Kasumi thought to herself that this was the right thing to do.
She knew she was putting herself at great risk; by now the clan would've already found the bodies of those slain ninja at the hands of Ayane had she not returned to dispose of them.
She couldn't let her sister suffer the same fate she did, banished and hunted. "I must clear her name . . ." she said with great resolute. The train begins its departure, she kept her head down, the cap hiding her face whilst her hair was tied and held up in a messy bun.
Kasumi squeezed in between two grown men - it was so packed there was no breathing room for her - she reached the spot closest to the door where she angled and pressed herself up against the wall. Whilst keeping an eye out for potential train molesters who would be more than eager to cop a feel out of her wonderful assets she slides one hand into her jacket.
Her dainty fingers wrapped around the hilt of kunai but with no intention of using it - just an insurance policy.
Being on the run has taught her a few things - just because you feel safer sleeping with a knife under your pillow, doesn't give you a warrant to use it.
They entered a tunnel and the interior of the metal tube darkened.
For 3 whole minutes she was in darkness but her senses picked up every little sound and smell in the train before reemerging out into the light that showered the interior in bright light once again.
Some kids were crying, their mothers trying to quiet them down, so unexpectedly taken they were by the darkness it . . . scared them.
"Mm-hm." she lets out a soft giggle, recalling a similar situation too when she was a little girl.
It was just a little kid's game - a harmless game of a test of courage or Kimodameshi; her friends had invited her to join. Her pedigree as the clan's head daughter - even if she did had a slight fear of the dark - compelled her to uphold and maintain the image and dignity of her family.
She agrees.
Only if . . . .
"Hey, what's that cursed child doing here?!" the lead child spat as he eyes the purple haired little girl with spite.
"Yeah," another one interjected, a chubby boy in a green yukata and sporting a shaved head. "She'll bring bad luck to us."
"That's right, that's right!"
Ayane took the insults in strides; after all, she gets them everyday, 24/7 and will most likely for the rest of her life. "Get her out of here!"
"That's mean! You don't know that!" Kasumi defended. "Ayane-chan is anything but cursed! She's a good friend!" She tried and tried but somethings so deeply ingrained that presenting an argument contrary to theirs upsets this belief and frightens them and they fight and argue to defend their point.
"But she's that monster's child!"
"But...but -" Her voice choked, there was no denying that fact.
"Kasumi, it's fine..." said Ayane suddenly, placing a hand on the quivering girl's shoulder. She comes forward, hands on her waist in an arrogant like fashion and she spoke. "Yeah, you're right, I am Raidou's daughter . . . ." her tone darkens and her bangs cast a shadow over eyes, giving the red irises an evil glint. "But don't go comparing me to that monster. I am anything but like Raidou..." she adds as an emphasis on her point.
The kids gulped, the two boys shaking, they've never seen Ayane this way. How could they? They spend most of the time hurling insults at her and avoiding her.
"W-wha...whatever!" he suddenly cries then turns. "Come on, let's start already so we can go home!" he growls with his arms crossed.
The game started. Two more kids showed up, girls but they were more friendly and welcoming towards Ayane - A friend of Kasumi is a friend of theirs.
First to start up was the girls group; Kasumi and Ayane would go first then the two girls - Kirie and Mayumi. Ayane had a hidden suspicion that they were planning something but . . . . "Let's find out." she murmured.
Off they went, their goal was to reach a small abandoned shrine in the woods, taken an object that has been placed their beforehand and then comeback.
Kasumi clung to Ayane the whole time, shaking and whimpering, staring off - left and right and over her shoulder - whilst Ayane was as cool as a cucumber as they walked slowly because of the dark. The forest canopy blocked out the stars and moon.
"..." Was her only response to the girls clingy clutches as they covered half of the path.
"A-Ayane..-chan... *SQUAWK* EEEK!" Kasumi threw herself onto Ayane causing the other girl to stumble.
She turns to growl at the girl, "Hey! Watch whatcha doing!" she told Kasumi. The older girl was whimpering like a little puppy, on the verge of tears, crouched on the ground, her voice hitching and she holds herself in a protective embrace.
