If any of the ninja's noticed that Rikimaru and Ayame approached them hastily, brushing sand from their hair and quickly straightening their clothes, they did not speak of it. Instead the group joined them, looking over the ships and buildings with calculating stares. It was a night of work, though as simple as moving crates and supplies, none of the ninja's were thrilled about it.

"I take it you two have already handled the guards?" one ninja questioned. Rikimaru nodded.

"The great Rikimaru and Ayame leave not a single guard standing, allowing us to do the grunt work in peace. Why they don't build a shrine in your honor is beyond me." A younger ninja said, sarcasm dripping from his voice. He then vaulted onto a rooftop before the older ninja's could reprimand him. With this action the ninja's stirred, laughed, and got to work. Rikimaru and Ayame started off to join in the labor when a senior ninja, Bano, came running over the bridge and towards the group. His face was red and streaked with sweat.

"Lord Godha's northern castle has been attacked! Onikage and his ninja army took it over in a matter of hours!" he cried, falling to his knees. Ayame rushed over to him and held him up gently.

"This all happened tonight?' she asked in disbelief. Bano nodded wearily.

"Kiku and Lord Godha are safe in his southern estate. The people who were at the northern castle were his ambassadors and the clan members who lived in the small town surrounding the castle. None were spared." He said grimly. By then the other ninja's had gathered around them and listened solemnly to the man's words.

"Who does Lord Godha want to be sent out?" Rikimaru asked.

"Despite all the ninja's at the castle they were still defeated. He said we can't afford a frontal attack, so it must be in secret. He only trusts you and Ayame to go." Bano said, slowly getting to his feet.

"Lets go, 'Maru." Ayame said, determined to get even with Onikage. Rikimaru nodded and the two headed off before the group could react.

"If they don't stop things now, this will be the beginning of a war. A war we will lose." Bano whispered, watching as Rikimaru and Ayame flew over the bridge.

Time stretched, slowed, speed, and at some points, stopped. Ayame experienced all these as she raced towards Lord Godha's northern estate. The light foot scroll coursed through her body. She was no more than a whirlwind in the night, and Rikimaru flew right along side her. Suddenly the castle walls were not simply foreboding images in the distance, but quite real obstacles just before them.

"There are two ways in which to enter the main tower. One is from an underground entrance down the river. The other is by using the rooftops to get to the topmost balcony." Rikimaru explained calmly as they eyed the gate.

"There are three ways Rikimaru. I'm going in through the front door." She said casually.

Rikimaru stared at her evilly. "This is no time for your jokes, Ayame." He said, full flung into his serious demeanor. Ayame suddenly grinned and pulled out her swords menacingly.

"Whose joking Rikimaru? Tonight, I'm after Onikage's head." She growled, and catapulted herself onto the top of the gate.

"I'm taking the rooftops. And 'Maru, even if you do find him first, don't you dare start without me." She warned before disappearing. The ninja sat in silence for a moment as he contemplated the actions of his dear love.

"I picked one obstinate woman." He finally sighed to himself, and headed off towards the river, unhappily awaiting a very cold swim.

Ayame ran blissfully, enjoying the freedom the expansive rooftops offered her. The gray tiles blurred underneath her feet as the dark sky surrounded her tiny figure. It was a beautiful night, one perfect for revenge.

"I am the light upon your metal. I am the faith guided stars upon your path ." She sang to herself.

Ayame let the words roll from her tong. She randomly choose her words from the air, creating a poem dedicated to the beauty of the night. She hummed a few notes together, weaving together a hypnotic melody.

As she approached her first opponent, a guardsman on the bridge beneath her, she let the remaining effects of the lightfoot scroll speed her so that she quite literally appeared in front of him.

"I am the edge of an impure blade." She whispered as she swung her twin swords.

The resonance of the strike added to the music of her poetry. Ayame jumped and continued her humming as the man behind her fell. She scaled the castle wall easily.

Meanwhile, Rikimaru was swimming silently in the flowing waters of the river, his head just barely peaking above the surface. Only he and a few other trusted ninja's of Lord Godha knew about this secret entry to castle's main tower. Rikimaru could only hope that the enemy had not yet learned of it.

