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Date Posted: 22:14:21 02/05/08 Tue
Author: Rox
Author Host/IP: c-24-9-183-109.hsd1.co.comcast.net / 24.9.183.109
Subject: Overlord 3
In reply to: Rox 's message, "Overlord" on 00:24:24 02/04/08 Mon

"It has been said that: "those who are skilled in combat do not become angered and those who are skilled at winning do not become afraid. Thus the wise win before the fight, while the ignorant fight to win."

"I don't think I understand."

"We are always prepared for war, in the hope we shall never have to fight."

"But you have had to fight, right?"

"On occasion, yes."

"Why? What was the fight about?"

Mikel looked sad, but answered, "Sometimes, simply for the right to love." Then he frowned as a group of birds suddenly exploded into the air from their perch in a tree close by.

"But…." Nikita's question was interrupted when the dishes on the table began to shake.

Without a word, Mikel snatched her from her chair, swept her into his arms and jumped from the porch. When they were a few yards from the house he set her on her feet again, but by that time the shaking had stopped.

Wide-eyed, Nikita clung tightly to him. "What was that?"

"A mild earthquake," Mikel replied and pressed her closer.

"Does that happen a lot?"

"Often, I’m afraid. You do not have them in your country?" He carefully brushed his fingers through her hair, moving it out of her face.

"No." She glanced around at the men practicing aikido who barely attended to the fact that the earth had just moved beneath their feet. A few of them gave Nikita a knowing smile, which reminded her she was still hanging on for dear life. She immediately relinquished her hold and stepped out of Mikel's arms. "Thanks. I'm all right now."

"Just remember, it is best to get outside when they happen. Or if you cannot, kneel next to a heavy piece of furniture and cover your head." Mikel took her by the hand and walked her back to the house, but left her on the porch steps.

"I need to make sure there's been no damage. I'll see you this evening in the library, at sunset." He bowed, then inexplicably, took her hand and kissed the center of her palm. His mouth was hot against her skin and sent a quake of its own through her body; Nikita nearly gasped at the sensation.

"S-sure," was all she managed to say before watching him stride across the lawn past his men.
#

Puzzled, Nikita stared out the library windows watching small groups of men running to and fro on the lawn. They were carrying what looked like slender ropes and hanging them through the branches of nearby trees. Was this activity part of the surprise Mikel was talking about? If so, what could it be? Nikita questioned Lady Ayame about what was going on, but Lady Ayame seemed just as mystified as everyone else. Even the men working seemed to be puzzled by what they were doing.

Mikel had not made an appearance since he left that morning, and it was now very late in the afternoon. A glance at the sky told Nikita that dusk was not far away, and knowing Mikel promised to return by sunset made her heart race with giddy anticipation.

When Mikel finally made an entrance into the library, he was carrying Yoshiko with one arm and holding her sister Sachiko by the hand. The three were happily chatting as they entered and Nikita noticed that they were being followed by nearly the entire complement of Mikel’s large household. Men, women and children all filtered in together, all talking in curious tones. Two men, carrying a small metal box, attached to some kind of black rope—or so it seemed to Nikita—set the box on the desk and bowed.

“You’re back,” Nikita said smiling. “Are we going to get our surprise now?”

Mikel looked out the window and answered, “As soon as the sky is dark.” He smiled down at Yoshiko and playfully pretended to drop her, only to catch her at the last minute. Nikita thought it a shame that Mikel had never married; he certainly would have made a wonderful father. It was obvious he loved the two little girls as much as they adored him.

Minutes slowly slipped past as the sun dipped behind the trees, but Mikel was insistent that it be almost completely dark; even the candles remained unlit.

Finally, when there was just barely enough light to see, Mikel walked over to the desk.

“All right, my little rabbit,” he told Yoshiko, leaning down with her, “You have to help.” He took her little finger and guided it to the metal box. A moment later a gasp of delight went through the room and everyone hurried closer to the windows for a better look.

Nikita stared in wonder at the colored lights that illuminated the trees. Like twinkling jewels, of red, white, green, blue and gold, they wound around tree trunks and draped gracefully from branches throughout the yard.

“Oh Mikel,” she whispered as he and Yoshiko came to stand at her side. “It’s the prettiest thing I’ve ever seen. It’s a lovely surprise!”

In the dim light of the room, Mikel smiled and whispered, “There’s more.”

