Then, one golden fish did a leap into the air and splashed a few droplets of water on the couple. Saru jumped to her feet, trying to wipe them off. He almost laughed at the sight of her having a fit over a few drops of water. However, he knew that was the wrong thing to do.
“How could you enjoy this?” she spat. “These nasty... fish... eww. Do not ever expect me to come here again with you!”
“That is not a problem,” he said and stood up. He began to walk away from the pond, and her, so she followed quickly.
“I didn't mean that the way it sounded,” she said. He could tell that she was back-pedaling a bit to save face. “I just... I don't care for fish or for getting my good dresses wet.”
“It was literally three drops of water,” he said, continuing to walk. She was quiet. The two walked around the gardens for a moment and then he stopped by a bench where there were several rose bushes in full bloom. He carefully plucked a beautiful red rose and placed it in her hair. “Here,” he said, “so our parents will believe that we are bonding.”
In her eyes, he saw a hatred brewing. He did not care though.
“I want you to know,” he continued, “that this marriage is an arrangement our parents came to due to your status in the community.” He pulled his hands back away from her hair as the rose was placed perfectly. “I agree that you are beautiful and trained in the ways of the court.” He paused for a moment, making sure he wanted to say what needed to be said. “However, I have seen from this short amount of time with you that in no way are you a nice person. You are not a lady that should be a ruler or a lady that I would have ever chosen as my bride. I will take you as my wife simply because the arrangement has been made and it would appear dishonorable to not continue. But…” He looked at her, deep in the eyes, making sure she understood every word he said, “I know that, deep inside, you are not a good person.”
She sneered at him, one side of her lip raised, one tooth showing. “I already despise you,” she hissed at him. “I hate the idea of marrying you. I hate the idea of you touching me. And I shall never give you an heir.”
He laughed. “If you will never give me an heir, then there is no reason to continue this conversation. I am free to choose as many wives as I need for heirs to my lineage, Saru. Do not forget that.”
Her face twisted in such rage that he was sure she was about to strike him. She stood for a moment and then calmed herself. “We should go back now, I think,” she said, and he agreed.
The two walked back toward the house, and as they came to the point in the paths where they would be visible by those inside who would surely be watching, he extended his arm and she took it. Both were good at putting on a facade for the outside world it appeared. As he felt her arm on his, he fought the urge to pull away and leave her behind, and experienced a whole new wave of irritation and disdain for his mother for the arrangement.
Back in the house, his mother and her father had already planned out the date for the wedding. When they told him that it would be on the celebration of his seventeenth birthday, he exploded.
“Mother!” he yelled. “We have already discussed this! I am the one in charge here – not you! You are not allowed to make these decisions and I shall not marry on my birthday celebration. That is final!”
The father paused and looked at him, resentment welling up in his face. Akio turned to the man. “I am sorry,” he said slowly, calming himself. “I have already conveyed to my mother that a birthday celebration is no time for a wedding. A wedding should be a massive festivity, with the correct honoring of the families, and the couple.” He could see that his words were stroking the ego of the father and continued, “I want to make sure that your daughter, and your house, get the recognition that you deserve and the wedding of the century. There shall be no expense spared. However, it needs to be a time of its own – not thrown together within a birthday celebration that is to happen in two days.”
“I do have to agree with you,” the father told him. “A wedding should be its own event, especially a wedding such as this one.”
With things calmed down and his birthday celebration saved, he and the father sat down and discussed the perfect date for the wedding. They decided on two months from now, on the full moon, and began to hammer out some of the main details.
Once those were finished, the two shook hands over the agreement and let the other planning be left to the women. His mother, still angry at his outburst in front of the company and for trashing her plans, remained quiet the whole time. He told the mothers that they could continue the planning for logistics such as the flowers, the foods, and so on. The date was not to change nor was the location, the officiant, and a few other things that the men had set out. The father was pleased at Akio’s ability to take charge and gave his blessing before the family left the house.
On their way out, Uba touched Akio’s hand and told him she was excited to see him tomorrow. He promised that he would be there to greet her with her new painting tutor.
When they were gone, Akio’s mother left the room, slamming a door behind her. He did not care that she was angry with him. He only cared that she was not getting her way to ruin his birthday celebration. As soon as the family's carriage had completely left the grounds, he headed out the back of the house and into the gardens once more.
At the pond, the golden fish that had jumped through the air seemed to give him a wink. Akio knew that he had to find a way to get out of here for a while before the wedding. His birthday celebration was in two days, and he decided that the day after, he would take a party of soldiers and go in search of the men who killed his father.
***
When she awoke, Ratnakar was still standing at the table, whispering to himself. She knew from experience with the sword that he had been awake all night. She lay there for a moment, a bit irritated with herself for falling asleep here, but also a bit jealous that the sword had never picked her for more than a messenger and a pawn. The first time she had seen the sword, her old master had her place both of her palms on the blade and she had felt the power within it. Strange symbols had appeared on her inner forearm and they had given her great power, knowledge and strength. As she had been sucked down into the sword's spell, she could still hear her master cackling evilly as he held the sword in his hands. He had known what would happen to her.
