Note: The following chapters will not be following the events that occur in
Tenchu 3. I have deviated from all plot lines and am creating an ending for
Ayame that has been forced upon me by my muses.
Chapter 8 To Forgive an Enemy, to Forgive Oneself
"I can no longer accompany you."
"I know."
"I shall wait for you to return."
"That's not a comfort."
The boy laughed.
"I suppose not. But I'll be waiting either way."
"Thank you."
Ayame smiled and turned, leaving the boy and his warmth. They both stood in front of a tunnel entrance, one that the boy assured lead straight to Shiba's heart. The demon awaited her there. Ayame did not hesitate. She plunged into the path that she was powerless to avoid.
It was an odd sensation to travel down the innards of Mt. Shiba. For some odd reason common sense was telling her that she should be climbing up the mountain, not flying down its throat. This seemed especially foolhardy considering that she was going to met a horrible demon, which more than likely was going to kill her because death was waiting for her outside after all. But common sense lead to logic, logic lead to good decisions, and good decisions lead to a long and boring life. She kept going.
Unlike the volcano that belonged to Mei-Oh, Shiba's tunnels became cooler during descent. The air frost gently licked Ayame's skin as she swam through its undulations. The rock tunnel narrowed slightly, constricting her to the point where she needed to bow her head as she ran. She pulled herself in as tightly as she could and made her form as sleek as the guided arrow.
The demon was anticipating her. Desiring her. Taunting her.
"Come, my little ninja. Come see what awaits you."
The voice echoed through the tunnel, seeming to resonate from the very walls. A lesser person would have cowed before the intensity.
"I already know what awaits me there!" Ayame retorted, not losing step. The demon's laughter assailed Ayame's ears and senses.
The oppressive rock walls slowly gave way to a larger tunnel, and following that Ayame was suddenly lead to the innards of a huge rock cavern. Her steps ceased as quickly as she had entered. The sight that greeted her there was completely breathtaking. Huge rock crystals of every size and shape glistened like sunrays on water. Everywhere Ayame turned the light sparkled at her in greeting. Sparkling cobalt, sanguine, and amethyst lights filled all her senses.
"Beautiful." Ayame whispered in awe.
As she beheld the cavern she realized that this perfectly fit the balance. Shiba's inner intrinsic beauty balanced the jagged death of its surface. The boy's words were nothing but truth. Balance was in everything.
Ayame slowly made her way into the cavern, lazily taking in the sights as if that were her purpose. She noticed in the eastern back of the cavern there was an immense compilation of smooth rock. This pile shone as the night but reflected so brilliantly that it was a perfect blend of black and white. Upon it stood a petite figure with its back to her. Ayame walked over to the base and smiled up at the demon, both of her swords still in their sheaths. Ayame took in the figure and recognized it all to well.
"And what do you believe awaits you, Ayame?" the figure spoke, voice harsh and mollifying at the same time.
Ayame grinned.
"Myself." she whispered.
The figure on the rocks turned.
Ayame gazed at her reflection.
"Aren't you an insightful one."
"Thank you."
The Ayame on the rocks sat down casually. Suddenly it appeared as if this were nothing more than a planned rendevous. She stared down at Ayame for a long time. Her eyes were ageless.
"Ayame, there is nothing that separates you from me. We are one in the same."
"So that is what you tell your victims? Very clever."
"No, my dear Ayame. Do you not realize that I am a part of you? Look upon your own flesh!"
Ayame's eyes blazed with anger.
"Quite, face stealer!"
The demon was silenced.
Ayame sighed, sitting on the ground herself. "I will not believe your lies. This is how you torture humans, how you make them go insane. You steal their appearances and make them believe they are seeing themselves."
"I do make them see themselves! I make them see the part that they so try to forget. It is no simple matter of copying appearances. When you see your reflection in a pool of water do you go mad? No. I show you humans something more. Something you'd kill yourselves over upon learning."
