And here we have Chapter 2. Chapter 1 was originally gonna be a prologue but I decided against it since it felt too long. So this one is gonna be Chapter 2. I shall see how this one pans out compared to the first chapter but hopefully it comes out much better!
Chapter 2: Settling In and Meeting Hayate
Kasumi and Nik arrive at the apartment the young Kunoichi had been staying at. They walked for only a few minutes really because they had produced some small talk here and there and they had absent mindedly maintained a rather quick pace. They only really spoke about Kasumi since Nik supposedly didn't remember anything. It was a fairly comfy apartment. It was meant for one person but two could fit if they really tried.
She was on the 3rd floor and Kasumi had decided to show off in front of her new friend and used some of her ninja abilities to climb up the stairs but when she arrived, he seemed unimpressed which made her mostly just pout at his stubbornness. Her apartment was done like you would see in New York. Basically in a straight surface sorta. It wasn't its own complex but rather just a building with many floors and stairs to get to each floor. Some of the apartments were actually really big but she had chosen the one which was small enough for her.
Whenever they arrived at her door, she unlocked it and walked in, turning on the light as Nik gently shuts the door behind them.
"Well this is cozy." He said and she smiled a little as she placed the keys on the table.
"This apartment was made for one person really so it wasn't meant to be too big." She replied as Nik looked around.
It really was very small. Walking in, the first thing he sees is a door; a closet door more specifically. Turning right is a square room which works as a living room which has the diner and kitchen connected as well. To the left of the living room square is just a rectangular expansion of the living room, just a tad bit shorter length wise. To the right towards the middle of the wall was a hallway with a door on the left for the bathroom and a door at the end of the hallway for her room.
The dining area had a small black leather table with a few chairs. The living room had a couch that fit two people and a flat screen TV that was fairly large but not huge. Overall, a cute simple setup. The kitchen has the expected stuff like cabinets and a white fridge and a white oven, and a black microwave that she bought since her old one didn't work anymore.
"This will do." He said and she nods as she sticks four fingers into each back pocket, her thumbs kinda just taking up space.
"Well I'm glad. For now you're welcome to stay on the couch and I'm sorry it's not comfortable but we can correct some sleeping arrangements whenever we have more of an open time." Kasumi said
"I'm not very sure how long I plan on staying so I do appreciate this. Not many people would stick their necks out like this." he said and she nods a little.
"Well I'm not most people and I can take care of myself just fine really. I am quite interested in you anyway. No memory of who you are. Is there anything you do remember?" She asked as she walked over to the closet and opened the door, pulling out some spare covers.
"I remember that I can fight. The moves are there." He replied as he sat on the couch and accepted the covers. "Thanks."
She takes a seat next to him and nods.
"Well, I would say chalk it up to muscle memory. Anything else?" She asked.
"I was running." He said. "Don't remember from what... if it's even a what and not a who."
"You think that there might be people after you." She said in a statement rather than a question.
"It's just what I remember. It could have been a long time ago." He replied and she nods before placing a hand on his back and rubbing it gently.
"I know a thing or two about being chased... hunted. I'm sorry that's what you remember."
"Yea. Thanks." He said and she nods before standing up.
"I am going to grab some food. I'll be sure to get enough for you as well. Take this time to get comfortable and just relax. I know it's hard because you don't even remember yourself but at least... try and I promise I'll come back fast." She said in which he nodded and she smiled before quickly heading out the door.
Nik looked around, simply deciding to take in his surroundings once more. It was a small place overall but he could take the couch like she said until they found better accommodations. He took a step toward the couch before a leaf floated in front of him. His eyes narrowed and he immediately turned around, catching the blade of a katana immediately, his eyes staring at the person behind the sword as his hand started to leak blood from gripping the sharp blade.
The person he blocked had straight brown hair to about his shoulders. His eyes were a lighter shade than Kasumi's, also donning a headband which let Nik know this was a Ninja. He was wearing a black Ninja outfit with dark grey protection pads, and a katana sheath on his back.
Nik's eyes narrowed more and he started to push the sword back, his strength thankfully still there but he felt the resistance which made his approach too slow to his liking. He suddenly yanked the sword forward, going below the ninja and slamming one of his feet into his stomach, sending him floating up before he disappeared in a cloud of smoke, a log replacing where he was which made Nik immediately turn around before slowly turning every direction.
"Where are you?" He muttered with his eye's blazing with anger.
"Here." The man said and Nik immediately swung behind him, the man ducking and immediately tripping Nik to the ground and slamming him against it to prevent him from moving.
"Who the hell are you!?" He spat out.
"My name is Hayate. Now you will tell me what your intentions are with my sister." He said dangerously, his sword pointing to Nik's neck.
"Who the hell is your sister?" He snapped.
"Kasumi." He said and Nik stopped, his eyes softening.
He didn't know the girl much but what he did know was that she was very compassionate. She was selfless and helped him when he didn't have anywhere to go or any clothes and she became a good acquaintance to have early on.
"I'm not going to hurt her! She helped me." He said
"Helped you!? From what?" He asked.
"I don't remember." He said, feeling dizzy and mentally cursing.
"Hayate, no!" he heard Kasumi scream but it felt a little muffled.
"What?" He asked.
"His injuries haven't healed!" She said but everything was slowly going dark until he just saw dark.
He didn't know for how long he was out or what but whenever his eyes slowly opened, he noticed he was laying on the couch but he had pillows under him to better balance out his body. He tried to get up but just resorted to grunting in pain as he lays back down and he noticed a shadow looming over him. He heard someone talking but he couldn't understand or hear them properly.
What he did see was hands replacing his bandages. Feminime hands which made him figure it was probably Kasumi.