But it was those exact powers that had pushed her into the woman she was today. The feared assassin that was known the country over and beyond. The woman who could seduce anyone, find anyone, and kill anyone. She had been stabbed, sliced open, shot, and more – all times she should have died. Yet she did not, and she knew she had the sword to thank for it.
The previous night, when she had touched the sword once more, she was shown what she should do next. Even though she did not want to, she was to train the boy, and the sword would never let her do anything else. “Good morning Ratnakar,” she said, getting to her feet. “Thank you for letting me sleep.”
He did not budge at first; he simply stood over the sword. She moved to the table where he was and noticed the writings in front of him. She understood the language all too well; it was ingrained in her mind as well. He finally broke out of his trance when she brushed his arm with her hand.
“What?” he said, startled. Then his eyes adjusted back to normal and he looked over at her. “Oh, hi.” He ran a hand through his hair. “Good morning.”
“You have been up all night.”
He nodded. “I... I guess so,” he said, returning his gaze to the papers in front of him. “But, I understand it all now.” He turned slightly in the dim light and locked eyes with her. She could feel the power of the sword radiate through his stare. “I understand why you are here. You are to help me become more powerful.”
It was her turn to nod. “I am.”
He again looked at the paperwork. Then he sharply turned and headed to the door. Kujo was still outside, standing guard. He looked exhausted. “Oh, Ku
jo!” Ratnakar was surprised to see him still there. “I am sorry! I left you here all night.” But he was impressed to see the depth of Kujo's dedication to his orders. “Please, please, go get some rest. I will have big news this afternoon.” Kujo nodded sleepily and headed off to his room to rest.
As Ratnakar walked toward the kitchen for some food, Fate and Karma met him in the hallway and blocked his passage.
“We know she is still here,” Fate said.
“We need to meet her,” Karma said.
He looked at both girls. “You will,” he told them. “Later.”
Both beautiful heads shook in unison. “No. Now,” they said. Taking a step forward, the girls started to slowly push their way toward his room. For a strange reason—was it because of what happened between them?—he felt he had a hard time refusing them anything, so he just gave in and took them in to meet Furi.
When he opened the door, Furi was waiting for them as if she had heard the short conversation in the hallway and was ready to meet the girls.
“Hello,” she said and smiled as the girls entered the room behind Ratnakar. “I am Asai Furi.”
“We know,” said Fate.
“We are...” Karma started.
“Fans,” both girls said together.
They went closer to Furi and bowed deeply to her, then hit their knees almost in revered prayer to the assassin. Their faces looked up to the woman as if they were staring at a god. Ratnakar simply watched from the doorway. He stepped fully inside the room and shut the door so that no one else would see what was going on.
“I know who you are,” Furi said to the twins at her feet. “I have been shown you as well.” She turned to Ratnakar. “I did not know these two were already with you.”
“You didn't ask,” he said, a puzzled look on his face. “Why would it matter?”
Furi glanced at the sword. “Did it not tell you that you would have an army at your disposal?”
He nodded. “Yes, yes it did.”
“Did it not tell you that you would have elite assassins that would do anything you required?” she asked, never taking her eyes off the dark dragon.
Again, he nodded. “Yes.”
Finally, her gaze shifted back to him. “We are your elite assassins, Ratnakar.” She waved a beautiful hand at the girls, still kneeling on the floor. “They are to become your personal assassins.”
He looked amazed. “Karma and Fate?” he asked, his forehead wrinkling in confusion. “They are no fighters.”
Furi grinned and her grin was so mischievous that he felt goose bumps. “They will be.” With extra care, she picked the sword up with both hands, as one would a sacred relic. Moving to the girls, still kneeling on the floor, she placed the weapon in front of them. “Touch it,” she ordered. Both girls placed a palm flat on the blade of the sword. Instantly, their bodies began to jerk tiny jerks here and there. Ratnakar came rushing over to the front of them, to make sure they were not being hurt. Their eyes were a solid white, as his had been the night before, and their lips were moving yet no sounds were coming.
On the insides of their forearms appeared symbols upon symbols, the dark marks contrasting with the girls’ milky white skin. Eerily beautiful and flowing, their tattoos looked different though. He glanced down at his arm and pushed up his sleeve to compare them and make sure.
“Oh,” Furi said, looking over at him, “their symbols will not be as yours are. You are the one. You are the chosen of the sword. It will reveal everything to you. To us, it will only make us into the tools that are needed.” She then pushed up the thick black sleeves of her own shirt to show him the marks on her arms. Marks that were almost identical to the ones that had been appearing on Karma and Fate's arms.
He was in total disbelief. How could one sword, one piece of metal, do things like these? His mind knew the answer but he didn't want to totally believe it yet. Furi was enthralled with the girls at her feet, watching their transformation. As the sword continued its work, Ratnakar was amazed to see a small streak of each girl's hair, right behind their right ears, turn a deep blood red.
“What is happening to their hair?” he whispered. Furi turned to him and smiled, pushing back part of her own long hair to reveal a similar swatch of blood red.