If she's the next Clan leader, we are all in trouble . . . .
She just sighs exasperatedly at the shaky girl and continues on, "I'm going then," announced the girl walking ahead of the other girl. "Better catch up or the oni might catch you~" she teased.
"Ayane-chan~ mou!" Kasumi cried, quickly catching up to the purple haired girl. "Meanie..."
. . . .
It was an old Inari Shrine. In front were the items placed beforehand by the kids.
There were 3 of them - a red ball, a top, and a kendama - Kasumi's item was the red ball, her favorite, a gift from her mother, Ayame.
"Got it," she says, bouncing it in her hand. "Shall we..." Ayane only wondered how long this brave face would last on their way back. Probably not long, getting here wasn't the problem. If the boys were going to pull off their scheme, it would be when their on their way back.
Ayane doesn't say a word to which Kasumi pouts, "Muu, Ayane-chan you meanie." They started back, at least now Kasumi wasn't latching onto her like a leech, instead she was happily humming to herself while playing with the little red ball in her hand.
They had yet to pass the halfway point when the other girl shrieked, "Eeek, something just licked me!" Kasumi bumped into Ayane.
"A-Ayane..-chan can we go faster...?" she tried to appear unafraid as she pleaded with the other girl who didn't pay her any mind.
"N-ne..Ayane - Kyaahaaha!" another wet slap, this time on her back causing her arms to fly outward, the red ball she picked up earlier, bounces out of her arms and into one of the bushes. "A-ah! My ball . . ." she cried and ran after it.
"Leave it." said Ayane in an even tone.
"B-but..." It was a gift from her mother, she can't just up and leave it. What if some animal had come and found it and taken it away into some burrow in the woods? How was she gonna explain that to her mother?!
And also they lose the game if they don't bring back the item they were supposed to. "Gurgh!" Ayane groaned. "Fine, I'll help you find it."
They dug around the bushes, never an arms length away as Kasumi would grow restless and panic if the other girl was too far away. It was awhile before they found the ball again but this time to make sure she didn't lose it, Ayane took off the bandanna on her head and tied it around Kasumi's hand and the ball.
"That way you don't lose it again..." said the girl without looking at Kasumi. "There!" she secured the knot nicely around the girl's wrist.
"Ayane-chan, you're very kind actually..."
Her face heated up, instantly. "D-don't misunderstand, Baka! It's only so you don't lose it and we might have to stay out here to find it." she said without catching a breath.
Her denial made her look so cute, Kasumi can't help but smile and continued on with her teasing. "Ayane-chan kawaii~"
"Urusai! Urusai! Urusai!"
...
Those days are gone now, she's a fugitive and her sister hates her guts.
Too busy she was having negative thoughts, she failed to notice a figure sneaking up behind her until -
Her voice yelps, but she can't spin in the train, not with this tight crowd that limited her face to a finger length perhaps. "Calm down," said the voice. It was female, and a familiar one at that.
"Momiji?" she asked. "Hayabusa-sensei sent me..."
-0000-
As the day slowly moved on, the clock strikes 12 and he shot out of the couch faster than Usain Bolt at the starting point.
He just needed to get away from her somehow - just a while. The whole time he sat next to her, watched her as she competed with his friend Takehito on Mortal Kombat and "DOATec proudly presents: Dead or Alive: The Game" again more Ayane remarks here from Takehito that had him holding his breath.
Any thought of watching a movie became moot when thirty minutes into it they were bored out of their minds; Takehito only because he felt the movie cut too many corners to get to the point where two heroes fight. They didn't even develop the villain which was terrible as there were multitudes of opportunities they could've shown his manipulative side that would pit both Vigilante and Symbol of Hope against each other. And Ayane . . . uh, she was just wondering when are they gonna fight as they had a 30 second scene where the vigilante was training with all sorts of weights and ending it with epic shots of him dropping said weights, while his machines crafted a weapon that could take down the symbol of hope.
"What's up with him?" If only he knew what's up with him, he wouldn't even ask. Especially when he was partly responsible for the turmoil he is going through now. Ayane (now Sakura) only pursed her lips and shrugged. She didn't know.
