Alone

Chapter Twelve: The Sword and the Heart

The door cracked open, interrupting their conversation, and Katsu stepped in. His eyes locked onto Ayame, sending shivers down her spine. There was something in his eyes, an emotion she couldn’t read. He seemed to be in pain, but that seemed an unlikely possibility to her. He held out his hand, silently telling her time was up. She stood without giving it a second thought.

Before she stepped from Raiden toward Katsu, she decided to take things into her own hands. She knelt again at Raiden's side, moving closer to him. She looked into his emerald eyes, smiled faintly, and leaning forward placed her lips on his, at the same time lifting her hands to his cheeks. Her hands catching tears, she pulled away to find he wasn’t the only one tearing up. As she wiped away his tears and her own, a glimmer of purple shown in his eyes. She raised her eyebrows in curiosity, but now was not the time to question him.

She turned to see Katsu, his eyes focused on her. She met his gaze only to see pain. “Ayame!” he called. His voice didn't hold the same strength as it usually did. She pulled further away from Raiden, looking at Katsu.

“What?” She questioned with a sly smile laid across her lips. She finally felt as though she had the upper hand in some way.

“It's time to go.” Ayame nodded.

Turning to Raiden, she said, “I’ll try to come and see you again.” Then she gently pulled his shirt back down over his back.

As she went to the door, Raiden called out, “I fell for you from the first moment I laid eyes on you.” His eyes changed to deep violet. “I’ll get out of here. And when I do, I’ll come for you!” His eyes glowed with a joy she had only witnessed between her parents.

“I’ll be waiting.” She smiled, her own violet eyes shining. After that, the guards pulled her from the door, closing it, leaving Raiden alone in the darkness again. Her heart ached to leave his side, but there was nothing she could do to remain there. Glancing back at the closed door as they went back up the stairs, she tried to steady her heart. Still, the pain from her injuries remained. She continued to fight them for his sake as well as her own.

Slowly she followed behind Katsu, stopping for a moment to look out into the backyard, seeing the moon's shadow sparkling in the pond. “How much time has passed?” she wondered, as she continued to follow Katsu. He paid no mind that she was so far behind him, or even that she was there at all. He didn't seem to be acting like his usual self, but Ayame let the feeling of uneasiness slide through her thoughts as quickly as it had come.

Suddenly it hit her. He hadn’t collected on their deal. “Katsu, what about the deal?” She stepped into her room, turning to look up at him. His gaze was colder than usual. She knew something was wrong, but couldn’t figure out what.

“The deal, there was no such thing,” he whispered, his voice almost disappearing with the night's whistling wind.

“But Master Tadashi said I had to… ummm… kiss you in order to see Raiden.” She flinched at the thought, especially doing it in front of Raiden.

“Yes, he did. Although he said it, in reality, I decided upon this outcome. I decided to show some mercy.” He forced a smile.

“Thank you,” she whispered.

“It was no problem, my dear. Besides, I have already kissed your tender lips twice before.” The sadness in his voice vanished and the old Katsu began to come through.

“Katsu, it seems you have some humanity in you after all.” She responded to his sudden personality return.

“But, of course, I have humanity in me. I am human, after all. What is it that you are intending to say to me?” He raised an eyebrow.

“I’m trying to say I was wrong about you.”

“Were you now? What were you so wrong about?” He asked with a smirk.

“Let’s just say you don’t make a good first impression.” She told him, struggling to maintain eye contact.

“I see, well I will have to work on this fault of mine.” His smile still felt forced. “If you would excuse me, it is running rather late into the night.”

“Of course.”

“Good night, my fair lady.” He took her hand, bent down, and kissed it. He stole one last glance up at her eyes as he was bent over, but the look he gave her was different from the usual Katsu look.

With that, he was gone. Her door closed and there she stood looking into the darkness. She found her way through the living area toward her room. All she wanted was to find her way to bed and hope for a tomorrow where Raiden was given back his freedom.

