A/N: Disclaimer: Refer back to Chapter 1.

WARNING: OOC, LANGUAGE, Suggestive Situations

Chapter 6: Despair

The week passed by quickly. Ayame avoided Rikimaru at all costs, and he, did the same. Shiro too changed; he had toned down after the incident with Rikimaru at the dojo. Ayame had seen him staring into space or being deep in thought. And at last, the time has finally come for princess Kiku and her entourage to bid the village of Nagoya farewell. Shiro and Sasuke escorted them out of the pagoda and bade them a safe journey home.

The journey back was uneventful, and they reached home with a day. As they prepared to take their belongings from the carriage, Rikimaru stole a glace at Ayame. He eyed her from afar and noted that she had dark circles under her eyes and that her eyes were puffy and red.

He clenched his fists in frustration as he knew that he was the cause of her apparent suffering. As he contemplated about her, her eyes met his in that instant. He was surprised that she caught him staring, but she said nothing and averted her eyes from him. He sighed and walked away, assisting princess Kiku with her luggage.

xxxxx

That night, in Ayame's home, she could not sleep. She didn't know when she had stopped crying. She was staring into nothing, but her mind was well awake. And just when she thought she had calm down, more tears fell from her eyes. She made no sound but all the same, more tears trailed her cheeks.

It hurt so much, too much. She never thought that she would feel this way about anyone. She had cried a lot when Tatsumaru had died, but nothing could compare to the pain that she was feeling now; the pain that Rikimaru had inflicted upon her. At the thought of him, Ayame buried her face in her hands and wailed.

In her heart and mind, nothing mattered anymore. She shivered as the cold breeze hugged her from her opened window. Ayame embraced herself wand walked over to the window and closed it. Ayame forced a tight smile, 'Just remember, he's doing this for you…This is for the best.'

Her smile widened, "Great! I have another mantra to repeat to myself. 'It's the right thing to do!' Over and over again!" Ayame let her hair loose and blew out the candles, bathing herself in darkness. She lied on her bed and drifted to sleep.

xxxxx

Rikimaru lied awake that night. He could not sleep knowing that the woman he loved suffered. He felt an urge to go to her, but he fought it, knowing that being apart from her, no matter how painful, was the right thing to do.

'This is all my fault', he thought with much spite. 'If only I had more self control…Master, I have disgraced our clan…' Rikimaru mentally said, clenching his fists.

With nothing to do, he took Izayoi and walked out of his home, in the dead of the night. He walked aimlessly through the village, not caring where his feet took him. Through his eyes, he only saw Ayame; her smiles, her laugh, her pouts…he could not think of anything else. She was his reason for living, and now, she was gone. With immediate realization, Rikimaru's feet had stopped walking while he still thought of her.

He finally snapped out of his daze and realized that he was in front of Ayame's house. His heart began to pound as he again felt an urge to see her. There. He caught a glimpse of her; he admitted that she did look better now and there was a tiny smile playing on her lips. He wondered why, 'Probably scheming on how to skin me alive.' he thought with much humor, although he failed to feel it.

He stared at her and realized that she was probably immensely distracted or not concentrating at the moment because she hadn't felt his presence yet. He saw her proceed to her bed and blew all the candles out.

It pained Rikimaru to see her. He should never have come there. He turned to leave and headed back home.

xxxxx

The next morning, Ayame woke up before dawn. She bathed and got dressed. She didn't know what had happened, but today, she felt different. She doesn't feel like crying anymore.

Although her heart still yearned for Rikimaru, she felt that maybe this was the start of her getting over him.

With much determination and cheerfulness, she left her home and sped off to Gohda castle. With much of her mind being preoccupied with her new mission, which was to get over Rikimaru, she did not realize that she collided with someone. Her temper began to rise, but decided to control it and instead, muttered an apology, "I'm sorry…I wasn't looking where I was going."

She stood up and began started to walk away when she was met with those all too familiar gray eyes.

