ericlustbader.the ninja-第72章

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as　on　top　of　the　covers。　The　other　side　of　the　double　bed　had　blanket　and　sheets　drawn　down。　An　impression　had　been　made　there；　as　if　by　another　body。　She　was　naked。　Her　breasts　and　belly　rose　and　fell　in　even　breathing。
　'Wele；　Nicholas。'　He　turned　his　head。　The　chair　in　the　far　corner；　facing　into　the　room。　Moonlight　fell　part　way　along　its　back；　its　face　was　in　shadow。　'So　nice　of　you　to　join　us。'
　'Saigo。　How　did　you　get　in　here？'
　'How　do　you　think；　Nicholas？　How　do　you　think？'
　'I　imagine　there　are　many　ways　…　for　a　ninja。'
　He　seemed　unperturbed。　'Quite　so；　oh　yes。　But；　you　see；　I　didn't　need　any　of　them。'　He　waited　a　beat。　'Yukio　let　me　in　herself。'
　'Yukio。。。〃　He　took　two　steps　towards　her。
　'It　won't　do　any　good；　Nicholas。　She　can't　hear　you。'
　'She　…'
　'Oh　no；　no　no；　nothing　like　that。　She's　merely　sleeping。　That's　a　waste　of　time。　You　won't　be　able　to　wake　her。　But　don't　fret；　she's　perfectly　safe。'
　〃Wake　her　up；〃　Nicholas　said。　He　was　sitting　on　the　bed。　Her　flesh　felt　cold；　raised　in　goose　bumps；　but　she　seemed　to　be　breathing　normally。
　'I　don't　think　so。　At　least　not　yet；　anyway。'　At　last　Saigo　stood　up。　He　was　dressed　in　a　black　raw　silk　suit；　rather　old…fashioned；　somewhat　like　the　ones　Chinese　mandarins　used　to　wear　on　formal　occasions。　His　hair　had　been　cut　so　short　that　he　looked　almost　bald；　the　black　stubble　seemed　somehow　far　more　ominous。　'The　obvious　thing　to　say　now　is　that　I'm　sorry　to　be　proved　right。　About　you；　I　mean。　But　that　would　be　a　lie。　I'm　not　in　the　least　sorry。　In　fact；　I'm　delighted。　I　was　right　about　you　all　the　time。　So　was　my　father。'　He　went　into　the　centre　of　the　room　and　Nicholas　followed　him　with　his　eyes。
　Saigo　shook　his　head。　'How　you　ever　found　out　I　cannot　imagine。　I　have　to　give　you　credit　for　that。'
　'What；'　said　Nicholas；　'are　you　talking　about？'
　Saigo's　eyes　flashed　and　his　lips　curled　in　a　snarl　just　as　if　Nicholas　had　struck　him。　He　flew　across　the　room；　grabbed　Nicholas　by　the　shirtfront。　'All　right；'　he　whispered　savagely；　'I'm　through　being　courteous　to　you。　I　see　there's　no　point。　Did　you　really　think　I　didn't　know　that　you　were　following　me？
　Do　you　think　you　could　have　if　I　hadn't　wanted　you　to？　You　really　are　a　fool。'
　Nicholas　reached　up；　slammed　Saigo's　fists　from　him。　They　stood；　a　little　apart；　eyeing　each　other；　controlling　their　breathing；　like　two　titans　about　to　do　battle　over　dominion　of　the　world。
　'What　do　you　think　you're　doing　to　yourself？'
　Tm　saving　myself；'　Saigo　said。　'I　would　have　thought　it　was　obvious。　I　have　been　accepted　into　the　elite。　Beyond　bushi；　Nicholas。　Way　beyond。'　He　took　a　step　forward。　'And　you　can　join　me。'
　'What？'
　'Why　did　you　think　I　asked　you　down　here？　This　is　no　vacation　spot。　And　then　you　show　up　with　her。　Idiot　1'
　'I　love　her。'
　'Forget　about　her。　She's　nothing。　Less　than　nothing。　A　whore。
　Fucking　…'
　'Shut　your　bloody　…1〃
　'Yes；　I　forget　about　your　English　heritage。　So　chivalrous！'　He　took　another　step　forward　so　their　chests　almost　touched。　'So。　Whatever　she　is　or　isn't。　She　no　longer　exists　for　you　or　for　me。　I　am　offering　you　the　world；　Nicholas。　You　have　no　idea。　None　at　all。　Ninjutsu　is　…'
　'But　why　the　Kuji…kiri　Why　black？'
　'Oh；　I　see。　I　see　how　it　is　now。　That　scum　Kansatsu　has　been　talking　to　you。　Yes；　it's　black　ninjutsu；　but　that　is　as　it　should　be。　We　are　the　strongest；　the　most　potent。　With　Kuji…kiri　you　bee　invincible。　In　all　the　world；　there　will　be　no　one　to　stop　you。　Think　of　it；　man；　unlimited　power！'