“We are now yours,” she said with a haunting voice. “We are at your command.” She kneeled before him, and he noticed that Fate and Karma were now facing him as well, their heads bowed like Furi's.
“You don't have to kneel,” he told them. “Please, please stand up.”
The girls looked at each other as Furi stood in front of him. Her eyes were lit up like fireworks. In an instant, she was face to face with him, her breath mingling with his. “We only need to seal our bond,” she whispered to him.
“You don't... we don't have to...” He tried to protest but her lips, as soft as silk, were on his. Her kiss was electrifying. Before he realized it, Fate and Karma were also next to him, kissing his neck, his ears. Furi snaked her arms around his body and pulled him to her. He felt her breasts against his chest and couldn't fight what was going on inside of him. He wrapped his arms around her and kissed her back.
The other two girls began to remove his clothing until he was naked in front of all three of them. As Furi undressed, Karma and Fate led Ratnakar to the bed and lay down next to him, their fingers trailing all over his toned body. Now, Furi stood over him, with his sword. She had it outstretched end to end in her palms, like an offering to the gods. He was confused and aroused, but especially excited to discover what would happen next. He could not imagine something more exhilarating than three girls at one time and hoped that he would last longer than he had with Karma and Fate.
Furi slowly knelt, straddling his legs, not even acknowledging his excitement right in front of her. The sword was raised higher and Karma and Fate began to kiss him all over his body. He twitched at the pure pleasure of it all. Suddenly, Furi was on him, lowering herself down, down, down until the whole of their bodies met. He let out a moan that he could not control. Karma and Fate looked at each other with a smile across his bare chest.
Furi moved her body rhythmically, fully engrossing Ratnakar in the pleasure of the moment. He closed his eyes to enjoy the touch of the three women as Furi continued to move on top of him. He barely heard Furi chanting strange words. He only felt the warmth of her body, of her, and the touch of the other two girls as they caressed him.
Then the sword plunged into his chest.
Deep, deep inside of his trunk the metal met with bone and blood and heart. He arched up on the bed, but was pinned to it as the sword was driven deep into the mat below him.
He knew that he was dying. He was sure of it. Yet there was no blood. There was no pain. Only unadulterated pleasure as the girls continued what they were doing around the sword that was sticking out of his ribs. If these were to be his last moments, he was thrilled that he was going out this way.
Furi leaned down around the dark dragon and whispered in his ear. Her words were foreign at first, but then he understood. She was speaking in the language of the Nax'oix, the language of the sword.
“Deep inside you now flows the one called Tux'els,” she whispered. “His essence is now one with yours. He shall guide you. He shall protect you. And you will always be his.” Her tongue flicked his ear and he shivered.
From the confines of his head, he suddenly felt that he was not alone anymore. Another presence was there, one that he could not shake. It came in and began to make itself comfortable in the space where his thoughts were formed. He tried to panic, but the presence calmed him. It told him that all was well, that he was fine, that it was only there to aid him in destroying Akio and the fire soul. To aid him in destroying the Eza.
Ratnakar's eyes opened wide, wider than humanly possible and suddenly he saw everything. He saw the future, he saw himself plunging the sword into Akio's chest. He saw the fire soul breaking in half. He looked at Furi, who was stil
l on top of him, swaying to her own rhythm. He could see the lines of veins throughout her slender neck and face, coursing with blood. He could see her heart, see each beat of it as it slammed against her chest in full excitement. Looking over to Fate, he could see her brain firing with thoughts, with thrills, and with her very soul. Karma pulled his face to hers and kissed him deeply, and he could see her thoughts, her utter devotion to him.
Then, his body rocked again and he let loose everything he held inside deep into Furi. She let out a scream of pure pleasure and then slumped against him. Karma and Fate helped to gently pull her back to a sitting position – just as the door slammed open.
Kujo and several others burst through the door, swords at the ready. They froze in place seeing their leader, first with Furi on top of him and Fate and Karma all naked around him.
Second, with his own sword buried deep in his chest.
Kujo screamed in rage. He leapt toward the girls, determined to kill them all. But before he could get too close, Furi stood in front of him. Behind her, on the bed, Fate and Karma now stood as well, blocking the view of Ratnakar.
“You will pay for what you’ve done!” Kujo screamed at the women. He raised his sword, ready to strike, but Furi never had to move. Behind her, Ratnakar rose and stood on his bed, naked, the sword still protruding from his chest like an extra limb.
Karma and Fate fell to their knees in front of him. Furi smiled at Kujo. “He was never in danger,” she cooed at the other man.
Kujo, and all of the others in the room, collectively gasped as they witnessed their leader rising with a sword plunged through his ribcage. There was no blood, no wound at all – just the sword and his skin. As they all watched, Ratnakar carefully pulled the sword out. The wound instantly closed as the sword withdrew. The room was beyond quiet as a blackened, jagged scar began to draw its own lines across Ratnakar's torso where the blade had been.
Samurai 2.0 - Destiny: A Harem Fantasy Adventure Page 10