There was a short silence. "I do no doubt your words." the true Ayame said. "There are inner evils in every human that are quite powerful. We spend our entire lives trying to run from them. Such a pity that I've only learned now we must ally ourselves with that darkness in order to conquer it."
"So now we discuss philosophy, ninja?" the demon sneered.
"Quite you." Ayame chastised calmly. "If you'd listen to my words you'd understand my true meaning. I've immersed myself in the baseness of my soul since the death of my love. I have reemerged from it now understanding both sides of the balance. Consequently, I can understand you."
The demon snorted.
Ayame continued doggedly. "I should have realized earlier that a demon like you existed. You're the one who taught Rei to make the scroll that steals appearances."
"You're ability to put two and two together astounds me. How long did it take you to figure that out?"
Ayame grinned cheekily. "Not until just now, actually. I had always assumed that Hinageshi taught Rei how to make the scroll." Ayame said. She gazed upon the demon with a new emotion shining in her eyes.
"Stop that." the demon demanded.
"Stop what?" she asked innocently.
"Gazing upon me like that. With pity in your eyes."
"But I do pity you. Do you not see? The ordeal is not yet over. The death of Wo Milu Lee for the death of Onikage. The same for Rikimaru and Lord Mei-Oh. But I'm still alive, which invariably means a demon still had to be alive. We're both the last players of this sorrowful game. How could I not pity you for your loneliness as I feel it all too clearly myself?"
The demon was a long time in responding. "What of Rei?" it asked bitterly.
"I am one extreme, you are another. Rei walked the fine line between. She was a balance in herself. That is it what killed her in the end."
"And Rikimaru pushing her off a building didn't help? Or that dagger that pierced her heart, did that do anything?"
"Minor details." Ayame blinked. "Dagger?"
"You idiot. Rei wasn't completely powerless. A mere fall wouldn't have killed her. The dagger that Rikimaru pulled from your back and threw over the roof landed in her heart."
"Really? Wow. Now that's karma."
Ayame smiled, realizing how very odd a conversation this was. She gazed up at herself, seeing the minute differences. The face-stealer had the posture wrong; the shoulders weren't back far enough and the chin was held too low. The ponytail was also inaccurate. Ayame's ponytail wasn't that messy.
The demon became aware of Ayame's scrutiny and scowled.
"Enough of this idle chat." the demon said, jumping down from the rock and landing but feet away from Ayame.
"Draw your swords!"
**************************************************************************** **
Ayame did not move. The demon unleashed its swords with a lethal hiss. "Why do you not draw? Prepare yourself!"
"No."
Twin swords flashed. One gently lay at the hollow of Ayame's throat. The other right above her heart.
"Do you wish to die?" the demon asked.
"You know as well as I do."
"You know nothing human! Draw your swords!"
"No."
"Why?!"
Ayame slowly reached out and touched the sword at her throat. Delicately she traced a finger along the steel, then moved her hand to its flat side and held it tightly. Carefully she pressed the tip into her neck, causing a slow and steady stream of crimson to flow from broken skin.
The demon pulled the sword away quickly and put a hand to its own throat.
The hand came away with blood.
"No creature of great power can be killed on the passes of Mt. Shiba." Ayame whispered.
The words hung in the air with the bitter cold.
"The end is nearing, which means the balance is at its most delicate. In order for it to be kept, whatever happens to one of us must happen to the other. But you knew that, didn't you?"
"Yes I knew!" the demon growled.
"Then why try and force me into a fight?"
"I was attempting to scare you off."
Ayame laughed. "Oh, clever."
"Quite!"
"Listen, we're at an impass. We can't kill each other because that would disturb the balance. We must find another solution." Ayame insisted.
"Why don't we become friends Ayame? We can sit around and drink tea and talk about how very powerful Rikimaru was before my cohorts and I killed him!" the demon snarled.
"You believe that I feel nothing but hatred for you because you were part of his murder. Listen to me now. I do not. You are part of the balance. You could not have escaped your fate even if you had tried. In fact, I get the feeling that you did."
