Both Ayame and Sheoshu had gotten out of Gohda palace unscathed, though a few more guards would not live to see the dawn. Travelling under the blanket of darkness, they had gotten back to the inn four hours before dawn. Dropping all her encumbering ninja armour and items, Ayame fell flat onto her bed, and motioned to Sheoshu to get into a twin bed across the room.

'Best sleep while we still can, it will be a long day tomorrow.'

'Night.'

Ayame slept for three hours. She never did sleep that much, as training to be an azuma ninja was gruelling and sleep wasn't really important at times. Feeling a need for some fresh air, Ayame walked on the balcony, then jumped onto the tiled roof.

She looked around her, the dark blue sky spanned onwards, beyond the small Japanese residential area. The wind whipped long strands of her hair around, suddenly Ayame felt so small in the world, so lost and strange. Memories of those she held dear to herself flew back to her as she stood on the roof of the in.

Tatsumaru.

Rikimaru.

Master Shiunsai.

She felt implored to cry, but she was too well trained to show her emotions. Her face was that of a hard stone, cold and unfriendly. The setting moon behind her back only added to the mystery surrounding her, the lone figure, who was deadly and fatal.

That was what she was, and as she had found out long ago, that was something she could not change.

No matter how hard she tried.

Sighing, she put her shapely figure into action. Jumping back down, she equipped herself, and woke young Sheoshu.

Soon they were on the road again, heading through the deserted houses. Many people had moved away, waiting the time when Moyotoda was defeated. After an hour of running, the shore came into view. Both ninja's backed against a large boulder, looking out.

Two guards, one with a katana, on a smaller boulder, another directly on top of them, with a shotgun.

Ayame gave silent directions. Motioning Sheoshu to take out the guard above, she padded off towards the other guard.

Sheoshu jumped up. Bashing the guard on the back of his neck with the hilts of her kodachis, spun the stunned man around and rammed her hand, which was held vertically flat, onto his neck, blocking off his windpipe and killing him instantly. No blood would show up, thus lowering the chance for the red to be spotted, as it would be very striking against the pale sand. Searching him, she found nothing, and jumped back down to observe Ayame.

Ayame's attack was quick and ruthless. Send a swift kick into the guards back, she kicked out again at the back of his neck as he felt, breaking his neck. Nothing on him either.

Meeting up with Sheoshu, Ayame mentioned to a large cavern.

'We'll have to swim, there's a underwater passage to it.'

The entrance to the passage was a shallow stream of flowing seawater, which was clear. There was plenty of thriving sea life in the shallow, short seaweeds, small coral. All of it was very beautiful. They padded through the shallows, until they came to a abrupt steep drop where the flow seemed to be coming from. It was hidden underneath a high cliff, a medium sized hole where they could slip in. Taking a deep breath, they dived.

They followed the passage until they came to a small air pocket, which was like a small round spaced out area. It was like a well, with a platform on all four sides where the passage ended. A rope ladder was hung, rolling down from a small, well-like steep drop.

Ayame crept up, poked her head out, and saw nobody was there. They both emerged and found themselves in a chain of caverns. Ayame remembered from the scroll the main cavern was smack in the middle, so they crept forward.

Besides a single guard of which Ayame dispatched with a blow dart, the coast was relatively clear. They ran into the main cavern.

Ayame unsheathed her weapons and looked at a burly, big man.

'Are you one of Moyotoda's men?'

'Harr arr! Whad if I am, me pretty liddle sea flower?'

'I'll pretty little sea flower you!'

'A sharp liddle crab ye are, aren't yer?'

'Yes. And this little crab will pound you, you fat little fish!'

'So show me whad you've got!'

Ayame went into blade-to-blade combat. Except the pirate was wielding a club. The club was large and very hard to swing, and the battle was near over before it even started.

Ayame watched the club gain momentum as it swung from the left and to the right, and she ducked. As the pirate swung it to the left again, Ayame slashed out at his wrists, making him drop the club. That was all she needed. With a smooth motion, he was stabbed in the heart.

Searching him, she found the next scroll.

Sheoshu piped up.

'Where are we going now?'

'Some rich guy's house.'

'Whoa! Look at the size of it.'

'Looks like a maze.'

'Whatever. Lets go.'