AN: I've been facing the worst writer's block of this century lately, and as a result I've been nitpicking through all my previous fanfics rather... obsessively. Thankfully, I won't be revising existing chapters anymore, and I will be updating this story within the future. I apologize for keeping everyone on edge over this mess...
Disclaimer: DOA and all characters and locations used in this fanfic are for non-profit use only. All rights are reserved to Tecmo and to them alone.
It's For, You...
Nikki Beach, Zack Island
Somewhere on the white sandy shores, a lone figure walked along the beach, her marvelous body nearly bare to the warm summer air. Wearing her Lily swimsuit, the girl strolled along at a leisurely pace, the sun setting behind her.
There was a small gift box tucked into the waistband of her bikini bottoms, its purpose hidden from the rest of the world, only to be revealed to the one that it was given to.
She had been pondering on how to approach the subject ever since leaving her far-above-average suite of a hotel on Zack Island.
It wasn't so much the gift that was her primary concern, but whom it was destined for.
That someone happened to be lying on the beach, Titania suit hugging her body like a second skin, violet hair with telltale purple silk bandana highlighting in the soft glow of Earth's brightest star.
Ayane…
Kasumi looked at her sister from afar as she sunbathed on the beach, her soft amber eyes lingering over Ayane's well pronounced curves. Pausing in her stead, the elder half-sister could not help but feel an overwhelming sense of attraction for the other sibling, her heart picking up just a notch. Everything about Ayane was so... perfect; like a goddess of art, chiseled into nothing but flawless curves and nary a blemish on her pale skin.
"She's so pretty," thought Kasumi. Of course, she herself was quite the wallflower.
The redhead bit her bottom lip in thought. Getting Ayane to join her in a volleyball match was the last thing she wanted to do, and Ayane would want nothing less. But seeing how everyone else had paired up, she didn't have much of a choice. She knew that Ayane had a temper, which was basically second nature to the violet-haired kunoichi, and she was somewhat of a loner.
On top of that, she had a seething hatred for her. A fact Ayane made blatant anytime she was around.
Kasumi took a deep breath. Still, she could at least try. And with the gift that she had planned for Ayane...; there was no way that anything else would elicit the kind of response she was looking for in the kunoichi.
She walked soundlessly across the sand towards her better half (if you could call her that), the wind tossing her lengthy, unhindered ginger locks carelessly behind her. Ayane was too preoccupied with the sand beneath her feet to notice Kasumi heading towards her.
The younger sister looked to be in deep thought, her expression mostly unreadable. Then again, she was always a hard book to gauge the cover on…
She got within a couple of feet of the violet-head, the sound of crashing waves masking her approach, until Ayane slowly looked up.
"You…" she seemed surprised, as if her sister was the last person she ever expected to see. Ayane turned her head away from Kasumi and snorted, apparently disgusted with her. "What do you want?" she said coldly.
Kasumi groaned inwardly. She already knew where this was going. Just like always, words would be exchanged, and then-as the often case-fists... and kicks... and throws. It was a cycle that was growing fast tiresome, both physically and mentally.
At least she had an actual desire to be closer to her half-sister, regardless of the pain and suffering that it caused her.
"Ayane," she stated formally, "I noticed that you were alone…"
Ayane scoffed. "Yeah, what's it to you?" The ninja girl's eyes were fixed on something off the horizon, her attention diverted from her elder. "I'm always alone…"
"Not anymore..." Kasumi thought that she saw her sister's lips curl for a split second, but then again it could have been the water's reflection. Not only that… but her tone of voice was softer, less cheery than usual…
"Why are you here anyway," Ayane replied. "Shouldn't you be playing volleyball with that friend of yours, Lisa?"
That was the detestable comment Kasumi just knew was coming. Ayane never was the one for small talk, and as often as possible she seemed to want to end any form of conversation with her, period.
Kasumi's doe-like eyes went downcast to her feet, feeling oddly ashamed at herself. "I… don't have her anymore…"
Ayane shifted her gaze from the sea to the busty ninja. "What? Why?" She wouldn't have guessed that Kasumi was such a bad player. Maybe volleyball wasn't her thing.
"I… left her," she explained, which garnered a rather curious look from her violet-haired sibling. Kasumi twiddled with her fingers, a habit she had grown accustomed to anytime she had to deal with… difficult people.
