Post by Teяa253 on Apr 8, 2009 5:15:08 GMT 1
this is a HUGE turning point chapter. someone somewhere switches sides in a HUGE and elaborate scheme.
in this chapter, we also learn how Ryuka died [yes folks, he IS dead], and we get an explanation as to what's up with Ayumi.
all this and more... chapter 73.
CHAPTER 73: THERE WAS NO TURNING BACK
A day or two passed and Ayumi’s condition remained the same. This was bothering Orzon to a vast extreme. Ayumi seemed very hesitant to talk about it as well, as it worried her.
The other prominent Order members [with Michiko and Fukuda as exceptions; they jus seemed indifferent] were also bothered about this, but not for the same reason Orzon was—they were only concerned about having Ayumi present for her intellectual expertise. This bothered Orzon even more.
“My wife is not a machine,” he said stiffly, “and if she says she’s ill, and is willing to pull this all, I’m for believing it’s not an act. My priorities lie with her welfare before The Order. It is a huge organization that has been around for centuries, Xin Shing. The absence of one member, no matter how prominent, will not be its downfall.”
Ayumi was up and walking, but she seemed to be limping, and her royal upright posture was long gone. Her face looked tired, and she looked like she might fall over at any given moment. Naturally, Orzon decided to summon a physician to find out what was wrong with her. His conclusion was a relief to him, but meant that he was going to have to have a long talk with Ayumi after this.
“Physically, she’s perfectly healthy,” he concluded, “she just seems to be stressing about something. I would recommend to her to try and ease up, as too much more mental stress on your mind will cause permanent damage, and possibly even death.”
Needless to say, Orzon took Ayumi into their room to talk about this.
“Ayumi,” he said, looking her in the eye. He looked completely concerned, maybe even a bit worried as well, “tell me what the matter is. I don’t want to lose you, and your stress is killing you. You heard what the physician said. Tell me what’s wrong, Ayumi. I want to help you.”
“You’re going to hate me after this,” she said, tears running down her face, “I can’t tell you what it is; it’s ripping me in half.”
“Tell me,” said Orzon, a little more forceful, “I can’t lose you over this, Ayumi. How bad is this?”
“Really bad,” Ayumi replied, trembling, “I was taken to the spirit world a few evenings ago. I... I met Sanaki Li Chan.”
“THE Sanaki Li Chan;” Orzon exclaimed, and then paused.
“Ayumi,” he said, “you’re shivering. Are you alright?”
“No,” she said truthfully, “no, not at all. I’m scared; torn, and no one in the world is able to help me.”
“What are you talking about, Ayumi,” Orzon exclaimed,
“The things Sanaki told me...” she shuddered, “they destroyed me. I... I don’t deserve to keep this a secret from you any longer. This is my tale, from 3 nights ago, when I first fell ill.”
* * * *
Ayumi found herself face to face with Sanaki Li Chan, the woman who perhaps is still known today as the greatest ruler in history.
“You one time said that you wanted to meet me,” said Sanaki, “and so here I am, Lady Ayumi. I am Sanaki Li Chan, whose heritage you proudly have claimed—and yet, you bring the name to shame with your actions.”
Ayumi stopped. “WHAT!?!” she bellowed, “me?”
“My greatest friend was the mother of an avatar,” Sanaki replied, “to see one of my most gifted descendants trying now to kill a later incarnation of her breaks my little heart. I might have grown older, Ayumi, but deep down, I am the same little child I always have been. You were not much different, Lady Ayumi. I remember you over 35 years ago, when you were a little 14-year-old girl. You were not much different than I am now. In fact, you probably resemble me the most at this point in time. I was proud of you—and then you started to change; The Order got to you, and it broke my heart.
“What business is it of yours what I do with my life,” Ayumi snapped,
“None at all,” Sanaki replied with her same gentle voice, “and if you have not noticed, I have never interfered with your life until your 49th year, which is why we are here now. I believe that you wanted to see me, and so I came. Here we are.”
“You...” said Ayumi, pausing, “you are ashamed of me?”
“Aye,” said Sanaki sadly, “intellect like yours could be used to end the madness that is this war. The Li Chan family had always been a peaceful family, Ayumi. I am sorry you went astray.”
“What do you expect me to do,” Ayumi snapped, “how do I redeem myself?”