Jake entered the kitchen and relieved a heavy sigh, "Oh my place of zen and peace..." the young man sighed.
He bent and gripped the sink as he suddenly felt weak in the legs.
He turns on the sink and puts his head directly underneath the faucet, it helped him cool his head off - no pun intended - a bit as he let out another sigh, one of relief.
Taking his head out of the sink, he shakes his head much like a dog only with half the vigor then pulling a small towel from one of the drawers where he keeps the cloths use to wipe the dishes in and dries himself off.
Jake reclines against the refrigerator, taking in small gulps of air as he recounts the day's event. Nothing much happened, which pretty much summed up what's happened.
Except for learning about his 'guest' background through 'unsavory' means.
"I'm a creep..." said the man dejectedly.
"Finally admitting to your own depravity..." said the light voice of Ayane who seemingly projected herself in the kitchen.
But for Jake her sudden appearance shouldn't surprise him much; she did disappear after all from her place next to him when Takehito was grilling him with questions. And the fact that they did bump heads the first time they met. If she's capable of such things (even when wounded) there's nothing to be surprised about from this girl.
"I thought you were still playing?"
She crosses her arms, she does it not because she likes it but because it makes her feel more powerful. "Someone's coming, fast and very...very hostile." He would've scoffed but the tone she was using, the extra edge thrown in there had him shuddering and gulping.
"A...ninja?" he was somewhat reluctant to say.
"No, footfalls are too heavy, this person is either very big or just pissed off or big and pissed off at the same time - they're on the 5th floor by the way. And very fast."
So an angry big speedster was currently making their way up the apartment block without using the elevator and assuming he was right was headed either for him or someone on the same floor as him; and why did Fumiko-obaasan let them through. Nothing slips past that old woman - Nothing!
"So...it could be for anyone." As soon as he said that, he wished he'd just held his tongue then as then after he had said what he said, there were three loud bangs on the door. Three loud, unpracticed bangs that shook the foundation of the wooden door itself.
Ayane just stared between the door and Jake; Takehito, his friend was... Where'd he go?!
"I'm not here, Jake!" said the man from...somewhere in his apartment. Is it him or did people around him just know when to disappear. But it didn't take him long to find his friend thanks to a pair of blue socked feet sticking out from underneath the curtains.
...
"See ya, Jake and Sakura-chan too~ It was nice meeting ya." Said Takehito before he is shoved out the front door by his girlfriend, Yuri. "Come on, you've caused him enough trouble . . ." she scolded the man. She cranes her neck to look in Jake's direction. "Sorry about him, Jake."
It was a very weird affair to say the least, he greeted her and invited her in, it didn't take long for the bluenette to find her then boyfriend behind the curtains. They argued like any couple would except...
"Like I said, Yuri! It's AyanexEliot and not the other way around; Ayane will always be the one pinning Eliot down."
Confused was an understatement at that point as he and the 'real' Ayane stood off to the side watching those two DOA fans just go at each other's throat; so Yuri-san did do normal pairings aside fro Yaoi doujins. That was something he didn't expect.
"No! No! No! Ayane-bottom, Eliot-top! that's how it goes."
"Eliot?" muttered the young man who was very much confused by the turn of events. "A friend from the tournament..."Answered Ayane in a hush voice out the corner of her lips. Ah, so that's what it was, he nodded. Them working things out was great and all but it was getting cold, and because the door was open, and because they were arguing by the entrance with the door ajar.
"Eliot's a wimp!"
Well that much is true, thought Ayane thinking back to her first encounter with the English lad in China a few years back sometime around the Third Dead or Alive Tournament. The young man wouldn't stop putting himself down or selling himself short, it took a slap and a tongue lashing to straighten him up.
Now that she thought about it, she did owe him a sparing match.
"He acts like that but . . ." Yuri trailed off, she couldn't come up with anything else to say.
Takehito wore a smug grin on his face, "He he~ Can't think of anything can you. You're wrong and I'm right - GAAAAH! My hand, my hand, I need it to type my Fanfics please stop!" Both Ayane and Jake winced, moreso for Jake. The girl had him in an arm lock that looked extremely painful even for Ayane and she's had her fair share of submission holds.