"She has a past that doesn't sit well for me…"
Ayane grinned, which would have been a first for Kasumi to see in ages, "Took you that long to figure it out, eh?"
Kasumi lifted her head gradually to regard the younger girl, "What…?"
The violet-haired kunoichi leaned back on the beach with both hands, her legs bent, once again staring off into the horizon.
"Lisa's far too gullible for her own good. She acts so nice to everybody despite the fact that she was working for DOATEC…"
That last comment had a considerable barb to the two of them. DOATEC, a name that had caused the two Mugen-Tenshin ninjas more pain than they had ever known over the years.
Those were memories that would, and forever should, remain buried.
"DOATEC is no more…" Kasumi said meekly.
"As it should be." Ayane said in a dark tone, finishing that train of thought. The violet-haired kunoichi shifted her legs in an oddly seductive manner, and the wind managed to sway some of her violet bangs over an eye as she stared at Kasumi.
Kasumi took this moment to reflect on Ayane's "pose" on the beach, every bend and curve of her magnificent body glinting in the sunlight. Her skin, although fair, was absolutely flawless-which was surprising, considering her occupation as a ninja. The Titania swimsuit of the violet-haired girl's choosing respectfully showed off her sumptuous flesh; not revealing too much while still being mildly exciting…
"But… why aren't you with, Tina?" Kasumi asked, blushing mildly.
This time, Ayane's eyes suddenly went downcast, staring at the ocean waves breaking on the shoreline. "We… broke up," she answered solemnly.
A tiny gasp escaped the older girl's lips, "You mean- …was it because of me?" Kasumi felt like someone had just kicked her in the face. The last volleyball match had been between her and Ayane… and, Kasumi had won.
The violet head frowned, "-Don't feel sorry for me," she deadpanned. A gentle breeze swept her gorgeous hair into her eyes, clouding her face. "I can't even feel sorry for myself…"
For what seemed like an eternity, they said nothing. Ayane simply stared off into whatever inner sanctum she had created out of imagination. And Kasumi could only stand there and mope, her own thoughts scattered into turmoil.
Ayane had gone very quiet, which was frightening for Kasumi.
Her half-sister had a will that was not so easily broken. She had witnessed the death of Genra, caused by her own hand. What could have caused her to become so... troubled?
"Ayane..." the name slipped Kasumi's lips, an ambivalent passing of words on a sorrowful note.
The silence was killing her... Oh how she wanted to embrace Ayane in that moment, just once, to send her pain far below.
But it was never meant to be.
"You're always better than me…" Ayane finally said, her self-loathing attitude resurfacing, "I'm the one that has to remain in your shadow…"
The unsteady atmosphere between Kasumi and Ayane had become so thick one could cut through it with a knife.
Ayane slowly turned her head, her eyes clouded behind layers of violet silk. "Yes," she spoke softer this time. "All because of my birth… I'm nothing more to you than a burden…" she let out a shaky sigh, "Maybe I... "
"Don't say that…" Kasumi inched her way forward, wrestling with what she wanted to say. She was teetering on a very touchy subject with Ayane… one that could have dire consequences if it was not broached carefully enough.
"You deserve so much more…"
Ayane scoffed lightly, "And you would happen to know…?" She finally turned to face her sister, her red eyes boring into Kasumi's, and that was when the elder kunoichi could see the faintest glimmer of sadness in her mesmerizing orbs. "The last time I recall, you defeated me in the tournament."
The ginger-haired ninja backed up a step. Ayane's comment was underhanded malice in every since of the word. Kasumi knew she was walking a fine line right now, and the last thing she wanted was to throw down with her significant other.
"But, you are stronger," she retaliated. "…I only fight because I have to..."
"…Care to prove it?" Ayane asked out of nowhere. Her scarlet eyes burned with that familiar flame so many had come to fear. She was… challenging her.
Kasumi felt her face get hot, the rhtym of her heartbeat kicking into overdrive. Oh, Kami... this really wasn't going well for her. If she was going to diffuse the situation unfolding before her, there was one thing left to do.
The flame-haired runaway swallowed, "I-I wanted... to give you something…" she stuttered.
Ayane furrowed her eyebrow, obviously confused as to how fast Kasumi changed subject so quickly.