"What happened?" He asked weakly and still a little dizzy but his hearing had returned for the most part.
"Hey, Nik. You're awake. How are you feeling?" She asked and looked at him with eyes filled with worry.
"Like a truck just hit me going 100 miles per hour." He said and she smiled a little.
"That's to be expected. You lost quite a bit of blood." She said as she finished replacing his bandages and handed him a new shirt.
"I thought that would hold." He said weakly.
"Clearly not. You need to avoid fighting, yea?" she said.
"That was your brother... Hayate he said his name was." Nik said and Kasumi nodded as she helped him put on his shirt before sitting down on the couch where there was still space.
"Yea. He just wanted to protect me. But you aren't a threat. Just someone who needs help." She said and smiled.
"How can you be so sure that I'm not a bad person?" He asked.
"You haven't done anything to hurt me. You haven't made an attempt on my life even though you seem to possess the ability to attempt it even when injured. I have a natural ability to know when someone is bad." She said.
He sighs and closes his eyes which made her tilt her head.
"My hand got cut." He said.
"I noticed. I already bandaged it up. I ordered some take out and I'm supposed to go pick it up in an hour but I think some walking would do you good so, we're going to eat over there." She said and smiled at him.
"That sounds good. Just wake me up when the time comes." He said as his eyes flutter close and she gently pats his leg before standing up to go about her business.
Whenever the hour mark arrived, Kasumi shook Nik awake and he mumbled incoherently, waving his hand at her and trying to keep sleeping. Kasumi's eyebrow twitched and she simply turned around before roughly sitting on his legs making him shoot up but she stopped him just in time to avoid anymore injury.
"Alright I'm up." He grumbled and she smiled innocently before standing up and he sits up slowly and yawning a little.
"That quick sleep do you good?" She asked and he nodded as he scratched his head a little.
"Yea. It felt fine." He said which made her nod as she approached the door.
"Good. Come on. Put on your shoes so we can be off." She said and he grumbled a fine as he stood off the couch and went to get his boots, putting them on before grabbing his jacket and approaching the door as Kasumi opened it.
They stepped out and she locked her apartment before balancing Nik out as they walked downstairs, making sure he was alright as they walked down. Once it was safe, she let him go and led him down the street, making small talk with him here and there but overall, it was a peaceful walk... minus the annoying city life and the loud crowd of people who walked but it was a large city. It was to be expected.
Kasumi took this time to tell him a few of the places they had such as the blacksmith, the mall, the shopping centers, a few of the restaurants, the boxing gym... but she mostly focused on the blacksmith and the shopping centers.
Kasumi tried to convince Nik to go shopping with her, assuming that in his amnesia state, he wouldn't know how bad shopping with a girl could be but she was disappointed whenever he said no.
"Please? It won't be horrible. I promise." She said and made the puppy eyes but he just shook his head.
"No." He replied and she hugs his arm tightly.
"Pleeeassseee." She begged one more time, putting on her best puppy eyes ever.
"No." He replied again and she let out a frustrated groan.
"I'm losing my touch." She said.
"Losing your what?" He asked and she raised an eyebrow.
"Or maybe you're just clueless." She said.
"Clueless about what?" He asked and she smiles and shakes her head.
"Nothing at all. Come on! The food should already be done and we don't want it to get cold." She said as she grabbed his hand and quickly pulled him into a jog, running to the restaurant to have a good time eating.
On the rooftops, Hayate was standing, watching the scene with a sigh until smoke suddenly appeared next to him with some wind as Ryu Hayabusa, the Super Ninja stepped out.
"You seem troubled." He said.
"It's just this new guy my sister is hanging out with. I don't trust him." Hayate said and Ryu stepped closer to the edge and looked down to see Kasumi dragging Nik to the restaurant, a huge smile on her face as she did so.
"She seems happy." Ryu said and Hayate crossed his arms.
"Which would make it worse if this boy ends up hurting her. She said she found him hurt and weak so she's helping him." Hayate replied.
"Perhaps a Ninja who wandered off searching for aid?" Ryu asked.
"He's not Japanese. He seems to appear to be American."
"And yet he speaks fluent Japanese?" Ryu asked.
"That seems to be the case."
"Hayate. I think you need to simply relax. Kasumi is a big girl and she can handle herself. There is no need for you to be overprotective."
"As her older brother, I'll always worry. It's my job." He said as he watches her open the door for Nik and he insists on her going first but she just stuck her tongue out and shook her head only to recieve a flick on her forehead which made her pout as Nik quickly jogs into the restaurant with Kasumi hot on his heels.
"And as your friend, it is my job to make sure you don't worry when your sister simply makes a friend out of someone." Ryu replied. "Donovan is defeated and the Alpha Project is finished. There's nothing but blue skies and peace. Your sister is safe. It's time to let her live her life."
"Yea." Hayate simply replied with a sigh as he steps away from the ledge.
"Watching younger siblings grow up before your eyes must be difficult. But she needs to live her life. As long as she is happy and safe, is there really anything else you need to do?" Ryu asked.
"I suppose you're right. It doesn't mean I trust him." He said.
"You'll learn to once you see that he is no threat to your sister." Ryu simply replied.
Hayate stayed silent as Ryu stepped away before he felt a gust of wind to signal that Ryu had left, leaving only a trail of smoke. Hayate however remained a little while longer, staring at the restaurant. Kasumi was smiling while talking with Nik but Hayate couldn't hear from so far away. He finally stepped away from the ledge, deciding to step back for now. But that didn't mean he trusted the boy. No.
He was just giving him the benefit of the doubt. That was all. With a swirl of leaves, he was gone. But not before Kasumi caught sight of him and frowned a little.