A guard was waiting for Ayame and Rikimaru as they approached the castle.
"Follow me." He commanded.
The pair exchanged a glance, but followed the guard anyway, being too tired to argue. They knew
of the man vaguely; his name was Wo Milu Lee, and he lead the fifth unit of Lord Godha's army.
The usually calm and cheerful man was uncharacteristically serious.
He lead them to a bare room and slid the door closed hastily. He all but collapsed on the bamboo
mats. "Much has happened in your absence." He said with a heavy sigh. "Princess Kiku is gone."
Ayame blinked. "What?"
"She has been kidnaped by Onikage. A ransom note has just been found. Here." He said, handing
her a crumpled sheet of paper.
Ayame took the paper, her fingers shaking as she opened it carefully and read aloud. "I have
captured the princess with the help of one of your own. If you wish to see the girl again, deliver
to me the heads of Ayame and Rikimaru before sunrise. With utmost sincerity, Onikage."
She put the paper down and stared at the floor, speechless.
"That...that." Rikimaru spat, shaking with fury.
Wo Milu Lee nodded. "I know. By one of your own, we think that it was one of the healers who
betrayed us, her name being..."
"Rei." Ayame finished for him. "It was Rei, but she is now dead."
"I see. Hinageshi was the first to suspect. She has not spoken for the past hour and will see no
one. And Lord Godha, he is even worse."
Rikimaru started to get up. "We should go to him and report what has happened."
"No!" Wo Milu Lee shouted, grabbing Rikimaru's shirt. "You cannot go to see Lord Godha."
"But why not?" Rikimaru asked as Wo Milu Lee forced him to sit back down.
"You both know how Lord Godha feels about Princess Kiku. He would sacrifice anything to keep
his daughter safe. And as of now, with the betrayal, the murders at his estate, and Kiku's
kidnapping, Lord Godha is not of stable mind. I am afraid he might be desperate enough to give
Onikage what he desires." Wo Milu Lee said.
Ayame and Rikimaru were startled. "Do you truly believe he would?" Rikimaru questioned
Wo Milu Lee nodded. "You must not see him. I am afraid for my Lord's actions."
"Then what are we supposed to do?" Ayame asked.
"Well, for sometime now Lord Godha's army has been searching for Onikage's hideout. Two
nights ago I and my unit finally discovered it. It is located west of here, hidden in the depths of an
old forest. It is horrible. His castle is enormous, and from what we could tell, there seems to be
an active volcano underneath it. We had barely stepped onto its perimeter when we were
discovered and attacked. Onikage himself was among them. He stopped his men and ordered that
they let us go. He said we would be of use. But plenty of my own men were allowed to be
slaughtered before he gave this decree. It was a warning, I guess." He said bitterly, clenching his fists.
"Why did he let you go?" Ayame asked gently.
"He must have already been planning Princess Kiku's kidnap and ransom. The purpose in
allowing me to live was to show Lord Godha where to deliver your heads."
Ayame and Rikimaru took this in silently.
"But," Ayame said hesitantly, "How could he be so sure that Lord Godha would have us killed?"
"He knows our army can not simply charge his castle and fight. The only way for us to win is to
go in stealth, and the only ninja's in our army experienced enough to do so are you two. By
eliminating you two he eliminates any chance of opposition. He is gambling with Lord Godha's
emotions to do the dirty work for him. He must have faith in the extremes my Lord will go to
protect his only child and heir."
Ayame gazed at Wo Milu Lee sadly. "Then what are we to do?"
"You are to come with me. I shall lead you to Onikage's castle and to Princess Kiku."
Part 2
Sacrifice of the Boy
"We are approaching." Wo Milu Lee warned. Ayame and Rikimaru nodded curtly as they
followed behind.
The trio traveled lightly. Their feet barely graced the foreign soil as they went through scrolls and
scrolls of lightfoot spells. The moon was large and full, looming over them as they made their
way. Ayame would have preferred the sun to the haunting image of Onikage's moon, but sunrise
was a mark of doom.
"Do you see the oncoming hill?" Wo Milu Lee asked. "It appears to be small from here, but as we
get closer you will discover its enormity."
Wo Milu Lee was quite right. The dark mass was a horrendously colossal fortress that towered
over all that was around it. Even the trees were dwarfed by its magnitude. And Wo Milu Lee was
correct in another way; at its foundation was an active volcano.
"How very charming," Ayame muttered as the trio looked up the steps that let to the castle entrance.
"Thank you for guiding us, Wo Milu Lee. We must depart here." Rikimaru said.
"Wait!" Wo Milu Lee cried. "I must accompany you. Those were my men who were killed
because of Onikage, and he is holding my Princess hostage. I have as much a right to fight as you
have."
"Fine." Rikimaru answered. "But stay behind us."