As he pulled himself up from the river he noticed that there were definite ki signatures coming from inside the cavernous entrance. He cursed to himself, wondering how it was that the enemy could have found it so quickly. He pulled himself slowly onto the rocky edge between the cavern and the river, hoping that the water dripping from his clothing would not be loud enough to alert the enemy.

"I am the forger who has no sight." Ayame muttered as she closer her eyes and opened up her senses. She felt only one guard of the rooftops, with the rest of her path being a straight ascendance. Only Onikage could be so bold as to have such minimal security.

Ayame eyed the rooftops strategically. Even if it was mad, she wanted to full on fight this very last guard. She needed at least one good warm up fight before she faced Onikage.

The guardsman on the rooftop was actually a woman. Her cheeks were painted in wicked colors, creating a graphic cat image on her features. Her weapons were huge claws of steel that attached to her arms. With each movement the wind sounded against them, making it very easy for Ayame to track her.

"I am the boulder." A singsong voice floated on the wind, gently reaching the woman's ears.

Rikimaru pulled his sword from a guardsman that had been rather difficult to kill. He cursed, knowing that he had now definitely fallen behind Ayame. He truly hadn't been expecting Onikage's guards to have discovered this entrance. It weighed heavily upon his mind, as if everything taking place that night was a puzzle he could not grasp. He shook his head and hurried down the tunnel, hoping the chill in his bones was nothing more than battle tension.

"I am the river." The voice now called from further ahead on the roofs.

The guard followed the voice, as if drawn by the words. She walked fluidly, simultaneously on alert and attracted to the beautiful notes. Ayame jumped out and struck, suddenly causing swords and claws to fly. Flashes of metal lit the night before all went still.

"I am the dragon that has come for his head." Ayame whispered as the woman fell to the ground. She wiped a trail of blood from her cheek; a slash from the claws that she could not avoid. She shot her grappling hook to the topmost rooftop and swam through the air.

Rikimaru could only pray that his disguising scroll would hold out until he reached the top of the tower. He felt his skin itch as the scrolls power danced along his body, creating the image of the guardsman he had just killed. He was about to ascend up the third flight of stairs when suddenly he got a deadly foreboding from one of the sectioned off rooms. He slowly walked over and peaked his head in, and instantly regretted that he did. The entire room was filled with corpses. Every guard that the tower had must have been piled on that floor. The stench was overbearing, and the blood soaked mats were a mortifying crimson. Rikimaru looked away, wondering how each and every one of those men could have been so off guard that they were killed and dragged to that very room.

Ayame pulled herself up, which did not lack effort, for there were spikes sticking out from the topmost roof. When she was finally on top of the edge she rolled into the downward slope of the spikes and lay there for a minuet, catching her breath. Every spark of energy would be precious that night. She got up grudgingly and looked around, suddenly getting sick of being stealthy. She stood up and inspected the wooden balcony of the top floor. There was no blood or dead bodies, apparently meaning that no one had been guarding this entire open area. Strange.

Ayame easily jumped over the wooden railing between roof and balcony. As she vaguely wondered why Rikimaru was so damn slow, she suddenly saw movement from the corner of her eye. She tightened her grip on her swords and spun to face the stranger.

The full moon illuminated the petite figure of a young girl.

Back at Godha's estate, Bano and his group of ninja's finally returned to their Lord, wanting to stay by his side in the time of chaos. The entire estate was covered with ninja's, some standing plaintively at the gates, others melting into the shadows. Lord Godha was grieving, and had not spoken all day except to send Bano to Ayame and Rikimaru. Hinageshi sat loyally by his side, using her fan to cool her Lord.

For the first time in hours he stirred. "Are you sure my daughter should not stay with me?" he questioned. Hinageshi shook her head.

"It is safer to keep her and you separate, for the time being." Hinageshi reasoned, knowing that everything would fall apart if both of them were to be killed. "She went with Rei to stay with her guards. She is safe, my Lord."

