If Only Things Were Different…
Disclaimers: I do not Own DOA or any of its characters that belong to their respective company.
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Chapter Three
"The plane leaves tomorrow," Logan said simply. "She will be on that plane."
"We could always ask Ryu Hayabusa to shimmer her to the village," Sano said. "I was always fond of him, even though he is single…I heard that he was seeing someone."
"SANO!" Yumi shouted at her husband who cowered in fear of his wife's scorn. Never make a wife mad, especially when she can kick you around. "You better not be planning to marry our granddaughter off, it will be her choice on who she marries!"
"Yes, yes, sorry dear." Sano quickly apologized. "But you have to admit Ryu has always been close to our clan and it would make sense for him to shimmer Hitomi to our village and let her meet the whole clan. Just have to make sure no one knows whose daughter she is."
"Then call him, it'll work out fine." Yumi said as she got up. "I'm going to find out granddaughter and talk to her."
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Hitomi had ran a large distance from her grandparents' home. She was breathing heavily from both the welling anger and loss of breath. She stood up to lean against a tree and looked up towards the sky. So many thoughts were going on through her mind and wondering what was going to happen with her life.
Then the rushing of the leaves on the ground caught her attention. Her eyes widen at the sight before her. She gasped deeply as her blue eyes were staring deep into crimson red. Her mouth went dry as she looked at the man before her.
"Ein?" Hitomi asked dryly and she was engulfed in strong arms. She leaned into his embrace, "Is it you?"
Hayate nodded his head as he pulled away from the embrace slightly. He caressed her face as both of them recalled their one night of passion. "I had to see you again, as crazy as that sounds."
Hitomi noticed he was not wearing the same attire as he was at the tournament. But he was wearing jeans and a comfortable t-shirt. Hitomi was surprised when his lips met hers and her eyes closed. As Hitomi pulled away and looked up towards 'Ein' as he just smiled down at her.
"How have you been?" Hayate asked as the question would be left unanswered as Yumi saw the two. She was also in clear view as she shimmered in front of teht wo.
What is this, the son of Shiden. What is he doing with Hitomi… Yumi thought to herself as she approached the two.
"Hitomi we need to talk," Yumi said simply. "But first who is this?"
"Grandmother you remember when we took someone in with us," Hitomi asked. "This is Ein, he went off during the second Dead or Alive tournament."
"Ein, I think not." Yumi said as she raised her eyebrow. "Tell me child, are you not the son of Shiden of the Mugen Tenshin?"
Hayate looked at the elderly woman in surprise. How did this woman know who he was? He could not understand how someone knows and he had never met the woman before. She just smiled at him as she stepped closer to the young couple, and apparently Hayate observed she was a ninja of some sort due to the fact she could shimmer.
"You look much like your father," Yumi said with a smirk.
"You….You are a shinobi?" Hitomi began backing away from Hayate and he saw the hurt in her eyes. His heart broke, although he was meant to be leader of his clan he could not handle the sight before him.
"Hitomi, I think it's time you grew up!" Yumi said sternly and it snapped Hitomi out of her trance. "It's a reality, you are from a family that are shinobis."
"How do you expect to believe this after all of the secrecy till now?" Hitomi shouted in rage. "You expect me to just get up and go with you to something I've never known my whole life?"
Yumi never saw her precious Hitomi this angry. It was a first and Hayate quickly went to her but only get pushed away, "You! After the third tournament, I asked you who you were and you didn't even bother to tell me then? I have to hear it from my grandmother?" Tear began spilling from her eyes, Hayate felt as if he was stabbed and Yumi realized her mistake.
"I came here to tell you the truth," Hayate grabbed Hitomi's arms to keep her from running away. "I wanted to tell you then, but I was afraid. Afraid you would push me away and I knew even if I told you, it would be difficult for us to even be together again."
Hitomi's tears just poured down her face, "Why is that?"
Hayate saw the anger in her eyes, her whole life she never knew the truth and now she had been hit with it hard. They left her with no choice but to accept the facts and follow them blindly to something she didn't know. "Hitomi, my way of living is not easy. If you heard your grandmother, I'm a shinobi. I am bound by tradition and laws of the clans."
