A/N:
Boy! It's been a while since I've written in this story. Sorry it took me so long to post a new chapter. Did I leave you in suspense? Huh? Huh? #crickets chirping# Oh, everyone's a critic. Well, anyway, hope you like it. Sorry for the OC-ness. CIAO! Please, please, PLEASE! I NEED REVIEWS FOR THIS THING!
---------------------------------------------------------------------------- -----------------------------------------
Chapter 7 – A Test of Loyalty
The rain pelted Toshiki's terror-stricken face as the bandits rode on through the gloomy forest. Lightning flashed silently as the storm began to dissipate, with the pounding hooves of the horses thundering instead of the great noise overhead. Her body knocked against the tough leather saddle, her soft skin chaffing, as her captors continued onward. She looked up to view their faces, and saw the large man who had thrown her upon his steed. His soulless eyes glared down from behind his cloth-covered features with a blazing hatred, sending fear into her heart. Like youkai riding upon beasts spawned from fire and smoldering ash, they rode swift as the wind until they came upon a great sight.
Silhouetted against the reddening sky, a great mansion stood alone upon a high cliff overlooking a vast valley plain. Fog hovered about the fortress like a cloak of darkness, concealing its jutting roof beams in thick gloom. Moonlight fell upon the cliff-face, revealing a great wall circling at least fifty meters from the house. Towering cypress trees shaded the garden areas, dimly lit by iron lanterns that created an eerie greenish glow. Shadowy figures guarded the entrance, a great stone gateway leading into the inner courtyard. Toshiki gazed in awe at the splendor of the castle. Her eyes darted about as she caught the gaze of dozens of sentries, black and foreboding, carrying spears, swords and arrows.
The large bandit hopped off of his steed and grasped her harshly, dragging her off the horse's back and onto the wet ground. Shivering in the cold night wind, she was forced up onto the spacious wooden walkway and led inside. The felons shoved her into a murky room that smelled of damp wood and ash. Toshiki whirled around, trying to right her senses, fighting the terror that was closing in upon her fragile mind.
Suddenly and without warning the doors flew open and a great shadow, massive and frightening, stood black against the moonlight. Toshiki gasped as it came closer, shutting the sliding doors behind it. She remembered the horrible dream, and feared the shining blade that might come forth from the darkness. Her inner voice rang through the night in a silent heart- wrenching scream, the name of her only hope hanging upon her wet lips. Like the wilted petal of a torn flower, she lay helplessly shivering upon the tatami, paralyzed with fear as the specter loomed over her. Trembling beneath the approaching shadow, she whispered, "Akai...please help me."
~
Battousai rode swiftly down the road, the black bamboo forest rushing by, and the world a blur. He could hear the powerful breath of the horse; the sound merging with the distant thunder, the flowing wild mane swirling like the storm-clouds, the pounding hooves beating out a powerful rhythm. The force of the warhorse's stride resonated through his body as he urged it on down the path, fueling it with his own rage and determination.
How could I allow myself to be caught off guard? I knew something like this would happen. Why didn't I see it coming? That silly girl blinded me with her constant distracting affections toward me and as a result my cover's been blown! Katsura is not going to like this. Still, I can't blame Toshiki for everything. It was because of me that she's been kidnapped. I let my guard down. I let her get too close to me and now...she's been taken. Who knows what Kokkaido and his men might be plotting to do against her. I should have been more forceful... I shouldn't have let her get close. No...it's too late to change anything now. I must get her back, no matter what the cost. She is the only link I have to happiness and I will not lose her for anything!
Shiro Tsuki cleared a large moss-covered log lying across the road and galloped onward into the thickening fog. Battousai, high upon its back, stared out into the forest as he began his approach to Kokkaido's mansion.
~
"Well, well, well," spoke the shadowy figure in a husky and cunning tone. "If it isn't the daughter of Akoro Matsu: Lady Toshiki. It's been a long time since I've set my eyes on you. How much you've blossomed."
"Who...who are you?" Toshiki stuttered.
"So many years have gone by, I must say. You were only a child when I saw you last. It's no surprise then that you would not remember me."
The figure stepped out into the lamplight revealing a face, long and angular, with eyes that shone like firestones from behind two wispy eyebrows. His shaved head reflected the moon shining through the doorway, his black hair pulled back into a topknot. He wore a black haori over a red and black kimono and hakama, a katana hanging from his belt. He was a wiry man, not as broad chested as her father, however a frightening aura encircled him, reflecting in his wicked sneer and fiery stare. Toshiki's eyes widened as she recognized the man standing before her.