"Silence! You don't know what you are talking about!"
"Yes I do. You tried to leave the peaks of Mt. Shiba, but you were unable to. The mountain kept you here because you were needed to be a part of this. That is why you seek solace inside the mountain; to nurse your wounds and sorrow among this tapestry of color."
The demon removed its swords from Ayame, but shoved her away roughly. The twin blades were sheathed and the demon ran back to the rock pile, laying its cheek against the ebony rocks for comfort.
"How do you know these things?"
"What I cannot surmise myself my enlightenment shows me."
"But why do you say these things to me? Why do you sympathize with me?" the demon wailed.
"Mei-Oh was the creator of all this chaos and Onikage choose to be a part of it. But you. You were helpless." Ayame said gently. "Not all is what it seems. The one who brings cessation is actually the most compassionate soul in the universe. A kind healer such as Rei was easily tempted by power. What does that say about nature? Everything is in a constant state of change, meaning that there are no true separations between darkness and light. Ninjas are proof of that. We are killing saviors to our people. So, perhaps it is not so hard for me to believe that a demon, in the end, can turn out to be good."
The demon stood with its back to her for many minuets. Eventually it removed itself from its comforting position against the rocks and turned to her. The demon's eyes shone with more light than Ayame's ever had.
"So all that is left..." the demon began.
"....is us." Ayame finished.
"We are the only ones who can understand each others pain. Will you please show me your true form?" Ayame persisted.
"I don't have one. I steal the form of others."
"But what do you look like when you haven't?"
The demon lowered its head. Slowly Ayame's features washed off the demon, leaving nothing but a shadowy blackness. A wraith-like creature hovered before her now, its evanescent form constantly taking new shape. Ayame slowly discerned persistent features; high cheekbones, round eyes of night, and unlike the boy of cessation, dark sun touched skin.
"I like this form best." Ayame whispered.
The demon could not look her in the eyes. "So where do we go from here, human?"
"Ayame. My name is Ayame."
She waited patiently.
"If you're waiting for me to give you my name hu...Ayame," it snapped, "I do not have one."
"No name?" Ayame questioned.
"No. Name's are not necessary."
"I must disagree with you. They are one of the many things that prove our existence."
"And how can you be so damn sure that we exist, Ayame?"
"Getting philosophical on me, demon?"
The demon did not respond.
"I shall give you a name then. When I was little I had a dog that reminds me of you. Stubborn, unruly, and surprisingly loyal. Its name was Shiro. Do you like that?"
"You name me after a dog? That is an insult."
"I'm taking your barely suppressed grin as an affirmation. Come along Shiro. Lets go."
"Now you order me like a dog? Hey, wait! Where are you going?"
Ayame gazed fondly at the cavern one last time. The colors seemed to sparkle with greater brilliance as she departed. The indigo clusters at the roof of the cavern especially caught her eyes, as did the final view of the ebony ivory rock pile that could bring about solace for a demon.
Ayame reentered the tunnel with the demon following behind. Only her own footsteps sounded throughout the passageway. Ayame could feel her companion becoming desperate. "Ayame, where are you going?"
"If you do not want to follow than you do not have to."
"You know that I must!" Yes, Ayame thought grimly. The balance was reaching a climax. Where one of them went the other had to follow.
"We are going to face cessation. Together." Ayame said calmly.
"How easy that is for you, human." the demon spat. "Cessation for humans bring about peace. It is nothing but torment for demons. I shall be forced to return to the service of Mei-Oh."
"I was told once that after cessation all beings are sent where they are meant to be sent. I have utmost faith in this."
"Ayame!" the demon cried.
Ayame turned around and smiled. "Do not worry so, Shiro. As you and I face cessation and receive our sentences, be comforted by the fact that we face our spiritual judgements together."
"You are a fool to try and share the burden of a demon."
Ayame chuckled. "Stand with me Shiro and I assure you that the burden we alleviate from each other shall be equal."
