The Clouds Part Part IV: Bitter Sweet Revenge
The sun began to set, as the sky blended scarlet and orange hues together. Ayane stared up at the sky and felt a void inside. The sun vanished from the sky, as Ayane noticed a voiceless presence. She turned around to see a wounded bird, fluttering on the ground. The bird's wing was covered in blood. Ayane approached the bird and picked it up in her small hands. She gently stroked the bird and revealed a hint of a smile. A teardrop rolled down Ayane's cheek, as she identified with this wounded creature. Ayane placed the bird back down on the ground and sighed. "I will not be broken," she said confidently. She wiped the tear from her face and marched off to confront Hitomi…
Darkness spread over the sky and a red shadow surrounded the moon. Ayane impatiently waited for Hitomi to leave the Karate dojo. She paced back and forth and kept her fiery eyes fixed on the dojo. "Sooner or later, she will come, "whispered Ayane. Sure enough, a high-pitched giggle echoed in the woods. Ayane crouched down and clenched her dagger close to her. In the distance, Ayane saw Hitomi skipping along…
"I am so excited that Ein thinks I am improving at Karate!" Hitomi said with a squeal of joy. Ayane rolled her eyes and muttered, "Oh and she talks to herself too. How cute." Ayane shifted her weight slightly, as a branch cracked underneath her foot. "Who's there?" Hitomi cried out. She whipped her hair around and scanned the area. Ayane crept behind her and tapped her on the shoulder…
"Oh wow. You really scared me," said Hitomi in a shaky voice.
Ayane looked Hitomi up and down in disgust. "What can Hayate possibly see in this girl?" she asked herself. The corner of Ayane's mouth shifted into a smirk, as she patted Hitomi on the head with constricted resentment. Ayane pictured smothering the life out of Hitomi or cutting her delicate throat. Her smirk transformed into a menacing smile, as her desires began to overtake her.
"I will never let you have Hayate!" Ayane shrieked. She pushed Hitomi on the ground with repulsion.
"Who is Hayate?" Hitomi cried. She brushed the dirt off of her and forced herself up.
"I will kill you," Ayane said as she took out her dagger. "Ayane!" boomed the deep voice of an unidentified man…
Ayane slowly turned around and viewed about twenty ninjas surrounding her.
"We know you let Kasumi go, "said the masked man. "Kill them both" he commanded. Ayane and Hitomi slowly backed up and held their fists up in defense.
"I didn't even do anything!" Hitomi cried out.
But, it seemed impossible for Hitomi to sway the ninjas. The ninjas rushed forward and yelled in rage. Ayane and Hitomi fought side by side.
"There are too many!" Hitomi screamed.
Ayane closed her eyes and began to chant when the head ninja grabbed her from behind and threw her into a tree. Ayane spit out blood and attempted to get up, but the ninja kicked her on the ground. He wrapped a rope around her delicate neck and started dragging her on the ground. Ayane held her throat and struggled to breathe. The noise and cries began to fade out in the distance…
Ayane opened her eyes and was standing in a cemetery next to Hayate. The sun gleamed on his handsome face. "You have to know what to see," Hayate said. He pointed at the grave and Ayane realized that it was her own. Ayane looked beyond the grave and saw a girl with long, golden hair watching her from afar. "Hayate, who is that?" she asked. However, Hayate did not answer her and left a white rose on her grave. Ayane watched the rose wither and die in an instant. "Hayate!" she cried out. . .
Ayane opened her eyes and felt her life slipping away, as the rope choked the essence of her soul. All of a sudden, Hitomi cut the rope free and stabbed the ninja. Ayane violently began to cough, as she looked up at Hitomi with shock. Hitomi's face was caked with mud and she had a small slash on her cheek. Suddenly, another ninja threw Hitomi into a tree and her head smashed against it.
"No! Hitomi!" Ayane yelled out.
Ayane slashed the ninja's throat with one swift gesture and ran over to Hitomi. She held her frail body in her arms and screamed out in anger. Hitomi still breathed slowly, but Ayane could not wake her. Ayane's tears spilled out uncontrollably, as she caressed Hitomi's hair. Guilt infested Ayane's body, as she tried to wake up Hitomi. In the distance, Ein watched this purple-haired girl and his rage increased. He squeezed his fists and whispered, "I will kill her for what she did to you Hitomi"…
Ayane wiped her tears and brushed the dirt off of her. She kissed Hitomi on the forehead and re-hashed her dream: "I must find that blonde-haired girl if I want to resolve everything," said Ayane. She looked up at the sky and watched the sun rise. It illuminated on Hitomi's angelic face. Ayane spotted a bird flying above her; free and unbound. "Soon I will be flying again," Ayane whispered, as the bird vanished from her sight…
