Authors note: Please Review and tell me how well did I do, it's been quite a bit of time since I wrote anything related to DOA so please feel free to post is my way of portraying the character or even my plot not very sound, anyway enjoy.
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Three Little Words
The night air is chilly but the clear night sky let me peer up to the heavens where I sat with my knees brought up close to me to ward off the chilly air, I brush a strand of my copper hair back when I felt it tickle my nose.
It's a little hard for me to imagine that here I'am enjoying the view of the brilliant night sky with no one chasing me, at the moment, at the very back of my mind I head the cautious whisper of my other self who has persevered my life from the danger that threaten me.
The stab of pain at my chest is all too familiar to me now, it's not a physical pain but something much worse which I've still trouble to adjust, despite it been two years already, "you made your choice two years ago on that fateful morning when you left your clan, nothing can change it," the words of my other self told me.
Try as much, I can never be rid of that voice of my other self that whispers my doubts and fears, "poor Kasumi, all alone with her former friends and families hunting her," the mocking whisper of my other self, the dull ache in my chest continue to grow as it do every night when I'm not fighting for my life.
My mind thought back over the good times I spent within the village, the place I use to call home, "home, I want to go home," I thought miserably, the mere thought made my eyes water as I try not to think of the people who I knew in the village, what they might think of her now.
I want so badly to just curl up and cry, I know I've been coping well with hiding the tears of the pain of having my former family and friends hunting me, what's worse I know how they might have felt, some would simply do it as they been ordered to, but it's those who I know.
Those who might feel dismay at hunting me, some might turn to rage at my selfish desire, and what's worse I know it's true that I deserve death for pursing my own selfish goal when I should be putting the safety of the clan first before anything else.
But it's so hard not to think of vengeance when I had to attend to my wounded brother, it pained me day after day of seeing him like that, I should have been strong to avoid the thought of going to hunt the man who did it to my beloved brother.
The rushing of these emotions nearly overwhelmed me into wailing my despair to the sky, "stop living for the past and live for the future," a gentle whisper from my memory spoke, before I knew it I felt myself calm down, the pain in my heart now gone and all thoughts of my clan having vanished like phantoms.
I smile at the words, I would recall those exact words every time I begin to descend into despair, now I felt a warming feeling in my heart, a comfortable feeling which I wish to hold onto tenderly as a smile crept on my face as I thought of the meeting between me and him…
It was a year and a half ago, I can still recall as I walk towards the ring through the corridor I notice a man as he pass by, the man standing taller than me with ash white long hair that reach down to his waist, the hair is tied by a black ribbon, he wore rough clothes of a white and jeans that look well worn and a black sleeveless jacket
He stopped and I felt my entire body stiffen for action, he turns round and stare at me with two deep blue eyes that seem to be staring straight into my soul, why should it disturb me I cannot say, "maybe one of the ninjas from the clan?" I thought for a moment thinking it to be a plausible reason.
I felt my hackles rise as he gave me a nasty smile, "be careful with your next opponent," I couldn't tell was he mocking me or been serious, somehow I doubt he's a ninja, but a part of me whispers that he's something else, something far worse than anyone, his blue eyes stare at me unwavering.
The way he seem to be measuring me, I felt dirty all of a sudden, I quickly left but I still felt those piercing blue eyes of his continue to watch me as I enter the ring.
The arena we stood in is box shaped with the entire floor covered in flagstone of sand or some other rough material, the walls are at least ten feet high with fences that extend another ten feet high as well, behind those fences are the audience who've come to watch the fight.
I've thought in this arena three times already, I can hear the hooting of the crowd as I enter with the announcer calling my name that drove the crowd wild, I try not think of the thousand of people in the large stadium as they watch me walk forward to the centre of the ring where my opponent stood.
The air felt a little cold as the ventilation system in the stadium vented the large amount of heat from the crowd, since me and the fighter are ten feet lower than the crowd could be the reason why it's cooler.
