Alone

Chapter Four: Courageous Heart

Ayame woke the following day, her head pounding as though someone had hit her. Slowly she sat up, her hand resting against her head trying to ease away the pain. Her eyes widened as she realized she was not waking up at her master's house. The room was pitch black, telling her it was either still early morning or the room had no windows. Finally, she remembered she had been taken along with Chika. She wished to take back those past few days, to pretend the master was still alive and Chika had not been kidn*pped.

As this ran through her mind she realized Chika was not with her. “Where's Chika? What have they done with her?” These questions turned over and over in her thoughts until she couldn't stand thinking they may have murdered her too. Without realizing it, tears had started down her cheeks. Then a scream she hadn’t known could come from her small body echoed off the walls around her.

The door flew open and in the entryway stood a tall, lean man, “What's wrong?” He questioned sternly without stepping closer.

“Where's Chika?” She paid no mind to the anger in her voice. She stood up abruptly, walking slowly towards him.

“Chika?” He questioned back.

“Yes, the baby you people kidnapped.” She kept moving forward until she stood only a few steps from him, her body shaking.

“Oh, the babe that wouldn’t stop crying?” A smile crept across his face, telling Ayame something dreadful had happened to her.

“What have you done to her?” She screeched at him.

“Well, let me see.” He looked at her thoughtfully, his eyes held a twinkle that seemed to say the babe may be dead or alive.

“Please tell me where she is.” She was shaking all over, this kind of fear she knew nothing of. Suddenly, another man stood in the doorway, holding a babe close to his chest. At once she saw the auburn hair and emerald eyes. With one glance at the small bundle, she knew it was Chika. “Give her to me, please!” she begged.

“I'm sorry miss, we cannot hand this babe over to you,” was all he would say in response. Even when she asked him why he wouldn't tell her. Tears welled up, starting their way down her cheeks again. The men both stood there and stared as if they had never before seen a woman cry. She cleared a few tears away from her eyes. Looking toward the man with auburn hair and it was then that she saw something in his eyes, something that reminded her of her past. They were kind eyes that appeared hardened to the world.

“I don't understand why you're doing this.” She watched as he held an old rusted knife up to Chika's little throat. As he did, Chika began to cry. “W...what are you doing!? Get away from her!” she cried out, moving toward him. Unfortunately, the other man grabbed hold of her arms, holding her back. No matter how much she pulled, kicked and screamed, she couldn't brake loose from his grasp. Her arms began to ache as the man's grasp tightened. With every second, Chika's cries became louder and louder, but Ayame was left to watch. She felt droplets of sweat fall from her forehead down to her chin and onto her shoulders. Fear curved up and down her spine. Minutes felt like hours.

Taking in a deep breath, somewhat calming breath, and then words spouted from her mouth. She started to sing, “Hush little Chika don't you cry, this isn't really goodbye, so close your eyes and you will see the dreams that are awaiting thee....” the man laid his hand over her mouth, trying to quiet her. It was as though he thought she was insane for singing to a child who was soon going to pass.

“Quite!” he demanded as the other man stood there, in a daze. “Watch quietly!” He yelled, partly for effect and partly to get the other man to refocus. She shifted her jaw around enough to get her teeth on his hand and bit down. “Ahhhhh!” he yelled, with her teeth still clasped around his hand. When she let go, she suddenly felt a hand c***k across her cheek, silencing her.

* * *

Tears, like jewelled droplets, streamed down her cheeks. Joy rose up from inside and her heart beat hard with excitement, as the man placed the small bundle that was Chika into her arms. “Why couldn't you just give her to me with the other man here?”

“He would have told them I had gone soft.” A smile crept across his face as he spoke. “And we can't have that, now can we?” Ayame nodded as she glanced around the brightly lit room. It held a table and two chairs on which she and the young man were sitting. As they sat across from each other she realized he was the same man who had been at her master's house, which seemed only days ago. He had taken her from the darkness of the other room, to here, but made it seem like he was going to do away with Chika and wanted her to witness it all. She wanted that impression of him to disappear, even though it was an act. The sound of his voice had been dreadfully dark and the expression he used had made her fear heighten to a new level.

“What's your name?” she asked, feeling nervous sitting in a room alone with this man.

“My name is ......” he was cut off when the door opened and a boy came in. “Oh, Hiroshi, what is it?”

“Ummm, Master Tadashi sent me to get you. But if you’re busy I can tell him you’re not available.” The boy stood only four feet with black hair and was stylishly dressed. He smiled while he spoke in a gentle voice.