Laying down, she allowed her thoughts to wander for a few moments before a crash outside followed by a scream of terror halted her. Fear slowly crept inside Ayame's heart. She shook away this fear, gathered her courage, and stepped from her room toward the door. Sliding it slowly open, her heart pounded hard, sounding in her ears. A man stood, blood-stained sword in hand. Ayame looked down the hall to see two soldiers lying in pools of their own blood, eyes wide from pain. The man looked at Ayame with silver eyes. She caught her breath as his gaze landed on her. Fear ensnared her heart.

“You must come with me!” he demanded, forcing her hand into his. But quickly she pulled herself back into the darkness of her living room. “It is no longer safe for you here. I’ll explain more once we are safe from this place. But now we must go.” He gently took hold of her wrist, pulling her toward him.

Within moments she watched yet another world she had come to know vanish. Tears stung at the edge of her eyes as the man dragged her through the garden and past the cell where Raiden resided. Something inside of her screamed out to him. And before she could think, her scream rang out in the crisp night air. “Raiden!” It was a scream of terror that would surely alarm him coming from her.

The man swiftly lifted her from her feet, allowing him to move at a swifter pace, for now, she had sent an alarm throughout the mansion and they would know she was taken. “Put me down!” she cried out in anguish, hoping with all her heart Raiden would hear her desperate plea, or the man would let her go. It was not to be, for he continued to carry her into the night.

Nearly an hour passed and he continued to run till the sounds of the mansion faded into the darkness. All that could be heard now was the rush of wind among the trees, the chirp of the crickets, along with the sounds of other night animals. Tears now stained her pale cheeks. “Everything is gone, everything.” The thought slowly went through her mind as she truly realized he would not allow her to return freely. Tears flooded her eyes, blurring her vision. She could no longer be strong and pretend everything was going to be alright. It all hurt far too much for her to keep it all in. It was all too much for her. All she wanted was to live a peaceful life, to never see anyone die in front of her or because of her again.

Suddenly, they had stopped moving and the man gently set her down on a stump. He turned from her, gathering wood to prepare a fire. She sat there, allowing the beginnings of the firelight to bounce off her, all the while her mind telling her to run. It was not safe. She could not move herself no matter how she tried. There she sat watching as he pulled out two strips of meat from his sack, and started to roast them. “Everything is going to be fine, young one, once we get you farther from that imprisonment,” he whispered as though she was not present.

“I don’t understand why you’ve brought me here. What could possibly be in the mansion that would harm me?” As the words left her mouth the man turned his face, a wide grin lay across his lips, as though he had murdered someone and liked it. Fear shivered down her spine. His eyes were wild and crazed as his gaze settled on her.

“My dear, it was not the mansion I was taking you from, but out of the hands of those who plan to use you for destruction, you poor wretched soul. For you’re the child of prophecy from old. The one said to either bring about destruction and chaos or...” His voice trailed off as he considered whether or not to continue.

“Now dear, don’t frighten the child. She has had such a hard time.” A slim woman stepped out from the shadows holding the same menacing look in her gaze as the man.

“Child of prophecy? I’m not the child of prophecy! That can't be me! I don’t understand.”

“That's alright, my dear, for in a few moments it will not matter whether you understand or not, for you will no longer have the need to think of anything.” Slowly he drew out a dagger that had been at his side. He didn’t race at her with a wild craze for the kill, but slowly stepped toward her like she was a deer he might frighten away if he ran. The fire blazed behind him, shadowing his body, but his silver eyes glowed with murderous intent.

“Dear, how do you want your meat?” The woman questioned. Ayame couldn’t help but look past him to see her making herself comfortable by the fire, turning the meat.

Her eyes shifted back to the man as he made his advance. “Please stop!” She screeched in terror. There seemed to be nowhere she could run to. Fear halted her every move. Slowly, slowly, he came closer to her, the thirst for blood shining in his eyes. Fear was a dangerous thing at a time when action was needed, for that alone stops one in their tracks. And now Ayame had more than one thing to fight off. She must fight fear first or else she will die. “Please stop!” She screamed again, knowing full well it was futile. “Raiden...” His name came as a low whisper through her lips. She wanted to see him one last time. No! She wanted him to save her. She knew no matter how many times she screamed, the end was at hand.