Then she looks up at Jake and smiles, it may seemed serene and warm to anyone but to him, he felt nothing but cold coming from that smile as she singsong, "We're going now, Jake." He had to do something before his friend suffered for something he deserved but not enough to warrant a broken arm.
"N-now, let's calm down now, shall we. Y-Yuri, mind letting your boyfriend go, he's starting to turn a little red from the pain." She lets go and Takehito crumples to the ground clutching his right arm. "Thank you," said Jake before moving aside to let the psych - good friend of his in.
"Oh my god! You look like Ayane-sama! It's so cool! Jake who is she?!" The girl was bouncing about going on about his purple haired guest.
Ayane then seemed very uncomfortable, mostly because due to the fact that she never really dealt with fans (wasn't aware she had any) before. "K-Kirishima Sakura, I'm a friend of Jake's."
Yuri's big golden eyes darted to Jake, "Really! You never mentioned something like this before and we're highschool buddies! Whenyoumeether! Whenyoumeether!"
"She's an old friend; one day she just 'crashed' in out of the blue."
"Eh..." exclaimed the girl. "But I gotta say, she is very hot, and her boobs, her hair - my god, she'd definitely be a grea - no, amazing Ayane cosplayer, they both look the same." She had no idea just how close to the mark she was.
They settled in the living room, Jake cleaned up here and there to make it as welcoming as possible, and he needed the time to think; Sakamoto Yuri is sharp, she see's things nobody can. Most of the time, her hunches were 99.9 percent spot on.
"I'll get us some drinks," offered Ayane who seemed like she just wanted to get away from Yuri at the moment - more than anything - just to escape the carpet bombing of questions coming from the B-52 that was Sakamoto Yuri's mouth.
But Yuri pulled the girl down as she was getting up, "No, no, you sit; Jake will get the drink. Won't you, Jake?"
"What do I look like, a butler!" snapped Jake to which Yuri only smiled and nodded and mouthed, "He's gonna say yes."
"Oh, fine, I'll do it. I'll be ya butler..." he groaned loud enough for them to hear and for Yuri to bring a hand to her mouth to hide her laugh.
For a moment the questions stopped, "You're doing great holding the place together, Jake." said the girl to Jake who was in the kitchen preparing their beverages.
"Thanks," said Jake coming into the living room with a tray of assorted beverages, he was grateful for the compliment about his place.
They talked, they got to know each other; Ayane learned that Jake, Takehito and Yuri were all High School buddies at one point until they went their separate ways after High School. Yuri and Takehito - college and Jake - the Military.
They talked up till the point that Yuri jumped out of her seat and shrieked, "YAAAH! I ALMOST FORGOT!" COMIKET was tomorrow and she had to quickly get to where the convention was being held, where's it is always been held - The Tokyo Big Sight - to find a place to set her booth then to set her booth.
Normally it's on the 24th, Christmas Eve, but due to certain delays, it was pushed back to the 26th. The problem was the trains are surely to be busy right now to take to the next station and taxi cabs are expensive not to mention the jam that is in the city right now, ah, she's so dead if she can't set up her booth today. But one way or another, she was going to make it!
"Sorry, Jake I gotta go, it was nice seeing you. You too, Sakura-chan." said the girl as she rushed to get on her muffler and jacket and beanie. "Come by tomorrow, maybe you and I can go cosplaying as our favorite Dead or Alive characters."
Ayane nodded, "I-I'll think about it, hi hi~"
Passing the threshold, Yuri turns to engulf Jake in a tight hug, "It was nice seeing you again, Jake." She releases him. "Sorry for the trouble Take-kun caused you."
But Jake only waves it off, "Nah, don't worry about it." He smirks, "Take care of him."
Yuri only returns the statement with a smirk of her own, "You know I will. He can't survive without me." Takehito chose then to interject himself into the conversation. "I'm right here!" He bellowed.
Jake and Yuri simultaneously reply, "I KNOW!"