Lord Godha nodded his head wearily and sank back into his silence.

Ayame looked at the girl in disbelief. "Rei?" she questioned.

The girl stood motionless, the moon shining upon her raven hair. The makeup she wore created an unearthly effect, making her skin seem translucent. Her lips were pure scarlet, a scarlet that frighteningly reminded Ayame of blood.

"What are you doing here?" Ayame asked, her arms dropping to her sides as she approached the girl.

Rei smiled in response.

Part 2

When the Moon Betrays


The disguised figure of Rikimaru gazed up the final ascending stairs. A fierce energy coursed through him as he unsheathed his sword and felt the scroll slowly lose its power. Near the balcony and with no guardsman in sight, he let the disguise vanish and reveal his true form. Emerging onto the balcony and looking over the polished wood, completely bare of any blood or sign of fighting, he quickly spotted Ayame's figure in the moonlight.

She stood facing the moon, oblivious to his presence. Her swords were not even out and her stance was completely off. There was something, something powerfully feminine in her stance. It reminded Rikimaru of the way the geishas held themselves, so dainty and desirable. He approached her slowly, his intrigue and anger battling within him.

"This is too much Ayame. To not even have your swords out, are you asking for death?" he questioned, though he was still studying her closely. Ayame let out a long sigh and turned around, a sudden heaviness to her movements.

"I fought Onikage and have killed him. It's over Rikimaru, it's over." She whispered, her voice weary yet elated. A smile graced her features, more beautiful than he had ever seen.

"Already? He is truly defeated?" Rikimaru asked, purely astonished.

Ayame nodded happily. "Come here Rikimaru." She beckoned. Rikimaru followed dutifully, suddenly taking delight in being submissive. He held Ayame in his arms and breathed in her scent, which was oddly unfamiliar yet intoxicating.

"I am so happy now, Rikimaru." Ayame said, tracing her hand along his neck and chest.

"I am as well." Rikimaru said, a sweat forming on his brow. Ayame glanced behind her at the full moon.

"I love the moon, Rikimaru. Have you ever desired all the power in the world, so you could be as mighty and vital as the moon's presence?" she questioned, something desperate in her voice. Rikimaru was startled.

"I though you desired to be among the stars in the heavens." He stated.

"No!" she suddenly objected. "It is the moon Rikimaru. I would do anything to have that type of grace and power. Anything. But I feel it now, when I am here with you. I feel my own power and control flowing along with yours. Together, we could become more powerful than all that lie in the heavens." She said, her hands slowly tracing lower and lower.

"I have never heard of these desires of yours, Ayame." Rikimaru said, though he was quite distracted by Ayame's movements as he spoke.

"My desires are many, Rikimaru. Many." She whispered, then drew him in for a kiss. The kiss was long and passionate, unlike the tender kisses he was so used to. It was a pleasurable and terrible feeling.

"Ayame." Rikimaru gasped, pulling away. Not knowing how to explain his sudden hesitation, he quickly voiced what he had noticed earlier. "Where is your comb?" he asked, unsure of what else to say.

Ayame stared at him for a moment, and Rikimaru could swear it seemed like she did not even know what he was questioning. She then laughed slightly and looked away. "It was lost when I was fighting Onikage." She whispered, the pulled him in for another kiss before he could question her further.

Unbeknownst to Rikimaru, this statement was quite untrue. The cherry wood comb was indeed very close to the two, not lost at all, but still with the original owner. Now tangled in mats of brown hair, the comb was sectioned between the hard bodies of the wooden spikes and the blank mind of Ayame.

Her eyes fluttered open, filled with unshed tears.

Flashback

"Why are you here? Do you have a wish for cessation?" Ayame snapped at Rei angrily. She forced down the urge to beat some sense into the younger girl.

"I am supposed to be here." Rei responded calmly.

The girl turned her back to Ayame and gazed at the moon.

Ayame all but growled at the girl's mysterious actions. She moved to Rei's side and briefly accompanied her in moon gazing, but found no comfort in the hanging sphere. The moon was full, as it uncannily was whenever Ayame had a battle with Onikage. The coincidence had all but destroyed Ayame's admiration of the moon.

