Author's note: Thanks for the rewiews. I am not sure if pg: 13 is right rating for this
chapter. . .And sorry for delay.
Chapter 3 Shopping trip
In Rikimaru's modestly furnished room; confused Rikimaru tried to comfort Ayame who was still
sobbing uncontrollably against his chest in her royal, red kimono. Ayame's hands were around
his waist and she pressed herself against him. To Rikimaru it was quite confusing to see Ayame,
who usually never showed any feelings that could be classified to weaknesses, crying like
frightened child. However in some odd way it felt nice to be so close to her and to give her
safety and comfort that she so desperately needed. Her hair smelled good and her arms around
his waist felt so right.
*No, don't think like that! She is your partner for heavens sake. Even if I did have
feelings for her, which I cannot have, she doesn't feel the same way. "But you do have
feelings for her; STRONG feelings and she came to you for comfort."* said that little
irritating voice inside his mind. Rikimaru suppressed the voice quickly.
Little by little Ayame's sobs stopped.
"Sorry Rikimaru. I feel so stupid for crying on you like that . . ." started Ayame, still
arms around him, but Rikimaru interrupted:
"It's not stupid at all. But Ayame could you tell me what is wrong?" asked Rikimaru as he
gently hugged her.
"My mission . . . it is total suicide. I can't take any weapons at all and Lord Kawashima,
the man I am supposed to kill, has killed more than 200 other ninjas that Gohda
sent. I don't even have a chance to survive. I don't want to die . . ." she answered and hugged
him more tightly.
"If you don't want to go, don't do it."
"No Rikimaru. I have to go. I could never forgive myself if I didn't do it. If I somehow manage
to kill him it will save more lives that we can count . . . even if I die, it will be great
victory for Lord Gohda and for all people. I came here only to say goodbye and to get some extra
courage from you. If I survive, remind me that we need to talk about something. Now I need
to leave. Goodbye Rikimaru." with that Ayame rushed out from Rikimaru's room without looking
back.
She never saw the tear that ran slowly along Rikimaru's face.
Next morning was sunny and beautiful. Even Lord Gohda was in a good mood when he ordered
Rikimaru watch after princess Kiku. After all in a few days his worst enemy would maybe
die. It was early and crass was still moist when Kiku wanted to go walking in the garden.
It surprised Rikimaru; princess had never been morning person. She usually waked up near
noon and now she wanted to go to walk little after dawn.
* What is she up to?*
wondered Rikimaru as he walked in the gardens with determined looking princess and few of
her maids. Kiku seemed to know exactly where she was going, which was quite unusual; normally
she just wandered around gardens without clear destination.
Their destination was bench next to stable, near the fields where stable boys trained
horses. Kiku sat on bench smiling widely, when her crush walked by. Stable boy smiled back
and winked to happy looking princess.
Same scene continued to sunset, Princess didn't think that the day was boring at all, but to
Rikimaru the day was pure torture. He couldn't think anything else than Ayame, who could be dead
or dying. He had to look after princess, who drooled after some stable boy all day. Apparently human
couldn't die for total boredom; he almost wished that he could. He couldn't even go
to spar with other ninjas. Sparring was his way to clear his thoughts and it was also easiest
way to forget miseries for a little while. When Kiku finally decided return to castle Rikimaru
hoped that tomorrow Kiku would want to do something else than discuss other day about boy's
beautiful eyes, charming smile and handsome face with her maids.
Unfortunately next day was just like the yesterday with one exception: Lord Gohda had ordered
counsel Sekya to teach princess Kiku royal manners, war tactics and other things that she would need
when she would become next ruler of Gohda's grounds. Rikimaru learned more than Kiku about those things,
mainly because counsel often ordered him to play some Lord to teach Kiku how to curtsey, or how to
talk, or how to behave in different situations. Rikimaru had always been fast learner and soon he knew
how to bow royally before foreign Lord, how to talk and act and even eat like a Lord, how to use terms
of foreign policy.
"Lady Kiku, are you listening? This is probably most important lesson, and you don't even pay attention."
said counsel Sekya when his student just watched hypnotically how stable boys trained horses,
when he tried to teach basics of War tactics.