"Yamouda Kokkaido!" she gasped.
"Ah...so you do remember me. Good, perhaps now you will understand why I've brought you here and what I have planned for you future."
"You don't have to tell me anything, you wicked serpent!" Toshiki snapped harshly. "I know exactly what you want: my father's domain. However, you've overlooked one important fact, that you will never get it. You never have and you never will. There is nothing you can do to make me cooperate with your fiendish plans!"
"Oh, but there is." Kokkaido came close to her, towering over her and sneering like a youkai in the darkness. "Your father's castle is weak and insecure. My men have obliterated his numbers. The whole estate is exposed to attack at any moment. If you do not cooperate as I request of you, I will immediately send out my men to attack and justly destroy all that you know and love. Once all is under my command I will have Matsu taken into custody. To kill him off too quickly is a waste, for, in addition to the obliteration of his house, I will have your head brought to him as a final gift before his own demise. Would that satisfy your valueless pride?"
Toshiki, horrified at his threats, gasped, "You...you wouldn't."
"I would, child."
Lady Matsu pushed back her fears as she thought of the power that was most certainly coming. She saw the bold face of her lover, his long scarlet hair whipping behind him as he rushed through the dark bamboo, eyes alight with determination. She smiled confidently, knowing there was nothing to fear. "If that is your wish, why haven't you done it sooner? Is it because you are afraid? You should be. The estate is not vulnerable. There is a great power there guarding it and, once discovering my kidnapping, will make sure you and your men die this very night."
Kokkaido smiled wickedly at the thought, "Oh, so you claim you still have a bit of power left, hmm?" Smirking fiendishly, he laughed, "One man cannot do the job of an army, child. My spies have been quite helpful. They tell me that your father has the power of only one swordsman defending his entire estate!" Eyes turning to blood, he growled, "Pathetic fool! I could demolish him in a breath, but...where would the fun be in that?"
"Kokkaido, you monster!" Toshiki shouted, angered at his half-hearted mockery of death and destruction.
He bent down to her, grasping her chin between his fingers and stared into her blazing defiant eyes. Toshiki flinched at his touch as he softly said, "Pity to have such a beautiful flower crushed while still in bloom. Perhaps the honey can be gathered before such a terrible demise."
He licked his lips hungrily and came for her. Toshiki snarled at him as he closed in, slipped quickly out of his grip and bit his hand violently. Enraged at the wound, Kokkaido shouted, "You dirty little wench," striking her to the ground.
Toshiki's tear-filled eyes flashed with such rebelliousness that the daimyo grew even angrier. He called in the husky, masked bandit and ordered, "Take her into the detainment room. I will have no more of this childish nonsense!" He whirled around, his katana clinking against his side, and said to her finally, "You have sealed your fate, girl. Prepare yourself for the end. I'm sure your father will love the gift I am about to send him."
The guards took hold of the flower and dragged her out of the room. Toshiki kept her eyes set on the fleeting shadow of Kokkaido, her heart burning with rage, an amber light flickering within her emerald eyes.
~
He stood before the castle, concealed within a thickening fog that trailed the vanishing storm. Within the dense foliage surrounding the fortress, his amber eyes stared upward at the height of the outer stonewalls, debating his next move. The gravel beneath his sandals rasped slightly as he stepped forward out of the brush, his sword clinking against his thigh. Shiro Tsuki was standing a few feet away watching him eagerly, his sides smoking, and clouds of hot breath shooting from his nostrils. Battousai waved a hand slightly, telling the horse not to wander off, as he slowly crept up the side of a cypress tree. Carefully placing each foot onto the wide boughs, he made no sound as he scaled the tree, reaching a successful vantage point.
The courtyards were littered with the spectral forms of samurai posted at every angle and corner, their dark haori billowing in the wind. A silver chime jingled, its song drifting across the gardens, sending moonlit ripples dancing across the black koi ponds. Silence enshrouded the entire castle creating an unnerving sense of calm, a deceptive peace. Battousai glanced over his shoulder toward the entry gate, a tall and formidable crimson hued barrier built extravagantly to be compared to a shrine entrance. However, considering the deceitful aura encompassing the area, it seemed more of a gateway to the underworld than to serenity.