"Do you enjoy the moon, Ayame?" Rei asked, as if she had learned of Ayame's answer through her thoughts, but wished to hear them spoken.

"The stars guide me." Ayame answered, though she was suddenly reminded that the stars symbolized both death and rebirth to her. She felt a chill wind blow at her, seemingly trying to push her away from Rei.

"If your loyalties were different, Ayame, it would not have to be this way."

Suddenly the night air filled with a strange sparkle. Through the haze Ayame could see Rei's pale hand in front of her face, open and exuding an ivory mist. All at once Ayame could not breathe, and her blessed swords were dropped as her hands grasped her throat. The haze passed quickly, for the strange wind carried it away, not one sparkle of it traveling near Rei. The girl smiled as Ayame dropped to her knees.

"What is this?" Ayame choked.

Rei smirked. "It is your downfall, Ayame. Though you are tough, you are trusting as well. Hopefully you'll know better in your next life."

Rei bent down so that she was eye level with Ayame. "But for now you'll just have pleasant dreams. That was a mixture of the finest sleeping powder in the world, laced with a special herb that gives absolute paralysis. But you know, the herb I used was actually from an extremely rare flower. When this flower is given to an ailing person they are alleviated from their suffering, yet it can also be the factor that caused the suffering. And when it is mixed with something more potent that itself, its toxicity lessens and it causes paralysis. Rather intriguing, is it not?"

Ayame could feel her stomach plummeting.

"You.mean..."

"Oh Ayame, you are so quick. Yes, the mixture is really all thanks to you and Rikimaru. You survived the summits of Mt. Shiba only to aid in your own death."

Ayame stared up at her hatefully, no longer able to feel her legs or arms. "You've only gotten so far because Hinageshi taught you so well. Without her teachings you are nothing." Ayame spat. Marring her beauty, Rei's face contorted with rage.

"I excelled Hinageshi in every way possible." She screamed, then pulled something from her sleeve. A small scroll appeared from the depths of the kimono; white paper, red bordered, and with black writing that Ayame was unable to recognize. Rei smiled bitterly.

"You will be the first to regret my transgression."

The edge of Ayame's vision turned to black, leaving her eyes to focus on the red of the scroll.

It's blood, she thought numbly as she fell into nothingness.

Present

Ayame scowled as she remembered what had happened, her anger mixing with her tears. Amazingly, she still had power over the muscles in her face, but her control began and ended there. She had no idea what she was to do. If Onikage were to find and attack her now she wouldn't even be able to wiggle a finger at him. Rei' smirking face plagued her thoughts.

"That stupid little..."

On the balcony, Rikimaru had reached the far railing, no longer able to back away from the quickly pursuing Ayame.

"Rikimaru." The Ayame on the balcony whispered, her voice sultry. "Come and take me now, for this is a moment to celebrate. This is a moment we must remember." She whispered into his ear. Rikimaru looked unsure, but he made no move to stop her.

"You are acting quite unusual." He said.

She grinned a feral grin and pushed him backwards. Normally, master ninja Rikimaru would not have fallen backwards with a pathetically loud thump because of one push, but this was a very special case indeed. He looked up as Ayame lowered herself on top of him, something all too anxious in her movements.

"What?" Ayame on the roof thought, confused. She suddenly began to pick up on two familiar kis, which were becoming very close to one another.

One was definitely Rikimaru, and there was a terrible conflict present in his ki. The other ki actually seemed to be mimicking her own, but.it was off by miles.

"It couldn't be." Ayame whispered.

"Rikimaru." The other Ayame whispered. "Rikimaru."

"Rikimaru!" Ayame thought, her mental voice screaming.

White, black, and red flashed through her mind.

"Ayame?" Rikimaru questioned, suddenly feeling as if Ayame were in two places at once.

"I am here Rikimaru. Take me." The other Ayame said.

Ayame struggled violently, though no motion came to her body. "Stop you fool! It's a disguising scroll! Can't you tell?"