The trio entered into the forest that paralleled the ascending stairs. They watched the stairs
carefully, and after only two flights they spotted a guard marching its steps. Rikimaru shot out of
the forest and beheaded the guard, then returned just as quickly. They continued to ascend, and as
the next guard was spotted Rikimaru did the same. It was obvious that he would rather have been
alone, void of even Ayame. She frowned, but decided to find it endearing that he wanted to
protect her from battle.
As they reached the top of the stairs they beheld a grand bridge, its huge granite columns
reaching into the sky. Guards wearing twisted masks and outfitted with both swords and bows
were scattered throughout the walkway. The trio did not hesitate.
As Ayame battled she noticed that Wo Milu Lee was actually an excellent fighter. Armed with a
long staff, he swung it with grace. She had to admit though, he still seemed to lack the experience
that both she and Rikimaru had. She deeply wish that he had not become involved in this bloodshed.
Ayame was finishing off her last opponent when she heard a splash. Turning quickly, she
discovered that Wo Milu Lee had been fighting a guard perched on a small rock jutting out of the
river running below. Though he had won the fight, he had been thrown into the water. Using a
grappling hook, he returned to the bridge as a soaking mess. Wo Milu Lee grinned at them
ruefully as water dripped from his black hair and off the tip of his nose.
"A quick bath can't do any harm." He said with a cheeky smile, looking as if he were only a
young boy. Ayame returned the smile, but the trio again departed quickly.
The first room of the castle was just as chaotic as the bridge had been. Rikimaru's sword,
Ayame's twin swords, and Wo Milu Lee's spear all slashed in deadly rhythm. There was great
bloodshed, and their progression was very slow. They did not fall to great harm however, and
only Rikimaru was injured with an arrow to his shoulder as he had been fighting three guards at
once. He took only a small sip from a medicine bottle before he insisted that they continue.
At the end of the castle entrance were two great doors. They had strange carvings on them, and as
Ayame examined them closer, she discovered that they were ancestral beasts. The beasts were
carved all over the doors, and some she recognized from the paintings of hell. As Ayame gazed
at these beasts she felt something for the first time before a fight; fear.
She swallowed hard and pushed on the doors. They swung open readily, as if welcoming the trio
inside. Even more ominous, as soon as they entered the room the doors closed behind them.
"Let us hurry." Rikimaru whispered.
To Ayame's relief, there were no guards in this room. It was bare, save of a few columns and a
small flight of stairs that lead to another pair of doors. The trio, sensing each other's unease,
walked the span of the room, eyeing its gray walls with suspicion. Wo Milu Lee took the lead,
slowly walking up the stairs.
Cold stabbed at Ayame's heart. For an insane moment she closed her eyes. She didn't want to
open them..she knew who it was...she didn't want to see...
Onikage stood at the head of the stairs. He smiled imperiously as he raised his hand with his
fingers curled in a twisted position that Ayame had never before seen. Just as he did, Wo Milu
Lee raised his spear, throwing all his weight into a single forward thrust.
Ayame was a child again. A young, helpless child who could do nothing but watch. She was too
far away to do anything as she saw Onikage's hand press into Wo Milu Lee's chest. She was too
frightened to cry out when Wo Milu Lee continued to go forward, plunging his spear into
Onikage. And she was too wise to think that Wo Milu Lee had won, for that fist had struck a vital
spot in Wo Milu Lee's chest, and there was no medicine in the world that could save him now.
Onikage fell, muttering something that Ayame's pounding ears could not discern. Rikimaru and
Ayame both rushed to Wo Milu Lee's side. His spear left his hand and remained in Onikage, who
disappeared into the hell from which he came. Ayame did not know how she knew, for Onikage
had evaded death before, but not this time, he was truly dead. And to her greatest of sorrows, the
price had been Wo Milu Lee.
"Have I killed him?" Wo Milu Lee asked, blood pouring from the sides of his mouth.
"Yes you have." Ayame whispered.
"You shall pass one with the greatest nobility." Rikimaru said.
Wo Milu Lee nodded wearily. "Yes. That is good. Please tell my wife, tell Kieryn.I shall love her
always."
And those were the last words of Wo Milu Lee.
Part Three
A World's Collapse
Wo Milu Lee's hand slowly dropped from Ayame's grasp.
"We can not leave him here." She whispered heavily.
Rikimaru knew he could not convince her otherwise. The pair quickly carried his body outside
and placed him in the river. There was no time for a proper burial.
"May your spirit find its way." Ayame whispered as she watched Wo Milu Lee. He lay on his
back and floated down the river as if he were at play. A vision of the boy plagued her thoughts,
as over and over again she saw him smile and heard his lilting laugh.
Life is filled with death. Why...why is it always this way?
"...go...Ayame...we really must go."
Rikimaru's words floated to her slowly. She pieced them together and realized his urgency. "I'm
sorry. Let's continue." She said, though a part of her continued to watch at that bridge, praying for
the safe passage of Wo Milu Lee into his next life.