"I am sorry Sekya. What did you say again?" asked Kiku as she continued watching to fields.
"I give up." sighed counsel Sekya and returned inside the castle.
So Rikimaru was left alone with giggling maids and dreamy princess. Rikimaru listened another
day how maids and princess praised that young damned good looking stable boy. When sun finally set
Rikimaru walked straight to Lord Gohda's private chambers, he didn't even knock to door.
"Master, please give me mission any mission at all. I will become mad if I have to watch Kiku for
another day." begged Rikimaru as he entered in the room.
"Rikimaru I am afraid that you have to watch over my daughter, because Ayame is on the mission and
I have so much work to do that I can not keep an eye on her myself. You two are only ones that I
fully trust in this case beside me and maybe Sekya. Fortunately to you Kiku want to go shopping tomorrow;
maybe it won't be as boring as just be in the castle. You leave tomorrow morning right after dawn
to Ronin village. Kiku has already chose servants that will come with you: one of her maids,
counsel Sekya and that new stable boy Kakeru."
*No. Not that boy again . . . Try to think positively Rikimaru maybe we run to some wolves or
bandits and he will die in the battle.* that last thought warmed Rikimaru's heart.
"I will do it."
"That is good. Now I need to continue my work."
Rikimaru leaved Lord Gohda to his work and walked blacksmith's hut to see if Izayoi would be repaired,
but as before blacksmith didn't have even started repairing it.
"I am truly sorry Rikimaru, but I have too much to do. I promise that when you come back for Ronin
village it will be repaired. You could borrow my sword for the time that I repair Izayoi." offered
blacksmith and took stylish katana from the wall, where it was hanging. It was light and sharp as new but
blacksmith told that it had been his family for generations. "It's called Masamune
(I know it is Auron's sword from FFX).
Do you want it?"
"Of course, after all I need a sword and this is a great katana."
"Take care of it, will you?"
"I will." Rikimaru promised to blacksmith and went to sleep in better mood than ages.
Sun haven't even risen, when Rikimaru woke up. He dressed to his ninja clothes, but didn't take that
black scarf he usually wears because it could draw unnecessary attention, took Masamune and went
to check horses they were suppose to ride. Kiku didn't want to travel in carriage this time. He walked
to stables, everywhere were quiet, only one stable boy was awake. Unfortunately that was the only
person Rikimaru didn't want to see; Kakeru. Kakeru's long black hair was on a ponytail and he
had one of his sarcastic smiles on his lips, when he greeted Rikimaru.
"Our horses are here. That black stallion is mine; white mare is for princess Kiku, brown pony over
there is Sekya's, black pony is for maid and that dark grey mare is yours, it is nice and peaceful,
really easy to ride." told Kakeru.
"Good."
*Is that boy trying to mock me? I admit that I don't ride much, but that is because I am quicker
without horse. I really hope that Kiku will come soon. I don't like this guy at all.*
"Oh, there you are. Ready to go?" asked Kiku as she came in with very tired looking counsel Sekya and
exited maid.
"We are ready your highness." answered Rikimaru and leaded his horse out.
Journey to Ronin village wasn't as bad as he had thought. He rode in front with Sekya, who was taking
a nap on his pony. Rikimaru didn't know that Sekya could ride so well. Behind them Kakeru, maid whose
name Rikimaru didn't know and Kiku were discussing about something. About what they talked, didn't really
interest Rikimaru. He was deep in his wandering thoughts.
*I hope Ayame is all right. If she dies I won't live much longer. How I came to this? I never thought
that I could fall in love, but this is it, right? When my feelings changed from friendship to
something else? Ayame was right; we need to talk. Wonder what she wanted to talk about? Maybe she wants
to quit and want to talk about that. After all we have been partners for over ten years.* happy
voice from behind interrupted Rikimaru's thoughts.
"We are here. I go to madam Xu's shop. She is the best dressmaker in the world. Rikimaru take care
of the horses. I am sure that Kakeru and Sekya can protect me and Kuu for little while." said princess
Kiku, and before Rikimaru could protest she and others had disappeared in the crowd.
