A/N: Wow. So, it's been almost a year since I touched this last. I won't lie. I never planned to finish it. My notes for this last chapter were miserably incomplete. I honestly didn't think I could produce anything good from them, but this isn't too bad. I'm afraid I went a little crazy using "dono" like I forgot how to use the other honorifics, but I doubled checked, and I think it's okay. Uhm... jeez, i wish I had more i could say here, I mean it's THE LAST CHAPTER. Yeah. Wow.

Claimer: Eiko is mine. Though she was almost so insignificant i didn't bother to put her here...

Warnings: some language, strong violence


Firefly Effect
Puddles

The Shogun's desk and its matching chair were the only furniture that had survived without blood stain during Tenzen's attack. Hattori Hanzo had these valuable pieces of furniture relocated to a room beside Amaya's most recent bedchambers because matters of state could not wait until the blood stains that marred the Shogun's quarters faded.

The European imports took up almost a third of their new space, and they looked out of place in what had previously been only a spare room. The walls were a plain rice paper white, a stark contrast to the desk's greens and reds and golds, and no one had yet hung tapestries or placed flowers.

Hanzo had never before noticed the way the oversized furniture dwarfed Amaya. Her feet did not touch the ground, but rather dangled limply a few inches above. The backs of her knees touched the chairs edge, but six inches of space remained between Amaya and the chair's back. Because of the room's dimensions, the desk and chair could not be situated to face the door, so even though Amaya faced straight ahead, she did not notice Hanzo and Munenori enter.

"Shogun Amaya," Hanzo greeted, bending at the waist in a respectful bow. Munenori did the same.

Amaya turned only her head to acknowledge her advisors. "Good morning," she responded, after she looked away.

"I trust you are well enough to discuss the events of last night?" Hanzo offered. For the first time in her brief reign, Amaya had not glowered at him and Munenori upon their arrival, and Hanzo worried it was a sign that Amaya was not in the best health.

"I am." Amaya did not meet ether man's eyes when she answered. "We should sit." She looked between the two men's heads, past them to the low table with two zabuton on each side. They nodded and took their places on the table's far side.

Amaya first unfolded her hands and lifted them from her lap to the arms of the chair, which she used for leverage in hoisting herself out of the seat. Her strides to the table were slow, and she braced herself on the table's edge when she lowered herself onto a pillow. Hanzo caught the traces of a grimace on her face as she did so, and he glimpsed the bandage wrapped around her palm before she settled herself and tugged her kimono sleeve to cover it.

"Now," Amaya shook a strand of hair from her face and for the first time met Hanzo and Munenori's eyes. "About last night. I was attacked."

"Yes," Hanzo agreed. "A rival family sent assassins."

"The Toyotomi family. I know; Koshirou told me."

"They are always keeping watch," Hanzo explained, "And they have been looking for an opportunity to destroy the Tokugawa Shogunate, especially since the distress over the heir decision began, even more so when they learned Ieyasu was dead. Your relocation to less central quarters, they thought, would be the best opportunity."

Amaya nodded. She was pensively silent for a moment, staring at the bland white wall to her right as though it could tell her what to say. "I see," she finally spoke, then glanced at the floor before looking back toward her advisors. "Are these kinds of attacks, then, common?"

"They are not uncommon," Hanzo admitted.

Amaya chewed her bottom lip. It was the answer she dreaded, but was certain was coming, and she dragged her eyes down from the paper walls to the mats beneath her knees. It only made her more sure of what she wanted to do. Amaya slowly nodded her understanding. Her fingers twisted together under the table, knotting and unknotting in the fabric of her kimono.

"I…" she began with uncertainty, again looking Hanzo and Munenori in the face and trying to muster up a bold façade. "I would like, I mean, I need… I have to…" She couldn't say it. She dropped her eyes into her lap where her hands continued to squirm. She squeezed them into fists on her knees, and felt her finger nails bite into her palms as she fought to hold frustrated tears at bay.