I inspect the man critically, he simply wore a white vest that showed off his muscles, they're not as big as the muscle builders I've beaten, the pair of blue jeans he wore looks a little loose with a pair of black sneakers, I wonder is his legs are as well toned as his upper body.
I notice that he has rather long black hair that reach past his shoulder and is tied into a low pony tail by a black band, despite myself I have to admit he's very handsome with those stunning gentle green eyes, when he gave me a smile I felt myself ready to swoon like some school girl.
When I realize that I laughed at myself for been so ridiculous, "Kasumi, you're here for a reason," my other self told my sternly, this refocus my mind as I prepare to fight him.
The man shook his head while smiling, "you're a strong willed girl, I like that," he told me in praise before adopting a fighting stance, "the names Ike Kamue," I nod then gave my name, despite having the large screen board displaying my name I thought it's curtsey to give mine since he gave his, "Kasumi," I simply reply, since I no longer bore a surname after I became a runaway.
He nods in acknowledgement then drops his smile, "let's give these guys something to remember," then the signal for the match began…
The fight was long and hard but I won it by a slim chance at the very end, he congratulated me despite having a slight limp when I kicked it during the match, when I shook his hand I felt something about him that drew me to him.
It's hard to say, I felt an unbelievable amount of negative emotion that I didn't felt until I shook his hand, but at the same time I felt that I understood some of it, when I ask him about it he simply smiles and told me that it's something he has to bare on his own.
After that he came to watch all my match and gave me praises, I can feel my cheek turn red at the recollection of what he said to me, "graceful, petite but above all beautiful, these words don't give you justice when describing you when you fight."
I quite literally stammer my thanks to him, next time he even brought me flowers, I can still remember the way Tina and Lee Fang teased me, the two became my friends very quickly, despite the completive between us we got on well.
But Ike made my heart beat like a war drum every time he gave me that smile of his, but I in turn made him nervous as well, like the time when I comment that he's a thoughtful man and deserve someone special, the reply he gave me was just cute, "th…than…thanks, yeah someone…spe…cial…ummm, yeah."
The way he stammered over his words to think of some reply which he never could think up, maybe that's why we became so close in such a short amount of time during the tournament, I even got on well with another male fighter who lost to me near the end when there were only twelve fighters.
I think the guy called Terry Fury, a blonde hair man with blue eyes whose also handsome, but not as handsome as Ike, who turns out to be an acquaintance of Ryu, who in turn is suppose to watch over me from my brother.
Ryu was my first crush that I have to admit was fantasy at that time when I imagine that Ryu would marry me and proclaim his love for me, I laugh at myself that I had such thoughts for the man.
He in fact is head over heels for Ayane, I know this fact too well because I caught him making out with her during the tournament while I was talking with Terry, Ike hadn't turn up that day strangely and Terry was telling me what he knew about Ike, which wasn't much at all.
It didn't bother me one bit at seeing the two like that, somehow I knew way back when I was little that those two would end up together, Terry on the other hand just asked them to get a room before Ayane simply kicked him and said it's none of his business, the fond memory of Terry running round the complex with my half sister chasing him still makes me laugh.
Ike is special to me in a way I can only imagine, I can recall so many fond memories I shared with him, yet I don't understand why I have so much trouble saying how much he means to me, I remember someone saying that the hardest things to say are the simplest things, I found that line amusing at that time but now I'm seeing how true the words are.
No matter how many times I try to sum up the courage I couldn't say the words that I want to tell him, how could three simple words been so hard to say, it's nothing like those books I read with him about the man or woman boldly telling their feelings to the one they really cared about.
Maybe it is true what someone said to me at one time, that books tend to leave out the stuff that most readers don't like reading about, I know how I feel about it is very strong, despite having forfeited my like to forever be hunted I want to dedicate myself to him.
Am I been selfish for wanting to be his?
I don't know, my heart is a whirlwind of emotion as I think of possible ways I could tell him, but none of them seem to have the feeling to express my hearts emotion, I want to write them out for him to see plain as day light, but I feel embarrassed and that I feel it's the best if I told him verbally.