“I don’t expect anything,” said Sanaki, “I am simply telling things the way they are. There is no need to redeem you. I am merely a spirit and a memory. No one worries about what I think. I’ve been deceased for over 1200 years, Ayumi.”
“But knowing that my ancestor looks down shamefully upon me,” said Ayumi, “I’d never be able to live that down.”
“then perhaps look at the girl that will most likely wind up looking like you when she is older,” said Sanaki, showing Ayumi a little 17-year-old girl clad in red, who was giggling and playing with her long black hair, “take after the example of Sanaki Foxx; become innocent again; submissive; humble; caring; loving; kind—become someone to lean on—someone that wants to make the world a better place.”
“Forsake everything,” Ayumi exclaimed, “leave home just like that?”
“Avatar Zakura did just that,” said Sanaki, “she left everything behind and went out into a world where everyone was her enemy. She had to work to be accepted.”
“And I...” said Ayumi, “I’m supposed to do that?”
“Not if you don’t want to,” said Sanaki, “I am just saying what the results would be. You can be whatever you want at this point. It is not for me, a spirit, to decide the life of anyone, even my descendants.”
“Everything,” said Ayumi, “everything I’ve lived for then is a lie; everything I’ve worked towards achieving; everything I cherished, everyone I had befriended, EVERYTHING!!!”
“The decision is yours, Ayumi Zhaoka,” said Sanaki gently, and the next thing Ayumi knew, she had let out a bloodcurdling scream and was wide awake. This was when it had all started.
* * * *
“So let me get this straight,” said Orzon, “she told you to leave everything; to... to switch sides!?!”
Ayumi was shaking violently at this point. She nodded, and then braced herself for a blow of some sort. However, Orzon’s love for Ayumi trumped his concern for The Order.
“Like Sanaki Li Chan said,” said Orzon, “the choice is yours. I am not going to influence you either way, as Sanaki seems to have done it for you. Trying to join them after the things you have done would be difficult, and leaving us would result in almost everyone being your enemy. However, whatever choice you make, I will respect it. Choose what you feel is right. It was how I chose you as my bride many years ago.
Even if we do meet each other as enemies on the battlefield, I will never bring you any harm. I will always love you.”
“What do you feel is the right choice,” Ayumi asked, still shivering, “what would you do if you were placed in my situation and I in yours?”
“I would choose whichever choice made me feel right inside, even if it was not the seemingly better one.”
“And then Katara,” said Ayumi, sobbing at this point, “During Sanaki’s speech to me, I was reminded of something she said. She said: ‘this war is madness. All I will say about the matter is that the side that is not fighting for the right cause will eventually be left with nothing.’ Then I had that realization; I can’t be like this. I was dwelling on that when I was with The Avatar Guard. I met Zakura on a more personal level. When I defeated their tactician, it hurt me even further. There was no fight when I killed Ryuka. It was all part of a higher plan.
“So you feel that you are on the wrong side,” said Ryuka,
“I...” Ayumi stammered, “I do. I regret the things that I’ve done; the more I’ve’ been around you all, the more I’ve realized who the real “good people” were. The hostility was expected considering who I was; but now... I can’t do this much longer, Ryuka. Help me; please.”
“There is only one thing that can be done that would not make the Avatar Guard suspicious then,” said Ryuka, his tactical genius coming into play one last time; “you have to kill me. Then, use as much of your energy as possible to get the hell out of here as fast as you can’ don’t give the soldiers any time to react, as they will attack if they can catch you. Do you understand me?”
“Aye,” said Ayumi, trembling, “I... I understand.”
“Then carry it out,” said Ryuka, my purpose in this life has been accomplished. It has fizzled into nothing. Finish me, Ayumi.”
“And that was what happened,” said Ayumi, finishing her tale, “he went down, I made a break for it, and here I am. If anyone had word on what I was trying to do, they would have killed me.”
“So you are going to do this then?” said Orzon,
“I have no choice,” said Ayumi, “me staying here is what it stressing me out. What will you do?”
“I will keep it a secret as long as possible,” said Orzon, kissing Ayumi on the lips, “I will also take a stance like Michiko and Fukuda—I’m going to go for the ride. If word gets out that we both have dropped out, it’s over for us both. You go; I promise we will see each other again.”