Rikimaru was breathing unevenly. The Ayame on top of him seemed to enjoy it.

"No." Ayame thought. "She can not have him. Rikimaru is mine." She had never before been so helpless. She would rather be fighting Onikage to the death than to lie there on the roof, unable to do a thing as Rikimaru made the biggest mistake of his life.

Ayame looked up at the stars, tears filling her eyes again and making the shining lights blur. Two large drops slowly fell down her cheeks, tickling her skin. Her eyesight no longer swimming, she suddenly saw the stars clearer than she had ever before, and then, she saw past them. No longer was there darkness, no longer could she feel the corrupted kis, no longer was she helpless. She saw brown hair, brown eyes, and a healers white kimono with red obi. A memory filled Ayame's mind, and Hinageshi's soft voice traveled to her.

"Ayame!" Hinageshi had once scolded her. "Maybe if you weren't so rash you wouldn't have to come to me all the time." the woman sagely advised as she wrapped Ayame's sprained ankle. Ayame made a face.

"Well what else am I supposed to do? Besides, I can't help it if I get hurt every once and awhile."

"Oh Ayame." Hinageshi had sighed. "Your enemies will only take advantage of your rash, clumsy aggressiveness. You must learn to turn your true energy inward."

Her words had carried such wisdom that Ayame did not disagree.

The memory of Hinageshi stuck with her, smiling at Ayame from the heavens.

"So what is the answer, Ayame?" Hinageshi questioned, provoking the girl to think. "What shall you do now that your body has failed you?"

Ayame thought for a moment, and then the answer became so clear the her that she couldn't believe she hadn't thought of it earlier.

"Ki."

Rikimaru jerked. "What did you say?" he asked, pushing Ayame off of him for a moment. She looked at him angrily.

"I didn't say anything." She snapped. "Kiss me."

"No! I heard you speak!"

"Rikimaru."

"There! Do you not hear it?" he questioned.

"Rikimaru," the voice cried again, now haunting. "Wake up!"

The world exploded in white light. Everything was beautiful pristine nothingness. Rikimaru reached out, losing feeling in his body but gaining the freedom of his spiritual self. Ayame, as familiar to Rikimaru as his own ki, quickly flew to his side.

"Ayame," Rikimaru began, and suddenly realized she had not been with him this entire time. "Ayame, where have you been?"

She smiled. "I'm always with you. You just need to pay more attention."

"I don't understand."

"It's all right Rikimaru. Come here and you'll understand everything."

The two moved towards the center of their little world, were all the warmth and light seemed to radiate. At first there seemed to be something holding them back, but together, they pushed their way forward. A great heat spread over both of them, but subsided just as quickly and left the two breathless and happy. Ayame could hardly tell where her spiritual self ended and where Rikimaru began.

Rikimaru had never been so joyful. "Is this?"

"Yes." Ayame whispered.


Part 3

Enlightenment of the blind



Ayame could feel Rikimaru's ecstasy course through her.

"Enlightenment! We have reached enlightenment!"

"Yes Rikimaru. We have reached enlightenment." Ayame said calmly. "And now that we are on a higher spiritual plane, maybe you'll be smart enough to distinguish me from some low-class tramp."

Rikimaru was thrilled. Even in a nirvana-like state Ayame had an attitude.

"Rei used a disguise scroll and copied my appearance and ki. You nearly slept with her, baka!" she admonished.

Rikimaru was pained. "I am so sorry."

"I know." she responded. "I know. Lets go back and fix things, then we'll be able to enjoy this."

The world of white light slowly dissolved, leaving them to fall back into the blood soaked bedlam that was their reality. But as Ayame sat up, eyeing the rooftop and sky with different eyes, she knew she could understand everything now.

Rikimaru pushed Rei off of him.

"You will not fool me any longer." He hissed. The real Ayame jumped onto the balcony and strutted right up to Rei, picking her up by her kimono and lifting her up.

"What exactly did you think you were doing, huh?" she asked angrily. Rei's eyes were as large as the haunting moon.

"But how?" she stuttered.