Takehito winced and relegated to retreating back into the wall, now if only he could sink himself in it, but alas life wasn't always so . . .providing of alternatives - Both Jake and Yuri went back to talking. And before she left dragging her boyfriend with her, Yuri stops halfway down the hallway to turn and say, "Nice girlfriend you got there, Jake. She's a keeper!" She gives him the thumbs up. "Good job!" she winks, giving her sign of approval. Much to his embarrassment, he replies, "SHE'S NOT MY GIRLFRIEND!"
But that just seemed to only reinforce the girl's Matchmaking hunches that they were meant to be a couple and her smirk only grew wider and that little twinkle in her eyes to expland. In the end there was no fighting this girl - once she sets her mind on something, she's going to stick with it all the way.
Jake watches as the girl slowly disappeared into the elevator and the floor lights showing the elevators descent. He turns to go inside.
Ayane lets her hair down, she was shaking them loose before re-tying the bandanna around her forehead and securing the knot at the left side of her crown. "What?" she asked, noticing the young man was staring at her.
"Nothing, just uh...nothing."
Strange, she noted his behavior before going back inside.
Just as he was about to do the same his phone vibrates. A text...?
Sender ID: Yuri
My next project will be an original - JakexAyane, r-18. BTW, Sakura-chan looks a lot like Ayane don't you think. Take-chan thinks so too.
Peace.
Stay cool
He responded to the text.
QUIT MESSING AROUND! and NO SHE DOESN'T - Also that's not even original, it's still a fan work, only thing original is you using my likeness in the book!
His heart was beating a mile a minute. They NOTICED! Now it won't take long for them to put the two and two together and... Before he could finish that string of thought, another text came.
Sender ID: Yuri
New Message: By the way, how 'long' are you? If you know what I mean.
Reply: FUCK OFF!
Too preoccupied he was with his rant and staying calm failed to notice another presence creeping up until it made itself known.
"Daijobou ka, Jake?"
He looks up, "Ana-chan...?" It was Goto-san, his neighbors daughter. The tall brunette by 2 inches smiled at him. "Hi," she greeted in that oh so sweet voice of hers. "Are you okay? You look a little pale." she stated.
A little would've been a stretch, especially when he just barely got through a friendly sit-down without having the identity of his house guest discovered, if anything he was more of a cancer patient (no disrespect) at the moment - white as a sheet.
"Me?" said the young man gesturing to himself. "No...I'm fantastic . . ." came a very half-heart reply from his lips. The young brunette only tilts her head off a little to the side in an unconvinced manner, "Hmm?" She hummed. "If you say so...but-"
"I know..." he interrupts what she was trying to say. "Please tell me so I can help you, right."
She smiles, beaming at him almost. "Yup!" she nods enthusiastically. He then notices a couple of things about her as well. She was carrying two large milk white sacks with red labeling on them. Her eyes follow his line of sight to the bags in each hand. "Oh these . . . . these are just some groceries I bought." Jake nods, sound explanation. "Yeah, I'm going down to Fumiko-obaasan to help with the cooking." Ah, yes, the Christmas Cookout the Old Bird threw every Christmas.
"Right? The Christmas Cookout, I almost forgot about that." He lied. "Mou~ Jake-kun." The young man grinned sheepishly.
Then, "Okay, tell me, how is it really going?" she persisted. No one goes pale as a sheet just from feeling fantastic, last she checked. Also, she cared about him since she first heard his cry echo through the halls. His phone rings interrupting him as he was about to speak, a notable slack in his shoulders like he was relieved for that one small interference as he digs his pocket for the device.
He pulls it out and remarks, "Oh. It's Takehito." Said the young man to the young woman. Jake mulled over the thought of answering the call, his thumb rested on the green button and all he needed to do was just slide to answer but...
He ignored it.
"...I..." He starts. Ana holds her breath unknowingly. "...doing great. Disappointed but great." The answer wasn't what she was expecting, studying to be a psychologist, Ana had thought herself to pick up subtle changes in things such as how a person talked, to body language and facial expression and strain put into words. The answer came as if he were contemplating on what words to use but what to tell her.
"Oh, I see, then...that's good, I guess..." She said smiling a little. She knew better when not to push a subject to hard, it causes people to enter a defensive mode, they build a wall around them to protect them when they feel like a person is being to persistent or intruding.