"Rikimaru." she acknowledged curtly, but inside, her heart screamed for her to kiss him. "Ayame…good morning." he said flatly. She nodded and walked off. He stood there, rooted to his place, just watching her leave.

Ayame knocked on princess Kiku's doors, to which one of her maids had opened them. She showed Ayame in and told her that Kiku was still being dressed. Ayame stood with the room and waited patiently. Within minutes, Kiku came running and she hugged Ayame tightly. Ayame, feeling that she could use one tight hug right there, reciprocated Kiku's embrace.

"Oneechan! Good morning!" she cheerfully said. Ayame smiled at her, "Good morning to you too Kiku-hime. Come on, Gohda-sama will be expecting you for breakfast."

Ayame led Kiku to the dining hall and bowed her head to Lord Gohda and exited from the castle. She decided that the first step to get over this was to keep herself preoccupied.

'Hmm…I wonder what Kasumi is doing today?' she grinned. She walked all around the village and found her friend just being lazy by the sun. Ayame walked carefully towards her as she saw Kasumi's eyes to be closed. She put her face a mere inch from Kasumi's ears and yelled, "Wake up!"

"Eeeek!" Kasumi screamed at the top of her lungs as she body jolted up and shivered at the voice that apparently woke her from her trance. Her eyebrows immediately furrowed and she turned her head to see who the 'wise guy' was so that she could kill him. As she did so, she was met with the face of Ayame, who was grinning from ear to ear, "Good morning sunshine!"

Kasumi groaned, "Ayame…don't you have to be somewhere else? I don't know…maybe with your lover?" she purred the last word and Ayame made a disgusted face. Just then, Ayame's face contorted from disgusted to livid, "I have no lover."

The smile that danced on Kasumi's lips faded as she read between the lines of her friend's statement, "I'm not going to ask what had happened between you and Rikimaru."

Ayame nodded then smiled, "Good. Say…are you busy, by any chance?" Kasumi rolled her eyes, "Did it seem like I was busy when you woke me?"

Ayame crossed her arms, "Oh please…That was just a formality. Come on, want to spar?" Kasumi thought for a while and then nodded, "Fine. I have nothing to do anyway."

xxxxx

Rikimaru walked through the castle doors looking for anyone to spar with. He had already spoken to Lord Gohda concerning any possible missions he might assign to Rikimaru but he shook his head no. Rikimaru hid his disappointment and left the castle. The situation with Ayame was killing him.

He needed an escape; he needed a mission, but unfortunately, the gods have been kind enough to give him a few more days of rest. 'Yeah right.' he thought sarcastically.

Ay he walked through the training yard, he saw Ayame and Kasumi already sparring and by the looks of it, neither of them was holding back. He knew he should leave, but his legs weren't cooperating. He gave up and just grappled to the roof and watched them; watched her.

As she twirled her twin swords, he could see the luster and radiance that her soul possessed. 'Did I really make the right decision of letting her go?'

As he thought about it, the less sense his reason made even to his own ears but then, his so-called conscience butted in, 'But you want what's best for her, don't you? This is the setting that benefits her the most.'

He sighed, capitulating.

xxxxx

Another week had passed and Rikimaru terribly missed Ayame. Without any further thoughts, he went outside to find her. The sun has already set and no one was roaming the village streets. He walked along the road when he picked up her chi. He followed it until it led to the forest pond. Rikimaru blushed as the memory resurfaced.

He stood in the shadows, watching her every move, being mesmerized by her figure. She stood on top of a rock and stared at the moon. Rikimaru followed her trail of vision and noted how dreamily she looked at the moon. Another memory was triggered within him. Ayame loved the moon.

Rikimaru was brought back to reality when she spoke, "Rikimaru…why are you following me?"

Rikimaru's heart skipped a beat. She knew he was following her? But how? Why didn't she say anything sooner?

"You can't hide in the shadows forever." she said flatly. Rikimaru nodded and stepped from the shadows, revealing himself to her. She swallowed as she was met once again by his gray eyes.

