Chapter three
Hayate entered the room. Light brown hair framed his hard narrow eyes. Kasumi waited a moment before disengaging the conversation with Helena. Kasumi went quickly to her brother. A dark expression settled on Hayate face when he saw Kasumi.
"Hayate." She said bowing to him. "I've been trying to reach you for months."
"Kasumi." He greeted with a slight head nod.
"We can clear everything up now that we are together and can talk about what happened."
"You left the clan. You knew the punishment." He looked away from her.
"I would never let one get away with what they did to you. We look out for each other Hayate."
"You should have not have done this for me. I didn't ask for this."
"Will you not do anything? Can the clan not respect loyalty between two people?"
"I'm sorry it has come to this, I really am."
"You understand why I did this. Why I had to do this. I know you would do the same thing for me. Please Hayate, you have the power to change everything."
"We have these rules for a reason. I cannot favor one person over another no matter how well intentioned the one who broke the rule. These traditions protect our clan. They are why we survive."
"Protect us!? Our friends, our family is dying because of this tradition."
"I would have every last member of the clan die in fulfilling their duty."
Hayate pulled away from her and Kasumi felt numb. Without a thought she reached up a slapped him hard across the face. The whole room seemed to pause as everyone in the room turned toward the siblings.
Kasumi was ready when he attacked her. His first two hits didn't land, but this third one did. Kasumi danced around the rest of his blows before striking with her foot. She would get him to see reason. A flurry attack and more dodging. She would bring the old Hayate back, he was the only one she could really relate to growing up, but now he was just like the rest of them.
The fight was short lived. Bayman tackled Hayate to the ground and someone grabbed Kasumi from behind, roughly pulling her arms behind her back. She was still in fight mode and her reaction was automatic. She bent down and elbowed the groin area of her assailant. The grunt told her she connected and that he was male. She was about to spin away, but he caught her with a vice like grip holding her arms.
Kasumi noticed everyone staring. She stopped her attack as she remembered this wasn't a fight for her life unlike the one less than an hour ago. She watched Hayate stand up. Bayman keep a grip on his shoulder. Hayate brown eyes were filled with loathing. It hurt more than the bruises blossoming over her existing wounds.
People in the strange white suits hurried into the room. A clear voice from overhead filled the room.
"Violation 36 has been committed. Proper action will be taken."
Kasumi tried shrugging her arms away from the person behind her, but he held fast. She turned her head to see who held her, but immediately wish she hadn't. It was Hayabusa. She had completely forgotten he was here, she had been too caught up in the moment with her brother. To her right she also saw Ayane smirking at her. The anger that filled her chest a moment before turned bitter and she was filled with shame.
Two of the DOATEC people came up to Kasumi, one wielding a thick long syringe. Kasumi inched back, but was stuck between the syringe and Hayabusa. She glanced at Hayate. They were injecting him too. She focused on her brother as her own arm was taken and swabbed. They injected him and he fell to one knee. She felt the needle go into her skin, but didn't look.
It hit fast. Her strength gave away and she nearly fell. In fact she would have, if Hayabusa hadn't been gripping her other arm. They drew out the needle and left the room before she even thought to ask what they did to her. She found Hayabusa's other arm now holding her up by her waist. Simultaneously they moved away from each other. Kasumi quickly regained balance as Hayabusa let go and slipped through the crowd toward Hayate.
"We will be moving into the ballroom for further instruction." The voice from the speakers overhead filled the room. Kasumi followed the others, coming out of the corner of the room where she watched the large dark windows and Hayate. Hayabusa and Ayane stayed by his side.
In the ballroom several small tables with white cloth were placed in front of a low stage area. Kasumi picked a vacant seat away from Hayate and the others. She was almost convinced that she would be the only person sitting alone when Christie sat easily into the chair next to her and Bayman followed suit.
"Kasumi, that's an interesting temper you developed since I've last seen you. I always sensed you didn't much care for fighting." Christie said.
"I don't." Kasumi said. Christie watched her for a moment, analysing Kasumi.
"What did they inject you with?" Christie asked. Kasumi shrugged, her eyes trained on the DOATEC people speaking on the stage. Out of nowhere Christie struck at Kasumi with flat hand. Reflexively Kasumi blocked with her left arm, but alarmingly her arm didn't deflect the blow. Christie stopped her hand less than an inch from Kasumi's face. Kasumi went to push Christie hand away, but again found she couldn't move Christie's hand or arm. A dreadful realization came over Kasumi that the weakness she felt after the injection wasn't gone, she even felt as if she moved slower now. Christie pulled her hand away.