"I do not want anything like what happened last night to tarnish Oboro and Gennosuke-sama's wedding day," she blurted. She set her mouth in a line and squared her shoulders. "How can I be sure there isn't another attack?"

When she finally managed to look at them again, Amaya saw the corners of Munenori's mouth were turned down in a frown and his arms were crossed over his chest. Hanzo's hands remained at rest on his knees, but both his eyebrows shot up.

"Well?" Amaya pushed when neither man said anything.

Hanzo offered Amaya a small smile. "Shogun Amaya, two clans of well respected and well known ninja are going to be in Sunpu. Not even the Toyotomi's are arrogant enough to try and attack then. You need not worry."

"Oh," Amaya squeaked. "Thank you, Hanzo-dono."

He nodded.

Amaya twisted her finger into a thread that had pulled loose from the zabuton's seam. She wrapped it once, twice, three times around before her finger was tied flush against the soft red fabric. She tried to tug it free, but the string just pulled tighter. Amaya gave her hand a yank. The thread snapped, effectively freeing her hand. Under the table, she used her other hand to roll the tightly wrapped string off her fingertip. "Is there anything else we need to discuss today?" she asked, splitting her attention between her advisors and her finger.

"No, I do not believe so," Hanzo answered, getting to his feet.

"Good day, then." She did not watch them exit.

"Good day to you, too, Amaya-dono, and I hope you feel better soon."

Amaya froze, startled by Hanzo's perceptiveness, and said nothing in response.

She waited until the fusuma clicked shut, then let her self spill backwards onto the floor. She flung her arms out away from her body and uncurled her legs so they stretched under the table. She lifted the hand the string had been tied to above her face so she could examine it. A thin red line circled her ring finger's second joint. She let the arm drop back to the floor and her eyes droop closed.

The fusuma opened, and Amaya started to scramble back up. She was propped on her elbows, when Koshirou finally spoke. "It's only me."

Amaya allowed herself to collapse back onto the floor. She turned her head to the side, and was staring at Koshirou's feet. He sat down cross legged beside her head, but said nothing else. Amaya rolled onto her side so that her forehead touched his knee. She stretched her arms out in front of her.

"You didn't tell them."

"No."

"Why?"

"Stupid pride."

"You can't go on like this."

Amaya didn't answer.

"You said so yourself."

"After the wedding, Koshirou, I promise, after the wedding."

Koshirou laid a hand on Amaya's head, then ran his fingers lovingly through her hair.

"After the wedding," Amaya repeated, letting her eyes fall closed again.

xxx

Amaya had sat for nearly twenty minutes hunched over the piece of parchment, rolling her pen between two fingers, only stopping the mindless task to dip the tip into the ink well because it had dried. She propped her elbow on the desk and dropped her cheek into her palm. Amaya glanced first out the window and then at Eiko, standing with her hands folded in front of her. When the servant girl saw Amaya look out the window, she turned her head to look as well. It had started to rain.

"I'm sorry, Eiko," Amaya said, shaking her head at the blank parchment.

"It's not a problem, Amaya-dono. Perhaps I could be of assistance? To whom are you writing? What would you like to say?"

Amaya replied with a small smile. "That's alright, Eiko, but thank you." Amaya dipped the pen into the well again and this time put the tip to the paper. She watched the circle of ink spread further and further from the pen. 'It is urgent that I meet with you,' she finally wrote. She lifted the sheet up and waved it back and forth a half dozen times to hurry the ink's drying before folding the parchment neatly in thirds and handing it to Eiko. "Deliver this to Hattori Hanzo, please."

Eiko took the letter, folded it in half width wise, and tucked it into her obi. "Of course, Amaya-dono." She bowed deeply before letting herself out.

Amaya caught her face in both hands, then ran them up through her hair. They came away splotched with white makeup and sticky with the last traces of hair product. Irritably, she wiped them on the bottom of the desk before standing and walking to the window. There was carpet beneath her feet, when once there had been just wood. She forced the memory away and fixed her attention on the sheets of rain pouring from the sky.

