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