Ayumi embraced him, sobbing frantically. If she really did continue with this operation, she knew that There Was No Turning Back.
~Azula~
in this chapter, we also learn how Ryuka died [yes folks, he IS dead], and we get an explanation as to what's up with Ayumi.
all this and more... chapter 73.
CHAPTER 73: THERE WAS NO TURNING BACK
A day or two passed and Ayumi’s condition remained the same. This was bothering Orzon to a vast extreme. Ayumi seemed very hesitant to talk about it as well, as it worried her.
The other prominent Order members [with Michiko and Fukuda as exceptions; they jus seemed indifferent] were also bothered about this, but not for the same reason Orzon was—they were only concerned about having Ayumi present for her intellectual expertise. This bothered Orzon even more.
“My wife is not a machine,” he said stiffly, “and if she says she’s ill, and is willing to pull this all, I’m for believing it’s not an act. My priorities lie with her welfare before The Order. It is a huge organization that has been around for centuries, Xin Shing. The absence of one member, no matter how prominent, will not be its downfall.”
Ayumi was up and walking, but she seemed to be limping, and her royal upright posture was long gone. Her face looked tired, and she looked like she might fall over at any given moment. Naturally, Orzon decided to summon a physician to find out what was wrong with her. His conclusion was a relief to him, but meant that he was going to have to have a long talk with Ayumi after this.
“Physically, she’s perfectly healthy,” he concluded, “she just seems to be stressing about something. I would recommend to her to try and ease up, as too much more mental stress on your mind will cause permanent damage, and possibly even death.”
Needless to say, Orzon took Ayumi into their room to talk about this.
“Ayumi,” he said, looking her in the eye. He looked completely concerned, maybe even a bit worried as well, “tell me what the matter is. I don’t want to lose you, and your stress is killing you. You heard what the physician said. Tell me what’s wrong, Ayumi. I want to help you.”
“You’re going to hate me after this,” she said, tears running down her face, “I can’t tell you what it is; it’s ripping me in half.”
“Tell me,” said Orzon, a little more forceful, “I can’t lose you over this, Ayumi. How bad is this?”
“Really bad,” Ayumi replied, trembling, “I was taken to the spirit world a few evenings ago. I... I met Sanaki Li Chan.”
“THE Sanaki Li Chan;” Orzon exclaimed, and then paused.
“Ayumi,” he said, “you’re shivering. Are you alright?”
“No,” she said truthfully, “no, not at all. I’m scared; torn, and no one in the world is able to help me.”
“What are you talking about, Ayumi,” Orzon exclaimed,
“The things Sanaki told me...” she shuddered, “they destroyed me. I... I don’t deserve to keep this a secret from you any longer. This is my tale, from 3 nights ago, when I first fell ill.”
* * * *
Ayumi found herself face to face with Sanaki Li Chan, the woman who perhaps is still known today as the greatest ruler in history.
“You one time said that you wanted to meet me,” said Sanaki, “and so here I am, Lady Ayumi. I am Sanaki Li Chan, whose heritage you proudly have claimed—and yet, you bring the name to shame with your actions.”
Ayumi stopped. “WHAT!?!” she bellowed, “me?”
“My greatest friend was the mother of an avatar,” Sanaki replied, “to see one of my most gifted descendants trying now to kill a later incarnation of her breaks my little heart. I might have grown older, Ayumi, but deep down, I am the same little child I always have been. You were not much different, Lady Ayumi. I remember you over 35 years ago, when you were a little 14-year-old girl. You were not much different than I am now. In fact, you probably resemble me the most at this point in time. I was proud of you—and then you started to change; The Order got to you, and it broke my heart.
“What business is it of yours what I do with my life,” Ayumi snapped,
“None at all,” Sanaki replied with her same gentle voice, “and if you have not noticed, I have never interfered with your life until your 49th year, which is why we are here now. I believe that you wanted to see me, and so I came. Here we are.”
“You...” said Ayumi, pausing, “you are ashamed of me?”
“Aye,” said Sanaki sadly, “intellect like yours could be used to end the madness that is this war. The Li Chan family had always been a peaceful family, Ayumi. I am sorry you went astray.”
“What do you expect me to do,” Ayumi snapped, “how do I redeem myself?”