She felt a twinge of guilt having sent Eiko out in such weather so late.

xxx

Hanzo stood beside his bed, hands on his belt to untie it, when someone knocked. He sighed and resigned himself to slide open the door.

"Sorry to disturb your sleep, sir, but a servant from the palace is here, delivering a message from the Shogun," his doorman explained with a bow.

Hanzo nodded and thanked the man before brushing past him to meet with the castle servant.

She was standing just inside the entrance way, sopping wet. As soon as she saw him, she removed the folded parchment from her obi and handed it to him.

"You should come in, dry yourself off, stay until the storm…" Hanzo trailed, having actually read the brief note. "Or perhaps not." He looked the servant girl in the face, and Eiko was startled by the intensity in the look. "Do you know what this is about?"

"No, sir," she stammered. "I haven't even read it."

"Did Amaya write this herself?"

Eiko was puzzled by the question, and cocked her head to one side when she answered. "Yes, sir. I watched her do so."

Hanzo hissed out through his teeth. He could still hear the pattering of rain on the roof and it was after dark. What could the girl possibly want at this hour? "Are you sure it is 'urgent'?" he tried one final time.

Eiko's eyebrows shot up in surprise. "I'm sure if Amaya-dono wrote that it is urgent, it is, sir."

Hanzo sighed and tucked the note into his own clothing. "Then I suppose it's back to Castle Sunpu with the two of us."

xxx

Amaya clutched the window sill so tightly her knuckles were white and the texture of the wood imprinted itself onto her finger tips. She could feel her stomach churning and she squinted her eyes shut against the nausea. She wished she could take the note back. Suddenly she wasn't sure she could do this.

"Amaya-dono?"

Amaya jumped.

"Forgive me, Amaya-dono, I didn't mean to startle you," Eiko apologized with a quick bow. "You didn't answer when I knocked…"

Amaya turned to look over her shoulder at the girl and smiled. Her heart was thudding against her ribs with so much force she was surprised Eiko couldn't hear it. "It's fine, Eiko, don't worry about it. Is Hanzo-dono with you?"

Eiko nodded. "Should I send him in, Amaya-dono?"

"Yes, please. Thank you, Eiko."

Eiko went to the fusuma, still partially open from when she had entered, and poked her head through. "Shogun Amaya will see you now, Hanzo-dono."

"Good evening, Shogun Amaya," Hanzo greeted as amiably as he could manage.

"Good evening, Hanzo," she greeted in kind without turning away from the window. "You may leave us now, Eiko. Thank you."

Amaya never looked more regal than she did staring at the drenched world just outside the window with her hands clasped behind her back; and though she had let her hair down from the decorative knot it had been tied in, she still wore her ornate wedding kimono.

Hanzo waited until the servant girl was gone before he spoke.

"You said it was urgent, Amaya-dono," he prodded her to start.

The girl just nodded.

Amaya was chewing her lip and her brow wrinkled with frustration, but because her back was turned him, Hanzo couldn't see.

"Well, why have you summoned me at this ungodly hour in this awful weather?" he clarified.

Amaya wanted to stammer an apology, but she didn't. She inhaled, then sighed the air out, silently, before speaking. "There are… some things I think you should know," she finally began.

Hanzo said nothing, just waited for her to continue.

"I killed Kunichiyo." She held her breath and waited for Hanzo's outburst. She swallowed hard when she heard no reaction, and barely resisted the urge to glance over her shoulder to read his expression. "And… I killed Ieyasu as well." She squinted her eyes shut against tears that wanted to spill out, waiting for Hanzo to say something.

Finally, he uttered a single word. "Why?"

Amaya choked on another breath, fighting to maintain her composure. She straightened to her full height, having realized she was bent over the window sill. Behind her back, her hands tightened their hold on each other. "To stop the Kouga and Iga from fighting."

Hanzo quirked up one eyebrow, but said nothing.

"Ieyasu was a fool. He should have just named an heir and been done with it. I thought if I killed Kunichiyo there would be no need for violence and the Pact could be reinstated."