“More?”

He nodded and set Yoshiko down at her mother’s side. Then taking Nikita’s hand, he guided her through the darkness over to one wall of the library. As he had with Yoshiko, he took Nikita’s finger and pressed it against a button on the wall. Almost immediately, the library flooded with light from above.

Mikel looked a little impressed himself as he gazed at the flickering light fixtures above their heads.

The thrilled faces of Mikel’s neighbors turned back into the room, and their awe of moments before, became excited chatter and delighted laughter.

“Mikel! This is fantastic!” Nikita turned in a slow pirouette as she stared upward.

Pleased, Mikel admitted with a faint smile, “I wasn’t quite sure everything was going to work.”

“Is this because of the wind machines?” Nikita asked, turning to look at him.

He nodded, his green eyes watching her face with modest pleasure.

“Does this mean we will always have light now?”

“As long as the wind blows and the machines are operative, yes, at least I hope so,” he replied.

Nikita smiled and gently touched his cheek with her hand, forgetting for the moment they weren’t alone.

Mikel dropped his eyes and caught her hand in his own, before turning to the others in the room and briefly speaking with them. Nikita listened carefully, but couldn’t understand his words. In response to them, however, the others bowed respectfully to him and began to move towards the door to leave.

“Where are they going?” Nikita asked.

“To their quarters; to see if they all have power now.”

She watched them go and then watched as Mikel turned off the lights, plunging the library into darkness once again. When she started to ask why, she felt his thumb brush against her lips and heard him whisper, “There’s one surprise left, come.”

Taking his hand, she allowed him to guide her through the dark towards the rear of the library.

“Sit,” he said gently. Nikita felt around, touched a chair and slipped into it. Mikel moved from her side in the darkness then she heard a slight click. Several tiny, blue lights flickered to life and in their pale luminance; she could see Mikel’s face.

“What is it?” she asked, making out the outline of a box in front of him.

“Listen,” he said, and suddenly the room was filled with beautiful music, violins and a chorus, so vibrant and clear that Nikita thought the room had magically been filled with invisible people.

As her eyes grew accustomed to the darkness, she noticed the tiny hypnotic lights were mimicking the rhythm of the music. She stared, enthralled by the melodies and fascinated by the pulsations of color.

Mikel seemed captivated as well. He returned to her side and stood in silent companionship while the music played on.

When the music slowed to a conclusion, Nikita turned to thank him and was surprised and dismayed to see the faint gloss of a tear on his cheek.

“Mikel?” She stood, reached out and touched her fingers to the wetness of spiked lashes. “What’s wrong?”

“I just realized….how much we’ve lost.” He drew her fingers down to kiss, brushing their sensitive tips with the warmth of mouth. “How will we ever find it all again?”

His voice was desperately sad and Nikita suddenly understood the source of his grief. All the beauty of man’s accomplishments, his art, his music, the depth of his knowledge, all lost, all wasted.

She leaned over and tenderly touched his mouth with her own.

Nikita’s kiss took them both by surprise. Mikel gave a soft gasp and drew back fractionally, and Nikita immediately thought she had committed some culturally impolite infraction.

“Mikel, I’m sorry, I…”

But she never got to finish.
#

Her lips were warm and so soft. Mikel stepped into the kiss, pressing the length of his body against hers, and wrapping her tightly in the circle of his arms. It was the sweetest hunger. Mouth to mouth, the need to taste, the need to touch…. Instinctively he pulled at her hips, cupping her intimately against the heavy heat and gentle thrust of his body's desire.

"Ni-ki-ta," he sighed her name and begged entrance with a velvet tongue across the seam of her lips. She surrendered and opened, taking him inside to taste.
#

Nikita couldn’t catch her breath; couldn’t think; and thought she just might die when his hot mouth found an extra sensitive place on her neck, just beneath her ear, and yet another at the juncture of her neck and shoulder.

She’d never been kissed before if this was what a kiss was supposed to do. There was a sweet, melting ache between her thighs and she trembled and shivered with frustration at being imprisoned in the confines of her clothing.
#

It was Mikel that sought to slow down their ardor. He wanted her for more than a moment; he craved more than passion.

"Will you come with me?" he asked, kissing the corner of her mouth, the round of her cheek, the curve of her brow.

She buried her face against his neck and held him tight. "Where?"

