**** Thank you for your patience and your comments. It's what kept me coming back to finish this story. I hope you enjoyed their journey, and I hope to see you all again in another story. I apologize for the typos. I wanted to get this up before something happened. I will correct them as I go.****
The time for the ceremony had come faster than Mika had anticipated. The day was a blur of greeting honored guest, and finding places for the hordes of Black Sand ninjas to stay. She knew when Raizo arrived at the tower, but with everything going on she had not gotten to see him. It was maddening to be so close to him, but for all the contact she was having with him, he might as well have stayed on the mountain. There were last minute details to take care of, finding a way to feed thousands of ninja who could eat three to four times their weight , and finding the right shoes for her dress. Mika didn't even have time to process the events from this morning with Asami and Mai. The day had been one of the strangest she had to date. Which was saying something, because she spent three years becoming a ninja. She hurried through the Sand Tower with her clip board trying to make it back to her rooms. Raizo had called members of the black sand from all over the world to bare witness to the ceremony. The creation of a new Lotus was something many had not seen in their life times.
She heard a sound, and saw Raizo and his personal guard walking out of the building. Her lips tightened in frustration at yet another chance to see him was lost. The evening had to be perfect. There was no room for failure. It would not just look bad on her, but it would shame Raizo, and that she would never do. As she walked she remembered the saying of the Lotus of the forest. "To bring dishonor to one's clan is to invite death. Because who but death would visit one who has no honor?"
Raizo didn't care what anyone thought truly, but Mika cared what Raizo thought, and if it made less friction for the clan to accept her then so be it. She would fight, she would test, and she would show them all that she could be as strong as them if not a full ninja. She stopped and bowed to a group of high ranking kunoichi as she walked by. She had become a fixture that they were all used to seeing. She understood that some questioned her place here, but after tonight there would no longer be any doubt about who she was or why she was here.
Mika's hands lifted to rub across her bare brown arms absently. She had bowed to so many ninj that she felt she would have to go over the books, just to make sure that they "employed" that many. She looked up to see Mai and Asami walking together along the open bridge to the sixth floor. They seemed to be getting closer. Though she was truly happy for them both she was starting to feel like an outsider in her own home. She hoped that whatever happened would be solved eventually. She could fix the problems of all the ninja in the building, but not of those closest to her, and she hated it.
The day had long since faded, and it was time to begin her own preparations for the evening. She heard the sound of thunder followed by the forceful patter of rain. She moved to the window and watched as grey skies opened over Tokyo. It wasn't a good omen, but seeing as how the ceremony would take place indoors it wasn't especially bothersome. She sat on the ledge, and watched the rain for a few moments. She looked over to her dress, and tried to shrug off her melancholy. In her head, when she had pictured this night, Mai and Asami were there. They would all be getting ready together. There would be laughter and excitement, and just a general sense of mission complete. However, that particular dream was dashed against the rocks when Asami brought Michiko to assist her. Asami had brought Michiko to her room, and announced without ceremony that she would be helping Mika to get dressed. She would be in Mai's room helping with the ceremonial robes.
It wasn't that she begrudged them their chance to touch their history, but she hadn't expected to be alone at the end of their journey together. Michiko walked in and bowed with a sincere but excited smile. She was one of the ladies that helped Raizo on the mountain. She had volunteered to come down to help her for the ceremony. Mika rose from her spot on the window ledge and bowed in response, and began to get ready for the evening. There was very little for Michiko to do because Mika refused to treat her as a servant. However, she lost the battle after she got out of the bath when Michiko forcefully sat her in a chair in front of her vanity and prepared her hair for the evening. Mika could only watch as Michiko performed heatless magic with her hair, and tamed the natural curls into a updo that would leave her neck and shoulders exposed over the shoulderless dress she would be slipping into. She was allowed to put on her undergarments by herself, and yes that was allowed. Although she also lost the battle of makeup, which when she saw the final result she was glad that it was a battle she had not won.