　'There　is　nothing　in　that　that　appeals　to　me；'　and　he　was　spinning　down　obliquely　across　the　bed；　away　from　Yukio；　using　the　wrist　blocks　against　the　darting　eye…strikes　Saigo　drove　at　him　with　monstrous　swiftness。　He　retaliated　with　sword…strikes；　three　in　rapid　succession。　Thwarted；　but　that　was　all　right　because　they　had　served　their　purpose　and　the　adrenalin　was　surging　through　him　like　a　tidal　wave。
　He　rolled　over；　Saigo　atop　him　and　his　immediate　concern　became　the　elbow…strike　feint　followed　by　a　sword…strike　aimed　at　his　larynx。　He　worked　his　way　out　of　that；　found　his　left　arm　pinioned　beneath　the　full　weight　of　Saigo's　right　shoulder。
　He　was　in　trouble；　he　knew。　Inside；　Saigo；　with　the　ninjutsu　training；　had　an　enormous　advantage。　His　only　hope　was　to　break　away；　get　some　reasonable　distance　between　them。
　He　began　a　knee…strike；　twisting　away　at　the　same　time；　but　Saigo　was　not　fooled　and　a　blow　caught　the　ridge　of　his　collarbone；　his　frame　flexed　involuntarily。　Still；　he　was　fortunate　that　the　strike　was　a　near　miss。
　They　were　locked　now　on　the　floor；　part　of　the　counterpane　drawn　under　their　straining　bodies。　There　was　very　little　real　movement　for　long　minutes　as　they　struggled；　fingers　grasping　wrists；　elbows　against　sternums；　a　kind　of　perverse　engine；　stifling　on　its　own　energy　output。
　It　became　time　to　try　something　else　and　he　slashed　upwards　with　his　kneecap；　heard　Saigo's　grunt　and；　almost　simultaneously；　a　soft　metallic　click　in　front　of　his　face。　Saw　a　small　blade；　glinting　in　the　moonlight；　standing　out　like　a　deadly　toothpick　from　between　Saigo's　first　and　second　finger　knuckles。　A　conjurer's　trick。　But　it　was　no　illusion。　He　turned　his　head　away　as　the　blade　moved　infinitesimally　towards　his　eye。　There　was　a　peculiar　odour　and　his　nostrils　flared　briefly。　Then　it　was　gone　and　he　was　concentrating　on　stepping　up　the　pressure　of　his　forearm　against　the　hand　with　the　blade。　He　pushed　upwards；　using　all　the　available　leverage。　Sweat　had　broken　out　along　the　line　of　his　hair　and　now　it　drooled　with　cruel　slowness　down　his　forehead　threatening　to　blur　his　vision。
　But　the　deadlock　was　breaking　as；　bit…by…bit；　he　brought　the　hand　backwards；　away　from　him。　Then　he　was　free　and　on　his　feet。　His　chest　heaved　with　the　intense　exertion　of　the　past　few　moments。　He　staggered　a　little；　waiting　for　Saigo　to　stand。　When　he　did；　Nicholas　attacked；　but　perhaps　the　blow　to　his　collarbone　affected　him　more　than　he　had　thought　because　he　was　just　a　little　off　balance　and；　as　Saigo　countered　his　thrust；　he　seemed　to　take　an　inordinately　long　time　to　react。
　Now　Saigo　was　at　him；　seeming　faster　than　ever　before。　Barely　he　was　able　to　deflect　a　fork…strike；　but　he　failed　to　counter　a　sword…strike　to　his　neck。
　He　went　down　then　in　a　heap。　Coughing　and　gasping；　he　could　not　seem　to　fill　his　lungs　with　air。　On　his　back；　he　saw　Saigo　standing　over　him；　grinning；　as　if　he　knew　there　would　be　no　more　resistance。
　Tried　to　stand　up　but　he　had　no　legs。　He　used　his　hand；　raised　them。　Or　thought　he　did；　no　feeling　there；　either。　He　blinked　several　times；　unbelieving。　Trapped　within　a　useless　body。　He　glanced　down。　His　hands　lay　like　pale　flowers；　part　of　another　world。　He　felt　the　pounding　of　his　heart　unnaturally　loud　in　his　inner　ear。　But　that　was　all。
　Saigo　bent　over　him；　a　sardonic　smile　on　his　face。　'Did　you　think　I　came　unprepared　this　time？'　he　said；　almost　amiable；　as　one　friend　to　another。　'No；　it　has　all　been　planned　from　the　very　beginning。　Yes；　Nicholas；　even　down　to　Yukio's　involvement。　She　knew　about　it　all。　In　fact；　some　of　this　was　her　idea。　Surprised？'
　Nicholas　could　only　open　and　close　his　mouth　soundlessly　like　a　fish　dying　of　the　air。　His　tongue　worked　like　an　idiot's。　No；　he　thought　wildly。　No；　no；　no。　It's　a　lie。　It　must　be。
　'Well；　you　shouldn't　be。　Didn't　I　tell　you　she　was　a　whore？　Surely　she　told　you　we　were　lovers。　Yes；　I　thought　so。'
