me?"
"You were sleeping so peacefully and you had a lot on your mind. I just decided I will bring breakfast to you instead."
Ayame just smiles in response as she continued to eat her breakfast. Meanwhile Lord Gohda was sitting in the Royal Conference room area where they held large important gatherings in the castle. Surrounding Lord Gohda at the conference room table was Goro, Arata Bunji who was Lord Gohda's Chief Royal Advocate and the other members of Gohda's advisory board. Gohda's maids were also present making sure that everyone had a glass of wine and a hot breakfast.
"I want to thank everyone for coming to meet with me for this very important meeting. As you may be aware my daughter Kikiu has passed away leaving the Gohda family supposedly without a successor. However a lot of you are not aware that I have another daughter." As Lord Gohda spoke most of the advisors at the table were shocked, some even had their mouths wide open. However Arata Bunji just sipped on his wine and cleared his throat. Arata wore a royal red kimono with the Gohda insignia sewed in gold showing his high ranking on Lord Gohda's advisory board. Arata was in his mid-twenties and have graduated from four colleges and is fluent in over six languages.
"You must be referring to Ayame Azuma, My Lord."
"Yes, I am referring to her Arata, thank you. I am looking to make Ayame Azuma my successor, Lady of Gohda Castle."
"My Lord, I am here to serve your wishes as you know. However this may be a problem. For you see in order for Ayame to be Lady of Japan, she must have a husband. It would be hard to find a husband for Ayame due to the fact that she has borne a child out of wedlock. Most men would want their future brides to have never been compromised."
"I understand your point, Arata. However I have the perfect solution to that problem. I will arrange the marriage with her child's father."
"Rikimaru, no what would be of the Azuma Ninja clan my lord? Tatsumaru is dead and they are the only two left?" Goro questions
"To answer that question, I will have ninjas come from all parts of Japan come to try out for the three open spots. I will have Rikimaru chose and train the top three contenders."
"My Lord I will put this down as your official wishes. However the people will question Ayame's claim to the throne. They would just consider her you illegitimate child."
"Let me make myself clear again, what I say goes. Arata, make sure that if anyone openly contest or disrespects my daughter in anyway will not live to see another day."
"Yes as you command, My Lord" All the advisors responded. Just as Lord Gohda was about to start with his next point; one of the leaders of Gohda's army busted though the closed doors of the conference room.
"Lord Gohda, Lord Gohda!"
"Don't you realize that this is a private meeting? State your business."
"I am sorry Sir Goro, but this is an emergency. Enemy troops have overtaken Tokyo! Tokyo is on fire as we speak. My Lord we must get you and Sir Arata Bunji to safety now!"
"Sir Gaku, gather my troops at once, Sir Goro, inform Rikimaru and Ayame of the attack and the rest of you help Sir Gaku defend the castle." Lord Gohda orders as he and Arata followed the soldier to a safer location.
Meanwhile Ayame and Rikimaru took Kei out on a walk in the forest. Ayame held Kei in her arms and was feeding her a bottle of milk. Ayame enjoyed quiet walks around the forest to enjoy fresh clean forest air and the scent of the bamboo trees. Rikimaru and Ayame walked a bit further before reaching a small pound. Rikimaru then stops and lays out a small brown blanket. Ayame sits on the blanket with Kei as Rikimaru kneels down and takes out some lunch out of the basket he prepared for them earlier that day. He had prepared Japanese-Pan Thai noodles with shrimp and chicken. Rikimaru hands Ayame her plate before he began to eat his.
"Times like this make me feel like a normal woman, Maru. Free from obligations, free from betrayal…"
"Finding out that Lord Gohda is your father and kept it from you still troubles you. In some ways I know how you feel I have no idea who my parents are and I don't think I will never know."
"It does, I served him for many years and not once did he ever mention it. Even though he still kept me close to Kikiu, I still feel bitter towards him. Kikiu was my blood sister all this time and knowing this now when she is no longer here is tearing me up inside."
"Now that you know the truth Ayame, what is it that you wish would happen next?"
Ayame couldn't say anything at the moment as she started back eating. She honestly hasn't let herself think that far ahead. Rikimaru finished eating and took Kei out of Ayame's arms and began to play with her. Ayame smiles as she sees Rikimaru spending quality bonding time with his daughter. Just then a rushing sound of footprints and screams broke Ayame's happy thoughts.
"Rikimaru, Lady Ayame, I need your assistance!"
Ayame turned to find out the source and she sees Goro franticly coming closer to her and behind him was Kagome with a frantic look on her face.
"What do you want from me? I was the disrespectful little bitich yesterday right, Sir Goro?"
"Lady Ayame, forgive my behavior yesterday, I apologize sincerely. I understand how you feel."
"Why are you here?" Ayame coldly replies refusing to make further eye contact with Goro.
"Tokyo has been set ablaze by enemy soldiers. Gohda Castle is being attacked. We need for you and Rikimaru to find and punish the people who are behind this."
Ayame didn't respond as Rikimaru walks up and hands the baby to Kagome.
"Kagome, take Kei home ok"
Kagome just nodded as she took Kei back towards Rikimaru and Ayame's house. Rikimaru then looks in Goro's direction as he cleared his throat. The expression on Rikimaru's face was ice cold as his platinum gray hair began to wave in the wind.
"I will go and take care of the problem. I will not let innocent people's blood be on my hands. However Ayame will not be going haven't you done enough to her as it is!"
"You do not understand Rikimaru; this requires the two of you. We have reason to believe that Onikage may be behind this. It would be unwise for you to handle this alone."
"I can handle Onikage. I however will not put Ayame through any of this right now."
"Rikimaru, thank you but I decided that I will go too. I cannot let you do this alone. Don't get this confused Sir Goro I'm not doing this for my father. I'm doing this for those innocent people no matter how I'm feeling right now I can't sit there and let everyone die."
"Ayame, are you…" But before Rikimaru could finish his sentence Ayame cuts him off.
"Don't try to talk me out of it! I'm going with you. Sir Goro, give us a ride to Tokyo I know you didn't walk here."
"Yes my lady, you and Rikimaru come this way." Goro replies as he motioned Ayame and Rikimaru to follow him.
~I hope you guys like this chapter, Sorry if it was a little short I try to make it up in the next chapter. Speaking of the next chapter Goro and Rikimaru have a serious conversation away from Ayame's ears. What is the conversation about I wonder? Once the two reach Tokyo the action begins as they try to kill the enemy ninjas before they completely wipe out the city. Stay tuned! ~
~Tenchu Girl 27~