The rest of their way was made in silence. As the pair left the safety of Mt. Shiba's innards they were greeted by the boy. He smiled warmly at the pair.
"I had faith that you could do this, Ayame." he said.
"His life was sad. He was forced into this game, whereas the rest of us choose to be participants. Why was he used in this manner?" Ayame asked.
The boy was crestfallen. "Yes Ayame, even I shall admit that his role in all of this was a terrible injustice. He was but a mere lower demon who had to be used to complete the balance." The boy then turned to the demon. "Do not worry yourself. You had no direct part in the bloodshed."
"I aided Rei and directed the demons," Shiro said sadly.
Ayame scoffed. "I've done worse." she said rather proudly.
The boy laughed. "She's right you know."
"But what will become of me?" Shiro asked.
"I believe it is time both he and I were sentenced," Ayame said. "And know this; I stand beside him in his time of judgement.
The demon did not hesitate. "And I am besides her."
The boy looked thoughtful. "Even I did not expect you two to learn so much from these events. It is good that these sad days shall draw to a close with both of you enlightened."
"So, is it my time to move on yet?" Ayame asked.
The boy shook his head sadly. "No it is not, my dearest. I am so sorry, but there is time yet before you are reunited with Rikimaru. But please, my Ayame, do not be so eager to die. I have promised you that you will be reunited with him some day and I shall keep myself to that promise."
Ayame nodded solemnly.
"And what of myself?" Shiro asked.
"Why do you not advise me, Ayame? I believe you have more right to decide his fate than I."
Ayame smiled. "I believe that Shiro has earned a chance at a life where he has the right to choose his side of the balance."
The boy smiled. "Is that all right with you, Shiro?"
Shiro's form solidified enough for Ayame to see his eyes go wide. "Nothing would please me more." he said.
"Good. Reach out to me, Shiro."
The boy held out his transparent hand and Shiro mirrored his movement. The two fluid hands meet and a small light formed between them. Shiro smiled as his form slowly began to fade.
"Goodbye, Shiro." Ayame whispered as the final traces of Shiro merged with the endless night.
**************************************************************************** **
"Will I see him again?"
"Sooner than you expect."
The boy and Ayame stood in the fading warmth of Shiro's spirit. Ayame lost herself in the boy's eyes, lusting for the days when she would be reunited with her love. The boy smiled, knowing her thoughts.
"That night Ayame, when Rikimaru believed you to be dead, the only thing that prevented him from following you into death was the urgency of the Kiku's illness. Even then he was resolved to kill himself as soon as he had delivered to her the cure."
"Really?" Ayame questioned, completely startled.
"Yes. Rikimaru's love for you never faltered. Do not feel guiltily over your doubts of him. You are human, you could not escape disbelief over everything that you believed to be true when your world collapsed."
"Even through a thousand lifetimes I still would not be able to thank you enough." Ayame said.
"It is I who should be thanking you. Not many souls could have done what you have. Go now Ayame. Return home and find some peace. Your master is waiting for you. I believe it is time for his true self to come through."
**************************************************************************** **
Authors note:
Well hoped you liked that. It took me much longer to make this chapter clear than it actually took to write! Oh, and I really have no clue as to what crystals or rock formations can be found in Japan, the point was to make a balance of Mt. Shiba, not for it to be literal.
Thanks a bunch Et-chan, if I'm thinking of the right series than I absolutely love that one (it's the one by CLAMP, right?). Psygirl, our dearest Ayame has survived yet another chapter and seems to have most of her sanity intact (such a shame I cannot say the same for myself!). Lady Kieryn, thanks for sticking with me, and to Gimpy, your enthusiastic (and hyper) reviews have kept me pumped, especially during these spiritual and abstract chapters which are incredibly hard to write. Thank you thank you thank you.
Oh, and Wo Milu Lee, my constant inspirer who is too lazy to review and instead contents himself with supporting me over the phone, I'm simply in love with you and for purely physical reasons such as your body and your manly sexiness. Has not a thing to do with personality or intelligence or kindness AT ALL.