"Not far." He took her hand, led her from the library, and back to his home.
#

Nikita was quietly curious when he took her into an open room with polished wooden floors, covered by tatami mats. Awaiting them there, seated on a cushion was Lady Ayame. She smiled and bowed low, almost touching her forehead to the floor. In front of her were two other cushions and an ebony tray, holding a tea pot and a single tea cup.

Returning the bow, Mikel gestured to one of the cushions and helped Nikita to sit, before taking the other at her side.

"A blessing on you, Daimyo," Lady Ayame said to Mikel, "and your Lady."

"Domo, Lady Ayame-san. Will you explain to my Lady the purpose of this meeting?"

"Hai." Lady Ayame turned to Nikita and bowed. Unsure what was expected, Nikita politely returned it.

"As the Shogun has willed, Mikel asks whether you will accept him as your husband." She pushed the small black tea tray towards Nikita. "If you accept him, you must pour him tea and offer it to him. If you do not wish to accept him, you must turn over an empty cup."

Nikita felt all the blood rush from her face and she turned to Mikel in dismay.

"Mikel, I…I don't know what to say."

"My Lord is forbidden to speak, Nikita-san,” Lady Ayame continued. “It is the woman's choice to make; a man cannot seek to force your decision. The Shogun has placed you under Lord Mikel's protection, but only you can decide to give him the privileges of a husband."

"Lady Ayame, I was not expecting to have to make this decision." Nikita looked at Mikel's face. It was almost expressionless in its calmness. "I have an obligation to my father…and there is another man named Jurgen…" She stopped, not knowing how to explain. It was just too sudden an idea…they hardly knew each other…the idea of staying in this strange land…there were too many reasons to sort through in only a moment. She desperately didn't want to hurt Mikel, but couldn't give him an answer on something so important this soon.

"Mikel, I am honored that you asked, but I am not ready to make this decision." Nikita bit her lower lip as she studied his reaction. He gave a slight nod of his head and lowered his eyes.

Lady Ayame gazed at Mikel sadly and then turned to Nikita.

"If it is your decision to refuse, I must witness that refusal. Please…" She gestured to the tea cup.

Nikita's eyes filled with tears then reached over and turned the empty cup upside down.

Lady Ayame bowed low to Mikel. He got to his feet, returned the bow, and then bowed to Nikita.

"As you will," he said in a soft voice and turned to leave.

Unable to think of a thing to say, Nikita watched him go. When he'd gone, she turned to Lady Ayame with her hands clutched in her lap.

"What happens now?"

The old woman sat silently for a long moment and then replied, "Everything will remain the same, my lady. You are under the Daimyo's protection and his home is still yours."

"Will I see him tomorrow?" Nikita asked worriedly.

"Do you wish to?" the old woman asked, hopefully.

"Yes. But will he ever wish to see me again?"

"He will wish to," Lady Ayame said quietly. "You are the world to him."

#
CHAPTER SEVEN

Mikel sat at his desk, his hand poised to write in his journal, but the words would not come. He gazed out the window where the colored lights still hung ablaze against the night sky. What had given him joy only an hour before, now reminded him of the pain of his failure.

He closed his eyes and relived the moment of Nikita's kiss, but the memory only made him crave her all the more and deepened the weight of his loneliness.

Shoving aside his journal Mikel took out a sheet of drawing paper. With precise movements, he embellished the paper with the likeness of his love, giving blush to her cheeks and definition to her lips with the edge of his finger, and then brightness to her eyes with a gentle sweep of his hand. But for all his skill, Mikel could not make the image real enough to quench the longing in his heart, nor could paper lips kiss away his pain.

#

Nikita awoke at dawn with a heavy heart and a headache from crying most of the night. The morning seemed to echo her feelings as the sun was blotted out by a dismal rain. She stared out at the storm with hopelessness. How could Mikel ever forgive her? But she still didn't know what she could have said or done differently.

While Mikel's arms were tempting her, Nikita had given no thought to anything other than being with him. It was only the finality of marriage, the knowledge that it meant she would remain in this strange place that brought her back to reality. Then she thought of actually having to leave him, and it only made her cry harder. She felt confused and afraid, and terribly homesick. In all her twenty-two years, she had never been away from her family or her home and now she was both.