"I apologize Ayame…"

Ayame snorted, "Don't give me that. What do you want?"

Rikimaru nodded, "I…miss you. I wanted to see you…"

Ayame felt her anger rising, "You miss me? Well, whose fault was that? Oh let me think, it was you! You're the one that did this to us, and then all of a sudden, you come spying on me, tell me you miss me and expect me to believe that!"

She walked up to him and slapped him, hard, "You've got some nerve!"

Rikimaru closed his eyes as he felt a pang of pain. Pain not from her slap, but from her truthful words. She was right. He was the one that ruined them, and now, he can't even find the strength to live up to what he decided for them.

He loved her, and she knew it. What really made her angry was that they knew for a fact that they loved each other, and yet, they can't be together.

Through her tantrum, a tear streamed down her face. Rikimaru saw the tear fall and wiped it from her face. Ayame closed her eyes as he touched her face. She loved him. She loved being touched by him. She loved being loved by him.

But, she knew what he was going say, 'We can't do this anymore.' That's what he'd say. Ayame slowly opened her eyes to find Rikimaru staring deep within her soul. The space between them was rapidly decreasing and Ayame took it upon herself to push him away. "You said so yourself Rikimaru, we can't do this. Now please leave." she snarled, pointing to the other direction. Rikimaru nodded and disappeared.

Because of much emotion at play, neither Rikimaru nor Ayame noticed the figure that watched them from afar. The figure, huddled in the shadows grinned, "So, there's a fight between the two eh? Perfect."

He continued to sit there, watching, as Ayame sat on the ground, crying. The figure sneered, "Soon…my pretty…I will have you…" and with that promise, he too disappeared into the night.

xxxxx

Another day has passed, and once again Ayame found herself, sitting by the pond. Thinking, thinking and thinking some more. For some reason, she found it hard to get a night's sleep. She then thought about Rikimaru and she shook her head, "This is just crazy…he's not worth all the aggravation." She was heading back home when a dart pricked the skin on her neck.

Ayame immediately felt its sting and quickly removed it. She unsheathed her tantō and turned around, facing the forest, "Show yourself!" she demanded. The figure jumped from one of the trees and slowly walked towards her and she stared in disbelief, "You…but I killed you! Rikimaru killed you!"

Onikage sneered at her, "That is what I led you to believe whore!"

Ayame gritted her teeth and drew her weapons. At this Onikage smirked, "I don't think this is a time to fight…" Ayame's eyes weren't focusing, her head was spinning. She fell to her knees and looked up at Onikage, who walked up to her. Onikage's figure was the last she saw as everything around her was engulfed in darkness.

xxxxx

The morning after, as Kiku got up and dressed, she awaited Ayame's daily visit, but she never came. Kiku's fragile heart sank, 'Why didn't oneechan come visit me today? Did I do something wrong?'

Without Ayame, Kiku proceeded to walk through the castle hallways to see her father for breakfast when she came across Rikimaru. Kiku ran towards the ninja, "Rikimaru! Good morning!" Rikimaru smiled, "Good morning hime-sama…How are you today?"

Kiku frowned, "Rikimaru, have you seen Ayame today?"

Rikimaru cocked an eyebrow, "Not since the night before last Princess. Why? Is there something amiss?"

"She was supposed to visit me today…like she does every morning. But today, she didn't come. Do you know where she might be?"

Rikimaru's mind began to race; it wasn't like Ayame to break her promises to Kiku. After all, Kiku was like a sister to her. Either something very important came up, or there was something terribly wrong. Kiku stared at Rikimaru, confused, "Rikimaru? Can you hear me?"

Rikimaru blinked, "Ah, I apologize for that hime-sama. I assure you, nothing's wrong. Ayame probably just got held up from one of her missions."

Kiku managed a tight smile, "Alright…I just hope that she's alright." And with those words, Kiku proceeded down the hall. Rikimaru stared at the girl, 'Me too hime-sama…me too.'