Mika stood in front of the floor length mirror and marveled at the witchcraft Michiko had performed. The dress slid over her frame like a glove, leaving her legs bare and ending in high heeled black red bottom pumps. The diamonds in her ears and neck were a far cry from the pearls she usually wore, and were another argument that Mika had lost. Apparently Michiko had been on assignment as a handmaiden in a royal household, and it had been ages since she could apply her craft. The crimson satin faded into an inky black that parted at her thigh into a slight train that barely graced the floor. The top was held together in a corset fashion along her back, and a satisfied smile tugged at Mika's lips when she thought of Raizo pulling the strings apart. It wasn't ceremonial robes, but it would do.
As Michiko performed her OCD like finishing touches on her person, a knock was made before Asami gracefully floated in looking resplendent in her own original ceremonial robes. Mika could see why she had been such a powerful Lotus. Even with one eye she was beautiful, and she was sure that there were many that had fallen into the trap of an Asami in her prime. She nodded to Michiko who bowed, and left the room without another word. Not that there had been many to begin with.
Asami removed a box from her robes and pulled out a black jade comb with a lotus carved into the top. She placed it behind Mika's ear and stood back to take in her newly adoptive daughter's appearance with an approving nod. "Good, remind Raizo why he is here. He is not here to name a lotus, but to crown a queen."
"Not to name a Lotus.." The words ran through Mika's head, and frowned as another puzzle piece of a large obscure puzzle fell into place. "You would rather that Mai was in my place."
The direct straight forward question seemed to catch Asami off guard. She had never gotten used to the direct ways of the Western world. Nonetheless she nodded her affirmative, and placed her placed her slim hand beneath Mika's chin. "Yes, but not for the reasons you may think. I am proud to call you my daughter. Raizo has made an excellent choice in you as a mate."
Mika turned away from Asami to check out her reflection in the mirror once more. That didn't answer any of the unspoken questions that she had, but the clock struck eight letting them know that it was time for them to make their way to the grand hall where the ceremony was to be held. In ancient times it would be held in the mountains amongst fire light and ninja's lining the roof of each pagoda and building watching. Mika did her best to honor that tradition, but with Raizo refusing to let her out of the tower until her training was complete it made for improvisation and a lot of moving things around.
Mika's eyes met Asami's in the reflective surface of the glass and wondered why she was still there. She didn't know what Asami saw in her eyes, but it made her afraid. Asami stepped back, and Mika wasn't sure where to go from there. If what Asami saw on her face sacred a battle scarred special tactics ninja, than it scared Mika as well. Michiko came back into the room with a wrap for Mika's shoulders that matched the top of her dress. It was time to go. The clock chimed again, and she turned and bowed to Asami deeply. "You should walk in with Mai. Don't worry, I won't be insulted."
"Mika…" Asami started, but Mika simply held her hand, and gave her a smile that didn't reach her eyes.
"I said it's fine. Please go ahead, Mai needs you." Mika was hurting inside, but she had spent the better part of three years learning to be gracious. It would appear that her test would start now. "Michiko, would you follow Asami to Mai's room and attend any last minute preparations they need?"
Michiko oblivious to the tension in the room bowed, and headed to the door. Asami's gaze met Mika's and she thought that she saw a flash of regret before she too turned and walked out of the door. Mika in turn waited until she was sure that they they had departed and angrily knocked everything that was on her vanity onto the floor. Her skin was hot, and her breath as coming in deep angry bursts. She didn't dare cry. She hadn't the time to fix her make up and had sent Michiko out the door with Asami. She took another set of deep breaths and got herself under control.
"The wind touches everything, but nothing touches the wind. To be a Lotus is to be the wind. To be alone." That was the last entry made by the Blood Lotus herself. She adjusted her wrap, and greeted the cleaning men on her way out. They were to prepare the room for Raizo's arrival. She quickly lied and made a joke about her nerves making her clumsy. It was so easy to lie now. They simply laughed, and wished her luck on her ceremony.