She crawled from bed, bathed, and dressed in her clothes from home, hoping the familiarity of them would make her less depressed. Meeting Lady Ayame in the small dining room, she asked if Mikel was in the area. She desperately wanted to see him and explain.

"He is in the dojo," the old woman replied and pointed to the room where Mikel had taken her for tea the night before.

"Can I go in?"

"Please," Lady Ayame replied and gestured to the closed door with the bow of her head.

Nervous, Nikita took several deep breaths before opening the rice-paper screen that acted as a door. Inside she first saw four young men seated on the floor. Beyond them was Mikel, engaged in some sort of match with another man.

Quietly, so as not to disturb them, she crept inside on bare feet and sat in the shadows along the wall to watch.

There was a strange, compelling beauty to what they were doing, Nikita thought. Though she knew that it was hand-to-hand combat that could kill if necessary, it was also as graceful as a dance. And Mikel made it look effortless, almost gentle.

For an hour they worked and Nikita remained quiet enough not to be noticed. It was only when he dismissed his students that Mikel realized she was there. She patiently waited until the students were gone before gathering her courage and going to his side.

Bowing, she tried to remember the words to ask “how is everything?”

"Ohayou. Dou shiteru?"

Mikel soberly returned her bow and answered her question without looking directly at her, "Everything is fine."

"No, it's not," she whispered back, laying her hand atop the dark sleeve encasing his arm. "Mikel, please...." She slid her hand down his arm until she could take his hand then she raised it up and held it against her cheek.

"Last night was the most wonderful night of my life. Please, don't be angry with me."

He looked at her then with sad green eyes, but he made no move to pull away.

"It's just I'm in a strange land. I don't understand your customs and I wasn't prepared for what happened last night. Any woman would be honored to be your wife," she continued sincerely. “It’s just that I need more…”

Abruptly, two men in full armor and dripping wet, burst into the room. There was a rush of excited conversation. Something had happened, Nikita realized, something bad. Without explanation, Mikel and the others ran from the room and Nikita was left alone and unsure of his forgiveness.

"Lady Ayame?" Nikita asked, after seeking her out, "What's happened?"

The older woman however didn't know and it seemed no one else did either. Nikita found she had no choice but to wait for Mikel's return.

Several hours passed and Nikita stared at the rain with a sudden sense of foreboding. Were they under some kind of attack? Had Mikel been called away to a battle? He certainly looked grim as he rode away, but there had been no word sent back and it was nearly noon.

To pass the time, Nikita walked over to the library, intent on listening to some more music from Mikel's magical machine. It took several minutes of concentrated study before she succeeded in getting it to work, but when she did, the results were awesome. She also discovered that the music could be changed by replacing the tiny metallic discs in a movable tray. There were hundreds, perhaps even thousands of the shiny, coin-like discs, filed in neat order in a wooden container. Each was in a clear case with colored photos and other decorations adorning them. Fascinated, Nikita sat and listened to the music, hoping Mikel would soon return.
#

Mikel felt his stomach roil with sick terror. The school had been attacked and several of the young girls had been carried off. Despite armed guards, despite every precaution, the worst had happened.

He and his two soldiers lathered their horses in their haste to reach the school and found one guard dead, an arrow through his throat, and a second wounded, most likely mortally in the chest.

The dying guard choked out a description, but before he finished another group of Mikel's men came riding up with a man tied to his saddle. His lieutenant, Kenji, who was leading them, swung out of his saddle to report. "We caught one, but according to the other children, there were two men," Kenji dipped his head in a quick bow.

"What of the children?" Mikel asked, kneeling at the side of the wounded man.

"Three were taken…" the young lieutenant gestured at two of his men who had young girls mounted in front of them. Other than being afraid, the girls seemed unharmed. They clung to the soldiers, wide-eyed and shivering in the heavy rain.

"Where is the third?" Mikel asked, getting to his feet,

"We assume with the other man. I have teams out looking for him. According to the children, both men rode north. We caught this one as he crossed the bridge." He pointed to the prisoner.

Mikel took note of the black tattoo of two linked circles on the prisoner's forearm, the symbol of the Kunishi clan. Once a noble house, the remnants had now turned bandit.