It seem to complicated, I knew this isn't the first time I brood over the matter and it will not be the last either, "the clan has a long reach," my other self whispers, this sent a shiver down my spine, I knew partly why I've been so hesitant about telling him.
The clan will not forgive me nor will they forgive anyone that is close to me that is outside the clan, I know too well how far the clans reach is and what they're capable of, if I follow me feelings and become selfish again I will bring him untold danger.
If I do not pursue this doomed relationship he will not come to harm, but then what about his feelings for me, he's been coming into the forest and searching for me every week, somehow he finds me or I find him and we would talk together.
Strange that when we talk none of the assassins that are to come for me show up that night, I wonder why that is.
I stop thinking about them when I heard movement from below, my keen eyes can see better than most people in the dark.
Nothing in the trees could be seen as I drop my gaze down to the ground to find someone moving, at first I thought it was a pursuer, closer examination of the figure on the ground show that they're not paying attention to be quite, I watch a little longer to see the figure approaching my hiding spot is a man.
He kept glancing round while he walk on the ground with a wary look, when I saw him look up I felt my heart skip a beat, the face of the man is unmistakeable as my heart began to beat faster and faster until I could only hear the blood rushing in my ear as he drop his gaze from me and move onwards.
The man who just looked up without knowing I was hiding there is the very man I want to tell my feelings to, Ike Kamue, for a split second I wonder is my pursuers close by, I let that slide as my senses are keen enough to pick up if I'm in danger, and right now I don't feel any danger lurking anywhere near.
Silently I stood up and waited for him to pass underneath me then jump down, he didn't see me until he felt my arms wrap round him, this nearly made him fell backwards but at the very last minute he manage to right himself with me still hanging by his neck with my arms.
I felt his hand fail around my suspended legs and grab them so now he's carrying me in a piggy back, I can hear him breathing heavily as he try to regain the air that was squeezed out of him by me, somehow this made me giggle, he didn't say anything to me and opted to remain standing with me on his back while he breathes nice and slowly.
After a few more minutes he gives me a glare, I gave an apologetic look thinking it might get me off his bad side; it didn't work as he simply looks ahead while snarling something about me jumping him, and I proceed to the second way of making him forgive me.
My head rested on his shoulder, so I lean up a little and bit his ear lobe gently, he gave a startled cry at my action but didn't try stop moving nor stop me, I began to gently suck on his ear and could feel the tension in his body drain away as his arms began to slacken a little.
Finally I let go and smile as he simply shook his head, "miss me?" I ask as my first question, he didn't answer me but gave me a smile instead that made me feel so relax, I rested my head on his shoulder and stare ahead as he carefully pick his way through the beaten track that is used by some campers when they venture out here to camp with nature.
After a few minutes we finally arrive at the spot, the trees have been cleared out of the clearing of five feet, the lush green grass here as been flatten a little so it don't reach up to your ankle like the grass between the trees, one side of the clearing is devoid of trees as it slopes down very steeply.
My ride, as I call him whenever he gives me piggy backs, walk up to the opening and I felt my eyes widen at the sight I seen so many times but still manage to make feel wonder at the very sight I stare upon.
The forest stretch far off until the unnatural lights of the human city took up what's left of the view, despite this the pale moon that looks down from the sky bathed the trees in silver hue of light while the lights of the city twinkle like the very stars, it's one of the many things that capture me whenever I look from here, the city can be so dirty and cramped but when you stare at it from afar it's like staring at the stars in the sky.
He sat down with me still clinging onto him, I felt this position is odd so I let go and stood up, he watch me as I walk round and sat down on his lap, try as he might I can see the light hue of red on his cheeks as he tries not to think about me as I wriggle into a comfortable position, I felt my cheeks flush hotly at my own boldness but felt it's worth it to tell him how far I would go for him.
The earlier thought that I couldn't even say those three simple words made me feel a little angry at myself, he probably knows about my feelings, but it's so embarrassing to say it to someone you really care about, I could face someone in a match where I very lives are at stake, but I cannot even say the three words that convey how deeply I feel about him.