Her thoughts had taken her to dark places as she made her way to the grand hall. She would not be on the ground floor like the rest, she would be on the third level bridge, so that she could see everyone and that they could all see her. It was her second favorite spot in the building. She stepped out of the elevator and was met with an explosion of color. Bone whites and blood red all against a backdrop of black suits and uniforms. The ninja practically lined every level to witness the ceremony and await Raizo's arrival. Mika saw Asami enter followed by Mai, and a sad smile touched her lips. They looked excited to be there, and she didn't blame them. It was if every one of their history books had come to life around them. She hoped that they would be happy back on the mountain when they returned.
A hush fell over the room and the doors to the sands opened. A sea of ninja in red oni costumes came through with back flips and streamers made of silk and paper. Raizo walked in behind them wearing a fitted tuxedo and a long red scarf. His hair was loose and it fell around his shoulders in delicious waves that Mika just wanted to curl her hands into to. She wasn't necessarily eye raping him, but if he wasn't her lover, he could probably get away with pressing charges. The group fanned out amongst the gathered ninja, and Raizo stepped forward to the Asami's hand and bow. In turn she and Mai dropped to the floor, and pressed their fists to the ground. He bid them rise, and then his eyes lifted to the third floor bridge where she stood, and the look he gave her made her heart stop with it's intensity.
When his eyes lifted, so did everyone else's. Some of the looks were knowing, others were curious, and most were accepting of her presence there. Mika's lips curved into a cat like smile, and she respectfully bowed to Raizo and in return he bowed as well. The noise in the room was near to defeaning with the excitement that was contained inside the tower. Never were they so free to be who they were than in the presence of others like themselves.
"We are honored by your presence here tonight Ozouno Raizo." When Mika finally spoke the acoustics in the room carried her voice around them, and made her voice as clear as the crystal they all would be drinking from later.
"I am honored to be here. Are you prepared for your test?" Something in the way Raizo said test, made her skin flush with excitement. The tip of her tongue moistened suddenly dry lips, and she nodded, as his gaze robbed her of the ability to speak. "Very well than. You are allowed one wish."
The final wish was like a last right of sorts. The test consisted of a combat portion and as a seduction portion. You could not get to the seduction portion without the combat portion. Mika was about to ask to switch the order of the ceremony around, but her eyes caught sight of Asami and Mai, and sigh filled her lungs. It was to be another night without Raizo's touch than.
Mika bowed in thanks, and waved her hand towards Mai. "Please allow Mai the honor to test for Lotus as well."
The room bust into whispers and even Raizo seemed a little surprised, however he was better at hiding it than his brethren. It was unheard of to have two who bore the Lotus name in the same generation. Raizo looked as if he was taking time to consider it, and a slight nod was given. He turned to Asami who looked as if she was holding her breath in front of a lightly afraid Mai. "Mai, are you prepared to take the test this night?"
Mai, stepped out from behind Asami and dropped to the ground quickly. "Hai, yes Ozouno Raizo!"
Mika watched Raizo look her over, and his lips tugged into an amused smile before his eyes met Mika's once more. Though his eyes never left Mika's his words were for Mai. "Are you prepared to allow Aki to administer the final portion of the test should you survive?"
Mika released a breath she hadn't realized that she was holding. She hadn't gotten that far in her plan, but sharing Raizo even for historical accuracy was not what was about to happen that night. Raizo's brow lifted to see if she was agreeable, and she was sure that mocking, even silently, was not something he did when they had first met.
"Hai, Ozouno Raizo. However you want it done. I will obey!" Mai was so excited, that she missed the twitter of laughter at the way her words came out.
Raizo smiled back at Mai, before looking at his second in command who had come to stand before him. "Aki, are you agreeable?"