"Kenji, form an escort to take our wounded and all of the children home, and another to take the prisoner and report to the Shogun. I'll lead the search for the second man." Mikel turned his horse's head then spurred him north, with two of his men in tow.
#

Nikita awoke with a start with her head on Mikel's desk. The day was so dark and gray and the music so soothing, that her sleepless night had finally caught up with her. She rubbed her eyes and walked over to the library window. The scene before her got her immediate attention and she ran outside to see what had happened. Men galloped by on horseback, and women and children were scurrying wildly to get out of the rain.

Nikita looked for Lady Ayame to see what was going on, then saw Mikel dismount on the other side of the bridge. Right behind him were two of his men, dragging a third who was struggling and screaming loudly. The men wrestled their captive to his knees and bent him over double; immediately all other movement within the yard ceased. Everyone stopped, either on horseback or on foot and gave their full attention to the prisoner and Mikel, who swiftly drew his sword.

For a moment, Nikita froze in place and then realizing Mikel's intent, reached out a hand in horror. Even under a cloudy sky, his blade glinted silver. With one swift downward blow, Mikel severed the man's head from his shoulders and then turned away, bloody sword in hand, as if the man had been a tree and his sword an ax.

Nikita choked on tears as she ran towards the house. She fell hard as she made the porch steps and saw a hand reach for her—a hand covered in blood. With terrified revulsion she jumped away from it then stared at its owner. Mikel stood there unspeaking, his face a cold, expressionless mask.

"What kind of monster are you?" she sobbed, stumbling backwards up the steps. "Don't touch me!" She cupped her hand over her knee, where blood was seeping from a deep scrape, and hobbled inside.

Nikita cried so hard that she had to run into the bathroom to throw up. The memory of the man's head spinning over the grass, the great arc of gore as it sprayed Mikel and his men, and the sweetish, metallic odor of blood burned itself into Nikita's brain. She couldn't wipe it from her mind and her stomach heaved well beyond there being anything left to lose.

#

She was so light, so very light in his arms. Mikel leaned his face against hers and whispered piteously for her to wake up, but she slept on, content to remain in the frosty arms of death.

It couldn't be so. It couldn't be! Mikel looked away and then back again, hoping to wake from the nightmare, hoping the scene would change if he simply closed his eyes and opened them again.

He almost fought them as they came to take her from him, but his arms had lost the strength to hold her, and she slipped away and into her mother's grieving embrace. And then he watched them take his child, his sweet, little rabbit, wrap her in a shroud and lay her alone in the cold, wet ground….

Lady Ayame bowed her head and wept silently amid the flickering candles of the shrine. Just this morning, Yoshiko was alive and peeking her dimpled face around the corner. "I've lived too long," Ayame whispered and reached to light a cone of incense to carry her prayers heavenward.

There was a quiet breath of wind that heralded a visitor. She turned to see the distressed features of Kenji as he dropped to one knee with his hand on the hilt of his sword. His dark hair dripped from the rain and it ran like tears down his face.

"Ayame-san, I must speak with Lady Nikita," the young man insisted, his dark eyes luminous and somber.

Lady Ayame sighed and shook her head. She had missed the meeting of Mikel and his Lady after the execution, but there had been enough witnesses to tell her what had occurred. And now Mikel's Lady locked herself in her room and refused even food. And Mikel….

"Ayame-san, he is still there! He made us leave and now Kuro has arrived home without him. Please, Ayame-san, I must speak to his Lady. I have never seen him like this. It is as if he has died as well!"

Lady Ayame trembled as she tried to stand and Kenji reached out a helping hand to get her to her feet.

"Doesn't she know of Yoshiko's death?" Kenji added looking angry. "Doesn't she understand what that means to Mikel?"

It suddenly occurred to Lady Ayame that Nikita might not know of the child's murder. She had disappeared immediately after the prisoner had been executed.

"Wait here," Lady Ayame said, straightening her bird-frail body. "I shall go speak with her."

Nikita sat in the gray shadow of late afternoon, feeling like stone. She'd cried until every tear had been used up. She stared off into space, focused on nothing, exhausted and emptied of emotion.

There was a knock, then another. Nikita barely moved her head in response and remained silent.

"My Lady, I have come to ask if you will join us to grieve for our loss this day," Lady Ayame's voice was quiet, yet firm. When there was still no answer she added, "It is our custom to burn incense for the death of our loved ones."

Something cold cupped its hands around Nikita's heart. What did she mean—a death of a loved one? Who was dead besides the man that Mikel had murdered?

She slipped off the bed and went and opened the door. Without being invited, Lady Ayame pressed past Nikita and into her room.

