Emotional Betrayal

Ayame was running towards the light. She was so close and yet she couldn't reach it. When she finally got through the darkness, she saw a bloody body lying on the ground. She walked towards it because she knew that the person was still alive. When she flipped the body over, she found out the person was…

"Mai." She scooped her sister into her arms trying to revive her. "Mai, wake up. I'm here. It's going to be all right." Suddenly, there was a flash of light that blinded her. When she recovered her sight, she saw Onikage holding her sister.

"You pathetic fool, you couldn't even save your sister. The Azuma must be getting weaker by the minute. Mai is mine!" He laughed as he ran off with her. Ayame could hear her sister's pleas for help.

"Ayame, help me. Please, I need you!"

"No, stop. Mai!" Ayame sat up in bed. It took her about five minutes to realize she was having a nightmare. She was sweating and her bed was all messed up from her twisting and turning. She watched the rain fall outside her window. It must had been about midnight. She had had this same dream four nights in a row. Mai had been gone for five days. Ayame only hoped that Mai was still alive.

There was a sudden knock on Ayame's door. She got dressed in a white kimono and answered it. She was surprised to see Rikimaru at her door. "I heard you scream. What happened?" he asked.

"Nothing, I was just having a bad dream. I'm sorry I woke you up." Rikimaru felt her head. "What are you doing?"

"You don't have a fever. You look a little pale though. Are you feeling alright?" Ayame swept his hand away.

"I'm fine. It was just a dream. Goodnight." She shut the door and went back to bed. Rikimaru sighed. Ayame hadn't been acting like herself lately. She hadn't bothered to insult him or be cold to him. She was actually being nicer to him.

He walked past the gardens as he patrolled the castle. As he walked back into the castle, he felt a strange yet familiar ki. He looked behind him. He could have sworn he saw something on the roof behind him, but maybe he was imagining it. Then, out of instinct, he looked again. Sure enough, he saw a ninja staring straight at him on the same roof. The ninja's eyes were glowing red. The ninja disappeared with the lightning and thunder. Rikimaru jumped on the roof, but no one was there. He thought about it, but then brushed it off.

Just as Ayame was about to fall asleep, she heard a violin play her favorite tune. At first, she thought it was another dream, but then the music got louder. She ran out of her room and down the hallway. The music was getting fainter. 'No, please,' she thought as she ran towards the palace garden. 'Don't go away. I need to know if…' But when she reached the garden, the sound was completely gone. "What is going on here?"

After she got back to her room, Rikimaru was waiting. "Did you feel it?" she asked.

"Yes, something is wrong here. You might want to get dressed. We're in for a long night." Ayame did as Rikimaru recommended. When she walked out of her room, she ran right into him. She started to blush as she pressed her arms against his built chest. If it wasn't for Rikimaru's face mask, she would have seen that he was blushing. Just as they separated, one of Gohda's guards came running towards them. "What is it?"

"There's an intruder in the castle. We tried to stop her, but she got past us. She has taken Kiku hostage and demanded that you bring the Shichishito for an exchange." Ayame wasted no time. She ran into her room and got the sword of Mei-Oh.

"Where are they?" she asked.

"In the palace garden." Rikimaru and Ayame ran towards the garden. They suddenly stopped and looked at each other.

"Did you feel that?" Ayame asked.

"Yes. Whoever we are about to face is very powerful. We must take caution." They continued to run towards the garden. When they opened the door to it, they saw the trespasser holding Kiku. A sword was held against the princess's neck. They started to walk towards them, but Kiku stopped them.

"Hold, Rikimaru and Ayame. You can't hurt her."

"What are you talking about, princess?" Rikimaru asked. Ayame finally saw why. She almost went into shock when she saw the intruder's face. The flash of lightning revealed Mai as the intruder.

"Give me the sword and Kiku will live." Rikimaru and Ayame hesitated. Her voice was cold and bitter. "Please, don't make me kill her." Ayame scoffed and threw the sword at her. Mai caught it and threw Kiku to them. "Take Kiku. Don't make come back here." As she started to walk away, Mai heard a voice in her head. 'Attack them.'

"Stop, Mai." Ayame stepped forward. "What is wrong with you? Why are you acting like this?" Mai drew a bow and arrow. Ayame flinched when Mai aimed it at her. Ayame knew that when it came to archery, Mai was the best with accuracy and speed. The only thing she was better at was using her sword. Ayame stepped from side to side, but Mai kept her in her crosshairs. Ayame was waiting for the arrow to fly at her, but Mai was hesitating. The bow was shaking in her hands. Ayame looked at Mai's angry face, but saw that her eyes held pain.

"Run…Get away," she muttered. 'Why is she doing this?' Ayame thought. "Get away from me…Please…Run…away." Mai closed her eyes and let the arrow go. The arrow flew right past Ayame's cheek, leaving a cut. Rikimaru charged at Mai, but she blocked his attack and hit him over the head, stunning him for a few seconds. This enabled her to run away. Kiku ran to Ayame and embraced her.

"Why is Mai acting like this? Is she mad at us?"

"No, Kiku," Ayame responded. Ayame looked at her partner. He knew it, too. Something had a hold on Mai. "What should we do?"

"We need to find Mai and retrieve the Shichishito. Then we need to rescue Mai."

"There is no way!" Lord Gohda yelled. "She tried to kill Kiku! She should be executed!"

"Please, my lord," Ayame begged. "She is being controlled by someone. We need to help her." Lord Gohda thought about this and shook his head.

"Even so, you are not allowed rescue missions for other ninjas."

"She isn'treally your ninja, Lord Gohda," Rikimaru argued."She isn't evena ninja." Gohda looked at his daughter.

"What do you think, Kiku?" Kiku looked at her father with tears in her eyes.

"Please, father, bring Mai home. She's like my sister. I want her back." Gohda sighed.

"Alright, bring back Mai and execute the ones that are causing this." Rikimaru and Ayame bowed and left. As they walked back to the supply room, Rikimaru saw tears in Ayame's eyes.

"Please, don't cry. I hate to look at puffy eyes." Ayame smiled at the comment. She suddenly found herself in his arms. She was surprised that he could embrace her, so she returned the hug. "Don't worry, Ayame. We'll get her back."

"Rikimaru, I wasn't crying because of that. Mai is dangerous now. I don't want to lose you again. I love you so much, Rikimaru. I don't know what I would do if you…" She couldn't get the last word out. She started crying hysterically. She couldn't bear the fact that she might lose him. Rikimaru smiled and pulled her into a tighter hug.

"I will never leave you, Ayame. I love you too much." Ayame stopped crying when she heard those words. She thought that he could never love her. He finally bent down and kissed her. That's all she wanted. She wanted him to hold her and kiss her. She wanted this moment to last forever. She promised that she would always be with him.

Yep, I decided to include a little Rikimaru and Ayame fluff. I hope that's ok. Please keep reviewing. I love reviews.