I dedicate this chapter to Gimpy, whose kind words have given me the
reassurance that I have so desperately needed. Thank you, Gimpy.
**************************************************************************** **
Chapter 6 Blade Point Interrogation
Two swords were held at his throat.
"Do not move. Do not cry out." Ayame demanded.
Lord Godha smiled sadly. "I was hoping to watch the sunset."
"You shall see the sunset if you answer my questions."
"Take your blades from my throat and face me, Ayame. I shall answer all of your questions."
"Ha. Still ordering me around old man? Give me a reason not to kill you."
"I'll give you but one. My blood will not provide you with answers."
"But it would provide satisfaction."
Ayame took her swords from his throat and moved around to the front of him. She knelt in a ready stance, able to strike within a breath. Both her swords lay in wait at her sides.
"I'll give you this one warning, old man. I am enlightened. I have seen the universe and the death of a thousand stars, so surely I am able to see your lies and your truths. Give me nothing but the truths, or you'll come to regret it. But I must say, you do not seem surprised by all of this."
Lord Godha shook his head wearily. "Oh my dear Ayame. I was expecting something of this sort for sometime now. Ninjas can only vocalize their emotions through violence. An interrogation at blade point seems suited to this situation."
"Enough with the revelations. You've had your warnings and I expect the truth. First question. When Onikage kidnaped Kiku, did you know of the ransom he placed on her? The price being the head of both Rikimaru and I?"
"No, I did not."
"Who would have received the message?"
"One of the leaders of the lower units, I believe."
"Someone like the former fifth unit leader, Wo Milu Lee?"
"Yes, either him or someone of a similar position."
"Why?"
"I do not understand."
"Why do the lower unit leaders receive your messages and not you?"
"I cannot personally receive all messages sent to me."
"Why?"
"For threat to my life."
"And there we have it. The essence of a leader. Harm's way should be blocked by inferior beings."
"You know it is not like that, Ayame. There is no heir to this clan. I cannot die just yet."
"Spare me. Your biggest threat is sitting in front of you. Next question. If Rikimaru had lived, what would you have done with him? Would you have promoted him to be your personal dog?"
"He would have inherited the clan."
"And what of Kiku?"
Silence.
"Answer me old man!"
"I would have had engaged Kiku to Rikimaru."
"Would the knowledge of the relationship between Rikimaru and I have stopped you?"
"No."
"You both gain and lose years of your life by telling me the truth. Here is my final question. Onikage put a ransom on your daughter, the price being the heads of myself and Rikimaru. Wo Milu Lee intercepted this message and came straight to us, telling us to avoid you and go to the castle ourselves because you would most certainly give into the ransom out of love for your precious daughter. Now tell me, was Wo Milu Lee correct? Would you have traded both Rikimaru and myself for Kiku?"
"Ayame..."
"ANSWER ME!"
"Yes. Yes I would have."
"I see now. I see."
"Ayame..."
"Quite! How did you find us that night? When Kiku and I emerged from the tunnel?"
"Wo Milu Lee had confided to a friend what he was going to do, how he was going to intercept you two. The friend panicked and thought it best to tell me."
"I see."
"My dear Ayame..."
"I am no ones dear Ayame. Hierarchy prevents you from understanding me. Rikimaru and I would have sacrificed our lives for either you or Kiku. We have proved this many times before. Yet because you are royalty you can only think to sacrifice the lives of others to protect your own. You are not a warrior. Your weakness allows you no other choice."
"I do not deny what it is you say. But now let me ask a question of my own, Ayame. You are deep in mourning, and that I can understand, but there is a desperation to you. Something else is bothering you."
"The death of my love is the only thing that grieves me!"
"No, it is not. For once in your life your emotions are completely out of control. You are a wreck and you are unstable. You even wish for cessation just to have freedom from all this. But in your deepest of thoughts I know what it is you wonder."
"Shut up! You know nothing!"
"What if your place had been switched with Rikimaru? What if you had died and not he? You are sure that he would be upset, you are sure that he would mourn you, but you are not sure if he would mourn as deeply as you do. You are at the point where you do not wish to live. Rikimaru's will to survive is legendary. It is the cause of all your doubts Ayame. You do not think your death would have killed him, as his death has done to you."
Both swords were now at the man's throat.
"I lied. This is my final question. What prevents my blades from entering your flesh?"