　He　turned　away　and　in　the　half…light　Nicholas　saw　him　reach　over　towards　the　bed。　He　grasped　Yukio's　sleeping　form；　dragged　her　across　the　counterpane。　A　lamp　in　front　of　Nicholas　went　on　and　he　blinked　slowly　while　his　eyes　adjusted　to　the　glare。　Like　having　the　sun　in　his　eyes。　Yukio！　he　cried　out　silently。　Yukio！
　Saigo　had　her　sitting　up　now。　He　had　a　small　capsule　in　his　hand。　He　broke　it　in　half；　waved　it　under　her　nose。　Her　head　went　back　and　he　followed　with　the　capsule。　She　shook　her　head　from　side　to　side　as　if　wanting　to　get　away　from　the　expelled　contents。
　Her　eyes　came　open　and　her　features　arranged　themselves　in　a　slow；　sensual；　slavish　smile。　Her　arms　came　up　around　Saigo's　shoulders。　He　kissed　her　roughly　and　her　lips　opened　like　a　flower。　Yukio！
　Careful　to　continually　stay　within　Nicholas's　line　of　sight；　Saigo　caressed　her。　He　rubbed　her　breasts　so　that　her　nipples　stood　out　hard　and　quivering。　He　spread　her　legs；　rubbed　her　there。　Yukio　began　to　pant。　His　fingers　came　away　wet。
　He　turned　her　over；　bending　her　across　the　bed。　Her　buttocks　were　pale　globes　in　the　harsh　light。　He　dropped　his　black　silk　pants。　They　puddled　around　his　ankles。　Spreading　her　thighs；
　he　rummaged　again；　anointing　his　phallus。　Then　he　rammed　himself　into　her　anus。
　Yukio　cried　out　as　he　moved　on　her　flesh。　From　his　vantage　point　Nicholas　could　see　the　reddened　member　sliding　in　and　out。　He　tried　to　close　his　eyes　but　the　gruntings　and　pantings　overwhelmed　him；　pummelling　his　brain　until　his　eyes　flew　open　in　self…preservation。
　Yukio's　arms　were　flung　out　over　her　head；　her　fingers　clutching　convulsively　at　the　counterpane；　drawing　it　up　into　bunched；　sweaty　hillocks。　Her　eyes　were　squeezed　shut。　Her　thighs　writhed　against　the　bed；　pressing　her　mound　down　in　time　to　Saigo's　thrusts。
　All　at　once；　she　gave　a　cry。　The　counterpane　shredded　between　her　frenzied　fingers　and　her　thighs　drew　up　convulsively　and　she　shuddered　powerfully。
　At　that　moment；　Saigo　withdrew　and　a　tiny　moan　of　disappointment　escaped　her　lips。　His　reddened　member　flicked　upward　at　every　pulse。
　Saigo　bent　over　Nicholas；　flipped　him　over。　It　was　only　then　　　　that…Nicholas　understood　the　true　nature　of　what　was　happening。
　He　felt　the　first　burning　penetration；　heard　Saigo's　heavy　grunt；　felt　the　great　weight　of　him　upon　his　shoulders　and　buttocks；　ing　into　him　again　and　again　like　the　tide。
　The　Colonel　returned　home　quite　late。
　He　sat　for　a　long　time　behind　the　wheel　of　his　car　smoking　his　pipe；　thinking　of　nothing。　It　seemed　like　days　since　he　had　smoked　it　last　and　he　savoured　the　mellow　bite　of　the　dark　tobacco　on　the　back　of　his　tongue　and　against　the　roof　of　his　mouth。　He　thought　he　might　want　a　drink　in　a　little　while。
　The　moon　was　a　dim　smudge　low　on　the　horizon；　ready　to　rest　for　the　night。　Whatever　remained　of　it。　The　Colonel　slowly　rolled　up　his　side　window；　preparatory　to　getting　out；　but　he　was　abruptly　suffused　with　a　curious　kind　of　lethargy　that　left　him　incapable　for　the　moment　of　taking　any　action　no　matter　how　minuscule。
　I　suppose　that　is　to　be　expected；　he　thought。
　He　looked　towards　the　darkened　house　and　he　thought　of　Cheong　asleep　on　the　futon。　How　he　cherished　her。　How　he　had　failed　her。　And　himself。　And　especially　Nicholas。　He　had　done　the　only　possible　thing　but　he　knew　that　it　was　far　from　enough。　He　had　bolloxed　it　long　ago。　Tonight　just　took　some　of　the　sting　out　of　it　for　him。
　What　he　thought　of　now　was　lying　to　Cheong。　He　had　never　done　that　before　and　he　had　no　strong　desire　to　do　it　now。　Still；　there　was　no　help　for　it；　he　understood　all　too　well　the　consequences　of　the　alternative。
　At　last　he　climbed　out　of　the　car；　shut　the　door　behind　him　with　a　soft　thunk。　The　night　seemed　terribly　still。
　He　went　silently　around　to　the　side　of　the　house；　f