Then the forewarning of what would happen if I continue to stay at his side, part of me want to simply leave him and hope he never finds me again, but another part of me don't want to let him go, not matter what happens I simply want to be by his side.
I lean back against his chest, if I listen carefully I could hear his heart beating wildly, this comforted me as I enjoy the view with him and him alone, it made me felt special in a way that I'm sharing such a magnificent view with him made me think of this as some kind of date.
This of course made me rethink that I should really distance myself from him, "if you care about him put some distance between yourself and him, it's for both your sake," my other self told me, the worst part of it I know my other self is always right, no matter how many times I wish I didn't want to hear it.
I notice his hands creeping round him, one of them is clenched tightly around something that it caught my attention instantly, the cautious part of me thought it was some kind of weapon that will end my life, I quell my over cautious side at the thought that he might try to hurt me, the mere thought made my very soul shake with fear that it might be true.
Softly he took one of my hand with his other and brought his closed fist to rest upon my open hand, I felt something hard been dropped onto the palm of my hand by his fist as he unclench it and withdrew it so I can see what is in my hand.
The object in my hand is a small diamond, roughly about half the size of my palm, shaped into a star as it glitters when I shift it ever so slightly bathing my hand in rainbow colour, the star is linked to a slender silver chain that look long enough to be worn round the neck.
I didn't know what to say or what do as I stare at the pendant in my hand, he didn't say anything as I try to make my mouth work, "is… this for… me?" I stammer over my words, still shocked at what lay in my hand, I let one of my fingers rub over it's smooth surface to be sure it's real.
A movement behind me as I recognize it as him nodding, I look over my shoulder, wanting to stare him in the eye to see his thoughts, I saw his eyes stare at me with hope do I like the gift he gave me.
I felt the star in my hand been lifted, I saw him lift the star from my hand from the corner of my eye, I turn to see him holding the two end of the silver chains out before bringing it close towards me, the cool feeling of the chain coming in contact with my neck sent a shiver down my back, if he notice he didn't show it, he connects the chain together and let go as I felt the pendant slide down a little as the weight of it dragged it down.
Surprisingly I thought it would be light because of it's size, I was mildly surprise at the weight but that didn't matter to me, what matter is what should I do, the gift he gave to me must have cost him a lot, but at the same time it must mean something if he's giving such a present to me.
Thoughts race through my mind as what to say or how to repay him, each time I thought of something to say it escaped me as my mouth refuses to obey me, even my body began to shiver a little as I felt a new feeling welling up within me.
Before I knew why I felt my eye vision began to blur, I wonder why has it before so blurry when I felt something wet run down from my eye down to my cheek, I brought up a hand and brush my cheek to see it's tears, I'm crying while my heart began to ache in a different way, it felt pleasant.
I felt his around round me as he whispers soft words into my ear I didn't hear, finally it occur to me that he thought I was crying tears of sadness, I wonder why would he even think of that, even with my blurry vision I could see the concern on his face as he stare at me, hoping that I would say something to ease his anxiety as to why I'm crying.
"I love you," I heard someone speak, to my utter shock it was my voice that had said it, the surprise look he gave me as I said those words which I couldn't say before, as the words finally began to settle into his mind he gave a gentle smile and mouth the words for me, probably too nervous to say it verbally like me, "I love you too," he simply replies silently.
Despite him having mouthed the words to me I felt my heart over flow with a feeling of something I've always felt before him, with no further hesitation I watch him bend down a little and capture my lips into my first kiss.
I couldn't describe it as I remain motionless in his arms as he kept his lips on mine with no hint of moving, to be honest I didn't want this to end, the feeling of how much he cares for me washing over me through his lips is too magical for me to even understand.
Finally he lifted his head as he breathes deeply a little after he kissed me until we both require to breath, I couldn't take my eyes off him and said those words again, to proof to myself that I can say it and that I genuinely mean it.
"I love you."