"Hai, Ozouno Raizo." Aki accepted with a bluish that Mika personally found adorable, but when she looked back at Raizo a frown had settled onto his face. Mika removed the charmed smile form her lips, and smoothed out her dress, coughed to the attention of the crowd. All she would need was a jealous Raizo administering her test.
Raizo turned to look at Asami who was silently crying by Mai's side. "Than if it is acceptable to the Blood Lotus than we shall have two who are championing the Lotus family's name."
"Hai Raizo-San, If my adoptive daughter wishes it than I will offer no objections." Asami looked back at Mai who took her hand with a slight squeeze. Almost sagging in relief of the preservation of heritage.
Raizo nodded and lifted his hand. "Than as my lady wishes, we will have two combatants this evening." The crowd cheered, and Mika was pretty sure they could have a giraffe trying for the title of Lotus,and they would have been happy with seeing blood. "Mai do you have a final wish?"
Mai shook her head, and not for the first time Mika marveled at how sweet Raizo was. Although, since this was in the vein of last rights, she should probably swoon at his amazingness when she was not about to risk her life to get in bed with him.
"Than let the test begin! Bring in the shades!" As Raizo spoke, the door to the Sands opened once more, and this time the men who walked in wore black mask that indicated their shade status. They were basically dead men walking attached to brass chains. They were men who had committed crimes so heinous that simply killing them was not appropriate. According to clan law, they could only be released if they fought their way out, and Mai and Mika were on their way out.
Raizo addressed the men with barely concealed disgust, and the room fell silent as he addressed them. "You have one chance to leave this tower alive, and that is to kill her…" He pointed at Mai, "and her." Mika took a deep breath to stop her heart from beating outside of it's ribbed caged. On some level she distantly remembered that she could have just asked for Mai to do this portion as her last wish, which would have left her free to play with Raizo. But that would have been cowardly and dishonorable. She had trained for this and she would do it. No matter what happened.
Raizo stepped away from the platform to stand by Asami. Mai took his place, and the twelve shades were parted into two groups of six. Mika slid the wrap from around her shoulders, and threaded it between her hands. Raizo glanced up at her, and she could only give him a slight smile in return. Her first test combatant landed onto the bridge with a roar and began to charge at her.
To say that Raizo hated this part of the test did not do the word hate any justice. He could only watch as six ninja made their way to kill his future bride. He had to force his body to relax while he watched the test begin. If he looked worried than those around him would begin to worry as well. They would show neither Mai or Mika any mercy, as this was their last chance to draw breath as free men and not as corpses in the afterlife. Asami came to stand by him, her eye glistening in pride as she watched Mai square of in front of six men on the platform. He glanced at her, but his attention was mainly focused on the bridge where Mika calmly watched her own attackers climb up the walls to reach her. The room was filled with cheers and the thirst of blood that was not their own. This was a celebration of life and creation for them that had persisted since the dawn of their existence, and Raizo could not fault them for their zeal.
He watched Mika calmly assess the man who landed on the bridge. She took a few steps back to draw the man in closer than dispappreded into the shadows. Raizo was surprised at her first move. She hated the shadows. She had ever since she had learned what lurked there. He glanced at Asami out of the corner of his eyes. She only shrugged before turning her attention back to the man that had felt ballsy enough to come for Mai. He was cut down with a minimum of effort, and Asami's smile was spread from ear to ear at the performance of her granddaughter. This caused the other five to be leery and they slowly moved in a circle around her trying to out flank and intimidate her into giving in.
What they didn't understand was that Lotuses didn't give in. They did not stop, and would not until their target was dead. Raizo heard a scream, and looked up just in time to see the first man get dragged into the shadows. The other five landed on the bridge, and frantically look around for their sixth member. Soon they found him as Mika tossed his still body at their feet sans his katana. By this time the cheers began to make the building feel as if it was shivering around them. The five on the bridge kept looking around in confusion, and then another was pulled into the darkness leaving four who huddled together trying to make their dwindling numbers count.