Ayame smirked. "Scroll's and tricks can't compare with a ki bond. You're out of you league." And with that she tossed Rei across the balcony.

"What are we to do with her?" Rikimaru questioned, looking over the girl distastefully.

"I dunno." Ayame said.

Rei looked at the pair, water swimming in her eyes. Her blood lips trembled. She folded up her knees beneath her and placed her head on the cool wood of the balcony.

"Please forgive me! Master Rikimaru, Mistress Ayame, I beg of you, punish me in any way you see fit. I am deserving of the most severe of disciplines. Please. Please punish me." She cried hysterically.

Ayame raised an eyebrow. "Well this is one interesting mood swing." She said dryly.

Rei looked up, tears splashing down her cheeks and ruining her makeup. "It was Onikage!" she insisted. "He tempted me with promises of power and used me in order to hurt you. I am so very sorry! I was blinded by his wickedness and tempted by greed. I only wanted the power he offered me. I never wanted to hurt either of you. Only now do I see the error of my ways. You have taken me from his trance. Thank you, thank you!" she cried, then bowed her head once more.

Rikimaru shook his head. "I do not trust her. It is too convenient to blame everything on Onikage." He commented.

Ayame smiled at him, admiring the furrow of his brow and the kawaii look he got when he was thinking very hard. She looked back at Rei, and quite suddenly, she didn't feel angry anymore. She had reached enlightenment, the love of her life was right there with her, and nothing else in the world could ever matter as much. Rei was just a foolish girl who had strayed from the wise path. Forgiveness suddenly felt much better than hatred.

"It's all right." Ayame whispered. "She is only a young girl. She can not be expected to resist temptation, especially that as great as what Onikage can offer. She may yet be purified." Ayame whispered. Rikimaru watched her admiringly.

A cold laugh broke the peace that had momentarily settled.

"How very kind of you! Foolish little girl, what do you think your forgiveness will get you? You should learn that where sentimentality runs, blood runs as well. And you," he snapped, causing Rei to gasp, "How quick you are to turn on me. Playing the victim suits you too well."

Onikage's voice pierced through each of them. They turned and found him staring at them imperiously. He was perched atop the far balcony, the moon illuminating his figure, yet throwing his face into the shadows.

"But I am a lucky man. Two beautiful women in a river of forgiveness and emotion. How very.desirable." Onikage said, his voice malicious and perverted.

Rikimaru, suddenly feeling a rage that he had never felt before, simply rushed up and tackled Onikage. This move, being totally unexpected, un-calculated, and just plain stupid, caught Onikage off guard. The two men slammed onto the roof top, only being stopped from rolling off by the upward spikes. The girls rushed to the railing and watched, mesmerized.

"Get back Rei." Ayame cried, and pulled Rei back as she tried to get on to the rooftop.

"But I have to help!" she wailed.

"Rikimaru will be fine." Ayame said calmly.

Rei suddenly smiled. "He is not the one I worry about."

Onikage and Rikimaru apparently forgot that they were both masters of the martial arts, for they both rolled across the rooftop, wrestling with all their might. With a sudden burst of strength Rikimaru slammed Onikage down and held him there. Rikimaru reached vainly for his sword, but it had been removed by Rei while she had been fooling him. Remembering his very last scroll, Rikimaru held Onikage down with all his strength and pulled out the small paper, chanting the words that would activate it. It was a powerful scroll, one that would put an end to Onikage's life forever, but it required time to chant it precisely. Rikimaru spoke hurriedly.

Ayame's scream pierced the night, halting his words.

"You traitor!" she wailed, putting a hand to her back where a long dagger was now imbedded. Rei laughed and forced the dagger in deeper.

"I know." She said, then pushed Ayame over the railing. Rei followed, her feet pounding on the rooftop like a war drum. She picked Ayame up by her shirt and lifted her, just as Ayame had done.

"Do you enjoy being the weaker one Ayame? Do you understand now how it feels?"

She let Ayame go.

Ayame was weightless for a precious second. Rei's kimono flashed by, and suddenly she saw huge spikes in front of her. Her hand connected with something, something blessedly solid, and she grasped it tightly for all her worth. Her body went through a horrible jolt, ending the falling sensation.