"For me?" she steadily rose to her feet, looking just a tad bit disappointed. "Is that your idea of a consolation prize?" Ayane leered.
The red-head fidgeted uncomfortably under Ayane's piercing red eyes. She knew how serious she was being, and she really did not want to get into a fight with her.
"H- Here…" said Kasumi, handing her the gift. "It's something that I've been meaning to show you for a long time."
Ayane paused for a few tense moments, just eyeing the gift in her hands... before snatching the present out of her hand, giving her other half a hard glare. "If it's an origami, I'm going to kick your ass," she said dangerously.
Kasumi flinched ever so slightly, her face remaining neutral.
Ayane pulled the blue ribbon loose in a flourish and cast it into the wind. The look upon her face was one of indignation, much like it always had been whenever Kasumi was within her presence.
Ayane did take note however, that her other-half had this odd look of nervousness about her. Anticipation, she wondered? Or perhaps dread?
'Heh… maybe it's both.'
"At least you had the decency to gift wrap it in the right color," she ridiculed, tearing away the purple fabric. The remains fell to her feet, and then she proceeded to pop the lid off…
For a moment, time seemed to pass in slow motion, for when the far-skinned girl peered down into the box… she gasped at the item that was in store for her.
"Oh…"
Inside was an incredibly ornate butterfly hairpin, opaque purple with studded diamonds along the wings that gleamed off the setting sun like a miniature star. The chrome trim and underside of the treasure had been polished to the inth degree, reflecting the mastery of the craftsmanship that was poured into it.
Ayane's mouth hung open in complete shock-she was used to receiving presents from the other girls, but this…
She took it out with trembling fingers and held it to the sky, marveling at its beauty as the light shined through.
"Sugoi…!" she breathed out. 'Kasumi must have spent a fortune on this!'
"Where…where did you get this…?" Ayane whispered.
Internally, the runaway kunoichi felt as if the very air from her lungs had been stolen away.
There it was. The question…
Kasumi had been waiting for this moment for what has seemed like forever, and now it was finally within her grasp. Her heart was pounding a mile a minute, her nubile body trembling ever so softly.
Her lips moved... the words came out.
"…From… our mother…"
Ayane's head whipped around, disbelief registering on her cute face. "What…?"
Kasumi smiled slightly, a sudden weight lifted if only for an instant from her chest. "A long time ago… she gave this to me. She said that one day I should give it to the one that means the most to me..."
Ayane had been rendered speechless. The hairpin was a family heirloom passed down through generations, and now it was being given to her…
The younger sister gazed at the object in her hand, becoming lost in her emotions. About a million-and-one questions ran through her mind like crazy then; her stomach clenched in a way that she wasn't very accustomed to... save for certain far-off thoughts that she had had secretly reserved, but never acted on.
"Kasumi…." she said vulnerably.
Kasumi eyed her sister with empathy as a glimmer of tears welled up in her orange-red depths.
"I… I don't know what to say?" Ayane hung her head low, violet bangs clouding her face. She felt so ashamed; she didn't deserve something like this.
"Ayane…" Kasumi reached out to her, wanting to comfort her, but then paused. Ayane's shoulders shook as her hands dropped to both sides, trying her hardest not to cry.
"How can… how can I be so deserving of this?" Ayane's fingers curled around the hairpin, "I have no right."
"I've never hated you…" Kasumi broke in, "in spite of everything that has come between us." The ginger-haired ninja drew closer to her, until their bodies were almost touching. "…Ayane…"
The violet-haired kunoichi lifted her head up, tears threatening to spill forth from her crystalline scarlet eyes as she gazed sadly into Kasumi's.
"Why," she asked. "Why are you doing this to me...?" Ayane's bottom lip was trembling, her timeless, youthful countenance having lost its stony, emotionless mask.
"Why is it that you forgive me… so easily?"
Kasumi pondered her next words well; she cupped Ayane's face in her palm, her own amber orbs glistening… and said:
"Because… I… I love you." Kasumi felt the breath inside of her freeze.
Ayane felt the hot tears flowing before she could stop them herself. Such a simple word-love, and yet, Ayane had never been loved… ever. She was a bastard child, born in the secrecy of the night, hidden away like a dark secret from the rest of the world.