*Maybe I am too hard for Kakeru, but I still don't like him. There are just something odd in that boy.*
When Rikimaru had taken care of their horses he went to look how Kiku and others were doing. Kiku had
bought dozen new dresses, Sekya some books and Kakeru a dagger. When Rikimaru asked why Kakeru told that
it may come handy in the future. They wandered around the village couple of hours and Kiku bought other
dozen new dresses before they leaved back to Gohda castle.
As they came closer to Gohda castle they saw that something was wrong. Heaven was back from the smoke.
Gohda's castle was on fire and battles voices echoed far. When they reached the main broken gate
Rikimaru broke the silence that had fell when they first saw the smoke.
"Someone has attacked to Gohda's castle. Stay here."
"Not so fast Rikimaru." said Kakeru as he held his dagger on Kiku's throat. "I can't let you save your
master, drop your sword." he ordered.
"You bastard, you betrayed our Lord."
*I should have listened my instincts*
"My real master will call me hero, when Gohda is dead, now drop your sword."
Rikimaru obeyed and dropped his sword. After that everything happened like slow motion. He saw Kiku's
terrified look as Kakeru cut her throat. He saw how life disappeared from her.
"No" screamed Sekya.
"You will pay for that." threaded Rikimaru quietly as he grabbed his sword from the ground with
incredible speed and attacked Kakeru. Kakeru was fast, but not fast enough. Rikimaru's sword's hit was
so powerful that it cut Kakeru in two. Then he joined to battle. Everywhere were he went enemies died,
he left behind him track of dead men and blood. His speed didn't stop or even slow down as he continued
his bloody revenge, not until he saw something that made his heart sunk. He saw how enemy forces had
surrounded wounded Lord Gohda and Ayame in to corner near blacksmith's hut. Ayame wore her blood red
kimono and her long, black hair was loose. She hadn't her usual swords; instead she used familiar looking
katana with deadly speed and skills.
*She is using Izayoi. I thought that it was too strong for her to use.* Rikimaru thought as he
rushed to help them with few younger ninjas.
Rikimaru saw how one enemy soldier somehow managed to stab Lord Gohda to death. Soldier didn't live
long. Ayame took care of that. With easy looking move she cut his head off. She was an excellent fighter.
Seeing it gave him new powers to continue hopeless battle. But little by little his powers were fading.
He wouldn't be able to fight for long. He was going to die, but he would take as many enemies with him
as he could.
*This is it.*
thought Rikimaru as he accidentally dropped Masamune in to ground. He closed his eyes waiting for
the strike, it never came. He opened his eyes to see how big white wolf had sank it's fangs into
soldier's throat. Suddenly he heard loud roaring and then pack of white wolves and huge white tiger
joined forces with Gohda's army and soon battle was over. Remained enemies fled when they noticed
that their swords and spears went straight trough those animals and didn't do any harm to them.
When battle was over tiger and wolves just vanished in to air.
Rikimaru turned around fast enough to see how Ayame collapsed from pure exhaustion to the ground. He ran
to her and lifted her gently to his arms. Even at unconscious Ayame didn't let go of Izayoi.
*You gave your all, didn't you? Izayoi was too powerful to you and drained your energy little by
little, but you didn't give up, you just fought on.* thought Rikimaru as he carried her to his
room in the castle. He gently put her on bed and let her rest.
They had won, but they had paid big prize for that: Lord Gohda, his daughter Kiku, half of Gohda's
army was dead and Gohda's castle was almost totally burned, only east wing had spared from the fire.
Luckily his room was situated there.
He went to Lord Gohda's wine cellar and started to drink. He blamed himself for the happened. If he
hadn't complained to Gohda, he could have a chance to save him. If he had trusted his feelings Kiku
would be alive.
He felt himself empty; he had lost everyone he cared for, except Ayame, in a one day. He had been
there alone for a while, blaming himself and trying to suffocate his feelings in the sake,
when Ayame showed up. She didn't say anything, but her eyes were dark from the invitation that even
drunken Rikimaru couldn't misunderstand. And so for the first time for years Rikimaru let his
feelings take control and accepted Ayame's offer.
Author's note: What did you think? I have never written a battle before. I would like to get some
feedback, anything that helps me decide what I will write to next chapter.