His phone rings again, he lets out an annoyed groan from his lips before excusing himself to go answer it leaving Ana in her thoughts, staring off over the balcony, towards only something she could see. "I'm sorry about that, it's just Takehito and you know how . . . Ana? Hey, you hear me, Ana-san?" she is pulled out of her thoughts. Blinking her big brown eyes once then twice and then thrice, making a small "eh?" confused sound.
"Nothing, I was just about to tell you, aren't you gonna be late for Fumiko-obaasan?"
She realizes this and says, "O-oh, right, Fumiko-obaachan... I better get going then." Jake flicks her forehead playfully, she makes a small, "ow..." sound but can't rub the spot because her hands were tied with groceries.
"Well then, I better get going, Merry Christmas, Jake." She leaves, he watches her small back slowly move further and further until she's at the elevator. He turns to go in, Ayane was standing there with her back leaned against the wall, her arms are crossed underneath her chest. "Eavesdropping now, are we?"
"Who's that? She seems kinda cute, definitely your type, has to be right. You're into that kinda thing, sweet, soft-spoken, innocent looking..." He ignores the question, shutting the door just a tad loud enough to make it clear he was not gonna answer her.
Ayane only shrugs knowingly, "alright, fine..." she said in a small voice.
-0000-
Akatsubaki Station
"Kasumi-san, you must turn back now."
"Eh...?" Confuse was an understatement, her face was a picture perfect reference of 'what' plaguing her mind.
The tall, raven haired shrine maiden/ninja standing before her, in casual wear, fitting blue jeans, with knee high boots with fur cuffs, a white winter jacket with a fur collar and a plain red t-shirt worn underneath it, Momiji looked like someone cut out a of the latest fashion magazine or those candid photos seen on storefronts.
Her long hair was let loose and she wore perfume, which the kunoichi was unknown for as she always had this natural scent of sweet camellia permeating from her. Her smile was as gentle as always but her eyes were alert if one looked closer, she says in a tone that was gentle and finality, "Kasumi-san, you must turn back..." turn back? why!?
They met on the train, she hadn't picked up her presence as her mind had wondered, a fatal mistake on her part as that would've given some ample opportunity to inject a slow acting toxin that would've reached her heart by the time she arrived at the next station. An autopsy would then reveal a rare strain of tuberculosis - that she succumbed in a matter of moments.
Here they were in beautiful Nagoya, both women were in a park that wasn't too far from the station. Still within the area, yet, Momiji's posture was one of casual and alert and odd mix but taking into account of their training - a ninja must remain vigilant at all times but able to blend in as well. When they exited the train, then the station, Momiji made sure to flip the fire alarm. Chaos and panic descended faster than any forces of evil she's fought in her years; people were evacuated, potential pursuers were thrown into a loop of confusion that they lost the target. The water also washed away the scent of the girls should familiars be employed, things from rats to small dogs.
"Kasumi, the village hasn't been safe as of lately, rival clans - since Ayane hasn't returned in 2 days; 2 days is a lot for a clan to move in and with the shortage of ninja to protect the villagers other unsavory party's have turned their sights to a feebly defended village. Mercenaries, bounty hunters, I have no doubts that the DOAtec and MIST is behind this, Victor Donovan's legacy and plan lives on - they would not stop until every single one of us is capture and experimented for him to create the ultimate weapon."
"Master Ryu has gone North to negotiate with some of our allies, Lord Hayate is seeing to the training of new shinobi; but it is not enough - we've been attacked twice in the same month both suffering heavy casualties. If you must know, Matsu, your friend was one of them."
Memories of the time she spent with the boy and his chubby sidekick flooded her mind, they both became shinobi at the same time, trained under her father. N-no, it can't be... Matsu he... Matsu is...
"Dead?" her voice full of lost and disbelief; how can this be.
Momiji nodded, but kept a strong front but deep down inside she was hurting as she had bear witness to the demise of the young man and there was nothing she could've done to prevent it. She could but it would've resulted in her suffering the same fate as the young man.