Amaya's hands were trembling. That was the only outward sign of her nerves.

"Apparently, though, there was still bloodshed, and even after Kunichiyo was dead, Ieyasu made no move to reinstate the Pact." She cocked her head to one side, but still did not turn around. "I will tell you, I was more heart broken over what my choice to kill Kunichiyo resulted in than I was heart broken over the Pact's initial dissolution. That it why I killed Ieyasu and had myself named Shogun, so I could renew the No Hostilities Pact and forbid anymore violence."

She needed Hanzo to say something, to react somehow, but he did not, just stood in silence a dozen paces behind her.

"But, Hanzo-dono, I never considered the actual responsibilities of Shogun, nor did I realize the amount of danger I was putting my life in." For the first time since she had begun to speak, Hanzo could hear traces of Amaya's voice breaking. "Having done what I needed to accomplish, I ask that I be allowed to resign without incident."

Hanzo still said nothing, and that was the end of Amaya's control. She whipped around to face him, tears streaking down her cheeks and doing more damage to her already smudged makeup. Her lips were raw with abuse, and now that she was in better light, Hanzo could see that as much white paint speckled her hands as her face. She flung herself onto the floor at his feet, reduced to sobs.

"I cannot be Shogun any longer, I am sorry for all that I have done, but I cannot continue like this." She looked up at Hanzo with wide, pleading eyes. "Surely there is someone better for this position than me."

Hanzo looked down at her, gaze cold, face unreadable. Finally he spoke. "Do what you have to do, Amaya-dono." He turned to leave.

"Wha…what?...Hanzo!" She scrambled after him, reaching out to grab the hem of his kimono. "What should I do?" She managed to tangle a hand in the fabric.

Hanzo turned back to face Amaya. She was sprawled face down on the floor. "You got yourself this far, Amaya, I'm sure you can get yourself back out. I have done enough for you."

Amaya melted back into incoherent sobs. Hanzo was at the door, prepared to leave, when she managed to speak again. "Hanzo-dono?" she whispered. "Are you going to have me killed?"

He paused, considering the questing longer then was really necessary. "No."

"Are you going to tell Munenori-sama?"

"That would be the same as having you killed."

"Thank you, Hanzo-dono."

"Do not thank me, Amaya."

She was still lying on the floor when he left. Her Iga lover was less then five steps from the door. He doubtlessly heard the outburst inside, and the glare Hanzo received from the young ninja chilled him worse than the rain.

xxx

Koshirou let himself into Amaya's chambers and rushed to her side when he saw her so clumsily sprawled on the floor. She was half dragged into his lap before she spoke.

"I'm fine, Koshirou," she sighed, leaning her head on his shoulder. She reached her arm up to wrap around his neck and snuggle herself closer. Her eyes drooped closed and she sighed. Koshirou rested a tentative hand on her waist, about to question if she was really alright. "I told him everything," she said before he could.

Koshirou started. "Everything?"

"Yeah. Everything."

"He could have you – "

"He's not, Koshirou."

"How do you – "

"Don't worry, Koshirou."

"Amaya – "

"Don't worry."

Koshirou resigned himself to silence. He glanced down at Amaya. She was dozing in his arms. "Koshirou?" she murmured sleepily after a few moments.

"Hmm?"

"Tomorrow night, we go to 'brother' Hidetada's."

Koshirou quirked an eyebrow up, but Amaya did not further elaborate.

xxx

Amaya was sitting on the floor, the mask Koshirou had worn before his eyes had been mended in one hand, and one of her throwing knives in the other. She glanced at the mask, then at Koshirou, then at the mask again, and then set her knife down. She hopped to her feet and went to retrieve her pen and ink well from the desk before sitting back down close enough to Koshirou that their knees touched. With both hands, she pressed the mask against Koshirou's face. He had obliged her this long, but now felt he had to ask.

"What are you doing?"

"Just wait," Amaya whined, reaching with one hand to pick up her pen. The mask fell away from Koshirou's face and hung limply from Amaya's other hand. She huffed, set the pen down, and resituated the mask. "Hold this for me, would you, Koshirou."

