This storie thakes place some years after D.O.A. 4. Kasumi has been alowed back into the clan as reward for her fight aganst Alph 152. Ayane is now head of the Hajin Mon clan. The two have learned to respect each others skill. But their is a dark resentment between them. Will nothing bridge the gap between them?
The ten year old girl crept from one shadow to the next. Her black garments helped to conceal her from the village guards. A swell of pride well up within her as she avoided each patrol. Carefully she made her way around back alleys and empty side streets to the village edge where her destination abruptly came into view. A small sign nailed onto a thick wooden pole stood before her. The symbol of the Mugen Tenshin Hajin Mon carved upon its worn surface. The girl looked past the sign at the small dark path beyond. She glanced back at her well lit village feeling a sudden chill run through her. Her mother had admonish her several time for what she though was her unhealthy interest about the Hajin Mon compound. But her mother's stories of ghosts haunting the forest path and of the flesh eating demons that hunted the wooded area only served to fire the girl's curiosity. Swallowing hard she slipped past the sign post and keeping to the shadows made her way up the dirt path.
She'd traveled only a few feet when the sound of the night crickets went silent. She hurried off the path thinking that someone might be coming. Yet from her hiding place in the brush she saw no one. She moved back to the path concerned when the crickets chirp did not return. She traveled faster now the dark and silence about her beginning to play tricks with her mind. She thought she could see the night wind blowing threw the trees yet the leaves made no sound. The path she followed grew thin and was suddenly swallowed up by the forest floor. The trees and shrubs seemed to close in around her, reaching for her with dark twisted limbs.
The ten year old girl now felt the claws of panic begin to dig into her. She began to run through the forest all thoughts of stealth lost. Something in the trees above her leapt down. Remembering her training the girl rolled left feeling the vibration as the demon landed moments later. She spun and faced the back shadow it demonic face glinting in the moonlight. Her heart slammed in her chest and her mouth was desert dry. Yet she stood her ground knowing that if she were to run it would take her from behind. Assuming the stance of the Mugen Tenshin she waited for the demon to charge. The demon lowered itself on its hunches its hands resting on its knees.
"That stance is Tenshin. You are from the village below." A muffled female voice stated a fact more then asked a question. The girl muscles froze in surprise at the sound of a human voice. Looking closer she realized that the horrid night creature before her was nothing more than a woman in a demons mask. Anger boiled up within the girl at being fooled so easily. No one had the right to embarrass her in that way. Clenching her teeth she attacked the woman. Using a technique her mother had taught her the girl moved with blurring speed making it seem as if she had disappeared. Forming her hand into a knife blade she struck for the woman's abdomen. The woman moved casually away from the attacking hand. As the girl passed the woman gently tapped her on the right shoulder with two extended fingers. The girl felt like she'd been struck in the shoulder with a stone. Slamming to the ground shoulder first the girl skidded to a stop in the dirt.
"Never attack in anger." The woman readjusted her pose so she faced the girl. "It clouds you chi and puts you off balance."
The girl rebounded from her fall and resumed her stance.
"If you keep this up you'll only end up getting hurt." The woman counseled. The angry child ran at the hunched woman. This time she decided to use something her uncle had shown her. With a shout she placed her weight on her right hand swinging one leg at the woman's caf and the other at her head. The woman didn't even bother to move this time merely raising her hand to meet the kick aim at her head. A scream of pain exploded from the girl as her legs struck something that felt like granite. All the strength left the ten year olds body as she clutched her injured legs and wept.
"You should listen to you betters child." The woman moved over to the girl and softly lifted the child's legs. "Hush now." The woman's voice took on a soothing tone. "That kind of weeping dose not befit one of the Mugen Tenshin." Bowing her head slightly the woman began to chant something under her mask. The girls tears dried up as the pain in her legs faded and then vanished completely. The woman took a deep cleansing breath then let the child's legs go. "Your style is good." The woman removed her mask and smiled at the girl. But your execution is still untested." Casually the woman brushed her purple hair away of her eyes. "What's your name child?"
"Shoko." The ten year old utter softly as she looked from her pain free legs to the purple haired Kunoichi. "Shoko Tenshin."
"Shoko Tenshin." The female ninjas smile faltered for a moment. "Daughter of Kasumi Tenshin?"
"Kasuni is my mother's name." Shoko rose to her feet and bowed to the woman. "What did you do to my legs?"
The purple haired woman stood looking down at Shoko. "That was nothing. Now tell me what,"
"Are you Hajin Mon?" Shoko interrupted the Kunoichi.
"Yes, but,"
"I am pleased to make your acquaintance." Shoko bowed deeply to the woman. "May I have your name?"
"It's Aya- now wait a moment"
"Shall we go Aya?" Shoko began to step around the woman.
"Go?" The Kunoichi turned to follow Shoko.
"Yes, to the Hajin Mon compound."
The woman grabbed Shoko by the collar. "The only place you're going is home to bed little Shoko. Where all good little princesses should be at this hour."
"But you don't understand you have to let me go to the Hajin compound!" Shoko squirmed in the ninjas grip. The woman spun Shoko around to face her.
"And just why my I ask do I have to let you do anything?"
"Because!" Shoko fumed once again. "As a member of the royal family you have to do what I say and if you don't I'll just tell my Uncle Hayate on you!" A smile of triumph crossed Shoko face.
A look of pure mischief filled the purple haired Kunoichis expression.
"I think I'll take my chances." She chuckled as she picked the struggling Shoko up under her arm and replacing her mask walking calmly back to the village.