* * *

There she sat, her body shaking like a newborn deer. Watching as he closed in on her, the fire crackled behind him, making his appearance all the more terrifying. She had pushed herself as hard as she could against a tree with tear-stained cheeks. There was nothing more she could do. There was no way for her to get free from this retched kind of death. Desperation filled her with thoughts that there was no way someone would come from out of thin air to save her, not in the midst of the night.

“Would you hurry it up or your meat will burn.” The woman said in a harsh tone.

He groaned his response and finally brought his steps to a stop just in front of her, his large frame looming over her small frail body. Fear had numbed her senses. She no longer felt anything. Her breathing had become shallow. All she wished for was a moment of peace before he struck her.

“My, my, the fear in your eyes is delightful! Dear, this is the expression you enjoy most,” he exclaimed as his eyes met Ayame’s. “I do feel rather sorry for what I’m about to do. I hope you can find peace in your grave someday.” As he spoke, the woman made her way over, holding her own dagger. It glistened in the light of the fire. As she looked up at their faces she saw they held true remorse, yet there was a hidden delight as well.

“I really wish you wouldn’t do this,” she whispered one final plea.

“My dear, I’m not doing this to cause you more pain than necessary for your death.” He raised his arm, “I promise to give you a beautiful burial ceremony. I really do promise, I mean we promise.” Ayame closed her eyes as his arm fell with the shining blade.

She waited, but never felt the blade strike. Opening her eyes, she found them both lying on the ground, arms astray from their bodies. Shock and dismay lay over her face, fear still looming in the background, wondering what or who could have done this to them. As she peered around into the darkness where the light of the fire would not reach, she caught a glimpse of a tall, well-built figure standing just at the edge of the fire’s light. She tried to identify the person, but to her dismay, she couldn’t tell whether they were friend or foe. She wanted to move from where she had herself pressed against the tree, but couldn’t force her muscles to obey her will. The flames slowly died down, leaving behind darkness to consume her vision. Closing her eyes for a moment, she tried to calm her nerves, betting on the appearance of this person as a friend since they had yet to make a move toward her. She prayed her instincts were correct as she finally gained control of her voice.

“Who are you?” Her voice shook from the fear of the unknown.

“I had so hoped you would recognize me from my presence alone, but it would seem you have all but forgotten me as dust in the wind.” He spoke with a melancholy tone.

“You do sound familiar.” She paused, trying to think, her nerves so shaken it seemed impossible for her at this time.

“My fair maiden, please do not force me to introduce myself to you, when I have already done so before.” His voice suddenly became playful, trying to give Ayame a hint of who saved her. He remained at the edge of the light, giving her no chance to look at the face of the man who had protected her from certain death. She had faced the Grim Reaper a few too many times for her liking.

“Katsu?” She whispered in disbelief. There was something about him making her feel she couldn’t trust him. But that was in the past, and now she didn’t know what to think. He had never appeared to be a person who was strong or capable.

“Well done!” Excitement sounded in his voice. “Although I am saddened it took you so long to figure out, I was the one to save you.” Maybe it wasn’t the fact it was Katsu, but instead, she had somehow thought Raiden would have freed himself and come to her rescue as he had done three times before.

“I just never thought you were capable of anything like this.”

“My dear, I am capable of things you cannot yet imagine.”

The words rang inside her mind. She was unsure what he meant by the statement, but concluded there were many things he said she never really understood, not fully anyway. “How did you know I had been taken?” She decided to dismiss his statement and continue on with the more important question.

“It was far too easy, my dear. Do you not remember the screams from the guards, and then your own calling for Raiden?”

“I see.” She felt her cheeks redden. All she had done was scream. That was all she felt capable of now.

“From there all I had to do was follow silently behind and wait for my moment to strike.” Her eyes had become accustomed to the moonlit forest as the last of the flames faded into smoke. “At first I was uncertain of his true intentions and decided to wait until he told them to you. Although what he said was not very informative, I suppose I could have gotten rid of him sooner causing you less of a heart attack. I was hoping that the woman with him would have stepped in and then I would not have had to have gotten rid of her as well.” He sighed dramatically as though it were a chore to have saved her and gotten his hands dirty.

“Katsu…” she whispered. She had a feeling he knew more than what he was letting on.

“Yes?”