Battousai stared out to the far side of the courtyard toward the interior house. Outside ten to fifteen samurai stood guarding the only passage inside. His hand hovered over the hilt of his graceful katana as he prepared to infiltrate the castle. Quiet as the moonlight he leaped over the wall and landed within a thicket of bamboo. The silvery stalks swayed gently, muting his footsteps and the sound of his soft breathing. The mist followed behind his every step, the night spirit aiding him in his forthcoming battle against the evil promiscuity looming within the fortress. Eyes flickering in the midnight shadows he peered through the fog, catching sight of the first sentry.
~
Toshiki lay bound in thick ropes within the dank walls of the detainment room. Silvery tears ran down her soft cheeks as she wept over her horrendous fate. Her heart begged her to remember the scarlet samurai she no doubt knew was approaching fast, but feared the wicked men guarding the courtyards would cut him off. She closed her eyes and saw him within her thoughts. Glimmers of a kind smile surrounded by the peace of the cherry trees and sound of her flute that calmed his heart. Her father's face replaced her lover's as she realized that Kokkaido's men would probably be storming through the gates at that very moment and soon the gift of her own soul would prove his demise.
The flower thought her heart would break. Flashes from her nightmare made her fear bubble over as a heart-wrenching sob came through her throat. She collapsed onto the hard wooden floors, chipped and jagged from old age and bloodstained from those who killed themselves before their own extermination. Had I a sword I would...
Footsteps sounded through the hallway just outside the sliding doors. The clink of a sword and the creaking of the wood sent a chill down her spine and a horror through her heart. A glimmer of lamplight danced across the wall, a silhouette before the entrance. Toshiki held her breath as the doors opened and Lord Kokkaido stepped inside.
"Lady Toshiki," he hissed, slowly approaching her. "Your eyes are full of tears. Is it so that you fear your demise? You had me believing you thought your death might symbolize the pride of your household. It is a shame to see such a lovely creation tormented by her own fears."
Toshiki snarled at him and spat, "You are the one who should be afraid."
"Such meaningless threats will not save you. However, there is a way..." Kokkaido knelt down to her level and captured her chin between his fingers. "To prevent this untimely fate as I have given you."
Toshiki's eyes darted in and out of his cunning leer, her heart throbbing wildly, her mind racing. Surely Kokkaido was lying, however if she played her cards right, there was a chance she might escape. "What is it?"
Kokkaido sneered like serpent, his hand slowly tracing her tear-trails. She cringed at his touch as he spoke slyly, "Become mine and I will free you. Side with me and I shall spare your house and your family. Stay with here and never shall I come against your estate. Do this and I shall give you back your life."
Toshiki's eyes fell and she let the tears come. Her great wall of defiance crumbled to the ground, as she silently accepted, knowing there was no other way. Kokkaido grinned wickedly as; he coiled around her like a snake, latching onto her delicate neck. He stroked her long tresses that draped around her like a curtain of silk. Running his fingers through it, he slowly, sickeningly, came ever closer. His hands carefully loosened the ropes that bound her form, releasing their tension, leaving her vulnerable.
As the wicked lord came for his great prize, Toshiki's eyes flew open, revealing glare of inner hatred flashing forth like amber fire. Her voice full of disgust, she hissed, "Never." Grasping his roaming hands, she brought her knees up and kicked him harshly in the abdomen, sending him tumbling into the wall on the other side of the room. She fought to stand, however Kokkaido had recovered faster than she had anticipated. He pinned her to the floor, eyes aflame with spite.
"That is the last mistake you'll ever make, girl. I had hoped you would have reconsidered, but you've proven to be more foolish than I thought. But, do not worry, you will be reunited with your father soon enough." Kokkaido drew the wakizashi from his belt sash and held it high over her head. "Farewell."
Toshiki stared into the shimmering razor edge, and the reflection of the glowing moon rising higher and higher into the clouds. The slivery light brought back a memory from not too long ago. She heard the voice of her sensei, and the silly riddle he had given her to solve: What does the flower whisper when a white moon rises? It was a shame she would never be able to solve it, now that her life was ending. But wait...the face of her lover returned to her thoughts, the beauty of his smile, the softness of his voice, the power within his grasp. Only his strength could save her. She could feel his spirit rising, growing ever closer. Yes, come...come and rescue me from this ill fate I am about to face. You trusted me with your name, now I trust you with your heart. Where are you? Toshiki's heart flew into her throat as she screamed out his glorious name. "AKAI!"
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A/N: More to come in...oh I don't know how long it will take me to write it. If there is anyone who actually likes reading this story, you'll have to wait until my writing batteries are charged again.