"We know what it does now." Christie purred as she focused her attention toward the front, a small smile playing on her lips. Bayman didn't seem nearly as amused, but then again, it wouldn't surprise Kasumi if he had never been amused in his entire life. As for Kasumi, the panic rising in her chest was very real.
"Partners are going to play a large role in this tournament." One of DOATEC spokesmen continued from the stage. Plates of food and drink had been served and Kasumi was about half way through hers when Bayman had already wiped his plate clean. "Not only will you train exclusively with this person, they will be your only ally in the once the tournament starts. To increase companionship between partners, you will also be sharing living quarters with this person…"
Kasumi glanced at Hayate. Could this be a way to talk sense back to her brother? Make him remember? The speaker began to list the names as a waiter swapped Baymans empty plate with another full meal.
"Jann Lee and Leifang." Kasumi felt her spirit lift, if they were pairing champions with similar nationalities together that increased her chance to be paired with her brother.
"Hitomi and Helena." Kasumi wasn't sure what to make of that pairing.
"Bayman and Christie." Christie smiled, but there was very little reaction from Bayman as he shifted his fork.
"Zack and Tina Armstrong." Kasumi heard a whoop and a cheer from the other table.
"Bass Armstrong and Leon."
"Gen Fu and Brad Wong"
"Kasumi…" Kasumi held her breath. "and Ryu Hayabusa." Her lungs seemed to stop working.
"Ayane and Hayate."
Talking filled the room. Kasumi didn't know what to think. Hayate was with Ayane? Why didn't she see that happening. She would never get close to Hayate now. As much as she would like to be still friends with her half sister, Ayane had it out for her.
The DOATEC representatives were continued giving instruction but Kasumi wasn't listening. Kasumi tried to formulate a plan, but her mind was hazy, fatigued, and in shock. She picked up a glass of water in front of her to wet her dry mouth. The glass was heavy in her hand and she was reminded of what was done to her. She wouldn't be able to defend herself. Was that a shadow that moved in the large window across the room? Kasumi could feel her heart in her chest. Hayabusa looked up at her where he talked with Hayate. Would Hayate convince Hayabusa to kill her in her sleep? He wasn't part of their clan, so he wasn't obligated, but Hayabusa was Hayates dearest friend.
Everyone was talking again. The representatives were no longer speaking on stage. Kasumi rose from her seat, feeling drained and shaky. She made her way to the nearest white suit.
"I need these effects taken off of me at once!" She demanded.
"I'm sorry Kasumi, but the shot must wear off itself." Said the nameless tech in the white suit.
"How long?" Kasumi asked, her fists balling at her waist. The man shifted his stance.
"It will be completely gone by tomorrow morning since it is your first day of training."
"That's unacceptable." Kasumi said in a low voice.
"There is nothing we or anyone can do about it. You will just have to wait." He spoke calmly, but firmly.
Kasumi turned on her heel and walked quickly away. She needed to talk to Hayate and put an end to this madness. As she neared the others quickly took notice and blocked her way to Hayate.
"Hayate!" Kasumi said firmly. "We will talk and you will see reason."
"No Kasumi." Hayate said in a low voice. "You made your choice and the wheels are in action. I will not stop them from turning the natural course."
"You are not Hayate." Kasumi said more calmly than she felt. "And you will not keep him from me." Hayate turned away.
"Kasumi, if I were not bound by contract I would happily carry out Hayate's orders right now." Ayane said, each word with more anger than the last. As much as Ayane openly loathed Kasumi, Kasumi couldn't feel the same way, she just looked at Ayane with sad eyes. Ayane spun and walked away with Hayate. The tension in the room broke and people began to talk after realizing there wouldn't be another fight.
More DOATECs filled the room and announced they would be taking everyone to their rooms now. The same one that met Kasumi at the doors approached her.
"Please follow me." He said. She did. They walked to Hayabusa and the representative motioned for him to follow. Kasumi felt a lump form in her throat, she had been so consumed with Hayate she hadn't fully registered that she would be sharing living quarters with Ryu.
**Drama ensues. What do you think of the third chapter?