They returned to the castle, this time ascending the stairs without interruption. They entered
another room which contained only an odd uprising in the floor covered by a mammoth stone.
Rikimaru stepped forward and with one smooth push the stone fell to the floor. Ayame marveled
at his strength in being able to move stones as if they were nothing. A shudder ran through her
just then, but she did not know why.
The two jumped into the air and plummeted into darkness. They landed softly, and discovered
that the stone had been hiding a series of underground tunnels. From what they could gather there
were two distinct paths to take.
"We should stay together." Rikimaru stated.
"Every minuet is precious. We must split up, for Kiku's sake." Ayame whispered, though the
words pained her greatly.
Ayame faced him and memorized his every feature. There would never be another man in her life
that was as beautiful as Rikimaru. Never.
"Goodbye my love." She whispered. They kissed briefly, but again Ayame felt as if a part of her
lingered there, forever in that moment.
"Return safely, Ayame." Rikimaru whispered. The two parted.
Ayame trotted down the right tunnel, feeling weary. Perhaps she was getting old. The thought
amused her. She quickened her pace.
She began to wonder about many things. Was Kiku still alive? And if the trio did manage to
return, how would they break the news to poor Lady Kieryn? But what worried her most was that
she couldn't place the feeling that gnawed at her stomach. Something so raw that it made her
ache for the comfort of Rikimaru's arms.
As the tunnel she traveled in took a turn she realized she was crying. She also realized she had
killed several guards already. Her mind and her body were two separate entities. Never before
had she covered her swords in blood and not been aware of it. It was an enthralling and terrible feeling.
Her grief overcame her as she continued to kill. As she fought with perfect grace she realized she
has just reached the pinnacle of her fighting skills. Her body was in top physical condition, and
her mind was free with enlightenment. How much farther could she push herself?
She swung and let out a wail. She dodged an arrow and caused her tears to fly. Sorrow was
threatening to overtake her, and she did not even know why.
Suddenly Ayame panicked. She had entered hell! The cavernous room she had entered was filled
with lava and the horrid smell of burning. Ayame nearly fainted as the heat assailed her. Her
body was immediately soaked through with sweat. She grit her teeth, swallowed her sorrow, and
pushed on.
Two more guards fell. The smell of burnt flesh rose up. She swiftly walked across a small ledge.
Three guards fell. She tossed her hair back and jumped on to a rock jutting out of the lava. She
leaped again and made it to a rock wall. Five fell. She grasped onto the burning rock, ignoring
her scorched hands and hauled herself onto a ledge. She grabbed the leg of an archer and pulled
him down as she rose. This would end soon. She would make it end soon.
Ayame pulled herself up and finally reached a tunnel that lead out of the lava room. The tunnel
lead downward, as if into the center of the volcano, but the temperature became cooler with each
step. Ayame figured that it must be leading away from the volcano, and more towards the earth
beneath the forest.
The tunnel abruptly stopped. Ayame glanced around the room, which was bare save for a large
slab of stone that lay across the floor. She gingerly took a step towards it when it suddenly slid
into the wall behind it. The opening in the floor gazed at her ominously.
"That's a hell of an invitation." Ayame said blandly.
Darkness. Darkness. Darkness. Light.
It only took Ayame four seconds to fall, but many sights and sounds over took her. When she sat
up she readily understood why. The room was filled with a harsh green light, emitted from a
swirling fissure. She starred at the fissure, feeling the hairs on the back of her neck stand on end
with the feeling of its immense power. She looked around, noticing that the floor was made with
a circling pattern of metal, and four demonic statues stood in each corner.
She approached one of the statues and looked at it carefully. It was twice the size of her in both
width and height. The statue was barring its teeth and had a long tong curled around its chin.
"A little much, if you ask me." Ayame muttered.
A cackling sounded from behind her. Ayame turned and noticed the fissure suddenly change
direction, and out came a huge form. The form held a sword lined with metal teeth that sparked
with power. She forced herself not to gasp. The form was truly hideous.
"Ahhhhhh, no one has ever made it to my lair before. I am rather impressed." The voice boomed
out. The creature took floating steps towards Ayame. It was covered in a thick slime and emitted
a foul odor.
"Well I am rather impressive." She said, throwing her cockiness into full form in order to hide
her disgust. "It's about time you made an appearance, Lord Mei-Oh. I was beginning to think you
wouldn't show up."
"Ahhhhh, but my dear little ninja, I would never miss an opportunity to silence even one pathetic human."
With that his sword raised up, reaching so high that Ayame could barely see its tip. She held all
her muscles in perfect stillness. Her entire being was focused on that one sword.
