Chapter 4: Second Encounter
Rikimaru and Ayame arrived before the door to Gohda Palace. Suddenly, the door swung open, and out came Tama.
"Sorry to spoil all the fun you guys seem to have had…" Tama said as she eyed their bloody clothes and Ayame's injured arm, "But there's this temple that had recently been desecrated. It's practically screaming for help. I'd like to come, but my clan needs me right now…"
"Damn it! I desperately need a warm bath, bubbles and all." Ayame sighed.
"Looks like the bath's going to have to wait, because the temple definitely can't." Tama said to her.
"We'll just get more equipment and we'll head straight there." Rikimaru said, nodding to Tama. Ayame only grumbled in response.
They went into the palace and to their rooms, getting what they might need.
Ayame sat on her bed. She had just finished cleaning the cut on her left arm with some water and applied ointment that had stung horribly, and she was preparing to wrap it in fresh cloth. But she couldn't find it. Where the hell did she put the cloth? A knock on her door interrupted her search.
"Yeah?" she called. The door slid open and in came Rikimaru holding a small ball of cloth. "So that's where it went, I can't imagine how it might have gotten to your room." Ayame said reaching over to get it.
"Do you need help?" Rikimaru said, his face had a caring look of concern "That cut looks serious."
"Nothing that a little cleaning and dressing can't fix." Ayame said, sitting back down on her bed. She began trying…and failing, to wrap her arm one handedly. She let out a sigh of frustration as the cloth kept sliding off her arm. Rikimaru came over to sit beside her, and took the cloth, gently wrapping it around her arm. Ayame let him do the work, liking the pleasant feeling that lingered on each area his hand brushed her arm. She smiled at him as their eyes met.
"…I guess we better get going." Rikimaru finally said, interrupting the silence.
"Yeah, seems like your little 'thank you' is going to have to wait for now, " Ayame said smirking, again causing Rikimaru to turn red.
They made their way out of the palace and headed towards the temple.
"They are on their way milady."
"Good." Kagura said.
"Shall I wait for them at the end of the temple?" Gaida asked.
"Yes. So far, all is going as planned."
"Yes milady." Gaida said, and with a small rustling sound, he was gone.
Kagura smiled to herself in sadistic pleasure.
The temple they were headed to has long been considered both a terrifying and historical landmark in Japan. That was because it was placed to help stop demons from coming into Japan…a Hellmouth it could be considered. The concept almost worked at least. Both divine and unholy activity have been reported to be going on in that temple, though strangely, it always seemed as though no one had been in it for centuries…
"What is it about this damn temple that can't wait until tomorrow?!" Ayame grumbled, "Looks like any old temple to me." They walked in through the door and into the main temple hallway.
Immediately, they could feel the corrupt ki of the many monks on the floors. The first floor though, was completely devoid of enemies, only filled with dusty statues, moldy offerings, and candles that had long burned out, reduced to small wax stubs.
Rikimaru and Ayame went up the wooden, and annoyingly creaking stairs as quietly as they could for they felt enemies on this floor. Near a medium statue of the Buddha, stood a monk in ragged blue robes. He held a staff with a sharp piece of barbed wire at the end. A basket like cover was on his head, covering his facial features.
Ayame stifled a laugh at his clothing. Rikimaru motioned her to follow him, and together, they eliminated the monk from existence with flying swords.
Their next target was a monk that looked almost like the last one, only without the covering and the staff. His face was revealed and he was bald. The monk stood in front of the stairs leading to the next floor, casually pacing back and forth. Ayame darted forward and sheathed her swords into his stomach, killing him instantly.
"Ugh…that kill was way too sloppy." Ayame muttered to herself disapprovingly. Rikimaru just walked up to her and thought nothing more of it.
The pair continued their way up the floors of the dusty and deteriorating temple. Each time Ayame made a kill, she would always mutter to herself how sloppy it was, or how she shoud have attacked from the right instead of the left.
"Ayame, it was fine. Don't worry about it." Rikimaru said to her after the eighth kill she wasn't satisfied with. Ayame merely glanced at him for a moment, her eyes fierce. Then, as if coming out of a trance, she shook her head and cleared her eyes.
After some time, they reached a large wooden door. Rikimaru pushed it open with slight difficulty, and they entered. It looked as if the room hadn't been used in a long while, the thin layer of dust on the spacious wooden floor supporting that.
"Some place for a party," Ayame said sarcastically, examining the table with many dishes. The contents were long taken by rats, the moldy leftovers decaying. Suddenly, they heard the sound of the wooden door slamming shut behind them. Rikimaru and Ayame drew their weapons and turned around. A figure appeared in front of the closed door, a man Ayame recognized immediately…Gaida.
"So you've managed to keep alive huh? I thought I did away with you!" Ayame scoffed at him.
Gaida smirked, "I'm not that easy to get rid of."
"Well neither am I! And you'll soon be able to get that through your thick skull." Ayame growled.
"We'll see about that," Gaida said, unsheathing his two ninja-to and advancing towards her. Rikimaru stood off to the side, somehow feeling that this was Ayame's fight and that she could take care of him. He watched as Gaida swung both swords at Ayame expertly, who blocked them just as well.
They continued like this for what seemed an eternity, and just as it looked that Ayame would be triumphant, it appeared as though Gaida was just warming up. He landed a perfect back kick to Ayame's stomach, sending her flying across the room and against the far wall. Ayame groaned as she struggled to get up. Rikimaru was amazed at her determination as she got up and ran back towards Gaida, her classic smirk still on her beautiful face.
Rikimaru could tell she was getting exhausted already, so he stepped in to help. Gaida turned and threw a scripture towards him, blinding him with bright blue light. Rikimaru staggered back, groaning, rubbing at his eyes. He heard more clashes of metal and Ayame's groan as she hit the floor with a thud.
Rikimaru regained his senses and saw that Ayame was on the floor, looking up as Gaida raised one of his swords. Rikimaru acted quickly by stepping protectively in front of Ayame, and delivering a deep gash to Gaida's chest.
Gaida let out a cry of pain, clutching at the cut, his hands immediately turning red, stained with his blood.
"This…isn't over yet…" Gaida hissed bitterly at Rikimaru. Then he glanced over to Ayame, a strange, somewhat hungry smile on his face. Suddenly, he disappeared.
"Damn. I could've handled him." Ayame said as she stood up.
"You met him before?" Rikimaru asked.
"Yeah…we had a little…friendly encounter." Ayame said bitterly, examining her arm which had started to bleed again, the blood showing through the cloth. "I really need a bath. And so do you."
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Author's Note:
Yeah short chapter. Have no fear…we'll make up for that…Thanks for the reviews so far! Now review again…they make us feel loved. And we like feeling loved.