He rolled his eyes and sighed before doing so, but eventually, Koshirou lifted his own hands to hold the cloth in place.

"Thank you." Amaya bent to the side and dipped her pen in the ink well. "Now, stay…very…still." The long pauses between words indicating Amaya's intense concentration worried Koshirou. The worry was not without warning. Not even before she had finished speaking, Amaya had poked him in the eye with her pen.

Koshirou yelped and scrambled back. He heard the pen clatter to the floor, and then Amaya was in his face again, snarling curses and stammering apologies. Both her hands caught his face, and she ran a thumb under the threatened eye. "Are you okay?"

He sighed and shook his head as best he could since Amaya hadn't yet let him go. "I'm fine."

Amaya exhaled. "That's good."

"Just, warn me next time you're going to stick things in my eyes."

She nodded vigorously. "Of course, I'm so sorry."

He couldn't possibly stay irritated with her. "Now, what were you trying to do?"

Amaya was startled that he was going to let her continue. "Trace your eyes, so I can cut out holes."

Koshirou picked up the mask and replaced it against his face. With his first and second fingers, he indicated where his eyes were for Amaya. "Between my fingers. Go slow." Amaya nodded, even though he couldn't see her and scooted close enough to reach him. She delicately drew the outline of each of Koshirou's eyes.

"There," she pulled the mask away. "Thank you, Koshirou-dono." She leaned forward and kissed him softly.

Someone behind them squeaked.

Amaya looked over her shoulder. Eiko was standing in the door way, hands clasped tightly in front of her, staring at her feet, cheeks dusted an embarrassed shade of pink. "Forgive me, Amaya-dono, I was not aware you were with someone."

Amaya smiled. "It's fine, Eiko. You haven't interrupted anything."

"Oh…"

"Is there something you need?"

She shook her head. "No, I was just making sure you were not in need of anything, Amaya-dono."

"Well…" Amaya began to carefully cut out the eyes with her knife. "Since you're here, I could use a favor."

"Of course, Amaya-dono."

Amaya finished cutting out the second eye. She handed the mask to Koshirou, who just stared at it, unsure exactly what to do. "Put it on," she told him.

"There," Amaya looked at Eiko once Koshirou had tied the mask on. "Isn't he frightening… looking…" she trailed.

Eiko cocked her head to one side and studied the masked ninja intently, then looked at Amaya, hoping to gauge what the right answer was from her face. Amaya looked to be equally confused. "Truthfully, Amaya-dono, he's not very scary at all. Rather, he's just… awkward…"

Amaya and Koshirou both frowned. "She's right, Koshirou, you're not very intimidating at all."

Koshirou, who had been unaware that he was supposed to be intimidating, didn't know what to tell them.

"You may take the mask off, koi. It looks like you're going to Hidetada's without it."

If Koshirou had known that was Amaya's intention, he could have settled this matter in much less time.

"Thank you, Eiko. You may leave now."

"You're welcome, Amaya-dono."

"So," Koshirou waited until Eiko was gone, "We're really going to Hidetada's tonight?"

Amaya nodded.

xxx

"Good afternoon," Amaya greeted her half brother with a smile when he invited her and Koshirou inside.

"The same to you, Shogun Amaya" he replied with equal amiability with a slight nod of his head. "And who is this?" he indicated Koshirou behind her.

"Chikuma Koshirou of the Iga ninja," she introduced, "A lady can't be too careful when she travels."

Hidetada smiled his understanding. "Well, I'm sure my dear sister couldn't be any safer."

The fake familiarity between them was so thick, Koshirou could have cut through it with a knife.

They followed Hidetada to a room with carpeted floor and walls lined with pillows, though in the center was a traditional low table, at which both Amaya and Koshirou sat on one side whilst Hidetada sat on the other. A servant bustled in with cups and a pot of tea, poured them each one, then hurried out.

"I know you did not travel far, but I assume your journey was pleasant?" Hidetada picked up his cup with both hands and blew off the steam.