Still a bit more to go! See you in a week or so.
Chapter 8 To Forgive an Enemy, to Forgive Oneself
"I can no longer accompany you."
"I know."
"I shall wait for you to return."
"That's not a comfort."
The boy laughed.
"I suppose not. But I'll be waiting either way."
"Thank you."
Ayame smiled and turned, leaving the boy and his warmth. They both stood in front of a tunnel entrance, one that the boy assured lead straight to Shiba's heart. The demon awaited her there. Ayame did not hesitate. She plunged into the path that she was powerless to avoid.
It was an odd sensation to travel down the innards of Mt. Shiba. For some odd reason common sense was telling her that she should be climbing up the mountain, not flying down its throat. This seemed especially foolhardy considering that she was going to met a horrible demon, which more than likely was going to kill her because death was waiting for her outside after all. But common sense lead to logic, logic lead to good decisions, and good decisions lead to a long and boring life. She kept going.
Unlike the volcano that belonged to Mei-Oh, Shiba's tunnels became cooler during descent. The air frost gently licked Ayame's skin as she swam through its undulations. The rock tunnel narrowed slightly, constricting her to the point where she needed to bow her head as she ran. She pulled herself in as tightly as she could and made her form as sleek as the guided arrow.
The demon was anticipating her. Desiring her. Taunting her.
"Come, my little ninja. Come see what awaits you."
The voice echoed through the tunnel, seeming to resonate from the very walls. A lesser person would have cowed before the intensity.
"I already know what awaits me there!" Ayame retorted, not losing step. The demon's laughter assailed Ayame's ears and senses.
The oppressive rock walls slowly gave way to a larger tunnel, and following that Ayame was suddenly lead to the innards of a huge rock cavern. Her steps ceased as quickly as she had entered. The sight that greeted her there was completely breathtaking. Huge rock crystals of every size and shape glistened like sunrays on water. Everywhere Ayame turned the light sparkled at her in greeting. Sparkling cobalt, sanguine, and amethyst lights filled all her senses.
"Beautiful." Ayame whispered in awe.
As she beheld the cavern she realized that this perfectly fit the balance. Shiba's inner intrinsic beauty balanced the jagged death of its surface. The boy's words were nothing but truth. Balance was in everything.
Ayame slowly made her way into the cavern, lazily taking in the sights as if that were her purpose. She noticed in the eastern back of the cavern there was an immense compilation of smooth rock. This pile shone as the night but reflected so brilliantly that it was a perfect blend of black and white. Upon it stood a petite figure with its back to her. Ayame walked over to the base and smiled up at the demon, both of her swords still in their sheaths. Ayame took in the figure and recognized it all to well.
"And what do you believe awaits you, Ayame?" the figure spoke, voice harsh and mollifying at the same time.
Ayame grinned.
"Myself." she whispered.
The figure on the rocks turned.
Ayame gazed at her reflection.
"Aren't you an insightful one."
"Thank you."
The Ayame on the rocks sat down casually. Suddenly it appeared as if this were nothing more than a planned rendevous. She stared down at Ayame for a long time. Her eyes were ageless.
"Ayame, there is nothing that separates you from me. We are one in the same."
"So that is what you tell your victims? Very clever."
"No, my dear Ayame. Do you not realize that I am a part of you? Look upon your own flesh!"
Ayame's eyes blazed with anger.
"Quite, face stealer!"
The demon was silenced.
Ayame sighed, sitting on the ground herself. "I will not believe your lies. This is how you torture humans, how you make them go insane. You steal their appearances and make them believe they are seeing themselves."
"I do make them see themselves! I make them see the part that they so try to forget. It is no simple matter of copying appearances. When you see your reflection in a pool of water do you go mad? No. I show you humans something more. Something you'd kill yourselves over upon learning."