“I don’t expect anything,” said Sanaki, “I am simply telling things the way they are. There is no need to redeem you. I am merely a spirit and a memory. No one worries about what I think. I’ve been deceased for over 1200 years, Ayumi.”
“But knowing that my ancestor looks down shamefully upon me,” said Ayumi, “I’d never be able to live that down.”
“then perhaps look at the girl that will most likely wind up looking like you when she is older,” said Sanaki, showing Ayumi a little 17-year-old girl clad in red, who was giggling and playing with her long black hair, “take after the example of Sanaki Foxx; become innocent again; submissive; humble; caring; loving; kind—become someone to lean on—someone that wants to make the world a better place.”
“Forsake everything,” Ayumi exclaimed, “leave home just like that?”
“Avatar Zakura did just that,” said Sanaki, “she left everything behind and went out into a world where everyone was her enemy. She had to work to be accepted.”
“And I...” said Ayumi, “I’m supposed to do that?”
“Not if you don’t want to,” said Sanaki, “I am just saying what the results would be. You can be whatever you want at this point. It is not for me, a spirit, to decide the life of anyone, even my descendants.”
“Everything,” said Ayumi, “everything I’ve lived for then is a lie; everything I’ve worked towards achieving; everything I cherished, everyone I had befriended, EVERYTHING!!!”
“The decision is yours, Ayumi Zhaoka,” said Sanaki gently, and the next thing Ayumi knew, she had let out a bloodcurdling scream and was wide awake. This was when it had all started.
* * * *
“So let me get this straight,” said Orzon, “she told you to leave everything; to... to switch sides!?!”
Ayumi was shaking violently at this point. She nodded, and then braced herself for a blow of some sort. However, Orzon’s love for Ayumi trumped his concern for The Order.
“Like Sanaki Li Chan said,” said Orzon, “the choice is yours. I am not going to influence you either way, as Sanaki seems to have done it for you. Trying to join them after the things you have done would be difficult, and leaving us would result in almost everyone being your enemy. However, whatever choice you make, I will respect it. Choose what you feel is right. It was how I chose you as my bride many years ago.
Even if we do meet each other as enemies on the battlefield, I will never bring you any harm. I will always love you.”
“What do you feel is the right choice,” Ayumi asked, still shivering, “what would you do if you were placed in my situation and I in yours?”
“I would choose whichever choice made me feel right inside, even if it was not the seemingly better one.”
“And then Katara,” said Ayumi, sobbing at this point, “During Sanaki’s speech to me, I was reminded of something she said. She said: ‘this war is madness. All I will say about the matter is that the side that is not fighting for the right cause will eventually be left with nothing.’ Then I had that realization; I can’t be like this. I was dwelling on that when I was with The Avatar Guard. I met Zakura on a more personal level. When I defeated their tactician, it hurt me even further. There was no fight when I killed Ryuka. It was all part of a higher plan.
“So you feel that you are on the wrong side,” said Ryuka,
“I...” Ayumi stammered, “I do. I regret the things that I’ve done; the more I’ve’ been around you all, the more I’ve realized who the real “good people” were. The hostility was expected considering who I was; but now... I can’t do this much longer, Ryuka. Help me; please.”
“There is only one thing that can be done that would not make the Avatar Guard suspicious then,” said Ryuka, his tactical genius coming into play one last time; “you have to kill me. Then, use as much of your energy as possible to get the hell out of here as fast as you can’ don’t give the soldiers any time to react, as they will attack if they can catch you. Do you understand me?”
“Aye,” said Ayumi, trembling, “I... I understand.”
“Then carry it out,” said Ryuka, my purpose in this life has been accomplished. It has fizzled into nothing. Finish me, Ayumi.”
“And that was what happened,” said Ayumi, finishing her tale, “he went down, I made a break for it, and here I am. If anyone had word on what I was trying to do, they would have killed me.”
“So you are going to do this then?” said Orzon,
“I have no choice,” said Ayumi, “me staying here is what it stressing me out. What will you do?”
“I will keep it a secret as long as possible,” said Orzon, kissing Ayumi on the lips, “I will also take a stance like Michiko and Fukuda—I’m going to go for the ride. If word gets out that we both have dropped out, it’s over for us both. You go; I promise we will see each other again.”
Ayumi embraced him, sobbing frantically. If she really did continue with this operation, she knew that There Was No Turning Back.
~Azula~