Boy! It's been a while since I've written in this story. Sorry it took me so long to post a new chapter. Did I leave you in suspense? Huh? Huh? #crickets chirping# Oh, everyone's a critic. Well, anyway, hope you like it. Sorry for the OC-ness. CIAO! Please, please, PLEASE! I NEED REVIEWS FOR THIS THING!
---------------------------------------------------------------------------- -----------------------------------------
Chapter 7 – A Test of Loyalty
The rain pelted Toshiki's terror-stricken face as the bandits rode on through the gloomy forest. Lightning flashed silently as the storm began to dissipate, with the pounding hooves of the horses thundering instead of the great noise overhead. Her body knocked against the tough leather saddle, her soft skin chaffing, as her captors continued onward. She looked up to view their faces, and saw the large man who had thrown her upon his steed. His soulless eyes glared down from behind his cloth-covered features with a blazing hatred, sending fear into her heart. Like youkai riding upon beasts spawned from fire and smoldering ash, they rode swift as the wind until they came upon a great sight.
Silhouetted against the reddening sky, a great mansion stood alone upon a high cliff overlooking a vast valley plain. Fog hovered about the fortress like a cloak of darkness, concealing its jutting roof beams in thick gloom. Moonlight fell upon the cliff-face, revealing a great wall circling at least fifty meters from the house. Towering cypress trees shaded the garden areas, dimly lit by iron lanterns that created an eerie greenish glow. Shadowy figures guarded the entrance, a great stone gateway leading into the inner courtyard. Toshiki gazed in awe at the splendor of the castle. Her eyes darted about as she caught the gaze of dozens of sentries, black and foreboding, carrying spears, swords and arrows.
The large bandit hopped off of his steed and grasped her harshly, dragging her off the horse's back and onto the wet ground. Shivering in the cold night wind, she was forced up onto the spacious wooden walkway and led inside. The felons shoved her into a murky room that smelled of damp wood and ash. Toshiki whirled around, trying to right her senses, fighting the terror that was closing in upon her fragile mind.
Suddenly and without warning the doors flew open and a great shadow, massive and frightening, stood black against the moonlight. Toshiki gasped as it came closer, shutting the sliding doors behind it. She remembered the horrible dream, and feared the shining blade that might come forth from the darkness. Her inner voice rang through the night in a silent heart- wrenching scream, the name of her only hope hanging upon her wet lips. Like the wilted petal of a torn flower, she lay helplessly shivering upon the tatami, paralyzed with fear as the specter loomed over her. Trembling beneath the approaching shadow, she whispered, "Akai...please help me."
~
Battousai rode swiftly down the road, the black bamboo forest rushing by, and the world a blur. He could hear the powerful breath of the horse; the sound merging with the distant thunder, the flowing wild mane swirling like the storm-clouds, the pounding hooves beating out a powerful rhythm. The force of the warhorse's stride resonated through his body as he urged it on down the path, fueling it with his own rage and determination.
How could I allow myself to be caught off guard? I knew something like this would happen. Why didn't I see it coming? That silly girl blinded me with her constant distracting affections toward me and as a result my cover's been blown! Katsura is not going to like this. Still, I can't blame Toshiki for everything. It was because of me that she's been kidnapped. I let my guard down. I let her get too close to me and now...she's been taken. Who knows what Kokkaido and his men might be plotting to do against her. I should have been more forceful... I shouldn't have let her get close. No...it's too late to change anything now. I must get her back, no matter what the cost. She is the only link I have to happiness and I will not lose her for anything!
Shiro Tsuki cleared a large moss-covered log lying across the road and galloped onward into the thickening fog. Battousai, high upon its back, stared out into the forest as he began his approach to Kokkaido's mansion.
~
"Well, well, well," spoke the shadowy figure in a husky and cunning tone. "If it isn't the daughter of Akoro Matsu: Lady Toshiki. It's been a long time since I've set my eyes on you. How much you've blossomed."
"Who...who are you?" Toshiki stuttered.
"So many years have gone by, I must say. You were only a child when I saw you last. It's no surprise then that you would not remember me."
The figure stepped out into the lamplight revealing a face, long and angular, with eyes that shone like firestones from behind two wispy eyebrows. His shaved head reflected the moon shining through the doorway, his black hair pulled back into a topknot. He wore a black haori over a red and black kimono and hakama, a katana hanging from his belt. He was a wiry man, not as broad chested as her father, however a frightening aura encircled him, reflecting in his wicked sneer and fiery stare. Toshiki's eyes widened as she recognized the man standing before her.