A scream at his side brought Raizo's attention to Mai as she took out one man's eye than silenced his screams by slitting his throat. Raizo was appropriately impressed,and could not help, but be amused at how Asami avidly watched the fight knowing her granddaughter would be victorious. She would be an excellent trainer for the future kunoichi who came to the Black Sand. He could train them, but he only knew how to train one way, and he was trying to move away from that model of pain and desperation. "You have done well venerable Lotus."
"I have, haven't I?" Asami's smug assurance held an I told you so, that she was too well trained to issue. "I've done well with both. Mika has just dispatched her third man."
Raizo looked up, and it was as she said. Mika burst through the shadows this time holding two stolen katana, as she made her way to her next victim. The darkness peeled away from her skin as she moved through the tendrils that didn't seem to want her to return to the light. Not for the first time he noted how sexist the ceremony truly was, as she was fighting in a very lovely dress. He would make sure to mention it...next time. The fourth man never had a chance as both swords were raised, and the man was cut in half in a scissoring fashion that left no doubt that the man was not coming back to life, at least on this plane. He didn't want to say that he was amazed at how far and fast Mika had come within three years, but it would be a lie. He knew she could do whatever she put her mind to, but he had no idea that the change would be so complete or consuming. His voice was a mixture of awe and longing that he struggled to keep to himself. "You have done very well, Asami."
Another deafening cheer found Mai polishing off her fifth man. His prone body slid off of her sais, and the last man began to circle her warily. Raizo assumed that the man thought killing her would be like killing all of the others. He hadn't realized what type of nightmares could come for you when you were awake. There was a reason that they were called demons. Mai started to move closer to her target. Her robes were already stained very heavily with blood, but luckily it was not her own. The man screamed, and ran at her, only to have Mai side step and slice through his body with a quick arc of her wrists. The man stood for a few moments in confusion. He had no idea that he was already dead. He dropped to his knees, and his scream came out as a gurgle of blood before falling to the floor, silenced forever by two dainty hands.
Raizo bowed, acknowledging that she had passed the first part of her test. The crowd cheered, and he was only too glad to guide her over to Aki. He wanted to give his full attention to Mika. He turned, and watched as Mika considered the man in front of her. He was smiling, and for Raizo that was a very bad sign. Her stolen swords were red with the blood of her victims, and the man just leaned his head to the side to crack his neck. He lifted his hands curling his fingers at the palm beckoning her forward. Mika mockingly bows and comes as she is bid. The man shouts seeing as she is not afraid and runs for her. Mika side steps, and then several things happen at once. The man flips over her, and slides his hand across her bare shoulder. Mika recoils in disgust, and Raizo barely refrains from going up to the bridge to kill the man himself. The only thing stopping him was Asami's small hand on his chest. Raizo's jealousy promised to be legendary. Raizo gritted his teeth but remained in place. Mika gets her bearings, and raises the sword, but the man laughs and runs into the darkness. Mika looked over at Raizo for a moment, and runs into the shadows after him.
"Trust her Raizo. Trust her training." Asami whispered, but she too seemed to be avidly searching through the shadows for her pupil. They could hear swords ringing, and they would sometimes see them coming in and out of the darkness surrounding them. Some of the visiting ninja's had wrapped their own hands around their own weapons. They only awaited Raizo's words to jump in and help one of their own. "She is a Lotus, and no daughter of mine will fail this test."
Something was not right. It was taking too long for Mika to kill that man. Raizo took a deep breath to steady his heart. It was a shame really. He was about to lose his honor that night. If the shade came out of the shadows and Mika didn't he would kill that man himself. Promises be damned. He waited, and there was no sign of either one. He heard Mika scream, and Asami had a hell of a time holding him in place. "I should have ignored my own selfish desires, and told her to go back home where it was safe!"
"How would I have given you his severed head if you a had done that?" Raizo turned, and relief flooded his system as Mika slowly exited the shadows holding the shades head by his hair. She threw the head at Asami's feet, and went to one knee.
