A/N: (Kay, I'll level with you, this chapter is purely fluff. For the action fans, feel free to move right along to the next chapter. You won't be missing anything.)
With one last attack Ayame's two swords slashed at her opponent, sending him flying backwards.
He collapsed against the ground, whispering something in his own language. Ayame didn't
understand the words, but had a feeling that it was a cry to his god.
"You won't met him, where you're going." She said with a laugh, leaning towards the figure
collapsed on the deck of the ship. She used his baggy fisherman's pants to clean her swords and
then sheathed them, turned away from the dying man and breathed in the sea air.
"Been a long time since I've seen the ocean." Ayame commented to herself, staring over the
railing of the ship. She watched in awe as the waves crashed against the shore, ran along the sand
and then at the last moment retreated back into the sea. The pattern was mesmerizing.
"Is this going to become a habit on our missions, Ayame?" Rikimaru asked as he approached her
from behind. Ayame giggled, remembering how angry Rikimaru had been when he caught her
watching the snow falling at Bizenya's estate. She shook her head.
"Oh Rikimaru, we both know you've already killed every single guard in this place, haven't you?"
Ayame asked, well knowing her methodical partner. He made as if to yell at her but suddenly
grinned and shrugged.
"Yes, because if I don't then someone might come up and disturb you." he said with a smile,
walking over towards her. He gently wrapped his arms around her and closed his eyes peacefully.
"We have some time before the others get here." He commented. Ayame rested her head on his neck.
"How many are coming?' she asked. Rikimaru thought for a moment.
"I'm not sure. Just enough so that we can carry out the important supplies." Rikimaru said. There
was no better justice to the ninja's than killing off an enemy and then taking their finest equipment.
"So we have free time, hmm?" she asked, a coy smile playing on her lips. With Rikimaru still
holding her, she suddenly leaned back and fell over the railing of the ship. The two crashed into
the water and came up laughing.
"Are you crazy, Ayame?" Rikimaru asked, though he had a huge smile on his face.
"Yes." She said simply, then began splashing him. Rikimaru quickly joined in and the two
splashed each other until they both nearly drowned. Ayame swam away and Rikimaru chased
her, catching her quickly and then grabbed her. Somehow still managing to float in the water, the
two embraced in a long kiss. Ayame pulled away, smiling, and they returned to the shore, laying
upon the sand with their arms wrapped around each other. Ayame let out a long content sigh.
"Moments like these..." she said, not knowing how or really feeling like she had to finish the sentiment.
"I know." Rikimaru whispered, kissing her on top of her head. They both stared up into the night,
watching the stars shining down upon them.
"Have you ever wanted to be up there with the stars, Rikimaru?" Ayame suddenly asked, smiling
brightly with childish hopes. Rikimaru saddened at her question.
"I have never truly allowed myself to have such dreams." He said, looking at Ayame longingly.
She gently nuzzled his neck.
"We all have the right to dream, Rikimaru." She whispered. "Sometimes you just have to forget
everything else. We're not ninja's right now, we don't have responsibilities, and we don't have the
fate of the world on our shoulders. We're just Ayame and Rikimaru." She said with conviction.
He smiled at her and gave her a deep sweet kiss, causing her to whimper a little. When he finally
pulled away she was dizzy.
She cuddled up to him and slowly removed the comb from her hair. She admired it for a moment,
her fingers lovingly tracing the artwork. She showed it to Rikimaru.
"You know what I really wish? That we were these two dragons, Rikimaru. That we could just
fly away together and leave everything else behind." She said with such desire in her voice.
"Where would you like to fly?" Rikimaru asked gently. Ayame thought for a moment.
"Just up into the heavens. Maybe even with the stars. I don't know, as long as I was a dragon and
with you it wouldn't matter." She said wistfully.
Ayame never told Rikimaru that she had in fact been with the stars when she died. She also did
not relay the message that death had given her to tell Rikimaru. She decided it was best not to
worry him. She smiled, her eyes hiding her secrets, and watched as Rikimaru studied the comb.
"I would like that, Ayame." He whispered, turning to face her, his cheek now resting upon the
warm sand. They watched each other steadily.
"Your changing, Rikimaru." Ayame said after a few minuets. He looked at her, puzzled.
"In what way?" he asked curiously. Ayame giggled.
"If I had asked the old Rikimaru if he would like to be a dragon and fly into the heavens I'm
pretty sure he would have told me I was foolish." She said.
"Yes, you're right about that one." Rikimaru said. They both laughed for a moment, but when
they quieted a heavy silence fell upon them. Rikimaru's eyes darkened, as if he were recalling
events that were best left unmentioned.
"When I think of our last mission, Ayame," he couldn't finish his sentence, and instead shook his
head and closed his eyes tightly, as if willing the memories away.
"I know Rikimaru, it's all right." She said, trying to comfort him. She snuggled closer to him and
kissed his neck gently.
"You almost died." He whispered, the memories still painful. Though he never did question how
she had lived, he had always figured that the resurrection leaf had saved her just in time.
"Forget all that. That was when we were ninja's. We're not ninja's right now, remember?" she
said, her voice desperate and heavy, and suddenly she kissed Rikimaru deeply, clinging onto him
as if this were a moment they could not afford to lose.
Their hands explored each other in the darkness of the night. Ayame had never felt so much love
in just one moment. She tried to convey her emotions through her touches, making them gentle
one moment and lovingly demanding the next.
"Ai shiteru, Ayame." Rikimaru whispered, his hands trailing over her cheeks. She leaned towards
his touch.
"Ai shiteru, Rikimaru." She whispered back.
The black velvet sky hung over them protectively as they kissed.