The beginnings of a crack of power tipped her off that it would go right. Ayame seized her legs
beneath her and then jumped, rolling off to the left. The lighting bolt of power struck the ground
where she had been standing and left a black scorch mark on the floor.
"That all you got?" she questioned as she used her full speed. Being but a blur to the demon lord,
she ran behind him and sliced each sword in his back without stopping, and had already reached
the safety of the other side of the room by the time he had turned around.
He grinned. "Ahhhhhh,"
"Shut-up!' Ayame shouted.
He laughed even harder. "But you are not the only one gifted with speed."
He disappeared.
Ayame turned only in time to see the white light fly at her. Her word exploded in pain as she let
out a scream. The force of the impact threw her several feet away.
She rolled on the ground, gasping. Her sight was blurred and she tasted a metallic copper. Ayame
made a fist and weakly pounded it on the ground.
"Just one blast and I'm down." She thought sadly. "Rikimaru, Kiku, I'm so very sorry."
Lord Mei-Oh watched, highly amused, as she tried to get on her knees. With a swift kick he sent
her flying another several feet. Ayame slammed against the wall and fell back to the floor.
Ayame secretly thought "Time, I've got to buy time," and said "You rely entirely too much on
your sword."
"Really?" Lord Mei-Oh asked caustically.
"Really. You wouldn't be able to beat me without it." She said, slowly feeling her strength return.
"Ahh I am so sorry, but I am not in the mood to prove you wrong." He said, raising his sword up
above his head.
Two flashes of light twinkled in the dark of the room. The demon stood for a moment, frozen
with his sword still held high. Ayame slowly pulled her swords out of his chest and throat.
"What's the point of having a sword if it takes you so damn long to raise it?" she asked bitterly.
Lord Mei-Oh exploded into green light. Ayame shrieked and covered her eyes, fearing she were
to go blind. The green light pulsed and writhed, and slowly was absorbed back into the fissure.
The room went still, absent of the Lord Mei-Oh and the light. Ayame sank back to the ground,
allowing her cheek to rest on the warm metal floor. She closed her eyes slowly.
"What a shame I am to die anyway." She thought sadly, feeling the enmity of Mei-Oh's power
still weakening her form. From a great distance away she thought she heard a voice calling to her.
"Ayame! Ayame!" The voice was so very familiar. Ayame smiled. It was pleasant.
"Rikimaru, please hurry, Ayame is hurt!"
Ayame felt herself being lifted gently. Something was put to her lips and she gratefully drank the
cool liquid. She could feel the life return to her body.
"Ayame, are you all right?" Rikimaru asked. Ayame squinted and vaguely made out his form.
"Ayame, please speak to us!" the high voice of Kiku squealed. Ayame let out a raspy laugh.
"I'm fine, Kiku-chan." Ayame said, sitting up. Kiku launched into her arms.
"Oh Ayame!"
"I am so glad that you are safe." Ayame whispered to the girl. Then looking at Rikimaru, "So
glad you are both safe."
Rikimaru looked at her tenderly and then helped her up. They all stood for a moment, staring at
one another. Ayame memorized the scene, knowing that it would be a memory to bring her peace
in the future.
The tremors were at first unnoticeable. Slowly they rose in intensity. Ayame and Rikimaru
looked at each other worriedly.
"What's happening?" Kiku cried out.
"The castle is falling apart. We must go!" Rikimaru ordered, grabbing Kiku and running out of
the room with Ayame.
Ayame could hear the successive crashes of each of the four statues behind her. She shuddered at
the power of the quakes. Kiku held back her tears as she clung onto Rikimaru's back.
"We're close! There's light up ahead!" Ayame panted.
There was a huge crash, and suddenly the light was gone.
"What happened?" Kiku cried when they abruptly stopped.
"A boulder fell." Ayame said numbly. She grasped onto Kiku's hand as she climbed down from
Rikimaru's back. "We will not make it."
Rikimaru turned to her. His gaze was filled with the wisdom that one so young should never
know. Ayame was the only woman in the world who could have met his gaze.
A million thoughts, days, and stars passed between them.
Ayame nodded.
Rikimaru handed her his sword and calmly walked over to the boulder. He turned his back to the
rock and grasped it, having his knees slightly bent. Ayame remembered how at the beginning of
their journey he had tossed aside the boulder blocking their entrance, and she had all the faith that
he would now free their exit.
"What's going on?" Kiku questioned. Ayame knelt down.
"Get on my back." She ordered.
Rikimaru released his full strength. For a few moments nothing happened. Slowly, Ayame began
to see the rock lifting from the floor.
"Go." He cried, his arms and legs trembling.
Ayame rushed passed him. "Goodbye." She whispered.
Kiku watched in horror as they passed Rikimaru, and terrible realization hit her. He would not be
able to save himself. Kiku reached out to his fading figure.
"Rikimaru!"
Ayame raced on, heading towards the light, heading towards the end of her journey.