"Will you come and grieve with us?" shed asked, bowing low.

"Who-who's dead?" Did she mean the man that Mikel killed?

"Lady Yoshiko."

Nikita was confused. "Yoshiko? Little Yoshiko? No, that's impossible. I just saw her this morning…."

"Hai," Lady Ayame said sadly.

Nikita shook her head, not believing she was hearing right. "How? How did it happen?"

"Two men broke into the school and took three girls. My Lord Mikel captured the men, but not before one of them threw little Yoshiko off a bridge in an attempt to escape."

"Oh, my God!" Nikita said faintly, everything falling into place with horrifying clarity. "T-then that man he killed today…oh, Lady Ayame! Where's Mikel?"
#

Mikel knelt in the rain, as afternoon became evening. He was barely aware of the growing gloom or of the chilly rain as it dripped down the spiraling curls of his hair. He stared at the mound of mud worried that Yoshiko would be cold and afraid in the depths of it. He closed his eyes and felt his strength leech into the ground.
#

Nikita mounted Mikel's stallion rather than wasting time having her mare saddled and followed Kenji at a gallop across the compound's wooden bridge and into the damp evening gloom. All she could think about was what she had said to Mikel, that she hadn't given him a chance to explain. In the short time she had known Mikel he'd always been gentle. She never gave a moment's thought to the swords he always carried or to the reason he carried them. Well, now she knew.

Kenji reined in his horse and pointed to a group of trees at the foot of the hill below them. Nikita could see that it was the site of a well-used and ancient cemetery, but she couldn't see Mikel anywhere.

Kenji led her closer, until she spotted his lone figure kneeling by a fresh grave. She stopped, slipped out of the saddle, and tossed the reins to Kenji, telling him to stay where he was with a gesture.

"Mikel?" Nikita crept closer, careful not to alarm him. He neither seemed to hear her or care. She saw that his eyes were closed, his head was bowed, and his body completely still.

Stepping closer, she knelt in front of him. Then cupping his downcast face between her hands, she carefully lifted it. The mud was ice cold as her knees oozed into it and Mikel was soaked through to the skin.

"Mikel…I'm so sorry…." She smoothed his wet hair from his face and pulled him close, mentally pleading with him to open his eyes and know she was there.

After a moment, she felt his hand grope listlessly against her arm, as if awaking from a dream and confused as to where he was. She pulled back to look in his face and saw that he was staring at her with a lost expression. His body was shivering and she realized he was in shock. In a firm voice, she calmly ordered, "Mikel, we have to leave. I have to get you home." But he stared past her and faintly shook his head.

"Yes!" Nikita insisted, fighting the need to bawl. "Please, Mikel, look at me!" She cupped his face between her hands to force him to.

For a moment he seemed to focus on her face and she took advantage of it and gently kissed his mouth. His lips were cold and Nikita nearly broke down. He needed help and she didn't know what to do except to tell him what she was feeling.

"I love you. Mikel, I love you. Please come with me."

He shook his head, his mouth suddenly contorting in grief. A moment later he buried his face against her breast and sobbed.

For a long time, Nikita held him to her and grieved with him.
#

Lady Ayame met them at the door as Nikita and Kenji entered supporting Mikel, half-conscious between them.

"Lady Ayame, please bring some towels, some blankets, and some hot tea…with one cup." Their eyes met, tearful blue to tearful brown, before Lady Ayame bowed low, and replied, "Hai, My Lady."

When Lady Ayame arrived with servants carrying the requested items, Nikita and Kenji were busy stripping Mikel of his wet clothes. He tried weakly to help, but was shivering so violently that Nikita was sure he was going to be terribly ill. Worried, she poured a cup of the hot tea and held it to his lips.

"Drink," she ordered. He stared at her in a daze but took a sip. After a moment's hesitation, Nikita took a sip out of the cup as well, and then glanced over at Lady Ayame. "I guess that means we're married."

The older woman gave her a faint smile of approval, nodded then waved away Kenji and the rest of the servants.

"I will go and see that food is prepared. He needs to sleep and be kept very warm," Lady Ayame said as she left the room and slid the door closed.

Nikita gently lowered Mikel's head upon the pillows and quickly covered him with several blankets. He gazed up at her through heavy-lidded eyes, his lips still blue and his body trembling.