"How would that change from everything, you could at least see me once in while to tell me you were ok when left from the second tournament!" Hitomi shouted as she struggled to get out of his grip. However Hayate would not allow it, he cared too much for her to be hurt any further.
"I'm sorry, I was wrong." Hayate pulled her into his embrace as her face was buried in his chest. Yumi watched helplessly as the two were embraced. "I'm risking my life just by being here to tell you the truth. Hitomi…I…I…loved you then as Ein, and I still do as Hayate."
"Wha…what?" Hitomi looked up to face Hayate as he looked down at her sadly.
"However, no matter what I feel, the clan's council would never let any shinobi to marry outside of that world," Hayate said sadly. "I was here to tell you this and say goodbye."
Yumi then noticed there was something there, could there be a chance Hitomi could love Hayate enough to go through all the trials she must face as the next leader of the White clan? She saw that Hayate would never let harm come to Hitomi, but the path to becoming the leader would not be an easy one. She knew this and her heart finally broke. She did not realize how much her granddaughter would have to suffer till now.
Everyone back at the house was being selfish to place so much responsibility on Hitomi, she was going to be put through so much training to catch up to where she should be as a leader. If they were not careful, she could lose her life. That decision would be ultimately up to her if she was to accept the role as leader and of course if she survived she would need to marry a clan leader.
"Ein…Hayate," Hitomi whispered. "I guess we were never meant to fall in love. It seems as fate only brought us together so you could return to your old life."
Hayate's eyes sadden at her tone. It was almost as if she was gone now, she had lost the life that was once held in her beautiful bright blue eyes. Now her eyes seemed dull, it was really as if fate was playing a game with them. He no longer knew what to do with this whole situation as Yumi finally stepped back into the conversation.
"Hitomi, I know now we should have just told you earlier but the past is past." Yumi sighed deeply, "Your grandfather went to find an old clan friend to take you to our village. There you can meet the clan."
"As you wish," Hitomi said dryly as she began to walk back to the house. Hayate wanted to go after her but Yumi blocked his path.
Once Hitomi was some good distance away, "Ryu will take care of Hitomi as well as our clan, after all she was born in that village."
"What?" Hayate asked with a bewildered look on his face.
"Go back to your clan and let them know the clan will be ready to listen to all of the requests in three days." Yumi said simply and Hayate nodded. Hitomi was no longer in sight so he just shimmered away. Yumi then shimmered back to the house beating Hitomi.
"So what happened?" Logan asked eagerly.
"Hitomi is still very angry but she is doing a very good job in hiding it for the moment." Yumi said, "We should have told her earlier about some of her history, our history."
Kagome looked at her mother sadly as Hitomi just stayed outside on the porch. "When will Ryu be here to take Hitomi to the village?"
"Later today," Yumi said simply as she looked at her granddaughter with a sadden heart.
"I don't like the fact she is like this right now," Logan said as he looked over at his daughter with a sadden heart.
"It cannot be helped, this is something we are putting on her shoulders." Yumi paused, "We are to blame for this kind of reaction from her."
"I guess so, but I can't help but feeling she might hate us right now and may not be able to forgive us," Logan said as he watched his daughter's distant body language.
"Dear, we just have to wait and see," Kagome said with a sigh as she prayed that their daughter will in the end make the right choice. Whatever the choice may be…
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Ryu slept contently as he looked over to his side, there was Ayane sleeping peacefully at his side. He held her closer as the two had spent another night of passion. It was routine for them, especially when Ayane needed to be distracted from being leader of the Hajin Mon. She was feisty in everything that she did, even when they made love to each other. He was always in her submission, thought he did not mind since he would be the one normally starting the whole 'ordeal'.
Ryu noticed there was light coming from the living room area of his home. He quietly slipped out of his bed and puts some pants on. He quickly maneuvers around his home to see someone sitting on his couch waiting for him. The visitor caught him by surprise.
"I'm sorry to wake you, old friend." Sano said as he looked over to the young Ryu Hayabusa. "I need to ask you to come with me, I have a favor to ask of you."
"What might it be Master Sano?" Ryu asked, concerned that the leader of the White Shinobi would come and ask him for such a thing. He sat down on the opposite couch, since he store was doing quite well he was relatively wealthy. He no longer lived in a village with other Shinobis but a nice comfortable large home in the country side.
