Chapter 11
The Days to Come
Ayame silently congratulated herself. In all her years she never once believed that she would live long enough to see Kiku's marriage.
Yet inexplicably enough here she was, kneeling in the main hall with the hundreds of other joyous ninjas of her clan, waiting for the ceremony to begin. Hinageshi was seated next to Lord Godha, patting his arm sympathetically as he tried to keep himself composed. Kiku's bodyguards, a huge group of towering warriors, were not as masterful of their emotions. They sniffled silently as they hung their heads, saddened to see that their precious Kiku had grown.
The great doors to the main hall suddenly opened and Koyanagi Taro entered, wearing an array of silks and riches that made him look as though he were already a part of royalty. Ayame smiled gently as she saw Taro, a ninja boy who had rightly taken her advice to keep his compassion. As Kiku made an appearance, looking like an earth born moon goddess, Ayame surmised that Taro was being well rewarded for his kindness.
The ceremony was to be remembered for many years to come. The young couple were so beautiful and clearly devoted to one another that no one would disagree it was a very auspicious beginning to a hopefully long and prosperous marriage.
As the ceremony came to a conclusion Hinageshi made her way over to Ayame. Her face was rosy from excitement and alcohol.
"Drinking already?" Ayame asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Only this much!" Hinageshi said a little too loudly, holding her fingers up to signify a small amount. "Lord Godha needed something to calm his nerves and I got to join him." she slurred.
"Doesn't look like you can hold your drinks like he can, though..." Ayame pointed out as Hinageshi gracefully slumped onto her.
Rivers of sake flowed at the following celebration. Soon everyone in the clan had the same rosy hue as Hinageshi. Ayame frowned, thinking of how this would be a perfect time for another clan to attack, but then shrugged it off. There had been little to no conflict lately, and even when drunk, the Azuma ninjas were still the best in all of Japan.
Hinageshi and Lord Godha came over to her, Lord Godha providing her a cup and Hinageshi pouring from a delicately carved bottle, sloshing and dripping half its contents in the process.
"Will you do the honors, Ayame?" Lord Godha asked.
Ayame took her cup and raised it to the night.
"For the days to come, for the happy couple, and for my getting lax in old age." Ayame said calmly, then emptied her cup.
"I'll drink to that!" Hinageshi said, then emptied the bottle. "Nightie night." she muttered, curling up on Lord Godha and falling asleep.
**************************************************************************** **
The following days melted into one another. First they were slow with sickness and hangovers, then progressively faster as the clan moved to a new beat of unity. Never had there been more construction in the villages, more training among the young, and more victories to the fighters. Taro was a fine leader of men, and Kiku was finally stepping up and taking on her responsibilities. For the first time in many years Lord Godha actually allowed himself to relax.
Ayame discovered her Lord and Hinageshi one day among the sakura trees, whispering softly to one another. They sat protectively close, a secret tenderness hanging in the air above them. Peaceful times were slowly allowing the pair to take solace in one another.
Ayame hurried away before they spotted her, not wishing to disturb the quite moment. She found herself at a small bridge and leaned upon its railing, studying the crystalline surface of the small pond before her. No movement broke its surface, and Ayame stared unblinkingly at her reflection. The woman who greeted her had the grace of many years and the knowledge of an entire lifetime lingering in her eyes.
Ayame could not explain what happened next, but as she became transfixed by her own image it seemed as if the reflection changed, now showing her a vast array of images. The tranquil serenity of her enlightenment suddenly emerged full force, giving Ayame a calm that she had never before known. Through the haze of this calm intuitions suddenly struck her, merging together to form an endless strand of precognitions.
Visions flashed before her eyes. She saw the construction of countless villages, she saw the bountiful harvests to be produced by each one. She saw two little girls, each with fathomless eyes and merciful smiles. She saw a boy, a boy who would end up holding the weight of the world on his shoulders, but help, he would have so much help...
"Ayame!" Hinageshi called to her.
Ayame started, and suddenly she was watching her own reflection again. The pair Hinageshi and Godha walked arm in arm towards her, smiling benevolently.
"Letting your guard down already? Or was there something terribly interesting at the bottom of the pond?" Lord Godha joked.
Ayame turned, a faint blush upon her cheeks. "I hope neither of you find this strange, but it seems that I have had a slight vision of the future."
Lord Godha looked shocked, but Hinageshi brightened. "That's excellent, Ayame! Never before have the talents of an enlightened ninja been studied! Tell us, what did you see?"
"Well, I saw our clan. I saw many years to come, filled with peace and prosperity." Ayame said. "And then I saw two young girls. Twin girls. Beautiful twin girls." Ayame whispered, an errant tear trailing down her cheek.
"Who were...I mean, who will the girls be?" Hinageshi asked.
Ayame put a gentle hand to her stomach.
"Ayame! You are with child?!" Hinageshi gasped.
"Yes. I shall bear twins. The twins of Rikimaru and I. And there shall be another birth. The birth of a boy who shall come to rule over the Godha clan. He will be the healthy child of Taro and Kiku."
Lord Godha flung his arms into the air. "A boy! Praise the gods! A boy!" He grabbed Hinageshi and spun her around as the two laughed merrily.
"The world will be upon him, but he will have help. And his name, his name will be Shiro." Ayame whispered.
Neither Lord Godha nor Hinageshi heard Ayame's last whispered words. Sunset slowly came and the sky was set ablaze as though it too rejoiced in the news. Sakura petals fell in steady streams, raining gently down among the trio as they danced and sang into the hazy night.