Taking a deep breath, Nikita began to strip off her wet clothes with business-like determination. She tried not to think about what she was doing. She'd never been naked in front of any man before. And while drinking the tea supposedly made her a married woman, she felt decidedly awkward and shy. Quickly towel-drying herself, she slipped into bed next to Mikel and gathered him close.

His skin was clammy and he was still shivering. Nikita adjusted the blankets so she laid against him, face-to-face, bare skin to bare skin.

"Shhhh," she crooned to him, stroking his damp hair from his face. "Go to sleep. You need to rest." And like an obedient little boy, Mikel closed his eyes and did just that.

Nikita leaned her weary head on her arm and studied her husband's handsome face while he slept. The concept of being married seemed utterly strange, but not unwelcome. Still, she wondered what she was going to tell her father, and worse, Jurgen. With a troubled sigh that ended in a yawn, Nikita cuddled closer to Michel. It had been an emotionally and physically exhausting day. There would be time to worry about her future later. She mentally blew Mikel a kiss, before drifting off to sleep.

CHAPTER NINE

It was still raining when Mikel awoke in alarm the next morning. He knew well where he was, but couldn't clearly remember how he had gotten there. Then there was something warm curled beneath the blankets, someone with long, golden hair that trailed over the edge of the pillow.

Then, like an anvil, yesterday's memories crushed him. Yoshiko's death and Nikita's horrified words: "What kind of monster are you? Don't touch me!"

And yet, she lay at his side…?

He gently eased the blankets down and saw the creamy smoothness of her shoulders and the gentle curve of her naked back. For a moment his body betrayed him and he reached out to touch her and pull her close. But the depth of his grief came to swallow up such longing. Surely pity, not love brought her to his bed.

"Don't touch me!" she'd said. And he was bound by her words.

Quietly, carefully Mikel slipped from the bed and went into the bathroom. The stormy weather filtered through the glass brick of the bathroom wall and imbued the room with a somber blue-gray light. It suited the darkness of his soul, as if it was the color of his grief.

He drew up a bucket of steaming water and began to scrub at the dried blood that remained on his hands; the blood of the monster that killed his child. As the Daimyo it had been his duty to kill the man, but it hadn't brought him any consolation. Little Yoshiko was still dead. Those slender arms would never again give him the sweet comfort of her affection. Hot tears returned and he buried his face in his hands. And what of Sachiko? Surely she must be traumatized by her little sister's death. What could he say to her? That he and the others had failed in their duty to keep their children safe?

Mikel took a deep breath, realizing he had to leave before Nikita awoke. He couldn't face her now and remain composed and he didn't want her pity.
#

When Nikita awoke, it was near midday. For a moment, she lay very still, remembering what had happened the night before. What was she to do? What was she to say? All of her commanding confidence of the night before evaporated as she realized the import of what she had done. She was now Mikel's wife.

Then she remembered the depth of Mikel's grief. What could she say to comfort him? He had allowed her to see him at his most vulnerable and that touched her deeply. Her heart ached for the man that had openly wept in her arms. Then she suddenly realized she was alone. There was neither weight nor warmth of his body against hers.

She sat up and turned to look. Indeed, he wasn't there, nor any sign that he ever had been. "Mikel?" Nikita quickly pulled a blanket around her body and went to look for him in the bathroom. It too, was empty.

Feeling confused and somewhat abandoned, she sat on the edge of the bed. Where could he have gone? And why did he leave without a word to her?

Dismayed, yet determined to find out, Nikita set about getting dressed.
#

"He is gone," Lady Ayame said quietly when Nikita arrived on the porch to look for Mikel. Lady Ayame gestured to the tiny table for two and not knowing what else to do, Nikita took a seat opposite her. She poured Nikita some tea and offered her some fruit from a small tray, which Nikita refused.

"Will he be back?" Nikita cupped her hands around the warmth of the tea cup but didn't bring it to her lips.

"Hai," the old woman said, but her tone was somewhat unsure. She gazed at Nikita's subdued expression and realized that while Mikel's Lady was willing to comfort him, Mikel now refused to be comforted.

"There is a great emptiness, here," Lady Ayame said, balling her fist and tapping it twice against her abdomen. "He is wounded and needs time to heal."