"You might already know that the my clan is returning home to our village," Sano paused for a moment. "My granddaughter, I would like you to shimmer her to the village and show her to everyone. She would not be able to remember her first three of her life there but many of the villagers will be able to recognize her."
"I assume she already knows how to shimmer," Ryu asked with an arched eyebrow.
"Yes, she does."
"Ryu…" A soft voice called Sano looked up to see a beautiful young maiden wrapped in nothing but a bed sheet. Sano had to admit he was impressed that Ryu had finally gotten someone at his side, and she was amazingly beautiful.
"Ayane…" Ryu stood up from his seat and Sano just held up his hand. "Master Sano, this is Ayane."
"She's beautiful Ryu, I hate to ask you to leave right now with me, when I know you have such a beautiful woman by your side," Sano said as he looked over at the girl. "You are Ayame's daughter are you not?"
Ayane stood there shocked that someone knew, "Hai."
"I've always hated your council's decision on what they did with you. Also disappointed by your mother's decision," Sano sighed. "I wish our village was strong enough at the time of your birth. I would have raised you with pride even though you were not my blood."
Ayane had to admit she was touched by the old man's speech. She then turned her attention to Ryu, "Are you leaving?"
"I'll return back tomorrow to you," Ryu said as he walked over to Ayane. Ayane nodded her head as she went into his room. It caused him to wonder what she wad doing and then she came out with all of his things. Ryu smiled as he took them, "Promise you'll behave while I'm away."
Ayane smirked, "I only misbehave when you are here to see it."
Ryu chuckled and heard Sano ask, "How long have you two been married?" Both of them grew silent and Sano knew by their reaction they were not. He chuckled again, "Do you ever plan on getting married?"
"I am still not of age yet to marry," Ayane said with a sad tone.
"Nonsense, the way you two are acting it appears that you have been married for ages." Sano laughed, "If you two wish and all things go well with our village. I would be more than happy to perform the ceremony myself."
Ayane's eyes grew wide. Ryu smiled, "But I still would have to ask if she would take me as her husband first."
"Ryu, you would even after what has been in my past?" Ayane asked as she placed her hand on his chest. Ryu looked at her lovingly…Ayane got lost in his green eyes as he stared into her crimson.
"I love you, for who you are and even your past. You are my Ayane and that is all that matters," Ryu said as he kissed her softly. "I'll properly ask you when the time comes and if the village is back to its glory then, we can discuss everything you want on the subject."
Ayane nodded as Ryu went to go get ready in the other room. Sano followed after him and Ayane smiled. She had found some wonderful peace in her life, and it was in Ryu Hayabusa. A man she did not expect to lose her heart so fully to. He was an amazing man and she was not going to let him go, he would better keep his promise.
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Ryu shimmered with Sano back to his home as Hitomi was still standing out on the porch. Sano sighed at his granddaughter's expression and knew something had happened while he was gone. Ryu then recognized the girl from the third tournament.
"Hitomi," Sano called out softly as she walked down towards them. "This is Ryu Hayabusa, he is going to take you to our village by the way of shimmering."
Hitomi just nodded, Ryu then handed her some white robes. "You should wear these in order to not cause any stir about your where abouts. Since your grandfather wishes you not to be fully known as his granddaughter."
"Alright," Hitomi said as she quickly went inside the house to change. Sano sighed as he walked into the house and Ryu chose to wait outside for the girl. He noticed that the girl was trying hard to let her rage show. However it is going to consume her if she was not going to let it out.
She came out of the house and Ryu was surprised at her appearance. The dress hung to and made her truly look like a princess, he felt like he was a proud father looking at his daughter. She also had her hair up in a twist with a few strands falling around her face.
Sano had told him much about Hitomi and she was quite not as spirited as he had heard. She was quite closed off, but Ryu hopes that she will break out of it when she goes to the village.
"Are you ready?" Ryu asked and Hitomi nodded. Ryu held out his hand, "Don't be afraid. Just let your mind be opened to the idea of going to a place full of wonder."
Hitomi placed her hand into Ryu's and the two shimmered. Hitomi's had her eyes closed till she felt the whole process over and then she opened them to …
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Well thank you so much for all of your reviews. I hope that you are enjoying the story thus far even though it is only the third chapter.
See you all next time!