To Rei's great disappointment, Ayame had grabbed onto one of the roof spikes, and was now dangling in the night air. Rei leaned over the roof and watched as Ayame swayed with the wind.

"Naughty girl." Rei admonished.

Only a few feet away, Rikimaru stared into the cold eyes of Onikage. Ayame's scream tore at his heart.

"Finish chanting the words, Rikimaru. If not, I will be the death of you." Onikage warned ominously, but then laughed. "Or do you save the girl? How very interesting."

Ayame whimpered as her fingertips slowly went numb. "How could you?" she asked sadly.

"All I want is power. Don't act like you don't know the feeling. You are just as pathetic and weak as I am. You're nothing more than a girl with polished swords." Rei yelled angrily, grabbing Ayame's wrist.

Ayame cried as Rei grasped her wrist and squeezed. A horrible pain shot through her hand as she struggled to keep her fingers locked on the wood. She looked down and saw that even the few large trees below her looked as if they were bonsai.

"Accept your death, Ayame! I have won!" Rei cried, laughing hysterically.

A hand closed around the back of Rei's kimono and flung her from the roof, her cry echoing through the night.

Rikimaru quickly pulled Ayame onto the rooftop, eliciting a whimper of pain from her. She lay on her stomach and gasped, feeling the dagger's presence more than ever. Rikimaru gritted his teeth, wishing he could take the dagger's wound instead.

"Foolish children!" Onikage cried standing on the rooftop victoriously. "Your compassion allows me to live another day!" he cried, then disappeared into the night.

Onikage's words were locked in Rikimaru's mind, because Rikimaru knew deep down that he had just missed his best chance to rid the world of Onikage's evil. But if given the choice again, Rikimaru would have done the same. He grabbed the hilt.

"Close your eyes and think of the stars, Ayame." Rikimaru whispered.

Ayame nodded her head, remembering that blissful feeling of darkness, and Rikimaru pulled the knife from her back and threw it over the rooftop.

Unknown to the lovers, Rei had not perished.

She lay on the ground, a scroll pulled from her kimono saving her just in time. She called out.

"Master Onikage! Please, please forgive me!"

Onikage materialized at her side.

"You are a traitorous women. You've failed."

"No! I can fix my mistakes!" she cried.

Onikage looked up as something glinted above them.

"There is no helping you now." He whispered, then disappeared.

The dagger sliced through the darkness. Just as Rei looked up it sheathed itself in her chest, striking her heart. Her greed had finally caught up with her. She lay back on the ground, blood trickling from her mouth as she stared with unblinking eyes at the moon.

Rikimaru turned Ayame over carefully and put a bottle of medicine to her lips. She drank it greedily. Immediately the blood stopped flowing from her wound and much of the pain subsided.

Ayame swallowed her sorrow as well, and she gazed up at Rikimaru with held back tears. She trembled. Her hand reached out and he grasped it firmly.

"You shouldn't have."

"Quiet Ayame." Rikimaru said. "For once, do not argue with me."

Ayame lay silent in his arms.









Author's note:

Are you enjoying yourself? Are you cursing my name? Are you getting a craving for miso soup?

I wanted a scene where Ayame was singing, and I figured this was the best time to add it in. Though a stealthy ninja probably shouldn't sing, I really wanted to make up lyrics that matched her actions.


This arc is coming to a close! Just one more chapter, and maybe an epilogue, but then that's it! I hope everyone is enjoying the story so far. I've put a lot of work into it and its really come a long way.

Time for the thanks: Black Joker and Lady Kieryn, you're both awesome! i don't ave 1, stephanie, Brandon M F, Godzilla, and a special thanks to A Tenchu Fanatic for commenting on the sixth chapter, which is my ultimate favorite and required me to sell my soul to my muses to write it. No but seriously, I nearly went insane from lack of sleep while writing that chapter. It was really really really really fun. And Wo Milu Lee, my personal little inspiration and everlasting sexual fantasy, you know I love you very much! Kisses!