"Pleasant as traveling can be in the heat of summer," Amaya agreed, taking a drink from her own tea without waiting for it to cool.

Hidetada sipped his tea before speaking again. "How was the wedding of Kouga Gennosuke and Iga Oboro?" he asked.

"As all weddings should be, happy and beautiful." Koshirou noticed that Amaya's eyes did not light up like they did when she recounted the wedding's beauty to anyone else.

"That is quite an accomplishment for a new Shogun, forging such a strong peace between such powerful clans of feuding ninja."

Amaya shrugged. "It was necessary."

Koshirou almost winced. He didn't like this Amaya.

"I'm sure both clans appreciate what you have done for them." Amaya was looking into her tea cup, but Koshirou saw the malice in Hidetada's eyes. He must have known what happened shortly after the Pact's reinstallation.

Amaya let out a little squeak. Her eyes got big and she dropped her cup. It was mostly empty, so only the dregs dribbled onto the table. She wasn't sure whether to apologize for the spill or answer Hidetada's question. She couldn't find a smug way to accomplish either.

Koshirou caught her hand under the table. "They appreciate it very much," he answered for her. "It is always good to know an era of bloodshed and hatred has come to an end." He narrowed his eyes at Hidetada, and his voice took on and edge that made the other the man want to cower.

Amaya watched the flicker of emotions on her half brother's face, and a grin split across her own. That's right, I dare you to fuck with me, she seemed to say.

Hidetada cleared his throat and poured himself another cup of tea. "Well, you have reinstated the Kouga / Iga No Hostilities Pact, what other big plans do you have, Shogun Amaya?"

Amaya leaned back against the nearest pillow. "Actually," she paused dramatically. "I feel my reign as Shogun is over. I plan to retire. Though it has been brought to my attention that I am supposed to name an heir first."

Again, Amaya wasn't looking at Hidetada when she spoke to him, but Koshirou watched the other man's eyes double in size as he leaned across the table, eager to hear what his half sister was going to say next.

"And who have you been considering for the Shogunate, Amaya-dono?"

"Well," Amaya shifted some on her pillow, "There is always Takechiyo."

She glanced at Hidetada for the first time, just so that she could watch his face fall, then turned her attention back to the corner of the ceiling. "But I won't be sticking around to watch him grow up, and I can't risk him becoming a tyrant like Ieyasu." She hummed thoughtfully. "I have to find someone I can be sure won't do something so stupid as uninstalling the No Hostilities Pact."

She locked her eyes with Hidetada's, and Koshirou heard the click of her unhooking a knife. "I was thinking about you, Hidetada." She revealed her knife in one fluid motion. "If only because I know I can bully you into doing as I say." Her smirk was wicked.

Hidetada lurched away from her, scrambling back against the pillows on the opposite wall. He opened his mouth to scream, but Koshirou was on top of him, hand clamped over his mouth. He thrashed in Koshirou's hold, even bit down on his hand. Koshirou winced and glared at Amaya, but did not release his captive. Hidetada squirmed until he felt the cold press of metal against his throat.

"Are you going to behave?" Amaya asked, lowering herself onto one knee beside him.

Hidetada nodded with as much force as he could with Koshirou's hand pressed over his mouth, and Amaya could hear his high pitched assurances even with Koshirou's palm to muffle them. Koshirou looked at Amaya, but said nothing, silently asking if she really thought she had this under control. Amaya nodded. He gingerly moved to the side and allowed Amaya to take his place.

Hidetada's breathing was ragged, and he had Koshirou's blood smeared around his mouth. "What… what's going on?" he stammered between gasps for air.

"I have every intention of naming you heir to the Tokugawa Shogunate, Hidetada, so there's no need to beg for that. I just need to be sure that you really won't be anything like your father." Koshirou watched Amaya shift her knife away from Hidetada's throat, then pick up his right hand with her free one. Hidetada's chest heaved with more force when Amaya pressed the blade to the underside of the first joint of his middle finger.