Raizo lunged forward wrapping his arms around Mika, only to drop his arms when she flinched away. Only than did he notice the red that was spreading across the side of her gown. "Get the medic, Now!"
Hachiro bowed, and took off to get the medicine man The room watched in stunned silence, as Raizo picked Mika up into his arms,and held her as lose to him as possible. Mika winced, and took a deep shuddering breath. "What is my Lotus name?"
Raizo looked off into the distance waiting for the medic to make his way to them. He looked at Mika incredulously, and shook his head. "Mika, I don't think now is the time…"
"No! You give Mai and I our Lotus names!" Mika gingerly stood out of his embrace, and gazed up at him. Her beautiful dark eyes flashing up at him in a mixture of pain and rage.
"Mika, you are hurt, and…" Raizo tried to be reasonable, but Mika appeared to be having none of it today.
The medic arrived and Mika held up her hand to forestall treatment as she glared up at Raizo in a battle of wills, that Raizo wasn't sure why they were having. Her voice was quite clipped and angry when she repeated herself once more. "What is our Lotus names?"
Something wasn't right, in fact it was very wrong. Mika was shivering, and it appeared to be more than just shock at a wound that went too deep. Mika pulled her hair away from her face as it had come loose during the fight, and silently waited for her name. "Mika, what is wrong? I can't fix it, if you don't tell me."
"That man I killed was not a shade. He a member for the Stone Fox. Whatever he did when he touched me was poison of some type. I want to know what my Lotus name is before I either die, pass out, or just start tripping balls! So, I repeat what is my Lotus name?"
Raizo wasn't happy about any of the three prospects "Mika..."
"Raizo, we have a security breach, a dead Stone Fox assassin, and I need stitches. My name please!" Mika was shaking, but whether it was because of rage or pain he couldn't tell.
A deep breath was taken, and Raizo turns to Mai, who looked pretty amused at the scene that was playing out in front of her. " Mai, if you pass this next portion of your test, than you will foreve be known as Sun Lotus. Because you are the light of Asami's life."
There was a general murmuring of approval by those gathered. Mai bowed, and turned to Asami for a hug that Asami returned happily. He turned to Mika, and jerked her into his arms before she could say anything to the contrary. She had made it out alive, and as far as he was concerned she could skip the rest of the ceremony such was his relief. Mika winced but didn't fight him, in fact she looked up at him with a wan smile. Pain seemed to draw most of the anger from her eyes.
The clan seemed to fall silent again, but it didn't matter. At this moment they were all back ground. When he spoke he was sure that they could hear him, but his words for Mika alone. "You who fearlessly tread the path forbidden by others, who was once afraid of the darkness, but found away to dance within it. You will always be remembered as Shadow Lotus."
Mika's lips parted presumably to thank him, but he took that as an invitation to kiss her instead. The memory of her lips was nothing compared to the actual touch and taste of action that was mere phantasmal dreams but mere days ago. Shock held her still for a moment until she melted against him and returned the kiss with a fervor that made him want to devour her there on the spot. He had no idea what Asami had been teaching her, but he ached to find out first hand. There was a loud sound that could have been a cheer, could have been an explosion, and all he knew was for that moment he didn't care. His fingers curled into the loose curls of her hair, and he tilted her head back to allow himself the pleasure of nibbling her lower lip. Distantly he heard a slight cough, but the voice that spoke was Asami's.
"Ozouno Raizo, the doctor is here to tend to Mika. That is, unless you want to make love to her corpse. It's not the most depraved thing that an Ozouno has done, but definitely not an auspicious beginning to the life of a Lotus." Asami's laughed, and covered her cough with a handkerchief.