“Can we go back to the mansion?” Just as the words left her lips, an alarm rang in the direction of the mansion.

“I believe now would be the perfect time for us to do so.” He walked toward her, bending down. He lifted her from the ground, bridle style.

“I can walk on my own,” she huffed.

“Can you really?” His voice had hardened, becoming more serious.

“Yes.” Her pride had gotten the better of her.

“I will put you down, but if I believe you need my assistance I will not hesitate, and you will not be able to get away from my arms until we reach the mansion.” She nodded in agreement, believing she really would not stumble on her way. But she was wrong. Only moments after he released her, her legs buckled. But before she could hit the ground, he caught her. “As I forewarned you, I am now going to carry you back, whether you enjoy it or not.” His voice was stern. She was exhausted and no longer wanted to challenge the matter.

They entered the mansion grounds silently, trying not to attract attention. Guards were scattered around with torches in hand, looking frantically for Ayame. But Katsu never once revealed he had found her. The alarm continued to sound for a few more moments until all the guards were on the grounds searching. She looked up at Katsu, “Why won’t you tell them you’ve found me?”

“Because I like seeing my uncle squirm.” He halted, hiding behind a tree as a guard passed by.

“That seems kind of cruel to me.”

“It is.” He scanned the yard looking for a way to enter the mansion unseen. To his delight, he spotted an opening and took it. Within moments, they had made their way inside.

“Why would you do something like that? You two are related, making you family, right?” She couldn’t wrap her mind around deceiving a family member.

“I’ll explain everything once I get you to your room.” He rounded a corner and headed directly for her living quarters.

“Will you at least inform a guard?”

“No.”

“Why not?”

“Because if I do, then my uncle will wish to see you and I won’t have as much alone time with you.” He smirked. She couldn’t tell if this was all a joke to him or something more serious.

“But if they find us together in my room, then won’t you be in trouble?”

“That doesn’t matter right now.”

“Please, just tell me what’s going on.”

“Ayame!” She caught her breath. She’d never heard him raise his voice like this before. “Please, just let me explain my way.” She gazed up at him speechless for a moment.

“Alright, I will.” He slid the door open, but to his dismay Master Tadashi stood inside, waiting.

“Katsu, when were you going to inform me you had retrieved Ayame?” There was something in his voice, a tone Ayame could not describe. It was nerve-wracking, to say the least.

“I was going to, once I brought her back to her room.” He responded innocently.

“You do realize you could have informed one of the guards and they would have reported back to me.” Master Tadashi didn’t seem to believe Katsu’s lies.

“I suppose I should have, but I was so focused on getting her back to her room safely that the thought never occurred to me.” If Ayame hadn’t known better she would have thought he was telling the truth.

“Knowing you, I know you can be rather thoughtless at times. I will let you off the hook this time, but only if you can tell me who it was that stole her away.”

“I’m sorry, uncle, but I do not know the fellow that did. I can tell you this much, he considered her a threat and he truly intended to take her life.” Katsu relayed to his uncle.

“I see. We’ll have to look into this. Tell me, where did you find her?”

“She was taken a few miles from here. But if you intend on killing the man yourself, I regret to inform you I have already done so.” At that moment, Katsu stood somehow taller, prouder almost.

“I see. Very good.” He seemed about to take his leave at this point. “One more thing. I assume his body is still there.” Katsu nodded. “I suppose I should go take a look at the brute to see if I recognize him. I’ll be off then.” His voice held a cold formal note. Looking around, he nodded his head to a guard and then left the room. Ayame was astonished at the conversation. She couldn't believe the lack of feeling between the two relatives. This sort of family she didn't understand, and never wanted to.

Katsu waited until his uncle’s footsteps faded into the distance, then took Ayame into her room and placed her on the bed. “Katsu, will you tell me what's going on?” She looked to him for answers, hoping he would tell her.

There was something in the way the mansion had quieted down quickly that turned this kind of conversation into secrets untold. Her heart ached at the thought that she was about to hear a truth she never wanted to know, but had to. Fear ensnares the heart, fear of the unknown. She no longer wanted to have that kind of fear, and she was prepared for the worst, or at least she thought she was.