"Yamouda Kokkaido!" she gasped.
"Ah...so you do remember me. Good, perhaps now you will understand why I've brought you here and what I have planned for you future."
"You don't have to tell me anything, you wicked serpent!" Toshiki snapped harshly. "I know exactly what you want: my father's domain. However, you've overlooked one important fact, that you will never get it. You never have and you never will. There is nothing you can do to make me cooperate with your fiendish plans!"
"Oh, but there is." Kokkaido came close to her, towering over her and sneering like a youkai in the darkness. "Your father's castle is weak and insecure. My men have obliterated his numbers. The whole estate is exposed to attack at any moment. If you do not cooperate as I request of you, I will immediately send out my men to attack and justly destroy all that you know and love. Once all is under my command I will have Matsu taken into custody. To kill him off too quickly is a waste, for, in addition to the obliteration of his house, I will have your head brought to him as a final gift before his own demise. Would that satisfy your valueless pride?"
Toshiki, horrified at his threats, gasped, "You...you wouldn't."
"I would, child."
Lady Matsu pushed back her fears as she thought of the power that was most certainly coming. She saw the bold face of her lover, his long scarlet hair whipping behind him as he rushed through the dark bamboo, eyes alight with determination. She smiled confidently, knowing there was nothing to fear. "If that is your wish, why haven't you done it sooner? Is it because you are afraid? You should be. The estate is not vulnerable. There is a great power there guarding it and, once discovering my kidnapping, will make sure you and your men die this very night."
Kokkaido smiled wickedly at the thought, "Oh, so you claim you still have a bit of power left, hmm?" Smirking fiendishly, he laughed, "One man cannot do the job of an army, child. My spies have been quite helpful. They tell me that your father has the power of only one swordsman defending his entire estate!" Eyes turning to blood, he growled, "Pathetic fool! I could demolish him in a breath, but...where would the fun be in that?"
"Kokkaido, you monster!" Toshiki shouted, angered at his half-hearted mockery of death and destruction.
He bent down to her, grasping her chin between his fingers and stared into her blazing defiant eyes. Toshiki flinched at his touch as he softly said, "Pity to have such a beautiful flower crushed while still in bloom. Perhaps the honey can be gathered before such a terrible demise."
He licked his lips hungrily and came for her. Toshiki snarled at him as he closed in, slipped quickly out of his grip and bit his hand violently. Enraged at the wound, Kokkaido shouted, "You dirty little wench," striking her to the ground.
Toshiki's tear-filled eyes flashed with such rebelliousness that the daimyo grew even angrier. He called in the husky, masked bandit and ordered, "Take her into the detainment room. I will have no more of this childish nonsense!" He whirled around, his katana clinking against his side, and said to her finally, "You have sealed your fate, girl. Prepare yourself for the end. I'm sure your father will love the gift I am about to send him."
The guards took hold of the flower and dragged her out of the room. Toshiki kept her eyes set on the fleeting shadow of Kokkaido, her heart burning with rage, an amber light flickering within her emerald eyes.
~
He stood before the castle, concealed within a thickening fog that trailed the vanishing storm. Within the dense foliage surrounding the fortress, his amber eyes stared upward at the height of the outer stonewalls, debating his next move. The gravel beneath his sandals rasped slightly as he stepped forward out of the brush, his sword clinking against his thigh. Shiro Tsuki was standing a few feet away watching him eagerly, his sides smoking, and clouds of hot breath shooting from his nostrils. Battousai waved a hand slightly, telling the horse not to wander off, as he slowly crept up the side of a cypress tree. Carefully placing each foot onto the wide boughs, he made no sound as he scaled the tree, reaching a successful vantage point.
The courtyards were littered with the spectral forms of samurai posted at every angle and corner, their dark haori billowing in the wind. A silver chime jingled, its song drifting across the gardens, sending moonlit ripples dancing across the black koi ponds. Silence enshrouded the entire castle creating an unnerving sense of calm, a deceptive peace. Battousai glanced over his shoulder toward the entry gate, a tall and formidable crimson hued barrier built extravagantly to be compared to a shrine entrance. However, considering the deceitful aura encompassing the area, it seemed more of a gateway to the underworld than to serenity.