Ayame silently congratulated herself. In all her years she never once believed that she would live long enough to see Kiku's marriage.
Yet inexplicably enough here she was, kneeling in the main hall with the hundreds of other joyous ninjas of her clan, waiting for the ceremony to begin. Hinageshi was seated next to Lord Godha, patting his arm sympathetically as he tried to keep himself composed. Kiku's bodyguards, a huge group of towering warriors, were not as masterful of their emotions. They sniffled silently as they hung their heads, saddened to see that their precious Kiku had grown.
The great doors to the main hall suddenly opened and Koyanagi Taro entered, wearing an array of silks and riches that made him look as though he were already a part of royalty. Ayame smiled gently as she saw Taro, a ninja boy who had rightly taken her advice to keep his compassion. As Kiku made an appearance, looking like an earth born moon goddess, Ayame surmised that Taro was being well rewarded for his kindness.
The ceremony was to be remembered for many years to come. The young couple were so beautiful and clearly devoted to one another that no one would disagree it was a very auspicious beginning to a hopefully long and prosperous marriage.
As the ceremony came to a conclusion Hinageshi made her way over to Ayame. Her face was rosy from excitement and alcohol.
"Drinking already?" Ayame asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Only this much!" Hinageshi said a little too loudly, holding her fingers up to signify a small amount. "Lord Godha needed something to calm his nerves and I got to join him." she slurred.
"Doesn't look like you can hold your drinks like he can, though..." Ayame pointed out as Hinageshi gracefully slumped onto her.
Rivers of sake flowed at the following celebration. Soon everyone in the clan had the same rosy hue as Hinageshi. Ayame frowned, thinking of how this would be a perfect time for another clan to attack, but then shrugged it off. There had been little to no conflict lately, and even when drunk, the Azuma ninjas were still the best in all of Japan.
Hinageshi and Lord Godha came over to her, Lord Godha providing her a cup and Hinageshi pouring from a delicately carved bottle, sloshing and dripping half its contents in the process.
"Will you do the honors, Ayame?" Lord Godha asked.
Ayame took her cup and raised it to the night.
"For the days to come, for the happy couple, and for my getting lax in old age." Ayame said calmly, then emptied her cup.
"I'll drink to that!" Hinageshi said, then emptied the bottle. "Nightie night." she muttered, curling up on Lord Godha and falling asleep.
**************************************************************************** **
The following days melted into one another. First they were slow with sickness and hangovers, then progressively faster as the clan moved to a new beat of unity. Never had there been more construction in the villages, more training among the young, and more victories to the fighters. Taro was a fine leader of men, and Kiku was finally stepping up and taking on her responsibilities. For the first time in many years Lord Godha actually allowed himself to relax.
Ayame discovered her Lord and Hinageshi one day among the sakura trees, whispering softly to one another. They sat protectively close, a secret tenderness hanging in the air above them. Peaceful times were slowly allowing the pair to take solace in one another.
Ayame hurried away before they spotted her, not wishing to disturb the quite moment. She found herself at a small bridge and leaned upon its railing, studying the crystalline surface of the small pond before her. No movement broke its surface, and Ayame stared unblinkingly at her reflection. The woman who greeted her had the grace of many years and the knowledge of an entire lifetime lingering in her eyes.
Ayame could not explain what happened next, but as she became transfixed by her own image it seemed as if the reflection changed, now showing her a vast array of images. The tranquil serenity of her enlightenment suddenly emerged full force, giving Ayame a calm that she had never before known. Through the haze of this calm intuitions suddenly struck her, merging together to form an endless strand of precognitions.
Visions flashed before her eyes. She saw the construction of countless villages, she saw the bountiful harvests to be produced by each one. She saw two little girls, each with fathomless eyes and merciful smiles. She saw a boy, a boy who would end up holding the weight of the world on his shoulders, but help, he would have so much help...
"Ayame!" Hinageshi called to her.
Ayame started, and suddenly she was watching her own reflection again. The pair Hinageshi and Godha walked arm in arm towards her, smiling benevolently.
"Letting your guard down already? Or was there something terribly interesting at the bottom of the pond?" Lord Godha joked.
Ayame turned, a faint blush upon her cheeks. "I hope neither of you find this strange, but it seems that I have had a slight vision of the future."
Lord Godha looked shocked, but Hinageshi brightened. "That's excellent, Ayame! Never before have the talents of an enlightened ninja been studied! Tell us, what did you see?"
"Well, I saw our clan. I saw many years to come, filled with peace and prosperity." Ayame said. "And then I saw two young girls. Twin girls. Beautiful twin girls." Ayame whispered, an errant tear trailing down her cheek.
"Who were...I mean, who will the girls be?" Hinageshi asked.
Ayame put a gentle hand to her stomach.
"Ayame! You are with child?!" Hinageshi gasped.
"Yes. I shall bear twins. The twins of Rikimaru and I. And there shall be another birth. The birth of a boy who shall come to rule over the Godha clan. He will be the healthy child of Taro and Kiku."
Lord Godha flung his arms into the air. "A boy! Praise the gods! A boy!" He grabbed Hinageshi and spun her around as the two laughed merrily.
"The world will be upon him, but he will have help. And his name, his name will be Shiro." Ayame whispered.
Neither Lord Godha nor Hinageshi heard Ayame's last whispered words. Sunset slowly came and the sky was set ablaze as though it too rejoiced in the news. Sakura petals fell in steady streams, raining gently down among the trio as they danced and sang into the hazy night.