There was a short silence. "I do no doubt your words." the true Ayame said. "There are inner evils in every human that are quite powerful. We spend our entire lives trying to run from them. Such a pity that I've only learned now we must ally ourselves with that darkness in order to conquer it."
"So now we discuss philosophy, ninja?" the demon sneered.
"Quite you." Ayame chastised calmly. "If you'd listen to my words you'd understand my true meaning. I've immersed myself in the baseness of my soul since the death of my love. I have reemerged from it now understanding both sides of the balance. Consequently, I can understand you."
The demon snorted.
Ayame continued doggedly. "I should have realized earlier that a demon like you existed. You're the one who taught Rei to make the scroll that steals appearances."
"You're ability to put two and two together astounds me. How long did it take you to figure that out?"
Ayame grinned cheekily. "Not until just now, actually. I had always assumed that Hinageshi taught Rei how to make the scroll." Ayame said. She gazed upon the demon with a new emotion shining in her eyes.
"Stop that." the demon demanded.
"Stop what?" she asked innocently.
"Gazing upon me like that. With pity in your eyes."
"But I do pity you. Do you not see? The ordeal is not yet over. The death of Wo Milu Lee for the death of Onikage. The same for Rikimaru and Lord Mei-Oh. But I'm still alive, which invariably means a demon still had to be alive. We're both the last players of this sorrowful game. How could I not pity you for your loneliness as I feel it all too clearly myself?"
The demon was a long time in responding. "What of Rei?" it asked bitterly.
"I am one extreme, you are another. Rei walked the fine line between. She was a balance in herself. That is it what killed her in the end."
"And Rikimaru pushing her off a building didn't help? Or that dagger that pierced her heart, did that do anything?"
"Minor details." Ayame blinked. "Dagger?"
"You idiot. Rei wasn't completely powerless. A mere fall wouldn't have killed her. The dagger that Rikimaru pulled from your back and threw over the roof landed in her heart."
"Really? Wow. Now that's karma."
Ayame smiled, realizing how very odd a conversation this was. She gazed up at herself, seeing the minute differences. The face-stealer had the posture wrong; the shoulders weren't back far enough and the chin was held too low. The ponytail was also inaccurate. Ayame's ponytail wasn't that messy.
The demon became aware of Ayame's scrutiny and scowled.
"Enough of this idle chat." the demon said, jumping down from the rock and landing but feet away from Ayame.
"Draw your swords!"
**************************************************************************** **
Ayame did not move. The demon unleashed its swords with a lethal hiss. "Why do you not draw? Prepare yourself!"
"No."
Twin swords flashed. One gently lay at the hollow of Ayame's throat. The other right above her heart.
"Do you wish to die?" the demon asked.
"You know as well as I do."
"You know nothing human! Draw your swords!"
"No."
"Why?!"
Ayame slowly reached out and touched the sword at her throat. Delicately she traced a finger along the steel, then moved her hand to its flat side and held it tightly. Carefully she pressed the tip into her neck, causing a slow and steady stream of crimson to flow from broken skin.
The demon pulled the sword away quickly and put a hand to its own throat.
The hand came away with blood.
"No creature of great power can be killed on the passes of Mt. Shiba." Ayame whispered.
The words hung in the air with the bitter cold.
"The end is nearing, which means the balance is at its most delicate. In order for it to be kept, whatever happens to one of us must happen to the other. But you knew that, didn't you?"
"Yes I knew!" the demon growled.
"Then why try and force me into a fight?"
"I was attempting to scare you off."
Ayame laughed. "Oh, clever."
"Quite!"
"Listen, we're at an impass. We can't kill each other because that would disturb the balance. We must find another solution." Ayame insisted.
"Why don't we become friends Ayame? We can sit around and drink tea and talk about how very powerful Rikimaru was before my cohorts and I killed him!" the demon snarled.
"You believe that I feel nothing but hatred for you because you were part of his murder. Listen to me now. I do not. You are part of the balance. You could not have escaped your fate even if you had tried. In fact, I get the feeling that you did."
"Silence! You don't know what you are talking about!"