Battousai stared out to the far side of the courtyard toward the interior house. Outside ten to fifteen samurai stood guarding the only passage inside. His hand hovered over the hilt of his graceful katana as he prepared to infiltrate the castle. Quiet as the moonlight he leaped over the wall and landed within a thicket of bamboo. The silvery stalks swayed gently, muting his footsteps and the sound of his soft breathing. The mist followed behind his every step, the night spirit aiding him in his forthcoming battle against the evil promiscuity looming within the fortress. Eyes flickering in the midnight shadows he peered through the fog, catching sight of the first sentry.
~
Toshiki lay bound in thick ropes within the dank walls of the detainment room. Silvery tears ran down her soft cheeks as she wept over her horrendous fate. Her heart begged her to remember the scarlet samurai she no doubt knew was approaching fast, but feared the wicked men guarding the courtyards would cut him off. She closed her eyes and saw him within her thoughts. Glimmers of a kind smile surrounded by the peace of the cherry trees and sound of her flute that calmed his heart. Her father's face replaced her lover's as she realized that Kokkaido's men would probably be storming through the gates at that very moment and soon the gift of her own soul would prove his demise.
The flower thought her heart would break. Flashes from her nightmare made her fear bubble over as a heart-wrenching sob came through her throat. She collapsed onto the hard wooden floors, chipped and jagged from old age and bloodstained from those who killed themselves before their own extermination. Had I a sword I would...
Footsteps sounded through the hallway just outside the sliding doors. The clink of a sword and the creaking of the wood sent a chill down her spine and a horror through her heart. A glimmer of lamplight danced across the wall, a silhouette before the entrance. Toshiki held her breath as the doors opened and Lord Kokkaido stepped inside.
"Lady Toshiki," he hissed, slowly approaching her. "Your eyes are full of tears. Is it so that you fear your demise? You had me believing you thought your death might symbolize the pride of your household. It is a shame to see such a lovely creation tormented by her own fears."
Toshiki snarled at him and spat, "You are the one who should be afraid."
"Such meaningless threats will not save you. However, there is a way..." Kokkaido knelt down to her level and captured her chin between his fingers. "To prevent this untimely fate as I have given you."
Toshiki's eyes darted in and out of his cunning leer, her heart throbbing wildly, her mind racing. Surely Kokkaido was lying, however if she played her cards right, there was a chance she might escape. "What is it?"
Kokkaido sneered like serpent, his hand slowly tracing her tear-trails. She cringed at his touch as he spoke slyly, "Become mine and I will free you. Side with me and I shall spare your house and your family. Stay with here and never shall I come against your estate. Do this and I shall give you back your life."
Toshiki's eyes fell and she let the tears come. Her great wall of defiance crumbled to the ground, as she silently accepted, knowing there was no other way. Kokkaido grinned wickedly as; he coiled around her like a snake, latching onto her delicate neck. He stroked her long tresses that draped around her like a curtain of silk. Running his fingers through it, he slowly, sickeningly, came ever closer. His hands carefully loosened the ropes that bound her form, releasing their tension, leaving her vulnerable.
As the wicked lord came for his great prize, Toshiki's eyes flew open, revealing glare of inner hatred flashing forth like amber fire. Her voice full of disgust, she hissed, "Never." Grasping his roaming hands, she brought her knees up and kicked him harshly in the abdomen, sending him tumbling into the wall on the other side of the room. She fought to stand, however Kokkaido had recovered faster than she had anticipated. He pinned her to the floor, eyes aflame with spite.
"That is the last mistake you'll ever make, girl. I had hoped you would have reconsidered, but you've proven to be more foolish than I thought. But, do not worry, you will be reunited with your father soon enough." Kokkaido drew the wakizashi from his belt sash and held it high over her head. "Farewell."
Toshiki stared into the shimmering razor edge, and the reflection of the glowing moon rising higher and higher into the clouds. The slivery light brought back a memory from not too long ago. She heard the voice of her sensei, and the silly riddle he had given her to solve: What does the flower whisper when a white moon rises? It was a shame she would never be able to solve it, now that her life was ending. But wait...the face of her lover returned to her thoughts, the beauty of his smile, the softness of his voice, the power within his grasp. Only his strength could save her. She could feel his spirit rising, growing ever closer. Yes, come...come and rescue me from this ill fate I am about to face. You trusted me with your name, now I trust you with your heart. Where are you? Toshiki's heart flew into her throat as she screamed out his glorious name. "AKAI!"
---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------
A/N: More to come in...oh I don't know how long it will take me to write it. If there is anyone who actually likes reading this story, you'll have to wait until my writing batteries are charged again.