Rikimaru bowed in front of Lord Gohda, "Gohda-sama…you have summoned me?" Lord Gohda nodded, "Rikimaru. A rumor has reached my ears…" Rikimaru wondered, 'what rumor?'

"My daughter asked me of Ayame's whereabouts. I am all too aware of what you have told her. I am grateful. I too, do not wish to worry her. But, I am worried about Ayame. Kiku has told me that she is missing. I want you to find her Rikimaru. That is your mission."

Rikimaru bowed again, "Yes master. I shall bring her back."

Rikimaru darted from the castle and headed straight to Ayame's home. As he opened the door, he noticed that her bed had not been slept in. 'She never reached home…I wonder why?'

His next destination was the pond in the forest. When he arrived, he quickly eyed the surroundings for anything amiss. His wandering eyes stopped at a spot on the ground. He walked up to it and noticed what seemed to be a dart. He carefully examined it and found out that it was sleeping drug. He also noticed the two sets of different footprints.

One was Ayame's the other he could not identify. Rikimaru looked around once more and by the bushes, he noticed something gleaming. He walked over to it and discovered Ayame's flower sister bell.

At that moment, Rikimaru knew that Ayame had been taken captive. But who would attempt to do such a thing? And why? Information? Rikimaru clenched his fists, "Oh Gods…please let Ayame be alright."

xxxxx

Ayame slowly opened her eyes. 'Where am I?' she thought hard to recall last night's events but it proved fruitless, 'Aaargh…I can't remember a thing!' As her eyes begin to focus, she quickly realized that her wrists and ankles where shackled to the wall. Her eyes narrowed as last night's events unfolded within her mind. 'Damn! I've been captured!' Ayame quickly scanned her surroundings. She was in a damp cell, with steel bars in front of her. She stood up and walked towards the bars but the chains and shackles prevented her from even walking a step from the wall, much less touch the bars. Ayame turned her attention to her chains and examined it, hoping to find any means to break them off.

"There's no way to remove them." sneered a voice in the shadows. Ayame's head shot up, "Who's there!"

The figure emerged from the shadows. Ayame's eyes blazed in anger as she came face to face with the mad man himself, Onikage.

"So, why did you bring me here? What do you want?"

Onikage continued to smile as he looked her up and down, noting her helpless state. Ayame scowled, "Like what you see ugly? Well, you'll just have to keep looking, because you'll never get it! I'm not surprised though! With that face of yours, you're sure to scare even zombies!"

Onikage merely laughed, "You are full of spirit! Now, I see why Rikimaru has chosen you. But pretending to be unafraid isn't going to help you. Even now, your mind and heart wish for Rikimaru to arrive and save you…"

Ayame let out an exasperated sigh, "Care to run that by me again? You're a coward! If I weren't bound, you wouldn't speak to me that way! Now, tell me…what do you want from me?"

Onikage unlocked her cell and stepped inside, dangling the keys in front of Ayame's face. He walked up to her and stroked her side with his callous hand. Ayame jumped at his touch and took a step away from him, "Don't touch me!" she yelled.

Onikage sneered, "Why not? Rikimaru will get jealous?" He walked closer to her again and whispered in her ear, "You know, what he doesn't know won't hurt him…" he whispered silkily as he sensuously licked her ear.

Ayame screamed and slapped him, "You touch me again, and I'll kill you." she threatened darkly.

"Bitch!" Onikage shouted, "You are in no position to act the way you do whore! Soon…Rikimaru will be here, then I will kill him…" he smirked, "But you, I'll keep you a little while longer."

Ayame smirked back, "Rikimaru will never come! I am a ninja after all…He'll never come for me!"

Onikage's smirked deepened, "I assure you he will come. For a woman, you are very slow when it comes to matters of the heart."

Onikage turned his back on her and disappeared into the darkness. Ayame stood there, dumbfounded. Matters of the heart? What about him? How does he come to know such things? Rikimaru would never come. He swore to be a ninja, and as such, he swore to abide by every ninja law…He would never break a law just for her, would he?

xxxxx