And now… to hear those words for the first time…
"Don't… say such things…" she responded. Ayane sucked her lip into her mouth, hardly able to look Kasumi in the eye any longer. Despite the warmth and comfort of her half-sister's touch, she felt herself pulling away. "…I'm… supposed to be your enemy."
A look of perturbation began to unfold upon Kasumi's face, "Ayane… I…"
"Stop it!"
The shriek that emanated from the scarlet-eyed ninja was as frightening to Kasumi as it was her, a pitiful sound laced with grief and despair. Her hand gripped the elder girl's wrist, pulling away her hand…
"Just… s-stop…" she pleaded, choking on sobs. Ayane bit her bottom lip to keep from crying, but even then the pain in her chest would not leave her still. "Please…"
Kasumi winced at the sight of her beloved sister crying. To see Ayane, her own flesh and blood breaking down like this… was more painful than any blow landed by the young kunoichi's hands.
She timidly reached over and pulled Ayane into an embrace; she wasn't going to let go of her… not again. Not ever.
"Ayane…" she whimpered. "Please… don't push me away… "
Ayane snuffled, her resolve about to break. Why… why couldn't she hate her? She fell to her knees unceremoniously, bringing Kasumi down with her as she hid her tear-streaked face to the uncaring Earth from which she came.
All those years, all this time hating Kasumi for what she was and who she was, had been terribly in vain.
"Kasumi, I… I never… I didn't mean…" Ayane couldn't form a coherent enough sentence to express how she felt, weeping inconsolably into Kasumi's chest as she shamelessly melted into her sister's soft, inviting grasp.
The elder girl remained silent, rubbing her sister's back affectionately in the attempt to help alleviate some of the stress. There were so many things she wanted to say, to tell Ayane that I was alright. Yet, she was too overwhelmed to say... anything. Ayane had always been so strong, so determined… and now...
Ayane began to struggle within Kasumi's milk-soft arms, much to the dismay of her sister whom was afraid that she would push her away… for good. It was only when they locked eyes that they truly understood…
Sparkling crimson eyes full of longing, ensnared expectant amber pools glistening in a daze, her lovely lilac bangs ruffling indolently in the cool sea breeze. Kasumi could see the shimmering streams of tears cascading down Ayane's pretty, youthful face. She looked so... divine.
"I... Kasumi, I-" Ayane felt so lost in her sister's eyes; they glowed just like the setting sun behind them.
Her arms moved of their own accord around Kasumi's slender waist, her hands gliding smoothly upon the lightly tanned skin of her half-sister's back as she returned the embrace Kasumi so desperately needed.
"I'm sorry," Ayane uttered. The violet-haired kunoichi cried silently onto her shoulder, the family pendant held safely in her closed palm as the tears ran unchecked from their crimson pools down her angelic face.
A single droplet fell, crystalline and pure like diamonds against the sun onto the pale skin of her sister.
"-Sorry…-for everything…"
The sun had since slipped far below the horizon, the cast of its 'shadow' lighting up the many clouds in shades of pink and tangerine orange. Stars were starting to peek out of the dark canopy overhead, and brushstrokes of orange, green and blue rippled across the water like an ever-changing painting.
Even as the waves continued to flow nearer onto the alabaster shores of the beach, two maidens cared not. For the tides alone could never separate them from this moment of tranquility... a peace long in the making.
But love, as they say, is a battlefield. The trials are arduous, the emotions raw and unyielding, and by this week alone, Ayane and Kasumi will come to understand just how much they truly need and desire this bond that they now share.
This night, was only the beginning for them…
And not far down the beach from where the two Mugen Tenshin ninjas were laying… a lone figure; beautiful and curvy with light-pale skin, stood scantily-clad in her unique two-piece on the snowy shore, looking on enviously.
"Such a fleeting dream…" she murmured softly. Affection, love, desire... all those things were forever unattainable to her, just because of whom, or perhaps more importantly what she was.
Retrieve the target; dispatch any who get in the way... quietly.
Simple...and yet...
With the darkness of the night sky unfurling behind her, the unknown assailant turned to leave, casting one last glance over her shoulder at the two kunoichi's embracing each other.
"I came so far just to find you... " she whispered into the wind. A strong breeze swept the girl's incredibly long locks of hair into adrift over her shoulder, the thick bangs clouding her darkened eyes.
"And now..."
She could not put anymore thought into this, or else it would only complicate things in the end.
Then, like the wind, she was gone.