The man looked over to Ayame, questioning her with his eyes whether or not she would be fine with him leaving her so soon. She gave him a faint smile indicating she would be. “I'm on my way then. It was lovely meeting you again, Miss. Ayame.” He bowed and wandered to the door. Before he left, he leaned down whispering something to Hiroshi that Ayame couldn't make out.

As she tried to listen in, she started wondering why and how he knew her name. She couldn't remember telling him. Instead of allowing the thoughts to worry her, she waited until he finished speaking with Hiroshi to ask, “How do you know my name? I never told you.”

“Oh, about that, you’re right, you never did tell me. I know all the names of the workers at the mansion you worked and all I did was simply narrow it down to...... well.... you. So I was hoping I had gotten it right.” He smiled, and then continued, “I must be going now. I will see you later.” With that said he continued out the door. She listened as his footsteps faded into the distance.

She was brought out of her thoughts when Hiroshi asked, “Miss, would you like to see the town?” He had a smile on his face.

“Sounds nice,” Ayame answered, unsure if she should really go with him or not. She stood, still clutching Chika, tightly, as if at any moment she would vanish from the world. She was confused by all the sudden changes. How one man posed a great threat only moments ago and now was gentle and kind toward her. It was all almost too much.

“Miss, I'm sorry, but we can't take Chika with us. She is supposed to be dead after all. If we do, then she really will be dead.” He held out his arms to take Chika. Ayame reluctantly handed her to him, watching as he went out of the room for a moment and came back without her.

“What did you do with her?” Ayame asked, somewhat panicked.

“You have no need to worry. She is in a safe place. No harm will befall her there.” He smiled, trying to reassure her. She was unsure if she could truly trust the boy. However, she also was unsure of what would happen if she were to make a scene or anger him.

He took hold of her hand and pulled her gently to the door and slowly out of the house. They left, roaming the streets for a few hours. Somehow, they ended up back at the doorsteps of the mansion just before the streetlights were lit. Hiroshi took her to the room they had left. No longer was it brightly lit, but dimmed by the setting sun. He bowed to her as he left her in the room for a few moments before he returned with Chika, and placed the babe back into her arms. He bowed his farewell, leaving her alone in the dimly lit room with the sound of the wind howling against the window.

“So, what did you two do for the afternoon?” A man stepped out from the shadowed doorway. Ayame looked up and saw the man who was with her earlier, and her fear subsided, slightly.

“Oh, it's only you. You scared me for a moment,” Ayame whispered as he came closer and seemed to insist she tells him what they had done. “Well, we walked around town for a while and umm .......... oh, we went to a small restaurant and that's about it. But the restaurant was really good. It surprised me he could afford to take me there.” A small smile graced her lips as she spoke. “You never did tell me your name. Would you tell me now?” She realized again that she had no name to associate with his handsome face.

“Why of course, my name, fair lady is,... Raiden.” His lips curled into a smile, as he bowed ever so slightly to her.

“That's a nice name. I think I used to know someone by the same name, but I can't quite remember. I was never very good at remembering faces and names together. My mother always had to tell me with a stern voice who people were. This embarrassed her sometimes because of my lack of memory.” She was almost glad when the door opened and Hiroshi stepped through because she knew she was rambling.

“I'm sorry to interrupt you two once again, but Master Tadashi wishes to speak to you and Miss. Ayame together. It seems urgent.” He turned and motioned for them to follow. Raiden bent down slightly with his arm extended toward the door and his hand flat with all his fingers pointing to the exit. Ayame nodded and went ahead of him. She felt shivers zip down her spine, just knowing he was behind her. The chills this time were not exactly due to fear, but a warm comforting feeling she had never felt before.

They walked down the long shadowed hallway with only glimmers of light periodically showing until they were in front of two grand doors. Hiroshi knocked lightly, waiting only a moment before a voice sounded through the wood telling them to enter. Hiroshi pushed open the large door for Ayame and Raiden to enter. Hiroshi closed the door, leaving them in the candle-lit room. Again, she felt a cold chill run down her spine.

This time it was not a warm shiver, but rather one of fear. She peered around the room, seeing shadowed figures lining the walls. As she and Raiden advanced toward the table lit with candles, the man in the chair caught her attention. A scar ran down his face, from the top of his right eye through his lips and there it stopped. He looked at her, but his eyes seemed to rest on Chika. Then from her, they darted to Raiden's eyes. Never did her eyes and his meet. He seemed to avoid hers.

