Greetings and welcome. This chapter wasn't really changed except for the spacing to make it easier to read. So, read or re-read and enjoy. B.R.Y. over and out.
Little did Mai, Kasumi or Kai know that they were being spied on. "So Kasumi is going to Southtown, U.S.A," thought the retreating ninja, "If I get there before her, then she'll never see my attack coming." As soon as the ninja was a good distance away, she removed her hood to reveal a pretty face and purple hair. "Why would Hayate-nii want to protect Kasumi? Makes no sense," the kunoichi, Ayane, muttered to herself. She frowned.
It did make sense. She knew the answer. Despite her own overwhelming hatred for her half-sister, Kasumi was still Hayate's sister and he still cared about her. Ayane's hatred was driven by the very fact that her birth was tainted from the beginning and that, in her opinion, Kasumi had been handed everything she had. Ayane had to work to gain any respect…she wished she could change the fact that she was Raidou's daughter.
"If Hayate-nii won't take care of the runaway shinobi, then I will," Ayane declared with unflinching determination as she headed for Southtown.
Andy Bogard hung up the telephone with a sigh. He turned and faced his older brother, Terry, Terry's girlfriend, Mary, and Terry's student, Rock. "Mai-kun's coming," he stated mono-toned. "You don't want to see Mai?" Mary asked. Granted, Mai could tend to be on the eccentric side sometimes, but none of them had ever seen Andy this down over her before.
"It's no that. I do. Really. But apparently, she got a mission from her village to watch over a fellow kunoichi from a different village who is in trouble with her family," Andy explained rubbing the back of his neck. "So, Mai's sort of slacking off to see you, eh?" Terry supplied Andy with a nutshell version of the situation. "Yeah, basically," Andy replied. "Well, maybe she's a nice girl," Mary said optimistically referring to the unknown ninja.
While the three deliberated about what to do with Mai and the mystery kunoichi, Rock sat up from his reclined position on the couch. Terry looked back at him, "Something wrong, Rock?" Rock shook his head. "Not really. I'm just going on a walk. I'll be back later," he explained and walked out of the room without waiting for a reply.
It was getting toward dusk as Rock wandered around Southtown. He hadn't exactly planned on going anywhere; he just felt the urge to go somewhere. He found himself at the basketball court that he liked to play at.
"I must have come here unconsciously," Rock thought as he picked up an orphaned basketball that was there. Though it was his favorite sport, Rock left a little to be desired as a basketball player. He dribbled the ball and aimed a shot. As the ball left his hands he thought about Andy's words, "trouble with her family." Family.
It was true that Terry and Mary were like a family to him. So were Mai and Andy when they visited from Japan. Still, he felt an ache in his heart. The same ache that was ignited when he and Billy Kane fought. Every time Rock fought Billy, he was constantly reminded of his father. The former boss of Southtown. Rock had to work to find a way out of his father's dark shadow…he wished he could change the fact that he was Geese's son.
The basketball hit the rim and rolled around. "Come on," Rock whispered under his breath. The ball tipped to the outside of the rim and impacted the ground. Rock rolled his eyes at the missed shot. He picked up the ball and shot it a couple more times. He made the lay up. "At least I can make those somewhat consistently," he said to himself as he made an annoyed face at the thought of the prior shots he'd missed. It was getting too dark to play anymore, so he sat the ball on the ground and made his way back home. They'd all need some sleep if Mai was coming back tomorrow.