Raizo reluctantly let Mika go, and Mika just as reluctantly allowed him to pull away. The softly whispered sound of his name on her lips, almost had him undone before the whole of his clan. The doctor slowly disengaged them both. Knowing that any sudden moves, might end his life prematurely. Once Raizo released her, she sagged against the doctor as he led her out of the room. Raizo's lips tugged in amusement at the petulant look on Mika's face. It was as if someone had taken her favorite toy and sent her to the corner to wait.
The doctor guided her to the elevator, and the tube slide down carrying Mika to the medical bay. Raizo watched until the elevator was out of sight. He turned to Hachiro "Follow them. Keep her safe. Kill anyone who tries to touch her…"
"No!" Mai's voice cuts him off, and to his credit he didn't immediately cut her down as any other Ozouno would have done. He wanted only to be Ozouno in ceremony but not practice. However at times it was trying. Mai realized her mistake, and went to one knee. " Please accept my apology. I swore an oath to protect her, and I would be honored if I was allowed to stand guard."
"What of your test?" Raizo appreciated the sentiment, but she had just finished fighting off six men, and he knew she would be tired.
Mai chewed her lower lip a moment, and looked back at Aki who blushed once more. " Can we postpone it until Mika is well.?"
"I am sorry little Sun, but I will need Aki soon to investigate this breach of security." With the that he turned to Katsuo and nodded. The ninja bowed, and six men followed him into the darkness to find out what happened.
At Mai's distress Asami stepped forward and places her hand on Mai's shoulder to calm the girl. "Go on child. I will watch over Mika until Raizo comes to college her. Earn your name, and make me proud." Asami wrapped her arms around main a tight hug. "Our ancestors are honored by your accomplishments. Remember, blood begets blood."
Mai nodded, and Aki led her out of the room. Raizo bowed to them both before returning his attention to Asami. "Thank you Asami-chan."
"My daughter is in pain. I need no thanks to see to her care. I owe her much this night." A single tear slid down her cheek as she watched Mai go. "My family legacy lives on thanks to you both."
Asami turned and traced Mika's path to the elevator. Raizo for his part turned to address the gathered ninja, who were starting to get restless. He was sure that they understood by now who Mika was to him, but he wanted to makes sure that they understood that she was not a concubine. "Honorable and great clan of the Black Sand. I greet you and am humbled by your presence."
The cheers were causing the walls to shake with their ferocity. They had a lot of be proud of. They had become knights in the fight against darkness, and only killed to save and protect. They had been given more than shadows, and it was in part due to the women that he loved. "I have come to you to tell you that the reach of the Black Sand has stretched farther than Ozouno could have dreamed. " This time the cheer gave way to chants of Raizo's name. They were not of the light, but at least they could now feel the sun.
"I come before you to tell you that I am taking a bride." Raizo almost felt giddy to to tell them of his love for Mika...or at least as giddy as he could be. Mika would say that he was wearing his every day face, but inside he felt pure joy. "Tonight I am here to tell you that before the next full moon, I will be wed to the Shadow Lotus, Mika Coretti."
The room was silent than slowly each ninja dropped to one knee. Those of the clan old and new, all moved to the position of taking an oath, and the room was so silent that Raizo thought he had put them into a state of shock. Then suddenly a soft hum soon became the roars of the ninja chanting "Black Sand" over and over again. Raizo bowed to them in return. He turned to Hachiro to tell him to guide them to the party that Mika had coordinated. The ceremony would turn into a very loud very drunken engagement party. He would have enjoyed overseeing the revelry but he had work to do.
They needed to find out what the Stone Fox's next move was, so that he could exact revenge on them for hurting Mika. Raizo pressed the elevator to head up to Mika's room. He had spare "work" clothes there. He was supposed to be heading to her room to spend long lazy hours making love to his soon to be wife. Now he would spend the evening making someone understand how off limits Mika truly was. The Stone fox had showed their hand, and the Black Sand was now ready for war. He would make them pay for touching what was his. Even if he had to turn into Ozouno to do it. "Weakness compels strength, betrayal begets blood."
*End*