"I have been ordered to track you and tell you to stay away; right now with things as it is, the village elders have called for a temporary hold on your execution and all hunter nin have been called back to the village, right now, all efforts are put in protecting you as it is you that they want. My job here is done, I must return to initiate the second phase of our plan, the moving of all sacred artifacts and arms, and the destruction of scrolls that contain the secret of the Mugen Tenshin."
"Also, on a further note, Ayane-chan has been ordered to safe guard you until the situation can be rectified. But I have no doubt this is the order of Lady Ayame who want to see you two safe and out of the reaches of DOAtec and MIST. A runner, he came with me, has been dispatched to seek her and deliver the message; Kasumi, do you know where Ayane is?"
-0000-
"So, where'd you get the tree?"
"Down in storage, the Old Bird really had this place well thought out; all tenants get their own storage compartment down in North Tower, C-block." Grunted Jake as he hefted the tree into his humble apartment.
Ayane glides off to the side when the young man was headed in her direction or the area behind her that intersected with her current location. "Mind helping out, I got a box of decorations in the elevator I sent up in."
A playful smirk danced across her lips, a devious thought popped into her mind. "Ooh, gee, I would like to help but my wounds and all; No strenuous activity - Doctor's orders." She made sure to stick her tongue out when he's not looking.
"You didn't see any Doctor, your sister and I treated you!" snapped Jake who rested the tree down on it's 'legs'. Ayane then added, "Well, unless you feel like stitching me up again, by the way, I don't wear a bra because of you know so if you're fine with seeing boobs then..."
"Okay! Okay! Good point - God!" Success, she practically jumped up in joy on the inside as the boy pushed past her. "Rude," she remarked but let out a small laugh and with a skip in her step skipped into the living room as Jake came in bearing the box of decorations in hand.
"Well, at least help me get this damn tree up!" he growled.
"That I can do~" she chirped and moved over to the open box of decorations and pulled out the first thing that caught her eye, the star.
-0000-
"Are you afraid?"
The man shook his head no.
"AAARRGGG HHHMMMM HHHHMMMM!" The shinobi shouted in pain as pressure was applied by the foot that was planted on his knee with a piece of ReBar (reinforcing bar) jammed into the side of his left knee. The figure that taunted him if he was in pain was surrounded by two others just like it.
They got him. Jumped him as he was traversing over the rooftops of Japan like some vigilante, never expecting the strike that would take him down was from a broken piece of steel. The ninja that currently towered over him like a shadow removed its foot from his leg. He gripped his knee gingerly.
The figures clad in black, shinobi gear, though unlike the traditional gear seemed more modernized that what the nin on the ground grunting in pain was wearing, in his hand was holding the message - pulled from him - of Lady Ayame addressing to her estranged daughter, Ayane.
My Dearest Ayane,
There are many things in life I regret, you are not one of them, but not being able to raise you as a daughter was one of them. I'm sorry for not being there when you needed a parental figure, to shower you with love just as I did your sister, I would've done it if it weren't for the circumstance. It was either to disown or dispose you; I chose the former as it seemed to be the lesser of two evils. I'm sorry for failing you as a mother; all I ever wanted was for you to be happy and seeing you and Kasumi growing up together had brought not just joy but hope that one day I too may be able to finally welcome you into our home. But I fear that time has come and gone now, dearest daughter.
This letter I write may be the last one I ever write to you as it will also be the first. I know I have no right asking you of this but take care of your sister for me, unlike you who has seen the cruelty and experience the cold of this world, she only knew love and the warmth it provided; you are two pieces of the same coin, watch out for each other. Know that I am and always will be with the both of you. In your heart.
Love,
Mother
"How touching." The figure said darkly, the nin could see the outlines of a smile forming behind the mask. "A mother's final act to protect and reunite her daughters. How...foolish."
"Kuuu, Nggg! Hsss! Hsss!" The figure pressed down on the bad leg, he felt his bone grinding against the rusted piece of metal. "Tell me. Where is Ayane. Where is Kasumi. Where is hiding." said the Figure in an authoritative tone. This was an offer. His life for theirs - the two girls.