Nikita nodded with understanding and finally took a sip of her tea. With nothing more to do, the two women sat and watched the rain as it continued to fall.
#

With his helmet cupped under his left arm, Mikel fell to one knee and bowed to the Shogun. "You sent for me, Lord?"

Musashi returned Mikel's bow, the depth of it a silent, yet poignant acknowledgement of Mikel's loss. Nothing would be said; nothing needed to be said. The loss of any child was greatly felt by all.

"Hai. I've unsettling news from Akigawa's shoganate. I wanted to wait to send you there until you had a chance to explore Tokyo, but I am afraid that must wait."

"What have you heard?" Mikel asked as he got to his feet.

"It isn't so much what I have heard as what I have not. The telegraph wire from the southern province has gone silent. We've had no communication with them for well over a day. I've sent word to the other Shoganates and they are all sending troops to investigate. I am sending you, with part of my contingent. You will meet with Lord Akagi's men on the road south." Musashi paused for a long moment then asked, "Those white men, who were with your Lady. Are you certain they were not part of an invasion force?"

"I am certain, Lord, "Mikel said quietly.

"Still it is strange that all our troubles along the southern coast began with their arrival. I have sent word to have the men held at Sendai on Honshu. I do not want them to know of the bridge or the connecting tunnels to Hokkaido. You can pick them up on the way to Tsuruga-Jo. Perhaps they may give you more information if they see you have their woman safe with you."

"And if they are the enemy?"

Masashi sighed, "Then they must die, Mikel, if it means they betray us or endanger our people."

"And my Lady?" Mikel asked softly.

"She is a woman under your protection, Daimyo. I will support any decision you make on her behalf." Masashi handed Mikel a packet of documents, tied in black silk ribbons. "These are your orders, and the decree from the Council assigning the peace of the 7th Shoganate to your care and authority. Send word as soon as you can. If the word be an ill wind, all members of the Council will ride to your aid."

"I should be ready to leave in three days," Mikel replied.

"I will have your escort ready by that time and send them to you."
#

Nikita paced the library wondering when it was ever going to stop raining; wondering when Mikel would return; and wondering what she was going to say to him when he did.

The entire world had turned gray and quiet, Yoshiko's death having left everyone somber with grief. Nikita had never known such closeness between families as she did here. It seemed whatever affected one, affected all, as if they belonged to one large, extended family. At home, families worked closely together, but there was still separation. Everyone had their own homes. But here, everyone lived together in the same building and compound. Nikita could only assume it was for protection.

She leaned her pale face against the beautiful smooth, clear glass and gazed out at the lush, wet grass of the compound. The storm had moved everyone indoors and it made her feel as if she had been completely abandoned by everyone in the world.

Giving a great sigh, she wandered back through the books, searching for something to pass the time and ended up back at Mikel's desk. Lying where she had left it was the journal on the war. She turned on the desk lamp, staring a moment in awe at the magic of its light, and then sat and continued to read.

June 14, 2054

My daughter wants to know what that terrible smell is and where it is coming from. I told her I didn't know. But I do know. Millions of rotting corpses in the cities. Even here, we catch the odor brought to us on the wind. It's been this way for weeks, and I suspect it will continue for most of the summer.

Thank God for Watanabe Ichiro! If not for him, I wouldn't be alive today, nor my family. After several tense days, he's convinced the others that there has been enough killing and death. They know I'm a Westerner then suspected I might be a scientist, but Ichiro explained I was an engineer, and that I would be needed, if they ever hoped to get the sewage and water systems back on line. Without them, more people will die from disease.

They want power too, but I'm only a lowly mechanical engineer. I don't know a damned thing about electrical systems, beyond the science of it. I can't see that it matters. Without fuel, we have no way of generating any power anyway. As it is, it's going to be hell finding or manufacturing parts to get the rest of the systems up and running.

July 19, 2054

Getting parts has been the least of my problems. Now there's the problem of labor-most of the men are too busy in the fields, hunting or fishing, just to keep their families fed. That only leaves the old men, women and children to do the digging and repairs.

And there are so few women left, and very few daughters. Madeline was the one that made that observation. We have a daughter but intermarriage here has always been a rather forbidden subject. There are only three other white families in the area. That will limit Stephanie's choices some, when the time comes. But things would be much worse if she were a boy. I see problems brewing already-there must be six Japanese boys for every Japanese girl. All those years of choosing the sex of their kids--choosing boys over girls, just might be our undoing.

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