"Yes I do. You tried to leave the peaks of Mt. Shiba, but you were unable to. The mountain kept you here because you were needed to be a part of this. That is why you seek solace inside the mountain; to nurse your wounds and sorrow among this tapestry of color."
The demon removed its swords from Ayame, but shoved her away roughly. The twin blades were sheathed and the demon ran back to the rock pile, laying its cheek against the ebony rocks for comfort.
"How do you know these things?"
"What I cannot surmise myself my enlightenment shows me."
"But why do you say these things to me? Why do you sympathize with me?" the demon wailed.
"Mei-Oh was the creator of all this chaos and Onikage choose to be a part of it. But you. You were helpless." Ayame said gently. "Not all is what it seems. The one who brings cessation is actually the most compassionate soul in the universe. A kind healer such as Rei was easily tempted by power. What does that say about nature? Everything is in a constant state of change, meaning that there are no true separations between darkness and light. Ninjas are proof of that. We are killing saviors to our people. So, perhaps it is not so hard for me to believe that a demon, in the end, can turn out to be good."
The demon stood with its back to her for many minuets. Eventually it removed itself from its comforting position against the rocks and turned to her. The demon's eyes shone with more light than Ayame's ever had.
"So all that is left..." the demon began.
"....is us." Ayame finished.
"We are the only ones who can understand each others pain. Will you please show me your true form?" Ayame persisted.
"I don't have one. I steal the form of others."
"But what do you look like when you haven't?"
The demon lowered its head. Slowly Ayame's features washed off the demon, leaving nothing but a shadowy blackness. A wraith-like creature hovered before her now, its evanescent form constantly taking new shape. Ayame slowly discerned persistent features; high cheekbones, round eyes of night, and unlike the boy of cessation, dark sun touched skin.
"I like this form best." Ayame whispered.
The demon could not look her in the eyes. "So where do we go from here, human?"
"Ayame. My name is Ayame."
She waited patiently.
"If you're waiting for me to give you my name hu...Ayame," it snapped, "I do not have one."
"No name?" Ayame questioned.
"No. Name's are not necessary."
"I must disagree with you. They are one of the many things that prove our existence."
"And how can you be so damn sure that we exist, Ayame?"
"Getting philosophical on me, demon?"
The demon did not respond.
"I shall give you a name then. When I was little I had a dog that reminds me of you. Stubborn, unruly, and surprisingly loyal. Its name was Shiro. Do you like that?"
"You name me after a dog? That is an insult."
"I'm taking your barely suppressed grin as an affirmation. Come along Shiro. Lets go."
"Now you order me like a dog? Hey, wait! Where are you going?"
Ayame gazed fondly at the cavern one last time. The colors seemed to sparkle with greater brilliance as she departed. The indigo clusters at the roof of the cavern especially caught her eyes, as did the final view of the ebony ivory rock pile that could bring about solace for a demon.
Ayame reentered the tunnel with the demon following behind. Only her own footsteps sounded throughout the passageway. Ayame could feel her companion becoming desperate. "Ayame, where are you going?"
"If you do not want to follow than you do not have to."
"You know that I must!" Yes, Ayame thought grimly. The balance was reaching a climax. Where one of them went the other had to follow.
"We are going to face cessation. Together." Ayame said calmly.
"How easy that is for you, human." the demon spat. "Cessation for humans bring about peace. It is nothing but torment for demons. I shall be forced to return to the service of Mei-Oh."
"I was told once that after cessation all beings are sent where they are meant to be sent. I have utmost faith in this."
"Ayame!" the demon cried.
Ayame turned around and smiled. "Do not worry so, Shiro. As you and I face cessation and receive our sentences, be comforted by the fact that we face our spiritual judgements together."
"You are a fool to try and share the burden of a demon."
Ayame chuckled. "Stand with me Shiro and I assure you that the burden we alleviate from each other shall be equal."
The rest of their way was made in silence. As the pair left the safety of Mt. Shiba's innards they were greeted by the boy. He smiled warmly at the pair.