“I thought I told you to get rid of the child. We have no use for her.” His voice was harsh and crisp. Ayame drew in her breath as Raiden prepared to answer.

“Yes, I understand. You will not have to see the child's face ever again.” His voice had changed from tender kindness to a murderer’s voice, chilling to the bone.

“No, you can't......” Ayame was cut off by the elderly man at the head of the table, by the raising of his hand.

“You are not here to speak, but to see what happens to those that do not follow my instructions.” His stern voice echoed throughout the room, booming against the walls.

“Please spare.....” he cut her off again.

“Do you not understand my words!?” He raised an eyebrow and his voice to her. His steely eyes burned through her.

“Yes, I do, but I don't....” she stuttered.

“Good, you understand! Now on to the next bit of business. Raiden, I want you to take Ayame and make sure she’s able to find her way around the house and town.” With that, he motioned them away. But before they had reached the doors, he called back to Raiden, “You understand Raiden? That child must be eliminated. I do not wish to tell you again. If I must, it will be your head instead of the child's!,” he roared.

“Yes, I understand,” Raiden said without hesitation and a low bow to show his deep respect for his master.

They went through the doors and back down the hallway. He didn’t take her back to the room they had left but went into the yard. Ayame looked around, only seeing instruments of death scattered across the lawn. She could feel her heart start to race as Raiden stepped toward her, slowly wrapping his hands around Chika. “No!” She shrieked, pulling away, instinctively.

“Don’t worry, I won’t kill her.” The kindness in his voice had returned as he tried to reassure her.

“But you said you would to Master Tadashi,” she quickly responded as she took a step back from him.

“Yes, I know what I said, but I won’t.” His promise seemed sincere.

“How do I know you’re not deceiving me now?” He released Chika back into her arms and held out his right hand toward the trees. A man appeared from the shadows.

“This man is going to take the child back to her family. I swear it, on my honour.” Ayame took a deep breath, but still, she couldn't hand Chika over so easily. “Ayame, trust me, please. If you won't give Chika to me now, then I will have to kill her and I don't want that.” She nodded, finally handing her over to him. Still, her heart ached at finally realizing she would never again see that family. She stood there watching as he gave Chika to the other man. In the blink of an eye, he disappeared into the woods. She could feel tears running down her cheeks as she heard the man's footsteps disappear into the night.

“I swear if you’re deceiving me..... well, I don't know what I’ll do, but I'll do something,” she threatened him in between sobs.

“Ayame, you can trust me. I would never harm you in any way.” It seemed as though he was going to say something more, but he held the words in. She watched as he brought his hand to her cheek, and with one finger removed the tears she had shed. The tears glistened on his hand in the moonlight. “Ayame, it's time I got you inside and to your new room.”

“New room?” She questioned.

“Yes, you will be staying awhile,” he informed her.

“Why am I here?” she asked, hoping he would be truthful in his response.

“The Master called for you, but the Master you were under did not release you to us,” he responded, as though it would all make sense to her now. Instead, it caused more confusion.

“Why me? I still don’t understand,” she pushed. She needed to know the truth.

“You will in time, but it is not my place to answer. Now come on.” She let out a short sigh and followed him back into the mansion.

Before entering, she turned to face Raiden. She held her breath as she looked at him with the moon rising higher into the night sky behind him, the wind gently blowing through his auburn hair, caressing his navy blue kimono. At that moment she felt her heart stop, but only for a fleeting second. He looked so handsome with all the glittering water of the pond sitting a few feet behind him. How could she not have noticed how his presence gave off a calm warmth?

She was startled from her admiration by the sound of his voice. “What's wrong?” She simply stared at him, her thoughts blank. She couldn’t take her gaze from his emerald eyes. “Ayame?”

Finally, she took herself from her enchanted thoughts. “I'm sorry, the....... moon was just so beautiful. I never noticed it before. That's all… I’m fine.... really,” she let a smile break from her lips.

“If you say you’re fine, then we should head back in.” His eyes sparkled with shards of violet showing at the edges as he spoke.

"No, I have an important question,” she finally found her logic.

"What's that?" he asked with a smile across his lips.

“Am I a prisoner?" She held her breath, fearful of his answer.

"As I have stated already, I am not at liberty to say. But I can assure you that you aren't a prisoner, but also not quite a guest." His response again did not answer her question. It would have been infuriating if not for his distracting features.

"Then what am I?" she pressed him.

"I wish I could tell you." He smiled, trying to comfort her. "We should go now. I will show you around tomorrow."