"No! Don't!" Hidetada had since figured out what was going on. "No! I swear, I'll never do anything… anything…" his words tumbled together into incoherent pleading. He tried to jerk his hand away, but Amaya held tight.

"Nuh uh, Hidetada, it doesn't work like that. I have to be sure." Her face contorted in preparation. "Koshirou!" Her head snapped up and she shook a wayward strand of hair out of her face. Amaya was flushed, and her own breathing was uneven, Koshirou noticed with unease. "Cover his mouth," she gasped out.

He didn't say anything. Just did as ordered.

"Of course, you understand," Amaya was applying more pressure with the knife, but not looking at digit she was severing. Instead, she locked her eyes with Hidetada's, "The most important thing you are swearing not to do is start a blood bath like pitting the Kouga and Iga against each other." She grunted, adding more force. Koshirou thought he heard her gag. "Got that? No blood baths." Even though she had sharpened her knives, Amaya had to struggle to saw through the bone.

Hidetada's screams were only quiet squeals behind Koshirou's hand.

By the time she was finished, Amaya was breathing so hard Koshirou was afraid she would pass out and strands of her hair were plastered to her head from sweat. Her hands were covered in blood, but she wiped them on the nearest pillow. "Now," she gasped at the still whimpering Hidetada, "You reign like a civilized, just, human being, or else – " She toyed with the knife. Hidetada moaned and tried to squirm away. Amaya dragged the tip all the way down his chest to his crotch. Hidetada's breathing started to pick up again. "I won't be cutting off fingers next time," she just managed to heave. Hidetada nodded furiously. Amaya had had an entire store of threats for the soon to be Shogun, but they were inconsequential next to castration, so Amaya dragged herself to her feet, feeling herself sway dangerously, but refusing Koshirou's offered arm. Koshirou and Amaya let themselves out.

They were less than a mile from Hidetada's home when Amaya tipped onto her hands and knees. Her stomach heaved, and she vomited up what little she had eaten. Koshirou squatted beside her, running a soothing hand up and down her back. "Are you okay?"

Amaya managed to nod, but couldn't speak. Her stomach lurched, and she gagged. She took several deep breaths before trying to truly answer him. "There was more blood… It took more – " Her voice cut off and she finished regurgitating her stomach's contents. She sat back on her heels, tilted her head back, and closed her eyes. She gasped one last deep breath before speaking again. "It took more effort than I thought it would," she admitted. "I forgot about the bone." She shook her head, then tilted it onto Koshirou's shoulder. He wrapped both arms around her and lifted her up. Amaya wanted to tell him she could walk, but she knew it would be a useless effort.

xxx

"You summoned me, Amaya-dono?" Eiko slipped into Amaya's chambers and stood patiently at her desk.

Amaya nodded. "I probably shouldn't be announcing this to you first." Amaya tilted her head to one side and smiled, "but I'm going to anyway. I'm retiring. It's a very long story, but in short, I've done what I came here to do. I do not, however, want you to stay maidservant to the next Shogun."

Eiko wasn't sure what to say, so she just waited for Amaya to continue.

"I'm reassigning you to Akane-san. You will be her assistant and apprentice. You know her yes?"

"The castle apothecary, right, Amaya-dono?"

Amaya nodded. "You've done a good job, Eiko, but you shouldn't have to deal with the asshole that's on his way." Amaya grinned again.

Eiko flushed, taking the compliment gracefully. "Thank you, Amaya-dono."

"You're most welcome. Now, you should be going. Hanzo-dono and Munenori-san will be here any moment, and I have a feeling the resignation conversation will not go so well with them."

Eiko bowed and left. She nearly collided with said two men on her way out.

"Good morning, Amaya-dono," Hanzo greeted. As per his usual, Munenori was silent. Amaya only nodded acknowledgement. "It was brought to my attention that you had something important you needed to speak to us about."

"Yes." Amaya leaned forward over the desk with her chin resting in both her palms. "I am going to resign as Shogun. I have named Hidetada my heir, as that seemed the most reasonable thing to do." She slid a neatly written document across the desk. "This is the official statement of such. If you need anything more from me, I need to know now, because I am leaving tomorrow with the Iga clan."