The wounded ninja bit down, "Never." he growled in defiance. Instead, he did what the kids in the city did to someone they didn't like. He flipped them the bird. The cold lifeless eyes of the ninja interrogating him blinked, "oh" he said. "How...unfortunate." he drawled. The 'Rogue' removes his foot from the broken knee. He removed his sword from sheath and in quick strike removed the head off the young nin.
"Never is here." growled the nin. The message was crumpled and thrown next to the body of the now dead nin. "Dispose of the body. No traces." He ordered. He then held up a finger to signal for them to halt, "Show this young one the proper respect befitting a loyal shinobi; pray for him, then dispose of him." He added.
The two other rogues glanced at each other, their eyes questioning but quickly shrugged and set to do what they were told to do. They removed the piece of ReBar carefully not to damage the already damaged knee, then they lay him, with his hands folded over each other resting on his chest, his head was placed on the stump of his still bleeding neck, his pale eyes having lost all color behind them when the light was snuffed out in an instant, a quick sword stroke, the eyelids were pulled down.
His weapons and emblem - the symbol that recognized him as a loyal follower of the Mugen Tenshin, those will be wrapped in a silk cloth and delivered to them (well, if their still around that is).
And lastly, the prayer, all three of them including the executioner knelt down and prayed for this one's soul to find peace.
And when that was concluded, there was one last thing to do, the disposing of the body; there was a skill - all ninja know of it - called the scorched earth technique; this technique or ninpo was used by Ninja out in the field - should they be not able to deliver the body of a fallen back - to 'vaporize' a body. The responsibility of casting the 'spell' fell on the one that took the life of the deceased. So the lead Rogue stepped up, cruelty and compassion, he delivered the spell, chanting it while his hands made the right 'mudra' or hand signal then when it was done, placed his palm over the folded hands of the dead nin.
The Rogue followers shielded their eyes, the intensity and brightness of the spell was akin to watching a welder burning steel, very bright. There was the smell of burning meat which permeated in the air followed by sizzling like meat on a frying pan. Then it was over.
"You." The Lead Rogue addressed one of his followers. "Take these clothes, and weapons and find a shinobi of the Mugen and give it to them. Tell them, he was loyal to the end."
The Rogue nodded, taking the 'effects' in hand, he turns, makes a short jog for the ledge of the roof then jumps off. The other rogue comes up to his leader and hisses, "What now, sir?"
The leader turns, "We keep looking."
Omake
"Oh, no!"
"My Lord Shiden!"
"W-what is it?"
"It's your daughter; she's well..."
The door to Kasumi's room slides open, into it Lord Shiden peeked to find -
"K-Kimodameshi! K-kowai!" Kasumi's lump visible underneath her covers and shaking. Crying comical tears and muttering about things like 'Yokai' and other things.
Meanwhile on the rooftop of the Clan Leader's estate, Ayane lay and listened in then mumbling to herself, "It wasn't that scary." The retainers of Lord Shiden and Shiden himself spent the whole night convincing Kasumi to come out of her turtle shell of a blanket.
A/N: Let me start off by saying, this chapter was a bitch to write, really; never struggle so hard, though this was probably one of the many problems I am soon to face in future endeavors especially with this story, well; we're still in the Christmas season as per this chapter still but we're getting out of there. So, big trouble in little China folks as some may read in this chapter, it will be expanded in the future chapters.
I have to give a shout out to these guys.
First on the list:
Dragoon Swordsman: First off, I'd like to respond to your recent review; yes, Jake's life is bound to get more awkward and with current events progressing as they are, a heck of a lot more dangerous. I thank you for your support.
Eternalking: I say Thank you for your kind words.
It is because of those two and many more that follow and favorite this story that keeps me going, and I say that or rather type that from the bottom of my heart; it's good to know that my work is enjoyed by many.
Okay, I admit, the Omake may not be funny, in my defense, it was funny in my head; just the thought of a Chibi Kasumi underneath the futon shaking and stuff, while her father and retainers are peeking in worry and bewilderment etched on their faces. Then seeing a Chibi Ayane on the roof directly above Kasumi's room. Oh, I'm making it worse.