"You."
There was a heavy silence, and then Ayame was gone.
**************************************************************************** **
Chapter 6 Blade Point Interrogation
Two swords were held at his throat.
"Do not move. Do not cry out." Ayame demanded.
Lord Godha smiled sadly. "I was hoping to watch the sunset."
"You shall see the sunset if you answer my questions."
"Take your blades from my throat and face me, Ayame. I shall answer all of your questions."
"Ha. Still ordering me around old man? Give me a reason not to kill you."
"I'll give you but one. My blood will not provide you with answers."
"But it would provide satisfaction."
Ayame took her swords from his throat and moved around to the front of him. She knelt in a ready stance, able to strike within a breath. Both her swords lay in wait at her sides.
"I'll give you this one warning, old man. I am enlightened. I have seen the universe and the death of a thousand stars, so surely I am able to see your lies and your truths. Give me nothing but the truths, or you'll come to regret it. But I must say, you do not seem surprised by all of this."
Lord Godha shook his head wearily. "Oh my dear Ayame. I was expecting something of this sort for sometime now. Ninjas can only vocalize their emotions through violence. An interrogation at blade point seems suited to this situation."
"Enough with the revelations. You've had your warnings and I expect the truth. First question. When Onikage kidnaped Kiku, did you know of the ransom he placed on her? The price being the head of both Rikimaru and I?"
"No, I did not."
"Who would have received the message?"
"One of the leaders of the lower units, I believe."
"Someone like the former fifth unit leader, Wo Milu Lee?"
"Yes, either him or someone of a similar position."
"Why?"
"I do not understand."
"Why do the lower unit leaders receive your messages and not you?"
"I cannot personally receive all messages sent to me."
"Why?"
"For threat to my life."
"And there we have it. The essence of a leader. Harm's way should be blocked by inferior beings."
"You know it is not like that, Ayame. There is no heir to this clan. I cannot die just yet."
"Spare me. Your biggest threat is sitting in front of you. Next question. If Rikimaru had lived, what would you have done with him? Would you have promoted him to be your personal dog?"
"He would have inherited the clan."
"And what of Kiku?"
Silence.
"Answer me old man!"
"I would have had engaged Kiku to Rikimaru."
"Would the knowledge of the relationship between Rikimaru and I have stopped you?"
"No."
"You both gain and lose years of your life by telling me the truth. Here is my final question. Onikage put a ransom on your daughter, the price being the heads of myself and Rikimaru. Wo Milu Lee intercepted this message and came straight to us, telling us to avoid you and go to the castle ourselves because you would most certainly give into the ransom out of love for your precious daughter. Now tell me, was Wo Milu Lee correct? Would you have traded both Rikimaru and myself for Kiku?"
"Ayame..."
"ANSWER ME!"
"Yes. Yes I would have."
"I see now. I see."
"Ayame..."
"Quite! How did you find us that night? When Kiku and I emerged from the tunnel?"
"Wo Milu Lee had confided to a friend what he was going to do, how he was going to intercept you two. The friend panicked and thought it best to tell me."
"I see."
"My dear Ayame..."
"I am no ones dear Ayame. Hierarchy prevents you from understanding me. Rikimaru and I would have sacrificed our lives for either you or Kiku. We have proved this many times before. Yet because you are royalty you can only think to sacrifice the lives of others to protect your own. You are not a warrior. Your weakness allows you no other choice."
"I do not deny what it is you say. But now let me ask a question of my own, Ayame. You are deep in mourning, and that I can understand, but there is a desperation to you. Something else is bothering you."
"The death of my love is the only thing that grieves me!"
"No, it is not. For once in your life your emotions are completely out of control. You are a wreck and you are unstable. You even wish for cessation just to have freedom from all this. But in your deepest of thoughts I know what it is you wonder."
"Shut up! You know nothing!"
"What if your place had been switched with Rikimaru? What if you had died and not he? You are sure that he would be upset, you are sure that he would mourn you, but you are not sure if he would mourn as deeply as you do. You are at the point where you do not wish to live. Rikimaru's will to survive is legendary. It is the cause of all your doubts Ayame. You do not think your death would have killed him, as his death has done to you."
Both swords were now at the man's throat.
"I lied. This is my final question. What prevents my blades from entering your flesh?"
"You."
There was a heavy silence, and then Ayame was gone.