Hanzo stared dumbly at the parchment in front of him. He couldn't possibly comprehend why Amaya would choose Hidetada.

"You cannot leave tomorrow! There is procedure to follow, ceremonies," Munenori blurted.

Amaya shifted her head into the hand nearest Munenori. "Have I ever given a damn about ceremony?"

Munenori's jaw dropped in an expression Amaya was becoming familiar with. She waited for him to give a convincing argument for her to stay, and when he did not, she turned her attention back to Hanzo.

"Do you have any reasons why I should not leave with the Iga? Or anything else to make my retirement more official?"

Hanzo shook his head. "Not at all, Shogun Amaya."

She nodded. "Good, then you both may leave. I have packing that needs to be done."

They both stood to leave, but Hanzo stayed in the doorway after Munenori had gone. "Why Hidetada?" he asked when he was sure the swords master was out of ear shot.

Amaya had thought he was gone, and her head snapped up when she heard his voice. "What?"

"Why Hidetada?" Hanzo repeated.

"Don't worry, Hanzo-dono, he will be nothing like Ieyasu. I have made sure." She locked her eyes with his. "Trust me."

There was little else he could do.

xxx

Akane was startled when she heard someone let themselves into her store room without knocking. She whipped around, and her surprise was only increased when she saw Amaya. "Amaya," she greeted, too shocked to be formal. She hadn't seen the girl since the incidents involving Tenzen.

"Akane," she greeted in kind.

"Can I help you?" the apothecary offered.

Amaya shook her head. "I just came to say goodbye. I'm leaving tomorrow with Koshirou."

"Oh." Akane pretended to be studying a plant while she thought of something to say. "Travel safely. Best of luck."

"I'm leaving you a new apprentice. Her name is Eiko. I couldn't leave her in the hands of Hidetada. Treat her nicer than you treated me."

"Of course."

Pause.

"I'm not going to give up studying plants. I'm sure there are apothecaries in Tsubagakure."

"That's good."

Pause.

"Akane… Mom… I know we never got along that great, but I wanted to thank you before I left. I don't know for what exactly… but just… thanks." Amaya turned to leave.

"You're welcome."

Amaya paused in the door way, hearing such unfamiliar words, then continued on her way.

xxx

Amaya left the next day like she said she would with the Iga ninja. Their departure was without incident or celebration. Hanzo was certain he was the only person to watch her go. Amaya walked away from castle Sunpu without ever turning back. He could only assume she went on to live a happy life in Tsubagakure because he never heard from her again. He supposed Akane might know of her goings about, but it seemed awkward to ask her.

xxx

Amaya would go down in the history books of the Tokugawa Shogunate as a footnote – briefest reigning and only female Shogun – but in the scrolls of the Kouga and Iga clans, she would forever remain a legend.


A/N: Thank you for reading, especially the few people who stuck it out waiting for this last chapter.

Credits: I am ashamed to say that there should most definitely be a works cited attached to this piece, but since the laptop I wrote the first seven chapters on died, I have lost the list of websites. I really have to thank the two plant websites where I got the information for my medicines and poisons. Yes, if I gave it a specific name, it actually exists and is used for what it is used for here. Pretty cool, huh? I also used a Japanese name site that I can't find anymore, as well as at least a half dozen Japanese furniture and clothing websites. Even though I don't know your names, thank you all!

Misc Notes: I know someone mentioned the title being a play on the butterfly effect phenomenon (a butterfly flaps its wings in one place and there's a tidal wave half way around the world). Of course it is. Hotarubi is a variation on the Japanese name Hotaru, which means firefly. After Kunichiyo's death, hers was the most important of the piece, so I gave her the title. Amaya means night rain, which is why all the chapter titles are kinds of rain. They even sort of apply to chapter content, but you have to squint.

And that is really all I have to say. Thank you. Goodbye and Goodnight.

Der Traumer