"I had faith that you could do this, Ayame." he said.
"His life was sad. He was forced into this game, whereas the rest of us choose to be participants. Why was he used in this manner?" Ayame asked.
The boy was crestfallen. "Yes Ayame, even I shall admit that his role in all of this was a terrible injustice. He was but a mere lower demon who had to be used to complete the balance." The boy then turned to the demon. "Do not worry yourself. You had no direct part in the bloodshed."
"I aided Rei and directed the demons," Shiro said sadly.
Ayame scoffed. "I've done worse." she said rather proudly.
The boy laughed. "She's right you know."
"But what will become of me?" Shiro asked.
"I believe it is time both he and I were sentenced," Ayame said. "And know this; I stand beside him in his time of judgement.
The demon did not hesitate. "And I am besides her."
The boy looked thoughtful. "Even I did not expect you two to learn so much from these events. It is good that these sad days shall draw to a close with both of you enlightened."
"So, is it my time to move on yet?" Ayame asked.
The boy shook his head sadly. "No it is not, my dearest. I am so sorry, but there is time yet before you are reunited with Rikimaru. But please, my Ayame, do not be so eager to die. I have promised you that you will be reunited with him some day and I shall keep myself to that promise."
Ayame nodded solemnly.
"And what of myself?" Shiro asked.
"Why do you not advise me, Ayame? I believe you have more right to decide his fate than I."
Ayame smiled. "I believe that Shiro has earned a chance at a life where he has the right to choose his side of the balance."
The boy smiled. "Is that all right with you, Shiro?"
Shiro's form solidified enough for Ayame to see his eyes go wide. "Nothing would please me more." he said.
"Good. Reach out to me, Shiro."
The boy held out his transparent hand and Shiro mirrored his movement. The two fluid hands meet and a small light formed between them. Shiro smiled as his form slowly began to fade.
"Goodbye, Shiro." Ayame whispered as the final traces of Shiro merged with the endless night.
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"Will I see him again?"
"Sooner than you expect."
The boy and Ayame stood in the fading warmth of Shiro's spirit. Ayame lost herself in the boy's eyes, lusting for the days when she would be reunited with her love. The boy smiled, knowing her thoughts.
"That night Ayame, when Rikimaru believed you to be dead, the only thing that prevented him from following you into death was the urgency of the Kiku's illness. Even then he was resolved to kill himself as soon as he had delivered to her the cure."
"Really?" Ayame questioned, completely startled.
"Yes. Rikimaru's love for you never faltered. Do not feel guiltily over your doubts of him. You are human, you could not escape disbelief over everything that you believed to be true when your world collapsed."
"Even through a thousand lifetimes I still would not be able to thank you enough." Ayame said.
"It is I who should be thanking you. Not many souls could have done what you have. Go now Ayame. Return home and find some peace. Your master is waiting for you. I believe it is time for his true self to come through."
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Authors note:
Well hoped you liked that. It took me much longer to make this chapter clear than it actually took to write! Oh, and I really have no clue as to what crystals or rock formations can be found in Japan, the point was to make a balance of Mt. Shiba, not for it to be literal.
Thanks a bunch Et-chan, if I'm thinking of the right series than I absolutely love that one (it's the one by CLAMP, right?). Psygirl, our dearest Ayame has survived yet another chapter and seems to have most of her sanity intact (such a shame I cannot say the same for myself!). Lady Kieryn, thanks for sticking with me, and to Gimpy, your enthusiastic (and hyper) reviews have kept me pumped, especially during these spiritual and abstract chapters which are incredibly hard to write. Thank you thank you thank you.
Oh, and Wo Milu Lee, my constant inspirer who is too lazy to review and instead contents himself with supporting me over the phone, I'm simply in love with you and for purely physical reasons such as your body and your manly sexiness. Has not a thing to do with personality or intelligence or kindness AT ALL.
Still a bit more to go! See you in a week or so.